ZIMBABWE People First (ZimPF) leader, Joice Mujuru had a baptism of fire at the weekend when her Bikita West parliamentary candidate, Kudakwashe Gopo, was hammered by Zanu PF’s Beauty Chabaya in an election where some of her lieutenants blamed factionalism for the opposition party’s poor showing.

Zanu PF retained the Bikita West parliamentary seat with its candidate, Chabaya, polling 13 156 votes against Gopo’s paltry 2 453 votes.

The result will come at a cost to Mujuru, who had been seen as the biggest threat to President Robert Mugabe’s continued stay in office.

The defeat, which came at a time Mujuru is negotiating a possible coalition with Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T party, punched a big hole in her bargaining powers, as she would have wanted to use her Bikita West victory as a trump card in the coalition talks.

Leaked WhatsApp chats from senior ZimPF officials indicate that some party members were now blaming Mujuru for railroading them into the election without adequate preparations.

They also accused her of failing to rein in some of her top leaders in Masvingo, who were said to be clandestinely backing independent candidate and former Bikita West MP, Heya Shoko, thus, splitting votes.

Shoko is ZimPF Masvingo provincial secretary for education.

The chats warn of possible implosion in ZimPF in the province, with a domino effect on the party’s national structures, classifying the extent of the problems as the biggest ever to be encountered by Mugabe’s former deputy since the formation of ZimPF in 2015.

Sources told NewsDay problems started when provincial co-ordinator, Claudius Makova allegedly imposed Gopo as the ZimPF candidate for the by-election.

Makova, the source said, was banking on the support of a Zanu PF faction, Team Lacoste, loyal to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa that was unhappy with Chabaya, whom they claimed was imposed by Bikita South MP, Jeppy Jaboon, who is aligned to the rival G40 faction.

Efforts by the Masvingo ZimPF provincial executive to force Mujuru to withdraw from the by-election failed to materialise, forcing her to join in the campaign at the last minute just to save the party’s image.

This saw some party members supporting Shoko, who, however, polled a measly 76 votes.

The claims were confirmed by WhatsApp exchanges among ZimPF top officials that painted a gloomy picture of the state of affairs in the party, with some expressing dismay at the party’s chocked internal democratic system.

“Upon realising the danger and the negativity of it all, some of us took a decision to engage them, with[out] meaningful success, but failed to convince others. About two weeks later, and two days before nominations for Bikita West by-elections, Gopo was declared ZimPF candidate by Makova and endorsed by [the] main wing’s national elections committee chairman [Kudakwashe] Bhasikiti,” the leaked chats reveal.

“This angered many people, who charged that ZimPF is a Zanu PF project, whose positions are a special preserve for former Zanu PF activists. I here (sic), other than [Dzikamai] Mavhaire, Masvingo province leadership and membership in general has boycotted Bikita West campaign and totally distanced themselves from everything to do with Makova, Bhasikiti, Madzivire and Gopo.”

The chat added: “A disaster isn’t it? If the party leadership is not going to move in with speed to intervene, we are bound to witness a total disintegration of ZimPF in Masvingo province.”

Another member chipped in saying: “Allow me to correctly advise the ZimPF leadership, the Masvingo crisis is yet to become the worst since the formation of ZimPF to date. Almost everyone seem[s] to deny our leadership of the reality on the obtaining political environment in Masvingo.

“This is a mirror hidden away from the president and the rest of the progressive leadership. It is worthy the executive leadership’s attention much earlier than people can go for their Christmas. We should not watch helplessly while the problem escalates.”

Contacted for comment yesterday, ZimPF spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire professed ignorance over the alleged infighting.

“I don’t know of anything like that. Gopo’s participation was a party decision. That is the official position. We lost together as a party,” he said.

Gopo said he begrudgingly accepted the results, though the by-election was not free and fair.

“The election was not free and fair, we had a lot of issues that we had raised that needed to be addressed before the polls, but we did not get any recourse,” he said.

Poll monitors expressed concern over the high number of assisted voters, who had been allegedly told to feign illiteracy by Zanu PF activists. They also reported isolated cases of voter intimidation.

Election monitoring groups claim there was massive intimidation, vote-buying and violence leading to the by-election. – Newsday

A prominent Zvishavane businessman (name supplied) who owns a brick yard near Mandava Stadium was allegedly caught by a security guard naked and crying before a bucket that was filled with water and US$ notes.

The incident is said to have happened at midnight last week.

A guard manning the area allegedly heard the businessman crying at the brickyard and approached thinking that it was a thief but to his shock, he realised that it was his boss.

“I was on patrol when I heard a voice crying and I approached the scene. I then brought out my gun thinking it was a thief and instructed the man to lie down and to my surprise it was the boss,” said the security guard who identified himself as Tawanda Mudereri.

The businessman refuted the allegations in an interview with The Mirror. He accused the security guard of trying to blackmail him for unspecified reasons.

“Those are lies. We are in business and such people are paid to tarnish my image so that I lose business,” said the businessman.

Mudereri said he was shocked to see a bucket full of US$ notes immersed in water while the bulky businessman was crying.

“When I asked him what he was doing, he said he was bathing as it was hot. He further said he was crying because his money had dropped into water together with his Samsung phone,” said Mudereri. -Masvingo Mirror

Staff Reporter |In the Video below South-Africa’s President makes a big ambarrasing blunder. Ingquza is a female sex organ in Zulu/ Ndebele/ xhosa and also there is a place in S.A. called Nquza but in a different tone. Jacob Zuma made a mistake and pronounced that place as ingquza meaning an organ of a woman.

https://youtu.be/KqXO_dKXJqE?t=2

Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo’s public spats with Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa have intensified since the minister’s arrest last year on charges that he abused money from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund.

The fight raging in the State media and on social media networks has largely been between Moyo and some members of a Zanu PF faction known as Lacoste, while Mnangagwa has remained quiet.

War veterans boss Christopher Mutsvangwa is one of the most vocal Mnangagwa supporters who have taken the war to Moyo as the dispute has now turned into a war over who should succeed the soon-to-be 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba upped the ante recently when he told Moyo to stay away from the succession debate, saying the minister had already lost the war.

Moyo (JM) last week spoke to our chief reporter Everson Mushava (EM) on his beef with Mnangagwa and the minister pulled no punches.

Below are excerpts of the interview.

EM: You are associated with the Generation 40 faction in Zanu PF. It has been reported that you are intent on blocking Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s path to the presidency. Any truth to that?

JM: It is not in my power to block anyone’s path or destiny. But because this issue keeps coming up as if Zanu PF members have a constitutional or divine duty to support Mnangagwa’s presidential ambitions, let me make it clear that I don’t and I will not support his ascendancy to the presidency.

First and foremost, the position of president is not vacant and my support and loyalty is 100% with and behind the incumbent, who is my appointing authority and whose mandate is not from a self-proclaimed and self-important cabal that takes Zimbabwe as chinhu chavo [their thing], but from the people who are real stockholders of this country.

As such, it would be difficult and even impossible for me to support Mnangagwa for the presidency given his well-documented cruel history of his abuse of the various public positions he has held to cause harm, misery and worse to people who disagreed with him or did not associate with his politics in our country’s dark past.

Mnangagwa’s penchant for the capture and abuse of state institutions, along with his shocking disregard for due process, all for selfish political reasons, is a matter of grave concern to me.
I have also come to know that he is given to disturbing disloyalty to those who support him because apparently, the only thing that matters to him is his personal position and interest. The law and public interest do not matter to him.

I take this view as an adult and I express it as my natural and constitutional right. Those who think Zimbabweans have no choice but to support Mnangagwa for the presidency because he is allegedly the only one to support, have a serious problem and are setting themselves up for a major and even catastrophic disappointment.

EM: If you will not support Mnangagwa, then who?

JM: You are asking me a question that does not arise. There’s no vacancy in the presidency, either in Zanu PF or in the country. I fully support Mugabe as the first secretary and president of our party, whose mandate runs to 2019, and as the country’s head of state and government whose mandate runs to 2018. Bringing Mnangagwa or anyone else for that matter into this equation is mischief of the highest order and I don’t want to be part of it. I learnt my lessons in the infamous Tsholotsho Declaration and repeating that history would be a farce.

EM: You and your identified G40 associates like Patrick Zhuwao and Saviour Kasukuwere are known to react with indignation at the mere mention of succession in Zanu PF. President Mugabe is 93 this year, why is your side of Zanu PF so reluctant to face the reality that Zanu PF is ripe for leadership renewal?

JM: Well, well to the extent that’s a reality, it ain’t a reality for Moyo, Kasukuwere and Zhuwao, but a reality for Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans.

The real compelling reality is that Mugabe is serving a mandate that runs into 2018 bestowed on him by the electorate in terms of our Constitution and that mandate and the Constitution must be respected. The on-going shenanigans are simply shameful antics to effect a coup by any other name.

On the issue of leadership renewal, it is dishonest for anybody, including that foolish successionist cabal that thinks Zimbabwe is their thing, not to acknowledge the strides that Zanu PF has taken through Mugabe’s very public interventions to foster leadership renewal in the party and in government.

Mugabe has appointed young and dynamic cadres such as Kudzai Chipanga in the politburo and Makhosini Hlongwane [Sport minister] in government. The majority of deputy ministers appointed by Mugabe in 2013 are young people and the entire leadership of the Zanu PF youth league is made of dynamic young cadres.

Look at Zanu PF Members of Parliament and you will see a new generation of young and dynamic politicians already providing leadership in their constituencies, in Parliament and in the country.

All this speaks to real leadership renewal being spearheaded by Mugabe.

Against this backdrop, the claim that we are reluctant to face the reality that Zanu PF is ripe for leadership renewal is a dishonest mantra of successionists who not only disrespect the party’s and national constitutions, but who are also electoral cowards and are blind to the realities on the ground about the leadership renewal that is being engendered by Mugabe.

EM: Nathaniel Manheru, a State media columnist believed to be George Charamba, the President’s press secretary, has advised you not to comment about Zanu PF succession. In his words, “chine vene vacho chinhu ichi”, which suggests who comes after Mugabe has already been decided. Your response?

JM: This very sick cabal notion of entitlement that chine vene vacho chinhu ichi is not only unacceptably tribal, but it is also illegal because it violates the Constitution which vests executive, legislative and judiciary authority in the people. Entitlement is not just morally and legally wrong, but it is also evil. So only an idiot can say on behalf of fellow idiots that chine vacho chinhu ichi. The liberation war was not fought to turn certain individuals like Mnangagwa into manifestos. That’s insanity.

So, I want to repeat and make it very clear that anyone who thinks or believes that who comes after Mugabe has already been decided is an idiot. This is for the simple, but very important reason that the decision on who will succeed Mugabe, when the time comes, will be decided not by a self-selecting cabal, but by the people of Zimbabwe in terms of the Constitution. So it’s not about me, but about the people of Zimbabwe who will decide as they constitutionally must.

EM: There seems to be no love lost between you and Charamba. What is the reason behind the acrimony?

JM: If there’s acrimony, it’s certainly not mutual. There’s absolutely no reason to personalise public issues.

But who is Charamba outside their mafia-like scheme? Who is he?

He is said to be controlling and running all Zimpapers titles.

Just look at how incompetent he actually is and how he is in fact their own worst enemy because he has dismally failed to package their successionist messages, with the most telling example being how he botched up Mnangagwa’s mug fiasco about a 10pm Christmas gift – opening family affair getting invaded by intruders like Energy Mutodi masquerading as an MP at a time when Mnangagwa was acting president.

EM: Do you believe Charamba speaks on behalf of Mugabe when he writes about succession?

JM: No. I don’t believe that Charamba’s successionist outbursts on behalf of Mnangagwa represent Mugabe in any way, shape or form.

Quite clearly, the cat has come out of the bag that Charamba is now a rogue presidential spokesman and everybody can see that. That’s why you guys in the media no longer take him seriously. He has become a laughing stock.

EM: What do you think is the reason a section of the war veterans leadership wants you out of Zanu PF, and are you the reason the party is divided today?

JM: Please be serious. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out. In any event, how can I, or why do you think I should be concerned about the garbage that renegades who are outside Zanu PF or who were expelled from Zanu PF are saying about me? Garbage in is garbage out!

EM: You have stated that there is something “troubling” about a picture of Mnangagwa drinking whisky from a mug that bears the words ‘I Am The Boss’. Is it the inscription on the mug or the company that he was keeping that’s problematic for you, or both?

JM: What would you or any other rational person make of a situation where a vice-president of the country who, at the time, is acting president of the country is pictured smugly with a mug inscribed “I am the boss” at 10pm at his rural residence wining and dining with scores of renegades who were expelled from the party for a range of reasons and when, on the day or the day after, those people pictured with him start posting on social media and get reported in newspapers insulting Mugabe and calling on him to step down and for the VP who was pictured with them to take over?

What would you conclude if the VP and his supporters give a childish, incongruous and improbable explanation for the event attended not only by the renegades, but also by some government and military officials?

As far as I’m concerned, those who have dubbed that event the Mug Declaration have a point that Zanu PF members and indeed Zimbabweans can ignore only at their own peril.

EM: You have used Twitter to voice your disquiet with this incident and many others surrounding the person of Mnangagwa or what you have termed “successionists”. Is that not going against Mugabe’s advice to use internal party processes to discuss party issues?

JM: The cabal that calls Zimbabwe chinhu chedu [our thing] and foolish running dogs at Zimpapers are attributing a lot of nonsense to Mugabe these days.

The evidence for that is now out there for all to see! So I’m not bothered by that because I know as well all do that Mugabe does not suffer fools.

He knows better and he is on top of the situation. That’s why none of the shenanigans that are too many to mention have succeeded.

And let me say Twitter in particular and the social media in general is the communication platform of choice in the digital era.

That is inescapable. If you are not on the social media today, you are nowhere and you don’t count.

EM: You recently appeared particularly exercised by Mnangagwa’s interview with a British magazine, The New Statesman, published over Christmas. What about that interview got him in your cross hairs?

JM: That interview is a manifesto of what has been happening since the 2014 Zanu PF congress that saw the ouster of Joice Mujuru.

While many in the party thought Mujuru’s ouster was precipitated by her plots to undermine and usurp Mugabe’s authority in general and his 2013 electoral mandate in particular, it is now emerging that the cabal that views Zimbabwe as chinhu chedu actually engineered Mujuru’s ouster in order to position itself to grab power.

This is not to say Mujuru did not have her own ill-conceived designs to grab political power, but to say that her case was blown out of proportion and exaggerated on account of shocking and vile anti-Zezuru tribal grounds that have since been amply revealed particularly by Temba Mliswa, but also by Mutodi and some rogue war veterans.

