A Binga rapist will be forever thankful to a dentist after the latter saved him from an imminent long jail term.
Artwell Munsaka of Sinampani Village in Binga was dragged before Binga magistrate court facing one count of statutory rape after having had sexual intercourse with a 15 year old girl.
Munsaka admitted to having intercourse with the under-age girl but the court could not immediately establish his age for sentencing.
Munsaka who did not have an identity document nor a birth certificate had to be sent to a specialist dentist to determine his age. The man’s body-build is one of a man in the mid twenties.
The dentist reported that tests revealed that at the time of the offence in September last year Munsaka could have been between the age of 15 and 17 of which the court took the lesser and considered him a juvenile.
The area magistrate resultantly opposed the state’s move for a mandatory minimum nine years imprisonment for statutory rape by an adult. Munsaka was consequently sentenced to a wholly suspended two year jail term and ordered to be given six canes with a medium whip.
The canning was to be administered by the Prisons and Correctional Services at Binga Prison within 24 hours of sentencing.

IN a bizarre case, an 18-year-old Murehwa man is alleged to have raped his brother’s wife throughout the night after sneaking into the woman’s blankets while masquerading as her husband.
The incident, which left the villagers shocked, is alleged to have occurred on July 4, 2013, when the suspect was staying at the same homestead with his brother’s wife while the woman’s husband was away in Harare.
On the day in question, it is alleged the teenager told his brother’s wife that he intended to attend an all-night prayer elsewhere, but had received a call from his brother who said he was arriving late that night from Harare.
The teenager further told his brother’s wife he had been instructed to tell her to leave the door open in case he arrived late.
“At around 9pm to 10pm, the accused person went to the window of the bedroom where the complainant was sleeping and knocked as if he was the complainant’s husband and the woman unlocked the door presuming it was her husband,” the State papers read.
The State alleges when the teenager entered the bedroom, the woman got out to relieve herself and when she returned she found the suspect already in the blankets and the two started chatting in the dark and the teenager was speaking in a low voice.
“When they were discussing, the accused person, who knew about the sour relationship that existed between the woman and her husband, apologised for neglecting her when she eloped to him. After a while, the complainant got into the same blankets and had sexual intercourse with the woman throughout the night,” the State alleges.
The following morning, the woman was allegedly shocked when she noticed the teenager’s clothes on the chair and when she uncovered the person who was in the blankets, she realised she had been duped and had spent the night with the suspect.
The woman rushed to the village head and reported her ordeal, but when the suspect was questioned, he denied the allegations, saying he had spent the night at an all-night prayer.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to his arrest.
The suspect last week appeared at the High Court seeking bail, but his application was deferred to next week. newsday

The government has warned the schools that it is against the law to reject the South African Rand and Botswana Pula as legal tender for the payment of school fees.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Lazarus Dokora told Senators last week that the South African rand was one of the currencies in the basket of currencies adopted by the government as legal tender in 2009.
He was responding to a question from Beitbridge Senator Tambudzani Mohadi (Zanu-PF) who wanted to know what the government was doing about school heads who turned away pupils who wanted to pay school fees in South African rand and Botswana pula.
Sen Mohadi said many pupils in her area were not going to school after authorities rejected the South African rand.
“It’s true that she asked this question before and I did respond to it to say that if there are instances where this practice of turning down what’s a legal tender in this country in the multi-currency regime, if any of our institutions are turning down acceptance of this legal tender, those schools should be reported through our system. I’m quite happy to receive the list from the Honourable Member and we’ll take action,” said Minister Dokora.

Many trading institutions have over the past months been rejecting the South African rand which has been depreciating rapidly in value against the United States dollar.
Most shops and individuals have since stopped using the rand to settle debts preferring the green back.
Most Zimbabweans in the southern part of the country like Matabeleland deal mainly in the rand owing to their proximity to Pretoria.
Responding to another question, Minister Dokora said his ministry had an elaborate plan in its new curriculum to promote the learning of Science and Mathematics.
He was responding to a question from Disabled Representative Senator Nyamayabo Mashavakure who wanted to know if the government would take the promotion of Science and Mathematics from Advanced Level to Ordinary Level as well.
Sen Mashavakure asked what the government was doing to deter a temptation by teachers to discourage the learning of sciences so as to secure high pass rates.
“Our plan to promote Science, Mathematics and technical vocational subjects is in the new curriculum. It begins at level one — from the infants right up to A-Level.
“What we know is that of our children since 2013 to 2015, we can give you a number of children who’ve gone through the curriculum that we currently have,” he said.
Minister Dokora said most pupils were registering good passes at Advanced Level. – State Media

Terrence Mawawa | Masvingo Tourism minister and Masvingo South MP Walter Mzembi has dumped his farm near Stop Over bar,5km out of the city of Masvingo and workers at the farm claim the Zanu PF heavyweight has dismally failed to maintain the property .
The farm which has big fowl runs in it and wide space for growing vegetables now lies desolate since Mzembi has virtually neglected the property. The state of Mzembi’s farm is contrary to claims by the government that the land grab exercise proved to be a resounding success. Ironically Mzembi nearly invaded a poultry producing farm last year but he was thwarted by Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa albeit along factional lines.
Workers at the vast property now spend most of their time drinking opaque beer and playing draught . “We spend much of the time drinking opaque beer and playing draught because we have nothing to do here .There is no activity at the farm and the minister hardly comes here .We are worried about our future at the farm,”said a worker who chose not to be named.
Mzembi angrily said he bought the farm as a gift for his son and the property had nothing to do with the public. Workers at the farm however said Mzembi ,who owns several other farms,grabbed the property during the controversial land reform programme many believe brought the country’s ecomony into the current abyss. The controversial minister has openly attributed his political survival to his udoubted loyalty to Mugabe although he is strongly linked to the G40 camp.

A Pumula South man has been sentenced to perform community service after he was found guilty of bedding his 13-year-old cousin.
The man who is 19 years old, was initially facing rape charges, but was convicted of sleeping with a minor after the court established that the girl consented.
Regional magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze said: “You are therefore sentenced to 24 months in prison of which six months are suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. The remainder will be suspended on condition that you performs 526 hours of community service.”
Prosecuting, Concilia Ncube, told the court that the man pounced on his Grade Seven cousin on January 23.
“The girl left the house and went to play with her young sister and brother just outside their gate. As they were about to start playing, her cousin followed them out of the house and grabbed the girl and closed her mouth, pushing her back into the house,” said Ncube.
“He took her to the sitting room and laid her on the sofa, undressed her and raped the girl once. After the act, the man threatened to assault his cousin if she told their domestic worker of the incident and went away.”
The court heard that after a few days, the girl confided in the domestic worker who made a police report and took the girl to hospital for medical attention.
A medical report was produced which was used in court and the man was arrested.State Media

Health Minister David Parirenyatwa says Zimbabwe will continue to train nurses for export.
Dr Parirenyatwa was speaking to the State Media soon after holding a meeting with the visiting South Sudan Minister of Higher Education and Technology, Dr John Gai Yoah at his offices at Kaguvi Building in Harare this Monday morning.
Zimbabwe and South Sudan share cordial relations that have seen the South Sudanese government requesting help from Zimbabwe in different fields to rebuild the former war ravaged country which attained its independence in July 2011 after a referendum in which 99 percent of the people voted for secession from Sudan.
“Zimbabwe is ready to assist Africa’s newest country with personnel for the health sector in terms of training and provision of doctors, nurses and other experts to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the countries,” Minister Parirenyatwa said
The South Sudanese minister is in Zimbabwe to sign a memorandum of understanding with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Professor Jonathan Moyo for the implementation of a similar arrangement in the education sector.
Meanwhile, Dr Parirenyatwa has warned Zimbabweans planning to travel to South America to guard against mosquito bites and ensure safe sex as precautionary measures against the Zika virus.
Zika virus outbreak has been declared a public health concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Minister Parirenyatwa concurred with WHO country representative to Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello that there is no need to impose travel bans on people going to Brazil but warned those travelling to any part of South America to must protect themselves against mosquito bites.
Zika virus is caused by the Aedes mosquito which was first discovered in the Zika forest in Uganda.

Ousted Welshman Ncube led MDC Secretary General Moses Mzila Ndlovu has accused Ncube of single handedly destroying the once promising opposition political party.
Talking to ZimEye.com after the party standing committee ruled to remove him from the position of Secretary General, Mzila Ndlovu said that he was not at all worried about his removal from the Secretary General position and was even quitting the party as long as it remained under the leadership of Professor Ncube.
The former freedom fighter accused Ncube of lacking strategy to fight against ZANU PF and also surrounding himself with political failures who never challenged him. Mzila also echoed sentiments of dictatorship tendencies by Ncube as raised by several other MDC leaders who have quit the party since Ncube took over from Arthur Mutambara.
The veteran opposition politician would not disclose to the. media where he is heading after quitting the MDC, only saying he is leaving options open to people who are serious about taking over state power from ZANU PF not those who have tried several times and failed due to ideological bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, sources within the MDC claim that several more members particularly from Bulawayo and Matabeleland South will this week be receiving letters advising them of their dismissal from the party. Most of those to be dismissed are accused of having links with Joice Mujuru’s new political party. Some will be dismissed for raising a purge against Welshman Ncube who the provinces recently sent a petition demanding that he steps down.

