#ThisFlag founder Evan Mawarire is back in Zimbabwe after a six-month self-imposed sabbatical. He has since been arrested and charged with subversion, among other charges, but declares in this interview with NewsDay Senior Reporter Richard Chidza (ND) that he will not be silenced even by the government’s controversial ban on the use of the flag. Mawarire (EM) wants Zimbabweans to close ranks against President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF ahead of elections next year. Below are excerpts:

GOVERNMENT yesterday swiftly moved to avert a crippling strike by its overworked public hospital doctors and offered to open up 250 new posts for junior doctors and 2 000 posts for nurses, but the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), dismissed the offer as piecemeal and threatened to continue with its work stoppage starting today.

In an interview after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Health minister David Parirenyatwa said: “We have been negotiating with the ministry of Finance for posts since November and so we have been offered 250 posts for doctors and 2 000 posts for nurses. This is a welcome move.

“I am urging them not to go ahead with the industrial action. We need to look after our patients. This is solved by negotiations.”

But, ZHDA members have vowed to go ahead with their indefinite strike today to press the government to, among other issues, retain their contracts upon completion of their internship and revise upwards their on-call allowance.

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) president Edgar Munatsi said negotiations had not yielded anything concrete.

“We were told that Treasury would be approached for a possible extra budget allocation but we have not seen anything in writing and so we are going ahead today with the strike,” he said.

Early this week, ZHDA sent out a circular to its members telling them to go on industrial action from today until their concerns have been addressed.

“In light of the recommendations gathered from the nationwide consultations and guided by the notice and petition served to the Health minister and the Health Service Board (HSB) more than two weeks ago, the association wishes to announce with effect from February 15, there shall be a fully-fledged nationwide industrial action,” the circular read.

“All doctors from the consultant level upwards are advised to co-operate, as this historic action will prevent the ensuing cancerous destruction of our profession.”

The long standing tiff between the doctors and the ministry came to a head when the government announced it would no longer employ them upon completion of the two year internship, rendering many jobless. The doctors, in response, had implored the government to either not terminate their contracts or give them open practising certificates.

The issue of on call allowances is also another contentious issue. They want it revised to $720 from the current $288 for the lowest paid doctor.

“The association is puzzled by the lipstick approach from the Health ministry, to honour the agreed on call allowances with our previous leadership. Our doctors, including well-trained consultants, still travel to work on public transport despite the earlier promise to unveil a motor vehicle duty-free facility to the sector,” the doctors said.

The doctors are also demanding that the HSB urgently implement the agreed duty-free car imports framework for them.
Contacted for comment on the strike, HSB executive chairman, Lovemore Mbengeranwa said: “The issues are being discussed at board level. Recommendations were made and the (Health) minister (David Parirenyatwa) will make an announcement soon.”

The strike comes at a time when the health delivery system in the country is on its knees, with many public health facilities facing severe drug outages and a depleted, demoralised workforce. – Newsday

The lack of wisdom by Morgan Tsvangirai in firing MPs aligned to Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party, has resulted in his party losing the leadership of key committees in Parliament.

It is reported that Harare West MP, Jessie Majome (MDC-T), was yesterday deposed as the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice chairperson and was replaced with Zvimba West MP, Ziyambi Ziyambi (Zanu PF).

Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, made the announcement, telling the House that her removal was a decision made by the Standing Rules and Orders Committee.

“Ziyambi is now chairperson of the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee. The appointment is made with immediate effect,” he said without giving any further explanation.

Reports say after the MDC-T fired their MPs, who crossed over to former secretary-general, Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party, their numbers in the House dwindled and Parliament regulations require that they also lose chairmanship of some committees.

The committee is pivotal, as it looks at electoral issues, the judiciary and several laws pertaining to human rights.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated matter, MPs decried the poor working conditions at Hwange Colliery Company (HCC), National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and Dete Refractories.

This was during debate on the second report of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service on the working conditions of workers at the three companies. MPs said the sorry state of affairs now required President Robert Mugabe’s intervention.

Legislators from the committee revealed that when they visited the companies, they observed ill-treatment of workers, non-payment of salaries and pensions and wanton breaking of the Labour Relations Act.

Binga South MP, Joel Gabuza

(MDC-T), said Mugabe should intervene, as there was plundering of equipment at the parastatals, and appointment of people without Ordinary Levels to sit in the HCC board.

St Mary’s MP, Unganai Tarusenga (MDC-T), said when the committee visited HCC, workers told them they were denied tea breaks and worked without protective clothing.

Bindura South MP, Remigious Matangira (Zanu PF), said the working conditions at NRZ were deplorable to the extent people were sent on pension with peanuts, resulting in former employees living in abject poverty.

HCC employees and people residing within the vicinity of the mines, were reportedly living in a hazardous environment, where they were exposed to tuberculosis and air pollution.

“Some workers have now developed very dark skin due to pollutants from coal smoke,” Shamva South MP, Joseph Mapiki (Zanu PF), said.

MPs demanded that boards of parastatals must, from now on, be chosen with Parliament’s involvement to ensure qualified people are appointed, adding policies to stipulate reasonable pensions should also be set. Legislators from across the political divide blamed the destruction of the companies on corruption and looting by government officials.

Public Service deputy minister Tapiwanashe Matangaidze concurred that there were serious problems at HCC and NRZ.

“NRZ has 16 months in outstanding salaries, while Hwange Colliery has over three years in outstanding salaries.

About $7 million has been secured from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and HCC intends to pay employees 22% in the first months and then stagger payments,” he said.

Matangaidze said HCC admitted that employees at times worked without protective clothing, while the committee raised concern over NRZ employees working in dangerous situations fixing rails at places infested with lions. – Newsday

A SOUTH African inyanga has been linked to the brutal murder of a Bulawayo man who was shot and killed by a suspected serial killer in the city.

The inyanga — only identified as Ndimande — allegedly enticed Rodney Tongai Jindu (26) of Glengarry suburb with promises of instant riches if he delivered the body of a person with a Ncube surname.

Jindu, who is on remand for the murders of his friends Mboneli Joko Ncube (30) and Cyprian Kudzurunga (28), was allegedly introduced to Ndimande by a man he went to college with in South Africa.

Senior police sources told The Chronicle last night that Ndimande and Jindu’s unidentified collegemate came to Bulawayo sometime last month and approached him with a proposal to harvest body parts for ritual purposes.

They said Jindu then set in motion a plan to murder Ncube.
“On 12 January at about 7PM, Jindu met Ncube and his friend at a supermarket at the intersection of Robert Mugabe Way and 11th Avenue. They drove to Burnside where they dropped off Ncube’s friend who lives in the same suburb before proceeding to number 13 Westmount Road – a vacant residential stand.

“Ncube had been told that they were going to meet Ndimande to discuss a business proposal. Once they got to the site, Jindu asked Ncube to lead the way towards the cottage. He then cocked his gun but told Ncube not to worry as he was doing it in case there were snakes around.

“He then shot him once and he fell but did not die instantly. The second shot finished him off. Jindu then called Ndimande using a simcard he had been given specifically for the purposes of calling the inyanga. Ndimande came with some unidentified men and Jindu handed them the body,” said a source familiar with the investigations.

On the same night, Jindu allegedly removed Ncube’s simcard and inserted it into his phone before sending a message to the latter’s mother informing her that he was leaving for South Africa.

“He did this to throw her off track — the same modus operandi he later used to sidetrack Kudzurunga’s mother into thinking that her son had left the country,” said the source.
According to the source, Ndimande and his men called Jindu on the morning of January 13 and handed him the remains of Ncube with several body parts missing.

A post-mortem report released yesterday revealed that apart from the hand, head and both legs, the heart was also missing from the dismembered body of Ncube.

Ndimande and his men are believed to have crossed back to South Africa with the body parts but were yet to make good on the promises of $20 000 and a Toyota Quantum they had offered Jindu at the time he was arrested.

“When we interviewed him, he was visibly frustrated that Ndimande was no longer reachable and might never pay him for the job.

“He also told us Ndimande had said he should urinate and conduct some rituals on the four sites where he buried Ncube’s remains so that he could have good luck and attain riches,” said the source.

It has also emerged that Jindu opened up to his friend, Kudzurunga, about the murder of Ncube on January 29 – the day he killed him. The two had spent the day drinking alcohol at Jindu’s home.

“The matter was eating him inside and he decided to offload to his close friend. It seems Kudzurunga was shocked by the revelation that Jindu had murdered their mutual friend and this unsettled the latter.

“They argued over the matter but Kudzurunga could not stomach the disturbing news. That’s when Jindu decided to kill him,” said the source.

Jindu (25) allegedly shot Kudzurunga before before burying him in a shallow grave next to Ncube’s remains.

A DNA report set to be released this week is expected to confirm the identity of the mutilated remains found in Burnside. Jindu allegedly told investigators the body is that of Ncube who was last seen with him on January 12 this year.

He allegedly cut the dismembered body into four pieces, burnt them and buried them in four shallow graves. Police arrested Jindu on February 3 for allegedly killing Kudzurunga .
He was remanded in custody to February 21 for both murder cases and the magistrate advised him to apply to the High Court for bail.

Meanwhile, police in Bulawayo are carrying out a firearm audit on all gun owners following an upsurge in crimes involving firearms. The audit will be done to update police records.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango urged residents with firearms to report to the nearest police station with their firearms and certificates.

“In terms of Section 4 (1) of the Firearms Act chapter 10: 09, it is an offence to purchase, acquire or have in possession any firearm or ammunition without a firearms certificate. We therefore call upon all firearm holders to report to their nearest police stations with their firearms and certificates to enable us to update our records,” said Insp Simango.

“We also take this opportunity to call upon all those who are keeping firearms that were left behind by their late relatives or relatives who relocated to other areas or countries to hand them over to the police for proper procedures to be followed,” she said.

Insp Simango said those who brought registered firearms from other areas outside Bulawayo should report to the nearest police stations for change of addresses to be recorded.

“In terms of Section 6(1) (a) of the Firearms Act 10:09, it is an offence to keep a firearm at an address not given on the certificate.

“Police are urging members of the public to comply with the provision of Section 27 (2) of the Firearms Act Chapter 10:09 which compels authorised holders of firearms to take necessary precautions to prevent firearms from falling into possession of unauthorised persons. Most firearms are feared to be in the wrong hands because authorised holders of firearms are lending them to strangers, employees, friends and relatives,” she said.

Insp Simango urged members of the public to report to the nearest police station, any person (s) in their neighbourhoods suspected to be in possession of a firearm (s).
“Identities of whistle blowers will be kept secret,” she said.

Insp Simango listed procedures to be followed for a person to obtain a gun licence.
“A certificate from AREX or District Administrator’s office if the firearm is needed for crop and livestock protection.

“If the firearm is for hunting, a certificate from the department of National parks and owner of the farm is needed.

“Applications for firearms for target shooting should be accompanied by supporting documents from the chairman, secretary or treasurer of the Gun Club.

“If the firearm is for home protection, it should be accompanied by a recommendation letter from the officer commanding police in the province, a current bank statement and a letter from the bank manager.

“A gun cabinet inspection certificate from the local police station should be produced.
“Police clearance from your nearest police station is needed and finally a firearm certificate application form is then completed and sent to central Firearm registry,” said the police spokesperson.

Last Wednesday, armed robbers brandishing pistols and an AK47 rifle raided two service stations in Bulawayo and fired a shot at one of them before getting away with cash.

In the first robbery, three men armed with pistols got away with airtime recharge cards and cash worth $1 260 and two cellphones at Zuva Service Station in Woodlands suburb.
One man slinging an AK47 rifle robbed attendants of about $150 and a cellphone at a Total Service Station at the corner of 10th Avenue and Robert Mugabe Way in the city centre.- State Media

Treasury has given the Ministry of Health and Child Care the greenlight to employ over 2 200 doctors and nurses who are graduating this month, a move that is likely to avert a strike by the health professions that was scheduled to begin today.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa, in an interview yesterday, assured all doctors set to graduate of absorption into the public health delivery system as Government medical officers.

“I am very excited about this development and I want to assure all doctors who will be graduating this February that we will be ready for them,” he said.

“We have been negotiating with the Ministry of Finance since November on review of staff establishments for both doctors and nurses and I am happy that we have been given the greeenlight to employ over 250 doctors and 2 000 nurses.”

Dr Parirenyatwa said his ministry was now looking at the provision of posts for other professionals such as pharmacists and laboratory scientists.

He said Government has since communicated the latest development to the doctors and appealed to them not to go on strike as they had scheduled for today, since some of their grievances have been solved.

Although our Harare Bureau did not see the letter, the doctors insisted that there was nothing concrete as yet from Government since they had not received the letter assuring them their grieviences had been addressed.

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) president Dr Farai Munatsi said last night that they were still consulting with their membership on the way forward regarding the latest promises.

Earlier in the day, the doctors had circulated a memo among themselves insisting that today’s strike would go ahead and they had not withdrawn it by last night.

“We have not received any concrete solution from the relevant authorities concerning our demands,” said Dr Munatsi. “Tomorrow (today) we stand united and firm. We have to save our health delivery system in Zimbabwe.

“The ZDHA urges all its members nationwide to withdraw their services from 15th of February till our demands are met.”

The doctors are demanding issuance of their practising certificates upon completion of their two-year internship and an upward revision of the on-call allowance to $720 for the lowest paid doctor.

After completion of their studies, doctors are required to undergo a two-year internship after which they are given a temporary certificate to practise in a Government institution for another year.

It is only after completion of the additional year as a Government medical officer (GMO), will they get their open practice certificate, enabling them to search for employment from elsewhere.

Government recently announced that it was no longer guaranteeing GMO posts because the current establishment was now full, prompting the junior doctors to demand their open practice certificates to enable them seek employment.

