Staff Reporter |Opposition political parties agitating for “electoral reforms” want polling laws amended so that people are forced to only vote for them, a senior ruling party and Government official, Patrick Chinamasa has frivolously claimed.
Chinamasa made the statement, on the eve of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA), leadership will be in court tomorrow in the urgent hearing of the Statutory Instrument 101 A, to challenge the ban on all their demonstrations for a period of two weeks.
The urgent application has been set down for tomorrow 10am before Justice Chigumba.
The coalition of opposition parties has embarked on street protests aimed at forcing the government to make necessary electoral reforms, however, government has gone and done the opposite imposing a quasi state of emergency. President Robert Mugabe over the weekend lashed out at judges who make rulings in favour of protests which he said threatened Zimbabwe’s peace.
“Our courts and judges should understand it even better. They dare not be negligent in their decisions as requests are made by people who would want to demonstrate. Surely, they can take note of the fact that the mission is clear and deliberate towards causing violence,” he said.
The courts have in recent weeks allowed major protests to go ahead, the first was in Harare, after NERA approached the High Court seeking permission to hold their demonstration. Later the ruling by Bulawayo High Court Justice Nokuthula Moyo followed an urgent chamber application filed by Nera challenging the decision by police to bar the planned demonstrations in the city.

Zanu-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Patrick Chinamasa told state media that many real electoral reforms had been instituted over the past eight years and talk of further changes was baseless. Statements that can lead to a serious showdown with agitated opposition groups.
Chinamasa – who is Finance Minister – is a former Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, and was Zanu-PF’s chief negotiator in the 2008 inter-party talks that ushered in the raft of electoral reforms.
He said most of the electoral reforms were at the instigation of the opposition, and those parties had failed to dislodge President Mugabe’s Zanu-PF under those new laws.
As such, he pointed out, calls for “electoral reforms” were not premised on tangible issues but indicated the opposition wanted Zanu-PF to simply hand over power via new laws compelling the electorate to only cast ballots in favour of the MDCs and their allies.
Chinamasa said parties had agreed on – among other areas – printing and distribution of ballot papers, manning of polling stations, how vote counting was to be done, the procedure for announcement and consolidation of results, voter registration, delimitation of constituencies, the composition and appointment of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, and proporational and women’s representation.
“ … the MDCs have no basis to demand any electoral reforms, and in fact as you are aware, they fear to lose elections. As you know, our Parliament from 2013 has thrown out members who were elected in 2013 and there have been numerous by-elections, almost to suggest another general election over the five-year term. And none of the splinter groups of MDC have participated for fear of losing those elections.
“You know there is now MDC-T, MDC-Biti, MDC-Mangoma, MDC-Welshman; and now more recently from our own party Zimbabwe People First – all of them are afraid of losing elections because they want to go into the 2018 elections lying to the people that they have the support of the generality of the population.
“So what we find now are false prophets peddling falsehoods about our electoral laws. The problem is not the Constitution, the problem is not the electoral laws; the problem is that none of these parties have viable alternative policies to those pronounced by Zanu-PF,” Cde Chinamasa said.
He went on: “The demand for President Mugabe to go is not a policy; and I think they should be told that it is for them to worry about their own leadership and not concern themselves with a leadership that is not leading their parties.
“It is for Zanu-PF to decide, and we have agreed that in order to win elections, we must have President Mugabe as our leader. They can’t tell us who should lead us. Their responsibility should be to find leaders who can stand against President Mugabe.
“So I want to emphasise that through the collaboration of Zanu-PF and all MDC formations – and before their own splintering and before Zimbabwe People First because that one was also part of us as we were negotiating levelling of the political ground – electoral reforms were done and there is no validity, no basis whatsoever to be demanding electoral reforms.”
Chinamasa also said, “What I understand they are saying, and which is not possible, is that we should put into the law that people should vote for them. It’s unheard of that we put in the electoral law and the Constitution that the opposition parties must win.
“For them to win, they must have the support of the people which they currently, and in the future, do not have because they have no policies about running the country. They have no policies about the economy and social development of Zimbabwe. And quite frankly we cannot make a law that people should support them and vote for them.” sunday mail

Staff Reporter | Under arrest #Tajamuka activists, who include Promise Mkwnanzi and Lynda Masarira have been tortured inside the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Prison.
The activists are being treated like dangerous criminals at the centre where they are being held and subjected to various forms of excruciating torture.

The citizen reps will appear in court 13 September and 15 September 2016.
They have been charged with public violence and other charges to do malicious damage of property in terms of section 140 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Excruciating conditions designed for convicted criminals such as murderers and rapists are being used on the activists. They are for instance only allowed one visit in two weeks and have been made to wear prison garb.
Only one person can bring food for them each day.
The United Nations’ Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners state that “Prisoners shall be allowed under necessary supervision to communicate with their family and reputable friends at regular intervals, both by correspondence and by receiving visits”.
Calls have since been made to raise funds to feed the activists as they are faced with the horrors. Individual Zimbabweans have been chipping in but inside sources say this is not enough.
A member of the ZimEye community wrote explaining once again for instance the dire situation Lynda Masarira’s five children are in, as they are being separated at times and moved from home to home. “Meanwhile her kids are being moved about because she is a single mum with 5 kids. One of them is due to write O’levels, Apa mari ye school fees [is needed]” they said.
Zimbabwe’s prison conditions have even been condemned by the United Nations which cited that they do not meet international standards.
Among the group is a pregnant woman, an old lady above 70 and an old man above 70.
Many were limping into court and had not eaten since yesterday.
A comment from the Prison’s Services’ Information Department was not possible at the time of writing.

MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai has reportedly ordered Harare City councillors to drop Chris Mbanga as the deputy mayor and vote Enock Mupamawonde as his replacement due to the former’s alleged association with Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
Mbanga, who was elected following the death of Thomas Muzuwa last year, fell out of favour with the MDC-T leadership when he allegedly defied the party on the appointment of James Mushore as Harare town clerk and allegedly sided with the minister.
MDC-T secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora confirmed Tsvangirai’s meeting with the councillors and that they discussed Mbanga.
“I attended the councillors’ meeting called by the president to deal with issues happening at Town House. The decision to recall the deputy mayor is the prerogative of elected councillors to exercise,” Mwonzora said.
“If they want to do that, they will do so on their own, taking into account all circumstances surrounding the demands at Town House.”
But insiders said Tsvangirai instructed his councillors at their next full council meeting to recall Mbanga and vote for Mupamawonde as his replacement, making him the third deputy mayor since 2013.
Two months ago, the MDC-T resolved to suspend Mbanga ahead of his appearance before a disciplinary committee chaired by MDC-T chairperson, Lovemore Moyo on allegations of causing the suspension of mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni.
He was accused of supping with the enemy, Kasukuwere, charges he denied.
Both Mbanga and Manyenyeni were elected councillors on MDC-T tickets in 2013.
When Manyenyeni was suspended for the second time on allegations of refusing to order an audit of council’s business units, Mbanga took over in an acting capacity and fired Mushore in defiance of a party directive. newsday

Media protection groups are calling on the international community to pressure President Robert Mugabe’s government to respect freedom of the press in Zimbabwe.
Photojournalist James Jemwa was released on bail Friday after spending a week behind bars, but the Media Institute of Southern Africa said two other journalists were still in custody and several others had been assaulted or had their equipment destroyed by police while covering anti-government protests.
“Media in Zimbabwe should enjoy their freedom as granted by the constitution and not at the benevolence of state agencies,” said Nhlanhla Ngwenya, head of the institute in Zimbabwe. “We are seeking to engage commanders of these people who have been arresting and wantonly beating up journalists and actually express our anger and let them know that journalism is not a crime. So the fact that they are found at these protests, it is not because they like it there, but it is because they are answering to their call of duty, as much as the police do so.”
On Thursday, the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists said it wanted international bodies such as the United Nations and the Committee to Protect Journalists to plead with the Mugabe government to respect freedom of the press, which has been guaranteed in the constitution since 2013.
Wave of demonstrations
For the past two months, Zimbabwe has been hit by an unprecedented wave of anti-Mugabe protests accusing the 92-year-old leader of failing to fix the country’s economy and respect human rights. It is during those protests that photojournalists have been assaulted, arrested or had equipment destroyed by police.
In a telephone interview Friday, Zimbabwe Information Minister Christopher Mushohwe maintained his earlier stance, in which he blamed journalists for the assaults from the police.
“Journalists should never, ever be part of a demonstrating mob,” he said. “You should always be on the side of law enforcement agents. And that is what is done internationally.” If protesters resort to violence, he added, journalists’ job “is to take pictures and not to be part of them.”
Mushohwe repeated his position despite the fact that video and photos have been circulating on social media showing police assaulting or chasing journalists and, in some instances, asking them to delete their work.
 
 
 

By Kennedy Nyavaya| Not so long ago, award-winning comedian Carl Joshua Ncube was entangled in a nasty social media spat with controversial businessman Wicknell Chivhayo where the latter flaunted his wealth and seemed the bigger man then.
Ncube is, however, having the last laugh after breaking the Guinness world record for staging the highest number of shows in a week, a feat which rubbishes Chivhayo’s demeaning assertions on the comedian.
The “self-made millionaire” early this year was quoted referring to the comedian as “poverty stricken” and a “small boy”. But Ncube has proven otherwise.
“If you are going to be successful you have to know that the level of haters you have is directly proportional to that of the success,” Ncube told The Standard Style on Tuesday.
Ncube said none of the rants from Chivhayo had stuck because he took them as compliments.
“To me it is more of a compliment than an insult and when you look at successful people they will tell you no one believed them in the beginning, so, I am proud that I have a similar story to tell now.”
Ironically, Chivhayo’s most “sensible comedian” Baba Tencen whom he gave R100 000 is said to have floundered at the Anne Kansiime show last month.
Meanwhile, Ncube who awaits official communication from the Guinness Book of Records expressed happiness over the accomplishment.
“There is nothing better than setting out to do something and achieving it in the end. I am excited although I did not get the time to celebrate much as I had to fly for a show in Uganda,” he said.
On what the big achievement could mean for the future of the local comedy sector, he said upcoming comedians should aim higher.
“Young people should not look up to me, but they should target me. I am only clearing the forest and younger comedians have a lot on their side, including age so this is like a precedence and they can look at it as an inspiration to reach greater heights,” he said.
This year, Ncube attempted to build a comedy dome in Victoria Falls, but he believes he can do so in the near future.
“Normally when people achieve something big they have a tendency of stopping there, but I think there is still more things I could do. I want to take comedy to the world and present it in different languages,” he said. – Standard

ZANU-PF Politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo has dismissed as political fallacy allegations that Generation 40 (G40) is a political faction within the revolutionary party angling itself in the succession matrix.
Addressing journalists at the Bulawayo Press Club on Friday evening, Prof Moyo said G40 was not a faction but a purely demographic issue that seeks to describe the generation from where the political future of the country is expected to derive its shape.
He said it was laughable that if one was to ask those that call G40 a political faction within Zanu-PF who the members of the faction were they would say: “Professor Moyo, Kasukuwere (Saviour) and Zhuwao (Patrick).”
Prof Moyo further quizzed: “How can a political faction have three people?”
He said the myth that G40 was a political faction within Zanu-PF tussling to succeed President Mugabe with the alleged Lacoste faction was a product of successionists’ political imagination that has no place in modern day politics.
Prof Moyo, who is the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development and Tsholotsho North legislator said when he coined the term G40, in an article, he was far from making it a political faction.
He said the term was simply a generational term that spoke to the demographic structure and the essentiality of the age group 18 years to 40 years in determining the election outcome and the direction of the country’s politics.
Prof Moyo said it was absurd and “absolutely stupid” for anyone serious in politics to ignore the generation which comprises the 18 to 40 age group as it was an integral part of the voting constituency and the country’s demographic structure in general.
“G40 is a term that I introduced not to mean a political party faction as has been interpreted and reported. I introduced the term as a political scientist. In fact that is the vocation I am most comfortable with. I introduced it not under any political pressure from anyone. It is a generational term and it’s purely demographic. And if anyone does not look at it that way then they are stupid.
“Demographic issues ought to speak for themselves. It is a term that I arrived at after analysing the demographic structure and it showed that the elections are going to be decided by the G40,” said Prof Moyo.
 

Staff Reporter | In response to President Robert Mugabe’s attack on the country’s judiciary the ZLHR has issued the statement below. Addressing Zanu PF youths yesterday Mugabe warned judges who sanction demonstrations that enough is enough, “Our courts, our justice system, our judges should be the ones who understand even better than the ordinary citizens.”
UNWARRANTED ATTACKS ON THE JUDICIARY UNACCEPTABLE
ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) is deeply concerned by the recent attacks directed at the judiciary by the state-run Herald and Sunday Mail newspapers and identified public figures, which brazenly interferes with the independence and integrity of this arm of government.
In articles published in the Herald on Saturday 27 August 2016, titled “Time Zanu PF Used Its Two Thirds Majority” and on Monday 29 August 2016, titled “Whither Zimbabwe’s Judiciary?” as well as the Sunday Mail of Sunday 28 August 2016, titled “The duty of the four estates” – the state-controlled media has resumed its long-standing and relentless attacks on the judiciary.
The articles, amongst other things, unfairly and unlawfully criticise a recent court order handed down on Friday 26 August 2016 by a High Court judge who interdicted Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers from interfering with, obstructing or stopping a demonstration organised to demand significant electoral reforms by a coalition of legitimate political parties in the country in line with constitutionally guaranteed rights.
The comments and deliberate selection of words in these articles raise serious questions about the intentions of the media houses and those behind the writing and publication of the articles. Such statements are reckless and undermine the administration of justice and the independence and integrity of the judiciary. The pronouncements are inconsistent with the Constitution and cannot be said to be fair comment.
ZLHR considers such articles to be in contempt of court, unwarranted, calculated to bring the administration of justice into disrepute and designed to instill fear and reduce independence of mind and action of members of the judiciary.
Section 164 (1) of the Constitution provides that: “The courts are independent and are subject only to this Constitution and the law, which they must apply impartially, expeditiously and without fear, favour or prejudice”, while Section 164 (2) plainly provides that: “The independence, impartiality and effectiveness of the courts are central to the rule of law and democratic governance.”
As an organisation which strives to foster a culture of human rights and respect for constitutionalism, ZLHR:
1. Calls upon journalists and media houses to fairly and accurately report on judicial processes and refrain from incendiary and intimidating comment and/or opinion which is clearly calculated to interfere with the functions and independence of the judiciary and to intimidate judicial officers from executing their judicial duties without fear or favour;
2. Urges the government to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of judges and to respect and defend the independence of the judiciary; and
3. Calls upon the Judicial Service Commission to promptly take appropriate action and stern measures against the unrestrained and direct attack, intimidation and contempt of its judicial officers by members of the executive and legislature.
ENDS
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has poured scorn over the latest rumours of his health, joking that he had died and was resurrected.
Mr Mugabe, 92, was arriving back in the country at the main airport in Harare and appeared jovial as he disembarked.
Flight data had suggested his plane was heading to East Asia but that it instead went to Dubai. Mr Mugabe said he had gone there for a family matter.
In May, Mr Mugabe’s wife, Grace, said that he would rule from the grave. The flight path and other rumours had led some to speculate that Mr Mugabe had suffered a serious health problem and had sought treatment in Dubai or had even succumbed to his illness.
But Reuters news agency said that on arriving at Harare Mr Mugabe had told reporters in the local Shona language: “I had gone on a family matter to Dubai concerning one of my children.
“Yes, I was dead, it’s true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do. Once I get back to my country I am real.” Mr Mugabe is expected to address a youth meeting later on Saturday.
He has been in power since 1980 and has said he will run again for office in 2018.
The country remains in political and economic turmoil, amid allegations of government corruption.
The capital saw a wave of protests last week, with dozens arrested. Police on Thursday banned demonstration in the capital for two weeks. Mr Mugabe has vowed to crack down on anti-government dissent. bbc

Beitbridge senator Tambudzani Mohadi, Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairperson Rabelani Choeni and a few villagers last week, in defiance of presidential directives, allegedly invaded Double O Ranch in Beitbridge.
The property is the only farm in Matabeleland South with a successful banana and tomato cultivation project funded by a loan from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Owner of the farm, George Watson (Jnr) confirmed that Mohadi, who is State Security minister Kembo Mohadi’s wife, Choeni, Amon Ndou and some villagers last Friday announced their takeover of the 2 000-hectare property.
“I was away in Chiredzi with my family when they came. My 70-year-old mother and some workers were at the farm,” said Watson.
“They physically pushed my mother aside and entered our house where they made a list of all our property. They instructed that nothing should be removed since everything now belonged to them.”
Mohadi and the invaders did not present an offer letter from the government.
The group, once stopped by Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko in 2014 after a similar raid, allegedly broke into the workshops before drawing a list of equipment and implements. They later declared that they were the new owners.
When contacted yesterday, Choeni said he does not speak to reporters he did not know.
“I don’t want to talk to you. What is your paper? I just don’t speak to any journalists,” he said.
Choeni has failed to develop a farm near Zhovhe Dam in Beitbridge that was allocated to him during the land reform programme.
Mohadi, who with her husband are not new to farm disputes, said she did not know anything about the invasion.
“Don’t you know that I have my own farm? I don’t know what you are talking about. Who is Watson? What are you talking about?” she asked.
The Mohadis, who own the Twin River Ranch lost a court battle to a relative Given Mbedzi from whom they tried to wrestle Zingwe Island, which is on Lot 9, Plot 1 of the Jompempi Block in Beitbridge.
Apart from a few cattle, there is no other meaningful production at Twin River Ranch, which has a failed citrus project.