The Insurance and Pensions Commission (Ipec) has suspended four insurers and an insurance broker from issuing or renewing insurance policies due to unsound finances and unethical business conduct.
“Excellence Insurance Company (Private) Limited is under suspension as its financial position was unsound, as was Global Insurance Company (Private) Limited,” Ipec said adding that the suspensions were issued in terms of section 5 (a) of the Insurance Act (Chapter 24:07).
The other insurers barred from issuing or renewing policies include KMFS Insurance Company (Private) Limited and New Reinsurance Company (Private) Limited on the basis of unsound finances.
According to the commission, short-term insurance companies are required to have a minimum capital requirement of $1,5 million but Excellence had $250 000 by end of June last year while others had varying amounts less than $1 million in the six months to June 2015.
Navistar Insurance Brokers (Private) Limited was placed under suspension for unethical business conduct.
According to Ipec, all clients who had already purchased or renewed policies with the five firms are free to launch claims with the insurers.
“In the event that some members of the public have already purchased or renewed policies with the above mentioned companies, please note that these companies remain liable to honour claims arising from the same policies… any refusal to pay should be reported to the Ipec,” the watchdog said.
In his 2015 National Budget, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa expressed the need for an upward review of the minimum capital requirements for the insurance sector to improve underwriting capacity and contain insurance business within the country.
To match this, the Treasury chief increased the minimum capital requirements for both life and non-life reinsurers in his 2015 Mid-term Fiscal Policy Review Statement.
The proposed hike is to be effected by December 31, 2016.
Chinamasa hiked the minimum threshold for short term insurers from $1,5 million to $2,5 million, from $2 million to $5 million for life assurers and pegged the minimum capital requirement for funeral assurers at $2,5 million from $1,5 million.
Chinamasa also proposed to introduce a raft of measures that included the review of qualifying assets for calculation of prescribed assets as well as deterrent penalties which include cancellation of operating licences
The Treasury chief ordered Ipec to, in the first quarter of 2016; review the qualifying assets for minimum capital requirements to improve asset quality.
The performance of the insurance and pension sector has largely remained depressed owing to low economic activity, legacy issues emanating from the conversion of insurance and pension policies from Zimbabwe dollar to US dollar values and liquidity challenges, among others.
Presently, the draft Bills for the insurance and pension industry are being finalised, taking into account stakeholders’ inputs.
The Bills include the Insurance and Pension Commission Bill, Pensions and Provident Funds Bill, and the Insurance Bill and are expected to be presented in the August House in the first quarter of 2016. daily news

The Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe is demanding for the arrest of some state actors and Zanu PF officials accused of violating media freedoms.
The media freedom lobby made the demands in its 2015 state of the media report it produced last week.
Among the state actors accused of violating media freedom in the 25 violations MISA-Zimbabwe recorded in 2015 is President Robert Mugabe, his wife Grace and their spokesperson George Charamba.
The violations were mainly in the form of threats and unlawful arrests, and emanated from Zanu PF factional fights.
“The country’s leadership should exercise restraint as threats to deal with the media have potential to trigger extra-legal violation of media freedom by political activists,” said part of the report.
“Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and the responsible authorities should investigate and bring to account the culprits involved in the assaults of journalists more so where complaints and reports are filed against members of his force”.
MISA-Zimbabwe said although state media Journalists were also victims of media freedom violations the private media was the worst affected.
“This speaks volumes on the lack of willingness to embrace and practice constitutionalism on the part of senior government and Zanu PF officials and other non-state actors.
In one of the case President Mugabe and the Charamba threatened to clamp down on the private media for stories on leakages of the party’s meetings including Cabinet deliberations.
Other cases involved the “unlawful” arrests or assaults by the police of journalists conducting their lawful professional duties.

Scores of women married to employees of Duration Gold’s Vumbachikwe Mine in Gwanda on Saturday stripped naked demonstrating against the new management imposed by the new owners.
The angry and uncontrollable women complained that their husbands have not been paid their salaries for a whole year to date – since January 2015 and the working conditions at the mine have deteriorated since the venture was taken over by Duration Gold, a foreign owned mining conglomerate.
The women cited that their main cause to demonstrate against the company was that their husbands always come home stressed and fail to fulfil their conjugal duties due to the difficult working conditions at the mine.
One woman who only identified herself as MaPhiri told ZimEye.com that her husband has not been able to do his bedroom duties for the last six months because he is always stressed and hungry as the little salary advances the company gives to the workers is not enough to cover their domestic needs. “How would I honestly expect a hungry, stressed and tired man to do anything in the bedroom?” she fumed.
“The bosses come here driving in big vehicles with big tummies and take all the money from the company and go and eat and enjoy with their wives while we remain starved here,” she added.
The women who staged their act at the main entrance to the company’s administration offices, raised their dresses exposing torn underwear claiming that their husband could not even afford to buy them the underwear because of non payment. They sang very derogative songs inviting mine managers to come and quench their sexual desires as their husbands are failing due to stress.
ZimEye.com last week exclusively reported that the workers at the mine were not happy with Duration Gold who they accused of racism and gross and unfair labour practices. The workers claimed that since the company took over the mine from previous owners Forbes and Thompson the new owners had changed the entire mine management and employed new staff which was failing to run the venture.
The workers further claimed that every time they raised complaints against the company, the owners openly told them that nothing will ever be done to them as they are “very big friends” with Kasukuwere from his days as Indigenisation Minister and so are “protected”. The company’s indigenisation status has remained unclear for a long time.
Senior staff at the mine refused to talk to the media or attend to the demonstrating women who had to be dispersed by heavily armed anti riot police from the support unit in Bulawayo five hours into the demonstration.
The women went back to their homes threatening that they will lock their husbands in doors and make sure they don’t terrier for duty until they have been paid their outstanding salaries.
Vumbachikwe mine is one of the biggest gold producing mines in the country and has been posting good profits over the years.

The Piermont Town Council in New Hampshire in the United States of America, through Dr Rev Edward Matuvhunye, former President of the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe, donated fire fighters’ uniforms, gumboots, tools and chemicals to Chipinge Town Council last week Friday the 29th January 2016. The handover coincided with the celebrations of the belated Chipinge Town Council Cheer Fund.
 
Addressing hundreds of people who had thronged Chipinge Gaza Hall, Rev Matuvhunye, who

was the guest of honour for the belated Chipinge Cheer Fund, held to mobilise resources to help orphans, said he was gripped by the needs and problems of Chipinge District Town Council, and so thought of mobilising resources to help the council meet its mandated targets.
“As bona fide leader in Chipinge and Church leader, I am working and negotiating with the leadership of Piermont Town for fire fighter vehicles, ambulances and (also) the possibilities for a twinning program,” said Matuvhunye.
He challenged well wishers to pull resources together for the benefit of the needy. “I encouraged all bona-fide and friends of Chipinge to mobilize resources from wherever they are in order to improve their home town and district. I am also exploring possibilities of raising funds to address drought relief, climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
 
Commenting on Dr Matuvhunye’s resourcefulness and act of benevolence, Mrs Malati , the Chipinge Town Secretary, said she was “humbled by the support of Dr Rev Matuvhunye and partners from New Hampshire for stretching the hand of friendship and love to help the Chipinge Town Council.”
 
Mrs Malati thanked Rev Matuvhunye, who is pursuing PhD studies in the US, as well as partners from that country for the support rendered.
 
Councillor Mathias Gurai praised and commended efforts of development agents who envision to improve Chipinge district.
 
The handover was attended by Chipinge town councillors, representatives of parliament,’ MP Machingura, the local DA, business community bosses, traditional leaders, government departments, churches, and a large crowd from the local community.

87 farmers who were allocated land under the fast track agrarian reform programme at Greenland farm in Beatrice are facing eviction14 years after being given land.
The farmers, who have thriving maize and tobacco crops, are appealing to the government to intervene after they were served with eviction letters by the Permanent Secretary for Lands and Rural Resettlement.
The farmers are genuine holders of A1 offer letters and have built houses since they were resettled in 2002.
To them, the eviction might be an illegal act and all they pray for is for the government to intervene.
Others feel that allowing such evictions to take place almost a decade and half after the land reform will leave all resettled farmers in the country exposed to eviction at any given time.
A landmark ruling made by High Court judge, Justice Francis Bere in 2013 in a similar case outlawed the unilateral withdrawal of offer letters by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement.
Justice Bere cited that if offer letters would be withdrawn unilaterally by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement, it would make almost every citizen of Zimbabwe who benefited under the land reform vulnerable. – State Media

