PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe could have clocked over 200 000km in the air and used over $80 million in flight travel this year alone according to information gleaned from close government sources.
Mugabe has visited Singapore nearly 10 times this year alone covering a total distance of over 160 000km. Mugabe frequents Singapore reportedly to get medical attention.
In April Mugabe covered more than 25 062km to and from New York, making the distance longer by a stopover in Singapore. This was after he had just jetted in from a 25 358km trip to Japan.
In less than a week, Mugabe flew to South Africa, then Singapore to pick up his wife and grandchild landing in Zimbabwe only to proceed to Papua New Guinea covering a distance of 24 350km return.
Mugabe has also been to Uganda for the swearing-in of fellow strongman Yoweri Museveni. He has also been to Russia, India, Ethiopia and Equatorial Guinea tagging along huge delegations.
Former Finance minister Tendai Biti recently told a Crisis In Zimbabwe meeting that each time Mugabe left the country, he carried with him $4 million in cash.
“President Robert Mugabe’s appetite to travel has put a strain on government recurrent expenditure because every time he leaves the country he carries with him $4 million which is physically taken from the RBZ RTGS system and, therefore, worsening the liquidity crunch,” he said.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said the travels have effectively bankrupted the country and cost Air Zimbabwe millions of dollars.
“President Robert Mugabe enjoys travelling, air travel is his number one hobby. This year alone, he has clocked more than 100 000 air miles and in the process, his endless travels have cost the bankrupt national Treasury a whopping $80 million. He is arguably the most travelled leader in the whole world,” he said.
Jacob Mafume of the People’s Democratic Party said Mugabe was in fact at the centre of externalising the scarce foreign currency in the country.
“One of the biggest sources of externalisation of the US dollar has been the President’s travels, therefore, instead of creating bond notes they should stop the President’s plane from travelling,” he said.
Gutu said if Mugabe stops the travels the money could be useful in meeting part of the government wage bill, among other obligations.
“Of course, this is a national tragedy because it is a notorious fact that the national coffers are dry and that the government is even struggling to pay civil servants every month. However, Mugabe always makes sure that his numerous and entirely purposeless foreign trips are adequately funded. He carries with him no less than S$4 million on each foreign trip,” he said.
Mugabe’s unending foreign trips have been linked to the biting cash shortages that have forced the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to introduce bond notes.
First Lady Grace, on the other hand, has also travelled immensely. Insiders claim all those travelling on government business take with them huge sums of cash and in the process have contributed to the crippling cash shortages that have forced fiscal authorities to announce the impending introduction of “bond notes”.
Tourism minister Walter Mzembi, Foreign Affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Patrick Chinamasa (Finance) and Oppah Muchinguri (Environment) also join a list of top foreign travellers who have turned into visitors to Zimbabwe.
Mzembi is currently flying across the world canvassing for support on his bid to be secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
Mugabe reportedly travels with a delegation of no less than 40 people.
Mugabe early this year embarrassingly travelled to India for what was dubbed a “road show” before aborting the trip over “security concerns” in a cloud of dust.
Biti said Mugabe and his delegation hardly use plastic money and the country will have little reserves of cash to service the economy with the rate of trips continuously increasing.
“At the end of the day our problems are economic and rooted in failure of leadership more than anything else. Mugabe is siphoning out of Zimbabwe $4 million for every trip and this in cash,” Biti said.
Opposition MDC-T policy chief Nelson Chamisa said the cash shortages were an artificial construction by Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies to send people on a wild goose chase
“When Mugabe and ministers travel the tragedy is they want to travel in the expensive business class. The best way to stop externalisation is to avoid all unnecessary foreign travel. Externalisation is not done by ordinary people, but by the high and powerful and is exacerbated by extravagance,” Chamisa said.
A former Cabinet minister during the Government of National Unity from 2009 to 2013, Chamisa said top government officials bleed the country on allowances.
“Nobody can deny it because if I am not mistaken each time a minister travels they are given not less than $5 000 in allowances and they have turned it into a cash cow, some form of business. There is no better form of economic sabotage than this. Our country has become a danger to investment and capital. Ordinarily it should not be criminal for people to spend their money where they want. Instead we should be criminalising those who have bastardised our economy and turned it into a danger to capital,” Chamisa added.
The Kuwadzana East lawmaker’s claims corroborate revelations by former National Healing co-minister Moses Mzila-Ndlovu who told a recent public discussion that opposition officials joined the gravy train and also partook in bleeding the country’s coffers. -Newsday

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| There is confusion at Chivata Secondary school following the disappearance of US $2020 examination registration fees from the school coffers.
According to details released by the police in Zaka, there is evidence the person behind the crime is familiar with the school system.
It is understood there were no signs of burglary since the door was opened, indicating staff members at the school could be behind the crime.
Angry parents also accused the staff members at the school of clandestinely stealing the examination fees cash. “There is clear evidence that the person who stole the cash is familiar with the school.
There is evidence that the person used spare keys to open the door leading to the room in which the cash box was placed. We hope the police will speed up their investigations so that the culprit will be brought to book.We toiled to raise the examination fees for our children so we also expect the money to be recovered. We are shocked because some keys were used to gain access into the office. The culprit is among the staff members,” said one parent who declined to be named.
Zaka District Education Officer,James Mahofa, confirmed the incident and said the police were investigating the matter.
“The police are investigating the matter and we difinitely hope whoever did that will be arrested,” said Mahofa.

