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

Last November, HRDC, under which Dete falls, put heaps of gravel on some roads as it planned to embark on a rehabilitation exercise.

The local authority however abandoned the project, leaving the gravel and uncovered trenches which residents now say pose a danger to them. Scores of residents from Ntuya, Bote, Soweto and Hlalani Kuhle suburbs including Zanu-PF youths took to the streets to express their displeasure.

The Chronicle visited the area on Thursday and noticed that streets were barricaded by heaps of gravel while some trenches had also been dug on roadsides.
Dete Residents Association chairman Mr Douglas Mpofu said council had abandoned the area.

“They dumped gravel on every street saying they would finish in two weeks but up to now the heaps are still there. People can’t drive to their houses and it’s an inconvenience as they have to park elsewhere. There have been cases of children falling into trenches,” said Mr Mpofu.

A resident of Mtuya suburb Mrs Sithokozile Moyo said: “We have a challenge as we have to monitor our children every time so they don’t play in dirty water or drown. Water accumulates in yards because it can’t drain away yet we can’t even move the gravel because they have threatened to arrest us.”

Another resident Mr Shepherd Dube said residents were now having transport problems.
“It’s difficult now to go into the business centre because of lack of transport. There also used to be a bus that would come into the suburbs but it has since stopped because of the state of roads,” he said.

HRDC CEO Mr Phindile Ncube said funds from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration were exhausted before the project was completed. He could not be drawn into giving details about the tender for the project, how much was received and how much was needed for the project.

Instead he dismissed residents’ concerns as being politically motivated.
“Those are not genuine concerns. There are people positioning themselves for political gains. We get funding from Zinara and it got finished hence we will discuss this at our full council meeting on Tuesday,” he said. – State Media

Botswana police have arrested the eighth Zimbabwean who escaped from Gerald Estates Centre Prison recently. The man was arrested last week. This was after 18 prisoners breached prison security and disappeared.

Of the 18, 15 are Zimbabweans. According to media reports, Botswana Prison Service with the assistance of the police, army and other state security agents, arrested Rowland Moyo last Tuesday.
He is facing robbery charges.

Moyo was arrested at Galo Mall in Francistown. Prisons spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Wamorena Ramolefhe confirmed Moyo’s arrest.

“Moyo was arrested at around 9pm. We are on the trail of the other escapees and we can assure the members of the public that more arrests will be made soon,” Snr Supt Ramolefhe said. Moyo was the second suspect to be arrested in Francistown.

Other jail-breakers were recaptured in Tutume, Tatisiding and Masingwaneng.
Only one escapee, Thabani Ncube, who is facing a murder charge in Botswana was arrested in Zimbabwe.

Ncube is currently in custody in Zimbabwe where he has pending criminal cases.
Moyo and six others, Gaomodimo Molosiwa, Mlindeli Moyo, Sicelo Sibanda, Godwin Mapunganyika, Charlotte Ndlovu and Methuli Sibanda are expected to appear in court soon where they will be charged with escaping from lawful custody.

The 18 escapees, who were described as dangerous, face serious charges of murder and robbery.
Three of them are Batswana while 15 are Zimbabweans.
Botswana police have indicated most of the suspects who escaped are believed to be in Francistown and its environs.

Chakalani Barati, Musa Willy, Elvis Ndlovu, Dzikhamani Ndebele, Innocent Nyoni, Edwin Ncube, Sunganai Tafiraushe, Givemore Chaloba, Brilliant Thabisani and Bruce Masuku are still on the run. – State Media

South Africa has distanced itself from utterances made by leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Mr Julius Malema, saying his remarks are not in line with the policies and approaches of the South African government to Zimbabwe, Sadc and the entire African continent.

Addressing journalists in South Africa on Monday last week, Mr Malema claimed that President Mugabe’s continued stay in power was not good for Zimbabwe, the Southern African Development Community and what he called the African revolution project. He further insulted Zanu-PF members, labelling them cowards for endorsing President Mugabe as the party’s presidential candidate for next year’s harmonised elections.

