The announcement by the former President Canaan Sodindo Banana’s son, Nathan, that he has formed a political party has been received with mixed feelings by the public.
Nathan made headlines Monday saying that  he is launching a political  party, the Freedom Justice Coalition Zimbabwe, in Bulawayo, with the aim of ridding Zimbabwe of President Robert Mugabe.
But most of readers had no kind words for the late Banana’s son who they said the nation has neither forgotten nor forgiven his late father’s homosexual behaviour.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for this Banana boy to involve himself in politics, he may attempt to ‘liberate’ gays and popularise gay practices”, wrote one reader.
“Congrats Nathan, but do you also “lead from behind” like your father? And if you’re gonna bring your father’s “leadership qualities” into the picture, please remember to also address the damage your father did to the buttocks of his bodyguards,” another one added.
Nathan’s father who died in 2003 at the age of  67, in 1999 was found guilty of 11 counts of sodomy and abuse of power in which he was said to have carried out “unnatural acts” with men, most of whom were on his presidential staff roll.
In his trial which included testimony of sex with gardeners, cooks and bodyguards overshadowed his much celebrated reputation of ending the Gukurahundi massacres in the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces during his tenure of office.
Another reader commented ,“I know; it’s a dirty game he is getting himself into and he needs to prepare; the Tsvangirais won’t just call him a CIO they will say he’s also gay, and the Jonathan Moyos will even go further to claim Banana never fathered any kids”.
Others however said Banana had made a wise choice because Zimbabwe was better with anyone else who is not with President Robert Mugabe.
“Anyone can do better than Mugabe. Mugabe is the worst leader this country will ever have,” said a reader who sympathised with Banana.
“Zimbabwe is a democratic country. If he is eligible, then he can run,” another one added.

