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PICTURES: Police Cops Fondle Women’s Private Parts


– As thousands of fans lined up to enter Uganda’s National stadium in Nambole to watch a football match between Uganda Cranes and Burkina Faso, cops left nothing to chance as they search for any weapons that would be sneaked into the stadium
– With the threat of terrorism looming large globally, it remains debatable whether police officer are allowed to go as far as touching people private areas in their search
– Well, while some female fans remained indifferent to this rather bizzare form of frisking, others could not help but laugh as they were touched in unusual areas of their body

A female Uganda cop leaves nothing to chance, who knows? The lady could be carrying explosives in her privates.
A female Uganda cop leaves nothing to chance, who knows? The lady could be carrying explosives in her privates.

A series of photos have gone viral in which a female police officer apparently not leaving nothing to chance in this era of numerous terror attacks.
The photos have gone viral with social media user wondering whether the fear of terrorism is license to abuse some basic human rights.
On this fan, the female cop opts to completely ensure the breasts are hiding nothing or rather nothing other than breast alone are intact the brassier.
On this fan, the female cop opts to completely ensure the breasts are hiding nothing or rather nothing other than breast alone are intact the brassier.

 

The seemingly overzealous female cop searches everywhere, quite literally, including the privates of every female entrant into Nambole National Stadium where Uganda Cranes was to play Burkina Faso.
While in another world, it would be expected that metal detectors or scanners would be used to detect and stop any weapon from being sneaked into the stadium, in Uganda it appears the hands it much better.

 
This fan could not just believe she is being frisked even in her privates but the job had to be done.
This fan could not just believe she is being frisked even in her privates but the job had to be done.

The same female cop can bee seen frisking a lady fan (right behind the man in white top) and where else? She goes straight for the private area.

The repeated sequence of events only serves to prove that cops were under very strict instruction to frisk entrants to the stadium very well, and all over their bodies.
It is not clear how men were frisked but if ladies could be searched in such an awkward manner, then it could only be worse for their male counterparts who pose more danger in terms of violence.

 

Uganda suffered a serious terror attack during the 2010 world cup as terrorist targeted an entertainment zone where soccer fans had thronged to watch a crucial football match on television. – Tuco.ke/Agencies

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Blame Zimbabweans, Not Me – Mugabe

MUGABE333333
After being in power for nearly the longest time in the world, aged Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says that anyone who has a problem with the time he has led the country should blame Zimbabweans not him.
Talking to Japanese media from Japan yesterday, Mugabe said that he has never forced himself to lead the country but has always been elected by Zimbabweans who believe in his empowerment agenda.
“If they have a problem with my stay in power they should go and ask Zimbabwean people. I don’t vote myself in, they do,” said Mugabe.
Mugabe added that Zimbabweans will not take lightly anyone who says that he must step down.
“You go to Zimbabwe now and ask them if I must step down. They will be very angry with you,” he said.
Asked if he will still consider contesting the 2018 elections at 94, Mugabe said that he has already been given the mandate to contest the elections by his party and he will contest.
Probed on his health and capability to lead the country now, in 2018 and beyond, Mugabe that as far as he feels he is still fit to continue as President.
“As you can see me here as President it means I am still very strong and will certainly see another two years to 2018.”
“What is two years? I will still be there and ready to lead another five years God willing.”

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Harare Intensifies Water Disconnections

water tap disc
CITY of Harare is intensifying water disconnections and issuance of summons to all residents and corporates whose bills are in arrears.
In a statement on Wednesday, City of Harare acting corporate communications manager, Michael Chideme, said residents in debt must approach the local authority to negotiate payment plans.
“All debtors are urged to make payment arrangements with council to offset their debts,” he said.
“Residents and ratepayers should pay their current monthly bills while they make payment arrangements to offset their debts to avoid inconveniences such as water disconnections and property attachments.”
He said council revenue officers around the city have been instructed to accept all payments.
“People intending to make payments will not be turned away.Council needs all residents to be rate compliant for it to be able to discharge its service delivery mandate,” said Chideme.
The Local authority is owed over US$400 million, a development that is impacting negatively on capacity to provide the desired services.-State Media

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Doctors’ Salary Gross $895

JUNIOR doctors at public hospitals have threatened to continue with their strike until the Health Services Board (HSB) clarifies some vague clauses on their new employment contracts availed yesterday.
The doctors said the revised contract was vague on conditions of service and remuneration.
“Our collective position is that we are willing to go to work as soon as possible for the benefit of the patients. They (HSB) should go through proper channels and communicate with our representative body,” the junior doctors said.
“The figure ($895 gross salary) is vague on what deductions will be effected and it’s all-inclusive of allowances.”
The doctors, who are also protesting against being engaged as contract workers, are demanding clarity on matters like repeating college classes and the period a female doctor should be on maternity leave.
“Previously, we signed an assumption of duty contract which automatically meant that one was now employed permanently,” they said.
Last week, Mpilo Central Hospital was forced to shut down its outpatient department following the strike by junior doctors, which led to a serious shortage of personnel.
Currently, the situation is dire at most public hospitals as the strike by the junior doctors has created a huge gap in service delivery.
“Medical and surgical wards are the worst affected because they are covered by interns,” another student said. newsday
But HSB spokesperson Nyasha p optimistic the doctors would sign the new contracts.
“We expect them to sign the contract so that they can start their housemanship. At the moment, I cannot confirm whether they have signed or not,” he said.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals chief executive officer Thomas Zigora said the doctors had just received the contracts and were still going through them.

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ex-MP Madzore Falls on Hard Times

FORMER MDC-T Glen View South legislator Paul Madzore has hit hard times and is failing to cater for his two children. Madzore told magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe that ever since he lost his parliamentary seat, his life has never been the same as he has no other source of income.
Madzore (46) who is in arrears of $1 040, was taken to court by his former wife Philda Kanengoni for failing to pay maintenance.
He pleaded guilty to the charge.
Madzore, however, escaped jail by a whisker after Mr Mahwe slapped him with a three-month jail term which was wholly suspended on condition he pays the money on or before April 29.
Madzore pleaded for the court’s leniency and asked for time to pay on the basis that his financial position has substantially changed.
“Your Worship, I am admitting to the charge but the problem is that I am not employed at the moment. I am no longer a Member of Parliament,” he said.
“If the court can grant me at least two months to clear the arrears, I can run around and look for the money.”
He told the court that he had $100 in his pockets which he was ordered to pay forthwith towards the maintenance.
On October 30, 2013, Madzore was ordered by the Civil Court to pay a monthly maintenance fee of $300 for the upkeep of his two children.
He started defaulting payment in December last year.
Ms Francesca Mukumbiri prosecuted.

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Zhuwao ‘Vomits’ Again:Foreign Companies Shutting Down in 2 Days

fuming...Patrick Zhuwao
fuming…Patrick Zhuwao

Zimbabwe’s Indigenization Minister Patrick Zhuwao has reiterated that Harare will from April 1st cancel licenses of foreign-owned firms that have not complied with the black empowerment law that compels them to sell a 51% stake of their shares to locals.
President Robert Mugabe signed the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Bill into law in 2008 after it passed through parliament in September 2007 despite stiff resistance from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Under Zimbabwean law, foreign and white-owned companies with assets of more than $500,000 must cede or sell a controlling stake to black nationals.
Zanu-PF insiders say the cash-strapped government took the hard line stance after foreign-owned companies spurned government’s offer to contribute 10 percent of their annual earnings to the empowerment levy set up by Zhuwao.
The move by Harare to cancel licenses is likely to torpedo plans by the country to re-engage the Bretton Woods institutions, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Locally, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has petitioned Zhuwao complaining about the threat to seize companies’ licenses. Chairman of the Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association, Chris Mutsvangwa, has also joined the chorus of those condemning the government move.
Mutsvangwa told the daily newspaper, NewsDay, that the former fighters would oppose government’s move to “nationalize” companies. Said Mutsvangwa: “It is a plan to loot the country’s resources and we will not fold our hands. War veterans want a country that is open to business, that is attractive to investment from anyone and there is no need for us to slam doors in the faces of those who want to bring in new money,” But Zhuwao, in an exclusive interview with VOA Studio 7’s Blessing Zulu, said that Harare is not backing down from local and international pressure.
BLESSING ZULU (B.Z): First honorable Zhuwao are companies complying with what you said is a cabinet directive to give your ministry their indigenization proposal plans?
PATRICK ZHUWAO (P.Z) Companies go to their line ministries in terms of their proposals. So, I have not even bothered to check with line ministries what the progress is. But however what then has been transpiring is that there have been a number of companies that have been seeking clarity on a lot of issues some of which are downright lies in terms of what they have been told about the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment  Act Chapter 14:33. Some of those lies have actually come from institutions such as yours which are the media that have been misleading companies. So what I have resolved to … I was requested by one of the companies to conduct an indigenization compliance clinic where companies that feel they are affected come in to get just a few pointers directly from me the minister responsible for administering that act to say look this is what the act says and these are the options available to each and every company in terms of the legislation.
B.Z:  So when is this proposed indigenization clinic taking place?
P.Z:  We will begin tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8.00 (am) o’ clock at the Jacaranda room, Rainbow Towers Hotel.
B.Z: How many companies have registered so far (to attend the clinic?)
P.Z: No it’s like a walk in clinic my brother, you know just, you know if you have a tooth ache, you go to the clinic and say I have a tooth ache and the doctor says you need aspirin or whatever it is that you need and if your ailment is of a bigger nature then the doctor says look I can’t really assist you need to go to a specialist. So there are some companies that really do not fall within the threshold of indigenization in terms of capital requirements, and those companies it’s just a matter of letting them understand that this is what the law says those companies that they don’t fall within the threshold and then they can go home and relax and have a good night sleep for tomorrow and those that fall within the threshold we say, look you fall within the threshold these are the various options that are available to you. If you are still confused as to how you will be able to put together an indigenization plan. It is quite possible that they can then go to some of the advisory companies that are dotted around Zimbabwe. We have quite a number of fairly good advisors. But we also observed that there are some legal practitioners that instead of explaining to their clients the provisions of the law are busy telling their clients that government is not serious about implementing the law and those people are lying to whoever it is that they are giving advice to.  And you know if I was a manager of any business, I would simply make sure that I go on my own to understand what the law requires and I make sure that I am compliant.
B.Z: You said there are certain companies that fall within the threshold, if you can give us some examples?
P.Z: My brother, you have got General Notice 114 of 2011, General Notice 459 0f 2011 and the General Notice 280 of 2012. Those set the threshold sector by sector.
B.Z: And talking about tomorrow (Wednesday’s) compliance clinic, is there a likelihood that you will extend the deadline or timeline to submit compliance plans?
 P.Z: No. No the timeline by which companies should have complied is the 1stof March 2015. So companies that have not complied are already one year and one month beyond the time they should have complied. However, I need to point out that the processes of the revocation of the licenses involves the line minister notifying the non-compliant company of line ministers’ intention to order the licensing authority to revoke the license. Thereafter the line minister also requires the non-compliant company to show just cause as to why they have not complied and the minister then looks at it if there is just cause.
B.Z: We have had serious concern being raised first by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions that has already petitioned you and the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans led by Chris Mutsvangwa saying the government has veered off the road and is headed for the ditch.
P.Z : (Laughs) Sorry with all due respect to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. It is not them that I am laughing at … eeh … the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, I have just heard an interview with a journalist who showed me the letter that was written by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. I will engage the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union. But I do not want to engage with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions in the media.
B.Z: Turning to Mr. Mutsvangwa?
P.Z: Mr. Mutsvangwa … Honorable Mutsvangwa let’s use his title appropriately. Honorable Mutsvangwa was a member of the cabinet and having been a member of the cabinet he knows the processes of cabinet. And over and above knowing the processes of cabinet I am struggling to understand where he is coming from because I have not received any letter from the war veterans. I am struggling to believe that Honorable Mutsvangwa is going against a resolution that was passed by a cabinet that is chaired by his patron. (President Robert Mugabe is the chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association). A cabinet that consists of members of his association who are also the two vice presidents of the country (vice presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa)  … A cabinet that has got the secretary responsible for war veterans in the Zanu-PF party as a member (Defense Minister Sydney Sekeramai) … A cabinet that has got the minister responsible for war veterans in that cabinet as a member (Tshinga Dube) in that cabinet and a cabinet that has no less than four other ministers who are war veterans. So I have not seen any letter from Honorable Mutsvangwa. So I do not believe what is in the media because it is impossible to contemplate that . .. eeh … (laughs) … Honorable Mutsvangwa could be saying that his patron is wrong. What it would mean is that he is now actually going against the campaign manifesto (ruling Zanu-PF) that he also used to become a Member of Parliament for Norton because Zanu-PF went on a campaign of indigenize, empower and develop and create employment. So I don’t believe it. It is impossible. No sane person would actually turn around and say I was voted on this platform, now I do not believe in it. If he no longer believes in it, he should resign as a member of parliament.
B.Z: Capital is a coward Hon. Zhuwao, don’t you think that this law is causing problems for Zimbabwe when it comes to investment.
P.Z: It’s not a matter of whether I think indigenization is scaring away investors. I know it is not indigenization, if there is anything called indigenization, because there are territories that have similar pieces of legislation where investment goes in. So the evidence is there that it is not around issues of indigenization or whichever way you want to label such a piece of indigenization. There are other political considerations which include sanctions and certain narratives that are then propagated that then talk to this. But more importantly, my view is that there is need to put finality to this issue. So that people know that when the government of Zimbabwe puts in place a law, it will abide by that law. Now if we do not abide by the indigenization law, then how can any other investor believe that we are serious about abiding by any other law?  And this is really my perspective and I give this perspective from the perspective of a person that has actually started business. You see I did not start off my professional life as a minister of government or as a politician. I had my professional life as a business person. I have started businesses. I have run businesses and I still have some shares in some businesses. So I know what it takes to make a business decision and I know it very, very well. So you know, izvi zvekunzi munhu atanga kupinda mu Mercedes Benz apinda muhurumende aiwa ini yangu ndakatanga kupinda hangu iri 123 series in 1994. (I did not start driving a Mercdese Benz when I was appointed a cabinet minister, I bought the first one for myself in 1994, a 123 series.)
B.Z: There are serious concerns minister that the indigenization programs benefit only a few elites and for the majority of Zimbabweans, independence remains flag and anthem independence.
P.Z: Unfortunately some of these concerns are misplaced. These are the very same concerns that came around the issue of the land reform programme and these very same concerns then got some Zimbabweans that ought to have benefitted from the land reform programme taking very, very drastic and unfortunate hardline positions saying I am not going to be party to that and they have failed to benefit from that. But you know paranoia is a disease. There is nothing you can do when something is mentally afflicted like that.
B.Z:  But even with that land reform programme you are alluding to, there are multiple farm owners who happen to be the elite and the majority of Zimbabweans are bitter they have been left out.
P.Z. I do not know of any multiple farm owners. Can you tell me of some and if there are any I think you should raise your concerns with the minister of lands. There is a minister of lands who you are supposed to raise those issues with.
B.Z : But successive government land reform audits have concluded that there are multiple land owners.
P.Z:  Well let the minister of lands respond to that. I am the minister for Youth, Indigenization and Economic Empowerment. You know division of labor my brother. Division of labor.- VOA

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Kasukuwere Caught In Chiredzi Scam

fingered...Saviour Kasukuwere
fingered…Saviour Kasukuwere

By Terrence Mawawa|Public Works and Local Government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has been caught in the Chiredzi Town Council residential stands scam in which he clandestinely authorised the distribution of the stands, thereby igniting corruption.
 
Sources in Chiredzi last week said Kasukuwere authorised the distribution of 50 residential stands through a bogus housing cooperative, bypassing the town council in the process.
In a bid to gag the town council management, Kasukuwere has threatened to deploy a team of investigators, ostensibly to analyse cases of mismanagement at the local authority.
 
Analysts say the move by Kasukuwere is a desperate bid to cover up for the mess he created by as said ‘fraudulently’ authorising the distribution of the residential stands.
Chiredzi Town Council chairman Francis Moyo confirmed Kasukuwere would soon dispatch a team to probe the city council.
“I can confirm that there is a team that is coming here to carry out some investigations but the truth of the matter is we do not even know how the stands in question ended up in the hands of a housing cooperative,” said Moyo.
 
Sources in Chiredzi said Kasukuwere’s efforts to pile pressure on the town council indicate the Minister is eager to blame it for his own blunders.
 
The stands worth thousands of dollars, were distributed secretly such that it is widely believed Kasukuwere is a direct beneficiary of the scam.

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VIDEO:Jestina Mukoko Wins Courage Award-REVIEW


Zimbabwe Peace Project executive director, Jestina Mukoko this week attended the prestigious 2016 International Women of Courage Award, on Tuesday, at the U.S. State Department, in Washington.
Mukoko was honored in 2010 after her abduction. Other Zimbabwean recipients are lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa and activist Jenni Williams – VOA

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Explosion Fear Hits Zimbabwe as China Sets up Mystery Bomb Project

Zimbabwe is under a red alert warning after a Chinese company, Hunan Nanling Industry Explosive Material Co Ltd, announced plans to set up a bomb materials production project in the country.
A mysterious unnamed local company is hosting the dodgy Chinese deal that comes as safety analysts warned that human life is at risk. The US based Richard G Little, warned saying “once again, the world has a front-row seat to observe what happens when those responsible for public safety ignore risks in favor of short-term economic gain. In the case of the Tianjin explosion in China, cozy relationships between businesses and public officials led to reduced scrutiny and no doubt contributed significantly to the scale and outcome of the disaster.
“The lesson of past disasters such as the New Orleans levees, Deepwater Horizon and Fukushima Daiichi is that the root cause of these failures usually lies in perverse incentive structures and institutional conflicts that actually de-emphasize safety.
“China needs to show its people and the world that it cares about industrial safety by empowering competent, committed and incorruptible officials to act in the public interest. Economic growth and public safety need not be mutually exclusive.”
Meanwhile the state media reported that first phase of the project will see the company together with its unnamed local partner construct a 12 000 tonne emulsion explosives fixed production line. The expected construction period of the first phase is 12 months.
The total investment is 1,06 billion yuan ($245 million).
Hunan Nanling Industrial Explosive Materials said the Hong Kong JV New World (Hong Kong) International Development Limited) had been set up specifically in line with the Chinese Government’s external investment policy.
Hunan Nanling Industrial Explosive Materials is principally engaged in research, development, manufacture and sale of civil explosive materials, military products and civil explosive professional equipment, as well as blasting and logistics business.
The firm’s products and services can be divided into industrial explosives,
industrial detonating cords, industrial detonators, engineering blasting operations, and transportation and distribution services.
The Zimbabwe project’s line of business will include: production of emulsion explosives and ANFO; non-electric blasting assembly detonator; distribution and sale of civilian blasting equipment; civilian blasting equipment to provide technical advice, blasting services and mining services.
According to Hunan Nanling Industrial Explosive Materials the setting up of the joint venture in Hong Kong, and the investment into the Zimbabwe project have been approved by the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce.
Chinese investment into Zimbabwe has maintained an upward trajectory, especially after President Robert Mugabe’s State visit to China in December last year where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed 10 investment deals. – BH24/Reuters.

