Staff Reporter |Pastor Evan Mawarire who is currently exiled in South Africa, has joined the global appeal for the release of incarcerated Tajamuka activist Linda Masarira, appealing to Zimbabweans to stand with her during her trial tomorrow.
Mawarire made the passionate appeal in a video recording reminding Zimbabweans of the overwhelming solidarity they gave to him when he was being harassed by the state. Masarira’s second hearing will be on Tuesday 26th of July 2016, at Mbare Magistrate Court from 09.30hrs in the morning.

Zimbabweans who cross into neighbouring Bostwana for economic or political reasons but have no papers risk being severely canned when caught, as shocking details emerge of wounded Zimbabwe torture survivors.
Early July nine Zimbabwean men reportedly sustained severe injuries after they were whipped on the buttocks with switches by a chief’s security forces in Botswana, according to a report. It is further reported  that one of the victims of the assault, Ezekiel Mukuya spent three days unable to sit because of the severity of the injuries.
The Senate Committee on Peace and Security has petitioned the Botswana government over this gross ill treatment of Zimbabweans, with Zanu PF MP for Rushinga, Damian Mumvuri reporting to Parliament the gross abuses his committee had witnessed at the border post.
Mumvuri told Parliament; “The committee managed to witness a group of Zimbabweans at the no man’s land, between Zimbabwe and Botswana who had been deported. They could hardly walk and had wounds all over their bodies.
“They submitted that they had been beaten up by both the Botswana police and the traditional chief courts,” Mumvuri said.
Botswana police have confirmed the canning incidents, explaining that the country’s chiefs were responsible for giving corporal punishment of six cuts.
Volumes of Zimbabweans cross into Botswana and other neighbouring countries in search for work, as Zimbabwe’s economy continues to deteriorate.
Botswana’s law enforcement agencies conduct patrols along the border with Zimbabwe, as well as urban sweeps, to find illegal migrants.
However, the deportees quickly find their way back through illegal entry points.
 

WAR Veterans’ minister Tshinga Dube, broke ranks with his fellow cabinet ministers, coming out to strongly condemn the heavy handedness of the police force in dealing with protesters.
He has condemned the police’s use of brute force in crushing the recent anti-government demonstrations, describing the police officers involved as “overzealous”.
Addressing the public at Stanley Square in Makokoba, Bulawayo, after donating some textbooks, Dube said the battering and and teargasing of demonstrators, among them children, during the recent nationwide job stay-away, was uncalled for.
“It’s very sad and unfortunate that some police officers become overzealous. I don’t understand when some police officers start ill-treating kids to the extent of taking them to a police station or locking them up,” he said.
“It’s very, very unfortunate. So what we can only do is to speak to their higher authorities. They (authorities) must look upon these issues very seriously. Kids are kids and you will find that anywhere in the world they are taken by storm, and if that happens, they want to be seen participating.”
Dube added: “And if you ask why they are participating, they will not give you a satisfactory answer, but be that the case, the police officers must have enough sense to see that these are young people who need help, not baton sticks to be used on them or teargas. It’s just unfortunate.”
Several people in most urban centres were reportedly injured when police ruthlessly crushed the protests, although Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo has defended the police action.
Dube’s remarks came as public anger against police was swelling with human rights activists, churches and opposition parties calling for the perpetrators to be brought to book.
Police have also been accused of firing teargas into Burombo Flats in Bulawayo, leaving at least 43 children hospitalised after inhaling the fumes.
A legislative watchdog, Veritas, recently urged Zimbabweans to report human rights violations by the police or army personnel to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
Videos of police brutality have been circulating on social media networks, and despite police saying they will institute investigations, they cast doubt on their sincerity when they also argued that the videos were doctored.

 

How the mighty have finally fallen…at last – 92 year old President Robert Mugabe will be out of State House following the demands by war veterans in the capital, Harare last week.
War veterans last Thursday descended on Harare and spoke before a well packed video-recorded press conference voicing that they want Mugabe to step down with immediate effect.
Within 2 days of that function, Mugabe’s former deputy Joice Mujuru also came guns blazing for the first time threatening Mugabe. As Mugabe’s troubles mount, Mujuru on Saturday mutilated the man in the wake of the historic war veterans’ ultimatum. She firmly backed the war vets who Thursday militantly told Mugabe to his face that his time is over and he must resign “or else”.
For the first time in her political career, Mujuru directly attacked Mugabe labeling him “evil” as ZimEye.com reveals. In what was her best rally ever with over 6000 who attended her Marondera stadium function which was packed to the brim, Mujuru’s speech exclusively covered by ZimEye.com, was well polished, far much better than before. Unlike at other times when she spoke in timid riddles, shying away from attacking her former boss Robert Mugabe, Mujuru was very direct and hit straight between Mugabe’s eyes. She for the first time threatened Mugabe true to her war name “spill blood” (war-name). She used the threatening noun “Gandanga” – Destroyer to describe herself in what sounded like a final warning at Mugabe since he has started another war on Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
 
The army, police and CIO leadership is said to be wholly war-veteran sympathetic, a factor many at the weekend said shows to Mugabe “the one way-out finger”. A simple way of understanding the status quo is how the war vets “filmed on video are walking scot-free since their anti-Mugabe function” last Thursday, analyst David Vumba said.
 
The logistics of kicking Mugabe out of State House might appear difficult, but all they need is a ZANU PF veto. Former ZANU PF Chairman Mash West Temba Mliswa told ZimEye.com Mugabe will be pacing the streets within minutes once a simply ZANU PF constitutional act has been done.

 
Meanwhile top officials in the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) have scoffed at government threats to silence and stop them from demanding President Robert Mugabe to step down, saying no amount of intimidation would cow them into submission.
War veterans’ leaders who declined to be named yesterday said that Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere had no locus standi to dictate what they should or should not say as their “welfare as stockholders of the ruling party was at stake”.
Mnangagwa, who all along was the war veterans’ Trojan Horse for the 2018 polls, yesterday said it was “highly irresponsible and disloyal” for the former fighters to challenge Mugabe to step down.
Kasukuwere weighed in saying: “That is unacceptable and we will have to flush out these elements. We will not allow this kind of indiscipline to take root in the party. We must allow the President to do his work. He was voted for to run the country and genuine war veterans know that.”
Secretary for War Veterans Walter Asher Tapfumaneyi also threatened to institute a witch-hunt to sniff out the brains behind the former freedom fighters’ damning Thursday communiqué which described Mugabe as a “dictator”.
The latest verbal showdown followed a ZNLWVA meeting held in Harare on Thursday where the ex-fighters denounced Mugabe for failing to address their welfare issues, failing economy, corruption and widespread poverty. The veterans of the country’s 1970s liberation war declared they would not campaign for Mugabe in the 2018 presidential race.
“It’s clear there are people who want to silence us from discussing about our welfare and relationship to the party (Zanu PF),” a senior ZNLWVA executive said. “On Thursday, we had gathered to talk about our welfare and the comrades raised a lot of issues such as neglect by the party and government. Those are genuine issues that have not been responded to and it’s sad that we are being attacked by people who don’t want us to speak openly.”
The official added: “We have been silent for a long time and yet we are denied opportunities in our own country that we liberated. We cannot listen to a person like Kasukuwere who doesn’t know poverty at all. We speak on behalf of masses and again it’s sad that the majority of us cannot afford a proper meal because of poverty.”
The war veterans, after their Thursday meeting, released a strongly-worded communiqué where they described Mugabe as a sly character and dictator responsible for the current wave of corruption and economic meltdown, among a litany of other misdemeanours. They also accused Mugabe, who is their patron, of backing a Zanu PF G40 faction fronted by his wife First Lady Grace. The call for Mugabe to step down has rattled Zanu PF with reports that State security machinery has already been dispatched to clamp down on war veterans suspected of producing the damning communiqué, but the latter has scoffed at the threats.
“We cannot be identified as aliens in Zanu PF or to be told that we are useless, no that will not happen. Of course, they might choose to silence us through arrests or death but it’s only the flesh that will die. Our children will continue speaking and our issues will not go just like that,” the official said.
Already, Zanu PF youths in Chiredzi have threatened to unleash violence on war veterans’ national political commissar, Francis Nhando and repossess his sugarcane plot in the Lowveld, describing him as a “dissident”.
Addressing a Zanu PF meeting in Triangle on Saturday, provincial youth chair, Nobert Ndaarombe declared a bare-knuckle fight with war veterans pushing for Mugabe’s ouster.
“We will not fold our hands and keep quiet if you insult the President. You have crossed the red line. It is now a bare knuckle fight. We will not back down,” he said.
Another youth leader identified as Lloyd Simango, said: “Everyone who goes against the President, we immediately, repossess what he has gained because of Zanu PF. Tomorrow we are going to invade his (Nhando’s) farm.”
Masvingo provincial chairperson Amasa Nenjana threatened unspecified disciplinary action against “errant war veterans”.
“It is not easy to fight Mugabe. They will all be quiet together with (war veterans chairman Christopher) Mutsvangwa, (secretary-general Victor) Matemadanda and others,” Nenjana said.
Provincial political commissar, Jeppy Jaboon incited youths to “deal with Nhando”, saying “as Masvingo, we no longer want to see him in the province”.
Mutsvangwa has already lost his Cabinet, Zanu PF and parliamentary posts over his alleged defiance, but war veterans have vowed to retain him as their leader. The latest purge on war veterans came as former Vice-President Joice Mujuru on Saturday threw her weight behind them and urged the ex-fighters to join forces in the campaign to dislodge Mugabe.

