The Ndebele people of Zimbabwe have offered four cows to the Zulus of South Africa as an apology for founding Ndebele king Mzilikazi’s insurgency against then Zulu king Tshaka some 160 years ago.
Prominent activist Nqabutho Mabhena broke the news in a social media platform this week claiming that he was witness at a church service when people claiming to be representatives of the Ndebele people offered the cattle to Prophet Mkhuseli Hadebe of the Revelation Church in Johannesburg on Sunday.
The offer was said to be a plea for peace and forgiveness from the Zulu by the Ndebele for Mzilikazi’s “misdeed” through the prophet in his capacity as a “man of God.”
The offer has however raised a major mayhem amongst the Ndebele people who have distanced themselves from it all.
In reaction, the Ndebele people in the country discredited the group claiming that it was never sanctioned by the people as they believe that Mzilikazi was justified in his move against Tshaka.
Three centuries ago, Mzilikazi, then a subject under Tshaka the Zulu king, was sent to raid a neighbouring tribe and bring it under the kingdom of the Zulus. After the victory, Mzilikazi took all the cattle and women from the defeated tribe and fled from Tshaka with the loot resulting in him settling and setting up the Ndebele kingdom in present day Zimbabwe.
As the country’s economic and political conditions take a turn, Zimbabweans, particularly the Ndebele have been finding their way down to South Africa as economic and political refugees.
As they return to South Africa, the Ndebeles have been struggling to get the South African government to give them citizenship on the grounds that they were originally from South Africa through Mzilikazi’s migration.
In follow up on the matter, ZimEye.com tried to get a comment from Prophet Hadebe but failed as his PA would not let the media to access the prophet.
The PA also refused to comment on the offering of the four cows claiming that offerings were a secret between the church and the persons making the offering.
It was not clear how and to who the prophet will remit the Ndebeles’ offering for peace with the Zulus.

Terrence Mawawa
Chiredzi/ In a tragic incident that has left the Chilonga villagers terrified,two brothers beheaded their father following a misunderstanding over donkeys.
According to details released by Chiredzi police,the two brothers from Chirove village murdered their father, Zavhu Mungwambami last week after a dispute over donkeys.
Shepherd Chirove a nephew to the deceased said the dispute erupted after Mugwambami asked his son Ketai to sell one of his cattles in order to buy donkeys that they would use to pull their scotch-cart.
Ketai rejected his father’s advice after which there was a heated argument over the issue. It is understood Mugwambami and his two sons then went to the fields to harvest sorghum and the argument erupted again.
Mugwambami’s two sons later returned home and instructed their mother to spend the night at their uncle’s place.
When their mother left,the two returned to fields where they beat up their father and chopped off his head.
When the deceased’s uncle realised that Mugwambami had not returned home,he went out to investigate-only to discover the lifeless body with the chopped off head covered by a cap.
The two brothers have since been arrested and they are assisting the police with investigations. Masvingo Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said she was yet to receive the story on her desk.

“The house is ready for occupation, but the VP wants more improvements done. We really don’t understand what he wants the Ministry of Public Works and National Housing to do, but we have done our best to it. We don’t know what more needs to be done,” a senior government official, who requested not to be named, said.
Mphoko has clocked over 550 days in a five-star Harare hotel, where he checked in soon after his appointment as Vice-President in December 2014 — gobbling huge sums of taxpayers’ money in accommodation and meal costs.
Local Government permanent secretary, George Mlilo, yesterday said his ministry was no longer involved in the issue, as the matter had been handed over to the Presidency.
“That issue is being handled by the VP’s Office and the Office of the President. We no longer have any business with it,” he said.
Director of State residences in President Robert Mugabe’s Office, Innocent Tizora, refused to comment on the matter.
“Who is this? Yes, how can I help you,” a cordial Tizora said.
But when the NewsDay reporter identified himself, Tizora angrily said: “What do you want, nxa,” before terminating the call.
Several attempts to get a comment from Mphoko himself were fruitless as his phone was busy, while Minister of State in his Office, Thabetha Kanengoni-Malinga was not picking her calls.
Mphoko, a career diplomat who served in various countries, landed the Vice-Presidency in December 2014 following the ouster of then Vice-President Joice Mujuru from both government and Zanu PF.
He was appointed co-Vice-President together with Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is staying in his government-issued house.
Since Mphoko had no government accommodation in the capital, he was booked into the presidential suite at Rainbow Towers Hotel where he has now clocked 18 months.
The presidential suite, located on the 17th Floor, costs $403 inclusive of bed and breakfast for two per day, while lunch and dinner cost $15 each.
Mphoko is reportedly staying with his grandchild in the suite, which significantly increases the cost.
The hotel charges an additional $130 for an extra bedroom in the same suite for two children and Mphoko’s aides.
Early last year, Mphoko’s wife, Laurinda, reportedly rejected three houses, among them a mansion in Ballantyne Park worth $3 million, claiming it was too small for a person of the VP’s stature.
The Mphokos also refused to move into the house once occupied by the late Vice-President Joseph Msika in Mandara, saying they wanted a house of their own.
Mphoko’s demand for an upmarket house is in direct contrast with his predecessor, the late Vice-President John Nkomo, who lived in a modest double-storey government house in Milton Park. Government is, according to the Constitution, obliged to provide State accommodation to Vice-Presidents, who are also entitled to buy the properties at market value when they leave office.

Zimbabwe’s efforts to effectively engage its Diaspora community are taking shape after Cabinet yesterday approved the National Diaspora Policy. Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the document will give direction to the strategies the country will adopt in engaging Zimbabweans living in foreign countries.“We met as Cabinet yesterday and approved the Diaspora Policy, which is being pushed by the Ministry of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion,” he said.
Last year, the Ministry of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion submitted a draft of the policy document to Cabinet for modifying.
Government is of the opinion that the Disapora community can be leveraged to boost financial investment into the country, as well as increase trade and technology and skills transfer.
Diaspora remittances to the country dropped last year from the 2014 figure of around $1,8 billion.
“Last year, as a country we got around $900 million in Diaspora remittances, but more can be achieved through a greater level of engagement.
“The document will show what strategies we are going to implement, and some of these strategies relate to harnessing the skills that the Diasporans have acquired in the respective countries where they are based,” said Minister Chinamasa.
He said the idea was at least to emulate Ethiopia, which has made significant economic progress with the co-operation of its Diaspora community.
The minister was speaking during a validation workshop for the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP).
The I-PRSP is aimed at enhancing Government efforts in fighting poverty in Zimbabwe and ensure inclusive growth, guided by the country’s national development plan Zim-Asset
He said the I-PRSP would be used as a significant component of the ongoing efforts to re-engage international financiers.
“The strategy (I-PRSP) is also a means to facilitate the ongoing re-engagement process with the international financial institutions, which is critical in mobilising financial resources for the country’s development process.
“The strategy will thus focus on practical and well-targeted measures that can be implemented in the short-to-medium term with long-lasting impacts that guarantee improvement in the welfare of our people.”
Typically, Poverty Reduction Strategies Papers (PRSPs) provide lending organisations, like the World Bank and the IMF, assurance that countries receiving aid would utilise the assistance to pursue development outcomes that have been elaborated in the PRSPs and approved by lenders.
According to the minister, the I-PRSP will be brought before Cabinet by the end of next month.
“It is our hope that the strategy will provide focus to increased funding. I stand ready to steer the final document to Cabinet by end of July this year,” said Minister Chinamasa.-state media

