MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, currently unwell with an undisclosed illness, missed his party’s Bulawayo demonstration march on Saturday.
Sources revealed Mr. Tsvangirai is still recovering in neighbouring South Africa.
MDC-T Bulawayo deputy spokesperson, Felix Magalela Sibanda, said Tsvangirai’s deputy Thokozani Khupe was standing in for her boss who was recently flown to South Africa for emergency treatment.
“He isn’t feeling well though recovering very well so we can’t abuse him, he has to fully recover. Our president works with a team, our vice president (Khupe) will be leading from the front accompanied by members of the national standing committee,” said Sibanda.
Earlier on sources within the party had claimed efforts were being made to fly Tsvangirai into Bulawayo Saturday morning. “Tsvangirai is the face of the party and his presence would have a serious impact. Plans are underway for him to fly into the country tomorrow (today) though he won’t be able to march with the party members,” the source was quoted by the Daily News saying.
“If it happens that Tsvangirai comes, he will play a minimal role in the whole thing because he has not fully recovered.”
However at the end of day, Tsvangirai failed to turn up. No further explanation to the effect was available at the time of writing.
IN PICTURES: MDC-T March in Bulawayo
Mugabe Humiliated in Papua New Guinea
President Robert Mugabe has been mocked in Papua New Guinea.
Before jetting into that country, Mugabe was this week debased by journalists there who noted in laughter that he is the only Head of State flying in for a little known summit called the Caribbean and Pacific meeting.
Mugabe is the only Head of State attending the summit.
“The 50 heads of delegations include a president, four vice-presidents, 13 prime ministers, one deputy prime minister, one speaker of the national parliament, 14 ministers and 16 ambassadors,” the report in the Papua New Guinea Today newspaper scoffed.
The report continued:
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato said the president was Robert Mugabe from Zimbabwe.
Pato said the meeting would be held at the National Convention Centre and chaired by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
“We may be looking at an attendance of around 500 people, meetings will take place at different venues in Port Moresby, mostly at the convention centre and at the national parliament and Sir John Guise Stadium,” Pato said.
“We are very excited.
“Some of them (ACP leaders) are coming to PNG for the first time.
“Let us show them the hospitality and sell our country to ensure that this is the first of many more of them to keep coming.”
The country’s ambassador to Belgium and the European Union Joshua Kalinoe said he was satisfied with preparations made by the organising committee.
Kalinoe said: “On the prepatory work in Brussels, one of the reasons why we are hosting this type of forum, is to improve the profile of PNG in the ACP regions.
“Not many people in Europe know where PNG is because they think it’s part of Africa.”
Six advanced teams from the ACP nations are already in the country in preparation for their delegations’ arrival from the weekend.
Masuku Is Dead
National Economic Consultative Forum spokesperson and former chairman of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce and Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Mr Nhlanhla Masuku (61) has died.
According to his wife Mrs Carol Masuku, he died at AMI Hospital on Tuesday due to complications from diabetes.
“He was a loving father and husband. He was a great and loving friend. A man who loved his nation and who would do anything in his power to ensure Zimbabwe was empowered,” she said.
He will be buried at his rural home in Ntabazinduna tomorrow.
He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.
At the time of his death he was organising an investment conference for Zimbabwe in London alongside his friend Mr Brian Pearson, the President’s Office and Ministry of Economic Development.
Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colonel Christian Katsande (Retired) paid tribute to Mr Masuku as a man who worked tirelessly for his country.
“We worked with Nhlanhla for a long time.
“President Mugabe said we should bring Government and the private sector together within the smart partnership framework via NECF. Masuku headed the media, information and publicity committee of the NECF and was also chairman of ZITF.
“Briefings to President Mugabe on NECF were also done by him. He also led the NECF interactive guide to brand Zimbabwe locally and internationally. The Tripartite Negotiating Forum was a legacy of foundation established by Nhlanhla,” he said in a speech during Mr Masuku’s funeral service at Nyaradzo Funeral Home yesterday.
Mr Masuku was born in Bulawayo on March 25, 1955 and brought up in Gweru.
He was awarded a scholarship to go to Goromonzi High School for having one of the top two standard 6 results in the country.
He was then asked to leave following what was construed as political unrest which resulted in him having to trek through the savannah scrub with his two friends one of which was Paymore Mangwende to Francistown, Botswana and entered into a refugee camp.
Apart from chairing ZNCC and ZITF, he was a past vice president of the Sadc Chamber of Commerce and Industry, former vice chairman of the Industrial Development Corporation and former director of IDC subsidiaries such as Sunway City, Almin Metal Industries, IDC Agrotech, National Furniture Industries and Modzone.
Mourners are gathered at 2 Cynthia Road, Mt Pleasant in Harare.-state media
Herdboy Impregnates Grade 7 Pupil
Terrence Mawawa, Chivhu|A 21 year old herdboy impregnated a Grade 7 pupil after raping her on four different occasions, forcing the minor to drop out of school.
Gabriel Manyere raped the 12 year old girl at the homestead where he was employed as a domestic worker.
He appeared before Chivhu Magistrate Solomon Jenya facing rape charges. The separate incidents happened in Chivizhe Village. Manyere took advantage of the absence of the minor’s grandmother to abuse the girl.
Manyere would sexually pleasure himself on the minor by pursuing her to the bedroom. He threatened to behead the minor each time he slept with her.
The incidents happened sometime in December 2015. The girl reported the matter to her grandmother on February 29 2016, leading to Manyere’s arrest.
The girl said she reported the matter to her grandmother after visiting a local clinic where she was told she had fallen pregnant. “I told Gab that because of what he had done to me,I had missed my monthly periods and my stomach was bulging. He told me that the pregnancy would be terminated in Chivhu,” she said.
She also produced a knife which she said Manyere used to threaten her. Manyere claimed the minor’s grandmother framed the whole story after failing to pay him his monthly wages since 2010.
“The whole story has been fabricated because the girl’s grandmother failed to pay me the agreed sum of $100 per month since 2010. So she wants to silence me,” he said.
Manyere was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He will however serve 12 years in prison after the magistrate suspended three years on the condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Donkeys Ordered to Wear Nappies
BBC|Donkeys have been banned from entering Kenya’s north-eastern town of Wajir unless they wear nappies.
Officials say the rule is to protect the town’s newly laid tarmac road.
A letter told donkey-cart owners they must manage their animal’s faeces “to avoid poop all over the tarmac road creating nuisance”.
BBC Monitoring’s Abdullahi Yusuf Osman in Kenya says cart owners are complying – some sharing t.ips on social media on how to attach nappy sacks.
Donkey carts are a common sight in Wajir’s town centre, our reporter says.
A similar nappy order was issued in Limuru, about 50km north-west of the capital, Nairobi, in 2007 but it was never put into practice, he says.
The authorities in Wajir, which is more than 600km north-east of Nairobi, are probably keen to protect the new tarmac road after waiting decades for such development, our correspondent says.
The new road was built last year and is 27km long.
The nappy notice was issued on Monday and came into affect on Thursday.
“[The county government] appreciates the contribution of the donkey-cart operators to the economy of Wajir… However the town must be kept clean at all times,” it says.
“In view of the above you are directed to manage your donkey poop (faeces)…. No donkey will be allowed in town without this poop-collecting bag.”
“Less than 5,000 at Mugabe March,” Obert Gutu Insists
Patrick Guramatunhu|Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC spokesperson, Obert Gutu says less than 5,000 people turned up for Robert Mugabe’s march in Harare Thursday.
We have all heard of the expression “of the ostrich burying its head in the sand” meaning someone who is refusing to confront or acknowledge a problem. With the MDC ostrich the expression has assumed a more sinister meaning!
“The so-called million men march that was staged by the faction-ridden and crumbling Zanu-PF regime on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 was a spectacular flop,” wrote Obert Gutu.
He continued, “a few thousand people, most of whom had been commandeered to travel to Harare to attend the puerile and utterly purposeless march, turned up for this non-event. In fact, less than 5,000 people turned up for this march, whose main agenda was to massage the ego of a nonagenarian who has run down the former jewel of Africa. What a big yawn, the march was.”
There is no doubt that President Mugabe “has run down” Zimbabwe’s once promising economy the facts on the ground speak volumes; unemployment rate has soared to 90% as the nation has continued to lose jobs and the regime has failed to deliver on its 2013 promise of 2.2 million new jobs.
Yes the march was “to massage” President Mugabe’s humongous ego praising his “visionary and iconic leadership” many of the huge and industrial produced quality placards. Given that he is the one responsible for the country’s economic mess, only someone with a humongous ego would still beam with pride, as Mugabe did, at be showered with such meaningless praise.
It is laughable that 90% of those marching and singing Mugabe’s praise are unemployed. Surely there must be one or two homemade placards at least demanding that the President should honour his promise and create jobs; there were not even one such placard! None!
President Mugabe spend billions of dollars in the last election to pay for his very elaborate and expensive vote rigging scheme in the 2013 elections. He paid the Israeli company that tampered with the voters roll US$10 million and must have spent millions on the hired crowd and on bussing them around the country to attend rallies and then to vote on polling day.
Some people believe it must have costed the regime $200 million to hire and bus this one-million man march crowd (none of them dared raised the lack of employment opportunities or many of the other problems because they were paid to praise the great leader even when that meant lying about his competence). President Mugabe admitted in March that $15 billion in diamond revenue was looted; it is no secret that Zanu PF chefs are the looters including the President himself. President Mugabe paid the $200 million for his one-million man march, it was small change to him!
The one million man march was a “flop” first and foremost because this country has a thousand and one other pressing matters to which the $200 million should have been used. Zimbabweans are very rarely granted a chance to meet President Mugabe and so for these marchers to do so and then say nothing to him about their myriad of economic problems included the lack of job opportunities was a wasted opportunity.
Only a shallow minded person like Obert Gutu would argue the march was a flop because instead of the one-million Zanu PF claims “less than 5 000 people turned up”. He missed the point completely because it is not the head count that is at issue here.
What exposed Gutu for his the proverbial ostrich with the head buried in the sand mentality is his claim that “less than 5 000 turn up” and even gave the list of school buses commandeered by Zanu PF as it to “prove” his case. Anyone who has seen the photographs or videos of the rallies saw there were a lot more that 5 000 people at the rally!
Failure to implement reforms is like ostrich burying its head in the sand to escape grass fire
Tell you what you empty head Gutu; give me $200 million even $2 million and even I Patrick Guramatunhu the son of a peasant with none of your Deputy Minister of Justice in the GNU political credentials, will amass a hired crowd of one million!
Zanu PF’s unfettered access to State human and material resource including the looted wealth from Marange diamonds is at the very heart of its ability to amass a one-million man hired crowd and to rig national elections. This is way we must implement the democratic reforms necessary to stop the regime looting the nation’s resources and then, to rub hot chilli into the nation’s eyes, use the looted wealth to bankroll its vote rigging schemes.
MDC failed to implement even one democratic reform during the GNU allowing Zanu PF to blatantly rig the July 2013 elections. Since the elections MDC-T has promised to implement the reforms but to date, it is only two years now left before the next elections, the party not implemented even one reform.
The fact that Zanu PF has managed to use its ill-got wealth once again to stage this pointless one-million man rally should be a stake reminder to the opposition body politics and the nation at large that unless meaningful democratic reforms are implemented quick-smart Zanu PF will blatantly rig the next elections. Obert Gutu’s pathetic attempt to falsify the size of the hired crowd is the ostrich in him burying its head in the sand, in this case, not to see the fierce grass fire engulfing it!
We can hardly endure another day of this economic meltdown let alone another five years beyond 2018 and yet unless we implement the reforms that is what we will have. We must not allow ourselves be fooled by people like Gutu, the present economic meltdown is hurting us a hell lot more than it is hurting Gutu and his fellow MDC friends who sold-out during the GNU and failed to implement even one reform.
Wutaunashe Blew Thousands on Secret Girlfriend – REPORT
The preacher who claims that God Almighty utilised the 2013 elections to grant Robert Mugabe another chance, the humiliated founder of the Family Of God Church, Andrew Wutaunashe is under fire for allegedly blowing tens of thousands of dollars, being church money, on his secret Tswana girlfriend, while poor church congregants worship under a tree.
The woman, Masego Makhao, whose affair with the preacher was exposed early this year, had been the man’s secret concubine for several years, witnesses reveal.
As Wutaunashe now faces an embarrassing divorce lawsuit with his wife of over 35 years, church members have begun blowing many secrets on the affair open. At the centre of the allegations is the manner in which church funds were managed. Wutaunashe is accused of preaching a “twisted gospel,” in order to gratify his fleshly pleasures, as some former pastors charge.
One of the preacher’s closest relatives, Melody, during the week fingered him for “misappropriation of funds”. She continued, “you are preaching the twisted word zvino munda wava kudyiwa nembwa semakarima nyama”.
She also repeated words previously uttered by Wutaunashe’s wife, Rutendo calling him to repent. “Repent and stop waffling sekuru. All you need is to repent and ask for forgiveness from Mbuya and go back to your family,” she wrote.
She continued, “Don’t force people to give you whilst you are misusing their money.
“Why did you buy Makhao that car worth over US$80,000 yet complain that muzukuru Melody is causing the money drought in your church?”
Before you complain about me, sell that Q7 and donate that money to Kwekwe church who are now attending church under a tree “semarovambira”.
“They did not give for you to buy expensive cars for concubines. I understand you also bought a Fortuner for someone else again, Chakatanga ndochakachenjedza.
“The bible doesn’t say “give for Andrew Wutawunashe to buy boutiques, Q7 and houses for Jezebel.” Those who closed wallets, sando kwamuri. You did well by closing your wallets to AW private limited. ”
Wutaunashe who was unavailable for comment at the time of writing, has gone on record saying that his marital affairs are no one else’s business. In a letter availed to ZimEye.com, he ordered people to avoid asking him questions on this matter.
Mnangagwa to Open New High Court in Masvingo
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is dashing to Masvingo to open Zimbabwe’s first High Court in that region.
Zimbabwe’s third High Court will be officially opened here on Monday. Mnangagwa is expected to officially open the third High Court in Masvingo Central Business District.
Legal experts have described the event as a noble gesture that will ease congestion in the country’s courts. “We welcome the opening of the third High Court in Masvingo. This will certainly ease congestion in the courts.Apart from that it is a remarkable decentralisation process.We therefore view the development as a step in right direction.Masvingo Province has in the past recorded many murder cases,”said Masvingo based lawyer Rutendo Makoni.
Mugabe Hits the Skies Again
Robert Mugabe once again flew out of Harare yesterday.
He flew to attend the 8th Summit of African, Caribbean and Pacific group of States (ACP) in Papua New Guinea.
Mugabe was accompanied by his wife, Grace, Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and permanent secretaries Ambassador Joey Bimha and Mr George Charamba.
Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko is now the Acting President.
Mugabe was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Cabinet Ministers Sydney Sekeramayi and Ignatius Chombo, service chiefs and senior civil servants.
Seventy-nine countries have confirmed attendance to the meeting and will be represented at different levels, said Papua New Guinea Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Mr Rimbink Pato recently.
The summit will discuss the future of the ACP group as a revitalised cohesive force advocating the interests of its member states in the international arena.
The grouping consists of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states, with all of them except for Cuba, being signatories to the Cotonou Agreement, also known as the “ACP-EC Partnership Agreement”.
The ACP has been behind Zimbabwe for the past 15 years when Britain and its allies launched an onslaught on the country protesting the land reform programme.
Tsvangirai’s Marches are Useless – Pastor Mawarire
“This Flag,” pastor Evan Mawarire has rubbished MDC-T marches.
Mawarire said they have achieved nothing as he launched an alternative strategy.
On the eve of the much publicised MDC-T demo in Bulawayo slated for Saturday, Mawarire lambasted both MDC and ZANU PF’s technique of holding marches saying they have not delivered any results for Zimbabweans. He launched his alternative method which he titled, “Speak, Ask and Act.” FULL VIDEO:
Mnangagwa Dead End
President Robert Mugabe’s game plan for the million-man march was to shut the door on his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa and present a picture of invincibility — a review paper by the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) says.
In the paper titled “Zanu PF million-man march: Mugabe’s game plan” ZDI, a respected political and economic think tank, said it was clear that faced with internal revolt, the nonagenarian leader would choreography his most ardent supporters to hold a march similar to the year 2007 when the party was also going through almost similar internal upheavals.
Zanu PF between 2007 and 2008 can be likened to the attendant situation characterised by fissures in all organs of the party,” notes the paper.
In 2007 just like now, Mugabe was facing revolt from a faction that was led by the late Solomon Mujuru, and now the 92-year-old strongman is facing dissent from supporters of Mnangagwa — who want him to pass on the baton before 2018 elections.
“The 2016 march has occurred in almost mirror circumstances to that of 2007 where there is growing discontent within Zanu PF.
“The latest march is not about the youth or Zanu PF it is more about . . . Mugabe himself that those who seek to succeed him should not underestimate his popularity within the party,”
A purge of the Mujuru faction in 2014 that is now led by the wife Joice, failed to cleanse the party of the factionalism ailment — something that Mugabe is still battling with even today.
On Wednesday, Mugabe’s increasingly powerful wife Grace told party loyalists that her husband would rule from the grave, and the nonagenarian went on to describe those fanning factionalism that their actions are tantamount to “treason”.
After a nasty fallout with war veterans, his usual shock-troopers, Mugabe this time turned to the party’s youths — who embody the governing party’s ambitious generation 40 (G40) faction that is opposed to Mnangagwa’s rise.
“These marches also serve to show that despite his advanced age . . . Mugabe is still the only game in town. It is about Mugabe stamping and cementing his authority in Zanu PF.”
Under Mugabe’s watch Zimbabwe is groaning as the economy tumbles, cash is in short supply and millions are faced with starvation.
Analysts say conditions in the country are ripe for disaster — and ZDI said the solidarity march in support of Mugabe was a timely boast to the 92-year-old ego.
“The May 25 march comes as fundamentally a reactionary agenda to both internal and external challenges bedevilling the party and its leader.”
According to the report, the march was about showing rival factions that despite his advanced age, he is still popular in Zanu PF”.
“It also sought to react to opposition protests amid a regressing economy being presided over by Zanu PF.
“As Zanu PF is already in the 2018 election mode, this march served to show that despite growing discontent between war veterans and . . . Mugabe, the party can do without them and rely on the youth to deliver victory.”-DailyNews
Magaya Inserted His Manhood into My Private Parts
A female church member and former worker of controversial preacher, Walter Magaya, says the clergyman sexually pleasured himself on her.
In an official legal letter availed by the South Africa based The Herdboy portal, the woman, Angela Charakupa, says the married preacher used her for his carnal gratification while claiming he would soon marry her.
If the claim proves true, Charakupa would be the second woman to humiliate the preacher after the late Chipo Chakanyuka who two years ago died mysteriously after being forcibly sent by Magaya on a fake Botswana church assignment as the latter’s mother reveals to ZimEye.com.
Charakupa’s letter of demand was reportedly delivered to Magaya’s Waterfalls offices on Thursday.
The Headboy says close links to PHD ministries leaked the contents of the letter delivered by Angela Charakupa represented by DEBWE & PARTNERS LEGAL PRACTITIONERS of 6th floor, Pockets building, Jason Moyo avenue Harare.
The letter of demand reads as follows:-
RE: DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF PROMISE TO MARRY:OUR CLIENT, MISS ANGELA CHARAKUPA.
1. We have been consulted and act for and of behalf of Miss ANGELA CHARAKUPA in the above matter. Please note our client’s interest therein.
2. Our client has instructed us that in March 2014, she joined your Ministry, namely Prophetic Healing & Deliverance Ministries (PHD) and then two (2) weeks later, you recruited her to market and advertise your Ministry on YADAH TV. We are instructed that our client appeared on TV in April, in some of our local newspapers and also on some online publications for the said purpose. Thereafter our client was deployed in your Ministry’s International Relations (IR) office at at Waterfalls and would receive a salary of US$400.00.
3. We are further instructed that thereafter, a love affair developed between yourself and our client. We are further instructed that as a result thereof and in September 2014, you then promised to marry our client, purchase a flat for her, a vehicle of her own choice and also give her some money that would greatly improve her social status in the society. We are also further told that during the existence of the engagement you would give her some gifts and money and engage in sexual intercourse with her on the understanding that you would marry her. We confirm that we have the full particulars of the said sexual relations.
4. However, in or about mid 2015, and to our client’s dismay, you repudiated the said agreement by displaying conduct that clearly amounted to a refusal to proceed with the promised marriage. We are informed that the said repudiation was wrongful and you acted animo iniuriandi.
We are further instructed that the aforesaid breach was injurious to our client resulting in her leaving your Ministry’s employment in December 2015.
5.We are further instructed that as a further result of your breach of the aforesaid contract, our client has suffered both contractual and delictual damages. She has interalia suffered loss of financial benefits of the promised marriage and also damages by the reason of your contumacious breach of contract whereby her personal dignity and reputation have been severely impaired. We are informed that some of her former workmates and other members of your Ministry were aware of the said relationship. We are further informed that our client was a Counselor in your Ministry and as such would be consulted by many girls for counseling sessions, she learnt that you have multiple sexual partners.
As a result thereof, our client is now extremely concerned about her health condition and has been advised by her close relatives to undergo some medical tests.
In the circumstances hereof ,our client has instructed us to demand from you ,as we hereby do and within seven (7) days from date of service of this letter:
(a) payment of the sum of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$ 500 000.00) in full and final settlement of all her claims against you and
(b) a full and unconditional apology for all what you did to her during the period of your association.
Should we not receive payment of the said amount as aforestated ,our client shall be compelled to approach the High Court of Zimbabwe for relief. Our client’s strict instructions are to proceed with the above matter to its final end and determination and she is in possession of incontrovertible evidence to support her claim.
We now await to here from you.
SIGNED
DEBWE & PARTNERS
Legal Practitioners
Another Accident in Chitungwiza: 15 People Killed | BREAKING NEWS
A horrific accident in Chitungwiza has left a total fifteen (15) people dead.
The tragedy happened when a commuter omnibus travelling along the Chitungwiza –Dema road last night, collided head-on with a haulage truck, ZimEye.com has learnt.
The kombi travelling to Wedza, collided with a lorry carring tobacco. The truck did not have lights and was driving in the wrong lane, ZimEye.com is reliably told.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the accident.