First Lady Grace Mugabe silenced former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Olivia Muchena from discussing her controversial doctorate in public, Zanu PF politburo minutes seen by the Zimbabwe Independent show.
Grace was awarded a controversial PhD by the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) in September 2014, in what was widely seen as an unprecedented academic scandal of monumental proportions in Zimbabwe. She was among the 3 274 graduands capped by her husband President Robert Mugabe, who is also the chancellor of the UZ, with a PhD in Social Studies.
The Independent then unearthed that the First Lady was awarded the doctorate despite not fulfilling procedures which PhD candidates go through as her records were not available. Her thesis was also not available at the UZ library unlike other candidates, including former vice-president Joice Mujuru, who graduated on the same day with Grace.
According to minutes of a Zanu PF politburo meeting held on October 30 2014, seen by the Independent, Muchena, who was also the Zanu PF secretary for science and technology, was silenced by the First Lady after she made moves to clarify the matter.
According to the minutes, Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo, then a committee member, expressed concern over private media’s reportage of Grace’s dubious PhD which he even tried to defend in public.
“On a different note, he (Moyo) said that the private media was on a smear campaign to demonise the First Lady. He urged the secretary for science and technology to correct some of the misconceptions surrounding the academic qualifications of the First Lady,” the politburo minutes read.
However, Muchena, responding to Moyo’s request, said efforts to clarify the degree had hit a brick wall as Grace did not want the issue to be discussed.
“In her comments, the secretary for science and technology reported that efforts to put into correct perspective issues surrounding the First Lady’s doctorate were halted after consultations. She said that the First Lady had instructed that the matter should not be discussed in public,” the minutes say.
The decision to award Grace a PhD was strongly criticised by academics, including UZ lecturers, students, the civil society and ordinary Zimbabweans.
Soon after her graduation, the Zimbabwe National Students Union called for a thorough investigation into how she acquired the PhD and demanded the resignations of those involved in the decision, including UZ Vice-Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura who failed to explain the scandal.
The student’s body also wrote a letter to the Parliamentary Portfolio Select Committee for Higher Education, which was copied to the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, Muchena and Nyagura asking for investigations into the circumstances under which Grace was awarded the doctorate.
Academics such as Dr Ibbo Mandaza said Grace’s controversial PhD would damage UZ’s reputation, its academics and its alumni. He challenged the UZ to explain how the First Lady was awarded the doctorate. Neither Muchena nor Nyagura responded to media queries and the public demand for an explanation. It has since emerged that Grace ordered officials to remain silent over the issue hoping the protests would just die down and the scandal forgotten.
Information obtained by the Independent at the time showed Grace initially registered for an MPhil in 2012, but was upgraded by her supervisor to a DPhil programme.
This implies that when Grace registered as an MPhil student, she must have had a good pass in an honours degree with at least an upper second class (2.1) pass. Those close to the issue said after failing at the University of London a few years ago, she enrolled with a Chinese university and obtained an undergraduate degree.
But considering Grace’s poor performance at the University of London where she was eventually deregistered after failing most of her (BA English) examinations in 2004, it is highly unlikely she had an honours degree with quality grades to qualify for an MPhil.
In terms of UZ requirements, for an MPhil a candidate must have a good pass in an honours degree with at least an upper second class or an approved equivalent and the minimum duration of study is two years for a full-time student and three years for a part-time student.
A DPhil candidate requires a good master’s degree. An MPhil student who excels can, however, have his or her studies upgraded to DPhil. This only happens in exceptional circumstances where the student is distinguished.
Even then the minimum for a DPhil full-time student is three years and four years for part-time studies. Senior academics at the UZ said Grace did not meet the requirements, while she also did not spend the basic minimum time studying at UZ, making her acquisition of the PhD unprocedural and fraudulent.
Grace completed her first degree in Chinese Language in 2011 after four years of distance learning with the People’s University of China. independent

An estate dispute between two surviving wives has raised questions in the Supreme Court on what constitutes a marriage, a case that is likely to spark debate about the country’s marriage laws. This follows a case in which a woman abandoned her lawful husband for 23 years and got married twice. Ella Munjeri, whose marriage to the third man still subsists, now claims to be the only surviving spouse of the late Bookwet Jonathan Munjeri.
She was declared the surviving spouse in the High Court. Ella prevailed in the lower court because the judge accepted her claim that she was still married to the late Bookwet Munjeri in terms of the monogamous marriage at the time of his death.
But Supreme Court judge Justice Tendai Uchena, who presided over a chamber application for condonation of the late noting of an appeal, raised questions over Ella’s conduct. “The way she conducted herself prior to his death, and after she registered his estate, tells a different story,” he said.
Justice Uchena allowed the application by the executor, Ms Patricia Darangwa, acting for the late Juliet Munjeri who was Bookwet’s third wife under customary law marriage.
The other surviving spouse is Gladys Gweshe who is cited in the case as the fifth respondent. Justice Uchena concurred with Advocate Garikayi Sithole who was acting for Ms Darangwa that the case should proceed on appeal considering the circumstances around the dispute.
“I am satisfied that this case should be allowed to proceed on appeal and for its importance as it raises serious questions on whether a spouse who abandons or divorces the other for 23 years, and thereafter gets married to two other spouses, can on the death of the abandoned/divorced spouse claim to be the deceased’s surviving spouse and inherit the abandoned/divorced spouse’s estate,” said Justice Uchena.
Ella, who was being represented by Mr Sikhumbuzo Mpofu of Munangati and Associates, abandoned Bookwet between 1979 and 1980 and married a Mr Mupfumira with whom she had a daughter.
That union was terminated in 1985.
It was succeeded by her marriage to Mr David Dzvova with whom she is staying and has children with. Bookwet died on October 13, 2002.
After the death of Bookwet, Ella registered his estate as the sole surviving spouse, but abandoned her claim when the late Juliet Munjeri sent an affidavit to the Master of the High Court challenging her status.
Subsequent to Juliet’s affidavit, Ella waived her rights saying she was no longer interested in the estate. She communicated this in writing to the Master of the High Court after she was invited to edict meetings.
Thereafter, the late Juliet Munjeri registered the estate and administered it until its distribution account was confirmed by the Master of the High Court on September 1, 2006.
Ella kept her silence until soon after Juliet’s death on July 13, 2013, when she resumed her claim to Bookwet’s estate.
During Bookwet’s life time, Ella wrote him letters complaining about him allowing their children to visit her at her matrimonial home with Mr Dzvova. She, on a number of occasions, reminded him of their divorce and her being someone else’s wife. She advised him to go back to court where he had been granted custody if he no longer wanted the children.
In the High Court, Justice Hlekani Mwayera declared Ella the surviving spouse on the grounds that her marriage to the late Bookwet had not been dissolved by a competent court.
“In the absence of the legally-sanctioned marriage being dissolved by a court of competent jurisdiction, the parties who made a choice to have their issues of emotions regulated by monogamous type of marriage regime remained so married,” she said.
Justice Mwayera noted in her judgment that both Bookwet and Ella were living in adulterous relationships. They did not formally divorce up until the time of Bookwet’s death. She said it was clear from documents filed of record and submissions, that the marriage between Ella and Bookwet was contracted first before the subsequent customary unions.
The situation which obtained until the death of Bookwet, Justice Mwayera ruled, did not bring the marriage under the general law at the same footing with the customary marriages for inheritance purposes.-state media

ZimEye.com explores: What truly happened to former ZANU PF empowerment activist, Acie Lumumba, following the embarrassing sex video expose with an unnamed woman. In this exclusive, ZimEye probes hot issues raised by newsreaders which are:

• Was Lumumba’s house truly broken into by the ZRP cops?
• When did this happen and why did he not make it public on the day of the breach.
• Who is this woman Lumumba is seen in the video with and in particular how old is she? Is she not a minor who was abused by the then powerful ZANU PF politician?
• Among these things at the crown of legal matters is the alleged ZRP break in. Lumumba in the interview reveals there is no defacement at all outside his property at the access doors to show proof that his house was forcibly invaded. Lumumba argues however saying the evidence exists rather on the internal door to his office. When queried on this and in particular so he should supply pictures of that said internal door to the office, Lumumba replies ZimEye.com Simba Chikanza saying he is not at home at present.

