Chinese President Visit Deepens Ties Between our Two Nations |OPINION

 Leaders sign raft of new agreements as Zimbabwe looks for more collaboration with China

Leaders sign raft of new agreements as Zimbabwe looks for more collaboration with China
By Ambassador Mike Nicholas Sango
President Xi Jinping’s visit to Zimbabwe marked a continued strengthening of political, economic and cultural relations that have already seen China become the country’s biggest investor and largest export market outside Africa.
Enthusiastic crowds joined President Robert Mugabe in welcoming Xi to the capital, Harare, where he signed $4 billion worth of business and commercial deals with the government.
One of the biggest agreements involves a Chinese commitment to improve Zimbabwe’s power generation system.
This will take the form of a $1.2 billion loan from China’s Export-Import Bank to modernize and expand the Hwange thermal power plant, the country’s largest. China is also helping to increase the capacity of the Kariba South power plant, the country’s second-largest electric power generating facility, by an additional 360 megawatts.
A reliable energy system is crucial to any nation’s economic and social prosperity, so the importance of China’s commitment to helping us generate power across Zimbabwe 24/7 cannot be overstated.
In addition to the Hwange and Kariba power plant deals, Xi signed construction and communications agreements with Zimbabwean officials and business leaders. He renewed his country’s promise to build a new Zimbabwean parliament building to replace the old, cramped facility our lawmakers are in now.
We appreciate that China began helping us build national facilities many years ago – in the 1980s when our country was newly independent. The first project was our National Sports Stadium.
In 2012, Mugabe officially commissioned the state-of-the-art National Defense College, which was built with assistance from the Chinese. The college is open to military and state officials from member countries of the Southern African Development Community and beyond.
China has also constructed rural hospitals and schools, and hotels, across Zimbabwe, as well as our largest shopping center, the $100 million Mall in Harare.
In addition to providing food aid, China has also contributed to food security by supplying fertilizers for distribution to households.
An exciting deal that was signed on the eve of Xi’s visit to Zimbabwe was a partnership between Chinese mail and parcel delivery service YTO Express and Zimbabwe’s national postal service, Zimpost. Under the agreement, Zimpost will handle all YTO Express deliveries in Zimbabwe and southern Africa.
China has already committed billions of dollars to helping build a cement factory and developing our coal, platinum, chrome and diamond mining sectors. This commitment will transform these sectors from raw-material exporters to local value adders, transferring technology and creating local employment.
Beyond the economic arena, Chinese and Zimbabwean officials have agreed to collaborate on cultural exchange programs and wildlife protection.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa says economic relations between China and Zimbabwe are expanding rapidly: “More than 100 Chinese companies have already invested in Zimbabwe, and there is a lot of interest in all sectors of the economy.”
Zimbabwe has been working tirelessly to remove unattractive and outdated statutes and regulations to make it easier to do business and create an investment climate conducive to investors.
Chinese investment in Zimbabwe reached $601 million in 2013, making it China’s largest investment in Africa that year. Moreover, bilateral trade surpassed $1.2 billion last year and is poised to grow further this year and beyond.
Lin Lin, a former Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, says a key reason for the burgeoning economic relations is that “both nations are promoting the establishment of a new international political and economic order that is more fair and reasonable”.
Russia, which also believes there should be a new world order, has recently accelerated its economic relations with Zimbabwe – a move that is most welcome.
The fact is that many world leaders view the current global political and economic system as skewed in favor of developed countries in the West at the expense of developing countries, especially in Africa, a trend that has remained unchanged since 1885.
In addition to strengthening bilateral economic relations, Xi’s visit also deepened the personal friendship he has with Mugabe. When Mugabe visited Beijing in August last year, Xi hailed him as “a renowned leader of the African national liberation movement” and “an old friend of the Chinese people whom we respect very much”.
China began supporting African liberation movements that sought to throw off the yoke of colonialism in the 1950s.
Zimbabwe’s relations with China date to the liberation struggle of the ’70s, when the Chinese, together with the Soviet Union, provided arms to Zimbabwean freedom fighters and trained some of the movement’s leaders. We will never forget that support.
The friendship between China and Zimbabwe “was forged in the glorious years when we stood shoulder to shoulder against imperialism, colonialism and hegemony”, Xi said when Mugabe visited Beijing last year. “The Chinese people value friendship, and we will never forget those good friends and good brothers who have shown mutual understanding and support vis-a-vis China, and who have come through thick and thin with us.”
Mugabe, who was making his 13th trip to China, responded that he felt very much at home in the country.
Given the warm friendship between Xi and Mugabe, and the fact that the Chinese and Zimbabwean economies do not compete and are complementary to each other, we believe that political and economic relations with China can only soar to new heights in coming years.
Brigadier General Mike Nicholas Sango is Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation. He can be followed on Twitter at: @ZimAmbRu.

Demystifying Blindness

By Jules Daudi| Picture yourself sitting in your lounge. It is night-time. Your lights are on. You are blindnesswatching your favorite show on television while your supper is simmering on the stove in the kitchen. Suddenly the power goes off and everything becomes dark and a little bit scary. All you can see and feel is the darkness around you. However you cannot just sit still and wait because you have things to do. You have to switch off the television, the fridge at the other end of your lounge, the stove in the kitchen and all other electric gadgets in case there is a power surge when the electricity comes back. In view of this, you really need light to get to these appliances and the wall sockets but the challenge is you had not bothered to have a candle and some matches on standby before sitting to watch TV. Such a scenario will force you to “see in the dark” as you have to get up and try to locate the candle and matches in their usual storage place. Suppose, you discover that someone moved the candle without your knowledge. You will have to try to find it or find the power points for the appliances so that you switch them off and you have to do this without the use of your eyes because they cannot see in the dark. So you have to use your hands and your knowledge about the general outlay of your house to get to where the switches are and to try to locate the candle. Such is the everyday life of a blind person; they have to see and do things without the use of physical eyes.
While there are a few people with multiple disabilities or physical impairments, the majority of blind people are just that blind, which according to the Collins dictionary definition means ‘without the power of physical sight’. This point is being emphasized because people sometimes treat blind people as if there have no sensory perception at all. You will find that when a blind person is walking with an assistant, people will address the assistant with questions seeking information about the blind person. It is common to hear the assistant being asked questions like ‘What’s her name, what happened to her”, etc. For some reason, society does not seem to comprehend that loss or lack of sight does no equate to loss or lack of the other senses. Thus it is reiterated that most blind people can hear, talk, smell and touch. So next time you see a blind person and you want to talk to them about something, just address them directly.
As a matter of fact, an observation of blind people will show that as compensation for lack of sight, their other senses are highly sharpened. Hence they will be able to tell who you are simply by touching you or hearing your voice. Most sighted people do not bother to develop such skills because they rely on their ability to see people with their eyes and identify them. An appreciation that blindness is just the absence of physical sight will also help society to understand that blindness in itself has no bearing on a person’s brain power, IQ or mental alertness. For instance, when given the same educational opportunities as sighted people, blind people can perform at the same level with their sighted counterparts. Hence there is no need whatsoever to deny a blind child or person the right to acquire an education simply because he/she is blind.
In conclusion, what is being said here is not that blind people do not need assistance. Even in the field of education which has been mentioned above, there is need for production of educational material which is user-friendly for blind people. This can be Braille material, large print for those with limited sight and audio materials. In cities, there are also things like traffic lights which blind people cannot see and they need help in crossing the roads unless they are walking with someone to assist them. A blind person walking without an assistant is usually identifiable by a white cane which he/she will be carrying. Things like colors can only be identified through the eye thus a blind person will not be able to tell if something is green white or whatever color. The age of technology which we are living in has been a great leap forward in advancing the cause of blind people since there is software which can be installed in phones and computers to help them to read and type. What is legging behind is an overhaul of societal views and attitudes towards blind people. A new dawn and a new era has to come where blind people are not viewed as inferior but equal citizens of the world with an equal ability to contribute towards the development of the human race.

WATCH: Sex with 75 Year Old Man-Secret Drone Catches 27 Year Old Woman In The Act

A 27 year old female prostitute(suspect) and her alleged pensioner client (aged 75) have been hit with criminal charges after being filmed by a drone.


The flying camera was operated by a vigilante anti-prostitution activist who recorded Douglas Blansett and Amanda Zolicoffer getting it on in the front of his truck, police claim.
Blansett has pleaded not guilty to ‘engaging in an act of public lewdness’ after a vigilante law enforcer used a drone to film him allegedly having sex in a car with the said “known sex worker”.
The drone was being operated by the man behind Johntv.com, Brian Bates, who “firmly believes that many types of prostitution are not ‘the world’s oldest profession’ and are instead ‘the world’s oldest form of abuse.’”
When the footage of the 75-year-old was filmed and handed over to police back in August, Bates said he believed this was the first case where a drone had been used in this way.
The pensioner appeared in court this week, was given bail at $500, and will be back in court in early January to face the music.
The woman, Samantha McKee, has been charged but has not yet been given a court date.
Since 1996, Bates has used a normal video camera to film and shame men who pay for sex with women on the street.

