Staff Reporter | Zanu PF leadership in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe is victimizing locals who attended a meeting which was organized by the Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) at Mutawatawa business Centre.
RTUZ called for a meeting with locals including teachers on the 19 August, where they planned for the over 200 Km march from Mashonaland East province to Harare in protest of poor working conditions for teachers.
The protest march was aborted in Mrewa after the police arrested leaders of the protest who were walking from Uzumba to Harare.
Heal Zimbabwe trust, a peace promotion lobby NGO, this week reported that Zanu PF Uzumba ward 6 chairman, Godfrey Chikono was moving in the ward tracking down people who attended the protest planning meeting.
“During the exercise, Chikono is telling villagers that if they continue to attend meetings which are not sanctioned by the Zanu PF leadership, they run the risk of being evicted from the area,” said Heal Zimbabwe.
Heal Zimbabwe also said that Zanu PF officials in the same area had started threatening people to vote for them in the forth coming elections.
“ Zanu PF held a meeting on 21 August  in Hukuimwe village which was addressed by the party’s district  Chairman, Cleopas Kufuka where he  told villagers that all known opposition supporters in the area, will be “eliminated” before the 2018 elections.
“When asked by one villager what he meant, Kufuka only said that people should never forget the 2008 violence,” said Heal Zimbabwe.
 

A female protester who is among the sixty-eight Zimbabwean protesters at court in Harare to apply for bail following their arrest during last Friday’s demonstration has fainted.
The court proceedings were interrupted when one female prisoner fainted and later confesses that she had not eaten since morning.
State prosecutors said the charge faced by the activists was serious and is punishable by a sentence of not less that 10 years.
The protesters could face a lengthy remand jail time after the state today spiritedly opposed bail for the activists arguing that they will cause more disturbances if granted.
The state  said the accused who include journalists are members of #Tajamuka and that they burnt a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) vehicle and stoned a police vehicle.

CHURCH and traditional leaders have warned State security agents that they risk being tormented by avenging spirits of thousands of citizens they were tormenting under the guise of enforcing law and order.
The warning came following the publication of gory pictures and videos showing riot police officers ruthlessly crushing dissent in the just-ended anti-government protests.
Zimbabwe Christian Alliance director Useni Sibanda said police officers who brutalised peaceful demonstrators must understand that such violence would have a psychological impact on them as well.
“It will affect them mentally and in some cases we have been counselling perpetrators of violence who need their memories to be healed of the heinous acts they would have committed,” he said.
Reports say several soldiers developed mental problems following their participation in the Gukurahundi massacres where over 20 000 people in Matabeleland and Midlands regions were reportedly killed by 5 Brigade at the height of the dissident insurgency in the 1980s.
“The fact that families and people are aggrieved is a curse on that person and his family. God will judge that person for those acts because God defends the powerless and weak,” Sibanda said.
Mthwakazi kaMzilikazi Cultural Association member Nhlanhla Khumalo said: “In our culture, love and respect are very important values of the society. If you pretend to be clever and kill someone, the spirit of the dead person will always follow you wherever you are. It might not be now, but it will surely happen.”
“Those who can be sent by anyone to kill must know that it’s not those who sent them who suffer spiritual attack, but those who participate in the killing of innocent people. The one you are killing sees you and not the one who sent you hence you become that person’s target,” he added.
Ibhetshu Likazulu activist Mbuso Fuzwayo also issued similar warnings.
Zapu deputy spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa said it is a known fact that avenging spirits do exist and were known to cause long-term harm on perpetrators’ surviving family members.
“The police and military officers, while they carry out orders to brutalise citizens, should remember that they will face the consequences alone with their families. Those issuing the orders will still be enjoying their luxurious good lives free of the backlash from avenging spirits,” Maphosa said.
“Besides fear of avenging spirits, police and the military must respect both human life and human rights. People of this country have a constitutional right to display dissatisfaction and displeasure with the regime through demonstrations and nobody should take that right away through brutality.” – Newsday

A grouping of political parties coalescing under the banner National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) have approached the High Court to formally advise that their sanctioned demonstration last week failed to take off owing to police interference.
This comes after law enforcement agents brutally crashed a demonstration organised by the grouping to press for comprehensive electoral reforms ahead of the much-anticipated 2018 elections.
But Nera spokesperson Didymus Mutasa said in a statement yesterday the political parties had rescheduled the demonstration that they are tipping to be of colossal proportions to this Friday.
Mutasa added that the Nera will also be staging demonstrations countrywide on the same day.
“To this end, Nera will tomorrow formally advise the court that the sanctioned demonstration never took place as the police, in a brazen act of contempt of court, violently stopped citizens from marching on the sanctioned route,” Mutasa said on Sunday.
The former State Security minister, now a member of the Joice Mujuru-led opposition Zimbabwe People First party said it will be up to the judiciary to determine the fate of Home Affairs minister and the ZRP over their contempt case.
The court order that Nera obtained after police refused to clear them for the demonstration specifically barred them from obstructing or interfering with the march.
He emphasised that political parties under Nera were organisations of peace-loving Zimbabweans, saying “we mean no harm to anyone”.
“We demand nothing more than being allowed our constitutional right to march and to hand over a petition to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) so that they begin to put in place mechanisms for a truly free, fair and credible electoral process ahead of the next election.
“We also further advise that apart from the protest march in Harare, Nera structures in all provinces, cities and towns will be informing the place of similar marches in their areas on the same day.
“Zimbabweans are under no illusion that we are where we are because of the crisis of legitimacy. On Friday, the whole nation wishes to speak with one voice by peacefully demanding that the next election be truly free, fair and credible,” the statement reads further.
Describing the behaviour of the police in crashing their demonstration as callous, the Nera parties argued that Zimbabweans have previously protested without incidents of violence.
“As Nera, we are heartened that the world is watching and that the United Nations has come out to say it is disturbed by the brutality of the Zimbabwe police on innocent citizens.
“The onus is on the State to exercise restraint and allow Zimbabweans to exercise their constitutional rights,” the parties said.
In the aftermath of last week’s crashed demonstration, police launched a crackdown during the night, firing teargas at people walking in town with unconfirmed reports that they went around beating people in bars in the city centre.
The genesis of the socio-economic and political crises the country is grappling with, the Nera parties say, was the disputed 2013 elections “that bred a government with no local and international confidence”.
They argued that disputed elections remained the pressing national concern hence their demand for Zec to listen to them “so that we cure this recurring disease of illegitimacy arising out of contentious elections that breed disputed outcomes”. daily news

Insiders said the two politicians discussed areas of mutual co-operation “to end brutality and misrule in Zimbabwe”, which they both accuse President Robert Mugabe of being the mastermind of.
“The meeting was about strengthening relations between the two institutions (war veterans and MDC-T), as well as discussing ways to end Zanu PF rule,” an insider said.
Attempts to get a comment from Matemadanda were fruitless, as his mobile phone went unanswered, while Douglas Mahiya, the war veterans’ association’s spokesperson, said he had no knowledge of the said meeting.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I have no information on the supposed meeting,” he said.
Matemadanda and other war veterans’ leaders, who include their chairman, Christopher Mutsvangwa, were recently expelled from Zanu PF on allegations of being rebellious.
The ex-freedom fighters were accused of plotting to overthrow Mugabe and replace him with his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Last month, Matemadanda fired a salvo at Zanu PF’s G40 faction, describing it as being a worse devil than Tsvangirai.
Zanu PF accuses Tsvangirai of being a puppet of Western countries that imposed sanctions on government officials, including Mugabe and his wife, First Lady Grace Mugabe. Newsday

