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. 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
Sir Ivan Rogers says negotiating experience is in ‘short supply’ and that politicians disliked his warnings of pitfalls in his resignation email.
Britain’s ambassador to the European Union Sir Ivan Rogers dealt a blow to the UK’s Brexit negotiations by quitting and urging his fellow British civil servants in Brussels to assert their independence by challenging “ill-founded arguments and muddled thinking”.
Sir Ivan Rogers said, in an email explaining his reasons for his abrupt departure to the UK’s Brussels diplomatic staff at UKRep, that he was leaving now to give time for his successor to take charge of the lengthy negotiations process which starts in March. But he also made it clear that he had been frustrated by politicians who disliked his warnings about the potential pitfalls in the Brexit process.
He also revealed that the basic structure of the UK Brexit negotiating team had not yet been resolved, let alone a negotiating strategy.
Rogers has been attacked by Tory sceptics for warning that it may take as long as 10 years for the UK to fully break from the EU. Downing Street insisted at the time that the ambassador had been communicating the views of some European leaders, rather than giving his own assessment. He has also been repeatedly criticised for setting out how other EU leaders view the Brexit process.
He wrote to staff: “I hope that you will continue to be interested in the views of others, even where you disagree with them, and in understanding why others act and think in the way that they do.”
Rogers also defended the importance of the UK’s civil service knowledge in Brussels in his resignation email, saying: “In any negotiation which addresses the new relationship, the technical expertise, the detailed knowledge of positions on the other side of the table – and the reasons for them, and the divisions amongst them – and the negotiating experience and savvy that the people in this building bring, make it essential for all parts of UKRep to be centrally involved in the negotiations if the UK is to achieve the best possible outcomes.”
Implying that civil servants or politicians in London were trying to take over the Brexit talks, and the structure of the UK negotiating team needs “rapid resolution”, he said “multilateral negotiating experience is in short supply in Whitehall, and that is not the case in the [European] Commission or in the Council”.
He said “senior ministers, who will decide on our positions, issue by issue, also need from you detailed, unvarnished – even where this is uncomfortable – and nuanced understanding of the views, interests and incentives of the other 27”.
Rogers’ departure so close to the start of Brexit negotiations amounted to a “wilful and total destruction of EU expertise”, according to the former top civil servant at the Treasury.
In an unusually candid intervention, Lord MacPherson, who was permanent secretary from 2005 until last year, said Rogers’ decision was a huge loss and that he was the latest in a string of EU experts to be frozen out, describing the decision as “amateurish”.
MacPherson also cited Rogers’ predecessor Jon Cunliffe and Tom Scholar, previously the prime minister’s adviser on European issues who is now permanent secretary at the Treasury. His warning appears to reflect a Treasury concern that Theresa May is under pressure from Tory Eurosceptics to abandon hopes of trying to negotiate access to the profitable EU single market, even on a temporary basis.
There have been disputes across Whitehall about whether the UK can afford a so-called hard Brexit.
The Foreign Office played down the implications of the resignation, saying Rogers had been due to leave in November and that he had merely “resigned a few months early”.
“Sir Ivan has taken this decision now to enable a successor to be appointed before the UK invokes article 50 by the end of March,” a spokeswoman said.
But Rogers has known since October that he was due to leave his Brussels post before the talks are due to end in 2019, raising questions about why he was given a vital role in preparing for the negotiations in the first place.
A Whitehall source said the early departure had been discussed before Rogers told his staff on Tuesday. However, Nick Clegg, who worked with Rogers in Brussels, said it appeared to be the latest in a series of attacks on public officials who had expressed caution about Brexit.
“First it was the judges, condemned as enemies of the people for just doing their jobs,” the former deputy prime minister told the Guardian. “It’s been the CBI and any business that didn’t sign up to the Brexit zeal, and now it’s senior officials being kneecapped in the Brexit press, after Sir Ivan Rogers just gave candid advice about the length of time negotiations might take. They are in the firing line if they do not endorse a zealous world view. This is a very worrying trend, and very new in British politics.”
Insisting civil service neutrality is a precious British asset, Clegg said the government should value candid advice. “It will come back to haunt the Brexit headbangers, because you can insist as much and hysterically as you like that the world is flat, but there are only so many people you can condemn for just pointing out the truth, that the world is round and that Brexit is complicated, might take time and might not be fully to Britain’s advantage,” he said.
George Osborne, the former chancellor, tweeted praising Rogers for his work with him during meetings of EU finance ministers, saying: “He is a perceptive, pragmatic and patriotic public servant.”
Responding to Rogers’ resignation email, Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: “It is damning when our own top people are slamming this Conservative Brexit government for using ill-founded arguments and muddled thinking.
“This is the biggest decision by the UK government in modern times and Theresa May is marching ahead without a plan or even a clue.
“We need our top people around the table if we are going to avoid wrecking the country with Brexit. It is shameful that vital, talented people like Ivan Rogers are instead being driven away.”
The Lib Dems added that it was astonishing that Rogers’ email revealed that, at this late stage in the build-up to the talks, Rogers thought that the UK had no agreed negotiating structure and, in his view, still lacked the required multilateral negotiating expertise available to the European commission.
Rogers’ remarks may reflect unresolved tensions between the UK’s Brussels diplomats and the government’s Brexit department, led by David Davis.
With the choice of Rogers’ successor bound to be seen as a signal of the direction of UK Brexit policy, Eurosceptics demanded that an enthusiastic Brexiter replace him and called for an ideological purge of officials in the Foreign Office.
Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader, said: “No organisation has done more to give away our democratic rights than the Foreign Office. They’ve been doing it for decades and I very much hope that Sir Ivan is the first of many to go.”
John Redwood, a longtime Eurosceptic Tory MP, said: “Sir Ivan’s heart was not in the negotiations. The talks do not need to be that complicated. If you leave, you leave. You take control of your borders, your laws and your money and that is not something that needs to be negotiated with Mrs Merkel.”
Some Conservatives blamed him for under-pitching what could be achieved and for advising against taking a harder line. One adviser said: “It was not about him being a Europhile but about being difficult. He not only said the UK did not understand the EU, but [that] the EU did not understand the UK. He was just the most out front of the civil servants – but many others thought like him.”
Sources said the two main points of tension were over whether it was feasible for the UK to threaten to drop out of the EU without a deal, falling back on World Trade Organisation terms and how to persuade the EU to negotiate simultaneously on the UK’s divorce terms and a future UK-EU relationship. May has to set out her negotiation strategy to MPs in March but has so far given next to nothing away.
Dominic Raab, a Conservative MP and a member of the select committee on exiting the European Union (EEU), said it would have been more disruptive if Rogers had left in November. “Sir Ivan is a distinguished diplomat with a long record of public service,” he said. “He didn’t exactly hide the fact that his heart wasn’t in Brexit and he was due to step down in the autumn anyway. It makes sense all round to give the ambassador who will see the negotiations through some lead time.”
However, Labour’s Hilary Benn, who chairs the EEU committee, told the BBC the resignation was “not a good thing” and the government would be under pressure to get a replacement up to speed to meet Theresa May’s timetable for triggering article 50. “I think that it means that the government will have to get its skates on to make sure there is a replacement in place so he or she can work with Sir Ivan in the transition, the handover,” said the former shadow foreign secretary.
Peter Mandelson, the former Labour cabinet minister and EU commissioner, said Rogers’ experience was “second to none in Whitehall” and a serious loss for the UK negotiating team. “I would not expect him to comment further but everyone knows that civil servants are being increasingly inhibited in offering objective opinions and advice.”
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…
By Ray Nkosi| President Robert Mugabe could come face to face with his wife’s first hubby, Stanley Goreraza after jetting down in China.
Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday revealed Mugabe who is on his holiday, has skipped into China.
Reasons for Mugabe’s move were not clear at the time of writing.
Sources say chances of a meet-up are very high and not unusual(READ MORE BELOW).
Speaking on the conferring of hero status to the late war veteran, Peter Chanetsa, Mnangagwa revealed from his conversations with Mugabe. “I tried talking to the President this morning and will talk to him again later today…He is in China,” he said. He added saying, “I saw in the papers that the province is requesting something and we will pass on the message to our leader who will give us guidance…But, we know that he is someone we have worked with and I hope the province has given a detailed history of how it was working with Chanetsa. (Home Affairs Minister) Ignatius Chombo who handles these issues is away in the Middle East and he will be represented by Joseph Made. We will notify you of what we would have agreed on.”
About Goreraza and a meet up
Stanley Goreraza is a senior officer in the Air Force of Zimbabwe and the current defence attaché at the Zimbabwean embassy in China. Goreraza was formerly married to Grace Marufu, then secretary to and now the wife of Robert Mugabe. The couple had one child, a son, Russell Goreraza, who now manages his mother’s extensive farm property, Gushungo Dairy Estate.
In 1995, the fact that Goreraza’s then wife (Grace) had had two children by the Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe became public. Between 1995 and 1996, Grace and Stanley Goreraza divorced and Grace married Robert Mugabe in 1996.
By 2000, Goreraza was studying in China and he was due to return to Zimbabwe in late 2000. The following January, Goreraza was appointed as Zimbabwe’s defence attaché to China. It was also in 2001 that Goreraza was hospitalized in China and visited by Robert and Grace Mugabe, a factor that suggests a second meet up will not be unusual, sources say.
In 2006, Goreraza was honoured for his long service in the Air Force of Zimbabwe, receiving a bar to his long and exemplary service medal. (Agencies)
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.
Staff Reporter | Zimbabwe international and Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker, Khama Billiat will leave Harare for Nigeria to attend the annual CAF 2016 African Footballer of the year award gala to be held in Abuja on Thursday 5th January 2015.
The Warriors forward is in the top three nominees for the prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF), Player of the year based in Africa award.
Khama Billiat will travel to Nigeria on Wednesday were he will compete for the top spot against fellow teammate and Ugandan international goalkeeper Dennis Onyango and Zambia and TP Mazembe midfielder Rainford Kalaba.
The African Player of the year award will be contested by Gabonese and Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Algeria and Leicester City playmaker Ryad Mahrez and Senegal and Liverpool star Saido Mané.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe warriors coach Kallisto Pasuwa has praised the confidence and hunger being shown by his players in the on-going camp ahead of the Africa cup of nations tournament to be held in Gabon.
“They are all ready to fight, we have the confidence, we have the talent and I think they will showcase themselves very well,” said Pasuwa.
The warriors mentor will announce his final 23-man squad tomorrow, 4th January 2017 before they travel to Cameroon enroute to Franceville, Gabon for the Afcon tournament.
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.
PART1-By State Reporter | A controversial Harare preacher who once sold so called “anointed nails,” Ephias Jengeta, has been caught on camera using deadly flames on congregants after telling them that it is anointed fire from “anointed candles” which will make them achieve their goals in 2017. He can be seen in videos and pictures ZimEye.com now reveals in this part 1 & 2 news series.
He also confessed to forcing four (4) pregnant Harare women into labour during his cross-over (new year) night service in Highfields. Jengeta’s candles were quickly sold for large sums of up to $150 each following his announcement that they are “anointed.”
One of the pregnancies was 6 months and another 7 months old. Prophet Jengeta has insisted to ZimEye that the babies are not premature babies.
ZimEye.com has exclusively investigated Jengeta who says he is just using the power of God, and below was the first interview and live newsroom discussion with the preacher himself, critiqued by special guest – Bulawayo preacher, Steve Blomefield.
Nomusa Garikayi | The root cause of Zimbabwe’s political paralysis – the ruling party is imploding and confusion reigns supreme in the opposition camp – and economic meltdown – soaring unemployment, grinding poverty and corruption reaching the dazing height of the equivalent of the country’s GDP being looted annually – is our failure to hold those in power to democratic account through free, fair and credible elections. The solution to ending the political paralysis and economic meltdown is crystal clear; implement the democratic reforms designed to remove the Zanu PF vote-rigging impediments to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
After 36 years of Zanu PF rigged elections one had hoped that Zimbabwe’s opposition parties, composed as they are of some of the most corrupt and incompetent individuals, would, nonetheless, be of one accord on the urgent need to implement the reforms and thus clear the way for free, fair and credible elections. But to listen to the hot-air coming from opposition camp; it is clear confusion runs deep in the opposition camp.
Most of the opposition camp players appreciate that the reality that past elections have not been free and fair but have no clue why this was so much less what should be done about it.
“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,” said war veteran leader Douglas Mahiya.
“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.”
“And yet, war veterans had served as Mugabe’s and Zanu PF’s political power dynamos for decades,” wrote Blessing Mashaya “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.”
If Mahiya and his rogue war veteran friends do not appreciate the pivotal role they have played in the imposition of this corrupt and tyrannical Mugabe dictatorship what is there to stop them doing the same again in future. In the past they swore their blind allegiance to VP Mnangagwa and in recently they have shown their willingness to support former VP Mujuru and her ZPF.
“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,” said Mujuru in her end of the year statement.
“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,” she continued. She also assured the nation the coalition will be formed by the end of 2017.
Mai Mujuru was booted out of Zanu PF kicking and screaming because she did not want to leave. Her hen’s teeth story of playing a full role in the creation of the corrupt and tyrannical regime and taking her share of the spoils for 34 years and only criticizing the party after she was booted out because it took as many years for her to open her “puppy eyes” is an insult to all thinking people. She is, in all but name, a Zanu PF child through and through; if she gets back into power it will be to reconstitute the dictatorship in her own image.
Mai Mujuru is simpleton with a 34 year proven record as one of the most corrupt and incompetent leaders of our time, it beggars belief that anyone would consider her a serious candidate to lead Zimbabwe!
In the March 2008 elections Morgan Tsvangirai garnered 73% of the votes, by Mugabe’s own admission; but after five weeks of “recounting”, ZEC whittled this to a 47%. There are many, many other examples one can give to show that it is not the lack of opposition unity that has kept Mugabe in power but rather the carte blanche powers to the tyranny has granted himself and his thugs to stop regime change at all cost.
As long as Zanu PF continues to enjoy total control of all state institutions including the Police, Army, CIO, Judiciary, ZEC, etc.; to enjoy unfettered access to the nation’s resources and to loot billions of dollars to bankroll its vote-rigging schemes; etc. the country will never escape from the political and economic mess it is stuck in. We have landed in this mess because Mugabe rigged elections and as long as he is allowed to rig elections we will remain in the mess.
Mai Mujuru, Morgan Tsvangirai and all the other oppositions leaders has failed to come up with meaningful ways of forcing Mugabe and Zanu PF to implement the democratic reforms and they are proposing the coalition of the opposition, voter registration and other token activities instead. Ask anyone of them if the solutions they are offering will guarantee free, fair and credible elections and not even one of them will answer, yes.
Given a problem, it is in the nature of mediocrity to offer inconsequential solutions!
Zanu PF is smart enough to know that a clean sweep of all the contested parliamentary seats and the presidency is not in its political interest as this will discourage opposition parties from contesting future elections. So Zanu PF is contend winning the presidency plus two thirds majority. It is the one third the opposition parties and fighting over.
What the nation needs is free, fair and credible elections in which the electorate alone and not Zanu PF decide who rules the land. The demand to implement all democratic reforms is therefore more than a fight to end the Zanu PF hegemony but to end the unholy power sharing pack between Zanu PF and the corrupt and incompetent opposition.
If the people are serious about ending the political paralysis and economic meltdown and all the suffering and misery these two have brought to the nation they must demand that the next elections must free, fair and credible. And refuse to accept nothing less!
VICE-PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to address a rally in Bikita today to drum up support for Zanu PF candidate, Beauty Chabaya, ahead of the January 21 Parliamentary by-election in the constituency. Mnangagwa is in Bikita at the same with former CIO boss and now elder of opposition Zim People First party Dydimus Mutasa. Mutasa still commands respect with senior elements in the intelligence organisation.
Mnangagwa joins a list of Zanu PF heavyweights, who have been flocking to Bikita West constituency for campaign rallies, as the party seeks to retain the seat that was vacated by convicted rapist Munyaradzi Kereke.
Zanu PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday confirmed Mnangagwa’s visit to Bikita for the campaign rally.
“Yes, the VP will be in Bikita tomorrow (today),” he said.
Six candidates — Zimbabwe People First candidate, Kudakwashe Gopo, National Constitutional Assembly candidate, Madock Chivasa, Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe’s Tanyaradzwa Makumbo and two independents, Heya Shoko and Innocent Muzvimbiri — will battle Chabaya in the by-election.
Masvingo Zanu PF political godfather, Josaya Hungwe leads Chabaya’s campaign team.