President Robert Mugabe’s loyalists on Friday demanded a special Zanu PF congress to deal with Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a day after war veterans said they were withdrawing their support for the 92-year-old leader.
The over 500 war veterans that met in Harare before issuing the scathing communique on Thursday, expressed unhappiness over moves by the Zanu PF G40 faction to scuttle Mnangagwa’s chances of succeeding Mugabe.
Mugabe was accused by the war veterans of creating G40 to counter his rivals in Zanu PF as the succession wars rocking the ruling party took a new dimension.
Reacting to the stance taken by the war veterans, Zanu PF leaders linked to G40 that include Zanu PF commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, attended a hastily arranged rally in Rusape where youth leaders openly denounced Mnangagwa.
Zanu PF Manicaland provincial youth leader Mubuso Chinguno told the rally that Mnangagwa should either come clean or be expelled.
“Some war veterans keep on endorsing Mnangagwa. we endorsed President Robert Mugabe as our candidate for the 2018 elections; if you endorse someone [else], it’s treasonous,” he said.
“Mnangagwa should come clean. If he is using the war veterans, he should be expelled from the party just like Mujuru and her cabal.”
Former vice-president Joice Mujuru was expelled from Zanu PF towards the end of 2014 on allegations that she was plotting to unseat the veteran ruler. She has denied the charges and has since formed her own party, Zimbabwe People First. Mujuru was immediately replaced by Mnangagwa who is now facing the same allegations of plotting to topple Mugabe.
Zanu PF deputy secretary for youth Kudzi Chipanga suggested that the party should organise a special congress to settle the succession debate.
“All members in the politburo were appointed by President Mugabe so why should we be bothered by people who were appointed?” he charged in a pointed attack on Mnangagwa.
“If it is difficult, we are calling for an extra-ordinary congress and we will see if those people who are leading factionalism in the party will retain their posts.”
The rally held at Vengere Stadium was also attended by Energy minister Samuel Undenge and Manicaland provincial affairs minister Mandi Chimene.
Kasukuwere parcelled out 500 hectares of land, claiming that 2 000 housing stands were immediately available in Rusape.
Chipanga also proposed an August 1 march in support of Mugabe. The ruling party’s youth league gathered in Harare in April for what was dubbed a million-man march before demonstrating again in the capital on Wednesday.
But at their Thursday meeting, war veterans scoffed at the protests, describing them as “bankrupt marches for a bankrupt leadership”.
“All people who have benefitted from our stands on August 1, let’s go to Harare and show support to our President Robert Mugabe: from here [Rusape] it will take just two hours, you will hear someone asking about transport,” Chipanga said.
“It costs just $5. If you don’t want, you can leave our stand and we see what we will do with it”.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) leaders yesterday said they stood by their Thursday communique despite claims by the government that they had disassociated themselves from it.
The former fighters said they feared a crackdown to cow them was being planned amid claims that a war veteran who was photographed chanting Zanu PF slogans at the meeting has been arrested.
“We know what they are up to. The communiqué is correct, but they want to do a witch-hunt to fire the perceived ring leaders like they have done on Mutsvangwa,” said a senior ZNLWVA official.
“We will not be intimidated. We also know they have arrested those police officers who are war veterans because they want to intimidate them so that they extract information on how the meeting was organised and victimise people.”
Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba said the government would only comment after completing investigations on the war veterans communiqué .
“Government’s position is very clear that there is an investigation underway to determine the veracity of that statement,” he said.
“We will investigate it, and when we reach a stage where we know where the document emanated from, that is when we can comment on it.”
He also denied reports that Mugabe chickened out of a press conference on Friday night, which had been scheduled to address the war veterans’ communique.
“You seem to know who organised it, because I did not organise it and I do not know about it. I am just coming from Buhera and that is how quiet my world is,” he said.
The relationship between Mugabe and the former liberation war fighters deteriorated following First Lady Grace Mugabe’s entry into politics in 2014. standard

Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi| Controversial Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa, has warned that Mozambican nationals masquerading as refugees, while they are Renamo rebels will be deported without hesitation.
Mahofa who is known for her penchant for controversial remarks said the majority of Mozambican nationals who sought refuge in the Lowveld were Renamo agents. She said such people were a threat to national security and stability. Hundreds of Mozambican nationals have fled from Renamo attacks in that country. However, Mahofa said the government was ready to conduct a thorough vetting exercise and all those suspected of harbouring Renamo motives would be deported. “We were instructed to warn you over the issue of these Mozambican nationals. Some of them are insinuating sinister motives so the government will not hesitate to deport them. There is a possibility that Renamo bandits might take advantage of the situation to cause havoc in the country.We know that some of them are genuine refugees but we have to keep our eyes wide open,” said Mahofa.
Mahofa warned the government would not compromise national security by harbouring Renamo elements among the refugees. It is understood over 300 hundred Mozambican nationals have fled from their country in the wake of heightening tension caused by Renamo forces.

LIVE REPORT: ZRP cops have been erecting roadblocks inside shopping malls, police boss Gen. Augustine Chihuri has revealed.
This emerged during the ZimEye LIVE-REPORT program in which newsreaders tuned in to engage Chihuri directly. Although he did not turn up himself for the live call, he availed his latest secret Communique sent to cops countrywide and it showed an official admission in full print, that policemen and women have been erecting roadblocks inside shopping malls.
In the officially stamped emergency document, Chihuri stated that the cops have been among a host of other unlawful things, putting roadblocks inside shopping malls. This must stop and those found disobeying will be liable for swift disciplinary action, Gen Chihuri stated.
The document also went on following ZimEye’s latest special police investigations that have humiliated the force, to state that the cops must from Saturday the 23rd (yesterday), start ensuring that they have left every person they engage both dignified and “satisfied”  as to the service they have received from the police. The unedited official document is herewith availed by ZimEye.com – (click here to download). ZRP_EMERGENCY_MEMO ALSO WATCH THE CHIHURI LIVE ENGAGEMENT Program (PART 1, ) videos on Sunday here. – ZimEye.com  [please note, part 2 and 3 will be streamed shortly]

President Robert Mugabe’s removal call has been officially-canonised, sealed by the government media.
It is perfectly acceptable and totally legal for war veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle to demand Mugabe’s resignation, the state run and Mugabe controlled Sunday Mail paper shoved through reflecting at the weekend. Printing in bold ink, the Sunday Mail expunged the word “treasonous” from its articles, replacing it with a lighter one, “traitorous”. The word “treason” has previously been used to describe calls for Mugabe’s ouster. Government Editors however instead used the word “traitorous,” to ascribe an official anti Mugabe war vets meeting on Thursday in which Mugabe was told under clear terms his time is over and he must exit State House.
According to the ZANU PF constitution Mugabe can be removed at any time and he must be replaced by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the fiery former ZANU PF Chairman Temba Mliswa voiced in a separate ZimEye video interview.

On Thursday dreaded war veterans descended on Harare to issue an ultimatum on Robert Mugabe that he must step down. Within two days of that declaration, Mugabe’s former vice Joice Mujuru also threatened the President using the noun “Gandanga” – Destroyer to describe herself in what sounded like a final warning at Mugabe since he has started another war on Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“We are the real Gandangas, we are the ones who are now saying, this old man has become evil(Tisu vacho magandanga tirikuti Mukuru uyu aipa uyu)!, ” Mujuru said as she set herself as a fearless, unique brand in the formerly hot ZANU PF stronghold area, Mashonaland East.
She also stood out to support the war veterans who on Thursday issued Mugabe an ultimatum to leave office or else. She said their farms and pensions remain theirs and Mugabe cannot take them away. READ MORE ON THE LIVE UPDATES HERE.

