warning…Gen Constantine Chiwenga
Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantino Chiwenga has heeded calls by Masvingo Provincial Minister Shuvai Mahofa for him to take charge of political affairs.
Chiwenga warned opposition elements bent on fomenting turmoil, and Zanu-PF infiltrators seeking to destroy the party from within, that the country’s security services will not sit and watch as they plot chaos.
In an interview with the state media ahead of the 2016 Heroes and Defence Forces holidays, Chiwenga said the military had a constitutional role to preserve the integrity of the Republic and revolution.
He said: “We were reading mapepa paakatanga kuti ‘when you want to destroy Zanu-PF you need to do it from within’.
“Vaitiudza kuti kuchazoita vamwe vechidiki vanofanirwa kutonga. Hazvina kunyorwa here? Munoti tanga tisingazvioni? Hazvisizvo here zvirikuitika? Ngatidye sadza zvakanaka.”
The general also said: “Kana wada kutonga enda kuvanhu. We are a democratic country.
“We are commemorating Heroes Day; that is blood that was shed and it’s time to reflect. Ropa iroro harina kurasikira mahara. Those people died for you and me.
“Some of us survived the war not because we were the best kana kuti tanga takangwara. No. We survived so that we can bear witness to how this country was liberated …
“Many of those who did not make it to Zimbabwe were the real fighters and some of the celebrated cowards who only saw the border when going into Mozambique and coming back at Independence and never during combat, ndivo vakuzviisa pamberi manje.
“This nonsense of someone who was at a refugee camp or was a cleaner moving around telling people that he or she fought in the struggle is just that – nonsense. Wakarwa hondo kupi?
“Vanhu ngavapute mbanje dzavo zvakanaka, hazvirambidzwi. Kana ririshave rekumusha kwenyu it’s ok, putayi ikoko – don’t disturb us because we have lost thousands of innocent sons and daughters.”
On a “communique” attributed to war veterans which claimed liberation fighters had withdrawn their support for President Mugabe, Gen Chiwenga said a few rogue elements could not tarnish the broader collective.
“When a clique or infiltrators comes in, do you move around saying everyone has rebelled? War veterans start from the President himself down to the last cadre…”
He said a simple look at the leadership of the war veterans association showed none of them were members of the General Staff or High Command during the liberation struggle.
The General Staff were like the middle management, overseeing matters on the ground, and reported to the High Command.
“If we have one rogue war veteran it doesn’t mean everyone is a rogue,” he said.
On those sowing seeds of instability via social media, the ZDF Commander said it was strange that activists and church leaders now thought they were now “more revolutionary than Zanla and Zipra at the height of the liberation war”.
He said the nation should concentrate on development issues instead of brewing unnecessary chaos.
“The issue of shutting the country’s borders is nonsense, it is absolute nonsense. Vanhu ngavaende kudzimba vanodya sadza ravo vakazvigarira. Shutting the borders to please who?” he asked.
He brushed off claims that the ZDF was politically biased, saying: “We went to the struggle and brought Independence and today you cannot say I must shut my mind and completely forget where I came from.
“That’s what our Constitution says. Everyone contributed to writing the Constitution and it says we (the ZDF) shall uphold the Constitution.
“We are apolitical to the extent that we leave you to do what you like but the moment you threaten the sovereignty of the country, then you threaten that very Constitution.
“Please don’t expect us to sit and watch. We are there to protect the people and that’s what we are saying and will do.
Gen Chiwenga said an appreciation of the country’s history would aid the development agenda.
“We have our friends, the Chinese. They are where they are because of their Founding Father, Chairman Mao. Look at the Russians, even if the current leadership is not communist, they respect their Founding Father, Lenin.
“Isu muno tina VaMugabe vedu, ndoovatakabva nawo. He is the Founding Father of this country and it shall remain so.”
nasty end-game…Robert Mugabe
“Robert Mugabe has put the last nail on his coffin”… and he has to fall by Tuesday next week, says the famous Kariba based pastor Phillip Mugadza. FULL VIDEO INTERVIEW:
In police custody for wearing gowns at cricket match
Politics and sport intermingled at the cricket match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe today, with a fine line being drawn between waving the Zimbabwe flag as an act of patriotism or one of outright defiance. Police have charged Jenni Williams on an unclear charge they defined as criminal nuisance.
While the cricket match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe went on, there were reports of Zimbabweans being arrested on various spurious grounds, such as wearing a graduation gown or simply waving a Zimbabwe flag.
Among those arrested at Queens Sports Club were; Samuel Meso, Kudzai Hove, Gift Ostallos Siziba and Rodwell Nyika who were allegedly wearing graduation gowns during the Zimbabwe New Zealand cricket match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Also arrested were WOZA leaders who police at the first arrested on what they termed ‘a preventive measure’ lest they should commit a crime. Williams and other WOZA leaders remain in jail until Monday hopefully when they appear in court.
While the #thisgown protesters were later released without charge, Williams is on an unclear charge termed ‘criminal nuisance.’
However, as far as the game went New Zealand it is reported took control of the second test after reaching 206-1 against Zimbabwe at tea on the first day at Queens Sports Club.
New Zealand’s charge was led by openers Martin Guptil (87) and Tom Latham (78 not out). They put together 169 runs for the first wicket before Guptil fell leg before wicket to seamer Donald Tiripano, after blasting 11 boundaries and one six.
Captain Kane Williamson (30 not out) joined Latham and the two kept up the momentum as Zimbabwe struggled on a pitch that offered little assistance to the six bowlers used so far by the hosts.
New Zealand leads the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first test at the same venue by an innings and 117 runs.
There were anti-government protests inside the ground, which led to human rights activist Jenni Williams being arrested during the first session of the day.
angry kids attack a police vehicle during the July riots “You Old Man [listen carefully]…we do not want to chase each other on the streets with stones. This is the time to think about your Legacy. We want to respect you.” – Morgan Tsvangirai.
Staff Reporter| Morgan Tsvangirai bounced back to his political career this morning as he made his strongest message yet, filled with hope for Zimbabweans but also drawing a line with Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship, ZimEye.com reveals. It was first his compatriot Joice Mujuru who first sounded the horn at Robert Mugabe and this time Tsvangirai took his turn to fire the loudest ever warning shot at Mugabe.
Tsvangirai whose political career had slowed down due to poor health, was full of life as he narrated Zimbabwe’s daily struggles, reaching out to those being persecuted such as war veterans leader Douglas Mahiya, bringing back to memory the missing Itai Dzamara. The MDC leader like many over the past weeks who include former minister Nkosana Moyo and SADC’s founding Secretary General, Dr. Simba Makoni, reminded Mugabe that it was not too late to redeem his legacy.
“I have got a word for the Old Mugabe. You Old Man [listen carefully],” began Tsvangirai.
He continued, “we do not want to chase each other on the streets with stones. This is the time to think about your Legacy. We want to respect you,” he said.
Mugabe is now cornered from within and outside his ruling Zanu PF party as pressure mounts for reforms that will see Zimbabwe once a great nation, breathe again.
Baba Tencen and Kansiimwe to perform at HICC Staff Reporter|The Ugandan Queen of comedy, Ann Kansiimwe is in Harare and is expected to wow an anticipating audience, with her hilarious short skits, at the Harare International Conference Centre this evening.
Kansiimwe popular for her short television skits, will perform alongside South African based, Zimbabwean comedian Baba Tencen. Baba Tencen is popular for his short video skits Kuripwa Kugara. The queen of comedy at HICC tonight
Kansiimwe arrived in Harare yesterday and has been on local television as well seen in photo opportunities with celebrities who include ZiFM’s Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa. Kansiime performs and tours as a stand up comedian, making her a household name in many African countries. Kansiime’s comedy style tends to focus on aspects of her personal life. “I like talking about things that are going on in life, because that’s always going to be different and original,” she says. She is married to Gerald Ojok, a native Acholi.
Morgan Tsvangirai with his wife Elizabeth in Masvingo today LIVE-REPORT:MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai this afternoon briefly shut Masvingo’s CBD down. It was total shut down as business came to a halt with many companies closing down to allow their workers to attend his much publicised demonstration. Tsvangirai who has been struggling with his health missed the party’s two previous demos in Bulawayo and Mutare. This is his first public address in a long while. Tsvangirai is holding his victory march in Zimbabwe’s political hotbed, Masvingo. FOLLOW THE LIVE UPDATES HERE…. MDC Supporters in Masvingo
Woza protesters in Bulawayo (file pic)
Members of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise have been arrested at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo where the Zimbabwe and New Zealand match cricket is taking place.
The nine who have been arrested are reportedly being taken to Nkulumane Police Station, while WOZA leader Jenni Williams is being detained at Donnington police station.
There are reports however, that the police are denying their lawyers Mehluli Dube and Solomon Mguni access to them.
LIVE REPORT: ZimEye brings our valued readers live updates from Morgan Tsvangirai’s Masvingo rally.
1355- Tsvangirai finishes address.
Audio loading…
1315 – Tsvangirai addresses crowd
1259 – All shops closed as workers join in protest
1256 – Traffic jam in CBD. Haulage trucks brought to a halt
1249 – A mixture of excitement and fear hits Masvingo: roars, chants and car hooters.
1248 – Business comes to a standstill in CBD
1247 – Procession nw in Town centre
Scores join in
1238 – Chamisa, Khupe, Mudziri holding hands moving in front
1233 – March now at Rank. Chamisa, Mudzuri, Khupe join the protest. Walking among the people.
1224 – Procession started. Masvingo painted red.
1205 – Morgan Tsvangirai arrives. Demo about to start from Mucheke Hall
1200 – Amos Chibaya asdressing protesters. singing Tsvangirai’s best song, ‘Teerera.’
1015 – Protesters from Chiredzi, Gokwe, Chivi, Masvingo urban, Masvingo West, Harare, Gutu West, Shurugwi, Gutu North, now at Mucheke staduim.
0952 – Masvingo province executive in attendance
0938 – Members from Zimpf also in in attendance.
0935 – Graduate Protesters clad in University and college gowns arriving some pushing scotch cats with firewood, tomatoes, cabbages and vegetables for sale
Mutsvangwa at the magistrates court last week, flanked by Crisis Coalition’s Mfundo Mlilo
Newsday|President Robert Mugabe, eager to purge dissenting voices in the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA), has reached out to their leader, Christopher Mutsvangwa, for him to step down together with his embattled executive, NewsDay reports.
Mugabe, angered by the defiant war veterans’ leaders over a stinging communiqué calling on him to step down, has despatched War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube to engage the Mutsvangwa-led ZNLWVA executive.
Yesterday, Dube told NewsDay that government was in a Catch-22 situation following a High Court ruling which barred Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandiitawepi Chimene and her splinter group from claiming the ZNLWVA leadership.
Dube said as a result of Mugabe’s pressure, his ministry was engaging the former Norton MP and his team to persuade them to call for an extraordinary congress which would allow them to step down.
“We have no option, but to engage them and we are doing so. I have said it before that we will have to persuade Cde Mutsvangwa and his executive and given the court order, we are now bound to do that so that they can see the need for an early congress to elect a new leadership,” the minister said.
Mugabe last week said a new ZNLWVA leadership would soon be installed following the damning communiqué criticising his leadership, failure to stop the economic meltdown, corruption, dictatorship and widespread poverty, among several other issues.
Although Mugabe fired Mutsvangwa from both government and Zanu PF, Dube said the former minister remained a vital cog in the war veterans’ structure.
“There is no way we were going to deal with the war veterans’ leadership without involving Mutsvangwa and his executive,” Dube said.
“War veterans are an integral part of Zanu PF and its leaders have been expelled. The question is: How will the party interact with expelled members? Definitely it’s tricky to circumvent engaging the outgoing executive. We have already started to talk with them and I don’t see us failing to find each other.”
Asked what he would do if Mutsvangwa and his executive refused to give in, Dube said: “We will cross the bridge when we reach the river. For now, we are hopeful that they will graciously accept the persuasion and allow the association to move forward in the best interests of Zimbabwe and the war veterans at large.”
ZNLWVA spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said the Mutsvangwa-led team was prepared to engage government as long as it sticks to the law and the constitution of the association.
“This has nothing to do with my personal feelings or whoever is in leadership; our position is that people must just stick to the law. Let all engagements be lawful and we have no problem with such discussions,” Mahiya said.
“When they come to us, we will direct them to both the national and the association’s constitutions and if they fail to meet the law requirements, it’s as simple as that. It will be the end of the road for whatever they want to do.”
The High Court interdicted Chimene, Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba, George Mlala, Charles Mpofu, Ester Munyaradzi, Stephen Moyo and Robert Mukwena from interfering with ZNLWVA activities.
The applicant in the matter said Chimene and her splinter group’s activities could cause civil strife in the country.
Mutsvangwa was recently expelled from Zanu PF after he ran afoul of Mugabe, while other members of the executive, who include his deputy Headman Moyo, secretary-general Victor Matemadanda, Mahiya and secretary for commissariat Francis Nhando, were victims of the fall-out that followed the release of a stinging statement last month calling on the 92-year-old Mugabe to resign to save the country from collapse.-Newsday
Johannes Tomana (middle) with Emmerson Mnangagwa and Josiah Hungwe (extreme left)
Acting Prosecutor General, Ray Goba on Friday failed to turn up for the costs hearing matter of convicted rapist and former Zanu PF legislator Munyaradzi Kereke where his office was supposed to give a response on why the suspended PG, Johannes Tomana during his term of office failed to prosecute Kereke.
This is the third time the PG’s office has failed to respond to the case, thereby delaying the trial set to nail Tomana.
Regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa, last month ordered PG’s Office to respond to why Kereke’s trial was delayed and to also respond on the question of compensating the privately prosecuted trial, Newsday reports.
For nearly 5 years, Tomana
The court’s order followed private prosecutor Charles Warara’s application for legal costs refund against Kereke.
After the trial had failed to continue, Warara told journalists that Mupeiwa told them he had received a phone call from acting PG Advocate Ray Goba advising he had failed to turn up in court because his typist had made a typographical error on the court date.
“The PG called the magistrate and said the letter was written August 15 instead of 5. As such, they did not know the hearing was set for today (Friday),” he said.
Warara also said Goba did not want to comment if Tomana personally did anything to block Kereke’s trial.
“We also have been told that the new PG doesn’t want to blame Tomana completely, but wants to establish if it was a mistake or if there are other reasons he declined prosecuting Kereke, so he says he is going through the whole case in order to find out what really transpired,” he said.
The case was postponed to August 15.
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday shamelessly boasted saying that Zimbabwe has the world’s largest stash of minerals.
At a time when the country is embarrassing itself through begging for aid and this week going to the extent of celebrating donations of basics such as rice from struggling nations the likes of India, the VP yesterday torched storm with critics as he boasted saying the country has the largest stash of mineral assortments.
Zimbabwe has the world’s largest civil servant salary bill which accounts for over 80 percent of government expenditure, meaning that a paltry amount remains for crucial infrastructure development projects, critical for the economy. This also comes against a backdrop of the country having the world’s largest number of Government Ministers judging by population ratios.
But Mnangagwa continued his boast saying, “once we believe in ourselves as Zimbabweans, that this is our country, we must put our shoulders to the wheel and achieve the desired development.”
He added, “God blessed this country with minerals. We have everything. Out of the 21 special minerals in the world, we have 19. What is needed is unity and planning together,” he said.
Mnangagwa added saying Zimbabweans should defend what he termed their sovereignty. “As we celebrate Heroes Day, let us remember that we are Zimbabweans because of some people who died.”
He continued, “all living, including the youths, should remember that without unity, the liberation struggle would not have been a success. Yes, rebels were there, but overally people were united. The philosophy behind this concept (Heroes Day) is to ensure that generation after generation, continues to remember that our Independence came as a result of our own people sacrificing.
“In that process, many comrades died, many were maimed but the objective was one – that we become ourselves, sovereign and independent.” Mnangagwa went on: “We must always remind our children that we are now Zimbabweans as a result of sacrifice. That will not repeat itself, but we would want that type of patriotism to be embedded into the younger generation, patriotism that Zimbabweans come first, my life comes second. That is the spirit we would want to show.
“As we assemble at the national shrine, to our comrades, the gallant fighters who shed their lives during the struggle and after the struggle, who stood by the correct line of the revolution, we are saying to them we have not forgotten. You are heroes of the revolution, heroes of the birth of this country. That is why we put aside this day to remember, recognise and celebrate the heroic acts of those lying at the shrine.”
apology refused…Lady Squanda By Zimbojam|On-the-run Zim Dancehall artist, Lady Squanda, has broken her silence since the surfacing of three videos showing her assaulting fellow artist and comedian Skimbo, before making him lick the sole of her foot.
In an exclusive interview with Zimbo Jam from her hideout, which she refused to disclose, she had this to say:
“Musati Manditi guilty… or ndisati ndakupai apology, mirayi ndimbokuonesei something.
Skimbo anogara achituka vanhu paadira in the name of comedy? Ko anewo here kana tsambawo inorakidza kuti police yakamupa mvumo yekungotukavanhu?
(Skimbo is always insulting people in the name of comedy. Does he have even a letter from the police giving him the permission to judge people?)
Ko paakambonditi ndakabvisa nhumbu akange aenda neni kuchipatara here kunobvisa nhumbu? Uriwe murume wangu unofila sei uchinzwa kuti mukadzi wako akabvisa nhumbu iwe hautombozvizive?
(That time when he said I had an abortion, did he go with me to the hospital? If you were my husband how would you feel if you heard that your wife had had an abortion without you even knowing it?)
Ko mwana wangu paakazvinzwa akafilawo sei?
(And when my child heard this, how do you think they felt?)
Ko paanoramba achinditi ndapera voice nebrongo akambondiona ndakabata brongo here or akambondisendera brongo racho here?
(And all those times he says I no longer have a voice because I abuse bronco, has he ever seen me holding bronco or has he ever sent me some?)
I want you to tell me kuti unonzwa sei nyika yese ichiudzwa kuti waba brugwa? Mapent here? Ko ndirimbavha ndingabe pent ndichisiya zvinhu zvese zvine value zvangazvirimo? Lodge yacho inonzi chai? handizive… ko muridzi we lodge anonzani?Handizive. Horait, wanga uriko here uchindionandichiba? Ayehwa. Murungu wacho wandakabira manduwe akadiikundisungisa? This is my story. I am Lady Squanda.”
(How would you feel if the whole country was told you stole underwear? Panties! Really? If I was a thief would I steal panties and leave every thing else of value? Which lodge was he referring to? I don’t know. What’s the owner’s name? I don’t know. OK. Were you there? Did you see me stealing? No. Did the person who I stole from report me to the police?) “
The reaction comes in barely a day before the case goes to court, according to the complainant Skimbo.
The victim in the alleged abduction and violent assault confirmed to Zimbo Jam that two perpetrators had been arrested by the police and the search for Squanda and other members of her gang continues. The writer is making efforts to get a comment from the Chitungwiza police and we will continue to keep the readers posted on further developments.
The little-known comedian has meanwhile become an instant social media sensation and something of a street celebrity. During an interview with this publication last week, Skimbo was constantly being interjected by greetings from members of the public who wanted to get a selfie or simply greet him. During the past week, he has made appearances on the national broadcaster, ZTV, and has participated in several radio interviews.
Lady Squanda’s real whereabouts remain unknown, though unconfirmed reports suggest she left for Botswana, apparently evading arrest. Her manager, DJ Sparks, who was not present when the incident took place, has been fighting in defense of his artist despite offering a scornful apology and afterwards deactivating his Facebook account last week.
A SECURITY guard in Bulawayo yesterday stunned a magistrate when he offered to pay $30 in monthly maintenance for his 10-year-old daughter.
Mr Maxwell Murandi of Entumbane Suburb appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya and begged the court to review downwards his maintenance payments from $80 to $30.
“I humbly request this court to review my child maintenance downward because I can no longer afford to pay $80 demanded by my ex-wife. I have since remarried and have another child with my new wife to take care of,” said Mr Murandi.
“My second child was born on the 21st of April this year and I earn $206 per month.”
Ms Manyara Matumbike, his ex-wife, rubbished his request and told Mr Tashaya that her daughter could not survive on $1 per day.
“I won’t accept his $1 per day maintenance offer Your Worship. Debt collectors have been haunting me since the $80 he is already paying is not enough to cater for all our needs and expenses,” said Ms Matumbike.
“I cannot accept that he wants to give us a measly $30 for our child. Just because he has remarried does not mean he should forsake his first child.”
Magistrate Tashaya ordered Mr Murandi to pay $50 per month saying his offer was too little.
“Now that there is another child, contributing $80 to each child would mean that the respondent will only be left with about $88 to himself and that would not motivate him to go to work.”-state media
import ban…Mike Bimha
ZIMBABWE has told South Africa that import controls introduced in June this year through Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 will last between two and three years.
The Statutory Instrument removed 42 products from the open general import licence, restricting their importation into Zimbabwe, as it was felt that local industry has capacity to produce them.The legislation controls a wide array of imports, among them coffee creamers, camphor creams, white petroleum jellies, body lotions, builders’ ware such as wheelbarrows, structures and parts of structures of iron or steel, bridges and bridge sections, lock gates, lattice masts, roof, roof frameworks and doors.