South Africa’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Mphakama Mbete said utterances by Mr Malema on President Mugabe and Zanu-PF were his personal views and would not affect warm diplomatic relations between South Africa, Sadc and the African Union.

Mr Malema’s utterances were also condemned by the secretary-general of the Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Mr Ottoman Magaya who said just three months ago, over 110 trade unions from different countries met in Durban, South Africa, where they spoke in solidarity with President Mugabe’s socialistic stance and his fight against neo-colonialism.

The Zimbabwe Government did not take Mr Malema’s strident attacks on the person of President Mugabe lightly. Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe told Mr Malema that his remarks were irritating and uncalled for, describing him as an ignorant youth and a talkative joker. “The Government of Zimbabwe finds quite irritating and uncalled for insulting statements by the so-called Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema, directed at Zimbabwe, and at the person of President Mugabe,” said Dr Mushohwe.

The Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) welcomed Dr Mushohwe’s response saying it was sorry for “the unfortunate and reckless comments by these lapdogs.”

It said the attack was very cheap, unnecessary, desperate, unwarranted, baseless and immature.

“Since the early 1960s during the decolonisation of African states until to date, we have been infiltrated by London stooges, who are brought and introduced to disrupt progress. They do that consciously or unconsciously. We have seen genuine African heroes being murdered or dethroned,” said the PAC. – State Media

POLICE have questioned a nurse in Lupane after receiving a tip-off that she was to blame for the death of a new born baby delivered at a local clinic.

Sr Ella Phiri reportedly administered injections to the baby at Lake Alice Clinic in a bid to stop her from continuously crying in September last year, but police have since been tipped off by some medical staff that the midwife’s actions could have caused the baby’s death.

The mother of the new born baby did not make a report.

Matabeleland North provincial medical director Dr Nyasha Masuka yesterday confirmed that police were investigating the matter. “Police went to the clinic to investigate acting on a tip off. I can’t confirm anything until I get an official report from the district medical officer.

“I would like the mother of the child to make an official complaint so that the issue can be dealt with professionally,” said Dr Masuka.

Sources at the clinic told The Chronicle that police came to the clinic for investigations after receiving a tip-off on the baby’s death.

Police are said to interested in interviewing two student nurses that were present when the injections were administered.

The baby is said to have been “paralysed” by the injections and died on the way to St Luke’s Hospital.

“A woman gave birth to a baby girl at the clinic on September 27 last year and she was assisted by Sr Phiri. Weighing three kilogrammes, the baby was healthy and normal but she was crying continuously and not breastfeeding because the mother’s breasts were not yet producing milk.

“Sr Phiri gave the mother a bottle so that she could squeeze some milk into it and feed the baby,” said an employee at the clinic who refused to be named.

The source said the baby, however, continued crying until September 29, when Sr Phiri administered an injection in the presence of a student nurse only identified as Munkuli.

“She advised the mother to bath her baby in cold water. At around 2PM on the same day, Phiri returned to the ward in the company of Munkuli and another student nurse called Gumpo.

“The baby was still crying and Sr Phiri administered another injection. The baby suddenly became sick and looked paralysed. She stopped drinking milk and started breathing with difficulty. Sr Phiri used oxygen equipment to assist the baby but her situation deteriorated,” said a source.

The source said Sr Phiri called for an ambulance from St Luke’s Hospital in Lupane, which took the baby but she died before arrival at the hospital.

She reportedly admitted to the police that she administered Benzylpenicillin Sodium but did not record it. – State Media

“The people were intimidated by the military but all was ignored due to … “

YOUNG PEOPLE’S DIALOGUE BOARD MEMBER FOR MEDIA, INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SETFREE MAFUKIDZE INTERVIEWS #GAMBIAHASDECIDED MOVEMENT LEADERS ……..

