The man who way-laid Vice President Joice Mujuru soon after her husband’s suspicious death, conspiring to destroy her career, Christopher Mutsvangwa, is in trouble and now swallowing his own poison.
Mutsvangwa deliberately infected ZANU PF with the current riotous energy and poison that has seen countless members being kicked out on allegations of conspiring against Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace.
He at the time barely last year claimed that Mujuru is a cheap, low ranking comrade who fraudulently acquired her hero status of spilling blood and gunning down a helicopter. Mujuru was then labelled a fake chopper shooter.
The same man, Mutsvangwa is now however set to be boted and replaced by Buhera South legislator, Joseph Chinotimba, as newsreaders speculate.
Exiled Chimurenga music guru Thomas Mapfumo’s popular song, Wauraiwa, is a fascinating work of art whose wisdom has remained central to morality.
Analysis By Everson Mushava| Standard
The song captures human behaviour as self-cannibalising with its intrinsic verse that says “one who plays with a sword will die by the sword.”
Indeed, Mapfumo’s visionary eye in the song can never be doubted.
The temptation to think of War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa’s waterloo each time the song is played is just too irresistible.
Mutsvangwa, “the macho” presented himself as one who almost single-handedly won Zimbabwe’s war of liberation.
The Norton MP played a pivotal role in the “unconstitutional” purges of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru and her perceived allies on allegations of plotting to oust President Robert Mugabe last year.
He fired the first shots, accusing Mujuru of falsifying her liberation war record and plotting against Mugabe.
The campaign against Mujuru was soon joined by First Lady Grace Mugabe, who borrowed some of the outlandish accusations against Mugabe’s then deputy to light fire under Zimbabwe’s first female vice-president’s feet.
After the mission was accomplished, Mutsvangwa was awarded with a ministerial post and the way was paved for him to lead the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association.
For a few months he appeared to be on the ascendancy as an emerging power broker in the faction-riddled Zanu PF.
However, in a seemingly cruel twist of fortune, the tide has turned against Mutsvangwa, who is on the verge of being pushed out of Zanu PF for allegedly underming the first family.
Mashonaland West Province last week passed a vote of no confidence on him, taking a cue from Mugabe’s pointed attack against the minister at the just-ended Zanu PF conference in Victoria Falls.
Mutsvangwa, an alleged loyalist of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction, is walking on a tightrope.
The same axe that he engineered to fall on the “enemies of the party” has turned on him, appropriately justifying the visionary song by Mapfumo.
Ousted Mashonaland West Zanu PF provincial chairperson Temba Mliswa, who was the first victim of purges on Mujuru loyalists before the Zanu PF congress last year, says Mutsvangwa was the author of his own misfortunes.
“War veterans led by Mutsvangwa spear-headed my expulsion,” Mliswa said.
In August last year, Mutsvangwa rubbished the long-held belief that Mujuru downed a helicopter.
He said this was a mere myth created by former party political commissar Webster Shamu to deliberately shore-up her war credentials and elevate her above fellow comrades.
This opened floodgates to attacks on Mujuru; with Grace urging her husband to “baby-dump” the then VP.
Supporting Grace in the Mujuru onslaught was a group of excited youth leaders, among them former Mashonaland Central youth leader Godfrey Tsenengamu, who have also since been made to taste their own medicine.
“Mutsvangwa is a victim of [his] own actions. What he used on others has come back to haunt him,” said political analyst Takura Zhangazha.
“Although the vote-of-no-confidence on him by the Mashonaland West provincial executive will not directly affect him until it is endorsed by the politburo and central committee, the same approach he took on Mujuru and her alleged supporters has been turned on his political career.”
Observers say Mutsvangwa had grown too big for his shoes.
The motor-mouth War Veterans minister had become synonymous with controversy. He knew no boundaries in his unrestrained attacks on fellow comrades.
In a no-holds-barred WhatsApp chat, Mugabe’s spokesperson, George Charamba told Mutsvangwa off.
“Get back your youthfulness you super war veteran, the Rambo who won the war single-handedly. You have a horrible complex, an acute deficiency that overpasses your meagre personality,” Charamba charged.
“For far too long we have allowed you to hide behind the parapet of struggle as if you are the only fighter in town. We will pluck those feathery horns if you take matters too far.”
Mutsvangwa appears to have touched a raw nerve by calling for the removal of Saviour Kasukuwere from the commissariat position ahead of the Victoria Falls conference.
At one of her rallies in Rushinga in October, Grace warned “proud war veterans” that taking part in the liberation war was not a licence to misbehave.
Mliswa said, Mutsvangwa — who has rubbished his suspension claiming it was illegal — presented the party with a challenge to self-introspect on its past behaviour.
“When I was fired, I told them that I was dismissed unconstitutionally, and they [including Mutsvangwa] saw it fit that I go. But today, he is saying the same things I raised when I was dismissed,” Mliswa said.
Mliswa said according to the Zanu PF constitution, in firing an official the provincial executive committee should recommend to the provincial coordinating committee, which then should recommend to the national disciplinary committee, whose decision should be endorsed by the politburo and then by the central committee.
“The national disciplinary committee should give a prohibition order, inviting the suspended person to a hearing,” he said.
“The suspended person even has the right to legal representation.
“All this was not followed in all the purges and reinstating Mutsvangwa would mean reinstating everyone who was suspended and fired before him, including Mujuru.”
However, Mliswa said this would not happen as Mugabe was keen to violate the constitution each time he sees it fit to serve his own personal interests.
“That is why he [Mugabe] is now attacking the security personnel, because they are now posing a threat to his interests and family,” Mliswa said.
“In fact, victims of the purges should unite and pass a vote-of-no-confidence on Mugabe himself. He has failed to protect the laws of the party.”
Zhangazha concurred, saying the purges contravened the Zanu PF constitution.
“Due process was never followed in all the Zanu PF purges,” he said.
But whatever eventually happens to Mutsvangwa, Mapfumo’s words have been brought to life; one who plays with the sword will die by the sword.
His wife Monica is also on the verge of being kicked out of the party for allegedly disrespecting the First Lady.
Prostitutes Shun Condoms For More Cash
Samuel Takawira|News24|Ladies of the night from Epworth, Harare have begun shunning the use of condoms as long as the customer pays more.
The harsh economy in the country has an effect on their business, and they say they now have to rely on unprotected sex to put food on the table.
One of the prostitutes, Tarisai Nyikadzino, says that they accept anything from as little as five to $10 dollars for unprotected sex.
She said another reason that has fuelled, unprotected sex, which is now a boom in the satellite town of Epworth is a stiff competition from the young and energetic hookers who have flooded the popular Booster area since the day sex work was legalised.
” I prefer unprotected sex because it pays better,” she said stating that on good days one can take home around $25 and $30 from unprotected sex. This has forced most sex workers to resort to dump condoms so they can make more cash.
Most of these hookers believe that after having unprotected sex, there is a pill, they take that will prevent them from getting the deadly HIV virus, even though they don’t know that tablet’s name.
“Soon after every sexual encounter, I have to take one of the pills so as to protect myself from HIV/AIDS,” said one hooker, confirming the rampant illegal use of Post Exposure Prophylaxis.
Post-Exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is normally prescribed to people who have potentially been exposed to HIV usually through rape. This form of HIV treatment can prevent the virus from becoming established in the body.
Another commercial sex worker, affectionately known as Sister Nancy, revealed how easy it is to get hold of PEP, as her supply is delivered to her by agents who have ties to medical staff at the government owned Overspill Clinic.
“The guy who bring PEP to us charges US$6,50 for 30 pills,” she said without giving more information on the person.
The agent buys 30 pills for US$5 .There is overwhelming evidence that sex workers have much confidence in PEP.
“I trust PEP,” said Alice, another sex worker. She added that if PEP can be used by rape victims to prevent them from being infected with HIV; they can also use it for the same purpose after having unprotected sex.
“It is a treatment pill to some but to us it is a passport to having more money,” Alice added.
Though they could not directly link the reduction in disposed condoms in their area to an increase in unprotected sex, a cross section of Epworth residents confirmed that their area had less litter.
“In the past you could see a lot of used condoms scattered around but nowadays as you can see there are a few,” said Lloyd Tafirenyika a senior resident in Epworth.
Asked for comment on allegations that PEP pills were being obtained from her clinic, the Sister in Charge at Overspill, (not her real name)Melody Chipenga* refused to attend to this reporter and threatened to have the reporter thrown out of the clinic.
“Go away with your false allegations, I will have you thrown out of my premises,” she said before banging her door.
The abuse of PEP is rife in Epworth and this is replicated in many places around the county’s capital.
PEP is also flourishing on the streets of Harare, popularly known as kumaAvenues, another hub of moral decadence.
Prostitutes in Harare’s avenues who are notorious for forcing men to indulge in sexual activities also use PEP in a bid to ‘protect’ themselves from the HIV virus.
Though PEP is not regarded as a protective measure against HIV and Aids, sex workers are shunning condoms as they believe the drug prevents them from being infected with the deadly virus.
“Most of our clients demand unprotected sex. In such scenarios you have to give in and use the protective pill afterwards,” said Chelsea Moyo a sex worker who operates from the Avenues.
In an environment where the dogma is “unprotected sex pays”, commercial sex workers like, Chelsea have to make sure they carry PEP for use after a business night.
PEP was designed for victims of sexual abuse and is not a recommended consistent protective measure against HIV and Aids.
However, the need to make money from unprotected sex has seen the use of PEP flourishing among sex workers.
Investigations by this reporter revealed that after securing ARV drugs from the donor community, the government owned company, NatPharm stores and distributes the drugs.
The drugs are distributed to various centres according to the number of HIV patients that a centre serves.
A senior worker at NatPharm who requested anonymity said that PEP is distributed to all the hospitals and clinics.
“PEP is distributed everywhere but most of it is channeled to areas where cases of rape are high,’ he said.
Epworth was one of such centres. ZRP victim friendly unit senior staff officer, Assistant Commissioner Isabella Sergio revealed that 2 405 children were raped in Epworth from January to October.
But despite its rampant use, Dr Owen Mugurungi, Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Director of AIDS and TB said t there was no shortage of PEP for victims of rape.
“We have not heard of any report saying we have shortages of the drug. As long as you come out in the open within 3 days you can get help,” he said
Dr Nyaradzo Mugodi, the Project Director of UZ-UCSF (a collaborative research program between University of Zimbabwe and University of California, San Fransisco) said that though PEP can reduce the chances of getting the HIV/AIDS virus, is not completely safe.
“Anti-HIV drugs can reduce the risk of HIV infection if taken within 72 hours of an exposure to HIV and if taken every day for four weeks. The sooner PEP is started after an exposure, the more likely it is to work,”
She, however, advised against taking the drug without seeking advice from a qualified medical practitioner.
‘A person must first discuss their situation with a nurse, doctor or counsellor. There are side effects associated with PEP and these include nausea, fatigue and diarrhea,” she said adding that PEP provides no protection against other sexually transmitted infections.
She also confirmed that a person could develop drug resistance if they become infected with HIV while taking PEP.
“If a person’s HIV becomes resistant to the PEP drugs, the same anti-HIV drugs may not work for treating their HIV,” she said.
Organisations responsible for educating and raising awareness on HIV and AIDS,however, seem to underestimate the magnitude of the rampant use of PEP.
“We do not have evidence that there is abuse of PEP,” said Tadiwa Nyatanga-Pfupa, the Communications Officer of National Aids Council.
She however warned against the use of PEP.
“As NAC we do not encourage irresponsible sexual behavior and taking PEP afterwards. We encourage the use of condoms or abstinence for prevention of HIV transmission,” she said.
According to Pfupa, rape survivors can get PEP from public institutions through the set regulations but evidence gathered from Epworth suggests that no procedures are being followed by commercial sex workers to get PEP.
Peter Marimi of Batanai HIV and AIDS Service organization condemned the abuse of PEP by commercial workers saying that it causes serious shortages of the drugs among rape victims who might need it the most.
“We condemn the illegal way commercial workers are using to acquire the pill and with immediate effect nurses should stop selling drugs which are meant for a specific target group in this case not sex workers,” he said
This is not the first time ARV drugs have found their way on black market in the country. A documentary by Aljazeera unearthed the illegal distribution of ARVs by doctors and nurses. Samuel Takawira
WARNING- DISTURBING PICTURES: Munenzva Bus Crashes Into Kombi
A horrific road accident has occurred involving a Munenzva South Africa bound bus.
The accident killed seven (7) fifteen passengers. An earlier report had claimed (15) fifteen people were killed.
The bus crashed into a Beitbridge bound Sprinter near Rutenga.
Sources said most of the deceased were from the sprinter.
The accident had disturbing scenes of mutilated bodies some whose pictures cannot be re-published. PICTURES:
More to follow…
Mugabe Rant Against War Vets Signals THE END
President Robert Mugabe’s surprise rant against war veterans signals the end of the 91 year old leader’s vices.
Report by The Standard
Mugabe’s rant on war veterans shows that he only uses the former liberation war fighters to prolong his rule and will dump them when they no longer serve the purpose, opposition parties said last week.
Mugabe has since the turn of the millennium relied on war veterans to ward of any challenge from the opposition.
The war veterans have embarked on a series of violent campaigns to keep Zanu PF afloat, especially after the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which almost dislodged the ruling party in 2000 and 2008.
However, infighting in Zanu PF fuelled by disagreements over Mugabe’s succession has left war veterans at loggerheads with young leaders, including First Lady Grace Mugabe.
Grace used her rallies that preceded the Zanu PF annual conference held in Victoria Falls last weekend, to attack a group of war veterans she accused of causing trouble in the party.
The former fighters are linked to Vice-President Emmerson Mna- ngagwa who is keen to take over as president after Mugabe’s depature.
Mugabe used the Zanu PF conference to call the war veterans to order, saying the fact that they participated in the liberation war did not make them special.
The 91-year-old leader also had no kind words for the army, police and intelligence, saying they should stop meddling in Zanu PF affairs.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said Mugabe’s attacks against war veterans did not come as a surprise as it had become clear that he was only interested in preserving his power.
“Robert Mugabe is just being true to his nature; as Machiavellian as he can be,” Gutu said.
“When it suits him, he will use the war veterans to pursue his goal of being a life president and when it doesn’t suit him, he will trash and trivialise the same war veterans.
“For Mugabe, political power defines his DNA. Everything else is secondary.”
The former Justice deputy minister said Mugabe had always feigned his love for the war veterans.
“Fundamentally and deep down his heart, he has never really liked and/or respected war veterans,” Gutu said.
“He has only been keen on using and abusing them when it is convenient for his political designs, particularly when he let the war veterans loose as he began his violent land reform programme in February 2000
“This is why you will find that the majority of genuine war veterans are living in abject poverty and squalor.
“Genuine war veterans are not respected by Mugabe. He is more comfortable surrounding himself with corrupt political opportunists and later day ‘revolutionaries’.”
Gutu’s sentiments were echoed by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Jacob Mafume, who said Mugabe had no respect for the former fighters.
“It would appear that the only war veteran Mugabe is comfortable with is the clown type, a yesman, uneducated with no ambition but a tool to use with no ideology,” he said.
Mafume said the president could also be trying to elbow out war veterans from the succession race.
“It would then suggest that he believes war veterans are not in his plans to succeed him,” he said.
“Mugabe himself is not a war veteran, but a nationalist.
“He probably does not understand why having been in the war should be a requirement to succeed him. He has another successor in mind who is not a war veteran,” Mafume said.
“War veterans must remember they humiliated Mugabe at the National Heroes Acre during [Chenjerai] Hunzvi’s time while demanding compensation.
“Mugabe does not forgive or forget and surely as the sun rises, he will get his revenge if it’s the last thing he will do”.
War veterans have publicly quarreled with Zanu PF commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, who is believed to be a key member of the Generation-40 that backs the First Lady.
The former fighters claimed Kasukuwere disrespects them and had demanded that Mugabe must remove him from the post in favour of a war veteran.
Their leader Christopher Mutsvangwa now faces expulsion from Zanu PF after Mashonaland West passed a vote of no confidence on him saying he had insulted the first family.
Mutsvangwa’s predecessor Jabulani Sibanda was fired last year after he accused Grace of engineering a bedroom coup after the First Lady had engineered the ouster of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
Mugabe’s love and hate relationship with war veterans began in 1997 when he succumbed to protests by the former fighters to pay them unbudgeted for pensions.
When his power came under threat in 2000, however, he unleashed war veterans to invade white-owned commercial farms after accusing their owners of sponsoring the opposition.
The former fighters eventually became a cog in Zanu PF’s election machinery as they intimidated people, especially in rural areas, into voting for Mugabe.
But the expulsion of Mujuru and several other Zanu PF stalwarts for allegedly plotting against Mugabe left the former fighters divided and diminished their influence in the ruling party.
Muchinguri To Be Kicked Out – REPORT
In what could prove to be the tipping point in the post-congress Zanu PF’s seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars, the Daily News has reliably learnt that political heavyweight Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri is on the verge of being hit with the party’s infamous vote of no confidence.
This comes as allies of the Water minister, seen as the godmother of Manicaland by virtue of her seniority in the province, are being booted out of Zanu PF one after another as punishment for defending her, and as Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s supporters are under the cosh in the ruling party as the battle to succeed President Robert Mugabe hots up.
The party’s youth league in Manicaland announced on Thursday that they had passed votes of no confidence in their chairperson Kelvin Manyengavana, commissar Washington Ziwiwi and executive member Gertrude Mutandi over their participation in a meeting where Muchinguri-Kashiri was recorded attacking her Zanu PF foes.
Mubuso Chingunu, who announced the ejection of the trio from the party, has since assumed the leadership of the regional youth organ.
“The trio also stand accused of holding unconstitutional clandestine meetings with Comrade OCZ Muchinguri from time to time where they discussed and deliberated matters to do with the youth league, bad-mouthing senior party leaders, and therefore defeating the whole sense of following proper party protocols of the provincial youth league to be answerable to the national youth league as stated in article 25/230,” Chingunu said.
Well-placed sources told the Daily News yesterday that Muchinguri-Kashiri was now “definitely in the firing line” of her party enemies, and that she could “suffer the same fate” as that suffered by former Vice President Joice Mujuru, whose allies were purged one by one last year before her eventual ouster from power.
At the heart of the deadly ructions is the battle to succeed Mugabe, where a faction loyal to Mnangagwa is locked in a bitter battle with ambitious Young Turks known as the Generation 40 faction, who are pushing for the appointment of a woman vice president in place of the beleaguered VP.
Such a move would, if successful, fatally dent Mnangagwa’s chances of ever succeeding the increasingly-frail Mugabe.
Muchinguri-Kashiri’s allies claim that the G40 has instigated the axing of several of her supporters in Manicaland, all of whom are allegedly ultimately loyal to Mnangagwa, in a plot to “incapacitate” the VP.-DailyNews
Mujuru Too Obsessed with Toppling Mugabe
By Patrick Guramatunhu|According to a report in ZimEye.com, Joice Mujuru’s People First is attracting some following with a number of people deserting other parties to join. Notable amongst those joining her is Jeffryson Chitando, Former MDC political strategists and one of Tendai Biti’s PDP heavyweights.
“We are now People First and the major focus is for us to topple Mugabe and his wife Grace from power .That is our objective and there is need for us to join hands and focus on one common objective,” said Chitando.
The nation would be very foolish indeed to listen to people like Chitando.
Yes toppling Mugabe from office is important if all we achieve is remove one corrupt, incompetent and murderous tyrant but only to replace him with another then we have not learnt much from all the tragic suffering and the sacrifices of the last 35 years. Mugabe has been the head of the Zanu PF dictatorship but the tyrant has sown his seed far and wide in our land, we have tyrants in every section of our society from the brainwashed village bullies who have been frog-matching our people to Zanu PF rallies. We have also seen thugs strolling fast to parliament and cabinet.
The dog-eat-dog fighting in Zanu PF which has resulted in people like Joice Mujuru and Didymus Mutasa being booted out of the party has weakened the dictatorship and created a unique opportunity for the nation to dismantle the whole dictatorship. In other words people like Joice Mujuru and Didymus Mutasa are as much part of the dictatorship as Mnangagwa and the others who have remained with Mugabe in Zanu PF.
If People First was to get back into power Mutasa will resume his ruthless campaign of terror in Manicaland from where he left off when he was booted out from Zanu PF last year. Mujuru will not be implementing any of the 2008 GPA reforms but will instead concentrate on replacing all those political appointees who have served Mugabe well all these years with ones who will serve her with the same blind loyalty.
People First will create an new Zanu PF dictatorship in all but name.
The only reason people like Chitando are not concerned about replacing the Mugabe dictatorship with a Mujuru dictatorship is because whilst they have been victims of the former, they will, hopefuly, be holding the thick end of the whip this time.
It is us, ordinary Zimbabweans, who must demand not just the toppling of Mugabe but the dismantling of the oppressive one-party dictatorship because we are the ones who will be at the business end of the whip – there will be no comfort to be had from knowing that it is now Mujuru and not Mugabe who now wields the whip!
Yuan Official Zim Currency Starting 2016
Zimbabwe is set to start using the Chinese yuan alongside the United States dollar as early as 2016, with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and People’s Bank of China already finalising modalities.
Although the yuan – also known as the renminbi – is officially part of Zimbabwe’s multi-currency system, its use has not been activated as the market predominantly relies on the US dollar.
It has, however, increasingly gained relevance on the back of major economic deals between Harare and Beijing and its co-option into the IMF’s list of Special Drawing Rights.
On November 30, the IMF added the Chinese currency to its SDR reserves alongside the Euro, the US dollar, the British pound and the Japanese Yen.
Authorities envisage that the dispensation will smoothen international obligations, ease business costs and accelerate transactions with the Oriental state.
Further, the RMB will be an escape route to dodge the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control which has seized millions of dollars destined for Zimbabwe under Washington’s sanctions regime.
Several African countries are already using the currency when transacting with China, with South Africa leading the pack as over 30 percent of its business with the Asian giant is denominated in the yuan.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa told The State Media that, “Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Dr John Mangudya has opened negotiations with the People’s Bank of China. This is to see whether we can enhance the use of the renminbi in Zimbabwe.
“Discussions are underway, as we speak. It will all happen in the context of the RMB being part of our basket of currencies and being legal tender in Zimbabwe after our pronouncement last year.”
He added: “I can give an example to say that if we want to promote Chinese tourist arrivals, they are free to come and pay in the Chinese currency. We can make that facility available.
What we and the People’s Bank of China then need to do after collecting this currency is have a system of clearance so that we are able to use what has been paid for in the renminbi for our services in Zimbabwe.
“We will have that pool of money and we can then use it to honour our obligations with China. This is basically what happens.”
Dr Mangudya said the Chinese currency would flourish in Zimbabwe if underpinned by increased production.
“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the People’s Bank of China are investigating putting in place a renminbi facility within the multi-currency system to promote bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. The facility can either be a bond or swap and would need to be buttressed by underlying trade and investment flows,” he said.
“In essence, production is the cornerstone for any currency development, whether it is the RMB, or any other currency. This is the backbone of any currency system to be sustainable. Production is the pillar of a currency.”
The RBZ chief said it is logical to adopt the yuan given China’s position as the world’s second biggest economy and largest consumer of goods.
He said a number of countries had already taken this route, moreso under bilateral payment agreements.
“Given the high level of trade and investment between China and Zimbabwe, and also the fact that China is the second largest economy in the world and the largest consumer of world commodities, it is desirable for Zimbabwe to ensure that the renminbi is tradable within the multi-currency system.
“This is not new because China has bilateral payment arrangements with many countries such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Ghana. In fact, there are more than 28 countries in the world that have such arrangements with China.
“The only issue with Zimbabwe is that we don’t have our own currency, so we cannot swap with our own currency. Since we do not have our own currency, we have to think away from the normal course of bilateral payment arrangements. So, the issue is how we contextualise such financial cooperation within the multi-currency system.”
Zimbabwe’s chief envoy to China, Ambassador Paul Chikawa, said the RMB is now an international currency, and Harare stands to reap huge benefits by actively adopting it in its multi-currency basket.
“The renminbi cooperation will greatly improve investment as well as trading. This currency is now an international currency of note after the IMF resolved to include it under its SDRs behind the US dollar and the pound, but ahead of the euro and the yen.
“The renminbi has also overtaken the yen in global settlements as Beijing holds the position as the top Foreign Currency holder at about US$3, 8 trillion.”
China is Zimbabwe’s second largest trading partner after South Africa, as annual trade between Harare and Beijing exceeds US$1 billion.
Cooperation between the two countries reached greater heights in early December 2015 when China’s President Xi Jinping reciprocated President Mugabe’s earlier visit to Beijing.
Both leaders witnessed the signing of 12 major deals that cover economic and technical cooperation, with Zimbabwe now among the top six African countries benefiting from China’s external development programme.
The Asian giant is now Africa’s largest trading partner, with the value of trade increasing 20 times in the past 15 years reaching US$200 billion in 2014, according to the International Institute for Environment & Development.-State Media
Magaya Starts Raising Pigs
PROPHETIC, Healing and Deliverance ministries leader Prophet Walter Magaya has begun farming pigs.
The preacher is doing this with a view to supplying markets across Southern Africa by July 2016, the State Media reports.
