According to the South African Police Services, the Hawks nabbed the Zimbabwean, Hardlife Bhebhura (35), and another man, Rodrigues Jose Jorge (49), in Springbok.

They had just transacted with an undercover agent.

SAPS investigation uncovered the alleged illegal enterprise operating through runners from Springbok, Port Nolloth and Steinkopf.

“Upon their arrest on Sunday, 22 January 2017, about 123 carats worth more than 1.7 million rand were recovered. Both suspects were each charged with three counts of dealing and possession of uncut diamond and more arrests are imminent,” SAPS said.

The suspects on Monday appeared before the Springbok Magistrates Court and were remanded to February 1.

Rodrigues Jose Jorge was granted R25 000 bail but Bhebhura was remanded in custody.

Zimbabwe is losing revenue through nefarious activities like the smuggling of its precious minerals through the porous borders.

The smuggled minerals include gold. Home Affairs Deputy Minister Obedingwa Mguni is on record stressing the need to tighten security at the country’s borders. – State Media

The social movement Tajamuka will tomorrow hit the streets again, this time in a demo to fight against economic injustice.  Below is their statement;

Tajamuka Zvakare!!!!!!!

Mangwana Friday

The young & people’s social movement is back again. Tajamuka Zvakare. Tajamuka zvachose.

We are calling upon all vendors to join us at 10 am on Friday the 27th of January 2017, corner Jason Moyo and Ruzende. Even if you’re NOT a vendor but youre outraged by the economic injustice being meted out against our vendors, you are welcome. We will meet with all vendors and all patriotic Zimbabweans to clean confront the city council of Harare and the Ministry of local government.

No vendor will be expelled from their livelihood. Hapana mu vendor achabviswa pabasa rake. Ndipo panebunditso yedu. Munhu wese achabva paanotengesera achienda industry awana basa .Ahoyi Citizens Ahoyi Ahoyi Vendor Ahoyi

Tajamuka/Sesjikile

THIRTY-four illegal Ethiopian migrants, who were arrested while hiding at a Marondera farm, pleaded guilty on Tuesday before magistrate Shane Kubonera, who then convicted and discharged the group into the hands of immigration officials.

The all-male group of Ethiopians, who had been detained since December, were relieved after continuous postponement of their case, as the State looked for an interpreter.

Among the illegal immigrants were four boys aged between 11 and 12.

According to court papers, on December 16 last year, the suspects were transported from Mutoko to Marondera en route to Beitbridge by Cletto Nyandoro and Gift Bere.

They were allegedly later dropped at Plot 3, Bemba Farm in Marondera, by Nyandoro, who had gone to Marondera Town to buy food for them. Acting on a tip-off, police stormed the farm and arrested the suspects after discovering that they had no travel documents.

Tariro Shirichena-Chamisa represented the State. – Newsday

Suspended Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana is to hear on his fate tomorrow.

The PG’s suitability for office case is set to complete its hearings tomorrow.

The tribunal comprises of Chinhengo, University of Zimbabwe law lecturer, Emmanuel Magade and lawyer, Melania Matshiya as members.

It began its work on July 25 last year and was supposed to have concluded its work within three months.

Tomana’s lawyer, Tazorora Musarurwa confirmed that the hearing would end this week.

“We are likely to conclude the matter this Friday (tomorrow) after the tribunal hears evidence from all the 23 witnesses called. The process was slow as each witness had to be cross-examined,” he said.

In terms of the law, the tribunal is expected to submit a report of its findings to Mugabe and if found guilty, Tomana will automatically be relieved of his duties.

President Robert Mugabe suspended Tomana in June last year on charges of criminal abuse of office and set up a three-member tribunal to investigate him.

Tomana is facing charges of defying court orders and criminal abuse of office after he withdrew charges against two military intelligence officers, who were allegedly caught in a foiled attempt to bomb the Gushungo Dairy plant last January.

Tomana is also accused of failure to prosecute several cases involving high-profile political personalities like then deputy minister, Bright Matonga and refusal to issue certificates of private prosecution to Francis Maramwidze and Telecel Zimbabwe.
Of the cases, Maramwidze was the only one who finally got a certificate of private prosecution and successfully prosecuted former Bikita West MP, Muyaradzi Kereke, who eventually got a 10-year prison term for raping his minor relative at gunpoint.

Meanwhile, Advocate Ray Goba is acting Prosecutor-General. – Newsday

The Zim People First leader, Joice Mujuru is once again going to be tested in the political field as a by-election beckons in Mwenezi East.

Squabbling in Mujuru’s party was among the reasons she lost resoundingly in the Bikita-West by-election, resulting in one of her top leaders, Retired Colonel Claudiuos Makova resigning.

Meanwhile the state media reports that, ZANU-PF Masvingo provincial leaders have set their sight on retaining the Mwenezi East National Assembly seat which fell vacant last month.

The then incumbent Joshua Moyo died after a long illness in December last year.
Acting Masvingo provincial chairman Amasa Nhenjana said the party will early next month conduct a primary election to choose a candidate to stand in the by-election whose date is yet to be proclaimed.

He said the provincial leadership was motivated by the party’s landslide victory achieved in Bikita West where Beauty Chabaya garnered 13 156 votes against her nearest rival, Mr Kudakwashe Gopo from ZimPF who managed only 2453 last week.

Chabaya won the seat that fell vacant following the incarceration of Munyaradzi Kereke for 10 years for rape in July last year.

State Media – A bloc of Western countries is sponsoring a Seychelles candidate to rival Zimbabwe’s Dr Walter Mzembi and split the African vote ahead of elections to choose the new secretary general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, it has emerged.

Dr Mzembi, who is also the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, has been endorsed by the regional body Sadc and the 54-member African Union, but recently, Seychelles Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Alain St Ange ghosted into the race with the support of some powerful European countries to rival the Zimbabwean candidate.

Georgia and Brazil are the other two countries with candidates to replace incumbent Mr Taleb Rifai in May. Dr Mzembi last week officially launched his bid in Madrid, Spain, where he posed a vision of change and progressiveness, sending panic among the “status quoists”.

In the past year, he has been on a major global diplomatic foray to boost his candidature.
In an interview on Tuesday Dr Mzembi said the emergence of the Seychelle’s candidate was both politically and racially motivated.

He said St Ange would play spoiler. “There is absolutely no rationale,” he said of St Ange’s candidature.

“He is very conscious of the fact that we have 10 votes as Africa, and we are pitting these against 10 European votes, five votes from the Americas, five votes from South Asia and the Pacific and three votes from the Middle East to make a total of 33 votes.

“So, anyone who wants to get past us as Africa will try and split Africa’s bloc votes of 10. This is essentially what they are doing in this instance. This approach is a zero-sum game for Africans because whoever emerges should never hope to win, we will both lose,” said Dr Mzembi.

Dr Mzembi is disturbed by the racial underpinnings in propping St Ange.

“What we are confronted with, is our detractors competing with us for positions in multilateral systems, the United Nations itself included. It is a desire to exploit the ethnical make-up of Africa, which is made up of negroid Africa, white Africans and Afro-Asiatics,” he charged.

“It is a very painful experience having to be discriminated against because you are negroid and picking white African candidates to basically split the African consensus,” complained Dr Mzembi.

But Zimbabwe is not taking this lying down and has triggered diplomatic moves to stop St Ange in accordance to regional and continental consensus.

He said: “We have asked for a meeting with the Seychelles. I met the Minister of Tourism for Seychelles, who is the successor to this one who wants to contest against me. We have requested officially for a meeting with the president of the Seychelles because we suspect that he has not been furnished with all the facts.”

He said at the forthcoming African Union summit, Zimbabwe would seek to influence the continent into renouncing the candidature of St Ange.

“We are fighting to win and I am hoping that the African Union can show its teeth in the matter and restrain Member States,” he said.

“I will not allow my candidature to just pass like previous candidatures that are disturbed by Africans amongst themselves without the benefit of either a pre-emptive process or a post mortem.
“I want to use this as a very classic example on the AU’s binding decisions and how they can avoid wilful violation going into the future,” he said. – State Media

IT has emerged that Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge lied that Fruitful Communications Private Limited was doing Public Relations Consultancy work for Zesa for free after the company owned by Zanu-PF Highfield legislator Psychology Maziwisa and television personality Oscar Pambuka issued summons at the High Court claiming an outstanding fee of $36 000 from the parastatal.

Fruitful Communications did PR work for Zimbabwe Power Company, a Zesa subsidiary. It was Minister Undenge who directed Zesa to engage Fruitful Communications. Interestingly, Minister Undenge told The Herald on May 12 last year that Fruitful Communications was offering its services to Zesa for free.

“They are people in public relations and there is no formal contract with anyone and if anyone wants to help for free, we allow them to do that,” he said.

“They felt they wanted to explain something to the public. It is just like you, you write a lot of things, but we do not pay you,” he said then.

In its summons at the High Court, Fruitful Communications suggests its being owed by Zesa for work done. It was hired despite Zesa Holdings’ subsidiaries having fully-fledged PR departments. Hussein Ranchod and Company is representing Fruitful Communications in the High Court case.

The plaintiff’s declaration states that in February last year, ZPC engaged the services of Fruitful Communications as their public relations consultant to “air news items and features” on television and radio stations.

Fruitful Communications claims it offered various services to ZPC with the power company undertaking to pay all the bills.

Despite demand, Fruitful Communications claims, ZPC has refused to pay the bill that amounted to $36 000.

On February 6, 2016, Fruitful Communications claim that they performed some public relations work which was aired on news bulletins on Power FM Radio.

Two weeks later, Fruitful Communications featured on Radio Zimbabwe, Power FM and National FM news bulletins, doing public relations for ZPC. On February 22, the consultants featured on the television programme “Media Watch” talking about Kariba water levels.

The consultancy firm is claiming payment for its appearance on ZBC’s Good Morning Zimbabwe programme on March 2, 2016.

On March 7, the consultants claim that they featured on ZTV Lunchtime News and Power FM News bulletin, doing ZPC’s work. On March 19, 22 and 27, Fruitful Communications claims it rendered services to ZPC by speaking on behalf of the power company on Radio Zimbabwe, Power FM and National FM during news time.

