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.

Acting President Phelekezela Mphoko has described the role played by the late former President of Iran, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, as one that inspired many Zimbabweans to redouble their efforts in fighting for their independence and nationhood. The former Iran leader died of a heart attack on January 8 in Tehran at the age of 82.

Acting President Mphoko relayed his message when he signed the book of condolences at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Harare on Thursday.

“The people of the Republic of Zimbabwe will remember the cleric as a revolutionary who played a prominent role in the Iranian Revolution of 1979, a revolution which inspired many Zimbabweans to redouble their efforts in fighting for their own independence and nationhood,” he said.

“Zimbabwe recalls the many contributions that the great statesman made to the political and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Over the last 38 years, former President Rafsanjani served as President, Speaker of Parliament, acting Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces during the eight-year Iraqi imposed war on Iran, Head of the Assembly of Experts, and the Expediency Council.

The late fourth president of the Islamic Republic visited Zimbabwe in 1996.

Acting President Mphoko said President Rafsanjani contributed immensely to economic cooperation between Zimbabwe and Iran.

“As the President of the Islamic Republic, the late Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani visited us in 1996 and immensely contributed to economic cooperation between our two countries, including the establishment of joint venture partnerships,” he said.

“The Government and people of Zimbabwe will cherish for years to come the memory of this revolutionary and friend of our country. May his soul rest in peace.”

Three days of national mourning were declared in Iran and millions of Iranians gathered at the former president’s funeral to bid him farewell.

He was buried at the holy shrine of Imam Khomeini in southern Tehran.

During a remembrance ceremony held in Harare, where leaders of varying sectors joined Iranians in mourning the death of President Rafsanjani, Chief Kamba of Makoni District said Zimbabwe was aware that the Iranian Revolution intended to make Iranians in charge of their own lives.

“We, therefore, do remember Ayatollah Rafsanjani as a leading figure in that regard, bringing about the necessary reforms that make the Iranians a proud, very resilient people we have come to know and appreciate,” he said.

“As people under sanctions and looking forward to the lifting of those sanctions, we, therefore, have got something in common because we are also under sanctions.

“And we are looking forward to the lifting of those sanctions to ease the lives of Zimbabweans.” – State media

The November 2016 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Advanced Level results are out and the 41 549 candidates may collect them from Monday.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora made the announcement during the celebrations to mark the release of the results held at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare yesterday.

“The Advanced Level candidates are worth celebrating, cognisant of the fact that they are the few candidates creamed off after the Ordinary Level examinations, and the general expectation is that the results are high.

The number of candidates who sat for the November 2016 A-Level examination was 41 549, compared to 41 653 candidates in November 2015.

In 2015, the number of candidates who obtained a Grade E or better in one or more subjects was 38 873. This gives a percentage of 93.3 percent, while in 2016, the number of candidates who obtained Grade E or better in one or more subjects was 38 924. This translates to a 93,7 percent pass rate.

A total of 33 139 school candidates wrote two or more subjects in 2016, which is an increase of 1,8 percent from the 32 550 who wrote in 2015. The 2016 school candidates registered 88.7 percent pass rate more than 87.6 percent recorded in 2015.

A total number of 7 337 private candidates wrote two or more subjects in 2016, a decrease of 7.8 percent from the 7 962 who wrote in 2015.

The pass rate for 2016 private candidates registered at 63.9 percent more than the 63.7 percent recorded in 2015.

“Grading standards for each A-Level subject did not change. The standards have been benchmarked to previous ones and maintained in all subjects,” said ZIMSEC board chair person Professor Levi Nyagura.

Dr Dokora said he was happy that candidates with special needs had also been examined by ZIMSEC.

“As a ministry, we are also proud that ZIMSEC has provided for special needs candidates who wrote the Advanced Level examinations. The categories of these include Braille candidates and enlarged print candidates.

“Candidates in these two categories performed well in Divinity which seems to have been the most popular subject. The assessment of special needs candidates is also provided for in the new curriculum’s inclusive approach in terms of the teaching and learning approaches,” he said.

The minister expressed gratitude towards all the staff involved in the examinations process.

“Today we are not only celebrating the release of the results but also the increase in the pass rate. We do not take this increase for granted, but we acknowledge the dedicated service of our teachers who work tirelessly to improve the results.

“Notwithstanding, these results are a product of quality assessment by ZIMSEC. They are coming out without public uproar on examination leakages or misconduct. To this end, allow me to commend ZIMSEC for work well done.

“The 2016 Advanced Level results are dependable and are a reflection of commitment to quality performance measurement by ZIMSEC. To the candidates themselves, we say congratulations on work well done,” he said. – State Media

A MAN from Bulawayo allegedly impregnated his 15-year-old sister-in-law to spite his “disrespectful” wife.

The man (27) from Njube suburb appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube charged with having sexual intercourse with a minor.

He pleaded not guilty claiming he had been misinformed that his sister-in-law was 17 years old.

The minor, whose name has been withheld for ethical reasons, is in Form Three at a city college.

In his defence, the man told the magistrate that he fell for his sister-in-law because he had been having problems with his wife.

