Staff Reporter| FORMER Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Charles Utete has died. Utete reportedly collapsed and died at his home in Harare early today, Information minister Christopher Mushowe confirmed to the media Utete has passed on. “It is true and we are still trying to find more information,” Mushowe said. When Utete left his post as Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, President Robert Mugabe said, he had become a central figure in the Government’s system and contributed immensely to the development of the country.
More to follow…

Staff Reporter | In a rather weird post on Facebook, Morgan Tsvangirai’s national spokesperson has distanced himself from the VP announcement made earlier today.
Curious journalists were left dumbfounded when Gutu wrote on his wall, “As MDC-T national spokesperson, kindly be advised that I have absolutely NO comment to make on the appointments for the office of Vice President that were announced at a press conference this morning.”
This morning Morgan Tsvangirai held a press conference to announce the appointment of two more Vice-Presidents, Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri.
The post by Gutu a lawyer by profession could be an indication there is trouble in paradise, and the succession battle is far from over for the embattled opposition party. The lawyer who has traditionally responded to all party issues, this time referred journalists to Tsvangirai himself. Putting Tsvangirai in a rather awkward position, who only appeared in the public yesterday, but within 24 hours could well be undoing everything he has built in years, as all hell breaks loose, with his leadership limitations being a subject of public debate.
 

Staff Reporter |The cash strapped Municipality of Gwanda has lost three of its recently acquired vehicles over a debt owed to Fawcett Security.
Reports from within council are that the Municipality failed to settle a debt amounting to $30 000 to the security firm for guarding an incomplete council project for over two years.
Fawcetts Security Company was engaged by council to guard an incomplete water reservoir tank since 2013 and failed to pay for the service.
When work at the tank resumed early this year, council removed the security firm from the site without paying for the service resulting in the security company engaging the services of the deputy sheriff to recover their money.
Council officials refused to comment on the issue referring the matter to Mayor Knowledge Ndlovu who was said to be in a meeting on plans to rescue the vehicles from auction.

FOUR people died, three on the spot, while three others were seriously injured when a Honda CRV and a Nissan X salon collided head-on along the Masvingo-Mashava road yesterday.
The driver of the CRV, Gladman Jekese (49), who allegedly encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic, fled the scene. National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said they found Jekese at Makurira Memorial Hospital in Masvingo where he had been admitted with critical injuries.
She said police are charging him with culpable homicide. Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the accident occurred at the 23 kilometre peg at around 7.30AM. The deceased’s bodies, said the police spokesperson, were taken to Masvingo General Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
“The injured are receiving treatment at the same hospital where their condition remains stable but critical,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba. She said the identities of the deceased were being withheld as their next of kin were yet to be informed.
“I can confirm receiving an accident report which claimed four. A Honda CRV coming from Zvishavane encroached into the lane of a Nissan X salon thereby causing a head-on collision,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
“Three people died on the spot and one died upon admission to Masvingo General Hospital.” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the Nissan X salon, driven by Kenneth Guri (42) of Masvingo, was travelling from Masvingo towards Mashava.
The vehicle, she said, had four passengers when tragedy struck while the other one had one. “After seeing that he had caused the accident, Jekese fled the scene only to be found admitted at Makurira Memorial Clinic in Masvingo. His condition is critical,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
“Jekese will face charges of culpable homicide for causing the accident, failing to render assistance to the injured and fleeing from the scene after causing an accident. He should have had the conscience to stop after causing an accident and not to flee from the scene. It’s a crime to fail to render assistance to accident victims.” – state media

The Harare city council says it has engaged the Zimbabwe Republic Police with the aim of demolishing settlements at Churu and Porta farms.
The two farms suffered the same fate in 1992 and 2005 respectively, after the government forcibly evicted more than 8 000 dwellers.
Evicting 4000 settlers in 1992 from Churu farm, which was owned by the late veteran politician Ndabaningi  Sithole, government then said the settlement  was a health hazard that would pollute Lake Chivero, Harare’s main water source.
Churu and Porta farms, were later acquired by government and handed over to the Harare City Council.
But because of a shortage of accommodation in the capital, thousands of people have re-invaded the farms and constructed shaky buildings.
According to the local authority’s July 7 2016 full council meeting minutes , the city fathers will soon raid the two settlements .
The Harare city council said that it was not going to regularise the “illegal” settlements at the two farms but instead “Council was working with the Zimbabwe Republic Police to remove the illegal settlers’ from the farms”.
“The Environmental Management Committee (Harare city council department) was also seized with the matter”.
 

A Harare man was on Wednesday fined $100 for pointing a firearm at his son-in-law who had a domestic dispute with his daughter.
Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe ruled that Tommy Thomson (55), who acted in the heat of the moment, should pay a fine or spend 20 days in prison.
In mitigation, Thomson told the court that he rushed to his son-in-law’s place of residence after his daughter called him saying she was being assaulted. Thomson, of No. 1061 Chitove Close, Houghton Park in Harare, is a panel beater. The son-in-law, Tawanda Chikondo, resides at No. 20 Selsey Road, Waterfalls in Harare.
Prosecuting, Miss Samantha Dhlamini said on July 5 this year at around 4pm, Chikondo received a phone call from his landlord advising him that there were people loading his property from the cottage onto a truck.
Chikondo rushed home and noted that it was his wife, her sister and the truck driver. Chikondo barred them from taking away the property.
Thomson’s daughter, Sharmane, contacted her father and told him that she was being assaulted by her husband. Thomson armed himself with his Norinco pistol serial number 44000544, loaded with two live rounds. He drove to his son-in-law’s place of residence and cocked his firearm on arrival.
He pointed it at Chikondo. After the fracas, Chikondo reported the matter to the police.-state media

Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi| In a move that reflects total defiance of President Robert Mugabe’s directive, Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa has ordered farmers who invaded Tongaat land to remain at their respective plots.
Mugabe, who was in Chiredzi two weeks ago on a fact finding mission ordered the farmers to vacate the sugarcane land they invaded with immediate effect. The controversial Masvingo State Minister, barely two months ago blocked Mugabe’s AU cattle donation initiative -claiming the province did not have the capacity to supply the beasts. Mahofa has ordered at least 213 farmers who benefited from the land grab exercise to remain at the plots.The farmers have since occupied about 4000 hectares of Tongaat land under the controversial exercise. In total contradiction of her boss’ remarks, Mahofa last Friday said the farmers must remain at their allocated plots. She claimed she was sent by Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Douglas Mombeshora to address the farmers.
“As the Minister of State for Masvingo, I am disturbed by the fact that some legislators are uniting with Tongaat Hullet to fight the land reform programme. Land belongs to the government and the government distributes all the land. I have come here to tell you that no one is to move you from the plots you are occupying,” said Mahofa.
Zanu PF Provincial Commissar Jeppy Jaboon said he was surprised by Mahofa’s reckless comments. “I do not know why Mahofa has chosen to contradict the President’s directive.The issue was discussed and the President explained everything clearly so I am surprised by Mahofa’s sentiments,” said Jaboon.

Staff Reporter |Zimbabweans based in London and other activists had a vigil in front of the Zimbabwe embassy earlier today. #Flag frenzy has gripped Zimbabweans all over the world, uniting them across class, ethnicity and even political back ground. The face behind the campaign Pastor Evan Mawarire has urged Zimbabweans to keep protesting peacefully until government deals with all their grievances. We reported earlier of other demonstrations held in Cape-Town and Pretoria, attended by hundreds of Zimbabweans.

Staff Reporter | Movement for Democratic Change, President Morgan Tsvangirai, came out in the public for the first time in a long while to meet his party supporters and leadership.
Factional fights threaten to tear apart the movement Tsvangirai leads, as attempts are made to block his deputy Thokozani Khupe from taking over the MDC Presidency in the ongoing succession battle. The crude attempt to sabotage Khupe constitutionally is to be done through a proposed second Vice President, a constitutional arrangement similar to Zanu PF’s.
Khupe has held fort while Tsvangirai has been away after being diagonised with colon cancer and undergoing treatment.
The MDC is at crossroads as it struggles with key structural issues to do with balance of power among its leadership ranks. In this vein, a meeting of the National Executive will see the party emerge stronger or weaker. Over the years the MDC has suffered internal strife as a result of factionalism leading to several splits which have left it weakened.
In terms of the current momentum, Tsvangirai is yet to make a public statement on his position concerning #flag Pastor Evan Mawarire, against whom incidentally the mobilisation of party structures today was done.
Not to be outdone by the popular Pastor according to Facebook posts by Charlton Hwende Tsvangirai’s right hand man, in our possession, Mawarire should be dismissed and the real ‘owners’ of the struggle continue. This received much public criticism from Zimbabweans who are tired of individualistic party politics that divide the opposition and give a very weakened Zanu PF an upper hand. MDC hardliners have for long refused to work with anyone else, whom they are quick to label agents of Zanu PF, yet at the same time even with huge numbers, failing to build the currency to remove Mugabe from power.
Tsvangirai has not distanced himself from the utterances of his influential leaders, who include Hwende. Many Zimbabweans pin their hopes on a united leadership as was the case when Apartheid South-Africa fell, the citizens there stood together as one. That mood of unity and euphoria returned to Zimbabweans yesterday, it remains to be seen if Tsvangirai is in or out.
 

