Following the Commissioner General of Police’s recent swipe on cops who are involved in illegal acts hiding behind their jobs, officers in Lupane Matabeleland North have reportedly gone into a rush to acquire fake driving licences.
Information made available to ZimEye.com by impeccable sources within the police station at the Matabeleland North Provincial capital claim that at least eleven officers who for a longtime have been driving personal and police vehicles without driving licences, sourced the fraudulent disks from a man who is a “ZRP agent” at the Vehicle Inspection Department in the Hwange.
The sources claim that the Officer In Charge at Lupane Police is aware of the allegations as they were reported to him via a tip-off from members of the public. According to the sources, the senior official did not do anything about the information despite the names of the concerned officers having been given to him.
One of the officers involved in the scam is reported to have been involved in an accident recently and failed to produce a driver’s licence as he feared producing it. The case is still at court.
A comment could not be immediately obtained from the Officer In Charge at Lupane who was said to be out of office on police business in Masvingo.

President Robert Mugabe yesterday castigated attacks on the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe by some Zanu-PF youths saying such lack of discipline would not be tolerated in the party.
Speaking at his 92nd birthday celebrations at the Great Zimbabwe Monuments in Masvingo, Mugabe bemoaned lack of discipline among some youths who have been attacking the leadership lately saying the Youth League would be supported in censuring those found on the wrong.
Mugabe also condemned leaders fanning factionalism within the party by sponsoring youths to pursue their agendas. Responding to Zanu-PF Secretary for Youth Affairs Pupurai Togarepi’s earlier address, Mugabe said he was happy with efforts to preserve the status of the structure by strongly discouraging wayward and disrespectful behaviour among its ranks.
“Now if you look at the way they are behaving, you wonder if they are drunk or they would have smoked marijuana. They insult elders and even go on to insult party leaders. It’s shameful. They even insult Amai Mugabe, the wife of the , taking them (insults) to Al Jazeera, composing and recording songs on that. Who are they doing this for? Who are the enemies amongst us? Youths who were brought up in proper homes, with their fathers and mothers would not dare say such words,” said Mugabe.
“We got to a point of asking if the Youth League was aware of all this, but I was relieved when I heard Togarepi saying they would deal with such elements, discipline them and chuck them out of our party. We cannot have people with such mentality. Never, never! We cannot lead such misguided youth. No! The youths have got to be well disciplined, well behaved and respectful, and among ourselves too as elders, because we are the ones who will be behind these youths, inciting them. We’ve got to know, understand that as we destroy the culture of respect among ourselves, we are destroying the unity of our nation and oneness we need for our people to continue to work together. We don’t want that.”
Mugabe called on the youth to blow the whistle on officials causing divisions and factionalism in the party saying some senior members were behind the sponsoring of factionalism in the party.
“Factionalism, factionalism and I repeat, factionalism has no space, it has no place at all in our party Zanu-PF. It should never be allowed to exist because we have platforms for discussions, platforms for pitting one idea against another and for entertaining even views which are negative, we examine them and throw them out even if we don’t see any merits in them,” said Mugabe.
“The genesis of factionalism seems to be coming from the senior party members, the so called political gurus who are using the youth in pursuit of their own evil interests, taking advantage of the challenges affecting the youths today. Power will never come through such means. You don’t get into power through fighting among yourselves. There is only one way, just one way which is the Zanu way, to any position or positions in the party. It is the way of the people, you must be chosen by the people and the people must see you and judge you from your works, from what you do, what you say, how you act, how you interact. Are you a well behaved person, are you a hard worker, what record have you in the party to deserve this position or that position? Those things must be taken together.”
Mugabe pledged his support to the Youth League but said there was a need for discipline in all the party’s wings.
“If the youths lose focus, we are done, if the Women’s League does the same, we are done as a party. Those wings should be strengthened so that there is unity. The idea of insulting each other, we have always said down with that,” said Mugabe adding that the party needs to work hard to maintain its dominance in the political playing field.
“People showed us in 2013 that they are behind us. Some parties have split beyond recognition and you can’t even patch them up together anymore. Those who split from MDC-T, you can’t even tell what they call themselves now. There are also those who came from us. They have tried taking our name but modified it a little bit and called themselves People First. Soon they will split and you will soon hear there is a people second, people third and people fourth,” said Mugabe.
He paid tribute to Togarepi for the successful hosting of the party and also revealing that the Youth Affairs Secretary had assured him that there won’t be any incident of chaos at the event.
“I’m proud of you but be strong because there are some wayward youths, we want to see discipline, direction and principles,” said Mugabe who also described Togarepi’s deputy Kudzai Chipanga as dynamic and jokingly spoke about how he was on the news for allegedly threatening war veterans before clearing the air that the youth leader actually did not threaten the former freedom fighters. The said the youths have to work harmoniously with the former freedom fighters.
Mugabe called for discipline among the youths and war veterans and for both to adhere to discipline and the principles of the party. He also spoke against the abuse of liberation war credentials by some war veterans who want to use their status to domineer over others as everyone was important in the party.
“Now together, we must find our way to the problems that we face together. They will have a lot to learn from the war veterans of course because they are war veterans, they fought the war but I don’t want them (youths) to be bullied,” he said.
“Let us use that principle, take advantage of that principle of sitting down to discuss our differences. They call it the principle of dialogue. We should remain united and use proven channels to solve our differences.”
Mugabe said while people embrace Information Communication Technology (ICT) particularly social media in broad areas of research and communication, there was a need for responsible use of those platforms as they should not be used to carry anti-social and divisive activities.
Commenting on the choice of the historically rich Great Zimbabwe Monuments, Mugabe said, “We have come to this special place. There were our fathers, our ancestors, the likes of Munhumutapa. Your decision to host this party here was no coincidence. It’s a decision that has a lot of intrinsic significance. We get the inspiration from our ancestors and ancestral spirits will inspire us to leave this place with a new spirit to work for Zimbabwe.
“We called ourselves Zimbabwe not Rhodesia because of this place, so that we stay in touch with our ancestors and be one with those that left, those who are here and our future generations. That spirit should fill you, it should fill you and inspire you to desist from tribalism. Yes, Masvingo people are the custodians of this place, no one doesn’t know that they are the hosts, but this does not mean that Togarepi who is from here should give people from here priority. Even us, as we come from where we come from we must shun nepotism. If one is your relative and they are qualified you may give them the position, it is allowed. We don’t want nepotism.
“These structures would not have been, had our ancestors not been united, these structures were not built by people who were not united, they were not built by people who were not brave, they were not built by people who were not focused. This would not have been possible if people were fighting among themselves. There were ways, ways which we inherited from our elders, ways that came from ancient times.”
In his address, Togarepi said there were some misguided elements within the youths bent on destabilising the party and threatened to rein over those found on the wrong side. He also deplored the use of social networks to create discord within the party instead of tackling developmental issues that will help the country.
“I feel ashamed when the First Family is denigrated by our youths. Some youths want to cause destabilisation within the party and we want to rein over them. When attacking the First Family, these youths are targeting our revolution. I would ask for permission from you, to discipline misguided elements within our youth and even remove them from positions with your guidance,” said Togarepi.
He said that youths are behind the First Family and guard Mugabe’s legacy as young people without fear.
“As youths we are going to guard your legacy jealousy and support one centre of power, Gushungo. We call upon the Government to regulate the national youth services in schools for our young people, the same way the party wants to establish Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology,” he said.
Masvingo acting Zanu-PF chairman Amasa Nenjana distanced the province from the attacks that the First Lady received from some malcontents and declared unconditional support on her.
“We are not part of those who attack the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe. We are fully behind her and those who are talking bad about her do not belong to us. We are united here in Masvingo and we would continue supporting the and the First Family,” he said.
National Youth Political Commissar Innocent Hamandishe said attacking the First Lady was tantamount to attacking the youth and that will not be tolerated.
“We respect our leaders as youths and it is a lie that our Deputy National Youth Secretary Kudzanai Chipanga attacked the war veterans as it has been reported in the media. We respect our war veterans and besides, his father is a full war veteran and the mother is in the structures,” said Hamandishe.
Secretary for Administration Luis Matutu thanked Mugabe for helping the youth in shaping their future through education but, however, apologised for the insults that some members have uttered to the party leadership.
“We thank you, Gushungo for the direction you have showed us. We are indebted as youths and we shall continue supporting the revolution. We, however, apologise for wayward behaviour shown by some of our youths,” said Matutu.-State Media

Former ZANU PF Chairman for Mash West, Temba Mliswa has been arrested.
Mliswa was harassed and arrested by police officers at Maphisa, in Matebeleland South Saturday afternoon.
The man was taken by cops at a private YARD(Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy meeting this afternoon. The development came after his organisation YARD staged a demo against President Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebration in Masvingo.
His office confirmed Mliswa’s arrest, adding that details were still sketchy. “I am advised that Mr Mliswa was today arrested afternoon,” his secretary told ZimEye.com.
However it turned out the police had no case at all and Mliswa was released within the hour.
ZimEye.com can reveal Mliswa at 5pm was now a free man after the cops failed to lay charges at him.

State Media Updates:
President Mugabe is now cutting the cake.
1519: President Mugabe has promised to take the youth’s suggestion that 21 February be made a youth day by taking the suggestion to the party and if it’s agreed it will be taken to parliament. He has finished his address.
1514: President Mugabe laments the bad agricultural season and says they have had to ask for help as they seek maize and other forms of grain.
“We are doing our best to feed our nation..yes, we need more funding in order to buy it…we shall certainly get through this bad patch. I just want to say to the youth league well done..I’m sure we shall be well fed.”
1510: “I fail to get what is to get these people to abuse children, if it was one incident you would say maybe it’s madness but it’s now so widespread. There have been suggestions that the punishment being given by the courts is not enough.”
1309: “Let us recognise that although we may differ, although we may have different affinities..there is room in our country for all us and that must be recognised, that is the right of self determination, we work together, we allow democracy to have it’s role in society and accept the rule of law and the fact that we have a Constitution.
“Compliance with that Constitution is a must  that’s the start of the rule of law, elections must held when they are due but they must be free and fair just like the 2013 elections were free and fair.”
If aid is going to be given on the principle that we accept gay marriages then let that aid stay were it is, it is rotten aid, filthy aid…I thank the Zanu-PF youth league for organising this event…to everyone here celebrating my 92nd birthday I want to thank you all.”
1500: “The youth league is our vanguard in the revolution in the event of divisionists coming to divide the party, you the youth should blow the whistle…the youth should always embrace the use of ICTs in various facets of our development…however the use of social media platforms should be used for the development spectrum of the nation.”
1456: “We should remain united and use proper channels to solve our differences.”
1454: “I’m glad to share with you that i treat this event with the seriousness it deserves….the movement is dedicated towards the development of youths in all walks of life….The situation nin country socially, politically and economically has not been favourable to our youth mainly caused by the illegal sanctions…the British and Americans have utilised this opportunity to individuals from outside and within which has led to factionalism.”
1448: He addresses Kudzanai Chipanga saying the youth should find a solution and a workable relationship with war veterans and not deride each other. He says people can’t say they fought the war like they fought alone. The youth have a lot to learn also from the war veterans they fought the war.
President Mugabe is now introducing other VIPs on the podium.
1439: “May I on behalf of my family…my lovely wife apa Grace, and my daughter Bona and her husband Simba, then Robert Tinotenda, he’s the tallest in the family akuita architecture and Bellarmine..Vakwashawo vauya futi Reverend Chikoore ve ZAOGA naMai vauyawo futi.”
1435: “Tauya kuno kuZunde..nzvimbo yakakosha..kusarudza kwamakaita ana Togarepi tigovapano handifungi kwaive kwekungoti kunonzi Great Zimbabwe saka handei asi kusarudza kwaiva nekufunga kwaka dzama…It was a choice to have the ancestral spirits inspire us to work for the people. Ko takazviti Zimbabwe pamusana penzvimbo ino.
“Tirege kuva nepfungwa yekuti uyu anobva uko uyu anobva uko…hongu Masvingo ndovachengeti vemusha uno..sevatungamiri torega nyaya yekuti uyu mzukuru wangu saka ngaaende pachigaro ichi kwete.”
1429: “Zvikwata zviri kungotuka izvo takati pasi nazvo….Zanu-PF will remain Zanu-PF very strong, I thank you for the respect you have given me.”
1426: “I want to thank our children in the youth league of our party for this event which is an event to show respect not only to me but all elders both men and women coming from the youth league. We heard what they have said led by Togarepi and the pledge of respect…while we are here at Great Zimbabwe, this was the pillar of the house of Munhumutapa, this is the place that has given us a new life. We fought with the life that was here in our minds.
“The unity they had ensures the spread of their rule all over, across the Limpopo even if you go to Mapungubwe or Khami Ruins…this could never have been built by a people who were not united. There was a way of life, a life we have been given…we wonder whether some youths would have smoke ganja by some youths..it’s quite unbecoming the way the President’s wife has been abused with some even giving news to the likes of Al Jazeera…I was happy to hear Togarepi say that they would be punished even chased from the party.
We cannot lead such misguided youths, no, the youths have to well disciplined..respectful. We, the elders need to be straight forward also because we will be behind..we don’t want that..powers and positions are not won by attacking each other, there’s only way which is the Zanu way to any positions in the party. It is the way of the people, you must be chosen by the people…are you a well behaved person, what record have you in the party.”
1414: President Mugabe is now on the podium.
1342: The youth league invited President Mugabe’s inmates when he was incacerated during the colonial era and they have now been invited on stage to meet with the President.
1339: He warns those involved in corruption saying the youth league will face them head on. Togarepi says the youth league has put in place programmes to enhance productivity that include housing projects with financial support being already in place, ideological training amongst other projects.
He says the President’s name will always be remembered and he wishes him more years. He proposes that the 21st of February be a holiday.
1328: Secretary for youth affairs Pupurai Togarepi is now on the podium. He says the youth leadership has shown great maturity and leadership in making the event a success. He praises President Mugabe for good leadership of the African Union and Sadc. Togarepi lauds the President’s stance on the reformation of the United Security Council as well as his stance on unity in the Southern African region.
He says the party’s resounding victory in the 2013 elections is testimony of the people’s confidence in the President. Togarepi says the youth league has been working hard on the empowerment of youths. He lambasts the abuse of social media as a weapon to disrupt the party. He says the target is the revolution. He says any member of the youth league who abuses social media should be removed from their positions.
1313:  Zanu-PF youth league national secretary for commissariat Innocent Hamandishe is the Master of Ceremony for the day.
1310: School children are now reciting poems.
1253: Josiah Hungwe is now addressing the gathering on behalf of Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Shuvai Mahofa who is ill. He welcomes those gathered and urges them to enjoy the celebrations.
1239: Six foreign youth league organisations are also at the celebrations and they include BDP from Botswana, FRELIMO from Mozambique, ANC from South Africa among others
1232: Matutu is now introducing the youths who are part of the celebrations.
1231: He says the 21st February Movement is a non partisan development organisation. He calls upon all citizens of Zimbabwe to unite because unity is the glue that binds the people together.
Matutu says it is disheartening the way the young and others behave in the party yet unity is what is needed. He apologises on behalf of the youth.
1228: Zanu-PF youth league national secretary for administration Lewis Matutu is now on the podium.
1212: Tha National Anthem is now being played.
1203: President Mugabe and Amai Grace Mugabe have arrived to wild cheers and ululation.
1155: VP Mnangagwa and his wife have arrived.
1150: Walter Chidhakwa, Simon Khaya-Moyo, Dr Ignatius Chombo and Dr Lazarus Dokora have arrived.
1121: School children are now reciting poems.
1109: ZCC Mbungo Choir has got the delegates on their feet with their energy filled music and dance.
1101: Senate president Edna Madzongwe, chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Sibanda and Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Patrick Zhuwawo are also among the delegates.
1046: VP Phelekezela Mphoko has arrived accompanied by his wife Luaurinda.