Meanwhile, Zanu PF politburo member, Jonathan Moyo yesterday vowed to continue throwing brickbats at Mnangagwa’s sympathisers, as the ruling party’s factional fights rage on.
Moyo — linked to a rival faction in Zanu PF named G40 — attacked Mnangagwa after he was pictured with Zanu PF members holding a tea mug inscribed “I am the boss” — a statement that has been taken as having political connotations.
“There will be no silence when President [Robert] Mugabe is systematically and daily attacked by surrogates, who take a mug-pose and then attack the President,” he tweeted.
Moyo seemed to take exception that Mnangagwa was rubbing shoulders with party activist, Energy Mutodi, who went on to criticise Mugabe.
“First, Mutodi poses with VP Mnangagwa in a weird photo, and then he writes this garbage attacking President Mugabe. Enough!” Moyo, showing a link to Daily News article, tweeted.
In one of the pictures, Mnangagwa, who is believed to be Mugabe’s heir apparent, but facing internal resistence to his bid, posed with his self-proclaimed ally, Mutodi, with the VP using the labelled mug.
In another picture, Mnangagwa is seen sitting next to an unidentified man holding the same mug and on the table in front of them are two bottles of mineral water and hard liquor.
When warned to exercise restraint in his comments, as Mnangagwa might succeed Mugabe, the Tsholotsho North MP said: “Thanks to you, I’m now shaking and quaking under the spell of indescribable fear!” – Newsday
“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”.
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
Ray Nkosi| ZimEye.com brings our valued readers and contributors fresh details from the ZRP horror death in which a police officer allegedly gunned himself down at Matapi Police Station, Mbare yesterday.
The horrific incident was exclusively revealed by ZimEye.com within minutes of happening late Tuesday evening. ALSO READ-ZRP Cop Fatally Shoots Self – STORY CONTINUES BELOW…
ZimEye can reveal that the police service have of late classified the incident as a suicide. Documented reasons why this has been done were not clear at the time of writing amid questions on how and why a police officer would shoot themself while at work.
However ZimEye.com sources at the centre of the investigation, submitted compelling evidence that the police officer was having a domestic problem which drove him to the edge. ZimEye is at present probing the domestic matter.
Contacted for comment, national spokesperson for the police, Charity Charamba said she was still to be briefed on the inside details despite having been told about it.
“Yes I can confirm that we have received such a report, but I am yet to be briefed on the circumstances surrounding the incident,” she said.
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.
Lobola, like other good practices in Zimbabwe, is beginning to lose its value and purpose because of greed and poverty, especially in the current economic climate.
The custom, meant to establish ties between the families of the bride and groom, and symbolise the groom’s gesture of appreciation towards the bride’s family, has become a huge source of income for many families, with every family member wanting a share of the bride price.
Recently a 60 year old Masvingo woman in Eastern Zimbabwe, Dorothy Mwanyisa, was thoroughly beaten by her son for denying him a portion of his sister’s lobola. Aspinas Masaze was charged with domestic violence for the assault after his mother told him she had little to spare after giving a portion of the cash to his late father’s elder brother as required by traditional customs.
It is therefore not surprising that even long lost relatives show up on the day of lobola negotiations knowing fully well that they stand to benefit and get money just for being present.
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.
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
The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has slammed some governments and leaders in the continent for causing the suffering of their people.
She singled out South Sudan, where violent atrocities have been committed against civilians as the aftermath of a fallout between President Salvar Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, in 2013 continues.
Some 500 000 people have been killed and about 2 million displaced in the world’s newest country.
Delivering her New Year message in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, Dlamini-Zuma blamed the leaders of some countries.
She pointed out other countries such as Burundi, Central African Republic and The Gambia were also besieged by crises, caused mainly by those countries’ governments.
“Our governments and leadership are there to protect the vulnerable, to serve the people, not to be the cause of the people’s suffering and retrogression,” she said.
“Enough is enough. Africans deserve better, and we must all work towards better days, and towards peace, stability and development.”
Dlamini-Zuma said the crises overshadowed several successful elections held in some AU member states.
She urged aggrieved parties to respect the will of the people, abide by their national and international obligations, as well as resort to all non-violent and legal means in resolving electoral disputes. ANA
The head of Gambia’s electoral commission has fled to Senegal due to threats to his safety after declaring that President Yahya Jammeh lost last month’s election, a defeat the ruler has refused to accept.
Alieu Momarr Njai left the country on Friday, family members said on Tuesday.
He had declared opposition leader Adama Barrow the winner of the Dec. 1 election, stunning many Gambians who were used to Jammeh who took power in a coup in 1994 and whose government gained a reputation for torturing and killing perceived opponents.
Jammeh initially accepted defeat but a week later reversed that decision and said he would not relinquish power.
Njai maintained the validity of the election process but also said he was worried for his safety.
Gambian security forces seized control of the Independent Electoral Commission headquarters, which holds the original poll records, and told staff, including Njai, to leave.
Jammeh’s decision to stay in power has been condemned internationally and started a countdown to potential crunch on Jan. 19, the day Barrow is due to be inaugurated.
West African forces from the ECOWAS regional bloc say they will attend the swearing-in. They have also put their forces on alert, raising the possibility of military intervention. Jammeh called that decision a “declaration of war”.
Over the weekend, Gambian security agents closed three private radio stations, making it harder for the incoming government to communicate with its supporters. – Ruuters
It looks like an almost-full complement of ex-presidents will be watching from the inaugural stand when Donald Trump takes the oath of office Jan. 20 — along with the candidate Trump defeated in the bitter 2016 campaign.
Aides to Hillary and Bill Clinton tell NPR’s Tamara Keith that the 2016 Democratic nominee and former president will attend the ceremony in Washington, D.C., later this month.
President George W. Bush’s office announced earlier that he and former first lady Laura will also attend. Jimmy Carter had previously announced his intention to be on hand.
That leaves only President George H.W. Bush absent. A spokesman tells NPR that “at ages 92 and 91— and all that entails — President and Mrs. Bush will be unable to attend.” Bush has had serious health issues in recent years.
While it may make for an awkward few moments for Mrs. Clinton, she is hardly the first to watch the candidate she lost to being sworn in. In 2008, Republican Sen. John McCain had a ringside seat as Barack Obama took the oath, and in 2000, outgoing Vice President Al Gore looked on as as George W. Bush was sworn in.
Gore also had to preside over the official tally of the Electoral College votes in Congress in his official capacity as vice president. Congress officially tallies the 2016 Electoral College vote to certify Trump as the winner on Friday.
Of course President Obama will be there, too, on Inauguration Day — taking his place as the fifth living ex-president once Trump is sworn in. – NPR
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
Dr Masimba Mavaza | Most Zimbabwean opposition figures are “playing the game invented by Western special services such people should be put on trial for “subversive activities, should they set foot in the motherland. Opposition has created the non-system opposition (those who oppose President Mugabe and the current Zimbabwean government, but fail to attract enough public support to be elected or sometimes even to launch a political party) as “persons who have never been heard of and who oppose President Mugabe only in order to boost their own popularity.”
Most of them oppose the Zimbabwean government to attract sponsorship and donor funding.
The fringe oppositions activists are attempting to capitalize on the difficult economic situation in Zimbabwe. Gone are those days when people were granted asylum on the basis that they don’t like Mugabe.
For a very long time ZANU PF has been used as a ticket to gain asylum. Those days are gone. The British Home office is more wiser than before. The current country guidance case on Zimbabwe demands that you need to show that you are targeted before you are considered as a refugee. It’s not any economic refugee qualifies to be a political refugee. The lies and demonising if Zimbabwe every election period does not work anymore.
Visa oppositions who become active only to get visas have contributed to the destruction of Zimbabwe’s Economy than any person on earth. It is christal clear that such opposition is a source of income destructive to Zimbabwe and pure terrorists.
The money hunters masquerading as activists do not care about what they do to Zimbabwe as long they are paid. They are seekers of glory and easily swayed by money.
These words will quickly draw a negative comment from Human Rights representative who will call the statement “pointless and harmful,” adding that it casts a shadow on the Zimbabwe nation and a “bear’s service” to President If political activities of anyone, even such small-numbered group as Zimbabweans with opposing views abroad opposition must be done within the framework of the Constitution, no one has the right to take the foreign country as theirs and take action against such group, the opposition must show tolerance and not simply become vindictive to those with opposing views.
The opposition in foreign land behaves like they are the immigration officers and want to elbow every other Zimbabwean out. In reality they become proper traitors who wish to harm their country in order to destroy the government. They don’t care what happens to the country as long as they are seen to be working and they gain publicity. They are so heartless cruel inhuman and only want to be granted leave to remain even though they savage their mother land and expose millions at home to extreme hardships. After their demonic acts they call activism they sit with a dracular vampirish grin blaming Mugabe for the troubles they cause.
Zimbabwe has previously accused Western special services of meddling in internal politics but we now know they are being lied to by these groups masquerading as human rights activists. The problems of Zimbabwe could have been masterminded by The opposition in the hope of causing civil strife.
“Today we should fight not only the manifestations of terrorism against Zimbabwe by Zimbabweans abroad but also the Western sponsored fake human Rights groups the agents of which are working in the UK beating their drums at the Zimbabwean embassy in destruction of our future. Zimbabwe must start to put them behind bars, we should put them behind bars they are traitors.
The opposition Has created these evil anti Zimbabwean groups as a way to foment hatred toward Mugabe and to create problems for Zimbabwe attract enough public support to be elected or sometimes even to launch a political party) as “persons who have never been heard of and who oppose President Mugabe only in order to boost their own popularity.” Fringe opposition activists are attempting to capitalize on the difficult economic situation in Zimbabwe.
Opposition must strive to build Zimbabwe not to vilify it. They must wish well for the country not jump in joy if the country burns from the fire they start. These are traitors. Terrorists not opposition.
We have seen growing calls for Comrade Nick Mangwana to be deported from the UK. these calls have laid bare the ignorance of the activists on the immigration rules of the UK. firstly it must be noted that ZANU PF is not a terrorist party and it has not been declared as such anywhere in the world. ZANU PF has formed a government and has established embassies in several countries. So supporting it is not an act of terror. It is an execution of democracy.
Zanu PF is not operating clandestinely in the United Kingdom. It has written permission from the government to do so. In fact the relationship between Zanu PF and the British Establishment is nearing the level it was in the early ’90s. Nick Mangwana is recognised as a representative of the party in power in Zimbabwe and the British treat him as such. They interface and interact formerly on bilateral matters. It means those who label Zanu PF a terrorist organisation are not only ignorant of current affairs but ignorant of international relations. ZANU PF as a party has a right to recruit abroad as MDC purports to have.
The world is now aware that the violent and terrorist party is MDC. it has failed to establish a party structure abroad. It breaks into pieces in a free environment. It is not secret that in the UK. MDC had problems after its executive stole money and failed to hold fort.
Now vilifying any opposition to MDC as terrorist only shows the childish mentality the opposition and the idiotic opposition has.
An article in Bulawayo 24 entitled.
NICK MANGWANA’S ASSOCIATION WITH ZANU PF CONTRAVENES HIS VISA CONDITION is not only misleading but pregnant with rubbish it is vexatious repugnant to logic idiotic and total nonsense.
It is madness to believe that every Zimbabwean in the UK came seeking asylum. Most Zimbabweans came on work permit some as students. There were some serious asylum seekers who were escaping the cruelty of Tsvangirai but none can blame the peace loving ZANU PF.
Now when people get broke and try to use the torture card to get funding is total lunacy.
If only the activists could know that UK is not for the liars.
Mawarire made some noise in the hope of getting a UK visa. The UK government refused him even a visitors visa. The UK government is no longer gullible. They read between the lines.
Ask Pfebve he tried to Kasukuwere Jnr to be deported. The prime minister clearly said her office does not take instructions from disgruntled losers. Trying to fight your wars abroad is evil if you are a true opposition please fight for your party and stop demonising individuals.
ZANU PF is the only party which has been democratically elected for 37 years consecutively. The only party which has successfully held free and fair elections despite economic problems caused by these pathetic activists who are in actual fact saboteurs.
All the activists can wish is to be ZANU PF.
YOU CAN NOT USE UK AS YOUR WEAPON. Be democratic. Accept diverging thoughts accept a democratic process and allow freedom of speech. If ZANU PF is terrorist party what is Tsvangirai doing in Zimbabwe.
It is high time people should not be misled by these individuals who are fundraising for their pockets. Selfish bigots who rejoice in seeing Zimbabwe suffer for their benefit.
ZANU PF will never be intimidated ZANU PF is stronger than face book.
Movement for Democratic Change deputy President Nelson Chamisa says bond notes which were introduced towards the end of last year will disappear just like the Zimbabwe dollar because the fundamental issues that led to the demise of the Zimbabwe dollar have not been addressed.
“We see this bond note coming; again, it is going to go down the drain just the same way the ZIM dollar was actually affected because we have not addressed the real cause,” Chamisa told Parliament.
“We are students of the cause and effect, we just do not want to come here and now tinker on palliatives on peripherals and we look at cosmetic issues without addressing the core of the issue, the core of the matter which are issues of confidence, issues of governance, issues of making sure that we move away from certain fiscal conduct and fiscal behaviour that is not in line with what is expected of a modern economy.”
Chamisa said he was against the issue of withdrawal limits.
“Why should you limit the resources that I worked for? If I have US$20 000 in the bank, let me have access to my US$20 000. If I have US$40 000 in the bank, let me have access to my US$40 000. Why should you make a way of limiting and controlling?
“Now, this is where we have a problem, Hon. Speaker Sir. You cannot have command agriculture, command economy, command currency – everything you want to command. There is a problem in commanding certain things. The economy does not respect commandments of politicians or policy makers. It respects commandments of the market, of course with the necessary State intervention.” – The Insider
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 .
Constable Nyoni gunned down himself at Matapi Police Station over a maintenance issue. I attended the scene of the crime at around 9.PM. The suicide cop arrived in the c/o and booked his phone in. I think when he went outside he tried to shoot himself and apparently he came inside the station complaining that the gun was not working, he took another one. He then went back outside and shot himself on the chin and bullet came out through the head. He always used to complain about his wife.
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 | TheThree 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.
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…
About $9,6 million worth of bond coins is now circulating in the Zimbabwean financial system, after the country pumped over $6 million worth of the coins since September last year, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) said.
With circulation of bond notes – backed by a $200 million Afreximbank facility and pegged at par with the United States dollar (US$) – having begun last year in October, the central bank is quickly approaching its $10 million bond coin ceiling.
In its report for October 2016, the RBZ said the value of coins in circulation had increased from the $9,4 million recorded in September to close October at $9,6 million.
When the coins were introduced in September 2015, $3,5 million were in circulation with the value progressively increasing to $4,4 million in October, $5,7 million November, $7,1 million as at December 2015.
In January 2016, bond coins valued at $7,3 million were in circulation, as the figure came to $7,4 million in February.
At the close of the first quarter in March 2016, bond coins valued at $7,6 million were in circulation while April saw $7,7 million worth of bond coins in the system.
In May, the coins pegged at $8 million found themselves in the system as the figure went up to $8,1 million in June as $8,2 million worth of the coins were recorded for $8,2 million.
The RBZ has said the coins will be maintained below 10 percent of the banking deposits which currently stand at around $5 billion as the 1c, 5c, 10c and 20c coins are part of a five year $50 million bond that government secured to give them value.
Zimbabwe – which ditched its local currency in favour of foreign currencies in January 2009 after hyperinflation reached 500 billion percent – has seen widespread scepticism around the surrogate coins and notes.
Ecuador is another country that uses the greenback as its currency and has special coins, which have the same denomination and value as US coins. Panama also uses the Panamanian balboa, a bond coin equivalent.
In December last year, the central bank announced that the total amount of bond notes in circulation stood at $29 million, following disbursement of an additional $12 million of the parallel currency to the initial bond notes
injection.
While central bank governor John Mangudya has said the apex bank remains “encouraged” by the circulation within the domestic economy of bond notes, there have been fears that the central bank’s plan to introduce bond notes to ease the dollar shortage could open the door to rampant money printing.
Overprinting is nothing new to Zimbabwe as it happened in 2008 when inflation hit 500 billion percent, wiping out people’s savings and pensions.
Various international think-tanks have already warned the RBZ not to monetise fiscal deficit on the back of dwindling revenues and economic decline. – Daily News
Kennedy Kaitano | Addressing a press conference recently to announce his party’s position regarding how the presidential candidate to represent the opposition parties in elections recently, Professor Welshman Ncube, leader of the MDC, is reported to have said recently “the coalition has to agree on who will lead it based on the person’s support base, his or her capacity to unite the coalition members and someone who agrees to work within the context of the coalition”.