As such, during the latest chapter of bilateral trade and economic cooperation meetings with South Africa, Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha apprised his South African counterpart, Rob Davies, on the background to the present state of industry and circumstances leading to the restrictions.
While Government will control the importation of products, where it has been proven goods can be produced locally, it will also mobilise funding to support the recovery of areas protected through SI 64 measures.
“These measures are time bound. They are not there forever. Two to three years is what we are looking at,” Minister Bimha said.
He said a monitoring and evaluation committee has been put in place to assess the impact of the measures.
Among key trade issues discussed during last Thursday’s meeting in South Africa were import control measures Zimbabwe introduced through SI 64 and the requirement by South Africa for pharmaceutical imports to enter the country by air.
Addressing journalists in Harare on Friday, in the presence of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Chris Mushohwe, Minister Bimha said Pretoria welcomed his submission on the justification for import controls while Harare would look into South Africa’s request for duty or tax phase down on certain products or outright removal.
“These measures were well received by our counterparts. South Africa (trade minister) emphasised that they cherish the good relations between our two countries and acknowledged the role trade plays in the economies of our countries,” he said.
SA, in terms of outstanding trade and economic issues with its northern trade partner, requested that Zimbabwe considers phasing down duties and taxes on certain products and submitted a priority list of 112 products.
“We asked them if they could present a priority list (in terms of) which, they want us to reduce or remove duties and certain taxes. We agreed that we will come back to them in two weeks with a full response on the 112 products,” Minister Bimha said.
The time, he said, is meant to allow for widespread consultations.
In terms of the requirement for pharmaceutical products to be airlifted and enter through OR Tambo International Airport, Minister Bimha said he was advised by his counterpart that this was not a trade issue, but a health issue.
As such he said they agreed that the matter will be discussed between the health ministers of the two countries who will make their recommendations on the best way to proceed.
He, however, refuted media reports, after his meeting with his trade counterpart, that South Africa had given Zimbabwe a two-week ultimatum to rescind its decision on imports or risk severe retaliatory measures from its biggest trade partner.
“There has never been any communication prior to or during our meeting (with Minister Davies) that there is going to be retaliatory action from South Africa (over import controls),” he said. “I would be surprised if South Africa looked at retaliation.”
Minister Bimha said he had explained how Zimbabwe’s industrial base was decimated by the decade long economic instability; how it weathered the storm during that period and negative impact its huge import bill has had on local industry.
“I gave them details of how our manufacturing sector is performing in terms of capacity utilization and the factors affecting that performance. I told them that among the factors, was the issue imports, which has affected the performance of our manufacturing sector and that it is not just the imports from South Africa, but the rest of Africa and Asia.
The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries 2015 manufacturing sector survey report says industrial capacity is at 34 percent.
“I also demonstrated to them the effect of the removal of certain products from the open general import licence in 2014, which improved the capacity of (some) companies and that some companies from South Africa have come to invest in Zimbabwe as a result of these measures,” the minister said.
Minister Bimha said he told Minister Davies that Zimbabwe’s import bill averaged $6 billion while exports were $3 billion annually, a situation the minister said was not sustainable and was partly the reason the country is facing liquidity and cash crises.
“A senior official from the Reserve Bank (part of the delegation to SA) presented on the issue of liquidity, as well as the challenge that we have experienced in terms of cash shortages.”
Minister Bimha said import restrictions through SI 64 were not tantamount to a ban, but were alternatives available to every country in terms of the World Trade Organisation and Sadc trade rules and protocol.
“Much of the problems can be attributed to the surge in imports. The imports are not critical to Zimbabwe because we now produce some of the products we are importing,” he said.
Zimbabwe will continue to import critical raw materials, capital goods and items that are not readily available in the country while giving its industry time and space to retool and acquire latest technologies to be able to compete globally.
The country also has import exemptions for returning residents, diplomats, goods associated with inheritance and for products meant for consumption by individuals or their families.
Zimbabwe is in the process of preparing a comprehensive explanation about the justification for introducing the import restrictions, which will be submitted to the Sadc secretariat soon.
Minister Bimha said Zimbabwe honours obligations it has signed up to together with its regional counterparts, which explains its role in championing the industrialisation strategy for Sadc.-state media
A MAN from Gokwe has been caught having sex with his step mother.
Keledious Majaji (24) of Majaji Village under Chief Nemangwe in Gokwe South was allegedly caught by his wife Ms Elaine Masukume (22) pants down with his stepmother, Plaxedes Tshuma.
The age of his step mother could not be ascertained.
Chief Nemangwe on Wednesday confirmed the incident which he described as shocking.
He said Majaji and Tshuma denied the allegations when they appeared before his court on Monday after Ms Masukume reported the matter.
Chief Nemangwe said the matter was remanded to tomorrow for judgment.The Chief said Ms Masukume told the court that her husband just vanished for two days before she decided to go and notify her mother in law – Tshuma.
Masukume went to Tshuma’s homestead and was surprised to find her husband naked in his stepmother’s bed.
She then told relatives that Majaji had slept with his stepmother which led to a misunderstanding between the families,” said the Chief.
He said Majaji then declared to his wife that he was going to co-habit with his stepmother to lend credence to her allegations.Chief Nemangwe said Mujaji’s father passed away and Tshuma stays alone with her grandchildren.
“Tshuma confirmed that her stepson had spent the night at her homestead but denied having sexual intercourse with him,” said Chief Nemangwe.
“Majaji said he slept at a friend’s homestead the first time and the following day, he then slept at his stepmother”s homestead where he slept on her bed while she took the floor”
A 70-YEAR-OLD Nyazura woman, Mary Macheme of Macheme Village under Chief Makoni, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 10-year-old boy whom she forcibly bedded several times.
The minor contracted a sexually transmitted infection.
Macheme appeared before Rusape regional magistrate Mr Livingstone Chipadza, facing aggravated indecent assault charges.
She is denying the charges. District public prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira told the court that Macheme bedded the boy on countless occasions this year.
“On a date unknown to the State, but this year, the accused called the complainant to her bedroom and instructed him to sleep with her.
“The boy refused, but she forced him. Around midnight, the complainant was awakened by the accused person, who had placed him on top of her body. “
The prosecutor said the old lady then physically forced the boy to become intimate with her.
“This trend continued on countless times,” said Mr Mutyasira. The abuse was exposed on July 16.
Said Mr Mutyasira: “On this date, the boy’s father came from Harare to visit him. “When he arrived he was quickly told by the accused person that his son had injured himself while playing with other children from the village.
“The worried father called his son and checked him for the injuries.
“He was surprised to find blisters on his son’s manhood. He questioned him and the boy disclosed the abuse to him. A police report was made leading to the grandmother’s arrest.”
Macheme was remanded in custody and the case goes for trial on August 16.
In an unrelated incident, a 19-year-old teenager from Honde Valley has been slapped with a 15-year jail term for raping a Form Two girl.
Prudence Delight Matasva of Dumbura Village had terrorised villagers as he broke into several homesteads and attempted to rape vulnerable girls and women at knife point.
Mr Mutyasira told the court that on June 1 at around 1am, he broke into several homes and attempted to rape women.
“On that day, he went to the complainant’s homestead and the complainant had retired to bed in the company of her younger sister. The accused person pushed the door open and entered the room.
“The occupants screamed for help, but no-one heard them. While inside, he threatened to kill them if they continued to make noise. He took a knife which he placed in his mouth and went on to rape the girl.
“During the act, the younger sister bolted and went outside. She ran to call for help from neighbours. As the suspect disappeared, the complainant rushed out of the room naked and sought refuge at a neighbour’s house where she revealed what had happened. A police report was made leading to the arrest of the suspect,” said Mr Mutyasira.
Mr Chipadza set aside five years of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.
He will be back in court soon on attempted rape charges. manica post
Staff Reporter| History was made yesterday when the Singaporean government officials accepted a petition to block Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe from entering that country.
After a battle with protesters yesterday afternoon, officials finally accepted petition papers served by marchers from the Super Vigil and the Restoration for Human Rights Organisation’s Zim based rep, Sten Zvorwadza.
Also leading at the forefront were the vocal London based activist Martin Chinyanga, Peter Sidindi, David Kadzutu and Anselm Karimanzira(the latter who wrote the petition).
Earlier on, embassy officials had called the police in a rush ordering them to arrest or chase away scores of Zimbabweans who had assembled outside the consulate offices in London.
But instead of arresting the protesters, British police officers to the contrary intervened on behalf of Zimbabweans despite the Zimbos having failed to obtain police clearance for the protest.
Jubilant Zimbabweans throbbed in ululation and dance as they happily marched to hand over their petition demands.
Martin Chinyanga told ZimEye police officers said they respect the Zimbabweans’ plight.
“We had been given a false alarm, we know Zimbabweans you are genuine, they told us,” said Chinyanga.
Some even joined our protest, added Chinyanga.
The police officers walked into the embassy and negotiated that three Zimbabwean reps be allowed to enter the consulate.
People who handed the petition were Mary Muteyerwa, Lorraine Mudjgiwa and Anselm Karimanzira.
The demand papers state that Robert Mugabe must with immediate effect be blocked from entering Singapore for his frequent medical appointments. Speaking shortly after the protest, one regular protester, Emmaculate Lee Tshuma told ZimEye, ” the First Family should be stopped from entering Singapore because Zimbabwean citizens are suffering whilst the Mugabes are getting the best available care.”
Assuming Mugabe is using own personal money, Emmaculate Tshuma remained adamant saying that Mugabe must still be stopped. “Its not exactly his own personal money, its the money he has been stealing from the government ever since he has been ruling,” she said.
War Veterans’ Secretary General Victor Matemadanda has gone into hiding after being hit by car accident fears in Harare.
Speaking on the ZimEye.com LIVE-REPORT program on Friday, Cde Matemadanda revealed he is being followed closely by rogue police officers in a manned vehicle. He told ZimEye’s Simba Chikanza via phone in the following interview while also engaging the ZimEye.com community on the following live video:
flag-bombed …Robert Mugabe
Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign says that it has filed a court application seeking an order to compel President Robert Mugabe to step down alleging that the 92 year-old Zimbabwean leader has failed to properly run the country. Action on Mugabe…Promise Mkwananzi
Spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi of Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign, comprising 40 different organizations and thousands of individuals, filed the Constitutional Court application today.
Mkwananzi, who claimed that he personally filed the application, said Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign is arguing that at 92 the president is not capable of carrying out his work due to advanced age.
He said they are further claiming that the president is currently failing to properly execute some of his duties as stipulated in Zimbabwe’s constitution.
Studio 7 was unable to get details of the court application and court officials referred all questions to the Clerk of Court, who was not available for comment.
Indications are that Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign did not hire lawyers to file the application. Jacob Mafume, a Harare-based attorney and member of the People’s Democratic Party led by Tendai Biti, said individuals have the right to file cases in the Constitutional Court.
Mafume contends that it will be a mammoth task to force the president to step down through such a constitutional challenge.
Denford Ngadziore, another member of Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign, told Studio 7 that the Constitutional Court is just one of the several options they are taking to ensure that the president steps down.
The campaign group and other activists have been holding a series of protests calling on President Mugabe to step down for allegedly ruining the economy, gross abuse of human rights and failure to address corruption gripping in the country.
Section 96 of Zimbabwe’s constitution clearly stipulates that the president may resign his or her office by written notice to the Speaker of Parliament. Section 97 of the country’s supreme law further stipulates that the president can be removed from office through a joint resolution passed by at least one-half of the total members of parliament.
The president can also be removed from office for serious misconduct, failure to obey, uphold or defend the Constitution; willful violation of the Constitution; and or inability to perform the functions of the office because of physical or mental incapacity. – VOA
Mugabe and his deputy Mnangagwa TerrenceMawawa |Masvingo At least 11 senior Zanu PF members said to be sympathetic to the beleaguered Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa have been suspended from taking part in party activities with immediate effect. The move follows Zanu PF’s Politburo expulsion of several senior party officials assumed to be sympathetic to Mngangagwa earlier this week.
Party insiders have warned of a well orchestrated plan to purge the troubled VP’s allies before the December annual conference in a bid to weaken the Midlands Godfather so he can easily be disposed of at the congress, Joice Mujuru style.
The suspension letters to the 11 senior provincial officials were signed by the First Lady Grace Mugabe ally provincial chairman Amasa Nhenjana .
In the main wing, Alois Baloyi, who is the provincial information and publicity secretary, Jevas Masosota(provincial committee member) , Zvepano Munganasa(health secretary), Buster Mafio(deputy secretary for security) and Goddard Dunira ( secretary for transport) have been ordered to stop conducting party business until they are cleared by a disciplinary committee.
In the women’s league, Mucharevei Chamisa, secretary for commissariat, Zindari Prisca Moyo( secretary for finance and Susan Madzivadondo(secretary for administration)were served with suspension letters while Brian Munyoro and Senderai Manyanga both members of the youth league were also barred from taking part in party programmes.
The 11 are accused of contravening Article 3 Section 21 Sub Section 1,2,4 and 5 by going against the party principles. “You deliberately conducted, called, facilitated or attended meetings in Masvingo Urban Constituency and carried out activities without the authority of the party,”read the charges. The affected members told ZimEye.com the move was calculated to silence perceived G-40 foes.
Tsvangirai flanked by his top executives Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | Despite a myriad of challenges in his MDC T party, veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, is expected to address thousands of party supporters at the Civic Centre in Masvingo tomorrow.
Apart from battling to ease mounting pressure in the party, Tsvangirai has also been struggling with poor health after being diagnosed with cancer of the colon. Thousands of party supporters, members of the civic society and pro-democracy forces are expected to throng the Civic Centre to hear the MDC T leader’s first public speech since returning from South Africa. MDC T provincial chairman James Gumbi said the demonstration to be led by Tsvangirai was sanctioned by the police after a lengthy struggle.
“We received a letter from the police on Monday granting us permission to hold the demonstration. Supporters from all over the province will gather at Mucheke Hall at 1100 hrs and march from there to the Civic Centre,” said Gumbi. Despite the relentless factional battles in the opposition party, Gumbi urged supporters and members to unite and fight for total freedom from tyranny.
Former MDC MP and ZimPF national executive member Jeffryson Chitando said the Joice Mujuru led party would not participate in the demonstration because there was no formal invitation to that effect. “There is no doubt that the MDC cause is noble and plausible but we will not participate in the demonstration because we were not formally invited. I am sure individual ZimPF members will join the MDC T in the demonstration,” said Chitando.
Zimbabweans in what is termed ‘national convergence’ are uniting in demonstrations all over the country to build numbers and the necessary people power to remove Mugabe.
Hi good friends. My name is Energy Mutodi. I was born on 4 August 1978 so today is my 38th birthday. Join me in flesh and spirit as I celebrate this very important day in my life. US President Barack Obama is also celebrating his birthday today and I feel proud to be sharing a birthday with such a great man. I thank all of you for your support and for giving me company in school, at work and in life as fellow citizens. My life is incomplete without anyone of you. I wish you well in your daily lives. My daughter Ruvimbo also turns 5 this month on the 13th so we decided to do a joint celebration. We belong to the Chambara Gushungo clan that took a Nzukwa identification several years ago in Masvingo. Ruvimbo and I like braai and red wine. Thank you.
Energy Mutodi
Back in Zanu PF…Nicholas Goche
Former CIO boss Nicholas Goche has been readmitted into Zanu PF after a five year suspension.
The dreaded man’s political career was given a new lease of life at Thursday’s politburo meeting when his five-year suspension was lifted.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo was not reachable for comment yesterday, while party secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo was not picking calls.
But sources privy to the politburo proceedings told NewsDay that Goche’s suspension was lifted following his appeal against his sentence.
“It was seen that Goche had shown remorse and his suspension was lifted,” a party member said.
Zanu PF is still to make a determination on several appeals by aggrieved party members.
About 50 members have appealed against their suspension and expulsion out of the 187 members who were shown the exit door in the aftermath of the party’s December 2014 congress, which purged Mujuru, who now leads ZimPF. Some of the members whose appeals were still pending before the Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko-led appeals committee include former Indigenisation minister Francis Nhema and Information and Communications Technology minister Webster Shamu.
Goche, in November 2014, was accused of using his government business trip to Western Europe to make stopovers in Israel and South Africa to allegedly look for a hit man to assassinate Mugabe.
Goche, in November 2014, was accused of using his government business trip to Western Europe to make stopovers in Israel and South Africa to allegedly look for a hit man to assassinate Mugabe. Newsday
Mugabe must resign…Simba Makoni
Join us here on the ZimEye facebook page Live at 4.PM Zim time, Tete Rasta, Grace Mupfurutsa talks to politician Dr Simba Makoni, the leader of Mavambo, Kusile, Dawn.
Makoni recently called on his former boss President Robert Mugabe to resign. Makoni has also taken over the rotational leadership of the opposition coalition group CODE.
Join the debate as Tete Rasta talks to Makoni about his political career and other important political issues.
Today the Singaporean Government comes under the spotlight as scores of Zimbabwean refugees protest there. Singapore has become a place of refugee for Zimbabwe’s first family, they do their shopping there, even have their babies there. It has become a second home away from the tyranny and poverty Zimbabweans endure on a daily basis.
Zimbabweans are at the Singapore Embassy to alert the government and submit a petition highlighting the plight of Zimbabweans while Mugabe and his family set up businesses in Singapore using Zimbabwean financial resources. It is the first time that Singapore has come under the spotlight for working in alliance with the brutal Mugabe regime.
Jacob Mafume Jacob Mafume | Vampireland –YOU know it’s a bad day in vampireland when vampires drink their own Blood .
It should have dawned to all in ZANU that Robert Mugabe is guilty of worse crimes than those that Ndabaningi Sithole was accused of committing during the liberation struggle. Mugabe has destroyed the histories of those on whose shoulders he stood to get into power. The birthday of his wife is more celebrated than the deaths of the men that paid the ultimate sacrifice to liberate this country . Who remembers Nikita Mangena , what institution is named after Lookout Masuku? Tongogara ‘s name is now only found in Zim Hip hop artist mouths, Edison Zvobgo is but a distant memory. Hebert Chitepo is but a road in the potholed streets of Harare. Edgar Tekere is just a faint whisper in the wind. Solomon Mujuru’s widow is a tormented soul. Worse still the army cannot celebrate its shining sons for fear of being labeled treasonous , why the military staff college is still the staff college not SOLOMON MUJURU COLLEGE as if the naming Gods have deserted the country . I can bet a lot of dollars that some of the new soldiers do not even know that Zvinavashe once led the army rising from the dusty soils of Gutu .Had he not built a primary school he would long be forgotten.
A historian of some sort George Charamba,who at least is making an attempt to read for his doctorate has been reduced to chronicling some obscure missionary and portuguese figures in our colonial history for fear of stepping on contemporary historical toes. One feels for Charamba an intellectual of sort having to sit and listen to the drivel spewed by a first lady drunk on power steroids;listen to the reckless rantings of the likes of Mahoka , Chimene who have joined the ranks of the street Woman in Chief ,Grace. The lesson in all this my dear sons is that be careful whom you marry ,a story that will be told for ages about one Gabriel with pretences of being an angel but who went and married the devil’s concubine. In no time the mistress of hell had brought her sisters along into the corridors of power and with them a colourful assortment of gentlemen with confused leanings.
A once brutal revolutionary party has been turned into a comedy of sorts whose meetings were once puncuated with soaring pan African and socialist rhetoric.
Has new main speech makers (the skills of speech writing by the likes of Charamba and ilk are no longer needed) . Now you have a Mandi, speaking with the force of the best grade dagga ,presidential mbanje .You have a Mahoka , the mother of all bleachers , shining example of ZANU womanhood complete with brothel lingo insulting the vice-president . It’s a Shakespearean tragi-comic ,we can’t tell whether our tears are of laughter or sorrow bitter sorrow . Mark my words, in a few months time Roman Orgies will be common place in state-house.
For now the vampires drink the blood of their own before turning to other carnal pleasures . The dead heroes it would appear were or are luckier .The living ones are the laughing stock of the nation , who will respect the Croc when well known harlots are given a free reign to insult him .The biggest non surprise is that Mugabe expects him to answer the rumour mongering , the slander , market place gossip which he calls allegations. The judge of which is a rented mob of ragtag individuals , a mortley crew of the worst in Zimbabwean society.
The army which we will celebrate in a few days was mortally insulted by the ungracious one ,we are told they cant even shoot even if they wanted . In other societies such accusation by a first lady or anybody would have had a retired general at the least speaking and correcting the slander , but ours, no! Tails between the legs .They surface now to threaten unarmed citizens ah well we shall laugh soon as they are kicked out by war deserters and intelligence drivers ? Or maybe somewhere beneath their lofty stomachs and fleshy folds they shall find their balls? Now the war vets allow their own Douglas Mahiya to be hauled before the courts with the Croc distancing himself , and the rest of the gang in tour.
