Terrence Mawawa, Mwenezi | The First Lady Grace Mugabe’s top aides in the Masvingo Province were thrown out of a Zanu PF closed door meeting in Mwenezi last weekend. The two, Jeppey Jaboon (Provincial Political Commissar) and Amasa Nhenjana (ousted provincial chairperson) were ejected from the closed door meeting held to vet party candidates ahead of the Mwenezi East by-election.

Party sources told ZimEye.com Nhenjana and Jaboon were thrown out of the crucial party meeting by reinstated chairperson Ezra Chadzamira and Gutu Central MP, Lovemore Matuke both strong members of the Team Lacoste Camp.

“Jaboon and Nhenjana were humiliated at the Mwenezi meeting.They were openly told they were not party of the invited officials,”said a party source. Jaboon later returned and pleaded with Chadzamira and Matuke to allow him to attend the meeting.

“Jaboon returned later and distanced himself from Nhenjana claiming Chadzamira’s reinstatement was above board.It practically means Jaboon has switched back to Team Lacoste. Remember Jaboon was a member of the Lacoste faction before joining G-40.He has performed another U-turn,”said a party official. Jaboon was not readily available for a comment on the matter. Zanu PF Provincial Secretary for Administration, Alois Baloyi said Chadzamira’s reinstatement was legitimate.

“It should be known that as a province we have made a decision .Everything was done properly.We respect the will of the people.We forwarded the details to the President last week,”said Baloyi.

A MAN from Bulawayo has landed himself in trouble after he allegedly assaulted his disabled father.

Bhekimpilo Sinyoro (23) of Lobengula suburb yesterday appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Nyaradzo Ringisai charged with assault.

He denied the charges and was remanded in custody to February 13 for trial. Prosecuting, Mr Stewart Madzore said sometime last month, Bhekimpilo assaulted his father Mr Richman Sinyoro (53), who came to court in a wheel chair, after he tried to stop him from assaulting his wife.

“On January 27 this year, the accused person was having an argument with his wife which resulted in him assaulting her. The complainant tried to refrain his son from assaulting his wife. The accused person got angry and turned on his father,” said Mr Madzore.

He said Bhekimpilo assaulted his father with fists and also kicked and slapped him. Neighbours allegedly came to Mr Sinyoro’s rescue and effected a citizen’s arrest. Bhekimpilo was then handed over to the police.

In a statement to the police, Mr Sinyoro said he was assaulted after he attempted to stop Bhekimpilo from assaulting his wife for going to the shops to help her husband’s mother without his permission.

“My son assaulted his wife in my presence and I tried to stop him. I told him that it was disrespectful that he would assault his wife for helping his mother, my wife, at our shop without his permission. He got angry and turned to me and started assaulting me. I could not fight back because I am disabled. I could not even flee from him,” he said.

Bhekimpilo’s wife, Ms Lindokuhle Sebele (18), told the court that her husband assaulted her because she went with her mother-in-law to the family shop.

“My husband’s mother asked for my assistance and I complied. This did not go down well with my husband and he started to assault me. He threw my belongings out of the house and told me to go back to my parents. My father-in-law intervened, but my husband ended up assaulting him too,” she said.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has ignored a request for it to intervene in the Mutasa, Mujuru tussle.

The decision on who owns Zimbabwe People First now lies in the hands of the nascent party’s supporters after the ZEC categorically stated that it neither had any part to play in the registration of political parties, nor settling of their internal disputes.

The statement came after Messrs Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo — who claim to be the founders of the party — said they had written a letter notifying ZEC that they had relieved former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru of her duties as leader of ZimPF.

In the letter, the two stated that they had since assumed leadership of the party made up mostly of Zanu-PF rejects.

ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said she had not been in office for this whole week after she lost her mother-in-law.

“I am not sure if that letter reached our offices. I lost my mother-in-law and have not been in office this whole week,” she said.

“As ZEC, we do not register political parties and whatever internal disputes they have, we do not have a mandate to meddle in them.”

Messrs Mutasa and Gumbo said they had parted ways with Dr Mujuru due to “irreconcilable ideological differences”.

Mujuru fired back, describing the two as “old men” who always claimed ownership of all political parties they had once joined.

Although Dr Mujuru tried to wear a brave face, part of her faction’s executive resolutions on Wednesday were evident that she was feeling the heat in her camp.

Smarting from the Bikita West by-election rout, Dr Mujuru announced that her party was no longer going to participate in all future by-elections describing them as “unnecessary distractions.”

In the letter to ZEC and co-signed by Messrs Mutasa and Gumbo, the two said: “This letter serves to notify you that Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru is no longer the interim president of Zimbabwe People First. She is no longer entitled to represent the party at any capacity nor to use the name Zimbabwe People First. Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru was appointed as the interim president of Zimbabwe People First pending its inaugural elective convention.

“However, due to irreconcilable differences in ideological thinking and leadership qualities, we advise that we have removed Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru as the party’s interim president. The founders of the party, Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa shall in the meantime act as the interim leaders of the party and shall be legitimate representatives of Zimbabwe People First.”

In an earlier interview, Mr Gumbo said they would convene in the next seven days to elect another interim party leader.

He said they preferred a young person to take over the leadership of the makeshift party pending an elective congress.

As a united outfit, ZimPF had in the past two years, failed to elect a substantive leadership.

“What we need to do is to sit down because we don’t want to repeat the same problem when we picked Joice Mujuru simply because she was a Vice President,” he said.

“We want to do extensive consultations to find a young person who will drive this thing to congress. We don’t want to take precipitous actions again and, we are going to sit down possibly in the next seven days.”

ZimPF spokesperson Mr Jealousy Mawarire said they would not be bothered by antics of expelled people.

“Those are expelled members and what we will simply do is to ignore their antics. They once said they are the original Zanu-PF (and) now they claim to own ZimPF,” he said.

“Each and every party they join, they claim ownership of it. They are possessionists who have a warped belief that every political party that they have been once part to is owned by the two. They have done that with Zanu-PF. After their expulsion, they claimed to be the original Zanu-PF.

“We are not surprised at all that they now claim to be the ZimPF founders. It satisfies their egos every time they are expelled from these voluntary organisations to masquerade as their owners. It helps them to manage depression attendant to the expulsions, but surely in practical terms it exposes how politically naïve they are,” said Mr Mawarire.

“They once visited the court trying to claim ownership of Zanu-PF and embarrassingly lost the battle and it surprises everybody that the two old men have surely learnt nothing from the futile attempt in the past to try to usurp ownership of political organisations that are supposed to be mass driven, and not owned by individuals – let alone those who are in the twilight of their checkered political lives.”

However, what is instructive is how the Dr Mujuru camp had decided to dodge elections as a way of managing the embarrassment that comes with electoral defeats.

The party, before its split, was heavily trounced by Zanu-PF in the recent Bikita West by-election.

The Mujuru camp chickened out of all elections yesterday, but the Mutasa/Gumbo group said they would participate – a clear indication that the party had split into two distinct factions.

The Mutasa and Mujuru camps traded expulsions on Tuesday citing diverse reasons.

The Mujuru group accused Mutasa and his camp of being Zanu-PF infiltrators bent on destabilising the party, while Mutasa hit back labeling Mujuru a dictator and incompetent leader.

Meanwhile, Mr Sylvester Nguni, who was leading the administration department resigned from the party and said: “I have resigned from Zimbabwe People First ( ZimPF) and am being asked to explain why.

“I desperately want to see a peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe and became involved in ZimPF as I believed it would be a good platform to promote the interests of the people, as outlined in the party policy document BUILD (which I crafted ).

“Fundamentally, leaders and people in general, should be able to deal with disagreements by following a process. Here, we have two sides in ZimPF that have clearly shown that they do not subscribe to the view that correct structures can and should deal with opposing views,” said Mr Nguni in his statement.

He added: “I was left with no choice but to leave the party as it was clear to me the leadership did not see things the same way and would not change in their ways.” – state media

By Simbarashe Chikanza| In a move set to take the Zimbabwe People First squabbles to another height, the said “self proclaimed” founders of the party Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa have today written to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission delisting party leader Joice Mujuru’s name from the government organisation.

The letter submitted this afternoon to the electoral body claims that Mujuru is no longer the bona fide leader of the party and is no longer allowed to deal or transact with ZEC in the name of Zimbabwe People First.

The move is bound to see a protracted court battle for the use of the name which both parties claim to be owning.

ZimEye.com could not immediately get a comment from both parties. An official at ZEC head office in Harare confirmed receiving the letter co-signed by Mutasa and Gumbo. The copy is below:

Staff Reporter| Evan Mawarire has come out with a bang.

Many have been wondering why the #ThisFlag pastor Evan Mawarire last week decided to abandon the United States for Zimbabwe.

The clergyman has announced on the reason why he has returned.

Speaking in a live video feed Friday afternoon, Mawarire said the reason why he decided to jet back into Harare is so that he can build ‘my country.’

He said the sole purpose why he traveled to the US last year was so that his family can be safe. “As I always said I would be back home, it was important thing that my family is safe, and I am glad that they are safe”.

He then explained on why he has returned home saying, “As Zimbabweans it is important for us to understand that citizens who have committed no crime should never be afraid to build their country. Kana munhu asina kupara mhosva usatya kuvaka nyika yako. And so that’s why I am back…”

Meanwhile he also said the prayers people were making for him they should remember they were praying for the nation.  WATCH VIDEO BELOW:

https://youtu.be/njr9wXC3DAU

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ZRP riot police together with Municipal officers have violently and illegally arrested a woman named Tariro Zhangazha, a member of the National Vendors Union Zimbabwe on the corner of Leopold Takawira and Nelson Mandela Streets.

In a statement National Vendors Union leader Sten Zvorwadza told ZimEye the group of riot ZRP officers and municipal police ganged up to assault the defenseless woman in public.

She was also violently thrown into a truck while being beaten with baton sticks as the duo were moving around confiscating goods from street vendors.

The woman had her child who is about 2 years of age, run behind the police truck. The child was running after the truck as police were throwing teargas on the public in search of her mother whom he saw being thrown in the truck. The whereabouts of Tariro Zhangazha were unknown at the time of writing.

VIDEO BELOW

PREMIER Services Medical Aid Society (Psmas) has demanded to be reimbursed US$1,2 million by former chief executive Cuthbert Dube for money he allegedly drew from the company without authorisation, including funds he channelled to the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa).

The health insurer is also demanding that Dube surrenders a house in Harare’s Glen Lorne suburb which he is accused of buying using the organisation’s funds.

This comes as the Zimbabwe Independent understands that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) is carrying out investigations to establish if Dube prejudiced the health insurer.
Dube was fired three years ago after his hefty salary and perks sparked public outrage. He was taking home about US$500 000 per month in salary and allowances at a time the company was struggling.
Psmas board chair Jeremiah Bvirindi said the matter regarding Psmas’ demands would soon be taken to court although Dube is already aware of the demands being made.

“He is aware of the demands made by Psmas for what we perceive as unjust enrichment pointing to improper conduct as the then chief group executive that severely prejudiced the society and the impact of which is being felt by the subscribers,” Bvirindi said.

Asked about the Zacc investigations and when Psmas will conclude its own investigations, Bvirindi said: “It is true, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission obtained a search warrant and Psmas has since submitted everything to them but I am not privy to how far they have gone with the matter.”
Documents in the possession of the Independent show that Psmas has been trying to get a refund from Dube since September last year.

Through its lawyers, Psmas wrote to Dube on September 6 demanding the money and the house.
“Our client instructs that while you were in its employ, you wrongfully and fraudulently caused the purchase and transfer of the property commonly called No. 5 Barrington Close, Glen Lorne, into your name when it had been identified and paid for by the society.” reads the letter written by Muzangaza, Mandaza and Tomana legal practitioners on behalf of Psmas.