Health Services Board spokesperson Mr Nyasha Maravanyika said the board understood some of the doctor’s demands and was engaging with Treasury.

“The issue of on-call allowance revision is before Treasury and the HSB has always been having it on its agenda, including non monetary incentives such as the duty free framework,” he said.

“As far as we are concerned, these are issues that Treasury is seized with.” Herald

BULAWAYO-born music video producer Vusumuzi “Blaqs” Hlatshwayo has come out in defence of Killer T’s new video for Bvunza Tinzwe of the chanter in a coffin, saying it was all about creativity that people will understand when it is released.

This video comes after another controversial one by Ammara Brown and her sister Chengeto — Watchu want — where the former had a python slithering on her body that left people in awe.

Now some pictures from Killer T’s video shoot for the hit track Bvunza Tinzwe on Monday and yesterday found their way onto social media depicting the chanter as a dead man in a coffin.

While some viewed it as plainly ingenuity those with deep seated superstitions have been criticising the chanter likening the scene to satanism initiation.

It seemed the comments on social media perturbed Blaqs and he went on Facebook live yesterday to set the record straight and defend the music video.

Vusa Blaqs said the video was depicting death which everyone will go through.
“I’m here to demystify the issue of Killer T being dead. This is part of the art that we’re creating.

“What we want to do is to cross boundaries and really address the issues people are afraid to address.

“Death is just death guys everyone will die even me I’ll die. Don’t be hung up with a coffin it’s just a piece of wood and we did that to create art and visuals for a song that talks about what it talks about,” said Blaqs.

He said the music video will be out sometime soon. “Soon people will understand what we were doing with the concept of the music video.
“They shall love it for our creativity,” said Blaqs. – State Media

Veteran CIO Boss, the expelled former State Security minister Dydimus Mutasa has lost assets due to unpaid bills.

The state media reports that the former Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa had his two top-of-the-range vehicles and household property attached over legal fees he owes lawyers who represented him in his battles with Robert Mugabe’s party. On February 1 this year, the Sheriff unsuccessfully attempted to attach property at the politician’s Umwinsdale house after the workers at the residence locked up the gates and doors.

This week, the Sheriff succeeded in attaching the property in the presence of Mutasa. The Sheriff will today remove the attached assets from 13D 16 Chishawasha Road in Umwinsdale.

Two SUVs, a Land Rover Discovery and a Range Rover Sport, will be driven away together with an assortment of household goods. Household goods under attachment include:

Three sets of leather sofas, dining table and eight chairs, two fridges, a coffee table and stools, two water tanks, microwave, carpets, television stands, Kipor generator, DStv decoder, DVD player and two flower pots.

Last year, the High Court ordered Mutasa to pay Nyakutombwa Mugabe Legal Counsel outstanding legal fees to the tune of $26 900. Efforts to make him pay the debt hit a brick wall and the lawyers this month instructed the Sheriff to attach the property.

Mutasa together, with Rugare Gumbo and Temba Mliswa, were expelled from Zanu-PF in 2015 and engaged the services of Nyakutombwa Mugabe Legal Counsel to fight the expulsion.

After filing several applications, the trio chickened out and dropped the challenge, but the lawyers billed them $26 900 for the work done. Gumbo and Mliswa are contesting the claim and their matter is yet to be heard at the High Court.

In coming up with the bill, the law firm charged the trio for all opted services rendered and for all court attendances in terms of the Law Society of Zimbabwe General Tariff of 2011. No guarantee of success was given nor was failure of the cases a basis for non-payment of the due fees, the lawyers argued.

In one of the cases in which Mutasa and Gumbo were contesting expulsion at the High Court, the court ordered them to pay legal costs incurred by Zanu-PF and President Mugabe in defending the aborted court application.

Professor Jonathan Moyo has sued Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited which is apparently controlled by his nemesis Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The state media reports that Zim papers will not be silenced and will defend a $9 million defamatory lawsuit filed against the media house at the High Court by Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo.

In his summons, Prof Moyo cited Zimpapers, its editors and reporters whom he accused of publishing stories whose effect, he alleged, impaired his dignity.

The articles, most of which were equally covered by the private media, stemmed from an investigation launched by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (zacc) regarding how he used funds from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef).

Some of the cited articles emanated from Press conferences that were covered by all media houses and addressed by commissioners from zacc, while others were lifted from his Twitter handle, while others arose from parliamentary proceedings.

Prof Moyo cited articles published by The Herald, Chronicle, The Sunday News and The Sunday Mail and alleged that they portrayed him as a dishonest man, a thief and a corrupt minister unfit to hold public office.

The articles he cited had the following headlines: “Probe into Prof Moyo,” “Probe into Prof Moyo, Dr Gandawa: The Details,” “Moyo likens self to Robin Hood,” “Prof Moyo ‘admits’ funds abuse,” “Zanu-PF didn’t get Zimdef loot,” “Parly summons Professor Moyo” and “Parly summons Professor Moyo to explain Zimdef abuse allegations.”

It is Prof Moyo’s averment that the articles, most of which he said were published in the 40 days prior to the issuance of summons, were in furtherance of the media’s bid to defame and malign him.

“The claims, allegations and assertions made by the defendants as set out above are false, malicious, scandalous, wrongful and defamatory of plaintiff in the extreme in that on their plain and ordinary meaning, they simply allege theft, corruption and a penchant for lawlessness by plaintiff and were intended by the defendants and understood by the readers of The Herald, The Chronicle, The Sunday Mail and The Sunday News to mean that the plaintiff is corrupt, that plaintiff is a thief who diverted fuel coupons meant for Zimbabwe Youth Council and sold them on the black market for personal profit,” read the summons.

Prof Moyo also alleged that the articles were understood to mean that he was engaged in subversive and unlawful conduct demonstrative of disloyalty to the President, his appointing authority by plotting student demonstrations against the Head of State and utilised funds to bankroll the said demonstrations during a graduation ceremony at the University of Zimbabwe last year.

“In addition to the plain and defamatory per se, contents of the articles as set out above, the defamatory allegations carry with them the secondary meaning, innuendo and sting that the plaintiff is not a law abiding citizen and therefore unfit to hold public office,” he said.

In the litigation, Prof Moyo cited Caeser Zvayi (The Herald editor), Brian Chitemba (The Sunday Mail investigations editor), Mabasa Sasa (The Sunday Mail editor), Limukani Ncube (The Sunday News editor), Lloyd Gumbo and Zvamaida Murwira (both The Herald senior reporters), Innocent Madonko (The Chronicle acting editor) and Zimpapers, as respondents.

Staff Reporter | Disgruntled founding elders of the Zimbabwe People First party Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo, have told party President Joyce Mujuru to immediately stop using the name of the party in her activities.

In a letter to Mujuru dated the 13th of February 2017 and core signed by Mutasa and Gumbo, the two veteran politicians claim to own the name of the party and consequently barring Mujuru from using the name.

The elders claim that the name of the party was coined by them and so remains with their side of the factions. Mujuru is warned of unspecified action if she continues using the name.

Mujuru’s supporters have called on the party to change the name of the party and not waste time squabbling over the name with the ousted elders. Sources within the party indicated to ZimEye.com that the party was already in the process of establishing a new name.

Terrence Mawawa, Zvishavane | Opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader, Morgan Tsvangirai has dismissed four councillors for sympathising with President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party ZimEye.com can reveal.

The four MDC councillors were dismissed after joining Zanu PF councillors in the signing of a petition against Zvishavane Town Council chairman Esau Dube. Party sources said Tsvangirai ordered the dismissal of the officials during his visit to the mining town last Tuesday.

Tsvangirai was angered by the fact that the councillors had violated party principles. MDC Provincial Secretary for Midlands, Zenzo Hove confirmed the four councillors had deliberately breached party principles and expectations. He said the four councillors Fatima Phiri, Itai Pasira, Andrew Mare and Samuel Gadziwa ignored a directive from the party and signed a petition against Dube.

“We sat down and recommended the expulsion of all councillors who signed the petition to sack Dube,” said Hove.

Party sources said Tsvangirai personally ordered the dismissal of the four councillors. “He(Tsvangirai) was furious and he said the councillors should be fired for sympathising with Zanu PF,”said a party official. Morgan Tsvangirai’s Spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka said the party had the mandate to take disciplinary measures against rogue party elements. The affected councillors said they were not worried about both Hove and Tsvangirai’s utterances because they did the right thing.

By Staff Reporter | Zimbabwe People First President, Joyce Mujuru will on Wednesday storm the Constitutional Court, to challenge her former boss President Robert Mugabe’s decree introducing bond notes.

Mujuru will attend the case in which she is challenging the legality of bond notes.

Mujuru, recently revived her bond notes case after government had enacted a law authorising their use.

Last September, the apex court threw out Dr Mujuru’s request to nullify the executive decree saying the challenge was premature and speculative because the disputed currency was not yet in circulation.

Two months later, in November, Dr Mujuru went back to the Constitutional Court to contest the legality of a Presidential decree providing a legal framework for the introduction of bond notes as legal tender in a fresh case.

She listed President Mugabe, Parliament, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya and Attorney-General Advocate Prince Machaya as respondents.

She wants an order declaring that President Mugabe, by exercising Parliament’s primary law-making power through Statutory Instrument 133 of 2016, failed to fulfil his constitutional obligations to obey certain provisions of the Constitution.

She also wants the regulations to be nullified for want of fulfilling the constitutional obligations. It is her contention that President Mugabe has no constitutional authority to make statutory instruments and/or amend Acts of Parliament.

The bond notes, which are backed by a $200 million African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) loan facility, are at par with the US dollar.

Bond notes were introduced in $2 and $5 denominations would follow in March before the gradual rolling out of the $10 and $20 notes. The first phase of the bond notes introduction saw $75 million being released by end of last month.

Staff Reporter | Movement for Democratic Change President Morgan Tsvangirai continued his national meet the people tour, landing in Manicaland this morning.

The party says he engaged opinion leaders in Mutasa district, Honde Valley in Manicaland.

“The The script remains the same. The pastors, traditional leaders, business people and church leaders had grievances to do with intimidation, violence and selective distribution of food on political lines,” wrote the MDC.

“They all agreed that 2018 presented the country with the perfect opportunity to resolve the national grievances by voting in a new government. The people’s President will hold a similar engagement in Nyanga this afternoon.”

Embattled radio and television personality Tichafa ‘Tich Mataz’ Matambanadzo on Sunday visited controversial pastor Paul Sanyangore’s church service at the Kingstones House in search of spiritual help.

Reasons for his presence were not clear but he was pictured on his knees before Sanyangore leaving many speculating that he was seeking spiritual help following his legal battles. Mataz was last week hauled before the courts on allegations of smuggling clothes he had brought from China into the country.

The 48-year old was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared before magistrate Lazini Ncube who remanded him out of custody to February 27 on $100 bail.

Tich Mataz was also ordered to surrender his passport as part of his bail conditions. Prosecutor Francesca Mukumbiri alleges that on January 7, Tich Mataz arrived at the Harare International Airport aboard a Kenyan Airways from China. Reports are that Tich Mataz picked his boxes from the carousal and went to the green route where he was stopped by Patrick Mukanganwi.

Mukunganwi is said to have ordered him to go at the route where there was one Mhanda, who was manning one of the cubicles. Mhanda allegedly asked Tich Mataz to complete a declaration form and searched his bags. It is said that Tich Mataz was found with several suits, track bottom and shoes which required $538, 75 as duty.

The court heard that Tich Mataz vanished without paying the duty which Mhanda went to another cubicle. He was later arrested and taken to court charged with smuggling. Church authorities could not give reasons why Mataz was in church leaving much to speculation.

“This is a church and it is open to everyone and for us to share the reasons why one is in church is not proper. Our doors are open and everyone is welcome,” said Sanyangore’s right hand man Andy.

Inside sources said the radio and television personality might be helping the preacher in launching a television channel.

“There are plans by the church to have a television channel and this might be the reason for having him in church,” said a source. Speaking on the television issue, church authorities said.

“This is something we are working on and we will announce when it is done. Again it is something that we cannot share at the moment.  This not the first time that popular figures have visited the preacher’s church with Beverly Sibanda, Mathias Mhere and Tafadzwa Mapako among others to have visited him. – State Media

Staff Reporter | As the Zimbabwe People First party saga rages on, spokesperson for the Joyce Mujuru led faction Jealous Mawarire has issued a press statement claiming that ousted women’s wing leader Margaret Dongo cannot convene meetings for the party’s women’s wing.

In his statement where he describes Dongo and other fired party leaders as “nuisance variables,” Mawarire claims that the defiant Dongo has been summoning women from the party structures throughout the country for a women’s wing meeting in Harare purportedly to be addressed by President Mujuru.

Mawarire warns his party members that all party meetings at this stage are only being communicated to the members through the national mobiliser Dzikamai Mavhaire.

The cunning Dongo is reportedly fighting to regroup women in the party into the fired Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa faction which she belongs to.

Mujuru is on the other hand going on a nationwide tour of the country’s provinces checking on the party structures and seeking ratification by the provinces of her move to fire seven senior party officials last week.

By Staff Reporter | In a shocking development which further impoverishes the poor, the Norton Town Council on Monday did not only destroy market stalls used by informal traders to sell their wares, but burnt down their wares in the process.

According to eyewitnesses, clothes amounting to thousands of dollars were destroyed in the arson attack on vendors by the local authority.

Norton MP, Temba Mliswa said he was driving “there “, when ZimEye.com called him for a comment on Tuesday.

Norton Town Council is said to be on a crusade of cleaning up the town.