Zanu PF politburo member and Higher Education Minister, Jonathan Moyo has blown open snippets of the background to his public row with President Robert Mugabe’s spokesman George Charamba, and his relationship with vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa. He in the below interview reveals Charamba’s secret past saying it is likely what has caused the man to attack him. He told the weekly Standard while addressing allegations that he is working to destroy the ruling party from within.
Question: In your opinion, what could have motivated George Charamba’s attacks against you and those perceived to be opposed to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa?
Answer: I don’t have an opinion about this. I have information. Loads of it. While Charamba’s scurrilous political attack on me and other Cabinet ministers perceived to be opposed to what they allege is Vice-President Mnangagwa’s succession path went viral after his long interview on ZiFM radio and after The Herald reproduced a verbatim script of that interview two weeks ago, in fact Charamba had been on my case over VP Mnangagwa’s succession for a very long time.
To make a very long story short, things started turning ugly between Charamba and me and his fellow successionists out there in May 2015 when BBC HardTalk broadcast an interview with me in which I poured cold water on the ambitions of successionists by saying President Robert Mugabe had not appointed his vice-presidents so they could succeed him, but so they could assist him to implement the policy programmes he pledged to the nation in the 2013 elections, which he won resoundingly.
I also said in that interview that questions whether the First Lady, Dr Amai Grace Mugabe, was a future leader were ridiculous because she’s already a leader today not least as secretary for the women’s league, which is a senior national leadership position in the ruling party. I later learnt, something which is now common cause that the BBC HardTalk interview did not go down well with successionists.
The most disappointing reaction came from Charamba. Remember, I was then Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services where he was as he still is permanent secretary. Soon after my BBC HardTalk interview, Charamba started throwing administrative spanners into my ministerial work either by instructing officers not to do this or that for the minister or by holding up paperwork or by running a whisper campaign with State media journalists and officials who administer parastatals under the ministry to say to them, “the minister has fallen out of favour with the system”, and things like that.
He tried anything and everything to derail my campaign programme in Tsholotsho for the June 2015 by-election which had been running well until the BBC HardTalk interview. There are witnesses to this, many, who are waiting for their day in the sun to tell their story. In the week of the June 2015 by-election Charamba travelled with President Mugabe’s delegation to two working visits that were close to each other, one overseas and the other to South Africa.
Charamba used those programmes to deep-throat the State journalists assigned with the delegations with a rumour that I was going to be dropped from Cabinet, allegedly because I had contested in the by-elections without the president’s permission and that by winning the by-election I had expelled myself from my position as a Cabinet minister. Again, there are witnesses to this, especially but not only in the media.
A week after I was sworn in as MP for Tsholotsho North following the June 2015 by-election, and a few days after Charamba’s return from his assignment with the President in South Africa, I noticed that he had taken into avoiding me altogether and yet it is a fiduciary requirement for the permanent secretary and minister to work together as public officials entrusted by the president and enjoined by the law to serve the public.
And so I took it upon myself to go to his office to greet him and to find out what was going on as I was hearing a lot of disturbing things.
When I got into his office, he appeared to have been taken by surprise, perhaps for the reason that he had taken the view that we no longer had anything to do with one another since he had already told State journalists that I had fallen out of favour with the “system”. My effort to engage him in the pleasantries of greeting each other failed. There were no smiles. No usual courtesies.
Charamba gave me an arrogantly officious and dismissive look and said, “Minister, what is going on?” About what? I asked him. “With you, minister”, he thundered.
Remember I was seeing him for the first time since recording a historic win for the party in the Tsholotsho by-election. He did not use the opportunity to first congratulate me on that victory, or to say anything about the fact that the party had won all 16 or so by-elections nationwide on the day. He just wanted to huff and puff about what he was convinced was going wrong with me.
So I reminded him I was not aware of anything wrong because I had put all my time and effort in my by-election campaign in Tsholotsho and I was not aware of what had been happening elsewhere, especially in Harare. “Minister, minister”, shouted Charamba. “I am very, very worried.
“The commanders have been asking me what’s going on with you and the whole system is concerned about you minister”.
He said. “I’m being asked a lot of hard questions about the BBC interview. Who organised it? How did they come here? Things would have been okay if the interview had ended there, but then it was transcribed and the script was published in The Herald.
“They want to know who did that because it is only done for the president and nobody else”. By the way, remember this was coming from the same Charamba who only two weeks ago had more than an hour of his venomous ZiFM radio interview against at least three Cabinet ministers, including myself, transcribed and published by The Herald verbatim. But that’s a digression.
Then Charamba said, “Minister, the system does not trust you at all. Now the commanders are angry with me. they are saying why am I not stopping you. It’s like, it’s my job to stop you”. “Stop me from what?” I asked Charamba agitatedly.
“Stop you from doing what you are doing minister and you know what you are doing”.
When Charamba realised that I was getting very frustrated and even annoyed with his narrative, he then said, “Minister, the system is asking if Moyo is not supporting VP Mnangagwa to succeed, so who then is he supporting? Why is he trying to prevent VP Mnangagwa? That makes him dangerous and he must be stopped.”
At that point I lost my cool and told Charamba that whoever wants me to support VP Mnangagwa to succeed President Mugabe should go to hell and I don’t care what anyone is going to do to me because of that.
I reminded Charamba of 2004 and told him I was not going to be part of Tsholotsho 2 in Harare and that Joice Mujuru was not removed for her successionist plots in order to replace her with VP Mnangagwa to pursue his own successionist programme against President Mugabe.
Noticing that I was getting agitated and angry, Charamba then tried to cool things down by saying, “I hear you minister but nobody is going to believe what you are saying. Nobody in the system believes you”.
That was my last conversation with Charamba in the Information ministry. I’ve kept a record of it because I realised as soon as we started talking that he was up to something big and no good. A week or so after that conversation I related my encounter with Charamba to his deputy, Regis Chikowore and made it clear to Chikowore that I was not going to allow successionists to intimidate me into supporting their scheme to succeed the president.
The conversation with Chiko-wore happened a week after I had been advised that the Attorney-General, Prince Machaya had advised that the legal effect of my winning the June 2015 Tsholotsho by-election and my taking oath as a Member of Parliament was that I had technically resigned from my Cabinet post by operation of the law and that I could no longer attend Cabinet.
What followed thereafter is in the public domain, save for the fact that Charamba and other successionists used that period to trade all sorts of self-indulgent stories about my fate.
First, they said I was out of Cabinet for good. Then when the president appointed me to my current post, they said I had been demoted.
I chuckled over the demotion jibe because I moved from a ministry whose annual budget (check the blue book) is about $3 million to one with a budget of over $600 million in de facto terms, let alone the fact that the ministry I’m currently serving is the one that plans and develops the human capital skills for the entire economy.
The untold story is that my situation in the Information ministry became impossible after my BBC HardTalk interview. I was very grateful when the president reshuffled me from there.
But Charamba has remained on my case on behalf of successionists. Only last Thursday he telephoned the acting CEO at ZBC just before News Hour at night and directed him to pull off STEM ads on ZBC television and ZBC radio stations. I understand he said he was doing this because the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had complained about the ads and he wanted to show “who controls the media in Zimbabwe”.
Can you imagine that? A Permanent Secretary in Information ministry unilaterally sabotaging a government programme, by another ministry, that’s been well-received nationally beyond description. And doing so without reference to any administrative process.
No reference to his counterpart in our ministry. No reference to the Cabinet office. No reference to the ZBC board of governors. I don’t know if there was any reference to his own minister.
And this all because Charamba sees himself as an untouchable super successionist who allegedly has the blessing of VP Mnangagwa and is thus part of the “system” if not as the “system itself” and he believes he has the power to do anything by himself without reference to anyone or to any process in accordance with the operational framework of making and implementing government decisions. As a typical successionist, Charamba supports the president during the day and works against him at night.
Clearly, Charamba is no longer a fit and proper person to be Permanent Secretary in the Information ministry.
Question: What is your relationship with Mnangagwa, are you on speaking terms?
Answer: I recognise and respect him as one of two different but equal vice-presidents and second secretaries of our party and vice-presidents of our country appointed by the president to assist him to discharge his national mandate and constitutional responsibilities. I don’t know what talking terms are, but I definitely report to him in the discharge of part of my work as I also report to Vice-President Mphoko in similar light.
Question: In your response to accusations that you are part of a faction that is allegedly abusing the First Family’s name, you have said you learnt your lesson in 2004, what was that lesson?
Answer: I learnt that at all times, I must remain loyal to my appointing authority and forget the rest. Successionists then would say Pamberi naPresident Mugabe during the day and spend the cover of night plotting his ouster. That’s what they are doing now. Lots of daylight slogans in support of the president followed by a nightfall of unprecedented succession scheming. Loyalty is a 24-hour proposition, 24/7. It’s not a part-time job of the politics of appearances.
Question: In 2004 you were accused of working with a Zanu PF faction that was pushing for Mnangagwa’s elevation to the presidium but now you are said to be fighting him. What has changed?
Answer: I just told you that I learnt my lessons. It’s called political maturity and experience. I’m not fighting anyone. I’m just making sure that I do not again put myself in a political situation that is in conflict with my president as my appointing authority. I shared this position publicly in a Sunday Mail interview soon after my re-admission to the party and election into the central committee at the 5th Congress in December 2009. We have the position of one centre of power in our party’s constitution. I drafted that position as I drafted all the key amendments to our party’s constitution for the 6th Congress in December 2014 and I did that under VP Mnangagwa.
Question: War Veterans minister Chris Mutsvangwa has accused you of, trying to divide Zanu PF…. What is your response?
Let the situation on the ground speak for itself about that.
Question: What is your response to Mutsvangwa’s claims that you are related to the late Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole and that you could be fighting his wars?
My late friend Professor Masipula Sithole must be laughing in heaven about that comical allegation. If there was the slightest truth to it, he would not have gone to heaven without saying it. Not Masipula. But of course I believe I am related to every Zimbabwean. That’s where I get my Zimbabweanness.
Question: Your critics often accuse you of working to destroy Zanu PF from within, what is your reaction to such claims?
Answer: The overwhelming majority of Zanu PF members know better. I’m in the politburo and Cabinet not because I smuggled myself there but because the president appointed me to serve in both organs as he knows better than the critics you are talking about.
Question: Do you believe there is a media campaign to discredit you and if so what steps are you taking to stop that?
Answer: What I believe is not an issue. The situation on the ground speaks for itself.
Question: Zanu PF has previously accused the private media of concocting stories about factionalism in the ruling party? Do you now believe that there are camps in Zanu PF pulling in different directions?
Answer: Zanu PF was said to have two factions: Mujuru and Mnangagwa factions. The Mujuru faction met its fate in 2014 leaving the party with one faction. It would be wrong for the remaining faction to see itself as the chosen one when the right thing to do is for it to dissolve itself and support President Mugabe both during the day and at night.
Question: Do you have ambitions to lead Zanu PF as alleged by your detractors and are you a member of the so-called G40 faction?
Answer: I have never had an ambition or done anything based on or driven by the allegations of my detractors.
Question: Your constituency Tsholotsho North is one of the most affected by the current drought, do you have an idea of its impact and what has government done to cushion villagers?
Answer: You are right that Tsholotsho North is one of the constituencies most affected by the current drought and the impact on livelihoods and livestock is indescribable. But the status of “most affected” is becoming widespread in our nation. We are working on a range of options to keep hope alive. Cde Prisca Mupfumira, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, has done everything possible to ensure that vulnerable families in the constituency are cushioned. And Dr Joseph Made is assisting us to find a water solution since access to water is the vital need in a drought situation.

