– I was not part of the system (when I was Minister & VP)

– During Gukurahundi I was an innocent party…Mugabe was responsible

– (On diamond looting) I was nowhere near Chiadzwa activities…

– On looting Chiadzwa diamonds to Spain, “I have never been to Spain…”

– On declaring private assets publicly, I am prepared to declare my accounts any minute.

 The factional fights in the ruling Zanu PF get more nasty, with Prof. Jonathan Moyo in the letter below exposes some of the shenanigans that have been taking place behind the scenes, by the Emmerson Mnangagwa led faction to among many moves, bar him from attending Politburo meetings.

PRESS STATEMENT

My attention has been drawn to a media statement by successionist elements in the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), first reported by ZBC News on Saturday evening, 30 January, 2016 and subsequently carried by NewsDay and the Daily News on Monday 1 February, 2016.

The Statement declares support for scurrilous and unprecedented political attacks on Cabinet Ministers, including myself, who are also Politburo members by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services, George Charamba. In particular, the statement threatens to physically bar me from attending the next Politburo meeting and purports to bar me from accessing the 16th Floor of ZANU PF Head Quarters, which 16th floor does not exist except only in their ignorant minds.

Apparently, the said statement was issued after a provincial meeting of ZNLVVVA held on Saturday, 30 January, 2016 at Dzivarasekwa Presidential Barracks which was chaired by John Guta and officiated by ZNLWVA National Chairman, Chris Mutsvangwa and its Secretary General Victor Matemadanda.

It is extraordinary and indeed scary that the Dzivarasekwa Presidential Guard Barracks was used as a venue for a meeting whose purpose was to plot and threaten physical harm against a Cabinet Minister and Politburo member appointed to both offices by His Excellency, the President. This was a gross and unacceptable abuse of a State facility. The fact that this unprecedented abuse of a State Barracks was officiated by Chris Mutsvangwa – a Cabinet Minister and Politburo member – not only raises eyebrows about (what) else was plotted but also clearly demonstrates the extent to which Chris Mutsvangwa has gone rogue in pursuit of not just a factionalist agenda but also a desperate successionist plot.

It should be remembered that ahead of the 2015 ZANU PF’s National People’s Conference, the same Chris Mutsvangwa availed his Ministerial office to a shadowy youth group from which it made violent statements barring Cdes Saviour Kasukuwere, Patrick Zhuwao and myself from setting foot at the National Heroes Acre. Abusing a Government Ministerial office for that outrageous purpose was bad enough but abusing Dzivarasekwa Presidential Guard Barracks in pursuit of a successionist plot is just going way too far.

For the record, I wish to state that it is false and insulting to His Excellency, the President, to claim that he sent George Charamba to savage his Cabinet Ministers and Politburo Members on public radio with all of primitive insults such as “uneducated fools”; “little men” among other unprintable epithets. Cabinet Ministers and Politburo members are not civil servants but are Presidential appointees with whom His Excellency the President has direct communication as their boss.

In the same vein and for the avoidance of doubt, I reiterate that only a blithering idiot will say or believe that I am working with Joice Mujuru‘s People First project which exists only in the media.

Finally, nobody should make the mistake of thinking for a moment that they can block me from attending a Politburo meeting called and chaired by President Mugabe. That can never happen. Only the President can stop anyone from attending any meeting he convenes or chairs. For anyone else to seek to do that under any pretext whatsoever will be tantamount to usurping the President’s prerogative and authority, something which is not different from a successionist attempt at a coup.

Hon. Prof. Jonathan N Moyo MP
Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development
1 February, 2016

Terrence Mawawa, Mwenezi |The ruling Zanu PF party has launched its campaign for the Mwenezi East by-election in a violent manner it has emerged. Sources in Mwenezi revealed to ZimEye.com that Zanu PF held several meetings at the weekend and villagers were intimidated ahead of the by-election.

The by-election will be held to replace the late Zanu PF MP for the area,Joshua Moyo who died in December. “Zanu PF is intimidating villagers here.Party officials addressed a meeting in ward 13 at the weekend.They said people will be assaulted if they do not vote for the ruling party.

They also instructed village heads to submit names of all members of opposition parties.They forced business people to close their shops at the weekend.The terror campaign has already started here.

Fear has gripped the Mwenezi Community,”said a local villager. Zanu PF Provincial Political Commissar Jeppey Jaboon confirmed the ruling party had launched the campaign for the Mwenezi East by-election and denied there were cases of intimidation in the area. “I was in Mwenezi on Sunday for a meeting and we are finalising matters. We are not looking back.We will win the seat at all costs and let me tell you that Zanu PF is not afraid of Bhasikiti who wants to contest on a Zim PF ticket,”said Jaboon.

Zanu PF’s Beauty Chabaya won the Bikita West by-election following a violent campaign and intimidation of villagers. Opposition parties say the Zanu PF wins elections through rigging ,violence and intimidation of perceived opponents.

SHOCKING details of a plot to nail Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Jonathan Moyo over the alleged abuse of funds from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF) emerged this week as the dog-eat-dog factional fights in the ruling party spilled to its youth wing, the Financial Gazette can exclusively report.

The Zanu-PF Politburo member was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in November last year for alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of more than US$400 000 of ZIMDEF funds.

Moyo, along with his deputy, Godfrey Gandawa, are facing several allegations, among them, abusing ZIMDEF money to acquire bicycles for traditional leaders in Tsholotsho North, a constituency under Moyo, and influencing the Fund to release 100 000 litres of fuel worth US$118 500, which was said to have been diverted to the black market.

Both ministry officials denied the charges, arguing that they never used the money for personal gain, but for charity and to fund Zanu-PF activities.

Moyo confirmed last year to have donated, through ZAIMDEF, 100 000 litres of fuel coupons towards the one-million-man march, staged by the party’s Youth League in May, in solidarity with President Robert Mugabe, who was facing protests at the time from former liberation war fighters, disenchanted with his rule.

Following his arrest last year the Higher Education Minister could not be arraigned before the magistrates court after he successfully approached the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) seeking relief on the basis that ZACC had no powers to arrest and detain him.

In its ruling the ConCourt suspended his arrest until a determination of his application challenging the consttutionality of the arrest. The court is still to make a ruling on the application

The Financial Gazette can reveal that the Zanu-PF Youth League is currently divided right through the middle over ZACC’s investigations.

A faction campaigning for Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed President Mugabe now stands accused of sinking to desperate depths to nail Moyo who, lately, has not been hiding his disapproval of Mnangagwa ascending to the top office in the event that the current holder retires.

In an unsigned letter to the ruling party’s secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo, members of the Zanu-PF Youth League, who signed off as “worried youths”, alleged that the party’s head of the secretariat, Dickson Dzora, was putting pressure to bear on them to “mislead” ZACC investigators into believing that the fuel coupons never reached their office at the party’s headquarters in Harare.

They specifically alleged that Dzora had been attempting to push his agenda through Blessing Mupaya, the league’s national director.

Dzora, who denied the accusations this week, is also being accused of promoting factionalism by coercing party youths to align themselves with the Team Lacoste faction to secure their jobs because its kingpin was most likely to succeed President Mugabe.

Team Lacoste and Generation 40 (G40) are the two camps in Zanu-PF. The former is campaigning for Mnangagwa to succeed the incumbent while the latter favours the status quo.

The “worried youths”, said Dzora was working closely with Goodson Nguni, a known Mnangagwa ally who works as the commissioner in charge of investigations at ZACC.

“Comrade secretary (Chombo), I (sic) bring to your attention serious interference by Mr Dzora and abuse of office to promote factionalism. Mr Dzora is working with Mr Nguni to promote factionalism. They are using Vice President Mnangagwa’s name and they are pressuring us as the Youth League secretariat to say we did not get any funding from ZIMDEF and Professor Moyo to support our programmes,” reads part of the letter, copied to the party’s national political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere; secretary for youth affairs, Kudzai Chipanga; secretary for security, Sydney Sekeramayi; Moyo and Gandawa.

The letter also accuses Dzora of being an ally of former vice president, Joice Mujuru, who was expelled from Zanu-PF on allegations of attempting to topple President Mugabe from power, unconstitutionally.

“Mr Dzora is offering us money and paying us to lie that Tongai Kasukuwere and Chipanga are covering up for Professor (Moyo), but the truth is that we got assistance from ZIMDEF…He is also saying we will get good jobs once VP Mnangagwa takes over from President Mugabe. As such, we are now divided since some are co-operating with Mr Dzora and Nguni in their plot to destroy Professor Moyo and Dr Gandawa accusing them as sponsors of President’s programmes and G40,” further reads the letter.

But a section of the Youth League believes the wing’s leadership was attempting to mislead ZACC and protect some of their colleagues who might have abused the fuel coupons sourced from ZIMDEF.

This group is arguing that while Moyo and Gandawa confirmed donating 100 000 litres of fuel coupons during the million man march organised by party youths in support of President Mugabe in May last year, there was no record at their offices showing that the donation reached its intended destination.

The furore has since claimed the scalp of Mupaya, who allegedly lost his job after informing ZACC investigators that he penned the letter to Chombo on behalf of the youths under duress.

Mupaya’s “confession” was said to have angered Chipanga; secretary for finance Tongai Kasukuwere; secretary for commissariat, Innocent Hamandishe; and secretary for administration, Xavier Kazizi, who then allegedly instigated his dismissal.

Mupaya confirmed to the Financial Gazette that he had indeed lost his job, but refused to shed more light.

“Please sir, I do not want to talk about that issue, thank you,” he said before terminating the phone call.

Kasukuwere, Hamandishe and Kazizi all declined to comment, referring questions to Chipanga.

“I do not want to comment on that matter. Talk to Chombo or (Dickson) Dzora who are in charge of party employees,” Chipanga said over the phone from his farm in Headlands.Efforts to get a comment from Chombo were futile.

Although Chombo has been ducking appointment requests from the Financial Gazette for the past two weeks and ignoring calls and messages to his mobile phone, sources close to him confided that he had received the letter, but decided to ignore it.

Dzora, who is said by sources to have strongly defended Mupaya, sought to downplay the issue, charging: “There are no such problems here. Where did you get that?”

Kasukuwere, Moyo and Gandawa confirmed receiving the letter from the “worried youths” yesterday while Sekeramayi, who is the secretary for defence in the Politburo promised to give his response after the Cabinet meeting. He was yet to do so by the time of going to print.

“It was delivered to my office secretary who signed for it. I only advised that it should be filed. I could not do anything about it since it was not addressed to me,” said Kasukuwere.

In an emailed response, Moyo said: “Yes I got a copy of the letter early last month and passed it on to my lawyers for their attention.”

In a telephone call Gandawa said: “I saw the letter and filed it.”

The Financial Gazette understands that things came to a head during the wing’s January 19 meeting to prepare for the 21st February Movement celebrations to mark President Mugabe’s 93rd birthday to be held in Matabeleland South’s Matobo district.

During the closed door meeting one of the youth delegates is said to have demanded transparency and accountability regarding donations that would be made towards the celebrations while citing the alleged case in which 100 000 litres of fuel donated by ZIMDEF for the million man march could not be accounted for.

Chombo, who had been invited to preside over the meeting, had to cool down tempers after youths started exchanging harsh words.

ZACC spokesperson, Phyllis Chikundura, refused to disclose details of the investigation, evasively saying: “ZACC is not doing anything about the alleged report. I hope this helps you in the article you are writing.”

She ignored further probing by the Financial Gazette.

Ray Nkosi | #ThisFlag Pastor Evan Mawarire was yesterday arrested at the Harare international airport as he touched down in Zimbabwe.

Pastor Mawarire was charged late last night with subverting a constitutional government in contravention of Section 22 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

His lawyer Harrison Nkomo is reported to have seen him this morning, at Harare Central Police Station, where he is detained. Below is a full legal brief by Lawyers for Human Rights;

HRDs Alert
02 February 2017

PASTOR MAWARIRE CHARGED WITH SUBVERTING CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

Ray Nkosi | Matabeleland South Minister for Presidential Affairs, Abednico Ncube, has instructed authorities at Gwanda Provincial Hospital, that his office will provide them with names of people they should enrol as trainee nurses for the May and September intakes.

Very reliable sources within the hospital administration told ZimEye.com, that the hospital has been instructed to only recruit a quarter of the prospective trainees of which the balance will be provided by the Minister’s office.

The sources indicated that the Minister’s office is also currently receiving applications mainly from the ZANU PF run National Youth Service graduates with priority being given to graduates who are currently in the Police and Prison Services.

According to the sources some applications are being submitted at the ZANU PF offices and only those with recommendations from their ZANU PF cell leaders are being accepted.

The hospital sources told ZimEye.com that the hospital authorities are tied to the Minister’s directive and will be forced to oblige.

Staff Reporter | Gokwe magistrate is on the verge of collapse from massive erosion that has wiped away the road adjacent to the government building.

The road which leads to Nemangwe and Chitekete growth point from Gokwe centre has been closed a result of the gorge that has been developing since 2001.

The gorge is now moving slowly towards the Gokwe magistrate court with the local authority doing nothing to address the impending disaster.

By Staff Reporter | Armed riot police on Wednesday stormed 4th street bus terminus and destroyed “illegal” marketing malls while beating up vendors in the process.

ZimEye.com caught up with armed police and Harare city council police in their trucks heading to 4th street for the operation.

Eye witnesses said the police indiscriminately destroyed the malls without giving prior warning to the informal traders.

“They were not even negotiating with anyone when they arrived. They destroyed all the malls and the stuff which was inside, “said one eye witness.
“Had they warned us in advance we could have removed our wares which they did not allow us to take out of the malls which they destroyed,” another vendor said.

Amnesty International has castigated President Robert Mugabe’s government for arresting Pastor Evan Mawarire of #ThisFlag, who was arrested Wednesday in Harare when he returned home after a six-month stay in the United States.

Mawarire, using the national flag, teamed up last year with Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign and staged crippling public protests against the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe.

THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) has softened its stance on the minimum conditions that were to be met by other opposition in order to consummate a coalition to confront President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party at the polls in 2018.

Under pressure from its members to coalesce with other opposition movements ahead of make-or-break elections next year, Zimbabwe’s largest opposition party this week said it will no longer discriminate against any political party in discussions to form a coalition as had been suggested last year.

Last year, Morgan Tsvangirai’s party set what it termed minimum conditions that were to form the basis of negotiations for the coalition.

As part of the conditions, the party had ruled out working with smaller opposition parties.

Given the rivalry between Tsvangirai and leaders of parties that emerged from his movement, the preconditions had been seen as meant to push away Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube from the negotiating table.

Ncube’s MDC party splintered from Tsvangirai’s formation in 2005, while Biti exited the labour-backed party in 2008 to form the People’s Democratic Party.

According to the MDC-T national executive and national council, a coalition was to be based on internationally accepted and tested principles. These included a condition that the coalition partners were to field one presidential candidate and one parliamentary and one local government candidate per contested seat.

The presidential candidate was to be selected on the basis of the best individual who could win an election for the coalition against the incumbent; the party, which, based on past performance and/or other factors, was the strongest electorally in a given constituency was to field the candidate for the coalition; parties were to agree on the institutional framework (structure) for the management of the coalition and were to have common ground and agree on key policy issues before the election.

But Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka told the Financial Gazette this week that they were not going to leave out other parties in the discussions.

