MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai is dashing into Matabeleland for session-teasers on his coalition plot for the 2018 elections. Below is the official announcement: 

President Morgan Tsvangirai this week kicks off a national programme where he will go out to all the country’s provinces to interact as well as hear from the people themselves their views on a range of issues, among them the key issue of alliance building ahead of the next election.

He kicks off his national tour in Matabeleland South this Friday before proceeding to Matabeleland North, Bulawayo, Midlands, Masvingo and the rest of the provinces. This is a highly interactive tour where he shall be meeting ordinary people, party structures as well as opinion leaders in the country provinces  to hear them out on the crisis facing the country as well as other national issues, alliance building being  key among them.

President Tsvangirai, whom the party has given the responsibility of leading this process of working other political parties ahead of 2018, believes in the mass line and that every party action on this matter must be guided by the views and the direct input from the ordinary people.

The party through the national council, the supreme decision-making body between Congresses, has already adopted the principles for alliance building. The President’s interactive programmes are meant to further enrich the alliance building process so that the leadership proceeds and is informed by the people’s views and input.

President Tsvangirai values people’s participation and input on all important matters and is urging those who can attend the provincial engagement programmes to do so. Zimbabweans can also write in or send in their views to the party through our various social media platforms.

President Tsvangirai wants this all-important process of alliance building to be enriched and enhanced by direct people participation.

Let’s engage.

Luke Tamborinyoka

By Oluhle Sibanda |Since time immemorial beads have played an amazing role as a beauty accessory in the lives of African women. Beads made in various forms have always been used by African women to accentuate their beauty, giving them unique features compared to women from other continents.

However, researchers say the culture of adorning the waist with beads probably began in ancient Egypt where they were called “girdles” and were worn by women as a status symbol.

In West Africa, it is understood that the tradition was made popular by the Yorubas who wore beads for various reasons.

It might be for a good reason though it looks unusual. It might be fulfilling to their wishes, as many Zimbabwean girls are seen openly adorning these.

An elderly woman MaDlamini said; “there is more to it, it might be used as a vodoo/ juju to lure men cause I had a maid who had those. When I accidentally saw them she said she was given by her grandmother and it’s for luck with men.”

Really! Ladies can you keep such a helper in your house working around your husband? One can suggest that it is used in commercial sex work to lure men.

Could this waist belt have some spiritual supremacy? What does Christianity say about it if ever? There is bound to be reservations from the Christian community concerning the use of beads as these are associated with the other forms of spirituality, meaning not many Christian women will accept wearing these.

One male friend of mine said women go to traditional healers and sangomas to get these beads, warning men to beware of such women because they use their waist beads as a sex trap.

Are they for health reasons?

Growing up, many African girls were told tales of women who laced beads with charms and fragrances that made them irresistible to the opposite sex.

Certain in Zimbabwean communities women were famous for their charmed waist beads. In particular in Zimbabwe the Tonga and the Tshangani women are popular for their brazen use of beads in their daily lives. These charms are believed to possess the powers to entice and entrap the opposite sex and even improve their sexual prowess, according to other researchers.

This attribute no doubt contributes primarily to the negativity associated with waist beads.

The most popular perception of waist beads is its sex appeal. It is said that wives often lured their husbands with the rattle of beads or use them to communicate their fertility at certain times of the month.

Sexy is sexier when there’s a lot for the mind to imagine.This practice though now less popular, is perceived to be a major reason some women wear them.

Culture and Beauty

Research in Ghana indicates that it is regarded as the Bead Production Capital of the World perhaps because of the cultural relevance of beads to her people.

Like other west African countries, women have held a long fascination with beads, as symbolic and cultural ornaments of womanhood, sexuality, fertility, spirituality and wealth.

Traditionally, a set of beads for the wrists, neck, ankles, arms and waist formed part of culturally accepted feminine beauty and adornment for the African society.

Let’s suppose it’s for cultural purposes , closely look at the girl in question dressing and the way she displayed her waist beads. Really!

In West Africa, the tradition became such that a lady wears multiple strings of beads around her waist; and the only person allowed to remove them was her husband on her wedding night.Then wedding ceremonies used to be more symbolic than it is now, according to the magazine Nairaland.

The Yorubas particularly, would ask the couple to consummate their marriage on a bed laid with white clothing and show a blood stained fabric as proof that the lady was a virgin.

A stainless white cloth comes with a deluge of shame not only for the lady but her entire family.In other culture, the beads were adorned with bells, which was a signal to let a partner know that the woman was clean- meaning she is at the proper stage where sexual intercourse is allowed.

It’s only now that waist beads are becoming visible. They used to be considered as underwear exclusively worn under garments in Africa.

Staff Reporter |  The country is expected to receive heavy rains this week with a possibility of flooding in some areas, the Meteorological Services Department has warned.

The weather organisation has since advised responsible authorities to be high on alert as many people might need assistance.

The Civil Protection Unit has also warned of possible landslides in hilly slopes in susceptible areas. Farmers are likely to suffer heavy leaching and damage to their crop as a result of flooding and heavy downpours. Below are pics of some floods; 

A 20-year-old Harare housemaid allegedly forced her employee’s son (14) to have sexual intercourse with her after threatening to report him to the police for raping her and threatening his family’s life.

Chukura appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing charges of aggravated indecent assault.

She was remanded in custody to January 30 and advised to make a bail application at the High Court.

Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that on December 21 at around 9pm, Chukura went into the complainant’s bedroom and told him that she wanted to teach him how to have sex.

It is alleged that Chukura advanced at the teenager and started kissing him.

It is the State’s case that the complainant told Chukura that he was not interested in having sex with her and ordered her to stop kissing him.

The court heard that Chukura verbally threatened the complainant that she would burn her mother who was her employer, mutilate his six-month-old sister and report him to the police that he had raped her.

It is alleged that the complainant got frightened and opted to give in to her demands resulting in Chukura having sexual intercourse with him without his consent.

It is the State’s case that the complainant finally got the courage to tell Chukura to stop and she stopped.

The complainant did not reveal the matter to anyone.

The matter came to light on January 11 when the complainant’s mother was informed by one of her neighbours that Chukura and the complainant act weird when they are together, the court heard.

The court heard that the complainant was interviewed by his mother and told her what happened. – State Media

ZANU PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere has vented his anger at top scribes at the State-controlled Herald newspaper, accusing them of fanning factionalism instead of supporting “the [ruling] party and leadership”.

In a tweet directed at the Herald, Kasukuwere, who is believed to be a member of the Zanu PF G40 faction, said on Sunday: “@Herald Zimbabwe, editorial team has to change. You defend [businessman, Energy] Mutodi at the expense of the party and leadership. In your view he was correct?”

Mutodi, who is a fierce backer of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Lacoste faction, recently caused a storm after he called on President Robert Mugabe to quit and leave his deputy — Mnangagwa — to take over.

Mutodi’s statements, which came after Mnangagwa hosted Zanu PF “renegades” and suspended party officials at a New Year’s party at his rural home in Zvishavane, were interpreted as having the Vice-President’s backing.

Kasukuwere’s tweet appears to be a direct response to an opinion published in The Herald on Saturday, which insinuated that some politicians were up against the paper for its reportage.

“Someone clearly sees a stumbling block in the ‘State media’ and has been heard many times whining about it and even calling for a change of guard at our newspaper stables,” read the opinion, authored by an anonymous columnist.

After the post, some of Kasukuwere’s followers attacked him for suggesting that the State media — which should be impartial — should support a particular political party.

Opposition politicians have always accused the State media of being the mouthpiece of Zanu PF, used for the party’s propaganda. – Newsday

Ray Nkosi |Reports just in from Nyathi in Bubi District Matabeleland North indicate that a serious tribal war between Ndebele and Shona speaking people is escalating amidst claims that soldiers have been deployed into the area.

About ten people were recently injured following bloody attacks in the area.

Sources told ZimEye.com that the Shona speaking miners referred to as “AmaShurugwi” in the area yesterday woke up to face a huge reinforcement of fellow miners from other areas as far as Nkayi and Kwekwe to help their colleagues defend their mining territory.

So far over twenty people have been brutally injured in the fights between the local Ndebele villagers who are demanding that the Shona speaking illegal miners  leave the area.

Posts circulating on social media also indicate that a group of Ndebele speaking people in Bulawayo has been gathering people to go to the area to fight off the miners. In a post sent to ZimEye.com by sources, the group claims that so far it has managed to fill up ten minibuses and is ready to dispatch the regiment to Nyathi this evening.

Meanwhile, two truck loads of heavily armed soldiers are said to have descended into the area to try and bring peace in the area. Police in the area said to have failed to handle the volatile situation resulting in the call for army reinforcements.

No comment has yet been made by the local Member of Parliament nor the district administration offices.

Joylene Mtandwa | Reports from Gwanda indicate that police are on the hunt for persons who recorded a video of a teenage girl who was being forced to do laundry while naked by a wife who caught her in bed with her husband.

The nineteen year old girl who it has since emerged is a high school student appears in the videos recorded by several people, in tears as she is ordered by an angry woman, who does not appear in any of the videos, to wash the bed linen and clothing she had used while having sex with the woman’s husband.

Witnesses who spoke to ZimEye.com said that the girl arrived at the man’s house apparently being delivered by a “sister” who is a known “lady of the night” for an afternoon session with the man while the wife was away.

The wife acting on a tip off, returned home unexpectedly and found the two in bed with the girl in her birthday suit in her matrimonial bed. The husband is reported to have fled the scene living the girl at the mercy of the angry wife.

The wife stripped the girl naked and ordered her out of the house to wash the linen outside in the open resulting in neighbours and by passers stopping over to enjoy the “drama” and recorded videos of the girl doing the laundry naked.

Unprintable words are heard being said to the girl on the videos by both the wife and members of the public. Sources who claim to know the girl told ZimEye.com that the girl has since disappeared from the Gwanda community and her whereabouts have not yet be established.

Police in Gwanda would not confirm nor deny the incident saying that investigations are underway and if there are valid  facts enough to warrant the arrest of the culprits will be brought to book soon.

Human rights activists on social media he strongly condemned the dehumanizing reaction from the wife.

Ray Nkosi |The government backed cellular phone service provider Netone, has also increased its social media bundles charges following a similar move by competitor Econet Wireless last week.

The giant service provider this week changed its unlimited social media bundles to 80 megabytes data for a weekly bundle on popular social media facilities WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter much to the disappointment of users who were beginning to migrate from Econet to Netone.

Netone was beginning to be the people’s preferred data provider with its unlimited daily, weekly and monthly packages which were not being offered by rival Econet who nearly doubled their charges in the price rise frenzy two weeks ago.

Netone has also removed from its bundles packages combo bundles that offered varied offers of combined social media bundles that were favoured by the consumers.

The changes in the charges follow a Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority POTRAZ directive at the end of last year which suggested that the charges were too low leading to massive abuse of social media.

Information and Technology Minister Supa Mandiwanzira however reversed the price increase directive last week leaving consumers confused how Netone was proceeding with the price adjustments regardless of the Minister’s directive not to have any adjustments on the prices.

While Econet Wireless has issued a statement that it has since reversed the price adjustments, Netone has not yet given an official statement on the matter.

Staff Reporter| MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said his future is hanging on President Robert Mugabe’s life.

The MDC leader says his right to his Highlands mansion is limited to President Robert Mugabe’s life with whom he has a secret deal, SEE DIRECT WORDS BELOW.

Tsvangirai who has over the past years survived on the sole largess of President Robert Mugabe his boss during the Government of National Unity, is set for a bleak financial future after Mugabe dies.

Tsvangirai has defended his prolonged stay in the government owned Highlands mansion saying that only President Mugabe knows the deal and why he is still there.

When probed by journalists on earlier threats by Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere  to evict Tsvangirai from the  mansion in Highlands, he said: “I am not answerable to Saviour Kasukuwere. He doesn’t know anything about this house. He is just trying to make political hot air out of something that he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know that I have a house which has a contract and I advise him to talk to President Mugabe before he starts uttering something that he doesn’t know.”

To further compound Tsvangirai’s post Mugabe survival strategy, the former PM now also claims that a $70 000 handout from Mugabe was an entitlement, part of his pension benefit.

A weekly newspaper the Financial Gazette, however, pours cold water over Tsvangirai’s claims on many fundamental procedural issues to do especially with the right office that handles pensions.

Tsvangirai it is reported, is receiving benefits directly from Mugabe’s own pocket, that are not recognised in any stipulated Zimbabwean law, to make matters worse for the self proclaimed democrat, are not known even to parliament; meaning that Tsvangirai in the long term will be a victim of the lack of transparency in the handling of important financial matters.

THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has accused “some mobile network operators” of being double faced after they disowned a commonly agreed tariff increase, which has sparked a public outcry.

The telecommunications industry regulator recently gave operators the green light to hike data and voice tariffs to ensure profitability, but the move has met stiff resistance from consumers.

To exonerate themselves from the public fury, some of the operators distanced themselves from the collectively agreed tariff hike, and instead pointed the finger at Potraz.

The regulator’s accusations could be seen as largely directed at the country’s largest mobile network provider, Econet, which hastily hiked data tariffs, but later backtracked and blamed Potraz for the increase.

Potraz set floor prices for data and calls at two cents per megabyte and 12 cents per minute respectively.

The other two providers, Telecel and NetOne, were yet to review their charges amid reports that they were still engaging Potraz.