Psmas also demanded from Dube cash amounting to US$1,2 million.
“Our client also instructs that during the time you were in its employ, you claimed and received varying sums of money, purportedly as reimbursements for medical expenses you had incurred,” the letter reads.

According to the ongoing Psmas investigations, Dube is said to have not submitted any documents to support those claims.

“Our client’s investigations show that those claims were non-existent and therefore fraudulent,” the document reveals.

“So far, our client has unearthed no less than 35 of such instances, whereby the prejudice to the society is US$947 569. Our client is entitled to recover such prejudice from you and in that regard we are instructed to demand from you that the said sum, failing which legal proceedings will be instituted for the recovery of the sum, interest and costs.”

Psmas also wants Dube to pay back money he allegedly channelled to Zifa which had nothing to do with the health insurer.

“It is common knowledge that our client is not involved, directly or indirectly, in the affairs of football administration in Zimbabwe. Our client instructs that while you were in its employ, you fraudulently accessed and withdrew sums of money for use on your trips as a football administrator,” reads the letter.

“To date our client has unearthed instances of such fraudulent withdrawals amounting to US$285 000.”

In his response through his lawyers Venturas and Samukange, Dube dismissed the demands, saying Psmas has to familiarise themselves with his contract.

“We have been handed a copy of your letter addressed to Cuthbert Dube. We were surprised and taken aback that you sought to deal with our client directly when you know very well that we represent the said Dube,” reads the letter dated September 19.

“Our client’s instruction is that it is quite clear you are not familiar with his contract of employment especially as to what benefits he was entitled to.

“Our client denies that he has done any wrong or anything unlawful which is prejudicial to the society. We suggest that you familiarise yourselves with the terms and conditions of his employment.”

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Psmas board blocked the payment of a hefty exit package to Dube which he was awarded after retiring in 2012 before being rehired.

Documents at hand show that on May 15 2012 Psmas approved an exit package which included full
maintenance of two vehicles for five years. The maintenance included fuel, repairs or service and comprehensive insurance cover and any other costs associated with the roadworthiness of a vehicle.

“In the event of the current group chief executive being offered a consultancy contract by the group, the group chief executive officer shall be entitled to full entertainment allowance including purchase of entertainment cards from the Meikles, the Sheraton (now Rainbow Towers), Rainbow group, Zimsun (now African Sun) and the Cresta group,” reads the document.

Dube’s exit package to be paid over five years included the privilege of employment of two domestic workers (one cook and one gardener) fully paid for by the group; fully paid utility bills for two residential properties; 24-hour security cover at two of his residential properties; a personal driver and one personal assistant whose salaries and benefits shall be paid by the group.

“The group chief executive shall be entitled to holiday allowances of two international holiday destinations per annum, three regional holiday destinations per annum and quarterly local holiday destinations per annum.”

For all the holiday allowances, the former group chief executive was entitled to business class tickets including that of his spouse or partner. He was also entitled to the organisation’s most superior scheme or plan on a non-contributory basis and with all shortfalls being met by Psmas including for his spouse or partner.

Dube, according to the exit package, was to have his telephone and three cellphone bills paid for by Psmas; US$1000 groceries monthly and a house. -Independent

Staff Reporter|ZimEye.com is reliably informed that the ongoing split in the Zimbabwe People First party is based on differences in handling thorny Matabeleland issues between the founding party elders Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo against President Joice Mujuru.

Inside sources within the party told ZimEye.com that a major feud between Mujuru and her elders is around what the elders describe as Mujuru’s, “failure to uphold the founding principles of the party.”

According to the elders Mujuru also over opened up the party and brought in too much buy in from members from other opposition parties when she was appointed interim President. The elders instead wanted the party not to be a mainstream opposition party but a splinter of ZANU PF against President Robert Mugabe’s control of the ruling party.

The sources further indicate that the elders were particularly never happy with Mujuru’s over incorporation of the Matabeleland regions into the party and its leadership. According to the sources the final spark of the flames between Mujuru and the elders, arose last month after Mujuru allowed for the inclusion of the devolution of power concept and the inclusion of a secretariat in charge of National Healing and Reconciliation issues which have always been barred from the ZANU PF operations.

Both the devolution of power and the national healing and reconciliation clauses in the constitution were brought in by the Matabeleland regions much to the infuriation of the elders.

Mujuru is reported to have been warned several times by the elders of her soft spot for the Matabeleland regions where she has been visiting more frequent than all the other provinces.

According to the sources the elders were due to dismiss Mujuru from her position on Tuesday morning on the grounds of insubordination and failure to uplift the values of the party. Information to the regard found its way out of the cabal which had held a meeting the previous night and got to Mujuru who immediately summoned her provincial chairpersons to seek a resolution to dismiss the elders before they could execute their own dismissal of her.

Top radio and television personality Tichafa “Tich Mataz” Matambanadzo yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing allegations of smuggling after he failed to declare several clothing items he had brought from China.

Harare provincial magistrate Lazini Ncube presided over Matambanadzo’s matter and remanded him to February 27 on $100.

As part of his bail conditions, Matambanadzo was ordered to surrender his passport, report at Harare Central Police Station and not to interfere with known State witnesses.

It is the State’s case that on January 7 at around 10am, Matambanadzo arrived at Harare International Airport aboard Kenya Airways from China.

The State alleges Matambanadzo picked his luggage from the carousels and proceeded to the green route, where he was then stopped by a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) official, Patrick Mukanganwi, who then directed him to go the red route.

It is alleged Matambanadzo was handed over to another Zimra official, Munyaradzi Mhanda, who was manning cubicle number three of the red route, who then handed him a declaration form.

After making a declaration, Mhanda went through Matambanadzo’s goods and discovered he had several suits, shirts, tracksuit bottoms and shoes, according to the physical examination form. After working out the duty, Mhanda found out Matambanadzo was supposed to have paid $538,75 in duty, which he had not.

The State alleges Mhanda then proceeded to yet another cubicle to capture the information in the system, but upon return, he discovered Matambanadzo had disappeared without paying the required duty.

Francisca Mukumbiri appeared for the State.

Terrence Mawawa, Mberengwa | A 38-year-old local man has blamed a traditional healer for instructing him to fondle his daughter’s private parts.

Gilbert Baloyi (38) of Hlatini Village under Chief Mahlabeza in Mberengwa is being charged with indecent assault. He appeared before Magistrate Sengster Tavengwa last week.

Baloyi left the court in stitches when he claimed he was instructed by a traditional healer to fondle his 18-year-old daughter’s private parts.

He further said the traditional healer instructed him to perform some rituals on his daughter to accumulate wealth.

The court heard that Baloyi called his daughter to his bedroom on November 29 around 10 pm. He took off her blouse leaving her breasts exposed and applied some herbs all over her body including her private parts. He was fully aware there was a possibility his daughter would not consent.

Baloyi took advantage of his wife’s absence and told the girl that he loved her so much. He proceeded to fondle her private parts.

He then ordered his daughter to drink some sour medicine. While wearing an underwear Baloyi ordered his daughter to lie on the floor and her daughter managed to escape as he attempted to force her to have sex with him.

Baloyi followed his daughter to the bedroom and gave her the sum of $2 and ordered her not to tell anyone. “I was instructed by a sangoma to smear some herbs all over my daughter’s body so that I would become rich. I did not intend to have sex with my daughter. I wanted to perform rituals according to the sangoma’s instructions,” said Baloyi.

The girl reported the matter to her mother who alerted the police.

Baloyi insisted he visited a local traditional healer who gave him herbs to apply on his daughter’s body to enable him to amass wealth.

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EDUCATION MINISTER LAZARUS DOKORA is in trouble for forcing his new education curriculum without proper consultations with stakeholders. The Rural Teachers Union and the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) have resisted the man.

The red flag has been raised after a girl (14) from Shurugwi raped her younger brother (6).

The Form 2 pupil (name withheld) from Hurungwe Village in Shurugwi, pleaded guilty to aggravated indecent assault when she appeared before Regional Magistrate Mr Morgan Nemadire.

She was sentenced 2 years’ imprisonment, which was wholly suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence.

Prosecuting, Mr Kelvin Guvheya told the court that in September last year, the accused and the complainant slept in the same room but on separate beds.

“The accused person took the complainant to her bed and removed all his clothes.

“The accused told the complainant that they were going to have sexual intercourse after she had removed her own clothes.

“She told the complainant that he should sleep facing upwards and raped him once. After the act the accused person told the complainant to go back and sleep on his bed. The accused person had sexual intercourse with the complainant on several occasions,” said Guvheya.

The court heard that the matter came to light through an anonymous tip-off supplied to a police station. The complainant was medically examined and a medical report was brought to court as exhibit. – state media

The state media reports that an eight-year-old pupil at Bambanani Primary School in Inyathi drowned while trying to cross Mbembeswana River with his three friends on their way from school.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Eglon Nkala said when the three pupils crossed the river, they went home and reported that their colleague had drowned.

The incident happened on Tuesday.

“Inyathi villagers went to the river bank and found the boy’s body. We continue to advise the public to accompany pupils to and from school or allow them to skip attending school if they feel it is unsafe,” Asst Insp Nkala said.

A number of pupils have drowned countrywide since the rainy season started, with education authorities saying it was better for children to miss school than cross flooded rivers.

In another drowning case, Asst Insp Nkala said the body of a man who was reported missing in Lupane has been found decomposing along the Mbembesi River bank.

Shelter Nyathi (20) and his brother allegedly visited a village across the river on January 29, and on their way back home at around 6PM they found the river flooded.

Nyathi’s brother managed to cross and went home but the deceased said he was going back to the village where they had visited earlier. However, he did not reach his destination and it is suspected that he later attempted to cross the river and drowned.

“A man’s body was spotted trapped on a tree on the river bank. Villagers managed to retrieve the body before our sub aqua team arrived and no foul is suspected,” said Asst Insp Nkala.

“Nyathi left home on January 29 with his brother and they visited Lupanda Village until 6PM. On their way back home they discovered that Mbembesi River was flooded as it had rained heavily and his brother decided to cross the river.

“Nyathi said he would rather go back to their relatives’ homestead as the river was too full. On the next day his brother discovered that Nyathi did not go back and on February 4, the family filed a missing person report.”

He said on February 6, a girl was looking for mushrooms along the river bank and spotted a body.

She went back to the village and notified her grandfather and other villagers.

“Villagers went to the river and retrieved the body which was in a state of decomposition. Nyathi’s relatives took the body and no foul is suspected,” said Asst Insp Nkala.

On Tuesday, the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) said it was worried that people continue to risk their lives by trying to cross flooded rivers.

The Officer-in-Charge of Mbare Police Station was yesterday trapped and arrested after she allegedly demanded a $60 bribe from a motorist to facilitate the release of his vehicle that had been impounded for a traffic offence.

The senior officer only identified as Chief Inspector Sigauke is still detained at Rhodesville Police Station assisting police with investigations.

Sources close to the investigations said the motorist had his vehicle impounded at a roadblock by police officers and it was taken to the police station.

During the process, the owner is reported to have approached Chief Insp Sigauke for assistance.

Although the details are still sketchy, the officer-in-charge is reported to have demanded a $60 bribe to facilitate for the release of the vehicle.

The owner then alerted some police officers who set a trap.

They went to the police station where Chief Insp Sigauke was handed over the money, leading to her arrest.

It is reported that before she was arrested, she tried to swallow the money, but failed.

She is also alleged to have bitten one of the police officers’ hand in a bid to evade arrest.

Chief Insp Sigauke was taken to Rhodesville Police Station for further investigations.

The incident comes as the force has promised to dismiss any rogue elements tarnishing the image of the police.