On April 8, the consultancy represented ZPC on ZTV lunch time news and also spoke during a Zimbabwe International Trade Fair interview.

Fruitful Communications is also claiming payment for representing ZPC’s participation on a programme called Power Talk with the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe on April 18.

On April 29, May 7 and May 10 last year, the consultancy firm claims it spoke on behalf of ZPC on Radio Zimbabwe, Power FM and National FM radio news. Before filing a response to the lawsuit, ZPC lawyers Kadzere, Hungwe and Mandewere have requested to be furnished with further particulars to the case from Fruitful Communications.

“Was the engagement reduced in writing or oral? If written, a copy thereof is requested. If it was oral, who acted for the defendant (ZPC)? What were the full terms of the agreement?”

ZPC also seeks clarification on what Fruitful Communications meant by the phrase “news items and features”. The power company also wants to know how Fruitful Communications arrived at the figure $36 000.

Fruitful Communications is yet to file the further particulars before ZPC files a proper response to the suit. – State Media

A-22-YEAR-OLD man from Maphisa allegedly committed suicide by hanging after the parents of his pregnant girlfriend reported him to the police for sleeping with a minor.

Phathisa Dlamini was found dead at home at Maphisa growth point on Tuesday morning.

Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkosilathi Sibanda confirmed the incident yesterday.

He said investigations were underway.

“We received a report of sudden death. A man was found hanging in his house on Tuesday morning. A colleague discovered the body.

“He was last seen the previous night with his housemate at their house. Investigations are underway,” said Asst Insp Sibanda.

He urged members of the public to desist from committing suicide but share their problems and seek advice from friends, relatives, police and churches.

“We are calling on people to desist from taking their own lives even when they’re having problems. It’s important to engage other people who can assist,” Asst Insp Sibanda said.

Sources told The Chronicle that Dlamini allegedly had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl who was in Form Two.

“The minor is reportedly pregnant. When her parents discovered the pregnancy, the girl’s mother confronted him and threatened to report him to the police.

“The following day, Dlamini was picked up by police for questioning. We suspect that he was probably frustrated and stressed and resorted to suicide,” said the source. – State Media

The ruling Zanu PF party is going ahead with President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash in the Matopos in Matabeleland South, much to the anger of citizens there still wounded from the Gukurahundi atrocities.

Matopo residents have apparently tried to petition authorities on the insensitivity of holding a birthday bash over literary the ‘dead bodies’ of their loved ones.

The state media reports that the Zanu PF national youth leadership has described the 2017 edition of 21^st February Movement celebrations as instructive to the revolutionary party’s youths’ commitment to safeguard the gains of the liberation struggle.

The youths say this year’s celebrations come at a time they are reinvigorated and inspired to maintain the legendary iconic status of patriotism symbolised by the illustrious life of President Robert Mugabe.

Zanu PF Secretary for Youths Affairs Kudzai Chipanga and Zanu PF youth league national secretary for finance Tongai Kasukuwere said the stage has been set.

The girl child has been empowered and given equal access to opportunities thanks to the policies of President Mugabe, added Zanu PF Kuwadzana legislator Betty Kaseke.

The youth leaders say the celebrations come at a time they are committed to ensure they decimate the opposition through the ballot in the harmonised elections to be held next year.

The annual 21^st February Movement celebrations are slated for Matopos in Matabeleland South at a date to be announced.

*YARD’S POSITION ON THE COMMENTS REGARDING THE ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENCY BY THE EFF PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF*

As the Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (YARD) we firmly stand behind the revolutionary significance of the message emanating from Julius Malema, the youthful 21st century African revolutionary.

YARD associates itself with progressive organisations like the EFF and to this end are proud to have had our Founder & Commander-in-Chief, Hon. Temba Mliswa in attendance at the launch of the EFF election manifesto as well as the recent visit by the YARD SRC to South Africa where they met with the EFF Student Command.

Beyond the strong relations that we share with the progressive institution, the Economic Freedom Fighters, we stand guided firstly by the historic lessons of the African revolution which was born for the sole purpose of the decolonisation of Africa, and secondly by the ideological essence of Pan Africanism which has unfortunately been heavily diluted by the leaders who in all fairness, should be relics of history.

It is from the basis of this background that we appreciate and thank the substantive solidarity that has been proffered by the Economic Freedom Fighters, a move which was taken in full view and confidence that the Zimbabwean youths have a pivotal part to contribute in the holistic African Revolution.

Establishment of gerontocracy and the personification of the struggle is unsustainable as it contradicts the cause and course of the African revolution.

The politics of Africa has been betrayed by some of the founding fathers and institutions of the liberation war. The legacy of a decolonised Africa has been tainted across the African continent due to the power politics and ideological capture by an ageing generation. This therefore makes our struggle a generational one, and as such it is no surprise that the same gerontocrats were quick to attack Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema, because the youth agenda disqualifies all of them from the power dynamics and governance of African states.

The wave of youthful leadership is sweeping across the continent and Zimbabwe should never allow itself to be left behind. The only sustainable change can never be deposited safely in the political parties but in a generational transfer of power to the radical and equally capable youths in Africa.

Engagement of an African solution to the African questions remains the legacy of President R.G Mugabe, Julius Nyerere, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah and Samora Machel. It is therefore our prayer that His Excellency may be able to entrust the youths of Zimbabwe with the mantle to carry forward and protect the gains of the liberation war.

*TINOTENDA MHUNGU*

*YARD NATIONAL COMMANDER FOR INFORMATION & SPOKESPERSON*

+263 733 612 633

[email protected]

@Yard2018

Facebook: Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy – YARD

POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested two gangs of armed robbers, one of whom is suspected to have killed a security guard at a Seventh Day Adventist church-run primary school in Pelandaba suburb.

Four members of the first group of armed robbers: Onias Bhebhe (43), Thompson Phuthi (40) Martin Bhebhe (36) and Nozinhle Bhebhe (24) have been linked to the Pelandaba suburb murder.

Their victim, Buton Sikalongo, whom they allegedly savagely attacked, died upon admission to Mpilo Central Hospital last Wednesday morning.

Sikalongo’s workmate Mr Vusa Tshuma was left for dead.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the Pelandaba suburb gang was facing armed robbery and murder charges in connection with the crime committed last week on Tuesday.

“Circumstances are that on the said date at about midnight, the four suspects went to a school in Pelandaba, Bulawayo, where they ransacked the school stealing laptops and other property. The robbers strangled a security guard manning the premises,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

“Police managed to recover a star pistol and various equipment used for unlawful entry and theft upon arresting the quartet.”

He said police also recovered a laptop and money among other stolen property.

Chief Supt Nyathi declared war on criminals saying police would not rest until the streets and premises are safe for residents.

He said the second gang of armed robbers, who were also four, was arrested for hijacking a taxi after attacking its driver before robbing an usiphatheleni of over R55 000 using the vehicle.

Chief Supt Nyathi said the incident occurred on January 3.

“The four accused who had hired a taxi grabbed and assaulted the taxi driver before demanding cash and a cell phone from him. The robbers, after bundling the taxi driver out of his vehicle, drove the car and spotted a money changer whom they robbed of R55 000, $1 200, R7 600 and two Samsung cell phones,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

Yesterday, the Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District, Chief Superintendent Marshal Dube, his deputy Superintendent Mathias Matongo, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango among others visited the SDA run school where they spoke to Sikalongo’s brother George who had travelled from Zambia for his brother’s burial.

George expressed gratitude to the police for swiftly apprehending the murder suspects.

He said he was disturbed by the gruesome murder of his only brother.

“I sincerely want to thank the police for their efforts in combating this sinful cruelty done to my brother.

“Buton was my only brother whom I dearly loved. Now I no longer have a brother. It was painful to learn that he died following an attack from robbers. He was a hero for Christ. He died protecting the school and church property,” said George describing his brother as a martyr who loved the church.

“Even children were crying during the service. This church was his home. It was part of his life. He died defending its property,” he said.

LIVE VIDEO:

Join ZimEye.com right now as we expose police officers who are ripping people off through bribery. The program begins at 6.30pm(UK time)

Nearly one in 10 British women finds sex painful, according to a recent study.

The survey of nearly 7,000 sexually active women aged 16 to 74, in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, suggests this medical problem – called dyspareunia – is common and affects women of all ages.

Women in their late 50s and early 60s are most likely to be affected, followed by women aged 16-24.

Doctors say there are treatments that can help if women seek advice.

But many still find the subject embarrassing and taboo, the survey results show.

Painful sex was strongly linked to other sexual problems, including vaginal dryness, feeling anxious during sex, and lack of enjoyment of sex.

However, there can be lots of different physical, psychological and emotional factors causing painful sex, which can be complex to treat.

Some women said they avoided intercourse because they were so afraid of the pain.

‘It hurt so much’

Karen (not her real name) is 62 and from Greater London. She said her problems began around the age of 40.

“I felt that my sex drive dipped quite considerably, arousal seemed to take longer, and, despite an understanding husband, I started to dread him making approaches.

“It’s like any muscle group I guess, the less you use it the worse it gets.”

Karen tried using lubricant but still encountered problems.

“It became like a vicious cycle. You worry and get tense and that only makes it worse.”

Karen developed another complication called vaginismus – involuntary tightening of the muscles around the vagina whenever penetration is attempted.

“It wasn’t just in bed. It happened when I needed smear tests too. I would be crawling up the bed away from the nurse because it hurt so much.”

Karen spoke to her doctor who recommended she try oestrogen creams and pessaries for the dryness and dilators to help with the involuntary tightening.

“Women need to know that there is help out there for these kinds of problems, especially as we are all living longer.

“You shouldn’t have to be writing off your sex life in your 50s.

“Many women don’t like to talk about it. We share all the gore of childbirth, yet women of my generation don’t tend to talk openly about sex and the menopause. We should.”

The national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles was carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), University College London and NatCen Social Research.

Of those who reported painful sex (7.5%), a quarter had experienced symptoms frequently or every time they had had intercourse in the last six months or more.

Around a third of these women said they were dissatisfied with their sex life, compared with one tenth of the women who didn’t report painful sex.

