Ray Nkosi | Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, who is also heading the government Organ on National Healing, says that the Gukurahundi matter is now a closed case and relatives of the deceased must come forward and get death certificates of their loved ones.

Speaking in Bulawayo over the weekend at a meeting of small scale farmers from the Matabeleland region, Mphoko said as the chairperson of the organ tasked by government to look into the matter, he is satisfied there is enough closure with President Robert Mugabe’s assurance that the atrocities were a moment of madness and will never happen again.

“President Mugabe made it clear that it was an act of madness and what else do we want? There is nothing more than that,” he said.

Mphoko said instead of people remaining stuck on the matter relatives of the victims should approach government and get death certificates of their relatives who were killed during the atrocities. He added that government is in the process of facilitating descent burials of all the people killed during the atrocities.

“The Government has introduced a national programme of reburying people who were killed during the liberation war that is being carried out throughout the country. In this part of the country (Matabeleland) that has to be done so that people who were affected by Gukurahundi are given a decent burial and that is very critical as it will help cool down tempers and emotions,” he said.

“We are the leaders of this country and it is our responsibility to address those matters. What we have to do is to issue birth and death certificates to those who were affected by Gukurahundi and rebury their loved ones properly,” he said.

Mphoko ruled out calls for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission which opposition parties and other civic organisations are lobbying for claiming that the process is not necessary as it will only serve to embarrass a few people. Mphoko said the Government was committed to exploring a non-confrontational way of dealing with the matter.

“In fact, there is a lot that is being said about Gukurahundi including how my predecessors the late Vice-Presidents Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, Joseph Msika and John Landa Nkomo handled the matter. However, the problem is that there are some people who want the issue to be handled in a certain manner that seeks to humiliate targeted people, but our approach is that we must find a solution that will help the victims and produce best results and as the Minister responsible for that, I am exploring a way which is not confrontational,” he said.

Terrence Mawawa, Mwenezi A sex starved local woman brewed a shocker when she dumped her husband and eloped with a 60-year-old neighbour who later impregnated her. The woman, Nyaradzo Nherera dumped her husband, Nyasha Chirashiwa and fell in love with Jeffius Tasarira(60) who eventually impregnated her. Tasarira is a member of the Marange Apostolic Church.

The matter was heard before Chief Neshuro’s traditional court and Tasarira was asked to pay a token of regret for impregnating Nyasha’s wife. “The matter was heard before Chief Neshuro’s traditional court. Tasarira was ordered to pay $100,”said a local villager.

Nherera took advantage of Nyasha’s absence and fell in love with Tasarira and she eventually dumped her husband. It has also emerged Nyasha refused the money paid by Tasarira and returned to South Africa.

“Nyasha refused the money paid by Tasarira. The situation is very complicated,”said one of Nyasha’s relatives. Nherera’s relatives however, accused Nyasha of deserting his wife. “We have to look at the matter from both angles. Nyasha went to South Africa and never came back.His wife waited for a long time but Nyasha was nowhere to be seen.Therefore we cannot blame Nyaradzai(Nherera).We urged her to be patient and she tried by all means to wait for her husband.She also attempted to call her husband but he never responded positively,”said Nherera’s sister identified as Mary.

A MAN from Zvishavane who severely assaulted a Central Intelligence Officer (CIO) operative and stole his service pistol has been sentenced to 28 months in prison.

Noel Kurura (29) from Village Tangwe under Chief Masunda, Zvishavane, pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery and possessing a firearm without a licence when he appeared before Zvishavane Magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja.

The Magistrate sentenced him to 24 months imprisonment for robbery and suspended four months on condition of good behaviour.

Mr Mjanja fined Kurura $200 for possessing a firearm without a licence and if he fails to pay the fine, he will be jailed for four months.

Prosecuting, Mr Amos Ncube said on November 8 at around 2PM, Mr Kudakwashe Mazura offered Kurura and Tapiwa Gundu a lift at Unki Mine Turn-off along the Zvishavane-Gweru Road.

Gundu, Kurura’s alleged accomplice, is still on the run.

“When the accused person and his accomplice were about to drop off at the 72km peg, they suddenly became violent and started assaulting the complainant with fists.

“They disarmed him, took away his CZ pistol and disappeared. The complainant went and reported the matter at Zvishavane Police Station,” said Mr Ncube.

Investigations led to Kurura’s arrest.

Police recovered the pistol from Kurura’s bedroom hut in Zvishavane. The value of the stolen firearm was $1 000. – State Media

A 40-YEAR-OLD man from Plumtree has been convicted of physical abuse after he tied his five-year-old stepson to a tree and severely assaulted him.

Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza said the five-year-old had given the court a vivid account of the ruthless assault that he suffered at the man’s hands.

The magistrate, however, acquitted him of rape charges as he had also been accused of raping his one-year-old daughter.

The man’s wife told the court that he threatened to chop her with an axe and due to the abuse, she decided not to go back home.

Left in the custody of three children, one of whom was his one-year-old daughter, the magistrate heard that the man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victims, would bath the girl and share his bed with her. He allegedly raped her.

The alleged abuse was discovered after his five-year-old stepson fled from home after he tied him to a tree and severely assaulted him.

Medical reports produced in court showed that the one-year-old girl had been repeatedly raped 72 hours before the medical examination and that the five-year-old had been severely assaulted.

Magistrate Mabeza acquitted him on the rape charge but convicted him of physical abuse.

“There was an exchange of custody of the child within the 72 hours preceding to medical examination. Accused person was arrested on October 17 and spent the night in police custody. The child was left with her siblings and the social welfare. There is no direct evidence linking him to the rape charge.

More investigations need to be done to ascertain who raped the minor,” said Mr Mabeza.

“However his stepson gave a vivid account of the ruthless assault that he suffered at his hands. He explained to the court how he was hanged from a tree and bashed. His account was supported by a medical report that showed he sustained injuries on his neck from hanging. He also sustained bruises all over his body where accused person hit him. This evidence can’t be ignored.”

The man apologised to the court and asked to be set free.

He is expected to be sentenced today on the physical abuse charge.

“I erred Your Worship. May this court forgive me. I was only trying to discipline the boy. May you set me free, I won’t repeat the same mistake,” he pleaded. – State Media

A MAN from Bulawayo allegedly shot his friend dead, buried him in a shallow grave in Hillside suburb and sent a message to the deceased’s mother pretending to be her son suddenly leaving the country, police confirmed yesterday.

Rodney Tongai Jindu (25) of Glengarry suburb allegedly killed Cyprian Kudzurunga (28) of Queens Park East on January 29 before burying the body in a vacant residential stand in Hillside.

He also allegedly stole his friend’s laptop and cellphone which he sold in the city centre.

Jindu was arrested on Friday after inconsistent statements to the police. He allegedly later confessed to killing his friend and led police to the shallow grave.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“Police has arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with the death of Cyprian Kudzurunga aged 28 years who was allegedly shot in circumstances which are under investigations.

“The body was privately and secretly buried at a site where it was later exhumed after police had received information and conducted comprehensive investigations,” he said.

The Chronicle understands that the two were childhood friends and churchmates at the Queens Park Roman Catholic parish.

On the day of the murder, they had spent close to seven hours drinking alcohol at Jindu’s house with the binge stretching from around 3PM to 10PM after which Kadzurunga decided to walk home.

A police source said on the fateful day, Kudzurunga passed by home from church at around 3PM and informed his mother that he was going for drinks with Jindu who was waiting for him outside.

“He took his laptop with him as Jindu said he would want to use it. On their way to Jindu’s place, the two bought a bottle of brandy which they drank,” the source said.

The source said they drank until around 10PM and Kudzurunga then decided to walk home using a footpath linking Glengarry and Queens Park East.
Jindu offered to escort him.

“After walking for a while, Jindu — who was walking behind Kudzurunga — fired one shot from behind and shot him on the head and he fell down. He fired another shot, this time hitting him in the chest resulting in his death.

“After realising that he had killed his friend, he rushed back home and hid the pistol and the now deceased’s laptop in his workshop. He took a plastic bag, cellotape and a wheelbarrow, and returned to the where the body lay. He shoved the body into the plastic bag, loaded it onto the wheelbarrow and pushed it back home,” said the source.

Once at home, Jindu placed the body into the boot of his car and took the deceased’s LG cellphone from his trousers’ pocket.

He allegedly left the body in the car boot overnight.

The following morning, he went to the city centre and met a friend whom he gave Kudzurunga’s cellphone and laptop to sell on his behalf.

“He removed the sim card from the handset before giving it away for sale. The laptop was quickly bought for $140 and the seller was paid off and the two separated. He hired a taxi back home and bought five litres of petrol along the way for his car.

“He also hired two men to dig the grave and paid them $10 each. Later that afternoon, he buried the body and filled the grave halfway with stones and soil,” said the source.

Through investigations, it was discovered that at around 8PM on January 29, Jindu inserted Kudzurunga’s sim card into his cellphone and sent an SMS to the now deceased’s mother pretending to be Kudzurunga.

In the message, he said he was going out of the country.

“The message read that he had fled because he had done something bad and would communicate with her later.

“On January 31 early morning, Jindu hired another friend to finish filling up the grave with soil after lying to him that he had tried to dig a place to mount a water meter but had since decided to change the place. He then later scattered some litter on top for disguise,” said the source.

Kudzurunga’s laptop and cellphone were recovered after Jindu’s arrest.

His body was exhumed on Saturday after Jindu confessed to killing his friend.

The firearm used to commit the crime was recovered and it was allegedly registered in Jindu’s name.

The firearm was allegedly issued for crop and livestock protection.

When The Chronicle visited the deceased’s home in Queens Park East yesterday, Kudzurunga’s mother, Ms Patricia Danha, was said to be on her way from Harare where she had gone to search for her missing son.

A family friend, Mrs Sophia Mafiwa, said Ms Danha phoned her son on January 29 at around 8PM and that was the last time she had spoken to him.

“He said they were driving around with his friend Jindu. When she tried his phone again around 10PM, it was no longer reachable. She decided to phone the friend who said he had last seen him at around 4PM.

“Mrs Danha then made a missing person report with the police,” she said. – State Media

MASHONALAND West provincial war veterans leader, Sam Parirenyatwa, faces a contempt of court charge after he allegedly defied Chief Negomo and a Bindura Magistrates’ Court order to compensate a farmer for crops destroyed by his livestock.

According to documents shown to journalists, sometime in 2015, Parirenyatwa’s livestock strayed into Mazowe farmer, Juliet Nyadongo’s maize field and destroyed the entire crop. Nyadongo reported the matter to Chief Negomo’s court, which then issued a default judgment and ordered Parirenyatwa to pay $900 as compensation, or alternatively have his two beasts attached.

The traditional leader’s messengers later seized two beasts from Parirenyatwa’s farm and gave them to Nyadongo.

Angered by the traditional leader’s verdict, Parirenyatwa filed for stay of execution of the order at the Bindura Magistrates Court, but the application was dismissed by magistrate Elisha Singano on March 8 2015.

Part of the ruling read: “For avoidance of doubt , chief’s judgment of $900 shall stand against the appellant and any execution done by respondent should be respected. Appellant must return the beast to the respondent’s failure, which he should be charged for contempt of court, his current appeal is dismissed with costs,” Singano said in his ruling.

This, however, did not go down well with Parirenyatwa, who last month allegedly stormed Nyadongo’s farm and took back his cattle, at the same time lodging an appeal at the High Court.

This prompted Nyadongo, through her lawyer, Phineas Ngarava, to file a contempt of court charge against Parirenyatwa. The matter was reported under case number RRB 28948210 and is yet to be brought to court. – Newsday

John Smyth’s pastor has advised him to fly to the UK to face the consequences for allegedly beating 22 teenagers at Christian holiday camps.

And the lawyer’s pastor son‚ PJ Smyth‚ said: “These are horrific allegations‚ and if proven true it is right that my father face justice.”

In a statement on Sunday to the Cape Town congregation Smyth has been part of for two years‚ church elders said the former Justice Alliance of South Africa leader should also “admit‚ if necessary‚ to any accusation that holds substance and apologise‚ asking for forgiveness and mercy”.

The Wynberg church has asked Smyth‚ 75‚ and his wife‚ Anne‚ to stay away from its services and meetings until the allegations of “terrible misconduct” against the former part-time judge are resolved.

A TV documentary last week reported that Smyth left the UK for Zimbabwe in 1984 after a hushed-up report by a church charity said he administered savage beatings on boys who attended camps at Winchester College‚ Hampshire.

He arrived in South Africa in 2001 after the dropping of a culpable homicide charge linked to the drowning of a 16-year-old at a Zambesi Holidays camp for Christian teenagers.

Church-on-Main pastor Andrew Thomson told worshippers on Sunday that a “fair number of people … have had moments of counselling and group discipleship with John”.

Elders were available “should anyone feel the need to discuss the nature of‚ or content of‚ their experience. Similarly‚ if you think there is someone you would like to prompt us to follow up with‚ please do so.”

He added: “If our having had John as a leader of a discipleship group or his role in any form of ministry has led to hurt or risk to anyone‚ or to bringing the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ into disrepute in any way‚ for this we apologise”.

The church’s three Cape Town congregations have been invited to a members-only meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Smyths. Elders have offered counselling to the couple‚ who have left their Bergvliet home and failed to respond to numerous requests for comment.

PJ Smyth‚ in a letter to the congregation of Covenant Life Church in Maryland‚ US‚ said his father “disciplined me in a manner consistent with the laws and cultural trends of the UK at the time‚ not in a manner alleged in the recent reports”.

“During the time we lived in the UK‚ I was in boarding school from the age of 8 to 13. When I was home I never saw or heard anything that led me to suspect my father was engaged in the activities alleged‚” said PJ‚ who has just left Johannesburg after 10 years at the helm of several GodFirst churches.