“I was having a dispute with my wife in 2016 and I no longer loved her. I ended up having an affair with my sister-in-law and that is how she fell pregnant,” he said.

Magistrate Ncube asked him if he was aware that the juvenile was still at school and he said he was.

Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said the two fell in love sometime in 2015.

“In September 2015, on a day unknown to the prosecutor, the accused person proposed love to the complainant and she accepted the proposal. They started having a sexual relationship until she fell pregnant,” he said.

The alleged illicit affair came to light in July last year when the minor fell pregnant. The minor told the court that her brother-in-law bribed her with a new pair of shoes after asking her to go and clean his                               house.

“My brother-in-law asked me to go to his and my sister’s house and clean it for them. I got there and cleaned and then he bought me a pair of shoes as a token of appreciation. He told me that he liked me and then we started dating. After I got pregnant, he approached my parents and told them he was responsible for the pregnancy,” she said.

The minor’s mother reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused person. – State Media

Some prominent business people have lined up to deny that they want to challenge President Mugabe next year.

Among the names that were thrown around were Econet Wireless founder Mr Strive Masiyiwa, business moguls Dr James Makamba, Anthony Mandiwanza and Calisto Jokonya.
In a statement yesterday, Dairibord Zimbabwe chairman Mr Mandiwanza said he does not have any presidential credentials.

A WOMAN from Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo was yesterday morning found dead with several stab wounds on the face and body in a suspected rape and murder case.

A resident stumbled on Mrs Ivy Sibanda’s body at about 8.45AM in a bushy area between Hawkflight and Hlalani Kuhle stands.

Mrs Sibanda, a member of the Zaoga church who is thought to be in her late 30s, is suspected to have been raped and murdered on her way home from a church service on Thursday evening.

Churchmates described her as a God- fearing woman. Mrs Sibanda’s body was found in some shrubs near a road. She had allegedly agreed to meet her husband after the church service, but she did not show up.

Her husband, identified only as Mr Sibanda, is alleged to have waited for her at the agreed spot and when she failed to show up, he allegedly called her, but her phone was not being answered.

On the same night, some residents are alleged to have heard a woman screaming near the spot the body was found, but no one went to investigate.

The Cowdray Park community was shaken after waking up to the horrific scene of Mrs Sibanda’s half naked body with several stab wounds on the face and neck.

When The Chronicle arrived at the scene yesterday, police were examining the body, while scores of residents and motorists watched in shock.

Her undergarments were torn while her bruised body was in a pool of blood. Her cellphone, which was still at the scene, was still ringing at intervals.

Some of Mrs Sibanda’s churchmates and residents wept as her body was being carried away by the police. Zaoga Church Cowdray Park District coordinator, Mr Medicine Paradza, expressed grief over the incident.

He said it was a painful experience for the Sibanda family and the church.
“Mrs Sibanda was a member of our church and close to my family. We used to drop her home every evening after church but yesterday we had visitors and we didn’t manage to go to church.

“I got the shocking news this morning that she had been murdered and her body was found near the road. I can’t believe this. I don’t understand why somebody would do such a thing,” said Mr Paradza.

He described Mrs Sibanda, who has left behind her husband and three children, as a God-fearing woman who never missed church services.
Mr Paradza said the Sibandas were a happy family.

Their youngest child is said to be less than two years old, but the ages of her older children could not be established immediately.
Ward 28 Councillor Collet Ndlovu said Mr Sibanda got worried when his wife failed to show up as agreed.

“Mr Sibanda started getting worried when his wife didn’t show up. He kept calling her but her cellphone went unanswered until he went to the police to make a report. A report was made to the police after Mrs Sibanda’s body was found in the shrubs on the roadside,” said Cllr Ndlovu.

He said there were criminals terrorising residents in the area and appealed to the police to increase patrols, especially in areas that have no electricity.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango could not immediately comment on the matter. – State Media

LAWYERS representing Lebanese businessman Jamal Ahmed insist that First Lady Grace Mugabe invaded their client’s private property and is now using “rogue elements in the Zimbabwe Republic Police” to shield herself over a US$1,35 million diamond ring scandal.

In a letter dated January 11 2017 and addressed to the Police Headquarters legal department, Beatrice Mtetwa poked holes in the court submissions by President Robert Mugabe’s wife and the police. Mtetwa argued that the illegal occupants at Ahmed’s houses are acting on behalf of Grace, and querying why the police had not divulged that they had occupied the houses when the Sheriff of the High Court requested a police escort in his bid to evict the occupiers.

She also questioned why the occupants of the houses had referred them to the First Lady and her son Russell Goreraza.

“A provisional order per the attached copy was granted by the High Court on the 21st (of) December 2016 for the forthwith eviction of all those who occupy our clients’ premises,” wrote Mtetwa.

“Although the Sheriff was requested to effect the eviction as at 4th (of) January 2017, he has regrettably not done so under the subterfuge that he awaited the provision of escorts from the Officer Commanding District Harare (Dispol Harare).”