The private prosecutor Charles Warara has approached the courts for an amount to be set, that he has to be paid as legal costs, after the determined lawyer secured a 10-year rape conviction against the Bikita West Zanu PF MP Munyaradzi Kereke.
Warara wants regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa to order the payment of the amount he accrued in legal fees and related expenses over the past six years.
The regional magistrate is expected to determine the amount of damages payable to Warara.
Kereke, who is the former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe advisor, was jailed for an effective 10 years by Mupeiwa on Monday after he was found guilty of raping his wife’s then 11-year old niece in 2010.
Warara, who relentlessly prosecuted the case, confirmed to  that Mupeiwa will deal with the issue of the legal costs incurred during the trial today at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.
“We will be going to court. We have requested the magistrate to sit and determine the costs arising from the private prosecution,” Warara said.
He also said he was contemplating suing Kereke for damages.
The financial assets of the 44-year-old Rock Foundation Medical Centre founder, who personified the arrogant model rich man, are more at risk from the ongoing civil suit that has been filed.
A loss in the civil litigation could be very costly for the jailed Kereke, whose career as an aide to RBZ governor Gideon Gono, made him one of the wealthiest people in economics.
Warara’s award can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars, and is going to be enormously expensive for Kereke, who is married to three wives and has 17 children.
Warara further said at the moment, the circumstances are not justifiable for them to challenge the sentence imposed.
Kereke’s lawyer, Eram Mutandiro, on Tuesday said that he had not yet received instructions from his client to file an appeal challenging both conviction and sentence.
Warara said they will cross appeal if Kereke decides to appeal against the sentence.
Kereke’s case became a protracted court battle that lasted six years after suspended prosecutor-general Johannes Tomana initially declined to prosecute the businessman, arguing that he had no case to answer.
However, the victim’s guardian Francis Maramwidze, refused to back down and demanded justice in the case.
Tomana’s deputy Florence Ziyambi eventually issued a certificate for Kereke’s private prosecution after the Constitutional Court gave the prosecutor-general an ultimatum to comply with the order or face 30 days in prison.

 

Staff Reporter | Hundreds of Zimbabweans based in South Africa, today held protest marches in Pretoria and Cape Town in which they called on President Robert Mugabe to go. “Mugabe must go it is time he must leave office so that we can go back to our country, the future of the young people is in disarray because of the present government,” said one marcher.

Staff Reporter| Pastor Evan Mawarire has urged Zimbabweans to remain resolute in their unity, as he explained that there was no going back on the mass stay away from work.
“We called the stay away for Wednesday and Thursday, we are not retreating, this is our way of sending a message, to our government that enough is enough, our message to government is that when we make demands of them, we are not hating them, we actually want you (government) to know the reality on the ground.”
Mawarire who released another of his viral videos, thanked Zimbabweans all over the world and internally who stood by him as they held prayer vigils. The unity that transcended race, class and political divide, giving the country new hope and inspiration that together they could move mountains.
“When I came out of court I could not believe what I saw, thousands of people who were there,” said Mawarire, in a tone full of gratitude. Mawarire who has emphasized peace in all his messages said, “this is what it means to be united as Zimbabweans, you did so well, there was no violence, noone was fighting.”
“Thank you thank you, what an amazing day we have had you and I have seen the power of unity, I had no idea that people right across the world I heard there were people praying in the UK who joined hands, in South Africa, America, Australia, in Bulawayo there were people at the courts I was not even in Bulawayo.”
Pastor Evan Mawarire was freed by Harare Regional Magistrate Vakai Chikwekwe.
Mr Chikwekwe said the state violated Section 50 and Section 70 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which provides that an arrested person must be informed of charges he is facing.
 

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) acting chief executive officer Engineer Moses Juma and non-executive director Mr Davison Norupiri, on allegations of defrauding the parastatal of thousands of dollars.
Although details were still sketchy by last night, it is believed that the two had been defrauding Zinara by not following tender procedures on procurement, among other underhand dealings.
A source close to the matter told journalists yesterday that Mr Norupiri, as a board member, was not supposed to be involved in the day-to-day running of the organisation.

Sindiso Dube | Founder and Commander in chief of the Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (YARD) Themba Mliswa, was on Wednesday afternoon removed from remand. He was facing charges of contravening POSA with Esigodini magistrate Lungile Ncube, ordering the state to proceed by way of summons.
Mliswa was charged for holding an unsanctioned meeting in Esigoni where he was arrested along with 24 other YARD members who were later released.
Esigodini Magistrate Ncube ordered the state to proceed by way of summons and condemned the prosecution for failing to put their house in order.
“We hearing the case for the second time today and the evidence available is not sufficient to proceed with the case, my judgement is the state should proceed by way of summons,” Ncube said.
After the court ruling, Mliswa who was represented by Advocate Lizwe Jamela and Jonathan Tsvangirai was in high spirits and swore that he will work harder for a better Zimbabwe.
“Justice prevailed and I am determined as ever, I am getting to a century on acquitted cases. It is victory for the youths of Esigodini and of Zimbabwe. The voices of the youths have to be heard and we will keep on working towards that,” Mliswa said.

The police anti corruption unit has swooped on three cops from Shurugwi Central Police Station, who have been arrested for allegedly extorting $1 200 in bribes from motorists at a roadblock.
The trio were picked along the Gweru-Shurugwi highway on Wednesday last week. Constables Edwin Chiteshe, Tsaurai and Mike allegedly failed to account for the money.
Traffic cops are not allowed to carry personal cash while on duty and are subjected to spot checks by their superiors and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to curb bribery and corruption.
The three cops allegedly harassed the ZACC officers, demanding a bribe, before they identified themselves.
The $1,200 according to police sources was in a vehicle belonging to one of the traffic officers parked about 10metres from the roadblock.
Sources said the three tried to resist having five-member Anti-Corruption Unit search the vehicle.
The group, a source said, prevailed after stating they suspected the constables were soliciting bribes from motorists.
Superintendent Taurai Mambure who was part of the team confirmed arresting three traffic police officers based at Shurugwi central police station.
Supt Mambure could, however, not shed more light referring this reporter to the police press and public relations unit for further details.
“In connection with the police officers arrested in Shurugwi l can only refer you to Shurugwi Central Police Station. They have all the details,” said Supt Mambure. “For a press comment I advise you to get hold of Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba she will give the official position. We are not allowed to talk to the press.”
The Chronicle is reliably informed that the three were found in possession of $1, 200 while they had only receipted $380.
A Shurugwi tout only identified as Dexter who witnessed the drama unfolding said the three police officers were mounting a police roadblock near Impala farm turn-off when the anti-corruption unit team pounced on them.
“The three did not recognise the team and they went on to harass them. After arguing for a while the five revealed their identity and searched the three police officers. They were found with over $1 200,” he said.
National Police Spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba professed ignorance claiming that she was still to get the report.
“I am not aware of that. I have not received any report related to that,” she said.
The three, a police source said yesterday, will soon appear at the Gweru magistrates’ court.
The police have declared a zero tolerance to corruption.
A number of corrupt police officers have over the years been dismissed from the force.
Last year about 300 police officers were fired for allegedly demanding bribes or setting up illegal roadblocks to extort money from motorists. State Media

Terrence Mawawa Masvingo |In a new twist, the tables have turned against prominent Masvingo based human rights activist Prosper Tiringindi, who is now facing fresh charges of leaking ZRP officer,Constable Mercy Dzafunwa’s nude pictures to the media.
Dzafunwa confirmed to ZimEye.com that she stripped and photographed herself, before uploading the pictures, as said by mistake to a social networking Whatsapp group.
Tiringindi, who is locked in a protracted battle with Dzafunwa and the police after he sued the cop for crushing his genitals during a raid last February,is also being accused of inciting residents of Mucheke suburb to demonstrate against the government.
In what analysts say is a deliberate and well calculated ploy to silence Tiringindi,the human rights activists is now facing three different counts following his battle with Dzafunwa.In another count, Tiringindi is being accused of inciting residents to vandalise property at Zambuko Trust a local money lending organisation.
“I am now on the police wanted list in connection with the leaking of Constable Dzafunwa’s nude pictures.I am now facing possible arrest over the leaked photos.Apart from that I am also being accused of disorderly conduct.”
“I also have a pending court case in which I am being accused of inciting people to vandalise property at Zambuko Trust.As I see it the police are determined to intimidate me so that I can withdraw the Dzafunwa case,”said Tiringindi.
According to a state line seen by ZimEye.com Tiringindi is being accused of disorderly conduct in a public place.
“On the 6th day of July 2016 along Zimuto street between Rashai Foroma bar and Tsungai Shop, Mucheke A, Prosper Tiringindi used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaved in a threatening, abusive and insulting manner by burning ,throwing tyres on the road, shouting with a loud hailer during the stay away day, “read the state outline.

