Below is a video of Stunner and Olinda continuing with their drama, with fresh allegations also emerging against Olinda, More to follow…

https://youtu.be/uRiKl2Kmhv0?t=26

Former Mashonaland West Provincial Governor and Resident Minister Peter Chanetsa, who died on Monday morning, has been declared a national hero.

He will be buried tomorrow at the National Heroes Acre.

Chanetsa (70), the first black chief of protocol in independent Zimbabwe, succumbed to heart failure at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

His body will be taken to Chinhoyi this morning before being brought back in the evening ahead of burial tomorrow.

Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa last night told mourners at the Chanetsa family’s Borrowdale home that the Zanu-PF Politburo had agreed to accord  Chanetsa national hero status.

He said the announcement of the hero status had been delayed because many Politburo members were still on holiday.

“I phoned the President telling him about the death and he told me that he had learnt about it through the First Lady who had read about it on the Internet,”  Mnangagwa said.

“I told him that Mashonaland West Province had indicated that it was sitting down to deliberate on his history and make recommendations. The province finally sat down and forwarded its papers but we had two days before coming back to you. As leadership here we had sat down but many Politburo members are out of the country and we had to consult everyone. Most of them responded in favour of your recommendation. We sent the details to the President and this morning while in Bulawayo, I managed to talk to him. He had left China for Singapore and he said tell the relatives that I am in agreement. So,  Chanetsa has been granted national hero status. It is now official everything from now will be done by the Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs.”

Mnangagwa said  Chanetsa, who was a Zanu-PF Central Committee member at the time of his death, never vacillated on principle.

“We were all saddened when we heard that  Chanetsa is no more,” he said. “He was with Cde Richard Ndlovu, our former deputy commissar from Plumtree when I last saw him during the last Central Committee meeting last month. They said they wanted to see me. I agreed in principle but walked passed them but that was the last time I met  Chanetsa perhaps he wanted to say something.”

He said he met Chanetsa in 1977 in Tanzania where he would welcome the country’s leadership during the liberation struggle as the chief of protocol each time they went there for political meetings.

“Each time we left Mozambique for Tanzania he was there to welcome us,”  Mnangagwa said. “We worked together throughout and even at the Lancaster House Conference he was our protocol officer.”

Family spokesperson Mr Kenneth Chanetsa, said the family felt honoured by the granting of the national hero status to his brother.

“We never thought he would get this far,” he said. “We thank the party for honouring his works. It is you who worked with him as a party and we never knew he did so much for the party.”

Politburo member and Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora, who hails from Mashonaland West added: “As a province we felt that our hero has been granted so highly. It is evidence of the work that he did throughout the time he lived.”

Chanetsa was the first black chief of protocol at Independence before being appointed Mashonaland West Resident Minister and Governor in 1996.

During his tenure as Governor, Chanetsa oversaw the crunch phase of the land reform programme in his province in the early 2000s.

He retired from that post in 2003.

Apart from being a politician and farmer, Chanetsa had interests in safari and fishing businesses.

Born on 15 July 1946 in Chinhoyi, Chanetsa first had his education in that area before proceeding to Mabvuku in the then Salisbury.

He then went to Mwanza, Tanzania where he later hooked up with other locals and received military training in that country. He came back at Independence in 1980.

He is survived by wife Beatrice and three children. – State Media

A 39 year old Harare Pastor Onbert Mapfumo who is founder of Highfields based ‘By Grace Ministries’ appeared before a Harare magistrate answering to charges of raping three congregants.

Pastor Mapfumo who was ambushed on a live local radio station hosted by Tilder Moyo on Tuesday night by one of the three complainants and her husband over his shenanigans before being arrested appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing charges of raping three women from his church.

The state represented by Ms Audrey Chogumaira in its papers says on various occasions, Moyo summoned the complainants to his prayer room at house number 7937 New Canaan Highfield Harare.

He allegedly would then call the complainants and administer prayers and instructing them that he wanted to deliver them from evil spirits.

Through prayers, he was supposed to sleep with them so as to break the chains of poverty.

Mapfumo who is represented by Jonathan Madotsa pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted US$100 bail.

He was also ordered to reside at his given address, report once every Friday at ZRP Machipisa station and not to interfere with witnesses. – State Media

Stunner’s wife Olinda Chapel was live on Facebook social media this afternoon threatening to commit suicide after she was cheated countless times.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo |Vendors in the ancient city of Masvingo say the controversial bond notes are causing sleepless nights and untold mayhem in their trade.

Speaking to ZimEye.com during a snap survey held in the ancient city today, the vendors said although the controversial bond notes were trading at par with the United States Dollars, it was difficult to remain afloat in business because they (vendors) were unable to purchase products from South Africa using the controversial currency.

The bond notes were introduced last year as a desperate measure by RBZ Governor John Mangudya to cushion the cash crisis in the country. Despite the introduction of the bond notes, long meandering queues are seen at most banking halls across the country.

Tariro Makovere a vendor based in the city of Masvingo said:”It has become difficult to remain in business after the introduction of the useless bond notes.” Delight Chamisa another vendor also said:”I usually purchase my merchandise from South Africa and Harare but it is no longer the same because of the bond notes.”

Raviro Chagwiza an 18-year-old vendor said:”Although the bond notes are trading at par with the United States Dollars,I strongly feel it is practically impossible to maintain the same trend.Our business partners are deeply reluctant to accept the useless bond notes.” Asked about the feasibility of bond notes Mercy Mataruse said:”We are losing lucrative business deals because of the introduction of bond notes.” Lorraine Hove said :”The bond notes are useless ,you cannot go to South Africa to buy products using bond notes.I do not see any benefits of using bond notes.”

Staff Reporter | Prominent lawyer and human rights activist Brian Kagoro has predicted an imminent cabinet reshuffle by President Robert Mugabe.

Writing on Facebook Kagoro said, “Well, unlike the prophets, I see no high profile death. But looming and telling reshuffle at cabinet, military & provincial levels.”

The analyst who is based in Addis Ababa further predicted, “And unexpected rise of tourist numbers (27%) . I see Coalitions forming & disbanding. And surprising Zanu PF political realignments.”

Mugabe has been under pressure to carry out a cabinet reshuffle that will get rid of deadwood and corrupt ministers.

Militant Zanu PF women’s league finance secretary Sarah Mahoka has said she remains close to President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, despite claims that the two no longer see eye-to-eye.

There had been assertions that the First Lady — who leads the Zanu PF women’s league as its secretary in the politburo — had a fallout with members of the Generation 40 (G40) faction, particularly Mahoka and Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere, allegedly over using her name in corrupt activities.

This prompted an unsuccessful attempt by the Zanu PF Mashonaland West women’s league provincial executive committee to censure Mahoka last year on allegations of embezzling over $100 000 donated by a popular Harare prophet.

But Mahoka — viewed as one of Grace’s “Golden Girls” together with women’s league deputy secretary Eunice Sandi Moyo and Senate president Edna Madzongwe — rubbished the claims in an interview with the Daily News this week, saying their relations remained pleasant.

“Those who say she has dumped me do not know what they are talking about,” she said.
“You all saw how I interacted with her during the conference in Masvingo where she delegated duties to me, calling my name at every turn and even asking me to introduce her when she spoke,” Mahoka said, adding “I thought that should send a message to all doubters that our relationship is very cordial”.

The abrasive Hurungwe East legislator exalted Grace saying she was too good to hate anyone and that she had no difficulty confronting anyone when she felt something was not right.

“Do you see her as someone who is able to hate? If she has a problem with you she simply takes you to talk and reprimands you but I have never had a problem with her myself. We have always been very close and it is the same with all other league members.”

“…she never pulls a woman down and that is why she encouraged us to take up elective posts in the 2018 elections.

“We are very united in the league under her able leadership,” Mahoka said.
Mahoka — who claims to be a Grade Two drop out – is among women who are pushing for the implementation of the women’s quota in Zanu PF that will see a woman becoming part of the presidency.

In February last year, Mahoka verbally attacked Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa — believed to be the godfather of the rival Team Lacoste faction — at the Zanu PF headquarters before a politburo meeting, hence the desire by the provincial women’s league led by Angeline Muchemenyi to censure her. – Daily News

A MAN from Bulawayo’s Nguboyenja suburb has been arrested for allegedly beating up his wife after she refused to allow him to bring another woman into their house, a court has heard.

Auto Giri (41) allegedly slapped his wife Ms Blessing Daka (38) twice in the face on Monday.

The court heard that Giri wanted his girlfriend to move in with them after having failed to pay for her rentals.

Giri appeared before Magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing assault charges.

He pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody to today for sentencing.

Giri said he slapped his wife because she does not respect him. “Your worship, I tried to talk to her nicely but she insulted me. She was also carrying a tail comb so l was scared that she was going to use it to stab me,” he said. – State Media

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has taken his globetrotting escapades on taxpayers’ expense to China amid complaints by the opposition and ordinary Zimbabweans affected by a serious economic turmoil.

The nonagenarian, who is on a month-long vacation, left Harare for Singapore last month with his entire family and a large entourage of security aides. Singapore is Mugabe’s usual destination where he receives treatment for an eye cataract.

Mugabe’s deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, said he tried to consult his superior on the hero status of a late former provincial governor Peter Chanetsa who passed on in Harare on New Year’s Day, but his efforts were in vain.

Staff Reporter | A yet to be determined number of Zimbabweans illegally crossing into South Africa through the crocodile infested and flooded Limpopo River was on Wednesday afternoon swept away.

Sources who claim to have been at the scene of the incident at the time told ZimEye.com that at least twenty people could have been swept away in the river as they attempted to cross into South Africa.

According to their account a group of Amagumaguma, name given to those who help people to cross the river, had been busy helping people to cross into South Africa only for their luck to run out on probably the six crossing when they could not stand against the swelling waters of the river.

Asked why people were still using the illegal crossing method known as “dabulap” into South Africa when Zimbabwean passports were now relatively easy to access, the sources who were scheduled for the next crossing team claimed that most of them are from Tsholotsho areas where Gukurahundi “wiped of our parents and so can not get birth certificates.”

The sources claim that despite the unfortunate deaths scores more people are continuing to cross through the Limpopo waters into South Africa in time for opening of factories in Johannesburg next week.

Zimbabwe’s richest necromancer, Emmanuel Makandiwa has been labelled “a thief.”

News observers blasted out saying Makandiwa who last week demanded a $77,000 seed money from congregants as a pre-requisite for crossing into 2017, saying he is a deceiver.

Wrote one Robert Sigauke, “Vakangwara vanodya zvemarema. The Word of God says “Freely I received and freely I will give”. No one should pay for the gift of God. Matsotsi awanda paZimbabwe. CONTINUE READING BELOW… How come there is still poor people in his church. Varume muri kuvaka inheritance yevamwe anaMai venyu vachifa nenzara. Marema akawandisa vakomana.”

MORE COMMENTS BELOW:

A GWERU family has engaged Bulawayo lawyer, Bruce Masamvu, to file for a peace order against a senior police officer, who has reportedly ordered them to vacate their property claiming it was his.

Masamvu yesterday confirmed that his clients, Clement and his wife Ruth Damiyano of 22 Nehosho Senga in Gweru, were seeking a peace order against Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer, Wilson Makono stationed at Senga Police Station.

“I have already received an instruction from my clients to file a peace order application with the courts and I am currently finalising the process,” he said.

“This family was sometime in 2011 granted peace orders, which according to my clients, the police officer did not heed and now my clients are telling me that he has ordered them to vacate the property or he will shoot them.”

In their affidavit, the couple claims that they agreed with one Douglass Mandipira to swap their property, number 22 Nehosho Senga in Gweru, with his property number 3021 Mkoba 16 Gweru and paid a top up of $6 000.

“We agreed that we would complete the transaction upon production of title deeds by each party. The transaction could not be completed before Mandipira left Zimbabwe. However, Wilson Makono, a CID officer, has recurrently harassed my family claiming to be the owner of the property number 22 Nehosho Senga Gweru. He came with Kamutingondo, a fellow CID officer, and other men before damaging part of the house,” reads the affidavit in part.

The couple submitted that they reported the matter to the police in Senga, but Makono allegedly continued harassing and abusing them, claiming he was above the law.

“We now fear for our lives because they threatened to shoot us,” reads the affidavit. – Newsday

Veteran journalist and former Zimpapers editor, William Saidi, commonly known as Bill Saidi has died.

Saidi (79) died in Zambia yesterday. His passing on filtered through social media yesterday with several journalists expressing their shock at the news.

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists secretary-general, Foster Dongozi, said Saidi’s demise left the journalism fraternity poorer.

“As a union we are deeply saddened by the death of veteran journalist who has been in all manner of speaking seen it all in the industry and was a reservoir of knowledge and history pertaining to the media industry and that of the nationalist movement.