Away from his life on the pulpit, Prophet Magaya is breeding pigs and cultivating maize, potatoes and soya for business purposes and to sustain his growing ministry.
Working from Derry Farm in Nyabira since May when he started with 300 pigs, the prophet has seen the sounder of swine multiply to 1 027 – and he aims to grow it to 30 000 by mid- 2016.
“We have ministry programmes that we are aiming to sustain with these projects. For instance, we have children who need to be assisted with school (costs).
‘‘So this project is solely for business so that we can sustain our ministry.
“We are still confined to the markets in Harare. Hence I am targeting to breed 30 000 pigs by July so that I can stretch to markets in the Southern Africa region,” Prophet Magaya said last Tuesday.
Though lacking a farming background, Prophet Magaya says he makes time from his busy ministry schedule to keep track of what is happening on the ground.
“There are times I don’t even have time to sleep to ensure that everything is on course. I am a hard worker,” he said.
In Mazowe, the prophet is growing maize, potatoes and soya beans.
“The produce is for our pigs,” said the prophet, who last week also revealed he would soon unveil a Prayer Mountain for all Christians in Waterfalls, Harare.
Keeping busy, Prophet Magaya is also building a high-performance sports centre in Waterfalls. –
Parirenyatwa Pays Back $100,000 PSMAS Cash “Loot”
Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has paid back US$100 000 extended to his private surgery by Premier Medical Aid Society.
The payment to Dr Parirenyatwa’s surgery had caused an uproar, with his critics saying it was improper as his ministry regulated PSMAS and hence he could have arm-twisted the service provider to extend the bailout to him.
The minister in turn said the payment was above board, a position supported by former Health Minister Dr Timothy Stamps.
PSMAS, under the leadership of former MD Mr Henry Mandishona, authorised an agent transfer of US$100 000 to Dr Parirenyatwa’s private surgery in 2014, prompting calls for him to return the money and quit his Government post.
Last week, Dr Parirenyatwa told The State Media that his private medical practice paid back the money in full and PSMAS owed his business more than US$3 000.
“In March 2014 the medical practice received a lump sum owed to it by PSMAS. The medical practice further negotiated for an advance from PSMAS. The medical practice and PSMAS have since reconciled their accounts. PSMAS now owes the medical practice,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
“The advance has since been paid up in full. For the record, advances are standard practice by medical insurers and their medical service providers or patients.
“The Parirenyatwa Medical Practice was therefore not ‘overpaid’ by Psmas, and Dr Parirenyatwa did not ‘pocket’ money unprocedurally as some reports have claimed. The process was above board and agreed upon by the medical practice and PSMAS purely on a professional basis.”
Dr Parirenyatwa added: “There was no rule and no regulation, and no code or anything of the sort that was broken, violated or compromised contrary to numerous reports over the past weeks which sought to maliciously distort and misrepresent the facts and the circumstances of the in-famous advance.”
Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba said Dr Parirenyatwa’s action was to Government expectation.
“He has paid the money in full. That was the expectation of the Government for him to pay and we are happy he has fulfilled that expectation,” he said.
PSMAS acting MD Dr Nicholas Munyonga confirmed that Dr Parirenyatwa had repaid the money.
According to a letter from Dr Munyonga to Dr Parirenyatwa dated December 15, 2015: “I write to inform you that since the reconciliation of the claims submitted from your practice since January 2014 to date and the subsequent monetary set-off paid to PSMAS, your claims awaiting payment is currently at US$3 190. This amount reflects the amount you are owed by PSMAS as at 16 December 2015.” State Media
Mahachi Rejects $150K
Former Harare Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi wants council to reinstate him on full salary and benefits until his five-year contract expires in 2018.
Dr Mahachi was dismissed on notice in August 2015 “after reaching retirement age” following his earlier suspension from duty on charges of incompetence. He and Town House have been shuttling back and forth over his terminal benefits, and last week saw Dr Mahachi raise the stakes with a Labour Court challenge. In the court papers, he says his dismissal and reduction of his salary were unlawful, and should thus be set aside.
He also argues that his being sent on retirement when he had a specific contract of employment was motivated by malice and personal vendettas. Further, he says, the decision ran contrary to the law as it was taken without considering his side of the story.
Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni, Harare City Council and Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere are respondents. The papers read, in part, “This is an application for the following relief: An order setting aside the decision of the Second Respondent communicated to me dated 17 November 2015 purporting to terminate my contract of employment with effect from 31 December 2015, reducing my salary and other benefits together with the rest of the decisions contained in the said letter which is attached hereto as annxure “1”.
“The decision of the First Respondent in this regard is grossly outrageous in its defiance of logic and commonly accepted standards of morality in that the Second Respondent cannot send me on retirement when I am on a specific term contract of employment.”
They also say, “The laws relating to retirement do not affect employees on specific term contracts. . . The decison was, therefore, motivated by malice and personal vendettas which the First Respondent has with me.
“(The application also seeks) An order setting aside the decision of the First Respondent removing me from the work place on the 30th of June 2015 on grounds that the decision contravened Section 139 (3) and (4) of the Urban Councils Act.
“The decision of the First Respondent was, therefore, not only contrary to the law, but also capricious and without justification both in morality and law. It was taken without affording me any opportunity to be heard.”
Before this, Dr Mahachi wanted an exit package that included US$3 million, a mansion in Harare’s Belvedere suburb and two top-of-the-range vehicles. However, City Council offered him US$150 000 with an option to buy his service Toyota VX Landcruiser at book value. State Media
Pasuwa Shoots Back In
Troubled Warriors Head Coach Kalisto Pasuwa together with his entire technical team fired on Thursday have bounced back.
ZIFA President Phillip Chiyangwa told ZimEye.com he has fixed the issue which he says occured while he was away on leave.
“I have conferred with the Vice President Mr Omega Sibanda and all members of the executive committee. We have agreed that in the interest of the nation and the beautiful game, Coach Kalisto Pasuwa and his entire technical team be reinstated with immediate effect,” he said.
“Differences are normal in any institution but it is imperative to solve them in an amicable manner. Pasuwa is a very successful coach and undeniably one of the highly qualified coaches in the country.
“The association will inevitably render him necessary support as he prepares for the 2016 CHAN finals. We are very confident that his wonderful exploits will bring success and glory to our football loving nation,” said Chiyangwa.
Zimbabwe are in group D alongside Zambia, Mali and Uganda.
ZIMBABWE 2016 PROVISIONAL CHAN TEAM
GOALKEEPERS
Elvis Chipezeze (Chicken Inn FC), Tatenda Mkuruva (Dynamos FC), Takabva Mawaya (Hwange Colliery FC), Donovan Bernard (How Mine FC)
DEFENDERS
Stephen Makatuka (CAPS United FC), Blessing Moyo (Dynamos FC), Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders FC), Ocean Mushure (Dynamos FC), Elisha Muroiwa (Dynamos FC), Teenage Hadebe (Highlanders FC), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn FC ), Hardlife Zvirekwi (CAPS United FC) Farai Madhananga (Flame lily FC)
MIDFIELDERS
Nqobizitha Masuku (Highlanders FC), Tichaona Chipunza (Triangle FC), Ronald Chitiyo (Dynamos FC), Raphael Manuvire (ZPC Kariba FC), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn FC), Goerge Majika (Chicken Inn FC), Marshall Mudehwe (FC Platinum), William Manondo (Harare City FC), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn FC), Gerald Takwara (FC Platinum), Joel Ngodzo (Caps United FC) Hilary Bakacheza (Triangle United FC)
STRIKERS
Pritchard Mpelele (Hwange Colliery FC), Rodreck Mutuma (Dynamos FC), Edmore Chirambadare (Chicken Inn FC), Brian Muzondiwa (FC Platinum), Francisco Zikumbawire (Harare City FC), Knox Mtizwa ( Highlanders FC), Moses Demera (Flame Lily FC)
ZRP Cop Beaten Up by Mangoma RDZ Members
Violent Police Officer given instant justice.
Five (5) RDZ supporters from Buhera West were yesterday attacked by a uniformed police officer, one Constable Dick, who violently disrupted their meeting at Jaggers Business Centre.
The officer arrived in a ZANU PF vehicle (owned by ZANU PF bigwig Saul Nzuma) and began assaulting the activists while demanding the meeting (although being approved by the ZRP force as ZimEye.com can reveal) be stopped.
The police officer upon disembarking from the vehicle, immediately began physically assaulting party Provincial Secretary Jameson Muzerengwa while he was addressing the meeting.
Besides the physical assaults, there were no attempts whatsoever to conduct a lawful arrest as is procedural under the constitution – It was all violence upon violence.
It was at that point that the activists ended up defending themselves, and the cop was given a bashing.
Several other police officers soon arrived at the scene to save Constable Dick while also apprehending the activists.
The RDZ members were detained overnight at ZRP Buhera station and charged for effecting instant justice on a uniformed police officer.
They were fined $25 each.
The activists are Samuel Manonge, Ezekiel Mamvura, Brigthon Mugwadi, Cecilia Takaendesa and Tawanda Machodo.
MP Caught Looting Late Brother’s Estate
ZANU PF MP (Mutoko South)and former Finance deputy minister, David Chapfika has been caught fraudulently enriching himself from his late brother’s estate.
Report by Newsday
Chapfika has been given a 30-day ultimatum by the High Court to pay back a $336 000 loan to CABS. The Zanu PF legislator acquired the loan using his late brother’s estate as security without the knowledge of the estate beneficiaries.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance chairperson, who has been accused of abusing his position, had been appointed executor dative in the estate of his brother, the late Netsai Robson, who passed on in South Africa sometime in January 2012. However, in a bid to serve his personal interests, the MP misrepresented to his brother’s wife, Theresa and fraudulently acquired a $280 000 loan from the bank while using the estate’s property as collateral.
The legislator’s shenanigans came to light when Theresa came under pressure from creditors and was forced to dispose of some of her assets, which included motor vehicles and furniture in a bid to clear the debts only to discover later that there was another huge debt at CABS.
After making investigations, Theresa discovered the MP had gone behind her back and acquired a loan, which apparently he was failing to service.
Theresa’s discoveries prompted her to approach the High Court seeking to have Chapfika removed from being the estate’s executor dative and the matter was heard before Justice Joseph Musakwa on Wednesday this week and he ruled in her favour.
“The appointment of the first respondent (David Chapfika) as the executor dative in the estate of the late Netsai Robson Chapfika be and is hereby set aside and the letters of administration issued to him revoked,” he ordered.
“All amounts advanced to the first respondent, inclusive of any interest and other charges, on the security of the property known as Stand No 12468 Township of Salisbury Township lands is paid by the first respondent to the third respondent (CABS) within 30 days of the granting of this order.
“The first respondent pays the costs of this application on an attorney and own scale.”
According to court papers, upon being appointed executor dative, David prepared an inventory which included the pair’s matrimonial home, but later agreed with Theresa to acquire a $20 000 loan from the bank which money was to cater for Theresa’s child’s fees and servicing other debts.
Theresa told the court because she was under pressure from creditors, she was forced to sell some of her assets, which included motor vehicles and furniture, but it was not enough.
“It was during this period that the first respondent (David) proposed that we borrow $20 000 of which $10 000 would be used to send my daughter to school and the balance used to settle the estate debts,” she said.
She said the MP later transferred $10 000 to her, which she believed was to cover for her daughter’s school fees, in the hope that the parliamentarian had paid some of the money owed to creditors.
“I became aware that the first respondent had not paid the creditors when they continued to hound me for payment. It was when I followed this up that I discovered that first respondent had, in fact, borrowed $280 000 plus $56 000 from CABS,” she said.
Theresa further said she later discovered the loan had been acquired on behalf of a company called Racewin Trading (Private) Limited which had nothing to do with her and the estate. Newsday
Pasuwa Reinstated As Warriors Coach
Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane on Friday ordered the reinstatement of Warriors Coach Callisto Pasuwa before sa said “cancelling” ZIFA President Philip Chiyangwa’s leave.
Chiyangwa said to be on leave barely a few days after taking charge of ZIFA, on Wednesday fired the Warriors Coach Callisto Pasuwa and his entire technical team for “insubordination” and replaced him with Chicken Inn Coach Joey Antipas.
The decision to fire Pasuwa was announced by Chiyangwa’s deputy Omega Sibanda.
Flexing his muscles on the issue on Friday Minister Hlongwane said the decision by ZIFA board to fire Pasuwa was ill-informed.
“It is also important that ZIFA takes time to apply itself to matters of national interest before announcing major decisions that have disruptive capacity and have potential of injuring the national psych. I have asked Dr Chiyangwa, the president of ZIFA to come out of his leave in order to attend to this potentially crippling and rather unnecessary dispute,” he said.
The Warriors’ CHAN preparations are virtually at a standstill as the technical department has been sacked.
Joey Antipas and Tonderai Ndiraya who had been appointed to take over the Warriors job have declined.
It is also understood ZIFA had first approached Norman Mapeza who also turned them down.
Prophet Makandiwa’s House Haunted, Mysterious Sounds Heard Every Night
A HOUSE built by United Families International Church leader Emmanuel Makandiwa for Muzarabani traditional leader, Chief Kasekete, stands out among the pole-and-dagga huts in the entire village and is already setting tongues wagging amid claims it is haunted.
Perched on a hill facing a small grinding mill, the three-bedroom house was constructed by Makandiwa for the chief in 2012. It was officially handed over amid pomp and fanfare, but claims that it is haunted have overshadowed the gesture.
The house, probably the only well-built house in the entire Chingara Village, has become the talk of the community. Some villagers allege there were some mysterious sounds coming from it at night.
The occupants, however, say they were enjoying peaceful nights. The traditional leader and his family vehemently denied that the house was haunted and that they once deserted it.
But some villagers were adamant, telling NewsDay that Kasekete often abandoned his homestead for a farm he recently “grabbed from a white farmer — Rankin”, leaving his wife alone to face the mysterious sounds.
“We just hear that the chief is not always staying in the house. At times, we understand he leaves it because there are certain things that are happening in the house. We don’t have evidence, but we just hear it from those who are close to him,” one villager, who identified himself as Tawanda, said.
The chief, however, poured cold water on the claims.
“That is what people are saying here, but as you can see, I am staying in my house, very peacefully. It is just that people hate this young man (Makandiwa) and want to create stories that there are problems here. It is a lie,” Chief Kasekete said when NewsDay visited Muzarabani recently.
According to the chief, the house “is a blessing to me, as I sleep well and enjoy dreams”.
“This issue is being propagated by people who hate Makandiwa, particularly churches here who fear losing their members to him. They have been saying this for so long that the Minister for Provincial Affairs, Martin Dinha, came here to investigate and he found that it was a lie,” the traditional leader said.
“Even people from Jomic [an inter-party team created during the inclusive government to spearhead national dialogue] visited me here and investigated the same issue, so it’s something that has been topical here.”
Upon arrival at the homestead, the news crew was welcomed by the chief’s children, who said they were staying in the house.
Chief Kasekete’s wife later arrived and insisted they were living in the house.
“People are just jealous of what Makandiwa did for the chief. They create stories. We have been staying in that house since it was handed over to us in 2013. At no time have I witnessed anything mysterious, but we hear people saying there are mysterious things happening. I don’t know where they get that information from,” she said.
She, however, flatly refused to allow NewsDay into the house to verify whether they were truly living in the house, saying she needed “express permission” from her husband, who was at Hoya Growth Point conducting his chieftainship business.
“I can’t allow you to enter the house without the permission of the chief, this needs his express permission,” the wife said.
The chief’s wife said the traditional leader occasionally visited his farm in Centenary, but he resided at his homestead.
When the news crew sought permission from the chief to enter the house, he said: “You should have come with the [officials from the] President’s Office or the district administrator, I was going to tell you more and give you all the information you need to know about what is happening.”
“You did a good thing by coming here to verify, but what I have said is enough. More information requires that you visit the President’s Office. Talk to minister Dinha, he will organise the President’s Office officials to come with you here and we talk more on the issue,” he said.
Dinha confirmed receiving reports of strange happenings at the chief’s house, but he said the traditional leader had “constantly refuted the information”.
“At first I heard that something was happening there, but when I interacted with the chief, he denied it. He accused his enemies of fabricating issues,” Dinha said.
Makandiwa’s spokesperson, Pastor Prime Kufa, has not responded to messages sent to him three weeks ago.-Newsday
Mujuru Snatches Tendai Biti’s Top Aides
- Millions of Zimbabweans now pin their hopes on Mujuru
By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo|Former MDC political strategists and (Tendai Biti)PDP heavyweights Jeffryson Chitando and Earnest Mudavanhu have joined Joyce Mujuru’s People First.
Mujuru has also lured several former Zanu PF bigwigs including Claudius Makova, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and Servious Mbudzi as the former Vice President seeks to tackle her former boss in the keenly anticipated 2018 polls.
Mujuru has now emerged as the main contender to take on President Robert Mugabe in the crucial polls and she recently met the Masvingo provincial executive in Harare for a mapping of the way forward.
This comes despite some cynical political observers who still maintain Mujuru is a product of Mugabe ‘s political whims and could be used to eclipse the opposition ahead of the 2018 plebiscite.
Chitando confirmed the development and said there was need to focus on toppling Mugabe and his wife Grace from power.
“We are now People First and the major focus is for us to topple Mugabe and his wife Grace from power .That is our objective and there is need for us to join hands and focus on one common objective,” said Chitando.
It is understood the entire PDP provincial executive has deserted Tendai Biti to join People First.
Millions of Zimbabweans now pin their hopes on Mujuru who is seen as a strong candidate to depose Mugabe. This also follows MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai ‘s said “tired potiltical approach” as the donor community continues to desert the former premier.
Political observers say the formation of a grand coalition is Tsvangirai’s last trump card in saving his dwindling political career.
Man (53) Caught Abusing Girl (9)
A man from Victoria Falls who allegedly proposed love to his neighbour’s daughter, 9, and locked her in his bedroom has appeared in court, Morgan Tswere, 53 faces charges of unlawful detention.
The court heard how the terrified girl managed to escaped from potential abuse by Morgan Tswere of Chinotimba suburb by lying that her mother was in the house. Tswere and the girl’s family are tenants in the house.
“He asked me to carry his glasses and grabbed me by the hand before dragging me to his bedroom where he sat on a bed and I remained standing,” the girl told the court.
“He told me he wanted other children to go away so we remain alone in the house. He told me I was his girlfriend and I told him I was scared.” The girl said after a “long time” Tswere asked if her mother was around.
“I lied that she was in the house and that’s when he let me go,” she said. Tswere, a self-employed glazier, denies the charge claiming the girl’s family framed him because there has been bad blood between them for the past 10 years they have shared the house.
Tswere was put on his defence after the court felt there was a basis for him to defend himself following the minor’s testimony. He told the court he could not have dragged the girl into the bedroom because his wife had left it locked. His wife corroborated his assertion.
Magistrate Rangarirayi Gakanje remanded Tswere to Monday on $100 bail. Prosecuting Takunda Ndovorwi told the court that the incident occurred on September 11 this year. “On September 11 at about 2PM the complainant arrived home from school and went into the accused’s living room to play with the accused’s two children,” said Ndovorwi.
The court heard that while the three children, who are of almost the same age, were playing in the sitting room, Tswere came out of his bedroom and gave them money to buy snacks. Ndovorwi said Tswere immediately called the complainant back and asked her to remain behind.
It is alleged that he asked her to help him carry some window panes to his workshop outside the house. “He gave her one window pane which she took outside and then he locked the doors on her return into the house.
“He grabbed her by the hand and dragged her into his bedroom where he asked her to be his girlfriend,” said the prosecutor.
The court heard that Tswere only released the girl after she lied to him that her mother was in the house. The girl reportedly ran out of the house to her mother’s workplace at Chinotimba Old Market where she narrated her ordeal and the matter was reported to the police leading to his arrest. – State media
Moyo Orders NUST To Stick To Teaching Science
Prof Jonathan Moyo who is the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development has ordered the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to go back to teaching science subjects according to its charter.
He said this yesterday as he came to an end of his tour of universities, polytechnics and teachers’ colleges.
Moyo addressed members of staff at NUST, saying he was concerned that the institution had moved away from its mandate of being the mother of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training in the country.
“NUST is a university that was established specifically to be a science and technology institution. We thought the roots had been sunk deep but the university deviated for a number of reasons which in my view they should have resisted.
They chose the easy way out to teach commerce, humanities and arts and forgot about their founding Act. I want NUST to be back on track and spearhead the teaching of STEM in the country,” said Moyo.
He went on say that soon the country was embarking on a STEM revolution, which NUST should take advantage of.
“This is happening at a time when there is a STEM revolution in the country. They’ve the critical call of academic capacity to be back on track. Their problem is that they started when there was no STEM revolution but they were supposed to spearhead it. All universities must be driven by science and technology and NUST must live up to its expectations.
“The President has expressed concern over the deviation and this is a clarion call to NUST and all the other universities to stick to their mandates. We need to revisit our statutory mandates, review and tighten them,” he said.
From 2016, going onward, the ministry will soon be working on a strategic plan, where universities are expected to stick to their statutory mandates. However, Prof Moyo acknowledged that the education system was not producing the type of students that NUST needs but insisted that these reasons are not good enough.
“Far fewer students coming out of high school have mathematics and science and NUST has to compete for the few students with universities in other countries. These are some of the reasons, but that should not have allowed the university to derail.
This is why the curriculum in the primary and secondary education has been overhauled. From Early Childhood Development (ECD) next year they are now going to follow a STEM curriculum so that by the time the 2016 generation gets to A-Level it will be STEM competent,” Moyo said.
He added that NUST has a new opportunity to grow with this generation as the mother of science and technology.
“It doesn’t take 24 years to start ECD and get through to A-Level but Nust has taken 24 years to fully implement its mandate. The result was deviation. We recognise there are other science and technology universities, which are doing well but NUST should be the mother of science and technology.
We believe we will do very well as a country if we get the University of Zimbabwe to be the mother of universities in the country and Africa University to be the mother of non-state universities while NUST is the mother of science and technology,” he said.
Prof Moyo also said the disciplines must be consistent with the economy. “We should not create unemployment by training people whose skills are not required by the economy. There must be a healthy balance,” he said, adding that every university was trying to be like UZ by having everything and moving from their mandates.
He emphasised the importance of prioritising research and having universities funding their own projects.
“It’s a hopeless view that the government should fund university projects. It’s a grandmother’s view. We expect universities to come up with strategies on how to provide their own funding. The government will solve what it can and the rest will be done by the universities,” said Moyo.
The minister expressed his happiness, as he noted that more universities were being established, with the country expected to have a total of 23 universities by 2017. – State Media
Chiyangwa Climbs Down on Pasuwa Sacking
Zimbabwe Football Association President, Phillip Chiyangwa says he has heeded to the Minister of Sport and Recreation Honourable Makhosini Hlongwane’s call to come out of his leave and address the sacking of Warriors technical team led by Kalisto Pasuwa .
Chiyangwa has indicated that he has dispatched Executive committee member and High performance technical committee chairman Edzai Kasinauyo to meet Pasuwa tomorrow (Saturday) and find a fruitful solution.
Chiyangwa’s statement in full reads:-
I, Dr Phillip Chiyangwa, the President of Zimbabwe Football Association have respectfully heeded to Minister of Sport and Recreation Honourable Makhosini Hlongwane’s call to come out of my leave and address the sacking of the technical team led by Kalisto Pasuwa and African Nations Championship (Chan) preparations.
Consequently, I have dispatched Executive committee member and High performance technical committee chairman Edzai Kasinauyo to meet Pasuwa tomorrow (Saturday) and find an amicable solution. I have also instructed Mr Kasinauyo to produce with a detailed report which I shall discuss with Honourable Minister Hlongwane on Sunday (20 December 2015).
ZIFA is ready to address public concerns regarding the sacking of Mr Pasuwa and African Nations Championship (CHAN) preparations.
We appeal to members of the football fraternity and the nation at large to remain calm as we find lasting solutions to problems bedevilling our beautiful game.
Football should ultimately be the winner.
DR PHILLIP CHIYANGWA
ZIFA PRESIDENT
– ZIFA
4 Soldiers Killed In Car Crash
Seven people, four of them believed to be soldiers, died while five others were injured on Thursday evening when a Toyota Vitz and an Isuzu truck were involved in an accident in Murehwa. The accident comes after Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday said police would maintain a heavy presence this festive season with random breathalyser tests set to be conducted on motorists on the country’s roads.
The crash occurred near the 11km peg along the Murehwa- Madicheche Road at around 5pm. Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the accident.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to confirm the death of seven people in a fatal road traffic accident which occurred near the 11km peg along Murehwa-Madicheche Road near Rukungwe Primary School on December 17, 2015 at around 1700 hours,” she said.
She said the Toyota Vitz was travelling towards Madicheche with four passengers on board and on approaching the 11km peg, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it swerved to the right.
It encroached into the opposite lane where it side-swiped the Isuzu KB250, which was travelling towards Murehwa with seven occupants.
“Six people including the driver of the Toyota Vitz died on the spot while one died on admission at Murehwa Hospital. Five others were injured and rushed to Murehwa Hospital for treatment,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
The bodies were taken to the hospital’s mortuary for post-mortem. “Police are conducting investigations into the circumstances which led to this unfortunate accident. The names of the deceased will be released in due course once their next of kin have been advised,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Dr Chombo said reckless motorists including those driving under the influence of alcohol, should face the full wrath of the law.
