Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | Litigious Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa, has once again crossed paths with her political bosses after blocking the invasion of a farm owned by white farmers. Mahofa irked her bosses including President Robert Mugabe when she stopped one Gilbert Nyasha from invading a crocodile farm owned by Jeffrey Howard Sommer and Henry Allan Sommer. Last year Mahofa clashed with Mugabe over the invasion of Tongaat Land. Party stalwarts accuse Mahofa of being paid cash to block the compulsory occupation of the farm.
Mahofa claimed the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife department was in a better position to comment on the matter.
“I am aware of the matter and I wonder why the guy (Nyasha) failed to move onto the farm after being given an offer letter in 2012? How can people claim that I am being paid by these white people? That is not true because I only knew them last week. They came to my office to explain their case and I had to listen to their side of the story,”said Mahofa.
Nyasha ,said to be a Zanu PF activist, accused Mahofa of hypocrisy. “Mahofa claims she is concerned about the welfare of 60 employees at the farm yet she supports the invasion of Tongaat Hullet Land where 2000 workers have lost their jobs. This means Mahofa is a hypocrite. Mahofa is protecting the interests of the white farmers because they are paying her,”said Nyasha.

Staff Reporter|Police in Harare have arrested MDC-T youth leader Happymore Chidziva.

According to an alert by the party, Chidziva is being held at Harare Central Police station after being arrested for inciting public violence.
“MDC National Youth Assembly Chairperson Happymore Chidziva, aka, Bvondo arrested is at Harare Central Police Law and Order Section and is accused of inciting violence at #Myzimbabwe Launch sometime last year,”read part of the alert.

More to follow….

FULL VIDEO:

Zimbabweans from all walks in UK and Ireland will converge at The Zimbabwe Embassy in London on the 21st February 2017. This is to register their disgust on the melting down of every social, political, and economic aspect of the country while the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) are busy looting and splashing tax payers money on the 93 year old nonagenarian Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash.

MZYWCAN invites the public to attend this
event.”You are all cordial invited to the function so as to show Zanu PF that we want our human rights and freedom back. The group comprises of MaZimbabweans Yes We Can (MZYWCAN) who have already sort and have been given a Met. Police Events Department clearance to hold the demo, Movement For Democratic Change (MDC-T), Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO), MAVAMBO, Restoration Of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Citizens’ Initiative(ZCI), Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) and others. People will be coming from as far as Manchester, Leeds, Bournemouth, Swindon, London and many others.”said David Kadzutu.

This gathering will be blessed by the presence of a prominent actor and activist, Silvanos Mudzvova who has been at the helm of handy cuffing himself and protesting about the appalling conditions in Zimbabwean prisons and the general human rights abuse. He was once abducted by security agencies in Zimbabwe but remains resolute in fighting against oppressive forces.

More details on the flyer below….

A 25-YEAR-OLD South African man who is accused of trafficking four Zimbabwean illegal immigrants to the neighbouring country was yesterday denied bail by a Polokwane magistrate and is set to stand trial on April 12.
Raymond Sithole of Chebeng village in Seshego area, was arrested on January 3 by a team from South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (The Hawks) following a tip off.

Sithole is accused of holding the four Zimbabwean men hostage at his home.

Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo province, Captain Matimba Maluleke said the accused illegally took the victims aged between 15 and 20 years into the neighbouring country after promising them good jobs.

Capt Maluleke said the four were being held hostage at Sithole’s house.

He said sometimes, the man would send his victims to steal and do other jobs without payment.

“He is facing charges of human trafficking. The four men were  allegedly kept under key and lock after being smuggled into South Africa with false promises of good jobs and better lives.

“In some cases the suspect would severely assault them if they failed to comply with his orders,” he said.
Capt Maluleke said the man was arrested by a Hawks reaction team after getting wind of the allegedly exploitation of the Zimbabweans.

The incident came shortly after police from both countries intensified border patrols in light of the increase in the illegal trafficking of children between the two countries.

In December alone, 120 children were intercepted along the border while being taken into South Africa, prompting security agents to re-double their efforts in fighting the crime. – State Media

A 35-year-old Gwanda gold panner allegedly fatally struck his colleague with a spade on the head following a misunderstanding that started while they were on their way from a beer drink in Colleen Bawn.

The suspect, Josphat Nkosi of Matobo allegedly struck Aleck Mwinde once on Thursday morning and he died on the spot.

After allegedly committing the crime, he allegedly fled from the scene leaving Mwinde’s body in a pool of blood with the spade on his side.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele yesterday confirmed the incident.
He said Nkosi was on the run.

“The pair was coming from a beer drink at Colleen Bawn Bar with one of their unnamed colleague. They left the bar at around 10:30PM on Wednesday going back to Rubicon Mine where they work.

“Along the way Nkosi and the now deceased Mwinde picked up an argument over an undisclosed matter. The misunderstanding went on up to the time they arrived at the mine. However, their colleague went to sleep while the pair proceeded to their tent still arguing,” said Insp Ndebele.

He said while at the tent the misunderstanding degenerated into a scuffle and Nkosi allegedly picked up a spade and hit Mwinde on the head and he died on the spot.

“After striking him he went to their colleague at around 2AM and advised him that he had seriously injured Mwinde and he disappeared from the mine.

“Their colleague didn’t take action that time but waited until 7AM when he went to the tent and discovered the body of Mwinde lying in a pool of blood and a spade on his side. A report was made to the police,” he said.
Insp Ndebele appealed to members of the public to solve disputes amicably to avoid unnecessary loss of life.
“Members of the public shouldn’t take the law into their own hands as it leads to unnecessary loss of lives. They should seek counselling from elders or come to the police,” said Insp Ndebele.- State Media

By Shiellah Sibanda| A heavily intoxicated chief Mathema of Gwanda last night rammed his BWM 318 vehicle into a shop after a long drinking session at a Bulawayo strip club.

The drunken chief who was in the company of two former Highlanders players, Thabani Masawi and Siza Khoza, rammed his vehicle into a newly renovated shop opposite opposite Cecil Hotel night club famous for it’s stripping women shows.

The chief is believed to have attempted to reverse the vehicle out of the parking bay and instead put the vehicle on forward gear and smashed it into the shop breaking security bars, and a huge window at the shop entrance.

Eyewitnesses told ZimEye the trio immediately pushed the damaged vehicle away from the scene to avoid public eyes as they are popular figures in the city.

Police at Bulawayo central police confirmed receiving a report on the incident but would not shed more details.⁠⁠⁠⁠

By Staff Reporter| Police in Harare’s Mount Pleasant low density suburb, have arrested scores of MDC-T youths who were conducting voter education.

The youths who included the party’s Harare Province Youth Assembly treasurer, Manyungwa Macheso, were on Saturday conducting a door to door voter mobilisation campaign when they were arrested.

They were however released without any charges after the police failed to establish any offence against them.

“The Police and ZANUPF local MP Pasadi were offended by how the Youth Assembly conducted the door to door campaign,” said the MDC-T youth assembly in a statement Sunday .

“We therefore urge our members to continue observing groups of less than 15 People when conducting the door to door campaign( D2D),” they added in a statement.

Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) president Joice Mujuru claims Zanu PF has deployed 500 spies to infiltrate her party’s structures ahead of its inaugural elective convention.

Mujuru accused the ruling party of trying to capitalise on the democratic process of choosing substantive leadership at the party’s inaugural elective convention to infiltrate her party.

Addressing her party’s Manicaland provincial executive committee in Mutare on Thursday, Mujuru said “just two weeks ago, Zanu PF hatched a plan to have 500 of its members infiltrate ZimPF structures in every province.”

“We have to be very careful when we elect members to fill in various positions at the national convention.

“We should select people whose history we know, members who we started the party with and members with a track record in the party.”

Mujuru two weeks ago fired her former allies Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa on allegations they were plotting to topple her and spied on the party for Zanu PF.

Gumbo and Mutasa have since appointed themselves caretaker ZimPF presidents at a meeting attended by war veterans with links to Zanu PF.

The former VP also promised that her ZimPF government would look at issues of national healing, starting with the Gukurahundi genocide.

“There are people without birth certificates, people who can’t go to school because they don’t have documentation because their parents were killed,” she said.

“The problems are not unique to Gukurahundi.

“Even here in Manicaland, people have been disappearing and Zanu PF uses Border Gezi trained youths to carry out these dastardly acts.”

Over 20 000 civilians were murdered in Matabeleland and Midlands regions in the early 1980s when the North Korean-trained 5th Brigade was unleashed to deal with a few dissidents elements.

Mugabe is yet to apologise for the atrocities, preferring to call the period “ a moment of madness.”

Mujuru said Mugabe could easily say “it was a moment of madness and finds comfortable sleep thereafter because he has no relative that he lost in the massacres.”

The ZimPF leader said she was committed to an opposition coalition that would seek to wrest power from Mugabe in the 2018 elections, adding that nothing would stop the impending pre-election alliance of opposition parties.

Meanwhile, Mujuru told her supporters in Bindura that she survived four coup plots allegedly orchestrated by party elders, Gumbo and Mutasa before she eventually decided to fire them a fortnight ago.

Mujuru fired Gumbo, Mutasa, former Masvingo provincial minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Margret Dongo, and three other members on allegations of plotting a coup against her.

Other party bigwigs who include Sylvester Nguni, Ray Kaukonde, Agrippa Mutambara and Cougan Matanhire resigned in solidarity with the fired elders.

Addressing ZimPF officials in Bindura last week, as part of a nationwide tour aimed at auditing party structures, Mujuru said her life had become hell because of Gumbo and Mutasa.

She alleged the party elders had been sabotaging her to an extent that ZimPF failed to hold an elective convention to select substantive leadership last year.

The former VP said this meant ZimPF could not conclusively negotiate a proposed coalition with other opposition parties, especially Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T.

“Mutambara, when he was still with us, told me that he had been asked for support by Gumbo in his bid to take over from me as party president,” Mujuru told the Mashonaland Central provincial executive.

“They made attempts to oust me. This was the fourth time after the Bikita by-election,” she said.

“They made the decision to go into the polls after being persuaded by [Claudius] Makova.

“When we lost, it became Mujuru’s problem. They had drawn a list of 15 members to be fired. This is when I decided they should go for the growth of the party.”

She alleged Mutambara only turned against her after she blocked the elders’ decision to have national organising secretary Dzikamai Mavhaire reassigned.

Mujuru alleged Gumbo and Mutasa had promised him Mavhaire’s post.

“We had a meeting in which they suggested that Mavhaire be reassigned,” she said.

“But I told them that the issue should be handled by the interim national executive council.

“What I didn’t know was that they had already appointed Mutambara to replace Mavhaire.

“So when I told them that the matter should be referred to the national executive council, this did not go down well with them,” she said.

The former VP said her problems with the elders started a long time back when the youth rejected Bhasikiti as their chairperson.

“But Bhasikiti thought I was the one who influenced the youth to reject him. He started holding clandestine meetings to sabotage me,” she said.

“Our meetings have always been characterised by silly arguments, with the elders trying to derail everything.

“Each time we had a meeting the following day, I would not sleep dreading the petty arguments by these men in the meeting. I went through hell at the hands of these men.”

Mujuru said the other source of conflict was their stance not to accommodate members from other political parties except those from Zanu PF.

“And I asked them, how many people from Zanu PF can help us win the elections? We need everyone,” she said.

Gumbo denied allegations that he plotted against Mujuru in an exclusive interview with The Standard. – TheStandard

Government is working on modalities to make February 21 a national holiday in honour of Zimbabwe’s Founding Father. President Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s first black Prime Minister at Independence in 1980 and inaugural executive Head of State and Government in 1987, was born on February 21, 1924.

His birthday has for decades been a landmark date on the national calendar via the efforts of the 21st February Movement, which creates awareness about President Mugabe’s contribution to development with particular focus on youth involvement in socio-economic transformation.

At a meeting to assess preparations for this Saturday’s 21st February Movement celebrations in Matobo, Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration and Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said the ruling party’s Youth League had recommended that the day be declared a national holiday, and Government consulatations on the matter were at an advanced stage.

Dr Chombo and youth league leader Kudzi Chipanga expressed satisfaction with preparations for the event.

A Chitungwiza kombi driver who caused an accident at a roadblock along New Chitungwiza Road has been sentenced to an effective seven months in prison, and prohibited from driving for the next five years.

Alvin Muringani (31), appeared before Mbare magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje charged with negligent driving under the Road Traffic Act.

Prosecutor Ms Hilda Huni alleged that on January 8 this year, Muringani was driving a Nissan Caravan along New Chitungwiza Road heading towards a roadblock.

Muringani, who was not pulled over by the police, allegedly accelerated his vehicle passing the road block and rammed the back of another Nissan Caravan forcing it to hit another vehicle.

Several people suffered severe injuries and were ferried to Harare Hospital.

Ms Huni told the court that Muringani acted unlawfully by driving at an excessive speed under those circumstances, disregarding other road users which resulted in passengers getting injured.

In the same court, a Harare man Norman Takadii (21) was slapped with a 15-day jail term after being found guilty of stealing a chicken.

He appeared before Mbare magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje charged with stock theft.

Allegations are that on February 12 this year, Feddy Taiwa was informed by Takadii’s stepmother that there were feathers in his room, which she suspected were from a stolen chicken.