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Mugabe Talks On Stepping Down

State Media- President Robert Mugabe yesterday said anyone unhappy with his constitutional stay in power should condemn the people of Zimbabwe as they are the ones who gave him the mandate to govern the country since 1980, adding that his successor should be people-oriented and someone ready to defend the country from latter-day neo-colonialism being propelled by the West.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Japanese journalists here yesterday, President Mugabe said health permitting, he would stand as the Zanu-PF presidential candidate in 2018 if the people decided so.
“He (successor) must be a good leader all the time, a leader who is people oriented,” said President Mugabe, “a leader who listens to the voices of the people, who takes care of the people, who thinks of the people before he thinks of himself. He should be a leader who is really directed and governed by the wishes of the people. This is what I have tried to be. This is what our Government has tried to be.”
President Mugabe added: “When we waged the struggle it was a people struggle for the freedom of our people and that should remain the objective of the leaders in the future. (He needs) to be people oriented to push that the people remain as free as possible and defend and protect them against any outsider.”
To lead the country for the past 36 years, President Mugabe said, was because of Zimbabweans who successively elected him to drive their empowerment agenda.
President Mugabe said anyone with a problem with the decision of the majority was free to criticise them “if they don’t like my long stay in power they should criticise my people, I do not vote for myself into power,” he said.
“You just go to Zimbabwe now and ask the people whether I should stand down. They will be angry with you.”
Asked if he was fit for the Presidency at the moment and in 2018, President Mugabe said: “At the moment I am the President that’s why (I am here). Do you see me as not fit? Why not contest two years later?
“Two years later is no time but only God knows what will happen in two years’ time, 2018, I don’t know, it will depend. If I am fit enough, yes, but If I am not fit enough I will not. My people will want me to be a candidate and they have already nominated me as a candidate for 2018.”
President Mugabe said Zimbabwe abounded with ivory and Government would ensure it benefits everyone.
“We have got elephants and they carry ivory and I want that ivory to benefit Zimbabwe. So I will comply with the rules set for us to trade in ivory,” he said.
He said the forthcoming sixth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) IV to be held in Kenya in August should unite Africa and Japan as they pushed for their development.
“With TICAD, you don’t just get socio-economic friends, you build also social business as indeed you build allies in development, in humanitarian endeavour and the creation of the world of peace and harmony. If we can begin with Africa as a peaceful continent that will be a stepping stone to possible world peace in the future although world peace, as we see now, will take us a long time to establish with so much terrorism taking place especially on the European continent.”
He said the strained relationship between China and Japan would not affect Zimbabwe’s relationship with the two countries.
“We are friends of China,” he said. “During the liberation struggle they supported us and we owe them that support but that does not mean our friendship with China excludes friendship with Japan. No! I know you are not good friends because of the past history of fighting but that is your row. As far as we are concerned we want to be a good friend with you as far as we are with everyone else.”
Asked on relations with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, President Mugabe said: “We have lost connection with North Korea. If North Korea would want to re-establish connections, I suppose we reciprocate. We do not hate any country or distaste any people. We make friends with those who want to be friends with us but it doesn’t mean that we should follow all their ways. Friendship is friendship on terms that are reciprocal.”
Asked about his perception of Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the United States elections this year, President Mugabe said many thought he would be the joke of the year but he was pulling surprises.
Some of his utterances though, the President said, were a “bit off guard”.
“I notice he is winning in some cases,” he said. “He had a difficult time in Chicago but elsewhere he should guard his speeches more but I am not the one to teach Americans how to behave.” -State Media

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Mugabe Must Die on duty – ZANU PF

Zanu PF youths say President Mugabe (92) must rule until he dies.
The youths aligned to G40 are planning a million-man march to show support for President Mugabe. They are vowing to stand by Mr. Mugabe despite his advanced age.
The youths, who gathered in Mutare today to make the necessary arrangements for the proposed march, said they are geared for the public event to prove they are fully behind the 92-year old leader, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.
Their representative, Zanu PF Youth League political commissar, Innocent Hamandishe, said they want Mr. Mugabe to rule until he dies.
“Our main aim on the One Million Men March is to show the President that we are fully behind him. We want him to be our president for life and those that do not agree are free to go to ZEC and remove their name there or vote otherwise.”
Hamandishe further noted that they are being used as political tools by some Cabinet ministers. He said this can only stop if they are economically empowered.
“Our youths have suffered enough and we will ensure that ministers that are not doing their work are named and shamed, come that day. We will meet the president on the Million Men March.”
The youths that were in the city are planning to hold a rally on Sunday in the eastern border city ahead of the march in May. Each province is expected to provide at least 100,000 young people for the event.
Acting Zanu PF Manicaland provincial Youth League chairperson, Mubuso Chinguno, said they have been let down by ministers in the province as most youths do not have land, stands in urban areas and are left out of state projects.
They said they have not yet benefited from the diamond-rich Manicaland province. President Mugabe recently claimed that Zimbabwe could have lost about $15 billion in potential diamond revenue due to lack of transparency in the mining of the gems.
Chinnguno said this is unacceptable as part of the proceeds were meant to benefit local youth.
“As chairperson for the province we have youths that are being marginalized in terms of accessing land, residential stands and businesses. We want them to benefit after being left out in the past in many projects.”
The youth are expected to raise funds for the transportation of Zanu PF activists to the so-called million-man march in Harare. voa

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VIDEO-LIVE CHURCH DANCE as Thousands Desert Wutaunashe

Showbiz Reporter|Thousands danced and ululated on Easter weekend having deserted sex-scandal ridden preacher and church leader Andrew Wutaunashe.

The meeting was held at Belvedere Teachers’ college while several were held in other parts of the world. SEE MAP –

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CIO, Army Bosses to Be Hit with fresh Round of Sanctions

CIO boss Happyton Bonyongwe
CIO boss Happyton Bonyongwe

The European Union — led by Britain — wants to re-activate sanctions against Zimbabwe’s security sector as part of its strategy to floor the ruling Zanu-PF Government in the 2018 general election.
Last month, the British government pushed through the EU Council an article that kept five security chiefs on the bloc’s “suspended list” of sanctions and removed 78 individuals and eight institutions.
On the list are Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, Zimbabwe National Army Commader Lieutenant-General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, Police Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri, Central Intelligence Organisation Director-General Happyton Bonyongwe and Airforce of Zimbabwe Commander Air Marshall Perence Shiri.
Although the EU continues to publicly state that only President Mugabe, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe and Zimbabwe Defence Industries are on “restrictive measures”, it has emerged that the grouping placed service chiefs on “suspended sanctions” so as to reactivate them come election time.
Previous British Parliament reports show that Britain is among the few EU members openly opposed to scrapping the sanctions on Zimbabwe, and at one point, British Minister of State (Foreign Office) Mr David Lidington admitted as much, even revealing that his government was fighting a lone battle.
A recent British House of Commons committee report states that the government there acknowledges Zimbabwe’s “relatively stable human rights situation” and Zanu-PF’s “reformist policies”.
It then plays in its mantra of “assisting the people of Zimbabwe to exercise their democratic right”, and this primarily involves an attempt to weaken the security establishment.
Part of the report tabled to the EU Scrutiny Committee reads, “Since the 2013 elections, our assessment of the political situation in Zimbabwe remains broadly the same, with 2015 signalling some positive developments.
“Within the Zimbabwe African National Union administration, there are signs of reformist policies beginning to emerge, especially on the economy. The human rights situation has remained relatively stable and reported violations continue to fall.”
It goes on to state: “However, the situation continues to be fragile and we remain concerned about human rights abuses, especially during election periods. Ahead of the 2018 elections, it is critical that electoral reforms are implemented, and that the international community supports the people of Zimbabwe in exercising their democratic right to build a free, peaceful and prosperous future.
“Based on the above, we have focussed our efforts on a more targeted list of those individuals most closely linked to the security forces: Augustine Chihuri (Police Commissioner-General), Constantine Chiwenga (Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces), Happyton Mabhuya Bonyongwe (Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation), Perence Samson Chikerema Shiri (Air Marshall) and Phillip Valerio Sibanda (Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army). Retaining these individuals on the suspended list makes it easier to reactivate the restrictive measures should it be necessary.”  – State Media

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Mnangagwa Halted by Gukurahundi Ghosts

dead end? ....Emmerson Mnangagwa
dead end? ….Emmerson Mnangagwa

Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s attempts to disown statements attributed to him during the Gukurahundi massacres have opened a new frontier for critics of one of President Robert Mugabe’s likely successors.
Mnangagwa has over the years avoided responding directly to allegations that he was one of the key architects of the killings of civilians by Five Brigade in Midlands and Matabeleland soon after independence.
But Mnangagwa last week came out guns blazing after former Education minister David Coltart used statements attributed to him by State-controlled media in the 1980s, in his recently released book, The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa was quoted in the 1980s apparently justifying the killings by the army. The Midlands strongman last week threatened to sue over the alleged “fabricated” statements.
However, the move has backfired, with Coltart getting support from even unlikely sources such as Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, who retorted that: “denialism is not the best way to deal with things done or said during Gukurahundi, period: Their record is public”.
Former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda said it would be a “massive error” if Mnangagwa took the matter to court since the information was in the public domain.
“I have not read Coltart’s book,” Sibanda said. “What I know for certain is that Coltart was, during the period of Gukurahundi, a human rights lawyer representing Zapu leaders, including Sidney Malunga.
“But I must say it will be ill-advised for Vice-President Mnangagwa to take this matter to court.
“It will set a bad precedence that could see a lot of people being taken to court.
“It will be a massive error for him to take the issue of defending the Fifth Brigade to court.”
Sibanda, a former Zipra combatant, said a court case would open a can of worms because the book only revealed what was already in the public domain.
“That issue represents a danger to the unity of our country. It will hurt Mugabe and will hurt [Defence minister Sydney] Sekeramayi,” he said. “Mnangagwa I know was an activist in Mugabe’s government as minister responsible for intelligence.
“We are aware of the things that were said at that time. We are aware of what was said at Maboleni, at the very first meeting. “We know who addressed it. We have affidavits because some people have come forward to tell us what happened as well, they regret it,” Sibanda added.
“Without arrogating myself the position of Mugabe’s legal practitioner or representing Mnangagwa, I think it will be a mistake for them to take this matter to court. It will be a big mistake.”
Mugabe says he deployed the Fifth Brigade in the Midlands and Matabeleland to fight a handful of dissidents but critics say the real reason the North Korean trained soldiers were sent to the region was to crush Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu.
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) is one of the few organisations that conducted research into the killings and concluded that at least 20 000, mainly Zapu supporters, were massacred.
Coltart in his book cited statements contained in a 1983 Chronicle newspaper article where Mnangagwa is alleged to have uttered statements likening dissidents to “cockroaches and bugs.”
Mnangagwa was in The Chronicle report quoted defending Gukurahundi, saying the “government had to bring DDT [a deadly pesticide] to get rid of bandits”.
Human rights groups said the fact that Mnangagwa who was linked to the Gukurahundi disturbances, doubles as Justice minister that oversees the mandate of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), was enough for him to step aside to allow the commission to do its work unhindered, and in a fair manner.
“The noble thing for him is to resign. Coltart’s book and Mnangagwa’s denials buttress our concern that he is not credible to serve as minister of Justice that also drafts laws, including the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Bill, that dictates the operations of the peace and reconciliation commission,” said pastor Anglistone Sibanda, executive director of faith-based Shalom Trust.
“He must resign to pave way for justice…. With him and other ‘Gukurahundists’, there can never be justice. “The president and Zanu PF should act to bring closure to the issue by removing him from the Justice ministry.”
Sibanda is also the chairperson for the peace building and security committee at Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.
Dumisani Nkomo, the executive director of Habbakuk Trust, weighed in, saying Mnangagwa’s denials were hypocritical as “he should have sued then when the report was first published in 1983”.
“There is a conflict of interest here since Mnangagwa will be judge and jury in a case where he is being investigated for his involvement,” Nkomo said.
“As long as he is there, it will be difficult to investigate such issues, it will be difficult to summon the perpetrators. “Mnangagwa and others implicated should step aside to allow due processes to take place. That is one way of dealing with the issue of conflict of interest.”
The NPRC Bill sections 10(1) and 11(1) gives the minister power to assign current serving civil servants to work as secretariat for the NPRC. The Bill compels the commission to be accountable to the minister, yet Section 235 of the Constitution is clear that the commission is accountable to Parliament.
The NPRC is one of the five independent commissions established by Chapter 12 of the Constitution, but is the only one with a time frame of 10 years from the date that the Constitution was adopted in 2013.
Mbuso Fuzwayo, the co-ordinator of Ibhetshu Likazulu, said Mnangagwa should either clear his name or resign.
“There are two things we expect him to do, go to court and clear his name, or take responsibility and resign because as the justice minister, it will be difficult for the victims to get justice because of his dual positions that are very strategic to national healing,” he said.
“As long as he does not dispute what Coltart is saying, and does not go to court, he is not fit to be a vice-president
“He must resign for the truth and justice commission to perform its duty properly.”
Mugabe has never apologised for the Gukurahundi massacres, save for describing the period as a “moment of madness.” standard

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Coltart:My Book Is Accurate

resolute...David Coltart
resolute…David Coltart

Politician David Coltart, who is also a veteran lawyer, maintains that he stands by remarks contained in his book regarding what Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa is reported to have said in 1983, when government deployed the North Korean-trained Five Brigade in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.
According to human rights activists, the Zimbabwe army allegedly killed at least 20 000 innocent civilians.
The massacres — commonly referred to as Gukurahundi or “washing away dirt” — have reportedly unsettled the vice-president, who is believed to be harbouring presidential ambitions.
Coltart told Studio 7 that he had carried out thorough research for his autobiography titled The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyrany in Zimbabwe saying he stands by what he wrote.
Coltart has become embroiled in a row with Mnangagwa after it emerged that his recently-published book contains claims that sometime in 1983, Mnangagwa — then Security minister —made statements which encouraged violence against civilians, marking the beginning of what came to be known as Gukurahundi.
Coltart said he had relied on some reports in the state-controlled Chronicle newspaper, which he had believed to be true as Mnangagwa never sued the paper for those remarks.
He said, “The specific comments in the book regarding Vice- President Mnangagwa actually came from The Chronicle reports in 1983, which we had access to. And the assumption has always been that The Chronicle then reported accurately.
“Vice-President Mnangagwa never complained about the Chronicle reports of what he said then, and he never sued them in the past 33 years, so one has to assume that he was correctly reported on. And to that extent, yes, I stand by what is written in the book.”
In a statement, Mnangagwa said he was concerned by remarks in Coltart’s book and that the statements attributed to him were false. He has threatened to sue the senator.
But Coltart has remained steadfast. Asked if he believed that the ordinary majority could still forgive the perpetrators of Gukurahundi given the apparent state intransigence, Coltart — who has in the past urged offenders to apologise for the atrocities — said he believed that the massacres could not be taken in isolation as Zimbabwe has gone through a number of traumatic experiences in the past.
Coltart said he would not be the right person to demand any apology from Gukurahundi perpetrators, but said he believed there was need for truth-telling.
“This is not something that I can say. I was not a victim of Gukurahundi and to that extent, I have no right to demand any apology from Vice-President Mnangagwa. All I have done is represent people; victims of that era. And from my representation of those people, I know that they do want an acknowledgment that what happened in fact happened, and yes, they would like an apology and they would like some form of communal reparation.”
Human rights activist, Mbuso Fuzwayo, said Mnangagwa could have used this opportunity to take responsibility and come clean on his involvement in Gukurahundi atrocities.
Programmes director Tineyi Mukwewa of the Abammeli Human Rights Lawyers said as the issue of Gukurahundi had rarely been discussed openly, Zimbabweans could salvage something positive from the row between Coltart and Mnangagwa to help bring closure to the issue.
“Clearly, Zimbabwe has had no conversation around Gukurahundi, so this is an opportune time where Zimbabwe can, in a structured manner, have a truth telling mechanism where the victims themselves can tell their story and where the accused can also say their side of the story. Zimbabwe needs the National Peace and Reconciliation Bill to come into effect, but the Bill has to speak about truth-telling, so that we find closure in Zimbabwe.”
Participants at a recent meeting on transitional justice said there could only be closure on the thorny Gukurahundi issue if there was telling of the truth and acknowledgment of the atrocities.
The Five Brigade was deployed in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces to quell what the government called a dissident menace caused by some disgruntled former Zipra members, who were unhappy over the way they were left out of the Zimbabwe National Army and other political issues.
A local newspaper posted photographs of articles published in the newspaper in 1983, in which Mnangagwa reportedly compared dissidents to “cockroaches and bugs”.-Standard

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Economy Crashes

The Zimbabwean economy is at a Tipping Point and will be crashing down in a few days’ time following the new indigenization demands by president Robert Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao that any company that fails his Indigenisation Compliance should not open for business on April 1st.
The phenomenon has since been labelled the indigenization Fools Day demand.
As companies were by the state media said to be in a frenzy of activity working around the clock to submit indigenisation and empowerment proposals before the Thursday deadline, it turned out many are in fact waiting to close down in protest.
As the law has been twisted and shifted over several years, investors have reacted negatively against the economy and the recent development analysts say we will see the worst in the decline.
The Indigenisation and Empowerment Act – enacted in 2008 and operationalised on March 1, 2010 – requires foreign-owned companies valued at more than US$500 000 to be at least 51 percent owned by indigenous Zimbabweans.
Last year, Government directed all foreign firms to submit their indigenisation proposals by December 31, 2015, but the deadline was extended to March 31, 2016. Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Patrick Zhuwao last week said any company that failed to submit a proposal would not open for business on April 1.
He indicated that Statutory Instrument 21 of 2010 in fact specified that companies should have submitted their plans by March 1, 2015. Government feels that some companies have been dragging their feet, opting instead to pay the Indigenisation Compliance and Empowerment Levy in the hope that the law would be reviewed.
The government in an apologetic news article claimed that the Empowerment Levy, designed as a disincentive to firms that failed to submit proposals by the deadline, was scrapped last week.
But MDC Spokesman Kurauone Chihwayi said “it is a tragedy that those superintending over this country think it is alright to play Russian roulette with the country and its citizens’ economic welfare by chasing away foreign investors instead of embracing them, at a time the country is in desperate need for foreign direct investment in order to get it back to its feet.
“It makes for tragic reading seeing that this matter is cause for divisions even within ZANU PF itself.
We are not fooled, we are aware that President Mugabe and Zhuwao have run out of ideas on how to loot funds for self -enrichment after exhausting diamond and other public revenue for decades, and now are after fleecing foreign firms through the shoddy implementation of the Indigenisation law. The people of Zimbabwe must not for one moment believe the lie that this is being done with their best interests at heart, in our view it is just a retirement package plan for ZANU PF big chefs who can sense inevitable defeat come 2018, who as usual are not bothered by the catastrophic effects on the ordinary suffering Zimbabweans.”
Meanwhile Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president Mr Davison Norupiri was quoted by the state media saying that that most foreign companies were preparing their proposals before the deadline.
“Quite a number of foreign-owned companies are actually preparing to make their submissions; they are prepared to comply before the deadline. There is no resistance as such but you find that there are some processes; each and every company has its own policies and consultations which have to be made with head offices. So they are consulting. Quite a number of our members had already complied. Remember, deadlines were set before, during Minister Kasukuwere’s time, and our members had already complied. It is only a few who are now working with their foreign offices in order to regularise. So there is no resistance whatsoever, we have not yet received any records of resisting compliance but we have received records of seeking clarification,” said Mr Norupiri.
Similarly, Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe CEO Mr Isaac Kwesu said mining firms would submit proposals as the first stage of complying with Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Regulations.
He noted that the Thursday deadline was not for full compliance but rather for submission of proposals.
“When submitting the proposals, it does not mean the proposals must be accepted. I think there is some misconception around those issues. One can even submit the proposal and say I am not indigenising; it’s a proposal.
I am just quoting the minister’s statement (when he announced the framework); you would have complied with the first stage, so I don’t think this would be a big issue because in the past, most miners submitted their proposals, only that these proposals were being declined or rejected. All they have to do is resubmit because what they submitted in the past expired. . . but I think it’s something that can take a few minutes to come up with a proposal and submit something to say ‘this is what we want to do’. We agree or disagree,” said Mr Kwesu.