“President Robert Mugabe is now too ill for the Presidency”, the High Court is to pass its verdict on the matter.
The lawsuit was submitted by a Zimbabwean lawyer who is demanding that the country’s highest court must now order an investigation to determine Mugabe’s fitness to hold office.
This comes after a series of evidential bad health signs that prompted speculation about his health.
The papers filed by the lawyer, Tinomuda Chinoka say the Speaker of Parliament and the president of the senate must conduct the investigation.
“Having a president that may lack capacity to carry out the job threatens democracy, undermines the constitution and puts in jeopardy the very foundation, security and future of the nation,” read the papers filed with the Constitutional Court.
Chinoka listed a number of incidents casting doubt on Mugabe’s ability to rule, including his tumble on a red carpet at Harare International Airport in February 2015.
They also referred to a gaffe last year when he read the wrong speech at the opening of parliament.
“Any person with their mental alertness intact would have recognised a speech that they have read only three weeks previously,” said the papers.
Mugabe, who turns 92 later this month, has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980. His health has been the subject of speculation in recent years.
In January he returned from his annual month-long holiday during which rumours flared that he had collapsed and died in Asia. News24/Additional Reporting

Management at the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) has been accused of flouting tender procedures, mismanagement, nepotism and corruption.
Details obtained by the State Media indicate the parastatal’s woes could be due to gross mismanagement as the company fails to pay duty for 33 buses imported from China in May 2015 despite one of Zupco’s bank accounts holding US$680 282 as at January 26, 2016.
Documents at hand show that things came to a head on January 26, 2016 when Zupco failed to dispatch a single one of its 150 buses in Harare because “there was no fuel”. This led to the suspension without pay of divisional operations manager Mr Jonathan Chandaengerwa.
Mr Chandaengerwa declined to comment saying “the matter was before a Zupco disciplinary hearing committee”.
One the documents in our possession reads, “On (January 26, 2016) it was said there was no money to buy fuel for northern division buses yet US$520 282 was sitting in a recapitalisation account. The buses needed only a minimum of US$10 000 to get on the road.” Zupco’s policy is that 30 percent of gross revenue goes to the recapitalisation account daily.
Despite sitting on huge cash reserves, Zupco has failed to dispatch buses citing lack of fuel, and has 33 units grounded at its Belvedere, Harare yard after failing to pay import duty since May 2015.
Workers’ salaries have been delayed since July 2015, added a source.
Zupco’s top management is also accused of refurbishing at unjustifiable costs.
For instance, bus number FF41 was refurbished for US$38 000 when a new FAW engine costs around US$15 000.
And bus FF41 broke down after travelling just 12km. Zupco CEO Mr Clifford Muwoni said there was nothing amiss with the bus breaking down soon after refurbishment.
“Even a brand new bus can break down after five kilometres. It’s normal,” he said. “The buses were not grounded on January 26, 2016; we just reduced the number of buses because of low commuter numbers.”
However, Mr Muwoni wrote a letter to Mr Chandaengerwa on January 27, 2016 saying the company lost about US$10 000 in daily revenue while “passengers were left stranded because there were no buses”.
Mr Muwoni also dismissed as “nonsensical” allegations that Zupco was flouting tender procedures when buying buses, trucks and trailers.
The CEO has also been accused of nepotism after his son, Mr Kevin Muwoni, was appointed a divisional risk officer, raising questions among workers if Kevin would investigate allegations of wrongdoing against his father.
Mr Muwoni defended his son’s appointment saying: “Kevin has been with Zupco since 2007 so there is no nepotism. Nepotism is when someone is not qualified for the job.”- State Media

A disabled Bulawayo based Zimbabwean family needs help after being let down by the Jairos Jiri association.
 
Mr John Jemwa and family, affected by a hereditary and rare condition affecting eyesight, are failing to get a meal each day after their Econet kiosk (pictured) was shut down due to a deficit not exceeding $2,500.00 in total.

A COUPLE allegedly fleeing unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been arrested with its eight minor children, one of them aged one year.
The eldest child is aged 14 years old. Kasambule Ebondo, 40, and wife Mumba Kayeye, 32, of Lubumbashi, told Victoria Falls magistrate
Rangarai Gakanje that they escaped from their country last week and chose to come to Zimbabwe to seek refuge. Prosecutors charged the couple with illegally entering the country.
The minors could be seen playing outside the courtroom while their parents were being tried. Ebondo and Kayeye pleaded guilty to the charge and were sentenced to four months in prison which was wholly suspended for five years on condition they don’t commit a similar offence within that period.
The magistrate also ordered that they be deported. “You should have sought to have travel documents before thinking of travelling instead of entering the country illegally,” said Gakanje.
Ebondo burst into tears as he explained to the court why he and his family fled the DRC.
“There is unrest in our country where people are being killed on a daily basis. We fear for our lives and that of our children because some of our relatives were axed to death recently. We will be having elections soon and that is what is sparking political disputes. We didn’t get a chance to obtain any travelling documents because of the unrest,” he said.
Prosecuting, Listen Nare told the court that the couple illegally crossed into the country from Zambia on Tuesday.
“The accused proceeded to Chinotimba suburb to seek refuge. Police detectives received information that there were illegal immigrants in the country. At around 4AM police found the eight children sleeping outside a shop,” the prosecutor said.
The court heard that when they were questioned, it was discovered that they were Congolese citizens who illegally entered the country. Ebondo and Kayeye failed to produce their travelling documents leading to their immediate arrest

By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo|Those who live by the sword will die by the sword is an english adage which sums up the controversy surrounding the invasion of Crest Ibeka.
The farm was invaded by Zanu PF provincial chairman Ezra Chadzamira with the help of police details and soldiers. Chadzamira took it over from Yvonne Goddard a well known Zanu PF financier.
In a dramatic twist of events senior army officials and provincial CIO bosses are eyeing the farm and are determined to kick Chadzamira out. However Chadzamira is said to be seeking Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s protection since the securocrats are piling relentless pressure on him to vacate the farm. ZimEye.com has been informed the securocrats are also determined to take over the farm from Chadzamira in an arrangement they intend to partition it among themselves.
“There are CIO bosses and top military personnel who are eyeing the same property so they want to kick out Chadzamira so that they can partition the farm among themselves. Chadzamira is now seeking protection from Mnangagwa for the obvious reason that he belongs to the VP’s faction. So we are likely to witness twists and turns in the Cresta Ibeka saga,” said a senior provincial official.
Chadzamira who claimed the farm was underutilized is now under pressure from securocrats who are expected to convince President Robert Mugabe to fire him from the provincial chairmanship post. The controversial land grab exercise is widely blamed for crumbling of the nation’s economy with many analysts saying Zimbabwe, formerly the bread basket of Africa is now a basket case.

By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo|A local headmaster was last week thoroughly beaten up by a female workmate he consistently pestered for sexual intercourse.
Sources at the school told ZimEye.com, Thomas Mureriwa the headmaster of Temeraire High School, was assaulted by Ophilia Bafana, the Head of Department for the English department in full view of school pupils. Bafana accused Mureriwa of pestering her for sexual intercourse.
Although Mureriwa denies the allegations, ZimEye can reveal the case was reported at Mashava Police camp under RRB 2514742.
It is understood Mureriwa had the habit of calling Bafana to his office where he expressed interest in having sex with the lady teacher. Incensed by Mureriwa’s sexual advances, Bafana took a bamboo stick and assaulted the school head in full view of pupils.
Bafana proceeded to grab the headmaster by the neck and continued to assault him with clenched fists until the deputy headmaster and other female teachers came to the dazzled Mureriwa’s rescue.
Masvingo District Education Officer(DEO), Zakaria Makopa said there was an altercation between the two but quickly said investigations were underway.
“We have heard about the incident but we are still carrying out further investigations so that we can then decide on the matter. The matter is being treated with confidentiality until we arrive at the crux of the whole issue,” said an evasive Makopa.
Mureriwa also vehemently dismissed the story despite clear evidence pointing to the incident. Social analysts here slammed officials who take advantage of their positions of influence to abuse female subordinates.

War has broken forth in ZANU PF with the national political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere rubbishing declarations by pro-Emmerson-Mnangagwa strongman Ignatius Chombo that the politburo is going to discuss Professor Jonathan Moyo’s use of social blogging website Twitter.
In what analysts signalled as the sure signs of imminent bloodbath, Kasukuwere told journos Zanu-PF had no time discussing social media issues in its Politburo meetings.
He accused the Mnangagwa controlled media of trying to craft the agenda for the ruling party.
He told journos after meeting the party’s provincial chairpersons and some members of its affiliate organisations in Harare yesterday that Zanu-PF had serious issues to discuss.
His remarks differ from party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo and Secretary for Administration Ignatius Chombo’s assertions that the abuse of social media by some party members was cause for concern and might be up for discussion at the Politburo meeting set for next Wednesday.
“This is the beginning of greater wars,” said analyst Gerald Ncube.
Organs of the party such as the Youth League have through the State Media voiced what they termed “grave concern” over the abuse of social media, while the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, which is an affiliate organisation, also registered displeasure on the same issue with the police weighing saying social .
The concerns came in the wake of frenzied tweeting by Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, who has been attacking fellow Zanu-PF members on social media.
Said Kasukuwere: “I am actually surprised that you make social media an issue. It’s not an issue and we hear you telling us about the Zanu-PF Politburo agenda. You think we meet here to talk about WhatsApp?
“We meet here to discuss serious business, so stop dragging us into your small issues of the social media. We have much more serious work to do. We have much more serious things to worry about. That kind of directionlessness will not be part of what Zanu-PF stands for.
“We are surprised that you have already crafted an agenda for the Politburo when it meets. That agenda is approved by His Excellency and the secretary for administration. They are the ones who work on what the party will discuss and I want to say please no to agenda setting.
“We don’t discuss what you want us to discuss. We discuss issues that affect the generality of our party membership and how to assist the people of Zimbabwe.”
Kasukuwere said social media was not an issue to the party.
“I want to say to the Press please, please don’t misquote us and don’t turn around and make social media an issue,” he said. “It’s not an issue for us here. If it is an issue to you, let it be to you, but for Zanu-PF we are clear on what we stand for.”
When asked that President Mugabe in his official capacity as the First Secretary of Zanu-PF once implored party members from abusing social media, Kasukuwere interjected and said: “Don’t create problems to say Kasukuwere has gone against ah, ah no, no, please I have said don’t agenda set for the party.
“Please let the party do its work. If we are to discuss anything of that nature, can’t you allow us to discuss it quietly in our confines as a party?
“Why does it have to be the President said this, the President said this. Aah, aah, please when the President speaks we all listen to him, but don’t then go overboard and try and blow things out of proportion. The party is intact.”
Without elaborating, Kasukuwere said in a few days there would be some action to show support and loyalty to President Mugabe.
Kasukuwere said the party was ready for the 2018 elections and next week the commissariat department would be meeting provincial structures, starting with Matabeleland South.
He said he was not happy with the kind of reportage coming from the public media.
“We want to call upon our State-owned newspapers to help build the party,” he said. ‘’Like I said, let us not allow individual desires to become national desires. We have a country, we have a party, we have a leadership.
“I am appealing to the Press, please tone down the volume. We are not excited at all with the amount of noise that continues to occupy the front pages of this country. We deserve better news. We deserve better stories that unite, develop and move our nation forward. We are making a genuine appeal to all the leadership in the media that let us build our nation.”
Kasukuwere said the party leadership should disseminate developmental information on Zim-Asset and how the party and Government were dealing with challenges confronting the country.

