State Media – ZANU-PF members should stop unnecessary mudslinging and wanton purges as this could see disgruntled individuals joining other political parties.
Ruling party’s National Secretary for Legal Affairs Patrick Chinamasa said this while addressing an extraordinary Manicaland provincial conference at Mutare Polytechnic yesterday.
“There was a culture of vote of no confidences which had crept into the party where some innocent members were booted out. At the end of the day we are forcing these disgruntled members to find a safe haven in the opposition parties,” he said.
“Some members slackened as a result of this unnecessary mudslinging and it is Zanu-PF that suffers most. We should be seen to be working towards strengthening the party and not allow personal differences to influence our decisions.
“From now onwards, we want people who come forward and name and shame those organising and attending clandestine meetings. These people should be bold enough to stand as witnesses when the people they alleged to be fanning factionalism are called for disciplinary hearings.”
Chinamasa’s comments came after provincial youth chairman Mubuso Chinguno had told the meeting that they had gathered information of a clandestine meeting held in Vumba recently to push for the ouster of Manicaland chair, Dr Samuel Undenge.
Chinamasa said vote of no confidence petitions should be done constitutionally, with two-thirds of the membership of that particular wing agreeing.
“Some people are now on the sidelines because of unfounded allegations. Most people who signed votes of no confidence petitions were misled into doing that,” he said.
“A lot of lies were being peddled to force some people to sign votes of no confidence. We shall be circulating a circular very soon giving clear guideline on disciplinary procedures that should be followed.
“Those who would have erred should be hauled before a properly constituted disciplinary committee chaired by the provincial vice-chairperson and the allegations should be clearly spelt out to them. Only the Central Committee can endorse the ouster of a member from the party.”
The Zanu-PF legal bosss called for unity among members.
“Unity was fast becoming a rare commodity in Zanu-PF. We should speak with one voice and rally behind the leadership of President Mugabe. We are all in agreement that President Mugabe is our candidate for the 2018 elections.
“We will be shooting ourselves in the foot if we go into an election while divided. An election is a game of numbers and we should consolidate our numbers.”
The meeting also dealt with the issue of former Politburo member and Member of National Assembly for Chimanimani West, Munacho Mutezo who is alleged to have crossed the floor to join Zimbabwe People First.
The issue was earlier this month referred back to the province by the Politburo and there was unanimous agreement that Mutezo, Joe Zviuya and Lovemore Changadzo be booted out as they were openly campaigning for Zimbabwe People First.
In moving the motion to have Mutezo fired from Zanu-PF, Mubuso said: “I come from Chimanimani West where Mutezo also hails from. He is openly campaigning for the Zimbabwe People First. We also have a picture of him that was published in the local Press while attending a Zimbabwe People First meeting held here in Mutare.
“He was sitting in the front. Last Thursday he attended a funeral in our area where he openly denounced President Mugabe. We are saying Mutezo should go.”
His motion was seconded by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Mandi Chimene. Chinamasa explained to the house why the issue was referred back to the provincial disciplinary committee.
“When the issue was brought to the Politburo, it appeared as if it was coming from Chimanimani and not Manicaland. That is why it was referred back to the province for deliberations. If there is overwhelming evidence against Mutezo, then we erred in referring it back here, but, however, the proper channels have been done and this issue will be finalised soon,” said Chinamasa.

MDC-T Vice President, Thokozani Khupe, has praised the overwhelming support from her party structures forecasting that victory is certain in the next elections.
Khupe who met party members from the Makokoba district in Bulawayo said: “the passion among our activists has not abated even under the current circumstances, and the ward leadership was convincing that the party is headed for more thumping victories against all others in the future elections.”
Khupe was meeting structures in the constituency she once led as MP under a programme dubbed the State of The Party Assessment program that is on-going countrywide.
“It was all systems go as all Ward and Branch heads turned out to showcase that their ward is a well oiled machine ready to carry out its duties in the MDC party,” said Khupe.

A RANDY man from Nketa suburb in Bulawayo was arrested for rubbing his penis against a woman’s buttocks during Independence Day celebrations at White City Stadium on Monday.
Thulani Mhlabi, 37, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube facing an indecent assault charge. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to April 27.
Mhlabi, the court heard, unzipped his trousers and rubbed his member against Nomazulu Nyoni, 23, of Entumbane suburb as she was cheering proceedings at the event.
Nyoni told the court she suddenly felt “unusual heat” on her buttocks and she turned around to find Mhlabi rubbing his tool against her. Sibekithemba Dube, prosecuting, said the alleged assault happenned at around 2PM on April 18.
As crowds joyfully celebrated 36 years of independence from white colonial rule, Mhlabi is alleged to have given his sizeable member forbidden freedom to colonise Nyoni’s ample rear.
Said Dube: “Mhlabi proceeded to where Nyoni was standing and stood behind her. Mhlabi unzipped his trousers and pulled out his manhood which he pressed against Nyoni’s buttocks.”
Dube told the court Nyoni immediately alerted police officers on patrol at the stadium who arrested Mhlabi. state media

Terrence Mawawa Masvingo|A cunning Masvingo man ran out of luck after feigning his son’s death in a desperate bid to defraud First Mutual Life of $1,500 cash.
The case was heard before Masvingo Magistrate Langton Ndokera last Friday.
The daring man, Godfrey Kutadza, of Mazarira Village under Chief Chikwanda, went to the First Mutual Life offices and made a funeral cash request for the supposed burial of his son, Shepherd, who is aged 18.
He then produced a fake Burial Order number 86/89 to support his claim.
The attempted fraud was thwarted after First Mutual Life made some verifications with Kutadza’s village head who revealed the man’s son was alive.
Kutadza, who is a general hand at Victoria Junior Primary School in the city of Masvingo, in mitigation said he had pressing financial challenges that forced him to commit the offence.
He said he had no bad intention in committing the offence since he only wanted to get some cash to cushion himself against glaring challenges.
Joseph Gundura, the village head expressed shock at Kutadza’s surprisingly anti-social behaviour.
Speaking to ZimEye.com in separate discussions, Kutadza’s relatives said the incident has shaken the entire family.
“This is unheard of -we are disturbed by what happened. We are still trying to come to terms with what transpired. It is highly prohibited to feign someone’s death. We are now eagerly awaiting the court ruling,” a shocked relative told ZimEye.

Tsvangirai out of mansion – Bret Muvet

This message is directed at MDC-T itself and all those who support it.
The recent decision by the Junta to dismiss the MDC-T Mayor is indeed
unjustified and against the will of the people who overwhelmingly voted
for your party. Without doubt, you are the biggest opposition entity
currently in Zimbabwe politics.
However, Servants, this issue of council is really very straight forward,
and perhaps the recent action by the junta could be a blessing in
disguise.
In this council, where the people voted for MDC-T, who really makes the
policies and has the final decision? The answer to that is it is the junta
controlled ministry of Local Government. Added to that is the budget issue,
where the central government controlled by the Junta make sure they do not
finance anything that will reflect positively on the MDC-T. Further to
that, the opposition has always had the slogan of TONGAI TIONE.
Now Varanda, how are you going to make any meaningful difference in
council without a budget? No money for programs or any improvements due to
the junta moving finances to their own councils with their own people? How
do you make policy changes if they get shot down by the minister anyway?
And lastly why do you say tongai tione, when you are actually the ones
ruling in the cities?
You see, by being in charge of the cities, and the junta sabotaging the
running of those cities, all it does is show the voters that MDC-T is
useless. The city has no water, roads are bad, electricity is erratic, the
people are just told MDC-T is in control so blame them!!! Apa it’s the
minister and the Junta who are sabotaging council activities. You as MDC-T
are playing into the hands of the Junta. They control council, appoint
their cronies there and yet you get the blame when things go wrong!!
RESIGN EN MASS cadres!!!
Let them rule and see what happens. Siyanai navo. Don’t try and help a
junta stay in power. Get out of that mansion, take back those cars and
4x4s, remove yourselves from parliament, senate, any form of government.
TONGAI TIONE must be implemented strictly and you cant do that if you are
participating in the very Junta government.
If you continue on this path of participation in government, with no
meaningful ability to changes things, all you are doing is destroying the
MDCT brand even further.
That’s my 5 cents of advice. Take it, leave it, hameno ikoko.

President Robert Mugabe’s nephew, the Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister, Patrick Zhuwao has performed a u-turn on the Indigenisation Act.
Zhuwao yesterday admitted to bungling on the law, revealing he misinterpreted “certain issues”.
Zhuwao said his uncle’s interpretation of the Act was “perfect” and final.
He made the admission of error at a Press conference at his office after the launch of Zimbabwe Youth Empowerment Investment Committees’ Zero Draft Overview.
“I am appointed by the President and as l take directions, it is quite possible that l can misinterpret certain things. I must be able to listen to my boss when my boss explains that l am misinterpreting certain things,” he said.
President Mugabe a fortnight ago moved in to clarify the confusion over the interpretation of the indigenisation law, which he said undermined business confidence in the country.
Cde Zhuwao said the resultant confusion had increased the cost of doing business while weakening the country’s competitiveness in the wake of a public spat between Cabinet ministers.
Minister Zhuwao had attacked his Finance and Economic Development counterpart Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Reserve Bank governor Dr John Mangudya for asserting that the financial services sector had met the indigenisation requirement ahead of the March 31 deadline.
Asked about the deadlines he had issued to foreign companies to comply with the country’s indigenisation laws, Minister Zhuwao said: “The pronouncement by the President has helped significantly. That is also clarified in the statement,” he said.
Asked to comment on the war of words between him and former chairperson of the recently formed steering committee on the Zimbabwe Youth Empowerment Strategy for Investment, Mr Acie Lumumba, Minister Zhuwao said the reason for Lumumba’s ouster was based on a conflict of interest between his job description and a private company he owned.
He however, said he had not fully investigated Mr Lumumba’s allegations on social media and that if he had known that there was a potential conflict, he could not have appointed him.
Mr Lumumba, in a recorded video which has gone viral on social media, said Minister Zhuwao was not fit to hold any public office.
In the video, he alleges that their conflict arose after Minister Zhuwao gave him an ultimatum in front of ministry officials last week to deliver three percent of shares from Old Mutual funds to his office.
“I don’t spend too much time looking at those allegations because l primarily believe in terms of section 61 of the Constitution, which says everybody has a right of expression and freedom of the media. I am not going to focus on that because l am an appointed Minister of Government, and l have a specific responsibility that l must focus on,” said Minister Zhuwao.
He also said that Mr Lumumba’s allegations were ‘false’: “l absolutely have no idea what triggered him to say that. I wish I was a prophet. If there is any impropriety, he must report me to the authorities and I am investigated if there is anything l did wrong. You must never threaten to be a person of integrity. It is something you can never threaten. He has an obligation as a citizen to reveal more,” he said.-State Media/ Additional Reporting

A prominent Zimbabwean liberation war voice, leader of the popular Light Machine Gun Choir, Given Nare, has died.