Tonnes  of Tuberculosis (TB) drugs are expiring in the country’s public hospitals at a time thousands of patients  are dying, a senior government official has said.
“We have ballooning stocks of TB drugs in our hospitals and if they were vitamins we could all them, but  the unfortunate thing is that they are expiring ,”HIV/TB deputy director in the ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Charlse Sandy told reporters attending a TB reporting workshop which was organised by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) in Kadoma this week.
According to government records Matebeleland has the highest number (27%) of people dying of TB.
But Dr Sandy said the rising number of TB deaths cases were not related to the availability of drugs which are expiring.
“It could be delays in seeking care and that’s where issues needs to be addressed on raising awareness in communities on the symptoms of TB and what are the available facilities for those who might need them,” he said.
“Other cases might be emanating from people who might not be resident in the country; they come back at the time their situation has deteriorated”.
It also emerged at the workshop that in some parts, the people walk for at least 20 kilometres to the nearest health care centre for services.
It was also highlighted that  there are few facilities  which offer both TB and HIV services.
Statistics show that least 70% of TB patients have HIV.
An official with International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), an organisation which provides TB and health services to communities said they were going to assist government in expanding one stop HIV/TB service shops throughout the country.
Currently there are 26 such centres and most of them are in urban areas.

TWO female police officers bravely fought off a knife wielding five-men gang that attacked a police base and tried to rape one of them. Licking their wounds, the gang fled from the base, near Amakhosi Cultural Centre in Bulawayo, minutes before reinforcements from the canine section arrived at the scene. The incident happened at about 1AM yesterday.
Police with sniffer dogs tracked down and arrested two of the suspects. A manhunt has been launched for the other three. Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango referred questions to national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi.
Chief Supt Nyathi could not be reached for comment as his cellphone rang unanswered. Police sources said three police officers, one male, were at the tent which is used as the base.
“When the five arrived, the male police officer was outside. Apparently unaware of his presence, they immediately attacked the women,” said a source. The source said a scuffle
ensued as one of the attackers tried to rape one of the officers.
“The two female officers fought hard to keep their attackers at bay while the male officer called for backup at Bulawayo Central Police Station,” said the source.
“The raiders apparently realising they were coming out second best, fled into the bush and a few minutes later, the reinforcements arrived.” The male police officer, said the source, showed the dog squad the direction taken by the fleeing criminals.
“The dogs immediately picked the scent and two of the fleeing suspects were arrested,” the source added. It could not be ascertained yesterday why the gang raided the police base.
Following their arrests, the bruised suspects were taken to Bulawayo Central Police Station where they are assisting with investigations. The Chronicle visited the police base yesterday and it was business as usual. Officers at the base refused to shed light on the matter saying only their public relations officers were allowed to speak to the Press. – State Media

A Bulawayo man was arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl six times in one day. Ndodana Ndlovu, 33, of Nkulumane appeared before Provincial magistrate Abednico Ndebele to answer rape charges and was remanded in custody to March 3.
The court heard that on Tuesday last week the teen’s mother sent her to collect money from Ndlovu who had bought eggs from her on credit.
Prosecuting, Stewart Madzore told the court that on February 16 the girl set out but failed to locate Ndlovu’s house. “She decided to sleep at her aunt’s house in Nkulumane.
“The next day she woke up and went to look for Ndlovu and met him on the road,” said Madzore. “The accused who was with a co-worker greeted the complainant and they invited her into a kombi that he was driving.”
The prosecutor said Ndlovu took the girl to his house where he ordered her to strip naked. “The accused raped the complainant six times,” said Madzore. The girl later reported the assault to her brother leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.

A soldier lost $300 to a hooker he had hired for a one night stand. But the prostitute says she took the money as revenge as the soldier had removed her female condom during sex.
Priviledge Manyora (21) of Dangamvura, pleaded guilty to stealing $150 from Trymore Zviitirei (26) when she appeared before senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura.
The State did not accept the limited plea and she was granted $20 bail. The case goes for trial on March 4.
Manyora told the court that she stole the money from Zviitirei who is stationed at 3.1 Combat Group as revenge after she found out that he had removed the female condom she was wearing when they were being intimate.
“We agreed that he pays $10 for one night. After having sexual intercourse, I observed that he had removed the female condom I was wearing. I discovered it in the morning after we were done. I took $150 from his pockets because I wanted to use it for medication and to get tested. I fear for my health, so he should pay for that. He is now fabricating that I took $300,” she said.
Mrs Chiundura advised her to look for better ways to make a living.
“Aren’t you ashamed of your behaviour? You should find something to do rather than stealing or being a prostitute,” she said.
Allegations are that that Manyora stole $300 from Zviitirei’s pockets and left him sleeping in her house.
A total of $150 was recovered from Manyora’s friend, Abigail Stima. Manica Post

Kwekwe Central MP Masango ‘Blackman’ Matambanadzo has been involved in a car accident, details reaching ZimEye.com claim.

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The accident occurred on the Kwekwe, Mvuma road.
His car was yesterday afternoon towed with the central police station taking the case, a report says. Further details on how it all occurred were sketchy at the time of writing.
Sources told ZimEye Senior police officers were still inspecting the vehicle at around 5pm Thursday.
There were no injuries.
More to follow…

President Mugabe who pledged 300 head of cattle to the African Union Foundation last year has honoured his promise. The President has met with Mr Erastus Mwencha, the AU Commission deputy chairperson who in the country yesterday to receive the cattle.
The President, who was by then AU and SADC chairman when he made the pledge last year in June made the donation as a way of dissuading Africa from over-reliance on external partners whose donations come with strings attached.
Speaking after meeting President Mugabe at State House, Mr Mwencha said the cattle contribution would go a long way in capacitating the Foundation.
“I am here for very good news,” he said.
“His Excellency the President during his tenure as chairperson of the African Union made a contribution and a donation to the private sector and as we know that last year when we had Ebola the private sector came up in a very strong way to support the African Union. So His Excellency also showed his commitment in that direction.

The African Union Foundation is the brainchild of African Heads of State and Government and was created for the purposes of collaborating with the private sector, philanthropists, individuals and the Diaspora to solicit donations and seek voluntary contributions towards the financing of Africa’s development priorities in pursuit of Agenda 2063.
The Foundation seeks to promote the development of skills and human resources on the continent, women empowerment and gender equality and to promote integration and management of diversity, youth development and entrepreneurship, advocacy and support for the African Union
Mr Mwencha said they were yet to make a decision on whether to sell the cattle or “get a place to keep them so that they multiply”.
President Mugabe, who has repeatedly called on African countries to depend on themselves, said he hoped the donation would “keep the foundation going”.
“I am happy that the gift we offered to the AU is at last received by the beneficiary,” he said.
“I just decided that we make a gift in kind, it just struck me that no one had ever thought of a gift by way of cattle to the AU and since we are cattle people why shouldn’t we also make a gift to the AU in cattle form? So we are very happy to make such a contribution, it (AU) is our organisation. And we hope the cattle, as will be decided now by the AU, will play some part in establishing the foundation, making the foundation keep going.”
Kadoma businessman Mr Jimayi Muduvuri, who is looking after the cattle, said he had seen it fit to assist President Mugabe who always had a busy schedule.
“I am the one who said President you cannot do that for yourself, being the chairman for AU (by then), it is not his job. He is working for us and that is our duty to support our President,” he said.
Mr Mwencha is expected to go and see the cattle at Vuka Farm in Karoi today. – State Media

By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo |Tension continues to mount ahead of President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash scheduled for Saturday with MDC youths staging a demonstration against the president’s lavish ceremony while millions of Zimbabweans are facing starvation.
Placard wielding MDC youths on Tuesday marched along the streets of Masvingo expressing concern at the state of the economy and starvation while Mugabe ‘s bash chewed up at least $800 000. MDC national youth chairperson Happymore Chidziva urged Mugabe and Zanu PF to address matters of national concern instead of blowing close to a million dollars on the bash.
“It is unacceptable to blow up such a lot of money just to celebrate Mugabe’s birthday while millions of people are hungry. So our message is very clear, Mugabe must address the disastrous situation with immediate effect. The economy is crumbling everyday and hundreds of graduates are roaming the streets so we call upon the government to address these matters of national importance,” said Chidziva.
The MDC youths also slammed the current infighting in Zanu PF saying ruling party stalwarts were concentrating on factional battles ignoring the plight of the people of Zimbabwe. “Zanu PF bigwigs are fighting each other while the entire nation is suffering. What we want is food on the table.We want jobs not Mugabe’s bash which does not benefit the nation. Masvingo Province is hard hit by drought and instead of wasting money on the bash, Mugabe must feed the nation and the province of Masvingo,” said Chidziva. Meanwhile members of Mugabe’s security team have occupied all the luxurious lodges and hotels in the city of Masvingo.
Analysts say thousands of dollars have been committed towards Mugabe’s personal security at a time drought is ravaging the province of Masvingo and parts of Midlands and Matabeleland provinces respectively.

Grace Mugabe who is the Zanu-PF Women’s League secretary is not interested in succeeding her husband, the State Media reports claiming.
Her deputy Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo quoted by the state broadsheet media has rubbished the stories which she said are being peddled by sections of the private media.
During the interview Moyo said the subject was discussed at the Women’s League national executive meeting in Harare on Wednesday, where the leadership was concerned about the misconception over the First Lady’s position.
“The issue of the First Lady harbouring ambitions to succeed His Excellency (President Mugabe) is misleading. We have not discussed that as the Women’s League and we don’t know where it’s coming from,” she said.
Moyo said the Wednesday meeting discussed the Women League’s resolutions ahead of the December 2015 zanu-pf annual national people’s conference, which seem to have been misconstrued.
The party’s conference was held in Victoria Falls.
“It came to our attention as the Women’s League executive that our resolutions for the conference were not clearly understood hence we needed to clarify that.