Staff Reporter | In an interview with television personality, Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa,  Olinda Chideme blows open on issues that have not been in the public domain. Olinda for instance tells a LIVE audience that she was pregnant and suffered a miscarriage in the presence of her family members, in the process that triggered her public outbursts against Husband Stunner.

Olinda says her husband knew nothing of the pregnancy, and she did not want to use the matter as a blackmail tool, when their marital issues started.

“I know people say that my anger is misdirected, ” Olinda explains why she then resorted to social media. “It is my fault, I have taken this publicly, I owe people an explanation to the end.”

“The last two days we have spent time speaking to each other, I was speaking to Desmond, and Desmond was speaking to the rational side of Olinda,” she tells Ruvheneko. More to follow…

Olinda Chapel has revealed Stunner has been a good father for her kids.

“He has been a great dad for my kids…,” she said.

WATCH VIDEO:

Tajamuka leader Promise Mkwananzi’s attorney has slammed the Sheriff of the High Court for bungling the case in which the Constitutional Court (Con-Court) dismissed the activist’s challenge that President Robert Mugabe was violating the Constitution by violently quashing protests.

The Con-Court bench — led by Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba — threw out the case last Wednesday after ruling that Mkwananzi had flouted proper procedure by lodging his application to the wrong address.

Instead of delivering his court papers at Mugabe’s offices at Munhumutapa Building — the citadel of government power — Mkwananzi served the papers at the New Government Complex.

But yesterday, Mkwananzi’s lawyer, Kudzayi Kadzere — who consented to the decision — told the Daily News yesterday that the sheriff, Mcdoff Madhega, had submitted fake returns of service and false service to the courts.-*

The sheriff, his deputy or assistant deputy, execute all sentences, decrees, judgments, writs, summonses, rules, orders, warrants, commands and other process of the courts, and is obliged to make a return to the court, together with the manner of the execution.

“He was supposed to serve the president at his Munhumutapa office in terms of Rule 9 of the Constitutional Court rules but instead of doing so, filed a return of service showing that service was effected at New Government Complex.

“The sheriff is an officer of court and ought to take his duties seriously!” Kadzere fumed.
“For him to bungle such an important case, which has never been heard before in our jurisdiction, is unfortunate,” he said.

“Even more disturbing is that our client paid the requisite fees for the sheriff’s services considering the risk involved in us having to serve the application ourselves on the president.”

Efforts to reach Madhega at the High Court yesterday were futile.
But Attorney-General Prince Machaya, who was the government lawyer during the court hearing, in asking the Con-Court to dismiss the case, cited the bungled return of service and also noted the application to the president was supposed to be served within two days after filing it in the Con-Court, which Kadzere said the sheriff again failed to do.

“He was also supposed to have served the application within two days of it having been filed as per Rule 27 but he fumbled around for seven straight days.

“For these reasons, the otherwise meritable application was dismissed,” the 2015 northern region human rights lawyer of the year, said.

Central to the case was Mkwananzi’s accusation that Mugabe was overstepping his authority, and that the police force and army had gone under the president’s partisan control, which he argued was ultra vires the Constitution.

He cited Mugabe’s remarks at a war veterans meeting that followed one of #Tajamuka/Sesijikile’s protests last year, where the veteran leader said his ruling Zanu PF disciplined renegades during the 70s liberation war against white minority rule by burying them “underground like rats, in bunkers” — threatening to unleash the same treatment on the protest group leaders.

Mkwananzi described Mugabe’s threats as “unconstitutional and un-president like verbal onslaught.”

Mkwananzi wanted the Con-Court to declare Mugabe’s actions unconstitutional.
Kadzere has said they are going to re-apply within 30 days in terms of the Constitution, adding that “we are not giving up”. – Daily News

Staff Reporter | The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has warned that a tropical cyclone will hit the country on Thursday with Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Manicaland provinces expected to be the hardest hit.

In a statement, the MSD said the cyclone may result in extreme flooding. “The Meteorological Services Department wishes to issue a high alert for tropical cyclone-type rainfall that is forecast from Thursday 16 to Monday 20 February 2017.

“The areas likely to be impacted most are Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces as well as the southern areas of Manicaland Province,” read the statement.

“Tropical cyclones are preceded by very strong and damaging winds followed by extreme flooding. The MSD is closely monitoring the situation and will issue another alert as soon as the level of significance warrants it.”

The MSD said in case of heavy rains and flooding, if possible, people should stay indoors and off the roads.

“Avoid crossing flooded rivers and swollen streams where the depth is unknown. Avoid driving on a road covered by water and be very cautious at night when it’s harder to recognise flood dangers. In case of severe thunderstorms, if outdoors, seek shelter immediately but do not seek shelter under a tree or in isolated sheds,” the MSD said.
Most parts of the country have experienced heavy rains that have resulted in flooding and damage to property in some areas.

Some people have also lost their lives while attempting to cross flooded rivers while others have been struck by lightning. Late last month, Umzingwane River and its tributaries notably Insiza, Nkankezi and others were flooded. Part of the Bulawayo–Beitbridge highway was flooded blocking traffic for nearly 12 hours.

In 2000 Cyclone Eline, with speeds of up to 120km per hour, hit Zimbabwe with devastating effects. During the Cyclone Eline-induced floods, a total of 136 deaths were reported while 59 184 houses and huts were destroyed, 14 999 toilets caved in, 538 schools and 54 clinics were damaged. About 230 dams burst while a total of 20 000 head of livestock were lost.

A Botswana national who escaped from a prison in the neighbouring country has been arrested in Zimbabwe for illegal migration.

Givemore Chaloba (26) from Francistown last month fled from Gerald Estates Centre in the neighbouring country together with two other Botswana nationals and 15 Zimbabweans.

Chaloba allegedly entered Zimbabwe through an illegal entry point at Maitengwe Border Post and started living with his relatives in Bulilima District.

He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to illegal migration by Plumtree magistrate Mr Joshua Mawere.

Chaloba was fined $200 or two months imprisonment in case of default.

He told the court that he was arrested after his relatives, who had been promised a reward by Botswana authorities, sold him out.

“I fled from a prison in Botswana where I was being held for theft and I went to my mother’s homestead in Bambadzi area in Bulilima District.

My cousins who are in Botswana learnt that I was on the run and they informed my relatives in Zimbabwe.

My uncle informed the police who arrested me while I was in Bambadzi.

“On the day that I fled from prison, I saw some of my inmates escaping during lunchtime and I joined them. I was not involved in planning the escape,” he said.

Prosecuting, Mrs Rose Sibanda said Chaloba was arrested on February 8 at around 4PM.

She said police officers were on patrol in Maitengwe when they received information that Chaloba, who was an illegal immigrant, was at a homestead in Nsuluba Village in Bambadzi Ward.

Mrs Sibanda said police officers went to the area and asked Chaloba to produce his identification documents but he failed to do so, leading to his arrest.

Botswana Prison Service Northern Regional Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Sekano Sekano said they would apply for Ndlovu’s extradition.

Eighteen inmates among them three Botswana nationals last month escaped from Gerald Estates Centre in Francistown during lunchtime.

They used the lid of a manhole to cut a security fence at the prison and escaped.

Three of them were arrested a day after escaping from custody.

The escapees were arrested for different crimes in Botswana which include murder, robbery, and possession of ivory, housebreaking and theft.

A Zimbabwean man who also escaped from the prison was recently jailed for 18 months for unlawful entry and theft in Plumtree.

Thembelani Ndlovu (27) stole property valued at R3 600 from Mr Brian Sibanda of Makuzeze Village who had offered him a place to sleep for the night on January 16.

Five other Zimbabweans who escaped from prison in Botswana were said to have been arrested last month. – State Media

A Bulawayo man, Rodney Tongai Jindu, 26, of Glengarry, was yesterday pulled into court on a second murder charge.

Jindu was charged with the murder of Mboneli Joko Ncube (35).

Prosecution papers saying Jindu shot Ncube and dismembered his body, set the pieces on fire before burying them in four shallow graves.

The man appeared in court yesterday when the magistrate advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.

He was remanded him in custody to next week, 21st of February.

Jindu is at present facing another murder charge, that of the late Cyprian Kudzurunga (28).

Jindu allegedly shot Kudzurunga dead with a shotgun before burying his body in a shallow grave.

It is alleged he killed Ncube for Satanist ritual promises, while Kudzurunga was killed to silence him as he had stumbled on evidence of Ncube’s murder.

The state media says Jindu yesterday appeared relaxed and unfazed by the huge crowd that spilled out of the gallery into the corridors yesterday, was represented by Mr Simba Mawere.

On his first court appearance, Jindu had no legal representation after his lawyer, Mr Byron Sengweni, ditched him at the last minute under unclear circumstances.

Clad in prison garb, Jindu was brought to court by armed detectives from the CID Homicide Section in leg irons, drawing the attention of members of the public and court officials who jostled to catch a glimpse of the alleged serial killer.

Prosecuting, Mr Taurai Hondoyemoto said on January 12 this year, Jindu drove to a supermarket situated at corner Robert Mugabe Way and 11th Avenue and met Ncube.

They proceeded to Burnside suburb, but the reason for the trip was not mentioned in court papers.

Mr Hondoyemoto said on arrival in Burnside, Jindu pulled out an Optima pistol serial number 13752 from his car and allegedly shot Ncube twice in the chest and he died on the spot.

He then allegedly chopped the body into pieces, set them on fire before burying them in four different shallow graves.

Police investigations led to the arrest of Jindu and he confessed to the killing.

He allegedly made indications which led to the recovery of the body parts in four different sites where they were buried.

The firearm allegedly used in committing the offence was recovered.

A SUSPECTED serial killer from Bulawayo who allegedly shot dead his friend and a neighbour before burying them in shallow graves in Burnside suburb, was yesterday back in court.

Scores of people turned up to catch a glimpse of Rodney Tongai Jindu (26) of Glengarry suburb when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing a second murder charge in connection with the death of Mboneli Joko Ncube (30).

Police arrested Jindu on February 3 for allegedly killing his childhood friend Cyprian Kudzurunga (28) of Queens Park East on January 29.

In the second charge, he allegedly shot Ncube and cut the dismembered body and set the pieces on fire before burying them in four shallow graves.

The magistrate remanded Jindu in custody to February 21 and advised him to apply to the High Court for bail.

Jindu, who appeared relaxed and unfazed by the huge crowd that spilled out of the gallery into the corridors yesterday, was represented by Mr Simba Mawere.

On his first court appearance, Jindu had no legal representation after his lawyer, Mr Byron Sengweni, ditched him at the last minute under unclear circumstances.

Clad in prison garb, Jindu was brought to court by armed detectives from the CID Homicide Section in leg irons, drawing the attention of members of the public and court officials who jostled to catch a glimpse of the alleged serial killer.

Prosecuting, Mr Taurai Hondoyemoto said on January 12 this year, Jindu drove to a supermarket situated at corner Robert Mugabe Way and 11th Avenue and met Ncube.

They proceeded to Burnside suburb, but the reason for the trip was not mentioned in court papers.

Mr Hondoyemoto said on arrival in Burnside, Jindu pulled out an Optima pistol serial number 13752 from his car and allegedly shot Ncube twice in the chest and he died on the spot.

He then allegedly chopped the body into pieces, set them on fire before burying them in four different shallow graves.

Police investigations led to the arrest of Jindu and he confessed to the killing.

He allegedly made indications which led to the recovery of the body parts in four different sites where they were buried.

The firearm allegedly used in committing the offence was recovered. – State Media

Staff Reporter | Beleaguered Zimbabwe People First President, Joice Mujuru, yesterday shocked all and sundry after the entire party leadership in Mashonaland East Province went out in full force to express their allegiance to her.

In a Provincial Council meeting held in Bindura yesterday, the entire leadership of the province took turns to stand up and express their support for Mujuru and endorsed her decision to dismiss party founding elders Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo with five other senior party members.

The members urged Mujuru not to waste time fighting with Mutasa and Gumbo on the party name and instead opt for a different name for the party.

The provincial council meeting which was meant to be attended only by party leaders in the constituency structures saw hundreds of other party members and sympathetic members of the public battling with party security personnel who were trying to restrict entry into the hall.

The purported provincal council meeting ended up turning to be a near rally as hundreds of people thronged the small hall singing praises to Mujuru.

According to party officials Mujuru who is on a nation wide tour of the provinces to check on her party structures will be going to Mutare on Thursday before making a long trip to Gwanda on Saturday.

Staff Reporter | Matabeleland South Minister for Presidential Affairs Abednico Ncube, and his two sons are reportedly on a blitz grabbing prime land in Gwanda town and evicting vendors using the land.

Information made available to ZimEye.com by sources within the Municipality of Gwanda indicates that Minister Ncube and his son Lesley who is a senior ZANU PF member have ordered council to move vendors from land in the town’s Central Business District and Jacaranda Low Density suburb to take over the pieces of land for their own selfish purposes.

The sources indicate that the corrupt family has already started telling the vendors to vacate the pieces of land before their application to acquire the land is approved by council.

In an interview Mayor Knowledge Ndlovu expressed ignorance on the said land grab by the Minister and his family. Ndlovu said that the application for the land in question has not yet been presented to full council.

However, minutes of the council’s health and housing committee made available to ZimEye.com by the sources indicate that the committee has all but approved allocation of the land to the Minister and his sons Lesley and Jonathan.

Over 150 vendors who have been using the land for the last twenty years will be evicted from the areas to make way for the Minister and his sons.

The Gwanda Residents Association could not immediately be reached for a comment on the matter.

First Lady Grace Mugabe and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will face each other in a key politburo meeting tomorrow.

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe will once again come face to face with warring protagonists in the intriguing ruling party succession matrix when he presides over the former liberation movement’s politburo meeting tomorrow.

It will be the first meeting of the party’s administrative body since the soon-to-be 93-year-old leader left the country for his annual leave late last year and party insiders say warring factions will go all out to outdo each other.