Last month, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said some of his officers mounting roadblocks were corrupt and a number had been dismissed from the force, but blamed motorists for offering bribes instead of paying fines. – Agencies

First Lady Grace Mugabe  is reported to be eyeing the Harare South constituency, with many speculating that being MP will be just a first step towards her bigger ambition, succeeding her husband as the next President of Zimbabwe. The controversial First lady has set tongues wagging once again.

Why would Gucci-loving, jet-setting Grace Mugabe want to be a humble MP in Zimbabwe’s parliament?

It’s hard to imagine the imperious Zimbabwean first lady jostling with rowdy opposition Members of Parliament on a daily basis. But that’s the future one local newspaper is suggesting.

Some Zimbabweans have reacted with exasperation to a report in the privately-owned Newsday on Wednesday suggesting Grace Mugabe could be planning to contest a parliamentary seat in Harare in next year’s general elections so that she can get into her husband’s cabinet.

Newsday quoted an unnamed Zanu-PF insider saying that the first lady “had made indications she wants Harare South [constituency] and the current MP has already been advised to look for another constituency”.

“Nobody is going to stop her if [that’s what] she really wants,” a second party official told the paper.

Super-fast PhD

There’s been speculation for two and a half years now that Grace may be eyeing the top seat in Zimbabwe when her 92-year-old (actually, about to turn 93) husband dies or steps down.

Her super-fast acquisition of a PhD in 2014 and her elevation to the post of president of the Zanu-PF women’s league are widely seen to be part of that plan.

One way of gaining an upper hand in Zanu-PF’s bitter internal fights would be for Grace to get herself into parliament, into the cabinet and from there, into a vice presidency.

That’s something her women’s league has been pushing for for some time.

Claims rubbished

One of the first lady’s closest confidantes, Sarah Mahoka has rubbished Newsday’s claims, telling the paper that Grace would never “reduce herself to be an MP.”

That’s a sentiment being echoed on Twitter. “Why would she take the demotion from president to MP?” one Twitter user asked, suggesting Grace’s claim on the presidency was a foregone conclusion. After all, under Zimbabwe’s constitution Mugabe has the power to bring a small number of non-elected officials into his cabinet.

Romanticising popularity

But winning a seat in parliament might give the first lady the veneer of legitimacy she craves, says Harare analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya.

“I think she’d want to put the point home that she is electable; that she is loved by the people. You know this romance between politicians and the ordinary people?” Ruhanya said in an interview. “She’d want to romanticise her popularity.”

After last month’s $1.3m diamond ring scandal, it’s hard to imagine Grace submitting herself to an “MP lifestyle audit” of the kind being advocated in the Herald newspaper this week.

But then she could just do what many of Zimbabwe’s MPs are already doing and never really attend parliament. “Most MPs prefer to do their private businesses when the house would be in session,” the Financial Gazette said on Thursday. – News24

A top intelligence officer, Zenzo Ntuliki, has lost his bid to evict a white commercial farmer from a property allocated to him by government in December 2014 as part of the haphazard land reforms.
Ntuliki had in April 2015 succeeded in pushing Timothy Sean White from the property after a magistrate fined him US$300 or 30 days in prison for illegally occupying gazetted land. White was subsequently ordered to vacate Lot 2 of Lot 36 of Essexvale Avalon Farm.

But tables were turned this week after the High Court quashed both his conviction and sentence.
This followed an application by White, challenging the judgment by former Gwanda magistrate, Reuben Mukavhi.

Sitting with Justice Martin Makonese during a criminal appeal, Justice Maxwell Takuva ruled that Mukavhi had misdirected himself in his judgment.

“In my view, it is totally unfair and not in the interest of justice and public policy for a government official charged with administration of particular statutes to give incorrect advice for whatever reason and then unashamedly turn around and recommend and vigorously support prosecution for the innocent recipient of their bad advice. Such conduct should be frowned upon by the courts, for to tolerate it could very well promote abuse of office and corruption by public officials to the detriment of society in general,” ruled Justice Takuva.

Mukavhi, in his ruling, had said White had shown a disregard of the law by continuously occupying the land despite him having been advised by authorities to vacate the farm.
The disputed land measures 142 hectares, of which 30 hectares are mining claims.
The judge said the magistrate failed to appreciate that White’s mining claims gave him a right of occupation entirely distinct from any rights that Ntuliki may have been granted under the land reform programme.

“The net effect of this is that even if the appellant (White) had not been granted any rights of occupation by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement, the State did not have the lawful authority to deprive him of his mining rights by barring him from the land. Appellant had a right to occupy portion of the land in question and therefore could not be found guilty of occupying its entire extent and consequently, the appeal is hereby upheld, conviction and sentence of the magistrate’s court be and hereby set aside,” ruled Justice Takuva.

In his application through his lawyers, Webb, Low and Barry Legal Practitioners, White sought an order setting aside both his conviction and sentence, arguing that the magistrate misdirected himself by failing to consider representations from officials in the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement that the appellant was lawfully authorised to remain in occupation of Lot 2 of Lot 36 of Essexvale Avalon Farm.
White further argued that the magistrate failed to put into consideration that he had mining claims over a portion of the farm measuring 30 hectares.

“The sentence imposed by the learned magistrate induces a sense of shock. Wherefore the appellant will pray that the appeal be upheld and the conviction and sentence of the magistrate’s court be set aside, and the appellant be found not guilty and acquitted,” said White.
He further argued that he was the rightful owner of the farm, saying he was occupying the farm by virtue of a permit extended to him by the Lands Ministry in 2007 which was confirmed in a letter written to him on May 17 the same year.

White said his permit had not been cancelled, neither had he been issued with a notice to vacate the farm. Allegations against White were that sometime in 2003 a notice was issued in terms of the Land Acquisition Act of the President’s intention to compulsorily acquire Avalon Farm for the purposes of resettlement.
White was allegedly supposed to vacate the piece of land in 2007, but did not comply, leading to his arrest. The farm was allocated to Ntuliki in December 2014 and he was presented with an offer letter.

White and Ntuliki have since 2014 been locked in a series of legal wrangles over the control of the farm with both parties claiming to be the rightful owners of the disputed property.

President Robert Mugabe has set out to hold a meeting for his birthday on top of the sacred graveyard resting place of his victims. In what will become the test of morals against morals, Mugabe has rubbished concerns about his being insensitive by celebrating his birthday party on top of the mass grave area of the Matopo.

The government media reveals that Mugabe has put his signature to the 21^st February Movement celebrations that will be held on the 25^th of February at Rhodes Preparatory School in Matopo district, Matabeleland South province.

Zanu PF Secretary for Youth Affairs Kudzai Chipanga told journalists at a media conference at the party headquarters that preparations for the big day are at an advanced stage.

Chipanga says the youth league is in final consultations with the relevant ministries to declare President Mugabe’s birthday a public holiday and the renaming of Harare International Airport after Mugabe.

The build up to the big day will see a national fundraising dinner being held on the 17^th of February in Harare while national clean-up campaign will be held on the 22^nd of February in all 10 provinces.

More than 10 000 youths are expected to attend the historic celebrations to mark President Mugabe’s 93^rdbirthday.

The 21^st February Movement is in honour of President Robert Mugabe and has a vision to mould Zimbabwean youths to emulate his visionary leadership and nationalist values. – State Media

By Staff Reporter | The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has hammered the ministers of Health and Child Care and Local Government, David Parirenyatwa and, Saviour Kasukuwere for failing to foresee and counter the outbreak of typhoid that has hit the country.

Over 200 cases of typhoid and three deaths have been recorded in Harare since the outbreak of the epidemic three months ago.

The outbreak of the pandemic was caused by poor hygienic conditions a result of un-repaired burst sewer pipes and uncollected garbage which continue to characterize the once sun shine city.

Stakeholders in the health sector say water borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera, should not continue to occur in a modern society like Zimbabwe and blamed the government for their continued recurrence.

ZLHR, senior official Dzimbabwe Chimbga ,told a stakeholders meeting in Harare this week , that the two ministers and other related government heads of departments ,should be ashamed of the recurrence of “this archaic” epidemic and do the honorable thing.

“The law and the constitution are clear on such issues, they tell you that mitigate and put preventative measures to such outbreaks which should not be seen erupting in this day and age,” he said.

“In a problem of this nature there are a number of actors who are involved and all of them must be held accountable, and because of limited time I have here presenting, I cannot exhaust the list but what we need is to see accountability on the local authority, accountability on the ministry of health, the environmental management agency and the ministry responsible for the allocation of land for housing stands,” said Chimbga.

Chimbga said the Human Rights Commission which was present at the meeting should identify various stakeholders involved in causing the typhoid outbreak and hold them accountable.

“This must be done so that we avoid unwarranted deaths of innocent citizens to diseases which could be prevented,” Chimbga said.

The cat is out of the bag! After concerted demands by followers of flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo to reveal the mystery lady who has taken his heart, the mogul on Sunday responded by posting a dazzling picture of the pair on his Facebook fan page.

Chivayo at the beginning of the year sent tongues wagging after posting a picture on his Facebook page of a mysterious woman, face covered, lying on his chest.

The picture captioned: “Sir is chilling at home with the successful candidate…” was posted on New Year’s Eve.

Adding to the anticipation, Chivayo posted another picture of himself with the lady standing at Gandami Secondary School, Chivhu.

Some said this was his rural home and he was introducing his wife-to-be to his relatives.

Now Chivayo’s post of him spotting a beaming smile in a tight cuddle with a light skinned woman disappointed some followers at the new developments in his life.

“She’s beautiful, my crush is gone. I was hoping Sir muchandionawo amana (I thought I was going to be the lucky one) but why? God bless your union,” wrote one Ashleigh Rutendo.

In his usual acidic, humorous style Chivayo shot back: “My Gardener is single, I can link you two guys. Well paid and handsome.”

The comments go on, with many of his followers congratulating Chivayo and wishing him well in his union, while others wanted to know who the lady was and when the wedding will be. – State Media

Zim People First has been hit by 2 more senior resignations.

Mujuru who yesterday expelled 7 key members of her decision making committee, and was early this morning rejected by Mr. Sylvester Nguni, has now been deserted by two others.

Founding members Cougan Matanhire and Prosper Gavanga have in the last few minutes written to Mrs Mujuru telling her they are with immediate effect walking away. Wrote Gavanga who was the party’s Deputy Youth Chairperson, “…I have lost hope in you for a better Zimbabwe and now considering the future … ”

Matanhire wrote his own letter saying, “After careful self- introspection and soul searching I have decided to tender my resignation from the Party of my own volition.”

Meanwhile, ZimEye is reliably told two separate National Council meetings are slated for this afternoon with Mujuru conducting her own at her private residence in Chisipite. She has however garnered support from 9 out of 10 provinces meaning she will likely win over the attempt to wrestle the party from her hands.

More to follow…

The arrest of self-proclaimed pastor Evan Mawarire should be applauded because it is in line with the country’s Constitution which emphasises on the rule of law, a Cabinet Minister has said. This came after British ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Catriona Laing voiced concerns that Mawarire’s arrest was unconstitutional. She also criticised the cyber crime law that is being drafted by Government.

WARRING factions in the ruling party are burning the midnight oil to gain control of the 365 off-road vehicles and 10 buses acquired by ZANU-PF last year at a cost of about US$20 million in order to resource their proxies as they prepare for the ultimate battle in the race to succeed President Robert Mugabe.

The Financial Gazette can report that the succession wrangles between Generation 40 (G40) and Team Lacoste — the two factions in ZANU-PF — have shifted towards the allocation of party resources with strategic portfolios such as that for administration, finance and transport taking the centre stage.
As the 2018 elections draw closer, there is a strong feeling within the factions that whoever would gain control of Parliament and local authorities between them stands a good chance of swinging the succession pendulum in their favour.