WHO IS THE FOOL NOW CHARAMBA having defined preserving Mugabe as the key National Security priority at all costs only for him to view establishment as a threat to his family inheritance . Oh how myopic it was not to allow Morgan to get his victory and negotiate a settlement with him to preserve the gains of the liberation struggle . Now he has been captured and captured by the worst sort . Having defeated the colonial regime by sheer sacrifice and cunning , you read history Nathiel Manheru . How would it read if you were to be defeated by Mahoka , Mandi , Jonathan and Saviour without a bullet fired but a few meetings at ZANU head quarters. Had we known that it was this easy?We wonder .Now Kekereke is in jail , Tomana is following , Mahiya is before the courts the sins are many and we are sure the list is long .Do we have long before Mnangagwa’s sins are paraded in the public eye before Chiwenga’s despite the name are duly brought about ?The fellows are ruthless in method defining the legacy of the war veterans as one long criminal enterprise and the heroic acts simply fraudulent statements .The only correct history is that of Mugabe and that driven and validated by the spirits as Bishop Lazaraus would have us believe and not man .
The solution is very simple ZANU and the WAR VETERANS made him a god , you must remind him he is human . We all can see that he is human except you , did he not get old , did he not fall , did he not marry badly ?Surely you must learn from the Romans of old who would move behind the emperor whispering in his ear “remember you are human” .Its not too late to retrace you steps to the people . We know you know freedom ,you once fought for it . Come to the people and fight for them and not against them , you will realize how few Mugabe is , How small in stature and in deed he is . The time is now for if you delay ,like SHAKA’S mother ,his will not be a lonely grave .These vampires are thirsty having not fought a war they seek blood and whose blood is sweeter that that of those that have drank it before . We see them circling above your heads like demented vultures . Your silence in the face of taunts is useless , profession of innocence will not help , distancing yourself from comrades will be hollow . It simply marks you out as cowards cowering before the mighty force of Jonathan and Saviour . Has Mahoka withdrawn her statements , has jonathan his,
A vampire does not care for the pleas of mercy from its victims , it needs a wooden stake , a silver sword and straight to the heart.But hey what do we know , you are the revolutionaries cowering before the hurricane that is Grace ,Mahoka and Mandi .
Traders at beitbridge border, many Zimbabweans make a living out of cross border trade.
Action moves back to the Beitbridge Border next week after the announcement by #MugabeMustFall activists that they will engage in a part two episode of closing down the border.
The #MugabeMustFall campaign heads to Matabeleland South province where organisers have threatened a “temporary shutdown” of Beitbridge Border Post on Monday to ratchet up pressure on President Robert Mugabe, over his government’s failed economic policies.
The planned shutdown, according to the organisers, is intended to advise Mugabe of the swelling public anger over his misrule and demand a repeal of Statutory Instrument 64/2016 that restricts imports into Zimbabwe.
Hapson Ncube, one of the protest coordinators, told Southern Eye yesterday that their members were on the ground mobilising support for the demonstrations.
“We have notified the cross-border traders’ associations about our planned Monday protest at Beitbridge,” he said.
“We remain resolute and dedicated to rebuilding Zimbabwe. No amount of arrests and police heavy-handed tactics will deter the masses, who now want change.”
The group said it had also circulated messages on social media platforms, warning travellers to reschedule their cross-border trips, lest they will be caught up in the crossfire.
“From August 8, 2016, we will close down all commercial activities at all of Zimbabwe’s borders. Please stay home until further notice. We demand that the government of Zimbabwe abolishes Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016, which bans imports into Zimbabwe,” part of the messages read.
“Churches, cross border traders’ associations, civic groups and all other organisations advise your members to stay at home we’re closing borders.”
The planned protest follows the anti-bond notes protests held in Harare on Wednesday, which later turned riotous after police indiscriminately attacked the protestors and barred them from handing in a petition at Parliament Building.
Early last month, cross-border traders turned violent and briefly closed Beitbridge Border Post in protest over the import ban, before setting ablaze a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) warehouse.
The country has in the past few weeks witnessed several anti-government protests, including the “national shutdown” led by cleric, Evan Mawarire’s #ThisFlag movement on July 6.
But, Mugabe has scoffed at the protests, saying he would not be pushed out of office by foreign-funded agents of regime change. Newsday
reshuffling cabinet…Robert Mugabe
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe is mulling a fresh cabinet reshuffle, in which he will deal with opposition from within his party coming from members of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction Team Lacoste.
The reshuffle which is being carried out under the guise of dealing with incompetent and corrupt ministers, will see a purge of those aligned to the Team Lacoste and consolidate the G-40 faction, widely perceived to be led by Mugabe’s wife Grace.
Already this week a Politburo meeting fired senior members of the ruling party, with threats that more will be on the firing line.
Mugabe, who is under pressure from war veterans calling on him to step down amid rising social unrest, intends to send a clear warning that those who are not loyal to him will not be tolerated.
The Generation 40 (G40) faction, whose major strength has been First Lady Grace Mugabe’s proximity to power, this week gained ground against a faction led by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa following the expulsion from Zanu PF of four war veteran leaders and five other party members loyal to the vice-president.
The G40 faction has been pushing for yet another cabinet reshuffle to strengthen its position in the succession race and decimate the Mnangagwa faction.
If Mugabe buckles under pressure and reshuffles his cabinet, as is widely expected, it will be the fourth time he has done so since controversially winning the 2013 elections.
In 2014, he reshuffled his cabinet after axing former vice-president Joice Mujuru and her high-profile allies over unsubstantiated allegations of plotting his ouster and assassination.
According to one senior government official in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mnangagwa could lose his Justice portfolio although he will retain the vice-presidency.
Mnangagwa has of late been under fire for plotting to oust Mugabe, with a group of war veterans linked to the G40 faction imploring the president to boot him out.
A top government official said Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister, Christopher Mushohwe could be moved from the ministry.
“Mushohwe is not competently and effectively managing the Ministry of Information. Mugabe feels that Mushohwe has failed to defend government policies and positions where necessary. The state media is now factionally aligned and seems to be sympathising with Mnangagwa,” the government official said.
“Mushohwe was accused of failing to defend his colleagues when they are attacked in the media. In a recent cabinet meeting, Mushohwe was accused by Jonathan Moyo (Higher Education minister) of failing to defend Energy minister Samuel Undenge, who has been under attack in the media.”
Undenge has been under fire after being implicated in Zesa tender scandals, where his relationship with convicted fraudster Wicknell Chivayo has come under the spotlight.
“However, Mushohwe replied that in some cases it was government ministers leaking information, a defence that was rejected by his colleagues. The feeling is that Mushohwe is overridden by his permanent secretary George Charamba who seems to be running the show. For those reasons he might be moved and replaced by Moyo. Moyo is the total opposite of Mushohwe,” the top government official said.
The source said although Mugabe liked what Moyo was doing in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education where he has implemented the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) initiative, he thinks he would be more effective defending government policies.
Mines minister Walter Chidhakwa’s job is also hanging on his job by a thread as Mugabe is unhappy with the measly revenues from diamond sales.
“The feeling is that Chidhakwa has done a very bad job and the consolidation of diamond mines is a fiasco. Companies under his ministry are ridden with allegations of corruption. There is a feeling that the poor performance of Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) and the firing of top executives at the company was done without adequate consultation,” another government official said.
“Before ZCDC was formed, there were no adequate consultations and hence litigation. Due to all the combined factors, production has plummeted and now the company is contributing paltry figures to the fiscus. At the highest level of production in Marange, Mbada Diamonds used to give government about US$15 million per week, but now the contribution to Treasury has plunged to meagre amounts as low as US$200 000 per month.”
Mugabe has reportedly described the situation as “pathetic”.
“So on the basis of competence, Chidhakwa might not come back unless Mugabe overlooks his poor record and sympathises with him as a relative,” said the source.
Undenge is also in the firing line for corruption and incompetence.
“Although there is a steady supply of electricity, it is understood that this is not because of Undenge, but a huge drop in demand due to company closures, which has reduced consumption. Mugabe is not happy with the corruption allegations that have been raised against the minister,” a source said.
“Sydney Sekeramayi (Minister of Defence) is also under the spotlight although he is a seasoned minister, who has served in different portfolios. His time in the Ministry of Defence might be coming to an end because of his failure to competently handle war veterans’ issues. Sekeremayi (who is also Zanu PF secretary for war veterans) has been found wanting when it comes to controlling them. War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube is also under fire, as he also has been struggling to manage war veterans,” the top government official said.
Although the war veterans do not fall under Sekeramayi’s ministry, Mugabe recently demanded that the army should rein in the war veterans since they fall under the Defence Act.
Indigenisation minister Patrick Zhuwao and Tourism minister Walter Mzembi could also go for different reasons. Rural Development minister Abednigo Ncube has been mediocre quiet.
Zhuwao is on the ropes for failing to interpret the indigenisation laws and threatening to close companies.
Those who are seen to be performing well are Transport minister Joram Gumbo, Saviour Kasukuwere (Local Government), Ignatius Chombo (Home Affairs), Moyo, Prisca Mupfumira (Labour) and Patrick Chinamasa (Finance).
However, Chinamasa, who has been virtually fighting a lone battle in government to re-engage the West through the debt clearance strategy with IFIs while attempting to attract investors and secure fresh funding, has been under serious scrutiny.
The source said Agriculture minister Joseph Made is likely to stay put and an anticipated US$5 billion funding from China is a major boost to his ministry. Other ministers likely to remain include Oppah Muchinguri (Environment), Douglas Mombeshora (Lands), Kembo Mohadi (State Security) and Obert Mpofu (Macro-Economic Planning). The Independent
Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, will face the music tomorrow when he meets members of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), over the brutality against innocent civilians his force has now become famous for.
The issue of widespread police heavy-handedness on civilians is expected to come under the spotlight.
ZHRC official Petunia Chiriseri made the announcement during a stakeholder engagement workshop held in Chinhoyi yesterday.
Chiriseri said the commission was seized with the escalation of human rights violations perpetrated by law enforcement agents who were supposed to uphold the Constitution, which outlaws all forms of torture and other abuses.
“As we speak, our chairperson (Elasto Mugwadi) and other commissioners have a pending appointment on August 6 with the Police Commissioner-General over the use of brutal force on protesters in Epworth, Chitungwiza, Bulawayo and other pockets nationwide. We expect to present to him our findings,” Chiriseri, who is also a ZHRC commissioner, said.
Police last month allegedly used brute force to quell growing protests against President Robert Mugabe’s regime over the collapsing economy, numerous police roadblocks and corruption, among other socio-economic ills. Many protesters were left injured, while others faced torture following their arrest.
Participants at the workshop raised grave concern over the alleged partiality and lethargy of the ZHRC in dealing with past rights violations such as Operation Murambatsvina, describing the statutory body as a “toothless bulldog”.
It was also noted Zimbabwe had not made meaningful headway in the promotion of human rights as the issue had been politicised and was traditionally lobbied by civil society organisations suspected of harbouring an anti-government agenda.
Participants also felt human rights education and promotion should be extended to the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation, army and prison officers.
ZHRC reportedly dealt with 482 complaints last year, most of which were socio-economic related to the country’s moribund economy. newsday
nasty end-game…Robert Mugabe
“Robert Mugabe has put the last nail on his coffin”… and he has to fall by Tuesday next week, says the famous Kariba based pastor Phillip Mugadza. VIDEO:
ZIFA boss and Harare businessman Phillip Chiyangwa has cleared the air on wild rumours circulating on his health.
Many Zimbabweans early this year began twirling stories that the man is unwell. A recent picture shot of Chiyangwa way back in January was used to inflame those claims. A ZimEye.com contributor on the LIVE-REPORT program yesterday furthermore charged suggesting Chiyangwa is no longer capable of holding office.
But a strong, astute and focused Chiyangwa speaking live from Harare challenged the rumours with evidence. He spoke out revealing a condition for which he obtained a specialist operation in South Africa from which he has now fully recovered. He said he has been suffering from “hypothyroidism” (WATCH VIDEO BELOW). The British Thyroid Foundation described it as the name given to the condition resulting from an under-active thyroid gland. This means that it is not producing enough thyroid hormone for the body’s needs.
It can be caused by:
Autoimmune thyroid disease – the most common cause. This is a self-destructive process in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid cells as though they were foreign cells. The most common form is known as ‘Hashimoto’s thyroiditis’
Radioactive iodine treatment, or surgery, to correct hyperthyroidism or to treat thyroid cancer
Antithyroid drugs if given for an over-active thyroid disorder in too large a dose
Medicines such as lithium (used for certain mental disorders) and amiodarone (used to control particular heart problems)
Some cough medicines containing large amounts of iodine can also interfere with the way the thyroid functions
Some health foods taken in excess, e.g. kelp (seaweed)
A malfunction of the pituitary gland (a gland in the brain that regulates the thyroid hormones)
LIVE REPORT:ZRP cops are attacking 9 year old kids, the National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe chairman, Sten Zvorwadza says.
Speaking on the LIVE-REPORT program yesterday Mr Zvorwadza said while the economy is on its knees, many ZRP cops are worsening people’s misery through torture, also revealing shocking statistics that Zimbabwe’s vendor community now numbers 5,7million members in a country with less than 11 million resident citizens.
“The economy in Zimbabwe is being driven by street vendors, and because it is being driven by street vendors, we are proud to be called street vendors because we are sustaining this very economy so that it does not collapse in the face of these leaders who have failed to create policies to turn around the nation,” said Zvorwadza.
“In excess of 5,7 million are on the streets (vending) which means half the population of Zimbabwe are street vendors, informal economy workers….if we are talking of ratios, the number of people who are trading, are actually more than the people who are buying. This is why you see a person in Zimbabwe can spend 10 hours to work for a mere $2, for ten hours, and these statistics only show that our economy is in a shocking comatose, and because of this crisis we call upon citizens the world over to appreciate that Zimbabwe is in a crisis that needs to be addressed,” he added.
He added saying these vendors comprise 9 year old kids who are being brutalised by the cops. WATCH THE LIVE VIDEO BELOW:
MDC-T ex MP Timothy Mubhawu
Psychiatrists who examined former MDC-T MP Timothy Mubhawu certified that he is sane and fit to stand trial for domestic violence. Mubhawu (55) was sent for examination after the State submitted that it suspected he was mentally ill and had defaulted on taking medication.
Harare magistrate Ms Nomsa Sabarauta postponed the trial to August 11. Mubhawu, who is facing charges of breaching a protection order, is represented by Ms Concellia Maheya.The prosecutor Mrs Devoted Gwashavanhu-Nyagano alleged that on May 24 this year, Mubhawu’s wife Molleen Elizabeth applied for a protection order.
After two days, Mubhawu was served to attend court on June 21. It is alleged that on June 6, Molleen had returned to the Civil Court and was given another court date, August 1.
The court heard that on July 11, Molleen went to Rhodesville Police Station and reported that Mubhawu had chased her from their matrimonial home. She is now staying with relatives.
On the same day, Mubhawu escorted their housemaid Mupangai Tsamwa Chamapiwa to report an assault charge against Molleen.
Mubhawu was given protection order papers to sign, but he refused.-state media
MDC-T Youth National Organising Secretary Morgan Ncube has been granted $100 bail by the Beitbridge magistrate court.
Ncube was arrested on Tuesday while at his lawyer’s office preparing to hand himself over to the police after being on the run from them for over a month.
He was on the police wanted list for his alleged involvement in the July 1 riots that took place in the town.
About fifty members of the MDCT and human rights advocacy body Restoration Of Human Rights International attended the court case which lasted no more than ten minutes.
Ncube’s lawyer from Lawyers For Human Rights could not comment on the matter.
However, ROHR Matabeleland South recently issued a press statement implying that Ncube is not guilty of the charges laid against him as he was away in Messina South Africa on the day of the riot.
The human rights body is credited with negotiating with Ncube to hand himself over to the police to clear his name.
As part of its preparations for the 2018 make or break general elections, ZANU PF is regrouping its notorious national service militia known as green bombers using a promise to provide the youths with residential stands.
For a while the party has been making frantic efforts to get the youth together for a militant campaign in the elections but failing as most of them have since left the country for greener pastures.
A source in the youth movement of the party revealed to ZimEye.com that the party is deliberately very strict on the production of the national service certificate as a prerequisite to be listed for a stand in order to merely update its national service graduates data.
About 100,000 young people went through the though military training and the ZANU PF indoctrination at the national service training camps throughout the country.
On graduating the young people were deployed into the communities to rigorously campaign for ZANU PF.
Part of their campaign operations included violence and intimidation on people to force them to vote for ZANU PF.
In recent years after government failed to provide employment for the youth, most of the graduates began to leave the party.
“I would like to urge other National Youth Service graduates not to rush for this offer as it is only a means of locating and verifying the standing of the graduates for future use,” he said.
Minister Hlongwane Makhosini
Sports Reporter| Sports Minister Makhosini Hlongwane has shocked the nation after issuing a statement congratulating the women’s national soccer team for losing 6 – 1 to Germany in their maiden Olympic Games match.
In his statement the Minister is suggesting that the ladies did very well conceding six goals against the world number two ranked team, a fan wrote in last night.
Said Hlongwane, “I extend my most profound congratulations to the Mighty Warriors for a brave display against highly rated Germany last night,” he said.
He further made “light of the team” by congratulating them for scoring one goal against their opponents.
“That the Mighty Warriors even scored against Germany is itself record breaking and should be commended by all soccer loving Zimbabweans,” he said.
While the minister celebrated the defeat, Zimbabwean soccer lovers took barbs against both ZIFA and the government for what they said were shoddy preparations accorded the girls ahead the Olympics.
The team had very little time in camp and never played any meaningful practice matches in the run up to the games, some said.
Soccer fans on social media landed against the Minister demanding that he withdraws his statement described as a celebration of mediocrity.
happy…Minister celebrates India rice dish out to ZimbabweState Media – Relations between Zimbabwe and India reached a new high yesterday after the New Delhi administration donated $1 million and 500 tonnes of rice to Harare for drought relief purposes. The donation was handed over by India’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Masakui Rungsung Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda received the donation on behalf of Zimbabwe.
Dr Sibanda thanked India for its quick response to an international appeal made by Zimbabwe on food relief following the El Nino-induced drought that affected most parts of the country.
“It will be recalled that in February this year, Zimbabwe launched a global appeal for drought relief assistance following the effects of the El Nino induced drought which resulted in massive crop failure in the country,” he said.
“The Government and people of Zimbabwe are humbled by the speed with which the Government of India responded to the appeal. Allow me on behalf of the Government and people of Zimbabwe, to thank the Government and people of India for their generosity in donating US$1 million towards drought relief efforts in Zimbabwe. Indeed the 2015/16 cropping season witnessed massive crop failure to the extent that the country needs to import 1, 8 million tonnes of grain to see the nation to the next harvest in 2017.”
Zimbabwe, Dr Sibanda said, was not only happy with the excellent relations with India in the context of South-South cooperation but also with regards to Zimbabwe’s Look East Policy.
Dr Sibanda also highlighted the high profile visit by President Mugabe to India in October last year during the 3rd India-Africa Summit as another indicator to the close ties between the two countries.
“What was most important for us during that (India-Africa) summit is that the only bilateral agreement signed during the Summit was the US$89 million line of credit for the refurbishment of Hwange Thermal Power Station. The agreement was signed between our two countries. The signing of that agreement was indeed testimony to the special bilateral relations that we enjoy.”
Dr Sibanda said Zimbabwe was happy with the sound relationship that exists between Harare and New Delhi in other critical sectors of the economy such as the Small to Medium Enterprise sector, ICT, energy, education and pharmaceuticals.
“Equally vibrant is the economic cooperation which is underpinned by the extension of several lines of credit which include the US$25 million for the refurbishment of Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the US$428, 6 million for the upgrading of the Deka Pumping Station and US$119 million for the development of Gairezi Power Station in the Eastern Highlands which is at the tendering stage,” he said.
In his remarks after handing over the donation, Ambassador Rungsung said: “In response to the appeal made by the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe for assistance in the wake of national drought disaster declared on 04 February, 2016 by His Excellency President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Government of India, in recognition of the strong bilateral ties between the two countries, in the first phase of assistance, extended a grant of US$1 million to the Government of Zimbabwe.”
Government has since declared that no-one will die because of hunger and efforts have been intensified to source grain from friendly countries.
Logistical modalities are also being worked out to ensure that grain reaches those in need on time.
fingered…Chris Mutsvangwa
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association leader Christopher Mutsvangwa today won a High Court victory against the Grace Mugabe proclaimed lobbyist Mandiitawepi Chimene.
Chimene was seeking to take over the war vets’ organisation by electing a new leadership.
High Court Justice Joseph Musakwa barred Chimene’s splinter group from convening a meeting to elect new leadership for the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association.
Justice Musakwa granted an interdict also stopping the group from interfering with the activities of the association led by Mr Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Last week Chimene claimed that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is plotting to unseat President Robert Mugabe using the war veterans’ association. More to follow…
exiled…Paul Siwela
EXILED Matabeleland Liberation Organisation (MLO) leader Paul Siwela, who skipped bail while on treason charges, is distraught after he failed to come back to Zimbabwe for the funeral of his mother at the weekend.