Senior party sources yesterday said tomorrow’s meeting would tackle the leadership crisis in Masvingo province following attempts by party heavyweights and the provincial leadership to reinstate former chairperson, Ezra Chadzamira, as the head of the province after forcing out acting chairperson, Amasa Nenjana.

NewsDay heard that the politburo would have to deal with some politburo and senior party members who are alleged to have orchestrated Nenjana’s removal from office despite party secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo, having written a letter indicating Chadzamira remained an ordinary card-carrying member.

Chombo confirmed the meeting, but would not reveal the agenda, saying it was only known by the President.

“Yes, the politburo will meet, but I do not have the agenda with me. It’s with the President,” he said.

But sources said factional fights in Masvingo and preparations for Mugabe’s birthday celebrations were bound to top the agenda.

“The Masvingo nonsense will have to be put to rest on Wednesday because we can’t have people who do things in a manner that brings the party into disrepute. Chadzamira was given a letter by Chombo on December 15 and there has been no meeting thereof to change that,” a senior party member said.

According to informed sources, the politburo will also get a report from the two Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, who stood in for Mugabe while he was away on leave.

Mnangagwa’s contentious December “mug-meeting” will likely also come up for discussion, with his enemies in the G40 faction accusing Mugabe’s long-time lieutenant of supping with “enemies”.

Another source said Zanu PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere was expected to give a report on the state of the party, which could centre on growing dissent within Zanu PF.

“The issues of chairpersons [acting chairpersons] and the idea of co-option will also come under discussion. They are people, who are pushing for elections of chairpersons, so that instead of us having unelected people being anointed as substantive, it would cost the party. Let the will of the people prevail,” NewsDay heard. – Newsday

Connect with HON Buhera South MP, Joseph Chinotimba on ZimEye.com at 8am (Zim time) today for his Valentine’s special message to Zimbabweans around the world.

CIVIL servants yesterday rejected the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) saying the prevailing economic conditions are not conducive for such a scheme as the Government is struggling to meet its current obligations to its employees.

Civil servants, through the Apex Council, a body bringing together civil servants’ unions, said although the scheme is noble, Government does not have financial muscle to augment its sustenance because of the negative economic conditions.

Appearing before the Parliamentary committee on Public Service Labour and Social Welfare, Apex Council executive comprising the chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander, her deputy Mr Ladislous Zunde, information and publicity secretary Mr George Mushipe, called on Government to shelve the scheme and resume it when conditions are favourable.

“The timing for the introduction of this scheme could never be more offside. Civil servants in Zimbabwe have not had a salary increment in years now, this in spite of the salaries being below the poverty datum line,” she said.

“Regardless of this fact, in the past year, Government has unilaterally deducted an average $40 per month from every worker towards pension and more recently NSSA has had to regularise contributions by increasing Government workers contributions by 0,5 percent.

“It should be brought to the attention of Government that the milking cow has no milk anymore. Civil servants are now overtaxed, underpaid and overworked.”

The sentiments by the Apex Council come after Cabinet in November last year, approved the setting up of the scheme to assist allow the majority of Zimbabweans to access universal healthcare.

All sections of the community, including those in the informal sector and farmers, will be considered to ensure all citizens have access to health cover.

Drafting for the Bill started following the approval of principles presented to Cabinet by Public Service, Labour and Social Services Minister Prisca Mupfumira, supported by her Health and Child Care counterpart Dr David Parirenyatwa.

Civil servants, Mrs Alexander said, were not consulted on the Bill and are surprised that Government proceeded with the scheme even after they rejected it last year.

She said the timing was offside considering that they have not had salary increments for the past three years, and that they are yet to receive their 13th cheque for 2016.

PSMAS, Mrs Alexander said, was owed thousands of dollars by Government and against such background, it would be favourable to bankroll PSMAS first before undertaking a big project such as the proposed NHIS.

“The Government of Zimbabwe has an obligation to consult all workers before implementing this scheme. Disturbingly, the Government seems determined to proceed without such consultation and in breach of Section 65 of the Constitution and ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which gives workers the right to consult and be consulted,” she said.

“This omission will not augur well for the success of the scheme if key stakeholders do not have a buy-in. It is also indisputable that the state of healthcare delivery in Zimbabwe is in deplorable state with our health institutions incapacitated to provide the most basic care. Workers feel that this will be just another tax with no guaranteed health service to them.”

Establishing the NHIS was mooted in 2007 but was shot down by workers as they argued that it would further strain overtaxed workers since the initial proposal was to tax workers five percent. – State Media

SUSPENDED Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana (pictured), who is facing six counts of criminal abuse of office, is now challenging the constitutional validity of his prosecution at the High Court. Tomana’s trial had been set for yesterday, but Advocate Thabani Mpofu instructed by Mambosasa Legal Practice, filed an application for stay of prosecution. The lawyers are arguing that the prosecution was invalid and that it must be stayed.

Alternatively, the lawyers are seeking an order stopping the trial pending finalisation of the Disciplinary Tribunal to determine Tomana’s suitability to continue holding the esteemed office.

The lawyers will today make oral submissions in court. Tomana, in his affidavit, is challenging the constitutional validity of the prosecution. “I submit that it is in breach of the protection of the law guarantee as set out under Section 56(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and is accordingly and on account of Section 2(1) of the same Constitution void,” reads the affidavit.

He argues that the trial has not been brought within a reasonable period of time.

“The charges raised against me date back to the year 2009. The Nherera matter concerns what is alleged to have occurred on or around the 19th of November 2009. The Basile matter is also a 2009 matter and so is the Mavros matter. That is also true for the Matonga matters.

“There has been no change in the Government of Zimbabwe. There has been no change in her constitutional framework and statutory laws. The forces that are behind the activation of this process, whatever/whoever they are, have been in existence as at the respective dates of the conduct now impugned.

“Nothing stopped those forces from activating this process earlier and indeed, before I made the transition from Attorney-General to Prosecutor-General,” Tomana argues.

He contends that his right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time as enshrined under Section 69 of the Constitution will be violated if the trial starts. Tomana argues that the delay in bringing the criminal proceedings was inordinate and no tangible reasons exist to substantiate it.

Memory, according to Tomana, had been affected by the passage of time. Tomana argues that the decision by the Acting PG to charge him amounted to breach of the Constitution.

“Both in terms of the former and the current Constitution, I have a constitutional discretion to decide what matters to prosecute and what matters not to prosecute. “The exercise of such discretion cannot be reviewed particularly under these circumstances where it is not alleged neither is it intended to be proved that I corrupted myself,” he said.

Tomana argued that the criminal trial and the tribunal cannot run concurrently, hence the court must wait until finalisation of the disciplinary proceedings.

“To the extent that the tribunal processes are constitutionally mandated to place recommendations before the President of the Republic, it is by law that tribunal must inquire into these issues. If the tribunal takes the view that I conducted myself criminally, it is for that tribunal to recommend a prosecution.

“In the meantime and for those reasons, the prosecution should be stayed. These processes cannot run concurrently,” he said. Tomana is facing trial for criminal abuse of office after he allegedly dropped charges against suspects accused of attempting to bomb Gushungo Dairy.

Allegations in the other cases are that in 2004, Bright Matonga, then chief executive of Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco), was charged with culpable homicide. It is alleged that the charge arose from a road traffic accident that claimed the life of magistrate Ms Chipo Chikowore.

Tomana allegedly called for the docket and instructed that the charges be dropped. In 2006, Matonga was charged with contravening sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. In December 2008, Tomana allegedly instructed Morgan Dube to drop charges after plea against Matonga.

The court heard that in 2006, Zupco board chairman Charles Nherera was charged with corruption. Tomana testified as a defence witness and Nherera was sentenced to three years in prison.

After sentence, Nherera unsuccessfully applied for bail, pending appeal at the High Court. Nherera served his sentence and was released from prison in December 2008. When Tomana was appointed AG, he declared that Nherera was innocent and wrongfully convicted.

The court heard that former Bindura Hospital acting medical superintendent Beauty Basile was charged with criminal abuse of duty. She appeared before the Harare Regional Magistrates Court.

Tomana allegedly ordered the withdrawal of charges after plea on November 24, 2009. The court heard that in October 2009, Patrick Mavros, a gold dealer, was charged with possession of gold without a licence. Mavros admitted to the charges but Tomana directed that prosecution be declined, it is alleged.- State Media

Legislators were stunned yesterday after Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo accused the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission of being behind a break-in at his offices in August last year. Prof Moyo accused Zacc of leaking the information to the media several documents he said the anti-graft body “unlawfully got” from his offices at the New Government Complex.

He was giving oral evidence before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development chaired by Chinhoyi MP Dr Peter Mataruse (MDC-T).

In his evidence, Prof Moyo said it was surprising that the documents that The Sunday Mail reported as having “stumbled” upon by Zacc, were the very documents that went missing when the ministry’s offices were broken into.

“How do they stumble on the ministry’s work. These documents that they claim to have stumbled on are the same or among them are documents that went missing from the ministry when it was broken into on the 6th and 7th of August last year. These are documents that were not lawfully taken from the ministry and now they think they are clever to say we have stumbled on them,” said Prof Moyo.

He said his office, his permanent secretary, Dr Machivenyika Mapuranga and seven directors had their offices broken into and ransacked. “Then we hear people boasting that they have stumbled on documents. You do not take documents by breaking into offices, that is unlawful. You use warrants,” he said.

He said the majority of the $4,5 million worth of transactions deemed to be suspicious by the media had been approved by his predecessors.

Prof Moyo also attacked Zacc’s decision to write to Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda justifying corruption allegations the anti-graft body had levelled against him in respect of the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund.

He said what was strange was that Zacc copied the letter to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Home Affairs Minister Ignatious Chombo and Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda.

Adv Mudenda was head of a Zanu-PF panel constituted to probe claims by Prof Moyo that the money he took from Zimdef funded party activities. Prof Moyo said as a result of Zacc’s conduct, which he said did not take the sub-judice rule, officers in his ministry were now living in fear and sometimes failed to cooperate with him on some issues.

“I want you to take note of the fact that it has been very difficult for us in the ministry to discharge our policy and legislative responsibility because of this.

“I want you to take note that it is my considered view that we have been derailed not necessarily of the law, but because of issues which have nothing to do with the law,” Prof Moyo told the committee.

“On the 9th of December 2016, Zacc wrote a letter to the Speaker raising all sorts of issues and if the rule of sub judice applies, it is surprising that the matter is at the courts but Zacc is writing to the Speaker, in the signature of the chairperson, but clearly raising issues that are of interest to a particular commissioner,” said Prof Moyo.

“That cannot be hidden from the public. The idea that people do things behind the scenes and do so in violation of the legal proceedings is unacceptable. “We think that if the Zimdef issue is going to come to Parliament, it has to do so through this committee. We think it is unprocedural and even illegal to do it in this manner,” he said.

Prof Moyo said it was now unworkable to discharge his duties in the ministry and even if the President was to assign another person in future to steer his ministry, he would not deliver as long as that person was targeted.

“But even if that somebody else is not targeted they are going to find a bureaucracy that is now in a state of crippling fear,” he said. Prof Moyo urged the committee to take interest in Zacc so that it could be held to account to Parliament.

Legislators did not however grill Prof Moyo on justification of buying bicycles for traditional leaders in his Tsholotsho North constituency. Instead, some of them requested to be given laptops and that the ministry should facilitate workshops for them to have an appreciation on the ministry’s Sustainable Development Goals.

They also requested to have the ministry facilitate field visits of projects funded by Zimdef.- State Media

Dear Editor | A Chitungwiza man has killed his wife over used condoms.

The man whose identity we will reveal later, at the weekend killed his wife (also pictured) after the latter had found used condoms in the former’s pockets.

According to the late lady’s close friends, the body of the inquisitive wife was found under the bed in her matrimonial home Sunday morning. More details to follow..

Ray Nkosi | Another court in Matebeleland has humiliated Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa once again, ruling in favour of Matobo villagers.

The villagers have been fighting plans by Mnangagwa to move them from their traditional lands to make way for an extension of the ARDA Maphisa estate under a programme he leads with Trek Petroleum company.

27 Villagers from four villages in the Matobo District who have been to and fro the courts for protesting the land grab order in September last year, have all been acquitted by a Kezi magistrate.

The 27 including MDC- T Senator from the area Sithembile Mlotshwa who were being charged with holding an illegal demonstration and obstructing free movement of traffic were cleared this morning of all charges laid against them.

The magistrate threw away the charges against the 27 on the grounds that the state’s case against them was weak and did not warrant any punishment against the villagers.

The villagers were arrested by police as they were gathering to meet the District Administrator at Maphisa Growth Point, to demand for a reversal on eviction orders that were issued against them.

Ray Nkosi | President Robert Mugabe is reported to be mulling over a cabinet reshuffle. Mugabe will meet the Zanu PF supreme decision making body this Wednesday for the first time this year, with reports that the 93 year old leader is going to undertake a massive cabinet shake up.

Reports indicate that Mugabe who last year declared corrupt ministers be arrested for at least five years, will use this opportunity to prune and get rid of dead wood in his cabinet.

The state media reports that the party’s supreme decision- making body outside Congress meets after the successful hosting of the 16th Annual National People’s Conference hosted by Masvingo Province in December last year.

Zanu-PF National Secretary for Administration Ignatius Chombo yesterday said the Politburo would meet at the party headquarters.

“The Politburo is meeting on Wednesday and all members should attend and be seated by 10am,” he said. Chombo could not, however, disclose the agenda for the meeting.
The revolutionary party holds the meeting buoyed by its recent victory in the Bikita West National Assembly by-election. The party’s candidate, Beauty Chabaya, romped to a landslide victory, garnering 13 156 votes against the embattled ZimPF candidate Mr Kudakwashe Gopo, who had 2 453 votes.