Lead researcher, Dr Kirstin Mitchell, from LSHTM and the University of Glasgow, the said there could be a whole range of reasons for dyspareunia.

Lack of enjoyment

“In younger women, it might be that they are starting out in their sexual lives and they are going along with things that their partner wants but they are not particularly aroused by.

“Or they might be feeling tense because they are new to sex and they are not feeling 100% comfortable with their partner.”

Painful sex might be caused by other health problems, such as sexually transmitted infections, endometriosis and fibroids, which should be diagnosed and treated.

Women around the age of the menopause can find sex painful because of vaginal dryness.

Dr Mitchell says it’s not just older women who can feel embarrassed talking about painful sex, even though the condition is common.

Other research, involving about 200 university students in Canada, suggests up to half of young women find their first experience of intercourse painful.

Seek advice

Dr Mitchell says sex education should do more to better prepare young people.

“Often sex education is about STIs and pregnancy, but it should also prepare people to think about what makes sex enjoyable and how to communicate what they like and dislike in a trusting and respectful relationship.”

If you have pain during or after sex, you should get advice from your GP or a sexual health clinic.

If there is an emotional reason or anxiety that is causing problems, a counsellor or sex therapist may be able to help – and your GP or sexual health clinic can refer you to one. – BBC

Loss of property and land by widows, mainly to in-laws is contributing to over 70 percent of Zimbabweans living in poverty, a report released by the Human Rights Watch on Tuesday showed.

Widows routinely loss land and property soon after the death of their husbands with little chance of justice because of ignorance and the cost of obtaining justice.

The 52-page report by the watchdog entitled: “You Will Get Nothing,’ Violations of Property and Inheritance Rights of Widows in Zimbabwe,” is based on interviews with 59 widows conducted across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces between May and October 2016.

This is despite the fact that Zimbabwe in 2013 approved a new constitution that approves civil, registered customary and unregistered customary marriages. The Zimbabwe Constitution of 2013, Section 17 (1)(c) guarantees equal access to property and land to men and women.

The report found that widows in unregistered marriages have been the main victims of the land and property grab.

According to the 2012 census, over 587,000 women — about 14 percent of all women in Zimbabwe — are widows.

According to Zimstat, as at April 31 2016, an average Zimbabwean lived on $3,22 and 72 percent of the population lives under the poverty line with women being the most affected.

“In many of the cases brought to the attention of Human Rights Watch, knowledge about property rights, inheritance rights, and civil and customary law on marriage were major obstacles to protecting widows’ property,” read the report by HRW, an independent non governmental organisation.

Legal fees and lack of resources were also cited as the barrier for widows to access equal rights to their property.

“Going to court can be expensive, and processes can take years to complete. A lack of basic resources means that even relatively minor court fees or transportation costs can put legal remedy out of reach for many widows,” said HRW.
The average consultation fees to a legal practitioner is $50 while appearance in court is $130. Property cases can be resolved over six months or more.
The report recommends the alignment of marriage laws, property laws in line with constitution.

Zimbabwe should “commit to implementation of the constitution and national laws for widows’ equal inheritance rights by amending laws and regulations and repealing all laws that violate women’s property rights under domestic or international standards, including African standards,” read the report.

Former minister in the government of national unity between 2009 and 2013 and member of the National Assembly Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga told the meeting to launch the report that she had a joint will with her late husband.

“I am an activist, I had access to information and to the best lawyer. My lawyer was Beatrice Mthethwa. I had access to the courts and by then I was a Minister… I woke up one morning with nothing except a suitcase,” she said. – The Source

Despite the shrill official propaganda to the contrary, Zimbabwe’s economy is continuing on its steep decline — with the latest manifestation of this implosion being the alarming disappearance of the much sought-after United States dollars from the market in recent weeks, with devastating consequences for the country.

This latest dose of bad news to hit long-suffering Zimbabweans comes as economists have recently reaffirmed that average incomes in the country are still hovering at their lowest levels in more than 60 years, with the majority of families having to make do with less than $200 a month.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, John Mangudya, confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that Zimbabwe was witnessing a drastic shortage of American dollars, blaming rampant externalisation of the coveted greenback for the crisis.

Banking sources also said last night that the critical shortage of the US dollar had escalated ever since the central bank introduced bond notes into the market in November last year, as President Robert Mugabe’s stone-broke government desperately sought to mitigate the country’s crippling cash and liquidity crisis.

“It is a fact (that US dollars have disappeared). Nowadays we are importing small denominations because externalisation is high …. smaller notes make externalisation more difficult,” said Mangudya, adding that “generally, in money laundering, people favour high value notes, and so banks are importing smaller notes”.

However, Mangudya also said the country had, at the same time, seen an increase in US$ deposits.

“We have seen a significant increase in US dollar deposits, and in terms of the money in circulation, we have more US dollars in the system compared to bond notes.

“So, people should not be alarmed with the disappearance of high-value notes. It is just one of the measures being implemented against externalisation,” he told the Daily News.
But banking sources said while the $100 and $50 notes had started disappearing at the beginning of the country’s cash crisis, around May last year, the shortage had escalated following the release of the bond notes.

The chief executive of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), Takura Mugaga, also told the Daily News yesterday that the disappearance of high-value US dollar notes was being caused by externalisation, pointing out that people were also using the greenback as a store of value.

“You need to note that most people are holding US dollars in their homes and not depositing them, as they seek a strong currency to hold on to,” he said.

But former Finance minister, Tendai Biti, said the disappearance of the high-value US dollar notes was “a direct result of a government-instituted grand theft”.

“What the government is doing through bond notes is that they are swallowing legitimate US dollar balances in the system and stealing the US dollars.

“If you go to the bank and your balance is US$200, but you get 100 Bond and $100, what has happened to the other $100?” he queried.

“We are experiencing what is known as Gresham’s Law, where bad money is replacing good money in the system,” the People’s Democratic Party leader added.

A senior economist with risk and analysis firm IHS Global Insight, Alisa Strobel, added that “the increase of uncertainty over the impact of bond notes to the Zimbabwean economy, and fears we could see a repetition of 2009’s hyperinflation, bodes ill for the economy across the board”.

Although Zimbabwe introduced a multi-currency system in 2009, including using the South African rand and recently the Chinese Yuan, almost all Zimbabweans prefer the greenback to the other currencies.

Prominent economist, Ashok Chakravarti, said recently that a whopping $358 million in cash had been siphoned out of the country in the past five years alone.
He also told a Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) gathering in Harare late last year that greenback banking deposits had declined from $627 million in 2010 to $269 million last year.

“We have about US$269 million in banks, which is about six percent of total bank deposits. Cash in the system has depleted compared to deposits … There has been genuine externalisation. You need to have a non convertible currency to stop externalisation. If you need this country to move you have to have a currency which cannot be externalised,” he said.

And as Zimbabwe’s economy continues to die, the World Bank last year downgraded the country from its list of improved economies to the unflattering tier of struggling countries, as Harare’s political and economic turmoil continues to escalate.

In its publication titled Africa’s Pulse, the Bretton Woods institution said the country had failed to register significant economic growth over the past few years.

“Zimbabwe’s fiscal deficit has deteriorated as remedial actions have been limited and this has resulted in the country registering a negative correlation between the cyclical components of government consumption and GDP,” it said.

Economists say poverty levels have reached “numbing levels”, amid indications that the situation will worsen in 2017, as Mugabe’s Zanu PF government continues to demonstrate its inability to fix the rot. Daily News

Tertiary students have requested a meeting with Higher Education minister, Jonathan Moyo, and a parliamentary panel to discuss the re-introduction of students’ grants.

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Students’ Representative Council (SRC) has since written to Parliament and Moyo’s office over the engagement, which they said would also help clarify government’s position on tertiary fees and attachment issues.

In December last year, Moyo promised to re-introduce student loans this year, at a Zanu PF conference.

But the students fear the minister could have been grandstanding as there was no clarity over how the grants would be introduced, a few weeks before the commencement of the 2016/2017 second semester next month.

“It would be folly of the highest kind and unparalleled naivety for us to just accept Moyo’s promise as it is and not make any follow up.

“The government has promised to bring back loans before without actually doing so,” UZ SRC spokesperson, Tafadzwa Chabata, said.

“This is what has motivated us to seek a meeting with Moyo so we can hear from the horse’s mouth exactly when and how loans are going to be availed to students,” he said.
“We want to know the number of students the loan facility is going to cater for, the total amount that will be available, conditions for accessing of loans and conditions for repayment among other things.”

Moyo said the student loans would improve skills and manpower development.
Student representative bodies have reported massive dropout rates at universities because of tuition fees challenges, with the  Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (Zinasu) claiming that at least 12 000 threw in the towel in the first quarter of 2016 alone.

In a January 16 letter to Moyo, UZ SRC president Tinotenda Mhungu said they also wanted to meet the minister so they could work out how Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) funds can help students doing research.

“We propose the following matter to be considered as part of the agenda in the meeting; clarity on dates and structure of the proposed re-introduction of students’ grants and or loans,” Mhungu said.

The proposed matters include “rationalisation of academic fees particularly for students on attachment, establishment of a gender charter for the protection of the girl-child, explanations on the Zimdef and how it can benefit and assist university students in their researches as well as engagement on the urgent need for the amendment of Ordinance 30 and re-alignment of the Universities Act to the current Constitution”.

In another letter to Parliament, the students said they believed the legislature could intervene in contentious issues that were affecting students’ welfare in the country.
“This need comes in the wake of lack of clarity on certain debates and issues affecting students and the satisfaction of engagement between the student representatives and your office as the immediate parliamentary committee responsible for representation of all student welfares and liaisons of universities with government,” Mhungu wrote. – Daily News

Below is Jelousy Mawarire’s response to a note circulating on social media, purporting to have been written by his nephew. In it ‘Jealousy Mawarire jnr’ claims that his uncle Mawarire senior is a former Central Intelligence Organisation operative, and that he stumbled upon information that senior Zim PF officials are still on the CIO payroll.