“We are not going to be exclusionary in working with political parties as long as they meet the requirements set by the national council. The conditions for the coalition did not mention names of any political party which we said we do not want to work with. Our goal is that come 2018 it must be (President) Mugabe versus the nation of Zimbabwe,” he explained.

Political analyst, Rejoice Ngwenya, said the move was welcome as it affords all the political parties a chance to unite against Zanu-PF.

“While I feel that the country has almost 40 opposition parties, some of which need to be treated with skepticism, the development if effected will give opposition parties leverage to speak with one voice on a collective scale. This will be more advantageous because if the political parties are to resolve that they will not participate in elections because of lack of electoral reforms, no smaller political party will legitimise the election. This is so because no one can dispute an election in which an opposition party and a ruling party participates in,” said Ngwenya.

Media practitioner, Admore Marambanyika, said the MDC-T had realised that most of the opposition political parties do not meet the conditions that had been set earlier since no political party had managed to defeat Zanu-PF.

“…the only political parties and independent candidates who have made it against Zanu-PF did so after being backed by the MDC-T. The implications are that Tsvangirai commands opposition politics and softening of conditions is meant to mop up all voters who participate in elections for different reasons,” said Marambanyika.

In the 2002 presidential elections, Tsvangirai polled 42 percent of the vote losing to President Mugabe who polled 56 percent. The remainder was shared by other opposition parties.

The next round of presidential elections held in 2008 saw Tsvangirai scooping 47,9 percent, while President Mugabe took 43,2 percent, forcing a run-off because the former trade unionist’s win was not enough for him to land the presidency.

Other opposition leaders who participated in the election such as Simba Makoni garnered 8,3 percent while Langton Tawungana polled 0,6 percent.

Tsvangirai then went on to pull out of the run-off citing violence against his supporters, leaving President Mugabe to romp to victory in a one-man race.

The last round of elections held in 2013 saw President Mugabe winning after getting 61,09 percent of the ballot while Tsvangirai got 33,94 percent.

Ncube managed a paltry 2,68 percent while Dumiso Dabengwa polled 0,74 and Kisinoti Mukwazhe got 0,29 percent.

That opposition political party leaders attained a combined overall percentage poll of 56,8 percent of the vote in 2008 compared to President Mugabe’s 43,2 percent, demonstrates the power they can amass if they pull together in the same direction.

Legal expert and ZimRights chairperson, Passmore Nyakureba, said if the MDC-T was to go into a coalition with reputable political forces, the opposition would dislodge President Mugabe and Zanu-PF from power.

“In the previous elections Zanu-PF has been taking advantage of a divided vote as exemplified in 2008. Going into the elections jointly will maximise the opposition’s chances to claim victory,” he said.

South African-based Zimbabwean researcher, Lovemore Fuyane, said there was need to find ways to tap into the Diaspora vote if the opposition was to stand a chance with Zanu-PF.

“The 2013 elections saw around 3,5 million voters turning out with just 2,1million of those voting for President Mugabe. Now if the Zimbabwean Diaspora numbers of three million, as per some conservative estimates, are taken into account that would place them at a number potentially equivalent to the combined total obtained by Zanu-PF and the MDC-T,” he said.

He said that the Diaspora vote would have a significant say in how the proverbial rolling dice lands in Zimbabwe.

Political analyst and academic, Ibbo Mandaza, said it was imperative for the MDC-T to focus on more crucial issues that have stifled victory against President Mugabe in the past years.

“Focus must rather be directed at pushing for meaningful reforms. For instance, there is need to separate Zanu-PF from the State and also to dismantle the country’s securocrats, who are responsible for instigating political violence during election periods. These securocrats are also interfering with the running of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission hence forming a coalition might not help if these barriers are not dealt with,” he said. – Fingaz

ZANU-PF yesterday dismissed protests by opposition parties against the holding of the 21st February Movement celebrations in Matobo as cheap politicking to gain mileage through revisionism of the emotive issue of post-independence disturbances.

This year’s 21st February Movement celebrations will be hosted by Matabeleland South province and held at the Rhodes Estate Preparatory School (Reps) in Matobo.

The MDC-T, MDC and other opposition parties were quoted in the private media saying the ruling party was insensitive by hosting the celebrations in Matobo which they claim will reignite memories of the disturbances in the area.

However, Zanu-PF secretary for Youth Kudzai Chipanga hit back at the opposition saying that the ruling party would not be dictated to by the opposition.

“The issue around Gukurahundi was dealt with by our elders President Mugabe and the late Vice President, Dr Joshua Nkomo. The people who want to talk about the issue must have a very short memory to forget that,” said Chipanga.

He said it was ridiculous that the opposition wanted to arrogate itself a representative role for the people who rejected them in the 2013 elections.

“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,” said Chipanga.

“If our members are happy about the venue, then we will stick to the venue so that issue is final. We will be going on with our preparations, let the opposition oppose, it’s their role yet ours is to govern having derived our mandate from the people including those from Matobo who voted for Zanu-PF in the 2013 polls.”

Zanu-PF Matobo North legislator Never Khanye, in whose constituency the celebrations will be held, weighed in saying the party would forge ahead with preparations for the event.

“We are going to ignore them, we will not be dictated to by the opposition because all they do is opposing just for the sake of it. We won’t be swayed by detractors,” said Khanye.

“They were against irrigation at Antelope but look how much it has become a success and a key pillar in the implementation of the Zim- Asset government programme. The celebrations will bring business to the local community. The opposition are anti-development.”

Last year, Masvingo province hosted the celebrations which were held at the Great Zimbabwe monuments. – State Media

SOCIAL activist and cleric, Evan Mawarire, of #ThisFlag movement, made a surprise return to Zimbabwe late yesterday afternoon, and was immediately arrested by State security agents as he landed at Harare International Airport.

Sources revealed that Mawarire – who left the country six months ago – did not even go through immigration formalities, but was approached by three man, who immediately arrested him.

His lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, revealed earlier that Mawarire was being held at the airport.

“It’s true, he arrived at the airport and was immediately arrested. I have not been able to see him though and I am still trying,” he said at the time.

A grainy picture obtained by NewsDay later showed Mawarire being driven into town at the back of a police vehicle.
Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, also confirmed the cleric was being held by State security agents.

“I can confirm that he has been arrested. There are no fresh charges, he has an outstanding warrant of arrest,” she said.

It was not immediately clear when the said warrant was issued and which magistrate or judge had issued it.

Later, Nkomo told NewsDay that Mawarire had been moved to Harare Central Police Station’s Law and Order Section charged with subversion.

“Mawarire is being charged with subverting a constitutionally-elected government. He is likely to appear in court tomorrow (today),” he said.

Mawarire, Nkomo said, was travelling alone and it was not clear why he returned to Zimbabwe, as many had long assumed he was living in exile.

Mawarire formed social movement, #ThisFlag, after releasing an emotional video calling on Zimbabwe to stand up against President Robert Mugabe’s regime and demanding change.

He led demonstrations against corruption by Mugabe’s government.

Mawarire was first charged with subverting a constitutionally-elected government last July, but a Harare magistrate threw out the charge on a technicality, sparking mass celebrations after a tense vigil at the courts by ordinary people.

#ThisFlag used its Twitter account yesterday to announce Mawarire’s arrest: “Sadly PastorEvanLive has been detained at Harare International Airport after arriving back from SA this afternoon.”

South African media early yesterday reported that Mawarire had nervously announced: “I am going home.

“I only get a few hours a night at the moment. I stay up thinking about what is going to happen to me when I arrive,” he told Daily Maverick on Tuesday.

“At some point, one has to stop wishing they were home, and actually pack their bags and go home.”

Mawarire reportedly spoke using an “encrypted phone”, while still in the US, before flying into South Africa this week indicating he had always wanted to return home.

“Zimbabwe is home for me and my family. That’s the place where we have a right to be without acquiring a visa, we are citizens of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“The President of Zimbabwe made comments to the effect that I was not welcome in Zimbabwe, but he doesn’t get to make that decision for me. I have not committed a crime, I’m not a fugitive, I’m a citizen, and an upstanding citizen for that matter.”

Mawarire said he was aware of the dangers looming ahead as he flew into the country.

“You can never be 100% safe. But I think the amount of work that’s been done over the last couple of months, the different recognition from different platforms and the galvanising of many Zimbabweans that has taken place, for me is a very important constituency for safety,” he said.

In a short video clip with lawyer, Fadzai Mahere, a calm Mawarire – in handcuffs – said he was hopeful he would prevail.

“This is what has happened. Hello everyone, we thank God that I am well. Unfortunately, I have been arrested again,” he said.

“I hope we will get through this. This is home and I have committed no crime and I am allowed to come back home.” – Newsday

NORTON legislator, Temba Mliswa (independent) yesterday exposed Zanu PF’s partisan food distribution, telling Parliament that during his tenure as the ruling party’s provincial chairman, he had received orders that government-sourced food aid was only meant to benefit ruling party supporters.

Mliswa spilled the beans after Public Service deputy minister Tapiwa Matangaidze had denied allegations of partisan food distribution.

“When I was chairman of Zanu PF (Mashonaland Central), we used to be ordered to distribute food to our party members only. Is the deputy minister now telling us that the system has changed?” he asked.

“The moment I became an independent MP, I was no longer called to collect food to distribute to vulnerable people, and how does the minister then claim there is no partisan distribution of food?”

But, Matangaidze insisted opposition activists had also benefited, accusing Mliswa of having a hand in the scam when he was Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson.

“Mliswa was very irresponsible in what he was doing because government policy is very clear that we do not condone distribution of food in a partisan manner. President Robert Mugabe himself said no one must be denied food aid,” Matangaidze said.

Other MPs, including Zanu PF members, claimed their vulnerable constituencies were not accessing food aid.

Bulawayo Central MP, Dorcas Sibanda (MDC-T) demanded to know the role of the police in food distribution, while Southertom MP, Gift Chimanikire (MDC-T) claimed Centenary Central Intelligence Organisation operatives were removing names of opposition supporters from the list of vulnerable beneficiaries.

Matangaidze said the police only preserved peace in food distribution.

Mliswa was kicked out of Zanu PF as part of a brutal purge in 2014 at a time former Vice-President Joice Mujuru was also booted on allegations of plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe.

The former Hurungwe West MP then bounced back into Parliament late last year after winning the Norton by-election. – Newsday

OPPOSITION senator for Matabeleland South, Joyce Ndlovu (MDC) is facing civil imprisonment after a Bulawayo property owner sued her for outstanding rental arrears.

Jitendra Investments (Pvt) Limited’s lawyer, Bruce Masamvu, yesterday said he had served Ndlovu with summons after she failed to pay $8 630 being rental inclusive of $1 200 legal costs for the property she leased in the city, but failed to settle.

“Ndlovu is also accused of ignoring a court order issued last year to settle the debt.

“If you fail to pay the sum specified, you must appear before the magistrate court at Bulawayo … to explain why you have not paid it and show cause why an order for your imprisonment should not be made on account of your failure to pay,” the summons read.

Ndlovu has also been asked to provide evidence of her financial status, including proof of expenses such as rent receipts, water and light accounts for school fees, insurance policies and any other liabilities to which she may be subject to.

“The court will conduct an inquiry into your financial position depending on the circumstances, it may not commit you to prison but instead give you more time to pay the sum due to you or direct you to pay in instalments over a specified period of time.

“You are at liberty to approach the judgment creditor before the date of the hearing and make an offer for settlement of the sum due,” part of the summons read.

The facts of the case are that the two parties on February 27, 2015 agreed that she occupies number 2 Wolverhampton Donnington building in the city and was to pay $600 per month.

In breach of the agreement, Ndlovu refused, failed or neglected to pay the $6 980 as at March 2015. The court ordered her to pay but she neglected to do so.

Ndlovu later filed a stay of execution application, which was dismissed by Bulawayo magistrate, Sheunesu Matova leading to the latest civil imprisonment lawsuit. – Newsday

A 39-YEAR-Old man from Tsholotsho was allegedly stabbed to death by a man who accused him of snatching his girlfriend.

Tapiwa Dube (25) allegedly stabbed Mduduzi Gumbo of Sipepa Area under Chief Mathuphula twice with an okapi knife after accusing him of snatching his girfriend.

The incident occurred at around 8PM on Monday.

Gumbo died upon admission at Sipepa Hospital the same night leading to Dube’s arrest. National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the alleged murder.

“Circumstances are that on January 30 at about 2030 hours, a male adult aged 39, was walking along Sipepa- Lupane Road from Sipepa Business Centre in the company of his girlfriend.

“The accused person who was also at Sipepa Business Centre followed the duo and caught up with them at a certain point along the said road. The suspect accused the now deceased of snatching his girlfriend and an altercation ensued. He withdrew an okapi knife from his pocket and stabbed the now deceased twice before he disappeared into the bush,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

He said the suspect was in police custody and will appear in court soon. The deceased’s brother, Mr Sikhumbuzo Moyo said the family was shaken by Gumbo’s sudden and violent death.

“We are one member less because of a person who clearly does not value human life. We are however grateful to the police for quickly arresting the suspect, ” he said. – State Media

Robert Mugabe’s MP for Harare East Terrence Mukupe has been mentioned in the fuel scam involving four tankers that entered the country with 140 000 litres of diesel purportedly in transit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose contents were emptied in Chitungwiza and replaced with water.The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority did not charge excise duty for the fuel at Forbes Border Post after being duped the cargo was destined for the DRC. This prejudiced the State of $55 650.

Zimra intercepted the four tankers at Chirundu Border Post after detecting a suspicious detour using its newly installed electronic cargo tracking system, and upon inspecting the trucks discovered that they were now carrying water.

Mukupe referred the state media to his lawyer, Mr Brian Hungwe, who confirmed in written responses that the legislator got involved in the matter as an agent for the owners of the fuel.

Mr Hungwe said Mr Mukupe followed the trucks up to Chirundu Border Post where they were intercepted, saying the deviation to Chitungwiza had been communicated at Forbes.

“Our client visited Chirundu as an agent of the owners of the fuel,” Mr Hungwe said. “His visit to Chirundu was a follow up to his seized trucks because Zimra had refused to inspect the trucks and had shockingly chased away the logistics company drivers,” he said.

“There was a genuine fear that the contents of the trucks would be tampered with. Zimra has not yet contacted Mr Mukupe and no correspondence exists that they are holding any goods that he owns,” said the lawyer.

“Our client is shocked that the Zimra statement (issued on Tuesday) was issued without any prior interview or communication with him.”

Mr Hungwe said they had been instructed by their client to file an appeal to the Acting Commissioner General of Zimra.

“No one from Zimra has communicated anything to Mr Mukupe, and he is having to rely on some information posted on their website to appeal,” he said.

“Zimra does not dispute the fact that the seals were not tampered with from Forbes Border Post, the point of entry, to Chirundu. Any tampering with the electronic device would have been picked up. The deviation from the route to Chitungwiza was communicated at the point of entry,” said Mr Hungwe.

“The Zimra officers that visited the trucks in Chitungwiza did not notice any tampering with the seals. They were intact, it did not provoke any suspicion. At Chirundu Border Post, again, Mr Mukupe avers that there was no evidence of tampering of the seals found. Whatever the contents that were inside, Mr Mukupe says he has no information or evidence that indeed it was water found inside the containers.”

After referring the state media to Mr Hungwe, Mukupe accused the newspaper of working on a “defamatory story” and alleged that money had been offered for its publication to tarnish his image by the so-called G40 faction in Zanu-PF.