On Young People’s Dialogue LIVE-BLAST! we have the privilege of hosting Fatoumatta and Lawyer Salieu Taal from the Republic of Gambi. Salieu is one of the brains behind the #GambiaHasDecided campaign which advocated for the protection of the people of Gambia’s vote in which former President Yayah Jammeh lost to opposition coalition leader, Adama Barrow.

Setfree N Mafukidze: Fatouma and Salieu Taal, welcome to the Young People’s Dialogue LIVE-BLAST! Session. I will give you just a brief background of the Young People’s Dialogue.
The Young People’s Dialogue is a trust that advocates for the participation of young people and taking up leadership roles in economics, politics, social, sport and all other positive aspects that promote development of Zimbabwe. We felt the need to have you join us as we are keen to learn on what transpired and what is the way forward for the people of Gambia.

Fatouma: I will let Salieu Taal one of the brains behind the #GambiaHasDecided team and a prominent Lawyer called at the bar both in the UK And in The Gambia the elaborate on the issues of the Gambian crises and the way forward . Thank you.

Setfree N Mafukidze: Thank you for coming through Fatoumatta, while we wait for Salieu to come through you could give us highlights of what the situation is like in The Gambia at the moment?

Fatouma: Again it is a pleasure to be invited to such a prominent group to discuss our current crisis . I hope Counsel Taal’s contributions will be of immense importance to the group and in the coming elections in Zimbabwe. We must learn by experience. And The Gambia experience must be of great significant in the continent. With less than a population of 2 million people we have demonstrated to the world that the power of the people is greater than that of one person .

Setfree N Mafukidze: I suggest we go ahead with questions related to the Gambia and Salieu joins us later, shall we proceed? Let’s get the ball rolling. Now Fatoumatta and Salieu I understand an election was held in your country to choose a new President and the results of it led to the fall of former President Yayah Jammeh who was defeated by opposition politician Adama Barrow.

Can you briefly give us an insight into the personality of the outgoing President as well as his achievements during his 22 year rule?

Fatouma: On the 1st of December 2016, elections held in Gambia saw the incumbent lose to a coalition of 8 parties after the imprisonment of the leader of the largest opposition party the UDP.

I cannot point any achievements in his (Jammeh) rule of 22 year old rule; we have lived a life of terror and fear . This can be demonstrated by the blocking of internet from the eve of the elections and the kidnapping of key persons and killings of nine inmates in 2012 whose appeal processes were not exhausted in the courts. As we speak there are over a dozen political prisoners whose whereabouts are unknown.

Setfree N Mafukidze: In other words Yayah Jammeh has not done much to protect the citizens of Gambia; how did he rise to power in the first place?

Fatouma : He rose to power in 1994 through a military coup that ousted the then President Dawda Tawara.

Setfree N Mafukidze : This clearly shows the power of united opposition movements to rid themselves of despots. Given that, what were the modalities leading to coalition and how was the Presidential candidate chosen?

Fatouma: After analysis by a mediator in the name of Fatoumatta Tambajang, she brought all parties together with the exception of GCD who won 8%.

Setfree N Mafukidze: So you are saying the coalition was brought into place by initiation by a single individual?

Fatouma: Yes through a primary election which the UDP (Adama Barrow ) leader won.

Setfree N Mafukidze: Now that the coalition won the election and are taking over power what are the long term plans regarding the coalition of parties?

Fatouma: They serve for three year transition period, after which fresh elections will take place.

Setfree N Mafukidze: What are the lessons for Zimbabwe which can be drawn from the Gambian experience in this past election in respect of how a coalition can successfully dislodge a dictator from power in an election?

Fatouma: It can demonstrate a peaceful change of government by the people for the people. The people were intimidated by the military but all was ignored due to proper communication by the Coalition making people aware of all consequences should they go out in the streets. We tried to avoid a state of emergency by remaining peaceful; we had silent disobedience.