Robert Mugabe’s automatic successor, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has rushed to distance himself from his loyal supporters, War Veterans, who stood out to issue a final ultimatum on Mugabe to resign “or else” on Thursday. Mnangagwa described as “nonsensical” calls by the war veterans for Mugabe to resign, as the State security aparatus struggles to identify who was behind the said “traitorous” communique issued last week in the name of liberation fighters.
In an interview with the Mugabe-controlled state media yesterday, the VP also claimed he had nothing to do with the clique of war veterans who are pushing Mugabe out of office and replace him with Mnangagwa at both ruling party and Government level.
Last Thursday, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association commissar Francis Nhando told journalists at the end of an executive meeting in Harare that they wanted President Mugabe to resign.
However, senior members of the association have dissociated themselves from the statement, as have other top commanders of the Second Chimurenga; while the Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees Ministry has reaffirmed veterans’ loyalty to the President.
Zanu-PF says it will not tolerate such dissent. The ZNLWVA is an affiliate of the ruling party. And yesterday VP Mnangagwa weighed in saying all war veterans should remain loyal to their Commander-in-Chief, President Mugabe.
“I watched ZBCtv (on Friday and learnt) that they made a statement, but I haven’t read it. If they said the President must resign, then that is nonsensical. If they are true war veterans, the President is their Commander-in-Chief and they must be loyal and committed.
“I don’t think those who say such things are loyal or genuine war veterans. They must be loyal,” the VP said.
In recent months, some war veterans have claimed they are campaigning for VP Mnangagwa to assume the highest office in the land. VP Mnangagwa trashed such claims saying: “That’s nonsense, absolute nonsense.”
The state media suggests the said communique was prepared before the Thursday meeting and had nothing to do with the welfare issues discussed on the day.
The country’s security agencies are now conducting investigations to determine the source of the document. Yesterday, ZNLWVA secretary for information Douglas Mahiya told the state media that the association was also carrying out its own investigations.
“As war veterans, we are also trying to find out the origins of that document. But (secretary-general) Victor Matemadanda will be in a better position to give you more information about that,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Matemadanda told us to call him again after 30 minutes, but subsequent efforts to reach him were futile as his cellphone was no longer reachable. Sources said Headman Moyo, who chaired the Thursday meeting, had distanced himself from the document.
“Most of those we have talked to so far say they had nothing to do with the communique. They are suggesting that the document was authored before the meeting and then presented there to try and legitimise it.
“What makes us angry is that if there are people who have taken positions on certain matters, they should at least have the spine to stand by those positions instead of hiding behind the association and tarnishing all war veterans in the process,” he said.
The Commander of Chimoio Camp during the Second Chimurenga, Midson Gomba Mupasu alias Norman Bethune, said war veterans should be disciplined.
“I can’t have freedom of speech to attack my President; my commander. If a commander is angry about a mishap in a war, he/she should find better ways of solving the situation. A commander has to be tactful and quick in making decisions.”
Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere added: “The message has been very clear and investigations have been set in motion. We should distinguish what the general war veterans would want to see and the individuals who want to use the war veterans’ association as an umbrella body against the President.
“The party is solid. The party supports President Mugabe and we have said any future leader of the party will come from the people through proper channels. We respect the veterans who fought for the independence of the country, but not individuals who want to incite or who want to turn the body politic of the war veterans against the leadership of the party.
“That is unacceptable and we will have to flush out these elements. We will not allow this kind of indiscipline to take root in the party. We must allow the President to do his work. He was voted for to run the country and genuine war veterans know that.”
Kasukuwere continued: “He is the man who is needed by the people of this country, not individuals simply saying ‘I think I must author a document surreptitiously to undermine the system’. No. We need to allow the President to focus on the economy. We want to get our farmers to succeed.
“The President has led us as a nation and as a people to greater heights and what is left is for us, who have been given the opportunity, land, to utilise it and to get the economy to work; local leadership to get service delivery to be achieved.
“If you look at the statement, it shows someone typed it. There is a computer that was used to type the statement and there is a certain type of wording that we know real war veterans would not use.”
The commissar also said, “We need to get to the bottom of this matter. It is a serious matter; it is not a jocking matter. We can’t accept this because we have always known that some individuals were trying to get to the President, but they should know that the President is not there because he wants to be there, but because he was elected by the people to be there.
“There is a Constitution in this country that recognises that there should be a President, and we reiterate what we have said before that any attempt to undermine the President will be met equally and we will not let it succeed.
“Rest assured that President Mugabe will succeed in his term and win the next election comfortably. We are going to see our economy turnaround with him at the helm. We are not going to allow anybody to divert the attention of our leader from ensuring the people of Zimbabwe attain the economic liberation that he fought for.”
He went on: “Real war veterans are within the party and we should not bunch them with some misguided elements who are running a parallel project pretending to be war veterans.
“I am very cautious in using the term ‘war veterans’. Those we are seeing are a rebellion and we cannot allow it to end up confusing genuine war veterans who are revered in this country, who are respected and whom we know sacrificed for this country to be where it is.”
Zanu-PF deputy secretary for youth Kudzanai Chipanga said: “President Mugabe was voted for by an elective congress of the party first, and secondly, by the entire nation in 2013.
“There are some fringe elements who are intentionally hurting the credibility of the party and Government with irresponsible utterances that President Mugabe must go. Go where? Forget it. He is not going anywhere as he still has a Constitutional mandate to fulfill.
“These are statements uttered by comrades who have lost the path. They think their utterances have potential to induce hatred and stoke chaos. Zimbabweans are not foolish, they cannot be swayed by ill-advised utterances that border on gutter politics and lack of good sense.”
On Friday, Secretary for War Veterans Brigadier-General (Retired) Walter Tapfumaneyi said patriotic freedom fighters were loyal to the President, and those behind the communique were traitorous and treasonous.
He too said the war veterans leadership steering Thursday’s executive meeting had distanced themselves from the document. War Veterans Minister Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube said any liberation fighters with gripes should follow laid down procedure to seek redress.
“There is a Constitution in this country that recognises that there should be a President, and we reiterate what we have said before that any attempt to undermine the President will be met equally and we will not let it succeed.
“Rest assured that President Mugabe will succeed in his term and win the next election comfortably. We are going to see our economy turnaround with him at the helm. We are not going to allow anybody to divert the attention of our leader from ensuring the people of Zimbabwe attain the economic liberation that he fought for.”
He went on: “Real war veterans are within the party and we should not bunch them with some misguided elements who are running a parallel project pretending to be war veterans.
“I am very cautious in using the term ‘war veterans’. Those we are seeing are a rebellion and we cannot allow it to end up confusing genuine war veterans who are revered in this country, who are respected and whom we know sacrificed for this country to be where it is.”
Zanu-PF deputy secretary for youth Kudzanai Chipanga said: “President Mugabe was voted for by an elective congress of the party first, and secondly, by the entire nation in 2013.
“There are some fringe elements who are intentionally hurting the credibility of the party and Government with irresponsible utterances that President Mugabe must go. Go where? Forget it. He is not going anywhere as he still has a Constitutional mandate to fulfill.
“These are statements uttered by comrades who have lost the path. They think their utterances have potential to induce hatred and stoke chaos. Zimbabweans are not foolish, they cannot be swayed by ill-advised utterances that border on gutter politics and lack of good sense.”
On Friday, Secretary for War Veterans Brigadier-General (Retired) Walter Tapfumaneyi said patriotic freedom fighters were loyal to the President, and those behind the communique were traitorous and treasonous.
He too said the war veterans leadership steering Thursday’s executive meeting had distanced themselves from the document. War Veterans Minister Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube said any liberation fighters with gripes should follow laid down procedure to seek redress.

This week’s nasty and public fall-out between President Robert Mugabe and restless war veterans probably marks the beginning of the end for the increasingly frail nonagenarian’s long tenure in power — analysts, opposition parties and ordinary Zimbabweans say.
In a stunning development on Thursday, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) virtually served divorce papers on Mugabe — marking the end of a political relationship that dates back to 1975 when freedom fighters catapulted the 92-year-old to the leadership of the governing party.
Until now, war veterans have served as Mugabe’s and Zanu PF’s political power dynamos, playing particularly significant roles to keep the nonagenarian on the throne in the hotly disputed 2000 and 2008 national elections which were both marred by serious violence and the murder of hundreds of opposition supporters.
But to the utter disbelief of many Zimbabweans, the liberation struggle fighters said pointedly on Thursday that Mugabe’s continued stay in power was now a stumbling block to the country’s development, adding almost maliciously that the nonagenarian would also be “a hard-sell” if he contested the watershed 2018 presidential elections.
“We are saying this country will only go up when Mugabe steps aside because his management is no longer respected by anyone, including his own ministers,” war veterans’ political commissar, Francis Nhando, told journalists during a media briefing in Harare.
“If he announces his retirement date now, the economy will improve because there is nobody who will invest his money where the future is uncertain. Nobody will lend money to a 92-year-old and if he does not step aside, 2018 will be the most difficult year to campaign for us as war veterans.
“How do you campaign for someone you do not like and who does not like you either? The relationship between us as war veterans and the president has broken down, he and the party don’t like us anymore,” he added.
And yesterday analysts and opposition parties piled in the pressure, telling the Daily News that the fall-out between Mugabe and war veterans was significant, as it could spell the end of the nonagenarian’s rule.
“The political and historical significance of this moment cannot be overstated. It represents a major turning point in the long relationship between Mugabe and the war veterans.
“The war veterans were one of the most critical elements in Mugabe’s political campaign for survival when he faced his sternest test from (opposition leader Morgan) Tsvangirai.
“When the Mugabe government lost the vote for a new constitution that they were promoting in February 2000, the war veterans stepped in to lead Mugabe’s political campaign, which began with the violent takeovers of commercial farms.
“When white judges were purged from the Zimbabwean bench, it was the war veterans who led the campaign. On one occasion, Joseph Chinotimba, who is now an MP, invaded the Supreme Court along with a gang of veterans and danced on the tables, shouting at judges,” United Kingdom based lawyer and academic, Alex Magaisa, said.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Tendai Biti, hailed the war veterans for finally standing up to Mugabe, but quickly also warned that the fall-out could have dire consequences for the country.
He said in Africa, when founding leaders either left office under a cloud or died, it was often difficult for such states to recover quickly.
“This is a reflection of the intense contradiction and intense devaluation of the instrument of cohesion that Mugabe has controlled for such a long time.
“What this means is that there is a serious infraction and conflict inside the state. What this also means is that we have the basis of real physical confrontation being laid down,” Biti told the Daily News.
The former finance minister said what was particularly unsettling about the war veterans’ and Mugabe’s fall-out was that the sentiment by the former freedom fighters had the “explicit blessing” of some senior army officers.
On its part, the MDC said the stance by war veterans was indicative of “a consensus” across the political divide that Mugabe was the problem in Zimbabwe and that he had overstayed in power.
“We are very pleased that the war veterans have finally seen the light. We would like to applaud them for fearlessly calling upon Mugabe to step down. The war veterans have now realised that all along Mugabe had been using and abusing them for his own selfish design of creating a one-man dictatorship.
“We don’t hate Mugabe as a person but we have consistently condemned his misgovernance and misrule. After 36 years of Mugabe’s iron-fisted and authoritarian rule, Zimbabwe has been reduced into a failed State with poverty and destitution ravaging more than 90 percent of the population,” party spokesman Obert Gutu said.
War veteran and Zimbabweans United for Democracy (Zunde) president, Farai Mbira, said the decision taken by the ex-combatants was long over-due.
“What we must all understand is that Mugabe is the most illiterate in terms of freedom. He does not understand freedom and is a possible case of psychological dichotomy. He spent the whole of his youth fighting against oppression but spends the rest of his presidency perfecting it,” Mbira said.
The fall-out between Mugabe and his storm troopers also comes as the 92-year-old is battling rising public anger against him and Zanu PF, which has seen strikes hurting the already dying economy.
Earlier this month teachers, nurses and doctors went on strike after the government failed to pay them their June salaries on time.
There are also growing doubts about the capacity of Mugabe’s cash-strapped government to pay civil servants their July salaries on time, although it yesterday released what it said were proposed dates for this month’s salaries.
The military will now get their salaries on Monday — two weeks after the government failed to pay them on due date.
Worried analysts and opposition political parties say the government’s continued failure to pay its workers on time, particularly soldiers, could spark serious disturbances, including violent riots.
Amid all this, tension is rising in the country as fed up Zimbabweans join hands to demand change and an end to Mugabe’s and Zanu PF’s rule, which they say has been catastrophic. daily news