Siwela said he could not risk returning to the country, as he feared being re-arrested or assassinated.
In an interview with Southern Eye from his unnamed base, Siwela, yesterday said although his heart was bleeding over the death of his mother, he was forced to remain in exile until the political landscape changed.
“I lost my mother and I am very devastated and pained that I could not attend her funeral because the Zimbabwe government could either arrest or kill me for my political convictions, which I am not ready to abandon,” he said.
“I am also told my father is ill. I am very devastated. However, all this does not distract me from my political goals.
“Zimbabwe has no future for me and the Matebeles and, thus, we are very determined to break away from Zimbabwe regardless of the cost. The means justify the end.”
Siwela, who is facing treason charges, fled the country in 2013 amid reports that State security agents were baying for his blood.
After skipping bail, Siwela wrote to the trial judge, Justice Nicholas Ndou, claiming he skipped the border following attempts on his life.
Part of the letter, dated August 24, 2013, read: “I write to inform you that I received a phone call from an anonymous caller on the midnight of August 17, 2013 warning me of the imminent assassination of my person.
“The caller reminded me of past failed or aborted attempts and that the next attempt was scheduled to be a success and to be effected within the next 24 hours. Several reports in the past were made to Queens Park Police Station and request for police protection was made without success, leaving me with only one option; that is to leave the country.
“Refer to reference Queens Park CR 02/11/11. It must be made clear and be understood that I did not run away from the pending treason trial at the High Court in Bulawayo, but escaped assassination attempts.”
However, Ndou ruled that a warrant of arrest be issued against Siwela and the order still subsists.-newsday
Shuvai Mahofa Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa has pulled yet another shocker by pleading with Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Constantine Chiwenga to take over control of the country’s political affairs.
In a controversial statement strongly suggesting Mahofa’s lack of confidence in her boss President Robert Mugabe, the outspoken state minister appealed to the ZDF commander to take control of political programmes -to restore sanity. Mahofa’s political foes believe the veteran politician’s utterances indicate she has all but conceded that Mugabe has failed to rule the country.
Addressing hundreds of people during the official opening of Chingwizi Clinic last week, Mahofa urged Chiwenga who was at the event to intervene in the country’s political and economic woes. “I simply want to tell Chiwenga to ignore politicians who are talkative. Members of the ZDF are the owners of the country. I urge you to take control of the nation’s political affairs.
“We have one of the best armies in the world. So I have no doubt that you are capable of restoring peace and sanity in the country,” said Mahofa.
Party insiders said Mahofa who is a strong member of the Team Lacoste faction said to be backing Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is hitting back at her political rivals in the party who believe she does not have the credentials to occupy the powerful provincial post. It is understood Mahofa is seeking political protection from the powerful army boss.
Mahofa’s remarks ironically coincide with the relentless battles between the G-40 (Grace Mugabe faction) and the Team Lacoste (Mnangagwa faction) and she was interpreted to be linking the army boss to the latter.
Terrence Mawawa, Gutu | There was mayhem in Mpandawana Town on Monday night when a senior police officer was caught having sex with a junior cop’s wife.
Sergeant Amos Mandiwanza, was caught having sex with Medline Makonese, a constable based at Gutu Police Station. Makonese is married to Constable Brian Chikono.
Mandiwanza was trapped by a group of police officers in Hwiru Suburb where he was later caught stark naked with the married female cop.
It is understood Mandiwanza assaulted two cops as he attempted to flee from the house.
Police sources said a group of eight cops went to the house where the two used as a love nest and apprehended Mandiwanza.
“When we got to the house we peeped through some cracks on the door and saw the two lying naked on the bed and the woman’s baby was sleeping on the floor. We forced the door open and there was a scuffle as Mandiwanza attempted to run away. He even assaulted Constable Liberty Kashiri with a fist. Makonese smashed the bulb in the house so that Mandiwanza could escape. However we managed to apprehend him,” said a police officer who declined to be named.
Contacted for comment, Mandiwandza professed ignorance of the issue also adding his claim he was never implicated in such an incident.
“I am not the one- I do not know what you are talking about,” said Mandiwanza before switching off his mobile phone.
Join Sten Zvorwadza, the Zimbabwe National Vendors’ Union leader on ZimEye Live Report right now, as he discusses the latest police abuses on citizens.
Live Video streaming on www.facebook.com/ZimEye
Nothing unites a nation more than its flag, its national anthem, and its football team. And nothing unites a nation than its citizens who forgive and assist each other for the national cause. Those are all hallmarks of true patriotism.
As Zimbabweans this year lift the national flag, an opportunity has risen to lift their national football team. ZimEye today opens a series of program interviews for the national team and in the studio today we have the man who gave a financial boost to Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa catapulting Masiyiwa to his present billionaire success…– CLICK HERE TO JUMP TO THE LIVE INTERVIEW ON Facebook.
BILLIONAIRE Nigerian investor Aliko Dangote’s plans for US$1 billion worth of investment in Zimbabwe could go up in smoke after the country’s Immigration Department denied visas to aides he wanted to dispatch into the country to expedite progress, the Financial Gazette can report.
The decision could be a result of factional fights within President Robert Mugabe’s government, torn by internecine bickering between a faction linked to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and another fighting to thwart any prospects of him succeeding the incumbent in the event that he leaves office.
Mnangagwa is said to be vigorously pushing for Dangote’s investment plans. In terms of the country’s visa regime, Nigeria is under Group C classification, meaning that citizens of that country must obtain visas first before they enter Zimbabwe.
While the Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA) has already issued the requisite permits for the Dangote Group to start work, it is critical that the group deploys its best brains on the ground to monitor the various stages of implementation.
Currently, the group is seized with preliminary activities such as geological surveys for its coal and cement projects.
Although the Financial Gazette could not immediately get a comment from the Dangote group, an official from ZIA, Farai Sadomba, confirmed the development.
“Yes, Dangote has met with difficulties in acquiring visas from the Immigration Department for his technical team to get into Zimbabwe,” Sadomba said in a terse response to the newspaper’s enquiry.
She declined to give any details.
ZIA is a statutory body created to promote and facilitate both local and foreign direct investment.
It emerged from the amalgamation of the Export Processing Zones Authority and the Zimbabwe Investment Centre as government sought to create a one stop investment shop for quicker and easier facilitation of foreign investment.
When Dangote visited the country last year to explore investment opportunities, he met President Mugabe and promised to pour in over US$1 billion for a power generation plant, a coal mine and a cement manufacturing plant that would cost US$400 million. It would be much bigger than all the plants held under the group’s Dangote Cement.
The three projects were meant to commence early this year but Dangote had clearly indicated that this would depend on the issuance of relevant permits, for which he said government had already promised to “accelerate” all approvals.
But it would appear organs of the same government are throwing spanners in the works.
Immigration principal director, Clemence Masango, demanded questions in writing when asked why they had denied visas to Dangote’s technical team.
But he has not yet responded to questions sent to him on Tuesday.
While this would be shocking, it is not surprising: Ravi Jaipuria, the Indian billionaire planning to set-up a US$30 million bottling plant in Zimbabwe that would create 400 thousand jobs and at least 1 500 others downstream, had to personally seek President Mugabe’s help after his project was held back by bureaucratic bungling.
Jaipuria last week visited the country to finally witness the release of a long-awaited certificate of compliance by the Harare City Council.
Last month, the Financial Gazette reported on disclosures by deputy secretary to the President and Cabinet, Ray Ndhlukula, that Korea-based manufacturing giant, Samsung’s plan to set up a television and refrigeration assembly plant in Zimbabwe nearly collapsed due to corruption and bureaucratic bungling in government.
Ndhlukula told captains of industry that he has sought the intervention of Mnangagwa to save the deal.
Apparently, the country is battling against high unemployment, estimated at nearly 90 percent.
Dangote’s planned projects are expected to create hundreds of jobs and inject desperately-needed cash into the economy, which is struggling with a liquidity crunch that has almost completely ruined the economy.
Dangote’s is estimated to have a fortune amounting to US$17,2 billion by Forbes magazine.
The Nigerian billionaire has interests in manufacturing and power generation.
Dangote Cement has been on a major expansion programme in Africa, with huge investments in Zambia and Cameroon last year alone.
In Zambia, the group commissioned a US$420 million cement manufacturing plant and a 30MW coal-fired plant; it commissioned a US$250 million 1,5 million metric tonnes per annum cement plant in Douala, Cameroon.
The Zambia investment saw cement prices in that country almost halving, and further declines are anticipated. Financial Gazette
The late businessman, Peter Pamire’s widow has escaped to the United Kingdom as investigations on her husband’s death boil up.
ZimEye.com sources yesterday revealed that Mrs Pamire sought refuge in the United Kingdom after details on circumstances surrounding her late husband’s untimely departure in 1997 continued their swell.
She is currently housed at a UK location (name withheld for her protection), the ZimEye.com sources revealed yesterday. Mrs Pamire knows curious details of her husband’s mysterious death at the hands of suspected CIO agents since she was offered $4,5 million for revealing Pamire’s itinerary shortly before his untimely-death, ZimEye.com has established.
This trail emerged after ZimEye.com launched an investigation on Peter Pamire’s “bizarre” alleged parentage of Mrs Grace Mugabe’s children. ZimEye has released the latest pictorial investigation following those claims.
An ensuing report says that says Pamire was killed by the Central Intelligence Organisation’s hit squads over an affair with President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace.
The first investigation performed by an exiled UK journalist who four years ago returned to work for Robert Mugabe, has never been disputed by President Robert Mugabe; the journo still works for Mugabe and remains untouched to this day.
One of the hitmen involved in his murder who now resides in the United Kingdom reveals that Pamire died at the hands of the CIO.
ALSO READ – Rare Pictures of Peter Pamire Prove Grace Mugabe Peter Pamire Rumour, Hoax
Government doctors said he died as a result of an accident caused by a small ditch which sent his Pajero 4-wheel drive rolling several times before hitting a tree. He was driving towards his Borrowdale home.
However, experts from Mitsubishi, manufacturers of Pajero dismissed both conclusions by police that the accident had either been caused by a broken break pipe or the small ditch on Addington Lane where the crash happened.
The agent — referred to here as Agent K — arrived in Britain after quitting the intelligence services.
He said “I couldn’t live with the fact that I was party to a murder of an innocent man directly authorised by President Mugabe. I am doing this for posterity.”
Agent K has offered to testify via video link if the inquiry into Pamire’s death is re-opened.
ALSO READ – Rare Pictures of Peter Pamire Prove Grace Mugabe Peter Pamire Rumour Hoax
After being approached Pamire’s brother, Ignatius, a dossier of the sensational interview with Mugabe’s man, he said: “So many lies have been told about my brother’s death and this man (Agent K) could be the missing link to getting justice for my brother.”
Agent K revealed the following:
. A fellow black empowerment guru had told President Mugabe that his wife
was dating Pamire.
. Pamire’s wife was offered $4,5 million for revealing Pamire’s itinerary,
which she declined.
. President Mugabe personally authorised the CIO to “deal” with Pamire, a
euphemism for “kill” in intelligence circles.
. Pamire was actually SHOT, contrary to what the police and doctors claimed
at his inquest.
He said: “Peter had been dating Mrs Mugabe for a while and it was his friend
X (fellow black empowerment activist) who went and told Mugabe of the news.
At the time, X was working for the CIO and had attended several workshops in
Bindura with us.
“Following the disclosure, President Mugabe called a high level intelligence
meeting and ordered that Pamire should be dealt with. It was clear he meant
we must kill Pamire.
“From that point, I was part of a special team sent to kill Pamire. Initially, we were first going to interview him and so we went to his offices on Five Avenue but he only spoke to us via intercom. He wouldn’t let us in and we left.”
A few weeks later, the CIO learnt Pamire was to leave for South Africa on business and approached his wife for his itinerary. They offered her $4,2 million for the information, which she declined.
“But she did tell us when Pamire was returning,” revealed agent K. “On the day Pamire touched down at the airport, we were there. I was driving a Mazda 626 Executive and we had another Isuzu Twin Cab.
“Pamire’s wife was there and as they left, we trailed Pamire as the wife went a separate route, apparently to go to a ‘baby shower’.
“We trailed Pamire onto Addington Lane and a colleague, Lewis Mucheke, who was sitting on the front passenger side, pulled his gun and shot Pamire. The Pajero rolled, rolled and rolled before hitting a tree.
“The CIO HQ, meanwhile, rang the ambulance services to tell them no vehicle was to be sent to the scene of the accident until the go-ahead was given. That allowed us to cover our tracks. Nathan Shamuyarira (jnr), another agent, took a rod and traced the path of the bullet which had gone in from just under the back neck up to just under the eye.
“That rod effectively removed any impression Pamire had been shot. Usually, post mortems where the CIO is responsible for the death of an individual are carried out by doctors who work for the CIO, and will generally give a false account of the circumstances under which an individual died.”
His account of Pamire wearing “blue jeans, a black jacket and a T-Shirt written Zambezi,” has been passed as true by Pamire’s family.
Agent K says they sped off from the scene, their mission accomplished and sure Pamire had died.
Pamire’s brother, Ignatius, said: “When my brother died, I was probably the last person to know. Our relatives in the rural areas knew before I did, although I was in Harare at the time and could have easily rushed to Peter’s aid. It smacks of a deliberate attempt to keep me in the dark.
“It is clear something happened to my brother, and there was a time delay to ensure no-one knew what had happened until my brother had been placed in a fridge at the mortuary.”
Agent K has quit the CIO and fled to the UK. The dossier is available to the Zimbabwe government and Pamire’s family. Agent K will testify on camera, if required.
Masvingo Mayor Fidze TerrenceMawawa|Masvingo |Masvingo is left with only two months of water supply, after the failure by the army and police to settle a huge bill of $10 million in unpaid water bills.
Cash shortages have resulted in the failure by the city to purchase equipment to pump water from Lake Mutirikwi. Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze made the revelation at a stakeholders meeting, adding that the City did not have the capacity to cut water supplies from the uniformed forces to recover the money.
The water level at Lake Mutirikwi has become critically low such that there is need to purchase equipment to draw the precious liquid from the all time low level.
Fidze told residents at a stakeholders and community feedback meeting facilitated by the Election Resource Centre at the Civic Centre, that the local authority did not have the funds to purchase the required equipment.
Fidze said the local authority had no capacity to disconnect water supplies from the uniformed forces. “The city of Masvingo will run of water in the next two months if the local authority fails to secure the required money to buy equipment to pump water from the critically low level at Lake Mutirikwi.”
“We therefore call on residents to cooperate with us during these difficult times,”said Fidze.
Irate residents of the ancient city told the mayor to disconnect water supplies to the army and the police in order to recover the money owed to the city council. The quality of drinking water has also drastically deteriorated as a result of the critically low level of the liquid in Mutirikwi Dam.
official statement…SADC founder Simba Makoni
President Robert Mugabe is due for resignation today, the man who founded the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as the first Secretary General says.
After being ordered by thousands of war veterans that he must with immediate effect leave office last week, Mugabe has no other option. Thousands of Zimbabweans took to the streets yesterday with the same demand that Mugabe resigns.
In the statement below veteran Zanu PF politburo member, who founded the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 1983, Dr Simba Makoni yesterday called on Mugabe to resign immediately. He also called for urgent SADC intervention. Simba Makoni |Today marked a red line in the sand for the People of Zimbabwe ,we witnessed Tajamuka and other civil groups marching against bond notes (bond paper ) and these were peaceful and within their rights as enshrined in the constitution. What we witnessed at the end is one of the darkest days in the history of our country .
The beating of innocent, defenseless civilians, and more importantly the beating of journalists, the regime has gone beyond comprehension and this must be condemned in the strongest terms, therefore, in light of this;
1. We are calling on SADC to investigate the human rights abuses
2. We are calling all opposition political parties, civic society and churches to come together and come up with a clear and comprehensive response
3. We are calling on Mugabe to resign immediately
4. We are calling for dialogue between security sector players and opposition parties to discuss the deteriorating situation before people are forced to defend themselves
Mairos Chenjerai is reported in a very shocking case of sodomy to have molested 10 juvenile boys within a month.
The Chinhoyi community has been left shell-shocked following the arrest of Chenjerai, a security guard who is facing multiple counts of child molestation involving 10 juvenile boys.
The 38 year old divorcee, was arraigned before the Chinhoyi Regional Magistrate, Felix Mawadze facing charges of aggravated indecent assault involving boys aged between 8 and 13 between June and July this year.
According to the state outline, Chenjerai allegedly committed the offences at his home in Brundish where in some instances he would handcuff some of his alleged victims before committing the offences.
The court also heard that in other instances, he would expose the juveniles to pornographic material, and offer them bribe tokens of between 10 cents and US$1 so that they would not reveal the offences.
The offences came to light when a parent to one of the victims noticed her child having some difficulties in walking, leading to investigations which resulted in Chenjerai being implicated.
Meanwhile, Justice for Children Trust Mashonaland West representative, Edna Mapuranga has urged parents and relatives of the 10 boys allegedly sodomised to remain calm and let the law take its course.
This follows earlier plans by angry residents to stage a demonstration against the accused ‘s earlier release from custody last week when he appeared in court for initial remand hearing on the grounds that he had been over-detained by police.
Chenjerai was however re-arrested after he left his residence in Chinhoyi for Raffingora and the trial in the sodomy cases resumed today. StateMedia
expose…Beatrice Mtetwa
Prominent human rights lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, has scoffed at the acting Prosecuter General whom she argues has no power to authorise prosecutions in the country.
Mtetwa is representing four senior members of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) on trial for undermining the authority of President Robert Mugabe.
She on Wednesday charged that acting Prosecutor General (PG), Ray Goba, has no power to authorise prosecutions in the country.
Goba was appointed acting PG by President Robert Mugabe on July 8 following the suspension of Johannes Tomana. Tomana is facing several counts of criminal abuse of office and could lose his job should a tribunal set up to investigate him recommends so.
Mtetwa said Goba’s appointment was unconstitutional because there is no provision for an acting PG in the national charter. She was giving notice of the defence council’s intention to oppose the placement on remand of ZNLWVA secretary general, Victor Matemadanda; national political commissar, Francis Nhando; vice chairman, Headman Moyo and the association’s Harare provincial executive member, Wayne Bhila.
Presiding magistrate, Vakayi Chikwekwe, released the quartet on US$300 bail each after the State, represented by Tapiwa Kusena, and the defence consented to bail.
Charges against them arose after a stinging communiqué that strongly criticised President Mugabe’s administration was issued at the end of a ZNLWVA meeting held on July 21 in Harare.
Mtetwa, who is being assisted by human rights lawyer, David Drury, said Goba could not initiate prosecutions since his appointment was unconstitutional.
She also gave notice that when trial opens on September 5, she would challenge the validity of the prosecuting certificate issued out by Goba.
Legally, for a trial to proceed, the PG must issue a certificate authorising the prosecution.
“I have been handed the prosecuting certificate here singed by someone calling himself acting prosecutor general. Neither the Constitution nor the National Prosecution Act (which gave birth to the National Prosecuting Authority) provides for the position of an acting prosecutor general. So there is no proper certification authorising the prosecution, your worship,” argued Mtetwa.
“His appointment was unconstitutional because it did not follow the procedure of the appointment of a judge as required by section 259 of the Constitution,” she said.
Mtetwa told the court that the State had breached three other sections of the Constitution and violated rights of the abused.
She accused the State of violating section 49 and 50 of the Constitution by unnecessarily detaining suspects and denying them the right to liberty and legal representation.
She was specifically referring to the case of Matemadanda and Bhila who were picked up on Monday when they came to attend the bail hearing of their colleague, Douglas Mahiya.
She said the State was abusing the 48-hour pre-trial detention facility to unnecessarily keep suspects incarcerated, thereby denying them the right to liberty which is guaranteed by the Constitution.
Section 50 (2b) says: “Any person who is arrested or detained for the purpose of bringing him or her to court or for an alleged offence must be bought before a court as soon as possible or in any event, not later than 48 hours after the arrest took place or detention began.”
Mtetwa said: “Two of the accused persons were detained on Monday whereupon a warned and cautioned statement was issued. The police had nothing to do with them for the whole of yesterday (Tuesday) and they could easily have been before you by this time yesterday. The right to liberty, as envisaged by section 49 of the Constitution was violated because there was no reason to keep them incarcerated, especially given that they presented themselves for arrest.”
“It is a breach of the Constitution to keep accused persons in detention for the fun of it. We will want the State to prove that this detention was necessary,” she further submitted.
She further said the State had violated section 23 of the national charter which compels “all State institutions and agencies of government at every level to accord due respect, honour and recognition to veterans of the liberation struggle”.
She also gave notice to challenge remand on the basis that the communiqué they issued at the end of their meeting did not constitute the offence they now stood accused of by the State.
“We will contend the placement on remand because contents of the document did not constitute an offence, or if they did, there is no basis whatsoever to link it to the accused persons,” she said as she presented the defence outline.