Taiwa then checked his fowl run and discovered that one chicken was missing and went to Takadii’s room where he discovered feathers similar to that of the missing chicken. – State Media

INCARCERATED Kariba-based Remnant Church Pastor Patrick Philip Mugadza, who is alleged to have committed a criminal offence by saying that President Robert Mugabe would die on October 17 this year, was yesterday further remanded in custody to next Monday.

The pastor did not physically appear in court after presiding magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro, who was recently transferred to Bindura, failed to bring the suspect’s court file from the Mashonaland Central town.

Mugadza was represented by lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Jeremiah Bhamu and Gift Mtisi.

Allegations against Mugadza emanated from a “prophecy” which he revealed during an interview with a local online publication where he caused the publication of a story which said God had told him Mugabe would die on October 17 this year.

Meanwhile, the trial of Patson Dzamara and his four alleged accomplices, who are being charged with disorderly conduct, also failed to kick off as presiding magistrate Gamuchirai Siwardi did not report for duty. – Newsday

SEVENTEEN people have so far drowned in Manicaland Province since the onset of the rainy season in November.

Police said most of the people were swept away while attempting to cross flooded rivers.

Most incidents happened in Chief Saunyama’s area of Nyanga between December 1 and February 6.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, said all the bodies were retrieved.

“We urge people to desist from crossing flooded rivers. We also urge parents and guardians to ensure that their children do not stay or play near water bodies.

“They should accompany their children to school. Water reservoirs should always be secured. It is important to take precautionary measures to avoid unnecessary loss of lives,” said Insp Kakohwa.

Two siblings, Life and Energy Murembwe, aged seven and eight respectively, drowned on December 5 in Fungirai Village in Chief Marange’s area. The two, who were herding cattle along Manguwe Stream, drowned while swimming in a three-metre deep pool. The bodies were seen floating in the dam the following day.

In another incident, a six-year old boy, Paul Kurehwatira drowned in Mukuni River after he slipped while herding cattle with his brothers, Desire and William.

Prominent Nyangunzi lost her 11-month-old daughter, Bridget after she fell in a 20-litre bucketful of water and died instantly.

An illegal gold panner, Happimore Mazonde (28), drowned after he jumped into a flooded river while following an empty two-litre container which had been blown into the river by whirlwind on December 2.

In Buhera, a three-year-old boy, Ngaavongwe Malcom Musapukira drowned in Nyarushanga River in Chief Nyashanu’s area on December 18 after he was left unattended by his sisters, Praise and Sifelani aged nine and 11 respectively.

A one-year-old toddler, Kimberley Jobo, drowned in a two-metre deep well after her mother, Tariro left her unattended. The incident happened in Sekai Village under Chief Makoni in Rusape.

Amon Chiduku (64) of Fiki Village and Agabu Machote (30) also drowned after attempting to cross flooded rivers.

Last week, a four-year-old infant drowned after she slipped into Nyajezi River while attempting to follow her mother.

Alice Ngwaru (39) was on her way home from Village Eight in Chief Saunyama’s area in the company of her daughters, Patience and Nyasha and upon reaching a flooded Nyajezi River, Alice carried Patience and crossed the river leaving Nyasha behind. Alice left Patience on the other side of the river as she crossed back to take Nyasha. Patience followed her, but slipped into the river and drowned.

A five-year-old girl from Sahumani Village under Chief Mutasa was swept away on January 13, at around 12 noon after she attempted to cross a flooded river while heading to school. Her body was found floating in the river the following day.

On January 14, in Murodzi Village in Nyanga, a 66-year-old woman who had left home to Murodzi Farm to sell fruits and vegetables was swept away after she attempted to cross a flooded river. Villagers conducted a search after she had gone missing and found her body trapped in between stones in the river.

Odzi Primary School pupil, Shalom Mutopora (five) drowned on January 17 after she attempted to retrieve her shoe which she had dropped in Mutopora River. Efforts by villagers to rescue her were in vain.

The body of an unknown man believed to be in his early 20s was recently found floating in Dinhidza river in Zamuchiya village in Chipinge District. The body was discovered by a group of school children who were coming from Mariya Secondary School. The children alerted other villagers who went on to make a police report. They attended the scene and retrieved the body from the river. The body which was in a state of decomposition was conveyed to St Peter’s Mission Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

34-year-old Cynthia Nehwangura’s body was recently found floating along Mutorahuku River in Manyika Village under Chief Mutambara.

Police said Cynthia was a suspected mental patient. She had gone missing on January 17 at around 6pm. A villager, Morgan Manyika found Cynthia’s body on February 7 while he was looking for his cattle.

The body was at an advanced stage of decomposition. The body was conveyed to Mutambara Mission Hospital for post-mortem. Investigations are in progress. – State Media

THERE was an unprecedented drama at the Rusape Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon when lawyer, Tendai Bvuma and estranged ex- live-in girlfriend, Hazel Mahati were involved in a public fight.

The brawl took place in the corridors leading to the public prosecutors and interpreters offices soon after lunch. The fighting temporarily brought court business to a halt as officials rushed to offer Mahati first aid assistance.

The real cause of the fight was not clear at the time of going to Press as both parties gave conflicting statements.

Fellow lawyer, Mr Taurai Khupe and Public Prosecutor, Mr Tafara Chawatama, had a torrid time restraining the former lovers from fighting.

Mr Chawatama held Mahati, while Mr Khupe battled to control an enraged Bvuma. Bvuma’s jacket and trousers were torn in the scuflle.

Mr Khupe managed to drag Bvuma and shoved him into District Prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira’s office, but Mr Chawatama was overpowered by Mahati who followed Bvuma in Mr Mutyasira’s office. Another scuffle ensued.

As the two fought, Bvuma punched Mahati on the cheek and she plunged headlong to the ground. She lost consciousness in the process, prompting Mr Khupe to shout: “Tendai unouraya munhu kani” and Bvuma responded saying: “Anofira mumaoko angu uyu, basa rekundiendera kun’anga nemaporofita.”

Mahati was later carried by fellow workmates from Mr Mutyasira’s office into senior interpreter, Mr Binali’s office.

When Bvuma saw this correspondent, he shouted pointing at Mahati: “Correspondent wanga uripiko? Tora news. Anga akuenderera mberi. Ndamudzemura akafenda. (Hey you Correspondent where were you. Record this drama, I thumped her and she fainted.)

For professional reasons, Messrs Khupe, Chawatama and Mutyasira refused to comment.

Asked to comment on what led him to fight his former girlfriend whom he has a two-year-old son with in public, Bvuma alleged that Mahati was visiting n’angas and prophets for him to have misfortunes in life.

He also said he was not worried about the consequences he was likely to face from the no nonsense Law Society of Zimbabwe since their issue was a domestic one and Mahati had provoked him.

“Hazel is consulting prophets to cast a spell on me. She wants me arrested so that I lose my job. She was at a prophet in Headlands last week and I confronted her.

“When I arrived at the court she told me that she wanted to create a scene and humiliate me. She threatened to follow me in court. She wants me out of Rusape. She grabbed my jacket and neck. When I sought refuge in Mr Mutyasira’s office she followed. Khupe and Chawatama tried to stop the scuffle.

“While I was in Mr Mutyasira’s office, she grabbed me by the neck. I retaliated and punched her. She fainted. She is very weak, she almost died. I was never in love with her because she used juju to lure me into the relationship. I do not know what she really wants from me. She is refusing to surrender my clothes that I left at her home. I am paying a lot of debts which she accrued.

“What did you want me to do when she provoked like that. The Law Society of Zimbabwe does not deal with domestic issues and this is a domestic issue. Yes, it happened at court, but it is domestic,” said Bvuma.

Mahati who was recuperating at home claimed that she suffered a broken skull as a result of the scuffle.

She further claimed that Bvuma provoked her when he told her to stop calling his new wife, Fortunate Nyakwenga.

“He is being fed with lies by Fortunate Nyakwenga. Bvuma spends the whole day at court and she thinks I will be with him. After lunch, Bvuma came to me fuming. At first I thought he was at work, but he charged at me as I was about to enter the courtroom.

“It is Bvuma who confronted me saying I wanted to kill him. He is getting that information from Fortunate. He is not even paying maintenance for his child. He was ordered to pay $150 a month, but he has arrears amounting to $2 000. The criminal case emanating from the maintenance default is being heard at Mutasa Magistrates’ Court, but he absconded three times. The police are not arresting him.

“I am at hospital now. I sustained skull injuries. The car he is driving is mine, but he is refusing to surrender it. He is not a licenced driver. For the past one and half years I avoided talking to him. I am yet to return to work, I am at hospital right now,” said Mahati.

Efforts to get a comment from Nyakwenga were fruitless at the time of going to Press. – State Media

Allan Wilson pupils yesterday afternoon protested against the new curriculum introduced by Education Minister Lazarus Dokora. VIDEO:

Allan Wilson students protesting against the new curriculum introduced by Dokora in town this afternoon. Your future is in your hands. Aluta pic.twitter.com/sD7jq4ygFT

— #21daysofactivism (@lilomatic) February 17, 2017

US President Donald Trump’s phone call to South Africa President Jacob Zuma highlights neighbouring Zimbabwe’s high political risk and that Washington does not consider President Robert Mugabe a serious factor in Afro-American political and socio-economic relations, opposition and analysts said yesterday.

This comes after Trump spoke with Zuma on Monday this week to discuss ways to expand cooperation and trade between the US and SA.

According to a statement from Zuma’s office, “The two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the already strong bilateral relations between the two countries. There are 600 US companies in South Africa and strong trade relations between the two countries.”

In a quintessential rebuff of the 92-year-old Mugabe as tensions escalate over Washington’s February 6, 2017 concerns over “the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe”, the White House apparently snubbed Mugabe, with the businessman and television persona turned president maintaining a tougher US line against Zimbabwe.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba has reacted with indignation to US’ damning criticism of Zimbabwe’s human rights record, telling State Department officials they can “go and hang on a banana tree.”

Charamba told the State media Zimbabwe was waiting for an overture from the Trump administration to see how relations will be between the two countries during the Republican leader’s presidency.

“We are waiting for a cue from a new government,” Charamba said.

But Morgan Tsvangirai’s opposition MDC said the snub highlights the deepening of an already toxic bilateral relationship that matters increasingly less to Washington.

“Put bluntly . . . Mugabe has been nothing but a curse to Zimbabwe’s international relations,” MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said.

“No one, including even the Chinese, no longer trusts Mugabe. He is not a man of his word. He indicates left and then he suddenly turns right.

“Trump doesn’t consider Mugabe as a serious factor in Afro-American political and socio-economic relations.

“Trump knows that Mugabe is yesterday’s man; he also knows that Mugabe is in the political departure lounge, he is on his way out of power.”

Trump and Zuma, according to a White House summary of their call, reaffirmed an “expressed interest in identifying new, mutually beneficial opportunities for trade” and to “deepen the bilateral relations.”

Analyst Takura Zhangazha said people must not read too far into Trump’s snub as it does not change the structural dynamics in a bilateral relationship that is slowly worsening, and slowly fading in importance.

“Trump chose Zuma because the latter leads the largest economy in the region and is a key trading partner with the US and also in recognition of the fact that South Africa is a regional powerhouse, at least economically.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said he is the only opposition leader capable of leading a united front against President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF.

Although Tsvangirai said consultations on the matter were in progress, he also emphasized that there is no other opposition leader capable of leading the much anticipated grand coalition.

Tsvangirai made the remarks at the party provincial offices in Masvingo Province last weekend. Political analysts say although Tsvangirai has played a pivotal role in the struggle against the Mugabe regime, he has to be prepared to embrace other political figures. “We cannot offer the top post to anyone else. Others have to wait in line. When you arrive at a place you have to familiarise with proceedings.You have to let those you found in the area lead the process while you learn,”said Tsvangirai.

The MDC leader said he was persecuted by the Mugabe regime for 17 years and he was the right candidate to lead the anticipated united front. “The people have suffered for a long time and we know what has been taking place.Therefore, we want the highest office because that is where decisions are made,”said Tsvangirai.

In Zaka District party supporters told Tsvangirai they were sceptical of Mujuru’s sincerity. The former premier however said his party would work with all progressive opposition parties.

THE Constitution Amendment (number 1) Bill sponsored by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa was yesterday rejected by Harare residents at a public hearing with most people seeing a hidden political motive behind the proposed changes.

MPs, with the Ziyambi Ziyambi led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, which is conducting the public hearings on the Bill, were told blankly that the judicial arm of government was critical and should maintain independence.

The crowd, which failed to fit in the venue of the hearing at Parliament Building, did not mince its words, vowing people would never allow the three-year-old Constitution to be tampered with for political advantage, and would not tolerate it being “patched”.

The amendments will affect section 180 of the Constitution to ensure the Chief Justice (CJ), Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) and the Judge President of the High Court are appointed by the President after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission.

ZimRights boss, Okay Machisa said the Constitution was in its infancy with several laws needing to be realigned. He said the rights of people were already being curtailed by allowing the head of State and the Executive arm of the government to interfere with appointment of the judiciary.

“I am not in support of this amendment, and Parliament must instead push for the outstanding realignment of laws to suit the Constitution,” Machisa said.