Terrence Mawawa
In a bizarre incident, in Chivi, that has triggered widespread speculation,a 22 year old lady was found with used condoms under her pillow after killing herself.
Rosina Jere of Mabwe village who was a shop attendant,hanged herself inside her bedroom last Tuesday under mysterious circumstances.
Villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com said Jere was last seen with her boyfriend who works in Harare before she took her life. It is widely believed Jere committed suicide after her boyfriend disappeared with cash collected from the shop on the fateful day.
“Many people believe her boyfriend disappeared with the money she collected from the shop on the same day.It seems she could not account for the money and she decided to kill herself.Jere was also found with used condoms under her pillow,”said a local villager. Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident. Jere’s sister who declined to be named said the incident was shocking and mind boggling. “We are still in shock over the death of Rosina and we all wonder what could have been the reason for committing suicide.She did not communicate with anyone so we are totally confused,”said her sister. It is also understood Jere was involved in an argument with her boyfriend a few days before her death.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora, currently under fire for launching attacks on the Christian religion, on Wednesday crept behind a select group of sympathising church pastors in Harare.
The move comes as Dokora is faced with a national protest over his controversial and militant vow he has forced on school children.
The consortium of churches under the banner of the so called “National Elders Church Forum” conjoined Dokora for almost three hours in an intimate presser in which Dokora ducked behind the men of the cloth.
“We said to avert and prevent a culture of conflict and a culture of social turbulences there should be engagement with citizens,” National Elders of the Church spokesperson Alexander Chisango told journalists after the meeting.
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“We also resolved that we want to promote a culture of consultation prior to the announcement of major national policies and we have offered ourselves to be a free resource of wisdom, knowledge and a resource of experience across the board.
“We also agreed that the church will take precautions to help the whole country to shield our schools from unorthodox and immoral social practices that hide under the banner of religion.
“This was more like a damage control and damage healing meeting which was happening and which came already in the midst of lots of suspicion, disagreements and desertions that people were exchanging predominantly through the media,” he said.
Dokora this year became unpopular for introducing controversial ministerial directives in the education sector.
The Education Minister tactfully refused to respond questions to the media claiming that he was not the event organiser.

Justice Garainesu Mawadze has granted Krishna Satyanarayana Grandlur and Ravi Kumar Krishnan $1000 bail each after the prosecution admitted that the State’s case against the two was weak.
The High Court has gone further to order the release of the two Indian businessmen accused of raping a Harare woman at a city hotel. They were represented by Dumisani Mthombeni.
Prosecutor Peter Kachirika alleged that on June 16 Gandlur and Krishnan were booked in rooms 968 and 951, respectively, while the victim was in 969. The court heard that around midnight Gandlur invited the woman into his room for a drink and introduced her to Krishnan.
The two accused persons then ordered red wine and forced the complainant to drink some.
It was alleged that Gandlur attempted to kiss the woman but she resisted. The court heard that when she was drunk, Gandlur took advantage and forcibly had anal sexual intercourse with her.
When the woman woke up the following morning in her room she found herself wearing only a bra and her pants were on the floor. According to court papers, the woman’s sheets were blood-stained and she also found cigarettes on the side table.
The woman then narrated the ordeal to the hotel’s management before reporting the case to police officers who were at the scene. Gandlur was positively identified by the woman and immediately arrested. Krishnan was arrested later.

Zanu PF says acting Harare Mayor Chris Mbanga should join the party if the MDC-T continues to harass him.
The party’s Harare provincial political commissar Shadreck Mashayamombe said the ruling party was following closely developments at Town House and worried by the suspension of Mbanga by the MDC-T for allegedly defying party orders and working closely with Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
“l want to differ with the MDC-T on suspending Mbanga. He is doing his duties as enshrined in the constitution. For them to say he has done A, B, C and must be suspended from the MDC-T l think they are not respecting the office of the acting Mayor,” Mashayamombe said.
“As Zanu PF if they reject those guys, we are calling them to come and join Zanu PF because we want people. We are a people’s party. Tough luck MDC, they were expecting to do what they want but the minister is empowered not to allow the chaos to continue. Our minister is spot on and should keep an eye on city of Harare. We want it to perform,” he said.
He said the Town Clerk, James Mushore was not wanted at Town House and must leave.
Cross told journalists in Harare that Mbanga must face the music.
“What is happening is one individual here who has gone rogue. Let me tell you how sad it is, he is an old friend of mine, he was chief of staff for the PM during the inclusive government…”
He said Mbanga had committed “gross violations of party instructions.”
Mbanga told ZiFM Stereo News that he was doing his job and there was no way councillors can operate without the
Local Government Minister.
“If my party can’t associate with minister, we can as well go operate from Harvest House,” Mbanga said while insisting that those baying for his blood did not understand issues.
Chaos has been the order of the day at Town House over the appointment of Mushore to the position of Town Clerk, replacing Tendai Mahachi who was retired last November.
Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni was suspended for the second time and has since taken Minister Kasukuwere to court.

Youths from 14 opposition political parties and 45 civil society organisations have joined hands in their quest to force President Robert Mugabe to fulfil his 2013 poll pledge — through nationwide demonstrations.
In an interview with the Daily News last week , MDC youth chairperson Happpison Chidziva said the 14 opposition parties and 45 civic organisations under the Hashtag #Tajamuka/Sesjikile Campaign will move around the country urging people to take action against Mugabe’s misrule.
“The Occupy Africa Unity Square is now part of #Tajamuka/Sesjikile Campaign and we are going to occupy the Square till Mugabe resigns,” Chidziva, who is in the #Tajamuka/Sesjikile mobilisation committee said.
According to #Tajamuka/Sesjikile spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi some of the opposition parties which are part of the group include, Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), MDC-led by Welshman Ncube, Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe (RDZ), Zunde, Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn, Transform Zimbabwe, Free Zim, Dare, Zanu Ndonga and NCA.
Some of the organisations include Youth alliance for Democracy, Zinasu, Youth Agenda Trust, Bulawayo Youth in Action, Harare Residents Alliance, Student Solidarity Trust, various vendors’ associations, the Rural Teachers Association and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions among other movements.
“This is a campaign for all youths in Zimbabwe, they are arresting activists but we don’t fear them, we are going on with our protests.
“We are going to continue with the Occupy Africa Unity Square campaign, look the vice president (Phelekezela Mphoko) is living in a five-star hotel while the majority of Zimbabweans are struggling to make a living.
“We are going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) offices and we are going to tell them that they must not re-engage Zimbabwe. There are thieves in Zanu PF and if the IMF gives them money, they will use it for their personal gains.”
Zinasu president Alistar Pfunye also added his voice and called for Mugabe and his entire Cabinet to resign.
“As Zinasu, we are going to join all progressive political parties and civic organisations who are demonstrating against Mugabe’s misrule. As students, we are worried with the current state of the economy, our parents are failing to pay us fees.”
Meanwhile, the MDC national youth assembly has resolved to support the Africa Unity Square activists.
“(MDC national) executive noted the continued harassment and intimidation of occupants of the Africa Unity Square through arbitrary and illegal arrests as happened at the Square. Executive resolved to support the initiative of occupation of the Africa Unity Square henceforth,” MDC youths secretary-general Lovemore Chinoputsa said. Daily News