THE LATE former president Dr Canaan Sodindo Banana’s son, Nathan, has followed in his father’s footsteps by launching a political party, with the aim of ordering a full-fledged campaign that will see him participate in the 2018 general elections. Banana’s Freedom Justice Coalition Zimbabwe (FJCZ) party has been launched in the UK.
Nathan, who is Dr Banana’s third born son, however, declined to comment on these developments referring reporters to the party’s information desk.
“This is not really my party but it is a political party in its structuring and formative phase, being developed in Zimbabwe and across the world by ordinary Zimbabweans. I am simply helping as I like their vision and mission objectives,” he said.
According to the party’s website, Nathan is listed as a founding member together with Mr Tonderai Chivengwa, Mr Jammel Asani, Mr Tau Muluswela, Mrs Evenly Mudzingwe, Mr Maqhawe Mpofu and Mr Senda.
In April 2014 before the launch of Freedom Justice Coalition Zimbabwe, Nathan wrote on his facebook page: “I have had many individuals recently encouraging me to offer myself for political leadership in Zimbabwe. Perhaps because of the history behind my name, or from a genuine belief in my ability and capability to influence positive change in society.”
“Much as my internal emotions compel me to embrace the invitation, I think that such an approach to leadership is not transparent enough in terms of properly assessing a prospective candidate for any leadership role. If I was selfish, arrogant and perhaps egoistic I would have jumped at such an opportunity to be imposed on the humble and innocent majority who have been fooled by missed deadlines and broken promises.
“I strongly believe that true and sincere leadership is not manufactured in education institutions, nominated to be successors by those before them, hereditary nor chosen because of the power they wield in society, be it financial wealth or any other type of power that has not been fully appreciated by the people whom it is meant to represent.”
According to a Freedom Justice Coalition Zimbabwe source the new political party would target disgruntled supporters of the MDC-T.
However, it is unclear what Nathan’s contribution has been to the community of Zimbabwe besides the track record of his family name. His father Canaan served as the first President of Zimbabwe from 18 April 1980 until 31 December 1987 but was disgraced in 1998 when he was found guilty of 11 charges of sexual assault.
He was sentenced to 10 years in jail, nine of which were suspended, and his wife and family, including Nathan, sought political asylum in Britain in October 2000.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| A 20 year old woman here sexually abused her 11 year old stepson and threatened to kill him if he disclosed the incident.
Netsai Joramu of village 4 Mkosi Resettlement area in Masvingo took advantage of the absence of other people from home and sexually abused the minor. Joramu appeared before Magistrate Langton Dokera last week facing charges of aggravated indecent assault.
On an unknown date in November 2015,Joramu was left at home with the minor and called him into her bedroom. She held the juvenile by the hand and removed his pair of trousers. She proceeded to remove her undergarments and lied on the floor on her back and forcibly placed the minor on top of her. She forced the minor to insert his manhood into her private parts.
Joramu threatened to kill the boy by way of food poisoning after abusing him several times. She also orderd the boy not to disclose the matter.
Sometime in December 2015, Joramu again dragged the boy ,who was playing outside the house, into her bedroom and raped him.
However when the boy’s mother phoned him,he narrated what had transpired. The boy’s mother who was in South Africa, came back to Zimbabwe and reported the matter to the police leading to Joramu’s arrest.
The boy was also medically examined and the report will be read in court as exhibit.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| The government last week kicked out at least seven families -comprising veterans and war collaborators from Southwill farm, 25km east of Masvingo, leaving the resettled farmers exposed to the biting cold.
The war veterans and war collaborators invaded Southwill farm belonging to one, Orsman Khan, at the height of the land grab exercise in 2000. Hundreds of other commercial farmers were displaced while some were killed as Zanu PF supporters and the veterans of the liberation struggle moved in to occupy so called “white-owned land” under the controversial Third Chimurenga farm invasions.
There has been a protracted legal battle between Khan and the war veterans and the Lands and Resettlement Ministry with the help of the Messenger of Court, last week ordered the eviction of the seven families from Southwill farm.
The war veterans who spoke to ZimEye.com accused the Provincial Lands Committee of being sponsored by known Zanu PF politicians to humiliate the former freedom fighters.
“The whole system is corrupt and we have been evicted because of factional politics. There are some senior Zanu PF officials who are determined to embarrass us. We are sleeping in the open where our belongings have been dumped,” said Vanda Marwei, one of the affected war veterans.
Their houses were destroyed last week and they have been sleeping in the open for close to a week and their crops are also likely to be destroyed.
As the Zanu PF factional fights continue to escalate, war veterans have been caught up in the raging storm-with the First Lady, Grace Mugabe openly denigrating the former freedom fighters. Zanu PF used the chaotic land reforme exercise as a campaign strategy after losing in the 2000 referendum. It is understood the referendum loss triggered the nationwide farm invasions.

Judgment in a case in which Beitbridge area prosecutor Muchiwande Forbes Sithole (35) is accused of assaulting two people and kidnapping another person who was beaten by his three unknown accomplices until he suffered serious kidney injuries, has been set for June 3.
The matter proceeded to defence when the presiding magistrate, Mr Collet Ncube, dismissed Sithole’s application for discharge and ruled that he had a case to answer.
Sithole, of 38 Flamboyant Street in the border town, is alleged to have assaulted two men who had allegedly broken into his house and stole property worth R7 300. He is also accused of handing over his car, a Toyota Surf, to three unknown men who beat up the suspect until he nearly died due to kidney injuries.
The area prosecutor denied all the charges when the trial opened before Masvingo regional magistrate Mr Ncube at the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court. Through his legal representative, Mr Listen Zinyenge of Zinyenge Rupapa Legal Practitioners who is being assisted by Mr Patrick Tererai of Tererai Legal Practice, Sithole argued that the victims were arrested by members of the community through citizens’ arrest.
Sithole said he was a victim of a grand plan to victimise him and tarnish his image. He said the complainants were mere pawns in the game. Masvingo senior prosecutor Mr Elson Chavarika told the court that during the night of September 8 last year there was a burglary at Sithole’s house and an assortment of property, which included footballs boots, grocery items and blankest were stolen.
He said on September 15, Sithole got a tip-off that Clemence Moyo and Knowledge Mike were selling property similar to his at a flea market at Dulibadzimu Terminus. Sithole then identified the football boots which the duo was selling.
A citizen’s arrest was effected. Mr Chavarika said the accused who was in the company of unknown two men then ordered Moyo and Mike into his vehicle and drove to their house.
The prosecutor said upon reaching the complainants’ house he assaulted them.
They implicated John Navhaya. Sithole then drove to Navhaya’s house together with Moyo and Mike. He then effected a citizen’s arrest of Navhaya. Sithole and his accomplices allegedly forced Navhaya to tell them where the rest of the stolen property was and he implicated Gabriel Choruwa.
The State further alleges that the prosecutor invited Choruwa to his workplace. He handed over Choruwa to an unknown man. The accomplice later teamed up with two others and kidnapped Choruwa. They drove to a secluded area where they beat Choruwa until he ruptured his kidney. state media