However, Government intervened on Thursday and suspended the new tariffs pending further consultations.

But on Friday Potraz absolved itself from initiating the new tariff structure, saying the service providers had met prior to the issuance of the directive and proposed even higher floor prices.

“As the sector regulator, we are concerned and disturbed by the conduct, double standards, negative utterances and refusal to take ownership of this decision by some mobile network operators,” Potraz said while announcing the termination of the new tariffs in line with the Government directive.

“It has become apparent to us that the service providers have decided not to own up to the fact that they engaged the regulator regarding declining revenues, which were, according to them, threatening industry viability and service roll out.”

Potraz added; “In its quest to ensure that consumers continue to enjoy quality telecommunication services and maintain the expansion drive towards universal access, Potraz positively received the plea by operators and eventually agreed to the introduction of a moderated floor price, which as envisaged by the authority, would ensure both sector viability and continuous service provision to consumers.”

Leaked minutes of a meeting between Potraz and Telecommunications Operators’ Association of Zimbabwe, show that Econet is said to have proposed a floor price of five cents per megabyte, but the regulator eventually set it at two cents. — New Ziana.

CONTROVERSIAL political activist Acie Lumumba’s claim to be in a relationship with Lerato Hlongwani, daughter to South African business tycoon, Fana Hlongwane, has been met with heated denial by the latter.

Lumumba last Thursday revealed to H-Metro that he was in love with Lerato and was ready to settle but she described the claim as “lies! False information.”

“Please , I am not dating Acie Lumumba ! Never have and Never will. He is, and in this case I guess it’s safe to say, was my friend,” fumed Lerato who said she is “very hurt and upset” by the story.

The controversial activist made the sensational claims moments after a Harare magistrate ruled that he be given back his passport but Lerato insists they were only friends and Lumumba’s claims have dragged her family name into unnecessary shame.

Lumumba’s passport was being held at the Harare Magistrates’ Clerk of Court as part of his bail condition in a matter in which he is being charged with undermining the authority of the President and soon after he got his passport he volunteered information about Lerato claiming she is his girlfriend.

After the interview, he went on to shower H-Metro with pictures of him and Lerato as proof that they were an item.

“I am now free to travel. I have been handed back my passport.

“My lover had been worried on whether I would travel to South Africa to see her.

“I have found love in another beautiful woman . . . Lerato Fana the daughter of South African businessman Fana Hlongwane,” he said.

However, a clearly agitated Lerato made it very clear to H-Metro that Lumumba’s claims are not only false but embarrassing to her and her family.

She insisted that the only relationship she had with Lumumba was friendship and suggested that even that friendship was over after the political activist, popular for leaking a sex tape, claimed to be her lover.

The year 2017 has opened with heavy discounts on air tickets, bordering on a fare war of sorts, to woo passengers back to flying.

Average fares have fallen by 50 percent as airlines cut prices to boost market share amid intensifying competition. The cuts come as budget airlines are reporting a rise in net profit.
Traditional airlines have vowed to take market share from rival airlines.

This aggressive discount scheme has seen the country’s largest airlines by market share slashing air fares by half to a number of destinations.

A return arirfare to Dubai now costs $520, to and back from London $880, Sydney $1050, Johannesburg $280, Cape Town $620, and Guangzhou $750, according to Fivebulls Travel Tours & Safaris.

This includes taxes or service fees but are subject to availability. The move literally throws down the gauntlet to budget airline rivals by traditional airline.“This is a normal practice in line with demand,” a spokesperson for Fivebulls Travel Tours & Safaris said.

The move to slash fares by almost half, has seen all airlines follow this pricing strategy, the spokesperson said.

February to April is generally considered a lean period for the domestic travel industry.
An airline executive told the Daily News that the scheme is to sell excess inventory that airlines are sitting on, coming from the holiday season.
Fares will be back to normal soon, he said.

“Airlines are trying to fill up inventory especially for March and April, which is when peak summer travel begins, so that they can plan revenue management better,” he said.

Currently, almost 20 airlines are flying into Zimbabwe from a peak of 48 in 1999 and there are efforts to lure more and grow the tourism sector that has the potential of earning $5 billion annually by 2020. daily news

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has deployed his special envoy to President Mugabe to introduce his country’s candidate for the post of Commissioner for Peace and Security in the African Union Commission.

MORE than 10 people have been hospitalised following a bloody attack by illegal gold panners in Inyathi, Bubi District.

The victims were rushed to Inyathi District Hospital while one was transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo after being attacked by omakorokoza with machetes, knives and stones.

It is believed that the gold panners were searching for a rival gang when they ended up indiscriminately attacking people at a bar.

The incident occurred at Senco Night Club, Mahamba Business Centre at about 11PM on Friday.

Running battles have been reported in the area allegedly over occupancy of mining claims, most of which have been abandoned.

The Chronicle visited one of those who were attacked, Mr Martin Khabo — a soldier on leave — at Mpilo Central Hospital yesterday and he narrated his ordeal.

Mr Khabo said he passed out after being attacked by a machete and stones.

He said more than 10 people were taken to Inyathi District Hospital with some injuries and he was caught up in a crossfire as he was not involved in mining activities.

“I had gone to the business centre to spend some time with friends as usual. We went to Sencor Night Club and at about 11PM, I decided to go home. As I was going out I was shocked to see scores of people stampeding back into the night club.

“I saw a group of men carrying machetes and knives. Before I knew it, I was attacked with a machete on the back of my head and several other people were also attacked. There was chaos as people screamed and tried to run away,” said Mr Khabo.

He said he tried to escape but was attacked with a stone on the head and he fell unconscious.

Bubi Small-Scale Miners’ Association secretary general Mr Benjamin Ndlovu confirmed the incident.

“I received the information yesterday and I was disturbed. Illegal gold miners from other areas have swamped the mining area and this has created fierce feuds.

“The local leadership, including security forces, political and traditional leaders should tackle this issue as a matter of urgency and bring it to an end,” said Mr Ndlovu.

Ward 11 Councillor Siwela Siwela said the incident occurred when he was away and was yet to get reasons behind the attack.

Acting Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Eglon Nkala could not immediately comment on the matter. – State Media

Terrence Mawawa, Bikita |Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa shocked local villagers recently when he warned that anti-Zanu PF elements should be dealt with in a ruthless manner.

Addressing party supporters at a rally held at Gwindingwi High School ahead of the Bikita West by-election, Mnangagwa instructed traditional leaders to compile lists of people who do not support the ruling party. The Vice President has been accused of descending hard on opposition supporters, a claim he has denied. Recently Mnangagwa declined he played a leading role in the Gukurahundi atrocities.

The politician said Zanu PF would remain in power despite attempts by opposition and western forces to topple the revolutionary party. “Traditional leaders you know those who do not support Zanu PF in your respective areas, go and compile lists of such people so that they can be dealt with accordingly.We cannot let the opposition candidates win the seat.That will never happen,”said Mnangagwa.

He added:”We know that some of you support opposition parties.We know everything and do not regret when we identify you.” Mnangagwa who is said to be the leader of a faction called Team Lacoste in Zanu PF has been accused of dealing ruthlessly with his foes both in and out of the ruling party. Political analysts also view the Midlands godfather as President Robert Mugabe’s heir apparent.

By Staff Reporter| Dancehall sensation, Soul Jah Love was hospitalised in the UK for 3 whole days, ZimEye has been told.

Soul Musaka’s UK promoter, Donald Chinouya, Monday afternoon claimed the singer went into the hospital for a mere checkup. “He only went on the Tuesday, it was just the family’s concerns that he should go for a check up,” he said.

But it has emerged as ZimEye reveals, the singer was hospitalised for 3 days, raising suspicion that the man who Walter Magaya claimed he had healed, is not well at present after Magaya staged a camera act depriving the singer of his wheelchair. SEE VIDEOS:

War Veterans minister, Tshinga Dube, said the public spats among top government officials have shocked and confused him, as Zanu PF factionalism continues to play out in the open.

Dube’s remarks come as there is seemingly no love lost between Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo and President Robert Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba.

“That’s a million dollar question my friend that I cannot answer or comment on until I talk to those two people,” Dube said.

“I thought I understood how Zanu PF worked, but this has confused me.”

Dube’s remarks came after Charamba savaged Moyo in a column he reportedly writes under the pseudonym, Nathaniel Manheru in State-controlled media. Moyo also gave as much as he got, describing Charamba as a “useful idiot”, a jibe he has used before.

Charamba seemed to be doing Vice-President Mnangagwa’s bidding, telling Moyo to stay out of succession debates.

Last year, Charamba warned that Mugabe was about to descend heavily on the G40 faction, saying the grouping was being given a long rope to hang itself.

This comes as critics are questioning whether Mugabe is still calling the shots or whether he has faith in his deputies.

The President is interspersing his annual holiday with official engagements and observers say this shows he has little faith in his deputies, Vice-Presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Mnangagwa, as he could have easily assigned them those duties and remained on holiday.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda, told NewsDay that in light of the circus that has consumed Zanu PF and government since the beginning of January, the former freedom fighters felt vindicated in their earlier call for Mugabe to step down.

“Mugabe is old and while he can be physically present, he is always mentally absent, he should not be allowed to run this country,” he said.

Matemadanda said the public fights were all being caused by Mugabe.

“We worked with Mugabe when he was young, he was a man who did not brook this nonsense, which is going on even after he warned members of his party not to abuse Twitter, he is the reason that his own Vice-Presidents are not even respected locally by his own ministers because he has lost touch,” he said.

“The people of Zimbabwe should wake up from this mirage and confront the real evil. They should go into the streets and demonstrate against massive corruption happening in Zanu PF. Moyo must go to court and face the music.”

MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said the President decided to go to Mali was clear testimony that he was the be all and end all in Zanu PF and government and he maintained a tight leash on all activities even in his absence.

“Robert Mugabe is Zanu PF and Zanu PF is Robert Mugabe. Sadly, in his scheme of things, Robert Mugabe is Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is Robert Mugabe. This is a one-man dictatorship,” he said.

“Mugabe is obsessed with political power as an end in itself.”

Gutu said Mnangagwa and Mphoko were only ceremonial figureheads with no real power to make any decisions or represent Mugabe at international level.

“His Vice-Presidents are merely ceremonial figureheads with no executive authority. The buck always starts and stops with Mugabe himself. When he is not in the country, Cabinet doesn’t sit and no major executive decision is made by any Cabinet minister. The man is a fully-fledged dictator. Mugabe will make the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un green with envy,” he said.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Jacob Mafume said Mugabe has totally lost power, as proven by the Nigerian movie script playing out in his government.

“To say Mugabe has power is a joke … It is now a full Nigerian movie, where government ministers talk about coffee mugs instead of hungry and jobless people,” he said.

Zimbabwe People First were quick to agree, saying the Mali trip vindicated former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s public pronouncements that only Mugabe knows what’s happening in his government.

“It is not surprising for a man, who believes that he alone is the man in Zimbabwe and that he has no confidence in both Mnangagwa and Mphoko,” party spokesman, Jealousy Mawarire said.

“This confirms that Zimbabwe is a dictatorship and it also puts away the idea of complicity they put on Mujuru, Mugabe alone knows what is happening and Mugabe alone is culpable for all the problems we are facing because he is a system.”

When Mugabe met Chinese President Xi Jinping, while on leave, Charamba said it would not have made sense to fly a deputy from Zimbabwe to China when Mugabe was already in that country. – Newsday

Outgoing Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku says President Robert Mugabe has the final say on who becomes the new chief justice.

He clarified the current debate on the appointment of his successor while speaking during the official opening of the 2017 legal year at Mashonganyika Building in Harare.

Chief justice Chidyausiku who was appointed in July 2001 replacing Justice Anthony Gubbay, is going on retirement at the end of next month (February) when he reaches the mandatory age of 70.
The official opening of a new legal year is important in the judicial calendar which allows the chief justice an opportunity to review key developments of the previous year.
Chief Justice Chidyausiku highlighted some of the achievements achieved during his tenure that included maintaining the independence of the judiciary, upholding the constitution and the rule of law, separating the administration of the courts from the government and improving gender equality in the judiciary sector.
He applauded the promulgation of the Judiciary Services Act in 2006, which helped set up an efficient administration system that monitored the performance of lower courts and brought about infrastructural development as 30 new Magistrate courts were constructed and others refurbished throughout the country.

He applauded development partners Danida, treasury and the Department of Public Works for supporting infrastructural development in the justice delivery sector.
Justice Chidyausiku, however, bemoaned lack of funding as a hindrance in their quest to improve justice delivery in the country.
He urged his successor to utilise available resources and cultivate fruitful relationships with funding partners. – State Media

OK Zimbabwe suffered a $70 000 hit in their finances after Isaiah Marange, a 33 year old man from Chitungwiza hacked into OK’s Money Wave system.

According to the state media, Marange signed up and opened a Money Wave account making an initial deposit of $5 under the name Kundai Liberty Musamba.

On 26 December 2016 he then allegedly hacked into the system and credited $35 000 to his account claiming to have made the transaction at OK Queensdale till number 5.

Marange went on to credit an additional $35 000 and was joined by some accomplices that he went with on a spending spree swiping at a number of wholesale stores that include National Foods and National Tyre Services.

In some instances Marange is alleged to have looked for customers in these stores with cash and asked to swipe for them and get the hard cash in return.