“Handiti watonyora a defamatory article,” he said in a text message response in reference to this newspaper’s story in yesterday’s edition, which ironically did not mention his name.

“Go to company records and check your facts. Dzorera G40 mari yavakupa… I have nothing to say to you my brother. Continue with Zimra and your sources.”

Insiders told the state media that investigations indicated that Mukupe had interests in the company – New Corp Energy – that imported the fuel using trucks owned by Tanom Logistics that had three tankers and another owned by Success Enteprises.

The sources told the state media that the four trucks intercepted and seized by Zimra at Chirundu were owned by Success Enterprise – truck registration number ACQ 6489 of 3792, Shumba Road, Ruwa – and three Tanom Logistics trucks registration numbers ABN 4008, ACZ 0771 and AAS 6386 of stand number K2804 of Katanga, Norton.

One of the drivers was arrested at Chirundu, while the other three disappeared before physical inspection of their trucks after picking up that Zimra had tracked them.

“Zimra inquired with Mukupe why the trucks had diverted and he said the drivers were resting, but would proceed on their journey on 30 January,” said the source. “Apparently, the MP drove to Chirundu trying to negotiate with the Zimra manager there to clear the cargo. But the manager told him the trucks were under tracking from Harare.”

Another source added: “When Zimra then physically examined the cargo they found that the tankers were carrying water instead of diesel that they declared at Forbes.

“ Mukupe almost left his car at the border post, running away thinking that he was going to be arrested. So, he has been calling people at Zimra from his hiding place.”

Zimra board chairperson, Mrs Willia Bonyongwe, said evasion was one of the major problems facing the revenue collector.

“It’s so sad from where I sit that daily we get reports of smuggling, under-declarations using low values or wrong tariffs,” she said. “It is sad what we are doing to our country when you look at our roads and our hospitals. I believe without evasion we could collect enough for all our recurrent and most of our capital expenditure as a nation.”

The New Corp Energy directors are listed as Sithembiso Nyoni, Graham Pearce Mommsen and Lawrence Johannes Hoffman, but the company file was last updated in 2007.

Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni told the state media that it was probably her namesake listed as one of the directors. – state media

GOVERNMENT will review Treasury’s 50 percent reduction of budgetary allocation to State universities in the 2017 National Budget, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa has said.

He said the cut had been made in error. Minister Chinamasa also decried the high wage structure in the country, which he said needed to be looked into. He said other countries paid lower wages in US dollar terms.

On the reduction in the allocation to State universities, the minister said this would lead to an increase in students’ tuition fees if it wasn’t reviewed, while lecturers risked having their salaries cut.

He said the reduction was made in error, but queried how universities used tuition fees paid by students.

Responding to contributions by Members of Parliament during debate on the 2017 National Budget on Tuesday this week, Minister Chinamasa said the cut in budgetary votes for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development was made in error.

He also proposed to increase the vote to Parliament to cater for unpaid allowances.
“There was the issue of the unallocated reserves in 2000 and I was surprised that it was $10,6 million. I am going to propose an amendment because there was some error that was done,” said the minister.

“I am going to propose an amendment to increase the vote of Parliament for the unpaid allowances from last year’s $9 million. The $10 million is already there. That will bring the Budget to $49 million for their vote,” he said.

“The amendment will also address the issue about a mistake. Maybe it is not a mistake, but whoever did it, in the estimates, the vote to universities was reduced by 50 percent. That was never the intention and is going to be corrected,” said Minister Chinamasa.

“What it means is that, by correcting it, it will reduce the amount in the unallocated reserve by the amount that is going to go towards collection of the allocation to the universities.”
Minister chinamasa said the error in allocation was never intentional.

“Let me make it clear, in my conversation with the Minister responsible for Higher and Tertiary Education, I am engaging everybody, every Minister, every department to understand what is going on and I pray and plead with colleagues and with whoever I interact with, it is not out of malice,” said the minister.

“With the universities, I know they collect tuition fees. I just want to understand and I ask this question, where is the tuition fees being applied to and to what purpose?”

Early this week, there was an outcry from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education,
Science and Technology Development and vice chancellors of State universities over the reduction of budgetary allocation.

They said this would force an increase in students’ fees when they were already struggling to pay the fees at current levels.

On Tuesday Minister Chinamasa said he would make the necessary adjustments together with the budgetary vote for Parliament to cover for unpaid allowances.

The legislators slammed Treasury for taking them lightly despite the fact that the Constitution recognised Parliament as the third arm of the State alongside the Judiciary and the Executive.

Minister Chinamasa said he expected honest responses from ministries and departments when he makes enquiries.

“I would not want colleagues or any departments to feel defensive because we then cannot correct anything. We cannot continue to do the same thing and hope to achieve a different outcome,” said Minister Chinamasa.

“Let us understand what we are doing and if it needs corrections, let us correct it honestly. Let us have a constructive dialogue so that we can move forward. No one should feel defensive when we are trying to find solutions to our problems,” said Minister Chinamasa.

The minister also said one of Zimbabwe’s challenges was that its wage structure was too high compared to other countries.

“We do not compare with other countries. We are too high. These are United States dollars and not Zimbabwean dollars that we are talking about,” he said.
“In Ethiopia, it is US$100 per month for an engineer coming from university. This is also similar to Tanzania,” he said.

“If we compare ourselves with respect to competitiveness, where would an investor go? To Zimbabwe where you have to pay US$500 and Ethiopia is paying US$150? Right now in Tanzania, they are spending 40 percent of revenue towards wages. We are at above 90 percent. Let us understand those comparisons and we will see where we should be,” said Minister Chinamasa.

When legislators complained that certain ministries were being underfunded, Minister Chinamasa said he was working with available resources. – State Media

EIGHT people have been hospitalised following bloody skirmishes in which villagers attacked each other using machetes and spears over grazing land in Bubi District.

Bubi Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer Mr Patson Mlilo said the “war” started last Thursday.

Occasional fights are still being reported in Bubi’s wards 4 and 5, he said.

The impounding of 186 cattle belonging to ward 4 villagers by those in ward 5 is alleged to have triggered the bloody clashes.

Mr Mlilo said six men were hospitalised at Inyathi District Hospital while two others were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital following the running battles.

The condition of those injured could not be immediately ascertained.

Mr Mlilo said the belligerents used machetes, axes, spears, knobkerries and sjamboks to attack each other.

“Villagers in ward 4, Lubanda village are fighting those in ward five, Ntoli village over the grazing which is  between the two wards. According to my office records, the grazing land is under ward 5,” he said.

Mr Mlilo said as a local authority they did not expect adults to resort to violence to resolve such disputes.

He said community leaders from the area had since been asked to bring the warring parties together in order to resolve the dispute.

Mr Mlilo said when he visited the disputed area last Thursday, it resembled a war zone.

Bubi District Administrator Mr Juma Dube said he had asked the police and council officials to meet traditional leaders in order to resolve the dispute.

Mr Dube said the information he received was that ward five villagers impounded cattle belonging to ward 4 villagers after the cattle destroyed their crops.

He said this sparked the fight between the two groups.

Ward 5 Councillor Silvia Luphahla yesterday said she was in a meeting with villagers from both wards.

“Villagers are living in fear as a result of this grazing land dispute,” she said.

It could not be established immediately if any arrests had been made following the violence as police could not be reached for comment.- State Media

ZimEye.com broke the news earlier today that exiled Pastor Evan Mawarire has returned home to Zimbabwe. The state media has now confirmed too, that indeed Mawarire has been arrested.

Mawarire, who made a name by mobilising people to illegally demonstrate against Government, has been arrested.

Mawarire was arrested at the Harare International Airport today.

It is not clear where the controversial clergyman was coming from when he was arrested on landing at the airport.

Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed his arrest.

“I can confirm that he was arrested at the Harare International Airport. He was on a warrant of arrest,” she said.

It is not clear on which case Mawarire was on a warrant of arrest.

“I am not yet sure when he will appear in court,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

His lawyer Mr Harrison Nkomo said he was busy and would provide details when ready.

Details to follow….

Below is the latest video of arrested Pastor Evan Mawarire in police custody.

https://youtu.be/4mRBdG5pEvc?t=3

Ray Nkosi | Education Minister Lazarus Dokora, has been dragged to the Constitutional Court by a parent challenging his introduction of the national pledge that every child is forced to recite. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, reports that the ConCourt has reserved judgement on the application filed by a parent Mathew Sogolani. Below is the ZLHR media alert;
NATIONAL PLEDGE CHALLENGE: CONCOURT RESERVES JUDGMENT
THE Constitutional Court on Wednesday 01 February 2017 reserved judgment on an application filed by an aggrieved parent, who is challenging the government’s move to force all school children to recite a national pledge which he alleges violates his children’s fundamental rights.
The contentious national pledge, which was introduced in May 2016, is recited by all pupils enrolled in the country’s primary and secondary schools.
But 46 year- old Mathew Sogolani challenged the constitutionality of the national pledge, arguing that it violates his children and his own constitutional rights.
In his application, which was filed in the Constitutional Court on Tuesday 19 April 2016 by David Hofisi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Sogolani, whose three minor children are enrolled in infant, primary and secondary schools respectively, argued that forcing children to recite contents of the pledge run contrary to the family’s religious beliefs.
Sogolani, a member of the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church, wants the Constitutional Court to suspend the requirement that schoolchildren recite the pledge.
Hofisi said his client finds the national pledge offensive to his faith as it includes secular salutations in an address to Almighty God.
The human rights lawyer argued that the pledge would vitiate Sogolani’s rights to dignity, freedom of conscience, freedom of expression and equal protection of the law – rights that are all enshrined in the Constitution.
The human rights lawyer added that the pledge is formulated “in the manner of an oath, a prayer and seems, in the very least, a religious observance”.
In his founding affidavit filed at the court, Sogolani argued that the national pledge is offensive to his religious convictions and thus in violation of Sections 51, 56 (1), (3), 60 (1), (2), (3) and 61 (1) (a) of the Constitution.
Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba, who sat together with the Full Bench of the Constitutional Court, reserved judgment after hearing arguments from Hofisi and Advocate Lewis Uriri, who represented the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and which opposed the application.
ENDS
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
6th Floor, Beverley Court
100 Nelson Mandela Avenue Harare, Zimbabwe
Phone+263 4 764085/705370/708118
Email: [email protected]
www.zlhr.org.zw
FOLLOW US:@ZLHRLAWYERS ON TWITTER | ZIMBABWE LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ON FACEBOOK

A NYANGA-based lady of the night has been jailed for 12-months after being convicted of sleeping with a 15-year-old teenager at her lodgings on December 31 following a consensual $4 quickie.

Tatenda Munembe (20) from Nyamhuka will, however, do unpaid work after Nyanga provincial magistrate, Mr Ignatio Mhene, set aside three months on condition of good behaviour and the remaining nine months on condition that she performs 315 hours of community service.

She was facing charges of contravening Section 70 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which criminalises being intimate with a minor.

Public prosecutor, Mr Kelvin Mufute, told the court that on December 31, the suspect was intimate with the teenager.

“The complainant is a juvenile doing Form Three at Nyangani High School. On December 31 at around 9pm, the complainant was at Nyamhuka Business Centre in the company of his friends when he was approached by the accused who was soliciting for men.

“The accused asked the teenager if he was interested in being intimate with her and the complainant agreed to sleep with her. He revealed that he had $4 for the session,” he said.

The hooker then took the teenager to her homestead and slept with him.

After the act, the complainant paid $4 for services rendered and they later returned to the business centre.

On January 5, the teenager’s mother heard from the grapevine that her son had been intimate with a hooker and she confronted him.

The teenager narrated the abuse to his mother and the case was subsequently reported to the police.

The complainant was referred to Nyanga District Hospital where he was medically examined. – Manica Post

President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson, George Charamba is working overtime in a desperate bid to assist Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s presidential succession bid in the faction-riddled party Zanu PF leader, analysts say.

Mugabe’s party is sharply divided into two distinct camps, Lacoste – linked to Mnangagwa, and G40 – said to be fronted by former government spokesman Jonathan Moyo and other so-called Young Turks, among them Zanu PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao.

Lacoste wants Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe by virtue of being the first vice president while G40 wants the heir apparent anointed by the veteran leader of subjected to party elections.

But in recent weeks Nathaniel Manheru, a columnist in the state-controlled The Herald, widely thought to be Charamba, Mugabe’s spokesperson has been evidently rooting for Mnangagwa in his writings as the race to succeed the soon to be 93-year old leader reaches a crescendo.

Charamba, who is also permanent secretary in the ministry of information, media and broadcasting services, has never denied he is behind the acerbic and vitriolic Manheru column although in the past, has been exposed as the writer of the articles by his former boss at the ministry, Moyo. The two now appear sworn enemies.

Critics note that Charamba has occasionally used the long-winding column to take pot-shots at the Zanu PF leader’s perceived enemies and recently, those perceived to be opposed to Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to the throne particularly Moyo who has publicly stated he would not support his bid for presidency of Zanu PF and possible the republic.

Two weeks ago, the columnist lashed out at Jonathan Moyo and warned him against dabbling in the Zanu PF succession matrix by allegedly rubbishing the Midlands strongman’s succession bid in the cut-throat race.

Instead, Manheru, read Charamba, intimated the succession issue “has its own people” and Moyo was not one of them, a remark political analysts view as meant to present Mnangagwa as the sole candidate and in the process drumming up support for the Lacoste camp which critics claim is leaving no storm unturned to ensure Mnangagwa eventually steps into the shoes of Mugabe when the Zanu PF leader eventually decides to exit politics or dies in power.

“It is clear he (Manheru) is doing Mnangagwa bidding by abusing the state media,” said Ricky Mukonza, a political analyst, who teaches public management at a South African university.

In his latest long-winding article, the columnist hit-out at human rights lawyer-cum opposition politician and author, David Coltart for intimating in his autobiography, The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa and other Zanu PF politicians were complicity in the murder of an estimated 20 000 defenceless civilian in some parts of the Midlands and Matabeleland during the early 1980s.

In his book, Coltart states that Mnangagwa was in charge of state security during Gukurahundi, suggesting chances were high the vice president and justice minister could have known about the killings, charges which appear to have rattled the Lacoste camp of which Charamba is thought to belong.

Coltart has also made reference to stories carried in the local state controlled media during the time in which Mnangagwa alluded to the presence of state security agents sent to deal with the alleged dissident menace in Matabeleland provinces and some parts of the Midlands.

But a livid Manheru on Saturday referred to Coltart as an unrepentant white who fought for the supremacy of racists Rhodesian, defended white settler interests by gun, suggesting the former cabinet minister’s book was wrongly apportioning the Gukurahundi killings to Mnangagwa.

The columnist further stated that Coltart was behind the report Breaking Silence, a damning human rights report which chronicled the Gukurahundi killings, adding that it is not a coincidence that he has authored another book linking Zanu PF politicians to the massacres in the Matabeleland and the Midlands.

Manheru said while Coltart had no qualms in his book in accusing Zanu PF politicians of complicity in the Gukurahundi killings, the MDC politician has been conspicuous by his silence in the role that he played in defending racist Rhodesian, in what analyst say are attempts to rubbish Coltart book, particularly its version of who was responsible for the killings.