Former vice-president Joice Mujuru drew thousands of people, including supporters of other opposition supporters to her inaugural rally in Mashonaland Central Province held in Zanu PF’s strong hold of Bindura.
University students and youths from the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T attended the rally that also had People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Tendai Biti as one of the speakers.
Addressing the rally, Mujuru said the economic crisis was a product of President Robert Mugabe’s politics of hate.
“Every time he speaks, he is fighting everyone. He is always shouting at western countries,” she said.
“Those people have pulled out their money, folded their hands and this is what has taken us where we are today.”
Zimbabwe is experiencing a serious economic meltdown due to capital flight and poor foreign direct investment inflows.
Opposition political parties and economists blame Mugabe for the decline, citing inconsistent policies and inability to stamp out corruption.
But the 92-year-old leader has relentlessly accused the west of sabotaging him in order to effect a regime change. He blames western countries’ restrictive measures for the economic collapse.
Mujuru said a country does not need enemies in order to develop economically. She said a Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) government would embrace every country for the purpose of economic development.
“I believe every country can contribute to our economy in its own way for the good of our people,” she said.
She said there was need for the country to change its agricultural policy in order to grow the economy as well as empower rural communities whose lives have been depending on the sector.
The former VP also claimed that during her years in government as Mugabe’s deputy, she initiated several developmental projects which were sabotaged by fellow government ministers who viewed them as political projects to earn her political mileage for succession purposes.
She also warned her party supporters to be vigilant to avoid being infiltrated by Zanu PF.
Mujuru said she delayed coming to address in her home province because she did not want to have her supporters victimised by Zanu PF members as Mashonaland Central has become notorious for harbouring political thugs.
Several ZimPF supporters who fell victim to political violence after they were beaten or had their homes torched by suspected Zanu PF supporters, were paraded during the rally.
Suspected Zanu PF supporters were yesterday reportedly mounting roadblocks and forcing back some vehicles carrying ZimPF supporters to Mujuru’s rally.
Meanwhile, Biti said Mujuru’s entry into opposition politics was a blessing because it now gives the opposing forces the liberation war flavour that they lacked in previous elections.
He said opposition parties had failed in their quest to unseat Mugabe because they lacked the liberation war history.
“Most of us are born frees. We did not have the liberation pillar to lean on,” Biti said.
“With Mujuru the past and the present equals the future. With the show of unity among opposition parties victory is now certain.”
The former Finance minister brought along several PDP officials, including Solomon Madzore and Evelyn Masaiti.
Other ZimPF officials that attended the rally included, Rugare Gumbo, Dzikamai Mavhaire and Didymus Mutasa. standard

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday lashed out at the country’s judges for allowing demonstrations against his government by opposition parties and pro-democracy groups, saying there was a broader plot to topple liberation movements in the region.
The 92-year-old leader spoke in the wake of intensifying protests against his rule and claimed the opposition had been given huge sums of money to destabilise his government.
Mugabe, fresh from a secretive trip to Dubai, was addressing Zanu PF youth league national assembly meeting in Harare where he issued a chilling warning against judges that allow citizens to exercise their rights to protest against the government.
Mugabe’s rant came two days after police banned all demonstrations in the capital through Statutory Instrument 101a of 2016 issued by officer commanding Harare central district chief superintendent Newbert Saunyama, which the opposition parties are now challenging in the courts.
“We are happy that you [Zanu PF youths] have managed to restrain yourselves in the face of real provocation by the so-called protesters who have committed acts of violence,” he said.
“We can’t allow that to continue unimpeded. Enough is enough.
“I would want to say, we all as people of Zimbabwe, have a duty and obligation to ensure that there is peace,” Mugabe added, warning protesters against destruction of property.
Mugabe then launched a tirade against judges for passing judgments that allow protesters to proceed with demonstrations in the face of sanctions.
“Our courts and judges should understand it even better. They dare not be negligent in their decisions as requests are made by people who would want to demonstrate.
“Surely, they can take note of the fact that the mission is clear and deliberate towards causing violence,” he said.
“Four or two days ago there was violence and to grant permissions again thereafter when there is a probability of violence, is to pay reckless regard to the tenet of peace in the country. We hope they have learnt their lesson.”
Mugabe added that the country’s opposition,using funds from Western governments, was on a “destabilisation mood”.
“They want to make the country ungovernable. They want to push their undemocratic agenda to remove a constitutionally elected government.
“They want elections now but what’s wrong with 2018 when they are due?
“Even if they were to be held now, would they win?” Mugabe.
The veteran ruler claimed there was a broad opposition agenda funded by the west to destabilise southern Africa, “especially countries governed by former liberation movements”.
“Their masters are providing huge sums of cash to provoke conflict and instability in the region,” he said.
“Their aim is to replace liberation movements with pliant puppet regimes that pander to their needs because they have realised our people-oriented policies are a threat to their economic interests.
“The Zanu PF government will not be derailed by sideshows being pushed by spineless opposition parties. They have failed in the past 36 years.”
Zanu PF Youth League National Commissar Innocent Hamandishe in his address to Mugabe as part of a thematic committee on the state of the country had indicated the ruling party would crush future demonstrations.
“We have noted with concern the recent demonstrations and want to tell you that no protests will succeed in removing you from power,” he said.
“We, as the youth league, are now on standby and next time there is any such demonstration, we will take the law into our own hands to defend the party.”
At the turn of the century when opposition to his rule grew and the country’s judges passed adverse rulings against his party, in particular, the violent land expropriation, Mugabe used the same tactic, including war veterans who stormed the courts.
The move caused chaos within the judiciary, leading to the resignation and forced removal of respected judges at the time. The Standard

Boarding a plane remains a dream for many Zimbabweans but for a local politician and businessman, Kenneth Musanhi, owning one is the ultimate dream, one he has just realised. The Zanu-PF legislator for Bindura North recently coughed up close to US$890 000 for an aircraft at an auction in Harare.
 
He joins the “big boys league”, asserting himself as one of the richest people in the country.
The legislator confirmed buying the 12-seater Cessna 208 Caravan which once belonged to Mbada Diamonds.
 
The diamond company lost the plane after its creditor — Pungwe Mining — won a High Court order to recover a debt.
 
“It’s not a jet as people are saying, it’s a caravan. The plane was bought by one of my companies called CATS, it’s not me who bought it in my personal capacity,” said the legislator, refusing to shed more light.
 
Central Air Transport Service (CATS), formerly United Air Charter, is part of Mr Musanhi’s KSM business empire. state media

Following a well written script which has seen the state unleash its terror on opposition leaders and their supporters, the ruling Zanu PF party has accused the main opposition party led by Morgan Tsvangirai the MDC, of training terrorists.
This is not the first time such charges have been made against opposition leaders, Tsvangirai himself escaped the guillotine narrowly after he had been charged with treason, standing accused of plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe. Other opponents to Mugabe’s regime who went through similar torrid times, include the late liberation icon Joshua Nkomo, opposition leader Ndabaningi Sithole and other opposition figures.
Consequently, it comes as no surprise that under pressure Mugabe’s regime which is faced with imminent collapse, now says it has proof Tsvangirai is training bandits, again giving it leeway to wantonly harass and persecute innocent opposition members.
The signs of a government in panic mode are clear after the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 101a of 2016, which effectively banned all demonstrations for two weeks, a move some groups which include #Tajamuka are set to defy.
The state media claims that the opposition MDC-T began plotting to destabilise Zimbabwe in July 2016 and had members of its youth wing trained in paramilitary tactics and urban violence outside the country. Further, authorities are compiling a database of “career demonstrators” involved in destabilisation efforts over the months and will either apprehend or rehabilitate them.
The government mouth piece goes further to claim that information gathered suggests senior MDC-T figures began plotting in July when shadowy elements, going by the hashtags “tajamuka” and “thisflag” sparked civil disturbances in Harare, Bulawayo and Beitbridge, threatening to make the opposition party a sideshow.
It is believed MDC-T hawks, faced with irrelevance and donor fatigue, started planning civil disobedience and sent youths for training in certain African countries (names supplied). These groups were deployed last week to unleash unprecedented violence in Harare’s central business district.
The weekend reports by the state media also claims that they witnessed how some of them hid bricks and stones in lunch boxes, milled around intersections “innocently” and then attacked unsuspecting police officers. The “protesters” also used catapults.
At First Street Police Post in Harare, officers had to retreat after an opposition activist tossed a teargas canister into their station. Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo told this paper that information at hand indicates the attackers had been trained.
“There is intelligence which we are gathering, and indications are that these people have been trained outside Zimbabwe to carry out these acts. In due time, we will expose what they have been doing behind the scenes leading up to these protests because a lot has been happening.
“As President Mugabe correctly alluded to in his speech on (Friday), these people are plotting an ‘Arab Spring’ strategy to remove the sitting Government of Zanu-PF. “They really think they have gone a gear up, but it will not work here. We are aware of these opposition leaders who are leading these acts and very soon, they are going to be made to account for their deeds.”
Last week, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Obedingwa Mguni told the National Assembly that culprits would be brought to book and then rehabilitated. He was responding to a question from Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna (Zanu-PF).
Mguni said, “Unfortunately Honourable Nduna, we cannot fully reveal the steps that we are taking, but I will try to partially answer your question. We have a very strong intelligence section that is gathering all the data (of career demonstrators) that you are concerned about.
“We are now advanced because some people need rehabilitation. We are not only arresting people, but we have gone a step further and now go out to visit such people and rehabilitate them so that they fit well into the society. We do not want people who endanger other people’s lives.”
In an interview with The Sunday Mail afterwards, Deputy Minister Mguni said: “I cannot reveal details about our intelligence operations. But what we are doing is gathering information to bring these people who are organising these protests down.
“We have noticed over the week that these demonstrations have now turned criminal to the effect that they have become avenues for looting, arson and other criminal activities that are not related to peaceful demonstrations.
“So, what I told Parliament was we are using our intelligence infrastructure to detect people at the forefront of organising these activities and bring them to book.” And a Government official who preferred anonymity said the judiciary should be wary of elements who wanted to use the courts orders to unleash terror.
“Eyebrows are being raised over some of these judgments (allowing protests to go ahead), and there is serious worry that there could be something amiss in the Judiciary. “It does not make legal sense for the protesters to be granted the right to protest when there is clear evidence each time they have been granted that right, they have gone on to unleash violence. Corrective action will have to be taken.”
Another said, “On Wednesday, there was a lot of chaos and violence as the MDC-T youths ran riot in the CBD. Surely this should have informed the decision on the next application that the opposition would make for a ‘peaceful demonstration and march’.
“In my view, there were several compelling reasons to suspend the ‘protests’. There was the Agricultural Show where many people, including children, were gathered, and a very senior foreign dignitary was visiting the country and the Show. Children are on holiday, and there are queues at banks. So we have a lot of people in town. Most important was the precedent set on Wednesday when thugs burnt cars and raided retailers.”
Security sources told The Sunday Mail that the “protests” had been backed with Western money, some of which is being channeled to give free legal representation to those arrested.
The sources said the protests were tailored to portray Zimbabwe in bad light during the Ticad Summit in Kenya, this week’s Sadc Summit of Heads of State and Government in Swaziland and the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The United States and Canadian embassies in Harare blew their cover when they openly supported the riots, while so-called Group of Elders members Mr Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ms Graca Machel called for a “transition in Zimbabwe”. Sunday Mail

THE Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority is dangling a discounted USc4 tariff for mining companies during off-peak periods to relieve pressure on the national grid and help miners increase production.
Mining firms, which are among the major consumers of electricity, have been pressuring the power utility to reduce tariffs as they struggle with low commodity prices on international markets.
The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe is lobbying for electricity charges levied on miners to be cut to USc7 per kilowatt hour from current USc9/kWh during peak periods.
But Zesa wants miners to take advantage of even lower off-peak rates. Demand for electricity usually peaks between 6am and 10am, and 5pm and 8pm.
Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira told The Sunday Mail Business that the USc4 tariff was targeted mainly at large-scale miners.
“Since December 2015, (the Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company, a unit of Zesa) has managed to stabilise power supplies in the national power grid to maximise production of miners. Coupled with steady supplies of imports, those consumers did not encounter inconveniences associated with loss of production time. ZETDC has also intensified demand side management and energy efficiency measures for farmers and miners to contain their tariffs.
“Large-scale miners having been given the option of time of use tariff where they are charged USc4 per kilowatt hour during off-peak times and all categories of miners are still at an average peak tariff of USc9,06 per kilowatt hour,” said Mr Gwasira.
Dedicated power supplies
Though the USc4 tariff is considered attractive, the Chamber of Mines says mines prefer expensive dedicated power lines — charged at US14c — since they are reliable.
Chamber of Mines economist Mr Pardon Chitsuro said last week dedicated lines effectively made mining houses immune to load shedding.
“Some large miners are using that rate of USc4 per kilowatt hour, which is very cheap and encouraging to boost their production levels. However, most mines usually prefer dedicated lines of power supply which are close to USc13 per kilowatt hour as they are always available.
“Dedicated lines are always preferred in the mining sector as far as power supply is concerned; even when there are power shortages they won’t suffer the effects load shedding as they are exempted due to the higher tariffs they pay,” explained Mr Chitsuro.
The mining sector requires about 120MW to operate viably. But should planned US$3,8 billion investment in mining be achieved by 2020, demand will soar to 210MW.
Power shortages have been weighing on production.
Metallon Corporation’s production update for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, showed that Zimbabwe’s biggest producer of the yellow metal lost 112 hours of production, which equates to 48kg of gold or 1 700 ounces.
The company reportedly lost more than 169kg of gold (5 975oz) in the first half of the year.
Lobbying for tariff reductions by mining companies is not peculiar to Zimbabwe and has become common in other resource-rich countries reeling from falling commodity prices.
The National Regulatory Authority of South Africa last year approved a 9,4 percent increase in tariffs for 2016 to 2017 despite spirited efforts by miners to discourage the move. On January 1, 2016, Zambia’s government increased tariffs for mining companies to USc10/kWh.
But increases for commercial and industrial customers were reversed on February 6. Zambia imports electricity at USc19/kWh.
Before the increase, Zambian mining companies had filed a lawsuit against the proposed increases and the case is before the Lusaka High Court.
Zambian mines consume about half of the country’s power output. The country has capacity to generate more than 2 200MW.
Like Zambia, Zimbabwe imports power to meet demand.
With a decline in output at Kariba South Hydro Power Station, which has for long been the country’s workhorse producing 750MW, the Zimbabwe Power Company, another Zesa unit, has been buying electricity from South Africa’s Eskom and Mozambique’s HCB.
Price headaches
Miners point to subdued commodity prices as their main reason for opposing tariff hikes.
The prices of many commodities bottomed out this year as growth in China, the world’s biggest consumer of minerals, slowed.
Market watchers are generally cautious of prices going forward.
But commodity prices are no longer moving in concert as most metal prices are now reacting differently to demand and supply forces. For example, platinum and gold prices have been showing signs of recovery relative to other minerals.
At the beginning of the year, the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe had projected mineral revenues would drop by US$50 million to US$1,8 billion in 2016 from US$1,85 billion realised in 2015.