Below was the snap interview:

A CHIKURUBI Maximum Security Prison Old Camp officer allegedly stole ammunition from his workplace, teamed up with armed robbers and shot a security guard manning Deputy Police Commissioner Olga Bungu’s house.
Warren Hazvienzani Katiro (35) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe on Wednesday facing attempted murder charges or alternatively contravening the Firearms Act.
He was remanded in custody to June 15. Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that sometime in May this year Katiro stole a number of 9mm live ammunition from the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services.
He allegedly supplied the ammunition to his accomplices, Allan Mutemachanai and Rodwell Joe, who are still on the run. Katiro teamed with the pair and went to Arcturus Mine where they acquired a pistol from Samuel Butao.
Armed with the pistol, the trio went to 241 Samora Machel Avenue in Belvedere on May 18 at around 10pm where they approached Yeukai Chimhanda who was guarding Dep Comm Bungu’s home.
Chimhanda was armed with an AK 47 rifle and the trio called him by name. As Chimhanda went outside they opened fire. They allegedly shot him once on the left side of the chest and fled.

A MAN from Madlambudzi in Bulilima District yesterday appeared in court for allegedly raping two pupils after giving them biscuits. Prince Maisa, 23, allegedly raped the Madlambuzi primary school pupils after calling them to his room.
He pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape before regional magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze. Maisa complained about his lengthy remand period following his arrest in December last year.
“I didn’t commit the crime and I pray that the court deals with this matter soon as possible. I’ve spent a lot of time on remand for something I didn’t do,” he said.
Magistrate Msipa-Marondedze remanded him in custody to June 8 for trial.
Prosecuting, Concilia Ncube alleged that sometime in November last year, Maisa asked the two girls, who are friends, to clean his room.
“The girls swept his room and were given biscuits. One of the girls aged 12 left his room first, leaving behind her friend also aged 12. Maisa then called her into his room and promised to give her another biscuit and the girl complied,” said Ncube.
“Maisa closed the door, grabbed the girl and raped her once. The girl went away and narrated what had happened to her friend.”
Ncube said Maisa called the second girl to his room and proposed love and was turned down.
“On another day, Maisa called the same girl to his room and the girl agreed. When she got in, he lifted her and the girl started screaming. Maisa then reached for a kitchen knife which was on the table and threatened to kill her if she made any noise,” she said.
Ncube said Maisa undressed the girl and raped her once.
“The girl went away and told the first complainant about the incident. The first complainant told her mother when she visited from South Africa on December 17 and they made a report.
“Her friend also opened up to her aunt on the same day and the girls were taken to Plumtree Hospital for medical examination,” she said. -state media

A MAN from Chiredzi allegedly fatally assaulted his mother, 87, in the presence of his father, 101, during an argument over pastures. Daniel Mazvuma, 50, of Village 1 Wana Extension, struck Chenhare Mazvuma with a log on the legs, head and several times on the abdomen leading to her death some hours later. Daniel allegedly accused Chenhare of letting neighbours destroy their pastures.
During cross examination, Daniel who was represented by Dumisani Hwacha of Hwacha and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners denied having used excessive force to assault his mother.
“While I agree that I assaulted my mother following a misunderstanding over thatching grass I didn’t use excessive force. Chenhare insulted me and I got angry leading me to committing the crime but I had no intention of killing her. I had to pick a bigger log and assault her twice as she also fought back. I was also drunk after drinking five litres of traditionally brewed beer,” said Daniel.
Appearing before Justice Joseph Musakwa sitting with assessors Eliphas Gweru and Samuel Mutomba, Daniel pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
He was remanded in custody to today for judgment and sentence. For the State, Elson Chavarika, said sometime in May, 2014, at around 3PM Daniel arrived home from a beer drink.
“Upon his arrival Daniel found the father Fambisai Mazvuma, 101, and mother Chenhare home. There were some villagers, including his aunt Tsitsi Muzodziwa at the homestead, storing their thatching grass. This did not go down well with Daniel and he started accusing Chenhare of letting villagers destroy their pastures,” said Chavarika.
He said Daniel hurled insults at his mother including some of the unprintable words while demanding that she reprimands the villagers for cutting their grass.
Chavarika said at around 9PM, Daniel allegedly pulled a log from a pile of firewood before assaulting his mother while his father watched.
His father, the court heard, attempted to restrain him from further assaulting his mother, but Daniel would not listen and continued striking her.
After realising that she was unconscious, Daniel stopped and briefly disappeared into the darkness. The old woman was pronounced dead on admission to Chiredzi Hospital. -state media

ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) welcomes the opening of a permanent High Court in Masvingo by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Monday 30 May 2016.
The decentralisation of the High Court is long overdue, and will go a long way in facilitating access to justice by many previously disadvantaged vulnerable people residing in Masvingo and other surrounding provinces.
Its proximate location, is particularly compelling as it will further alleviate challenges such as exorbitant travel, upkeep costs that were incurred by potential litigants, witnesses as well as other players interacting with the justice system at this level.
Most people had to travel for long distances to Harare and Bulawayo to access the services of the High Court.
From an administrative perspective, once fully operational, the Masvingo High Court will also help to reduce backlog of cases, minimise delays and hopefully expedite the determination of cases.
The new court will contribute to improving the efficiency of the justice system as a whole as there was substantial pressure on the limited permanent High Court facilities – located in Harare and Bulawayo due to the number of users who previously had no options.
ZLHR encourages stakeholders to offer necessary and relevant support for a functional and effective Masvingo High Court as this will boost public confidence in the justice delivery system. People living within the jurisdiction of this court are also urged to fully utilise its facilities for protection of their social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights provided in the 2013 Constitution. The JSC must continue to work with strategic partners to establish additional permanent High Courts in other provinces such as Manicaland and Midlands.
As a law based organisation that is committed to fostering a culture of human rights in Zimbabwe, ZLHR will continue through its various interventions to promote awareness of the existence of the High Court in Masvingo, and fully utilise this new court in order to advance the protection of human rights.
ENDS
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
6th Floor, Beverley Court