Police escort was sought after Grace’s security personnel allegedly threatened to shoot the Sheriff of the High Court, Macauff Madega, when he delivered an eviction order to the First Family’s Blue Roof palace in the Helensvale area of Borrowdale suburb on December 22 last year.

Madega last week wrote a letter to the Officer Commanding Harare requesting police escort in his bid to evict the illegal occupants of Ahmed’s premises.

“We hereby seek police assistance to enforce the attached writ and order. We want to carry out the ejectment of the occupants of 409 Harare Drive Pomona, 18 Cambridge Road Avondale and 75 King George Road Avondale,” wrote Madega.

Mtetwa said “whilst awaiting the eviction, we received, on the 10th (of) January opposing papers meant for the return.”

“These opposing papers include affidavits from Superintendent Kennedy Fero, the 3rd respondent in the High Court application and one from Superintendent Nyambo Viera of the Criminal Investigation Law and Order,” she wrote.

“As gleaned from these affidavits, Fero claims that our clients’ properties were occupied in terms of directives he received from his superiors within the police force and that our clients’ staff and other occupants of the said premises were removed from the premises for their own security and safety.

“Regrettably, his affidavit does not state the law under which he acted which allows the police to literally take over private property without any form of due process and to evict occupants without any form of due process and without explaining the reasons for this.”

Mtetwa also stated that following the receipt of instructions from their clients, she addressed letters to respondents and the occupants of various properties on November 23 2016.

“Those occupying No. 409 Harare Drive refused to open the gate to the premises other than to refer us to Russell Goreraza and the First Lady. None of these people identified themselves as members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” Mtetwa wrote.

“From 409 Harare Drive we proceeded to 18 Cambridge Road and we were attended to by Obed William whose immediate superior was Kennedy Fero, one of the First Lady’s bodyguards.”

Mtetwa also said when she requested Fero’s phone number, she was furnished with it and immediately called him.

“We called Fero advising that our client had been left with no choice but to litigate and whether he and his principal, the First Lady, appreciated the bad publicity which would follow such unnecessary litigation. During this conversation Fero did not at any stage advise that the First Lady had nothing to do with the occupations. Neither did he advise that the premises had been occupied as a result of police action,” the letter reads.

“Instead he pleaded with us to convince our client to refund the US$1 350 000 and that the properties would be vacated on receipt of payment. We pointed out that the occupation was unlawful and that the First Lady could not force the payment of the money through illegal occupations.

“If Fero had been acting in terms of a police investigation and the occupation was at the instance of the police, he most certainly would have advised me about this and he would not have ventured into issues related to the dispute between our client and the First Lady. That he made no reference to the police and their now claimed investigations coupled with the fact that I was not referred to Superintendent Viera speak volumes about the newly invented claims.”

In the letter, Mtetwa also states: “Instead, within hours of speaking to Fero I was called by a go-between who interceded on behalf of the First Lady requesting for an amicable and private settlement of the matter, a request that was acceded to and a draft agreement specifically included that the First Lady would cause her agents who were occupying the premises to “immediately vacate such properties”.

“This clause in the agreement was not in any way contested and it was only after the provisional order had been granted that the go-between only requested a change to the repaying terms so that US$650 000 would be paid as the first instalment.

Mtetwa went further to say: “Even at this late stage, nothing was said about the occupation having been at the instance of the police as a result of whatever investigations they might have been conducting.”

In Grace’s opposing affidavits, Viera states that he has been investigating Ahmed for months.

“The investigations of this individual have been ongoing for some months and are wide ranging,” he said.

“What is under investigation are allegations of theft, fraud, property acquisitions, money laundering, contravention of exchange control laws, his immigration status, purchase of minerals, loans he acquired and generally all those he might have done business with locally and the role each of the people might have played to facilitate his illegal activities,” reads the affidavit. Viera’s affidavit also states that: “While carrying out investigations which are advanced and which include the protection of properties under his portfolio in various vehicles, we came to learn of the theft/fraud he perpetrated against the First Lady.

“Coupled with all the other investigation material at hand, we applied and got a warrant of arrest against this individual. We alerted Interpol to assist us in extraditing him from any country he might be residing presumably Belgium, Dubai or Europe in general.”

However, Mtetwa is emphatic that Grace is using the police to shield herself.

“We wish to make it very clear that we do not believe that the unlawful occupation of private property where occupants, including employees and their children were displaced, were at the instance of the police. In our respective view, these are attempts by a few rogue police officers to shield the First Lady and to sully the image of the police force,” She stated in the letter.

“However, in the event that the police are indeed involved in the unlawful occupations and the displacements of innocent employees and their children, this constitutes a clear violation of the police duty to maintain law and order and to protect the lives and property of the people.

“That Harare Dispol had in fact been asked to provide the Sheriff to provide escorts to undertake the eviction can only serve to demonstrate that the latest version is fiction deliberately designed to frustrate a court order in violation of the constitutional mandate to enforce the law without fear or favour.

“Should the police therefore be responsible for these illegalities, we kindly request that our clients’ premises be vacated forthwith and in any event within 24 hours of the delivery of this letter. We also request that the police pay damages for the unlawful occupation of the premises from the 14th of October to date of vacation of the premises.