She said 12 people died on spot whilst three more died on admission at Chitungwiza General Hospital.
She added saying an additional eleven passengers are in critical condition. More to follow…
CHIREDZI ACCIDENT DEATH: LATEST
The bus conductor killed in the InterAfrica bus tragedy has been named as Carlos Masando.
Popularly called by his Catholic name, “Gweja Musande,” the man was killed on the spot in the Chiredzi accident while travelling to Mutare, ZimEye has been told.
Masando’s twin brother told ZimEye.com, Carlos was thrown out of the bus after it collapsed on Tuesday.
He is scheduled to be buried at Mbudzi in Harare. Meanwhile donations can be sent over to Masando’s brother whose Ecocash number is +263772846775. READ MORE
DID YOU ALSO WITNESS THIS ACCIDENT? Send in your video, pictures and details of your experience right now to +447426863301
South Africa Launches “Mugabe Horrific” Land-Grabs
South Africa has begun steps to launch Robert Mugabe style farm-land grabbing. Widely termed “expropriation,” the scheme will see white owned farms being forcibly taken away by the government on values sovereignly imposed by the state.
The parliament yesterday approved a bill allowing the government to expropriate land in what it says is “the public interest”.
The measure will allow the compulsory purchase of land to place more in black ownership.
Most of South Africa’s land remains in white ownership two decades after the end of apartheid.
The governing ANC party said the law would tackle injustices imposed by white-minority rule.
However, the opposition Democratic Alliance opposed the bill.
BBC South Africa correspondent Milton Nkosi says land is an emotive issue 22 years after the end of apartheid.
President Jacob Zuma must now sign the bill into law, a move that could take weeks or months.
Under the new law, the state will be able to expropriate land in the “public interest”, paying the owner a value determined by a government adjudicator.
“The passing of the bill by parliament is historic and heralds a new era of intensified land distribution programme to bring long-awaited justice to the dispossessed majority of South Africans,” the ANC (African National Congress) said in a statement.
About 10% of land in white ownership has been transferred to black owners since the end of apartheid, which is only a third of the ANC’s target.
Correspondents say it will not mean the kind of often violent land grabs from white farmers seen in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
President Zuma and the ANC have said that land distribution has to take place in the framework of the law.- BBC/Additional Reporting
Maleme Resistance Chief Dies
Staff Reporter| CHIEF Malaki Masuku of Maleme in Matobo District has died at the age of 81.
Chief Masuku who is famous for leading his people resist the take over of Maleme Ranch by government last year died in the early hours of Tuesday at the United Bulawayo Hospitals.
Matobo District Administrator Robert Muzezewa said the Chief died yesterday morning to end his 23-year reign.
“He died today (yesterday) in the morning. He was a shrewd chief who advised us on how to handle issues the traditional way. He died due to cardiac arrest. The
Chief had been unwell for quite some time,” said Muzezewa.
He said Chief Masuku’s reign began in 1992 following the death of his father.
“He took over from his father Chief Gareth Nzula Masuku in 1992. His father had served in that position since 1988. Chief Masuku is survived by a son, Nkulumane,” he said.
Muzezewa said although burial arrangements are yet to be concluded, Chief Masuku would be buried at his rural
home in Nzula, Nathisa.
“The government is mandated to take care of burial arrangements. The state will provide the coffin while the Ministry of Public Works will prepare the grave as per
the honour prescribed to traditional leaders,” said Muzezewa.
No comment could immediately be obtained from his family or the president of the Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira.
Wicknell Chivayo Seeks to Reverse Fraud Conviction
Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo is fighting to have his 2005 conviction on money laundering quashed by the Supreme Court despite having fully served the three-year prison term imposed on him.
Chivayo was in 2005 jailed five years for money laundering, which involved R837 000 by the High Court. Two years were conditionally set aside, leaving him to serve an effective three years in prison.
He appealed to the Supreme Court against both conviction and sentence, but his appeal could not be heard since 2005 after it emerged that some papers were missing from his court record.
Through his lawyers Advocate Thabani Mpofu and Mr Wilson Manase of Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners, Chivayo this month revived his bid for acquittal by filing supplementary heads of argument.
In the heads of argument, Chivayo argued that the conviction was inconveniencing him and that it must be quashed.
Chivayo argued that since some papers were missing from the court record — coupled with the fact that reconstruction of the same record as directed by the late Justice Wilson Sandura some 11 years ago has not been done — he was entitled to an acquittal.
“No record has been prepared. Appellant has fully served the imposed term of imprisonment. There is no prospect that the appeal will ever be heard. The conviction, however, remains a huge inconvenience to the appellant.
“There is something fundamentally wrong with this state of affairs,” argued Chivayo’s lawyers. The absence of a record of proceedings is a fatal irregularity given that the High Court is a court of record.
“When faced with an incomplete record of proceedings, this court has no option but to quash the proceedings a quo.” The delay in the finalisation of the appeal, the lawyers argued, was a breach of the Constitution.
“The absence of the record is at any rate, a breach of Section 70 ( 5) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“The delay in the finalisation of the appeal constitutes a breach of appellant’s right to a fair hearing within a reasonable period as set out under Section 69 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” argued Chivayo.
The delay, it is argued, also constitutes a breach of his right to access a court as set out under Section 69 (3) of the supreme law.
Chivayo further argued his rights to human dignity and freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment as enshrined under Sections 51 and 53 of the Constitution were also violated.
The matter is yet to be set down for hearing at the Supreme Court. Allegations against Chivayo arose on July 4 and 5 in 2002 when he allegedly received R837 000, which was part of proceeds of a crime.
The money was in form of three cheques, which he deposited into his bank account.
Chivayo pleaded not guilty to the charges but the High Court found him guilty and slapped him with a prison term on August 4 2005.
The High Court dismissed Chivayo’s application for leave to appeal on the basis that there were prospects of success in the challenge.
However, the late Supreme Court Judge Justice Wilson Sandura allowed him to lodge the appeal.
Bail pending appeal was dismissed resulting in Chivayo serving the prison term without being heard on appeal.-state media
Mtukudzi Endorses Mugabe’s Dictatorship
Music superstar Oliver Mtukudzi on Wednesday endorsed President Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship when he performed at the aging leader’s one million-man march held in Harare.
Mtukudzi made a surprise appearance at the controversial pro-Mugabe event which was meant to prop up support for the veteran leader.
Tuku, who sources at the information ministry say regularly, and secretly visit the first family, entertained hundreds of thousands of Zanu PF supporters most of them vendors and senior citizens who had been bussed from all over the country to come and endorse Mugabe.
At the event where Tuku performed, while President Mugabe’s wife, Grace declared that her husband will die in office.
The veteran singer who has never publicly associated himself with Zanu PF, sang only just two songs in between Grace and her husband President Robert Mugabe’s address.
Mtukudzi’s performance excited the entire Zanu PF big wigs seating at the VVIP section who were seen dancing.
But on social media the opposition MDC-T and the general public condemned Tuku for associating with President Mugabe’s party..
“Tuku has sold out his soul for few pieces of silver!” posted MDC-T national spokesperson, Obert Gutu, on his twitter handle.
“Thomas Mapfumo WOYE, Tuku shouldn’t go political!”, he said”
He was however countered by Zanu-PF national political commissar Savoir Kasukuwere and the party’s propagandist Jonathan Moyo who defended Mtukudzi.
“Stop that Obert he is just a musician and if you need him ask ! Stop It,” said Kasukuwere.
“Sounds of Oliver Mtukudzi enveloping #MillionManMarch right now. Everyone here under the spiritual spell of pure musical beauty at work!,”Moyo weighed in.
Jaboon Attacked, Escapes Abduction “Bomb”
Terrence Mawawa, Bikita| Barely a week after Zanu PF Provincial Political Commissar Jeppy Jaboon openly attacked Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, two unknown assailants accompanied by a Zanu PF official pounced on the legislator and made off with his vehicle and party documents.
The incident, which party insiders say is not a robbery case, happened hardly week after Jaboon openly attacked Mnangagwa at a party meeting.
As Zanu PF factional wars continue unabated, party insiders told ZimEye.com, the assailants wanted to abduct the outspoken MP but he was not in the vehicle at the time of the attack.
ZimEye.com can reveal the names of the persons fingered in the notorious attack said to have included the intended use of a petrol explosive.
“The people who raided Jaboon’s aides wanted to abduct the MP but he was not in the vehicle at that time, ” a senior Zanu PF official told ZimEye.com.
They added, “the people searched the car and confiscated party documents before driving the vehicle away. Two unkown men were accompanied by Obvious Madzivanyika, a known Team Lacoste member. He is the driver of Honourable Anna Runganai, a proportional representation legislator for Bikita. So we cannot say it was a robbery incident. Actually they wanted to abduct Jaboon,” they continued.
Contcted by ZimEye.com, Jaboon angrily said he was not in the mood to speak on the matter.
“Talk to the guys who were in the car when the incident happened,” he said. Thomas Chireshe, one of Jaboon’s aides said the assailants confirmed they were on a mission.
“The people who took the car claimed they are working with Bikita (MP’s name withheld) and some senior party officials,” alleged Chireshe.
Party sources warned that the struggle between the G-40 and Team Lacoste could turn nasty as the two rival camps battle for the control of affairs in the ruling party.
ROHR Zimbabwe Ephraim Tapa’s Private Purse
Protest outfit ROHR(Restoration of Human Rights) members in Zimbabwe say the organisation is nothing more than a private purse for the leader Ephraim Tapa and his family. Mass-revolt is boiling up from within.
Four years ago, Tapa was exposed for opening a personal ROHR bank account at the height of an embarrassing audit commissioned by committee members, the development which led to Tapa being booted, afterwhich he formed his own morph using that private bank account. He surreptitiously “took over” ROHR from the rightful founders who include Stendrick Zvorwadza and Grace Mupfurutsa.
After that members who later joined his baby NGO have since begun demanding secondary investigations to rip into Tapa’s conduct.
A message that has been doing the social media rounds over the past few days and now finally circulated to journalists reads in part: “these questions are directed to all Rohr members and Mr Tapa himself. We have made several recommendations on professionalising the organisation through a number of good corporate governance systems which have not been taken on board chief among them the opening of a bank account in Zim. The system of sending money through Western Union to your niece/daughter Locadia Tapa Muchunga for organisational purposes is not proper for a big movement like Rohr Zimbabwe as the system is prone to manipulation and cannot be properly audited or usage of funds followed up since on withdrawal the money is taken and kept in Budiriro at your daughter/Mukwasha’s residence until it is used up without any track.
Which brings us back the question of whether Rohr is a people’s movement or your family project. On numerous occasions you have instructed that money that is send to Zimbabwe be transferred to your personal bank account, be paid to several people, be given to a docile board member in Bulawayo who we have not yet seen and on all these occasions we have questioned your daughter and at one point yourself. Your response was “it’s my personal money and no one can question me.” ”
The communication also queries why Mr Tapa comes to Zimbabwe “on countless occasions” (sic), driving hired vehicles and sleeping in expensive hotels and the role of a board member known as “Mr Muzenda”, who only appears to ROHR members when Tapa is in town.
Understandably, ordinary Zimbabwe-based members of ROHR are starting to feel used as they are requested to take part in demonstrations organised by other activist groups.Pictures of their participation are then sent to the UK. The Zimbabwe-based members of ROHR suspect that such pictures are being used to solicit for funds in the UK. They would not mind so much if the funds being solicited for using their pictures and their participation at these demonstrations were sent back to Zimbabwe, directly to the organisation’s structures rather than to Tapa’s niece/daughter. It is not clear how the funds are obtained in the UK. Mr Tapa himself, during his last visit to Zimbabwe (April 2016), said that a total of £10000 had been received for Zimbabwe. No one within ROHR’s Zimbabwean structures has seen any of this money.
It is also known that each UK branch was twinned with a Zimbabwean provincial counterpart. What is not known is how much money each branch has raised for its twin, and how much of that money has been sent over. “ All provincial structures and newly established districts feel there are being used by you and some of your close people in the UK to further your own personal interests and raise funds for your personal benefits without funding provincial activities. This must stop forthwith.”
There is also the issue of labour disputes, with office bearers demanding compensation for their services. It is understood that it was recommended by the Zimbabwe Chapter of ROHR that all office bearers sign a volunteer contract, but Tapa refused with no explanation. The Zimbabwe Chapter would also like it to be explained how Tapa, being an asylum seeker, manages to visit his native country so frequently. It is also being alleged that he meets CIO bosses and pays them huge sums of money on such visits.
The Zimbabwe Chapter has made the following demands:
1. That there be a full Board appointed in Zimbabwe not two people you and Mr Muzenda only
2. That the UK branches discuss their budgets with their twinned provinces, get authorised by board members and national office and send to the provinces as agreed for the agreed programs
3. That there be a bank account soon and no more funds send through Western Union.
4. That there be volunteer contracts for national and provincial office bearers
5. That an audit of all funds raised for Zimbabwe since August 2015 be done and sent to all provinces in the interests of transparency and accountability.
6. That UK branches have direct communication with their twinned branches in Zimbabwe
The message ends with the ominous: “Failure to meet these demands will be met with stiff resistance and demonstrations here in Zimbabwe.”
Kereke’s Brother: He Didn’t Do It
BROTHER to Zanu-pf Bikita West MP Munyaradzi Kereke yesterday exonerated the politician from allegations of raping a 13-year-old relative in 2010 and indecently assaulting her sister, claiming that he was with the legislator on the day he is said to have committed the offences.
Claitos Kereke told the court that he spent the entire night with Kereke at one of his houses in Mandara.
According to the State, the alleged abuse took place at Kereke’s other house in Vainona. Testifying as a defence witness in the ongoing trial, Claitos said he was sure that Kereke did not commit the offences.
This was after he was cross-examined by private prosecutor Mr Charles Warara on why he was 100 percent sure that Kereke did not go out on the day.
“How could he have gone out when I am the one who locked the doors and took the keys to my room? He went to bed early and left me smoking outside,” he said.
“He told me not to misplace the keys since his car keys were also on that bunch of keys. There is no way he could have gone out.”
Mr Warara accused Claitos of lying. “Witness you are lying to the court and your testimony is tailor-made to suit accused person’s defence.
“Are you saying his house does not have spare keys or even for his car? Do you think he does not have a spare key? Stop lying under oath.”
Claitos said one of Kereke’s wives had gone to Chinhoyi with the spare keys. “How did you know about that information of the spare keys having been taken to Chinhoyi? Mr Warara asked.
“I asked him if he had spare keys to the house. The house has many doors, but all the other ones were locked except for the one we used which was facing the guard’s room,” he replied.
Claitos later stated that he was not sure if there were other spare keys.
“I put it to you that there was a meeting to build up Kereke’s defence. At first you told this court that you actually slept with Kereke in one bedroom and later shifted that he was in the main bedroom, while you occupied the spare bedroom,” he said.
“You are also saying things which are not in your statement to the police. You actually plotted how you were going to defend him and you crammed your defence. Witness stop making a story.”
Mr Warara expressed concern over the manner the police recorded witnesses’ statements.
The trial continues today with Kereke’s security guard testifying.
Mahofa Evicts Starving Chingwizi-Flood Victims
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| The minister of state for Masvingo, Shuvai Ben Mahofa, has ordered the 30 000 Chingwizi flood victims to relocate from the camp into the hinterland within the next four weeks.
Despite the critical shortage of food at Chingwizi camp, Mahofa told the villagers at the transit camp to relocate to hinterland or face eviction from the government.
The government did not compensate the villagers as earlier claimed 2 years before and last month Mahofa said there was no money to pay them. Despite the cold weather and the absence of clinics and schools, Mahofa said the government would not reverse its position. The villagers told Mahofa the relocation would be disastrous because of severe shortage of food and they would be forced to live in the open.
But a defiant Mahofa said those who attempt to resist the relocation would be ruthlessly dealt with. “I have to warn those who will attempt to resist the relocation programme that they will regret,” she said.
She continued saying, “we are not negotiating with you but we are simply telling you what is going to happen. Food will be given to those who will be moved from this place.
“We have no resources as government so we are going to negotiate with companies who can ferry you. We will take over any company that refuses to assist us and that is how Zanu PF rules,” said Mahofa.
The Chingwizi flood victims, who have experienced the worst humanitarian crisis in the country since independence, told Mahofa they would only move after being fully compensated by the government. The war continues…
Chiwenga:Army Key To Economic Prosperity
Defence Forces boss, Gen Constantine Chiwenga, says the army will create solutions for Zimbabwe’s economic challenges.
Zimbabwe’s industry should invest in research and development and link with the Defence Forces and Government to promote local production and procurement to support economic growth, Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga has said. Presenting a paper on Local Procurement by Uniformed Forces for Economic Recovery at the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries annual general meeting yesterday, Gen Chiwenga made a number of pointers that he said may lead to economic recovery.
These include coming together of industry, the Defence Forces and Government to “think” through solutions to the current challenges.
Also, developing local production capacity, resurrecting troubled industries and strengthening co-operation between military and industry researchers would be critical.
Local procurement would reduce reliance on imports, reduce the import bill and grow the economy.
General Chiwenga said it is important to have co-operation between industry and the Defence Forces in research and development to create solutions to the economic challenges.
He said from a security perspective, local procurement is the best as it assures certainty of supply even in the event of war.
“The capacity to create defence goods must be localised and it is not appropriate for us to be importing almost everything even to the extent of importing swords, berets and buttons for use by the military,” said Gen Chiwenga.
“I therefore, challenge you members of the CZI to invest in research and development that is targeted to meet the needs of the Defence Forces. By this I am stating that the CZI must be innovative and come up with solutions to enable the Defence Forces to develop that capacity required to carry out its mandate and usher in that peace dividend critical for sustainable national economic development.
“Therefore, as your country’s security forces we are aware of the need to support the local industry through appropriate procurement policies.
“The overall procurement guidelines direct procurement officers to consider local producers first before engaging foreign sources for the supply of the goods required by the Defence Forces, in line with the indiginisation laws of the country,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces is one of the single major spenders of Government which is often expected to stimulate aggregate demand in the economy.
Buying imported goods means exporting cash which is already in short supply. Also, it
means exporting labour.
As such, Gen Chiwenga said procurement officers are fully aware of the effect of defence spending on the economy.
But for local producers to be competitive there is therefore need for business to be aggressive in its approach and reclaim its space. This means that business should also follow and invest where the defence forces create peace in the region.
Gen Chiwenga pointed to the lackadaisical approach by business when the army helped end wars in neighbouring Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo saying business did not move in to invest in the two countries.
“Regrettably, there were no corresponding interests from Zimbabwean businesses to follow in the footsteps of the Defence Forces to establish businesses there, instead South African companies ended up seizing the peace dividend. I certainly crave for the development of a courageous and patriotic crop of businesses that are aggressive, independent and venturesome.
“Get the head out of the sand and let us do something for our country. If our local companies had ventured aggressively into these markets it would have created huge benefits to the Zimbabwean economy,” he said.
There is also need to revive industries that have either folded or are in intensive care.
Due to limited local industry capacity the security forces ended up creating capacity to produce their own uniforms.
“Where is David Whitehead Textiles? Where is Modzone Enterprises? When I received this invitation, I went down memory lane when co-operation was fruitful and weapon platforms like mortars were produced here. You would also readily remember the PUMA vehicle which was locally produced in this country and substantial coach building that was done by such companies as Dahmer.
“Therefore, there is need for that strong deliberate investment in research and development in industry that is geared to support the Defence Forces and the economy at large,” said Gen Chiwenga. -state media
Ecocash Threatens Traditional Banks-Analyst
One of Zimbabwe’s leading advisory firms says robust growth in technology based payment platforms poses a serious threat to the earnings of already frail traditional banks.
In the Banking Industry 2015 Review and Outlook released Thursday, Invictus Securities Zimbabwe said mobile money subscribers had doubled since March 2013, translating into a surge in the volumes of technology based payments, but posing “a threat to traditional banking”.
Fees and charges have become a major revenue earner for banks, as they grow increasingly cautious on lending, their traditional source of income.
Invictus however says income from transaction fees is coming under pressure as customers move to more efficient payment systems.
At the end of last year, mobile money subscribers rose to 7,3 million, from 5,3 million at the end of 2014. This number had been estimated at 2,2 million in March 2013.
“We foresee continued growth in mobile banking as it provides easy access to banking services and facilitates the ease of transferring money and making payments among other benefits, the same benefits that targets the financially excluded,” Invictus said.
“This poses a threat to traditional banking, through reduced transactional volumes and as a result decreased retail service fees. Mobile network operators were quick to respond to financial inclusion than banks. Transferring money and mobile payments constitute the biggest component at 72 percent for mobile money user services, the same core issues targeted by retail banking,” the report added.
It said retail banking would face even more problems as mobile money is projected to record “phenomenal growth” in Zimbabwe, under pinned by a financial inclusion strategy announced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in March.
“Coupled with pressure from central bank to lower bank charges, we forecast retail services revenue for banks to remain suppressed, hence forcing banks to rely more on interest income, which forms part of core banking.This on its own is a flag to transactional retail services fee income to banks going forward,” added Invictus.
It said the real time gross settlement system still dominated in terms of transactional values, but mobile payments accounted for 87,9 percent of transactional volumes.
Growth in mobile transactions translated to $427 million, equivalent to 7,5 percent of total monetary transactions.
It said going forward, and with the multicurrency regimein force, banks’ earnings would be driven by cost containment to enhance efficiency, as well as loan portfolio management.
“Embracing technology and participation in financial inclusion will also boost income and make banks competitive in the face of accelerated informalisation of the economy, increased mobile penetration rates and popularity of mobile money services,” said the report.
“In the short term, Treasury Bills Trading income and ZAMCO (Zimbabwe Asset Management Corporation) operations will likely drive income but we remain skeptical about the sustainability of these, and hence put doubt on banks that have income components largely driven by these components,” the report added.-The Source
Gumbura: My Wives Can Have Sex with Other Men
Jailed Independent End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura says he has no qualms if any of his wives walks out on him as they have been loyal for more than two years and are only human.
Speaking from his jail cell at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison to ZiFM Stereo Gumbura, who has 12 wives, bragged that he was the one who got the most visits at Chikurubi.
“Even today if I hear they have left, I would not complain if any of my wives decided to leave. They have been loyal for two-and-a-half years, and I get the most visits that sometimes they have to be divided into groups,” said Gumbura.