Nare died at Gwanda Hospital on Wednesday evening. He was 82.
Nare was founder and lead singer of the ZIPRA forces liberation war choir, well known for its songs; “Yithi labo” , “Emoyeni” and “Sasuka emakhaya.”
The choir was founded in Zambia in 1977 when Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle was at its peak. They sang songs to encourage fellow fighters to press harder as victory was certain.
They were later chosen to accompany ZAPU, President Joshua Nkomo, on his historic return home in 1979 at the end of the war.
Nare will be buried at his Gwanda rural home on Saturday. At the time of going to press, a family member said they were still waiting for ZANU PF to notify them of the hero status to be accorded to the veteran fighter if any.

SCORES of former Zanu PF officials, including ex-cabinet ministers Francis Nhema, Flora Bhuka, Webster Shamu and Nicholas Goche, who were either expelled or suspended from the party for supporting former vice-president Joice Mujuru’s presidential bid, are set to bounce back through the central committee.
The move is aimed at disabling Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First party while also providing arsenal to the two main factions in the party, particularly the G40 group, which has been hunting for heavyweight candidates to challenge Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Sources in the party revealed the party had received numerous appeals by former officials expelled or suspended from the party without going for hearings, following President Robert Mugabe’s directive that the central committee should reconsider the purges. Shamu, Goche and Nhema are believed to be among those who appealed. Mugabe made the directive at a politburo meeting a fortnight ago and repeated his assertions at the party’s central committee meeting the following day.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo confirmed the party had received numerous appeals.
“What I know is that the constitution provides that whoever feels aggrieved by the decision taken by the National Disciplinary Committee and endorsed by the politburo can approach the central committee. As you know many people went without hearings. I’m told some have appealed to the secretary of administration, but I don’t have the names and the numbers,” he said.
“The central committee can’t in terms of numbers sit in one place for the hearings, because there are 300 people in the body, but modalities are being worked out.”
Asked specifically if Mujuru’s supporters will be readmitted, Moyo said: “Of course others may not think about appealing, but others, even those who went for hearings are free to appeal.”
Sources in Zanu PF said although Mugabe made the directive following complaints from Mnangagwa and his backers, after the vice-president’s backers were suspended without facing disciplinary hearings, the G40 faction has for some time been engaging Mujuru’s former allies to bolster its numbers. The faction wants to use the opportunity to bring on board sympathisers, who were loyal to Mujuru.
“Mugabe’s order will pave way for several officials to bounce back including those whom the G40 faction has been trying to bring back on board. This includes the likes of Goche, Shamu and former politburo member Tendai Savanhu among others,” said an official.
“It is however not clear, whether if the suspensions or expulsions are overturned, they will work with the G40 faction because some of the officials have bad relations with key G40 members. It may not be as straight forward as it looks because some of Mujuru’s former backers such as Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi have refused to work with the G40 faction despite their overtures, choosing instead a middle of the road approach.”
Mujuru lost the party and state vice-presidency in December 2014 before being expelled alongside several heavyweights, among them former Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa and former spokesperson Rugare Gumbo. Nine provincial chairpersons were also expelled ahead of the party’s December congress.
Mugabe also removed several senior officials from their government positions in addition to the suspensions and expulsions. Among the affected were Mutasa, who lost his Presidential Affairs ministerial post, and former political commissar Webster Shamu, who was also the Information Communication Technology minister. Other high-profile casualties included Francis Nhema (Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment), Olivia Muchena (Higher Education), Dzikamai Mavhaire (Energy), Nicholas Goche (Public Service), Andrew Langa (Sports), Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister) and Munacho Mutezo (Energy deputy minister).
Flora Buka (Minister of State for Presidential Affairs), Paul Chimedza (Health deputy minister), Sylvester Nguni (Minister of State in former Vice-President Mujuru’s Office), Tongai Muzenda (Public Service deputy minister), Petronella Kagonye (Transport deputy minister), Fortune Chasi (Justice Deputy minister) and Tendai Savanhu (Lands deputy minister) were also not spared.-Standard

ZIMBABWE’S public health institutions need about 8 000 new nurses to meet growing demand for health services despite government’s decision to freeze recruitment in the civil service, it has been established.
The shortage of health workers has compromised the country’s health delivery system, which is also plagued by a number of problems among them a shortage of drugs and critical equipment.
Currently, public nursing staffing levels are in line with standards approved soon after the country attained independence in 1980, leaving a huge gap at state clinics and hospitals, Health minister David Parirenyatwa said.
But a freeze on new recruitments, which was adopted in 2011 to contain a ballooning public sector wage bill has left many health care centres understaffed.
“If we go around the country you will see that our country needs between 7 000 and 8 000 nurses but we have 3 000 nurses that are qualified sitting at home,” Parirenyatwa said at Chivhu Hospital last Friday.
“This staff establishment is based on 1983 models but the population has increased and the patterns of diseases has also changed so we need to absorb all the nurses that are unemployed,” Parirenyatwa said, adding, “I recently went to Masvingo General Hospital and I was told they have 188 nurses but they needed 40 more nurses.”
Zimbabwe’s population is estimated to have more than doubled since 1980 to about 14,6 million.
“I recently went to Maphisa hospital which used to be Antelope Mine and I noticed there are accommodation problems, what used to be the doctors, house which was occupied by my late father is now full of nurses. We still need a lot of accommodation as our institutions grow bigger,” added the health minister.
“The morgue also is too small. I was shown a compartment at the morgue which carries six people but there were 10 bodies meaning some bodies were put on top of other bodies. This is bad and we need to respect the dead.”
He said government was struggling to mobilise resources for drugs and staff remuneration due to funding challenges hence the need for donor support.
Going forward, Parirenyatwa said government plans to decentralise critical services such as x-ray scanning to improve health delivery and efficiency.-Standard

THE orphaned minor who was allegedly sexually abused by Hartzell High School headmaster, Shorwi Kawadza, remained adamant that she had several sexual intercourses with the school head during cross-examination at Mutare Magistrates’ Court last Friday.
Fielding questions by defence counsels, the complainant said she had one sexual intercourse with Kawadza in a bush near the school grounds after some sporting activities, other sexual intercourses in his office as well as at the Old Mutare Mission school’s guest house.
Kawadza is the first accused in a case that he is alleged to have contravened the Sexual Offences Act by sleeping with a minor and infecting her with a Sexually Transmitted Disease, while Fairfield Children’s Home staffer, Cecelia Thobani is the second accused facing similar charges.
Mr Victor Chinzamba of Mugadza, Chinzamba and Partners, who is representing Kawadza, put it to the minor that she was being inconsistent in her narrative and that she appeared to have been told what to say by people masterminding the downfall of Kawadza.
Mr Chinzamba said there was a recorded telephone conversation between the survivor and a Social Welfare attaché identified as Sister Molly in which the minor exonerated both Kawadza and Cecilia Thobani (Accused Two) of any wrongdoing.
“It is clear that you have been subjected to severe interference by people who want to see the downfall of Accused One.
“Why do you keep changing your story? You must forget about those people.
“This is about your life. The coincidences in your account are too much. Surely no-one saw you, not even on your way on all the occasions that you say you had sex with Accused One.
“You have demonstrated to this court that your evidence is inconsistent with the reality,” argued Mr Chinzamba.
However, in response, the complainant denied having been coached on what to say in court.
“I did not exonerate Shorwi Kawadza. We had several sexual intercourses. I have never changed my story.
“I only mentioned that Cecilia Thobhani (second accused) has nothing to do with this case.
“I only mentioned another name during a telephone conversation with Sister Molly because she was pestering me, forcing me to say another name different from Kawadza.
“I exonerated him (Kawadza) because Sister Molly kept saying I should mention another name.
“I was not seen by anyone during the several times I went to have sex with Kawadza.
“In fact, when we had sex at the school grounds, the guards at the school gate must have been busy with the vehicles moving in and out of the gate for them to notice us and I was also not going to school when we had sex at the guest house, while all the other children were at school, hence no-one noticed it.
“When we had sex in the bush near the school ground it was after the sporting activities that had been held at the grounds.
“We had actually made an appointment the day before, so it was planned.
“I was never coached by anyone on what to say in this court. Accused Two does not know anything about this case.
“It is the police who said they did their investigations and found out that she had given me pills to terminate pregnancy.
“I never told Sergeant Chandata that Accused Two gave me pills to terminate pregnancy,” said the complainant who was a 14 year old inmate at Fairfield Children’s Home at Old Mutare Mission when the crime was allegedly committed.
In exonerating Thobani (Accused Two), the teenager went against the evidence given by the Investigating Officer Sergeant Itai Chandata of Penhalonga Police Station who recently testified in court that the minor told her during investigation that Thobani told her never to mention the headmaster, but Mr Mukwindidza as the perpetrator.
“She also told me that Accused Two (Thobani) would call her to her office and ordered her to go and see Accused One (Kawadza) at the guest house.
“She said she was also told by Accused Two (Thobani) that she should never mention the headmaster, but Mr Mukwindidza as the perpetrator.
“Having that information I went on to verify some facts that I could and went on to arrest Kawadza and Thobani,” said Sgt Chandatya when she recently testified in court.
However, in last Friday’s session, the teenager drew gestures of misgiving from the gallery when she admitted that she consented to Kawadza’s love proposal and sexual manoeuvres because she was used to sex.
She also told the court that she had terminated pregnancy three times without the knowledge of Thobani
“When we had sex with Kawadza I had agreed to it because I was used to it.
“Yes, I terminated pregnancy three times, but I was never assisted by Cecilia Thobani,” she said.
Kawadza is being represented by Mr Chinzamba, while Thobani was represented by Mr Ranga Muhloro-Mubata of Mubata, Chigadza and Associates.
Trial continues on April 25 when two other witnesses are expected to testify. Manica Post