Because most of the ZANU-PF cadres are thin on funding after nearly two decades of an economic recession, strategists on both sides of the factional divide have reasoned that the best way to oil their respective machineries would be to direct party resources towards their proxies so that they can mobilise supporters on the ground.

Both camps are now busy identifying candidates to take part in party primaries for the National Assembly and local authorities to be held early next year. Presently, there are manoeuvres among the key power brokers in ZANU-PF to ensure that their preferred candidates win the primaries so that they could be allocated party vehicles for use in advancing their factional agendas.
Thirty of the vehicles were dispatched to the party’s 10 provinces last month for allocation to chairpersons of the party’s three wings — the main wing, the Women’s League and the Youth League.
Each wing leader will be issued with a car to allow them to move around their provinces, conducting party business.

Provinces will get a bus each for use to transport party officials and supporters.
More vehicles would be given to those who would have emerged victorious in the party’s primary elections for both Parliament and local authorities.

As soon as the cars arrived in the provinces, pandemonium broke out in Masvingo and the Midlands provinces — bastions of support for Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whom Team Lacoste would want to succeed the incumbent who is now in the twilight of his political career.
President Mugabe turns 93 on February 21.

Team Lacoste kicked out Amasa Nenjana from the provincial chair of Masvingo last week and recalled Ezra Chadzamira while they brought in former deputy provincial chairman, Daniel Mackenzie Ncube to replace Joram Gumbo as head of the Midlands province.

Former Midlands chairman, Kizito Chivamba, who was suspended early last year, was prevented from resuming his duties because he was unwell.
Team Lacoste had lost control of Masvingo and the Midlands to their G40 rivals, but they have since regained them.
The faction is now plotting ways of smuggling back Joel Biggie Matiza in Mashonaland East province but could face a tricky situation because the camp could easily be overwhelmed by G40 there.
Team Lacoste members are also believed to be gunning for co-opted provincial Youth and Women’s League chairpersons, Nobert Ndaarombe and Veronica Makonese, respectively.
Still, G40 has an upper hand in most provinces and organs of the party where it succeeded in stampeding Mnangagwa’s allies out over the last two years.
To even things out, Team Lacoste is calling for elections in provinces that do not have substantive chairpersons for all the three wings although it is highly unlikely that there could be fresh elections, especially given G40’s vehement resistance.

ZANU-PF national secretary for transport, Oppah Muchinguri, said she had not received reports of squabbles over the vehicles.
“The cars are being distributed according to guidelines set out by the Politburo. We follow those guidelines and nothing else. If there are problems related to their use in the provinces, then we are yet to hear about them,” she said.

According to the guidelines, the vehicles will be handed over to the Provincial Executive Committee, which will then make respective allocations.
Nenjana refused to respond to questions when contacted by the Financial Gazette last Friday, shouting: “That has nothing to do with you,” over the phone.
When asked if it is true that the vehicles were at the centre of the catfight in Masvingo, Ndaarombe simply said: “Yes, the circumstances are not clear.”
He refused to say anything more, referring further questions to provincial political commissar, Jeppy Jaboon.
Jaboon, who is linked to G40, said he was not personally involved in the vehicles duel.
“It’s some of my colleagues (who are fighting for cars). I am still using the one which was issued to me during the 2013 election campaign. I can use that to access my constituency and do my commissariat work,” said the Bikita South Member of Parliament.
Makonese could not be reached for comment.
Politburo member and Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister, Shuvai Mahofa, who was publicly accused by Nenjana, Makonese and Ndaarombe of instigating the former’s removal along with Psychomotor Minister, Josiah Hungwe, refused to entertain the Financial Gazette.
“I don’t want to talk to newspapers,” she said before terminating the call.
Hungwe was not responding to calls on his mobile phone this week.
Jorum Gumbo, the most senior ZANU-PF member in the Midlands province, said while it was possible that there could have been fights over control of the vehicles, such reports did not play a part in the province’s decision to co-opt Mackenzie Ncube.
Gumbo, believed to be one of those in Mnangagwa’s inner circle, was acting as Midlands chair until last Saturday. He was asked to act after the province resisted Tapiwa Matangaidze’s troubled interim chairmanship.
“I was acting chairman of the province when the Politburo cleared Chivamba and the other two chairmen (Chadzamira and Matiza). By virtue of the fact that they were cleared, we were given an opportunity to do what we could do as a province. We were free to choose the leadership we wanted and it was unanimously agreed that Ncube must take over and that is totally in order and not in violation of anything so I do not know why people should start making up stories. It is purely on this basis that the province arrived at that decision,” Gumbo said.
Mackenzie Ncube was not responding to calls on his mobile phone this week. He also did not respond to messages sent to him.

Parliament had to be adjourned last week Wednesday during the second reading of the Finance Bill because Members of Parliament, who were present, could not constitute a quorum for the debate to proceed, the Financial Gazette can report.

On December 8, 2016, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa presented before Parliament the National Budget for the current year that now needs to be debated in the National Assembly before it is either adopted, amended or discarded.

Last week, Chinamasa tabled the Finance Bill for the second reading, but Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, was forced to adjourn sitting after the majority of the legislators absconded.
This was the second time that debate on the Finance Bill had to be aborted for lack of quorum.
Parliament needs a quorum of at least 70 of the country’s 270 legislators to be present.
The incident has sparked heated debate about the attitudes of MPs towards the business of the august House.

A major characteristic of the parliamentary sessions has been the prevalence of empty seats as most MPs prefer to do their private businesses when the house would be in session.
Some of the lawmakers have become notorious for showing up just to register their availability before hastily retreating from Parliament building to conduct their personal business.
As a result, Parliament has not been effective in the discharge of its legislative and oversight functions, with critics accusing the assembly for having been reduced by the Executive branch of the State to a mere rubberstamp.

In the debate that ensued following last week’s poor turnout, it was alleged that MPs were using parliamentary time to moonlight in order to make ends meet.

It was argued that just like the rest of the country’s citizens, whom they are supposed to represent in Parliament, lawmakers have been equally affected by the prevailing economic hardships and are now using every trick in the book to survive.

It emerged during the discussions that some of them were using vehicles allocated to them under a Parliamentary scheme to ferry passengers in order to earn an extra dollar, while the business of the assembly was suffering. Mudenda believes, however, that their absenteeism was a result of indiscipline because the business of Parliament was not being taken seriously.

Kuwadzana East MP, Nelson Chamisa, argued otherwise, saying circumstances were forcing legislators into moonlighting. “I think it will be very difficult, Honourable Speaker, Sir, for you to come to the conclusion that absence is on account of indiscipline and their absence is on account of mere dereliction of responsibility of duty,” said Chamisa.

“I know you are not an exception, Honourable Speaker, Sir. You also leave this Parliament from time to time because you have to find a way to survive. Your chair, Honourable Speaker Sir, has not been given the dignity it deserves by government. The dignity that has to give it the comfort and security of that office and we are really worried about that. It is an issue you may need to take due cognisance (of),” he concluded.

In response, Mudenda took exception to inferences that he was also moonlighting.
He said: “This is not a Chamber to advance populism. Your first calling is your duty to Parliament and not moonlighting. Let us protect the Constitution and create time for other things. That is why I sit in my office and wait until debate is completed, I do not go out moonlighting,” Mudenda said.
Chinamasa cautioned MPs who skipped parliamentary sittings to avoid justifying their corrupt activities on the basis that they were underfunded.

“If you justify corruption because we are not funded, who are we going to oversee and who will be taken seriously? We just come here, collect our coupons and go wherever and at the end of the day, the truth of the matter is, if we follow them, they are not going anywhere,” said Chinamasa.
“Some MPs are now pooling their resources together and are resorting to using one vehicle to travel to Harare and back before reselling their fuel coupons on the black market.”
Uzumba MP, Simbaneuta Mudarikwa, said legislators’ vehicles were now recognisable along the country’s highways as pirate taxis.

“Their cars are always overloaded because they are saying they want to make ends meet. I have a picture in my phone of an Honourable Member’s Ford Ranger that was overloaded. His mind is now full of poverty. Whenever he sees people, he wants to carry them,” Mudarikwa said.
Legislators receives US$75 per sitting and an average of 120 litres for those travelling between Bulawayo and Harare.

MPs from outside Harare also get accommodation and meals during parliamentary business.
Concerned by the continued absence of MPs from Parliament, the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust (SAPST) has since called on Treasury to urgently review their conditions of service.
SAPST director, John Makamure, said: “MPs conditions of service must improve significantly because of the important law making, oversight and representative roles that they play. Their conditions of service are currently pathetic.”

Businessman Ray Kaukonde is set to take over the Zim People First party, state media sources say.

FULL TEXT: A Zimbabwe People First faction said to be against a coalition with MDC-T has reportedly picked businessman Mr Ray Kaukonde to take over the party leadership from Dr Joice Mujuru, citing irreconcilable differences. Although Mr Kaukonde, who was expelled from zanu-pf alongside Dr Mujuru in 2014 for plotting to against President Mugabe, last night laughed off the claims, The Herald is reliably informed that the faction that is fronted by ZimPF founding member Mr Didymus Mutasa wanted to announce him as the interim leader at the party headquarters yesterday.

Sources said Dr Mujuru caught wind of the plot and pre-empted it by expelling Mr Mutasa and his group before the announcement.

Another ZimPF elder who was expelled by Dr Mujuru, Mr Rugare Gumbo confirmed the plot at a Press conference in Harare yesterday when he said: “I know there have been accusations that (Mr) Kaukonde wants to take over as president, Gumbo wants to take over, Mutasa and Dongo, whatever.

“I want to assure you that as the elders, we don’t want to continue leading this organisation.

“Some of us have been leaders since our Chimurenga days and way before that. And we can’t continue. What we want is to try the right guy who can bring change and hope to the people of Zimbabwe.”

In an interview last night, Mr Kaukonde said: “Mazondisekesa. I think zveyoung leader I agree with them, but I am not young. Ndachembera ini. I have so much to do and on the issue of leadership, I have played my part. Ndakaitawo pangu. Kwave kudawo vadiki vanotakurawo zvinhu zvacho because at one point you go to civilian life and move forward.”

Mr Kaukonde said Mr Mutasa and Mr Gumbo would be the best to talk to over that matter.

The Herald is also informed that there was also a simmering wave of discontentment among senior party members over Dr Mujuru’s leadership style that reached a boiling point three days ago over coalition talks.

Mr Gumbo, reports say, clashed with Dr Mujuru after he said: “We will never have a coalition with “chematama”, referring to MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai. Sources said Mr Gumbo’s remarks irked Dr Mujuru who had all, but agreed to form a coalition with Mr Tsvangirai before next year’s elections.

Another bone of contention that led to the disintegration of the party, was the resolution to reassign Mr Dzikamai Mavhaire from the steering committee of the party.

It is alleged that after a resolution was passed to reassign him, Dr Mujuru overturned it and retained Mr Mavhaire in the steering committee. Further, Dr Mujuru is also said to have clashed with the party’s interim executive of the issue of vice presidency.

Another senior ZimPF member who was expelled by Dr Mujuru, Dr Margaret Dongo said the executive had agreed that the party should have one vice president, but Dr Mujuru insisted on having two deputies. Dr Dongo said their reasoning was that the country’s economy was too small to have two vice presidents.

All members of the Mutasa faction yesterday took turns to lambast Dr Mujuru saying her gross incompetence was the major source of their differences. They accused Dr Mujuru of being dictatorial and having deviated from the party’s founding principles.

Mr Mutasa said: “What sort of a leader is she that we should go and bow down to her when in fact, we are the ones who made her that leader? There is no reason for that. In fact, we are thoroughly fed up with her leadership.”

Mr Kudakwashe Bhasikiti weighed in saying: “I am not surprised by the purported expulsion, because, in our steering committee, I pointed in her face that now I am losing confidence in your leadership.