All three are important aspects to be considered in selecting the candidate. However, the capacity to unite coalition members and agreeing to work within the context of the coalition are very debatable, and the opposition parties involved may spend a lot of time trying to justify things which are very difficult to justify.
Most, if not all of the opposition parties involved have split at some point: The MDC-T has had some of its leaders leaving the original MDC; Professor Ncube has had his colleagues leave the party several times; Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma failed to work together; Dr. Makoni had problems with his party members and some of them have left. n the otnd, while Tsvangirai has lost some of his team, a good number of them have come back to the fold – does that make him a unifier?
Agreeing to work within the context of the coalition is also a difficult aspect to measure as there is no past to measure the candidates against.
The person’s support base therefore remains the only measurable method that could be employed to choose the candidate. I have argued along the same lines, and am excited that Professor Ncube and I share the same line of thinking on that one. My major argument remains that not every member of the parties involved in the coalition will vote for a candidate not from their choice party. We will loose the greatest number of votes if the candidate whose party commands most support is sidelined, decrease the chances of removing Mugabe.
I therefore dismiss as the political joke of the year the resolution by Tendai Biti’s party that they will present him as a candidate for the Coalition when it comes to choosing the Presidential candidate. I advise Biti and his party to be serious about politics, otherwise no one will ever take them seriously. Firstly, they went all over the country endorsing Amai Mujuru as the best person to lead the coalition, and all of a sudden they change positions. I hope they widely open their eyes to the political reality.
Respected author and expatriate lawyer Petina Gappah — whose latest book titled Rotten Row gives a gripping rendition of everyday life in crisis-torn Zimbabwe — has said the southern African country is on the verge of change.
In a recent interview with the BBC, the award-winning writer, whose short story anthology has received rave reviews, says Zimbabwe is at a point where for the first time every citizen agrees the country is better off with “anyone but (President Robert) Mugabe”.
“I think we are at a wonderful point in our history. It does not seem like it but we are in a moment of great transition,” Gappah said in the interview.
“For the first time in 36 years, we can all agree that the time for change has come.
“We just don’t know which form that change will come, that’s the only frightening thing,” she said.
“But it’s not too frightening. I can assure you that never again will Zimbabwe have a president for 36 years. It won’t happen and it can’t happen,” she said.
Rotten Row — a collection of short stories that illuminate various aspects of Zimbabwean life — has captured the world’s attention.
Once the beacon of the African continent, Zimbabwe is facing its worst financial crisis punctuated by a shrinking economy, rising unemployment and the country is battling to contain a crippling cash shortage.
A wave of anti-Mugabe protests as well as political tension and infighting within the ruling Zanu PF have all left the country on the brink of collapse.
It is little wonder why Gappah believes that long-suffering Zimbabweans are so frustrated by Mugabe’s misrule that they are prepared to accept any candidate, regardless of background, to take over from the nonagenarian leader.
“I am happy to trade in Mugabe for (vice president) Emmerson Mnangangwa . . . (MDC leader) Morgan Tsvangirai, (Zimbabwe People First leader) Joice Mujuru . . . or any of the candidates signing up to be president,” Gappah said.
“I really feel that any person is better than what we have.”
Gappah, who until recently was working for the Geneva-based Advisory Centre on WTO Law, spoke of her imminent year-long writing fellowship in Berlin, Germany and her arduous journey as a writer.
Apart from Rotten Row, Gappah’s first book An Elegy for Easterly won the Guardian first book award in 2009.
In between the two, she penned a novel titled The Book of Memory.
“I was tired of the story of Zimbabwe being told by western journalists and white Zimbabwean authors,” she said.
“There was a point when the only books coming out of Zimbabwe were about land invasion, and the authors coming out of Zimbabwe were white Zimbabweans writing about their farms.
“But what about the people on the farms? Outside the farms? What about lawyers and dreamers, and thinkers? So that was what propelled me to write my first book (An Elegy for Easterly).
Gappah, who goes by the moniker Chandagwinyira, has a law degree from the University of Zimbabwe, a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge and a doctorate in international trade law from the University of Graz. – Daily News
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
Three people were shot and killed in an apparent botched house robbery on Tuesday in Vereeniging outside Johannesburg.
The shooting occurred shortly before 1pm in Roshnee. Netcare 911 said that two women‚ one of whom is the homeowner‚ and a man were found dead inside the house by paramedics. Athlenda Mathe‚ Netcare 911 spokesman‚ said in a statement that when paramedics arrived at the house they found that all three of those who had been shot had died.
“Reports from the scene indicate that a suspect (a woman) has been taken into police custody.” She said the exact circumstances of the shooting were unknown.-TimesLive
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.
Mnangagwa with his aide Energy Mutodi
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
Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya has predicted “death” of a person in 2017.
Magaya’s prediction coincides with that of a London based Nigerian preacher who claims President Robert Mugabe is not passing beyond the year 2017.
“The Lord showed me death, but I can’t talk about it here, there are so many journalists here. I will just tell gold plus and platinum partners so that when it happens they may be witnesses to the matter,” Magaya told thousands of awe-struck congregants.
He also predicted political and economic turmoil in four Southern African countries – including Zimbabwe – this year and urged the respective governments to brace for sporadic outbreaks of public anger.
The youthful preacher also cryptically said that he had seen in a “vision” the death of an unnamed prominent personality in the country.
Magaya told his followers during a News Year’s Eve prayer session that the instability in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique and South Africa would be propelled by the deteriorating social, political and economic environment and high levels of corruption in the public sector.
“We need to deal with corruption. In fact, many of us here have been through corruption, some practised it even today… (laughs) some entered in this place through illegal gates. If we are to deal with corruption, we need to plant a new seed of moral uprightness in our leadership. We need leaders who engage with the people, be with them and show them love, then we can deal with corruption. It is not a one-day event, it is a process.”
President Robert Mugabe last year accused Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere of an illicit land deal with Magaya.
The televangelist was later forced to return the land he had reportedly bought for $100 000, but the money was yet to be reimbursed.
Magaya added: “We need to pray for Zimbabwe, DRC, Mozambique and South Africa. It seems there is stability in South Africa, but it is not peaceful at all. There will be instability from one country to the other. We need to be vigilant.”
He also warned fellow clergymen, particularly those in the Pentecostal movement, that this year would be tougher as government leaders in the Southern African region would set stringent rules to control religious activities.
In the past year, Zimbabwe witnessed sporadic, widespread street protests as citizens demonstrated against Mugabe’s failure to address high levels of unemployment and corruption. As usual, Mugabe used brute force to crush the demonstrations.
Mozambique is still struggling with a decades-long internal insurrection by armed bandits, while the DRC saw the deaths of over 40 people late last year after President Laurent Kabila refused to step down at the end of his second and final term.
On the other hand, violent demonstrations are not new to South Africa with President Jacob Zuma facing growing calls to resign over a plethora of scandals that have blighted his rule.
The PHD Ministries New Year prayer vigil ran under the theme Shifting to Higher Levels. Magaya said in general, 2017 would be tough, “but those spiritually connected” were bound to “sail through” easily.
“To the outside world, this year would be tough, not easy at all. You need to be connected to God if you are to sail through. It will be a challenging year, many will fail to go through, but those who are connected, those who receive grace, will shift to higher levels,” Magaya said.
Magaya also predicted that United States President-elect Donald Trump will in February say something that would shock the cyberspace, but again declined to give further details.
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.
Vivacious radio and TV personality, MisRed (real name Samantha Mussa) is officially off the market.
MisRed, a ZiFM Stereo presenter and Coke on the Beat host who always leaves tongues wagging whenever she appears in public has over the years managed to keep her love life a secret, although, speculation as to who she was dating was the order of the day.
It was the expensive rock which she started donning recently on her ring finger that sold her out as it became apparent that someone had stolen her heart.
Quizzed about the ring, MisRed who is fresh from a baecation in the UK where her lover is resident confirmed that she was engaged.
“God blessed me with a good friend more than five years ago and we’ve been at it ever since then,” said Misred.
“We were together before I got into the media space so he knows me very well away from the ‘Misred persona’. I’ve always kept a low profile about my relationship because it’s a very private thing for me.
“He never chose to be in the public eye and I want to respect that.”
MisRed who got engaged last year – probably during the baecation – to a man only referred to as Phil, said a wedding was well in order.
“Preparations for the wedding slated for early 2017 are already underway and we’ll reveal more details as the day draws closer. Let me hasten to say that marriage is not something I was rushing for, so best believe this decision took a lot of thought.
“I always tell him I’m very lucky because I found a patient, kind, and loving man in him. He’s been supportive throughout. Like any normal couple, we go through our fair share of drama, but our hearts always lead right back to each other.”
As if the marriage and wedding bit is not enough, the mother of one and philanthropist who is working on the #HalfAMillionPads (providing sanitary pads to less privileged girls) initiative with GirlsRUS, is also expecting a baby.
“Being pregnant comes with a lot of emotions. I’m scared, but excited at the same time because it’s a huge blessing that can never be taken for granted.
“On the other hand, it’s really long overdue because my daughter who is seven years now has really been on my case about a little sibling. So not only will the child be a blessing to me and my partner, but to my family as a whole.”
On how the two had managed to keep their relationship afloat considering the long distance – MisRed said: “I think it’s really been him. He’s been the glue that has made us stick together.
“He’s really a patient, loving and caring individual who has helped build me as an individual and as a partner.”
“He may be based outside the country, but when things are in sync, no place is too far for any relationship. We make time, he comes here, I go there, but I always emphasise, making time is important.” – State Media
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:
Denford Madenyika | As a first year undergraduates, one of our professors always told us to write our dreams on the four corners of our bedrooms. She told us whatever we aspire to be should be clearly displayed on the wall as a constant reminder of our ambitions. As I read Jonathan Moyo’s mockery of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s use of a cup inscribed with the words, “I am the Boss” I really felt sorry for Zimbabwe. I started asking myself many questions and I am still coming up with more questions but cannot seem to find the answers.
I am the Boss! How does that translate into I want to be President? So is Boss now a synonym of President? I am a boss at my workplace. So does that mean I want to overthrow Mugabe? My father always said, “I don’t care about your professions, when you come back home, there is only one boss, me!” Does that mean he wanted to overthrow Mugabe? Mnangagwa is a boss; he is a Vice President of Zimbabwe; he is the Minister of Justice; he is a Member of Parliament; he has a family; and he has authority. So how is that not being a boss?
Another thing that surprises me is Mnangagwa seemed to be drinking in the comfort of his house. The cup he is holding might be some souvenir that he got as a present. Only a few people allowed into his life had seen that cup before today. Is what Moyo doing not an invasion of privacy? What really did Mnangagwa do to learned professor that brings such hatred, childish and absurd behavior? Could this boil down to Moyo himself?
Let me be upfront here before I continue further; I don’t hate gays. What they do with their lives is their business. Could Moyo be working for G40 or he is genuinely bent on destroying ZANU (PF) from inside. This is one of his declarations that has not come true but seems to be closer than ever. With Mnangagwa out of the way, who can stop him?
My advice to Moyo though is: “get some wise advice from herd boys” You are playing a dangerous game. Kumombe taiumba mazamu evhu and label them “iri ndera mai vako iri ndera mai vangu”. We challenged each other to destroy zamu ramai vako. Now Moyo you seem to have destroyed Zamu ra mai vaMnangagwa and please be warned. As herd boys we had no pity for people like you; you have urinated in the well so be ready. Don’t cry foul when the fight is brought to your doorstep.
There is nothing wrong in Mnangagwa aspiring to be President. Even as grade one kids we were told kuti, “Iwe ndiwe, ini ndini, ava ndibaba, ava ndi mai” That is individual freedom at its best. Throughout our school years we were encouraged to think of our aspirations and share them with classmates; “Kana wakura unoda kuzoita chii?” What is wrong now in someone having an aspiration? If you Moyo had no ambition/aspiration of your own, why did you go back to school to study law?
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
Iphithule Thembani KaMaphosa | ZAPU President Dumiso Dabengwa has finally explained why he did not serve in the Zimbabwe National army, dispelling the popular rumour that he sold out the national army and certain individuals he worked with during the liberation struggle, such as Lookout Vumindaba Masuku.
Speaking at the late Advocate Senda’s burial service at the Brethren in Christ Church in Bulawayo on Thursday which was attended by ZANU PF politburo and central committee members, Cabinet Ministers, the Military including Former PF ZAPU stalwart and now perceived ZANU PF political godmother in Matabeleland Angeline Masuku, Bulawayo Mayor and MPs from both MDCs and ZANU PF, Dr Dabengwa said he felt insulted by Mugabe who expected him to serve under Solomon Mujuru who was not only junior to him but a man he considered a sellout after having defected from ZAPU to ZANU after getting high quality military training with the mother party.
Dr Dabengwa, who during the liberation war was leader of Intelligence at ZAPU’s government in exile and its military department ZPRA, was equivalent to either the Minister of State Security or Chief of Combined Defense and Security Operations in a normal set up.
He told the congregating mourners that Solomon Mujuru was too junior for him to serve under as he was literally the one who trained the man under the banner of ZPRA. Soon after attaining high level training, Mujuru, who then was known as Rex Nhongo crossed floors to ZANU in a move that was, above everything else, tribally motivated.
Dr Dabengwa said had it not been nepotism and patronage on Robert Mugabe’s part, he could not have been given the choice to humiliate himself by serving under Mujuru whose character had dubious traces.
Dr Dabengwa said he is not apologetic about his decision not to serve in the national army as he could not allow Mugabe to humiliate him and insult his contribution to the liberation of the country. He told the gathering that Mugabe’s double faced character, contributed much to the decision he and other senior ZPRA cadres not to join the army.
Dr Dabengwa said Mugabe acted unprofessionally in a deliberate ploy to capture the state, amass and retain power and wealth through deployment of yes men in critical positions in state institutions, to a rousing applause from the congregants.
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.
National Police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi, yesterday said although fewer deaths and accidents were recorded on January 1 this year compared to the same date last year, motorists should continue driving with caution.
“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.
WARRIORS coach Callisto Pasuwa has come out guns blazing in defence of his troops ahead of their departure for the African Cup of Nations with the unassuming gaffer reckoning that his players had become targets of unwarranted abuse on and off social media.
Pasuwa is not particularly amused at what he perceived as targeted abuse of some of his players ahead of the naming of the final 23 man-squad this week.
The Warriors are at the weekend also expected to leave for the final leg of their training camp which will be spiced up by an international friendly against Cameroon in Yaoundé on January 10.
After a four-day stint in Cameroon, the Warriors will then head to Franceville to set up base just in time for their opening Group B game against Algeria on January 15.
But as the Warriors, who took a weekend break on New Year’s eve regrouped, their coach revealed he was not happy with the manner in which his players were being abused by some fans and on social media.
Pasuwa said he was also concerned that the national media had “seemed to join in on what has been happening on social media and painted the wrong picture of our camp’’.
The former Dynamos coach said contrary to the scenario being painted about the Warriors, there was “harmony and a united approach to training by the players and the technical department’’.
Pasuwa said he had noted with concern that goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, and forwards — Khama Billiat, Cuthbert Malajila, Tendai Ndoro and Knowledge Musona — had been the main targets for abuse.
The 46-year-old coach also expressed surprise at the debate that has been sparked by his decision to grant Mamelodi Sundowns talisman Khama Billiat a rest following the South African Premiership Player of the Year’s long season that stretched over 15 months.
Pasuwa fears that the social media abuse were images of his players’ social lives have been splashed are aimed at distracting them from their mission in Gabon rather than motivating the players.
“What we need now more than ever is the unity and support of everyone. We have a very tough mission ahead of us and the mission in Gabon is not for my personal glory or the glory of the players it is for every Zimbabwean.
“But I am surprised and disappointed that at a time when we should be encouraging these boys and motivating them to go out there and die for the nation, we seem to be bent on destroying them and abusing them,’’ Pasuwa said.
Pasuwa also insisted that he would not publicly discuss any action or comments he makes to his players should any of them stray off the disciplinary line.
“We have our code of conduct and if there are any issues that we need to resolve we do so in-house and that is what we have always being doing.
“It must also be remembered that I was the first person to observe that Khama needed to be rested and to be managed properly in terms of his physical condition if he is to give us his best in Gabon and I announced at Easter last year before we played Swaziland.
“So there is nothing new really now and our doctors have been assessing the reports from the clubs and doing their own checks so that we get professional advice,’’ Pasuwa said.
Pasuwa also revealed that Belgium-based star striker Musona is expected to join camp today after featuring for his club in their Boxing Day assignment.