The issue came to light for OK Zimbabwe after their Queensdale branch received bank statements from CABS that did not tally with the branch’s reconciliation statements.

The issue has since been taken to court and Marange was remanded last Friday until February 14 2017 on $300 bail.

Ok Zimbabwe has since failed to recover any of the money they were swindled. How exactly he performed the crime is still a mystery but this highlights how weak cyber security is in Zimbabwe. – Fingaz

In Zimbabwe male stri_ppers are no longer just being used to send off a bride — well-heeled women now simply gather, even just a few of them, and hire a man or two to dance and strip for them. Unlike female stri_ppers, who can be anything from pot-bellied to being a “proud plus size” woman — when it comes to male strippers, the rules are strict.

Ever wondered what most of these jobless guys who spend most their time at the gym do for a living? How they afford to pay their gym fees, maintain strict healthy diets and even frequent upmarket restaurants and clubs?

Speculate no more. There is an underground network of these young men that charges between US$120 to US$500 to entertain groups of women, especially in the affluent parts of the city.

Having heard stories of one celebrity guy who survives this way, journalists went undercover to find out if this industry really exists.

The network is impenetrable unless one is invited or referred by a known client, stri_pper or middleman.

With this reporter pushing a “thank you Harare” pot-belly and thus not wanted anywhere near a hen party, we sought the services of our in-house fitness enthusiast, Andrew Moyo, who is one of this publication’s reporters, so that he could pose as one of the dancer’s ‘manager’.

His gig with our informant, a bouncer at a local upmarket club, hit a brick wall when the client demanded a taller and bigger person.

However, the bouncer agreed to tell us what goes on in this seemingly lucrative but secretive business on condition of anonymity.

“The dancing itself lasts no more than an hour. In fact, it should be just 30 minutes — that is what our (verbal) contract says,” began the bouncer’s narration.

“If the client wants more they have to pay extra. As long as they are paying money we can do anything. That is why it is a two or three-man job. We do this so that while one of us dances, the other one monitors to see that no recordings and other shenanigans are taking place.

“The dancer usually wears a mask to avoid giving identities away. Some women, though, can pay so that you remove the disguises. If we are satisfied that no one there knows us or is a close relation or friend, we take off the masks but if we are not sure we refuse,” he explained.

The bouncer-cum-stri_pper also explained that the job is mostly about teaching the bride-to-be what men want in bed.

“The deal is showing the lady set to wed how to handle her man in bed. We do this through demonstrations on her or a selected lady. Some may even demand an actual ‘act’, either right there in front of the crowd or in a separate room but they pay more money.

“The weird thing is that sometimes these ladies’ husbands will be outside while all this is happening. But measures are put in place to ensure they do not get in.” The bouncer said while the business started years ago as strictly for entertainment at bachelorettes, this has evolved and male dancers or stri_ppers can now be hired by a group of ladies or even one lady, just for “some fun”.

Quizzed if this was not prostitution, the bouncer said, “The money is good so these are some of the dangers, you end up doing anything. However, my partner or manager always has to be there no matter what, in case something arises plus you need a witness. We share the money 50/50.

“In the last two to three years, things have become extreme and caution has been thrown to the wind. Nowadays we can stri_p for people that just approach us without being referred by anyone. There is now competition and the guys are advertising themselves underground.

“In the past women would come individually to ask for our contacts but these days we just give out the numbers we use for bookings because we are looking for work.”

The bouncer revealed that this past festive season had been particularly good for the business as they would sometimes do up to three shows a day, especially during weekends.

He also divulged some of the rules of the business.

“When we get to a gig, we do not eat, we do not drink. Some of our colleagues have been drugged before, so we guard against these things. We carry our own water when going for these jobs and we do not accept anything else from our clients except money.

“You also need to have a few special underwear for such jobs and always be clean shaven and smelling good. You find that many bouncers, while they need the money, they lack the discipline and so they can’t do the job,” he said with a chuckle.

He said the downside is that the job is like a drug deal.

“You do not ask or permit the other party to ask too many questions, otherwise the deal collapses. You cannot risk your wife, girlfriend or family finding out. For instance, I have kids that are now in secondary school, it would be disastrous if it ever came out that I do this.”

Could this weird trend spill into actual stri_p clubs?

“No. Not yet. Nightclubs are mostly frequented by men and the male stri_ppers prefer dancing for women only, it could be a while. But remember ‘the love of money is the root of all evil’, where there is money anything can happen.” – Agencies

ZANU PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere (pictured) has warned prophets against causing alarm in the country by declaring false prophetic pronouncements.

The warning came after Kariba-based cleric, Philip Mugadza, predicted that President Robert Mugabe will die on October 17, this year unless he publicly-confessed and repented to prayer.

Speaking to NewsDay, Kasukuwere said the prophets in Zimbabwe were becoming reckless and careless with their pronouncements.

I think these prophets are becoming reckless and careless. They should just stop the behaviour or they will force government to act,” he said without being specific.

This is not the first time Zanu PF has been at loggerheads with prophets, who have predicted doom and unrest in Zimbabwe.

Mugadza, however, said threats would not stop him from declaring the prophecy, which he claims he received while in prayer on December 26.

“I am not saying I am going to be killing him on October 17, so there is no way anybody can say to me what you have done is wrong, I am not going to be killing anybody, I am only saying what God told me that he is going to die,” he said.

Mugadza’s prophecy comes after Prophetic Healing and Deliverance ministries founder Walter Magaya predicted the death of a prominent politician this year. – Newsday

HARARE City Council has teamed up with the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society to evacuate and provide emergency shelter for at least 30 families displaced by flooding in Budiriro 5 Extension.

Council spokesperson, Michael Chideme said the most affected families were those with homes built close to Marimba River, which had burst its banks following incessant rains at the weekend.

“Marimba River burst its banks owing to the incessant rains and 30 families had to be evacuated because their homes are now immersed in water. We have had help from Red Cross, which has provided tents for the makeshift shelter,” he said.

Chideme said council has opened investigations on how the families, who are members of Common Vision Housing Co-operative, ended up being allocated stands on the banks of the river.

“Harare City Council is investigating circumstances that led to the allocation of residential stands 50 metres from Marimba River. The investigations will ascertain the authenticity of the layout plan and whether the affected stands are within the approved plan,” he said.

Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni visited the affected families on Saturday to assess the extent of the damage, where he said the local authority would only provide the way forward after completing its investigations.

NewsDay could not reach the affected homes, as the foot bridge, which connects Budiriro 5 Extension and the rest of the city was submerged in water.

Meanwhile, members of the police sub aqua unit were yesterday dispatched to the area to search for an 18-year-old Mufakose resident feared to have been swept away by the floods.

Chief police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said she had not yet been briefed over the incident. – Newsday

Ray Nkosi | Ousted Former ZANU PF Matabeleland South chairman Andrew Langa, who has for long been accused by communities in Insiza District of murderous violent campaigns for ZANU PF in the eighties has finally provided a glimpse of evidence on his alleged role in the atrocities.

In a desperate bid to assure his ZANU PF colleagues of his loyalty to the party with a hope of having his suspension from the party reversed, Langa pulled up an old picture of his clad in the notorious ZANU PF youth league of the eighties uniform.

For years the people of Insiza District have allegedly been linking Langa to several unexplained political violence related deaths in the area which the Insiza North legislature has always denied.

The ZANU PF youth league in Matabeleland worked hand in hand with the brutal Gukurahundi 5th Brigade army unity which killed an estimated 20 000 people in the the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.

The notorious ZANU PF youth recruits were trained in a Pangani disused mine in Filabusi in the eighties was a near military wing, used by the Gukurahundi soldiers to go out and gather people targeted for manslaughter by the soldiers.

The youth would gather villagers and make them sing ZANU PF and President Robert Mugabe praise songs before beating them up and handing them over to the Gukurahundi soldiers for further torture and eventual killing for most.

In Mugabe’s absence, Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa who was Acting President went on a fast track review of some suspended ZANU PF members and seeing the opportunity have his suspension also reversed Langa quickly threw in photos of himself of old.

ZANU PF disbanded the violent youth at the signing of the Unity Accord on 1987. Most of the members of the league were seconded into the national army which went on a tour of duty in Mozambique and the DRC.

A suspected thief, believed to be part of a syndicate that specialises in stealing from haulage trucks at Beitbridge Border Post, was on Saturday morning shot and wounded when he tried to attack and disarm a security guard.

Sunboy Simango, who was part of four others who had gained entry by scaling the border parameter fence, was shot at around 6am.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said he was yet to get details on the matter.

Sources at the border yesterday said Simango had been taken to Beitbridge Hospital where he is recuperating under police guard.

“The suspect entered the border with two others with the intention of stealing goods from trucks waiting for clearance by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority on the arrivals commercial section,” said an official close to the scene.
“They were then spotted by alert security guards patrolling the area and were refrained as they were about to pounce on a truck. The trio resisted and started throwing stones at the guards, while Simango, who was carrying a metal bar, charged at one of the armed guards.”

The official said seeing that he was in danger, the security guard fired one warning shot in the air, but Simango kept on advancing towards him.
He said the guard then shot the man once on the left arm.

“Simango was then apprehended and handed over to the police,” said the official.
“His other two accomplices identified as Geza and Malvin Kabila fled the scene. Kabila was later arrested after he was cornered near the Limpopo River.

“The alleged gang leader known as Geza is still on the run.”
There has been an upsurge of thefts from vehicles, especially haulage trucks, at the border post. – state media

A SIMBISA southern region banking manager who is facing theft charges involving more than $90 000 has denied the charge saying he was forced to sign an incriminating affidavit.
Simbisa is a subsidiary of Innscor Africa.

Trust Machaka (40) pleaded not guilty to theft charges before Bulawayo magistrate Ms
Charity Maphosa on Friday.

His lawyer, Mr Byron Sengweni of Sengweni Legal Practice, made an application for the charges to be dropped at the close of the State case. He alleged that two managers at Simbisa threatened Machaka with arrest and forced him to sign an affidavit incriminating himself.

Magistrate Maphosa dismissed the application saying there was evidence linking Machaka to the crime.

“There is a need for the accused to prove allegations that he was forced to sign the affidavit where he was admitting committing the offence. Accused offered two of his houses to settle the debt he owed. There were audits carried out that proved there were existing shortfalls,” said Ms Maphosa.
“Accused was overally in charge of the company’s money. He signed for it whenever it was banked. It was discovered during audits that he sent false statements that figures were balancing.”

Mr Sengweni had said Machaka was forced to sign the incriminating affidavit. “On September 9 he was called to Mr Tshuma’s (Human Resources Manager) office and was accused of stealing cash but he denied the allegations. He was threatened by Mr Tshuma and Mr Lifa Ncube (Finance Manager) with arrest before being forced to admit to theft,” said Mr Sengweni.

He said Mr Ncube and Mr Tshuma dictated to Machaka what to write in the affidavit.
“His six-year-old daughter could hear Mr Tshuma and Mr Ncube threatening him with arrest as she was at the office during the time the threats were being made. Had the accused person not been threatened he would not have admitted to the offence,” said Mr Sengweni.
Mr Ncube told the court that Machaka stole the money.

“Sometimes his subordinates would not be at work so he is the one who collected cash from shops and banked it. There are banking documents that have his signature on them as evidence,” he said.

Prosecuting, Mr Jeremiah Mutsindikwa said Machaka stole the money between July 2015 and July 2016.

“Machaka would receive daily takings from Pizza Inn, Bakers Inn, Creamy Inn, Chicken Inn, Mr Baker, Steers and Nando’s. His responsibility was to deposit the money into the company’s account. Each month he would under-bank the amounts,” he said. – state media

Two Zimbabweans are vying for top African Union positions at the continental body’s 28th summit scheduled for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, later this month.

The two are Dr Hesphina Rukato, who has been selected as a candidate for the position of Commissioner for Political Affairs and Dr Pride Chigwedere, who will vie for Commissioner for Social Affairs.

Dr Rukato holds a PhD in Environmental Management Standards from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

“I also have a MSc in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe, as well as a BSc (Honours), Politics and Administration,” she stated in her campaign profile.

“I am currently working as a consultant, and Associate Lecturer-Good Governance at the Thabo Mbeki Leadership Institute (TMALI) at the University of Pretoria. I am also a technical committee member for the Tana Forum on Peace and Security in Africa.”

Dr Rukato said she worked as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Bureau of the AU Commission Chairperson from October 2012 to February 2014.

Prior to that, she worked as a consultant to the African Union Commission and the Institute of Peace and Security Studies at the University of Addis Ababa.

“This included my role as the co-ordinator for the first Tana Forum,” she said.
“Between 2002 and 2009, I worked for the Nepad secretariat in South Africa, first as Advisor on Environment and Tourism, and from 2005 to 2009 as deputy chief executive officer.
“I have worked in multicultural and diverse settings in multiple institutions in Africa, an attribute that is critical for the AU Commission setting. All the qualities outlined above, combined with my very strong passion for Africa, make me a suitable candidate for the position of Commissioner, Political Affairs.”

Dr Chigwedere, who will vie for Commissioner for Social Affairs, has impeccable credentials and has garnered invaluable mentorship and experience from the world’s greatest universities such as Harvard, leading management strategy companies such as McKinsey, and multilateral organisations, including the United Nations and the AU.