PDP position on the on-going ZESA saga

Minister Samuel Undenge must resign or be fired

It is not new for ZANU (PF) Ministers to interfere in the running of state enterprises which fall under their mandate, in fact that is all they ever do as they scheme on how to make money from any tenders, projects or contracts that are currently in play.
As we at PDP have stated before, in Zimbabwe we have a ZANU (PF) looting machine whose sole business is to plunder our resources with no remorse at all. This looting machine is primarily operative through state enterprise projects where dubious loans are procured clandestinely and project costs inflated so that those in the looting chain can get paid off.
To qualify to be in this chain, you must blindly support the party and Mugabe and never challenge his competency or decisions. That is why all state enterprises CEO’s must be approved by him in the first place and they must also of course continually pay homage to him and wish him long life as their President. Some have even openly confessed how they owe their “rise” to Mugabe.
It is evident to us at PDP that the current shenanigans at ZPC and ZESA are a microcosm of the broader economy which has ceased to be productive, but is now characterised by a ZANU (PF) secret economy of corruption and quick deals. This is why Zimbabweans continue to be shocked at the amount of wealth in this booming ZANU (PF) cabal secret economy, while the majority of citizens have to scrounge on daily basis in order to survive.
The Zimbabwean taxpayer, for generations to come, is already burdened by ZANU (PF) corruption and will continue paying dearly for state enterprise “loans” for the next twenty to thirty years. That will be
the legacy of Mugabe and his predatory cabal whose insatiable greed and profligacy must be funded by poor Zimbabweans.
As PDP we must express our utmost disgust at the failure by Minister Undenge of taking full responsibility of the continuing corruption at ZPC and ZESA. We demand that he resigns or be fired immediately for corruption and undue and unethical interference in the normal course of business at these companies. This is the cancer of corruption that we speak of which can only be addressed by cutting off those limbs that are causing the rot.
Although this is our position, we know that nothing will be done by Mugabe because he would have to fire his whole cabinet and also resign himself because he must also ultimately take responsibility for the
sins of those he has appointed.
We are, however, pleased to note that management at ZPC have now decided to tell it as it is and we expect that the Minister takes full responsibility for his deeds than to continually blame them for the rot.
PDP continues to stress that without substantive economic reforms and the replacement of the ZANU(PF) looting team from government, Zimbabweans can only expect a worsening economic climate characterized by increasing unemployment and therefore decreasing disposable incomes and wide spread poverty.
As the economic situation worsens, we are certainly bound to see more creativity from the looters and their kin as the pressure to maintain their conspicuous lifestyles in the midst of poverty increases. They are all beyond redemption. ZANU (PF) has plundered and bankrupted Zimbabwe and it is now time for us to put a stop to the rot.
We therefore once more call for the immediate resignation of the shameless looting machine called ZANU (PF) from government and the establishment of a national transitional technical council (NTTC) to arrest the socio economic decline and to begin to revive the economy.
Its mandate must include dealing with the emergency social needs now, addressing the liquidity issues and stabilising the financial services sector, dealing with the public debt issue, dealing with corruption within state enterprises, reviving agriculture and industry to create jobs, attracting new long term investment into the country, reducing recurrent government expenditure and doing whatever it takes to stabilise the macro-economic environment.
In our view, this is the only way we can immediately stop the rot and save Zimbabwe from these habitual looters.

Another Zimbabwe is possible!!!

Vince Musewe

PDP Secretary for Finance and Economic Affairs

Terrence Mawawa, Zaka | Hungry and desperate villagers, including people with disabilities, were forced to chant Zanu PF slogans by the local District Administrator in order to access food aid.
The Assistant District Administrator for Zaka District, Gift Machuleke, virtually turned a Social Welfere food distribution exercise at Vanyoro Community Hall, ward 23 Zaka last week, into a Zanu PF rally when he ordered the hungry and desperate villagers to chant slogans praising President Robert Mugabe.
The constitution of Zimbabwe clearly indicates that civil cervants are not allowed to participate in political activities. In a total violation of the consitution Machucheke, chanted the usual Zanu PF maxims before ordering the villagers, including people with disabilities to recite the slogans. Villagers accused the government official of hijacking the non political gathering to campaign for Zanu PF.
“The social welfare food aid programme is for the socially disadvantaged but we were shocked when Machucheke instructed us to chant Zanu PF slogans,” said a local villager.
Despite claims by the government that there is no politicisation of food aid villagers across the country are being denied access to relief if they are not affiliated to Zanu PF.
Machucheke also announced also vetted participants in the food for work programme, eliminating perceived opposition supporters in the process. “Everthing has been politicised. Even the CARE vouchers will be received by Zanu PF supporters,” said another villager.

Zimbabwe’s Meteorological Services has after four days admitted on the snow fall that happened in Gweru last week.
Last Friday, ZimEye.com exclusively published the shocking phenomenon which left villagers stunned.
The department described the “snow” that fell in Lower Gweru as a rare sleet that occurred in the country for the first time in history.
In an interview following a visit to Matshabeleni and Sikombingo Villages in Lower Gweru yesterday, the head of public weather services in the Meteorological Services Department, Tich Zinyemba, said sleet was precipitation in the form of ice pellets created by the freezing of rain as it falls.
He said chances for the country to have snow were next to zero since Zimbabwe was in the hot tropical region.
“We know in Zimbabwe that snow doesn’t happen because we are in the tropical region where temperatures are hot and therefore chances of getting snow are really next to zero. However, the Friday occurrence was very interesting.
“If you recall, we did make a weather forecast on Monday last week that there was likely to be a dramatic change in weather and this is what happened here in terms of thunder storms and very cold temperatures in the southern part of the country including this area here,” said Zinyemba.
“That feature is what causes all this abnormal weather. In as far as my institutional memory is concerned, we have never experienced anything like this and therefore it’s a first I am sure in Zimbabwe.”
Headman Barnabas Fuzane of Matshabeleni said the sleet restricted movement of both people and animals.
He said the sleet started falling on Friday last week at 7pm and lasted for about 30 minutes.
“We lost our vegetables, property and food as the sleet entered our homesteads. Small animals like rabbits and snakes died while trees in general were pruned of their leaves. We appeal for food aid,” Fuzane said.
“The depth of the ice was 30 centimetres and it is a very rare phenomenon in the country and only happened within a short radius of 5km.”