A ZIMBABWE Electoral Commission (Zec) officer has been arrested for allegedly canvassing votes for an independent candidate during a council by-election held in Gweru last month.
Ephraim Hodzi (37) appeared before Midlands Provincial magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing one count of canvassing for votes.
Hodzi through his lawyer Mr Brian Dube pleaded not guilty to the charge. He is out free on bail. Hodzi applied for discharge at the close of the state’s case and the ruling would be made on Thursday.
Prosecutor, Mr Andrew Marimo said on July 23, Mrs Maria Dzamira was the presiding officer at Mambo Secondary School in Gweru during the Ward 7 poll.
“The accused was one of the polling officers who were vetting voters at the entrance before entering the room to cast their votes.
“On the same date there was Chemedzai Maburo in the queue waiting for her turn to cast her vote,” said the prosecutor.

The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) will not accept payments through point of sale machines at tollgates as this can cause congestion and delays at tolling points, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Instead, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joram Gumbo encouraged motorists to embrace the prepaid tollgate fee system.
He was responding to a question in Parliament by Buhera South legislator Cde Joseph Chinotimba on Wednesday on why Zinara was not embracing the use of plastic money at tollgates.
“At tollgates, we may not be able to use the POS machines because we will spend a lot of time but I am advising motorists to use prepaid facilities. If we are to allow you to use the POS machines at the tollgates, it may take a long time and the queues can be so long that you will end up getting bored,” said Minister Gumbo.
He said as an alternative, Zinara had a new policy for a pre-paid system which is more efficient and convenient.
“We now have a policy which allows you to make a pre-payment where you get your ticket in advance. The pre-paid system is also used for Zinara payments at tollgates,” said Minister Gumbo.
He said the pre-paid system was mostly used by companies and institutions who bought tickets in advance.

Gweru City Council commissioner, Mark Choga was on Monday convicted by a local magistrate’s court for assaulting a resident during a meeting which had been called this year for residents by the caretaker administration.
This is after Choga, who is Commissioner in charge of finance, had assaulted Frank Muzorera all over the body resulting in the latter sustaining injuries on the neck and shoulder.
The assault emanated from a disagreement between the two over the implementation of a government audit report and allowances paid to commissioners who were imposed on residents at the expense of the MDC-T led elected council by Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
The court heard that on February 18 this year, Muzorera and Choga attended a meeting between residents and commissioners at the mayor’s parlour.
“During the course of the meeting the complainant asked the accused person how much they (commissioners) earn as their allowances and whythey were not implementing the outcome of the audit report,” according to state papers.
“The accused person refused to answer the questions posed by the complainant and a misunderstanding arose and the accused proceeded to where the complainant was and hit him from behind once on the shoulder and neck.”
The court further heard that Muzorera fell down and Choga kicked him all over the body with booted foot.
Residents and municipal police however restrained Choga from further assaulting Muzorera.
A report was made to the police leading to Choga’s arrest.
For the offence, Gweru magistrate Florence Nago fined Choga $150 or a three month in jail term if he defaulted on paying the amount.
Nago said Choga was a first offender and needed to be given a chance to reform without necessarily getting a custodial sentence.
As Choga heard his fate, a group of residents demonstrated outside the courts after Choga was convicted.
They said they did not want boxers for city fathers. Radio Vop

Terrence Mawawa | Zaka |Local villagers have been stunned by an incident in which a local boy impregnated his half sister, following a long period of sexual encounters between the two orphaned siblings.
The boy aged 18 and the girl(17) from Svovonho Village, under Chief Nyakunhuhwa ,Zaka, stay with their grandfather following the passing on of their father. It is understood the two maintained a suspiciously tight relationship. A close relative told ZimEye.com the matter came to light when the girl fell pregnant in April this year.
“At first we thought it was just a friendship since they were orphans but we were told by other villagers the two had a sexual relationship.They were spotted having sex in the nearby bushes.The girl then indicated her half brother was responsible.When the grandfather learnt of the pregnancy he also tried to conceal the issue,”said a relative who declined to be named. Sources further disclosed the grandfather proceeded to give the two a kitchen to sleep in after discovering the girl was pregnant. A police source last week said:”The whole issue is complicated ,incest is not only a cultural taboo but illegal in Zimbabwe.It can be punishable by a jail sentence.We are carrying out investigations on the matter.We will be able to take action after getting all the details we need.”

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we write this joint statement to all the victims of police brutality and unlawful arrests by law enforcement agents following our peaceful demonstration that was violently thwarted by members of the ZRP. What we set to carry out on the Friday 26th of August was a peaceful demonstration and handing over of our petition on electoral reforms as NERA to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commision. Little did we know that ZRP would react as violently as it did when it fired teargas, sprayed with water canons and brutalised with baton sticks our unarmed members.Sadly though because the cause we are standing up for is a cause that affects even our fellow brothers in the security forces and the very demonstrators they brutalize are their kith and kin.
We apologise and sympathise with all our members who were injured and/or arrested during these skirmishes and we want to assure you that we are with you all the way. So far over 100 youths were either arrested and have since been denied bail or abducted and others are still missing. However we will not be deterred by this police brutality and will continue to push for reforms and exercise our democratic right to demonstrate as enshrined in our nation’s constitution in Section 59. We also want to appeal to the ZRP not to be used as a tool of repression and not to be contemptuous of the High Court that ruled in favor of us exercising the right to demonstrate and petition.
We are also aware that some Police Officers may have orders to shoot and kill the leaders . We are not criminals, you can kill us but you can’t kill or stop the revolution. Let us stand as one nation tolerant of divergent views. We should never allow a difference in opinion to create enmity betweeen us . Lets respect the sanctity of life .
We will be leading from the front once again together with our principals demanding reforms in a peaceful manner this Friday the 2nd of September and we invite every citizen who wants to experience free and fair elections during this lifetime to come and take part and be part of the history making process. We stand united and guided by the laws of the land as prescribed in the constitution of Zimbabwe and encourage the ruling party and security sector to embrace constitutionalism by allowing the citizens to enjoy their rights.
#strongertogether
#togetherstronger
#enoughisenough

Terrence Mawawa |Masvingo | Tongaat Hulett, the country’s largest sugar producing company faces closure following the invasion of productive land by Zanu PF supporters and senior government officials.
The land grab exercise has triggered massive job losses and further economic demise. Zanu PF supporters, senior police officers and CIO bosses took over Tongaat productive land in a controversial manner two months ago.
Sources told ZimEye.com 5000 workers casual were likely to lose their jobs following the land grab programme. Zimbabwe Sugar Milling and Industry Workers Union president Freedom Madungwe last week said he was concerned about the drastic reduction in the production of sugar at Tongaat Hulett.
“Initially it was reported that the controversial land invasion programme would affect 2000 workers. The truth is that it will affect about 5000 workers.3000 workers have already lost their jobs and the situation is very unfortunate,”said Madungwe.
Economic experts have warned Tongaat would crumble like other large companies in the country.
It is understood machinery is no longer regulary maintained because of the uncertain future the company faces.
Iron and steel giants like Zisco and asbestos producers Shabanie and Mashava mines shut down as a result of President Robert Mugabe’s harsh economic policies. The 92-year-old President is largely blamed for the current economic quagmire the nation is experiencing.His supporters also took over productive farms at the turn of the millennium, thereby crippling the country’s economy.