“We moved to Zimbabwe when I was 13. My father told me that he felt called out of the legal profession into full-time Christian work. I attended a number of Zambesi Holidays camps and I was never aware of any abuse.

“During the early 1990s‚ when I was studying in South Africa‚ I was aware that a delegation of pastors and parents insisted that my father and the board of Zambesi Holidays make adjustments to camp life‚ which they did. I do clearly remember the tragic drowning of a fellow camper one year. It was devastating to his family and to all of us who knew him.

“In my twenties‚ I gradually became aware that there had been issues surrounding my father’s ministry in the UK. Nothing specific‚ but I remember hearing some of my parents’ friends say things like‚ ‘… of course those were difficult years for your dad’. However‚ I assumed that it was something relatively minor and it never occurred to me to press my father for detail.

“I believe that the civil authorities are given by God to help protect against wrong-doing. I am firmly committed to reporting any form of child abuse to the authorities.”

TMG Digital/TimesLIVE

Ray Nkosi |MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was ZANU PF’s district political commissar during the Gukurahundi massacre, shock details reveal.

The MDC leader has admitted being Robert Mugabe’s top aide in the Mash Central province during the time 22,000 Ndebeles were being killed.

Tsvangirai first made the admissions during his 2004 treason trial in which he swore he would never seek to end Mugabe’s life.

“I regarded Mr Mugabe as my hero and the hero of the liberation struggle,” Tsvangirai said in response to a question by his lead defence counsel, renowned South African human rights lawyer Mr George Bizos. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

Asked if he ever plotted to kill Mr Mugabe or overthrow his government, the 51-year-old former trade unionist replied: “No, my Lord.” Mr Tsvangirai – who said he was a district political commissar in the ruling ZANU-PF party in the 1980s – told how he fell out with Mr Mugabe over policies restricting trade union activities and the government’s handling of the economy.

Parliament has recommended to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development that all cars must be inspected yearly at a cost of $50 per unit, as part of the commercialisation of the Vehicle Inspectorate Department meant to raise $126 million annually.

At the moment, inspection for fitness is limited to public service vehicles at a cost of $25 and $20 for heavy and light vehicles respectively, in line with Statutory Instrument 134 of 1998. Private cars are only inspected at VID when they are involved in accidents or when there is suspicion that they have defects.

Although such executive decisions are normally taken by the responsible ministry, parliament through its Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development has recommended the idea. The parliament used its oversight function, which according to the Standing Order of Parliament Category (c) states that the committee shall; “monitor, investigate, inquire into and make recommendations relating to any aspect of the legislative programme, budget, policy or any other matter it may consider relevant to the Government department falling within the category of affairs assigned to it, and may for that purpose consult and liaise with such department.”

In an interview, the chairman of the committee, Cde Dexter Nduna (Zanu-PF, Chegutu West) said this was a gap where Government can raise money.

“As a committee we are proposing that VID must inspect all motor vehicles in Zimbabwe, be they black on yellow plates or red on white plates which are private and public service vehicles. There are approximately 1,5 million vehicles that are on our roads and they have not been inspected, in fact a good number of them have not been inspected with a view of reducing road carnage,” he said.

Cde Nduna said Statutory Instrument 34 of 1998 allows the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to inspect public service vehicles while another statutory instrument can be put in place that there be a provision to inspect all vehicles to see their road worthiness. He said hence VID could charge as much as $50 for vehicle inspection on all cars.

“If the VID is commercialised, there is going to be $50 levied for all annual inspections for private vehicles, and with the vehicle population in Zimbabwe VID can easily raise revenue to the tune $126 million. It can use $40 million for recapitalisation and declare $60 million to the Government,” he said.

Cde Nduna said the money will add onto the $5 million the department was raising through Learners’ Licence Tests, $6 million from Drivers’ Licence Tests and $25 million from public service vehicle inspections. The move will raise the revenue by 600 percent to $126 million.

However, in an interview, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo said the idea was noble although his Ministry was still to deliberate on the issue.

“I have not received any communication yet but maybe the move is a noble one if done correctly and through the right channels. It should come to Government formerly and be discussed,” he said.

The committee also suggested that there should be computerisation and integration of the transport management systems linking driving schools, VID, Zinara, Zimra, Central Vehicle Registry, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Republic Police.

“In Government we have moved to have an electronic system whereby VID, Zinara, CVR and Zimra will come as one and officials can be able to check the status of a vehicle at one go, one can check if a vehicle is registered, free of debts with Zinara and even the police can see if there are any offences,” said Cde Gumbo.

Merging of Zinara and VID will see the two organisations leveraging on synergies with quick wins in activities such as enforcement of laws regarding overloading, unlicensed vehicles and drivers, fuel levy, unroadworthy vehicles and garage inspections, to name a few.

Nonetheless, if the proposals see the light of the day, there will be an increase in the number of fees motorists have to pay. At present motorists pay Zinara Vehicle Licensing fees of between $20 and $300 per quarter depending on the weight of the vehicle. To pay for the licensing fees, motorists also need to pay insurance with the cheapest pegged at $36 per quarter. In adddition, they pay the same parastatal between $2 and $10 for tollgates when using the country’s major highways depending on the weight of the vehicle. Motorists also pay a minimum of three cents per litre of fuel they buy levied as Carbon Tax.

Those with car radios are supposed to pay an additional minimum of $10 for radio licence to ZBC per quarter.

Motorists are also mandated to buy triangles, reflectors and fire extinguishers.

There are also plans to introduce tollgates in urban areas to raise money for road repairs and construction. – State Media

I was born in Chitendero Village, Kutama on May 8, 1924. This is the place where Robert Mugabe was also born.

I am related to him in that his father, Gabriel, was my cousin and referred to me as mukoma while I called Robert my son.

A sense of pride wells up in me each time I consider that I am one of President Mugabe’s remaining peers. You can search through Kutama in its entirety, but will not find another 93-year-old like me.

To the best of my knowledge, President Mugabe and I are the only nonagenarians left out of the lot born here.

I am told that I did not cry when I was born, and the resident Catholic priest baptised me on that day fearing that this was an indication that I would not live long.

But here I am — 93 and still going strong!

I grew up at Kutama Mission. In the early days, we were not allowed to interact with non-Catholics as the priest at that time, Father Loubiere, was intolerant and did not have cordial relations with the community.

He would not even allow us to interact with my grandparents because they were not Christians.

Robert’s father, Gabriel, worked at the mission as a carpenter alongside my uncle, Mr Paul Gono, and this drew Robert and I closer in those early days.

We spent a lot of time together, eventually becoming best friends; more like twins. We often ate from the same plate.

Robert was very intelligent, so was his brother Michael.

Father Jerome O’hea, Father Loubiere’s successor at the mission, greatly influenced our upbringing, making sure we followed Catholic traditions and never missed church services.

He was a man of many talents: a doctor, builder and an engineer.

He managed to spread the faith, and worked well with people of different faiths as well as other Christian churches like the Methodist.

We learnt a lot from this priest whom the people loved and was far much better than his predecessor. Father O’hea was a role model whom we adored as children. He was a larger than life figure and influenced Robert Mugabe in a very big way.

The way President Mugabe conducts himself shows that he has stuck to principles we took from Father O’hea who always emphasised doing what is right.

Robert and I also shared lighter moments with Father O’hea. I remember how we would sometimes hide from him or roll over weaved mats to dodge chores.

Never quite a drinker

Following Catholic indoctrination, many people felt encouraged to move from Kutama Mission to other areas to spread the Gospel. Gabriel moved to the Karigamombe area, while Robert remained behind in Kutama with his grandparents, Sekuru and Ambuya Shonhiwa.

Sekuru Shonhiwa was known as “Chigubhu” because of his love for traditional brew.

He had an adept way of imbibing the brew, enabling him to keep it for longer while the containers of his drinking partners’ had long run dry.

Despite this exposure, Robert never took to the bottle, but, instead, took many positives from his grandparents. He was, in a way, his grandparents’ keeper, and had many responsibilities at that young age.

The two of us were separated when he started school.

I was only able to start school when I was 15-years-old, leaving Kutama for Chishawasha. At the time, Robert was in Standard 5.

We used to interact often whenever I went back to Kutama during school holidays. He never forgot our special relationship and bought me a suit when he started working.

This was one of the special gifts I held dear because it was a sign of his great affection for me.

Our lives later took different turns when he joined politics while I joined the Rhodesia Civil Service as an extension officer.

I worked in Mutoko and Murewa for many years, and thus could not see him. All I could do was support what he was doing to liberate the country.

I was not surprised that he became a nationalist leader because he had shown signs of greatness during our formative years. He was disciplined, despite being exposed to alcohol.

He sticks to principle, having blended his grandparents’ and Father O’hea’s teachings.

Father O’hea taught us to love one another. One sees that in the President because he loves his family greatly.

Many people wonder how he has managed to live this long; I believe everyone is responsible for their decisions in life. He has never imbibed alcohol, even during our youth when our peers were drinking themselves senseless.

If he had, or had not followed the right path, he would not have achieved what he has. Above all, it is God who has given Robert and I long life.

As his “twin’’, I understand President Mugabe and his vision for Zimbabwe. He saw and experienced colonial brutality and does not want it repeated. He has carried self-discipline, wisdom and principle since our days together at Kutama.

It was when he fell in love with his books and kept on the right path that his greatness began.

Cde Johannes Chikanya shared these views with The Sunday Mail’s Chief Reporter Kuda Bwititi in Zvimba on January 30, 2017. – State Media

ZiFM Stereo, a subsidiary of AB Communications, has recruited veteran journalist Constantine Chimakure and well-known radio/TV presenter Tichafa “Tich Mataz” Matambanadzo to help steer its operations.

Chimakure, who has edited several newspaper titles during a long journalism career, has been appointed ZiFM deputy head of news and current affairs.

Other new staffers at the station are political reporter Moses Matenga, marketing officer Christine Midzi, and presenters Nonkululeko “Amard” Dube, Chidochemoyo Nhemara and Rebecca “Miss Becky” Muchenje.

In a statement last Friday, AB Communications group chief operations officer Mr Gilbert Muponda said the new recruitments were part of the company’s efforts to continuously improve and enhance its entertainment and news products.

Mr Muponda also said the company‘s regional radio stations, Hevoi FM and 98.4, would be launched soon.

He said, “We want to cascade this professionalism to the metro radio stations.

‘‘So, the arrival of Constantine and Moses will bolster the news and current affairs department at a time we are on the verge of launching new products among them a news website which will go live very soon.” – State Media

State Media – Econet has been caught in a massive tax evasion scandal.

Telecommunications giant Econet Wireless and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority bosses allegedly connived to help the company evade taxes and externalise cash — a scandal involving $300 million.

The allegations are contained in a Zimra forensic audit report compiled by HLB Zimbabwe Chartered Accountants signed off in October 2016.

According to the report, Government could have lost about US$300 million in revenue between 2009 and 2013 after Econet allegedly imported dutiable goods without paying taxes.

To promote ICTs, Government allowed mobile network operators to import base stations duty-free. Econet allegedly took advantage of the exemption to smuggle dutiable goods which the company allegedly marked as “base stations”.

The company also allegedly externalised foreign currency by over-invoicing through its Mauritius-based sister company, Econet Capital.

Zimra board chair Mrs Willia Bonyongwe confirmed that forensic auditors had raised the red flag and investigations were underway.

She said, “Yes, there were observations to that effect and the forensic auditors recommended that we investigate the issues of over-invoicing, transfer pricing and customs duty evasion, among other things. I can assure you that the board will act on all issues raised by the forensic auditors and we actually have already started doing so.

“But some cases are more complex than others, requiring more time and more technical advice and investigations. And then the fact that Zimra officials involved are going through disciplinary hearings is another process altogether which affects the speed of implementing the audit findings.”

Mrs Bonyongwe said individuals and companies implicated in the report should “get an opportunity to clear their names to the public and to their stakeholders because the allegations are quite serious and Zimra should have followed them up conclusively”.

The report states that Econet Wireless hired clearing agent Mr Edward Matambanadzo to process its goods through his Paul Edwards Shipping Company (Private) Limited.

Auditors stumbled upon the scandal as Mr Matambanadzo battled to get Zimra to pay him for providing them with information on Econet’s alleged shenanigans.

Mr Matambadzo’s lawyers, C Nhemwa and Associates, wrote to suspended Zimra Commissioner-General Mr Geshom Pasi on February 7, 2014 raising the allegations but the matter was not pursued.

The letter reads, “Our client has instructed us to bring to your attention that in the process of carrying out its business of customs and freight forwarding, it came to discover that Econet Wireless Limited was fraudulently prejudicing the revenue authority of huge sums of money through illegal declarations and fraudulent clearances using a number of clearing agencies, including our client’s Paul Edwards Shipping Company (Private) Limited.

“On discovering this, our client approached your organisation with the relevant information and provided documentary and audio evidence which we believe has been useful in collecting revenue from Econet Wireless.

“Apart from prejudicing the revenue authorities, Econet Wireless was also illegally externalising foreign currency through over-invoicing using a sister company registered in Mauritius and this matter has been reported to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. We are instructed to inquire from yourselves as to what amount has been recovered from Econet Wireless as our client believes the prejudice for the revenue authority is in excess of three hundred million dollars (US$300 000 000.)”

Mr Pasi is directly implicated by auditors.

“Apparently, the Commissioner-General (Mr Pasi) also acted corruptly (showing favour to a client) by not causing an investigation against Econet to be carried out,” reads part of the audit report.

Zimra, through post-clearance conducted in 2013, discovered that it could have been prejudiced of US$15 million by Econet.

On December 3, 2013, Zimra wrote to Econet saying, “A post-clearance was carried out on some Econet Wireless ‘base stations’ importations which were cleared through Harare Airfreight Zimra office and Beitbridge Boarder Post.