Millions of Zimbabweans are set to starve with the government putting in place a plan for the importing of grain for food relief from outside the country extending into the year 2018.
Maize imports from regional and international countries have begun trickling in under the government and the private sector import plan, that will see the country receive grain past the 2017 rainy season.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made, said that the number of people who require food aid continues to increase, hence a long term import plan that will last until 2017 has been put in place.
More than three million people are in need of food aid following the El Nino induced drought that hit country this season.
The government has assured local farmers who harvest and sell their crop to GMB that they will be paid cash on delivery.

The National Aids Council (Nac) has released the results of their research, indicating that although the national HIV prevalence has been declining in the past two years, it is four times high in other community groups like commercial sex workers.
Amon Mpofu, Nac monitoring and evaluation director told Parliamentarians on a countrywide tour and capacity building programme on HIV and Aids interventions that although the prevalence rate nationally stood at 13, 8 percent as of December 31 last year, down from 15,3 the previous year, indications were that 56,4 percent of commercial sex workers were infected.
 
“It’s sad to note that although we’re making efforts to reduce new infections we still have a problem in other community groups among them commercial sex workers and those in densely populated areas like growth points where the incidents rate is increasing,” said Mpofu.

“We’ve mapped out some of the high risk areas which include Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and Manicaland provinces and research on 1,000 sex workers shows that prevalence rate on sex workers aged between 18 and 24 years stands at 36 percent, 25 to 29 (55 percent), 30 to 39 (69 percent) and those age 40 years and above its 77 percent,” he said.
Mpofu said it was very important for parliamentarians and traditional leaders to play a leading role in formulating effective HIV and Aids intervention policies.
 
He said it was important for the government to focus on key population areas in the country who needed specific needs in implementing intervention programmes.
 
“We need to seriously look at sector communities. As Nac we’ll continue providing services and capacity building programmes,” he said.- state media