Chiyangwa Landslide Victory in ZIFA Presidency: REACTIONS

Businessman and politician Phillip Chiyangwa was on Saturday afternoon elected ZIFA president beating his nearest rival Trevor Carelse Juul by 27 votes. Chiyangwa obtained 40 votes, while Carelse Juul got 13. The other two Leslie Gwindi and James Takavada trailed behind with 3  and 1 respectively. In the same election,  Omega Sibanda, the suspended Vice President from the previous administration received 34 votes while 23 councillors voted for his rival Lincoln Mutasa.
Board members elected were Silent Kamambo, Edzai Kasinauyo, Phillip Mabhena and Philemon Machana.
ZimEye.com tracked reader reactions to Chiyangwa win and below was an unedited snapshop of what people wrote:
 

Freemind Hasani Nkambako Ndlovu Phidza he did many campaigns and every corner of zim waiona ma posters, flyers to vote for him now you complain why? the rest candidates where folding their legs and hands in the offices vaiti zvinouya mahara obvious ndivo vakaita kuty ave pachigaro big up phidza keep it bhora kuna phidza .wish you will meet the needs of our football

Regie Shumba Mavhunga
Regie Shumba Mavhunga Hamuchamubvisa futi ipapo bhora rapinda politics he will die in office maita very big mistake vanhu ve zanu pf havabvi pazvinvimbo muchakaura

Like · Reply · Message · 4 · 3 hrs
2 Replies · 55 mins
Brighton Busybee Muponda
Brighton Busybee Muponda rest in peace,zim football,u will soley be missed

Like · Reply · Message · 3 · 3 hrs
Mac Bee Mlambo
Mac Bee Mlambo RIP zim football

Like · Reply · Message · 4 · 2 hrs
Wilson Munganasa
Wilson Munganasa Now everything is Zanu!

Milton Chinogwenya
Milton Chinogwenya OMG!!! our football has been zanufied. This has mark the beggining of the end of our football.

Like · Reply · Message · 1 · 2 hrs
AbaseMalipati Sidabuka e Filabusi
AbaseMalipati Sidabuka e Filabusi vele asina ndaba neZifa thina sesilinde ukuba ne MFA Mthwakazi Football Association kuphela for Mthwakazi Republic okuningi ngeZim sorry okwabo asingeni ndawo thina

Dadirai Mapfumo
Dadirai Mapfumo hahahaha who vote fr him how did he know about soccer

Like · Reply · Message · 1 · 2 hrs
Alford Magaisa
Alford Magaisa Yooo what’s wrong with those ZIFA councillors.good bye Zim soccer

Adriano Shoniwa
Adriano Shoniwa l knew it from day he entered the race!!!gushto!!

Aaron Hamandishe
Aaron Hamandishe The worst is yet to cme

Khotsia Rosylyn Ree
Khotsia Rosylyn Ree Zim football for you,thats why the PSL allows banned/suspended players to play.

Mandlenkosi Hlazo
Raymond Mathambo
Raymond Mathambo Lord have mercy we are all fucked

Lloyd Chibanda
Lloyd Chibanda Bhora kunafidza

Like · Reply · Message · 1 · 3 hrs
Admire Mushandi
Admire Mushandi Very sorry

Like · Reply · Message · 1 · 3 hrs
Takunda Teekay Runganga
Takunda Teekay Runganga Mmmmm I knew it b4

Raymond Chetsanga
Raymond Chetsanga The Money Team

Like · Reply · Message · 1 · 2 hrs
Tinashe Maidza Mudavanhu
Happy Kuchocha
Like · Reply · Message · 1 · 3 hrs
John Mulaudzi
John Mulaudzi Rigging

McCarthy Ndlovu
McCarthy Ndlovu 1man race

Shakespear Hamauswa
Shakespear Hamauswa Bhora mugedhiiiiiiiiiii

 

Zhuwao Drowned

Indigenisation Minister Patrick Zhuwao was this week drowned down by youths at the City Sports Centre, and could not finish reading his 41-page speech.
This happened as Zhuwao ordered CABS and Old Mutual to institute legal action against youths who benefited from the $10 million government Youth Fund and failed to repay the loans.
Zhuwao gave the order while addressing his First Economic Empowerment Conference in Harare on Thursday.
The minister, who was booed by youths at City Sports Centre, could not finish reading his 41-page speech as rowdy youths kept interfering and hectoring him.
“For the remaining few 2015 days, go to the bank where you borrowed and make payment plans. I am not going to protect anyone who borrowed and is not paying back,” he said.
“I am saying to Lillian (a representative of CABS present at the event), go and tell your bosses that Zhuwao is saying that I am not going to protect any defaulter because they are blocking others from accessing loans.
“Those who are failing to pay back the loans, take them to the courts from January 1, 2016. That is my message to you.”
The $10 million Kurera-Ukondla Youth Fund was first established in 2011 as part of Old Mutual’s indigenisation agreement with the government in an effort to improve levels of unemployment and act as a stimulus to economic growth in the country.
Last week, Zhuwao said government was going to attach properties of the youth fund defaulters. Disbursing institutions say about 97% of the youths who benefited from fund did not pay back.
Out of the $11 million facility, $4,9 million was disbursed to the youths through Old Mutual, but only $1,7 million was repaid. The other $5,1 million has not been accounted for, with the minister unable to shed any light on what happened to the money.
Zhuwao said the whereabouts of the $5,1 million remained unclear, amid suspicion the money could have gone into wrong pockets.
Some of the Zanu PF youths who have failed to repay the money they got from the $10 million Youth Fund, which government secured from Old Mutual, have skipped the country, the fund administrators have said.
There were also reports of corruption in the distribution of the loan facility with some senior Zanu PF members being implicated.
The official from Old Mutual identified only as Lillian who was part of the guest speakers at the First Economic Empowerment Conference, said they were struggling to locate some of the defaulters.
“Some of the challenges we are facing in trying to recover the loans are that some of the beneficiaries have relocated and we are failing to track them. We hear that some have even gone out of the country,” she said.
She confirmed that most of the beneficiaries abused the funds.
“Some diverted the loans to other projects and they are failing to service their loans,” she said.

LIVE UPDATES: ZIFA Elections for President

— HERE ENDS OUR UPDATES —

ZimEye.com brings you live updates from the ZIFA village in Harare where the football body is voting for a new President.   BREAKINGChiyangwa elected…

Chiyangwa addressing delegates soon after being announced Presidential winner
Chiyangwa addressing delegates soon after being announced Presidential winner

elections
Everyone holding their breath as results are announced…Pic by Ezra Sibanda

14:59 – Phillip Chiyangwa wins by 40 votes.   Click here for the Breaking News live in Harare

TOTAL VOTE TALLY –

P Chiyangwa 40

Trevor Juul 13

James Takavada 1

Lesley Gwindi 2

14:50 – Now verifying Presidential Votes. …1 spoilt ballot found
14:45 – Vice president winner is Omega Sibanda.

VOTE TALLY:

Omega Sibanda 34
Lincoln Mutasa 23

14:42 – Now verifying Vice President Votes
14:39 – RESULTS BEGIN: BOARD MEMBERS
In board members are Machana; Kasinauyo; Mabhena and Kamambo.

VOTE TALLY:
Mandaza 28,
Kamambo 34;
Mabhena 36,
Gwasira 12,

Mukuna 16,

Uriri 13,

Kasinauyo 29

Munyaka 1

Musariri 24

Machana 32

14:30 – Verification process continues
1402 – Verification process begins: 56 valid, 1 spoilt
13:41 – Counting now in progress.
13:37 – Voting for board members has ended. 57 delegates voted .. Harare City absent
Verification of number of votes on to see that the 57 voting councillors have voted as the 58th voter Harare City are absent.

13:07 – Voting for board members finally begins…
12:30 – Electoral committee chairman Selo Nare takes over.
12:23  – Secretary General Mashingaidze is handing over to electoral committee.
– Confirmation of delegates once more…
 

12:16 - Suspended Women Football chairlady Mirriam Sibanda causes a storm as she is denied entry to the venue! Situation now sorted and elections now looming. PIC Ezra Sibanda
12:16 – Suspended Women Football chairlady Mirriam Sibanda causes a storm as she is denied entry to the venue! Situation now sorted and elections now looming. PIC Ezra Sibanda

12:15 – Elections are about to start.
11:36 – 2014 audited accounts adopted, now presentation of 2016 budget. It is announced that the new board should conduct a forensic audit.
11:29 – The presenting of of 2014 audited accounts begins. The assembly will decide to adopt the accounts
11:20 – Luka Nicola manager FIFA member associations now addressing delegates.
11:05 – Meeting has started and delegates credentials verified …
Tommy Sithole now addressing delegates.
Meanwhile Friday night it was specualted that Chiyangwa is going to win at a time when journalists blamed Chiyangwa’s contenders for failing to campaign the same way Chiyangwa is. This came as the businessman was spotted at Monomutapa Hotel entertaining the ZIFA councillors who are the only people eligible to vote. PICTURES BELOW. Wrote broadcast journalist Ezra Sibanda, “while I was there, only PC came to meet them and started campaigning again. Rivals Juuls and Gwindi never bothered so don’t blame Chiyangwa, he looks more serious than others and is promising to change our game.”
 

