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:

…audio loading

 

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

State Media Report- United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Harry Thomas and his French counterpart, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse, helped engineer last week’s civil disturbances in Harare and Bulawayo, Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo has said. Minister Chombo said the two were working through dodgy groups and leveraging on social media to foment civil disobedience and ultimately destabilise Zimbabwe.
His National Security counterpart, Minister Kembo Mohadi told The Sunday Mail, “We will continue to gather more intelligence on the disturbances.”
A group going by the name “Tajamuka/Sesijikile”, fronted by former MDC-T youth leader, Promise Mkhwananzi, has been calling for civil disturbances through social media while National Vendors’ Union of Zimbabwe president, Stern Zvorwadza has also been on a crusade to foment an uprising against the Government.
Pastor Evan Mawarire who trades under the banner “#ThisFlag” has been openly propagating an anti-Government sentiment mainly on social media platforms WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook.
Sources told The Sunday Mail that Ambassador Thomas has met civil organisations representatives almost weekly since his posting to Harare in December 2015.
On May 6, 2016; Mr Thomas met Mawarire at his official residence, and later tweeted, “Wonder if #Zimbabwe’s #ThisFlag movement will spread to the US and other nations.”
Ambassador Delahousse is also believed to have met Mawarire several times.
Minister Chombo said Government has intelligence linking the French and American embassies in Harare to last week’s sporadic disturbances.
The Sunday Mail could not determine what action Government would take.
“We have gathered from our intelligence that there is the involvement of Western embassies in all these disturbances that have been taking place.
“The evidence that we have gathered so far shows that the French Embassy in Harare and other Western embassies are part of this plot as part of their regime change machinations.”
Dr Chombo challenged the embassies to deny it. “We know for certain that these groups are receiving sponsorship from these embassies. My challenge to them is to come out in the public to deny this. I know they cannot do so because they know the truth.
“I also want to challenge the protestors who are behind this violence to go and protest at the French embassy and the United States embassy for the sanctions that the West imposed on Zimbabwe.
“Of course, they will never do that because they know that the Americans are their sponsors. Any element or individual who causes unnecessary chaos and mayhem will have nobody else to blame except themselves.
‘‘The duty of police is to maintain law and order, and they will carry out this task with their full might.” Last week, Harare and Bulawayo witnessed sporadic disturbances following calls by shadowy elements for workers not to report for duty and to sabotage certain businesses.
Several characters were arrested, and are being charged with public violence. The incidents appeared co-ordinated as they began with protests at Beitbridge Border Post over the import restrictions recently introduced by Government.
Authorities quickly pointed to a third force, with the Cross Border Traders’ Association distancing itself from the skirmishes that saw vehicles and a Zimra warehouse being burnt and buildings stoned.
That became more apparent as photographs of chasracters with T-shirts emblazoned with the hashtag Tajamuka emerged. Images from disturbances in Harare days later also show “protestors” wearing similar T-shirts.

The suspended Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana who was arrested this Friday, was released Friday night.
Tomana was released after the police recorded a warned and cautioned statement at the Harare Central Police Station.
According to Tomana’s defence counsel Mr Tazorora Musarurwa, the police are finalising their investigations and Tomana will be charged on the 20th of July on the day he will be back in court for the trial of the initial matter in which he is facing charges of abuse of office.
Following recommendations by The Judicial Service Commission, a commission of inquiry was set up.
Members of the tribunal were sworn in by President Robert Mugabe on Thursday this week to investigate Tomana on his ability to continue holding office of the prosecutor general.
This was after the Constitutional Court ordered him to issue a certificate of private prosecution in the case of Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke.
The case was denied prosecution due to lack of incriminating evidence by the National Prosecuting Authority.-state media