“Journalism is poorer following the death of Saidi. He was known for being a stickler for accuracy, professional and ethical journalism. We join his family and colleagues in mourning a pioneer of Zimbabwean journalism,” said Dongozi. Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (Zinef), acting chairperson Njabulo Ncube posted on his Facebook page ”Just received news that Bill Saidi passed on in Kitwe, Zambia today. No other details right now.”

Journalist Ranga Mberi tweeted: “Sad to hear Bill Saidi has passed away. Bill and Sam Munyavi were the two columnists I loved the most growing up. His wit was legendary! RIP” Saidi was once editor of the Sunday News and the Daily News. According to WeaverPress, Saidi was born in 1937, at David’s Mission, Marondera and educated in Zimbabwe. As both a writer and journalist, Saidi had his work published in Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia and elsewhere and in magazines such as African Parade, New Writing from Zambia, Okike and the Negro Digest.

They have also been published in various anthologies such as Voices of Zambia, and Norton’s Introduction to Literature (2010).

Saidi has also published novels: The Hanging (1978); Return of the Innocent (1979), Day of The Baboons (1988) Gwebede’s Wars (1989), and The Brothers of Chatima Road (1990).

He has written Who’s Who in Zimbabwe (1991) and a memoir A Sort of Life in Journalism (2011). He published two short stories with Weaver Press: ‘A Fine Day for a Funeral’ Writing Still (2003) and ‘The Winning Side’ Writing Now (2005). – State Media

AN Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church pastor based in Bulawayo’s Emakhandeni suburb has been arrested for allegedly raping a congregant (16) after a church service held in the evening in the suburb.

A court heard that the pastor offered the minor a lift after the service held on December 30 and ended up raping her. She lives in the same suburb while the pastor stays at Ross Camp in the city.

The incident occurred as the pastor was heading home after the two had agreed that he would first drop the girl off at home. The pastor, Isheanesu Muposhi (27), ended up pouncing on the girl before they reached her home.

Muposhi was not asked to plead to rape charges when he appeared in court following his arrest on December 31.

Western Commonage magistrate Miss Tancy Dube remanded him in custody to January 13.
It is the State’s case that Muposhi offered a lift to the girl at around 9PM as soon as the service ended.

Prosecuting, Mr Claude Fombe said Muposhi was arrested the following day after committing the crime. He said congregants confirmed having seen him leave the church with the minor after the service.

“Accused person offered a lift to the complainant. Along the way he proposed love to her but she turned him down. Accused parked his car at a secluded area at a ZAOGA stand near Easy Pick shops in Emakhandeni and allegedly raped her once,” said Mr Fombe. – State Media

Former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) says it has already grown bigger than President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF, which is riven by deadly and seemingly unstoppable tribal, factional and succession wars.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, the party’s spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire said ZPF had grown “in leaps and bounds” since its inception early last year — resulting in Zanu PF “quaking in its boots” and trying to lure Mujuru back to the ruling party ahead of next year’s eagerly-anticipated national elections.

He described “misplaced hopes” that Mujuru would return to Zanu PF, as was articulated by a State media columnist at the weekend, as “completely delusional”.

“Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) has grown bigger than Zanu PF. It is impossible for someone like Mai Mujuru, who started a political party that is now bigger than Zanu PF, to contemplate going back to the same Zanu PF which is disintegrating everyday.

“Indeed, even if she were to go back to Zanu PF, which Zanu PF would she go back to, because there are so many splinter groups in that party now? There is Lacoste, G40, the Grace group, Mugabe and his group and then expelled war veterans on the other hand,” Mawarire said.

“Mai Mujuru left Zanu PF on her own accord on December 1, 2014. She went and bid Mugabe farewell and told him that she was happy to leave Zanu PF for good.
“She was happy that she was leaving Zanu PF clean and not guilty of any of the allegations of corruption that were being levelled against her,” he added.

In her state of the nation address last week, Mujuru said the country’s mooted grand coalition — which is set to be in place later this year — would bring to an end Mugabe and Zanu PF’s long rule.

“My fellow citizens and countrymen, the Zanu PF government has failed. It has shown that it lacks the commitment to implement programmes that better the generality of our people.
“We agree with the sentiments which we gathered from the interactive discussions we had with the people during our nation-wide tour. Your message was loud and clear, that it’s time for Mugabe to leave office,” Mujuru said.

“We also take heed of your strong conviction for the need that opposition parties should form a grand coalition to effect change in the regime and bring about a new way that puts people first.

“As ZPF, we believe a grand coalition should not only quantify votes, but should bring our people together. It should be a process capable of fostering convergence and national healing. A process of such magnitude should also be people-driven and guided by the need to build like-minded synergies among various stakeholders,” she added.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Mujuru have been working behind the scenes to form an electoral pact which includes some smaller political outfits.

Sources close to the ongoing coalition talks have confirmed to the Daily News that there was now “an agreement in principle” between Mujuru and Tsvangirai about the two working together — with talks with another opposition leader, Welshman Ncube  apparently set to be concluded soon.

“We are of the idea that the process of building the coalition should be an all-inclusive process that is not only limited to political actors, but one which would include private citizens, the churches, civic bodies, student movements and any other interested stakeholders genuinely committed to the democratisation of our politics and the holding of free and fair elections.

“After touring the country’s 10 provinces, we are more than convinced that the people of this great nation want change and they are ready for it.
“The people in the Diaspora want change in order to come back home to their families and friends, and also to help their country.

“Fellow citizens, we need a renewal of our minds, a change, and a vast paradigm shift in the way we do things. In order for this change to be realised, we need a fresh leadership with the will to work for the betterment of our people.

“We need a leadership with the craft competency to effect a turnaround that we desire, a leadership with a clear vision of making our country a first world,” Mujuru said further in her address last week.

Analysts have consistently said that a united opposition, fighting with one purpose, would bring to an end Mugabe’s long rule — especially at this time when the country’s economy is dying and the increasingly frail nonagenarian is battling to keep his warring Zanu PF united.
Since Mujuru joined hands with Tsvangirai and marched with him in the streets of Gweru in August last year — in a rare public display of unity among the opposition — there have been growing calls by fed up citizens for the formation of a grand opposition alliance. – Daily News

SOUTH Africa’s specialised crime investigations unit, the Hawks, has arrested a 25 year old South African for allegedly holding four Zimbabwean illegal immigrants hostage at Chebeng village in the Seshego area of Polokwane City.

Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo, Captain Matimba Maluleke identified the suspect who was arrested on Monday as Raymond Sithole.

The police spokesperson said Sithole illegally smuggled his victims aged between 15 and 20 years into the neighbouring country after promising them good jobs.

He said Sithole kept the four at his house and would force them to steal and do other jobs for no pay.

“The four victims were allegedly kept under lock and key after being smuggled into South Africa with false promises of good jobs and better lives here. In some cases the suspect would severely assault them if they failed to comply with his orders.

“The Limpopo Hawks unit got wind of the alleged exploitation and arrested the suspect,” he said.

Capt Maluleke said Sithole has been charged with human trafficking and corruption.

He said the suspect has since appeared before the Seshego magistrate court and was remanded in custody to January 9.

Hawks Limpopo’s provincial head, Major General Thobeka Jozi commended her team for reacting swiftly and apprehending Sithole.

“We warn those engaged in human trafficking that Limpopo will not be used as a gateway to exploit the innocent and vulnerable. This operation should serve as a serious warning that we will do everything to protect victims of human trafficking and we call upon our communities to work with us and report those in inhumane activities,” she said.

The latest incident comes a few weeks after three Zimbabwean cross-border transporters were jailed for 632 years by a South African High Court after they were convicted on 62 charges ranging from murder, robbery, extortion, rape among other violent crimes perpetrated in that country against Zimbabweans. – State Media

Former National Social Security Authority (NSSA) general manager James Matiza yesterday appeared in court facing charges of fraud and criminal abuse of office as a public officer.

Matiza reportedly bought a Harare property for $32 million for the authority, a price inflated by over $8 million after concealing a report by Bard Real Estate which priced the building at $24 million.

Matiza appeared before magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro and was granted $500 bail coupled with stringent conditions.

He was remanded to January 18 for trial.

He is being represented by Harrisson Nkomo of Mhishi Nkomo Legal Practitioners.

Prosecuting, Ms Nancy Chandakaona alleged that in September 2014 NSSA identified a property it was keen to buy from Matay-Kingdom known as Celestial Park situated along Borrowdale Road in Harare.

It is alleged that Matiza was always physically available to represent NSSA together with his accomplices, Shadreck Vera, who was the investments director; and Samuel Chuduza, who is the former properties manager; who are still at large.

It is the State’s case that during this time, Matiza was the chairperson of the NSSA management investments committee and a member of the investment committee while his accomplices were members of the board.

The trio was mandated to first seek property valuators to determine the market value of the property for NSSA to have a benchmark price bargaining before purchasing the property, the court heard.

It is alleged that the trio obtained valuation reports from three companies.

Bard Real Estate came up with a gross replacement cost of $29 million, forced value of $18 million and a market value of $24 million.

CB Richard Ellis came up with a gross replacement cost of $24.354 million and a market price of $25.6 million while Green Plan (Pvt) Ltd came up with a market price of $36,5 million.

The three reports were supposed to be tabled to the board of adjudication before the agreement of sale was entered into by the seller.

Of the three reports, the one from Bard Real Estate was the most favourable and it would give NSSA bargaining power but Matiza allegedly worked in cahoots with his accomplices and deliberately concealed the report and referred the other two reports which were not cost effective to the board which eventually worked with a higher valuation by Green Plan.

Through this concealment the trio misrepresented to NSSA that the property was worth $36.5million yet they were aware that the property was worth $24 million as per the cheapest valuation report.

It is the State’s case that the property was eventually purchased for $32 million after bargaining, the court heard.

Matiza misrepresented to NSSA by keeping silent on the availability of the valuation report by Bard Real Estate and causing prejudice to good administration of NSSA. – State Media

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) national political commissar Francis Nhando said Mugabe is “guilty” of allowing his lieutenants and powerful First Lady Grace Mugabe to challenge his two deputies — Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko — to the detriment of Zanu PF and the country.

“When you see the president protecting corrupt officials in the G40 (Zanu PF’s Generation
40 faction), it makes him the enemy of the people. They abuse their offices pursuing activities that border on sabotage, which has led Zimbabweans to frown upon the party.

“In reality, Mugabe is in jail and needs deliverance through being advised to leave power now and rest. State House has been infiltrated, especially when you consider that it is at State House that a Zanu PF women’s league secretary who claims to be a senior to the vice presidents resides,” he said.

Mugabe and the seriously unhappy former freedom fighters have been exchanging brickbats since their stunning fallout in July last year, when the ex-combatants issued a damning communiqué to end their decades-long relationship with the increasingly frail nonagenarian, dating back to the days of the country’s liberation struggle in the 1970s.

This week, the war veterans also threw their weight behind the quest by opposition parties to establish a grand coalition ahead of next year’s eagerly-awaited national polls.
ZNLWVA spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said they supported the formation of the mooted coalition alliance because they were of the view that this would work in the interest of long-suffering Zimbabweans.

“Our message for 2018 is that people must be free to choose anyone they want, who they think is a good leader. That’s, after all, what we fought for.

“As long as the coalition is going to represent the suffering masses of Zimbabwe, we are
going to support it. But what we don’t need are people who create a special class so that they will enjoy life while people are suffering.

“Zanu PF has created a bourgeois class which is enjoying life while people are struggling to get food and that is not good for our country. As you know, all our people suffered to liberate this country,” Mahiya said earlier in the week.

Addressing the media in Harare late last year, forthright former Cabinet minister and ZNLWVA chairperson, Christopher Mutsvangwa, also said Mugabe owed ex-combatants big time as they were the ones who had made him president, not Zanu PF.

“It was us who sat and made sure that Mugabe became the leader when the need to change leadership arose. We are the ones who sold his name to the people. It is not from the founding fathers (that this happened).

“We sold his and (the late vice president) Joshua Nkomo’s name to every village. It is the liberation army that made the leadership of Zimbabwe, not the other way round. He (Mugabe) is a beneficiary of the decisions we made when we deposed (Zanu founder Ndabaningi) Sithole,” he said.

“We will never fear anything in this country because the most fearful thing which existed was called Ian Smith and we defeated him. After Ian Smith, we don’t fear anything,” the former War Veterans minister thundered defiantly.

Speaking before that, Mutsvangwa also chided Mugabe’s administration while addressing youths on lessons from the liberation struggle.

“Anybody who is not for progress is your enemy because he (Mugabe) is failing this economy to deliver its capacity to make it the most prosperous country in Africa,” he said.

In serving their divorce papers on Mugabe last July, the war veterans also said Mugabe’s continued stay in power was now a stumbling block to the country’s development, adding almost churlishly that the nonagenarian would be “a hard-sell” if he ever contemplated contesting the 2018 polls.