by Grace Kwinjeh |Being totally blind has not limited Moreblessing. She speaks with a passion, conviction and a fierce determination as she narrates her life journey, her dreams and aspirations.
Moreblessing (not real name) in the above audio clip talks to founding member of the Zimbabwe Blind Women Trust (ZBWT), Miss Jules Daudi.
When asked what message she has for other visually impaired or blind people, Moreblessing boldly states: “’Those people who are totally blind especially ladies, my speech is directed towards ladies. Never give up, even no matter at what age even if you are 65 years old, you can start something- it will never be late.”
Walking the talk – Moreblessing 26 years ago, did her her O’ levels , completed a course as a switchboard operator, went on to attain a diploma in business studies; and now she has a vision to complete her A’ level studies in November with the hope of furthering her studies to become a lawyer or a teacher.
According to the 1996 Disabled Persons Act of Zimbabwe; ‘a person with a physical, mental or sensory disability, including a visual, hearing or speech functional disability, which gives rise to physical, cultural or social barriers inhibiting him or her from participating at an equal level with other members of society in activities, undertakings or fields of employment that are open to other members of society.’
Women like Moreblessing have risen above the challenge especially societal biases that include negative stereotypes, creating a new foundation and ethos based on the mantra that ‘disability is not inability’.
With the help of the Blind Women Trust led by mentors Daudi and Irene Sithole, which is aimed at addressing the personal and social development of the visually impaired, most of who have suffered crude marginalisation being reduced to street beggars, have broken the walls of prejudice.
“As a lady with a disability I am so happy in life that in our country we are offered the chances to get educated and become self reliant. So far I have not acquired the required qualifications to become employed either as a teacher or a lawyer, and at the moment I am studying for my A’level,” says Moreblessing.
However, for Moreblessing to be able to continue with her studies successfully, she needs to be empowered with the right tools, which include a laptop or a Perkins Brailler, especially to write her A’level exams in November. She is also appealing for assistance for exam fees and other fees for her to do computer training at the Dorothy Duncan Centre.
“The challenge is I can’t get the funds for my examination fee; I think very soon the schools will open in May. The May deadline for the examination fees is fast approaching and at the moment I still have not got anything to pay for it,” she says in her appeal.
Moreblessing has not enrolled in a formal institution for her studies, but rather has lecturers who have been coaching her; “I have a combination of arts subjects which I am studying so hard for. I am so grateful for those teachers and lecturers who are coaching me, but to add on to my need for exam fees, I also need a need a machine so I can write the exams. I do not have the funds for this.”

The Zimbabwe Blind Women Trust seeks to deal specifically with the plight of visually impaired women. Doing the interview, Daudi, a High School teacher, who herself lost her sight when she was six years old, is reaching out and giving hope to other women like Moreblessing.
The trust also seeks to demystify certain stereotypes and negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities, that for instance entrench superstitions which blame witchcraft or maternal promiscuity, for the various conditions.
People with disabilities have as a result suffered shame and exclusion in their families and society at large. Daudi and her peers are confronting these attitudes head-on, as they work daily to change these warped perceptions for the dignity and standing of people with disabilities.
Moreblessing also loves to read and does craft-work in her spare time. Well wishers with the heart to support her professional journey to become a lawyer or a teacher, can contact the ZWBT on… Ecocash;+263772941126
Name: Moreblessing Nyabocho

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi has lambasted the Zanu PF factional battles for significantly contributing towards the decline in the number of tourists visiting the country.
Speaking during a public lecture at Great Zimbabwe University last week, Mzembi said the relentless Zanu PF warring has led to the decline in the number of tourists visiting the country.
Despite strongly attacking what he called protagonists in the succession battles, Mzembi is viewed by Zanu PF insiders as a member of the G40 group pushing for First Lady Grace Mugabe’s rise to the helm of the party, paving way for her to replace her 92 year old husband.
Mzembi said his ministry has been badly affected by the endless factional battles in the troubled ruling party. “Factional battles discourage tourists because they are no longer eager to visit the country. Negative publicity has also contributed towards the decline in the number of tourists coming to Zimbabwe,” said Mzembi.
The charismatic minister has in the past been blamed by party hawks for being too smart in his political career. Party stalwarts feel Mzembi is too professional in his approach towards political issues.
He also blamed the poor road networks for further discouraging tourists.
“There is need to improve our road network system so that we can attract more tourists -otherwise we will continue to experience a sharp decrease in the number of foreigners who visit our country. These are some of the areas we have been overlooking,” said Mzembi.

An army major has been named in the trial proceedings following the jailed Zimbabwe People’s Front political party president, Owen Kuchata, who the state says attempted to petrol bomb the First Family’s Alpha Omega Dairy Farm.
Kuchata, according to state papers, paid $20 to one of his alleged accomplices – a soldier – so that he could source army uniforms to use when committing crimes.
Borman Ngwenya (30) told the court that Kuchata wanted more than five pairs of army regalia.
Ngwenya said he was a member of Kuchata’s political party after he had been ordered by his superiors at the ZNA to join Kuchata and spy on him. He maintained that it was a military-sanctioned operation which he had been tasked to do by one Major Mashava and Sergeant Mahachi.
Ngwenya said he kept Major Mashava informed of the activities. He appeared before magistrate Ms Fadzai Mthombeni for continuation of trial. “Major Mashava came to me in the company of Sgt Mahachi and Makumbe. As an intelligent officer, Major Mashava said he wanted to use me so that they could apprehend Kuchata. He said I should join his political party and spy on him and relay the message back to ZNA,” he said.
“After convincing Kuchata, I joined his party and he told me he wanted brave and strong men in the party. After some days he told me of his plans to bomb President Mugabe’s properties. I kept informing Major Mashava of our meetings with Kuchata and his plans. Major Mashava told me to play along adding that Makumbe was also going to join me.”
He added, “Kuchata later asked if it was possible for me to source army uniforms from our factory. He then gave me $20 to bribe the person who was going to give us the uniforms. After informing Major Mashava, he told me to use the $20 for transport so that I would be able to meet Kuchata whenever he wanted us to meet. As per Major Mashava’s advice, I kept lying to Kuchata that the uniforms were coming.”
Ngwenya further said that he then introduced Makumbe to Kuchata as the person who was going to give us the uniforms.
He said they went to President Mugabe’s rural home on January 1 for reconnaissance adding that Kuchata had also planned to bomb his rural home.
Ms Mthombeni rolled over the matter to today for continuation of trial.
Ngwenya is being represented by Mr Exactly Mangezi while Mr Michael Reza is prosecuting.
It is alleged that on January 22, around 4pm, police received a tip-off that the four were planning to bomb Alpha Omega Dairy’s processing plant and tuckshop during the night.
Acting on the tip-off, police proceeded to the farm and laid an ambush about 100 metres from the quartet’s target. At around 10pm, the detectives saw the men approaching the dairy’s processing plant and immediately arrested them.

Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere was yesterday labelled “dumb” following his suspending of the Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni.
“He calls himself Tyson and seems to get his inspiration from Mike Tyson,the boxer. He needs more brain than brawn, honestly,” wrote MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu.
The suspended Manyenyeni yesterday approached the High Court challenging his suspension which he terms to be unlawful and in contravention of provisions of the Constitution. Clr Manyenyeni was suspended this week by Local Government, Kasukuwere for unprocedurally appointing former NMBZ chief executive Mr James Mushore as the city’s town clerk in violation of the Urban Councils Act.
In an urgent chamber application filed in the High Court yesterday, Clr Manyenyeni listed Minister Kasukuwere and Attorney-General Advocate Prince Machaya as respondents. Clr Manyenyeni, who enlisted the services of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights — Mr Dzimbabgwe Chimbwa and Mr David Hofisi, contends that in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, removal of mayors, councillors and chairpersons is done by an independent tribunal in terms of an Act of Parliament.
“There is neither that Act of Parliament nor independent tribunal,” argues Clr Manyenyeni. “The first respondent (Minister Kasukuwere) has thus arrogated to himself powers he no longer has in violation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”
Pending the final resolution of the matter either in the court of first instance or on appeal, Clr Manyenyeni is requesting the court to suspend the letter of his suspension and continue with his mayoral function with full benefits.
He also seeks the court to stop Minister Kasukuwere from suspending, dismissing or engaging in any other activity with a view to removing him from office of Mayor of Harare. Minister Kasukuwere also threatened to suspend corrupt councillors.
In his application, Clr Manyenyeni says, the council resolved to appoint Mr Mushore to the post of town clerk following an open and transparent process of advertising and interviews. Mr Mushore emerged as the highest scorer in terms of the process. Further to the resolution, Clr Manyenyeni argues that Mr Mushore was offered a contract of employment.
Clr Manyenyeni premised his argument on Section 278 (2) and (3) of the Constitution which provides that:
(2) An Act of Parliament must provide for the establishment of an independent tribunal to exercise the function of removing from office mayors, chairpersons and councillors, but any such removal must only be on the grounds of;
(a) inability to perform the functions of their office due to mental or physical incapacity;
(b) gross incompetence;
(c) gross misconduct;
(d) conviction of an offence involving dishonesty, corruption or abuse of office; or
(e) wilful violation of the law, including a local authority by-law.
(3) A mayor, chairperson or councillor of a local authority does not vacate his or her seat except in accordance with this section.
To buttress his case, Clr Manyenyeni also cited Section 2 of the Constitution which states that the Constitution is the supreme law of Zimbabwe and any law, practice, custom or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.
It further reads; “The obligations imposed by this Constitution are binding on every person, natural or juristic, including the State and all executive, legislative and judicial institutions and agencies of Government at every level and must be fulfilled by them.”
In this regard, Clr Manyenyeni argues that the Constitution is binding on all persons including Minister Kasukuwere. “Any conduct, law or practice inconsistent with the Constitution is invalid,” he says.
“The constitution provides for the removal of mayors such as myself. Such removal can only be in terms of Section 278. That section requires an independent tribunal to be set up in terms of an Act of Parliament.
“The power to remove a mayor, chairperson or councillor is no longer vested in a Minister, but in an Independent Tribunal set up in terms of an Act of Parliament,” he argues.
“Thus there is no way that the minister can purport to suspend or remove me from office. His authority to do so can only emanate from an Act of Parliament which provides for the establishment of an Independent Tribunal pursuant to the provisions of the current Constitution.
That Act of Parliament is yet to be promulgated. “The first respondent’s hands are therefore tied. He should seek legislative intervention to get a lawful basis to set up the independent tribunal contemplated by the Constitution.”
Government rescinded the appointment of Mr Mushore soon after a council meeting that announced his appointment, saying council flouted procedures of appointing a town clerk as outlined in the Urban Councils Act and the Local Government Board.
The minister had told the city that the former banker’s appointment was illegal, but the defiant council proceeded to give Mr Mushore the job.
Mr Mushore was still reporting for duty despite the two orders, with Clr Manyenyeni saying he was waiting for the High Court to rule on the matter.- state media/additional reporting.