PICS:

Mugabe Must Resign-Church

mugabe sad
THE Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHCD) says  President Robert Mugabe should resign and allow new leadership to take over  if the  country is to  recover from the current economic turmoil.
In a communiqué entitled The Zimbabwe We Want – Taking the Process Forward, ZHCD said leadership renewal is crucial for   the future of the country.
“We recommend that there be a leadership renewal across the board and for increased political accountability, as well as for the Executive to adhere to the rule of law for the removal of political patronage and factionalism.”
The coalition of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Council of Churches and Union for the Development of Apostolic and Zionist Churches in Zimbabwe says they are worried with political intolerance in the country.
“The current political landscape in Zimbabwe is characterised by polarisation, intolerance to opposing political views and ideologies, intra and inter-party fighting and succession issues, further weakening the political discourse,” said ZHCD.
The church said the current government is reluctant to address economic issues which are affecting the majority.
“Immediate steps need to be taken by the Executive to improve the economy, reduce poverty, improve international relations, reduce, repay and restructure debt, increase the capacity to borrow, support the informal sector and create genuine wealth,” the heads of Christian denominations said.

Grace Fails to Reimburse School-Kids’ Fuel Cash

By Tinoonga Mawere, Gutu|CIO agents ordered School Bus Drivers to ferry Zanu PF to and from Grace Mugabe’s rally at Mushayavanhu High School yesterday.
School bus drivers were left stranded having travelled long distances to the venue.
The bus drivers told ZimEye.com yesterday they were grounded at the venue hoping to be given fuel coupons as reimbursement for the expenses incurred but they were rudely told by state agents to wait for further consultations. Some of the schools that own the buses are Dewure, Gutu High Alheit, Mupandawana, Mukaro Mission and Mutero.
Mrs Mugabe’s rallies have chewed up thousands of dollars at a time the country ‘s economy is crumbling with each passing day. Such schools are also operating on stringent budgets due to the harsh economic conditions. One school bus driver yesterday said around 7pm they were still waiting for the fuel coupons.
“We are still waiting for the coupons and we are now confused. We were instructed to ferry Zanu PF supporters to and from the rally but now we are still waiting for the coupons. We used school resources to transport the Zanu PF supporters and we are now fearing for the worst,”said a bus driver who spoke on condition of anonymity.
While everything at the rally appeared to be glamorous, it has emerged Mrs Mugabe’s rally has left several institutions battling with arrears as a result of costs incurred before and during the rally. It has also been reported Gutu Central Constituency MP Lovemore Matuke who is a businessman, went into overdrive and donated several crates of soft drinks and beer in a bid to please Mrs Mugabe.
The First Lady has been accused of being insenstive to the plight of thousands of suffering Zimbabweans and she has also been lambasted for her penchant for expensive shopping.

STIs Rife In Zim Universities

Sexually Transmitted Infections have skyrocketed in the country’s universities with over  35 %  students engaging in promiscuity.
Report by NewZimbabwe.com
Research carried out by the Students and Youth Working on reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) in June at four local universities established that students were indulging in sex despite limited access to contraceptives.
It was also established that despite the high numbers of STIs at these institutions, access to treatment for the infections and ARV therapy was limited at just 20 percent.
The research further noted that there was no provision of Post Exposure Prophylaxis which is given to victims of rape so that they do not contract HIV or get pregnant.
“There were not ART initiation, no post rape care, no post abortion care services as well as cervical cancer screening and control,” reads the report.
In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com SAYWHAT official, Tawanda Nyamangara, said government and parents should come to terms with the fact that youths are indulging in sex.
“This is happening in colleges and universities, and there is need for stakeholders to double their effort if we are to save the lives of this key population,” he said.
“The problem we have also discovered is that there is no comprehensive information on sexuality in tertiary education which we think is crucial to this sexually active age group.
“In some cases condoms are available in college hospitals but students cannot access them because they feel embarrassed to do so.”
 

Nordic Company seeks to Invest Zim Fertilizer

Yara2
Nordic fertiliser giant Yara International ASA has set its sights on Zimbabwe and other regional markets after announcing the purchase of Zambia’s Greenbelt Fertilizers in a $51 million deal announced on Friday.
Greenbelt Fertilizers is a leading distributor of fertilizers in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
“This is a long-term investment in Zambia, and in the transformation of agriculture in Southern Africa,” said Yara’s CEO for Africa, Bernhard Fonseka. “Our decision to buy Greenbelt Fertilizers is based on our belief in the immense potential of smallholder and commercial farmers in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique.”
Zimbabwe frequently grapples with the shortage of nitrogen fertilizers, due to production capacity constraints and lack of capital.
The Zambian transaction comes two months after Yara opened a $30 million fertilizer terminal in Tanzania, signalling Yara’s drive to provide sustainable crop nutrition to African farmers.
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique form part of one of the world’s fastest growing agricultural regions, but among smallholder farmers, the use of new technology and crop nutrition programmes remains low. Yara currently employs 80 agronomists to share knowledge with farming communities in 10 African countries, said Fonseka.
“By buying Greenbelt Fertilizers, Yara will be able to provide sustainable crop nutrition for more farmers, increase crop yield and quality, and increase farmers’ incomes,” he added.
The transaction is expected to close in first quarter 2016, subject to competition authority approval and other customary closing conditions.

Grace: Mnangagwa Is Below Me

GRACE-UGLY
First Lady Grace Mugabe has announced that she is senior to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

ALSO READ – Grace Confirms Presidential Shoot State Media – First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe yesterday corrected media reports that insinuated she had said Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa was her senior. Responding to a headline that appeared in The Herald when she addressed a rally in Mberengwa last week, Amai Mugabe said while she had great respect for Vice Presidents Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, the pair was not senior to her.
She said this while addressing thousands of people at Mushayavanhu High School in Gutu during her ninth rally to connect with the people. The First Lady has been to all the provinces save for Bulawayo. “I said I respect VPs Mphoko and Mnangagwa and I did not say they are my seniors,” Grace said.
“There are some mischievous people in the media industry. (The) Herald, what is it that you wrote that VP Mnangagwa is my senior? I never said that. I said he has more experience in politics than me. It does not mean the First Lady is below the VP.”
She added: “I said I just got into Zanu-PF and the fact that I said that does not mean I am lower than someone. I am the wife of the President. I humble myself and respect the people. VP Mphoko I refer to him as my father because he is our Vice President, but despite the fact that I call him father, he knows my position that I am the wife of their leader. It is my right, and even in the Politburo that’s why I seat at the front.”
At the Mberengwa rally, Mugabe said she had a lot to learn from VP Mnangagwa in politics and the pair enjoyed cordial relations.
She was responding to a spirited campaign in the private media that sought to cast her nationwide rallies as a pitch for one of the VP posts, ostensibly VP Mnangagwa’s, at Zanu-PF’s 15th Annual National People’s Conference that begins in Victoria Falls on Monday.