“We have said we wanted the constitution to be amended by 2016 and not that we wanted the Vice Presidency by 2016. What we want this year is to have the constitution corrected so that when the time to elect leaders comes (at congress in 2018) one of the VPs will be a woman. This has to be clear so that we are protected by the constitution as women.”
Moyo is also Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo. She went on to Say the league’s recommendation for a constitutional amendment should not be taken out of context and be confused with “succession” politics.
She  pointed out that as an organ of the revolutionary party, Zanu-PF, the Women’s League was fully behind the First Family.
“We want to set the record straight because some people are being misled. As the Women’s League we’re in solidarity with the First Family. We always work and go with the First Lady and at no point has she declared an ambition for any higher post.
In fact, she has said she is content where she is. People should stop giving her a position she has not asked for.” – state media

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) says Johannes Tomana is not a “fit and proper person” to continue in the esteemed office of Prosecutor-General in the wake of defying court orders from the superior courts.
In terms of the Constitution, for one to hold the office of Prosecutor-General, he/she “must be a fit and proper person”.
However, Tomana yesterday filed an urgent chamber application seeking an interim order staying the process for his possible removal from office.
Tomana, who is facing criminal charges at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts’ involving Gushungo Dairy bombing, was in October last year slapped with a 30-day term of imprisonment for contempt of court after he defied court orders to issue certificates for the private prosecution of Bikita West legislator Dr Munyaradzi Kereke and Telecel shareholder Dr Jane Mutasa.
Kereke was accused of raping an 11-year-old relative, while Mutasa was facing charges of swindling the company of airtime recharge cards worth millions of dollars.
Tomana was fined by a nine-member judges’ panel of the Constitutional Court led by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku.
The sentence was, however, wholly set-aside on condition that he complied with the court orders and issue private prosecution certificates to Mr Francis Maramwidze and Telecel, within 10 days, failure which he would be barred from practising as a lawyer in Zimbabwe.
The following month, Tomana was again at the centre of another storm for allegedly abusing the court process to rubber-stamp the acquittal of former Zupco board chairman, Professor Charles Nherera, who was charged with corruption.
The abuse reportedly occurred at the time when Tomana was the Attorney General. Prof Nherera was acquitted by the High Court in November 2009, barely a year after Tomana was appointed to the post of then AG.
It emerged yesterday that the JSC has taken steps towards removing him from office, when it wrote to him about his unsuitability to continue holding the office of Prosecutor-General.
He was given 10 days to respond to the letter dated February 12 2016 signed by the JSC chairman Chief Justice Chidyausiku.
Attached to the letter were two judgments one from the Constitutional Court and the other from the High Court.
“ It is the view of the Judicial Service Commission that they both speak to your suitability to continue to hold the office of Prosecutor-General,” reads the letter. “ On the basis of these judgments, the JSC is of the view that a prima facie case exists for it to act in terms of Section 259(7), as read with Section 187, of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, subject to any submissions you may wish to make in this regard.”
He was given 10 days to respond, failure to which the JSC would proceed to determine the matter on the basis he had no submissions to make. On Tuesday Chief Justice Chidyausiku wrote again to Tomana explaining what he meant in his first letter.
He explained that the Constitutional Court had found as a fact that he disobeyed orders of the court. “ This was common cause and, in my view, no detailed reasons are required in this regard,” said Chief Justice Chidyausiku. “ I, however, attach to this letter two judgments whose orders you failed to obey. The Constitution Court considered your failure to obey these court orders constituted a violation of Section 165 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and imposed on you what it considered appropriate punishment for such transgression.
“ The fact that the Constitutional Court found as a fact that your disobedience of the court orders merited the punishment it imposes triggered, together with the other allegation, the mechanism for the Judicial Service Commission to consider whether or not it should exercise the power conferred on it in terms of Section 159(7) as read with section 187, of the Constitution.”
The Chief Justice said in determining Tomana’s case, the JSC will look into whether or not he disobeyed court orders. If he did disobey court orders, what are the legal consequences that flow from his conduct?
In particular, whether or not Tomana’s disobedience of court orders constitutes contempt of court which, as he knew, was a criminal offence. The JSC, furthermore, would consider that by disobeying court orders did Tomana violate section 164(3) of the Constitution, as the Constitutional Court found. If it found that Tomana violated the section alluded to, does that constitute a violation of his oath of office to uphold the Constitution.
“It is hoped that your submissions on the above will assist the Judicial Service Commission in determining what advice, if any, it should give to the President in terms of section187 of the Constitution,” said Chief Justice Chidyausiku.
“It is not for the Judicial Service Commission to delve into details of the allegations or determine whether such conduct constitutes a violation of section187 (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Constitution. That is the function of the Tribunal, if one should be appointed. I am making the above observation in the hope that it helps in understanding the process of the JSC.” Tomana yesterday responded to the matter by an urgent chamber application in the High Court seeking to stay the process in the interim, pending the finalisation of the matter. He argues that the process seeking to remove him from office was unlawful and was activated by the JSC.
In his application, Tomana cited the JSC and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa as respondents.
“…I seek a declaratory order bearing on the invalidity of the process which has been commenced by the first respondent (JSC) purportedly in terms of section 187 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” said Tomana 11-page affidavit.
“Pending determination of this matter I seek in the interim a temporary interdict stopping the commencement of the process.”
Tomana argues that the Constitutional Court judgment which committed him to jail unless he issued certificates for private prosecution was issued from a court of no jurisdiction.
“The orders I was held to have been in contempt of are orders of the High and Supreme Courts respectively,” said Tomana. “Compliance with those orders is enforced by the High Court. In fact as at the date of the order of the Constitutional Court, proceedings for contempt had been instituted in the High Court. The constitutional Court has no jurisdiction to relate to a matter which was within the purview of the High Court.”
He also contends that the order was also invalid in that the Constitution dealt with a matter which was not before it. The Constitutional Court, he added, cannot at law deal with a contempt of court matter. He said the matter that was before the apex court was an ex-parte application he had made which sought the declaration on the question of his independence.
He also argues the proceedings that gave rise to Constitutional Court order were a nullity given that the Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba was not part of the bench when the order was granted. “Constitutionally, the Constitutional Court cannot be properly constituted within the first seven years of its life if it does not consist of the Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice who must sit together in hearing any and every matter,” he argues. “ An order by an improperly constituted court is obviously a nullity.”
Tomana also argues that a citizen, Rooney Kanyama, has challenged the validity of the Constitutional Court order committing him to jail. He attached Kanyama’s application that was filed in the Constitutional Court yesterday.
“The main order upon, which the first respondent seeks to proceed is, therefore, under challenge. I will shortly be filing my position to the matter of the challenge of the order.”-State Media

Zimbabwe’s largest financial group, CBZ  Holdings, on Wednesday reported a 7 percent increase in after-tax profit to $35.2 million in the full year to December 2015, but said it had written off $24 million in bad debts as the country’s deteriorating economy adversely impacts asset quality.
CBZ, which operates the country’s biggest retail bank as well as insurance and asset management subsidiaries, reduced the amount of total loans advanced to $1,021 billion during 2015, down from $1,126 billion previously. In 2014, the bank wrote off $4,45 million.
Zimbabwe’s central bank has created a special purpose vehicle to buy bad loans from the banking sector, thereby reducing the industry’s non-performing loan ratio from about 20 percent in June 2014 to 10.9 percent by December 2015. The central bank’s asset manager has so far purchased nearly $300 million bad loans from banks, improving their asset quality.
CBZ’s non-performing loan ratio did improve marginally to 7.45 percent in 2015, from 7.63 percent in 2014, with interest having been suspended on loans worth $76 million, their financial statements show. The bank’s decision to keep a huge chunk of non-performing loans in-house, as opposed to selling them off to the state asset manager, suggest they are betting on their ability to recover some value.
The group’s total assets grew 18 percent to $1.974 billion, while total income, minus interest expense, was $184 million, a 19 percent improvement on the prior year. CBZ’s insurance business weighed in with net underwriting income of $12.5 million last year, up from $8 million in 2014.
CBZ’s flagship commercial banking unit weighed in with $140 million, or 76 of total income. The banking subsidiary’s after-tax profit for 2015 was $26.1 million, up from $16.3 million in 2014.
The group had closed the year with $42.5 million cash in the bank, down from $73 million in 2014. – The Source

Two Harare city council employees yesterday chocked to death during an operation to unblock a wastewater line.
The two Wilson Nyerukai (43) and Mugove Musariri (33) died in an accident that happened on the corner of Penny Close and Bay Close.
“The City of Harare announces with a deep sense of sorrow the death of two of its employees today (yesterday) in Msasa Park during an operation to unblock a wastewater line,” reads the death notice from City of Harare.
According to the notice, “One of the officers Wilson Nyerukai (43) (senior wastewater operator) went into the wastewater manhole to unblock a sewer line. He was overwhelmed by the force of flowing unblocked wasterwater and the gas in the seven metre deep manhole. His workmate Mugove Musariri (33) then entered the manhole to rescue him but he also choked to death.”
Fire brigade squad attended the scene and retrieved the bodies, which were then collected by the police. Nyerukai and Mugove joined council in 1999 and 2010 respectively.

The new US envoy to Harare Harry K. Thomas (Jr) says he will challenge President Robert Mugabe on human rights violations, if any happens during his term of office.
Since 2000 when she slapped Mugabe with sanction on allegations of gross human rights violations, America has been encouraging Harare to respect human rights.
“The Government of the United States and the Government of Zimbabwe share the desire for a better future for the people of this great nation and whenever we may differ on the best means of achieving these goals, I will seek to engage in a dialogue that is respectful and that seeks to uphold the universal values and rights that Zimbabweans fought so hard to gain 36 years ago,” Thomas told President Mugabe when he met him this week.
US said respect to rule of law and human rights remained its benchmark towards the re-engagement process.
“We stand by the commitments that we made to the people of Zimbabwe at independence in 1980; to work together to promote democratic institutions, equitable economic growth, public health, and food security,” he said.
“The United States shares the desires of the people of Zimbabwe, who want to see a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Zimbabwe that provides for its people and contributes to regional stability”.
“To realize these goals, we strongly believe that it is important to engage with government and non-governmental entities alike to promote our shared values and to work together in areas of common concern. We view this ongoing dialogue as part of building the bilateral relationship”.
 

By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo|Schools here have been forced to suspend lessons so to prepare for President Robert Mugabe’s lavish birthday party.
Investigations carried by ZimEye.com this week revealed local schools were ordered by CIO agents to release their pupils and teachers to assist in preparations for the 21st February celebrations scheduled for the Great Zimbabwe monuments on Saturday.
Staff members at Chirichoga, Mapanzure and Mapakomhere secondary schools told ZimEye.com they were last week ordered to release pupils to help in the preps for the massive bash. While the CIO operatives ordered the respective schools to release pupils to prepare for the bash nothing has been done to compensate for the lost time that has lapsed.
“We were ordered by men from the president’s office to release pupils to assist in the preparations for the birthday bash. We had to suspend lessons for the past two weeks since we had to comply with the directive from the office of the president. We do not know how we are going to compensate for the lost time,” said a school head who declined to be named. ZimEye.com is reliably informed pupils and teachers from neighouring schools have been ordered to take part in the preparations for the bash during the normal school hours.
Mugabe has in the past boasted of achieving a high literacy rate and the latest development has irked the local parents who feel shortchanged because of learning time lost in preparation for the bash.
The massive bash is expected to blow up at least $800 million .

Some private schools are in the process of consulting parents about increasing fees after the government’s withdrawal of  around 500 teachers from the institutions countrywide.The schools charge between $700 and $4,500 in school fees every term per child.
As a way of cuting down expenditure, the government gave private schools an ultimatum to either employ the teachers or release them for redeployment into the public service.
On November 17, 2015, Cabinet adopted the 2015 civil service audit report which, among other issues, recommended the withdrawal of funding of employment costs of government teachers in trust and private schools.
Over 500 teachers have been recalled from private schools with trust schools being the worst affected.
School heads who spoke to The Chronicle yesterday said the Bulawayo Provincial Education Director, Dan Moyo last week issued letters to the affected teachers.
“We received letters from the PED dated February 16 to the effect that government teachers are being recalled for re-deployment in the public service and must respond within 14 days,” said a school head who declined to be named for professional reasons.
The head said teachers have to make a decision individually on whether to resign or go back to government.
“What had to happen now is that teachers who decide to stay have to reach an agreement with the school before they resign or they go back to government for re-deployment,” said the school head whose school had seven affected teachers.
“We have started consulting parents on the way forward as they are the ones who run the schools. If we are to take the teachers back it means we have to boost our finances to meet the costs,” said the head.

Chairman of the Combined Heads of Independent Schools in Zimbabwe, Robert Sibanda confirmed receipt of the letter from the PED.
“The letters were released by the PED to be handed to teachers. Unfortunately I can’t comment further,” said Sibanda.
He said the Association of Trust Schools (ATS) has indicated that 406 teachers have been affected while scores more from private schools had been recalled.
Some of the ATS schools are Centenary Primary, Christian Brothers College, Dominican Convent Primary and High Schools, Girls College, Carmel, Falcon, Lomagundi, Midlands Christian College and Petra High School.
Some school heads said fees might go up next term as the redeployment would not affect lessons this term.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Sylvia Utete-Masango, in a circular dated January 28 this year, said the recalling of teachers was in line with the civil service audit which is underway.
“You are hereby recalled for redeployment in Public Service. May you therefore acknowledge receipt of this letter and respond within 14 days. By failing to respond, you shall be deemed to have resigned from Public Service,” wrote Utete Masango in a circular dated February 3.
Presenting the 2016 budget last year, Finance Minister, Patrick Chinamasa said the government would stop paying teachers employed by trust schools with effect from January 1 this year.
This was reiterated by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira who said teachers at private and trust schools, who gobbled $72 million in 2015 in salaries and allowances, would no longer get anything from the government.
“The position is that this is an unfair charge to public funds and these institutions are run on a commercial basis and should cater for their employment costs,” she said. – State Media

The Bulawayo police are looking for three women who allegedly kidnapped a man from Cowdray Park and forced him to have sex with them before taking away his semen.
These suspected women who are allegedly collecting sperms are said to be driving a white Toyota Cresta.
The incident took place on February 8 after the suspects allegedly offered a lift to a man who was hitch hiking along 6th Avenue. The man was travelling to Cowdray Park at around 8PM.
One of the women allegedly used a condom while the others had unprotected sex with him.When they had raped him they allegedly took his semen with them.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango yesterday said the suspects are still on the run. She said they would be charged with aggravated indecent assault once they were caught.
“They picked their victim at an illegal hiking point along 6th Avenue at about 8PM on Tuesday, February 8. “Their victim was travelling to Cowdray Park and while on the way they changed the route prompting him to inquire where they were taking him. They told him they were taking a short cut,” said Insp Simango.