Jealousy Mawarire | I have been alerted that there is someone masquerading as Jealousy Mawarire jnr on Facebook claiming to be my relative. I have no relative who carries my name, it’s not our culture in the family to name relatives after ourselves that is why even my son has his own name. We understand that there are leaders of some briefcase parties who are desperate for relevance who have been using social media and some gullible publications to peddle vitriolic stuff especially against Dr Mujuru in order to attract attention to their moribund political formations. We know as we have communicated in December 2016, that Zanu-PF is desperate to scuttle coalitions talks between Dr Mujuru and Dr Tsvangirai and the media gimmicks that we are witnessing show us that some briefcase party leaders are fronting Zanu-PF’s desperate bid to destroy the on going talks. I challenge the so-called Jealousy Mawarire jnr to publish his picture with any of my relatives especially my Father if he is a close relative who claims to have been at my house on Christmas day. The Zanu-PF regime is desperate and the false death stories on Dr Tsvangirai a few days ago show the desperation that has gripped this dying regime. Everything that this Jealousy Mawarire jnr is saying is a lie because such a person does not exist in the Mawarire family that sired me. I thought you should know.

EFF STATEMENT ON ZANU-PF’S RESPONSE TO CALLS FOR PRESIDENT MUGABE TO STEP DOWN

24 January, 2017

The Economic Freedom Fighters party has released a statement in response to Zanu-PF, confirming their point that President Robert Mugabe must leave power.

The EFF reaffirms its position that President Mugabe’s occupancy of the position of president is not good for the radical African political program. He is the bastion of the reactionary phenomenon of “lead to the death” that has crippled the image and praxis of post-colonial Africa. President Mugabe is not only the contemporary engine of personality cult, but he is protected by a group of cowards around him who hypocritically defend him everyday, whilst harbouring ambitions to lead soon.

We are unequivocal that revolutions ought to promote programs and not personalities. The continent needs heroes who will be able to stand firm on the objectives of the African revolution whilst allowing democratic practices and succession of leadership. His example is contradictory to this ideal since it directly or indirectly promotes the phenomenon of refusing to leave office until death.

Before the ZANU-PF and its youth wing respond to the EFF about the charge that they are cowards; they should ask themselves a simple question – what is revolutionary about being led by a person in old age; who sleeps all the time in meetings, can no longer even hold a pen or write half a page? Failure to respond to this question signifies not that they are afraid of others, but of President Mugabe.

When youth movement across the continent are fighting for change, questioning the transformation of liberation movements into old age homes and general gerontocracy. The ZANU-PF youth is instead defending and advancing an essentially anti-youth statuesque. This is because there is actually no youth in the ZANU-PF Youth; what you find are middle age men and women, half of which are suffering from a mid-life crises. They should be ashamed of themselves for holding the future from being born in Zimbabwe.

We shall never tell lies as revolutionaries; all the anti-colonial struggle icons like Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere knew when it was enough and handed over the baton to others. The African revolution must always distance itself from all forms of personality cults; insistence that President Mugabe must lead to the grave is a sign that ZANU-PF is drowning in cowardice.

ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

MBUYISENI QUINTIN NDLOZI (National Spokesperson)

Luke Tamborinyoka | President Tsvangirai yesterday paid his condolences to chief Siyachilaba in Binga North following the death of nine members of his community who were struck by lightning at a funeral.

As a true national leader he is, President Tsvangirai took some time off his busy schedule
to be with the families of the bereaved.

President Tsvangirai who provided food packs to the bereaved families said, in the true spirit of solidarity, it was important to make sure that the nineteen children who were orphaned following the sad incident in the Siyachilaba community continue to go to school.

He was accompanied by the two Binga MPs Hons. Prince Sibanda and Joel Gabbuza.

Among the national leaders travelling with the President are Vice President Thokozani Khupe, National Organising Secretary Abednico Bhebhe, Deputy National Organising Secretary Hon. Amos Chibaya, Secretary for Elections Murisi Zwizwai, Deputy Treasurer General Charlton Hwende and the National Youth Chairperson Happymore Chidziva.

President Tsvangirai is on a nationwide tour to solicit ideas from the people on the new government architecture people aspire for, ahead of 2018 elections.

He is also soliciting for the same on the alliance building process adopted by the national council and wants public participation in the party’s thrust to work with other political parties in the cow horn formation on Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF.

Today President Tsvangirai will address Matabeleland North provincial council in Lupane before proceeding to Hwange tomorrow.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Presidential Spokesperson and Director of Communications
Movement for Democratic Change

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) is this week attending a meeting called by government to address the burning bonus issue.
The meeting dubbed, ‘a bonus indaba,’ comes in the wake of the rural teachers having heeded the call by ARTUZ to embark on a go slow.

The first meeting began yesterday, 24th of January.

If the meetings are unfruitful, ARTUZ says it will escalate the job action.

Teachers were last year giving fake promises for bonuses.

ZimEye will update our valued readers on developments.

Ray Nkosi | Controversial Member of Parliament for Norton Constituency caused a stir in Parliament when he castigated First Lady Grace Mugabe’s extravagant lifestyle.

He said,  “If people are buying rings for over a million dollars, if they were bond notes, would they buy the rings for a million dollars – no they would not.

“I do welcome bond notes and to also stop those leaders who are extravagant in terms of using taxpayers money to be able to expend on luxury items like rings which absolutely mean nothing to the welfare of the people of this country.

We have hospitals, schools and many things. I personally am a Member of Parliament in Norton and there is not even a decent mortuary at Norton Hospital so that people can be put there but we hear that the First Lady is spending and I will not hide this”.

In a point of order raised for him not to mention the First Lady as she was not there to defend herself the streetwise Mliswa responded, “Mr. Speaker, I did not name the First Lady and I did not put a name to it. Your wife is the First Lady in your house unless she is not. My mother is the First Lady in my house.”

Ray Nkosi | The City of Bulawayo this morning woke up to a huge relief at the news that four man have been arrested on suspicion of murdering long serving Pelandaba Seventh Day Adventist church security guard Buton Sikalongo last week.

The four thugs who the whole of Bulawayo wanted arrested whatever it took are Onias Bhebhe (43), Thompson Phuthi (40) Martin Bhebhe (36) and Nozinhle Bhebhe (24) were picked up by the police in the city after a massive search for the brutal murderers.

Their victim, whom they allegedly savagely attacked, died upon admission at Mpilo Central Hospital last Wednesday morning and was buried at Solusi Mission on Sunday.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of the four man all from Pelandaba suburb and are now facing armed robbery and murder charges in connection with the crime committed last week on Tuesday.

The brutal murder of Sikalongo left residents of Bulawayo shocked as the long serving member of the church was known throughout the city particularly for his commitment to the church and community of the city.

The four men brutally stabbed Sikalongo with knives and chopped him with an axe in probably the most brutal murder the city ever expected on an innocent man whose whole life was spent around the church.

Staff Reporter| An MDC-T councillor in Mt Darwin, Mrs Fungai Mavhura and her accomplice have been arraigned before a Mt Darwin Magistrate Court for theft of Presidential Scheme inputs.

Pfura Rural District ward 34 councilor Mrs Fungai Mavhura and Kamutsenzere GMB Depot Clerk, Paddington Chinembire have appeared before Mt Darwin Magistrate Mrs Tendai Chifamba charged with theft of trust property.

The state represented by Prosecutor Mrs Lynette Masango alleged that the two connived to steal 25 bags of urea fertilizer sourced for beneficiaries in ward 34 Kamutsenzere under the Presidential Inputs Scheme.

After sourcing for a buyer and being paid US$600 councilor Mavhunga is alleged to have conspired with Chinembire to steal the fertilizer which was being kept at Kamutsenzere GMB depot.

Following an anonymous tip, Dotito police managed to intercept the truck loaded with the loot at Sohwe roadblock leading to the arrest of the two.

Magistrate Chifamba adjourned the trial to the 1st of February after granting the two accused US$100 dollars bail each.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | Dendera Music icon Sulumani ‘Sulu’Chimbetu has denied recent claims that he attacked President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF in his latest album ‘Jamboree’. The musician who inherited the Dendera legacy from his father, the late Simon Chopper Chimbetu, hit the headlines following the release of his latest album said to be loaded with political messages.

Sulumani attended the Zanu PF campaign rally addressed by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko in Bikita last week. The rally was held to drum up support for Zanu PF candidate Beauty Chabaya who eventually won the Bikita West by-election by a wide margin, albeit under controversial circumstances.

It is believed Sulumani belted it out at the Zanu PF rally to atone for the controversy he created through his album. In the album Sulu likens the situation in Zimbabwe to the suffering experienced by the Israelites in Egypt. However, the Dendera Music icon has vehemently denied he attacked Mugabe in his latest production.

“Where did you get that ? I did not attack the President. Sometimes people interpret songs in different ways. However, as I indicated why would I attack the President? People are like that,”said Sulu.

Asked why he had performed at the Zanu PF rally in the wake of the controversy surrounding his album Sulu said he would clarify the position through his publicity desk. It is believed the Dendera Maestro panicked following connotations attached to his lyrics and sought to please Mugabe by performing at the Zanu PF rally.

SOUTH African police are investigating the cold-blooded murder of Zimbabwean businessman, Jimmy Choeni, who was shot by two unidentified gunmen at his base in Musina on Monday night.

Choeni, who owned a private security company, was allegedly shot three times in the back by the assailants, and died on the spot, while his unidentified female companion walked away unscathed.

Ray Nkosi | Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Rita Marau, says her commission never promised to use any electronic means of voting for the 2018 elections.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Makarau said the biometric system will only be used in voter registration and not in the actual voting.

The surprise new development from the elections commission will likely cause more confusion to the electorate and opposition parties who have been preparing for an electronic system of vetting voters in the elections to avoid multiple voting which has dented previous elections in the country.

Makarau said that the biometric system will only be confined to the registration process leaving the actual voting system as was in the much disputed 2013 election. She said that the new technology will only be used to compile a new voters roll which will eliminate ghost voters that have been hinted in previous election.

“Only living people will be in the voters roll as no dead person will ever be able to walk to register in the voters roll,” she said.

Makarau warned that people who will not register in the new biometric based voters roll will not be allowed to vote in 2018.