Ponzi Scheme |How are you Editor, your article on thousands lose money to ponzi scheme is erroneous, misleading and a copy and paste from the Herald, which I think is unethical.
Pinda mutown izvozvi uone munhu aripamabanks izvozvi! What are they saying? At CABS just Opposite Herald yacho yesterday we were over 1000 and only 60 vanhu vakapiwa mari did they write anything about that???? Nhasi ndopavanoti MMM hee this and that ! Did they ever warn us that you it is now risk to work for the government cause you risk not get paid did they warn us that if we deposit our monies the bank will one day fail to give us our deposits which they promised to keep safe?.?? More so they are profit making entities unlike MMM❗Why mr Reporter are not telling people that banks have no money so that people dont waste the little they have comming to the empty banks❓???? Is it not news❓?????? Why Mr reporter are you so glad to report MMM now that it is facing a challenge where were you when people were being rewarded❓???? I would like to give🏨 Herald my petition that after 15 September it must report that MMM is now changing the world for Sure! ❗❗❗
[12:57 PM, 9/3/2016] +263 77 524 7140: WHEN THEY CALL IT A SCAM, SHARE THIS WITH THEM
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
Is MMM really a scam?
Is it a scam to have a system that brings a community of people together that financially help one another, willfully, without being forced?
Is it a scam to have a system that creates a platform for individuals to combat poverty at its core?
We always say fighting poverty is a collective effort; Now instead of people stealing, cheating or robbing they join their hands in good heart to provide financial help to one another, is that scamming really?
Is it a scam to see families that couldn’t afford to bring food on the table now able because of the financial help they have received from other nembers?
Is it a scam to see students who couldn’t afford to have pocket money and monthly allowances in tertiary institutions now able to afford because of MMM?
Is it a scam to see entrepreneurs rising from the capital money raised through MMM and in return they contribute to the economic growth of this country and create employment to thousands?
I will tell you what a scam is?
🔹A real scam is to hinder people to their financial freedom yet encourage them to keep borrowing from your system so that they work for you and pay the rest of their lives if they live that long…
🔹A real scam is to have someone work 40 years of his/her life and after retirement that person must take the fruit of his/her years of hard labour and pay the debts and bonds that refused to end because of ever increasing interest rates.
🔹A scam is when your bank sends you an sms alert to inform you that you have earned #0. 50 on your money, and later charge you #4. 00 on the sms alert. Your bank also charges you exorbitantly every month on something you know nothing about ; and there’s nothing you can do other than to keep quiet because you have no choice.
🔹A scam is when your mobile network provider charges you on the service you never make a request for (caller tunes, news updates, etc)
🔹Working for a government and being paid the same salary as when 1 Dollar was N165 till now is a scam.
🔹Working for government for years without promotion is a scam.
🔹Working for so long and just getting a sack letter or retiring broke and in debt is a scam.
🔹Serving your country for one year and crying to get a job is a scam.
🔹Not being paid salaries for 5 months or more is a SCAM.
🔹Not being able to transfer your job to your children is a SCAM.
🔹Spending 6 years in Primary school, 6 years in Secondary School, 4, 5, 6 years in Higher Institution, 1 year Internship (for some) 1year of NYSC and at the end you still roam about looking for non-existing job is the REAL Scam.
Meanwhile someone somewhere is enjoying financial freedom, making millions, driving brand new cars etc all in joining MMM without submitting CV, NYSC discharge Certificate etc….and people still say it’s a scam?
Is it therefore a scam to have a system that produces people that can afford to buy a house they could have paid for 20 years in cash had such a system not been introduced?
Is MMM a scam? You can make your own judgment as to who a real scammer is.
Please share this message everywhere, the world needs to hear it.
Together We Change our lives n Zimbabwe
Prepared by MMM 10+ guider Leadmore

Staff Reporter | The urgent application to interdict the police from interfering with independent candidate Temba Mliswa’s rally in Norton today was granted by the High Court.
Mliswa’s victory comes as the Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman and aspiring Norton constituency candidate, called on leading figures in the former freedom fighters community to wrest the seat from the ruling party.
Mliswa told journalists recently that he had solicited support from Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA)secretary-general Victor Matemadanda and former chairman Jabulani Sibanda as he prepares to launch a door-door campaign at the weekend.
“It is true. I have asked Matemadanda and Sibanda to help me because we cannot separate it from the liberation struggle. It is also important that they speak on the next course of action and Zimbabweans want to reclaim the country they have always wished for and deserve from Zanu PF.
“With what is going on, it is important that the freedom fighters speak to the people,” Mliswa said.
War veterans have broken ranks with Zanu PF and the relationship between the party and the former freedom fighters hit an all-time low following the release of a scathing communiqué urging President Robert Mugabe to resign.
Sibanda was fired from Zanu PF as part of the purge that swept away former Vice-President Joice Mujuru and a host of her supporters or alleged sympathisers beginning in 2014, with tremors still being felt to this day.
Matemadanda was not reachable yesterday, while Sibanda was not willing to comment, but Mliswa insisted they had given “a commitment to attend”.
Mliswa, in his main poster for the October 22 by-election called to fill the vacancy left following the axing of former Cabinet minister and ZNLWVA chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa, has also invoked liberation war icons Josiah Tongogara and Alfred Nikita Mangena with their pictures prominent. The former Hurungwe West MP said Zimbabwe’s first and second Chimurenga heroes would frown at what the country had become under Zanu PF.
“It is important to remind our leaders when they are going astray that the struggle was not about them, but the people. We need to remind them of the values the likes of Tongogara, Nikita Mangena and Mbuya Nehanda died for,” he said.
“The struggle was about multi-party democracy. This is a reminder to the powers-that-be that even in death national heroes like Tongogara and Mangena are watching and would frown at what they see.”
Tongogara and Mangena were revered commanders of the liberation struggle, while Nehanda, whose picture with Sekuru Kaguvi also adorns Mliswa’s poster, was hanged alongside Kaguvi for leading the first anti-colonial struggle at the end of the 19th century. Newsday

Staff Reporter | The United States government has just issued the brother of missing activist Itai Dzamara, Patson, with a visa to join now exiled Pastor Evan Mawarire in anti-President Robert Mugabe protests at the United Nations.
Mawarire who led the first successful national mass action against Mugabe’s regime fled the country citing state harrassment and that Zanu PF militia threatened to rape his wife. Mugabe who was rumoured to have died, appeared this morning, not his usual feisty self and still not able to explain to a skeptical nation his sudden disappearance, is expected to attend next week the next United Nations General Assembly. It has become custom for the 92 year old leader to use UN events to vent his anger against western powers and opposition from home against his rule. This time round the man other dictators love to love, has much waiting for him as Zimbabweans converge on President Barack Obama’s land to tell him enough is enough.
Zimbabwean activists will haunt him in what is now dubbed #ShutDown New York, similar to the ongoing protests actions in Zimbabwe which have shaken Mugabe’s rule.
However, speculation is rife as to whether Dzamara will return to Zimbabwe or decide to join the millions of Zimbabwe’s Diaspora, including Mawarire who decided to stay out.
Dzamara on his way to the USA for mega demo with Evan Mawarire.
Missing Itai Dzamara’s brother, Patson, is heading to America. He is in South Africa at present where he has given several interviews to news outlets.
Dzamara is one of the speakers at a mega demonstration planned for New York at the United Nations.
Zimbabweans hope to shame President Mugabe who has ruined the country for decades.
Dzamara follows the path taken by Pastor Evan Mawarire who fled to the USA via South Africa. He is not coming back.
It is not clear if Dzamara will return but those in the know say Dzamara will return as he continues to push for answers for his missing brother.

OPPOSITION parties under the banner of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) have launched a court battle against Statutory Instrument 101a of 2016, which banned protests in Harare for two weeks.
The legal instrument, which expires on September 16, put paid to yesterday’s planned mega demo, but Nera, a grouping of 18 opposition political parties coming together to fight for electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 general elections, yesterday made an urgent High Court chamber application challenging the ban.
Nera head of legal affairs, Douglas Mwonzora said the opposition parties are represented by People’s Democratic Party leader, Tendai Biti.
Although constitutional lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku said it was within government’s power to ban the protests, Mwonzora argued the statutory instrument violated the Constitution because protesting was a basic human right, that falls under the Bill of Rights and any piece of legislation taking away the rights was ultra vires (beyond the legal power or authority of) the charter.
“The power to issue a statutory instrument rests in a government minister, not an officer of the police. How can an officer commanding a district make law? This not constitutional,” Mwonzora said.
The statutory instrument was issued by the officer commanding Harare central district, Chief Superintendent Newbert Saunyama, who had earlier on blocked, for the second consecutive time, Nera’s request to hold a demonstration.
Mwonzora, the MDC-T secretary-general, said they had decided to challenge the ban because the reason they wanted to protest was to file a petition with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
The ban on protesting in Harare means Nera cannot petition the electoral body.
MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said the government was now desperate, as its “end is nigh”.
He said the ban was synonymous to a subtle state of emergency and showed that government was panicking, with the ever increasing voices of dissent.
“Protesting is a human right and should not be violated. The ban shows that the regime is running scared of the people,” Gutu said.
Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume said: “The ban is because the demonstrations are gathering momentum everyday. They are getting stronger and stronger. The Nera demo sent the most shock waves. They are scared, hence, the reaction.”
But political analyst, Alexander Rusero said there were two sides to consider concerning the statutory instrument.
“Morally, it may sound correct for the government to impose a ban, given that its mandate is to ensure law and order and ensure the security of the entire citizenry, as well as their property. So if you follow up the recent protests, they, to some extent, were hijacked by thugs, seizing the opportunity to loot, steal and damage property,” he said.
“However, there was need by the police to exhibit brilliance and professionalism in trying to separate peaceful protesters from hooligans and thieves rather than impose a blanket ban. A few malcontents, who hijacked the protests, are the ones who should be brought to book.
“In between a period of elections, peaceful protests are the only language citizens may use to relay grievances to the government and banning them is not only politically misguided, but exposes the government.
“Whereas violence and destruction of property may not be condoned, a government that infringes on fundamental human rights enshrined in a Constitution it purports to adhere to signals confusion, cluelessness and incompetence on comprehension of the rule of the law.” newsday

Zimbabwean activist Stern Zvorwadza has vowed to defy the ban imposed on all protests in the capital Harare, saying a mother of all demonstrations was planned for Monday, News24 reported.
Speaking to News24 on Friday, Zvorwadza said that Zimbabweans who were protesting against President Robert Mugabe’s government were ready for a massive but peaceful demonstration in Harare.
He said  the protest would mark an end to the ongoing abuses by the police.
“On Monday we are going to stage the mother of all protests in the capital Harare. The police can do what they have been doing in the past, but we would not be shaken. I would rather die than be told what I can or not do,” said Zvorwadza.
Zimbabwean police on Thursday issued a ban on all protests in the capital for the next two weeks.
The notice cited a lack of manpower to prevent disorder. It said that demonstrations would only be allowed after September 16.
Future of generations
The notice also stated that anyone taking part in protests before then, could be imprisoned for up to a year.
Harare has been rocked by weeks of near-daily protests over a plummeting economy, allegations of corruption and Mugabe’s decades-long rule.
Police have often used tear gas, water cannons and open violence to crush the demonstrations.
Zvorwadza also took a swipe at government officials, who labelled as terrorists all those protesting against Mugabe’s regime. He said it was unfortunate that those in authority only cared about their comfort at the expense of millions of the poor in Zimbabwe.
“The ministers who are calling us terrorists are losers, because we know that we represent peace. They have murdered people for which some have just disappeared without a trace. Where is Itai Dzamara? So they must first clean themselves before labelling us terrorists.
“They are the terrorists that work for a mafia that has murdered people mercilessly while we are fighting for a better future for generations to come,” he said.

Government has adopted a “no work, no pay” approach against civil servants who participate in demonstrations to push for a better living.
State media reports that this means any civil servant who participates in illegal industrial actions will not be paid for the duration of the absence. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira issued the warning at the handover of farming implements — including tractors, ploughs and planters — among others to Portlet Estates cooperative in Makonde yesterday.
Minister Mupfumira said civil servants should not be used by detractors to destabilise the country.
“We expect civil servants to work hard. Be warned that as Government, we will not be as lenient with you civil servants as last time when you participated in an illegal stayaway and did not turn up for work,” she said.
“You are warned that next time it is going to be no-work-no pay for all civil servants who participate in illegal stayaways.”
She said labour dispute resolution mechanisms needed to be exhausted before any industrial action could be undertaken.
Industrial action, she said, was every worker’s right according to Article 65, but only when a deadlock persisted after three meetings of the Apex Council and Government.
She said detractors bent on destabilising the country would influence civil servants to participate in illegal industrial action but would not be there when the same workers faced the consequences.
“Do not be misled because the people who influence you to participate in illegal demonstrations and stayaways will not be there when you and your families have to face the music alone,” she said.
Government workers, Minister Mupfumira said, should not be quick to embark on industrial action over salary delays of between a week or two saying some workers in the private sector were going for months without being paid.
She said punitive sanctions by the West had constrained the fiscal space but Government was trying its best to ensure its workers were paid.