MDC Spokesman Kurauone Chihwayi had a gun pointed at him and was beaten up by a ZRP officer.
The incident happened on Wednesday.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has blocked the move to utilise biometric technology for national elections, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai says.
Below was his full statement released today Friday afternoon:
We meet amid a serious natio
nal crisis, now worse than what it was a month ago when I issued my end of year statement. Since then, things have gotten worse as exemplified by the promised bonus for civil servants still to be paid out, with the chances of it ever being paid out getting slimmer and slimmer by the day. In the countryside, poverty levels have worsened and people have no money in their pockets, a situation exacerbated by the food shortages that are set to worsen following yet another bleak farming season.
As a region and as a country, we are bearing the brunt of climate change, a serious issue that needs attention at policy level especially now as the entire SADC region faces a burgeoning food crisis. Millions of our citizens are staring starvation in the face unless we get urgent assistance to import about 1, 8 million tonnes of grain for both people and livestock. At the moment, we are told the country only has a paltry 250 000 tonnes of maize but surprisingly, but it took this government six months until only yesterday to declare this catastrophe a national emergency!
A debilitating crisis
In Matabeleland South, Masvingo and other parts of the country, Zimbabweans face imminent hunger. But amid all this looming starvation coupled with an economy on the ropes, no one is paying attention to this national crisis. There is no government response as Zanu PF is busy with what has become the grand preoccupation of everyone in this government—-the fight to succeed Mugabe.
We in the MDC have no intention to join their debate as the man declared at the recent AU summit that he will die in office. Our only concern is that whoever is in charge of the country at any given time must commit themselves to ensuring a stable, democratic country characterized by tolerance and prosperity. But while Rome is burning, the President and his two deputies could not afford to miss the luxury of their annual vacations outside the country, at the taxpayer’s expense, of course. In the case of one of the Vice Presidents, he came back from his annual vacation to continue with his occupancy of a five star-hotel in Harare, with his whole family including his grandchildren, again courtesy of the taxpayer!
Indeed, the current state of the nation resembles a national funeral; we are currently battling to meet our pledge to multilateral financiers to service billions of our external debt by April, there is 95 percent unemployment in the country, internal power generation capacity has drastically gone down; civil servants are on the edge because of unpredictable pay dates and their outstanding bonus while our public hospitals have run out of basic essential drugs. I have been meeting Zimbabweans across the country in the past few weeks and they have been telling me that the current crisis and the collapse of basic services are in sharp contrast to the good old days of the MDC in government! They were forthright and honest with me as to their trust and faith in the capacity of this party and this leadership.
It is now a matter of public record that the country’s economy is in turmoil. There is a serious liquidity crunch while revenue collections have drastically dwindled, typified by government’s failure to meet its wage bill. At a time when our economy needs a massive capital injection, no one is prepared to invest in the country and FDI has dried up. There is minimum trust and confidence in this government. As ordinary people, all we hear of are mega deals with China, amid this mega poverty in the country. These mega deals have not had any meaning and significance outside the government pronouncements in the State media. These billion dollar deals remain mere newspaper content that has not changed the lives of the people. From where the people stand, all they see around them is only poverty, suffering and looming starvation!
Just over a year ago, I published a treatise on my personal reflections, in which I described the country as having been turned into a huge mall of vendors; indeed a highly informal economy in which everyone is trying to sell something to someone. The situation is now even worse and the high unemployment level in the country and the economic collapse have become the most portent threat to national stability.
It is pertinent to note that the national crisis largely stems from the crisis of legitimacy, spawned by yet another stolen election in 2013. Since that monumental fraud, there has been a serious deficit of confidence in the regime in Harare. Unless and until we return to legitimacy through a truly free, fair and credible election, the national crisis will not relent. The collapse of the economy and its attendant problems are a mere window through which the political crisis of legitimacy is manifesting itself. The region, Africa and the rest of the world have to assist Zimbabweans in their call for far-reaching electoral reforms that will ensure a return to legitimacy.
We as political parties have joined hands in this national demand. In an unprecedented move, more than 10 political parties have signed up to the National Election Reform Agenda (NERA). Indeed, a truly credible election is now a precondition for the return to legitimacy, which must become an issue of national priority.

The demand for a credible election
As a party our decision not to participate in elections until the implementation of far-reaching reforms has resulted in a fruitful debate in the country and important steps being taken in the correct direction. That ZEC itself has acceded to a biometric voters roll and the debate around the involvement of the United Nations in running our elections are all issues on the front seat of the national debate because of the decision we in the MDC have taken against participation in mere rituals disguised elections.
We note the disturbing statements from Emmerson Mnangagwa that the UN and other countries except only those in Africa will be invited to observe our elections. He also disputed the ZEC position that it was seriously considering using a biometric voter’s roll, raising suspicion as to whether the electoral management body is really independent at all. The law is very clear that it is ZEC, an independent body, which must run elections and invite observers. For the executive to interfere and usurp this role by making premature statements on the biometric roll and observer missions; issues that fall under the purview of the election management body, vindicates what we in the MDC have always said that Zanu PF rigs elections and meddles with the work of independent conditions. Mnangagwa’s statements confirm that he is the hardliner that he has always been and not the reformist that some in the diplomatic community had begun to think he was.
We in the MDC welcome new, positive developments around elections and urge ZEC to reassert its independence. The electoral management body must adhere to SADC and AU standards governing the conduct of elections. They must proceed with the biometric voters roll in line with regional standards and, with the involvement of all stakeholders, come up with a comprehensive and cogent framework to facilitate voter education, a fresh voter registration exercise and other election logistics. The UN must not observe the elections, they must run them. Given our unique situation, the UN remains the only credible international body that should be involved in the actual management of the election to the satisfaction of all the parties.
Implementing the Constitution
Our government is not only struggling to meet its basic obligations but has abandoned all pretence at democratic governance. Chief among its many crimes is the failure to align the country’s laws to the new Constitution, crafted and overwhelmingly endorsed by the people of Zimbabwe in May 2013.
In that Constitution, among many other progressive provisions, Zimbabweans said they wanted devolution but more than two years after the election, that revolutionary provision has not in any way been implemented as the governance system remains highly centralized. What the Zanu PF government has done instead is to appoint Ministers of Provincial Affairs even in the two metropolitan provinces of Harare and Bulawayo where they lost dismally.
That new Constitution is one of our major success stories as the democratic movement in Zimbabwe but the government is developing frozen feet in living true to the wishes and aspirations of the citizens as expressed in that charter. Ours is a government that remains contemptuous of any agreement with anyone, including with its own people.
I also wish to advise that the current demolitions of people’s homes in Harare are diabolical and a gross violation of human rights. The people must know that it is government that is demolishing people’s houses. We have directed our councils not to destroy people’s homes but to ensure that those with destroyed homes are relocated to properly planned settlements under the direct authority of an elected local government. Most of these settlements now being demolished were unplanned dwellings encouraged by Zanu PF itself which the same government is now demolishing. On our part, we have instructed our local authorities to make sure that they do the humane thing, which is to relocate these stranded and homeless people to properly sanctioned areas.
The challenge for the region and the international community
For the region, Africa and the broader international community, the immediate challenge is the pending humanitarian crisis that needs to be addressed. This country alone will not be able to sufficiently mobilize adequate food stocks required, itself a sad indictment on the much-vaunted land reform programme that has not been underpinned by productivity. The country needs international assistance to mobilize humanitarian assistance to avert the imminent starvation and to ensure food security.
Related to this is the partisan distribution of food. We in the MDC have had our supporters being denied food handouts in most parts of the country because of their political affiliation. In parts of Manicaland, our people have stormed GMB depots and bravely demanded that food handouts be given in a non-partisan manner. There is indeed going to be a huge national demand for transparency and non-partisan distribution of food by our supporters in all parts of the country. Zanu PF should stand warned that we have told our supporters throughout the country to be vigilant and to boldly demand their share of what they should legitimately get from government.
Beyond the deceptive veneer of a stable country is a monumental crisis of multiple proportions that could implode any moment. Due to this government’s culture of repression and its unique capacity to successfully prevent people from expressing themselves, it would be folly for Africa and the world at large to mistake the people’s induced silence as a sign of stability in the country. What the world needs to appreciate is that when Zimbabweans eventually express themselves—as they certainly will in the not-so-distant future—the implosion will engulf the entire SADC region.
The current false peace is just calm before the storm. Given the worsening situation, it is only a matter of time before things come to a head; and the international community should take heed.
Until very recently, President Mugabe was the chairperson of the African Union and SADC. It appears some in Africa and the broader international community had allowed his occupation of those rotational positions to cloud them from making an objective and rational judgment regarding the situation in Zimbabwe. Only last week, he was breathing fire and brimstone on the need to reform the United Nations Security Council.
Yes Mr President. We agree that the UN must be democratised. But charity begins at home. There must also be reform in Zimbabwe in every aspect of our lives. This country must also be democratised so that no one lives in fear of being another Itai Dzamara.
I am aware that the EU has decided to re-engage Zimbabwe and I know that the people of Zimbabwe stand to benefit from any form of re-engagement. But I wish to restate our position that the international community must not just re-engage without a framework. They must insist on implementation of agreed electoral conditions and the embracing of universally acceptable standards by the authorities in Harare. The world must insist on the need to respect the rule of law and the conditions sanctioned by SADC to ensure that the next election is vaccinated from the periodic mischief that has blighted the credibility of all our elections.
Any re-engagement must be accompanied by a stubborn insistence on universally accepted standards that ensure the guarantee of full freedoms and the enfranchising of the ordinary citizen. Any re-engagement must be alive to the past and present acts of omission and commission and the crimes committed against the innocent citizens of the people of Zimbabwe.
The challenge to the democratic movement
However, I do not wish to only pose challenges to the world without giving the same challenges to us as opposition parties and the broad democratic movement. Petty squabbles and hatred of fellow opposition personalities must not cloud us from the patriotic responsibility to confront Zanu PF and to chart a new Zimbabwe together. Collectively, e must outgrow the selfish mindset of thinking that we can go it alone. We all need each other as a broad family of united, patriotic Zimbabweans if we are to bring a new democratic dispensation whose hour has come!
We definitely need each other and that is why the party I lead took a resolution at the last Congress that we will work with other like-minded institutions to confront the beast. In the same vein, I wish to commend other political parties with whom we crafted the National Electoral Reform Agenda. NERA is clear evidence that it is possible for us to come together and I appeal for the same spirit of patriotism to continue bringing us together on many other issues on which our togetherness will yield positive results for the sake of our beloved country.
I want to warn Zanu PF under the ambit of NERA, we will collectively do everything—-and I mean everything…..to ensure that we have credible election in 2018.
As the broad democratic movement, we have many points of convergence and it behoves upon us to harp on those areas we agree on so that we work together for the sake of our country. It is clear the only game changer ahead of the next election is for us in the democratic movement to work together and re-ignite the floundering confidence of the people of Zimbabwe that the change we seek will indeed be achieved in the very near future.. We owe it to history to seize this moment and work for our country. I remain encouraged by the spirit of togetherness that is gathering momentum amongst us. I want to boldly declare to the people of Zimbabwe that beneath the current facade, we are surely and definitely finding each other, the only condition being that any discussion must be a discussion of institutions and not individuals.
Conclusion
It is clear that that the country needs to open a new leaf. We cannot continue like this and it is inevitable that something has got to give! We in the democratic movement have no option but to come together and, as I have said, I am encouraged by the fact that we seem to be finding each other.
To our colleagues in Zanu PF, I reiterate the proposal I have always given them. It would be in their best interest if they agreed to a dialogue of a broad cross-section of stakeholders beyond just political parties. Our experience is that we need more than an elite conversation of political parties. We need a conversation of Zimbabweans; a conversation that must include business, labour, the informal sector and all the other stakeholders and interest groups keen on finding a lasting solution to the country’s crisis.
Indeed, once bitten, twice shy. This national conversation should not be premised on the intention of forming another inclusive government but on hammering a way out of the crisis of legitimacy. We need to agree on a framework for a truly free, fair and credible election. Only then can we begin to resolve the country’s crisis. Zanu PF may spurn this call for a national conversation but history will judge them harshly for having buried their heads in the sand in this crucial hour. If Zanu PF chooses not to talk with the broad section of stakeholders, then Zimbabweans in their broad sense will definitely speak to each other to the exclusion of Zanu PF.
In the past few weeks, I have been meeting with ordinary people in Harare, Chitungwiza and Bulawayo. I feel emboldened and encouraged by the unstinting faith that the ordinary person has with this people’s project called the MDC. They still remember with nostalgia the days of the MDC in government when we opened schools, hospitals and other basic services that had been shut down by Zanu PF incompetence.
They miss our competent hand on the wheel of government. The glorious past of national stability, national peace and national prosperity with the MDC in government has become a distant past……..indeed a distant past that Zimbabweans can only remember with nostalgia. It was heartening during my interactions with the people in the past one month to note that apart from their poverty and suffering, they still retain unstinting faith in us; indeed they are certain that a new Zimbabwe beckons and is definitely on the horizon.
I thank you