Staff Reporter | The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has dispelled rumours that Pastor Evan Mawarire’s case has been moved to University of Zimbabwe, Great Hall, commenting that, ” those interested in following proceedings remain at Rotten Row and nowhere else as is being falsely communicated.”
Information we have just received is that Pastor Mawarire  back at the Harare Magistrates court. Police used a back entrance to avoid the growing at the front entrance in solidarity with the #Flag Pastor.

BREAKING NEWS It is reported that Pastor Evan Mawarire’s court case has been rescheduled and will be held at the University of Zimbabwe Great Hall today at 14:00hrs. It is said that Zimbabwe Laywers for Human Rights made a formal request for a bigger venue as more than 200 lawyers had volunteered to represent the pastor and all will want to be part of the court hearing. Lets all go in masses and demand the release of our pastor. He has to contact a church service tonight not being in police cells. Cry my beloved Zimbabwe. #this flag🇿🇼

Zimbabweans have started another two day mass stay away from work, with the First Lady Grace Mugabe reported to have skipped the country for Singapore. This report doing the rounds does not do well for the woman aspiring to succeed her husband as the next President of the country.
Zimbabweans who are suffering greatly under one of the worst economic crisis in recent history, are protesting as they seek reprieve from their daily struggles. However, reports that Mai Mugabe who has over the past years become a powerful figure in national politics has skipped the country, could be an indication of tougher times ahead. The government is broke and does not seem to have a solution to the problems being faced by Zimbabweans.
Zanu PF stubbornly clings to policies that have led to the current economic decay and refuses to deal with corrupt ministers a burden to the already suffering economy.
The country is going through an economic meltdown, which has seen government failing to pay civil servants on time.
Grace was spotted at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, en route to Singapore.
Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba said he was unaware of the whereabouts of the First Lady. “I don’t know about that. You seem to know better than I do. In any case, what has that have to do with you, NewsDay people?” Charamba retorted.
“I am not at work, so really I don’t know what you are asking me.”
Singapore has become virtually the second home of the First Family, as they travel to the Far East country regularly for medical attention amid reports that they also have businesses interests there. Newsday

Staff Reporter| Update Pastor Evan Mawarire who was supposed to appear in court earlier today, has not, instead police have taken him back to Harare central police station on the claim that there are too many people at the court. Mawarire is apparently being charged with inciting public violence.
Pastor Evan Mawarire who was arrested yesterday is appearing in Rotten Row Magistrates Court .Pastor Mawarire handed himself to police yesterday.
We have just received the following report, that Pastor Mawarire is in court and fine.

More to follow…

CONVICTED rapist and Bikita West National Assembly member Munyaradzi Kereke (pictured) automatically lost his parliamentary seat by operation of the law after he was convicted of rape by Harare regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa on Monday.
The magistrate slapped Kereke with a 14-year jail term, but suspended four years.
There are no indications yet of whether Kereke will appeal against both conviction and sentence.
Legal experts said Kereke can only retain his seat if he successfully applies for bail pending appeal. According to the Constitution, a conviction by a court of law is one of the reasons why an MP can lose their seat.
Section 129 (1) on tenure of seat of Member of Parliament states that the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant: “1) if the member is convicted ( i) in Zimbabwe of an offence of which breach of trust, dishonesty or physical violence is an essential element; or (ii)outside Zimbabwe of conduct which, if committed in Zimbabwe, would be an offence of which breach of trust, dishonesty or physical violence is an essential element; and sentenced to imprisonment for six months or more without the option of a fine or without the option of any other non-custodial punishment, unless on appeal the member’s conviction is set aside or the sentence of imprisonment is reduced to less than six months or a punishment other than imprisonment is substituted.”
University of Zimbabwe law lecturer Professor Lovemore Madhuku yesterday said Kereke’s seat became vacant the moment he was convicted.
“There are two issues to consider, first is if a member is convicted of an offence where breach of trust, dishonesty or physical violence is an essential element. In this case, rape has elements of physical violence so on that score, the MP loses the seat given that he has also been sentenced for more than six months.
“So in this case, Kereke has already lost the seat by mere conviction and sentence of more than six months. The seat has become vacant by operation of the law,” said Prof Madhuku.
Section 129 (2) states that: “A member referred to in subsection (1) (i) who has noted an appeal against his or her conviction may continue, until the final determination of the appeal, to exercise his or her functions as a member and to receive remuneration as a member, unless a court has ordered that he or she should be detained in prison pending the outcome of the appeal.”
But Prof Madhuku said the provision did not mean that Kereke retains the seat by merely noting an appeal.
“Even if he appeals but remains in jail, the seat remains vacant. So unless he gets bail pending appeal, then he can retain the seat. The seat became vacant by operation of the law through his conviction. But he can also suspend that by operation of the law because the Constitution allows restoration of that seat if he gets bail pending appeal.
“So his greatest battle now is to get bail pending appeal. A mere appeal does not affect the seat becoming vacant because by appealing he is not guaranteed of a bail pending appeal,” said Prof Madhuku.
An official at the Parliament of Zimbabwe concurred saying: “The seat became vacant by operation of the law. But he can reclaim the seat if he gets bail pending appeal.
“If he does not get bail then his conviction stands and the seat is declared vacant.”-state media

The cash strapped government of Zimbabwe failed yesterday to reach a deal with desperate civil servants, could not even provide a definite response on their July salaries, buying time to furnish them with this vital information to next week.
This comes hot on the heels of a planned two day total shutdown of the country, starting today, in which Zimbabweans are expressing their anger and dismay at the deteriorating political and economic situation.
Government needs nearly $200 million every month on salaries, with Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa last week embarking on an international wild goose chase, which is now apparent clearly yielded nothing.
Government claims to be on a civil service rationalisation programme but is failing to deal with rampant corruption of top politicians, many who are draining it of millions of dollars.
The Flag Pastor Evan Mawarire, currently behind bars, made clear demands to the Government among them was that corrupt ministers be fired.The employer’s representatives told the National Joint Negotiating Council — a platform that brings together Government and civil servants unions to the negotiating table — that mobilisation of resources had been intensified and dates would be unveiled in the next few days.
Speaking after the meeting, Apex Council team leader Mrs Cecilia Alexander said constant communication between the two parties would restore workers’ confidence in the employer. “The issue of the July salaries was on top of the agenda, and the agreement was that by next week, Government would provide us with the dates, and we will communicate that to our members,” she said.“Government also told us that it did not issue a statement, neither is it in a position to punish those who took part in last week’s strike over June salary delays.
It seems it was just the work of some overzealous individual who wanted to maximise on the situation.

Press Statement|》ZimPF Manicaland Province is making final preperations for the impending visit by our President Dr Joyce Mujuru on the 16th of July 2016 at Sakubva Stadium.
The mood is quite electric for the people of Manicaland and all our Party structures. As a Province, we are expecting a bumber crowd to send warning signals to Zanupf and its ageing leader Mugabe that the time for him to step down and pass on the torch is now. All our Ward, Constituency and Provincial structures are working flat out to continue mobilising new members to join ZimPF and attend this defining rally for the people of Manicaland. We are happy with the support the Party is receiving from the business community in the province including individuals, SMEs, vendors and churches.
Security measures are also being designed to ensure that people will come to the rally without any form of cohersion and harrassment from anyone. We have information that Zanupf youth in the province are planning to distrupt our rally but we have put in place firm security measures including informing the police on the threats from the Zanupf holigans. We are also happy that police clearance has finally been granted after almost 2 weeks of following up without success and our plans for legal recourse.
Entertainment will be provided by local groups and the main highlight of the day will come from non other than our own Hosiah Chipanga and his band. The occassion will be an opportunity for the respected musician to launch his new revolutionary songs which honour our fallen heroes and challenge the babaric murder of Cde Solomon Mujuru the late husband of our President Dr J. Mujuru. We call upon the people of Manicaland to come in full force to show solidarity to ZimPf and our President Dr Mujuru. We also hereby inform Mugabe that the people of Manicaland have totally cut ties from his despotic rule and the unforgivable sin of the stolen 15billion diamond money from our Province.
Tora Zimbabwe Tora. Vaka Nyika yeZimbabwe Murunyararo
Issued by:-
Moses Mutyasira
Secretary for Information and ICT
ZimPF Manicaland Province

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Controversial war veteran, Black Jesus, whose real name is Francis Zimuto, has written a powerful letter to President Robert Mugabe blasting him over the dismissal of former war veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Black Jesus a Mugabe protégé has suddenly turned against the nonagenarian after being incensed by the expulsion of Mutsvangwa.

“You appointed one of us, Comrade Chris Mutsvangwa to become a minister and member of politburo. Barely after six months you dismissed him because he openly exposed architects of the G-40, Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and your cousin Patrick Zhuwao.
“Comrade President where are you going with these mercenaries who do not have war credentials? Have you forgotten that we shared the same trenches of death in Mozambique?”
Mr President, you should know who your enemies are because the public will judge you by your weaknesses of protecting corrupt officials,” reads part of Black Jesus’ open letter to Mugabe.