Speakers condemned the amendments saying they did not want President Robert Mugabe to decide who to appoint as CJ as that appointee would make biased rulings in his favour whenever he was found on the wrong side of the law.

David Hofisi said the current Constitution provided for interviews for CJ, DCJ and Judge President of the High Court to ensure judicial independence, accountability and diversity, as well as to create a buffer between the Executive and judiciary.

“If the appointment process is entirely on the President, it becomes subject to political whims. Parliament must consider the principles of the independence of the judiciary and safeguard against improper political motives. This Bill is against democracy and must not be passed,” he said.

Reverend Machaire said: “The Constitution is like the Holy Bible, which must not be amended. We do not want the President to appoint the CJ because why do you always come up with laws to protect your political interests and enrich yourselves? You want to patch the Constitution yet you are failing to patch the roads? Do not forget we voted for you and we will remove you if you do not take our views.”

John Chirenda was surprised that before the Constitution crafted in 2013 had even been fully implemented, the Executive was already talking of amendments.

“I do not think the Labour Court should be subordinate to the High Court because it creates unnecessary bureaucracy. The appointment of CJ, DCJ and Judge President of the High Court must be left to the Judicial Service Commission. If we follow that route it will give public confidence in the Judiciary,” Chirenda said.

Takawira Mashingaidze said: “Why do you want to patch the Constitution before we have even enjoyed the rights in it? By the end of the year, how many patches will it have?”

Brighton Mahuni said political appointments to the Judiciary threaten its independence.

Retired lawyer, Alex Masterson blasted the short notice given to members of the public to attend the public hearings.

Masterson said it would be a big mistake to give more power to the Head of State to appoint judges, adding the correct thing to do was to observe separation of powers and decentralise government.

“Interviews for judges are good because people will know how much time he spends on his farm and at the court.

This amendment should be set aside,” he said.

Different women, who contributed, said the Constitution must not be adulterated and should be left in its current state.

“Who is hurt by that the CJ, DCJ and Judge President must be interviewed? Is it an individual seeking to get political advantage? Zimbabweans say no to amendments,” a member of the public said. – Newsday

Staff Reporter | Heavy rains from Cyclone Dineo which pounded much of Matabeleland South yesterday have left several places marooned and dams destroyed.

Reports being received by ZimEye.com from correspondents in Matabeleland South are that much of the province is now not accessible as all major rivers throughout the province are flooded.

The provincial capital town Gwanda was first to be isolated as all roads leading into the town except the Beitbridge Bulawayo highway went into floods and people can not get into the town from neighboring Gwanda North, Gwanda South and Insiza districts. By late last night even the Beitbridge highway was at the risk of closing up as waters in Umzingwane River were rising to just a few centres below the bridge.

In Filabusi districts reports are that a dam at Wanezi gave in last night and several people in the area have been evacuated and some homesteads within the area have been swept away by the floods.

The Limpopo, Shashi and Tuli Rivers in Gwanda South are reported to be reaching levels that villagers have never seen before. The villagers claim that the water levels are already higher than those seen in the notorious Cyclone Eline of the year 2000.

In Mangwe and Bulilima Districts there are reports that several dams in the area have either collapsed or on the verge of collapsing with the Civil Protection Unit busy evacuating villagers in low lying areas in fear of the risks involved if the dams give in. Thekwane River in Bulilima burst its banks by sunset yesterday as the rains continued to pounce the area.

No deaths or drownings have been reported yet as the police and the CPU remain on high alert and controlling people from trying to get to the flooded rivers and dams.

The rains are expected to continue until Monday. ZimEye.com correspondents in the areas are keeping watch of the situation and updates will be made available as events happen.

A 38–year-old Mberengwa man has been slapped with a three-year imprisonment sentence for applying herbs on his 19-year-old daughter’s breasts and private parts in a ritual to get rich.

The man’s daughter, who was abused when she was 17 years old in 2015, started having problems when she got married as she would see a vision of her father sleeping with her whenever she became intimate with her husband.

The man, from Hlatini Village in Mberengwa whose identity has been withdrawn to protect the identity of his victim, appeared before Mberengwa resident magistrate Mrs Evia Matura facing one count of indecent assault.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment. In passing the sentence, Mrs Matura said the man had violated his daughter in a manner that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

“You exchanged your cultural values for the love of money. This manifests moral decadence at its heights. You have caused your daughter to suffer hallucinations and it has affected her marital life.
“She sees your cruelty in every man and you didn’t show any remorse or contrition. You are sentenced to three years in prison,” she said.

Prosecuting, Ms Wadzanayi Shayanewako told the court that on November 29 in 2015, the accused ordered his daughter to come to the garden where he was.

“The accused called the complainant into the garden which is situated at their homestead and persuaded the complainant to obey to whatever he wanted her to do saying that she was his beloved daughter. The accused’s wife was not at the homestead and was to sleep out on the same day,” said Ms Shayanewako.

The court heard that on the same date at around 10PM the man, while half naked, went into his daughter’s bedroom hut and lured her to his bedroom hut.
Ms Shayanewako said he then made her daughter sit on his bed before pulling her blouse exposing her breasts.

He also pulled up her skirt. “The accused took some herbs and applied them all over the complainants’ body including her breasts and private parts with his hands. He ordered the complainant to lie on the bed but she refused,” said Ms Shayanewako.

She said the matter came to light in November last year when the complainant revealed the incident to her husband after having some hallucinations. – state media

AN 11-year-old pupil from Shurugwi has been charged with murder for allegedly fatally punching his classmate who was five years older.

The Grade Six pupil who was in a special class at Wida Primary School in Tongogara area, Shurugwi, allegedly felled his 16-year-old classmate with a fist leading to his death.
He has since been charged with murder but was released into the custody of his parents pending his appearance in court.

Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the incident which occurred on Monday. Asst Insp Mukwende said the two boys were attending the same special class at the primary school. She said reasons why they had engaged in the fistfight were still not clear.
“Police are investigating a case of murder which took place on February 13 at around 12.25PM at Wida Primary School in Tongogara, Shurugwi, where an 11-year-old boy who cannot be named for ethical reasons but from Chidende Village, Chief Nhema, fought with a 16–year-old classmate also from the same village,” she said.

“It is said the boys exchanged blows and during the fight, the 11-year-old overpowered the 16-year-old who then fell to the ground and became unconscious.”

Asst Insp Mukwende said a teacher tried to render first aid to the boy to no avail. He was taken to Zvamabande Clinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
“The body of the 16-year-old boy was taken to Shurugwi District Hospital for post-mortem,” she said.

Asst Insp Mukwende said investigations are in progress.

“We would like to appeal to members of the public to desist from using violence as a way of solving disputes because such acts are now cascading to the children who now view violence as a necessity in solving disputes. The boy is in the custody of his parents,” she said. – state media

Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Mandi Chimene has called on the electorate to elect Members of National Assembly who deliver on promises as some of them are now a liability to Zanu-PF.

Giving her welcome remarks during the First Lady, Dr Amai Grace Mugabe’s rally in Buhera yesterday, Chimene said it was sad that some Members of National Assembly had deserted their constituencies in Manicaland.

“We are all volunteers in Zanu-PF. We are not in the party for monetary gain. When we go out to the electorate we should have programmes that change people’s lives. Some MPs here are not working for the people and they are letting the party down. Amai, you are the mother of the nation, but some of your children who were voted into office are not user-friendly and they are doing a disservice to the parry. It should be made clear that those who do not want to work for the people should step aside. We do not want liabilities in Zanu-PF,” said Chimene.

“I want to urge the electorate to elect people who are easily approachable and not those who abandon their constituencies and give flimsy excuses of being busy. We should also not be ambitious in the party. You should not use your ambitions to create chaos in the party,” said  Chimene.

She said despite its richness, Manicaland had nothing to show for it.

“The province is endowed with gold, diamonds, vermiculate, phosphate, tantalite and copper. Illegal panning is rampant especially in Chimanimani at Tarka Estate where timber is being destroyed. Our mineral resources should not benefit a few individuals, but Zimbabwe as a whole. Corruption is rampant and panners are wreaking havoc. The country is losing a lot through these illegal activities.

“There is no diamond cutting and polishing in the province, yet most of the diamonds are being mined in Chiadzwa and Chimanimani. The merging of diamond companies is highly appreciated, however, the process should move with speed to ensure that our communities benefit from the diamonds. Furthermore, efforts should be made to acquire equipment relevant for deep mining of diamonds,” she said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Zanu-PF provincial chairman, Dr Samuel Undenge, thanked Dr Amai Mugabe for choosing Manicaland as her first port of call for 2017.

“We are honoured to be the first province to host Dr Amai Mugabe this year. The last time she was here, she empowered the Chimanimani community by donating tractors which have helped in changing lives there. She has continued with her generous donations as she recently donated chicks for income generating projects for women in Manicaland. We want to thank our mother for being an exemplary mother,” said Dr Undenge.

He said Zanu-PF was growing in Manicaland, and come 2018 it would sweep all the seats in the province.

“Zanu-PF is strong in Manicaland. The restructuring exercise went on very well and we now have more districts. We are witnessing defections from parties like Zimbabwe People First and all the MDCs. People are coming back to Zanu-PF in their numbers.

“I also want to reiterate that our candidate for 2018 is President Mugabe,” said Dr Undenge.

In her vote of thanks, Zanu-PF national secretary for transport and welfare  Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said there was unity of purpose in Manicaland.

“We want to thank the First Lady, Dr Amai Mugabe for coming to Manicaland where she continued with her gospel of unity.

“Manicaland is a problem province as most of the opposition leaders are from Manicaland, the likes of the late Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, Edgar Tekere, Simba Makoni, Morgan Tsvangirai, Margret Dongo and now Didymus Mutasa.

“We will continue working hard to consolidate our position as the people’s party in Manicaland. We should put aside all our personal differences for the good of the party,” she said. – State Media

A 22-YEAR-OLD woman reported her 41-year-old boyfriend after he allegedly deliberately infected her with HIV.

A Bulawayo magistrate heard yesterday that the couple has been living in Nkulumane suburb for the past two years and have a baby who is 16 months old.

State allegations are that the woman stumbled upon her boyfriend’s medical cards on February 8 showing that he was HIV positive.

The man, whose name has been withheld for ethical reasons, pleaded not guilty to a charge of deliberately infecting another person with HIV.

Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Chrispen Mberewere remanded him out of custody to March 14 for trial.

State representative Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa alleged that the woman asked her boyfriend about the medical cards she had found in his pocket but he laughed off the matter.

“Complainant found cards dated and stamped by OI (Opportunistic Infections clinic) and she asked the accused what they were for. Accused laughed and said he had gotten them from his grandmother. Complainant was not satisfied so she did her own investigations,” said Mr Manyiwa.

He said the woman approached her cousin with the cards but he also displayed ignorance on the matter.

“Complainant’s cousin referred her  to his friend who is a nurse at a local hospital.

“The friend is the one who explained that the cards are used when obtaining HIV treatment,” said Mr Manyiwa.

He said the woman went for testing and found that she was HIV positive.

“She went and confronted her boyfriend again about the issue and her new HIV status and he admitted that he was on treatment. Complainant made a police report leading to the arrest of the accused,” said Mr Manyiwa. – State Media

FLASH floods hit some suburbs in Bulawayo while a number of homes in Matabeleland South succumbed to heavy rains that fell yesterday.

Weather experts warned of more rains accompanied by strong winds leading to flooding in some parts of the country. As the country experiences a tropical storm induced by a downgraded Cyclone Dineo, the Meteorological Service Department (MSD) and the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) issued flood warnings for some areas including Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South and parts of the Midlands province.

In Bulawayo, the Acting Chief Fire Officer Linos Phiri yesterday said some homes in some suburbs including Nkulumane and Emganwini were flooded.

A Chronicle newscrew visited Cowdray suburb where some roads were impassable. Enterprising men started to charge 50 cents to help individuals cross flooded roads.

The area’s councillor Collet Ndlovu said about 50 residents had reported that their houses were flooded by yesterday afternoon.

“I just addressed about 50 residents who said their pre-cast walls had also been damaged by the rain. Some had their household property destroyed due to poor drainage systems around the suburb,” said Clr Ndlovu.

At 8AM yesterday, five vehicles were involved in a pile-up along Plumtree road in Belmont after the car which was in front stopped when visibility was poor due to heavy rains. Two people were reportedly injured.

CPU national deputy director Ms Sibusisiwe Ndlovu said Insiza, uMzingwane and Matobo districts in Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North districts of Nkayi, and Tsholotsho and Gokwe in the Midlands were at high risk of flooding. She said some community dams were bursting.

“Communities in Insiza district must maintain vigilance as all river systems are full and walls of small dams have failed as the district received in excess of 82mm of rain over 24 hours as it continues to rain. Motorists should be on the lookout as most of the bridges are overflowing and the roads are badly damaged. uMzingwane District received an excess of 60mm of rainfall in 24 hours, families need to be on the lookout as most homes are succumbing to excess moisture,” said Ms Ndlovu.

She said villagers who might lose their homes to floods should report to councillors and the police.

She said flash floods are expected in Bulawayo and urged residents to approach the city’s emergency department when they are in danger.