“One of the women used a condom while the others had sex with him without protection. They then took away his semen before dumping him,” she said.
Insp Simango urged members of the public to stop boarding taxis at undesignated places saying it made them vulnerable to criminals. She appealed to members of the public who have information that may lead to the arrest of the suspected sperm harvesters to come forward.
Sperm harvesters made headlines in 2011 when they were pouncing on motorists along the Gweru-Harare highway. In 2011, three Gweru women were arrested after they were caught at a roadblock with 31 condoms that contained semen.
Rosemary Chakwizira, 24, Sophie Nhokwara, 26, and Netsai Nhokwara, 24, all of Mkoba Village Four, faced 17 counts of aggravated indecent assault but were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Last year, a Gweru commuter omnibus driver Edson Nkiwane allegedly offered an 18-year-old vagrant accommodation at his house before collecting his sperm that he stored in a bottle, after performing oral sex on the homeless man. – state media

Four Harare City Council traffic officers who went on a spree to impound a commuter omnibus as a way of fixing the crew for causing the arrest of a municipal officer have been sentenced to 18 months in prison for abuse of office.
Mbare resident magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma locked up the four, Pardon Chifanza (26), Talent Mujere (25), Gerald Marwa (32) and Alpha Muzvidzwa (59) — after finding them guilty of the offence that bordered on corruption.
Prior to the impounding of the vehicle, a driver with the commuter omnibus company in question, had caused the arrest of Kosam Ngoma, a council traffic officer, and his colleagues went on to the streets to hunt down the vehicle on a revenge mission.
The quartet, in typical mafia-style, threw spikes on the vehicle before towing it away without issuing any traffic ticket or informing the crew of the offence.
In terms of Statutory Instrument 104 of 2005 of the Harare (Clamping and Town Away) By-Laws, 2005, no motor vehicle can be clamped or immobilised without a ticket being issued.
The vehicle was towed to Harare Central Stores where it was detained.
The court heard during the trial that one of the four shouted at the driver, Mr Sunnywell Kamudira, that “wakasungisirei mumwe wedu anonzi Ngoma?” (Why did you cause the arrest of our colleague called Ngoma?).
The jailing of the four came at a time the motoring public was crying foul over abuse of authority by some overzealous city traffic officers, some who were demanding bribes and, at times, unlawfully impounding vehicles to fix those who fail to comply with their monetary demands.

When the case was reported to the police, the four sought cover under unsatisfactory claims that the vehicle was obstructing the free flow of traffic in the city. However, Ms Tshuma established that the defence raised by the four was fraught with inconsistencies and in fact corroborated the complainant’s claims that the officers were on a revenge mission.
“However, from their evidence, the accused persons failed to show that the vehicle in question was obstructing the smooth flow of traffic. “It is clear that the accused persons, who are members of the municipal police, had targeted this commuter omnibus.
“In any event, it is quite clear that if there was any obstruction, they (the four) are the ones who caused it when they placed a spike in front of the complainant’s vehicle,” ruled the magistrate.
Ms Tshuma said the offence committed was very prevalent and serious hence a custodial sentence was appropriate to curb such lawlessness. “The court is of the view that a custodial sentence is appropriate under the circumstances as it will send a clear message to the society and would-be offenders that the courts do not condone such behaviour,” said Ms Tshuma.
Facts are that on July 9 last year in the morning, Mr Kamudira was driving the kombi (ADC 6624) along Samora Machel Avenue on his way to the Harare Magistrates’ Courts for a court case involving another traffic officer and he stopped at a traffic light.
Three police officers went to the driver’s side and told him that he was not supposed to drive in the central business district. One of the officers questioned the crew why they caused the arrest of their colleague and demanded that they withdraw the case.
Mujere and Marwa pulled Mr Kamudira off the driver’s seat, manhandling him before assaulting him. Within 15 minutes a council towing vehicle arrived and towed the kombi away without issuing a traffic ticket. – State Media

An apostolic sect prophet has been arraigned for allegedly fondling a 14-year old girl’s private parts and breasts during a healing session.
Kaunda Muleya, 30, of Bulawayo’s Kingsdale suburb appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube facing an indecent assault charge.
The teen’s parents, the court heard, had invited Muleya to pray for her aunt who had suffered a stroke. The court heard that the aunt requested the prophet to extend the healing prayers to the girl who has a problem with her legs.
The teenager, in her warned and cautioned statement, said Muleya ordered her and her aunt to inhale steam as part of the healing session. “After steaming, he ordered me to go to the bathroom to finish the session. My aunt remained in the bedroom,” said the girl.
“He ordered me to remove my blouse and skirt. He then started sprinkling water on me. In the process, he started fondling my breasts and held my lower abdomen, lowered his hands further and fondled my private parts.”
Dube did not ask Muleya to plead and she remanded him out of custody to March 4.

By Terrence Mawawa, Gutu|In an incident that has left the entire local community stunned, a married man got the shock of his life when he discovered that his private parts were swollen after sexual intercourse with his girlfriend, a condition that has left health experts at Masvingo General hospital speechless.
The man John Chinyenga from Wildbeast area(popularly known as Hwiribisi), went to his girlfriend’s house on February 11 in the same area where he had sexual intercourse with her.
Chinyenga was shocked to see his private parts protruding and he consulted local traditional healers to no avail. The visibily shaken girlfriend, Gladys Makandinzwanani, said she was unaware of what could have caused the problem. “I am equally shocked because I am also in pain and I do not know what really happened. I thought it will be fine with us after a few days but things are getting worse. I am now worried about the situation. John’s privates continue to bulge and it is really disturbing,” Makandinzwanani told reporters from her bedside at Masvingo Provincial Hospital last week.
Tavada Mutero, a kraal head from the Wildbeast area said the two were bewitched following their promiscuous affair.
“Going to hospital will not help at this moment. They have to consult prophets and traditional healers for a quick remedy. The whole community is now aware of the incident. Since Chinyenga got involved in an extra marital affair it is highly possible he was trapped either by his wife or by a jealousy rival out there,” said Mutero.

• “I am the only candidate that contested independently and I had a credible 4200 votes, which really you look at, is the third to Mugabe and Tsvangirai.”

I do not support VP Emmerson Mnangagwa, Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (YARD) leader Temba Mliswa writes saying. He deliberates on this as he responds to questions raised in the ZimEye newsroom on Tuesday:
To caveat my response below, I want to make sure that there is no misunderstanding about the polarity of my support for any particular candidate. What I am merely trying to do is see the situation for what it is, in line with the respective office that the leaders are, have and will potentially hold. Our position should be about respecting the office, not the person in the office. Therefore when I talk of Mnangagwa and his current footing, this is not about me being an Mnangagwa supporter, it is about an understanding of the current and future dynamic he holds within and out of the office.
Same applies to Mai Mujuru, Simba Makoni, Morgan Tsvangirayi et al, it is about the office they held or might hold and not them as person or personality.
As the electorate and political commentators, I believe we need to bear in mind that our observations and commentaries should be about offices and their functions:what is the purpose of that office and how it is executed not about personalities. In addition, we have to ensure that we have the right granular leadership qualities in play in the potential candidates. We need leaders that have a gamut of skill, that can influence and break down barriers with our amassed ‘antagonists’. This is vital to the person who takes on the leadership role in 2018 as they have a huge mountain to climb gaining credibility with firstly the electorate, and more importantly the international community so we can revive the economy. So, do we have these skills within our current cohort of potential leaders? Well, in my opinion our current eco-system of leaders does not have a clear bell curve, most of them are all out-liers who will need careful synergy to bring together a leader who has the team that supports him effectively.
Now I jump to the question of leader working with one another: Do Mujuru and Biti share the same ideologies or Makoni and Tsvangirai possibly have the same agenda? Will these people be able to work together and form credible opposition? Mujuru is disadvantaged as leader as she is yet to stand up and challenge Mugabe of his history as the leader of the country, the corruption and the economic down turn. She is yet to test her electorate on support by running independently. To be a credible opposition leader one has to be able to recount the history of in the incumbent leader, their track record and failures, highlighting how they would have made better choices for the people. This gives the electorate a flavour of the leader mind set and their thinking as voting in most cases is centred on speculative reasoning of the electorate in light of the current trajectory. In addition it is also important that, as a potential candidate to have tested the waters to determine the level of support on the ground.
This is the difference between Tsvangirai and Mujuru. Tsvangirai already has the votes and seats in parliament to prove he is seen as a leader despite the issues that are present within his party at the moment; whilst Mujuru on the other hand is holding speculative support. Mujuru, has yet to come out openly and play her hand. She is still hiding behind PF and has not come and officially let her intentions be known or formally put in a challenge for the leadership. This puts her at a disadvantage; however it is common knowledge that Biti and some others are willing to join forces with her and form a party to that will rise as opposition. Aside from this where does Jabulani Sibanda sit in all of this? The War vets still have a strong authority and voice and need to be incorporated. The opposition need to understand the different factions in Zanu pf and court them into their camp so they have the numbers needed to get into government. Politics is about numbers and not personalities.
In order to be in government, one has to have support on the ground. Therefore 2015 numbers become relevant. None of the expelled Zanu Pf candidates ran as independents, therefore there is no indication of the support they have. I am the only candidate that contested independently and I had a credible 4200 votes, which really you look at, is the third to Mugabe and Tsvangirai. Whilst on the subject I must thank Jim Kanaka, Farai Kuvheya, Prosper Gavanga, and Munyaradzi Gomeza for their support when I ran as an independent….
 

President Robert Mugabe’s administration has blocked MPs on their motion to obtain diplomatic passports.
The MPs two years ago launched a special request to obtain the privileged documents citing that this would help them perform their duties more efficiently.
But the MPs are not government officers and so they have overstretched their expecations, government announced yesterday.
Cabinet minister for Foreign Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said the passport is too high for legislators.
Mumbengegwi said this while responding to inquiries from legislators as he gave oral evidence on the country’s foreign policy before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Makonde MP Kindness Paradza (Zanu-PF).
Warren Park MP Mr Elias Mudzuri (MDC-T) had asked why MPs were not issued with diplomatic passports to facilitate their work, adding that in some countries like South Africa, legislators enjoyed that privilege.
Mr Mudzuri also wanted to know why some people who had ceased to be diplomats continued to use such passports.
“The issuance of diplomatic passports is governed by Presidential directive. The President’s Office clearly spells out which categories should have diplomatic passports and parliamentarians are not on the list. A diplomatic passport is regarded as a document of the Executive to facilitate the executive in doing its work,” said Minister Mumbengegwi.
Asked to explain what kind of people were on the list, Minister Mumbengegwi said: “I do not have the list but what I know is that parliamentarians are not on the list because this is not the first time this issue has been raised, that some countries give diplomatic passports to their MPs and so on. That is what other countries do (but not Zimbabwe), what I know definitely is that parliamentarians are not in that category.”

He said there were people who were no longer diplomats but who were used by the Executive to carry out several diplomatic assignments hence the decision to allow them to continue using such documents.
“The Executive regards them as part of their pool of diplomatic personnel whom they can use in carrying out its work, like to be special envoys and so on. That is where you see someone who once qualified directly still holding diplomatic passports. It is because he is used from time to time to assist the Executive,” said Minister Mumbengegwi.

Government has warned that it will now block all those who want to take chances to get into council seeking fortune at the expense of service delivery.
Only qualified and competent people who own properties in town are the best candidates to seek election to become councillors as they will be able to assist in moving council business forward.
Speaking at an all stakeholders consultative and planning workshop, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Mr Saviour Kasukuwere said there was need to have councillors competent in fields such as engineering, town planning and finance to move council business forward.
“We are going to review the callibre of councillors we have in our local authorities. This ‘bamba zonke’ approach can’t continue. We can’t have someone who, just after herding cattle, stand as a councillor and win. This is not how we can run our local authorities and a country,” he said.
“We are going to look at the constitution and l am sure, we will find a way. A councillor should have either assets and is paid up. I have visited some districts after they summon me because they will be fighting over trivial matters, I cannot even speak of today.”
“As Zanu-PF political commissar, we must look at the calibre we send to council. Someone who can’t read or write is said to be a councillor and the fellow doesn’t even have a road going to his house, but wants to chair the public works committee. People with experience and capacity must come in.”
Mr Kasukuwere said this had forced his ministry to increase the allowances of mayors and councillors to nip the levels of corruption threatening service delivery.
Last year, Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni also bemoaned the majority of councillors in Harare lack essential skills, and said there was need for political parties to forward individuals with reasonable educational qualifications to ensure the smooth running of council.
As such, Minister Kasukuwere said the mess presiding over in local authorities which included flagrant disregard of city by-laws, proliferation of illegal settlements could cease if the ease of doing business is applied and normalised.
“The bureaucratic delays cost us a lot. l was talking to the town clerk of Harare and asked, how long it takes for one to buy land in Harare — seven to eight months, and I am sure this is the situation across the country. We have to cut that bureaucracy to a maximum of 30 days.-State Media

By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has described First Grace Mugabe’s presidential ambitions as wishful thinking adding the outspoken Zanu PF Women’s League boss has no capacity to lead the country.
Addressing party supporters at a rally in Mashava last Saturday Tsvangirai said Mrs Mugabe would never succeed her husband. Political observers quickly pointed out Tsvangirai’s utterances could be a reflection of the veteran opposition leader’s lame duck approach towards political events in the country.
Tsvangirai said Grace was daydreaming about her presidential ambitions. “I have heard Grace saying she will push Mugabe in a wheelbarrow to the state house and that she is well positioned to replace Mugabe.Let me clearly state that we will not allow that to happen.They (Mugabe and Grace) are running the affairs of the entire nation like a private company.Grace will never rule this country,” said Tsvangirai. The MDC leader who is regarded as a key player in the formation of the much anticipated grand coalition said he was not in a hurry to join the much touted coalition.
Grace Mugabe has earned herself the ‘Stop it’ tag through vitriolic attacks on both opposition supporters and Zanu PF members. Tsvangirai urged party supporters to demand food aid from Mugabe when he comes to Masvingo for his 92 birthday bash on Saturday.
Grace and her husband are likely to face a hostile reception following Mrs Mugabe’s attack on war veterans and senior party supporters, including Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