“The audit revealed gross anomalies in the clearance which resulted in Zimra being prejudiced of USD15 884 943,46 in Customs Duty and VAT.”

Quizzed on the alleged tax anomalies by The Sunday Mail, Econet Wireless executive assistant to the group CEO Mr Lovemore Nyatsine said Zimra had advised the company of its intention to garnish US$67,9 million, which the mobile network operator then challenged in court.

Mr Nyatsine said, “The penalty of US$47 million that Zimra had imposed was set aside by the High Court. We imported base stations in exactly the same manner that our competitors did.

“Zimra sought to charge duty against Econet alone retrospectively without charging the same duty against our competitors. We have objected to that discriminatory treatment and our case is pending in the courts.”

Auditors explained that the anomalies were a result of Econet’s misclassifying of single components/units or parts of base stations as complete base stations.

HLB Zimbabwe Chartered Accountants said evidence presented by Mr Matambanadzo suggested that Econet imported 59 582 base stations when the actual number of base stations it owned was less than 2 500.

“This points to the fact that the 57 082 which were imported by Econet were classified as base stations when they were not base stations hence the 57 082 were imported duty-free to the detriment of the fiscus,” reads part of the audit.

The auditors said the 57 082 items were imported by Paul Edwards Shipping Company.

Mr Nyatsine dismissed the allegations as false.

He said, “Whoever did the audit for Zimra would have counted each base station component as though it was a complete base station hence the ridiculous quantity of base stations we are alleged to have imported. The number of base stations we own correspond with the number of base stations we imported.”

Forensic auditors further unearthed that Econet could have externalised US$6,3 million through a scheme involving transfer pricing within one month in 2009.

The matter was reported to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe which then conducted investigations as captured in a letter written by the chief inspector of the Exchange Control Inspectorate on June 17, 2016.

In the externalisation, it is alleged that Econet would overstate the prices of components it was buying from its sister company in Mauritius, thereby allowing it to move millions of US dollars out of Zimbabwe.

The audit report shows that on October 23, 2009, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe bought a PDH Microwave from Econet Capital for US$2 398 425. Auditors said the equipment was actually valued at US$1 343 231 by ZTE, implying potential externalisation of US$1 055 194 via that transaction.

On July 27, 2009 the company bought “various items” from its sister company for US$9 153 400 when the goods were really valued at US$5 117 472 – a difference of US$4 035 928.

Auditors said, “This potentially resulted in hundreds of millions of United States dollars which could have been externalised by Econet through the modus operandi illustrated above the exact quantum of which can only be determined by carrying out a full-scale audit on imports by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe – a posit that was not taken by Zimra executives.

“Zimra could have potentially suffered financial prejudice in that by inflating the values of assets imported, the value claimed in respect special initial allowances would also be inflated thereby understating profits and the corporate tax thereon.”

Econet’s Mr Nyatsine also dismissed these allegations, saying the matter was investigated and the firm had not been censured.

But HLB Zimbabwe Chartered Accountants insisted the matters raised required thorough investigations.

Zimra did not carry out a full-scale investigation because – according to a letter by the tax collector’s director of legal and corporate services, Mrs Florence Jambwa on July 23, 2014 – the allegations were not supported by facts “and as such we were not able to take any action on them”.

Auditors discorved that Mr Pasi had ordered Ms Jambwa to write the letter, possibly to cover up the scam.

Auditors’ interviews of Zimra loss control divisional heads showed no investigations into Econet’s dealings had ever been conducted.

The auditors said the issues raised by the whistle blower issue, Mr Matambanadzo, should be fully investigated.

They also recommended that appropriate action be taken against Mr Pasi for “acting corruptly”; Ms Jambwa for signing a letter with contents which misrepresented facts; Mr Tichawona Chiradza (commissioner, investigations and international affairs) for facilitating the letter which misrepresented facts; and Mrs Anna Mutombodzi (commissioner customs and excise) for failing to take action after receiving information from the whistle blower.

Mr Pasi could not be reached for comment. – State Media

Harare water is contaminated with faeces it has emerged.

The water in Harare should not be consumed without precautions as many of the city’s sources are now contaminated due to transposition of matter by rain water, new research shows.

The research by the Environmental Management Agency in suburbs like Hopley, Budiriro and Kambuzuma, established that the capital’s borehole water had faecal matter.

It also determined that boreholes near graveyards were susceptible to contamination when decomposing corpses come into contact with groundwater.

EMA spokesperson Mr Steady Kangata told journalists last week that “no water is safe enough to use without precautions”.

He implored residents to boil all drinking water regardless of its source, adding that only certified purified water could forego boiling.

“We have surveyed places like Hopley, Budiriro and Kambuzuma and from our surveillance, we have established faecal contamination of

boreholes. Most of these water sources have sewer bases; so contamination is at the point of extraction.

“People should boil water at the point of use, especially those who buy bulk water to fill their tanks. Most people think public boreholes are the ones that are contaminated, but private ones, too, should equally be monitored so that the quality of their water is known.

“If water is not potable, then use it for other purposes like laundry or irrigation. In Hopley, for instance, one finds that some houses are close to cemeteries where a grave can be as close as five metres from homes, and all that decomposition affects water.

“We are saying people should be more cautious, and this also means stopping this habit of buying water at road intersections because no one knows where that water would have come from.”

Zimbabwe Institute of Regional and Urban Planners president Mr Phineas Dohwe weighed in, saying: “Initially, boreholes were not meant for domestic use, but for irrigation and other purposes. However, they slowly began to be widely used as a resort whenever water shortages occurred.

“The best way to go about the entire matter is to de-commission septic tanks because water is being contaminated underground. There is need for the city to put in place reticulated sewer systems. People should stop depending on borehole water for domestic use; instead, the city has to supply water.”

Zimbabwe has experienced incessant rains since December 2016, and experts contend this is largely behind transposition of contaminants to potable water sources.

Many Harare residents have over the years relied on borehole water due to a general distrust of council supplies and, in some cases, lengthy spells without running water.

A typhoid outbreak that affected 200 people in December 2016 spurred residents to better examine their water and food sources.

Laboratory tests by Zimlabs were to later confirm the existence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria in borehole water samples taken around the city.

The bacteria can cause diseases like diarrhoea.

Two weeks ago, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa revealed that most boreholes in the capital’s low-density suburbs were contaminated.

Dr Parirenyatwa said, “Some think that because they stay in low-density areas they are spared from typhoid. However, because of the rains, dirt is being washed into those boreholes. Some also think they are safe because they use borehole water, but our assessments have shown that 95 percent of all boreholes from low-density areas such as Borrowdale are also contaminated.

“What we want to ensure is that piped water is safe so that our people are also safe. We have engaged in talks with responsible authorities, and we hope tap water is safe for consumption.” – State Media

A 30-year-old Harare man was last week arrested for hurling a plate of sadza at his wife and then severely assaulting her for preparing “a seriously bad meal”.

Tashinga Jairos of Budiriro suburb appeared before Mbare magistrate Ms Kudzai Zihove, charged with physical abuse as defined by the Domestic Violence Act (Chapter 5:16).

He was, however, pardoned after his wife withdrew the case before judgment.

Prosecutor Miss Tariro Rangwani told the court that on January 2, 2017, Jairos’ wife served him a plate of sadza and relish.

She was, nevertheless, unaware of what her husband would serve up a few moments later.

Miss Rangwani said, “As he ate the food, Jairos started complaining and shouting that the meal was badly cooked. The wife then told him to talk to her politely, but Jairos became violent and threw the plate at her.

“He then assaulted her all over the body with open hands, fists and stoned her in the back as she fled. She sustained a swollen face, a cut on the left ear and bruises on her right knee as a result of the assault.”

A report was made at Budiriro Police Station, leading to Jairos’ arrest.

In defence, Jairos said, “I admit to the allegations, but I only slapped her once on the right cheek.” – State Media

Thousands of Zimbabweans whose homes were destroyed or damaged by recent floods will soon get respite as Government will help them reconstruct their houses.

A special committee will assess prospective beneficiaries’ properties and then determine whether or not one qualifies for support.

It will mobilise funds towards this grand effort, which involves donor agencies and other well-wishers.

Above-normal rainfall in different parts of Zimbabwe between December 2016 and January 2017 has left many people on the brink.

Meteorologists attribute the flooding to La Nina, a weather phenomenon that spews results in heavy rains and thunderstorms. According to the Civil Protection Unit, 76 people have drowned while lightning strikes have killed 10 and injured 96 this summer season.

The CPU estimates 1 050 houses have been damaged, leaving 73 families homeless. In addition, 68 small dams have breached and other infrastructure like roads, clinics and schools have been destroyed.

The unit’s latest situation report lists flooding as a “massive threat”, particularly to low-lying areas like Muzarabani, Middle Sabi, Chikwalakwala, Malapati, Gokwe and Tsholotsho.

Secretary for Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Engineer George Mlilo, told The Sunday Mail, “Flooding is still going on in several areas across the country, and we are unable, as yet, to ascertain the true extent, in monetary terms, of the damage that has been caused.

“But we will carry out a proper assessment once the rains have ceased. It is only then that we will be able to give estimates of the cost of flooding. There has been damage to roads, dams, clinics, schools and other infrastructure, and the appropriate ministries responsible for them will act on reconstruction.

“We will negotiate support from well-wishers and our development partners whom we expect to help in the mobilisation of funding for the work.

“While we are aware that the damage was not caused by any human fault, but an act of nature, we acknowledge that our people who were affected will need the support of Government in their reconstruction work. As Government, we will provide that support, but it will not be wholesale.”

The CPU situation report reads: “The situation is compounded by the fact that most of our national dams, especially the small and medium-sized ones, are now full, resulting in most of the rainfall received being converted to run-off.

“In Mashonaland Central province, Manyame River banks are collapsing, encroaching towards Tsetse division buildings. Distribution of grain and inputs has been hindered due to incessant heavy down pours.”

In Bindura, the report says, two children drowned in a dam after an ox-drawn cart they were aboard overturned.

A hailstorm damaged four teachers’ houses, classroom furniture and blew off classroom roofs at Shamva’s Chemhanza Primary School; while in Mount Darwin, a house belonging to a disabled couple that looks after orphans was destroyed.

In Masvingo’s Chivi district, nine homes in Ward 29 were destroyed as floods reached window level. Three bridges in the area were also washed away.

In Gokwe South, crops and fields belonging to 100 families were damaged, while two students from Chinatsa Secondary School in Marondera were killed by lightning.

The report also reads, “Mashonaland West province, Zvimba: All dams along Manyame River are spilling over. Five people were marooned whilst fishing and were air-rescued. Two people in a canoe were swept away, and one escaped whilst the other one drowned. The body is yet to be found. Twenty-five illegal settlers on Heydon Farm had their homes reportedly destroyed by heavy rains. The district (authorities are yet) to confirm.”

Other Sadc countries — particularly Mozambique — are grappling with La Nina-induced flooding.

In Angola, 1 800 houses in the capital, Luanda, were damaged while a significant number of others were completely destroyed.

A fortnight ago, media reports said seven people in South Africa died after being caught up in flooding. – State Media

A 10-YEAR-OLD boy from Tshabalala in Bulawayo drowned on Thursday while swimming with his friends at a nearby dam in the neighbouring Sizinda suburb.

Proud Kondowe, who was doing Grade 5 at Maphisa Primary School is said to have left home at around 3pm with his friends after knocking off from school. A family spokesperson, Mrs Eunice Sibanda told Sunday News yesterday that when the friend realised that Proud had drowned he rushed to inform the parents.

“Proud and his friends went to swim at Itiye. His mother was not at home by that time. It is believed that when they arrived at the dam they started swimming. While they were still swimming, Proud drowned and one of his friends who saw him dashed home to seek help from adults. It’s a walkable distance but it was too late to save him, I assume that when the boy arrived at his home it was already late to save Proud,” said Mrs Sibanda.

Mrs Sibanda said the Bulawayo City Council should fence off the dam because most children were frequenting it to swim.

“Our children are not safe; the city council should fence off that dam or fill it up because soon it will be a death pool. The children go there to swim without the knowledge of their parents,” she said.

Proud will be buried in Bulawayo tomorrow. – State Media

Construction of the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden will begin in June as experts finalise baseline and architectural surveys to establish site suitability.

Secretary for Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Engineer George Mlilo, said, “We have a team of Chinese experts in the country who are conducting soil tests on the site ahead of the beginning of construction. The tests will seek to establish whether the soil type on the site is able to support the kind of structure we intend to construct.

“Once the tests are completed, which we expect anytime soon, then construction will begin. We expect proper construction work to begin by June this year.”

The new Parliament Building will accommodate 500 legislators compared to the current building which is overcrowded by 270 National Assembly representatives and 93 Senators.

The relocation of Parliament will spur Mt Hampden’s local economy as other structures and services such as banking halls, residential developments, shopping malls, hotels and Government buildings will also be built.

Zimbabwe has secured US$101 million for the construction of the building with the Chinese government availing US$90 million.

‘‘The other US$11 million will be injected by Zimbabwe’s Government for offsite infrastructure such as residential areas and shopping centres.

Urban planning expert Mr Percy Toriro said, “Zimbabweans must strategically position themselves to do infrastructure development work as either main contractors, or sub-contractors.

“There are a number of advantages that come with the new site. First, the proposed site is free from the congestion and other limitations associated with the city centre location. Second, there is an opportunity to come up with other developments in Mount Hampden since there is ample land for development …

“There is concern that the City of Harare has run out of land for development and this move opens up a new frontier for commercial, industrial, and other urban development land needs. Zimbabweans must now strategically position themselves to do infrastructure development work as either main contractors, or come in as sub-contractors. A development of that nature and magnitude presents lots of opportunities that we must be on the look-out for.”