“We all need to collectively take a stance against reckless and irresponsible driving exhibited by some motorists on our roads. It is unfortunate and regrettable that human error has time again been singled out as a major cause of accidents,” he said.
“I wish, therefore, to assure the nation that the Government is taking bold measures to reduce the carnage. Members of the ZRP have already been deployed along all major roads to enforce traffic rules and regulations.”
He said as most parts of the country have received rains, motorists should desist from speeding as the roads would be slip- pery. “All motorists especially those driving public service vehicles should adhere to stipulated speed limits and any behaviour contrary shall be dealt with decisively,” he said.
During the last festive season, the period between December 15 2014 and January 15 2015, a total of 2 251 accidents were recorded. From the accidents 112 were fatal and they claimed 114 lives, while 1 1 33 people were injured and property valued over millions of dollars destroyed.
There will be heavy police presence countrywide to ensure an accident- and crime-free festive season. Police would intensify patrols, carry out stop-and-search blitzes on all residential, industrial, farming and other areas where the public will be undertaking various activities.
The police visibility would also be maintained on the country’s major roads to ensure that travellers are free to move to and from their destinations.
Drivers have been urged to be responsible and adhere to all road rules and regulations
Top Coaches Rubbish Chiyangwa
The Phillip Chiyangwa reign at Zifa is off to a rocky start as three top coaches have refused to take charge of the Warriors after the sacking of Callisto Pasuwa.
Norman Mapeza said he was not willing to be the next Warriors coach while Chicken Inn head coach Joey Antipas who had been appointed by ZIFA to take charge of the Warriors declined to take the post.
Current Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya who had been appointed assistant coach has also snubbed the football mother body.
Yesterday ZIFA fired Pasuwa and his technical department in a development that has been roundly condemned. Pasuwa was fired for reasons that had nothing to do with football.
Grace Underwear Government 2016
By Ndaba Nhuku| The year 2015 came and is now gone with the ever unpredictable Zimbabwe political drama still an endless source of entertainment. Zanu has kept us on our toes, its name on our tongues, its politicians glued on screens for news.
Prof Moyo has been the star entertainer per excellence with his ever busy Twitter account.
Not to be outdone was the party’s Mother Dr Grace Mugabe who all of a sudden developed an acidic tongue averse to female politicians. With some lightning speed she managed to subdue and get rid of numerous cadres. The likes of Oppah Muchinguri have had their wings clipped and can only appear at rallies at the mercy of Dr.Amai.
Showing that her power was not only over the female cadres, who else would she belittle other than her husband,
President Mugabe’s two vice presidents she told the nation, are her students who daily seek advice from her.
The ongoing drama saw most of the renowned party cadres face the three political figures silenced, suspended, or sacked. She effected these without any hesitation. What has hitherto been undermined as the G40 became a reality as it completely changed the face of the party by bringing unknown faces to replace the fallen well known ones.
Who would have foreseen that a mere typist would overnight purge the party of its veterans who also included the once feared war veterans leaders? The general populace of Zimbabweans, and am sure even foreigners were stunned, but those in Zanu were visibly shocked as some tears fell with the departure of long nursed political and government positions.
Grace and the G40 are just ruthless and running amok like a derailed train. Prof Moyo’s loss of his beloved daughter did not deter the ongoing purging. It did not end with perpetual grieving and quiet Amai Mujuru. They turned on the current VP Mnangagwa who had briefly run on the excitement of the Mujuru purges as he saw himself as the anointed one.
He misread the political drama, or was it a mistake that he did when he allegedly influenced the sudden inexplicable departure of Prof Moyo from the beloved Information department that has literally since ceased to exist? Was it his alleged contentious relationship with his VP colleague that Mphoko that could have worked against him? In no time, before he had even warmed his VP chair, before the celebrations had even stopped as some people embarrassingly shouted loudly that he was a saviour, the G40 sharpily turned its fangs on him. Within a month he was a lonely figure hopelessly watching his lieutenants purges one by one. When loudmouths like Mutsvangwa are despatched off, its serious business! To get rid of Mujuru and subdue Ngwena, and tell off the likes of Rugare, Mutsvangwa and others takes amadoda sibili. These guys must have had their thing well planned and oiled, they are just easily effecting it now. Startegy and brains. Whether the other factions like it or no, they have been thouroughly beaten and humiliated. Mnangagwa’s excitement when Mujuru was despatched was a mistake, the same fate has visited him. Its like watching a lione devour your kids whilst you try to beat it with a twig. It can turn on you. Like Mujuru, he couldn’t defend anyone. How the grea have been deceived; Mugabe silently supporting his wife. And where are those overrated security chiefs? As always, I still believe these guys are military professionals we tried to force into politics, save for a few, the rest have no interest.
Zanu has within a short time fallen into three or four factions; Mugabe, Mujuru, Mnangagwa and Amai’s gang.
Those who have been sacked or seen their dreams shattered have their supporters cursing and crying fowl. Everyone feels cheated by Mugabe! Surprisingly they also wanted, or want the same Mugabe to appoint a successor! How can people be so self-contradictory?
If you want Mugabe to appoint a successor, let him do it. He will appoint Grace|! You have mandated him to do as he pleases, so why cry foul if he appoints his wife as his successor? I have said it several times for years, Mugabe should have no right to appoint any successor. All he has to do is to groom leaders within his party and these get subjected to an election for people to choose someone they want to lead them. Mugabe cant choose a successor for millions of Zimbabwe, why burden the old man? All I know is that Mujuru and Mnangagwa’s followers thought Mugabe would appoint their own leader. Am sue a lot had already been promised some party and government positions whilst the likes of Moyo have been confined to Tsholotsho! Politics is about power.
Mujuru and Mnangagwa have to blame themselves as should all the other zanu leaders and members unhappy with the current scenario. You gave Mugabe too much power and made him own you and the party and the country. You made him a god who could not be criticised and not be subjected to a contest with opposition political parties. Mugabe was happy to go along as everyone worshipped him not for party loyalty but to be rewarded with a position, which meant easy access to state resources. Anyone without a freebie farm? Anyone recall Mnangagwa boastful tell those who had been sacked along with Mujuru, esp restless Mliswa that, ‘ Life outside Zanu is cold?’ Once outside ZANU and critical of it, you lose all your property you acquired as a ZANU cadre! Yes, maybe rightfully so as all the property was corruptly acquired under the name ZANU. This should serve as a lesson to all Zimbabweans not to worship political leaders, They are mere human beings who can easily get intoxicated with power and turn against you! MDC T and First People supporters, please take a leaf and learn from the Zanu dyanamism. If MDC had not tried to imitate the Zanu political way of life, it wouldn’t have been divided into six political parties; that are or were led by Mutambara, Tsvangiarai, Sikhala, Ncube, Biti and Mangoma. When internal dissent is suppressed, it becomes volcanic and can not be controlled.
This is why its so sad and puzzling that the opposition has no voice as Zanu seems at its most vulnerable position. The opposition seem to have been puzzled into sleep by all these Zanu dynamics. What then is the way forward?
The way forward for Zimbabwe as of 2016 is in unity. Zanu should find peace within itself so that it refocuses on the ongoing economic mess. Zanu has a mandate running till 2018 to solve the mess, or short of that, call for an election. But why bother consider an early election when we don’t have a live and robust opposition? Zanu should not let the country burn whilst wasting time and state resources on its internal strife. In that vein, the opposition parties should also come together and negotiate a genuine unity pack and ensure some of them have to desist from the Zanu Big Brother mentality. Those well known to be corrupt or human rights abusers should not be anywhere near leadership seats. Zimbabweans are the best people to clean up their mess, and it can only take unity of purpose, focus, and determination to do so. Yes, we can do it. If we cant, then lets allow the country’s greatest risk taker of the year Dr Grace Mugabe, to lead us into the perpetually unattainable Gushungo dream of prosperity.
BREAKING NEWS: Aguy Georgias dies
Zanu-PF Central Committee member and former Economic Development deputy minister Aguy Georgias has died.
The Trinity Engineering chairman and founder Georgias died early today at AMI Hospital in Avondale.
His daughter Tina confirmed the death and said Georgias died of kidney and heart failure.
“He has not been well and was admitted in Cape Town (South Africa) for a month and half before he returned to the country a week ago and he was now doing well,” she said.
“He died today at 2am at AMI Hospital in Avondale.”
Georgias was born on 22 June 1935 in Chivhu, Mashonaland East.
He is survived by his wife Lizzy Georgias, 11 children and 16 grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at Rocky Lodge, Browning Drive, Strathaven in Harare.
Details to follow… – State Media
Trevor Ncube Fires 10 More Journalists, Fails To Pay The Few Remaining Workers
ALPHA Media Holdings (AMH) has shortlisted 10 more journalists for retrenchment as the media organisation continues to struggle to pay workers.
Sources within the Trevor Ncube owned company who also owns South African based weekly the Mail and Guardian in South Africa said the affected journalists who are yet to be notified will not return in 2016.
The company which recently retrenched 70 workers who it is yet to give their retrenchment packages is also failing to pay its remaining few employees.
“We last got paid in September and it is now December,” said one of the workers.
“There is no communication as to when we are going to get paid and there is a high possibility of us going to Christmas with nothing”.
Last week ALPHA Media Holdings (AMH) which publishes the NewsDay, and two weeklies, The Zimbabwe Independent and The Standard was last week dragged to the labour court by the retrenched workers where it said it was facing financial constraints to pay workers.
The company’s managing director Vincent Kahiya told the court that the company was struggling since January 2014.
Bloody Scenes at ZANU PF MP’s Filling Station
Staff Reporter|It was all blood at a filling station owned by Gwanda North ZANU PF legislature in Gwanda early this morning.
An unlicenced cross border transporter popularly known as Malayisha ran over two sleeping women at the filling station in Gwanda town at about 4am this morning.
The incident took place at the HON Madodana Sibanda owned Engen Garage where cross border traders mostly women unlawfully sleep over night waiting to catch early transport to Messina for their shopping.
The two sisters were amongst the dozens of people who were sleeping in the open space along the filling station court yard when the heavily overloaded Toyota Quantum with a double deaf trailer rammed over their feet.
At the time of the accident, the tired driver of the vehicle had given his unlicensed assistant to drive the vehicle while he took a nap.
The 16 passengers in the vehicle expressed shock at the revelation that the assistant “driver” actually did not have a driver’s licence as he had gone past five road blocks on his way to Gwanda from Beitbridge where he had taken over the driving of the vehicle.
According to witnesses, the two sisters arrived at the filling station about an hour prior to the accident from Messina with their wares and decided to put up at the filling station waiting for dawn before proceeding to their rural home some 20km out of town. As they settled to sleep at the foyer the driver of the Toyota Quantum came in at a very high speed and in a bid to avoid bumping on a fuel tank near by he swerved the vehicle too much to the right and ran over the two sleeping women with both vehicle and trailer.
The two women suffered severe injuries and an ambulance picked them up from the scene to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where they were immediately rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals. Sources at the hospital claim that the two will certainly be amputated from the waist.
This is not the first incident to happen at the filling station while people sleep at the garage at night. On several occasions some women have reported being robbed at the garage while they sleep. Now and again fist fights are experienced during the night as people jostle for sleeping space under the shade in the foyer.
An employee at the filling station who would not be named told Zimeye.com that the owner of the filling station is aware that people sleep there at night and has never spoken against it. The filling station is arguably the busiest place at night after the local night clubs. Pirate taxi operators run their business from the precinct of the filling station and night travelers use the place as their rank during the night. Across the road several haulage trucks are seen parked overnight. With the influx of the haulage trucks and activity at the filling station, even women of the night have found a business hunting ground at the filling station.
Comment could not immediately be opened from the Member of Parliament. A police detail operating in the area said that the unlicensed driver of the vehicle is currently being held at Gwanda police station and will appear in court soon.
BREAKING NEWS-Antipas Turns Down Chiyangwa Warriors Top Post
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas who was on Thursday appointed to take charge of the Warriors has rejected the appointment.
ZIFA President Philip Chiyangwa on Thursday fired coach Callisto Pasuwa for insubordination and replaced him with Antipas.
Pasuwa and his technical team had refused to tolerate the ZIFA board’s interference in technical issues.
According to Chiyangwa Antipas was supposed to be assisted by Tonderai Ndiraya and Mandla Mpofu, goalkeepers coach Peter Nkomo, and team manager Wellington Mpandare.
According to DeMbare Dot Coms, Norman Mapeza had earlier turned down the offer to replace Kallisto Pasuwa.
$9 Million Tokwe-Mukosi Cash Vanishes
By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo|The $9 million Tokwe Mukosi second phase compensation fund released by the treasury has “vanished”.
As the displaced villagers continue to live in squalid conditions, government sources told ZimEye.com this week the 9 million second phase compensation fund was personally garnished by Zanu PF politicians in the province and part of it was used to finance the party’s programmes.
The displaced Tokwe Mukosi villagers have continued to live under squalid conditions more than two years after being moved from their original villagers. The government is yet to fully compensate the villagers and some of them were forcibly evicted from the Chingwizi camp by the uniformed forces.
This all happened as they demanded compensation from government.
The Minister of State for Masvingo Province Shuvai Ben Mahofa recently told state media the $9 million second phase compensation fund was in disbursement in November. Two weeks later however, that money is nowhere to be found.
The displaced Tokwe Mukosi villagers are facing health challenges since the tents they are living in are temporary and unfit for continuous human habitation .
The sorry sight of barefooted children walking on the rain soaked surface sums up the pathetic situation the villagers are facing, sources lament saying.
“The $9million second phase compensation fund was released by the treasury a few months ago but some politicians seized the money and the whole restitution exercise was stalled. We do not know when and how the money will be recovered.
The displaced Tokwe Mukosi villagers are living under pathetic conditions ,”said a government official .
The government has been reluctant to compensate the displaced villagers who at one point demanded to see President Robert Mugabe over the situation. The villagers in their frustration and anger also burnt a police vehicle protesting government ‘s reluctance to speed up the compensation process. Political analysts say the broke government is unlikey to recover the money.
Granny Raped All Night
A MARRIED 74-year-old Mberengwa man allegedly broke into his 72-year-old neighbour’s bedroom hut, throttled her and raped her for almost six hours, a court heard. The old man, the court heard, even forced the granny to perform different sexual positions for his pleasure.
Wereni Chandavengerwa of Matoka Village in Mberengwa appeared before regional magistrate Collet Ncube facing charges of unlawful entry into premises and rape.
Ncube remanded Chandavengerwa out of custody to December 21 for continuation of trial. Chandavengerwa denied the allegations saying the woman made up the allegations to fix him.
“Your worship I’m a married man. Why would I want to rape this woman? She hates me and that’s why she’s falsely accusing me of raping her. I didn’t go to her house,” he said. The granny told the court that before the rape, Chandavengerwa came to her homestead and declared that he would sleep with her that night.
“He came to my homestead and refused to leave saying he wanted to sleep at my home but I chased him away and told him that it wasn’t possible,” she said. She said that on the fateful day, she was sleeping when she heard Chandavengerwa struggling to break down the door.
She said he kept at it and succeeded on the third attempt. The woman told the court that when Chandavengerwa got in, he started whispering in her ear. “He then throttled me to stop me from screaming before raping me.
Prosecuting, Andrew Marimo told the court that on November 22 last year at around midnight, Chandavengerwa went to the 72- year-old woman’s homestead.
“Chandavengerwa allegedly broke down the locked door and gained entry into the woman’s bedroom hut. He then went on to choke the complainant and covered her mouth with his hands to stop her from screaming,” said Marimo.
He told the court that Chandavengerwa then undressed the old woman and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her without her consent and without using protection. Marimo said Chandavengerwa allegedly raped the woman all night and asked her to perform different sexual positions.
Zimbabwean PhDs Holders Useless, Worthless(Many) – Jonathan Moyo
Many Zimbabwean PhD holders are useless and worthless, Professor Jonathan Moyo has said.
“There are many doctors who are useless, absolutely useless but we know that they have PhDs . . . But here in Zimbabwe we think that if you’re Doctor so and so and Professor so and so you’re important yet the truth is that you’re not.”
Moyo said that there are numerous rotten habits in higher and tertiary education institutions with most of the country’s academics failing on both visibility and usability.
Moyo said none of Zimbabwe’s universities are recognised regionally and internationally. He said academics’ failure to research on sound projects has led to the country failing to make it into the top 50 universities in Africa.
Moyo said none of the country’s universities are rated among the best 800 globally.
He said this on Wednesday while addressing Lupane State University’s lecturing and non-lecturing staff during a familiarisation tour of the institution.
“We think that there’s something rotten about the state of higher and tertiary education, science and technology development. We think that’s why the best among you are snatched by universities in South Africa,” said Prof Moyo.
There are six universities in South Africa, Moyo said, which are among the 14 in Africa appearing in the top 800 in the world. “They’re benefiting from our institutions and we know that and we want to correct it strategically,” said Prof Moyo.
He castigated academics for being involved in irrelevant studies saying the country’s PhD holders are never cited by other scholars for their researches.
“There are many doctors who are useless, absolutely useless but we know that they have PhDs . . . But here in Zimbabwe we think that if you’re Doctor so and so and Professor so and so you’re important yet the truth is that you’re not.”
“You can’t become important just because you are doctor so and so. You can only be important as doctor so and so on the basis of what you are doing,” he said.
Moyo said publishing relevant documents will put institutions on the spotlight.
“It’s important for doctors and professors to be among leading researchers and contributors of development not just of their communities and countries but mankind at large,” he said.
“How do you measure that? By their publications and citations of those publications. We’ve a lot of useless people with PhDs who have published things that nobody cites,” Moyo said.
He said it was scandalous that academics who are researching on irrelevant topics were getting promoted.
Moyo said intellectual property was serious business and universities must tap into that.
Turning to LSU, he said starting January next year the university should start relocating to its campus in Lupane as a lot of ground has been covered.
“Early next year, which begins next month, we are going to see movement to the Lupane Campus where you really should be. We hope by the end of next year no one would be here who is either a member of teaching staff or student,” he said.
Moyo said the Ministry was aware that some staff members were reluctant to move to the campus site. He said those who did not want to move to the campus should leave the university.
“We’re aware or at least heard rumours that some of you members of the staff joined out of a belief that Lupane relocation is wishful thinking, propaganda from the government, it will never happen, there is no money for it. So you thought it’s going to be Lupane State University in Bulawayo,” said Prof Moyo.
He said: “We’ve heard rumours suggesting that some of the staff with that attitude have their children going to elite schools here. It might be nursery schools and primary school and they say I can’t go with my family to live in the bush where they don’t have these schools. It means these are the last days we are with you,” he said.
Moyo said LSU should be an engine for development in Lupane through making Matabeleland North’s provincial capital a university driven town.
He said government was working tirelessly to address accommodation for student and staff, through the infrastructure bond which is designed to expedite construction work.
He said fireworks are expected at National University of Science and Technology today as the Ministry is not impressed with how the institution is executing its mandate.(State Media/Additional Reporting)
Woman Dumps Owl at Church Doorstep
By Tinoonga Mawere, Gutu| An unidentified woman dumped a live owl at The Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) premises at Mupandawana town in a bizarre incident that left congregants in a state of shock.
The woman stormed the church premises early this week and dumped the owl and also attempted to dump a one metre long snake at the doorstep as awe struck congregants watched in disbelief . The snake however forced its way into the woman ‘s handbag and she disappeared from the scene leaving the frightened congregants watching from a distance .
RCZ Reverend Julius Mutumburanzou confirmed the incident but could not shed more light on it. He said the church was carrying out further investigations into the matter .
Congregants who witnessed the incident said members of the Johane Masowe Vapositori were called to burn the owl and remove the bad omen from the Church premises while others claimed the owl disappeared from the premises in a mysterious way.
“It is really shocking and we could not believe our eyes when the woman dumped the owl in broad day light . We do not even know where she comes from but many people believe it was a superstitious act. Maybe she wanted to get rid of her witchcraft paraphernalia and she decided to dump the owl ,” said a female RCZ congregant.
A member of the Vapositori cult at Mupandawana identified as Madzibaba Jeremiah said: “The woman is being tormented by the spirit of witchcraft and that is why she dumped the owl and also attempted to leave her snake at the premises. The spirit of witchcraft can torment those involved in the use of black magic. ” Although the incident was reported at Gutu police the Zimbabwean government does not formally recognise the existence witchcraft and superstition.
Pasuwa Sacked as Warriors Coach
Warriors Coach Kalisto Pasuwa has been sacked from his job.
The legendary man who led the team to victory was kicked out in what appeared a daylight drama as international football fans witnessed the removal of UK Premiership Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, also relieved of his duties.
ZimEye.com is reliably told the Warriors’ training camp has also “been dissolved”.
The Zimbabwe football body ZIFA announced Thursday that this was all after an Extraordinary Meeting of the ZIFA National Executive Committee. The announcement released by deputy President Omega Sibanda continued stating:
“It was resolved that the entire Technical Team for the men’s National Team headed by Mr Kalisto Pasuwa be relieved of its duties.
“The following have been appointed to take charge of the 2016 Chan Tournament, and 2017 African Cup of Nations Campaign.
HEAD COACH: JOEY ANTIPAS
ASSISTANT COACH 1: TONDERAI NDIRAYA
ASSISTANT COACH 2: MANDLA MPOFU
GOALKEEPER’S COACH: PETER NKOMO
TEAM MANAGER: WELLINGTON MPANDARE
FITNESS MANAGER/LIASON OFFICER: COSMAS ZULU
TEAM DOCTOR: DR TOGAREPI
PHYSIOTHERAPIST: FARAI MUGUWE
KITMAN: TBA
These appointments are with immediate effect.
National team camp is hereby dissolved with immediate effect and new camp dates will be announced in due course.
Three More Axed by ZANU PF
The Zanu PF youth league Manicaland provincial executive has passed a vote of no confidence on provincial youth chairperson Kelvin Manyengavana and two other members.
The three are being accused of fuelling divisions and failing to abide by the party’s constitution.
Twenty-five Zanu PF Manicaland provincial youth members appended their signatures in support of the vote of no confidence passed on provincial chairperson Manyengavana, treasurer Getrude Mutandi and commissar Washington Nziwiwi.
In announcing the vote of no confidence, the vice chairperson of the provincial youth league Mbuso Chinguno says the trio deliberately sabotaged the youth league inter-provincial conference which was supposed to lay down the resolutions for the December conference.
s Mutandi and Nziwiwi are also accused of interfering in the women’s league, thereby causing divisions and fuelling factionalism. Efforts to get a comment from the three were fruitless. Chinguno is now the acting provincial youth chairman.
Mugabe-Anti Pastor Granted Bail
The Remnant Church pastor, who was arrested for allegedly staging a demonstration denouncing President Robert Mugabe’s 35-year-old rule during the just-ended Zanu PF conference in Victoria Falls, has been freed on $500 bail.
Victoria Falls magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa freed Patrick Phillip Mugadza, 45, on Tuesday.
Mugadza is being accused of contravening Section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
This was after he allegedly staged a demonstration in the resort town protesting the manner in which Mugabe was handling the country’s affairs.
The National Prosecuting Authority alleged that Mugadza, who resides in Kariba, disturbed the movement of Zanu PF party supporters who were on their way to attend the ruling party’s annual national people’s conference in the resort town, by waving a banner with a message denouncing Mugabe’s leadership.
Prosecutor Listen Nare told the court that Mugadza committed criminal nuisance by waving a banner, which read “Mr President the people are suffering”.
The banner also quoted Proverbs 21:13 from the Bible, which reads, “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered”.
The prosecutor charged that Mugadza acted unlawfully because his actions disturbed the movement of members of the public.
Mugadza, who first appeared at Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Courts on Saturday December 12 and was briefly freed on summons, returned to court on Monday and was remanded in custody to Tuesday when he was eventually granted bail.
His lawyer Thulani Nkala of Dube and Company Legal Practitioners and a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is challenging the State’s allegations, arguing that the pastor had not committed an offence.
The lawyer argued that his client was exercising his constitutional right as guaranteed under Section 59 of the Constitution which provides for “freedom to demonstrate and petition”.
Magadza’s trial has been set for January 5, 2016. Daily News
Nelson Mukwena Has Never Been Mangoma’s Bodyguard
Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe ( RDZ) strongly dismisses the article carried by the Herald alleging that our good President Elton Steers Mangoma owes one Nelson Mukwena some moneys and that the Chisumbanje land skirmishes were sponsored by the same. We wish to put it on record that Mr Nelson Mukwena was not at anyone point contracted to provide security services to our President and that no such contract exists in our files except in his own imagination. He joined our Party as any other member but was suspended for violent conduct after he severely assaulted our Harare Provincial Treasurer Ms Madhoro. He is due to appear before a disciplinary hearing chaired by our Deputy National Chairperson Shadreck Chipangura on Thursday , 17 December 2015 at 1000HRS. We view his media rantings as an unfortunate way of wanting to subvert internal justice. RDZ is a principles and values driven political party. In terms of the RDZ Principles and Values , we are a non violent party and anyone found practicing and perpetuating the same is liable for a disciplinary hearing .