A Gwanda based political activist Shyton Elliott who was reported abducted last week by suspected state agents has been found alive but “very sick”, human rights lawyers have said.
Matebeleland South Human Rights chairperson, Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo said Elliott (46) was found on Monday and is “at a place of safety” within the country.
“We have been following the case and have managed to locate him as of today (Monday) and he is at a place of safety within the country. His case has been presented to the lawyers for human rights and they are handling the case,” Fuzwayo said.
“He is alive but not very well. We are in the process of getting him a medical assessment because according to him, he was made to drink some chemicals and has been having a running tummy for the past four days.
“He looks dehydrated, very weak and in a state of very serious shock. He doesn’t want people around him and lawyers for human rights are facilitating an immediate counselling,” he added.
Fuzwayo said Elliott believed that he was abducted by the members of CIO because they took him to the offices of the CIO Gwanda district where they tortured and interrogated him.
“He has shown us his physical scars, signs of swollen hands, signs of being handcuffed. At the time of disappearing, he was wearing a very long dreadlock and he said it was violently cut-off. According to him, they used a knife to cut it off and is not aware where the dreadlock is,” Fuzwayo added.
Fuzwayo said according to Elliott, he was picked up by a group of 12 people in broad daylight at a shopping centre in Gwanda. Contrary to media reports, he said he was not detained overnight or any number of days.
“They picked him up around 1pm in the afternoon and dumped him in the boot of a car somewhere in the Central Business District of Gwanda around 6pm from where he found his way to rural areas; where out of trauma perhaps has been hiding for the last four or five days when everybody was looking for him. He made his way to Bulawayo over the weekend where he presented himself for safe keeping through human rights organisations,” he narrated.
Fuzwayo said Elliott did not belong to any political party and was just a critic of President Robert Mugabe.
“He can’t tell what the motive behind abduction was. It can be political because he said during the torture he was told to stop opposing the ruling party.”
Fuzwayo said more details would be released after the report has been made to the police as for now it was not safe.
The abduction follows another one of a political activist Itai Dzamara who was abducted in Harare in a similar manner and has not been seen almost a year on.-RadioVOP

A FORMER policeman who was dismissed from the police force for allegedly accepting a bribe has successfully challenged his conviction and sentence at the Bulawayo High Court.
Edmore Nyarugwe, 30, was stationed at Fairbridge Camp near Bulawayo when he was fired in 2014. He was charged with criminal abuse of duty as a public officer for allegedly accepting a $300 bribe from two brothers Ronald and Tariro Chasaya and their friend John Mundozo.
Nyarugwe then allegedly attempted to bribe a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officer to allow the trio’s truck full of goods to enter the country without being searched at Victoria Falls border post.
The ex-cop, who is now employed as a security guard in Masvingo, was fined $400 by then Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani. Three months were wholly suspended for three years on condition of good behaviour.
Nyarugwe appealed to the High Court in Bulawayo against both conviction and sentence. Appeals court judges, Justices Francis Bere and Maxwell Takuva set aside both the conviction and sentence last Tuesday.
“Whereupon after reading the documents filed of record and hearing appellant respondent it is ordered that the conviction and sentence be and is hereby set aside,” reads the ruling.
Nyarugwe appeared in person while Whisper Mabhaudi represented the State. Initially, the appeals judges turned down his appeal because he was a self-actor but he convinced the court that there were merits to his case hence the need for condonation.
“I plead for condonation as a self-actor. I had two witnesses who were declared hostile by the State and the case has tarnished my name as I’ve also lost my job and all benefits. If the court doesn’t hear me I may not be able to exonerate myself in society as I would carry the burden of a crime I didn’t commit,” said Nyarugwe in court before the appeals bench allowed the case to be heard.
He argued that the lower court erred by overlooking evidence presented by two witnesses Ronald and Gamuchirai Chirikure, who denied that the cop received a bribe. Chirikure is a cop and was on duty with Nyarugwe when the alleged crime was allegedly committed.
Nyarugwe who was then represented by Givemore Muvhiringi had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The State case was that on July 28, 2014, Nyarugwe was deployed to Victoria Falls border post where he allegedly received $300 bribe from the Chasaya brothers and Mundozo.-State Media

Former Education Minister and Mashonaland East Governor,  Aeneas Chigwedere on Monday  appeared at the Marondera civil court in a case in which his son, Magwiza, is accusing him of practicing witchcraft.
Chigwedere made an initial appearance before magistrate Shayne Kubonera, and his matter was moved to Friday this week.
The matter had been filed at the Harare civil court but was rejected on the grounds that the courts had no jurisdiction over the matter as both parties reside in Marondera.
The historian  is being sued together with his wife, Emilia, who is Magwiza’s step mother.
In his court papers Magwiza wants ZINATHA, cited as third respondents, to deal with the goblins he alleges are kept by his father to torment other family members.
In his initial opposing affidavit, Chigwedere through his lawyer, Tendai Masawi denied the allegations, describing his son as a mental patient who needs psychiatric treatment.
He added that the charges are frivolous and a waste of time.
The Chigwederes left the court separately with the father leaving in his car while Magwiza left on foot in the company of other relatives.

Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana has reached a dead end with a magistrate ruling that he should be put to his defense.
The PG should remain on remand because there is reasonable suspicion that he committed an offence, Harare provincial magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe said yesterday.
Tomana is facing charges of criminal abuse of office, or alternatively defeating the course of justice after he authorised the release of two suspects linked to an alleged attempt to petrol-bomb the First Family’s Alpha Omega Dairy.
Mr Chikwekwe said the law only provided for Presidential immunity.
“The person who enjoys immunity from arrest or prosecution is specifically stated in Section 96 of the Constitution.
“The section provides for Presidential immunity while in office and no other person.
“Accused does not enjoy immunity from prosecution or arrest as contemplated in Section 174 (1). If the legislature intended to exclude the accused or his office, they should have mentioned it. The Constitution is binding on every person,” he said.
Mr Chikwekwe said Section 260 of the Constitution, which Tomana was using to buttress his independence, should not be read in isolation but together with Section 261 to make it complete.
Tomana, in his application challenging his placement on remand, argued that the police had no powers to arrest him, adding that his arrest was a violation of constitutional provisions guaranteeing his independence and protection from intimidation in the exercise and discharge of his functions.
However, Mr Chikwekwe said the police acted within the confines of the constitutional mandate.
“As far as the police are concerned, there is a reasonable suspicion that the accused committed an offence.
“As long as there is reasonable suspicion, the police can arrest any person.
“At this stage I am convinced that the police acted within the confines of the constitutional mandate. To dismiss the police’s allegations at this stage might not be in the interest of justice. I am convinced the arrest was within the confines of the law,” he said.
Tomana, through his lawyers Advocate Thabani Mpofu instructed by Mr Tazorora Musarurwa and Mr Alex Mambosasa, also argued that prosecutor Mr Gwinyai Shumba and Mr Timothy Makoni had no right and powers to prosecute him since they were his juniors who acted on his instructions.
In response, Mr Chikwekwe said it was not proper for Tomana to argue that he did not authorise the prosecution.
“These two (Shumba and Makoni) derive their authority from the certificates they have which are still valid. The prosecuting certificates they have are not withdrawn hence accused cannot revoke them while in the dock by word of mouth.
“They are properly before this court and can prosecute anyone accused of committing an offence, including the accused person,” Mr Chikwekwe said.
On the sufficiency of the allegations, Mr Chikwekwe said allegations against Tomana were not defective. He said they were sufficient enough to constitute an offence.
He added that there is a nexus linking Tomana to the alleged illegal conduct.
“It is that conduct which forms the basis of the allegations against the accused,” he said.
Mr Chikwekwe said the State must be given a chance to prove its case and accused also must be given time as well to defend himself so that the court would decide after hearing arguments.
“I am of the opinion that the accused should remain on remand. There is reasonable suspicion that he committed the offence,” he said.
The matter was remanded to March 7 and Tomana notified the court of his intentions to make an application for refusal of further remand if the State fails to furnish him with a trial date on that day.
It is the State’s case that Tomana withdrew charges against Silas Pfupa and Solomon Makumbe before plea and turned them into State witnesses.State Media

President Robert Mugabe yesterday celebrated his 92nd birthday in style after staff in his office threw him a surprise party at State House. Mugabe turned 92 on Sunday.
Although the main festivities, which coincide with the 21st February Movement celebrations are slated for Masvingo this Saturday, staff in the Office of the President and Cabinet held a function for the President.
After he was presented with the birthday cake, the President left everyone in stitches when he said the party was no longer a surprise as it happened every year.
“The Chief Secretary (Dr Misheck Sibanda) said they did this as a surprise event. But I’m no longer surprised because every year, I now know that once I strike another birthday, this event is bound to follow,” he said.
In a speech, to mark his 92nd birthday celebrations, he thanked staff in his office and Zimbabweans at large for the overwhelming support he received during his tenure both as Sadc and African Union chairman.
“But we are not only celebrating that we have managed to get to this year 2016 where we are celebrating the 92nd birthday of the President. We have also raised our status, our independence became a tool and the means with which we have interacted with others,” said President Mugabe.
“And through you and your support, I have managed to lead not just Sadc but the whole of Africa and I did it not as an individual but knew that it was Zimbabwe that was behind me.
“I think with that support, I got the groundwork having been done in Sadc, left a good name, a good name at all costs bequeathed to them.
“Some of our socio-economic principles, how in Sadc we could develop through interaction, through trade, through industrialisation, through free movement of our affairs, of our people, of our industry and in Africa the same.”
At the recent African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he handed over the continental body’s chairmanship to Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno, he reminded world leaders that Africa one day might decide to pull out of the United Nations if they continued to treat Africans as under-dogs.
He said people of colour should be treated the same as their white counterparts.
President Mugabe continued saying he had a harmonious working relationship with staff in his office.
“Chief Secretary (Dr Misheck Sibanda) takes orders that go afar, reaching the various departments and the orders being reciprocated with action. Then, you know we are together. Yes, of course, we are together,” he said.
“We are together because we have performed together.
“I have only been a leader but those who have taken the orders, who have carried out the orders are yourselves and those who are not here, the very many others.”
President Mugabe took time explaining how the colonial settlers disposed Zimbabwe’s founding fathers of their land and natural resources.
He said he also grew up under colonial rule until such a time that he, together with other freedom fighters, took up arms against the oppressers.
“Well, 92 years is a long time on this world. You know, you have seen many things happening, domestically and experience of the vicissitudes of the international world,” said President Mugabe.
“But I must say that in regards to ourselves, taking the context in which we were and the turmoil of that context when our elders suffered so much, they had to bear their own struggle, Chimurenga chavo, and they were defeated.
“They lost their land, their natural resources; they lost their manhood, womanhood, hunhu hwavo and they were subjects – subjects of a foreign element that had colonised them. And the vision of tomorrow was blocked.
“We grew in it. We became also elders and felt the torment in that environment and that’s why we decided that enough was enough. Our fathers suffered so much torment, so much suffering, so much subjugation – we must get out of it. Yes, we could say tingateterere kumidzimu yedu, asi takaona kuti kwete, zvekuteterera midzimu, kana kunamata’ko hakubatsire.
“So even if to Him whom we pray, He were to answer back. Save us oh, Lord! I’m sure he would say fools, you humans. Haven’t I given you the weapons with which to save yourself? Haven’t you got a head? Haven’t you got wisdom? Are you not enlightened? Don’t you know what to do? Your hands are not just hands, are not just to feed you. Get them to work.
“Mbuya (Nehanda) pavakati achamuka mapfupa, vaiti we have to fight for it. Achamuka, achakumutsai imimi kuti murere, vuka! Ukamukaka, ukati, aizve takazvarwawo sevamwe. (I) am sure we fought and sure we won. So there we are celebrating.”
The birthday party celebration was attended by Ministers Kembo Mohadi (State Security), Simon Khaya Moyo (Policy Co-ordination), Josiah Hungwe (Psychomotor), Miriam Chikukwa (Minister of State Harare province) service chiefs, and several senior Government officials.
The Office of the President and Cabinet, presented mealie meal, sugar and cooking oil for the President to donate to a charity organisation of his choice.-State Media

Thabo Mbeki , the former president of South Africa in his latest letters has pointed out that US and UK, wanted so much to remove President Robert Mugabe. He has said to save Mugabe, South Africa had to send government minister Lindiwe Sisulu to tell them to back off.
There were others in the world, led particularly by the UK, who opposed our approach of encouraging the Zimbabweans to decide their future. These preferred regime change – the forcible removal of President Mugabe and his replacement by people approved by the UK and its allies,” wrote Mbeki.
“In the period preceding the 2002 Zimbabwe Elections, the UK and the US in particular were very keen to effect this regime change and failing which to impose various conditions to shorten the period of any Mugabe Presidency.
“Our then Minister of Intelligence, Lindiwe Sisulu, had to make a number of trips to London and Washington to engage the UK and US governments on their plans for Zimbabwe, with strict instructions from our government to resist all plans to impose anything on the people of Zimbabwe, including by military means.”