Zimbabwe on Thursday tightened controls on offshore investments to plug foreign currency leakages after the country lost $1,8 billion in illicit financial flows last year — over a third by individuals.
Zimbabwe is in the throes of a cash squeeze after abandoning its hyperinflation-ravaged local currency in 2009 and adopted mainly the US dollar whose supply is limited. Presenting the Monetary Policy governor John Mangudya said foreign currency outflows were worsening the already critical liquidity in the economy.
RBZ records show that $684 million was externalized by individuals in 2015 for various for various purposes that include donations, investments and account transfers.
Firms externalized $1, 2 billion in the form of export sales proceeds and highly inflated management fees, technical and professional fees.
“In order to guard against externalisation by related companies through service payments, management fees, technical fees, service fees or by whatever name they come under, shall not exceed an aggregate of 3 percent of revenue and shall require Bank approval,” said Mangudya.
“Individual and corporate investments offshore of more than $10,000 should be declared to authorities with any such investments in the future requiring Bank approval.”
Mangudya said despite the leakages the banking sector was in a sound state in 2015 with deposits going up 11, 2 percent to $5,6 billion as at 31 December.
Non-performing loans went down from 14, 5 percent as at June to 10,9 percent in December.
“This is largely attributable to the disposal of qualifying loans to ZAMCO and the effective credit risk management strategies employed by banks.
In order to increase liquidity and minimize payment gridlocks the central bank increased financial institutions’ nostro limits from five to 10 percent of the bank’s total deposits.
Mangudya also said Zimbabwe will now allow foreign investors to buy stakes of up to 49 percent in companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange from 40 percent previously to boost investment.
The southern Africa country’s economy is suffering from low growth and a devastating drought pressured by low commodity prices and a strong US dollar.
“We have also increased the threshold of foreign investors on the stock exchange from 40 percent to 49 percent in line with the indigenisation and economic empowerment policy,” said Mandudya.-Source

Twenty school heads in the Midlands Province have been suspended for allegedly embezzling school development association (SDA) funds and fraud.
Among the suspended are the Guinea Fowl High School head Manson Mudzingwa and Kwekwe High School headmaster only identified as Shumba, who were served with suspension letters last week.
Mudzingwa is allegedly facing 19 counts to do with of abuse of office, SDA funds and school property. Shumba is allegedly facing one count of improper association for yet unknown charges.
The suspension of the school heads is a follow-up on the purge of unscrupulous Government school heads by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
Ministry officials said at least 10 school heads were suspended after a recent audit conducted by the ministry exposed misappropriation of funds in the schools.
Midlands Provincial Education Director Agnes Gudo confirmed the suspension of the school heads.
She, however, said the number of suspended school heads was not more than 20.
Gudo also did not divulge the amounts involved but parents said the amount ran into millions of dollars.
“Yes, there are school heads that have been suspended but I have no actual numbers but they could be around 10 school heads,” she said.
Patrick Zumbo, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, promised to respond to questions from Chronicle on the exact number of suspended school heads by the close of business yesterday but had not done so.
Last year in November, the heads of Chikumbiro Primary, Mkoba 3 and Nkululeko High Schools were suspended after being implicated in the financial rot following audits.
Mkoba 3 High School headmaster Ronnie Munhenzwa and his Nkululeko High counterpart Jealous Sungwa were served with suspension letters on November 2.
Tariro Matongo, the head of Chikumbiro Primary School, received her letter a week earlier.
Also last year, in Bulawayo Milton High School head William Ncube and his deputy Nosizi Muleya were suspended for alleged abuse of funds.
Townsend High School headmistress Millicent Moyo was censured for contravening the Public Finance Management Act and the Treasury Instructions Act after auctioning pupils’ cellphones without permission.
Forensic audits ordered by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education have revealed that school authorities across the country could have embezzled millions of dollars from levies paid by parents.
According to the report, about 1 800 schools (18 percent) have been audited and the exercise has unearthed massive doctoring of accounts and documents to conceal the shenanigans.
Professor Paul Mavhima, the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, confirmed that the audits unearthed massive theft of funds by school authorities.
He said schools were handling about $1 billion in levies each year.
Prof Mavhima said if misappropriation was allowed to continue, it would result in schools failing to undertake infrastructure development. – State Media

 
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), which last year introduced forced leave on soldiers as a cost cutting measure, is struggling to feed soldiers in army barracks countrywide, it has emerged.
Elias Mambo|Standard| Military sources this week said the barracks have been running without adequate food supplies forcing soldiers to improvise and look for alternative food sources.
Efforts to get a comment from the army were fruitless as the director of army public relations Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore had not responded to questions sent to him by the time of going to print.
The army had requested that questions be sent to the public relations department in writing. An email was sent to the PR secretary Peter Kamonera who confirmed having received it and promised to send the responses before deadline. Sources, however, said the food shortages were dire.
“There were no supplies in Gutu (4,2 Combat group) barracks since Friday last week,” the source said.
“Supplies only came yesterday (Tuesday) but we are not sure whether the new supplies will take us through the forthcoming week,” the source said adding: “It was only rice that was delivered.”
Sources at the Commando Regiment headquarters in Cranborne also said food supplies were in short supply since the beginning of January.
“We no longer have breakfast. Lunch is provided but very few officers do eat in the canteen because it is mainly sadza and beans or at times cabbages. If it is not beans or vegetables then it will be sadza and sour milk which comes in bulk from Gushungo Dairy,” the source said.
Military sources also said Bulawayo’s 1 Brigade and Imbizo barracks have been hard hit by food shortages resulting in soldiers and army recruits surviving on boiled cabbages and beans.
Since 2013, the ZNA has been operating on a shoestring budget resulting in military bosses ordering soldiers to look for alternative accommodation, in a desperate effort to reduce costs by limiting the number of personnel staying in barracks.
This, however, comes at a time when the Defence ministry was allocated US$358 million by Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa in his 2016 budget statement.
Last year, ZNA ordered its members to go on forced one-month paid leave after every month in an effort to reduce expenditure on food bills, utilities and other expenses at barracks.
ZNA later introduced a forced two-weeks break for soldiers every month as a cost cutting measure, but ZNA members revealed that they were expected to be off duty for a month after every month.
This means members of ZNA effectively work for six months a year although they may be recalled at no notice should there be an emergency.
The army is reportedly, in addition to shortages of food, also struggling with basics such as uniforms.
This week Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi admitted things are not well in the army and assured troops that his ministry was working tirelessly to improve their conditions of service, which have deteriorated over the years owing to poor economic conditions, which Zanu PF blames on sanctions although critics say it is because of the party’s ruinous economic policies.
“I know that for now there are challenges. These facilities are not adequate but you can be sure that the government is doing everything in its power to make sure that we have decent accommodation,” he said while addressing students of the joint command and staff on the country’s Defence Policy at the Zimbabwe Staff College.