Setfree N Mafukidze: Interesting, but we all know Yayah Jammeh lost the election and conceded defeat only to make a sudden change of heart in a few days. What could have prompted that sudden change of heart?

Fatouma: He had the support of the military who he controlled. People rumoured that the majority of them were not Gambian but rebels from Casamance, a town in Senegal that borders his hometown Kanilai.

Setfree N Mafukidze: As a result of his relations with the military have there been any casualties caused by Yayah Jammeh’s insatiable desire to cling to power and what has the regional block ECOWAS done to ensure that the safety of the Gambian people is preserved?

….Salieu enters…

Salieu Taal: Hello everyone

Fatouma: This was the reason the block focused on peaceful negotiations as they were uncertain on the level of influence they had and the exposure thereof; they wanted to reduce the risk of casualties .

Setfree N Mafukidze: We are now joined by Salieu Taal one of the founders of #GambiaHasDecided. Welcome to LIVE-BLAST! Salieu. Now without wasting much of your time, can you briefly tell us more about #GambiaHasDecided and it’s influence on the Gambians to resist dictatorship?

Salieu Taal : Thank you,#GambiaHasDecided is an initiative that was started by a group of professional Gambians both young men and women who included Lawyers like myself, Accountants, Marketing experts, Information and Technology experts and different types of people, music promoters who though comfortable in their professions felt the need to really ensure that their vote is heard; because we massively voted against Jammeh for the first time in the history of The Gambia.

The professional’s class came out and voted; young people and everyone else voted. There was a unanimous resolve to ensure that we remove Jammeh by the ballot box.

Having done that Jammeh decided to cancel our vote and said wait a minute; I am not going to accept your vote and there is nothing you can do about it, hence he started his antics using the court systems and everything under the book to frustrate us.

We saw this play; we saw it happen and we have fairly experienced people in different areas of businesses including Law. So we decided if we don’t get up and mobilize people this guy will get away with this. We then said let us start a peaceful protest and I invited friends of mine at my house and we were brainstorming then came up with #GambiaHasDecided an already trending hashtag and said we are going to start a campaign under the slogan GAMBIA HAS DECIDED, because all of us had decided that Yayah Jammeh is no longer President, we can not go back on this and we have to make sure our voices are heard, we need to make sure we create a platform for the voice of all Gambians to be heard.

So we quickly created a logo because we have a graphic designer expert in our group and we agreed to print t-shirts and also erect bill boards and other forms of media to ensure that the Gambian space is occupied by #GambiaHasDecided.

First thing we did was we went online and changed our profiles, a lot of us have a lot of followers so it just went viral like a fire; nobody knew who was behind it, they just started seeing profile pictures changing to #GambiaHasDecided everyone was changing because that was the mood and it was hot and ready. After we did that the next thing was we printed t-shirts with contributions from our own pockets. Everyone started wearing the t-shirts in the streets then we started fundraising for more t-shirts and then did the billboards and it just went crazy, everyone would wake up to see massive bill boards with simple inscriptions like ” Gambia has decided for Justice and Peace.” The authorities could not handle it, it spread like a fire.

Setfree N Mafukidze : This is inspiring Salieu, lessons can be drawn and the power of social media has been noted whilst at that, how has been the participation of Gambian Youths in the political framework of their country; how many were registered to vote in the election in question?

Fatouma : The youths are now fully conversant in politics, they were the ones always behind Jammeh, but the backward syndrome in the Jammeh administration continuously trampling on people’s rights went out of control and they gained awareness, they abandoned him along the way, over 50% voters were youths. In November 2016 the crowd following the Coalition to the filing of their candidate was attended mostly by youths who wanted change.

Setfree N Mafukidze: The Gambian military turned their back on Yayah Jammeh what could have prompted them to abandon their Commander in Chief?