President Robert Mugabe has all but endorsed the vote of no confidence that was recently passed against Zanu PF youth league boss Pupurai Togarepi by his executive, after the nonagenarian allowed him to be kicked out of Wednesday’s politburo meeting in Harare.
Well-placed Zanu PF sources told the Daily News on Sunday that Mugabe’s aides had told Togarepi bluntly that he could not attend the meeting or continue to be a politburo member, until his suspension from the youth league was mediated and finalised by the party’s national disciplinary committee (NDC).
“Togarepi appeared to have been taken by surprise, as he genuinely believed that the president would save him. But it was not to be, and was subsequently booted out of the meeting,” one of the sources said.
This was corroborated by a party official linked to Zanu PF’s ambitious Young Turks who go by the moniker Generation 40 (G40) — who are rabidly opposed to embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe.
“Togarepi had to leave soon after His Excellency’s arrival because the president’s security told him that he was not welcome. It was an embarrassing scene as he had to leave immediately and he was close to tears because he never anticipated it.
“Remember that Team Lacoste (Mnangagwa faction) has been blocking the NDC from handling the case as they wanted the president to use his discretion to save Togarepi as an appointee by the president. Lacoste were thoroughly shocked by the decision,” the second source said.
Togarepi was booted from the youth league by his colleagues last March, together with his secretary for administration Lewis Mathuthu and committee member Sibongile Sibanda — all alleged staunch allies of Mnangagwa.
He had until now remained defiant, saying his suspension was a nullity, and that only Mugabe, who appointed him to the post of youth league leader, had the authority to fire him — as Zanu PF’s deadly factional and succession wars continue to escalate.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Togarepi — while confirming that he had left last week’s politburo meeting prematurely — denied that he had been ordered to leave.
“I left early because I had other issues to attend to. Do not listen to what your sources are telling you because they have their own agenda.
“Nothing of that sort happened,” he said, while refusing to shed light on how long he lasted in the meeting.
“Do I have to explain that to you? What do you want to know? Is that a question you would ask all politburo members? I will not respond to that,” he said angrily, referring further questions to Zanu PF national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo.
But Khaya Moyo referred all questions on the matter to secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo, saying he was not in the politburo when Mugabe arrived at the meeting — as he was attending to some other business.
Chombo’s mobile number was not reachable until the Daily News on Sunday went to Press last night.
However, a youth league national executive member asserted that Togarepi was a “Team Lacoste kingpin”, adding that he had got his “comeuppance”.
“The reason why he (Togarepi) had the guts to attend Wednesday’s meeting after he had boycotted the previous one was that his faction had told him that the NDC, which they accuse of bias, would not be handling his case because he was appointed by the president.
“But now his case is closed, and he will not be taking part in any youth league events, including the forthcoming million-man march,” the official said.
A confident Togarepi told the Daily News on Sunday’s sister paper, the Daily News, soon after the youth league’s decision to pass a vote of no confidence against him, that he would stay put, saying only Mugabe could fire him.
“I serve at the pleasure of the president and I will only listen to what he directs me to do. In the meantime, I am actually at work, in the office at the party headquarters,” he said then.
Announcing the vote of no confidence, Togarepi’s deputy Kudzanai Chipanga said his boss had resigned from his post after realising that he was “not equal to the task” of leading party youths.
Chipanga also claimed that Togarepi had, in addition, recused himself from chairing the meeting that resolved to elbow him out of the party.
“He diplomatically resigned after he had acknowledged that he felt that he was feeling guilty that he failed the youth league and we found it prudent to pass a vote of no confidence against him,” Chipanga said.
“We are not going to tolerate anyone who indulges in factional politics and indiscipline in the party. We respect everyone in the party but when it comes to support, we only support one person that is the president.
“There are some people who want to tamper with the youth league and the women’s league but we resolved in 2014 that we have one centre of power, whose wings are the two leagues.
“So, whoever wants to tamper with those wings will be viewed as attempting to tamper with the centre of power which we are not going to allow,” Chipanga added.-Daily News

The High Court has ordered Matabeleland South commercial white farmer Mr David Connolly to vacate Centenary Farm and pave way for Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Ray Ndhlukula, who was procedurally allocated that land.
Justice Joseph Musakwa said Dr Ndhlukula was the rightful owner of the farm after Government gave him a valid offer latter for the property.
“The applicant (Mr Connolly) has no legal right to the land in question.
‘‘That means the element of a clear right as a requirement for the interdict has not been met,” he said.
Justice Musakwa took a swipe at Government officials— including Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister Paddy Zhanda — for attempting to give “false hope” to Mr Connolly.
“It matters not that the applicant has received covert encouragement from Government officials.
‘‘It was duplicitous of those Government officials to have given the applicant such false hope without ensuring it is issues with a legal permit to remain on the land. In the final analysis, the provisional order is hereby discharged with costs.”
Justice Musekwa concurred with Dr Ndhlukula’s contention that Mr Connolly’s matter was indistinguishable from similar cases, and the validity of the offer letter and legality of the acquisition favoured the Deputy Chief Secretary.
Mr Connolly had sought confirmation of a provisional order granted in his favour in 2014 by the Bulawayo High Court barring Dr Ndhlukula from evicting him from Centenary Farm.
The provisional order also interdicted Dr Ndhlukula from occupying the farm pending finalisation of the matter.
But Justice Musakwa found that Mr Connolly was occupying land legally gazetted by the State for compulsory acquisition in 2000.
In discharging the provisional order, Justice Musakwa said although Mr Connolly had not been charged for unlawful occupation of the farm, he had no right to remain on the property.
Mr Connolly had argued that since acquisition of the farm, he had been in peaceful and undisturbed occupation of the property and productively utilising the land.
Dr Ndhlukula’s lawyer, Mr Gerald Mlotshwa, counter-argued that Mr Connolly had failed to establish a clear right to the land-state media