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Govt Millions in School Levies Looted

More than US$1,2 billion in development levies is circulating in Government and mission schools and a chunk of it is being abused by heads and bursars, an audit has revealed.
Other alleged culprits dipping into the US$1,2 billion largesse include school development association officials.
Audit reports gleaned by The Sunday Mail show that some school authorities have been duplicating receipt books as cover to lay their hands on development funds.
A school in Chitungwiza, for instance, claimed to have sunk a borehole for US$19 000 – an amount sufficient to drill five boreholes.
Another inflated the cost of refurbishing one of its buses to US$27 000.
A learning institution in Harare allegedly falsified its yearly wage bill, pegging it at US$261 709 and officials pocketed the difference, and gave its annual administrative and tea budgets as US$67 000 and US$5 000 respectively. The SDA “purchased” a bus for US$1800 when the actual cost was no more than US$100 000.
This was also despite a standing Government directive for all schools to buy buses from State Procurement Board- approved dealers.
Yet another school splurged US$44 000 on general repairs, a figure authorities query.
Most culprits have been flouting tender regulations, inflating invoices and quotations, and under receipting and banking.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora told this paper that such flagrant fraud had informed Government’s decision to consider removing cash control from SDAs.
“We know for a fact that more than US$1,2 billion is collected through levies, and if only half of that was used to develop the schools we will be talking of something else.
“We have a backlog of 2 000 schools and are collecting a lot of money. How then do we explain the backlog in infrastructure development? Some schools are overstaffed and these employees earn far more than teachers and heads on civil service salaries. This has become a conduit for corruption.
“There is a disconnect between the levies collected and their use. Most of these schools’ levy collection systems are robust, but when it comes to use, (it’s a different story altogether). What the auditors observed was shocking. It’s clear the situation cannot remain like that.”
Zimbabwe Schools Development Associations secretary-general Mr Everisto Jongwe said it was “an open secret” that some school heads were corrupt.
“It is not a secret that levies are abused. Audits have shown that heads and bursars are implicated. In some cases, we have received reports of headmasters who call for the dissolution of committees that question the way the would have used money, or if they refuse to cooperate with them.
“On that same note, we are not against the dissolution of SDAs, but we need to be consulted so that we can make an input. Parents are important stakeholders in the development of schools and children and should be involved.”
In 2015, Government commissioned an audit into schools’ operations following indications of fraud and abuse of funds.
Comptroller and Auditor-General Ms Mildred Chiri has previously reported on such activities in some Government departments and parastatals, including the education sector.
One case before the courts involves a bursar in Epworth who allegedly connived with the school’s ex-headmistress to steal more than US$8 000.
Another bursar in Westlea, Harare is accused of converting US$30 000 to personal use, while another in Karoi allegedly helped himself to US$39 000.
SDAs are primarily responsible for school development and hiring additional staff were the need arises, and are funded from levies. sunday mail

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Mujuru Orders China to Probe Anjin

Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) leader Joice Mujuru has called for a thorough investigation by the Chinese Communist Party’s graft-busting organ, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, into claims of widespread looting of Marange diamond revenue by Anjin Investments.
Mujuru’s aide, Bright Matonga, told the Daily News yesterday that ZPF would engage the Chinese Embassy in Harare about the issue after President Robert Mugabe recently made the stunning claim that $15 billion had been looted from Chiadzwa under his government’s watch.
Anjin, which is run by Chinese nationals, is a joint venture between the government’s Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and China’s State-owned Anhui Foreign and Economic Construction Company.
Matonga said Mujuru’s quest to get Chinese President Xi Jinping to look into Anjin’s operations was necessitated by the knowledge that the company was co-owned by the Zimbabwe National Army and the Chinese military, as well as the fact that “corruption is not tolerated in the Asian country”.
Xi has in the past few years gone after both high-ranking “tigers” as well as lowly “flies” in his anti-corruption drive in China.
Among the senior Communist Party officials who have fallen following Xi’s campaign include former security chief Zhou Yongkang, one of China’s most powerful politicians of the past decade, who was accused of accepting bribes and leaking State secrets.
“We want to know from the Chinese side if they are going to take action on the company and their nationals who are said to be engaging in corrupt activities this side,” he said.
Matonga also questioned the “mega deals” that were signed by the government and China, saying that ZPF suspected that they were not meant to benefit the country, but a few individuals.
Speaking in a televised interview last month, Mugabe said $15 billion worth of diamonds had been looted over several years by mining companies operating in Marange, one of which is Anjin.
“We have not received much from the diamond industry at all. I don’t think we have exceeded $2 billion, yet we think more than $15 billion has been earned. So, where have our carats been going?” the nonagenarian asked.
However, industry experts doubt the veracity of Mugabe’s figures, with the global diamond industry trading about $13 billion a year, and Zimbabwe not among the biggest producers of uncut diamonds.
They argue that Mugabe could have once again been misled about the real state of affairs in the industry as two years ago, the nonagenarian also publicly accused former ZMDC chairman, Godwills Masimirembwa, of receiving $6 million from Ghanaian investors, but was later forced to make an embarrassing U-turn — admitting that he had been fed wrong information by his aides.
According to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), global rough diamond sales have averaged $12,6 billion a year in the last decade, with Zimbabwe’s declared rough diamond output averaging a miserly $266 million per year.
It remains to be seen how the already brooding Chinese will react to Mujuru’s move, as they have since warned Zimbabwe to beware after the government ill-advisedly moved to seize all the diamond mining claims in Chiadzwa, including those in which Chinese companies have interests.
The Asian powerhouse, which has been one of the few major economies that have kept their relations with Harare warm over the past 16 years of political and economic turmoil here, told the Daily News after the government’s controversial decision was announced that Zimbabwe must respect property rights.
“We hope that the Zimbabwean side would earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights of the Chinese companies and employees, according to the local laws and the ‘Agreement on the encouragement and reciprocal protection of investments between China and Zimbabwe,” Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping said in a terse email response to questions.
“The Chinese side is willing to enhance communication and negotiation with the Zimbabwean side, and together create a conducive environment for companies from both sides to conduct mutually-beneficial cooperation,” Ping added. Daily News

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Zim Man Rots In Botswana Prison

Acting Justice Jennifer Dube has denied a Zimbabwean man bail in a case in which he, together with two others, are charged with robbery and murder of a 17-year-old Nigerian and University of Botswana student in 2014 in Gaborone.
The trio, Tawanda Makufara (33) of White City, Augustine Tembo (31) of Kuwadzana, Harare, Zimbabwe and Trevour Vandirayi (36) of Masvingo village in Zimabwe, are alleged to have on August 5, 2014 stabbed Elisha Eyitato with a sharp object before charging at his father at Village (Gaborone) in a violent robbery that took place at the deceased’s house. Vandarayi was granted P40,000 bail two weeks ago.
Arguing his bail application, Makufara told the court that he had stayed long in prison. Makufara further said he had nothing to do with the incident.
“I have stayed long in prison and it is now 14 months and I plead with the court to grant me bail. I have Batswana sureties who can sign for my bail. I have only been included in this case because my simcard was found in the first accused person’s phone which I borrowed from him. He has agreed that the phone is his.
I plead with the court to grant me bail since I don’t know anything about the alleged offence and when we look at the charge sheet, there are only three people involved but five people are in prison,” Makufara said. Gorata Mokgacha of Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) opposed the applicant’s bail bid arguing that the accused may abscond due to the nature of the offence and the evidence attached. Mokgacha further said the applicant was found in possession of the deceased’s phone seven hours and 58 minutes after the offence was committed.
“We are opposed to this bail application because the applicant is not a suitable candidate for
bail. He poses a flight risk and he has no legal travel documents. At the time of his arrest, the investigating officer realised that the particulars of the applicant were attached to the passport using an adhesive which purports that the passport has been forged.
“The accused entered Botswana on March 2, 2013 using an emergency travelling document. A man of reasonable thinking will abscond looking at the nature of the offence and evidence attached. When the offence was committed, the accused person was an illegal immigrant. The applicant was found in possession of the deceased phone seven hours 58 minutes after the offence was committed but he failed to give reasons as to how he came into possession of such,” Mokgacha said.
Makufara however contested fabricating his passport. He further said he has a Motswana girlfriend who will take care of him if given bail.
“That passport wholly belongs to me. I don’t have assets in Botswana but the people who take care of me have them and will take care of me. I also have a girlfriend, the mother of my children who is a Motswana and the owner of the house we are renting. I was denied bail since the judge told me investigations are underway now they are over and I plead with the court to grant me bail.
“One of the accused person was given bail by the same court on 14th March this year. I pray that the conditions be the same as those of the other accused person,” Makufara said. Dube denied the accused person bail. Mmegi

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War Veterans Release Full Grace Mugabe Mox

moxicated...Grace Mugabe
moxicated…Grace Mugabe

By Terrence Mawawa|War veterans here have issued their first Grace Mugabe mox.
The ex fighters blast into the open their sudden statement fully throwing their weight behind First Lady Grace Mugabe and the First Family.
The same Masvingo chapter war vets some who were seen spreading CIO documented rumours of the First Lady’s alleged immoral acts, this week made a major ideological climbdown and released a full statement heaping praises on the first family.
The turnaround reflects the G40 faction’s secret manoeuvres to take firm control of political affairs in the volatile province, analysts said.
It is understood Mrs Mugabe is now firmly in control of party structures and her blue-eyed apologist Saviour Kasukuwere will be in Masvingo next week-ostensibly to finish off perceived G40 foes.
In the statement released last week the war veterans said:” As War veterans of Masvingo we distance ourselves from what Black Jesus said in respect of the First Family. We disassociate ourselves from the meeting by Chinooneka(a Team Lacoste member), his executive and suspended Zanu PF Provincial chairperson(Ezra) Chadzamira. We the war veterans of Masvingo Province rally behind His Excellency and the First Family. Other war veterans regret that Chinooneka organised some of the former freedom fighters to demonstrate against His Excellency and the First Lady.”
The statement was endorsed by war veterans Kudakwashe Dzoro, Junior Mazvihwa, Benjamin Mazarire, Isaiah Muzenda,Mersias Nhubu, B Kubvoruno and P Mugari respectively.

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Google planned to help Syrian rebels bring down Assad regime, leaked Clinton emails claim

clinton
Independent(UK)|One of Google’s interactive tools was reportedly meant to encourage defections from the Assad government, emails leaked by WikiLeaks have alleged.
An interactive tool created by Google was designed to encourage Syrian rebels and help bring down the Assad regime, Hillary Clinton’s leaked emails have reportedly revealed.
By tracking and mapping defections within the Syrian leadership, it was reportedly designed to encourage more people to defect and ‘give confidence’ to the rebel opposition.
It was allegedly described as a “pretty cool idea” by senior Clinton adviser Jake Sullivan, and Google said it had enlisted the help of Al Jazeera to broadcast the tool in Syria.
Thousands of Clinton’s personal emails have been published and indexed by WikiLeaks, and some reveal interesting details about the relationship between the State Department and major corporations.
The email detailing Google’s defection tracker purportedly came from Jared Cohen, a Clinton advisor until 2010 and now-President of Jigsaw, formerly known as Google Ideas, the company’s New York-based policy think tank.
In a July 2012 email to members of Clinton’s team, which the WikiLeaks release alleges was later forwarded to the Secretary of State herself, Cohen reportedly said: “My team is planning to launch a tool on Sunday that will publicly track and map the defections in Syria and which parts of the government they are coming from.”
“Our logic behind this is that while many people are tracking the atrocities, nobody is visually representing and mapping the defections, which we believe are important in encouraging more to defect and giving confidence to the opposition.”
The email said Google would be “partnering with Al Jazeera” who would take “primary ownership” of the tool, maintaining it and publicising it in Syria.
Cohen asked the Clinton team to tell him if there was anything the company needed to think about before launching the tool, before adding: “We believe this can have an important impact.”
The visualisation was eventually published by Al Jazeera in English and Arabic, and Jigsaw’s website claims it became one of the site’s most-viewed visualisations.
A post about the tool on the site claims it successfully showed “patterns and trends” in support for the regime, but makes no mention of encouraging defectors or helping the opposition.
WikiLeaks has previously been responsible for publicising links between Google and high-ranking State Department officials, and founder Julian Assange’s 2014 book When Google Met WikiLeaks accused the company of helping to further the US government’s foreign policy agenda.
As the Daily Mail points out, the news comes as Google reveals its plans to expand internet access in Cuba, in an announcement timed to coincide with Barack Obama’s historic visit to the island.
Clinton’s thoughts on Google’s plan were not revealed in the WikiLeaks release, but she reportedly instructed an aide to print out Cohen’s email for later reference.
Google did not provide a comment. – Independent

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Man Rapes 16Yr Old Daughter

girl-raped
A RUSAPE man Marevasei Marume (38) raped and impregnated his 16-year-old step daughter.
Marume Mahere Village, Mayo will now spend 15 years behind bars after Rusape regional magistrate, Mr Livingstone Chipadza suspended three years on condition of good behaviour.
Marume was denying the offence, saying the girl’s biological father had influenced her to cook up the allegations since he was bitter that he had married his former wife.
Rusape Area prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, told the court that Marume raped the girl in full view of her three siblings. He added that when the girl’s mother confronted him over the rape he thrashed her leading to her losing two teeth.
“On an unknown date, but during the month of July 2015 at around 7pm, the complainant was sent by her mother to sleep at the accused’s homestead as they were attending a funeral in the same village.
“Around midnight, Marume returned to his homestead and entered into the sitting room where the complainant was sleeping with her three siblings aged five, nine and 13.
“Marume entered into the blankets where the four were sleeping. When the complainant asked him what he was doing in their blankets, he said he was covering her young sister with a blanket. Marume then proceeded to rape the complainant. He told her that he had the right to do so because he bought had bought her some panties.
“The 13-year-old son asked what Marume was doing, but he did not respond. He threatened the complainant with unspecified actions if she ever revealed the abuse to anyone.
“The following morning, the complainant’s mother returned from the funeral and the girl told her what had happened. The complainant’s mother asked the accused about the case and he became violent. He assaulted her, resulting in her losing her two front teeth,” said Mr Mutyasira.
The matter was only reported to the police in November after the complainant’s employer noticed that she was pregnant.
When she asked her, she was told that she was raped by her step-father.
A report was made to the police leading to Marume’s arrest.-ManicaPost

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IN PICTURES: “Flying Horses” in Clouds Seen in Gweru

EDITORIAL MODERATOR’S NOTE: Readers are advised that the below report has not been factually corroborated and at the time of printing there were several varying accounts on the same event.

Dear Editor.
Yesterday afternoon we had a strange happening- clouds above Ascot stadium in Gweru, Zimbabwe. This can only be a sign of the times, heavenly horses with their riders!
In Christ,
Hleko Vuma.

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Tsvangirai rel’ Beds 15 Schoolgirls

By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo|A Tsvangirai relative, Rayson Tsvangirai, a teacher charged for allegedly sleeping with 15 schoolgirls in Beitbridge, has been released from custody because the Constitutional Court ruling that outlaws child marriages has not yet been gazetted.
Rayson Tsvangirai is a teacher at Vhembe Secondary School in Beitbridge.
After Mr. Tsvangirai’s release from custody, local parents whose children he allegedly slept with, impregnating some of them, approached the Beitbridge courts seeking to have him charged under the new law.
It is alleged Tsvangirai used his niece from the same school as a conduit to lure the unsuspecting schoolgirls. He would allegedly give them intoxicating drugs before sexually feasting on the hapless girls.
It is further alleged he exhibited ruthless and unusual sexual appetite throughout the night on his victims on separate occasions.
A prosecutor at Beitbridge court said:”We had to refer the matter back to the police because the new law is yet to be gazetted. As such, we have no statutory instrument provision for the issue.”
Local parents are now pushing for the prosecution and subsequent dismissal of Tsvangirai from the school.
The local community has also castigated the teacher’s alleged paedophilic behaviour calling for a stiff sentence to be passed on him.

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LATEST ON: 62 Pupils Escape Deadly Fire

The below is the latest update from the raging inferno which torched Mukaro Girls College last week:
By Terrence Mawawa, Gutu| At least 62 form two pupils at Roman Catholic owned Mukaro Girls’ High School, 20 km from Mupandawana town, escaped death by a whisker when a raging inferno torched down their hostels.
The pupils were in St Joseph 1 and 2 hostels when the inferno razed the complex, destroying all their belongings in the process.Two upper six students in an adjacent room also lost their belongings. The incident happened last Monday around midnight.
The school head Acquainos Mazhunga confirmed the unfortunate incident saying the school immediately assisted the affected pupils by buying them uniforms. He told ZimEye.com the pupils lost everything except the night dresses they were wearing.
Mazhunga said the fire was caused by a candle that was left burning by a pupil who did not blow it off before before retiring to bed.He added the fire was eventually extinguished by a Fire Brigade team from Mupandawana.
“It is a huge catastrophe for the pupils and the school. The children were left with nothing, “said Mazhunga.
Gutu District Education Officer Christian Chirikure said: “Everything belonging to the pupils was gutted by the fire.”
The development has seen the school being questioned on its preparedness for fires as it allegedly does not have basic fire extinguishing equipment. Parents are fuming demanding answers charging that the head at the boarding school is neither qualified nor trained for the job.