“Bulawayo received rains in excess of 59mm in 24 hours and it continues to rain, causing widespread flash floods threatening homes. Residents are advised to call the Fire Brigade on 09-71717-9,” she said.

In Gwanda District in Matabeleland South, pupils were sent home as early as 10AM due to fears of floods following heavy rains that started on Thursday night.

Gwanda District Civil Protection Unit (GDSPU) head who is also the acting District Administrator, Mr Judge Dube, and the Provincial Civil Protection Unit had recommended that children should go home early.

Mtshabezi River was flooded, cutting off people from travelling to either side. In Silonga area there were strong winds, forcing the cancellation of cattle sales.

“We recommended that schools dismiss children early as we assess the situation. If it continues like this until next week we have recommended that they don’t come to school until it passes. We are also warning members of the public to move away from low-lying areas,” said Mr Dube.

He said there were no reports of any damage or distress made so far, but urged those who need help to call the hotline (0284) 20139.

Matabeleland South CPU chairperson Mrs Sithandiwe Ncube said the committee had activated all its arms and was ready to deal with any eventualities.

She said dams in Esigodini, Insiza, and Matobo had started spilling and Wanezi Dam had already started to give in.

Mrs Ncube said they had sent engineers to assess some of the bridges in Nkakezi area and other secondary roads.

“We are on high alert and are ready to evacuate all those people living within low-lying areas within the province. We are monitoring the situation around the clock, so that we are no found wanting and we will continue mobilising resources,” she said.

“We have teams at district level which are busy educating people about the impending disaster and how to handle various eventualities.”

Mrs Ncube said people living in the low-lying areas of Beitbridge were at high risk of floods, as most rivers passed through the district on their way to the Limpopo River.

In Midlands province, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cde Jason Machaya said the province was on high alert.

“The situation is still under control,” he said.

Cde Machaya urged people in the province to avoid unnecessary movements and crossing flooded rivers. – State Media

AN 11-year-old pupil from Shurugwi has been charged with murder for allegedly fatally punching his classmate who was five years older.

The Grade Six pupil who was in a special class at Wida Primary School in Tongogara area, Shurugwi, allegedly felled his 16-year-old classmate with a fist leading to his death.

He has since been charged with murder but was released into the custody of his parents pending his appearance in court.

Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the incident which occurred on Monday.

Asst Insp Mukwende said the two boys were attending the same special class at the primary school.

She said reasons why they had engaged in the fistfight were still not clear.

“Police are investigating a case of murder which took place on February 13 at around 12.25PM at Wida Primary School in Tongogara, Shurugwi, where an 11-year-old boy who cannot be named for ethical reasons but from Chidende Village, Chief Nhema, fought with a 16–year-old                   classmate also from the same village,” she said.

“It is said the boys exchanged blows and during the fight, the 11-year-old overpowered the 16-year-old who then fell to the ground and became unconscious.”

Asst Insp Mukwende said a teacher tried to render first aid to the boy to no avail. He was taken to Zvamabande Clinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“The body of the 16-year-old boy was taken to Shurugwi District Hospital for post-mortem,” she said.

Asst Insp Mukwende said investigations are in progress.

“We would like to appeal to members of the public to desist from using violence as a way of solving disputes because such acts are now cascading to the children who now view violence as a necessity in solving disputes. The boy is in the custody of his parents,” she said. – State Media

Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) Vice Chancellor Professor Primrose Kurasha has died.

Prof Kurasha died this evening at a local private hospital where she had been admitted.

Details of the circumstances surrounding her death were still sketchy as family members were still in shock.

A senior medical doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the death of Prof Kurasha.

“Yes, she died around 8pm. Everyone is still in shock. Close family members have been notified, but they have not yet appointed a family spokesperson. Her death is quite sad because we did not expect it,” said the medical practitioner.

Prof Kurasha wrote her own history when she became the first woman Vice Chancellor in Zimbabwe, after being appointed to head ZOU in 2003. – State Media

Staff Reporter | The hospital crisis is set to escalate after senior doctors have given notice to join junior doctors in a strike action that has entered its 3rd day.

The doctors cite in the letter above that it is not safe for them to continue with their duties in the absence of junior doctors and will only resume after they are back.

The doctors’ strike enters its third day today, with the medical practitioners accusing the government of failing to concretise its promise of creating more posts and improving their welfare.

Striking doctors vowed to continue with their industrial action until they are furnished with real dates, timelines and the locations of the posts that Health minister David Parirenyatwa announced had been created.

Parirenyatwa, on Tuesday, said the government had opened up 250 posts for doctors and 2 000 posts for nurses, but did not give further details on how soon this would be implemented.

“In the next two weeks, 120 trained doctors will be rendered jobless as a result of an ill-timed freeze on health sector posts,” the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) said.

“The ministry issued a notice that posts would be created to accommodate the cadres completing internship in the next two weeks. The notice, however, falls short of absolute clarity on when the posts will be availed and an update can only be given by October 14, 2017.

“This arrangement will render our cadres jobless and detached from the payroll for eight months. Revision of this position will definitely unlock avenues of collaborative engagement,” Edgar Munatsi, the ZHDA president, said.

In a statement to its members, ZHDA said the industrial action was deeply anchored on the “unpalatable inability” of the Health ministry to resolve the long-standing issues.

These included that doctors were currently earning around $1,20 per hour as on-call allowances despite an October 2014 agreement between the doctors’ association and the Health minister.

“ZHDA unequivocally reiterates that the agreed minimum of $720 per month be immediately implemented and also the duty-free vehicle policy for health workers,” the association said.

ZHDA said it had been actively engaged in consultations, negotiations and meetings with a view to resolving the current impasse.

“The proposed dates for resolving on-call allowances and duty-free facility are not an accurate reflection of both the urgency, which this matter deserves and the time for which they have been outstanding,” Munatsi said.

ZHDA was yesterday consulting its members on quick ways to resolve the impasse in a manner that causes the least harm to patients and country.

Efforts to get a comment from Parirenyatwa Hospital’s CEO, Thomas Zigora, as well as from Harare Central Hospital were fruitless.

Meanwhile, ZHDA said there was an overwhelming response from government doctors across the country on the call to go on strike.

“Central hospitals such as Mpilo, Parirenyatwa and Harare hospital today literally closed their out-patients’ department and cancelled emergencies. ZHDA deployed a few doctors in casualty and emergency departments to cover for emergency cases,” the association said in a statement. – Newsday/Phylllis Mbanje

Zanu PF bigwigs say President Robert Mugabe was at his “foxy” best during Wednesday’s heated politburo meeting in Harare — running rings around the ruling party’s two warring factions and apparently leaving both camps “thoroughly confused”.

Well-placed sources who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said the wily nonagenarian cunningly contrived to lose his temper, before demanding that his lieutenants work together to save the former liberation movement from suffering another humiliating defeat in the much-anticipated 2018 national elections, as had happened in 2008.

Mugabe, who turns 93 on Tuesday, was apparently also careful not to look like he was siding with either of Zanu PF’s two feuding camps during the meeting — supporting and shellacking both camps in equal measure.

“Gushungo (Mugabe) was in his element, and made it clear that he is still the unchallenged and unchallengeable leader of the pack.
“It was also very clear that any of the factions with designs on power in the country will need his support if they are to get anywhere.

“He gave and took away from the two camps with equal measure, leaving them both thoroughly confused about what his next move will be,” a Zanu PF senior official who has always claimed to be “non-aligned” said.

Wednesday’s meeting was held against the backdrop of the high level of indiscipline within the ruling party, as well the deep-rooted tribal, factional and succession wars which are ravaging the former liberation movement — and which escalated when Mugabe was away in the Far East on his annual holiday.

Another source also said yesterday that the “deliberately angry” Mugabe had refused to “buy into” the party factions’ allegations and counter-allegations against each other — choosing to focus instead on healing all internal rifts as Zanu PF prepares for next year’s make-or-break elections.

The ruling party is split in the middle, with a faction of young Turks going by the moniker Generation 40 (G40) rabidly opposed to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe, and squaring up against the VP’s allies, Team Lacoste.

“He lashed at the escalating factionalism that is devouring the party. He openly warned members of the politburo to unite the party as we are likely to face a united opposition in 2018,” the second source told the Daily News yesterday.

Zanu PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo told a news conference after the meeting that Mugabe had tasked them with making sure that the party was united ahead of the 2018 elections.

“Commenting on the 2018 harmonised elections, the president advised members to attune their minds, attitudes and emotions to focus on unity, so as to win the 2018 harmonised elections.

“The president informed members that the late Vice President Simon Vengesai Muzenda left a legacy of success and victory in all elections. Thus it’s our duty to maintain that success story to honour his legacy,” Chombo said.

In the run-up to Wednesday’s politburo meeting, the G40 and Team Lacoste had traded deadly blows on all fronts.

The G40 escalated its fight with Team Lacoste after Mnangagwa hosted and sacked Zanu PF officials at his rural home during the festive season, saying this was in fact a meeting organised to plot the ouster of Mugabe from power.

And since the images of Mnangagwa holding the much-obsessed about coffee mug (written I Am The Boss) emerged in the public domain, the G40 had interpreted this as the VP’s open statement that he had unbridled presidential ambitions.

G40-linked party officials subsequently met at the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare where they issued a statement in which they called for a probe into Mnangagwa for hobnobbing with the likes of war veterans’ leader Christopher Mutsvangwa and maverick businessman-cum politician Energy Mutodi.

Sources linked to Team Lacoste claim Mugabe had refused on Wednesday to entertain the “Cupgate” issue, apparently going on to talk about how allegedly loyal Mnangagwa was to him.

“He simply took the wind out of the sails of both factions by deftly dealing with their issues while reminding them he was still the boss.

“The president neutralised the coffee mug debate on one hand, but on the other, attacked Team Lacoste’s actions in Masvingo where he ordered fresh elections to choose a substantive executive,” the supposedly “non-aligned” party bigwig said.

Before the politburo ordered fresh elections in Masvingo, the regional structure found itself deep in the throes of factional anarchy, following its leadership’s unilateral decision to bring back the suspended former provincial leader, Ezra Chadzamira, to replace Amasi Nenjana who had been the acting chairperson.

Chadzamira is said to be a key member of Team Lacoste which accused Nenjana of allegedly working with the G40 to destabilise the province.

During the party’s annual people’s conference in Masvingo last year, Mugabe also slyly blew a gasket at the gathering, savaging his brawling lieutenants, while cunningly moving to finger some of his top aides in alleged plots to hound him out of power — as the ruling party’s tribal, factional and succession wars continue to burn hot.

He made a thinly-disguised dig at Team Lacoste then, saying the party’s leadership was not won through plotting the arrest of opponents, but through elections.

This was after the G40 had over the previous months alleged that the Mnangagwa camp was abusing key State institutions, including lapdog State media, to irregularly grab power in the former liberation movement.

But, in typical Mugabe style, the nonagenarian also moved to attack the G40 at the meeting for their alleged indiscipline, and for abusing social media to attack fellow party officials.
“To the party leadership, we do not run matters of the party through Twitter or Facebook,” he said, as he sought to balance his criticism and in the process consolidate his own position.
Political analysts who spoke to the Daily News at the time said it would have been “atypical” if Mugabe had chosen one faction over the other.

“The current situation where there are factions fighting each other below him means that there isn’t a faction fighting him directly, so the fighting serves him well,” said former civic leader McDonald Lewanika.

Mugabe — the only leader Zimbabweans have known since the country gained its independence from Britain in April 1980 — is facing the biggest challenge to his long rule.
The increasingly fail nonagenarian and Zanu PF are battling growing unrest among the country’s restive populace, which blames his government for presiding over the country’s dying economy and the deepening rot in the former regional breadbasket. – Newsday

The Ferret team intercepted three South African-registered vehicles believed to be part of a smuggling syndicate transporting prohibited goods to Bulawayo through Beitbridge Border Post early this week.Two Toyota Quantums towing trailers were intercepted on Tuesday midnight, while carrying 1 360 boxes of cooking oil, 119 boxes of wine, 11 boxes of candy sweets and 39 boxes of éclair pops chocolate.

A third car, a Toyota Hilux, which was being driven by Donovan Mpofu of Luveve in Bulawayo, was busted yesterday carrying 89 boxes of cooking oil.

The three vehicles and the goods were seized by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra). The value of the goods is yet to be ascertained and three suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

The Ferret team is made up of officials from Zimra, police, immigration and other security agencies. Matabeleland south police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele said he was yet to get details on the matter.

However, sources close to investigations said the vehicles were intercepted during routine border patrols.

“Searches were conducted leading to the discovery of an assortment of goods worth thousands of dollars in import duty,” said a border official who did not want to be named.

“The goods and the vehicles have been seized by Zimra,” he said. “Efforts are being made to send the three suspects to court,” he said.

The official said they had intensified patrols in light of an upsurge in smuggling of prohibited goods into the county through the border and other illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River.

A fortnight ago, the same team intercepted two South African trucks en-route to Harare carrying a consignment of detergents worth $30 000 in import duty.

The suspected owners of the contraband under-declared the goods and paid a paltry $2,910 for both trucks instead of $29 924,50.