“You are demonstrating, beyond doubt, that you are incapable of leading this important mass party. Why? Because you deviating from the founding principles we have laid for this party. You wake up and come to meetings and announce things that were not discussed, announce things which are contrary to our founding principles and principles of the party.

“How do you want us to have confidence in your leadership when you are now exhibiting the one centre-of-power we ran away from Zanu-PF?” Retired Colonel Claudious Makova was blunt, saying it would be an understatement to describe Dr Mujuru as an incompetent leader.

“Last week, we had a steering committee meeting and I told her that if things remained as they are now, party haisimuke iyi,” he said. “The party is not happy because we did not know where we are going with her leadership. She surrounds herself with vanhu vanoera Zhou. Zvino isu tinoera Shoko, where do we come in?

“Yes, we see (President) Mugabe there and Mai Mujuru as his vice. What we did not know is that she is ignorant. Havana chavanoziva. From day one, it will be an understatement to say she was incompetent. Akaenda kuChatham House and while addressing people, she answered her phone. Can you say that she is a leader? Who answers the phone while addressing dignitaries?”

Mr Munacho Mutezo said: “We are a party that believes in democracy. She does not take counsel from the elders who asked her to lead the party.”

Dr Dongo added “I am not surprised, because her style of operation leaves a lot to be desired. I have tried to be diplomatic as Margaret. I am a no-nonsense person, but I am failing to hold on to my diplomacy. To be honest, she has been unprofessional and disrespectful.”

Mr Lucky Kandemiri said he tendered his resignation from the party last month citing lack of capacity from the party leadership.

Staff Reporter| Hell has broken loose on People First leader Joice Mujuru following her firing of 7 senior members of her party yesterday.

As an additional senior party cadre exited Mujuru’s party through a snap resignation this morning, there are now two National Executive committee meetings today: One at Mujuru’s private residence and one at the party offices. The first one will be conducted by Mujuru with her remainder of followers while the other will be conducted by the expelled elders, Didymus Mutasa, Rugare Gumbo, Margaret Dongo and others.

Feelers from the ground indicate to ZimEye that overnight businessman Ray Kaukonde has obtained the backing of the Gumbo faction to lead it.

ZimEye is reliably told youths are set to demonstrate denouncing Mujuru at designated places today. More to follow as events unravel.

By Sydney Barson| Hundreds of MDC- T youths in South Africa last week gathered to encourage each other to come home and add their names in the Biometric Voters Roll as they are truly convinced that the diaspora vote remains a mirage.

Capturing biometric data technologically limits possible duplication and improve the identification of voters during voting.

Addressing MDC T structures in South Africa this past weekend, Kunashe Muchemwa – Mdc t National Youth Assembly Secretary for Elections said under the new election scenario, everyone has to restart registration formalities.

“The coming in of Biometric Voters Roll (BRV) which our party MDC T advocated for means that all of us are no longer registered voters because the old manual voters role has been deleted paving way for this new electronic way of doing things.

For now both voter registration and voting will happen in Zimbabwe because ZANU PF having more than two thirds in parliament has refused to align the constitution and to allow diaspora voting hence every one is encouraged to come to Zimbabwe and register when voter registration commences in a month or so.” Said Muchemwa.

BVR means that no more voting using voter registration slips, it means that ZANU cannot abuse dead people’s IDs when voting, it means no more multiple voting among others things.

“Its our opportunity, its our time. Hence lets mobilize as many people as possible to come and register so that we- can vote out this monster which has made many of you to live like refugees in a foregn land.

The President Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai our one and only hope is handling coalition talks and we believe in his wisdom hence we will follow everything he will put pen to paper.

Those who doubt him can go and consult Professor Welshman Ncube and many others who have fallen by the wayside. We have got the numbers, we have got the energy lets mobilise the young and elderly people for this very important exercise.” Muchemwa said.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is undertaking a mapping process of demarcating polling stations and one can only vote at a polling station were their address has been allocated.

Meanwhile ZEC has appealed to all people aged 18 and above to participate in the exercise being held in each province as follows:
Harare 18/01 – 27/01/17
Manicaland 29/01 – 13/02/17
Mashonaland East 14/02 – 28/02/17
Mashonaland Central 01/03 – 15/03/17
Mashonaland West 15/03 – 29/03/17
Masvingo 29/01 – 14/02/17
Matabeleland South 15/02 – 27/02/17
Matabeleland North 28/02 – 17/03/17
Bulawayo 18/03 – 24/03/17
Midlands 25/03 – 04/04/17

By Sydney Barson| The late Roman Catholic Mutare Diocese vicar Bishop Patrick Mutume who passed away Wednesday, has been described as a true fighter for justice and human dignity who brokered talks between President Robert Mugabe and former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

He was 73.

Mutume was the auxiliary Bishop of Mutare working alongside Bishop Alexio Muchabaiwa.

“I have had the privilege since last October of meeting with Sekuru Mutume to help him record his memoirs. Since mid-January we were meeting every Tuesday. Yesterday (Tuesday) I got there and he said he was too tired for the interview, so we postponed.

During these interviews I tried to find out what was the central belief that drove him to make social justice the core focus of his ministry. I discovered that it was very very simple: If something is wrong you can’t just sit and watch, you have to do something to fix it. That was his personal calling and mission – to set right what is wrong. He said that mission” said Rev Shirley De wolf of Old Mutare.

Mutume has been applauded for uniting Protestants, Evangelicals, Pentecostals and African initiated churches in the formation of Churches In Manicaland, a loose coalition of churches reflecting on the role of the Church in society.

“Being a Catholic Bishop, many would expect him to be strictly orthodox but he has been an open clergy to all.
Bishop Mutume has been an image of what the gospel of Christ teaches us “That they may all be one” he has been that example of a Catholic Bishop who would gather around him, Protestants, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, African initiated churches and many others from the wide spectrum of the Christian faith.” Said Rev Lloyd Nyarota of the United Methodist Church.

“The thought that humbles many is all about a humble faithful Bishop. Bishop Mutume lived up to the expectation of being sekuru. Most of us as young and naive minister found a place to learn, to be mentored, to be guided and to get wisdom in Bishop Mutume.”

“He had that deep love for the people, love for his country a patriot and a revolutionary. Bishop Mutume stood for justice, equality, human rights and human dignity.

This is a bishop who stood for what was right in the fact colonialism, Rhodesian oppression and struggled with the people all the way to Independence Day. ” Nyarota added.

When the situation in the country deteriorated to its lowest level in 2000 Bishop Mutume was one who could not sit and watch hence the founding of Churches in Manicaland.

He was also a leader among the three bishops from Manicaland who facilitated dialogue between President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai.

“Bishop Mutume was a man of ACTION. He asked about what we were going to do and when, all the time an issue that needed a response.” said Rev Masango Matimura of the United Baptist Church.

Speaking from the USA where he is currently studying Rev Ngoni Mukarakate said Manicaland has lost a true fighter for justice and a fearless father to all.

Said Mukarakate, “His love and belief in developing leaders was so apparent in the way he contacted himself with pastors and lay people from all walks of life.”

There will be a funeral Mass in the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Mutare on Friday and the burial will take place on Saturday at Triashill near Nyanga.

Meanwhile mourners are gathered at number 14 Pasteur Drive, Hospital Hill, Mutare.

A 41-YEAR-OLD Wedza prophetess has been taken to court charged with culpable homicide after a pregnant villager died at her shrine soon after giving birth.

Marondera magistrate, Arnold Maburo yesterday heard that Prisca Bvekwa, of Musandu village, acted as a midwife for Esnath Sengamayi, leading to the latter’s death a few hours later.

The court heard that Bvekwa, popularly known as Madzimai Prisca, had no formal midwifery qualifications.

She was remanded out of custody pending an inquest over her alleged negligence and would be summoned to court once the investigations are complete.

According to court papers, Sengamayi visited Bvekwa’s shrine at St Barnabas on January 3 this year seeking divine assistance over her pregnancy, which was now in full term.

Three days later, Sengamayi gave birth to a baby boy with the help of the accused person and two other unidentified women. She, however, developed post-natal complications and died three hours later.

The following day, Sengamayi’s husband, Tendai Kwesu, reported the matter at Mukamba Police Station, whose officers attended the scene and ferried the body to the Rusape General Hospital mortuary for an autopsy.

On January 9, the autopsy was done by one Nyafesa and the results showed that Sengamayi had died of post-partum haemorrhage, leading to Bvekwa’s arrest.

Rumbidzai Katsande represented the State. – Newsday

THE Dumiso Dabengwa-led Zapu has told Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko, to shut up and stop making disparaging remarks about an opposition party he deserted at the height of the liberation struggle in 1976 to join Zanu.

Zapu deputy spokesperson , Iphithule Maphosa, said Mphoko, who at the weekend described the party as “fake”, labelled the VP a war deserter, who was now singing for his supper to remain relevant in faction-ridden Zanu PF.

Mphoko on Saturday accused Dabengwa of causing confusion and giving the impression that PF Zapu had abandoned the Unity Accord signed in 1987 with Zanu to end the Gukurahundi massacres in Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.

The Unity Accord resulted in the formation of Zanu PF, however, Dabengwa and other former PF Zapu leaders maintain the Unity Accord is no longer in existence after they quit Zanu PF in 2008 to revive their party, saying they were frustrated in the ruling party.

But, Mphoko angered Zapu members on Saturday when he labelled the party as fake.

“Zapu is on record as acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances that our erstwhile comrade Mphoko finds himself in, being pressured to speak on behalf of a party, which he deserted at the front,” Maphosa said.

“As far as Zapu is concerned, Mphoko was missing in action after disappearing from Zimbabwe People’s Army (Zipa) in Mozambique in 1976, while on assignment until he resurfaced as a Zanu nominee to the CIO [Central Intelligence Organisation] at independence. That action coupled with his desertion, from the front disqualified him from Zapu membership.

“Mphoko is not a member of Zapu. He joined Zanu in 1976 and has neither the mandate nor legitimacy to speak on behalf of Zapu.

“He represents the interests of those sell-outs, who chose to remain in Zanu when Zapu pulled out of the Unity Accord for well-documented reasons. Zapu takes exception to such misleading hallucinations from Mphoko. As a compassionate organisation, we, however, pity him. The poor man has no option but to sing and satisfy his master for him to feed his family.” – Newsday

Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi| A Chiredzi man brutally murdered his brother who pushed their parents to the ground following an altercation.

Edward Muchini(24) of Village 2,Chiwichabeture Triangle assaulted his brother James Muchini(26) several times with a sharp object until the latter died on the spot.

The matter was heard by Masvingo High Court Judge, Justice Garainesu Mawadze last week.

Facts were that Edward intervened in a heated argument between James and their parents-Tinarwo Muchini(father) and Josephine Mada(mother).

The couple wanted to stop James from yoking the cattle since he intended to plough his field. In a fit of rage, James pushed the parents to ground and Edward became angry.

Edward charged towards James, wielding a wooden hoe handle and hit his brother several times on the back until he fell to the ground.

James then woke up and attempted to run away but Edward hit him on the head.

Despite efforts by the two brothers’ parents to restrain James from assaulting his brother,the former continued to hit his brother with the wooden hoe handle.

The father, Tinarwo Muchini reported the matter to the police.

Representing the state, Batanai Matose indicated that Edward intentionally killed his brother. It was also revealed Edward did not show remorse after killing his brother.

Edward will be sentenced on February 11,2017.

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A HEADMAN has been arrested in Tsholotsho for extortion, unlawful entry and theft while his accomplice, a self-proclaimed witch-hunter, is on the run.

Police arrested Headman Christopher Ziyabangwe of Mavava area under Chief Magama on Monday morning.