State Media – Government is committed to creating an environment that promotes investment as evidenced by the recent clarification of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act by President Mugabe.
Acting President Mnangagwa made these remarks when he officially opened the Third Zimbabwe Accountants Conference in Harare today, saying investment would enable the country to meet its triple objectives of poverty reduction, economic growth and shared prosperity.
He also implored accountants to help Government fish out corruption both in the public and private sectors.
“A lot of confusion had arisen regarding the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment policy with the unfortunate effect of undermining the confidence of the business community, including current and potential investors,” said Acting President Mnangagwa.
“This was owing to conflicting positions regarding the interpretation of the policy. His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde R.G Mugabe recently clarified Government’s position.
“The policy was introduced to deliberately empower the historically disadvantaged indigenous Zimbabweans and to grant them ownership and control of the country’s means and factors of production. The objective is to enable Zimbabweans to be significant players in the mainstream of the country’s economy.”
The conference is running under the theme: “Partner, collaborate and grow”.

Below is the latest update concerning rumours that disgraced preacher, Andrew Wutaunashe, who cheated on his wife, has turned to slap the same victim (his wife) with a lawsuit for defamation.

It was two weeks ago reported that Wutaunashe had sent out court summons to sue his wife for defamation concerning an interview she had with ZimEye.
Wrote one Isaac Zhou, “Can someone explain to me.  You cheat on your wife for ten years she finds out and is willing to forgive you but now you want to divorce her; as if that’s not enough evil, you now want to sue her for defamation of character?
“How evil can this be people?”
Zhou continued, “Dr RF is now being sued by Andrew Wutawunashe for defamation of character because of the interview she had with ZimEye where she called him out to repent.
Court Summons have already been sent.”
But two weeks later, ZimEye has found out the said summons are nowhere to be seen. Mrs Wutaunashe on Tuesday told ZimEye there are no summons at all delivered at her address to date. She was speaking during her weekly program.
She challenged the silent-abuse women endure in marriages. “Jesus Christ was beaten and rejected to redeem the woman from violence and abuse”, she said. On her divorce she replied saying in part she has “not seen any summons,” sent her.
The full interview is being streamed today, Thursday.  More to follow…

A MAN from Magwegwe suburb in Bulawayo allegedly dumped his ex-wife’s four year old daughter in a bush at midnight, saying he could no longer be responsible for the child, a court heard.
Garayi Ndlovu, 40, allegedly dumped the girl, whose name cannot be disclosed for ethical reasons, at a bush near Khami dam.
The court heard villagers found the girl wandering near the dam. In his first appearance in court on Saturday, Ndlovu pleaded guilty to an ill-treatment and neglect of child charge before Provincial magistrate Abednico Ndebele.
Then, he said the child was his. “I admit the child is mine and I left her beside the road at around 3AM in the morning. I dumped her there because I can no longer take care of her,” said Ndlovu.
Yesterday he claimed that the child was not his biological daughter.
“When I married the girl’s mother she was already eight months pregnant. I didn’t notice she was pregnant until she gave birth because she had a big body. She ran away and left her child in my custody,” said Ndlovu.
Ndebele remanded him in custody to April 29. The child is staying at a children’s home, which was not disclosed in court. The prosecutor, Sibekithemba Dube told the court that on March 31 at around 12AM Ndlovu took the girl from his house and went to the dam.
“Accused person left his child unattended near Khami Dam. The victim was found by villagers who were fetching firewood and they took her to Pumula Police Station,” said Dube.
“The victim told the police where she stays. They then carried out investigations which led to the arrest of the accused.”

A 95-YEAR-OLD man has been acquitted of raping his neighbour’s two children aged six and four years and infecting them with a sexually transmitted disease. Kennias Zvidza Mazvihwa went into the Gweru Magistrates’ Court crawling as he is no longer able to walk unaided.
He denied rape, insisting he was no longer sexually active. Prosecutors had alleged that Mazvihwa bought the girls’ silence with sweets and jiggies.
Testifying, the children’s mother — who cannot be named to protect the identity of the children — said she used to send her children to Mazvihwa’s homestead to assist him with household chores since he lives alone.
“The accused is my neighbour and he’s now very old, so I used to send my children to his homestead so that they assist him to clean the yard and gather firewood. l didn’t know that he would do such an evil act to my kids,” she told court.
“Why I implicated him in the matter is because my children were infected with gonorrhoea. The accused was also tested and found to be infected with the same disease.”
She said her daughters told her the old man bought sweets and jiggies for them not to reveal the abuse.
But magistrate Morgan Nemadire was not pursuaded as he acquitted the old man. Nemadire pointed to inconsistencies between the mother’s testimony and facts presented by the prosecution.
She told court the children were raped between August and October 2015, when the state had provided a different time frame.
“The nature of the report doesn’t satisfy the court for the accused to be placed on his defence. Also the time frame, from August to October 2015, and considering the age of the victims their mother should have noticed that they were sexually abused.
“At the same time, the mother of the children admitted that sometimes she would leave her kids alone at home and considering the set-up of the compound they might have been sexually abused by someone else,” said Nemadire.
Mazvihwa said he was too old to engage in sexual intercourse and as such he could not have raped the children, whom he considers as his granddaughters.
“I didn’t rape her kids, I’m very old now to commit such a crime,” said Mazvihwa. “I’ve been married since 1946 and have never committed a single crime in my life. At my age I’ve passed the stage of engaging in sexual activities.”
Kelvin Guveya, prosecuting, said between June and October 2015, the two girls were raped by Mazvihwa.
He said they allegedly did not disclose the alleged abuse after he told them that if they did, he would not give them sweets and jiggies.
The matter, Guveya said, came to light when their mother noticed that one of her daughters – the six-year-old – had developed an STI when she was bathing her.
The court heard that the child refused to disclose what had happened to her.
“Her mother beat her up before she revealed that Mazvihwa had raped her. The mother examined the other victim and noticed that she was also infected with an STI,” said Guveya.

By Chrispen Tabvura|Zimbabwe’s Harare based Jazz musician Vengai Kanhema, popularly known as Vekann has defied the ZANU PF government in his individual capacity, by travelling 439 kilometres to clothe the dumped former industrial workers’ families, who are now residing at Bulawayo’s main dump-site.
Kanhema travelled from Harare where he is based, to deliver clothes and exercise books worth thousands of United States Dollars, at a time when the government has been splashing hundreds of millions of the same currency in countless globe trotting flights.
Ngozi dumpsite, which is now commonly known as Ngozi Mine, is now home to more than 1000 families, whose life nosedived after the abrupt closure of several Bulawayo factories. Kanhema who was accompanied by Ronald Sigauke a broadcasting journalist and Pastor Maponga, first met the Sidojiwe Children whose parents cannot afford clothing and school fees due to non-payment of their salaries.
Kanhema’s first port of donation Sidojiwe, is where most of CSC and National Railways of Zimbabwe employees are residing, following years of not receiving their salaries.
“I am not here to be seen that I am assisting my fellow brothers, sisters and children, but I am here to share what I have from deep down of my heart. I was touched when I read about the plight of these people from a community based organisation website.
I decided to budget for clothing and exercise books as we all know that if someone is clothed and educated, there will be a promising tomorrow,” said Vekann.
Both Sidojiwe and Ngozi community expressed gratitude for the donation and prayed for the musician’s safe travel back to Harare, so that he can return anytime soon with more help.
“God bless baba Vekann, we are praying to our Almighty to give you more days of life and that you must be given more energy to work and [also] open factories here to employ our suffering children, who are certainly facing a bleak future as long as this current government is in existence,” said Robert Tshuma, a community chairperson.
Pastor Maponga who also accompanied the musician to both places, applauded the artiste for his kind heart.
“I am taking this moment to praise the Lord for your donation. I say to you Vekann, you are a blessing for Zimbabwe and beyond. For you have shown to the world that you have the heart of a leader. You have a heart of blessings and I say to you be blessed and keep up the spirit,” he said.