Welshman Ncube led Movement for Democratic Change’s Spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi on Thursday dismissed as “stinking” falsehoods reports that  senior members of their party were  teaming up to pass a vote of confidence against their leader.
There were reports Wednesday that efforts by some senior MDC party to impeach the former Industry and Commerce Minister were at an advanced stage.
Ncube was said to be impeached for personalising the political movement by making unilateral appointment to key party positions.
In an interview with ZimEye.com Thursday Chihwayi said the party was aware of “some” elements within the party who were struggling to collapse “our vibrant” movement.
“The MDC is too strong and too stable to be shaken by these stinking falsehoods cooked by desperate dissidents that we know,”said Chihwayi.
“King Welsh is in-charge and in control, and is not going anywhere”.
Chihwayi said those wishing to take leadership positions should wait for the party’s congress.
“The Green machine will unmask the idiots who are trying to build their profiles using falsehoods and Professor Welshman Ncube is the most sober and principled political leader on the market in Zimbabwe,”he said.
“Only an idiot can believe these baseless ouster claims, we are a happy and united family working on very exciting party programmes for our supporters and members.
“Professor Welshman Ncube is the legitimate President of the rejuvenated and lubricated MDC”.

By RTUZ |The Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) notes the announcement coming from the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Patrick Chinamasa, that civil servants bonuses which were due in November 2015 will be paid starting in February 2016 stretching to May 2016. This is welcome progress but we still wait for actual dates to be pronounced and the use of proper channels in communicating this government position.
While this position that Minister Chinamasa is announcing comes as sweet news to the long suffering government workers and is also a serious climb down by government which had earlier in the year declared that ‘bonuses were not a priority.’
After this insulting declaration from government, RTUZ gave the government up to the 15^th of February 2016 to sort out its mess and give bonus dates or else the union would mobilize its members and other civil servants to pour into the streets of Bulawayo and Harare demanding that those that have failed must just ship out.
Hence Chinamasa’s climb down and subsequent unveiling of bonus dates is a clear victory for the union. RTUZ is however not naïve and until the bonuses are in our accounts we will remain vigilant and on stand-by to ensure that the government honours its pledge.
It must also be understood that there still a number of outstanding challenges confronting teachers and government workers in general.
Firstly the issue of the unilateral 7.5% pension deduction which the government imposed via the 2016 national budget is out of order. The government workers are still earning far below the poverty datum line hence the scheme cannot be introduced now as it will leave the workers worse off given the meager salaries they are earning.
More importantly, the pension management framework needs to be agreed on by the government workers and the government itself. Thousands of workers had their pension savings eroded when the Zim-dollar was dumped amid hyperinflation.
Corruption is also rife in the management of these pensions and there is need for a transparent and real time remittance and accounting system which will guard against abuse of the funds. As it stands no one knows where the funds are being remitted if at all. This is unacceptable and RTUZ reiterates that this scheme be stopped forthwith.
The secondly the unilateral cancellation of vacation leave for teachers is a gross violation of workers’ rights as guaranteed in section 65 of the constitution and also section 68 which guarantees the right to administrative justice.
For the government to unilaterally cancel a condition of service which was part of the employees’ contract midway into the agreement is the hallmark of unfair labour practices and as a union we will be taking this case to the Constitutional Court for redress.
If these two critical matters are not addressed with the urgency they deserve the union will turn to the streets to push this government, as we have done before, to respect its workers. Meanwhile RTUZ is consulting with its members on whether or not to take to the streets on the 26^th of February 2016 if the 7.5% deductions continue.

By Terrence Mawawa Masvingo| The faction-ridden ruling party, Zanu PF has suspended eight councillors thought to be sympathetic to former Vice President Joice Mujuru.
The troubled ruling party has been flexing muscles on factional battles ignoring the hunger ravaging the province of Masvingo and the suspension of the eight councillors has further plunged Zanu PF into chaos.
The provincial executive last week suspended the eight councillors from Bikita accusing them of working with Mujuru to destroy the ruling party. Among the affected are Dakarai Chikotomere of ward 6 Nathan Zeya, ward 8, Thomas Mafanise (ward 16) and Pearson Mutume of ward 24.
Councillor Mafanise conceded the ruling party was torn by internal strife adding the suspension was a result of endless factional battles in Zanu PF.
“It is true we were suspended for allegedly working with Mujuru but the fact is there is more to it.The suspension is a result of factional battles in the party. We were given suspension letters by senior provincial officers. The allegations are that we are leaking information to Mujuru .It is stated clearly in the letter that the party has resolved to suspend me because of working with Mujuru -among other accusations.I have also been accused of absconding party meetings, ” said Mafanise.
Zanu PF provincial chairman Ezra Chadzamira confirmed the suspensions while Political Commissar Jeppy Jaboon said the ruling party did not regret the move and the executive would work tirelessly to flush out rogue elements in the party.
Party insiders yesterday said the move to suspend the councillors was a result of the CIO video filming of Mujuru’s secret meeting. It is understood the video clip has been shown to President Robert Mugabe and many heads are expected to roll when Mugabe comes to Masvingo province for his birthday bash later this month.
Councillor Zeya said he would move on with his political career if he is expelled from the ruling party while sources said the eight suspended councillors have already joined Mujuru’s People First.

By Terrence Mawawa Gutu| A police officer based at Gutu Police Camp was thoroughly bashed by his wife after being caught at his secret hide out – his girlfriend’s house on the 23rd January.
According to court records, the incident happened last week at a house in Hwiru suburb, Mupandawana town when Shawman Mahuda was caught stark naked with his girlfriend after his wife Florence Tapfumaneyi got a tip-off from a friend, ZimEye.com can reveal.
The irate Tapfumaneyi then went to the house armed with a stick and ordered Memory Rukave(Mahuda’s girlfriend) to open the door. On gaining entry into the house, Tapfumaneyi slapped Rukave several times and ordered her out of the house before charging for Mahuda who fled to the bathroom.
In a fit of rage Tapfumaneyi assaulted her husband several times all over his body until he became unconscious.
Mahuda was rushed to Gutu Mission Hospital where a medical report was compiled, leading to Tapfumaneyi’s arrest . The case was heard before the Gutu magistrate’s court last week.
However Mahuda claimed his wife chased him out of their matrimonal home such that he had to seek refuge at Rukave’s place.
Cases of domestic violence are on the increase across the country as a result of various factors including the current socio-economic challenges. Sources close to Mahuda also claimed he was avenging his wife’s cheating tendencies. The sources further alleged his wife ordered him to move out of the house following a series of heated arguments.

“As you are already aware, Government is currently experiencing cash flow constraints, which makes it untenable to effect a bullet payment.
“To allow room to mobilise the required resources, Government will be staggering the payment of bonuses for public servants beginning this month and until May 2016.”
Anxiety had gripped Government workers who constantly demanded that Government announces the dates when the bonuses would be paid.
Minister Chinamasa said specific pay dates will be communicated upon mobilisation of the requisite resources, adding that, “Treasury sincerely regrets all the inconvenience caused.”
In previous years, Government staggered the bonuses due to cash flow challenges and some workers received their 13th cheque as late as January instead of the traditional November.
Due to tight fiscal space, Minister Chinamasa had early last year contemplated suspending payment of bonuses for 2015 and 2016 to create space for funding Zim-Asset.
The move irked civil servants and President Mugabe overturned the suspension saying “when Government bestows a benefit on civil servants, that benefit cannot be withdrawn because it has become a right.”
Last month, Government had to change pay dates for its workers with the last batch getting their salaries on January 5.
Government later met civil servants’ representatives and gave them specific pay dates when their salaries would be paid.
All workers got their salaries as announced and the employer promised constant pay dates this year.
Delays in the payment of the 2015 bonuses saw some civil servants threatening to strike not before their representatives met Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya who took them through what Government had in its coffers at that time.
This satisfied the representatives who subsequently ruled out the industrial action. At least 83 percent of Government revenue is servicing salaries, a development that stifles economic growth.
Government has come up with a number of strategies to reduce the wage bill and is rationalising the civil service following an audit carried out last year by the Civil Service Commission.
Student teachers and trainees’ allowances have been reduced from $329 to $157, while salaries for teachers at private and trust schools have been terminated.
All vacant posts have been abolished, bus fare for civil servants has been reintroduced, under-used staff is being redeployed, funding of bridging courses has been scrapped while all members who were abusing various types of leave, tampering with pay sheets and attendance registers have been charged.
At the same time, no teacher will go on vacation leave as there is no money to pay relief teachers who will replace them for the three months they will be away.
Government has also reintroduced a 7,5 percent pension contribution, which had been shelved since 2009 when every civil servant was getting $100.-State Media

A 66-year-old farmer and long time Zanu PF donor, Yvonne Goddard, who funded the party’s 2005 provincial elections campaign and provincial conference in 2001 has been kicked out of her CrestaIbeka Farm on the outskirts of the city, inspite of her benevolence.