A 17-YEAR-OLD boy from Mvuma was yesterday handed a two-year wholly suspended sentence for assaulting his mother and her lover.
A court heard how the teenager went haywire when his mother started co-habiting with her lover after his father went to prison.
He pelted his mother with stones, accusing her of being a “heartless witch” before beating up his mother’s lover when he tried to intervene.
The teenager pleaded guilty to assault before Mvuma Magistrate Ms Vimbai Makora.
He was handed a two-year wholly suspended sentence for the next four years on condition of good behaviour.
The teenager told the court that he was very angry about what his mother did during the period his father was in jail.
“Your Worship I want to apologise to my mother for what I did. I was angry because she left me alone at home, going to another man after my father was sent to prison for theft,” said the boy.
Prosecuting, Mr Michael Kazomba told the court that on June 8 this year, the teen visited his mother at her lodgings in Mvuma.
Mr Kazomba said without greeting her, the teenager started shouting at her accusing her of witchcraft and being heartless.
“The complainant denied the accusations of witchcraft and as the accused was leaving, he picked two stones and struck the complainant on the right side rib and on the left elbow.
“The complainant’s boyfriend heard the noise and rushed to the scene. The accused turned on him and battered him with a log. The two sustained injuries and reported the matter to the police,” said Mr Kazomba.
He said the boy handed himself over to Mvuma police on the same day.

Zimbabwe government top officials in 2015 blew $35 million on phone calls, a chunk of which were mere girlfriend expenses..
Zimbabwe’s profligate government officials blew a whopping $35 million on phone calls in 2015 alone, calling into serious question the commitment of President Robert Mugabe’s under-pressure administration to a judicious management of its dwindling revenues.
The scandalous news comes at a time that many government functions and critical social services are grinding to a halt due to a lack of funds, while Zimbabweans are being called upon to be patient with the State and to tighten their belts as the local economy continues on its precipitous decline.
“In order to avoid the continued accumulation of arrears, alignment of consumption with budgeted capacity becomes inescapable,” the circular said further.
Another source said so rife was the abuse of telephones at government departments that hundreds of millions of dollars had allegedly been lost to the scourge since 2009.
“This is why government line ministries have now been ordered to procure and install Private Branch Exchange (PABX) systems which have in-built functionalities that control usage through call monitoring and call restriction levels, the deadline for which is 30 June 2016,” the source said.
Apart from that, and working on recommendations from the Auditor General Mildred Chiri, Manungo’s circular also commendably expressed concern with the rampant abuse of public vehicles by staff “during public holidays, weekends, and after working hours”.
“In tandem with such usage levels, the maintenance and fuel bills have been progressively increasing and has equally resulted in a build-up of outstanding payment arrears to service providers.
“Accordingly, with immediate effect, accounting officers must ensure that all government pool/project vehicles are parked at the work stations or the nearest police station after designated hours, during weekends and public holidays,” the circular reads.
Another well-placed source, while commending Treasury for moving to deal with the abuse of resources within the public sector, claimed that one of “the biggest abusers of resources” was the Office of the President, where he said there was “zero transparency”.
“While Treasury is trying its very best, there are continuing inconsistencies in the setting of fuel allocation levels to different ministers, with one of the biggest abusers of the system being the Office of the President.
“To its credit, Treasury has attempted to set limits. For example, 500 litres of fuel per month is now the cap that has been set for permanent secretaries, while a principal director will get 400 litres. While this is still way too high, it is a move in the right direction,” the source said.
Documents in the possession of the Daily News reveal that the government also blew millions of dollars more in fuel allowances and other wasteful allocations, an unhealthy state of affairs that the State is only now moving to mitigate.
An angry senior government official described the stunning wastages yesterday as “disgraceful”, adding that the money could have been used to support the public health sector which had run out of drugs and was “grinding to a halt” due to lack of funding.
“I’m appalled by this disgraceful mismanagement. To think that so many sick children and pregnant mothers, for example, are dying because there is supposedly no money for hospitals breaks my heart. And then you see that millions (of dollars) are being wasted all over, it’s a disgrace.
“What is painful is that this fraud and corruption, because that is really what it is, runs from top to bottom, including ministers, which makes it difficult to deal with it. In fact, many of us who try to stop this madness are branded saboteurs or opposition players,” the official said.
Another whistle-blower claimed that the money spent on phone calls by bureaucrats was “a pittance compared to what we see being wasted by ministers, permanent secretaries, directors and their deputies on so-called fuel allowances and other perks”.
“The thieving ways of this government’s selfish stewards defies logic and human comprehension. And mind you, all this is happening despite the fact that the State cannot currently pay salaries on time or service its debt which is ballooning by the day,” he said.
In a letter dated April 8, that was sent to government departmental heads by the secretary to the Treasury, Willard Manungo — and which the Daily News has seen — permanent secretaries’ mobile phone allocations have since been revised down to $150 a month, while those of directors are now pegged at $100 per month: figures that many feel are still way too high considering the dire state of the economy.
According to the same circular, fixed telephone services exceeded budget by wide margins, forcing the broke government to seek a rationalisation of non-priority expenditure.
“Consumption of fixed telephone services continues to exceed budgeted expenditures. This is evidenced by an annual bill of $34,9 million in 2015 against an appropriation of $13,1 million.

Terrence Mawawa, Chivhu| In yet another incident of child sexual abuse, a 69 year old Chivhu man raped his four year old daughter in a suspected ritual act.
Aaron Mafika was not asked to plead when he appeared before Chivhu Magistrate Denis Mangota on Monday facing rape charges.
Sometime in May 2016, Mafika called his child to the bedroom while her mother was away.
The child went into the bedroom and sat on Mafika’s thighs and he proceeded to give her sour milk to drink. Mafika then placed her down and raped the minor. He ordered the minor not to tell anyone about the matter and threatened her with unspecified action.
When the minor’s mother returned she took her to hospital because she had developed wounds on her private parts.
At the clinic the minor disclosed the matter to a nurse in her mother’s presence. The matter was reported to the police leading to Mafika’s arrest.
Cases of child sexual abuse have been on the increase in the past few months.
Children’s rights organisations have strongly condemned paedophilic behaviour, calling for stern measures against perpetrators of such crime.
“We are deeply worried about the increase in the cases of child sexual abuse. Some people consult traditional healers who instruct them to perform bizarre acts-including the abuse of minors. We strongly condemn paedophilic behaviour,” said Edmore Muchechetere, a social commentator and Sociology graduate.

TWENTY-ONE Zimbabweans travelling to Johannesburg, South Africa, escaped death by a whisker after they were attacked and robbed of their valuables by violent protesters 40km outside Pretoria along the N1 Highway yesterday morning.
Some criminal elements that could have hijacked the protests, also burnt to a shell an Eagle Liner bus the Zimbabweans were travelling in after stripping the hapless passengers of their valuables.
One of the passengers sustained injuries when he was hit with a stone as the bus made a U-turn in front of the charging protesters.
Deputy South African President Mr Cyril Ramaphosa cautioned against tribalism attacks that erupted in the Tshwane metro. The Zimbabweans were attacked around 3:30am. The bus was travelling from Bulawayo to Johannesburg in Gauteng Province.
The protesters, unhappy about the ruling ANC’s nomination of former minister Thoko Didiza as mayoral candidate, set fire to buildings and overturned vehicles belonging to both South Africans and foreigners in and around Tshwane since Monday.
Didiza, born in KwaZulu-Natal, was nominated to replace the incumbent and protesters’ favourite candidate Kgosietso Sipulta Ramakgopa.
Eagle Liner proprietor Mr Dhalib Ishemeal, said the victims had taken refuge at Hammanskraal police station since the situation was still volatile. “All the 21 passengers are now safe and we are waiting for the police to calm the situation. We also heard that there was another bus from another company, which was also burnt down as well. This is very unfortunate,” said Mr Ishemeal.
Sources in Pretoria said haulage trucks and other vehicles, which use the same route were burnt near Zebediela.
It is understood that residents of Tshwane took to the streets protesting a decision by the ruling ANC to name Thoko Didiza as the party’s mayoral candidate in the forthcoming local government elections.- state media

Another driver has intercepted president Robert Mugabe’s motorcade.