A self-proclaimed prophet of the Johanne Masowe apostolic sect (nguwo tsvuku) inserted his manhood into a woman saying he was performing demonic deliverance on her.
He has been jailed for 12 years for raping the 20-year-old client.
Rickie Mutero of Chinamhora raped the client on the pretext that he was removing something from the woman’s privates that was causing her bad luck. Mutero pleaded not guilty when he appeared before regional magistrate Mrs Sandra Mupindu, but was convicted on overwhelming evidence.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but three were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence. Mrs Mupindu branded Mutero a “wolf in a sheep’s clothing” for his behaviour.
She said Mutero abused God’s name.
“The convicted person pretended to be a prophet when in actual fact he was a criminal. You raped an innocent woman and deflowered her. In this case a stiffer penalty will meet the justice of the offence so that those who use God’s name to commit crimes can also learn that crime does not pay,” she said.
Prosecuting, Mr Gwinyai Shumba proved that on February 16 the victim visited Mutero’s shrine seeking spiritual healing. She was accompanied by her brother. Mutero told her to return the following day alone for cleansing.
He asked the victim to bring a razor and her under garment. When the woman returned the following day, Mutero asked if she was still a virgin. The woman answered in the affirmative and he demanded blood from her private parts saying it was needed for the cleansing ceremony.
He told the woman God had revealed to him that she had a growth in her privates which was the source of her misfortunes. Mutero claimed only sexual intercourse would help drain the blood needed for the cleansing ceremony.
The woman refused to be intimate with him. Mutero then ordered her to go and fetch water from a nearby dam. He followed and raped her. He took her blood and ordered her not to tell anyone saying that the cleansing ceremony would not work if she did.
The victim alerted her father leading to Mutero’s arrest.

At a time when Zimbabwe has not completed the inclusion of local languages the likes of Tonga, Venda and Bemba, Education Minister Lazarus Dokora has moved to introduce Chinese, Swahili, Portuguese and French in the new primary and secondary education curriculum.
Addressing delegates at a Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education stakeholders meeting, Minister Dokora said the new curriculum was at the initial stage as it was being prepared and piloted this year.
“The ministry is going to introduce foreign languages in the new curriculum which include French, Swahili, Chinese and Portuguese in schools.
“Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education undertook a process of updating the Commission of Inquiry into Education and Training (CIET) recommendations in the context of a curriculum review process beginning October 2014.
“The Ministry then developed a Zero Draft Curriculum Framework for Primary and Secondary Education to guide learning and teaching during the next seven years from 2015 to 2022. The New Curriculum Framework was approved by Cabinet on 22 September, 2015,” he said.
Dr Dokora said; “Learning areas for junior school, from Grade Three to Grade Seven, include languages, foreign Mathematics, heritage and life-skills orientation programme (LOP) — social studies, science and technology, agriculture, information and communication technology, visual and performing arts, family, religion and moral education (FAREME) and physical education, sport and mass displays,” he said.
Dr Dokora said the Government was engaged in resource mobilisation to implement the new curriculum.
“The Government calls for joint effort in mobilising resources. Such resources will be required for teacher capacity development, research and development, ICT, infrastructure development among others.
“Some of these resources will go towards the production of learning and teaching materials that address the needs of the new curriculum. It is, however, important that we understand the trajectory of the new curriculum,” he said.
He said the vision and mission of the ministry was to be the lead provider, facilitator of inclusive, quality education for socio-economic transformation by 2020 and to provide equitable, quality, inclusive, relevant and competence-driven infant, junior, secondary and non-formal education.
“The Curriculum Framework is driven by aims that include promoting and cherishing the Zimbabwean identity, preparing learners for life and work in a largely agro-based economy and an increasingly globalised and competitive environment, to foster life-long learning in line with the opportunities and challenges of the knowledge society.
“Preparing learners for participatory citizenship, peace and sustainable development.
“Preparing and orienting learners for participation, leadership and voluntary service,” he said.
Dokora said the curriculum helped children in critical thinking, problem solving, among others.
“The Curriculum Framework prepares graduates of the education system to have exit profiles like critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, technological skills, communication and team building,” he said

Five opposition parties formed a coalition on Tuesday that will challenge President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party in the 2018 general elections.
The parties are Mavambo Kusile Dawn led by Simba Makoni, Professor Welshman Ncube’s Movement for Democratic Change formation, Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe led by Elton Mangoma, Democratic Assembly for Restoration and Empowerment and Zimbabweans United for Democracy.
Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party and Zapu led by former Zipra supremo Dumiso Dabengwa say they still need to consult their members before joining the coalition. The parties say other opposition groups like Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T and former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First are also keen to join the coalition.
Zunde leader, Gilbert Dzikiti, who was appointed the first chairman of the coalition called the Coalition of Democrats or CODE, said the coming together of the five political parties was an important milestone in the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe.
Ncube noted that the parties that signed the agreement are keeping their doors open for other political parties to join the coalition.
These sentiments were echoed by MKD leader Simba Makoni, who contested as an independent presidential candidate in 2008.
Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, who now leads the People’s Democratic Party and attended the signing ceremony, said his political formation would join the coalition once he gets the nod from his party’s executive committee.
Some opposition parties have formed a coalition in Zimbabwe.
Some opposition parties have formed a coalition in Zimbabwe.
Zapu spokesperson, Mjobiza Noko, said his party was waiting for direction from its congress set for October this year.
Tsvangirai’s MDC-T says it was not invited for the signing ceremony. However, the main opposition party’s spokesperson, Obert Gutu, said the MDC-T was willing to work with all pro-democracy parties and groups in a grand coalition that would challenge Zanu PF’s rule come 2018.
Rugare Gumbo, interim spokesperson of the newly formed Zimbabwe People First party led by former vice president Joice Mujuru, told Studio 7 by phone that his party was also not consulted regarding the formation of the coalition.
Mangoma said the leaders of the parties in the coalition are expected to meet in the run up to the 2018 national elections to select their presidential candidate.
Sources close to the coalition negotiations said the five parties rushed to announce the formation of the coalition so that they would have negotiating power when it comes to fielding candidates.