Fatouma: The Commander on the 2nd of December 2016 pledged his allegiance to the incoming President Adama Barrow which was also later revoked. So we were skeptical when on the 19th he came our to celebrate with the people. I think but it’s my personal opinion that it’s because of the ECOMOG taking over Kanilai again according to unconfirmed sources.

Setfree N Mafukidze: Can these Commanders be trusted to continue working with the new President Adama Barrow?

Fatouma: We are all in doubt but from what we have learned it was a rule of terror and once the feared is far and away peace shall prevail. Gambia is small and everybody knows everybody so building trust can be easy.

Setfree N Mafukidze: How literate is the Gambian population and to what extend does the “casting of lots” voting system aid to combat electoral theft?

Fatouma: In our own outgoing President’s words, we have the most rig proof elections, counting is on spot, I guess this makes it hard to cheat with all parties on the ground as results are known on the spot.

Setfree N Mafukidze: Interesting there Fatouma, having noted the active involvement of young people in the campaign to protect the Gambian people’s vote, what role will young people including yourself and Salieu be playing in the new government, if any?

Fatouma: Not sure about Salieu but I would assume his legal expertise in policy making would be essential. He is one of the lawyers, as for myself I have sat in education committees in the UK and have had exposure; my dream is to see our schools the way they were before the Jammeh administration.

Salieu Taal : Personally as part of #GambiaHasDecided and as a youngish person at 43, I am involved in a lot of activities that affect government; I sit on a number of boards like the Chamber of Commerce and other places.

What I would do is encourage government to integrate the youths into active policy making not just design the menu and serve the food; I think the youth should design their own menu and this will require first helping build the capacity of the youths to be Councillors and Members of Parliament and even some to become Ministers.

I think to achieve this it requires mentoring and it’s something I am very interested in doing so that we can teach the youths that they are the majority of the population who need to partake in policy development and nation building and not just be on the receiving end.

Fatouma: We tried. It was a long hard journey. But thanks also to the people from the Diaspora we made it . If Jammeh closes internal communication links they help us from abroad to make our voices heard

Setfree N Mafukidze: Some Gambians and West Africans living abroad in Europe and elsewhere seem so much in love with Robert Mugabe despite his excesses. Whats your opinion about Mugabe talking from a West African’s perspective?

Fatouma: I personally don’t like dictators as I see him as one. Staying in power too long also disqualifies him in my like books.

Salieu Taal: Let me assure you that any right thinking Gambian would not like or adore Robert Mugabe, I think those are the sentiments of the larger cross section of Gambians.

Fatouma: The next elections in West Africa are in Togo and I pray that they follow The Gambian experience and respect the will of the people in peace.

Setfree N Mafukidze: Let me take this opportunity to thank everyone for following yet another YPD LIVE-BLAST! Session; many thanks to our brother Salieu Taal, Sister Fatoumatta from The Gambia. It has been a pleasure having you all on LIVE-BLAST! and I must say we have learnt a lot from The Gambia. As the Young People’s Dialogue we look forward to a good working relationship with you in future.

A four-roomed house was destroyed in Budiriro, Harare, last week by a rival as the battle to control Ngungunyana Housing Co-operative turned ugly.

The chairman of a faction which is reportedly trying to take control of the housing co-operative, Mr Luke Chesango, is alleged to have fired six shots in the air to disperse a crowd that wanted to stop the driver of his grader from destroying his rival’s house.

Mr Chesango was picked up for questioning by the police in Budiriro on Thursday afternoon in connection with the incident.

No one was injured when the shots were fired. thestate media witnessed Mr Chesango being arrested. He was taken to Budiriro 2 Police Station. The grader was still parked at Mr Tikho Sibanda’s house, which had been destroyed.

In an interview, Mr Sibanda said they had been having squabbles with Mr Chesango for a long time.
According to Mr Sibanda, Mr Chesango was elected chairman by Ngungunyana residents in the absence of Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing officials.