“In addition there will be damages arising from the fact that our clients have not been able to conduct business since the 14th (of) October.” – Independent

IN a new twist to the race to appoint the country’s Chief Justice (CJ), the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has hit back at High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe’s interdict throwing out the commission’s decision to hold interviews for the soon-to-be vacant post arguing that the interviews were constitutional.

The battle to succeed Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku is now widely seen as political as warring factions within the ruling Zanu PF jostle for the highest post in the judiciary.

The JSC, in its submission filed at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, said Hungwe’s ruling was misdirected and a violation of the constitution.

On December 11, Hungwe issued an interdict preventing the JSC from proceeding with scheduled public interviews for the post of CJ on December 12 last year. The interviews went ahead after the JSC filed an appeal to stop the interdict.

Hungwe’s ruling followed a court application by a fourth year University of Zimbabwe law student Romeo Zibani seeking an order to stop the interviews arguing that the process was “unfair” and “not transparent”.

Zibani wants President Robert Mugabe to directly appoint the CJ, arguing that the procedure for appointing Chidyausiku’s successor is improper because it involves judges who sit on the JSC having a say in appointing the head of the judiciary.

In his judgment in the Zibani case, Hungwe indicated that the JSC had erred in refusing to wait and allow Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who oversees the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, to steer the changes to the constitution.

He further stated that the constitution itself is “work in progress”. Hungwe’s view was also that too much independence of even the judiciary may not be a good thing for the doctrine of the separation of powers since the former does not “function in a vacuum”.

However, the JSC, in heads of argument filed at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, said there was nothing wrong or unlawful in the process of the selection of the CJ as “eminent jurists on our jurisdiction were properly nominated in response to the advertisement”.

Represented by Addington Chinake of Kantor and Immerman Legal Practitioners, the JSC said under the new constitution an ordinary constitutional bill is not “a walk in the park”, hence Section 180 of the Constitution is the present law.

“In this matter Section 180 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe is clear. All the before the honourable court parties accept that it is in full force and effect. How can a valid constitutional provision which embodies in the supreme law of the land be the subject of an interdict?” argued the JSC.

The commission said the filing of the appeal and the consequent suspension of the interdict were entirely lawful and did not in any way constitute contemptuous conduct on the part of the JSC or its legal practitioners.

The commission said the office of the CJ will fall vacant on March 1 2017 and as a commission they adhered to the constitution as to how the vacancy is to be filled.

If they had failed to adhere to such provisions, the JSC said it would have acted unconstitutionally.

“It is respectfully submitted that no violation of the present constitution of Zimbabwe has occurred. There is no wrong which first respondent (Zibani) can object to and seek to interdict against; his rights have not been violated in any manner, shape or form. The court a quo therefore gravely misdirected itself in granting the interdict,” read the JSC’s heads of argument.

“Zimbabwean courts of law or constitutional bodies are not obliged (as held by the court a quo) to “follow the intentions of the policy maker”.

The JSC said High Court judges are also bound, not only to respect and follow the provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe but also to enforce such provisions insofar as they dictate procedures and substantive requirements to be carried out by any constitutional bodies including the commission.

“With respect, it is not within the ambit or scope of power or authority of a judge of the High Court to set aside a clear and unambiguous provision of the constitution of Zimbabwe or to purport to suspend it under the guise of pending executive intent,” JSC said.

“With respect, such a judicial officer would be in fact violating provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe by replacing the views of the people of Zimbabwe as recorded in the constitution of Zimbabwe with his or her own views.”

The JSC said the affidavit by permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice Virginia Mabhiza and the consequent amendment of the order issued by the court a quo have made it “apparent that the sole purpose for seeking the interdict was to allow a proposed Executive intention to amend section 180 of the constitution of Zimbabwe” time to play out.

“Is this a legitimate basis for obtaining an interdict? Can the operation of the constitution of Zimbabwe be suspended for this reason?” queried the JSC.

The JSC said Mnangagwa wrongly issued an Extraordinary Gazette (GN 434 of 2016) on December 23 which was re-gazetted through an Extraordinary Government Gazette Vol XCV No 1 on January 3 2017 under the signature of the Speaker of the National Assembly in compliance with Section 328 (3) of the constitution. – Independent

BIKITA- The ruling Zanu PF party in Masvingo has fired its councillor and the entire executive for ward 10 in Bikita West constituency ahead of the January 21 by-election.

The councillor Sign Mukanganwi and some of his ward executive members were shown the exit door by the ruling party this week for allegedly sympathising with the Joyce Mujuru led Zimbabwe  People First.

Mukanganwi and some of his ward executive members are  accused of discouraging villagers from attending Zanu PF rallies at the same time encouraging them to support the Zimbabwe People First political party.

Ironically the Zimbabwe People First political party led by former vice President  Mujuru is participating in the polls.

Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairman Amasa Nhenjana confirmed that they had dismissed Mukanganwi and some other party supporters for allegedly switching their loyalty to the Zimbabwe People First.