Mugabe responded by warning the war veterans that they would be dealt with severely, including through the use of extra-judicial suppression methods that his former liberation movement incorporated during the country’s independence war — such as incarcerating dissenters in inhuman dungeons where they were forced to live like caged rats.

After this, police duly launched a savage crackdown against the war vets leadership and arrested five officials, including ZNLWVA secretary-general Victor Matemadanda, Mahiya and Nhando, who were recently set free by the courts.

Over the years, war veterans have served as Mugabe and Zanu PF’s political power
dynamos, playing particularly significant roles to keep the nonagenarian on the throne in the hotly disputed 2000 and 2008 national elections which were both marred by serious violence and the murder of hundreds of opposition supporters.

Analysts have also predicted that Mugabe will not win the 2018 polls without the support of the war veterans, while on their part the ex-combatants have vowed that they will vote for an opposition candidate if the nonagenarian stands in those elections.

Mugabe — the only leader Zimbabweans have known since the country gained independence from Britain in 1980 — is facing the biggest challenge to his 36-year rule.
His government is struggling to pay civil servants, amid a deepening economic crisis which includes falling revenues and horrendous job losses — with public sector salary dates now as elastic and as unpredictable as the discarded Zimbabwe dollar.

As it is, many civil servants and hard-pressed State pensioners will only be paid their December 2016 salaries this month. – Daily News

By Ray Nkosi | More than 100 citizens will in January stand trial on various charges related to staging protests against President Robert Mugabe’s administration over the deteriorating political and economic situation in the country.

The activists include; opposition legislators, pro-democracy campaigners and ordinary citizens. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights’ Jeremiah Bamu, Tonderai Bhatasara, Trust Maanda, Kudzayi Kadzere, Obey Shava, Dorcas Chitiyo, Sharon Hofisi, and Gift Mtisi, will represent them.

First to stand trial on Friday 6 January 2017, will be Ronia Bunjira, the MDC-T legislator for Harare and other Harare residents, who were arrested last September, for allegedly participating in protests over the government’s refusal to adopt and implement electoral reforms demanded by a coalition of opposition political parties NERA.

Soon after on Monday 9 January 2017, more than 60 Harare residents including Petros Sokole will be on trial for allegedly committing public violence. They were arrested on 4 July 2016 in Mabvuku and Epworth high density suburbs, for participating in a demonstration against rising incidences implicating Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers in corruption and exorbitant spot fines.

On Tuesday 10 January , some informal sector traders including Larry Chasamba, Patrick Chifamba, Tendai Kagodora, Stendrick Zvorwadza and Winnety Mubaiwa among others will answer to charges of disorderly conduct in a public place as defined in Section 41 (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The informal sector traders were arrested by ZRP officers after staging a peaceful demonstration at Town House in Harare, during which they protested against corruption and impunity meted on them by municipal police officers.

On Wednesday 11 January, Fani Munengami, the MDC-T party legislator for Glenview North together with some Harare residents will see their trial commencing for allegedly participating in a demonstration to demand the implementation of electoral reforms in the country.

Later in the week, the trial of pro-democracy campaigner Promise Mkwananzi and other human rights activists is scheduled to finally commence on Thursday 12 January after suffering a false start last year as the National Prosecuting Authority’s “house” wasn’t in order. Mkwananzi and other human rights campaigners were arrested and charged with public violence in connection with a demonstration staged against police brutality on Wednesday 24 August 2016.

Kariba based clergyman, Pastor Patrick Phillip Mugadza of the Remnant Church will also be in court on Monday 16 January for his trial after he was apprehended on Friday 18 November 2016 at Africa Unity Square in Harare and charged for allegedly wearing the country’s national flag without first seeking permission from the country’s authorities as defined in Section 6 of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act.

Prosecutors from the National Prosecuting Authority claimed that Pastor Mugadza, who is out of custody on $50 bail, contravened Section 6 of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act by unlawfully and intentionally wearing or displaying the national flag without securing prior permission from the “secretary” as required under the controversial law.

Other Harare residents including Taonga Walter Makamba and Costa Zvokuseka will complete the trial schedule on Tuesday 17 January 2017 and on Tuesday 24 January 2017 respectively.

Terrence Mawawa, Bikita | A group of rowdy Zanu PF youths in Bikita West attacked prominent freelance journalist Godfrey Mtimba and confiscated his equipment.

Mutimba, a former Daily News correspondent for Masvingo Province was attacked by the marauding Zanu PF youths at Nyika Growth Point while covering the Bikita West by-election campaigns at the weekend. Mtimba is also the first national vice president of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists(ZUJ).

He lost his recorder and notebook during the attack. Bikita West Constituency is becoming increasingly volatile following cases of violence and intimidation. Mtimba told ZimEye.com yesterday that he was confronted by the Zanu PF youths who accused him of being a sell out. “I was at Nyika Growth Point covering the Bikita West By-election when the Zanu PF youths confronted me and said I was a sell out.  As I explained my position as a reporter they confiscated my notebook and recorder. They also violently pushed me.They further accused me of campaigning for opposition parties in the constituency.”

He continued, “They never bothered to pay attention to what I explained. I did not even bother to go to the police because I knew they would not bother to assist me. If one goes to the police station there is every reason that they will always find lame excuses,”said Mtimba. The ZUJ Masvingo Chapter has castigated the barbaric and reckless behaviour of the unruly Zanu PF youths saying the incident reflects blatant violation of freedom of expression and association.

By Ekuba Bentil | Here in Ghana, God himself dictates your sex life through his servants: the pastors. Thus sayeth the Lord, “Sex between a man and his wife is good, all other sex is bad.” The problem with this rule is that no one is able to keep it, not even God’s servants.

You cannot live in Ghana without noticing how ubiquitous Christianity is here. Street pastors wake you up at dawn with loud preaching. Taxis and trotros boom with gospel songs and sermons. Before classes, corporate meetings, or national functions commence, everyone is compelled to rise for a group prayer. To be expected, I suppose, in the world’s most religious country where pastors are rich demi-gods, doctors believe that witches cause diseases and politicians attribute the country’s economic woes to dwarfs.

When every type of sex is bad
As a sex blogger, I am particularly concerned about the effect all this is having on the sex lives of Ghanaians. From what I can tell, the church’s teachings make it difficult for people to explore their sexuality in healthy ways. I was once a fundamental Christian and so I know how the church can botch your sex life. It almost screwed mine (no pun intended).

The church basically teaches that every type of sex is bad, except sexual intercourse between a man and his wife. Masturbation is bad. But masturbation is a healthy way to discover one’s body and learn what works for you sexually, which is why doctors and sex therapists often advice women who cannot orgasm to masturbate. How can a woman know whether she prefers for her clitoris to be lightly flicked or pressed down hard if she is forbidden from touching her own body?

The church forbids unmarried people from engaging in sex, which often leads to a comedy of errors. Does the church really expect that people are going to delay intercourse from the time they hit puberty till they marry in their late 20s or 30s? We’ve engaged in this natural activity for hundreds of thousands of years before the church laid down these stringent rules. What does the church think it’s doing?

Making bad lovers
When your church forbids you from having sexual intercourse, you end up engaging in crappy, unprotected sex anyway. People here are so over-burdened with guilt that they have horrible, rushed, sexual intercourse. The first man I had consensual sex with was a youth leader in my church. When we got it on, he lost his erection repeatedly because he felt scared and guilty. Contraceptive use is low because people consider all forms of sex outside marriage a sin. Getting contraceptives means your sin was premeditated, which is worse! Pastors preach abstinence only and refuse to talk about condom use despite an HIV prevalence rate of 1.4%.

In the churches I attended, sexual abuse victims were stigmatised. My pastor’s wife asked me to pray for forgiveness after I told her I was molested as a child. Sexual abuse victims are attacked when they accuse a pastor of rape. I once witnessed a rape trial during which church members hurled insults at their pastor’s ten year old child who had accused him of rape.

Ghanaian churches also teach that homosexual intercourse is evil and disgusting. I know several members of the Ghanaian queer community who have attempted or committed suicide due to the homophobia emanating from the church. Before I accepted my sexual orientation, I was hospitalised twice for attempted suicide. I tried, unsuccessfully, to pray, fast and exorcise my gay away. My Christian lesbian friend got married hoping to be ‘cured’. She is still a lesbian and her marriage is sexless.

Ruining marriages with bad advice
The church’s narrow view of sex is actually ruining marriages. As a litigation attorney, I cannot count the number of divorce clients who have told me that they were pressured by their pastors to marry in order to avoid having sex before marriage. After the wedding, they realised what a big mistake they’d made. Some churches teach couples never to be alone with each other before marriage. They can only visit each other when chaperoned. How can you truly know someone when you have never spent time with them alone? I attended a church where unmarried lovers were forbidden from hugging or kissing. Under such circumstances, a woman enters marriage completely clueless about whether she is emotionally, physically or sexually compatible with her partner.

After being pressured to remain chaste virgins their entire lives, most wives find it difficult to suddenly switch to being vixens in bed once they’re married. They are uncomfortable with their own sexuality because they have been taught to suppress it. No wonder infidelity is rife in Ghana. Men marry holy church girls and then keep sultry mistresses with whom they can have the kind of sex they really want. Wives just suffer in silence. We have become a prudish, neo-Victorian society and like the original Victorian society, we live double lives.

Churches give horrid sex advice to couples. At one church I attended, couples were advised to avoid oral sex, anal sex and the use of sex toys or erotica because these things were demonic. At my friend’s church, women were advised to have sexual intercourse with their husbands even if they did not feel like it. “Just lie down, open your legs and pray silently in tongues,” they were told.

I believe that if there is a God, he is more concerned about people loving one another than about them following a bunch of severe rules and becoming miserable. Don’t allow any church to dictate your sex life. Think for yourself, embrace love and make choices that are right for you. – Online

Glen Norah Member of Parliament Webster Maondera said Zimbabweans did not want bond notes so legislators who were supporting the bill to introduce bond notes deserved to be killed by a firing squad because they were going against the will of the people.

Maondera who was given little time o talk because of numerous interjections said Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa should therefore go back to the drawing board and do some thorough homework.

“Mr. Speaker Sir, from the report that was given by the Committee that collected the views of the people, it looks like the majority of the people were against the bond notes,” he said.

“So if I could have my own way, those people who are supporting bond notes deserve to be killed by a firing squad because they are going against the will of the people of Zimbabwe.”

Full contribution:

HON. MAONDERA:  Thank you Hon. Speaker.  I represent a constituency and I have got the views of my constituents so, I have got every right to debate – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – I cannot proceed if you continue to make noise and you will delay yourselves.

Mr. Speaker Sir, from the report that was given by the Committee that collected the views of the people, it looks like the majority of the people were against the bond notes.  So if I could have my own way, those people who are supporting bond notes deserve to be killed by a firing squad because they are going against the will of the people of Zimbabwe – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – Mr. Chairman, can I be protected?

HON. ZIYAMBI:  On a point of order, Mr. Speaker Sir.  The Hon. Member is using unparliamentary language to the effect that he wants those members who are supporting the Bill to be put on a firing squad.  It is uparliamnentary language which should not be allowed in a democratic society.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Hon. Member, if you are short of facts there is no point of you standing up to debate.  Let other people debate.  Be factual.

HON. MAONDERA:  I was saying it in a metaphorical way.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Be factual and debate.

HON. MAONDERA:  So it is important that we continue to go along the will of the people, what the people said about the bond notes and it is also important Hon. Chair, that – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order Hon. Members.  Order! Order please.

HON. MAONDERA:  The other aspect, Hon. Speaker, is the quality of paper of the bond notes – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order, order please.

HON. HOLDER:  On a point of order, Mr. Speaker Sir.  I do not think that the Hon. Member understands the Bill.  So, Hon. Speaker, the problem that we are having is they are making a lot of noise.  We are not hearing anything and he is repeating himself.  Astika, kuda musombodhiya I do not know – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Order please, Hon. Member.

HON. MAONDERA:  My point is that, before we brought in this Bill before this august House we should have done our thorough homework about the quality of the bond notes – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order please.  Hon. Members, give him a chance.

HON. MAONDERA:  We should have done our homework first on the quality of the bond notes – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Hon. Members, order please.  Order please!  Hon. Member, if you have no facts – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – Order please.  What is it?  Order please.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA):   Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to thank…

HON. MAONDERA:  On a point of order, Mr. Speaker Sir – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – Hon. Speaker, I was elected by the people of Glen Norah.  I have got a constitutional and democratic right to debate.  I am not one to accept – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order please.  Order Hon. Members.  Let us hear him …

HON. MAONDERA:  No, it is not fair, it is not fair – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

HON. CHAMISA:  I have a point of order Mr. Speaker.  I think this is a very special appeal.  I do not think that the Hon. Member is going to take that much time.  If he could just be allowed Hon. Speaker Sir – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] – Honestly, I do not think he will take time.  We must respect each other.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order!  Hon. Members to my right, order please.  Hon. Member, you may resume your debate but I do not think you have got a lot to say.  Just say what you need to say and sit down.