According to Gumbura, who is currently serving a 40-year jail term, his youngest wife is 24 years old and much younger than some of his 34 children.
The soon-to-be 60-year-old said naturally, he has a high sex drive and did not need to take any medicine or herbs to enhance his sexual appetite.
“I just used to eat healthy; fish, lacto, beans, mangoes, to make me naturally healthy, and you have to be someone with a high sex drive,” he said.
Gumbura, who only regards one as his wife after she has given birth, said he got married to his first wife at the age of 26 and only took the second one at 35.
“Even if I get released today, I will not stop polygamy because I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
Revealing more about how he used to manage his polygamous lifestyle, Gumbura said the practice that many now publicly frown upon is actually smart and civilised.
“I paid lobola for all my wives. Polygamy is a decent marriage. Women are not animals that you have intercourse with one and move on to the next the same night. I would take each wife per night. Remember there were also children in that house, it was orderly, and my eldest is 34,” the incarcerated cleric said.
“And it’s not like sex is just done at night, you can have it in the morning, in the afternoon, or at night, and it can be done neatly and decently.
“My days of sex were Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then I would go to the farm, or mine, and there are times I would get some off time and go to the farm and there I would get enough time.”
He said even in prison, people were curious to know how he used to manage his oversubscribed sex life — and he told them that his home was a peaceful environment where everyone got along well.
“I love women, and so I would want to change them here and there, I love variety, not particular features on women,” said Gumbura.
However, he said he was worried that his family was failing to cope in his absence and are now struggling with school fees and transport to take the children to school.
Before his arrest Gumbura was a farmer, a gold miner and a pastor. Daily News
Tsvangirai Party Slams Mugabe March
The so-called million men march that was staged by the faction-ridden and crumbling Zanu PF regime on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 was a spectacular flop. A few thousand people, most of whom had been commandeered to travel to Harare to attend the puerile and utterly purposeless march, turned up for this non-event. In fact, the rented, whose main agenda was to massage the ego of a nonagenarian who has run down the former jewel of Africa. What a big yawn, the march was.
The MDC has always stated that Robert Mugabe can afford to rig the economy but he can never successfully rig the economy. In fact, the Zanu PF regime forced public schools and other institutions to provide transport for their thoroughly undeserved march. The following statistics from Mashonaland West province provide an insight into how the fascist Zanu PF regime commandeered schools to provide transport for their uncalled and undeserved march :
Chegutu District :
1.Dudley Hall Primary School – one 63 seater bus
2.Musengezi High School – one 66 seater bus
3.Martindale High School – one 63 seater bus
4.St.Erick Primary School – one 48 seater bus
5.Bryden Primary School – one 30 seater bus
6.Presbyterian School – one 76 seater bus
7.Sandringham High School – one 76 seater bus
8.Vimbai High School – one 66 seater bus
9.Moleli High School – one 76 seater bus
Makonde District :
1.Sinoia Primary School – one 66 seater bus
2.Nemakonde High School – one 76 seater bus
3.Manyame Primary School – one 66 seater bus
4.Hope Tariro Primary School – one 66 seater bus
5.Chinhoyi High School – one 42 seater bus
6.Lomagundi College – one 76 seater bus
Kariba District :
1.Nyamhunga High School – one 63 seater bus
2.Nyamhunga Primary School – one 30 seater bus
Hurungwe District :
1.Karoi Junior School – one 65 seater bus
2.Chikangwe Primary School – one 30 seater bus
3.Magunje Barracks High School – one 65 seater bus
4.Karoi High School – one 30 seater bus
5.Chikangwe High School – one 30 seater bus
Sanyati District :
1.Jameson High School – one 64 seater bus
2.Rimuka 1 High School – one 28 seater bus
3.Rimuka 2 High School – one 75 seater bus
4.Chiguvare School – one 28 seater bus
5.Rubatsiro School – one 28 seater bus
6.Sir John Kennedy School – one 28 seater bus
7.Sanyati Baptist High School – one 75 seater bus
Mhondoro Ngezi District :
1.Ngezi High School – one 76 seater bus
Zvimba District :
1.Banket Primary School – one 63 seater bus
2.Darwendale Primary School – one 69 seater bus
3.Inkomo High School – one 65 seater bus
4.Sodbury Secondary School – one 63 seater bus
5.Cornway College – one 63 seater bus
6.Mutorashanga High School – one 37 seater bus
7.Kutama High School – one 65 seater bus
When the MDC staged the “mother of all demonstrations” in Harare on April 14, 2016 no less than 20 000 people voluntarily took part in the historic march. No single school or public institution was commandeered to provide transport to ferry our supporters to the march. Put simply, the MDC never coerced and/or extorted money and any other material resources from anyone.
Zanu PF operates like a bandit commandist organization. For example, all vendors operating from Mbare Musika in Harare were forced and commandeered to participate in the spurious and fascist march that took place in Harare on May 25,2016.The long- suffering people of Zimbabwe should resolutely refuse to pay homage to a brutal and totalitarian political system that has pauperised and traumatized them over the past 36 years. We say a very big NO to the Zanu PF dictatorship! We should stand up for our rights and refuse to be intimidated and threatened by an illegitimate and corrupt regime that is in the sunset of its life.
Zimbabwe has now reached a defining moment. Never again should we allow the brutal, extortionist and corrupt Zanu PF dictatorship to hold the people of Zimbabwe at ransom. Enough is enough! The people of Zimbabwe should appreciate the fact that the Zanu PF regime is now living on borrowed time. No matter how much repression and suppression is brought upon the toiling masses of Zimbabwe by the crumbling Zanu PF regime, the MDC urges the people to democratically and fearlessly fight for the establishment of an equal and egalitarian society in which the rights of all citizens are upheld and respected.
President Robert Mugabe, as expected, gave a thoroughly banal speech at the so-called million men march. The old man has nothing new that he can offer the people of Zimbabwe. He has superintended the total collapse of a country that used to be an economic giant in Africa. The address by Grace Mugabe was coarse and provocative. How can she contemptuously announce to the world that Robert Mugabe will rule from the grave?
This woman should be taught a little bit of decency. She shouldn’t be allowed to continue insulting the people of Zimbabwe. The time has come for all patriotic and peace-loving Zimbabweans to join hands and ensure that the Zanu PF illegitimate regime is lawfully and constitutionally removed from power. No other option will do.
Obert Chaurura Gutu
MDC National Spokesperson
ANOTHER ACCIDENT: 5 Killed On Chiredzi-Harare Route
Harare – ZimEye.com is receiving reports of another accident on the Chiredzi-Harare route on Wednesday, involving an Inter-Africa bus. (5) Five people were reportedly affected, ZimEye.com sources said.
The accident reportedly happened at the Zaka Jerera turn off. “If you have relatives who were travelling from Chiredzi to Harare with inter Africa please call and confirm; It was involved in an accident and 5 died on the sport including the driver and conductor,” a source wrote to ZimEye.com
The conductor has been named as Mr. Carlos Masando, popularly called by his Catholic name, “Gweja Musande.”
Concerns were heightened last night after an InterAfrica administrator switched the phone when contacted for comment.
Details were sketchy at the time of writing and an official statement from the police unfruitful. DID YOU ALSO WITNESS THIS ACCIDENT? Send in your video, pictures and details of your experience right now to +447426863301
‘For Us Business Is A Calling…’
It is important to line up with God’s calling and purpose, which are always linked to your gifting.
Having the calling and gifting is not the end. You need to develop and nurture your gifts by training and development. Involve the right mentors, coaches and advisors in order to ensure sustainable growth.
Be sure if business is your calling. If it is not, you have two choices. Either stop and do other things you are called to, or you can continue until God clarifies your direction. In this way you will not get disappointed when you get less than expected results. Listen to God.
Doing business in a corrupt environment.
‘Wealth gotten by corrupt means will be maintained by corrupt mean.’ The foundation is critical in determining your path and your future. Choose your path with wisdom. Do not give bribes and do not take bribes. Make up your mind now that you will wait on God’s timing and receive his blessing. Rather wait for a door opened by God, than force it using human effort. Decide today how you will handle this.
There is no substitute for integrity. And the Bible repeatedly states that integrity will be rewarded.
Babies do not grow to maturity in two days
It takes time. Just like a baby, growing and building a business takes time, effort and sacrifice. Therefore you need that character of Christ reflected through the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Avoid get rich quick schemes at all cost. They are not businesses, but just scams.
It is said that 80% of businesses that are started do not last for a year. And another 20% fail in the second year. You need tenacity to make it. It can take up to five years to lay a good foundation of a business and another five years to mature it. Patience is needed and is the fruit of the Spirit.
Do you know Warren Buffet? He made 99% of his money when he was over 50yrs old! Yes. He spent most of his life building a pipeline. At 50 he was worth $600m. This has since grown to over $63.3bn.
If you walk alone you walk fast, perhaps into your destruction. But if you walk with God, you walk into eternity. You work remain for ever. This is the kind of wealth that you can pass to the next generation.
Do not be short sighted. Consider the bigger picture. Put God first.
Have a great day!
If you enjoyed this article, share it with your most favourite friends!
Please share your thoughts, ideas and comments below!
© Copyright 2015 by It’s My Footprint, www.itsmyfootprint.com.
Mugabe fires warning shots
Staff Reporter| If the run up to the 2018 elections has to be weighed on the strength of public demonstrations, the current state of affairs is a convincing ZANU PF 1 – 0 MDC T with ZANU PF probably enjoying a 90% possession.
The ruling party planned for a million man march into Harare and managed to pull an extremely convincing figure of about 300 000 into the capital city to express their satisfaction with the leadership of President Mugabe.
The ZANU PF march comes a couple of months after rival opposition party Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai held a similar march which attracted just under 5 000 people out of a target of 100 000 people.
Mugabe’s march left the whole world stunned as very few people expected Zimbabweans to respond in the numbers they did in support of Mugabe under the current economic conditions in the country.
The MDCT will this weekend attempt another strike at Mugabe by holding another demonstration in Bulawayo.
But commented Mugabe supporter, Dr. Masimba Mavaza on the Mugabe march:”ZANU PF can claim success because they mobilized a significant number of willing masses. This is a serious show of democratic force. The human forces were everywhere. They came in jovial mood, they sang and praised their leader.”
Mugabe to Rule Zimbabwe “for 1,000 Years”, Alludes Grace | ANALYSIS
First Lady Grace Mugabe, says her husband, Robert will continue ruling Zimbabwe as a ghost after his death.
Appearing to borrow a pun from the late former Prime Minister, Ian Smith, who just before independence in 1980 said Zimbabwe will never be ruled by a black person for another 1,000 years, Grace on Wednesday said Mugabe was irreplaceable and would continue to lead the Southern African country from his grave.
Grace was addressing thousands of Zanu PF supporters gathered in Harare for the much touted one million man march in support of Mugabe’s candidature in the 2018 presidential elections.
“You were chosen and put aside because you are special. When sanctions started, we faced difficulties, but because of your consistence and principled, people know you stand for the truth and stand for Zimbabweans and Africans. As women’s league, we support you for 2018, we want you to be life president, you are irreplaceable, will make you our leader even in your grave at the heroes acre,” she said.
The controversial first lady said everyone at the Robert Mugabe Square, where the marchers gathered to be addressed by the nonagenarian leader, including journalists covering the event, had come because they supported Zanu PF.
Grace said Mugabe had been chosen by God because he was a principled leader who was loyal and loved the people of Zimbabwe and Africa at large.- IOL
Mpilo Hospital Boss’ Conviction Quashed by Judge
THE High Court has quashed both the conviction and sentence of former Mpilo Central Hospital staffer, Edgar Mdongo, who was jailed for five years for defrauding the hospital of R200,000.
Mdongo, who was the hospital’s chief medical equipment technician, was in December 2012, convicted of fraud after he, together with a former buyer, Dumisani Sibanda, inflated a quotation of R48,000 to read R248,000, prejudicing the medical institution of R200,000.
It was also alleged that he had been accessing the equipment department and other departments.
Mdongo was sentenced to five years imprisonment, three of which were suspended on condition that he restitutes the R200,000 while Sibanda was acquitted.
He was granted bail by the High Court in 2013 pending appeal against both conviction and sentence after arguing that the element of prejudice was not proved in his case.
Justice Francis Bere, sitting with Justice Maxwell Takuva at the criminal appeals court, upheld Mdongo’s appeal.
“The court is satisfied that both conviction and sentence were improper and accordingly the appeal is upheld,” ruled Justice Takuva.
Mdongo was the appellant while the state was cited as the respondent. Both the state and defence counsels concurred that there were gaps in the state’s case which arose from the failure by the prosecution to produce some of the key evidence pertaining to the award of the tender.
Nokuthaba Ngwenya, for the state, conceded that the prosecution failed to prove beyond any reasonable doubt the essential elements of the offence.
In his appeal, Mdongo, though his lawyers, Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Legal Practitioners, said the tender was won based on the lowest quotation but for the wrong specification of the equipment ordered.
He argued that the correct equipment was subsequently quoted R248,000 hence he did not prejudice the institution.
The lawyers said the lower court was misdirected, arguing that its judgment was unclear as to what had actually happened. state media
Mukaro High School Shut Down
The Masvingo school which recently had one of its dormitories burnt down, Mukaro High School in Gutu, has been closed.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Masvingo has closed Mukaro with immediate effect in protest against the continued presence of two teachers accused of having masterminded pupils’ protests in 2012.
The girls only boarding school has an enrolment of more than 700 pupils. Pupils were yesterday caught unaware by the action and were ferried home by buses, some from Catholic schools in Masvingo.
In a statement, the Education Secretary of the Catholic Diocese of Masvingo, Father Raphael Zindova, said the school has encountered challenges since 2012 and the situation remains tense due to the two “stubborn teachers.”
Zindova did not name the two teachers, but four years ago Martin Matenhere and Musana Chirikure were suspended for allegedly inciting pupils to strike but they appealed to the High Court and won their case.
The High Court ordered the school to lift the suspensions and interdicted the institution from transfering them.
The teachers have been reporting for duty but the relationship between them and their employer is said to have irretrievably broken down.
“Mukaro High School has encountered challenges since 2012. The situation has continued to be untenable, tense and disruptive due to the two stubborn teachers at the school. The responsible authority has been co-acted to close the school with immediate effect. Any query should be directed to Mr Zedius Chitiga, the Provincial Education Director of Masvingo Province,” reads the statement.
Chitiga was said to be out of office and his mobile phone rang unanswered yesterday.
His deputy Andrew Chikwange said they were still trying to ascertain the reasons for the school’s closure.
“Mukaro High School has been closed but we’re yet to establish the goings-on at the school. We’re currently seized with the matter. I hope we’ll have a position when my boss, Chitiga is in the office,” said Chikwange.
Sources said church authorities led by the Vicar General, Father Walter Nyatsanza, went to the institution yesterday morning and announced that the school was closing.
They allegedly cited the continued presence of Matenhere and Chirikure as the reason for the closure.
Parents with children at Mukaro High who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday expressed outrage at the decision to close the boarding school over the stand-off with two teachers.
The parents said it was shocking that their children were ordered to return home from school yet they had paid full fees.
They said the fight by the school authorities was not supposed to infringe on their childrens learning activities.
Problems at Mukaro have been brewing up since July 2012 when over 700 girls staged a protest and walked on foot to Mpandawana Growth point to meet ministry of Education authorities over a plethora of grievances.
The students were unhappy with the quality of food served at the school that was also chronically beset by water problems as three boreholes that supplied the institution were overwhelmed. – state media
Killing of School Girl by Kombi Driver
Press Statement on the running over of Queen Elizabeth Pupil on 23 May 2016 by Kombi
Passengers Association of Zimbabwe joins the families and friends of Jocelyn Gomba (17) and Mr. Oldwell Mabanga and Queen Elizabeth school’s staff and pupils in mourning. These two are victims of the lawlessness and disregard of lives being practiced by kombis as evidenced by the fact that they were run over and dragged by one of the kombis that use an undesignated pick up point at the corner of Park Lane and Leopold Takawira Street, on Monday 23 May 2016. Two other pupils were injured. The ubiquitous and nefarious existence of Mishikashika even at the gates of schools such as Queen Elizabeth and Girls High must come to an end. Things can no longer continue to fall apart, the centre must hold.
How many more pupils like Queen Elizabeth’s Jocelyn Gomba can we continue to lose? How many daughters, sisters or friends like her? How many bread winners, brothers, fathers or sons like Oldwell Mabanga? Even as we say may their dear departed souls rest in peace we call for an end to accidents of this nature. More so, as the owner of the kombi acted rather negligently by employing a driver who had acquired a driver’s license one year and four months before in defiance of the Road Traffic Act that makes it a prerequisite that one should have a five year experience.
The memorial march by Girls High and Queen Elizabeth School during a memorial service for their colleague does not only resonate in the heart of every individual who has been injured or has suffered the loss of a loved one or colleague in similar circumstances. Indeed, it is a wakeup call to the fact that the traffic jungle must be tamed. Kombi operators and crews must learn to obey the law. If they continue to act as if they are the law to themselves then legislators, the judiciary, law enforcement agents, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Harare and other municipalities and councils must work together in order to put a leash or to put down these rabid and rogue elements.
As PAZ we call for immediate action by the Municpality of Harare and ZRP Traffic Branch to remove the Park Street/ Leoplod Takawira Street “terminus”. The rank does not have a toilet such that kombi crews and vendors would relieve themselves at an abandoned and incomplete Leopold Takawira and Samora Machel Service Station, formerly a car sale. The students also continue to be harassed by touts and kombi crews. They are also blocked on both sides making their travelling from school to the CBD difficult.
SAY NO TO
ROAD ACCIDENTS
Your safety and rights are our goals
Contact:
Tafadzwa George Goliati
President
Mugabe Frees Thousands of Prisoners
ZANU PF leader, Robert Mugabe has issued an order granting thousands of prisoners release on Presidential Amnesty.
The Government Gazette of 23 May 2016 says that President Mugabe has ordered the country’s prisons to release up to 5700 prisoners on his clemency.
However, prisoners serving time for violent crimes such as murder, armed robbery, rape and others alike will not be eligible.
The country’s major prisons started releasing the prisoners on Tuesday. Though official figures of how many each prison is releasing were not available, ZimEye.com is reliably informed that a great number of female prisoners in the country are part of the amnesty.
The country’s prisons are currently holding about 160% prisoners to it’s capacity and battling to sustain the huge population. Starvation, sicknesses and death is the order in almost all of the country’s prisons due to over population and lack of resources.
Until this week, the Justice ministry had for some time been calling on the system to consider merely penalising offenders with non-custodial sentences as the prisons are failing to cope.
WATCH: China Unveils Bus that Drives Over the TOP of Other Cars
The idea is that passengers sit far above other vehicles on the road, allowing cars to pass underneath.
In a model of the vehicle, it appears to run on a set of fixed rails embedded on the road.
It means the vehicle is more like a cross between a tram and a bus.
Engineers hope the design will increase the availability of the road space, and cause fewer traffic jams than regular buses.
It is also expected to save costs compared to other public transport options, like the subway.
‘With a carrying capacity of 1,200 people at a time, the TEB has the same functions as the subway while its cost of construction is less than one fifth that of the subway,’ said Bai Zhiming, engineer in charge of the TEB project said in a YouTube video showing an interview with CCTV News. – CCTVNews
ZANU PF Members Beat Each Other Up as Mugabe watches
ZANU Pf members beat each other up today as President Robert Mugabe watched during the so called 1 million-man march.
It was chaos when the roudy youths fought each other over food and t-shirts. – VIDEO AND picture:
Tsvangirai Speaks from Hospital
By Morgan Tsvangirai| Fellow Zimbabweans, I write to express my heartfelt thanks to you all for the overwhelming support you continue to give me in my temporary period of indisposition.
The personal messages and the support you are giving me and my family is humbling. I want to thank you all for that awesome support to the party and the family, including my loving wife who is by my side as I return to full recovery.
I am equally aware, however, of the morbid wishes of some of my fellow countrymen. But I want to assure them that Morgan Tsvangirai will soon be back to be the usual pain to those at the helm of mis-governance; those who oppress the people and who are turning a blind eye to all this sickening poverty around us. I remain fully aware of and concerned with what we are all going through collectively as a people and as a country.
I am told that they have closed the country down today. All the suffering and struggling vendors have been asked to close shop and join a march to prop up the ego of Robert Mugabe. It is lost on them that it is the country–and not the people–that must be on a brave march to stability and progress.
To friends and foe alike, I want to assure you that I am recovering. I assure you that I must not be the cause of any national uncertainty. The irony is that yes, I may be indisposed, but I am more worried about my country and its economy that seem to be in a far much worse state than my personal state of health. It is the country that we all love that needs urgent healing. It is our country that must be the biggest worry for all of us, not only for our personal sake but for the sake of the legacy we must leave behind for future generations.
Rest assured, I am on the path to full recovery and I will be joining you soon to continue with the struggle for freedom, peace, democracy and national prosperity.
I wish you all a happy Africa Day.
Grace Mugabe Caught on Camera Frowning At Mnangagwa
Terrence Mawawa| Despite claims by ruling Zanu PF fanatics that there is no animosity between powerful First Lady Grace Mugabe and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the president’s wife was captured on ZBC television frowning at her husband’s deputy.
Mnangagwa, said to be Mugabe’s blue eyed boy years before, took to the podium to chant praises for the nonagenarian. But looking directly at him, Mrs Mugabe flung an exterior towards him looking sideways and broadly frowning in the process.
On realising the antagonism, the ZBC camera personnel attempted to divert attention to the cheering Zanu PF supporters, but it was too late to conceal the hostility.
Mrs Mugabe was also seen folding her arms as the Midlands godfather chanted slogans praising Mugabe.
Mrs Mugabe later went to the podium where she said Mugabe irreplaceable. “The truth is that President Mugabe cannot be replaced by anyone.He will rule until he dies in office.Even if he dies he will still rule.Therefore you must stop making noise.As far as I am concerned there is no one who can replace him. We know that there are people who are saying too many things but we are not even worried about that. Even if we bury him at the Heroes’ Acre, he will still remain in power,”she said.
Mrs Mugabe also took the opportunity to attack former freedom fighters, believed to be strongly behind Mnangagwa.
“We know that some you went to war but then we have to move forward. Why do we have to keep on looking behind our shoulders instead of looking at what is ahead?We are here to stay,” she said much to the delight of her G-40 allies. The First Lady said Mugabe, who will be 94 in 2018, was the party’s sole presidential candidate.