He holds a Doctor of Science degree from the Harvard School of Public Health (2007), Degrees of Medicine and Surgery (MD equivalent) earned from the University of Zimbabwe Medical School (1997) and has published academic papers in international peer-reviewed journals, that have been cited by other academic publications more than 700 times.

Dr Chigwedere has taught Physiology and Anatomy at the University of Zimbabwe Medical School (1995-1997) and taught at four Harvard Schools – the College, Medical School, School of Public Health and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (2002-2008).

He is knowledgeable about the African Union and continental institutions and is the UNAIDS senior advisor to the African Union, assisting in developing and monitoring implementation of HIV and Aids, and health policies. -state media

Hello ZimEye.

A Munenzva bus had an accident last night at Gampinya bridge towards Kana Mission in Nkayi District. It missed the bridge. People were injured and there were no fatalities.

The bridge was not clear due to excessive rains so the driver took a risk leading to the accident.

There is a sign warning motorists of poor road networks in the area.

The injured were taken to Nkai Hospital.

Most buses are stuck in Kana Mission because they cannot cross over Kana river which is overflowing and the area is more risky because there is no bridge.

President Robert Mugabe has blown over $6million on foreign travel single trip including one for treatment in Singapore and this happens at a time when the country’s hospitals are left at with an acute shortage of vital drugs.

Zimbabwe’s collapsing public health sector was yesterday hit with another dose of bad news after it was revealed the country’s major hospitals are only left with two weeks’ supply of a major drug used during surgical operations.

In his budget presentation in December, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa reduced the vote for health from $330, 7 million to a disappointing $282 million — a figure that falls way short of meeting the big demands of the public health services sector.

Parirenyatwa hospital chief pharmacist Davison Vuragu has warned that the country is left with two weeks’ stock of atracurium — a major anaesthetic drug used in addition to other drugs for muscle relaxation during surgery — after the relocation of drug supplier, GSK which pulled out of the Zimbabwean market last year.

“The country’s hospitals have been hit by a shortage of atracurium injection following the pulling out of GSK from the Zimbabwean market.

“The GSK atracurium is the only one that is registered in the country and since Zimbabwean wholesalers could not import into the country, the stocks that were available have been exhausted.

“As Parirenyatwa hospital we are left with less than two weeks of stock.
“This means that we have a disaster on our hands as the drug is one of the major anaesthetic medicines that are used in surgery.

“Alternative molecules like cis-atracurium, vercuronium and rocuronium are also not available in the country and they are not registered,” said Vuragu in a letter written to new drugs’ supplier, Aspen.
Vuragu also noted that since Aspen had taken over the stocking of atracurium and cis-atracurium, they should urgently import the product to avert a disaster.

“Parirenyatwa hospital is the biggest referral centre in the country providing the greatest number of specialist surgical services.

“We therefore cannot afford to reduce our surgical operations which will have to be done if we do not receive more stock of atracurium injection soon.

“As the situation stands, not only Parirenyatwa hospital is affected but all major public and private hospitals,” further warned Vuragu.

Parirenyatwa, Harare hospital and Avenues clinic had sought alternative sources through local wholesalers but were experiencing problems with local banks said Vuragu.

As Zimbabwe’s political and economic rot has escalated over the past five years, the health sector has experienced myriad problems which include poor funding and severe shortages of drugs.
Last year, the country’s major referral hospitals had to suspend many services as a result of the shortage of drugs, including painkillers — exposing how much things have fallen apart in the country since the early 2000s.

United Bulawayo Hospitals and Harare Central Hospital were among the major health facilities that had to suspend normal services as a result of drug shortages, including pethidine — a synthetic compound used as a painkiller, especially for women in labour and during Caesarean operations.

And in November, Binga District Hospital, which is situated in one of Zimbabwe’s poorest regions, was forced to scale back its services as a result of water and electricity shortages. – Daily News

The cash crisis in Zimbabwe appears to have eased with queues disappearing at most banks while some supermarkets are offering cash-backs even without being asked.

The seeming return to normalcy has been attributed to a reported low demand for cash and increased confidence in bond notes.

A survey by Standardbusiness last week showed that queues had disappeared at several banks in the capital Harare, while automated teller machines (ATMs) were also dispensing cash. The ATM cash limit at most banks ranges between $50 and $100 dispensed in either dollars or bond notes.

Some banks, like POSB and Steward Bank, however, still had long queues of people waiting to withdraw cash. At the height of the cash crisis last month, a few banks were dispensing money through the ATMs.

Our survey found that retail shops such as Choppies and Food World that had suspended the cash-back facility had restored the service. They join OK, TM Pick n Pay and Cell Services, among others in offering the cash back facility.

An economist with a leading commercial bank said the disappearance of the cash queues was a result of a combination of factors that include increased confidence in bond notes and low demand for cash after the festive season.

“We are in the off-peak period after coming from the Christmas holiday. January is usually a month in which demand is low. People have already paid the school fees for the first term,” the economist said.

He said some of the panic withdrawals experienced last year were to do with the low confidence people had in bond notes.

The bond notes were introduced in November under a $200 million export incentive facility guaranteed by the African Export-Import Bank. There were sceptics who feared the bond notes would drive the economy into that frightful hyperinflationary era of 2007/2008.

“The Reserve Bank has managed the situation well by making sure bond notes are limited in terms of circulation to support basic transactions. That has cultivated the confidence. Panic was also driven by speculative tendencies as people feared the bond notes would drag the country back to hyperinflation,” the economist said, adding that the introduction of only the small $2 note had killed the appetite for unscrupulous individuals to come up with fake bond notes.

As at December 31, $72,9 million worth of bond notes were in circulation up from $12 million when the surrogate currency was introduced on November 28.

Economist Prosper Chitambara said the easing of the cash shortages had to do with the increased uptake in the use of plastic money. He said the increase in the bond notes in circulation was another factor.

“Market reception towards bond notes has been positive and it reduced pressure on US$ cash holding,” Chitambara said.

A banker told Standardbusiness last week that what was needed was to increase production in order to be able to generate more export receipts for the economy.

“It would be sad to have a good rainy season and we don’t put it to good use in terms of agriculture. It is incumbent on the authorities to ensure that we keep our eyes on the ball in terms of production,” the banker said.

However, critics say this could be a false calm before a storm.

“It happened in Germany after World War One. In Germany due to the massive uncertainty caused by the WWI, people started “saving” currency by keeping money at home. Despite the Bundesbank pumping in cash, people would withdraw and keep the money at home. So inflation didn’t immediately hit them. When people started spending their hordes of cash, the wheels then came off,” a banker said on Friday.

“The traders may also not have been banking. Most of this cash is actually bond notes in my view.
My take is that the dollar will continue to leak from the system. Bond notes will continue to take over. This may be the false calm before a storm. The tsunami is surely coming.” – Standard

A BULAWAYO whiz kid who aced his Grade Seven examinations with four units is failing to proceed to Form One after his former school held on to his results for non-payment of fees.

The boy — Mbongeni Masuku — got four units in the 2016 Grade Seven examinations but his former school — Mawaba Primary in Lobengula West — is refusing to release his results over a debt of $442. The school instead gave him a hand written letter, signed by the school head Mrs Molina Dlamini, confirming that he owes the school and that he got four units in the examination.

“To whom it may concern. This is a confirmation of fees arrears for Masuku Mbongeni who last paid fees in 2014. Total fees $442, please assist in any way possible,” reads part of the letter.

When Sunday News visited the Masuku home yesterday in Lobengula West, Mbongeni’s mother, Ms Sithembiso Masuku said she was saddened by the fact that her child was failing to proceed to Form One yet he was intelligent. She said she was now putting everything in God’s hands as she had no way of raising the required $442.

“I have tried everything but nothing seems to come through and the school is not budging as they are saying they want the $442 before they release the results, they just told us that Mbongeni passed and wrote some letter confirming what we owe and the results.

“I am now appealing to well-wishers to assist me raise the required money. As for me my only source of income is going around doing people’s laundry, which does not assist much all. Mbongeni is an intelligent boy, who wants to study hard and be a medical doctor one day,” said a teary Ms Masuku.

She said she had managed to talk to officials at Masotsha High School, who had since indicated that they could assist Mbongeni get a bursary under the Mayor’s Cheer Fund but this could only be done after the production of the Grade Seven results.

“Yesterday (Friday) they called me to the school and made it clear that I have to pay what I owe them after which they can release the results. Mbongeni, on the other hand has said he wants to attend Masotsha High School, of which I have talked to the officials there but they want the results first,” said Ms Masuku.

In an interview, the soft-spoken Mbongeni said all he wanted to do was study hard so that one day he can help improve the livelihood of his family. He revealed that the secret to his excelling at school was working hard and forgetting the problems being faced at home.

“Countless times I would go to school hungry but this would not deter me in my studies. I would get homework and ensure that I pass it. My wish is that one day I become one of the topmost doctors in the country. I now wish that I could just get my results so that I go study at Masotsha High and fulfill my dream of becoming a doctor,” said Mbongeni.

However, Mawaba School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson Mr Nkosana Mazibisa refuted the allegations that the school had refused with Mbongeni’s results, instead saying they had asked Ms Masuku to come to the school to collect the results.

He said the school had even registered the pupil under the Mayor’s Cheer Fund Bursary, which would pay for his fees at any secondary school within their district but Ms Masuku had rejected the offer.

“I am actually surprised that this issue has got to this point. The school has actually been looking for Ms Masuku for the past week, we have sent a number of messages for her to come to the school to get the results and also sign for the bursary but she has not been forthcoming.

“What happened is that we registered her for the bursary, got Mbongeni a place at Sikhulile High school, which is within our district but she declined the offer saying she wanted her child to go to Masotsha High School, which is not in our district. At one point she even claimed that she did not need the bursary as she had secured a sponsor from the diaspora,” said Mr Mazibisa.

He said all they wanted now was for Ms Masuku to approach their offices so that she collects Mbongeni’s results and sign up for the bursary, which will ensure that he starts his Form One at Sikhulile High.

“We have informed officials at Sikhulile High to keep Mbongeni’s place open because what we are saying is that the boy’s life should not be affected. We will deal with the debt issue with Ms Masuku and not Mbongeni. The boy has a bright future ahead of him hence we should be seeing to it that we support him by all means possible. What Ms Masuku has to understand, however, is that we cannot recommend Mbongeni to go to Masotsha High because it is not in our district, he can only go to Sikhulile High and we have already secured a place there,” said Mr Mazibisa. – State Media

*Ex VP tells SABC she is ready to forgive veteran ruler
*Speaks on Mugabe claims she is a witch and is of loose morals
*Says she didn’t challenge excesses while in government because of war background

Former vice-president Joice Mujuru says she is willing to forgive President Robert Mugabe for alleged human rights violation for the sake of peace in Zimbabwe if she wins the 2018 elections.

Mujuru, who is negotiating a coalition between her Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party and other opposition parties, including the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T, said an inclusive government was crucial to rebuild the country.

“We will forgive Mugabe the same way we forgave [late Rhodesian Prime minister] Ian Smith,” Mujuru told SABC News Friday night.

Mujuru, who was fired from Zanu PF two years ago on allegations of plotting against Mugabe, said she will contest the 2018 elections and if she wins, will take cognisance of the fact that people needed peace and economic independence.

“Our people want a good life. Right now we have land, but what is coming out of it?” she said.

The ZimPF leader said she was unable to curb Mugabe’s excesses while she was in government as her background as a freedom fighter influenced her “non-combative attitude”.

“I wish it was that simple. There are two sides to a coin all the time. I am from the fighting forces where you go for training. As a youth, you look up to your seniors,” Mujuru said.

Mujuru said as a “freedom fighter, one remained with certain practices that will make you someone unable to challenge seniors.”

“Yes, people might say why did you keep quiet, but that is my other side. And here you are talking about Teurai Ropa who was below the age of 30,” said Mujuru.

The former vice-president said although she tried in her own way to highlight some of the issues, the “last word remained with the executive person [Mugabe].”

“You don’t want to appear as if you are fighting your seniors but instead take those issues that demonstrate you are for the people,” she said.

Mujuru said her stance was “soft” but it doesn’t mean she condoned Mugabe’s actions.

“These things happened whilst Joice was part of the group, but I didn’t want them to be so. I just did not want to ruffle any feathers,” she said.

“I tried to ask in public why people were being beaten. The masses saw that.”

She also denied reports that she was corrupt.

“If people say Joice was fighting for money, they would have seen fat bank accounts and if it was about power, I would have done it long back,” she charged.

Mujuru said when she was the vice-president of the ruling party after being elected in 2004, she could have easily influenced the populace, but she chose not to do that.

She said the 2013 elections were non-violent because she was leading the process.

“I did 43 rallies using the terrible Zimbabwean roads, but the president did only 12 using helicopters,” she said.

Mujuru also recalled how Mugabe fired her after accusing her of being a witch. She said the veteran ruler used seven Zanu PF youths to fight her.

“He told them I was a witch, of loose morals but look, I am a widow but I do not have a boyfriend. I do not know where they got that from,” she said.

“A character such as mine, why would I need a husband? If you had one before, why would you go around doing unbecoming things?

She said despite the onslaught against her, she held no grudges against Mugabe.

“Especially Mugabe himself whom I respect as a father and a father figure to the nation, knowing exactly that he was lying, I kept quite,” she said.

Mujuru is yet to earn the trust of many Zimbabweans who fear that she would return to Zanu PF if the ruling party extended a hand of reconciliation.