A 28-year Harare truck driver appeared in court yesterday charged with intercepting President Robert Mugabe’s motorcade in Borrowdale at the weekend before speeding off in his tipper truck.
Joseph Chakanetsa was later arrested in Kambuzuma and charged with negligent driving.
Chakanetsa pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta and was remanded to today for ruling.
According to the State, the incident occurred on June 18 this year around 4pm. The court heard the President was going to his Borrowdale home.
Chakanetsa was driving an ERF tipper vehicle turning into Borrowdale Road.
The State alleged that Chakanetsa did not stop, but proceeded into the intersection while Mugabe’s motorcade was passing.
Sergeant Mazowe, who was in the backup police vehicle ordered Chakanetsa to pull off the road and Chakanetsa complied.
Mazowe then ordered Chakanetsa to drive to Borrowdale Police Station to be formally charged for contravening road traffic regulations. However, Chakanetsa took the opposite direction and sped off with Mazowe in hot pursuit and sounding the siren. He allegedly continued driving, passing through red traffic lights and was only apprehended in Rugare on his way to Kambuzuma.
The court heard that the particulars of negligence driving include failure to stop at intersections and robots, driving on the wrong side of the road at high speed.
The incident came shortly after two police officers appeared in court on similar charges after they allegedly intercepted Mugabe’s motorcade along Samora Machel Avenue as the Head of State was travelling to his rural home in Zvimba. The matter is also still pending at the court.- Newsday

POLITICAL analysts and opposition parties yesterday roundly criticised President Robert Mugabe’s tough stance against re-engagement with the international community, saying the move was likely to derail all efforts to revive the economy.
Mugabe told mourners at the burial of the Retired Brigadier-General Felix Muchemwa on Sunday that he would rather stick to government policies which scared foreign investors than be a recipient of conditional aid from Western countries, particularly Britain and America.
This came as pictures of Mugabe sitting while Muchemwa’s body was being lowered into the grave caused a stir on social media with some people questioning his ability to continue in office.
Analyst Pedzisayi Ruhanya described Mugabe’s remarks as retrogressive.
“It’s not pragmatic for the President to be that blunt in his quest to re-engage the international community. It’s very unhelpful particularly in a situation where we have liquidity crisis and when the government cannot pay civil servants in time and when people are suffering,” he said.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said: “Because of Zanu PF regime’s ruinous economic policies coupled with unprecedented corruption, Zimbabwe’s economy has been trashed and vandalised. Mugabe should be advised that up until such a time that his moribund regime repeals draconian pieces of legislation such as the Indigenisation Act, the economy shall remain in the cooler.”
People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Mugabe should urgently change his management style and stop giving out multi-million tenders to non-performers.
MDC spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said Zimbabwe now needed an honest leadership that could stir it out of the current problems.
“These are sentiments of a shameless scoundrel that has failed to deliver on promises. Zimbabwe needs foreign direct investment and that can only happen if Mugabe scraps investment laws that are frustrating investors,” he added.
Coalition of Democrats chairperson Gilbert Dzikiti urged Mugabe to swallow his pride and engage the international community.
“Mugabe is living in his own wonderland, he is in isolation from the stark reality facing common Zimbabweans. He is obviously speaking for his band of looters and mafia oligarchy devoid of human empathy,” Dzikiti said.

 
Terrence Mawawa, Bikita | Chief Marozva, Joseph Mudhe personally appointed by President Robert Mugabe, is under fire for allegedly squandering $30 000 cash meant for the construction of a local clinic.
Villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com yesterday claimed Mudhe collected the money for the construction of Domboshava clinic between the period of 2012 to 2015 .
It is understood Mudhe had instructed villagers in his area to donate towards the construction of the clinic, while other donations were also sourced from Bikita Minerals.
Since villagers have to walk for more than 15km to Nyika Growth Point to seek medical services,the construction of the clinic is expected to ease the perennial health problems faced by the local community.
“It is true that people have been funding the project to construct the clinic in Ward 11 so that they can access medical services from a nearby health centre but the chief has failed to account for the money he collected. The construction of Domboshava clinic is a collective effort but everything has been stalled by Chief Marozva who has failed to explain where the money has gone,”said a local villager.
In response to questions from ZimEye.com,  Chief Marozva  dismissed claims made by the villagers saying they were unfounded and baseless. “Where do you think the people will get money to fund the clinic project ?These are pure lies being peddled by my detractors.”
“There are people who want to soil my good reputation but I will not allow that to happen.I am currently facilitating the project so whoever is saying I am stealing is misinformed,”said a furious Chief Marozva.
No police report had been made at the time of going to press.

Staff Reporter
Ousted MDC Secretary General Moses Mzila Ndlovu will this weekend launch his proposed regional party from Johannesburg South Africa.
Sources very close to the former Welshman Ncube led MDC strong man, told Zimeye.com that Mzila will be officially meeting with people of his Kalanga ethnic group in the South African capital to announce the establishment of his political party.
The new political party is yet to be named but sources hinted it will be called the Bukalanga People’s Party which will only concentrate its efforts in 7 out of 210 constituencies in the country.
The party will only be focused on the Kalanga dominated areas West of Matabeleland South province.
According to the sources the party will seek to unite the Kalanga people who have refused to be incorporated under the proposed Mthwakazi kingdom which they claim is a Ndebele speaking people project they do not subscribe to.
“The party will only concentrate in our Kalanga constituencies of Tsholotsho North and South, Bulilima East and West, Mangwe, Matobo North and South

Terrence Mawawa, Zaka| In a shocking incident that has rocked the Zaka community, a local woman brutally killed her four year old niece for bed-wetting.
Greater Zvevhu of Taruvinga Village murdered the minor,Shuvai Zvevhu on January 6 2016 by striking her all over her body with a stick for bed-wetting. Greater appeared before Masvingo High Court Judge Justice Joseph Musakwa last week facing murder charges.The charges were later changed to culpable homicide. Greater began staying with the minor after taking her from her mother ,Brenda Mabika in 2014.On the fateful day she assaulted the minor for wetting her pants and bed.
Mabika then visited Greater’s homestead to take the child from Zaka to Bondolfi Mission in Masvingo, where she stays. On their way back from Zaka the minor told her mother she was not feeling well.She showed her mother visible marks on her head and back which indicated she had been brutally assaulted.
The minor died on the way to Nyajena Clinic.
In her warned and cautioned statement to the police,Greater had earlier admitted she used a stick to assault the minor.She also claimed she had no intention to inflict harm on the child. Greater was sentenced to five years in prison after the charges were changed to culpable homicide.