“We fired people we feel were de-campaigning our party,”said Nhenjana.

“We used to chant Zanu Pf slogans with them at meetings during the day but during the night they support the Zimbabwe People First,”claimed Nhenjana.

“We can not work with such people hence we have relieved them of their duties,”he added.

It could not be established how many people were fired from the ward but sources said that the entire executive was shown the exit door.

“The whole ward had turned to be a Zimbabwe People First ward and we were having problems as Zanu Pf in penetrating the area,”said a source.

Mukanganwi said he had not received an official letter of expulsion but said he had no regrets in quitting Zanu PF.

“I am yet to get the letter of expulsion but after all I have not regrets in leaving Zanu PF ,”he said.

It also emerged this week that Zanu Pf has resorted to vote buying ahead of the polls.

The minister of public service labour and social welfare Prisca Mupfumira and psychomotor activities in Eduction minister Josaya Hungwe have literally camped in Bikita west dishing out food to desperate and hungry villagers.

Nationl Constitutional Assembly Candidate Mardock Chivasa said vote buying was now the order of the day in Bikita West constituency.

“Zanu PF is moving around with food stuffs distributing it to hungry villagers at the same time telling them that they will die of hunger of they do not vote for it,”said Chivasa.

“We have raised the issue with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission but nothing has been done,”claimed Chivasa.

Villagers in Bikita West constituency go to the polls on January 21 to choose a legislator for the area.

The Zimbabwe People First , opposition political parties and independent candidates have vowed to wrestle the seat from Zanu PF

Six candidates  are participating in the polls. Zanu PF will wind up its campaign next Wednesday when acting President Mphelekezela Mpoko is expected to address a star rally.

Zimbabwe People First leader Joyce Mujuru is also expected to hold a star rally in the constituency before the election date.

The Bikita west seat fell vacant following the conviction of Munyaradzi Kereke for raping his 13 year old niece.

Staff Reporter| Reports coming through to ZimEye.com indicate that the Joice Mujuru led Zimbabwe People First party’s Matabeleland South Provincial Chairman Leonard Mathuthu was not dismissed from his position but resigned during a furor of allegations of sexually prying on female party members.

In a revelation to ZimEye.com by sources within the party’s hierarchy, Mathuthu is said to have chickened out of the party’s administration after some young ladies within the party had informed senior party officials that he was (allegedly) troubling them asking for sexual favours in exchange for positions within the party.

The ladies claimed they were also being continuously threatened by another female youth wing party member who is now a live-in-girlfriend of the former ZANU PF member.

In the run up to his resignation, Mathuthu was reported to have been under immense pressure from the National Executive for the slow growth of the party in the province and failure to account for some party membership card receipt books issued to the province.

It remains unclear who the party has seconded to take over the party chairmanship position in the province. – ZimEye

Staff Reporter | The National Chairman of the Morgan Tsvangirai led Movement for Decomcratic Change MDCT, Mr Lovemore Moyo says that ZANU PF thieving and thuggish leaders live for too long to continue to plunder the economy.

Speaking at the burial of the late MDCT Gwanda Central constituency chairman Readus Thlou in Gwanda yesterday, Moyo said that Zimbabwe is unfortunate to remain stuck with ZANU PF leaders who live for too long while people fighting for the good of the country die at an early age.

Moyo lamented the death of Thlou who he described as a hero of democracy who needs not to wait to be confirmed as a hero by anyone but his works in the fight for democracy proved him to be a hero.

Addressing the mourners, the MDCT Vice President Thokozani Khuphe encouraged her party’s members to accept the death of Thlou as a beginning of a new phase in the party and build on from where he left off.

Khuphe also described the late liberation war veteran as someone who the party looked up upon for future deployments in an MDCT government. Thlou was a holder of a Master of Science degree in Animal Health from the University Of Sierra Leone. He worked for government in the Ministry Of Agriculture before diverting into full-time opposition politics.

Thlou died at a private hospital in Bulawayo on Monday after a long battle with a heart problem and is survived by his wife and three children. Thousands of people from all walks of life attended the highly emotional funeral.

A GLEN VIEW woman has been hospitalized at Harare Central Hospital after she was attacked on Tuesday with an empty beer bottle by her husband for allegedly cheating with two men.

Masaga tracked Placdencia and caught her in the arms of Francis and assaulted her, drawing attention of people mainly from Glen View 8 Complex.She collapsed and Masaga disappeared from the scene after the arrival of police.

“Ndamuzvambaradza, you can follow her to Harare Central Hospital where she is receiving treatment chikomba chacho chandifonera kuti ndokwavari,” said Masaga.

“She lied to me that she had been invited by her relative based in South Africa and the previous day she went to town and collected R800 she claimed was sent for her transport costs.“I discovered from her WhatsApp conversations that her boyfriend in South Africa was the one who had sent the money and they were expecting to meet at Beitbridge border post around 3am.

“I went through her mobile phone while she was taking a bath and discovered her illicit affair with Francis as well and their plan to meet at the industrial area to book at a lodge and have se_x before she went to South Africa.