Coltart, however, on Tuesday hit back at the author of the column in an interview with RadioVOP, saying it is clear Mugabe’s spin-doctors wanted to airbrush the Zanu PF politician’s role in the early 1980s political disturbances in the two southern region provinces as the dog-fight to succeed Mugabe hots up.

“Whoever Manheru is does appear to be using this column to paint Mnangagwa in the best possible light,” said Coltart.

“If Manheru is in fact Charamba then it would indicate that he is doing all he can to discredit the existing narrative about Gukurahundi which will assist Mnagangwa’s aspirations. So it is not surprising that he would seek to delegitimise me and the revelations made in my book about Gukurahundi and Mngangwa’s role in it.” – VOP

A nurse whose teenage son was stabbed to death today said she hopes the life sentence handed to his killer acts as a “deterrent” for other youngsters.

Charlie Kutyauripo, 16, was declared dead in hospital after being knifed by a childhood friend outside a birthday party in Woodford, east London, in January last year.

Aaron Gaiete, 17, was yesterday sentenced to indefinite detention with a minimum term of 14 years after being convicted of the murder, which the Old Bailey heard was the result of a “trivial” row over a borrowed tracksuit.

Charlie’s mother Matilda Chiswanda today said the tragedy had left her unable to return to work as an A&E nurse. “I won’t be able to do that any more — on a casualty ward you face too many similar things,” she said.

Mrs Chiswanda, 46, lives in Romford with Charlie’s father Farai Kutyauripo, 48, and their eldest son Dennis Kutyauripo, 22, a law student.

She told how the family moved to Britain from Zimbabwe seeking a safe environment for their children. “I brought my son to the UK for safety only for him to be stolen away from us in such a cruel and violent way by someone I treated as my own son,” she said.

“There are no words to express the pain and agony that has no become our day-to-day life. I wake up every day hoping to see our Charlie, hoping this is going to end. No mother or family should have to suffer as we are.” She added: “No punishment will bring our son back but I hope his sentence will not only serve as a deterrent for him, but for other youths.”

The court heard that Gaiete, of Ilford, had been close friends with Charlie at King Solomon High School. But prosecutor Louis Mably said they had fallen out over a tracksuit the defendant had borrowed and refused to give back.

They were both invited to a girl’s 16th birthday party on January 9 last year but after Gaiete arrived he confronted Charlie outside. Jurors saw CCTV of the defendant stabbing the victim twice, dropping the knife and running off.

The court heard that DNA on the knife handle was matched to that of Gaiete. He denied murder, claiming he had acted in self-defence.

As she passed sentence, Judge Rebecca Poulet QC issued a warning to young people: “It must be understood that taking a knife out in public whether for an offensive or defensive purpose is in itself a criminal offence.” – standard.co.uk

Robert Mugabe and Donald Trump are welcome to the United Kingdom, the imperial nation’s Foreign Secretary says.

Donald Trump is no worse than ageing Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, Britain’s foreign secretary Boris Johnson has suggested.

Johnson has defended the under-fire new US president’s right to a state visit to Britain by saying that Queen Elizabeth II has previously hosted Romanian dictator Nicolai Ceausescu and Mugabe, so could “probably cope” with Trump, The Independent reports.

Mugabe was awarded a knighthood by the Queen during the Zimbabwe leader’s state visit to the UK in 1994. He was stripped of it in 2008, following outrage over rights abuses and election violence.

Currently attending an AU summit in Ethiopia, the Zimbabwe leader hasn’t publicly commented on Trump’s election although officials close to him appear to be very pleased with it.

Caesar Zvayi, the editor of the pro-Mugabe state media, tweeted triumphantly on Tuesday morning: “In US, the President chooses Supreme Court judges.” That was an attempt to justify Mugabe’s recent move to change the constitution so that he alone can appoint a new chief justice. Critics and the opposition are strongly opposed to this move. – News24

Terrence Mawawa, Beitbridge A ZRP Cop was last week thoroughly bashed after arresting a man wearing military camouflage, worn by Jah Prayzah fans.

Detective Constable Rodrick Nanga of Beitbridge Police Camp ran for dear life after an angry mob assaulted him for arresting the man, Brian Ncube (20) for wearing military camouflage.

Nanga confronted Ncube accusing him of wearing military gear.

Nanga argued that the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) had publicly announced it was illegal to wear military gear in public without the army’s approval. State Prosecutor Munyonga Kuvarega told the court that on January 13, 2017, around 4pm, Ncube and one Edson Chivivi were together at Mbedzi Business Centre in Beitbridge when Nanga arrested Ncube for wearing a military cap and a pair of trousers.

As the two were walking towards the police station Chivivi struck Nanga at the back of the head and ordered him to release his friend. Angry residents also slapped Nanga and he fled from the scene. He made a report at Beitbridge Police Station and Chivivi and Ncube were arrested. The two were fined $101 dollars each or alternatively 20 days in prison. Analysts say the incident reflects the animosity between the police and the public.

“This reveals the level of animosity between the police and the public. Instead of cooperating with the police people have developed a negative attitude towards the highly partisan and unprofessional cops,”said Beitbridge resident.

Ray Nkosi | Several Matabeleland based pressure groups and regional political parties are reportedly grouping up to strongly protest against ZANU PF youth wing aligned 21st February Movement from holding President Robert Mugabe’s 93rd birthday celebrations in Matobo.

Sources within the organisers of the protest told ZimEye.com that over ten organisations that include political parties based in Matabeleland will bus hundreds of people into Matobo, a day before the birthday bash to demand that the bash be not held within the area which hosts graves of thousands of people that were killed during the Gukurahundi atrocities in the eighties under President Mugabe’s watch.

The organisations say that the move by ZANU PF to hold Mugabe birthday celebrations in the area will not be allowed to proceed as “these will be an insult to the spirits of the people the very same Mugabe killed.”

“We will not allow Mugabe to come and celebrate his birthday on the very same graves of the people he killed,” said one of the organisers. “Allowing this to happen will be an insult to the spirits of the people that the very same Mugabe killed. It will be like we are saying they died in vain,” he added.

Meanwhile, reports from Matobo district are that ZANU PF youth deployed into the area to mobilise for the birthday celebrations have been in door to door campaigns threatening villagers of unspecified consequences if they sabotage the event in any way.

According to the villagers soldiers and military trained members of the ZANU PF National Youth Service popularly known as “Green Bombers” have been deployed into the area to intimidate people not to stand against the event being held in the area.

The organisers of the proposed demonstration against the event claim that they will be notifying the police of their intentions to demonstrate as required by the law and will proceed with the action regardless of the possible violence that will be effected on them by the state security.

Terrence Mawawa, Beitbridge A ZRP Cop was last week thoroughly bashed after arresting a man wearing military camouflage.

Detective Constable Rodrick Nanga of Beitbridge Police Camp ran for dear life after an angry mob assaulted him for arresting the man, Brian Ncube (20) for wearing military camouflage.

Nanga confronted Ncube accusing him of wearing military gear.

Nanga argued that the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) had publicly announced it was illegal to wear military gear in public without the army’s approval. State Prosecutor Munyonga Kuvarega told the court that on January 13, 2017, around 4pm, Ncube and one Edson Chivivi were together at Mbedzi Business Centre in Beitbridge when Nanga arrested Ncube for wearing a military cap and a pair of trousers.

As the two were walking towards the police station Chivivi struck Nanga at the back of the head and ordered him to release his friend. Angry residents also slapped Nanga and he fled from the scene. He made a report at Beitbridge Police Station and Chivivi and Ncube were arrested. The two were fined $101 dollars each or alternatively 20 days in prison. Analysts say the incident reflects the animosity between the police and the public.

“This reveals the level of animosity between the police and the public. Instead of cooperating with the police people have developed a negative attitude towards the highly partisan and unprofessional cops,”said Beitbridge resident.

Ousted war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda, who is facing charges of insulting President Mugabe while addressing an unsanctioned rally in Mutare in 2014, will have to remain on remand for a while pending determination of his application at the Constitutional Court.

On his initial appearance, Sibanda, through his lawyer, successfully applied to have the case referred to the highest court. In his Concourt application, Sibanda raised constitutional grounds which needed to be determined by the apex court.

He argued that the charge had the effect of infringing on his rights and freedom enshrined in the Constitution. Sibanda yesterday appeared before magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa who further remanded him to May 31.

This was after the State led by Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa notified the court that the case was still pending at the Concourt.

“Your Worship the matter is still at the Constitutional Court, therefore, we would like to seek a further postponement of the matter to May 31 while awaiting the outcome at the highest court,” he said.

Sibanda of 57 Nkulumane, Bulawayo, faces charges of contravening Section 33 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23. Allegations are that on October 27, 2014 at Herbert Mine in Mutasa, Sibanda addressed an illegal gathering of war veterans at the mine shaft.

The gathering was for the reburial of the bodies of exhumed liberation war fighters, despite the event having been rescheduled to a later date by former Minister of Home Affairs Cde Kembo Mohadi.

Sibanda allegedly delivered a lengthy speech and said the President and his wife (Dr Grace Mugabe) where plotting a “bedroom coup” to remove the then Vice President Joice Mujuru and replace her with the First Lady.

It is alleged that he said power was not “sexually transmitted.” – State Media

ZIMBABWE international Onismor Bhasera escaped with minor bruises yesterday after the car he was driving on his way back to South Africa was involved in a road accident along the Mutare-Masvingo Road.

ONE person is feared dead, while 12 who had been marooned were rescued following floods in West Nicholson that also rendered a section of the Bulawayo- Beitbridge highway impassable for nearly 12 hours yesterday.

The flooding occurred after Mbembesi River, about a kilometre from West Nicholson Business Centre, burst its banks at around 5AM yesterday, cutting off traffic on the busy highway to Beitbridge and further down to South Africa.

Vehicles only started crossing the flooded portion of the highway around 4PM.
This came as the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) said two dams in Matabeleland South – Insiza Mayfair and Silalatshani were all full and spilling.

Communities living along Mzingwane River and its tributaries notably Insiza, Silalatshani, Nkankezi and others must be on the lookout as these rivers are flooded said the CPU.
The 12 had been marooned for several hours at the confluence of Mbembesi and Umzingwane rivers.  They were only rescued by a helicopter which was dispatched from Bulawayo by the CPU.  The helicopter crew was also tasked to search for more people who might have been in the same predicament.

In Gwanda town, a flooded Mtshabezi River also cut off traffic to and from areas such as Blanket Mine, Vumbachikwe Mine, Makwe and Kezi.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele said a helicopter was dispatched at midday to West Nicholson to rescue the stranded people. “It was also going to comb the area to see whether there were no other people who were in danger of being swept away by the waters.

“That’s the information we last had but for more information you can get it from the Civil Protection Unit here in Gwanda,” said Insp Ndebele. An update from the Gwanda District Administrator’s Office which heads the Gwanda District Civil Protection Unit (GDCPU) said:

“One person is feared dead and there are fears that he could have been washed away. Twelve people were marooned for several hours before they were eventually rescued by a helicopter dispatched from Bulawayo,” said the office in a statement.

“There was also a wash-away of the spillway at Insindi Dam which is the one which flooded Mtshabezi River. In West Nicholson vehicles started crossing around 4PM.  The situation is better now. That’s the information which this office has at the moment.”

Acting Gwanda District Administrator, Mr Judge Dube  warned motorists and members of the public not to attempt to cross flooded rivers or bridges.

Terrence Mawawa, Buhera | A local man has crushed his wife’s head, killing her instantly after discovering she was taking anti-retroviral drugs behind his back.

Titus Mabvuregudo (23) of Mavhura Village in Buhera accused his wife of infecting him with HIV before murdering her. Mabvuregudo was arrested last week under case number CR24/O1/17 for contravening Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform)Act Chapter 9:23.

Mabvuregudo was also charged with intentionally killing his wife, Rejoice Balewa. “The accused had a heated argument with the now deceased Balewa. The accused’s mother, Netsai Rungarara witnessed the whole incident.

She tried to restrain her son but her efforts were futile,”read a police report. Mabvuregudo hid the deceased’s body in a shallow grave. Mabvuregudo pleaded guilty and he led the police to the scene of the crime where he used a stone to crush his wife’s head. “Mabvuregudo killed his wife as the two were going to the fields where they wanted to till the land.”

“Mabvuregudo’s mother noticed the altercation from a distance and ran towards the two.However when she arrived , Mabvuregudo’s wife was bleeding profusely.Her head was badly hurt,”said a villager. Mabvuregudo told the police he killed his wife because he had infected him with HIV. He is expected to appear in court soon facing murder charges.

The member of the House of Assembly for Umzingwane, Priscilla Misihairabwi has claimed that President Mugabe does not see the reality of what is happening in Zimbabwe because he is under the control of other people who tell him to do and what not to do.

Speaking in the House of Assembly, Misihairambwi said that Mugabe had been “captured” meaning that he was under the control of other people who directed his actions. However, she did not provide any names of who may have “captured” the president.

Said Misihairambwi in Parliament; 

The President has been taken into capture, he doesn’t see reality.
we have people who have taken the President to a corner and tell him what to do

In SA they are talking of State Capture here we have President Capture

Misahairambwi also said that she was going to start a petition to have the president appear in the National Assembly to answer questions because the people who are controlling him are also controlling access to him. She added;

If we request the President to come to Party we have people who oppose it.
I am going to write a petition calling the President to come and answer questions

I want you all MPs to support my petition

She was supported by James Maridadi who said that he wanted the Presdient in the House because the oppistion MPs were the only ones who could be trusted to tell him the truth, unlike the Zanu Pf MPs.

We want President to come and hear us , so he get the truth
The president can only get the true picture from opposition MPs because we have nothing to lose

Maridadi also seemed to suggest that the President was not responsible for the mess that is in the country. Instead, he placed the blame on government minister who did not carry out their duties.  Said Maridadi

If the President was to come here and listen to the truth he will be shocked

The people around the President don’t tell him the truth, so he gets the blame

New Kid on the block, Andy Muridzo has confessed in a Facebook Live video that he indeed bonked controversial pole dancer, Beverly Sibanda but has strongly denied paternity of the child Bev claims to be carrying.

Pole dancer, Beverly Sibanda has threatened to release a sex tape of her and singer Andy Muridzo, should the latter continue to deny paternity to her pregnance.

Bev claims that she had unprotected sex with the upcoming musician. – Agencies

Ray Nkosi | Norbet Chikerema (42) who is suspected to have brutally killed his wife Gillian Zvomuya yesterday, has been hospitalised ZimEye can confirm.

It is reported that Chikerema took an overdose of unnamed tablets apparently before the murder.

The late Gillian has been described as, “good mother, caring loving an angel.”

Chikerema was a nurse by profession. Zvomuya has left two boys and two girls and the youngest child is five years old.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Zimbabwe should undertake bold reforms that include streamlining of the public sector wages to ensure the viability of the economy.

At a Press briefing last week, William Murray, deputy spokesperson in the communications department, said a “comprehensive economic transformation plan will be important to ensure the viability of the dollarised Zimbabwean economy”.

“The authorities need to take action to streamline public sector wages urgently. They also are encouraged to accelerate public enterprise reform, improve public financial management, develop key infrastructure and to strengthen the rule of law and to improve governance,” he said.

Zimbabwe has been reluctant to undertake reforms on public sector wages, which continue to gobble a huge chunk of the budget. This has crowded out allocations to social sectors and infrastructure development.