HON. MAONDERA:  Thank you Hon. Speaker.  I was raising a point that before we brought in this piece of legislation, we should have done a lot of home work – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order, order please.

HON. MAONDERA:  We should have done a lot of homework because as it stands right now, people from my constituency are crying about the quality of the bond note.  So, I am urging the Hon. Minister to go back to the drawing board – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order, order!  Resume your seat.  Order please.  Hon. Members, you are wasting your own good time.  Let this man finish his debate.  He does not have much words to say.  Give him two minutes then that is it.  Hon. Member, I am giving you two minutes to wind up your debate.

HON. MAONDERA:  Thank you for protecting me Hon. Speaker.  Maybe my last point will be to urge the Minister to take his time next time when they want to bring laws of national importance so that as Members of Parliament – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Hon. Members to my right, please you are not in a beer hall.

HON. MAONDERA:  “Vana Keith Guzah vanongogona kutaura parally, havasati vambotaura muno.” – [Laughter.] –

HON. GUZAH: On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir, I think it is important for the Hon. Member of this House of Parliament to speak issues that are relative to what is being discussed here.  He continuously raises issues that are not of paramount importance to this House.  He must stick to issues that are relevant and critical to this discourse.  Thank you – [HON. MEMBERS:  Hear, hear.] –

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order, order. Order please.  In fact, he has not said anything.  So can you speak something please.

HON. MAONDERA:  Thank you Hon. Speaker.  I was just concluding.  I urge the Minister to give this House ample time for us to get to understand.  You will be shocked Hon. Speaker that some Hon. Members do not know what you are talking about; they do not know what this law entails.  If we are given ample time; we do not want to be pigeonholed so that we deliberate and consult our constituencies and pass a law which is of national importance.  I want to thank you very much.  In future, I think people should listen to the voice of reason.  Thank you. – The Insider

The Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC has slammed former National Healing minister Moses Mzila-Ndlovu over his plans to form a political party, arguing the move is retrogressive and meant to divide people on regional basis.

Recently, Mzila-Ndlovu announced that he will soon launch his party to be known as Alliance for National Salvation (Ansa).

He said the outfit was meant to challenge the dominance of Mashonaland politicians in the national political arena.

Mzila-Ndlovu further said the people of Matabeleland have gone through “enough trials and tribulations” hence it was time for them to look inward.

However, MDC deputy provincial spokesperson Felix Mafa said Mzila Ndlovu was “full of confusion as he was wandering and wallowing in political wilderness.”

“It is too disgusting to contemplate regional or tribal political parties to say the least, unless one is a Zanu PF disciple targeted at dividing formidable political formations,” Mafa said.

Mzila-Ndlovu — who is outspoken about the Gukurahundi atrocities — early last year parted ways with the Welshman Ncube-led MDC claiming it had lost direction.

While many would have expected him to join other opposition parties, Mzila-Ndlovu decided to lead his own movement instead.

Mafa warned citizens against joining Mzila-Ndlovu’s project.

“People should be wary of these funny parties that get created now. Remember we are heading towards elections. Zanu PF, as usual, will create some funny parties to cause confusion mostly in the opposition parties,” Mafa said.

He said such parties had a risk of fuelling tribal hatred among citizens.

“We deplore that mentality in the strongest terms possible. We are not guinea pigs for political experiments,” Mafa said. – Daily News

Ray Nkosi | Veteran journalist Bill Saidi has died. Reports coming in are that Saidi died in Kitwe, Zambia with the cause of death still not clear. At the time of writing there was no statement from family members.

Described a doyen of Zimbabwe journalism Saidi had decades of experience in the media as an editor, trainer and mentor. More to follow…

OPPOSITION Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) leader, Joice Mujuru has ruled out a possible coalition with war veterans aligned to Christopher Mutsvangwa, saying there was no logic in joining forces with the latter, as they have declared their allegiance to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

ZimPF spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire said Mujuru had no wish to work with Mutsvangwa in the envisaged coalition of opposition parties to help fight President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF in the 2018 general elections.

“Mutsvangwa and his small group of war veterans have been very clear that they are bidding for a Mnangagwa presidency. They have never been part of us and, for all we know, they are fighting for a return to Zanu PF,” he said.

“We are, however, very clear that the coalition we seek should remove Zanu PF from power, not entrench its rule through Mnangagwa.

“We have the greater chunk of former freedom fighters in our party led by leading commanders in the struggle against colonialism. Mutsvangwa and his proxies like Victor Matemadanda (war veterans’ secretary-general) and Douglas Mahiya (war veterans’ spokesperson) are very junior people in this regard.”

With talk about a possible coalition of opposition forces in Zimbabwe growing with each passing day, insiders have indicated that MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who is touted as a possible presidential candidate in the event of a coming together, has been sounding out different groups including Mutsvangwa’s Zimbabwe National Liberations War Veterans’ Association.

“It is highly probable that the kind of coalition that is likely to come out of the ongoing talks could include war veterans and Mujuru’s party (ZimPF),” an MDC-T source said.

“These groups have notable constituencies that may have a great effect on the outcome of the coming elections.”

MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said Tsvangirai would seek out all “progressive Zimbabweans” in his bid to find a way of legally deposing Mugabe.

“We have a structured position led by our president regarding the issue of a coalition. Tsvangirai will talk to all concerned Zimbabweans and the war veterans are a critical mass that is remembered for bringing independence. We cannot afford to ignore them,” Gutu said.

But, Mutsvangwa said his group was not interested in the coalition talks.

“We are not a political party, but we are ardently keen on seeing all patriotic Zimbabweans coming together to address the economic atrophy engendered by G40 vision-blind management,” he said.

G40 is reportedly a Zanu PF faction opposed to Mnangagwa taking over from Mugabe.

Ray Nkosi | Villagers from four villages in Matobo who recently lost their agricultural land to Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa, initiated ARDA Maphisa land grab are living in fear as heavily armed soldiers are patrolling the area to block them from accessing their former fields as the farming seasons intensifies.

The villagers, most of them elderly and in the area which was heavily affected by the mid eighties Gukurundi atrocities claim that, the no nonsense soldiers who are threatening to shoot to kill anyone seen trespassing into the land bring back Gukurahundi memories.

According to villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com in confidence, the soldiers have declared a mini curfew warning that they will shoot at any moving object that will be seen around the extended ARDA Estate between sunset and sunrise.

The villagers claim that they are extremely terrified by the presence of the soldiers and some are start to leave the area altogether and move to other areas.

The terrified villagers further claim that they fear hunger this year as they have not been able to plough at a time when the area is receiving very good rains.

“If nothing is done for us we will definitely starve this year and will also not be able to raise money for school fees for our children,” said one of the villagers.

“What is irritating more is that ARDA has not done anything to the fields yet when we had asked them to give us a chance to plant this year only while government decides what will be done to us,” he added.

The ARDA project is estimated to take over up to 2000 hectares of land from villagers surrounding the estate which will see scores of villagers landless.

Angers have flared following the story of a woman in trouble for allegedly raping a 13 year old boy. Below were some comments concerning the law:

“But is the law fair when it comes to these issues? I mean if a man rapes a 14 year old girl there are no negotiations, it’s 40 yes behind bars; but if a woman forces herself it’s aggravated assault.  Why is it like that? Please note I do not support rape. It is actually disgusting,” wrote one news observer.

Another quipped in saying, “There must not be parallel rules with regards to rape;the law should be exerted impartially”.

Your views? 

A WOMAN sustained serious head injuries after she jumped through a window of a moving commuter omnibus and fell headlong on the tarmac in Bulawayo yesterday.

Five others, including the driver, also escaped with varying degrees of injuries from the vehicle that had caught fire along Khami Road opposite Bulawayo City Council stores at around 9AM as it was heading towards New Magwegwe.

The woman panicked when she noticed the fire and jumped through the window with her baby. She sustained serious head injuries while the baby was not injured.

The cause of the fire could not be established immediately, but there are suspicions that petrol was leaking from the vehicle.

Bulawayo chief fire officer Mr Richard Peterson said they rescued six people including an 11-year-old boy.

All the injured people were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital.

“I can confirm that we received a report of a kombi which caught fire along Khami Road. Six people including the driver sustained injuries and were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital,” he said.

“One of the passengers, a woman who was carrying a baby, jumped headlong through the window while trying to evacuate herself and sustained serious head injuries.

“We are happy no one died and hope that the woman will make it. Her baby survived the incident with no injuries and that’s a plus,” said Mr Peterson.

“I would like to urge kombi operators to take people’s lives seriously by ensuring that they service their vehicles consistently. I suspect that there was a petrol leakage somewhere in the vehicle which could have been avoided.”

A kombi driver who spoke on condition of anonymity said smoke started coming from the vehicle when it was in motion.

“I was driving and noticed smoke coming out of the kombi. Within a few minutes the smoke was distracting my vision and I had to park my vehicle by the roadside. By the time I got out of my kombi, the other kombi was in flames though the driver managed to escape with some injuries,” he said.

“The Fire and Ambulance Services crew made it on time and they managed to extinguish the fire.” – State Media

Terrence Mawawa, Buhera | A 72-year-old man was apprehend after he attempted to rape a local woman.

The daring grandpa threatened to axe the 45-year-old woman if she refused to comply.
“The old man threatened to axe me to death if I refused to have sexual intercourse with him,” said the woman. Muchineripi Kuvarega, the 72-year-old man appeared before Magistrate Henry Sande, facing attempted rape charges.

The court heard that sometime in September 2016, around 8am, the woman was fetching firewood in the bush when Kuvarega approached her holding an axe. He allegedly grabbed the woman by the neck and fondled her breasts and buttocks.He tripped the woman and she fell to the ground.

Kuvarega unzipped his trousers and produced his erect manhood. While attempting to insert his manhood into the woman’s private parts there was a scuffle and the woman screamed for help.

She managed to escape and reported the matter at Dorowa Police Camp. “I was shocked by the man’s behaviour. He approached me as I was fetching firewood. He threatened to kill me if I refused to comply. However, I managed to escape.I wish to thank my neighbours who cooperated with me,” said the woman.
Kuvarega was remanded in custody.

A 28-YEAR-OLD Mabvuku woman, who is accused of bedding a 13-year old minor, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday facing aggravated indecent assault charges.

The suspect, Memory Mugavhu, is expected to stand the trial today after magistrate, Themba Kuwanda postponed the matter to allow her to prepare her defence.

It is the State’s case that in August last year, the complainant, who is not named to protect his identity because he is a minor, visited Mugavhu’s place to play with her son.

Allegations are that the minor found Mugavhu at home. She called him into her room and promised him a fruit spread if he agreed to have sexual intercourse with her and the minor duly complied.

The State alleges, Mugavhu had sexual intercourse with the minor on several occasions thereafter until November 15 last year.

It is alleged that after each act, Mugavhu would threaten to kill the minor with a knife if he revealed the abuse to anyone. However, on November 19, the State alleges a neighbour informed the complainant’s mother what was happening and the matter was reported to the police, leading to Magavhu’s arrest.

The complainant was referred to Edith Opperman Clinic in Mbare for medical examination and an affidavit was obtained. Valerie Ngoma appeared for the State. – Newsday

A hungry prisoner at Whawha successfully broke out of jail.

The prisoner told a magistrate that he decided to run away because inmates were being made to work hard on empty stomachs.

He was later rearrested in the community.

Washington Timba (20) of Mwanza Village under Chief Bangure, Chirumhanzu, pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody when he appeared before Gweru magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga.

Ms Taruvinga sentenced him to a year in jail that will run concurrently with the previous nine months imprisonment for theft and unlawful entry.

In passing the sentence, the magistrate said Timba acted in an unlawful manner.

“What he did is punishable with a prison term,” said Ms Taruvinga.

In his defence, Timba said hunger and hard work drove him to escape.

“I decided to leave because they were making us do a lot of work on empty stomachs,” he said. “I left and went home because prison life is really hard for me.”

Prosecutor Mr Edward Gwainda told the court that on October 21 last year at Whawha Medium Prison, a prison officer, Kudakwashe Gwasunda, took five Class B inmates to the prison farm to collect firewood.

“At around 2pm, Gwasunda realised that one of the inmates, Timba, was missing from the group,” he said.

“He blew his whistle in order to alert other nearby prison officers to search for the missing inmate.

“Gwasunda proceeded to report the matter to his superiors and a search was conducted and the accused was not found.