Fed up civil servants who staged a crippling three-day nationwide strike earlier this week over the government’s continued failure to pay them their salaries on time have warned of a fresh industrial action after the State launched a witch-hunt to flush out those who were not reporting for work.
This comes after Zimbabwe was paralysed by a massive general strike on Wednesday which was called to protest the worsening economic situation in the country, with millions of people heeding the stay-away call.
The civil servants’ representative body, the Apex Council, warned yesterday of “stern action” against “elements” whom it accused of victimising its members — who did not report to work, either because they had no money for transport, or in most cases had no transport on Wednesday when the nation heeded the “Shutdown” call.
The council singled out civil service inspectors, accusing them of harassing and intimidating government workers.
“The Apex Council and Health Apex Council take exception to reports of harassment and intimidation of members by so-called Civil Service Inspectors, with some among our leadership having reported of being followed by suspicious elements.
“The Apex Council will not hesitate to act against whoever harasses or intimidates the generality of its membership and leadership for exercising their constitutional right to disagree,” the Apex Council and Health Apex Council said in a joint statement.
Rattled by the industrial action by teachers, nurses and medical doctors, and later the shutdown, the government was eventually forced to bring forward pay dates for the striking workforce.
The president of the militant Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Takavafira Zhou, also raised concern over the intimidation of teachers, describing the alleged harassment as an attempt by the government to criminalise the profession.
“Any witch-hunting or attempt to penalise any members who were on industrial action must be met with group solidarity and further action. An injury to any worker in Zimbabwe is a threat to all workers in Zimbabwe.
“Government should also be reminded that while we are interested in logical disputation and engagement, we would appreciate time framed negotiations rather than begging and negotiation in infinity,” he said.
But the Civil Service Commission (CSC) defended the witch-hunts, saying it had the right to monitor employees.
“Please be advised that Public Service Commission is the employer of civil servants and it has a constitutional right to monitor the efficient delivery of service.
“The functions of the commission as stated in Section 203 of the Constitution include appointments of qualified and competent persons to hold posts in the civil service, fix and regulate conditions of service, exercise disciplinary powers, investigate and remedy grievances of members of the civil service.
“The commission is also mandated to implement measures to ensure effective and efficient performance within, and the general well-being of the civil service as well as ensure that members of the civil service carry out duties efficiently and impartially.
“The entire civil service keeps clock-in clock-out registers for all its members. From time to time the employer examines these registers as a way of ensuring that members of the civil service carry out their duties efficiently,” it said in a statement.
But Zhou said in light of the intimidation, they would continue to engage the government to come up with common ground over labour rights, even though they were not optimistic about coming out with a favourable result.
“Comrades, let’s remain ready to sharpen our instruments of combat, wear our industrial gear and choose the battleground. We should remain ready to fight another battle as a united front should the government fail to pay July salaries in July,” he said.
The government is said to be spending up to 90 percent of its revenues on civil service salaries.

National Vendors’ Union of Zimbabwe (Navuz) chairperson Stern Zvorwadza has handed himself over to the police.
 
As this occured, the arrest and harassment of activists including Promise Mkwananzi, has been widely condemned.
This follows reports that Zvorwadza was wanted for his alleged involvement in demonstrations held countrywide this week.
His lawyer, Obey Shava of Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners, confirmed Zvorwadza presented himself to the police yesterday. “He was today (yesterday) summoned to the police for his involvement with the masses who demonstrated this week. It is surprising why my client is wanted by the Law and Order Department.
“Zimbabweans are protected by the law to protest. Protests are above board as long as they are peaceful,” Shava said, adding that his client had not yet been formally charged.
In an interview with the media, another activist implicated in mobilising Zimbabweans in the demonstrations through social media, Promise Mkwananzi of the #Tajamuka/Sesijikile fame, also presented himself to the police, but insisted he had not committed any crime.
“I am currently consulting with my lawyers and am going to present myself to the Law and Order Department today (yesterday),” Mkwananzi said.
“I am handing over myself to the police with a clear conscience because everything that I am doing is above board.”
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Christopher Mushohwe on Thursday warned that government was cracking down on “ghosts who have been behind inflammatory messages on social media”.
#Thisflag frontman Evan Mawarire, Mkwananzi and Zvorwadza were some of the individuals suspected to be behind the countrywide demonstrations.
Mkwananzi, however, said there was nothing amiss about mobilising fellow citizens through social media to ensure an accountable leadership.
“Calling on President (Robert Mugabe) to resign is lawful. We are not doing anything criminal,” he said, adding that he was ready to reproduce in court any material that he generated on social media.
“We are peaceful citizens who have not in any way generated anything that promotes violence,” he said, pointing out that this was the reason why he was not part of the protesters intending to march to State House over the weekend.

Top researcher and scientist, Moses Murandu’s father has died.
The popular Birmingham based academic’s father, Mr Aron Majazi Munawa, passed on just 6 days after his birthday on the 19th June in Mutare.
He was 84 years old. (ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)

Elder Munawa who leaves two sons, a daughter, 18 grand children and 12 great grand children, is credited for mentoring Dr.Murandu to his career success as an award winning medical researcher.
Mr. Munawa was on the 23rd June, mourned by army generals and hailed as a national hero for his contribution to a national army general and an internationally renowned researcher.
He was saluted while lying in his coffin shortly before being laid to rest.