WATCH LIVE: Mugabe’s 1 Million March in Harare
Archbishop Flees As Clash Over Congregants Turns Nasty
Terrence Mawawa, Bikita| The Zion Apostolic Church(ZAC), Arch-bishop, Felix Peresu Masuka’s car was pelted with stones by a group of youths sent by his younger brother following fierce clashes over congregants.
Masuka was ambushed by his younger, Jacob Masuka and a group of youths while driving home from Chikuku Business Centre, after conducting a church service, church sources told ZimEye.com.
Jacob is accusing his elder brother of snatching his followers.
Jacob and a group of youths blocked Masuka with the former’s wife lying in the middle of the road. “When the archbishop stopped his vehicle, a group of youths planted in the nearby bushes began to pelt the car with stones. The windscreen was badly damaged in the process. The archbishop and his team managed to flee from the scene. The archibishop later mobilised youths who assaulted Jacob at his homestead. Jacob has since vanished and we do not know where he is up to now,” said a church congregant who declined to be named.
However the elder Masuka has vehemently denied the issue.
“As far as I am concerned everything is well in my church so I do not know what you are talking about. I am actually on my way to South Africa ,” he said.
On the contrary, Enos Muroorwa Masuka, a relative of the two brothers told ZimEye: “We are making efforts to unite the two. We even went to Chief Budzi seeking guidance in the same matter.”
ZANU Youths Shut Down Harare
Zanu PF will today literally shut down the capital city as hordes of its supporters engage in a controversial “one million-man march” that will see them congregating at the so-called Robert Mugabe Square near the Harare Show Grounds.
While today is Africa Day and therefore a public holiday, residents of Harare will be certainly caught up in the march that is being staged in support of 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe.
From the information released by the Zanu PF youth league that is organising the event, the controversial demonstration dubbed one million-man march will see roads such as Samora Machel Avenue, Robert Mugabe Road, Second Street, Rotten Row and Prince Edward Road and several other feeder roads being affected.
Zanu PF youth league deputy secretary Kudzanai Chipanga told the Daily News that provinces will camp at designated provincial assembly points just outside the central business district.
He said more than one million party supporters will descend on Harare since some provinces “did extremely well in terms of mobilisation”.
“It’s all systems go now because we have done what was supposed to be the difficult part that is mobilisation but we surprised even ourselves in that regard as we expect more than one million people after some provinces surpassed what we had envisaged.
“Yet transport is not a challenge because Zanu PF is one of the biggest and oldest political parties so that is solved. By tomorrow, (today) everything will be in place,” Chipanga told some stakeholders during a tour of the venue yesterday.
The National Sports Stadium has been reserved for all Matabeleland provinces as well as Midlands, while party supporters from Mashonaland West will assemble at Kensington Shopping Centre and East 24 will play host to Manicaland and Mashonaland East provinces.
Harare province will assemble at Raylton Sports Club with Rufaro Stadium hosting Masvingo. Mashonaland Central province will be at corner Cork Road and Sam Nujoma Street near the South African Embassy.
The provinces are expected to then march from these points from 0900 hours towards “Robert Mugabe Square” (which opposition parties refer to as Freedom Square) where they will be addressed by the party’s nonagenarian leader. Daily news
Mugabe Dead and Buried, Says Zambian Politician
Sakala, a former member of the National Restoration Party of Zambia(NAREP) said the people of Zimbabwe would soon be liberated from three decades of political bondage under Mugabe’s firm grip on power.
The 92 year old President,who will be 94 in 2018, has indicated his willingness to contest in the crucial polls,despite his advanced age.
Speaking at a Public Forum, organised by the Barbara Nyagomo led Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe(PDZ) last night, Sakala said Mugabe had outlived his mandate and he had nothing new to offer to the restive and long suffering Zimbabweans.
“The people of Zimbabwe have to maintain their focus because I know the conditions are very tough. Everything has been criminalised in Zimbabwe.Things are a bit different in Zambia.What I know is the people of Zimbabwe are in bondage but let me reiterate the fact that Mugabe will fall even before 2018.The economy is crumbling with each passing day so his government is doomed,”said Sakala. He said Zimbabwean opposition parties must focus on grassroots mobilization.
“I believe opposition parties must concentrate on grassroots mobilisation. I am happy I have been invited to the Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe forum.My advice to them and all opposition parties is that in Africa elections cannot be won on social media.There is need to put roots on the ground in order to defeat Zanu PF. As a politician, I believe in honesty,commitment, responsibility, humility,heart for the people,issue based politics and sense of community belonging,” said Sakala.
Ironically thousands of people have been bussed from different parts of the country for the Mugabe solidarity march.School pupils will be force marched to the event in a bid to portray Mugabe as an icon of Zimbabwe and Africa.
Chiyangwa Resignation Threat
ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa has threatened to resign if the Warriors fail to win international matches.
Chiyangwa said his number one priority is to ensure that the national teams win matches in their international
assignments and he promised to quit should they fail in that
mission.
Speaking at a media briefing where the Warriors squads for upcoming AFCON qualifier against Malawi and COSAFA Cup
tournament were announced yesterday by coach Callisto Pasuwa, Chiyangwa said everything else comes secondary.
The Warriors, the Mighty Warriors and the Young Warriors are all involved in big commitments, which urgently require funds.
“For me to put these teams together I need a budget of $485 000 that is for Uganda, Malawi and COSAFA matches,” said
Chiyangwa.
“So, in order for us not be crowded with financial issues, it is better for them (Mighty Warriors) to go away and we deal with
this present problem, that is financial engineering.
“Otherwise you know all of you that ZIFA has zero, it has a minus of $6 million dollars.
“I entered an office where there is a debt facing me of $6 million and I am expected to do as good as anybody else, which is what
you have seen me do, which is to put the debt issue aside, concentrate and focus at producing results because as long as I
don’t produce results as president of ZIFA, I will resign.
“If the national teams continue to lose I will resign because if I don’t resign you will finish me off you media guys.” Chiyangwa said he plans meticulously with his technical team ahead of such big games like the Malawi showdown.
“I plan to win, these guys (technical team) were here this morning at 8 ’clock for meetings. I plan to win, my game plan is to win, I don’t expect anything else from the technical team, that is why I asked them to take the best players we have in the world
wherever they are and I will look for the money to fly them in,” said Chiyangwa.
“We want to win because if we lose I will be finished.
“If the team begin to lose I will leave so that others can lead, that is
my story.”
As part of the reforms that will get the association up and running again, the Harare property mogul also revealed that ZIFA would
be re-branding in the coming fortnight.
Currently, the mother body is operating without a substantive general secretary following the departure of Jonathan
Mashingaidze, whose contract was not renewed.
Former chief operating officer Joseph Mamutse is acting in that capacity but a new chief executive is expected amid other changes as part of the re-branding strategy to be announced in two weeks’ time.
“In about two weeks’ time we would be re-branding ZIFA. We are changing everything that is happening at ZIFA and I mean everything that is all I can say,” said Chiyangwa.
Chiyangwa was also asked about his partner Wicknell Chivayo and the ZIFA boss said as far as he was concerned, their partnership was alive and well.
Chivayo bought a luxurious car for Warriors skipper Willard Katsande in Johannesburg and treated the duo of Knowledge Musona and Costa Nhamoinesu to a shopping spree in Paris, which was said to have cost $10 000 per player.
“What I am happy with is that the players like this guy who spoils them.
“They haven’t brought any complaints and I am also happy because this guy has done something that no other guy has done in the history of Zimbabwe football,” said Chiyangwa.
“If it was not for him, we would not be playing in the 2022 World Cup and he paid more than $180 000 for Tom Saintfiet.
“He is my partner and the relationship is between him and me and not ZIFA and so far I am happy with how things are going.”
Warriors manager Shariff Mussa said the players were happy with the gifts they were getting from Chivayo. -DembareDotComs
Warriors Squad Named for Malawi Afcon Clash
WARRIORS COACH Kalisto Pasuwa has named an indefatigable 26-member squad that will go into camp on Sunday night to begin preparations for Zimbabwe’s penultimate Group L 2017 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi at the National Sports Stadium on June 5.
The history making coach has made a few changes to the squad that was involved in the last Group L assignments against Swaziland on Easter Monday.
Pasuwa has brought in rookie goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga with the young Triangle goal minder coming in for University of Pretoria’s Washington Arubi.
The coach also left out defenders Partson Jaure and Eric Chipeta from the squad.
He however, included hitherto unheard of young midfielder Andrew Gwaze who is playing for Gornik Zabrze in Poland as part of his drive to give more opportunities to younger players.
The younger players also form the bulk of the COSAFA Castle Cup squad which was also announced at a press conference on Tuesday.
The AFCON squad will be the first to go into camp with the COSAFA players coming in on Monday June 6.
Coach Pasuwa explained that he had been following Gwaze’s progress from the days when the player was a junior at former Premier Soccer League side Monomotapa.
“I have been monitoring him and I have some videos of him and he has been playing well at his club
“Like I have always said we have an open door policy in the national team and any Zimbabwean player who will be doing well will be considered and Gwaze has been playing very well.
“I will also consider such players like Tino Kadewere for future assignments,’’ Pasuwa said.
The Warriors coach who was flanked by team manager Sharif Mussa and ZIFA president Dr Philip Chiyangwa also explained that Jaure and Arubi’s club – University of Pretoria – had requested not to release them as they have to play relegation- promotional play-offs in the South African Premiership.
Pasuwa who is happy with the club form of such players like Khama Billiat and Tendai Ndoro warned against complacency against Malawi who are already out of the running for qualification for the 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon.
Although he dropped a few players, Pasuwa kept faith the core of the squad that currently enjoys leadership of the group log standings with eight points following wins over Malawi (away and Swaziland (home) which have sandwiched 1-1 draws against Guinea at home and Swaziland away.
Key players who include captain Willard Katsande, goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, Costa Nhamoinesu, Knowledge Musona, Danny Phiri, Marvelous Nakamba and Nyasha Mushekwi have all been retained.
The Warriors will, move a gear up in their preparations when they host Uganda in an international friendly in Harare on May 31.
Meanwhile Jomo Cosmos striker Charlton Mashumba is the only foreign-based player in the COSAFA squad with the coach opting to use the regional tournament as a platform to continuously develop locally-based talent.
The Afcon squad
Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Donovan Bernard (How Mine), Tapiwa Chilenga (Triangle)
Defenders: Costa Mhamoinesu (Sparta Praga), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps), Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders), Onismo Bhasera (Bidvest FC), Elisha Muroiwa (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Blessing Moyo (Harare City)
Midfielders: Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Marvellous Nakamba (Vitesse Arnhem FC), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Golden Arrows), Marshal Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Farai Madhanhanga (Harare City), Andrew Gwaze (Gornik Zabrze)
Strikers: Knowledge Musona (Ostende KV), Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundows), Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang), Evans Rusike (Maritzburg), Cuthbert Malajila (Mamelodi Sundowns), Matthew Rusike (Helsingborgs IF), Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates)
Cosafa squad
Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Donovan Bernard (How Mine), Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum)
Defenders: Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), Blessing Moyo (Harare City), Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Caps), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Elisha Muroiwa (Dynamos), William Stima (Tsholotsho)
Midfielders: Marshal Mudewhe (FC Platinum), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn),Nqobizitha Masuku (FC Platinum) ,Farai Madanhanga (Harare City), Raphael Manuvire (Harare City), King Nadolo (Highlanders), Talent Chawapiwa (ZPC Karibha), Hillary Bakacheza (FC Platinum), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn)
Strikers : Mitchel Katsvairo (Chicken Inn), William Manondo (Harare City),Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Chalton Mashumba (Jomo Cosmos), Obadiah Tarumbwa (Chicken Inn)
Rev Tutu Is Gay
The reverend daughter of former Cape Town Archbishop Desmond Tutu has announced she will give up her Anglican church licence after marrying a woman.
The Rev Canon Mpho Tutu-Van Firth said that she had chosen to make a “dignified” exit rather than be stripped of her right to practice, since the church does not recognise gay marriage.
“Because the South African Anglican Church does not recognise our marriage, I can no longer exercise my priestly ministry in South Africa,” she said.
“The bishop of the (Cape Town) diocese was instructed to revoke my licence. I decided that I would give it to him rather than have him take it.”
The loss of a respected and well-known church figure could however strengthen the hand of modernisers in Africa’s most liberal country, who could push at a provincial meeting in September for a more nuanced approach to gay clergy in South Africa.
While same-sex marriage was legalised in South Africa in 2006, the South African Anglican law on marriage states: “Holy matrimony is the lifelong and exclusive union between one man and one woman.”
Bishop Raphael Hess, Tutu’s senior in whose diocese her Cape Town base falls, said he was “vexed” by the need for her to renounce her clerical duties but that he hoped it would be short-lived.
“The time has come for us to exercise pastoral care, for us to demonstrate a shift that is reflected in the law,” he said.
“We would be able to have Rev Canon Tutu be able to minister. At the moment she cannot and she has accepted that but we are hoping that there might be a window for us to change it.”
Tutu is one of five children of Desmond Tutu, the former Archbishop of Cape Town who won the Nobel Peace Prize for standing up to the apartheid government and seeking to reconcile South Africans. He has also spoken out in favour of gay marriage, saying he would refuse to go to a “homophobic heaven”.
Tutu is executive director of her parents’ eponymous charitable foundation and divorced with two children. She married her long-time partner Marceline Van Furth, an atheist academic who is also divorced with children, in her native Netherlands in December.
The pair held a second ceremony that was attended by the Tutus and officiated by Rev Charlotte Bannister-Parker, a priest from Oxford, on Sir Richard Branson’s wine farm in Franschhoek earlier this month.
Desmond Tutu was given permission by the Archbishop of Cape Town, the head of the Anglican church in Southern Africa, to give the union a “father’s blessing”. – Daily Telegraph UK
Mugabe Blotched in Cog-Boob
President Robert Mugabe has been blotched by ZANU PF youths.
Party youths preparing for the so called 1 million man march today printed a poster with Mugabe’s name mispelt.
Mugabe’s name was printed as “Mubage.”
The development saw discussions opening on social networks to mock the ZANU PF leader who has held onto power since 1980.
Bona Mugabe Adoption Is Better Than Abortion! |LIVE DEBATE
Noel Manyanga But guys. I am not a politician. But is it wrong or what? This is a young couple from the royal family let them enjoy zvinebasa rei? Adoption is not abortion. This is their own decision haina chekuita na baba kana amai regai vana vaite zvavanoda.
Shamiso Gunda Adopted in African culture. If Africans can now adopt then we should begin to see less kids in the streets. Though for a month old the baby looks like a 3 months old
I guess he was a 5kg baby Like · Reply · Message · 3 ·
I guess he was a 5kg baby Like · Reply · Message · 3 ·
Bona's child was adopted ? | LIVE DEBATE | https://t.co/qoHVmJPxMG
— #ThisFlag ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 25, 2016
Mugabe Blows $4million for Singapore Grandson’s Trip
President Robert Mugabe has blown over $4million dollars for his Singaporean trip, a Finance Minister (former) has revealed.
In fact Mugabe is squandering the same amount every time he leaves Zimbabwe for overseas destinations, Finance guru and Zimbabwe’s top barrister, Tendai Biti, revealed yesterday.
Speaking in a forum discussion on the VOA channel, Biti said Zimbabwe’s corporate purse is at Mugabe’s mercy. “There are some people, the President for example, each time he goes out, 4 million goes out, that’s not sustainable for an economy like this,” said Biti.
Mugabe flew to Singapore on Friday after returning from South Africa. He traveled to the Far East to see his (1) one month old grandson, Simbanashe Chikore who was born there. The decision to give birth in Singapore was made by Mugabe’s daughter, Bona seeking the foreign nation for her maternity health care. The moves comes as Zimbabwe’s health infrastructure is fast crumbling.
The infant mortality rate of Singapore is by far better than Zimbabwe’s.
INFANT MORTALITY RATE
COUNTRY (DEATHS/1,000 LIVE BIRTHS) DATE OF INFORMATION
SINGAPORE 2.48 2015 EST.
ZIMBABWE 26.11 2015 EST.
It further emerged that Zim local hospitals will from the 1st July 2016 start deliberately blocking the health-care of all medical aid policy holders following Bona’s father, Robert’s new tax regime on clinics and hospitals.
Tsvangirai, Locadia Chief Steals Fertilizer | COURT CASE
Zanu PF puppet, Chief Negomo has been dragged to the courts for stealing the President Robert Mugabe sponsored agriculture inputs.
Negomo, in 2012 working under Zanu PF, ordered the MDC-T leader and former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, to pay two beasts and two sheep for the “crime” of paying a bride price for ex-girlfriend Ms Locadia Karimatsenga in the so called “sacred” month of November.
Tsvangirai had paid the bride price for Locadia Karimatsenga who he wanted to marry.
The case was later heard in the High Court after the former Premier had refused to comply with the chief’s order.
Negomo, whose real name is Lucias Chibvongodze, was arguing that it was culturally taboo to marry in the month of November.
It is the state’s case that Negomo defrauded Mvurwi Grain Marketing board of 140 bags of compound D fertiliser which were meant for villagers under the Presidential summer crop season.
He appeared before a Bindura magistrate on Monday and will reappear on the same courts on 6 June for trial.
Tsvangirai Girlfriend Pick | LIVE DEBATE
Kereke Rape Trial:Chief Warns Prosecutor
Chief Mkanganwi of Bikita yesterday cautioned the private prosecutor in legislator Munyaradzi Kereke’s rape case to stop threatening him into answering questions because as a chief he also has power to preside over matters back in his village.
This was after he was cross-examined by private prosecutor Mr Charles Warara on his relationship with Kereke. However, the presiding magistrate intervened and advised Chief Mkanganwi that although he is a chief, he was standing in court as a witness.
Zanu-PF Bikita West MP Kereke is accused of raping a 13-year-old relative in 2010 and indecently assaulting her sister who was 15 years at the time.
Chief Mkanganwi, born Alpheus Njodzi is testifying as a witness in Kereke’s defence case.
Asked by Mr Charles Warara if Kereke is one of the people who help him in Bikita, the chief said he never received a cent, bus fare or a drink from Kereke.
“I get assistance from my child who is a police officer. I have enough resources. The accused helps other people in the community,” said Chief Mkanganwi.
The prosecutor asked if the chief attended a series of meetings in Harare in 2013 to campaign for Kereke to be elected member of Parliament.
“We came individually as five chiefs to Harare to request that accused contest as a Member of Parliament for Bikita in 2013 elections,” replied Chief Mkanganwi.
“Why did you want accused to contest in your district?” asked the private prosecutor.
Chief Mkanganwi replied that they had seen that the accused could win the elections and represent them.
“Is that the practice that chiefs nominate who contests?” asked Mr Warara.
“We came to make a request like others knowing that he is the one who could win,” he replied.
Mr Warara asked why the accused was rejected, prompting the chiefs to come and see the former Vice President Joice Mujuru.
“Accused was not rejected, but the opposition was celebrating saying that if he did not contest they would win. We heard the suspicion that he might not contest,” said Chief Mkanganwi.
Mr Warara asked if the chief was happy that Kereke won as MP and he said he was very happy.
“You wouldn’t want him to go to jail?” asked Mr Warara. The chief replied; “If he is found guilty he should be sentenced accordingly. As chiefs, we are not allowed to adjudicate such matters. We were told by former VP Mujuru that accused was facing rape charges and we asked why he was not arrested and prosecuted.
“We were told that the accused stole documents and sold them and that he was fighting with former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Dr Gideon Gono.”
Kereke called his brother Claitos Kereke as the next witness.-State Media
SchoolGirl Killed by Kombi Driver
This follows the accident in which a Form Four pupil Jocelyn Gomba (17) and 35-year-old Mr Odwell Mabanga were run over and dragged to death by one of the commuter omnibuses on Monday, that have established a rank near the entrance of Harare Girls High School.
Mr Mabanga had sustained serious spinal injuries, but died yesterday at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Police spokesperson Chief Superitendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said: “We have questioned the owner of the kombi, Albert Guyo of Southlea Park in Harare South and he has given us information that Wadzanayi Mabika (41) of Plot 2 Nyabira was the driver. We also discovered that Mabika had one year four months driving experience after obtaining his licence in 2015.
“We are going to take action against the employer for employing someone who does not have the mandatory five years experience as required by the Road Traffic Act.”
The kombis, which ply the city to Inkomo route, have established a rank that operate from the entrance to the school at Park Lane and normally wind into Leopold Takawira Avenue.
A memorial service for Jocelyn was conducted yesterday at the spot where she died .
Two other pupils sustained minor injuries. District education officer Mrs Anatoria Ncube said they were appealing to the city and responsible authorities for kombis to be removed from the area.
“As ministry we are concerned about the safety of pupils in particular the girl child. If you look at where the kombis are stationed, you wonder what kind of criteria was used by the City of Harare to designate that area as a pick up and drop off point because the touts and kombi drivers are causing havoc at the area. They make a lot of noise touting and causing disturbances to the learning process,” she said.
“We hope this is enough signal to force authorities to enforce the law.”
The Harare Girls High School head Dr Beauty Mutsambiwa hoped that the kombis would be removed soon.
“I am hurt because it is not good for people not to be sensitive. Even if they want to make money, they have to respect pedestrians. “Last term, two of our pupils and one teacher were injured after being hit by the kombis.
“We expect council to remove that pick up point because it is creating problems for us.
“These touts and drivers harass the girls and shout obscenities to them. They also name call them, further eroding their confidence.”
Pedestrians also blasted city officials and police for having failed to bring sanity to Harare’s road traffic jungle. They accused police and the city’s traffic officers of collecting bribes from the touts and drivers operating at the rank while ignoring the danger they posed.
The city’s acting corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme said the city would force the kombis back to Market Square where they are designated.
“All transporters should stick to designated points, because those have provisions for picking and dropping passengers,” he said.- State Media
Mugabe Agents Grab School Buses
The Zanu PF Youth League is allegedly forcing schools to handover buses to party activists who are set to join the so-called million-man-march in Harare on Wednesday to show support for President Robert Mugabe.
Though school officials declined to comment in fear of being victimised, some parents of children attending schools in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West province, expressed dismay over the issue saying they are not obliged to release buses to any political organization.