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60 Zimbabweans to Meet Obama

tmp_19996-APPLY-657992403SIXTY Zimbabwean youth leaders are set to visit the United states of America this June for a for a six-week leadership training course sponsored by the White House.
The course also covers academic coursework and mentoring. In the US, the group will be among 1 000 youths invited to participate in President Obama’s Mandela Washington Fellowship Programme for Young African Leaders.
The participants, according to the United States embassy in Harare, were chosen through a highly competitive application process with more than 1 600 candidates who submitted applications for selection for the programme.
The final list has 31 males and 29 females. Of the group, 19 participants are resident outside Harare, and three are young leaders with disabilities.
“President Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative is a part of the commitment of the United States to invest in the future of Africa,” said the US embassy in a statement on Thursday.
“The White House created this initiative out of the recognition of the critical and increasing role that young Africans play in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security on the continent.”
The Zimbabwean contingent will be among a group travelling from across Africa for a program designed to hone the skills they need to serve their communities.
Each fellow will be placed at a US university to concentrate in one of three tracks: business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management. Fellows will also have opportunities to meet with US government, civic, and business leaders.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders started in 2014. Since then, 60 Zimbabwean young leaders from diverse sectors, including business, civil society and the media, have participated in the programme.
Upon returning to Zimbabwe, the fellows continue to build the skills they developed during their time in the United States through support from the Embassy; the Regional Leadership Center in South Africa, and the YALI Network.
Through these experiences, Mandela Washington Fellows have access to ongoing professional development opportunities, mentoring, networking and training, and competitive seed funding to support their ideas, businesses, and organisations. RADIOVOP

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Nurse Sodomises Hospital Patient

A MIDDLE aged nurse at Mutare Provincial Hospital allegedly offered accommodation in a hospital ward to a man who had escorted a patient before he joined the latter in bed in a nasty case of aggravated indecent assault that occurred recently.
The incident, which has sent tongues wagging at the provincial referral medical institution, saw a male nurse, Norest Makanga, offering accommodation to a middle aged man who had accompanied a patient to the hospital for treatment.
Apparently, the patient’s escort had travelled a relatively long distance to Mutare Provincial Hospital and could not find transport back home in time, hence the need to seek accommodation for the night at the hospital.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, confirmed that a report was made to the police post at the hospital and investigations were in progress.
“Yes, a report was made to the police post at the hospital and investigations are still in progress. We are hoping to have the matter finalised soon,” said Insp Kakohwa.
However, reliable sources at the provincial referral health institution said that investigations were carried out soon after the incident, revealing substantial evidence that Makanga had a case to answer.
Makanga is understood to have since been moved from the casualty ward to the CSSD department where he would not be dealing with patients anymore.
When contacted for comment recently, Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Dr Patron Mafaune, referred this reporter to the public relations department.
“I cannot comment on that case. I think you just have to contact the public relations guys. They will be in a position to give you a detailed comment,” she said before refuting to entertain any more questions.
Sources said that this was not the first time that the nurse had been linked to cases of a similar nature.
“As we speak there is a board of inquiry sitting over the issue. Apparently this is not the first time that Norest Makanga has been linked to cases of similar nature.
“He had been lucky that there was not much evidence in the past, but it appears there is overwhelming evidence this time around,” said a Mutare Provincial Hospital senior staffer who cannot be named for professional reasons.
Efforts to get a comment from Makanga were fruitless. Manica Post

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Maid Caught Raping Blind Toddler Boy (4)

A Chiredzi maid who raped her employer’s four-year-old son has escaped jail.
The 17-year-old girl was found guilty and sentenced to a wholly suspended five-year imprisonment term. The teenage girl who was a maid in Tshovani Township in Chiredzi appeared before Regional Magistrate Judith Zuyu last week facing charges of raping a minor, taking advantage of his visual impairment.
The girl is said to have worked for the complainant’s mother for five years until the day she was found on top of the minor by his mother.
It is the State case that on an unknown date but in the month of September 2015, the mother of the minor decided to go home early. It was upon her arrival that she found her maid right on top of the minor.
The accused, however, told Magistrate Zuyu that she did not commit the crime. She said her employer arrived at the house when she was changing the boy’s pants and had already put the pants outside the room.
She claimed that the story was framed because she was demanding her wages from her boss. However, evidence was produced to show that there was indeed penetration. The accused was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison wholly suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar crime in the next three years. Mirror

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WARNING DISTURBING PICTURES: Mukaro Girls College Torched Down


Dear Editor-
We are still waiting for an explanation of the fire incident at Mukaro Girls college (Gutu) last week.
On 15 March 2015 we woke up with horror pictures of a burnt girls dormitory circulating.
We have waited for an official explanation through the week but the silence is deafening. Neither the Ministry of Education nor the Roman Catholic church as the responsible authority have said anything.
Has there been any police investigation? Rumour has it that the fire started from under the bed of one of the students.
When I went to the school I established that there are no electrical sockets in the said hostel. Is it possible that a Form 2 girl could have been using a candle to read at 12 midnight?
If so does the school allow or at least check the pupils’ bags upon entry? Were the pupils who first saw the fire interviewed by the police or school authorities? What is their story? As a parent I got the impression that the pupils are overcrowded.
Is there a standard carrying capacity of dormitories prescribed by the responsible ministry? Does the school have any fire fighting equipment? Are the children aware of how to react to such a disaster? The concern even goes to the qualifications of the boarding mistress. Is she trained?
Does she know how to handle a fire outbreak? Does the school have any insurance against such eventualities? While we thank God that there were no casualties (if that’s the truth), this incident cannot just be forgotten without addressing the above concerns. In normal set-up a Commission of Inquiry would have been set up and its findings made public. Least we forget this is the same school from where pupils marched 25 km to the DEO to protest against the water situation and other problems not so long ago.

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LIVE UPDATE – Zimbabwe 1-1 Swaziland

williard katsande
Swaziland takes on South Africa’s neigbours Zimbabwe at the Somhlolo stadium.

– full time: Zimbabwe 1-1 Swaziland

– 90′ 4 minutes of added time will be played
– 88′ Mkuruva makes a top class save to deny Sibanze
– 83′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 81′ Mkuruva spills the ball but manages to recover quickly
– 80′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 78′ disappointing free kick from Swaziland
– 77′ free kick to Swaziland outside the penalty box, Phiri is booked for committing the foul
– 72′ Billiat’s free kick shot is straight at Gwebu
– 71′ free kick to Zimbabwe outside the penalty box
– 70′ Zimbabwe knocking the ball around looking for an opening
– 66′ Mkuruva clashes with a striker and needs medical treatment
– 64′ Mkuruva beats Mkhontfo to the ball
– 61′ offside call goes against Zimbabwe
– 59′ wild shot from Malajila goes over the goal posts
– 57′ Swaziland lose the ball in the middle of the field
– 56′ Zimbabwe gives the ball away in the final third as Rusike fails to anticipate Billat’s run
52′ Nhaimoinesu receives medical treatment
– 50′ comfortable save from Mkuruva
– 47′ goal-line clearance from Swaziland
– 46′ Musona’s curling shot forces a great save out of Gwebu, corner
– second half is underway
– half time. Zimbabwe 1-1 Swaziland
– 45′ 2 minutes of added time will be played
– 44′ Swaziland scores an own goal as they try to clear Musona’s corner kick cross. Zimbabwe 1-1 Swaziland
– 43′ free kick to Zimbabwe in the middle of the field
– 41′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 38′ Swaziland on the attack, they give away possession in the final third
– 36′ Gwebu makes a save from Bhasera’s strike
– 35′ Musona gets a free kick on the edge of the penalty box
– 32′ Yril Lukhele wins a free kick for Swaziland in the middle of the field
– 29′ keeper Bongani Gwebu needs medical treatment after clashing with Nhaimoinesu
– 28′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– WATER BREAK
– 25′ Musona’s free kick shot goes over the goal posts
– 24′ offside call goes against Swaziland
– 23′ Mkuruva spills the ball but recovers quickly
– 21′ Swaziland in search of a goal as Zimbabwe’s Chipeta clears in the box
– 17′ goal kick to Zimbabwe after Swaziland turned over possession
– 16′ Musona’s shot at goal is blocked
– 15′ Zimbabwe on an all out attack at the moment, corner to them
– 13′ Musona gets a corner for Zimbabwe, ball goes out for a second corner
– 12′ goal kick to Zimbabwe
– 9′ both teams fighting for the ball in midfield
– 6′ Mkuruva sents the ball out
– 4′ Mathew Rusike put the ball over the goal posts
– 3′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 2′ Swaziland scores. Zimbabwe 0-1 Swaziland
– 1′ early corner for Swaziland as Katsande clears the ball
– kickoff! The game is underway
Both teams have collected four points in Group L with Swaziland in first place and Zimbabwe in second respectively.
Starting XI
Zimbabwe: Tatenda Mkuruva, Onismo Bhasera, Mathew Rusike, Willard Katsande, Khama Billiat, Cuthbert Malajila, Eric Chipeta, Knowledge Musona, Costa Nhaimoinesu, Danny Phiri
Swaziland: Bongani Gwebu, Cyril Lukhele, Njabulo Ndlovu, Siyabonga Mdluli

 – citizen.co.za

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G-40 To Die In April-War Vets

Former liberation war fighters say they are going to challenge President Robert Mugabe to destroy his wife  Grace’s G-40 faction on their meeting with the aging leader  early next month.
Newsday reports that Victor Matemadanda, the National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary-general told war veterans in Kwekwe that G-40 which he said was working with some senior police officer  will be a thing of the past, come 7 April when they are meeting Mugabe.
Matemadanda accused G-40 of using the police to attack them his members.
“Those who served in the Smith regime (mapuruveya), who are now bosses in the ZRP, are now causing us problems. They are the ones who were behind the attack on war veterans in Harare and have been trying to block party meetings,” he charged.
He also said the current wave of confusion in the party was being caused by people feigning love for Mugabe, while clandestinely campaigning for former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First opposition project.
The Kwekwe meeting was held in defiance of a directive by Zanu PF national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere barring all party meetings until restoration of normalcy in the province.
Kasukuwere acknowledged imposing the ban, saying: “The meeting (yesterday’s), I do not know about it. Thank you for letting me know.”
Matemadanda singled out provincial secretary for administration Tapiwa Matangaidze, youth representative Anastancia Ndlovu and provincial commissar Makhosini Hlongwane for allegedly sowing divisions in the party.
Midlands spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri said yesterday’s meeting was not a rally, but a consultative gathering which was on the calendar of the provincial commissariat.
Yesterday, party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said he was not sure if the Midlands provincial leadership had defied Kasukuwere or had been given permission to proceed with their meeting.
“From what I read in the papers, the Midlands leadership said it has been having a series of meetings and the Kwekwe meeting was the last one. They could have got permission from the commissariat to do the last meeting. I, therefore, cannot call it defiance,” Khaya Moyo said.

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Mnangagwa’s China Trip Angers Mugabe

MNANGAGWA
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe is reportedly angry with Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa over his trip to China last year in which his deputy came out of high-level meetings acting like someone who has embraced Beijing’s push for leadership renewal in Harare and trying to sound like renowned reformist Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.
At the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Mnangagwa visited Beijing from July 6 to 10 2015. During his five-day visit, he met business leaders as well as a number of senior ruling party and government officials, including Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao.
Mnangagwa and Yuanchao held closed-door meetings together with CPC officials. The visit, which followed Mugabe’s trip to Beijing in August 2014, was officially said to be designed to “promote political trust and pragmatic co-operation”.
However, diplomatic sources say it ended up generating further political distrust for Mnangagwa from Mugabe who was not happy with what transpired and his deputy’s Deng-like posture afterwards. The late Deng, who took over after Mao Zedong in 1978 until his retirement in 1992, is the architect of China’s far-reaching market economy reforms and prosperity.
Straight-talking Chinese leaders reportedly gave Mnangagwa a sobering reality check when he From Page 1
was in Beijing by raising several critical issues that Mugabe and his government usually feel uncomfortable dealing with.
While moving to ring-fence their growing investment portfolios and future prospects by inviting and engaging the establishment’s preferred successor to Mugabe — Mnangagwa — the Chinese raised a number of concerns on Zimbabwe.
Some of the issues were later expressed by the vice-president in an interview with China’s CCTV.
In the interview with CCTV, Mnangawga said Zimbabwe had fallen far behind other countries in development. He said the government needed to swallow its pride and literally “bite the bullet” by reviewing some controversial economic policies to attract foreign investment.
He also said there was need for reforms “to bring Zimbabwe back to the table of nations”.
“We have to see how we can create an investment environment which will attract the flow of capital. These are the tasks we face and we have to look at even legislation and our social systems need to be reformed in order to catch up with current global trends,” Mnangagwa said.
“So we are looking at the reform measures that China has gone through to help us move forward…
“You cannot say there are areas of our economy which we are happy with, infrastructure we are behind by 15-16 years, agricultural development the same, manufacturing; in fact capacity utilisation in some areas of our industry is down to 20%, so again, we have to retool by acquiring new machinery, technology and machinery so that we are competitive.”
While Mnangagwa’s assertions were viewed as progressive by many Zimbabweans, diplomats and government officials say Mugabe and his close courtiers, especially Zanu PF leaders grouped around his wife Grace, saw them as an attempt to push for leadership renewal using the Chinese while also projecting himself as a viable successor in the Deng mould.
Mugabe, government officials say, also saw Mnangagwa’s remarks as an attack on his leadership and policies, particularly the Look East policy.
“The President was not happy with what Mnangagwa said while he was in China last year,” a senior government official said. “This was also clear during the visit to Harare by (Chinese leader Xi) Jinping last December. So many things were discussed during Xi’s visit. That is why the President said what he said in Bindura last Friday.”
Addressing a rally in Bindura last Friday, Mugabe said some Zanu PF leaders were trying to influence the Chinese to help them in their succession bids, in remarks widely seen as targeted at Mnangagwa.
“Saka ndipo patava kusiyana navamwe ipapa vanobva vaenda mberi mberi nekumaChina kuti takuda president mutsva (That is the main cause of our differences, as some are pushing further to the extent of approaching the Chinese telling them they now want a new leader),” he said.
Mugabe said such plots and agendas were being driven by ambitious party bigwigs who were eyeing senior positions, including the presidency — adding that he was willing to step down if voted out procedurally at congress.
Mugabe made the remarks after Mashonaland Central chairman Dickson Mafios had complained the Chinese were meddling in Zanu PF succession politics in the province.
“Tichavadzvanya mukaona vakuchema chema (We are going to deal with them),” he said.
A top government official said Mugabe exchanged notes with Xi over Mnangagwa’s succession manoeuvres last December, fuelling his long-standing suspicions and hostility towards his ambitious deputy.
The official said Xi, who prefers the Chinese-speaking Grace, is sympathetic to Mugabe, although he believes in leadership renewal and the need for change in Zimbabwe, while Mnangagwa was associated with Xi’s predecessor, Hu Jintao. Xi succeeded Hu in 2012.
Hu’s good relationship with Mnangagwa was partly because the VP received military training in China in the 1960s and also as a result of the role played Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to China between 2002 and 2006, Christopher Mutsvangwa. Mutsvangwa is a close Mnangagwa ally.
Sources say the Chinese no longer want Mnangagwa, but whoever Mugabe prefers.
High-ranking Zimbabwean officials, from Mnangagwa to Zanu PF provincial leaders, have been to China on various exchange programmes during which they were openly advised to embrace leadership renewal and change.
In 2012, Zanu PF provincial chairpersons visited China for ideological orientation and mass mobilisation training from the CPC ahead of the 2013 general elections.
Chinese officials told them Zanu PF should embrace change or die, something Mnangagwa seems amenable to while Mugabe is hostile to it.
In an interview to mark his 92nd birthday, Mugabe angrily took a swipe at those plotting to succeed him.
“In a democratic party you don’t want leaders appointed that way to lead the party. Saka vaye vanoti pinda iwe ndogozopindawo, kuzvinyepera (those — apparently Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Constantine Chiwenga) who say rule then I will rule after you are misleading each other). It doesn’t matter who.” independent

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$15Billion TRAIL: Zhuwao Money Chest

FINGERED...Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Patrick Zhuwao (left) and his personal assistant
FINGERED…Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Patrick Zhuwao (left) and his personal assistant

President Robert Mugabe’s nephew who is the Minister of Indigenisation Patrick Zhuwao, is the first port in the trail leading to the missing $15billion.
MDC National Spokesman Kurauone Chihwayi writes fingering both Zhuwao and his uncle who have since turned their alleged looting hands to foreign companies, threatened with closure on April 1st next week.
Writes Chihwai:
Kurauone Chihwayi
Kurauone Chihwayi

Evidently for President Mugabe and his niece Patrick Zhuwao, it is not enough that tens of thousands of workers lost their jobs during the government sponsored job termination tsunami last year, hence thousands more must lose their jobs through the forced closure of foreign owned companies which fail to comply with indigenisation laws by the 31st of March, before they are satisfied. We are witnessing sadism at its best.
It is a tragedy that those superintending over this country think it is alright to play Russian roulette with the country and its citizens’ economic welfare by chasing away foreign investors instead of embracing them, at a time the country is in desperate need for foreign direct investment in order to get it back to its feet. It makes for tragic reading seeing that this matter is cause for divisions even within ZANU PF itself.
We are not fooled, we are aware that President Mugabe and Zhuwao have run out of ideas on how to loot funds for self -enrichment after exhausting diamond and other public revenue for decades, and now are after fleecing foreign firms through the shoddy implementation of the Indigenisation law. The people of Zimbabwe must not for one moment believe the lie that this is being done with their best interests at heart, in our view it is just a retirement package plan for ZANU PF big chefs who can sense inevitable defeat come 2018, who as usual are not bothered by the catastrophic effects on the ordinary suffering Zimbabweans.
Kurauone Chihwayi
MDC National Spokesperson

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Mnangagwa Aides Defy Kasukuwere Ban

Suspended Emmerson Mnangagwa faithfuls, Zanu-PF Midlands deputy provincial chairperson Daniel McKenzie Ncube yesterday convened a meeting in Kwekwe, defying an order by the party to halt all provincial meetings and party programmes.
On Wednesday, the party’s national Political Commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, suspended all party meetings and programmes in the Midlands Province citing unprecedented levels of indiscipline by party members.
Kasukuwere gave a stern warning to alleged divisive elements creating parallel structures saying those found in the wrong would be dealt with accordingly.
In a letter addressed to Zanu-PF secretary for education in the Politburo, Jorum Gumbo, and copied to secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo and the acting Midlands provincial chairperson, Tapiwanashe Mashingaidze dated March 22, Kasukuwere said meetings would only commence after order had been restored in the province.
However, Ncube called a meeting that was held at Kwekwe Sports Club and attended by party members who were said to be representing the Main Wing, Youth Wing and Women’s league.
The guest of honour at the meeting was the secretary general of the Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association, Victor Matemadanda who used the platform to attack the police whom he accused of failing to protect the interests of the people.
“We’ve sell-outs that were integrated into the police force and now they’re not discharging their duty well,” he said.
Matemadanda also attacked Kasukuwere for suspending party meetings in the province and alleged that the ban was the work of people with an agenda to destroy Zanu-PF from within.
He said war veterans and the Midlands Province were fully behind President Robert Mugabe and his family. “One can’t love the President and despise his family. We’re fully behind him since he’s the centre of power. It’s unfortunate that we’ve people who have access to the First Family and lie about us and say we don’t want him and Grace Mugabe. Even in a family, one can’t love his father and despise his mother. It doesn’t work like that,” Matemadanda said.
He said President Mugabe was going to rule the country as long as he was alive.
Last week, Matemadanda was accused by a Gokwe war veteran Stephen Moyo of assaulting him.
Moyo alleged that he was attacked for allegedly rallying behind the First Lady.
Midlands provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri said they were not defying any order since they only learnt about the suspension of party meetings and programmes in the press.
He said they were only doing out-reach programmes to increase the number of supporters in the province.
“We learnt about the suspension from the press. This means that we are not going to hold any more meetings as we wait for the party to give us a direction to take. We are fully behind the party and won’t go sideways,” he said.
Kasukuwere was not immediately reachable last night.-State Media

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Mpilo Hospital Hit By Shortage Of Doctors

Bulawayo’s largest referral hospital Mpilo, has closed its outpatients department due shortage of staff as the wrangle between junior doctors and the Ministry of Health and Child Care continues.
The Health Service Board  wanted the junior doctors to be hired as contract workers but they have refused to sign the agreement. The doctors have petitioned the Health Service Board (HSB) to reverse the decision and stood their ground that they will not to go to work until the issue is resolved.
Due to the shortage, Mpilo Central hospital is forced to attend only to “critical cases”. The hospital caters mainly for the southern region which covers Bulawayo, Midlands, Masvingo, Matabeleland North and South provinces.
In a memo dated March 22 signed by the head of medicine, Dr M Ngwenya titled “Non Resumption of Duty by JRMO”, the department notified other departments of the closure of the outpatients department.
JRMOs are junior resident medical officers who are first year doctors covering medicine and surgery.
“I believe you’re aware of the ongoing impasse between the Health Services Board and the new crop of JRMOs over their contracts. The new doctors are supposed to have resumed their duties by now. The department of medicine has been affected by this and is left with no JRMOs since the current crop graduated to be SRMOs (second year doctors).
“This development has affected service delivery in the department. I’ve communicated this to the chief executive officer and clinical director who then sent communication that the HSB is working to resolve this issue as soon as they possibly can.”
Wrote Dr Ngwenya: “While this is happening we’ve taken the following measures as a department, MOPD (Medical outpatient department) will remain closed with immediate effect until the situation is resolved.
“Only critical and dire emergencies will be attended to and admitted by our HMOs who have been working flat out during this time”.
Sources at the hospital said the closure of the outpatients department could affect particularly patients with chronic ailments and referrals from other provinces.
“Outpatients are not really sick people but those with minor ailments that are treated and go back home but those with chronic ailments such as diabetes will be coming to refill their tablets and there will be no one to attend to them,” said the sources.
“A patient who is referred from Tsholotsho or Hwange and isn’t deemed critical has to return home because the hospital will only be treating critical patients. That’s a crisis on its own, sometimes these people will be needing care but they will not be treated.”
Mpilo Hospital Clinical Director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya confirmed the development but played down the effects of the strike.
“We had one doctor in the outpatients department and he said he was overwhelmed and we had to close the department but all other departments are working.
“It’s not a very big crisis, those with minor ailments can go to casualty and go home afterwards. Those that are very sick will be taken to the wards,” he said.
Dr Ngwenya said the crisis is countrywide as the junior doctors have refused to sign contracts.
“They just need to sign the contracts, government is waiting for them to sign and start working,” he said. –  state media

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Khupe Replaces Tsvangirai – AUDIO Hlalo

taken over from Tsvangirai?
taken over from Tsvangirai?