A Harare magistrate yesterday remanded CAPS United captain Method Mwanjali in custody, ruling that he was facing serious charges after he allegedly stabbed a motorist twice in the stomach following an altercation.
Mr Tendai Mahwe also ruled that Mwanjali was not over-detained and should be placed on remand.
He then remanded him to May 4.
Mr Mahwe advised Mwanjali to apply for bail at the High Court due to the gravity of his offence, adding that the lower court had no jurisdiction to entertain bail issues in Third Schedule offences.
Mwanjali is facing attempted murder charges and the man he allegedly stabbed, Tonderai Nhunzvi, is said to be on life support system battling for his life at a local hospital.
“It is clear that the complainant was allegedly stabbed at around 4am, hence it is not logical to think that accused person (Mwanjali) was also arrested at that same time.
“He could not have been arrested for something that had not been reported because the complainant is said to have made a report at around 5:30am.
“4am was the time the offence was committed not the time the accused was arrested. A simple mathematical calculation shows that he was not over-detained,” Mr Mahwe said.
The ruling comes after Mwanjali had made an application through his lawyer, Mr Tinofara Hove, challenging his placement on remand on the basis that he was arrested on April 17 at around 4am and by the time they were brought to court on April 19, 48 hours had lapsed without a warrant of further detention issued by a magistrate.
Mwanjali said, in terms of Section 50(2) of the Constitution, he should have been brought before a magistrate within 48 hours of his arrest.
The CAPS United skipper was brought to court on April 19 at around 8:30am and his argument was that the 48-hour period had lapsed at 4am of that day.
Prosecutor Ms Francesca Mukumbiri called the investigating officer, Constable Batsirai Wafawanaka, to the witness stand and he corroborated the State’s submissions that Mwanjali was not over-detained.
Cst Wafawanaka told the court that the offence was committed on April 17 at around 4am and the complainant made a report at around 5:30am.
He said Mwanjali and Archford Gutu, another CAPS United player, later came to the station at around 8:30am, intending to make a report of malicious damage to property against Nhunzvi.
He added that they were placed under arrest at around 2pm not 4am as alleged.
Mwanjali’s alleged partner-in-crime, Gutu -accused of smashing Nhunzvi’s car windscreen – was also formally placed on remand, and was remanded to May 4.
Gutu, who is facing a charge of malicious damage to property, is out on $100 bail.
After committing the offence, the court heard that Mwanjali and Gutu fled from the scene leaving their vehicle behind. When they returned to the scene four hours later, they discovered that their vehicle tyres had been deflated.
Interestingly, they proceeded to the police station where they made a report of malicious damage to property, citing that their vehicle had been damaged oblivious that Nhunzvi had already made a report against them.
That is when they were arrested. The State alleged that the parties met at an intersection in the Longcheng Plaza complex and their vehicles almost collided.
Gutu, who was behind the wheel, got out of the vehicle and charged towards Nhunzvi who had three passengers on board before confronting and accusing him of reckless driving.
As Gutu was shouting, Nhunzvi closed his car windows and this irritated Gutu who then smashed the windscreen using an unknown object.
Mwanjali joined in the melee and took a knife out, before stabbing Nhunzvi twice in the stomach. Nhunzvi’s friend, Lionel Muchena, who tried to stop Mwanjali from stabbing Nhunzvi, was also caught in the crossfire and sustained a cut on his hand.State Media

Zanu-PF youth activist, Mr Acie Lumumba, has been fired as chairman of a Steering Committee on the Zimbabwe Youth Empowerment Strategy for Investment following allegations of misappropriating funds meant for the Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC).
Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Patrick Zhuwao, confirmed firing Mr Lumumba on Tuesday.
He declined to shed light on the allegations leading to Mr Lumumba’s sacking. He said he wanted time to clarify the issues from the accounting officer in his Ministry.
“I have removed Mr Lumumba as the chairman of the Steering Committee for the Zimbabwe Youth Empowerment Investment.
“My decision is based on an apparent conflict of interest between the duties entrusted on him as the chairperson of the Steering Committee and representative of young people on one hand, and his personal interest in a company called Cornerstone Consulting on the other hand,” he said.
Mr Tafadzwa Sengwe immediately replaced Mr Lumumba.
However, sources told the state media yesterday that Mr Lumumba misappropriated money from a local financial institution that was meant for a youth conference. The funds were alleged to have been transferred from a ZYC account to Mr Lumumba’s company Cornerstone Consulting account without the knowledge of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry. Mr Lumumba reportedly did not acquit the money he received from a local financial institution through the ZYC account, and this was said to have led the Minister to issue a memorandum to the Permanent Secretary instructing him to undertake an internal audit, a source revealed.
However, Mr Lumumba yesterday said he sourced the money with the full mandate given him by Minister Zhuwao. “The conference was organised by myself in partnership with the Ministry and the financial institution and 75 different youth associations, each association represented by one person. As far as funding of the conference is concerned, the Minister and the Ministry are well appraised on how I sourced the money in full mandate given to me by the Minister (Zhuwao).
“So, any suggestion of misappropriation of funds I am sure can and will be dealt with by the Ministry.
“I have had long conversations with the Minister about the apparent conflict, and as far as I am concerned, the conflict has nothing to do with abuse of funds but it has everything to do with me not agreeing with the Minister’s way of doing things,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Zhuwao appointed two students, Netsai Nhemachena, a law student with the University of Zimbabwe and Tanaka Sanyamahwe, an economics student from Midlands State University as student representatives to the committee.
“I have also appointed the Child President, His Excellency Samuel Nyirenda and the two Child Vice Presidents, Tatenda Maramba and Otis Mashayanyika.
“Also appointed to the Steering Committee are two winners of Total Zimbabwe’s Africa State Upper initiative, Tawanda Chikosi and Mercy Manyuchi,” he said.
The current Steering Committee now comprises members drawn from the country’s 10 provinces.State Media

An explosion, believed to have been the result of a small bomb that went off in the basement of Harare Club Chambers — a popular meeting place in the capital for former liberation struggle fighters — has sent alarm bells ringing regarding those who were behind it and their motive.
Although there were no reports of casualties after the explosion went off in the wee hours of yesterday, causing minor damage to property, it raised eyebrows as it came amid Zanu PF’s worsening factional and succession wars, which have lately sucked in former freedom fighters.
A concerned Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya, warned in an interview with the Daily News later that authorities should not take the explosion lightly, particularly given the tensions characterising the governing party.
“From afar, you can see that this (explosion) is a threat to comrades, who park their cars in the basement. So this should not be taken lightly at all,” Mahiya said.
Police confirmed that they were investigating the explosion at Harare Club Chambers, which is situated in the city centre, on the edge of Africa Unity Square that is often used by democracy activists to carry out their programmes and protests.
When the Daily News arrived at the scene mid-morning yesterday, a team of forensic experts was busy at work, sifting through the rubble — with people being advised to stay clear of the building.
Club Chambers has of late become a popular rendezvous for war veterans, with the ex-combatants now tending to hold most of their press conferences at the venue.
Earlier this month, disgruntled war veterans loyal to embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangangwa wrote a strongly-worded letter to President Robert Mugabe — after meeting at the venue — challenging the nonagenarian on the continued purging of Zanu PF officials perceived to be close to the beleaguered VP.
As a sign of the extent of infighting among war veterans, disaffected former liberation struggle fighters, many of whom have been pivotal in keeping Mugabe and Zanu PF in power for the past 36 years, said last week that it was time the nonagenarian left office — in an unprecedented move that is set to shake Zanu PF down to its foundation.
Addressing journalists in Harare, the disgruntled ex-combatants — many of whom are signatories to the famous 1976 Mgagao declaration that catapulted Mugabe to the helm of Zanu — said they were withdrawing their support both to that epoch-making document, as well as to Mugabe.
The spokesman for these war veterans, Bernard Manyadza, whose war-time nom de guerre was Parker Chipoyera, said ex-combatants — the majority of whom are wallowing in abject poverty — had had enough of Mugabe’s “misrule”.
The tough-talking Manyadza, who was the head of instructors at the famous Mgagao Camp, also said the time had come for war veterans and fellow Zimbabweans to “rewrite history”.
In addition to vowing to do everything in their power to make Mugabe leave office, the disgruntled war vets also ominously threw their weight behind former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who is now leader of new political outfit, Zimbabwe People First (ZPF).
“At this juncture, it is particularly important for the people of Zimbabwe to know how …Mugabe first attained the reins of power as president of Zanu.
“It is us the war veterans who put Mugabe into power. In 1976 officers at Mgagao Training Camp in Tanzania, after consulting with others in Zambia and Mozambique, wrote a document denouncing the then president (of the party) Ndabaningi Sithole.
“The document, known as the Mgagao document, accused Sithole of abandoning the struggle to pursue his personal issues.
“After considering many factors, the war veterans agreed to endorse … Mugabe to succeed Sithole. In light of this, it is abundantly clear that … Mugabe was not elected, but selected to lead Zimbabwe’s armed struggle,” Manyadza said.
“We the war veterans who agreed to the authorship of the Mgagao document and appended our signatures to it now withdraw the mandate we gave to …Mugabe to be leader,” he added.
Manyadza said “real war veterans” remained marginalised while “opportunists” who currently occupied senior positions in government were “cowards” during the war of liberation.
Describing Mugabe’s meeting with a faction of war veterans a fortnight ago as a non-event, Manyadza — who was flanked by other “real” ex-combatants — said the Harare get-together had been “a missed opportunity” to put the 92-year-old leader under pressure.
“The illegitimate attendees are Zanu PF sycophants and bootlickers who can best be described as charlatans and opportunists.
“It was clear to everyone that most attendees were past the age of liberation fighters, but some old villagers who were paid to attend and ululate and sing praises to Mugabe,” he thundered.
“Mugabe is a habitual rigger who has rigged his own indaba,” Manyadza said, adding that the late struggle icon, Herbert Chitepo will be turning in his grave at the sight of how the party that he led effectively had now turned rogue.
“Chitepo insisted that there never was and never will be a living hero. He refused anyone to say ‘pamberi naChitepo or nani zvake (forward with Chitepo or any other person)’. He remained firm on this principle as he knew that all humans were fallible.
“Chairman Chitepo argued that if you say ‘pamberi neni, ko mangwana ndikatadza wozoti kudiyi (Chitepo discouraged hero-worshipping of individuals),” Manyadza added.
He also said that it was unfortunate that everyone who had challenged Mugabe within Zanu PF thus far had been purged from the former liberation movement.
“…even our service chiefs who have demonstrated absolute loyalty to the nation and their commander-in-chief have had their loyalty and allegiance questioned, firstly by the First Lady, and later by their commander-in-chief. This has set a very bad precedence.
“Again … the manner in which . . . Mujuru was removed from holding government and party positions at the instigation of Mugabe’s wife who had no political position at the time cannot be accepted or tolerated.
“Mugabe as the sole centre of power unilaterally makes ruinous decisions that have sadly brought life in the once prosperous nation to a standstill,” Manyadza added.
While the country’s opposition has routinely called for Mugabe to either resign or retire, there are now also growing calls for him to step down from within Zanu PF ranks.
Only last week, respected party elder Cephas Msipa said keeping Mugabe in power was tantamount to “punishing” the increasingly frail nonagenarian, further urging the long-ruling leader to retire immediately.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily News, he said Mugabe’s 56 years in politics were long enough for a “normal human being to hang the boots”.

Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has suspended Harare Mayor Ben Manyenyeni over the new Town Clerk battle.
Manyenyeni confirmed the development this afternoon, saying he had been suspended by Kasukuwere for alleged disobedience and insurbodination.
“Just to let you know that I have received a letter from the minister that I am suspended both as councilor and mayor with immediate effect,” Manyenyeni said.
MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai said today his party was taking Kasukuwere to court over his interference in the running of Harare.

In response to growing food insecurity in Zimbabwe, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Wednesday gave an additional $20 million to Zimbabwe.
The funding which has been channelled through the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) brings the total U.S. funding for drought relief since June 2015 to $55 million.
In a statement, USAID -Zimbabwe Mission Director Stephanie Funk, said they will continue assisting Zimbabwe until the end of the drought season.
“The United States is committed to supporting the people of Zimbabwe during these difficult times,” he said.
“We are committed to working with WFP to meet the immediate food needs of vulnerable Zimbabweans, reduce suffering, and ensure families cope with the negative effects of the drought”.
The extended donation is going to support WFP’s Lean Season Assistance program, which provides monthly targeted food rations or cash transfers for food insecure people in the hardest hit districts of Zimbabwe.
WFP’s Lean Season Assistance usually operates from October through March, during the time between harvests when food can be scarce.
The WFP Country Director, Eddie Rowe said, “The generous additional $20 million contribution from USAID will allow WFP to continue food assistance for 450,000 people in 12 districts over the next six months”.
“The UN is grateful to the United States for answering our call for additional funding to scale up life-saving activities to reach the growing number of food insecure individuals,” said UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Bishow Parajuli.  “These funds will help increase our relief efforts to reach those most affected by the drought and other vulnerable groups.”
 

Poorly Fed Mugabe Officers Collapse During Independence Speech Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| There was commotion here on Independence day when a cop and a soldier fainted during Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa’s speech delivery at Mucheke Stadium.
Despite frantic efforts by both the army and the police to conceal the matter, members of the public were all but stunned by the incident.
ZimEye.com was informed of how members the uniformed force spent hours standing while they had not eaten anything resulting in the embarrassing incident.
The scenery happened around 2pm when the two officers suddenly collapsed one after the other as Mahofa proceeded with her marathon speech.
It has been reported the food supplies at army barracks and police camps have been drastically reduced while the duties for both forces are expected to carry out remain the unchanged.
Although Masvingo Province acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa was not readily available to comment on the matter, residents of Mucheke suburb who went to the stadium said they witnessed the incident before their eyes.
“We were surprised by what happened. For the first time in my life, I saw two officers falling down. It is unheard of, yet very embarrassing, “said a resident of the R section of Mucheke suburb.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the army did not materialise as a junior officer quickly warned: “You will be in trouble with such issues my friend. Such things are highly sensitive.”

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| MDC-T Mayor for the City of Masvingo, Councillor Hubert Fidze, stunned all and sundry when he vindicated President Robert Mugabe after local residents exerted pressure on him to confront the nonagenarian over unpaid government bills.
Fidze shocked residents and stakeholders at a recent meeting in Masvingo when he defended Mugabe saying the government was not to blame for their failure to service the huge debt.
Residents of the ancient city demanded that Fidze and his delegation of councillors should confront Mugabe over the unpaid government bills said to be pegged at a shocking $12 million dollars.
In latest figures seen by ZimEye.com, the Zimbabwe National army owes the city council $8 million in unpaid water bills while the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services owe the city council $2,5 and $2 million respectively.
The city council has stepped up efforts to disconnect water supplies for residents with unpaid bills yet the local authority is scared of confronting the respective government departments. After being besieged by local Residents, Fidze said there was need to understand the government had no money to pay the bills.
“Why do you put pressure on us ?You must understand that President Mugabe’s government has no money at the moment. Some of your demands are far fetched.You have to keep on paying your bills. If you stop paying council will collapse. Why do you have to focus on what others are doing? Let us be realistic,” said Fidze.
Fidze uttered the controversial remarks after angry residents urged him to confront Mugabe in order to retrieve millions of dollars owed to the local authority by the government.
The irate residents said the council should immediately inform Mugabe about the unpaid bills adding the government contributed to the poor service delivery by the city council.
It is understood Fidze is in trouble with his bosses in the MDC-T after he allegedly sanctioned council’s donation towards Mugabe’s birthday bash in February. Party hardliners perceive he is sympathetic to Mugabe.

A TRAFFIC cop appeared in court yesterday for soliciting a $30 bribe from commuter omnibus operators plying the Chiremba Road route.
Rangarirai Chigome (42) allegedly demanded $30 from each commuter omnibus driver to allow them a seven-day unintterupted passage. He is charged with criminal abuse of office as a public officer.
Chigome was granted $100 bail and remanded to May 9. He was warned against interferring with witnesses.
The State withdrew charges against five other traffic cops who were facing similar allegations. These are John Shereni, Walter Makahamadze, Wonder Zvirevo, Conec Tembo and Ezekiel Nyungu.
Prosecuting, Ms Dora Moyo alleged that on April 14 at around 8pm Police Internal Investigations received a tip-off that Highway Patrol cops deployed along Chiremba Road were demanding bribes from commuter omnibuses.
It was alleged the officers demanded $30 from commuter omnibus operators to allow them uninterrupted passage for seven days. Those who did not comply with the bribe would be arrested for various traffic offences, the court heard.
A trap was set the following day at around 2pm. It is alleged that Chigome was approached by Emmanuel Mapiye and Inspector Wilson Chiwanda posing as commuter omnibus drivers.
Mapiye allegedly negotiated $30 for free passage of his commuter omnibus for a week.
Chigome agreed and was given $30 trap money by Mapiye.
It is alleged that Chigome endorsed the registration number of Mapiye’s commuter omnibus ABZ 6331 at the back of the Z69(j) book before releasing him.
Chigome was immediately arrested.

BASELESS ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MY HUSBAND WILL NEVER WIPE OFF HIS LEGACY:JTR MUJURU
………I SHALL NEVER FORGET HIS SACRIFICE
We still celebrate the true heroes that led us to our independence, even if each year we are having less and less on what to celebrate, since many have turned their back on the true principles of the struggle. It has become a public secret that we all know what happened to my husband. A minority of people might try to drag his name in the mud and level-up baseless accusations against him but what he achieved can’t be dragged out of his legacy. My husband aiva munhu weVanhu. My family especially my children understand and know the kind of man that was called General Solomon Mujuru. Those who had the chance to meet and interact with him , will tell you his cheerful laugh and jokes. Just like everyone else he was not afraid to attend public events alone. He never applied for a bodyguard or driver saying “l will protect myself”. Nomatter how much they may try to remove him from the history of Zimbabwe, my family and l shall never forget his sacrifice.
We shall never forget.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth yesterday wished Zimbabwe a happy independence and wished her former colony best wishes in the coming year.
The 90-year-old British monarch sent the message to the people of Zimbabwe from Buckingham Palace yesterday, the day the southern African country gained its independence from British colonial rule 36 years ago.
The Queen, who has entered the record books as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch after surpassing the reign of her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, did not acknowledge Zimbabwe president, Robert Mugabe, in her statement, in an uncharacteristic move by a head of State wishing well for another country.
“It gives me great pleasure to send the people of Zimbabwe my congratulations on the celebration of your National Day, together with my best wishes for the coming year,” Queen Elizabeth II said in a terse statement.
Mugabe, 92, who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980, likes the British Queen who has been on the throne for 63 years, but not so much the politicians at 10 Downing Street.
In 2009, Mugabe, Africa’s oldest president, was stripped of a knighthood conferred on him by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994.
The Zimbabwean leader accuses the former colonial power of interfering in his country’s domestic affairs.
The Queen’s message is significant as relations between the two countries have entered a new phase, with Britain and the European Union suspending most sanctions first imposed on Zimbabwe in 2002, in protest against human rights abuses, electoral theft, and violations of democracy under Mugabe’s rule.
In broadcast to a packed and carefully orchestrated ceremony in a football stadium in the capital, Harare, to mark 36 years of independence, Mugabe said he will not brook any interference in his country’s domestic affairs.
“We should always remember that our independence did not come on a silver platter,” Mugabe thundered yesterday.
Many people arrived in buses hired by government to ferry residents of poor suburbs to the festivities, while others walked to the Chinese-built stadium in a nation that remains all but bankrupt and isolated internationally, and life for most Zimbabweans remains paralysed.
The commemorations come as the governing Zanu PF battles to ease mounting internal political tensions that threaten its stability and to revive an economy ravaged by nearly two decades of economic and political crisis. Daily News

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has backed his political enemy, Robert Mugabe, on the nation and government’s current status.
Speaking during a televised interview released at the weekend, Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe is not a failed state.
“I see there is disagreement, divisions and factionalism in ZANU PF.
“But I do not for-see any moment a civil war obtaining,” said Tsvangirai.
He continued, ” A civil war denotes a fact of a failed state. I don’t think that Zimbabwe has reached a failed state,” said Tsvangirai.
His comments in the below video, are set to oppose those of his aides and thousands of party members who have been declaring the very opposite –

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Former Zanu PF MP and suspected Central Intelligence Organisation(CIO)operative, Irvine Dzingirai, has been implicated in a fraud case involving 20 000 litres of petrol.
Dzingirai was the MP for Chivi South Constituency from 2008 to 2013 and he is widely suspected to be a member of the dreaded spy organisation-CIO.
Dzingiral last week appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Sibongile Mkandla facing theft charges.
Dzingiral(45), who resides in Rhodene, Masvingo, was jointly charged with Martina Mushangwe.
The two entered into an agreement with Tashoille Trading in which they were to market petroleum products on behalf of the company.
On October 22 2015, Tashoille Trading delivered 26 200 litres of petrol at stand number 101, 130 Mineral Road in Masvingo and the two took 10 872 litres of petrol which they delivered to Rukanda Filling Station in Chivi. The two received payment which they did not remit to the company.
The two also took 1540 litres of petrol which they supplied to Magwizi Filling Station in Mashava. They also supplied 1546 litres to Hama in Chirumanzu and 4087 litres to Ndanga Business Centre on separate days.
After the deliveries, Dzingirai and his accomplice did not remit the cash to the company. As a result the two failed to account for 18045 litres valued at $23 097 and nothing was recovered.
The two will appear in court again on April 28 for a continuation of the trial.

Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed last week’s MDC-T demonstration held in Harare as a high sounding but useless political statement, which did not improve people’s lives.
Morgan Tsvangirai led his party’s demonstration on Thursday calling for the removal of President Mugabe, despite the fact that his constitutional term is yet to be concluded.
In an interview on Friday after a meeting in Bulawayo chaired by Biti, PDP deputy secretary-general Tongai Matutu said his party was directing its energies towards crafting sound policies instead of making political noise.
He said the MDC-T demonstration was meaningless as it did not provide solutions for struggling Zimbabweans.
“All what has been happening is that we’ve seen ‘mobocracy’ is taking place. The people using the critical masses as a basis upon which they take advantage of political power, but we believe that providing answers to solutions to the country is more critical than to gather 20000 people and subsequently gain nothing from that gathering,” said Mr Matutu.
“If you are going to call for (President) Mugabe to go, will he go after the march or after any other political gathering? Those are the issues if you’re to make any post-mortem of any particular gathering or any event. It should be measured by the results it achieved there- after.”
He said PDP is set to make its political presence felt as it was still working on its structures at ward level.
“We’re here and here for good. We’re not a second class political party. We’re a vanguard party and what we mean by a vanguard party is that we’re going to influence decisions proportionate to our size. We’re going to find solutions to issues that the nation is grappling with,” he said.-State Media

Terrence Mawawa, Gutu | In yet another incident of sexual abuse, a pastoral elder of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe(RCZ) raped his 12 year old niece claiming he wanted to merely feel the experience of having sex with the minor.
The man from Jaravani village in Gutu (name withheld to protect the juvenile’s identity), raped his niece after his wife had gone to the borehole to fetch some water for domestic use last month. The 57 year old man appeared before Gutu Magistrate Edwin Marecha facing rape charges. He pleaded with the courts for clemency saying he was a first time offender and a senior RCZ member.
The man claimed before Magistrate Marecha he only wanted to have first hand experience of how it feels to have sex with a minor.
“I can confirm that I called her(name supplied) in the kitchen when my wife had gone to the borehole. I forced her to sleep on the floor and removed her pants then I had sex with her. I did not enjoy the act as I expected because my manhood did not penetrate her small private parts. I continued until I ejaculated ,” said the accused during the court trial.
The accused person also claimed he did not intend to harm her but he just wanted to feel the experience saying he was a senior member of RCZ member. He also said he was officially ordained to wear the RCZ sash.
He pleaded with the magistrate to release him so that he could attend to his family while waiting for sentence. He was however remanded in custody and will appear before the Masvingo Regional Court magistrate next week.
Cases of paedophilic behaviour are on the increase in the country with analysts attributing the rise in such incidents to ritual beliefs-among other factors.

President Robert Mugabe has publicly admitted his government is failing to pay civil servants and blamed the drought before pinning economic recovery hopes on the re-engagement process his government is having with the international community.
Mugabe since the end of the coalition government he had with the two MDC formations which lasted until 31 July 2013, is struggling to pay government workers.
Government has while struggling to pay salaries on time, also failed to pay civil servants’ bonuses which are traditionally paid up in November and December of each year.
Addressing hundreds of his party supporters most of whom  members of the uniformed forces in Harare at the country’s 36 anniversary on Monday, Mugabe apologized for failing to pay civil servants.
“Government apologies on the delays in the payment of salaries, pensions and bonuses to civil servants, but we assure you that we are working flat out to ensure that the welfare of civil servants will be addressed”.
Mugabe blamed the El Nino induced drought saying was it not because of the natural disaster, his government could have been able to pay workers.
The veteran leader however said the only hopes for the sinking economy to recover, rests on the re-engagement process Harare is currently negotiating with the west.
“The government is on an exercise of debt clearance “as we reengage with the international community,” he said.

A MAN from Pumula suburb in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating his landlord’s 14-year-old daughter. Maxwell Ndlovu, 34, appeared before Provincial magistrate Abednico Ndebele facing a rape charge. He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to April 29. The court heard that the matter came to light after the teenager’s mother discovered that she was pregnant.
Ndlovu claimed that he had consensual sex with the juvenile whose name cannot be disclosed for legal reasons. “I didn’t rape her. She agreed to have sexual intercourse with me. Her mother is influencing her to turn against me,” said Ndlovu.
Prosecuting, Stewart Madzore told the court that sometime in September, 2015, at around 11PM, the teenager was cleaning her room when the accused dragged her to his room. “Accused person dragged her to his bedroom where he placed her on the bed.
“He threatened the complainant with a catapult and he removed her underwear. “The accused person forcibly had sexual intercourse with the complainant once without her consent and without protection,” said Madzore.
He said Ndlovu told the teenager that he would kill her if she revealed the matter to anyone. “The matter came to light on March 27 when the mother discovered that the girl was pregnant and after questioning her she immediately divulged the incident,” said Madzore.

Zimbabwe turns 36 today.

Below is the live coverage of the events at the National Sports Stadium and elsewhere.
12:37: PRESIDENT MUGABE ENDS HIS ADDRESS AND THIS TAKES US TO THE END OF OUR UPDATES. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
12:30
Still Mugabe addressing…
“Government is committed to solving social economic beeds of the people….government continues to give attention to chronic diseases… development of rural communities, where most of our people reside, remains under focus… this led to the establishemt of rural development…government remains committed to improving the welfare of civil servants so that they earn salaries above Poverty Datum Line…government apologises for late disbursement of pensions.”
12:10
President Robert Mugabe is now addressing. We publish below excerpts of his speech.
Mugabe begins his address by paying tribute to the heroes of the country’s liberation war.
The 92-year-old, who often speaks off-the-cuff, is sticking to his speech.
On the prevailing El Nino-induced drought, ‘government has taken measures to mitigate the effects of drought through grain imports.’
“There has been an “introduction of 99 year leases to guarantee our farmers security of tenure…..consolidation of diamond and good mining has started to show some results… (on) manufacturing.. I am glad to to inform you that there has been a very rapid resuscitation of companies that were facing closure….and the formation of new companies…new companies include Pure Oil, Feed Mox, Novatex..Kefalos..etc…
“The rescuscitation and formation of new companies have helped create jobs and enhance fiscal space and increased production…government has found a financier and contractor for the Beitbridge and Chirundu road to be constructed for an estimate $2 billion…”
“Airzim and NRZ are on the revival path,”says Mugabe.
If true, this could come as good news to the NRZ workers who have been holding a vigil at the company’s offices demanding their long overdue salaries.
“Power shortages have eased…we have signed a loan with a bank that enables us to do Munyati, Harare and Bulawayo power stations.”
“Efforts are being made to trasform the Beitbridge Border post to a one stop border post to ease congestion and improve trade.”
“…regarding foreign policy, Zimbabwe successfully chaired the Sadc and AU platforms…the country’s ‘Look East’ policy received a boost after the visit of (Chinese leader Xi Jin)Ping in December (last year)”
11:45
The celebrations follow a usual template, where President Robert Mugabe has presided over the inspection of the guard of honour and lit the independence flame.
mgabe 2
What remains is whether the president’s speech will touch on the economic crisis that Zimbabwe is facing and the questions that Zimbabwe may have is whether Mugabe’s pronouncements will bear solutions to the myriad of problems that Zimbabwe is currently facing.
Mgabe
While the initial formalities of the event take place at the National Sports Stadium, where President Robert Mugabe is officiating, we have asked our readers what they think of this event. – Standard

More than 10 000 refugees and asylum seekers are currently staying in the country’s refugee camps and urban areas, Public Service, Labour and Social Services Minister Priscah Mupfumira has said.
Minister Mupfumira said this on Friday during celebrations to mark the International Day of the Social Workers.
“Zimbabwe recognises the strength and resilience of all those displaced by war, persecution and human rights abuses in pursuit of peace, safety and stability,” she said.
“It is Government’s prime responsibility to care and support its valuable citizens, through social service provision.
“However, without, the complementary services from other stakeholders, where social workers are engaged, Government alone would not be able to fully meet the needs of the vulnerable groups. Thus social work is vital.”
Minister Mupfumira said social workers play a pivotal role in the society. “It is from this view point that the social work profession is associated with serving society, through working with individuals, families and other groups of communities.
“Society therefore expects the social worker to be a catalyst, to bring about the desired positive change,” she said.
“The ordinary person in the street will always expect that some good will come out of every contact with a social worker.
“It is therefore imperative that the social work profession be dynamic to keep pace with changes in society.”
National Association of Social Workers president Mr Aaron Zinyanya commended Government for the support accorded to the sector.
“We recognise the good work that the Government has done and continues to do for the fulfilment of this theme.
“Government has put in place legislative, institutional and programme mechanisms to promote the worth and dignity of our peoples,” he said.
“Recently we had a landmark ruling banning child marriages and to us as social workers this issue is more social than legal and there is need for a lot of social mobilisation and conscientisation in our communities and social workers come in handy.”
Dr Gidraph Wairire from Kenya said there was need to look at the root causes of displacements of people in the process of helping them.
“Refugees and displaced persons are like any other people only that they thrive in extremely difficult circumstances as a result of the experiences that force them into such situations,” he said.
“Social work has an inseparable role in not only enabling them to deal with their situations but also in addressing the root causes responsible for displacement of people in our respective societies.”
This year’s commemorations ran under the theme “Promoting the Dignity and Worth of Peoples Focusing on Refugees and Displaced Persons”. -State Media