French Ambassador Laurent Delahousse has warned the Zimbabwean government to be pre-occupied with bringing perpetrators of police brutality as evidenced by videos and pictures circulating on social media, to book, instead of making baseless accusations against his country.
He dismissed as ridiculous reports that France and some developed countries, are behind the social unrest that Zimbabwe has been experiencing, including last week’s mass stay away.
Ambassador Delahousse told journalists that calling for protests and inciting citizens to cause violence is not part of his mandate, adding that since his posting to Zimbabwe, he has been pre-occupied with presenting the country as a viable destination to French investors.
In a statement released by the Delegation of the European Union to Zimbabwe, earlier today, the E.U representatives castigated the violence and human rights abuse in the aftermath of the protests, calling for respect for the right to peaceful demonstration as enshrined in Section 59 of Zimbabwe’s constitution.
Human rights activist and church leader, Rev Useni Sibanda, said blaming what government has been calling a ‘third force’, is to ignore citizens’ collective frustration and anger over bad governance, corruption and widespread poverty.
Zimbabwe has been hit by social unrest and protests over the past recent weeks by many social groups including informal traders, public transport operators and civil servants.

Terrence Mawawa Masvingo | As Zimbabweans prepare for another two days of total shutdown the Progressive Teachers of Union(PTUZ) has demanded that President Robert Mugabe’s government stop urinating on them by feeding them with unfulfilled promises.
Angered by the inconsistent and delayed salaries as the country’s economy continues to dwindle,the PTUZ said Mugabe’s government had a total disregard of their plight by deliberately ignoring their needs and demands.
PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said the government had failed dismally failed to consider the plight of the teachers such that there was need for action against Mugabe’s administration.
Zhou said teachers were tired of being taken for granted by Mugabe’s government. “We are tired of a government which urinates on us and make us believe it is raining.What is more infuriating is the recklessness of some ministers who boast of possessing huge sums of money while teachers are suffering.”
“The way the government selectively treats its workers is shocking.The uniformed forces get first preference while teachers continue to suffer,”said Zhou. He described the advance payment of $100 as an insult to teachers. “We are fed up with being treated as second class citizens.We have since discovered that negotiations with the government have not materialised so it is now time to take action.We have been patient for a long time ,our pay dates have been shifted over and over and we have been quiet,”said Zhou.

LIVE REPORT:The harassment of Harare pastor Evan Mawarire has scored the first round of victory, for the Zimbabwean masses currently protesting against abuses from the police and the civil servants’ employer, the government.
ZimEye.com can exclusively reveal that the popular Mawarire accused who is also MDC-T deputy spokesperson, HON Thabitha Khumalo, MP, has been released without charge.
Khumalo who endured hours of turmoil and abuse early Tuesday morning with Pastor Mawarire receiving the same across in Harare, walked out of the Bulawayo police station this afternoon without charge. Khumalo told ZimEye.com (interview below) about (9) nine high ranking officers openly violated her by forcing her lawyer out of the room, before launching the interrogations which ranged from questions over her car to their random orders concerning her touring of the area where the riots occurred last week.
As the interrogation went on, thousands of MDC supporters around the country kept their fingers crossed including for instance the Oxford branch in the UK coming out to say they will stand with her against all odds.
Meanwhile, the police continuin, charged at her saying she should not have been seen in that area (where the riots occurred last week), she must have stayed at home. But Khumalo said she has both a parliamentary and constitutional role to inspect any area within her reach where the law is suspected to have been broken and where there are potential issues under debate.
They then released HON Khumalo after pacifying her saying: “You are our mother please, you must not do that, you must stay at home…”

AUDIO LOADING…

Terrence Mawawa| Masvingo Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri, who is at the helm of the most corrupt police force in the SADC region is expected to come to Masvingo this month to launch his church, it has emerged.
Impeccables sources at Masvingo Central Police Station revealed to ZimEye.com, local cops would be forced to join Chihuri’s church.
Police sources said Chihuri indicated through senior police officers he would visit Masvingo this month to introduce his church. Although Masvingo Provincial police spokesperson,Inspector Charity Mazula was not was not readily available for a comment , Police sources said Chihuri would soon visit the biggest police station in the province to introduce the church.
“We received official communication from the bosses about Commissioner Chihuri’s visit to Masvingo this month for the purpose of launching his church.Cops will be forced to attend the church service but I can tell you we are not willing to join the church.We all go to different denominations and I do not think it is fair for Chihuri to force to us to join his church.At first we thought it was an unconfirmed report but it is now official because he(Chihuri)will be in Masvingo this month.I will give you written details about Chihuri’s church,”said a female cop based at Masvingo Central Police Station.

Police officers have announced through their megaphones an unlawful curfew from 6am to 6pm and cancelled weekend school and premier soccer league games in Bulawayo. This is denying citizens their freedom of movement and recreation. WOZA is working with other civic society organisations to challenge this illegally imposed curfew in Bulawayo which is reminiscent of the Gukurahundi era.
WOZA |Since its formation, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) has conducted over 200 demonstrations, peacefully marching on the streets to voice its displeasure with the political, economic, and social state of affairs in Zimbabwe. Most Zimbabweans chose to merely watch these protests from their various conform zones, some praised, many heckled us shouting gender insults.
However WOZA wish to commend the citizens of Zimbabwe for their unified response towards the call for a stay away and national shutdown. WOZA wish to commend the non-violent nature observed only to have their peaceful action disturbed by police brutality.
WOZA note the normal government propaganda manufacturing violence on the part of citizens whilst turning a blind eye towards state sponsored and promoted violence by police officers. It was apparent from one end of the country to the other end that police officers used brutal force to deny citizens the right to express themselves and speak out about their harsh daily existence and poverty manifesting and the message that enough is enough. Violence as usual was the weapon of choice for the regime foot soldiers wearing police uniform hiding behind their shields. Despite this the citizens of Zimbabwe still delivered their message enough is enough!
The contexts assisting citizens to find their voice and act on were informed by a variety of right violations including the passing of unjust laws such as statutory instrument 64 banning of food imports; shortage of cash necessary to allow purchasing power necessary to balance out the daily survival strategies. The State and President remain dumb on what happened to 15 billion United States dollars from diamond revenue but found resources and machinery to hunt down, beat and arrest children accused of looting biscuits and sugar.
Citizens depraved of the right to peacefully confront the government, demanding the internationally guaranteed rights to expression, assembly, education, health and an adequate standard of living. Zimbabweans have the right to protest clearly stated in the constitution but instead they had to select the option of a stay at home. WOZA therefore call on citizens to continue to use peaceful and dignified ways to send their message and to participate to the fullest of their ability to keep their message un-spoilt by violence. But to build up their courage as they direct presence in peaceful protests will one day soon be necessary.
WOZA reminds the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) that their mandate is to protect citizens from violence and not to practice violence. WOZA remind the police, be they in uniform or wearing plain clothes that they are first and foremost citizens of this nation and as such they owe the people their full loyalty and support.
WOZA call upon citizens to refrain from the following:
1. To refuse to allow police officer to provoke us into violent responses
2. To refuse to allow police officers to indiscriminately arrest citizens – an injury to one is an injury to all citizens.
3. Please try to protect children from violence and do not put them in harm’s way. Do not allow police officers to occupy schools intimidating children’s as is currently the case in Bulawayo schools such as Insukamini Government School and the private high school Sizane.
4. Do not participate in looting of goods and vandalising of property – these are our buildings – our development.
5. Any police officers who conduct door to door harassment and throwing of tear gas in homes must be photographed and reported to Human Rights Commission
6. Please do not forward messages inciting violence as these messages belong to people trying to reduce our voice and lengthen our suffering?
 

CID officers who are suspected to be CIO agents yesterday hit at the MDC-T’s deputy spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo calling her for interrogation at the ZRP Law and Order on Tuesday.
The ZRP is currently panicking in the face of the upcoming #ZimShutDown 2 slated for tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday Zimbabwans will protest against the police beating of civilians which began last week.
ZimEye.com can reveal three officers who have for over 11 months to date prowled the firebrand MP, yesterday descended onto her home leaving an ominous note.
Sources in the MDC party told ZimEye.com the officers’ surnames are Moyo, Nyanhete and Nkomo respectively.
Khumalo was at the time of writing preparing to hand herself over Tuesday morning at 10am.
The timing of the CID hounding coincided with that of Harare pastor Evan Mawarire who has also been called in for questioning Tuesday morning (Also read – ZRP Begs Flag Pastor for Talks).
Mawarire is being persecuted for his calling for a stayaway this week in protest against the recent abuse of civilians countrywide which has seen three people being killed in Matebeleland. ZimEye is reliably told the targeting of MP Khumalo is part of the ZANU PF government’s belief that Khumalo is a member of Mawarire’s campaign team.
ZimEye.com later managed to obtain the following interview with MP Khumalo:

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Terrence Mawawa, Gweru|A lower Gweru woman got the shock of a lifetime when she learnt that her blood brother impregnated her daughter.
Milos Nyamanje(23) fell “madly in love” with Soneni Husami(17) his sister’s daughter and took advantage and as said ‘inserted his manhood into her body’ for several times.
The two had sexual intercourse together on several occasions until the latter fell pregnant.
The two who reside at Kent Farm, Lower Gweru appeared before Magistrate Musaiona Shortgame facing last Thursday facing incest charges.
The matter came to light when Husami fell pregnant and her mother grilled her to reveal who was responsible. Her mother got the shock of her life after being told her brother was responsible for the pregnancy.
The two said they were playing “the baboon” game which resulted in sexual engagement. It also emerged Nyamanje would call the girl several times to his room and had sex with her. The two found time to be intimate since they were both unemployed, it was said.
Magistrate Shortgame ruled that Nyamanje had done “a despicable thing” to his sister.
He sentenced Nyamanje to 15 months in prison to which nine months were suspended on good behaviour while Husami was sentenced to five years that were wholly suspended on condition she would not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

Zimbabwe veteran journalist, Lloyd Mutungamiri, is battling for life after he was shot and seriously wounded in Lesotho on Saturday night.
This was shortly after he had been interrogated by the local police concerning a story his publication ran.
The Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN) reports that Mutungamiri who is the editor of the Lesotho Times newspaper, was battling for his life at a Maseru hospital.
“Mutungamiri, who is fighting for his life at a hospital in the capital Maseru, was attacked by some unidentified assailants around 23:00 hours on Saturday, 9 July 2016,” said SAHRDN.
It continued stating, “prior to the shooting, Mutungamiri and Keiso Mohloboli, a journalist at The Lesotho Times newspaper had been interrogated on 23 June 2016 over the publication of an article entitled ‘Exit strategy for Kamoli’ in The Lesotho Times newspaper edition of 23-29 June 2016 and forced to disclose their sources.”
 
MORE LIGHT INTO THE SHOOTING OF ZIMBABWE REPORTER LLOYD MUTUNGAMIRI IN LESOTHO
LLOYD Mutungamiri is the editor of The Lesotho Times newspaper.
The Lesotho Times Issue 12 of June 23 – 29 2016 carried a story “Exit strategy for Kamoli”.
Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli is the current commander of the Lesotho Defence Forces (LDF). He plunged Lesotho into a political and security crisis by an attempted coup in 2014. He is linked to several extra judicial killings that have taken place in Lesotho including the killing of the previous army commander commander Lt. Gen Maaparankoe Mahao. He has been linked to arbitrary detention and severely torturing of some soldiers of the LDF. Some remain in custody under leg irons for close to a year now after false allegations of mutiny. The former Prime Minister Tom Tabane lives in exile in South Africa for fear of his life from the rogue military commander.
To its credit the SADC established a commission of enquiry to try and help to end the conflict in Lesotho. The SADC Commission of Inquiry on disturbances in Lesotho established that there was no evidence of mutiny, mutiny charges were merely drummed-up by the government of Lesotho. It also ordered a full investigation into the killing of former army commander Lt. Gen Maaparankoe Mahao. It also recommended that Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli must be removed from his position as army commander as he is divisive.
The recommendations of the SADC Commission of Enquiry have not been implemented by the government of Lesotho.
LLOYD Mutungamiri as editor and Miss Keiso Mohloboli as writer of the article on Kamoli’s exit from the LDF were taken to two police stations for interrogations on the 23rd June 2016, and forced to reveal their source.
On the 5th July 2016, the publisher of the Lesotho Times was charged with defamation and crimen injuria.
On 09 July 2016 LLOYD Mutungamiri was attacked and shot at his home around 23:00hrs. He is now fighting for his life at Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital in Maseru. We pray and hope that he will survive this cowardly attack.
A colleague of mine Lepeli Moeketsi who works on human rights issues in Lesotho said “These barbaric actions are a clear disregard of human rights in Lesotho. They are aimed at intimidating and suppressing media freedom in Lesotho, especially media houses which are perceived to be giving a dissenting views.”
The government of Lesotho has presided over too many cases of extra-judicial killings and serious violation of human rights and impunity. It’s time now that the SADC demands the full implementation of the SADC Commission of Inquiry Report.

Former Chitungwiza Municipality chamber secretary Ms Pricilla Vengesai has taken her former boss, town clerk Mr George Makunde to court claiming $20 000 in sexual harassment damages.
Ms Vengesai alleges that Mr Makunde made sexual advances on her on numerous occasions taking advantage of his senior position in council.
In her claim filed at the High Court and served to Mr Makunde’s lawyers yesterday, Ms Vengesai alleges that Mr Makunde dismissed her after she resisted his proposals.
“The defendant (Mr Makunde) has on numerous occasions made sexual advances through his gestures and verbal utterances towards the plaintiff (Ms Vengesai) taking advantage of his superior position at their workplace during the period between June 2012 and July 2015,” read the papers.
“During the plaintiff’s employment at the Chitungwiza Municipality, the defendant (Mr Makunde) had frustrated her by not giving her all benefits and salary and he ultimately dismissed her through barbaric means, this the defendant did to make the plaintiff pay for not giving in to his sexual moves.”
Ms Vengesai further claims that as a result, her fame, dignity and livelihood were irreparably damaged and her womanhood attacked such that the only remedy available to her were damages amounting to $20 000.
Mr Makunde’s lawyers, Matsikidze and Mucheche, are required to respond to the summons within 10 days.
Ms Vengesai became the chamber secretary for the municipality in 2012 and was sacked in September last year after she was found guilty on charges of conducting herself in a manner inconsistent with the conditions of her contract.
Before her dismissal, Ms Vengesai was suspended in August following accusations that she had mobilised councillors to pass a vote of no confidence on her superiors.
The allegations were that she wanted to topple Chitungwiza Mayor Mr Phillip Mutoti and his deputy when she called for a special meeting to tackle important issues affecting the council.-state media

SIX Zimbabweans have been arrested in Namibia on allegations of murdering a 32-year-old man after they robbed him of his wallet and cellphone, as he was walking home from a beer drink at Walvis Bay.
According to New Era newspaper, the Regional Crime Investigations Coordinator for Erongo, Deputy Commissioner Ottilie Kashuupulwa said the six Zimbabweans are expected to appear before a Walvis Bay magistrate facing murder charges.
“The men are being held in connection with the death of 32-year-old Frans Simaneka Matheus, who was killed a week ago in Tutaleni, Walvis Bay,” he said.
His body was discovered by police officers who were on patrol, and a brick stained with blood was found next to his body.
According to Deputy Comm Kashuupulwa, Matheus was at a shebeen in Tutaleni with friends that fateful Saturday evening before he decided to take a taxi home.
One of his friends allegedly gave him taxi fare but he struggled to get a taxi as it was late, and he decided to walk home.
Police believed that he was attacked and hit with a brick on the head, and robbed of his wallet and cellphone.
In April, Namibia deported 32 Zimbabwean nationals who were arrested for various offences, which include illegal entry and working illegally in that country.
The 32 were transported from Katima Mulilo to the Zimbabwean resort town of Victoria Falls by the Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs.
They were immediately arrested on arrival by authorities and slapped with a common charge of exiting the country illegally through ungazetted points.
All of them pleaded guilty to the crimes, which were committed between 2008 and February 2016.
Most of the accused persons told the court they worked as housemaids, gardeners, construction labourers and commercial sex workers, while others confessed to being employed informally in the agriculture sector.
They asked the court to be lenient with them considering that they were coming from the Namibian prison in Katima Mulilo and had endured assaults and other abuses during their incarceration.
Each of the deportees was slapped with a three-month prison term, which was wholly suspended on account of the fact that they were first offenders who had already served time in Namibia.-state media

Unable to deal with the global surge of unpopularity and free flow of information on social media, the government has threatened once again to curb what it calls “social media abuse”.
It remains unclear practically how the cash strapped government which is failing to pay its civil servants will resource such an operation to block millions of Zimbabweans from accessing and communicating, on Facebook and WhatsApp networks.
Government remains in denial as to the real cause of the crisis affecting the country, but instead lays blame on innocent Zimbabweans who communicate their daily lives and struggles through social media, as they debate and propose solutions.
Analysts say Government ministers are better placed, learning and picking solutions from the vibrancy in social media instead of harassing innocent citizens.
The above analysis is instigated by remarks made to the Zanu-PF Provincial Coordinating Committee on Saturday, by the Deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Thokozile Mathuthu who claims people who are bent on abusing social media platforms for the purposes of inciting Zimbabweans into revolting against the Government might force Government to regulate social media.
“Among us here, there are people who have joined the WhatsApp chat groups to demonise the Zanu-PF party and Government. They post false messages and images to agitate citizens.”
“This was used to coordinate the civil servants’ strike. We are saying stop it! We will be left with no choice, but to regulate the social media platforms as a lot of misinformation is peddled to incite peace loving citizens to go on strike and destroy property,” said Minister Mathuthu.
Addressing the same gathering, Zanu-PF Secretary for External Relations  Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the Statutory Instrument No. 64 of 2016 is meant to protect local industries and local jobs.