In the period January to October 2016, employment costs gobbled 91% of total revenue.

For 2017, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa projected employment costs of $3 billion, out of the $4,1 billion budget.

This means that employment costs are projected to constitute 73% of the national budget.

Analysts say divisions in the ruling Zanu PF party has spilled into government, where Chinamasa has been under threat from hawks in the party against his liberal policies.

Last year, the government shot down Chinamasa’s proposal to forgo bonuses and cut salaries. The government is struggling to pay 2016 bonuses and last week the civil servants rejected the proposed stands-or-bonus scheme.

Zimbabwe has been mending its relations with international financial institution to unlock fresh lines of credit required to reboot the economy.

The country also cleared its overdue obligations to the IMF.

This resulted in the removal of remedial measures by the fund.

At the time, the IMF said removal of remedial measured was not an automatic ticket to getting financing, as the country has to resolve its arrears to multilateral creditors, including the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and other multilateral institutions, bilateral official creditors and external private creditors (if any).

It said Zimbabwe has to implement strong fiscal adjustment and structural reforms to restore fiscal and debt sustainability and foster private sector development. – Newsday

https://youtu.be/RS6l1FhDltU?t=11

Popular dancer, Bev Sibanda says she is pregnant with her second child and Andy Muridzo is responsible for the pregnancy, reports claim.

But Muridzo has dismissed the claims as lies. He said as his popularity rose last year he bedded Bev but ended it and came clean to his wife who has forgiven him. He said there was no way he could be responsible for Bev’s pregnancy. Muridzo’s wife is standing by her man.- Agencies

Zimbabwe has $304 million hard cash in circulation including $73 million in bond notes as of January 2017, about a third of optimum demand, reflecting a worsening liquidity crisis, an economist said.

Ashok Chakravarti, who also advises the Office of the President and Cabinet on improving the ease of doing business, told a Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) symposium on Thursday that hard cash in circulation inclusive of bond notes and US dollars was five percent of total bank deposits which has contributed to the country’s liquidity crisis.

“If you look at comparative studies from other economies cash to deposit ratio should be between 10 (percent) to 12 percent. If an economy has got less than 12 percent, it faces liquidity crisis…..We need $900 million in cash to have adequate liquidity,” said Chakravarti.

Hard cash circulation in the country has dropped by 53 percent from $642 million in 2013 to $304 million currently. However, bank deposits have increased from $4,728 billion in 2013 to $6,2 billion in 2016.

At the onset of the multicurrency system in February 2009, total deposits in the banking system were $1,66 billion. Cash to deposit ratio has decreased from 35 percent in 2009 to five percent in January 2017.

The amount of cash held in Nostro accounts declined by 61,6 percent from $424 million in 2009 to $163 million as at November 2016.

“When liquidity challenges first surfaced in 2014, the RBZ reduced cash holdings in Nostro accounts from 30 percent to 5 percent of total deposits to improve the availability of cash in the economy. This decision simply led to externalisation of dollar cash, exacerbating the liquidity crisis,” said Chakravati.

To resolve the liquidity crisis in the country, Chakravarti recommended that the government should reduce wage bill, stop reissuing of Treasury Bills and borrowing from the private sector, repeal the indigenisation policy and adopt the South African Rand.

The business community has voiced its distrust of government methods of dealing with the acute cash shortage of bank notes and urged an adoption of the Rand, a suggestion the State turned down.

Chakravati has previously suggested a three percent import levy across the board which he said could raise $2 billion (annually) to incentivise exporters in real currency instead of the bond note incentive. – Source

Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri, has opened up on corruption in the police force he has been at the helm of for years. However, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, begs to differ with Chihuri’s public statement. Below is her account; 

Fadzayi Mahere |1. Commissioner General Chihuri admits the Police are corrupt but blames it on the public! No sir, the Police are meant to uphold the law, period. There can be no excuse for corruption by the Police. In fact, it’s criminal.

2. He said the money collected from road blocks is insignificant. No sir, $57 million is not insignificant. It’s 19 times more than your recorded allocation from Treasury. If it was insignificant there would be no roadblocks. The police are unable to attend to dangerous crime and accident scenes lamenting a lack of transport or resources but they are always able to set up roadblocks. This is because roadblocks raise money while other means of policing don’t. It should not be this way.

Rita Makarau, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) boss has been quoted in the private media saying she has removed Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede from his role of administering the voters roll.

The report in the Newsday paper says the ZEC will also from henceforth stop using Mudede’s old voters roll.

The development is said to reflect how the ZEC is adaptable to change being “now willing” to stop vote rigging. But ZimEye readers have queried and blown the horn over their insincerity since it is only a week ago when the same body performed a u-turn on biometric voting barely a month after promising on it. The ZEC’s move is thus seen as nothing but another plastic case they are doling to the nation’s angry anti Robert-Mugabe massses.

Only last year, Makarau was also recorded voicing that some election agents are political implants. SEE THE RECORDING BELOW…

Mudede, Registrar-General since 1981, has been accused by opposition parties of being complicit in alleged rigging of elections by President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party in previous elections.

But Justice Rita Makarau in the Newsday report indicates that Mudede’s honeymoon is over.

“Yes, we are doing away completely with the old voters’ roll. Our aim is to begin fresh registration by at least May this year. We are starting afresh,” she said.

Zec has already short-listed three bidders earmarked to provide the registration kits, who, Makarau said, must be in place by April.

Makarau told a State-controlled weekly at the weekend that the biometric voter registration system would help Zec deal with the contentious issue of “dead people” on the voters’ roll, as well as multiple registrations that opposition parties have argued has been manipulated by Mugabe to rig elections.

“In 2018, we will use technology to record voters’ details. The technology carries an added advantage in that it de-duplicates multiple registrants,” she said.

“If you try to register using different names or addresses, your biometric data – your digital photograph and fingerprints – will tell us that you are the same person.

“Zec also went for this system, as only those who present will appear on the voters’ roll. Therefore, issues regarding ‘dead voters’ will not cloud the integrity of our voters’ roll because only those who are able to present themselves physically will be registered.”

Mudede’s roll of voters is reportedly stuffed with dead people, children as young as five, as well as a large number of centenarians.

MDC-T secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora, said the adoption of biometric voter registration would make elections “attractive”.

“One of the attractions of biometric voter registration is that we are going to have a new voters’ roll. We will also, at long last, dispense with Mudede and the contentious issue of voter registration slips,” he said.

The issue of voter registration slips was a sticking point in the 2013 elections, with the MDC-T saying these were used for electoral fraud.

Mudede’s roll was reportedly manipulated by Zanu PF through a shadowy Israeli company, Nikuv.

But People’s Democratic Party spokesperson, Jacob Mafume, scoffed at suggestions that Zec was ready to reform its systems.

“It is foolish and clownish for people to believe that Zec can suddenly provide us with a computerised voting system, which is clean when they have failed to deliver a manual voters’ register four years after an election,” he said.

“It is like expecting a miracle and we are not hoodwinked. We are less than two years to an election and we do not see how they can be able to deliver on such a promise.”

Former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First welcomed the idea of moving to a cumputerised system of registering potential voters.

“Zec are the custodians of the voters’ roll, as required by the Constitution and this is a welcome development. We just hope the process will allow every citizen to be registered,” party spokesman, Jealousy Mawarire, said.

“While we cannot completely do away with electoral fraud, this is a positive move in the right direction. At least, we are guaranteed that all people, who would have died prior to the process, will not be part of next year’s elections.”

Makarau said Zec was yet to have a clear idea of the exact dates of next year’s elections.

“We don’t have a date for the 2018 general election, as it will be proclaimed by His Excellency, the President,” she said.

Mwonzora said the election date should be between September 12 and October 12 next year.

“Mugabe was sworn in on September 12, 2013, so according to the law, the election date should be between that date and a month later,” he said.

ZIMBABWE Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) chief executive officer, Fredrick Mandizvidza, yesterday sprang to the defence of Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, telling MPs that the fraud allegations levelled against him as trustee of the parastatal were false.

Mandizvidza told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education that there was no evidence to prove that Moyo diverted over $400 000 from Zimdef to fund other activities outside manpower development.

He also denied claims that he had also abused Zimdef money for personal use.

“We are not aware of any mismanagement of funds taking place at Zimdef and the fact is that all of our books, as far as we are concerned, are in order and over the years we have been audited and our books have received a clean bill of health,” Mandizvidza said.

“If there are allegations of misuse, let they be substantiated and put before the courts of law, so that the law takes its course because such allegations are from people, who are not even coming to look at our books to say funds have been misappropriated,” he said.

“When the ministry comes up with any programme to support skills development, it is the minister’s prerogative to say we must focus on the science, technology, education and maths (Stem) module. The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) programme in question was facilitated to showcase administration of the latest technologies at institutions of higher learning. To then conclude and say the channelling of those resources was abuse is an exaggeration, and that is why I am saying let the law take its course.”

This was after acting committee chairperson, Paradzai Chadona quizzed him, saying: “There were allegations that Zimdef funds were channelled for the purchase of vehicles, paying fuel for a youth political organisation, financing ministry activities at the ZITF to the tune of $1 million, paying for ministry ZBC adverts, and other misuse, please explain.”

Memory Munochinzva (MDC-T Proportional Representation MP) also took Mandizvidza to task to explain why he had presented financial reports for the period 2012 to 2015, leaving out last year’s figures.

A recent probe by the National Manpower Advisory Council audit committee indicated that Mandizvidza accessed a $35 000 loan to renovate his house at Alexandra Park in 2013, and also got an educational loan of $21 654 over and above a free education allowance paid by Zimdef for his four children.

Moyo has been implicated alongside his deputy, Godfrey Gandiwa and the matter is pending at the courts.

When Chakona put it to Mandizvidza that Moyo had admitted that they used Zimdef funds to buy fuel for Zanu PF youths, the Zimdef boss insisted that there was no misdirection of funds.

“If there were any resources misdirected elsewhere, let the facts be put on the table. As far as we are concerned, we have not misdirected resources,” Mandizvidza said, also disputing reports that Zimdef was planning a staff retrenchment exercise after failing to pay employees.

Chakona ordered Zimdef to bring before Parliament their statements of audit to settle the dust over the alleged misuse of funds and questioned the logic of paying fees for students pursuing Stem subjects as if the country had a shortage of science graduates.

“There are thousands of engineers in the country that are jobless and these are the ones that you should have targeted so that they do research and come up with inventions,” Chakona said. – Newsday

Former freedom fighters across the country are set to benefit from business ventures that are set to be rolled-out by the Ministry of War Veterans, War Collaborators, Detainees and Restrictees this year.

War veterans Minister Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube said in an interview last week that through a company called Power Zimbabwe, which is a ministry vehicle, a blueprint was in place to start businesses across major economic sectors to help the country’s liberators, most of whom are living in penury.

Last week, Cde Dube travelled to South Africa to learn from the Department of Military Veterans, a cash-flush organisation with rich economic ties.

Lack of funds from Treasury, Rtd Col Dube said, had worsened the plight of the ex-fighters, hence the need for creativity and opening up of opportunities.

“It is an open secret that the fiscus has no money and this is why we are not even able to meet our obligation with fees, medical care, burials for liberation war fighters and other welfare issues because there is a challenge with money from the fiscus,” said Cde Dube.

“(Finance Minister, Cde Patrick) Chinamasa has encouraged us to do as much as we can to get some money, to get into some projects and so forth. We want to get into mining, and the Ministry of Mines must give us some claims and we go into joint venture partnerships because we still need capital.

“We have already tried one project, that is on quarry. We went into quarry business because we heard that there is a big road that is going to be constructed, the Chirundu-Beitbridge route. We know that there is a lot of quarry that is going to be required but we are still negotiating with the Ministry of Roads to assist us,” he said.

The project is already operational.

The Ministry of War Veterans, War Collaborators, Detainees and Restrictees has been given a wildlife concession in Matetsi, Hwange.

Explained Rtd Col Dube: “We think once it is properly done, the chalets and everything, people and hunters will begin to come and we get some proceeds. They all will go to the welfare of the war veterans.

“We are also trying to import maize. Some six/seven months ago, we got a licence from the GMB to import maize so that we get some profit as well. But, it has been extremely difficult. You know it requires foreign currency for transactions. That is, we have to send in some Nostro account which requires foreign currency.”

The ministry is also constituting a security company, which will employ former fighters and seek contracts with Government departments.

Rtd Col Dube was frustrated by the lack of support from some ministries and institutions such as banks.

There are about 34 000 war vets in Zimbabwe and the ministry also has to take care of 20 000 non-combat cadres, 6 000 ex-detainees and restrictees, 9 000 widows and 17 000 liberation war victims.

There are also nationalists and collaborators and the economic challenges facing the country have hit this demographic group the hardest. – State Media

Floods have left 73 families homeless, damaged over 1 000 homesteads countrywide, while lightning killed 10 people and injured 96, the Civil Protection Unit has indicated.

According to the CPU, 38 schools have been affected by the rains. In its January report, the CPU said several dams have breached, posing danger to people.

It warned that the heavy rains were posing danger to people in low-lying areas like Muzarabani, Middle Sabi, Chikwalakwala, Malipati, Gokwe and Tsholotsho.

It said major rivers were also overflowing.

“Heavy rainfall is expected to persist particularly in areas along the central watershed as well as the Eastern Highlands. The highlights of the flows obtained from major rivers during the weekend and the potential flooding are as follows — Limpopo River: medium risk of flooding in Chikwalakwala at the moment as the level is increasing, but is below the six metres threshold,” said the CPU.

It noted that at Save River, flows were increasing hence relatively high flood risk in Middle and Lower Save.

With Runde River, flows have significantly increased and there is high flood potential in Chiredzi and areas near the confluence with Save.

It warned of potential flooding in Tsholotsho as inflow into Gwayi increased significantly.

“Due to the current rainfall activities being received in the country, there is likelihood of flooding in all low-lying areas like Muzarabani, Middle Sabi, Chikwalakwala, Malipati, Gokwe and Tsholotsho at the moment.

“It is important to note that the situation can drastically change due to heavy rainfall which can be received.

“The situation is compounded by the fact that most of our national dams especially the small and medium sized are now full, resulting in most of the rainfall received being converted to runoff,” said the CPU.

In Harare, the CPU said heavy rains destroyed property in Borrowdale.

“Heavy downpours resulted in severe damages to perimeter walls and homes along Crowhill Road in Borrowdale. One small dam breached and the second one is spilling, exacerbating the damage downstream. Two bridges in the area collapsed compromising access.

“Of concern is that some of the houses are sited in natural water courses and others are sited a few metres from the dam wall. This is indicative of gross breaching of both spatial planning regulations and building by-laws. Residents were advised to evacuate as necessary and be on the look-out for floods,” it said.

In Mashonaland Central, the CPU said Manyame River banks in Mbire were collapsing and encroaching towards Tsetse division buildings.

This has affected the distribution of inputs and grain, it noted.

In Bindura, two children drowned in a dam while riding on an ox-drawn cart while in Shamva, hailstorm damaged four teachers’ houses at Chemhanza Primary School. Five classrooms had their roofs blown off with furniture and stationery damaged.

In Mount Darwin, a house was struck by lightning on January 28.

“Both husband and wife are disabled and they look after orphans. All their food stocks received from Social Welfare were destroyed,” said the CPU.