Mbeki said the plans to overthrow Mugabe were not hearsay, but came “directly from what they communicated to a representative of our government”.
The startling revelations go on to say that on November 11, 2007, the UK’s Independent on Sunday reported that during its interview of Lord Guthrie, former Chief of Defence Staff of the UK armed forces, it learnt that “astonishingly, the subjects discussed [with Prime Minister Tony Blair] included invading Zimbabwe”. Guthrie had reportedly warned against it.
According to John Kampfner in his book Blair’s Wars, the former British prime minister once told Claire Short that “if it were down to me, I’d do Zimbabwe as well – that is send troops”.
Mbeki said that over the years Zapu, Zanu and, later, Zanu-PF saw it as part of their responsibility to contribute to the victory of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid and to rebuild the country. The ANC felt the same about removing colonialism in Zimbabwe and helping reconstruct that country.
“Throughout these years we defended the right of the people of Zimbabwe to determine their destiny, including deciding on who should govern the country. This included resisting all efforts to impose other people’s solutions on Zimbabwe, which, if this had succeeded, would have served as a precursor for a similar intervention in our country!”
Mbeki concluded by saying there was a conscious decision taken to avoid South Africa acting as the “new home-grown African imperial power”
When he was president, Mbeki rarely took the nation or the media into his confidence on some of the details in his letters. He was regularly heavily criticised over South Africa’s siding with Mugabe, whose land reforms were considered repugnant by many. Mbeki was also criticised for appearing to turn a blind eye to allegations of voting irregularities. –  State Media

Zanu PF foes of embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa claim that history is repeating itself, with the Midlands godfather allegedly moving “to save his bacon” by dumping under-fire War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Party insiders opposed to Mnangagwa succeeding President Robert Mugabe told the Daily News yesterday that they “always knew” that when it came to the crunch, the beleaguered VP would not protect his allies who are on the receiving end of a savage and unrelenting factional mauling in the former liberation movement.
“It’s typical Ngwena (Mnangagwa). When the heat is on, he will do anything to save his own bacon. He has already dumped Mutsvangwa, just as he did to many in 2004 after the so-called Tsholotsho Declaration. I pity all his supporters who are sacrificing limb and resources for him,” a senior party official said.
An angry Mugabe — thoroughly fed up with his warring underlings — savaged Mutsvangwa in a televised address to the nation on Friday evening, virtually signalling the end of the career both in the former liberation movement and in government of the former leader of the war veterans, an alleged kingpin of the party faction loyal to Mnangagwa.
The long-ruling nonagenarian was flanked by his two deputies as he made his unusual address — with a decidedly surly-looking Mnangagwa to his right, and a comparatively relaxed Phelekezela Mphoko to his left.
Without mincing his words, Mugabe pointedly accused the garullous Mutsvangwa of having misled war veterans into trooping into Harare last Thursday — where they were battered by police — after they were made to believe that the nonagenarian would address them.
“For him (Mutsvangwa) to have called a meeting about which we knew nothing about, in circumstances in which he had not clearly sought permission from the authorities in violation therefore of the law, and he being a minister, he cannot at the end after the law and order officers have taken action against the meeting and the war veterans complain that he was ill-treated.
“He must bear the responsibility,” Mugabe thundered, adding ominously that Mutsvangwa would pay for his misdemeanours.
“He (Mutsvangwa) has acted in a manner we describe as irresponsible and a manner that brings the name of the party and government into disrepute. We regret that they (war veterans) suffered this (police battering) but the man to blame is their minister and of course he has to answer why he did that without authority,” the nonagenarian fumed further.
Mugabe’s outburst followed the unprecedented move by riot police last Thursday, who clamped down on a group of war veterans loyal to Mnangagwa — tear-gassing and water-spraying them before unyieldingly forcing them to disperse — after the former freedom fighters attempted to flex their muscles and congregate unlawfully in Harare.
The chaos, which the Daily News had accurately predicted in its editions of the previous weeks, came as Zanu PF’s ugly internal ructions get deadlier and dirtier, with the party faction linked to Mnangagwa increasingly mounting an open rebellion against Mugabe and Grace.
So in-your-face and aggressive had some of the utterances and tactics being employed by Team Lacoste become, that there had been for some time real fear within Zanu PF that the ruling party’s escalating brawls could soon boil over into bloody conflict.
Many disinterested bystanders and journalists were caught up in the Thursday mayhem, as police threw teargas and sprayed water on the gathered group of war veterans who had trickled into the capital to attend their rally at the City Sports Stadium — with the apparent objective of baying for First Lady Grace’s blood, who recently excoriated Mnangagwa.
The sources who spoke to the Daily News yesterday further claimed that Mnangagwa “has a history of abandoning” his followers, and that Mutsvangwa would not be “the first or last one to suffer this fate”.
Among other alleged VP allies who are currently under the cosh in the ruling party are the provincial leaders of Midlands, Masvingo and Mashonaland East — namely Kizito Chivamba, Ezra Chadzamira and Biggie Matiza respectively — who are all facing the big boot.
In addition, Masvingo Province also made moves yesterday to fire other alleged top Mnangagwa kingpins — politburo members Josiah Hungwe and Lovemore Matuke.
Meanwhile, University of Kent academic, Alex Magaisa, wrote on his blog at the weekend that Mugabe’s apology to war veterans last Friday was deliberately designed to isolate Mutsvangwa from his core constituency in Zanu PF’s succession battle.
“While the attack was on Mutsvangwa, there is no doubting who the real casualty was here. It was the man sitting to the right of the president, Mnangagwa.
“After all, it was his interest that Mutsvangwa was representing all along. He has been the most vociferous ambassador of Team Lacoste and silencing him will leave the faction weaker,” Magaisa said.
He added that although Mugabe had also denounced the two warring factions in the party — the G40 and Team Lacoste — the nonagenarian’s attack had weighed heavily against the latter, which was a huge dent on Mnangagwa’s mooted presidential ambitions.
This is not the first time that critics have claimed that Mnangagwa never supports his followers.
Late last year, other Zanu PF insiders said the VP “always struggled” to live up to the popular caricature of his nickname, that of a ruthless crocodile, in the party’s seemingly-unstoppable factional and succession wars.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Jorum Gumbo on Monday said Air Rhodesia  was better than the current Air Zimbabwe which his government is failing to administer.
Government is the sole shareholder of Air Zimbabwe which is on the verge of collapse.
“Air Zimbabwe used to do very well when it was Rhodesia and that is the past and colonial, and we do not want to be beaten by that colonial past but to excel and do better during this time when we are a liberated country under Air Zimbabwe and not Air Rhodesia,” Gumbo told Journalists in Harare on Monday who were attending the launch of 48^th Annual General Assembly and summit of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) which Zimbabwe is set to host in November in Victoria Falls.
“We want again to be the hub of Southern Africa in air aviation”.
Gumbo said this was not going to happen if Air Zimbabwe continues to fly “two” passengers.
He said  locals should augment government’s efforts of reviving the national airline by boarding Air Zimbabwe planes.
The national airline has on several occasions flown two passengers from deferent international, regional and local destinations.
At one point it flew one passenger from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls after it had done the same from Victoria Falls to Harare in September 2011.
In December last year Air Zimbabwe made headlines after it had spilled raw effluent 30 minutes from landing in South Africa.

Former Vice President Joice Mujuru says her late husband Solomon Mujuru was probably shot before his house was set alight.
“There was a blue, blue flame, almost 1 and a half to 2 meters high, not normal at all. It seemed to me there was some kind of accelerant,” she described the inferno in an interview with the Sunday Times (UK) newspaper. A local white farmer who rushed to the scene said he believed a white phosphorus grenade was used to burn the body.
“I can’t say who did it, but they know the people in power. It will come out,” said Mujuru.
Asked if she thought President Robert Mugabe was involved, she simply “pursed” her lips, according to the report.
Despite the suspicious death of her husband, Mujuru remained in government only to be fired three years down the line on accusations of plotting an insurrection against Mugabe, whom she looked upon as a “father”.
“It was the shock of my life,” she said of her sacking in December 2014.
Ahead of her sacking, Mujuru says, she approached Mugabe one day after a cabinet meeting to find out if he really believed the reports that she wanted to kill him. “I am hearing it from the ministry of intelligence,” Mugabe reportedly answered her.
“Father, If you are my shed and protecting me from the sun, how can I take an axe and destroy that shed? I would be a mad person. I am only banking on you to look after me,” she recalls telling Mugabe before she left the meeting in “fear”
“My mouth was completely dry,” she said.
According to the report, that fear may not have left her up to now as she never referred to Mugabe by his name during the interview, preferring to call him “He” “as if he was a deity”.
But she had no kind words for her former boss still, referring to him as a “backward” “liar”.
She said, “I am a Christian and a member of the salvation army. I have never used magic. A head of state using his platform to lie and believing stories about frogs being kept in a calabash and if one dies dies then he will die. I said to myself what a backward man.”
Mujuru went on to reveal how an aged Mugabe depended on her when he was tired during cabinet meetings.
“He would speak for 15 minutes and then nod off. I would then chair the meeting with everyone ignoring the fact that he was asleep,” she said.
Mujuru is not the first to reveal this trend as former industry minister, Welshman Ncube, also said, a few years ago, that Mugabe routinely slept during cabinet meetings. According to Ncube, when that moment came, Mugabe’s entire body tended to “collapse”.
On Mugabe’s wife, Grace, who led a vicious campaign against her, Mujuru says the First Lady “saw me as a threat”. “Her (Grace) power only lasts as long as he (Mugabe) is there,” said Mujuru.
According to Mujuru, who recently registered her People First party, dramatic events in Zanu PF and in the country could be an indicator that Mugabe’s rule was coming to “an end”.
She said, “I think this is pointing to an end. He no longer has the energy to tell them to stop, and no one listens to him. He has no respect now-from anybody. It’s painful.”
Mugabe was, last Friday, forced to take to the national TV to call for calm and rebuke his ministers who have been divided into warring factions over the succession issue.
Mujuru describes herself as a grandmother and a farmer. She has ten grandchildren and 135, 000 chicken which she keeps at her farm she got during Mugabe’s land grab exercise.
She, however, believes that Mugabe owed a lot to the Mujurus. She said: “My husband used to risk his life to go and talk to [Mugabe]… then come back and talk to other commanders to accept him. Mugabe owed a lot to him and the family.”

Zanu PF legislator for Chimanimani  Munacho Mutezo is set to be recalled from parliament as factionalism in the divided party deepens.
The former Energy and Power Development deputy Minister, was fired from government together with his boss Dzikamai Mavhaire in December 2014 on allegations of assisting  former Vice President Joice Mujuru to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.
According to the state media, Manicaland provincial leadership at the weekend met and unanimously recommended that Mutezo be recalled from parliament.
Manicaland province according to the state media alleges that Mutezo has joined the People First project.
Zanu PF Manicaland provincial executive member,  Cruiswell Mugombe said they had discovered  Mutezo and Councillor Joseph Zviuya were  no longer serving the interests of the party.
He said Mutezo was recruiting people for Mujuru’s project in Chimanimani.
Politburo member, Oppah Muchinguri and Provincial Chairman, Dr Samuel Undenge also recommended the recalling from parliament of Mutezo.

The trial of one of the suspects involved in the alleged Gushungo Dairy farm bomb scare which opened on Friday at the Harare Magistrate’s Court saw the State Media publishing what strongly appears to be a u-turn on the charges.
The development saw the official government broadcaster discounting the terrorism charge of a bomb attack plot, labelling it a mere “scare.”
The headline title in the ZBC news read: “Gushungo Dairy bomb scare: Suspect trial opens”.
Meanwhile the trial was convened with the accused, Borman Ngwenya, filing five different applications.
Ngwenya is facing one count of possession of weapons of sabotage and another count of contravening Section 9(1) of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act Chapter 9.24 that deals with financing of terrorist offences.
The state represented by Mr Michael Reza had brought Owen Kuchata to testify.
Kuchata was sentenced after pleading guilty to the same charges and is now supposed to testify against his accomplices.
Before the state could call its witness, Ngwenya filed an application challenging the splitting of the two counts he is facing.
He also sought the court to produce evidence of ownership of Gushungo Dairy farm.
However, the state led by Mr Reza indicated it has been made clear from the onset that the farm does not belong to the government but to the First Family.
Ngwenya through his legal counsel also filed another application seeking the release of the docket in which he is charged for treason.
The state indicated the docket is not yet complete.
The accused further applied to the court to order access to information of communication of his telephone line, a request that the state believes can be done by the accused in his personal capacity without a court order.
Ngwenya also challenged what he said is selective prosecution arguing charges for some of his accomplices were withdrawn.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe on Friday took stage to follow his wife by screaming out the derogatory two worded phrase,”Shut Up!” His wife for 15 months to date, is now known by her own locution “Stop It.”
Mugabe blasted factionalism in Zanu-PF and called on those propping the G40 and Team Lacoste factions in the party to “shut up”. Zanu-PF, he said, would take action against those bringing the name of the party into disrepute.
The President, who was in a no-nonsense mood, said this while flanked by his deputies, Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko.
He took umbrage on those fanning tribalism, saying Zimbabwe was a unitary State and that unity shall never be broken on tribal lines. President Mugabe said party members should unite and guard against external interference.
The President spoke in the wake of factional feuds that have seen some Zanu-PF members abusing social media to attack fellow party members and Thursday’s clash between the police and war veterans.
“Let me make reference to the disturbing phenomenon of what you might say or regard as man, devouring man, devouring comrade, kind of dog fights that are taking place,” he said.
“During the liberation struggle, we had contradictions, sometimes differences of an antagonistic nature, very ugly, but we dealt with them in a manner which recognises that the party had ideological direction, the party had national objectives to pursue and those offended and those who offended against them were punished and this is so even unto today. We are a people’s party, but people’s party means people with various ideas.
“However, the basic principles of the party continue to be adhered to and pursued. The political direction of the party must also continue to guide us. The comradeship and need for unity and togetherness of the party — that is the fundamental basis on which we build ourselves and must continue to exist.
“Now, if contradictions develop, they should be never of the nature that is that antagonistic to negative where people start fighting each other, fighting each other, abusing each other, and we are seeing this happening now. Even our young people, the party aside- there is also the culture. Our culture never, never allows a young person even an elder to abuse another but now you get we are all being abused. The President, his wife in a manner that is very disgraceful. It is a shame. If a man or woman belongs to the opposition party, yes we may criticise them but we do not abuse them. We don’t abuse them. Culturally it’s wrong. Hazviitwe. So we will definitely take action where we feel action should be taken within the party.
“We don’t want to hear any divisive voice from you. The G40s or what you call Lacoste or whatever, shut up! You belong to Zimbabwe first and foremost whatever you must say. Shut up! Let us not hear any divisive voice from you –the G40s or what you call Lacoste, whatever!”
President Mugabe said there was need to instil discipline in the party. ‘’There is need for a whip of discipline now to be shown and to be used.’’ The squabbles in Zanu-PF, he said, should be stopped, urging party members to be wary of external interference He said people should strive to leave a positive legacy for future generations.
“Think of what our ancestors have bequeathed as a legacy for us and what we ourselves in turn shall bequeath as a legacy for our own children,” said the President. “We don’t intend to leave a legacy of differences, insults, indiscipline and quarrels and misunderstanding. No! We want harmony and peace, togetherness and one right defence, fight for that legacy. Fight against any interference from outside.
“That legacy, it must not be interfered with, to be that togetherness, that peacefulness is what we want to see in Zimbabwe. This season has not been that good and as we wrestle to provide our people with means whereby they can make do and manage, you know, cross over to next year. As we do that, we must not have disturbances.
“The fights and quarrels that appeared to be taking place now — this is time that we should put all our shoulders to the wheel and say let’s work for our people to survive for our children to continue to go to school. Let’s work, so we can survive together all of us without exception regardless of our parties, regardless of our regions, regardless of our cultures.
“All of us must survive this year. Zimbabweans must survive together. I say once again, lets remain united.”
On tribalism and external interference, President Mugabe said: “We will not be diverted by whatever else happened and know the enemy is working very hard amongst us to deviate us from the direction we have taken as Zimbabweans. With the right of self determination on programmes that are meant to end our people with the necessary wealth, wealth intellectually as we educate them and wealth material as we exploit their natural resources which belongs to them-beginning with the land. It doesn’t matter which tribe we belong to. We are all national. Sons of the soil. Vana vevhu. That is what we have called ourselves in the past and still call ourselves today. This because we belong to one another regardless of which region we come from, which province come from, which tribe we belong to. And the war was fought on the basis of that recognition, that we belong to one another. We belong to each other, we are one as Zimbabweans and as Zimbabweans the suffering of our people in one region are our suffering and the Government being the party that they belong to, must recognise and pay attention to their suffering and try to provide necessary remedies.
“Quarrels maybe, there are always quarrels in families, in villages but our togetherness as Zimbabweans shall never be broken and that is why we say we are just one Zimbabwe. Pamberi neZimbabwe, Pamberi nekubatana. Those programmes, as is now regulated and motivated by our engine ZimAsset, are peoples’ programmes and they should not be allowed to fail. But, let us take care. I want to repeat this. Take immense care to guard against the machinations of our external enemies. They want Zimbabwe not to succeed. They want Zimbabwe to fall. We won’t allow it.”
President Mugabe said the youths were preparing for the 21st February Movement celebrations in Masvingo and it was important to clear the path by bringing the discord in the party to rest. President Mugabe said the venue of the celebrations had a historical importance to Zimbabwe and thanked the youths for choosing it.
“Our young people are arranging that get-together on their day which is in praise of the President as it is meant to be a recognition of the President’s birthday. But we regard it as the day of our youths – the 21st of February although the recognition is put on 27 February and they have prepared for, will take place at Zimbabwe Ruins,” said President Mugabe.
“We want the road to be clear. We want to go there without divisions, without the insults from any quota, with the unity of purpose, with the oneness I talked about of being Zimbabweans and going to the Great Zimbabwe is going to our birth place for we are now the Republic of Zimbabwe and the children of that Republic are Zimbabweans and that is why we are going there and I am glad our youths have chosen that venue.
“We want to go and pay our tribute to our birth place. Let us think of that. Tive munhu mumwe chete takabana. Zvondo tirikande pasi, tirikande pasi tive nekunzwanana.” State Media