The coach also said he was baffled by some critics who were now questioning the inclusion of such players like Malajila when he had stressed that he would stick with the bulk of the players who featured in the qualification campaign and sealed their place in Gabon with a game to spare.
And as he prepares to trim his squad to the final travelling party Pasuwa reiterated the need for “national support’’.
“I am saddened that at a time when as a nation we should now be coming together in unity to give these players all the material and morale support that they need for the big battles in Gabon, some elements have sought to divide the Warriors by making all sorts of claims against this player and that player.
“Some are even suggesting that there is a lot of indiscipline in camp because of some pictures circulated on social media, which is not true at all.
“I have worked with these players ever since I was appointed Under-23 coach and later assistant coach to Ian Gorowa in the Warriors up to now and later the head coach and I want to make it clear that there has never been a committed and wonderful bunch of national team players like this group that I have.
“Many times they have gone without bonuses or allowances but they have remained united and committed and I want to tell the nation once again that I have faith in my players and please if you are bent on causing problems or divisions stay far away from my team.
“It is sad that Khama, Ndoro, Tatenda, Cuthbert and Knowledge have so far been the main targets of abuse but I know how I handle my players and at this point I am sorry to say I do not need anyone lecturing me on that.
“So give us a chance to focus and to go and represent Zimbabwe the best way we know and to the best of our abilities,’’ said Pasuwa. – State Media
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
State Media| Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder Prophet Walter Magaya, says his arrest and subsequent appearance in court in 2016 has opened his eyes and made him wiser.
Prophet Magaya said this early on Sunday morning while fielding questions from journalists on the sidelines of his church’s New Year service dubbed “the crossover.’
Asked how he described the year 2016 in the context of tribulations he went through after he was accused of raping a Midlands State University student who was also a member of his congregation, Prophet Magaya said he was now more focused.
“The persecution sharpened me. The persecution made me a better person hence the breakthrough of being shifted to a better level,” said Prophet Magaya in a brief response to the question.
Pressed to elaborate further particularly his ministry’s 2017 plans, Prophet Magaya said : “That is the main reason why we have shifted. Tested and shifted.”
A new twist emerged a few weeks ago on the criminal case after the complainant wrote an affidavit withdrawing the allegations saying she had misled authorities.
Prophet Magaya’s case has since been referred to the Constitutional Court for determination if his rights were not being violated.
This was after the State insisted on proceeding despite the withdrawal something that the defence strongly contested.
Prophet Magaya described 2016 as a major breakthrough for his ministry considering several projects he completed and some success stories.
“To be honest as a ministry we are satisfied with 2016. It is the same year that we constructed the prayer mountain (big church for prayers), it is the same year we constructed a hotel, it is same year Yadar FC (PHD owned football team) qualified into Premier League, same year we opened offices in six countries, it is the same year we entered into major farming,” said Prophet Magaya.
“So to us as a ministry it was a major breakthrough. It is the same year we entered into a major breakthrough. It is the same year the media lied that we sold cucumbers and maize (to congregants). It is the same year we built major housing projects, we are currently building 1 800 housing units in Bulawayo. To us it is one of the best years. It was better than 2015.”
He said he would continue supporting Government’s empowerment effort in 2017 particularly employment creation and provision of accommodation.
“Yes, a lot of them (projects for 2017), we are going big into farming. I want to try and employ more people, as much as I can. We are also going big in different projects, housing projects so that we can assist our members,” said Prophet Magaya.
He said there would be better fortunes for members of his congregation saying the secret behind success was good attitude.
“Good attitude brings good performance. Good attitude brings high performance. It is about what is inside you that determines how you live. If you change your attitude your performance will also be high in terms of different things. The attitude inside you is the greatest prophet of your life,” he said. – State Media
Joyceleen Mtandwa |The adage ‘When the cat’s away, mice will play’ rings true of the situation unfolding in the ruling Zanu PF party at the moment.
President Robert Mugabe is away in the far east on his annual leave, and has left his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa in charge, who surprisingly together with his acolytes have used the festive season to poke fun at the 92 year old leader behind his back.
Mnangagwa is first all pictured declaring himself boss in what his opponents within the ruling Zanu PF party have construed to be an attack on his own boss Robert Mugabe. With insinuations of an internal coup d’etat in the absence of Mugabe.
Furthermore, matters might be going out of hand after another close associate of Mnangagwa’s Energy Mutodi, soon afterwards released a list; “MUGABE FALLS IN NEW POLITBURO RANKINGS.”
On Mutodi’s list Mnangagwa tops as the best Politburo member, while President Mugabe gets fourth position after Minister of Defence Sydney Sekeramayi who is second, with the third place taken by minister Christopher Mushowe.
First Lady Grace Mugabe is not spared taking position eight second from last on the list, with Josiah Hungwe taking last place on the best category list. Meanwhile the worst category list features; ministers Jonathan Moyo, Savior Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwao all who are linked to Grace’s G-40 faction.
To go further in exposing the factional machinations in the composition of the list published on social media, top of the worst Politburo member list is Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko, an interesting parallel to Mnangagwa topping the best list.
Moyo was quick to make a rebuke on twitter, “First Mutodi poses with VP Mnangagwa in a weird photo, then he writes this garbage attacking Pres Mugabe. Enough!”
Writes Mutodi in explaining his list, “Mugabe’s poor rankings in 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 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.”
He goes further to write as he campaigns for Mnangagwa to take over from Mugabe, “Mnangagwa has attracted the support of the Chinese, the British and the Americans as a favorite to be Mugabe’s successor. Due to his loyalty to Mugabe that he has demonstrated for more than half a century, Mnangagwa also has Mugabe’s confidence to become President.
The year 2017 may see Mnangagwa being elevated to President and he is most likely to pick Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga as his deputy and Kembo Mohadi as second Vice President while other security chiefs will be assigned to powerful ministries. Mnangagwa also enjoys a cordial relationship with business leaders and academics from whom he will pick technocrats to run other ministries such as Finance, ICT, industry, agriculture among others.”
A TOTAL of 30 babies were delivered on New Year’s Day at Bulawayo’s two major public hospitals — Mpilo Central and United Bulawayo Hospitals.
No deliveries were recorded at Catholic-run Mater Dei Hospital on the same day.
Among the babies born at Mpilo, 13 were male, while eight were female. An official at UBH said a total of nine babies, four boys and five girls, were delivered.
Mpilo Central Hospital’s chief executive officer Mr Leonard Mabandi said all the babies delivered at the institution and their mothers were in good health and awaiting to be discharged.
“Our biggest baby weighed 4,1kg and the smallest weighed 2kg. We did not have twins this time and only two mothers delivered through the Caesarean section,” he said.
One of the mothers who delivered at Mpilo Central Hospital, Ms Loreen Magaya, said she was delighted to be holding her bundle of joy born on the first day of the year.
“We have named my daughter Alvinant Anna and she was born at exactly 3.25 PM,” said Ms Magaya at the hospital yesterday.
Last year on January 1, 22 babies were born at Mpilo while 10 were delivered at UBH.
Meanwhile, in Masvingo, 30 babies were born on New Year’s Day at some of the province’s public and private hospitals.
Morgenster Mission Hospital topped the list with six deliveries.
A senior official at the institution who asked not to be named said the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe-run health centre had five girls and one boy.
At Gutu Mission Hospital three deliveries were recorded, but it could not be ascertained how many were boys or girls. Silveira Mission Hospital in Bikita recorded four births, all girls.
At Neshuro Hospital in Mwenezi, a nurse said five babies were delivered, two boys and three girls. Ndanga District Hospital in Zaka district had three deliveries, all girls, while Musiso Mission Hospital in the same district had two deliveries, both boys.
Chiredzi District Hospital had four deliveries, two girls and two boys. An official at Chibi District Hospital said they had three deliveries, all boys. – State Media
Staff Reporter | Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa has publicly declared himself “The Boss” a move that has angered his rivals in the ruling party.
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.
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.
By Anthony Okoth |Sex in relationships can be a good thing, bringing two people closer together. But is jumping the gun too early ultimately detrimental to the relationship?
We all know the drill: two people meet, have a conversation and find out they are attracted to each other. Where the story goes from here can go in two directions: they have sex or they end up in arelationship. Sometimes they can have sex then end up in a relationship, sometimes they get into a relationship just to have sex, but at some point in time the topic of sex will spring up and demand to be addressed.
There hardly seems to be a separation of sex and relationships anymore. If you’re in a relationship with someone, the assumption is that you are having sex. In fact, it’s seen as an oddity if you aren’t having sex. Though your reasons for this may be valid to you and your partner, the endless questioning and prodding from your friends and those around you can weigh heavy on your mind. But have we ever stopped to think about whether sex too early in a relationship may be detrimental to the relationship itself?
I don’t know you
A lot of people are in relationships with people they don’t really know. That’s why statements like “I never though s/he would do that to me” are so common when people are talking about rocky patches in relationships. A lot of this can be traced back to the initial interactions between the two people. Did they take the time to find out what makes them happy or sad, what makes them angry, how they deal with stress, what baggage they came into the relationship with?
But have we ever stopped to think about whether sex too early in a relationship may be detrimental to the relationship itself?
The truth is, most of us have been in relationships where we never asked these questions. We’re too caught up in the euphoria of someone new in our lives – and of having sex regularly with someone we are falling deeper and deeper for – that we don’t want to risk it by asking questions that we need to. Sacrificing the long term for the short term eventually leaves us picking up the pieces once it all comes crashing down.
Regret is not fun
Humans are creatures of habit, and once habits are formed they are very difficult to reverse. The concessions we give at the beginning of a relationship because we don’t want to rock the boat become the basis of every argument later. We think, “So what if they want to sleep with other people/don’t want to use a condom/insert-other-thing-you-would-never-do-here… It’s probably something they’ll grow out of, right?”
Wrong. So now you’re there in an uncomfortable situation that you cannot change for fear that they may leave you, which was why you didn’t address it in the first place.
It takes a certain level of courage to pull yourself and your partner aside from all the lovey dovey stuff and address real issues. It’s also scary because you don’t know how they will react to it. But you know what’s worse? Feeling like you gave too much too soon, when things start to go sideways. Knowing that you wouldn’t be in this situation if you had just spoken up.
Businessman Strive Masiyiwa has been attacked by an online newspaper. The paper’s editor slapped him calling him a liar on his interest and involvement in politics. See article below…
It seemed like an honest and innocent statement. “#Not interested in politics, not in the past, not now, and not in the future,” declared Zimbabwe’s richest man, Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa.
Masiyiwa had sparked speculation about whether he wanted to contest for president in 2018, when he ended his Facebook post on 22 December with the following statement: “Meanwhile, I’ve delayed my special announcement until January. This one will blow you away… Don’t try and speculate on what it might be; you’ll just end up feeding the fake news hucksters. Just wait for it, and be prepared.”
Online media immediately latched onto the statement to say Masiyiwa would declare his interest in contesting for president next year.
He issued a statement the following day clarifying: “Announcement will be on something to do with entrepreneurship support for my followers on this Facebook page. Ignore ‘fake news hucksters’.”
To end the speculation he posted on 29 December: “#My Special Announcement: In January we will announce an Internship competition for two entrepreneurs who will get an opportunity to spend time at one of our businesses, as well as one week traveling with me as I go about my business. Details of how to participate will be released before the end of January. It will be open to anyone (from anywhere in the world) who currently participates in my Facebook forum, and is familiar with things I have been teaching on entrepreneurship.”
But how far true was Masiyiwa’s statement that he is “not interested in politics, not in the past, not now, and not in the future”.
It might be true that he is not interested in politics now. We can give him the benefit of doubt on that. We can also say the same thing about the future, but definitely not about the past because history tells us something different.
Way back in January 2006, the United States embassy in Harare reported that there were rumours that Masiyiwa had been offered the presidency of the smaller- Welshman Ncube- faction of the Movement for Democratic Change but had refused to take up the offer because he was loyal to MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Masiyiwa played a more active role two years later both before and after the disputed 2008 elections.
Simba Makoni who broke away from the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front after the party endorsed Robert Mugabe as the presidential candidate for 2008 told United States embassy officials that he had tried to form a coalition with Tsvangirai but was prevented by Masiyiwa.
Makoni said he failed to make headway because Tsvangirai was “too much under the influence of advisors Strive Masiyiwa, Roy Bennett and Melinda Ferris”.
Alpha Media owner Trevor Ncube confirmed Masiyiwa’s power but added that the Econet boss must not be trusted because of his ego. Ncube said Masiyiwa had thwarted Makoni’s plan to form a coalition with Tsvangirai simply because Makoni had not approached him (Masiyiwa) directly.
When asked what the possibilities were of MDC and Makoni coming together without Masiyiwa’s intervention, Ncube responded: “Unfortunately, Strive’s got the money.”
MDC-T treasurer Roy Bennett complained that Masiyiwa had taken over the party even though he was not an elected official and was a control freak.
Bennett said Masiyiwa was now controlling access to Tsvangirai “for his own purposes” and calling all the shots, including whether or not Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe after he fled to South Africa because of the violence that engulfed the country in the run-up to the presidential elections run-off.
“Strive is clever, rich, and a control freak, and Tsvangirai does what the last person tells him to do,” Bennett said.
Masiyiwa still pulled the strings after the signing of the Global Political Agreement that ushered the inclusive government.
According to the United States embassy, the formation of the inclusive government was delayed because the MDC now had three power centres.
“The MDC now has three power centers: Harare, where most of the leadership is; Gaborone, Tsvangirai’s temporary home; and South Africa, where Masiyiwa and MDC treasurer Roy Bennett live,” the embassy said.
These are definitely not the signs of someone who is not interested in politics. But even taking him on his word, there are clear signs that though he might not be interested in politics now, as he says, he has definitely been testing the waters. – The Insider
A 2-year-old boy is in a critical condition after he was shot in the head during an attempted hijacking in Olivienhoutbosch on New Year’s Eve, paramedics said on Sunday.
“At 22:50 on Saturday night, Netcare 911 paramedics were dispatched to a shooting incident in Centurion, Gauteng,” said Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha.
After the shooting, the boy’s mother continued driving until she flagged down an ambulance she saw along the road.
“Paramedics from various services worked fervently to stabilise the critically wounded child at the scene,” said Botha.
He was then airlifted to hospital for further treatment. Police are investigating the exact conditions of the shooting.
Meanwhile, ER24 paramedics said they attended to a male patient with gunshot wounds in the same area – and that apparently the two shootings are related.
“ER24 paramedics were called to a nearby police station where they were then escorted to the scene,” said spokesperson Russel Meiring.
“Upon arrival ER24 paramedics found one male patient had sustained gunshot wounds to his back and neck.”
The man was in a critical condition. He was stabilised on the scene before being transported to hospital for urgent treatment,
“It is believed that the both incidents are related but local authorities will be investigating further,” Meiring said. News 24
Mr Zephaniah Ruzwidzo Matchaba-Hove born on 26 October 1931 has died.
In an statement provided by his eldest son Doctor Reginald Matchaba- Hove
Veteran educationist and politician, Mr Zephaniah Matchaba-Hove, died at Claybank Hospital in Gweru on 1st January 2017 after a long battle with cancer of the liver.
Mr Matchaba-Hove was the first graduate from Mwenezi District. He did his primary schooling at Gomututu and Mnene primary schools in Mberengwa and his secondary education at Goromonzi High School. He then studied for a BA degree with the University of South Africa whilst studying at the Roma Campus in Lesotho from 1957 to 1959. He did his Postgraduate Certificate in Education with the University of London whilst based at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1960.
Mr Matchaba-Hove taught at many schools including Chegato Secondary School in
Mberengwa, Chivi Secondary School in Chivi, Mucheke Secondary School in Masvingo, Ascot
Secondary School and Fletcher High School in Gweru and Mabvuku High School in Harare. He rose to the rank of Deputy Headmaster of Mucheke Secondary School and Headmaster of Mabvuku High School.
After independence he was promoted to become Chief Education Officer for Curriculum
Development, Harare Province Regional Director for Education and then Deputy Secretary for
Educaࢢon and Culture. Amongst the prominent people he taught are Professor Ngwabi Bhebe the founding Vice Chancellor of the Midlands State University, Professor Phineas Makhurane the founding Vice Chancellor of the Naࢢonal University of Science and Technology and the late Minister Dr Witness Mangwende. Mr Matchaba-Hove also served as Secretary of the Rhodesia African Teachers Association (RATA) during the time late National Hero the Hon. Cephas George Msipa served as RATA President.