Nkulu Mpofu (40), who is a tsikamutanda, is still at large.

The duo allegedly demanded $40 from Mr Mbulala Ncube after he failed to attend a cleansing ceremony that was held by Mpofu at the headman’s homestead early this year.

Mpofu allegedly told villagers in October last year that Mr Ncube’s wife was a witch.

It is illegal in Zimbabwe to call someone a witch.

A villager, Mr Mandla Godlwayo, said the two broke into Mr Ncube’s homestead in Hewu Village.

He said the duo stole traditional regalia belonging to Mr Ncube’s wife and burnt it after saying the woman was a witch.

The incident occurred last year in October.

“They took his wife’s personal belongings which included some clothes and horns. The woman is a traditional healer whom we have known for many years.

She has assisted many people in the community but today this tsikamutanda labels her a witch.

“Mrs Ncube has not been feeling well since that day and was ferried to her parents’ home where she is being treated,” Mr Godlwayo said.

He said sometime in January, Headman Ziyabangwe hosted a cleansing ceremony with tsikamutandas at his homestead.

“Mr Ncube among other villagers didn’t attend the function. The headman summoned Mr Ncube to his court for failing to attend the ceremony. He was fined $40 for that alleged crime but he didn’t pay it saying he didn’t have the money,” said Mr Godlwayo.

Last Thursday, Headman Ziyabangwe sent a messenger to attach some property at Mr Ncube’s home for disrespecting his orders by not reporting to court.

“Mr Ncube failed to pay. The headman and tsikamutanda decided to attach his property.

“They broke into his homestead and took some property which included garden tools. Mr Ncube reported the two to police and Ziyabangwe was arrested,” said Mr Godlwayo.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Eglon Nkala said he was not aware of the incident.

Recently, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe said the Government does not condone witch-hunting practices that have become rampant countrywide.

This came after police noted with concern, rampant extortion on members of the public by self-styled prophets and tsikamutandas.

Dr Mushohwe said such activities were criminal, fraudulent and extortionist.

He said Cabinet had noted with regret and concern that a significant part of traditional leaders including chiefs, headmen and village heads are by commission or omission condoning this “evil, primitive, extortionist and illegal practice that is condemned by our national laws”.

Dr Mushohwe said the Government was calling upon anyone who might have fallen victim to the witch-hunters to report the matter to the law enforcement agencies so that the culprits could be brought to book and compensation paid.

In October last year, Tsholotsho chiefs clashed over self-proclaimed witch-hunters who were allegedly causing havoc in the district.

Matabeleland North Senator, Chief Gampu, said villagers had petitioned him demanding the removal of “the daylight robbers” from the district. – State Media

ARMED robbers brandishing pistols and an AK47 rifle raided two service stations in Bulawayo, fired a shot at one of them before getting away with cash in the wee hours of yesterday morning.

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.

Zuva Service Station was robbed at around 1AM while Total Service Station was hit around 3AM.

Both are 24-hour service stations.

At Zuva Service Station the gunmen ransacked a till at the kiosk, took two cellphones and $60 from one of the workers

“They also took packets of cigarettes which were on the shelf, airtime recharge cards worth about $1 000 and $200 cash,” said a source.

After that they force marched a security guard, Mr Byron Sithole (45), a till operator Mr Black Mutanga (31) and a petrol attendant, Mr Jonathan Mwanandimai (33) into a storeroom.

Source at the service station said the gunmen frisked the workers before demanding to be led to a safe.

“One of the two robbers armed with pistols threatened to shoot them if they made noise. Once inside the storeroom, the robbers demanded cash. They said they wanted to be shown the safe containing the day’s takings from both the kiosk and fuel sales but there was no safe,” said a source.

The robbers who probably were infuriated when they failed to locate the safe, locked the workers in the storeroom and fled.

After about five minutes, the trio called for help from the gas attendant who resides at the backyard of the service station.

Mr Methuseli Sibanda, the attendant, came to their rescue, and called the owner of the service station who reported the robbery to the police.

At Total Service Station, the lone gunman demanded cash from a petrol attendant.

On seeing the rifle, the attendant fled into the manager’s office and locked himself inside.

The robber who wore a sweater with a hood that covered his face, ordered him to open the door.

When the attendant failed to comply, the gunslinger fired a shot through a glass door and the bullet ricocheted off a wall.

Total Service Station Manager, Mr Amos Nhapi said: “The attendant whose name I won’t disclose pressed the panic button. He then opened the door,” said Mr Nhapi.

He said the unidentified robber took one step into the office and demanded cash.

“The robber then ordered the attendant to hand over his cell phone and cash. After receiving $154 and cell phone, the robber stepped out, removed his hood and disappeared into the dark. The robbery was however, captured on Closed Circuit Television,” said Mr Nhapi.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango was not immediately available for comment. – State Media

The Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial executive has summoned Energy Mutodi — an avowed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa ally — to appear before a disciplinary committee.

The musician-cum-politician faces a slew of charges, including undermining congress resolutions.

He stands accused of going against the party’s December 2016 Masvingo annual congress resolution to declare President Robert Mugabe Zanu PF’s 2018 election presidential candidate.

Over the past weeks, Mutodi has been very vocal on the need for the party to hold an extraordinary congress to replace soon-to-be 93 years old Mugabe ahead of the polls.

Zanu PF’s Mashonaland East province acting secretary for administration, David Musabayana, has since written to Mutodi ordering him to appear before a disciplinary committee on March 3, 2017.

According to the February 4, 2017 letter, Mutodi is accused of disloyalty, failure to strengthen, promote and defend the party as well as bringing it into disrepute.

“The hearing is to consider and discuss disciplinary allegations of misconduct charges that follow: undermining the authority and powers of the National People’s Conference to declare the president of the party elected at the Congress as the State presidential candidate of the party as outlined in the Zanu PF Constitution of 2014, Article 6 on membership section 33 (3),” the letter read.

“If you are found guilty of the allegations . . . then we may recommend disciplinary sanctions up to and including suspension and cancellation of your Zanu PF membership,” Musabayana said.

Mutodi was also barred from carrying out any activities for and on behalf of the party, until finalisation of his disciplinary case.

“You are also prohibited immediately from holding any party post or engage in party meetings pending the outcome of your disciplinary hearing pencilled for the 3rd of March 2017,” he said.

“Your failure to respect the prohibition order or attempts to disregard the same may be deemed to be an act of insubordination and the relevant sections of the 2014 Zanu PF constitution will be invoked,” Musabayana said.

Contacted for comment on the current political developments pertaining to the disciplinary hearing, Mutodi refused to comment, saying the matter was still before a disciplinary panel and was therefore sub judice.

Zanu PF is currently embroiled in serious factional fights pitting Generation 40 (G40) and Team Lacoste.

Mutodi, together with some war veterans, are largely seen as Team Lacoste members and have been calling for Mugabe to step down to make way for Mnangagwa while those in the rival G40 camp are fighting tooth and nail to block the Midlands godfather’s ascendancy.

Following these calls, Zanu PF youth leader Kudzanai Chipanga described all those calling for Mugabe to step down as day-dreamers, declaring Zanu PF youths’ intention to even take up arms to defend the nonagenarian leader who turns 93 this month.

A top Zanu PF official who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was highly likely that Mutodi would be expelled and the hearing was just a mere formality.

“The decision has already been made. The issue is to silence all the voices asking for the retirement of Mugabe. It’s very unfortunate that the party has failed to accommodate the young who, for obvious reasons, see themselves disadvantaged by the nonagenarian’s destructive policies,” the official said, adding that the G40 was aimed at eliminating all Mnangagwa’s perceived sympathisers from the party. –  Daily News

A gruesome murder has left residents of Emganwini’s suburb in Bulawayo on the edge after a woman was found in a pool of blood yesterday (Tuesday) morning with allegations that his son chopped her to death during a domestic dispute.

A dark cloud is hanging over Emganwini Island in Bulawayo as residents and family members are trying to come to terms with the gruesome murder of Sphiwe Shumba who was found dead in her bedroom.

The deceased who was 53 died yesterday morning due to suspected injuries sustained from an attack allegedly by her son Nelson Mwandisangudza Junior, 24, who is currently alleged to be on the run.

Rudo Gwenzi an aunt to the deceased said Shumba called her in the morning pleading with her to come and resolve problems between her and her son Nelson only to arrive and discover Shumba in a pool of blood.

Efforts to get a comment from the police on the alleged murder case were fruitless.

Relatives who spoke to the ZBC News off camera also allege the son had drug abuse problems which at one time saw him being admitted at Ingutsheni Hospital for rehabilitation. – State Media

Fellow Builders.

It is with great sadness that our interim President of ZimPF has decided to wash her underwear in public by firing founding members of our beloved party. Thats sad in the sense that firing is a dictatorial tendency mainly associated with ZanuPf and Mugabe. Is she Zanu?

A leader is a unifier not a divider. Yes maybe the elders were wrong in some of the views they shared but truth be told the Party had diverted from the real fundermentals that led to its formation.
One centre of power , hero-worship, name-praise-singing,face of the party gimmick to mention but a few really showed that we were diverting.

The party was beginning to run away from the the first Draft Constitution which only needed to be amended to the third Draft which saved the interests of a few greedy individuals.
She is always a saint. Isnt she? Promoting a one centre of Power.

Builders lets follow the real People First not leaders first or Mujuru first.

I would advise all members subscribed to ZIMPF that ZIMPF is our home and lets remain loyal to the Party and let those who decide to leave the Party by way of expelling our founding elders go their own way. ZIMPF is our home.

Tinotenda VaGumbo naVaMutasa.

ZimPF Manicaland

Internationally-acclaimed musician Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi has been forced to cancel his United States of America tour, after being denied a visa at the US Embassy in Harare as his shows coincide with a summit of musicians from Sudan, Somalia, and Libya – countries whose citizens have been barred from visiting the US by President Donald Trump.

Successive US presidents, namely George W Bush and most recently Barrack Obama and now Trump have always treated Zimbabwe as a rogue state with no democracy while accusing President Robert Mugabe of running his government autocratically. They also accused Mugabe of cheating his way into State House.

Bush in particular placed Zimbabwe among rogue states like Iran and refused to recognise Mugabe as president of the country, saying all the elections held since 2000 were flawed.

While Tuku’s manager, Sam Mataure, said he was unaware why his boss had been denied a visa, US Embassy sources told the Daily News that Tuku’s show was going to coincide with a planned show by musicians from Somalia, Sudan and Libya – three of the countries affected by Trump’s ban which he issued through an executive order.

The American tour by Zimbabwe’s most renowned and internationally-recognised cultural ambassador has been cancelled or rescheduled because of the visa issue.

Tuku has been to the US several times before and the denial of his visa has surprised many.

Despite having huge support, the musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist and Unicef goodwill ambassador for southern Africa, failed  to qualify for the P-1 class visa, traditionally given to acts who can prove they have been “internationally recognised” for a “sustained and substantial” amount of time.

The US Embassy in Harare declined to comment on the matter.

“Officially we do not comment on individual visa cases, it’s illegal,” embassy spokesperson David McGuire said.

Tuku said in a Facebook post yesterday: “Tuku Music and Sadza.com regrettably inform you that the . . . Mtukudzi shows scheduled for Friday 10 and Saturday 11 February 2017 in Seattle and Ontario, respectively, have been postponed to May 2017.

“There has been a delay in the issuance of visas to the artistes due to the new travel restrictions in the US.”

This comes as the US Justice Department was facing off with opponents in a federal appeals court yesterday over the fate of Trump’s temporary travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries, his most controversial act since taking office last month.

Tuku said: “The new dates will be posted in the next few weeks.”

Mataure told the Daily News that they are re-applying for the visa.

“We have postponed the dates so that we can have adequate time to re-apply for another visa. We are going there with a full band,” he said.