In his bail ruling, Chikwekwe ordered each of the four to continue residing at their given addresses and report twice at the nearest Zimbabwe Republic Police Criminal Investigation Department office. financial gazette.
An Emirates Airline flight is seen after it crash-landed at Dubai International Airport, the UAE August 3, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer REUTERS | An Emirates jetliner arriving from India caught fire after slumping onto the runway in Dubai on Wednesday, killing one firefighter in an intense blaze and bringing the world’s busiest international airport to a halt for several hours.
All 300 passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the gutted Boeing 777-300 after a crash that one survivor described as terrifying. Fourteen people were admitted to hospital.
The Dubai carrier’s first significant accident happened after the crew apparently attempted to abort the landing for a second attempt amid unconfirmed witness reports of landing gear problems.
Video showed a tower of flame bursting from the front of the plane, and then a thick black plume of smoke rising into the sky. Reuters was unable to verify the footage independently.
Photographs on social media showed a plane lying crumpled on the tarmac with black smoke pouring from its upper section, and later images showed a gap along the length of the charred fuselage where its roof had been.
“It was actually really terrifying. As we were landing there was smoke coming out in the cabin,” said passenger Sharon Maryam Sharji. “People were screaming and we had a very hard landing. We left by going down the emergency slides and as we were leaving on the runway we could see the whole plane catch fire. It was horrifying.”
Another passenger leaving the airport with his family said there had been a problem with the landing gear.
A spokesman for operator Dubai Airports said everyone aboard flight EK521 coming from Thiruvananthapuram in southern India had been evacuated.
Expelled from party..
True to character, President Robert Mugabe has gone ahead this morning at a Politburo meeting and expelled senior members of his party.
Mugabe’s state media reports that Zanu PF has expelled nine of its senior members from the party including Chimanimani National Assembly member, Munacho Mutezo and some war veterans.
The expelled war veterans are National Spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya; Secretary General, Victor Matemadanda; Political Commissar, Francis Nhando and the association’s Vice Chairman, Headman Moyo.
The war veterans are not moved and in an exclusive interview with ZimEye.com revealed they are not in any way unsettled. An impeccable source told ZimEye.com they had at the time of writing no knowledge of the expulsion and “in any case” were it true, the war vets are unshaken. They said they would not comment officially at present until a resolution has been adopted.
President Mugabe at a charged meeting last week called for fresh elections to elect a new leadership of the war veterans association, of which he is a patron, that would replace the defiant war vets who had called through a controversial communique for his ouster.
Four of the leaders booted out of the party were earlier arrested and charged with contravening Section 33 (2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) [Chapter 9:23]. The state claims they undermined the authority of President Robert Mugabe or insulted him through the controversial communique which called on him to step down.
The communique was also clear in that the war vets who have propped Mugabe up in previous elections would not campaign oe vote for him this time round. It went ahead to endorse Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the preferred candidate. Mnangagwa has distanced himself from both communique and its authors.
The Politburo also discussed other issues such as the party’s national conference set for Masvingo in December. More fireworks are expected at the crucial December Congress when other senior members get booted out of the party.
Vocal MP for Bulawayo East, Thabitha Khumalo, was among scores of demonstrators brutally attacked by riot police and is currently in hospital.
It is reported that Khumalo is under medical care after suffering asphyxiation from dangerous tear-gas. Police attack civilians
Police brutality knew no bounds as journalists including elected Members of Parliament were not spared, from their violent attacks. This is notwithstanding the widespread condemnation they have received in Zimbabwe and internationally after they made similar attacks on innocent civilians during the #Totalshutdown campaign. chaos in the city as demonstrators run for life
Hundreds of Zimbabweans took to the streets this morning in protest against the ill informed introduction of the bond note currency by the Reserve Bank. Riot police used tear-gas and even brutally assaulted protesters. It is reported there were running battles in the city centre between the police and the demonstrators. Moretofollow…
totally unprofessional… cops attack innocent journalist – Pic by Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi
Police officers from the riot division today brutally assaulted several journalists including Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa and the BBC’s Tendai Masiyanazviripo, in another horrific scene proving how unprofessional and discredited the Zimbabwe’s police officers are now.
Professional journalists busy on their job of news-gathering during the bond-notes protest in Harare, were met by rogue officers in full ZRP uniform. Seven (7) violent officers [pictured] ganged up against one journalist while he was holding his heavy camera equipment. They even latched out to smash his tiny headphones in graphic scenes of a horrific nature on scribes the first of their kind worldwide this year 2016.
The word “stupid” is defined to refer to a person who “lacks intelligence or common sense”.
Other journos were brutally bashed and also attacked was Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa who gave the following account: “Zimbabwe some journalists were beaten today. I only got two hard claps with a baton stick, but others are worse off”.
Also caught in the violence was MP Thabitha Khumalo who collapsed and had to be hospitalised after inhaling tear gas.
The development follows a recent expose’ by ZimEye.com that hundreds of officers on full government pay are not trained at all for the job having been simply upgraded from general hands positions straight to become uniformed officers of the law in a well orchestrated ZANU PF recruitment scam…The investigation continues….CLICK HERE TO READ MORE More to follow…
By Mduduzi Mathuthu | 07/13/2005 19:31:26 | Peter Pamire, the black empowerment advocate was killed by the Central Intelligence Organisation’s hit squads over an affair with President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace — one of the hitmen involved in his murder reveals today.
ALSO READ – Rare Pictures of Peter Pamire Prove Grace Mugabe Peter Pamire Rumour Hoax
Pamire’s death in a freak car accident in 1996 has never been solved.
Government doctors said he died as a result of an accident caused by a small
ditch which sent his Pajero 4-wheel drive rolling several times before
hitting a tree. He was driving towards his Borrowdale home.
However, experts from Mitsubishi, manufacturers of Pajero dismissed both
conclusions by police that the accident had either been caused by a broken
break pipe or the small ditch on Addington Lane where the crash happened.
The agent — referred to here as Agent K — arrived in Britain last month
after quitting the intelligence services.
He told New Zimbabwe.com: “I couldn’t live with the fact that I was party to
a murder of an innocent man directly authorised by President Mugabe. I am
doing this for posterity.”
Agent K has offered to testify via video link if the inquiry into Pamire’s
death is re-opened.
ALSO READ – Rare Pictures of Peter Pamire Prove Grace Mugabe Peter Pamire Rumour Hoax
After New Zimbabwe.com handed Pamire’s brother, Ignatius, a dossier of our
sensational interview with Mugabe’s man, he said: “So many lies have been
told about my brother’s death and this man (Agent K) could be the missing
link to getting justice for my brother.”
Talking exclusively to New Zimbabwe.com, Agent K revealed:
. A fellow black empowerment guru had told President Mugabe that his wife
was dating Pamire.
. Pamire’s wife was offered $4,5 million for revealing Pamire’s itinerary,
which she declined.
. President Mugabe personally authorised the CIO to “deal” with Pamire, a
euphemism for “kill” in intelligence circles.
. Pamire was actually SHOT, contrary to what the police and doctors claimed
at his inquest. ALSO READ – Rare Pictures of Peter Pamire Prove Grace Mugabe Peter Pamire Rumour Hoax
He said: “Peter had been dating Mrs Mugabe for a while and it was his friend
X (fellow black empowerment activist) who went and told Mugabe of the news.
At the time, X was working for the CIO and had attended several workshops in
Bindura with us.
“Following the disclosure, President Mugabe called a high level intelligence
meeting and ordered that Pamire should be dealt with. It was clear he meant
we must kill Pamire.
“From that point, I was part of a special team sent to kill Pamire.
Initially, we were first going to interview him and so we went to his
offices on Five Avenue but he only spoke to us via intercom. He wouldn’t let
us in and we left.”
A few weeks later, the CIO learnt Pamire was to leave for South Africa on
business and approached his wife for his itinerary. They offered her $4,2
million for the information, which she declined.
“But she did tell us when Pamire was returning,” revealed agent K. “On the
day Pamire touched down at the airport, we were there. I was driving a Mazda
626 Executive and we had another Isuzu Twin Cab.
“Pamire’s wife was there and as they left, we trailed Pamire as the wife
went a separate route, apparently to go to a ‘baby shower’.
“We trailed Pamire onto Addington Lane and a colleague, Lewis Mucheke, who
was sitting on the front passenger side, pulled his gun and shot Pamire. The
Pajero rolled, rolled and rolled before hitting a tree.
“The CIO HQ, meanwhile, rang the ambulance services to tell them no vehicle
was to be sent to the scene of the accident until the go-ahead was given.
That allowed us to cover our tracks. Nathan Shamuyarira (jnr), another
agent, took a rod and traced the path of the bullet which had gone in from
just under the back neck up to just under the eye.
“That rod effectively removed any impression Pamire had been shot. Usually,
post mortems where the CIO is responsible for the death of an individual are
carried out by doctors who work for the CIO, and will generally give a false
account of the circumstances under which an individual died.”
His account of Pamire wearing “blue jeans, a black jacket and a T-Shirt
written Zambezi,” has been passed as true by Pamire’s family.
Agent K says they sped off from the scene, their mission accomplished and
sure Pamire had died.
Pamire’s brother, Ignatius, said: “When my brother died, I was probably the
last person to know. Our relatives in the rural areas knew before I did,
although I was in Harare at the time and could have easily rushed to Peter’s
aid. It smacks of a deliberate attempt to keep me in the dark.
“It is clear something happened to my brother, and there was a time delay to
ensure no-one knew what had happened until my brother had been placed in a
fridge at the mortuary.”
Agent K has quit the CIO and fled to the UK.
Our dossier is available to the Zimbabwe government and Pamire’s family.
Agent K will testify on camera, if required.
bashing victory!…Matemadanda and Mahiya walk scot free
The four war vets leaders who have been in police custody are now free to go home.
Francis Nhando, Victor Matemadanda, Hoyini Samuel Bhila and Headman Moyo are alleged to have undermined the authority of President Robert Mugabe or insulted him.
The four senior leaders of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) were arrested and charged with contravening Section 33 (2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) [Chapter 9:23]. The state claims they undermined the authority of President Robert Mugabe or insulted him.
They were represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights chairperson Beatrice Mtetwa and David Drury, who also gave notice of constitutional issues they would want addressed at the next remand hearing on the 5th of September 2016.
Magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe granted them bail on the condition that they each deposit $300 with the Clerk of Court and report to various CID Law and Order sections twice a week.
The four leaders who are now free, albeit under harsh reporting conditions, were met by their happy and excited families at the magistrates court.
– 1300H Scenes from New Government complex building where Transform Zimbabwe handed their #No to bond notes petition to the finance ministry (ZLHR)
Zimbabweans say no to bond notes. Crisis Coalition’s Mfundo Mlilo holds out a banner…” We don’t hate you Mr President. We just love our country!” Staff Reporter | Hundreds of Zimbabweans took to the streets in Harare today in protest against the introduction of bond notes.
Zimbabweans from all walks of life united in giving a loud no to bond notes soon to be introduced in October.
Against a wave of increasing public opinion government unilaterally opted to introduce the bond notes, a token currency equivalent to the US dollar, following severe cash shortages that manifested in April.
The bond notes, which will reportedly be printed in Germany, are backed by a $200 million monetary injection sourced from an African Export-Import Bank facility and will be in $2, S$5, $10 and $20 denominations.
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and opposition MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai will today be reading a strikingly similar script at their respective parties’ meetings, both called to address growing dissent, which pose a serious threat to their political careers.
Mugabe and Tsvangirai remain the country’s two biggest political brands, albeit both with waning fortunes and are afflicted by ill-health. Mugabe was three weeks ago rejected by war veterans, while Tsvangirai faces a fresh headache after he appointed two additional deputy presidents.
To add to Mugabe’s woes, his government is on a daily basis facing pockets of resistance from within Zanu PF and members of the public hard hit by the economic meltdown. Insiders said the Zanu PF politburo will also discuss the country’s deteriorating security situation, after war veterans recently ditched Mugabe and “anointed” Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed him, although the President’s deputy has distanced himself from the manoeuvres.
Mugabe’s government is also struggling to pay civil servants’ salaries.
War veterans, three weeks ago, stirred a hornet’s nest after issuing a damning communiqué urging Mugabe to step down and pave way for a new leader, leaving the veteran former guerilla leader fuming.
Following publication of the communiqué, government launched a crackdown, which has so far led to the arrest of five war veterans’ leaders — spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya, secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda, political commissar, Francis Nhando, vice-chairman, Headman Moyo, and Harare chapter deputy chairman, Wayne Bhila — on allegations of authoring the document.
Today’s politburo meeting, according to reports, will also discuss pending disciplinary cases, as well as possible expulsion of war veterans fingered in the authoring of the communiqué.
“The G40 faction is baying for blood, they want other war veterans like Mahiya and Matemadanda expelled from the party,” a politburo member, who declined to be named, said.
“While war veterans and the communiqué are likely to be top of the agenda, there will also be calls for an early congress.”
Mnangagwa, sources said, could also use the politburo meeting to hit back at his detractors, among them Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene, who last week publicly dressed him down.
With Zanu PF virtually split between two distinct factions, Mnangagwa is accused of fronting the Team Lacoste faction that is engaged in a bitter war for control of the ruling party with the G40 group, which is said to have the backing of First Lady Grace Mugabe.
Chimene last Thursday called on Mugabe to fire Mnangagwa or call for an extraordinary congress.
The politburo meeting is also expected to deal with the cases of three suspended Zanu PF provincial chairpersons, Biggie Matiza (Mashonaland East), Kizito Chivamba (Midlands) and Ezra Chadzamira (Masvingo), while the issue of youth secretary, Pupurai Togarepi and the league secretary for administration, Lewis Matutu, who were deposed through no-confidence votes in February, are also set to be discussed.
Matiza yesterday said he was unsure of his future in the ruling party.
“We are still waiting and only last week, we were invited by the legal department, only to be advised that they would summon us at a later date,” he said.
Matiza, Chadzamira and Chivamba were suspended for allegedly trying to stop Zanu PF supporters from attending a rally in Harare meant to thank Mugabe for his role as African Union chairperson.
Togarepi said he had not enquired and had not received any communication on his case, while Matutu said he had been officially informed about his suspension.
“I only received the letter telling me to stop executing my duties as youth league secretary for administration last week,” he said.
“It was backdated to March 10 and for some reason, my local MP, John Holder (Zvishavane-Ngezi), had a copy and was used as the courier. He has interests because he thinks I am a threat to him, but we have since learnt that there is no justice in the party.
“Those in power can as well do whatever they deem fit.”
Zanu PF secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo could not be reached for comment.
For Tsvangirai, there is a sense of déjà vu, as he is once again faced with the spectre of a split, the third in just over a decade.
Today’s MDC-T national council meeting is set to debate the contentious appointment of Kuwadzana East MP, Nelson Chamisa and Warren Park MP, Elias Mudzuri as vice-presidents alongside Tsvangirai’s long-serving deputy, Thokozani Khupe. The appointments, effected two weeks ago, have ruffled feathers in the opposition party, with some of Tsvangirai’s lieutenants strongly opposing the decision.
An MDC-T standing committee meeting last week was reportedly aborted after only 15 minutes after Khupe reportedly objected to Mudzuri and Chamisa’s attendance.
She was reportedly backed by party spokesperson, Obert Gutu, secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora, chairman, Lovemore Moyo and organising secretary, Abednico Bhebhe, among others.
Party insiders said those who fought on Tsvangirai’s side were secretary for elections, Murisi Zwizwai and deputy organising secretary, Amos Chibaya.
“Tsvangirai has resorted to his default mode: violence. The national council will be used to rubber-stamp his scorched-earth position and those who are against it will either have to toe the line or face the wrath of hired thugs and youths as happened to (Elton) Mangoma, (Tendai) Biti, (Welshman) Ncube and others before,” a senior member of the party told NewsDay yesterday.
“There is massive mobilisation of youths to converge at Harvest House and that is a recipe for violence. There is no need for such people to come because they do not sit in the national council.”
Gutu confirmed the national executive and national council would meet today to discuss various issues.
“Any unfinished constitutional business of the party shall also be finalised. Immediately after the national executive meeting, there shall be convened a meeting of the national council (and) it shall receive a report from president Tsvangirai and council will, thereafter, debate and discuss all pertinent issues affecting both the party and the nation at large,” he said.
Tsvangirai’s supporters, on the other hand, are reportedly baying for the blood of party officials opposed to his decisions.
Impeccable sources told NewsDay the MDC-T’s committee on legal issues met yesterday afternoon to tinker with the party’s constitution to sanitise Chamisa and Mudzuri’s appointments.
“The committee is chaired by Mwonzora and includes youth secretary, Lovemore Chinoputsa, Morgan Femai and James Mamore. They are discussing possible changes to the party’s constitution to allow Tsvangirai to appoint more deputies,” a senior official said.
“We are not sure how it will be implemented, seeing as he has already appointed, maybe retrospectively, which in itself will be illegal.
“Mwonzora is outnumbered, the rest are Tsvangirai praise-singers and will push for whatever he wants.” Newsday
POLICE have arrested a general hand at the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) Victoria Falls after he allegedly issued counterfeit certificates of competence to 30 drivers whom he charged $300 each.
Maxwell Mutsikiwa, 40, was arrested after some of the forged certificates, which are issued while one awaits his or her driver’s licence to be processed, were recovered in Gweru and Zvishavane in the Midlands Province, raising fears several drivers could be using fake documents.
Mutsikiwa, allegedly stole an RTLD 4 Book with 100 pages of certificate of competency and issued out 30 of them, with only five being recovered. He was charged with theft and forgery when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Rangarirai Gakanje yesterday.
He pleaded not guilty to both crimes.
The court denied Mutsikiwa bail as he was considered a flight risk as he has previous convictions. The court also said he might influence witnesses since the majority of the counterfeit documents were not recovered.
“In my assessment, I find that accused person’s release will indeed be prejudicial in the proper administration of justice.
“His likelihood of interference is high as the investigations are still in progress and according to the investigating officer, the accused is being sought by members of the public as he is failing to pay.
‘‘As a result, likelihood of absconding is high. I’m of the view that time should be given to the police to wind up investigations.
“Furthermore, this appears a serious offence with its effects putting the nation as a whole at risk. Bail is therefore denied,” said Ms Gakanje. Trial will start on August 12.
Prosecutor Mr Takunda Ndovorwi said the offences were committed between January 31, 2016 and July 27.
“The accused took a RTLD 4 Book 9 Certificate of Competency with serial numbers 120601-120700 DG which was in the lawful custody of Mr Albert Chinaka and intending to deprive the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
“He issued forged certificates of competence to several people purporting to be a VID officer,” said Mr Ndovorwi. The court was told that forged certificates issued to Kudzaishe Kupfurira, Owen Gibson, Tonderai Chikande, Phanuel Banda and Eshwin Mukudu were recovered.
The stolen 100-page book was recovered with 30 pages missing and investigations showed that the missing pages were not in the VID system.
Mutsikiwa isn’t new to court after he was in 2012 convicted for causing a fire that burnt a section of the VID Gweru depot where he was then stationed, damaging three vehicles in the process.
At that time he was sentenced to six months in jail which were wholly suspended on condition he paid $875 compensation. state media
Seven people died on the spot and five others were injured after a double cab pick-up truck they were travelling in plunged into a river at Tsambe Bridge near Davaar Farm along Foothills Road in Glendale this morning.
Eyewitnesses said the truck driver, who was using a farm road, failed to give way to an oncoming tractor upon approaching the bridge and panicked leading to his vehicle plunging into bridge.
The eyewitnesses said the deceased drowned as they failed to open the doors of the truck.
Among the deceased were three children and four adults.
Their bodies were later retrieved and those injured were rushed to Concession Hospital.
Police are yet to release the names of the deceased until their next of kin has been informed.-state media
TerrenceMawawaChivhu
A local teacher has been sent on compassionate leave after cases of suspected witchcraft rocked Nyazvidzi Secondary School in Chikomba District.
The Witchcraft Suppression Act, has been amended and was used fairly frequently, in the past, but prosecuting someone under the new legislation may prove difficult.
The new Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act for instance demands proof that a person has supernatural powers and that they are using them to harm others.
In a rare case of suspected witchcraft the teacher, Stella Ndachenedzwa was sent on compassionate leave after local parents petitioned the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to act on the matter.
It is also alleged Ndachenedzwa, who is an Agriculture teacher, was transferred from two different schools last year. There was pandemonium at the school as parents sang and danced, calling for Ndachenedzwa’s transfer.
The teacher has been accused of practising witchcraft at the school. The parents accused her of initiating mysterious hallucinations among children. Chikomba District Education Officer Ngoni Mujuru confirmed the development and said the matter would be forwarded to the Provincial Education Director. “She is on compassionate leave following a petition from local parents. The matter has not yet been resolved since we have to inform the PED’s office,”said Mujuru. The school head Augustine Chipenzi was not readily available for a comment. A local parent said:”We do not understand what is happening at the school.The teacher has been transferred from two different schools over witchcraft allegations so we no longer feel comfortable with her presence at the school.”