A lawyer has appeared before a Harare magistrate facing allegations of embezzling more than $8 000 in trust funds.

Moses Shingiriro Chinyenze, of MS Chinyenze and Associates, was remanded out of custody to February 15 by Ms Tilda Mazhandu.

The court heard that an estate, which includes stand number 1521 Mabelreign, belonging to the late Christopher Tavhiringwa Chimbumu, was to be transferred to his children after an order had been granted by the High Court.

Prosecuting, Mrs Moleen Murozvi-Sibanda told the court that Chinyenze was appointed by the High Court to do a transfer of the immovable property and documents which included title deeds and the consent paper were handed to him.

It is alleged that consent was granted by the Master of the High Court after a decision to sell the estate was made by the beneficiaries.

It is further alleged that in January 2016, Joseph Ngondonga bought the property and deposited a payment amounting to $8 450 on different occasions into Chinyenze’s ZB Bank account.

The court heard that Chinyenze did not process the transfer of the estate into Ngondonga’s name as per obligation.

After failing to locate Chinyenze, Ngondonga reported the matter to police.

Investigations indicated that Chinyenze had withdrawn the deposited money, but did not do the transfer of the immovable property into Ngondonga’s name.

It is the State’s case that a total of $8 450 was lost and nothing was recovered. – State Media

A Rusape motor mechanic recently committed suicide when the police had launched a manhunt for him after he had kidnapped a female traffic officer before throwing her out his moving vehicle seriously injuring her in the process.

Cosmas Mufambi (34) was found by his wife at Lakeview area of Rusape Dam hanging from a tree with his neck tied by a rope last Wednesday morning.

Mufambi had been arrested at Panmart Supermarket for a traffic offence but failed to raise the required spot fine and a policewoman was tasked to accompany him to Rusape Central Police Station for opening of a docket against him.

Rusape District police spokesman Assistant Inspector Muzondiwa Clean confirmed the incident saying the police officer was admitted at Rusape General Hospital.

“On 7 February, 2017 at around 1845hrs Cosmas Mufambi was driving a Nissan Sunny vehicle registration ADC 6896 and was arrested at Panmart Supermarket by National Highway Patrol Traffic Enforcement team for a traffic offence. He did not have the money to pay the fine.

“A police woman was tasked to escort Mufambi to ZRP Rusape for docket compilation. Instead of driving to ZRP Rusape Central he drove at a high speed along Mutare –Harare highway for about 2km and at 172km peg he reduced speed and pushed the police officer out of the vehicle.

“He sped off towards Mutare and the police officer was rescued by her teammates who followed Mufambi using a well wisher’s vehicle and took her to Rusape General Hospital. On 8 February, 2017 at 0800hrs Mufambi was found hanging from a tree branch near Lakeview at Rusape Dam about 500 metres from their homestead by his wife Shylet Gwemwe 27.

“A report was then made to police who attended the scene and took the body to Rusape General Hospital for a post-mortem. Investigations are in progress.  As police we want to urge members of the public to always comply and obey police instructions and always co-operate. Being arrested does not mean the end of the world,’’ said Assistant Inspector Clean. – State Media

Staff Reporter | Denford Ngadziore popularly known as “Madhuku,” who was arrested for demonstrating against Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Jonathan Moyo and calling for his arrest, has been acquitted.

“It was a Zimdef scandal where we tried to effect citizen arrests on Jonathan Moyo and l was arrested and have been on trial for over 4 months now and today was acquitted, ” said Madhuku.

A Harare Magistrate had previously released on $100 bail, the MDC-T youth assembly secretary for Harare.

Staff Reporter | Contrary to all other opposition parties, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), President Professor Welshman Ncube says that there is nothing wrong with President Robert Mugabe having his birthday celebrations in the Gukurahundi atrocities sites in Matobo.

Speaking in an interview with journalists over the weekend, Ncube said that Zimbabwe is a free country and Mugabe is free to hold his birthday celebrations anywhere he sees fit in the country including the Matobo district where thousands of Gukurahundi atrocities victims lie buried in shallow graves and disused mines.

According to Ncube, the venue of Mugabe’s birthday celebrations can never erase the brutality which Mugabe inflicted on Zimbabweans which is what should be of concern and not the venue of the birthday.

“Zimbabwe is one indivisible whole. Mugabe is free to party and feast in any corner of Zimbabwe and equally his cronies are free to join him in celebrating the anguish he has inflicted on the people of this country throughout his rule,” he said.

“Whether the celebrations are done in Zvimba, Chiredzi, Nyanga, Matopo or Tsholotsho is neither here nor there and does not change an iota of anything relating to his cruel rule which is marked by the many mass graves in many parts of the Southern Provinces,” Ncube emphasised.

Ncube’s sentiments came amidst a huge hullabaloo from other opposition parties and pressure groups against Mugabe holding the celebrations in the district not far from Balagwe Mine which was used as a Gukurahundi concentration camp and where thousands of people were killed and thrown down the disused mine.

The pressure groups viewed the move by Mugabe as being arrogant and disrespectful of the people he killed during his Gukurahundi era which he calls a moment of madness. The pressure groups eventually forced Mugabe to move his venue from within the Gukurahundi sites to near by Cecil John Rhodes Estate.

Professor Ncube urged Zimbabweans to instead unite to bring the perpetrators of the atrocities to book.

“Our task should not be to castigate Mugabe and ZANU PF over where they hold their celebration but to unite and work together as a people to bring his rule to an end and to put on trial and punish all those guilty of the Gukurahundi atrocities. Nothing else matters except justice for the victims and their relatives.”

Shyleen Mtandwa | Morgan Tsvangirai and Joice Mujuru clashed over the weekend in the ancient town of Masvingo.

Mujuru who is in a bitter internal struggle within her Zimbabwe People First party chose Masvingo as the venue to mobilise her party grassroots structures, pictures of which her supporters would soon flaunt on social media.

Wrote Mujuru of the meeting, “Today l addressed the Masvingo Provincial Executive Committee ,l was accompanied to the province by members of the National Executive Council. The Party continues to build Brick by Brick as we proceed with our party programs .”

Meanwhile, Tsvangirai addressed the party’s Masvingo provincial assembly. He wound up his Masvingo tour and left for Manicaland.

A SUSPECTED serial killer from Bulawayo allegedly cut the dismembered body of his second victim and set the pieces on fire before burying them in four shallow graves.

Rodney Tongai Jindu (25) was arrested on February 3 for allegedly killing his childhood friend Cyprian Kudzurunga (28) and burying his body at a plot in Burnside.

Police last Friday exhumed the mutilated remains of the second victim, which Jindu allegedly said belonged to Mboneli Ncube (30), his neighbour and friend who lived four houses away from his home in Glengarry.

The head, a hand and both legs had been cut off.

Fear has gripped Jindu’s friends and neighbours as details of the cold blooded killing emerged over the weekend.

Jindu allegedly shot Kudzurunga, from Queens Park suburb at point blank range with a shotgun on January 29 before burying the body at a vacant residential stand in Burnside suburb.

On Friday, he led officers from the Criminal Investigations Department Homicide Section to the same piece of land — Number 13 Westmount Road — where the body of his second victim, was discovered next to the spot where he allegedly buried Kudzurunga.

Jindu told detectives that a malayitsha offered him $20 000 or a Toyota Quantum for body parts belonging to people with a Ncube surname.

He is said to have told police that he was arrested before he collected the promised money.

Glengarry residents said they first knew Jindu owned a shotgun when they saw him on January 29 — the day he allegedly killed Kudzurunga — chasing after one of his dogs in a fit of rage, saying he wanted to shoot it.

“It was probably target practice in preparation for shooting his friend later that night,” said a resident.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Charity Charamba said: “I‘m aware this man confessed to having killed this second person. At the moment I haven’t received details on the matter.”

Sources said Jindu allegedly told police that the human remains were those of his neighbour, Ncube, also known as Keith.

Ncube went missing on January 12 this year.

Jindu allegedly confessed he shot and killed Ncube on the same day.

A family member who preferred anonymity said the Ncube family had not yet gathered for mourning as they awaited DNA results to confirm that the decomposed remains belonged to their relative.

Sources close to investigations said Jindu told police that he killed Ncube for ritual purposes and went on to kill Kudzurunga because he feared he would expose him after he (Kudzurunga) allegedly stumbled on evidence of the murder.

“Forensic tests may determine if more body parts are missing,” said a source.

“Jindu said he shot Ncube dead and handed over the body to the cross border transporters who harvested body parts and gave him the remains in a plastic bag for burial.

“Jindu took the dismembered body, cut it to pieces which he set on fire to conceal evidence before he buried them in four separate graves,” said the source.

“DNA results will prove if Jindu told the truth that those parts indeed belong to Ncube’s body.”

When the Chronicle visited Glengarry and Burnside suburbs yesterday, some residents had locked themselves in their houses, with one revealing that they are living in fear after discovering the mystery behind Jindu.

Another neighbour from Glengarry, who was close to Jindu, said everyone’s gates were locked as they are not sure if Jindu worked on his project alone.

“What if his accomplices are unsuspected people close by?

“We never knew or suspected that we were living with a deadly serial killer. Jindu was an extremely quiet character, who respected everyone. We never got to know what exactly he was doing for a living but he lived a flashy life, driving an expensive white Nissan Gloria with a V6 engine,” said a neighbour who asked not to be named.

A neighbour in Burnside said recently they had seen Jindu digging the graves and he told them he wanted to install water pipes and the meter.

“We knew him as a caretaker, who frequented the stand, would fix the fence and dig pits. We didn’t really mind what he was doing although not much has been done on the vacant stand.

“In the past month, we would see him urinating at that same spot where he had been digging pits. We now suspect it was part of a sick satanic ritual,” said the shaken neighbour.

The man added: “We still cannot believe what we saw, police digging one grave after the other as they exhumed the decomposed pieces of human flesh.”
Jindu’s mother, who only identified herself as Mrs Jindu told The Chronicle last week that she was aware her son owned a gun.

She said he needed it for hunting and protection as their neighbourhood was not safe.

However, yesterday neighbours refuted the statement saying Jindu could be the only person who had a gun in the area.

Jindu got a licence for the shotgun he allegedly used to kill Kudzurunga in November last year.

Ballistic reports indicate that about 36 bullets have since been fired from the shotgun.

There is allegedly no record of Jindu going hunting or visiting a firing range for target practice.

He was often seen around the city centre selling second hand phones and laptops.

Jindu was arrested on February 3 after making inconsistent statements to the police.

A source close to the investigations claimed that Jindu killed Kudzurunga at a footpath linking Glengarry and Queens Park East after 10PM after spending the day drinking beer with him. Jindu offered to escort him and allegedly killed him along the way. – State Media

Cleric, Evan Mawarire, leader of #ThisFlag campaign, has demanded an apology from Information Communication Techonology minister Supa Mandiwanzira, for accusing him of skipping bail.

This follows Mandiwanzira’s claims to British ambassador, Catriona Laing, that Mawarire breached his bail conditions in July last year, when he went into self-imposed exile in the United States.

In a tweet posted on his official @PastorEvanLive account, the cleric said: “@SupaCollinsM please retract and apologise for your shameful lie to @CatrionaLaing1 that I was arrested for breaching bail conditions. You have no shame?”

That was a reference to Mandiwanzira’s claims last week to Laing that Mawarire’s arrest proved there was rule of law in Zimbabwe because “if you breach your bail conditions you will definitely get arrested”.

But, contrary to Mandiwanzira’s claims, Mawarire was not on bail when he left Zimbabwe last July.

Charges against him had been dropped. Mawarire was slapped with fresh charges of trying to overthrow President Robert Mugabe’s government when he returned from exile on February 1. He is due in court on Friday.

Mandiwanzira yesterday laughed off Mawarire’s demands, saying: “I am not aware of this demand and the basis of it. So I have no comment to make on News24 reports or a pastor who is on bail.” – Newsday

FIRST Lady Grace Mugabe is on Friday set to resume her countrywide rallies, making her first stop over in Buhera North, as she rolls out the roadmap for her husband President Robert Mugabe and the ruling party’s election campaign ahead of next year’s general elections.

Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairperson, Samuel Undenge yesterday told provincial co-ordinating committee members in Mutare that Grace would be in Buhera, MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai’s home area, on Friday.

“We are here to discuss a number of issues and one of them is that our First Lady Grace Mugabe will be in Buhera on the 17th of this month,” he said.

“I think our Provincial Affairs minister (Mandiitawepi Chimene) can give us a briefing on our First Lady’s visit to the province since the letter came through her office.”

Chimene confirmed the visit, but could not give details, claiming that she was still on leave.

Provincial women’s league secretary for administration, Letina Undenge, said she was expecting a bumper crowd at the rally.

“We love our mother, we are supporting her and we did this at our recently-held conference,” she said.

“This is more like the rally we held at Mutambara in Chimanimani. She is energetic and very keen to empower women.

“She empowered women, including youths, the last time she came to Chimanimani. This is going to be a roadmap going to the elections, come 2018.

“We are preparing to come in numbers. We are delighted because we are also going to celebrate the birthday of our President.”

The sharp-tongued Zanu PF women’s league boss normally uses such platforms to rail against her rivals in the ruling party, and in this particular instance her target could be Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is reportedly eyeing succeeding Mugabe.

Grace, who is believed to be the leader of the G40 faction comprising of the ruling party’s Young Turks, is reportedly also eyeing Mugabe’s seat.

On the other hand, Mnangagwa and his Team Lacoste faction, are believed to have the backing of war veterans and the security sector.