The government’s Revenue Authority, Zimra has been crushed by civilians in Beitbridge – a historic development that has led to the customs authority temporarily scrapping duty on domestic necessities.
Zimra has suspended the implementation of Statutory Instrument Number 64 of 2016 which sought to tighten screws on imports of basic commodities following protests by travellers at Beitbridge Border Post on Saturday.
Zimra had started implementing the new regulations, which made the importation of food items, building material, furniture, toiletries and cooking oil among other things virtually impossible without prior notice to travellers.
There was chaos at Beitbridge Border Post on Saturday afternoon, with travellers resisting the seizure of the imported goods, which now require people to have permits.
The listed goods include salad cream, milk, shoe polish, cooking oil, bottled water, door and window frames, wheelbarrows, baked beans, fertiliser, beds, office furniture, second-hand tyres, vegetables, canned fruits, cereals, cheese and ice creams among others.
Sources said travellers teamed up and started singing revolutionary songs denouncing Zimra.
Normalcy only returned after anti-riot police had been called in.
Zimra regional manager for Beitbridge Mr Batsirai Chadzingwa later calmed the travellers.
“The regional manager later told the travellers that they could revert to the normal situation where they paid 40 percent duty for their items rather than the provisions of the new Statutory Instrument.
“As of now, the implementation of the new regulations is suspended pending consultations between Zimra, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and other stakeholders,” said a Zimra official.
Mr Chadzingwa could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The organisations’ communication department could not respond to e-mailed questions by last night.
By end of day yesterday, the border post was almost empty amid reports that travellers were adopting a wait-and-see attitude.- Additional reporting state media

THE Government has said it is illegal for traffic police officers to confiscate keys and drive vehicles that they would have impounded at roadblocks.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cde Obedingwa Mguni told MPs on Wednesday that although the police can impound vehicles with defects, it was illegal for them to drive the cars.
“But if the car has to be detained in a safe place like a police station, it has to be driven by the owner to the police station, park it and be satisfied that it’s safe. That is according to government policy,” said Cde Mguni. He was responding to MDC-T Chikanga- Dangamvura legislator Ms Joyce Makonya who had asked the legality of police conduct in impounding vehicles.
Ms Makonya expressed concern that officers often take away car keys and drive impounded cars to police stations without producing their driver’s licences.
“Deputy Minister, is it Government policy that when I get to a roadblock with a faulty car, I am directed to go to the nearest police station, the arresting police officer drives my car and refuses to show me his licence considering the fact that he is not covered by my insurance. Is it Government policy that a police officer drives my car because my car has a problem or there is a problem on me?” asked Ms Makonya.
Cde Mguni said: “The police have the right to detain a vehicle for not more than 24 hours if the vehicle is found to be faulty. If there is a fine that the driver has to pay and it is less than $20 then the driver can pay a spot fine.”

A BULILIMA family has demanded lobola from the husband of their 47-year-old daughter who burnt herself to death in a hut last week. The family alleges Mr Benson Malipa Moyo had lived with their daughter, Sikhona Dube, for the past eight years without their knowledge. Dube of Madlambuzi area set her bedroom hut on fire on Tuesday June 7 at around 5AM in a suspected case of suicide following a long illness.
She was only buried on Monday last week after her family demanded that Mr Moyo – a teacher at Gampu Primary School in Bulilima – pays a cow upfront. A village head from Madlambuzi area, Mr Simon Ndebele said the Dube family first demanded four head of cattle from Mr Moyo and later ordered him to hand over two.
“The burial had been scheduled for Thursday but it was later moved because there was a lot of tension between the families. The Dube family was disgruntled because Moyo had lived for eight years with their daughter but had not paid a cent towards lobola.
“They ordered him to hand over four beasts if he wanted to bury his wife at his homestead in Madlambuzi area. Moyo failed to make the payment and then his in laws decided that their daughter would be buried at their homestead in Gampu area on condition that he pays two cattle,” he said. Mr Ndebele said the Dube family refused to conduct the burial and pointed out they wanted the payment upfront.
He said the Dube family only agreed to have the burial conducted after Mr Moyo paid $300 which his in-laws regarded as half payment for one beast. Mr Moyo, Mr Ndebele said, had been given a grace period of one week after the burial to pay the remaining $900.
Chief Madlambuzi’s secretary, Grey Ndlovu who accompanied the Moyos to the Dube homestead said: “We arrived at the Dube homestead around 7PM with their daughter’s remains but they denied us entry. We spent the night outside with the body of the deceased and they only granted us permission to enter on the following day around 9AM. This was after Moyo had paid $300,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said the Dube family also ordered Mr Moyo to pay $150 to cater for the costs which they had incurred in gathering for their daughter’s funeral. Mr Ndlovu said the Dube family blamed Mr Moyo for their daughter’s death.
Her brother, Mr Morris Dube said: “Our family was not aware that Sikhona had been staying with Moyo for the past eight years. My sister’s death has pained the family,” he said while describing Mr Moyo as disrespectful. On the day she died, Dube sent her sons to the business centre at around 5AM and went on to set her bedroom hut on fire.- state media

Masvingo Post Office building Monday morning went into flames.
ZimEye.com can reveal (FULL PICTURES BELOW) the building was gutted by a mysterious inferno following what staff claimed was an explosion.
The fire erupted in the first floor and computers, furniture and office documents were destroyed.
While company officials told ZimEye.com “the explosion was caused by an electric fault,” Masvingo area manager David Charirwe revealed to ZimEye saying “an employee forgot to switch off an electric gadget resulting in the fire that totally destroyed the office situated in the first floor”.
Police were at the time of writing still carrying out further investigations. More to follow…

There was drama in Parliament when the Mines Permanent Secretary, Professor Francis Gudyanga displayed an embarrassing ignorance about the contentious diamond issues.
The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) CEO, Dr Ridge Nyashanu also failed to furnish the Mines and Energy Parliamentary Portfolio Committee with information regarding diamond production statistics and how much treasury has received to date.
First to appear before the portfolio committee was Dr Nyashanu, who put up an embarrassing display of ignorance to the point of even failing to define a company structure while confessing he did not even know the act of parliament guiding the operations of the parastatal he is leading.
Then, Professor Gudyanga almost outdid the ignorance displayed by Dr Nyashanu when he could not even furnish the committee with information on how much the country has derived from diamond revenues to date, leaving the Daniel Shumba led committee further infuriated.
Parliamentarians were even more infuriated when Professor Gudyanga was fingered in gross violation of corporate governance by chairing three parastatal boards.
There was more ducking of questions to a point where the portfolio committee members could not hide their emotions.-state media