From 1990 to 2000 Mr Matchaba-Hove was the elected MP for Mwenezi. During his ࢢme in
Parliament he was Deputy Chairman of Commiees. Mr Matchaba-Hove is survived by six children and several grandchildren. There will be a church service on Wednesday morning at the Lutheran Church in Gweru a[er which the body will proceed to his homestead at Maࢢbi Mission in Mwenezi for burial on Thursday, 5th January 2017. Mourners are gathered at 123 Walkers Rd, Ridgemont in Gweru.
Further details can be obtained from his son, Dr Reginald Matchaba-Hove on 0712200231 or 0772924413or his daughter, Mrs Margaret Vera on 0735252947 or 0782706601.
Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh surprised the world on 2 December by accepting that he had lost elections to the relatively unknown Adama Barrow – though he now says he will contest the result. The BBC’s Umaru Fofana looks at the reasons why the strongman lost his 22-year grip on power.
The Darboe effect
Perhaps Mr Jammeh’s biggest mistake was the detention of the main opposition leader, Usainou Darboe, of the United Democratic Party (UDP).
For many years, Mr Darboe had been an albatross round Mr Jammeh’s neck – the biggest challenge to his presidency.
Under Mr Darboe, the opposition tried and failed many times to have a united front. As leader of the biggest opposition party, he always wanted to be the presidential candidate.
He and Halifa Sallah, another consistently critical voice of Jammeh now touted as the next vice-president, were always in disagreement about who should head a possible coalition of their two parties.
With Mr Darboe out of the scene and in a prison cell, the UDP and Mr Sallah’s party – as well as other parties – found it easy to hammer out a deal for a united front.
The result was the unexpected candidacy of Mr Barrow.
Mr Darboe has since been freed on bail.
Ethnic alienation
In addition to accidentally pushing the opposition into a united front against him, Mr Jammeh managed to alienate the Mandinkas, the largest ethnic group in The Gambia.
The Mandinkas were very bitter at what they deemed as derogatory remarks made by the president, who comes from a minority group. This galvanised them to vote for the opposition.
I heard anti-Jammeh remarks from Mandinkas across the country, all citing statements he reportedly made, indicating that they would never rule the country.
Youths demand freedom and jobs
Perhaps Mr Jammeh could have been shrewd enough to avoid pushing his opposition into an unbeatable coalition or to avoid galvanising the Mandinkas into a hostile electoral force.
But after 22 years in power, he could do nothing in the face of another factor behind his defeat: The unquenchable desire for change among young Gambians, like Fatoumata Bojang, who have known no other leader.
The median age of Gambia’s population is 19.9 years. They cite a lack of jobs, saying this is why so many Gambians have tried to make the perilous journey to Europe by boat.
At opposition rallies, it was mostly young people.
At a rally in Brikama, Momodou Ceesay demanded “freedom” saying he and his peers had never fully “enjoyed our rights”.
That resonated everywhere I went. Students I met at the University of Gambia said the same thing.
Such is the generational divide that two families I met were sharply divided.
A woman who wanted to be known only as Njai said her parents were supporting Mr Jammeh, while she and her other siblings were voting for Mr Barrow.
She cited freedom and jobs, or the lack of both, as the main factors.
The economy worsened matters. Senegal’s economic blockade earlier this year effectively killed a dying man.
Virtually all The Gambia’s imports come through Senegal.
The blockade was severely felt and drew rage from the citizenry.
Counting the votes
There were allegations of cheating at the 2011 polls which President Jammeh won, although I was there at the time and did not see any sign of that and he denied it.
This time, such was his confidence that he agreed to calls for an electoral system to allow on-the-spot counting of votes.
Votes were counted at each and every polling station and figures published instantly.
Tallying was also done at nearby centres, in the open. And counting the marbles in a specially-designed tray was very quick.
This reduced the possibility of cheating.
Gambia’s electoral commission has received less praise than it deserves, I think.
It is rare in Africa for an opposition challenger to heap as much praise on the head of the electoral commission as did Mr Barrow before the polls.
He told the BBC in the run-up to voting day that the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission Alieu Momarr Njai was trustworthy and honest.
The quiet self-effacing 82-year-old says the system does not allow for rigging.
“It will easily be noticed,” he told me.
Women power
The role of women was huge. In the early queues at Sukuta, Banjul and Serekunda, there were more women than men, many of them young.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) invested a lot in them.Its programme specialist Bashirou Jahumpa says in addition to building the capacity of the electoral commission through training for their staff, it also funded the National Council on its civic awareness programme and voter education.
It also helped mobilise women to vote.
Gender activist Fatoumata Jallow was also a huge pillar in this regard, campaigning for women to vote.
But it is also true that Mr Jammeh’s government put women impositions of trust and engaged them to be politically active.
The last straw – the army
Perhaps, Mr Jammeh could have found a way to win despite all the adverse factors if he had the support of the army.
He came to power through the army. He stayed in power through the army. He relied on the army for everything. BBC
A man reportedly trained by the grass-feeding pastor has the gimmick of making people feel the power of God along with power from Eskom.
Daily Sun has reported on yet another pastor with a “shocking approach” to religion.
According to the tabloid, a pastor from Hammanskraal in Tshwane released a video showing him telling a church member to be shocked by a live electric wire as a supposed act of faith. He reportedly claims that if they have enough faith, they will escape electrocution.
It reports that, on Sunday, 25-year-old Apostle Phillip Sithole, known as Hephzibah, allegedly also claimed to turn water into wine, mimicking Jesus’ first biblical miracle.
Someone who drank this “wine” then supposedly got drunk.
Daily Sun says it has discovered that the so-called Doom pastor, Prophet Lethebo Rabalago, is the son of Pastor Lesego Daniel, who “made headlines across the country in 2014 when he ordered his congregation to eat grass”. Hephizbah, Daily Sun claims, was trained by Daniel; he told the tabloid that his Divine Word Ministries were anointed by God.
“I can command people to touch live wires and they will not get electrocuted. Anointing is more powerful than live wires,” the tabloid quoted him as saying. – Citizen.co.za
Former Resident Minister and Governor for Mashonaland West Peter Chanetsa has died. The War Veteran and Hurungwe politician who was also a member of the Zanu PF Central Committee passed away in Harare. Details to follow………
Chanetsa will be remembered for his role as Governor during the decisive phase of the land reform programme.
A top Makandiwa pastor and agent, Donald Savanhu’s name has popped up in a police investigation in which the churchman was implicated for allegedly making death threats and attacking by burning Harare preacher Tariro Chiwenga’s car. Pastor Savanhu in this briefer responds to ZimEye.com on the police matter:
At the beginning of the year spiritist preacher Emmanuel Makandiwa said Zimbabwe will experience economic revival with Makandiwa calling economic harvest, while his contemporary Walter Magaya termed it: financial overflow for Zimbabwe.
“This needs to be brought to the attention of the Zimbabwean public,” commented Bulawayo preacher Steve Blomefield.
He continued saying, “At the minimum we are asking for a public apology for them, at the maximum, we are labeling them false prophets; the prophets should stand up and say, I am sorry I was wrong I mis-read my emotions, they should stand up to the public and we are sorry we gave you false hope.”
A 28-year-old unlicensed driver nearly rammed into Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vehicle along Josiah Tongogara Avenue in Harare on Wednesday.
Gudza Garyson Gwande appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Tilda Mazhande and was fined $100 for driving without a licence. Failure to pay the fine will earn Gwande 30 days jail time. Gwande pleaded for the court’s mercy, saying he was a family man.
I was driving without a licence because I was rushing a sick person to hospital. I was trying to avoid potholes when I was involved in the near collision,” he said.
Ms Mazhande advised Gwande to obtain a driver’s licence. The prosecutor Mrs Devoted Nyagano-Gwashavanhu told the court that on December 28, 2016 around 1500hrs, Gwande was driving due east along Josiah Tongogara Avenue.
He was driving a Honda CRV registration number ACD 1389. Gwande changed and took the outer lane at the intersection of Josiah Tongogara Avenue and Leopold Takawira Street.
He nearly rammed into Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Range Rover. The Acting President was in the vehicle. Gwande failed to produce a driver’s licence when it was requested and was subsequently arrested. – State Media
Gambian president, who refuses to accept poll defeat, warns regional troop deployment could lead to escalation.
President Yahya Jammeh says the West African community’s decision to send troops into The Gambia to force him to accept defeat in last month’s presidential election, is “a declaration of war”.
Leaders from the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, deployed troops to The Gambia on Thursday after Jammeh said he would not accept the results of December’s election, in which he lost to opposition leader Adama Barrow.
In a New Year’s message broadcast on Saturday, Jammeh said the “blatant and one-sided” approach of ECOWAS, “disqualified it from providing mediation services”.
“Let me make very clear, we are ready to defend this country against any aggression,” Jammeh said, adding that if ECOWAS did not back down “the impasse will continue with the risk of escalation into a military confrontation”.
He added, “What we are simply and rightfully asking for is to return to the polls and allow the Gambians to elect who they want to be their president in a free and fair election.”
After more than two decades in power, Jammeh, 51, lost a December 1 election to Barrow, a former real-estate agent.
After initially accepting the result, Jammeh later rejected it, alleging irregularities, and filed a petition to the Supreme Court which is due to be reviewed on January 10.
Barrow has insisted he will take office nine days later, as planned, with ECOWAS leaders set to attend the ceremony.
Earlier this month, ECOWAS said it would stage a military intervention, led by neighbouring Senegal, if Jammeh failed to step down and set a deadline of January 19, the day of Barrow’s planned inauguration.
The UN Security Council has called on Jammeh to “fully respect” the election results and ensure Barrow’s safety.
The electoral commission said Barrow obtained 222,708 votes (43.3 percent) compared with Jammeh’s 208,487 (39.6 percent).
Jammeh has questioned the validity of the count after the electoral commission changed some results, even though it insists the outcome was not affected. Aljazeera
After successfully beating the December 31 CAF player registration deadline, Makepekepe will surely participate in the CAF Champions League, with the first test being in Lesotho one the weekend of 10 – 12 February against Lioli FC with the reverse fixture scheduled for National Sports Stadium a week later.
Would the Lloyd Chitembwe side pass the Lioli FC hurdle, TP Mazembe will be the next stop in DRC on the weekend of 10-12 March.
Here is the full list:
SIBANDA EDMORE
MAKATUKA STEPHEN
SITHOLE LAST
DAUDA DENNIS
MUSARURWA VALENTINE
ZVIREKWI HARDLIFE
CHAFA DEVON
KAMHAPA CABBY
MUNZABWA CARLTON
BAMUSI PHINIAS
What looked like a lovey-dovey wedding turned into a royal rumble when the groom bashed his Seventh Day Adventist uncle and Director of Ceremonies (DC) for denying the bridal team a chance to dance at the function held at Bulawayo’s Douglasdale, Bhenas Villa.
According to a close friend of Bheki Bhebhe and Lorraine Nyoni, drama started when Bhebhe’s Seventh Day Adventist relatives stopped music and the bridal team from dancing claiming it was an ungodly act.
It is said that the groom ignored his relatives’ request and went to one commuter taxi driver and requested that he plays music for his bridal team. The request did not sit well with his family and they complained as chaos kicked in.
“Harsh words and insults were exchanged and police were called to stop the misunderstanding,” the couple’s friend said.
Upon realising that his efforts to have dancers were fruitless, Bhebhe drove off with his bride who was crying.
The couple came back after two hours only to find the DC conducting an unceremonious closing prayer in which he labelled the couple “satanic” and “demonic”.
Bhebhe is said to have lost his temper and ran straight to his uncle and hit him on the face with fists while kicking him all over the body.
“Bheki jumped out of the car and six men tried to hold him but he was so angry that he overpowered all of them, charged straight to the DC and hit him so hard that you could tell he was very upset. His own mother could not even control him,” a church member said.
A source added that, members who had attended the wedding finally managed to pull off Bhebhe, but there were more woes for the DC as the bridal team took matters to their own hands and started beating him up.
The uncle left the scene immediately and that is when the misunderstanding stopped, according to the church member.
When B-Metro arrived at the scene people were standing haphazardly and there was heavy police presence for a wedding.
The couple was not reachable for comment. – State Media
Harare lawyer, Fadzayi Mahere writes rubbishing necromancer Emmanuel Makandiwa’s demand for seed cash payments as a precondition for God’s blessings which the man made last week.
By Fadzayi Mahere| If you have $77, buy some inspirational biographies and start a vision board to keep yourself motivated throughout the year.
If you have $770, spruce up your garden with a park bench, new shrubs and a bird bath to make your space more zen and more welcoming as you evolve into the best version of yourself. You will need beautiful surrounds to keep you centred and going when all you wish to do is stop. The new year will not be easy.
If you have $7700, hire a stockbroker or a financial advisor. Make your money work for you passively. Invest in learning how to use money more efficiently. If you have $77 000, buy a fresh property. Devote the year to fixing it up and doubling its market value.
Remember always, God makes it rain, you choose how you SOW!
If you want 2017 to be a fabulous year for you, you will have to WORK damn HARD for it…there shall be no quick fixes, no cucumbers, no sewage, no Doom and most of all, no stupidity! If you are to give, do so wisely. Give to the poor and the less fortunate – the return on your investment shall be that they have a better shot at life.
The greatest MIRACLE God will grant you, is that you will make it through…through fire, through floods, through hardship, through pain and through failure. The road to a great 2017 lies in the power God has instilled within you to live your best life. You must ACT and play your part!
The real man/woman of God is YOU. You have the required dominion. Harness it!
A CHIMANIMANI 61-year-old man who offered 25 cents bond coins to his minor prey after quenching his sexual appetite on her has been brought before the Mutare Magistrates’ court.
Tony Munyongani (61) was not asked to plead to all three counts of rape that he was facing when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira.
He was however, remanded in custody to January 4, 2017. Mr Gwezhira advised Munyongani to apply for bail at the High Court citing jurisdiction.
He also advised him to seek for legal representation if he wished. Prosecuting was Mr Fletcher Karombe.
Munyongani is being charged with three counts of rape as defined in Section 65 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform)Act, Chapter 9:23.
Allegations were that sometime in September 2016, Munyongani went to his neighbour’s place where he found the minor alone and raped her in a blair toilet.
He allegedly threatened to assault her if she divulged what had happened to anyone. After raping her, he gave her a 25 cents bond coin and left.
He raped her on three occasions and on each occasion, he allegedly gave her a 25cents bond coin.
Sometime in December however, the minor sneaked out of her bedroom after everyone had gone to sleep but her absence was discovered by her mother.
“When she came back, she was asked on where she had gone and on her relationship with Munyongani, since it was being suspected by everyone that they were in love and sleeping together.
“The minor then revealed what happened, a police report was made and the juvenile was referred to Mutambara Mission Hospital,” said Mr Karombe.
Munyongani was subsequently arrested.
Meanwhile, a Zimunya man was advised to apply for bail at the High Court by a Mutare magistrate after he allegedly quenched his sexual thirst on his minor biological daughter.
The accused (name withheld) of Karuza village, Chief Zimunya was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Poterai Gwezhira on Monday.
He is being charged with rape as defined in Section 65 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
He however, was remanded in custody to January 3, 2017. Mr Gwezhira advised him to apply for bail at the High Court and seek legal representation. Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
Allegations were that the accused person resided alone with his minor daughter as his wife (her mother) passed away some time back.
The father and daughter shared the same bedroom, only that the minor slept on one end of the room while the accused on the other end.
It was alleged that on December 10, 2016 and at around midnight, he took advantage of the minor and ordered her to remove her panties but she refused.
“He went on to forcibly remove his daughter’s panties and raped her. The juvenile screamed for help but was ordered by her father to keep quiet,” alleged Mr Karombe.
It was further alleged that the accused person repeatedly raped the minor that same night and threatened her not to tell anyone of the incident.
Six days later however, the juvenile told a member of the Child Care after she had been interviewed on how she was living with her father. The accused person was remanded to January 3, 2017. State Media
A televangelist who encourages her followers to get closer to God by sending money to her has been invited to Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Paula White spent much of the 2016 presidential campaign convincing evangelicals to vote for Trump, assuring them that he “accepts Jesus as his Lord and savior,” she told Politico. Now she’ll be praying with Trump at his inauguration.
But the popular pastor, who Trump originally became smitten with after seeing her preach on television, has some issues of her own. White is often criticized for preaching the “prosperity gospel,” which suggests that God is happiest when his followers are rich, The Daily Beast points out. She’s even written a sermon titled “Why God Wants You Wealthy” (it costs money to download).
And if being rich is an indicator of holiness, White must be in His good graces. White told Politico she was once worth “millions,” and her business practices suggest she knows how to handle money while manipulating her followers.