“In Masvingo Province, on January 29 in Chivi district, several families had their homes flooded. Nine homes were reportedly destroyed in Ward 29. Flood water reached window levels and a total of three bridges were washed away in the same area,” said the CPU.

Some families were marooned while fishing. In Gokwe South, Midlands Province, 100 families had their fields destroyed. The CPU said 15 homes were affected by floods in Sayi following the flooding of Manyoni River.

Villagers also lost livestock.

In Mashonaland East Province at Chinatsa Secondary School, a lightning bolt killed two students and injured 74.

All dams along Manyame River in Mashonaland West Province are spilling over.

“Five people were marooned whilst fishing and were air-rescued.

“Two people on a canoe were swept away and one escaped whilst the other one drowned, body yet to be found. Twenty-five illegal settlers on Heydon Farm had their homes reportedly destroyed by heavy rains,” added the CPU. – State Media

Chad Foreign Minister Moussa Faki has been elected as the next Africa Union Commission chairperson after beating four other candidates in a tightly contested election here.

He garnered 28 votes ahead of Kenya Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed who had 25 votes. Voting went into the 7th round where the two battled it out for the top post.

The remaining 3 candidates who incuded Sadc’s candidate and Botswana Foreign Minister Pelonomi Venson Moitoi fell by the wayside in earlier rounds.

Faki takes over from Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who did not seek re-election after her four- year term came to a close.

The AU chairperson can serve two terms of four years each.

Mr Faki will be deputised by Ghana’s Ambassador Thomas Koresi Quartey.

The AU confirmed last night that Mr Faki had finally made it.

“Chadian Foreign Minister has been elected by African Union Heads of State and Government who form the assembly of the AU,” it said.

Sources here said Venson Moitoi lost in earlier rounds after she secured 10 votes out of a possible 54.

Equatorial Guinea’s Mba Mokuy and Abdoulaye Bathily from Senegal were the other candidates vying to lead the AU Commission.

Sources attending the closed door voting session said Mr Faki clinched the much-sought-after position because he had the backing of more regions compared to his counterparts.

The election of the AU Commission chairperson was one of the major issues that Heads of State and Government were seized with.

The exercise was postponed at the AU summit in Kigali Rwanda last July after the candidates failed to secure the requisite two thirds majority.

The 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State and Government kicked off at the continental bloc’s headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa yesterday and ends today.

Elections for eight commissioners were still underway at the time of going to print.

Zimbabwe’s Dr Hesphina Rukato is angling for the Commissioner of Political Affairs post, while Dr Pride Chigwedere intends to head the Social Affairs brief.

The re-admission of Morroco was also expected to occupy a significant portion of the Assembly’s itinerary this evening. – State Media

ZIMBABWE and several like-minded countries are opposed to Morocco’s immediate re-admission into the African Union for as long as it continues to colonise the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Morocco colonised the SADR — which it calls Western Sahara — in 1975 soon after that country had gained independence from Spain.

Since then, Morocco has claimed ownership of the territory, suppressing the Polisario Front and marginalising the general citizenry of the SADR.

The then OAU recognised the SADR as a sovereign territory in 1982, prompting Morocco to pull out of the bloc two years later.

Last year at the AU’s mid-term Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI formally asked for re-admission.

However, the kingdom maintains it has a right to occupy the SADR and will not allow decolonisation even if it is readmitted into the continental fold.

Instead, Morocco is seen to be seeking to use re-admission as another lever with which to exert further control over the SADR.

Morocco has been on a diplomatic blitz over the past half-year to get African leaders to back its return to the AU.

A simple majority is required for a decision to carry the day, and that was a key matter African leaders were debating yesterday as the 28th Ordinary Summit of the AU opened in Addis Ababa.

President Mugabe has over the decades been steadfast about his Government’s backing for Saharawi independence.

As Morocco told the international media that it had the backing of 40 African leaders, a group of like-minded, pro-sovereignty AU members met ahead of the Summit to consolidate positions.

Senior diplomats from Zimbabwe, Algeria, Uganda, South Africa, Namibia and other countries deliberated on Morocco’s bid and the SADR’s plight.

Sources said the countries were adamant that nothing had changed since 1982 when the bloc accepted the SADR, 1984 when Morocco left in a huff, and today.

“If Morocco wants to be a member of the African Union, it has to accede to the principles of the African Union,” said a Zimbabwean official.

“They have to accept the boundaries that were there at independence, and those boundaries show the SADR and Morocco as distinct, sovereign territories.”

The official added: “Nothing has changed. They remain illegally in occupation of a sovereign African country and no amount of Moroccan propaganda will move us from this position.” – State Media

POLICE Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri yesterday said some of his officers mounting road blocks are corrupt and a number has been dismissed from the force, but blamed motorists for offering bribes instead of paying fines.

He said it was a misconception that the police kept the money properly raised from roadblocks as they deposit it into a bank account administered by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Of late, there has been concern among Zimbabweans at the high number of roadblocks, both in the cities and highways, raising suspicion that the police were out to fleece motorists.

But Comm-Gen Chihuri told legislators from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committees on Peace and Security, and Home Affairs and Security Services on a familiarisation tour of several police projects in Harare that police did not set targets for fines collection at road blocks.

“I cannot deny that some traffic officers are corrupt and it takes two to tango,” said Comm-Gen Chihuri. “In most cases, the drivers are the ones who offer bribes. We have introduced swipe machines, but still some motorists refuse to swipe and prefer paying bribes.

“We have dismissed some officers for engaging in corruption and there are no sacred cows. Anyone caught will be dismissed from the service.”

Comm-Gen Chihuri said the police were faced with inadequate funding.

“We also collect funds through the Judicial Service Commission and we are supposed to get 10 percent of it, but we have not received any money,” he said.

“When we want to buy something, we go to tender. The money is audited by police, Home Affairs and the Auditor General. There is no way the money can be stolen.”

Comm-Gen Chihuri said the money collected at road blocks was insignificant, as compared to the money collected through the Minerals and Border Control unit. Due to lack of funding, Comm-Gen Chihuri said, the force was failing to complete important projects, with some recruits failing to get their salaries for the last six months.

He said he hoped that talks with the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Finance will result in the recruits being paid their salaries soon.

“Police require a lot of money,” he said. “The ZRP got less than $3 million from the fiscus and how can we be expected to work with $3 million? Policing requires a lot of money.

“We are running short of the required uniforms. The police force should have five different uniforms for different occasions, but due to lack of funding we use only one type of uniform for all occasions.”

Comm-Gen Chihuri blamed the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries for some of the woes faced by the force.

“Sanctions are real and playing havoc no matter what other versions people have come up with,” he said. “The economic hardships are a result of the sanctions.

“The condition of service is not so good. Police officers do not have accommodation and have mobility challenges. In 1995, we had 7 000 vehicles, but now we have remained with 2 000 vehicles.”

Parliamentarians expressed concern over the unavailability of adequate funding and the state of the unfinished projects which they said had the potential to cut costs and raise revenue for the force.

In an interview after the tour, Home Affairs and Security Services Committee chairman Cde Oliver Mandipaka (Zanu-PF) said the force had very promising projects which could save Government huge sums of money.

The projects could also generate income if only there was funding to complete them.

“We are concerned with the time taken to complete the projects,” he said. “We are challenging the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to release allocated funds to complete the projects as they are in the interest of the police, Government and the economy.”

Among the incomplete projects are the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in Harare whose construction started in 1999 and the Public Protection Unit residential flats which have been stalled since construction started five years.

Legislators also visited the Police General Headquarters, the Automated Finger prints identification system unit at Chikurubi and the force’s clothing factories. – State Media

A MAN from Bulawayo lost his Honda Fit vehicle to a gang of four men and a woman who seized it at knife point before tying him up and dumping him in Ntabazinduna.

Mr Anesu Chipande (25), a plumber from Hillcrest suburb, was lucky to escape unharmed as he ran off naked before the gang, which had asked for a lift, drove away in his car.

They got away with his cell phone, clothes and plumbing equipment.

Mr Chipande wandered into a nearby homestead where he sought assistance.

One of the suspects Hloniphani Ndlovu (31) was arrested in Mhondoro in Mashonaland West and he implicated Farai Mlauzi (32).

Three of their accomplices, who whose names were not mentioned in court, are still at large.

Appearing before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze yesterday, Ndlovu and Mlauzi pleaded not guilty to armed robbery.

“We took the car Your Worship but we didn’t have any knives on us. We only intended to make a few trips with the car so that we could raise money. We were going to dump the vehicle anyway. We are very sorry for our conduct,” said Mlauzi.

The magistrate postponed the matter to today as the State could not get hold of some of its witnesses.

Presenting the State Case, Miss Caroline Matanga said on December 9 last year at around 4PM, Mr Chipande was leaving a house he had spent the day working at in Mahatshula suburb when one of the armed robbers asked for a lift on behalf of his accomplices.

“Complainant was driving his white Honda Fit registration number AEB 6543. One of the accused persons approached complainant asking for a lift. They offered to pay $0.50 each,” said Miss Matanga.

“One of the accused persons drew a knife and threatened to kill complainant if he refused to comply with their instructions. They ordered him to make a U-turn at Imbizo Barracks. After about 500 metres drive they ordered him to stop.”

Miss Matanga said Ndlovu tied Mr Chipande’s hands using shoe laces and took him to the back seat where he sat guarding him.

“Mlauzi drove the car and stopped close to Police Training Depot. He then searched complainant and stole a Samsung S2 cell phone, $5, two grinders, two drilling machines, various spanners, a water pump pliers and a pipe cutter,” she said.

“He stripped complainant of his work suit, removed the sandals he was wearing and swapped them for the complainant’s pair of Adidas tackies. They dragged him to a nearby bush but he managed to escape. Ndlovu was arrested in Mhondoro and implicated his accomplices.” – State Media

State Media – Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri yesterday said some of his officers mounting roadblocks are corrupt and a number has been dismissed from the force, but blamed motorists for offering bribes instead of paying fines.

He said it was a misconception that the police kept money properly raised from roadblocks, which they deposit into a bank account administered by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Of late, there has been concern among Zimbabweans at the high number of roadblocks, both in cities and highways, raising suspicion that police were out to fleece motorists.

But Comm-Gen Chihuri told legislators from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committees on Peace and Security, and Home Affairs and Security Services on a familiarisation tour of several police projects in Harare that police did not set targets for fine collections at roadblocks.

An image of a police notice instructing officers at an unnamed station that the daily collection target had been increased from $4 000 to $4 400 has gone viral on social media, raising the ire of motorists and commuters who said the police were not Zimra.

“I cannot deny that some traffic officers are corrupt and it takes two to tango,” said Comm-Gen Chihuri.

“In most cases, the drivers are the ones who offer bribes. We have introduced swipe machines, but still some motorists refuse to swipe and prefer paying bribes.

“We have dismissed some officers for engaging in corruption and there are no sacred cows. Anyone caught will be dismissed from the service.”

Comm-Gen Chihuri said the police were faced with inadequate funding.

“We also collect funds through the Judicial Service Commission and we are supposed to get 10 percent of it, but we have not received any money,” he said.

“When we want to buy something, we go to tender. The money is audited by police, Home Affairs and the Auditor General. There is no way the money can be stolen.”

Comm-Gen Chihuri said the money collected at roadblocks was insignificant, as compared to the money collected through the minerals and border control unit.

Due to lack of funding, Comm-Gen Chihuri said, the force was failing to complete important projects, with some recruits failing to get their salaries for the last six months.

He said he hoped that talks with the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Finance will result in the recuits being paid their salaries soon

“Police requires a lot of money,” he said. “ZRP got less than $3 million from the fiscus and how can we be expected to work on $3 million? Policing requires a lot of money.

“We are running short of the required uniforms. The police force should have five different uniforms for different occasions, but due to lack of funding we use only one type of uniform for all occasions.”

Comm-Gen Chihuri blamed the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries for some of the woes faced by the force.

“Sanctions are real and playing havoc no matter what other versions people have come up with,” he said. “The economic hardships are a result of the sanctions.

“The condition of service is not so good. Police officers do not have accommodation and have mobility challenges. In 1995, we had 7 000 vehicles, but now we have remained with 2 000 vehicles.”

Parliamentarians expressed concern over the unavailability of adequate funding and the state of the unfinished projects which they said had the potential to cut costs and raise revenue for the force.

In an interview after the tour, Home Affairs and Security Services Committee chairman Cde Oliver Mandipaka (Zanu-PF) said the force had very promising projects which could save Government huge sums of money.

The projects could also generate income if only there was funding to complete them.

“We are concerned with the time taken to complete the projects,” he said. “We are challenging the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to release allocated funds to complete the projects as they are in the interest of the police, Government and the economy.”

Among the incomplete projects are the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in Harare whose construction started in 1999 and the Public Protection Unit residential flats which have been stalled since construction started five years.

Legislators also visited the Police General Headquarters, the Automated Finger prints identification system unit at Chikurubi and the force’s clothing factories.

As opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai accelerates his nationwide consultations regarding the formation of an anti-Zanu PF grand coalition ahead of next year’s eagerly-anticipated national elections, Zimbabweans are warning him to be wary of the ruling party’s dirty tricks.

The former prime minister in the Government of National Unity, who is currently on a whirlwind tour of Matabeleland, was this week told by traditional leaders and ordinary villagers that there was a strong likelihood that President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF would use some of the smaller opposition parties to destabilise the mooted coalition alliance.

The concerns came as Zanu PF apparatchiks have lately been working overtime to discredit former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who now leads the Zimbabwe   People First (ZPF) party, in what observers have described as a desperate bid to scupper Tsvangirai’s ongoing coalition talks with her.

MDC insiders told the Daily News On Sunday yesterday that Tsvangirai had been advised during his meeting with party supporters and opinion leaders in Hwange on Thursday to treat some of the smaller opposition parties with caution, as they could be used to derail his 2018 momentum.

“The opinion leaders lauded the proposed alliance of political parties, but urged caution indeed, saying some of the parties were direct creations of Zanu PF.

“However, they also expressed optimism that the alliance would defeat Zanu PF and set the tone for a new, prosperous Zimbabwe post-Mugabe in 2018,” Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said.

“The opinion leaders, like all the groups and people he has met during this tour, restated the fact that the Zanu PF government had failed miserably.

“They all gave their input to President Tsvangirai on the new society that they want after the 2018 polls. The issues they raised included the continued marginalisation of their communities by the Zanu PF government, the collapsed national infrastructure that needs urgent rehabilitation and the abuse of traditional leaders by Zanu PF.

“On his part, he (Tsvangirai) said he was finding the people’s input invaluable, particularly their views on the new Zim society that they want after 2018. He pledged to build an inclusive society that would not leave anyone behind,” Tamborinyoka told the Daily News On Sunday.

Contacted for a comment, ZPF spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire said Zanu PF was “desperate” to put a wedge between Mujuru and Tsvangirai, to scuttle the formation of the envisaged coalition.

“Zanu PF is desperate to scuttle the coalition talks between Mujuru and Tsvangirai and the media gimmicks that we are witnessing show us that some briefcase party leaders are indeed fronting Zanu PF’s desperate bid to destroy the ongoing talks.

“All this and the Zanu-PF regime’s false death stories on Tsvangirai a few days ago show the desperation that has gripped this dying regime,” he said.

Insiders have previously told the Daily News On Sunday that the former prime minister in the government of national unity is on the verge of sealing a historic pact with his other former secretary general, Welshman Ncube, and Mujuru — with whom he has been meeting behind the scenes over the past few months.