“Francis also wanted his laptop he said belonged to his sister Mai Martin which was being used by my wife for the past year as she claimed that she was a student at Defence College.

“We have two children in the six years of our marriage and I wonder why she decided to cheat on me like that.

“For the past year, Francis was having se_x with my wife and I nearly attacked him as well but I quickly realised that my wife was to blame and I treated her accordingly, call me if you want to hear more about it or even see the love messages I discovered in her mobile phone,” said Masaga. – State Media

Television and radio personality, Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa, has vowed to continue with her hard-hitting talk shows.

The live feed video had over 20 000 viewers glued on as she sat down one on one with the rapper.

“I am in the media and I am here to stay for a while, be it print, radio, television or new media.

“My only desire is to grow, evolve and take our flag high,” said Ruvheneko.

The Iron Lady, as she’s been called for her grilling techniques, also said her plans in the media are to establish a credible fourth estate of the country.

“I want to be part of establishing a more professional, credible, valuable, diverse, non-partisan, investigative and generally entertaining fourth estate in Zimbabwe as we advance in this digital age and develop content that can be enjoyed anywhere in the world,” she said.

Her interview with Stunner was one of her most listened to talk show, after Pastor Evan Mawarire’s show on ‘the Platform’ which was her last one on radio.

Since she left ZiFM stereo late last year, she has been doing her television talk show My Future.

During her time on radio, she interviewed a lot of public figures who include her father Dr David Parirenyatwa, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Acie Lumumba, Wicknell Chivayo, Evan Mawarire only to mention a few. – State Media

Two Zimbabweans are vying for elections to top African Union positions at the continental body’s 28th summit schedule 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 the other one is Dr Pride Chigwedere who will contest the Commissioner for Social Affairs post.

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 as well as a BSc. (Honours), Politics and Administration,” she said 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 Africa, an attribute that is critical for the AU Commission setting. All the qualities outlined above, combined with my very strong passion for Africa, makes 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 (ScD) 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 extremely 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

Terrence Mawawa, Bikita | The First Lady Grace Mugabe hand picked Zanu PF Provincial chairman for Masvingo, Amasa Nhenjana, was last week attacked by drunk youths ahead of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit to Bikita.

As the Zanu PF factional battles continue to escalate, Nhenjana was assaulted by drunk party youth as he was addressing a closed door briefing ahead of Mnangagwa’s visit.

Nhenjana is fighting in Mrs Mugabe’s corner and party insiders say the Zanu PF provincial boss is pushing her agenda at all costs.

Party sources told ZimEye.com the drunk youths accused Nhanjana of working with the G-40 to discredit Mnangagwa. “Nhenjana was beaten up by party youths during a closed door briefing in Bikita before Mnangagwa’s rally.The youths pushed and shoved him before assaulting him. He was visibly crestfallen after the incident,”said a party source.

Nhenjana however, downplayed the incident saying the party youths only disrupted the briefing pushed him and threatened to assault him. “We were having a meeting prior to Acting President Mnangagwa’s visit. Obvious Madzivanyika came into the room we were holding the meeting and provoked me.I knew he had a group of youths outside the building. He even came with his hands in his pocket and I advised him to excuse us since we had a crucial briefing but he refused to leave the room,”said Nhenjana.

He added:”At the end of the meeting he charged at me and began to push me.As a result there was commotion.I restrained myself from retaliating because I knew he had been sent by some people to provoke me. I also knew that he was not alone.” Nhenjana claimed very senior politicians were battling to discredit him at every given opportunity since he was perceived to be an impediment to their ascendancy.

Terrence Mawawa, Zvishavane | An enraged motorist caused a stir at a roadblock along the Zvishavane- Buchwa Road,  when he threatened to bewitch a ZRP cop following an altercation over traffic fines.

The incident happened a few kilometres outside Zvishavane Town when the man, driving a South African registered motor vehicle fumed after being fined $30 dollars for a defunct back light. “How can you ask me to pay $30 for one faulty back light? You act as if you were not raised among Africans. I am going to strike your feet. I will visit a traditional healer who will fix you over this matter.You know very well that things are very difficult these days,”fumed the man.

The man vowed he would not leave the scene until he collected soil with the officer’s footprints. “These officers just want to extort money from travellers.We are tired of their corrupt activities. They mount too many roadblocks and they just want to get cash from drivers,”said a driver who witnessed the incident.

Although ZimEye.com could not establish the names of the concerned officer,it is understood the cop only left the place after pleading with the man to retract his threats. “The officer and his colleagues only left the place after pleading with the many to retract his threats,”said another eyewitness. No comment could be obtained from the police in Zvishavane.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s plan to amend the country’s Constitution smacks of sinister motives and bodes ill for good governance, the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has said.

In a hard-hitting statement, the lawyers’ body accused President Robert Mugabe’s administration of seeking to usurp the powers of the judiciary in the contentious issue of amending section 180 of the Constitution relating to the appointment of the Chief Justice.