As President Robert Mugabe’s troubles mount, former Vice President Joice Mujuru today (Saturday) mutilated her former boss in the wake of the historic war veterans’ ultimatum on the Head of State to resign with immediate effect.
She also officially backed the war vets who Thursday militantly told Mugabe to his face that his time is over and he must resign “or else”.
For the first time in her political career, Mujuru directly attacked Mugabe labelling him “evil” as ZimEye.com reveals.
In what was her best rally ever with over 6000 who attended her Marondera stadium function which was packed to the brim, Mujuru’s speech exclusively covered by ZimEye.com, was well polished, far much better than before.
Unlike at other times when she spoke in timid riddles, shying away from attacking her former boss Robert Mugabe, Mujuru was today very direct and hit straight between Mugabe’s eyes. She for the first time threatened Mugabe true to her war name “spill blood” (war-name). She used the threatening noun “Gandanga” – Destroyer to describe herself in what sounded like a final warning at Mugabe since he has started another war on Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“We are the real Gandangas, we are the ones who are now saying, this old man has become evil(Tisu vacho magandanga tirikuti Mukuru uyu aipa uyu)!, ” Mujuru said as she set herself as a fearless, unique brand in the formerly hot ZANU PF stronghold area, Mashonaland East.
She also stood out to support the war veterans who on Thursday issued Mugabe an ultimatum to leave office or else. She said their farms and pensions remain theirs and Mugabe cannot take them away. READ MORE ON THE LIVE UPDATES HERE 

ZimEye brings you live updates from Joice Mujuru’s rally at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera.
COMMENT: This was Mujuru’s best rally ever. Over 6000 attended today and the stadium was packed to the brim. Her speech was also well polished far much better than before. Unlike at other times when she spoke in timid riddles and was shying away from attacking her former boss Robert Mugabe, Mujuru was today very direct and hit straight at Mugabe’s wrinkled forehead. She for the first time threatened Mugabe true to her name, “spill blood.” See at 1510H – Mujuru: “We are the real Gandangas, we are the ones who are now saying, this old man has become evil(Tisu vacho magandanga tirikuti Mukuru uyu aipa uyu)!, ” all this signifying she is now making positive inroads politically as a fearless unique brand and this being done in a hot ZANU PF stronghold area… – ON THE GROUND COMMENTARY: Simba Chikanza.
1550H – Mujuru concludes her speech.
1541H – Mujuru: “We have hosted the best rallies to date where people are neither forced nor coerced…”
1539H – Mujuru: We of People First stand for this, that here in Zimbabwe we shall fix the nation. Our unity with other parties…to hear our children advising us, this is our way of doing things. This unity is not in deception, it is a one-ness of truth, integrity and focus…
1534H – Mujuru: You ZANU people are beating up people. Police stop beating people!
1533H – Mujuru: The cash crisis did not just start today. It started a long time ago, and has only naturally grown…
1529H – Stop making national decisions from your bedrooms, Mujuru says
1525H – Mujuru takes another swipe at Robert Mugabe: “The work of leaders is not to go on holiday (sic-Shona linguo)…”
1522H – Mujuru:”These farms, by now we would have managed the lands using professional assessors and experts. I once said some countries do their food processing….”
1510H – Mujuru: “We are the real Gandangas, we are the ones who are now saying, this old man has become evil(Tisu vacho magandanga tirikuti Mukuru uyu aipa uyu)!” UPDATES CONTINUE BELOW…

1508H – “I have my Sekuru here close to Chikomba who loves mbeva (mice), when you travel to his house, you drive through a tiny narrow road which Ian Smith built and left in the state which it remains….,” Mujuru says.
1506H – “The way Zimbabwe has become totally destroyed as if there is no tomorrow…” Mujuru bemoans.
1505H – Mujuru takes the podium. Introduces PDP and ZAPU officials.
1415H – Still on lengthy introductions. Numbers continue to swell. Marondera could turn out to be Mujuru’s stronghold through former ZANU PF Central Committee supremo, Ray Kaukonde’s hand.
1330H – Mujuru enters stadium flanked by aides.
1200H – Hundreds throng the stadium. Number continues to rise…

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s prophet, Madzibaba Wimbo disappeared soon after prophesying that Mnangagwa would take over from Robert Mugabe.
The Johane Masowe Vadzidzi Vajesu Church founder is said to have been abducted by his own church officials who are suspected to be Mugabe agents.
The abducted preacher’s daughters broke down in tears before a Cabinet committee appointed by President Robert Mugabe to look into a bitter internal dispute in the church.
Gomo (94), popularly known as Mudzidzi Wimbo, was allegedly abducted by his church aides last year and since then, his children have not accessed him.
After a closed-door meeting with the committee, led by State Security minister Kembo Mohadi at Wimbo’s home in Madziwa on Thursday, the Gomo family had hoped their father would be released.
“Are you leaving before we can see our father?” one of the wailing daughters asked Mohadi as other female church members joined in the weeping, with the place resembling a funeral.
Mohadi’s team that included Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo, Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Mashonaland Central Provincial minister Martin Dinha said it had only come on a fact-finding mission and report back to Mugabe who would decide on the way forward.
They then offered to take them to the shrine to see their father, but they declined. The family members said they would only see their father once he was brought home.
The Gomo family held an hour-long meeting with Mohadi and his team where they chronicled the events leading to the alleged abduction of their father.
They accused Ishmael Magodi, Zex Pamacheche, Shepherd Chingwena and Edison Mukuhwa, who are on remand over a murder charge, of abducting Wimbo and holding him against his will.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mudzidzi Obenesia claimed that the four were not family members, but joined the family after being treated by Wimbo of mental sickness.
“The problem started when they killed Jacob
Zifungo in 2014, a prophet from Gwanda accusing him of resisting the introduction of Chinese herbs under the Tians programme. They killed him in
Zvisokwe River. They were arrested, and are on remand and are still terrorising people at the shrine,” he said.
“After the incident, we the Gomo family, church members and the local traditional leadership agreed to send them back to their families because we could not stay with murderers. After a few months, they came back and abducted Mudzidzi to the shrine under the guise that they were taking him to the Chihuri family for a visit.”
They also accused the church aides of misappropriating over $120 000 raised by the church to buy a new vehicle for Wimbo.
Since then, Obenesia said, the family members were being denied access to their father. An effort by one of his sons, Gadjwet Gomo, who is a police chief superintendent, ended in violence when he was assaulted together with his sisters, church members and one of Wimbo’s eldest wives.
“The assault has been done with the help of soldiers who are now camped a few kilometres from here. We are now living in fear. They are always firing guns in the air to intimidate us. At one time, a helicopter came. We don’t know who set up the camp and also ordered the training of youth under the Border Gezi programme,” Obenesia added.
“We have tried all we can, including visiting the office of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to have our father released, but it has not helped. Instead, VP Mnangagwa came to the shrine and did not order his release.”
Mugabe early this month also visited Wimbo’s shrine and promised to set up the Mohadi-led ministerial committee.
The family members said they strongly believe Major General Douglas Nyikayaramba, the Zimbabwe National Army Chief of Staff, was behind the heavy military presence.
“He has actually married one of the daughters of one of the four who abducted our father,” he alleged.
“Nyikayaramba told the President that he did not know how those soldiers came, but we have evidence that he is commanding them.” – Newsday

LIVE REPORT: ZimEye.com in the below live video (from time minute marker 4:19) tracks down “bloody” violent ZRP Cops who have been terrorising citizens to date and have been recruited under Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri’s nose.
The following uniformed Constables part of a large batch were caught in the act at work last night:
Cst George Vambe  Force No. 069453X
Cst Munyaradzi Denga  Force No. 069778W
This was done LIVE in the newsroom on Friday between 6.20pm and 7.30pm (Zim time tonight)….. broadcast via YouTube LIVE and Facebook LIVE:  (investigation starts from time-marker 4:19)

State Media – Government has dismissed a communiqué purportedly released by war veterans renouncing and castigating President Mugabe’s leadership, saying investigations were underway to establish its origins and authorship.
Secretary for Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees Brigadier-General (Retired) Walter Tapfumaneyi yesterday said all patriotic freedom fighters were behind and loyal to President Mugabe and his Government.
He said all those who attended a meeting, purportedly organised by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association on Thursday, had distanced themselves from the “traitorous and treasonous” communiqué.
The war veterans’ association is led by Mr Christopher Mutsvangwa, who was recently expelled from Government and Zanu-PF for gross misconduct and disloyalty.
Rtd Brig-Gen Tapfumaneyi said Government was investigating the matter with a view to punishing those behind the traitorous communiqué.
“Government, therefore, dismisses the said traitorous so-called communiqué which is treasonable in the constitutional democracy that Zimbabwe is, with utter disdain and all the contempt that it deserves,” he said.
“While multi-agency investigations are underway to establish its origins, authorship, ownership and purpose which will bring all associated with it to justice, the ministry urges all patriotic veterans of the liberation struggle to remain loyal to His Excellency the President and to the party, to remain disciplined and principled while at the same time being wary of the divisive machinations of Zimbabwe’s detractors.
“The ministry wishes to inform the nation that all those who attended the above meeting and had authority over its purpose and content have all categorically distanced themselves from the document in terms of its ownership, authorship, substance and purpose.”
Rtd Brig-Gen Tapfumaneyi said following the indaba between President Mugabe and war veterans in April, Government was working on improving the welfare of the freedom fighters.