Last year Tsvangirai also told diplomats that he was wary about the “real prospects” of the panicking ruling Zanu PF using some of the country’s smaller opposition parties to put spanners in the works of a viable grand coalition.
The former trade union leader has also recently set out clear conditions for all his prospective coalition partners.

“Once again on this issue, Your Excellencies, you must understand that we reserve our right to determine who we will work with.

“There are about 42 political parties in the country, some of them deliberately created by Zanu PF to muddy the political waters. Some of them are not even institutions in the true sense of the word. We will do our own necessary diligence checks before we work with anyone,” the MDC leader told the diplomats.

Tsvangirai, who commands a huge following among Zimbabweans, and is the only politician in the history of the country to defeat Mugabe and Zanu PF in an election — in 2008 — this week gave Mujuru a big lift when he confirmed that he would work with her in 2018, despite ZPF’s defeat to Zanu PF in last week’s Bikita West by election.

In the wake of that debilitating defeat, analysts had said Mujuru was now in “a weak bargaining position” in her delicate and ongoing coalition talks with Tsvangirai.

“The president (Tsvangirai) said one swallow does not make a summer and Bikita West is the swallow. It was a farcical election that cannot be used to measure someone’s popularity.
“Yes, there are some people who want to use it to undermine the coalition. However, we will not allow that because we have already decided to do a cow-horn formation on Zanu PF.
“There is a national sentiment out there that we should form a coalition and that is what we are going to do. It is Zimbabwe against Mugabe. The decision has already been made by the (MDC’s) national council that we are going into a coalition with Mujuru,” Tamborinyoka said on Tuesday.

Since Mujuru joined hands with Tsvangirai and marched with him in the streets of Gweru in August last year — in a rare public display of unity among the opposition — there have been growing calls by fed up citizens for the formation of a grand opposition alliance.

Analysts have consistently said that a united opposition, fighting with one purpose, would bring to an end Mugabe’s long rule — especially at this time when the country’s economy is dying and the increasingly frail nonagenarian is battling to keep his warring Zanu PF united. – Agencies

ZISCOSTEEL workers are still to be paid their retrenchment packages six months after the Government terminated their contracts on three months’ notice.

The Government in August last year terminated contracts of Ziscosteel’s 1 600 strong workforce.

Ziscosteel Joint Workers’ Union chairman Mr Benedict Moyo said the workers were waiting to get their retrenchment packages before they can start negotiating on how they can be paid their outstanding salaries, which have an eight year backlog.

“We are still to receive the monies owed to us, which includes salaries for the three months notice period, the two weeks for every year served as well as cash in lieu in respect of leave days. From our agreement with the Ziscosteel board we agreed that the workers’ union would be dissolved after every employee has received their dues,” said Mr Moyo.

“We were supposed to meet on 15 January for an update on the retrenchment packages but I am sure we will meet in February for an update on the issue. Once that is finalised then we will then see how best the salary arrears backdating to 2008 could then be paid.”

The Government has left the door open for workers who would want to return to the steel giant once an investor has been found to resume production.

Finance and Economic Development Minister, Patrick Chinamasa announced in his 2017 budget presentation that Ziscosteel had dismissed the workers who were still employed by the steel giant on three months’ notice. He also announced that the Government would assume the integrated steelworks manufacturer’s debt.

The move by the Treasury effectively confirmed the collapse of the much-touted Essar deal, which was signed in September 2011 in an initial transaction worth $750 million whose failure was blamed on the depressed metal prices on the world market.

The Government has started looking for new suitors to take over the iron and steel manufacturing giant including locals. – State Media

A WOMAN from Njube suburb in Bulawayo battered her live-in boyfriend to death for denying her sex after a drinking binge, a court heard yesterday.

Florence Ncube (43) appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube facing a charge of murder. She was not asked to plead and remanded in custody to February 10.

The magistrate also ordered Ncube to undergo a mental examination. Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said Ncube had a misunderstanding with her live-in boyfriend, the late Nkosilathi Ncube (38) on January 24.

He said when he refused to be intimate with her when they returned from a drinking spree, she attacked him. “On January 24 at around 8PM, the accused person and the deceased arrived from Matsotsi beer garden where they were drinking, and went to bed,” said Mr Mageza. “A misunderstanding resulted in a fight after the accused person was denied sex by the deceased.”

Ncube’s landlord, Ms Orpa Dube, heard noise from the fighting couple and called the police.

Mr Mageza said police officers from Njube police station went to the house and took the couple to the station for counselling.

He said on January 25 in the morning, the deceased had difficulties in breathing, and was seen by the landlord who then went to report the matter at Njube police station. “On January 25, 2017, the accused person was seen by the landlord Ms Orpa Dube washing the now deceased with a towel, cleaning blood mixed with froth which was oozing from the mouth and blood from the ears. The deceased person had difficulties breathing and the landlord made a report at Njube police station,” said Mr Mageza.

The body of the deceased was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary where a post mortem indicated that he had succumbed to a skull fracture, among other injuries. – State Media

Shyleen Mtandwa | Movement for Democratic Change President, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been invited to newly elected Gambia’s President Adama Barrow’s inauguration, unconfirmed reports indicate.

Writing on twitter, Barrow made the following announcement, “The official Inauguration Ceremony will take place on 18 February 2017 at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, the Republic of Gambia.”

Social media reports that veteran opposition politician Tsvangirai will be among the many invited to grace the ceremony, as Gambia transits from despotism to democracy. More to follow…

Ray Nkosi | President Robert Mugabe has all but neglected Zimbabwe’s First Lady, at independence, Mrs Janet Banana.

Janet celebrated her birthday over the weekend with just a few Zimbabweans, knowing or remembering that there was a First Lady, before Amai Sally Mugabe. Her husband, a methodist minister, Canaan Sodindo Banana, served as Zimbabwe’s first President from  from 18 April 1980 until 31 December 1987. 

Banana whose later life was soiled by allegations of sodomy, is famed for bringing together, two of the country’s political parties, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), in an accord still in force today. Banana succumbed to cancer on 10 November 2003.

President Mugabe makes no mention whatsoever, of the late Banana’s family. Janet celebrated a quite birthday, with her son Nathan taking in his father’s footsteps, by entering politics celebrating her life on social media.

Wrote the younger Banana;

Today “Zimbabwe’s First Lady” at independence Janet Banana, my mum, a sister, a teacher, a friend, a grandmother, a work mate celebrates her birthday.

They say history is for the victors and some will be remembered whilst others are forgotten, but facts can never be changed.

Today a great woman, mother, sister, teacher, friend most in Zimbabwe no longer know about will be celebrating her birthday.

Supporters of Limpopo’s controversial “Prophet of Doom” scrambled to enter the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane on Monday morning where Prophet Lebetho Rabalago was making his first court appearance.

The provincial department of health has brought an urgent application for the court to interdict Rabalago and members of his Mount Zion General Assembly church in Zebediela from spraying people with Doom. Some of the people in the group of about 60 people wore T-shirts with the words “Hands off the Anointed One” written on them.

Rabalago‚ whose case postponed to March 20‚ appeared in court wearing two-toned formal shoes and a slim fit maroon jacket.

He was accompanied by bodyguards. Rabalago is expected to convince the court why the interdict sought against him should not be made final.

On Monday‚ his legal representative Edmond Lubisi requested more time to prepare.

After court‚ Lubisi said the matter was postponed to so that the parties involved could exchange documents.

Asked whether he believed they had a strong case‚ Lubisi said the case involved the law and faith‚ adding that the two should be kept separate.

The group of supporters‚ most of them women‚ sang outside the high court building on Biccard Street.

On their way to catch a bus after the hearing‚ they sang “Where there is Doom‚ there are no problems”. – Agencies

ZANU PF in fighting in Masvingo Province reached new levels yesterday after a faction linked to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangwaga brought back suspended chairperson Ezra Chadzamira amid protests by members of G40.

The party’s acting chairperson Amasa Nhenjana immediately rejected the move, saying he remained at the helm despite the decision made during a provincial co-coordinating committee (PCC) meeting held at the Masvingo show grounds.

Nhenjana was ordered to revert back to his position of deputy chairperson in a move that has widened cracks in the party, with rival Lacoste and G40 factions already at each other’s throats just a week after bagging the Bikita West seat in a by-election.

Zanu PF in Masvingo is also divided over the selection of candidates for the forthcoming Mwenezi East by-election.

According to reports, long-serving party member, Jusby Ommar, has been disqualified from contesting in the primary polls together with five other candidates, out of a total of 16 hopefuls.

Speaking at a press conference while flanked by the party’s provincial commissar, Jeppy Jaboon, women league chair Veronica Makonese and several legislators linked to G40, Nhenjana said he remained the acting chairperson.

“The move to demote me was done unprocedurally and we categorically reject it,” he said.

“I was appointed by the politiburo and the same procedure should be used in demoting me. For now, I am still the acting chairperson.

“I am surprised they want to demote me now after winning in Bikita West.

“These are the same elements that wanted to sabotage the party in Bikita West, and after failing, they want again to see the party losing in Mwenezi East, where our sights are at the moment.
“This is here for all to see.”

However, Chadzamira said the decision was made by the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC) where Nhenjana was also a member.

“The PEC restored me today……it was not an individual decision,” he said.

“He was also part of that meeting and am suprised he is making an about turn.

“I was exonerated by the national disciplinary committee last year. I do not attend PEC.”

On the Mwenezi East by-election, Chadzamira said the provincial elections directorate vetted candidates but dismissed reports that Ommar was disqualified.

“The PEC turns into the provincial elections directorate and that is the body that considers CVs,” he said.

“But as for Ommar, he was not disqualified. Of course there are others that did not meet the party criteria, but not Ommar. His candidature will be considered.”

Zanu PF national political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, yesterday said he was out of the country and needed to get the details first before commenting.

“I cannot comment at the moment, I can only do so when I get the full report,” Kasukuwere said.

He confirmed that Chadzamira was barred from holding any post for two years even after he was cleared by the party over the charges he was facing. – State Media

President Mugabe and other continental leaders will soon start closed session deliberations ahead of the official opening of the 28th Ordinary Summit of the African Union here.

The agenda is packed, and even before the official opening ceremony begins in a couple of hours, Africa’s leaders must have already made headway on at least four key issues.

The first is consideration of the Progress Report on the Implementation of the Decision on Financing the African Union.

The drive is for the AU to full self-finance and move away from the current scenario where almost all its operations are funded by foreign donors.

President Mugabe has for years advocated for self-financing as a measure that will guarantee Africa’s power of agency over its own destiny.

The proposal on the table is for African countries to introduce a 0,2 percent levy on all imports, with the money going directly to the AU budget.

AU Commission Deputy Chair Dr Erastus Mwencha says this alone would raise at least US$1,5 billion, and some African countries have already started implementing the levy.

African leaders will this morning also consider a report of the Commission on the Continental Free Trade Area and the Mechanism to Eliminate Non-Trade Barriers; as well as possibly adopt the outcome document of the retreat of Heads of State and Government on the Institutional Reform of the AU.

Thereafter they will elect the new AU Bureau, which will be the bloc’s political leadership over the coming year.

Towards midday, the Summit enters an open session, which will consist of the official opening ceremony.

Among the dignitaries expected to address at the opening ceremony are outgoing AU Commission Chair Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma; new United Nations Secretary-General Mr Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres; Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Cuban Vice-President Salvador Valdes Mesa; and outgoing AU Chair President Idris Deby Itno of Chad.

The Summit, which is themed “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in the Youth”, then goes into a lengthy closed session until the official closing ceremony late on Tuesday.

It is during this closed session that African leaders must find Dr Dlamini-Zuma’s successor, after having failed to agree on a candidate six months ago at a mid-term Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.

Those eyeing the post of “Africa’s top civil servant” are Botswana’s Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Dr Moussa Faki Mahamat (Chad), Agapito Mba Mokuy (Equatorial Guinea), Dr Amina Mohammed (Kenya), and Dr Abdoulaye Bathily (Senegal).

Insiders told this writer that the Kenyan candidate appeared to be the front-runner though the race remained tightly contested.

African leaders are apparently uncomfortable with the Sadc candidate for the post as her President, General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, is a proponent of the International Criminal Court at a time the vast majority of the continent’s leaders are pushing for reforms of the organisation.

The AU feels the ICC has unfairly targeted Africa as a tool for regime change and to ensure leaders are compliant to Western whims and caprices.

Further, President Khama has not done much to sell the candidate, while candidates from other countries have seen their leaders going all out before and during this Summit to sell them as they best replacements for Dr Dlamini-Zuma.

A candidate must have the support of two-thirds of the AU leadership to become Commission Chair.

African leaders will also fill the posts of Commission Deputy Chair (to replace Dr Mwencha, whose mandate ends at this Summit); and eight commissioners responsible for peace and security; political affairs; trade and industry; infrastructure and energy; social affairs; rural economy and agriculture; human resources, science and technology; and economic affairs. _ State Media

Ray Nkosi | Hundreds of Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First supporters in Bulawayo including vendors, who were highly expecting a visit by their party leader this weekend were left disappointed after she cancelled her visit to the city at the last minute.

Mujuru was scheduled for a busy weekend in the City of Kings where she was expected to meet, vendors in the streets of Bulawayo on Saturday before proceeding to preside over a social soccer challenge sponsored by her party.

On Sunday she was scheduled to address her factionalism ridden Bulawayo Province party executive.

Party insiders claim that Mujuru cancelled the trip after her security warned that they could not guarantee her an incident free meeting with the squabbling Bulawayo executive team.

The rival factions in the Bulawayo membership who are fighting over the Vice President position earlier threatened to sort each other out when Mujuru lands in the city if nothing concrete is resolved in the meeting.

Mujuru’s Bulawayo spokesperson Methuseli Moyo could not immediately be reached for a comment on the matter. However, the sources said that the visit has been rescheduled to next weekend to give the provincial committee to sort its issues.

https://youtu.be/vHudHOxJudg?t=4

Chimurenga music legend Thomas Mapfumo has thrown his weight behind South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, who last week said it was high time that President Robert Mugabe steps down.

Malema addressed the media in Braamfontein, South Africa last Monday where he urged the soon to be 93-year-old leader to relinquish power. The firebrand EFF leader said Mugabe could not even control a spade, therefore he was no longer capable of discharging his responsibilities.

However, his utterances did not go down well with some Zanu PF members, who dismissed Malema’s call on their leader to step down.

On Friday, Mapfumo came out guns blazing, rallying behind Malema whom he said spoke the truth about Zimbabwe.

“I tend to agree with Malema. I think he gave a perfect description of us Zimbabweans, that we are a bunch of cowards. Cowards are not only in Zanu PF, but the majority of us. Malema spoke the truth. Everyday Mugabe and his cronies are looting and yet no one is challenging that,” Mapfumo said in an exclusive interview with The Standard Style.

The Chimurenga music maestro who is finalising his forthcoming album said Zimbabweans, including himself, should not sit on their laurels while the country is “burning”.

“There is a lot of corruption happening and only yesterday [Thursday] I was reading on the internet that Zimbabwe was now among the top five most corrupt countries in the world. Grace Mugabe is busy buying expensive rings costing millions of dollars using ‘looted’ money but no one is challenging that. Why are people silent?” said the singer who is now based in Oregon in the United States.