The smuggling of goods through the country’s borders heightened from July last year after Government removed various commodities including food items, building materials, furniture, toiletries and cooking oil, from the open general import licence.

The goods now require a permit prior to importation and travellers are allowed to bring in limited volumes once per calendar month. – State Media

First Lady Grace Mugabe this afternoon used the opportunity in Morgan Tsvangirai’s home village Buhera to lay into his wife Liz, for her skin bleaching. Grace said bleaching was not a sign of beauty. VIDEO:

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his fierce splinter rival MDC boss Welshman Ncube have all but clinched a coalition agreement which will see the two parties supporting each other’s candidates in selected constituencies in next year’s general elections, ending 12 years of political estrangement.

The Zimbabwe Independent is reliably informed that Ncube, who at one time vowed never to work with Tsvangirai because of his “dictatorial tendencies and propensity to breach the party constitution”, have found each other after months of negotiations.

Inside sources in both parties revealed the two were close to signing a coalition agreement which will see Ncube being given a senior post in a Tsvangirai-led government.

“Tsvangirai and Ncube are close to signing an agreement. However, there are still some areas that need to be ironed out. The two political parties have agreed in principle that they will select the constituencies where each party will field a candidate on a sort of proportional representation. The parties will then support each other, that is, there won’t be any competition between the two parties,” said the source. “This is just a first step in forming a coalition or even uniting the MDC as well as other opposition parties ahead of elections. Ncube will benefit from the arrangement as his candidates will ride on Tsvangirai’s popularity, while Tsvangirai will benefit from Ncube’s credibility and strategic thinking.”

Contacted for a comment on Wednesday Ncube said while his party has been in talks with Tsvangirai’s MDC since last year, no agreement had been reached.

“Nothing has been agreed on anything yet. However, in principle that is not how a coalition works. Candidates belong to the coalition and not to its constituent elements,” Ncube said.

Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said a deal is yet to be sealed with Ncube.

“Nothing has been sealed with anyone. Coalitions are the exclusive zone of the president (Tsvangirai), but there has been no agreement with anyone. If there is such an agreement, then the president has an obligation to brief the executive organs of the party. That he is yet to do so means it’s still speculation at this stage. You also need to know that the alliance goes beyond political parties to include other stakeholders as well,” Tamborinyoka said. “It’s all still speculation. If there is an agreement with anyone, the executive organs of the party would have known ahead of the media.”

The Tsvangirai-Ncube talks have irked MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe who recently said there was no need for her party to entertain the idea of a coalition in Matabeleland regions where the party is strong and popular. Khupe said a coalition is only needed in Mashonaland provinces where the MDC-T has not been performing well.

“As a political party, you want a coalition because you will have realised a gap in your party and, as the MDC-T, where is our gap? It is clear that our gap is in Mashonaland East, West and Central where we have consistently not done well,” Khupe said.

But MDC-T insiders say after learning from the defeats in 2008 and 2013, Tsvangirai and other senior officials believe a coalition is the best way to defeat President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF.

The sources said Tsvangirai also intends to reach out to other opposition leaders, include former vice-president Joice Mujuru, Simba Makoni and Dumiso Dabengwa. – The Independent

UPMARKET houses which First Lady Grace Mugabe is accused of invading over a botched US$1,35 million diamond ring deal are mortgaged to a local financial institution BancABC from Lebanese businessman Jamal Ahmed, the Zimbabwe Independent can reveal.

This development comes as it emerged this week that Interpol has expressed ignorance over Grace’s claims that it is assisting in the extradition of Ahmed from Belgium to Zimbabwe to face prosecution over the diamond ring dispute.

Ahmed’s lawyers say Grace is in contempt of court by allegedly ignoring an order compelling her and her son Russell Goreraza to surrender the four properties they are accused of invading in December last year.

The properties which Grace is said to have invaded, the Independent established this week, were in fact attached by BancABC, which won a civil matter against Ahmed in an unrelated dispute involving a US$10 million loan which was advanced to the businessman in a botched diamond sale deal.

However, as the property saga continues the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) which, according to Ahmed’s lawyers, is trying to shield Grace, has also enjoined itself in the matter alleging that the seized properties were not invaded by Grace, but were taken over by the law enforcement agents as exhibits in a criminal matter involving Ahmed.

On January 4 this year, Ahmed’s lawyers, Mtetwa and Nyambirai Legal Practitioners, obtained a writ of ejectment against Grace, her son and Kennedy Fero, who is Grace’s aide but is also attached to the ZRP, ordering them to vacate the properties in dispute.

The writ of ejectment reads in part: “Whereas the applicants in this matter, (Jamal, Thatchfree Investments, Super Earth and Itchester Investments) c/o Mtetwa and Nyambirai Legal Practitioners of No. 2 Meredith Drive, Eastlea, Harare obtained judgment in the High Court of Zimbabwe on the 21st of December, 2016, against Russell Goreraza, Grace Mugabe and Kennedy Fero, unlawfully occupying, No 409 Harare Drive, Pomona, No 18 Cambridge Road, Avondale, Harare, and No. 75 King George Road, Avondale, Harare, ordering Russell Goreraza, Grace Mugabe and Kennedy Fero and all persons claiming occupation through them to be ejected …”

“Now therefore you are required and directed to eject the said Russel Goreraza, Grace Mugabe and Kennedy Fero and all persons claiming occupation through them, whilst restoring peaceful and undisturbed possession of the said premises, to applicants, to the end that the said applicants may peaceably enter and possess the same.”

After obtaining the ejectment order, the lawyers then approached the sheriff with a view to enforcing the court order, but on January 13 2017, the police intervened and claimed they were the ones in occupation of the properties.

But court documents gleaned by this paper reveal that the seized properties in question were subject of a court dispute between Ahmed and BancABC, of which the latter obtained a writ of execution and was the rightful owner.

According to the court papers, sometime in April 2014, BancABC successfully obtained an order against Jamal and nine other defendants which order allowed the bank to retain the properties with a view to recovering US$4 634 547,72.

The court order obtained by BancABC expressly mentions one of the properties as number 18 Cambridge Road, Avondale, Harare, while other properties are identified by their title deeds and measurements.

“You are further required and directed to attach and take into execution: (1) certain piece of land situate in the District of Salisbury called Subdivision C of M.T.C. lot measuring 8 165 square metres and held under Deed of Transfer 205/10, transferred to the seventh defendant, Exodus Fuel (Pvt) Ltd on the 15 February 2010,” reads a writ by former High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu.

“… (2) certain piece of land situate in the District of Salisbury called stand 7473 Salisbury Township of stand 7460 Salisbury Township measuring 2 221 square metres and held under Deed of Transfer 8274/10 transferred to eighth defendant, Backlodge Investments (Pvt) Ltd on October 2005; and
“… (3) certain piece of land situate in the District of Salisbury being an undivided 8,33% share being share No, 12 called Remainder of Subdivision G of Subdivision A of lot 15 Block C of Avondale measuring 5 657 square metres and held under Deed of Transfer 0620/09 transferred to the 9th defendant Itchester Investments (Pvt) Ltd on the 2 February 2009. Which were by order of this court bearing date 2nd of April 2014 specially declared executable to satisfy the aforementioned sum of US$4 634 547,72 together with interest thereon at the rate of 38% per annum from the 25th day of October 2013 to date of payment …”

Although the bank obtained the court orders against Ahmed and being the rightful owner of the properties, the financial institution has remained mum on the matter, possibly for fear of reprisals as the property saga is now being controlled by Grace.

This also comes as Interpol has refused to be involved in the battle between Grace and Ahmed.

In her opposing papers, Grace alleged that Ahmed had a warrant of arrest which was issued by Interpol on various criminal activities. Grace did not, however, attach the warrant of arrest to her papers.

Ahmed’s legal team, led by Beatrice Mtetwa, then wrote to Interpol demanding a copy of the warrant of arrest.

In the documents seen by this paper, Mtetwa wrote: “In proceedings currently pending before the High Court, Superintendent Nyambo Viera of the Law and Order Section in Harare stated in his affidavit that there is a warrant of arrest issued against our client and that Interpol has been requested to assist in the extradition of our client back to Zimbabwe.”

“We subsequently requested the police to provide us with a copy of the warrant of arrest and the documentary evidence confirming that Interpol was seized with the matter.

“Regrettably, none of these documents have been provided to us as the response received merely states that the matter is sub-judice,” wrote Mtetwa.

“We would be grateful if you could forward to us copies of the warrant of arrest and all correspondence from the police to yourselves requesting for our client’s extradition.”

However, a Chief Superintendent Munjeri, officer commanding Interpol Harare, referred Mtetwa back to police headquarters.

“Pertaining to your request, please liaise with Police General Headquarters for assistance,” Munjeri wrote. – The Independent

THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) is planning to meet Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) leader, Joice Mujuru, as part of efforts to unite former freedom fighters.

ZNLWVA spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya, along with secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda, on Wednesday surprisingly appeared at a meeting of the ZimPF faction led by Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa.

But Mahiya said they had also lined up a meeting with Mujuru, who is tussling with Gumbo and Mutasa for the control of ZimPF.

“She is a war veteran and, as we did with others, we are going to meet as part of efforts to bring together all those who fought in the war,” he said.

“We are seeking ways of finding how the revolution has been derailed and it has been an ongoing process. War veterans have been clear; we want to be referees in the political game and not players.”

Mahiya said the meeting with Mutasa and Gumbo was pre-planned.

“We have said it before that we have no appetite of joining a political formation. It must be made clear that we have not endorsed any of the warring groups within ZimPF, but will take our position as war veterans to urge them to stop washing dirty linen in public,” he said.

“Whatever their differences, it does not help the cause of suffering Zimbabweans, let alone the political cause of these comrades, to hurl insults at each other.”

Mujuru made the shock announcement that she had expelled Mutasa, Gumbo and other senior leaders of her opposition party last week on allegations they were working against a proposed coalition of democratic forces ahead of general elections next year. But the group also turned around and announced that Mujuru had been deposed as party leader. – Newsday

LIVE-BLAST: Shyleen Mtandwa | First Lady Grace Mugabe has unwittingly uttered unprintable words on her husband, Robert’s life. Grace in what appeared like a spiritual trance, said her husband will be dead in 2018 and people will put their “X” on a corpse’s name.

It is unAfrican to speculate and call someone still alive “A Corpse.” But Grace said people will confidently ink-down an X on her husband’s name who she called a Corpse.

Grace challenged the notion of Mugabe’s age as a hindrance, in apparent reference to the faction led by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa which argues that Mugabe is old and must now let others take over. Grace said she found it disturbing that those who have been in leadership with her husband since 1980 want to use his age to oust him and yet they remain in leadership.

If Mugabe dies, Grace said, “we can field his corpse to participate in elections.”

This is not the first time Grace has suggested that Mugabe would rule from the grave in what many see as her attempt to succeed Mugabe since she has also implied that she is the virtual president of Zimbabwe.

LIVEBLAST: First Lady Grace Mugabe has opened fire on former Vice President Joice Mujuru claiming that Mujuru had sex with Didymus Mutasa and also Rugare Gumbo.

She likened Mujuru to the Queen of a bee hive, “Queen Bee.”

“vaMutasa mungakungurusana naro ziQueen B mukarikwanisa?

muchaona (Joice) abvisa hembe pavanhu,” she said, also adding that Mujuru must simply seek for forgiveness from her.

Grace Mugabe is speaking in Morgan Tsvangirai’s home area, Buhera. This LIVE-REPORT continues – refresh to read further.  

14:00

If Mugabe dies, Grace says, we can field his corpse (sic) to participate in elections.

This is not the first time Grace has suggested that Mugabe would rule from the grave in what many see as her attempt to succeed Mugabe since she has also implied that she is the virtual president of Zimbabwe.

Grace accuses non-governmental organisations of ‘taking advantage of drought’ to sway people to support opposition parties.

Last year, in response to a government appeal for assistance in February last year, the United Nations, humanitarian partners and NGOs developed a Humanitarian Response Plan through a collaborative and joined-up efforts.

To ensure a holistic and multi-sectoral response, the Humanitarian Response Plan coverred Food Security and Agriculture; Health and Nutrition; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; Education; and, Protection.

Of the $360 million requested for the period of April 2016 – March 2017, nearly $190 million was committed, enabling the UN and humanitarian partners to reach 1.5 million people with relief assistance. Given the rise of affected population to 4.1 million.

13:45

Grace Mugabe attempts to explain the SWOT analysis to the largely rural audience. “Our main strength is in Mugabe…Everyone, including a child, knows there is someone called Robert Mugabe.”

She continues heaping praise on Mugabe, who turns 93 next week and intends to run for re-election in 2018, at 94.

If elected, Mugabe will be the oldest president to be elected, and will extend his reputation as one of the longest serving African leaders.

13:30.

In apparent reference to embattled ZimPF leader, Joice Mujuru, Grace has insinuated that the Queen bee is always followed by other bees for mating, at a rally where there are hundreds of schoolchildren in attendance.

In a long attack on Mujuru’s party, Grace has said Mujuru must ask for forgiveness from Mugabe and return to Zanu PF.

13:15.

Grace Mugabe has commenced her speech – in her usual tone- hitting back at allegations that there are cracks within the Zanu PF Women’s League, which she heads.