“Chesango was assisted by his lawyer, Paul Mangwana, to get an eviction order against me.
“I had to go into town to get a recession of judgment and stay of execution papers so that the default judgment could be suspended.

This is when my child called me to inform me that Chesango’s grader was already destroying our house.

“When they tried stopping the driver of the grader, that is when Chesango fired the gun and escaped.”

Mr Sibanda told thestate media that he was elected as chairman of the co-operative in 2009.
In 2013, Mr Chesango allegedly formed a parallel structure and mobilised people.

In 2015, Mr Sibanda was accused of leading a committee that abused member’s subscriptions.
Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi was not reachable for comment.-state media

A SOLDIER sustained serious injuries after he was attacked by three kombi touts along First Avenue in Bulawayo as he attempted to rescue a colleague who was being accused of pirating.

A court heard that Mr Mcdonald Jasi was attacked by Delisani Moyo (41), Dumisani Sibanda (32) and Xolani Mhlanga (22) when he was trying to rescue his workmate from being assaulted by the trio.

Moyo, Sibanda and Mhlanga were arrested last Tuesday after the soldier escaped from them and reported the matter to the police. The trio appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing a charge of assault.
They pleaded not guilty and Mr Tashaya remanded them in custody to February 3.
Moyo, Sibanda and Mhlanga told Mr Tashaya that they were part of a crowd that witnessed the incident, but never attacked anyone.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said on January 24, Mr Jasi who was driving his motor vehicle saw a crowd around a certain car.

“The complainant parked his motor vehicle and went to the crowd. He discovered that the accused persons wanted to assault his workmate after accusing him of pirating with his private vehicle,” he said.

“The complainant intervened, trying to rescue his workmate from being assaulted by the accused persons. The accused persons assaulted Mr Jasi several times all over the body by kicking and hitting him with fists.”

Mr Dlodlo said the soldier sustained serious injuries and was treated at the United Bulawayo Hospitals. -state media

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. Standard

Vendors and #Tajamuka activists yesterday failed to show up for a demonstration they had called in the Harare central business district (CBD).

The protest was in reaction to a blitz launched by Harare City Council(HCC) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police to evict vendors from the CBD, as part of desperate measures to contain a typhoid outbreak that has so far claimed two lives.

While #Tajamuka activists and the vendors did not turn up, there was heavy police presence and water cannons at the protests venue – the open space at the corner of Julius Nyerere and Jason Moyo.

A truck-load of riot police was also nearby while several other police officers milled around the place.

In its demo alert, #Tajamuka also invited disgruntled members of the public. “Even if you are not a vendor but you are outraged by the economic injustice being meted out against vendors, you are welcome.

“We will meet with all vendors and all patriotic Zimbabweans to confront the city of Harare and the ministry of Local Government,” it said.

“No vendor will be expelled from their livelihood. Munhu wese achabva achienda industry awana basa. (Vendors will only move after getting jobs in the industry,” #Tajamuka said.
Efforts to contact Tajamuka leader Promise Mkwananzi were fruitless as his mobile phone was switched off.

However, the pressure group later issued a statement stating that heavy rains had disrupted logistics, making the demonstration unsuccessful.

“We pledge to continue to pursue the right to peaceful protest as encapsulated in Section 59 of our country’s Constitution. In that regard, our demonstration has been postponed to a later date,” #Tajamuka said.

Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (Viset) leaders were also not available for comment as their mobiles were also unavailable.

Recently, Zimbabwe Peace Project(ZPP) accused police and HCC of disregarding a court order by High Court judge David Mangota to stop the removal of vendors from the CBD.
ZPP said the two institutions continued to violate laws by forging ahead with the raids on informal traders despite a court injunction.

“According to the lawyers representing Viset, the court order was delivered to HCC officials and the police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri.

“Despite this, police and council municipal police are still raiding vendors in the city centre in contempt of the court order,” ZPP said in a statement. Daily News

HARARE – Mutasa Central MDC MP, Trevor Saruwaka, yesterday said House of
Assembly speaker, Jacob Mudenda, has no right to determine the colour of
clothes he wears in Parliament.