France brings out mixture of world’s most critical problems

By Emmanuel Koro
Johannesburg,
The French capital city, Paris last week brought to us a heart-breaking mixture of the two most critical world problems for which lasting solutions are urgently needed – terrorism and climate change.
Just a few weeks ago France came under heavy and fatal terrorist attacks, sending shock waves not only there, but worldwide.
Now it hoster one of the most important UN environmental conferences that seeks to address a world-wide felt problem of climate change; the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) 21st Conference of Parties (COP21). The COP21 will run from 30 November to 11 December 2015.
It is against this background that just before, France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Laurent Fabius started globe-trotting reassuring some of the over 150 heads of states attending the meeting; including South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma that they will not be harmed while attending the UNFCC COP21. Currently, 195 states are members of the UNFCC.
Our leaders are going to address a global climate change problem whose future threat to human and environmental wellbeing has already been proved beyond doubt by the UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Sadly, there is still concern that there is little commitment from some world leaders to fully address climate change problems. This is evidenced by the UNFCCC’s continued failure to significantly reduce the emission of gases that cause climate change since the adoption of the UNFCCC in May 1992 and later its entry into force as a legally binding Convention in May 1994, to date.
“Twenty years later, we are nowhere near achieving the aim of the Convention,” said a recently published Greenpeace International Report. “Carbon dioxide emissions have grown by about 40 per cent and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have not been this high for millions of years. Global mean temperatures have increased by a whopping 0.4 degrees Celsius and oceans have become 0.28 degree Celsius warmer.”
In its 2012 report headlined ‘Climate protection between hope and despair’ Greenpeace International confirms that UNFCCC member countries failed to live up to their promises under the Kyoto Protocol to cut down their emissions by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.
The climate change-causing gases that the UNFCCC is fighting to reduce include carbon monoxide from car exhaust pipes, methane, nitrous oxide, tetrafluoromethane, hexafluoroethane and sulfur hexafluoride. These gases are also collectively referred to as greenhouse gases (GHGs). They contribute towards the warming of the earth/globe because they prevent heat from escaping from the earth into space, creating global warming.
It is this global warming trend that the world is fighting to stop by calling for the reduction in emission of GHGs.
Climate experts worldwide have continued to warn that the world cannot afford any further global warming. This begs the question: “Will Paris go down in history as the city where world leaders decided once and for all; to put petty politics and socioeconomic interests aside, in the interest of having long-lasting solutions to address the commonly shared climate change problem?”
Adopted in Kyoto Japan on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement under the UNFCCC popularly known for committing world governments (its parties), to strictly adhere to binding emission reduction standards. Sadly it expired at the end of 2012. This potentially left the global climate change efforts at a standstill.
Fortunately, UNFCCC member countries later met in Doha, Qatar and voted to extend the Kyoto Protocol to 2020. The sad reality about Kyoto is that it continues to expire and is due to do so in 2020.

Addressing Kyoto Protocol life-span problem
Fully aware of this Kyoto ‘life-span’ problem, the UNFCCC member countries recently made a welcome decision calling for long-term climate change commitments during COP 17 held in Durban, South Africa. They agreed to create a new international climate agreement by the conclusion of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris in December 2015.
Under this new and long-term commitment towards addressing climate change UNFCCC member countries have agreed to publicly outline their post-2020 climate actions under a new international agreement, known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). The INDCs will largely determine whether the world achieves an ambitious 2015 agreement at COP21 in Paris and for the first time create a worldwide shared commitment to change life-styles at all levels of society, towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient future.
In line with the worldwide acceptable the sustainable development motto of “Think globally, act locally and make a difference” a world united by a common problem of its own making; climate change – will be meeting in Paris next week to address climate change, meaningfully. Expectations are high that the INDCs will be the life-line of future generations to whom a life-giving environment should be continuously handed-over.
South Africa’s INDC local consultative process ahead of COP21.
Over the past few months leading to UNFCC COP21, South Africa has been mobilising stakeholders from all sectors of the society to give an input into its INDCs. One of the most interesting consultative INDC processes took place in Gauteng, South Africa’s most industrialised province and no doubt one of the biggest contributors towards emitting GHGs.
At the recent Gauteng Pre-COP21 INDC Stakeholder Engagement Conference, held in Gauteng recently Gauteng stakeholders effectively used the Conference as a platform to give their Provincial input that would be fed into to the National INDC in Paris at the UNFCC COP21, this month.
In his keynote address the MEC for Gauteng Departments of Economic, Environment and Agriculture, Rural Development, Mr Lebogang Maile said that our efforts towards mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts should not ignore the need to address the climate change challenges faced by the poor and historically disadvantaged communities. These include rural communities and townships.
The master of ceremony Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Deputy Director General: Natural Resources Management, Advocate John Nesidoni said in his opening and closing remarks that the INDC were important for us and future generations. He said that the decisions that we were making were not only going to have an impact on the lives of South African people but also on billions of people from different parts of the world.

Grace Confirms Presidential Shoot

GRACE IN MANICALANDFirst Lady Grace Mugabe has said her husband Robert Mugabe may choose her as his successor when the 91-year-old Zimbabwean president leader decides to leave office. “I cannot be counted out,” Grace, 50, told a rally Friday in Masvingo province. “President Mugabe has the prerogative of choosing his successor.”

ALSO READ – Grace: Mnangagwa Is My Junior

Her statement appeared to contradict remarks she made at a Nov. 20 political rally that she had no presidential ambitions. The southern African nation is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in 2018.
Known by her critics as the “First Shopper” and “Gucci Grace,” for what they say is her extravagant lifestyle, Grace Mugabe has built support among a group of senior ruling party officials known as Generation-40 because most of them are in their 40s and played no role in Zimbabwe’s war for independence.
Her main adversary in a run for the top job is the vice president and deputy leader of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who previously served as state security and defense minister.
“We can’t afford to have a leader who isn’t popular or we will lose elections,” Grace said. “Mugabe is an old man at 91 and we’ll be carrying him in a wheelbarrow to address people because he is still the best person to lead the country.”
Doubts about Mugabe’s competence increased in September when he read the wrong speech at the opening of parliament without realising he had delivered the same address a few weeks earlier.
While Zimbabwe’s economy is stagnating, with slumping consumer demand pushing the country into deflation and 83% of government expenditure going on civil servant wages, “Given the level of factionalism in ZANU-PF, there is no force strong enough to oust him,” Mark Rosenberg, Africa director at New York-based Eurasia Group, said by phone at that time from Johannesburg. “If he doesn’t die in office and he steps down beforehand, he will try to control the process as much as possible and will probably succeed.” Mail and Guardian

Grace Jilts Mnangagwa using Fake Donations

By Tinoonga Mawere, Gutu | Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s absence at First Lady Grace Mugabe’s rally at Mushayavanhu High School has all but confirmed the perceived bad blood between the two Zanu PF heavyweights.
Mnangagwa whose key stronghold is the Masvingo Province, was expected to attend the rally but he was nowhere to be seen. Mrs Mugabe was accompanied by Vice Phelekezela Mphoko -who is now viewed as the First Lady’s apologist, Saviour Kasukuwere and other several senior Zanu PF officials .
While Mnangagwa bunked the much touted rally,there were fresh claims that Mrs Mugabe did not donate the plastic shoes she dished out at the rally but rather used funds raised by the Fushai Women’s project. Grace only ordered the shoes from China using the raised funds, reports say.
As usual Grace donated 200 tonnes of maize,180 tonnes of fertilisers ,3400 litres of cooking oil ,320 kgs washing soap and 268 pairs of plastic shoes allegedly bought using Fushai funds. The First Lady attacked Zanu PF politicians for bribing journalists to peddle falsehoods against her -a statement directed at her political foes -including her alleged nemesis Mnagagwa .
She also attacked NGOs for being used by Western countries to advance imperialist ideologies in the country.
“When NGOs come tell them to remove sanctions and not just bring food. Tell them that you want to work for yourself. The west assumed that if industries close down people would turn against President Mugabe. We know that some top Zanu PF officials are also paying journalists to write falsehoods and we will face and you have to explain yourself,” said Mrs Mugabe .
Fresh evidence has pointed out Mrs Mugabe only facilitated the purchasing of the plastic shoes and did not donate the goodies .
The First Lady’s call on the villagers to snub relief food from NGO has angered the local community since there is looming starvation in the area .

Woman Found Dead In Toilet

A 28- year-old woman of Thito ward in Maun was found dead in a toilet at one of the local bars on Wednesday morning.
Although details surrounding her death were sketchy, people interviewed at the crime scene said that evidence suggests a possibility that the woman was raped before she was murdered.
“The way she was seated suggested that someone dumped her there, her trousers were to her knees while her head leaned on the toilet seat,” said one the first people to arrive at the scene.
Maun Police boss, Peter Gochela refused to comment saying the case was still new and has not been furnished with details.
DANIEL CHIDA/ TheVoice