President Robert Mugabe who has gobbled $80 million on unnecessary foreign travels this year to date, says Zimbabwe’s doctors are pleasure and money lovers.
Mugabe said doctors should stop valuing money at the expense of the need to serve people, saying the medical practitioners should understand the economic environment the country is operating in.
Addressing thousands of mourners at the National Heroes Acre in Harare for the burial of Retired Brigadier General Felix Muchemwa, President Mugabe urged the doctors to take a cue from the late national hero, whom he said always put the needs of the people first.
“We appreciate the work of doctors, they deserve to be rewarded accordingly. However, they must also understand the limitations the government is facing. We are still fighting for our liberation, there are sanctions that are affecting our capacity to honour our obligations to workers.”
“Dr Muchemwa, as one of the first doctors who gave medical services to the liberation war fighters, had that understanding and we need his peers to understand also, he never put money first, but the people first and made great sacrifices. Right now as I speak there is a stand-off between our medical staff and us the government on remuneration,” said President Mugabe.
The remarks come at a time some doctors have decided to stop accepting medical aid and demand cash upfront from the 1st of July, a situation that could put more burden to the people of Zimbabwe.
Mugabe also said in Muchemwa, the nation has lost a humble intellect with an amazingly charming personality.
” Muchemwa was a dedicated cadre, who despite his abilities, remained humble. Always humble, always smiling, that is what Muchemwa was. Different from other people who always boast of their educational success,” said President Mugabe.
He also said for the success of the liberation war, “we needed medical doctors like Dr Muchemwa. Of course he was not alone, we also had Dr Herbert Ushewokunze, Dr Muvhuti and Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, among others.”
On a lighter note, President Mugabe revealed that he only knew it recently that Dr Dr Sekeramayi’s daughter is married to the late Dr Muchemwa’s son.
Earlier in his address, Mugabe chronicled how the white colonial regime resorted to the poisoning of food and clothes during the liberation war, adding that Retired Brigadier General Muchemwa died from an ailment caused by poisoning during the war.
The late national hero died on Sunday last week in Egypt where he had gone to seek medical attention.

Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi|As the rate of the violation of minors increases, in his quest to satisfy his insatiable sexual desire, a 39 year old Chiredzi man forced himself on his daughter’s 11 year old friend in an incident that has stunned the local community.
James Chilangwe of Triangle, sexually pleasured himself on the minor twice without the girl’s consent.
Chilangwe appeared before Chiredzi Magistrate Judith Zuyu last week facing two counts of rape.
On January 26 ,2016 around 6pm, the minor went to Chilangwe’s place to play with his daughter. When the juvenile was about to go home Chilangwe emerged out of the house and dragged her into his bedroom and raped her.
On February 2, 2016 at around 4pm, the minor went to Chilangwe’s again house to play with his daughter.
Chilangwe dragged the minor into his hut and raped her as his daughter watched.It is understood his daughter peeped through the window and watched Chilangwe having sex with her friend.
Chilangwe’s daughter advised her friend’s mother who reported the matter to the police.
Magistrate Zuyu sentenced Chilangwe to 28 years in prison and five years were suspended on condition of good behaviour. In passing the sentence Zuyu sent a strong message to would be child abusers to desist from the habit. Prosecutor Liberty Hove presented the facts of the state case.

Harare City Council is owed half a billion dollars in unpaid bills by residents, Government and business, a situation which has seen the local authority failing to provide basic services and pay salaries.
Acting finance director Mr Tendai Kwenda, attributed the situation to the prevailing economic challenges which are affecting most residents.
According to the recent minutes of the Finance and Development Committee, Mr Kwenda reported on the various sector accounts and the position on council debtors and creditors variances.
“Aggregated income and expenditure summary for January to April 30, 2016 indicated a surplus of $33,2 million. Debtors were reported at $477,7 million while creditors stood at $398,2 million. A total of $26,2 was owed to CABS and BanABC as at April 30, 2016.
“A loan of $144,4 million was owed to Exim Bank of China of which $72,2 million had been committed and repayment would commence in 2017 and short, medium and long term amounting to $98,4 million owed by council to both local and international financiers as at April 30,2016,” reads the minutes.
Harare City Council recently said it is setting aside $275 000 daily towards the payment of salaries in a bid to reduce salary arrears which stand at six months.
Acting Town Clerk Mrs Josephine Ncube said management had put in place strategies to accelerate revenue collection in order to close on the salary gap.
Mrs Ncube said that emphasis was being put on revenue collection and heads of departments were putting together various strategies to ensure success in this regard.
Harare City Council workers have since urged Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere to intervene, accusing the city of infringing upon their rights.
Harare Municipality Workers’ Union executive chairman Mr Cosmas Bungu said council workers have turned into perpetual beggars who are surviving on handouts from well-wishers.
“We want to reiterate that the City of Harare is not above the law as their behaviour seems to suggest. In terms of the International Labour Organisation Convention Against Forced Labour, the City Fathers are in flagrant contravention of the law by deliberately failing to pay council employees their outstanding salaries for the past six months and bonuses for 2015 in contravention of Statutory Instrument 135/12,” he said.
Harare City Council last year served about 20 000 defaulters with summons to attach properties, as it moved to recover money owed in unpaid bills by residents.
The city served summons in Borrowdale, Mabvuku, Mt Pleasant, Highlands, Mabelreign, Marlborough and other suburbs with summons to attach properties.- state media

Two suspected armed robbers raided a house in Epworth and took turns to rape a 16-year-old girl while her mother watched.
The two robbers have since been arrested in connection with the case after they went back to the house the following morning to look for $5 change.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident. She said the two armed robbers went to the girl’s house where they forcibly opened the door with an iron bar.
“They threatened the girl and her mother who is aged 33 with a knife before stealing a stove, plates, pots, shoes and $10 cash. They put them outside and returned inside the house where they took turns to rape the girl,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
After committing the crime, the two disappeared but returned the following day looking for $5 change and they were identified by the girl, leading to their arrest. Investigations on the case are still continuing.
Meanwhile, police are investigating two cases of armed robbery that occurred in Marondera and Mahusekwa where armed robbers pounced on an abattoir and stole $12 000 cash and property.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said on June 13 at around 1am four armed robbers attacked a security guard who was manning Surrey Abattoir premises and handcuffed him.
They ransacked the premises and stole $12 000 cash.
On the same date at around 3am, six armed robbers attacked another security guard at Profeeds Wholesale in Mahusekwa and stole $82 cash and 20 x 1 000g ESB3 chemicals, all valued at $378.-state media

Senior police officers no longer have powers to sign warrants of further detention for suspects to remain in custody following the alignment of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act with the new Constitution.
In the past, justices of peace (senior police officers of the rank of Superintendent and above) would authorise the detention of suspects in police cells for up to 96 hours without taking the suspect to court.
The recently published Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Act now compels the police to release the suspect forthwith if they fail to take him to court within 48 hours of his arrest.
If the police sees it necessary to extend the stay of the suspect in custody, a formal application has to be made before a magistrate, who assesses the circumstances and either grants or throws away the request.
The old law was open to abuse by some spiteful investigators.
Some vindictive police officers would arrest people towards the weekend, to make sure that the suspects will not be released until Monday, as weekends were not included as court days in terms of the parent piece of legislation.
But the new law now considers Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the counting of the permissible 48 hours detention period.
In terms of the new law, police officers are compelled to release the suspects as soon as the 48 hours lapse.
The amended Section 32 (3) of the Act now reads:
“Any person who is arrested or detained –
a) For the purpose of bringing him or her before a court, or
b) For an alleged offence; and who is not released must be brought before a court as soon as possible and in any event not later than forty-eight hours after the arrest took place or the detention began, as the case may be, whether or not the period ends on Sunday or a public holiday.”
Amendment to Section 33 of the Act now excludes police officers from authorising further detention of a suspect in police custody.
An application has to be made before a judge or magistrate for the extension of the detention period.
An additional Section 41 to the principal Act compels an arresting officer to inform the suspect of his or her reason for arrest, right to remain silent, consequences of remaining silent and those of not remaining silent.
The arrested person must also be allowed to contact their spouses or to be visited by their relatives. They are also entitled to religious counsellors of choice, legal practitioners and medical practitioners of choice if need arises.
Section 121 of the Act, which allowed the State to suspend the decision of a magistrate or judge to grant bail, was also amended.
It now gives a magistrate or judge discretionary power to suspend or confirm his bail decision.
The amended Section 121 (3) reads:
“Where a judge or magistrate has admitted a person to bail, and an appeal is noted by the Prosecutor-General or public prosecutor under subsection (1), the decision to admit to bail remains in force unless, on the application of the Prosecutor-General or public prosecutor, the judge or magistrate is satisfied that there is reasonable possibility that the interests of justice may be defeated by the release of the accused on bail before the decision on appeal, in which event the judge or magistrate may suspend his or her decision to admit the person to bail and order the continued detention of the person for a specified period or until the appeal is determined, whichever is the shorter period.”
Several minor amendments were also made to the Act. -state media