Indigenisation Minister Patrick Zhuwao, has threatened to sue media organisations that would continue to associate the President Robert Mugabe’s Nephew with a Zanu PF factional group called Generation-40 which is pushing for Grace Mugabe to succeed her husband.
Other members of Zhuwao’s so called G-40 , include Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Jonathan Moyo, Local government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere , Philip Chiyangwa and Shadreck Mashayamombe who is the Zanu PF political commissar for Harare.
“To demonstrate my commitment to ending this abuse of the media, I wish to advise that I have instructed my lawyers to initiate legal proceedings for defamation with respect to defamatory statements contained in an article by Reason Wafawarova in the Herald of 18^th February 2016,” Zhuwao told reporters in Harare Sunday.
G-40 which is fighting against Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa in the Zanu PF succession battles has of late been lambasted by the state media which is said to be sympathetic to Mnangagwa.
“I have taken this unprecedented step in the hope of all media institutions would review their editorial policies to put into effect the sentiments by His Excellency President Robert Mugabe in his state of the nation address on 18^th February 2016”.
“I am humbly requesting and imploring upon all the editors to exclude me from the divisive factional matrix of their editorial policies”.

PRESIDENT ROBERT Mugabe is in full control of Government and fit enough to put more man hours into his work than any of his detractors ever could, the Head of the Civil Service has said.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda told, the State Media last week that Government was not on“auto-pilot” and the President remained seized with his rigorous executive schedule.
Dr Sibanda implored the media to report truthfully about President Mugabe and desist from abusing him. He also spoke of his service to the President spanning some 40 years during which time he has seen his boss’ best qualities, including his “fatherly disposition” that saw the inclusive Government (2009-2013) function cohesively against all odds.
For some time, the private media and opposition elements have speculated over President Mugabe’s health and age, claiming he was no longer capable of leading Government. Others have instinuated he had become detached from Government business.
But ahead of the President’s 92nd birthday anniversary today, Dr Sibanda told our Harare Bureau that the sole centre of power remained firmly in charge.
“He is alert, he knows what is happening. All those things (that he is no longer fit) are myths because he works — I can tell you. Sometimes he goes beyond nine o’clock or 10 o’clock. He is amazing . . . He is fit; that I can tell you because we work with him. He has a very, very tight (weekly) programme. So, whoever says (he is not fit), we don’t know. (These are) totally, totally misplaced (notions). In fact, most of these people who say so are sometimes themselves not fit. He has stamina; that I can tell you.”
Dr Sibanda said President Mugabe’s daily itinerary was packed with major engagements; from a stack of briefings to analysing proposed laws — word by word — as well as overseeing all ministers, engaging diplomats and other individuals, and also conducting international duties in Sadc, the African Union and United Nations.
The President, he said, was presently directing a massive food mobilisation to help drought-ravaged communities.
“You can, therefore, see that when some people allege that Government is auto-piloting, you don’t dignify those comments with a reply because you will be wasting your time. If you reply to blatant falsehood, you eventually engage a person. Because a person who has nothing to offer can want to take you to another level even when arguing. The best thing is to just keep quiet. That’s why some of us don’t want (to be in) the Press. It’s very rare to discuss publicly.”
He added: “When you see some people abusing such leaders because of his humility, you wonder where we came from, especially the youngsters of today. It’s our collective responsibility — the media included — to work on some of these aspects.
“We wish our media could also help us in celebrating (the President’s birthday) with everbody in a jubilant manner rather than as is the past with some sections of the media, always portraying a caricature of the person of the President. He deserves something better because he has seen it all. People should write the truth about the man of his character. He is a unique character who has been bestowed to us by God.”
On the inclusive Government, Dr Sibanda said, “As Chair of Cabinet, he managed to steer the whole process, though people were antagonistic towards each other initially. . .It was his ability to manage contradictions. They (MDC formations) started respecting President Mugabe, the leader.
“They revered him; they saw him now – that fatherly figure, that he means well, he means beyond their narrow party ideology. He is for the nation. They realised they were possibly painting the President too negatively and that was not correct. They understood the man.
“Some (after losing the elections) said, ‘If we are needed, even if it’s a Zanu-PF Government, talk to the President. Possibly we can come and serve because we want to serve.’ (They said they wanted roles) in any capacity. You could tell that it was because of how they had been handled. To me, it was amusing.”-Sunday Mail

A 37-YEAR-OLD self-confessed Chiredzi prophet landed himself in trouble with the law when he removed a corpse from the coffin, ordered a refill of the grave and the destruction of the coffin before carrying the body to the top of a hill where he spent two days praying for it to resurrect but failed. This was after he was asked to deliver agraveyard sermon immediately before burial. His bid to perform the miracle that Jesus performed on Lazarus was a futility after the corpse continued to decompose at an alarming rate in the 48 hours that he prayed for it. Mourners and relatives had to contact the police after the send-off of their relative Kudakwashe Garapo was somehow disturbed after the man of the cloth Paison Musimari of Batsirai compound in Mkwasine, Chiredzi told them he can give him another lease of life through prayers.
He was arrested last week and has since appeared at the Chiredzi magistrates’ court for “violating a corpse” as defined in section 111 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23. He appeared before Ms Constance Mtandwa and was remanded out of custody to 29 February.
Circumstances as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Liberty Hove, are that following the death of Garapo whose age could not be given, Musimari was asked to preach at the graveyard before burial. It is the State’s case that Musimari took to the stage and started his sermon while Garapo’s body was lying in a closed coffin adjacent to the grave.
The State further told the court that while preaching, the accused gave a prophecy to the mourners to the effect that the deceased would resurrect the following day and warned against burying the deceased saying it was tantamount to burying someone alive.
And much to the chagrin of mourners and relatives, Musimari in a trance-like state went and opened the coffin, removed the body from it and carried it to a hilltop while ordering stunned mourners to carry the empty coffin home or possibly destroy it as well as filling in the empty grave while they wait for him to bring their resurrected relative.
Some of the relatives, however, could not stomach the sight of the unheard of miracle except in the Bible and they reported the case to the police. The following day police officers arrived and found Musimari still with the body at the top of a hill praying for it.
The court further heard that the body was already at an advanced stage of decomposition mostly due to exposure to the scorching sun and since that was the fourth day after death. The accused person was arrested and police ordered the burial of the deceased at Nyangambe that same day.-State Media

INVESTIGATIONS have unearthed that the decomposing body found last week on a Western Global Airlines cargo plane at Harare International Airport was that of a stowaway, and that the craft was carrying about R60 billion destined for South Africa’s Reserve Bank.
Indications are that the stowayay could have died four days before his body was discovered on the plane on February 14. The plane was impounded after it landed for refuelling and Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe staff noticed blood.
Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo said the plane was released at midnight on Friday with the decomposed body and the billions of rand in cash.
Sources said the MD-11 trijet cargo plane, which spent five days at the airport under heavy guard, was packed with R100, R50, R20 and R10 denominations printed in Munich, Germany for the SARB as it tries to shore up that country’s flagging currency.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said postmortem results showed that the stowaway died from asphyxia (lack of oxygen), meaning he died after hiding on the craft.
The autopsy, she said, also indicated that the body was already being attacked by maggots, indicating he may have been dead for four days before discovery.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba confirmed that the plane was released early Saturday morning after security services, Foreign Affairs and Immigration officials had cleared it.
“There were no external or internal injuries to the body which means that there was no likelihood of foul play or murder. The fact that he had no internal or external injuries also shows that he got on the plane alive but later died of asphyxia,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said. She said the ZRP had sent a notice to Interpol to trace the stowaway’s nationality in Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Uganda, Belgium and Germany because the Florida-based Western Global Airlines plane passed through these countries before it landed in Zimbabwe.
The man’s fingerprints were sent to the same countries. Officials at the airport who cannot be named for professional reasons told The Sunday Mail that the stowaway had unkempt hair, a dirty t-shirt, trousers held up by a piece of cloth improvised as a belt, and worn out slippers. Western Global Airlines cargo aircraft crew requested for landing authority in Zimbabwe after they had failed to secure landing instructions at King Tshaka Airport, Durban from their company.
The police spokesperson said Zimbabwe allowed the plane to land in line with provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation which provides that member states can render assistance to distressed international air services.
“The cargo plane itinerary indicates that its original departure place was Liege Belgium on 11 February 2016 and it made a stopover in Abidjan Ivory Coast, on the same day. 12 February 2016 Abuja Nigeria, Intebbe Uganda then 13 February 2016 to Liege Belgium and later Munich Germany where they picked up their consignment meant for the Reserve Bank of South Africa,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
The plane crew – two Americans, a Pakistani and a South African – spent the past week at a five-star hotel in the city centre while SARB officials were “sleeping on the plane” as Zimbabwean security agents stood guard outside.
In 2004, Zimbabwe aviation authorities impounded a plane with 64 mercenaries led by Simon Mann on board as they planned to who to stage a coup in Equatorial Guinea.State Media

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CIZC) says the country is going to experience the worst human rights violations perpetrated on citizens by the military as a result of Zanu PF in fighting.
Reacting to the  attacks on former liberation war fighters by the police in Harare this week, CIZC said armed forces should  protect citizens.
Heavily armed police on Thursday descended on war veterans who had gathered for a meeting in the capital.
They used teargas and water cannons to disperse the peaceful gathering alleging that the Indaba was illegal.
“We fear for the worst in terms of human rights abuses emanating from armed forces’ brutality against Zimbabwean citizens given the current infighting within the ruling party, Zanu PF,”said the civil society representative group.
“We implore the security services to desist from serving partisan interests as enshrined under the country’s constitution”.
Crisis says it is disappointed to note that armed forces are being used by politicians.
“CIZC castigates the manipulation of the security services to push selfish agendas by those in the echelons of power and implores the security sector to respect people’s constitutional rights such as the right to peaceful demonstrations as well as freedom of expression and association”.

By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo|A police officer last week brutally assaulted a local motorist accusing him of pirating.

Stephen Radzoka got the shock of his life when Constable Bothwell Razerera pounced on him after he dropped off a woman in the city centre. Razerera accused Radzoka of illegally pirating and he forced his way into the latter’s car. The cop began to assault Radzoka with clenched fists and open palms all over his body.

During the assault Radzoka fell down and sustained a deep cut above the left eye. Radzoka received three stitches on the left eye as a result of the assault.
“When I got up the police officer had already fled from the scene because the crowd came to the place baying for the cop’s blood,” reads part of Radzoka’s statement.
When Radzoka arrived at Masvingo Central Police Station he was surprised when he was accused of beating the police officer and was charged with assault since the cop had made a statement ahead of him.
Sources claimed Razerera demanded a bribe from Radzoka and the latter refused,leading to the scuffle. Radzoka’s lawyer Charles Ndlovu of Ndlovu and Hwacha Legal Practitioners has since filed papers opposing the prosecution of his client arguing he is the one who was bashed by the cop.
Masvingo Police Spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said she was not aware of the incident.
“We have not received anything to that effect,” she said.
The police have been accused of trying to protect one of their own after the barbaric incident. In Zimbabwe the police have crossed paths with the public on several occasions because of the partisan manner in which they execute their duties.