This, she said included bonuses which had since been shelved in the private sector.
Zimbabwe has seen a wave of anarchy disguised as “peaceful demonstrations” orchestrated by opposition players, which Government said were aimed at destabilising the country.
This has prompted Government adopt Statutory Instrument 101, which prohibits any demonstrations in and around Harare CBD for the next two weeks.
Turning to command agriculture, Minister Mupfumira said lax monitoring and mentoring programmes for farmers should be attended to urgently for the success of the programme.
She said extension and technical services needed to be scaled up.
“Agritex should take a leading role in ensuring that Command Agriculture is a success. We have seen over the years that extension service are not as robust and available as in years gone by,” she said.
“Extension workers should exercise due
 
No work, no pay for strikers: Govt diligence in selecting people to take part in the programme. To people who are not into farming five tonnes per hectare is a small figure but it is more than the national average by far. This calls for serious people.”
She said the selection process should be strictly on merit and Agritex needed to ensure tight supervision of how the inputs availed by Government were used.
Agritex expertise, she said was needed now more than ever as the country took steps to ensure food security.
“Agritex extension workers should take stock on why farmers are not managing more than one tonne per hectare so that where people need to be taught they get the service,” she said.
A cocktail of early mobilisation of resources by Government before the onset of the rains and maximum utilisation of water harvested in dams for irrigation, would guarantee success, she said.
Portlet Estates cooperative has 83 members and is targeting 249 hectares for maize production this season.
Makonde legislator Cde Kindness Paradza attended the ceremony while Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Cde Faber Chidarikire was represented by director in his office, Mr Jim Kadziya. state media

As the Zanu PF succession battles rages on, the two main party wings which will be decisive, in deciding President Robert Mugabe’s successor, hold crucial meetings, the youth and women’s wings.
The Zanu-PF Youth League is meeting today in Harare to discuss the state of the party and the country’s economic situation. The meeting is in fulfilment of the party’s constitution that requires the youth wing to meet at least twice a year and would be addressed by President Mugabe in his official capacity as the party’s First Secretary and President. Zanu-PF deputy secretary for Youth Affairs Kudzai Chipanga yesterday confirmed the meeting.
He said delegates to the meeting were members serving at provincial and national levels of the party’s youth wing.
“We are going to discuss several issues and among them is the issue of the state of the party, issues to do with discipline, social issues and the economic situation in the party and the country,” he said.
“This is our first national assembly meeting for this year and we hope to have another one before the end of the year.
“This particular meeting was scheduled for the month end of August, but we have to postpone it due to other commitments.”
On the women quota in the presidium Chipanga said: “We have not deliberated on that matter as the Youth League. Possibly, there might be individual members in the league who may have their personal views in that regard, but as the Youth League, we have not discussed it and it is not on our agenda. That issue was raised by the Women’s League during the Victoria Falls conference.”
Chipanga said all was in place for the high profile meeting that would define the direction of the party’s youth wing.
The Youth and Women’s leagues are critical arms of the revolutionary party.
Zanu-PF has come up with a number of initiatives to empower the youths. The party, through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, has allocated residential stands to the young people in various towns.
So far youths in Harare, Bulawayo and Masvingo have already benefited from the residential stands and plans are afoot to expand the programme to other cities and towns.
The party is also making concerted efforts to ensure that the youths are incorporated into national projects such as road construction. state media

A BULAWAYO man is on the run after he allegedly blew $45 000 belonging to his employer.
Samuel Moyo, who is now on the police wanted list, was employed as a manager at Rubicon Drilling in Bulawayo’s Belmont industrial area.
Police have since launched a manhunt for the fraudster who allegedly committed the crime three months ago.
Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube said they are appealing for information leading to Moyo’s arrest.
“We are appealing for information that may assist us to locate and subsequently arrest Samuel Moyo who is wanted in connection with a case of fraud which occurred on June 20, 2016. He was employed as a manager at Rubicon Drilling Company when he converted $45 000 to his own use,” he said.
Asst Insp Ncube urged members of the public with information on Moyo’s whereabouts to contact the officer in charge of Donnington Police Station Insp Khanye on (09) 468520 or the investigating officer Constable Absolom Chigamba on (09) 474005 or 0713673398 or alternatively visit any nearest police station.

Moyo is tall, slim and brown in complexion and his last known address is Number 32A Percy Avenue, Hillside suburb in Bulawayo.

Two weeks ago, a driver from a tile and carpet company in Gweru also vanished with $26 000 he had collected from the company’s branches outside the city.
Privilege Chipangura (31), who is also wanted by police, dumped the company vehicle in Gweru’s Central Business District and was not seen again after he committed the crime.
Chipangura of Mambo suburb in Gweru was sent to Kwekwe and Kadoma on August 18 to collect money from the company’s branches.
It is said that Chipangura was on August 18 handed $14 000 by the company’s Kadoma branch manager and $12 000 by the Kwekwe branch manager and he allegedly proceeded to Gweru and never surrendered the money.
After failing to report back for work, the company, using a vehicle tracking system, recovered the car which Chipangura had dumped in Gweru’s CBD. state media

Terrence Mawawa | Masvingo | As the country’s political temperature continues to rise, a house belonging to a senior MDC official was torched by suspected Zanu PF youths last week.
MDC Provincial Youth Assembly chairperson, Philiph Chingini lost property worth $9000 after his grass-thatched house was torched by suspected Zanu PF youths infuriated by his role in the protests against President Robert Mugabe’s government.
The incident happened in Zimano Village, Nerupiri area in Gutu District. It is understood that suspected Zanu PF youths torched his house as a way of punishing him for playing an active role in the demonstrations taking place across the country. Mugabe, whose whereabouts have remained a mystery, is under pressure to step down following more than three decades in power. Chingini told ZimEye.com the incident happened around midnight when his 13 year-old daughter was alone at home. “My daugther was alone and fast asleep when she heard the sound of footsteps at the kitchen door. She then heard loud knocks at the bedroom door. The arsonists then torched my house and stole four goats and 16 hens from my fowl run. I am sure this was done by Zanu PF youths after I successfully organised an MDC demonstration in Masvingo,” said Chingini. MDC Provincial Treasurer Takanayi Mureyi said the incident was tragic and unfortunate. “There is no doubt Zanu PF youths torched Chingini’s house.Violence has no place in our society,” said Chingini. In 2008 houses belonging to opposition supporters, mainly MDC members, were torched by members of the Zanu PF youth militia. Opposition supporters were killed, tortured and maimed during the brutal presidential election run-off campaign.

A haulage truck carrying Delta Beverage’s mahewu products, overturned at Kelvin and Cripps road in Graniteside, Harare early Friday morning.
It was reportedly coming from Sunnningdale direction and overturned after the driver allegedly failed to negotiate a corner.
Witnesses told NewsDay that passerbys had to jump into the truck to rescue the trapped driver and switch off the engine of the truck which was now lying on its side.
The injured driver was rushed to hospital.
“People had to come inside to drag him out as he was unable to move. His head must have hit the walls of the truck and his leg broke,” said a witnesses.
“I think the truck was over loaded and there was too much weight on the left side because he wasn’t even speeding.”
He added: “Luckily he had his seatbelt on, because if he hadn’t he could have died. “ newsday

The First Lady Grace Mugabe has been implicated in a dirty club scheme which involves Zimbabwe Republic Police bosses, ZimEye can exclusively reveal.
ZimEye.com exposes Mugabe’s links to Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri’s wife, Isabel.
Mugabe has found herself embroiled in the scandal involving the Kuyedza Women’s Club which was notoriously set up by Chihuri’s wife, Isabel. It is used to swindle poor ZRP cops of their hard earned salaries as they are forced to buy traditional materials locally known as maZambia.

ZimEye reveals the below in a shocking account
Morale in the ZRP has hit an all time low within the rank and file.
Last week a radio was sent from Police General Headquarters in which a
directive was made to all male officers to purchase a piece of cloth
inscribed with ZRP logo and letters KWC which stands for Kuyedza
Women’s Club. The cloth popularly known as a zambia in Zimbabwe is
being forced on the male officers at a cost of $50 though it is worth
less than $5.
Kuwadza Women’s Club was formed by wife of Commissioner General
Chihuri and is allegedly linked to the First Lady. The directive to
officers is not in line with the Police Act and has led to serious
disgruntlement of police officers as they feel that it erodes their
meagre salaries. An Assistant Inspector whose identity is withheld
fumed that such a directive is ultra vires the Police Act and is
imposed against their will. The zambia cloth is being said to be
bought for wives of male police officers. There 40 000 male police
officers in the country which implies this directive will raise $2 000
000 for Mrs Chihuri and her links. The pieces of cloth will be have
already been sent to most police stations. He also mentioned that most
police officers are against beating citizens but they have no option
as they take orders from superiors in their line if duty. There is no
laid down procedures for lower ranked officers to register their
grievances. Failure to purchase the zambia will be construed as gross
indiscipline.
 
 

Staff Reporter| Two reasonably innocent street vendors in Gwanda were on Thursday arrested by plain cloth police for picking up a NERA demonstration flyer and giving it to other vendors to read.
The two vendors, Leonard Ndlovu and Oscar Zhou have been in police custody since Thursday morning and due to appear in court this morning.
According to human rights advocacy organisation Restoration Of Human Rights Matabeleland South Spokesperson Norman Mudadisi, the two vendors picked up a flyer which had been thrown from a moving vehicle, read the flyer before giving it to other vendors to also read.
Plain cloth police officers who were within the vicinity quickly apprehended the other vendors who were reading the flyer.
The two then intervened in the fracas telling the police officers to produce identity cards that could prove that they were indeed police officers before demanding for the release of the other vendors confessing to have given the flyer to them.
The police then arrested the two and charged them for inciting public violence by sharing the flyer and for obstructing the course of justice by “interfering with the duties of the police.”
According to Mudadisi, ROHR Matabeleland South has since been able to get the two legal assistance from Abammeli Human Rights Lawyers in Bulawayo who will appear with the two in court on Saturday morning.
The organisation castigated the police for what they termed unnecessary intimidation strategies meant to intimidate vendors out of the demonstrations by arresting the two vendors.

Thousands of people, among them civil servants and vendors, have lost thousands of dollars to fraudulent online pyramid scheme MMM Global Zimbabwe after it collapsed recently. The social financial network, which relied on an accelerating number of new members to pay off the old, abruptly terminated its services last week leaving participants stranded.This comes as Econet’s mobile financial service platform, EcoCash yesterday distanced itself from the pyramid scheme.
Participants claimed they were using EcoCash for their transactions.
Zimbabweans have in the past months been joining the online investment scheme in droves in a bid “to get rich quickly”.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe warned people that the scheme was fraudulent and there was no legal recourse in the event they lost their money.
The central bank said MMM, which advertises its operations through a website and recruiting agents, was not a registered or regulated entity.
EcoCash yesterday said: “We have noted that some of these pyramid schemes are allegedly advertising in a manner that suggests that the Ecocash facility is a medium for prospective members to deposit their money. This is not correct.
“We advise our valued customers and all stakeholders that Ecocash is a licensed mobile payment platform that enables customers to make financial transactions such as sending money, buying prepaid airtime as well as paying for goods and services within the confines of the law of Zimbabwe. EcoCash promotes safe and legal transactions but will not be held liable for any losses arising from the use of EcoCash to engage in illegal activities such as Ponzi schemes.”
The scheme advertises itself as a mutual aid fund under which recruited members contribute money to assist others and are promised investment returns of 30 percent per month.

Some of the people left counting their losses told The Herald that they received emails that the scheme had been suspended until September 15.
“All along things were moving in the right direction and we now have nowhere to claim our investments,” said Mr Tinashe Muza of Harare.
“When we started putting our funds in the scheme one could get assistance within seven days but things later changed to 14 days and when we were shut out the waiting period was 21 days. What it simply means is that the number of people in need of help has outnumbered the number of people joining. Right now we have nowhere to get our money which we invested.”
MMM stands for Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox and takes its name from its founder, Sergei Panteleevich Mavrodi of Russia.
He founded MMM in 1989 and the scheme was declared bankrupt three years later leading to the disappearance of Mavrodi until his arrest in 2003.
Another victim, Mrs Rosemary Mawonde said: “We never thought the scheme would end this way as we believed that by using EcoCash to do the transactions, things were in order. I am surprised that EcoCash is also distancing itself from the scheme and it is clear that I will never recover the $300 that I invested.”
While some people who were skeptical about the scheme started with small amounts, it is believed some poured in thousands of dollars anticipating higher returns.
The RBZ said the schemes were fraudulent as existing investors were ‘paid money not from genuine market investment of their funds, but from contributions made by new investors, until a point when the scheme can no longer attract new investors,”
“The participants are made aware that they make their money by recruiting new members who in turn must recruit more members,” warned the Central Bank.

The First Lady Grace Mugabe has continued to support Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016, which has seen the banning of the importation of certain products, further tormenting Zimbabweans who survive on cross border trade for survival.
This is at a time that informal cross-border traders in Zimbabwe are in for another shocker as government is planning to expand an unpopular imports ban. The country is headed for more protests after the previous ban sparked violent demonstrations at the Beitbridge border post that connects into South Africa and was temporarily shut as protesters clashed with the police.
Mugabe urged the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Kuyedza Women’s Club to capitalise on SI 64  to increase production for the local market, without taking into account the already documented negative impact the instrument in question has had on Zimbabweans.

A MAN from Pumula South suburb in Bulawayo who attacked and robbed a Sunday News reporter on his way from work has been sentenced to 15 months in jail.
Handsome Zulu appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndhlovu facing robbery charges.
He pleaded not guilty  but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.
Zulu robbed Dumisani Nsingo of a Samsung cellphone, $30 and a paper bag with bread and chips.
Yesterday, he told the court that he had been given the cell phone by a friend Tinashe Siziba who asked him to sell it.
“I didn’t steal the cell phone, Tinashe gave it to me asking me to sell it on his behalf,” said Zulu in his defence.
The court heard that Siziba was recently convicted of murder and is serving a jail term.

Prosecuting, Ms Magret Takawira said Zulu attacked Nsingo on April 16 at around 10PM.
“The complainant disembarked from a taxi near Godlwayo Primary School. The accused person approached from the opposite direction and hit him with a stone on the head,” said the prosecutor.
“He fell unconscious. The accused took his cellphone, wallet that contained cash and a national identity card.”
She said Nsingo regained consciousness and went to report the matter at Pumula police station.
“Police arrested one Xolani Dube who was found in possession of the stolen phone on June 19. During interrogation, Dube told the police that he had bought the cellphone from Zulu leading to his arrest on August 11,” said Ms Takawira.
In a statement, Nsingo said he regained consciousness at around 1AM on the following day after the attack and sought assistance at a house close by.
“The man I found at that house accompanied me to the police station. I fell unconscious again when I got there. I regained consciousness at the hospital. The police called me on June 20 asking me to go to the station to identify my phone,” read the statement. state media

By Staff Reporter | A Harare magistrate, Tendai Mahwe on Friday released Freelance photo journalist, James Jemwa, and nine other protesters who were arrested for protesting against President Robert Mugabe, last Friday in Harare.
Jemwa was arrested despite having identified himself as a bonafide journalist while covering the skirmishes that paralysed business in central Harare.
His freedom comes after an outcry by media lobby organisations who demanded for his unconditional release.
Releasing the scribe magistrate Mahwe, ordered Jemwa and company to deposit a bail fee of  $50 through the clerk of court and not to interfere with witnesses.
Jemwa is going back to the courts on 12 September for trial.
Speaking to journalists soon after winning the bail application, Jemwa’s attorney, Harrison Nkomo, said journalists should petition the police over the harassment of their colleagues.
“Unless something serious is done and you as journalists stand up to make sure that police before they execute their duties they uphold the constitution, you know the constitution is very clear with regard rights that journalists enjoy in this country, it is shocking to find the journalist being arrested for executing their duties, something that really requires some form of admonishment, from all progressing societies in the country,” said Nkomo.

By Shiellah Sibanda| While there have been many false predictions of late, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe will never be forgiven by God and will be dead by December this year, a London based prophet insists claiming.
Mugabe has shed too much blood and because of this, none of his prayers will ever be answered, the London based Prophet Austin Moses said, adding his claim that Mugabe is going the way of eternal perdition.
Prophet Austin Moses who in July 2014 successfully predicted what he said was The Big Tree falling with its branches in Zimbabwe (way before Joice Mujuru whose party logo would turn out to be the large baobab tree), said Mugabe will be forgotten in a few months’ time from today and his whole dynasty is going with him.
Moses spoke to ZimEye journo Emmanuel Chindove during a ZimEye Live TV program.
“The blood of many Zimbabweans has been shed..Many Zimbabweans died …and their blood has cried to God,” said Moses.
In the ZimEye Live program filmed in 2014, Moses claimed Morgan Tsvangirai (who has this weekend united hands with former VP Joice Mujuru) would be at the helm of the opposition that will replace Mugabe.
CLICK BELOW TO listen/watch.