Spokesperson for Tajamuka/Sesjikile Campaign, Promise Mkwananzi was denied bail when he appeared before a HarareMagistrate today. He was remanded to 12 September.
The Magistrate ruled that Mkwananzi and Kudakwashe Pate were not suitable for bail they’re likely to interfere and that it was not in the interest of justice to grand the accused bail.
Mkwananzi was arrested after he had gone to Harare Central for his routine report as per bail conditions granted to him on the 7th June 2016 following the Shutdown organised together with Pastor Evan Mawarire of #ThisFlag Campaign. He was arrested at 7:30AM upon his report at Harare Central. He is facing charges of inciting public violence ahead of the call for Shutdown 3.0 scheduled for 31 August 2016.
Police assert that he connived with members of Tajamuka to burn a police car and a ZBC car notwithstanding the defence on his warned and cautioned statement that he was at a conference hosted by SAPES Trust on the day in question.

Staff Reporter | Riot police on Monday morning continued with their widely condemned aggressive behavior as they attacked and barred MDC-T vice Presidents Elias Mudzuri and Nelson Chamisa from entering Harare magistrate’s courts.
The two MDC-T senior officials had gone to attend the trial of 74 activists who were arrested in connection with the last Friday civil unrest that rocked central Harare.
Riot police blocked the court entrance and caused a stampede as people forced themselves into the court.
Meanwhile three activists have been arrested for demonstrating outside the Harare Magistrate’s courts.
The three, Pride Mukono, Makomborero Haruzivishe, Methluli Dube have been taken to a police base which is at the Harare magistrate’s court.

By Morgan Tsvangirai | Reports in the Sunday Mail edition of August 28, 2016 portraying the MDC as a terrorist organisation are extremely disturbing, grossly offensive and patently untrue.

The fact of the matter is that the MDC is not training any terror squads allegedly to destabilize Zimbabwe. For the record, the MDC is a lawful and peace-loving social democratic political party that was formed in September,1999. False reports to the effect that the MDC has been training its youth wing in para-military tactics and urban violence should. therefore, be dismissed with the utter contempt and disdain that they rightfully deserve.

If anything, it is the MDC, over the years, that has been the victim of relentless and sustained State-sponsored violence, thuggery and banditry. Zimbabweans still vividly remember how President Morgan Tsvangirai and other top opposition politicians were brutally assaulted by some rogue Police officers and CIO agents in Harare in March, 2007. So thuggish and brutal was the assault that it eventually forced SADC to urgently intervene in order to resolve the Zimbabwean political crisis and impasse.

President Robert Mugabe recently said that there shall be no Arab Spring in Zimbabwe. We totally agree with him. It is not the intention of the MDC and its leader, President Morgan Tsvangirai, to violently and unconstitutionally overthrow the Zanu PF regime. Of late, it is the Zanu PF regime itself that has been unleashing wanton violence and brutal physical force on peaceful demonstrators. On Wednesday, August 25, 2016, the Zimbabwe Republic Police embarked on an orgy of violence in downtown Harare ; beating up and vandalizing innocent and peaceful demonstrators who had been embarking on a lawful march led by the MDC Youth Assembly.

In the process, some Zanu PF thugs and CIO agents set alight two motor vehicles belonging to the ZRP and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. These Zanu PF thugs also looted several city shops, including Choppies supermarket that is partly owned by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

The MDC, together with seventeen (17) other opposition political parties under the NERA platform, also embarked on a peaceful demonstration, calling for electoral reforms, on Friday, August 26, 2016. This demonstration had been sanctioned and authorized by a court order that was granted by Justice Hlekani Mwayera. In flagrant violation and disobedience of Justice Mwayera’s court order, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, once again, unleashed wanton violence and thuggery on peaceful demonstrators.

Tear gas canisters were randomly thrown at peaceful demonstrators and in the process, hundreds of innocent demonstrators were injured and maimed as the ZRP indiscriminately beat up the demonstrators. This clearly proves and shows that the Zanu PF regime has gone rogue and that they are even prepared to disregard and disobey lawful court orders. Both the Commissioner – General of the ZRP, Augustine Chihuri and Home Affairs Minister, Ignatious Chombo, should be held personally responsible for the mayhem and barbarism that was caused by the Police in Harare on Friday, August 26, 2016.These two key Zanu PF regime operatives should also be charged and prosecuted for contempt of court. We cannot allow a situation whereby lawful orders issued by our courts of law are arrogantly and flagrantly disobeyed as what happened last Friday. Heads must certainly roll.

The MDC would like to call upon the Zanu PF – controlled media to immediately desist from peddling lies and falsehoods that are wickedly meant to portray the MDC as a violent, terrorist organization. As the fourth estate, the media should, at all times, report facts and desist from fabricating malicious, false and defamatory stories against President Morgan Tsvangirai in particular and other opposition political leaders in general. The people of Zimbabwe are watching. One of these fine days, all these evil men and women who are violating and thrashing the people’s constitutional rights shall be brought to book. That’s for sure.

Staff Reporter | A hoax news article generated by an online publication onetainment.com claiming that President Robert Mugabe has called for the arrest of all Zimbabwean Rio Olympiads has attracted huge attention and condemnation from people across the globe.
The article titled “Mugabe calls for the arrest of Zimbabwean Olympic team” claims that Mugabe instructed Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to arrest all the 31 Zimbabwean athletes for failing to bring and medals and wasting state resources.
The article attracts the ire of the world when it quotes Mugabe as having described the athletes as rats who failed to achieve even copper and brass positions (4th and 5th finish).
The best position a Zimbabwean athlete got close to a medal was an 8th position finish.
“We have wasted the country’s money on these rats we call athletes. If you are not ready to sacrifice and win even copper or brass medals as our neighbours Botswana did, then why do you go to waste our money” Mugabe is quoted as having said.
”If we needed people to just go to Brazil to sing our national anthem and hoist our flag, we would have sent some of the beautiful girls and handsome guys from University of Zimbabwe to represent us.”
“This situation is like an impotent man who is married to five women, what is the essence? I will make sure we share the cost across board for all of them to pay back to government chest even if it takes 10 years to recoup, now it turns out to be a soft loan we have given them to go and visit Brazil as tourist, they are useless” Mugabe is quoted in the article.
The story has attracted a huge read throughout the world with some reputable media like the BBC Africa and Indian Times also picking up the story and running it.
Prominent South African media personality Masetshaba Motsepe also picked up the story which she shared and immediately found the story being run by some South African radio stations including South Africa Broadcasting Corporation SAFM.
A Nigerian daily picked up the story and further described Mugabe as Nebuchadnezzar for his hard hand on Zimbabwean citizens.
Efforts to get a comment from Presidential spokesperson George Charamba on the issue failed as he was said not to have got to the office at the time of writing.
 