The new Parliament Building is one of 12 mega-deals signed between China and Zimbabwe last year.

The deals cover key sectors such as infrastructure, telecommunications and energy.

In 2007, the Chinese government funded construction of a new parliament building in Lesotho at a cost of US$9 million through Shandong Yantai Construction Company. The building was completed in 2012. – State Media

VICE-President Phelekezela Mphoko says Bulawayo and the Matabeleland provinces should not be fooled by MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s claims that he will bring recourse over Gukurahundi.

VP Mphoko said this while addressing journalists after a closed door meeting with the local Zanu-PF leadership at Davies Hall, Zanu-PF’s provincial headquarters in Bulawayo.

Mr Tsvangirai has been to the Matabeleland region ill-informing people about matters related to the civil disturbances of the immediate post-Independence era that are commonly referred to as Gukurahundi.

Said VP Mphoko: “Tsvangirai was around a few weeks ago and said as MDC-T, they want to fix the Gukurahundi issue and said Zanu-PF has failed and he can do it. Let us not forget that when Cde Nkomo’s car was shot he (Tsvangirai) was at the forefront, when an officer in charge was killed in Tsholotsho he was there too. The same person wants to address the Gukuraundi issue now.”

VP Mphoko said MDC-T had been in existence since 1999 and since then had never delivered anything tangible for ordinary people.

“They have councillors in this city, they are doing nothing for the people, all they promise is lies,” he said.

VP Mphoko also urged people to support for Zanu-PF, saying: “Lina Bulawayo province, you have undecided people, you do not know what you want when it comes to elections. We have no problems with other provinces in the region and also in Mashonaland, but Bulawayo disappoints.

“You are the ones who suffer at the end of the day yet you do not know the power of your votes. You have adequate voting power which can change your lives but you just do not realise it.”

He said opposition Zim-PF leader Dr Joice Mujuru had also visited the region with empty promises. “We want Bulawayo to tell us what it wants and we will deliver as Zanu-PF. We want to give the people things that will change their lives for the better so they must open up and tell us,” he said.

The VP urged ruling party Members of Parliament to work hard to imrpove people’s livelihoods.

“There should be a difference between an MDC MP and our own. Zanu-PF MP’s have direct communication and relationship with the ministers so they should get access easier, opportunities are unlocked faster for the people. The MPs need to talk about it during Parliament and their concerns will be heard and addressed,” he said. – State Media

After destroying the educational system, controversial Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Lazarus Dokora now wants to introduce Mathamatics in local languages.

Dokora says the approach means learners in, say Binga, will get Mathematics, Computer, Science and other lessons in Tonga, the district’s dominant language.

The Constitution lists Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, Sign Language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda and Xhosa as Zimbabwe’s official languages.

ECD has the following learning areas: Languages, Visual and Performing Arts, Physical Education, Mass Displays, Mathematics, Science, Family and Heritage, and ICT, the state media reports saying.

Dokora told the state media, “The medium of communication or instruction for infants or our ECD is supposed to be the mother language. This will ensure children feel at home during lessons and that they express themselves freely.

“If you look at the Nziramasanga Commission Report (on education review), these were some of the recommendations we adopted. What we took, among other areas, were the issue of language as a medium of instruction and increasing the number of years for primary education from seven to nine.”

Dr Dokora also said, “Some among us would have taken me to court if we had said children must learn (using) their mother languages without the backing of the Constitution. However, this is all constitutional. We want to ensure our children interact with everyone.

“Language must not be seen as a barrier to learning or communication. This new (curriculum) ensures children master skills at an early age, and we must be proud of ourselves. The same emphasis we are putting on mathematics or English is the same emphasis we are putting on sport. We all want to ensure our children eke out a living from this education, and we all know that we can’t all be academics.”

Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association secretary-general Mr John Mlilo said while the approach was commendable, Dr Dokora should ensure adequate teacher training first.

“Early Childhood Development involves a lot of playing; it’s important for the activities to be packaged in the language learners understand. The question is: If the medium of instruction is Venda, for example, do we have enough qualified teachers?

“The issue of textbooks at that level is not critical unless the teacher does not speak a particular language. So, we need more qualified teachers at ECD.”

Progressive Teachers’ Association of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said, “The new curriculum is noble, but its implementation has been chaotic. Teachers are at sea; there is unbelievable chaos in our education sector at the moment.”

An analyst who preferred anonymity weighed in: “Ideas such as these are transformational. However, it is implementation and relevance that concerns some of us. The key questions we should ask ourselves are; are some of the recommendations made in 1999 relevant to our times? If other countries adopted certain things successfully, does that mean we can copy them and also get the same results?

“Where are the Mathematics or Science books that are written in Ndebele, Venda or Shona? If we are able to answer these questions satisfactorily then we are on the right track. Those countries that use their indigenous languages have such books translated to support the concept.”

Government introduced the new curriculum in 2016 to balance academics and vocational technical training.

The document was crafted around the recommended around recommendations of the 1999 Commission of Inquiry into Education and Training which was headed by Professor Caiphas Nziramasanga, with input from a cross-section of stakeholders.

It also includes emerging global education trends.

Countries like Germany, China, Cuba and Russia deliver lessons in their indigenous languages, and research indicates this accounts for their high education standards.

The Nziramasanga Commission pointed out that educational, technological and cultural attainments could be raised if instruction was in a learner’s first language. It implored Government to review the policy on indigenous languages to make them compulsory in schools.

At the time, only English, Ndebele and Shona were in the curriculum.

Part of the Commission’s report reads, “There is need for language policy that is clear and explicit. . .Indigenous languages facilitate participation by all in the process of development. Throughout the colonial era, indigenous languages were denigrated.”

HARARE – In an ominous threat, angry war veterans have warned President Robert Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwao — who is also Indigenisation minister — that they will haul him over the coals over his withering attacks on Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa once the nonagenarian leaves office.

The disaffected former freedom fighters also fired a broadside at Cabinet ministers Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere whom they claim are kingpins of the Zanu PF faction going by the moniker Generation 40 (G40), which is rabidly opposed to Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe.

Speaking to the Daily News this week, the spokesperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA)  Douglas Mahiya, warned of a future “revenge mission” targeted at the dreadlocked Zhuwao once Mugabe leaves office.

“Jonathan Moyo, Kasukuwere and Zhuwao don’t want to talk about their future because they are benefitting from the status quo when they did not take part in the liberation struggle.

“And Zhuwao must congratulate himself for being a Cabinet minister. The other two (Moyo and Kasukuwere) may speak but he (Zhuwao) is a foreigner and must shut up.  Mugabe’s last day and last term of office will also be his last.

“On the day that the president leaves, then Zhuwao must also run. After all, what has he done for the country? We are war veterans, we do not refer to Zhuwao at all besides that he is Mugabe’s nephew and he should stand warned,” the forthright Mahiya told the Daily News.

The vocal Zhuwao, who war veterans claim is Malawian, has had several run-ins with the disgruntled ex-combatants over the past two years.

But Zhuwao laughed off the threats to banish him from Zimbabwe, going on to describe the vets as cowards.

“I cannot comment on people who want to portray courage and bravery in the media but are scared to confront me. They talk through newspapers. Mbwende dzevanhu (cowards),” he told the Daily News in a curt response.

The fed up war veterans have publicly come out to back Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe — who turns a mature 93 later this month — as Zanu PF’s seemingly unstoppable tribal, factional and succession wars get ever uglier.

They have also warned that blood may even flow in the country if Mnangagwa does not succeed the long-ruling nonagenarian who has studiously refused to name his Zanu PF successor, arguing that the party should rather follow what he sees as a more democratic process to manage his succession — doing so through a congress.

In the run-up to Zanu PF’s annual conference that was held in Masvingo in December last year, Zhuwao was also threatened with death after a self-claimed Mnangagwa loyalist, Frank Onismo Ziyambi, warned him via Facebook that he risked being killed for his withering attack on the Midlands godfather.

Zhuwao had at that time publicly attacked Mnangagwa and his Team Lacoste faction, including war veterans — describing the VP as “unelectable” and not worth supporting because of the tendency of his “excitable” backers to bully and threaten people.

Then, Mahiya responded saying that Zhuwao had “no moral ground” to comment on their activities as he was “not yet born” when they waged the war of liberation in the 1970s.

“Zhuwao doesn’t know anything … when we went to war he was not yet born. He is trying to personalise or making it (leadership of Zanu PF and the country) a family thing because you will never find justification when this issue comes from the nephew of the president.

“They want to separate us from the people, but we will remain with the people. We expect such a thing from Zhuwao considering his age. If it was not the determination of war veterans, he would never have had his dreadlocks and he would never have been a minister.

“We don’t see him occupying that position as justifiable. It’s part of what we think is nepotism. He doesn’t know about the revolution, he only knows this from books. He must shut up. People must not call people like Zhuwao comrades. It’s an abuse of the name,” Mahiya thundered.

In their latest attacks on the G40, the war veterans also ratcheted up their attacks on Moyo and Kasukuwere whom they described as cowards.

“G40, where are they coming from? They call us drunkards, that is not what we expect from a political commissar (Kasukuwere) but it is now clear that he is the one who is drunk. He sees everybody as drunk.

“Does he mean that we do not think and that his corrupt group that has caused so much suffering in the party and country is the only one that thinks?” the agitated Mahiya asked.

“Moyo, Kasukuwere and Zhuwao do not know anything about this country. Tovaisa pasi paana mujibha (we place them below the level of war collaborators). Their motive is to ensure that they will be at the helm after Mugabe.

“It is shocking that they do not want a member of their own party as a leader. Where is the integrity of the party going to come from?

“When I am speaking, I am speaking for the war veterans. Come on Kasukuwere, you don’t understand the organogram of a party in which you claim to be the commissar,” Mahiya added, further claiming that Mnangagwa had been chosen to succeed Mugabe in 1977 when he was elected special assistant to the nonagenarian.

“The problem is that the party has been joined by people who started at the top in the politburo and were never in the structures.

“Who will succeed Mugabe will be determined not by contemporary events, but by historical facts and Jonso (Moyo) and his friends cannot turn back the hands of time,” Mahiya said.

The disgruntled former freedom fighters, have also recently been ratcheting up their loud calls for Mugabe to retire now and pave the way for his long-time aide to take over the reins at both party and government levels.

They have also tried in vain to pressure Mugabe into sacking Kasukuwere and Moyo.

Since their fallout with Mugabe first burst out into the open in July last year, after they released a damning communiqué in which they savaged the Zanu PF leader before serving him with divorce papers, the ex-combatants have not missed an opportunity to attack Mugabe.

Their stunning fallout brought to an end a relationship that dates back to the days of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.

They have also claimed that Mugabe’s continued stay in power was now a stumbling block to the country’s development, adding rather contemptuously that the nonagenarian would be “a hard-sell” if he ever contemplated contesting the 2018 presidential poll.

Mugabe responded by warning the war veterans that they would be dealt with severely, including through the use of extra-judicial suppression methods that his former liberation movement incorporated during the country’s independence war — such as incarcerating dissenters in inhuman dungeons where they were forced to live like caged rats.

Immediately after this threat, police swooped on some of the ZNLWVA executive members who were arraigned before the courts, which eventually set them free. – Daily News

Grace Mugabe has been dragged into a tyre theft row after her Queen of Grace’s national secretary-general claimed his prosecution was aimed at tarnishing the first lady’s name.

President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, is the patron of Queen of Grace.

Ephraim Chizola, of St Martin’s in Harare, is standing trial for stealing three tyres.

The 34-year-old allegedly failed to return the tyres lent to him by a fellow Zanu PF political activist last August after he had a breakdown on his way to Harare.

Chizola, who is being tried by magistrate Yeukai Chigodora, has since had a warrant of arrest issued against him after skipping court on Wednesday.

He is denying the charges.

The Queen of Grace leader is being charged with theft as defined under section 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23.

It was the State’s case that sometime in August 2015, Chizola had three tyre punctures and asked Miriam Manhenga, a member of an unnamed political group, for assistance so that he could proceed with his journey to Harare.

He promised to return with the tyres but never did, leaving Manhenga with no option but to file theft charges against him.

However, Chizola is claiming that Manhenga is trying to tarnish his reputation and the image of Queen of Grace and the first lady, who is the face of it.

He claimed that the litigation has high political interest rather than the desire to recover her tyres, further claiming that Munhenga was being paid to drag his name through the mud.

Chizola said he had the breakdown at the first lady’s service, and the litigation was therefore a personal attack on her.

Munhenga, however, insisted that there was nothing political about the whole issue.

She told the court that when she approached Chizola to ask about her tyres, he assaulted her with the assistance of his wife.

Munhenga said the first lady should not be dragged into the issue because the tyres were handed directly to Chizola. – Daily News

In typical movies style, A AND A Logistics Bus Crew and passengers were robbed in Ngundu on their way from Beitbridge. The incident took place around 2am yesterday after four men, who were on the bus turned against the crew and fellow passengers. Three of the men had guns and they are said to have boarded the bus just like ordinary passengers before they assaulted, sprayed at and robbed bus crew and passengers of valuables.

The case was recorded at Masvingo central police station RRB number 2953597. Victims of the robbery narrated the spine chilling incident to H-metro yesterday. John Kudakwashe Svosve said: “I boarded the bus at the Beitbridge rank around 11pm and I think the bus left the rank around midnight for Harare. I was a standing passenger in the bus and some other passengers also came into the bus, they were four and they stood in front of me in the passage way. When they (the armed robbers) got into the bus, no
one suspected anything but as the bus left the rank, I think around 2am we had passed the Ngundu road block when one of the four said he had been called by people he was supposed to have gone with. And when the driver stopped the bus, three of the guys followed him.