Government, last month, gazetted the amendment Bill that seeks to give the President unfettered powers in appointing the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and Judge President after mere consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), unlike the current situation, where the vacancies are filled through a process that includes public interviews of all nominated persons.

The proposal has been met with criticism amid accusations that the ruling Zanu PF party’s internal power struggles to succeed Mugabe are the inspiration behind the move, with current Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku’s term coming to an end next month.

LSZ argues that if there are inadequacies in the current formula to select judges, it should be relooked, but the changes should not entail giving more power to “one person, who does not report to anyone”.

“In correcting the weaknesses, the executive need not usurp the functions currently reposed in the JSC and place them under an authority with no accountability to anyone or any other institution. The amendment does not seek to improve good governance,” the LSZ statement said.

The society further described the timing of the amendment and suspension of the Constitution as questionable.

“The timing of the amendment is equally disconcerting, as it comes when a constitutionally mandated process was already underway. In an unprecedented manner, the executive has sought the suspension of the operation of the Constitution in order to allow the proposed amendment to pass through. This approach is wrong and unlawful,” it added.

Last month, JSC conducted interviews for Chief Justice candidates nominated to succeed Chidyausiku, who turns 70 in February and is constitutionally barred from continuing as head of the judiciary. There were four nominations:
Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba, Judge of Appeal, Rita Makarau, Supreme Court Judge Paddington Garwe and Judge President George Chiweshe.

However, Justice Chiweshe did not attend the interviews after a University of Zimbabwe law student challenged the process and sought the amendment of the Constitution.

LSZ said the suspension of the judicial process was unlawful.

“In an unprecedented manner, the executive has sought the suspension of the operation of the Constitution in order to allow the proposed amendment to pass through. The approach is wrong and unlawful. The Constitution is the supreme law of Zimbabwe. All other laws and directives are subordinate to it,” LSZ said, urging the government to adopt a “progressive approach towards constitutional supremacy and desist from circumventing it through such capricious amendments”.

The JSC has since forwarded the three names of the candidates who participated to President Robert Mugabe to choose one for appointment. – Newsday

A THREE-MONTH job stay-away by National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) employees last year seems to have paid off as the parastatal has reportedly started honouring its salary obligations.

Early last year, more than 4 000 workers at the parastatal downed tools after they had gone 15 months without salaries, with the salary backlog reported to have hit $87 million.

The stalemate only ended when Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Prisca Mupfumira intervened and struck a deal with NRZ management to clear the salary arrears.

NRZ acting spokesperson, Martin Banda confirmed yesterday that workers at the parastatal were now receiving regular salaries, although they were still owed some money from the past two years.

“Every month, the workers have been getting something, and we are moving towards giving them their full salaries, as we generate more business. Everyone gets a predictable salary based on the volume and percentage,” he said.

Workers who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were happy with the new payment arrangement.

“As a worker, the fact that I am getting something at the end of the month gives me hope and motivation to keep reporting for duty,” an employee, who declined to be named said.

“I believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel and, hopefully, we might be getting our full salaries in future.”

Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Joram Gumbo has ordered NRZ to rationalise its workforce, as it was operating at 30% of its normal capacity. – Newsday

THE 22kg of gold valued at about $800 000 that was being transported by a Central Air Traffic Services (CATS) aircraft that crash-landed in Kennilworth, Bubi District on Tuesday, belongs to Bulawayo Mining Company also known as How Mine.

The mine is a subsidiary of Metallon Corporation Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited, which also owns Shamva, Redwing and Mazowe Mines.

Since the accident on Tuesday, there has been speculation as to where the gold was sourced from and its destination.

Metallon said yesterday that the plane that crash-landed was transporting the gold “on behalf of a private security firm” believed to be Fawcett Security.

The plane developed a mechanical fault soon after taking off from Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo forcing the pilot to crash-land.

“The plane was carrying gold from Bulawayo Mining Company (How Mine) for delivery to Fidelity Printers and Refiners in Harare,” said the company in a statement.

It said established protocol for such incidents was followed and all relevant security and aviation authorities were alerted with no major injuries sustained.

“The local Bubi police attended the scene and a helicopter from the Airforce of Zimbabwe’s Manyame Airbase was on hand to safely transport the cargo onward to Fidelity.”

The Cessna 206 Aircraft took off from the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport on Tuesday afternoon heading to Charles Prince Airport in Harare and had two people on board.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ), the pilot sent a distress signal soon after taking off when he noticed that the engine had developed a technical fault.

“The pilot communicated that he had lost the engine and indicated that he would glide and find a reasonable and safe place to land.

“Air traffic control at JM Nkomo Airport lost contact with the pilot and this triggered a search. The Air Force of Zimbabwe dispatched two aircraft and one helicopter to rescue the crew,” CAAZ acting general manager Mr Blessing Ngwarai said.

He said when the aircraft crash-landed, one person on board sustained minor injuries.

Villagers in Bubi said the aircraft flew a few metres above their homesteads before they heard a loud noise a few kilometres away. – State Media

A 16-YEAR-OLD boy from Lupane District in Matabeleland North province used a machete to circumcise himself after succumbing to peer pressure.