In 2007, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) launched a congressional probe into the spending habits of White’s ministry, along with five other pastors. Grassley had questions regarding the televangelists’ use of church-owned airplanes and luxury homes. The Senate inquiry was eventually dropped, in part because White refused to cooperate with investigators.
Years later, White declared bankruptcy on the church she initially ran with her then-husband that had been the subject of the probe, Politico reported.
But whatever fortune she’s amassed has been in large part to her followers, who give her money to get in God’s good graces. On her website, she refers to sending money as giving a “seed” to the almighty Himself:
I feel impressed of the Lord to ask you to do something that I believe will create a memory in the mind of God and this will change your future. I want you to give a seed offering that I call a “Gratitude” seed. This is an extremely powerful seed for you… especially at this time in your life. This seed will do two things for you.
This seed will get God’s attention. Remember, God sits high and looks low. He is looking for faith on the earth. This seed will require strong faith.
This seed will be seen as a “Gratitude” offering. Gratitude always produces favor and favor will cause you to receive in a moment, more than some do in a lifetime!
It’s a tactic that other religious leaders frown upon. Earlier this year, Southern Baptist leader and Trump critic Russell Moore tweeted out his distaste of White, Politico reported.
“Paula White is a charlatan and recognized as a heretic by every orthodox Christian, of whatever tribe,” the tweet read.
White denied the assertion that she’s only trying to grift money in an interview with the publication.
“Do I believe that God is a sugar daddy? Not at all,” White said.
The recommended “seed” amount on her website is $115. – Huffington Post
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | At least four People have been struck and killed by lightning in Masvingo Province over the past two weeks. A family from Chazika Village in Zaka District was left in tears, after two members were struck and killed by lightning.
According to relatives, Namatirai Chazika and her daughter Ruth Mundudye (15) were struck by lightning as they were winnowing round nuts under a tree at their homestead .
The two were buried at Chazika Village last week.
“The two were struck by lightning as they were winnowing round nuts at their homestead. It was very unfortunate but nobody could do anything to save their lives because it happened suddenly and unexpectedly,” said a relative.
Another couple was struck by lightning at Boss Mine in Mashava on Christmas Day.
Although ZimEye.com could not establish their names, it is understood the couple was struck while walking home.
Ezra Chadzamira confirmed the incident happened in his constituency.
“Efforts are being made to assist the affected family .We urge people to seek shelter instead of exposing themselves to violent thunderstorms,” cautioned Chadzamira.
An eyewitness said: “The two were struck by lightning at Boss Mine. It was a frightening incident. It happened unexpectedly,” said a Mashava man.
Terrence Mawawa, Gutu | A Gutu based Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) soldier has been implicated in the theft of Robert Mugabe’s Command Agriculture Fuel valued at $250.
Thomas Muchemwa, based at 42 Infantry Battalion in Gutu, appeared before Gutu Magistrate, Edwin Marecha, last week. He was charged with contravening Section 113(2)(d) Chapter 9:23 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act). The court heard that Muchemwa stole diesel meant for the Command Agriculture Programme at Zvavahera Irrigation Scheme.
Muchemwa was attached to the Command Agriculture Programme by the Zimbabwe National Army. The court also heard that Muchemwa was allocated 40 coupons of diesel meant for Zvavahera Irrigation Scheme and converted them to his own use. On December 12, a team led by another Zimbabwe National Army member, Norman Mudzengi, went to Zvavahera to conduct an audit.The team discovered that Muchemwa could not account for 220 litres of diesel.
Muchemwa was remanded in custody for continuation of trial. Muchemwa’s case epitomizes the massive plundering of state resources by government bureaucrats.
Critics have warned that the much touted Command Agriculture Programme will be a failure due to greed and rampant looting of resources. “We do not foresee the programme becoming successful because of corruption, looting and greed. The whole programme has been marred by selfishness,” said a government official.
Iphithule Thembani KaMaphosa | ZAPU President Dr Dumiso Dabengwa undressed ZANU PF and Mugabe at Adv Senda burial service when he came out guns blazing telling them point blank that they were not sincere mourning Advocate Lot Senda who was buried on Thursday in Bulawayo.
Dr Dabengwa, who referred to himself as a prisoner, in reference to his arrest on trumped up treason charges in the early 1980s, was addressing mourners gathered for the late Advocate Lot Senda burial service at Brethren in Christ Church.
Against everyone’s expectations, Adv Senda was not accorded the national hero status but was infact given a state assisted funeral by a regime that has been on an agenda deleting ZAPU and ZPRA history and legacy of Zimbabwe’s liberation in favor of that of ZANU and ZANLA.
Dr Dabengwa told a packed Brethren in Christ church, which included ZANU PF politburo and central committee members, ZANU PF MPs, Government officials, the military and Resident Minister how ZANU PF have dispossessed Adv Senda of his farm in Solusi yet they on Thursday shed crocodile tears over his passing on.
“It is surprising to us how you today come here and pretend you cared so much about Adv Senda. The man was a ZANU PF member yet your very own ZANU PF supporters unlawfully invaded and are occupying his farm which he bought using his hard earned money. What kind of people are you? “, thundered the miffed ZAPU President to a rousing applause from the congregating mourners.
“To you Hon Malaba, I challenge you here and now, if you are really sincerely mourning this man, go right away from here and remove your supporters who invaded and are occupying Adv Senda’s farm. You should not come here and pretend what you are not.” said Dabengwa.
He also told ZANU PF to stop the lie they were propagating that Adv Senda had been declared a hero by Mugabe’s regime, challenging them to tell the people and family the truth that he was merely given a state assisted funeral, as has become the norm whenever former ZAPU/ZPRA heroes pass on. This was in reference to the habitually recurring incidences where former ZAPU/ZPRA liberation heroes are constantly denied national hero status in favor of their little known and insignificant counterparts from ZANU/ZANLA who are lie buried at the national shrine.
Dr Dabengwa also highlighted the double standards being practiced by Robert Mugabe, the dictator leader of both ZANU PF and Zimbabwe. He narrated how he was arrested and dragged to trial on trumped up charges of treason in the early 1980s at the behest of dictator Mugabe who felt ZAPU and its leadership were a stumbling block t his ill thought idea and outrightly mad dream of a one party state as he finally achieved in 1987, albeit temporarily.
President Dabengwa narrated how Adv Senda represented Dr Dabengwa, Gen Lookout Vumindaba Masuku and others in court, which acquitted them of the frivolous charges. The madness in Mugabe came to unprecedented peaks when he ordered the detention of both Dr Dabengwa and Gen Masuku, even after the courts of law found them innocent and discharged them. This, Dr Dabengwa said, led to Gen Masuku’s illness and subsequent death at the hands of the notorious regime of ZANU PF. This happened in the five year detention stint, just as tens of thousands ZAPU supporters were being butchered by the Fifth Brigade in Midlands and Matabeleland Provinces.
According to President Dabengwa, what followed was the Unity Accord, whose contents, negotiations and aims he knew nothing of as the whole process of coming up with it was done while he was inside the notorious Chikurubi walls. He said he only got to know and understand the piecemeal arrangement after reading Cephas Msipha memoir released just before his passing on.
Dr Dabengwa questioned the sincerity of self contradicting Mugabe who recently was complaining about his and Mandela’s arrests at the hands of white minority governments, saying he has no moral standing to complain since he adopted and is practicing the same repression tactics as practiced by Ian Smith. Dr Dabengwa said he found it unbelievably weird and ironic that the minority Rhodesian government never put chains on him and fellow liberation fighters like Masuku, only to be arrested and falsely detained by a majority black government in a country he had just liberated.
The rap by President Dabengwa forced ZANU PF to change in the last minute their main speakers from Cl Tshinga Dube to Ms Angeline Masuku. This was after sensing that Cl Dube would not be able to measure up to Dr Dabengwa. However, Masuku did not help matters as she stummered on her speech, resorting to the usual and tired rhetoric of “unity and peace for development”, as has become the hymn specially penned for so called Matabeleland leaders in ZANU PF.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald J. Trump, expressing lingering skepticism about intelligence assessments of Russian interference in the election, said on Saturday evening that he knew “things that other people don’t know” about the hacking, and that the information would be revealed “on Tuesday or Wednesday.”
Speaking to a handful of reporters outside his Palm Beach, Fla., club, Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump cast his declarations of doubt as an effort to seek the truth.
“I just want them to be sure because it’s a pretty serious charge,” Mr. Trump said of the intelligence agencies. “If you look at the weapons of mass destruction, that was a disaster, and they were wrong,” he added, referring to intelligence cited by the George W. Bush administration to support its march to war in 2003. “So I want them to be sure,” the president-elect said. “I think it’s unfair if they don’t know.”
He added: “And I know a lot about hacking. And hacking is a very hard thing to prove. So it could be somebody else. And I also know things that other people don’t know, and so they cannot be sure of the situation.”
When asked what he knew that others did not, Mr. Trump demurred, saying only, “You’ll find out on Tuesday or Wednesday.”
Mr. Trump, who does not use email, also advised people to avoid computers when dealing with delicate material. “It’s very important, if you have something really important, write it out and have it delivered by courier, the old-fashioned way, because I’ll tell you what, no computer is safe,” Mr. Trump said.
“I don’t care what they say, no computer is safe,” he added. “I have a boy who’s 10 years old; he can do anything with a computer. You want something to really go without detection, write it out and have it sent by courier.”
The comments on Saturday were a departure from a statement that Mr. Trump issued through transition officials last week, in which he said that it was time for people to “move on” from the hacking issue but that he would be briefed on the matter by intelligence officials early in the new year.
On Thursday, President Obama ordered a set of retaliatory measures against Russia over the election hacking. The United States expelled 35 Russian diplomats and shuttered two estates that it claimed had been used for intelligence-gathering.
The Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, declined to respond in kind to the measures, a gesture that Mr. Trump appeared to view favorably. He praised it on Twitter and criticized news media coverage that had been harsh about Russia.
Mr. Trump, who has sought a warmer relationship with Mr. Putin, has repeatedly scoffed at the notion that Russia was behind the hacking, a stance at odds with members of his own party. At one point, Mr. Trump declared that the hacking may have been the work of “someone sitting on their bed weighing 400 pounds.” – NY Times
AN acute shortage of Compound C — the only blend fertiliser recommended for tobacco production — is being exploited by some unscrupulous dealers to rip-off unsuspecting gold-leaf growers through repackaged, under weighed and overpriced fong-kong products.
The state media reports that the illegal practice, where some dealers are re-packaging either Urea or Compound D fertilisers in original Compound C bags, was rampant in Mutare and Rusape — which attract voluminous buyers as they are traditionally the tobacco growing hubs in Manicaland.
Tobacco Association of Zimbabwe (TAZ) president, Mr David Guy Mutasa said the fong-kong products were under weighed and overpriced with a 30kg, disguised as 50kg, selling at $36.
“They are ripping off farmers by selling the wrong consignments wrapped in proper Compound C bags at exorbitant prices. These dealers are selling fake Compound C to tobacco growers with a 30kg bag, disguised as a 50kg, going for $36.
Urea fertiliser is not ideal for tobacco, it damages the quality of tobacco because it has too much nitrogen. Due to the current shortages, many farmers are falling prey to these unscrupulous dealers and end up using the wrong fertiliser for their crop. I have come across a number of unscrupulous dealers selling these fake products in Rusape and Mutare,” said Mr Mutasa.
Mr Vekina Neru of Kelvin Farm in Headlands said he bought Compound C from the street only to discover that he had been duped.
“It was all fake. I bought two bags of what was sold as Compound C, only to discover that one bag had Compound D and the other had Urea. I bought it in Rusape after being referred there by several other farmers, which means those referees were also duped. As farmers we should stop buying fertilisers from dubious dealers because they are selfish and insincere,” said Mr Neru.
Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) spokesperson Mr Isheunesu Moyo warned growers that the use of fertiliser blends, other than those recommended by the Tobacco Research Board (TRB), compromise both quality and yields.
Mr Moyo said farmers should only buy fertiliser blends from recommended dealers.
“Blends that are not recommended by the Tobacco Research Board compromise both quality and yields. We recommend that farmers buy fertilisers blends that have been recommended by the Tobacco Research Board from recommended companies,” said Mr Moyo.
The fertiliser shortages are not only affected tobacco, but other crops, especially maize.
Foreign currency shortages blighting the country have been blamed for fertiliser companies’ inability to meet demand.
The shortages are posing a serious threat to the cereal crop production — amid revelations fertiliser firms’ capacity to meet demand under Command Agriculture and other private farmers due to lack of forex to import raw materials.
The piece-meal distribution of fertiliser under Command Agriculture has courted the wrath of farmers who argue that the noble programme was on verge of unintended consequences.
Fertiliser firms recently told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development that they could not meet demand due to lack of foreign currency to import raw materials.
Some companies have raw materials and fertiliser stocks in their warehouses, but cannot release them before paying their external suppliers as the contrabands are held under collateral management agreement.
For instance, the Zimbabwe Fertiliser Company (ZFC) has delivered only 20 000 tonnes of Compound D, which is half of its target under Command Agriculture while Omnia has supplied 5 000 tonnes out of target of 6 800t.
ZFC managing director, Dr Richard Dafana, said the company needed $6 million to fulfil its target under Command Agriculture.
“We are now producing from hand-to-mouth. Fertiliser companies should get the lion’s share on foreign currency especially now when we have an important cropping programme. It is best that priority is given to save the crop so that we do not end up importing food.
“We have high rainfall this year, which is favourable for crop production. We are afraid we may continue to produce the compound fertilisers when the nutrients will no longer be required by the crops,” said Dr Dafana.
Omia finance director, Mrs Anne Munetsi also cited the same challenge.
“We have been experiencing challenges to access foreign currency to buy raw materials. We also blend fertilisers, but production is being hampered by shortage of raw materials as a result of foreign currency challenges. Our bins, which are supposed to have raw materials, are empty now and normally during this time of the year they would be full,” said Mrs Munetsi. – State Media
A deal has been signed to end Joseph Kabila’s 15-year rule in the Democratic Republic of Congo – but the president himself has yet to add his signature.
Senior ministers backed the deal, which would see Mr Kabila stay on until elections are held by the end of 2017.
The country has faced a crisis since Mr Kabila failed to step down earlier in December, when his mandate expired.
Elections should have been held in November, and dozens of people have died in protests since then.
After the electoral commission cancelled the scheduled vote, citing logistical and financial difficulties in organising them, Mr Kabila formed a 74-member transitional government and said elections would be held in 2018.
Representatives of Mr Kabila and his long standing rival Etienne Tshisekedi have been locked in negotiations brokered by Catholic Church leaders since 8 December.
Neither man has yet signed the final deal, but representatives of both sides said the two men would put their names to the transition agreement later.
In the meantime, members of the government and the opposition signed it in the final minutes of 2016.
“Today, we are happy to head up a political compromise,” said Archbishop Marcel Utembi, who heads the church body which mediated the talks.
Under the deal, Mr Kabila is to lead a transitional government until elections which must be held by the end of 2017.
During that period, an opposition politician will serve as prime minister.
The document states that Mr Kabila will not seek a third term. The constitution bars him from doing this, but the opposition had feared he might try to amend it to enable him to do.
Archbishop Marcel Utembi sees further challenges ahead.
“It’s one thing to have a political compromise but putting it into place is another,” he said, after the signing ceremony on Saturday.
DR Congo has not had a smooth transfer of power between any leaders since independence from Belgium in 1960.
Mr Kabila took over in 2001 following the assassination of his father Laurent Kabila. BBC
Thirty-five Russian diplomats expelled from the United States by President Barack Obama have left the country, Russian news agencies report.
An embassy official said the plane had taken off with all the affected personnel and their families aboard.
Mr Obama ordered the expulsion in response to alleged hacking of the US Democratic Party and Clinton campaign during the 2016 presidential election.
President-elect Trump has promised a revelation about the allegations.
A spokesperson for the Russian embassy in the US, quoted by the TASS news agency, confirmed the departure of the plane from Washington on New Year’s Day.
The aircraft was part of the Rossiya airline’s special flight detachment group – the carrier for the president of Russia and other government officials.
Mr Obama’s order had given the affected diplomats just 72 hours to leave the country.
Russian president Vladimir Putin had been expected to respond in kind, with the expulsion of US diplomats from its territory.
However, he later said he would not “stoop” to “irresponsible diplomacy”, but rather attempt to repair relations once Donald Trump takes office.
Mr Trump praised the decision as “very smart”.
He has previously said Americans “ought to get on with our lives” rather than sanction Russia.
But on New Year’s Eve, he said he would reveal details “people don’t know” about the incident in the coming days.