By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Former Zanu PF Central Committee member Claudius Makova is locked in a fierce wrangle with the Bikita District Coordinating Committee over office furniture he donated to the ruling party.
Makova who was expelled from the ruling party has since joined former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s People First. The man is determined to take the furniture he donated to the ruling party but Zanu PF hawks in Bikita have refused to hand over the property.
Sources told ZimEye.com Makova sent one of his assistants, Kudakwashe Gopo to take the furniture but he was denied entry into the Zanu PF offices, prompting Makova to take legal action . Although Makova could not be reached for a comment, papers seen by ZimEye.com reveal Makova and Gopo submitted a claim to the Bikita Magistrate’s Court in a bid to recover the donated furniture.
“Due to the false allegations levelled against the Plaintiff, the Plaintiff’s reputation was impaired and or maliciously injured. Plaintiff submits that it is just and equitable that damages be awarded in his favour in the sum of US $ 10 000 … ,” read the papers.
Meanwhile the Zanu PF Bikita DCC has accused Makova of attempting to smuggle party property to Mujuru’s People First.
A party official closely linked to Bikita DCC chairman, Isaac Mashanda, said the ruling party would not surrender its furniture to a traitor.
“Makova is desperate and confused and what makes him think he has the right to take Zanu PF furniture-he is daydreaming. He must concentrate on the People First business and leave Zanu PF alone. We are busy preparing for the 21st February Movement celebrations and we have no time to attend to Makova’s hogwash,” said the official based at the Bikita DCC office at Nyika Growth Point.
Zanu PF has a well known history of ignoring court rulings and it remains to be seen whether Makova is going to win his case againsts the ruling party. At present Makoba has other allegations against him involving the manner in which he snatched the wife of the late philanthropist Jairos Jiri and presided over the destruction of the charity organisation bringing it down to a mere vacation centre that actually charges vulnerable disabled people.
Observers say the refusal by Zanu PF to hand over furniture reflects the party’s culture of intimidation and flagrant disregard of democratic voices.
Zanu PF even refused to hand over power after its ignominious electoral defeat in the 2008 watershed polls.

A 25-year-old Harare man allegedly stabbed his wife and her boss with a knife after accusing the two of having an extra marital affair, the court heard on Monday.
Gibson Mugwamba was charged with attempted murder when he appeared before Harare magistrate, Mr Elijah Makomo.
He was remanded in custody to February 15 and ordered to approach the High Court for bail application.
It is alleged that on Saturday last week, Mugwamba accused his wife of having an extra marital affair and threatened to kill her.
The court heard that one of his wife’s bosses tried to intervene to calm the situation by taking Mugwamba outside the gate.
It is alleged that during the scuffle, Mugwamba stabbed his wife and her boss with a knife on the stomach and both sustained deep cuts.
The two were rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital where they are receiving treatment.-State Media

The Kariba based Pastor Patrick Mugadza who was arrested for telling President Robert Mugabe the truth on how people are suffering during the ZANU PF congress in December, had his case shifted once again yesterday.
Mugadza’s case was to be heard before magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa who lugged it once again, ZimEye.com has learnt.
After travelling all the way from Kariba, Mugadza was told the case can only be heard on the 11th February. More frustration also came as the courts are furthermore sitting on Mugadza’s application for the case to be escalated to the Constitutional Court.

His lawyer from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Thulani Nkala of Dube and Company argues that Mugadza’s prosecution is a violation of his constitutional rights and must be heard at the ConCourt. More to follow…

The next Zanu-PF Politburo meeting — likely to take place this week — is set to discuss cases of party members who abuse social media to attack other members, party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo has said.
The centre of the charges is Professor Jonathan Moyo in person, who bigwigs belonging to the Emmerson Mnangagwa faction have reported to President Robert Mugabe. Moyo is reportedly of the G40 grouping that seeks to elevate First Lady Grace Mugabe above Mnangagwa.
The move comes after war vetetrans vowed to deal with Moyo “once for all.” “Ww are saying enough is enough with this Jonathan nonsense. He is the same Jonathan who was a famous critic of Zanu PF while he was in South Africa,” the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) said in a statement.
In an interview with the State Media yesterday, Khaya Moyo said members should use party structures for communication. This comes in the wake of concerns by the party’s affiliate organisations such as the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) that some party members were abusing social media.
ZNLWVA contends that some party members were using social media to fan factionalism. The party’s First Secretary, President Mugabe, is on record having warned party members to desist from abusing social media and leaking information to the private media to the detriment of the party.
Said Khaya Moyo: “The President says we must avoid social media. We are a party with structures and where we have situations of transgressions they should be brought to the party through relevant structures.
“If somebody raises those issues (at the Politburo meeting), I think the party will come up with a position. I am not sure yet if there is a Politburo meeting this week, but it is possible that there can be one.” At its next meeting, the Politburo is also likely to have a review of the party’s National People’s Conference held in Victoria Falls in December last year.
Another issue likely to be on the agenda is the state of the economy and bonuses for civil servants.
The party may also receive a report from the secretary for external affairs Simbarashe Mumbengegwi on the recent African Union Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where President Mugabe handed over the continental body’s chairmanship to Chadian President Déby Itno.

Last week ZimEye.com revealed that embattled MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called for an urgent audit of party structures in Masvingo following mass defections to former Vice President Joice Mujuru.- READ MORE

President Robert Mugabe and opposition MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai have lined up a number of nationwide campaign rallies amid reports the two politicians have been shaken by the tremors caused by former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s underground campaign, particularly in the rural areas.
Mugabe told Zanu PF supporters at Harare International Airport on Sunday that he would soon launch provincial campaigns to touch base with the electorate and mend rifts caused by factionalism.
“We will come to the provinces for meetings, telling you, with those who will organise the meetings, about the new ideas that we have to go ahead. And these issues of unity in Africa and going forward, the issues for women empowerment, youth advancement,” he said, addressing hundreds of party supporters gathered to welcome him, as he landed from the African Union Summit in Ethiopia.
Last year, the ruling party sanctioned a series of provincial rallies that were addressed by First Lady Grace Mugabe, where she handed over government-sourced farming equipment and food to party supporters.
Tsvangirai has already started his nationwide campaigns with party spokesperson Obert Gutu saying the meetings were meant to enable the MDC-T leader reconnect with the grassroots ahead of the 2018 elections.
“The president will be meeting the grassroots and I wish all of us, from the standing committee to the branch, could learn from him and emulate his politics. This is what Zimbabweans want, a hands-on person” he said.
Tsvangirai started with Harare, where he reportedly advised party members to avoid being “bought” by emerging political outfits.
“His message to Harare was that with the imminent formation of other opposition political parties, MDC-T supporters should remain alert and not be swayed by money to follow other outfits,” a source, who attended one of his meetings, said.
This followed reports that several former MDC-T officials, including former councillors, were now campaigning for Mujuru’s yet-to-be-launched party. MDC-T Harare provincial chairperson, Eric Murayi last week confirmed that Tsvangirai met with his party structures in Glen Norah, Highfield and other suburbs in the province.
After Harare, the MDC-T leader visited Bulawayo and Masvingo last week, where he also rallied party members to remain united and resist the temptation to jump ship. Tomorrow, Tsvangirai is also expected to visit six districts in Masvingo, where the party has lost its Chiredzi North district chairperson Josphats Chapfidza and Mangezi Mangezi of Bikita to PF.
Zanu PF also lost its former Chivi South MP Irvine Dzingirai to PF a fortnight ago, while the entire People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Masvingo provincial executive has defected to Mujuru, dealing a body blow to its leader Tendai Biti.
MDC-T Masvingo provincial chairperson James Gumbi confirmed that Tsvangirai would be touring six districts in the province.
“For now, the president is not going to have a star rally in Masvingo, he said he is going to visit six districts in the province. He will go to Masvingo rural, Gutu, Chivi, Chiredzi and Bikita and we are negotiating so that he visits Zaka,” said Gumbi. “We will arrange for a star rally thereafter if there is need,” he added.
Asked if these were not emergency meetings held in reaction to Mujuru’s penetration in Masvingo, MDC-T provincial spokesperson, Dusty Zivave brushed off the suggestion.“The coming of the president is just like any other ordinary visit, it was a provincial council meeting provided for in the constitution done every three months,” he said. Newsday

THREE touts have appeared in court for allegedly assaulting a police officer at Basch Street Bus Terminus, popularly known as Egodini, while trying to free their colleague who had been arrested for touting.
Lovemore Sibanda, 26, Vusumuzi Nkomo, 37, and Hlanganani Mthombeni, 27, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Batanai Tuwe facing assault charges. The trio pleaded not guilty and were remanded out of custody to today for trial.
Prosecuting, Tarisai Mutarisi said on December 26 last year, the cop, Munyaradzi Dube and some police officers were on duty while in civilian attire at Egodini bus terminus. The police officers arrested Joseph Mapako for touting.
The court heard that as Dube escorted Mapako to Bulawayo central police station, Sibanda, Nkomo and Mthombeni confronted him demanding their colleague’s release. Mutarisi said Dube was slapped and kicked several times all over the body before being hit with stones by the touts who fled, leaving him lying on the ground.
A medical report was produced in court showing that Dube sustained head injuries, among others. “Dube proceeded to Bulawayo central police station where he was rushed to Mpilo Hospital for treatment,” said Mutarisi.
A follow up was made and Sibanda, Nkomo and Mthombeni were arrested. State Media

The Daily News paper has thrown a celebration after the Supreme Court dismissed its former editor Geoff Nyarota’s court case which was to do with his ouster in 2010.

Former Vice President Joice Mujuru has appointed a 39 year old technocract, Philani Noble to lead her party in the United Kingdom.
Mr Philani Noble (39), a former MDC-Tsvangirai turk and a Film Studies expert (READ MORE -CLICK HERE), was on the 23rd January elected the new provincial leader following Mujuru’s instructions to ditch old war veterans many who are now in their 70s.