Claims that RDZ is receiving funding from the Germans are not only baseless but malicious . Mr Mukwena and his handlers must stick to basic truths and stop embarking on uncivilized lies. RDZ activities have been funded from the sales of our membership cards and dedicated individual member contributions.
We also wish to put it on record that the clashes between villagers and Greenfuel in Chisumbanje has nothing to do with Mr Mangoma but it is a direct reaction by the villagers, who are the rightful land owners, to an aggressive and provocative so called Investor who has repeatedly enlisted the services of state security agents to suppress the locals. Our policy as RDZ is that noone has the right to displace Zimbabweans from their land without adequate compensation and depriving them of their means of survival. It is also shocking and surprising that the Zanu pf government has been seizing land from what they called the minority white community in Zimbabwe to the black majority , but in Chisumbanje the same zanu pf junta is taking away land from the majority blacks to one white man and forcing The black majority to be squatters in their own country.
Pishai Muchauraya
National Spokesman-RDZ
3 Burnt Alive, Killed In House Fire
Three members of the same family from Lundi Park low density suburb in Gweru were burnt beyond recognition while another escaped without injuries when their apartment was inexplicably gutted by fire in the early hours of today, Police have confirmed.
The tragic incident occurred at round 3 am when Adrian Pile (56), his wife Lisa (37) and their One-year old baby of Collin Brand Street in Lundi Park, Gweru were sleeping.
Their eldest son Jeremiah escaped without injuries.
Narrating the ordeal, a seemingly distraught Jeremiah said the fire started at around 3 am and it came from the bedrooms on the first floor and razed down the stairs before destroying the entire furniture and property in the house.
He said he sought assistance from the neighbours to rescue his father and stepmother but to no avail.
“I was sleeping in the lounge when the fire started. I was awakened by smoke coming from the bedrooms upstairs and I ran out and called for help from neighbours. When we returned the house had been engulfed by the fire and my parents were crying out for help,” he said.
Jeremiah watched helplessly as his parents were reduced to ashes. – State Media
Details to follow…..
Jose Mourinho Sacked
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been sacked.
The Blues board held discussions over the troubled Portuguese manager’s future concluding the man’s contract-termination this afternoon.
He was fired seven months after he led them to the Premier League title.
Mourinho was pushed out by a ninth Premier League defeat of the season against Leicester City.
Jose Mourinho’s troubled relationship with Eden Hazard was one of many internal disputes said to be harming Chelsea.
Top targets Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone and Antonio Conte are not available until the summer, with Guardiola also being pursued by Manchester City. Less ambitious permanent options include the Southampton manager Ronald Koeman and Sevilla’s Unai Emery.
That leaves Chelsea also looking at alternative options, like former manager Carlo Ancelotti, or an experienced caretaker appointment such as Guus Hiddink, also a former Chelsea manager.
Ancelotti is the most attractive out-of-work manager, but the Italian has stated that he does not want to take a new job midseason and is interested in both the Bayern Munich and Manchester United jobs that could become available in the summer.
Hiddink has hinted that he would be interested in replacing Mourinho until the end of the season in what would be a similar scenario to when the Dutchman, 69, last took caretaker charge of Chelsea in February 2009 and finished the season as an FA Cup winner.
Abramovich had before attempted to stand by Mourinho and ride out the current storm, but growing concern ruled at the end of the day that the 52-year-old is no longer suitable.
Chinese Sabotaging The Tourism Sector-Mzembi
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi the Chinese are the worst spenders when compared to other nationals who visit the country.
Mzembi made the remarks in Harare Wednesday while receiving the new Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe executive at his offices.
The Tourism Minister said when they Chinese visit Zimbabwe they do not spend in hotels as they do when they go to Britain.
“If they are travelling, 100 million of them leave China every year to visit other countries and our current market share of these people is like 15 000,” he said.
“I would like many them, but quality spenders, coming to our destination. They are spending 2 600 pounds per visit in the United Kingdom”.
He said journalists must interrogate how much the Chinese are spending in Zimbabwe to prove his argument.
“But we cannot avoid them they are the growth sort of formula now for tourism economics worldwide, “he said.
“So what we claim in terms of our history and friendship with them, we are indicted and we are indicting our friendship”.
Biti, Ncube Resume Coalition Talks
LEADERS of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) met in Harare last week for consultations aimed at reviving efforts to merge the two parties.
The MDC is led by Welshman Ncube while the PDP is led by Tendai Biti.
The two parties are hopeful that a position would be reached by January 2016, to pave way for the unification of the two parties in a bid to form a formidable challenge to the ruling ZANU-PF in 2018 polls.
The merger of the two parties, both offshoots of the MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai, has encountered hurdles since a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed last year.
Both parties have been pre-occupied with internal challenges that had forced them to abandon talks.
Ncube’s MDC has been hard-hit by internal ructions whereby a significant number of its top leadership resigned from their posts, while others have left the party altogether.
These include senior party officials such as Nhlanhla Dube, Frank Chamunorwa and Goodrich Chimbaira, among others.
Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, the party’s former secretary-general, resigned from her post this year.
PDP, formerly the MDC Renewal Team, had its own share of internal turmoil that made it near impossible for talks on unity with peers.
Elton Mangoma, an instrumental figure in the formation of the then MDC Renewal Team, fell out with Biti over leadership of the new party.
A disgruntled Mangoma then went on to found the Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe in June this year, a move heavily criticised by political analysts as fragmenting the country’s opposition political parties.
Samuel Sipepa-Nkomo, then the caretaker president of the MDC Renewal Team, had told this publication that his party had decided to halt coalition talks as its members wanted to first go to an elective congress and elect a substantive leadership before joining hands with other opposition political forces.
Sipepa-Nkomo told the Financial Gazette in an interview this week that the dust which had gathered around the unification talks had settled.“As late as last week, the top leadership of both parties met and we are pursuing these discussions. We are investigating on the finer details of whether its re-unification or unification, seeing that now we have a new party (PDP),” he said.
Sipepa-Nkomo said the coalition talks would proceed smoothly despite the absence of Mangoma, who was once a part of the talks.
“There is zero impact caused by his (Mangoma) absence. Of those in leadership, those that were there and have since left, it was only Mangoma. The rest of the leadership remains in place,” said Sipepa-Nkomo.
“The re-unification or unity talks have not collapsed and we are all aware that we have unfinished business on the shelf. The MDC is currently oiling its machinery ahead of the 2018 elections. The morale is at roof level in the MDC camp and exciting moments for the MDC family are lying ahead,” a jovial Sipepa-Nkomo said.
Political observers opined that a united opposition political force was the best chance possible of dislodging ZANU-PF from power.
Financial Gazette
Chinamasa “Born Again”,
Reborn Chinamasa wins unlikely praise as he seeks Zimbabwe’s re-engagement with global capital
*Pulls off major coup with arrears clearance plan
*At home, pursues elusive fiscal reforms
*Faces internal resistance on both fronts
By Nelson Banya, HARARE, December 16 (The Source) – 2015 could be aptly described as the year of the lion in Zimbabwe.
After all, a lion that not many locals knew even existed but had a huge foreign fan base brought the country its greatest global attention during the year. Some feat, given Zimbabwe’s penchant for hogging the spotlight for its economic and political crises.
Less spectacularly, Zimbabwe’s finance minister Patrick Chinamasa spent much of the year seeking to carve a more enduring mark on the country’s economic landscape.
Chinamasa (68), whose moniker is Shumba (lion) after his totem, was not as lionized as was Cecil during the year, but he will be credited for perhaps Zimbabwe’s most significant economic event of 2015. Lima, Peru.
In October, leading international finance institutions, the African Development Bank, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund approved Zimbabwe’s plan to clear $1,8 billion in arrears by April, 2016.
This is not only significant in that Zimbabwe has finally come around to clearing arrears it has wished away, with the obstinacy of a wayward juvenile, since the late 1990s. Perhaps even more significant is that, according to the IMF, this move could see Zimbabwe accessing fresh funds, something it badly needs but hasn’t been able to do for nearly two decades.
Bad start
But the year did not start auspiciously for Chinamasa. At the end of a quarter in which a weary Treasury had to scrounge to pay civil servants’ bonuses and wages, a $165 million carryover from 2014, the finance minister announced the suspension of bonus entitlements, at least until 2017.
Zimbabwe’s government pay roll consumes about 80 percent of the annual budget. Clearly an unsustainable situation for a country that badly needs capital investment to grow its stuttering economy.
But within days the finance minister was publicly slapped down by President Robert Mugabe, who called the decision ‘disgusting,’ adding that the presidency had not been consulted. It didn’t matter that Cabinet HAD discussed and approved the measures, Chinamasa had to climb down and apologise for his ‘mistake.’
Chinamasa’s humiliation was compounded by the fact that Mugabe’s rebuke coincided with the finance minister’s visit to Washington for the World Bank/IMF spring meetings. Ahead of the meetings, Chinamasa had fired off a letter of intent to the IMF, detailing fiscal reforms, including cutting the government wage bill.
Although Chinamasa lost the bonus battle, he is determined not to lose the wage war. His 2016 budget proposes to shave $170 million off the annual government wage bill through the reduction of ward staffing levels for the youth and women’s ministries as well as agricultural extension workers.
He also proposes to stop paying salaries for teachers employed by private schools, cancel allowances for student teachers and review the vacation leave policy for the education sector.
IMF nod
While Zimbabwe’s economic situation remains parlous, thanks in no small part to policies detrimental to foreign investment, weak global commodity prices and the poor performance of its anchor agriculture sector, Chinamasa and his team at Treasury have been commended by the IMF for staying the reform course under the IMF staff monitored programme (SMP).
The SMP is an informal agreement between a government and the Fund staff to monitor the implementation of economic reforms. Although it does not entail automatic funding, the SMP is important in establishing a track record of economic management that could signal to multilateral lenders and private investors that a state can be trusted with loans and investment.
Ahead of the Lima meeting in October, the IMF issued a statement commending the Zimbabwe government for its “strong commitment” to reforms under the SMP.
Further advancing reforms and re-engaging with the international community could reopen Zimbabwe’s access to financial support, the IMF has said.
The IMF has indicated that the successful implementation of the arrears clearance plan could open the door to fresh funding as early as 2016, which would be a real coup, considering that Zimbabwe’s relations with global lenders appeared irretrievably broken down just a few years ago.
Bravery and pragmatism
It has taken bravery and pragmatism on both sides for this remarkable turn-around. The IFIs have been pragmatic in their recent engagements with Harare, possibly with an eye on various post-Mugabe scenarios.
But it has also required bravery on the part of the head of Treasury, Chinamasa, to shepherd the re-engagement drive in the face of overt opposition from his Cabinet colleagues and lukewarm support from Mugabe, who has previously called the IMF “the devil.”
Chinamasa was even branded an IMF spokesperson by an indignant Cabinet colleague for his re-engagement fervor.
Not one to back out of a fight, even though he has remarkably shirked the belligerence that marked his tenure as justice minister, Chinamasa has persisted in spite of that internal criticism.
A battle-hardened political negotiator – Chinamasa has been ZANU-PF and Mugabe’s trusted negotiator in inter-party talks with the opposition since 2002 – the finance minister deftly sought and secured the public support of the ruling party’s politburo days after returning from Lima.
This, observers have said, was meant for his external interlocutors – IMF, World Bank and AfDB – more than his internal critics.
An emboldened Chinamasa was to once again forcefully champion re-engagement at last week’s ZANU-PF annual conference, telling delegates who included Mugabe:
“We must be friends to everyone and enemies to no one.”
After all, the United Kingdom ($97,4 million), the United States ($64,5 million) and the European Union ($38,2 million) accounted for nearly 70 percent of the $287 million bi-lateral aid Zimbabwe received between January and September 2015, according to Treasury data.
Brickbats to plaudits
Chinamasa was widely considered an underwhelming choice as finance minister upon his appointment in September 2013. He came in at a time when Zimbabwe’s post-dollarisation economic bounce was in peril. Commodity prices had softened considerably amid negative sentiment about a post-power sharing ZANU-PF’s government’s management of the economy.
Chinamasa’s well earned reputation as a combative operator and his bellicose demeanor boded ill for re-engagement with Zimbabwe’s estranged former funders, the reasoning went. As justice minister, Chinamasa had actively overseen the ouster of several white judges seen as hostile to Mugabe’s government and its land seizure drive.
After the 2008 election, Chinamasa had emerged as head of ZANU-PF’s information and publicity sub-committee, a position which saw him acting as party spokesman at a time when the embattled ruling party, which had just lost its parliamentary majority and the first round of the presidential election, was at its most combative.
The former attorney general, who obtained his law degree from the University of London in 1971, has however, confounded even his staunchest critics with his assured stewardship at Treasury.
Routinely named by the opposition and the private press among hardliners in Mugabe’s party, particularly during the tempestuous four years when ZANU-PF shared power with the opposition, Chinamasa has earned a reformist tag from some of the most unlikely sources.
Influential British academic Stephen Chan has called Chinamasa a “moderate”, while The Economist branded him a “relative reformist” who needs to be encouraged to stay the course of reforms.
Chinamasa has also won over some of his early domestic critics. A member of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange committee, which had an acrimonious relationship with Chinamasa’s predecessor Tendai Biti over the bourse’s demutualisation, expressed pleasant surprise at how “even-handed and reasonable” the current Treasury chief was.
“Quite a few of us have been proved wrong. He could be one of the best finance ministers we have had, even though that does not say much given some uninspiring appointments that have been made there,” the ZSE committee member, who requested anonymity, said.
Big moves
Chinamasa is no newcomer to the finance ministry. Nor to big decisions with far-reaching consequences.
He was acting minister during the interregnum between the disputed 2008 election and the formation of the unity government in February 2009.
On January 29, 2009, Chinamasa laboured through a budget speech littered with quadrillions and quintillions of Zimbabwe dollars, ending it all with an announcement that multiple foreign currencies would now be legal tender in the country, effectively dollarizing the economy.
He also terminated price controls, which had been in effect since June 2007 and had hastened Zimbabwe’s economic spiral.
Criticism
While Chinamasa has been commended for his commitment to reforms and re-engagement drive, his 2016 national budget statement drew some considerable criticism over its allocation of funds.
Chinamasa’s allocation of almost 20 percent of the $4 billion 2016 budget to security ministries drew some condemnation from the opposition and economic analysts.
Treasury’s inability to contain government spending, especially on foreign travel remains a blemish on Chinamasa’s record.
Critics of Chinamasa and the Mugabe government insist more needs to be done to rein in government spending, root out corruption and promote foreign direct investment.
The long-promised reform of state-owned enterprises, possibly privatising most of them, remains an area of underperformance, despite Chinamasa’s repeated undertakings to act on them.
Prospects
While targeting 2.7 percent GDP growth in 2016, which he says would be anchored on mining, tourism, construction and the financial sector, Chinamasa said Zimbabwe’s long-term growth prospects hinge on efforts to re-engage the country’s traditional western funders.
In this regard, the arrears clearance programme is a crucial step.
Chinamasa hopes the successful execution of the arrears clearance strategy will pave way for a New Comprehensive Country Financing programme, supported by the World Bank, IMF and AfDB.
This new funding programme, which will entail direct developmental budget support, could also have the added spin-off of credit lines for Zimbabwe’s cash-starved private sector from the private sector lending arms of the World Bank and AfDB.
Mupostori Kills Baby while Fasting
A COWDRAY Park woman, believed to be a member of an apostolic sect, is reportedly under police investigation for starving her one-year-old daughter to death while fasting, and concealing the toddler’s decomposing body for a week inside her house.
Police sources said the suspect, Khayelihle Ndebele, was arrested on Monday following a tip-off from neighbours and was taken to hospital for medical examination.
The baby’s corpse was also taken in for post-mortem. The toddler was identified as Simangaliso Mlalazi.
According to police, the matter came to light on Monday when inquisitive neighbours, led by Agrippa Moyo (45), teamed up and peeped through a broken window at Ndebele’s house.
“They saw the mother lying on a sofa looking frail, while the child was lying beside her. Moyo then reported the matter to the police, who went to the scene and forced the door open. When she was asked about the child, she said she was sleeping,” a police source said.
During interrogation, Ndebele allegedly disclosed that she was an Apostolic sect member and that they were fasting.
Police sources said it emerged during investigations that Ndebele was dumped by her husband, who is now staying with another wife in Emganwini.
Neighbours said, three months ago, Ndebele allegedly locked herself in the house for some days with the child until the local councillor intervened and engaged the police.
Contacted for comment, provincial police pokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said she would verify the matter with her counterparts at Luveve Police Station and call back.
Baby Killed as Flat Goes On Fire
AN 11-month-old baby died from suspected smoke inhalation at Bulawayo’s Sizinda Flats while her mother is fighting for life at Mpilo Central hospital after their apartment caught fire yesterday morning.
Portia Makuva, 29, whose husband died last month, was rushed to hospital after the fire brigade crew went into the burning house and found her unconscious under a running shower with her dead child next to her.
Bulawayo chief fire officer Richard Peterson yesterday said arson or suicide could not be ruled out.
Neighbours who climbed up a balcony, broke through steel burglar bars and smashed down a door with axes and hammers, said all doors were locked.
Prince Ncube, a witness, said the incident occurred at around 10AM. Ncube said he was relaxing with friends behind Makuva’s flat when they saw smoke billowing out of her house. “We ran to her front door and saw more smoke pouring out of the house through the locked door,” said Ncube.
He said they banged on the door and called out to Makuva, who did not respond.
“We ran around and found hammers and axes and tried to break down the front door. We failed because the door had become red hot. We couldn’t bear the heat,” he said.
They then climbed up the walls onto the balcony.
“We pulled a hose pipe from next door to try and put out the fire which had spread to the balcony, which is adjacent to the bathroom,” he said.
Ncube said the searing heat from the flames was unbearable. He said he was blinded by the smoke, which made him cough as he started shouting Makuva’s name.
“We could hear the baby crying and the mother started responding. Unfortunately the doors were closed. Intense heat was coming from the inside doors which had also turned red with heat,” said Ncube.
He said when they finally opened the bathroom door, through the thick smoke, they could make out Makuva huddled under a running shower with her baby. Ncube said the heat still prevented them from advancing into the house.
He said the fire brigade arrived and took over. Ward 21 Councillor Reuben Matengu said he called the fire brigade when he heard about the fire, but they were already at the scene.
Peterson said: “We’re still to determine the cause of the fire, although we can’t rule out arson or suicide.”
He urged residents to immediately notify the fire brigade when a fire breaks out.
“A lot of damage occurs during the period when people will be deciding how to put it out. The first action to take is to phone the fire brigade, close all other doors to confine the fire in one room and then try to put it out, if possible,” he said.
The Chronicle news crew noted that the fire virtually incinerated everything in the kitchen.
Metal objects like cutlery and chairs melted.
Last Thursday two boys miraculously survived a gas canister explosion — albeit with severe burns — at their Mpopoma home in a blast that rattled windows in the suburb.
One of them is battling for life at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
Another teenager from the same suburb escaped death recently after a 20-litre petrol container that he was carrying caught fire in their house.
Peterson reminded residents to remember to put the 09 code before dialling the 71717-9 emergency numbers on their cellphones. He said residents could call 993 or 994 toll free lines if they are using landlines. chronicle
Billy Rautenbach Demands $24 million From Residents
Millionaire and President Robert Mugabe business partner Billy Rautenbach who brutally displaced Chsumbanje villagers, is demanding $24 million from Harare’s Marimba Park residents.
Rautenbach owns the area which was invaded by a pro Zanu PF housing cooperative and constructed houses for more than 1000 people.
ZimEye.com came to know about Rautenbach’s demands this week after the Harare city council wanted to demolish the settlement on allegations that it was illegal.
Saviour Kasukuwere the minister of local government had to rush to the area and stop the demolitions and ordered for the regularisation of the settlement.
Residents at the settlement said the white businessman wants $24 000 from each household.
Rautenbach in 2009 controversially take over 5,000 hectares of land in Chisumbanje and displaced t 2000 villagers without compensation.
Gumbura Strikes at Chikurubi
Jailed Pastor Robert Martin Gumbura has begun a hunger strike at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.
Gumbura and his (8) eight alleged accomplices commenced a hunger strike on Monday, ZimEye.com is reliably informed.
The nine who are being accused of attempting to violently remove President Robert Mugabe from within their prison cells, “are complaining that they are being given sadza and very little spinarch which is soiled.
“The Prisons Service is simply uprooting some spinarch plants which they then cook together with root stems so as to cover up,” the sources said.
They added saying, “the soiled spinarch also does not have any cooking oil.
“Many of the inmates are dying of Pellagra as we speak.”
The development comes as the MDC legal and parliamentary secretary, Jessie Majome opened a motion to urgently address conditions in Zimbabwe’s prisons.
On Monday, Majome presented her “Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Portfolio Committee’s report on the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs’ allocation in the 2016 National Budget. Click the link below to read the report.
She announced of the development writing and saying:
In the committee’s report we gave the following recommendations to government:
1. Disburse funds allocated expeditiously within the year it is budgeted for.
2. To increase the overall operations budgets as most funds of the Ministry are absorbed by employment costs.
3. Ensures the independence of Commissions – Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the National Prosecuting Authority is reflected in the budget, by having stand alone budgets.
4. To allocate funds to improve productivity of farms run by Prisons and Correctional Services.
Thief Rapes Woman As Husband Snores
A daring thief from Gokwe, who raped a woman while her husband was asleep by her side on their matrimonial bed, has been slammed with a 16 year jail term.
28 year Adam Maraicha, told a court he had entered the house at night to steal, but was attracted by the half- naked woman on the bed.
After raping the woman, he left the bedroom and entered the couple’s kitchen where he stole a 10kg bag of mealie-meal then tried to escape into the near by bush.
Maraicha from Muwani Village under Chief Nemangwe in Gokwe appeared before Gokwe- Kwekwe Regional Magistrate Amos Mbobo facing one count of rape and another of unlawful entry and theft.
He pleaded guilty.
“I broke into the house to steal but the sight of the woman on the bed was too much for me to pass up,” said Maraicha.
In passing sentence Mbobo, said Maraicha was grossly disrespectful and highly immoral. “Considering you raped someone’s wife, you deserve to be punished,” he said.
“You’re sentenced to two months for unlawful entry and 16 years for rape. 12 months have been suspended on condition of good behaviour. Effectively, you will serve 15 years and two months in prison.”
Prosecuting, Mary Chapinda told the court that on September 11 this year at around 1AM, Maraicha broke into the complainant’s house in Mapfumo Village, Chief Nemangwe’s area in Gokwe.
Chapinda told the court that Maraicha broke into the complainant’s bedroom in a bid to steal money. He said Maraicha saw the complainant and his wife sleeping on their bed.
“The complainant’s wife felt someone grabbing her back and thought it was her husband. She told him to stop as it was too hot to have sex.
“The accused continued caressing her before lifting her petticoat and had sex with her while her husband was sleeping by her side. “He then sneaked out of the blankets and hid in the kitchen,” said Chapinda.
She said after the act the woman asked her husband for a towel. The husband, the court heard, questioned her why she needed it.
“The woman told him that she wanted to use the towel as they had just had sex. A heated argument ensued as her husband told her he didn’t have sexual intercourse with her,” said the prosecutor.
The court heard that the two heard their front door opening and they rushed to investigate.
“That’s when they woke up and saw a man running away towards the bush, holding a 10kg bag of mealie- meal,” said Chapinda
The couple awakened their neighbours who helped to chase after Maraicha.They found him hiding in the bush, the court heard. The neighbours took Maraicha to the police and the bag of mealie-meal was recovered.
Teacher Sexually Molests Teenager
A Chitungwiza teacher, who was conducting extra lessons, allegedly drugged his 16-year-old pupil with unknown tablets together with mbanje and Broncleer syrup before sodomising him on several occasions.
The man (22) is also alleged to have ordered the boy not to reveal the offences. Appearing before Chitungwiza regional magistrate Ms Estere Chivasa, the man denied charges of aggravated indecent assault.
He was remanded out of custody to today for trial continuation. In his defence, he told the court that he never at any given time sodomised the Form 3 pupil. “I never taught him to abuse drugs, instead he told me that he has done it before. And I did not sexually abuse him since the room we used to sleep was occupied by two other pupils that I teach,” he said.
The boy dismissed the teacher’s claims while giving evidence. “I know the accused as my former extra lessons teacher and I knew him since January this year. He used to give me some blue tablets that would make me lose control and asked me to smoke mbanje and gulp some Broncleer syrup before he sodomised me.
“When I asked him the purpose of the drugs, he would tell me that the ‘drugs’ makes me grasp quickly. He would also ask me to lie on my stomach and abused me,” he said. Prosecutor Mr Lovet Muringwa told the court that from July to November this year, the boy used to go to the man’s house for extra lessons.
While there, the teacher allegedly would force the boy to take some tablets, Broncleer and smoke mbanje before abusing him. This would happen on several times and after the abuse, the teacher allegedly gave the boy some money to silence him.
On November 26, the man allegedly insulted the boy leading to a heated argument that saw the minor reporting the abuse to his mother. The matter was reported to the police, leading to his arrest. State Media
Zimplow Holdings Shuffles Top Leadership To Fill Posts
Zimplow Holdings,a group of agro-industrial has shuffled its top leadership, and appointed Mark Hullet as its chief executive, taking over from Zondi Kumwenda who leaves the group at the end of the year. The company announced on Wednesday, ending a difficult three-year period that has seen its value dropping by nearly 90 percent.