The background to the shocking anti-Zezuru tribal sentiments is in the New Statesman interview.
Primitive tribal finger pointing in 2017 is wholly unacceptable.

Anybody who wants to be president of Zimbabwe on tribal grounds must be rejected without any fear whatsoever.

I was also shocked to learn from the interview that a whole VP had no qualms about giving an informally organised interview to an unaccredited British foreign correspondent, Martin Fletcher, who is widely known to have close working ties with British intelligence.

That raises eyebrows as it was in blatant violation of standard practice and the law.

Then there’s the fact that the interview referred to the so-called Blue Ocean document in a matter-of-fact way and attributed it to Mnangagwa’s faction.

In this connection, the interview reported that Mnangagwa controls the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) which is being used to politically target alleged G40 leaders such as myself in order to clear the way for the VP’s presidential ambitions.

That’s very disturbing in light of what Zacc has done at the behest of fugitives, ex-convicts and extortionists who are demanding that Mnangagwa must take over the presidency.

But, most disturbing of all, the New Statesman interview gives Mnangagwa a British platform to distort his Gukurahundi role by enabling him to claim that he was not a Gukurahundi enforcer, ostensibly because he was not “the president, Defence minister or commander of the army”.

This very same line has been picked up by Mnangagwa’s surrogates like Mliswa and rogue war veterans to stir up incendiary tribal outbursts.

First and foremost, it was very irresponsible for Mnangagwa to claim to the magazine that he was not the enforcer because he was not the president, Defence minister or army commander.

Secondly, it’s a well-known fact that the worst culprits in the Gukurahundi atrocities are the misinformers in the national leadership who connived with Rhodesians then in the Central Intelligence Organisation, South African Intelligence under apartheid and British Intelligence to not only lie about the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo and PF-Zapu, but to also create and fund dissidents under the treacherous banner of Super Zapu.

The New Statesman interview sought to rewrite the history of this tragedy of misinformation. It’s known that the dossiers crafted from this web of misinformation fuelled Gukurahundi in the same way the CIA’s misinformation about Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction led to the American invasion of Iraq and the disaster that has today led to the creation of Isis. If the truth be told, misinformers are the enforcers!

EM: Your relationship with Mnangagwa appears to have deteriorated over the past year where you accused him of trying to orchestrate your arrest. Could you give us a background to the dispute and your relationship at the moment?

JM: Look, I have nothing but respect for Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s appointee. Anytime he directs me to jump to implement the president’s policies or party and government programmes, I will ask him how high. I’m very cool with that. No problem.

But the idea that I should support him for his run for the presidency is a non-starter. I have the same relationship with VP [Phelekezela] Mphoko. If Mphoko asks me to support him to replace Mugabe I would say “no, no, forget it Cde Mphoko”.

On the Zacc issue and reports that Mnangagwa orchestrated my illegal arrest, yes, indeed I’m now convinced more than I was when I first said or implied it.

I have incontrovertible evidence to that effect including from what Goodson Nguni [Zacc commissioner] has said to various people, some of whom have either said so in affidavits or are prepared to testify.

Nguni has revealed and boasted about this to too many people. Rine manyanga ariputirwi [the truth will always come out].

Brace up for major and scandalous disclosures that will show beyond any doubt that Mnangagwa is not only mean and cruelly spirited, but that he does not have respect for due process as demonstrated not only in my case but also in others, yet he is a lawyer and is responsible for the administration of justice in the country.

EM: In your previous life as a political scientist and a friend of the media, you were very helpful in analysing and predicting political events. What major political developments do you foresee between now and December 2018?

JM: You are asking me to do as a politician what I used to do as an academic. That’s neither fair nor rational. Politics as a vocation is not the same as politics as a science. Accordingly, I cannot reasonably make a political prediction without tainting it with my aspirations and I don’t want to label those aspirations science.

EM: Do you think after such acrimonious infighting Zanu PF can heal in time for 2018?

JM: The infighting, to the extent it exists, is not among the people. The masses are not fighting each other. It’s just an elite imbroglio. As such, it is irrelevant in the scheme of things.

This is because the membership of the party is not an overnight proposition amenable to manipulation by puppeteers and their puppets seeking to grab power by means foul. The Standard

PARLIAMENT has descended heavily on six former legislators, who left without servicing their vehicle loans.

Former Zanu PF chief whip, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti (Mwenezi East) and ex-Energy minister, Dzikamai Mavhaire (Masvingo Central) are among those targeted for the action.

According to the summons, Bhasikiti owes $33 000 Mavhaire ($33 221) former Mabvuku-Tafara legislator, Moses Manyengavana ($22 384), former Mpopoma MP, Bekithemba Nyathi ($15 749), former Masvingo MP, Judith Mazhawazhi ($13 771), former Entumbane MP, Gladys Mathe ($14 064) and former Pumula South MP Albert Mhlanga ($19 988).

Bhasikiti and Mavhaire were expelled from the ruling party in 2015 before they joined former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s opposition Zimbabwe People First party,

In its declarations filed at the High Court under separate case numbers, Parliament claimed that it gave $35 000 to each of the former MPs to enable them to purchase their service vehicles.

The august House said it was agreed at the time that repayment of the said loans would be effected through a stop order against their parliamentary allowances and that in the event of each member ceasing to be an MP before the expiry of his or her term of office through disqualification or imprisonment, Parliament would be entitled to claim the full balance of the loan.

“Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the plaintiff (Parliament) lent and advanced a sum of $35 000 to the defendant(s) and the defendant(s) purchased (vehicles) … on or about March 17, 2015, the defendants ceased to be Members of Parliament in terms of section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” Parliament said.

“By reason of the defendant’s disqualification/expulsion from parliament, the full loan balance is now due, owing and payable to plaintiff.”

All the cited former legislators have since entered their appearance to defend notices. Newsday

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s (ZBC) former chief executive officer, Happison Muchechetere’s woes continue to mount after a local financial institution, CBZ Bank filed a $482 916,35 lawsuit against him over an unpaid agricultural loan.

Muchechetere, who was relieved of his duties at the helm of the national broadcaster following allegations of swindling his paymasters of over $800 000, is still awaiting criminal trial for procuring an OB Van without going to tender sometime in 2013.

According to the summons issued in December last year, CBZ said it offered a $294 764 agricultural loan to Muchechetere on September 4, 2009.

However, Muchechetere failed to service the loan and on October 5 last year, the debt had ballooned to $482 916,35 including interest charges.

“As of October 5 the amount outstanding on the defendant’s [Muchechetere] account was the sum of $482 916,35 as more fully appears [in] a copy of the induplum schedule attached hereto and it is made up as follows; cumulative unpaid capital $295 763,99 and cumulative unpaid $188 152,36,” the bank said.

“Despite repeated demand the defendant has refused and/or neglected to pay the sum of $482 916,35 and as such the defendant has breached the terms of the facility.”

Meanwhile, on January 12 this year, the bank filed a chamber application for a default judgment arguing Muchechetere

had failed to respond to the summons on time and remained barred according to the High Court rules.

“The defendant having been duly served with summons on December 7, 2016 … the period for the entry of appearance to defend by the defendant having expired on December 21, 2016, defendant failed to enter an appearance to defend and, therefore, is barred … judgment be granted in terms of the summons as per the attached draft order,” the bank said.

But, according to the court papers, Muchechetere responded to the summons on December 16, 2016 and a copy of his response was submitted at the registrar’s office. – Newsday

At least 20 officers were last year dismissed from the Police Protection Unit (PPU) after they were found to be unsuitable for duty, while 47 others retired, a senior officer has said. According to statistics released by police, PPU lost a total of 89 officers through transfers, discharges, retirements and deaths.

The Police Protection Unit specialises in providing security to VVIPs, VIPs and members of the diplomatic corps.

Officer commanding Police Protection Unit Senior Assistant Commissioner Lee Muchemwa said that last year, four officers died, while 18 others were transferred from the unit without replacement.

“In the human resources management sphere, we recorded a high turnover where the province lost 89 members through transfers, discharges, retirements and deaths,” he said.

“A total of 18 members were transferred out of the province (PPU) without replacement, 47 retired from the police service and 20 were discharged from the organisation as being unsuitable for police duties.”

Snr Asst Comm Muchemwa was speaking at the PPU 2016 belated end-of-year party which was held on Saturday in Harare. He said PPU had a zero tolerance to any form of indiscipline and those found wanting would be dealt with accordingly.

The unit, Snr Asst Comm Muchemwa said, was undertaking various income generating projects such as animal husbandry, which includes the rearing of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.

“We are also involved in crop farming and in the 2015-2016 summer cropping season we planted six hectares of soyabeans and harvested 6,2 tonnes of soyabeans,” he said.

“This season we planted five hectares of maize at Chipping Farm under the Government’s Command Agriculture scheme.” Snr Asst Comm Muchemwa said the shortage of appropriate water supply, especially during the winter and autumn seasons due to regular breakdowns of the borehole and high cost of electricity at Chipping Farm was affecting their horticulture project.

He said their residential camp was meant to accommodate 711 families and 285 single police members, but was now accommodating 1 609 families, most of whom were sharing houses, making it over populated by 898.

Snr Asst Comm Muchemwa said PPU had a housing co-operative which had 40 beneficiaries, while its members were also part of Imbahuru Housing Co-operative which has 280 police officers and ZRP Housing Co-operative which has 205 members.

Police Deputy Commissioner-General (Crime) Josephine Shambare said the PPU had a mammoth task of ensuring the security of VVIPs, including President Mugabe, Vice Presidents, ministers, diplomats and judges.

“I wish to also commend you for managing to reduce crime and related incidences at your various points of guards,” she said. “Certainly, a 27 percent decline in crime and related incidences during the period under review is a remarkable achievement.”

Deputy Comm-Gen Shambare said the number of accidents involving police vehicles belonging to the unit declined by 41 percent. – State Media

Parliament resumes sitting tomorrow after taking a month-long break for the festive season, with debate expected to begin on the 2017 National Budget.

Clerk of Parliament of Mr Kennedy Chokuda said both the National Assembly and Senate will resume business tomorrow. “Committees will be sitting and both houses will be considering the 2017 National budget,” said Mr Chokuda.

Last month, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa tabled a $4,1 billion budget in Parliament. Government said its thrust this year was to boost manufacturing industries and small businesses through pro-production interventions proposed in the National Budget. – State Media

Ray Nkosi | MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai who over the weekend was rumoured to have died, appeared very much alive in Matebeleland South Province, together with his party leadership.

Tsvangirai who was flanked by his deputy Thokozani Khupe and other leaders as he addressed the provincial council. In response to the death rumours the MDC issued the statement below through Tsvangirai’s spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka;

“There is a morbid and malicious rumour circulating about President Morgan Tsvangirai. Zimbabweans should should rest assured that their leader is alive, well and in good health. Today, Sunday 22 January 2017, he will address a provincial council in Gwanda. Tomorrow, he will be in Binga, Matabeleland North, conversing with ordinary Zimbabweans about the future of our country.”

A 48-year old Bulawayo man is battling for life in hospital after he was allegedly stabbed with a kitchen knife by his wife of more than 10 years following an infidelity row.

Lydies Svori (37) of New Parklands suburb appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya charged with attempted murder.

She was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to February 3 while the court is awaiting a medical report on her husband’s condition. The husband, Mr Mehluli Mpofu, is admitted at the United Bulawayo Hospitals.

For the state, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said last Wednesday Svori stabbed her husband Mr Mpofu after she suspected he was having an extramarital affair. “On January 18, this year at around 9PM, the complainant and accused person had a misunderstanding as the accused suspected that the complainant was having an extramarital affair,” said Dlodlo.

He said Svori then stabbed Mr Mpofu with a kitchen knife once on the chest and once on the lower side of the armpit.

Neighbours heard screams and rushed to the scene to assist. A police report was made by a neighbour, Mr Callmore Shumba, leading to Svori’s arrest.

Mr Mpofu was rushed to UBH where he is admitted. A kitchen knife allegedly used to commit the crime was recovered. state media

Acting President Phelekezela Mphoko says Zimbabwe People First leader, Joice Mujuru cursed herself by failure to respect authority from as far back as her early days in the liberation struggle.

In his address to the Bulawayo Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting at Davies Hall on Sunday, Mphoko chronicled how Mujuru showed her true colours of lack of discipline during a tour of Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique as part of a commission of inquiry chosen by the Patriotic Front to investigate the collapse of ZIPA.

He said that Mujuru had no one to blame for her demise but herself as she failed to appreciate and respect President Robert Mugabe who made her what she is today.

Mujuru served as the country’s Vice President from 2004 to 2014 before being dismissed for plotting against the president. – state media

Members of Parliament and councillors will not be exempted from paying toll fees, a Cabinet minister has said, after they had demanded tollgate cash subtraction.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo said the two groups should not waste their time writing to the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) asking to be exempted from paying tolls.

Dr Gumbo said Zinara had been inundated with letters from legislators and councillors seeking exemption from paying toll fees and the Government position was that they should pay like the rest of the motorists.

Addressing a road authorities meeting in Gweru on Thursday last week, Dr Gumbo urged lawmakers as well as rural and urban councillors to stop asking for such favours.

Dr Gumbo said some legislators were arguing that they made many trips to Parliament, as well as to their constituencies, hence the need for them to be exempted from paying toll fees.

“This culture of not wanting to pay for services should be done away with if we are to develop as a country,” said Dr Gumbo. “People must pay so that they get the good services they want.”

Government introduced toll fees as part of measures to raise funds to construct and rehabilitate roads, with more than 20 tollgates now in operation.

Dr Gumbo said the country’s road network had outlived its lifespan and more than $5 billion was needed to rehabilitate it. He said Zinara was realising less than $200 million per annum, which was a drop in the ocean given the amount required to rehabilitate the road network.

“This is why we are urging road authorities to pursue other innovative strategies such as public private partnerships and mobilising funds from financial institutions,” he said.

“We are also appealing to individuals and other institutions with free funds to come on board and participate in revamping the road network.” – State Media

Patrick Guramatunhu | “We cannot say anything other than condemn those who are resorting to violence and we only hope our plea will convert them because it does not help our democracy,” said Professor Madhuku. He was reacting to the story of the beating of his NCA Bikita West by-election candidate and his manager.

Zimbabwe is NOT a democracy!