YARD(Youth Advocacy for Reform) leader, Temba Mliswa is set to take over the Norton constituency previously held by expelled War Veterans leader Christopher Mutsvangwa, ZimEye.com can reveal.
Sources close to Mliswa told ZimEye the man who is popular in Mashonaland West, has set his eyes for the parliamentary seat as an independent candidate.
Many MDC supporters and War Veterans are prepared to support Mliswa, indications showed during the week. Some from the area which he has been pivotal in setting up the Kingsdale Cooperative which has 3000 stands, said they will throw their arms up for Mliswa.
The expelled Mutsvangwa had two years before won the seat through a paltry 1,000 votes. But Mliswa is set to draw over 3,000 voters from the area due to his popularity in the province where he was once ZANU PF chairman, it emerged.
“As war veterans, we recognise Temba Mliswa as a true son of the soil”, one war veteran was heard stating in a recorded video clip speaking of the man who was also won the hearts of many MDC supporters.
When contacted Thursday night, Mliswa said he was humbled by the support.
“Indeed I am still humbled by the support,” he said.
He continued,  “Norton also needs to rid itself of ZANU PF”, he added.

Information just received through ZimEye.com sources in Masvingo state that members of the Police Internal Security Intelligence, CIO and ZANU PF youth are Nicodemously mobilising to destabilise the Joice Mujuru rally scheduled for Masvingo this morning.
Very reliable sources around the plan revealed to ZimEye.com that the CIO advised the police on Thursday to cancel the rally an order which the police declined to effect.
Instead police increased the number of officers to man the town through the weekend.
The CIO is said to have wanted to take advantage of what was termed “the instability” in the area to make sure that no People First activities take place.
Following the police refusal, the CIO is now reportedly facilitating the mobilisation of ZANU PF youth to storm the rally and destabilise it before Mujuru arrives.
The plan is that once as there is disorder at the gathering, police would immediately storm in and call off the meeting.
Mujuru is expected to get her biggest crowd ever from the Masvingo province where the party has got a huge following. The following comes through the influence of party national organising secretary Dzikamai Mavhaire who hails from the area.
In recent weeks, Mavhaire held a ward rally where he addressed over 3000 people in attendance a figure that way surpassed expectations.

President Robert Mugabe yesterday fell below mortal levels in his reasoning as he blamed the current cash crisis on the European Union.
While urging civil servants to be patient on salary payments, Mugabe said the West has caused the current national chaos.
Analysts say that the cash crisis has been caused by foreign payments chief of them Mugabe’s travel expenditure.
Mugabe has been blowing over $4million dollars for each trip every time he leaves Zimbabwe for overseas destinations, Finance guru and Zimbabwe’s top barrister, Tendai Biti, has revealed. Speaking in a forum discussion on the VOA channel, Biti said Zimbabwe’s corporate purse is at Mugabe’s mercy. “There are some people, the President for example, each time he goes out, 4 million goes out, that’s not sustainable for an economy like this,” said Biti last month.
Added to Mugabe’s expenditure is the government bill on brand vehicles for MPs and Ministers at every change-over. The vehicles which cost over $50,000 each are all foreign made and imported using money from the state’s purse, a squeeze that will soon see the country crumble by August this year.
But Mugabe yesterday said government cannot be blamed adding that the challenges were only temporary. He also accused the El Nino phenomenon for it all.
Mugabe uttered these words while addressing Zanu-PF supporters at Chipadze Stadium in Bindura yesterday evening after holding a meeting with family members and followers of the Johane Masowe apostolic sect led by Madzibaba Wimbo at Bindura University of Science Education.
Mugabe held a separate meeting with Mashonaland Central legislators and traditional leaders.
He said Zimbabwe was faced with challenges ranging from illegal sanctions imposed by the European Union, the US, to an El Nino-induced drought.
“Ndochienda pakuti muri kunzwa vamwe vachingochema kuti hatisi kubhadharwa; vanosevenza muHurumende, hatisi kubhadharwa nenguva! Ichokwadi varikunonokerwa . . . dzimwe nguva nesvondo, dzimwe nguva nemasvondo maviri, dzimwe nguva ingave nemwedzi kana nemwedzi miviri, vasina kubhadharwa.