The Zimbabwe National Army has denied any involvement in the disappearance of journalist-cum-human-rights-activist Itai Dzamara.
This follows allegations made by Itai’s brother, Patson Dzamara, who claimed yesterday that he believed that the military intelligence was responsible for the missing activist.
He told journalists that “incontestable evidence was availed to us and I dare Mr. Mugabe (President Robert Mugabe) and his surrogates to prove me wrong. They can’t, because this is the truth. They thought they would get away with this evil deed as usual, but not this time around.
“They passed the wrong button. I cannot at this juncture state my brother’s fate in the hands of these gangsters but I can categorically inform you that Itai Dzamara was abducted by the military intelligence under the direct instruction and supervision of Zanu-PF.”
But in response to these allegations, Zimbabwe National Army director of Public Relations Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore denied the allegation.
In a statement Makotore said: “The Zimbabwe National Army totally denies any involvement in the disappearance of Itai Dzamara. The claims by Itai Dzamara’s brother Patson are totally false and a figment of his own imaginations.”
He added, “The Army Intelligence does not take orders from any political party. Patson’s claims are just meant to seek media attention and mislead members of the public.”
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba told VOA Studio 7 yesterday that the police had no comment since Dzamara did not mention that they were involved or invite them to his press conference.
Meanwhile, Patson has been summoned by the police for questioning. VOA

ZANU PF empowerment activist, Acie Lumumba, has opened a can of worms on journalist Itai Dzamara’s brother on the thorny topic of Itai’s geographical location. Patson Dzamara has decided to protect the person who knows the six figure grid of Itai’s location, an analyst wrote in, in response to Lumumba’s defence of Patson.
Lumumba on Tuesday wrote an apologetic on Patson authenticating the latter’s claim of photography revealing Itai’s moments under alleged torture.
But newsreaders reacted angrily saying Lumumba is instead of defending Patson, opening holes in Patson Dzamara’s claims.
Three months ago, ZimEye revealed interview exclusives of Patson Dzamara declaring that he has private cellphone contact with the Happyton Bonyongwe family but has not and will never question or seek help from Bonyongwe on finding Itai.
Below was the full deliberation on the matter by a writer who chose anonymity:
“I am failing to understand why Dr Patson Dzamara could let go somebody who has confessed knowledge to the whereabouts of his brother Itai.
“Under usually expected circumstances, Dr Patson should have caused arrest to the “friend” who gave the pictures which some social commentators are claiming to have identified as previous publication of Boko Horam hostages in Nigeria(sic). The issue about the authenticity of the photo in circulation is not at all important here BUT what continues to poke the mind is why our learned brother, Dr P Dzamara deliberately decides to protect a friend who claims to know the six figure grid of Itai’s location. By correct interpretation, Dr Patson Dzamara is withholding information which has leads to where Itai is.
“In some countries, Dr Patson Dzamara could have been summoned by the police so as to release the information leading to the location of Itai.
“If Dr Patson Dzamara was not a qualified Doctor, I would have joined those analysts who brand Dr Patson Dzamara as an attention seeker”

Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi|A fierce brawl here nearly became fatal when a local woman lost her left ear over a $2 debt. The woman, Muchapareva Mbaimbai, who is a vendor, lost her left ear last week after she was attacked by another vendor over a $ 2 debt she owed her since December last year.
Narrating the ordeal, Mbaimbai said she was nearly killed by the woman identfied as Mai B.
“She approached me at Shingai Market as I was making some orders. She asked me about the money and I told her to come over to my place. However she became angry, grabbed my throat and pinned me to the ground before a passer-by restrained her.”
She said the woman returned after a few minutes with more vengeance. “After a few minutes, she returned and violently grabbed my hands and bit off a part of my ear and spat it on the ground. Another man grabbed her to end the commotion. I bled profusely and I nearly collapsed due to loss of blood. I do not know why she became violent to that extent. I am still devastated by what happened,” she said.
Mbaimbai was later taken to Chiredzi Hospital for medical attention
Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said she was not aware of the incident.

TWO suspected touts operating at Mbudzi roundabout in Harare have been nabbed for allegedly punching and causing the death of a 25-year-old pregnant woman last week as she tried to board a Beitbridge-bound bus.
Lyn Chidawaya allegedly died with her unborn baby after she was punched in the stomach by the touts.
National police spokesperson Chief Superitendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and said two suspects, Chamunorwa Gumboshumba (29) and Shame Ruzha (37), had been arrested in connection with the case.
“We want to send a very clear message to transport operators that they should stop employing these touts. We have engaged them before, but it seems they are not taking heed of our warnings,” he said.
According to her sister, Liona Misi, who was with her at the time, the two arrived at Mbudzi around 8pm on May 23 intending to get transport to Beitbridge.
“A group of about five to seven touts started harassing us as we tried to board a bus. They punched and assaulted us and out of fear of further harm, we boarded their bus,” she said.
Lyn is believed to have sustained internal injuries and was hospitalised, but died two days later.
After the incident, ActionAid Zimbabwe, where Lyn’s husband Tinashe Chidawaya works, partnered with Safe Cities Campaign Network of Zimbabwe, and have embarked on a joint campaign to end violence against women in public spaces.
The couple had recently celebrated their wedding on March 28 this year.
“It is heartbreaking to note that we have lost two precious lives due to unsafe public spaces at a time Zimbabwe and the rest of the world are commemorating the Safe Cities Campaign one year on,” Action Aid country director Ronnie Murungu said.
“In solidarity with our colleague, we unconditionally demand justice to be served and be an example to those who cause violence against women in the public spaces.”
The Safe Cities Campaign is a global initiative which aims to fight gender-based violence in the public.
A baseline survey commissioned in 2013 by the Women’s Affairs ministry and Gender Links noted that violence in public spaces was on the increase. – Newsday

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| There was pandemonium on Saturday afternoon here when overzealous police details violently disrupted a winding queue at FBC bank by setting dogs on hapless teachers who were desperate to withdraw their monthly salaries.
The overzealous cops stormed the bank premises around midday and attacked the defenceless teachers who were pressing to get their cash.
In an incident witnessed by ZimEye.com, seven cops from Masvingo Central Police Station beat up the teachers, before setting police dogs on the frightened men and women, forcing them to disperse.
Due to the national shortage of cash, banks countrywide are battling to serve their clients resulting in endless queues at banking halls.
Teachers who spoke to ZimEye.com said they were surprised by the sudden violence committed by the police.
“We are not criminals so we are very much surprised by the police raid. After all we only want to withdraw our cash here. It is unfair for the police to set dogs on hapless teachers. We did not even cause havoc here.
While we were negotiating with bank officials, police officers arrived and began to assault us with baton sticks,” said a local teacher who declined to be named.
Banks here were limiting the daily cash withdrawals to $100 dollars per individual, forcing the teachers to seek audience with the respective bank managers.
Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula was not available to comment on the matter.
A police officer in the dog section yesterday told ZimEye: “We only follow instructions from our superiors.”