Thomas Chataika, has also been appointed as a chartered accountant, as new board chair from November 26 following the retirement of Zivanayi ‘Zed’ Rusike, who led the company since 2010.
Zimplow said Kumwenda was leaving to pursue other business interests, in particular “ministry work.”
“The board is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark David Hullet as group Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 January 2016. Mark has extensive experience in both the agricultural and mining sectors which are the key central sectors to the group’s business,” the company said in a notice Wednesday.
Previously, Hullet was chief operating officer at TSL Limited, a listed holding company with interests in Industrial warehousing and logistics, agricultural inputs as well as tobacco exports.
Kumwenda is credited with spearheading the company’s transformation from an animal drawn agriculture equipment maker to a mechanised agricultural and mining conglomerate having joined the firm, firstly as managing director of its flagship Mealie Brand, then as chief executive of Zimplow and finally as group CE of Zimplow Holdings after the take-over of Tractive Power Holdings which it acquired from the central bank’s Finance Trust in 2012.
The TPH deal saw Zimplow become the largest distributor of high tech farming and mining equipment, supplying an array of popular brands through its subsidiaries, Barzem, Farmec, Northmec, Mealie Brand and C.T. Bolts.
Analysts said Zimplow overstretched its means to acquire total control of TPH and that its management did not foresee a slowdown in revenue growth as a result of the underperforming agricultural and construction industries along with softening mineral prices internationally. These resulted in a sharp decline in demand for heavy machinery, aggravated by the absence of asset purchase finance meant that high restructuring and finance costs plunged the group from a profitable entity to the current loss-maker.
Zimplow’s market capitalisation at the time of acquiring TPH was $25 million while that of TPH was $15 million. The group was valued at $4,71 million after trading on Wednesday, having shed 69 percent of its value since the start of the year. Its share price closed at two cents from a high of 8,5 cents.
However, group has struggled in recent times, with the firm’s loss position worsening to $1,85 million in the half-year to June compared to the $1,73 million registered over the same period last year after a poor agriculture season ate into its bottomline. Revenue in the period declined by 11 percent to $11,9 million compared to $13,3 million last year.
Early this year, its $5 million rights issue — designed to reduce its crippling short-term debt accrued from financing the group’s acquisition of Tractive Power Holdings in 2012 — had a 40,53 percent subscription, with the underwriter, Mauritian incorporated firm Sino Properties to buy the remainder.
The deal also made Sino Properties the majority shareholder in Zimplow with a 61.67 percent stake. Other major shareholders include Kencor Holdings with 15.05 percent and Stanbic Nominees with 10.12 percent. -The Source
Mnangagwa Quackers Arrested
Two Emmerson Mnangagwa male quackers are in trouble for fraud..
The men appeared in court for impersonating Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and members of the Central Intelligence Organisation, duping an unsuspecting man of $3 000.
Tarisai Rugare Chiriga (24) and Tinashe Muwandi (33) were charged with impersonation when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo. The court heard that Chiriga would call the complainant purporting to be VP Mnangagwa and demand money from him.
Allegations are that in November, Chiriga and Muwandi introduced themselves to the complainant as members of the Central intelligence Organisation. It is alleged that Chiriga started demanding money from the complainant threatening his life if he did not comply. The court heard that Chiriga then received $3 000 from the complainant.
He was arrested on December 14, when he had come to receive another $60 and some documents originated by him claiming that he was a member of the CIO were recovered. Muwandi was later arrested at his residence in Kuwadzana 1 in Harare.
Prosecutor, Ms Sharon Mashavira, told the court that the two were not proper candidates for bail. Chiriga was said to have once furnished the police with a wrong residential address and the two also have pending matters at the same court facing similar offences.
Mr Makomo deferred the matter to January when the two are expected to make a bail application.(State Media/Additional Reporting)
Zimbabweans With Visual Challenges Sidelined in HIV Programs
VOA— A baseline survey conducted by the Disability, HIV/AIDS Trust (Dhat) has shown that Zimbabweans living with visual impairments are having difficulties in accessing HIV/AIDS information.
Speaking to Studio 7, Hamida Ismail Mauto, Dhat head of operations said the failure by the visually impaired in Zimbabwe to access information in appropriate formats had left them exposed to HIV/AIDS.
“The youth are calling for information so that when they experience issues related to HIV/AIDS they quickly understand and they will know that for example if they have a lymph node under the arm what does it mean. We need to translate the pictorial into Braille.”
Mauto said Dhat has partnered with Progressio to translate available information on HIV/AIDS into appropriate formats for the visually impaired that include Braille and audio.
“The Information gets to them late. Its outdated by the time it gets to them and as Dhat we need to be able to keep abreast with the information and adapt new information as it comes and try and distribute it in a format that people with visual impairment will understand.”
Tsitsidzashe Mashingaidze, a visually impaired second year student at the University of Zimbabwe’s Social Work Department confirmed to Studio 7 that it has been difficult to access information on HIV/AIDS.
She is happy that Dhat will now be helping them in accessing current information on HIV/AIDS.
“It was not perfect that we could understand well and we are suggesting and we are being given the opportunity to say what we want to be done for us to understand much on HIV/AIDS.”
Sylvestor Zhou, who is also visually impaired, said the provision of HIV/AIDs information to the visually impaired will help them to be safe and also enable them to know how to live positively for those who get infected.
“This programme will help in widening the scope in which the visually impaired can access information. Information was coming but it was outdated and sometimes for those who are visually impaired we were lagging behind in having HIV/AIDS information.”
In Zimbabwe, usually disability and poverty are inseparable. Zimbabwe ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities where it committed itself to align its policies and laws to the dictates of the international instrument but not much is visible on the ground to show the commitment.
Crisis as National Blood Service is Hit by Blood Shortage Ahead Of Christmas
By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo|The National Blood Service Zimbabwe has been hit by a critical blood shortage as the festive season approaches.
Officials in the organisation said early this week they are in panic attempts to boost the blood bank to avert disaster during the festive season.
At festive seasons the demand for blood supplies usually increases due to a high number of accidents and the organisation is battling to boost the blood banks as the festive season approaches.
Officials in the organisation said poor storage facilities as a result of erratic electricity among other factors contributed to the critical shortage of blood across the organisation’s centres in the country .
“We call upon youths and members of the public to come and donate blood in order to boost the supply for the festive season. Currently there is great need for the ‘O’ blood group. We are therefore appealing for donations. We are trying to boost the blood supply for the festive season,” said an official.
Hundreds of people have lost their lives due to excessive bleeding after being involved in accidents.
It has also emerged prolonged power cuts have grossly affected the blood storage facilities forcing the National Blood Service to reduce the volumes of blood storage.
The situation at the organisation is a telling reminder of the state of the country’s parastatals that have been grounded as service standards deteriorate.
The National Blood Service of Zimbabwe has since embarked on desperate efforts to collect blood in and around Masvingo but the programme has proved futile raising fears there could be fatalitilies due to excessive bleeding at the festive season.
CIO Declared Not Guilty
A Central Intelligence Organisation official attached at Parliament, Walter Ngorima, who was facing two charges of abuse of office and extortion has been acquitted by a Harare regional magistrate at the close of the state case.
Regional Magistrate Mrs Fadzai Mtombeni granted the defence’s application for discharge and reprimanded the prosecution for not doing thorough investigations prior to approaching the courts.
In her ruling, Mrs Mtombeni outlined that the state failed to prove that the accused was a public official who abused his office to extort money from a Kenyan businessman Benjamin Masyuku whom he allegedly threatened with deportation.
On the second count of extortion, Mrs Mtombeni ruled that the state’s key witness Mr Timothy Waweru was unreliable as he failed to justify why the accused would demand a bribe or cause the deportation of Mr Masyuku when the businessman had valid papers to stay in the country.
BREAKING NEWS – Chicken Inn Roof Collapses, Customers Injured
Bulawayo – Bulawayo Chicken Inn building collapses on clients.
The roof of a newly renovated Chicken Inn shop at the corner of Selbourne Avenue and Fort Street in Bulawayo has collapsed severely injuring at least eight people.
Sources at the scene of the accident say that the ceiling of the Fish Inn shop inside the Chicken Inn complex gave in unexpectedly at around 7pm the evening.
The complex was early this year put through major renovations to uplift the old building to latest food chain stores standard.
Details on the cause of the freak accident are not yet available. Details will be made available as they come. More to follow as this is a developing story… PICTURES:
More to follow…
ZANU PF G40 Youths Axed
The unstoppable succession wars in Zanu PF have claimed more casualties with youths aligned to the generation 40 (G40) camp being booted out from Bulawayo province yesterday.
Just a few days after the party’s conference held in Victoria Falls where President Robert Mugabe claimed to have pacified warring factions, the Bulawayo provincial youth league passed a vote of no confidence on three of its executive members on allegations of fanning factionalism.
The three, who were immediately suspended following an emergency meeting at the Zanu PF provincial headquarters yesterday, include secretary for finance Davis Muhambi, secretary for commissariat, Boniface Mutsure, and transport and welfare secretary Maqhawe Sibanda.
The three suspended youths are said to be aligned to a Zanu PF faction of young Turks that is known as G40 and includes in its ranks the party’s political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, while those who masterminded the vote of no confidence are said to be aligned to the other faction led by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Speaking at a media briefing soon after the meeting that was attended by 26 executive members out of 39, youth league provincial chairman Khumbulani Mpofu confirmed the suspensions.
“Information obtained by the youth executive revealed that some members of the provincial youth wing executive were in possession of a petition against me as the provincial chairman and the secretary for administration, Cecilia Verenga,” Mpofu said.
“Apart from having fake (baseless) allegations, the petition accused the provincial members of various offences ranging from fanning factionalism, misconduct and bringing the name of the party into disrepute,” he said.
The youth chairman said after deliberations by the executive, it was agreed that the move by the three was meant to strengthen their hold in the provincial executive as well as further their selfish ends.
The three are also being accused of
insulting the senior leadership of the party on WhatsApp group chats, practising divisive politics and also claimed that Mutsure had failed to discharge responsibilities associated with his office.
“The executive further reaffirmed its position in the interest of the party by being wary of divisive elements that may want to bring the party into disrepute. We also unanimously agreed to support President Robert Mugabe as the sole candidate for the position of first secretary and president of Zanu PF,” Mpofu said.
Both the Mnangagwa faction and the G40 camp that are engaged in a brutal war to succeed the ailing Mugabe have not heeded their leader’s passionate plea to stop factionalism and instead have escalated their wars.
On Monday, war veterans chairperson Chris Mutsvangwa, a known supporter of Mnangagwa, was shown the door by the party’s Mashonaland West province on charges of undermining the authority of the president.
And the Daily News is reliably informed that more heads are set to roll as both camps try to assert their authority and move to position themselves for eventual takeover in the event Mugabe becomes incapacitated or leaves office.
Mutsvangwa Ouster Finalised, Sealed
The banishing of War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa from Zanu PF Mashonaland West province is a done deal as all processes were above board, party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo has said.
Mutsvangwa’s expulsion followed that of his wife, Monica, who was recently sacked from the Zanu PF women’s league on allegations of undermining the authority of the league’s secretary and First Lady Grace Mugabe recently.
But in the aftermath of the announcement of Mutsvangwa’s vote of no confidence and the subsequent recommendation for his expulsion from the party and recalling from Parliament by the provincial executive on Monday, there were groans from the Norton legislator’s sympathisers who quickly pointed to the possibility of a breach of procedure.
Mutsvangwa’s backers argue that the move by the provincial coordinating committee (PCC) to eject him could have been at variance with the Zanu PF procedures as he was not a member of the provincial executive by virtue of being a politburo member hence the PCC does not have the mandate to discipline him.
However, Khaya Moyo maintained that the province’s decision was in order and that Mugabe’s authority had not been challenged.
The ruling party information tsar said Mutsvangwa’s suspension was one of “several other cases that were outstanding and needed to be brought to finality”.
“There is no defiance of the president because all the cases of votes of no confidence had been outstanding for quite some time. It must not be seen as if the issues came about after the president’s conference speech about the need for unity. These are issues that were only waiting to be concluded and that is what is happening now,” Khaya Moyo told the Daily News yesterday.
He was also adamant that the current goings-on in the ruling party did not reflect the turmoil that the former liberation movement was going through.
“This is a mammoth party and there are bound to be misunderstandings in a party as big and democratic as ours. The party is as intact as ever.”
While Zanu PF is burning, there have been spirited efforts by the party’s top leadership to paper the cracks and it actually took Mugabe himself to admit that indeed factionalism is ravaging his party at its recently-held 15th conference in Victoria Falls.
Addressing a central committee meeting ahead of the conference that ended in the resort town last weekend, Mugabe called on party members to desist from unnecessarily resorting to vindictive ways of solving disputes.
“Fighting within the party is not ending, iwo mavotes of no confidence akadai kuuya aya ko nyaya dzacho hadzitauriranwe here? Asi kana munhu adzidziswa ngaanzwisise, kana achida kutora gwara rake iye oga anosungirwa kurangwazve asi munhu anomboyambirwa.(The issue of votes of no confidence that have become so fashionable, can’t you resolve your differences amicably,” Mugabe lamented.
Among a litany of charges being preferred against Mutsvangwa are but not limited to, insulting the First Family, gross misconduct, disloyalty and treachery.
But there are some top Zanu PF officials who are fighting in Mutsvangwa’s corner — who is linked to beleaguered Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction.
For instance Peter Chanetsa, a member of the Mashonaland West provincial executive told the State media that Zanu PF was infested with “crooks” hell-bent on elbowing out senior members “for self-enrichment”.
“Mutsvangwa is not a member of the Mashonaland West provincial executive. He is a politburo member and a minister appointed by the president.
“If you say you are passing a vote of no confidence in such a person you are literally passing a vote of no confidence in the president who appointed him,” Chanetsa said.
Teacher Beats Up, Fractures Pupil’s Hand in Protest against Mugabe
By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo|A teacher at Runyararo Primary School in Chivhu bashed a grade six pupil and fractured her hand protesting against poor working conditions and the tutor reportedly voiced out President Robert Mugabes name during the furor.
The teacher identified as Jaquiline Shonhiwa assaulted the child with a long stick all over her body. After the assault the pupil sustained a swollen hand and her guardians brought her to schools on the following day. She was taken to a private hospital where a plaster was placed on her fractured hand.
The incident happened early this month a few days before the closing date (of schools).
According to reports from the school Shonhiwa told the pupil she was beating her in protest against bad governance by the Mugabe regime.
“Shonhiwa told the child the Mugabe administration must address the economic challenges in the country but I think it is a bit unfair to vent our anger on innocent children,” said another teacher at the school.
Although police in Chivhu said they had not received such a report, Chikomba District Education Officer, Ngoni Mujuru said the matter was under probe.
“There is a team looking into the matter but we are yet to get the finer details ,” said an evasive Mujuru.
Educationists expressed fear the failure by the government to pay civil servants’ bonuses could compromise the education standards as frustration creeps into the crucial education sector.
There are also indications that teachers are likely to compromise service provision and parents now fear their children would be affected in the process. The government has all but failed to pay civil servants’ bonuses and even the uniformed forces usually preferred ahead of other government workers are yet to get their bonuses .
Ministers Ignorant Of The Existence Of Human Rights Body
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission says government officials are not aware of “our” existence to the extent of denying them access to public institutions which they would have approached with the intention of instituting an investigation of alleged human rights abuses.
ZHRC deputy chair Dr Ellen Sithole at the commemorations of the International Human Rights day in Harare recently said they because of that they are being treated like NGOs.
“One of the things happening is that people get to know about us in the context of complains. when we went to Chingwizi for example after the displacements to investigate,the former Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister ( Kudakwashe Basikiti) thought we were an NGO , when were communicating on the phone saying we were coming there he said “you NGOs we do not want to have anything with you” , until we said to him look we are not an NGO, we are a state institution ,constitutional commission which was established by the constitution ,”she said.
“Went we went there we literally brought the section of the constitution and said look here this is the section that creates us and he said ahhh..
“So if people at that level do not know about what the constitution says about the commissions and the duty of the ZHRC what about the ordinary people?”
The Zanu PF government suspects NGOs of working with the opposition MDC which it says has a regime change agenda.
NGOs when they carry out their humanitarian and civic education mandate in rural areas they are strictly monitored by the state.
During election times Zanu PF bans their operations in selected areas.
In her ongoing “meet the people” rallies she is carrying out throughout the country the first lady Grace Mugabe who is the Zanu Pf secretary for women’s league is warning people against entertaining.
Government Blocks NGOs From Engaging Communities
Government is demanding “memorandum of understandings” signed between civic society organisations and communities when NGOs want to conduct civic education, Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust has complained.
ZIMCET executive director Gladys Hlatshwayo told delegates commemorating World Human Rights Day recently in Harare that this was hindering their constitutional mandate of educating citizens on their rights.
“When we try to get into communities to have conversations with citizens we are then told that we are supposed to have things like memorandum of understanding for us to access those communities,” she said.
She added:“But we think the constitution is very clear in terms of giving us that mandate when it comes to spreading that information and imparting knowledge around the constitution to the people”.
“We still have undemocratic laws that curtail freedoms that are provided for by the constitution specifically association, we are still required to apply to the police to hold meetings and sometimes we are not given those clearances and this is hindering us from entering certain communities”.
The police continue to use the old Public Order and Security Act POSA to bar civil society organisations from holding public meetings.
Under these laws organisations intending to hold public meetings are required to write to the police seeking for permission to mobilise and hold such community gatherings.
In a number of cases the police have cited human resource constraints when denying Non Governmental Organisations permission to hold public meetings.
Top Officials Fingered in Poaching
Highly-placed people, staff in rural district councils and safari operators are involved in poaching, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri was speaking after receiving from China vehicles, a helicopter, a drone and an assortment of equipment worth $2 million for anti-poaching. The equipment was received at a colourful event at Hwange National Park last Friday.
She said: “As we frantically try to protect our wildlife from organised gangs internally and externally, we are now confronted with increased illegal activity by our own people and organisations that connive to undermine Zimbabwean laws, international laws and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations.
“We are aware that an increasing number of highly placed people, our rangers, safari operators, professional hunters, land owners, some rural district councils as well as some communities are involved in poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
“These culprits are also to blame for the few resources that are accruing to communities under the CAMPFIRE programme through their quest for shameful profits and gain.” The equipment came hardly two weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Zimbabwe where he, together with President Mugabe, witnessed the signing of a number of economic recovery deals.
The helicopter and the drone would give new impetus to Zimbabwe’s anti-poaching drive as they would provide a wider physical and technical coverage to Hwange National Park, which at 14 700 square km, is almost the size of Belgium. Chinese ambassador Mr Huang Ping handed over part of the equipment.
The consignment, which includes off-road trucks, back-up parts, solar chargers, uniforms, sleeping bags, a helicopter and a drone, was sourced through the Sino-Zimbabwe Wildlife Foundation, a hybrid non-governmental organisation formed between National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe and Chinese well-wishers.
Sino-Zimbabwe Wildlife Foundation has announced a $500 000 funding for national parks for 2016. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri expressed gratitude to chiefs and communities for the pivotal role they are playing in reporting cases of poaching and helping to ensure criminals are brought to book.
She said the donation had come at the right time when Government was working on strengthening wildlife protection and conservation in the country’s two major parks – Hwange and Mana Pools.
“The procurement of these items would not have come at a better time than this one considering that both Government and players in the wildlife sector are confronted with a myriad of challenges which need to be addressed urgently, said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
“Our conservation efforts are under threat from increased poaching, illegal trade, international restrictions and reduced community benefits from wildlife. These challenges have been exacerbated by our limitation as Government to adequately monitor and enforce wildlife regulations due to limited resources and manpower.”
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Government had since embarked on the implementation of short-term plans in stamping out the rampant poaching activities and addressing the critical issues at CAMPFIRE.
Mr Huang said his country was committed to combating poaching and enhancing conservation efforts. “Wildlife is important to all of us,” he said. “I hope this equipment will go a long way in helping to conserve wildlife in Zimbabwe. Wildlife is an important part of the living things and natural ecological systems on earth.
“By donating this equipment, China is expressing its goodwill to co-operate with our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters to ensure the survival and prosperity of wildlife here.” State Media
New Road Traffic Regulations
MOTORISTS who drive vehicles without a spare wheel, reflective triangles and a fire extinguisher risk going to jail as the government tightens traffic regulations to reduce carnage on the roads.
It is now an offence for any motor vehicle to be fitted with more than two spot lights. Those who flout the regulations, if convicted are liable to a fine or imprisonment.
The regulations were made by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joram Gumbo, in terms of section 81 of the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 13:11) and they came into operation on December 14, 2015.
According to the new Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use) Regulations, 2015 outlined in Statutory Instrument 129 of 2015, it is now an offence for any motor vehicle to have more than two spot lights fitted on it while it is mandatory for motorists to carry a spare wheel, reflective triangles, tools kit and a fire extinguisher.
The government said any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two spot lights and they shall be fitted at a height lower than that of the head lamps and shall be focused as to avoid dazzling the vision of the driver of an oncoming vehicle on a level road.
“No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any road if the vehicle is fitted with more than two spot lights,” reads part of the regulations.
“It’s also an offence to use the spot lights to interfere with the vision of any person on the road and to use them in such a manner as to cause annoyance to any person, whether on a road or not.”
A spot light fitted to a motor vehicle and used solely for the purposes of hunting, searching and night repair work maybe fitted above the lamps and shall be mounted in such a manner that they are easily detachable when not in use, according to the regulations.
All vehicles are required to have a spare wheel, fire extinguisher and tools and failure to comply would attract a pernalty.
“No person shall drive a motor vehicle, other than a motor cycle on any road unless the vehicle is equipped with a serviceable spare wheel; and an efficient jack; and a wheel-brace or wheel-spanner capable of undoing the vehicle’s wheel-nuts; and in the case of a light motor vehicle, a serviceable fire extinguisher weighing a minimum of zero comma seven five kilogrammes (0.75kg); or a heavy vehicle, a serviceable fire extinguisher weighing a minimum of one comma five kilogrammes (1.5kg),” reads the regulations.
The fire extinguishers should also be of a type and make approved by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe or any other International Standards Authority, which approval shall be visibly marked on the fire extinguisher.
It should also be secured at an easily accessible and visible position within the cab of a vehicle.
Public service vehicles shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher or fire extinguishers as provided for in the Public Service Vehicle Regulations.
According to the regulations, this does not apply to motor vehicles bearing foreign registration number plates that are in transit or on a temporary entry permit.
“Any person who contravenes some of the sections of the regulations commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding level five, or to a period or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both such a fine and imprisonment.”
Kasukuwere: Open letter to the ZANU PF Commissar
Mkoma Tyson you are a young result oriented politician who believes in the empowerment of Zimbabweans and consolidating the people’s power.
I write this open letter to you because the worker in Zimbabwe has lost his dignity. Yes ZANU PF has brought about significant changes that are different from how the employee was treated by the settler regime such as the notorious Masters and Servants Act.
The worker is an important part of Zimbabwe , and when the worker has the right political ideology and intra-structure they are able to make meaningful contribution to the economy.
May I put it to you that ZANU PF needs to regain this constituency that has been lost to the MDC .
Only ZANU PF can ensure that those who are employed have better conditions , better wages and are better organised to fight for their rights. ZANU PF needs to engage the worker as much as the party has engaged War Veterans . The party needs the workers , and the workers need the party.
The worker can have his rights recognised by law, the worker can have the deficiencies that exist in the legal regime rectified through lobbying from within ZANU PF.
Since independence the party ZANU PF had made the worker the centrepiece of it policies in its struggle to establish a socialist society. The party at one point was determined to ensure that the worker was accorded his rightful place in order for him to fulfill his historic role in the building of a better Zimbabwe.
ZANU PF needs to be conscious of the fact that the worker is the social manifestation of labour, the party needs to embark on a decissive course to mobilise the working class, while improving the material , social and legal conditions of the worker.
As the commissar I put it to you that ZANU PF needs to win back the worker’s vote and ZANU PF needs to have the worker placed on the same pedestal as the war veterans.
ZCTU and all the labour movements need to come back home to ZANU PF and I put this as a challenge to you Hon. Cde. Kasukuwere and your department.
-Anonymous
Inflation rises to -2.46pct
Zimbabwe’s year on year inflation gained 0.83 percentage points to -2.46 percent in November, the national statistics agency reported on Tuesday.
On a monthly basis, the inflation rate gained 0.45 percentage points to 0.16 percent from the October rate of -0.29percent, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) said.-Source
Grace Hit as Mugabe, Mnangagwa Strike Secret Pact – CIO
By Tinoonga Mawere-Masvingo|President Robert Mugabe and Vice Emmerson Mnangagwa have struck a power exchange covenant that will see the nonegenarian hand over power to his second in command, intelligence sources say in the latest development on the current burning matter.
Intelligence sources at Benjamin Burombo Building here yesterday said Mugabe would hand over power to Mnangagwa soon after the 2018 polls.
The latest revelations are likely to further complicate the Zanu PF succession matrix with Grace Mugabe positioning herself to take over from her husband.