“We thought the three were maybe going to relieve themselves then one of them fired shots aiming for the driver and it hit the windscreen, then they fired again. We had thought they were wearing woollen hats, it turned out that they were face masks and they started spraying us with some substances. Three of the guys had guns and of those only two came into the bus. Apart from the guns, they also had sjamboks and they ordered everyone to lie down as they demanded all valuables. People had to surrender cellphones and cash.

The robbers were however, assaulting everyone who was resisting,” said John who was trembling. He added, “I had to lie on the legs of people who were on nearby seats, I managed to save two of my smart phones, cash and my wallet after I hid them in the seat covers. I only remained with my simple phone which
is not a smart phone and only $2. They started moving in the bus with plastic bags, ordering everyone to put all the valuables into the plastic bag. Those who were resisting were being heavily assaulted and to show how dangerous they were, they dragged the conductor outside the bus where they started assaulting him. They stripped him naked and they came back into the bus and they continued to demand more. When they were done, they told the driver to start the bus saying if he was not to comply, they would deflate the tyres by
shooting at them that’s how we drove off. Unfortunately, we only saw a road block at the Chivi turn off and they told us to go to Masvingo police station and the cops managed to recover some cartridges,” said John.

John who looked traumatized said he was actually in physical contact with one of the robbers, “mumwe wacho ndatombenge ndagumahna naye,” When they were speaking they were using shona but with Ndebele accent, but then when they were leaving, they were now using Ndebele. When I saw them putting on their face masks I remembered the advice that we always get from the police that when there is an armed robber, you
should comply with all the demands so it was really traumatic. Pandatorerwa phone nyangu kambudzi ne$2 ndipo pavati mudhara unafamba nemari yakawanda, ndipo pavabva vandi sprayer mumaziso.

The substance which they sprayed on me is very irritating not only on the eye but even on the skin, as you can see, I still have the stains of spray. I’m still in shock because as you can see, I’m still trembling because they sprayed direct in my eyes. We thank God for life. When they told us to lie down, I lied down on pressing against one woman’s baby such that she told me to move. But I told her kuti ambuya ndikangosimudza musoro chete ndafa, hausimudzike musoro, asi ndanzwa tsitsi nemwana wandange ndakatsikirira, hapana zvandaiita. Pazoitawo amai vamwe vazokurumidza kufunga vazosimudza mwana uya uya mbichana mbichana,
inini ndichisimukirawo zvishoma.

Another victim, Tendai Karimazondo said: “When these men said they wanted to disembark, we thought they were relieving themselves but they dragged the conductor out and two started assaulting the conductor. The other two then sprayed the whole bus as
they also started assaulting people, I was so terrified that I gave them my bag which had a tablet phone. I really lost out because the phone was an order for my customer, it was valued R1000 and that customer has been calling me asking me about the phone”.
The driver of the bus said he was too traumatized to talk about his ordeal, as he only said “they aimed gun shots at me but I’m lucky to be alive. Ndini wavanga vachida kupfuura. The conductor of the bus Amin Madzi said he had been severely assaulted saying that he was lucky to be alive.

“Vandirova nechamboko, chavakaruka vega chewaya. Ndiri kurwadziwa asi ndotenda Mwari ndiri mupenyu,” he said.

Another woman said she almost jumped from the bus when the robbers had fired the two shots.
“They told me that if I was to jump off, they were going to kill me,” she said. Tsitsi Makumbinde said,” we boarded the same bus with these people in Beitbridge and we didn’t know that they were thieves, they were four. Just out of Beitbridge they instructed the driver to stop the bus, for some time I thought they was something wrong with the bus. Immediately, I saw those four men wearing masks they sprayed the whole bus
with an unknown substance and everyone started coughing uncontrollably. They had two plastic bags and they instructed everyone in the bus to hand over money as well as cell phones. I was left with mine because I hid it under the seat, but almost everyone surrendered their cellphones and money.

That is when they grabbed the conductor, stripped him off his clothes and assaulted him, it was so bad that we thought he was going to die. He sustained some injuries but he has not yet visited the hospital. The other men who were seated on the
back seat were also assaulted. Lastly, they enquired from the driver if he did not sustain any injuries and he told them he was alright that’s when they told him to drive us to Harare and they got off the bus,” she said.

Tsitsi added,” We reported the matter in Masvingo at Chivi turn off, they wrote a report for us and because we did not have any money we did not pay anything at any road block or toll gate. At the police station, we reported that a certain lady was spotted calling the four men advising them that the bus was about to take off at Beitbridge. The police said they will carry investigations. They (robbers) did not take any of our luggage they only took money and cell phones,” added Tsitsi. – State Media

• Prison expert says Mawarire in death scare

Horrifying video flashes of the death of Learnmore Jongwe were replayed this morning, after it was revealed that Pastor Evan Mawarire has been tormented with the same treatment, the late former MDC Spokesman received which led to his untimely death while in prison in 2002.

Evan Mawarire was last night pushed into the Chikurubi Maximum prison D Section, where he spent the night with convicted murderers. Learnmore Jongwe was murdered by a prisoner in disguise in a staged fake suicide act in 2002.

As ZimEye.com interviews Chikurubi Maximum Prison experts this morning, ThisFlag lawyer Fadzayi Mahere gave the below update [stay put for the LIVE video interviews]:

“Pastor Evan Mawarire has been classified as a “D” Class remand prisoner and is being detained at Chikurubi Prison where convicted murderers are held instead of the normal remand holding centre.

This is not about Pastor E as an individual but it’s a battle for the soul of Zimbabwe. Are we a constitutional democracy – where free speech, free assembly, free conscience and political rights are respected – or not?

Do we speak out; do we choose apathy?

National carrier, Air Zimbabwe (AirZim) has dragged a local safari operator, Zimbabwe International Travel and Tours, to the High Court demanding over $17 885, which the firm allegedly failed to remit after selling tickets on behalf of the airline.

The national airline issued the summons sometime in December last year after efforts to have the cash paid failed to yield results.

In its declaration, AirZim said sometime in October last year, Zimbabwe International Travel and Tour, its agent, acknowledged, in terms of a deed of settlement, its indebtedness to the airline to the tune of $17 885, 62.

The cash was an outstanding amount in respect of manual ticket sales, which the firm had failed to remit.

“It was a term of annexure A that the defendant (Zimbabwe International Travel and Tours) would liquidate the sum of $17 885,62 through successive monthly instalments of $5 000 on the 30th of every month commencing on October 30, 2016 until the debt is fully discharged,” AirZim said.

“It was further a term of annexure A that if defendant fails to comply with any of its obligations under annexure A the outstanding amount would become immediately due and payable and the plaintiff would be entitled to institute legal proceedings against the defendant without notice to it for the recovery of the outstanding amount.”

AirZim also argues that its agreement with agents states that safari operators are responsible for costs incurred by the airline in enforcing the agreement.

“The defendant is, therefore, liable to plaintiff in the sum of $17 885, 62 and interest thereon at the rate of 5% per annum calculated from November 1, 2016 to date of payment in full,” AirZim said. In response to the claim, the safari firm disputed the amount owing, saying it had reduced the debt by $4 500.

The firm said part of the money was transferred into the airline’s lawyers trust account and the other part was paid directly to the airline.

The matter is still at the pre-trial stage. – State Media

MDC leader, Welshman Ncube has warned opposition parties against pressing the self-destruct button by throwing unnecessary conditions around the issue of a proposed coalition ahead of general elections next year.

The warning comes following pronouncements by MDC-T vice-president, Thokozani Khupe declaring that the country’s biggest opposition party, by parliamentary representation, does not need partners particularly in the Matabeleland region.

But MDC spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said the 2008 elections “taught” opposition parties not to be reckless lest they “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”

“Those responsible for prevailing on others to walk away from the 2008 coalition agreement need be careful that they are not seen today to be working against the clear public sentiment that we must all do everything in our power to give the people of this country a fighting chance to remove the ruinous Zanu PF regime from power in 2018,” he said in a statement.

Chihwayi said the proposed coalition should be constructed in such a way that it provides a winning platform for its presidential candidate.

“We would have thought that some basic common sense dictates that winning parliamentary seats in whatever parts of the country and in whatever quantities is wholly irrelevant, to the primary question of garnering the requisite number of votes for the presidential candidate, which is what is required to cause a change of government,” he said.

In 2008 MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe, but failed to reach the required 50% plus one vote, only for the Zanu PF leader to force through a violent and blood-y run-off from which the opposition pulled out at the 11th hour.

Tsvangirai was tripped by Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader, Simba Makoni’s 8%.

Khupe on Thursday literally threw the cat among the pigeons after questioning the rationale of the proposed coalition stretching to areas in which the MDC-T already commands majorities.

“It is clear our gap is in Mashonaland East, West and Central, where we have consistently not done very well. So, when looking for a coalition partner, you must look for a partner, who is going to be able to cover
that gap,” she said, in comments critics say are aimed at ring-fencing the region she views as her political castle.

Khupe’s political star is waning following Tsvangirai’s decision to appoint two more deputies last year, a move seen as a vote of no confidence in the former deputy Prime Minister.

Tsvangirai has just concluded a 10-day consultative visit to Matabeleland and announced he had received overwhelming support for a coalition, especially with former Vice-President and Zimbabwe People First leader Joice Mujuru. There are reports of internal ructions over the proposed alliance within the MDC-T. – Newsday

A PROMINENT Bulawayo businessman survived a terrifying ordeal when three armed robbers raided his home in Hillside suburb and tied his hands and legs before getting away with $1 000 and property worth $1 400 .

Mr Rahmn Bhai Patel, the owner of DG Patel Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market at the corner of Robert Mugabe Way and 4th Avenue, lost the money and property to the gang that hit him on the head twice with the butt of a pistol.

The suspects covered his bleeding head with a sheet, tied his hands and legs with belts before they fled with the loot.

The incident happened on January 15 at about 10.30AM.

One of the assailants, Raphael Ngwenya (25) of Entumbane suburb, has since been arrested but his two accomplices Bhekani Ndlovu and Shakes Ndlovu are still on the run.

Ngwenya appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza yesterday and was not asked to plead to an armed robbery charge.

He was remanded in custody to Monday.

The State, represented by Mr Tinashe Dzipe, alleged that Bhekani and Shakes went inside the house while Ngwenya stood guard in their getaway car — a Toyota Quantum with South African registration numbers.

“Ngwenya drove the car to Hillside suburb and parked it at corner Pembroke and Weir Roads. Shakes was the one carrying the gun. He and Bhekani proceeded to the complainant’s house. They jumped over a pre-cast wall,” said Mr Dzipe.

“They gained entry into the house through a kitchen door that wasn’t locked. Complainant was watching television in the lounge. Shakes approached him and struck him twice on the head with the pistol butt.”

He said the duo force marched Mr Patel into all the bedrooms demanding cash.

“Complainant gave them $1 000 cash he had in the house. He also gave them a Seiko wrist watch, Apple I-pad, Samsung S5 and Samsung Note 1 all valued at $1 400. Ngwenya sold two of the stolen phones to a computer technician in the city centre on January 21,” Mr Dzipe said.

He said Ngwenya was raided by police at his home in Entumbane suburb at 4AM on January 27.- State Media

Air Force of Zimbabwe Group Captain Raymond Stanford Mharapara, who died at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on Tuesday, was yesterday buried at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare.

A funeral parade was held at National Defence College.Speaking during the funeral parade, Air Vice Marshal Michael Tedzani Moyo, the commandant of National Defence College, expressed sorrow for the loss of Group Captain Mharapara and commended him for his good leadership.

“Allow me on behalf of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and in particular, the Air force of Zimbabwe and the National Defence College to express my deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences on the sad loss of our beloved and illustrious senior officer,” said Air Vice Marshal Moyo.

“It was indeed with the utmost shock that we all learnt of this untimely loss, such that we are still struggling to comprehend why such a vibrant, principled, loyal and experienced senior officer could be taken away at this critical period when his invaluable contributions were still required.”

Family spokesperson Mr Godfrey Andrew Manyere paid tribute to Group Captain Mharapara, describing him as a committed and responsible man and that his untimely death was a great loss to the whole family.

Group Captain Mharapara died after fighting severe bleeding while undergoing a minor bile duct operation at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

In recognition of his outstanding performance, he was promoted to the rank of Air Lieutenant on August 7, 1983, Flight Lieutenant on June 28, 1985 , Squadron Leader on August 25, 1989, Wing Commander on May 28, 1991 and Group Captain on June 6, 2012.
Group Captain Mharapara is survived by his wife Constance and five children. – State Media

PROPORTIONATE Representative MP Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (MDC) on Thursday asked Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda to rule if a journalist from our sister paper The Herald was not in contempt of Parliament after a report on her bringing flowers into the House.

The outspoken legislator gave Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa the flowers during debate in the Chamber on Tuesday, which she said should be delivered to a female official in his ministry.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga also gave Minister Chinamasa a T-shirt inscribed with his Shumba totem for him to wear.

Both presents were meant to show her appreciation of the ministry’s decision to remove duty on sanitary wear in the 2017 National Budget that Minister Chinamasa presented last year.

“The positive that I found in this budget was obviously the issue around sanitary wear,” said Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga during her contribution. “I just want to thank the Honourable Minister, after all these years begging him to do something about sanitary wear, we see that he actually did something about it.”

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga commended Minister Chinamasa for introducing her to a lady in his Ministry, a Mrs Mhini, to discuss about the removal of duty on sanitary wear.

“So, I have a present for Ms Mhini, which I am going to ask the Honourable Minister to take to her, just to thank her and say, that is what we expect from all women,” she said.

“Mr Speaker Sir, I want to thank the Honourable Minister for accepting to do this. In a typical and traditional way of thanking our males and men, we normally use the totem. I have this T-shirt for him (Minister Chinamasa), it is called Mazvita and printed Shumba, thank you so much.”

Her contribution, which lasted almost 20 minutes, touched on various issues about Minister Chinamasa’s ministry and other legislators who spoke after her also gave complimentary remarks to him.