According to Makarau ZEC has not yet awarded the tender to supply the equipment and method to be used in the registration process. She said that her commission is still waiting on potential tenders to complete the process which should be ready by March for voters to start registering.

“We will have a trial run in February before opening up for the registration process in March,” she said.

Terrence Mawawa, Chivhu| The husband of a police officer based at Sadza Growth Point stole a laptop from a house at the local police camp and hid the gadget in the refrigerator.

A woman who stays at Sadza Police Camp Revai Gumbo, left her house for a few minutes to pick her child from the neighbourhood. When she returned she was shocked to notice the door at her room had been opened and an HP255 Laptop had been stolen.

She immediately made a report at the camp. The police began to search the houses at the camp.

They then approached Sindiso Ncube’s house and knocked at the door but he did not respond. Ncube is married to a police officer.

Police officers then advised Ncube who was hiding behind a bed they were looking for a stolen laptop.

The police officers then forcibly entered the room and found the laptop hidden in the refrigerator.

“Constable Muchato and Sergeant Chikwema searched the house and a jittery Ncube was found in possession of the laptop (in the fridge),”the court heard.

The matter was heard before Chivhu Residential Magistrate Story Rushambwa last week.

Magistrate Rushambwa said Ncube had embarrassed his wife by stealing the laptop.

Ncube was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 12 months were suspended for five years.

The stolen laptop is valued at $300.

A GOOD Samaritan has lost a vehicle worth about R200 000 to a man who had volunteered to clean it.

Zibusiso Ndlovu (22) of Emganwini suburb in Bulawayo allegedly approached Mr Ian Mpofu, a cross border driver and told him that he did not have a place to stay as he had been kicked out of his parents’ house.

Mr Mpofu of Mzilikazi suburb — whose employers are in South Africa — decided to employ Ndlovu as a conductor but is now regretting his decision after he lost the vehicle.
He said Ndlovu disappeared with the Toyota Quantum registration number CD49DM GP on Monday last week at around 2PM.

Mr Mpofu said the vehicle was worth R200 000 and belonged to his South African employers.

“Through pity and trust, I recruited Ndlovu as my conductor. I took him into my home after he told me he didn’t have a place to live as he had been kicked out of his parents’ home in Emganwini suburb,” he said.

“We had travelled together on two trips and he seemed like a quiet, trustworthy young man.”
Mr Mpofu said they arrived home on Monday morning from South Africa intending to go back the following day.

“When I woke up to clean the car in the afternoon, he offered to clean it. I took a bath and dozed off on the sofa only to be awakened by my nephews who had come from school. That is when I noticed that the car was not there.

“I phoned him and he said he had gone to pick-up some customers in the Western suburbs. I asked him why he had done that because he doesn’t even have a licence and we were not returning (to SA) that day. He said he was returning immediately, but until today I have not seen him,” he said.

Mr Mpofu said Ndlovu never returned and his phone went off at midnight and has not been reachable up to now.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said investigations were underway.

“A commuter omnibus conductor stole a Toyota Quantum after the driver of the vehicle gave him car keys so that he could clean it. The driver retired to bed and the accused drove the vehicle to an unknown destination.

“The complainant reported the case to police and investigations are in progress,” she said.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said police were urging motor vehicle owners to be wary of persons they entrust with their car keys as unscrupulous people may end up stealing their vehicles. – state media

ZANU-PF Matabeleland South chairman Rabelani Choeni, who was involved in an accident early this month, has fully recovered and is expected to resume party duties after his review next week.

Choeni and four others were involved in an accident along the Beitbridge–Bulawayo road near West Nicholson when his vehicle burst a rear tyre and overturned.

He and a pregnant passenger were admitted at Gwanda District Hospital; him for five days and the woman for six days. Two other passengers were treated and discharged.

In an interview, Choeni said he had fully recovered and was waiting to go for his review next week.

“I am now feeling fine. I feel I have recovered but will go for my review end of this month to ascertain my recovery. I have not yet resumed duty but after the review, I will go back to official party business,” he said.

“However, party business should go on. It should not stop because I am not there or dead. Preparations for the 21st Movement, I gather, are going on well. Although I have not been attending the meetings, I will be briefed on the progress but from what I hear all is going on smoothly.”

Choeni said his vehicle veered off the road and overturned.

The accident happened at Johnsley Resettlement area just before West Nicholson when he was on his way to Matopos National Park to identify the site for hosting the 21st February Movement Celebrations next month.

The party has started fundraising for the event following the setting up of 10 committees to spearhead preparations.- State Media

Government has declared Harare roads a state of disaster and has moved in to assist the city to rehabilitate the “untrafficable’’ roads some of which are contributing to major accidents.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development yesterday deployed a team to start work on Seke Road, while Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said Government would engage companies to carry out road maintenance around the city.

Incessant rains have worsened the condition of most roads.

Minister Kasukuwere and Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo, Acting mayor Clr Herbert Gomba, town clerk Mrs Josephine Ncube and other city officials toured some of the potholed roads in Harare and inspected workers patching potholes along Seke Road.

Minister Kasukuwere said Government would use its existing contractors and engage other companies to speed up repairs of Harare roads.

“We will certainly write to the Office of President and Cabinet and waiver some of the requirements because we have a state of disaster,” said Ministe Kasukuwere.

“We have not had sufficient funding in the City of Harare to look after the road infrastructure. We actually have a state of disaster. We have to mobilise as much resources as possible and I am happy the Minister of Transport has come to give us that support for us to be able to repair and also maintain most of our roads.”

He said allowing the current state of roads to continue as it is for the next two to three weeks, the city might not have any road to talk about in Harare.

“As it stands, we are now even affecting the foundation of the roads because the tar is gone,” he said.

“I think the point the Minister (Minister Gumbo) has made is that Harare is not the Vatican. Harare is not on its own. We are together City of Harare and Government because Harare is the capital city.”

Minister Kasukuwere said Harare could not be left to a few individuals as more than 60 percent of the 5 000 kilometres of the road was impassable.

He said the rains had hit the city hard compared to many other years because of lack of general maintenance that is required.

“The City of Harare cannot cope. Clearly what you can see is that they have failed on their own to look after this situation hence we had to ask the parent Ministry of Transport to assist us in maintaining the roads,” he said.

He said he was happy that Minister Gumbo had already deployed teams from ministry and City of Harare to work together on the project.

Minister Gumbo said most of the country’s roads were in a deplorable state and required urgent attention.

“We are here to complement the City of Harare. We know that the funds they get from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) are not enough for them to maintain the roads as it were, so we are here and we promise we are going to do the best we can,” said Minister Gumbo.

“We are also aware that some of the roads belong to us, those ones we call the through roads which pass through City of Harare and we cannot leave that responsibility to the city.

“It is important and critical that we work together with City of Harare and make sure that our people in the capital city find themselves using good roads. Harare is our capital city. We must make it. We can include other service providers to make sure we arrest the situation.”

Minister Gumbo said most of the country’s roads required urgent attention hence he had met all the road authorities around the country.

“They are also busy doing that (rehabilitating roads) but as you can see the concentration of people and cars in Harare is far bigger than what you meet outside but already there is a machinery going on throughout the country,” he said.

“We have already asked the Ministry of Finance to allow us to use some of the money we call road access funds to rehabilitate the Harare- Beitbridge -Victoria Falls Road, Beitbridge Chirundu Road and all those other roads you are talking about. Our last meeting was in Bulawayo over the weekend.”

Acting Mayor Gomba said he was happy Government has come to work with council in maintaining and repairing roads. – State Media

PROSECUTORS yesterday withdrew before plea charges of criminal insult against Zanu-PF legislator for Gokwe-Nembudziya Justice Mayor Wadyajena, an Emmerson Mnangagwa ally. 

The withdrawal, which was opposed by the defence, came after the complainant Letina Munamato Undenge, who is Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge’s wife, filed an affidavit saying she was no longer interested in pursuing the case.

“The State wishes to withdraw charges before plea as the complainant has filed a withdrawal affidavit. The State will stick to that since the accused had not been formally charged,” said prosecutor Mr Takunda Ndovorwi in court.

The complainant, who last month also skipped court when trial was supposed to kick off, didn’t give reasons why she was no longer interested in pursuing the matter.

Wadyajena (35), hadn’t been asked to plead to the charge.

In response, Wadyajena’s lawyer Mr Givemore Muvhiringi of Dube and Company challenged the withdrawal before plea saying it gives the state an unfair advantage over the legislator as charges can be revived later.

“The accused feels prejudiced by attending this court so many times after the state elected to charge him. This is clearly in violation of his right and he feels he should have been afforded time to clear his name,” said Mr Muvhiringi.

The defence wanted charges to be withdrawn after plea.

“It is proper that if the State is to withdraw charges, the withdrawal has to be after plea since the accused has already filed his defence outline,” said Mr Muvhiringi.

He cited Section 56 of the Constitution which provides for the right to protection of the law and Section 44 which speaks of the court’s obligation to implement constitutional provisions.

Victoria Falls resident magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa accepted the withdrawal before plea, saying the fact that a defence outline had been filed made no difference.

The legislator was on $800 bail while the court had allowed him to apply for the release of his passport for convenience whenever he intended to travel on Parliament business.

Last year, Cde Wadyajena abandoned his application to the Constitutional Court challenging the constitutionality of the charges, opting to stand trial.

He was accused of committing the crime in December 2015 during Zanu-PF’s 15th Annual People’s Conference in Victoria Falls.

Another Zanu-PF member and the MP for  Mashonaland West, Cde Jimayi Muduvuri, he was also alleged to have insulted also withdrew the charges claiming the move was meant to foster unity in the revolutionary party.

Allegations were that on December 11, 2015, Cde Wadyajena saw Cde Muduvuri travelling to Elephant Hills Resort along Park Way road in his Mercedes Benz ML320, which had pictures of the First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe with the words “Munhu wese kuna Amai” (Everyone should rally behind the First Lady) inscribed below the images.

Wadyajena, who was standing beside his car, is alleged to have shouted: “Iwe Jimayi uri mboko . . . Unongoti munhu wese kuna Amai sei. Get away,” loosely translated, “Jimayi you’re an idiot, why do you say everyone should rally behind the First Lady? Get away.”