Staff Reporter |Gwanda civic and political activists this morning defied heavy police presence and cancellation of National Electoral Reform Agenda demonstrations to deliver the electoral reform petition to ZEC offices in the town.
Led by local civic leader Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo and MDCT Matabeleland South proportional representation Member of Parliament Nomathemba Ndlovu, the five member group made its way past a group of heavily armed anti riot police and plain clothes police guarding the ZEC offices to deliver the petition.
Police last night cancelled country wide NERA demonstrations that were meant to be held today. The country’s major urban centres woke up to heavy police patrols in a bid to quash the demonstrations

GOVERNMENT has covertly deployed the military and other security forces to surround the protests-wrecked capital Harare, while unleashing a crack unit to operate under cover to crackdown on the opposition and civil society groups stepping up pressure for President Robert Mugabe to reform or quit.
This comes after Mugabe last week threatened to quell the current wave of demonstrations and riots rocking the country’s structure-induced stability, saying: “They are thinking that what happened in the Arab Spring is going to happen in this country, but we tell them that it is not going to happen here.”
The Zimbabwe Independent understands nine lieutenant-colonels and 65 majors have from the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and other senior Zimbabwe Defence Forces officers have been deployed under the cover of command agriculture, with some manoeuvring into strategic positions around Harare — behind the scenes — to position themselves to swiftly move and quash any revolt as political discontent and social unrest grow.
A crack unit, which comprises the army, police and intelligence agents, has reportedly also been unleashed in various provinces and areas to monitor, infiltrate and hunt down firebrands rallying a revolt against Mugabe’s regime.
“Harare and other major cities are technically surrounded at the moment in anticipation of an uprising and to pre-empt any such revolt. The stakes are high for the Mugabe and senior military commanders who have a lot to lose if government is overthrown through a popular uprising,” a military source said.
“Currently Zimbabwean security services have a powerful presence throughout the government, bureaucracy and the economy. Senior military, police and intelligence officers — who are mainly war veterans — dominate the Joint Operations Command, which has sweeping powers and authorities to oversee government operations and initiate projects outside the bounds of normal security activities, such as mining, farming and food distribution. They have vested political and business interests, hence a nexus within the triumvirate of politicians, businesspeople and military commanders.”
At the highest levels, the military has been indispensable in maintaining Mugabe and Zanu PF in power. So the deployment of the army is seen as the last resort after police have been struggling to contain the spreading protests, from the Beitbridge riots in July to Harare’s almost daily demonstrations now increasingly becoming confrontational and sometimes violent, especially when police use brutality to stop them.
The crack team is said to have caused alarm within the government and military ranks as its orders include crushing the protestors and destroying their infrastructure.
“There is a crack unit which has been trained and deployed, including on Monday this week. It concludes the police, army and other security forces,” a source said. “Some of its members went out on Monday and there concerns that this covert operation might be used to harass, threaten, and arbitrarily hunt down people pushing for Mugabe to go, including rights defenders, dissenters, activists, and opposition protestors. There is a great deal of discomfort with the military manoeuvres and deployments, especially undercover operations.”
Zimbabwe’s military has previous intervened in civilian affairs, leaving a trailing of human rights abuses and killings, including the Gukurahundi massacres.
“Some deployed operators under the crack unit have told their parents that they were scared about the instructions they had been given and if they had a choice they would not be involved in sinister activities,” a government source said. “Government, through the Ministry of Defence and parliament, needs to explain what is going on. These kinds of things led to horrific atrocities in the past and we should never ever again allow the military to casually be involved in civilian affairs, especially if the police are there. Only limited military involvement should be allowed when the police are overwhelmed.”
Contacted for comment, Defence secretary Martin Rushwaya referred questions to the Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi who could not be reached by phone to deal with the issue. Questions sent tothe minister’s mobile phone were not replied to despite being delivered and indications they had been read.
Efforts to get a comment from ZNA spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore were unsuccessful he was unreachable on mobile phone. Officers in the ZNA public relations department said Makotore will only be available today.
Police spokesperson Charity Charamba said she was not aware of the deployment of a crack team. “I don’t know about it. I am not an operations person, but if I were in my office I could have found out for you,” she said.
Military sources this week said the deployment of the crack team was a result of the failure by police to contain protestors. Riots were initially sparked by an import ban of South African goods which some people survive on.
Riots broke at Beitbridge Border Post on July 1 with police failing to combat the demonstrators. This led to all the police officers being transferred after the Police Internal Security Intelligenceat the border town complained the police officers had ignored their early warning calls on the riots.
Sources said in addition to the crack team at least nine lieutenant-colonels and 65 majors were deployed across the country under the cover of the US$500 million Stalinist-style command agriculture project which seeks to produce two million metric tonnes of maize a year on 400 000 hectares of land using 2 000 farmers.
Sources said the deployment’s real intention is to ensure that the officers gather information and thwart protests while preparing for the 2018 elections. The army has helped out Mugabe in previous elections, mainly since 2000. In April, Mugabe for the first time publicly admitted this while addressing a war veterans in Harare.
As reported by the Independent last week, soldiers were also on high alert and reportedly assaulted civilians when an alliance of opposition parties tried to stage a demonstration demaning electoral reforms. The protest march postponed to today last week was yesterday stopped through a statutory instrument.
Last week was the first time since the 1998 food riots — in which 10 people reportedly died — that government has unleashed the military to quell protests.
Out of the senior officers deployed to the 10 provinces under the command agriculture guise, 71 are understood to be war veterans deemed loyal to Mugabe, sources said.
“While there is a clique of those close and loyal to Mugabe, most military officers are deemed to be loyal to the military institution, not to any one person,” a military source said. “This small group, which is well looked after, is the one energetically behind the current military deployments and manoeuvres.
“But not everyone is happy with this. Some feel it is unprofessional to use the military to suppress peaceful protests and dissent. Middle-level officers going down to rank-and-file military are not happy with their working conditions and politicisation of the army.
“Huge salary disparities in army structures has also been a source of disgruntlement. As it stands while war veterans are in the top echelons of the military structure, nearly 80% of the force is comprised of men and women who joined after independence, but who are not well looked after.”
Last week, Mugabe warned an Arab Spring-style uprising would be crushed.
“They are burning tyres in the streets to get into power. They are thinking that what happened in the Arab Spring is going to happen in this country, but we tell them that is not going to happen here,” Mugabe said. “What politics is that when you burn tyres? We want peace in the country.”
This week Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba warned opposition protesters had “crossed the line”. “Let everyone be warned — opposition or wherever — that the government will not tolerate this anymore,” Charamba said.

ACTING Prosecutor General (PG) Advocate Ray Goba’s suitability for office has been thrown in doubt after it emerged locally this week he has a criminal record in Namibia where he was also declared a prohibited immigrant, while he worked there as deputy prosecutor-general and legal services director until five years ago.
This has put the appointing and supervising authorities President Robert Mugabe and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is in charge of the Justice ministry, in an invidious position as the PG’s job requires someone with integrity or simply without a criminal record.
Goba was sworn in as the acting PG on July 7 by President Robert Mugabe after the setting up of a tribunal to determine if the suspended Johannes Tomana is suitable to continue holding the position. The tribunal was given three months to make a determination during which period Goba would be acting.
Tomana was suspended for criminal abuse of office and hearings into his case are on.
Some lawyers have also questioned the constitutionality of appointing an acting PG from outside when Tomana is still in office.
Goba, who served as Namibia’s Deputy Prosecutor General, was convicted in a Namibian regional court in 2002 for driving a vehicle on a public road with excessive blood alcohol concentration in contravention of Section 140 (2) of the Road Traffic Ordinance 1967; failing to obey a road traffic sign in contravention of section of section 101 (1) of the Ordinance and attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.
The conviction over his attempt to obstruct or defeat the course of justice, in particular, is haunting Goba, who was denied a work and residence permit in Namibia in 2011 on the strength of the conviction.
Following the regional court’s ruling an aggrieved Goba appealed to the High Court in 2004 seeking to quash the conviction.
Justice Gerhard Maritz, however, upheld Goba’s conviction over his failure to obey a road traffic sign and attempting to obstruct or defeat the course of justice.
The appeal against conviction for driving a vehicle with excessive blood alcohol concentration was successful after Maritz ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the blood which had been analysed was the specimen obtained from Goba shortly after his arrest.
His application for leave to appeal at the Supreme Court was dismissed.
According to court documents, Goba’s conviction on the charge of attempting to obstruct or defeat the course of justice was premised on the allegation that he “knowingly tried to avoid the taking of a specimen of his blood within the statutory period of two hours by (a) refusing to furnish the law enforcement officers with the cellphone or telephone number of his legal representative before the specimen was taken; (b) attempting to escape while being transported in lawful custody to the hospital for the specimen to be taken; (c) attempting to escape from lawful custody at the hospital before the specimen was taken (d) attempting by threats to intimidate the law enforcement officers not to investigate the alleged offence against him and (e) refusing to submit to the taking of a blood specimen by the doctor when requested to do so.”
Goba was arrested at 2:15am on February 12 2000 by traffic police officers after he turned right in conflict with a directional arrow, leading to the chain of events which resulted in his conviction for attempting to defeat the course of justice.
Following his conviction, the Namibian government declined to renew his employment permit which lapsed on December 31 2010 after he failed to secure work and residence permits. At the time he was the Chief Director of Legal Services and International Cooperation in the Ministry of Justice.
Goba applied again for a work permit and a permanent residence permit to legitimise his stay in Namibia after the termination of his contract, but learnt on February 15 2011 that both applications had been rejected.
He appealed to the Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration on February 18, explaining that his last contract of employment had come to an end unexpectedly and pointed out that he had also appealed against the refusal of permanent residence and was awaiting a decision in respect thereof. He also filed a High Court application seeking the review and setting aside of the decisions taken by the Immigration Selection Board to refuse to grant him permanent residence and employment permits. In addition, Goba sought an order that he be entitled to carry on his profession in Namibia and another one that the Director of Immigration issue him a permanent residence permit.
He indicated that he wanted to work with Namibian law firm Shikongo Law Chambers.
However, Justice Raymond Heathcote dismissed his application, citing his conviction.
“Unfortunately for the applicant, he was convicted (by a Namibian Court after he came to Namibia), on a charge of attempting to obstruct or defeat the course of justice. On appeal, this conviction was confirmed by the High Court on 29 June 2004. An application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court was also refused,” Heathcote ruled.
“In various subsequent applications for visas the applicant sought to downplay the offence as a ‘traffic offence’, or failed to furnish details of the offence as he was required to do.
“As a legal practitioner, the applicant would have known that in terms of section 39(2) (f) (i) of the Immigration Control, Act 1993, (herein after ‘the Act’) any person who has been convicted in Namibia of any offence specified in Schedule 1 of that Act, shall be a prohibited immigrant in respect of Namibia. Schedule 1 of the Act includes the offence of ‘defeating or obstructing the course of justice’ and any attempt to do so.
“During argument it soon became clear that, if section 39(2)(f)(i) declared the applicant a prohibited immigrant, the application cannot succeed.”
Heathcote dismissed Goba’s application, saying: “I conclude therefore that applicant, having been found guilty of an attempt to defeat the course of justice (in Namibia by the Namibian Courts), is a prohibited immigrant, and the court cannot under such circumstances grant the interim relief.”
Goba told the Zimbabwe Independent yesterday the charges brought against him were “racially-motivated” and “unjust” after clashes with two white police officers while driving home at night. He said he had an altercation with them after they accused him of drunken driving as well as straddling an unbroken traffic line. Goba claimed he was manhandled and denied access to a lawyer. Police accused him of threatening them, a charge he denied.
“Surely how could I threaten uniformed officers? I just told them that I would sue them to the last donkey. I can be accused of arrogance because I was arrogant. I’m arrogant when I know that I am right,” he said.
Legal practitioners have questioned whether Goba is fit for the PG’s job in light of his conviction. In terms of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, a PG must meet stipulated qualities.
A “fit and proper person”, according to the dictates of law, must satisfy a raft of ethical and professional attributes, in particular honesty and reliability.
Goba said those questioning his integrity and suitability for the post, though entitled to their opinions, were malicious. He said his superiors were aware of his criminal record.
“I have nothing to hide. Before I took up this post, I disclosed this issue to my superiors. If they appointed me after I revealed this then surely I must have done something good in Namibia where I served with distinction,” he said. “The world is full of malicious people. Why did they provide this information to you (the media) and not to the President or the Minister of Justice? Those who are questioning my suitability for office are entitled to their opinion, but if a minor traffic violation is used as a yardstick to determine one’s suitability for office, then no one would be appointed in any office anywhere. I am probably the best person to do the job because I have personally experienced injustice in the criminal justice system. I know what injustice is and how the criminal justice system can bring about unjust results.”
Goba was appointed Namibia’s Deputy Prosecutor General in 1998 and served in the Justice ministry until December 2010. independent

Langton Ncube | The notorious Central Intelligence Organisation is at it again making anonymous calls in which it is threatening the lives of civic leaders.
In a relentless continued onslaught on civic society activists, suspected members of the now much less feared, CIO, Thursday afternoon threatened Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition two senior employees for organizing national protests.
The two, Thulani Mswelanto, the Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition’s programmes manager and information officer, Edgar Gweshe, received some anonymous phone calls threatening them for coordinating the civil unrests that has rocked the country.
The two received the threats after their organization has sent a solidarity massage on Tuesday supporting the 31 August shut down call by #Tajamuka.
“ Thulani Mswelanto received an anonymous call from an unidentified man who later went on to threaten him with unspecified action over Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition’s role in coordinating protests over misgovernance in Zimbabwe.Prior to that, two unidentified men had visited his home enquiring about his whereabouts,” CIZC said in a statement Thursday.
“The men,  were driving in an unmarked Isuzu vehicle which was parked about 100 meters from Mswelanto’s place.
“Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Information Officer, Edgar Gweshe has received similar threats from unidentified people who wanted to enquire over Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition’s involvement in civil protests that have rocked Zimbabwe over the past months,”the civil society organization said.
“The latest threats from the State agents are genuine cause for alarm especially given the abductions and torture of opposition as well as civic society activists over the last months”.