The revelations come at a time Mugabe was determined to axe all Mnangagwa allies
However the intelligence sources claimed the contrary.
“President Mugabe will hand over power to Mnangagwa because he is the only man who has the guts to stand up and challenge the western countries. He is a hardliner so he is the right person to replace the president. More importantly Mnangagwa has vowed to protect the Gushungo empire so that is the real thing. Whatever is happening is just political mud -slinging .The two have been together for a long time so the president trusts Mnangagwa. Of course there might be other issues but the president will not hand over power to anyone else besides Mnangagwa ,” claimed the sources.
The Zanu PF power game has left the entire nation guessing -with indications Mugabe himself has ordered the total annihilation of the Mnangagwa camp. Political analysts here interpreted the development saying Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo has remained untouchable because he is the architect of that secret power pact.
Diaspora Boost Mugabe with Cash Remittances
Diaspora remittances to Zimbabwe have increased by almost 100 percent for the 11 months starting January this season compared with last year.
During the first 11 months of 2014, Zimbabwe received $540 million in diaspora remittances but the figure has risen to $966 million during the same period this year.
The inflows have surpassed the value of FDI inflows averaging $600 million.
Remittances from millions of Zimbabweans abroad are becoming a key source of income for the economy.
Data from treasury indicates a rise in Diaspora contributions to $966 million in the past 11 months against $566 million worth of FDIs since January.
National Economic Consultative Forum executive secretary Norman Chakanetsa says diaspora income is also critical in solving liquidity challenges.
“We are likely to foresee a lot in terms of these investments which indeed are critical in sustaining the needs of this economy,” said Chakanetsa.
A business analyst Cephas Mawushe says government should focus on policies to increase investment.
“What we now need is a platform to boost investment which is key to job creation,” Mawushe said.
Zimbabwe is this year targeting US$1 billion income inflows from locals working abroad, a figure that now appears feasible considering the coming festive period
Mujuru Arsenal Coalition to Remove Mugabe, Grace
Francis Mufambi| As we approach the make or break watershed plebiscite in 2018, it is unequivocal and has become essentially unavoidable to debate at length the structure, form and modus operandi that can be crafted to take Zimbabwe foward. Ab initio, a number of questions need to be answered and addressed as to how a coalition can function in Zimbabwe.
Historically, the only successful coalition that worked in Zimbabwe was the pre-Independence Patriotic Front that was cunningly used by Robert Mugabe to strengthen himself against the coalition partners. The other electoral coalitions/alliances that took place failed to make any impact for instance the MDC-N/ ZAPU coalition of 2013, The MDCT/ MAVAMBO coalition of 2013 . The question therefore arises; how should a working coalition be knitted in a fractitious and polarised nation like Zimbabwe?
It is common sense to those of a sound mind that Zanu PF is now an enemy of the People, all reasonable people. But not only that, it is also an enemy of itself and its hoodwinked and hostage held people.
The following therefore should be dissected if any unity of purpose is to be achieved in Zimbabwe as a benchmark to complete Zimbabwe’s change.
1. National Legitimacy of the Coalition:
The sad episodes of the Mugabe reign which include the Gukurahundi era have committed a cardinal sin to Zimbabwe’s major tribes where mistrust and tribal hatred form the centre of Zimbabwe’s current ills. National legitimacy therefore refers to the acceptability of an institution from all geographical corners of the country. In this vein all national tribes should have confidence and trust in a coalition with a clear eraser of tribal political dealings. 2013 watershed elections presented a millenium of tribal coalitions and was more of a tribal competition indeed. Dumiso Dabengwa and his Zapu coalesced with Welshman Ncube a fellow Ndebele, Morgan Tsvangirai who is a Manyika coalesced with Simba Makoni a Manyika hence Zanu pf who had a clear fusion of all tribes dominated the election. In this it should be noted that national legitimacy and acceptability of a coalition by all and sundry will yield better results
2. Identification of Basic tenets of Zim Political Culture:
A study and understanding of the Zimbabwean electoral voting patterns is of enormous importance. In this lighthearted vein, Zimbabwean voters respect the liberation war and those who participated in it. It is for the same reason that Zanu PF has been manipulating this understanding. The opposition for a long time trailed on the liberation war and revolutionary credentials which relegated their chances to make notable changes to the political landscape. A successful coalition should have undoubted credentials of respecting and upholding the ideals of the protracted struggles for emancipation, independence, self determination and African liberation from as far back as Mbuya Nehanda and Lobengula. It should be a coalition bent on realisation of the liberation goals and the equality of all humans under the sun.
Because the only tangible right that a ‘born free’ Zimbabwean benefitted from the current regime is nothing more than the fact the we are able to vote. In this vein, a new political methodology that will see mental decolonisation, unshackling of abusive patronage systems for the achievement of broad economic freedom and all the intentions of our broad bill of rights will resonate with the 21st generation who are ideas driven and seduced by real and tangible delivery on jobs and social services.
3. Composition of the Coalition:
Only a coalition based on an unequivocal and clear template is likely to succeed. Shared world views and fair assessment of support minus inflated egos is a must. Just OWNING or being a president of a political party can’t be a legitimate qualification for coalition participation. Parties must meet on the basis of the common interest and agenda of national change and not only to get rid of Zanu PF. An agreement on the issues and how they are to be tackled must be made lest Zanu PF means will be used to address national challenges and as such the coalition will only be a hybrid of the Zanu cancer.
All parties must agree to a national selection programme of candidates. A primary election of candidates especially for the presidential candidates is a must and this will give the citizen the power to say who they want to coalesce around and thus clearly show the candidate preferences and allow for energies to be channelled in one direction and expended in the battle of the opposition against itself.
Zimbabwean politicians need to know that democratic legitimacy should be set as a minimum linchpin of the DOs and DONTs.
Democratic legitimacy being a system where an agreed democratic template is put in place and all anti democratic dealings rejected. The fact that out of a population of 13-15 million only 3 million at maximum vote is a cause of concern. Why is citizen participation in electoral systems so low? A coalition should put in place strategies and mechanism that will give obligation to every citizen to participate.
The perennial rejection of scientific research and evaluation of party attractiveness and electoral impact has must be discarded. For any coalition to reflect the will of the people and therefore have a chance of success it must not only pay close attention to scientific research but actively invite scientific scrutiny and interrogation as a political decision making tool.
It is only an honest non ego driven and fair assessment of the political image in the mirror that will allow the best people driven coalition to form and drive change successfully.
Francis Mufambi is a Political Science and Legal scholar writing in his own capacity. He can be contacted at [email protected]
Horror as Six Miners Trapped, Feared Dead
At least six people are feared dead after they were trapped in two mine shafts at Pixton Mine near Chegutu.
The accident occurred on Friday when mine owners ordered that the shafts be filled up by soil and rocks to deter illegal panners.
Unbeknown to the mine owners, six panners were working underground when the excavator filled up the mine shafts with boulders and heaps of earth.
One of the panners Peter Mawoko told the State Media that he left three people underneath the mine when the exercise to fill up the shafts had already started.
He says he has not seen his colleagues since then.
Other panners say three other illegal miners are also feared to be trapped in the other shaft as they are also missing.
An excavator is expected at the site of the accident this Tuesday to try and retrieve the six panners.
Officials from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and representatives of Pixton Mine are also at the site of the mishap. – State Media
Shocking STIs Hit Chiredzi
Chiredzi district has recorded 6311 in four months move which is likely to erode efforts by government to reduce new HIV infections.
HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections are closely related and there is a high risk of one to get HIV if he is infected with STIs.
According to Masvingo provincial National AIDS Council coordinator Evos Makoni for the third ( 3rd ) quarter of this year, the district ( Chiredzi) recorded 6 311 cases of STIs being the highest ever.
He attributed the ballooning number of STIs to the ailing economy which has not spared sugar milling companies in Chiredzi.
“We have realized that Chiredzi used to come second to Masvingo rural. But this year it has been shooting higher and it has the highest figures,”he said.
“What we have also analysed is that the economic trend we have in Chiredzi means they have more disposable income.”
He said Chiredzi town has the highest new STIs as compared to those recorded in rural Chiredzi.
In terms of health care centres Makni said Chiredzi hospital has the highest number of new infections followed by Tshovani Poly Clinic, Hippo Valley Medical Centre and Collin Saunders Hospital.
Zaka district which was previously the highest area in Masvingo with new STIs according to Makoni this time has the least number of cases having recorded 3 564 cases by the third quarter this year.
‘Grace Called to Rescue Fired Workers’
Nine workers fired by the Zimbabwe Pharmaceutical (ZimPharm) company following the Supreme Court’s landmark labour ruling in July this year, have appealed to the Labour ministry and First Lady Grace Mugabe, to intervene and help them get their severance packages.
The affected workers said after their contracts were terminated, management at the firm located in Bulawayo pledged to pay them terminal benefits, but had become evasive.
“We even checked for our pensions with the MINERVA Benefits Consulting, a pensions company, and we were told that the company was not remitting our pensions to the scheme,” one former employee said.
“We appeal to the Ministry of Labour and the First Lady [Grace Mugabe] to assist us get our packages because our families are struggling to survive now.”
But company general manager Tavengwa Mukhuhlane yesterday accused the former workers of stealing records of their case from the Registry of High Court.
He also said the retrenchees had fraudulently obtained a writ of execution to attach company property worth $90 000, which has been halted through the courts. He said the company had since lodged a complaint with the High Court Registry and filed a criminal report with the police against the former workers.
“We bought the company from MedTech. When we took over in 2013, many workers, including these fired ones, were on leave. MedTech had offered packages to some and they refused to sign the retrenchments,” Mukhuhlane said.
“These guys had previous issues with MedTech in court. MedTech paid them.”
Mukhuhlane said the workers later demanded to be paid for leave days they had accrued at MedTech, but the company argued that there was no paperwork detailing their status.
“We said MedTech should take its liability. They took the matter to the arbitrator, who later awarded them. We appealed against the award and later came the Supreme Court ruling of July 17. We released 10 workers. We paid their three months’ salaries and they are stranded because they are no longer getting any money.”
He said they were contesting their dismissal in the court, yet at the same time they wanted to be paid packages.
“How do we pay them packages when they are challenging their dismissal in court? Otherwise, if they did not challenge dismissal, we could have finished paying them,” Mukhuhlane said.
“On the issue of pensions, MedTech did not surrender pension’s funds to us through Fidelity Pensions scheme. We are trying to get those funds back, so that we re-instate their pensions. We have established our own pension company, MINERVA.”
He said the company was operating at 40% capacity and could not employ many people, that was why it offloaded the 10.
“If they need our help, they should come to us and talk. We have no evil intentions against them,” he said.
The former employees claimed to be owed packages ranging between $4 000 and $9 000 each.
Mugabe Now An Enemy in ZANU PF – Mliswa
Former Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairman Temba Mliswa has said President Robert Mugabe has become his party’s common enemy, as warring factions jostle to succeed him.
In an interview with the Daily News yesterday, Mliswa said that Mugabe was becoming unpopular within his party by blasting war veterans and turning a blind eye on corruption.
“Whilst people have been suspended, the enemy now really is Mr President. He plays divide and rule vakuru vanoruma vachifuridzira,” Mliswa said.
“He was clear in castigating war veterans but did nothing to reprimand (party political commissar Saviour) Kasukuwere and his wife for lambasting the war veterans. It’s pretty clear Mugabe is happy with the prevailing situation.”
He said that Mugabe’s castigation of the security sector was hypocritical.
The combative former Hurungwe West MP said, it was clear that Mugabe was parroting Grace’s actions.
“This game is now being played in the bedroom (of the State House). Whilst it is pushing Mnangagwa away, it is actually playing into the hands of (MDC leader) Morgan Tsvangirai,” Mliswa said.
He said Mugabe has only empowered the opposition by dividing his party through reckless statements that savaged war veterans.
“He is against the war veterans, he is also equally pushing away Mnangagwa. He went on to blast war veterans leader (Christopher) Mutsvangwa for petty issues.
“This is the time for war veterans to come together. This is the time they must unite. What happened to Mujuru is what is happening to Mnangagwa,” the former football fitness trainer said.
Mliswa added that the new resolutions put together at the conference that ended on Saturday in Victoria Falls were insignificant.
“It certainly goes to show that Zanu PF is good at putting statements on paper together but not implementing
anything,” he said.
“During the previous conference, we went through a lot, what did we implement? Nothing, and they now go on to put new resolutions.”
Mliswa said the Zanu PF conference had only served to show that Mugabe was content with keeping “his praise and worship choir” together whilst rewarding the “loudest.”
He said Mugabe had spoken about corruption over the years but has never taken action.
“… no one has been brought to book. It’s not the first time Mugabe has been told about the corrupt individuals who surround him but no one has ever been arrested,” he said.
He added: “(Former South Africa president) Thabo Mbeki had named some of the ministers that had received kick-backs but nothing was done…..For me he is not able to bring change in this country.
“Kasukuwere has built a majestic house in this harsh economic environment but no one has stood to ask how?”
He said that the Zanu PF party had effectively split into three camps — the G40, Emmerson Mnangagwa and Joice Mujuru.
“At this stage, whether we want to accept it or not, Morgan Tsvangirai holds the bigger end of the stick if we are to go to elections, he has the support. Mujuru and Mnangagwa need to merge into one,” he said.-DailyNews
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Jacob Zuma Recall Stalled
There were efforts to humiliate South’s Africa President Jacob Zuma today via a recall from office.
A press conference previously scheduled for 11am was pushed two hours further away amid a confusion of voices with thousands calling for his head. Zuma however finally came out unscathed as the party announced their unwavering support for him despite the “leadership dent” widely publicised across the country. The party came up with the below statement:
STATEMENT OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS ON OUTCOMES OF NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON THE 14TH DECEMBER 2015
15 December 2015
The African National Congress held an extended National Working Committee (NWC) meeting yesterday, 14 December 2015. The meeting was attended by the members of the NWC and available NEC members, National Officials of the Leagues and the Chairpersons and Secretaries of ANC Provincial Structures. The meeting was called to assess the organisation’s state of readiness for the 104th Anniversary celebrations to be held in Rustenburg on the 9th January 2016. It was further intended to receive a report from the National Officials on matters relating to the appointment of the Minister of Finance by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Comrade Jacob Zuma.
The NWC has satisfied itself, from the detailed report received, that preparations for the January 8 celebrations are at an advanced stage. We are confident of a successful rally that will outline the tasks for the organisation in the year ahead.
The National Officials briefed the meeting of the interactions they had led with various stakeholders, including amongst them the Alliance partners (SACP, COSATU and SANCO), business, organised labour and civil society formations, on the appointment of the Minister of Finance following the reshuffle and expected redeployed of Comrade Nhlanhla Nene. These engagements were precipitated by the expressed public concern, which followed the redeployment of Cde Nene and the appointment of Cde Des Van Rooyen as Finance Minister.
As has now become common knowledge, the President of the Republic has reconsidered his decision and appointed a seasoned and experienced leader, Comrade Pravin Gordhan as Minister of Finance. The President’s willingness to change an earlier deployment in the face of our sluggish economic climate and representations from role-players demonstrated bold leadership; bringing certainty and assurance in the finance portfolio. The thorough engagement that was held with the various stakeholders and the ability of the leadership to review their positions in the face of legitimate concerns of our people are the hallmarks of a listening, responsive and accountable organisation. Such open, frank and productive engagement has been characteristic of the ANC and the Government under the leadership of Comrade Jacob Zuma.
The policy of the African National Congress is one of ensuring sound fiscal management and we will adhere to our position of good governance being non-negotiable. Deployees in government and the state owned enterprises must understand the sacrosanct nature of stringent management of resources. The ANC supports Comrade Pravin Gordhan’s view that the decisions taken by Comrade Nhlanhla Nene, during his tenure as Minister of Finance, in relation to the state owned enterprises and other expenditure remain in force. We reaffirm our commitment to redoubling of efforts to enhance transparency, fight corruption and strengthen the resilience of our economy. Given the prevailing economic climate, we appreciate the sentiment expressed by the Minister of Finance that there will be no reduction of spending on pro-poor programmes. We further accept that there shall be no additional expenditure unless there is additional revenue which is sourced.
The extended National Working Committee has accepted the report of the National Officials. The NWC has further committed itself to work even harder towards the realisation of a social compact with all social partners and spare no effort in building a growing and inclusive economy that creates jobs for our people.
We call on all South Africans and other role players to give the necessary support to Minister Pravin Gordhan in the challenges he faces and the daunting task of restoring public and investor confidence.
Issued by
Jessie Duarte
Deputy Secretary General
African National Congress
Enquiries
Zizi Kodwa
Kunonga Fires Own Bishop
EX-COMMUNICATED Anglican Church leader Nolbert Kunonga has fired his former ally Bishop Elson Jakazi for alleged misconduct.
Jakazi became a Bishop in Kunonga’s Evangelical Anglican Church International (EACI)’s Mutare Diocese after they were both fired from the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) in 2012, following a protracted five-year legal battle over control of church properties.
Last month, he was suspended from Kunonga’s EACI for committing various acts of misconduct, before the church’s national court defrocked him.
Some of the charges include contravening the church’s constitution, general neglect of duties after admonition by a legally constituted body and exercising veto powers on resolutions of the national council.
The church’s national court, presided over by Phillip Bonde, set in Mutare last week, found Jakazi guilty of committing various acts of misconduct, which were corroborated by 11 witnesses.
In passing judgment, Bonde said: “After a careful consideration of all the evidence presented before the court, members unanimously agreed that Bishop Elson Madoda Jakazi had committed the acts of misconduct. Thus, he is found guilty as charged on all the offences.”
“Therefore, Bishop Elson Madoda Jakazi is removed from office as Bishop of the Evangelical Anglican Church International with immediate effect.”
Jakazi was barred from exercising any authority as a bishop of EACI or masquerading as one at any time.
He was also barred from addressing, preaching or interfering with the affairs and activities of any EACI assemblies with immediate effect.
“He is ordered to surrender any assets, property and documents that belong to the church and immediately vacate the office at No 29 2nd Street, Mutare, and hand over the keys to the administrator.”
Jakazi was found guilty of seeking to block and later boycotting the church’s national conference, held on October 30 and 31, 2015.
He was also convicted for interfering with decisions of various church commissions, culminating in their failure to properly carry out their responsibilities.
Pastor Arrested Over Mugabe
In a fresh crackdown against dissent, the President Robert Mugabe administration has arrested a 45 year-old clergyman during the just ended Zanu PF National People’s Conference for allegedly staging a demonstration against Mugabe’s 35 year-old reign which has destroyed the country’s economy.
Pastor Patrick Phillip Mugadza was arrested and charged with criminal nuisance in contravention of Section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 after he allegedly staged a demonstration in the resort town protesting against the manner in which the ZANU PF party leader has presided over the affairs of the country.
According to the state Mugadza, who resides in Kariba in Mashonaland West province, disturbed the movement of some ZANU PF party supporters who were on their way to attend the ruling party’s annual Conference by waving a banner with a message denouncing President Mugabe.
The state further alleges that Mugadza, a Pastor with the Remnant Church, committed criminal nuisance by waving a banner in the resort town, which read “Mr President. The people are suffering. Proverbs Chapter 21 Verse 13”.
The state charged that Mugadza by so doing committed a crime.
The Pastor appeared at Victoria Falls Magistrates Court at the weekend and was briefly freed on summons, and ordered to return to court on Monday.
On Monday he was remanded in custody to Tuesday pending judgement by Magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa on his application for refusal of placement on remand.
Magadza who is being represented by y his lawyer Thulani Nkala of Dube and Company Legal Practitioners, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, says he was exercising his constitutional right as guaranteed under Section 59 of the new Constitution which provides for “freedom to demonstrate and petition” when he was demonstrating against Mugabe.
Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Overwhelmed by Complaints
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission says they have over 500 complaints coming from the public which they are struggling to deal with because of human and financial resource constraints.
“We have a file of more than 500 cases with a staff of in terms of officers who are actually doing investigations only 18 and of those 18 they are not all in complaints investigation,” Dr Ellen Sithole told delegates commemorating the International Human Rights day recently at an event which was organised by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights held under the theme “Is Zimbabwe following its own constitution” in Harare.
The ZHRC continues to experience an exodus of commissioners who are leaving the body for greener pastures because of poor conditions of service.
Recently the body announced that it was operating with 36 officers out of the initial and required 120 members.
Dr Sithole said they are being overwhelmed by the complaints they receiving adding that they have resorted to neglect some of their obligations.
“We will be monitoring prisons and other places of detention we have also the education and promotion mandate,” she said.
“We are also geographically limited as we are only in Harare and Bulawayo so for someone coming from way back and beyond will have a challenge first of all to know about us and then to come to Harare to lodge a complaint.”
Despite being understaffed and underfunded the Elasto Mugwadi led ZHRC this year investigated a number of human rights violations and presented their findings to government.
Notable cases they brought before Parliament and the Zimbabwe Republic Police for further action include, the Chingwizi flood victims displacements, the Missing Itai Dzamara case, and the Hurungwe West house of assembly by-elections political violence.
Granny Sells GrandDaughter for $500
A visually impaired granny, 72, from Jotsholo in Matabeleland North sold her teenage granddaughter into marriage with a man, 74, for $500.
Saliwe Ncube of Mateteni Village allegedly threatened to chase her orphaned granddaughter, 17, from home if she refused to marry William Ncube from the same village.
She allegedly demanded $1,000 and a cow but William, the court heard, paid $500 and was given the girl.
The teenager, who is Ncube’s maternal granddaughter, dropped out of school as she could not pay fees.
Ncube was charged with pledging a female person when she appeared before Lupane resident magistrate Ndumo Masuku yesterday.
Masuku convicted Ncube on her own plea of guilty and sentenced her to 12 months in jail, which she wholly suspended on condition she does not commit a similar crime within five years.
The magistrate said he considered that Ncube was an elderly person who had also lost eyesight.
Masuku said cases of guardians who are in the habit of giving away orphaned children for marriage in a bid to raise money or to avoid responsibility were now common. “The issue of viewing orphans as commodities of trade should stop. With all things being equal you were supposed to go to jail. However, you’re admitting to the charges, you’re of old age and your sight is impaired and for that I will give you a suspended sentence,” said the magistrate.
The Constitution protects adults above the age of 70 from custodial sentences.
Ncube begged the court for leniency.
“I know I was wrong and I’m sorry for that. As an elderly person, I thought I was helping my granddaughter out by getting her a husband. I didn’t know that it was illegal. I won’t do it again,” she said.
Prosecuting, Sanders Sibanda said the incident occurred sometime in August this year.
“William Ncube approached the accused and asked her to give him her granddaughter as a wife. The accused asked a neighbour to be a go-between for lobola negotiations upon which Ncube was paid $500 after charging $1,000 and a cow,” the prosecutor said.
The court was told that Ncube teamed up with another villager to threaten the girl into agreeing to marry the old man.
Out of fear the girl went to stay with the man but ran away after five days, the court heard. She went to stay with a villager who assisted her to make a report to the police, leading to her grandmother’s arrest.
Prosecutors said police in Lupane were still investigating if the old man raped the girl during their brief “marriage.”
Farai & The Forest Dawn release new single – Georgeous!
By Chofamba Sithole| Arts Correspondent| UK based Indie/Pop Rock four-piece Farai & The Forest Dawn have released their new single, Beautiful .
Recorded at SmokeHouse Recording Studios in London with Jonathan Miller,Beautiful is the
first single off their new EP Beauitfully Learnt scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2016.
The band who formed two years ago,include guitarist and lead vocalist Farai Muvuti, guitarist Ailsa Shaw, keyboardist Jonathan Morris and drummer, Tino Dube.
Bandleader, Muvuti, said making the single Beautiful was a long but rewarding process and that the song grew substantially from the inital writing stages.
“We released our first studio single, All I Had in January this year and had a great response,so we thought it fitting to follow up with an equally refreshing single,” Muvuti said.
“When we first started putting the song together, we knew we were onto something good but we also knew in order for it to be a success it needed a catchier chorus,so we came up with the melody and wrote around that,” he added.
The Zimbabwean born singer said that once they had the chorus the song fell into place.
“We spent two days in the studio recording just this track so a lot of work has gone into crafting the sound of the record as we wanted to do it justice.”
The track has been played on BBC Introducing, a radio show on BBC Radio Three – making it one of the bands most promising songs of 2015.
” We put a lot of time and effort into this single and getting radio airtime on Gareth Lloyd’s Introducing show on BBC Radio Three made the hardwork worthwhile.”
“It was a big moment for us and nice to have the recognition,” added Muvuti.
The band have also released a video alongside the single.
Ailsa Shaw, the bands guitarist, said the team felt that releasing a video would give the song another dimension.
“We spent a full Saturday at the Dunstable Community Center with loads of cameras and lighting and we were really pleased with the results,” Ailsa said.
“Our Head of Visuals Eric Dyson of Mad Scientist Studios has done a fantastic job editing the video and putting it together, so he deserves a lot of credit,” she added.
The video was launched 5th December 2015 together with the single.
The video was launched 5th December 2015 together with the single.
The 2014 winners of the London based BeOnTheScene Battle of the bands competition have gone on to make a name for themselves and are becoming a musical force to be reckoned with.
Farai & the Forest Dawn will be launching their EP in London on 19th February 2016.