By Chrispen Tabvura| MDC-T Deputy President Thokozani Khupe has effectively taken over from leader Morgan Tsvangirai, the suspended Bulawayo Senator Matson Hlalo has said.
Hlalo saying Khupe daily replaces Tsvangirai in all the day to day running of the party, castigated the leadership for allegedly destroying the once strongest of all opposition parties.
In an interview with ZimEye.com this week, Hlalo pointed his guns at Khupe and those he labeled the Mafikizolos, meaning the chancers (Opportunists), who he said have caused the mess.
Hlalo said Tsvangirai has been replaced by Khupe. He told ZimEye.com “…it’s now in the open that the person who runs the party is Thokozani Khupe.”
Hlalo also said he will abide by the court ruling, to remain in the Senatorial position.
FULL AUDIO BELOW


Senator Matson Hlalo interview by Chrispen Tabvura

Editing by Simbarashe Chikanza  

 

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Mahofa Bounces Back Praising Grace Mugabe

By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Following a lengthy absence from public activities,Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mafoha has finally resurfaced.
Minister Mahofa stunned party members when she praised First Lady Grace Mugabe during a Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting held at Victoria Primary School on Sunday. Mahofa, who before falling ill last year, openly attacked Mrs Mugabe saying she would never replace her nonagenarian husband, President Robert Mugabe, stunned all and sundry when she spoke glowingly about the controversial First Lady.
Many view Mahofa’s climbdown as a result of the trauma she experienced following a suspected case of food poisoning at the December Zanu PF conference.
The visibly ill Mahofa, who had to address the meeting while seated, said Mrs Mugabe was a hard working woman who cared for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe-including Masvingo Province. “I am glad because I am now back at work. I want to thank President Robert Mugabe and the First Lady for helping me during difficult times. I wish to thank the First Lady for donating food to the drought prone Chivi district,” said Mahofa.
Mahofa also said she hoped Mrs Mugabe would continue to bail out the needy in the community.
The Minister who once boldly declared Grace was day-dreaming about her presidential aspirations, has made a complete about turn. Political analysts say Mahofa’s shift indicates the demise of the Team Lacoste (Mnangagwa faction) in the province.

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Botswana to Shoot Dead All Zimbabwean Cattle

catt
THE Botswana government has imposed a shoot to kill order on Zimbabwean cattle that stray across the border as a way of tightening disease control, especially Food and Mouth Disease, which frequently breaks out along the border.
Mmegi quoted Agriculture Minister, Patrick Ralotsia, Wednesday confirming the latest developments, saying the new policy would go into effect in the next three months.
He said communication of the policy was ongoing to the Botswana Defence Force, police, wildlife officers and others involved in enforcement.
“In fact, had it not been their (Zimbabwe) request for a three month grace period, we would have already started this policy,” Ralotsia said.
“They asked for three months within which to go and inform their farmers and we agreed. I’ve interaction with the ministries in Zimbabwe and I can tell you that they agree that this is necessary and not just for Zimbabwe, but all the countries that we share borders with, that have FMD problems. Disease does not know borders.”

The “shoot to kill” policy replaces the practice of returning stray Zimbabwean cattle across the border and comes as Botswana tightens its animal disease controls in order to protect the beef industry.
Through the years, frequent FMD outbreaks in the north have been caused by Zimbabwean cattle straying over the largely porous 813km border and mingling with local livestock.
Critically, several of the country’s veterinary zones for beef exports lie adjacent to the border, meaning cross border infections directly affect local exports and revenues.
Ralotsia said the new policy has been communicated with Zimbabwean agriculture authorities through meetings, which included the Joint Permanent Commission.
“This is one way in which we are trying to totally annihilate FMD across the borders,” he said.
“We’ve agreed with the Zimbabwean authorities that this is for the good of our people. Once the   policy starts, people will take greater care of their livestock and will not allow them to cross the border. They will see that the FMD control has been toughened.”
Ralotsia added that Botswana was continuing its bilateral efforts to support Zimbabwe’s FMD control initiatives, which in the past have included provision of technical and material support to fight the animal disease.— Mmegi.

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GRACE MUGABE TRACTORS:Brazil Demands Audit

THE Brazilian government has demanded an audit of the US$38 million agricultural equipment it supplied last year to establish if the farming implements were not distributed on partisan political lines and whether they reached the intended target.
Brazil supplied Zimbabwe with equipment, which includes 320 tractors, 450 disc harrows and 310 planters valued at US$38,6 million under the first phase of a US$98 million facility commissioned by President Robert Mugabe in May last year.
However, his wife Grace took centre-stage in handing over the equipment at her political rallies, a development which, according to government sources, has not gone down well with the Brazilians.
Brazil, according to government sources, wants an audit before new equipment is released under the second phase of the programme valued at US$30 million.
“The Brazilians are not happy with the distribution of the equipment at partisan political rallies by the First Lady who is not even a government official. They have requested the audit ahead of the release of the second tranche of agricultural equipment just to ensure that there was no abuse and misappropriation of the equipment,” said one source.
Grace attracted criticism from various stakeholders including civil society organisations and opposition political parties for purporting to donate the agricultural equipment at her rallies despite the equipment being sourced under a publicly underwritten US$98 million loan facility.
She, however, remained defiant in the face of criticism remarking, “They said I am giving people the goods as a way of buying votes”, during her rally in Rushinga last October, adding, “Hazvina basa kana ndikakutenga ukandivhotera (It does not matter if I pay you to vote for me), it’s okay. It’s better to vote for someone who gives you something than someone who does not.”
While confirming the impending audit, Brazilian ambassador Marcia Maro da Silva (pictured), however, denied that Brazil is unhappy with Grace’s involvement in the distribution of the equipment. She said the audit is “merely being conducted to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the programme to alleviate hunger so that the lessons derived will inform the second phase of the loan facility”.
“We have no issues with the First Lady at all and this has nothing to do with her,” Da Silva said of the audit. “In the first place it should be called an assessment and not an audit. It is necessary to have an assessment of the first phase of the facility before undertaking the second phase so that we can appreciate the positives and the shortcomings. We want to make sure that our programme benefits Zimbabweans and helps to improve food security and we don’t want to be handing over equipment that will end up just piling instead of being used.”
Da Silva said her country does not interfere in the internal political dynamics in Zimbabwe and is satisfied with the fact that the equipment got to the intended beneficiaries.
“They are 176 projects being carried out across the country to benefit 22 000 families and we are extending to Zimbabwe a project that benefitted Brazilians,” Da Silva said. The US$98 million facility is repayable over 15 years, attracting an interest rate of 2% per year. – Independent

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Zanu PF Presses for Evidence From Coltart

After David Coltart, former Bulawayo South MDC Member of Parliament, released some information about Tsvangirai training bandits in South Africa, Zanu PF was quick to react and challenged Coltart to provide the police and the state security services with full details of his claims. This is because if true, these activities were aimed at overtaking the legitimately voted in Zanu PF President Robert Mugabe in 2006.
The  party’s comments were brought up by Mr Coltart revelations in his book released recently that opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai in 2006 trained bandits in South Africa in preparation for a violent takeover of power in Zimbabwe.
In an interview, Zanu-PF national spokesperson Mr Simon Khaya Moyo said the matter was not a party issue, but security issue.
“Obviously, the security authorities would want that information,” said Mr Khaya Moyo adding that the security would want to know more about Mr Coltart’s revelations.
“I am not aware of this. Coltart knows better because he was a member of the MDC and a former Rhodesian military man.”
MDC-T spokesman Mr Obert Gutu said he was yet to read the book by Mr Coltart before commenting on the matter.
“I am yet to read his book,” said Mr Gutu.
“As a lawyer and researcher myself, it will be inappropriate for me to comment on his book before I have had an opportunity to read it.” Mr Gutu, however, said MDC-T was not a bandit organisation.
“It is a lawful democratic political party that believes in non-violent and constitutional takeover of state power. We remain the largest and most popular political party in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba refused to comment yesterday.

In his memoirs, “The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe”, Mr Coltart — a founding secretary for legal affairs in the MDC — revealed how the split in the original party came about because of Mr Tsvangirai’s knack for violence.
According to Mr Coltart, Mr Tsvangirai not only engaged in intra-party violence where he used “agents provocateurs” such as one Tonderai Ndira, but sought to escalate violence into a nationwide confrontation with the ruling Zanu-PF.
He said at party level, Mr Tsvangirai had become paranoid as he thought that there were efforts to muscle him out of leadership, especially when the party had proposed during constitutional amendments presented to Parliament that a national president needed to have at least a university degree.
Mr Coltart said Mr Tsvangirai also felt that the only way he could wrestle power from Zanu-PF was through violence.
It was on this basis that Mr Tsvangirai refused to participate in the re-introduced senatorial elections, causing the split in October 2005.
Mr Coltart said the use of violence, which was meted against officials such as Peter Guhu and Trudy Stevenson resulted in the split of the party.
But, it was the training of bandits that shocked Mr Coltart and which led him to cut ties with Mr Tsvangirai and opted to join the other faction that was then being led by Arthur Mutambara.
The training camp for MDC operatives in South Africa, he said, was being conducted “by ex-South African policemen under the supervision of an ex-Rhodesian soldier”.
“There was confusion as to whether the training was ‘offensive’ or ‘defensive’, but weapons were clearly involved,” said Mr Coltart.
“The South African National Defence Force had been bribed to allow these trained men back across the border,” he said.
Mr Coltart says he had learnt about the development from two journalists who had filmed the training operation. He concluded that the operation “appeared to be chronically amateurish” and would also play into the hands of the ruling party. – state media

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Nyagomo Blasts Mnangagwa Over Gukurahundi Atrocities

The President of The Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe(PDZ), Barbara Nyagomo, has called on embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign following revelations that he made controversial remarks during the Gukurahundi atrocities in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.
In a statement released earlier today Nyagomo said instead of attempting to pour cold water on the allegations raised by David Coltart, Mnangagwa should immediately vacate office since the utterances he made were reckless and unfortunate. Mnangagwa has distanced himself from the said utterances claiming Coltart’s assertions are baseless and unfounded. Mnangagwa also claimed he never made such remarks despite clear evidence that he addressed a rally in Victoria Falls.
He also threatened to take legal action against Coltart. Nyagomo said despite the Vice President’s denial, well documented evidence in the Chronicle of March 25 1985, revealed Mnangagwa was quoted openly encouraging the massacre of civilians for purportedly harbouring bandits.
“The Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe notes with concern that the honourable Vice President Mnangagwa has issued a statement refuting assertions by Mr Coltart , who accused him of uttering statements that incited and justified the actions of the state and the Fifth Brigade at a time he was the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office.
It is unfortunate that the VP chose to issue a public statement denying with impunity and disdain allegations of utterances attributed to him openly instigating and supporting the Fifth Brigade’s actions.We call on the VP to immediately resign from government. Such a man does not have the dignity and morals to lead the people of Zimbabwe,” said Nyagomo in the statement. Pressure is mounting on Mnangagwa to apologise to the nation for the reckless utterances he made at the height of the Gukurahundi atrocities in early eighties. Civic organisations say about 20 000 civilians were massacred during the Gukurahundi era.

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First Mutual scraps to $100k FY profit, to exit underdog RTG

First Mutual Holdings Limited (FML) will sell-off its 20 percent shareholding in Zimbabwe’s second largest hotel group, Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG), as it moves to concentrate on its core operations.
The insurance group said on Wednesday it had reclassified its investment in RTG, which has been posting losses since 2009, to “available for sale” from strategic investment, as it scouts for interested buyers.
“We have reclassified RTG from a strategic investment to one that is available for sale,” said chief executive officer, Douglas Hoto, during a presentation of FML’s financial results for the year ended December 31, 2015.
“We felt that we have no interest in RTG,” noted Hoto, who revealed that FML had also sold off its African Actuarial Consultants unit during the review period.
RTG’s poor form
RTG has found the going tough in the dollarised environment where it has been posting losses.
Its current liabilities more than doubled during the half-year to June 30, 2015, against the backdrop of shrinkage in current assets.
The hotelier is expected to present its full-year results to December after the Easter holidays.
But its current liabilities swelled to nearly $29 million during the half year to June 30, 2015, from $13 million during the comparable period the previous year.
This was against a low current assets portfolio of $9,5 million during the half year reporting period, from $12,5 million during the prior time.
RTG also had borrowings amounting to $4 million which were also due in 2015, and had a bank overdraft funded to the tune of $1,4 million as at the half year.
Despite the dire financial situation, directors said their assessment of the group’s going concern status was positive.
During the reporting period, the group suffered an eight percent slump in revenue to $12,4 million. This was against the $13,5 million achieved during the comparable period the previous year.
It registered a $1,9 million loss during the reporting period, from a marginal profit-after-tax of US$0,1 million the previous comparable period.
FML scraps profit
Hoto said it had achieved an overall profit of $100,000 during the review period, from a loss of $5,1 million the previous year.
Gross Premiums Written for the period, at $116,1 million, was one percent above the prior year figure of $115,3 million, which improved on the back of strong performance in the health insurance business.
In the 12 months to December, First Mutual’s rental income decreased by 3 percent from $7,5 million in 2014 to $7,3 million, reflecting the current challenges faced by tenants and the resultant decline in occupancy levels and rentals per square metre.
Hoto noted that the average rental per square metre decreased from $7,86 in 2014 to $7,58 in 2015.
“The occupancy rate for the period was 79 percent compared to 80 percent in the prior year. The claims at $67,7 million declined by $2,3 million from prior year mainly due to reduced retrenchments in the life and pensions segment and lower claims incurred for the health insurance business,” he said.
First Mutual incurred investment losses of $4,7 million in 2015 compared to investment losses of $3,8 million in 2014 in line with the downward movement in the stock market.
Hoto said the group’s investment property was independently revalued by the end of last year resulting in fair value losses of $6,6 million.
In the period under review, the group’s total assets declined by 2 percent from $213,3 million at December 2014 to $209, million by December 2015.
The insurance giant attributed the decline to the fair value loss on investment property of $6,6 million, fair value losses of $7,3 million on the listed equity investments portfolio and the $2,6 million impairment of the investment in RTG.
“The decline in total assets was, however, mitigated by net new cash flows as reflected in the increase in money market and held to maturity investments,” Hoto said.
No dividend was declared for the 2015 financial year.-The Source

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ZANU PF Crashes

withdrawal...Robert Mugabe
withdrawal…Robert Mugabe

Still reeling from the damaging breakaway from within its ranks of former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her supporters, President Robert Mugabe’s warring Zanu PF is facing yet another bitter split — this time involving party members loyal to embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
This also comes as the stage is set for an explosive meeting in Harare between Mugabe and restive war veterans on April 7 — as the mindless bloodletting within the former liberation movement continues unabated.
Zanu PF insiders who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said the latest acrimonious “divorce proceedings” involving Team Lacoste — which they said was already “well under way” and evident in the troubled provinces of Midlands and Mashonaland East — would deliver a knock out punch to the fast-unraveling party.
“The die is cast and there is no going back. We are going it alone now. When you see State media dredging up malicious stories about Ngwena (Mnangagwa) from 33 years ago (regarding the VP’s alleged inflammatory comments on Gukurahundi), then you know this has to happen,” a senior party official linked to the VP said.
Another Zanu PF bigwig said never in his “wildest imagination” had he ever contemplated that the former liberation movement would suffer more splits than the MDC.
“I’m embarrassed that after Zanu PF Gamatox (Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First), we are now going to have Zanu PF Lacoste, all within the space of a few months. Before that, we had the likes of (Edgar) Tekere, Margaret (Dongo) and Simba (Makoni) splitting from the party as you know.
“At least in the case of the MDC when they were splitting this was largely due to the work of our boys (infiltration and destabilisation by spooks). What excuses do we have for this anarchy?
“And the chaos is worsening, what with some war veterans passing votes of no confidence against national leaders such as VP (Phelekezela) Mphoko and Tyson (Zanu PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere),” a politburo member who has always claimed that he is “non-aligned” said ruefully.
The Daily News — which has accurately and consistently spotlighted the ruling party’s ugly ructions over the past five years — reported exclusively on Tuesday that the party had effectively split into two bitterly-opposed formations in the Midlands, the citadel of Mnangagwa’s support.
Regional party officials confirmed to the newspaper then that there were now two structures at most levels — belonging to the rival Mnangagwa and Generation 40 (G40) camps.
“It’s war here. For every G40 structure, there is now a parallel Team Lacoste one, and vice-versa. Our worry is how this will be resolved going into 2018,” one of the officials said.
Indeed, as interim Zanu PF chairperson for the Midlands, Tapiwa Matangaidze, was announcing the party’s decision to sack many of Mnangagwa’s most trusted allies, including July Moyo, the Midlands godfather’s regional allies were mobilising their followers, creating their own structures.
For example, suspended deputy provincial chairperson Daniel Mackenzie-Ncube had now been appointed the acting chairperson by the Team Lacoste group.
Mackenzie-Ncube himself confirmed that he and other senior party officials who were suspended by the G40 through votes of no confidence were “busy restructuring the party from cell level”.
He was also emphatic that the provincial executive that had resolved to pass a vote of no confidence in Moyo and others such as Justice Mayor Wadyajena, Owen Muda Ncube and Victor Matemadanda, John Holder and Cornelius Mupereri did not constitute a quorum.
In addition, he said Matangaidze (who was provincial secretary), Makhosini Hlongwane (political commissar) and Annastancia Ndlovu (national youth league executive member) had been counter-suspended by the province and thus had no “locus standi to call meetings” as they had, at any rate, since been replaced.
“We were seized with consolidating the party from cell and branch levels all weekend. We were in Mberengwa on Friday and had other meetings on Saturday and Sunday in areas such as Shurugwi and Zvishavane where we restructured the party.
“Our attention will not be diverted by the sideshows by Matangaidze and Hlongwane, the only provincial executive members who were present at their meeting.
“Now do you call that Midlands province? Surely a man humming an old tune to himself can’t be called a choir, can he?” Mackenzie-Ncube asked rhetorically.
Mupereri, who until his “suspension” was the Zanu PF provincial spokesperson, added that they would continue to defy Zanu PF national political commissar Kasukuwere, who appointed Matangaidze as acting chairperson following the suspension of Kizito Chivamba.
“We will not hesitate to defy even national members who choose to disregard the party constitution like what happened here. Even if we were to accept that Chivamba was suspended, he was supposed to be replaced by the deputy chairperson.
“That is why Mackenzie-Ncube is our chairman as we speak, he naturally took over,” Mupereri said in a show of defiance.
In the meantime, the stage is set for an explosive get-together between furious war veterans and Mugabe on April 7 — amid claims that the nonagenarian has been working hard to mobilise service chiefs to not just continue to shore him up, but also to put pressure on those rebellious war veterans who wanted to see him ousted from power.
Yesterday, hundreds of war veterans from across the country met with government officials in Harare to discuss the agenda of the meeting.
Among the prominent personalities who attended the meeting were Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Air Force commander Perrance Shiri, Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Constantine Chiwenga, Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo, War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube, Manicaland State Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene, State Security minister Kembo Mohadi, former War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa and police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri.
Well-placed sources who spoke to the Daily News claimed that Mugabe, apparently desperate to avert an embarrassing encounter with the former freedom fighters, had mobilised service chiefs to neutralise and calm down the war veterans.
“We have found it necessary to have this preliminary meeting so that there is adequate consultation before the meeting with His Excellency,” Sekeramayi, who is Zanu PF secretary for war veterans, said.
The meeting also comes at a time when ex-combatants who were in the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra) have officially launched their own welfare association and appointed Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa as their patron.
The meeting with Mugabe is being pushed by war veterans rallying behind Team Lacoste, a group backing Mnangagwa’s mooted presidential aspirations.
Among their plethora of demands are calls for a stop to the worsening purges in Zanu PF, a demand for Mugabe to rein in his powerful wife Grace whom they accuse of fronting a Zanu PF faction known as the Generation 40, complaints about their paltry monthly allowances and the government’s failure to pay school fees for their children.
An earlier planned meeting was thwarted by riot police who used teargas and water cannons to disperse the ex-combatants that had gathered at the City Sports Centre in the capital.-DailyNews