Pressure continues to mount on President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF to resolve the current economic and political crises bedevilling the country, as former Zipra and Zanla combatants seek to close ranks and demand change from the regime.
ZPRA Veterans Association spokesperson, Robert Ndebele in a statement yesterday said: “As a matter of principle, we stand with them on constitutional issues, good governance, deteriorating economic and political situation.
“We feel that everybody, and not just war veterans, needs a sober and joint effort to resolve the issues confronting our motherland.”
Ndebele said, as war veterans, they had made a mistake of aligning the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association with Zanu PF over the years.
“The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association departed from its founding values and principles of being non-partisan and a welfare organisation and became an unprincipled arm of Zanu PF,” he said.
“As a result, it inevitably got entangled in Zanu PF’s factional fights that characterised Zanu in exile. We do not, as a matter of fact, wish to be dragged into those wars.”
Ndebele noted that, at one point, Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko, was asked “to shut up as the war veterans were trying to resolve Zanla/Zanu issues”.
“This created the impression that the association (Zimbabwe War Veterans Association) was not meant for ex-ZPRA cadres. We were not part of the Mgagao Declaration that made Robert Mugabe president of Zanu and will not comment on it,” Ndebele said.
“While we sympathise with, and in no way condone the victimisation, arrest, prosecution and persecution of (war veterans’ spokesperson Douglas) Mahiya and others, we must draw attention to the fact that in the 1980s, ZPRA commanders and ordinary cadres, some of whom were serving in the Zimbabwe National Army, were subjected to the same abuse and arrests on trumped up charges. At no time did any of our Zanla counterparts raise a finger in protest.
“However, we remain open to genuine dialogue on any platform for unity as we demonstrated during the liberation struggle, that anticolonial struggle.” newsday

CENTRAL Intelligence boss Happyton Bonyongwe a fortnight ago reportedly warned President Robert Mugabe that continued infighting in Zanu PF at a time social discontent is rising is likely to fuel civil unrest.
Sources in the security sector said this week Bonyongwe briefed Mugabe after learning that First Lady Grace Mugabe and her backers in the G40 Zanu PF faction wanted to launch a fresh onslaught on Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa to politically disable him as part of the cut-throat succession wrangle to replace Mugabe.
Before Bonyongwe’s briefing, Grace had invited Zanu PF provincial Women’s League chairpersons from the country’s 10 provinces to her orphanage in Mazowe to push for fresh attack on Mnangagwa, whom she wants replaced as Mugabe’s deputy by a woman.
Grace and her allies want Zanu PF’s December conference to be turned into an extraordinary congress where the vice-presidency will be up for grabs. The Women’s League is pushing for reintroduction of the women’s quota in the presidium to ensure that Mnangagwa is replaced by a woman.
The women’s assembly, with support from the Youth League, is planning rallies to drum up support for the move while ratcheting up pressure on the vice-president to crumble in the heat of the suffocating race.
“At the Mazowe meeting, Grace said the rallies will be rolled out soon and the message to be sent to the structures was that of a fresh call to have a woman in the presidium,” the source said.
“Mugabe also had a meeting with Youth League leader Kudzai Chipanga, who is part of the G40 camp, to discuss the plot.
“However, Mugabe was warned by Bonyongwe that there are chances of a civil unrest spreading even further if internal issues in Zanu PF are not resolved amicably. There are intelligence reports which show that tension is rising as social discontent and unrest are becoming widespread.
“After this warning Grace toned down and did not attack Mnangagwa when she met the Women’s League executive on Thursday last week.”
In preparation for the onslaught, Grace and the Women’s League had purchased thousands of T-shirts emblazoned with Grace’s image. The T-shirts are written Munhu wese kunaamai (Everyone belongs to the mother) and were printed in South Africa.
“The plan was for Grace to re-launch her ‘meet-the-people’ rallies similar to those she ran ahead of the party’s December 2014 congress which led to the ouster of former vice-president Joice Mujuru and her backers.
“She tried to repeat the modus oparandi on Mnangagwa earier this year, but backtracked after fierce resistance from war veterans and the military. But now that the bulk of the war veterans’ leadership has been booted out of the party, she feels its time to resume the rallies.”
Zanu PF is currently divided on factional lines with the Mnangagwa faction fighting a war of attrition with the G40 faction over Mugabe’s succession.
The CIO is, however, worried that Zanu PF infighting could fuel social discontent “at a time the party and government should be pulling together to contain the growing crisis,” one source said.
The intelligence is also worried that the opposition seems to be gaining ground while officials expelled from Zanu PF seem to have added impetus to opposition politics as the likes of Mujuru, who is leading the Zimbabwe People First party, have joined hands with the MDC formations and other opposition parties to pile pressure on Mugabe.
Former Zanu PF administration secretary Didymus Mutasa has also been troublesome as he is chairing the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) comprising of 18 political parties. The parties are demanding reform of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the country’s electoral process.
Nera organised demonstrations which rocked Harare last Friday and has planned another protest march today.
The organisation is also planning protests countrywide to pressure the government into agreeing reforms.
War veterans leaders expelled from the party have also supported peaceful demonstrations and are engaging opposition parties.
Last weekend, war veterans met MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai “in a bid to find a solution to the economic and political crisis bedevilling Zimbabwe”.
“All these developments are worrying the intelligence,” a security official said. independent

MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai has reportedly ordered Harare City councillors to drop Chris Mbanga as the deputy mayor and vote Enock Mupamawonde as his replacement due to the former’s alleged association with Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

ORDINARY Zimbabweans can now influence and determine the suitability or otherwise of aspiring judges by commenting on their behaviour ahead of public interviews for appointment to the bench.
According to the recently published Judicial Service Commission guidelines on appointment of judges, the list of candidates are published before the interviews to allow individuals with adverse information about the nominees to divulge it to assist the nation in selecting quality judges.
If a nominee conducts him or herself unprofessionally or in some way that does not suit someone of the status of a judge, those with such information are called upon to inform the JSC before the public interviews are conducted.
JSC recently published guidelines followed in the appointment of judges, in its quest to promote transparency and constitutionalism.
A 12-page booklet titled “Guidelines on the Appointment of Judges” was published ahead of the public interviews of eight High Court judges vying for four vacant positions in the Supreme Court.
The interviews have been set for September 29.
The JSC also sends the list of nominees to the Law Society of Zimbabwe and other relevant organisations for comments on the personality of the candidates, who are all lawyers.
According to the guidelines, JSC will not consider malicious allegations against candidates that are brought up anonymously.
Candidates are informed of the adverse comments made against them and they are also given an opportunity to defend themselves.
“Nominees will be informed of any adverse comments received from members of the public and may be questioned about them at the interview with a view to determining whether or not the adverse comments will have a bearing on the nominee’s probity,” the guidelines read.
The public also plays an integral role in the nomination of the aspiring judges. The nominated candidates also need to sign on the nomination form as confirmation that they will be interested.

JSC, in terms of Section 180 of the Constitution, is mandated to advertise any vacancies arising on the bench and to invite the President and members of the public to nominate suitable candidates.
The same commission conducts public interviews for the prospective judges, deliberates on the performance of the interviewees and later sends its recommendations to the President.
After the interviews, deliberations are done in private and a lot of issues are considered in arriving at a list of successful candidates.
“Deliberations on the suitable nominees will take into account the performance at the interview, any comments from the Law Society of Zimbabwe, any other relevant organisations and or the public as well as the information supplied by the nominees in the detailed questionnaire.
“Deliberations on the final list of suitable nominees shall take into account the diverse and gender composition of Zimbabwe which the judiciary must reflect,” reads the booklet.
For each vacancy, the commission submits three names of successful candidates and the President will make a final appointment.
JSC chairperson, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku or his deputy chairs the public interviews.
All commissioners, who will be part of the panel, are given an opportunity to ask questions to the interviewees.
Aspiring judges, according to the guidelines, must be competent, hardworking, independent, committed to community and public service and knowledgeable among other qualities.
Commissioners will independently score each nominee on each of the above qualities before they deliberate on the performances as a group.
High Court judges Justices Francis Bere, Priscilla Chigumba, Alfas Chitakunye, Charles Hungwe, Samuel Kudya, Joseph Mafusire, Lavender Makoni and Nicholas Mathonsi will on September 29 be interviewed for four vacancies that arose in the Supreme Court.
Their names have since been published.

In a move to address the shortage of teachers in schools, the Government has made a ‘U’ turn, and will start recruiting educators.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has since written to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education granting them permission to start recruiting.
“Please be advised that, acting in terms of Section 8 (1) (a) of the Public Service Act (Chapter 16:04), the commission has granted authority to recruit teachers to replace members whose services were terminated from January 2016 to date.
“Please be further advised that, the Public Service Commission Secretariat shall be represented in the recruitment process,” reads the statement.
The total number of teachers to be recruited has not yet been established, but in June, Government announced that up to 10 000 would be engaged.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said they had been informed by the Government of the recruitment drive.
“The uplift of teacher recruitment is a provable development which is going to improve the standards for teaching and learning, as well as the quality of education.

The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Lazarus Dokora was not immediately available for comment and his Deputy Professor Paul Mavhima’s phone was not being answered.
However, last week Dr Dokora assured teachers and headmasters that they were exempted from the Government’s decision to freeze the recruitment and promotions in the civil service.
The Government’s decision is part of its staff rationalisation exercise that is in line with recommendations of the Civil Service Report of 2015.
The rationalisation also saw the Government abolishing more than 8 000 posts in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.
In June, Minister Dokora indicated that about to 10 000 teachers and headmasters could be recruited.
At that time, Zimta said the country has about 120 000 teachers in employment, leaving a shortfall of 10 000. About 25 000 teachers are said to be out of work.
Matabeleland North provincial education director Mrs Boithatelo Mnguni last week said the shortage of teachers in the province had resulted in most schools operating with skeleton staff. – State Media

Terrence Mawawa | Masvingo |Controversial Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa has clashed with Environment, Water and Climate Change, Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri over the invasion of white-owned wildlife conservancies in the Save Valley.
Mahofa is trying to push Muchinguri to designate the wildlife conservancies to Zanu PF functionaries.Two months ago Mahofa openly contradicted her boss President Robert Mugabe over the Tongaat land grab programme. The outspoken state minister directly sanctioned the controversial land invasion programme two months ago. In comments likely to spark a racial outcry, ZimEye can reveal Mahofa told Muchinguri in a closed door meeting held in Chiredzi last week, party supporters were not happy with the occupation of wildlife conservancies by the whites at the expense of the ruling party supporters.
“We are not happy because all conservancies are in the hands of white people. Thousands of hectares are in the hands of white people while black people -mainly our supporters are not getting anything.We want our people to run these conservancies,” said Mahofa.
However, Muchinguri openly contradicted Mahofa and accused the latter of rampant greed and corruption. She accused Mahofa of inciting party supporters to grab the conservancies. “People have the wrong impression that there are many conservancies. Some people are shouting on top of their voices but we will not tolerate the invasion of wildlife conservancies. I will make sure that will not happen.I know there are politicians who want to grab the wildlife conservancies in the Save Valley. The people who want to take over the conservancies have failed to utilise the farms they grabbed a few years ago.Therefore we will make sure it will not happen again,” said Muchinguri. Party sources told ZimEye.com both politicians have interests in the Save Valley Conservancies and Muchinguri is wary of Mahofa’s influence in the province.

Harare| A gang of five robbers suspected of stealing $800 and raping a tenant at the Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Harare appeared in court yesterday. The same group also allegedly raided a Total Service Station and got away with $12 000.
One of the accused, Alouis Nyamadzawo (41) is on bail pending appeal while Talent (30) and Shadreck Madzima (40) completed their prison terms. The other two, Edson Murambidzi (23) and Gift Mudamburi (40) have a pending robbery case.They appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande facing robbery and rape charges.
They were remanded in custody to September 15.
Prosecuting, Mr Peter Kachirika alleged that on August 15, at around 2am Nyamadzawo and Madzima teamed with Chikaka, Makodza, Ronnie, Wilbert and Dannie who are on the run.
Armed with a pick and a five-pound hammer, the group went to Total Service Station in Warren Park 1.
They stole $85 and cell phones from two fuel attendants before breaking into the service station store. They stole $12 000 and fled, it is alleged.

Armed with the hammer and pick, they manhandled the security guard, Pfumai Mukodzani.
It is alleged they struck him with a hammer in his head demanding to be shown where the church cash was.
Using the hammer, they broke into the caretaker’s room and started assaulting Funny Mereki and his son Keith. They allegedly stole cellphones and tied Mukodzani and Funny together.
The court heard that the group took Keith and demanded that he show them all the people at the premises. Keith led them to a tenant’s house. It is alleged that they ransacked the house and demanded that the tenant tell them where the church cash was.
They stole shoes and cellphones before shoving Keith under the tenant’s bed. The court heard that one of the accused was left behind while others broke into the pastor’s office and stole $800. He allegedly raped the tenant and only stopped after his accomplices started calling him.- State Media

Terrence Mawawa | Masvingo |A man from Triangle, Chiredzi stunned the local community when he raped his stepdaughter after watching pornography with her.
Masimba Zhowanota(44) of Mpapa, Triangle, discovered that his 16-year-old daughter had pornographic material in her phone and watched the obscene video clips with her. Zhowanota appeared before Chiredzi Resident Magistrate Constance Mutandwa last Tuesday, facing rape charges. Sometime in January 2015 Zhowanota found pornographic videos in the girl’s phone and took advantage of her state of panic to watch the videos with her.
Zhowanota then forcibly had sex with her. From February 2015, the two had sex on several occasions. When the girl’s mother returned from the rural areas she interrogated her daughter after a tip-off from neigbhours. The minor revealed she was pregnant. The minor’s mother then reported the matter to Triangle Police Station leading to Zhowanota’s arrest. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison and six months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. He will serve 18 months in prison.
Zhowanota’s neighbours also related how the minor was subjected to crude sexual acts. “The girl had a torrid time because Zhowanota performed all sorts of crude sexual acts with her. The girl was deeply reluctant to disclose the matter because of the long period she was subjected to sexual abuse,”said one of Zhowanota’s neighbours.

SADC has once again failed Zimbabweans at a crucial point in history, at a time the country is about to explode, with the region suffering the consequences of internal strife.
State media reports that an attempt by opposition political parties and their appendages in civil society to smuggle Zimbabwe onto the Sadc Summit agenda this week failed dismally, with analysts saying the opposing forces had displayed “sterility” on how the regional bloc works.
Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T, Dr Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First and other parties under the banner of National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) wanted regional leaders to discuss minor cases of violence that occurred last week.
Opposition elements were behind the violence which saw them looting shops, burning vehicles and attacking innocent people.
They were supported in their quest to put the country on the agenda by a group calling itself “Elders” comprising Mr Kofi Annan, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Mrs Graca Machel.
The trio last week wrote to Sadc calling on them to “support an inclusive transition in Zimbabwe” on the back of violent opposition demonstrations.
The 36th Sadc Summit of Heads of States and Government in Swaziland on Tuesday and Wednesday found the issue frivolous and concentrated on their agenda that focused on regional industrialisation.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Joey Bimha yesterday said the regional body followed procedures and would never waste time on items brought irrationally.
“The agenda of Sadc is formulated by the (Sadc) chair in consultation with the secretariat,” he said.
“It is decided well before the summit. Items do not just find themselves on the agenda. It’s impossible. The agenda will consist mostly of the implementation of decisions that were made by summit.”
Ambassador Bimha added: “Like in this (Swaziland) case, the summit met and made decisions and the duty of the executive secretary between now and the next summit is to see the implementation of those decisions. A good part of the next summit will be devoted to seeing whether those decisions were implemented. If there are any new issues they are also down and brought by the chair in consultation with the executive secretary, that is the procedure.”

Swaziland’s King Mswati III now chairs the rotational Sadc chairmanship after taking over from Botswana President Ian Khama.
President Mugabe, who set the regional industrialisation agenda the bloc is now seized with, was chairperson between August 2014 and August 2015.
Political analyst Professor Sheunesu Mupepereki said it was clear opposition forces had run out of ideas.
“Their current efforts reflect sterility of ideas on the part of the opposition,” he said.
“They have run out of ideas. The opposition is irrelevant to our current situation especially in terms of addressing matters of the economy. They are simply looking for ways to become relevant but what they are doing is not in sync with the situation that we have. All Zimbabweans should be seized with finding best ways of improving our economy but if you look at the whole idea that people go and demonstrate against an elected Government, it’s a non-starter. When you promote thuggish behaviour as a political process, then you are bound to fail.”
He went on: “There is no cause. It does not address anything and police must move in and ensure there is law and order. The country is faced with economic and political challenges which are generated by the same Western countries who are sponsoring them. This is why Sadc leaders are ignoring them.”
The opposition elements are also angling for a buy-in from the African Union and the United Nations, plans which analysts said would be futile again.
Said another political analyst Mr Goodwine Mureriwa: “Sadc is a region that is devoid of unconstitutional means of removing Governments. The reality is that Sadc does not condone violence and has never accepted even military coups. Southern Africa is perhaps the most peaceful region in Africa.
“Regional countries, especially South Africa, have been firm that they do not want to interfere in Zimbabwe because the country had elections in 2013 and the outcome was convincing to all. It was free and fair and President now has a mandate to rule until 2018. White people’s interests in Southern African countries are very apparent and liberation movements in the region have always have had meetings on a yearly basis because they know that governments in Europe want to remove them and have access to resources.” state media

Harare City Council will shut down Morton Jaffray Water Treatment plant over the weekend to allow for final refurbishment before the onset of the rainy season.
This is set to be the last shutdown of the water treatment plant before the onset of the rains.
In a statement yesterday, council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme said the shutdown would allow the final stages of the refurbishment of Morton Jaffray to be completed before the beginning of the rain season.
“Harare City Council advises its esteemed water customers of the last complete shutdown of the Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant before the onset of the rain season on Saturday 3 September to Sunday 4 September, 2016,” said Mr Chideme.