Grace Kwinjeh|Outspoken girl child rights activist Betty Makoni, has had the last laugh today, after she against all odds won a long drawn battle against Bikita West MP Munyaradzi Kereke, who has been convicted and sentenced for raping his wife’s 11 year old niece in 2010. However, Makoni says a 14 year sentence for the rape is not enough, Kereke should pay for terrorising this family too.
Makoni who raised the alarm 5 years ago, soon after the rape was “committed” told ZimEye.com in an exclusive interview,  ” this ruling was actually long overdue, given that all evidence was there, in 72 hours, the case could have been solved. The system can be unjust at times, through this case they have untangled some of the corrupt practises within the justice system.”

Makoni narrated her ordeal over the case with the recently sacked Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana, “I talked to Tomana many times and demanded that he releases the docket, he did not, this file was complete, certified by a medical doctor from government, how could government reject its own evidence, collected by its own reputable professionals?”

Makoni dismissed theories that this case suffered delays and manipulation because of the prolonged Zanu PF factionalism,” I interviewed the child myself I sent private investigators to talk to the child, but she was threatened, Kereke threatened the family. This case has nothing to do with Zanu PF, Gono is not part of this, Kereke must be very honest, this case is a clear rape one: Dad rapes daughter, this is one of them.”
Makoni urged the public in their general analysis and interpretation to see beyond Zanu PF factionalism and understand the patriarchal nature of Zimbabwean society in which rape within the family institution is rampant and at times swept under the carpet.
“I want to appeal to the public this has nothing to do with politics and the Reserve Bank, that uncle can rape you, these are just men who are pedophiles in their own right; that has nothing to do with their political parties, after political parties, you are going back home, how do you treat women?” Makoni told ZimEye.
“I pursued Kerere as a criminal, a rapist not as a politician, the child did not say Kerereke, she said uncle,” continued Makoni.
Makoni gave examples of how powerful rapists or paedophiles abuse the justice or political systems for cover up, giving an example of Obadiah Msindo, who then lied to President Robert Mugabe about her, to cover up his crimes.
Makoni further lamented that the case has taken so long before being concluded; “No justice delayed is justice denied, we should be principled and ethical.
“How can you give justice with such pain, how many people can afford private prosecution? For children who come from rural areas, do not tell me that government could not face Kereke.”
“If you rape a child you attack the state, so if the state cannot protect you what is your fate?,” asked Makoni.

A MAN watched as elephants trampled his wife to death after a falling log speared him through the thigh and pinned him to the ground in Binga District.
The jumbos destroyed a garden shed where the elderly couple was sleeping guarding their vegetables against wild animals. Julia Mutale (57) died while Siachinjili Mutale (74) of Lunga Ward sustained severe injuries on his limbs in the incident two weeks ago.
He is still admitted to Binga District Hospital.
The two victims are parents to Lunga Ward’s Councillor Sylvia Tonga Mutale.
Senior Campfire Ranger, Poster Mwinde said the tragedy left the community shocked.

“The couple was sleeping in their garden where they normally put up to guard their vegetables against wild animals when Mrs Mutale was trampled to death by the elephants.
Elephants are wreaking havoc in the ward where they are destroying vegetables forcing villagers to sleep in their gardens.
Binga Rural district’ s Chief Executive Officer, Joshua Muzamba, said : “We urge the community to desist from putting up in their gardens, especially in those areas where there are wild animals such as elephants,” he said.
Mr Muzamba said in order to deal with problem animals, council had decentralised the reaction teams to enable them to respond swiflty to distress calls.-state media

Staff Reporter| The 85 who include juveniles, accused of public violence from Mzilikazi and Makokoba in Bulawayo are now out on $80 bail each.
In an interesting twist to the rampant arrests over the past few days, the magistrate apparently lambasted the Investigating Officer for wasting the courts’ time by bringing a case that did not have any evidence and abusing the judiciary for political gain.
An appeal has been made that evidence be collected of police brutality and individual cases be taken to court. In this particular instance ZimEye reported Friday, that children had also been jailed over the weekend, in an apparent violation of their rights.

Staff Reporter|Poverty in Zimbabwe has resulted in the increase of child sex workers, who are operating mostly in Harare’s Epworth and Hopely’s poor high density residential areas.
This came out during a meeting sex workers had with the city of Harare health department and local government officials which was organised by Katswe Sisterhood in Harare recently.
“You find out that our clients are running for these young girls because they are very attractive and this is affecting us in a great deal, so we are appealing to the authorities so that they  bring back laws which prohibit children under the age of 18 years from getting into beer halls ,”Alice Chatyoka also known as Malaika told the meeting . She and other grown up commercial sex workers felt threatened by the competition the younger girls brought, albeit even though illegal.
Katswe Sisterhood director ,Talent Jumo, said they were witnessing  with concern the increase of child sex workers mostly in poor communities they are operating in.
“Our concern is that they are children, they are supposed to be in school and according to the constitution they are supposed to be supported and protected by the state and this is not happening. We ought to have safety nets for these children, the social services department should be supporting these children,” said Jumo.
“There is a lot of exploitation in the streets and you find that their clients know that these young girls have much lesser power of negotiating for safe sex and we have encountered lots of such cases where they are abused,”she said.
Jumo added, “There is also an increase in HIV infections in these young girls because of their inability to negotiate for condom use, and they do not even know about emergency contraception and they end up even falling pregnant”.
She said they had developed separate health and sexual right programmes for child sex workers where they  teach them survival skills.

Staff Reporter|Promise Mkwananzi the Tajamuka activist who was arrested over the weekend has been released on $300 bail.
The former Movement for Democratic Change youth leader, is part of a wider net-work of leaders, who recently launched protests meant to force through some government reforms, with the next shutdown  scheduled for this Wednesday and Thursday.
A petition to United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, is also in circulation, in another apparent bid to internationalise the deepening Zimbabwe crisis.
Below is the text of the petition which can found on www.change.org

 

ZIMBABWE People First (ZimPF) leader, Joice Mujuru, has indicated that if she wins the 2018 elections, she would only serve for one term and step down to join international politics.
Addressing a group of young professionals in Harare last week, the former Vice-President said she would contest the forthcoming polls only to take the country out of its current political and economic mess.
Mujuru blasted President Robert Mugabe for clinging onto power at an advanced age of 92, adding this had caused younger generations to lose respect of him.
“I am serious, a 92-year-old being insulted by such a young boy such as (Acie) Lumumba, who is a third of his age. It is not a joke. I have never experienced that in my entire life. Even my grandmother was never insulted by her great grandchildren,” she said.
Mujuru said she was planning to assemble a team of technocrats to run government business.
She added that the wealth of experience she gained during her early days in the liberation struggle up to the time she was appointed the country’s youngest Cabinet minister to when she became Mugabe’s deputy for 10 years had honed her leadership skills.
“I should know that when you say Joice, you are a transitional leader, your time is up, whether it will be after five or seven years, I should be able to say, thank you and I bow out,” Mujuru said.
“It will give me the time to say, ‘come for consultation’. I will have it all after spending 10 years as VP and then, maybe five years as a president. After all, I will be material to go for United Nations assignments. I will use all my experience as a freedom fighter, government official, VP and president. You will be trailing me with your jets for advice, whether I will be on holiday in Honolulu.”
She said former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a respected leader because he heeded the call to step down when he led the country out of war.
“He led the people from war and had brave people around him who told him that he had done a splendid job, but it was time to retire. He heeded the call and here he was, a good leader,” Mujuru said.
She said there was need to heal the country from violence and hate speech perpetrated by Mugabe and his wife, First Lady Grace Mugabe.
The former VP was hounded out of Zanu PF in 2014 on allegations of plotting to oust Mugabe. -Newsday

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary-general Victor Matemadanda last week fired a salvo at the Zanu PF G40 faction, describing it as worse than opposition leader MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
In an interview with a South Africa-based Africa News Network7 (ANN7), Matemadanda said Tsvangirai was a known enemy hence he was better than an enemy within Zanu PF whose motives were unpredictable.
Tsvangirai has since the formation of the MDC in 1999, caused sleepless nights to Zanu PF leader President Robert Mugabe due to his popularity especially during election time.
The Zanu PF leadership also accuses Tsvangirai of inviting Western countries to impose targeted sanctions on government officials, including Mugabe and his wife First Lady Grace Mugabe.
However, as Zanu PF factional fights take twists and turns, war veterans now believe that Tsvangirai was “a better rival” than those in the G40, who were allegedly sympathetic to Grace.
Other G40 proponents include Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo.
The war veterans belong to another Zanu PF faction Team Lacoste, which reportedly supports Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“G40 is the number one enemy. It is the front, the face of the imperialists that we have defeated. It is the one that is destroying Zimbabwe. We are not being accorded enough time to expose them, but I can assure you one day we will expose them. These are enemies within,” Matemadanda said.
“Tsvangirai can be a better enemy because a defined enemy is an enemy you know, but a pretender is much serious, dangerous and can destroy anyone. This is why you see everything is not moving in Zimbabwe. They have brought confusion in the party. They have brought confusion in government and in every other system.
“They have taken over the land around towns and they are leaders of land barons. They are heading every corrupt activity that you see.”
The combative war veteran described their arm together with war collaborators and ex-detainees as the foundation for Zanu PF. He described the organisations as the stumbling block to G40’s corrupt activities.
“They want to give an impression that war veterans have become the laughing stock of this society, but as long as that is not corrected Zimbabwe will continue to nose dive to where we don’t know,” he said.
Matemadanda also took a dig at Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s continued stay at the upmarket Rainbow Towers Hotel.
Since his appointment as VP in December 2014, Mphoko has been staying at the hotel, something that has invited ridicule for himself through numerous demonstrations.
“You don’t need a human rights activist telling you where you should go and sleep. Every child, African or European has a home. And you don’t expect a person of the age of Vice-
President Mphoko (to be) without a home. So people want him to go to his home,” he said.
He said it was wrong for Mphoko to equate himself with his predecessors who were humble. Newsday

 

National Vendors’ Union of Zimbabwe (Navuz) chairperson Sten Zvorwadza, who handed himself over to the police on Friday, has been released without charge.
In an interview with ZimEye.com, he said, “they are keeping a close eye on us, and they said they are going to close us in, I do not know what that means.”