Following last week demonstrations in Harare, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Walter Mzembi has blasted opposition activists for staging violent demonstrations saying their activities are affecting local tourism.
While addressing gospel music lovers at the Gospel Music Festival in Gwanda on Saturday at Phelandaba Stadium, Minister Mzembi said his ministry’s efforts to market the country were being plunged into the drain because of the violent protests.
He went on to say, “After a good day’s work, month or years as has been the case with tourism, people have chosen to reverse our work by their actions. Recent events and protests have hurt tourism and Zimbabwe badly.
Tourism cannot package and sell conflict. We have succeeded to date in repositioning Brand Zimbabwe, largely because despite national differences, they havee not translated into public conflict to the extent where it constitutes a security threat warranting travel advisories, which we successfully negotiated away in 2009.
Anyone who seeks to govern one day, or form an alternative government must invest in peace. We should all roundly reject violence of any shade as a means of expression of our Zimbabweaness.
We fought for democracy to make the ballot box the theatre of change, not street fighting. So anyone who aspires to govern must invest in peace, dialogue and superior ideas. So let’s get off the streets, exercise mutual tolerance for our diverse positions and meet in conference rooms like the educated and enlightened people we are and design the Zimbabwe we want.”
According to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) 2014 tourism overview report, tourism receipts recorded a marginal three percent decline from US$856 million to US$827 million.
Tourist arrivals increased by about 2.6 percent after vigorous marketing and proof the country was a safe international destination.

Staff Reporter | Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Law and order officer commanding for Harare province Assistant Commissioner, Crispen Makedenge, has ordered his police officers to shoot and kill scores of opposition political parties who they want to arrest for inciting the last Friday violence in central Harare.
On the list of the police’s hit squard are Mugari Joelson, who is in the coalition of political parties’ secretariate (NERA), Tembedza Lawrence, MDC-T Youth Assembly leader Happymore Chidziva, also known as Bvondo, Kalonga Tawanda and Machingauta Cosmas.
Sources within the ZRP’s law and order section at Harare central police station said they have started a man hunt for the listed activists adding that a directive to shoot and kill has been authorised should the activists try to run away.
ZimEye.com is reliably informed that the listed activists have gone into hidding fearing for their lives.

Staff Reporter | ZANU PF has all but managed to rope to their side South African based Gwanda born millionaire businessman Justice Maphosa.
Maphosa who is the brains behind the million dollar annual Gwanda Gospel Music Festival was literally declared as the latest ZANU PF scoop by high profile government and ZANU PF officials officiating at the just ended three day music festival.
Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko welcomed Maphosa into ZANU PF and government in a speech read on his behalf by tourism Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi.
Mphoko praised Maphosa for taking the decision to invest into the people of Zimbabwe through partnering with the government in the music festival and several other unnamed projects.
The Vice President praised Maphosa for agreeing to work with the government as opposed to other people in the diaspora who turn against the government and refuse to invest in the country.
Minister Muzembi declared to the more than 20 000 people attending the music festival that ZANU PF was prepared to reserve a special place for Maphosa who is based in South Africa.
Maphosa who himself is a member of the South African African National Congress Youth League was immediately declared the chairman of the newly established South Africa and Zimbabwe Business Forum by the Vice President in his speech.

Vendors and retailers — whose vehicles and wares running into hundreds of thousands of dollars were looted and destroyed in violent demonstrations that rocked Harare last week — have demanded compensation from MDC-T or else they will take the battle to the party’s headquarters, Harvest House, in Harare.
According to state media the group also implored Government to ban demonstrations which affected the ordinary man. However, the state media report does not take into account the fact role played by the police and state security agents, but instead seeks to set the vendors and retailers against the opposition political parties who were involved in the protests.
Shops and vending stalls were destroyed resulting in the looting of goods in parts of Harare’s central business district by opposition supporters under the banner of the National Electoral Reform Agenda last Friday.
Most retailers and vendors were still to quantify the value of the goods they lost.
Shops selling laptops, cellphones, jewellery, electrical gadgets, clothing items, alcohol, fruits and vegetables were looted.
Shops selling laptops, cellphones, jewellery, electrical gadgets, clothing items, alcohol, fruits and vegetables were looted.
Most vendors said they had loans and were not sure how they would repay their creditors.
National Chairman of Grassroots Vendors’ Association Mr Alexio Mudzengerere said MDC-T offices should be relocated out of the CBD to enable people to conduct their businesses peacefully.
“We are still gathering information on what was lost and the value of the goods. We want our goods back. Our stalls are our mainstay and we have no alternative ways of earning a living.
“Our stuff was burnt and we do not have anything left. We do not even know where to start from. Why should the protesters burn our goods? We saw the people who burnt our goods and we have videos. They were wearing MDC-T T-shirts.
“Some of our members made a follow up of the goods and saw the looters carrying them into Harvest House. Demonstrations should not be allowed. They do not benefit us at all. They are now used as a way to loot shops.
“Vendors are supposed to develop and grow into huge enterprises, but how do we graduate when people destroy us like this?”
Ms Loice Karimazondo who sells snacks at Copacabana said looters left broke.
“I was away on Friday and had left my goods locked up in the locker but they were all burnt. I do not know where to get the money to restart the business.
“I am a single mother and need to pay school fees for my children. I need to pay rent. Violent demonstrations are not conducive for business,” she said.

“We are yet to ascertain the value of the shoes we lost. We have so far established that 250 pairs of shoes worth over $3 000 were stolen.
“It is a pity people ended up looting goods. Some street kids took advantage of the situation and went on to loot shops as well,” he said.
Naganji sales and marketing manager, Mr Tinaye Kwenda said they lost clothing worth thousands of dollars including school wear, bags, men’s suits and ladies suits.
“We lost goods worth thousands of dollars that were on display and others that were in the shop. The protestors broke into the shop and looted our goods,” he said.
Efforts to get comment from Mr Stan Zvorwadza who leads to pro-MDC-T National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe were fruitless amid reports he could be among the people picked up in connection with the disturbances.
Lawyers who spoke to our sister paper The Sunday Mail over the weekend said people who lost their goods to the looters could sue the National Electoral Reforms Agenda (Nera), the organisers of the demonstrations.
Lawyer Mr Terrence Hussein said: “In this case, most insurers are likely to refuse to pay claims and at law, they are justified to do so. The victims can, however, sue the organisers and inciters of the violence and claim damages. They have a strong case in this particular instance.
“However, suing could be expensive for most of people so the quicker way would be through a law gazetted by Parliament to provide for the compensation of victims,” he said.
Another lawyer, Miss Rutendo Mudarikwa said, “They can claim damages, but that is if they can prove beyond doubt that the perpetrators are linked to the organisers. In such situations, criminals can take advantage of the situation so that is why you have to prove that the demonstrators were incited,” she said.
President Mugabe recently urged Zimbabweans to remain calm and united against anti-democratic forces bent on reversing the country’s economic fortunes.
“Even if our economy is not doing well, do you have to go into the streets and even burn some of those little shops that the people are depending on? Burn their cars in the streets, do you have to do that?” he said.