A BULAWAYO woman allegedly stabbed her husband twice on the chest with a knife, doused the body with paraffin and burnt it beyond recognition to conceal the crime.
Lakela Sweswe (23) allegedly killed Anifa Mlauzi on June 8 at their home in Buena Vista suburb just after Rio hotel following a fight in which he accused her of infidelity.
She told investigators that she stayed with the body for two days before setting it on fire.
Sweswe allegedly went to live with her in-laws in Kensington suburb for close to three weeks after the incident.
She did not tell them she had killed their son, investigators said.
Police arrested her last Friday after a neighbour stumbled on Mlauzi’s remains while looking for chickens that had strayed to the couple’s home.
One of the neighbours, Mr Fedious Sibanda, said: “It’s shocking that a 23-year-old woman has the guts to brutally kill someone and stay with the body for days.”
Another neighbour Mrs Sipho Ncube said the couple always fought whenever Mlauzi came home drunk.
“The whole community knows that there would be a fight whenever he came home drunk. What is sad is that the couple has very young children. The other child is almost two-years-old while the other one is nine months old,” she said.
Sweswe’s friend, Mrs Charity Ndlovu, said Sweswe bade her goodbye after burning her husband’s body, but was mum on the gruesome killing.
“She didn’t seem disturbed when she left. She just told us that she was following her husband to his workplace in Nkayi. I didn’t suspect anything because her husband used to be out of the city for close to three weeks. There was nothing amiss with his absence. I thought she was following her husband,” said Mrs Ndlovu.
She blamed Mlauzi for the couple’s marital problems, saying he was very jealous and did not want to see his wife close to anyone.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the murder calling on members of the public to desist from violence.
“I can confirm the arrest of a woman who allegedly killed her husband during a domestic dispute. We’re calling on members of the public to avoid engaging in violence when faced with problems,” said Insp Simango.
She said members of public should seek counselling from elders, community leaders, churches or the police to solve problems.
Meanwhile, Sweswe appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa facing a murder charge. She was not ask to plead and remanded in custody to July 20.-state media

There was daylight drama yesterday when the Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana was arrested while leaving the Harare Magistrates’ Courts after winning his latest court application.
While in celebratory mood after forcing a magistrate presiding over his trial to recuse himself, Tomana was caught and handcuffed in full view of everyone.

Tomana, who was suspended on Thursday to pave way for a disciplinary hearing on various charges of improper conduct, is now facing five more charges of criminal abuse of office, according to his lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu who confirmed the arrest.
“He has been arrested by the same officers from Law and Order who initially arrested him on the charges he is currently on trial for,” said Adv Mpofu.
“They added five more charges of criminal abuse of office for things he is alleged to have done when he was still the Attorney-General.”
The five charges involve criminal trials of Bright Matonga and former Zupco board chairman Professor Charles Nherera, among others.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the arrest.
“He has been arrested and is facing five counts of criminal abuse of office as a public officer or alternatively defeating the course of justice,” she said.
Tomana was last night still assisting police with investigations and will appear in court soon.
In November last year, Tomana was at the centre of a storm for allegedly abusing the court process to rubber-stamp the acquittal of Prof Nherera in November 2009, who was charged with corruption.
The abuse reportedly occurred at a time Tomana was Attorney-General.
Prof Nherera, who had served a two-year prison term, was acquitted by the High Court barely a year after Tomana was appointed AG.
Following his acquittal, Prof Nherera sued businessman Mr Jayesh Shah for malicious prosecution and demanded damages to the tune of $400 000.
But Mr Shah, through his lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri, applied for absolution from the instance and Justice Nicholas Mathonsi, in a judgment, accepted Adv Uriri’s argument that Prof Nherera was “crucified and resurrected by the same office”, and allowed the application.
Tomana invoked provisions of Section 35 of the High Court Act to quash Prof Nherera’s conviction.
Under the Act, the quashing of an appeal is made upon the prosecution consenting to the appeal.
The court noted that Tomana was the legal advisor to Zupco, which was involved in the criminal prosecution of Prof Nherera at the time, as well as his legal representative in addition to being a board member of Zupco.
Further, Justice Mathonsi noted that Tomana testified in defence of Prof Nherera during trial and made it clear that he had no case to answer.
On Thursday, Tomana, through his lawyers, queried why Harare provincial magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe, who dealt with his several initial applications, was now the trial magistrate in the case in which he is accused of ordering the release of two men — Solomon Makumbe and Silas Pfupa — suspected of trying to petrol-bomb the First Family’s Alpha Omega Dairy Farm in Mazowe.
Tomana said Mr Chikwekwe heard and assessed evidence during bail application and several interlocutory applications.
In his ruling, Mr Chikwekwe said: “The application was merited. I have dealt with several applications concerning the accused person and in the best interest of justice, I formally recuse myself and the matter will be dealt with by another magistrate.”
He, however, did not disclose the name of the magistrate to take over the case and remanded the matter to July 20.
On Thursday, President Mugabe gave a disciplinary tribunal set up to determine Tomana’s suitability to continue holding office three months to conclude the matter starting on July 25.
The President appointed Advocate Ray Goba acting PG during the three months of the disciplinary proceedings.
The same day the President swore in the tribunal, comprising chairperson retired High Court Judge Justice Moses Chinhengo, University of Zimbabwe Dean of Law Mr Emmanuel Magade and Harare lawyer, Ms Melina Matshiya at State House in Harare.
President Mugabe, in terms of Section 187(3) of the supreme law of the country, must establish a tribunal upon receiving recommendations from the Judicial Service Commission.
In terms of Section 187(4), the tribunal must consist of at least three members.
The chairperson of the tribunal must be someone who once served as a judge of the Supreme or High Court.-State Media