Professor Madhuku your NCA friends were lucky they were beaten and shot at and lived to tell the story. Hundreds of thousands Zimbabweans were beaten and raped and over 500 were murdered in cold blood in the 2008 elections alone. Zimbabwe is not democracy but an autocratic dictatorship which has mastered the art of rigging elections and has no qualms in using violence to retain power. It is just people like you, Tsvangirai, Joice Mujuru and all the other opposition minions out there are focused on winning the few gravy train seats Zanu PF throws at the opposition you refuse to see the political reality of the dictatorship.

“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator David Coltart in his book.

“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”

It was only after the rigged July 2013 elections, when many of the MDC leaders had failed to secure any seats on the gravy train, only then did MDC leaders finally saw the need to implement the reforms and boycott all future elections until the reforms are implemented. “No reform, no elections!” was rammed down the throats of Tsvangirai, Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti and all the other MDC leaders by the reality of the blatant vote rigging.

It is not that Professor Madhuku and his NCA, Joice Mujiru with her Zim PF and all the new kids on the block do not know what a democracy is and that Zimbabwe is not a democracy; they do. They are all taking part in the election knowing Zanu PF will rig the vote and commit wanton violence just to be absolutely certain there is no regime change. Madhuku and company will contest the elections for the same reason MDC contested the 2013 elections – greed.

Zanu PF will keep throwing the few seats to the opposition to keep them interested, the regime needs these token opposition to give the election process a measure of credibility and the few seats is a small price to pay.

Having a token opposition representation is not something new, Ian Smith had a few black MPs in pre-independent Zimbabwe. There were little more than talking manikins in parliament you would not know it the way these MPs drummed their chest like silverback gorillas. Ian Smith had no problem getting people to fill the talking manikin MP posts! Zanu PF too will never have to worry about the opposition boycotting elections, regardless how flawed and unfair they are, there will always be some opposition candidates fighting over the scraps!

“It is shocking to realise that as all this madness happens, ZEC has not said or done anything when the nation is expecting to hear from them if they take their work seriously,” said Madhuku, adding that the electoral body risks losing credibility.

No Professor Madhuku, it is you who lost all credibility; you clearly do not have common sense to know ZEC has been corrupted the commission considers helping Zanu PF rig the elections as their primary task.

If anyone thought that the beating of NCA officials in Bikita West has opened Professor Madhuku’s eyes they will be disappointed to know that had no effect. As long as there are scraps to be had Madhuku and company will be fighting over them.

“We cannot say anything other than condemn those who are resorting to violence and we only hope our plea will convert them because it does not help our democracy,” Madhuku said.

“We also call upon the electorate to remain steadfast and not to be intimidated into giving up. We must never reward perpetrators of violence by doing that.”

The real question for the country now is how many more innocent Zimbabweans must be beaten, raped and even murdered to finally convince people like Madhuku, Mujuru, etc. that Zimbabwe is not a democracy and elections are flawed?

Terrence Mawawa, Zaka| Local villagers are living in fear of stray lions that have been seen in the area. Reports say five stray lions are preying on domestic animals in the area, triggering fear among local villagers.

There are fears the dreadful cats might attack human beings. Ward 30 councillor for Zaka East Constituency, Fortune Maputsa told ZimEye.com at the weekend the dreaded cats attacked cattle and goats in the area. He called on the Department of Parks and Wildlife to take urgent action before the ferocious cats attack human beings.

“The lions have been seen at a nearby mountain and they have attacked cattle and goats such that villagers are terrified. We are even worried because the deadly animals can even attack school children and local villagers. I can confirm that the Zaka Rural Distric Council has received a report about the pride of five lions. The lions killed three goats at Nhendo homestead. They have also killed cattle in Chavani Village,” said Maputsa.

Villagers are now scared to walk during the night. Maputsa said the lions escaped from a farm in Chiredzi . “It is widely believed the lions escaped from a farm in Chiredzi. We are therefore making frantic efforts to contact the Department of Parks and Wildlife before lives are lost”, said Maputsa. National Spokesperson for Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Caroline Washaya-Moyo said she was unaware of the matter, adding the authority have no mandate to act on stray animals outside the national parks.

“The rural district council of Zaka has that responsiblity and mandate to act on the issue of the reported stray lions.We have no jurisdiction over animals that are outside the parks”, said Washaya-Moyo.

An official from Zaka Rural District Council said the local authority did not have the capacity and expertise to deal with the issue of stray lions. “We do not have the required expertise to handle the matter so we will keep on searching for an immediate solution to the issue of these stray lions,”said the official.

Ray Nkosi | Following the heavy unexpected loss to ZANU PF in the just ended Bikita West by-election, ZimEye.com is reliably informed that big heads have begun to roll in the Joice Mujuru led Zimbabwe People First.

Sources in the party have indicated that the Masvingo provincial chairman for the struggling new opposition party Retired Colonel Claudiuos Makova, has tendered in his resignation.

According to the sources Colonel Makova informed his resignation to Mujuru mid morning Sunday shortly after results of the by-election were released.

“Makova has informed the President of the party Dr Joice Mujuru that he has resigned as the Provincial Chairmanship after admitting misinforming the National Steering Committee on the party’s preparedness and decision to contest the by-election,” said the sources.

The sources claim that Makova misinformed the President and the party into contesting the Bikita West by-election against a resolution by the Provincial executive not to contest the by election.

Zimbabwe People First (Zim PF) polled a paltry 2000 votes against ZANU PF’s 13 000 votes in the one sided election.

“The Masvingo Provincial Executive committee had advised the party President Dr Joice Mujuru not to contest the by election as the party was busy on structure formation , so it wasn’t ready for this by election. Makova however went behind the Provincial Executive and convinced Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa (party elders) to allow the party to contest the by election,” revealed the sources.

The angry sources celebrated Makova’s alleged resignation claiming that the Province was already gearing up to have him dismissed.

“Dr Mujuru was correctly advised by the ZimPF Provincial Executive not to contest and she sounded in agreement only for Makova to play his dirty games. Makova has put the name of the party into disrepute and its best that he has resigned,” added the sources.

The Bikita West by election result has reignited the ZimPF fights in the Province, with some calling for alk those who supported Makova to relinquish their posts in the executive.

Comment and confirmation of the resignation has not yet been received from the party spokesperson Jealous Mawarire who could not b reached though a message was left for him in his phone.

Shiellah Sibanda| Bikita West villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com correspondents in Nyika growth point claim that under the threatening circumstances of the just ended by-election there was no way they would not have voted for ZANU PF.

The villagers claim that the election was not fair due to ZANU PF intimidation and victimisation tactics that forced them to vote against their will. They accuse ZANU PF youth and militia of brutally beating several people who were campaigning for the opposition parties, particularly those from the Zimbabwe People First party sending scary warnings that if ZANU PF was to lose the election there was going to be mass bloodshed.

The villagers further claim that some traditional and community leaders were being forced by senior ZANU PF officials to tell people to vote for ZANU PF if they wanted to continue receiving any aid from the ZANU PF government. The disillusioned villagers claim that headmen and chiefs were ordered to submit registers of all their subjects which were going to be cross checked with the figures of votes after the election and the leaders would have to account for any missing vote.

Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) chairperson for Masvingo, Claudius Makova who has resigned from his post due to the loss to ZANU PF in the by-election confirmed the ZANU PF activities saying that regardless of the fact that on the actual voting day there was “a semblance of tranquillity”, the by-election could not be viewed as “free, fair and credible by any stretch of the imagination”.

“We know that there are some village heads who are acting as Zanu-PF political commissars. One of the biggest culprits is village head Musavengana who told his subjects that they must vote for Zanu-PF,” he said.

“They intimidate people and are introducing other mechanisms to rig this election. This must stop for the good of the nation,” Makova said.

A local villager claimed that they had been given Zanu-PF membership cards on Thursday, in addition to being forced to fill “special” forms ahead of voting.

“They told us that they will know everyone’s vote through the forms. Village heads were also threatened by Zanu-PF and were told that they must make sure that the ruling party wins,” the terrified voter said.

President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu PF — whose hard-pressed government is struggling to pay civil servants — has acquired 320 vehicles, as the party escalates preparations for the 2018 election campaign.

This comes as at least 45 samples of the vehicles were presented to Mugabe at the party’s Harare headquarters last December. Of the 45 Ford Ranger trucks, Mugabe handed over 13 to war veterans through their minister, Tshinga Dube.

This brings the total number of vehicles procured so far to 365. Zanu PF’s secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo, yesterday confirmed the acquisition of the 320 vehicles at the party’s first national executive meeting of 2017.

He said now that the vehicles were there, Zanu PF youths — who received an undisclosed number of vehicles from the fleet — must “begin working”.

“ . . . as youth, your mandate is to campaign for the party, so we are actually looking for delivery from you,” Chombo said.

“From us, we know you want resources, you want cars to use. (Zanu PF youth league secretary Kudzanai) Chipanga had complained over that matter. His concern was the same as those of many people in our system, truly, there were not enough cars,” he said.

“We embarked on a programme to buy cars. Our youth league will get, so will the women’s league and . . . our provinces,” he added.

Chombo said the procurement process should be complete by Monday.
“ . . . it’s a process that is almost complete. We are just now left with clearance at customs but by tomorrow or Monday, you should have your resources,” he said.

He said the Zanu PF youth league should come up with a budget for the next 18 months leading to the elections.

“I am here to also understand the issues of concern for our youth. I also want to know the budget the youth are proposing that will start from February 1 to June, 2018.

“We don’t want a budget for 12 months but for 18 months because we have elections in 2018,” Chombo said. – Daily News

By Rodwell Chikwatiro | Joice Mujuru’s party was yesterday ambushed in broad daylight in Bikita West by the 92 year old Robert Mugabe’s party.

Mujuru boasts: “I Also Have My Own Murderers and Election Riggers”

The Zimbabwe People First leader was yesterday mocked as a “piping pistol toting helicopter shooter” as her party was humiliated by ZANU PF losing the bi election. Mujuru’s call to fame has in the last few months been that “we know how ZANU PF rigs, and how the intelligence works, we have killers and election riggers among us;” But this election defeat has brought nothing but humiliation for them.

Can anyone then ever claim to have power and intelligence to crush Mugabe? It now seems any person coming out of Mugabe’s party blasting bungling boasts and claims that they know all Mugabe’s tricks, becomes null and void as soon as they are out on the streets.

Many such have proved the adage to be true: Edgar Tekere, Margaret Dongo, Daniel Shumba, and Simba Makoni have all crashed down once out of ZANU PF.

Will Mujuru ever rise again?

Morgan Tsvangirai recently announced that leadership of the coalition will be determined by parliamentary representation of which Mujuru holds none. What does it mean then and what will it mean in the coalition negotiations since Mujuru’s bargaining power has been clearly weakened? And will Mujuru ever rise again after the Bikita thud?

Below were the results

Beauty Chabaya – Zanu PF declared winner with 13 156,

Zim PF – Kudakwashe Gopo got 2 453,

NCA – Madock Chivasa 343,

Ind  – Muzvimbiri  725,

Ind  – Heya Shoko 76,

Rejected votes 247.

Zanu-PF has given Dr Joice Mujuru’s ZimPF party a baptism of fire in Bikita West after its candidate Beauty Chabaya won the constituency by-election garnering 13 156 votes to her nearest rival Mr Kudakwashe Gopo of ZimPF’s 2 453 votes.

Independent candidate innocent Muzvimbiri weighed in with 725 votes, followed by Mr Madock Chivasa (NCA) with 343 votes, Mr Terrence Tanyaradzwa Makomborero (PDZ) with 132 votes while former MDC-T legislator Mr Heya Shoko got the wooden spoon after managing a paltry 76 votes.

There were 247 spoiled ballots. – State Media

A vehicle that was stolen from Botswana was recovered in Nswazi area in Bulilima District dumped in a bush.

Bulilima-Mangwe officer responsible for crime Superintendent Pedzai Dzindimu said the vehicle was stolen from a Botswana national on Friday last week and recovered in the country the following day at 1am. He said the robbers gained access into the country through an illegal crossing point at Maitengwe Border Post.

“There is a stolen vehicle which was recovered in Nswazi area which is under Madlambuzi policing area in Bulilima. We received communication from our counterparts from the neighbouring country to keep a lookout for the stolen vehicle.

“Police conducted patrols along the border line and surrounding areas leading to the recovery of the vehicle on Saturday around 1am,” he said.

Supt Dzindimu said no arrests had been made but investigations were underway to catch the culprit. He said the vehicle which is a Volts Wagon 2006 GT model- navy blue in colour was recovered about 20 kilometres from the Zimbabwe-Botswana border fence. He said the vehicle was being held at Madlambuzi Police Station awaiting collection by the Botswana police.

“We suspect that the robber stole the vehicle from Botswana and drove it up to Zimbabwe where they cut through the fence and gained entry into the country through an illegal crossing point at Maitengwe Border Post. We suspect that they went on to dump the vehicle in the bushes and fled from the area. We haven’t gathered the number of culprits suspected to have committed the offence,” he said.

Supt Dzindimu appealed to members of the public that had information on the whereabouts of the culprit to contact any nearest police station. – State Media

Persistent heavy rains have pounded most parts of Zimbabwe since mid-December last year, bringing relief to farmers and urban dwellers following drought conditions experienced over the past two seasons.

The downpours have brought relief and misery in equal measure in different parts of the country but worryingly, some of the problems induced by the rains especially in Harare are self-inflicted.

In Bulawayo — where at least two of the five supply dams had dried up, leading to 72-hour water cuts every week — the rains have brought smiles to residents’ faces.

For Harare, a hotbed for diseases such as cholera and typhoid over the years, it has been a mixed bag as supply dams filled up while poor drainage raised the spectre of flash floods.

In the countryside farmers that were despairing over the state of pastures and condition of their livestock are now looking forward to the 2016/7 season with optimism.

However, the heavy rains have caused widespread floods and waterlogging in many parts of the country.

Crops have been destroyed and farmers have to contend with the effects of leaching at a time when the country is facing severe fertilizer shortages.

As if that was not enough, an outbreak of the fall army worm has been reported in a number of provinces, especially in Matabeleland and there are fears that its effects will be devastating since the pest is new to Africa.

The government is heavily constrained from mitigating these natural disasters because it is broke.

In Harare, the rains have brought to the fore the consequencies of poor town planning and corruption in the allocation of land for building purposes as residents with houses built in wetlands have been hit hard by flash floods in the past week.

Areas such as Budiriro 5, Monavale, Chitungwiza and Malbrough, among others, have wetlands that are under threat due to housing projects.

According to the Environmental Management Agency, wetlands in Harare and Chitungwiza have been compromised by illegal construction of malls, churches and houses.

Wetlands help reduce floods because of their ability to soak excess water and Harare is fast losing that natural protection.