“At around 11pm on the same date, five Whawha prison officers made an ambush at Timba’s last known address at Ascot Infill, Gweru.”

The court heard that during that time, Timba arrived home still wearing his prison garb.

He was apprehended and taken back to Whawha Prison. – State Media

THE case in which former Education minister Aeneas Chigwedere is being accused of practicing witchcraft by some family members has taken a new twist after the clan pleaded with the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) registrar to expeditiously come up with a date for the matter to “avoid further loss of lives”.

In a letter addressed to the ConCourt registrar’s office on December 29, 2016, Chigwedere’s son, Mangwiza, said the fact that his father’s siblings had confirmed the practice of witchcraft meant the issue was serious, hence, needed to be dealt with urgently.

“I am the applicant and self-actor in this matter, which I have charge of in prosecuting and writing in application for consideration in case CCZ72/16 to be positioned for the earliest possible set-down date due to the complexity in nature of the case, as there is no known interdict or temporary relief except of disposition of the said cause,” he wrote.

“… confirmations by respondents of possession or being possessed by these harmful things have been confirmed by third, ninth, 12th and 14th respondents, who, none of them, are below the age of 70 and are elders of the clan and fathers of the clan, who have also been left helpless and some maimed through the witchcraft matter in question.”

The witchcraft case is now at the ConCourt after Mangwiza, who is accusing his father of possessing goblins, failed to get recourse at the lower courts.

Chigwedere’s five other siblings have also joined the fight and confirmed that their brother, a Zanu PF stalwart, allegedly practices witchcraft.

According to notice of consent to judgment notice papers filed on November 23, 2016 at the ConCourt, Francis Chigwedere, Shepherd, Getrude Makasa, Godfrey and Fanuel Chigwedere wrote to the ConCourt, seeking justice in the matter.

The Chigwedere clan wants the courts to grant the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association permission “to conduct a cleansing ceremony to free the family from the witchcraft bondage”.

“At heart, I am not the only one seeking an early relief from our affliction, but also these submissive respondents. The right to life has been violated and continues to as confirmed by other five respondents and this right is considered as the supreme right that anyone holds within the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe that is being represented and guarded jealously by this very honourable court,” Mangwiza wrote. – Newsday

By Nqobani Ndlovu |Several Zimbabweans in recent years have been beaten or lost lives over lobola (bride price), and some people are calling for the ban of this traditional but still widely practiced custom.

Former Education Minister, historian and educationist and now a traditional leader, Aeneas Chigwedere defines lobola as a form of marriage payment to build relationships and to demonstrate the ability of a man to take care of his family. Chigwedere, in his book Lobola: Pros and Cons (1982), explains the practice thus: the bride’s family receives payment in the form of goods, money, livestock to compensate for the pain the parents of the bride went through in raising their daughter and the children that she would bear into the husbands family.

In the Shona culture, the groom is supposed to also pay the bride’s father to thank him for his patience when his daughter was pulling his beard as she sat on his knees. This is called Matekenyandebvu.

Over the years, the practice has become a gateway to quick riches, and the commodification of women, but in the process it has also become a barrier to marriage for many young men.

And who doesn’t want to get married in Zimbabwe?

It’s as much a dream for young men as it is for the parents to see their daughter get married – but not for free.

“It is no wonder that many of the youth are resorting to cohabitating; they cannot afford what some parents demand as lobola,” said Pastor Anglistone Sibanda.

Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe received over $35,000 in cash and 15 head of cattle as bride price for his daughter Bona. The average price of a cow is $700. Mr Mugabe’s son-in-law Simbarashe Chikore was reported to be a pilot. How many a suitor could afford that figure what with many – still employed – earning less than the poverty datum line that lies at around $540 per month.

Even former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai has allegedly had lobola-related problems, with some rags claiming he used party funds to pay the bride price. And Big Brother Africa housemates Ghanaian fashion designer Elikem Kumordzie and Zimbabwean socialite Pokello Nare have had to bide their time while Elikem saved up for lobola, reported to be about $25,000.

To Pastor Sibanda, for any suitor to decide to get married is to invite financial punishment. This is how you end up with local headlines like Man steals uncle’s two dogs to pay lobola and Man demands lobola back claiming wife ‘broke his manhood’.

A cultural and traditional practice meant to cement families, and strengthen relationship bonds has been ruined by greed.

“It has been turned into a business and this is the main driver of omasihlalisane (cohabitating) which is against cultural, moral and biblical principles. Cohabitation is also driven by migration and poverty among other things, and it threatens formal marriage,” Sibanda added.

Sex is not free
People need to value their children’s marriages for what they are, not for what they can get out of the union. This is what lobola should stand for. Lives can be lost, otherwise.

In June, 42-year-old Stane Ncube of Gokwe in the Midlands province was jailed 12 year for taking an axe to his father-in-law who had threatened to take back his daughter over non-payment of lobola.

Ncube reportedly axed Tarawedzera Mbiti (may his soul rest in peace) when he came to his homestead demanding lobola and making the threats.

According to men’s rights group Padare/Enkundleni, high cases of domestic violence can be directly or indirectly linked to the commercialisation of lobola. As a result, men are using the payment as justification to oppress and abuse women who they view as bought property.

Such men believe the high charges that some parents demand during lobola negotiations entitles them to own their wives – it’s like they have bought enough shares in a company to more or less own the company.

Marriages have been known to collapse because of parents’ lobola demands. They demand that their daughter be returned if the agreed lobola is not forthcoming, their argument: pay up or no sex.

Earlier this year, Shepherd Gumbo from Harare told the Harare Magistrates Court that he separated with his wife after his in-laws banned him from having sexual intercourse until he paid the balance on the bride price.

Gumbo said his wife Patricia Sabawo was taken away from him by the in-laws saying the comfort he had enjoyed was equivalent to the lobola he had paid so far.

His wife was now demanding maintenance.

Maybe calls for regulation should be supported to preserve the age old lobola practice, especially in this capitalized and modernised society.

Thabani Nyoni, an analyst from Bulawayo, however disagrees.

Nyoni argues that regulating lobola is difficult but introducing the subject in formal and informal educational institutions like churches, schools might foster understanding of the practice and stop its commercialisation.

Khanyile Mlotshwa, a Pan-Africanist and post graduate media studies student, believes that Africans should re-think how this culture of lobola continues in a capitalist world.

“We have to return to the initial aims of paying lobola, then we will appreciate why we need it and why we have to save it from commercialisation and abuse,” says Mlotshwa. online

Four people were killed, while another one was found dead in a maize field in Harare in murder cases recorded between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day countrywide.

This comes as police continue to urge members of the public not to take the law into their hands whenever disputes arise.

Police said most of the murder cases emanated from disputes over petty issues such as fights during beer drinking, domestic violence and disputes over parking space.

In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi urged members of the public to exercise restraint whenever they were involved in disputes with relatives, friends or strangers.

“It is disheartening to note that despite efforts by the police and community leaders to inform and educate people on the sanctity of human life, some people do not take heed,” he said.

“Of the cases recorded over the festive period, most of them emanated from disputes after drinking binges, domestic violence, parking disputes, while some are due to other causes, particularly where the victims were found dead after being stabbed or assaulted by unknown persons while walking at night.”

Chief Supt Nyathi said on Christmas Day, a 34-year-old man from Mkwasine in Chiredzi was killed following a dispute with his wife after he insisted on slaughtering a family goat.

He said the man persisted and the wife took a log and fatally assaulted him on the head.

He died on the spot.

In another incident which occurred on December 30, 2016 in Southlea Park, Harare, a 29-year-old man had a dispute with his wife after he spent money on beer.

“The man took a kitchen knife and stabbed the wife on the chest,” Chief Supt Nyathi said. “He attempted to cover up for the offence by tying a rope on roof trusses and hanging his wife so that it could appear as a case of suicide.”

Chief Supt Nyathi said on January 1, two people were involved in a scuffle over parking space at a bar in Chegutu.

The scuffle degenerated into a fist fight and one of the men stabbed the other several times with a sharp object resulting in his death.

In a related incident which occurred in Dema, Seke, a 30-year-old man stabbed another man, aged 37, after a dispute over a girlfriend at a shebeen.

The man died on his way to Chitungwiza Central Hospital.

“In Harare’s Kuwadzana suburb, a man was found dead in a maize field and police are investigating the case as there were signs of struggle at the scene though no visible injuries were noted,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

“In another incident, a 27-year-old Mabvuku man is battling for life after being stabbed nine times by unknown assailants in the suburb.”

Police have urged members of the public to stop whenever they are involved in road traffic accidents.

This follows an incident in Westlea, Harare, on New Year’s Day at around 2am hours, along First Street where a 41-year-old man was hit by a motorist who did not stop. The man died on the spot. – State Media

AN EIGHT-HOUR downpour in Gwanda South left a trail of destruction, leaving communities desperate.

The heavy rain started shortly after 3PM last Thursday and ended after 11PM in Gungwe area under Chief Mathe.

In separate interviews, community leaders said three dams Gungwe, Matulungundu and Makokwe were destroyed by the rains that also killed livestock.

The area’s councillor Johnson Mangwangwa, who is also Gwanda Rural District Council chairperson said they were appealing to the Government and well-wishers for assistance to rehabilitate the dams.

“This is a serious setback. People rely heavily on Gungwe dam for agricultural purposes, their livelihoods and for their animals. We now have to cover 15 km to Tuli River to water our livestock, a situation that will leave our cattle at the mercy of cattle rustlers,” said Clr Mangwangwa.

“We are appealing to Government and non-governmental organisations to come forward and assist in the re-construction of these water bodies.  A total of seven villages namely Gungwe, Malitou, Mselele, Makokwe, Ntshwangu, Mawaza and Simbuka desperately need water for their livelihood.”

He said he would table the issue before a full council meeting to be held soon for possible solutions to be considered.

A former Agritex officer, Mr Isaac Kwela of Ward 16 in Matulungundu said farmers were now counting their losses after the heavy rain.

“The 130mm rainfall left misery to communities as all the people who survived on market gardening downstream have been dealt a blow because all the water was from these dams that have been destroyed. Twenty four goats were killed in Zelezele while six donkeys also succumbed to the down-pour that started at around 3PM and ended at 11PM,” he said.

Mr Kwela said people relied heavily on horticulture using water from Matulungundu and Makokwe dams.

“People from this ward (16) rely heavily on these two dams that have been destroyed by the heavy rains and have no one to turn to for assistance since they have been doing mini-irrigation schemes downstream to raise school fees for their children,” he said.

He urged Government to come and assess the damage to reconstruct the dams. – State Media

BABOONS are continuously terrorising residents of Pumula South in Bulawayo as they move from a nearby forest around Khami Dam in search of food.

A number of residents yesterday expressed concern that the baboons are now vandalising their roofs as they hop from one house to the other.  They told a Chronicle news crew that the baboons are also raiding their mango trees for the fruit.

Sometimes the baboons snatch bread from children coming from the shops.

One resident, who identified himself only as Mr Sibanda, said they also fear that the baboons may bring diseases to their neighbourhood.

“We don’t know what diseases these animals bring from the forests. We and our children eat the same mangoes. We are worried that there may be outbreaks of deadly diseases. Most houses have mango trees and only God knows what will happen once the mangoes get finished. We don’t know what they will feed on next,” he said.

Another resident, identified only as Mr Moyo, said his roof was destroyed by baboons. He said the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority must intervene.

“Many houses have been affected. These animals are destroying our property. It’s another expense to replace the destroyed asbestos sheets. May the National Parks people find a way to help us,” said Mr Moyo.

He said women and children are now afraid of going to the shops.

“These animals are taking advantage of children and women. They snatch their groceries. We have since stopped sending children to buy bread from the shops, the bread never reaches home,” he said.

The area’s councillor, Mr Siboniso Khumalo said the wildlife authority was notified of the problem, but no action was taken.

“We once placed a complaint at the National Parks and they promised to come and help us. No one ever came back to say the baboons were still being a problem. We thought they had all been dealt with. I wasn’t aware of the new problems,” said Clr Khumalo.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Public Relations Officer Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo referred the matter to their Bulawayo offices, but efforts to get a comment there were fruitless. – State Media

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zim People First leader Joice Mujuru are set to clash in Bikita West as the battle for the constituency heats up. Below is an account from Zim People First.

ZIM PF BIKITA WEST | Barely three weeks before the 21st of January Bikita West by-election date, Team Lacoste descends in Bikita West to mobilise the hot constituency which Savior Kasukuwere failed to convince to support Beauty Chabaya, the G-40 Zanu PF candidate. On the other hand, it’s Dydimus Mutasa descending on Bikita West on the same date to address a ward rally in what has been termed the Ebenezer rally Hozvi ward 10 where Zim PF activists were fought by Zanu PF hooligans on the 11th of December 2016.