Staff Reporter | Robert Mugabe’s actions of bowing to pressure to pay civil servants within 24 hours on Wednesday, are still not enough as he has avoided numerous other key demands such that Zimbabwe desperately needs another #ShutDownZim so to press the second gear.  Mugabe might have listened on salaries, but he is still abusing citizens, abducting and arbitrarily arresting many for dubious charges, while continuing in other acts which violate the supreme law of the country.

A distraught but resilient Evan Mawarire has just made a public broadcast venting his frustration over the State’s heavy handedness in dealing with the people’s grievances.
Mawarire who has for months run the popular #thisflag campaign, was nearly abducted on Friday afternoon by apparent Central Intelligence Organisation operatives. Visibly shaken but full of resolve, the man who has become the face of Zimbabwe’s struggle, Nelson Mandela style, spoke against violence, but urged citizens on, “I know it’s tough, but we must be tougher.”
He continued, “tonight has been one of those tough nights some men tried to abduct me against my will. some other men have been arrested, Tajamuka, what we are trying to do is build our country,” he said.
He went on, “Mr Government, why can you not extend a hand that says I agree or says lets discuss? Why must you always extend handcuffs to say I want to lock you away and you are my enemy when we disagree? That is the problem that we have in Zimbabwe, that when one questions they are labeled an enemy, just because they have challenged you on something that must change; otherwise we are going nowhere,” said Mawarire with his Zim flag draped around his neck.
He outlined three key demands to the embattled government: fix corruption, injustice and poverty.
“Fire corrupt ministers deal with them, too many police on roadblocks taking money, teachers, civil servants, must be given all their money, pay them on time,” he said.
He warned government, “If you do not respond to us we are going to shut down again; Citizens I want to ask you a favour, I know that we did this last week, let us try to do it again I plead with you citizens, this is the only way that this government will understand,” as he made another call to action next Wednesday and Thursday.
“We want a Zimbabwe that we can be proud of, a Zimbabwe that can welcome back its citizens from abroad to find a place to build their nation,” he said.
This is not the first time Mawarire has been targeted. After being a leading proponent of the shutdown campaign, he claimed Thursday that intelligence operatives were trailing him.
“But the action from the citizens is amazing. The citizens have united and spoken with one voice. We know it has sent a message to them (Mugabe and Zanu PF) already, as seen by their panic when they blocked WhatsApp,” he said.

A popular Bulawayo socialite Mr Bhekimpilo Bhebhe was last night killed in probably one of the most horrific road accidents on the accident prone Gwanda – Bulawayo road twenty five kilometres from Gwanda town.
“The car was traveling at a very very high speed towards the curve and there was a sudden burst the next thing we saw the car flying over the fence hitting hard on the ground and spinning in the air before hitting on a tree,” an eye witness described the accident.
The two people who were in the car were thrown out of the vehicle with Bhebhe dying on the spot. The driver of the vehicle is reportedly fighting for his life at the United Bulawayo Hospitals.
Police in Gwanda confirmed the fatal accident without giving details.
The eyewitnesses however blamed the police and emergency services for taking too long to attend to the scene. The shocked villagers said it took the police and ambulance from Gwanda just twenty five kilometres away two hours to attend to the accident.
“The man who died, passed on right in front of us while we looked on. He was the better off the two because he was initially able to try to stand up and talk but was bleeding too much until he passed on before the ambulance arrived from Gwanda,” lamented one eyewitness.
Authorities at Gwanda hospital would not comment on the matter.