The weekend concerts were not Mtukudzi’s first acts in the US. He has performed there several times.

Last year, Tuku launched his latest album Ehe! Kani Nhai Yahwe, adding to his more than 60 albums since he started his artistic journey around 1977.

A father of five children and two grandchildren, he has been conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Ethno-Musicology and Choreography by the Great Zimbabwe University. – Daily News

A youth worker in France is in hospital after he was raped by a police officer using a baton stick.

Other officers stood and watched. Theo (22)who has had surgery and now has to pass out waste using a colostomy bag revealed that he was stopped by the officers who went on to throw racist insults at him while they beat him. Along the line, one of the officers drove his baton into Theo’s anal opening causing him to fall face down.

“I had no strength left. It was as if my body had left myself. I thought I was going to die,” Theo said.

Afterward, they told him to sit down, but he was too weak to comply and they teargassed him and hit him on the head to make him comply. Eventually, he was handcuffed and put into the police car where he was spat on, insulted and beaten on his private parts. It was only when he got to the station that one of the officers saw his injury and arranged for him to be taken to the hospital.

There is a CCTV footage in circulation that allegedly shows four officers as they attack him, one of them forcing his baton into Theo’s anus after they stopped him in the street during an identity check. As at Monday, bloodstains were still visible where the alleged attack happened.

The police officer has denied this and argued that Theo’s injury was an accident, in which his tracksuit bottoms fell down and the baton penetrated him. A lawyer for the officer also said that ‘the blow had been carried out in a totally involuntary manner, without his being aware of any injury.’

One officer was charged with aggravated rape and three others were charged with aggravated assault. All have been suspended from their positions and face trial.

Meanwhile, there have been riots every night since the alleged rape, with the police station vandalized and hundreds of people joining marches calling for justice.

One of the 18 prisoners who escaped from Gerald Estate Center for Illegal Immigrants in Botswana last month, has died.

Gerald Estates Station Commander, Superintendent Edward Leposo told Gabz Fm news that Charlotte Ndlovu, died last week Thursday at Nyangabgwe referral hospital.

Ndlovu was remanded in custody for murder.

The late Ndlovu was one of the 8 prison escapees who have since been recaptured.

Leposo highlighted that the process of repatriating Ndlovu’s body back to Zimbabwe is ongoing. – Agencies

ZIMBABWE PEOPLE FIRST (Zim PF) – PRESS STATEMENT

It is sad and unfortunate that Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru has decided to take the unprecedented decision of purportedly expelling founding elders Cde D.N.E Mutasa, Cde R. Gumbo, Cde Bhasikiti, Cde M.T.A Mutezo, Cde Margret Dongo the Head of Women’s Wing, Cde Kandemiri, Head of Youth wing, among others, from the party we formed, Zimbabwe People First (Zim PF) and which we appointed her to lead.

We are not surprised by her irrational and emotional decision purporting to have expelled us.

What we do not understand is that Cde Mujuru would take such a drastic measure while we were in the process of trying to resolve challenges facing the party as an example specifically the issue of implementing the decision of the Steering Committee to re assign Dzikamai Mavhaire from the National Mobilisation. In fact at the time she held the press conference, we were waiting for her at the party offices as she had told us that we should wait for her since she was at the trauma center. The purpose of the meeting was to resolve these challenges only to be surprised that, she was holding a press conference at her house, not the party office, to purportedly expel us.

Needless to say this is not in line with the draft ZIM PF Constitution and the values of the Party. She has no right to expel us. Cde Mujuru was in fact appointed by us the founders of the Party to lead the party as an Interim President.

Further to that it was agreed as one of our founding principles that we do not believe in expelling people but we can relieve them of their position if they demonstrate incompetency, ineffectiveness and irresponsibility as we did to Dzikamai Mavhaire.

We are fully aware that the decision Mujuru made was based on advice from crooks, relatives, the Nzous and corrupt cronies some of whom are fugitives from justice. However as a democratic party we shall be consulting the party with regards to the decision she has taken to purportedly expel us. We want to inform the people of Zimbabwe and the party membership and stakeholders that the party remains intact. It is our hope that those who want change in Zimbabwe should continue to support the cause of Zimbabwe People First (Zim PF).

Cde D N.E Mutasa

Cde R.E.N Gumbo

8 February 2017

Pastor Light Monyeki has apparently taken a lead from nyaope smokers and been mixing Rattex with water and offering it to his congregants claiming it is for “nourishment and healing”.

On Sunday‚ in photos posted on Grace Living Hope Ministries’ Facebook page‚ Monyeki “demonstrates power of faith by causing congregants to drink Rattex”.Monyeki held the plastic bottle aloft and then declared “life from above upon the water mixed with Rattex; and spoke nourishment unto bodies and healing unto the sick”.

After he was the first to partake‚ “a multitude of congregants voluntarily ran to the front to have a drink of the deadly poison”.

Nyaope is a highly addictive drug made from a range of ingredients from low-grade heroin‚ dagga‚ rat poison and detergents containing chlorine and ammonia.

Attempts to obtain comment from Grace Living Hope Ministries were unsuccessful at the time of publication. – Agencies

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Ray Nkosi | Former Vice President Joice Mujuru, this morning fired fellow war veteran Margaret Dongo from the Zim People First party.

Dongo was not immediately available for comment. Dongo left Zanu PF after falling out with President Robert Mugabe, whose close associates in leadership she once famously called, ‘Mugabe’s Wives’ who just work to his bidding. Dongo then won Harare South Constituency as an independent candidate against all odds, after Zanu PF unleashed all its machinery against her.

She went on to form her own Zimbabwe Union of Democrats (ZUD) which soon split after sexual scandals and leadership wrangles.

After a brief silence Dongo made a come back to politics, emerging as Mujuru’s chairperson for women in the Zim People First. Is this the end for the outspoken politician? More to follow…

Below is Mujuru’s statement; 

Fellow Citizens, we meet at this important juncture in our revolutionary journey as Zimbabwe People First. We are all aware of the mammoth task we face in democratising and liberating this country from the oppressive Zanu PF Regime.

We are equally aware of the desperate efforts by the Zanu PF Regime to ensure that Zimbabwe People First fails on its mandate to be the next Government. Without equivocation, it is on public record that Mugabe has boasted that there shall be ZimPF one, two and so on.

As anticipated, the regime is desperate because of the exponential growth of our party and the fact that the party is firmly rooted on ensuring that the ideals of the revolution return to the citizenry.

As a Party, we have decided to take stern measures against elements determined to stall the progress that the party has been making. As a result we have decided to eject some of the colleagues and comrades we thought would stand with the People’s cause but have chosen to be agents of the regime. All sorts of tricks, ranging from coup d’état and sophisticated infiltration, have taken centre stage with a view to delaying the People’s cause of unequivocal liberation.

Having done extensive consultation within the rank and file of the Party and also in my capacity as the President of the Party with the executive authority to ensure its wellbeing, I hereby announce the expulsion of the following members from Zimbabwe people First Party with immediate effect:
1. Rugare Enock Ngidi Gumbo
2. Didymus N. E. Mutasa
3. Margaret Dongo
4. Kudakwashe Bhasikiti-Chuma
5. Luckson Kandemiri
6. Munacho Mutezo
7. Cloudious Makova

We assure Zimbabweans that more heads are going to roll in this revolutionary cleansing exercise. We remain committed to the democratisation of Zimbabwe. We remain committed to a coalition of progressive opposition forces to fight and remove Zanu PF from office.
Above all, we remain committed to liberating Zimbabweans in totality.
May God Bless Zimbabwe,
I thank you.

Joice Mujuru

…
..

Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo violated the rules of the Constitutional Court when he filed his challenge against arrest and the apex court has deferred the hearing to allow him to comply.

The nine-member bench noticed that Prof Moyo’s lawyers failed to properly paginate the record as required by the rules of the court.

It was found that the minister’s lawyers did not bind the papers in breach of another rule of the court.

To that end, the court indefinitely postponed the matter to allow the minister to put his house in order.

Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba, however, ordered Minister Moyo to pay wasted costs.

“By consent, the application is postponed sine die (indefinitely) and the applicant to pay wasted costs in respect of the fourth respondent,” ruled Justice Malaba.

A bid by Minister Moyo’s lawyers to justify their error by accusing the registrar of the court of allowing them to file the haphazard application hit a brick wall. – State Media

FIRST Lady Grace Mugabe is reportedly “plotting” to contest for the Harare South parliamentary seat in next year’s general elections, which could open the way for her to be considered for a Cabinet post, it has been learnt.

Initial reports had indicated that the Zanu PF women’s league chairperson was eyeing Harare East or Mazowe, but it seems she has settled for Harare South, currently held by fellow party member, Shadreck Mashayamombe.

“She has made indications that she wants Harare South and the current MP has already been advised to ‘look for another constituency’,” a Zanu PF insider, who declined to be named, said.

“The First Lady’s people are already on the ground in the constituency.”

Harare South constituency is largely an informal settlement, where various Zanu PF officials are often seen fighting for land.

The ruling party has used housing co-operatives in the area as conduits to hold on to the constituency for over a decade now.

Contacted for comment, Mashayamombe dismissed the reports, saying: “We have not been approached as a province regarding that issue. I am hearing it from you.”

Grace’s ally and Zanu PF women’s league treasurer, Sarah Mahoka, also scoffed at the suggestions.

“People should find better things to do with their time than to continue with a smear campaign against the First Lady,” she said.

“She is a national leader and would not want to stoop that low to be an MP. What would she gain from that?

“I do not even have to consult her, but I can assure you it is not going to happen. She will not reduce herself to be an MP.”

However, sources close to the developments insisted the First Lady would represent Zanu PF in next year’s general elections.

“It’s a done deal. Well, nobody is going to stop her if she really wants and that is the way we have accepted it. We are still waiting for official communication though,” a provincial leader, who declined to be identified, said.

The First Lady, with the backing of a faction known as G40, is locked in a bitter tussle for power with Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as senior figures in the ruling party look beyond President Robert Mugabe, who turns 93 in two weeks.

Zanu PF youth league leader, Kudzai Chipanga, seemed to indicate that, while the First Lady had gone quiet, she was still a contender.

“It is not secret that the youth league and the women’s league work closely together, hence, we will have no problem with supporting a woman to any position of the party, including the Presidency, as long as it is done according to the dictates of the Zanu PF constitution and, like I have said, that person must carry the name Mugabe,” he was quoted as having said. – Newsday

By Joice Mujuru| Fellow Citizens, we meet at this important juncture in our revolutionary journey as Zimbabwe People First. We are all aware of the mammoth task we face in democratising and liberating this country from the oppressive Zanu PF Regime.

We are equally aware of the desperate efforts by the Zanu PF Regime to ensure that Zimbabwe People First fails on its mandate to be the next Government. Without equivocation, it is on public record that Mugabe has boasted that there shall be ZimPF one, two and so on.

As anticipated, the regime is desperate because of the exponential growth of our party and the fact that the party is firmly rooted on ensuring that the ideals of the revolution return to the citizenry.

As a Party, we have decided to take stern measures against elements determined to stall the progress that the party has been making. As a result we have decided to eject some of the colleagues and comrades we thought would stand with the People’s cause but have chosen to be agents of the regime. All sorts of tricks, ranging from coup d’état and sophisticated infiltration, have taken centre stage with a view to delaying the People’s cause of unequivocal liberation.