The Zanu PF Youth League, which wrote a letter recently instructing all public and private schools to provide buses for the million-man-march, allocated locally-available buses to various districts without the knowledge of headmasters and school development associations.
One of the schools, Lomagundi College, has already indicated that they won’t provide any transport, much to the chagrin of the Youth League members who are now threatening to take unspecified action against the headmaster.
Most school authorities declined to comment on the issue in fear of being victimised. But parents with children attending some schools in the province said they are not happy with what Zanu PF youth are doing.
Tabeth Chifamba of Sinoia Primary School said she is now expected to pay more money for her Grade Five child since she is funding some Zanu PF activities.
Another local parent, Phelimon Svosve, said it is unfair for Zanu PF to use force to get what it wants from poor people in Mashonaland West province.
Chifamba said headmasters are finding themselves in a tight situation as they cannot release the requested buses before getting the greenlight from parents of school-going children.
Svosve added that parents are now expected to pay for fuel costs and drivers’ allowances while on Zanu PF business.
But Zanu PF local youth coordinator, Tatenda Chitate, said every government ministry should support President Mugabe’s leadership by providing all the necessary help to ensure that the million-man-march is a big success.
Provincial director of the Ministry of Education in Mashonaland West, Sylvester Mashayamombe, said his office cannot issue any statement at the moment as they are still consulting relevant authorities over this issue.
He confirmed that some of their district offices received a letter from Zanu PF requesting schools to release buses for the march.
In response to questions posed by Studio 7, permanent secretary for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr. Sylivia J. Utete-Masango, said supports any solidarity shown to President Mugabe and as a result, they ordered all schools to provide buses for the event.
Most people say that the march expected to cost at least $600,000 is a waste of resources. VOA
Chivayo’s $5Million Cash Payment Illegal, Minister Admits
Energy Minister Samuel Undenge has admitted that rules were not followed in the payment of a $5 million advance to controversial firm Intratrek, but still insisted that the payout would not result in the loss of public funds.
Undenge is under pressure to explain an unsecured advance of $5 million by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), the energy infrastructure subsidiary of power utility Zesa Holdings, to Intratrek, a company fronted in Zimbabwe by Wicknell Chivayo.
The payment was purportedly for preparatory work on the 100MW Gwanda solar plant, one of several power contracts that Intratrek has been awarded by the government.
In a statement on Tuesday, Undenge said ZPC had “erred” in awarding Intratrek the $5million without following procedure.
“It is true that each time public funds are advanced to service providers, there is a risk that the goods or service, as the case may be, may not be delivered. To mitigate against this risk, it is as a standard requirement that a bank guarantee is secured against possible failure to deliver. Such an inevitable requirement should have been considered in the case of a $5m advance payment to Intratrek by the ZPC,” Undenge said.
He said he had now met ZPC to ensure that “going forward, the relevant procedures and requirements shall be adhered to.”
However, while Undenge admitted that rules were not followed, he defended the payment, saying it would not prejudice ZPC in any way.
The $5 million would pay for a feasibility study, environmental impact assessment, topographical and geophysical surveys, site civil works as well as fencing of the site, Undenge said. Subcontractors were already on site, he claimed.
“Given the above, it is highly improbable or unlikely that there will be any real prejudice to the ZPC in respect of this particular advance. Thus, in this ministry’s assessment, whereas the risk was there, in reality, there will be no financial prejudice and this in no way exonerates those who erred.”
The government is under fire for awarding $600 million worth of power contracts to Intratrek and its partners, many of which have no record in energy, are facing fraud charges or are facing bankruptcy. In his statement, Undenge said he is never involved in the awarding of tenders by ZPC.
“In terms of the state procurement act, tenders relating to state enterprises or parastatals are administered by the head of the appropriate state enterprise or parastatal,” he said.
These managers, he insisted, decide on who gets the tenders before recommending them to the State Procurement Board.
“One hopes that this account dispels the unfortunate misunderstanding that seems to prevail that my ministry decides on tenders relating to Zesa and its subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, the management of these tenders is the responsibility of the relevant account officers in respect of their tenders and the ministry is not involved nor does it interfere with processes.”
Undenge defended Intratrek’s foreign partner on the Gwanda project, CHINT Electric, describing it as“a well established Chinese international company” that has previously undertaken other power projects in Zimbabwe.
Undenge also referred to reports that he had ordered Zesa Holdings to contract Fruitful Communications, a PR company owned by Zanu PF MP Psychology Maziwisa. Without admitting his own role in the matter, Undenge said such contracts were common but should follow “due process”.
“It is common practice for big companies to outsource some of the services they require. Such outsourcing must be based on an appreciation of internal or in-house capacities or competencies. In other words, due process must be undertaken and only when the outsourced service will add value are such external services engaged.” – The Source
Bona Mugabe’s Baby Adopted? | PICTURES
A cross section of Zimbabweans on social media have disputed the maternity of President Robert Mugabe’s grand-child.
Social media cycles were on Monday abuzz with postings by people charging that the baby looks far much older than the age proclaimed for the baby and the First Family may have played the “Gilbert Deya trick” of smuggling someone else’s child after faking a
pregnancy.
Most queried was the size of the baby’s hair which people said cannot in any way be that of a four week old baby. ZimEye readers exchanged barbs over the sensation as they drew a spectrum of pictorial comparisons. Pictures below show comparisons between Bona’s “one month” child with other children far older than one month.
Pictures of members of the First Family in Singapore show a bouncing baby boy with big hair, wide open eyes and sometimes with smiling mannerisms that “cannot be performed by a baby of the age proclaimed.”
Some people also said in one of the pictures taken on Sunday, the little baby furthermore appears holding onto President Robert Mugabe’s finger with a clenched grip which they say is an act that cannot be performed by a four week old baby.
Some went to the extent of questioning Bona Mugabe’s pregnancy claiming that there was never a photo showing her in her pregnancy but the family is quick to publish her photos with the “new born” baby.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba could not be reached for comment on the matter as his mobile phone was not reachable at the time of writing.
Mayor’s Car Chews UP $50 000
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | As the Masvingo City Council battles to supply clean water to an estimated 100 000 residents, the local authority has purchased an expensive vehicle for the mayor, much to the disappointment of ratepayers and residents.
Masvingo City Council town clerk, Adolf Gusha, last week confirmed in an interview with the state owned ZBC tv on Saturday, the local authority did not have the capacity to supply the required mega litres of water per day.
Ironically the council has purchased a luxurious Isuzu KB 300 worth $54 000 for Mayor Hubert Fidze, at a time the residents of the anciety city are drinking poorly treated water.
Fidze confirmed the development adding he had already received the vehicle. “It is true that the council bought a vehicle for me and I am already using it for official council business,” he told ZimEye.
Angry residents described the move as reckless and inconsiderate.
Outspoken Masvingo Residents’ Trust leader, Prosper Tiringindi, said although it was noble to purchase cars for council officials, the buying of the posh vehicle was ill-timed.
As a result of prolonged water cuts, local industries have been forced to scale down operations thereby triggering further job losses.
The council is also owed millions of dollars by parastatals and government departments.
The city council also lost property after losing a series of labour disputes invoving former employees.
Man Inserts Manhood Into Sister’s Private Parts
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo|A 23 year old man from Mukavhi Village in Bikita forcibly inserted his erect manhood into his form 2 half sister’s private parts and proceeded to rape her.
Terrence Peter forced himself on top of his 15 year old sister and abused her.
Peter appeared before Masvingo Regional Magistrate Collet Ncube last week facing rape charges.
The incidents happened on July 28 2015 and at an unknown date respectively.
Peter who was at home with the minor, followed her into her room where she was sorting her clothes and forced her to lie down, threatening to stab her with a knife if she did not comply.
He forced himself on top of the minor, forcibly removed her pants and skirt before unzipping his pair of trousers.
He proceeded to pleasure himself on her without her consent.
The girl later informed her stepmother, who is Peter’s mother but she threatened her, the court was told. She ordered the minor not to tell anyone about the incident.
Peter also abused the minor on an unknown date after following the girl to a nearby bush where she had gone to fetch firewood.
The minor later informed her blood brother leading to Peter’s arrest.
He was sentenced to an effective 12 years in jail.
In passing the judgement,Magistrate Ncube said:” Since you pleaded guilty,I will be lenient with you. However the girl suffered a lot and this will affect her for the rest of her life.
“You are her brother and you were expected to look after her, therefore a custodial sentence is necessary.”
Man Axes Wife, Kills Self
A MAN from Pelandaba suburb in Bulawayo allegedly committed suicide after striking his wife with the back of an axe on the forehead, hours after the couple had visited a police station for counselling on their marital problems.
Emmanuel Mapetero, 40, and his wife Tsitsi Kwindingwi allegedly sought counselling services at West Commonage Police Station before going home where they fought again on Saturday.
Mapetero was allegedly accusing his wife of infidelity and after attacking her, she escaped and headed to the police station.
When she returned home with some cops, her husband had already taken his life.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said it was sad that a life was lost after the couple had sought counselling.
“We’re investigating a sudden death by hanging. The deceased was having challenges with his wife and had earlier sought counselling services from the police,” said Insp Simango.
She urged members of the public not to resort to violence as this does not solve their problems.
Insp Simango said people should seek assistance from elders in their communities, church leaders, and the police among other people who can assist them to solve disputes.
A source said the incident occurred when Mapetero accused his wife of cheating resulting in the couple seeking counselling from the police.
But hours after returning from the police station, a fight erupted again resulting in Mapetero hanging himself.
“They were having marital problems. Mapetero was accusing his wife of infidelity. On Saturday they went to West Commonage Police station where they were counselled. But it seems they failed to understand each other so when they returned to their home they fought again,” said the source.
The source said Mapetero struck his wife with the back of an axe on the forehead but she managed to escape to safety.
“Kwindingwi escaped and went back to the police station where she reported the attack. She went back home in the company of two police officers and found her husband dead,” the source said.
“He had locked the gate and doors of the house. Police officers had to break the door of one of the rooms to gain entry. They found him hanging from the roof trusses in a corridor.” state media
Lifestyle Audits for Ministers
PARLIAMENT will soon institute a lifestyle audit for legislators including Cabinet Ministers that is expected to compel them to declare their assets in compliance with the provisions of the new Constitution and the House’s Standing Rules and Orders.
The regulations provide that public officials including parliamentarians must make regular disclosures of their assets.
Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders Committee last month approved a draft Asset Declaration Register that spells out the kind of assets that MPs will be expected to declare.
The Clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda, said the development was meant to make MPs accountable to the public.
“This is within our Standing Rules and Orders that were approved way back during the Sixth Parliament,” he said.
“We’re now giving MPs an opportunity to make their input into the register. Remember MPs hold other people to account so this will also help members of the public to also hold them to account.
“But there are things that will be confidential and can only be made public with the approval of the Speaker of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate. So those who want that information would have to apply.”
Senate president Edna Madzongwe last week told Senators that MPs were requested “to consider and submit their views and recommendation on the Asset Declaration Register” for consideration by the committee on Standing Rules and Orders by May 31, 2016.
The draft document seen by our Harare Bureau indicates that legislators would be required to declare their assets, which include land, in and outside Zimbabwe, buildings, movable assets, financial assets and other assets such as jewellery worth more than $25,000.
The preamble of the register states that the development was in line with Section 198 of the Constitution that provides for regular disclosure of assets as well as Standing Orders 48 and 49 of the Senate and the National Assembly respectively that provides that, ‘Every member shall register all his/her financial interests in a book to be maintained under the direction of the Speaker and the President of the Senate and such registration shall be in a manner specified in the Code of Conduct’.
On land, legislators will be expected to state their address, category, year of purchase, area, percentage, type of acquisition and the owner.
The categories are farming land, forests, land inside localities, water surface and other categories of land outside localities if included in the civil circulation.
The MPs will be expected to state the owner’s name such as holder, spouse or child while on co-owned assets they were expected to clarify the owned percentage and names of co-owned assets.
On movable assets such as motor vehicles, tractors, farming machinery, boats and yachts and other means of transport that are subject to registration under the law, they were also supposed to declare them.
They will be expected to state the type of vehicle, brand, number of items, manufacture year and acquisition type.
On precious metals, jewellery, art and religious items, art collections and coins, items of the national or worldwide cultural heritage worth over $25,000, MPs will be expected to indicate all assets whether they are in Zimbabwe or outside the country.
They will be expected to give a brief description of the assets, year of acquisition and estimated value.
MPs will also be expected to declare movable assets worth over $15,000 and real estate alienated in the past year stating the type of the alienated asset, date of alienation, person the asset was alienated to, type of alienation and value of the asset.
On financial assets, MPs will be expected to declare bank accounts and deposits, investment funds, equivalent savings and investment forms if their total worth exceeds $25,000.
MPs will be expected to indicate those that are in banks and institutions outside the country stating the administrating institution and address, type, currency, opening year and updated balance or value.
Equivalent funds, including private pension funds or other savings systems as well as investments, bank deposit, placements or loans given worth over $25,000 as well as other net income generating assets that exceed a total annual equivalent of $25,000 are also subject to declaration.
Legislators will also be expected to declare their debts and liabilities outside the country including outstanding taxes, mortgages, warrantees issued for the benefit of a third party, leasing assets among others if their worth exceeds $25,000.
The draft declaration form also states that MPs must declare gifts, services or advantages free of charge or subject to subsidies as compared to the market value received from persons, organisations, companies, autonomous administrations, national companies or foreign public institutions, including scholarships, loans, warrantees, expense disbursements or the like of an individual worth over $4,500.
Under the provision, MPs will be expected to state whether it’s the MP, their spouse or children who generated the income, the source of the income, provided service or income generating item as well as collected annual income.
However, they will not be expected to state “usual gifts or treats received from relatives of first or second degree”.
MPs will also be expected to declare their stake in trading companies, national companies, credit institutions, economic groups as well as membership in associations, foundations or other non-governmental organisations where they will state name of the firm, position held, and number of shares as well as total value of shares.
By signing the declaration register, MPs commit to being held “responsible under the criminal laws and contempt of Parliament for any inaccuracy or the incomplete nature of the aforementioned information”.
The Clerk of Parliament will be expected to enter the register of declared assets.-state media
Boy Rapes 3 Primary School Pupils
A FORM Four pupil at Njube High School in Bulawayo has been arraigned for allegedly raping three primary school girls.
The 16-year-old boy, whose name cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, allegedly raped the minors aged 8, 10 and 11 years on three different occasions.
The court heard that the three girls, who are not related, all live in Njube suburb. The boy yesterday appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso facing three counts of rape. He was not asked to plead and remanded out of custody to June 6. The juvenile will be in the custody of his guardian until the matter is finalised, prosecutors said.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said the boy allegedly raped two of the girls this year and the other one last year. Mageza said in the first incident, the juvenile allegedly asked his 10-year-old victim to accompany him to the shops to buy electricity before he took advantage of her in January this year.
“On January 28, 2016 at around 2PM, the complainant was at her place of residence when the accused person arrived and asked her to accompany him to the grocery shops. The complainant agreed and while the two were walking, the accused person diverted to a certain house where he unlocked the door and got inside with the complainant,” said Mageza. “The accused locked the door and led the girl inside a bedroom where he forced her to lie down before he had sexual intercourse with her.”
He said the boy also lured an eight-year-old girl using mangoes earlier this year. “During the month of January 2016 at around 2PM, the complainant was playing with her friend when the accused person arrived at her place of residence. The accused person asked her to accompany him to run an errand at a house after promising to give her some mangoes and she complied,” said Mageza. “The accused led the girl to a house where they got inside and he locked the door. He then forcibly grabbed the girl and had sexual intercourse with the minor without her consent.”
He said in 2015, an 11-year-old girl was playing with her friends at her house when the juvenile joined them.
“The accused person lured the complainant into a room that is under construction and made her to lie down on the floor. He forcibly removed her clothes and lay on top of her where he had sexual intercourse with her” said Mageza. Chronicle
Explosion Blast Bang in Harare | BREAKING NEWS
Residents in the Harare South on Monday afternoon complained of what they described as a loud “explosion blast.”
ZimEye.com was late Monday afternoon inundated with message calls inquiring what could be taking place in the city.
“The explosion shook houses here at this place where I am in Stoneridge. There is a lot of dust all over,” wrote one resident. They posted the below pictures showing rising dust.
They continued commenting, “the pictures I have posted here are from Stoneridge West of waterfalls East of Southly (sic) Park. Dust has engulfed the whole area can’t drive safely.”
Another facebooker, Tatenda Chikanga confirmed the blast saying they ended up assuming it was from stone crushers who use explosives. “My aunt vatoti wats that sound & i was like vanhu vanoputitsa matombo. Aikaka ndozviri kutoitika nhai?,” she said.
Others from the area continued complaining of the same issues.
ZimEye.com was at the time of writing reaching out to the police, fire service and legislators to obtain more information on the source of the alleged explosion.
This is a developing story…. more follows here on ZimEye.com.
Have you been affected? Send us your pictures, videos relating your experiences – +447426863301
Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa – It is not over till it’s over!
As popular media celebrity and radio presenter, Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa, continues to hog the limelight after her bosses at ZiFM made a public statement disowning her earlier claims that she had not invited the humiliated “diamond crook” Tafadzwa Musarara to her ‘The Platform’ program, loud screams were printed across digi-networks on Monday.
While Parirenyatwa after being contacted by ZimEye.com said she had no comment, a twitter update seemed to strike a note of defiance : “this week I make lemonade,” she wrote. In apparent reference to the adage, ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,’ insinuating whatever her enemies throw at her, Ruvie appeared to say she has the weaponry to turn all around into her favour.
As Parirenyatwa’s popularity soars as a media celebrity this is the first time she has had to handle and deal with corporate politics publicly, with a groundswell of solidarity growing in her favour.
Consequently, it is gloves off at ZiFM after Musarara also released a statement widely published in the media saying that ‘Ruvheneko is a liar.’
The public now anxiously awaits Parirenyatwa’s counter-response and account of what transpired on that fateful night.
Speculation is rife concerning several aspects related to this event that had on it the famous #theflag Pastor Evan Mawarire. Among the issues being discussed include the possibility that Ruvheneko was ‘forced’ to invite Musarara as the Whatsapp messages he has since released into the public domain are neither conclusive nor convincing. Also of interest is who leaked the video recording of the scuffle that took place after the interview in which cabinet Minister Super Mandiwanzira was seen in an embarrassing scuffle with Pastor Mawarire. To Be Continued…
Mnangagwa Shock U-turn:War Vets Hijack One Million Men Mugabe March
War veterans have hijacked the one million men march being planned by Zanu PF’s youth league in Harare in support of President Robert Mugabe.
The former war liberation fighters who had initially threatened to boycott the pro-Mugabe march sniffing it out as a G-40 plot to denounce vice President Emerson Mnangagwa on Monday said they are to the contrary now going to participate “actively” and “effectively” in the march.
“We are not going to organise another march, but we are going to join and attend the one which has been organised and we are going to participate actively and effectively,” Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association secretary general, Victor Matemadanda told reporters in Harare Monday.
Matemadanda said the war veterans initially had not been consulted when the march was being organised and now that they have been invited they were going to take charge of the event.
“The question then was about misinformation. People were not given information and they were saying that we cannot join if we do not know the purpose of the event because there was a lot of speculation and this is what has been rectified, and they have given us the information that we wanted; and we have no doubt that the march is in support of President Mugabe and we have no reason of not to attend(sic),” he said.
“These are our children and yes they might have their own position but they remain our children. When we get there we are parents and parents do not necessarily lead but they advise; and advice is leadership because you are giving knowledge which is new to them but which you have used before,” said Matemadanda.
Ruvheneko Is Lying – Musarara
By Tafadzwa Musarara| I make reference to the last held edition of the PLATFORM of Monday, 16 May 2016
and the subsequent misleading comments attributed to Ms R. Parirenyatwa on social media claiming that she did not invite me to attend the program.
I aver that on the same said date Ms Parirenyatwa first sent me a SMS, at 6:26pm (one hour before the commencement of the show) that read..
”Mr. Musarara please call me.Its urgent. Ruvheneko”.
The message was sent from mobile no 0731525683, which I believe its Ms Parirenyatwa’s work assigned mobile no.
I took the liberty to send screenshot of the same to the Station Manager, Mrs Madondo and the Head of News and Current Affairs Mr. Jakachira, Ms Parirenyatwa and yourself.
Ms Parirenyatwa later managed to get through and she personally begged me to appear on the program- despite the short notice. Initially I refused but she pleaded with me to attend until I agreed.
30 minutes later, I met her at the station and she thanked me for coming and briefed on the program, gave me the profile of the other guest and requested me to oppose his views, and that needed an experienced live debater who has competency in economic and political matters.
When Evan Mawarire arrived, we all agreed to my presence and participation in the program. I must put on record that this is not the first time that I have appeared in her anchored programs, albeit, at her invitation and at a short notice.
Radio and television personality Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa
Radio and television personality Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa
I am dismayed, disappointed and aggrieved with her comments stating that she did not invite me to attend the show. By insinuation, I gate crashed into the program? Why did she proceed with a program with an uninvited guest?
ZiFM ,as a media institution, is encumbered, at common law, with the responsibility to protect its sources, guests and interviewees.
With respect, I feel that her conduct in this regard stands as indictment on your institution to rein in on your personnel regarding press/public statements relating to the station programs. More importantly to note is that she is lying.
I, therefore, demand, as I hereby do that the station tell its audience the truth.
I remain,
Tafadzwa Musarara.
Mugabe Million March to Blow $600,000
Sources involved in mobilising resources for the political jamboree, which has been dismissed by opposition parties as a waste of resources, said they have agreed on a provisional budget of $600 000 to fund transport needs for all 10 provinces, food and accommodation for the delegates.
All the provinces have been ordered to transport at least 100 000 members, who would march to an open space next to the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, where they would be addressed by Mugabe.
Youth league secretary for finance, Tongai Kasukuwere, said each province had been tasked to raise enough money to transport and feed its delegates, while the national executive would be responsible for hosting invited guests and printing solidarity T-shirts for the march.
“We don’t have a national fundraising team because we have assigned each province to mobilise its own money and see how they can fund their programmes. We will be receiving people here and, of course, we will take care of invited guests and other necessities,” he said.
In a letter soliciting donations, Bulawayo youth league secretary for finance, Davies Muhambi said they were targeting to spend at least $50 000 as a province.
“Our budget requirement for the event stands at $50 000,” he wrote.