The Vanhu Vatema hitmaker also took a swipe at MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai whom he described as a “useless and selfish leader”.

“Tsvangirai is useless. He won in the 2008 elections but later joined the government of national unity taking over the prime minister’s position. That shows how selfish he is. What kind of leader is that? Why doesn’t he step down and give a young leader a chance so that he can rest because I heard he is not well? He is like Mugabe who is holding on to power,” he said.

“I can’t even talk of [Joice] Mujuru because she still idolises Mugabe and sees nothing wrong in him. I believe the current crop of opposition leaders has run out of ideas. We want leaders who stand for the masses. Leaders like [Tanzania’s president John] Magafuli and Thomas Sankara [Burkina Faso’s revolutionary hero] are good examples of selfless and revolutionary leadership that our continent needs. If Africa had such kind of leaders, surely our continent would have been far.”

On the formation of a coalition by opposition political parties, Mapfumo said the idea was good but will not benefit the ordinary man on the street.

“It is a good idea, but I think it’s a sheer waste of time because Mugabe has rigged — the playing field is not even. A coalition should be about the masses and not leaders and it won’t work. Whom will it benefit?”

The fearless singer described war veterans as mercenaries, who are after nothing but money.

“They are the same people who caused this situation when they demanded money for going to war. Why should you be paid if you were fighting for people? They are mercenaries concerned about their pockets. Their patron is a thief and we have not heard that they have chased him, meaning they still love him,” he said.

“Zimbabweans should not be fooled by the so-called factions in Zanu PF because those are the same people and they will not change. Wait and see when the elections come. I bet you won’t hear any of these factions, it will be one Zanu PF and they always unite to defend their loot. War veterans should first apologise to Zimbabweans for the violence they caused during past elections if people are to believe them.”

Mapfumo, whose music has rubbed the government the wrong way, said his latest project — a 12-track album — would be released on Independence Day. He said one of the tracks on the album Chauya Chauya kuZimbabwe Kusiri Kufa Ndekupi has a significant political impact on Zimbabwe and provides power for positive change and unity. – Standard

Children of Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (CZNLWVA) members have severed ties with the ruling Zanu PF, saying they could not continue associating with a party that has spurned their parents.

CZNLWVA chairperson, Innocent Mhlanga confirmed the development in a December 24, 2016 letter addressed to Zanu PF youth secretary, Kudzanai Chipanga.

“This letter serves to confirm that CZNLWVA has withdrawn its affiliation to the youth league largely because the Zanu PF youth league continues to interfere in our day-to-day activities as an association,” he wrote.

CZNLWVA also accused the youth league of holding meetings with bogus children of war veterans and using them to denounce the party and government leadership, including War Veterans’ minister Tshinga Dube and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“We are a group working on the welfare of children of war veterans and not a political force. Even though some war veterans were expelled from Zanu PF, they remain our parents and we, therefore, cannot be seen insulting our own parents for political mileage,” Mhlanga said.

He said CZNLWVA was not part of the meeting, where Zanu PF Harare youth provincial leader, Edson Takataka, dressed down Dube, accusing him of continuously recognising Mutsvangwa’s executive, despite the fact that the latter was fired from the ruling party.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Chipanga said the Zanu PF youth league ceased to recognise CZNLWVA after its leaders were expelled from the party last year.

“We dismissed their leadership last year and in terms of operation, they should have known that we had cut all relations with them. However, there are other children of war veterans, who have continued to work with us and those are the ones who we are working with,” he said. – Newsday

PUBLIC Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Prisca Mupfumira, says Zimbabwe is bracing for an influx of Mozambican refugees following a fresh wave of political instability in the neighbouring country, where Renamo bandits have renewed their armed conflict against the Frelimo government.

Speaking to journalists in Harare last week, Mupfumira said by virtue of being part of the signatories to the Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, Zimbabwe was obliged to look after people, who seek asylum.

“Now, we have a situation in Mozambique, where there is some unrest and there have been an influx of refugees into Zimbabwe,” she said.

“We will have to receive and look after them and screen them to find out who are genuine refugees and who are not. We don’t just accept anybody as refugee.”

“We will not look after the criminals, but genuine refugees. Zimbabwe is part of the signatories to the Convention on Refugee Protocol, hence, we are obliged to look after genuine refugees, not the criminals and people who have left their countries for whatever reasons.”

Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees is a United Nations multilateral treaty that defines refugees, and sets out rights of those granted asylum, as well as responsibilities of countries that grant asylum.

Latest statistics from the Labour and Social Welfare ministry indicate that over 9 000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and Ethiopia are housed at the Tongogara Refugee Camp in Manicaland province.

DRC refugees consist of about 75% of the population, as it is constantly facing tribally-ethnic insurgencies, while the other countries share the remaining 25%. – Newsday

THE Joice Mujuru-led opposition Zimbabwe People First (ZimpF) has rallied behind South African opposition Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema’s call for President Robert Mugabe to step down.

Malema last week urged Mugabe to step down, while also describing Zanu PF officials as cowards for failing to advise the President to hand over power, attracting scorn from Information minister, Christopher Mushowe.

ZimPF interim youth spokesperson, Khulani Ndlovu said Malema was spot on, adding that Zimbabwean youths had failed the nation and the region by allowing Mugabe to continue clinging on to power.

“As youths, we are deeply concerned that as a youthful nation, we have failed to unpack the elephant in our own house, much to the disappointment of our neighbours from South Africa,” he said.

“As ZimPF youths, we feel challenged by Malema’s sentiments. While Malema singled out Zanu PF as cowards for failing to be honest with the old man, it is necessary to exercise self-audit as citizens of Zimbabwe and ask ourselves if we have been honest enough to both, Mugabe and Zanu PF.”

Ndlovu said Zanu PF officials were not only cowards, but were also not fit to replace Mugabe.

“While Malema rightfully observed that Mugabe is surrounded by cowards, who have failed to gather bravery and courage to advise Mugabe to step down, we as a party further observe that none of those around him is fit to replace Mugabe,” he said.

“We strongly condemn Zanu PF as a system, because the party has diverted from the founding principles of the liberation. We as Zim PF youths say: Mugabe, together with your cabal, please you have done enough damage to the economy, please pave way for a people-centred government by making election reforms a priority. We are for the people, thus we say people first.” – Newsday

MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai has reportedly been given the greenlight by his supporters in Matabeleland region to form a grand coalition with his Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) counterpart, Joice Mujuru, ahead of next year’s general elections.

MDC-T sources told NewsDay yesterday that the general sentiment expressed by party supporters during Tsvangirai’s 10-day-long “meet the people tour” in the region was that nothing short of a coalition would dislodge President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu PF party.

Tsvangirai wound-up his regional tour on Saturday and is next week scheduled to visit other provinces to gather the electorate’s input in the execution and transaction of political business within and outside the party.

“The prospects of a coalition are very bright. We are edging closer to its realisation because our structures have been giving the president a greenlight to go ahead with the coalition,” a source said.

Party spokesperson, Obert Gutu, seemed to corroborate the source, saying the consultations in Matabeleland have been positive, although he refused to comment on the coalition issue.

“So far, the consultations have gone on extremely well,” he said.

“President Morgan Tsvangirai is a specialist in retail politics, he is a seasoned grassroots mobiliser, dating back to his days as a trade union leader. He has spent the past 10 days in the Matabeleland region, consulting party structures, as well as mingling and comparing notes with various opinion leaders in business, the church, civil society etc.

“This enables the party to make an informed and people-centred decision pertaining to political alliance building. We are extremely pleased with the feedback we have obtained from various stakeholders in the Matabeleland region.”

MDC-T has been at war with itself, literally, as other top leaders in the party are reportedly against the proposed grand coalition and are allegedly pulling all the stops to ensure the coalition suffers a stillbirth.

But, Gutu said: “We are a political party that encourages and tolerates robust debate on all pertinent issues affecting the party and the nation at large. Our policy decisions are consensus based and once the party officially adopts a particular position on any issue, all party cadres abide by that decision whether or not they were individually opposed to that particular policy. This is majority rule at its best.”

Mujuru has also come out publicly saying she has high hopes the coalition will take shape and that the two parties would join hands to confront Mugabe and his Zanu PF electoral machinery come 2018.

“I am sure he (Tsvangirai) saw that we mean serious business. ZimPF and the MDC-T are very serious about working for the freedom that the people of Zimbabwe are looking forward to,” she said. – Newsday

Conservative Member of Parliament James Duddridge, a former Minister for Africa, said on Wednesday that President Robert Mugabe should be given a soft landing upon exiting. Duddridge said this during a debate about relations between the UK and West Africa and accused some of the British  media of having “a  whiff of colonial snobbery”. Below is the full text;

Before diving into the substance of the debate, I bring Members’ attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. The reason for the debate was to probe the Government on their reaction to the recent election in Ghana, but in my mind, and I suspect in the minds of other hon. Members, the debate has somewhat morphed into a veritable tour de force of pan-regional issues. I hope it will be an opportunity for Members to delve into specific countries and highlight specific thematic trends and general trajectories across west Africa and the UK’s relationship with that region.

I start with Ghana, which I had the privilege of visiting relatively recently, alongside my hon. Friend Adam Afriyie in his role as the prime ministerial trade envoy to Ghana. That was a very interesting time. It preceded the election and built on the relationship I already had with a number of Ghanaian politicians, including Hannah Tetteh, the ex-Foreign Minister, on whom I heap praise for her work across the region. I felt a measure of sadness about the transition of people with whom I was used to doing business, but equally I am optimistic about the new Government, which is perhaps ideologically slightly more closely aligned to the Conservative party.

The new President, President Nana, has a strong team but does not have the benefit of Short money, as we would have here. I would urge the Minister to see what we can do to help the structure of Government in Ghana and addressing that country’s challenges.

One challenge is that of customs, with goods going in and out. There was a horrendous amount of corruption throughout the 20 processes. I did jokingly ask the excellent high commissioner Jon Benjamin to put in the diplomatic telegram that I had suggested at a number of points taking the head of customs to one side and shooting him by way of example. Clearly, that is not something that I would literally encourage, but such was the need for shock therapy in Ghana. I hope the new Government of Ghana will take the opportunity to engage in that challenge.

I saw a number of good companies, including Blue Skies, which provides fruit to the UK. As well as praising my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor in his trade role, and praising the ex-Foreign Minister for Ghana, and Jon Benjamin the high commissioner, I thank the high commissioner here, Victor, who was very good in exposing issues around the region and introducing me to west African colleagues based in the United Kingdom. I wish him well in his future.

Perhaps the view from the Foreign Office and the Minister is that Morocco is part of north Africa, but it looks towards west Africa more and more. Only this January there was a Ghanaian-Moroccan economic summit in Accra to look at how they could do business. The King of Morocco has reached out to west Africa over a number of years for trading relationships. I note that Morocco was reported in the African press as having the numbers to formally enter the European Union—sorry, not the European Union! That was a Freudian slip. It meant to say that it has the numbers to enter the African Union, which I think would plug a gap that has far too long been an anomaly in the African Union, notwithstanding Western Sahara.

One of the advantages of the Minister’s new role is that, for the first time in recent times, north Africa has been linked up with the rest of Africa. Over the past 20 years, our UK Government ministerial response to Africa has been disjointed and spread, wrongly, across a number of Departments. Sometimes that was for good reason and sometimes it was just for historical reasons. The reunification in the Foreign Office of Africa is positive, and I will come on to describe other trends and changes that I would like to encourage in the Foreign Office in relation to the structure of Government. The role carried out by my right hon. Friend Grant Shapps for a number of years is probably the right role in terms of Government structure, with Ministers operating across the Department for International Development and the Foreign Office wholly dedicated to the African continent.

It would be odd not to mention in a debate on west Africa the topical issue of Gambia. I particularly praise the Minister for going down and visiting the crisis centre and also for the way in which he let everyone know about it. I compliment him on his Twitter feed, which showed a video of him giving a speech praising the excellent work that they do in the basement of the Foreign Office, looking after British citizens when there is an international crisis. That is excellent work and it is brilliant that he could visit and publicise it.

West Africa is not often in the popular press, but Gambia started to hit the Daily Mail and The Sun. I was uncomfortable with some of the things that I read and the characterisation of the new President as the “ex-Argos security man”. There was more than a whiff of colonial snobbery to that. No one has ever described me as the guy who used to stack the shelves at Bejam’s, which preceded Iceland, but I am indeed the same person. Simply because of the nature of people’s view of Africa, that is how they described the new President, an entrepreneur whom I am sure will make a great President. Gambia cannot go the way of Mali with security and migration, which the prime ministerial envoy to the Sahel so ably dealt with. That role has sadly not been refilled, but it is very difficult to find someone of the skillset of Stephen O’Brien.

I note that Nigeria is offering refuge to the retiring, or ousted, President of Gambia. That is difficult and somewhat distasteful, but it is the practical and effective thing to do. I ask Members to reflect on providing soft landings to other leaders as and when it comes about. By no stretch of the imagination can one consider Zimbabwe part of west Africa, but there are parallels, not only for Nigeria but for other countries, in relation to soft landings for exiting world leaders.

A WOMAN (44) has been jailed for five months for forcing her daughter (15) into marriage on grounds that she wanted someone to look after the minor.

A Shurugwi magistrate also sent the man (40) who had married the Form Two girl to jail for 24 months in probably the first convictions for marrying off or marrying a minor since the Constitutional Court banned child marriage in January last year.

The Shurugwi court heard that the man had sex with the girl for the first time while her mother, whose identity has been withdrawn to protect the identity of the minor, stood guard at the door of his bedroom hut.

The illegal marriage lasted for one night as the girl’s grandmother reported the matter to the police.

First to appear before Shurugwi resident magistrate Mrs Evia Matura facing one count of pledging her underage daughter into marriage was the mother. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five months in prison.

The woman told the court in mitigation that she gave her daughter into marriage for free because she thought she was dying since she is anaemic. She said she wanted someone to look after her daughter before her death.

“I’m of ill health. I’ve continuous headaches and so I thought I would die and my child would have no one to look after her. When he married her, she was in school and had promised to further her education,” she said.

Prosecutor, Ms Nyengeterai Nechirava said on January 12 the woman forced her daughter to enter into marriage with Jelias Nyika but she refused.

“That same night at around 10PM, she packed the complainant’s clothes and took her to Nyika’s homestead before he had sexual intercourse with her that very night while she stood guard at the bedroom hut door,” she said.

The court heard that on January 13, the complainant’s grandmother reported the accused person to the police, leading to her arrest.

Second to appear in court was Nyika who was sentenced by Mrs Matura to 24 months in prison for having sex with a minor. Nyika had pleaded guilty to the charge.
He will however serve an effective 18 months in prison after six months of his sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

The prosecutor said on January 12 at around midnight, the woman handed her daughter to Nyika.

“After Nyika was given the complainant by her mother as his wife, he took her to his bedroom and had sexual intercourse with her while her mother was standing outside after which she proceeded to her homestead.

“Nyika was arrested after a report was made to the police by the complainant’s grandmother,” she said.

In a landmark ruling last year, the top court struck off the statutes Section 22(1) of the Marriages Act, which permitted children under the age of 18 years to formally get married.
It ruled that Section 22(1) of the Act was inconsistent with Section 78(1) of the Constitution, which sets 18 years as the minimum age of marriage in the country.

The ruling was made following an application filed by two Harare women challenging the Customary Marriages Act. – State Media