President Robert Mugabe’s business partner and Green Fuel Investments proprietor Billy Rautenbach, has allegedly gunned down four villagers in Chisumbanje.
One of the four (Itai Chikwasha) died on the spot leaving three seriously injured and are battling for their lives at St Peters Mission hospital at Checheche.
According to Chinyamukwakwa villagers the incident happened Wednesday night when guards employed by the Ethanol producing company accused the four villagers of stealing sugar cane.
The security guards are said to be retired soldiers and war veterans who have been rewarded by Green fuel for their loyalty to the ruling Zanu PF party government.
“It is very difficult to justify the killing of unarmed villagers for allegedly stealing sugarcane.  Green Fuel is currently harvesting their sugarcane and villagers follow harvesters to pick left-overs,  and it’s not news that the villagers can pick and eat sugar cane which they would have found on the roads while walking to their homes as they pass by the controversial plantation and even if they had stolen the sugar cane, we do not think that warrants the killing and we now wonder whether this Ethanol project was a curse to the people of Chipinge,” said one of the villagers.
The villagers said the number of people picking  sugar cane residues had increased this year owing to the droughtea.
“Women and children constitute the bulk of those who pick the sugarcane and the number  has increased this year due to the Elnino induced drought that has ravaged families,” they added.
The relationship between Green fuel investment and the local community has been sour since the inception of the project in 2008 when the former occupied the latter’s land without full community engagement.
The villagers feel that the company should have compensated them for occupying their traditional land.
They (villagers) are further  complaining that the company continues to push them away by encroaching on the boundary while failing to fulfil promises of corporate social responsibility.
The villagers are accusing the company of using superiority tactics and avoid dialogue platforms because of its strong ties with the ruling Zanu PF government. More to follow…

Kuda Bwititi, Chief Reporter| Banks will start issuing the South African rand and seven other currencies on July 1, 2016 and will process Real Time Gross Settlements using that regime from tomorrow (Monday). Other currencies are the Chinese yuan, euro, British pound, Botswana pula, Australian dollar, Indian rupee and Japanese yen, whose use is being promoted to end US dollar cash shortages. The United States dollar remains in circulation, with US$10 million being imported weekly, while plastic money use is being advocated aggressively.
Financial institutions are preparing for the change following meetings with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, and a June 30 ultimatum for all Government departments to embrace multiple currencies has been set. State departments handle the bulk of transactions in the economy, consuming up to 60 percent of money exchange.
Last week, banking sector officials were optimistic the coming dispensation would end cash shortages that began in April on the back of illicit financial flows, a huge trade deficit and the lack of a savings culture.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya said: “Following the directive by Treasury for Government departments to activate usage of multiple currencies by June 30, it is now necessary for banks to also give out multiple currencies to people in order to support this initiative.
“We expect that the banks will start issuing multiple currencies, especially if a customer requests to receive any money in the currency of their choice, within the multi-currency basket.
“This is not a directive that we have given, but we expect there will be increased use of multiple currencies in the economy and, naturally, banks will take measures to support this policy.
“Last week, we managed to hold test-runs on activating Real Time Gross Settlement payments. The tests were successful. So, starting from Monday June 20, 2016, RTGS payments will be conducted in multiple currencies, which will bring further flexibility to the market.” Dr Mangudya said the multi-currency system will improve cash circulation and spur tourism inflows and diaspora remittances.
“For example, any tourist who is coming from Britain or China can feel free to use the British pound/yuan/US dollar. The move also makes it flexible for people in the diaspora who send money home. It will now be convenient for them to send money in the currencies of their choice, as long as that currency is in the basket.
“Furthermore, the use of multiple currencies means that people will cut on exchange losses if someone is to send money home. The RBZ is importing cash in the region of US$10 million weekly. However, we expect the amounts of cash imports to go down significantly if there is increased use of plastic money.
“We are happy that there has been progress in the use of plastic money in the past few weeks. If that trend increases, there will be a reduction in the need for cash as well as cash imports.”
Last week, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa told Senate that plastic money use had increased 400 percent over the last five weeks. Minister Chinamasa said there was no need to panic over the impending introduction of bond notes.
“To start with, (bond notes) will not lose their value. They will be just like bond coins. Yes, initially, when we introduced bond coins there was a lot of concern and resistance, but, eventually, people came to demand issuance of bond coins.
“So, the reaction that we are receiving, including the concerns you expressed, the worry; these were anticipated. Whenever new things are coming in, we expect people, generally, to be averse to change even where change is in their interest.”
On foreign retailers accused of siphoning cash to their home countries, he said: “The strategy is, basically, to encourage that even if they are retailers coming from outside the country, they source a substantial amount of their goods locally, especially those goods which can be locally produced.
“So, through measures such as tariffs and tariff bans or goods that we ban, we are going to get to a situation where they will have no option, but to buy locally. That is the discussion engaged in with the likes of companies that you mentioned. We are also engaging them, for instance, with respect to Pick ‘n’ Pay, to say they must support out-growers.”
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers Association president Mr Denford Mutashu told The Sunday Mail that they supported using multiple currencies and plastic money.
“We are fully behind the RBZ and Government polices to use multiple currencies. We will not have a problem in accepting any currencies which are in the basket. “It is also encouraging that some of our members, including sole traders, have increased usage of point of sale machines by as much as 70 percent.”