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Army Disowns Mugabe Bomber

The Zimbabwe National Army has rejected claims by a corporal accused of attempting to bomb Alpha Omega Dairies that he was on an official spying mission.
This was revealed by investigating officer Nyambo Viera during the ongoing trial of Borman Ngwenya who appeared before Harare regional magistrate Fadzai Mthombeni.
Ngwenya, 30, had claimed that he was under the instruction of Major Mashava when he was arrested.
But Viera yesterday told the court that after interviewing Mashava, he was convinced that the army had not sent Ngwenya.
“When I communicated with Mashava, he distanced himself from the accused person’s involvement in the plot and further explained that Ngwenya was actually under investigation for meddling in politics,” Viera said.
“Mashava said the army could not have sent anyone with weaponry in the proximity of such a sensitive place. . .”
Ngwenya’s lawyer Exactly Mangezi insisted his client was in communication with army bosses throughout the operation.
“The accused person had been tasked by his superiors at work . . . to monitor and entrap Owen Kuchata whom he had developed acquaintance because they hail from the same rural home in Gokwe,” Mangezi said.
“There was no intention on his part to commit acts of insurgency.
“He kept Major Mashava informed of Kuchata’s activities and on the day in question my client… actually knew that they were walking into a trap.”
Ngwenya further argued that charges being levelled against him were unsustainable because Alpha Omega was a private property that is not even owned by the First Family.
The share certificate presented in court alluded to Abdulah Ismail Kassim and Halima Baira as the only current shareholders in Alpha Omega holding one share each. daily news

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Mphoko’s $50Million Lawsuit Thrown Out | BREAKING NEWS

court loss...Phelekezela Mphoko
court loss…Phelekezela Mphoko

High Court judge Joseph Musakwa has thrown out Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s $50 million claim against Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) — the publisher of the Daily News, the Daily News on Sunday and the Weekend Post.
This was after Mphoko did not appear in the High Court Thursday morning.
Mphoko’s application was dismissed with costs after ANZ lawyer Alec Muchadehama applied to have the matter thrown out.
“As it stands, now, Mphoko’s $50 million claim against the Daily News has been dismissed with costs by the court,” Muchadehama said.
During the application for the dismissal of the matter, Muchadehama told the court that Mphoko, who sent a principal director in his office Themba Ndlovu, was supposed to appear in person for the pretrial conference in terms of court rules.
“The rules stipulate that a party who has been notified to attend a pretrial conference must appear himself at the pretrial conference,” Muchadehama said, adding that Mphoko’s proxy Ndlovu was a stranger to the case.
Mphoko’s lawyer from GN Mlotshwa & Company’s bid to seek condonation hit a brick wall. He claimed Mphoko was attending to some State business, but Musakwa said court business took precedence over any other business.-DailyNews

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Mukoko Haunted By 2008 Abductions

The Zimbabwe Peace director Jestina Mukoko says she is still being haunted by her  2008 abductions.
In December 2008 the ZPP boss was abducted by members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) for exposing human rights abuses the President Robert Zanu PF militia was perpetrating on MDC-T supporters.
MDC-T claims that over 200 of its supporters were maimed by Zanu PF and its militia in the run up to the controversial June 29 Presidential runoff election.
Mukoko whose organisation was documenting the atrocities  then, was abducted, tortured, denied medication and traumatized for three weeks by the yet to be known assailants.
“The psychological trauma, you carry with you for years .I am one testimony that will tell you that,” Mukoko told Journalists in Harare on Thursday.
“You cannot at times  even live with people within your family, you are so afraid when you hear sounds; if you hear a key turning it makes you go mad .It has taken me years  to be able to say now I think I am getting somewhere”.
“Now I get a lot of people who say you are looking good, I think it is because I have been able to deal with the anger and the pain that I harboured inside,” she said.
“That anger and pain was not going to the people that I thought it was going to, it was coming back to me”.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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ZANU PF Pushes for Life Presidency

THE country is hurtling towards establishing a life presidency amid plans by ZANU-PF to amend its constitution as a precursor to the amendment of the national charter so that it conforms to the party’s aspirations, the Financial Gazette can report.
According to party insiders, ZANU-PF wants to do away with the two-term presidential limit introduced by the unity government as part of the negotiated new Constitution in 2013 to enable the incumbent to become a de-facto life president.
At its congress in December 2014, ZANU-PF delegates unanimously agreed that President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since the attainment of black majority rule in April 1980, would be the party’s presidential candidate for as long as he lives, although the national charter permits him to run for only two terms.
Having secured victory at the 2013 polls, the ZANU-PF leader who turned 92 on February 21 can only run for one other term, starting in 2018. To get around the blockade, ZANU-PF mandarins are moving to tweak with the supreme law of the land for the first time since it became operational using their overwhelming majority in Parliament.
As part of the amendments to the party’s constitution, a clause affirming the ZANU-PF Women’s League’s resolution presented at the party’s annual people’s conference last December would be inserted to accommodate a woman in the presidium.
The current Constitution states that the President can appoint two deputies without specifically stating that one should be a woman.
Currently, all positions in the party’s presidium, comprising the President and his two vice presidents are occupied by men, with the exception of the national chairmanship, which is currently vacant.
At the party’s 2014 congress, President Mugabe delegated his two deputies to discharge the functions of the national chair on a rotational basis.
The party, however, faces many legal and administrative hurdles in its quest to amend the Constitution. For any constitutional amendment to sail through the National Assembly, it must be voted for by a two thirds majority.
Already, the move has met stiff resistance from Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s allies, who are convinced that the gender parity clause could be meant to take out of the succession race the man they would want to succeed President Mugabe.
Mnangagwa’s allies, known by their code name, Team Lacoste, are currently running scared after they were outsmarted by a rival faction known by the moniker, Generation 40 (G40), through suspensions and dismissals of key members.
The purging spree recently targeted one of Mnangagwa’s critical allies, Chris Mutsvangwa, who was suspended from the Politburo and fired from government over his verbal onslaught on members of G40.
Despite the setback, Team Lacoste is still in control of both the party and government legal functions, with Mnangagwa overseeing the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.
Apparently, Mnangagwa took over as Vice President following the expulsion of Joice Mujuru, who has now formed her own political outfit, Zimbabwe People First.
When Mujuru assumed the position in 2004, the Women’s League had pushed for representation in the presidium, thwarting Mnangagwa who was within the cusp of landing the post at the party’s congress that year.
The clause was to be scrapped off at the 2014 congress to facilitate Mnangagwa’s rise.
Another potential hurdle is the uncertainty surrounding the true status of ZANU-PF’s majority in Parliament where many of its Members of Parliament are said to be aligned to Mujuru.
This particularly applies to some of the sitting lawmakers who are serving various suspension periods imposed on them for hobnobbing with Mujuru.
Another complication regards the pro-Mnangagwa legislators who could work to frustrate the process, among them Justice Mayor Wadyajena. Regardless, G40 strategists are determined to push through the amendments by any means possible, damn the consequences.
This won’t be the first time that ZANU-PF has resorted to tinkering with the national charters to push through its agenda. The negotiated Lancaster House constitution, for example, was amended more than 19 times before it was succeeded by the current charter.
ZANU-PF’s deputy secretary for legal affairs, Paul Mangwana, professed ignorance over the matter, referring questions to his boss, Patrick Chinamasa, who could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone went unanswered.
“I am not aware of those developments. You can check with my senior, Cde Chinamasa. As for me, I am yet to be informed,” he said.
Mangwana was instrumental in the crafting the national charter as co-chairperson of the Parliamentary Constitutional Select Committee (COPAC), which spearheaded the constitution-making process at a cost of over US$100 million.
While the former indigenisation minister this week said there was nothing amiss with the current Constitution, he does not see anything wrong either with amending it to suit ZANU-PF’s interests.
“What I know is that we did a good job for the nation to produce that document. It was approved by 94 percent of the country’s population, which means it was accepted. But you need to understand that it was a negotiated settlement made during the inclusive government and there was need to compromise some aspects. One party would have wanted everything to go their way and now that (ZANU-PF) have got an overwhelming Parliamentary representation, they (may) want to alter some provisions, which is permissible,” Mangwana said.
ZANU-PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya-Moyo, referred questions to Chinamasa, saying: “He would be best positioned to comment on that.”
The governing party’s plot could potentially set off a firestorm of opposition from rival political parties and civil society groups.
Former COPAC co-chair, Douglas Mwonzora, who is Movement for Democratic Change secretary general, said the party would resist any attempts to tinker with the Constitution.
Said Mwonzora: “Around the world, this Constitution is being touted as one of the best as it protects fundamental human rights and so any attempt to try and change it is tantamount to bringing back dictatorship: We will resist such moves legally and extra-legally.”
People’s Democratic party spokesman, Jacob Mafume, concurred with Mwonzora.
“Tinkering with the Constitution is a path where we have been before and we do not want to go down that road (again). Their claim that it’s expensive is their thin excuse for failing to grow the economy. It’s a cynical and diabolical move which we will challenge vigorously in all platforms,” said Mafume.
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader, Lovemore Madhuku, whose party campaigned against the Constitution in the run up to the referendum, said although their view remained that it was a bad Constitution, they would not allow ZANU-PF to tamper with it.
“Our view as NCA is that this is not a democratic constitution which is why we campaigned for a no vote. There are many provisions of the Constitution that are very bad. However, we do not agree that it should just be ZANU-PF talking about it. Any process of amending it must be people driven,” he said.
Human Rights NGO Forum director, Lloyd Kuveya, said the current Constitution seeks to increase accountability by limiting the excesses of the Executive and government, which is a major step in the right direction.
“We are therefore worried by the proposal by the ruling party to reverse that gain. Sadly, this is the tragedy of our nation…We must resist a reversal of the outcome of a very expensive and painful constitution-making process,” said Kuveya.-Fingaz

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Fuel Price Shoots Up

An employee fills a vehicle with petrol at a fuel station in New Delhi June 25, 2010. REUTERS/Mukesh Gupta/Files
An employee fills a vehicle with petrol at a fuel station in New Delhi June 25, 2010. REUTERS/Mukesh Gupta/Files

THE price of fuel is expected to skyrocket next week following a surge in international petroleum prices a fortnight ago.
Oil prices went up sharply over the past two weeks to hit US$41 a barrel of crude oil from a record low of US$28 per barrel recorded in January this year.
The price of crude oil had been on a freefall since June 2014 after touching a record high of US$118 per barrel before receding to US$28 per barrel early this year.
Currently, the pump price of petrol is between US$1,20 and US$1,24 per litre while diesel is selling at between US$0,92 and US$1,04 per litre.
Local petroleum prices are still far higher than those in other countries in the region.
The impending fuel price increases are certainly going to have a detrimental impact on the frail economy, as prices of other commodities might rise as businesses cushion themselves from high costs.
Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) chief executive officer, Gloria Magombo, conceded on Tuesday that the surge in fuel prices on the international market would push local prices northwards.
Magombo said: “We always follow that pattern but we are always behind by two to three weeks. When prices are coming down, we are always behind in adjusting our fuel prices and when (there is an uptick in oil prices) we expect the local market to react accordingly.”
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-members are meeting next month in Doha, Qatar to discuss a production freeze.
The effect of this would be to push prices further up. Key cartel members include Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Algeria. Russia will be at the meeting as a non-member.
OPEC members insist that they want to stabilise the oil market, but in essence, they have been affected by falling international oil prices that have hurt their economies. The low oil prices were a result of oversupply, and not a lack of demand.
Now, the prices have rebounded, although they are still far below record levels that helped boost oil producing countries’ economies.
But non oil-producing countries like Zimbabwe are likely to suffer from the price surge as this would affect the cost of logistics, which would in turn affect commodity prices across the board.
This would have the effect of further derailing economic revival efforts in the country, whose growth has been projected at 1,4 percent this year by the International Monetary Fund.
Local petroleum companies said they would hike prices to maintain profit margins. There were indications they would swiftly raise their retail prices next week, and that talks with ZERA had already begun on the modalities of an adjustment.
It would appear the petroleum companies require no persuasion to adjust prices upwards, unlike in situations when international prices go down. Last year, players were forced by government to reduce their retail prices after they had maintained the price of petrol at US$1,50 per litre and diesel at US$1,38 per litre, despite the downward spiral in international oil prices.
Players said since government had increased the fuel levy when prices went down to protect the flow of revenue into the fiscus, they expected Treasury to reduce the levy once prices started moving up.
But this is unlikely to happen considering that government is desperate for cash due to dwindling revenue streams caused by widespread company closures and job losses. financial gazette

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Mnangagwa, Nyarota Shona War

obstinate...Geoff Nyarota
obstinate…Geoff Nyarota

The Chronicle’s former editor, Geoff Nyarota, has sparked outrage for stubbornly referring to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s surname as Munangagwa.
The Vice President’s office on Thursday insisted the surname is Mnangagwa not the latter. The VP’s birth certificate, ID and passport confirm his name with the syllable “Mna.”
But since way back in 1983 and now 24 years later, obstinate Nyarota has continued calling the VP Munangagwa. This discussion continued into Thursday with Nyarota insisting he is in the right. “The syllable “mna” is non-existent in the Shona language,” Nyarota defended himself in response to criticism on the micro blogging website, Twitter.
He alleged that the latter is Rhodesian linguo.
However professional linguists argue that there is no language called Shona and the tag was only created by colonialists seeking to categorise tribes living in present day Zimbabwe.
Nyarota was challenged by a non-Shona Mduduzi Mathuthu who is the current Chronicle editor. He has continued to label the VP in this fashion.

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UK:Gay Zimbabwean Ordered to Strip Naked, Photograph

Strip challenge..."gay"Skhumbuzo Khumalo
Strip challenge…”gay”Skhumbuzo Khumalo

Mirror.co.uk – A WOMAN who fled Zimbabwe after boiling water was poured over her for being gay has told how she was asked to prove her sexuality with intimate photos when she sought asylum in the UK.
Skhumbuzo Khumalo, 24, left the country, where homosexuality is illegal, after fearing for her life – only to be subjected to ‘degrading’ treatment on arrival in the UK.
She spent four weeks at a detention centre in December 2014 and later faced a gruelling five-hour interview with immigration officers where she was asked to provide photographs of a sexual nature of her with another woman to prove her case.
Skhumbuzo was even booked on a flight back to Zimbabwe, where only a few months ago President Robert Mugabe rejected homosexual rights in a UN speech.
Fortunately, in June 2015 she was granted asylum and with Fixers, the charity which gives young people the opportunity to create media campaigns, she has made a film which tells her story.
In December 2014, the European Court of Justice ruled that asylum seekers must not be asked to prove they are homosexual in order to stay in Britain.
The court ruled that asking refugees detailed questions about their sexual habits in order to establish whether they are at risk of persecution at home is breach of their fundamental right to a private life.
However, Skhumbuzo claims she was asked to provide photos by immigration officials in May 2015.
She says: “Clearly just by looking at you, they will not judge if you are gay or straight.
“So they left me in a position where I had to produce photos of a sexual nature, which I didn’t feel comfortable sharing.
“The officer began flicking through the photos while I was sat in front of him. It was extremely degrading.
“I was asked lots of personal questions, and then I was asked if I could go back home and live in another city and hide the fact that I’m gay.
“I thought, “how can you hide the fact that you love a certain person, it’s ridiculous.”
“When I thought I might be sent back to Zimbabwe, I felt like committing suicide, because me ending my life is better than people back home ending it for me.”
After Skhumbuzo was granted asylum she settled in Glasgow where she works as a charity fundraiser, however she is still haunted by the attack.
She says: “I have nightmares almost every night. It’s as if it only happened yesterday.
“I was like any other child, I had a happy childhood, everything you’d want and hope your childhood to be but then it changed.”
Skhumbuzo was at a friend’s house with others from the LGBT community when the attack occurred.
She says: “A group of police officers forced their way in. Everyone scattered as they began beating us. I was told: ‘You need to be fixed. We’ll kill you. Gay people are demonic and possessed’.
“I saw one of them reach for the teapot, and to my horror, he threw the boiling water over me. I was screaming in agony; it was so painful.”
Skhumbuzo claims she was unable to go to the hospital for treatment because a police statement is required.
She says: “I was left with big blisters which have since turned into scars. I was lucky to escape with my life.
“After the attack I felt my dignity, self-respect and confidence drain away. I couldn’t live like that anymore.
“I left Zimbabwe because of the torture I was facing.”
In 2014, Skhumbuzo made the agonising decision to leave her family and friends behind.
She says: “I miss them so much. I speak to them regularly through WhatsApp but it’s not the same. When I’m down I need my mum but she’s not there.
“I miss my little brother. I miss him being an idiot and a pain in the way little brothers are. Him telling me what he’s done, what’s happening at school.
“I don’t know when I’ll see my family again. It breaks my heart.”
Skhumbuzo is working with the charity Fixers to raise awareness about how gay people are treated in countries where homosexuality is illegal and encourage the UK authorities to empathise with those claiming asylum.
She says: “When I found out I had my refugee status, it was a huge relief. Refugee to me means safety, security and comfort. I’m now free to live my life as who I really I am.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we do not deport anyone at risk of persecution because of their sexuality.
“All applicants are required to establish they face persecution, inhumane or degrading treatment in their home country to qualify for our protection.
“We deal with any matters concerning an individual’s sexual orientation as sensitively as possible and our guidance is clear that staff are not permitted to ask inappropriate or intrusive questions, or ask for evidence of an explicit nature.”