Her pledge to forgive Mugabe would not go down well with victims of gross human rights violations, especially in Matabeleland and Midlands where over 20 000 supporters were killed in newly independent Zimbabwe. – Standard

DESTINY for Africa Network leader Obadiah Musindo has leapt to United Family International Church (Ufic)founder Emmanuel Makandiwa’s defence after his church was ridiculed for telling followers the amounts of money they had to give as “seed” in 2017.

In a video posted on Facebook, Ufic spokesperson Pastor Prime Kufa encouraged people to “seed” money ranging from $77, $770, $7 700 and $77 000.

Explaining the reasoning behind the figures, Kufa said, “Number seven is a prophetic number, a number of perfection which makes the year 2017 a year for your dreams, hopes, aspirations and all your visions, if only you are willing to start it perfectly.”

However, following the clip there was a huge public outcry, with some people accusing the charismatic cleric of robbing his congregants using the Bible.

But in a statement, Musindo dismissed the attacks, saying numbers were not theological, but more scriptural.

“Look at the book of Revelations, the issue of the 12 disciples as well as the 12 tribes of Israel,” he said.

“In the things of God, we do not have tutors, referees, the chief executive officers of God or the advocates of God who think they can speak on God’s behalf.”

Musindo said people should not monopolise Christianity.

“We have people who criticise tongues and healing yet all these are in the Bible,” he said.

“There’s nothing wrong or unscriptural for the people under Ufic to give according to the instructions given by their leaders.

“Many people are prophetically told to give or seed in many ways. It is not everything that we do in the church that has a biblical reference or biblical example,” Musindo said.

He also fired a volley at some “pastors” who did not cast out demons.

“A church which is not prophetic is so blind. I see bishops and leaders wearing collars. Where is this found in the Bible? What about titles such as ‘Dr’? where is the title ‘Dr’in the things of God?” he quipped.

He also said church leaders were overstepping their mandate.

“You are not supposed to attack other churches as if you are leading perfect churches yourselves,” Musindo said.

“There are serious problems happening in other churches that we are reading about in newspapers involving fights and legal actions against one another.”

He said he had concluded from his own investigations that Makandiwa was a serious entrepreneur who employed a lot of people. – Standard

Days after reversing extortionist government-approved mobile data charges by Econet Wireless, Information Communication Technology and Courier Services minister Supa Mandiwanzira is yet to know peace.

Mandiwanzira was hounded out of his holiday by angry Zimbabweans on social media after the country’s largest mobile phone operator by subscription, Econet Wireless, announced shocking mobile data charges that went up 25 times in a flash and he had to do the unprecedented by intervening, while Labour minister Prisca Mupfumira was holding fort at the ICT ministry.

The increase followed a Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) directive to mobile operators setting a floor price for data and voice calls. Potraz claimed the prices were proposed by mobile operators.

Mandiwanzira had to douse the fire after Zimbabweans besieged his Twitter account demanding an explanation, resulting in him announcing that the floor price had been suspended.

However, the minister courted Econet’s ire after he claimed that Strive Masiyiwa’s company was actually the one that proposed the new prices, adding that the telecommunications company had gone further than what government had prescribed.

Econet, in a stinging statement released late on Friday night, accused the minister of being dishonest after he claimed that he was not aware of the mobile operator’s “shockingly” high tariffs and accused the company of “gluttonous corporate greed”.

The mobile phone operator said problems started in July last year when Potraz refused to allow it to continue running its promotions that included free WiFi on prepaid data bundles, international bundles promotion, the SMS and win promotion. Econet said Potraz’s excuse was that it wanted to introduce a new framework.

The framework, Econet said, had been necessitated by government arguing that low data tariffs led to social media abuse.

“Liaison meetings between [the] operator and regulator followed. The regulator communicated its intention to fix a floor price for data and invited us to contribute to the determination of the floor price,” read part of the statement.

“We fully participated in this exercise and in good faith.

“Being the only operator that has paid the punitive licence fee of $137,5 million and being the only operator that is owed millions of dollars by government-owned competitors in respect of interconnection charges, our pricing structures are bound to be more expensive than those of our government-owned competitors.”

Econet said a regulatory notice number 3 of 2016 was issued on December 7 2016 and amended on December 29, and again on January 9 2017.

The notice set floor prices on data and voice and fixed a mandatory compliance date of January 9.

Econet said on January 9 it adjusted the tariffs when it became clear that Potraz was fully aware of the involvement of the ICT minister.

It said the tariffs were reversed after it became clear that there was a sinister plot behind the directive, which it alleges involved the minister.

“On January 12 2017, when it became clear that an exercise that was driven by the regulator with the full knowledge and participation of the minister and our competitors, who are under the minister’s control, to portray the new Potraz director general [Gift Kallisto Machengete] in bad light and portray Econet as gluttonous and insensitive to the public, our board directed us to reverse the data tariff increase,” Econet said.

The mobile operator said the new tariffs were only introduced at Mandiwanzira’s instigation and it now believes it was a ploy to set them on a collision course with Machengete.

Econet believes Mandiwanzira was trying to sabotage its business to help government-controlled Telecel and NetOne gain ground on the market.

“We wrote and delivered a letter to Potraz on January 12 2017 in which we indicated we would revert to our old tariff increases if the regulator did not ensure that all operators complied with its regulatory notice by end of January 12 2017,” Econet added.

“To anticipate our reversal of the date tariff increases, the minister, who is supposed to be on leave, published a notice in the press in which he claimed to reverse the data tariff increases.

“Our reversal to the tariff increases followed a directive of the board.

“The duplicity by the minister is intended to discredit us in the eyes of our customers and in the eyes of the public and to also portray the new director general of Potraz as incompetent.”

Econet accused Mandiwanzira of killing the mobile phone business through his alleged duplicity, imploring government to act with speed to avert the collapse of the critical sector.

“We urge the government of Zimbabwe to move decisively against the capture of this all-important industry by an individual who has such inconsistency and duplicity,” Econet said.

“Since his appointment to this ministry, he has behaved as if he is the minister of the government-owned entities alone and has been relentlessly attacking us without just cause and reversing the gains that this sector has made over the years.”

Meanwhile, Mandiwanzira escalated the war of words yesterday, accusing Econet of politicking and insisted that the company was behind the unreasonable tariff hike.

“I have noted a public statement by Econet Wireless which is highly political and defamatory,” he said in a statement.

“The political undertones of the statement, which takes a dig at the ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services and myself are alarming.

“I urge the company to stay away from politics and stick [to]its core mandate of business.

“Rather than attack the minister and the government, it is advisable that Econet should address concerns by their subscribers who are and have been losing money through seemingly fraudulent billing that makes data credit disappear even when susbcribers have not used it.

“These complaints have come to my office, Potraz and are widely shared on social media.”

The minister claimed that Econet’s top management had visited his offices on several occasions trying to persuade him to ignore proposals to reduce tariffs because it would threaten the existence of the business.

He said Econet wanted the tariffs to be increased because it said it was under pressure to service its loans with unnamed European bankers.

According to the now suspended new tariffs that had been effected on January 11, the cheapest bundle of data (5MB on a standard connection plus another 5MB available on WiFi) cost 50 cents.

For 10MB plus the bonus WiFi 10MB it would have cost $4, while the highest amount of data one can get (2.5GB plus 2.5GB bonus on WiFi) was pegged at $50.

Social media bundles for Whatsapp and Facebook that have been the cheapest avenue for partial internet access had also gone up and would have been based on usage rather than daily, weekly or monthly flat charges.

The cheapest bundle was also set at 50 cents and it came with 10MB of data plus a 10MB bonus.
For $2,50 (which is close to what subscribers used to pay for a month’s access) one would get 80MB plus an extra 80MB on WiFi. – Standard

A SOUTH AFRICA-BASED Masvingo man has been arrested after he allegedly fatally stabbed a fellow villager with an Okapi knife for playing peacemaker in a love triangle.

Witness Mapurisa (24) of Village 9, Mushandike Resettlement Scheme tripped Taruvinga Tazira (23) of Acton Farm to the ground and used an Okapi knife to stab him before fleeing. Taruvinga was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital hours after he was stabbed on New Year’s Day but doctors failed to remove the knife resulting in him being transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare. Although the knife was later removed in Harare, he died five days later while admitted to the institution.

His body was taken to the same hospital’s mortuary for a post-mortem. Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula could neither confirm nor deny the incident saying police had not yet received the report.

“We have not yet received a report to that effect,” said Insp Mazula.

However, Sunday News visited Buka Business Centre about 20 kilometres from Masvingo along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road where villagers and family members narrated the story. A relative to the deceased, Mr Alfred Mutete said police came to the area the following day and arrested Mapurisa together with his younger brother Innocent (21) at their grandmother’s home where they were hiding. He said on the day, Mapurisa wanted to attack his rival suitor, a fellow villager, only to turn against Taruvinga who was playing peacemaker.

“All along, Mapurisa has been staying in South Africa but was in love with Taruvinga’s neighbour Ms Shelta Mukaro (22).

During his absence, Ms Mukaro allegedly dated another man from the village,” said Mr Mutete

He alleged that on the day at around 6pm while at Buka Business Centre, celebrating the arrival of the New Year Mapurisa confronted Ms Mukaro’s unidentified boyfriend over the issue.

“A dispute ensued between the two and Taruvinga intervened in an attempt to restrain them from fighting. Instead, Mapurisa turned against Taruvinga, tripped him to the ground before I attempted to block him but failed. Mapurisa pinned Taruvinga to the ground and stabbed him on the left nose and cheek leaving a deep cut,” said Mr Mutete.

He said Taruvinga attempted to recover from the attack but the emotionally-charged Mapurisa further pressed him down before “planting” the knife into his head, leaving it stuck. He then fled the scene.

Father of the late Taruvinga, Mr Gerson Tazira said the incident happened a few minutes after he had left the deceased with the accused, ostensibly in a jovial mood at the business centre.

“AT around 7pm, I left them in a celebratory mood and came home as I had enough of the eats and drinks. After about 30 minutes I heard one of the villagers calling out my name and I came out of the house to investigate. I initially thought he was being attacked and wanted my help only to realise that he was alerting me,” said Mr Tazira.

He said the villager informed him that his son had been stabbed by Mapurisa as he attempted to restrain him from stabbing a fellow villager.

Mr Tazira said he went back to the business centre to investigate but stumbled upon his son lying on the tarmac in a pool of blood writhing in pain with the knife stuck into his head, about a kilometre from the scene, near his plot.

“My son wobbled for about a kilometre from the business centre before he fell unconscious just on the edge of my maize plot but on the busy Masvingo-Beitbridge highway. We were fortunate at that time that a Chivi-bound ambulance crew arrived and agreed to rush him to Masvingo General Hospital,” he said.

He said the personnel at the hospital failed to remove the knife and referred him to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

The village head, Mr Tinago Konde, said the whole village was still in shock.

Meanwhile, Mr Tazira is demanding $3 000 being hospital and travelling expenses the family incurred on their late son.

He said compensation will be determined at a yet to be held family meeting. – State Media

IN a heart wrenching incident, a two-year-old toddler died while her twin sister is battling for life at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare when their house was gutted by fire following an electrical fault which developed from a nearby electricity line.

The horrific incident occurred in Redcliff last week when Mutsawashe Chekayi died while her twin sister Makanaka is nursing injuries sustained in the inferno after she sustained 40 percent burns when their house was razed down by fire following an electrical fault. The incident happened when their mother Kudakwashe Chekayi, a police officer was on night duty.

However, Ms Chekayi’s other two twin brothers Tadiwa and Tatenda escaped unhurt but all the furniture and other valuables in the house worth thousands of dollars were reduced to ashes.

Ms Chekayi confirmed the incident but could not shed more light as she was still failing to come to grips with the terrifying incident and was also still nursing her other child Makanaka at Parirenyatwa.

“It is true that my daughter died in an inferno after a fire broke out following an electrical fault. I was not at home when it happened so I might not be able to tell you the matter in detail. However, I am deeply saddened by the matter but I have to accept what has happened because God saw it fit,” she said.

A FIVE-MAN gang allegedly carjacked a pirate taxi driver, axed him and left him for dead before using his vehicle to rob an illegal money changer of more than R75 000 in assorted currencies.

Police have arrested three suspects following the heist on Tuesday. The police Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) arrested Venson Nzima (22) of Pumula East, Africa Ncube (24) of Lobengula West, Anisto Nyoni (22) of Emganwini the following day and recovered the stolen car — a Toyota Starlet.

The detectives have spread a dragnet for Farai Moses Chitsa (37) whose last known address is A6297 Pumula Old and Elton Nzima of 72018 Lobengula West. Fellow pirate taxi drivers told the Sunday News that the five hired Mr Onisimo Matanga near Alasco Supermarket in the city centre around 5pm.

“They asked him to take them to a shopping centre along Old Gwanda Road,” said the source.

“When they were about to get to the shops they asked the driver to stop. One of them grabbed him by the neck from the back seat and others began punching him and striking him with a small axe. They also hit him with a hammer.”

The gang, added the source, demanded cash and threatened to kill Mr Matanga if he resisted. They allegedly robbed him of an unspecified amount of cash and his cellphone. The criminals pushed a heavily bleeding Mr Matanga out of the vehicle and sped off in his vehicle. A pirate taxi driver who identified himself as Mr Sam Ncube said Mr Matanga staggered to the shops where a passersby called an ambulance and made a police report.