In her complaint to Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga took exception on why three legislators were quoted verbatim by The Herald when her contribution was paraphrased.

She also disputed that she had commended Minister Chinamasa on the work he is doing on the economy.

Adv Mudenda said he would want to study her complaint before making a ruling next week.

This was not the first time Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga brought aids into the House to create visual and interactive experience for fellow legislators.

In July 2015, she caused drama when she brought underwear and waved the used panties, before charging at Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena (Zanu-PF) whom she accused of undermining her on the floor.

She was ejected from the House for charging at Wadyajena, who had pulled her jacket and passed a comment.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga was protesting against the importation and sale of second-hand women’s undergarments, which she said exposed women to diseases.

In another stunt in December 2015, Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga brought an infant into the House when it was in session.

She sought to make her point while asking Parliament to appreciate the need to put mechanisms in place to cater for nursing mothers.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga also once brought samples of sanitary wear into the House to illustrate a point on the need to remove duty on them. – State Media

TWO people, one of them a teacher, are feared dead while nine others narrowly escaped death when a truck they were travelling in was swept away by a flooded river in Lupane District.

The incident happened at the Bubi River Bridge at about 6PM on Thursday .

The bridge is on a gravel road linking Daluka Ward 19 to St Luke’s area in Kusile Rural District.

The driver of the truck, a seven-tonner, which was coming from delivering food aid, allegedly missed the bridge and hit side pillars before the truck fell into the river.

The teacher, who could not be named immediately, was reportedly stationed at Zwangendaba Secondary – a few hundred metres from the scene of the accident.

The other victim is believed to be a local villager.

By last night, the two people were still missing but the nine other passengers and crew were all accounted for.

The truck was dumped by the water about 60 metres downstream.

The truck’s crew comprising of three people including the driver, were coming from delivering drought relief food in Daluka in the same district when they offered eight local people a lift.

The Chronicle visited the area yesterday and Bubi River was still flooded with villagers and school children failing to cross.

Villagers from either side of the river embarked on a search in the river while waiting for divers from the police Sub-Aqua Unit who arrived late in the afternoon.

Some villagers reportedly assisted a heavily pregnant woman cross the river to St Luke’s Hospital where she was due for delivery.

Acting District Administrator for Lupane, Mr Zachariah Jusa, who is also chairman of the local Civil Protection Unit, confirmed the incident.

“The accident occurred at around 6PM when the truck, which is part of those that carry drought relief food in the district, was returning to base. I was at the bridge in the morning when the truck crossed as I was doing routine checks to assess the situation. Unfortunately when they returned in the evening, I think the water level had risen as the bridge was submerged,” he said.

Mr Jusa said the driver missed the bridge after hitting a hump.

“I think the driver could have gauged that his truck would cross but hit a hump which caused the truck to swerve. That’s when he missed the bridge and the truck fell into the water throwing out the eight people who were in the back and the three crew members in front,” he said.

“I think it’s prudent that people don’t spread falsehoods as what has been circulating on social media that the bridge was swept away isn’t true.”

Yesterday, the river was still flooded and villagers said it was worse than the previous night.

Bubi-Lupane Dam downstream near Lupane Centre was also said to be full, contributing to the flooding in the area.

One of the survivors who was in the truck, Mr Bongani Moyo, said he was still in shock.

“It was so sudden. All was well as the driver tried to drive through but lost control when he hit a hump and that’s when we heard the truck hitting some pillars,” he said.

Matabeleland North Provincial Education Director Mrs Boithatelo Mnguni confirmed that a teacher was among those involved in the accident.

“The teacher taught at Zwangendaba High School in Lupane. I can’t give more details because the CPU and the police are dealing with the matter,” said Mrs Mnguni.

CPU acting director Mrs Sibusisiwe Ndlovu also confirmed the incident, saying they informed the police sub-aqua unit in Bulawayo after receiving the report.

“We received a report from Matabeleland North Province and we communicated with the sub-aqua unit in Bulawayo to attend to the incident,” said Mrs Ndlovu.

She warned people against attempting to cross flooded rivers.

A number of people have been rescued after being marooned in Matabeleland South and the Midlands provinces. – State Media

Matebeleland South has raised only $3 300 but pledges are said to be trickling in for this year’s 21st February Movement Celebrations to be hosted by the province.

The celebrations to mark President Mugabe’s birthday will be held at Rhodes Estate Preparatory School (Reps) at Matopo Research Station.

Yesterday committees tasked to spearhead the preparations for the event met in Gwanda and received the pledges. Ten cattle, 600 litres of fuel and 300 bags of 50 kilogrammes of mealie-meal were pledged and cash amounting to $3 300 was paid.

Addressing the committees, the Minister of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage, Abednigo Ncube, urged members to work as a team so that the event becomes a success.

“The national executive chose Matabeleland South to host the celebrations so we should work as a team so that the day becomes a success. Business people from Matabeleland should donate in cash and kind for this noble cause. The date for the celebrations has not been set but our deadline for all pledges should be 15 February. All the pledges should be fulfilled before this date,” said Ncube.

Last week, Zanu-PF National Secretary for Youth Affairs,  Kudzanai Chipanga, said this year’s venue was in line with the youth league’s theme of promoting domestic tourism which they adopted two years ago. – State Media

A KOMBI driver has attacked two cops manning a roadblock along the Mutare-Chimanimani Highway alleging that they stole his $21.

The kombi driver who had his shirt torn in the ensuing fracas was being handled by two of the cops. He accused the cops of stealing his money and insisted that he was going nowhere without getting back the cash.

His claims were confirmed by some of the people at the scene who said they saw the cops stealing from him.

However, on the other hand, the police officers, who had now arrested the kombi driver and were handling him by the belt, rubbished the theft claims.

Instead they accused him of resisting arrest as well as assaulting them. The commotion continued for close to an hour, making the busy highway impassible.

The kombi driver was subsequently taken to Mutare Central Police Sta­tion where he spent the weekend in holding cells.

On Monday, Benjamin Chigwedere (30) was hauled before the courts on allegations of resisting arrest and assaulting the two cops.

He denied both counts when he appeared before Mr Poterai Gwezhira. Allegations were that he assaulted Constable Everson Mark Marozva (32) and Sergeant Penelock Man­jonhi after having been stopped at the roadblock.

Public Prosecutor, Mr Fletcher Karombe said constable Marozva who was in the company of Consta­bles Mapforere, Mujera and Sergeants Mangundu and Manjonhi were man­ning a police roadblock at Fashu when they stopped Chigwedere who was driving a commuter omnibus.

“With the intention of arresting the driver for carrying excess passen­gers, Marozva stopped the commuter omnibus which Chigwedere was driv­ing. The suspect however, shouted at the police officer using vulgar words saying the police were used to taking people’s hard earned money for free.

“Marozva tried to arrest the sus­pect for his conduct but he resisted and went on to assault the officer and tore off his police uniform,” said Mr Karombe.

It is further alleged that Chig­wedere grabbed the handcuffs from Manjonhi and started hitting him on the mouth several times and on the chest with the handcuffs.

Marozva and Manjonhi sustained injuries and were taken to Mutare Provincial Hospital where they got treatment. Chigwedere was remanded out of custody and the matter goes for trial on February 14. – State Media

MDC vice president, Thokozani Khupe, has joined the loudening chorus by opposition and civil society groups who are calling for a boycott of President Robert Mugabe’s 93rd birthday celebrations in Matobo.

The bash, organised by the 21st February Movement, will be hosted by Matabeleland South Province at the Rhodes Estate Preparatory School (Reps) in Matobo, where the Gukurahundi massacres took place between 1983 and 1987 when the national army’s Fifth Brigade unit crushed dissent by so-called “dissidents” — disgruntled former guerrillas and supporters of the late Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu — killing thousands.

Khupe’s sentiments are on the back of the Matobo Business Community this week calling on opposition parties and civil society groups to institute measures to block Zanu PF from holding the celebrations in the area.

“I have never seen such insensitivity because you can’t go and provoke people who are still bearing wounds and scars. What kind of disrespect is that?” Khupe queried.

“Instead of Mugabe apologising because of what happened during Gukurahundi where over 20 000 civilians were massacred, you (Mugabe) have the audacity of celebrating your birthday while other people are still buried in shafts like Bhalagwe,” she said.

Speaking at Nkomo’s memorial service on July 2, 2000, Mugabe admitted that “thousands” had been killed during the campaign, calling it an “moment of madness”.
Khupe called for a total boycott of the event.

“Those who are calling for a boycott are justified because honestly we cannot try and sanitise something which cannot be sanitised. People must not attend this unholy event. They must just stay away from this madness,” she said.

The former deputy premier accused some Zanu PF hardliners of misleading the nonagenarian leader, a development she said has contributed to many challenges the country has been battling for decades now.

“Some of the people in Zanu PF must advise Mugabe properly because it is not the right choice. Honestly, thousands of dead people have not been given a proper burial, for me it is just unheard of. It’s a sign of serious disrespect to that particular community. It’s a sign of being insensitive to issues at hand.”

Zanu PF youth secretary, Kudzai Chipanga, has declared that the ruling party would not be dictated to by the opposition.

“The issue around Gukurahundi was dealt with by our elders … Mugabe and the late…Nkomo. Matabeleland South is a Zanu PF stronghold with the party having won all seats in the province, Matobo included, where we have two Zanu PF legislators. As a party, we will not be driven by the opposition but our members,” Chipanga told State media.

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe documented at least 3 750 killings and speculated that the actual number could be double that, or higher, since its coverage was limited to the Tsholotsho districts of Matabeleland North and the Matobo districts of Matabeleland South.

Locals put the figure at between 20 000 and 30 000. In a unanimously adopted resolution in 2005, the International Association of Genocide Scholars estimated the death toll at 20 000. – Daily News

Ray Nkosi | Zimbabwe People First President Joice Mujuru this morning brought Bulawayo business to a standstill, after she volunteered to leave the comfort of a guarded convoy of cars and walk in the streets of Bulawayo unguarded “to introduce herself to the ordinary people” in the city.

ZimEye.com can exclusively reveal that hundreds of excited people left their vending bays, offices and taxis to throng the streets doing some toyi – toyi march and singing IsiNdebele traditional revolutionary songs as they followed the former Vice President, mix and mingle with the people on the streets.

From the City Centre, Mujuru asked to be taken into Nkulumane High Density Suburb where she further walked around Sekusile Shopping Centre and made courtesy calls into a few houses in the township where she sought to speak to the people in the streets asking for their opinion on how they would want to see the country’s ills addressed.

Residents who spoke to ZimEye.com in the streets where Mujuru went through hailed the former ZANU PF stalwart for her humility and ability to open up and speak to ordinary people on the ground.

The residents who managed to get close to her praised her for openly asking the people to forgive her for the time she was associated with ZANU PF and asked to be accommodated into the fight for a new democratic Zimbabwe.

“I was almost in tears when I spoke to her and she said to me she apologises for being associated with the party that has brought our sufferings and wants to join us and work on new solutions for the country with all of us,” said Mr Thamu Sibanda a vendor at Egodini Terminus.

“Guaranteed she now has my vote,” said Sibanda.

Mujuru remains in the City overnight where she is expected to meet with the Bulawayo Province Executive Committee to sort out some factional fights affecting her party in the province. She is also expected to visit Binga in Matabeleland North over the weekend.

A Zimbabwean pro-democracy campaigner has warned that social movement activist and cleric Evan Mawarire may become victim of the country’s “subverted” legal system when he is expected to appear in court today (3 February).

Pastor Evan Mawarire, the face of Zimbabwe’s #ThisFlag protest campaign, who was detained at Harare airport on 1 February as he returned to the country after six months in exile, was detained at Harare Central Police Station. He was then handed fresh charges of “insulting” the Zimbabwean national flag, inciting public violence and subverting a constitutionally-elected government.

The priest is expected to appear in court this afternoon, as he reaches the expiry of the 48-hour police custody period limit.

IBTimes UK spoke to human rights and democracy activist Linda Masarira, who says she has herself been repeatedly dragged through courts over trumped up charges, ahead of Mawarire’s court appearance. Speaking outside the Harare Magistrates Court, Masarira, said supporters have been told there was no time set for the priest’s appearance in court. “Authorities said prisons were not bringing people to court today because they have no fuel,” she said.

“How did we get to a stage where a government organisation – prisons – is not sure to take prisoners to court? That is an infringement of prisoners’ rights, of their freedom of liberty. You are innocent until proven guilty,” Masarira said in an exclusive interview.

Under Zimbabwean law, the court is supposed to give the detainee bail, but the activist said she was “scared” magistrates would “find a reason not to give him bail”, suggesting court may deny the clergyman bail because of fears over his influence.

“I actually pray that they give him bail, but I know that even if they do, it will be so exorbitant. Remember, in June, when they gave bail for $1,000? In a country where there is no jobs, where is one supposed to get $1,000 from?”

The activist, who many describe as President Robert Mugabe’s nemesis, was released in late September after she was incarcerated on 6 July over her participation in anti-government demonstrations that rocked the African nation.

Masarira was arrested again in October last year alongside four other activists including Dzamara Patson, whose brother Itai, a journalist turned activist, has been missing since his abduction on 9 March 2015.

“The problem that we have had for a very long time in Zimbabwe is the absolute absence of the rule of law. We have Zanu-PF [Mugabe’s ruling party] in our courts and magistrates being told what to do. They can not make their own decisions.”

Zanu-PF party, which has been in power since the country gained independence from the UK in 1980, is accused of having repeatedly repressed political opponents and allegedly carrying out mass atrocities against civilians to consolidate power.

In this environment, “no one really knows what the outcome [for Mawarire] will be but the Zanu-PF is harassing and abusing the Pastor and trying to suppress his freedom,” Masarira said.