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Woman Pulls Rapist’s Private Parts Until He Cries For Help

By Terrence Mawawa Chivhu|A notorious robber and rapist from Beatrice had to plead for mercy after a woman he intended to rape pulled her private parts to foil his advances.
Thompson Chikukwa, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Chivhu Magistrate Denis Mangosi, facing eight counts of rape and armed robbery.
Chikukwa had the habit of threatening his victims with a knife. After raping the victims he would steal their belongings including cash.
Last Friday the court heard that Chikukwa waylaid the woman(name supplied) in Beatrice and ordered her to undress. The woman pretended to agree with Chikukwa and suddenly grabbed his private parts as he was about to rape her.
The woman began to twist Chikukwa’s private parts viciously until he cried out for help.
Chikukwa eventually managed to free himself from the woman’s firm grip. The woman later made a police report, leading to Chikukwa’s arrest.
The accused, according to the state, committed eight offences of robbery and rape between September 2015 and February 2016.
The court also heard that Chikukwa raped one of his victims after masquerading as a police officer.
In another case Chikukwa stole goods worth $ 110 dollars from one of his victims after raping her twice. The police have since recovered some of the goods stolen by Chikukwa during the time he committed a spate of the said crimes.

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LATEST: Belgium Bombing-Zimbabwean’s Welfare

soldiers stand guard in Brussels
soldiers stand guard in Brussels

Below is the latest update from Brussels following the bombings which left at least 31 people dead on Tuesday.
Zim Embassy staff in Belgium told ZimEye.com there is no Zimbabwean yet named at present.
“We have received a list of names of people killed or injured and at present we are told there is no Zimbabwean there,” a senior diplomat told ZimEye.com Wednesday afternoon. They added saying relatives wishing to find the latest update should contact the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Harare for details.
Belgium is host to hundreds of Zimbabweans.
Meanwhile A “third man” seen with two Islamic State suicide bombers at Brussels Airport was the focus of a Belgian manhunt on Thursday after police identified three others, including two brothers, who killed at least 31 people at the airport and on a city metro train.
Turkey’s president criticized Belgium for failing to track Brahim El Bakraoui, a convicted Belgian armed robber whom it deported last year and who blew himself up at the airport on Tuesday an hour before his brother Khalid, a fellow convict, killed some 20 people at Maelbeek metro station in the city center.
The third bomber, security sources told Belgian media, was Najim Laachraoui, a veteran Belgian Islamist fighter in Syria suspected of making explosive belts for November’s Paris attacks and who also detonated a suitcase bomb at the airport.
The “third man”, captured on airport security cameras pushing a baggage trolley into the departures hall alongside Laachraoui and Brahim El Bakraoui, is now the target of police searches.
The suspect fled the scene on Tuesday, federal prosecutors said, and a third suitcase bomb, the biggest of the three, was later found.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the bloodshed in the capital of the European Union, not far from NATO headquarters, showed that Washington’s European allies should do more to fight Islamic State alongside American efforts in the Middle East.
“The Brussels event is going to further signify to Europeans that, as we have been accelerating our campaign to defeat ISIL in Syria and Iraq and elsewhere, they need to accelerate their efforts and join us,” Carter told CNN, using another acronym for Islamic State.
About 300 people were wounded. Casualties came from some 40 nationalities, drawing an international outpouring of support for the cosmopolitan city during three days of mourning.
U.S. President Barack Obama offered “any assistance that we can” to Belgium in bringing surviving assailants to justice.
Washington announced that Secretary of State John Kerry would visit Belgium on Friday to demonstrate solidarity.
The Belgian government deflected the criticism from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, saying the elder Bakraoui brother, 29, had not been deported back to Belgium but to the neighboring Netherlands. Officials have said that as in the case of one of the Paris suicide bombers, they cannot detain militant suspects expelled from Turkey without clear evidence of a crime.
“Belgium ignored our warning that this person is a foreign fighter,” Erdogan said of Brahim El Bakraoui, who was detained near the Syrian border and deported last July.
The case highlighted the problem Belgium has faced with some 300 locals who have fought in Syria, the biggest contingent from Europe in relation to its national population of 11 million. – Reuters/ZimEye

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Kasukuwere Shuts Meetings as Gweru Burns

The Zanu-PF National Political Commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, has suspended all party meetings and programmes in the Midlands province pending investigations in the wake of heightening levels of indiscipline, characterised by the creation of parallel structures.
Kasukuwere’s disciplinary action follows reports that the Zanu-PF Midlands provincial co-ordinating committee held concurrent parallel meetings in Gweru and Mberengwa last week.
Acting provincial chairman Tapiwanashe Matangaidze called for a meeting on development at Senga Training Centre while the other executive members held an outreach meeting in Zvishavane and Mberengwa.
In a letter addressed to Zanu-PF Secretary for Education in the Politburo Dr Joram Gumbo on March 22, Kasukuwere said the party would after the Easter holiday, conduct investigations and take appropriate action against the divisive elements as well as restoring sanity in the province.
“I have learnt with concern the heightening level of indiscipline, characterised by the creation of parallel structures, currently taking place in the Midlands province.
“In an effort to restore order, I am forced to suspend all party meetings and programmes in the Midlands province until my visit and assessment of the prevailing situation to be scheduled soon after the Easter holiday.
“As the most senior, it is my hope that you will advise the Midlands province accordingly,” reads the letter which was also copied to the Secretary for Administration in the Politburo, Dr Ignatius Chombo, and Matangaidze.
The Zanu-PF provincial executive had called for an outreach meeting in Gokwe, but it was called off after police dispersed people as the meeting was unsanctioned.
The party’s Midlands spokesperson, Cornelius Mpereri, had advised The Herald that the outreach meetings would be held throughout the province as they would be conducting the party restructuring exercise as adopted by the provincial calendar.
He dismissed allegations that the meetings were meant to counter Matangaidze’s PCC meetings saying the meetings were properly constituted and were a mandate and imperative to the province.
Midlands vice chairperson Daniel McKenzie Ncube confirmed receiving the communication, but said they would finish up the outreach meetings that had been organised by the provincial executive committee.
He could neither deny nor confirm that the meeting scheduled for Gokwe was stopped by police.
“”I can confirm that I have received communication from Kasukuwere to the effect that we should suspend all the party meetings and programmes in the province with immediate effect.
“However, we asked to finish up the outreach meetings that we had organised and we are going to conduct our last meeting in Kwekwe tomorrow (today),” he said.
Matangaidze also confirmed receiving the letter, but could not shed more light on the matter.
“Yes, there is a directive that came from the national commissar Kasukuwere to that effect,” he said.-State Media

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Mugabe Off to Japan

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe left the country for Japan yesterday on an official working visit the state media says will see Government solidifying its Look East Policy by boosting investment and economic cooperation deals.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe extended the invitation to President Mugabe as the Asian country also seeks to develop new markets for its firms in Zimbabwe.
Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko is Acting President.
President Mugabe, who was accompanied by First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe and Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, was seen off at Harare International Airport by Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, service chiefs and Cabinet ministers.
Apart from investment issues, Prime Minister Abe is also pursuing a robust discussion with President Mugabe on the United Nations Security Council reforms.
During his stay in Japan, the President has a packed programme in which he is expected to meet PM Abe, who will also host a dinner for him.
President Mugabe — according to the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry — is also expected to make a State call on their Majesties the Emperor of Japan, Akihito and the Empress Michiko.
The couple will also host a court luncheon for the President and the First Lady.
PM Abe has, on several occasions, appealed for Africa’s support to back Japan’s bid for a seat in the UN Security Council.
The Asian giant belongs to the Group of Four (G4), which has Germany, India and Brazil — countries which have mutually supported one another’s bids for permanent seats in the Security Council.
The G4 members have proposed reform in the UN Security Council to include an additional six permanent seats, four going to them and two reserved for African countries.
Only five nations – China, Russia, France, Britain and the United States – have permanent seats and veto powers, which enable them to prevent the adoption of any “substantive” draft Council resolution, regardless of the level of international support for the draft.-State Media

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COLTART:Tsvangirai Trained Bandits In South Africa

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2006 trained bandits in South Africa in preparation for a violent takeover of power in Zimbabwe, a new book by former Member of Parliament for Bulawayo South David Coltart claims.
In his controversial memoirs, “The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe”, Mr Coltart – a founding secretary for legal affairs in the MDC – reveals how the split in the original party came about because of Mr Tsvangirai’s knack for violence.
According to Mr Coltart, Mr Tsvangira not only engaged in intra-party violence where he used “agents provocateurs” such as one Tonderai Ndira, but sought to escalate violence into a nationwide confrontation with the ruling Zanu-PF.
He said at party level, Mr Tsvangirai had become paranoid as he thought that there were efforts to muscle him out of leadership, especially when the party had proposed during constitutional amendments presented to Parliament that a national president needed to have at least a university degree.
He also felt that the only way he could wrestle power from Zanu-PF was through violence, says Mr Coltart. It was on this basis that Mr Tsvangirai refused to participate in the re-introduced senatorial elections, causing the split of October 2005.
Mr Coltart says the use of violence, which was meted against officials such as Peter Guhu and Trudy Stevenson resulted in the split the party.
But, it was the training of bandits that shocked Mr Coltart, and which led him to cut ties with Mr Tsvangirai and opted to join the other faction that was then being led by Arthur Mutambara.
He said the training camp for MDC operatives in South Africa was being conducted “by ex-South African policemen under the supervision of an ex-Rhodesian soldier”. “There was confusion as to whether the training was ‘offensive’ or ‘defensive’ but weapons were clearly involved,” says Mr Coltart.
“The South African National Defence Force had been bribed to allow these trained men back across the border,” he said. Mr Coltart says he had learnt about the development from two journalists who had filmed the training operation.
He concluded that the operation “appeared to be chronically amateurish” and would also play into the hands of the ruling party.
“While I understood the desperation and helplessness that many felt in the face of Zanu-PF’s oppression, this was, in my view, a foolhardy response,” he writes.
“Even if one believed in a violent solution, the training was on such a small scale that it could never mount a serious challenge to Zanu-PF’s hegemony. What it would provide was the ideal excuse to crack down even harder on the MDC.
“The revelation was the final straw. Principle aside, I was unwilling to have any part of an organisation that was prepared to take such risks,” said the Bulawayo lawyer.
He said he wrote a circular to his constituents on May 23, telling them that MDC-T had “shown no inclination to deal with violence” and he could not join that party.
“All that was left for me to do now was to decide whether to stay in politics and, if so to get assurances from MDC-M that they would root out ‘the scourge of violence’”.
Mr Coltart said Mr Tsvangirai and his party were spoiling for “yet another war” in the country and took the risk to join the smaller MDC faction.
“I would rather lose my seat in Parliament than compromise certain principles, which are fundamental to my belief system,” he said.-State Media

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David Coltart Exposes Tsvangirai

Former Member of Parliament for Bulawayo South, David Coltart in his new book claims that in 2006, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai trained bandits in South Africa in preparation for a violent takeover of power in Zimbabwe.

In his controversial memoirs, “The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe”, Mr Coltart – a founding secretary for legal affairs in the MDC – reveals how the split in the original party came about because of Mr Tsvangirai’s knack for violence.

According to Mr Coltart, Mr Tsvangirai not only engaged in intra-party violence where he used “agents provocateurs” such as one Tonderai Ndira, but sought to escalate violence into a nationwide confrontation with the ruling Zanu-PF.

He said at party level, Mr Tsvangirai had become paranoid as he thought that there were efforts to muscle him out of leadership, especially when the party had proposed during constitutional amendments presented to Parliament that a national president needed to have at least a university degree.
He also felt that the only way he could wrestle power from Zanu-PF was through violence, says Mr Coltart. It was on this basis that Mr Tsvangirai refused to participate in the re-introduced senatorial elections, causing the split of October 2005.
Mr Coltart says the use of violence, which was meted against officials such as Peter Guhu and Trudy Stevenson resulted in the split the party.
But, it was the training of bandits that shocked Mr Coltart, and which led him to cut ties with Mr Tsvangirai and opted to join the other faction that was then being led by Arthur Mutambara.
He said the training camp for MDC operatives in South Africa was being conducted “by ex-South African policemen under the supervision of an ex-Rhodesian soldier”. “There was confusion as to whether the training was ‘offensive’ or ‘defensive’ but weapons were clearly involved,” says Mr Coltart.
“The South African National Defence Force had been bribed to allow these trained men back across the border,” he said. Mr Coltart says he had learnt about the development from two journalists who had filmed the training operation.
He concluded that the operation “appeared to be chronically amateurish” and would also play into the hands of the ruling party.
“While I understood the desperation and helplessness that many felt in the face of Zanu-PF’s oppression, this was, in my view, a foolhardy response,” he writes.
“Even if one believed in a violent solution, the training was on such a small scale that it could never mount a serious challenge to Zanu-PF’s hegemony. What it would provide was the ideal excuse to crack down even harder on the MDC.
“The revelation was the final straw. Principle aside, I was unwilling to have any part of an organisation that was prepared to take such risks,” said the Bulawayo lawyer.
He said he wrote a circular to his constituents on May 23, telling them that MDC-T had “shown no inclination to deal with violence” and he could not join that party.
“All that was left for me to do now was to decide whether to stay in politics and, if so to get assurances from MDC-M that they would root out ‘the scourge of violence’”.
Mr Coltart said Mr Tsvangirai and his party were spoiling for “yet another war” in the country and took the risk to join the smaller MDC faction.
“I would rather lose my seat in Parliament than compromise certain principles, which are fundamental to my belief system,” he said. – state media

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ZAPU Launches ZIPRA Veterans Association.

 
Following the emergency meeting ZAPU’s President Dabengwa had last month with war veterans in Bulawayo, a lot of introspection and consultations have culminated in the formation of the ZIPRA Veterans Association in Bulawayo on 20 March 2016.
The Association is a combined embodiment of all the different categories of freedom fighters such as ex detainees and restrictees, ex recruitees, ex combatants and technocrats who were trained by ZAPU during the liberation war time.
An executive was elected on an interim basis and its led by Cde Ben Ncube. This committee’s main mandate is to set up the association structures in provinces and districts in preparation for its inaugural congress, where substantive executive will be elected.
The patron of the association is ZAPU President Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, and the association will function and work in close association with the mother party.
The ZPRAVA yesterday resolved to take care of the welfare of the ex fighters and their families, especially children of school going ages who have often been neglected by the current regime. For months now the current government has failed to pay out school fees monies owed to children of former freedom fighters.
The association has also undertaken the task of identifying all those who lost their children and loved ones in combat during the struggle so as to work towards having them compensated in some way by the state.
Welfare issues of ex liberation fighters in their different categories will top the agenda of the ZPRAVA as ZAPU works at closing the ever widening gap between society and the ex freedom fighters in terms of social services and the economic activities at large. It was noted that such gaps exist as a deliberate ploy by the current government under Mugabe to always have the war veterans compromised so that they are easily used as pawns in filthy political power games as is currently happening in the fractious governing party.
ZPRAVA announced that its emergence is sure to put a stop in the long suffering ex ZPRA fighters have had to deal with three and a half decades into independence. They suffered problems that ranged from marginalisation, neglect and persecution through Gukurahundi under a so called black majority givernment.
Their problems, if not addressed properly and expeditiously are sure to be transfered to the next generation through their children whose welfare has been deliberately neglected in order to have that section of our society cowed to perform certain roles for Mugabe’s party.

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ZANU PF Forgives Mujuru aides, ReAdmits Them

Fearful of losing the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections, a panicky Zanu PF has just re-admitted three legislators linked to former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First in Mashonaland East, who were facing expulsion from the party.
The provincial executive resolved to boot out National Assembly members Tendayi Makunde (Murehwa North), Felix Tapiwa Mhona (Chikomba Central) and Washington Musvaire (Maramba Pfungwe) in December last year — going to the extent of forwarding their recommendation to this effect to Zanu PF’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).
But with 2018 promising to be a tough election year, the NDC — headed by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko — has let the beleaguered trio off the hook, after it recently heard their cases, choosing instead to just reprimand them.
Provincial secretary for administration Lawrence Katsiru told the Daily News yesterday that, as a result, his executive was now going around the province encouraging party supporters to work with the legislators again.
“The information we initially had about them was to the effect that the MPs were working for People First, but we have since realised after they appeared before the disciplinary committee that it was nothing serious as it was just differences in opinion.
“They were well-received when we informed party membership in Murehwa at the weekend that we had withdrawn our recommendations for their expulsion,” Katsiru said.
However, the pardoned MPs — while welcoming the move to let them off the hook — have called upon the party to be clearer regarding their status, as they allege that they are still being required to seek permission to address meetings in their constituencies.
“I need to know my status because at the moment I have two letters with me, one that reprimands me and another one that says I am suspended. There is nothing to suggest that my suspension has been lifted.
“I still have to beg those that I beat during primary elections for permission to hold a rally in my own constituency, so my hands are tied,” Musvaire said.
Meanwhile, Katsiru has commended suspended Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Joel Biggie Matiza for “not causing confusion” in the province following his purging — as is the case in Masvingo and Midlands where Kizito Chivamba and Ezra Chadzamira are defying their suspensions.
“He has behaved very well thus far because he has not attempted to create parallel structures like what we are hearing elsewhere. We will wait to hear what the party says regarding his case and we will work with that guidance,” he said.
Matiza was recently suspended along with Chadzamira and Chivamba on allegations of disrespecting the First Family.-DailyNews

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NAKED STRIP:Boyfriend Beats Up Toddler

An Epworth step-father has been jailed for one year for malicious punishment of a child after authorities say he forced the toddler to strip naked and hanged her on a plank.
Twenty-one-year-old Cecil Matare, 20, was jailed on Monday by Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe on two counts of ill-treatment of a child.
He had been remanded in custody because he co-habits with the toddler’s mother.
Prosecutor Fransisca Mukumbiri alleged that on March 16, the complainant and her mother were at home when Matare reached for a cooking stick and struck the minor on the left arm.
The court heard that the minor sustained a swollen arm after the assault.
It was further alleged that around 9pm the same day, Matare returned home and found the toddler awake.
He got furious because the minor did not greet him.
The court heard that the toddler’s mother advised her daughter to greet Matare and she complied.
Matare went on to undress the little girl and tied her legs using his belt.
He then hanged her on a plank with her face facing downwards and threatened his wife against releasing her.
Matare went to bed and left the minor hanging there until 11pm when a neighbour came to the toddler’s rescue.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Matare’s arrest.-DailyNews