Grace marked her grand entry into mainstream Zanu PF politics in 2014 with a string of campaign rallies that spilled into 2015, culminating in the axing of Vice-President Joice Mujuru and several other former ruling party bigwigs on allegations of plotting Mugabe’s downfall.

Mujuru and her team, which at the time included former Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa and ex-Zanu PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, later regrouped and formed the opposition Zimbabwe People First before their spectacular break up last week. – State Media

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said his party is making wide consultations regarding the formation of the grand coalition indicating nothing solid has been put in place yet.

Addressing party members at a meeting held at the provincial party offices in Masvingo , Tsvangirai said his party would maintain a cautious approach towards the formation of the grand coalition. Civic organisations and pro-democracy forces are pushing for the formation of a grand formation expected to challenge President Robert Mugabe ‘s tight grip on power.

Tsvangirai and former Vice President Joice Mujuru are expected to spearhead the formation of the much anticipated coalition. Tsvangirai said it was too early to pre-empty facts on the grand coalition since his party was making the necessary consultations.

“We are eager to work with all democratic forces but at the moment we are in the process of consulting our members and supporters across the country.As such we cannot say much about the coalition,”said Tsvangirai. The former premier added:”There are people who are concerned about the conditions guiding the formation of the coalition. Let me assure you that the MDC will not be neutralised by the formation of the coalition. Nothing like that will happen.We are guided by laid down party principles.”

Former MDC provincial secretary, Tongai Matutu who had deserted the party to join Tendai Biti’s PDP attended the meeting after dumping Biti’s party. “Let us embrace those who are coming back home. It happens in politics and let us work with those who are returning to us.We have to bury our differences and move forward,”said Tsvangirai.

 Terrence Mawawa Masvingo Vocal Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa’s office has submitted more than 60 names of party sympathisers for nurse training at Masvingo Provincial Hospital it has emerged.

Sources at the hospital’s School of Nursing told ZimEye.com the recruitment process was in disarray following the submission of more than 60 names of Zanu PF youths by Mahofa’s office. The sources claimed Mahofa stamped the name list and instructed officials at the government run hospital to consider the party youths for nursing training despite the fact that they did not have the suitable qualifications.

“Minister Mahofa instructed us to consider at least 60 Zanu PF youths for nursing training.The process has become complicated because the majority of the youths do not have the suitable qualifications.This is a difficult situation.

We have been told more names are coming. This makes our job very difficult,”said a senior employee at the hospital. Mahofa was not immediately available to comment on the matter. Officials at Mahofa’s Benjamin Burombo Building offices denied they wrote a letter to Masvingo Provincial Hospital concerning the recruitment of nurses. “It is unheard of – we did not write such a letter to Masvingo Provincial Hospital.Who said that?We are actually hearing it from you,”said a government official who declined to disclose her name.

Church leaders have put up a fight against Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa urging Zimbabweans to resist the proposed first amendment to the Constitution, which is aimed at changing the process of choosing the country’s Chief Justice (CJ), warning this creates room for more alterations to the country’s supreme law.

The church leaders spoke alongside other civil society leaders at a public meeting organised by the Christian Alliance of Zimbabwe (CAZ), Public Policy Institute of Zimbabwe and the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust to discuss the proposed amendment to the Constitution.

In an open devotion to the workshop, a Roman Catholic priest and convenor of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in the Matabeleland region, Peter Nkomozana, reminded citizens that they “are the salt of the earth”, pointing to their important role in defending democracy.

“There are times when we have failed to be brave enough to point out where there have been shortcomings,” he said. “As community leaders, there are times when we have become tasteless and are no longer effective. Let us stay as the salt of the earth.”

CAZ leader, Useni Sibanda said the Constitution needed to be defended.

Human rights lawyer, Matshobana Ncube encouraged citizens to lobby MPs to block the amendment when it goes before Parliament.

“There are three arms of government: the legislature, the judiciary and the Executive, and the Constitution says these three arms of government are independent of each other,” he said.

“What is the interest of the Executive in appointing the head of the judiciary arm? The judiciary is supposed to be independent, which means that the Executive is not supposed to be involved in the appointment of its head, the CJ,” he said.

“The ruling party does have a two-thirds majority in Parliament and can amend the Constitution. But I believe that there are people here, who associate with the ruling party somehow, but don’t agree to the amendment. This is a factional issue. If we can, let us lobby some Zanu PF members and MPs. Let us lobby, especially those who are against the amendment.”

A hundred beneficiaries of the Presidential Scholarship left the country yesterday to persue studies at three universities in neighbouring South Africa.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe said it had been three years since the Government last sponsored disadvantaged children to further their studies at South African universities.

“This year we are only taking 100 new students to South Africa. For the past three or so years we have not been sending students to universities due to financial constraints.

“Fort Hare made a special request to President Mugabe during their centenary celebrations to send students as the numbers were dwindling. Everything is sorted out for the new recipients and they are leaving today,” said Dr Mushohwe.

He said of the 100 students, 50 were going to University of Fort Hare and the rest were going to University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and University of Johannesburg (UJ).

“We wanted some of the 100 to take some courses which are not offered by Fort Hare. So 25 will be going to (UJ) and the other 25 to Wits where they will study all facets of engineering and accounting,” said Dr Mushohwe who is also the Executive Director of the Presidential Scholarship Department in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

He added that returning students had already left to continue their studies.

“I had to rush to Harare to sort out their visas last week. I also consulted with South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba who helped us a lot to obtain study visas.”

President Mugabe graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and English at Fort Hare University in 1951.

The Presidential Scholarship has seen thousands of disadvantaged children from across the country studying for various programmes at the university. – State Media

A Plumtree man has been granted a protection order against his abusive wife who is in the habit of assaulting and insulting him.

Mr Owen Mlambo told the court that his wife Salome Mutemachini also abuses his late brother’s son (5) whom they live with.

Mr Mlambo said he was now living in fear because of his wife’s violent nature and was also afraid that she would hurt his nephew.

The couple appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Joshua Mawere who granted the protection order.

Mr Mawere warned Mutemachini against assaulting, insulting or threatening her husband and the five-year-old child.

Mr Mlambo told the court that recently his wife attacked and injured him on the eye.

“We have been staying together with my wife for the past two years and I have been suffering in silence because she has been beating me up, insulting me and threatening me. As I speak my left eye is painful because she hit me.

“I’m not her only victim because she starves my five-year-old nephew, she doesn’t allow him to sit in our living room, and she insults and assaults him. She doesn’t allow my nephew to play with his peers next door and she also threatens him. My nephew is living in fear because of my wife’s actions,” said Mr Mlambo.

He said his wife was also in the habit of badmouthing him to his workmates and does not want him to visit his relatives.

Mutemachini, however, denied the allegations and said the protection order was a strategy by her husband to evict her from their home.

She said her husband was the one who assaults and insults her and she only retaliates.

“My husband is making up all these lies so that he can frustrate me. He knows that if I’m frustrated I will move back to my parents’ home and that’s what he wants as he has always wanted to get rid of me.

“The truth is that we insult, assault and threaten each other only because he would have started the altercation,” said Mutemachini.

Mr Mawere advised Mutemachini to apply for a protection order if her husband abused her. – State Media

Stunner & Olinda Love Each Other

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 12, 2017

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Zimbabwe and Mozambique are both suffering rising casualties and cattle rustling during skirmishes along their border in an area plagued by conflict over scarce resources, officials and villagers say.

The neighbouring countries accuse each other of triggering clashes taking place along the central stretch of their 1 000km frontier, highlighting persisting tension over an unresolved dispute that has seen Renamo — which is also the official opposition in Mozambique — launching a low-level guerrilla campaign against the ruling Frelimo government, that has spilled into Zimbabwe.

The low intensity war in Mozambique, which has killed hundreds of people, is taking its toll on Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands and the south eastern plateau, despite President Robert Mugabe’s vow to stop the hostilities with Afonso Dhlakama’s Renamo armed bandits — who have resorted to cattle rustling from Manicaland villagers to feed its fighters and raise funds after the Mozambique army pushed it out of cities.

And as cattle die of starvation due to drought, opportunists are also mounting night-time raids to replace lost stock from the neighbouring country.

Angry locals have also begun raiding Mozambican cattle pens, inviting revenge incursions.

The fighting along the border has also left dozens of houses and various food stores burned and looted, plus dozens of herds of cattle stolen.

Mugabe has said he wants to stop cattle rustling along the border, at a time Mozambique refugees have been allowed to blend into border communities, instead of refugee camps.

Addressing his Zanu PF supporters in Dande, a northern border community at the end of last year, Mugabe said he had received reports of trans-border cattle theft.

“Let us forge good relations with those beyond the border in Tete. I hear that you take each other’s cattle.

“Leave people’s cattle alone. Are there no cattle here? I thought they were the ones who should have been after our cattle. What is happening? Let’s stop that practice,” Mugabe said.

David Mandimutsira, a cattle trader, said fighters had stolen a 50-strong herd from him and another herd from his brother.

He said the military had failed to stop the raids, with soldiers running into the bush the moment they came under fire.

South of Dande along the border in Chipinge, furious locals are crossing the border to steal cattle, confirmed an opposition Member of Parliament.

“There are some known individuals who are going into Mozambique to steal cattle,” Musikavanhu MDC MP Prosper Mutseyami said.

When about 50 cattle were stolen from Zimbabwean small farmers and driven across the border in Chipinge in December, Mugabe’s deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa reacted by sending in the army.

Acting president then, Mnangagwa told Parliament that some of the cattle had been recovered.

“Some people have been invited to identify their cattle,” he said.

Mnangagwa said provincial security leaders of both countries were constantly meeting to discuss the escalation of cross border incidents and rising tension.

According to a December 10 police intelligence brief from Chisumbanje Police Station, the cattle were stolen by “15 suspected Mozambican soldiers armed with AK 47 rifles”.

When police visited the Zamuchiya area where the cattle were seized, they saw “five suspected Mozambican soldiers and some civilians with machetes and knobkerries”.

And there have been rising killings.

Infact, it was the abduction of a man from his village, who was later killed in Mozambique, which prompted Mnangagwa to deploy the army along the border.

Shockingly, his identity was never established. But investigations by the Daily News on Sunday revealed he was many of Mozambican refugees moving in and settling along the border.

Recently, two suspect Mozambican soldiers and 25 men armed with bows and arrows crossed the border into Nyanga, rounding up four refugees and their cattle from Nyamutenha village, ward 11, where they had settled, locals said.

They were reportedly taken to Nyabutu camp. Their fate remains unknown. Some of the Mozambicans are committing atrocities, then fleeing their homes to settle here as refugees, while others are driven out of their homes.

But in both cases, they do not sit back but organise cross-border revenge attacks, investigations revealed.

“We are in no way screening these immigrants… (we are just) allowing them to settle among ordinary villagers, risking their safety,” a Mapungwana village head who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

“Our government is messing up its refugee processing protocol and it may cost the nation its peace.”

Chipinge South Zanu PF MP Enock Porusingazi agrees that the refugees need to be placed in appropriate facilities for their safety and the preservation of peace.

“Once a person flees from war or terror, he is classified a refugee and should be quarantined in a camp for safety and protection,” Porusingazi said.

But until Zimbabwe reins in cattle rustling and implements appropriate refugee handling procedures, it remains on the brink of being sucked into the conflict.

But to keep itself from its strategic neighbour’s internal conflict, Zimbabwe will need to carefully monitor activities along the long border and not just the political impasse between Frelimo and Renamo. – Daily News

Another cop stationed at Dzivaresekwa Police Station in Harare was arrested by members of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission for allegedly stealing over $2 000 and possessing two fake ticket books.

During the process, they realised that Jere’s receipt book had different serial numbers from the ones other police officers were using. After further searches, it was discovered that he had two such receipt books.

Jere was immediately arrested. On further investigations, it was also discovered that the financial records in some of the books he used were not tallying, and had a deficit of $2 300.
During the investigations, it was discovered that two original ticket books were missing from the police station.

By Staff Reporter | High court judge Justice Clement Phiri, said #ThisFlag social movement leader, Pastor Evan Mawarire, is likely to be acquitted when he stands for trial because the state’s case against him is “weak”.

The state is accusing Mawarire of inciting public violence, instigating civil unrest and urging the public to resist public policies “meant in the public interest” through posting videos on social media.

Opposing Mawarire’s a bail application, last week the state represented by Edmore Nyadzema, said the #ThisFlag leader was “a celebrated terrorist” who had roots in America.

“The accused person is facing some very serious charges which we are convinced that will lead to his conviction and because of the fact that his close family members are in America where he has strong contacts, it will be difficult for us to locate him once admitted to bail,” said Nyazemba.

But the presiding judge Justice Clement Phiri, said the state’s case against Mawarire was not convincing adding that the activist had a great chance of being acquitted.

“The state’s case appears to be weak and how does one’s relationship with his family members in America has to do with him escaping?

“And also given the fact that the accused personally handed himself to Zimbabwe via the Harare International Airport surely we cannot say he was obstructing the course of justice,” he said before ordering for the release of Marire’s release.

Staff Reporter | Frustrated doctors have announced that they will this Wednesday carry out nationwide industrial action. Below is their statement;

URGENT NOTICETO: ZIMBABWE HOSPITAL DOCTORS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
10 FEBRUARY 2017 THE 21-IDA WAS TODAY ENGAGED IN NATIONWIDE CONSULTATIONS WITH ITS MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS YOU MAY BE AWARE THE HEALTH SECTOR IS PREGNANT WITH A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS EMANATING FROM GROSS NEGLIGENCE AND LACK OF WILL TO IMPLEMENT LOGICAL DECISIONS. TO BUTTRESS THIS ARGUMENT WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN A COUNTRY DECLARE THAT IT CAN NO LONGER EMPLOY WELL TRAINED POST INTERNSHIP DOCTORS DESPITE THE HUGE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATING THESE CADRES FOR TWENTY YEARS!