Without doubt, Harare and Chitungwiza councils as well as the government are to blame for this disaster and this is a wake-up call for them to start doing something about the threat to what remains of the wetlands.

The authorities have to stop allocating land developers spaces in ecologically-sensitive areas.
They must also move those given land but have not started building to other areas that are suitable for housing development.

City fathers have to be alive to the realities of climate change where rainfall patterns have become difficult to predict.

One of the ways we can mitigate against extreme weather conditions associated with climate change is to protect what remains of the wetlands.

Harare City Council has to urgently attend to its poor drainage system, especially in suburbs such as Mbare where it has resulted in flash floods.

The flooding has also been partly blamed for the typhoid outbreak that has so far killed two people and left hundreds infected.

Council neglected its duties to clear the storm drains before the rainy season commenced and this amounts to negligence of criminal proportions given the loss of life and destruction of property. – The Standard

A 43-year-old Seke man has appeared in court for allegedly undressing a woman during a fracas in which he was claiming his hen.

Tendayi Gotekote of Chaitezvi Village under Chief Seke is facing charges of indecent assault as defined in Section 67 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act. Appearing before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Yeukai Chigodora, the State, led by Mr Norman Koropi, alleged that Gotekote went to Noreen Sarurani’s homestead in November last year, accusing her son of stealing his hen.
“Gotekote started beating Sarurani’s son, who was denying the allegations,” the court heard.
“In trying to defend her son from being assaulted, the mother was involved in the fracas and Gotekote grabbed her blouse, pulled it off and left her semi naked,”
Sarurani was rescued by Norman Chaitezvi, the village headman.
Gotekote is out on bail and is expected to give his defence outline tomorrow. – State Media

The Reserve Bank of Bank (RBZ) is pushing measures to stop police from arresting artisanal miners for carrying gold. This comes as authorities are putting put in place a framework to boost gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refinery (FPR) after setting a target of a record 28 tonnes of the yellow metal this year.
Plans are also underway to abolish payment of royalties as part of reforms aimed at boosting gold output.
Zimbabwe’s all-time figure for gold production since 1980 was 27 tonnes in 1999 and the 23 tonne haul achieved in 2016 has raised hopes that the sector can soar to new heights.
Although last year’s 23 tonne output was just below the projected 24 tonnes, gold was a saviour to the economy as it contributed almost US$1 billion in export earnings at a time when the country was desperately yearning for foreign currency.
Addressing the inaugural 2016 Gold Sector 2016 Awards in Harare last Friday night, the Reserve Bank Governor said police should not enforce wanton arrests of gold miners.
“We need to come up with an initiative where people with gold can be able to sell it. We don’t want police to arrest people who are found in possession of gold in Zimbabwe on their way to sell it to Fidelity Printers. They should arrest them when they are on their way out of Zimbabwe, to Botswana and to South Africa.”
The central bank chief said there is need to consider imposing other penalties such as fines on artisanal gold miners.
“We need to improve the ease of doing business in the gold sector. If they (gold miners) are found carrying gold, they should be given a ticket, as we do to the people who commit crimes on roadblocks. If they are not able to provide licences, they are given tickets.”
Dr Mangudya said gold miners are the “heroes of Zimbabwe’s economy”. He said mining is one of the pillars of the economy as it is one of the top earners of foreign currency in the country, alongside tobacco and other sectors.
“In 2016, gold and tobacco accounted for more than 60 percent of the country’s exports. It is against this background that we consider producers of gold and tobacco as well as all the earners of foreign currency as our heroes,” said Dr Mangudya
“Mining is the pillar of the economy, without it there is no foreign currency.”
Speaking at the same occasion, Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa said Government would consider Dr Mangudya’s recommendation to stop arresting artisanal gold miners. “I agree with the Governor that if a person has gold, let’s not arrest him. We are trying to change the law to say that you shall not be arrested as long as you take the shortest and direct route to Fidelity with your gold,” he said.
In his keynote address at the event, Minister Chidhakwa said Government will engage gold miners on the plan to remove all royalties paid for the yellow metal.
“I would like, at this juncture, to seriously pose a challenge to the gold sector, that if we are able to meet the 28 tonnes by 31st December 2017, I propose to remove royalties for gold which currently stands at 1 percent for small scale producers and 3 percent for the large scale producers.
“I have already consulted with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development in this regard and we are still discussing this proposal. However, its success also hinges on the gold sector’s uptake of this initiative.” – State Media

OVER 600 Chinese universities are offering a lifeline, through scholarships, to students who recently passed Advanced Level examinations but are struggling to get enrolled at local tertiary institutions. The scholarships are being organised by the Chinese Company Study in China Admission System (Sicas), which has so far assisted about 500 Zimbabwean students and over 5 000 from Southern Africa to acquire various degrees in one of the world’s most powerful nations.
The growth of China as a global economic power has coincided with the exponential growth in its universities.
The Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) recently revealed that 38 924 A-level students, representing 93,7 percent of the students that sat for the exams, passed.
Thousands of those who passed may require assistance to study for degrees of their choice.
Last week, Sicas International chief executive officer Ms Lulu Zhang said in a statement there has been a number of high quality students from Zimbabwe studying in China.
“With the growing number of applicants to China and high quality students coming from Zimbabwe, Sicas International, which is in 126 other countries representing over 600 universities in China, felt the need to assist students who were interested in studying in China to safely and efficiently get placement into Chinese Universities without the usual hassles like application and visa uncertainties.
“With the set up of our Zimbabwe office, students now have a one-stop shop to assist them with all their application and placement needs,” said Ms Zhanga.
Sicas has also been getting support from various Government departments.
Zimbabwe and China, which is currently the world’s second-largest economy, continue to forge smart partnerships is various fields of cooperation, including education.
The University of Zimbabwe, the country’s premier institution of higher learning, teaches Mandarin through the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe.
Local students, through scholarships, continue to be enrolled at renowned Chinese universities such as Wenzhou University, Shandong-Jiaotong University and China University of Petroleum.
Sicas Zimbabwe business development head Mr Joy Khosa said local students were eligible to enroll for Bachelors, Masters and PhD programmes in software designing, application development and software engineering, law, international law, economics, accounting, biotechnology, chemical and mechanical engineering.
The scholarships, which are open to students with nine points and above at A-Level, caters for 100 percent tuition and accommodation for selected universities.
A global educational study called Programme for International Assessment (PISA) ranked China as the world’s best in reading mathematics and science.
It overtook countries in Europe and the United States of America.
China, which has experienced remarkable economic growth over the past three decades, continues to push the frontiers of science, infrastructure and economic development. – State Media

A dumped day-old baby was rescued by good Samaritans a fortnight ago after being dumped in St Mary’s, Chitungwiza. The baby was wrapped in a T-shirt and soaked in rainwater. Last Friday, the minor was said to be in a stable condition at Chitungwiza General Hospital.
The mother of the child, Mavis Kasirai of 9466 Manyame Park, Chitungwiza, has since been sentenced to 10 months in prison after appearing before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo.
Mr Mapfumo initially sentenced Kasirai (18) to 10 months in jail before suspending four months on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
Another six months were suspended on condition that she performs 410 hours of community service.

Kasirai (18) is employed as a maid.

She pleaded guilty to exposing an infant to danger as defined in section 108 (1) Chapter 9:23 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

According to the State, led by Public Prosecutor Tatenda Mukatera, Kasirai dumped the baby soon after giving birth on January 9, 2017.

“On the 10th of January 2017 at around 16:30 hours, Catharine Tivaone of 4358 Manyame Park was informed by her son Mathias Tivaone, who was on his way to church, that he had heard a baby crying in a grassy area near Chigovanyika car park.
“Catharine Tivaone then rushed to the scene and found the baby.”
A police report was made and investigations led to the identification of Kasirai as the mother. – State Media

By Joylene Mtandwa | Independent Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa, has descended on the incompetent Norton Town Council authorities and challenged them to “either deliver or risk losing their jobs”.

The firebrand politician this week held two meetings with the town council management where he read the riot act.

“A number of issues where discussed which include building on wetlands, poor drainage system, title deeds, council’s debt and land developers failing to meet their mandates,” Mliswa told ZimEye.com in Harare, Saturday.

“On all of these issues, I questioned the councillors and council management on why they were failing to solve these problems,” he said.

Mliswa’s Norton meeting was prompted by the recent Auditor General’s report which demanded most of the local authorities to explain how they are managing their resources.

Transform Zimbabwe(TZ) president -Jacob Ngarivhume has launched an awareness campaign on typhoid which recently broke out in Harare.

Of the reported 132 cases of typhoid, there have been two deaths.

In a statement, Ngarivhume said the campaign will centre on the causes of typhoid, prevention and treatment.

“The outbreak of Typhoid in our cities has shown us that this is not the time to play politics.

“Life is more important than any politics that may divide us thus it is time we support each other and be neighbourly as we are all united by our love for Zimbabwe,” said Ngarivhume.

He said the under funding of the City of Harare is making it extremely difficult to have consistent cleanup programme for the city.

“Mayor Ben Manyenini has been under a lot of pressure to accomplish so much with very little resources. It is time to come together and do our part by making an effort to transform our cities by keeping our communities clean,” said Ngarivhume.

“We have since launched the ‘Keep the City Clean – Stop Blaming and Start Acting Campaign, as we have obtained police and city council clearance to begin cleanup activities,” said Ngarivhume.

The campaign will kick off in Glenview, Area 8 Terminus, Harare on Saturday.

“The residents are facing a number of challenges such as garbage collection that has become a chronic problem in most residential areas and this is caused by a lack of public trash dumpsters.

“There has been a low frequency of trash collection, low awareness of community responsibility on cleanness and there is a risk of spread of disease due to unsanitary areas and unclean water supply,” said Ngarivhume.

He said littering is clogging storm water drains which will in turn is cause flooding and is becoming an environmental hazard.

“There is a risk of spread of diseases and threat to public health and safety, and the quality of life, as there is currently an outbreak of typhoid.

“Infestation and breeding of mosquitos, other insects and rodents and other unwanted elements which can pose health risks,” said Ngarivhume.

He said the amount of litter in the capital has also been a driver in the decrease in property values thus it decreases tourism which affects the economy.

“The objectives of the campain include promoting health and sanitation practices in Harare, to educate and bring awareness about Typhoid disease as well as to foster the spirit of pride, ownership, learning to work together and uniting as a community in respecting and taking responsibility of our environment,” said Ngarivhume.

He said the also aim to increase public support and cooperation towards improving the city’s living environment and surroundings through a variety of positive activities.

“We aim to promote public awareness of community cleanliness, environmental protection and effective use of resources and to create community awareness while working with local council and community in initiating educational campaigns to assist in mobilising the local public proactively against littering,” Ngarivhume.

He said cleaning up is the easy part, keeping the city clean consistently will be the challenging part.

“It is important that all citizens take part in the campaign and all individuals, community, schools, colleges, businesses, churches, NGOs and all others to come on board and stay on board,” said Ngarivhume.

ZANU-PF has nominated Caroline Tsitsi Mugabe to the Zvimba Constiuency senate seat in Mashonaland West following the death of ZANU-PF central committee member Virginia Muchenje last year. In a notice published in the government gazzette yesterday, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said the nomination is in accordance with section 39 of the Electoral Act.

Justice Makarau said any voter wishing to object the nomination should do so in writing within 14 days from the date of the publication of the notice. No by-elections are held to replace senators as they were chosen under proportional representation and the political party that holds the seat is expected to provide a replacement should the seat fall vacant. StarFM

The video has been met with mixed feelings from various sections of society.

POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of a cyclist who was stabbed multiple times along Siyephambili Drive in Bulawayo last week.

The arrest of the suspects follows the recovery of one of the deceased’s cellphones which was sold to a man from Entumbane suburb. The man led police to the men who sold him the cellphone, leading to their arrest.

Thembelani Sibanda (22) of Nguboyenja suburb and Njabulo Mahlangu (21) of Vundu Flats in Makokoba, allegedly waylaid Mr Njabulo Dube (40) while he was cycling home to Nkulumane suburb along Siyephambili Drive on Thursday night last week.

Armed with an Okapi knife, they allegedly blocked Dube’s way and stabbed him on the back, and he fell from the bicycle.

They then dragged him to a nearby bush and stabbed him on the neck, on the back and three times on the chest. Sibanda and Mahlangu allegedly searched the deceased and robbed him of two cellphones, groceries and $30 cash and left him unconscious. Mr Dube was found dead the following morning.

The two phones and groceries were valued at $30.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the arrest of the two suspects.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to confirm the arrest of two male adults in connection with a case of murder that occurred at Siyephambili Flyover, West Somerton, Bulawayo.

Acting on information received, the police have managed to recover the deceased’s cellphone which had been sold to a man who resides in Entumbane, Bulawayo. The first accused was found in possession of the suspected murder weapon and he implicated the second accused person,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

Meanwhile, Sibanda and Mahlangu appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya yesterday facing murder charges.

They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to January 25 and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

For the State, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said Sibanda and Mahlangu allegedly robbed and fatally stabbed Mr Dube.

Mr Dlodlo said Sibanda allegedly led the police to the recovery of the suspected murder weapon, an okapi knife.

He said said state witnesses who bought the stolen cellphones, are set to testify against the accused persons.

Mr Dlodlo said Mahlangu led the police to the crime scene and the blood- stained clothes he was wearing when he committed the murder were recovered. – State Media

Today, 21 January 2017, there is a by election in Bikita West constituency, below is a midday report by Heal Zimbabwe Trust.

Six candidates are vying for the Parliamentary seat and these are Beauty Chabaya (ZANU PF), Kudakwashe Gopo (ZimPF), Madock Tatirai Chivasa (NCA), Tanyaradzwa Terrence Makumbo (PDZ) and two independent candidates Heya Shoko and Innocent Muzvimbiri. Heal Zimbabwe Trust has deployed 58 human rights monitors on the ground to assess whether the election process is being held in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful manner. Below is a mid morning update of the voting process:

Guru Polling station ward 11

The polling station opened on time. 50 people had voted as at 7:30. 40 people were in the queue when polling station opened. (About 30 women and 20 men.)

Mangondo Secondary School ward 11

The polling station opened on time. More than 100 people had voted as at 8:30am.About 100 people were in the queue waiting to vote. There were about 70 women and 30 men.

Nyika council clinic ward 12

The polling station opened on time. More than 120 people had voted as at 8:15am. 15 people in the queue waiting to cast their vote as at 8:15am. 9 are women while 6 are men.