VICE President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit to Arda Jotsholo Estate last week proved to be a blessing for Lupane State University (LSU) as he facilitated for the institution to immediately get a transformer after learning of its power challenges.
University authorities have since said the VP’s intervention will speed up the relocation of the university from Bulawayo to its campus in Matabeleland North. VP Mnangagwa was told about LSU’s transformer problem while touring Arda Jotsholo Estate last Thursday and immediately facilitated for the institution to get one.
The VP said when visiting Arda Estates he travels with Ministers whose portfolios are strategic to the agriculture sector such as the Minister of Energy and Power Development Samuel Undenge. This is meant to address community challenges.
A short time after LSU Vice Chancellor Professor Pardon Kuipa had interacted with the VP’s delegation, the transformer issue had been resolved. “Exactly 10 minutes after LSU’s Vice Chancellor told us of the transformer challenge, the transformer issue has been solved. The Minister of Energy is here. I’m sure he’ll assist you with the transformer,” said VP Mnagangwa.
Minister Undenge responded positively and directed Zesa’s Southern region manager Engineer Lovemore Chinaka to provide the institution with the transformer. “That has been taken care of. We’ve the Southern region Zesa manager here, he will get you the transformer,” said Minister Undenge.
Engineer Chinaka nodded in agreement with his boss. In an interview on the sidelines of the VP’s tour, Kuipa said the university had been struggling to get a transformer and thanked the government for its intervention.
“The electricity issue was hindering our relocation. We couldn’t take the students from an electrified area just to introduce them to candle lights. The transformer will make our relocation easier,” he said. The university was expected to relocate to its Lupane Campus in January but missed the deadline owing to resource constraints.-State Media

The government, seeking to clean up the civil service of ghost workers, has devised a ‘vicious’ method of head counting.
The technique will see all civil servants having to ink-down their signatures on special forms every time when they collect their pay slips.
Last year ZimEye readers slammed the government scheme of calling teachers from their annual vacation for a head counting exercise.
But the government through the state media says this particular move is part of the implementation of civil service audit recommendations made last year which has also seen the Government withholding funding for 2 888 teachers in trust schools. Treasury is set to save US$19,8 million annually.
Cabinet is also deliberating a reduction of student teacher allowances from US$329 to US$157. Recommendations from the audit effected so far are set to cut the Government wage bill by $300 million this year.
Civil servants’ salaries gobble 83 percent of the budget but the Government is targeting a wage bill to revenue ratio of 40:60. Among the recommendations that have already been implemented is the cessation of salary payments to 3 307 “highly suspicious” workers.
A report compiled by the Civil Service Commission read by our Harare Bureau last week shows that impromptu spot checks on the Government work stations across the country has also witnessed a massive improvement in worker attendances.
The report shows that 143 workers have had their contracts terminated over the last few months on charges of “fraudulently acquitting pay sheets”. According to the report, there has also been massive rationalisation of workers within the Ministry of Youth Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment. It had emerged from the audit that the Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Ministry employed five youth officers in each of Zimbabwe’s 1 200 wards. This translated to 6 000 civil servants with a cumulative monthly salary bill of US$2, 2 million, assuming each of them earns at least US$380.

The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairman, Christopher Mutsvangwa, has praised President Mugabe claiming he is a great and excellent listener.

Quoted by the state media, Mutsvangwa said it was a shame for critics to think that war veterans would go against or ditch their commander as they have a better appreciation of his great wisdom than anyone else.

“We want to hail the visionary leadership of President Mugabe as our patron. We know of his astute leadership better than anyone as he is our commander. He has given us an opportunity to say out our grievances and he listened . . . he’s a great listener,” said  Mr Mutsvangwa. He said President Mugabe had promised to address most of their grievances and expectations were high that the freedom fighters would be better off.

A man from Nkayi, ganged up with his friend and allegedly lured his girlfriend into a bush where he assaulted her with a switch, raped her twice accusing her of being a prostitute.
32 year old Zenzo Sibanda of Badala Village and his friend Lethubuhle Ncube (19) last week appeared before Inyathi magistrate Mr Stephen Ndlovu facing two counts of rape. They were remanded in custody to 10 June for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Zivanai Hlomayi said on 15 May 2016 around 7am the woman was alone at her home when Sibanda and Ncube arrived and lured her to a nearby bush.
“Since Sibanda is the woman’s boyfriend, she did not suspect anything and thus she did not resist. While in the bush, Sibanda took a switch and assaulted her several times all over her body accusing her of prostitution. “After that he gave his friend Ncube a 25 cent bond coin and ordered him to go and buy condoms at Badala shop and he did,” he said.
The court heard that when Ncube came back with the condoms Sibanda ordered the woman to get tree branches and spread them on the ground, which she did in fear of being assaulted since Sibanda was still holding the switch.
“Sibanda then asked the woman to choose between being assaulted the whole day with a switch or having sexual intercourse with both Sibanda and his friend. The woman pleaded with Sibanda and he threatened to burn her with petrol.
“Sibanda ordered the woman to lie on the ground where she had spread the tree branches and also told Ncube to wear a condom and have sexual intercourse with the woman. He threatened to assault Ncube with a switch if he refused to comply so he had sex with Sibanda’s girlfriend,” said Mr Hlomayi.
“Sibanda watched Ncube as he had sexual intercourse with his girlfriend. He then ordered his girlfriend to hold a tree trunk while bending down before he had sexual intercourse with her, without protection and without her consent. After that he then ordered Ncube to have sexual intercourse with the woman for the second time. The woman tried to dress up but Sibanda stopped her,” said Mr Hlomayi.
The court heard that Sibanda ordered Ncube to put on a condom and have sexual intercourse with the woman again. Since he was holding the switch Ncube complied and he had sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent.
“After that Sibanda took the woman to the tree trunk and had sexual intercourse with her for the second time, without her consent and without protection. He then took the woman to his house where he kept her for three days but did not rape her again. After three days the woman managed to escape and went back to her village where she related the ordeal to her aunt,” said Mr Hlomayi.
They reported the matter to the police and the woman was referred to Inyathi District Hospital for medical examination..