THE ASSOCIATION REMAINS PUZZLED WITH THE LIPSTICK APPROACH BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO HONOUR THE AGREED ON CALL ALLOWANCES WITH OUR PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP. IT IS ON RECORD THAT THE ON CALL ALLOWANCE MUST HAVE PROGRESSIVELY BEEN RAISED TO $720.OUR DOCTORS INCLUDING WELL TRAINED CONSULTANTS STILL TRAVEL TO WORK ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT DESPITE THE EARLIER PROMISE TO UNVEIL A MOTOR VEHICLE DUTY FREE FACILITY TO THE SECTOR.OUR DOCTORS WHO ARE FURTHERING THEIR STUDIES HAVE BEEN LEFT TO THE GALLOWS OF THE CAPITAL HUNGRY UNIVERSITY AND ARE BASICALLY DONATING THEIR TINY SALARIES TO FEES.

THESE ARE ONLY BUT A FEW OF THE FRUSTRATING EXAMPLES OF HOW HEALTH WORKERS HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED WHILST ON THE OTHER HAND THE RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES SWIM IN BREAD AND BUTTER AS THEIR KIDS ARE FLYING TO SCHOOL.THE LATE PRESIDENT MANDELA ONCE HIGHLIGHTED THAT FREEDOM CAN NEVER BE GRANTED BY THE OPPRESSOR BUT HAVE TO BE FOUGHT FOR BY THE OPPRESSED.

IN LIGHT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS GATHERED FROM THE NATIONWIDE CONSULTATIONS AND GUIDED BY THE NOTICE AND PETITION SERVED TO THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND THE HEALTH SERVICES BOARD MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AGO THE ASSOCIATION WISHES TO ANNOUNCE THAT WITH EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY,THERE SHALL BE A FULLY FLETCHED, NATIONWIDE INDUSTRIAL ACTION. ALL DOCTORS FROM THE CONSULTANT LEVEL TO OUR NEW JRMOS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE HEED OF THIS CALL.
THE THREE SPECIFIC DEMANDS ARE1. ALL DOCTORS WHO HAVE COMPLETED INTERNSHIP MUST NEVER HAVE THEIR CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT TERMINATED OR ELSE BE GIVEN THEIR OPEN PRACTICING CERTIFICATES UPON COMPLETION OF INTERNSHIP.
2. THE CURRENT ON CALL ALLOWANCE BE REVISED UPWARDS TO A MINIMUM OF $720 FOR THE LOWEST PAID DOCTOR.
3. THE HEALTH SERVICES BOARD URGENTLY IMPLEMENTS THE AGREED DUTY FREE FRAMEWORK FOR ALL GOVERNMENT DOCTORS.THE ASSOCIATION WILL FROM TIME TO TIME BEGINNING THIS MONDAY WILL RELEASE DAILY UPDATES OF THE OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR THIS SEEMINGLY LONG BATTLE AND INDUSTRIAL ACTION. ALL DOCTORS ARE ADVISED TO COOPERATE AS THIS HISTORIC ACTION WILL PREVENT THE ENSUING CANCEROUS DESTRUCTION OF OUR NOBLE PROFESSION.YOURS IN DEFENCE OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONZHDA NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND ADVISORY PANEL.

Former vice-president Joice Mujuru’s bid to retain control of her Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party in the face of a spirited campaign to dislodge her by former Zanu-PF heavyweights received a major boost yesterday when war veterans threw their weight behind her leadership.

Mujuru already enjoyed the backing of nine of the party’s 10 provincial structures who said they supported her decision to fire former State Security minister Didymus Mutasa, ex-Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, Claudius Makova and Margaret Dongo, a veteran opposition politician and one-time Zanu-PF legislator.

The ZimPF leader accuses her former allies of trying to scuttle ongoing talks with MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai to form a coalition to challenge President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party in next year’s elections.

War veterans are seen as a vital cog in Mujuru’s party as they are responsible for mobilisation and giving the party liberation war credentials that make it attractive to other opposition parties seeking a coalition.

“Indeed, we are fully behind our torch-bearer and brand, the interim president Dr JTR Mujuru and the national leadership for uprooting undesirable and retrogressive elements planted in our midst to cause disharmony in our party for the benefit of our enemy Zanu-PF,” a statement by ZimPF’s Interim Freedom Fighters national executive council reads in part.

“These agents of the Zanu-PF regime promoted factionalism and established parallel structures intended to cause divisions and destabilise the party in an effort to derail our noble vision to become the next government.”

The Elliot Kasu-led outfit pledged its support of the purge, which it said would rid the party of saboteurs.

“As such, we the freedom fighters do hereby unreservedly declare our total commitment and uncompromised stance in support of our president’s well thought out and calculated pre-emptive strike and associated interventions to clear the elements determined to stall progress, steal the people’s leadership and the party,” the statement added.

The war veterans also encouraged Mujuru to continue with her efforts to mobilise a coalition of opposition parties to challenge Mugabe. Mujuru also received the backing of women’s league with interim chairperson Marian Chombo saying they would now work hard to strengthen the party.

“We have programmes that we are rolling out to ensure the women’s wing reclaims ownership of its programmes,” she said.

“We are creating platforms for different women to organise themselves in their wards, identify particular programmes that they want to champion.”

“We will work hard to get sponsorship and resources for our own political programnes as women.

We will reach out to other women in business, civil society, politics, religion, sport and all sectors in order to tap from their skills and experiences.”

Meanwhile, Southern African Political and Economic Series (Sapes) Trust director Ibbo Mandaza said Mujuru appeared to be enjoying an upper hand in the tug of war.

“The group that has the majority of the support will emerge stronger,” he said.

“It will appear that Mujuru has more support from the 10 provincial chairpersons and if that is the case then clearly she is head stark and might be able to consolidate that position.

University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred Masunungure said all was not lost for ZimPF even though it would emerge weaker from the infighting.

“It is premature to answer the question in a clear-cut way but both might still have political life. The party is clearly disintegrating. It is decomposing though it can be resuscitated,” he said.

He said ZimPFwas sharply divided along two ideologies with the faction led by the so-called elders being nostalgic about the old “good” Zanu-PF ways while those sympathetic to Mujuru appeared to be inclined towards the opposition MDC-T.

Political analyst, Lloyd Sachikonye agreed that the split was not healthy for the party.
“In most cases when we have a split in a party it tends to weaken it. It is very rare that a split will strengthen the party,” he said.

“In this particular case what is likely going to happen is that the party will be weakened.”

Pedzisayi Ruhanya said none of the factions would emerge stronger from the crisis because ZimPF was yet to have elected office bearers.

“The two groups have not yet consummated themselves into a political party by congress where they are given the power by the people,” he said.

“Democracy is government for the people by the people and so the element of the people lack in both groups.

“None of both groups were elected by their membership people, they elected each other and this should be denounced in a democratic environment,” he said.

“Leadership derives its power from the general membership or from the will of the people who make up that political party so that group before it split was yet to go through a democratic internal electoral process so it is difficult to know which group is stronger or weaker in the absence of a properly constituted congress.”

Ruhanya added: “The honest truth is that none of the two groups is stronger because how do we measure the strength of the group outside congress where we see members coming together to elect leadership. Both groups lack legitimacy.”

Mujuru revealed in an exclusive interview with The Standard last month that she was close to clinching a coalition deal with Tsvangirai. – Standard

By Staff Reporter | Zvishavane’s Dadaya High School parents have dragged Primary and Secondary Education minister, Lazarus Dokora to court over the new education curriculum he has introduced.

The parents, through their School Development Committee (SDC) are accusing Dokora of imposing the new curriculum on their children without consultations.

The School’s SDC through its lawyers, Mutendi, Mudisi and Shumba Legal Practitioners, on Friday filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing Dokora and the school headmaster as respondents.

The parents are arguing that the new curriculum should be suspended until proper consultations have been done.

In his founding affidavit, the school’s SDC chairperson, Leopold Mudisi, argued that the implementation of the new curriculum compromised the education delivery system.
“The respondents made a complete paradigm shift from the conventional subjects offered at the school.

Subjects such as physical education, sport and mass displays have been made compulsory.
The subject combinations in terms of a circular made available to parents makes it impossible for pupils to fit into the existing system which the respondents are trying to phase out,” he said.

He further stated that the new curriculum was “an ambitious” project which would unnecessarily burden teachers and compromise the future of learners.

“The overhaul of the curriculum is impractical. The learning time for conventional subjects was always not enough and thus to introduce new subjects is ambitious and sounds myopic. There are no qualified teachers at the school to teach the new subjects and inevitably it will affect the pupils’ performance,” he said.

The parents said there was no way curriculum changes can be implemented without consultations.

They said since they were responsible for payment of school fees and the future of their children, they were supposed to be consulted.

“The parents are the guardians of these pupils since they are minors and as such their views and recommendations are of paramount importance. The Government does not offer grants for students and it is the parents who have the burden of financing the education of their children,” said Mudisi.

On Thursday the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe held a stakeholders meeting where it also resolved to sue Dokora.

A COWDRAY Park man who wants to get rid of his wife arrives home at midnight daily and plays loud music in an attempt to make life difficult for her.

Elphina Ndlovu, a teacher, made these revelations when she applied for a protection order against her husband Milton Ndlovu.

“I am a teacher and I need all the rest I can get but my husband comes home every night and plays loud music. My children and I fail to sleep and relax because he makes so much noise. I can’t take it anymore,” she said.

The stressed woman said her husband started abusing her emotionally and verbally after the death of their son who had cardiac arrest.

“My son died because of a heart problem and now my husband says I killed him. I am tired of insults and the abuse,” she said.

Ray Nkosi | In a rare show of praise for the Morgan Tsvangirai led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Professor Jonathan Moyo says it is the only viable opposition in the country.

Moyo a senior minister in President Robert Mugabe’s government took to twitter to write, “A grand coalition in Zim is by definition untenable because there are many opposition individuals but only one real opposition party, MDC-T!”

Some of the opposition parties over the weekend sealed another coalition deal, uniting under  Coalition Of Democrats (CODE), at a function held in the capital, Harare.

Tsvangirai has been on a nationwide tour in which he consulted party structures on whether the MDC should enter into a coalition with other opposition parties, coming out with a resounding yes. The veteran opposition leader has also insisted that he be coalition leader since he leads the biggest party.

A Harare woman gave her second child to the church as thanksgiving offering after finally bearing children after four miscarriages that almost destroyed her marriage.

Convictions Mapfumo from Sally Mugabe Heights has given her child, who is now in Grade Three, to Holy Baptist Apostolic Church founder Bishop Susan Ziki Dube, who has assumed the role of the mother while the daughter assists in the church.

The story bears striking resemblance to the Biblical one of Hannah and her son Samuel.

Mapfumo said after going through the painful experience of miscarrying four pregnancies, the leader of Holy Baptist Apostolic Church prayed for her, and she has now conceived three girls born in 2005, 2009 and 2011.

Bishop Ziki Dube is well-known in the area as offering powerful prayers for people with varying needs and ailments.

“After my struggle to conceive, I decided to give this child to God as a tithe to thank Him for answering my prayers. I was prayed for by the leader of the church. I have also given myself to working in this church because there is nothing more I can give to God for what He has done for me.

“I was prompted to give this child because even in conceiving I did not know I was pregnant. In addition during the period of the pregnancy people would come to Mrs Ziki and give her preparation for the child. By the time the child was born she had more than she needed in terms of preparatory items. So I felt convicted in my heart to give her away to the work of God,” said Mapfumo, who is the secretary at the church.

The child has now assumed Bishop Ziki Dube’s surname and addresses her as mother, while Mapfumo has assumed the role of aunt.

“She no longer calls me mother, but auntie. The church leader, who also happens to be my niece, is now her mother. This was agreed upon with the consent of my husband.

“All the responsibilities that concern her have been assumed by Bishop Ziki Dube. Even when she gets married, Bishop Ziki Dube is entitled to get part of the lobola entitled for the mother of the child, and I have no problems with it,” Mapfumo said.

Mapfumo said she registered her church leader as the mother of the child on the birth certificate.

“We did not encounter problems and my husband had also waited to be guarantor so that the process would go on well. And it did. So she is now the legal mother,” said Mapfumo.

“I have given myself to the church. Even when the child used to call me mother I would not answer until the point where she is now used (to calling someone also mother). I see it as a tithe when I count the children I have miscarried and those I now have; hence it’s a befitting gift to God,” she said, adding that she desires to have a son.

“I have been prayed for and I am now pregnant. I have been asking God for a baby boy and I believe I will have him,” she said.

Mapfumo follows the example of the Biblical Hannah who gave up her son, Samuel, to the care of High Priest Eli in the Tabernacle.

In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah promised to give her child to the work of God if God fulfilled her desire to conceive. She later conceived more children. – Agencies

Staff Reporter | Joice Mujuru’s party split over donor funds the state media alleges.

Over the past week Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First party has been engulfed in an internal turmoil out of which it might not recover, even before its official launch.

The state media claims that  Mujuru fell out with her lieutenants over her failure to account for membership subscriptions and funds donated to the party by foreign elements, our Harare Bureau has gathered.

ZimPF has been unwinding like thread on a spindle since last Wednesday when Dr Mujuru purportedly expelled seven of the party’s founders, accusing them of being Zanu-PF functionaries. The seven — among them Messrs Didymus Mutasa, Rugare Gumbo and Munacho Mutezo — in turn rejected Dr Mujuru’s leadership and said she was an interim head with no power to fire anyone. A day later, three high-ranking officials, Messrs Ray Kaukonde, Sylvester Nguni and Agrippa Mutambara, resigned.