St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Polling station wards 12

The polling station opened on time. A total of 50 people had voted as at 7:30am. About 30 people in the queue waiting to vote.4 youths (all women) indicated that they were assisted to vote

Pamushana Secondary School ward 32

The polling station opened on time. More than 100 people had voted as at 8am. The majority of them are women. No incidents of violence or human rights abuses reported yet.

Makotore Primary School ward 32

The polling station opened on time, more than 55 people (32 women and 23 men) had voted as at 8am. 8 people were assisted to vote (3 men and 5 women). 3 people were turned away (2 men and 1 woman) because they did not have identity cards.

Zinwa water works polling station ward 32

The polling station opened on time. 85 people had voted as at 8 am. 39 were men and 46 females. 2 people were turned away (no identity cards) and 8 people assisted to vote (7 females and 1 male) due to old age and illiteracy.

Marozva Primary School ward 32

Voting process going on well. Presiding officer Kaliphinos Itayi has refused to provide voter statistics to accredited observers.

Mandiki Primary School ward 9

The polling station opened on time. More than 100 people had voted by 8am.The majority of voters being women. ZANU PF members Magret Pise, Nelson Mubako, Charles Chapwanya and Nesbert Machando threatened voters with violence if ZANU PF looses.

Nyemba Primary School ward 9

The polling station opened on time and voting is going on well. 42 people had voted by 7:52am (32 women and 17 men) Rain affecting voter turn-out

Vushe Primary School ward 9

The polling station opened on time and the process is going on well. 40 people had voted (17 women and 23 men) as at 7:30am.

Jaravaza Primary School ward 10

Polling station opened at 7:00 am. About 150 people were already in the queue waiting to vote (85 women and 65 men).

Mukanganwi Secondary school ward 10 polling station

Polling stations opened at 7am.About 300 people were already in the queue waiting to vote. There were about 170 women and 130 men.

Charamba Primary school ward 19

-Polling stations opened at 7am. About 100 people had cast their vote as at 8am.There were about 60 women and 40 men.

Makondo Primary School ward 19

Polling stations opened at 7am.About 100 people had cast their vote by 7:50am.There were about 70 women and 30 men.

Muvhuti Primary school ward 22

Polling stations opened at 7am.Voted process started with only ZANU PF AND ZPF polling agents present. The Independent candidate, Innocent Muzvimbiri’s agent arrived after the voting had already started.

Bikita Health centre ward 13

Polling stations opened at 7am .59 voters had cast their votes by 8am. 38 were men whilst 21 were women. Three people were assisted assisted to vote.

Mupakwa Primary School ward 13

Polling stations opened at 7am.180 people had voted by 8:30am.100 were women while 80 were men.

Mandara Primary School ward 5

Polling stations opened at 7am .Only 50 people had cast their votes by 9am.30 were women while 20 were man.

Bikita Minerals Primary School ward 30

Polling station opened at 7am. About 40 people were in the queue when polling station opened. No cases of intimidation have been recorded so far.

Chitsanga Primary school ward 22

Polling stations opened at 7am. 200 people had voted as at 8.40am.About 120 women and 80 men.
BY HEAL ZIMBABWE

Candidates in today’s poll in the Bikita West by-election are, Beauty Chabaya of (Zanu PF), Mr Kudakwashe Gopo of ( ZimPF), Mr Heya Shoko (Independent). Mr Madock Chivasa (NCA), Innocent Muzvimbiri (Independent) and Terence Makumbo (Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe).

ZimEye.com will give you LIVE updates on this page:

12.43pm – BIKITA WEST BYELECTIONS 21/01/17
TOO MANY ASSISTED VOTERS IN A COUNTRY WITH 99% LITERACY LEVELS
The Electoral law that regulates assisted voting needs to be ammended as a matter of urgency. We cant continue having Yiung people,Headmasters, teachers and nurses claiming illiteracy. Such conduct must have very serious repercussions.
#VotesRiggingGimmicks – B Nyagomo

In ward 22 @Masarira P.sch, 212pple had voted as @12:40am (133 females,79 males) 4 turned away(no ids)assisted 21(illiteracy)@263Chat

— Heal Zimbabwe (@HealZim) January 21, 2017

Ward 11 @Domboshava P.sch 215pple had voted as @11:30am (129 females, 86 males) 17 assisted (13 females,4 males)4 were redirected(no ids)

— Heal Zimbabwe (@HealZim) January 21, 2017

In ward 11, at Mangondo sec sch,300 pple have voted as @11:30am (99 males and 201 females)18 assisted(2males and 16 females)

— Heal Zimbabwe (@HealZim) January 21, 2017

At Guru polling station ward 11,#Zanupf members Lydia Tavengwa and Tarisai Garai are forcing pple to declare that they are illiterate

— Heal Zimbabwe (@HealZim) January 21, 2017

11.16 am – At Bikita Minerals hall ward 30,as @10am,92 had voted(39 males,52 females)assisted voters 11 (3males and 8 females) #BikitaDecides

09.41 am – 4 young women declared themselves illiterate & were assisted to vote at St Mary’s Catholic Church ward 12. Heal Zim Trust.

Sights from Bikita West as #BikitaDecides@rashidmahiya1 @P_VanDamme_EU @JabuShumba @AbelChikomo @MunyaBwanya @ZimPeopleFirst_ @263Chat pic.twitter.com/sqdZNDFZie

— Heal Zimbabwe (@HealZim) January 21, 2017

09.24 am – Bikita Health Centre polling station in Ward 13 opened on time with all materials
being available. There were 6 polling officials, two police officers, 1 inside the polling station and the other outside. Four candidates were represented by polling agents being ZANU PF, 3, ZPF, 3, NCA, 2 and Muzvimbiri, 2. 1 voter asked to be assisted to vote and 3 polling officials and a police woman assisted her. 1 voter was turned away for not appearing on the Voters’
Roll. The polling station has a total 196 voters on the main roll. A total of 30 people
had voted by 07:30hrs. #BikitaWestByElection.

09.06 am – Most polling stations opened on time with high voter turn out. No reported incidents of violence.

8. 10 am – At Mandiki P.sch ward 9,polling station opened on time.100 people have voted as at 8:30am. Majority are women. polling station opened on time.

7.00am – polling station ward 11,more than 50 pple have voted.majority of voters are women.

6.50 am – ward 22,100 pple have voted so far majority of voters are women.

6.45 am – ward 22 only polling agents from Zanu PF and ZPF were present when voting started

6.30 am – There is high voter turnout at Ushe Primary School ward 9, at Makondo Primary school ward 19.

5.57 am – All polling stations in wards 9,22 and 5 opened on time. (HZT)

By Joylene Mtandwa | Zanu PF activists here have violently kicked out local accredited voter education, election monitoring and observing civil society organizations, who were observing the Bikita West constituency.

According to sources a newly formed peace promotion Non-governmental organization Zimbabwe Peace Actors Platform (ZimPAP) , Zimbabwe Review for Generations and Masvingo Residents Trust are some of the affected CSOs.

ZimPAP said the affected NGOs had their senior officials threatened with unspecified action before being given marching orders from the politically tense district.

ZimPAP had deployed civilian peace keepers in Bikita West constituency to monitor the political environment in the area.

The organisation’s civilian peace keepers who are trained citizens in monitoring and reporting cases of intimidation, and political violence said local and bused Zanu PF militia this week declared Bikata West a no go area for civil society organizations who were providing voter education .

ZimPAP spokesperson Tichanzii Gandanga , said they were very much disturbed by not only the booting out of voter educators and election monitors by Zanu PF militia and officials, but also by the political violence and intimidation of opposition party members in Bikita west.

“We see this as just but a warning of a tense political environment which the country is going to experience until after the holding of the 2018 elections, and we would like to implore the police and the state to investigate and bring to book the perpetrators of such violent acts,” said ZimPAP spokesperson in a statement.

Gandanga said they were also disturbed by the assault of the opposition National Constitution Assembly (NCA) political party candidate for Bikita West constituency, Madock Chivasa and his election agent, Thomas Mudzamiri, by suspected Zanu PF youths in the area this week.

“ We are also advising the public not only in Bikita, but nationwide to identify and report individuals and political players they would have seen perpetrating violence through social media platforms which have proved to be a very strong and effective form of information dissemination,” he said.

ZIMBABWE’s quick-to-arrest and detain police have been dragged to the High Court by a group of 13 Harare residents for wrongful detention.

The 13 citizens are demanding a combined $705 000 from Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo, Police Commissioner-General, Augustine Chihuri, and other senior police officers.

In separate lawsuits filed by the group’s lawyers Mbidzo Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners, the 13 detail harrowing tales following their arrest by a police reaction squad on August 24, 2016, in central Harare.

Among the litigants are eight women and five men, who claim that they were going about their normal business when the law enforcement agents allegedly pounced on them.

In their founding affidavits, the residents said upon being arrested, they were taken to Harare Central Police Station’s notorious, Law and Order section, where they were severely assaulted, humiliated and denied access to their lawyers.

All the women said the trauma they suffered during the unlawful detention and the indiscriminate brutal bashing by the police officers forced them into premature menstruation.

They claim they were denied access to sanitarywear forcing them to use their own clothes.

“Plaintiff (one of the women), who was induced by the pressure mounting on her, prematurely went on her menstrual cycle. She was denied sanitarywear or privacy to attend to her unexpected needs. As a result, she had to attend to these needs in the full glare of members of the public, mostly men, using her own clothes. This caused her personal trauma, humiliation and indignity,” the lawyers said.

In his claim, one of the five men said:

“Plaintiff was bunched with several of his co-tenants, including women, some of the women were or went on their menstrual cycle. They were not afforded any facilities, including sanitarywear to deal with their state.

“As a result, they were forced to use their clothes to wipe away the blood flow in the presence of the plaintiff and male arrestees. This experience was horrendous and traumatic to the plaintiff.”

The lawyers also said, at all times, the police were acting within the scope and course of their employment as police details of the Zimbabwe Republic Police service.

Each of the eight women is demanding $60 000 compensation, while each of the men is demanding $45 000.

In their applications, the residents also cited Officer Commanding Police, Harare Central District, Officer Commanding Police Reaction Group, Officer-In-Charge, CID Law and Order Harare, Detective Inspector Morgan Chafa, Detective Inspector Maria Phiri, Detective Sergeant Makore and the Officer-In-Charge Harare Central Police as respondents.

The police is yet to respond to the summons. – Newsday

https://youtu.be/l-VwY5xZvqM?t=4

Ray Nkosi | Ex-Gambian president Yahya Jammeh has officially stepped down in a statement broadcasted on state TV in the early hours of Saturday.

Jammeh stated on TV that “I believe in the importance of dialogue. I have decided to relinquish the mantle of leadership”.

Jammeh stepped down after a challenging rounds of negotiations, it seems the ex-president managed to squeeze himself a deal he is happy to walk away with.

As Jammeh relinquished power some of the issues that needed to be ironed out in the agreement included a UN binding clause that guarantees against prosecution, specific asset rights and supporting in the transitional process, a local Gambian report says.
Watch above video as Jammeh steps down.

ZIMBABWE National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) chairman, Christopher Mutsvangwa’s acolytes in Midlands province, who had been locked out of their offices at the height of an acrimonious internal fight for control last year, found their way back this week.

Mutsvangwa’s provincial executive had been locked out of its offices for the past five months by a rival faction sympathetic to Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandiitawepi Chimene. Chimene and Mutsvangwa reportedly belong to different factions of Zanu PF in the ongoing succession cat-fight.

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF is apparently plotting a social media onslaught ahead of the watershed general elections due next year.

It is ironic that the ruling party has been ranting and raving about the political dangers of social media, with Mugabe the major voice calling on his lieutenants such as Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo to “stop washing dirty linen on social media”.

ALL is set for today’s Bikita West by-election with 58 polling stations having been established for a poll in which more than 15 000 people are expected to cast their vote.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) Masvingo provincial manager Mr Zex Zirabada Pudurayi said everything was in place for the election.

“We are ready to conduct the Bikita West by-election set for tomorrow (today). All polling officers have been deployed to their polling stations which we have established. We have
established 58 polling stations,” said Mr Pudurayi.

He said Zec held a party liaison committee meeting on Thursday and all election agents were given an opportunity to air their views.

“We had an opportunity to hold a meeting with all election agents and every candidate’s representative was given the floor to comment on the general environment ahead of the by-election. By late yesterday we had not received any problem despite the unconfirmed reports of violence. By right anything of that nature should be brought to our attention as Zec,” Mr Pudurayi said.

Zanu PF candidate Beauty Chabaya is bubbling with confidence. She said she would win the by election as a befitting present to President Mugabe, who turns 93 next month.

“I am satisfied with the work we have done with my campaign team on the ground. I am confident of retaining this seat left by my predecessor who ironically was my senior at high school, Munyaradzi Kereke. Come tomorrow evening I will be the new MP for Bikita West,” said Chabaya.

Kereke was jailed for 10 years for raping his niece. Chibaya said people from Bikita West have faith in her capabilities to improve their livelihoods through a number developmental projects.

“The fact that I won the primary elections in my party shows that people have faith in me and they will not fail me today. I have offered my services to the people of this constituency and I am committed to bring a positive change to the communities. We all know that there is drought in Bikita and food production will be on top of my priorities once I am elected,” she said.

Other candidates in today’s poll are Mr Kudakwashe Gopo of ZimPF, Mr Heya Shoko (Independent). Mr Madock Chivasa (NCA), Innocent Muzvimbiri (Independent) and Terence Makumbo (Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe). – State Media

Members of Parliament and councillors will not be exempt from paying tollgate fees, a cabinet minister has said.

The Minister Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Joram Gumbo, said the MPs and councillors should not waste their time writing to Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) asking to be exempted from paying the fees.

Dr Gumbo said Zinara had been inundated with letters from legislators and councillors seeking exemption from paying the fees and the Government position was that they should pay like the rest of the motorists.

Addressing a road authorities meeting in Gweru on Thursday, Dr Gumbo urged lawmakers as well as rural and urban councillors to stop asking for favours.

“I’m pleading with you MPs and councillors to stop writing letters seeking exemption to pay toll fees. The Government position is that you should pay the fees like what other motorists are doing so your letters will not be entertained,” he said.

Dr Gumbo said some legislators were arguing that they make many trips to Parliament as well as to their constituencies hence the need for them to be exempt from paying toll fees.

“This culture of not wanting to pay for services should be done away with if we are to develop as a country. People must pay so that they get the good services they want,” he said.

The Government introduced toll fees as part of measures to raise funds to construct and rehabilitate roads.

Dr Gumbo said the country’s road network has outlived its lifespan and more than $5 billion was needed to rehabilitate it.

He said Zinara was raising less than $200 million per annum which is very little given the amount required to rehabilitate the road network.