Controversial preacher, Uebert Angel, has been called upon to deal with President Robert Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwao who is allegedly making it impossible for foreign investment.
Filing in his third video clip, ZANU PF youth, Acie Lumumba recently fired by Zhuwao from a government post, emotively called upon Angel saying he should come in to help. Lumumba who says of Zhuwao, “this man has to go!,” refers to Angel as his pastor.
“Dear Prophet Angel ask God to come help us,” said Lumumba in a post. He continued lamenting, “Where is the Empowerment? Is it in making it so hard for Strive Masiyiwa, James Makamba, Mutumwa Mawere and countless Zimbabwean Captains of Industries in the Diaspora and professionals in the Diaspora to come home and build our nation,” he added as he streamed the following video:

The “This Flag” campaign spearheaded by prolific church leader, Evan Mawarire, has seen its ferocious lava spread beyond the 7th May deadline.

Millions of Zimbabweans across the nation and around the world are for the first time in history, rising in anger protesting at the country’s economic woes.

The lava exploded last month when around independence celebrations time, Mawarire shot a motion video of himself bewailing Zimbabwe, currently at the mercy of its leadership.
The This Flag campaign which began on the 1st May, involves people wrapping themselves with the national flag every single day. By Thursday even ZANU PF youths had joined in with one top Mugabe supporter, Acie Lumumba ding the same (pictured).
Announcing the extension yesterday, Friday, Mawarire said, “we are now on Day 6, carrying our flags as a way of sending a message to our government that Enough Is Enough. It is obvious we need more time. So we are adding more days,” began Mawarire.
He continued saying the government is listening. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW-

“Our government is listening kuti Enough Is Enough”.
He spoke directly to the nation’s leadership saying, “Our Madara angu you have failed us as your young ones. We need you to hear us”.
Mawarire continued laying out the timeline for the protest.
“Africa Day is the last day that we will carry our flags,” he added.
Meanwhile people wishing to connect with Mawarire may do so via his portal –

Government has warned new farmers who have turned their farms into “braai resorts”, saying they risk losing the land if they remain unproductive.
Agriculture deputy minister (crops, mechanisation and irrigation) David Marapira said government was aware of farmers who owned huge tracts of land, but were doing nothing except hosting
Speaking at a field day marking the launch of two new hybrid maize seed varieties by Pioneer Seed Company held at Tshuma Farm in Mazowe on Thursday, Marapira said such unproductive farms would be seized and redistributed to other farmers.
“I was at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair when I got shocking news that there are farmers who go on top of the hill with braai stands and boast of owning large tracts of land. We are going to take over those unproductive lands. Those who bring braai stands to their farms, please do so, but the government will seize the farms and allocate them to serious farmers,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Chief Chiweshe took the opportunity to warn farmers who were selling part of their land to other people.
“I know what is happening in this area. Some farmers are selling land to their friends and relatives. We have farmers with land without proper paperwork in this area and we will not tolerate that,” Chief Chiweshe said.
Meanwhile, government has approved two new maize seed varieties manufactured by Pioneer Seed Company.
The hybrid PHB 30G21 and P 3883W are early maturity seed varieties that farmers are encouraged to plant in a bid to adapt to the climate change phenomenon.
Pioneer Seed Company country manager Robert Nkatazo described the two seed varieties as resistant to diseases, among other merits.
“Climate change is not about droughts only, we can experience a lot of rainfall and this will result in the increase of diseases, hence there is need for seeds that adapt to that. The two varieties, yield under good management exceeds 12 tonnes per hectare,” he said. newsday