“I know a lot about hacking,” he told reporters, “and hacking is a very hard thing to prove, so it could be somebody else.”
He also said that he knows “things that other people don’t know. And so they cannot be sure of the situation.”
But he refused to provide details, saying he would make an announcement on “Tuesday or Wednesday”.
The president-elect also suggested that computers could not be trusted with sensitive information, and recommended using pen and paper.
“You know, if you have something really important, write it out and have it delivered by courier, the old-fashioned way,” he said.
“Because I’ll tell you what – no computer is safe.” – BBC
Familiarity breeds contempt so goes the old adage.
Commercial sex workers who gathered at a Provincial Sex Workers Advocacy Group workshop at a Masvingo hotel last week made a clarion call for the rebranding of the Panther condoms which they said are being resisted by their clients.
The workshop was organised by Batanai HIV and Aids Services Organisation (Bhaso).
The Panther condoms are Public Sector condoms that are supplied for free and have been on the market for the past three or more decades.
The sex workers said at the two-day workshop that the Panther condoms were being resisted by their well-to-do clients who felt that they were of poor quality because of their lack of some of the characteristics of the condoms that are found on the market.
The commercial sex workers said that they sometimes end up having unprotected sex as clients shun the condoms. “The perception against the Panther is so bad that the sex workers sometimes lose clients who walk away when asked to use these Panther condoms,” said one of the sex workers.
The workshop heard that the Panther which is nicknamed maDembare because of the colour of the pack that is the same as that of the country’s top team Dynamos (Dembare) is also shunned by students at colleges and universities who regard them as cheap and of poor quality. Students are said to have complained against the smell of the condom.
The perception against the condoms, said the sex workers has been worsened by the poor performance of Dynamos this year and the clients would say that this was synonymous with the performance of the condoms.
“As sex workers we know that Panther condoms are as good as any but the perception out there is very bad as many people think that because the commodity has no sweet scent like others and is for free, it is also of poor quality,” another sex worker said.
The sex workers who said the Panther was convenient to them because others are expensive then appealed to organisations that were represented at the workshop that included Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) and the New Start Centre to appeal to the relevant authorities for the rebranding of the condom so that it has an appeal to the market.
Peter Vhoko, the provincial manager for ZNFPC acknowledged the perception problem but however, said the Panther was just as good as any other. He promised that the issue of rebranding will be attended to. The challenge however is that Panther condoms are not manufactured in Zimbabwe and the idea of rebranding would have to be taken to the manufacturers. There was also an acknowledgement at the workshop that the issue of rebranding had been on the agenda for the past five years.
The sex workers also proposed that the condoms should be accompanied by lubricants which makes the vagina wet. In addition to the rebranding of the condoms, the sex workers also called for the manufacturers to bring the condoms with extra jelly or lubricant which they would then use to keep their private parts wet to avoid the bursting of condoms.
The sex workers also demanded for the promulgation of a law that protects their profession and added that if that happens, they would be happy to pay taxes like any other Zimbabwean workers. They pleaded for an arrangement of a pension scheme.
Reproductive Health expert, Herbert Chikosi said the issue of the rebranding of the Panther is one that all players in the sector should be seized with. He also said the call by the sex workers for jelly to accompany the condoms was justified as the sex workers were using vaseline in their place which easily caused the bursting of condoms. – Masvingo Mirror
Burundi’s environment minister has been shot dead while on his way home on New Year’s Eve.
Emmanuel Niyonkuru, 54, was killed at about 00:45 local time (22:45 GMT) by “a criminal with a gun”, a police spokesman tweeted.
Tweets from Pierre Nkurikiye said a woman who was with Mr Niyonkuru had been detained for questioning, following the “assassination”.
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza said the crime would not go unpunished.
Hundreds of people, including high-ranking army officials, have been killed in unrest since President Pierre Nkurunziza ran for a third term in 2015, a move which opponents said was unconstitutional. But this is the first time a serving government minister has been killed.
For months the country had been relatively calm. BBC
Christmas Day celebrations in Rusape were marred by a series of violent clashes and fights among imbibers leading to premature closure of bars and night clubs by the police.
Police had to resort to use dogs and throwing tear gas to disperse some violent malcontents who were resisting orders to vacate bars which were operating well beyond their stipulated time.
Most of the violent clashes took place at bars and nightclubs at the Dhliwayo Shopping Centre where there are popular drinking spots such as The Basement, High Flame and Neighbours.
Things got out of control when police who were on night patrol ordered Dhliwayo Bottle Store to close its shop around 0030hrs as they were suppose to close at 10pm. This did not go down well with the patrons who were in the bar who started pushing officers out of the bar. The owner of the bar also refused to close her bar.
Police had to call for reinforcements and that is when the violent clashes escalated to other bars. Some drunkards started attacking police officers with stones and beer bottles. As the situation was going out of hand, police who were armed with dogs and tear gas ordered the closure of all the bars at the Centre.
25 violent men and the owner of Dhliwayo Bottle Store Fortune Matuka were immediately arrested. They were only released on Tuesday after paying $20 fines for disorderly conduct while Matuka paid $40 for permitting drunkenness and riotous conduct.
Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident and said members of the public must always obey police orders as they are meant to protect people and property.
Inspector Kakohwa also warned business owners especially bar operators to adhere to the dictates of their licences. He further said police will remain in full force maintaining law and order this festive and New Year holidays saying they are ready to deal with people who break the law in the name of celebrations.
“Yes those people were arrested for causing public violence that happened around midnight at Dhliwayo Shopping centre. They were resisting police orders to vacate a bottle store that was operating after hours. The owner of the bar was also arrested for inciting violence and operating after hours.
“We want to warn people that it is a crime to disobey police orders. Businesspersons and members must comply with the police. Those who operate drinking outlets must stick to their stipulated opening and closing times.
“The police will remain in full force this festive and the coming New Year holidays maintaining law and order. Being in a celebration mood does not mean you can commit crime and get away with it. Let us be responsible and avoid breaking the law this holiday,’’ he said.
Zimbabwe People First leader Joice Mujuru has called on opposition parties to rally behind her party’s candidate for the Bikita West, Kudakwashe Gopo, in the 21 January by-elections.
Six candidates are contesting the seat which became vacant after the conviction of Munyaradzi Kereke of rape. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
The six candidates contesting are Gopo, Beauty Chabaya of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, Madock Chivasa of the National Constitutional Assembly, Terence Makumbo of the Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe, and Heya Shoko and Innocent Muzvimbiri who are both standing as independent candidates.
Mujuru said she supported the idea of a grant coalition but said it should not only quantify votes but should bring people together.
“It should be a process capable of fostering convergence and national healing. A process of such magnitude should be people-driven and guided by the need to build like-minded synergies among various stakeholders,” Mujuru said I her state of the nation address.
“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.
“We are currently working with other democratic forces in the Bikita West by-election where we fielded a candidate, Kudakwashe Gopo. We urge all democratic forces to rally behind him and vote overwhelming for change on 21 January 2017,” she said.
Mujuru who was Vice-President for 10 years castigated her former boss President Robert Mugabe for taking a holiday to the Far East at this particular time when most people could not access cash to go to their rural homes for Christmas. – The Insider
Former University of Zimbabwe SRC president Paul Chimhosva has died in South Africa.
Chimhosva who is survived by one child is reported to have collapsed this morning in his home in South-Africa and died on the way to hospital.
The student leader icon Chimhosva shot to prominence in 1990-1 after leading several demonstrations at the UZ that resulted in the university being closed for several months.
Social media is awash with condolence messages. More To Follow..
Chegutu West legislator Dextor Nduna has called on the government to enforce the use of bond notes by the Asian Community, especially the Chinese, because they are rejecting them and accepting only United States dollars.
“They have not gotten into a position of accepting bond notes as a legal form of tender in terms of cash. They will still sideline bond notes and only accept US$. As long as they are in Zimbabwe, it is accepted that the Minister of Finance is the overall in charge in terms of finances,” Nduna said during the debate on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill.
“I ask now, therefore, that he enforces the usage of these bond notes in the Asian community and also, whilst I am at it, that he enforces that all the Asian community be bankable. They should then take our bond notes and US$ into financial institutions which is also aligned to the introduction of this Bill.
“He should also introduce a law that forces everybody to be bankable so that we can embrace plastic money and technology, in particular our Asian community that is not bankable.”
Zimbabwe introduced bond notes to ease the cash crisis in the country towards the end of last year but has been releasing them gradually forcing people to queue for hours to get money.
Initially the central bank had announced that it would release $75 million in bond notes by the end of December, but it has so far released just $29 million.
It has, however, increased withdrawal limits but this has not resolved the crisis which was mainly caused by panic withdrawals as people rushed to withdraw their US savings fearing that they would once again be wiped out as happened in 2007-2008.
Full contribution:
HON. NDUNA: I also want to add my voice to the RBZ Amendment Bill. I want to start by thanking the Hon. Members that spoke before me. This bond note that is being introduced – there are a few critical issues that need to be brought out, in particular, that we are holding in trust against a guarantee of US$200 million loan from Afrexim Bank. What immediately comes to mind is that whatever loan we get accrues interest and that needs to be brought into account. How that interest is being liquidated needs also to be spoken about because as long as we are accruing interest against the US$, it means we are losing value on our bond note. Over a long period of time, it then does not become 1:1 just based on the interest. Assuming the RBZ is going to sustain the convertibility of that bond note over a certain period, it needs to be explained to the nation what it is that is going to be used as a convertibility sustenance mechanism for our bond note. The sustenance can never be in perpetuity but can only come to a certain point.
However, the speaker that spoke before me alluded to the fact that there is some US$ that cannot be converted into any other currency outside the borders of this country and they can only be valuable in Zimbabwe. Given that scenario, the introduction of bond notes has been long overdue and it should have come in yesterday because we were engaged in self-servitude, meaning slavery or bondage of one’s dignity and person. We were using false currency. We were using bond notes that were printed in a US$ form. The US$ that we use in Zimbabwe can never be used anywhere else. Try changing them in a bureau de change or try exporting them to South Africa against the amount that is exportable at the airport or any borders. We are allowed US$500 as a holiday allowance but you cannot use that anywhere. In that way, this introduction of bond notes was long overdue.
I need to also deal with Section 4, where there is a question of application in retrospect. I believe in all honesty that we sat and burnt midnight candles when we were crafting and passing the labour law, which was applied in retrospect. I earnestly believe that what cannot be applied retrospectively is capital punishment. I am not a learned friend but I hope to become one very soon. So, it is my fervent view and opinion that the law in this effect can be applied retrospectively because it is devoid of capital punishment.
I also need to say that as a general rule of thumb, it has been said that the introduction of the bond note was as a 5% incentive on exports. I agree with Hon. Ziyambi to the effect that if it is alluded to as an export incentive, it becomes rather a bit on the restrictive side. However, its introduction is very important. How the Minister can bring about other ways of introducing the bond note that is broad based is now up to him as a financial guru. The issue of just saying 5% export incentive rather becomes a bit on the restrictive side in this way Mr. Speaker because as we speak, gold is the only exportable or tradable commodity. It is my belief that assuming there was no introduction of the bond note, easily in Zimbabwe we can introduce what is called the gold coin. The gold coin can be introduced because Zimbabwe is endowed with ubiquitous amount of mineral wealth. It is therefore easy for us to utilise those gold mines in particular, to produce gold coins. Al beit, we have tried and are trying to go the way all other global players have gone, introducing any other form of currency which is not gold coin or gold oriented by attaching our gold to a note called the bond note and US$ note – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Muri kuda kuti ndisadebater here. …
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Members, order. If you are debating please, you do not have to communicate with Hon. Members who are on the other side.
HON. NDUNA: Thank you for the protection Mr. Speaker and I agree with you that this is my turn. I believe in all honest that if we bite the bullet as a nation, we can introduce the gold coin because gold is the only tradable commodity that is acceptable globally, that all other jurisdictions are buying and putting in their volts to hedge against their currencies getting weaker day by day. I believe this is a stop gap measure but going forward, if we include the marginalised gold producers Mr. Speaker, and start first and foremost by removing the issue called alienship and register everybody in Zimbabwe so that they all have identity documents and birth certificates in order that as they grow into artisanal mining field, they are well documented and can be given an incentive. They can be brought into the mainstream of the economy because it is these people that are not documented that are producing a lot of gold.
The RBZ Governor in his Mid-term Monetary Statement, alluded to the fact that, of the 684 million produced in terms of gold Mr. Speaker, 40 – 60% of that was produced by small scale and artisanal miners. These people are not well documented. Also, in his Mid-Term Monetary Statement at some point, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development alluded to the fact that there was more than 500 000 of these artisanal and small scale miners. These are the people that are bringing in the gold, which gold we are exporting in order to introduce the bond note. This Mr. Speaker, is an abstract way of looking at it.
We need to be forward thinking and see exactly where we are coming from, where we are and where we are going. These are the people that if they continue to be disenfranchised, then the nation will be at a standstill. How do I propose that the 5% export incentive gets to be paid to these people because they are scattered all over in terms of their modus operandi. They are also not well-documented. If these people are not paid their 5% export incentive, what is going to obtain is that the money which is supposed to be paid to these people who are a pillar in terms of the economy of this country, it is going to be pilfered and engaged in illicit outflows by Fidelity Printers officers. These are the people that are buying that gold from artisanal miners, aware and cognisant of the fact that they do not come back to claim that money; aware and also cognisant of the fact that these people do not have the requisite accounts where this money can be paid into. They can pilfer that money using other means that are sophisticated.
Mr. Speaker Sir, what I also need to put in as a second proposal is that there are bus operators that currently carry a lot of passengers into Zimbabwe which request foreign currency for the payment of fares into Zimbabwe. As long as the receipting of that money is well-documented, I ask that the Minister of Finance accept those receipts and monies banked in local banks for those bus operators who would have imported US$ through passengers and through physical cash which is in foreign currency form. I ask that this be considered as an export oriented approach so that these people also qualify for a 5% export incentive that is paid in the form of bond notes.
These were the two proposals that I had and I now call for the enforcement of the usage of these bond notes. There has not been acceptance from the Asian community, in particular, the Chinese Mr. Speaker Sir. They have not gotten into a position of accepting bond notes as a legal form of tender in terms of cash. They will still sideline bond notes and only accept US$. As long as they are in Zimbabwe, it is accepted that the Minister of Finance is the overall in charge in terms of finances.
I ask now, therefore, that he enforces the usage of these bond notes in the Asian community and also, whilst I am at it, that he enforces that all the Asian community be bankable. They should then take our bond notes and US$ into financial institutions which is also aligned to the introduction of this Bill. He should also introduce a law that forces everybody to be bankable so that we can embrace plastic money and technology, in particular our Asian community that is not bankable. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate undisturbed, unequivocal, effectively and efficiently with a voice that is going to make sure that this law is introduced. – The Insider
I was quite disturbed when I read a story that Movement for Democratic Change treasurer Theresa Makone was being grilled over party finances.
According to the story, the party’s national council grilled Makone because the party structures and employees were unhappy with how the party’s dwindling resources were being managed.
This reminded me of a conversation I had with Makone in 2015 over what had happened to an organisation called the Global Alliance for Zimbabwe which was formed in 2011 by MDC-T treasurer, Roy Bennett, ostensibly to raise funds for the party to contest the next elections after the inclusive government.
At the time it was anticipated that the elections, which were already overdue in terms of the Global Political Agreement which ushered the inclusive government, would be held in 2012.
GAZ was registered as a non-profit in Washington DC but the MDC-T was broke when it contested the 2013 elections which it lost dismally.
Makone said she did not know whether the GAZ had raised any money or not, but when she was elected treasurer of the party, after its split in 2014, there was only $53 in the bank.
I found this very odd because the GAZ had powerful people on its board as well as powerful lobbyists to raise funds for it.
Apart from Bennett, some of the key board members of the GAZ were Larry LaRocco a two-term United States congressman, former United States ambassador J.D. Bindenagel, former United States ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee, and Zimbabwean businessman Kevin James.
James was one of the major shareholders of CFI, a Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed company, before he left for South Africa where he founded Country Bird Holdings which was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange but has since been delisted. He owns the KFC franchise in Zimbabwe.
One of the lobbyists for GAZ was Ben Goddard, who was described by the Washington Post as the “Godfather of TV lobbying”.
Goddard was best known for his “Harry and Louise” television advertising campaign which helped to kill off President Bill Clinton’s proposed health care plan in 1993–1994 and Congressional health care reform proposals in 1994.
He also worked for President Jimmy Carter and helped to create the first ever political advertising campaign in Russia for President Boris Yeltsin.