Cash talk….Edinah Masanga EdinahMasanga | For the first time in his tenure as president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe was last week told he is being given the last chance to resign honourably as the war veterans declared ‘we shall not endure your abuses anymore’. Mr President, it must be nice, living in the blue roof mansion, eating what you want every day, flying where you want any day, ordering the arrests of hungry people for saying just that; we are hungry. But Mr President the problem is when you see your own children starting to insult you in front of the new grandchild and that over-aged son-in-law, then you must stop and take a time to ask yourself what has gone wrong. But, if you don’t have time to do that or if the people around you are not telling you, then allow me to enlighten you today through this internet missive (I am hoping that someone will ask one of the typists from the government typing pool to print this one out for you, it’s easier for old people to read on paper than on computer screens) Mr President, university graduates are playing bhora rechikweshein the streets because they have nothing to do, industry has come to its knees; young girls are selling their bodies in the Mukuvisi area – opting for the slow death from HIV than sudden death from hunger; pregnant women are being asked to bring their own 20 litres of water at maternity wards in order to give birth – imagine Bona wailing in labour pain and having to carry a 20 liter container of water halfway across the country; children are dying of malnutrition, of hunger; women are walking into modern day slavery in countries like Kuwait because no one wants to live in Zimbabwe anymore – they’d rather be anywhere except their own motherland. Our police force has become the most rotten in the world – fleecing what little cents they can in order to survive on meagre salaries which are never paid on time these days; you now spend government resources convening kangaroo courts, meetings and task forces to do a witch hunt in your own party on who no longer wants you in power – but you know that the whole of Zimbabwe no longer wants you in power. Mr President, do you think all these things are happening because you have been an exceptionally good president for the last 36 years? Everyone is now an enemy to you, even the war vets that fought alongside you in the liberation struggle they are now all bad, you alone are the godsend genius that Zimbabwe needs. Really? Because what? What have you done since you went past the normal ten-year period a person can be president. Let me rephrase that; since you went past the ten-year mark a normal person can be president (I underline the word normal) . If you are under any illusions or if you have amnesia (which is possible at your age) then let me remind you what you have done since you went past that ten-year mark; you have presided over the worst looting of Zimbabwe’s natural resources by the Chinese and your own ministers; you have made possible, for all Zimbabweans including yourself, the worst possible dignity erosion a people can suffer – Africa is laughing at us for being educated graduates mopping toilets in South Africa. You have sat back and watched while Zanu pf youths killed, raped and maimed on behalf of your party; you have reduced the education of our children to little backdoor colleges run by teachers who cannot secure vacancies in the ministry of education – while ministry officials take bribes to leave those sub-standard colleges operating; you have reduced the bread basket of Africa to the begging bowl of the world. Concisely, you have destroyed the country completely. Mr President, are you not ashamed of sending Chinamasa to beg from the British whom you told Tony Blair to ‘keep your England I will keep my Zimbabwe? Ah, so what has gone wrong with your precious Zimbabwe now, that you want even the cold, ‘evil’ Britain to help. By the way, how come you are making efforts to beg and not to trace the 15 billion that vanished into thin air under your nose, while you were doing a great job for which you don’t want anyone to say you must go, when you know you must go? Now to you Amai Grace Mugabe; I must start by apologising if I have written bad things in the past, sometimes when a child is hungry it can say the first thing that comes to its mind. But I must also say, it must be nice, being married to the most powerful man in the land, one can get a PhD, build mansions and schools and convene rallies to boast about their slender figure. I am not one who likes women being shunned to gender roles, but it’s you who said it yourself you make most of your money through baking cakes and sewing; which are traditional roles a woman is expected to do in our male hegemonic society. So, today I will come to you with this womanly plea to a mother (there is no more nation to call you mother of the nation for); a good woman does not let her husband go off the rails for the love of money. A good woman protects the reputation of her family, look now you have lost respect and people now hate you so much that even the paternity of the children is being questioned. This is happening because you have displayed whoring tendencies by shouting in front of the world that your husband will stay in power until he dies, even if you will have to push him in a wheelchair. Please allow me to define the word whoring because I know people associate it with sleeping with men for money but according to Google, whoring is to ‘debase oneself by doing something for unworthy motives, typically to make money’. You see, keeping a centenarian in a highly demanding job such as running a bankrupt country is the worst case of whoring, going by that definition given by Google. Really, is that the legacy you want to leave? That orphanage was a better way to be remembered by ( even though malicious and jealous people say it is a honey-trap to hide tax-free money in – them, not me) Amai, can you please ask Baba to step down. If you want we can ask Dr Joice Mujuru to forgive the mini-skirt verbal derogation you inflicted to ensure immunity if she becomes president, or we can write off Morgan Tsvangirai’s loan on the Highlands mansion in return for immunity if he becomes president, or we can apologise for Gukurahundi to do right by the Ndebele people so that Welshman Ncube can grant immunity if he becomes president, or we can stroke Biti’s ego and say he is better than Morgan in return for immunity if he becomes president. Immunity for what I hear you ask, well, I personally think you and your husband should be indicted for all the deaths of innocent Zimbabweans that your husband has caused by action or omission, and you precisely for bringing Zimbabwe into disrepute through your uncouth mouth. Yours, Zimbabwean in pain. Edinah Masanga is a Zimbabwean journalist and writer based in Sweden. You can contact her on Facebook or Twitter as @EdinahMasanga.
State Media- The High Court has reserved judgment in the case in which suspended Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana is appealing against the magistrates’ court’s decision to place him on bail on fresh charges of criminal abuse of office. Justice Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa reserved judgment to a later date after hearing submissions from both the defence and prosecution counsel.She said she needed time to look into the arguments presented before making a proper ruling on the matter.
Tomana’s lawyer, Mr Alex Mambosasa of Mambosasa Legal Practitioners, confirmed the latest develop- ment.
“We argued our matter today (yesterday) and judgment was reserved,” said Mr Mambosasa. Prosecutor Mr Edmore Nyazamba appeared for the State opposing the appeal.
He said the lower court decision was proper and that the defence appeal lacked merit.
Tomana is facing five fresh charges of criminal abuse of office. He was freed after paying $2 000 bail and surrendering property worth more than $250 000 as surety.
Earlier this year, Tomana was granted $1 000 bail coupled with stringent conditions on two similar charges. He approached the higher court to set aside the lower court’s de- cision.
The defence sought to have the magistrate who made the disputed decision censured for allegedly making “blatant irregularities” on the matter.
It was further argued that the manner in which the proceedings were conducted by the lower court were grossly irregular and demanded that the entire proceedings be set aside.
Tomana appeared in court on July 11 facing five fresh charges of criminal abuse of office.
Earlier this year, Tomana was also freed on $1 000 bail following his arrest on allegations of abuse of office.
He was accused of releasing suspects that allegedly sought to bomb President Mugabe’s business premises in Mazowe.
Mugabe’s mock coffin…Mkwananzi lays his hands on the box Staff Reporter|Tajamuka activist Promise Mkwananzi held a mock funeral for President Robert Mugabe, with a cardboard casket written, “Zimbabwe won’t miss Mugabe.” Hours later all borders were announced to have been shut down for the veteran youth activist, who is the leader of one of the most outspoken groups protesting Mugabe’s misrule and mincing no words that he must step down with immediate effect. Tajamuka activists
Mkwananzi made a call earlier on which has gone viral. It read: “My friends, The police have issued a communique on all borders and airports for my arrest.
“I am just telling you so that you know. I’ll be consulting my lawyers and will update you.
“Forever in struggle Pray for me and all those who are being persecuted. Lets not be silenced. Lets increase our citizens voice. The bells of freedom ring.#Tajamuka Promise Mkwananzi
MDC youths asking for the promised 2.2 million jobs. TerrenceMawawaMasvingo| The notorious Central Intelligence Organisation is plotting to disrupt the planned MDC demonstration by intimidating district and ward executive leaders, it has emerged.
As the nation continues to grapple with relentless economic challenges, there has been a rising wave of protests against President Robert Mugabe’s government. Impeccable sources revealed to ZimEye yesterday that the state security agents had a name list of MDC district and ward executive leaders perceived to be instrumental in mobilising party supporters to attend the demo, scheduled for Saturday in the ancient city of Masvingo.
Zanu PF youth militia were last Sunday mobilised to attack MDC supporters in Kambuzuma, Harare, in bloody clashes which left many injured.
It is understood such influential members would be intimidated through phone calls and direct visits. “The strategy is to intimidate district and ward executive leaders. Their names have been compiled. Information about the possible overall attendance has been gleaned from MDC sources.”
“So the plan is to make sure the demo is poorly attended. District and ward executive members are influential in mobilising people to attend the demo. Some party leaders will be arrested before the demonstration. Residents of the city of Masvingo will also be intimidated.Every minute detail is being gathered,” said an intelligence source.
MDC chairman for ward 7 Masvingo Urban Constituency, Tafara Masimba scoffed at the ploy by the state security agents which he said is bereft of logical thinking. “We will go ahead with preparations for the demonstration regardless of plans by state security agents and the police to thwart the peaceful event,” said Masimba.
Mangudya unveils controversial bond notes
It is being reported that the High Court of Zimbabwe has cleared tomorrow’s mass demonstration against bond notes which the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe says it will launch in October.
Against a wave of increasing public opinion government unilaterally opted to introduce the bond notes, a token currency equivalent to the US dollar, following severe cash shortages that manifested in April.
The bond notes, which will reportedly be printed in Germany, are backed by a $200 million monetary injection sourced from an African Export-Import Bank facility and will be in $2, S$5, $10 and $20 denominations.
Many including the #ThisFlag Pastor Mawarire and his campaigners have tried to stop the government from introducing the bond notes.
An urgent court application was made at the High Court in Harare this morning, after police had tried to block the demo.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police had banned the demonstration which coincides with another march organised by thousands of unemployed university graduates, some of whom are trying to eke out a difficult living as street vendors, also plan to protest in the capital tomorrow — demanding the 2,2 million jobs that Zanu PF promised in the run-up to the hotly-disputed 2013 national elections.
According to Kennedy Masiye, a lawyer from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Justice Lavender Makoni has ordered the police not to interfere with the demonstration. More to follow
President Mugabe and his deputy Mnangagwa Lloyd Msipa|The escalation of factional political fights in ZANU PF to a point of reckless abandon is premised on the realisation that Zimbabwe may wake up one day and Mnagangwa is constitutional positioned to take over from Mugabe. This fear has also introduced a tribal dimension to the contest. Mandi Chimene a Manyika and most of the G40 members, zezuru can not fathom a State president drawn from the karanga. And of course there is the square plug in a round hole Jonathan Moyo who paid heavily for Mnagangwa’s intransigence in the infamous Tsholotsho debacle. In what was the first real attempt to democratise the choosing of leaders in ZANU PF , Mnangagwa again left his colleagues in a larch. Jonathan Moyo, Chinamasa, Mudenda, July Moyo and a few others paid a heavy price over that meeting at Dinyane Secondary school in Tsholotsho. In his latest interview, which gave him his first real chance to speak to the Zimbabwean people and maybe correct or shed light into some of the alleged skeletons in his closet, a presidential blessed “go ahead to respond” if you like.
He failed to do so. He was mercurial in his response. He denied the undeniable? Does he really think Zimbabweans are so naive and will allow him to bury the Lacoste image with a simple denial.Mai Mujuru’s dismissal was premised on the fact the she was leading one of two factions. So, now Mnagangwa would have us believe Lacoste was a figment of our imagination. So Mai Mujuru’s dismissal was a nullity, was it not if there was never a Lacoste. Mnagangwa’s attempts at ‘smokes and mirrors ‘ falls flat on its face. He is a novice at it. What happens to the war veterans he sacrificed on the altar of expedience. He has disowned them and everything they stand for. The war veterans say they stand with the people and they want him to stand with them and succeed Mugabe. He runs for cover. Who does Mnagangwa stand for. Can he be trusted with the highest office in the land when he does not attempt to defend his own. Examples abound -Tomana. Are we not at risk of jumping ” from the frying pan into the fire” There is also another Constituency that need to hear his side of the story…the Gukurahundi victims…their children and grandchildren who are told of this ‘evil’ man who directed Gukurahundi operations : this feared man,”Ngwena” the crocodile. His ability or lack thereof to deal with this matter has long term implications for him being accepted as a State president in General and in the Midlands and Matebeleland region in particular.
So in essence Manicaland and Mashonaland are doing everything legal and extralegal to frustrate his ascension…Midlands and Matebeleland are indifferent to him because he has done nothing to cleanse his image there. Fear is not acceptance. Blessing Chebundo trounced him twice in elections in kwekwe until the party had to create a rural constituency for him -Churumanzu- Zibagwe. That is how bad his image is.The image of a feared gangstar is the perception the Midlanders have of him. ..” Musamubate anozivana na ED”….should a State president be feared or respected. In Matebeleland the Gukurahundi issue remains his Achilles heel. So if Mnangagwa finds himself interim president one of these mornings when Mugabe dies in his sleep, will he not entrench himself using State machinery in perpetuity during those first 90 days – Food for thought – #Msipasaidit
It is gross and unethical to make false claims about someone’s character, but many Zimbabweans confidently charge that First Lady Grace Mugabe had a secret affair with the late businessman, Peter Pamire (Also read Peter Pamire’s Horror Death- CLICK HERE).
DNA tests have been called for amid flaming rumours that Mrs Mugabe had a steamy romp with the late businessman. ZimEye.com carries out a pictorial investigation to probe those claims. ALSO WATCH VIDEO:
Oluhle touches various aspects of successful wedding planning.
resignation letter awaited…Robert Mugabe Robert Mugabe’s personally handpicked politburo members are on Wednesday meeting to discuss the President’s chaos caused through his personal utterances to commit violence on all people calling for him to step down.
Last week Mugabe violated the constitution when he threatened torture on every war veteran who votes to suggest that he steps down.
While the state media says that various issues affecting the party and general state of the economy would be handled, sources revealed the Mugabe discord with war veterans would take center stage.
“You know Zanu-PF and war veterans cannot be separated so it is important that the party establish the origins of that document disguised as a war veterans’ communiqué,” a source told the state media referring to the paper in which Mugabe is ordered to resign with immediate effect.
Mugabe last Wednesday attempted to out-do the war veteran’s communiqué as he tried out another so called war veterans’ meeting at the shake shake building. But a ZimEye.com investigation with Mugabe’s lieutenants unraveled the whole plot. People who gathered to pacify Mugabe were predominantly youths and post-war-born women. Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba also revealed to ZimEye he had no standard statistical evidence to support his claim that some war vets are in Mugabe’s support.
Party secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo confirmed the meeting. Although he did not divulge the agenda, the state media says latest political developments and the economy would be discussed. “Yes, we are meeting on Wednesday as Politburo,” Chombo said.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa is likely to also give an update on measures being implemented by Government to improve the economy.
Last month, Minister Chinamasa presented several intervention measures to the party’s Central Committee, which he said were at various stages of implementation.
Among the interventions, Chinamasa said Government had introduced cash withdrawal limits and had put in place mechanisms to ensure that companies, especially those in the retail sector bank their money.
The state media source added saying: “Another aspect that can be up for discussion is the issue of appeals that are still pending. Sydney Sekeramayi could also give a report on the current developments in the war veterans sector, where some few individuals are seeking to cause confusion in that critical arm. You know Zanu-PF and war veterans cannot be separated so it is important that the party establish the origins of that document disguised as a war veterans’ communiqué.”
The source continued: “A preparatory roadmap for the National People’s Conference to be held in Masvingo in December is also likely to be discussed. We need to set various committees to do the preparations of that conference,” they concluded.
War Veterans Chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa yesterday photo-bombed the Harare magistrates court at war vets icon, Douglas Mahiya’s hearing.
Mutsvangwa who was recently expelled from ZANU PF stood smiling several times as he lingered around the building.
People assembling for court were shocked to see Mutsvangwa confidently pacing into the building.
He was snapped with activists and lawyers. In the picture is Mutsvangwa with Crisis Coalition’s Mfundo Mlilo.
War vets leader being arrested at Magistrates Court
Prominent human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has moved in to rescue the arrested leaders of the war veterans association, Victor Matemadanda and Francis Nhando.
Just as the war veterans spokesperson Douglas Mahiya obtained a taste of freedom, the state rushed in to arrest two more senior members of the association.
This happened as the spirit of Tongogara and other fallen heroes of justice and good leadership was evoked by an identified woman in an apparent trance before the full court this morning.
She lamented the injustice against the liberators and the oppressed children of Zimbabwe as something that went Mtetwa represents
against the ethos of the war they fought for.
President Robert Mugabe has publicly threatened a violent crackdown on those responsible for authoring a controversial communique which orders him to step down immediately and endorses his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa to take over power. Mnangagwa has distanced himself from both communique and its authors timidly ducking away while endorsing Mugabe’s moves to arrest them.
The police arrested the two at the Harare Magistrates Court where they joined scores of other liberation fighters in solidarity with Mahiya. Surprise attendances were made by other members of the association Dr Fay Chung and People First leader, Joice Mujuru.
The atmosphere was tense as defiant war vets especially women refused to be cowed down by the heavily armed riot police.
In solidarity…Dr Fay Chung
Another senior veteran of the liberation struggle, former cabinet minister, Dr Fay Chung this morning made a solidarity appearance at the war vets spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya’s bail hearing. Mahiya was soon freed after Chung’s entrance on USD 300, which his family is reported to have paid.
The court had been adjourned to 3pm after the Mugabe-controlled compromised state prosecutors fought against an earlier grant for bail.
Magistrate Chikwekwe had granted Mahiya the $300 bail in the morning, but the State invoked section 121 as amended by the 2016 Amendment to the criminal procedures and evidence act.
Chung joins other senior veterans of the liberation struggle, who have taken a stand against state harassment in the case of Mahiya. Former Vice-President Joice Mujuru was also in court this morning.
Chung’s Background :With the escalation of the guerrilla war inside Rhodesia, in 1973 Chung joined the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). Her participation with a banned political organisation drove her into exile in Tanzania, and later Mozambique in the mid- and late-70s where she learnt to speak Shona fluently. Her initial role within ZANU was in the Information and Media Department; she subsequently became the senior official responsible for implementing the movement’s teacher training and curriculum development in refugee camps.
Mujuru enters court… LIVE REPORT: Hoardes of police officers at the Douglas Mahiya court hearing seeking to demoralise war veterans have been defeated by the liberation fighters, just as “Spill Blood,” Joice Mujuru fearlessly walked through the CIO infested courtroom.
Combatant war vets were at the time of writing singing revolutionary songs reminisce of the time when they defeated Ian Smith’s government. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW…
War vets exclusively told ZimEye.com [RECORDING BELOW], that they will never be cowed down or intimidated by Robert Mugabe’s threats to kill them Gukurahundi style.
Mahiya crushed Mugabe’s prosecutors winning his bail this morning. But as the war vets walked out of court, Secretary General, Victor Matemadanda was arrested.
Just as he was violently whisked away by the cops, the war vets began to protest. graphic by Uncle Tongaitinyerere Nyerere Maclacks Mbishi
Meanwhile below was the legal update from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. RECORDING LOADING… refresh page
Court has just adjourned till 3pm. Meanwhile Magistrate Chikwekwe had granted Mahiya $300 bail but the State invoked section 121 as amended by the 2016 Amendment to the criminal procedures and evidence act. Mahiya’s lawyer Nkomo argued that the section has been amended to the effect that the Pp or PG needs to make an application for suspension of bail before the magistrate
A BULAWAYO pirate taxi driver allegedly jumped out of a moving vehicle to fix a police officer who had boarded it after arresting him.
The vehicle careened into a storm drain while the cop and a passenger screamed for help.
The driver, Japhet Nyathi (23), allegedly tried to jump over a precast wall as he escaped from the scene but it crumbled.
Nyathi pleaded guilty to a charge of malicious damage to property. Western commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndlovu remanded Nyathi out of custody to Wednesday.
Nyathi apologised to the court, saying that he had already started paying for the wall.
“I’m sorry your worship I really don’t know what had gotten into me. I’m in the process of paying the owner of the house,” said Nyathi.
Prosecuting, Mr Kenneth Shava told the court that on July 17 Nyathi passed a roadblock at Pumula more than eight times. He said one of the officers on duty suspected that he was pirating and decided to board his vehicle.
“Once inside the officer asked accused person to park his car by the roadside.
“Accused person accelerated. He suddenly jumped out of the car. He jumped over a precast wall causing it to fall. Total value of the demolished wall is $300,” said Mr Shava.
According to a statement made by the cop, Nyathi said he wanted to fix police officers for harassing pirating drivers.
“He said police officers would learn a lesson for harassing them. He refused to stop and increased speed. He even refused to drop one of his passengers in Pumula,” read the statement.
The police officer said Nyathi jumped out of his moving vehicle which then plunged into a trench.-state media
asked to deal with Mugabe…Gen Chiwenga
Esteemed war veterans of the liberation struggle have joined hands with millions of “born free” civilian Zimbabweans to beg the country’s military and security bosses to block President Robert Mugabe.