A 37-YEAR-OLD Chimanimani traditional healer was last week arraigned before the courts for sleeping with a minor.
Samuel Nota (30) of Manase Village under Chief Ngorima in Chimanimani briefly appeared before senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura and was not asked to plead.
Nota was tasked with the casting out of an evil spirit that was allegedly tormenting the family’s seven-year-old twins.
Nota told the younger sister that a coin was to be thrown in the absence of other people leading to the minor and Nota to move to a distant place.
He grabbed the minor and raped her once. He was spotted in the act by a passerby and he ran away leaving the minor half naked and he was handed over to the police. – Manica Post

Sixteen more Zimbabwean women who were lured to Kuwait to work as housemaids, but ended up being abused as sex slaves, have escaped from captivity and are now under the care of the country’s Ambassador to Kuwait Mark Marongwe.
Several other women have since returned home after a Parliamentary delegation that went to Kuwait a fortnight ago after a bilateral engagement secured the release of 32 other women who came back home at the weekend.
MPs now want President Mugabe to ban visas for domestic workers in Kuwait.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs, Kindness Paradza, who was part of the delegation to Kuwait headed by National Assembly Speaker Advocate Jacob Mudenda, said he was going to present a report in Parliament on human trafficking to Kuwait.
“As I speak, I have just been informed by our Ambassador to Kuwait Mark Marongwe that 16 more girls have escaped from their abusive employers and are now camped at the embassy seeking assistance to be brought home,” said Paradza.
“I was also told that the figure of those run-away girls is swelling and is expected to rise by the weekend.
“Our wish as Parliament is to have a complete ban on all visa applications to Kuwait under Section 20, which commits into slavery anyone who enters that country under that section.
“President Mugabe as the father of the nation must use his Presidential powers and direct the Minister of Foreign Affairs to effect the ban.
“Other African countries like Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana have since banned their citizens from traveling to Kuwait under that section.”
Paradza said there was a possibility that the total number of Zimbabwean women who were lured to Kuwait under the same circumstances could be around 500 amid indications that some of them left via Kenya, South Africa and Botswana.
He appealed to Government, women organisations and human rights activists to embark on awareness campaigns to conscientise Zimbabwean women about the problems in Kuwait.
“As Parliament, we also want our security agencies to hunt down all those locals who are working in cahoots with Kuwaiti syndicates on this issue and bring them to book.
“Last week, the Philippines also managed to evacuate 143 of their girls from Kuwait who had fallen victims to similar acts of modern day slavery.
“Our worry as a committee is that Government has not availed funds to have our girls flown back home, which could end up being difficult to account for all the girls as some of them have been transported to other countries like Saudi Arabia or Qatar on arrival in Kuwait,” said Paradza.
Businessman, Mr Wicknell Chivayo had to intervene last week by paying air tickets for the 32 women.
There were indications that Treasury was constrained to pay for their return.
But Paradza implored Government to set up a special fund for repatriation of all Zimbabwean women stuck in Kuwait. herald

Terrence Mawawa, Chivi | A local woman who was desperate to woo back her husband after he left her for another woman sneaked into Berejena Mission Hospital and stole a one-day-old baby.
Rester Mapombwa(31), whose husband dumped her for another woman, sneaked into the hospital’s maternity ward and stole Tatenda Nhinga(18)’s baby. Mapombwa appeared before Chivi Resident Magistrate Bishard Chineka last week facing kidnapping charges.
She lied to her husband that she was pregnant. In her defence she said she was the first wife and her husband had deserted her for another woman.
She said she was the first wife in a polygamous marriage and her husband had dumped her for another woman. She further claimed her husband was not taking care of her and by stealing the baby she wanted to please him.
The incident happened on April 26 when Mapombwa went to the maternity ward masquerading as a relative of one the women in the ward. She lied to the women that their clothes had fallen from the washing line. All the women in the ward went outside to check their clothes and Mapombwa proceeded to take the baby belonging to Nhinga and placed it in a bag she was holding. She then left the maternity ward soon after taking the baby.
Upon realising that one of the babies was missing, the women alerted security officers at the hospital and Mapombwa was found with the baby in her bag. She tried to run away but she was quickly apprehended by the alert security personnel.
She was sentenced to three years in prison.