The below is the latest on Apostle Action Khomani the leader of Royal Family Life Fellowship situated in Mutare who is facing indecent assault and rape.
After a hearing last week, the trial is now scheduled for the 11th July 2016 when Khomani is expected to answer for the charges.
A storm is brewing at the church, after its founder, Khomani, was found allegedly involved in sex orgies with female church congregants and misappropriation of church funds, among other shocking shenanigans.
Khomani, also known as AK-47 — who resides at House Number 19, Crispy Road, Palmerstone — was last weekend picked up by the police for allegedly sexually abusing a female congregant (name withheld) sometime in October.
Deputy Manicaland provincial police spokesman Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda said Khomani (40) was arrested and was assisting them with investigations for allegedly raping a church congregant with the help of his maid after he had invited her for “counselling”.
“Sometime in October 2012, around 5pm, Khomani invited the woman to a prayer and counselling session. After the session, he went to his bedroom while the woman slept in his maid’s room.
“He later during the night called his maid. A few minutes later, the maid allegedly dragged the unsuspecting woman to the dining room. Khomani followed into the dining room and the maid retreated, leaving the two behind. He allegedly raped her once,” Ass Insp Chananda said.
He said the woman did not disclose the ordeal to anyone until June 25 in 2014 when she reported the matter to the police.
Khomani was later released for lack of incriminating evidence, but police insisted that investigations were in progress.
When approached for comment, Apostle Khomani said the allegations were unfounded and meant to blackmail him. He denied the rape allegations saying some church members framed him.
“The rape issue did not happen. The woman who reported the matter to the police actually framed me after we had disciplined her and her boyfriend for co-habiting.
“Co-habiting is against the church’s doctrine. It was after this issue that they decided to tarnish my name and cooked up the rape issue. They started influencing other members of the church to gang up against me.
“Ndakagadzirirwa nyaya. As we speak, brother, I am still recovering from the trauma of spending moments behind bars. I was only released last Friday,” he said.
Responding to allegations that he was misappropriating church funds by sending his children to expensive schools while congregants were as poor as church mice, Khomani said he was a disciplined man who doesn’t even have access to the church coffers.
“Proceeds from the church are so little that they cannot sustain my family. I have relatives who help me. For your own information, I don’t have access to church funds,’’ he said.
The man of the cloth pleaded with The Weekender to spare him. “Please, brother, protect my name because ndichirikurwara,” he added.
However, sources privy to the goings-on at the church said the report was just a tip of the iceberg.
“You will hear of more stories of this nature in the next coming days,” said one church member who requested anonymity.
Various anonymous letters from church congregants were sent to this publication last week with most of them accusing Khomani of “sacrificing the word of God for personal and selfish gains”, impregnating various unsuspecting girls, single mothers and forcing some of them to terminate pregnancies as well as dividing families, among a flurry of allegations.
Reads part of one of the letters: “Where is Christian Church Council of Zimbabwe? This man of God is one of the false apostles written in the word of God in 2 Peter 2 verse 1-6 and Matthew 7 verse 15-20 which tells us to know what’s true or false of these so-called men of God.”
Another letter headlined: “Royal Family Church has taken a wrong turn” said the church had now borrowed its script from a scary horror movie.
“Like the horror movie franchise, the Royal Family Fellowship Church has taken a wrong turn and is now taking a direction towards total destruction where no one will survive, at least speaking in the spiritual sense.
“The author of this horror script is none other than the church’s founding leader, Apostle Action Khomani, who is presiding over everything that is horribly going wrong in the church today.
“Chief among the ills bedevilling the congregation are adultery, where the church leader is sexually abusing girls and married women and maladministration, in which almost every aspect of the church is being poorly managed by the so-called administration.
“Cases of sexual harassment and indecent assault have been raised against Apostle Khomani. This has been done only in church corridors as many dread (sic) to come out in the open for fear of victimisation.
“This is the classical case of the hen devouring its own eggs. It is clear here that Apostle Khomani is betraying the trust his followers have in him by sexually abusing them.
“There is nothing bad like a shepherd devouring his own sheep instead of being devoured by hungry leopards. We now fear the worst for our wives, sisters and daughters.
“What with the danger being posed by Apostle Khomani’s sexual pervasion . . ?”
Another letter headlined: “Churches must not dilute the gospel”, reads: “For me, my bone of contention with the church is how the Word of God is being sacrificed on the altar for personal and selfish gains.
The church leader, Apostle Action, is the chief culprit in this regard.
“I will be honest and state that in its early days, things appeared perfectly normal, but of late they have got worse.
“The core business of the church is being neglected and Christian values are getting compromised in the process due to the poison we are being fed each time one steps onto the pulpit to preach.
“Most of the preaching has become personal attacks on members of the church, at times embarrassing them in front of their families.
“At other times (sic) our leader proclaims himself ‘messiah’ such that employment, job security, marriage, fertility and such other blessings are all in his hands and he can give them forth if we shower him with loyalty, gifts, money and other valuables. It is also declared during the preaching sermon that if we withhold these presents, then we will not prosper.
“Another sad thing in our church is what we call ‘forced faith’ which has become so prevalent, which I feel is very misleading. A clear example is how some members of the church living with HIV were asked to surrender their medication in order to get cured of the disease through faith.
“This is not bad if it works out well, but the tragedy now is that cases of hospitalisation and deaths have been recorded after the patients fell seriously ill due to defaulting on medication. Honestly, we should not be losing lives and compromise our health due to this blind faith that is being forced on us by someone.”
Reads another letter: “Church irikurarama nezvikwereti zvimwe zvinoratidza izvezvi takabva pabig hall to a smaller hall nekuti mari yacho hapana irikungoperera kumafees evana vake vanodzidza paHillcrest apa achigara kumadale-dale kunoita more than 400 dollars, imagine church iri muSakubva.
“Church haina kana stand zvayo kana chainonongedzerwa kuti ndechayo. He recently introduced Direct Partnership with the man of God vanhu pavanenge vachimupa mari direct neEcoCash.
“Ko makambozvinzwepi zvakadai kukumbira mari vana vesangano in the name of God. He is now claiming kuti iye iAreka yaJehovah, heresy iri pachena. Church yedu tinoida, tibatsirei veduwee.” (State Media/Additional Reporting)

President Robert Mugabe’s clarification of the country’s controversial indigenisation and economic empowerment law, was a “reversal of G40’s scorched earth policy created to fleece the country’s resources”, war veterans’ chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa has said.
Mutsvangwa welcomed Mugabe’s move to “set the record straight” in an interview last week.
“It is a positive signal to investors. No country can survive, let alone grow in this capitalistic world without foreign investment,” he said.
“The Asian Tigers [India, China and Malaysia] had access to capital from all over the world.
“The way the indigenisation policy, noble as it is was, but twisted by a coterie of G40 enthusiasts, had resulted in chaos in the market.”
Indigenisation minister Patrick Zhuwao and his Finance counterpart Patrick Chinamasa have been involved in a public spat over implementation of the policy.
Before Mugabe’s intervention, Chinamasa insisted all foreign-owned banks had complied, a position disputed by Zhuwao.
Mutsvangwa claimed Zhuwao and a faction within the ruling party known as G40 and fronted by First Lady Grace Mugabe wanted to abuse the policy for ill-gain.
“They wanted to create the kind of anarchy we saw around the year 2000 when company executives and directors could not operate for fear of vigilante groups,” he said.
“Zhuwao and his ilk-like he warned in Marondera a few weeks ago, wanted to create a band of youths to bring strife into our economy and the president has put a stop to that,” he said.
“He [Zhuwao] promised youth he would be getting them money from companies. That is criminal abuse of office that cannot be allowed.
“Our indigenisation policy was meant to make sure Zimbabweans own the resources but never to shut out or frighten foreign investors. G40 wanted to collect levies to fund their nefarious activities.”
After Zhuwao’s ultimatum to companies to comply by April 1, the veterans of the liberation struggle called him to order, arguing he was scaring investors.
Political analyst McDonald Lewanika said Zimbabweans should be worried that “government has to constantly clarify its policies”.
“When a president has to clarify policy matters time and time again, it’s worrying and shows that there is a problem; either the policies are not clear to start with and open to multiple interpretations or misinterpretations, or the implementers are confused, incompetent or both,” Lewanika said.
But the opposition MDC-T described Mugabe’s summersault as a “dog’s breakfast”.
“Instead of clarifying the overwhelming confusion that has been brought about by the populist and often misguided remarks by Zhuwao, Mugabe’s statement actually adds to the confusion and policy inconsistencies,” said MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu
“Mugabe’s statement is actually very dodgy and sly. It shouldn’t be trusted and believed at all.
“He is simply trying to hoodwink and mislead the international community; particularly the Bretton Woods institutions.”
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said Mugabe’s aim in “clarifying” the policy was to hoodwink the international community.
“In our view, the statement is a mendacious and dishonest spin intended to arm Finance minister [Patrick] Chinamasa who is currently in Washington DC, USA for the World Bank’s spring meetings with a propaganda tool,” PDP spokesperson Jacob Mafume said.
“The statement, like the Zimbabwe Staff Monitoring Programme, is therefore lipstick on a pig in order to seduce gullible members of the international community by creating a semblance of reform.” standard

Police have ruled out foul play in the death of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority game ranger Mr Kennedy Zvavahera whose naked corpse was found in Gonarezhou National Park in March.
The 31-year-old, the state media has established, had liver disease. The death had been linked to the ongoing “war” between ZimParks patrol teams and poachers, some of whom are believed to be coming from Mozambique.
It also came as villagers who live around the game park — mainly the Chitsa people — spoke of the bad blood between them and parks authorities who are pushing for their relocation.
National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said, “The postmortem revealed that he had a liver disease and according to the doctor who conducted it, it’s possible for someone with such a condition to suddenly die.
“The circumstances are that this game ranger had taken off his clothes to take a bath in a stream that is in the game park when he met his fate.”
A villager in the area said: “It still remains a mystery to us even after the postmortem.
‘‘Firstly, his shorts were found metres away from his body. His overall seemed to have been neatly placed on the ground as though one wanted to lie on it.
“The gumboots were also positioned as if one wanted to use them as a pillow. What is surprising is that there was mud all over his body.-State Media