The Zimbabwe human rights commission has issued a strong statement saying police violated peoples’ rights during recent protests.
There has been condemnation after pictures emerged of police teargasing protesters and in one case kicking an elderly woman.
The human rights commission is state-funded and has previously been accused of being ineffective.
“It is noted with great concern that police did violate the fundamental rights of the people as evidenced by facts gathered on the ground,” the constitutional body said.
“The ZHRC is, therefore, extremely concerned about the recent violent conduct of the ZRP. The ZHRC has received complaints on allegations of police brutality and our on-going investigations have revealed unbecoming and violent conduct on the part of the police.”
“The ZHRC is also concerned by the indiscriminate teargasing of centres occupied by people some of whom may not be involved in the demonstration. This should stop and we call for due diligence and care to ensure that the rights and freedoms of innocent citizens are respected and protected.”
Mr Elasto Mugwadi chairs the human rights body.So this strong statement will be seen as a positive move by many in the rights sector.
The commission does not single out any protest in particular but it says police have at times indiscriminately used teargas on people who weren’t involved in street protests.
The body says there is evidence that police violated the fundamental rights of Zimbabweans and it says reports should be made to the body by those who feel they were unjustly treated.
Police stopped top opposition leaders from leading a march on Friday but they say they’ll try to march again this week.

POLICE in Bulawayo have busted three suspected drug dealers, one of them a woman, and recovered 85kg of mbanje with a street value of about $86 000. Detectives arrested Simangeni Ndlovu (34), the lady, Farai Aruchupeta (39) from Pumula South and Shepherd Edson Town (37) of Emganwini for peddling the dangerous drug. Following up on a lead in a case of theft from vehicles, police found the suspects smoking mbanje. They implicated Ndlovu as the source of the drug.
Sustained intelligence gathering and investigation resulted in the arrest of all three suspected drug dealers. The last suspect was arrested on Wednesday night. Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube said the trio was arrested separately at their homes.

Mugabe who was pictured sleeping on the first day of the crucial summit, had his spin doctors go into overdrive spreading these pictures as proof of good health and suitability to lead.

Despite a very tight schedule as head of state of the host country, President Kenyatta held bilateral talks with President Mugabe on the sidelines of the TICAD summit.
The closed door meeting lasted close to 40 minutes and Foreign Affairs Minister, Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi who attended the talks said the two leaders had a very warm and very friendly exchange of views over a very wide range of issues that cover regional, continental and global matters.
Cde Mumbengegwi said both leaders did appreciate the change of focus on the part of Japan that instead of simply looking at aid in the traditional terms, Japan is now looking at the whole question of industrialisation and value addition.
In terms of global issues, the two leaders discussed the United Nations reform and the leaders were very clear that Africa’s position remains firm as spelt out in the Ezwulini Consensus.
Cde Mumbengegwi said both leaders indicated their firm commitment to the common African position.
President Kenyatta also briefed President Mugabe on the threat caused by terrorists in Kenya and the East African region and the measures being taken to end the threat.
Political relations between Harare and Nairobi are very good but the two leaders agreed that more should be done to improve economic relations. zbc

Terrence Mawawa Masvingo |The current protests against President Robert Mugabe have spread to the rural areas of Zimbabwe as pressure mounts on the veteran leader to step down.
As opposition parties, civic organisations and the people of Zimbabwe in general continue to pile pressure on the nonagenarian and his cronies to step down, the incessant protests have spread to rural parts of the country.
#Zimbabwe Yadzoka, a pressure group, is mobilising villagers in Gutu and Zaka districts to participate in the nation wide anti-Mugabe protests. #ZimbabweYadzoka coordinator, Victor Chimhutu said the group was determined to mobilise villagers to participate in the protests against the Mugabe administration. He also said the group was on the ground mobilising grassroots membership.
“We have structures in Gutu and Zaka because we want the people in the rural areas to join the wave of anti-Mugabe protests. We are receiving overwhelming support in the rural areas and we are not afraid of the regime. We hold meetings at night and people are ready to fight for freedom. We spread our messages through graffiti, fliers and branded t-shirts. Our vision is to call on the people in the rural areas to join the demonstrations. We want Mugabe to leave office and we have nothing to do with ordinary Zanu PF members. I was arrested several times so there is nothing to fear at all.The people in the rural areas have been passive for too long .We strongly condemn police violence against the people,”said Chimhutu. Speaking from his hospital bad last week, National Vendors Association of Zimbabwe leader Stern Zvorwadza condoned the involvement of villagers in the anti-Mugabe protests.

The state media story which appeared on ZimEye.com saying the 13 people currently in police cells have been denied bail, is false and misleading ZimEye has been told.
The 13’s lawyer Adv Jeremiah Bamu told ZimEye Sunday morning contrary to the state media claim, the 13 have not been denied bail. They are scheduled to appear in court tomorrow Monday at 8.30am, Mr Bamu told ZimEye.
Their hearing is going to be in court room 6.
The 13 have been charged for allegedly burning two vehicles belong to the ZRP and the ZBC last Wednesday. Videos shot by the Mugabe broadcaster at the scene, ZBC show different people participating in the burning of the two vehicles.

A 76 year old Beatrice man appeared before Chivhu magistrate Court on Thursday for raping a 15 year old juvenile.
The juvenile who cannot be named because of age, is also a form 1 student at Muzavazi secondary school in Chegutu,
She resides at Muzavazi village, Headman Chinamaringa under Chief Mushayamombe.
The accused Isaiah Nyamande, a senior vet member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, stays at plot 78 Gwalia farm in Beatrice.
The state outline is that the two are not related but the accused was paying school fees for the complainant.
The State case against Nyamande is that on the 13th May this year, he called the complainant’s mother Lizzy Mavhunduka asking if the complainant could come to his place of residence to take care of his property while he was away.
The complainant arrived at his residence the following day but found out that he had already left on his journey. The complainant stayed at the homestead alone until the return of the accused two days later. Upon his arrival from his visit, the complainant asked to return to her home but she was stopped by Nyamande insisting that it was late.
On the same day the complainant began preparing supper at the homestead fireplace while Nyamande was in his bedroom.
He called the unsuspecting girl into the bedroom and upon entering he grabbed her both hands and pushed her onto his bed.  He forcibly pulled up her skirt to waist level and when the girl tried to resist, he threatened to withdraw paying her school fees and the girl complied.
Nyamande went on to remove the girl’s skin tight and underwear before removing his trousers and under garments which he left scattered on the floor.
He then forced himself on top of the hapless juvenile and had sexual intercourse by penetration without her consent and without any protection.
After finishing off with the girl, he again threatened to withdraw paying school fees for her if she ever divulged the ordeal.
He also gave her $10 so as to “zip her mouth”.
The following morning the complainant went to her residence and told her mother but the parent kept silent until a tip off came from the girl’s friends four months later who alerted Constable Pilate Chinorumba at Beatrice Police station.
The Police officer interviewed the complainant on 09 August and she revealed what transpired leading to Nyamande’s arrest. A medical report which is set to be produced in
Court as exhibit on the trial date shows that penetration was effected but the girl is not pregnant.
Nyamande was remanded in custody to 9 September 2016.