“He was treated at UBH (United Bulawayo Hospitals) and discharged the following day. His condition is said to be stable but he is refusing to receive visitors,” said the taxi driver.

Mr Matanga’s brother, who declined to be named, said Onisimo was out when the news crew visited his home in Barham Green suburb. He was also not at work in the city centre. Onisimo could not be contacted on his mobile phone because it was stolen.

The robbers allegedly drove to the city centre where they started shadowing Ms Annie Usavi, an usiphatheleni (money changer). Ms Usavi yesterday said they tailed her to Pumula South suburb and deliberately side swiped her car.

“Three of the gangsters jumped out of the vehicle and pretended to assist me. I got out of my car and they attacked me,” said Mrs Usavi who appeared to be still shaken by the incident.

“They punched me and grabbed my handbag. I couldn’t resist because they were too strong. The bag contained R55 000, $1 320, P7 600, two Samsung cellphones and personal stuff,” she said.

Ms Usavi said she stood by the roadside in shock as the gang drove away.

“I could not believe I had been robbed where there was still so much traffic, a stone throw from my house. I’m still feeling pain on my face and upper body. The robbers looked mean enough to kill me,” she said.

Fortunately, Ms Usavi said, she recognised one of her attackers. She said she got into her car and drove to Pumula Police Station in a daze.

“I made a report. The police arrested the man I had identified and I’m told he implicated the others. Detectives recovered some of my money and property from all three suspects’ homes,” said Ms Usavi.

A source close to investigations said police recovered R9 700 and $160. Ms Usavi said the arrested trio alleged Chitsa had the bulk of the money. Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector precious Simango confirmed the robberies.

“Police have arrested three men who are suspected to have been part of a five-man gang that allegedly carjacked a taxi driver and used his car to rob a Pumula South woman. Two suspects are on the run,” said Insp Simango.

She appealed to members of the public who may have information that could lead to the arrest of the duo to contact their nearest police station.

“Alternatively, they can put the information in a police suggestion box or call (09) 885479 the 24-hour police hotline,” said the police spokesperson. – State Media

Robert Mugabe’s administration has once again dodged civil servants on their much awaited bonus payments.

Last year the government frantically offered to batter trade the bonuses with residential stands, an offer that was slammed by the furious workers.

The civil servant’s leaders are this week resuming their crunch meetings over payment of the 2016 bonuses. The no-nonsense workers are demanding to know specific dates for the release of the 13th cheque.

Last week, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said he was not able to comment as he was on official leave and would return to work next week while his Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare counterpart Minister Prisca Mupfumira was not available for an interview. Apex Council President Mrs Cecilia Alexander however told The Sunday Mail that the workers are going to resume meetings with Government this week to pick up from where they left last year.

She said the 2016 bonuses will be the main agenda of the talks while other issues on the table include the 2017 salary pay dates and working conditions.

“Yes we were supposed to meet with our employer but we have decided to give them more time to work on the issue since we realised that some of them are still to resume their respective duties after the festive holidays,” she said.

“However starting next week (this week), we are going to do a serious follow up on the matter as we would want Government to give us concrete dates on when we will start receiving our bonuses for 2016.”

Mrs Alexander said although the workers appreciate Government’s offer on residential stands, the Apex Council is of the opinion that the proposal came in late and should only be considered for 2017 bonuses going forward.

“Government had offered to give us the bonuses in the form of stands but we felt the proposal came a bit late. We might consider the offer this year but as for the 2016 bonuses, we are expecting cash,” she said.

“We would want an answer on the matter as soon as possible.”

Human Resources expert Mr Memory Nguwi urged the civil servants to reconsider the residential stands offer in light of cash flow challenges being faced by Government.

“The civil servants should consider the key issue and look at the financial cash flows being experienced by the Government,” he said.

“Sometimes it is better to compromise and take what is there because the opportunity might pass and never present itself again.”

Government has been struggling to pay civil servants’ bonuses over the years due to cash flow challenges.

Last year, authorities staggered their bonuses with the last batch of civil servants receiving their 2015 bonuses well into the second half of last year.

President Mugabe has been on record saying despite the low revenue inflows, Government workers deserve to get the 13th cheque as per tradition.

In November last year, Government introduced a residential scheme for civil servants as part of the employer’s non-monetary incentives to workers. Over 500 000 civil servants have registered for the scheme with modalities of the project already underway. – state media/agencies

At least 60 delegations and 35 heads of state including the President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe attended the official opening of the 27th Africa-France Summit which was officially opened with calls for the African continent to be vigilant in protecting its citizens against the threat of terrorism without waiting for outside interventions.

President Mugabe joined other 34 heads of state from the continent at the Bamako International Conference Centre (BICC) in Bamako Mali for the two day summit which was officially opened today (Saturday).

French president Francois Hollande who co-chaired the official opening session with his Malian counterpart president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said African forces must combat terrorism without being dependent on outside interventions and France is available to provide support.

The host president Ibrahim Keita acknowledged that the peace agreement signed with the Touareg rebels has not yet been fully implemented but he thanked Africa and France for their efforts to end terrorism in the Sahel region.

He also paid tribute to the leaders for attending the summit saying their participation is crucial.

African Union chairperson Mr Idriss Deby who is also the president of Chad said the new year is full of promise and hope and the theme for the summit ‘Partnership, Peace and Emergence’ and the topics that the leaders will discuss are a reflection of the relationship between France and Africa

After the official opening the heads of state went into a closed door session where they are expected to come up with the Bamako declaration.

Meanwhile, France has committed to release at least four billion euros per annum to Africa to honour the agreement signed at the Paris 2013 Summit where the European Union country committed US$20 billion towards development projects in Africa.

This was revealed by Mumbengegwi who attended the foreign affairs ministerial meeting which was held as a precursor to the 27th Africa-France Summit.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the continent and officials from the French government attended a preparatory meeting where they came up with a draft resolution to be adopted by the heads of state at the end of the summit.

Mumbengegwi said two pertinent issues came under the spotlight, that is peace and security and partnership and development between Africa and France

France has also pledged to support French companies that wish to invest in Africa under a social development assistance fund.

Since the 2012 crisis in Mali, the list of French military interventions in the Sahel region has grown steadily and the foreign affairs ministers meeting also looked at issues to do with peace and security says Cde Mumbengegwi. Â

There is generally peace in Bamako but security has been beefed up with some 10 000 security personnel on hand to protect the 3 000 delegates and heads of state who are attending the summit. – State Media

Fresh factional fighting has broken out in President Robert Mugabe’s home province of Mashonaland West, with the regional women’s league moving to “dump” one of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s fiercest critics, Sarah Mahoka, over allegations of causing chaos in the ruling party.

So ugly have the ructions become that some of the Zanu PF women’s league members are apparently seeking audience with powerful First Lady Grace Mugabe to “get an explanation of Mahoka’s role and agenda” in the light of the ruling party’s deepening infighting.

On the other hand, well-placed Zanu PF insiders told the Daily News yesterday that the vocal Mahoka remained “relaxed and defiant” about the noise surrounding her, with her backers accusing the provincial women’s league chairperson, Angeline Muchemeyi, whom she is suing for defamation, as leading the charge to have her expelled over her claimed close relationship with Grace.

On her part, Muchemeyi, who is said to be a Mnangagwa loyalist, told the Daily News that the party’s regional league was “not going to work with Mahoka” until such a time that they were advised by national league boss, Grace, on how to proceed on the impasse.

“We have made resolutions that we will not work with her until the first lady comes to address us. This is not our own decision but it is shared across the board.

“She (Mahoka) is a bad person. For now, we are waiting for the response from our boss as women. We wrote a letter to her secretary and we hope that when she returns (from her family’s Far East holiday) she will come to resolve the Mahoka issue.

“She should come and tell us whether to work with her or not. Personally, I don’t have anything against her, but that is the position that has been reached by the province as a whole,” Muchemeyi said.

Mahoka is said to belong to the Zanu PF faction that is made up of young party Turks known as the Generation 40 (G40) group, which is fiercely opposed to Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe.

With Mahoka and Muchemeyi belonging to opposite Zanu PF camps, the two women have had several run-ins over the past few months.

At one time, Mahoka was accused by Muchemeyi of abusing church funds, allegations which she flatly dismissed. And in December last year, Mahoka slapped Muchemeyi with a $1 million lawsuit, accusing her of defamation.

Mahoka alleged then that Muchemeyi had falsely claimed that she was undermining Mnangagwa’s authority and that she embezzled money meant for the first lady’s rallies.
But Muchemeyi accused Mahoka of “listening to rumours” and defying the provincial executive yesterday.

“She clearly cannot work with others because she does not want to listen to us. Remember she once held a kangaroo meeting in a hotel that was attended by three people and passed a vote of no confidence in me.

“She is also lying that she has the blessings of Amai (Grace) in what she has been doing,” Muchemeyi told the Daily News.

Analysts have said the latest problems to engulf Mashonaland West province are part of Zanu PF’s continuing deadly tribal, factional and succession wars.

The G40 and the faction backing Mnangagwa, Team Lacoste, have been going at each other hammer and tongs, particularly since the release of images showing the Midlands godfather holding a coffee mug inscribed “I am the Boss” during a festive season gathering at his Zvishavane rural home.

Mnangagwa, who was pictured then with maverick businessman Energy Mutodi, has come under pressure from his party foes who allege that the Zvishavane meeting was organised to plot the ouster of Mugabe from power.

On Wednesday, a G40-linked group, comprising provincial chairpersons and regional commissars met at the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare, issuing a statement in which they called for a probe into Mnangagwa for hobnobbing with war veterans’ leader Christopher Mutsvangwa and Mutodi.

But a defiant Mutodi hit back immediately, vowing not to hold back on his critical views regarding Zanu PF’s succession wars and rampant factionalism.

“I am not against Mugabe, and neither do I have any personal grudge with any Zanu PF official. However, I am suggesting that at the age of 94, Mugabe is good enough to remain as the party’s first secretary but not a candidate to run for office of president,” Mutodi told the Daily News.
“Secondly, even if Mugabe was to win the vote in 2018, there is no hope that the current economic hardships facing the nation will end as no investor would choose to invest in a country being led by a 94-year-old.
“All these people who are calling themselves provincial chairpersons know that they were not elected, but were rather imposed by the G40 faction. The elected Zanu PF chairpersons are being persecuted and accused of unfounded allegations.

“It’s a charade, a travesty. There is a lot of injustice in the party. There is regionalism, tribalism and endless factionalism. These are the signs of a failed leadership because they no longer can unite people. You are busy fomenting divisions so that you can go on and on without regard to the interests of the majority,” the unrepentant Mutodi added.
Mutodi also challenged Zanu PF’s national political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, and Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, who are alleged to be G40 kingpins, to present themselves as alternative party leaders.

“Some shallow minds are saying that by demanding leadership renewal, I am campaigning for Mnangagwa. This is a misconception. I am on record saying Mnangagwa is a potential successor due to his loyalty to Mugabe, his experience and his patience.

“However, anyone who feels is better and would want to compete with him is free to come forward and contest.  . . .Moyo,  . . . Kasukuwere or any other Zanu PF person is free to present themselves for election to decide who finally succeeds our long-serving president,” he said.

The musician-turned politician appeared to make things worse for Mnangagwa when he said earlier this week that Zanu PF should hold an extraordinary congress to install Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s successor.

Mutodi also claimed that Mugabe, who turns 93 next month, had become so unpopular in Zanu PF that “99 percent” of the party’s members now wanted him to resign before the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections, as there was allegedly no way that the nonagenarian could win elections against popular opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Daily News

President Robert Mugabe has come under fire for being “greedy” and failing to cede power to his deputies, with the nonagenarian travelling on official business at a time he is supposed to be resting.

Mugabe — who is on his month-long annual holiday — has embarked on high-profile trips, spoiling himself with flying business class around the world and spending nights in presidential suites in premier hotels — all in the claim of working for Zimbabwe’s betterment. The doddering president has maintained an air of energy and initiative, but the results have been modest.

Opposition political parties accused the soon-to-be 93-year-old of engaging in fundraising antics, getting millions of dollars in foreign travel allowances while on leave.

This comes as the country is battling a typhoid outbreak and drug shortages, a time the globetrotting president is spending $36 million on foreign and domestic trips in the first 10 months of 2016.

Mugabe, who  together with his family was in China a few days ago having bilateral talks with the country’s president Xi Jinping, has travelled on official business to Mali for the two-day France-Africa Summit.

Zimbabwe People First spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire said apart from the money, Mugabe’s actions were a sign that he took the country as a private entity.

“There are two aspects here; there is the money aspect as well, because when he travels he gets money for foreign travels. So, that is more allowances for him,” Mawarire said.
“It shows that he is running the country as a private entity.

“It should not be surprising because already when he is not there Cabinet does not sit, the central committee does not sit, politburo does not sit, and it’s a one-man band.  He believes that the country is going to die when he dies.

“The message is loud and clear, that there is no confidence in his deputies and ministers to execute bilateral duties.

“That’s also why he has been succeeding himself because in his mind, no one can do anything better than him.

“Remember that time when he said he was better than Jesus as he resurrected more times than him.”

Reports are that his ministers and deputies are also making trips to the Middle East, where he is holidaying to consult him and get instructions.