Prosecutors allege that the following day while at Elephant Hills Resort reception area, he allegedly insulted Undenge.

Some words allegedly uttered by Wadyajena were allegedly unprintable. – State Media

A MAN from Mwenezi was severely injured on his right leg when a crocodile attacked him during a fishing expedition.

Mr Munei Hofisi (47) of Munhundugwe Village under Chief Mawarire is battling for his life at Matibi Rural Hospital after being attacked by the crocodile while fishing in Pambe Dam in Mwenezi.

Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said the incident occurred on Saturday at around 3PM when Mr Hofisi was fishing using nets.

“Mr Hofisi survived the attack but had his right leg badly injured. He was rushed to Matibi Rural Hospital for treatment where his condition is said to be critical,” said Insp Mazula.

She appealed to members of the public not to fish in crocodile infested water bodies as this leads to loss of precious lives.

According to a relative, Mr Albert Hofisi (34), Munei left home with his brother at around 2PM intending to catch fish using nets and was attacked from behind while fishing.

“Mr Hofisi left home at around 2 PM for Pambe Dam for a fishing expedition. While at the dam setting nets at around 3 PM, he was attacked by a crocodile from behind and sustained serious injuries on his right leg,” he said.

“His leg looked like it had been chopped by a machete.”

Other fishermen administered first aid on Mr Hofisi and bandaged the leg before he was rushed to hospital.- State Media

A 27-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo woman was kidnapped and held captive for seven days by her ex-boyfriend who repeatedly raped her during that period.

Kudakwashe Antony Mapwevo (27) of New Lobengula suburb appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube charged with four counts of malicious damage to property, assault, rape and unlawful detention.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded to January 27 for trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said Mapwevo allegedly sent a message to the complainant, whose name has been withheld for ethical reasons, via her grandmother, asking to meet her.

“On January 11, this year at around 9AM, the complainant was phoned by her grandmother to the effect that the accused person was looking for her.

“She proceeded to the accused person’s home, where she found him standing outside with his brother,” said Mr Mageza.

The court heard that Mapwevo became violent in the middle of the ex-lovers’ meeting, allegedly angry that she was late.

He allegedly grabbed her phone and smashed it against a wall before forcing her into the house.

“He force-marched her into the house where he held her hostage until January 19, depriving her of her right to freedom of movement,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Mageza said Mapwevo raped the complainant several times after forcing her into the house.

“The accused person had sexual intercourse with the complainant from January 12 to January 19 without her consent,” he said. – State Media

A 20-YEAR-OLD woman from Bulawayo yesterday dragged her father to court seeking $90 for school fees.

Ms Nolic Gumpo of Pumula South suburb told a court that she wanted her father Dumisani Ncube to assist her achieve her dreams.

Ms Gumpo said she failed to obtain her Ordinary Level results at her previous school as they were withheld because she lost three text books.

She said her father refused to give her money to buy the text books.

“I am a former student at Mpopoma High School and l lost three text books. My teacher informed me that l passed four subjects but when l approached my father he refused to buy text books in order for me to collect my results,” Ms Gumpo said.

She said she has decided to repeat her O-Levels and has secured a place at Mcumbatha Secondary School in Nkulumane suburb.

“Your Worship, my father refused to give me money to buy text books and collect my results. I’ve since secured a place at Mcumbatha Secondary School to repeat my Form 4. I need $45 for school fees and $45 for food, transport and clothes”.

In response, Ncube said his daughter was a stupid child because she had dragged him to court.

“She is stupid! I wasted my time coming to this court. I paid for her school fees last time but she did not bring her results. Instead of showing me her results she told me stories of text books,” he said.

Bulawayo Magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya ordered Ncube to give her child the money to buy text books and postponed the matter to February 10. – State Media

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has made a surprise turn around announcing that there will be no biometric voting. Among the companies that made a bid to provide biometric equipment was the discredited NIKUV, raising fears among Zimbabweans of another rigged election.

However, the state media reports that there will be no biometric or any electronic voting in next year’s harmonised elections as the new technology that the Zimbabwe Electrical Commission is set to acquire will only be confined to voter registration.Although the voting system remains the same, those who fail to register afresh using the biometric technology would not be eligible to vote. The biometric voter registration, which is expected to start in March, would capture biometrics such as a person’s unique physical traits and finger prints among other things.

These features can be detected and recorded by an electronic device as a means of confirming identity. Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau told The Herald yesterday that nothing, in terms of voting, would change.

“The biometric technology is for voter registration only,” she said. “It’s not biometric or electronic voting. The technology is going to assist us to compile a bit more accurate voters’ roll. When it comes to voting. we use our usual process like the one we used in the recent Bikita West by election.”

Justice Makarau said at least 12 companies had submitted bids to supply the biometric voter registration kits. She said all the bids were being evaluated with a view to come up with the final three.

“We will invite the last three to bring their kits for demonstration before we settle for the final supplier,” she said. “We expect to do the demonstrations in early February after which the final supplier would be announced.”

Among other things, Zec would also embark on massive voter education campaigns likely to start during the first quarter of this year. Justice Makarau was optimistic that everything would be in place before the elections.

Recently, Justice Makarau said the new biometric voters’ roll would contain the so-called ghost voters.

“Because we are capturing people’s biometrics, the dead will not be on the voters’ roll because they won’t be able to present their biometrics,” Justice Makarau said.

“Only the living with fingerprints and their faces will be able to present themselves. To that extent, our voters’ roll is going to be very accurate. The biometric voter registration kits are coming with a software that detects multiple or double registrations. Your face and fingerprints would help us to weed out all those who try to register twice.”

Justice Makarau went on: “Because human beings are prone to die anytime, some of those registered may die before voting day and we may have a few of those remaining on the voters’ roll. Do not come to us and say so and so died two days ago and is still on the voters’ roll.”

The biometric voters’ roll would be polling station-based, meaning that the name of a voter will only appear at a particular polling station.

Justice Makarau allayed fears that capturing a person’s biometrics would intimidate the voter saying biometric voter registration was “a voter registration technology which had nothing to do with what will happen on the voting day.”

The electoral body is engaging political parties at regular intervals and had since agreed to form nine sub-committees that would assist it to prepare for the polls. – State Media

The Zimbabwean government has castigated South African Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema for his recent utterances calling President Robert Mugabe to step down.

Malema also labelled Zanu PF members as cowards who are afraid of telling the president to step down.

In a statement to the state media, the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Dr Chris Mushohwe, said Zimbabweans view Malema as a loud-mouthed “Gucci”revolutionary who acquired the infamy of deserting and betraying politics of liberation as espoused by the ANC.

“We pity and dismiss him as an ignorant youth, ‘rema’in Shona, one abortively trying to punch above his life long weight. Simply, he is nothing more than a shrunken, talkative joke. And in typical fashion of political charlatans, he seeks to make up for his inner political deficiencies by projecting himself as a trans-border and continental politician who fancies himself big and cute enough to pass comment and judgement on developments elsewhere on the continent,”said Dr Mushohwe.

Dr Mushohwe added:  “What makes Malema’s statements irritatingly despicable is an informing presumption that in spite of his threadbare, prodigal political career, he visualised himself as important enough to comment and pass judgement on the leadership credentials and political career of so iconic a figure as President Mugabe.”

He said Malema’s inspiration lies elsewhere, and no amount of taping from the proud record of Zanu PF and Zimbabweans, or of invoking the name of  Zimbabwean leader and President, will grant him even a patina of respectability, whether at home, on the continent or abroad.

Other Zanu PF members also lashed out at Malema, describing him as a shallow minded politician, who is too young to lecture on Zimbabwe and President Mugabe.

“A drunkard and shallow minded political prostitute like Julius Malema has no authority to lecture on patriotic Zimbabweans to turn against their constitutionally elected president,” the Zanu PF youth leader, Kudzai Chipanga.

Businessman and politician, Jimaya Muduvuri scoffed at Malema’s utterances, saying the wanton attacks clearly highlight the political immaturity of Malema.

“He has also demonstrated to be an accomplished sellout and a rebel, whose hidden agenda towards the African icon is bound to backfire on him,” he said.

Zanu PF legislator for Highfield West, Psychology Maziwisa said Malema is a nonentity in Zimbabwe and African politics whose anti-Mugabe antics are just nonsensical and will come to naughty.

Other observers described Malema’s sudden attack on President Mugabe as coming from a political opportunist and renegade whose premature political utterances should be dismissed with the contempt they deserves. – State Media

As South descends into elections northern neighbors Zimbabwe have taken center stage as all political parties make mention of it at every opportune time.

The latest, EFF leader Julius Malema, described Zimbabweans as cowards for failing to dislodge 93-year old ruler Mugabe.

Malema said, “The situation in Zimbabwe is bad . . . I know that people from Zimbabwe will respond with insults but people in Zanu-PF are cowards. How can you fail to say to Mugabe, with all due respect, please step aside because currently what Zanu-PF is doing is it is burdening Mugabe.”

He went on to give the example of “Commandant Fidel Castro” who when he reached the advanced age passed the baton stick to his brother Raul.

South Africa heads for polls in 2019, but critically the ruling party ANC has its elective congress at the end of the year which will see six candidates battle it for the top post which is a straight jacket to country presidency.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba of ANC, was the first to make the mark with Zimbabwean in political politics when he said Zimbabweans with Special Permits must seek other options if they wish to continue to stay in the rainbow nation.

Not to be outdone, Johannesburg Herman Mashaba of DA launched a veiled attack on Zimbabweans when he said all illegal foreigners are criminals, and must leave his city.

Political analysts opine that sending foreigners out of South Africa will appease locals who claim they are taking their jobs.

Zimbabweans total an estimated 4million in South Africa, though the only less than a quarter are documented. – Agencies

Luke Tamborinyoka | President Morgan Tsvangirai today met opinion leaders in Binga, Matabeleland North province where the community here expressed concern over their underdeveloped area, among other concerns.

They gave thumbs up to the proposed alliance of opposition parties, expressing hope that the new government will deal with the interests and concerns of ethnic minorities such as the Tonga people.