Official records from Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) show that a total of 13 976 motor vehicles were imported through Beitbridge Border Post against 14 358 vehicles that were imported during the same period in 2015.

This shows there has been a 2,7 percent decline  in car imports through Beitbridge Border Post between January and June this year compared to the same period last year.

It is reported that the imports through Beitbridge have gone down as many importers and car dealers now prefer to use Plumtree, Kazungula and Chirundu border posts which are less busy.

Recently Zimra stopped accepting values of second hand vehicles which are being sold in South Africa saying they were below standard market values. This has resulted in importers opting to buy vehicles direct from Japan or Tanzania, where prices are relatively low.
Zimra’s director of legal and corporate affairs, Ms Florence Jambwa on Thursday said they were processing an average of 72 vehicle imports per day at Manica Transit Shed. “For the period January to June 2016, 13 976 motor vehicles were imported through Beitbridge Border Post, compared to 14 358 vehicles which were imported during the same period in 2015,” she said.
Ms Jambwa said Zimra was practicing standard valuation procedures that are consistent with the prevailing market values.
“Where the declared values are way below the prevailing market values, the law provides that an assessment of the value be done.

“If the sales prices are in line with prevailing market values, they are accepted by ZIMRA. However, if the declared values are not in line with prevailing market prices, an assessment of the value is done to establish the correct Value for Duty Purposes.
“This is to ensure that the correct duty is paid for that particular importation,” she said.
Ms Jambwa added that during the same period under review they witnessed a decline in the volume of commercial vehicles accessing the country through Beitbridge Border Post.
She said a total of 55 509 north-bound commercial vehicles passed through the port in the first half of this year, while 58 309 were recorded last year.
“We had a total of 60 745 commercial vehicles leaving via Beitbridge in the period January to June this year and in 2015 we had 66 003 vehicles, ” she said.
She added that the volume of transits trucks going either side of the border remained at between 12 000 and 15 000.
Ms Jambwa said with respect to those who failed to clear their goods on time, Zimra was disposing them off through rummage sales.
“The law provides that seized goods be disposed of after 90 days.” However, this may take longer in cases where the matter is before the courts or where there is an appeal.
“For goods/cars held by Zimra on a Receipt for Items Held, disposal is after 60 days, provided there is no appeal or no court process with regards to the detained goods,” said Ms Jambwa. – State Media

A PLUMTREE magistrate has issued for the second time a warrant of arrest for a local traffic cop who has failed to turn up for trial at court twice for allegedly stealing roadblock fines. Clacious Chatikobo’s trial was supposed to kick-off on Wednesday at the Plumtree magistrate’s court after he pleaded not guilty to stealing $205 and R640 in State funds which he collected while performing police duties.
He was last month issued with a warrant of arrest which was later cancelled after he explained his absence. His lawyer Mr Prince Butshe of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers did not object to issuing of the warrant citing that he was also unaware of his client’s whereabouts.

Harare residents have to wait longer for consistent water supplies as rehabilitation of Morton Jaffray Water Works will only be completed in December 2017. Prince Edward Water Treatment Works has also encountered problems, pumping water three hours a day on the back of its sources — Harava and Seke dams — running low, mainly affecting Sunningdale, Prospect, Mainway Meadows and Chadcombe suburbs.
Morton Jaffray, the capital city’s biggest water treatment plant, should have been upgraded to produce 600 mega-litres of water by July 2016.
However, authorities pushed back that deadline, saying sticking to it would have meant shutting down the entire plant for months. Since the project began in 2013, Harare City Council has been cutting supplies to residents and businesses at weekends to enable installation of new equipment. The initiative was financed by China Export Import Bank to the tune of US$144 million.
Harare Water distribution manager Engineer Hosiah Chisango told The Sunday Mail, “We will continue to have water cuts across the city because Morton Jaffray is now scheduled to be completed in December 2017 instead of July this year as initially stated. This is because we cannot completely shut down the water plant for repairs; it’s the main supplier at the moment thus we have to work on it at weekends only.
“This will be the arrangement for now, with shut down schedules increasing during the rain season, particularly in January. Some of our supplies are fast dwindling; therefore, we have reduced the amount of water that is being pumped per day at some of our control stations.”
Eng Chisango said three of Morton Jaffray’s four major pumps would supply water to the Alex and Letombo reservoirs, with the fourth serving Prince Edward Water Treatment Works.
“We are now planning to start drawing water from Morton Jaffray, and this will not be enough to supply the entire city. This means some suburbs that were getting water from Prince Edward Water Treatment Works will get supplies at weekends only, and others during the week.”
Residents interviewed by The Sunday Mail were livid, labelling council disorganised and “not having the people at heart”.
Mrs Rosemary Dzawo of Highfield said, “These people are fussy when it comes to paying your water bills, but are rather lethargic when it comes to the interests of ratepayers. Yes, we know Morton Jaffray is being rehabilitated, but they should have, from the outset, told us that the July deadline was unrealistic rather than raising our hopes and then dashing them in this manner.
“My advice to them is: ‘Be organised.’ People will only take council seriously if it takes itself seriously. Where are the water bowsers to alleviate the problem? Where are the boreholes? These are the measures they should take for now while they sort out their unending drama at Town House. Lacking water is not good.
‘‘Think of the risk of disease, and the nursing mother who has to wash nappies everyday.”
Mr Darlington Chisvo of Sunningdale who embraced prepaid water metering weeks ago said: “When the system was introduced, we thought it was going to be better as we would manage our water consumption.
‘‘However, it is actually worse because we do not have the water even after paying for it!
“And when water supplies resume, the meter registers a different reading, suggesting you will have consumed a certain amount of water when that is not the case.”

President Robert Mugabe has enjoyed the largess of being patron of the ZNLWVA, a priviledge he is about lose as the former fighters dig in, turn their backs on him, and hammer the last nail to his political coffin.
Mugabe has over the years enjoyed the unquestioned support of the former freedom fighters, until recently when they decided to enter the murky succession Zanu PF  waters, in a communique, telling him to step down and endorsing his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mugabe retaliated and through his wife Grace’s running dogs, partisan police, attacked the former fighters in all manner, their leadership was arrested, with calls for fresh elections to do away with the former loyal fighters.
The tables have turned, according to the association’s spokesperson Douglas Mahiya, the former freedom fighters are now looking for financiers to begin the process that could officially end Mugabe’s relationship with his wartime comrades.
“The ZNLWVA met on Thursday and decided to go back to basics. By this we mean going back to the people to explain the country’s political, social and economic situation. We want to meet our members as well as Zimbabweans in general to explain our position going forward,” Mahiya said.