LIVE REPORT: ZimEye.com in the below live video (from time minute marker 4:19) tracks down “bloody” violent ZRP Cops who have been terrorising citizens to date and have been recruited under Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri’s nose.
The following uniformed Constables part of a large batch were caught in the act on duty last night:
Cst George Vambe  Force No. 069453X
Cst Munyaradzi Denga  Force No. 069778W
This was done LIVE in the newsroom on Friday between 6.20pm and 7.30pm (Zim time tonight)….. broadcast via YouTube LIVE and Facebook LIVE:  (investigation starts from time-marker 4:19)


 
ZRP Cop Demands $160 Bribe To Release Offender – LIVE REPORT
LIVE REPORT:  20 July 2016, 1800Hrs:   
A Gutu based ZRP officer is in trouble after demanding $ 160 – to release an offender, ZimEye.com can reveal.
In yet another incident that has exposed corruption in the ZRP, Constable Leonard Mabheka of Gutu Police Station, demanded the money from Edward Changonda of Mupandawana Village in order to facilitate the release of the latter’s wife, Fungai Zikumba.
Mabheka promised to release Zikumba after the payment of the cash. He also told Changonda he would use his influence to avoid a court trial.
The case came to light when Gutu Magistrate Edwin Marecha remanded Zikumba in custody. Zikumba was arrested after assaulting her husband’s former girlfriend, Mellisa Matuke.
Chagonda said he paid the money so that his wife would be released.
“When my wife sent me a message saying the magistrate had remanded her in custody. I then contacted Mabheka asking him to give me back my money but he refused. I gave him the money at Chivaraidze bar in Gutu town. The officer deceived me,” said Chagonda.
Mabheka said the claims were baseless.
“It’s not true, I never demanded a bribe from that man. I did not take his money,” said Mabheka.
Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula said she had no details of the matter. She said she would check with the police in Gutu.
 

                 ………………………………………………

 
15 July 2016, 0430Hrs:  Five (5) Ndebele villagers are reported to have been killed by a ZRP Support Unit team on Tuesday. The incident brings the total number of Ndebele deaths by brutal ZRP cops to (8)eight.
The massacre is said to have occurred in a village close to Plumtree where the cops “stormed into the village and killed a whole family,” as a source told ZimEye.
Full details were at the time of writing still sketchy amid reports that villagers have been threatened into silence.
The incident comes just after 3 Ndebele people were killed by ZRP cops in Bulawayo last week. Bulawayo residents of Burombo flats have reported how police officers ambushed their hostels in the evening and ordered everyone to move out of their house. Due to fear, the residents didn’t move out and the police started throwing teargases through windows and on corridors which forced people to move out and gather at an open space.
Everyone, from as young as 10 years and the elderly, were made to lie down on their stomachs and were beaten with baton sticks. Residents said they do not know why they were beaten as some of them never even participated in the protests.
The residents who spoke to Habakkuk Trust explained that the police forced them to sing the National Anthem in Shona and when they could not they were beaten again. Some were made to roll on the floor.
Some of them sustained injuries, some heavily affected by the teargas and are in need of medical assistance. Two people, a child and a old woman, have reportedly died as a result of inhaling teargas.
Meanwhile some residents have also complained that the police are indiscriminately arresting children accusing them of being part of the gang that looted at Mzilikazi Supermarket.
Meanwhile ZimEye was at the time of writing still investigating the Plumtree matter. If proven to be true, the cops will instantly listed for murder charges and added to the ZimEye Live Database. At the weekend ZimEye.com launched the Zimbabwe’s first database of all abusive police officers in preparation of their arrests and trial within and outside Zimbabwe. This growing database will be used by local lawyers as well as those at the International Criminal Court once relegation has been performed.
Do you know these police officers? Send us your pictures, videos, and summary guides to WhatsApp +447426863301

LIVE REPORT:   14 July 2016, 0500Hrs:  The ZRP cops who were caught on camera in shocking videos assaulting alleged protesters last week, are now being identified, named and nabbed.
ZimEye.com sources have named four of the cops so far. The quad are respectively,

• David Mupandira
• Hilton Mutyandiripo
• Dazzy Ncube
• Benard Gomo

ZimEye is reliably told the four are based at Chikurubi Maximum Prison Support Unit. Further details were not available at the time of writing. Do you know these four officers and others who participated in committing violence on protesters last week? Send us your pictures, videos, and summary guides to +447426863301
ZimEye at the weekend launched a new live database storing all abusive police men and women who assault and abuse civilians. The update-roll continues below:
 
13 July 2016, 0558Hrs:
ZimEye.com sources have fingered one of the ZRP officers, Edmore Runganga, who abused Pastor Evan Mawarire yesterday (Tuesday). This is the same ZRP officer who authored the Search Warrant document that states the ZRP is looking for among other things a stolen police “button stick,” at Mawarire’s house.
Exclusive pictures of the ZRP officer, Inspector Edmore Runganga in brown jacket (pictures), have also been availed.
He was born around 1966, completed his O’Levels in 1987, and currently operates principally from Avondale police station, Harare.

He is from Manyene village, close to Chivhu.

At the weekend ZimEye.com launched the country’s first database of all abusive police officers in preparation of their arrests and trial within and outside Zimbabwe. This growing database will be used by local lawyers as well as those at the International Criminal Court once relegation has been performed.

We ask the public to quickly identify them by printing their names, dates of birth, addresses and phone numbers in full here. Local and international lawyers will henceforth utilise these details to effect an arrest warrant within and outside the country for these gross violations of human rights. These ‘bloody’ criminals will not get away with this, a lawyer told ZimEye on Saturday morning. Do you know a police officer who has been assaulting civilians? Contact ZimEye now on +447426863301, or type their details and full residential address below.  

This page is updated daily as the database grows

Defiant Acie Lumumba repeated his public insults aimed at President Robert Mugabe once again in court this morning. Lumumba appeared in Rotten Row Court before Magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe facing charges of insulting the president as defined in Section 33 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law .
The media report that Lumumba who directed the f* you word to President Robert Mugabe on the launch of his party, this morning told the court when he was being cross examined by his lawyer Arshie Mugiya that the President has been f**ing Zimbabweans for 36 good years.

President Barack Obama was paneled to speak after Strive. On finishing his remarks, Strive then introduced the President. In acknowledgment, President Obama had this to say about our very own:
“Well, thank you, Strive, for those kind words and your great work in promoting opportunity in Africa and across the globe. I should point out, by the way, Strive just told me he was in the middle of a board meeting, he flew here, he’s got to go back. He hasn’t gotten any sleep. That’s how committed he is to the work that we’re doing.”
Strive Masiyiwa | Yesterday was a very special day for me and I’ve been looking forward to sharing it with all of you. I was given the honor by the White House to introduce President Barack Obama to a global audience, and to talk about the efforts during his Presidency, to help the poor throughout the world.
There are certain moment in life when you just say Wow! and this was one of those moments.
The event was the White House Summit on Global Development which brought together top global experts to talk about the progress that President Obama and his Administration have made possible in energy, food security, global health, good governance, development partnerships and youth initiatives around the world.
I first met then Senator Obama 10 years ago over lunch in Johannesburg, on one of his many visits to Africa. He had sought me out because he knew I was part of a small group of African and global leaders who had been assembled by out-going UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. We had to find solutions to address hunger, food security and nutrition in Africa.
During our lunch, I quickly recognized Senator Obama as a man of great vision – a leader with a heart not just for the people in his own country, but for the whole world, and for the African continent in particular.
He did not need me to tell him that women smallholder farmers are the backbone for agriculture in the developing world, or that in parts of Africa and India, close to 40% of children are stunted, or that over one billion people still have no access to electricity. He already knew.
__He also understood it required bold leadership and unprecedented cooperation on the part of governments, donors, philanthropists, civil society and the private sector to address these issues.
President Obama’s presidency has been a testament to this vision. Even as the global financial crisis into which he was elected raged around him, he put global development at the center from the very beginning, and he stayed the course.
As President, he’s championed major initiatives such as:
# Power Africa, to bring electricity and economic growth to sub-Saharan Africa;
# Feed the Future to dramatically improve food security and nutrition;
# The Young African Leadership Initiative to nurture the next generation of leaders;
# The Global Entrepreneurship Summit to pivot our focus to entrepreneurship and job creation… and more, much more.
Even when the Ebola crisis threatened to blow everything away, he was there too, personally and deeply engaged in taking decisive steps to mobilize the world… again, an eagle in a storm!
When I first met him, he was Senator Obama, a promising leader who’d just published his book, “The Audacity of Hope.” Now even as his Presidency of the US draws to a close, I have no doubt he’ll continue his visionary global leadership, transforming that hope into innovative actions to help the poorest of the poor uplift themselves to prosperity.
As the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, James MacGregor Burns, wrote: “The most lasting tangible act of leadership is the creation of an institution – a nation, a social movement, a political party, a bureaucracy – that continues to exert moral leadership and foster needed social change long after the creative leaders are gone.”
In this post, I’ve shared with you some of the exact words from my introduction of President Obama. Let me close now by saying again: “Mr President: On behalf of all the hundreds of millions of people whose lives you touched and continue to touch through the initiatives you launched: Asante Sana, Tinotenda, Amhlope. Thank you.”

President Robert Mugabe’s resignation letter is awaited today, former Finance Minister Dr. Simba Makoni says.
The war veterans’ announcement yesterday that Mugabe’s reign is over effectively means the President must resign with immediate effect.
The war veterans are Zimbabwe’s most feared elite group as they comprise the entire army and airforce leadership.
Mugabe last month threatened he would launch another Gukurahundi on the war vets and their military elements.
But the war vets several weeks later, have continued to speak out and yesterday for the first time in 37 years declared Mugabe a murderer who has been doing so since the Rhodesian bush war days.
In an official statement, the MKD-Mavambo Kusile Dawn leader Makoni said he congratulates the war veterans. “MKD wishes to congratulate the Zimbabwe war veterans for seeing the light, he began.
He continued, “what we have always said since I left Zanu Pf that Mugabe is an undemocratic leader and he is full

of humbimbindoga. In 2008 I said he has a MAZDA syndrome that says “Mugabe a chatonga Zimbawe dakara afa.”
“Mugabe thinks he is a gift to Zimbabwe kunge ndewe mbeu.
“But today we join hands with War Veterans and all democratic forces in Zimbabwe calling for change that Mugabe must resign immediately as he has failed the people of Zimbabwe.
“He has taken the bread basket of Africa turning it into a begging basket of the world. His failure is unacceptable.
“Mugabe belongs to the past and is history. He has nothing to offer to the people of Zimbabwe and as a result he must resign immediately, ” Makoni concluded.