WOZA and members represented by the following leaders

JL. Williams Magodonga Mahlangu

On July 17, 2015, ZimPapers published a story in which it claimed Rita Chinyoka was fired from her position as Publisher of Alpha Media Holdings boss. The story was published based on information provided by a source, which is untrue and all the claims made therein unsubstantiated.
Zimpapers and The Herald have since retracted the story and unequivocally apologised to Ms Chinyoka for the distress, embarrassment and damage caused to her reputation, person and career.
A statement by the editor further said, “we further acknowledge that due care should have been taken to verify the story before publication and would like to assure Ms Chinyoka that there was no malice intended and sincerely wish her the best for the future.”

THE Mutore family from Vumba is failing to come to terms with the brutal murder of their relative who was allegedly lured into neighbouring Mozambique by a friend before meeting his fate. The late Trymore Mutore (25) was allegedly slain last month for ritual purposes in that country’s Magaka area.
An aunt of the deceased, Ms Pfungwa Mutore, said they were suspecting that the case was being swept under the carpet and want investigators from Zimbabwe to also look into the matter.
She said on April 9, Denford Mhangere (28), a friend to the late Trymore came to collect him at their Vumba residence around 3am.
“They went to Mozambique after illegally crossing into the country’s Magaka area through Zonwe River in Burma Valley.
“On the same day, the accused, Denford, came back around 12-midnight with the news that Trymore had drowned in Zonwe River on their way.
“My brother, Solomon (the father of the late) refused to accept the news as it was unbelievable. Denford then came to my residence, which is nearby in Vumba to break the news of Trymore’s death and seek my backing. We gathered as a family and decided that the next day (April 10) we would go with the accused to the drowning scene,” she said.
The family and other neighbours who escorted the search party failed to find the body after combing the area the whole day.
Ms Mutore said in the evening of that day they camped near Zonwe River, but were later told by some Mozambicans to move to another area. This was after they were told that a big snake frequents the area and they risked their lives by sleeping near the river.
“We moved for a distance and we did not suspect anything. At around 11pm, we heard the sound of a vehicle driving towards the river. Nobody bothered to check what was happening. We remained where we were until dawn.
“The following day we went to the river to continue with our search. We found the heavily mutilated body at the same area we had combed the previous day. The skin around the eyes was removed as well as some private parts,” said Ms Mutore.
A brother to late Trymore, Wilson, said he immediately reported the matter to the Mozambican police.
“Police investigations revealed that the cause of the death was not drowning, but murder. The Mozambican police authorised us to transport the body of our brother back home. They arrested the accused Denford and is still in custody. When we try to do a follow-up on the case, we are being moved from one station to the other. As a family we want justice to be done because we believe that our brother was murdered in cold blood,” he said. Manica Post

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo|A man from the Boroma area of Masvingo was last week caught having sex with his cow in broad daylight -in a ritual exercise after being instructed to do so by a traditional healer.
The police revealed to ZimEye.com, Simon Dhewa was herding cattle in the grazing area in village 3, Boroma area, Masvingo District when he tied the cow’s legs with a rope.
Villagers also told ZimEye.com, Dhewa was being haunted by family problems and he visited a local traditional healer who instructed him to have sex with his cow to exorcise the bad omen tormenting his family.
Dhewa was spotted by local villagers having sex with his cow while uttering strange words in the bush near the grazing area where he was herding cattle.
“The man went to a n’anga who instructed him to have sex with his cow. He is being tormented by a spate of family challenges so he wanted to exorcise the supposed evil spirits troubling his family,” said a local villager.
Dhewa has since been arrested and will soon appear in court facing bestiality charges.
Acting Masvingo Provincial Spokesperson Kudakwashe Dhewa said he was waiting to receive a report on the incident.
As a result of socio-economic challenges, desperate Zimbabweans have been forced to perform rituals in order to attain affluence.