 
 
Staff Reporter| Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri yesterday spent the day preaching and dancing in Gwanda while his police were involved in intensive running battles with rioting members of the public in Harare.
At exactly midday while Harare was on fire, Chihuri was himself on fire preaching at the Gwanda Gospel Music Festival contrary to what was expected of the Commissioner of Police at that moment.
Chihuri was joined by several other high ranking police officers from Harare and Bulawayo who all looked oblivious of the burning capital city delighting themselves in heavy lunch and dinner at the festival.
Members of the public interviewed by ZimEye.com all expressed concern at the presence of the commissioner at the music festival when he was expected to be somewhere at Police General Headquarters monitoring the deteriorating security situation in the country.
A staunch ZANU PF supporter who only identified himself as Zulu castigated the Commissioner General describing his behaviour as being tantamount to “insurgency and conspiracy to the regime change agenda.”
The ZANU PF supporter called on President Robert Mugabe to recall Chihuri immediately.
“Chihuri knew before he even left Harare that the situation in Harare was tense but he chose to come and spend the day eating and preaching instead of protecting the nation,” said another resident Mkhululi Moyo.
“After all there are dozens of pastors at the festival why should it have waited for him specifically to do the preaching at the expense of his national duties,” he added.
Efforts to get a comment from Chihuri were futile as those around him refused media to talk to him. He was however a little later spotted giving an interview to state controlled media journalists commenting on the festival and not on his neglect of duty.
He is expected to give another sermon at the continuing festival again today and at the Brethren In Christ Church Gwanda service on Sunday.

Platform For Concerned Zimbabweans | Zimbabwe is a country in crisis, bereft of any capacity to reform – neither politically nor economically. This is common cause for all Zimbabweans, and a major reason for the citizens to protest increasingly loudly. The crisis is exacerbated by the crisis of succession in a mortally-divided ZANU PF, with all the potential for worsening internecine conflict and bloody fighting.
The current crisis in Zimbabwe is the product of outmoded and predatory politics and discriminatory economic policies, and only a radically new approach will be able to reverse the inevitable march to domestic collapse. The Platform for Concerned Citizens (PCC) reached consensus that there are three critical principal issues that must be addressed.
Firstly, there is a crisis in governance and the economy that is evident for all Zimbabweans to see, and requires urgent attention lest the nation suffer domestic collapse.
Secondly, there is profound alienation of the citizens of Zimbabwe, who have lost faith in governance, political parties, and leadership in general.
Thirdly, there is a critical need for transformative reforms that will pre-empt elections or any other elite processes or pacts, and/or succession arrangements, not underpinned by crucial reforms that prioritise the interests of the citizens.
The Process towards an NTA
The process towards the establishment of the NTA requires consultations across the nation and abroad, with a regional and global “buy-in” , or external scaffolding, to ensure a peaceful and smooth transition, as happened at Lancaster House and the Global Political Agreement. The NTA is thus nothing new in Zimbabwe’s political life, but the process and form may be an improvement on the previous attempts at a solid political settlement.
The NTA will need expert inputs towards its design, and the ensuing legal instrument will then be submitted to parliament as a Bill that can be passed by a simple majority. The constitution will remain in place and already offers all the framework necessary for an NTA to carry out its work of reform and lead the country to genuine elections.
The NTA framework
A primary purpose for the NTA is to heal and nation and embark on a limited political and economic reform agenda. The NTA cannot solve all the problems that afflict the country, but will provide the necessary first steps to move the country to international legitimacy and deeper democracy.
The debate has already begun.
The political parties have responded, broadly accepting the idea. Civil society is engaged in serious consultation as evidenced by the Sapes Trust’s Policy Dialogue Forum last Thursday, 18^th August: the large turn-out, reflecting a healthy curiosity about and interest in the idea of the NTA; the general consensus that this could be a “soft landing” that could save Zimbabwe; and the assertion by Dumiso Dabengwa that the alternative could be tantamount to “continue folding our arms” and watch the situation develop into the inevitable chaos that is quickly enveloping the country.
However, there remains scepticism in some quarters.
Three reasons have been given for this being a bad idea. The first was that there was already a legitimately elected government and all patriotic Zimbabweans should throw their energies behind this rather than seek new solutions. The second was that no elected government, and especially ZANU PF, would ever concede to devolve power against its own narrow, and not national, interests. The third was that it did not seem possible that such an entity could emerge as a constitutional body, and that it matters more that we be constitutional than solve pressing problems: in short, a slide into illegality was unacceptable.
We have previously dealt with all these arguments in the position paper issued by the Platform for Concerned Citizens (PCC), issued on the 23^rdJuly, and re-articulated many times.
Those, as reflected in some sections of the media, who have attacked both the notion of the NTA and the messengers recommending it, appear to reflect more the knee jerk reactions of a faction in a mortally-divided ZANU PF/State apparatus than a considered analysis of the current situation in Zimbabwe. Clearly, the critics are oblivious of the extent to which principals in the state are already engaged with the idea.
On our part, we are encouraged by the favourable feed-back from the various political persuasions across the board, including the leadership therein. The effect is that the idea of the NTA is already being considered, even though there is yet no consensus towards the following principles which the PCC outlined in the position paper mentioned above. Here the PCC outlined a set of critical reforms:

• Adherence to the constitution and institutionalising the principles of constitutionalism;
• Reform of key institutions that impede the above:
• Reform of the electoral process, to create conditions for genuinely free and fair, elections, and devoid of all controversy;
• Stabilising of the economy and the setting in place of an Economic Reform Agenda aimed at the following:
• Debt management, and recovery of misappropriated assets, nationally and internationally;
• Comprehensive macro-economic fundamentals;
• Policy consistency;
• Land policy and property rights;
• Revival of productive sectors;
• Mobilising the diaspora into the economic life of the country.

The PCC also outlined a set of suggested principles for the operation of the NTA:

• No political party will hold a position within the NTA, neither shall the Convenors of the PCC, Ibbo Mandaza and Tony Reeler;
• All members of Parliament (the House of Assembly and the Senate) will hold their position until the declaration of a national election;
• The judiciary will continue as an arm of the state;
• The NTA will act in accordance with such legislation as enacted by Parliament;
• The members of the NTA shall be non-partisan and professional
• The members of the NTA will be selected according to agreed criteria and procedures, from amongst the candidates put forward to an independent body, selected from amongst churches and other civic bodies;
• The NTA shall be composed of not more than 18 members;
• The NTA may apportion responsibilities for the management of government and the overseeing of all state bodies through a system of sub-committees.

Our hope is that the National Consultative Conference, scheduled for 15^thSeptember will assist towards consensus building and the establishing of a National Task Force that will thereafter drive the process to its intended conclusion.
Towards the Regional and International undergirding of the NTA
A Regional/International Consultative Conference is scheduled for 26-27^th September in Johannesburg. This will seek to secure the buy-in and support of regional and global factors for a process that necessarily be both delicate and complex. It will also offer an opportunity for our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, so often neglected by the national debate, to participate and help shape the process.
In this regard, we welcome the statement of the Elders – Kofi Annan, Graca Machel and Jimmy Carter – in their appeal to SADC this week, “to consider how they can support a successful and inclusive transition in Zimbabwe that will return stability and growth to the country”. These words seem wholly consonant with the vision that the PCC offered in its position paper: “An inclusive nation that guarantees its citizens freedom and ALL human rights, and develops its resources, both human and material, in an equitable manner”.
Ibbo Mandaza and Tony Reeler are the Convenors of the Platform for Concerned Citizens (PCC)

Staff Reporter | While the state propaganda machinery goes into over drive blaming innocent citizens for the chaos that has erupted in the country, more and more evidence is emerging on how innocent civilians were randomly targeted and attacked.  The sequence of the pictures taken of this elderly woman tell a very sad story.