GIRLS as young as 12 must be listened to by the courts if they wish to start families with older men because they are capable of giving consent to sex, Prosecutor-General Mr Johannes Tomana said on this very day last year, shortly before first lady Grace Mugabe began attacking him, a development that has seen him lose his job and threatened with imprisonment.
Risking the ire of child rights campaigners, Mr Tomana defended the courts for refusing to jail child sex predators who can prove that there was “consent”.
Zimbabwe’s top prosecutor says he also finds no problem with child molesters who escape with community service sentences serving their punishment at schools — with potentially hundreds more victims.
Tomana’s extraordinary intervention came after MPs and children’s rights advocates demanded legislative reforms to enhance legal protection for children under the age of 16, with the courts increasingly accepting that children between 12 and 16 are capable of giving consent to sex.
Zimbabwe’s age of consent is 16. Mr Tomana told The State Media that school dropouts, in particular, should be allowed to marry even at a young age because they have no “alternative”. Sending their abusers to jail would ruin their lives, he said.
“If young girls were to be asked what they prefer, most would say they should be allowed to have sex after turning 12.
“It’s assumed that the girl child’s independent decisions start at an age that those that are speaking want to fix, but if you go out there you’ll find out that some of them may want to start out in life early,” the Prosecutor General said, speaking on Wednesday during a visit to Bulawayo.
Mr Tomana says with a socio and economic environment that creates hopelessness in young girls, largely through lack of formal education, it is unfair to demand of teenagers to defer sexual encounters with men.
“If you look at it, we don’t have a framework for example, where we can guarantee that all our girl children are usefully engaged before they actually get above 18 years, we don’t have that,” he explained.
“We’ve nine-year-olds, 12-year-olds, 13-year-olds who’re actually not in school, who’re not doing anything for example. What are we saying to them? We say you can’t even do this [have sex], when the environment is not giving them alternative engagements? What are we talking about?
“You need to be able to be holistic about it. If we educate our girl child universally up to, for example, where they get to the age of 18 in an environment where you guarantee that they’re not abused, then we’re talking. But to simply say ‘no such and such conduct’ for any girl say below the age of 16, I think we’ve not asked ourselves what we’re saying about that girl who would rather prefer to lead their life in the direction of getting married.
“Should they just sit there and wait until they get to about 21 doing nothing? Is that what you’re saying? You don’t have anything that they should be engaged in while they wait to become the age. What do you want them to do because in some cultures, for example, they value marriage more than anything else because when your girl child is married, you’ve achieved what any father or mother would want to expect in their girl child.
“If, for example, we’re able to marry off our child at 15 and she’s married, are you saying that should not happen even where, for example, there’s nothing else that that girl could be doing? Is that what you are saying?
“We need to look at it in a very practical, wholesome way, and I think it’s important to talk to the girl child. I want to say they’re very sensible people, and I know girls develop faster than boys and they mature faster than boys.
“Are we saying we should continue talking on their behalf when they’re there? Do we just change these laws to suit ourselves and our dreams that have nothing to do with addressing the real conditions that they live in?”
Tomana’s liberal views around child marriage will alarm activists who only this week highlighted the problem of child marriages as Zimbabwe joined the rest of Africa in marking the Day of the African Child on Tuesday.
The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) revealed that Zimbabwe, along with Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Niger and Chad had the highest prevalence of child marriages on the continent.
And according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in its State of the World’s Children Report (2015), Mashonaland Central leads in child marriages with 50 percent. In second place is Mashonaland West with 42 percent, Masvingo 39 percent, Mashonaland East 36 percent, Midlands 31 percent, Manicaland 30 percent, Matabeleland North 27 percent, Harare 19 percent, Matabeleland South 18 percent while Bulawayo has the least prevalence with about 10 percent.
Tomana insists the current legal framework protecting children from sexual abuse in sections 64 and 70 of the Criminal Law (Codification Act and Reform) is sufficient and compliant with section 81 of the new Constitution, although some lawyers, notably Harare lawyer Chris Mhike, argue otherwise.
He said: “The advocacy that we’re having now is that even at 16, let’s just treat them as rape. Now, is that going to achieve the objective that we’re clamoring for the girl child?
“I think that’s the question that should be answered by everybody who’s in interested in addressing this situation and I think the girl child herself must talk.”
Tomana says he does not “see any harm” in convicted child sex predators performing community service sentences in schools where there is a real risk of carrying out more sex attacks on young girls.
He argued: “You see, the idea is to embarrass you, when we punish you the idea is to bring you down to mother earth. Now, if a whole man like me for example is seen cutting grass in front of a school and everybody is saying ‘that’s a criminal’, don’t you think that reduces me to my correct kind of level?
“I’m not scary to anyone else because I’ve been reduced to my proper size. I’m no longer a threat to anyone because I’m actually under supervision, you know… So I don’t see any harm in that.” -State Media

 

Two people who allegedly “knowingly infected” their partners with HIV, have had their application challenging conviction dismissed by the Constitutional Court.
Mr Pitty Mpofu and Mrs Samukeliso Mlilo now face up to 20 years imprisonment for the crime.
They had approached the highest court of the land seeking to overturn their conviction arguing that Section 79 of the Constitution violated their right to protection of the law as provided in Section 18.
In her judgment, Justice Vernanda Ziyambi dismissed the duo’s application with costs. She then ruled that the two’s rights to protection of the law had not been infringed. “I conclude that the rights of the applicants, enshrined in Section 18 of the former Constitution, to protection of the law, has not been infringed by Section 79 of the Code, the state media reports.
“At the outset it must be noted that the right afforded by Section 23 is not a right to be discriminated against on any basis and discrimination on grounds of HIV or other status is not listed therein as a constitutionally enshrined right.
“In this case, the court had to determine whether the remand and prosecution of the accused on the criminal charges under Section 79 of the Code is a violation of the applicants’ fundamental right to personal liberty and the protection of the law.
“It found that Section 79 of the Code was clear and straight forward and the use of the words ‘real risk or possibility’ did not open the section to an unacceptably wide interpretation.
“Section 79, it was submitted, did not criminalise sexual intercourse by a person infected with HIV but was aimed at the conduct of persons who, knowing they are infected with the HIV virus, deliberately or recklessly spread the virus to innocent partners.
“It might be mentioned here that constitutional rights and freedoms are not absolute. They have boundaries set by the rights of others and by important social concerns such as public order, safety, health and democratic values.”
“I conclude that the right of the applicants, enshrined in Section 18 of the former constitution to protection of the law has not been infringed by Section 79 of the Code,” said Justice Ziyambi.
In his application, Mr Mpofu had argued that Section 79 created a danger of false incrimination because it was not certain who was first infected by the virus. It was also his argument that Section 79 “was too wide and criminalised sexual intercourse by a person infected with HIV”.

THE trial of a senior police officer who was allegedly caught in bed with a married subordinate before he threw the woman’s husband off a speeding vehicle as he fled the scene, has been set for July 8.
The woman’s husband, Pasipanodya Tadzembwa (28), who is a soldier stationed at One Brigade, hung onto the bonnet of a car for 50 metres as he tried to confront Sipho Ndlovu (35) whom he had allegedly found in bed with his wife.
Mr Tadzembwa was hospitalised after being thrown off the vehicle driven by the fleeing Ndlovu, who is the Officer-in-Charge of Figtree Police Station. Ndlovu yesterday appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Trynos Utawashe facing a charge of attempted murder.
Mr Utawashe remanded him out of custody on $200 bail. Prosecuting, Miss Paida Zengeni said on May 3 this year shortly after 10PM, Mr Tadzembwa arrived at his home in Bulawayo’s Nketa suburb after he got a tip- off that Ndlovu was romping with his wife, Kilisalisti Nyaradzo Manjonjo, at their matrimonial home. Manjonjo is also a police officer stationed at Matopo.
“Tadzembwa rushed home and found Ndlovu in his bed with his wife. Tadzembwa made an effort to contact the local police to report the matter but failed as Ndlovu bolted out of the house and got into his car and started to drive away,” said Miss Zengeni.
The court heard that as Ndlovu drove away, Mr Tadzembwa tried to jump onto the bonnet and was hit by the car.
“He got up and jumped onto it again and was driven for about 50 metres before he was thrown off the moving vehicle and sustained injuries on his head and other parts of the body. Ndlovu drove away and did not stop and Tadzembwa was taken to hospital,” said Miss Zengeni.
The location of the house where the confrontation took place was not disclosed in court.
Although Manjonjo, in her statement, claimed that Mr Tadzembwa was her ex-boyfriend, court files contain a marriage certificate showing that the couple got married last year in December.- state media