A HOOKER plying her trade in the Harare Avenues area has been arrested for allegedly robbing her client of over $4000.
Tracy Tsandukwa, 20, pleaded not guilty when she appeared before Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe charged with robbery.
She was remanded out of custody to August 3 on US$50 bail. Allegations are that on July 4 this year at Lido Court 7 at corner Seventh Street and Selous Avenue, Tracy seduced and lured the complainant into having sex with her at Lido Court.
After the two had sex, she teamed up with her two accomplices, locked the door and forcibly took cash amounting US$4030 from his pockets tearing his trousers in the process.
Her accomplices are still at large as they ran away after committing the offence.
“He had a misunderstanding with the other two girls who then took his money just that I was the one who had brought him home but I am not the one who took his money that is even why I did not run away,” said Tracy.
Prosecutor Sebastian Mutiziwa appeared for the State. – state media

Terrence Mawawa| Masvingo  In a desperate bid to portray the just ended stay away as a total failure, the state controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) made a glaring factual error, in its reportage.
The ZBC was left with egg on the face after broadcasting a file tape claiming normal lessons were conducted at the government run Ndarama High School in Masvingo.
ZBC Masvingo bureau chief Josephine Mugiyo,did a voice over on a file tape claiming the state broadcaster’s news crew was at Ndarama High School on Thursday.
In a hilarious twist to the broadcast, senior staff members from the school have argued that the file tape used by ZBC was recorded a few years ago and the public broadcaster’s bureau chief never set a foot at the school Ndarama on Thursday.
In a desperate attempt to portray the national strike as a fiasco,the ZBC reported everything was normal at Ndarama High Schools and scores of people were interviewed to authenticate the fabricated story.
Although Ndarama High School head Mrs Makausi could not be reached for a comment,staff members at the school maintained the ZBC news team did not record the video footage on Thursday.
“We were surprised by the video footage that was shown on ZBC TV. The footage was a file tape so it is naive for the ZBC to claim normal lessons were conducted at Ndarama High School.
The incident is very embarrassing because we expect the state broadcaster to be answerable to the people,”said a senior staff member at the school.             Former Ndarama High School students also slammed ZBC on facebook ,arguing the public broadcaster should apologise for lying to the whole nation.

Staff Reporter|After a resounding peoples victory on Wednesday’s total shut-down, the panicking state has turned its full wrath against children some as young as ten years old, in a serious case of political backlash.

It seems the ruling Zanu PF party is totally intimidated by these youngsters, whose constitutional rights have been breached,  as they remain incarcerated in jails through out the country.
ZimEye.com has continued to receive reports of children throughout the country and especially in Bulawayo who have been arrested and will spend the weekend in jail over various spurious trumped up charges.
Reports from Mzilikazi and Makokoba indicate that kids were raided in their homes at 3 AM this morning and are accused of alleged looting.
“The looting allegations that made police to arrest these minors is over packets of biscuits dropped by rioting adults. I asked them why they could not have the same zeal to arrest people who looted USD15billion and have 50 bedrooms,” Reverend Useni Sibanda wrote on his Facebook wall.
Abammeli Human Rights Lawyers reports that, “The government of Zimbabwe has a pre-trial diversion for minors. Yet last night 16 children below the age of 16 from Mzilikazi area were arrested and thrown in the same cells as the elders.”
The kids are apparently being charged with shoplifting/stealing a packet of Marie biscuits and 2kg sugar.

 
The lawyers grilled the Investigating Officer on the citizens’ constitutional rights.

Former Zanu-PF activist Lumumba William Mutumanje, (Acie Lumumba), who is facing frivolous charges of undermining President Mugabe, has been raided by CID cops for a new “crime.”
After the police and the state prosecution were this week humiliated by magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe, the ZANU PF controlled cops have this time laid charges on him arising for car theft and fraud from alleged incidents they say date back to 6 years before.
ZRP cops raided Lumumba in the middle of the night, Thursday and at the time of writing he was still being interrogated at Harare Central Police station, ZimEye.com can reveal.
Arriving at Southerton Police station Friday night, Lumumba was at first told he is being charged for car theft. That was soon shifted to fraud and forgery as the cops added saying he six years ago allegedly smuggled cars for resale in Zimbabwe.
Lumumba was only 21 years old at the time of the alleged incidents.
Lumumba on Tuesday appeared before Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe, over the other case in which he is being charged over a non existent law of insulting or undermining President Robert Mugabe, which the country’s senior judges have long scoffed at.
That case arises from that he last week used an “F” word to insult the President while addressing people during the launch of his political party called Viva Zimbabwe.
Analysts say the police are through the panic arrests turning Lumumba who 3 years ago was not known into a national hero of democracy.
More follows as this is a developing story….