Chiyangwa Winning ZIFA Presidency, State Media Says

Harare Businessman Philip Chiyangwa is winning the ZIFA Presidency today, the State Media claims as the football body heads to the ZIFA village (at 9am) in Harare for elections.
chiyangwa zifa
In the below report, the government broadsheet says unless something incredible happens, Chiyangwa is certain to take the most coveted post in national football.
After months of waiting, the domestic football family will today know the man who will be ushered into the hot seat to lead it for the next 15 months and try to pluck the game from a debt trap that has been threatening to drown it.
Cuthbert Dube and his board left the game after a five-year experiment that went awry.
Four men are in the running to lead the association and, as of last night, Harare businessman Philip Chiyangwa was leading the contest.
Leslie Gwindi, James Takavada and former ZIFA chairman Trevor Carelse-Juul are hoping to get the vote of the councillors and win the top post.
PHILIP CHIYANGWA
He was the first to declare his candidature and appears to have done all the early running and, if the opinion polls are to be trusted, he is set to be named the ZIFA boss today in a first round crushing victory.
He revealed in his election manifesto that it has been his life-long dream to serve football and lead the domestic game.
The 59-year-old launched a vigorous campaign that included a tour of all the country’s provinces, adverts in the mainstream media and also co-opted a number of key constituents to rally behind him.
Chiyangwa’s catch words have been: Rebuild! Restore! Reposition!
He says he has a plan to dissolve ZIFA’s crippling debt, believed to be hovering around $6m, and says his business connections will come in handy.
However, some have questioned his background in football but he says that the fact that he has been in the trenches, in the grassroots, doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been active in football administration.
He received the support of Soccer Africa pundit, Idah Pieterside, who on Thursday night told the SuperSport weekly football magazine programme that the domestic game right now needs a man who can unlock revenue streams and resolve its debt crisis.
Chiyangwa says he will not remain in charge of ZIFA, beyond 2018, and has promised to hand over the baton to Farai Jere, who was a firm favourite among Councillors, to lead the Association, before he pulled out and backed the property mogul.
LESLIE GWINDI
Leslie Gwindi is now running for the same office for the third consecutive time and his camp believe this could be third time lucky for their man.
The former Dynamos secretary-general and Harare City chairman wants the re-establishment of the respect for the constitution, re-establishment of the authority of the ZIFA Assembly, restructuring the secretariat, grassroots football development for both boys and girls, good corporate governance and sound financial management.
Gwindi says, once elected into office, he will institute major reforms at the national association to restore integrity and confidence among the stakeholders as the first step to get Zimbabwean football back on its feet.
Gwindi revealed he has a workable debt settling strategy which include the transparent engagement of creditors.
He also strongly feels the next ZIFA board must come up with a robust strategic document which can still be referred to by football administrators in the years to come on the way Zimbabwe football should take.
He will dedicate his first six months in office to establishing a five-year plan which must be measurable and with time-frames.
JAMES TAKAVADA
The 1984 Soccer Star of the year believes it is now time to give ex-footballers a chance to take charge of the game.
He says former footballers should have a big say in the way ZIFA operates and this can be achieved by bringing in a former player at the helm of the association.
He plans to restore ZIFA’s credibility, increase transparency, accountability, improve the governance and protect the integrity of the game.
Takavada said Zimbabwe does not deserve to be sitting outside the top 100 on the FIFA rankings and the game needs someone who has been in the trenches as a footballer
He says ZIFA structures need to be re-aligned and will only improve with the inclusion of councillors in decision making.
He believes that a lot needs to be done towards the provision of infrastructure and grassroots development.
In 1984, Takavada was the Soccer Star of the Year when he turned out for Ziscosteel.
He has played for Gweru United and Darryn Tornadoes.
TREVOR CARELSE JUUL
The South Africa-based businessman is hoping to get it right this time around after losing the last election to Cuthbert Dube in a run-off.
He feels this could be his best chance to land the position.
Juul has promised to bring back the “Dream Team” days once elected into office, as reflected by the catch-line “Dream Team to Reality” in his manifesto.
His mission will be to identify, develop and support talented young players to reach their potential at home and abroad.
He also wants to see a ZIFA that has sustainable revenue streams commercially managed in a transparent manner.
He also wants to see greater respect for the football fraternity, integrity, honesty, fair play and accountability.
Carelse-Juul played top-flight football for Eagles and Dynamos before becoming the youngest ever coach, aged 26, to guide the record Zimbabwean champions.
He then served as zifa chairman in the early 1990s before he left office in 1993 after being replaced by Leo Mugabe.
His candidature, however, has been haunted by his dark past which is littered with allegations of corruption during the construction of the Angwa City building in Harare which was done by his company.
Carelse-Juul, however, claims he is innocent and a born again Christian who believes he has the calling to be the ZIFA boss today.
THE HERALD’S PREDICTION
Unless something dramatic happens today, this race appears set to be won by Philip Chiyangwa and what remains to be seen is whether it’s going to be a blowout victory or one that goes into the second round but, either way, given the way he went around his campaign, it’s difficult to see it going the other way. He might not be the people’s favourite, and he aware of that, but he appears to have the backing of the Councillors.

Churches Agree To End Gender Based Violence

By Sydney Barson | Church leaders have added their voice to the current 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based violence campaign by committing themselves to living as positive role models, leading by example, educating their congregants and using the pulpit for religious activism.
Speaking at the just ended 3 day workshop held in the sleepy town of Lupane, Mrs. Polite Matibiri Gender and Women’s ministries focal person at the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) said the workshop was organised to take a closer look at GBV “using the transformation and
restoration used by Jesus” Christ.
“Our christian response to Gender is grounded in and motivated by the word of God. As followers of Christ we want to be God’s representatives and respond to God’s calling to you as his children,” said Matibiri.
The 16 days campaign runs annually from November 25 to December 10.
The workshop was organised by Channels of Hope, a program of Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and UDACIZA in partnership with World Vision Zimbabwe. It is operational in 10 districts spread over Midlands, Masvingo, Matebeleland North and South provinces.
The workshop comes barely a week after Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa’s widely criticized 2016 Budget Statement where he allocated more resources to the Defence, CIO and the police while giving a paltry to gender and women’s affairs.

Mnangagwa Bunks Grace Masvingo Rally

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa bunked First Lady Grace Mugabe’s Masvingo rally today.
Mnangagwa was conspicuous by his absence at the function attended by members of the shady G40 group which is advocating for Grace’s elevation to the Presidium so she can replace her husband.
At the function, Grace stood for her husband saying he is metal in the bedroom.