This is in the face of his threats to commit violence of Gukurahundi massacre levels (as analysts say), the first of their kind against loyal liberation fighters, the 92 year old said last week.
Under the constitution the army is under strict instruction by law to protect every Zim national in the face of threats to life within and outside Zimbabwe’s borders wherever and whenever the police and CIO are limited.
Mugabe last week violated the constitution when he threatened to violently deal with the war veterans who two weeks ago told him to resign in a historic paper submitted by a large crowd of his own cadres in Harare, lawyers say.
Mugabe on Wednesday announced he would torture the war vets: “Once we find out who wrote that statement, the party will punish them. “During the war we had rebels who we punished… some by detaining them underground, feeding them there,” he said pointing to the torture he exerted on those who disagree with him.
Mugabe also threatened protesters with jail, saying the country did not want violence.
Airing their views in writing at the weekend, Zimbabweans begged the army to deal with Mugabe. “Please don’t just bunk, you need to act, remember you created this on us, ” wrote one Harare resident.
As War Vets’ spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya, was arrested last week, scores of war veterans joined the chorus at the weekend, saying they would not be cowed down by one man, Mugabe. “We are prepared to die if he wants to kill us for speaking our views,” wrote one vet who asked not to be identified.
Will the army act? – DISCUSS
Chiwenga’s contract expires.
Meanwhile, it emerged that Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander General Constantine Chiwenga’s employment contract is about to expire amid indications President Robert Mugabe will not renew it. Military sources said should Mugabe decide not to extend Chiwenga’s contract, Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda will take over.
FC Platinum – FILE Kwesesports – FC Platinum maintained their grip on top of the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League table while Caps United moved to second as they humbled Highlanders on matchday 16.
A second half strike from Dominic Chungwa ensured revenge for Makepekepe on their Bulawayo rivals on Sunday afternoon.
The home team created many chances which could have given them a cushion before the break. Chungwa was the man in the middle of those misses, including a free header which he floated over the bar in the final third of the first half.
The second half saw the Green Machine organised as before, but this time Chungwa was on target as his rebound found the back of the net in the 58th minute.
Highlanders were lucky to survive another chance after Ronald Pfumbidzai was denied by the upright in the late stages of the game.
In Bulawayo, Harare City succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Chicken Inn. An own goal from Munyaradzi Dironyenye put the champions in front close to the quarter hour mark.
Despite playing great football, the Sunshine Boys never had any shot on target until the 62nd minute.
The Gamecocks then created a few chances but it was not until five minutes from full-time when Clemence Matawu doubled the advantage after a defensive blunder from the visitors.
At Colliery, Tsholotsho FC failed to recover from an early blow when they went down 1-0 at the hands of Hwange Colliery.
Gift Mbwete’s solitary goal, four minutes into the game, separated the teams at full time.
Tonderai Ndiraya extended his unbeaten run to six when his charges managed a goalless draw against Triangle United in a match also played on the same afternoon.
Dynamos’ inability to score seemed to have re-emerged after a third consecutive goalless draw at Nyamhunga against ZPC Kariba on Saturday.
The hosts started the match with the intent to grab an early lead but Talent Chawapiwa’s first minute effort was stopped by goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva.
They went on to retain the majority of the ball possession with their congested midfield winning the loose balls and
later created some chances but could not find the goal.
The last 45 minutes also saw Dembare playing second fiddle to their opponents, again forcing Mukuruva into action on numerous occasions. The match ended with no goals scored.
At Barbourfields, visitors FC Platinum escaped with a late win over Bulawayo City.
Amakhosi dominated the game and at some point, they looked as favourites to take away three points.
However, Philani Ncube’s side survived a late scare when Marshal Mudehwe hit the upright in the 85th minute.
It was not too long after when Ian Nekuti’s cross found Rodwell Chingetere, who successfully executed with a header to seal a hard fought victory.
Border Strikers squeezed a point away at Luveve against How Mine. A first minute strike courtesy of Kudzanai Kwashi gave the away team a rare lead early on.
They soon adopted a defensive mindset to protect the goal but a penalty by Praise Tonha on the stroke of first halftime saw the game end in a stalemate.
Meanwhile Mutare City Rovers played to a goalless draw against Chapungu in a match played at Sakubva stadium.
MATCHDAY 16 RESULTS
Saturday July 30
How Mine 1-1 Border Strikers
Bulawayo City 0-1 FC Platinum
ZPC Kariba 0-0 Dynamos
Mutare City Rovers 0-0 Chapungu FC
Sunday July 31
Chicken Inn 2-0 Harare City
Caps United 1-0 Highlanders
Triangle United 0-0 Ngezi Platinum Stars
Hwange Colliery 1-0 Tsholotsho FC
Mufaro Machenjera, KweseSports
TerrenceMawawa,Zaka | Disgruntled students at the Roman Catholic run St Antonys’ (Musiso) High School are pushing for the immediate resignation or transfer of troubled head, Immaculate Tinago following the violent attacks on a pupil and also a string of alleged corruption and maladministration acts.
The pupils have organised themselves into a militant group named Santos Boko Haram to push for the head’s resignation or transfer.
Sources at the school told ZimEye.com that anonymous letters have been written to the head’s office indicating there would be widespread protests at the school.
An A Level student at the school Kundai Makado was severely beaten up by one of the teachers, (name withheld). She sustained serious bloody injuries as result of the assault .The and students at the school are irate with the fact that Tinago is protecting the teacher who bashed Makado.
“Tinago flouted tender procedures and she spends much of her time away from school. In addition, she did not take action against a teacher who bashed an A Level student. So we will not rest until she leaves the school,” said a source.
Tinago speaking in response, said she had reported the matter to the DEO and declined to divulge further details.
“The matter is being handled by the DEO so I cannot say much on the issue. You can go to the DEO for further clarity,” Tinago told ZimEye.
Masvingo Provincial Education Director Zedias Chitiga said he was waiting for an official report from the Zaka DEO. “I have received a report about the disturbances at Musiso but I am waiting for a detailed report from the DEO. We will act on the matter as soon as we get comprehensive details,” said Chitiga.
President Robert Mugabe yesterday savaged France as well as local non-governmental organisations for what he claimed was their open campaigns to subvert African economies in pursuit of regime change.
Last month Mugabe began threatening France resulting in that nation’s ambassador responding…CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.
Mugabe said he urges African States to unite to resist the machinations of the West.
“There is a vicious and comprehensive national drive as well as regional and continental vicious campaign to subvert our economies, economies of Africa through a proliferation of what I call NGOs,” said Mugabe.
“In Africa, this is all over. There is no country without NGOs supported from outside.”
He made the remarks at the National Defence College where he was guest of honour at the presentation of a National Security Policy and Strategy paper by participants in the Course 4-2015.
The participants are drawn from across security institutions here and allied countries including Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Namibia and Zambia.
The NGOs, said Mugabe, had become the West’s weapon to subvert African economies.
He said when he was AU chairman, he visited several African countries where he was appraised of the phenomenal proliferation of NGOs with sinister motives of regime change.
“They (NGOs) have become pests on our continent,” said Mugabe.
These agents of external forces, he said, were also visible in the country’s opposition Press, which he said was leading the attack on Government on a daily basis.
“We know it is sponsored from outside and there is a drive and campaign, for a long time, for regime change,” he said.
“This can be handled by the State which has its own (legal) instruments at Government level.”
Mugabe also said Francophone countries were still reeling under the bondage of their former coloniser who dictates the affairs of their countries.
He cited examples of African countries that were dissuaded by France from coming to officiate at the annual Harare Agricultural Show.
He said they were told not to come to Zimbabwe.
“That is a form of instrument that the West is still using to undermine our independence and socio-economy,” he said.
Mugabe bemoaned the rush by many students at university level for business subjects while shunning sciences.
He said Bindura University of Science Education was established to cater for Science and Mathematics, but ended up taking students for business studies.
“Science and Mathematics is what it was established for, but the disease of business studies also afflicted them,” he said.
Mugabe queried why the country’s state universities were negating the call to look at the country’s socio-economic challenges.
“Look at the needs of Zimbabwe. Look at our agriculture, we need more engineers. Look at mining, we need more mining engineers, metallurgists. Look at our roads, we need engineers,” he said.
Mugabe urged professionals to take advantage of the country’s indigenisation and economic empowerment policies to form their own companies instead of seeking greener pastures abroad.
“We are educating experts… but it is true we may not give them higher salaries compared to other countries like South Africa, Namibia or Australia,” he said.
“But they don’t have the initiatives but to work for whites baas so, so, Rio Tinto and so on. But form your own Rio Tintos.”
Mugabe also warned farmers that are clandestinely partnering former white farmers on their farms. He said that was another way of bringing back expelled white farmers. He said a land audit would soon expose them.
The controversy prone Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday took a swipe at the Bulawayo electorate calling them prostitutes. He said they are gullible and prone to being swayed by political whirlwinds.
Mphoko made the remarks as he distributed an additional 2 500 chicks to the Njube community in Bulawayo.
He said fly-by-night political parties have turned the city into their launch pad, taking advantage of the credulity of residents.
“Any politician who wants to launch his or her political party has a tendency of coming to Bulawayo first. We’ve the likes of (Messrs) Simba Makoni, Tendai Biti, Morgan Tsvangirai, Acie Lumumba and others who have turned this city into their playground because they know you’re easily carried away. In fact, they think you cannot do anything on your own,” he said.
Mphoko warned Bulawayo residents against falling into a trap of political parties bent on reversing the gains of the liberation struggle.
“People of Bulawayo fall prey to anyone who comes here to deceive them. They forget that this is a royal city. Don’t be gullible to non-traceable parties,” he said.’Mphoko blasted political rivals querying his war credentials, saying their aim was to tarnish his image.
“I’m aware that there are some people who go around saying I didn’t participate in the liberation struggle. I left the country to join the liberation struggle on April 4, 1964, and returned on January 13, 1980, together with the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo. I worked alongside veterans such as Cde Ambrose Mutinhiri and we were Zipra commanders,” he said.
Mphoko urged Zimbabweans not to shun their country, saying such action was tantamount to undermining the sacrifices made by gallant sons and daughters who died to liberate the country from colonialism.
“We should work for this country instead of going to Europe and other neighbouring countries leaving Zimbabwe at the mercy of foreigners who come and do business here,” he said.
Mphoko said the on-going poultry programme was aimed at reducing poverty and bringing development to local communities.
“It’s our duty as leadership to make sure that communities are empowered. We’re donating these chicks because we want to economically empower our communities through this income-generating project. I’m not expecting to get commission from this project but we’re simply assisting our people to improve their livelihoods,” he said.
The chicks are part of the poultry project the VP unveiled last month. The programme which is anchored on the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, seeks to empower communities through utilising local resources.
Mphoko warned residents against unruly elements who he said were trying to sabotage the project. The project is set to spread to every part of the country.
Member of the House of Assembly for Lobengula constituency Maidei Mpala thanked the VP for empowering her constituency. She urged the residents to embrace the project and work hard.
Mphoko will next Sunday donate another batch of chicks to residents in the same constituency. The chicks were sourced from commercial farmer Mr Peter Cunningham who owns Maleme Farm in Matobo.
Cash talk….Edinah Masanga EdinahMasanga | The discontent and disappointment among Zimbabweans with Evan Mawarire, for choosing to remain in South Africa for his own safety, while understandable, it is also hypocritical. It is utmost hypocritical for us to expect Evan Mawarire to die for us while we have not shown that we are ready to die for ourselves. One dead man is a victory for Mugabe not for us. I am aware that the arrest and sudden exile of Mawarire affected the morale of the movement and disrupted its momentum but, Zimbabwe, we have to be very real and realistic here, the man cannot take chances with this bloodthirsty regime. We know there are other activists in Zimbabwe who are seemingly not have been harmed ( the argument I battled with my friend while chatting last week), but the brutally honest truth is that Mawarire posed a credible, high-level threat to Mugabe’s rule, and history is there to show us what happens to people like that. The late youthful firebrand Learnmore Jongwe supposedly died under unexplained circumstances while in the custody of the state, and we have speculated a lot about how the ‘suicide’ took place without the guards noticing either the poison or the fact that someone was dying. Feared army general Solomon Mujuru aka Rex Nhongo died in a mysterious fire and when fire engines arrived at the scene they had no water, clearly, someone wanted him to burn to ashes. His wife Joice Mujuru was later purged unceremoniously on accusations of wanting to overthrow Mugabe. Journalist turned activist Itai Dzamara disappeared without a trace after calling for Mugabe to step down. An almost forgotten woman, Rashiwe Guzha, disappeared without a trace after becoming privy to CIO secrets in the nineties, which secrets are alleged to have implicated the presidency. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture, in fact, you already know the picture; Mugabe’s left a trail of dead or disappeared people all of whom had either threatened his presidency or opposed it publicly. Young Mawarire, an emotional pastor with a lot of charisma, meaning he is not a battle-hardened politician, cannot stand idle and wait for the unknown to happen. He has an obligation to keep his family safe, his children did not make the choice to be part of this and they need a father. Let’s cut the man some slack. Mawarire’s safety is of paramount importance but we must not forget that the regime is cognisant of the fact that harassing the movement’s leader into hiding is an effective way to posit him as a coward who has abandoned the people. Their objective being to dent the movement and instil fear into our hearts. The fact is, Mawarire cannot be any stronger without us. The power is, and has always been, with us. It is us who are fighting this government and it is us who are being fought by this government. Mawarire’s #ThisFlag movement can only be stronger, and effective if we all become active participants in it. If we shun calls for a stay away and go to work when we know that bond notes are coming to make our life hell, then what else can Mawarire do? Why do you want him to stay in Zimbabwe and get killed for nothing? The point I am trying to make is that we have to be grateful for what Mawarire has steered up in us, and we must take it and run with it and make change for ourselves. For Mawarire’s vision to be successful, we have to be willing to die with him not for him to die for us. Edinah Masanga is a Zimbabwean journalist and writer. You can contact her on Facebook or Twitter as @EdinahMasanga.
Million Muleya
A 36 year old Binga man, last Wednesday, allegedly fatally stabbed a diner over a sitting position at a restaurant.
Million Muleya of Kariangwe Area under Chief Siansali plunged a kitchen knife into Zibusiso Ndlovu’s chest.
Ndlovu was a data capture clerk at Kariangwe Mission Clinic.
The incident occurred at Kariangwe Business Centre at around 4PM. Members of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee, a witness said, handcuffed Muleya and handed him over to the police.
Matabeleland North acting police spokesperson, Sergeant Namatirai Mashona, yesterday said she had not heard of the incident.
“I’m out of the province and haven’t heard of the incident. I will refer you to someone who may assist you on that,” she said.
An eyewitness, Mr Frank Mudimba, said Ndlovu who died on arrival at Binga District Hospital, was stabbed once in the chest.
“Ndlovu and a friend arrived at the restaurant which is run by Chief Siansali and they bought food. In an attempt to find seats, Ndlovu’s colleague asked Muleya who was blocking their way, if they could pass. Muleya refused and after a brief exchange of harsh words, he left the restaurant. He returned minutes later armed with a knife.
“He headed straight to Ndlovu, and in the blink of an eye, he stabbed him once in the chest. The two had not fought and Ndlovu was not even the one who had talked to Muleya. We could actually say he died in cross fire,” said Mr Mudimba.
He said Ndlovu who was from Lukosi in Hwange, had been transferred from Lukosi Hospital to the clinic about three months ago.
“As a community we’re very shocked by the incident that befell the young man, whom we heard had recently graduated. He was in his 20s and was still new in our community,” said Mr Mudimba.
Some villagers said Muleya was Chief Siansali’s aide but the Chief denied this, saying Muleya was a homeless person that he helped from time to time.
“Muleya didn’t work for me but is actually a man that I would hire to do some piece jobs like sweeping the yard at my business premises,” he said.
Chief Siansali said the stabbing occurred when he was away and therefore did not have much detail on the incident.
South Africa’s veteran human rights lawyer George Bizos is worried about the possibility of civil war in Zimbabwe. He has just visited the country for the first time in 12 years.
Bizos said in an interview on Sunday that he was in Harare at the invitation of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, along with other legal practitioners from the region. They went to the magistrate’s court on Saturday when Douglas Mahiya, a veteran of Zimbabwe’s liberation war, was charged with insulting President Robert Mugabe.
Mahiya was not given the opportunity to apply for bail and will return to court for this on Monday. While Zimbabwe lawyers said they were “shocked” that he was not released on bail, Bizos said: “I don’t want to criticise the magistrate. He has a discretion, and it is not unusual for that sort of thing to happen.”
Mahiya was arrested last week in connection with an unsigned statement issued by the National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (NLWVA) criticising Mugabe’s leadership and calling on him to quit office.
Last week, Mugabe, in a furious reaction, told a meeting at the Zanu PF headquarters that the war veterans who wrote the statement would be found. Mahiya was arrested and detained in cells in a notorious police station previously declared unfit for human habitation.
“The things we heard from our colleagues in Zimbabwe are of great concern,” Bizos said. “There is no unity of purpose. They say the government isn’t really functioning. Some say they fear civil war may take place.” Bizos said he hoped there would be no civil war.
He said many legal practitioners he met said they were worried about their professional futures and their country. “They were quite pessimistic. There were rumours that police would prevent people entering the court, but that didn’t happen. There were policemen there and they behaved well.
“But the roads are full of holes. And the courtroom, it is not in good shape, tiles have been removed. It doesn’t look good. The poverty now is plain to see. The removal of rubbish is hardly taking place, and this is sad, for the people of Zimbabwe,” Bizos said.
Zimbabwe’s war veterans, for a long time Mugabe’s most loyal supporters, are now turning against him. They say they are under threat. They are seen as allies of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the succession battle inside Zanu PF.
But Mnangagwa issued a statement late on Saturday saying he remained loyal to Mugabe and any disputes within Zanu PF should be dealt with by the party.
War veterans played a key role in evicting white farmers, sometimes violently, from their land from 2000 onwards. Some of them also say they played a role in the violence against Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition party after it seriously challenged Zanu PF at the polls.
Hundreds of MDC supporters and others were killed and many more arrested and chased from their homes, particularly ahead of elections since 2000.
Bizos was last in Zimbabwe 12 years ago when he successfully defended Tsvangirai, Welshman Ncube, and the late Renson Gasela, on treason charges.
The three were charged weeks before Tsvangirai was nominated, for the first time, to stand for election against Mugabe, becoming the first serious opposition challenger to Mugabe since 1980 independence.
“I was recognised by many of the lawyers I met in Harare, because I spent 10 months there and I got to know them then,” he said on Sunday. IOL
Assistant Inspector Moffat Mugande is alleged to have raped a 16-year-old suspect, who was in police custody at Madlambuzi Police Station in Bulilima and tried to buy her silence with R50.
It is reported he further threatened the juvenile with life imprisonment if she reported the matter.
The teenager and her grandmother had been arrested in a case of food poisoning which resulted in their neighbours being rushed to hospital.
The police officer allegedly called the girl, who was being held with her 60-year-old grandmother at the charge office, in the middle of the night under the pretext of recording a statement.
Sources close to investigations said Mugande led the teen out of the police station to a secluded place where he raped her.
Mugande, the source added, was arrested on Friday last week and spent the weekend in cells at Plumtree Police Station.
“He was due to appear at the Plumtree Magistrate’s Court facing rape charges but the matter was placed on hold pending further investigations,” said the source.
The juvenile who cannot be named for ethical reasons but stays in Masendu area said Ass Insp Mugande raped her near a dam close to Madlambuzi Police Station.
“I was picked up along with my grandmother for questioning on June 29 in connection with a case of food poisoning which involved our neighbours. We slept at the police station and around 9PM Mugande woke us up and told us that he needed to record statements from us. We asked why since we had already given our statements and he said it was procedure.
“He first summoned my grandmother who returned shortly. He then escorted me out of the gate of the police station and led me to the dam and he raped me once and he gave me R50. The police officer told me that if I reported the matter I would rot in jail,” said the juvenile.
She said on the following morning she and her grandmother were released from police custody but she remained quiet about the matter.
The juvenile’s mother who also cannot be named for ethical reasons said the matter came to light after she found her daughter in possession of R50.
She said she inquired from her daughter where she had got the money .
“My daughter refused to tell me the truth at first as she said she picked up the money. She later told me that she was raped by a police officer whom she identified as Mugande and that he gave her the money in order to buy her silence.
“I immediately reported the matter at the police station. My daughter went for a medical examination at the Plumtree District Hospital and the results showed that she was indeed raped. It is a relief that she was not infected with HIV or impregnated during the process,” said the mother.
The juvenile and her grandmother were taken in for questioning in a case of food poisoning. A Bulilima granny and her four grandchildren were hospitalised after consuming food they prepared using baking powder which they had collected from the juvenile’s grandmother.
Police Spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware of the matter. State media
Bullied…war vets TerrenceMawawaMasvingo| Some members of the war veterans association have distanced themselves from the embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in his supposed support stronghold the Masvingo Province.