Harare Provincial magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe has released the 104 people who were arrested in Harare for protesting against police  road blocks in  the capital.
Chikwekwe granted the residents who were charged with public violence  $100 each on Friday.
The 104 residents were arrested on Monday 4 July 2016 following demonstrations in Harare’s poor high-density suburbs of Epworth and Mabvuku over police corruption.
The protesters most of them juveniles, sustained serious injuries from police brutality.
Their granting of bail came after they had appeared before the courts on Wednesday and Thursday, where complaints against the police, were raised by their lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

 

Staff Writer |Over 33 000 children under the age of 5 years are stunted and urgently need malnutrition treatment, UNICEF has said.
The stunting has been caused by the severe drought which Zimbabwe has experienced during the 2015-2016 rain season. “In Zimbabwe, newly released figures show that the population in need of assistance has increased from 2.8 million in January to 4 million in July. Of these, 1.9 million are children under the age of 18 while 33,000 children under the age of five will require treatment for severe acute malnutrition,” , acting UNICEF Representative, Jane Muita she said Friday.
She said out of a total appeal of $ 21.8 million, for Zimbabwe they had requested for from development partners they only got $ 1 million.
“Data is already showing a worsening of the situation for children but inadequate funding is limiting the ability to respond with critical life-saving interventions,” she said.
“We need to use the current window to scale up efforts that will prevent children from sliding even further into malnutrition and death. If we fail to do this, we will be dealing with an even worse crisis towards the end of the year.”
 
 
 

Civic society groups will roll out more demonstrations to push out President Robert Mugabe’s regime and pave way for fresh elections.
The Wednesday protests — co-ordinated by #ThisFlag and supported by Tajamuka/Sesijikile, Occupy Africa Unity Square and all opposition parties — virtually brought the country to a halt, although Zanu PF declared that it was unmoved by the action.
Yesterday, Tajamuka/Sesijikile spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said his lobby group would continue to partner #ThisFlag frontman Evan Mawarire in rolling out a series of protests aimed at piling pressure on Mugabe to step down.
Mkwananzi’s threat came at a time some civic society groups were planning to storm Mugabe’s official residence, State House, tomorrow.
“The public should expect more action of various forms,” Mkwananzi said.
“There is no other option for the government of Zimbabwe than to heed what we are calling for. The call for Mugabe to step down is a public call; there is nothing illegal about it.
“I can assure the nation that from here onwards, we will be carrying out every action possible to put pressure on government to heed our calls. We have said by August 31, the President should have spoken to the masses about the crisis that is going on in the country.”
Mkwananzi added: “There is no doubt that the stay away was a massive success. Indeed, it shook the corridors of power in Zimbabwe. For the first time in many years, the regime is shaken to the core as evidenced by its panic announcement of payment dates for civil servants.”
The former MDC-T youth leader said Wednesday’s stay away was evidence that the people have the power to recall the “corrupt and criminal” regime.
They are demanding Mugabe’s resignation to allow a transitional government to steer the country out of the current economic quagmire, the immediate release of arrested protesters, the return of missing activist Itai Dzamara, disbandment of plans to introduce bond notes and an end of police brutality, among others.
“This is just the beginning of a historic process in ensuring the transformation and regeneration of our country. We will be advising on the next course of action, in consultation and in line with the wishes and aspirations of the people. There is no going back now. We will continue with our peaceful, but resolute means of showing President Mugabe and his government that we are fed up,” Mkwananzi said.
“We have realised that President Mugabe has become a sticking point in terms of reform because of his incumbency. The issue of President Mugabe is intrinsically linked to the reforms. He has to pave way for reforms.”
But Zanu PF secretary for administration and Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo on Wednesday threatened to unleash brute force to ruthlessly crush dissenting voices, claiming the Wednesday protests bordered on a regime change agenda sponsored by the main opposition MDC-T and its Western allies.
“The State security organisations are working round the clock to put the situation firmly under control and those found on the wrong side of the law will be severely dealt with and they will have no one to blame. They are being seriously warned to desist from this unwanted behaviour. Zanu PF is quite steadfast, is focused on what we need to do and we cannot be shaken by these activities, not at all,” Chombo said. Newsday

President Robert Mugabe could be headed for a bloody showdown with the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA), who have described the ruling party politburo decision to expel Christopher Mutsvangwa  as “ill-informed”.
Following a ZNLWVA national executive meeting in Harare yesterday, spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said that the former freedom fighters had been “shocked, angered and saddened by the expulsion”.