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Mnangagwa Exit

analysis-analysis-NEWS2The revelations coming out from government publications exposing Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the mastermind of the infamous Gukurahundi killings in the early 80s, point that the man is being conveniently shovelled out by President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace.
All this emerged after Mnangagwa opened a can of worms, having threatened to sue book author and former MDC Senator David Coltart, for defamation. The basis of the lawsuit was Mnangagwa’s quoted utterances which have sat in public print unchallenged for 34years. This has led to Mnangagwa’s Presidential capabilities being compromised after legal analysts said the state media quotes used by Coltart cannot form the basis of a cause of action for defamation against him.
Last month the First Lady threatened she would kick the beleaguered VP out having corruptly appointed him to the job herself saying she is the most senior person in ZANU PF and in the country. Sources told ZimEye.com Mnangagwa is now being firmly out-manoeuvred following Grace Mugabe’s outburst.
Consequently, through her long running invisible, burning war against Mnangagwa, the man is now left with no leg to stand on. This was even more evident, on Wednesday, when the Chronicle editor Mduduzi Mathuthu, continued offloading the controversial Mnangagwa quotes proving the man is the instigator of the massacre which reportedly killed over 20,000 Ndebeles.
State editors are servant to senior government officials. But this was not the case, as this departure from the norm in which the scribes orderly serve to protect state bosses, demonstrated that Mnangagwa is now on his way out, all to Grace Mugabe’s advantage. It seemed firmly evident that Mnangagwa has shut the door on himself sealing his career forever, ironically having begun as Mugabe’s right hand man in the 1970s, rising to the glory of glories, but this year now ending in the gory of gories.
Below were some of the State Media extracts and Mnangagwa’s letter of legal protest:

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Robbers Jailed 108 Years

Tapiwa Matundu
Tapiwa Matundu

TWO men, one in Bulawayo and another in Gweru, who robbed and raped women, have been sentenced to a total of 108 years in jail.
Throwing the book at the rapists, magistrates said they were monsters who deserve to rot in jail. The Bulawayo man, a vagrant, was slapped with a 55-year sentence while the Gweru man was sentenced to 53 years in prison.
Tapiwa Matundu used a catapult to incapacitate his six victims in a three-week crime spree along a bushy area connecting Cowdray Park and Ngozi Mine in Bulawayo.
He raped three of the women and kidnapped one whom he raped for an entire night under a tree.
Matundu pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, three of robbery and one of kidnapping.
Passing sentence yesterday, regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere said Matundu and like minded people should learn than crime does not pay.
“You raped and robbed women who were no longer secure about using that bush as you had turned it into a base for your criminal activities. You robbed them of cheap Nokia X2 phones but because you used violence and forced yourself on them, you deserve a stiff penalty,” said magistrate Mberewere.
He said Matundu’s sentence would be good news to women and girls whose future is secured with each rapist that is incarcerated.
“All three counts of robbery were treated as one for purposes of sentence. You’re sentenced to 10 years of which 2 years are suspended for 5 years on condition of good behaviour,” Magistrate Mberewere said.
He sentenced Matundu to 20 years for raping his 18-old-year old victim in the first instance.
“Additionally, you’re sentenced to 15 years for raping the same woman twice as you detained her under a tree for a night,” said Mberewere.
Matundu will also spend 10 years in jail for kidnapping the girl. “Effectively you will spend 45 years in jail.” Prosecuting, Trust Muduma told the court that Matundu met the 18-year-old woman on February 22 and ordered her to stop.
“The woman refused and Matundu shot her on the hand with his catapult. He dragged her into the bush and robbed her,” said Muduma.
“He later raped her once and detained her for the night. He ordered the woman to undress and sleep under a tree and raped her twice during the night before releasing her.”
Muduma added that Matundu pounced on his next victim and robbed her of a cellphone.
“He went on to rape the woman once and fled. Police recovered the stolen phones when they arrested Matundu.”
In Gweru, Martin Mabvumba, 31, of Mkoba 14 preyed on female travellers between Gweru, Kwekwe and Shurugwi. His reign of terror lasted two weeks.
Mabvumba feigned insanity before sentencing.
He threw a chair at Gweru regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire and shouted obscenities before appearing confused.
Unfazed, Nemadire ordered police officers to arrest Mabvumba for disorderly conduct before instructing prison officers to remove him from the court. He convicted Mabvumba of five counts of robbery and one count of rape and sentenced him in absentia.
The magistrate suspended 10 years on condition of good behaviour leaving Mabvumba with an effective 43 years to serve.
He said Mabvumba was an inherently wicked man and society was better off with him behind bars.
“The courts need to make an emphatic statement against people who behave like animals, going around raping and robbing willy-nilly,” said Nemadire.
Prosecuting, Kelvin Guveya told the court that on July 20 last year, Mabvumba, travelling from Kwekwe to Gweru, gave a lift to the first female complainant.
“Just after the Gweru-Kwekwe tollgate, he turned right into a dust road, produced a knife and threatened to kill the complainant. He robbed her of a cellphone and $20. Mabvumba sped off leaving the complainant in the bush,” said Guveya.
The court heard how he used the same modus operandi to rob five more women during the same month. He raped one of the complainants and threw her bags out of the window.
One of the complainants, the court heard, fought him forcing him to drive off with the woman still hitting him in the vehicle.
“Mabvumba tried to lock the car doors as he drove at high speed but the complainant managed to open one of the doors and jumped out, leaving behind her handbag with a Call Touch tablet and clothes,” said Guveya.
The woman noted the car’s registration number and reported the attack to the police.
Police eventually located the vehicle being driven by Mabvumba’s nephew in Gweru.
They arrested Mabvumba and his victims positively identified him. He robbed his victims of $1,483 and $902 was recovered.-Chronicle

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Pastor Impregnated My Wife – Businessman

By Terrence Mawawa, Zvishavane|A Zvishavane based pastor has been sued for allegedly impregnating a local businessman’s wife.
Vidah Sambo, who is the pastor of a little-known pentecostal church here, has been slapped with a $10 000 lawsuit for impregnating Mercy Chirume who is married to prominent local businessman, Nobert Verukai.
Sambo had a lengthy affair with Mercy and eventually impregnated her, court papers read.
Sambo began to frequent Mercy’s workplace at Gwavachema Secondary School sometime last year ostensibly for prayer and counselling sessions. It is said the preacher then proposed love to Mercy and the two began to have sexual intercourse frequently- until Mercy became pregnant.
Verukai and Mercy got married in 2009 and the couple has one child. Verukai said she met Mercy when she had just completed her ordinary level studies and obtained two passes. Verukai further pointed out he sent Mercy to school until she completed her teaching course at Mutare Teachers’ College.
Sambo has since denied the allegations saying he only visited Mercy for the purpose of conducting prayer sessions. “Verukai and Mercy had a lot of challenges so I tried to help them out. Actually they were just staying together – in fact they never got married,” Sambo defended himself saying.
However Verukai insists the pastor snatched his wife and he is demanding compensation from the preacher.

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AIDS Patients Take ARVS Without Food As Hunger Bites

People living with HIV are pleading with government for food supplements in clinics where they collect their Anti-Retroviral drugs as many are taking medication on empty stomachs.
Zimbabwe is experiencing drought which was caused by poor rainfall.
The El Nino induced drought has exposed over 4 million people to famine and are in dire need of food supplies.
The situation is intense in the Northern and Southern parts of the country where there are reports of people sleeping without eating, with some even said to be surviving on wild fruits.
Zimbabwe HIV and AIDS Activist Union Community Trust ZHAAUCT President Stanley Takaona told ZimEye.com  in Mhondoro this week that in their assessment they had discovered that people living with HIV are forced to take their drugs on empty stomachs.
“The situation is worse to people who are taking ARVs, because they cannot take them without food. We have witnessed people surviving on tree-barks in some rural areas we have visited on HIV treatment monitoring programme and some of these people are our members,” said Takaona.
“Even those who drink beer know that they need to eat first before drinking and what more people who are on ARVs? So what we are saying to government and other partners is that there is an urgent need now for the placement of food supplements at the clinics where we take our ARVs ,” said Takaona.
Takaona said if government does not prioritise people living with HIV in the food distribution programme they shall see hundreds of their members defaulting treatment and subsequently dying.
There are 1.5 million Zimbabweans who are living with HIV with slightly over 800 000 being on treatment.
The World Food programme on last week announced that it was extending the food assistance provision programme to the country’s vulnerable communities to next year because biting hunger which has hit Zimbabwe.

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War Vets Ditch Mutsvangwa, Bootlick Grace Mugabe

By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo |War veterans in Masvingo have made a sudden U-turn against their former minister Chris Mutsvangwa and switched allegiance to First Lady Grace Mugabe. In a dramatic twist of events, war veterans here announced at separate meetings held at Roy Business Centre and the Chief’s Hall, the former freedom fighters in Masvingo had nothing to do with the troubled Mutsvangwa whose ship is navigating stormy waters.
The war veterans also took turns to bootlick Mrs Mugabe describing her as an icon. Ironically the same ex-fighters openly attacked the First Lady ahead of President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash in February. The latest development is seen as a body blow to the Team Lacoste camp said to be backing Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In resolutions passed at the two separate meetings, they concurred they were fully behind Mugabe and his wife.
George Mlala, the interim war veterans interim chairman for Masvingo province, reiterated members loyal to Mutsvangwa would be sacked. “There has been a major twist of events.
“We welcome Mutsvangwa’s dismissal because he soiled our reputation by purporting to represent the war veterans yet he had his own vendetta against the party leadership. We want to make it clear that we support the First Lady. She never insulted us.
“Mutsvangwa took it upon himself to attack the First Lady.
“Who does Mutsvangwa think he is? He sponsored factionalism to gratify his wounded ego,” said Mlala who is believed to be a staunch Grace Mugabe sympathiser.
Another war veteran Isaiah Muzanda also said:”we support the First Family and we have nothing to do with Mutsvangwa.”
The development has all but ended Mnangagwa’s firm control of the former freedom fighters’ association in Masvingo province.

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Israel Houghton Caught with Half Nude Girl | BREAKING NEWS

In what could be a shocking reflection of the weakness of Celebrity Christianity, top US Gospel musician deeply loved in Zimbabwe, Israel Houghton has been caught with a sometime “half nude” girlfriend of his, weeks after divorcing his wife of 20 years.

New couple alert: Adrienne Bailon has gone public with her new boyfriend Israel Houghton, who she is pictured with in 2013
New couple alert: Adrienne Bailon has gone public with her new boyfriend Israel Houghton, who she is pictured with in 2013

The Christian community was met with shock yesterday, when Mr Houghton who sang “You Are Alpha And Omega,” a song “I learnt in Zimbabwe,” was found ‘indulging himself’ with a celebrity whose Christian credentials are doubted, Adrienne Bailon. The two went public with their new romance during a sun-filled holiday in Tulum, Mexico this week.
The woman is pictured dressed “half nude” as some conservative Zimbabweans described last night.

The 32-year-old is dating the Grammy-winning singer, who announced he had divorced wife, Meleasa last month.

israrel houghton

The 44-year-old stated that he and Meleasa had been separated for a long time before officially ending their marriage, and revealed that his infidelity five years ago was to blame for the split.

'I failed and sinned in my marriage': Grammy Award winner Israel revealed last month that he and Meleasa (who he is pictured with in 2011) had split due to his past infidelity five years ago
‘I failed and sinned in my marriage’: Grammy Award winner Israel revealed last month that he and Meleasa (who he is pictured with in 2011) had split due to his past infidelity five years ago

According to TMZ, Adrienne began dating Israel after his divorce was made official earlier this year, and the duo were spotted kissing during their romantic Mexican getaway.

houghton2

The pair were friends before they became romantically involved, and the Cheetah Girl appeared in the 2013 movie I’m In Love with A Church Girl, which Israel produced.

Flashback: A year ago, Israel congratulated Adrienne on her engagement to Lenny Santiago. The couple, who were together for six years, called off the wedding in September
Flashback: A year ago, Israel congratulated Adrienne on her engagement to Lenny Santiago. The couple, who were together for six years, called off the wedding in September

Israel shared a Facebook post on Tuesday after news of his relationship with Adrienne broke, stating: ‘I met Adrienne Bailon a bit over 2 years ago, we worked together & became friends.

‘Our circles connected & we remained good friends. From a friendship, as two single adults we have very recently begun to explore a dating relationship.’

He also made it clear that there was no overlap between his marriage and his new relationship, and that Adrienne should not have to ‘carry the burden, blame & shame’ of his past affair.

Israel wrote: ‘My marriage had been over for quite some time before going public with my divorce announcement. It seems to be simple math that I had not even met Adrienne during the time my marriage was falling apart.’

He added: ‘Adrienne is a woman of integrity & character… Most of all she is a true friend, and she should not be blamed for my past indiscretions.’

The frontman of Gospel group Israel & New Breed congratulated Adrienne on her engagement to Roc Nation executive Lenny Santiago last year.

‘Huge congratulations to our friends @adrienne_bailon & @kodaklens on their engagement – we are so happy for you guys, May God Bless all of your days…’ he shared on Instagram at the time.

However the couple – who had been together for six years – announced that they had called off the wedding in September.

Israel meanwhile shared on Facebook in February that he and Meleasa had divorced, explaining: ‘Several years ago I failed and sinned in my marriage.

‘Though this is new to many, it is not new to us as we have been working through this for over 5 years. Although we tried, the challenges in our relationship have proven too much to overcome.’

Israel insisted in the now-deleted post that they will ‘remain friendly and kind to each other’ for the sake of their three children: Mariah, Israel Jr. and Milan Lillie.

‘Although I am sincerely sorry, and forgiven, I soberly realize that I will live with the consequences of my failings for the rest of my life,’ he added.

Before she started dating ex-fiance Lenny, Adrienne was famously in a relationship with Rob Kardashian.

The pair split in 2009 after two years together, with the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star admitting that he had cheated on Adrienne.

The Real star told Latina magazine in 2014: ‘It’s common knowledge that he cheated on me. It always bothered me that people were like, “Pero, why couldn’t you forgive him?”

‘Why are women always the ones who have to forgive? If you cheated on a man, he would be like, “You’re disgusting, and I want nothing to do with you.” But women, we’re supposed to be like, “He messed up. He made a mistake.”’ – DailyMail/Additional Reporting

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PICTURE:Mujuru Aide’s House Torched Down

torched down...Zim PF Coordinator's House
torched down…Zim PF Coordinator’s House

Bikita West coordinator for Joice Mujuru’s People First party (ZPF), Tsuru Gurwe’s five sons were lucky to escape alive after the hut they used as a bedroom was torched by unknown assailants who disappeared in the midnight darkness last week.
Gurwe of Ward 10 said that prior to the arson attack, he was confronted by a Zanu-PF youth who told him that they wanted to fix him for taking ZPF to Bikita.
Gurwe who reported the matter to Bikita police station said his key suspects were Zanu- PF youths who were harassing him on a daily basis.
“My first suspects are those people who were threatening to fix me…they attacked me for bringing ZPF to Mukanganwi. When they started to threaten me, I thought they were joking but now look my house has been burnt,” said Gurwe.
“It was a horrible experience for me and my family… it’s not easy to see your house on fire especially knowing that your children are asleep in that house. I thank God none of the children was injured. My Grade Zero child was rescued when the roof was about to collapse,” added Gurwe.
However, Gurwe said the incident will not stop him from campaigning for ZPF in Bikita.
“Zanu-PF is prepared to go to any lengths to squash the ever-increasing popularity of our party. They know we are the only meaningful opposition which is a threat to them. This incident will not deter me from campaigning for my party,” said Gurwe who was once Zanu-PF chairman for Ward 10. – TellZimbabwe

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Coltart Dares Mnangagwa: “Sue Me”

resolute...David Coltart
resolute…David Coltart

VICE President Emmerson Mnangagwa has denounced “false and malicious” statements he says are contained in a book recently published by Bulawayo Senator David Coltart (MDC).
State Media Mnangagwa said he “noted with concern” claims in Coltart’s autobiography, The Struggle Continues, that he incited violence against civilians in the 1980s at the height of the unpopular deployment of the Five Brigade army unit in Matabeleland and the Midlands in an operation to hunt down anti-government dissidents.
Rights groups claim thousands of innocent civilians were murdered in cold blood in the operation which came to be known as “Gukurahundi”, most of them accused of harbouring the dissidents who numbered just over a hundred.
Coltart yesterday dared State Media Mnangagwa to go ahead and sue him. State Media Mnangagwa complained about a passage in Coltart’s book in which he is quoted, during a rally “near Lupane” in March 1983, as having said that the government “had the option of burning down… all villages infested with dissidents”.
A statement issued by his office and dated March 21 said: “The Vice President ED Mnangagwa wishes to communicate that all the statements attributed to him are a total fabrication and that at no stage during the 1980s did he address a rally in Lupane, nor did he at any other venue utter those words.
“The Vice President’s legal practitioners are currently perusing Mr Coltart’s autobiography… before considering appropriate action to be taken to address these false and malicious statements.”
But appearing unfazed by the threat of a lawsuit from State Media Mnangagwa yesterday, Coltart said on Twitter: “ED will be very poorly advised to sue.”
Coltart said State Media Mnangagwa’s utterances had been reported by The State Media at the time, adding: “He never challenged what they wrote.”
It has since emerged that the said comments by State Media Mnangagwa were also contained in a Roman Catholic Church-sponsored inquiry into the 1980s disturbances whose final report, Breaking the Silence, was published in 1997 with Coltart as a co-author.
Contrary to what Coltart says in his book, the comments were said to have been made at a rally in Victoria Falls and not “near Lupane”.
Yesterday, The State Media dug into its archives which showed that the statements attributed to State Media Mnangagwa were indeed published in The State Media between March and April 1983.
In a front page splash headlined “Minister defends Five Brigade” published on March 5, 1983, The State Media reported: “Likening the dissidents to cockroaches and bugs, the minister said the bandit menace had reached such epidemic proportion that the government had to bring ‘DDT’ (Five Brigade) to get rid of the bandits.”
DDT was a popular pesticide, which is now banned almost everywhere in the world.
The State Media said State Media Mnangagwa, then the State Security Minister, was speaking at a rally in Victoria Falls also addressed by the Minister of National Supplies State Media Enos Nkala and the Minister of Trade and Commerce, State Media Richard Hove. State Media Nkala and Hove are both late.
“The government had two options to deal decisively with the dissident menace,” The State Media paraphrased State Media Mnangagwa as saying. “One was to burn down all villages infested with dissidents and the other was to bring in the Five Brigade. The government chose the latter.”
State Media Mnangagwa also reportedly told the rally that “it was necessary to destroy the infrastructure that nurtured the bandits”.
“Dissidents would only survive where there was fodder for them,” he is quoted as having said, before adding: “Have you ever asked yourself why there are no dissidents in many places in Mashonaland?”
A month later, in an article published on April 5 under the headline, “Nkayi povo denounce Nkomo”, State Media Mnangagwa was quoted as saying the Five Brigade had “come to Matabeleland like fire and in the process of cleansing the area of the dissident menace had also wiped out their supporters.”
“Blessed are they who will follow the path of government laws for their days on earth shall be increased. But woe unto those who will choose the path of collaboration with dissidents for we will certainly shorten their stay on earth,” he added.
Yesterday, State Media Mnangagwa’s office requested the referenced back copies of The State Media which were provided.