The First Lady has attacked women who bleach to lighten their skins…”Why do you want to look like Mr and Mrs Smith..hudofo..sehwaQueen Bee (in apparent reference to Joice Mujuru)

BY 12pm:

Grace has arrived at the rally venue and party officials are making introductory remarks and sloganeering ahead of the First Lady’s address.  (Additional reporting Newsday).

Ray Nkosi | Pastor Evan Mawarire’s case been postponed to March 16 because the state was not ready, when he appeared in court this morning.

Speaking after the court session Mawarire said, “Our resolve remains steady in uniting the citizens of Zimbabwe as we prepare for the coming season of change.”

Pastor Mawarire is facing charges of insulting the national flag to brand criminal activities and wearing the flag while subverting the government.

The expulsion of Joice Mujuru from both government and ruling party, in December 2014, was a typically brilliant political gambit from Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. With one stroke, he removed a major threat to his power from within Zanu-PF, and lumbered his opponents outside the party with a dangerous, destabilising new player.

And Mujuru did not disappoint. Along with a handful of other Zanu-PF exiles, most prominently Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo, Mujuru established Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) just under a year ago, and demanded her seat at the opposition table.

It’s a crowded table. Although Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) is the undisputed heavyweight, there are more than a dozen smaller parties all vying for airtime. These were mostly known quantities, however, unlike Mujuru’s ZimPF. How much support did she really have? Could she tap into traditionally Zanu-PF constituencies? Could such a longtime Zanu-PF stalwart, and formerly close Mugabe ally, really be trusted?

With the 2018 elections on the horizon, one thing Zimbabwe’s opposition parties can agree on is that it is vital to present a united front. A strong opposition coalition will beat Mugabe. A weak, fractured opposition will be easy pickings for Zanu-PF’s formidable electoral machine. But the presence of ZimPF made the negotiations around that coalition exponentially more complicated – especially because Mujuru was angling to be leader.

As one of Tsvangirai’s senior advisors told the Daily Maverick, speaking anonymously: “We know we need to work with Mujuru. But it feels like we are dealing with the devil.”

Perhaps that’s why the MDC-T has been so slow to agree to any deal. Although coalition negotiations are at an advanced stage, Tsvangirai has been reluctant to put pen to paper – and now his patience has been handsomely rewarded.

In the space of three tumultuous weeks, ZimPF’s credibility has unravelled. The first major stumbling block was in the Bikita West by-election, in which ZimPF’s candidate was handsomely defeated by the Zanu-PF candidate. The defeat revealed not only the fragility of ZimPF’s supposed constituency, but also highlighted internal divisions within the new party.

“It is unclear why ZimPF… put up a candidate in the Bikita West election at all,” observed International Crisis Group’s Piers Pigou. “There were internal ZimPF tensions over whether or not to participate, and the provincial party leaders who pushed against it have now resigned. In the end, the failure of ZimPF’s candidate in Bikita West has now damaged ZimPF leader Mujuru’s prospects of leading an opposition coalition in the 2018 elections.”

Things were about to get even worse. Last week, a coterie of senior party officials including Mutasa and Gumbo were abruptly expelled from the party, bringing those internal tensions into stark relief. Insults flew between the various factions. Mutasa’s crowd then claimed that actually they had expelled Mujuru from the party.

“The problem is that they were an untested entity when they were together, and they remain untested as separate entities. I presume having fired each other there’s going to be some kind of legal fight over the assets, the name, etc. That will occupy them for months. For me it’s a further manifestation of opposition fragmentation, and unfortunately a reflection of the sad politics of personality that continues to characterise politics in Zimbabwe,” Pigou told the Daily Maverick, in a separate comment.

Alex Magaisa, political analyst and former adviser to Tsvangirai, said that ZimPF’s apparent implosion did not come as a surprise. “This was a group of disgruntled people who left Zanu-PF not because they wanted to, but because they were caught up in challenges within Zanu-PF. The unity between them was more because of their predicament than the values they shared. There was bound to be trouble at some point.”

Magaisa argues that the big winner is Tsvangirai himself, because Mujuru’s case to be leader of the opposition coalition has been substantially weakened. In fact, the MDC-T may no longer feel the need to include any elements of ZimPF. They no longer have to work with any devils.

“It’s a blessing in disguise that there has been this rupture. Otherwise the coalition would have included characters who had an insincere interest in building a solid coalition against Zanu-PF. It also means we don’t have too many problems now about who should lead the coalition. In the past it appeared that Mujuru was a contender for leadership, but it’s becoming clear after the shenanigans in her party, as well as a very heavy defeat in the recent by-election, that there remains only one person with solid support. If there’s going to be a coalition, then it’s going to be built around the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai,” said Magaisa. – Daily Maverick

A 42-year-old Harare man committed suicide by taking a concoction of sulphuric acid and pesticides after ramming his car into the family house before dousing it with petrol and setting it ablaze.

Patrick Bangani of Southlea Park rammed the car into the lounge through an open French door and locked himself and his daughter in the house.

The 11-year-old daughter, who witnessed her father taking the poisonous concoction, escaped through the window of one of the bedrooms, while her other sibling was out playing in the neighbourhood.

Bangani’s wife Ms Porina Kadzuwa, whom he allegedly gave a thorough beating the previous night, had in the morning left the home to pick up a protection order against him that had been granted, according to neighbours. She heard the news of her husband’s suicide when she went to the police to get an officer to serve Bangani with the protection order.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said she had not yet received the report.

Harare provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Simon Chazovachiyi said he was not on duty and could not confirm the death. A neighbour, Ms Shylet Mabodo said Bangani and his wife had a tumultuous marriage and were always trading blows in front of their four minor children. – State Media

EMBATTLED Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) leader, Joice Mujuru, yesterday suffered yet another setback in her fight to control the opposition party after war veterans rallied behind “expelled” founding members, Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa (pictured), and appeared to endorse them as the bona fide leaders.

Top executives of the Christopher Mutsvangwa-led Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association, Victor Matemadanda (secretary-general) and Douglas Mahiya (spokesperson), were part of a ZimPF steering committee meeting called by Gumbo and Mutasa in Harare to announce a new party leadership following their break-up with Mujuru last week.

Addressing journalists at the ZimPF headquarters yesterday, Gumbo said he would, for now, co-lead the party with Mutasa until a substantive president has been selected at an elective convention to be held “in due course”.

Fear and trepidation has gripped warring Zanu PF factions following First Lady Grace Mugabe’s decision to resume her controversial nationwide “death rallies” amid concerns she could worsen an already fragile situation.

Today marks 16 months, 10 days since First Lady Grace Mugabe first launched her death rallies in 2015. The meetings saw several people killed in horrific stampedes as Mrs Mugabe dished out goods stolen by ZIMRA from poor citizens at the Beitbridge border post.

Scores of people were injured at Shindi High School as they scambled for First Lady Grace Mugabe’s donations.

Mrs Mugabe’s pickings, distributed in the name of philanthropy, left several people dead during her ‘death’ rallies. (SEE FULL SATELLITE MAP). Critics argue the First Lady has been raiding the Zimra (border confiscated goods) warehouses to dish out to people. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW…

In 2014, a similar series of gatherings led to the expulsion of then Vice-President Joice Mujuru together with other senior leaders on allegations of plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe.
Mugabe has haplessly watched as a vicious internal power struggles for his throne involving his wife and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa unfold. Grace is the current leader of the powerful Zanu PF women’s league and, reportedly, has the endorsement of a group known as G40, while Mnangagwa boasts of support from war veterans and sections of the country’s military.
After reportedly being forced to abandon the rallies last year in the aftermath of her attacks on the security establishment including startling claims that sections of the army wanted Mugabe’s second son dead, Grace today resumes her rallies in Manicaland’s Buhera district.
Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere confirmed the rally was on.
“Yes, she will be in Manicaland and we will be announcing the other venues in due time,” Kasukuwere, reportedly a leading figure in the G40 faction, said.
In last year’s bout of rallies, Grace seemed to be ratcheting up pressure against Mnangagwa before they were abruptly cut off. Women’s league treasurer and Grace’s self-anointed spokesperson, Sarah Mahoka, had promised details of the impending gatherings, but was later unreachable.
“Yes, but that is a big issue, I will explain later,” Mahoka said.
Insiders said there was growing uneasiness over Grace’s latest intentions.
“People are on tenterhooks because nobody knows if she will really tone down on her rhetoric or which side will bear the brunt of her sharp tongue. You will understand because she is naturally abrasive.
“Those in Mnangagwa’s camp are scared that she will go after him, the neutrals fear these rallies will further destabilise the party ahead of elections next year, which is the last thing Zanu PF wants. On the other hand, Grace’s relations with senior leaders in the G40 faction, including Mahoka and Kasukuwere, are at best tense,” NewsDay heard. “The rallies could be a double-edged sword for the party and it’s touch and go.”
Political analyst, Alexander Rusero said Grace was inspired by a burning wish to “kill two birds with one stone”.
“The First Lady is Mugabe’s public face at the moment and given the fact that he has been chosen to represent the party as the presidential candidate next year, the campaign for that begins now. The women’s league is also a vital component in the Zanu PF machinery and indeed the intriguing succession issue. Grace might have personal ambitions.
The league represents a great foundation to launch any bid at the top job,” Rusero said. “So the rallies could be aimed at both propping up Mugabe and laying proper groundwork for her for an assault at the presidency if push comes to shove.”

Cyclone Dineo has already started pounding some parts of Zimbabwe with sustained heavy winds and torrential rains after devastating several regions in Mozambique.

According to the Meteriological Services’ Tich Zinyemba, some of the areas already being pounded by the cyclone include Mutare, Chiredzi and Beitbridge.

Heavy rains are expected to continue until Monday in several areas, which are already water-logged due to previous heavy rains.

Zinyemba said people in the affected regions should stay in safe places and avoid venturing outside their hamlets or low-lying areas.

In 2000, Cyclone Eline devastated some regions leaving almost 136 people dead and 59,184 houses damaged.

The cyclone also killed 20,000 livestock and damaged 230 dams, 538 schools, 54 clinics and 14,999 toilets. – VOA

MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday claimed the High Court challenge filed by two party activists against the appointment of vice-presidents Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri was defective, as the applicants had used a “bogus constitution” to pursue the matter.

Tsvangirai was responding to a High Court application filed by MDC-T members, Patson Murimoga and George Rice, in July last year, seeking nullification of Chamisa and Mudzuri’s appointments as party vice-presidents.

In their application, the litigants cited Tsvangirai, Chamisa, Mudzuri and MDC-T national chairperson, Lovemore Moyo as respondents.

Tsvangirai’s lawyer, Thabani Mpofu, pleaded with Justice Lavendar Makoni, who is presiding over the matter, to dismiss the application on the grounds that the activists had cited a wrong copy of the party constitution and that they had rushed to take the matter to the court before exhausting internal processes.

He added that the activists also erroneously made reference to the party’s sixth congress, which had not yet taken place.

Mpofu claimed Murimoga and Rice updated their subscriptions to the party two days after filing the application, in a bid to authenticate their application and as such they did not have the locus standi to pursue the matter.

But, the duo’s lawyer, Zivanai Macharaga, said his clients had a constitutional right to approach the court and challenge Tsvangirai’s decisions.

“By virtue of being members, they have the right to file this application. There is nowhere where it is shown that their membership has been withdrawn,” Macharaga said, adding his clients could not have approached the party’s national council because, in their view, it was the offender and could not have resolved the dispute impartially.
Justice Makoni reserved judgment on the preliminary points raised by Mpofu. Newsday

Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi | There was drama at Chibwedziva Secondary School in Chiredzi when local parents forcibly evicted the head from his house, locked it and chased him away.

The incident happened last week when irate parents accused Simbarashe Jackson Zenda, the school head of corruption and rampant embezzlement of funds. The parents accuse Zenda of squandering $6,000 school cash.

The parents claimed the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education officials were reluctant to act on the matter.

Chiredzi Schools’ Inspector, Petronella Nyangwe confirmed the incident and said the parents did not have the authority to chase away the school head.

Nyangwe said she referred the matter to the Provincial Education Director for guidance.

She added the parents were not supposed to interrupt the ministry’s investigations.

“I can confirm that parents chased away the head of Chibwedziva Secondary School.They forcibly evicted him from his house and locked it,” said Nyangwe.

She said the parents acted in unlawful manner.

“We called the School Development Committee members to our offices and told them the action taken by the parents was unlawful.Parents should not take the law into their hands,” said Nyangwe.

The SDC treasurer, Pastor Chisase, said the head was chased following a resolution made at the school’s Annual General Meeting two weeks ago.

Zenda could not be reached for a comment.

A 22-YEAR-OLD Chivi man allegedly killed his younger brother in cold blood in a ritual to get rich and find a beautiful woman to marry.

Ezekiel Mabhiza dragged Israel Mabhiza (12) of Maduveko Village under Headman Madamombe to a stream, about one kilometre from their homestead in the dead of the night on Sunday, where he bashed his skull with a mattock.

Ezekiel, sources close to investigations said, developed cold feet and failed to cut out parts from his brother’s body. He allegedly wrapped the body in a comforter, dug a shallow grave where he buried the body but quickly exhumed it.