Beautiful is now available digitally from all major digital stores and the single will be available to purchase at upcoming gigs.
For more information please visit:
Follow the band on Facebook at: “https://www.facebook.com/
Another Mnangagwa MP Arrested for “Insulting Grace”
A legislator from Zimbabwe’s ruling party has appeared in court accused of “insulting remarks” about President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, during a verbal exchange with a fellow Zanu-PF party member.
Member of parliament Justice Mayor Wadyajena, 35, was charged with “criminal insult or, alternatively, conduct likely to provoke the breach of peace” when he appeared before magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa in Victoria Falls.
The prosecutor, Listen Nare, told the court that the lawmaker “used abusive or insulting language” against a party member who had a portrait of Grace Mugabe, and a slogan calling on party members to rally behind her, emblazoned on his car.
The MP and party member Jimayi Muduvuri were both attending the Zanu-PF annual conference on Victoria Falls.
Wadyajena was quoted in court papers as having told Muduvuri: “You are a fool as well as that mother of yours.” The first lady is referred to as “mother” by the ruling party supporters.
Wadyajena has been linked to a faction of Zanu-PF loyal to the vice-president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is seen as Mugabe’s heir, while Muduvuri, a businessman, is seen as belonging to a group in the party opposed to Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed Africa’s oldest leader.
Mugabe, 91, has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980 and has avoided naming a successor. His party has been riven by infighting between factions jostling to succeed him.
Wadyajena was granted $800 bail and is expected to go on trial on 5 January. AFP
Makandiwa And Magaya To Hold Joint Prayer Service ?
United Family International Church (UFIC) leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) founder Prophet Walter Magaya could hold a joint all night prayer meeting soon.
This comes after Magaya suggested a joint church service with Makandiwa.
Magaya proposed that the service could be held next year. Prophet Magaya was speaking to thousands of UFIC church members on Sunday during his visit to the church’s service.
Besides making these suggestions, Prophet Magaya, his visit did to the church dissolved rumours that the two church leaders, whose ministries draw the biggest crowds in the country, were at logger heads.
“My prayer and wish is to have a combined all-night service with Prophet Makandiwa,” said Prophet Magaya after being introduced to the UFIC members by Prophet Makandiwa. “Imagine Prophet Makandiwa doing his own thing while I do mine at the same venue. Satan ari patight gore ratirikupinda iri (the devil will be in trouble next year).”
Prophet Magaya said the only obstacle to hosting such a massive service could be lack of a proper venue to accommodate the huge numbers. He said that he used to attend UFIC services a few years ago before he founded the PHD ministries and was convinced that Prophet Makandiwa was a true prophet.
Prophet Magaya said he appreciated Prophet Makandiwa for laying the ground work which made it easier for those in the prophetic calling to get recognition.
“The shoes that you made me to put on are so heavy that I cannot withstand the ground,” he said. “I thank God for such an opportunity and want to thank Prophet Makandiwa for pioneering the prophetic ministry under harsh social conditions, receiving all sorts of negative reports concerning this new dimension of ministry, but he never gave up.
“Prophet Makandiwa is one such a veritable role model in the prophetic ministry who laid the ground work for this prophetic platform. We are just following his footsteps. Even though he received negative media reports, he never deviated from his calling. I can’t be in conflict with such pioneers.
“Man of God, I want to thank you for resisting the pressure and overcoming all evil principalities. I appreciate you for allowing me to come to your house. I thank you for receiving me to such an extent.” Prophet Magaya, who jetted into the country from Nigeria on Sunday, said his visit to UFIC was significant as it was his first to another church since he began his ministry.
Prophet Makandiwa asked the congregants to pray for Prophet Magaya and his ministry. “I salute the action that the man of God Prophet Magaya has taken,” he said. “Its just an act of love. If there is no love we are just lying to ourselves. We just want to thank the action taken of coming to see us and just be a blessing to us.” – State Media/Additional Reporting
Govt Engineer Writes 8 O’Level Subjects
By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo| A top local government official stunned all and sundry in Zaka when he sat for 8 O Level subjects in November,indicating he was occupying the post without qualification.
Abel Chivasa who is a Zanu PF activist and senior engineer employed by Zaka Rural District Council sat for 8 O Level subjects including English and Mathematics .
Chivasa wrote the examinations at Chimbwembwe, a secondary school tucked in the rural areas of Zaka in a bid to avoid detection.
Educationists here said the incident is just a reflection of a sad trend in the government where there are many highly paid yet underqualified personnel.
Such government officials are taking home close to $ 3000 in net salaries while other civil servants are spending several months without getting their salaries.
Chivasa confirmed he sat for the O Level exams,claiming he wanted to change his profession.
“I sat for O Level exams but I want to change my profession. I was admitted into the Zimbabwe Engineers Board in 1995 and I wonder why there is so much interest in this matter,” said Chivasa.
Zanu PF activists have also landed top posts in government as they get rewarded for unleashing violence against known opposition supporters.The presence of such Zanu PF activists in government has posed serious challenges for the treasury as the government battles to pay its workers.
Soldiers Flee Angry Vendors
By Tinoonga Mawere -Gutu | Overzealous soldiers from Eastdale Air Base were stunned when vendors retaliated and overpowered them after they had abducted and assaulted one of the vendors, accusing him of undermining the authority of the state.
The soldiers last week apprehended one Ngoni Kuwatsengera who is a vendor at Mupandawana town and accused him of taking photographs of the military vehicles while campaigning for Grace Mugabe.
The soldiers bundled Kuwatsengera into their bus and kicked him with booted feet and hit him with clenched fists. They also accused him of undermining the office of the president. Angered by the attack on their colleague ,the vendors teamed up and confronted the soldiers who attempted to abduct Kuwatsengera.
However the vendors stood their ground and blocked the army bus. Sensing danger the soldiers dropped off Kuwatsengera and fled from the scene.
Soldiers in Gutu have a standing record of assaulting residents thought to be sympathetic to the opposition .
“The soldiers made a quick retreat after realising they could not overpower the vendors so the soldiers fled from the scene .The vendors blocked the army bus demanding the release of Kuwatsengera who was accused of underming the authority of the state,”said an eyewitness .
Only two weeks ago the soldiers force marched villagers and vendors in Gutu to Grace Mugabe’s death rally at Mushayavanhu High School .
Soldiers have also unleashed an orgy of violence against innocent civilians and the armed forces play a pivotal role in maintaining President Mugabe’s grip on power .
Zanu PF Wants ZimDollar Back
The Zanu PF Members of Parliament are campaigning for the return of the Zimbabwean dollar which was shoved aside in 208 when the inflation reached unbearable levels.
During the post-budget seminar for MPs at a Harare hotel last week, Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda expressed his wishes for the re-introduction of the Zimbabwean dollar.
Mudenda said if gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers intensified, Zimbabwe might be able to re-introduce its now defunct currency which was removed during the inclusive government era to end the tyranny of hyper-inflation.
“The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy made a proposal at the pre-budget seminar in Victoria Falls that there is need to formalise the informal gold mine sector to curb illicit gold mining,” Mudenda said.
“They appealed for amnesty for makorokoza [artisanal miners] and that clarion call must carry on. If these people can get 24 tonnes of gold, then why not give them amnesty because the gold will come into Fidelity and we should be able to have hundreds of tonnes of gold in the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Chances will be brighter for us to go back to our national currency because that gold will be a guarantee.”
During question time at the post-budget seminar, Manicaland senator Shadreck Chipanga (Zanu PF) asked economist Godfrey Kanyenze to explain if time was ripe to go back to the Zimbabwean dollar.
“I do not know how we are going to continue as a country using other people’s currencies,” asked Chipanga.
But, Kanyenze said re-introduction of the Zimbabwean dollar will be difficult because the success of any currency was based on issues of confidence on it.
“At the moment there is no confidence in the Zimbabwean dollar because of what people went through. If it is re-introduced now, it will create confusion and people will start removing their money from banks,” Kanyenze said.
“We do not have foreign reserves to back up our money, and we cannot just bring back the Zimbabwe dollar before people have confidence in it. We need to start rebuilding that confidence.” – State Media
Vumbachikwe Mine Property To Be Auctioned Over Outstanding salaries
The Source|Property belonging to the Duration Gold’s Vumbachikwe Mine is set to be auctioned on Wednesday over outstanding salaries and remittances.
The Bulawayo High Court Deputy Sheriff said it would be selling the company’s movable assets at a public auction in Gwanda town on Wednesday.
Mining equipment worth thousand of dollars such as tractors, graders, front-head loaders, and many more would be auctioned in a case pitying the Gwanda mine with National Mine Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe.
Duration, the Zimbabwe focused private gold miner and explorer is majority-controlled by British-based Clarity Capital, which owns Vumbachikwe, one of the oldest gold mines in the country, having been in operation since 1904.
In January this year, the country co-ordinating project manager, Ollie Iversen told The Source that the miner expects a modest increase in bullion output to 14,400 ounces of gold this year up from the 12,850oz realised in 2014.
Last year the mine was forced to close down for two weeks for failing to abide by an Environmental Management Agency order to line the carry at its dumps and for failing to settle $55,000 in fines.
The mine was also forced to temporarily suspend operations early this year due to non-payment of Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority bills and was petitioned by National Mine Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe over outstanding union dues they are supposed to remit every month. – The Source
BREAKING NEWS – Mutsvangwa Booted Out of ZANU PF
Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial executive has passed a vote of no confidence in Chris Mutsvangwa and recommended for his recall from Parliament.
Mutsvangwa was found guilty of gross misconduct and disloyalty and treachery following his utterances in the media where he was quoted saying: “we will always respect the institution of marriage and he (Saviour Kasukuwere) is confused and conflating the institution of marriage and that of the State.”
Addressing journalists in Harare today, Mashonaland West deputy provincial chairperson Dr Keith Guzah said Mutsvangwa’s utterances were mischievous and deliberately intended to insult the First Family with the consequence of undermining the authority of the President and bringing the party into disrepute.
“We find Cde Chris Mutsvangwa’s utterances about “conflating the institution of marriage and that of the State” to be exactly the same in meaning and import as the outrageous “bedroom coup” remarks that got Jabulani Sibanda expelled from the party,” he said.
More to follow…
-State Media
Traditional Banks Collapse As Mobile Banking Shines
Conventional Banks have been hit hard by the advent of mobile banking whose transactions has increased from three percent to 16 percent in the last three years.
Report by staff reporter/state media
Results released on Monday by a research called Making Accessible Possible Diagnostic revealed that the migration to mobile banking continues to be caused by the banking sector’s rigidity.
Factors such as poor customer care and long queues in the banks have also been cited as reasons for the customer migration from traditional banks to mobile banking.
The survey, says banks’ contribution to financial inclusion has declined over the years with payments and mobile money platforms dominating financial inclusion landscape.
The survey also reveals the financial services sector has been weighed down by monthly, deposit and withdrawal charges being implemented.
Most of the accounts are dormant, hence rendering the financial services sector less superior to the mobile money transactions.
Depositors have lost confidence in the financial services sector for the past 10 years which has seen a decline in deposits while lending rates have remained very high.
The survey is comprehensive market assessment of retail financial services with the major purpose being to assist government to identify key priorities and opportunities to extend access to financial services.
With the increase in mobile money transfer, there has been growth in cross-border retail money flows which is fundamental for household survival, hence the increase in informal financial services.
Masunda To Interview New Town Clerck
The Harare City Council has invited former Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda and two members of residents associations to interview a new town clerk following the dismissal of Tendai Mahachi.
The state media report that Information obtained from minutes of a human resources and general purpose committee meeting revealed that council approved a panel comprising seven councillors, an official from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and a human resources consultant to undertake the mandate of interviewing candidates for the position of town clerk.
During the full council meeting which was held on Friday, it was agreed that former Mayor Masunda and two members of residents associations be on the list of panelists.
This decision did not go down well with some councillors who felt the panel was too big and would intimidate the candidates.
A fortnight ago an advertisement calling for applications for the town clerk-designate was placed in the local press and this did not go down well with most councillors who felt the Mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni had not followed due procedure and the advert did not give explicit details of the candidate being searched for.
Chronicle Editor in Near Fatal Accident
Staff Reporter| Bulawayo based The Chronicle newspaper editor Mduduzi Mathuthu survived a near fatal car accident last night, ZimEye can reveal.
According to sources close to Mathuthu, he hit two cattle in the middle of the main Plumtree – Bulawayo highway just outside Bulawayo before losing control of the vehicle and bumping into an on coming vehicle on the other lane.
The journalist survived the accident with minor bruises but his BMW X5 was badly damaged. Two people travelling in the other vehicle got injured and were rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals where their conditions were not immediately verifiable.
By early this morning Mathuthu had not reported for work at his Chronicle office and was said to be recovering at home.
Meanwhile, an undisclosed number of Harare based sports journalists are also reported to have been involved in another road accident on their way to Harare from attending the Netone Easycall Cup Final in Bulawayo. Details of the accident are still coming through.
Mutsvangwa to be Expelled from ZANU PF
THE Minister for War Veterans and War Collaborators Welfare, Christopher Mutsvangwa, faces ouster from the Zanu-PF Mashonaland West province amid moves to recommend his expulsion for allegedly undermining President Robert Mugabe and the First Lady, Grace Mugabe.
The provincial coordinating committee comprising Politburo members, central committee members, war veterans, provincial executive, youth and women’s leagues are understood to be behind the push and are appending their signatures to a petition to have Mutsvangwa expelled. The top most grievance of the province was Mutsvangwa’s utterances in the private media insinuating that President Mugabe was conflating the institution of marriage and party business.
Last week, a private weekly quoted the War Vets Minister as saying: “We will always respect the institution of marriage and he’s confused and conflating the institution of marriage and that of the State,” apparently referring to President Mugabe.
A provincial member said the writing was on the wall for the war vets leader and the State Media understands that the decision to recommend the expulsion of Mutsvangwa would be announced at a press conference today.
“The statement that he gave to the private media was clearly aimed at President Mugabe and we will not tolerate his undermining of our leader,” said the impeccable source.
“He ( Mutsvangwa) thinks he knows it all and is behaving like he is the only one who went to war. President Mugabe clarified that everyone played a part in the war and that we are all equal as members of the party and that gives us the right to call errant war veterans to order.”
Troubles for the belligerent Mutsvangwa have lately been mounting. In closing the 15th ZanuPF national people’s conference on Saturday, President Mugabe appeared to sting the war veterans leader, castigating “arrogant” leaders.
Instead, President Mugabe heaped praise on Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba for being a humble and exemplary war veteran.
He described the legislator as “practical and down to earth”.
“He is down to earth. I’ve given you an example of a simple man who went, he had missed on his education but the people voted for him. But I know of some commanders at the top like (the late Josiah) Tungamirai who was humble yet he was commander of the Air Force. But the actions of some war veterans now cast all war veterans in bad light,’’ said President Mugabe.
Interestingly, Mutsvangwa’s woes appear to be a family affair after Manicaland province last week passed a vote of no confidence on his wife, Monica, for fanning factionalism.
2 Boys Gas Attacked, Horrific Burns All Over
Two Bulawayo boys miraculously survived a gas canister explosion – albeit with severe burns – at their Mpopoma suburban home.
Madodana Mhlophe, 15, reportedly sustained third degree burns during the explosion that rattled windows in the suburb last Thursday and is battling for life at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
His elder brother Dumo, 19, was treated for superficial burns and discharged from the same hospital last Friday. The mother of the two, Nobesuthu Mhlophe, told The State Media that swift action by her neighbours saved the day.
“I was seated in the lounge on Thursday afternoon. Suddenly I heard a loud bang which made me jump from my seat. It was as if a bomb had gone off in the house,” said Mhlophe. She said in the “deafening silence” of the aftermath, she was galvanised into action when she heard blood curdling screams from her sons.
“I feared the worst,” she said.
Mhlophe said as she stood paralysed by fear, her neighbours came rushing into the house. “I finally gathered strength to go to the kitchen and I saw my sons on fire. They were flailing their arms as they screamed for help,” she said.
She narrated how neighbours battled to control a panicky Madodana who was running around in circles, trying to beat out the flames on his clothes.When they finally subdued the lad and doused the flames, he was severely burnt.
Mhlophe said: “After waiting for the ambulance for a long time, we decided to use a neighbour’s vehicle and we rushed the boys to UBH. I thank God for saving the lives of my two sons because I know it could’ve been worse. Madodana is in pain but we trust the medical personnel will help him recover”.
She said she suspected the explosion could have been caused by a gas leak in the kitchen. The fire destroyed a few household gadgets. “We normally use fire in cases of power cuts but that day we could not as our firewood was wet due to rain,” Mhlophe said.
Another teenager from Mpopoma escaped death recently after a 20-litre petrol container that he was carrying caught fire in their house. Carlton Mhlanga, 16, was passing through the kitchen from a bedroom with a container full of petrol to refuel his father’s car outside when the gas stove, which was on, caused the container to catch fire.
Joseph Mhlanga, his father, said the incident occurred at around 7PM. Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Richard Peterson urged residents to exercise caution while using alternative sources of energy in the face of load shedding and to desist from keeping flammable liquids in their houses.
“I’m more than pleased by the response of the people in the western suburbs. These people help each other to quickly put out fires unlike in the other areas,” he said.
Peterson said at least 99 percent of the fires in the western suburbs are controlled in a single room.
“If a container with any of the flammable liquids explodes, no-one survives in that house.” Peterson reminded residents to remember to put the 09 code before dialling the 71717-9 emergency numbers on their cellphones.
He said residents could call 993 or 994 toll free from landlines
Pastor Hires Murderer
A hit-man allegedly hired by pastor and founder of Gospel of the Kingdom Ministries in Chitungwiza narrated in court last week how the “man of the cloth” assigned him to eliminate his congregants for a prize.
Thomas Makoni (28) of Waterfalls, Harare, is alleged to have hired his friend Talent Nyakunengwa to kill members from his church, accusing them of spreading falsehoods. Nyakunengwa told the court that they were best friends with Makoni and at times they would commit robberies together.
Narrating the incidents, Nyakunengwa told the court that his friend of 13 years approached him for a favour.
“I know Makoni as my friend since 2002 and in June he came to my house with Godfrey Sithole around midnight, said Nyakunengwa. He gave me a task to kill and bomb his church members who had caused chaos in his church. He would visit me daily saying I was delaying, instructing me to kill Kudakwashe Elliot and Abraham Kabodo by assaulting them and leaving them for dead.”
Nyakunengwa alleged that Makoni told him that the pair was supposed to die a painful death and acknowledge that he (Makoni) was superior. “Makoni said he wanted them dead because they were causing chaos by telling people of his misdemeanors, he said. Makoni said Elliot was telling people who had been involved in an accident that it was due to his juju. Makoni also instructed me to kill Mrs Chinhamo (Afra Nhanhanga) for financing Kudakwashe and Abraham so that they would withdraw from their church. Mrs Chinhamo was supposed to be petrol bombed and die on the spot.”
After that, Nyakunengwa said, he was supposed to deal with a person only identified as Wiseman who had been assisted by Mrs Chinhamo to open a church next to that of Makoni. Nyakunengwa said he was supposed to receive a Mazda Demio and $100 per victim.
Asked why Makoni approached him, Nyakunengwa said: “He knew that I was a person of violent disposition and we grew up together committing robberies.” Makoni denied two counts of incitement to commit murder before Chitungwiza resident magistrate Mrs Renika Dzikiti and was remanded to January 7 next year.
PICTURES:Billionaire Dangote Caught on Camera with Zimbabwean Girl
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has been pictured on camera with a Zimbabwean woman at a party. The Zim girl popularly known as Mai Natsayi is seen at the weekend function also flanked by musicians P Square. PICTURES:
ZIMRA Garnishes State Procurement Board Bank Account
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has reportedly garnished the State Procurement Board’s (SPB) bank account for the second time to recover over $800 000 in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) arrears for its former chairperson Mr Charles Kuwaza. The garnish order follows several attempts by Zimra to have the SPB settle the debt by issuing ultimatums that were not obliged with.
Sources said Zimra had lost patience with the SPB, hence the latest action. “Zimra first raised the issue of PAYE arrears for Mr Kuwaza last year and requested the board to state when it was going to settle the debt but they have not been cooperating,” said a source.
“After that, several ultimatums were issued but still they disregarded them because Mr Kuwaza was insisting that he would not pay arguing that his contract was signed by the President.
“Now that he has left the board, there are high chances that the board will pay the tax arrears on his behalf and then maybe deduct from his benefits.” Another source concurred: “We understand the SPB will deduct the money from his benefits but the question is, will his benefits exceed $800 000?
“That is where the issue is. Mind you, he was already paid way more than what was approved by the Office of the President and Cabinet through other benefits. “The other thing is that he is still coming to the office despite the fact that he is no longer employed here. He pretends as if nothing happened and that he is still in charge.”
SPB was not remitting PAYE on Mr Kuwaza’s earnings since 2009 while all the other employees of the SPB have had their earnings taxed and the PAYE sent to Zimra. The Herald last year published Mr Kuwaza’s mega perks, excluding salary, which gobbled about $210 000 in 2014 alone.
Zimra has been demanding that Mr Kuwaza settle his tax arrears, but his reluctance led to the garnishing of the SPB account with an outstanding bill of $1 million. However, there was about $230 000 in SPB’s two accounts, funds which were taken by Zimra.
Mr Kuwaza was relieved of his duties as SPB chairperson about a fortnight ago when President Mugabe appointed a new board. The new SPB chairperson, Ambassador Buzawani Mothobi declined to comment on the matter last Friday although he had requested e-mailed questions which were sent to him.
All he could say was: “I have no comment about this thing.” herald
Slippery Crocodile dazzles Gucci
Just when the media and everyone was abuzz that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa had been defeated by First Lady Grace Mugabe, in the race to succeed President Robert Mugabe, the seasoned politician has countered the First Lady’s moves.
The ZANU PF annual National Conference had come up with several resolutions which all favoured Grace Mugabe to ascend the party hierarchy and dispose Mnangagwa from his position. The major resolution favouring Grace was to have the party resort back to its previous position of having one of the two Vice Presidents as a woman.
Further to that the party has a standing Unity Agreement resolution between ZANU PF and PF ZAPU that one of the Vice Presidents must be a former PF ZAPU member. Second Vice President Phelekezela Mpokho is the current Vice from the former PF ZAPU.
That resolution somehow calculated the immediate fall of Mnangagwa by design and the rise of Grace as a female Vice President.
But drama emerged, sources within the party say that the tactical Mnangagwa lobbied the Matabeleland regions during the night to move that the proposed female Vice President be from the former PF ZAPU members. The first female Vice President was Joice Mujuru who was from the original ZANU side.
The overnight caucus by the Mnangagwa faction is reported to have caused a major mayhem in the party shifting the whole succession ball game. The Matabeleland regions that had been long allies of the First Lady could not resist the offer of having one of their women lead and changed allegiance at an instance.
The new set up further struck headaches for President Mugabe as it now means that he has to remove instead if Mnangagwa, Grace Mugabe’s “blue-eyed boy” Phelekezela Mphoko. The sources claim that former Matabeleland South Governor Angelina Masuku has now been tagged for the position after the development.
Grace Mugabe’s only hope now lies on the benevolence of her husband who has sweeping powers to appoint and remove at his discretion. Judging from President Mugabe’s zeal to leave his seat with a legacy and a united party, it will however be difficult for the President to use that route.
As things now stand the scoreboard reads Croc 3 – Grace 1.
New Army Commander for Bulawayo
BULAWAYO District Zimbabwe National Army commander Brigadier-General Exsebios Vusa Tshuma last Tuesday bade farewell to troops in the district after being moved to be the commander of Four Brigade in Masvingo.
Brig-Gen Tshuma has now been replaced by Colonel Rantham Moyo. Speaking during a handover-takeover ceremony at Imbizo Barracks, Brig-Gen Tshuma expressed gratitude to the support he received during his tenure at the helm of Bulawayo District since January 2012.
The ceremony was graced by Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda. In his farewell speech, Brig-Gen Tshuma said officers from the district had remained patriotic and professional during challenging times.
“My task as commander Bulawayo District was also made easier by the excellent rapport that the formation had with the local community. That was especially made possible by our recognition of the role played by traditional leaders like Chief Sigola in upholding our rich African values. Let me take this opportunity to thank Chief Sigola for supporting us particularly by allowing us to conduct training activities in his area.
“I want to acknowledge and appreciate the role played by officers, men and women of Bulawayo District in overcoming the numerous challenges we came across in fulfillment of our tasks during my tenure as commander. Your perseverance, patriotism and professionalism in particular during challenging times, contributed tremendously to our success,” said Brig-Gen Tshuma.
He urged the district to accept Col Moyo’s leadership.
In accepting his new position, Col Moyo promised that he would remain committed in his discharge of duties and endeavour to do all his duties to the best of his ability.
“I feel spiritually and physically humbled by the confidence and trust reposed in me by the commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant General Philip Valerio Sibanda. This he demonstrated by appointing me to be the commander of Bulawayo District.
“I shall endeavour to discharge all my duties to the best of my ability, diligently and effectively. While I understand that the challenges of commanding a formation are greater today than they were before, I look forward to the support of all officers, men and women of Bulawayo District in my effort to overcome these challenges,” said Col Moyo.