“I foresee them incarcerating him, because why would they come up with the charges of subverting a constitutional government, which carries a sentence of 20 years? They are just trying to frustrate people and quell [protests that they see as] a problem in Zimbabwe.

She added: “When [the people] find that someone who has been trying to protest – a protest leader to be precise – has been charged for 20 years, naturally people will go back to their homes and stop protesting for fear of being arrested. That’s what happened to me.”

Police officers, who charged the clergyman yesterday, claim Mawarire circulated several videos on social media encouraging Zimbabweans “to stage violent demonstrations to subvert the constitutional government of Zimbabwe and resultantly from August 2016 to January 2017 there have been violent demonstrations in the country where several property was destroyed.” – BT News

Evan Mawarire, who is being charged with subverting a constitutionally-elected Government or alternatively inciting to commit public violence, was today remanded in custody to February 17 after his application challenging his placement on remand was dismissed.

Harare provincial magistrate Mr Elisha Singano advised Mawarire to apply for bail at the High Court. – State Media

A mum-of-four who was found dead in a car outside a Lidl supermarket had died from head injuries, a post mortem has revealed.

Gillian Zvomuya was discovered outside the Kitts Green branch of Lidl in Mackadown Lane at around 4.45am on Monday.

Police initially said the victim died as a result of stab injuries, but a post portem examination has revealed that she died from head injuries. However, police confirmed that Mrs Zvomuya also suffered injuries from a “bladed article” in the attack.

Tributes have been paid to Gillian, who has not been officially named by police as the victim.

Posting a tribute on Facebook, one of her friends said: “I am still in shock. I can’t believe u are gone. Why, why, what about the kids?

“May you (sic) soul rest in peace my friend. God has taken one of his angel. What a way to die.”

Another friend posted on Facebook: “RIP Gillian…gone so soon …so shocked and hurt.”

Police initially said the victim was attacked with a “bladed weapon” and pronounced dead at the scene.

“Tragically the woman was pronounced dead at the scene and the man was arrested on suspicion of her murder.

“While her identity is yet to be confirmed, at this stage we believe her to be the arrested man’s wife.”

Detectives also examined the couple’s home and spoke to neighbours and obtained CCTV footage. – Birmingaham Mail

Villagers in Ward 19 in Lupane are still searching for two people that went missing after the 8-tonne truck they were travelling in was swept away as it crossed a flooded river.

The incident occurred around 5pm this Thursday (yesterday).

According to some of the people that were in the truck, the driver missed the bridge and the truck hit pillars before it over turned.

The 10 passengers that were at the back of the truck then jumped off and some were rescued, with injuries and taken to St. Lukes Hospital for treatment.

There are fears that the two missing people could have been killed by crocodiles and children have stopped going to school until the water levels drop.

Members of the police sub-aqua unit and the civil protection unit are still to attend to the incident.

Meanwhile, villagers this morning assisted a pregnant woman in labour to cross the flooded Bubi River to St. Lukes Hospital for delivery. – State Media

A top UK envoy began a two-day visit in Zimbabwe on Monday to gauge its progress in its re-engagement with the international community and assess the human rights situation, a rare visit by a top UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) leader in a decade.

Karen Pierce, UK FCO chief operating officer, is expected to press Zimbabwe to adhere to its international commitments under the Lima Plan.

Zimbabwe’s Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa last year proposed an arrears repayment plan at the IMF/WB annual meetings in Lima in Peru where consensus was reached with creditors on a repayment strategy which entailed the clearance of the country’s $1,8 billion arrears.

Britain, Germany, France, US and others are part of the Paris Club — a forum where Zimbabwe’s debt to the international financial institutions (IFIs) is discussed and agreementis reached on how to manage that ballooning debt.

While in Zimbabwe, Karen, the most senior FCO visitor to Zimbabwe for several years, will meet with influential Zimbabwean women and representatives of the business community, as well as a call on the deputy Foreign minister Edgar Mbwembwe and members of the opposition. During her visit, Pierce — who has previously served as ambassador in Afghanistan, ambassador to the UN in Geneva and deputy permanent representative to the UN in New York – will gain more insight into the operations of the British Mission in Zimbabwe.

“We are excited to be hosting one of the FCO’s most senior officials and to share with her some of our successes as the Britain Mission in Zimbabwe,” UK Ambassador to Zimbabwe Catriona Laing said yesterday.

“She will also have a chance to meet with the business community, learn about the British Mission’s impact on Zimbabwe’s development and meet government and opposition figures. “Karen’s visit is particularly important because the UK, driven by our manifesto commitment to stand up for human rights and the rule of law, wants to see Zimbabwe return to a more normal relationship with the international community.”

Presently, multilateral financial institutions are barred by law from extending loans to Zimbabwe because of outstanding debts. Clearance of the arrears is anticipated to pave way for lines of new capital.

Zimbabwe — saddled with an external debt of over $7 billion — has just settled the IMF’s $124 million in arrears accrued since 2000, but still owes another $600 000 to the AfDB while an additional $1 billion is characterised as WB debt.

To honour these arrears, Zimbabwe is borrowing from the Afrexim Bank in Egypt while it clear the IMF arrears by drawing rights of about $130 million from the Breton Woods institution.

Relations between the UK and Zimbabwe have moved to a new level in the past two years as London seeks to revive relations with a key ally in southern Africa, but the socialist nation’s zero-tolerance approach to its detractors remains a sticking point.

The UK has been intensifying efforts in building stronger ties with Zimbabwe in reducing poverty, helping in health, education, environment, energy and recently has been giving cash transfers to help the most vulnerable, including older people, vulnerable children and people with disabilities — to boost its influence.

Through the Department for International Development (DFID), the UK has also made an additional £40 million contribution resulting in a total contribution of £55,6 million ($73,3 million) to Zimbabwe’s drought mitigation.

Diplomatic ties between the UK and Zimbabwe soured during the turn of the century over charges that President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu PF party had rigged elections and used violence to cling to power.

Mugabe, Africa’s oldest leader who has held power since independence in 1980, insists London treats Zimbabwe as its colony and seeks to maintain influence in the mineral-rich country. British conglomerates have also divested from Zimbabwe during the 2000-2008 period at the height of an economic crisis, put off by Britain’s frosty ties with its former colony after Mugabe’s often-violent grab of commercial farms belonging to white farmers. – Daily News

The new Zanu PF constitutional arrangements allow President Robert Mugabe to fire his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa at any time. Mnangagwa’s future in Zanu PF hangs in the balance, as his boss starts a cabinet reshuffling process.

The local weekly paper The Independent reports that Mugabe, who effectively started work on Wednesday this week when he chaired a cabinet meeting, is mulling a reshuffle that might see Mnangagwa losing control of the Ministry of Justice and several ministers shunted around or removed. 

Senior government officials told the Independent this week that several ministers could be affected by the reshuffle, which is expected to take place in the first quarter of the year. The reshuffle would be informed by the state of the economy, performance by ministers, factional realignments and succession considerations, among other issues.

Officials said Mugabe was eager to realign the balance of forces within Zanu PF and government so that he reasserts control in the wake of the ever-intensifying succession battles, which are causing conflict and fragmentation ahead of next year’s elections.

Officials say he is also worried about the state of the economy ahead of general elections next year. Poor performance by several cabinet ministers is also said to be of grave concern to Mugabe.

“The biggest casualty might be Mnangagwa, who is likely to lose control of the justice ministry although he will retain the vice-presidency. He will also continue overseeing the ministries under his purview,” a senior government official said. “Former Justice deputy minister Fortune Chasi is being considered as a candidate to take over the ministry.”
Chasi was fired from government in December 2014 for supporting former vice-president Joice Mujuru’s ambitions to succeed Mugabe.

He was a subject of vitriolic attacks by First Lady Grace Mugabe during her “meet-the-people” rallies which set the stage for Mujuru’s ouster and unprecedented purges of her
supporters.

Chais has however made peace with the First Lady and attended some of her rallies.

Government officials said while there are many factors which spurred Mugabe to contemplate removing Mnangagwa from the Justice ministry, the trigger is the fallout over Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku’s succession.

Mugabe is reportedly not happy Mnangagwa clandestinely put Chidyausiku on early retirement and appointed Judge President George Chiweshe – his ally and favourite candidate – as acting chief justice without his knowledge.

Mnangagwa also fuelled the crisis yesterday when he challenged the shortlist, which includes Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba, Justice Rita Makarau and Justice Paddington Garwe, given to Mugabe by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to appoint Chidyausiku’s successor from.

Grace and her faction want Makarau as the next chief justice.

Chiweshe was appointed acting CJ notwithstanding the fact that Section 181(1) of the constitution states “if the office of Chief Justice is vacant or if the office holder is unable to perform the functions of the office, the Deputy Chief Justice acts in his or her place, but if both offices are unable to perform their functions, the next most senior judge of the Constitutional Court acts as Chief Justice”.

Chidyausiku, seen by some as a stumbling block to Mnangagwa’s succession ambitions, left under intense pressure and slipped away for about two months until he met Mugabe by chance at a funeral and bounced back.

Mugabe asked Chidyausiku about his work, but was shocked to learn that he was no longer at work purportedly in line with a directive from the executive. Mugabe then ordered Chidyausiku to report back for work. If he stripped of the Justice ministry, Mnangagwa will remain in charge of the tourism, mining, agriculture, public service, higher education, sports and small and medium enterprises ministries.

Sources said ministers likely to be moved from their current portfolios include Mines minister Walter Chidhakwa, Energy minister Samuel Undenge, Indeginisation minister Patrick Zhuwao, Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, Tourism minister Walter Muzembi and Information minister Christopher Mushohwe.

Mugabe is also reportedly not happy with the lacklustre performance of War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube, Psychomotor minister Josiah Hungwe and Rural Development minister Abednico Ncube. Dube has presided war veterans’ revolt against Mugabe’s leadership.

The sources said Moyo could be moved the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund saga under investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the need to take him back to resuscitate the dysfunctional Information ministry ahead of elections.

Mushohwe is being criticised internally largely because of complaints that under his tenure the public media has been captured and become factional. There have been complains about this in cabinet.

Although he is related to the president, Chidhakwa is said to be under fire because of the fiasco surrounding the consolidation of diamond mining companies. The plunge in mining revenues, especially from diamonds, since Chidhakwa took over the ministry is a major cause for concern to his boss.

At their peak diamond mining companies contributed about US$50 million a month to Treasury, but the new Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company is now contributing a paltry sum of less than US$100 000 a month. Officials also said there was a likelihood former mines minister Obert Mpofu could make a return to the ministry, although his tenure was marred by allegations of corruption and looting.

“Undenge could be moved because of the scandals at Zesa where he was fingered in a series of dodgy deals, while Mzembi could be on the way out as there is a feeling he is looking for a way to jump ship,” one official said.

Mzembi is campaigning to become the United Nations World Tourism Organisation secretary-general.

Mugabe is also reportedly unhappy with how his nephew Zhuwao has been handling indigenisation issues.

Although there was talk last year that Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa could be replaced by former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono, government officials said Mugabe was content with him as he spears the Lima re-engagement plan.

Other ministers who are likely to continue in their current positions include Transport minister Joram Gumbo, Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo, Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Information Communication Technology minister Supa Mandiwanzira and Sports minister Makhosini Hlongwane. Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi is also likely to remain in his position, they said.

If the reshuffle goes ahead, it will be the third time since he controversially won elections in 2013. In 2014, he reshuffled cabinet after axing Mujuru and several ministers over unproven allegations of plotting his ouster and assassination.

In his last reshuffle in September 2015, Mugabe, under pressure from the Mnangagwa faction, moved Moyo from the Information ministry to Higher Education. The Mnangagwa accused Moyo of abusing the media to attack and denigrate the vice-president.

Government officials said Mugabe wanted to reshuffle cabinet last year, but stopped after being advised that frequent changes would give an impression that he was at sea over what to do.

“The need to improve government ahead of the elections and the desire to reassert control and manage the succession dynamics ahead of the elections will however force him into a reshuffle this time around,” another official said. – Independent

A former friend of the Archbishop of Canterbury who left Britain amidst child abuse claims was later charged with killing a teenage boy in Zimbabwe.

Hampshire Police yesterday launched an investigation into claims that John Smyth QC, described by the Most Rev Justin Welby as a “charming and delightful” man, forced young men to endure savage sado-masochistic beatings after grooming them at Christian holiday camps in the late Seventies.

Channel 4 News will tonight report that Mr Smyth, who left Britain after the abuse claims emerged, went on to face charges of killing a 16-year-old boy who was found dead in a swimming pool at a Zimbabwean holiday camp.

The barrister was also accused of swimming naked with Zimbabwean teenagers, showering with them in the nude, and encouraging them to talk about masturbation.

One alleged victim told the broadcaster that Mr Smyth administered savage beatings with wooden bats, in a chilling echo of the allegations made against him in Britain.

Mr Smyth, 75, was the head of the Christian charity the Iwerne Trust in the late Seventies, when he ran holiday camps for boys from elite public schools that were also attended by the Archbishop.

On Tuesday Archbishop Welby issued an “unreserved and unequivocal” apology after it emerged that the barrister and part-time judge had not been forwarded to police after the British abuse claims were reported to the Christian charity in 1982.

Mr Smyth moved to Zimbabwe in 1984, where he founded Zambesi Ministries, which recruited boys from that nation’s leading schools to take part in holidays similar to the Iwerne camps.

In 1997 he was arrested over claims that he had killed Guide Nyachuru, a 16-year-old boy whose body was discovered at the bottom of the camp’s swimming pool in December 1992. The case of culpable homicide was subsequently dismissed.

He also faced charges of injuring the dignity of five other boys who said they had been subjected to savage beatings.