In what signifies a historic turn in Zimbabwean politics, President Robert Mugabe has been “expelled” by his benefactors, in full print.
Thousands of war veterans last night appended their signatures to the below statement in which Mugabe was told under clear terms his reign is over. They even labelled him a murderer who has killed many people on flimsy grounds. “From the days of the liberation struggle to date, history records that his egocentric approach to party and national politics has led to the demise of many a party member, on flimsy grounds. We say not anymore! Never again shall we allow him such free reign,” war vets swore last night as they issued the below statement which some analysts however said could misleading.
WAR VETERANS’ COMMUNIQUE ON THE STATE OF ZIMBABWE’S ECONOMY, THE ZANU (PF) PARTY LEADERSHIP AND THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE.
There are problematic issues that have caused concern and restlessness to Zimbabwe’s War Veterans. As a result, the War Veterans from the country’s ten provinces, including all district chairpersons and representatives from all economic and other sectors, decided to meet and deliberate on these issues, on this, the 21st day of July 2016. Following that meeting, it has been unanimously resolved to issue this communique.
1. Recalling the ideals of the National Liberation Struggle in which the blood of the departed heroes was shed in order to address the National question;
2. Reaffirming the Founding Provisions in Chapter 1of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe, in particular Section 3 thereof, which enunciates the supremacy of the Constitution; the rule of law; the fundamental human rights and freedoms; good governance; as well as the entrenched recognition of, and respect for, the liberation struggle;
3. Remembering the heroic success of the national liberation struggle, culminating in the birth of our Republic, the Republic of Zimbabwe, thereby igniting in our new nation and people, hopes for a better life in the New Zimbabwe;
4. We, the surviving Veterans of the War of Liberation, secure in the historical support that we cultivated selflessly among the broad masses of Zimbabwe, make this statement, to spell out our disappointment, and those of the broad masses and working people of Zimbabwe, at what is clearly ZANU (PF)’s abhorable and poor leadership, and to articulate the wishes of the broad masses, together with the working people of this great country. The ZANU (PF) Party Leadership has dismally failed to use the resounding mandate given to it in the 2013 general election, to address the economic l’ problems that have beset our great nation since independence from British rule.
5. We note, with concern, shock and dismay, the systematic entrenchment of dictatorial tendencies, personified by the President and his cohorts, which I” have slowly devoured the values of the liberation struggle in utter disregard of the Constitution, as demonstrated by the following:
 

• The deliberate neglect and abandonment, by the Party President of the masses, who are the foundation upon which the liberation war was fought and won, and who have, thereby, become the bedrock of the Party. Suddenly, ideologically bankrupt million man marches are being organized in honour of bankrupt leadership! The same leadership has failed to address the bread and butter issues which stick out like a sore thumb.
• The systematic decimation of the party political structures through which the militarised and mobilized veterans prosecuted the struggle.
• When Mr. Robert Gabriel Mugabe arrived in Mozambique, he walked in to join those of us who were already armed and prosecuting the war as political soldiers. He was not the President of the Party ZANU (PF), but we made him so, thinking he was one of us. Our decision to make him the President of ZANU (PF) was accepted here at home, regionally by the Frontline States, and internationally.
• The President forgets that his release from JAIL was not out of sympathy by his jailers, but because of our war effort. That is why, after his release, he joined us. Yet, today, he refers to us as irrelevant! This depicts the President’s lifetime character of always manipulating situations, and delineating others from vantage positions for his personal interests.

Examples abound:

• None of the President’s political colleagues in prison have benefitted from Zimbabwe’s independence the way he has, as he has put all his effort in sidelining them;
• The President’s systematic elimination of those in the struggle’s leadership in Mozambique, and his continued outfoxing of colleagues in leadership after independence up to this day, is unmistaken;
• The current situation, whereby the Party is fragmented with formations, so-called factions, is clearly the President’s project, again to outfox his peers in leadership;
• The President has always thrived on divide and rule tactics in order to protect his party presidential position, each time he has felt threatened. Examples go a long way to pre­ independence. However, recent examples are of interest, where the Gamatox faction was created out of nowhere, its so-called members being charged with all sorts of crimes, including treason. Then followed new creations, the President’s own G40 to look after his interests, and some Lacoste, a label of those who might be in positions to challenge the President. Typical of this president, he has mobilized those of his Gamatox nemesis to boost his G40 project, rewarding them with all sorts of gifts, including ministerial posts, despite the charges originally made against them.

After independence, the Party’s successes at elections have always been predicated on our political campaigns. To date, the Party still remains strong in the rural areas, yet the Party President thinks we have no right to challenge his bigoted political views in terms of which we should be restricted to discussing welfare issues when he has turned the party into his personal project where expulsions are the only known agenda.
His persecution, decimation and expulsion of War Veteran members from the Party under his watch are legendary. From the days of the liberation struggle to date, history records that his egocentric approach to party and national politics has led to the demise of many a party member, on flimsy grounds. We say not anymore! Never again shall we allow him such free reign.
As War Veterans, we are dismayed by the President’s tendency to indulge, in his usual vitriol against perceived enemies, including peaceful protesters, as well as War Veterans, when the economy is on its knees. He has a lot to answer for the serious plight of the national economy. His distaste and disregard of divergent views is unfathomable and must be stopped. We are dedicated to stop this rot which he has nursed over time, to everyone’s disgust.
The labeling of peaceful War Veterans as dissidents induces in us a sense of shock, dismay and revulsion in light of the history of the 1980’s. It will be recalled that our fellow War Veterans and masses in the western region suffered brutal purges which only the Unity Accord pacified. Particularly worrisome in this context is the fact that, whilst the man has dismissed that sad period as “a moment of madness”, such language belies his insincerity in the Unity Accord. He should be extending an honestly remorseful regret over this foul deed, yet he appears to extol this as some macabre virtue. His continued resort to genocidal language should worry every right thinking citizen as to his true nature. This is unacceptable to the memories of those who perished during that time.
We need not remind the Party President and First Secretary that respect for those in leadership should not be equated to fear. We do not subscribe to the idea of unbridled exercise of power without consultation, where threats of genocidal magnitude are made against us. He should be reminded that he remains the major beneficiary of the National War effort at every stage including the Unity Accord. He has used the privilege of leadership to build a patronage system around him, which has turned into a personality cult. It therefore shocks us to the core that, gauging from his recent statements, he now wishes to turn the present young generation against us for his own continued personal aggrandizement.
The Land Reform Programme, which was a historical culmination of the valiant liberation struggle, made more land available to the State. The President and his hangers-on, to our utter dismay, now uses that land as reward for his foot soldiers, who have become his personal mercenaries. These mercenaries, strangely, are getting urban land as reward for destroying the War Veterans’ legacy and the Party and, with it, the national heritage. We stand firm and resolute in the defence of that legacy. The tragic consequences for the hare-brain decisions are there for the nation to see.
His leadership has presided over unbridled corruption and down­right mismanagement of the economy, leading to national economic ruin for which the effects are now felt throughout the land.

The lack of leadership manifests itself in the following examples: –

• The multiple ZESA scandals;
• Netone;
• ZINARA;
• ZISCO;
• NRZ;
• ZUPCO;
• Hwange Colliery;
• Chiadzwa diamond fields;
• Public management and financial scandals replete in numerous Comptroller and Auditor-General’s Reports;
• Proliferation of land barons through systematic land-grabbing by those in positions of authority;
• Youth fund;
• Housing fund;
• Parceling out urban land on partisan grounds, thereby rendering urban authorities irrelevant;
• Distribution of national assets at Party rallies thereby depriving deserving development priorities;
• Commandeering and frog-marching parastatals’ financial resources to fund party political functions to the detriment of the public purse and public welfare.

The above instances demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that the party leader has absolutely no clue as to the difference between public funds earned from taxation of the people, and private individual income. It is our sacred duty as the vanguard of the people to speak out against these instances of maladministration and misrule. This rot needs to be uprooted, and right now.
We noted with regret that when some of us peacefully gathered around Harare, the leadership unashamedly and in humiliating fashion, tear-gassed and water-cannoned us for no reason. Regrettably, the general citizenry has previously been subjected to this inhuman and degrading treatment without a word of disapproval from us. That time has passed. We wish to categorically condemn the brutal oppression of the freedom of expression, whether as exercised by ourselves or by anyone else.
We therefore abhor tances where the instruments of State power have been used brutalise private citizens who share our desire to exercise our constitutionally entrenched rights and freedoms. As the vanguard of the liberation struggle we categorically reject the notion that those expressing views different to those that we hold are agents of foreign powers or agents and therefore enemies of the State. This notion, which to us is a diversionary tactic, contemptuously implies that Zimbabweans lack the capacity to rationalize issues; think through their problems and take decisive action against clear evidence of · misrule.
Instruments of State power in the hands of a responsible administration remain constitutionally bound to defend and uphold the Constitution, the rule of law and defend the sovereignty of the Republic of Zimbabwe. We therefore condemn the use of excessive force by the State against the citizens who were peacefully exercising their right to demonstrate against poor governance. We demand that those who exceeded the call of duty be held accountable in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. We further demand that the State and all its actors respect, promote, protect and uphold our Constitution.
In view of the above, we the veterans of Zimbabwe’s war of liberation, together with our toiling masses, hereby declare that, henceforth, in any forthcoming elections, will not support such a leader who has presided over untold suffering of the general population for his own personal aggrandizement and that of his cronies.