YARD(Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy) leader, Themba Mliswa, has been arrested together with (23) twenty three friends on allegations of holding an unsanctioned meeting in Esigodini.
Mliswa was at the time of writing currently detained at Esigodini police station where the cops were waiting for the Law and Order section to determine his fate.
He is being represented by his lawyer, Douglas Mwonzora.
He has been charged under the draconian POSA (Public Order and Security Act) which under the new constitution is now illegal.
Sources told ZimEye.com Mliswa successfully pleaded with the police to release his 23 friends (who are YARD members) so that they can return to their universities, remaining incarcerated alone at the end of it all.
Kudzanai Mashumba, the Director for Zimbabwe People Protection Forum, an organization dealing with Political violence, said they are “so worried on why the government has started arresting people who are exercising their democratic right”.
He continued: “We urge the government of Zimbabwe to desist from it character of silencing people who are championing democratic space.
“We as Zimbabwe People Protection Forum will very soon engage Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission over this deteriorating political violence happening in Zimbabwe. We are also worried why yesterday Vice President Mnangagwa officiated offices of the commission in Harare.  He emphasized that Zimbabwe must abide by the Global Family of Human rights”.
The whole development was revealed in a press statement released on Mliswa’s behalf by his secretary stating: Today we came face to face with the ruthlessness and brutality of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Esigodini as I was meeting with the District Executive Command. We met in a private restaurant, and during the meeting, Councillor Patson Sibanda disrupted the meeting and was educated on the constitutionality of the meeting.
However, the Councillor managed to conspire with Sergeant Mhiripiri, acting Officer in Charge for the police station where I have since been detained, together with 23 YARD commanders, for the past 5 hours
As is the responsibility of myself as a father, a mentor and above all, as the Commander in Chief of the Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy, I have taken full responsibility and have decided to personally defend justice and constitutionality against this police harassment. I have hence taken the stance to be charged and detained for as long as it takes in my personal capacity.
We did nothing wrong. Our lawyers are on the matter, an urgent high court application will be drafted and we will be back on track.
Our mission is in redefining the broader national discourse and these small distractions will not deter YARD in carrying out its mandate. Small political fullstops such as sergeant Mhiripiri and Councillor Sibanda have felt the pressure, which will continue to come from the emerging force.
This is part of the struggle, we will continue challenging the flawed status quo, we shall continue to advocate for the people, we shall continue to serve our generation

Parliament plans to take legal action against 35 legislators who were expelled by both Zanu-PF and MDC-T after they failed to pay for vehicles procured for them through a parliamentary loan scheme.
Zanu-PF expelled a number of legislators who were associated with former Vice President Joice Mujuru.
The MDC-T, led by Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, dismissed 21 legislators after they joined the MDC Renewal Team led by Mr Tendai Biti.
Parliamentarians are entitled to acquire a vehicle under a Parliament vehicle loan scheme which is repaid during the course of their tenure.
The dismissed legislators have not presented payment plans to Parliament.
In an interview, Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda said they had written to the MPs demanding payment.
“We have written to all the affected MPs about the need for them to pay for the vehicles.
“We want them to come and make payment plans. If that does not produce results and if we encounter challenges, we will not hesitate to hand over the cases to our lawyers,” said Mr Chokuda.
But some of the legislators said they had fallen on hard times and were unable to pay.
“It is not a secret that the economy is not performing. Furthermore, we did not anticipate that we would be expelled, hence there were no contingent measures we had put in place,” said one MP who requested anonymity.
Another legislator said the economic environment was making it impossible for them to come up with payment plans.
“We are not an exception. Either Government must give us more time or they write off the debt. I do not see most of us being able to pay. As you know, it is not easy to get a job that can make you sustain both your family and a vehicle debt,” said the expelled legislator.
Zanu-PF expelled a number of MPs, including Government ministers, for belonging to the Mujuru cabal.
Dr Mujuru was fired from both Government and Zanu-PF after she was implicated in a plot to remove President Mugabe from power through unconstitutional means.

Shiellah Sibanda|YARD(Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy) leader, Temba Mliswa stroked power with thousands of Morgan Tsvangirai MDC party supporters yesterday.
In a touching forecast of the promising future of democratic unions, Mliswa took centre stage to engage with the masses in a flaming fighting voice. He demanded the return of the missing $15billion diamond fortune (VIDEO) recently revealed to be a major cause of Zimbabwe’s economic turmoil.


On the side, Mliswa took time to interact with MDC chief whips, Douglas Mwonzora and Eddie Cross, to mention a few, on strategies and means.
Mliswa was kicked out of ZANU PF after exposing several controversial faces the likes of Ignatius Chombo and Phillip Chiyangwa. He now leads the youth organisation which is a formation of youths from various political persuasions united for the common goal of having the youth attain proportional representation in parliament by the year 2018.

The ZANU PF broadsheet, the Sunday Mail reports claiming the MDC Bulawayo march yesterday, flopped.
About 4 000 people yesterday showed up for an anti-bond note demonstration organised by MDC-T in Bulawayo – a far cry from the 30 000 the organisers claimed would flock into the streets of Zimbabwe’s second-largest city.
Coming three days after 3Zanu-PF mobilised more than 100 000 to march in support of President Mugabe in Harare, observers said MDC-T was clearly losing the numbers game ahead of the 2018 elections.
In April, MDC-T organised an anti-President Mugabe march in Harare, with the BBC estimating the turnout for that demonstration was about 2 000.
MDC-T claimed the figure was closer to 10 000, adding that uncertainty over whether or not the march would be sanctioned by the courts had resulted in many of its supporters not showing up.
The opposition said its next march would be bigger and indicate a build-up in mobilisation ahead of the 2018 polls. But yesterday’s showing in Bulawayo pointed to a party struggling to find a message that resonates with the public.
Bed-ridden MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was not in attendance with his deputy Ms Thokozani Khupe covering for him at the damp squib of an event.
Party secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora tried to downplay the flop, changing tack and saying it was a provincial event even though the party had claimed Bulawayo was its stronghold and the march would be bigger than the Harare farce.
Mr Mwonzora strangely claimed MDC-T’s march yesterday “was bigger than the Million Man March” organised by Zanu-PF earlier in the week.
MDC-T Bulawayo spokesperson Mr Mandla Sibanda said they had expected 30 000 people, and blamed the poor showing on logistical problems.