In a dramatic turn of events the veterans of the liberation struggle have distanced themselves from Mngangagwa, who is currently engaged in a fatal no holds barred public spat with Manicaland State Minister Mandi Chimene.
The war veterans in Masvingo who a few months ago declared open allegiance to Mnangagwa castigating the First Lady Grace Mugabe, whom they likened to a stepmother, have made a sudden U-turn and distanced themselves from the under-fire Midlands Godfather.
Furthermore, in the past the liberation fighters from Masvingo also had the tenacity to pen a scathing letter to Mugabe, attacking him for neglecting them claiming he gave them paltry allowances.
Masvingo Provincial war veterans chairman Tendeukai Chinooneka who openly attacked Mrs Mugabe a few months ago, said the former freedom fighters did not have any association with the anti-Mugabe communique presented in Harare.
He vowed the war veterans in Masvingo were fully behind the octagenarian publicly viewed to be the party’s candidate for the 2018 presidential plebiscite. “We are soldiers of the revolution and we always take orders from our commander.”
“Soldiers will never disobey orders. Lately war veterans have come under the spotlight after the communique but as former freedom fighters here, we distance ourselves from the statement. I do not think the communique was written by genuine war veterans,” he said.
I did not attend the meeting in Harare but I am sure the communique was written by a few individuals,” said Chinooneka.
Although Chinooneka distanced himself from the Harare meeting, there was a wave of panic within the Zanu PF rank and file following the strong communique calling on the veteran ruler to step down and pave way for Mnangagwa.
Behind bars…Mahiya DouglasMahiya |When his brother decided to go and fight for the liberation of his country, Zimbabwe, uncertain whether he would make it back from the war, whether he would ever see him again, my dad decided to name his son after his beloved brother and so I am Douglas Mahiya. At the peak of the war the Rhodesian forces came to our homestead looking for the rebel (‘Comrade Moto’). Hearing my name being called and the white man was convinced that I was the Douglas Mahiya aka Comrade Moto who had mysteriously turned into a child (‘gandanga yachinja kuita mwana mudiki’ he bellowed).
Separated from everyone guns pointed at me the soldiers were ready to fire at the ‘child rebel’. My entire family was helpless, desperate for some kind of divine intervention as the snotty little boy cried for help with absolutely no-one to help. This family was about to lose another son to the revolution for the liberation of the beloved country. What could they do? The state machinery and institutions were fully behind the cause of the Rhodesian forces – to protect the colonial master and continue suppressing the black majority.
Just as the soldiers were about to take it all out on me, pants drenched in fear induced urine, divine intervention came through a ‘traitor’. The black man who was fighting on the side of the oppressor intervened and explained what it meant in our culture – I was saved! This experience entrenched in me a strong resentment for any form of oppression especially spiritual oppression.
The past couple of days have evoked emotions of the experience of more than 36 years ago. Armed men stormed DK’s residence in the high density suburb of Chitungwiza and placed the occupants (my brothers and sister in law with two month old baby under ‘house arrest’ until DK had surrendered himself to the police. When I arrived home in Chitungwiza, it was déjà vu. My father DK in handcuffs, reduced to a 3 year old little boy, family helpless, about 15 men empowered by the state searching for ‘subversive material’.This time around it was not a white man, neither was there a ‘traitor’ to bring the much needed divine intervention to my father.
As he sits in remand prison awaiting bail hearing tomorrow (30 July 2016 at 0900 hours at the Magistrates’ court in Harare – his family is resolute and stands firmly with him. We are not without hope for our God is a God of TRUTH!
Our prayer is simple – “LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” (2 Chronicles 14:11)
Violet Gonda Journalist Violet Gonda brings you a new series of weekly Hot Seat interviews. Her first guest is Pastor Evan Mawarire, the founder of the #ThisFlag social justice movement that has taken Zimbabwe by storm. Has the momentum of the #ThisFlag social media campaign changed since he left for South Africa following a high-profile court case in Zimbabwe? How effective can he be from outside and does the Church in Zimbabwe have a clear vision for the country? In a wide ranging interview Pastor Mawarire gives us his views on the land issue, women’s and gay rights including safety concerns following reported attempted abductions. He also comments on recent remarks by President Robert Mugabe. Full transcript: Hot Seat with Pastor Evan Mawarire Violet Gonda: Hello and welcome to the program Hot Seat, my name is Violet Gonda. In our first episode of this new series we talk to Pastor Evan Mawarire, the founder of the This Flag campaign that has stirred the emotions of thousands and is credited for helping people to openly speak out about the state of affairs in Zimbabwe. How are you Pastor Mawarire? Evan Mawarire: Thank you very much for having me on your show. In terms of how I am, I am doing much better now than I was doing before and I am thankful for that. Gonda: What an incredible couple of weeks you have had. Can you describe how this experience has changed you? Mawarire: It has definitely changed me. The wake up call for me is that I am part of a an amazing citizenry in Zimbabwe. These are people that most people in other nations had written off or had failed to understand. But that has been the greatest impact of the last couple of weeks – discovering that my fellow countrymen are a powerful people who desperately love their country. Gonda: It’s reported that you actually fled to South Africa after your legal team found out you were going to be re-arrested on treason charges and that you were being monitored in Zimbabwe. Is this true? Mawarire: Well it comes as no surprise that I was being monitored at a very, very high level. Leaving Zimbabwe for South Africa really was routine. I travel here regularly as I do to other parts of the world and because of the arrest my schedule of travel had actually been disturbed. So I needed to travel as quickly as I could. But let me also mention that it was important for me to travel after that experience – just to recuperate and rest but also to spend time with Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, particularly in South Africa where many of our brothers and sisters live. To encourage them and let them know that we are in a season of change in Zimbabwe. And to once again encourage them because these are people who over the years have been working here to support their families back home. For me personally I wanted to meet them to thank them and to encourage them. Gonda: What went through your mind when President Mugabe publicly accused you of encouraging violence? Mawarire: It really was an unfortunate moment. His comments are not well informed. I am not someone who had incited violence in any way, shape or form. But for him to suggest that I did not have a place in my own country is heartbreaking and for many Zimbabweans. Because what I have done is to represent the issues that are on the ground and his government has failed to respond to that. And so when you respond by threatening and intimidating people it further reaffirms that sense of being abandoned as a citizen of Zimbabwe. Gonda: Are you worried for your safety and your family back home in Zimbabwe? Mawarire: Oh yes, I am. This is a system and a government that has dealt with me quite ruthlessly … might I add that according to the magistrate – they dealt with me unlawfully. So they have no respect for the law, they have no respect for the constitutional rights of people. And that leads me to be concerned for my safety, the safety of my family as well and this is something that we had to rethink in terms of us.
But let me also say that the one thing I have learnt for the last couple of weeks is that my safety as much as other citizens’ safety as Zimbabweans is amongst the citizens. We are the ones that look out for each other. We are the ones that back each other up, we are the ones that check up on each other and make sure that we are ok. And that’s where my security lies within the citizenry of Zimbabwe. Gonda: If that is the case, why did you leave the country? How do you respond to people who say you were the safest person in Zimbabwe because of this massive response from the people … in a way that support was your protection and that it would have been risky for ZPF to harm you. So you should have stayed in-country. How do you respond to that? Mawarire: True. There is definitely that response and that focus continues to be my safety. But let’s understand that even the very next day after I had left there were groups of men that showed up at my house and at my office looking for me. They wouldn’t identify themselves. So already you can see that there is a ‘stopping at nothing’ attitude to either intimidate or frustrate people when they are trying to be good citizens. So even with the safety of the citizens there is still that risk. Gonda:When you first started your campaign what did you think would happen? Mawarire: When the campaign first started, and I must be honest, it was a campaign that I thought would run on social media and that a few of my friends would get involved because of their love for the country – and that it would kind of end there. But as we carried on with the campaigning in different forms it started to change and gain momentum through different ways. As that happened we began to see that the job here was no longer about just a social media protest but that there was a job to stem the wall of fear. So that became and still is the main focus of inviting Zimbabweans to no longer be afraid. And it’s a long journey. It’s not an easy one but it is one that must be walked and must be achieved. Gonda: But you were on such a high though. Don’t you think the momentum was lost when you left immediately after a high profile court-case, and this massive support you had received at the magistrates court? Mawarire: On the contrary. The momentum has not been lost. Just because we don’t have something that is happening on the ground today or yesterday doesn’t mean that the momentum has been lost. The thing with the campaign and This Flag is that it is a personal thing for every Zimbabwean, so one of the things we encouraged was for people to start having open conversations about the issues on the ground. About the government’s failures about policies and how they have failed and how they can be improved. And those discussion and conversations are happening right now in Zimbabwe. They are growing, they are vibrant and it’s calling for people to be ready for mass action that is non-violent, mass action that makes a statement to government. So at the momentum is still growing. Gonda: The story is you will not be returning to Zimbabwe anytime soon especially after President Mugabe publicly denounced you. Are you thinking of staying away? Mawarire: It is very wise for me to rethink how I am going to return to Zimbabwe but I am definitely returning home. Gonda: How long will you stay in South Africa? Mawarire: At this point it is indefinite. I am still doing my business, I am still meeting Zimbabweans and when that time comes, particularly the citizenry will know that it’s time for me to go back home. Gonda: How effective can you be right now from outside? Mawarire: Again I go back to the understanding that This Flag is not about one man. It is not about Evan Mawarire. It’s about citizens. It’s about what is in their hearts, it’s about the realities that they face. So the effectiveness of citizenry doesn’t lie in me. It lies in the hearts of the citizens. This is not the only movement taking place in Zimbabwe. There are many other movements and many other efforts that are channeling the same message and are continuing to give substance to the issues that the citizenry is raising. There are 13 million Zimbabweans that are in Zimbabwe right now who are ready and prepared to stand up and challenge the government. So the effectiveness has not been hampered at all. Gonda: Many people support This Flag across the political divide. Why do you think you have been able to get everyone to support this movement? Mawarire: I think the success of This Flag across the political divide is proof-positive of how the citizenry has gotten to a place where they are equipped with the politicking of or the theatrics of politicians. And so people have a vehicle that does not affiliate them to a particular political movement, so that they can be free in Zimbabwe. This Flag provides them with an opportunity for someone to be Zimbabwean first before they are anything else. I think that is the success of it and I feel that for the first time I am getting a chance to love Zimbabwe, with other Zimbabweans. To have no divisions between us and put our country first. Gonda: Your critics say the 1st stay-away only worked because the civil servants went on strike and the second stay away was a flop because they had been given their salaries … and that the day was only saved when you were arrested resulting in your supporters staging a rally in and outside the magistrates’ court … do you agree with these observations? Mawarire: There are a lot of dynamics that are at play. The first stay-away was definitely not inspired by my This Flag. There were a lot of dynamics at play. Definitely the teachers, doctors and nurses were on strike but those are citizens and we joined together with them. So there is no division between civil servants and citizens. We are one. We are the same people and in-fact one of the demands on the stay-away was that civil servants must be paid on time. These are police, teachers, doctors, nurses and soldiers. As citizens we realize how important it is for people that work for the government to be rewarded the way they should so that they are motivated to serve their country well.. So that was a combined effort between citizens, civil servants, private sector and so forth. And again this speaks to the unity of the country.
The next stay-away – of course I was arrested and a lot of fear had then been instilled in people. The government had issued a lot of statements that were constitutionally frightfully wrong in terms of instilling fear within the citizenry. The communications controller – POTRAZ – the communications regulator put out an advert that was in violation of freedom of expression literally by every word that they wrote. That’s wrong. So people were a little bit afraid. I was arrested during those two days and that also affected the level and quality of the stay-away. I think we need to understand what Zimbabweans are trying to communicate – whether we succeed or not – the fact is that the citizenry has a story. The citizenry is trying to get their government to respond to their demands and not to react. Gonda: You continue to say hatichatya and hatidi violence. Why do you preach non-violence a lot? Mawarire: When we deal with issues with violence, what we give birth to is more violence. Violence begets violence. As a Pastor I am reminded of the word that talks about the sword and how if you resolve matters with fighting what you end up with is fighting. In Zimbabwe we have had this culture and this era of violence and fighting. People being beaten up, incarcerated , people disappearing. So we have to start having a new narrative that we can achieve results without violence. Gonda: What do you think of the other movements like Tajamuka who appear to encourage confrontation? Mawarire: They represent what people are crying out for. It is important to understand who they are and what they stand for in terms of the message. I wouldn’t come out straight away and say they are definitely a violent group. I have not personally seen that they are a violent group or accused of being a violent group. What I love about them is that they have gotten to a place where they can now say ‘we are not afraid and we must confront our government.’ Gonda: Was it your group that threatened private schools and shop owners if they remained opened during the stay-away? Is it right to do that? Mawarire: No definitely not. We did not threaten anyone at all. Again these are machinations of those that are trying to divide the citizens. People don’t have to be forced to understand that the issues we are all standing for as citizens are the same issues. There are people who stayed opened on that day because it was their right to do so . It is not our culture as Zimbabweans to intimidate each other and to threaten each other at all. Gonda: You have been accused by the government of being a puppet of the west … or of being sponsored by the west to destabilise the country. Mawarire: It’s not true. We have heard this rhetoric before. It’s not the first time. So we know it. The people know that this is a diversionary tactic. We are people who have enough sense to know that when we are failing to buy food, when we are failing to lead a normal life we can raise our own voices. We don’t need to be sponsored by anyone. We don’t need to be schooled by anyone concerning our difficulties because we live them first hand. Gonda: So who is financing the This Flag campaign? Mawarire: Again this is a mindset that people have to change. Not everything that is effective is being financed or being funded by something or by someone. When we started This Flag it was a matter of just recording a video, going live and encouraging people to share it. It hardly costs anything to do that. And this is the proof we have been able to show – that if people stand together the cost of bringing change is not as much as it is supposed to be. For example when we did the stay-away the people asked – so how we did get everyone to stay-away? It’s very simple, every Zimbabwean who stayed away on those days paid for that stay-away with their own salary for that day. They paid for the stay-away with what they would have earned that day. Gonda: When you started you were a lone voice and there was no need for financing but surely with all that has happened in recent weeks, this campaign has now grown to a stage where it might need financing? So as a Pastor have you thought through about who you will accept money from as time goes on? Mawarire: As time goes on it will be necessary for certain programmes to be funded. That thought is ongoing but we are very careful about that. We don’t just take money just because we have some interesting and exciting things happening. We’ve got to be careful about that. I want to go back to the question about – if I was to look for funding who would I ask? I would ask the citizens of Zimbabwe because this is a learning curve for us. No one will pay for our change except us as Zimbabweans. So that would be my first port of call – to go to my countrymen and say with what you have and where you are, contribute to bring change. Gonda: As a man of the cloth, what conversations have you had with substantive churches? Mawarire: Our conversations are around issues of justice, around the issues of standing for justices, standing for righteousness, standing in favour of building a nation that respects human rights issues. I think that is our standpoint. That we speak for those with no voice, the orphans and the widows who are actually being taken care of by the Church in Zimbabwe anyway. Gonda: Do you think the church in Zimbabwe has a clear vision of what should happen in the country? Mawarire: I think it’s beginning to happen now. It has taken a while but the church in Zimbabwe is an amazing stakeholder and they are now coming together. We see some of the comments that have been made publicly from respected men and women of God. I think the realization is there that the Church is going to play a key role as we go forward. Gonda: In Zimbabwe the Pentecostal faith has been accused of being ambivalent in the past. That they have played a retrogressive role to democracy. Do you agree? Mawarire: Well the Pentecostal Churches that I have been part of have certainly contributed to the conscientisation of citizens to be upright to be lawful citizens. Sometimes people expect the church to come out and say certain things that are political and the church has got to be careful that we represent the issues of justice, of peace, of righteousness and social. So I would not say they are not contributing or completely negative or not contributing towards positive change. They have a job to remain apolitical, they have a job to represent well without muddying the waters. Gonda: Just a couple of quick question because I know you are very busy. Mawarire: Yes, we have just arrived now for our next meeting. Gonda:Yes, so I will be very quick…. You are carrying the national flag that represents many things. Can you tell us what you believe in when it comes to the rights of women? Mawarire: You have touched on a nerve of the progress of our country that is vitally, vitally important and as a country we still have a lot of work to do in terms of opening doors for our women. Doors have been shut when it comes to women and leadership, when it comes to community development and all the things that have remained reserved for male players. There is a lot of leadership, a lot of passion in our women that needs, at this very moment, to be allowed to come to the forefront. It’s got to be encouraged. We must make way for this to happen because these are the people that underpin our families. These are the people who raise the generations. So if we take the next couple of steps in the next few months and perhaps the next few years going towards the next elections and we neglect that very important aspect of our community we are definitely headed for (inaudible) Gonda: What about of gay rights in Zimbabwe? Mawarire: On gay rights. In Zimbabwe we have a constitution and it is important that as a country we respect all the aspects of the constitution and not just choose and pick the ones that we want or the ones that suit us. It’s part of building a Zimbabwe that works. It’s part of building a Zimbabwe that everyone can be proud of. We can disagree on certain elements in terms of culture, in terms of lifestyle but that doesn’t mean we become divided or hostile towards people who don’t believe in the same things as we do. Gonda: What about the land issue? Mawarire: The land issue is an issue that, which ever way you look at it, needs to be addressed. It’s part of the Africans owning their own destiny. The problem with what took place in Zimbabwe of course is how the process played out. The whole of Africa uses Zimbabwe as a case study when it comes to the land issue. So whilst there must be equitable distribution of land, which I fully support as an African in Africa, there needs to be an understanding that this needs to be done without destroying the very people you are trying to empower. We have got to do it alongside a framework that empowers people to make that land productive. The problem in Zimbabwe is that we have ended up with land that is productive but is no longer producing anything. Gonda: And finally Pastor Mawarire. There are allegations that your campaign is being exploited by politicians. Some say you are being exploited in the factional wars in ZANU PF. That you are being exploited for succession politics. While others say you are being used by the MDC to capitalize and push for the removal of ZANU PF. Then there are allegations that your campaign is being used to pave the way for the Third Way. What can you say about all these allegations? Mawarire: Well these are conspiracy theories. In a nation where there are a lot of dynamics at play these kind of things are obviously expected. My encouragement is to say let’s remain true to the issues and what we are after. We are after a Zimbabwe that works. I am not backing a faction and am not leading a faction. I have not sat down with anyone from any of the ZANU PF factions and I am not sure who the players are. Neither have I been inspired by the MDC at all. Neither have I met them. All these are dynamics that have an interest in Zimbabwe. Anything that shakes up things politicians naturally gravitate towards that wanting a piece of the action. But this remains an organic, grassroots inspired and it will continue to grow as a grassroots movement. Gonda: A final word Mawarire: As Zimbabweans we will now no longer be divided by the politics of our country but united by the dreams of our children. What we see in the future is what we aspire to. We are keen to get moving on with Zimbabwe and I would like to encourage the citizens of Zimbabwe to continue to express themselves in their own way. Continue to bring out the Zimbabwe-ness in your own heart because we need you. It’s no use to leave it in your heart. Let it out. Speak out. Speak about what you want to see and the more we speak together and share about it the more we move with a stronger and bigger hope towards what is possible. Gonda: Mazvita zvenyu. Thank you for joining us on the program Hot Seat Pastor Evan Mawarire To contact this journalist email [email protected] or follow on twitter @violetgonda
A SECURITY guard in Bulawayo yesterday stunned a magistrate when he offered to pay $30 in monthly maintenance for his 10-year-old daughter.
Hi good friends. My name is Energy Mutodi. I was born on 4 August 1978 so today is my 38th birthday. Join me in flesh and spirit as I celebrate this very important day in my life. US President Barack Obama is also celebrating his birthday today and I feel proud to be sharing a birthday with such a great man. I thank all of you for your support and for giving me company in school, at work and in life as fellow citizens. My life is incomplete without anyone of you. I wish you well in your daily lives. My daughter Ruvimbo also turns 5 this month on the 13th so we decided to do a joint celebration. We belong to the Chambara Gushungo clan that took a Nzukwa identification several years ago in Masvingo. Ruvimbo and I like braai and red wine. Thank you.
Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, will face the music tomorrow when he meets members of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), over the brutality against innocent civilians his force has now become famous for.
MDC-T Youth National Organising Secretary Morgan Ncube has been granted $100 bail by the Beitbridge magistrate court.
Nothing unites a nation more than its flag, its national anthem, and its football team. And nothing unites a nation than its citizens who forgive and assist each other for the national cause. Those are all hallmarks of true patriotism.
BILLIONAIRE Nigerian investor Aliko Dangote’s plans for US$1 billion worth of investment in Zimbabwe could go up in smoke after the country’s Immigration Department denied visas to aides he wanted to dispatch into the country to expedite progress, the Financial Gazette can report.
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and opposition MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai will today be reading a strikingly similar script at their respective parties’ meetings, both called to address growing dissent, which pose a serious threat to their political careers.
POLICE have arrested a general hand at the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) Victoria Falls after he allegedly issued counterfeit certificates of competence to 30 drivers whom he charged $300 each.