From Mali, it is believed Mugabe will also travel to Ethiopia for the 28th Ordinary Session of the summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa from January 22 to 31.

MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said Treasury has to fork out money to support Mugabe’s travels for trips that could be attended by ministers and ambassadors.

“This man is a dictator. He has set up a base in the Middle East and leaves from there for official business to China and to Mali.

“We have a Foreign Affairs minister and ambassadors who are paid to do that. We have (Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Senegal and Gambia, Trudy Stevenson) close to Mali, who is well conversant in French, who was a French teacher at Arundel School and could have easily travelled there from Dakar, Senegal,” Gutu said.

“He is supposedly on leave, on rest with a whole entourage and using state resources.
“This has shown what he is — a one-man band and that he doesn’t trust anyone. In the meantime, treasury will be forking out money to pay for him and the entourage as well as high-landing fees for the charted plane.

“This has gone to show that Zanu PF is Robert Mugabe and Robert Mugabe is Zanu PF and government.  And this can be seen in the way these operate.

“He has two vice presidents but he doesn’t look at them as capable. They are just ceremonial deputies.

“And when acting, they will be just warming chigaro chamambo (the king’s seat), they can’t make any decisions.

“Even when he travels Cabinet doesn’t sit and no government decision is made.”
Jacob Mafume, People’s Democratic Party spokesperson said Mugabe thinks his assistants are useless.

“I think what they are trying to do is justify gobbling State resources while on leave, and pretend to be travelling on State business.

“This is a pure waste of State resources while we are in the midst of a typhoid crisis that can easily turn into a cholera outbreak,” Mafume said.

“For a man who has two vice presidents in a small country like Zimbabwe, he has shown he has no confidence in them.

“He believes they are useless. One of them can easily have been sent there.” Daily News

Opposition Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) president Joice Mujuru was left devastated when her Bikita West rally was cancelled so Zanu PF could hold its assembly.

ZPF organised the event over the past month but was told by the police that they were cancelling her rally because of double-booking. They offered to rearrange the rally so they could instead host the rally after the Zanu PF conclave.

Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, ZPF Masvingo interim provincial chairperson Claudius Makova said they were forced to reschedule Mujuru’s rally from January 17.

“We booked for our president to address on January 17 but Zanu PF booked at the same venue and we have rescheduled our rally to January 19. This will not deter us to mobilise our supporters to come in their numbers for the rally.

“Kudakwashe Gopo is going to make history by becoming the first person to win the parliamentary election for our party.

“Our party is very popular and I think even the Zanu PF candidate will vote for Gopo on election day.”

Six candidates have successfully filed their papers at the Nomination Court that sat at the Masvingo Magistrates’ Courts, but the main battle is between Zanu PF women’s league provincial executive member Beauty Chabaya and Gopo of the Mujuru-led ZPF.

The NCA is fielding its spokesperson Madock Chivasa. Other candidates are Terence Makumbo of Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe (PDZ), Independent candidate Innocent Muzvimbiri and former Bikita West legislator Heya Shoko, who will also stand as an Independent candidate.

The constituency was previously held by incarcerated Zanu PF rapist Munyaradzi Kereke.
Makova said a few people will vote for Zanu PF due to the current economic woes.

“People know the truth, Zanu PF has failed the nation, they don’t have solutions to address the current economic problems. Their only strategy is to use violence to force people to vote for them but people have suffered enough.

“We told our supporters that no to violence, we want to live in a peaceful nation but for Zanu PF, they have nothing to offer to the people of Zimbabwe. What they want is to win elections without strategies to solve the current economic problem which is affecting all Zimbabweans.”

However, Zanu PF provincial chairperson Amasi Nenjana dismissed Makova’s allegations as bar talk.

“Our vice president (Phelekezela Mphoko) is going to address our supporters on January 17. Those allegations which are being levelled against us are just bar talk. We are confident that we are going to win the by-election.

“They should have planned their rallies just after the announcement of the by-election. They must not try to play a blame game when they know that they can’t mobilise people to come to their rallies.

“We are a strong party and we are united here in Masvingo so our campaigns are going on well.” Daily News

https://youtu.be/u2FnBiaccNc?t=9

OUTSPOKEN politician and MDC legislator Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga has criticised the idea of forming an opposition coalition, describing it as a narrative being fed onto Zimbabweans by a group of “a few male politicians at a hotel table”.

This, while her party is reportedly in talks with other opposition formations over the same issue. Misihairabwi-Mushonga (PM), in this interview with NewsDay Weekender’s Veneranda Langa (ND), argues Zimbabweans must instead be allowed to decide who should be the face of their struggle to dislodge President Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule.

Below are excerpts;
ND: You are one of the most outspoken female politicians in Zimbabwe and in your opinion, do you view an opposition coalition as the way to go in order to ensure democratic change in Zimbabwe ahead of expected elections next year?

PM: First and foremost, I do not necessarily think that the coming together of all opposition political parties will provide the best way to democratically remove Zanu PF in 2018. One of the biggest problems with this proposed coalition is that it is a wrong narrative, which unfortunately also begins with a wrong answer because we have asked wrong questions.

ND: What do you mean by that?
PM: The first question to ask is: Why are we in this situation, where we are dominated by one person and one political party? If we answer this question correctly then we should be in a position to say why we are not addressing the root cause. We are not in this situation as Zimbabwe because there are many political parties in the country. We cannot say Zanu PF is in power because there are many political parties. We cannot continue with a 92-year-old ruling us and a system that controls everything.

It is the people that can remove Mugabe and those people do not necessarily belong to a political party. Even those people that voted for Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T president) during past elections are not members of the MDC-T, and so to continue to feed the narrative that a coalition of opposition parties will raise enough votes to dislodge Zanu PF is wrong because the majority of the voting public is not aligned to any political party.

ND: But you are considered one of the proponents of an opposition coalition. Why are you now opposed to it?
PM: No, I never pushed for a coalition of opposition parties. I pushed for an inclusive government, and that is a different thing. An opposition coalition is pre-election period and an inclusive government is a post-election arrangement. What is currently being discussed — and the media seems to have bought the idea too — is a pre-election coalition and the debate around it is problematic because you cannot tell me that bringing together a group of opposition parties will remove Zanu PF. It is not factually true because political membership of parties does not translate into huge numbers.
Here is where I am saying my narrative is different from everybody else’s. I believe we should push for the most popular candidate, who is not necessarily a political figure. It is the people, who must decide who should lead them and not a bunch of 10 to 15 men sitting at a table and forming a coalition. We should open up so that whoever feels they can lead Zimbabwe presents themselves to the people and then they decide. The narrative of a coalition is a male narrative, which assumes they know what the people of Zimbabwe want in terms of who must represent us. The issue is that we have to agree as the people of Zimbabwe on, who is to get rid of Mugabe and it should be a popular sentiment. It means we can also have independent candidates who have not necessarily been part of the current political set-up gunning for the Presidency and it must be someone popularly supported by all Zimbabweans. The majority of people that vote do not belong to political parties. In America they did it and that is how Donald Trump won the presidential elections because people were tired of politicians as leaders. We need to change the narrative.

ND: Is it possible to do that without opposition parties coalescing?
PM: Yes, we need to come together as Zimbabweans considering what happened with the #ThisFlag campaign by Pastor Evan Mawarire. Zimbabweans were not forced to gather and demonstrate at the Magistrates’ Courts. It is the situation in the country that forced them to do so. I am sad because even civic society is complicit. I would have expected a huge debate from them around this issue. Civic society talks of including people in governance issues, and they should be telling opposition political parties that whoever leads should come from the people. Civic society should be saying we are coming together with an agreed framework and will show Zanu PF what free and fair elections mean. We have seen it happening in other countries and this is an opportune time to remove Zanu PF by mobilising a popular sentiment in the people. We cannot give this right to a group of 10 to 15 men. On what basis do they have the right to decide for the people and say we need a coalition?

ND: So, how do the people then come up with a popular candidate to represent them, including those who are not politicians?
PM: It is very easy. Civic society organisations must look for resources for a parallel election, or a pre-run to elections where that popular candidate is chosen. They can group up, as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, and do elections at constituencies. Those interested in leading can submit their names for nomination. It may sound ridiculous, but the entrance of Trump was on that basis because people were sick of the establishment and politicians. So our way out may even be getting someone who is not even a practicing politician.
Civic society can use the 210 constituencies to do this pre-run election, and this method can even be used for Parliament so that capable people submit their names for elections and we avoid having people sitting for five years without uttering a word in Parliament. I am not against males, but even in the media, it is their voices that have been articulated and they are the ones talking about a coalition of opposition parties. It is Tsvangirai, Simba Makoni (Mavambo Kusile Dawn), Tendai Biti (People’s Democratic Party), and Welshman Ncube (MDC), and sometimes Joice Mujuru (Zimbabwe People First) who are given a chance to speak.
Women’s voices must also be heard on this issue because it is everybody including those that do not belong to political parties that are needed to deal with Mugabe in 2018. Every candidate should be subjected to a popular vote.
ND: Do you then consider yourself a suitable candidate?
PM: I certainly do not think 2018 is a year for me to run for the Presidency. I have no resources — I do not even own a tuckshop. I will not be presenting myself in 2018 to contest for the Presidency, but later I will certainly be interested in running. That is why I admire Hillary Clinton. She lost the elections, but she planned to run for several years. You do not just wake up saying you want to be a President. You plan.News day

Joylene Mtandwa | The Harare City Council has lost over $180 000 in a scam involving three senior officials employed in the city’s Treasury department, through the issuance of fake Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS).

According to an audit report dated 26 October, 2016, the three officials (names withheld because they are yet to be arrested) prejudiced the local authority of $178 594.28, through receipting fake RTGS transactions crediting several rate payers’ accounts.

The audit report, states tha the three senior Council officials targeted private business entities and individuals who owed huge amounts to the local authority in unpaid rates and demanded bribes to cancel their debts.

“Two Harare City Treasurer’s department clerical officers connived with an Error correction clerk in-charge of the RTGS office asked for huge kickbacks (as high as 50% of the reduced amount) from rate payers or their representatives to have their account balances reduced,” read part of the audit report.

“The Council employees did this by recruiting and receiving the kick backs and then created fake RTGSs which they later authenticated and caused to be receipted,” said the audit.

The audit report said an investigation into the issue was made after a tip off from a concerned rate payer whose account had been fraudulently credited with $2000.

Harare City Council is owned over $55 million by residents in unpaid rates, by government departments, private businesses and individuals and ordinary residents.

In a bid to recover the owed revenue, the Bernard Manyenyeni led local authority has engaged some debt collectors to attached debtors’ properties.

Terrence Mawawa, Mberengwa | Traditional leaders and villagers here have petitioned  President Robert Mugabe and Transport Minister Joram Gumbo over the poor state of roads in the area.

Mberengwa District, considered to be a Zanu PF stronghold has atrocious roads. Despite voting for the ruling party and Mugabe for the past 36 years the people of Mberengwa have been totally neglected by the veteran leader’s government. Chiefs Mposi, Mudavanhu, Maziofa and Mataruse confirmed the development adding villagers were signing petitions to be send to Mugabe and Gumbo .

“Villagers are compiling petitions to be send to President Mugabe and Minister Gumbo respectively.The purpose of writing the petitions is to express displeasure at the poor state of roads in our area. It is on record that funds meant for the rehabilitation of roads in our area were abused by known individuals and government officials.This issue has to be resolved as a matter of urgency,”said Chief Mudavanhu.

The traditional leaders said the petitions would be delivered to Mugabe and Gumbo by the end of the month. Asked to comment on the matter,Gumbo was quick to defend his boss Mugabe and blamed sanctions for the lack of meaningful development in the area. “Government has no funds at the moment but if we get funding we will revive the projects.You all know that our country was affected by sanctions imposed by the west,”said Gumbo.

Angry villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com said they were tired of being used by Zanu PF. “These politicians just want our votes yet they do not care about our welfare.Mugabe himself must come to Mberengwa and see what is happening here,”said an elderly man from Chaza Village.

In the latest development regarding the recently suspended mobile data tariff increases, Econet Wireless has published a statement on its Facebook pagedefending its actions, pointing out how it reversed the data tariffs increase on its own and accusing Supa Mandiwanzira, Zimbabwe’s Minister of ICT, of duplicity and misleading actions aimed at discrediting the mobile operator.

In its statement, Econet Wireless says that its board gave the directive to reverse the data tariff increases on the 12th of January 2017. Part of the statement reads,

On 12 January 2017, when it became clear that an exercise that was driven by the Regulator with the full knowledge and participation of The Minister and that we thought would contribute towards leveling the playing field was in fact a farce and a setup intended by the Minister and our competitors who are under the Minister’s control to portray the new Director General of POTRAZ in a bad light and to portray Econet as a gluttonous and insensitive to the public our Board directed us to reverse the data tariff increases. We wrote and delivered a letter to POTRAZ on 12 January 2017 in which we indicated that we would revert to our old tariffs if the regulator did not ensure that all the operators complied with its regulatory notice by end of day 12 January 2017.

The statement goes on to state that Supa Mandiwanzira’s statement issued on the 12th of January 2017 claiming that he had reversed the tariffs was false. Econet has accused Mandiwanzira of duplicity and reversing the gains made in telecoms ever since his appointment. – Techzim

ONE of the two Bulawayo maids who allegedly stole $28 000 from their employer wept uncontrollably in court yesterday pleading to be released on bail as conditions in remand prison were unbearable for her.