The European Union has urged President Robert to respect the constitution and stop blaming the media for the country’s failure to lure foreign investors.
Mugabe (92) accuses the private media of chasing away investors through critiquing his policies.
The aging Zimbabwean leader has over the past two decades been enacting repressive media laws which stifle media freedom and freedom of expression.
Addressing journalists Wednesday evening, at a MISA-Zimbabwe organised World Press Freedom Day commemoration event in Harare where he was giving the western blocs perception on media freedom and freedom of expression, European Union ambassador to Zimbabwe Philippe Van Damme, said bad governance and inconsistent economic policies were the sources of  the low uptake of investment by western investors.
“I have to be very frank; I do not think an international investor can make decisions based on newspaper reports. The decisions are made based on facts. The legal framework, the credibility of the legal framework, rule of law in terms of the judiciary, these are things which influence investment,” he said.
The controversial indigenisation policy is one of the economic laws scaring away potential investors.
The controversial economic policy has not only driven away investment but also caused divisions within the President Mugabe’s faction ridden Zanu PF party.

Harare North MP, Tongesai Mudambo has caused shockwaves with touching pictures of his road repairs.
Mudambo has led a crusade of road fixing work over the last year with several successful patches being made in some of Harare’s most dangerous road spots. Mudambo does the job himself with his bare hands with the help a group of volunteers. Yesterday was an area close to Pomona bridge. PICTURES:


Continue reading “Amazing Pictures: MP Mudambo Levels Potholes”

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe boss, John Mangudya has won his farm battle with the government.
Mangudya will now get back to his farm in Rusape after the High Court this week ordered the reversal of its compulsory acquisition.
Government erroneously acquired Inyamasitza Farm in Makoni District and allocated it to four new farmers under the land reform programme, in violation of the Constitution and the land reform policy that protects indigenously-owned farms from compulsory acquisition.
High Court judge Justice Samuel Kudya nullified the compulsory acquisition of the farm after it came to light that the farm belonged to Dr Mangudya. Dr Mangudya bought the farm in December 2000 from a white farmer, but Government compulsorily acquired it.
The court reversed Government’s decision after the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Dr Douglas Mombeshora admitted that his ministry erred in acquiring the farm.
The Attorney-General’s civil division filed a notice of opposition to Dr Mangudya’s application, but in a U-turn, Minister Mombeshora deposed an affidavit confirming Dr Mangudya as the legitimate owner of the farm.
“Consequently, such land was then acquired in error in violation of the policy aforesaid. In the circumstances of this case, the first respondent considers that the land in question is indigenously owned by the applicant,” he said.
He said he had no objection to the acquisition of the land being lifted.
“First respondent has no objection to the acquisition of the land in terms of section 16B (2) (a) of the former Constitution being lifted on the basis that at the time the farm was gazetted for acquisition, the acquisition was inconsistent with the purpose and intent of Se4ction 16A of the former Constitution, which sought to benefit indigenous people who had been previously disadvantaged under colonialism,” he said.
The minister said the other four farmers who had been issued with offer letters for the farm, will be allocated alternative land elsewhere.
In the application filed at the High Court on April 7 this year, Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Dr Douglas Mombeshora was listed as a respondent. In his founding affidavit, Dr Mangudya said the acquisition of his farm was erroneous and that the court must order its immediate reversal.
Dr Mangudya said he was a serious farmer with a track record of productive farming for the development of the nation and that the court should rule in his favour.-state media

A cop who was suspended for demanding bribes at a roadblock has appeared in court after being allegedly caught with mbanje.
Roe Junior MacDonald’s latest troubles came after he tried to take a sweet worth three cents from a vendor. The dispute ended at a police station where, upon being searched, officers recovered a stash of illegal drugs in his pockets.
Yesterday, MacDonald, 28, pleaded guilty to possession of mbanje and possession of unregistered drugs before Bulawayo magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure.The magistrate remanded him in custody to May 9 for sentencing.