“The amount will go towards meeting the requirements in the following categories: diesel — 26 000 litres, flour — six tonnes, juices — 5 000 litres, 100 buses and cash towards various payments.”
Loss-making parastatal, Zupco has also been ordered to release nearly 200 buses, while government and mission schools have been commandeered to donate their buses, lorries and small vans to ferry the youths from various provinces.
The host, Harare, has reportedly been tasked to raise $50 000 for printing of more than 200 000 T-Shirts, caps, bottled water and to feed senior party members.
Zanu PF deputy secretary for youth affairs, Kudzai Chipanga yesterday said: “All the provincial executives met at the weekend to finalise on modalities. Each and every province will carry its own people to and from Harare.
“Masvingo and part of Mashonaland provinces will assemble at Rufaro Stadium, Manicaland and the bulk of Mashonaland East and West provinces will be at East 24, Mashonaland Central at Cork Road close to South African Embassy, Harare, Matabeleland South and North and Bulawayo provinces will assemble at the National Sports Stadium.”
The Wednesday event comes against a backdrop of grinding poverty, where at least four million people need urgent food aid as the economy continues to nose dive.
But all this has not deterred Mugabe, who last month blew $2 million hosting over 10 000 war veterans during a meeting, which only lasted three hours.
Early this year, Mugabe shelled out $800 000 on his lavish 92nd birthday celebrations in drought-stricken Masvingo province.
This came shortly after his party, Zanu PF, had flown its entire central committee membership from Harare to Victoria Falls for the Zanu PF national people’s conference in December, blowing nearly $300 000 on travel alone and another $10 million in accommodation and food.
Former Finance minister Tendai Biti has claimed that Mugabe always withdrew $4 million from Treasury each time he travelled out of the country.
This year alone, the President has travelled more than 20 times, meaning he would have spent $80 million in travel alone if Biti’s projections were true.
Opposition parties and activists have also blasted government after it emerged that it was funding First Lady Grace Mugabe rallies at taxpayers’ expense.-Newsday
Ministry of Information Official Up For Sexual Assault
A Zvimba based Ministry of Information official, Johannes Kachikuli has been arrested for sexually assaulting a female journalist.
Kachikuli, who is the Zvimba District Information Officer, has also been suspended from his post as Vice Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) Chinhoyi chapter.
According to the state media, the indecent assault charges against Kachikuli were filed at Chinhoyi Central Police Station under crime report number 64/5/16.
Kachikuli (46) is alleged to have sexually assaulted an intern during a media tour in Karoi, where he is alleged to have held her by the waist and tried to be intimate with her.
The case has since been referred to Karoi for further investigations.
Kachikuli, who was allegedly drunk, demanded to be intimate with the journalism intern in exchange for beer.
Journalists from Chinhoyi and Zanu PF Women’s League Secretary for Gender, Jennifer Mhlanga have condemned the abuse of journalism interns, saying female journalists should be respected.
Walter Nyamukondiwa of the Herald newspaper has since been elected ZUJ Vice Chairperson Chinhoyi Chapter following Kachikuli’s suspension.
Tobacco Farmers Stranded: Banks Run Out Of Cash
Terrence Mawawa, Harare| Hundreds of tobacco farmers were stranded in the capital, Harare on Saturday after failing to get cash from their respective banks.
The RBZ has since issued a directive to banks to maintain a minimum withrawal limit of $10 000 per day, despite the fact that several banks do not have the cash . Disgruntled farmers said banks in the rural areas had no cash, forcing them to travel to Harare to access their money. “We are struggling to get our money after selling tobacco. Rural banks do not have cash so we have to travel to Harare.However, we have been stranded in the capital for several days because the banks are failing to release the RBZ stipulated $10 000 withdrawal limit per day.As a result farmers have been stranded at the Boka Tobacco Auction Floors for days.The situation has become unbearable,”said a Chegutu based farmer.
Despite government claims that the country’s economy is stable, queues have resurfaced since banks are limiting daily withdrawals. Civil servants no longer have a fixed pay date as a result of the worsening economic conditions in the troubled nation.
Economists have warned the introduction of the bond notes will further plunge the country’s comatose economy into further abyss.
Hospitals Raided by Zimra, “No More Treatment!”| BREAKING NEWS
ZIMBABWE’s hospitals have been raided by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in ways that will see millions of patients failing to access medical treatment from July this year.
Zimra has made sudden demands that every hospital, clinic and medical institution must now pay tax on every unpaid medical claim in their books of accounts (even though unpaid).
Frustrating the already struggling hospitals’ and clinics’ bank accounts, the impact of the raid will be like a bomb affecting every clinic and health institution across the country in catastrophic ways that will leave millions without access to vital health care, analysts warned.
Most workers are on medical aid provided by Premier Services Medical Aid, CIMAS and other health insurance companies.
The Zim Medical Association has issued a warning that from the 1st July, hospitals, private doctors, clinics and other health providers “are to stop accepting medical aid as they have to pay tax on unpaid medical claims…”
@ZimEye this is the sickest, craziest and most sadistic move of this broken, sick State ever!
— Jessie F. Majome (@JessieFMajome) May 23, 2016
As government coffers continue to shrink, the Zimra has intensified its raids on companies, which is speeding up company closures, dealing a further blow to the near comatose economy.
The authority which has so far garnished over US$50 million from companies in the diamond other sectors, and several companies, most of which are struggling, had not until this year turned its “armoury” onto the nation’s health care industry. ZimEye Discussion: ⚡Should any nation charge tax on medical care?
YOUR COMMENTS:
BONA MUGABE’S RICHES: Sickening Gap Between Rich and Poor
President Robert Mugabe’s daughter, Bona’s riches came under the spotlight on Monday morning as her baby was announced to the world.
Zimbabweans took to social networks to express their disgust utilising gripping visuals that display the heart wrenching reality of the rich people’s stranglehold over the poor.
Pictures comparing Bona’s child with children born of less privileged parents were splattered on social networks on Monday, as it further emerged local hospitals will from July 2016 start deliberately blocking the health-care of all medical aid policy holders following Bona’s father, Robert Mugabe’s new tax regime on clinics and hospitals.
The Mugabe family chose Singapore as the country of birth for the President’s grandson in what has now irked many Zimbabweans whose low incomes have to pay for un-affordable health costs. The infant mortality rate of Singapore is by far better than Zimbabwe’s.
INFANT MORTALITY RATE
COUNTRY (DEATHS/1,000 LIVE BIRTHS) DATE OF INFORMATION
SINGAPORE 2.48 2015 EST.
ZIMBABWE 26.11 2015 EST.
Commented one Zimbabwean man: “the poverty gap between babies born of rich politicians and the downtrodden is sickeningly widening & inhumane.”
Gwanda school blows $10k on tea
A primary school in Gwanda, St Christopher Government School — blew more than $10 000 on tea and isitshwala for teachers and staff members in one year as part of incentivising them after the Government scrapped monetary incentives in 2014.
A decision to offer tea and lunch to motivate the 27 teachers and 21 supporting staff was reached by the School Development Committee last year.
According to an SDC account which was audited by officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the school has gobbled $10 281 for the past year, meaning they were using an average of $3 800 per term.
This has, however, angered some parents after the account also showed that $2 578 was used to repair just five classroom doors.
The statement showed that as at 31 December the school raised $176 627.95 during the year and spent $171.951 leaving only $ 4 676.13 in the account. Pupils pay $45 as fees and $10 levy for day scholars.
Parents who attended the meeting which was held last Monday said they were not amused by the expenditure by the school authorities on the teachers’ meals and other expenses.
“How could staff spend such an amount on their meals instead of channelling the money to needy areas at the school? What type of food do they eat which cost all that money,” said a parent who said he was representing the aggrieved and spoke on condition of anonymity for fear his child could be victimised.
Contacted for comment the school’s head a Mr Manda referred questions to the SDC.
However, SDC chairman Mr Brian Masango said there was nothing amiss with the figure as it was according to the budget they got from the canteen.
“Our teachers get their tea and sandwiches at tea break. They then get their lunch and the teacher who will be on duty also gets dinner. We got that budget from the canteen and everything is above board as it was done according to that budget. We also give our borders meals from the same money and they are about 100 of them,” said Mr Masango.
However, verification with the SDC account statement revealed that the money used was for staff members only. It was listed as: “Staff teas and meals” without any mention of pupils.
Mr Masango added that they have since received a directive from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to stop providing meals to teachers except for the tea.
“It’s going to end this term since we have already provided the budget from them,” said Mr Masango.-state media
Mnangagwa Beaten In Bikita
Terrence Mawawa, Bikita|As the powerful First Lady Grace Mugabe returns, members of her G-40 team here have threatened to suspend and dismiss anyone linked to battle torn Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In a move that could seal the Team Lacoste’s fate here, Zanu PF officials linked to the Grace Mugabe controlled G-40, resolved that anyone linked to Mnangagwa would be barred from participating in party activities.
Addressing party supporters at an explosive inter-district meeting here last Saturday, Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Political Commissar, Jeppy Jaboon, warned party members all those who oppose Mrs Mugabe would be fired from the party.
“We are fed up with this Team Lacoste. Let me make it clear that in Zanu PF we all rally behind President Mugabe and his wife.We do not tolerate anyone who comes here to oppose the First Family. If you are linked to Team Lacoste, be warned because we will deal with you. We will fire you without hesitation and we do not mind your position.
“All those who belong to the Team Lacoste are sellouts. Even politburo members have to shape up.There are people who say they like the President and not his wife. Let me warn you -that must come to an end. If you like the President, then you have to like Dr Grace as well,” said Jaboon.
Mrs Mugabe is expected to resume her controversial meet the people rallies this week. It is understood the First Lady will address a rally in Bulawayo this week.
Mrs Mugabe has in the past used her high-octane rallies to blast her political foes in and out of the party.
One of her sympathisers, Harare South MP, Shadreck Mashayamombe, all but confirmed Mrs Mugabe’s presidential ambitions when he described the President’s wife as a God given angel.
Electricity Demand Down as Economy Nosedives
DEMAND for electricity has significantly come down since 1999 owing to the slowdown in economic activity over the years, a Government official has said.
Energy and Power Development Secretary Partison Mbiriri said on Friday that the country is facing a deficit of 400MW against a demand of 1 400MW.
Mr Mbiriri said that contrary to reports that the country’s peak period demand for electricity stands at 2 200MW, demand has been coming down over the years. “The 2 200MW that is widely reported was for 1999, our demand is now around 1 400 MW.
“We are generating 1 000MW leaving a deficit of 400MW but on a good day we can go up to 1 200MW,” he said. Currently, Mr Mbiriri said, the country is importing between 50MW and 300MW from Eskom in South Africa to make up the deficit in demand for power.
“We are importing 50MW during the day and 300MW during the night,” he said.
He however, said that the country should be self-sufficient in terms of power by 2018 or at the latest by 2019 when several public and private led power projects are completed, including extension of Kariba South and Hwange.
“We hope that at that time we will be able to export,” he said. Mr Mbiriri recently said that demand for power from industry is much lower compared to last year, which has reduced pressure on the national grid.
Industrial capacity utilisation averages 34 percent due to a myriad of factors including lack of affordable funding, old and antiquated equipment.
Economic challenges have prevented several companies from increasing production or significant new investment going into industry and the economy.
Government is working on a number of new power projects including the expansion of 750MW Kariba South by 300MW and Hwange thermal station by 600MW.
Further, contracts have also been awarded for the re-powering of the country’s three small thermal power stations, which should boost power output.
These ongoing power generation capacity expansion projects will bring the country to excess generation by 2018 in line with the Zim-Asset targets.
The State-owned power generation firm, Zimbabwe Power Company, has also awarded contracts for 3 by 100MW solar power projects.
In addition, the Government also awarded Sakunda Holdings a tender to set up a 200MW diesel plant in Dema while various independent power producers have been awarded tenders to set up solar power plants across the country.
Mujuru Party Explodes, “Joice Must Go!”
Former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party is struggling to hold its centre after being hit by mass divisions.
“Joice Mujuru must go,” members aligned to “founding elder” Didymus Mutasa protested last week.
The development first exclusively covered by ZimEye.com, revealed that there is a fiery Chirenje faction that has emerged from within led by heavyweight Didymus Mutasa. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE – From Gamatox to Chirenje
Mujuru’s party has been hit by divisions, amid reports that some senior officials are plotting to unseat the veteran politician, the weekly Standard reported at the weekend. The report continued:
ZimPF will hold its inaugural congress in October but there are indications the party could split before it even elects substantive leadership.
Former ministers Sylvester Nguni and Bright Matonga were singled out as the major source of problems for the party.
“There are serious fights, especially between those who claim to be close to Mujuru,” a source claimed.
“Bright Matonga and Sylvester Nguni are at each other’s throats over control of party processes and the direction the party should take administratively.”
Matonga yesterday said he was not aware of any divisions in the party formed this year.
“There is nothing like that. I am hearing it from you,” he said.
“I think you should be careful not to be used by people with a sinister agenda. But I can assure you, there is nothing of that sort.”
Nguni promised to give his side of the story last Thursday but had not done so at the time of going to print.
ZimPF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo admitted the party faced teething problems but did not refer to the alleged rift between Nguni and Matonga.
“The party has challenges but the important thing is how these are dealt with,” he said.
“There was always a likelihood that people would have differences and contradictions would emerge because we are a big party.
“However, there is no need for anyone to panic because I can assure you we are dealing with whatever concerns that have been raised by any member of the party.”
Former Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa was also said to be disgruntled after he was not given a prominent role in the party. Gumbo suggested the party had been infiltrated.
“You must also understand that our opponents are not sleeping. They are working flat out to destabilise us and that includes rumour mongering among members and sowing seeds of divisions,” he said.
“The Central Intelligence Organisation is also working hard to make sure the party fails.
“I will tell you, however, we will get there, the party is here to stay, whether they like it or not.”
Mujuru wants to challenge President Robert Mugabe in the 2018 elections.
IN PICTURES:Bona’s Child
State Media- An ecstatic Robert Mugabe finally met face-to-face with his grandson, Simbanashe Chikore in Singapore at the weekend.
The baby was born mid last month, but the President could not see the new arrival earlier because of a busy schedule at home, only managing to travel on Saturday morning.
The President revealed last week while addressing members of the Gutu clan in Masvingo that he was now a grandfather after his only daughter, Mrs Bona Chikore, gave birth to a baby boy outside the country last month.
President Mugabe had gone to Masvingo to convey his condolences to the Gutu family following the death of his uncle, Chief Gutu, Mr Anos Kasirai Masanganise.
The President was explaining why his wife, First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe, had not accompanied him to the event as she was attending to the grandson.
Many remember this snippet from President Mugabe’s 90th birthday ZTV interview as he recounted his daughter Bona’s formative years.
“Well, I got married when I was in my 70s,” President Mugabe began, “and I said if I can only see her through the second grade — fine.”
He then revealed his anxieties: “Zvino ndaida kuti gore rimhanyise zvikuru kuru, akurumidze kuenda kuchikoro . . . I never thought I was going to live to see my daughter getting married.”
And so President Mugabe lived to see Miss Bona Ouma Mugabe exchange nuptials with Mr Simba Chikore on March 1, 2014 in Harare.
The couple gave him a grandson about a month ago, and he could not have envisaged a better gift.
First was Bona, followed by the boys — Robert Jnr and Bellarmine — then Bona’s marvellous wedding and now a grandson.
President Mugabe broke the news in Gutu where his cultural grounding could not escape attention.
In many African cultures, announcements like a death or birth in the family are accorded ample importance. As such, the elders should be informed formally. (They hardly bat an eyelid if the news reaches their ears via other means.)
It was thus telling that President Mugabe travelled to Gutu to pay his condolences following the death of his uncle Chief Gutu. It was also telling that he told the nation of the new arrival in the presence of his uncles — the family elders.
President Mugabe’s sister, Dr Regina Gata, was ecstatic when The Sunday Mail caught up with her.
“The Mugabe family is celebrating as we speak. We have been blessed and are very thankful. My brother has always loved children, and the birth of his grandson has definitely given him a lot of happiness.
“He has always had a special type of love for his sisters’ children whom he put through school and wrote letters to even when he was in detention.
“He would always ask about their well-being and how they were doing in school. Now he has a muzukuru by his own child. This is very special to him. He always prayed that he would live to see this day.”
Mr Robert Zhuwao, one of President Mugabe’s nephews, chipped in: “To us, the birth of Sekuru’s grandson confirms his legacy. It is a blessing as he has lived to see his family grow further.
“Our family has been enriched by this birth. Apart from us, his sisters’ children, he now has a grandson whose arrival we are all celebrating.”
Mugabe Dozes Off Again On Stage | VIDEO
DEATH TERROR: ZANU PF Officials Poisoned
Staff Reporter| Several senior ZANU PF officials have been hit by a death scare after being poisoned.
Officials attending the Matabeleland South cultural week festival launch in Filabusi on Saturday left the place with running tummies after eating suspected poisoned food.
Sources close to the officials who were at the VIP table say that some officials who included Bulawayo Minister for Provincial Affairs Eunice Sandi Moyo complained of stomach aches shortly after eating lunch.
The sources claim that because of the stomach complaints the officials had to immediately leave the ceremony rushing to Bulawayo for medical attention.
On the way the convoy of vehicles had to make a couple of stops to allow the officials to get a toilet break.
Organisers of the event at the Arts and Culture office in Gwanda refused to talk to media on the matter. However one of the persons in the catering committee said that the running tummies could have been caused by a dish washing chemical.
Grace, A God Sent Angel- Mashayamombe
Zanu PF MP for Harare South, Shadreck Mashayamombe, has taken bootlicking to new levels by describing First Lady Grace Mugabe as an angel sent by God to help long-suffering Zimbabweans realise their full potential.
Speaking to party supporters in his constituency last week, Mashayamombe — one of the most vocal supporters of Grace — said it is no wonder that the governing party settled for the first lady to be the women’s league boss.
“Leaders are chosen by God and we were given….Amai by the heavens, she is the one who will end all the suffering and I believe that with people like her Zimbabwe is in safe hands. To me she is like an angel and I believe in her,” said a grovelling Mashayamombe.
Since making a grand entry into the tumultuous political playing field, Grace has divided public opinion — with her opponents describing her as divisive while her supporters regard her as a strategist and philanthropist ever ready to serve the people.
Mashayamombe — who has been holding constituency engagement meetings in his Harare South — told the residents of the sprawling suburb of Retreat that he was not aware of the existence of any faction in Zanu PF especially at the grassroots level.
“We have heard that there are factions in Zanu PF but what I would like to tell the leadership is that on the ground we are united, we are not being led by anyone but the leadership that was chosen by our president.
“We have one centre of power and that is President Robert Mugabe, anyone who wants to challenge him we will show him that Harare doesn’t tolerate dissent,” said Mashayamombe.
Zanu PF is divided along two factions, one led by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Generation 40 (G40) faction that is packed with people opposed to the VP presidential ambitions.
“We are going to make sure that we will contribute the highest number towards the one million-man march. As Harare South, we will make a statement and make sure that we are the largest. Anyone who will try to stand in our way will be flattened by the might of the people,” said Mashayamombe.
The march organised by the governing party’s youth league has yet again left Zanu PF divided as some elements in the Team Lacoste faction have been spiritedly resisting the planned procession that will be held on Wednesday.
But Mashayamombe said anyone opposed to the march is against the leadership of Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980.
“There are some people who want to stop the march, why? We are not going to tolerate successionists to destabilise the party.
“Look, they are attacking the commissar (Saviour Kasukuwere). Isn’t that a direct attack on the president who appointed him?” asked Mashayamombe.
The belligerent politician, who is also Zanu PF Harare province political commissar, also brought officials from Harare municipality to help in the regularisation of stands in the area and is also working towards bringing electricity and sewerage to the area. daily
Rangers Kill 2 Zambian Poachers
Victoria Falls| Two Zambians suspected to be poachers were killed by Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) rangers at the Zambezi National Park in Victoria Falls on Saturday following a heavy exchange of gun fire, a conservation group has revealed.
Trevor Lane of Bhejane Trust said the rangers stumbled on a group of suspected poachers from Zambia after they had entered the country.
“The details are still sketchy but it happened early the morning. Parks rangers were on their daily routine duty when they met face to face with 10 Zambian poachers at the Zambezi National Park,” he said.
“The poachers had obviously crossed on the full moon and were making their way inland to poach elephants.
“The group comprised of one Zambian believed armed with heavy weapons (375/458) rifles, another with AK47 for protection and 8 porters.
“The parks patrol engaged them and shots were exchanged. Parks shot dead the poacher with AK47, and a porter- the rest of the group fled leaving everything behind including the gun, 100 kilograms meal-mealie and personal items,” said Lane.
Lane said the group had not yet accomplished their mission as no elephant tusks were recovered.
Conservationists say there is an upsurge of Zambian poachers working with Chinese criminals roaming Zimbabwe’s national parks and killing elephants for their tusks.
In February, two bodies of suspected Zambian poachers were found floating on the Zambezi River days after escaping an ambush.
The duo were part of a suspected poaching syndicate which escaped after exchanging gun fire with police in the Zambezi area on February 6.
The two have since received pauper’s burials after their families failed to identify their bodies due to their decomposed state.
They were both naked and the other body had both legs missing.
Police fired warning shots and the suspects returned fire leading police to arrest one of the accomplices, Christopher Mandaya who is currently serving his 1 year term after pleading guilty to the charge.
He was found in possession of 25 rounds of ammunition, two axes, butcher knives and two kilogrammes of dagga
Efforts to get a comment from Zimparks spokesperson, Caroline Washaya Moyo, were fruitless.
Zimbabwe Economy In Gridlock – Mashakada
By Dr Tapiwa Mashakada, MDC Shadow Minister of Finance
The current financial crisis is only a symptom of deep seated structural problems embedded in the body politic of Zimbabwe. These range from inconsistent and misaligned macro-economic policies and toxic politics.
The currency crisis, if not addressed, will be the powder keg of political and economic instability in Zimbabwe. Government did not consult stakeholders to hear and know their view on the matter. Ideally, the Reserve Bank should have first presented the issue before the Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance which in turn would have sought the views of the public on this important national development moreover, the RBZ neglected to consult the TNF which is the cog of a Social Contract in Zimbabwe. In the circumstances governnent should but heed the dissenting voices of the generality of the masses.