“This is why we are urging road authorities to pursue other innovative strategies such as public private partnerships and mobilising funds from financial institutions. We are also appealing to individuals and other institutions with free funds to come on board and participate in revamping the road network,” he said. – State Media

A MAN from Mzilikazi suburb in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly killing his 79-year-old mother using an iron rod after he was told by members of an Apostolic sect that she was bewitching his ailing daughter.

Amadi Nyathi allegedly bludgeoned his elderly mother in the early hours of yesterday at the family home at number R79 Mzilikazi.

He was arrested and detained at Mzilikazi Police Station and is expected to  appear in court on a charge of murder soon.

Nyathi, who is said to be in his 30s, allegedly killed his mother whose name could not be established immediately after he went to an Apostolic sect and was told that she practised witchcraft.

Unnamed members of the sect blamed the woman for an undisclosed illness afflicting her granddaughter.

A neighbour, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said matters came to a head after Nyathi allegedly caught his mother conducting some rituals at their home.

“Nyathi approached an Apostolic sect which said his mother was to blame for the child’s illness.

“He caught her doing rituals using his undergarments. After being caught, his mother did not show remorse,” said the source.

The Chronicle yesterday visited the family’s residence but mourners declined to shed more light on the matter.

“We’re mourning our grandmother’s death and we have no comment,” said a woman at the wake.

Police could not immediately comment on the matter. – State Media

ABOUT 20 gold panners have been arrested in Inyathi following violent clashes involving rival gangs.

Clashes at Senco Night Club, Mahamba Business Centre at about 11PM on Saturday saw some patrons being attacked with machetes, knives and stones.

Bubi District Rural Council chief executive officer Mr Partson Mlilo said on Wednesday police raided the illegal panners and arrested 20 people.

He said council offered the police council vehicles to transport the illegal miners after raiding them.

“The police are doing the best they can. Some of the culprits have been arrested. I think 20 of them were arrested today (Wednesday). The challenge faced by police is that these people don’t have any identification particulars and are of no fixed abode. They live in the bush,” said Mr Mlilo.

Yesterday, Chief Mtshane said the local leadership was not happy with rising attacks on ordinary people by the illegal miners.

He said he was mobilising the local leadership for a meeting with the police over the issue.

The Chief said last Friday’s attacks were carried out by people who do not come from Inyathi.

Chief Mtshane said omakorokoza invading the area should respect the local people’s hospitality.

“Villagers are now living in fear of being attacked. The attacks violate their freedom of association. People should move freely without being intimidated.

We don’t expect people in rural areas to be attacked, they should enjoy their freedoms,” he said.

Inyathi villagers told The Chronicle on Wednesday that some of the troublemakers were gold panners coming from disused mines such as Durban, Queens and Clayton located in Bubi District.

“Because of the rains, omakorokoza can no longer stay in the bush. They come here with their grudges and start fighting in bars. That is what happened last Friday, we were enjoying ourselves until they started causing problems attacking people indiscriminately,” said Mr Nyoni who has worked at Senco Night Club for the past seven years.

In a statement yesterday, National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, said last Friday’s attacks in Inyathi were not gold related.

“Please be advised that our records of the assaults that occurred at Senco Night Club, Inyathi, on 13th January 2017 are not linked to gold panning,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

She said according to the police, the incident occurred after three unknown patrons who were drinking in the company of a female imbiber started fighting among themselves.

“A misunderstanding arose among the accused persons after one of them poured beer on his colleague. A brawl ensued between the accused persons.

Martin Khabo and Daniel Lambani tried to break the fight,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

She said the two people who were fighting then stopped fighting and turned on the peace makers Mr Khabo and Mr Lambadi.

“Realising that the two complainants were being attacked, three male adults went to their rescue and tried to restrain the three accused persons but they were also attacked.

“All the five complainants in the matter sustained varying degrees of injuries and were referred to Inyathi District Hospital for treatment and have since been discharged except Martin Khabo who was referred to Mpilo Hospital for further treatment,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

Asked about the alleged arrest of 20 gold panners on Wednesday, Snr Asst Comm Charamba: “This could be different circumstances but I will find out.

However, I am aware of the gold problems in the area.” – State Media

Zimbabwe People First leader Dr Joice Mujuru’s constitutional application seeking to invalidate a Presidential decree that introduced bond notes has been scheduled for February 1. The matter was set for next month after the Constitutional Court granted Dr Mujuru the nod to bring back her case to the court for hearing.

On Wednesday, Dr Mujuru’s lawyers led by Professor Lovemore Madhuku, filed their heads of argument at the Constitutional Court.

Last September, the apex court threw out Dr Mujuru’s request to nullify the executive decree saying the challenge was premature and speculative because the disputed currency was not yet in circulation.

Two months later, in November, Dr Mujuru went back to the Constitutional Court to contest the legality of a Presidential decree providing a legal framework for the introduction of bond notes as legal tender in a fresh case.

She listed President Mugabe, Parliament, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya and Attorney-General Advocate Prince Machaya as respondents.

She wants an order declaring that President Mugabe, by exercising Parliament’s primary law-making power through Statutory Instrument 133 of 2016, failed to fulfil his constitutional obligations to obey certain provisions of the Constitution.

She also wants the regulations to be nullified for want of fulfilling the constitutional obligations. It is her contention that President Mugabe has no constitutional authority to make statutory instruments and/or amend Acts of Parliament.

The bond notes, which are backed by a $200 million African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) loan facility, are at par with the US dollar.

Bond notes were introduced in $2 and $5 denominations would follow in March before the gradual rolling out of the $10 and $20 notes. The first phase of the bond notes introduction saw $75 million being released by end of last month. – State Media

ALL is set for today’s Bikita West by-election with 58 polling stations having been established for a poll in which more than 15 000 people are expected to cast their vote.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) Masvingo provincial manager Mr Zex Zirabada Pudurayi said everything was in place for the election.

“We are ready to conduct the Bikita West by-election set for tomorrow (today). All polling officers have been deployed to their polling stations which we have established. We have established 58 polling stations,” said Mr Pudurayi.

He said Zec held a party liaison committee meeting on Thursday and all election agents were given an opportunity to air their views.

“We had an opportunity to hold a meeting with all election agents and every candidate’s representative was given the floor to comment on the general environment ahead of the by-election. By late yesterday we had not received any problem despite the unconfirmed reports of violence. By right anything of that nature should be brought to our attention as Zec,” Mr Pudurayi said.

Zanu PF candidate Beauty Chabaya is bubbling with confidence.

She said she would win the by election as a befitting present to President Mugabe, who turns 93 next month.

“I am satisfied with the work we have done with my campaign team on the ground. I am confident of retaining this seat left by my predecessor who ironically was my senior at high school, Munyaradzi Kereke. Come tomorrow evening I will be the new MP for Bikita West,” said Chabaya.

Kereke was jailed for 10 years for raping his niece.

Chibaya said people from Bikita West have faith in her capabilities to improve their livelihoods through a number developmental projects.

“The fact that I won the primary elections in my party shows that people have faith in me and they will not fail me today. I have offered my services to the people of this constituency and I am committed to bring a positive change to the communities. We all know that there is drought in Bikita and food production will be on top of my priorities once I am elected,” she said.

Other candidates in today’s poll are Mr Kudakwashe Gopo of ZimPF, Mr Heya Shoko (Independent). Mr Madock Chivasa (NCA), Innocent Muzvimbiri (Independent) and Terence Makumbo (Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe). – State Media

Joylene Mtandwa | Severe factionalism has rocked the Joice Mujuru led Zim People First ahead of the Bikita by-election.

Going by surveys on the situation on the ground in the hotly contested Bikita West constituency by-election, the seat is up for grabs for any opposition political party candidate more so the Mujuru led Zimbabwe People First.

However, severe factionalism within the Mujuru led party coming as a result of resentment of the party candidate Kudakwashe Gopo is bound to hand the seat back to ZANU PF.

Party insiders who spoke to ZimEye.com on the sidelines of the party’s campaign rally held in Nyika Growth point yesterday, said that the rift among party members on Gopo’s candidature is so bad that some of them are literally going out in the constituency discrediting Gopo and his campaign manager retired Colonel Claudius Makova.

The rift is reported to not only be existing within the constituency itself but from higher offices within the party. The sources indicated that the party’s head office was originally against having a candidate participating in the elections in the name of the party opting to field the candidate as an independent on the advise of fellow National Electoral Reforms Agenda NERA opposition parties.

However, the Masvingo Province Executive Committee is said to have met and resolved to have the party participate in the election.

A further rift arose in selecting the candidate to stand for the party following the province’s determination to contest the election. According to the high ranked party sources, party President Mujuru preferred former legislature of the constituency Heya Shoko who the province rejected as he was initially strongly against the party participating in the election.

In what the party sources expressed as a shock, Shoko is said to have been forced to contest the elections as an independent candidate allegedly with the backing of the party leadership in Harare.

The sources further claim that Gopo has been receiving very little financial support from the party making his campaign difficult while Shoko is said to be enjoying a hugely financed campaign which members believe to be from the party top officials and from the Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC-T.

In her speech at the rally, Mujuru anguishingly tried to speak against the factionalism in the party urging members to unite and rally behind Gopo. She however did not make any mention against the candidature of Shoko who is believed to be still claiming to be a member of the Zimbabwe People First.

Bikita West constituency fell vacant following the 10-year imprisonment of former legislator, Munyaradzi Kereke (Zanu PF) for raping a minor at gunpoint.

Zanu-PF’s Beauty Chabaya will fight it out with Zimbabwe People First’s Gopo, Terence Makumbo of Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe (PDZ), and Independent candidates Innocent Muzvimbiri and Shoko.

ZIMBABWE’S mobile phone operators initially colluded to push for a ban on over-the-top (OTT) services including the most popular instant messaging application for smartphones WhatsApp and Skype before opting for high floor prices on data and voice as a way of arresting a plunge in their revenue and acute foreign currency shortages, it has been established.

Whereas government wanted to control social media use to prevent an Arab Spring style uprising triggered by an economic implosion, mobile network operators (MNOs) wanted this for the profit motive and to preserve foreign currency, creating a marriage of convenience between the authorities and telcos executives. An increased uptake of OTT saw mobile phone users migrating from regular voice calls and short messaging services which traditionally were the main sources of revenue for the country’s three operators—NetOne, Econet and Telecel.

Last week the government directed the operators to set a floor price on data before suspending the decision amid a public outcry that the increases were astronomical.
OTT services have over the past year given currency to a wave of demonstrations, prompting government to effect a blackout during one of the protests and the crafting of a new ICT policy to snoop on internet users.

Over-the-top is where a telecommunications service provider delivers one or more services across an internet protocol network. It embraces a variety of telco services including communications such as voice and messaging.

According to informed sources and documents seen by the Zimbabwe Independent, the country’s mobile network operators wrote to the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) raising concerns over the sagging revenues and problems in meeting their obligations to international companies that benefit from the use of OTT.

Sources said the country’s telecoms regulator this week wrote to the Finance ministry appraising Treasury on the tiff between mobile phone operators particularly Econet and Potraz over the genesis of the floor prices. Experts say the beneficiaries of OTT voice traffic were WhatsApp, Facebook, Skype, Viber and others, who were reaping without investing in the local networks.

Official figures show that from June 2015 to April 2016, MNOs lost 186 million voice traffic minutes to OTTs, of which 95% of the traffic was WhatsApp calls. For that period, the potential loss to MNOs was US$26 million in revenue, for Potraz it was US$139 000 and for Government it was US$4 million in taxes.

“In their submissions to Potraz, the operators advised that they had considered a number of options to deal with OTTs which include a ban on OTT, reduce the quality of services on OTT calls and differential charging of the voice calls enjoyed through OTT applications i.e. a price on WhatsApp calls and the other culprit applications,” a source familiar with the developments said.

“Having considered these, the operators had discarded the options of banning the OTTs and reducing the quality of service and had recommended the introduction of a tariff for both voice and video OTT calls to protect MNOs, Potraz and government revenues.”

After discarding the initial proposals, mobile network operators under the auspicies of the Telecommunications Operators Association of Zimbabwe in October 2016 agreed on the proposed floor price for voice. The operators, documents show, had however not agreed on the floor price of data.

“Econet and NetOne’s agreed position was that the floor price for data should be set at 5 US cents per Mb (megabyte). Econet agreed with the collective position that the minimum or floor price for voice should be 12 US cents per minute,” reads one of the documents.

“A minimum regulated tariff was required to avoid significant erosion of value for all its stakeholders and the price floors should apply to both mobile and fixed operators as well as voice over internet protocol operators. The floor prices would assist in decongesting the networks as networks were now facing capacity problems. Econet quoted Sri Lanka as having introduced floor prices and Pakistan as considering doing so.”

In its letter dated October 27 2016, which Telecel submitted to Potraz in its capacity as TOAZ chair, the MNOs said they had agreed to set the voice floor prices at 12 US cents per minute. Telecel had proposed a floor price for data of 1 US cent per Mb.

Meanwhile, Potraz is now carrying out cost modelling studies to enable further informed decision making on appropriate pricing of data, which, while protecting consumers, ensures that the sector remains viable.

“In addition to floor pricing, MNOs had also asked Potraz to engage the Reserve Bank over unavailability of foreign currency to pay for the maintenance and upgrade of their networks,” a source said.

“The MNOs had also asked Potraz to make representations to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in connection with import duty on mobile handsets which they had said was causing a reduction in ICT services uptake by consumers, thereby affecting their revenues and revenues for government, through taxes and fees. In good faith, Potraz had held meetings with the Reserve Bank Governor and Zimra to make representations on behalf of the operators as well as advise on the impact of these problems on consumers. These efforts were designed to complement floor prices in ensuring sector viability.”

Declining voice revenues over the past three years have resulted in the proliferation of promotional packages in the form of data bundles of various forms and sizes with validity periods of up to three (3) months.

The data bundles were offered either as stand alone internet bundles or as a package that included voice, SMS and data services, resulting in situations where data services were priced well below 1c per megabyte.

“Consequently, data traffic has increased significantly but without a corresponding growth in revenue being realised. The situation had seen the overall revenues realised from the telecommunications sector continuously going down at the rate of 10-12% per quarter since the beginning of 2016,” one of the documents reads.

Last week Econet criticised ICT minister Supa Mandiwanzira for not taking ownership of the floor prices before the minister hit back at the operator saying it had pushed for the data charges hike. – Independent

A resulting feud between supporters and non-supporters of the bishop has broken out, taken control of the parish and is now threatening to tear the, already fragile, diocese apart.