The buzz word on social media this evening after the crucial war veterans Indaba in which they made some bold statements concerning Zanu PF’s succession politics has been, ‘ma war vet ajamuka.’
Many were caught in this Tajamuka euphoria representing protest, or enough is enough, as they described the bold statements by the war veterans who are now an integral part in the struggle for democracy.
Zimbabwe’s war veterans, who have played a crucial and sometimes violent role supporting President Robert Mugabe, denounced him as “dictatorial” on Thursday in the latest sign of growing national instability.

A series of recent street protests – the largest in many years in Zimbabwe – has been triggered by an economic crisis that has left banks short of cash and the government struggling to pay its workers.
Mugabe, 92, has often used his security forces to crush dissent since he came to power in 1980 after leading the liberation war in the 1970s that ended British colonial rule.
But the surge of rare public demonstrations have revealed deepening anger at the ageing president, who has vowed to stand for re-election in 2018, and at his ruling Zanu-PF party.
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association issued a strongly-worded statement in Harare, saying it would no longer support Mugabe in elections.
“The Zanu-PF party leadership has dismally failed to… address the economic problems that have beset our great nation,” it said.
“We note with concern, shock and utter dismay the entrenchment of dictatorial tendencies, personified by the president and his cohorts which have slowly devoured the values of the liberation struggle.”
In February, Zimbabwean police shocked many observers by using water cannon and tear gas to prevent a meeting planned by the war veterans to air their grievances against the regime.
Starting in 2000, the war veterans led the seizures of white-owned commercial farms in what Mugabe said was a reversal of imbalances from the colonial era.
Worsening economic crisis
The government-supported seizures have been blamed for the drastic slump in food production that contributed to the country’s economic collapse.
Some veterans have also been accused of the widespread intimidation and violence during past elections that have kept Mugabe in power.
This week, Mugabe shrugged off criticisms by popular pastor Evan Mawarire, who has become the figurehead of the wave of anti-government protests.
“I don’t even know him… I don’t know if he is a man of religion. A man of religion, we would hope, would preach biblical peace,” Mugabe said, accusing Mawarire of being backed by foreign countries.
Earlier this month, many offices, shops and some government department were closed for a one-day national strike against the country’s worsening economic crisis.
Last week hundreds of Mawarire supporters rallied outside a Harare court until he was released when a case of attempting to overthrow the government was dismissed. News24
 

Terrence Mawawa, Gutu| Zanu PF MP for Gutu Central Constituency, Lovemore Matuke’s brother James is an organiser who leads protests against President Robert Mugabe’s goverment.
As democratic forces continue to coalesce against the government, James Matuke, brother to the former  Zanu PF provincial and current Politburo member, Lovemore, played an influential role in the stay away held two weeks ago.
James and Philemon Mhike both of Muguhu Village appeared before Gutu Magistrate Edwin Marecha on July 11, 2016 facing charges of participating in a violent political demonstration.
James, Mhike and a group of protesters are alleged to have barricaded the Gutu-Bhasera highway and obstructed vehicles with passengers from passing through. The two were noticed by Constable John Hamutoni as they led the protesters at Mushayavanhu Business Centre. An alert was sent to the Police Support Unit, leading to the arrest of the two at the scene.
James’ participation in the anti-government protests mirrors growing discontent in and out of the troubled ruling party.
The two were granted $100 bail each. As the country’s economic situation continues to dwindle with each passing day, the incident could be an indication staunch Zanu PF supporters are beginning to realise the pronounced failure by the government to steer the nation forward. Ironically the two were part of the Zanu PF terror group that terrorised opposition supporters ahead of the disputed 2008 presidential election run-off.

Harare – The Zimbabwe War Veterans Association  held a meeting earlier today in which it is reported they demanded for the immediate resignation of President Robert Mugabe and that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa takes over from him.
The increasingly bold veterans of the liberation struggle said they would not support Mugabe in future elections.
The war Vets declared in a statement ;”In view of the above, we the veterans of Zimbabwe’s war of liberation, together with our toiling masses, hereby declare that henceforth, in any forthcoming elections, will not support such a leader who has presided over untold suffering of the general population for his own personal aggrandizement and that of his cronies.”
The leadership of the war veterans, long accused by Mugabe of disloyalty since factional fighting began were silent throughout the entire proceedings, with suggestions of Mugabe’s exit coming from ordinary card carrying members of the floor.
Among the list of demands echoed by the War Veterans, were familiar ones as well. Grace Mugabe, the first lady, and her gang of loyalists commonly refereed to as Generation 40, are top of the familiar list of demands, with the veterans once again demanding that they be censored, and stripped of all power within Zanu PF.
Some demands are new however, with the veterans appearing incensed  by the announcement that the Youth League, headed by Kudzayi Chipanga would be dishing out residential stands to the electorate. A move that appears to have driven the veterans into panic, as it is now feared Grace Mugabe will use low cost housing to sway the electorate in her favour.
What will be interesting is how Robert Mugabe responds to the latest challenge from his longest serving allies, and a key cog in his election victories, stolen as they may have been.
The last time they threw the gauntlet Mugabe responded by issuing a state of the nation address, and sought to meet the war veterans and smoothen relations with them.
When the veterans demanded that he relinquish power to Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe called them dissidents and threatened a second genocide in 3 decades. Southern Daily
 

Robert Mugabe’s envoy to Australia today crept into hiding running away from #ThisFlag protesters.
The Canberra embassy was today surrounded by Aussie Police Officers as Zimbabweans demanded to see the ambassador.
The protesters who drummed several songs demanding Mugabe’s removal, were not for any violence, but to peacefully hand over a petition to Robert Mugabe, but the ambassador chose to run away and close down the entire embassy, ZimEye can reveal.
“Zimbabwean Embassy in Australia was closed down for the day; Ambassador and his staff refused to attend to us,” the group’s spokesperson Allan Chidziva told ZimEye.com
He continued, “they were peeping through the windows, we could see they were listening to us.”
The #ThisFlag campaign has lit the Zim community up with never-seen-before social energy that now threatens Robert Mugabe’s government and has led to the Head of State on Tuesday threatening to strip the founder pastor Evan Mawarire of his citizenship.
The Zimbabweans’ petition handed read as follows:

Petition to President Mugabe and the Zimbabwean Government

We the undersigned citizens of Zimbabwe who are resident in Australia, in solidarity with all peace loving Zimbabweans across the globe and those on the ground at home, would like to express our profound dismay and strong condemnation of your government for its brutal and uncaring response to the citizens’ rightful and peaceful protest over issues that you and the same government have failed to address. You have presided over a corrupt government that has seen billions of dollars siphoned out of the country by members of your government and your party as well as by Chinese companies that you allowed to have unfettered access to our national resources.
By your own admission, Zimbabwe has lost more than $15 billion in diamond revenue through corrupt deals by government officials and to date, no one has been held accountable.
Your inept government has failed to deliver on the promise of 2 million jobs that you made during the disputed 2013 elections. You have tried to employ desperate and unorthodox measures to fix the economy but to no avail. Our graduates who are highly skilled continue to roam the streets and have been forced into vegetable and fruit vending to survive. The levels of..
We strongly condemn in no uncertain terms, the impending introduction of the so called bond notes as legal tender. The same process that resulted in the economic meltdown of 2008 which brought the country to its lowest ebb.
Sir, your government has continued to arrogantly subvert the principles of democracy as seen by your heavy handedness in dealing with dissenting voices. Unlawful arrests, abductions, arbitrary detentions and disappearances of people who dare to exercise their democratic right to peacefully express their views on the state of our country. Itai Dzamara, the prominent human rights activist disappeared and his whereabouts are unknown till this day. You and your government know very well what happened to him, yet you continually suppress any efforts to find his whereabouts.
Recently we have seen the sickening images of police brutality on unarmed civilians; their crime, daring to protest against the suffering visited upon them by your maladministration of the country. Many people who have dared to stand against the injustices of your government against your own people have been harassed and arrested, including Pastor Evan Mawarire, an ordinary clergyman who dared to say enough is enough in a peaceful manner.
Public servants continue to go unpaid and yet they are still expected to work as normal. Your government does not care that these are people with families to look after. You, your government officials and those that are close to you continue to live in opulence while the rest of the population is living in poverty and squalor.
In view of the above and many other issues, too numerous to detail here, we as Zimbabwean citizens, unequivocally demand that you Mr. President, must do the following:
Allow for an independent investigation to ascertain the whereabouts of the stolen $15 billion and to determine the source of your wealth and that of your government and party officials
Bring back Itai Dzamara or tell Zimbabwe and his family where he is or what happened to him.
Stop the police and state security agents from arbitrarily beating up, arresting and detaining people who have not committed any crime but just engaging in peaceful protest.
Free all people detained on trumped up charges, just because they have dared to stand up against your ineptitude as a leader.
Restore all the basic freedoms as enshrined in the new constitution
Implement the nature and spirit of the new constitution to allow people in the diaspora to participate in the electoral process. Many are in the diaspora due to your repression and misrule. We have been systematically and unfairly disenfranchised and we demand that it is our democratic right to choose who we want to preside over our country.
Restore the health delivery system and stop your family, your ministers and yourself from seeking medical treatment abroad while everyone else is compelled to go the medical institutions that you have rundown and allowed to degenerate.
Find means and ways to ensure that all workers are duly paid and on time every month.
Repeal all repressive legislation, particularly that which prevents citizens from importing food to sustain their families. Your government has destroyed the agricultural sector that was once the mainstay of the country’s economy and therefore preventing citizens from importing food yet you have no clue on how to feed them is devilish cruelty.
Immediately step down and pave the way for a transitional and competed authority to run the affairs of the country for a period which will lead to democratic elections that will be supervised by the international community. You have already shown that you are incapable of addressing the above concerns so it is time to allow others to take over and restore our country to its past status as an economic giant in Africa and the rest of the world.