Having done extensive consultation within the rank and file of the Party and also in my capacity as the President of the Party with the executive authority to ensure its wellbeing, I hereby announce the expulsion of the following members from Zimbabwe people First Party with immediate effect:
1. Rugare Enock Ngidi Gumbo
2. Didymus N. E. Mutasa
3. Margaret Dongo
4. Kudakwashe Bhasikiti-Chuma
5. Luckson Kandemiri
6. Munacho Mutezo
7. Cloudious Makova

We assure Zimbabweans that more heads are going to roll in this revolutionary cleansing exercise. We remain committed to the democratisation of Zimbabwe. We remain committed to a coalition of progressive opposition forces to fight and remove Zanu PF from office.
Above all, we remain committed to liberating Zimbabweans in totality.
May God Bless Zimbabwe,
I thank you.

Joice Mujuru

By Staff Reporter | Norton Town Council on Wednesday morning pounced on vendors who were selling food stuffs in front of the OK supermarket in the town.

This comes after at the weekend, Norton Member of Parliament, Temba Mliswa, threatened to fire the entire local authority’s top leadership for incompetence.

Mliswa charged that the council was failing to evict vendors selling food stuffs in line with the government’s anti-typhoid ministerial directive.

Norton council bosses had indicated that these were some pro-Zanu PF groupings who were proving to be untouchable.

Standard Chartered’s Zimbabwe-based unit has cancelled the use of Visa cards outside the country as Zimbabwe continues to grapple with dollar shortages.

In a notice published in a local newspaper, Standard Chartered said the bank has cancelled the use of its Visa cards outside Zimbabwe with immediate effect.The bank explained the action has been taken to “ensure best use of the increasingly scarce foreign currency resources which is disbursed in line with the priority list issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) if and when available”.

Foreign currency shortages forced the RBZ to come up with a priority list meant to “promote efficient utilisation of foreign exchange and to re-orient import demand towards productive uses”. The list guides banks in the distribution of foreign currency towards competing demands.

Standard Chartered however said the ban is not outright, as clients who wish to use their cards outside Zimbabwe may apply for special consideration 72 hours prior to their departure.

“Customers are requested to submit evidence of all the expected expenses to be incurred whilst travelling outside the country.”

Zimbabwe has been experiencing foreign currency shortages and as at November 2016, balances at nostro accounts were at $163.4m while cash in bank vaults only amounted to $232m.

The RBZ said the country requires at least $450m in nostro accounts, while University of Zimbabwe economics lecturer Ashok Chakravat said the country needs in excess of $900m in cash to curb the liquidity crisis. – Fin24

Throngs of protesters descended on Robert Mugabe’s embassy in London to complain about the incarceration of Pastor Evan Mawarire. Tinotenda Mrewa and Newman Richards speak in the below video:

TRAILBLAZING social activist and cleric, Evan Mawarire has been nominated for the prestigious 2017 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards.

This came as Mawarire’s bail appeal hearing at the High Court failed to take off yesterday, as the State and defence counsels haggled over procedural irregularities.

Mawarire, leader of the #ThisFlag campaign, leads a cast which also includes Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian Kurdish journalist, who documents the life of indefinitely-interned Australian asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea; China’s Wang Liming, a famed political cartoonist known as Rebel Pepper; Ildar Dadin, an imprisoned Russian opposition activist, who became the first person convicted under the country’s public assembly law; Daptar, a Dagestani initiative tackling women’s issues like female genital mutilation; and Serbia’s Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK).

A 29-YEAR-OLD Zvishavane man, who assaulted a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) before robbing him of his service pistol was yesterday jailed to 28 months for the offence.

Noel Kurura of Tangwe village in Zvishavane and an accomplice, Tapiwa Gundu, who is still at large, assaulted Kudakwashe Mazura before robbing him of his gun after the latter, had offered them a lift to the mining town.

Zvishavane magistrate, Shepherd Munjanja convicted Kurura of robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Prosecutor, Amos Ncube told the court that on November 8 last year at around 2pm, Mazura was driving along Zvishavane-Gweru road, when he offered a lift to Kurura and Gundu at the Unki mine turn off.

A 50-YEAR-OLD Harare man was yesterday jailed for 18 years after he “tested” his purportedly dysfunctional manhood on a six-year-old girl from his neighbourhood.

The rape occurred on Sunday at a farming settlement close to the city.

The rapist was jailed on his own plea of guilty to raping a Grade One pupil when he appeared before Harare magistrate Themba Kuwanda.

The court suspended six years of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.

During mitigation, the man told the court that he committed the offence to check if his manhood was now functional after he was alledgedly bewitched by his estranged wife in 1999.

“Your worship, I was bewitched by my ex-wife when we separated in 1999 and since that period to now, I only had sexual intercourse four times and I wanted to see if my erectile dysfunction had been healed,” he said, before magistrate Kuwanda told him he should have hired a sex worker instead of causing irreparable physical and psychological damage to a toddler.

The court heard that on Sunday, the infant was sent by her father to collect a grass cutter at the rapist’s residence, where she was eventually raped.

The girl’s parents reported the matter and a medical report produced in court confirmed sexual penetration.

Valerie Ngoma appeared for the State. – Newsday

MINES deputy minister Fred Moyo has reportedly defied an order from his ministry to vacate a lucrative gold mine in Masvingo province.

Moyo is linked to a mining interest, Tambanashe Enterprises, which has been fighting for control of Lennox Mine for several years against Two Flags Trading despite the latter having won the ownership row.

According to documents, Moyo’s mining interests were previously under Larmona Enterprises before they were transferred to Tambanashe Enterprises.

In a letter dated January 24 this year, Masvingo acting provincial mines director, an S Mpindiwa, ordered Moyo to pull out of the disputed mine.

“Following our letter dated January 19, 2017, which notified you of our intention to cancel your certificate of registration, please be advised that mining operations and allied activities on the mining locations are, hereby, suspended with immediate effect,” Mpindiwa said.

The letter was copied to Mines minister Walter Chidakwa and ministry secretary, Francis Gudyanga.

Two Flags Trading bought the mine in 2003 from Reedbuck Investments through the liquidator, Robert Michael McIndoe, before Moyo’ firm claimed ownership of the same mine.

In 2007, the ownership wrangle was brought before the High Court in Bulawayo, where Moyo was cited as the second respondent.

Justice Nicholas Ndou ruled in favour of Two Flags Trading and ordered Moyo to stay off the property or face jail.

The court also ordered Moyo and Larmona Enterprises to pay Z$2 000 000 for each day they spent at the mine.

But, in an interview yesterday, Tambanashe Enterprises general manager, Edgar Mashindi, disputed allegations that they were mining illegally.

“This issue has already been settled and the Mines ministry, police and any other sector have been barred from visiting the mine. You need to be on the ground to see the exact picture and not those orders you are referring to,” he said. – Newsday

You’re out of God’s covenant if you don’t give $77 – Makandiwa

Staff Reporter| UFIC founder Emmanuel Makandiwa says people cannot have a relationship with God unless they give money. The preacher in December announced through his spokesman, Prime Kufa that any adult who fails to give out at least $77 has been left out of God’s covenant. The seed demand was in 7s beginning with 77$, $770, $7700, and $77000.

Weeks later, Makandiwa would come out announcing that anyone who does not agree with his demand can leave his church.

The development has drawn public anger with some saying due to the national economy, why does the preacher not ask for “7 cents, 7 rand, 7 bond?.”

Another observer said, “Why does the devil do this? why lying to our King Jesus Christ. making people misinterpret the bible. This is absolutely ridiculous.

“I believe one day we shall make the devil lose the battle, which he seems winning at the moment. making people misinterpret the bible, lying to the almighty king Jesus what he does not do.

“Honestly Jesus never used to make any one pay for any deliverance or blessing during his time.

He was so loving he healed thousands of people fed them without making them pay. But what the devil is doing to these pastors is beyond ridicule, unbelievable.

I feel very sorry for people who going to pay these moneys, so sorry.”

A ZESA power substation in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb caught fire yesterday causing power outages in some parts of the city.

Two electricity transformers were destroyed in the inferno, an official said. Zesa Southern Region general manager Engineer Lovemore Chinaka said they were investigating the matter.

“It’s too early, people are yet to go to the scene and establish what happened,” said Eng Chinaka.
Bulawayo City Council’s fire and ambulance department assisted to put out the inferno.
Acting Bulawayo chief fire officer Mr Edward Phiri said the fire started when Zesa technicians were working at the site.

“They were working when a short circuit occurred resulting in two transformers in the substation catching fire. The substation has 16 transformers all together. “Fortunately no one was injured in the process,” said Mr Phiri.

He said the emergency department was conducting its own investigations on the cause of the fire.

“They may have said the fire was caused by a short circuit in the transformers but we need to do our investigations that give us satisfaction on the matter,” Mr Phiri said.
Some parts of the city experienced power outages following the fire incident that occurred at around 12PM. – state media

#ThisFlag pastor Evan Mawarire who was arrested by authorities last week after arriving in Zimbabwe, has made it into the shortlist for the Google sponsored 2017 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards.

Mawarire is sitting at the top of the list with 3 others: an Iranian Kurdish journalist covering his life as an interned Australian asylum seeker, one of China’s most notorious political cartoonists, and an imprisoned Russian human rights activist.

Drawn from more than 400 crowdsourced nominations, the shortlist celebrates artists, writers, journalists and campaigners overcoming censorship and fighting for freedom of expression against immense obstacles. Many of the 16 shortlisted nominees are regularly targeted by authorities or by criminal and extremist groups for their work: some face regular death threats, others criminal prosecution or exile.

“The creativity and bravery of the shortlist nominees in challenging restrictions on freedom of expression reminds us that a small act — from a picture to a poem — can have a big impact. Our nominees have faced severe penalties for standing up for their beliefs. These awards recognise their courage and commitment to free speech,” said Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of campaigning nonprofit Index on Censorship.

Awards are offered in four categories: arts, campaigning, digital activism and journalism.

Nominees include Pastor Evan Mawarire whose frustration with Zimbabwe’s government led him to the #ThisFlag campaign; Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian Kurdish journalist who documents the life of indefinitely-interned Australian asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea; China’s Wang Liming, better known as Rebel Pepper, a political cartoonist who lampoons the country’s leaders; Ildar Dadin, an imprisoned Russian opposition activist, who became the first person convicted under the country’s public assembly law; Daptar, a Dagestani initiative tackling women’s issues like female genital mutilation that are rarely discussed publicly in the country; and Serbia’s Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK), which was founded by a group of journalists to combat pervasive corruption and organised crime.

Other nominees include Hungary’s Two-tail Dog Party, a group of satirists who parody the country’s political discourse; Honduran LGBT rights organisation Arcoiris, which has had six activists murdered in the past year for providing support to the LGBT community  and lobbying the country’s government; Luaty Beirão, a rapper from Angola, who uses his music to unmask the country’s political corruption; and Maldives Independent, a website involved in revealing endemic corruption at the highest levels in the country despite repeated intimidation.

Judges for this year’s awards, now in its 17th year, are Harry Potter actor Noma Dumezweni, Hillsborough lawyer Caiolfhionn Gallagher, former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown, designer Anab Jain and music producer Stephen Budd.

Dumezweni, who plays Hermione in the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, was shortlisted earlier this year for an Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress. Speaking about the importance of the Index Awards she said: “Freedom of expression is essential to help challenge our perception of the world”.

Winners, who will be announced at a gala ceremony in London on 19 April, become Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards Fellows and are given support for their work, including training in areas such as advocacy and communications.

“The GreatFire team works anonymously and independently but after we were awarded a fellowship from Index it felt like we had real world colleagues. Index helped us make improvements to our overall operations, consulted with us on strategy and were always there for us, through the good times and the pain,” Charlie Smith of GreatFire, 2016 Freedom of Expression Awards Digital Activism Fellow.

This year, the Freedom of Expression Awards are being supported by sponsors including SAGE Publishing, Google, Vodafone, media partner CNN, VICE News, Doughty Street Chambers, Psiphon and Gorkana. Illustrations of the nominees were created by Sebastián Bravo Guerrero.