In October last year, Saruwaka was ejected from Parliament for wearing a
jacket adorned with Zimbabwe’s national flag colours.

In protest, he approached the High Court over the move, which created
commotion in Parliament resulting in police intervention.

Saruwaka argued in court yesterday that his ejection from Parliament for
wearing the jacket was unlawful and an infringement of his right to
freedom of conscience and religion.

He further said there was no provision in the Standing Rules and Orders of
the Parliament that bars him from wearing such colours.

In the application, Saruwaka – who is represented by attorneys from
Kadzere, Hungwe & Mandevere Legal Practitioners – cited Mudenda and the
chief security officer of Parliament as respondents.

Saruwaka said he is an avowed follower of the Rastafari religion, adding
that the colours on his jacket are synonymous with his religion.

“…it is respectfully submitted that, applicant (Saruwaka) being of the
Rastafari religion, has a right to freedom of conscience and religion in
terms of Section 60 of the Constitution, which right includes the right to
propagate his religious beliefs whether in private or in public within the
confines of the law.

“By arbitrarily denying applicant access to Parliament, respondents have
elevated themselves above the Constitution without lawful cause. There is
no legal basis upon which applicant can be barred from entering
Parliament,” the court heard.

He said he is entitled to protection by the law.

“It is further submitted that, respondents do not have the power to
determine the colour of the jacket applicant wears. The respondents are
therefore acting outside the scope of their powers by ejecting applicant
from National Assembly sessions on account of wearing the jacket in
question,” he said.

He added that according to the provisions of Standing Order 76 (7), only
jeans, T-shirts and sleeveless outfits, are prohibited from the House.

“Nowhere is it mentioned that jackets such as the one worn by the
applicant are prohibited,” he said, adding that his jacket does not in any
way offend the national flag.

Saruwaka’s Parliament “drama” took place after Mudenda ruled in June last
year that the national flag would not be allowed in the House, following a
plethora of protestors donning the flag during demonstrations against
President Robert Mugabe’s 36-year rule.

Several MDC parliamentarians, including Saruwaka, had entered the House
with national flags draped around their necks.

The national flag became a protest symbol after it was popularised by
self-exiled cleric – Evan Mawarire of #ThisFlag movement.

The movement demanded Mugabe’s immediate resignation, citing his
administration’s failure to deal with corruption, nepotism and a serious
economic meltdown. – Daily News

Former Finance minister Tendai Biti is famed for using dramatic language to drive home a point whenever he speaks about Zimbabwe’s decay and Zanu PF’s role in the tragedy, but this time government might agree with his assessment of the state of the country’s roads.

After weeks of heavy rainfall, the country’s poorly maintained road network deteriorated to shocking levels and jolted President Robert Mugabe’s government into action.

Last week the government declared Harare’s potholed roads a national disaster in a desperate move to raise funds for their rehabilitation and Biti — now the leader of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) — said it was too little too late.

He said it was not only Harare’s roads that needed attention but the whole country’s infrastructure was “now a disaster.”

“This government can’t pay salaries for its workers and expecting them to secure money to fix the country’s national road network was expecting too much from them,” he told The Standard.

“Declaring the roads a state of national disaster is just theoretical, the roads are a disaster and the country now qualifies to be a pothole capital of the world.

“Just like the [Democratic Republic of Congo] DRC, which has the worst road network, Zimbabwe is a failed state.”

Biti said during his tenure as Finance minister, it was established that Zimbabwe needed $14 billion to rehabilitate the road network, which was three times the country’s budget.

Of that amount, about $5 billion would be used to rehabilitate major trunk roads.

The PDP leader said naturally, a declaration of state of disaster would attract donors and international financers to fund the rehabilitation of roads, but Zimbabwe had become unattractive for capital.