He further advised residents to store enough water for use during the dry weekend.
“Seventy percent of the installations currently underway at Morton Jaffray Water Plant have already been completed.
“We expect to complete the on-going installation of new plant and equipment under the Morton Jaffray renewal programme during the shutdown.
“The main aim of the renewal programme underway at Morton Jaffray is to improve water delivery and availability in the city.”
Morton Jaffray Water Plant supplies and delivers water to the greater part of Harare whilst other parts of the city rely on Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant.
The city, however, recently expressed concern over the shrinking supply of water in Harare with the dam supplying Prince Edward reported to be almost dry.
Mr Chideme recently confirmed that despite the inroads being made at Morton Jaffray with the current refurbishment of the water treatment plant, the city might still not be able to supply a continuously growing Harare. state media

The High Court in Bulawayo has ordered Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri to reinstate 13 Zvishavane cops fired for unspecified acts of misconduct. The ruling by Justice Maxwell Takuva follows an urgent chamber application filed by the 13 police officers from the Minerals and Border Control Unit challenging their dismissal.The aggrieved cops, who were fired on different occasions, appealed to the Police Service Commission in terms of Section 51 of the Police Act between February and April, but their boss allegedly refused to reinstate them.
In papers before the court, the fired police officers cited Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo and Comm-Gen Chihuri as respondents.
Justice Takuva ruled that Comm-Gen Chihuri’s refusal to reinstate the applicants after they had noted an appeal was unlawful.
“In casu, the Commissioner-General exercised his powers in terms of the Police Act and discharged the applicants, who then appealed against the order in terms of Section 51 of the Police Act, whose effect is that an appeal automatically by operation of the law suspends the decision appealed against,” said the judge.

Justice Takuva directed the police chief not to execute his order until the Police Service Commission has given its decision.
“In the circumstance, the Commissioner-General cannot claim to have powers to discharge and not to reinstate.
“In my view, to argue that it is the Police Service Commission that should reinstate amounts to requiring the applicants to apply for stay of execution in circumstances where that relief has already been granted by the law,” said the judge.
“In the circumstances, it is ordered that, pending confirmation of the provisional order, an interim relief is granted ordering the first respondent to reinstate the 13 applicants into the Police Service forthwith,” ruled Justice Takuva.
The cops, led by one Constable Mutimusakwa, recently filed the application following their dismissal.
The police officers through their lawyer, Mr Norman Mugiya, sought an order directing their boss to reinstate them into the police service pending the finalisation of the matter.
Mr Mugiya argued that his clients were supposed to be reinstated as soon as their appeals were received.
Comm-Gen Chihuri, through the Civil Division in the Attorney-General’s Office, said it was improper to bunch all the applicants in one application, arguing that they had different scenarios.
The Civil Division in the AG’s Office argued that the Comm-Gen of the Police is not an employer and has no power to compel the Police Service Commission to reinstate the applicants. state media

The Mike Campbell Foundation has defended the white commercial farmer Geofrey Kelly McKinnon (66) after state media accused him of keeping firearms at his farm.
According to the foundation, the accused “Mark McKinnon recently represented Zimbabwe in the World Championships with his shotgun and the Zimbabwean team ranked 19th out of 42 nations.
“Sadly he had to withdraw from the recent Rio Olympics because of the jambanja (violent farm eviction) situation he was having to deal with.”
Read full Facebook post below:
And from the State newspaper the Herald, who in their delight at discovering a bullet making making machine and a number of rounds at the home of the evicted McKinnon family immediately pronounced it a ‘British’ arms cache (the Australian flag has a Union Jack in its left corner).
This ‘British’ remark was soon removed from the report after the unidentified “crime reporter” received a roasting on social media, however it seems he is still unable to identify the nationality of the offending ‘sponsors’.
The truth behind the bullet machine and the rifles is going to leave this ‘crime reporter’ with his foot in his mouth however. Just rewards for disinformation..
Today’s story in the Herald vilifying the McKinnon’s after their eviction on Tuesday the 30th of August was false and mischievous. The Herald made out that the McKinnons had illegal arms of war and were manufacturing ammunition illegally.
Mark McKinnon recently represented Zimbabwe in the World Championships with his shotgun and the Zimbabwean team ranked 19th out of 42 nations. Sadly he had to withdraw from the recent Rio Olympics because of the jambanja (violent farm eviction) situation he was having to deal with.
All his weapons were licensed as well as his reloading machine for his ammunition.
Their eviction case is on appeal before the High Court and as such any orders from the magistrate’s court are suspended until such time as the High Court hears the appeal and gives judgement.
 

Disgruntled war veterans have warned President Robert Mugabe of worsening civil unrest in the country if Zanu PF bigwigs continue with their mindless bloodletting, as well as their current crackdown on dissenting voices, including former freedom fighters.
Reacting yesterday to what he called the continued “persecution” of his family — as well as growing personal attacks on former Vice President Joice Mujuru — the secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), Victor Matemadanda, also told the Daily News that Mugabe had “failed the nation”.
Matemadanda spoke in the wake of the invasion of his Karoi farm by Zanu PF youths linked to the ruling party faction going by the moniker Generation 40 (G40), observing ruefully that ever since war veterans had started criticising the former liberation movement and its leaders, they and their families had not known peace.
Matemadanda, along with four other ZNLWVA leaders, were also recently arrested on charges of undermining the authority of Mugabe, and are currently out on bail.
However, he said yesterday, his family continued to be harassed by “vindictive” authorities.
“The continued harassment of my son who is a teacher at Kasimhure Secondary School in Karoi is a huge cause for concern. They want to mobilise people to demonstrate against him and hound him out of his job even though he has all the educational qualifications to be a teacher.
“However, these people (who allegedly include Zanu PF women’s league secretary for finance Sarah Mahoka) should know that I can retaliate. Mahoka is just a civilian and I am a trained soldier. They should not cry foul or arrest us when we fight back. We are going to defend ourselves and there will be bloodshed,” he warned.
His warning also followed Mugabe’s fierce attack on war veterans in June — when he threatened to deal severely with the disenchanted ex-combatants who stand accused of plotting to stampede the increasingly frail nonagenarian out of power and working to elevate embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the highest political office in the land.
On their part, the angry war veterans, who are led by former Cabinet minister Chris Mutsvangwa, have since gone on to dump Zanu PF as well and are now fraternising with anti-Mugabe groups such as Tajamuka/Sesijikile, as well as opposition parties, including the MDC and Zimbabwe People First (ZPF).
Matemadanda warned yesterday that Zanu PF “should not attempt to stop” these budding alliances or move to crush demonstrations by the populace as this would backfire.
He also said it was wrong that Mugabe and Zanu PF were “hell bent on rewriting history” and sidelining war veterans such as Mujuru and Mnangagwa who had played key roles during the country’s liberation war.
“We are going to go around the country to tell the people about our history. Mugabe wants to remove the people he met during the war and there are a lot of machinations to get rid of everyone who has something to do with the country’s liberation struggle.
“It is very unfortunate that we have a government packed with Mugabe’s relatives who are trying to run this country from their backyard. They are abusing everyone. This should not happen in the country. A family should not run the entire affairs of the country.
“Can Mugabe fire his nephew even when he is not competent? We also demand an apology regarding the vilification of female war veterans. How can one claim that people like (Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister) Mandi Chimene is better than Mujuru?
“Can a child who is 17 years old refuse the orders of a commander? And how can such a woman be abused on different fronts, by her own and the enemy? We also want this government to tell us if the children from the war that we have were a result of consensual sex,” Matemadanda thundered.
Turning to George Rutanhire, the man who recently tore into Mujuru and accused her of having caused the death of some combatants during the war, he said those “with logs in their eyes should not lose sleep about the speck in other people’s eyes”.
“Can he tell us how many people he abused during the liberation struggle? We have five female comrades who are telling us that he sexually abused them. We want an apology from this person.
“We saying Mugabe is old. Everyone is seeing that. How can he also go for 34 years with Joice and allow people to abuse her now?” Matemadanda asked further.
Apart from facing rising anger from the opposition, Mugabe is also facing the biggest challenge of his political career as his ambitious underlings brawl about succeeding him, with some of them now standing accused of aiding the wave of protests ravaging the country.
Matemadanda said Mugabe had himself to blame for the current chaos as those people whom he had been sidelining would regroup and challenge him in future elections.
“She (Mujuru) was expelled from Zanu PF but because she is a politician, she formed her own party. She tried to complain and they did not listen. They must realise that there is life after Zanu PF. It is not her choice that she formed her own party but Mugabe’s.
“When Morgan Tsvangirai was the leader of ZCTU (Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions) he was told you are talking politics, so form your own party and he did that. Now he is being labelled an agent of the West. But the truth is that Robert Mugabe is the real agent of the West.
“He (Mugabe) is the agent because he is fighting everyone. There is no rehabilitation in Zanu PF. He is the only one who will not go astray, is that normal?” he queried further.
In the meantime, riot police were awash in urban areas yesterday, including the capital Harare, after panicking authorities vowed to prevent further protests against the government.
While traffic was thin in Bulawayo, most towns around the country were open for business despite the call for a shutdown. Daily news

Staff Reporter |Over 53 000 families in Chiredzi are in dire need of food assistance as hunger intensifies in the sugarcane production province, with the  United Nations calling for urgent intervention before the situation gets out of hand.
Out of the 53 000 starving families at least 22, 179 households are receiving food aid from the United Nations donor agencies.
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Bishow Parajuli who is on a three day field mission to drought affected rural wards in Chiredzi district, on Thursday said their efforts to assist the starving villagers need to be increased.
In rural like Chikovo, irrigation scheme in Magogogwe,  Panganayi  in Chiredzi the donor community is  transferring cash through Ecocash to the starving population as a way of assisting them.
“These efforts have to be scaled up to reach more people in need and commended donors for their support,”said Parajuli.
Nationwide, as the result of the drought, some 4.1 million rural people need food aid.
Government has appealed for $360 million to cover the period of April 2016 – March 2017 and at the moment nearly $190 million has been committed by several donors.
 
 

Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) leader Joice Mujuru has urged police to refrain from attacking protestors warning that brutalising them is self-defeating because the current protests are also meant to improve the livelihoods of impoverished police officers across the country.
Mujuru made this appeal as opposition political parties prepare to demonstrate in Harare tomorrow against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and delayed electoral reforms.
“With respect, we urge the police to note that the people they are brutalising are also fighting for their cause,” Mujuru said yesterday in a statement.
“The police are also affected by late payment of their meagre salaries. The police need decent transport and accommodation facilities. The police also need to eat and pay school
fees for their children.
“The police stay with people; and they are also human beings. They also need to pay their rentals in time,” she added.
Last Friday, police bludgeoned hundreds of protesters who had gathered in Harare under the auspices of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera), a grouping of 18 opposition political parties that had planned to demonstrate against the Zec secretariat on outstanding electoral reforms.
Even after the High Court had ruled that the protest march could go ahead, riot police — backed by armoured trucks and water cannons — indiscriminately fired volleys of teargas at all and sundry, battering and chasing groups of determined opposition supporters.
Mujuru yesterday said the parties will go ahead with the demonstration, warning President Robert Mugabe that no amount of repression would stop people from fighting for their rights.
“Zimbabweans demand electoral reforms and hence the need for an even electoral play field. Zimbabweans demand the removal of SI 64 that is impacting negatively on their livelihoods. Zimbabweans say no to the introduction of bond notes that seek to completely erode our dignity and integrity as a people,” said Mujuru.
“We urge Zimbabweans to remain resolute for their noble cause. We urge our supporters to remain calm and exercise maximum restraint in the face of provocation, coercion and brutality.
“We urge all peace loving Zimbabweans to respect other people’s rights and properties as we march through this difficult journey to liberate ourselves, and for together another Zimbabwe is possible,” added Mujuru.
Last Friday’s protest march, which the opposition wanted to use to press for much-needed electoral reforms ahead of Zimbabwe’s eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections, prompted nervous authorities to place the entire capital city under a virtual lockdown.
Many people going about their daily chores, including journalists covering the chaos and children who were going to the nearby Harare Agricultural Show, were caught up in the resultant mayhem, as the mad-as-hell riot police pursued and savaged anything and everything on two legs.
Mugabe in power since 1980, is facing the biggest challenge to his rule as the economic meltdown and corruption have given rise to dissent.
In July riots also broke out in the border town of Beitbridge when angry traders protested against the government’s ill-advised decision to ban the importation of basic consumer goods.
More than 70 people were arrested in the aftermath of those riots which destroyed property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, including the burning of a warehouse belonging to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
The riots later spread to Harare where police once again used force to break a demonstration called by commuter omnibus drivers and touts to protest too many police roadblocks on the roads which they said had become extortionate. daily news

Staff Reporter |Police in Gwanda have refused to sanction the Matabeleland South NERA mega demonstration scheduled for Gwanda tomorrow.
Sources close to the organisers of the demonstration told ZimEye.com that police sent correspondence to them late Thursday evening declaring that the demonstration has not been sanctioned and will not be allowed to go ahead.
Following the correspondence, the police took to the streets in a public address warning residents not to take part in the demonstration.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports claim that leaders of NERA have called on the provinces to suspend the demonstrations tomorrow until further notice amidst rumours that government has declared a state of emergency.

Staff Reporter | Government has declared a state of emergency over Harare city, unilaterally banning all public demonstrations from the 2nd to the 16th of September.
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Government officials have hinted over the past days that the continued protests against his authority would lead to the declaration of a state of emergency.
Robert Mugabe’s close aide for many years George Charamba, writing as Nathaniel Manheru, is the author of a weekly column in the government controlled Herald newspaper in which the implied threat of a state of emergency was made last Saturday.
He said recent events have brought Zimbabwe to a critical point and implied government would take a tough stance against perceived enemies while damning the international community.
Below is the full statement issued by government:
Govt bans public demos within Harare CBD:
The government has, with effect from this Friday, the 2nd of September, 2016, banned all public demonstrations in and around the Harare central business district.
The ban will be in place until the 16th of this month.
The ban is in line with Statutory Instrument 101 A of 2016 issued in an Extra-Ordinary Government Gazette this Thursday.
The statutory instrument stipulates that the regulating authority, Harare
Central Police District, Chief Superintendent Newbert Saunyama has banned public demonstrations on reasonable grounds that the powers conferred by Section 26 of the Public Order and Security Act Chapter 11:17 will not be sufficient to prevent public disorder.
ZRP national spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba says any person who organises, assists in organising, takes part in or attends any procession of public demonstration starting tomorrow (Friday) shall be guilty of an offence.
Police have also banned the carrying of dangerous weapons as the law enforcement agents move in to curb the destruction of property and violent protests being perpetrated by MDC-T hooligans.
The ZRP regulating authority of Harare issued a prohibition order on the carrying in public places of dangerous weapons for a period of three months up to the 2nd of December 2016.
The police noted that the prohibition order has been issued in terms of Section 14 (1) of Public Order and Security Act Chapter 11:17.