kasukuwere masvingo
LIVE BLOG: FIRST LADY RALLY-MASVINGO (State Media)
1444: Hungwe has finished his address and we end our updates.
1434: Josiah Hungwe is now giving the closing remarks. He thanks Grace for coming to Masvingo province.
1417: Grace has donated 200 tonnes of maize, 70 tonnes of rice, 3400 litres, 2000 kgs, 517kgs, 320 kgs washing soap, 268 pairs of shoes, 180 tonnes of fertiliser. She has finished her address.
The ZCC Brass band entertains the crowd. Picture by Simiso Mlevu
1404: “Mdara Mugabe isimbi, isimbi yebasa!…We are happy that we have a father who cares for us. Have you seen a man with 91 years walking with a straight posture like President Mugabe? He may decide to rest we don’t know but for now he’s here…this man work’s for us.
“You should learn from that man..we may struggle but we should be happy with the peace we enjoy unlike in Libya that is now war torn. Iraq was destroyed…please youth we don’t want violence even if you see MDC supporters don’t fight them.”
1401: She blasts politicians who are bribing and threatening journalists to write certain stories.
“Sometimes we blame these kids for their stories but most of the times it’s not their fault. The time will come when they will tell us who has been telling them to write what they have been writing. Some us speak the truth when the time comes…I’ve learnt from the man I live with that when you are honest nothing weighs on your shoulders.
“I’m a humble person and I call VP Mphoko baba but he knows I’m the wife of his senior.”
1347: “Value addition and beneficiation is the third one and here you grow sugarcane and it must be processed locally instead of sending raw cane to South Africa. We want to breed free range chicken as projects for women so that people eat nutritious food. Our diamonds are just being taken but we need to beneficiate them locally so we earn more.”
Grace, VP Phelekezela Mphoko and Saviour Kasukuwere dance to ZCC Brass band
Grace, VP Phelekezela Mphoko and Saviour Kasukuwere dance to a tune by ZCC Brass band in Gutu today. Pic by Simiso Mlevu
1341: “The second cluster is on Utilities and Infrastructure that will look at roads, energy, water provision and other issues. The Chinese are going to build us a new Parliament Building which will cater for the large number of MPs we have. These are things that are happening because of ZimAsset. They are also going to build a pharmaceutical warehouse. Our roads and railways are going to fixed and our airports are being upgraded to international standards.
“It’s might be painful today but things will get better.”
1326: She explains the ZimAsset programme with the first cluster being Food Security and Nutrition.
“Government saw it fit that we should work with countries like China and Russia that can help us with farming implements so that people can work for themselves…..don’t cut down trees because the problem of climate change that’s affecting us will not go away but will get worse. These tractors are actually a loan so we need to pay back and that’s why we are giving them to irrigation cooperatives who can work together to repay the debt. Those with larger farms will receive later.
“I would like to encourage the farming of small grains and we are looking at that as the Women’s League…Maize was never meant for human consumption but the our small grains are what we are supposed to eat.”
1315: “When NGOs come tell them to remove sanctions and not just bring food aid..tell them that you want to work for yourselves. A learned person is not a problem to work with and this happens because President Mugabe ensured that education was widely available….the West assumed that if industries close people would turn against President Mugabe.
“Most of you saw the war and noone fought alone..in that vain people should acknowledge the role p[played by the masses who cooked for liberation fighters and even hid them in their homes. What’s good now is that we have our country and yes the sanctions are hurting us and some people are unemployed but Zimbabweans are not lazy people who just sit and cry.”
1304: “You must be wary of the West who still hold grudges because they lost their foothold on Zimbabwe..let’s respect what was done for us. People who went to war never went for their families but for the whole nation…it should not surprise you when President Mugabe has been endorsed to continue leading the country because there is noone else capable.
“There are some greedy people who when given positions all they care for is themselves. When Matuke was chosen to be MP there were many people vying for that position but people saw it fit that he lead the constituency…people should be happy with what they are given, people should not boast but wait for the party to elevate them. There are people who think they are clever yet stupid….President Mugabe is attacked but he knows not everyone can love you.”
1258: “Masvingo is important, this country is called Madzimbawhe and that great honour should always be remembered and cherished. This province gave us Muzenda…a man with love, a man who knew why he went to war, he never boasted about it. Where do we get lost when we have such leadership…I’m emphasising on the work done by Baba Muzenda and such people don’t beat their chest.
“In the party we have people who have fought the liberation war from Masvingo province, blood was spilled and we should always remember…it starts from our homes to teach our young people.”
1247: Grace is now addressing the rally.
1238: VP Mphoko is now addressing the gathering. He says he wants to mention three things, first, being clever is not being wise and this means that some people claim Grace leads a faction yet there is no difference between her and President Mugabe.
“President Mugabe appointed me and vowed that I would die with him and how can I say today that his wife leads a faction. People over value themselves and think they are now important. Some of us have come far with country…there is no game you will play without us seeing. We see what’s happening, please let’s follow the path of President Mugabe.
“We don’t want anyone to place weevils amongst us….G40 is a myth, there is nothing like that. The second thing is about people who rape children from ages 1 day to 15years, such people should castrated, 16 to 65…life in imprisonment..66 to 100…castrate them. Let’s talk about this issue in the party until this problem ends.
“The third thing is lack of discipline but we see now like what Mai Nhari did..party leaders are being disrespected…Togarepi people died for this country..Togarepi the people you command are the ones disrespecting the party leaders, know today that we can be quite but we know what’s going on. You as the leader make sure things are in order. Besides that I have a war history, come and get advice from us..from today as we go to the conference we don’t want anyone being disrespected again.
“Now I want to call the First Lady to address the rally, please come forward Amai”
1220: Mohafa says 25000 people will be supported through irrigation after the completion of Tokwe-Mukosi. She says Masvingo won’t survive without President Mugabe and Grace. Mahofa ends her address.
1214: Shuvai Mahofa is now addressing the gathering. She says before Muzenda’s death she went to visit him in hospital along with Hungwe and were told to remain united.
“We promise you in the presence of the VP is that what President Mugabe wants is what will be done in Masvingo province….understand today Kasukuwere as the commissar that whatever you bring to the province as long as it has the President’s blessing you will have Masvingo province’s support.
“Before my appointment (as Minister of Provincial Affairs) land was being distributed corruptly but we have sorted it now. Districts are also working together.”
1147: Kasukuwere is now introducing the ministers.
1110: The meeting is over and Grace is now on stage alongside VP Mphoko and Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere. The national anthem is now being played.
1053: Ministers present here are s Sithembiso Nyoni, Nyasha Chikwinya, Josiah Hungwe, Shuvai Mahofa, Annastacia Ndlovu and Thokozile Mathuthu.
1027: ZCC Brass band is entertaining supporters who are patiently waiting while party leadership is still locked in a meeting
1004: Grace has arrived at the venue and has immediately gone to a briefing with Zanu-PF Masvingo Provincial Executive.
0953: Two helicopters are hovering above Mushayavanhu Secondary School signaling Grace’s arrival and thrilled supporters start cheering.
0947: Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has arrived at Mushayavanhu for the rally.
0944: Today’s rally is Grace’s 9th this year. Yesterday she was at Maphisa Growth Point in Matabeleland South province. She is going around provinces capacitating irrigation projects, fulfilling the mandate of the Zanu-PF Women’s League.
0942: Thousands of Zanu-PF supporters are gathered at Mushayavanhu Secondary School in Masvingo province for First Lady Grace’s rally.

LIVE:Grace Mugabe Rallies Blow 3300km Jet Fuel, INTERATIVE MAP

Below is a live interactive map showing First Lady Grace Mugabe’s rallies across the country in the last 12 weeks as she prepares for the upcoming ZANU PF conference. Grace’s trips have blown over 3300km in jet fuel all paid for from the taxpayer’s pockets. Zoom in to peruse the data:

BREAKING NEWS – Mugabe’s White Ally Attacks 10,000 Villagers Over $80

Hoardes of armed police officers Thursday morning stormed Chinyamukwakwa village in Chisumbanje and terrorised villagers for allegedly stealing a GPS car gadget belonging to businessman and Zanu PF apologist, Billy Rautenbach who owns Green Fuel, a local ethanol producing company.
The allegedly stolen GPS device costs no more than $80.
According to villagers, the raid happened at 0300hrs when everyone was asleep.
“Their first port of call was at Mr Muchatiroto Mashava where they demanded everyone out of their houses as they searched everywhere for GPS,”said one of the the villagers.
“In the process they handcuffed him and one of his sons Gondai Mashava accusing the two of plotting to destroy Green Fuel properties”.
They said the police found nothing from Mr Mashava’s and proceeded to another homestead which belongs to one Mr Bhebhe where they did the same and again found nothing.
The villagers said they believe that the move was an intimidation meant to frustrate their efforts of resisting the existence of Green Fuel which has encroached into their land.
Rautenbach displaced more than 1 700 households with an estimated 10 000 members from their traditional 10 00 hectares of land.
The businessman said he needed 45 000 hectares for cane production when the factory is at full capacity, suggesting that the land grab will continue.Billy-Rautenbach-2

SATANISM: ‘Chigwedere Caught Dabbling with Goblins’

President Robert Mugabe’s trusted apologist Aeneas Chigwedere was allegedly caught dabbling with so called “Satanic goblins”.
The Former Education Minister and erstwhile Mashonaland East Governor is being sued by his son for allegedly practising witchcraft and possessing goblins that have reportedly terrorised the whole clan.According to papers filed at the Harare Civil Courts by his son Magwiza Chigwedere yesterday, the erstwhile minister has reportedly caused untold suffering to his children and the extended family.
Also being sued is his wife Emilia Zharare Chigwedere, stepmother to Magwiza. The Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha) has also been cited as a third respondent. Magwiza wants Zinatha to use its expertise to rid the family of the goblins.
“This is an application Applicant makes against the respondents in terms of Sections 97 (a) (1), 98 (2) of Chapter V of the Code and Sections 16 (1), 19 (1), 2 (c), 3 (b) (ii) and 20 (1) (e), Section 83 (b)(c) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013 for indulging in non natural and uncultural practices to instil fear in family members, cause injury and or death, cause disease and or disability and condemn the said family members to abject poverty.
“The facts I depose of to hereunder are to the best of my knowledge true and correct reflections of what has transpired and still transpires,” said Magwiza in his founding affidavit. He accused his father and stepmother of possessing goblins which they allegedly unleash on other family members.
Magwiza alleges the victims are fleeing Hwedza for refuge elsewhere.
“First and second respondents — Aeneas Chigwedere and Emilia Zharare Chigwedere — possess goblins which have created untold hardships within the Chigwedere clan resulting in many clan members adopting different nomenclature to avoid association with first and second respondents or to flee their roots in Hwedza to unknown destinations hoping the goblins will not catch up with them. All this in futility.”
Adds Magwiza: “First respondent is also in possession of two pieces of ivory on one of which names of clan existing, and family members and those deceased are inscribed in pencil. The one with names has been concealed and only the blank one remains now.” Magwiza alleged the Chigwedere clan has lost a number of members because of the actions of his father.
“Female members of our clan cannot marry or if they do, many do not conceive. Some have been married for 17 years but have failed to find the fecundity during such a long period, no matter how hard they try consultatively. Those who conceive remain in the clan as wives of the goblins. Broken homes, broken marriages, lost dreams, lost lives,” he alleged.
Magwiza further claims his father performs bizarre and fiendish rituals on other family members’ offspring. The former minister allegedly sits the relatives “on reed mats, getting them to hold crookedly carved wands and getting them to gulp the brew”.
“Due to the quasi-supernatural powers vested in him by the goblins and his physical presence and stature, First respondent gathers the whole clan at his residence, fills a dish with porridge concocted with herbs. First respondent then makes deep cicatrices (nyora) on the little finger of each and everyone present drop blood and then scoop the porridge and eat it using that bleeding little finger. This was done in order of seniority down to those little ones who were still being breastfed. At every end he remained with a dish full of blood droppings from everybody present,” claimed Magwiza.
He accuses his father of performing numerous strange rituals annually “on the pretext that those are done to appease our ancestral spirits — yet in fact they are done to please the goblins.”
“Thereafter we experience incessant health problems — inexplicable physical pain, headaches, leg and back pains, tedium, weight loss, lack of sleep and dementia as those in Kambuzuma who are indeed a sorry sight,” said Magwiza.
He claims his father threatens to kill anyone who dare challenges him over the matter.
“First and Second respondents are calculatingly very cruel and deceitful to the point of deriving excitement in the destruction of their family and members of the clan. The name Chigwedere — though synonymous with affluence in its provenance, Hwedza, is in effect fraught with disasters for everyone else except the First and Second respondents.”
Magwiza further alleges that his father because of the power vested in him by the goblins, is capable of “domineering everyone in which ever way his prowess in unnatural and spiritual allows him to.” He said Chigwedere was an expert on tradition and culture and twists all acceptable cultural norms to suit his “dark designs”.
“This is the reason why third respondent’s (Zinatha) expert involvement is required — to engage the said goblins into agreeing to leave the family at whatever charge they demand in monetary terms.” Magwiza is seeking an order stopping his father from indulging in uncultural practices designed “to be detrimental to the well-being of his offspring, immediate family and clan members.”
He also wants an order directing Chigwedere “to send off all the goblins in their possession by paying all the charges the said goblins shall demand as per culture.” Magwiza wants the court to force Chigwedere and his wife to allow traditionalists and apostolics unhindered access to their homestead.
He wants the director general of Zinatha to appoint three traditionalists and two apostolic prophets with unquestioned expertise “to successfully conduct the send off ceremony referred to in paragraph 3 above in the presents of family and clan members available”.