The Zanu-PF Youth League has distanced itself from utterances by the organ’s deputy secretary Kudzanai Chipanga that the wing was ready to fight veterans of the liberation struggle, as well as staging a demonstration against the State Media.
Chipanga told some youths that they should get ready for war against war veterans whom he said were fewer than the youths whom he said constituted 65 percent of the population.
He also claimed that war veterans were suffering from sugar diabetes, and as such, would not last a protracted confrontation.
But in an interview with the State Media yesterday, Pupurai Togarepi said the youth league respected veterans of the struggle, as such they had no reason to fight them.
“There is no reason to fight the war veterans because we are learning a lot from them,” he said. “They are the people who showed their resilience in liberating this country. So, there is no reason whatsoever.
“The majority of our youths who are in the executive of our structures are children of veterans of the liberation struggle who are war veterans, war collaborators and ex- detainees. So they would not fight their own parents.
“The position of the Youth League is that these founding fathers of our revolution are critical for us to learn from and move forward with our revolution.”
Togarepi said the revolutionary party had mechanisms in place to deal with personal clashes among members of its organs.
“I have talked to my deputy ( Chipanga) about that issue and he showed me that he had no intention to have any misunderstanding with the war veterans but it could have been a statement that was misread or misunderstood.
Togarepi also said the Youth League had no right to demonstrate against the State Media as incited by Chipanga. He said they had no problems with the State Media, or any journalists, but were against denigration of the party leadership by some party officials and some sections of the media.
“the Herald must continue to do its work and must continue to do that without any fear or favour. There won’t be youths coming there to have any confrontation with the media there or any person there. It is not our way of doing things.
“Otherwise we have nothing against any journalist, but obviously we get offended when journalists, time and again, insult our leaders. It has become a norm that journalists will insult the President, insult the Vice Presidents- Mnangagwa and Mphoko, the First Lady and many other leaders are subjected to a lot of abuse,” said Togarepi.
He also confirmed meeting President Mugabe where they deliberated about the conduct of the youths and the role they should play in the development of the country.
“The President said (we should) ensure that youths are busy. They work for themselves and work for this country. He said there is no need for them to involve themselves in areas that affect their stature as responsible youths. So he said do whatever you can to direct youths to be responsible, well-groomed, well-educated and advised as future leaders.
Togarepi who addressed a Press conference earlier, defended the 21st February Movement celebrations saying it was worthwhile, given President Mugabe’s role in the independence of the country.
He was fielding questions from journalists who asked why the party did not direct the money that has been mobilised for the celebrations towards procuring food for citizens facing hunger.
“We are celebrating the life of a person who has brought so much good to his country. These problems are not unique to Zimbabwe. There are authorities in Zimbabwe that are supposed to look after the social needs, feeding needs of our people,” Togarepi said.

President Mugabe is a national leader who remains guided by the wartime mantra of “Mwana wevhu” which pre-empted any notions of tribalism and regionalism leading to the successful execution of the war of liberation, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has said.
He said tribalism was a political modus operandi of the Rhodesians which should not be tolerated.
“We should promote the notion of ‘son of the soil’ like what used to happen during the war. Not that I am from Manicaland, I am from Masvingo or I am from Matabeleland. No!” said VP Mphoko.
“A ‘son of the soil’ does not come from a region and does not have a creed. He or she is just a Zimbabwean. That is what we should promote. Not that someone is Ndebele and another is a Karanga.”
He said President Mugabe and the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo variously worked with a lot of people from different tribes during the war but never resorted to tribalism.
VP Mphoko was addressing thousands of people at a rally at Marisamhuka Centre in Mhondoro to garner support for Zanu-PF candidate in the Mhondoro-Mubaira by-election George Gangarahwe.
“I want to repeat what I said in Chiweshe. If you see yourself saying that President Mugabe is Zezuru, then you don’t know what we fought for. And if you say that President Mugabe is Zezuru and should be replaced by a Ndau, Ndebele and Karanga that is not what we fought for,” he said.
He said President Mugabe is not Zezuru but a national leader and so is he and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa who are Ndebele and Karanga respectively.
VP Mphoko said no one can claim to be a war veteran, or a member of Zanu-PF while denigrating the President and First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe.
“Those who denigrate the President and First Lady are not Zanu-PF. There is no war veteran under the command who can turn against the President. You cannot have someone break a sweat while denigrating the leadership and claim to be Zanu-PF,” he said.
War veterans gathered at the City Sports Centre in Harare on Thursday to hold a feedback meeting, but it was disrupted by police who said it was not sanctioned.
Vp Mphoko said there are some cadres who were part of the Mujuru cabal who realised the folly of their ways and should be welcomed back into the party.
“Commissar, you have a lot of work to talk to cadres that we have worked with for a long time who have remained loyal to the party so that we welcome them back to the party. People like Shamu (Webster),” he said.
Shamu made a slogan denouncing the upstart Zimbabwe People First party and Dr Joice Mujuru before hailing President Mugabe and First Lady Amai Dr Mugabe. Party secretary for administration Dr Ignatius Chombo said President Mugabe is the sole party candidate for 2018.
“At the Victoria Falls Conference the convocation on page 14 of the party constitution clearly states that our President (Mugabe) as selected at the 2014 Congress will represent the party in 2018,” said Dr Chombo.
“If there is anyone who wants to contest, they can only get the mandate in 2019 to stand for elections in 2023.”
National political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere said Zanu-PF has no shortage of manpower and if any cadres go wayward like Sylvester Nguni they can be expelled and replaced.
Mashonaland West party provincial chairman Ephraim Chengeta said the party had mobilised support for its candidate Gangarahwe in the March 5 by-election. The seat fell vacant following the expulsion and subsequent recall from Parliament of Mr Nguni.
The rally was also attended by Senate president Edna Madzongwe, Mberengwa South legislator Makhosini Hlongwane and Mashonaland West Minister of State Faber Chidarikire among others.

A swimming expedition by three Rusape 15-year-old school boys ended tragically after one of them failed to swim and drowned in Rusape River last Saturday afternoon.
Livingstone Marufu of Mabvazuva high-density suburb a Form Two pupil at St Joseph’s High School was swimming in the company of his friends and classmates, Isaac Jangano and Prosper Muza when tragedy struck.
The young trio was swimming near the gauges of Rusape Dam where there is a footpath that people uses to cross the river when it is not flooded.
Witnesses said when Isaac and Prosper discovered that Livingstone was drowning they called for help and some members of the public attempted to rescue him, but in vain as they claimed that ‘they were also being pulled by something in the water.’
Rusape District police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Muzondiwa Clean, confirmed the incident and warned members of the public against swimming in rivers and also against crossing rivers on undesignated areas.
“Livingstone Marufu went to Rusape River to swim together with his friends, Isaac Jangano and Prosper Muza on Saturday around 3pm. When they were swimming, Livingstone went to the deepest part and failed to swim and drowned.
“Police Sub-aqua Unit retrieved his body on Sunday morning. We continue to urge members of the public not to swim in rivers and to use bridges when crossing rivers,” he said.
The drowning of Livingstone comes barely a month after a decomposed body of a suspected vagrant was discovered by fisherman in the same river, fuelling speculation that there were mermaids in the river.
According to some senior citizens in the town, not even a single female has drowned in the river, fuelling speculation that the mermaid is female.State Media

Suspected members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) have abducted  Tendai Biti led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Matabeleland South provincial secretary for security, Elliot Shelton, the party has said.
The party’s information department said ,Shelton was on Wednesday afternoon abducted by some unknown men who were driving unmarked two white double-cab vehicles.
“The PDP demands the urgent release of Shelton and we hold the state and Zanu PF responsible for the abduction,” said the party.
“We underscore the need for total change in Zimbabwe where the rule of law is upheld and people are respected regardless of their political affiliations”.
PDP said like what happened to the ex- Journalist-cum human rights activist Itai Dzamara whose whereabouts remain unknown since last year in March the same could have happened to their official.
“As the PDP, we demand that Shelton’s abductors must release him to his family and we will make all efforts to secure his location and safe release,” said PDP.
“Zimbabwe cannot continue to feign being a democracy yet its citizens who dare criticize the rotten Zanu  PF leadership are not guaranteed of safety”.

ByTerrence Mawawa|Workers at Chisumbanje Ethanol company owned by President Robert Mugabe’s business partner Billy Rautenbach, have gone for 8 months without salaries and have had anti-riot police details deployed to crush dissent.
The ethanol plan’s business was granted exclusive state access after Rautenbach deceived government claiming he would provide electricity for the whole of Manicaland year in year out.
Workers at his ethanol plant say employees are passing out on duty due to hunger and efforts to resolve the matter have proved fruitless since the police “are constantly quashing” their protests.
“We have gone for 8 months without salaries and our efforts to engage the management have been ruthlessly thwarted by the police. There are police details who are monitoring the situation round the clock. We are only getting a paltry $ 70 each as part of a working allowance. Rautenbach is nowhere to be seen and we are getting agitated by the situation,” said an employee based at Chisumbanje plant.
The workers also said Rautenbach was riding on political immunity because of his closeness to Mugabe.
“We call upon the president to intervene in the situation before the whole thing gets out of hand . We are tired of working for nothing. In-fact we are generating a lot of money here but we are toiling for nothing ,” said another employee based at Middle Sabi ethanol plant.
Rautenbach is also one of Mugabe’s chief sponsors with reports saying he committed thousands of dollars towards the upcoming 21st February Movement bash.

Powers to prosecute are not vested in an individual, but in the National Prosecuting Authority, contrary to claims by arrested Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana, in a case in which he is challenging his placement on remand, the State has said.
Tomana is arguing that his arrest for allegedly releasing suspects who wanted to petrol bomb the First Family’s Alpha Omega Dairy was unconstitutional.
Tomana said prosecutions were conducted under his authority and in this case he had not instituted the criminal process.
But prosecutors Mr Gwinyai Shumba and Mr Timothy Makoni said the new Constitution vested prosecutorial powers in the NPA, a change from provisions of the old Constitution.
They said the Prosecutor General was only a member of the National Prosecuting Authority. Tomana, through his lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu instructed by Mr Tazorora Musarurwa and Mr Alex Mambosasa, also argued that Mr Shumba and Mr Makoni had no right and powers to prosecute him since they were his juniors.
But the two said prosecutors do their work on behalf of the State not the Prosecutor General.
“The certificates given to individual prosecutors is merely evidence of title given by the PG to an individual prosecutor to prosecute on behalf of the State,” they said.
“In fact, the saving provisions of the NPA Act make it clear that all prosecutors who had the title to prosecute shall continue with the same title to prosecute in all matters.
“There is no requirement of law that in each emerging case, the PG grants authority to prosecute.”
Tomana said he was immune to prosecution, hence his arrest was a violation of constitutional provisions guaranteeing his independence and protection from intimidation in the exercise and discharge of his functions.
But the State said: “It is clear that the law only immunises the President during the pendency of his office and not after he has ceased holding office.
The immunity that the accused wants to legislate for himself in the constitution, if necessary must be by way of constitutional amendment and referendum. The independence which the PG enjoys does not entail acting arbitrarily and contrary to the dictates of the law.”
The State agreed with the defence that the police take directives from the PG, but they argued that section 219 of the Constitution, which provides for the police service and its functions did not exclude criminal abuse of duty by State functionaries from being detected.
The State further argued that most issues raised by Tomana in his application were liable to trial, adding that the application was not sound at all as the constitution placed everybody below the law.
The magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe ordered the State to recall the investigating officer Assistant Commissioner Thulani Ncube on the witness stand and clarify the validity of Tomana’s arrest.
Asst Comm Ncube said Tomana’s arrest was not illegal, adding that he was the one who instructed his subordinates to arrest him. Advocate Mpofu questioned who the complainant was in the matter.
“You made yourself the complainant, you caused his arrest and you took the decision to take him to court so that he be prosecuted. From what you have said, do you see that this is a police prosecution.”
After hearing submissions from both counsels, Mr Chikwekwe remanded the matter to Monday next week for ruling.
Tomana is facing criminal abuse of duty as a public officer, or alternatively defeating or obstructing the course of justice after he allegedly ordered the release of Silas Pfupa and Solomon Makumbe suspected of trying to petrol-bomb the First Family’s Alpha Omega Dairy farm in Mazowe.State Media

By Terrence Mawawa |Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko a self confessed disciple of the First Lady Grace Mugabe is under fire for his sensational claims that the Karangas will never take over the presidency of the country.

The bootlicking Mphoko went out of the way when he claimed the Karangas will never rule the country, drawing the ire of politicians across the political divide in Masvingo. Mphoko who has aligned himself with the G40 camp stunned all and sundry when he claimed Karangas would never rule the Zimbabwe. Senior Zanu PF officials known to be sympathetic to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Mphoko was a man of stature but he had little brains.They said Mphoko’s utterances were calculated to belittle Karanga politicians -particularly Mnangagwa.
“Mphoko’s comments are unfortunate, reckless and uncouth. He made a clear insult to us. Mphoko must quickly retract his utterances before the 21st February Movement celebrations -otherwise we will stage a demonstration against him and his supporters,”  said a Member of Parliament who chose not to be named. In a rare alliance, albeit of perceptions, former Zanu PF politburo member Dzikamai Mavhaire said, “Mphoko’s views are full of hatred .All people have the right to choose their own leaders despite tribal backgrounds.We do not tolerate such kind of talk”.
Former MDC MP and current PDP deputy national secretary general Tongai Matutu said Mphoko did not deserve to lead the national healing committee . “We have been segregated by Mphoko’s comments. He must apologise for his utterances,”said Matutu. Political analysts here said Mphoko insulted the entire Karanga tribe through reckless comments meant to please his boss Grace Mugabe in the G40 formation.
Mphoko has torched yet another fire in the already raging storm in the ruling party and the Vice President’s sentiments have ignited further tension in the troubled party. Mphoko’s sentiments have triggered anger even outside the ruling party.