Ezekiel allegedly carried the body for seven kilometres to Mhandamabwe Business Centre where he dumped it in a public toilet. Pre-school pupils, accompanied by their teacher, ran out screaming on Monday at around 8AM when they saw the bloodied body.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa confirmed the incident and said Ezekiel was arrested on Monday after he had escaped to a hideout in another area within the same district.

“We received a report of suspected murder where a man from Chivi’s Headman Madamombe area killed his younger brother purporting that he had been instructed to do so by his ancestors in order to get rich and find a woman to marry. The suspect was arrested after he had escaped to another village and is assisting with investigations,” said Asst Insp Dehwa.

He said Brilliant Child Pre-school teacher Ms Siyamukhele Mhere (25) of Mhandamabwe Business Centre accompanied her pupils to the toilet. She stumbled on Israel’s body wrapped in a comforter.

“A report was made to the police at Mhandamabwe Base who attended the scene and took the body to Chivi District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

“The body had two deep cuts on the head and on the back of the head and a blood-stained mattock was recovered at the suspect’s homestead. He was arrested at about 12PM on Monday in Hapazari Village under Headman Madyangove where he had fled to,” he said.
Police said Mabhiza said his ancestors came to him in a vision and instructed him to kill his brother to get rich.

He allegedly said the ancestors told him how to kill his sibling and the rituals he had to perform with the body to get instant riches and a beautiful wife.

The ruthless killing occurred at a time when the country has been gripped by an unfolding
story of a suspected serial killer in Bulawayo who allegedly killed two of his friends and buried them in shallow graves.

Rodney Tongai Jindu (25), who is on remand for the murders of his friends Mboneli Joko Ncube (30) and Cyprian Kudzurunga (28), was allegedly hired by a South African inyanga to kill someone with a Ncube surname for body parts to be used in rituals. – State Media

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Movement for Democratic Change secretary general, Tendai Biti, has joined a group of opposition parties known as the Coalition of Democrats (CODE), comprising several parties vying to unseat President Robert Mugabe.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Harare on Thursday, Biti said they are joining the coalition after realizing that this is the only way to remove the ruling Zanu PF party from power.

“It is with great humility that as PDP, we have taken this position of joining CODE, a process which we were part of when the first CODE meeting was held in Harare on 14 May 2014. Today, we complete a journey started nearly three years ago. CODE is bound by upright qualities of that no one is more equal than the other.”

He said the coalition wants to ensure that Zimbabweans will establish a free and democratic society based on some provisions of the country’s constitution.

“That is the vision of CODE. We are not asking for much. We are asking what is in the Constitution – the freedom to love. A Zimbabwe that treats us like first class citizens and not fourth class citizens, that is why we are forming this coalition.

“We are confident that CODE is the only coalition in Zimbabwe and that believes in personal accountability and this is our natural home. This is a coalition, we are not in competition with other political parties but it is a coalition that is not going to beg anyone and we are going to work very hard. CODE is the only political alliance and it will survive. We have respect for different views and we cannot question the lack of wisdom.”

He said Zimbabwe is less than 18 months to an election, which would be held without significant electoral reforms.

“As we sit here right now, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been kicked out (of the voter registration process). Zanu PF is known for predatory, toxic politics. It is state capture. Zanu PF is confirming that it has captured ZEC.

“It is therefore not accidental that we are signing CODE in a church. We find it humble that we are signing this in church and the walls of Jericho are going to fall sooner. Chief among our demands will be a new voters’ roll …”

Biti said CODE will give Zanu PF a run for their money and there is need for it to establish a transformative state. – VOA

https://youtu.be/IcS2Wy1HEt8?t=50

A 19-year-old man who was facing allegations of raping a Zanu-PF Matabeleland South Central Committee member on her way from a beer drink at midnight, has been acquitted.
Dylan Ndlovu of Maphisa pleaded not guilty to rape when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate Mr Mark Dzira and the matter went for full trial.

In his defence, Ndlovu said he did not commit the offence. “I was already asleep by the time the offence was allegedly committed. Also the clothes they say I was wearing on that day are not the ones I was wearing. They are wrongfully accusing me,” said Ndlovu.

At the close of the State case Mr Dzira acquitted and discharged Ndlovu. “Evidence before the court show that the witnesses failed to identify the accused as the person who committed the offence. The evidence which they also gave was full of inconsistencies. The accused is here acquitted and discharged,” ruled Mr Dzira.

When they arrived at a football pitch they started singing traditional songs leading to two of her colleagues getting into a trance.

She instructed her aide to rush home and call her husband so that he could help her.
When the aide left, it was alleged, Ndlovu arrived armed with a knife and grabbed her by the neck. He is alleged to have raped her once before he was caught red-handed by the returning team and he fled into darkness with his pants down.

A report was made to the police and investigations led to his arrest. A lawyer from Mathonsi Law Chambers Legal Practitioners represented Ndlovu while Mr Mncedisi Dube represented the State. – State Media

SIX more police officers, including four bosses in charge of the training at Ntabazinduna Training Depot, appeared in court yesterday charged with theft of more than $200 000 in projects funds.

Chief Superintendent Rosum Shonhiwa (42) who is responsible for training, Inspector Sibonginkosi Dube (38), the officer-in-charge of the mess, Assistant Inspector Oswald Mushonga (33), finance clerk and Constables Kelvin Moyo and Tafadzwa Sibanda appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing theft charges involving $206 048.47.

Superintendent Farai Chikonamombe (43) appeared separately before the same magistrate facing a charge of criminal abuse of duty as public officer.

The magistrate remanded all of them out of custody to March 1 on $50 bail each. He ordered them not to interfere with State witnesses and to reside at their given addresses until the matter is finalised as part of the bail conditions.

The State, represented by Ms Liane Nkomo, did not oppose bail.

Advocate Sampson Samuel Mlaudzi is representing Chikonamombe. Mr Bryon Sengweni is Shonhiwa’s lawyer while Mr Kucaca Ivumile Phulu is representing Moyo.

Dube and Sibanda are represented by Mr Jabulani Mhlanga while Mushonga is not represented.

The court heard that between September 21 and December 31, 2016, Shonhiwa, Mushonga and Fidelis Chivavava connived and signed internal funds transfer slips authorising Standard Chartered Bank to transfer $14 785 from Ntabazinduna Training Depot’s Mess account into Dube, Moyo and Sibanda’s accounts.

Chivavava, who is already on remand for the same charge, was the acting finance clerk at ZRP Ntabazinduna Training Depot responsible for withdrawing, holding in trust the withdrawn funds, conducting payments for suppliers and reconciling the money.

The court heard that between 2015 and 2016, Chikonamombe connived with Chivavava and signed an order to pay suppliers using already paid invoices for acquittals and in the process prejudicing their employer of $144 014,29.

During the same year, Chikonamombe and Chivavava signed another order and purportedly indicated in the financial books that they paid Oscaria Bakery and Fortwell Wholesalers and prejudiced ZRP of $147 214,29

Between January 18 and 19 this year an internal audit was carried out at ZRP Ntabazinduna Training Depot and it was discovered that a total of $206 048,47 was missing from the coffers. When the accused persons were engaged over the issue they failed to account for the money.

A report was made to police at Mbembesi on 10 February leading to their arrest.

Investigators found a bank statement indicating all the bank transfers made by the accused persons including copies of the beneficiaries’ signed bank slips. – State Media

A FEMALE patient who was admitted at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) died after she allegedly threw herself out through a window of the facility’s third floor on Monday.

Nolini Sibanda (37) becomes the second woman to throw herself to death at the hospital in the last three years.

In 2014, a 20-year-old new mother allegedly killed herself days after giving birth by leaping out of a second floor window at the hospital’s maternity ward.

UBH clinical director Dr Narcisius Dzvanga yesterday confirmed the latest suicide.

He said the hospital has handed the case to police for investigation.

“I can only confirm that it happened but I won’t comment further as the matter is under the investigation by law enforcement agents. Her relatives have not even come to my office to discuss it,” said Dr Dzvanga.

He said the hospital was puzzled about how Sibanda committed suicide.

“We don’t know how she managed to do it. We have burglar bars which are still intact. The police are looking into the matter,” he said.

Sources at the hospital said Sibanda had visible uneasiness before disappearing, and apparently throwing herself to the ground.

“She was walking up and down in the ground floor of the building near the benches making noise for other patients.

“She disappeared and one of the hospital superintendents ordered a student nurse to look for her. The nurse found her lying in a pool of blood,” said the source.

“She was not dead but died later from the injuries sustained.”

The source said it became clear that Sibanda had leapt from the third floor as window panes were broken in that area.

The Chronicle could not confirm what she had been admitted at the hospital for, but sources said she was hospitalised with severe head injuries.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the sudden death.

She however referred questions to the hospital. – State Media

Rufaro Mufundirwa | One day my wife had a quarrel with our first born. While she was throwing insults on him, she uttered a statement that I took as an indirect attack on me. Women do that, at times to an extent of attacking you under the guise of attacking a dog.

Sadly, this unfair practice was repeated this week by Rugare Gumbo who, in their exchange of insults with his former boss, Joice Mujuru, ended up attacking innocent vendors. Gumbo and anyone of like-minded would do well if they stop dragging everybody in their messy divorce. As a politician, Gumbo fails to realise that vendors make up a critical component in the political matrix of this country. Their vote is very important and can decide his political destiny, albeit their low social standing. He is, therefore, totally wrong for believing that “meeting with vendors cannot change the situation.” Politics is a game of numbers and vendors are a critical mass.

“We don’t believe in going around the provinces meeting vendors and so on, as if that is what can change the Zimbabwean situation,” Gumbo said. That statement is pregnant with meanings. If the break-away ZimPF wants to be a serious political ensemble, it must remove the old man from the spokesperson’s desk. He is just careless and a total liability. Gumbo’s statement gives us the impression that vendors and by implications other ordinary members of the society have no place in his party. We thought we would hear Didymus Mutasa distancing himself or his party from Gumbo’s utterances. It seems they are ok with that dangerous statement.

Gumbo thinks that vendors are not worthy listening to. He must take time to mingle with them and he will be shocked to realise that there are decent thinkers in the streets. Those vendors are not in the streets by choice but the sanction-induced economic hardships forced them into vending. They have great ideas that can bring grist to the mill of a listening politician. Indeed some of them are quite educated, if not more educated than Gumbo himself.

The shona elders would say seka urema wafa. It will not surprise anyone that one day Gumbo will see himself vending in the streets with the class of citizens he is belittling today. He must get advice from his erstwhile ally, Dzikamai Mavhaire.  When Mavhaire was booted out of Zanu PF for calling President Mugabe to step down, hard times caught up with him. He ended up brushing shoulders with vendors, selling tiny sour oranges in a ramshackle vehicle. It does not take time for one to fall from glory to shame. Gumbo is still enjoying the little savings from his Zanu PF job and the donor funds we hear they have been abusing in ZimPF. Very soon he will be dry. As one Professor would say handei tione!

Gumbo thinks his imagined sophistication and education will turn into votes. Old habits die hard. We have read history. At one time, Gumbo ran away from the struggle to further his education. He told those he left in the trenches that they should continue fighting while he furthered his education so that he would rule them upon his return. Indeed when he came back, history has it that he would always remind everybody including the decorated ZANLA commander Josiah Tongogara that they were not as educated as he was. That bigoted attitude led to his arrest after he attempted a coup.

This is where these western sponsored parties differ from Zanu PF. Whenever the revolutionary party holds its rallies, vendors voluntarily leave their stalls to attend the rally. Of course the likes of Gumbo and other opposition elements rush to say they are being force marched to the rallies. No, they know that the party has their interests at heart. We have heard the first lady Dr Grace Mugabe who is Zanu PF secretary for women’s league saying vendors must be protected from municipal police who are in the habit of confiscating their wares. That’s being sensitive and a true reflection of the party that she comes from.

It appears that the opposition politicians generally do not have attachment to those in the lower social stratum. The MDC-T leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai is on record insulting the same social group. He derogatively told poor peasant farmers whom government had resettled that they just sprout like mushrooms. He called villagers mushrooms and the other day he called them blind puppies. Tsvangirai chided the villagers that he had assembled at a rally that they do not have undergarments.  Unsophisticated as these politicians might think, the ordinary people matter much in the ballot.

Johannesburg — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s nearly month-long medical leave in London is a sharp reminder to taxpayers that while they finance their leaders’ health care abroad, they often are stuck with decrepit, ill-staffed government health facilities at home.

For decades, Nigerians have paid for their leaders and former rulers to get medical treatment overseas. That courtesy also extends to senior government employees.

This is despite taxpayers’ funding of the State House Medical Center, said to be Nigeria’s best-equipped facility, which serves the president and vice president, their families and staff. The center’s budget this year of 3.8 billion naira to care for fewer than 1 000 people represents 1 percent of the entire public health budget for the country’s 170 million people.

“For years, billions have been budgeted for the State House Medical Center while it has always been evident that every president mostly accessed medical facilities outside the country, going back to the 1980s,” said Oluseun Onigbinde, co-founder of BudgIT, an organization that tries to bring clarity to the West African nation’s opaque budget.

The mysterious nature of Buhari’s absence is adding to the unhappiness at home, as one of Africa’s largest economies and oil producers lurches through a recession.