A defiant Mutsvangwa told the media that his relationship with Zanu PF had “become burdensome”.
“To be frank, the relationship had become burdensome to me, a real albatross in these times. In a way, I am just glad that the party divested me of it. It is now up to the association and its membership. I serve at their will,” Mutsvangwa said.
And in typical style he signed off: “This is the moment of stark choices between the populace at large or serving a vapid and vacuous Zanu PF party political oligarchy that is devoid of history, morals and probity. As a war-hardened battlefield veteran, I instinctively and invariably go with the people.”
“We woke up to very sad news today and have been forced back to Jabulani Sibanda’s expulsion and the relationship our leadership had with former chairman Chenjerai Hunzvi. After introspection, we have realised that at any given time any person leading the freedom fighters has not had the best of relationships with authorities. It is disheartening and saddening. But Mutsvangwa is not going anywhere,” Mahiya declared.
He said all the association’s 10 provinces represented by their chairmen had rallied behind Mutsvangwa.
“He will continue to fight for the welfare of war veterans. We take cognisance of the fact that today, July the 7th, is exactly three months since our meeting with President (Robert) Mugabe. And now we wonder whether the demands we made have been lumped on Mutsvangwa. To us, the decision smacks of divisiveness and vindictiveness that is unnecessary,” Mahiya said.
He said by expelling Mutsvangwa, the Mugabe-chaired Zanu PF had effectively expelled the 36 000-strong former fighters.
“The only thing they can expel from the party is Mutsvangwa’s physical being, but the spirit in him remains the same as the one in all 36 000 living veterans of the liberation struggle. Our loyalty and patriotism remains unshaken. Today, the party and government continue to tell us that Zimbabwe remains under sanctions because even though the European Union has removed everyone else from their list, President Mugabe and his family remain there,” an angry Mahiya said.
He added: “It is the same as with us. The fact that they have decided to expel Mutsvangwa, our chairman, means they have effectively cut the rest of us from the party. But they should know that we did not join this party and, therefore, our membership is lifetime and cannot be revoked.”
Mahiya said the war veterans would ask for a meeting with Mugabe and the ruling party’s secretary for war veterans, Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi.

Controversial Information, Communication Technology Minister Supa Mandiwanzira digitally sneaked into China for high level government to government technological placements for the purpose of obtaining specialist hacking technologies, according to a latest report.
In another futile government cash blow up, Mandiwanzira sought to obtain methodologies of both barring and monitoring over the top freedoms.
The mission led to an endless trail in a plot to manipulate Zimbabwe’s network connections.
Targeted for this engagement were powerful social networks,WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter in that respective order of priority.
The evidence for Mandiwanzira’s dodger became evident in this week’s blocking of Whatsapp during the mass stay away on Wednesday. Phone networks were jammed and phone owners blocked from accessing the app.
The government can block the network, but they cannot eavesdrop into it due to the strong encryption set up thereon which makes it difficult for even the Whatsapp company itself to snoop-in. In April, WhatsApp rolled out end-to-end encryption for iOS and Android platforms—a security measure aimed at protecting messages from the prying eyes of cyber-criminals, hackers, “oppressive regimes,” and even the WhatsApp company itself.
When confronted this week, Mandiwanzira claimed he had nothing to do with Wednesday’s jamming of the social media platform WhatsApp.
He said such a move would mean that he had also participated in the purported shutting down of the country.
Mandiwanzira’s comments follow allegations by some sections of the society that Government Wednesday interfered with social platforms such as WhatsApp and Internet services to stop people from mobilising ahead of Wednesday’s “stayaway”.
Mandiwanzira said instead, his ministry had been under pressure since last year from all the network operators to ban social networks such as WhatsApp, Viber and Skype arguing that they were eating into their revenue collections.
“Since December last year, this ministry has been under immense pressure from mobile network operators in this country for us to ban over the top, services like WhatsApp, Skype, Viber and the like because the operators are claiming that these over-the-top services are eating into their revenue, and yet they have not spent any resource in building their networks,” said Mandiwanzira.

As Zimbabwe struggles to fulfill the Southern African Development Community stipulated quotas on women in decision-making positions, President Robert Mugabe has backed Mrs Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi of Botswana, as the candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson.
Venson-Moitoi paid a courtesy call on Mugabe at State House in Harare yesterday.
She is Botswana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Mrs Moitoi who said she was here to brief Mugabe, the immediate past chairperson of both the African Union and Sadc, about her campaign ahead of the elections for the post at the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU scheduled for Kigali, Rwanda next week.