Organisers of the social movement #ThisFlag say that they are overwhelmed and surprised by the response their campaign is receiving from the public.
#ThisFlag movement is a social media campaign which is being led by a local pastor, Evan Mawarire.
The cleric is challenging government to bring to book corrupt public officials, address the ailing economy and provide jobs for the youths.
“We are actually surprised by the reaction, support and the response the campaign has received in just less than 90 days of initiating it,” #ThisFlag campaign organiser, Henry Munangatire, told a social media training workshop in Harare, this week.
“We thought we were just playing with the phones, but speaking out and communicating pertinent issues that are affecting us as Zimbabweans to the authorities,” he said.
Munangatire said using social media; they were managing to reach out to more than 1 million new followers locally every week.
“It is amazing that we have managed to reach out to more than 5 million Zimbabweans who are out of the country who are following our postings through Face book and Twitter and we are doing this without any costs incurred”.
“This would not be possible without social media that is Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. The local and traditional media cannot reach out to such a huge number because of technical challenges our national broadcaster always has. And also you need to know a journalist for your massage to be disseminated,” he said.
Commenting on the huge crowd which thronged Harare Magistrates’ courts last week to pay solidarity to Pastor Mawarire after he was arrested for encouraging Zimbabweans to protest against government peacefully, Munangatire said they used three phones to mobilise supporters.
“We only had three cell-phones which we used to text messages, post videos on Facebook and twit and all of a sudden we had more than 5000 people thronging the court yard, it was amazing again”.

In Zimbabwe only pastors trigger and lead successful regime change movements and this is a continuing fearful reality that has ruled for over 53 years since 1963.

These comments were made by analysts over the “ZimEye LIVE-REPORT” program Wednesday morning. Responding to questions, the famous Kariba pastor, Phillip Mugadza said: Robert Mugabe’s ruling “ZANU PF was started by a reverend, Rev (Ndabaningi) Sithole (in 1963), and the first President of this nation was a Rev Canaan Banana, so where am I going wrong now?”, asked Mugadza. His comments came as Zimbabwe’s first viral socio-political movement #ThisFlag led by Pastor Evan Mawarire took to heights this week with President Robert Mugabe threatening to strip Mawarire of his citizenship. The successful ZANU movement was in 1963 started by Rev Ndabaningi Sithole who years later was soon kicked out by Robert Mugabe’s agents in the 70s, the latter who has since ruined the movement causing it to be dogged by crime and a never ending corruption scourge. The assertion being found true, Mawarire’s #ThisFlag campaign may see Zimbabwe not only being rid of crime and corruption, but also removing from its shoulders, Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship regime whose only power and limelight was usurped from the clergy. FULL INTERVIEW:

YARD(Youth Advocacy for Reform) leader, Temba Mliswa is moving to take over the Norton constituency previously held by expelled War Veterans leader Christopher Mutsvangwa, ZimEye.com can reveal.
Mliswa, the man who is popular in Mashonaland West, has set his eyes on the parliamentary seat as an independent candidate, ZimEye reveals. As he returned from a series of high-level meetings at the European Parliament in Brussels, Mliswa who has also been to meet Zambia’s iconic and former youngest ambassador to Lusaka, Vernon Mwaana, is moving to contest as an independent.

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

Evan Mawarire, the Zimbabwean pastor whose #ThisFlag social media campaign contributed massively to a significant stayaway two weeks ago, says he is now “seriously” worried about returning home after hearing President Robert Mugabe denouncing him.
Pastor Mawarire left for South Africa “to clear his head” after subversion charges against him were dropped by a Zimbabwe court last week. He said soon after arriving in the country he would be returning home.
At a state funeral on Tuesday Mugabe, 92, spoke about Mawarire for the first time, accusing the pastor of encouraging violence.
Mugabe says Mawarire encouraging violence
Mugabe accused the preacher, who leads a small congregation of worshippers in Harare, of leading a violent campaign ahead of a national stayaway on July 6, which coincided with a strike by many unpaid civil servants.
Mugabe told mourners at the official funeral for Charles Utete, his former chief secretary: “The Mawarire’s … I don’t even know him, and those who believe in that way of living, well, are not part of us in thinking, they are not part of us as we try to live together. If they don’t want to live with us they should go to those countries that are sponsoring them.
“You can’t urge people to adopt violence, violent demonstrations as the way of life or a way of solving grievances, no.
“We will say no, forever no; find another environment if you are a pastor. I don’t know if he is a man of religion. A man of religion will speak the biblical truth … beware these men of God, not all of them are preachers of the Bible. I don’t know whether they are serving God or they spell G.O.D. in reverse.”
Foreign help

The state-controlled media have accused the French and US governments of assisting Mawarire’s #ThisFlag campaign.
Mawarire was arrested on charges of inciting public violence last week. But when he got to the Harare Magistrate’s Court the charges put to him were different. He was accused of plotting to overthrow a constitutionally elected government, or treason, in other words.
The legal anomaly forced the state to drop the charges and Mawarire was immediately freed. Thousands who had gathered outside the court celebrated with him late into the night.
The pastor launched his #This Flag campaign on social media in April, with a video of himself draped in the National flag. Mawarire accused the government of betraying the flag and the country through corruption, late payment of civil service salaries and poor governance, including ruining the economy so that people could not withdraw cash from banks.
The pastor did not mention violence in his posts on social media and messages sent to journalists. Soon after he was freed, Mawarire urged his supporters to continue protesting against corruption and police brutality. He then travelled by road, legally, to South Africa.
Mawarire said he was shocked when he heard Mugabe’s words.
“To hear a head of state talk of something that is an untruth is bad. So this has become a very serious situation for me, and I fear it. I am worried,” said the pator.
“I make regular trips to South Africa. The main reason I came here was just to get away from it all, to calm down, relax, clear my head and think clearly about the way forward.”
Several prominent and experienced lawyers in Zimbabwe say they believe he will be arrested again as soon as he returns home and will face charges of attempting to overthrow the government which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison without option of a fine.
Fearing arrest

Mawarire said he and many others in Zimbabwe feared arrest although the police had treated him fairly at Harare Central Police Station.
“The police were cordial. But the cell was terrible. There were 22 of us in the cell no bigger then 10m x 10m and the blankets had been defecated on. We had to use the blankets as it was cold, and the smell, Oh!”
He said when he was taken the next day to the shabby Harare Magistrate’s Court. a sewer pipe along the walkway next to the cells was burst. “I had to eat my lunch next to that,” he said.
On his Facebook page, Mawarire had said he was going home. But that was before hearing what Mugabe said about him. Now he says is a very worried man and uncertain about the future. – African News Agency

A man who works at the Triangle Garage Department was found dead yesterday Wednesday, ZimEye sources reveal. The man only identified at the time of writing as “Makuchu,” was found lifeless floating in the narrow Triangle Hippo Valley canal in his car (SEE PICTURES). Sources claimed to ZimEye.com that he committed suicide.
A police report however was awaited to confirm the claims.

The man’s lifeless body was found in the canal in his car as the vehicle had crashed into the canal.
Other ZimEye sources say the man known for his love for fishing, was likely murdered as he could not have willingly crashed his car into the narrow canal
More to follow as the story develops – ZimEye.com

A Gutu based ZRP officer is in trouble after demanding $ 160 – to release an offender, ZimEye.com can reveal.
In yet another incident that has exposed corruption in the ZRP, Constable Leonard Mabheka of Gutu Police Station, demanded the money from Edward Changonda of Mupandawana Village in order to facilitate the release of the latter’s wife, Fungai Zikumba.
Mabheka promised to release Zikumba after the payment of the cash. He also told Changonda he would use his influence to avoid a court trial.
The case came to light when Gutu Magistrate Edwin Marecha remanded Zikumba in custody. Zikumba was arrested after assaulting her husband’s former girlfriend, Mellisa Matuke.
Chagonda said he paid the money so that his wife would be released.
“When my wife sent me a message saying the magistrate had remanded her in custody. I then contacted Mabheka asking him to give me back my money but he refused. I gave him the money at Chivaraidze bar in Gutu town. The officer deceived me,” said Chagonda.
Mabheka said the claims were baseless.
“It’s not true, I never demanded a bribe from that man. I did not take his money,” said Mabheka.
When contacted for a comment, Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula said she had no details of the matter. She said she would check with the police in Gutu.

LIVE REPORT: As ZimEye.com continues exposing rogue police officers who abuse  citizens, ZimEye begins the naming of fake officers the ZANU PF government has secretly recruited and thus been dishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries to, prejudicing legitimate civil servants. The police officers whose badge numbers begin with the prefix “069” are fake cops, ZimEye sources reveal:

President Robert Mugabe’s Buckland Estates in Borrowdale, is said to be under threat as desperate citizens turn to it as a supply for firewood. Two Harare men Godfrey Dhausi and Fortune Mutevedzi, both 26, landed in trouble after they were caught red handed stealing firewood from the Mugabe’s Estate.
The duo appeared before magistrate Vongai Guuriro accused of cutting firewood worth $60.
They were ordered to pay a $100 fine each or face 30 days’ imprisonment for the offence.
They were charged with violating the Forest Act and pleaded not guilty.
The complainant in this case was the State represented by a police officer, Romaldo Zungunde.
According to the State, the incident occurred on June 28 around 5pm when an informant received information that there was a truck in the Estate.
The court heard he proceeded to the scene in the company of a security guard, Kingstone Tom, and located Dhausi and Mutevedzi’s truck.
The two had cut down a tree and were in the process of loading firewood into the truck.
They were then arrested.
Progress Maringamoyo appeared for the State. Newsday