Makone was now telling me that this formidable team had failed to raise funds for the MDC-T, or if it did, the money never got to the party.
Ironically party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, said GAZ was formed without his knowledge. I found this unbelievable because of the wide publicity it got at its launch. One of the guest speakers was Grace Kwinje, a close ally of Tsvangirai.
But what struck me most at my meeting with Makone was her statement that the worst enemies of the MDC-T were the party treasurer and secretary-general.
She said it was these two that had been responsible for the splits within the party so far.
The party’s first secretary-general Welshman Ncube was responsible for the 2005 split and broke away with treasurer Fletcher Dulini-Ncube and others.
Tendai Biti, who replaced Ncube, left the party in 2014 together with treasurer Roy Bennett and his deputy Elton Mangoma. Bennett was the first to call for Tsvangirai to step down but he did not join Biti or Mangoma when they formed their own parties after leaving the MDC-T.
Makone insinuated that in both cases the secretary-general and the treasurer had left the party coffers empty.
Now I wondered, what was happening?
Was someone just trying to create trouble for Makone because reports said Tsvangirai came to her rescue?
Had the pattern changed because the story said the secretary-general’s office was not happy with her performance too?
Ironically, when I met Makone, she was in the company of secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, who as a lawyer was defending the party in a High Court case in Bulawayo.
Maybe the only consolation is that the major splits so far have occurred just a few months after the elections, and not before the elections. – The Insider
A top Harare preacher claims an Emmanuel Makandiwa pastor has plotted to kill him.
Pastor Donald Savanhu (A Makandiwa church elder) was reported to local police at Glen Norah in Harare for allegedly conspiring against Apostle Tariro Chiwenga’s life.
Apostle Chiwenga was told “you will sink down!,” papers say.
Soon after that, Chiwenga’s car was burnt by hooligans he suspects were sent by Pastor Savanhu. The incident happened at the preacher’s home in Glen Norah.
Apostle Chiwenga made the revelations during a live ZimEye program Sunday morning. The case of Malicious Demage To Property (MDP) Crime Record Number 188/8/16, was reported at Glen Norah Police station.
The key suspect is Pastor Savanhu of UFIC church led by Emanuel Makandiwa. In another incident, Chiwenga said he was attacked through poisoning and shocking medical scans show how poison nearly killed him, SEE VIDEO:
Chiwenga suspects the assailants are the same – Emmanuel Makandiwa followers.
Contacted for comment, pastor Savanhu denied the allegations saying his fight with Chiwenga is “only to do with doctrinal issues” and nothing else. He however admitted that members of his church UFIC are culturally in the habit of cursing people they do not agree with. (2nd INTERVIEW LOADING).
Job Sikhala| The year 2016 in review was the year that witnessed the emergency of citizen resistance against the imperial dictatorship of Robert Mugabe. Citizens coalesced around issues of common concern and took them to the doorsteps of the dictatorship. In our post independence history, only did we witnessed such citizen participation in their affairs of such magnitude since the 1987 to 1999 food riots in the country.
The modern struggle was no longer a class struggle like the one we witnessed in the late 1990s which was spearheaded by the working class and the students movement. The working class and the students movement were organised units that could call upon its constituency into action against the excesses of the state. The 2016 one was citizen driven. Even established political superstructures couldn’t have control over it. The message of coalesce was around issues to do with citizens.
The mass response to the leading actors in the call for citizen participation such as Evan Mawarire, Patson Dzamara, Lynda Tsungie Masarira, Fadzayi Mahere, Sten Zvorwadza, Promise Mkwananzi and others created a new class of social movement activists who have galvanised the national pyche into action. The momentum built in the consciousness of our people provoked astonishing response and support from every citizen of our country. The major impact being the selfless character of the protagonists. Theirs was a mission to alert the citizens to the quagmire of our problems and fate if action is not taken. That was a mark to reckon with in our history.
2017 I predict the worse. There will be more actors joining the citizen social activities. Political parties will also wake up from their deep slumber and become more proactive. There shall be more activity on the ground that the regime will be overwhelmed by multifaceted actions. I foresee the state failure to contain citizen anger. This will be exercebated by the serious fissures in hatred engrossed revolutionary movement. Open conflict will emerge in Mugabe’s personal fiefdom.
The Grace Mugabe fronted G40 will be so suppressed that it will suffocate to death. The Lacoste will be so ruthless against their internal nemesis while on the other hand project the picture of a progressive outfit both to the opposition and to the world. Douglas Mahiya and Matemadanda as megaphones of Chris Mutsvangwa will become more reckless in their pronouncements. New political players will emerge even those unexpected. MDC and People First will also be on the rush to consolidate their footing on the ground. It will be busy bodies everywhere.
Pretenders will also raise their heads to find political space in their various political organisations to strategically position self for the mega 2018 do or die elections. Talks and talks about the so called grand coalition will occupy acres of space both in our print and social media but nothing concrete will emerge until late 2017 or early 2018 after politicians have had enough of sizing up their egos. In the event of anything unforseen to Mugabe happening, ZANU PF will ruthlessly split into two hostile organisations that might lead to blood on the floor.
2017 is the year of defining Future Zimbabwe. Wait and see.
Former vice President Joice Mujuru, who now leads the opposition Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), says the country’s mooted grand coalition — which is set to be in place this year — will bring to an end President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF’s long rule.
In her State of the nation address on Friday, Mujuru also described 2016 as having been a “bleak” year, laying the blame for this squarely on Mugabe and his Zanu PF Cabinet team, which the Daily News on Sunday’s sister paper, the Daily News ranked last week as the worst ever in the country’s history.
Mujuru, who was ruthlessly purged from the warring Zanu PF in late 2014, together with her close allies who included liberation stalwarts such as Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa — on untested claims of plotting to oust and assassinate Mugabe — also assured Zimbabweans that the mooted opposition alliance would be in place by the end of 2017.
“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 MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Mujuru have been working behind the scenes to form an electoral pact which includes some of the smaller political outfits.
Sources close to the ongoing coalition confirmed to the Daily News on Sunday yesterday 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 Friday address.
Tsvangirai and Mujuru are part of the 18 opposition parties which have coalesced under the banner of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera), and which has recently scored a psychological victory by forcing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to include them in committees tasked with working on the 2018 election preparatory works.
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
Lazarus Dokora’s Ministry says the majority of schools in the country are less likely to increase school fees for the first term which begins next week as it has not received any application for the 2017 fees review yet.
Schools will open for the first term on 10 January. Stakeholders in the education sector have also said there was no justification in schools increasing fees as it would only serve to burden the parents.
According to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, no school had applied for authority to increase school fees, as at 30 December 2016.
The Government policy requires all schools to first seek authority from the parent ministry before making any school fee adjustments.
Normally schools announce fees increases at the close of each term for returning pupils, while new pupils get the fees structures upon being enrolled.
With no school yet to apply for permission to increase school fees, nine days before schools open, observers said it was an indication that there may be no school fees increases for the first term of 2017. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango confirmed that her office was yet to receive any application for fee increases from schools.
She, however, said it might still be premature to rule out fees increases, as some schools may still apply for authority to increase fees after the festive period.
“We haven’t received any applications yet. It may still be premature so say schools won’t apply. Maybe after the holidays the applications will start coming through.
“Some schools may have projects that they are pursuing and may thus need to adjust fees to fund those projects. The procedure is that they must give justification for the proposed increase and if we are satisfied we approve,” she said.
Zimbabwe Schools Development Associations/Committees secretary General Mr Everisto Jongwe said the fact that no application for fees increases had been made to the ministry yet was indication that there might be no fees increases going into the first term of the year. He said while schools were not coping and needed more funds, the prevailing economic conditions did not warrant any fees adjustment as it would further burden parents.
“I agree with the observation that there may not be any fees increases this coming term.
“It’s highly likely that schools will not increase fees, not because the school are coping themselves but the state of our economy does not warrant any fees increase,” he said.
Added Mr Jongwe, “Parents have not had any increases on their income and if anything their incomes are shrinking, thus no parent is likely to endorse any fees increase”.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said there should not be any fees increases in the coming term.
He, however, said if there were any schools that intend to increase fees, they should do so procedurally.
“Economic indications in 2016 are that people are finding it difficult to survive. So I believe that every aspect of the economy should be kept where it was, price wise, to avoid an upsurge of prices.
There is no justification to increase fees and I support a price freezes as the most tenable situation,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu added, “Schools should be sanctioned by Government first before they increase fees.
“There shouldn’t be anyone who increases fees against the law and we encourage our teachers to abide by the laws,” he said.
The Government has been on record warning schools against unilaterally increasing fees without being sanctioned by authorities.
It has also become a tradition that hordes of pupils lose valuable learning time at the start of each term after being turned away for non-payment of school fees, particularly those in private and boarding institutions.
The Government has also warned schools against turning away pupils for non-payment of school fees.- State Media
It’s commonly believed that men are more sexually active as compared to their female partner. But very often, they too encounter several fears related to their bedroom romp, which can in turn cause doldrums in their sexual relationship.
Fears related to their sexual performance, sex position, ejaculation period, a satisfying orgasm and wild acts in bed often end up killing their passion. With these fears running through their mind, men not only fail to satisfy their female partner, but are unable to enjoy the act themselves.
Chandigarh-based sexologist Dr. Deepak Arora explains, “Men always relate sex and sexuality with their egos and they never want to fail there. This is the biggest fear in them which converts to performance anxiety. This anxiety leads to a man failing to perform well in bed and if their female partner does not have the patience to bear with them, relationship goes for a toss easily.”
Relationship counsellor Dr. Gitanjali Sharma adds, “Men need to understand that when it comes to sexual performance, they can’t outperform themselves. The urge for performing better each time has to come from within by raising your consciousness to higher levels. And when self satisfaction comes, there is no question of under performing. You have sex for enjoyment and not to perform, under perform or out perform. It’s a joy, sheer joy, so shed all your inhibitions and concentrate on the act.”
As most male fears revolve around satisfying the female partner, Gitanjali suggests, “Till the time your women is emotionally satisfied, you can easily satisfy her sexual needs. The more emotionally connected you are, the more enjoyable physical intimacy will be. Try and indulge in physical intimacy only when your woman is ready, as it helps creating a comfort zone where she will participate equally. And while having sex, stay calm, relaxed, indulge in foreplay and nothing will stop you from performing the desired way.”
Here are some common fears that make men nervous every time they gear up for a steamy romp…
Fear fright # 1: Leaving her unsatisfied
The foremost fear of leaving the female partner unsatisfied has a direct correlation with a male’s organ size. While a woman thinks bigger the better, the man keeps worrying about what if he’s unable to give the desired pleasure. This fear of not giving their best somewhere triggers a feeling of being an imperfect sex partner, which may even hit a man’s ego directly.
Get Over It : Dr. Gitanjali Sharma explains, “The fear of not satisfying a women leads to many questions in a man’s mind. He starts thinking that will she look for that sexual satisfaction elsewhere and that thought of her being with someone else (because of his under performance) will make him more complex. This is like a vicious cycle, as the more he thinks on this subject, he gets driven by performance anxiety, thus leaving her unsatisfied most of the times. Performance in bed mainly depends on a woman’s state of mind at that time. You need to be comfortable with your woman’s body to feel a strong connection. Go slow and steady and understand your woman by awakening her sensitive parts rather than worrying about your size.”
Fear fright # 2: Premature ejaculation
A gratifying sex quickie is all about giving and receiving pleasure. While men make every efforts to please their female partners, they would, most of the times, remain anxious about their own climax and this fear is driven by the ejaculation period. It’s a very common apprehension that men come across where they suffer premature ejaculation due to which they end up spoiling sex.
Get Over It : Dr. Arora elucidates, “Medically, if a man is able to hold his ejaculation for at least one minute, he is not a patient of premature ejaculation. But unfortunately very few people know this fact and they are being misguided with fake ads and while watching porn movies, which makes them think that they are unable to have sex for a longer period. This creates a feeling of insecurity about their female partner and the sexual stress mounts, which gets converted into performance anxiety. In most of the cases, the problem practically doesn’t exist, but the fear is creating it.”
Fear fright # 3: Not getting her pregnant
Though it’s not necessary that every sex session should be aimed at getting the woman pregnant, but still men do carry impotency fears in their minds. The continuous worry of not getting a woman pregnant puts men in a serious stigma, which adversely affects their sexual performance.
Get Over It : Dr. Arora says, “Having a child is related with both male and female health and destiny too. There are numerous cases where medically everything is normal, but the female is unable to conceive. You should try to have a healthy life style, a proper diet and a positive attitude about yourself. If there is any problem with your semen, it can be treated, so no point worrying about it. The first need is a good sex life, not having a child.”
Fear fright # 4: Lacking porn value
It’s a normal practice that men watch porn to learn certain sexual acts and then repeat them with their partner. In an attempt to try something new and opt for wild acts, men repeatedly indulge in bringing out the porn elements in their sex life. And many a times, if the female partner is not responding positively, men start feeling that they are lacking somewhere.
Get Over It : Dr. Gitanjali says, “Men often compare their sexual performance with porn scenes or with that of their female partner and the fear that they might be less experienced makes them panic. Men should understand that performing in bed has nothing to do with any experience. It’s the mental connection with the female partner which can exist even without taking any inspiration from the porn acts.”
Fear fright # 5: Masturbation done in the past
Several studies have claimed that masturbation done during one’s childhood or adolescent years doesn’t impact a person’s sex life in his later years. Yet there exists numerous fears attached to the same. Men often blame their masturbation habits for their weak bedroom performance and with this illogical apprehension; they fail to focus on their present sexual acts.
Get Over It : Dr. Arora advices, “Masturbation doesn’t harm much, but the guilt of masturbating is more harmful, and this is just due to lack of sex education. Every healthy male masturbates many times in his life in various stages of age, there is nothing to worry about.” – Online
A mentally challenged man from Chiredzi allegedly stabbed his four-year-old nephew with a knife he had taken from his mother saying he wanted to prepare meat for relish, police confirmed.
Nyasha Mutinhe (25) of Village 4 Musapasi Resettlement area, Mkwasine who has a history of mental illness since 2015 allegedly grabbed Jansen Gwinji by the right hand, slapped him on the face once before stabbing him on the abdomen with a knife leaving his intestines protruding.
Jansen’s grandmother who is also mother to Mutinhe, Ms Sekai Gwenzi (52) administered first aid on the boy before rushing him to Mkwasine clinic but he died before arrival.
Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said the incident occurred on Wednesday at around 5PM.
She said the suspect fled the scene after committing the crime but was arrested the following day.
“We received a report of murder of a four-year-old boy from Chiredzi by his mentally challenged uncle. The man stabbed his victim on the abdomen with a knife leaving his intestines protruding. He had asked the knife from his mother under the guise of wanting to cut meat for the family’s relish,” said Insp Mazula.
Police said Ms Gwenzi allegedly handed over the knife to Mutinhe in good faith, but armed with the weapon he approached his nephew, Jansen who was playing in the homestead’s yard and forcibly grabbed his right hand.
When Ms Gwenzi observed that Mutinhe was no longer in his sober senses, she pleaded with him to stop holding the boy saying she wanted to bath him but her pleas fell on deaf ears.
Insp Mazula said in a moment of madness, Mutinhe slapped Jansen on the face and he fell down before stabbing him on the abdomen with the knife he was holding and fled the scene.
She said Ms Gwenzi lifted the profusely bleeding boy and rushed him to Mkwasine Clinic but he died on the way.
“A report was made at Mkwasine police who attended the scene and took the body to Chiredzi District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem. The suspect was arrested on Thursday while roaming in a nearby bush. He will appear in court soon facing murder charges,” said Insp Mazula.
Insp Mazula advised members of the pubic to ensure that their mentally challenged relatives take their medication when it was due. – State Media
Nomusa Garikayi | The root cause of Zimbabwe’s political paralysis – the ruling party is imploding and confusion reigns supreme in the opposition camp – and economic meltdown – soaring unemployment, grinding poverty and corruption reaching the dazing height of the equivalent of the country’s GDP being looted annually – is our failure to hold those in power to democratic account through free, fair and credible elections. The solution to ending the political paralysis and economic meltdown is crystal clear; implement the democratic reforms designed to remove the Zanu PF vote-rigging impediments to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
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Three people were shot and killed in an apparent botched house robbery on Tuesday in Vereeniging outside Johannesburg.
Chandigarh-based sexologist Dr. Deepak Arora explains, “Men always relate sex and sexuality with their egos and they never want to fail there. This is the biggest fear in them which converts to performance anxiety. This anxiety leads to a man failing to perform well in bed and if their female partner does not have the patience to bear with them, relationship goes for a toss easily.”