The Battle of Bikita has turned nasty as Zanu Pf tried all tactics to grab the constituency using goodies and freebies but that alone seemed far from finishing lines.

Seed, fertilizer, and rice under the government scheme was dished in all the wards with some members receiving 2kg fertilizer , a cup of rice and so on.

This seemed to be insulting to the constituency and members were forced to sloganeering for the whole day, tarry from morning to dawn in return of the cupful of rice. What surprised many was that, instead of the members to receive the inputs per allocation, the Zanu Pf candidate Chabaya because of hard times started to resell the fertiliser to boost her campaign; showing that the economic quagmire and trauma is not only ravaging opposition members but also the plunderers are failing to make ends meet.

Not to be outdone, Hon Jaboon had also robbed Bikita South of its due benefits by reselling the same inputs meant for the constituency. It now tends to be a battle of plundering. Speed Spoil Hasten Plunder.

The inputs distribution had left unhealed wounds as some disciples of the inner circle were seen receiving two bags of fertilizer each while general electorate walking away with 2kg fertiliser handout. The likes of Simion Ziwewe of ward 22, who was expelled from Marange Apostolic Church for putting the name of the church into disrepute , Mhurai Jecha who is known for her stripping behavior, Chivende Nicholas of ward 12, had an early Christmas after they successfully managed to connive with their G40 cabal and Chabaya to divert fertilizer meant for the wards and stored at Chabaya’s residence for resell. The Zim Pf intelligence in the constituency managed to capture the team offloading a truck of fertiliser at Chabaya’s house. All this sounds pathetic in the ears of the electorate.

The situation in the constituency forced Team Lacoste to intervene without delay as they claim it’s high time the party lobbies it’s members to vote in defence of the party,  as they blundered in putting a political tourist in the constituency who is married in Murehwa masquerades as a divorcee when it’s public knowledge that Beauty Chabaya stays in Mabelreign with her husband who hails from Mash East.

Intimidation is now at its peak as schools were forced by Jaboon to provide their buses, fuel and lorries to ferry delegates to the rally. The Mafaune traditional dancing crew has been forced to attend the rally after they turned down the invitation following failure to receive a single cent after performance on Heroes day at Duma District Heroes fields, the local teachers has been forced to call school children to sing the national anthem clad in their uniforms and it was up and down as the notice was brought very late to them. One local head’s phone went unanswered as it turns out that the resolution to use the school bus for political events was quashed by the SDA.

Zim Pf Elder Mutasa will be courting ward 10 Bikita west again to mobilise the constituency ahead of the by elections on the same day 4th of January 2017. The visit by Elder Mutasa barely comes two weeks after the visit by Rugare Gumbo popularly known as Dare who addressed a well attended ward 22 rally at Gangarabge on the 18th of December. Coincidentally, ward 10 is the ward where Beauty Chabaya hails and it’s now battle of supremacy ahead of the big day. The Zim Pf mobilisation head will be at the same gathering Hon Mavhaire and the PEC led by Rtd Col Makova CW.

Gopo, the Zim Pf candidate has of now provided several needs in almost all the wards with support from the mother party and members. The projects done so far will be unveiled in the next edition.

Above all, the die has been cast
It’s a never miss event

ZIM PF BIKITA WEST
MASVINGO PROVINCIAL YOUTH BLITZ
@nyahundasd

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | President Robert Mugabe hates the Karanga people to the core such that he will never hand over power to anyone from the tribe, it has emerged.

Respected and renowned historian Takavira Zhou has described the nonagerian as someone who hates the Karangas with passion, adding the veteran leader will never hand over power to a Karanga speaking person.

Mugabe chose to attend a low key official opening of an information centre after snubbing the official opening of the Simon Muzenda Museum last month.
Political analysts described Mugabe’s stance as a reflection of his bias against the Karanga People.

Zhou said Mugabe did not have any respect for the people of Masvingo and his selection of ministers was biased towards Zezuru speaking people.

“Mugabe opted to go Supa Mandiwanzira’ s low key event because they are related. That is typical of Mugabe. He is selfish and he hates Karangas to the core.This implies that Mugabe will never hand over power to a Karanga speaking person,” said Zhou.

Two factions are fighting to control political affairs in Zanu PF.One faction known as the G-40 is said to be backing the First Lady Grace Mugabe while the Team Lacoste is backing Midlands godfather and Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa, a powerful Karanga speaking politician is positioning himself to succeed Mugabe .

ZANU PF politburo member and Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo took the ruling party’s succession fights to another level yesterday after he reacted angrily to pictures of Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa holding a cup inscribed “I am the boss” which was posted on social media platforms.

Moyo, using his micro-blogging Twitter account, immediately attached political connotations to the message, which he described as “a power grab narrative”.

In one of the pictures, Mnangagwa, who is believed to be President Robert Mugabe’s heir apparent, but facing internal insurrection to his bid, poses with his self-proclaimed ally, Energy Mutodi, toasting a glass of wine with the VP using the labelled cup.

In another picture, Mnangagwa is seen sitting next to an unidentified man holding the same cup and on the table in front of them are two bottles of mineral water.

Moyo, who has publicly expressed his dislike of Mnangagwa’s political ambitions, said it was wrong for the Acting President to parade himself while holding a cup with such words.

“When pictures not only tell more than a thousand words, but also deepen the power grab narrative!” Moyo claimed.

When one of Moyo’s followers urged for a truce between the two politicians, the Tsholotsho North MP retorted: “Siyana neni iwe (Leave me alone). Everybody knows that the Boss is Gushungo (Mugabe). One Boss at a time, please! Kumhanya hakusi kusvika veduwe (There is no need to rush).”

While Moyo continues against Mugabe’s advice to rave and rant at Mnangagwa and other opponents, the VP has scoffed at his adversaries, at one time comparing them to “little puppies”.

“They will continue to bark while we will continue to work,” Mnangagwa was quoted as saying last year as the internal fissures gnawing at the ruling party threatened to tip the former liberation movement over.

Mnangagwa is embroiled in a bitter succession battle with a group of young Zanu PF politicians going by the moniker G40 who are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to block his ascendancy to Zimbabwe’s top job.

G40 is reportedly sympathetic to First Lady Grace to take over power from her ailing soon-to-be 93-year-old husband.

Moyo is a leading proponent of the G40 group that also includes Zanu PF national commissar and Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere. – Newsday

Norton’s independent MP Temba Mliswa has said he does not need to use MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s popularity to lure people to his rallies.

The former Zanu PF official and staunch President Robert Mugabe supporter said he is a “brand on his own”.

Responding to claims that Tsvangirai ordered his members not to attend his solidarity rally after he won the Norton constituency by-election, Mliswa said he has his own strong support base.

“…I don’t have to use the name of…Tsvangirai to have people come to my rally, Temba Mliswa is a brand on his own, he has his own following…,” he said during an interview with Nehanda TV recently.

However, he attributed his victory to the support he got from other opposition political parties, including the MDC.

Mliswa — who beat Zanu PF’s Ronald Chindedza in the fiercely contested by-election — said MDC gets the most mention because of the mere fact that it is the biggest opposition political party in Zimbabwe.

The Norton seat had fallen vacant following the expulsion of war veterans leader, Chris Mutsvangwa, from the ruling Zanu PF party.

“Let me make this very clear, the Norton win was a united nations approach where everybody believed that change was imminent.”

He said his Norton victory had three aspects, which included the need for a courageous candidate who was willing to work and had a strategy.

“…strategy then involves me, bringing all the progressive forces together, MDC being… part of it and other smaller parties. PDP was first in announcing my support before MDC officially did. So I don’t want to say this one was superior to the other,” Mliswa said.

He said the solidarity rally, would have provided an opportunity for Tsvangirai to address people from different political organisations, since he believes he is the right man to lead a coalition of opposition political parties against 92-year-old Mugabe ahead of 2018 elections.

The vocal Mliswa said people were feeding Tsvangirai with false information, alleging he was eyeing to lead the coalition.

He however, said that he does not belong to any political party and that his Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (Yard) was not even one.

Queried on whether he benefitted from Zanu PF’s succession squabbles through Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction, Mliswa said, “I am a strong campaigner myself, I am a seasoned politician, I was the chairperson of Mash West and Norton is part of Mash West.”

“I dealt with the structures of Norton as well , I did some work in Norton as chairman in the Kingsdale Housing Development, which is the biggest ward in Norton, which has over 3 000 voters followed by ward 15 which is rural and I won two of those because of my popularity when I was in Zanu PF, because of my popularity of being a worker…”

“I have a track record of representing people properly, I have a record of not wanting to take a car because I believe the people’s welfare is more important than a car,” he said.

Mliswa said he managed to outmanoeuvre Zanu PF — he claimed uses intimidation and vote buying as rigging strategies — because of his hard working principles.

Asked to comment on whether Zanu PF was abusing Mugabe by keeping him in power, Mliswa said, the party “has never been honest and the problem with the president is that he is surrounded by people who patronise him, who are criminals at the end of the day, he is equally protecting them, so they always tell him what he wants to hear because they want his protection.”

“But the truth of the matter is that I would really want him to leave office, guide the next president and at the same time be a statesman, where he can give lecturers to universities…Zanu PF must allow the president to retire, resign and let him go to universities to teach young people because whether you like it or not, Mugabe is an icon…” Daily News

By Ray Nkosi  | The Three MDC-T founder members who were last year convicted of killing a ZRP cop Petros Mutedza, are being held in dark cells at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, ZimEye.com has learnt.

The three, Last Maengehama and Tungamirai Madzokere and Yvonne Musarura are said to be staying in a section of Chikurubi Maximum Prison called FB1, where they are being ‘tortured’ daily because of the inhuman treatment they endure.

According to Prison officers at Chikurubi who can’t be named the section has no running water and electricity where the three spend the whole day under lock and key.

“ This section has no access to natural light since it is all concrete right round that is , floors, walls, to the top, there are neither windows nor air vents,” said the officers.

“They are being allowed outside these tiny cells for only 30 minutes a day. These 30 minutes are time they take a bath, exercise, wash their clothes and blankets, and flash their toilets.

“Most of the time they are in total darkness as electricity is rare to come by”.

Maengehama, Madzokere and Musarurwa are serving a 20 jail term for murder.

Their party has, however, indicated that it was going to appeal against the sentence.

See below account by Albert Matapo;

By The President of UCAD Green Party of Zimbabwe

Attention Everyone

We are all aware that Last Maengehama, Tungamirai Madzokere and Yvonnie Musarurwa were wrongfully convicted and sentenced to 20 years in Prison with hard labour by the ruthless Zanu Judge Justice Bhunu for the murder of a Glen View Policeman. To add salt to injury, l am reliably informed of the following (This is 100% true):

1) Last Maengehama and Tungamirai Madzokere are being kept in a section of Chikurubi Maximum Prison called FB1.
2) They are being kept in penale blocks which are 4m long by 1.4m wide.
3) This section has no access to natural light since it is all concrete right round ie floor, walls, top. There are neither windows nor air vents.
4) These innocent souls are being regarded as terrorists and so are being kept in these cells for 23 and half hours a day, until when can they be living like this? They are being allowed outside these tiny cells for only 30 minutes a day. This 30 minutes is time they take a bath, exercise, wash their clothes and blankets, flash their toilets, etc
5) Most of the time they are in total darkness as electricity is rare to come by, remember no natural light can enter. The darkness in there is one that can be cut by a knife. One cannot tell whether is day or night when inside. When inside even if it is hot outside but inside is very cold.
6) This is the same section where there is Gumbura and team. These guys are therefore staying alongside Gumbura and team.
7) Each man stays in his own cell meaning there is no social interraction at all. In total there are only 11 cells there. What it means is that out of all the thousands of prisoners at Chikurubi Max Prison (about 4000) Last Maengahama and Tungamirai Madzokere are being regarded the worst criminals. Is this proper to people who never committed a crime?
8) The section was meant only for those who are awaiting to be condemned (killed) ie on death penault. Psychologically these guys are waiting to be killed. It is actually the condemn section of this prison. The machine which is used to kill people is just above them. On their side is what is called a Vacuum room which handles dead bodies of those who would have been executed.
8) This is the section where Dumiso Dabengwa and the now late Lookout Masuku were kept, Kevin Woods and team, Simon Mann, Albert Matapoand team, the now late Ndabaningi Sithole, etc were once kept.
9) Kevin Woods in 1994 challenged through the Courts the legality of being kept there. The Supreme Court ruled that the section was unfit for human habitation.
10) l, Albert Matapo also took the regime to Magistrate court over the same issue citing the Supreme Court ruling of 1994, the matter was heard before Magistrate Morgan Nemadire who ruled that it was a violation of the law and l was subsequently removed from there after staying there for 18 months. This is one place where it is so easy for these ruthless Zanu people to kill inmates by poisoning or other means.