“This is the huge prize the country is paying for running a corrupt government,” he said.

“The Lima process [that involved Zimbabwe’s reengagement with major donors] has failed and money cannot be accessed from international monetary institutions, including the African Development Bank.

“Only a new government with credibility can get foreign funds.

“This government has failed to build the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam in 37 years, what can they achieve today?”

For decades, the government has neglected maintenance of the road network inherited from the colonial government.

The majority of the roads have outlived their life-span and there has been little investment on infrastructure.

The Beitbridge-Harare road, which links Zimbabwe and Zambia to the county’s biggest trading partner, South Africa, has deteriorated over the years, causing many otherwise avoidable accidents that have resulted in thousands of deaths.

Most motorists have lost tyres to potholes while the patching of roads have been done poorly, denying the heavily taxed motorists comfortable rides.

The rail network has not been spared either and the National Railways of Zimbabwe’s operations are almost at a standstill.

This has piled pressure on the road network as haulage trucks are filling the void left by the disappearance of goods trains.

In 2014, when Obert Mpofu was appointed Transport minister, he doubled toll fees and increased the number of toll plazas, claiming he was doing so to increase revenue for road rehabilitation.

At the time, Mpofu said the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) was collecting $40 million annually in toll fees, which he said was only enough to tar 30km.

He said relying on Zinara’s collections would take the country 100 years to repair its 80 000 km road network.

But despite the promise, the roads deteriorated under Mpofu’s watch while reports of corruption continued to rock Zinara, with some bosses at the road authority becoming targets of Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission raids.

Conflicting statements have been issued by ministers on how much Zinara has been getting through toll fees, with Transport minister Jorum Gumbo last week revealing that the road fund was collecting $200 million annually.

In the rural areas, the gravel roads are a sorry sight. Perennial neglect has seen some of the roads disappearing as the District Development Fund has failed to cope with maintenance requirements due to poor funding from government.

Bridges have collapsed while grass has closed in on the roads, most of which have been reduced to mere foot paths. Some roads constructed by the colonial regime have been reduced to strip roads.

However, the biggest disaster has been in cities, including the capital Harare whose 5 000km road network is now infested with potholes.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) said while it believed that the deterioration of the road network was due to council’s failure to maintain them, Zinara must return the management of licence fees to the local authority.

“We would, however, like to point out that the road problem in Harare has deteriorated over the last five years largely due to non-maintenance by the Harare City Council,” CHRA said on its Facebook page.

“We firmly believe that in order to find a lasting solution to the roads problem in Harare, you need to push for and support our call to return the management of vehicle license fees to the city council from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration.”

Biti said the Zanu PF government had no capacity to raise funds to rehabilitate the roads because of its tainted record.

But Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere — who toured Harare’s roads before the declaration of the state of disaster — believes the move was the panacea for the mounting problems.

“We have agreed on a programme with the minister of Transport [to rehabilitate the roads],” he said.

“We will get the necessary and important support from government.”

Kasukuwere admitted that the government had no money to fix the roads but insisted that a way out would be found.

“It’s tough but we have to repair the road network. We will find the resources,” he said.

“Roads are key to communication and economic activity.

“It’s not going to be easy but with the initial support, the Ministry of Transport has set aside we will start [working the road]”.

During the tenure of the inclusive government, government secured a loan from the Development Bank of South African to rehabilitate the Mutare-Harare- Plumtree highway, raising hopes that the country would upgrade its national highways to international standards but it became the only major infrastructure project undertaken during the period.

Last month, the government signed an agreement with a Chinese company to rehabilitate the Beitbridge-Harare highway at a cost of $2 billion, but Biti said at most, the project must cost $700 million — $1 million per km, not $3 million.

“This is a result of corruption, figures are inflated,” he charged.

Zimbabwe’s neighbours Zambia, Botswana and South Africa have invested heavily in their road infrastructure and the country is now on the verge of losing its status as a transport hub in the region. – The Standard