Grace Detains School Kids

By Tinoonga Mawere Gutu | Teachers and pupils here were yesterday ordered to remain at their respective schools and hurriedly craft impressive traditional dance stunts for First Lady Grace Mugabe.
The affected primary schools are Mushayavanhu, Mabugu and Magadzire respectively. The traditional dances will be performed live on ZBC TV  to add flavour to Mrs Mugabe’ s rally.
A teacher at Mushayavanhu Primary School told ZimEye.com teachers and pupils were forced to remain at the school to polish up their performances ahead of Grace’s rally.
The teachers and pupils have been ordered to extend the school term by at least another day since schools in Zimbabwe have now been officially closed. The pupils were made to endure a full night away from their homes so to perfect their dances for Grace Mugabe.
“We had to cancel our holiday trips because we have to remain at school to lead the rehearsals as well as the actual performances tomorrow(Friday).It is unfortunate pupils will be detained over political matters. It is also our right to go and rest since the school term has officially ended,” the female teacher who chose not to be named told ZimEye.com
In other provinces Grace has also reportedly disrupted normal lessons during the school term and teachers and pupils have been force-marched to her whirlwind rallies.

We Brought ICASA To Zim-Gays

African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR) a coalition of gays, lesbians and transgender people claims that they defended Zimbabwe to host the 2015 International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), after the world had called for a global boycott.
Zimbabwe is known worldwide for its anti gay stance.
President Robert Mugabe  has on several occasions denounced gays describing them as being more than pigs and dogs.
“When Zimbabwe was announced the venue of this conference, you can imagine there was a lot of concern, in fact there was a global call to boycott it,”  AMSHeR  executive director Kene Esom said.
“We led a joint assessment mission here in July ,where we spoke to members of cabinet ,the Minister of  Health the Minister of Tourism who manages international  conferences, the National AIDS Council , we laid these things on the table and we said until we are given assurances  we will not be here and they gave us the assurances  and that is why our communities are here, our allies, the  donors and our partners are here  because they were concerned about key populations”.
When AMSHeR arrived for the conference at the weekend government confiscated their conference materials demanding that they should pay an excise tax on the books and brochures – they had brought.
They also had their exhibition stand pulled down because of “colorful and attractive messaging” on their posters and banners.

Binga Rural Council Boss Lives In Expensive Hotel Lodge Since 2012

Binga Rural District Council chief executive officer, Joshua Muzamba, has reportedly been staying in a lodge since his appointment in 2012, draining thousands of dollars from the already cash-strapped local authority.
Kabuba Ward 17 councillor, Themba Munkombwe (MDC-T), claimed that when Muzamba was employed as council boss in 2012, he stayed at Stand Stone Lodge and later moved to another one close to Rest Camp, where council is forking out $800 every month in rentals.
“Since 2012 up to now, the CEO stays in a lodge with council paying the bills. The documentation to that effect has been hidden,” the councillor claimed.
“The conduct of the CEO when discharging his duties is very unfair and partisan since he is a central committee member of Zanu PF. He is furthering the interests of a political party instead of focusing on development.”
Munkombwe said the CEO allocated himself stands adjacent to Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority offices and Kulizwe Lodge without councillors’ consent.
He also accused Muzamba of failing to implement council resolutions that were not in his favour.
Muzamba declined to comment yesterday, referring all questions to council chairperson, Dube Munkombwe.
“I am just a council employee, I cannot comment on those issues, you better call council chairman,” Muzamba said.
Contacted for comment, the council chairman yesterday accused his namesake of breaching council procedures, by taking the matter to the Press before exhausting internal remedies.
“The council is renting a house for the CEO. It’s not a lodge, but a house which is owned by the late Nkululeko Sibanda,” Dube said.
“Munkombwe is not being honest by claiming the house is a lodge. We, as council, lost a case against the former late CEO Shadreck Mudimba, whom we failed to pay some benefits and his family has remained in the council house to date.”
Dube said when they hired the new CEO, they had no option but to rent a house for him.
“Munkombwe should have moved a motion at a council meeting that he is not happy about council renting a house for the CEO and we would see if the rest of the councillors support his motion,” he said.
“It’s the duty of council to accommodate the CEO and if they feel it’s not right then the council has to give him that $800 so that he finds accommodation on his own.”
Binga has 23 MDC-T and two Zanu PF councillors.-SouthernEye

Gumbura Plot to Kill Mugabe Allegations: Captain Matapo Speaks

Jailed Independent End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura has been accused of communicating with alleged coup plotter and former army captain Albert Matapo from prison cells on how “they” would dethrone the Government.
Matapo who has previously been accused of being a Mnangagwa coup plotter in a recent interview told ZimEye.com he has never had any intentions whatsoever to overthrow government. He said the State wanted to force charges of attempted coup in which he would allegedly install Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the nation’s President.
 

Matapo is addressing the latest allegations on ZimEye.com on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile speaking in court on Wednesday, State witness, Claudius Mutizwa, a convict, told the court during cross examination by Gumbura’s lawyer that the church leader communicated with Matapo through one prison officer, Chinake’s mobile phone.
He said Matapo’s role was to gather manpower and to get guns from Morris Depot’s armoury adding that the rioting at Chikurubhi was not about food, but a political scheme.
On Tuesday the same witness said Gumbura communicated with former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru from prison cells through letters, strategising on how they were going to form their political party.
Mutizwa, a former police detective, alleged that he was an informant at Chikurubhi Maximum Security Prison. He said Chinake and the Deputy officer-in-charge of Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison Superintendent Jealous Dumbura, were the ones working with Gumbura, acting as messengers conveying letters outside prison.
“I was appointed by prisons as an undercover in 2008. When Gumbura told me about his plans, I pretended to be on his side and assured him that I was not going to divulge the information to anyone. Several phone calls were made in my presence in the library and he communicated with Albert Matapo more often through P.O 1 Chinake’s cellphone. Matapo was in London when they first spoke,” he said.
When asked by Gumbura’s lawyer Mr Tapson Dzvetero, about what they (Gumbura and Matapo) spoke about, Mutizwa said: “Matapo’s role was to assist Gumbura with manpower outside and to gather information. He was also supposed to get guns from Morris Depot. People cannot fight war without weapons so Matapo was to source weapons.”
However, Mr Dzvetero accused Mutizwa of lying under oaths.
“I put it to you that you are a liar. If you were telling the truth, Matapo, Chinake and Dumbura would have been in the dock together with these accused persons. Again, if you reported back to prisons about what Gumbura was planning, why then is he not being charged with insurgence or banditry?” Mr Dzvetero asked.
“I am just an informer not the investigating officer,” Mutizwa replied. “Witness, you are a liar because as an informer if you told the relevant authorities about the rioting which was being planned, Government would have taken steps to avoid it. How come the alleged jail break came as a surprise to the Government when you are saying they knew about it before?” Mr Dzvetero questioned.
Mutizwa refused to answer some of Mr Dzvetero’s questions citing security reasons but the magistrate, Mr Francis Mapfumo, ruled that Mutizwa was not a security officer hence should not run away from answering questions.
Gumbura is jointly charged with Blessing Chauke (25), Lucky Mhungu (38), Taurai Dodzo (47), Thomas Chacha (37), Thulani Chizema (32), Jacob Sibanda (28), Elijah Vhumbunu (38) and an armed robber, Lucky Matambanadzo (39).
The nine are accused of masterminding a foiled jailbreak.
In 2007, Matapo and a group of other former soldiers as well as some MDC-T activists were arrested for leading an attempted coup against President Mugabe.
Matapo and his colleagues spent four years in remand prison before they were freed in 2010 after the High Court ordered their release, saying their continued incarceration without trial was unlawful.
Matapo, however, remained locked up after he was slapped with a five-year jail term for trying to escape from jail.
Two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving an effective three year term.