They had grievances over the lack of proper schools and hospitals, blaming Mugabe and Zanu PF of pursuing exclusive policies that sidelined other people and groups.

The community leaders had issues with the stringent fishery regulations that failed to take into account the fact that their lives revolve around fishing in the Zambezi.They said they had hope in the 2018 election and that the coalition of opposition parties would overthrow the Zanu PF culture of exclusion.

President Tsvangirai assured the Tonga community that the new government would take seriously their concerns and usher in a new governance culture in full compliance with the Constitution.

President Tsvangirai is on a tour of all the country’s provinces, listening to the concerns of the people and allowing them to input into the sculpting of the governance architecture of the new government of 2018.

The Tonga community welcomed the alliance of opposition parties and the creation of a common front in 2018, saying it gave them hope that this time around, Zanu PF would be consigned to the dustbins of history.

In the next two days, President Tsvangirai will engage opinion and party leaders in Lupane and Hwange.

Presidential Spokesperson and Director of Communications

Businessman Simon Rudland has approached the High Court demanding over $30 000 in adultery damages from Timothy Tombras — a man he accuses of dating his wife, Leigh Anne.

According to court papers, the ex-transport and bus tycoon alleges that Tombras was in an adulterous relationship with his wife between 2013 and 2014.

“As a consequence of the adulterous relationship, plaintiff (Rudland)’s relationship with his wife broke down resulting in among other things, plaintiff having to vacate his matrimonial home,” he said.

Rudland added that “as a result of the adulterous relationship, plaintiff has suffered damages in the amount of $20 000, being $15 000 for contumelia, and further $5 000 for loss of comfort and society of his wife”.

He said soon after he left his matrimonial home, Tombras moved in and continued having an affair with his wife.

“For the period that the defendant (Tombras) remained in occupation of the plaintiff’s residence, he used and abused plaintiff’s motor vehicle, a Toyota Hilux double cab,” Rudland claimed in the court papers, further claiming that Tombras used the car without his knowledge and consent.

He further accused Tombras of abusing the motor vehicle and damaging it in the process, resulting in him requiring $7 551 to repair it.

“During the time that the defendant took occupation at his residence, he took away without plaintiff’s knowledge and consent two submersible pumps from plaintiff’s purification plant. The reasonable replacement cost of each pump is in the amount of $1 050.”

The businessman said Tombras is liable to the replacement of the pump at a price of $2 100 and the repair of the water purification plant, which costs $3 025.

He further accused his wife’s boyfriend of taking away his television set and 6 000 litres of diesel.

“Despite lawful demand, defendant has refused and or neglected to pay the various amounts claimed…or indeed to indicate a willingness to make good the damages,” Rudland said.

Tombras has not yet fully responded to the claim, but has since filed an appearance to defend in the matter, yet to be heard on merits before the High Court.

Last week, the defendant all but admitted — in a separate case at the magistrates’ courts — that he was indeed in an unholy relationship with Rudland’s wife, which could swing the flurry of litigations into the cigarette trader’s favour.

“Accused will State that he is a drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation counsellor by profession and that is how he became acquainted with the complainant’s wife Leigh Anne Rudland,” Tombras told magistrate Blessing Murwisi in the underway criminal case.

“When the complainant and his wife separated and at the inception of the divorce proceedings, that is when he began counselling her as she had alcohol abuse issues,” he said, adding he had “rendered his services at the specific request and instance of Rudland’s wife, and mother-in-law”. – Daily News

STOP THE EVICTIONS: HIGH COURT OF ZIMBABWE ORDERS CITY OF HARARE AND ZRP.

Staff Reporter| Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Police boss Augustine Chihuri were this afternoon slapped into line by a top judge.

The High Court of Zimbabwe’s Justice Mangota issued an interdict banning the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Harare City Council from evicting vendors operating within the Central Business District of Harare pending the determination of Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET)’s urgent High Court application against the evictions.

The next hearing will be on Tuesday, the 31st of January 2017.

The case was heard this afternoon before Justice Mangota in the Judge’s Chambers. Respondents in the case were The City of Harare, The Ministry of Local Government and The Commissioner General of the Police Augustine Chihuri. – ZimEye

Ray Nkosi | The exclusive picture sent to ZimEye by sources is proof of how Zanu PF used the military in its election logistics during the Bikita-West election. ALSO READ – We were forced to vote ZANU PF. 

Namhla Ntandwa | Higher Education Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has rubbished Julius Malema’s much publicised attack against President Robert Mugabe.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, said Mugabe’s continued stay in power was not good for Zimbabwe, Sadc and “the African revolution project”.

Said Malema in a passionate plea for Mugabe to step down; “Zimbabwe’s situation is bad. President Mugabe can’t even control a spade. He is no longer capable of discharging his responsibilities.”

“We don’t hate the man. They can respond and insult us anyhow they want, but they are a group of cowards, those comrades in Zanu PF, to be scared to say to an old man like President Mugabe, please, with due respect, let go.”

Moyo took to twitter to downplay Malema’s comments; “I think Malema will always be Malema while everything else is obladi oblada as life goes on!”

It would appear as though the Israeli Security Company, Nikuv International Projects is one of the twelve bidders that have answered the call by ZEC to supply the electoral commission with Biometric Registration Kits and Software.

Before end of year last year, the Electoral commission advertised a tender that welcomed willing local and international tech savvy companies with the capacity to supply biometric voter registration kits. Apparently ZEC opened the bids in the presence of selected few stakeholders of the economy excluding the fourth arm of the state, the watchdog of the state,the media. Which has been an eyebrow raiser.

All that is known from a reliable source who attended the opening of the tender by ZEC, is that twelve companies submitted their bids and one of them is Nikuv. It is said that worry registered on the faces of those in attendance at the possibility of Nikuv being the victor for the tender that was up for grabs.

We are well aware of the bad history that Zimbabwe has with Nikuv with regards to elections during the last election that Zimbabwe had. In 2013 this security firm was accused of facilitating a fraudulent election, in fact it was fingered as having aided in the results that were greatly disputed by opposition party MDC then.

Out of the twelve companies it is has been availed that they submitted tenders whose value ranges from between $3,7 million and $10,7 million. ZEC is quoted to have submitted that it will look for the cheapest and best qualified company to best provide the kits.

There shall be the shortlisting of the companies and the three shortlisted are expected to carry out a pilot scheme between the 8^th and 9^th of February this year. This pilot scheme shall make use of school going children below the legal age of majority, which is 18 years. This is so as to demystify the notion that voters names will be registered in the voters roll to be used in the anticipated 2018 election.

ZEC has long since confirmed that the registration process to vote shall begin in May and should be complete after eight months thereafter. It is anticipated that 1500 kits will be used for voter registration at 10 000 polling stations across Zimbabwe and ZEC officials will be positioned at each polling centre for 15 days.

Each polling station shall be endowed with a finger print scanner, kit box , camera and solar kit whilst a printer, ID scanner , barcode scanner, document and signature pad are optional.

Other jurisdictions that have engaged the services of Nikuv International  Projects especially for elections include Botswana, particularly the Botswana Democratic Party in the 2014 election. And of course not forgetting the controversial elections in Zambia in 1996 where its services were engaged to manage and computerise voter registration by the Movement for Multiparty Democracy party( MMD). So it wll most probably be the first time they actually provide BVR kits.

Among other services that the firm offers , Nikuv provides package solution, knowledge and expert skills that any government may require to leverage advanced technologies in the areas of administration ,security,civil planning and infrastructure development as per nikuv website. Open Parl

Harare – Zimbabwe’s education minister says “sport and mass display” will now be a compulsory school subject up to age 16 – and students will be examined in it.

The proposal, contained in an article in the state media has provoked outrage online, as well as comparisons with North Korea’s mass indoctrination strategies.

In fact, “physical education, sport and mass display” gets more importance in Zimbabwe’s new school curriculum than computer science does. Computer science is on the list of optional O-level subjects that students can choose from, along with history, geography, chemistry and biology. But PE, sports and mass display and heritage studies will now be compulsory for all students, whatever their abilities in the subject areas.

Unpopular education minister Lazarus Dokora told the Sunday Mail: “We are now encouraging our students to take sports, arts, ICT seriously so as to apply whatever they learn to real-life terms.”

Not everyone is convinced, especially with elections 18 months or so away.

“Sounds like a way of trying to teach our kids Zanu-PF pungwe songs,” tweeted prominent journalist @zenzele. A pungwe is a political meeting often held in the community at night, sometimes to politically “re-educate” community members.

“The method behind [Minister] Dokora’s Mass Display madness is born from Chinese/North Korean mass indoctrination strategies,” tweeted @BusieBhebhe. North Korea holds a “mass games” display of dance and gymnastic every year with up to 100 000 participants in what is reported by the BBC to be a “state propaganda extravanganza”.

At the weekend Mugabe’s ruling party won a by-election in Bikita West, southern Zimbabwe, after a run-up in which there were some complaints of violence, intimidation and vote-buying. – News24

The Emmerson Mnangagwa controlled state media makes unconfirmed reports that MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been stopped by party structures from forming a broader coalition with other opposition groups, which include former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s Zim People First.

Quoting sources who are not named, the reports claim that Tsvangirai made proposals that would have relegated Ms Thokozani Khupe from her current position as deputy president.

“He (Mr Tsvangirai) comes face to face with reality in Gwanda where people told him point blank that we have been in the struggle alone for a long time and why should we accommodate late comers now,” said the unnamed source.

Another source added: “This coalition is just useless and why should we be used as a springboard by Mujuru who is testing opposition politics for the first time? Our resolve was emboldened by the fighting spirit that was showed by our structures in Gwanda. I think it is an issue that the national council is going revisit.”

The state media reports run contrary to Tsvangirai’s own spirited announcements last December, after a meeting of the supreme decision-making body the National Council, where he said he was ‘heartened’ by events in Ghana and Gambia where the opposition won resoundingly against the ruling parties. Tsvangirai’s new optimism was derived from the Ghana and Gambia experiences, that they can be repeated in Zimbabwe, rushing to quickly make another commitment to participate in the 2018 elections.