Bloody Brutal Attack on Zimbabwean in Ireland
By the Journal| A judge has described as “depressing” an attack on a Zimbabwean man during which he was punched 18 times, kicked 13 times, kneed three times to the side of his head, stamped on seven times and stabbed four times.
Two teenagers who were captured on CCTV brutally beating the man before robbing his mobile phone were given five-and-a-half year sentences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. 18 months of the sentence was suspended for one of the attackers – the other had almost four years of the sentence suspended.
What happened?
Aaron Eccles (18) and Niall Brooks (18) were described by their victim, Charles Goromonzi (57), as “evil”.
CCTV footage of the robbery shown in court depicted Mr Goromonzi walking alone at 9.30pm before being randomly set upon by Brooks, Eccles and a third man.
Eccles, of Brookview Close, and Brooks, of The Rise, Kiltipper Gate, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty to robbery of a Nokia Lumina 625 phone at Sundale Heights, Tallaght on July 29, 2014.
The kicks to the victim were mostly to his head. He was also held on the ground by the pair with his arms outstretched.
He suffered wounds to his head, wrists and knees.
Victim impact
He described in his victim impact statement how, after coming to Ireland from war torn Zimbabwe, he feared he would be killed that night by the teenage robbers in Tallaght.
Judge Martin Nolan said anyone who viewed the CCTV footage could not fail to be depressed at the sheer violence of the robbery which had been carried out for a very small profit.
He said it was lucky for everyone that Mr Goromonzi had not sustained far more serious injuries.
Judge Nolan said the pair deserved some form of punishment but the overriding concern in sentencing young people was to try to reform them.
He noted both accused had similar difficulties in their background with the principal difference being that Brooks did not have any history of convictions.
Judge Nolan imposed five and a half year sentences on both. He suspended the final 18 months for Eccles and suspended the final three years and nine months in the case of Brooks. He ordered 18 months post-release supervision by the Probation Service for both.
Eccles has 29 previous convictions which include three for assault causing harm and one for animal cruelty which involved over-working a pony. Brooks has no previous convictions.
~‘Very sorry’
Both teenagers were interviewed by gardaí and shown the CCTV. During interview they denied stabbing Mr Goromonzi or stealing his phone.
Brooks told gardaí he was disgusted at himself and “very sorry” and Eccles wrote a letter to the court apologising for his actions.
Defence counsel for the teens, both of whom suffer from ADHD, said they were intoxicated by drugs or drink at the time of the robbery.
Mujuru Rubbishes Mugabe
Former Vice-President Joice Mujuru says she is at peace as an ordinary citizen and does not miss Zanu PF or the luxury of being a vice-president in President Robert Mugabe’s government at all.
In an interview with The Standard while Zanu PF was in the middle of its annual conference in Victoria Falls on Friday, Mujuru said she had nothing to miss there.
“Looking at what is happening after the so-called congress of 2014, I have nothing to miss there. I enjoy being an ordinary citizen enduring, like everyone else, the pain and anguish of the economic crisis we find ourselves in,” Mujuru said.
The former VP, who was axed from both Zanu PF and government 12 months ago on allegations of plotting to overthrow Mugabe, said she was enjoying living the life of an ordinary Zimbabwean although it brought her sadness to watch people she fought along side during the armed struggle tear each other apart in factional fights.
“It’s unfortunate that in all this, the economy and the ordinary Zimbabweans are the ones paying the ultimate price as leaders fight for power. As for me, I am missing nothing there, there is nothing to miss both as VP in government and in the party,” Mujuru said.
With expectations high that she would soon launch her own political party, the country’s first female VP has chosen to keep her cards close to her chest.
After kicking Mujuru out in December last year and replacing her with Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, the ruling party has remained engulfed in factional fires that have seen suspensions and expulsions becoming the order of the day.
Her ouster from the party has also not stopped Mugabe and his supporters from making Mujuru their political punching bag, even when she does not respond.
Although she has not featured prominently in public, except at funerals of associates, her name has remained on the front pages of newspapers which link her to a political project dubbed People First.
The project is currently being championed by ex-Zanu PF stalwarts, Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo, along with freedom fighters and former high officials of Zanu PF and ministers who were chucked out of the party along with Mujuru.
Once in a while Mujuru has heightened expectations of launching a political party by releasing statements. But as soon as these are released, she retreats into her shell, leaving friends and foes alike guessing about her plans.
“I will not be pushed around. I will do what the people of Zimbabwe want me to do at an appropriate time — to help each other as Zimbabweans,” Mujuru has said.
In one of her statements, Mujuru requested that she be allowed to be free and be as she pleased, without “Zanu PF being obsessed with me”.
Defacto spokesperson of the so-called People First, Gumbo has said Mujuru’s silence should not be misconstrued for weakness as it was part of their strategy.
“We are not there to entertain doubtful people. We are serious and we are doing all we can underground. Currently we are mobilising and strategising; building structures silently while the post congress Zanu PF continues to tear one another apart,” said Gumbo.
Analyst Alexandra Rusero, however, said if Mujuru was serious about forming a party, she had to do it now before the public sympathy she enjoyed dissipated.
“No doubt Mujuru’s formal entry into opposition politics will shake-up the political scene, but on the flipside, her dillydallying may also be damaging,” Rusero said.
After the dramatic fall of Mujuru and her cabal, the torch bearers of the project have presented themselves as poor people with nothing to show for the 35 years they were in government. standard.
Mugabe Buries Mnangagwa As He Confirms Grace’s Presidential Succession
President Robert Mugabe on Saturday publicly denounced Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa and his faction of “arrogant war veterans” and backed the G-40 making it clear that the aging leader wants his wife Grace to succeed him.
Mnanagwa’s allies who include war veterans minister Chris Mutsvangwa have been calling for the demotion of Saviour Kasukuwere from leading the party’s commissariat department because he “has” no liberation war credentials.
Kasukuwere,Philip Chiyangwa, Patrick Zhuwao and Johnathan Moyo are leading the G-40 which is campaigning for Grace to succeed Mugabe.
Mugabe at the just ended Zanu PF conference in Victoria Falls said war veterans alone did not liberate the country.
“Some people brag to others, I am so and so, I went to war and you did not go, nonsense. Stop bragging with your war credentials. Some will ask you, did you go alone, or what did you do there?” said Cde Mugabe, adding that the party respects war veterans.
Mugabe praised the self styled war veteran Joseph Chinotimba, who he used to denounce and expel the former war vet leader Jabulani Sibanda describing him as a an example of a humble, disciplined and progressive war veteran.
Mnangagwa Crushed to Death (Politically)
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been flattened.
The Presidential deputy’s future is dangling in the air after ZANU PF’s powerful G40 group mobilised and bussed in and youths to dislodge him.
Accreditation cards of Mnangagwa supporters were taken away and confiscated by members of the G40, including their identity cards so that they do not attend the conference.
This was in all forms reminiscent of the scenario 12 months ago when former VP Joice Mujuru was kicked out of the party.
There were accusations of plots, sub-plots and counter plots between factions angling to take charge of the former liberation movement.
With Mugabe openly admitting activists “have been threatening to tear each other apart at this conference”, The Standard was given a sneak-peek into the intricate details of how the two distinct factions engaged in open warfare for Mugabe’s throne were trying to arm-twist the veteran guerrilla leader to make changes to his inner circle.
“They have bussed in rogue youths who have been booked into a hotel in Livingstone [Zambia] across the Zambezi.
They want to boo VP [Emmerson] Mnangagwa. Clearly, these are G40 [Generation 40] shenanigans to try and push for his ouster, but it is not going to work.” The Standard was told early Friday as Mugabe prepared to officially open the annual jamboree.
The security services were also sucked into the wars, with some in the intelligence openly showing their support for Mnangagwa, long seen as Mugabe’s successor, but whose path has been littered with stumbling blocks to frustrate him by the G40 group.
The group is reportedly now fronted by First Lady Grace Mugabe — a new entrant onto the political scene, but now wielding so much power she is viewed as the greatest threat to Mnangagwa’s decades-long dream.
“We have colleagues whose accreditation cards have been taken away, confiscated by members of the G40 group, including their identity cards because they do not want us to attend the conference. But the intelligence has also set up a check-point at the border with Zambia to check for weapons and T-shirts bearing the picture of a tractor hoisting a crocodile,” said another youth leader on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, in the giant marquee songs where composed and the provocative dancing went on each time there was a musical interlude.
Monica Mutsvangwa, briefly sacked by Grace’s Women’s League executive before Mugabe served her blushes, gyrated in front of the First Lady. But her Manicaland political nemesis Letwin Undenge jumped in as the tacit fights went on. Mutsvangwa then looked at Undenge with a nasty snarl.
Masvingo province sang “munoreverana nhema, Bhobho haazi munhu wekubata kumeso” (you are fooling yourselves, Mugabe is not one to hoodwink), while Mashonaland West came in with “regai atonge” (let him rule).
It was, however, the host province of Matabeleland North that almost brought the house down with “Bhobho hlala la, Bhobho hlala la, Bhobho hlala la uze ukhokhobe” (Stay on Bob [Mugabe] until you get really old).
Mashonaland Central’s Dickson Mafios chanted “Pasi nevanoda zvigaro nguva isati yakwana” (Down with people who clamour for power when it’s not yet their time). Presidential Press Secretary George Charamba and Mugabe’s chief of protocol Munyaradzi Kajese joined in the hip-swinging and gyrating, while Masvingo provincial chairman Ezra Chadzamira had the tent reverberating with Mnangagwa’s trademark “Pasi nemhanduuuuu [down with enemies]”.
As the drama unfolded, Mugabe’s spokesperson Charamba and his former principal, now Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, clearly avoided each other despite brushing shoulders. Moyo has clashed with Charamba, allegedly because they belong to different factions, with the Cabinet minister describing his ex-permanent secretary as “a mere civil servant”.
This was after Charamba had engaged in a no-holds-barred verbal altercation with Christopher Mutsvangwa, despite the two seemingly belonging to “Team Lacoste” — as the Mnangagwa faction is known.
The police now stand accused of sympathising with the G40 faction: “If you report these criminal elements who are illegally confiscating people’s accreditation cards to the police, no action is taken. The police are saying it’s a political matter that should be resolved as such. But we know where their allegiances lie”.
On the other hand, intelligence details openly showed their support for Mnangagwa.
“We have laid out everything. There is no stopping. If we find them caucusing, we will arrest them. The president has given the greenlight. We just want to make one example and someone is going to be very unfortunate,” said one official Thursday night.
Then reports were filtering through that the Mnangagwa faction had agreed to the adoption of a resolution to co-opt a woman into the presidium, but there was a catch.
“We now want the woman to come from the Zapu side. We have supplied a woman VP for over 10 years and it is time women from the Zapu side of the Unity Accord are uplifted,” said another youth leader.
If this is carried through, the resolution would have dealt a heavy blow to the G40 faction that includes in its ranks not only national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and Moyo, but more importantly, second vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko.
It would mean that Mphoko would then be forced to make way for Eunice Sandi-Moyo, the proposed woman VP, but also it would mean the end of Grace’s ambition to take over from her husband, an ambition reportedly now being fanned by the G40 group. This would also mean a split within the faction given that Sandi-Moyo is Grace’s storm-trooper and Mphoko’s “blue-eyed girl”, according to insiders.
Buses were emptied and delegates were frisked as fears abound of possible chaos and smuggling of dangerous weapons. There were probably as many security details present, as there were delegates.
Delegates to the conference were re-accredited by members of the central intelligence organisation who colour-coded their accreditation cards to weed out “fake delegates who were bussed in to boo Mnangagwa”.
Mugabe in his opening speech admitted; “We cannot allow chaos. I have been informed that some are here clearly agitating for violence. They are saying we will tear each other apart at the conference. This conference is not for that. Divided we fall and united we stand.
“We should understand that even if we fight, we must at the end find common ground to advance the interests of Zanu PF and push its policies forward. This way, we will remain the people’s party”.
His handlers, however, have claimed “there is no factionalism in the party”, which they say exists only in “opposition newspapers”. But Mugabe went a step further.
“Factionalism has rocked our party. Yakonzera kuti kuve nekugedageda muparty. [It has caused gnashing of teeth in the party]. The military, police and intelligence are involved. Let us stop that. We do not need that. Those ambitious within our ranks should wait for congress. You want to remove people elected by congress. Pasi nemi [down with you],” fumed Mugabe.
He said Zanu PF could not afford to have people ascribed to particular individuals.
“We cannot have people being allocated to individuals. Conference must end that and we must leave here re-invigorated with fresh purpose to push the policies of the party,” the veteran Zanu PF leader said.
Then there was the usual apple-polishing and fawning, with Zanu PF apparatchiks led by Mnangagwa and Mphoko taking turns to pile platitudes on the “dear leader”. Mugabe watched in awe, apparently taken aback and wondering if indeed the person being described could really be him.
“You have become a president in the past year, that every world leader has been dying to shake his hand,” Mnangagwa said. (Standard/ Additional Reporting)
Grace Mugabe Will be Vice President by 2016 – ZANU PF WL
The Zanu-PF Women’s League yesterday called for the amendment of the party’s constitution to reintroduce the women’s quota system in the Presidium where one of the two Vice-Presidents must be a woman.
The League led by the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe made the resolution at the party’s 15th People’s Conference, giving a timeframe of next year for implementation of the resolution.
Former Vice-President Joice Mujuru was the first female VP to assume the office in 2004 following a resolution by the Women’s League at its annual conference to put forward a female candidate for the party’s vice-presidency.
Dr Mujuru, who had filled the post after the death of former Vice-President Simon Muzenda, was deposed last year following allegations of attempting to overthrow President Mugabe.
A thematic committee on Women’s Affairs which was chaired by Dr Mugabe resolved that the party revive the quota.
“Your Excellency, as a committee we have resolved that the party reinstates the previous position that one Vice-President be a woman and this should be done by 2016,” said the Women’s League Deputy Secretary Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo as she read the resolutions.
The committee also called for the amendment of the country’s Constitution to allow for the extension of parliamentary quota system for a 50-50 representation.
“There must be a 50-50 representation by 2016 and the national Constitution must be amended to extend the women parliamentary quota system until such a time when women are fully empowered,” said Moyo.
The committee also advocated for a law against early child marriages to protect the girl child from sexual abuse. Nine thematic committees, chaired by Politburo members discussed critical issues and reported back to the conference.
These included the thematic committee on Women’s Affairs, state of the party, agriculture, food security and nutrition, infrastructure and utilities, value addition and beneficiation, liberation war heritage, poverty eradication, youth affairs and social services, and sports, culture and religion.
On the state of the party, Saviour Kasukuwere who is the National Political Commissar said they resolved that the party’s First Secretary President Mugabe is the candidate for 2018 elections.
He said the committee resolved that the party’s grassroots structures be strengthened through a myriad of measures that include denouncing tribalism, nepotism and corruption — vices which were passionately condemned at the conference.-State Media
PSL Backs Twine Phiri
THE Premier Soccer League has confirmed Twine Phiri as its chairman and their representative in the Zifa executive committee.
In a statement, the league said they would be sending a confirmation letter to Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze who had earlier written to the PSL seeking clarification on Phiri’s position on the board.
“The Premier Soccer League would like to advise all its stakeholders that Twine Phiri will continue to represent it as its chairman. We acknowledge receipt of a letter from Zifa seeking confirmation of Phiri’s position. We will be sending a letter to Zifa confirming the above,” the PSL statement read.
There was confusion within the football world after Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa ordered the PSL to hold elections to elect a new representative at the association’s first board meeting following elections held last weekend.
Initially Chiyangwa was said to have ordered the elections on the basis that Phiri was no longer the major shareholder at Caps United and the club’s chairman hence could not continue representing the club but vice-president, Omega Sibanda later issued a statement indicating constitutional provisions that had informed their decision to call for elections at both PSL and Zimbabwe Women Football.
The PSL indicated their appreciation of Zifa’s superiority in the football structures and their intention to continue adhering to statutes governing the game but accused unnamed individuals, who have no locus standi in football, of seeking to divide football by pushing an uninformed agenda to oust Phiri.
“The league acknowledges the supremacy of Zifa and will continue to observe the football rules and regulations. However, we are concerned that there are some individuals and groups outside of football structures who seem to be sowing divisions within the league by circulating a petition. The PSL has not mandated pseudo representatives to circulate a petition. The league governors are professional people who make independent decisions,” read the statement.
The league urged that there be an end to the election mode, and that focus should shift to football development amid speculation that moves to oust Phiri could be related to the recent Zifa elections.
“We call upon football leaders to demobilise the individuals who are still in an election mode so that proper football development takes place. It goes without saying that Zifa requires the support of all Zimbabweans to fulfill their mandate of developing the game. The PSL is more than happy to assist in the reconstruction of Zimbabwe’s football,” wrote the PSL.
Elephant Rips Man’s Stomach Apart
A Victoria Falls man has had successful surgery after he was attacked by an elephant which ripped his stomach open while he was admiring a baobab tree early last month.
Mr Obadiah Sithole has, however, been stuck at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo as he has no money to travel back to the resort town. Mr Sithole, from Chinotimba suburb, was discharged three weeks ago but is still at the hospital.
The 58-year-old Mr Sithole, who has no wife or children, said he did not notice the elephant which was behind a baobab tree.
“I was admiring a baobab tree and I did not notice that there was an elephant on the other side so it lifted me with its tusks and dropped me to the ground. The tusks ripped through my stomach; luckily it didn’t trample me,” he said.
After attacking him, the elephant went away.
Mr Sithole lost part of his intestines during the attack and surgeons had to stitch together what was left of them.
He was transferred from Victoria Falls to Mpilo Central Hospital for treatment where he has recovered enough to go back home.
In an interview on his bedside, Mr Sithole appealed for assistance for bus fare.
“I need money to just go back to my home; I can pay it back if I find someone who is willing to give me. This is now my third week here since I was discharged and I am stuck,” he said.
The acting chief executive officer for the hospital, Mr Leonard Mabandi, said the institution has no funds to cater for people like Mr Sithole.
“It is unfortunate that we do not have an allocation for people like Sithole who will be stranded. The best we can do is to get him on an ambulance that will be coming from Victoria Falls with patients,” he said.
Mr Mabandi explained that years ago there were travel warrants that were given to people in Mr Sithole’s situation but they stopped issuing them out.
“Travel warrants assisted people like Sithole, he would just present it to any bus company and he would be taken to his home, then the Ministry of Transport would in turn pay the company but all that is gone now,” he said.
He also said society has lost its moral fabric as people now care for themselves and are not concerned about helping others.
He encouraged people to make follow-ups on their relatives who will have been admitted to health institutions so that when they have challenges they can be addressed.
The acting CEO said the burden of feeding the discharged patient was on the institution and it was affecting the operations of the hospital.
In another case at the same institution, a woman spent a month at the maternity section after she gave birth but failed to go home as she had no one to collect her.
A source within the maternity ward said she was detained until her relatives were contacted.
“She was discharged with her baby but we could not let her go as the rule states that a patient is allowed to go only when there is someone to collect her, she cannot go alone,” said the source.
She said the person collecting a person from maternity has to produce their national identity card and the details are recorded.
“You collect the patient when you have produced a valid ID because we are avoiding instances where babies are stolen so we keep records for reference sake so that when there is a challenge we have a starting point,” she said.
The acting CEO also concurred.
“We want to ensure the safety of the mother and the baby so we usually want the husband to the patient, a mother or close relative so that we know they are in safe hands. We cannot just let a patient go,” said Mr Mabande.SundayNews
Ministers Spreading STDs into Universities
Zimbabwean government ministers and politicians are spreading Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among university students, the Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) has said.
According to a research conducted by the student body together with Student Representative Councils (SRCs), government officials were doing little to lobby for the improvement of students’ welfare.
The two bodies said that the officials were preying on university students for cheap sex, as the country’s economy continues on a downward spiral.
At least 6 000 students acquired STIs in the just ended-academic calendar year, according to the two bodies.
“Government has an obligation to ensure that at least they provide for tertiary students,” said Zinasu secretary-general Makomborero Haruzivishe.
“Unfortunately, ministers and politicians are taking advantage of a system they do not want to capacitate.
“That is why we are seeing them taking advantage of vulnerable students.”
Haruzivishe said the upsurge in STIs at the country’s universities was a direct product of a collapsing economy.
Accommodation at tertiary institutions is limited, resulting in most students seeking exorbitant alternative lodgings thereby exposing themselves to exploitation.
“Most of these cases are arising because of poverty,” he said.
“Other parents were recently sacked, some of the parents of these students are teachers, they are not being paid, others are vendors and they cannot afford the high fees being charged at tertiary institutions.
“All this is leading to exploitation of students,” he said.
Whilst parents have been begging their children to bear with them and understand the hardships, some students have succumbed to pressure and are now engaging in prostitution in order to make ends meet.
Haruzivishe said according to their research, Masvingo Province had the highest number of students infected with STIs this year.
He said at one time, Masvingo Provincial Hospital opened a special department just to cater for students infected with STIs.
“In the mining town of Mashava, some students are having sex in exchange of accommodation.
“The government is not taking any action for these students to be properly housed and there is no provision for them to access food.”
Students canvassed by the Daily News yesterday disclosed that sex had become the medium of exchange for one to get a decent meal, free rides to school and free accommodation.
Surprisingly, male students also admitted engaging in homosexuality in exchange for money.
Zinasu president Alistair Pfunye said if government subsidised students’ fees, some of these social ills would be eradicated.
Students used to find reprieve in the government’s cadetship programme that paid school fees on condition that the students agreed to be bonded by the State for a stipulated period.
However, that programme has since been suspended.
“We are engaging government on ‘fees must fall’. This issue doesn’t affect an MDC student, a Zanu PF student or a Mavambo student, it affects all students,” he said.
“I am sending a message to all students. Comrades and friends, it’s high time we put away partisan cards and fight for student freedoms.
“We will engage government but if they fail to address the issue, students will make a stand.”DailyNews
Man Disabled By Live Electric Cable Sues ZESA $500K
A Harare man is demanding over $500 000 from the Zimbabwe Electricity and Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC) after he was electrocuted and heavily injured by a live cable that left him permanently disabled.
The man, Munashe Magwaza, has since approached the High Court seeking $505 000 in damages from the Zesa Holdings’ subsidiary.
In his court papers, Magwaza who is represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said that he was electrocuted after stepping on live electric cables in the Msasa industrial area on his way to work.
“The exposed live high voltage electricity cables had fallen to the ground and concealed by the grass.
“As a result of the electric shock, the plaintiff (Magwaza) sustained extensive injuries, including deep burns to the lower limbs and numerous deep burns to the chest,” Magwaza said.
The court heard that, “The plaintiff went through shock and excruciating pain as he was being electrocuted to an extent that he passed out for several hours.
“Thereafter, the plaintiff was hospitalised for nine months at Harare Central Hospital. Whilst in hospital, he was in pain and had to undergo major surgeries that include skin grafting.”
According to Magwaza, ZETDC acknowledged liability and in October 2012 paid $11 480 to him for special damages through Cell Insurance Company.
As a result of the serious injuries and disability of his limbs, Magwaza said he suffered the embarrassment of being left by his wife as he could no longer offer her conjugal rights.
“Plaintiff has suffered loss of amenities of life in that he can no longer have the blessing of any unclouded mind, healthy body, sound limbs and the ability to conduct unaided basic functions of life such as running, eating and dressing,” the court was told.
The court further heard that, “Before the shock, plaintiff was a fit person who used to work as a security guard and earning $350. He however, lost his employment whilst in hospital.”
“The defendants have ignored, neglected or simply refused to pay the general damages despite the first defendant (ZETDC)’s acceptance of liability on October 8, 2012. The distribution and transmission of electricity is the exclusive domain of the first defendant.”
Mujuru Dead – Mugabe
ZANU PF first secretary and President, Robert Mugabe says his former deputy Joyce Mujuru and her upcoming political outfit are politically dead way before their much heightened launch.
Mugabe said this responding to a “Pasi Ne People First” chant by thousands of party members at the on going ZANU PF conference in Victoria Falls on Friday afternoon.
“No don’t say pasi navo (down with them) because they are non existent,” said Mugabe.
The crowd was responding to Mugabe’s questioning of the motives of party members quitting the party to push for the formation of the new political party.
“We have only instructed everyone coming up the stage chanting slogans to say pasi neMDC because those are the only ones we know to exist not these day dreamers who will never come to reality,” said the President.
Through out his near two hour address, Mugabe deliberately avoided making any reference to his former deputy Mujuru to confirm his disregard of the proposed party.
President Mugabe’s deliberate ignoring of the party might not be genuine as he is quite aware that once Mujuru launches her party he will be exposed to yet another big challenge after the 2008 threat from the now fading MDC.
Mujuru’s proposed party is already gaining massive support from various sectors of the country. The party is drawing support from most former ZANU PF supporters and other opposition parties. A number of Civic Society Organisations and church organisations that previously backed the MDC are also beginning to show alliance to the yet to be launched party.
Mujuru who has kept calm and silent since she was dismissed from the ruling ZANU PF is believed to be obtaining guidance from a highly experienced and qualified Europe based team in building her party. The party which is holding several behind the scenes meetings has gathered a huge membership in the grassroots and leadership of other smaller opposition parties who are only waiting to declare they allegiance at the launch of the party.
The party is expected to be launched in Matabeleland South within the next few weeks.