“There were no charges they just questioned me for a good four to five hours and then, released me without charge, the situation is they are sure of our intentions, we are clear in our statements, that we will not retreat, that we will not show any signs of going back. Enough is enough, we must be able to maintain our standards that Zimbabwe must be free, we are an oppressed nation because we survived 37 years under a dictatorship.”
“We are determined to fight on,” said Zvorwadza who also recently hit the headlines when together with others they stormed the hotel Vice-President Phekezela Mphoko is in staying and demanded that he vacates.
When questioned by ZimEye if he supported the call to shutdown again next Wednesday and Thursday, he responded, ” I do support and Zimbabweans are supporting that, we are saying enough is enough, we are for it and we are in full support of it.”
“Indeed what we are basically saying is times of guns, knives and baton sticks is not the present, modern times support demonstrations, a war or the struggle is already won,all we need is to stand and say enough is enough,” saying peaceful protests where the way to go for Zimbabweans who in their millions stand against a few in the ruling elite.
Questioned on police brutality and videos that have gone viral on social media he said,
“I visited a child who was beaten by a policeman which is very disturbing, a child who is under two years, this is what we are fighting, that we eradicate such behaviour and attitude from our society. ”
 

The cash strapped government will once again meet civil servants, Monday, in a bid to strike a deal it hopes will avert a crisis similar to the June one, though it remained unclear what new solutions it has to offer the restive workers.
This comes at a time that renewed calls are being made for Zimbabweans across the board, to support a complete shut-down of the country next Wednesday and Thursday, in which key demands to the government are being made among them that civil servants be paid on time. Zimbabweans are also demanding an end to police brutality.
The rallying call is being driven by #Flag Pastor Evan Mawarire among other civic leaders. Mawarire released another emotional video in which he lamented police brutality, calling on the government to allow citizens to freely express themselves, after surviving a kidnap attempt by alleged CIO agents.
The Government delayed paying civil servants their June salaries, citing cash flow constraints, resulting in some of the workers downing tools last week. Apex Council chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander confirmed the meeting yesterday.
“We are meeting with our employer on Monday (tomorrow) morning to discuss the pay dates for the month of July. We want to hear what the Government has to say but our position is that July salaries must be paid before the end of the month,” she said.
Mrs Alexander said other matters affecting civil servants will also be discussed including allegations that inspectors from the Civil Service Commission were going around schools threatening teachers who participated in the stay away.
She said the representatives will also press for the adjustment of June pay dates for the rest of civil servants and pensioners. Teachers, uniformed forces and health workers have since been paid their June salaries with the rest of civil servants and pensioners expected to be paid on Thursday this week.
“We are going to push for the pay dates for the rest of civil servants to be brought forward in the name of parity. We have also received reports that civil service inspectors have been harassing and intimidating our members. That’s another issue that we have added on the agenda. Some of our members have been threatened with dismissal and we are saying no to that. The strike action was a collective decision and no individual should be persecuted. We will be tabling this matter with the Government and make it clear that we want such behaviour to stop,” she said.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Mr Takavafira Zhou said civil servants were going into the meeting to negotiate in good faith.
“We are however, concerned with the lack of time frames in our negotiation. I think it is time we have time frames in our discussions so that we can have logical disputation. Let’s give each other time frames to say if such and such a time lapses and we have not agreed then we declare a deadlock to the discussions and we pursue other options,” said Mr Zhou.

The Government has said it will regularly meet its workers to discuss pertinent issues to ensure there is harmony among the partners. State Media

Terrence Mawawa Shurugwi |A 17 year old Shurugwi teenager left the local community stunned after brutally killing his friend in a misunderstanding over a cap, he had loaned him.
The teenager struck and killed his friend with an axe following a heated argument over the cap. According to a report released by Shurugwi police,the teenager whose name was given as Hamisi gave his friend Anesu Matangamberi a cap but he took long to return it. It is understood Hamisi demanded his cap for a long time becoming frustrated by Matangamberi’s delay in returning the cap.
When Hamisi met Matangamberi last Friday,he demanded his cap again but the latter said he would return it.Angered by Matangamberi’s response,Hamisi took an axe and struck his friend several times. Matangamberi died instantly after the attack and Hamisi was later arrested.
He was remanded in custody to July 15 2016. A relative of the deceased Matangamberi said the entire family could not believe what transpired adding they were now waiting for justice to prevail. “There is nothing much I can say at the moment but we were shocked by the incident.The boys were very close to each other so we do not know what really angered Hamisi.The issue was very simple and nobody expected that to happen,”said the late Matangamberi’s relative.

Thokozani Khupe|Women constitute 52% of the Zimbabwean population yet hunger and poverty continue to wear the face of a woman 36 years after independence.
The current political and economic situation has left women vulnerable and weakened to undertake their duties as care givers to children and as the back-bone of the family institution.  It is in this light that women across the length and breadth of Zimbabwe have decided to say enough is enough, and are now organizing themselves to fight the root cause of their hunger and poverty.
#beatthepot is a campaign which is asking all women to bring their empty pots to a peaceful protest whereby women will be beating their empty pots to symbolize the hunger and poverty which they are currently experiencing under the government of President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF.
This campaign will kick off in Bulawayo on Saturday the 16th of July 2016 at the large City Hall at 9:00am. All Women of Zimbabwe are invited to rise up with pots and wooden spoons as we harness our power as women in organizing and mobilizing ourselves against the damaging effects of hunger and poverty to our families.
Wathinta abafazi, wathinta imbokodo! A hungry woman is an angry woman.
Wathinta abafazi, wathinta imbokodo! A hungry woman is an angry woman.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo |Plain clothes police details and Central Intelligence Organisation agents blocked residents of the populous Mucheke suburb from attending Joice Mujuru’s rally, last Saturday.
After being intimidated by police and state security agents a good number of residents of Mucheke suburb,the biggest residential area in the city of Masvingo could not attend the former Vice President’s rally.
Mujuru’s rally held at Mucheke Stadium attracted hundreds of people despite frantic efforts by the police and state security agents to disturb the event.
Residents of Mucheke suburb who spoke to ZimEye.com yesterday said police officers and state security agents threatened them with dire consequences. “We were threatened by plain clothes police officers and CIO agents so we could not attend the rally.”
“Scores of CIO agents and operatives moved around the streets threatening us.They told us that names of people who received ZimPf t-shirts were compiled and such people would be dealt with after the rally.Many people were afraid of going to the rally as a result of intimidation,”said a resident of Mucheke A suburb.
It is also understood several vehicles were intercepted by the police and CIO agents also threatened villagers in Gutu and Bikita districts. The police also threatened residents of Rujeko and Target Kopje suburbs respectively.

Staff Reporter |First Lady Grace Mugabe has described Zimbabweans as people who have big brains that have not been put to any use.
Busy laughing at her own joke while telling it, Grace told of an auction of brains that belonged to an American, Chinese and a Zimbabwean.
According to her the American’s brain was auctioned first for $75, then came Chinese brain which was auctioned for $25 while the Zimbabwean’s brain went for a whooping $1 million dollars.
Explaining her price variances, she said the Chinese’s brain went for a song because it had been completely used up in thinking and coming up with all the technology in the world.
The American’s brain also went very cheap because it had also been used up in too much thinking coming up with the building of probably the best country in the world.
The American’s brain also went very cheap because it had also been used up in too much thinking coming up with the building of probably the best country in the world.
The First Lady told the joke bursting out laughing more than the people listening to her joke.
Realising that people had not generally accepted nor appreciated her joke she tried to turn serious explaining that she meant that Zimbabweans need to redirect their concentration to technological advancement as the country was lagging behind in terms of technology.
Ironically, It was lost on Grace that her husband President Robert Mugabe has been ruling the country for the last thirty six years.
Mugabe took over the country from British rule in 1980 when the country was amongst the most developed African states and brought it down to be one of Africa’s worst cases.

Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko has threatened to crush protesters who he labeled ‘snakes’ with military force.
Mphoko has been under pressure to vacate a top class hotel he lives in with protesters giving him no rest at the Rainbow Towers Hotel. The Vice-President stubbornly disregarded the testimonies and cries of those he heard from during his tour of Beitbridge, which has been rocked by serious upheavals over government’s new import laws.
“We will look at our own ways of solving such problems…we have security forces. We cannot keep snakes growing in our backyards,” Mphoko said.
He was speaking to government heads of departments, councillors and other local leaders in Beitbridge where he went to get “first hand” information on the causes of the riots that rocked the border town on July 1.
Mphoko said there was a possibility of a hidden sponsor to the riots.
Mphoko heard that the riots were started by very young children and not people that were arrested by police.
Councillor Max Chikova told him that the riots were sparked by the recently-introduced regulation Statutory Instrument 64/2016 restricting goods imports.
“People are afraid to say the truth but the recent import laws have completely spelt doom on Beitbridge people who survive from the border,” he said.
Chikova, a Zanu PF councillor for Beitbridge Town Council, urged government to consider levying duty on goods instead of banning imports.
“Everyone is not happy; they are crying because of the new law. Even government is not making money; its losing revenue because people are sidestepping the border and smuggling goods,” Chikova said.
…
Mphoko later toured the town where he was shown the burnt Zimbabwe Revenue Authority warehouse which was still smouldering, looted shops and destroyed traffic lights.
He donated $300 to Sarina Ndou, a woman in her 70s whose shop was looted by protesters.

President Robert Mugabe was reportedly livid on Friday after spending several hours in a closed-door meeting with members of an apostolic sect where he was briefed about the alleged involvement of senior army officials in an internal dispute tearing one of the largest churches in Mashonaland Central apart.
Mugabe was in the province to address Zanu PF factionalism, but the case of the abduction of Vadzidzi VaJesu Apostolic Church founder, 94-year-old Aaron Mhukuta took most of his time.
The 92-year-old leader was forced to address a rally that was scheduled for the afternoon at Chipadze Stadium in the evening after the meeting with the members of the sect dragged for several hours.
Mhukuta, also known as Mudzidzi Wimbo, was allegedly abducted by church zealots who were reportedly helped by some top military officials.
At the rally, Mugabe lashed out at soldiers, saying they should desist from using guns to force people to act against their will in a free Zimbabwe.
He chronicled how the soldiers had ruthlessly attacked Mudzidzi Wimbo’s son, chief superintend Gadjwet (Gomo) Mhukuta who tried to free his father from the shrine where he was being held hostage by his assistants.
“Guns cannot lead the party. The party is bigger than the gun. We want this to be known. Others from the military might have forgotten this. We should not deploy soldiers to harass our people,” Mugabe told the Zanu PF supporters.
He said people should desist from using the army and police to destabilise people for their selfish ends.
Wimbo is well-known for his prophesy in 1957 that independent Zimbabwe would be led by a man with the name of an angel, Gabriel, which came to pass when Mugabe became the first post-colonial leader in 1980.
Well-placed sources yesterday said the developments had taken a political turn and Mugabe had to intervene after Gadjwet pleaded with him.
The sources said the issue had taken a Zanu PF succession angle and sucked in the military, which is reportedly backing Vice-President Emerson Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed Mugabe.
The shrine had virtually been turned into an army barrack, the sources said, and also had a training camp inside for the national youth service.
Gadjwet, the sources said, was attacked because he along with one of his brothers were first accused of supporting former vice-president Joice Mujuru, and then the G40 faction in Zanu PF after the ouster of the Zimbabwe People First leader.
The saga has allegedly sucked in Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander general Constantine Chiwenga and major general Douglas Nyikayaramba, a chief of staff in the army.
Nyikayaramba is reportedly a member of the church and an alleged Mnangagwa loyalist, while Chiwenga is reported to have frequented the shrine but has not acted on the presence of the soldiers.
According to the sources, things started going wrong at Mudzidzi Wimbo’s shrine when his six assistants allegedly killed a Gwanda prophet, Jacob Zifungo, a former police officer at the “holy site” in March 2014.
The six were arrested and are on bail but things got to a head when Mudzidzi Wimbo’s sons ordered them not to set their foot at the shrine, accusing them of being murderers.
The six, with the alleged help of soldiers, then allegedly abducted Mudzidzi Wimbo and ordered his children never to set foot at the shrine.
“For close to two years now, Madzibaba Wimbo’s children have not met their father,” one of the church members who declined to be named said.
“Gadjwet went to the shrine to try to rescue his father but was beaten by six soldiers who are now facing murder charges.
“The police came to try to rescue Gadjwet under the command of a Mt Darwin dispol, one Mugonda, but they were overpowered by the soldiers.
“This forced Mudzidzi Wimbo’s daughters led by Spentula Gomo to storm the shrine to try to rescue their brother, but they were also bashed.”
The source added: “One of Wimbo’s sons, a professor of Immunology, Exnevia Gomo, called Nyikayaramba who is also a church member.
“He was in Murehwa but in one and half hours, he was at the shrine. But surprisingly, instead of helping the battered superintendent, he gave orders to the soldiers who were in the shrine to disperse the people who were demanding to get into the shrine to rescue Gadjwet.
“The soldiers fired in the air to disperse the angry villagers. In no time, soldiers put on their army regalia and started toy-toying around the shrine, threatening the angry villagers. There is no way Nyikayaramba can be distanced from the developments at the shrine,” the source said.
During the early stages of the problem, Mudzidzi Wimbo’s children reportedly approached Mnangagwa’s office for help. They were assisted by the vice-president’s secretary who tried to bring out the zealots, holding Mudzidzi Wimbo hostage.
They were reportedly led by Zex Pamacheche, Shephard Chingwena and one army colonel. Efforts to reconcile the warring factions failed to achieve results and exactly a month after the efforts, Mudzidzi Wimbo was abducted.
“A month after Mudzidzi Wimbo’s abduction, Mnangagwa visited the shrine. His visit did not resolve the problem. The prophet allegedly said the VP needed a lot of help,” said a source.
Mnangagwa was filmed performing rituals at Wimbo’s shrine. Standard

A complaint submitted to ZimEye.com following an article on a woman hospitalised after a 4 hour continuous sex session with her husband, has opened a debate on whether this was consensual sex or she was raped. (Click here to read the article)
We ask our valued readers and contributors to state their opinion that she was:

1. – Raped
2. – Not Raped At All

Staff Reporter| First Lady Grace Mugabe has echoed her husband’s sentiments that the shut down Zimbabwe stay away held last Wednesday had an effective negative impact on the state administration.
Contrary to earlier contestation by the Mugabe controlled media that the mass stay away had no impact at all on government, the First Lady lamented at the organisers of the stay-away saying they were destroying the economy by calling on Zimbabweans to shut down the country.
The care free talking First Lady quickly attributed the shut down to opposition political parties and Western influence accusing them of trying to take advantage of the economic challenges faced by Zimbabweans to effect regime change in the country.
However, contrary to her husband who implored the police and state security forces to stop brutalising people demonstrating to express their displeasure at the economic situation in the country, the First Lady warned that government will be ready to deal with all those l found responsible for bringing the country to a halt.
Grace said this addressing ZANU PF delegates to the Half Year Harare Province Interdistrict Summit where she was guest speaker. She is expected to go around the country addressing all the other province’s half year summits.
Early this year, War Veterans and some ZANU PF structures implored on President Robert Mugabe to stop the free speaking First Lady holding provincial rallies where she was going around the country attacking anyone she felt was against her ambitious rise to national politics.
Traditionally the summits are low key events in the ZANU PF calendar presided over by the provincial chairpersons raising suggestions that the First Lady has managed to hijack the events to her advantage.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has imported US$240 million in cash since March as it moves to address the cash shortages plaguing the local market.
However, it is understood that the market needs more than US$320 million per month to easily transact.
The central bank is currently pushing for a shift from cash transactions to plastic money. Deliberately using plastic money is thought to ease the demand for physical US dollars.
The strictures and bureaucracy involved in importing cash – often associated with anti-money laundering rules and regulations – makes the whole process extremely difficult.
Also, international banking regulations limit the amount of cash that can be imported per day.
“We have been importing between US$10 million and US$15 million per week since the beginning of March to ease the cash shortages . . .
“We also need measures to deal with fiscal consolidation, reduce the cost of doing business, improvement of the investment climate and the promotion of free banking are therefore necessary to promote production and confidence within the economy,” RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya said.
He acknowledged that importing cash was not an overnight process as banks were subjected to Customer Due Diligence (CDD) by their correspondent banks.
A correspondent bank is a financial institution that provides services on behalf of another, equal or unequal financial institution.
Government has already started reducing the civil service wage bill.
According to the latest report from the Auditor General, Government employs more than 500 000 workers. More than 22 000 vacant posts, except those deemed critical, have since been abolished. The cost-cutting measures within the civil service are expected to save more than US$400 million annually.
“On the long-term solution, all we need is to produce, produce and produce goods and service so that we can export to other countries and satisfy the local consumption.
“This will allow us to deal with our trade deficit of around US$2,5 billion annually since 2009. All we need is to have good investment climate and ease of doing business policies to lure investors in our country which has so much potential in terms of investments.
“The whole formula needs to be rest for meaningful production to take place and if we provide all these solutions we are home and dry,” he said.-state media