If the governnent wishes to commit the Ostrich’s offence and proceed with bond coins, the market will reject its usage as legal tender. This will be a suicidal move. The political and economic consequences will be dire. Bond notes will trigger another black market of foreign exchange. Government will be tempted to print more bond notes to pay civil servants and this is sure to trigger price hikes and ultimately hyperinflation.
Imports will be harmstrung as importers have to apply for foreign exchange and import licences, a thing which had stopped in 2009. Government is unwittingly turning back the clock to 2008. Zimbabwe imports 60% of its goods from South Africa compared to exports of 40%. While bond notes will reduce the trade deficit which now stands at $3 billion dollars, the unintended consequences include slump in domestic production which will lead to empty shelves, fuel and food shortages. We have walked this road before.
The printing of Zim dollars disguised as bond coins and their circulation alongside the US dollar known as “partial de-dollarization”. The market will be faced with 2 choices – Zim dollar and foreign currencies. In practice there is no choice. Its a one way decision. The market will go for the greenback. Stupid.
Government is gambling with unorthodox policy prescriptions.Partial de-dollarization was attempted in Latin America by countries that had, like Zimbabwe, previously dollarized, examples are Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Chile. The moment they started partial de-dollarization, exports fell and this was followed by price distortions and capital flight. This resulted in serious balance of payments problems.
In our case, partial de-dollarization will lead to unintended consequences such as shortages of basic commodities and hyperinflation. Workers will start to go for short term wage agreements in order to keep pace with the purchasing power parity of bond notes. With such a scenario, riots will begin and there will be socio-economic strife in Zimbabwe. Government will respond with brutal force which according to Karl Marx, is the midwife of a political revolution.
In order to avert all this, government should shelve its bond notes plans and go back to the drawing board.
MDC-T is working on a national convergence of ideas to seek for a long lasting political solution to Zimbabwe’s economic quagmires.
Zimbabweans are not short of ideas. We have proffered many alternatives to government on how to increase liquidity. The first thing is to restore confidence by deleting the indigenization act. This will encourage FDI flows and increase the supply of the US dollar. Once industry is capitalized, capacity utilization will increase and exports too. This way the country gets more foreign currency. When the country starts to produce, imports will fall and the trade balance will improve. But all this is not obvious to Zanu PF which is stuck in its maze of warped dirigistic policies.
Accident in Jo’Burg
ZimEye.com is receiving unconfirmed reports of an accident on the R21 road, in Johannesburg.
20 Zimbabweans were affected in the mishap while aboard a Tenda bus from Beitbridge. Navigate to the satellite map above: ARE YOU AT THE SCENE? Send in your video, pictures and details of your experience right now to +447426863301
Details were sketchy at the time of writing and an official statement from the police unfruitful. ARE YOU AT THE SCENE? Send in your video, pictures and details of your experience right now to +447426863301
Navigate to the satellite map above:
Magaya, Makandiwa Charge US$1,500 per person for Prayers
State Media-PROPHETS Emmanuel Makandiwa and Walter Magaya charge as much as US$1 500 per person for a one-on-one engagement for those seeking spiritual solutions to their problems, figures at hand show.
The Sunday Mail Religion has established that without making the requisite payments, it is almost impossible to have access to the prominent and charismatic men of the cloth outside normal church services.
Some congregants can have access to the prophets during church services and in their offices, but if one wants exclusive face-to-face encounters, then money speaks.
Posing as potential clients, The Sunday Mail Religion made inquiries from United Family International Church leader Prophet Makandiwa’s Life Haven facility and Prophet Magaya’s guest houses.
Followers who want these personal engagements first have to stay for about three days at the guest houses.
Three days at Life Haven in Mt Hampden cost US$300 in a dormitory facility that houses up to 27 people who use bunk beds. For executive lodgings, one forks out US$900 for the three-day stay that comes with room service.
At another executive Life Haven facility in the leafy suburb of Glen Lorne, the minimum charge is US$1 200 and the maximum is US$1 5000.
Efforts to access into the facilities last Wednesday hit a brick wall as security manning the premises demanded payment receipts upfront. All payments are made at church offices while bookings can be done via the church’s website.
Said a security guard at the Glen Lorne site, “You cannot gain entry inside; but I can explain while you are outside the gate. Our houses range from US$1 200 and US$1 500 for three days and all payments must be made at the church office.” The Life Haven facility is built on the same model as that of Prophet Magaya’s guest houses for his Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries.
PHD charges a minimum of US$300, while executive board in Marlborough costs up to US$900.
Comparatively, four and five-star hotels have minimum charges of around US$100 per night.
“You have to make a booking first before visiting or being allowed into the guest houses. You are assured of a one-on-one encounter with the prophet if you pay the money,” said a lady who answered the phone at PHD Ministries.
Repeated efforts to get comments from PHD’s Overseer Admire Mango were fruitless as his mobile phones went unanswered through the week, and he did not respond to SMS enquiries.
Prophet Shame Hungwe said he charged US$100 for a two-day at one of his facilities.
He defended the guest houses, saying, “The problem with you people is that you can hardly find anything good from us; many churches have their sacred places where they go on several occasion.
The guest house experience presents a prayerful environment and an opportunity for believers to stay with God calming their promises.”
Goodness and Mercy Ministries founder Prophet Tapiwa Freddy, who also runs guest houses, said the facilities had no Biblical foundation.
He said, “To be honest … it is us (church leaders) who introduced it after we saw its dire need. Some people might ask why we make people pay; the answer is simple, we use the money to maintain the place, buy food and many other things that people might what to use during their stay. This is not a business.”
Prophet Freddy said there was nothing wrong if church leaders benefitted financially in the process.
“The Bible also teaches that it is an abomination for anyone to come to the house of God empty-handed,” he added. University of Zimbabwe lecturer and Revival United Christ International Bishop, Professor Marvelous Mhloyi, said Jesus never accepted money to help people. “Jesus is our prime example as Christians and we ought to imitate him. He never accepted money during his ministry. He healed people for free and my bible says we will get reward in Heaven.”
Prof Mhloyi encouraged Christians to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit on any spiritual matter.
Prophet Prince Wonderful weighed in citing Acts 8:18 which showed the apostles never accepted money to assist the needy, and they rebuked Simon the sorcerer for trying to buy the Holy Spirit.
“Merchandising is what the Apostle Peter predicted as one of the signs of a rising generation of false prophets and teachers claiming to be servants of Christ.
“It is clear the Apostle did not sell the epistles they sent to different congregation yet God funded their activities through generous givers in the ministry,” said Prophet Wonderful. “Today we have a crop of man of God who even after collecting tithes, offerings, all kinds of seeds and pastors appreciations (money and goods) still go ahead to sell oil, wrist bands, water among many other things. This shows how covetous our generation has become.”
Nigerian Synagogue Church of All Nations leader Prophet TB Joshua appears to have pioneered the guest houses phenomenon. But last year, tragedy struck when 81 people died when one of his facilities collapsed.
However, guest houses are the more palatable aspects of some churches’ operations, as some young church leaders sell “annointed” condoms, pens and salt among other items. – Sunday Mail
Tin Tin Deserted by Hubby
Television and radio personality Tinopona “Tin Tin” Katsande’s “husband” has walked out on her, sensationally claiming the two were never married.
Tin Tin’s celebrated “marriage” to Mr. Virimai Chigariro (33) delivered a “miracle baby” as she had previously said she could not bear children due to aggressive endometriosis.
In an unsolicited interview with the state media, Chigariro said 37-year-old Tin Tin had lied that he was her husband in order to protect her reputation because she had fallen pregnant.
Efforts to contact Tin Tin were fruitless as her phone was not available while alternative numbers went unanswered.
A mobile phone number belonging to Tin Tin’s maid, which we obtained from her friend (name withheld) was answered but the maid said her boss was not around. Subsequent calls were not answered.
Tin Tin has had to endure a doctor’s news that she would not have children, a sex video scandal, and dismissal from ZiFM Stereo where she was a presenter.
Things appeared to be looking up when she announced she was married and that she would have a baby. Now the man she said was her husband claims there was never a civil or customary union with Tino.
“The whole marriage debacle was just a stunt meant to protect her reputation since she was carrying a child,” said Chigariro.
The two are in a custody battle for their seven-month-old son.
Recently, Chigariro fled the couple’s lodgings in Belvedere— taking the baby with him to his sister’s place in Borrowdale.
Tin Tin retrieved the baby a day later with the aid of a lawyer and a relative, but Chigariro is still trying to get custody of his son.
Things appear to have been testy for quite a while.
In October 2015, this publication tried to speak to Chigariro but Tin Tin snatched the phone from him when she realised there was a journalist on the other end of the line.
Tin Tin said her husband was not to talk to the media, which was surprising considering that Chigariro is an aspiring musician.
It seemed he was ordered off the radar and he had not updated his Twitter and Facebook accounts in a month, which was odd for someone who had hitherto been quite active on social media.
Seven months later, it appears Chigariro can finally pour his heart out. Chigariro said he never paid lobola for Tino and the two had been cohabiting all along.
“I never paid any lobola or even tsvakirai kuno for Tin Tin and when some of my relatives saw the story about our marriage in the newspapers they were shocked. My dad called asking me when I had gotten married, my grandfather also called and congratulated me but told me that was not how things were done in our culture,” said Chigariro.
“When I first met Tin Tin she was like an outcast in her family so I didn’t even get to meet any of her relatives besides Tonderai Katsande. We met during Zim Fashion Week 2014 and she told me she was going through a hard time at a friend’s house in Eastlea where she stayed. She said some of the girls who were staying there were in the habit of stealing her clothes. I felt sorry for her and she has got a side to her – maybe because she is a good actress – or something, but I ended up falling for her.”
The pair started dating about a month after they met and she soon moved in with Chigariro.
“I moved her in with me at my sister’s place where I was staying at the time in November (2014) because I couldn’t stand seeing her suffering at the place where she was staying with people stealing her things and stuff like that.
“We then moved out when Tin Tin got pregnant. We moved to Waterfalls where we were renting a single room but I was not comfortable with the neighbourhood so we moved again after three months.
“From Waterfalls we moved to Greendale where we were renting a cottage and we stayed there for about 11 months until we got robbed and I felt that the area was not safe for us so I gave Tino rent money to go and look for another place,” he said.
Chigariro said Tin Tin found a place in Belvedere but the living arrangements were bizarre and he only agreed to stay after being assured suitable accommodation would soon be available as another tenant was set to move out, which never happened.
“… it was supposed to be a commune set-up where we would share the lounge and the kitchen but we would have our own bedroom.”
Chigariro, a part-time music teacher, says he was not only the breadwinner but was also responsible for cooking and household chores.
“I am a person who cooks for my family, that’s pretty much my job and that is something I have always done. So I was doing the housework and Tin Tin would just be there or not, sometimes she would be picked up and go out which sometimes got very frustrating.
“I ended up cooking for the landlady’s kids as well because the mother would just spend the whole day sleeping and there was no food in the house so this sort of became a strain on my budget, so I continued stressing the point that we needed our own private space,” he said.
Shortly into their stay in Belvedere, Chigariro made the decision to move out.
“I realised that there was something sinister that was going on at the house and the landlady’s kids actually told me that Tino had been coming to that house for the past four years but when we moved in, Tino acted as if she had recently met the lady.
“On April 21, in the morning, a white Toyota Vitz came to the house. The landlady went outside and Tino followed her. I followed them outside and discovered that they had gotten into the car, which had three other men. And when I tried to find out what was going on, Tino told me to go back into the house pointing out that I was embarrassing myself.
“I told Tino to get out of the car, she refused and one of the guys threatened to beat me up and when I realised that these guys could harm me, I went back inside.
“When they drove off, I called my sister and told her to send me a cab and started packing my things because I had decided that I couldn’t stay there any longer. Before I was done, Tino and her friends came back and tried to block me from leaving but I managed to escape with the baby and left all my belongings at the house.
“I went to my sister’s place in Borrowdale and the following day Tino sent her cousin and a lawyer to retrieve the baby and so I gave them the baby. What I just want right now is my baby because I don’t think she is safe with that woman considering what she is involved in.”
We contacted Tin Tin’s father, Chief Nyamukoho, who said he would have to talk to his daughter first before divulging any information.
When asked about his daughter’s whereabouts, he said: “At the moment I don’t know where she is but as soon as I get in touch with her I will call you and give you that information.”
Tino’s father would neither confirm nor deny getting lobola for his daughter.-state media
Political Leaders Abandoning their Countries for Treatment Abroad | OPINION
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| The story is not that Tsvangirai now is being treated abroad. The real and tragic story is why do presidents choose to be treated abroad?
The opposition leader Mr M Tsvangirai was rushed to South Africa for treatment. His ailment has not been made public and talking about it in MDC is a sign of insubordination. The good reason given for abandoning his country is that Mugabe does that as well. Is Mugabe Tsvangirai’s role model. The opposition embarrasses itself by confessing that they will do exactly what Mugabe does. Yet they scream loudly that Mugabe is being treated abroad.
The idea of having people treated away from their homes is not only knee-shaking but makes all wonder if its a clear message that our own health system is broken. In Britain it is a scandal for the queen and the prime minister to use cars which are not British made. But their children go in different schools from those of the common man But we are not UK.
In Zambia Michael Sata.
Since he assumed power in 2011, his health degenerated. His illness dates back to 2008 when he collapsed and had to be evacuated to South Africa’s Milpark Hospital.
Concerns about his health were met with vehement denials, laced with accusations of treason. Of alarm was the manner in which Sata was being carted around to South Africa, India, United Kingdom and Israel – in secret – disguised as official trips, when he was so evidently unwell. There was never a day he was treated in Zambia. Ironical the same President Sata lambasted other presidents for being treated abroad.
Zambian Vice-President Guy Scott, then vice president, told Parliament that Sata was ‘entirely normal.’ Even when the president, looking and sounding frail, Zambians were shocked to learn the next day that he had been flown to attend the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.
That was his last flight alive. The government controlled media was peppered with statements saying “the opposition leaders questioning the health of President Sata are malicious” when it became evident that the public could no longer be pacified with platitudes and the belligerent on line media were keeping close tabs on Sata. His office the issued a terse statement (for the first time) that he travelled to the UK to seek medical treatment, where he subsequently died on October 28. No cause of death, just an announcement that Zambia was again without a president. This is exactly the situation in MDC where we are not told what ailment has bothered Mr T. Obviously Mugabe did not tell him so he wont tell any one. Is this the contender to the throne. Is this a policy we must adopt?
The irony is that while in the opposition, it is normal to be treated abroad. In 2009 Tsvangirai who was the prime minister had to be rushed to Botswana for treatment after an accident. So how many things will be done by the opposition in the name of Mugabe?
Like Sata, before him, Mwanawasa suffered poor health and was also secretly and periodically flown out to South Africa and the UK for treatment. Sata said at the time, that the nation “was entitled to daily medical bulletins on the state of its President”, because the well-being of the president was a national issue. In other instances Sata said the lack of information on the president’s sickness affected the entire country.
Mwanawasa suffered a stroke and was hospitalised in France (where he subsequently died).
Zambia now has the dubious distinction of having two sitting presidents suffer ill health in silence and finally, die abroad. This fact is the same with Zimbabwe where two presidents of different parties choose foreign care ahead of theirs.
It is an indictment on Zimbabwean leaders who refuse or neglect to provide good healthcare for their citizens, while they speedily travel abroad to seek appropriate treatment, leaving their electorate to suffer the almost non-existent health care provisions.
Zimbabwe has a crumbling health infrastructure. Out of about 2 000 health posts there are only three tertiary health institutions that should ordinarily provide high level medical care, but these face constant shortages of staff, essential drugs, long waiting lists for basic surgical procedures and overcrowding in the wards. In spite of repeated campaign promises by successive ministers to improve the health sector, the situation has deteriorated.
Of course Zimbabwe and Zambia are not the only countries to have woken up to learn that their president has been admitted in a foreign hospital. President Zuma of South Africa gets his health bill in Russia while Khama gets his treatment in UK. The grass always looks greener in the other pan.
Of Ethiopian leader and Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, initially, there was little said about his illness, but later it was revealed that he had died in a hospital in Brussels, Belgium at age 57, while undergoing treatment.
In January 2013 President Malam Bacai Sqnhq of Guinea Bissau died in a Paris hospital. He had been flown to France, after taking ill with suspected diabetes in November of 2011.
Then there was the fiasco after death of Nigeria’s Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010. After many absences for treatment abroad, he was finally flown to Saudi Arabia on November 23 2009, having been diagnosed with “Acute Pericarditis”, (an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart). His return to Nigeria was shrouded in secrecy until his death. The Palestinian Yassa Arafat was treated in France where he passed on.
In all these instances, it has been the same: countries with poor health infrastructures, secrecy around the health of leaders – who even on their sick bed refuse to acknowledge the illness and choosing the best medical treatment that money can buy for themselves leaving their citizens to the vagaries of a poor health system.
As Zimbabwe heads towards polls scheduled to be held in 2018 these are things that will be on our minds: the leaders’ lies and obfuscation on the subject of their health- the fact that their monies were spent on secret health missions to destinations they themselves are not able to access in their individual capacities.
The public’s trust in such leaders has been undermined and to some degree, the country’s political security has been endangered. Should the MDC not win the upcoming election, it will be no one’s fault but their own. – [email protected]
CAR ACCIDENT: Harare Meeting Turns Nasty
A disturbing accident occurred Saturday morning at Hopley farm, Harare injuring five (5) people.
The five most who were reportedly hired thugs sent to disrupt a Housing Cooperative meeting involving the local MP for Harare South at Ushewekunze, hurriedly fled the scene after noticing police officers descending onto the area.
The local MP, Mr Shadreck Mashayamombe, has also been blamed for hiring 10 kombis from different locations to disturb the anti Cooperative meeting.
Two vehicles were damaged, a Toyota Progress and a BMW.
The five were rushed to hospital for medical treatment.
A comment from MP Mashayamombe was not possible at the time of writing.
More to follow…
FIRST PICTURES Of EgyptAir Jet Crash Debris
Sky – Analysis of the debris is likely to be key to determining what happened to the flight which plummeted into the Mediterranean.
Pictures have been posted online showing debris from the EgyptAir jet that came down in the Mediterranean on Thursday.
The images show items from the stricken plane, including a child’s life jacket and what appears to be part of a seat.
The images were posted online on Facebook by an Egyptian army spokesman.
Analysis of the debris is likely to be key to determining what happened to the flight.
One aviation source said that a fire would likely have generated multiple warning signals, while an explosion may not have generated any.
Egypt said its navy had found human remains, wreckage and belongings floating in the sea about 180 miles (290km) north of Alexandria.
A video of the search operation showed a shoe and a handbag among the items floating in the water.
Search crews are scouring for further wreckage, especially the plane’s cockpit voice and flight data recorders, commonly known as black boxes.
Planes and vessels from Egypt and five other countries – Greece, Britain, France, the United States and Cyprus – are involved in the search.
The waters in the area are 8,000 to 10,000ft deep, and the pings from the black boxes can be detected up to a depth of 20,000ft.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and representatives of Paris Aeroport, the French prosecutor, EgyptAir, and the Egyptian ambassador to Paris met about 100 family members of those on the flight on Saturday.
He said they expressed their “profound compassion” for the victims.
“In the name of France, once more, I am expressing my solidarity, but also our affection … for all those people who learned that a loved one, or even an entire family, have drowned in the sea – and who want to know, to know to be able to grieve.
“It’s a difficult moment, a painful moment. I wanted to say it again: We’re on their side.”
The plane was carrying 66 passengers and crew when it crashed on Thursday.
BONA MUGABE’S SON LATEST: President Flies to Singapore
President Robert Mugabe has flown to Singapore to pick up his grandson.
Mugabe took to the skies from South Africa yesterday soon after his attendance at the Fort Hare University’s anniversary.
Bona Mugabe’s son has been stuck in Singapore since his birth last month(click here to read more) after doctors ordered he should not fly due to health concerns.
State House sources told ZimEye Saturday Mugabe is in Singapore to collect the grandson. “HE flew to Singapore yesterday to collect the young prince,” they said.
The Mugabes’ choice of Singapore to deliver the new baby, has been criticised as the First Family’s hypocrisy and its lack of confidence in the country’s healthcare facilities.
It has led to the baby being nicknamed “Far East.”
“Like her father who gets medical attention at the state-of-the-art Gleneagles Hospital and Medical Centre in Singapore, Bona will anytime now give birth to Mugabe’s first grandchild in the Far East country, illustrating their family’s lack of trust in local health institutions,” one journalist wrote.
They continued, “Mugabe’s wife Grace also gets treatment in Singapore. On arriving from his annual vacation in January last year, Mugabe revealed his wife had an appendix removed and was recuperating in the Far East.
“The First Family’s decision that Bona should fly more than 8 000 kilometres across the Indian Ocean to give birth is widely seen as a comment on the state of the country’s health delivery system.”
Tsvangirai and Khupe Clash over Mujuru
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is reportedly warming up to the idea of forming a grand coalition with other opposition forces, including Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) leader Joice Mujuru.
Tsvangirai has for months dithered amid prodding from different quarters and a growing clamour from ordinary Zimbabweans to find common ground with Mujuru, who was kicked out of Zanu PF in 2014.
“He [Tsvangirai] is warming up to the idea, but there are serious divisions. The issue of forming a coalition, particularly with Mujuru, has become a common agenda item whenever the MDC-T national executive meets,” an MDC-T source revealed.
“There is serious resistance from the likes of vice-president Thokozani Khupe, who finds Mujuru a threat to her long-term plan to be the most powerful woman politician in the country. For some reason, Khupe has found a nexus with her previous political foe, Nelson Chamisa.”
Khupe and Mujuru, sources said, had also tried to find common ground without success during a visit to Dubai early this month.
“They tried to find each other in Dubai, where Mujuru received an award for bravery, but, in fact, that actually gave Khupe more reason to be scared that she is standing on quicksand,” the source continued.
Khupe was not available for comment yesterday.
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said his boss’ position on the issue of a coalition had not shifted, adding differences were healthy for internal democracy.
“We have insisted that talking about coalitions will be putting the cart before the horse. We need to speak with a common voice on the issue of the electoral environment, build trust and then at the appropriate time, talk of a coalition,” he said.
“Regarding different positions by some members of the leadership, everyone is entitled to their opinion and we allow that as a democratic party. However, the issue will be discussed in the same forum and we will come up with a common party position.”