His government has not said what exactly his health issues might be or when he will return. The president’s trip, originally scheduled from January 20 to February 6, was described as a vacation during which he would undergo routine medical tests. It has been extended for further tests.

Officials insist that Buhari is “hale and hearty,” and he was well enough this week to speak by telephone with US President Donald Trump.

Human rights lawyer

“The practice of allowing poor citizens to die of preventable diseases while top public officers and rich private citizens are allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment can no longer be justified,” he said in a lecture this week, noting that Nigerians have a life expectancy of 52 years, though the World Health Organization puts it at 49.

It is not clear how much the country’s taxpayers pay for leaders’ treatments abroad.

Former first lady Patience Jonathan has claimed that half of $31.5 million frozen in a corruption investigation was a government payout for medical bills she incurred in London in 2013. Ever-witty Nigerians took to social media to ask if she was buying eternal life.

Victims receive treatment at a hospital, after an explosion in Maiduguri, Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari’s nearly month-long medical leave in London is reminding his country’s taxpayers that while they finance their leaders’ health care abroad, they often are stuck with decrepit, ill-staffed government health facilities at home. File photo: Jossy Ola/AP

The Ministry of Health estimated that Nigeria paid about $1 billion for government officials traveling abroad for medical care in 2014, with ordinary Nigerians spending about $6.3 billion in 2015 for what is called medical tourism.

Senior Nigerian officials get “high yearly allowances” for health care abroad which “provides them opportunity to demand amounts to take care of their non-health care needs like shopping abroad,” economist Vitalis Chi. Nwaneri wrote in his 2013 book “Governing the Ungovernable.”

Former military dictator Gen. Ibrahim Babangida returned home this month from a six-week “medical vacation” in Switzerland. Last year, he was treated for weeks in Germany.

Taxpayers also footed the bill when former President Umaru Yar’Adua received months of medical treatment in Saudi Arabia in 2008-2009, before he returned home to die in office.

In April, Buhari announced that his government would no longer pay for officials to travel abroad for medical services available at home. But two months later, the president was in London for treatment of an ear infection.

“The best-funded clinic in Nigeria does not suffice to treat the president’s ear infection. Nor does the president have enough confidence in the same clinic to do his ‘routine checkups’ there,” novelist Okey Ndibe wrote at

“Imagine, then, the fate of Nigerians who have no choice but must seek treatment at the ill-equipped, wretchedly funded hospitals in our country?” he asked.

Nigeria has just five hospital beds for every 100,000 people, as opposed to a global average of 35 beds and 24 beds per 100,000 in South Africa, which has the continent’s most advanced medical care, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study in 2015.

Nigerians who can afford it shun even private health care at home.

Because the country has one of the world’s worst infant and maternal mortality rates, women fly to the United States and Britain to have babies safely delivered. The risk of a woman dying because of pregnancy or childbirth in Nigeria is one in 15, compared to one in 5,000 in developed nations, according to Dr. Chris Akani, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Nigeria’s College of Health Sciences at the University of Port Harcourt.

Buhari’s medical costs do not come with a heftily priced five-star hotel bill, as did those of predecessors. The 74-year-old anti-corruption crusader known for his simple lifestyle is staying at the residence of the Nigerian High Commission in London, a spokesman said. – AP

…..

Fingaz – HIGHER and Tertiary Education Minister Jonathan Moyo has written to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri requesting him to investigate the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which he accuses of using stolen documents to nail him in a corruption probe.

In a letter to Chihuri, the ZANU-PF Politburo member claims he was given a directive by Cabinet to seek police intervention in the matter.

“On Tuesday 20 December 2016, Cabinet directed that I bring to your attention suspected criminal use by The Sunday Mail on 18 December 2016, government documents stolen from our ministry’s offices. You will recall that on 6/7 August 2016, nine offices at the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development were broken into and ransacked. Official documents and four laptop computers belonging to directors were stolen,” reads part of the letter.

“The affected offices included those of the minister, permanent secretary on the sixth floor and seven directors. The matter was reported to the ZRP,” he added.
Moyo then argued that the alleged stolen documents were handed over to the State-run weekly by ZACC in violation of the law.

“In the story headlined ‘ZACC digs in on Prof Moyo’ published on 18 December, (2016), The Sunday Mail alleged that ZACC is investigating a new case allegedly linking Professor Moyo and government officials to suspicious transactions involving US$6,4 million. The paper further claimed that documents showed that investigations into the latest case began last week after ZACC stumbled upon a number of suspicious transactions.

“It turns out from some of the examples of transactions cited in The Sunday Mail story that the documents which the paper claims to have seen and which ZACC is alleged to have stumbled upon leading to the start of a new investigation are among the documents that were stolen from the ministry when its offices were broken into on 6/7 August 2016. This revelation is the reason for this complaint which is being brought to your attention on the directive of Cabinet,” he further writes.

Moyo also wants police to probe ZACC’s alleged “criminal correspondence” with other third parties “in a manner similar to ZACC’s unlawful engagement with The Sunday Mail”.
“In one case last September, protected and confidential documents were illegally given by ZACC to a person not authorised to receive such documents. The ministry has evidence of this case and we believe a crime was committed,” he writes, without naming the person involved. The letter, which was printed on a government letterhead and bears his official trademark signature, was copied to Home Affairs Minister, Ignatius Chombo, who could not be reached to confirm its reception.

Using illegally obtained evidence to investigate a suspect or bring them to trial is prohibited under section 258 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act unless the State has “admitted it illegally obtained evidence and prove that it does not prejudice the right of an accused person to pursue a civil remedy for any breach of the law in consequence of which the evidence was obtained”.

Section 258 (A), which regulates admissibility or inadmissibility of illegally obtained evidence, states that:

(I) In determining, whether to exclude evidence that has been obtained in a manner that violates any provision of the Constitution, the court shall endeavour to strike a proper balance between;
(a) Safeguarding:
(i) the rights of the accused concerned; and
(ii) the integrity of the criminal justice system against serious or persistent breaches of the Law by the police or other employees of the State; and
(b) the public interest in-
(i) doing justice to the victim or victims of the crime in question.

The piece of legislation is a creation of section 70 (3) of the Constitution which reads: “In any criminal trial, evidence that has been obtained in a manner that violates any provision of this chapter (chapter four of the Constitution) must be excluded if the admission of evidence would render the trial unfair or would otherwise be detrimental to the administration of justice or the public interest.”

Contacted for comment yesterday, Moyo confirmed writing to the police.
“I can confirm that I reported the matter to the authorities on 20 December 2016 following an article in The Sunday Mail on 18 December which said: ‘ZACC had stumbled on documents’ among which we realised were some we knew had gone missing along with laptops after nine offices in our fifth and sixth floors had been broken into on 6/7 August 2016.

“The claim that ZACC ‘had stumbled’ on the documents was shocking in light of what we knew about the unprecedented break in at (the) Ministry and the fact that laptops and documents had been stolen on the day some of which were mentioned in The Sunday Mail story of 18 December 2016,” said Moyo.

National police spokesperson, Charity Charamba, requested questions to be sent to her via the short message service (SMS) saying she could not take calls on her mobile phone as she was attending a meeting.

She, however, did not respond to the SMSs despite persistent follow ups.
Her deputy, Paul Nyathi, said he was not at work and therefore could not assist with any information.

ZACC is pursuing Moyo and his deputy, Godfrey Gandawa, on allegations of abusing funds under the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund.

They both deny the allegations, saying they never used the money for personal benefit as alleged by ZACC but instead they used it to fund ZANU-PF activities, while some was donated to charity.

Moyo told Parliament on Tuesday that as part of its investigation, ZACC was breaking the law by using documents that were stolen from his ministry’s offices in August last year. Moyo and Gandawa were giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. financial gazette

Fingaz – The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has taken to court a company believed to belong to State Security Minister Kembo Mohadi for failing to settle more than US$64 000 in unpaid electricity bills.

ZETDC, the power distribution arm of ZESA Holdings, has filed summons at the High Court in Bulawayo under case number HC193/17 and HC170/17 seeking an order that forces the company, Vitafoam CA (Private) Limited to settle a debt of US$64 576,90 accrued over an unspecified period.

The power utility, through its lawyers, Dube Banda, Nzarayapenga and Partners said despite demand, the firm has neglected, failed or refused to pay the money.
In papers before the court citing Vitafoam as the defendant, ZETDC accuses the foam rubber, bed and mattress manufacturing entity of negatively impairing its service delivery to other customers by refusing to settle the bill.

“The defendant is Vitafoam CA (Pvt) Ltd believed to be a company registered in terms of the laws of this country, which carries out its business at Ashton Road, Donnington in Bulawayo.
“The plaintiff, in the course of its business, supplied electricity that was consumed by the defendant under account number 5009278 at its supply point being Ashton Road,

Donnington in Bulawayo. The account was going in arrears in the total sum of US$29 172,67 as of 18 July 2016,” said ZETDC in its first summons.
The electricity supplier’ lawyers said despite acknowledging the debt, the company has failed to settle it.

ZETDC wants Vitafoam to clear the arrears with interest calculated at a rate of five percent per annum and cost of suit at attorney-client scale.

In another summon filed under case number HC170/17 at the High Court, ZETDC says Mohadi’s firm owes it US$35 404,23 being arrears for electricity supplied at Vitafoam’s other branch situated at Number 17 Liverpool Road, Donnington under account number 5009273.
Vitafoam is still to enter an appearance to defend the summons.

Vitafoam, a formerly foreign-owned entity, was put under liquidation in 2006 but resumed operations in 2010 under a new consortium of local businesspeople who included State Security Minister Mohadi. Just like all other companies operating in the country, Vitaform is struggling to meet its obligations.

Workers who spoke to the Financial Gazette on condition of anonymity, said the company was currently facing viability problems and struggling to pay workers’ salaries and utility bills.

“The situation at Vitafoam is not good. Things are terribly bad and we haven’t been paid our salaries in months and some of my colleagues have since left out of frustration and they are yet to receive their money,” said one worker.

In 2015, the company nearly had its property attached after one of its former employees won a case in which he demanded US$37 314 for his unfair dismissal from work.
During its peak, the company used to export its products to neighbouring countries.- Financial Gazette

Parirenyatwa Hospital has threatened to fire striking doctors if they do not report to work today, as the stand-off between the government and medical practitioners intensified yesterday.

In a statement yesterday, the hospital’s clinical director, Noah Madziva, said the institution will introduce a daily roll call beginning today and those that are not at work will be removed from the duty roaster and will not be paid.

“Therefore, anyone who voluntarily withdraws his or her services will be removed from the duty roaster,” a statement attributed to Madziva read.

“The same will not be allowed to enter the wards or to see any patients until reinstatement upon submission of an application to return to duty.

“It follows that while one is removed from the duty roaster, the same will not receive remuneration accordingly.”
The statement said the roll call will be held at 9am every morning.

“Anyone not available at the time will be deemed not available for service and subject to the above mentioned arrangements,” the statement read.

The doctors’ strike enters its second day today, with the medical practitioners accusing the government of failing to concretise its promise of creating more posts and improving their welfare.

Striking doctors vowed to continue with their industrial action until they are furnished with real dates, timelines and the locations of the posts that Health minister David Parirenyatwa announced had been created.

Parirenyatwa, on Tuesday, said the government had opened up 250 posts for doctors and 2 000 posts for nurses, but did not give further details on how soon this would be implemented.

“In the next two weeks, 120 trained doctors will be rendered jobless as a result of an ill-timed freeze on health sector posts,” the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) said.

“The ministry issued a notice that posts would be created to accommodate the cadres completing internship in the next two weeks. The notice, however, falls short of absolute clarity on when the posts will be availed and an update can only be given by October 14, 2017.

“This arrangement will render our cadres jobless and detached from the payroll for eight months. Revision of this position will definitely unlock avenues of collaborative engagement,” Edgar Munatsi, the ZHDA president, said.

In a statement to its members, ZHDA said the industrial action was deeply anchored on the “unpalatable inability” of the Health ministry to resolve the long-standing issues.

These included that doctors were currently earning around $1,20 per hour as on-call allowances despite an October 2014 agreement between the doctors’ association and the Health minister.

“ZHDA unequivocally reiterates that the agreed minimum of $720 per month be immediately implemented and also the duty-free vehicle policy for health workers,” the association said.

ZHDA said it had been actively engaged in consultations, negotiations and meetings with a view to resolving the current impasse.

“The proposed dates for resolving on-call allowances and duty-free facility are not an accurate reflection of both the urgency, which this matter deserves and the time for which they have been outstanding,” Munatsi said.

ZHDA was yesterday consulting its members on quick ways to resolve the impasse in a manner that causes the least harm to patients and country.

Efforts to get a comment from Parirenyatwa Hospital’s CEO, Thomas Zigora, as well as from Harare Central Hospital were fruitless.

Meanwhile, ZHDA said there was an overwhelming response from government doctors across the country on the call to go on strike.

“Central hospitals such as Mpilo, Parirenyatwa and Harare hospital today literally closed their out-patients’ department and cancelled emergencies. ZHDA deployed a few doctors in casualty and emergency departments to cover for emergency cases,” the association said in a statement. – Newsday/Phylllis Mbanje