Eunice Mabhena (50) and Florence Phiri (43) allegedly stole the money from their employer, Mrs Permian Macheka, in October last year.

Mrs Macheka of Hillside suburb had allegedly sold 52 head of cattle to raise the money.

The two have been in remand prison since October 28.

Bulawayo Magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushowe yesterday further remanded the pair in custody to February 3.

Phiri yesterday wailed in court as she pleaded to be remanded out of custody.

“Please Your Worship, may we be allowed to go home. Jail life is difficult. May we come to court from our homes,” she said in-between tears.

Phiri, who initially pleaded guilty to theft saying she had used part of the money to buy her husband a car as a Christmas present, yesterday recanted her earlier statement and denied knowledge of the vehicle.

“Your Worship I only took $5 500. I used              $1 800 to buy a car as a Christmas present for my husband. I don’t know who took the rest of the money.

May this court please remand me out of custody,” said Phiri during her initial court appearance last October.

However, yesterday she denied knowledge of the motor vehicle and asked to be remanded out of custody.

The investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Vhingirai, testified that a Hyundai Excel was recovered at Phiri’s rural home as per her initial statement.

“Your Worship the accused person is now just trying to distance herself from her statement. She is the one who told us about the car. We found her husband driving it. He confirmed that accused bought it for him,” said Sgt Vhingirai.

The other maid, Mabhena, through her lawyer Mr Vuyile Mpofu of V J Mpofu and Associates, maintained her plea of not guilty.

Mr Mpofu said the police were not thorough in their investigations and had allowed Mrs Macheka to interfere with investigations.

“Complainant was with the police officers all the time investigations were being done. She went with them to Mabhena’s house. She even took her to the toilet away from the police officers and searched her. Her husband is the one who told police officers that the serial numbers on the money recovered matched those of the money that had remained in the briefcase.

“None of the officers verified that. You have agreed that if police involve civilians, especially complainants in investigations, there could be a possibility of attaining biased results,” he said.

For the State, Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza said investigators found Mabhena with $700 while her alleged accomplice Phiri was found with $100 of the stolen money.

He said Mrs Macheka sold 52 head of cattle and kept $28 600 in her bedroom.

“On October 19, complainant added  $2 400 to her $28 600.

“On October 24 she realised that $28 000 was missing and she made a report to the police.

“Phiri was found in possession of $100 and Mabhena had $700 and the serial numbers of the notes tallied with those of the stolen money,” said Mr Jaravaza. – state media

CHINA this week urged the Zimbabwean government to respect property rights, address concerns over policy inconsistency and clarify its indigenisation policy to attract much-needed investment into the country.

In an interview in Harare on Monday, the day President Robert Mugabe met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, China’s acting ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhao Baogang said although relations between the two countries are “very strong”, China had concerns over the government’s policy inconsistencies “particularly in the mining sector”.

He added that the Chinese have been engaging the Zimbabwean government over the issue for some time.

Despite Zimbabwe and China signing a number of mega deals including the Kariba South Power Extension project, relations between the two countries took a dip last year after government forced all diamond miners in Chiadzwa to cease operations. The companies were forcibly moved without securing their equipment.

Government, through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, then merged all mining companies into the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) where it has majority shareholding.

Chinese companies Anjin and Jinan were affected by the merger, angering authorities from the Asian nation, who view the move as an assault on property rights and a violation of the investment agreement the companies had with government.

“We have very strong relations and our co-operation is getting much stronger. Certainly we also have some challenge, that is the inconsistency of the policy and sometimes this is also aggravated by the Zimbabwean minister(s). So this is maybe one of the concerns and certainly Chinese business may know better than me,” said Zhao.

He said they were engaging the government over Chinese investments, adding the country needs to put favourable conditions to attract foreign direct investment.

“Yes the discussion is always under way and we disagree now (sic) for quite some time. Whenever we have any concerns on indigenisation or economic policies of the government we will talk to the government. Now we have successful discussions with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and also the Economic Planning (ministry),” he said.

“We also have had fruitful discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We believe that we continue with the discussions and I think that Zimbabwean government will take our concerns into consideration and they will create more and more favourable conditions and policies for foreign investments including Chinese investors.”

Zhao expressed optimism that Chinese concerns over Anjin and Jinan’s investments will be resolved “soon” although he declined to reveal how the negotiations had gone and what the likely outcome would be.

“We have been holding discussions with the Zimbabwean government on this issue on the diamond issue. I think that quite soon it will be resolved,” he said.

Several ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe including the European Union, British, French, Australian and Danish diplomats, among others, have raised concern over the indigenisation policy, property rights violations and Harare’s policy inconsistencies.

Numerous business delegations, which have visited the country over the years have also called for policy clarity and respect for property rights.

Despite the warm relations between the two countries, Chinese officials have consistently raised critical issues that President Robert Mugabe and his government are uncomfortable dealing with. For example, when Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa visited Beijing in 2015, the Chinese raised fears about Mugabe’s age and lack of Zanu PF leadership renewal.

They also raised concern over Zimbabwe’s investment climate and ease of doing business, the country’s relations with Western countries, government’s failure to tackle corruption and bureaucratic red tape, among other thorny issues.
The Chinese also said they are worried about Zimbabwe’s high political, economic and country risks, as well as poor credit rating. – Independent

 Terrence Mawawa, Mberengwa |In a gory murder incident that has stunned the whole community, a local woman ran amok and murdered her sister’s two -year-old son . Arleta Mafuramoyo was not asked to plead when she appeared before Mberengwa Magistrate, Sengster Tavengwa facing murder charges.

The incident happened in Batanai Village, under Chief Bvute in Mberengwa District on Christmas Eve. According to the state, the child and his six-year-old sibling were left in Mafuramoyo ‘s custody while their parents, visited some relatives during the festive season.

The two-year-old boy complained of hunger since Mafuramoyo had not fed the two children. Incensed by the child’s loud wailing, Mafuramoyo grabbed an axe and beheaded the toddler as his sibling watched. She then advanced towards the six-year-old child and struck him on the leg with the axe. The matter has been referred to the High Court with the magistrate also saying the accused should be examined for mental illness.

Local villagers said they were shocked by the incident. “How can someone kill an innocent child just like that?It is really shocking and unbelievable. Nobody expected her to kill her sister’s child. It is really painful. The parents of child were completely puzzled by the callous act.They are yet to come to terms with the horrific act ,”said a local villager.

THE cost of living increased by 0.69 percent last month to $577,97 for a family of six per month  due to fluctuation of fuel prices and the introduction of bond notes.

A survey by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) carried out using an urban low-income earner for a family of six, showed that the cost of living increased from $574.01 to $577.97 by end of December 2016.

“As CCZ, we assume that the slight increase in prices could be attributed to various factors and these include fluctuation of fuel prices and the introduction of bond notes in circulation. Some supermarkets have taken advantage of these circumstances to increase the prices of basic commodities,” said the consumer watchdog.

The council said the food basket increased by $4.72 or 3.68 percent from $128.34 by end-November 2016 to $133.06 by end of December.

“The price of detergents decreased by $0.76 or 6.51 percent from $11.67 to $10.91. Increases were recorded in products that include flour by $0.02 from $1.85 to $1.87, meat by $0.59 from $3.98 to $4.57, cooking oil by $0.10 from $1.39 to $1.49, and mealie-meal by $0.70 from $11.25 to 11.95,” it said.

CCZ, however, said during the period under review some products prices remained unchanged.

For example, prices for tea leaves, bread, sugar, fresh milk, and salt remained stable from end of September 2016 figures.

The consumer watchdog said it continues to encourage consumers to shop conscientiously and to always buy certified products.

“Where the products are not certified, consumers should exercise their right to information by carefully examining the products they are buying. They should ensure that the products are well labelled, packaged and provided with vital information such as manufacturing and expiry dates and ingredients used in the make-up of the products,” said CCZ. – State Media

TROUBLE is brewing within the opposition MDC-T over reports that the party has decided to back an independent candidate in the forthcoming Bikita West by-election.

MDC-T Masvingo provincial chairperson, James Gumbi early this week reportedly claimed the opposition party would now throw its weight behind independent candidate, Innocent Muzvimbiri instead of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First’s (ZimPF) Kudakwashe Gopo.

But yesterday, MDC-T dismissed Gumbi’s declarations. Spokesperson Obert Gutu said there was no official position or resolution that the opposition movement would back “any candidate in the by-election”.

“We are not participating in the Bikita West by-election because of our no reforms no election resolution and I can authoritatively say, on behalf of the party, that there is no official endorsement of any candidate in the Bikita West by-election,” he said.

Sources in the MDC-T said Gumbi was being motivated by factional politics. NewsDay Weekender heard that a faction within the MDC-T viciously opposed to a coalition, particularly with Mujuru, could have been behind the plot to “muddy the waters for our colleagues”.

“This is factional politics at play, there are people in the party, who want to thwart the formation of the coalition because they fear they would lose their positions in a coalition,” the source said.

In a clear indication that all was not well and the reported talks on a coalition between MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Mujuru could yet face internal resistance, Gumbi stuck to his guns insisting his party was backing Muzvimbiri.

“I can’t be naïve to say that I received an instruction from the top to back the independent candidate if I did not. It’s not my business to be lying,” he said somewhat exasperated and promising to get to the bottom of the issue.

He, however, refused to name the person, who had given him the instruction.

ZimPF spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire, on Thursday said his party was working well with MDC-T supporters and structures. Mawarire said media reports that the MDC-T had ditched them were not true.

“Our people on the ground have not told us anything to that effect. What we know is we have their (MDC-T) support on the ground and we look forward to have president Tsvangirai joining us on January 19 at our star rally,” he said.

ZimPF face Zanu PF’s Beauty Chabaya in what could be a litmus test for the Mujuru-led party which enters into its first election since it was formed.

Also eyeing the constituency are independent candidate, Heya Shoko, a former legislator for the area and Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe’s Terrence Makumbo. – Newsday

The country is expected to receive heavy rains from tomorrow up to Tuesday next week with a possibility of flooding in some areas, the Meteorological Services Department has warned.
The weather organisation has since advised responsible authorities to be high on alert as many people might need assistance.

The Civil Protection Unit has also warned of possible landslides in hilly slopes in susceptible areas. Farmers are likely to suffer heavy leaching and damage to their crop as a result of flooding and heavy downpours.

In a statement yesterday, the MSD said heavy rains in excess of 90 millimetres in 24 hours were expected in Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Manicaland and Masvingo and advised the general public to take the heightened warning seriously.
“The MSD wishes to alert the public that potentially, heavier rain is expected to affect much of Mashonaland Central and East, Manicaland as well as north of Masvingo from Saturday to Tuesday. Already the ground in some areas is well soaked and therefore this further aggravates the risk of flooding in these areas.
“We are alerting responsible authorities such as Civil Protection Unit, Police, local authorities, rescue services including power utilities, to be on the alert for the duration of this period,” he said.
The department said the heavy rains would be caused by a series of low pressure systems, both in the lower and middle levels of the atmosphere which is expected to enter the country through Manicaland from Mozambique.
“This combination is conducive for increasing and squeezing the moisture in the country, hence the increased precipitation,” said the MSD.
CPU acting director Ms Sibusisiwe Ndlovu, said the heavy rains would significantly increase the risk of flooding as the ground was already soaked.
“In most parts of the country run off will be high. There will be increased landslides in hilly slopes in susceptible areas.
“The risk of flooding is likely to be severe for areas that usually flood, low lying areas, wetlands areas close to rivers and major tributaries, areas close to river confluences and areas that have already experienced flash flooding this season,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu said people in Manicaland and Muzarabani should take particular care and necessary precautions during this period.
In Manicaland, all communities living in the eastern highlands, particularly Chimanimani, Nyanga, Mutare, Matasa and all living in Middle Sabi should be on alert. In Mashonaland Central, all communities in Muzarabani should take necessary precautions.
“People should keep informed of weather bulletins and closely monitor levels particularly at night and timely move to higher ground.
“Children should be supervised at play, on their way to schools and from school. It is also advisable to monitor houses in case they succumb to excessive moisture. Do not attempt to cross flooded rivers and streams whether on foot or by car,” she said.
Agriculture expert, Mr Ivan Craig, said the heavy rains were a challenge this period as the ground was already saturated.
“Heavy rains will increase waterlogging, leaching and washing away of the top soil and nutrients. Farmers will not be able to apply fertiliser, herbicides or pesticides as they will be washed away.
“If the rains are associated with heavy winds and hail they will also thresh crops especially maize,” he said.
Mr Craig said the rains were positive in that water table would rise, dams would fill up and rivers would start flowing.
The MSD forecast normal to above normal rainfall during the 2016/17 season.
This was followed by advisory from the SADC Regional Early Warning Unit.
According to the SADC Early Warning Unit, it was crucial that early planning and mitigation programmes be put in place so that communities, businesses and respective countries likely to be impacted prepare as speedily as possible to face the potential threatening of the extreme weather and climate events.
The experts also warned of high chances of water borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid among others.
There is also the increase of vector borne diseases such as Malaria.
Harare has already suffered as two people have died of water-borne diseases.
Farmers and supporting agencies were advised to be prepared for incidences of pests and diseases for both crops and livestock. This is especially relevant in areas where specific pests and diseases tend to occur under conditions of high rainfall.