However, party spokesperson Obert Gutu was quick to dismiss claims of divisions.
“Once again, let me make it abundantly clear that there are absolutely no divisions within our party regarding the coalition issue. And let me repeat, here and now, that president Morgan Tsvangirai’s office is handling the coalition issue,” he said.
“At the appropriate time, our party leader will publicly communicate what exactly is happening or has been happening behind the scenes.”
Mujuru’s ZimPF has also spoken about the issue of trust and ideology before a coalition can be hammered out.
Khupe and the late legislator, Thamsanqa Mahlangu, have also in the past been accused of scuppering the reunification of the MDCs, as, some speculate, they feared they would lose their lofty positions had MDC-T and MDC united.
Chamisa, who in the past has not hidden his opposition to a “marriage of convenience” with Mujuru, seemed to have mellowed.
“I am not the party and my position does not really matter because it is found within the party’s,” he said.
“For opposition parties, unity has no alternative, for in unity, we will find victory. Zimbabwe needs an organic broad tent and that is the MDC position. We now have different other formations and it is most desirable to add than to subtract, because in adding, we strengthen and in subtracting, we weaken.” Newsday
Prince Edward School Kids to “Manufacture” Zimbabwe’s First Car | BREAKING NEWS
PRINCE EDWARD SCHOOL pupils have just launched Zimbabwe’s first Car “Manufacturing Company”. For the first time since independence in 1980, the nation is set to have its first locally designed automobile.
The announcement was made during a special function on Friday in Harare attended by industry and government heads where the school emphatically revealed this is not a project to assemble vehicles, but to manufacture them. The car’s preliminary design can be seen on the function’s brochures (in pictures). Zimbabwe last manufactured its own vehicles in the 1970s when it was under the Ian Smith government.
Since then all that the nation simply needed to kickstart as a manufacturing country, was just one person sitting down on their computer to design their model. Automotive design which is the developing of the aesthetics of the vehicle, is part and parcel of the creation of the product concept, according to Vivek D. Bhise (Ergonomics in The Automotive Design Process, 2016). But the Zim government has for 36 years routinely spent millions of dollars importing top of the range foreign made cars against a struggling economy. This will however soon be no more thanks to Prince Edward school kids who are determined to create more than just a digital model.
ZimEye.com’s Simbarashe Chikanza caught up with the school’s Head of the Science Club, Mrs Princess Mushonga who gave the below brief interview:
The Intermediate Technology Development Group’s former officer, Miriam Mushayi applauded the development.
“For once it is refreshing to hear such amazing news coming out of Zimbabwe. This is clear testimony that given the right king of support, environment, Zimbabweans have the potential not only to scale to greater heights but to compete with the best in every other field be it innovation, self sufficiency and human capital expertise,” she said.
She continued, “We hope the nation will not only celebrate this wonderful achievement but patent it, nurture it and ensure these entrepreneurs establish an automobile industry with the trademark Made in Zimbabwe.
“We also want to see tax incentives for this initiative and let the innovation grow without rules and regulations stifling its growth.
“Who would have thought that in these difficult times we would be hearing of such an achievement in this country where everything is going wrong.”
Also commenting, the UK based Zim Achievers Awards director, Conrad Mwanza said:”We celebrate and encourage Innovation, Zimbabwe needs more projects and people like this and we should move away from confrontational politics to solution driven dialogue and poverty busting projects like this that will create employment and a living for our people.”
Panama Scam: 280 Zimbabweans Probed by RBZ
Zimbabwe’s central bank said on Friday it had opened investigations into about 280 locals named in the Panama Papers, amid claims millions may have been externalised from the country.
The investigation comes as Harare battles to stem a blazing cash crisis precipitated by massive outflow of cash estimated by the central bank at $1,8 billion last year alone.
Prominent names from the list released early this month from the leaked documents of a Panama law firm, Mossack Fonseca, include Zimplats chief executive officer Alex Mhembere, property tycoon Ken Sharpe, former Aico chief executive HappymoreMapara, plus well known businessmen Billy Rautenbach and John Bredenkamp.
Several firms, including Innscor and Zimplats, have been named for paying executives through offshore companies and accounts, allegations they have denied.
The central bank noted that there were legal reasons for opening offshore account and said it would approach the issue with an open mind, as not everyone named could be guilty of crime. However, the bank has questioned the morality of transferring large amounts of cash to tax havens like the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
“We have 280 Zimbabweans on the Panama Papers which the Reserve Bank investigating,” said Morris Mpofu, the central bank’s director for Exchange Control, addressing the 77th annual general meeting of the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe.
“We are surfing through that list. Some took funds to the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands,” he said, noting that the introduction of the multicurrency system in 2009, which is credited with briefly stabilising the economy until 2012, had seen international criminal syndicates taking advantage of the country’s lax policing of its financial systems.
In one case, three foreign nationals had camped at a five star hotel in Harare, withdrawing $3,000 per day for 30 days, Mpofu said.
They then slipped out of the country after bribing officilals at the border post, he claimed.
In a crackdown on vice, the RBZ has tightened the screws on withdrawals, with individuals now permitted to withdraw a maximum of $1,000 per day, or R20,000.
Mpofudefended the limits, saying “we have been too generous, very few Zimbabweans earn $30,000 per month”.
“The challenges that we faced when we liberalised the economy, is that we opened up and became a safe haven for international criminals. Zimbabweans also became ill-disciplined as well. Zimbabwe has become a fishing pond of hard currency.”
“We have been using our foreign exchange irresponsibly over the past five years and that has also affected the situation we are in,” said Mpofu.-The Source
Mliswa Invited to National Crisis Meeting
Way before his organisation, YARD (Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy) has become a party, Themba Mliswa has been roped into national crisis meetings.
A rolling reflection of how crucial the youth are to the future of national politics (youths constitute over 64% of the total electorate), Mliswa was yesterday, Friday, part of the National Crisis Committee meeting at 10am at Rockwood Spiritual and Formation Centre in Hatfield.
A Yard spokesperson said the development ” shows how strategic Yard is placed in the matrix of nation building in Zimbabwe”.
Meanwhile YARD appointed its head of Strategic Research.
Announced Mliswa, “I will take this opportunity to also announce the appointment of Musarurwa Hove as the head for Strategic Research and Implementation. He comes with invaluable experience in Economics and Research,” he said.
Voetsek Mugabe!, President Ordered
President Robert Mugabe was yesterday verbally mutilated by angry students in South Africa.
Protesting students outside the University of Fort Hare tried to force their way into the hall where Mugabe and President Jacob Zuma were due to speak at centenary celebrations on Friday.
Police used water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Over a hundred students were marching to the sports complex where the institution’s centenary celebrations are taking place.
Singing “Asinamali” (we don’t have money) and holding placards reading “Centenary my ass”, students promised to disrupt proceedings.
“If it means we fight till the end of the year, we will fight. What are they celebrating when we are hungry? Voetsek Zuma, voetsek Mugabe,” one student said.
Wednesday evening saw protesting Fort Hare students set fire to a building and a tent on the Alice campus, only two days before the university’s centenary celebrations. The protests continued until the early hours of Friday morning, when police fired rubber bullets and teargas at protesters.
The students claimed that university management had not met all of their demands.
One of the demands was that students who did not live in residences on campus should receive allowances for accommodation and transport before the end of the first semester.
Zuma as well as Mugabe soon entered in to speak at the event.-News24
LATEST:Tsvangirai Health Update
Below is the latest update on MDC, leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s health.
Tsvangirai who mid-week was rushed into South Africa for an emergency operation following a suspected stomach cancer condition, is recovering well, a close source told ZimEye.com Friday night.
“I was with the President in the afternoon and he is now much better”, they said before asking for anonymity due to reporting protocols.
The party’s Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora also said the same of Zimbabwe’s first trade-union-leader turned politician.
It was not clear at the time of writing how successful Tsvangirai’s medical operation was. They neither would be drawn to reveal the medical institution Tsvangirai is at.
Earlier on Mwonzora had confirmed Tsvangirai had a medical procedure in that country after being taken ill.
“On the advice of his doctors, he had to travel to South Africa for treatment where he successfully underwent a medical procedure and is recuperating well. We are happy that our president is recovering well and we wish him a speedy recovery.
“We kindly request the nation and the party to give the president and his family the necessary space and privacy as he recovers. The nation and the media will be kept updated,” Mwonzora said.
More to follow…
Prophet Inserts Manhood Into Girl “to Block Demons,” Rapes Her
Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi | A Chiredzi based prophet raped a 15 year old minor girl under the deception that this would drive away evil spirits that were tormenting her.
Shirichena, a self declared prophet with Ropafadzo Apostolic Church, raped the minor on December 16 2015, after entering her room and forcing himself on her having fondled her breasts claiming ‘ghosts’ were out to suck them.
He appeared before Regional Magistarate Judith Zuyu last week facing rape charges.
The minor had gone to Samba Business Centre together with a friend seeking spiritual deliverance.
Deceitful Shirichena subsequently told the minor he would visit her parents’ home to conduct the deliverance session.
Upon arriving at the house, Shirichena claimed the place was full of ghosts that wanted to kill the minor and she needed spiritual protection from him.
Shirichena in his abuse of the girl also fondled her breasts claiming ‘ghosts’ wanted to suck them.
He proceeded to rape the minor in the presence of her younger brother claiming it would block the demons.
It is reported that the younger brother is the one who later allerted the matter to their father, after a week of relentless sexual attacks on the girl. The matter was reported to the police leading to Shirichena’s arrest.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
CIOs Caught In Dodgy Car Scam
The vehicle importation scam has resulted in the revenue body’s commissioner- general Gershem Pasi and five executive managers being sent on paid leave.
According to sources at the revenue authority, CIO imported the vehicles using Harare dealer, Timothy Simfukwe who is accused of allegedly undervaluing four cars belonging to Zimra Human resources director Sithokozile Mrewa, customs and exercise commissioner Annah Mutombodzi, internal audit director Clive Majengwa, ICT director Tjiyapo Velempini and loss control director Charlton Chihuri.
The sources said investigations revealed the vehicles were undervalued by a minimum of 30% of their real value.
Normal procedure for government vehicles is that they are imported through Central Mechanical Equipment Department using a duty free certificate. However, it is understood that the CIO and police import their own vehicles.
A source who preferred anonymity said: “Investigations towards the end of January this year uncovered a huge racket involving vehicles which were being undervalued by some Zimra officials at Beitbridge Border Post and imported fraudulently. The investigations by the revenue body also showed that about 21 Corollas imported by CIO were undervalued, while 17 brand new executive cars, which include Prados and Land Cruisers, were also undervalued.
“The racket shows that most of these cars, Prados, Land Cruisers and Range Rovers, belong to top politicians and businesspeople. This has actually been going on for years. Simfukwe was working with some people in the system, including CIO. However, surprisingly we hear that they want to turn him into a state witness basically to cover up their tracks.”
Sources said the vehicle scam, which might suck in high-profile public figures also saw about 17 vehicles, that include Land Cruisers and Prados, were also undervalued by Simfukwe for bigwigs.
The sources said investigations indicate the number of the vehicles smuggled into the country could be more.
Media reports say more than 400 cars are believed to have been smuggled into the country this year alone by a syndicate of Zimra and clearing agents who have been processing counterfeit undervalued import documents to smuggle vehicles and other products.
Five suspects were arrested in connection with some of the cases after they allegedly cleared 52 cars in Harare using the fake documents.
This week, a Zimra official Aaron Gofo who was based at Beitbridge Border Post, and believed to have been part of a syndicate that processed counterfeit import documents to smuggle top-of-the-range vehicles and other luxury products, committed suicide in unclear circumstances. Gofo had been suspended from work.
Three of the Zimra executive managers — Chihuri, Mrewa and Majengwa — appeared in court last week facing charges of criminal abuse of office for allegedly undervaluing import duty on motor vehicles and swindling the state of US$110 000.
The three were granted US$500 bail each by provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe.
According to court documents, allegations against Mrewa are that on different dates between May and August last year, and contrary to her duties, she connived with Simfukwe, a director of Eftrade Ventures (motor vehicle dealer and importer), and Liberty Tinashe Mahembe of Vonlet Trading (clearing agent) based in Beitbridge, to have her Toyota Prado declared as a second-hand vehicle when, in fact, it was imported brand new.
The state alleges Mrewa connived with Mahembe and Simfukwe to have the vehicle imported in her name instead of Efrtrade Ventures which was the actual importer.
It is alleged that due to her actions, Mrewa prejudiced the state of US$24 156,17, while Majengwa and Chihuri, who used the same method, prejudiced the state of US$32 825,18 and US$52 985,61 respectively. The state also alleges Majengwa undervalued a Toyota Land Cruiser, while Chihuri undervalued two Toyota Land Cruisers.
Efforts to get comment from State Security minister Kembo Mohadi were fruitless last night.
Zimra officials were also not available for comment. independent
Mnangagwa Ditched by Shumba
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | A decade after being humiliated by President Robert Mugabe for allegedly taking part in the Tsholotsho declaration, businessman Daniel Shumba, a staunch Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa ally has dumped the Team Lacoste to join Grace Mugabe’s G-40.
The Zanu PF Masvingo urban legislator and politburo member was sacked by Mugabe in 2004 alongside nine other provincial chairpersons for backing Mnangagwa for the post of VP ahead of Mugabe’s hot favourite Joice Mujuru.
In a surprise twist of events, Shumba last week withdrew the vehicle he had donated to the Team Lacoste and instead gave it to Zanu PF Provincial chairperson, Amasa Nhenjana, a G-40 senior official.
“Shumba has since crossed the floor to join the G-40 team led by the First Lady. So he retrieved the Mazda BT 50 vehicle from the Team Lacoste after being incensed by their attacks on Mrs Mugabe,” a Zanu PF source said.
Shumba has until recently been one of Mnangagwa’s key strategists.
Party insiders told Zimeye.com yesterday that Shumba’s withdrawal of resources from the Team Lacoste was a body blow that would weaken the Mnangagwa camp in the Masvingo Province a hotbed for Zanu-PF factional wars.
Party sources further revealed to ZimEye.com Shumba that retrieved his vehicle after being angered by the recent attacks on Mrs Mugabe.
“The whole thing emanated from the Nemamwa inter district meeting where Shumba clashed with senior party officials over the Grace Mugabe slogan issue,” the source further revealed.
Although Shumba could not be reached for comment, Nhenjana denied the claims as baseless and totally unfounded.
“I did not receive any vehicle from Shumba.I will be allocated a vehicle from the head office very soon. So the claims that I got a vehicle from Shumba are cheap and baseless,” said Nhenjana.
ZRP Cops Crushed by Chombo – REPORT
In a bid to curb the menace of corruption by traffic police officers collecting fines in cash at roadblocks, Government has announced that this will soon be a practise of the past.
Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo announced that Government is working on mechanisms to ensure fines are paid through an electronic system.
Minister Chombo also revealed that about 320 police officers were fired last year for various offences bordering on abuse of office through corrupt activities.
He said this in the Senate yesterday during a Questions without Notice Session as he also revealed plans to install satellites at all roadblocks to curb corruption.
Chombo was responding to MDC-T Senator for Matabeleland South, Mrs Sithembile Mlotshwa, who sought to know the purpose of roadblocks and what Government was doing about corruption allegations against traffic police officers.
He said traffic cops played a major role in policing to ensure only roadworthy and registered vehicles brought into the country legally were on the roads.
Minister Chombo said there had been an upsurge in the importation of stolen vehicles from countries such as Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa while others were legitimately bought but smuggled into the country without paying duty.
He said police roadblocks were also meant to guard against speeding.
“Out of all the 50 000 police officers that we have, some of them may not be forthright as you and I may want,” said Chombo.
“Last year, we dismissed 320 police officers for stealing and abusing their offices at roadblocks and other offices. So the police is keen to clean up those police officers who are contravening the laws that they are supposed to uphold.”
Minister Chombo said the issue of spot fines at roadblocks was of concern to Government and mechanisms were in place to stop the rot.
He said people were concerned that some of the money collected at roadblocks was not sent to Treasury as provided for in the law.
“I want to inform this august House that there is a paper circulating in Government whereby roadblocks will be manned by satellite so that from an office in Harare you can see what is happening at a roadblock in Tsholotsho and you can pay using methods such plastic money or mobile transfers.
“There will not be any cash that will be exchanged. Therefore we will be reducing the temptation for police officers to be corrupt. So I am really on your side. The issues you raise are legitimate. Just give us a couple of weeks, it will be a thing of the past,” said Minister Chombo.
Zanu-PF Senator for Manicaland Cde Shadreck Chipanga said there was a recent court judgment that spot fines were illegal.
To that end, he asked Minister Chombo to confirm whether it was now Government policy to defy court judgments by allowing police officers to demand spot fines.
Minister Chombo said he was not aware of the judgment adding that he would check.
He said in the event that there was such a judgment, the police should comply since they were expected to protect the law.
High Court Judge, Justice Francis Bere, last year said the collection of spot fines from motorists by the police and impounding of their vehicles if they failed to pay up was illegal and must be stopped forthwith.
He made the remarks while officially opening the 2015 Masvingo High Court legal year.
Justice Bere said there was neither a legal framework nor law which compelled a motorist to pay a spot fine or empowered police to impound someone’s vehicle.
He said Section 356 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (Chapter 9:07), which is often cited on the matter, did not give police officers powers to force a motorist to pay a spot fine.
Justice Bere said spot fines and their retention by the police needed to be clarified as the matter had caused a lot of confusion.
However, the police dismissed Justice Bere’ statement saying it was of no legal force since it was not a court ruling but his opinion.
Fireworks as NRZ Workers Riot
Fireworks as unpaid NRZ workers riot
Workers of the National Railways of Zimbabwe on Friday staged a demonstration in Harare demanding outstanding salaries backdating to last year.
More than 300 NRZ employees gathered at the parastatal’s local offices waving placards, demanding their outstanding salaries and allowances.
The railway workers also petitioned parliament and Labour Minister Prisca Mupfumira demanding that government urgently looks into their plight.
One of the protestors, Tafadzwa Bhunu, said life has become unbearable for most of the company’s employees following NRZ’s failure to pay them their dues.
Another demonstrator, Linda Masarira, who is challenging her dismissal from the company in the courts, said she was also worried that NRZ is not saying anything about the plight of its workers.
Masarira criticised Mupfumira for ordering all striking NRZ employees to return to work without her addressing the issue of their outstanding salaries and allowances. VOA
Army Abandons Shooting Victims
The family of 16-year-old Tawanda Musvipa, killed in March after an accidental discharge of an anti-aircraft machine by soldiers conducting drills near Inkomo Barracks, has accused the army of failing to honour the promises it made to the family following the incident.
Tawanda was shot on the right side of his chest and left lower back by a 12,7mm anti-aircraft gun which travels at 600 metres per second during assembly at Delamore Secondary School.
The bullet also struck 13-year-old Tinashe Awali on the right arm.
Although the army assisted Tawanda’s family to meet funeral costs, it failed to attend his memorial service on May 7 or provide material assistance as promised.
Tawanda’s relatives told Zimbabwe Independent this week the army only offered firewood, and even then, there was a condition that the family finds its own transport to collect the wood. Military bosses said they did not have fuel to transport it to the family.
The Musvipa family, which lives at a farm, did not take up the offer as firewood was readily available where they stay anyway.
Tawanda’s father Tichaona Musvipa said the army let the family down as it had promised to assist during the memorial service. The military had also promised to secure employment in government for some of Tawanda’s relatives as part of their long-term assistance.
“It’s really confusing what is going on. I am actually coming from One Para (near Inkomo barracks) to ask what steps they have taken towards compensating us for the death of our son which was caused by their carelessness. But all I am told is that government has no money and there is nothing much they can do,” said Musvipa on Wednesday.
“It pains me that on May 7 we held a memorial service for Tawanda which they knew about as it was announced at the end of his funeral. We even reminded them on May 5 and asked for assistance to feed relatives, friends and church colleagues who would be attending the service. They told us they didn’t have money and they could only provide firewood but added that they didn’t have transport to bring it. They said if we had a car with fuel we could collect ourselves. Honestly what kind of insult is that?”
Musvipa said the army officials later said they could only give the family US$50 for the memorial service.
“They left the money at Delamore Secondary School where Tawanda learnt. I only received it on May 13, way after the memorial service,” said the angry father. “Besides, what would I have done with the little amount of money. Tawanda had a bright future ahead of him. He is the one I pinned my hopes on. He is surely worth more than just firewood and US$50,” said Musvipa.
“All the promises they made to us about securing jobs for relatives seem to have just ended in empty words. When I asked them about the way forward, they said government had no money and in any case the matter was now before the Norton magistrates’ court and a soldier was arrested.”
Tinashe’s father Nickson Awali on Wednesday said although he was asked to submit written demands, the army had gone quiet. His son is still struggling with injuries from the shooting.
“The last time I spoke to them about compensation, I told them I wanted a lifelong support for my traumatised son because his injury will affect him for his entire life since he is right handed. Tinashe only started going to school today. We had to persuade him to go because he can’t move his hand which is now stiff. We were told he will need physiotherapy exercises for it to be functional,” Awali said.
Questions sent to ZNA spokesperson Alphios Makotore on Wednesday were not responded to by the time of going to print.
Officials in his office said he was out of office until Monday and insisted he was the only one who could respond to the queries. -Independent
Dr Nkosana Moyo joins Mujuru?
Former Industry Minister, Dr Nkosana Moyo may just be another big catch by the Joice Mujuru led Zimbabwe People First.
Sources within the party alleged to ZimEye.com that the former Minister concluded discussions with Mujuru at the weekend. The sources however could not give full details of the deliberations between Mujuru and Moyo.
Moyo resigned from President Mugabe’s cabinet in 2001 only a year into his office following what he described as difficult ZANU PF policies to work under.
He then left the country for South Africa unannounced before sending his resignation from cabinet via fax to Mugabe twenty four hours after leaving the nation.
Responding to Moyo’s resignation President Mugabe described Moyo as a coward.
“We can not work with cowards like Moyo in our cabinet. Wet want people who we can stand with amadoda sibili (real men) not people who chicken out when the struggle gets hot,” Mugabe was quoted.
Mugabe was highly applauded when he appointed Moyo into his cabinet as the man who was not aligned to a political party at that time, was expected to be an independent mind in the revival of the country’s economy..
Moyo could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.