ZimPF insiders told our Harare Bureau that tensions had been simmering for months. They said top officials were initially upbeat about ZimPF’s future under Dr Mujuru, but began to increasingly question her leadership capacity after internal and external interactions exposed her “serious limitations”.

Among their reservations were a proposed coalition with the MDC-T and participating in last month’s Bikita West National Assembly by-election, which the party lost heavily to Zanu-PF. Matters came to a head when Dr Mujuru allegedly failed to account for donations she received in South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom on behalf of ZimPF in 2016.

Her “evasiveness” regarding membership subscriptions totalling US$20 000 did not help the situation either, and the stage was set for last week’s showdown. ZimPF spokesperson Mr Jelousy Mawarire failed to comment on this, instead launching a tirade in which he accused Zanu-PF; Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba; and The Sunday Mail and its sister paper The Herald, of “trying to destabilise our party”.

He said, “The way you are covering this issue is confirming what we have aways suspected; that George Charamba and your newspapers want to destroy our party. You stupid journalists are being used by Charamba and Zanu-PF. We now know that those old people (Mutasa and Gumbo) are Zanu-PF projects.”

However, an insider told the state media that , “One always saw this coming. Emotions were running high weeks before we contested in the Bikita West by-election. Some did not want us to participate, arguing that the party was not in good stead to take on Zanu-PF. This is where Mujuru’s leadership should have shone, but she appeared bent on pleasing (MDC-T leader Mr Morgan) Tsvangirai blindly and at whatever cost. Tsvangirai wanted to use our performance in Bikita to gauge our strength as a party. Therefore, she wanted to prove a point, something others in ZimPF did not agree with.”

Another added, “This is politics, and such issues could have been sorted out within no time. But the real issue that has caused all this turmoil is control of the purse. She appeared comfortable with keeping everyone in the dark on financial matters.

Remember, she visited three countries last year, managing to secure some donations. However, no one knows what happened to that money or subscriptions we got from membership card sales.The party is broke; people have been using their own vehicles to run party affairs. There are no offices at provincial and district level. The fallout is really all about money and how it was being used. ZimPF coffers are dry and Mujuru is to blame.”

Our Harare Bureau caught up with Engineer Mutezo, Mr Mutambara and former ZimPF women’s affairs leader Ms Margaret Dongo as they explored strategies going forward; alongside Messrs Mutasa, Gumbo and Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and Colonel (Retired) Claudius Makova at ZimPF’s headquarters in Harare last Friday.

Eng Mutezo, who was in charge of finance in the united ZimPF, accused Dr Mujuru of running the party like a “backyard tuckshop” and diverting funds to personal use.

“I was in charge of the party’s funds. Our problems with her leadership qualities started when she left the country with a begging bowl heading to the United Kingdom, Middle East and South Africa without the knowledge of the executive. What I know is we have sold over 20 000 membership cards since the formation of the party, but if you check the balance sheet, you will be shocked. God only knows what happened to that money. At one point, we called for accountability and suggested mechanisms to plug leakages, but she was adamant and did not want to comply as she was also picking from the same cookie jar. Investigations later revealed that she was working with a syndicate of provincial co-ordinators.”

Mr Mutambara chipped in, “She does not respect accountability. She always defended underhand dealers who are using her to source funds. And she has not been open about how much money was raised (from international trips); even to the treasurer of the party. If one questioned her on such matters, she would become hostile.”

Ms Dongo added: “When we said people must account for the money they abused or misused, she would protect those people.

Imagine what would happen if she were to be the President of this country? A person who spends time with street dealers and takes them for advisors cannot surely lead. It’s sad.”

Former ZimPF youth chair Mr Luckson Kandemiri said, “One of her problems is the feeling of entitlement. The party became her personal project. When it came to the issue of money, it was a one-man show. Even the treasurer was not aware of how she was operating and of who was funding her trips locally and internationally. When you asked, you became her enemy.”

GOVERNMENT will cut the civil service wage bill from 90 percent to 55 percent by 2018, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said staff rationalisation was already underway and bearing fruit.

“We are targeting to reduce the proportion of expenditure from over 90 percent to less than 55 percent by 2018-9. I am confident that we will achieve it.

“Government has two avenues to address the wage bill which are staff rationalisation and improving production. We have already started staff rationalisation and the other method is to grow the cake – production, production and more production. We are also dealing with the issue to do with the current account deficit,” said Minister Chinamasa.

The minister added that Government was undertaking fiscal and economic reforms to reduce the cost of doing business and to attract FDI.

“I’m very pleased with the progress made in addressing fiscal reforms and ease of doing business. As we speak Cabinet has already adopted a raft of measures to rationalise the civil service; these raft measures are now implemented.

“We already made some savings in 2016 (due to the rationalisation measures we have taken). Progress may not be fast as we want but it’s being made.”

Government has already abolished 22 000 posts which were deemed excess and saved close to US$100 million.

In line with IMF recommendations, Government is streamlining its 188 070-strong workforce.

In the first half of 2015, Treasury spent US$1,54 billion on labour, against revenue of US$1,718 billion. On a monthly basis, US$120 million is spent on salaries.

According to the 2015 Civil Service Audit Report, dominant labour cost drivers are abuse of overtime allowance facilities and leave days, salary fraud, idle manpower, role duplication and unco-ordinated recruitment.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya said, “We need to deal with the current practice of using 90 percent of the national budget on civil service salaries.

“That cannot be sustained. It puts too much pressure on the system.”

He said this had resulted in the current cash crunch as Zimbabwe was spending more on salaries than on production that generates foreign currency. – State Media

THE Bulawayo City Council spent US$118 000 in buying a top-of the-range vehicle for its Mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo.

The cost is almost double what the local authority spent when they bought their former Mayor, Mr Thaba Moyo’s vehicle in 2010.

Clr Moyo (pictured) got the vehicle a Mercedes Benz GLE 250 class a couple of weeks ago, replacing his Mazda BT50 which he has been using since his appointment in 2013.

Responding to written questions, the local authority’s senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu defended the council decision to buy the car revealing that everything was done above board as they had received Cabinet approval hence rubber stamping the purchase.

“The purchase price was $118 000. The Mayoral vehicle was purchased following a council resolution of 6 November 2013 and Cabinet Approval Circular Number 16 of 2011 as well as approval by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, the Office of The President and Cabinet and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development,” said Mrs Mpofu. She said the vehicle, which was manufactured last year and is one of the latest ranges of Mercedes Benz, was bought locally at Isoquant Investments Private Limited trading as Zimoco.

In 2010, the local authority raised the ire of residents after they splashed $65 000 towards the purchase of a luxurious Dodge Chrysler for its former Mayor, Mr Moyo at the expense of service delivery. – State Media

A MASVINGO man is battling for life at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare after he was shot at the back and on the thigh by two armed robbers who were attempting to steal from his shop in Pangolin suburb on Wednesday, police confirmed.

Mr Gift Cephas (31) of Mucheke reportedly subdued one of the robbers who was not armed before wrestling with the other one brandishing a pistol. When the unarmed robber realised that his partner was being overpowered, he assaulted Mr Cephas with fists and booted feet.

Sensing danger, Mr Cephas fled into the shop but was shot at the back and left thigh and fell unconscious on the veranda.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the incident happened around 9pm. She said the suspects will soon be arrested as police were on their trail.

“I want to warn these criminals that they will soon be arrested. Our details are on their trail. We, however, urge shop owners to be very cautions of these robbers especially in Masvingo where they are wreaking havoc. We also appeal to members of the public against resisting orders, better give in as per their instructions because they are a dangerous lot,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

A witness at the shopping centre said on the day in question, a man masquerading as a customer entered into Pangolin Mini Market at Pangolin Shopping Centre and asked for cigarettes from Mr Cephas. However, Mr Cephas told the man that there were no cigarettes and he went out, only to return in the company of another man.

“One of them asked for the price of mealie-meal. The other one, who looked tall, slim and dark in complexion and was clad in a three-quarter short and a yellow t-shirt drew a pistol and fired in the direction of Mr Cephas at the same time shouting that he wanted money,” said the witness.

Mr Cephas reportedly responded by punching one of the men on the face before grabbing the other one who was armed with a pistol. He said the armed man fired two shots intending to shoot Mr Cephas and he screamed for help but no one came to his rescue.

“Mr Cephas wrestled with his aggressor until they came out of the shop.”

It is said on realising that his accomplice was about to be overpowered, the other accused joined in and assaulted Mr Cephas.

Mr Cephas is said to have tried to flee back to the shop but was shot once on the back and once on the left thigh. The two then disappeared without stealing anything.

A shopkeeper from the next shop who had hidden behind the counter went to the scene after the two had disappeared and found Mr Cephas lying unconscious on the veranda. She then called for help and Mr Cephas was taken to Masvingo General Hospital where he was later transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.

A report was made at Chikato Police. Police also found spent cartridges and two bullet head casings in the shop which had blood stains. Snr Asst Comm Charamba advised members of the public with information on the whreabouts of the robbers to phone on 039-264421 or their nearest police station.-state media

A Zimbabwean ex-secret police officer who murdered for President Robert Mugabe’s regime has entered New Zealand on a fake passport and is trying to set up a life here.

William Nduku, arrived in New Zealand in 2015. Living in limbo, he was refused asylum or the right to work and study and has been forced to survive on handouts from friends and the expat community and could face death if deported back to Zimbabwe.

On arrival to New Zealand, the 31-year-old said he immediately informed Immigration New Zealand that he’d entered the country under an assumed identity and was seeking asylum.

He said at 19, he was forced to serve in Mugabe’s secret police and participated in up to 20 murders, several rapes and multiple tortures.

He escaped Zimbabwe more than a decade ago saying his life was as risk, now he wants to start life anew in New Zealand.

Nduku spent several months in Mt Eden prison. While in prison he alleged members of the Mongrel Mob assaulted him on a regular basis.

“It was awful. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anybody.”

His name is known to Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse, who said he was prevented from discussing the case due to privacy.

A spokesperson for Woodhouse said he stood by all decisions made in relation to this case.

Nduku said he had been living off the generosity of others in Auckland, forced to try and make a living without the right to work.

He admitted to doing odd jobs for cash and even working for a fibre company for several months, who he claimed had underpaid him because of his status.

“It sometimes feels like the Government wants me to steal so that I can survive. I will never take anything that does not belong to me.”

“I once stole a mango out of hunger, and my mother gave me such a beating for it. My mother raised us right.”

Zimbabwe is known for the Mugabe leadership, characterised by rigged elections and the extreme violence meted out by his secret police and the central intelligence organisation in order to crush dissent.

Nduku said he was indoctrinated into this system from an early age. He said he had been forced to join Mugabe’s forces. Born into a life of poverty, he had to scavenge for food and had been unable to get proper access to education.

He lost both his parents and an older sister to HIV/AIDs, he said.

Once in the forces, he was trained in how to torture a person for information.

He recalled being told to drive a car into a large lake.

When they got into the car they found a bag of cement, and soon after realised that somebody was tied-up in the boot.

“Someone was watching us. We could see the glint of binoculars in the distance and it made us nervous. The man in the boot was badly beaten and disfigured. We ended up mixing the cement and pouring it into the boot with him.

“But we never locked the boot as we drove the vehicle into the lake. I guess we hoped it would give the man a fighting chance to try and escape.”

Nduku turned his back and walked away that day, never knowing whether the man survived.

While he had to witness and practice atrocities, he said he also saved lives, he claimed he always offered money from his own pocket to people who were earmarked for torture to aid their escape.

Nduku said it took two years as part of the secret police to realise he would be killed like many of his peers if he didn’t escape Zimbabwe.

He managed to escape to Namibia before he crossed the border into South Africa, where he spent almost a decade.

He alleged that he was illegally handed over to Zimbabwe, but that he’d managed to escape on the Zimbabwean side before members of the Zanu-PF party loyal to Mugabe could pick him up.

“I would simply have disappeared had they found me there,” he added.

He managed to return to South Africa where he ended up buying a fake ID for R15,000 (NZ$1,500). This allowed him to apply for a South African passport.

Human rights attorney Deborah Manning, who represents Nduku, has tried and failed to convince New Zealand’s Government to issue him a work or student visa.

A controversial case, due to Nduku having admitted crime, Executive Director of Amnesty International New Zealand Grant Bayldon said the case was difficult to comment on.

“Despite the nature of this case, the New Zealand Government must ensure a fair process to address his claims, along with a commitment to do so quickly.”

Immigration lawyer Simon Laurent said the Government were not obliged to issue a visa if asylum or refugee status has been declined to a person.

“It might be the case that he is in limbo because our Government is doing nothing because he came over on a fake passport from a third country. They might just not be able to find his real travel documents.”

However, he said usually if somebody had been declined refugee or asylum status they would be deported.

Nduku said he was desperately keen to get on with a life here and he wanted to study.

He was confident he would be able to eventually gain the right to work in New Zealand.

“Speak to me again in eight years and I’ll have my PHD. I just want the chance to make something of myself.” stuff.co.nz

One person died and several others were injured when a commuter omnibus collided with a light passenger vehicle along Samora Machel Avenue near Long Cheng Plaza in Harare this morning (Saturday).

When the News crew arrived at the scene, the wreckage of the two vehicles which collided had been towed away and the injured ferried to hospital but the lifeless body of a middle aged woman who died on the spot was yet to be taken to mortuary.

An eye witness said the light passenger vehicle failed to give way at the intersection resulting in a collision with the omnibus which was speeding.

Residents of the area said the usually busy intersection has become a black spot and called on the city fathers to install traffic lights or grids on the deadly spot.

Police are yet to provide an official statement regarding the accident and the number of injured passengers. – State Media