ZimEye.com brings our valued readers updates from the Promise Mkwananzi court case in which the activist is being tried for committing public violence. 
1605 – Mkwananzi loses case:
1. The application challenging his placement on remand dismissed. The court ruled that the threshold for the placement on remand is very low and that the mere assertion by the police that he connived with Tajamuka to burn a police car and a ZBC car were adequate to have him placed on remand. This is notwithstanding the defence on his warned and cautioned statement that he was at a conference hosted by SAPES Trust on the day in question.

 
1355 – Court Room 6 (where Mkhwananzi is being tried) is packed to the full.

“The people’s anger is very deep”, said Tsvangirai as he encouraged more protests while also hailing Zimbabweans for expressing themselves during Friday’s shutdown protest. VIDEO:

A hooker appeared in court and was sentenced to two years in prison for ripping off the ear of a man who turned down her sexual advances.
Beauty Zhou (23) of Mpumalanga Township in Hwange but lives in Binga, went berserk when Mr Bee Mukonka (33) showed no interest in having sex with her. Zhou, commonly known for attracting her potential clients by suggestively caressing their manhood at a beer garden in Binga, grabbed Mr Mukonka’s manhood but he brushed her aside, leading to an argument
Yesterday, she appeared before Binga resident magistrate Mrs Aelene Munamati and pleaded not guilty. But due to overwhelming evidence she was convicted. Mrs Munamati sentenced her to 24 months in prison of which 18 months were suspended leaving Zhou to serve an effective six months in jail.
Handing down sentence, Mrs Munamati chided Zhou for the uncouth method she used to attract clients. She said men in Binga were now afraid of the hooker. Zhou said she acted in self-defence after Mr Mukonka attacked her over an undisclosed issue.
“Your Worship I’m a commercial sex worker and came to Binga to look for money. “On the day in question we had a misunderstanding with the complainant leading to a fight. It is then that I bit his ear as I was trying to defend myself,” said Zhou.
State witnesses dismissed her claims. They said Zhou was in the habit of caressing her potential clients’ private parts. Prosecuting, Mr Bruce Maphosa said on August 13, 2016, Mr Mukonka entered Kula Beer garden in Binga where he saw Zhou sitting close to the entrance. Suddenly she grabbed his private parts and started playing with them.
Confused by the sudden turn of events, Mr Mukonka bent down to protect his manhood and asked Zhou what she was doing. Stung by the rebuff, Mr Maphosa said, Zhou threw a tantrum and attacked Mr Mukonka.
“She responded by biting his ear. She ripped off a chunk of the ear as other patrons tried in vain to restrain her. “Mukonka lost most of his ear as a result of the assault and was referred to Binga District Hospital for treatment. “A report was made to the police leading to her arrest,” said the prosecutor.- State Media

A 60-YEAR-OLD man from Zaka who was allegedly caught having sex with a goat had to run for dear life when enraged villagers tried to mete instant justice on him.
Romic Tafireyi of Mauto Village under Chief Nhema fled half naked leaving the animal tied to a tree. Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa said the incident occurred on Saturday at around 10.30AM.
“I have received a report involving a Zaka man who was caught having sex with a goat. The old man fled from the scene but he has since been arrested and is assisting police with investigations. He will appear in court soon facing charges of bestiality,” said Asst Insp Dehwa.
According to a villager, Mr Steven Chinyukwi (58), Tafireyi is alleged to have a penchant for being intimate with livestock.
Mr Chinyukwi said he saw Tafireyi tying the goat to a tree, apparently to restrict its movement before having sex with it.
“On Saturday at around 10:30am, Tafireyi who is alleged to have a long history of bestiality in the village was seen loitering suspiciously in the bush some distance from Mauto Village,” said Mr Chinyukwi.
“I went with four villagers. We saw him tying the goat to a tree before mounting the animal. We moved closer to investigate and found Tafireyi having sex with the animal. He quickly fled the scene into a thicket while pulling up his lowered pair of trousers,” said Mr Chinyukwi.
He said angry villagers launched a search.
“Tafireyi was spotted hiding behind a tree some hours after the incident. We effected a citizen’s arrest. He is lucky there were elders who stopped villagers from assaulting him,” said Mr Chinyukwi. – state media

Victory for the masses and for justice – democracy activist and National Vendors Union leader, Sten Zvorwadza has been released.
Zvorwadza who was arrested earlier in the day following a notorious police crack-down, is now a free man.
He announced his release Friday night, “I was arrested this morning on trumped up charges as usual but was later released.”
Meanwhile Tajamuka activist Promise Mkwananzi and several others were still in cells at the time of writing and scheduled to appear in court Saturday morning. “Several other people were arrested including Promise Mkwananzi. They will be appearing in court tomorrow morning,” said Zvorwadza.
He asked Zimbabweans to throng the magistrates courts today, Saturday in their support.
“Lets all go and support them at Rotten Row 8:30am. Clearly this regime is clueless and losing”, he added.

A GOLD panner from Lower Gweru died early yesterday morning after he was stabbed allegedly by four fellow illegal miners in a suspected turf war. Villagers from Pihli, Ward 7, under Chief Bunina told The Chronicle that the area had become a “war zone” with frequent bloody clashes involving armed gangs vying for control of gold claims.They said they discovered the bloodied body of Godlove Mgezelwa Sibanda (24) in a ditch soon after midnight. He had been stabbed on the chest and armpit. Police have arrested Marvelous Sibanda (20), one of the four people suspected to have attacked Godlove.
The other three are on the run. Villagers said the quartet had a running rivalry with Goodlove over goldfields. Detectives recovered an okapi knife with blood stains in Marvelous’ possession.
It is believed to be the murder weapon. Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said investigations into the killing were underway. “We received a murder report which happened in Lower Gweru involving a male adult. One suspect has been arrested and investigations are in progress”.
The Chronicle visited the area at around 10AM and found villagers gathered around Godlove’s body which was covered with a blanket. Godlove’s brother — Mlungisi — said he was awoken by a phone call around midnight telling him his younger brother, a father of two, had been killed.
“That’s my brother lying there. He has two stab wounds, one on the chest and the other under the armpit. There is blood all over. One suspect has been arrested and we know him. Three other suspects are on the run,” he said. Mlungisi said Marvelous told the police that they attacked Godlove around 11PM on Wednesday as he was leaving Woodpecker night club.

Staff Reporter | Harare is still on fire, roads blocked, while riot police continues to terrorise innocent civilians, the organisers of today’s protest march have regrouped, are currently at Bronte hotel.
They are addressing a press conference on the sabotaged march today.
Meanwhile the National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe Chairperson, Sten Zvorwadza has been arrested on allegations of inciting public violence.
Zvorwadza was arrested at Harare Central Police station where he had gone to report as part of his bail conditions.
#Tajakumuka spokesperson, Promise Mkwananzi was also reportedly arrested earlier on same allegations.
The two are currently detained at the CID Law and Order Section.