Church members have, via whatsapp, called for the expulsion of both Ruwona and the lady involved, Portia Magada, accusing the bishop of failing to execute his duties in the Anglican Manicaland Diocese.

Worshippers have also appealed to the Zambia based Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Central Africa, Archbishop Albert Chama and the Episcopal Synod of the Anglican Church to intervene in the matter on their behalf.

According to whatsapp messages seen by this journalist, members of the congregation accused Ruwona of protecting and favouring his alleged mistress.

Magada is viewed as having taken control of the church and of greatly affecting the day to day running of both the St Agnes church and the diocese.

The whatsapp messages read as follows: “Dear brethren in Christ, Anglican Diocese
of Manicaland CPCA. It was a shame and still a shame to our diocese because it went into the hands of Ruwona. The diocese has not taken a rest ever since Bishop Julius Makoni resigned. Julius was even better than Ruwona.”

“Ruwona is a satanist and an adulterer who is abusing his wife by torturing her emotional because of Portia Magada. Magada has caused more problems in the church. The relationship between Ruwona and Magada began long ago and now he has become her permanent boyfriend. People in this diocese did not vote for Ruwona but there was corruption.”

“As people from the diocese of Manicaland we no longer want Ruwona and Magada in our diocese. We will fight until justice prevails,” read part of the message.

When asked for his comment, Ruwona referred this journalist to diocesan secretary Ashel Mutungura.

Mutungura said: “The people making these claims should provide evidence to substantiate their claims. These are just church fights. So what?  Why should you write about things that you do not have evidence of? Bring the evidence first.”

When contacted for comment Magada said: “What is there to comment about. I also have those messages and they are there for the whole world to see.”

As regards the rumours that Muwona allowed Magada to buy his house furniture worth $26 000 using church funds and without receipts, Mutungura responded: “This is not true. The amount used was only $3 500 and all receipts are available for audit purposes.”

Mutungura is on record describing disgruntled congregation members at St Agnes Church as people loyal to erstwhile former Bishop Elson Jakazi who were bent on causing confusion in the church.

Jakazi is a former bishop of the church who was fired by the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) for misconduct. A protracted court battle ensued between Jakazi and the CPCA resulting in him being ouster by the courts.

Bishop Makoni took over the reigns in 2012 and resigned in 2015. The Zimbabwean

Staff Reporter| Defiant Gambian ex-President, Yahya Jammeh is in a last minute escape panic.

ZimEye can reveal Mauritania’s president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Guinea’s President Alpha Conde and the United Nation’s Sec General for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas are on their way to meet the ex-president, now labelled “a rebel leader,” Yahya Jammeh at the State House to find a peaceful settlement to the current stand-off.

The custom fitted Rolls Royce with imprints of Jammeh’s endless titled name were at the time of writing spotted transporting the heads of states to the property.

The Mauritanian & Guinean President may likely leave with the ex-president & rebel leader #YahyaJammeh if a deal is reached. It has been reported that Jammeh has his wife & children with him at State House. #gambiahasdecided

The move comes as armies moved into the poor west African country to remove the man by force. ZimEye will keep our valued readers and contributors abreast with developments.

Joylene Mtandwa | Olinda Chideme’s latest Facebook post from this morning that she is ‘feeling sick’, has sparked speculation Stunner’s wife could be pregnant.

Many of her friends concluded with the timing of the post early morning and her recent public outbursts and tantrums, Olinda could be carrying a little Stunner. Wrote one friend, “This early morning must be a young Stunner on the way hey…” to which others responded, “Ndatya kuzvi taurawo,” and “Maybe you are pregnant, it explains your anger, rants, etc hormones anyway…” 

Olinda did not come out to correct the public speculation from her friends.

More than 50% of pregnant women experience morning sickness. Morning sickness refers to the nauseous feeling you may have during the first trimester of pregnancy, which is a result of the increased hormones in your body.

Morning sickness can be accompanied with vomiting. Many doctors think morning sickness is a good sign because it means the placenta is developing well. Have no fear, there are several ways to help give you morning sickness relief. More to follow..

By Dr Masimba Mavaza | As Zimbabweans reflect on their growing affluence over the last four decades, it is timely to remember that bonus as an integral part of the remuneration system has contributed significantly to their good life.

Payment of bonus now permeates both the public and private sectors, and has even spread to domestic employment, as an incentive for promoting employee loyalty or efficiency. It represents a sizeable portion of many Zimbabwean’s annual pay package.

Bonus started as thank you and has now become mandatory yet it is just a gift.

From its lowly beginnings as an ex-gratia reward for services rendered, bonus became a crucial industrial relations issue after the Second World War, culminating in its absorption as an important component of Zimbabwe’s wage system. It has become a custom and now worker’s think bonus is a right. Thank you, but it is not a right. It’s simply a privilege. The way it is demanded one would believe that it is a right.

Some companies used to give Christmas hampers as bonus.

Without it, many of us will be unable to enjoy Christmas; own cars, properties, stocks and shares, or to indulge in holiday resorts, tertiary education for our children may also be beyond our reach. January disease will become January death.

What are the origins of our bonus payment system? Is it indigenous to Zimbabwe or did we import it from elsewhere and refine it to suit our changing needs and circumstances? It would appear, from various available sources, that it had its genesis in the UK and later spread overseas ironically the UK has since abolished the bonus system. It is counter productive especially in the present economic situation.

However, besides the UK, Chinese records show that, as an incentive payment, bonus came into usage during the Song Dynasty (960-1276 CE). It later became a common practice for employers to give bonus to their employees for their loyalty and industry.

When Zimbabwe gained independence the system of bonuses was inherited, now most sectors are run by the Chinese.

Unlike the European businessmen with superior financial resources, the Chinese traders had, perforce, to embark on modest ventures because of lack of capital. The Chinese are then engaged mainly in the sundry goods business or the planting of pepper and selling. Those who hire workers paid them pittance compared to European employers.

Through sheer hard work and thrift, the Chinese employer’s business grew in scope and profitability over time and the profits are channelled to China at our expense. When this is done there is no ploughing back of profits and the workers won’t get their bonuses. The most painful thing is tax is evaded and the country suffers more. It should be quickly noted that not all Chinese business  persons are tax evaders.

To cater for future expansion, the Chinese needed cheap and familiar labour whom they could easily abuse and control.The answer lay in recruiting them from the unemployed populace of Zimbabwe.

This brought into being a flagrant chaos in the labour market and in most cases the authorities turn a blind eye.

In this confused labour system the bonuses are becoming things of the past.

The more humane Chinese employers began to realise that it would be in their long-term interest to treat their workers better. They therefore offered a traditional bonus payment, as an incentive. This would normally be given after the close of business accounts on Christmas Eve, provided the trading results justified it.

While bonus payment is a common practice among Chinese employers and emulated by European and other employers here in Zimbabwe paying of bonus becomes difficult.

The unfair labour practices perpetrated by unscrupulous employers continued unabated until adverse public opinion forced the Government to implement the existing labour laws.
The great depression of the 2008 brought gloom to the Zimbabwean economy. Wage reductions and mass retrenchments ensued, and discretionary bonuses were discontinued. After the slump was over, the Zimbabwean workers regained lost benefits, including bonuses but this proved to be an economic suicide. Pleasing the electorate at the expense of economy was not a very good idea.

There should be a tribute to the diligence, thrift and strength of character of Zimbabwean workers that, despite adversity, many rose above their humble antecedents and built up vast business enterprises which became the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy.

The emergence of militant trade unionism caused employer’s discretion to be gradually eroded as workers sought a fair share of the profits which their efforts had made possible.

The sanctions wrought havoc on the Zimbabwe economy, which was plagued by serious problems of high unemployment, rampant inflation and ballooning of prices for essential foodstuffs like rice.

Bonus payments were staggered until employers could absorb such abnormal wage disappearance.

Wages became the most crucial industrial relations issue.uncertainty and fluctuating dates of payment became the norm

The Discovery of diamonds brought with it an unexpected economic bonanza to Zimbabwe due to unparalleled world demand for Diamonds with attendant sharp price rises. This benefited all sectors of economy, particularly the mining industry. Generous bonuses, ranging from six months’ to one year’s salary, were commonly granted to employees as great fortunes were being made by some employers until corruption invaded the Diamonds.
To combat the deteriorating industrial relations climate, it enacted the landmark labour legislation to regulate working hours and other essential employment terms.

Notwithstanding these measures, industrial relations continued to worsen. Having made inroads on the wages front, unions now demanded that bonus be negotiable.Some employers gave in to union pressures, with serious implications for them later. Workers’ strikes and other forms of work stoppages were rampant. Because bonuses were taken from nowhere industries busted.

Much had been achieved by trade unions on bonus. Collective Agreements between employers and unions would commonly have a mandatory bonus clause. Consequently, there was hardly an employee, in the public sector, who would work without bonus. It had become part of the wage structure.

To offset this, and to encourage more foreign investments the Government, with the active cooperation of employers and trade unions, enacted the Employment Act. Together with amendments to the Industrial Relations Act, they streamlined statutory employment terms and ridding Zimbabwe of restrictive labour practices which had hitherto harmed its economic interests.

To reduce employers’ operating costs, the law must limit bonus claims to not more than half a month’s wages. Employers already paying higher amounts would have the quantum frozen at that level. Bonuses should reflect the progress of the economy.

By taking the above measures, coupled with pragmatic economic planning, foreign investments will pour into The country. If bonuses are cut or limited economic boom will result leading to double-digit growth. By the end of 2019 the Government’s farsighted economic policy will succeeded, as Zimbabwe will begin to enjoy near-full employment. Bonuses are as good as ghost payment. Stretching a year by one month is an economic disaster. It is a painful decision but a fruitful one.

In recognition of workers’ cooperation and sacrifices, which had helped make the economic miracle possible, government must appeal to employers, who had done exceptionally well, to consider making ex-gratia payments to their employees over and above the statutory bonus ceiling if there is Nonetheless, the more enlightened among them will respond positively to the appeal.

Employers’ organisations must appeal for scrapping the bonus system and replacing it with wage reforms that would compensate such loss. Not surprisingly, bonus is a burning national issue, with the whole community debating its merits and demerits.it should be noted that.

To emulate the private sector remuneration practice, the Government around introduced the 13th month bonus payment to all levels of public servants in order to bridge the income gap of private and public sectors employees and to make the public service careers more attractive to those on their payroll. As a further incentive,this payment was later further enhanced to be closer to the private sector practice. Unfortunately our economy can not stand such luxury anymore.

The recession brought about the need for wage reforms. The government introduced a flexible salary System which has no fixed date components.

The original purpose of bonus, as an incentive award, had, over time, become firmly entrenched as a feature of the Republic’s wage structure in both the private and public sectors.

What about the Public sector personnel? If economic growth justifies it, the lower ranked public servants can expect to receive two and a half to three months’ variable bonus payment. In addition to the above bonus, senior public servants can reasonably expect a quantum of about six to ten month’s performance pay reward, while the very top echelon of them, like Cabinet Ministers, up to fourteen months’ pay.

Nowadays collective bargaining is usually conducted in a much more friendly and rational way, free from the acrimonious atmosphere of the more antagonistic past era. Major terms of employment, like salaries and bonuses, are usually resolved with give and take on both sides in the overriding national interest.

What will happen to Zimbabwe’s bonus system in the coming years my common sense tells me that it is definitely here to stay. It has become, and will continue to be, an inalienable part of our remuneration system for salaried persons. New forms of bonus payments will no doubt evolve in response to changing economic trends and the national fortunes of a more competitive Zimbabwe.

Disadvantages of Bonuses;

Unrealistic Expectations

While employee bonuses can encourage productivity, they can also bring certain disadvantages to a company and its workers. One potential drawback of offering the bonuses is that they can create unrealistic expectations among employees. For example, if a small business gives substantial bonuses one year because profits were high, but has poor profits the next year, employees might expect bonuses again even if the company doesn’t have the money to pay bonuses. Employees who receive bonuses one year and nothing the next year may feel disappointed, which can hurt morale. They end up thinking that bonus is a right and will cause unnecessary industrial actions for a privilege.

Employee Competition

Another potential disadvantage of employee bonuses is that they can foster competition between employees rather than collaboration. For instance, if a small business offers bonuses based on hours worked during the year, employees may be less willing to share work with one another. This can lead to inefficiencies, such as certain employees taking on too much work while others have too little, or employees performing tasks outside of their areas of expertise.

Attracting Talent

While bonuses can provide a way to reward top-performing employees, employees often focus on annual salaries and benefits when looking for new jobs. A company might be more successful in attracting top talent by offering higher base salaries, wages or other guaranteed benefits than by reserving money for extra incentives like bonuses. Bonuses are like icing on a cake: they can be nice to have, but salaries and benefits are the real substance of employee compensation.

Taxation of Bonuses

Another disadvantage of bonus compensation is that bonuses are subject to special tax withholding requirements that can significantly reduce the amount of money employees actually receive at the time bonuses are paid. According to the IRS, bonus pay is often subject to 25-percent tax withholding, and that may be as high as 35 percent for those with high incomes.

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CHIEF Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku was a few months ago forced by the Ministry of Justice – overseen by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa – to go on early retirement ahead of his departure next month in a bid to manouevre Judge President George Chiweshe to replace him before President Robert Mugabe intervened to bring him back to preside over the process of selecting his successor.

This revelation brings a new dimension to the twists and turns characterising the race to select a new chief justice (CJ), amid a fierce Zanu-PF factional battle to influence and determine the outcome of the process.

Mnangagwa’s faction wants Chiweshe to succeed Chidyausiku, while the G40 faction is backing Judicial Service Commission (JSC) secretary Rita Makarau.

Information obtained by the Zimbabwe Independent shows that Chidyausiku, who turns 70 on March 1, was last August pressured by the Justice ministry to retire without President Robert Mugabe’s knowledge after being told the “executive” had decided he should go early before his official retirement next month.

Chidyausiku, whose pending retirement is on February 28, was written a letter telling him to go and an impression was created that Mugabe had consented to his early retirement. He was then paid money in lieu of his remaining months and also got his pension before being stampeded out of office to allow Chiweshe to become acting CJ ahead of Deputy CJ Luke Malaba.

Sources said the move was calculated at allowing Chiweshe to position himself to become CJ and also to allow him to take charge of the CJ succession process.
A Justice ministry source said in a letter: “The VP thanked him around September for the good work he had done to the system and advised him that he would be paid US$171 000 in cash in lieu of his remaining months.”

Regarding the interview process for selecting a new CJ, it is understood the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, wrote to Chidyausiku advising him that the executive had issued a directive opposing the process.