“We are heartened by the developments in Africa, where credible elections are taking place and where sitting parties and governments are conceding defeat. Ghana and the Gambia are such examples, even though Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh is now singing a different tune after initially conceding defeat,” said Tsvangirai who later attended the inauguration ceremony in Ghana.

TWO Pakistani nationals, who allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill their compatriot’s family, yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court charged with assault and threats to commit murder.

Ibrah Ijaz (31) and Sajid Irfan (37), appeared before magistrate Sekai Chiundura and were remanded to February 23 on $50 bail each.

Zaheer is said to be a former business partner of the two suspect’s father, Mohammad Asghar Ali (56), who is also an alleged accomplice in this matter and is said to be at large.

It is the State’s allegations that on January 14 this year, Zaheer was at his shop along Kaguvi Street with his shop assistant, Nyasha Takura, when they were approached by Ijaz and Irfan, who went on to ask about the whereabouts of Mohammad Waheed.

The State alleges Zaheer did not respond kindly to the inquiry telling the suspects to contact Waheed on his mobile phone, as he had already given them his contact details.

This did not go down well with the trio, who allegedly then assaulted Zaheer with fists and some vehicle spare parts, which were in the shop.

It is the State’s case that the suspects then threatened to kill Zaheer’s parents and relatives based in Pakistan and also threatened to kill him.

As a result of the threats, the State alleges, the trio instilled in the complainant reasonable fear that they were going to kill him and his relatives, prompting him to report the matter to the police.

Zaheer, who was represented by Roy Mabhena, also appeared in another court on allegations of assaulting Ijaz and Irfan and was granted $50 bail. He was also remanded to February 23 for trial.

Desire Chidanire appeared for the State. – Newsday

FIREBRAND South African opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, yesterday blasted President Robert Mugabe, saying his continued stay in power was not good for Zimbabwe, Sadc and “the African revolution project”.

Malema, who is often described as an ideologue taking after Mugabe, told journalists in Braamfontein, South Africa, that what was happening in Zimbabwe was bad and chided Zanu PF members for being cowards in failing to tell the Zimbabwean leader to go.

“Zimbabwe’s situation is bad. President Mugabe can’t even control a spade. He is no longer capable of discharging his responsibilities,” Malema said.

“We don’t hate the man. They can respond and insult us anyhow they want, but they are a group of cowards, those comrades in Zanu PF, to be scared to say to an old man like President Mugabe, please, with due respect, let go.”

Malema said the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro was wise enough to let go when he realised that his strength was letting him down.

“Commandant, Fidel Castro, when he realised that it was no longer doable, he let go, so President Mugabe should let go, the legacy of the land question will carry it. We are following in his footsteps, we are proud of the actions he has taken, but his overstay is not doing justice on the African revolution project, he is destroying his own legacy, it’s bad,” he said.

Malema said Mugabe should celebrate that he was not a South African president, as he would have been removed a long time ago.

Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe’s independence from British colonial rule in 1980. Turning 93 next month, Mugabe has already been nominated as the Zanu PF presidential candidate for next year’s general elections, with his diehard party supporters vowing to have him as their leader as long as he is still alive, something Malema took exception to.

“President Mugabe’s stay in power and him being a presidential candidate in 2018, those comrades in Zanu PF can insult us anyhow they want, we are not going to be good friends if we are not going to tell them that which they are doing (sic) is not good for the Zimbabwean people, is not good for Sadc, is not good for the struggle of reclaiming the land in Africa, because those who are leading that struggle then they overstay and destroy that legitimate programme,” he said.

“We say this out of love, not because we hate him. We celebrate Mugabe, we celebrate what he has done. But, grandpa, it’s enough.

“Now you must let go and allow other people to continue with that legacy.”

Malema said there many young radical and capable people who could lead Zanu PF and continue with the revolutionary mantle.

Contacted for comment over Malema’s remarks, Zanu PF youth league leader Kudzai Chipanga said: “Malema is a double coward. The fact that he left a revolutionary party, the ANC, to form that burial society (EFF), which is more like a drunkards’ club, he is a good candidate for being a coward. From his revolutionary background, he knows that when we chose leaders, we chose revolutionaries.

“You cannot talk of revolutions leaving out the names of Mugabe, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Reginald Tambo, Joshua Nkomo and Kwame Nkrumah, just to mention a few. The fact that our own hero is still alive, why does he want us to ditch him and opt for second-hand characters?

“He can import the person he thinks is a competent leader to join his EFF club, it’s high time Malema minded his own business and stopped interfering in ours.

“Since he left the ANC, he has never received a call from us. We also don’t expect him to come to us, our former colleague can certainly go to hell and hang.”

Leading figures in Zanu PF are locked in a bitter tussle for power as they look beyond Mugabe, but continue to sing the nonagenarian’s praises, even as it becomes apparent that nature is taking its toll on the Zimbabwean leader, who turns 93 next month.

Malema also blasted opposition MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai and his party, describing the former Prime Minister as an “imperialist puppet that seeks to undermine the legitimate land question in Zimbabwe”.

“We are not even talking about MDC. MDC is not an alternative in Zim. It’s [an] imperialist puppet that seeks to undermine the legitimate land question in Zimbabwe,” he continued.

“We are not aligned to anything that seeks to reverse the land question and we genuinely believe that comrades in Zanu PF, who are young, can continue.” — eNCA/Staff Reporter

 Terrence Mawawa Masvingo | Soccer fans here have been left in utter disappointment after Local Government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere blocked Masvingo City Council from funding a local football team the Masvingo City FC.

Soccer fans here were hoping Masvingo City FC, wholly funded by the city council, would win promotion in the top flight. However Kasukuwere issued a directive to the local authority -blocking the lucrative sponsorship deal in the process. Sources at the Civic Centre, the council headquarters told ZimEye.com at the weekend that Kasukuwere was afraid the MDC -T dominated local authority would gain political mileage through funding the football team.

Kasukuwere did to state the reason for blocking the funding deal. “It is a political war, Kasukuwere has blocked the funding deal because he is afraid the MDC-T dominate council would score political points ahead of the 2018 polls “claimed the source. Asked for a comment on the matter Masvingo Mayor, Councillor Hubert Fidze was evasive.

“It is true the sponsorship deal for Masvingo City FC was agreed on by the full council management but the minister had other plans so the deal collapsed.We know people are waiting for the return of Premier Soccer League football to Masvingo but sadly our plans could not materialise,”said Fidze.

Angry soccer fans described Kasukuwere as an overzealous politician desperate to please his bosses. “Kasukuwere is keen to please his bosses by thwarting a noble and sincere corporate social responsibility programme.That is the typical Zanu PF ideology.The Zanu PF politicians have an active desire to torment the people of Zimbabwe,”said Masvingo City FC supporter.

THE Zanu PF youth league has equated President Robert Mugabe to Jesus Christ, saying his birthday should be celebrated as if it is Christmas Day, because to them, the 93-year-old leader is “The Messiah”.

In an interview last week, the ruling party’s national youth leader, Kudzai Chipanga, declared that Mugabe’s birthday, which falls on February 21, should not be treated like an ordinary day, but given the same status as Christmas Day, which is celebrated annually by Christians as Jesus Christ’s birthday.

“To us, February 21 is not just a day. To us, it is a special day we treat in the same manner Christians treat December 25, the birthday of Jesus Christ. I don’t want to be blasphemous, but in my humble view, President Mugabe is second to Jesus Christ. He is our saviour, so his birthday means a lot for us the youths of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Chipanga went into overdrive, saying Mugabe, approaching 93, was also blessed with divine wisdom and was the only person capable of steering Zimbabwe from its current economic mess.

“We will not allow those plotting to take over his post, saying he is old to do so. Look, this is not an age contest that we have at hand, but dealing with wisdom, not just wisdom, divine wisdom for that matter,” he said.

However, his declarations have been met with scorn by civic society and opposition parties.

Political commentator, Blessing Vava said Chipanga’s thinking reflected the “dead end”, which Zanu PF had found itself in relying on a man, who was past the afternoon of his life.

“It has gone beyond bootlicking. It, however, shows Zanu PF has reached a dead end. They can’t even see beyond Mugabe. There is nothing divine about Mugabe and it’s actually sad that you have a young man celebrating and idolising a very old man, who is now incapacitated. Zimbabwe is bigger than Mugabe and any other individual,” he said.

MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said Chipanga should not be taken seriously, as the 34-year-old Zanu PF youth leader was singing for his last supper.

“Chipanga is a lost cause. He is singing very loudly for his supper. Let me tell him straight in his face, that Robert Mugabe is the biggest and most lethal problem that Zimbabwe has ever faced on both the political and socio-economic fronts since the country attained independence in April 1980,” he said.

“It is not only blasphemous, but also downright daft and degrading to compare Jesus Christ with a cruel, corrupt and intolerant dictator in the mould of Robert Mugabe.”

MDC spokeperson, Kurauone Chihwayi said: “Kudzi Chipanga is a badly groomed G40 gang member growing up among merciless vultures and jackals. That is a blasphemous statement by a misguided trainee Zanu PF bully. The young man is too blunt to know, learn or see the difference between the two.” Newsday

A CATHOLIC church-run boarding school in Insiza District is failing to attract pupils as parents in surrounding areas cannot afford fees.

Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director Mrs Tumisang Thabela said Kusileni Secondary School has struggled to attract adequate numbers of pupils as parents cannot afford its fees.

She said the school was viable before independence but as Government constructed more schools in the area it has struggled to attract pupils.
Mrs Thabela said the school is remotely located but well resourced.

“The school is located too deep in the rural areas, yet it’s a boarding school. Local parents do not want a school that is expensive so that explains why it fails to attract learners.” she said.

“The school was viable before independence but after independence the Government constructed other schools in the area. That seems to be affecting it in terms of day scholar population.”

Mrs Thabela said initially they assumed that the school was experiencing a low turnout due to children failing to cross flooded rivers.

She said authorities have to find a way to ensure that the school is not closed.
“Initially they (Ministry) had assumed that pupils were not coming to school due to rains. It’s just a school not getting enough pupils. They were thinking that because of the river children might have been finding difficulties to go to the school. But the latest report says they are not having those challenges,” said Mrs Thabela. – State Media