My questions to all of you now are; why is the media quiet about this? Why are the opposition politicians (democrats), Lawyers for human rights and everyone else quiet about this? Zimbabweans were quiet when l was there because they cared not about me who was being accused of wanting to remove Mugabe by force, what about these who were convicted of false charges?

May something be done to save these souls. This is cruelity at its best. I suffered a lot while l was being held at this section. One hardly gets enough fresh air to breathe. Guys this is the worst punishment one can ever receive. It is too traumatic an experience. I hope people will take to the streets for these guys.

Albert Matapo.

By Sarah Moses | When do women make most noise during sex? When they’re having an orgasm? Or when their man is about to come? Recent research reveals the truth.

Why do some women literally scream and shout in bed?

Guys, maybe you think that she’s moaning and screaming because you’re such a great lover – you’re pounding away inside her, she’s having a mind-blowing orgasm. Sorry, think again. That’s not why women are so noisy in bed, according to the findings of a British study. Over 85 percent of women make lots of noise simply to boost their partner’s sex self-esteem, the study found.

The researchers asked over 70 heterosexual women whether they were more likely to reach orgasm during masturbation, foreplay, or intercourse. They also wanted to know how noisy the women were during these different sexual activities and the reasons why.

All of the women in the study said they made noise in bed, whether it was screaming out their partner’s name, telling him to go faster or harder, or moaning with pleasure. But the researchers were in for a surprise when they compared how noisy women were when they reached orgasm.

The women were more likely to climax during foreplay – like when their partner gave them oral sex – compared to intercourse. And it wasn’t when they were coming that they were most likely to make noise.

Stroking his ego

When it comes to moaning and screaming, they made a lot more noise when they were having sex, right before and during their partner’s orgasm. Yes, the reason most women make noise in bed is to turn on their partner. In fact, almost 80 percent said they make noise even when they know there’s no chance they’re going to reach orgasm themselves.

All that hollering is mainly to stroke their guy’s ego. It doesn’t necessarily mean a girl’s in ecstasy. In fact, it could mean just the opposite. Women also say that moans and screams are one way to hurry sex along when you’re not particularly enjoying it.

Yup, women can and do use their voice to control how their guy feels during sex and when he climaxes, the researchers conclude. And why do they do it? To ‘manipulate male behaviour to their advantage’.

Boosting her guy’s sex self-esteem by making lots of noise could help strengthen the bond between a woman and her partner, the researchers hypothesise. But there’s also the advantage of speeding up a guy’s orgasm if she’s in pain, just plain bored, or ready to roll over and go to sleep.

Subtle signs

So guys, if you really want to please her, don’t go by the big performance, look for the subtle signs of ecstasy. And girls, nice of you to cheer him on like that, but don’t forget to show and tell what really makes you go wild…

Any hopes that there would be a let-up in Zanu PF’s vicious tribal, factional and succession wars in 2017 have evaporated before the new year has barely got out of first gear, with the ruling party’s two brawling camps going at each other hammer and tongs this week.

On the one hand, the powerful Zanu PF women’s league — linked to the Generation 40 (G40) group, which is rabidly opposed to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeding President Robert Mugabe — confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that it was upping its efforts to regain one of the ruling party’s two vice presidency posts.

On the other hand, Zanu PF supporter and pro-Mnangagwa activist Energy Mutodi, has released his own 2016 ratings of the ruling party’s politburo members, in which he predictably rubbishes Mugabe and all G40-linked bigwigs while praising those who are in the opposite Team Lacoste camp (the Mnangagwa faction).

In an interview with the Daily News yesterday, women’s league secretary for finance Sarah Mahoka said — following last month’s complaint by Mugabe regarding Zanu PF’s lack of implementation of party resolutions — they would be going all out to ensure the re-introduction of the policy that guarantees a woman was one of the party’s two vice presidents.

“The president made it clear (at last December’s Zanu PF annual conference in Masvingo) that he was not happy with a situation where the party makes resolutions that are not implemented,” said the outspoken Hurungwe East legislator.

“So, Amai (influential First Lady Grace Mugabe, who also leads the women’s league) said we should start implementing all our resolutions now by making sure that the women’s quota clause is incorporated in the party’s constitution,” Mahoka said.

The women’s league, which was interestingly the only party organ which was given the chance to present its resolutions at the Masvingo conference, went big on the issue of women’s representation in Zanu PF’s presidium — in a move that party insiders say could torpedo Mnangagwa’s mooted presidential aspirations.

“We are concerned with lack of implementation of party resolutions made in 2015 in Victoria Falls. We made it clear that we wanted the constitution to be changed to allow an earlier provision that one of the two VPs should be a woman. This has not been implemented,” the league’s deputy secretary, Eunice Sandi-Moyo, thundered at the Masvingo gathering.

Mahoka said yesterday that the women’s league was waiting for Grace’s return from her month-long annual holiday with Mugabe, to receive instructions on how it would follow up on this critical issue and other league programmes.

“She is away right now and we are waiting for her return. Remember we take instructions from our leaders and all we do is carry out the work that is assigned to us. We do not talk too much, we act,” she said.

“Amai has said she wants women to participate more in the politics of the country, especially in the 2018 elections. She wants women to vie for elected positions and become MPs, councillors and so forth,” the Zanu PF Member of Parliament said.

“It is clear also what the president wants and we have since endorsed him as our candidate for 2018, despite claims by some sections that he was going to hand over power to someone else at the Masvingo conference, which did not happen,” she said.

“We expected those we hear to be harbouring ambitions to replace him to come forth and declare their interest, but all they do is talk, with no action. We want action that takes the country forward. We want to see our roads rehabilitated, and we want to see our economy picking up, not all this divisive talk they engage in every day,” Mahoka added in an apparent dig at Mnangagwa and his allies.

The Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial executive has previously launched a stinging attack on the Midlands godfather, accusing him of failing to rein in his allies who are allegedly causing divisions in Zanu PF by pushing for his ascendancy to the presidency.

And her women’s league also accuses party secretary for legal affairs, Patrick Chinamasa — who is linked to Team Lacoste — of deliberately blocking the implementation of the controversial resolution to have a woman become one of the party’s two vice presidents again.

Writing on his Facebook page yesterday, businessman-cum-musician, Mutodi, savaged  Mugabe and all alleged G40 kingpins in his politburo ratings for 2016.

In a move that will horrify many of the increasingly frail nonagenarian’s supporters, he ranked Mugabe only at number four in terms of “performance”, in a list in which he predictably placed Mnangagwa first and Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi number two.

Not surprisingly, his worst 10 politburo members, starting with allegedly “the most incompetent” were Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, Zanu PF youth league leader Kudzai Chipanga, Indigenisation minister Patrick Zhuwao, Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Sandi-Moyo, politburo member Cleveria Chizema, Industry minister Mike Bimha, Labour minister Prisca Mupfumira and Bulawayo resident minister Cain Mathema.

“ . . . Mugabe has shed three places in politburo rankings for the year 2016. The veteran president, who is the country’s only ruler since independence from Britain in 1980, has presided over a dying economy mainly due to his poor policies, corruption and economic mismanagement,” he said.

“Among these polices include the land reform and the indigenisation policies that do not only scare away investors but also breed unemployment and poverty. Zimbabwe no longer has a currency of its own and millions of its people have fled to other countries in search of employment and better standards of living,” Mutodi said.

“Mugabe’s poor rankings in the latest politburo rankings are best explained by his refusal to name a successor despite his old age, as well as his shielding of corrupt ministers from arrest. He has also been accused of nepotism after he appointed his son-in-law Simba Chikore as new Air Zimbabwe boss,” the maverick politician said.

“The president has also recently shown signs of poor reasoning after he fell prey to a G-40 led ploy to isolate him from his support base, mainly war veterans, who delivered the country’s independence,” Mutodi charged. – Daily News

A-16-YEAR-OLD herd boy from Zvishavane has pleaded guilty to raping a neighbour’s five-year-old daughter.

The boy, whose name and that of his victim have been withheld for legal reasons, appeared before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mr Morgan Nemadire facing rape charges.

He pleaded guilty and was remanded out of custody to January 10.

The magistrate asked for the accused person’s father to appear in court on that day so that he might explain if the complainant’s family had come to an understanding with the accused person since they did not show up for the hearing.

Prosecuting, Mr Lloyd Mavhiza said on November 7 at around 9AM, the complainant visited her friend at a homestead the 16-year old boy was employed as a herd boy.
“The accused person started to follow the complainant before she met her friend’s mother who told her to wait for her friend under a kitchen hut shade. The complainant was left alone whilst her friend’s mother went into her bedroom hut,” said Mr Mavhiza.

“The accused person approached the complainant and told her to follow him into the kitchen hut.”
The court heard that the accused person raped the minor in the kitchen hut, but was caught in the act.

“The complainant’s friend’s mother came to the kitchen hut and found the complainant sitting on the accused person’s lap with her trousers lowered to thigh level. She called the complainant’s guardian and told her what she had seen,” said Mr Mavhiza.

The court heard that the complainant’s guardian accompanied the complainant to report the matter to the police.

“The complainant was referred to Zvishavane District hospital where she was medically examined and a medical report was compiled,” said Mr Mavhiza. State Media

By Nhau Mangirazi| A Kariba man escaped death by a whisker while battling an abduction, a report by the local Admore Mbonda says.

There was drama when Mr James Mackenzie, who is Bush Safaris Director escaped death narrowly close to his Nyamhunga house.

James Mackenzie was tipped off that he was being stalked by armed men. He said unknown men tried to kidnap him. The said the men followed him from Batonga to Chawara road but they couldn’t get closer to him as it was in the location hence the kidnap failed.

Yesterday at around 9 pm he alleges that he saw two men he claims were holding guns with a blue light at his house and suspected that they were after him. He then took his 458 Bruno fire arm for self defense but due to panic he shot himself once on the left shoulder and the armed men disappeared following hearing the gun shot.

He was quickly taken to Kariba Hospital where he is receiving treatment. – More details to follow…

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been attacked.

Mnangagwa portrayed himself as somewhat more senior to President Robert Mugabe within hours of Mugabe’s name being printed as number 4 in the hierarchy of power in ZANU PF’s highest decision making body, the politburo. Mnangagwa loyalist and CIO agent, Energy Mutodi filed Mugabe as below Mnangagwa in a salient coup de tat.

Mnangagwa who is positioning himself to take over from President Robert Mugabe in the ruling party’s leadership, was pictured drinking his favourite beverage in a glass inscribed “I am the Boss” at a private festive gathering over the weekend. Coincidentally in the picture Mnangagwa is seen with none other than the same Energy Mutodi, the arch-author of Mugabe’s political demise.

The picture has attracted the wrath of rival G-40 ZANU PF faction which is against Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe.

To further compound matters Zanu PF’s Energy Mutodi also with close links to the Mnangagwa faction has released a list, in which he claims President Mugabe’s Politburo rankings have fallen. Top of the list is Mnangagwa with Mugabe only assuming fourth position after Sydney Sekeramayi and Christopher Mushowe.

Professor Jonathan Moyo a sworn rival of Mnangagwa’s and part of the team leading the G-40 faction reacted angrily to Mnangagwa’s declaration accusing the Vice President of declaring himself bigger than President Mugabe. Wrote Moyo on twitter, “First Mutodi poses with VP Mnangagwa in a weird photo, then he writes this garbage attacking Pres Mugabe. Enough!” 

Moyo castigated Mnangagwa who leads the Team Lacoste on his twitter page inferring indiscipline on the part of the VP. ZANU PF has in the past dismissed all members who have openly expressed desire to take over from President Mugabe a measure Moyo is suggesting is taken aganst Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa is acting President while President Mugabe is away on leave.

No official comment has yet been made by ZANU PF administration.

TWO local men have taken their Chinese employer to court demanding $50 000 compensation each for sexual abuse during the course of employment at the suspect’s company.

The men, through their lawyers from Mavengano and Company Legal Practitioners, have approached the High Court seeking compensation after they were allegedly sexually abused before being dismissed by Jiafang Zhao.

The two stated in their claim submitted to the High Court that: “It be and is hereby declared that the defendant’s actions were unlawful and that he (Zhao) compensate the first plaintiff $50 000,” the claim read.

“The defendant be ordered to pay $50 000 to the second plaintiff as compensation. If you wish to oppose any of the plaintiffs’ claims you must enter an appearance to defend by making an appropriate entry in the appearance book kept in the office of the Registrar of the High Court of Zimbabwe at Harare within 10 days after service of the summons.”

According to the High Court summons, Zhao allegedly had anal sex with the men without their consent on several occasions before unilaterally terminating their employment contracts. – Newsday

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | Two Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Cops ran amok and severely assaulted revellers at Mutsetse Bar in Rujeko Masvingo last night.

Although Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula could not be reached for a comment, eyewitnesses told ZimEye.com the two cops arrived at the bar and assaulted revellers accusing them of undermining the authority of President Robert Mugabe. The two cops further accused the revellers of inciting public disorder.