“In his response, the CJ made it clear that stopping the process, which was driven by the JSC was ultra vires the constitution. In the same response, he said he wanted to seek audience with the president to advise him on the potential constitutional violations if the JSC process was aborted. This position was not communicated to the president.”

Chiweshe’s appointment was fast-tracked despite Section 181(1) of the constitution which states that “if the office of Chief Justice is vacant or if the office holder is unable to perform the functions of the office, the Deputy Chief Justice acts in his or her place, but if both offices are unable to perform their functions, the next most senior judge of the Constitutional Court acts as Chief Justice”.

Chidyausiku, who is seen by some in Zanu-PF and government as a stumbling block to Mnangagwa’s succession ambitions, left under intense pressure and slipped away for about two months until he met Mugabe, by chance, at the former Midlands governor Cephas Msipa’s funeral in Gweru last October.

“Chidyausiku, during a chat with the president, said that he was no longer at work and was made to retire early, a directive he was made to understand was made by the executive. Mugabe was shocked as he said he had no knowledge that he had retired and told Chidyausiku to return to work,” said the source.

“This is when the CJ went back to the JSC and took over the interviews. Adverts announcing that the JSC would soon be conducting interviews for the soon-to-be-vacant post were placed in the media. – The Independent

Hon. Jessie Majome |Dear Harare Westerners,
In the pouring rain of Saturday 14 January I was woken up at 7am by a buzz at my gate from 3 women with a disturbing and painful story to tell. The youngest at 18 years old is the one whose ripped out hair is in the pictures. I will call her X. X’s mother and neighbour accompanied her.

After I made them tea they told me the following heart rending story:
On 24 December 2016 X was brutally assaulted whilst being indecently exposed in a street in broad daylight by an 18 year old male neighbour over petty gossip, while a fellow youth was capturing it all on candid camera. The disturbing video has since gone viral on social media. I had had no idea that the setting was right here in Harare West!

X’s braided hair extensions and hair were painfully ripped out along the sides and back of her head. Apart from being kicked savagely in the face and tummy, in fact all over she suffered a bruised black eye and leg which was still swollen when I saw her. She was still in pain and was being ridiculed by fellow students at a private college she goes to.

Maddeningly enough, after reporting the brutal assault to the local police station X’s mother was ill-advisedly emotionally blackmailed by the assailant’s mother into withdrawing X’s serious assault criminal complaint in exchange for a promise of payment for her medical bills, phone repair costs and replacement of the $100 that disappeared to the assailant during the melee.

The local police then charged the assailant with a simple assault whose guilt he admitted and walked away from after paying a $20 fine.

I decided to intervene, took them to the police who I eventually persuaded to reopen the case and investigate the serious assault, criminal injuria, malicious damage to property and robbery. I hope that law is now taking its proper course. I also volunteered my personal legal services for X to claim damages for the assault.

The assailant’s mother didn’t live up to her promises and X had still not accessed either a full medical exam or treatment which should not in the 1st place have been traded for justice.

I also wish the police would have protected in the victim friendly unit, this vulnerable witness X from intimidation as some of it was happening at their very police station!

As my 3 priorities in this Parliamentary term are gender based violence, local government service delivery and constitutional implementation I just had to intervene. I only left the police station at noon, my Saturday plans gone, but for a worthy cause. That’s a day in the life of an MP who has no office and never visits the constituency but rather, lives there.

Thanks to the anonymous Harare Westerner who directed these Harare Westerners to my gate.

We must have zero tolerance to gender based violence in Harare West and elsewhere. Let justice be done, though the heavens may fall!

Your MP

Jessie Fungayi Majome

THE legal dispute over the botched purchase of a US$1,35 million diamond ring between the First Lady Grace Mugabe and Lebanese businessman Jamal Ahmed, has opened a can of worms amid revelations that the Mugabes are paying up to US$500 000 annually in rentals for an upmarket villa in Emirates Hills, Dubai.

The rentals translate to US$42 000 per month, enough to buy two houses in some of Harare’s high-density suburbs monthly.

This is contained in Jamal’s High Court affidavit filed through his lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa on Wednesday in response to Grace’s deposition.

In the affidavit, Ahmed claims that the Mugabe family have a bank account in Dubai as they rent a 10-bedroomed villa whose address is J11 Emirates Hill.

Ahmed dragged Grace (second respondent), her son Russell Goreraza (first respondent) and her security aide Kennedy Fero (third respondent) to court after they allegedly occupied his three houses over the diamond ring dispute.

The dispute arose after Grace placed an order for a US$1,35 million diamond ring in Dubai through Thatchfree Investments (Pvt) Ltd, a company owned by Ahmed. The expensive ring was meant to be President Robert Mugabe’s wedding anniversary gift to his wife. Last year was their 20th anniversary.

The order was placed in April 2015 while Grace transferred the funds in May 2016. According to Ahmed, the ring was tendered to Grace in Dubai, but “surprisingly, the second respondent then refused to take delivery of the diamond and instead demanded a full refund in Dubai”.

The Lebanese businessman alleges that Grace unleashed a “reign of terror and harassment where I was verbally threatened, harassed, insulted and told that I could not do anything to them as they are in fact ‘Zimbabwe’”.

In her opposing affidavit, Grace denied that she wanted a wire transfer while in Dubai, arguing she does not hold a foreign bank account.

However, Ahmed said it is not possible for Grace not to hold a bank account in Dubai where she rents a villa which requires that monthly rentals be paid through a bank.

“Whether or not the second respondent has accounts outside Zimbabwe does not mean she did not ask for a refund in Dubai,” he said.

“The second respondent’s family rents a 10-bedroomed villa at the Emirates Hills in Dubai and the address of the villa is J11. I am able to say that this is an exclusive and upmarket area where annual rentals are around US$500 000.

“If the respondent has no accounts outside the country, how does her family pay the rent for this villa which is mainly occupied by her son who lives there? And, of course, there are the living expenses which cannot be low given the affluence of the area.”

Emirates Hill is a luxurious gated community frequented by the rich and famous.

According to property website Luxhabitat, Emirates Hills was “developed as an answer to America’s famous Beverley Hills” although, “Dubai’s Emirates Hills arguably does it better”.

“This ultra exclusive, ultra private neighbourhood boasts huge mansion-like villas, each unique in layout and design. Enveloped in lush, tasteful landscaping, many properties enjoy views over the famous 18-hole Montgomerie Championship Golf Course as well as wide, sparkling lakes. There is no doubt that to buy a luxury property here is to buy a genuine piece of the Dubai dream,” the website says.

In her opposing affidavit, Grace describes Ahmed as a criminal and claims that the occupation of his properties is part of a police investigation of the Lebanese businessman.

Fero, who is also a police superintendent attached to the Police Protection Unit and Superintendent Nyambo Viera, of the Criminal Investigations Department’s law and order section, deposed affidavits to the effect that Ahmed’s properties were occupied by the police as part of an investigation.

However, the Lebanese businessman questioned why Grace’s security had allowed him to do business with her if he was a criminal.

“With all the security around her, why would 2nd respondent have dealt with me if I was of bad character? Is she saying that Zimbabwean security is so bad that it would have allowed the First Family to have tea with family members of a fraudster and to buy a diamond from the very same fraudster?” he asked.

Ahmed further charged that the First Lady had approached the courts “with dirty hands” as she had violated a High Court order issued by Justice Clement Phiri on December 22 ordering the respondents to vacate his premises.

He said Fero, who led the unlawful occupation of the properties and displacement of his workers on behalf of the First Lady, was guilty of contempt of court and has “deliberately raised the middle finger to the court”.

“From the certificates of services filed of record, the provisional order was served at the three addresses on the 22nd of December 2016,” Ahmed said.

“Respondents’ agents ought to have vacated the premises forthwith and in any event, within 24 hours of service. There can be no doubt, therefore, that the respondents have come to court with dirty hands. As a senior policeman, he is aware that there is no law which allows the occupation of private premises without any form of due process,” Ahmed pointed out.

He added: “He is equally aware that there is no law which allows the eviction of people, even squatters, without any form of due process.”

Ahmed argued that he was not in the country unlawfully as alleged by Grace, saying his properties were lawfully acquired, some through mortgage finance which would not have been possible had there been any law barring these acquisitions.

He said he heard from Grace for the first time that his immigration status was under question, querying how government departments would go to the First Lady talking about the status of private people.

The Lebanese businessman said it appeared Grace “is completely ignorant of court procedures, particularly where someone has taken the law into their own hands”.

In the affidavit, Ahmed pointed out that Grace had altered the terms under which she will be refunded the money she paid for the ring.

“The terms and conditions of the agreement indicated that second respondent (Grace) would cause her agents occupying the properties vacating them upon payment of the first installment of US$150 000. At no time did the second respondent query those terms. Instead, the counter proposal at a later stage was that I pay US$650 000 as the first instalment and the balance as the second instalment.”

He also questioned the method through which he was supposed to repay the money which involves CBZ Bank and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

The Lebanese businessman queried a directive made by Menard Moyo of the CBZ on behalf of Grace. Grace insisted that Ahmed pay the money into an RBZ account held at CBZ. He questioned the role of the central bank in the payment arrangements.

“I note that Mr Moyo has not stated from which account the payment was made from and I will require that he produces documentary proof that this was second respondent’s account,” Ahmed revealed. “I say this because when the issue of reimbursement came up, Mr Moyo directed that I make deposits into an account that RBZ holds with CBZ. I am curious to know why the refund would have been to an RBZ account as RBZ, to my knowledge, does not hold individual accounts.”

He said Moyo started “bombarding” him with refund requests even before the delivery date of the diamond.

Ahmed repeatedly said Grace’s conduct was unbefitting of her status as a holder of a PhD.

“What boggles the mind is that someone who claims to have a PhD can have a faulty thought process,” Ahmed said, referring to Grace’s arguments in her opposing affidavit. – Independent

 Terrence Mawawa, Bikita |As the political temperature continues to soar in the Bikita West Constituency, Zanu PF National Political Commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere has ordered traditional leaders to campaign for the ruling party ahead of the Saturday by-election.

Kasukuwere summoned at least 17 traditional leaders to a secret meeting held at Chaka Lodge on Wednesday.The meeting was held for more than four hours and members of the dreaded spy organisation, CIO were also in attendance.

Kasukuwere confronted traditional leaders over their reluctance to campaign for Zanu PF ahead of the by-election.He threatened to strip wayward traditional leaders of their titles. The traditional leaders were also forced to collect ruling party t-shirts. The Constitution of Zimbabwe clearly spells out traditional leaders are expected to execute their duties in an objective manner and they are not allowed to reflect allegiance to political parties.

A party member who attended the Chaka Lodge meeting said Kasukuwere said traditional were appointed by the ruling party and they had an obligation to defend the party at all costs.

“Kasukuwere and senior CIO officers who addressed the meeting did not mince their words.They said every traditional leader in the area must campaign for our candidate Beauty Chabaya.Those who fail to abide by the instruction will be fired,”said the Zanu PF official who declined to be named.

The official added:”Five traditional leaders will be called to the CIO officers so that they can clarify their positions.The five traditional leaders have been deeply reluctant to campaign for Zanu PF.” Six candidates-Chabaya of Zanu PF, Zim People First’s Kudakwashe Gopo,Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe(PDZ)’s Terrence Tanyaradzwa Makumbo,Maddock Chivasa(NCA),Heya Shoko and Innocent Muzvimbiri -both independent candidates will battle it out in the Bikita West by-election scheduled for Saturday.

 Terrence Mawawa Bikita | A daring headman stunned mourners at a funeral here last week when he barred Zanu PF officials from chanting the ruling party slogan.

Headman Mpakwa, who has already been summoned to a hearing at the Central Intelligence Organisation offices in Bikita, shocked mourners when he stood up and denounced the chanting of the Zanu PF slogan during proceedings at his mother’s burial. There was drama when a Zanu PF Central Committee member identified as Murire was interrupted by Headman Mpakwa while chanting the ruling party maxim.

“Zanu PF was irritated by what happened at the burial of Headman Mpakwa’s mother.The headman openly denounced Zanu PF so he has a case to answer,”said a Zanu PF official.

Headman Mupakwa has also boycotted several Zanu PF meetings and has expressed interest in joining Zim PF, it has emerged. “Headman Mupakwa has openly refused to attend Zanu PF meetings and he has been campaigning for Zim PF. To make matters worse, he thanked the Zim People First candidate Kudakwashe Gopo in his closing remarks at the funeral,”added the party official. Party sources have also claimed Headman Mpakwa has been asked to compile a report by the Bikita District Administrator. Although Headman Mpakwa could not be reached for a comment,sources said he was among the traditional leaders who collected the Zanu PF regalia after being threatened by Zanu PF National Commissar Savior Kasukuwere. Opposition parties accuse traditional leaders of denying food aid to known anti-Zanu PF elements.

POLICE have finally embraced plastic money transactions by introducing Point of Sale machines at selected police stations countrywide for payment of fines for traffic and other offences while the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) has also resolved to have the machines at tollgates across the country.

The move comes following calls by the public for the police and tollgates to have Point of Sale machines in the wake of cash shortages.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the installation of Point of Sale machines at selected police stations countrywide was a pilot project to help motorists.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police, in line with embracing plastic money and in response to calls by the public, has launched a pilot project by introducing Point of Sale machines (swipe machines) at some Traffic and Duty uniform branch stations around the country,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

The POS machines have been introduced at 37 police stations countrywide among them three stations in Bulawayo: Bulawayo Central, Nkulumane police station as well as Bulawayo West Traffic Police Station.

“Members of the public who are admitting to the offences are free to use this facility for their convenience. More swipe machines will be introduced with time,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

Meanwhile, motorists can now swipe to pay tollgate fees at Point of Sale (POS) machines at tollgates across the country.

In an interview on the sidelines of the road authorities meeting in Gweru yesterday, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Joram Gumbo, said Zinara had resolved to have the machines at tollgates across the country.

He said as of yesterday, there were only four tollgates with POS machines.

“The POS machines are not readily available from the banks that are supposed to provide those machines. At the moment we have POS machines at Skyline after Harare, one here in Gweru, one in Bulawayo and another one as you go to Bindura. So we now have four tollgates where we have the machines,” Dr Gumbo said.

“The applications are there but the providers are failing to provide. It’s a must that motorists swipe as it is an international trend but the problem is not with Zinara but with the banks that supply the machines.”

Zimbabwe has 26 tollgates on its roads.

The country has been facing cash shortages, a development that has seen some financial institutions limiting withdrawals.

At the beginning of the cash crisis, the Government directed all public institutions, including parastatals and local authorities, to install electronic Point of Sale Terminals. – State Media