Matabeleland North provincial medical director Dr Nyasha Masuka said the teenager sustained injuries and was rushed to St Lukes Hospital for treatment.

He said the incident occurred last week and the teenager was admitted to the hospital for two days.

Dr Masuka said the boy who completed Form Four last year, was being mocked by his friends who were saying he was not going to attract girls because he was not circumcised.

“It seems the other boys were laughing at him for not being circumcised so he used a machete to circumcise himself and he injured himself in the process.

He was rushed to St Lukes Hospital where the health staff circumcised him,” said Dr Masuka.

He urged youths not to be pressured into making decisions that could endanger their lives.

Dr Masuka said he did not understand why the teenager tried to circumcise himself when voluntary male circumcision teams visit his home area regularly.

Lupane district medical officer Dr George Mature said the latest circumcision exercise was conducted in the boy’s area last month.

He said the boy comes from an area with diverse social groups hence it was difficult to penetrate.

“He comes from an area bordering Gokwe, Lupane and Binga and as such the area has different ethnic groups. After attempting to circumcise himself he was rushed to Kenyandavu Clinic which called an ambulance and rushed him to St Lukes Hospital,” he said.

Dr Mature said other patients at the hospital were shocked at the boy’s bravery. “The patients who were admitted with him were wondering how he managed to do it. The good thing is that he wounded the outer layer of the foreskin. So we had to keep him at the hospital to monitor him as he had used a clinically inappropriate tool so we were worried that it could have caused an infection,” said Dr Mature.

He said the boy was discharged after two days.

A 36-YEAR-OLD man from Bulilima allegedly raped his girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter in the presence of her two siblings aged four and six-years.

Vusumuzi Maphosa of Gwambe Village appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Taurai Manwere facing rape charges.

He was not asked to plead and remanded in custody to January 24.

Prosecuting, Mr Elisha Mazorodze said Maphosa broke into his girlfriend’s house at night on December 5 and allegedly raped the juvenile.

“On 5 December around 10PM Maphosa went to his girlfriend’s house while they were sleeping. He forced entry into the bedroom hut of his girlfriend’s children where the 11-year-old juvenile was sleeping with her two siblings aged four and six years old.

“He covered the juvenile’s mouth with his hand and removed her clothes. The juvenile struggled with Maphosa until her siblings woke up,” said Mr Mazorodze.

He said Maphosa threatened to beat up the three children if they screamed.

Maphosa then allegedly raped the 11-year-old girl and fled from the scene.

Mr Mazorodze said the two youngest children rushed to their mother’s bedroom hut and reported what had transpired. The matter was reported to the police resulting in Maphosa’s arrest.

In another matter, a 29-year-old umalayitsha also appeared before Mr Manwere for allegedly raping a woman from Mafa Village in Bulilima District.

Prosecuting, Mr Elisha Mazorodze said Calton Ngwenya allegedly raped the woman on December 19 at around 11PM.

Ngwenya was remanded in custody to January 25.

“On 19 December around 11PM the victim was at her father’s homestead where she was visiting. At night Ngwenya broke into the hut where she was sleeping.

“The woman woke up and realised that it was Ngwenya whom she normally contracted to ferry her property from South Africa to her rural home in Bulilima,” he said.

Mr Mazorodze said Ngwenya produced a knife and threatened to stab the woman if she screamed. He raped her once and then fled from the homestead.

The woman’s parents were alerted by their daughter’s screams but Ngwenya had disappeared into the darkness. – state media

THE body of a man who has been missing since Saturday was found in Entumbane suburb’s Enkwalini “pool of death” yesterday morning.

Dozens of people have drowned in the pool over the years.

A young boy who was fishing, stumbled on Ngoni Savanhu (43)’s body floating in the pool yesterday at around 10 AM.

The body had a rope tied to its neck, a scar on the forehead and several other wounds.

The deceased’s family said he had been missing since Saturday after he left the house at around 3AM, in an unusual move.

The deceased’s young brother, Mr Joseph Savanhu jnr said his brother was troubled.

He also described him as a very quiet and unpredictable man, making it difficult for them to tell what he was planning.

“He has been having serious problems of late after his wife left him with four children to take care of. He left home at around 3 AM, unlike him, and went away. We made a report to police on Sunday when he didn’t return home and today we were shocked to be told he was found dead,” said Mr Savanhu.

He said it was difficult to say whether his brother committed suicide or was murdered.

“We’re waiting for results of investigations to establish the cause of death. What we have been told is that his neck was tied with a rope,” said Mr Savanhu.

The deceased’s father,  Mr Joseph Savanhu said he was shocked and couldn’t comment on his son’s death.

A group of fishermen who continued with their fishing soon after the body was retrieved, said it was common to find a body in the pool of death.

“Suicides are now a daily thing here and we are not shaken at all. A young boy who was over that corner spotted the body and we called the police.

“Some people have drowned while being baptised while others have committed suicide by throwing themselves in the pool,” said one of the fishermen.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed that Mr Savanhu’s body had been retrieved from the pool.

She said investigations were underway.

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