Court documents from the time state: “The particular allegations are that [Mr Smyth] made the complainants walk naked to the swimming pool at night; that he took showers with them in the nude; that he talked to them about masturbation and told them to be proud of their ‘dicks’; as Jesus Christ had one; and that he assaulted them on their ‘rear bare buttocks’ with a table tennis bat.”

The case against Mr Smyth collapsed in 1998, after he successfully persuaded Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court that prosecutors had overstated the claims and failed to follow proper procedures.

A lawyer involved in the case told The Telegraph he had been “shocked” after the barrister privately admitted showering with the boys, and said he had warned Mr Smyth to stop.

Channel 4 News has tracked down boys who attended the camps, who insist that the allegations are true.

Rocky Leanders, one teenage camper, said Mr Smyth had encouraged boys to talk about masturbation and told them to “just feel free to embrace your body and love your body”.

He told the broadcaster the barrister told the boys to swim naked, adding: “John took part in the activity. He certainly went in the pool. He was at various places throughout still naked, watching that we all went out and all came back in.”

Later the boys claimed they were subjected to beatings with a table tennis bat and a jokari, another type of wooden racquet. Mr Leanders said he recalled one boy being beaten so hard that the table tennis bat broke. He said: “I remember I could barely sit down because my bum cheek was so sore.”

Mr Nyachuru’s sister, Edith, said that had Church authorities reported Mr Smyth to the police in Britain in 1982, “my brother wouldn’t meet the fate he met”.

Approached by Cathy Newman, the Channel 4 newsreader, Mr Smyth said Mr Nyachuru’s death was “a very unfortunate drowning incident”.

He said he had not left Britain because of abuse claims, but because “God called us to Zimbabwe”.

The Archbishop yesterday pledged to co-operate fully with a police investigation into his former friend.

In an interview yesterday, he repeated his “unreserved and unequivocal” apology to the alleged victims. He insisted he had “never heard anything at all” about the abuse claims, and had never encountered beatings in his religious life.

It has emerged that two friends of the Archbishop have known of the abuse claims since they first came to light, although a spokesman said neither informed him of the allegations.

A 1982 report into the claims, commissioned by the Iwerne Trust, was carried out by Mark Ruston, the vicar of the Round Church in Cambridge, with whom the Archbishop lodged during the late Seventies, in his final year at university.

The Archbishop has said his friendship with the Reverend Ruston was “extraordinary privilege” and he was “inspired” by him.

A second friend of the Archbishop, the Reverend David Fletcher, was the trustee of the Iwerne Trust who led the investigation into the incidents.

Rev Fletcher opted not to pass the claims to police. He said: “My top priority was that John Smyth should be stopped and second that the men he beat were cared for.”

A spokesman for the Archbishop said he “has not seen the Rev David Fletcher more than once or twice casually since the late 1980s”.

Watch Channel 4 News investigation ‘An Ungodly Crime?’ on Friday at 7pm. – UK Telegraph

Ray Nkosi | The ZANU PF national youth leadership has attacked the Matabeleland South provincial organising committee of the 21st February Movement, for falling under public pressure, by moving the venue of President Robert Mugabe’s 93rd birthday celebrations from its original site at Matopo National Park to Rhodes Estate Primary School.

Very reliable sources within the provincial organising committee told ZimEye.com in confidence that the national youth committee led by Kudzai Chipanga blasted the provincial organisers, describing them as being spineless at a briefing before the national committee met with the provincial committee to check on the progress in the preparations for the $2 million bash.

The sources claim that Chipanga and his colleagues in the youth National Executive Committee said that it was a serious weakness on the side of the local team to bow to pressure groups who were castigating ZANU PF for holding the bash at the park where thousands of people killed during the Gukurahundi atrocities of the eighties effected by ZANU PF lie buried in shallow graves and disused mine shafts.

The upset sources who are in the provincial organising committee claim that the mood in the organising team is very tense as there are clear factional fights within the team. The people who are said to have fronted the shift of the venue are said to be linked to the Emerson Munangagwa camp and pushed for the change of venue at the summit of the preparations to first exhibit a rare weakness within ZANU PF and secondly to distract the preparations and spoil the function.

The sources also claim that Chipanga and his crew further blasted the committee for moving the venue from the perceived Gukurahundi site to a colonialism depicting site inside Cecil John Rhode’s Estate.

At the progress review meeting Chipanga is further said to have told the local organising committee which had complained of shortage of funds to “go out to every business person in the province and get money from them.”

The provincial committee is said to have promised to visit fiery Minister of Provincial Affairs for the province Abednico Ncube to get a letter signed by him demanding for donations from the business people. According to the sources a hurried fund raising dinner will also be held in Gwanda within the next few days where business people will be forced to buy expensive dinner tables to raise funds.

The sources further revealed that so far local ZANU PF farmers recently resettled in the province have been pushed to contribute a total of 66 head of cattle of a budgeted 100 which will all be slaughtered at the birthday bash set for February 25.

Terrence Mawawa, Chivhu | Prominent Traditional leader, Chief Mutekedza has been threatened by state security agents for inviting Zim PF members to a meeting he chaired.

Chief Mtekedza also invited Zim PF supporters to his Zunde Ramambo project.

The move did not augur well with members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) who warned him to desist from associating with Mujuru’s party. Zanu PF is panicking after it emerged traditional leaders are deserting the ruling party to work with Mujuru’s party.

Despite factional battles rocking Zim PF the party has gained ground in many rural constituencies. Sources told ZimEye.com Zanu PF Provincial Chair for Mash East,Bernard Makokove assigned CIO operatives to investigate Chief Mtekedza. Chikomba Central MP Felix Mhona also warned the Chief to distance himself from Zim PF programmes. A defiant Chief Mtekedza said he would continue to work with all villagers in his area regardless of their political affiliation.

“I am a traditional leader and I have to work with all people despite their political differences.I cannot stop the villagers from participating in the Zunde Ramambo Project,” said Chief Mtekedza.

He added:”I am very bitter and I want Mhona to apologise to me.I am not of afraid of some individuals who are threatening me.I will not stop people from doing voluntary work because of political affiliation.” Traditional leaders have played a leading role in campaigning for Zanu PF and Mugabe.

Econet Wireless says its extraordinary general meeting to consider a proposed $130 million capital raise will go ahead as planned on Friday, setting itself on a collision course with the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange which directed the company to postpone it until ‘certain technical issues’ are clarified.

The rights issue has generated some controversy largely due to its requirement that shareholders pay abroad to subscribe, a move that analysts say would disadvantage pension funds and other minorities who might not be able to follow their rights.

Econet says it needs to raise the cash offshore to pay off its external debt, which it has increasingly struggled to amortise due to Zimbabwe’s foreign currency crisis.

ZSE chair Caroline Sandura said in a statement issued late on Wednesday the bourse asked Econet to defer its vote on the transaction.
But Econet countered with its own statement in which it said it had, along with the central bank, put up a facility to allow local shareholders to participate in the rights offer.

It said a rights offer account has been opened with Econet’s wholly-owned subsidiary Steward Bank, where local shareholders would deposit the proceeds of the rights offer in accordance with the timetable published in the company’s circular dated 17 January 2017.
The underwriter, Econet Global, will pay the equivalent of the amount contributed by the resident shareholder to the international receiving bank, Afreximbank.

“Those resident shareholders who follow their rights by paying into the designated local account shall be deemed as having discharged their obligations as set out in the Rights Offer Circular and shall be entitled to the issue and allotment of their Rights Offer shares,” said Econet.

“In the circumstances, members are advised that the extraordinary general meeting shall proceed as published in the circular,” it added, saying members should disregard “any notice to the contrary not coming from the company.”

ZSE’s Sandura is yet to respond to the latest move by Econet. – Sources

Terrence Mawawa, Chivhu |The local community has been stunned after a man raped a 25-year-old woman and crushed her head. The man Lovemore Mudavanhu (48) of Kanono Village raped the woman at a bus stop near Sadza Growth Point on Tuesday.

Mashonaland East Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Tendai Mwanza, confirmed the incident. The police suspect Mudavanhu is mentally challenged. A security guard at a local shop heard some noise and went to find out what was happening. He was shocked to find the naked Mudavanhu crushing the hapless woman’s head with a stone.

“The man was found sitting on top of his victim holding a stone in his hands.He raped the woman and killed her.We suspect the man is mentally challenged. He never attempted to run away after killing the woman,”said Mwanza.

He said people should closely monitor their mentally challenged relatives. “We are investigating the matter but I wish to urge people with mentally challenged relatives to monitor them closely.We are yet to come up with comprehensive details,”said Mwanza.

Stephen Kanono ,the security guard said:”I heard some noise and I went to check what was happening.I found the man sitting on top of the woman holding a stone in his hand.There was clear evidence he raped the lady before killing her.I then alerted other villagers.The man did not attempt to run away .We tried to take the woman to hospital but it was too late.”

Norbert Chikerema, aged 42, who has been charged with the murder of his wife Gillian Zvomuya (Nyasha Kahari) was hurled before the courts on Thursday and has since been ordered to re-appear on Monday.

Chikerema of Overdale Road, Quinton appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’s Court Thursday morning charged with the murder of Zvomuya, who post-mortem reports indicate died of head injuries.

Chikerema was remanded in custody and will appear again at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.

The family of a woman found dead in a Lidl supermarket car park have paid tribute to the “caring and hard-working” mum-of-four.

The body of Nyasha Kahari, from Sheldon, was found in car outside Lidl in Kitts Green at around 4.45am on Monday.

The 35-year-old, who is also known by friends as Gillian, died as a result of head injuries.

Officers had been searching for a couple after they were reported missing from their home in Quinton by friends at 2am.

In a statement, her family said: “Gillian was a decent, loving mother of four children, two boys and two girls. She was a caring and hardworking woman who always strived to keep her family happy.

“She will be missed by her family and all those who knew her. We hope that for her sake justice will prevail and closure can be brought to this unprecedented chapter.”

A Go Fund Me page has now been set up to raise £10,000 for Gillian’s children.

“Rest easy now Gillian, your children are in our hands now.”

Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/gillians-children.

A post on the website reads: “Please support her kids to continue to live and spread the same spirit she lived by. After the storm is the rainbow, the sun will shine again. – Birmingham Mail

SPEAKER of Parliament Jacob Mudenda’s son, Donald McKenzie, was last week issued with summons for civil imprisonment after a local property owner, Mark Lorenco, stepped up efforts to execute judgment to recover rent arrears amounting to over $22 000.

Lorenco, who is cited as the plaintiff in case number 7544/14, is represented by a local law firm, Mapendere and Associates, and the matter has been set down for hearing in the Motion Court on February 15 this year.

Part of the summons reads: “If you (Mudenda) fail to pay the sum specified above ($22 444,73), you must appear before the Magistrate Court at Harare … to explain why you have not paid it and to show cause why an order of your imprisonment should not be made on account of your failure to pay.”

Court papers show that, Mudenda was sometime in 2015 ordered by Harare Civil Court resident magistrate, Brighton Pabwe, to pay the money together with an order evicting him from Lorenco’s business property at Number 37 McLaughlin Road, Kensington in Harare.

Lorenco had approached the court seeking an order compelling the Speaker’s son to pay rent arrears, as well as electricity and telephone bills. The property mogul also wanted the court to force Mudenda to vacate his property, which he rented for a company called Dynamic Success (Pvt) Ltd.

His lawyer, Elias Mapembere, confirmed he had sought the court’s intervention, accusing Mudenda of being evasive.

“We have since applied for civil imprisonment against Mudenda. The predicament we are facing right now is that he cannot be found. We, at one point, sent the messenger of court to attach property at a house in Bulawayo, but it later turned out the said property was a family house,” Mapendere said.

According to the court papers, sometime in March 2013, Mudenda and his company entered into a lease agreement with Lorenco for a property in Kensington, Harare.

The Speaker’s son later accrued rental arrears amounting to $10 900, for which, in spite of proper demand, he allegedly refused, neglected or failed to pay. – Newsday

Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) has suspended five executives for allegedly siphoning millions of dollars at the height of the mega salaries scandal under former group chief executive officer, Dr Cuthbert Dube.

The five are head of communications and stakeholder relations Ms Mavis Gumbo, head of marketing Mrs Anna Mtengwa Mangwiro, Mr Richard Mutasa (head of risk and audit), company secretary Mr Cosmas Mukwesha and head of managed care, Dr Nicholas Munyonga.

They are expected to appear before a disciplinary hearing in the next 14 days to answer to charges of swindling the medical aid society.

The five were exposed by an audit instituted to look into the salaries scandal at PSMAS after the expulsion of Dr Dube, who was reportedly taking home more than $500 000 per month in salaries and allowances.

The society has already instituted legal proceedings against other executives who have left.

They are Dr Dube, former finance director Mr Ernest Gwinyai, former operations director Mr Enock Chitekedza, Mr Raphel Paradzai and Mrs Juliana Sabarauta.

They were all implicated in the audit report for defrauding the society through, among others scams, not paying tax, masked transactions, board fees and allowances for non-PSMAS business.

PSMAS board chairman Mr Jeremiah Bvirindi confirmed the latest suspension of the five executives yesterday.
He said the board recommended that management implements the findings and recommendations of the audit report.

“We have now completed studying the report and we resolved that we pursue the criminal cases in terms of the PSMAS code of conduct. This resulted in senior managers being suspended pending their appearing before a disciplinary hearing,” said Mr Bvirindi.

“We are not saying they are guilty. They are still innocent until they are proven guilty before the disciplinary hearing.”

The five executives were served with suspension letters on Wednesday and are expected to appear before a disciplinary hearing within 14 days.

Asked why it had taken the board so long to implement the audit report, Mr Bvirindi said they were still new and needed to put structures and policies in place.

The new board also needed to study the audit report, consult financial and legal experts and implement measures accordingly, he said. – State Media

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) will today release November 2016 Ordinary Level results.