The ZANU-PF Youth League will set the ball rolling tomorrow when it convenes its first National Youth Assembly meeting at the party’s headquarters in Harare – the first such indaba since its national executive was ushered into office in 2014.

Press Statement | The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) expresses serious concern over the continued harassment and intimidation of Journalists and media workers by security forces.
These concerns arise from the continuing and escalating arrests, assaults, intimidation and harassment of journalists by police, while in the line of duty. The latest episode concerns the arrest of Bulawayo based freelance photojournalist, Crispen Ndlovu, by police in Bulawayo on Wednesday this week while covering a demonstration that had been cleared by police.
The VMCZ is mindful of the prevailing unrest in the country and the role the security forces have to play in maintaining law and order in the country.
However, the VMCZ reminds the police of the constitutional rights of journalists in carrying their duties to inform the public of developments in the country and therefore urges police and all members of society to allow journalists to freely execute their duties without hindrance.
Ndlovu’s arrest comes against the background of previous similar incidents against journalists in the last few months. These include the assault of freelance journalist Lucy Yasini while covering demonstrations in Harare while several journalists, including Albert Masaka, Obey Manayit, Robert Tapfumaneyi and Paidamoyo Muzulu were also either assaulted or detained by the police while on assignment.
Freelance journalist James Jemwa is still in police detention after he was arrested last week in Harare while covering a demonstration.
The VMCZ emphasises that journalists have a constitutional right to a safe and secure working environment and strongly condemns any acts that hinder or interfere with their constitutional mandate to inform the public.
These attacks, particularly on journalists who will be lawfully conducting their business, is a serious threat to the profession, safety and security of journalists and has implications on the media’s capacity to inform the citizenry.
VMCZ takes this opportunity to urge the police to protect members of the media and not use heavy handed techniques against members of the press.
 
In addition, VMCZ strongly believes in an ethical, accountable and professional media and these three important tenets cannot be achieved if media continue to operate under threat and constant fear from law enforcement agents.
The VMCZ urges the police to engage with media houses and media organisations to find a lasting solution on how members of the media covering volatile situations can be protected by the police and law enforcement agents.
The VMCZ firmly believes that while the police have a role to protect the public they also have a role to especially protect defenceless members of the press, whose sole mandate is to inform all in society.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has cancelled the NERA demo previously slated for tomorrow Friday.
Tsvangirai in an official party statement said: Please be informed that the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA) Mega Demonstration that had previously been scheduled for tomorrow (Friday, 02 September 2016) has been postponed to Friday 16 September 2016.”
The reasons for the shifting was not clear at the time of writing.

An annular solar eclipse passing through African regions has got superstitious Zimbabweans running wild claiming it is the gods announcing the death of President Robert Mugabe.
The eclipse which was not foretold by the local media caught many Zimbabweans unaware raising questions such as “what could be happening in the heavens?”
The eclipse which came coincidentally with reports claiming that President Mugabe gave in mid air on his way to his hospital in Singapore last night, got Zimbabweans confirming the rumour of the President’s supposed death.
Today 1, September, 2016 from 09:03 AM to 12:36PM areas around much of equatorial and Southern Africa including Zimbabwe experience a partial Eclipse of the sun.
The moon will pass in front of the sun, creating a ring of fire and viewers will be able to see the moon across the sun.
Specialists warn that looking directly at the sun during an Annular Eclipse can lead to blindness and permanent eye damage if one views the eclipse not wearing proper eye protection gadgets.
To safely view the Annular Eclipse one needs special protective eye wear or Eclipse glasses.
Basic glasses even those with UV protection will not be sufficient to protect one’s eyes.

THE Government has dismissed as baseless claims that there is discrimination of former Zipra forces in Government.
The Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees, Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube, said both Zipra and Zanla combatants received the same treatment at Independence.
He told the House of Assembly last week that it was now irrelevant to talk about the former freedom fighting units as they were integrated at Independence in 1980.
Rtd Col Dube was responding to a question by Magwegwe Member of Parliament, Mr Anele Ndebele (MDC-T), who had accused the Government of denigrating and undermining the exploits of Zipra forces during the liberation struggle.
“The truth is that we no longer have Zipra Forces, we have former Zipra and former Zanla Forces. To be open with you, I was one of those who were in charge of integrating these forces in 1980. So, to now talk of Zipra Forces is not relevant,” said Rtd Col Dube.
“There is no discrimination whatsoever between former Zipra and former Zanla Forces. They have all been integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA). Those who were not integrated, some of them are war veterans and are treated the same.”
He said the challenge is with war veterans who did not register and are not receiving benefits from Government.

“The problem that we usually face is that some comrades did not register for vetting when they were called to do so. Those who did not go for vetting, it means they were not registered as war veterans and as a result they remain outside the benefits of the war veterans,” said Rtd Col Dube.
“However, all those who were vetted and found to be true veterans of the liberation war have no reason to think that they are segregated in any way because they get their pensions and constitutional rights according to the law. So, it is not true that any group can be segregated in any way”.
Rtd Col Dube said vetting was still in progress and any war veteran who had not been vetted could go to the former freedom fighters’ offices dotted around the country with the necessary requirements.
He said his ministry was working hard to secure the welfare of groups that took part in the liberation struggle.
“Sometimes, resources are not readily available, but we are doing everything possible to do what we are supposed to do.
“For instance, we talk of fees for their dependants. This has not been done on time sometimes, but all the same whenever resources get available we dispatch them accordingly,” said Rtd Col Dube.
Last week, Rtd Col Dube said his ministry was awaiting payment from Treasury to settle school fees for the country’s liberators’ children.
He added that his ministry has devised a mechanism to avoid fraudulent school fee claims by beneficiaries through paying directly to schools and colleges. state media
 

Terrence Mawawa, Gweru | In a tragic incident that has shaken the Ascot community in Gweru, a man who resides in the suburb killed himself after testing HIV positive.
Despite the fact that many people are living with HIV, the man, Leeroy Zviti(36) killed himself after testing HIV positive . Zviti was found hanging from a tree at Senga Nehosho roundabout along the Gweru-Shurugwi Highway last Wednesday. His body was identified by a passerby who said Zviti was his friend. He then assisted the police with the late Zviti’s details.The friend also told the police Zviti had tested HIV positive a few weeks before his death and could not accept it. A hospital card was also found in Zviti’s pockets. A medical expert who spoke to ZimEye.com said Zviti’s failure to accept the test results was sad and worrying.
“We always urge people to go for testing and counselling. It is unfortunate Zviti could not accept the results. Let me stress the fact that a person can lead a normal life even after testing HIV positive.Whether one is negative or positive, it has to be known that we are all HIV equal so there was no need for the man to kill himself. This means we have a lot work in terms of counselling people who test HIV positive,”said the Gweru based medical expert.

OFFICIALS at the Bulawayo Regional court were left in shock recently after a pregnant 12 year-old from Plumtree confidently defended her brother, who impregnated her, saying she did not want him jailed.
The court officials learnt that the pair had been engaging in an incestual relationship since December 2015. The minor’s brother (18) had been arrested for seven counts of rape.
His younger sister, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, allegedly became sexually active when she was 10 years old.
She attracted the attention of a state media news crew on Thursday last week as she boldly told officials at the set-down office that she was prepared to look after the baby with her brother.
“I am prepared to have this child. I love my boyfriend, we have discussed this and we agreed that we are going to look after our child. If you people send him to jail who is going to fend for my child?” she asked.
The girl’s elder sister wailed as she narrated to the court officials that she was having disciplinary problems with the victim.

“We don’t know what to do with her anymore. She started being wild at the age of 10. Sometimes she would sleep at bars and parties. My sister needs help please help her,” pleaded the older sister.
The pregnant girl was referred to victim friendly unit for counselling.
According to the State papers, on the first count of rape the accused met the victim on her way from gathering firewood.
“Accused tripped complainant and he raped her once. Complainant told her mother about the incident. On the second occasion complainant met accused on her way from fetching water.”
“Accused took away her bucket so that they could have sex but she ran away. Accused later went to complainant’s house and lured her to his homestead claiming that he wanted to give her money. They had sex four times during the night and accused accompanied complainant back home at dawn,” read the papers.
On another occasion, the papers further read, accused gave the victim R5 before he took her to his homestead overnight.
“On another occasion, accused gave complainant P100 after having sex with her. They later met at a party where they had sexual intercourse again before proceeding to the complainant’s house for the rest of the night.”
The papers read that complainant’s mother noticed changes in her daughter and she took her to Plumtree District Hospital where her pregnancy was confirmed. state media

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission investigations manager Ms Sukai Tongogara has been reassigned to a new post of general manager external relations and international conventions in the commission. Mr Savious Kufandada is tipped to take over as general manager investigations and prosecutions.Ms Tongogara was cleared of charges of misconduct following a disciplinary hearing last month.
She was facing two counts of misconduct. She was accused of being part of the secretariat that formed a private company called Private Mortgage Company (PMC) without the knowledge or resolution of the commission.
It was further alleged that Ms Tongogara and three others diverted $1,7 million from Treasury to buy individual shares in a private company. This was said to be tantamount to theft of public funds and making improper use of public funds. Ms Tongogara denied both allegations against her.
Through her lawyer, Mr Joel Mambara, Ms Tongogara was cleared of both counts after a fully contested disciplinary hearing. Ms Loice Mukunyadzi chaired the disciplinary committee which ruled in favour of Ms Tongogara.
“After assessing all evidence placed before this committee there is nothing to show that respondent participated in the whole scheme,” said Ms Mukunyadza.
“It cannot be ruled out that her name was fraudulently put on CR/14.”
She said at the time the corrupt activities were happening at ZACC, she was not even at work. Ms Mukunyadza also noted that the committee went through the minutes of meetings which were held by PMC directors, and discovered that Ms Tongogara never participated in the meetings.

“It will be improper of this committee to find the respondent guilty of the misconduct charges since there is nothing to suggest that she participated in the whole scheme,” she said.
Ms Tongogara was charged together with three others — Mr Christopher Chisango (general manager finance, administration and human resources), Mr Edwin Mubataripi (general manager, prevention and advocacy) and Mr Gibson Mangwiro — who was the chief accountant/finance manager.
The three managers were convicted of engaging in corrupt activities that involved the former Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chief executive Ngonidzashe Gumbo.
Gumbo, a former Senior Assistant Commissioner in the Zimbabwe Republic Police, was jailed for two years last year for defrauding the commission of $435 000.
He bought offices to be used by the commission in Mt Pleasant, Harare, using Government funds, but registered the property in the name of a company he jointly owned with the three.
The State proved that in 2010, ZACC approached the Home Affairs Ministry seeking alternative accommodation when their landlords were about to evict them.
The ministry instructed Gumbo to look for alternative property and he identified 872 Betterment Close in Mt Pleasant that belonged to Diane Spalletah. Gumbo then requested $1 680 000 from the ministry to buy the property and Government deposited $1,7 million into a ZACC account.
He instructed his subordinates Mubataripi, Chisango and Mangwiro to form a shelf company called Property Mortgage where they became directors with equal shares. herald

A whizz-kid from Murambinda B Secondary School in Buhera, Prudence Zvikomborero Mavura, has raised the country’s flag high after scooping the prestigious Sadc secondary schools essay writing award. Mavura was handed over the award by Sadc outgoing chairman President Ian Khama of Botswana during the 36th Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit in Swaziland.She beat 44 other contestants drawn from Sadc member states.
The second prize went to another Zimbabwean pupil, Rehlutsi Victoria Magabo from Mosi-a-Tunya High School in Victoria Falls.

Speaking to The Herald yesterday, an elated Mavura said: “We are happy and proud for winning top prizes in this competition. This is the first time in the history of this competition that top two positions go to participants from the same country.”
Mavura encouraged other pupils to take part in the competitions and aim high in their studies: “I want to show the nation that no matter where you come from, you just have to be self-driven and inspirational,” she said.
“You can never know what you can do unless you try.”
She paid tribute to her schoolteacher and mentor Mr Joseph Kufa for supporting and encouraging her.
Mavura said Mr Kufa assisted her to do research on the proposed Sadc topic.
Mr Kufa who was accompanying her said: “I am happy for her co-operation and these are her individual efforts through research.
“We have an essay club at our school where we nurture our kids in essay writing. This is not the first time that Prudence has done us proud. Last year she got the second prize in the same competition in Botswana.
“Locally, she has received several awards in essay writing and I urge her to continue working hard. She has proved that she can do wonders for our country and despite that she is coming from a small school in the rural areas she has managed to conquer the region.”
For coming first in the competition, Mavura received a laptop, tablet and a cash prize of $1 500.
Magabo from Mosi-a-Tunya High School also walked away with a laptop, smartphone and a cash prize of $1 000.
The essays topic was derived from themes which are discussed when summits are held and the topic was: “Accelerating industrialisation in Sadc Economies Through Transformation of Natural Endowment and Improved Human Capital.”
Students are provided with six guiding questions which help them come up with an essay. – state media

Staff Reporter | Former Intelligence guru and war lord Didymus Mutasa, who now plays a prominent role as the National Electoral Reforms Agenda (NERA) face and spokesperson is a liar and election thief, together with his boss Joice Mujuru, Zimbabweans have said.
Zimbabweans have reacted angrily to recent revelations by Mutasa that veteran opposition politician Morgan Tsvangirai won the crucial 2008 by 74 percent. At the time not only were Zimbabweans robbed of their future and still suffering to this day, Mutasa and Mujuru benefited from the status quo back then, and even took part in the traumatic bloodletting that ensued in the run off elections which gave President Mugabe victory. The two until they were chased like thieves out of Zanu PF, have silently watched while Tsvangirai who they now assert lacks boldness, was in the trenches fighting tooth and nail for democracy. Consequently, they become complicit, not just in violence, election theft, murders, but as agents who willingly and knowingly gave a new lease of life to Mugabe.
A human rights lawyer told ZimEye when it comes to matters of accountability, criminal offences dating back even to the Ian Smith regime will be considered, meaning the likes of Mujuru and Mutasa will not easily run under the cover of opposition politics to avoid scrutiny.
“Why didn’t he come out with the truth then? Is he trying to buy trust from us? Well its not for sale you earn it by your reputation?” asked one Zimbabwean.
Another wrote, “Mutasa is also an election thief. He was involved in this and is now coming out at a late date to say otherwise. Mutasa and Mujuru must explain themselves; tell us the role they played in all this mess. Our country is at crossroads over the situation they created whilst in Zanu.”
Mutasa’s attempts of buying a new life as an opposition figure might not be as easy as he thinks.
Speaking to journalists, Mutasa said Tsvangirai was just not bold enough to demand what was rightly his so Mugabe took advantage of this to continue as President of Zimbabwe illegally. Mutasa said this when journalists asked him in his current capacity as the spokesperson of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA) if he thought Mugabe would buckle to pressure from the protesters.
“One thing you don’t know is that Mugabe is a hopeless coward… when Tsvangirai won the 2008 election by 73,8% he wanted to run away… he wanted to flee from Zimbabwe and it only took Chiwenga and others to claim him as work on rigging the results started… he was not sure that it would work and he started panicking more when the rigging process appeared to be going on for ever… he feared the people would pour out in the streets. “If we put enough pressure on him, he will buckle in… if you ask those of us who know him better.
If he was such a hard nut to crack, do you think some of us would be into this thing in the first place… we are doing it because we know our target very well.” In 2008, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission withheld the results of the Presidential vote for a record five weeks, after which they showed that Tsvangirai won 47,9% of the vote and Mugabe 43,2%, necessitating a run-off, which Tsvangirai pull out of citing widespread violence against his party’s members and supporter.