Two people were severely injured during the attack.

Despite the fact that the police camp is 50 metres from the shopping centre no efforts were made to apprehend the marauding cops who were in plain clothes.

An MDC Youth Assembly member identified as Tafadzwa was seriously injured after being assaulted by the cops.

“We were drinking beer at Mutsetse Bar last night when two cops stormed the place and began to beat up people. They accused the revellers of undermining the authority of the President.”

“We were amazed by their behaviour. We went to Rujeko Police Station and reported the matter but nothing was done. The police refused to cooperate with us. In actual fact they accused us of provoking their colleagues,” said an eyewitness who declined to be named.

ZRP officers have been widely condemned for harassing innocent Zimbabweans.
At least 15 Rujeko residents gathered at the police camp after the incident, demanding to be addressed by the Officer in Charge.

Prosperity necromancer Emmanuel Makandiwa’s aide and top pastor Donald Savanhu has been implicated in a police case involving an alleged plot to kill another preacher based in Harare, Talent Chiwenga.

The below was an interview with Savanhu following the opening of the case:

A 58-YEAR-OLD Bulilima man has died after a Christmas Day booze binge, police have said.

Bulilima and Mangwe police district officer responsible for crime, Superintendent Pedzai Dzindimu said Themba Moyo from Tjemahale Village drank undiluted spirits on Christmas Day and on December 26 without taking any food.

He said Moyo started complaining of stomach pains and died three days later.

“A man is suspected to have died because of excessive drinking. Themba Moyo consumed undiluted spirits and hot stuff over two days non-stop. Over those two days he didn’t eat anything. He later started complaining of stomach pains but didn’t seek any medical attention. On 29 December he went to work in the fields in the morning together with his family,” he said.

Supt Dzindimu said on their way back home at around 10AM Moyo collapsed and died on the spot. He said Moyo’s body was taken to Plumtree District Hospital Mortuary where it was awaiting post-mortem.

He said preliminary investigations had shown that Moyo had died as a result of excessive drinking.

He urged members of the public to act responsibly during the festive holiday.

Mr Moyo’s cousin, Mr Alfred Nyoni said they had tried to discourage Moyo from drinking excessively to no avail.

“We were all drinking at home to celebrate Christmas Day but my cousin was taking the spirits undiluted. We tried to stop him but he became violent and said he was celebrating the festive holiday. He even refused to eat any food on that day.

“The following day he left home in the morning and spent the whole day drinking with his friends. They told us that he was also drinking undiluted spirits. When he returned we gave him food but he refused to eat,” he said.

Mr Nyoni said Moyo also refused to seek medical attention when he started experiencing stomach pains.

He said on the day that he died, Moyo lied that the pain had subsided and volunteered to go to the fields instead of resting at home.

Mr Nyoni said the family suspected that Moyo had been killed by drinking excessively. – State Media

A 60-YEAR-OLD man who was caught red handed with a married woman is recovering in hospital after he was stoned and left for dead by his lover’s 24-year-old husband.

Qondani Moyo of Nkulumane 11 suburb appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndhlovu and pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. He told the magistrate that he failed to control himself after seeing his wife in the company of her lover at around 2AM a fortnight ago.

Magistrate Ndhlovu remanded him in custody to January 12. Prosecuting, Mr Brian Nkala said Moyo assaulted Mr Shadreck Sithole (60) of Bulawayo’s Nkulumane 5 suburb when he failed to give a satisfactory reason why he was with his wife at night a fortnight ago.

“On December 17 this year at around 2AM, at a house in Nkulumane 11 suburb, the complainant was dropping his girlfriend at her place of residence, in the company of her friends. They were coming from a nightclub and a couple of sports bars,” said Mr Nkala.

The court heard that the woman’s friends left the two lovers in the car and proceeded to their homes. Moyo allegedly came out of the house and demanded to know what was taking place between the two.

“The accused person came out of the house armed with stones and a club. He charged towards where his wife and her boyfriend, who is now the complainant were parked. The accused person stoned the complainant on the face and body several times in an attempt to cause death to the complainant,” said Mr Nkala.

He said Moyo’s victim suffered head injuries and was recovering in hospital. – State Media

A TSHOLOTSHO man allegedly raped a Plumtree woman who was herding goats and left her for dead after he also struck her with an axe.

A Bulawayo magistrate heard that Lighton Ngwenya (25) approached the woman in a bushy area in Madlambudzi and proposed love but was turned down.

He allegedly then raped the woman and axed her once at the back of her head, leaving her unconscious.

Ngwenya pleaded not guilty to rape and attempted murder charges when he appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza.

“I know nothing about this matter Your Worship. I have never met this woman before. My first time to see her was when I met her through the police. I don’t know what she’s talking about,” he said.

Mr Mabeza remanded him in custody tomorrow.

The court heard that his 24 year old victim regained consciousness some minutes later and staggered home where she narrated the ordeal to her uncle.

The woman told the court that Ngwenya threatened to kill her before he raped her.

“He threatened to kill me if I refused to sleep with him. I tried to run away but the place was full of thorns so I couldn’t run. I tried to scream after the sexual attack but he struck me at the back of my head and I passed out,” she said.

Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said on August 26, at around 6PM Ngwenya’s victim was rounding up her goats to take them home when he pounced on her.

“Accused dragged victim into a bush and raped her once. He produced a small axe and struck her at the back of her head before fleeing from the scene. She was referred to Plumtree District Hospital and a medical report was acquired,” said Mr Manyiwa. – State Media

THREE family members died while three others were injured yesterday when a vehicle they were travelling in burst a front tyre and overturned at Insuza along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway.

The accident occurred at the 71km peg at about 3.30PM.

Bulawayo Fire Brigade senior divisional officer Mr Linos Phiri yesterday said the car which was involved in the accident had six members of a Harare family on board who were travelling to Victoria Falls on holiday.

“Six family members from Borrowdale in Harare were on board the Toyota Hilux when its front tyre burst resulting in the car overturning at the 71km peg in Insuza along the Bulawayo- Victoria Falls highway.

“Three people died on the spot while three others were injured. One of the injured was trapped in the car and extricated by the Fire Brigade crew at about 4.30 PM,” said Mr Phiri.

He said those who died were aged 10, 12 and 30 years.

The injured were rushed to Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo.

The Insuza accident puts the road accident death toll to seven since New Year’s Day and 35 since Christmas Day.  Police had earlier yesterday said four people died in road traffic accidents on New Year’s Day. One hundred and eighty five crashes have occurred since December 25.

“We recorded a total number of 67 accidents on New Year’s Day as compared to 81 on the same day last year. Four people died this year as compared to eight last year.

“The number of people injured on New Year’s Day were 23 as compared to 55 last year, while the number of vehicles impounded for defects and being unroadworthy also decreased from 125 to 94,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

He said three road traffic accidents occurred in Harare on the first day of 2017, claiming the four lives.

Chief Supt Nyathi emphasised the need for motorists to observe traffic rules and regulations and to be cautious on the country’s roads.

“Most accidents occurred between 12AM and 6AM. We reiterate that motorists should be careful when driving at night, avoid speeding and stop going through red robots,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development is on record saying 85 percent of accidents in the country were due to human error.

MPs listed 12 other causes of accidents in the country that include bad state of roads, speeding, drunken driving, fatigue, use of cellphones when driving and going through red robots.

The use of second hand tyres, stationary and defective vehicles as well as stray animals on the roads, inadequate road signage and markings as well as lack of traffic enforcement were also cited.

The committee said the government should increase fines charged for traffic offences so that they are deterrent and introduce traffic courts where routine offenders are charged and licences are endorsed or cancelled. – State Media

By Kagure Mugo | In a world where ‘small houses’, ‘side chicks’ and second wives are a reality a lot of women are feeling increasing pressure to find that ‘18 year old vagina’ again. Globally treatments have gone to surgical extremes and within the continent vagina tightening is a time old tradition that is growing into a possibly dangerous modern market.

Vagazzling, waxing, scented soaps that cause thrush and putting ping pong-like exercise balls in your vajajay during staff meetings. These are just a few of the ways humanity has decided that the vagina should be harassed outside of the joy of periods and child birth.

We live in a world where one can engage in vaginoplasty (vaginal rejuvenation surgery) in order to ‘get your teenage vagina back’. Round here we may not have reached the point of widespread surgery but vagina tightening, like penis enlargement, is quite the business. ‘Everyone wants to tighten their punani,’ says a Nigeria based online sex shop owner who also sells the products on her site.

As a woman, keeping your groin game in top shape is an age old struggle. For centuries there have been many ways devised for ‘keeping it tight.’ During a study of Zaire conducted in 1993, for instance, women used leaves which were crushed and inserted into the vagina several hours before coitus.

Although natural remedies are still widespread the world over there are now a variety of products on the market and the methods themselves have gotten a little more chemical-based. In Kenya you can buy something to keep it tight on Ngara street under the name Mawe ya wa mama.

In Zimbabwe back in the days, the trade of these products used to occur in the shadows. Now you can get your hair relaxed and purchase ‘mushonga weku tightena’ treatments at $1 a pack.

One vendor said he’d originally started selling the product on a trial basis but he decided to expand his enterprise once he started earning $100 a day, with customers ranging from married women to ladies of the night. That comes to a cool 100 people wanting herbs to put in between their legs. But these are not the only options either, there are other products on the market ranging from $5 to $50 depending on where you buy them.

In South Africa the products to tighten your vajajay can be found online with many vendors providing mobile numbers and some even offer free delivery.

Alibaba.com has over 40 vagina tightening products ranging from creams, moulded products spells, to something utilising a chicken that gave very little description. One particularly popular one in the digital sphere is ’18 Again’ which is sold by a variety of providers.

A number of these products claim to be safe and ‘allergen free’ while others punt the ‘natural remedy’ route. These claims are nevertheless doubtful. For one thing these creams and herbs could give you cervical cancer. ‘Intense vaginal washing (douching) with any agent is considered bad practice,’ according to one cancer specialist, because of the effect it has on the body’s natural defences. It’s worrying then to hear some women say that cancer will only affect them later ‘right now they are focused on pleasing their men.’

But then there is the larger, problematic, claim that women are empowering themselves through the use of these products. Yes, vagina tightening does have elements of taking control of ones’ sexual destiny but there is no denying that there is something deeply troubling about women having to use these male-centred ideas of sex to create a sense of agency in terms of their sexual practices.

Thriving insecurities of needing to have the right equipment seem to be what fuel the market for these products. It seems that it is not always about pleasure but upping your desirability stakes. One Zimbabwean woman, speaking anonymously, said that the use of the creams was because men went looking for ‘small houses’. And a vendor in Nigeria ventured to guess that part of the motivation for some women in polygamous marriages is because they want to keep up with the closest rival, be it wife number two or three.

This puts women in a position where they have to up their sex game to keep their men, perpetuating the idea of women’s sex and women’s bodies being for men. In all of this there is the continued sexual subjugation of women.

There is nothing wrong with keeping your sex game tight, some of us swear by kegels, pole dancing and Janelle Monae’s Yoga video, but when it becomes life threatening then it’s a problem.

In a classic scenario of jumping from a frying pan onto the fire, a border jumping Zimbabwean girl landed on the wrong side of the law for allegedly setting two houses on fire.

Kelly Sivarai, who illegally crossed the border into Botswana near Ramokgwebana border post found herself in hot soup after setting ablaze two thatched houses at Tonota village.

Sivarai was subsequently charged with two counts of arson and in addition, she is also facing a single count of entering Botswana through an ungazetted point contrary to the country’s Immigration Act.

It is alleged that between November 28 and 29, at Manyanda ward- the teenage girl burnt two thatched houses belonging to Lucia Masindu and Tendai Kaira respectively.

According to court papers, in both incidents the accused person torched the houses with intent to endanger lives.

At the time of torching the houses, the court heard, the accused person knew that the owners were inside the thatched houses.

It is said the accused person was retaliating to the assaults perpetrated on her after she had stolen a P200 note from Masindu’s wallet. For the theft act, it is said that Masindu and Kaira chastised the accused person, the court heard.

During her initial court appearance before Francistown Chief Magistrate, Gaedupe Makgato, on Monday, Sivarai had her plea to the allegations reserved as investigations into the incident that destroyed goods worth over P30 000, were still at infancy.

State prosecutor, Inspector Faniso Herbert Manyepedza, told the court that some of the burnt goods included a gas stove, double bed, two couches, blankets, pairs of shoes and several clothing items.

“Investigations have just started. We pray that the accused person be remanded in custody,” supplicated Manyepedza, adding that the accused person is a Zimbabwean national who does not have any traveling documents.

Manyepedza expressed fear that the accused person was a flight risk and might skip the country if granted bail. The Voice