Mnangagwa is Very Humble And Can Save Zimbabwe |OPINION

“Mnangagwa can both serve and save Zimbabwe”
LETTERS-strip-forum-red-strip-text-formatted3Dear Editor.

... Fidelis Fengu
… Fidelis Fengu

My research on Emmerson Mnangagwa shows that those who say he was a junior during the liberation war are liars and I challenge Mai Mujuru, Didymus Mutasa or Rugare Gumbo to put their histories against Mnangagwa’s history and let’s see if they stand a chance.
I do not belong to a faction. This was independent research. I did it all just to get facts on Mnagagwa’s role during the war.
God created us all and He made us different and gave us different strengths and abilities that we may accomplish His divine will and purpose for us as individuals.
As I did my research trying to find out who is Emmerson Mnangagwa and what is his story, I realised that God made Mnangagwa the man he is and made Mnangagwa work with Gushungo for a purpose . I give glory to and honour to God who allowed me to discover these things about Mnangagwa that made me respect him as a contributor to the liberation of Zimbabwe.
I discovered that Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. He:
1. is royalty , he comes from the Chief Mapanzure clan
2. As a young boy Mnangagwa showed his resolve to defend the poor and the black Zimbabweans when the settler regime authorities went to de-stock (nhimura muswe) in their area, they reduced the ox span of an old lady from 4 to 3 and Emmerson Mnangagwa did not like this and in turn he removed one wheel from the white men’s car stating that if the old lady should plough with 3 ox then their car should move with 3 wheels……. funny but true and this happened before he joined politics
3. He joined politics in 1957 when he joined Mkumbula’s ANC and was expelled from school for his political activities.
4. I discovered that Emmerson Mnangagwa studied building architecture at Hodgson Technical college and again was expelled from school for taking part in the Students Resistance Movement against the Monkton Commission.
5. UNIP deployed Mnangagwa to Bankroft mine where he served in various party positions , there he burned up mines , set up roadblocks and other acts of resistance against colonialism.
6. When the late great Willie Musarurwa was deployed to Lusaka Mnangagwa became his personal secretary
7. Mnangagwa was once sentenced to death by ZAPU for making a statement criticising why Joshua Nkomo had run away from home when the struggle needed his leadership. Mnangagwa was saved by God who sent Cde. Leopold Takawira and Cde. Chris Sakala to rescue him from the death sentence this was in 1963.
8. In June 1963 Mnangagwa headed a group of 6 that was sent to Cairo for training , in July Mnangagwa revolted against Nkomo and was placed under house arrest, Cde Chikerema and Cde Msika tried persuading Mnangagwa to rejoin ZAPU but Mnangagwa stuck to his guns and joined ZANU in 1963. Mnangagwa had already enlisted the support of Nkrumah in Ghana and Sekou Toure of Guinea while he was still in Cairo.
9. September 22 , exactly 7 days after his birthday in 1963 Mnangagwa led a group of ZANU combatants to China where they became the first ZANU cadres to receive military training.
10. When they got back Cde. Mnangagwa. Went to stay with the late great General Tongo in Zambia who was then ZANU branch chairman in Lusaka ….. I think it was there that Mnangagwa laid eyes on General Tongo’s sister …..
11. On May 7 1964 the first group of freedom fighters crossed into Zimbabwe the famous crocodile gang only 5 crossed into Zimbabwe , after 3 days of operations the group dispersed and Mnangagwa went to hide at Cde. John Shonhiwa’s homestead in Gutu… Later when others were arrested Mnangagwa kept on recruiting combatants and communicating with the leadership . He joined up with Cde. Mathew Marlow and carried out acts of resistance against the settler regime and capturing much needed weaponry which was to be used for the struggle.
12. Cde. Mnangagwa was sold out by Michael Mawema who got him arrested….. Mnangagwa had hit Mawema for misusing party funds …. Mnangagwa was arrested with John Chigaba who had also hit Mawema Mnangagwa was sentenced to 10 years in prison . He was released from Khami prison in 1973 and he went to Zambia
13. In 1977 at the first convention of ZANU Mnangagwa was recalled to Chimoio in Mozambique and was appointed Head of Army Intelligence and Member of the Central Committee….
14. The President Cde. R. G. Mugabe nicknamed Mnangagwa the ‘Iron Man’ when he appointed Mnangagwa the indefatigable soldier to Chair the Joint High Command.
These are the few things I found about Emmerson Mnangagwa and realised that God has saved Mnangagwa’s life so many times and God has allowed Mnangagwa to serve Zimbabwe and President Mugabe.
It is not magic but rather merit that Gushungo appointed Mnangagwa as one of his Vice Presidents. I believe that Mnangagwa is principled enough to serve Zimbabwe loyally in whatever capacity. From the record even if you appoint Mnangagwa to be the office orderly at State House he will serve dilligently because of his discipline and loyalty to Zimbabwe and Gushungo …..
Surprisingly though Mnangagwa has never blown his own horn or paraded his history …. He is ever humble and silent

My next research on another great leader is coming soon….

Soldiers Force-March Villagers to Grace Mugabe’s Rally

By Tinoonga Mawere Gutu| As Grace Mugabe avoided Masvingo city, opting rather for the villages of Gutu, armed soldiers from 42 infantry battalion at Mupandawana yesterday descended on Mushayavanhu High School villages ordering them to attend Grace’s rally and threatened to shoot those who snub the First Lady.
A group of at least 15 soldiers travelling in a Dong Feng truck moved around Potoriro Zvinowanda and Hwekwete villagers instructing villagers to attend Mrs Mugabe’s rally.
Soldiers have in the past moved around the country’s rural areas beating up people suspected to be against President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF.
Sources at Mushayavanhu High School said the soldiers threatened to shoot villagers who fail to turn up for the First Lady’s rally.
“People are really afraid because they were intimidated by soldiers in uniform. We cannot understand why the soldiers are campaigning for Mrs Mugabe .We saw some soldiers moving around the surrounding villages. Hundreds of people will be ferried from different places as well. It is disappointing to note that soldiers are intimidating people here,” said a teacher at Mushayavanhu High School.
On Wednesday night a group of soldiers also allegedly harassed and intimidated patrons at Mutamba bar, Hwiru suburb in Gutu town. The soldiers reportedly ordered the patrons to attend Grace Mugabe’s rally.
Meanwhile it has emerged Mrs Mugabe chose to go to Gutu district because she feared a hostile reception in the City of Masvingo.

Sex Attack:Top Prosecutor Demands Bribe

There was drama when a senior public prosecutor at Bulawayo’s Tredgold Magistrates court was arrested for demanding a bribe from a man accused of raping his daughter.
Mr. Vincent Shava was arrested during a sting operation after the suspect reported him to the police.
Paul Nyathi, National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent yesterday spoke on the development. “I can confirm that police are conducting investigations following the arrest of acting regional public prosecutor for Bulawayo Vincent Shava. He was arrested on allegations of criminal abuse of office,” he said.
He however, declined to disclose further details, saying he did not want to compromise investigations.
Sources alleged Shava had demanded a bribe claiming that he was responsible for convincing the man’s daughter to withdraw the rape case.
“Shava is the one who handled the case when it came to court. A girl had accused her father of raping her. However, she withdrew the case as she admitted that she had lied that she was raped,” said the source.
The source said Shava demanded $300 for ‘his services’.
“The suspect paid $100 and was left with a $200 balance. Shava was pestering the suspect to give him the remaining money. The exonerated suspect reported the matter at Hillside Police Station,” added the source.
The source said a trap was set for Shava on Wednesday afternoon leading to his arrest.
“The case was reported at Hillside peace intelligence where serial numbers for bank notes were recorded. The suspect handed the money to Shava in the city at about 1PM,” said the source.
Prosecutors are agents of the Prosecutor General and represent the interests of the general public in the criminal justice system.
They also have a duty to act in a way that strikes a fair balance between the competing interests of convicting the guilty, protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms and protecting the public from criminals
Shava’s arrest come a year after his predecessor was arrested and jailed on similar allegations.
Admire Chikwayi, who was the regional prosecutor is serving an 18-month sentence for criminal abuse of office.
Chikwayi, 31, solicited a $300 bribe from a complainant in a fraud case.
Police used the same modus operandi to set a trap for Chikwayi.(State Media/Additional Reporting)

Nampak Zimbabwe Revenue Falls 5pct, Profit at $2,3mln

Packaging group Nampak Zimbabwe recorded a five percent decline in revenue to nearly $96 million in the full-year to September on reduced aggregate domestic demand and lower margins, the company reported on Thursday.
Pre-tax profit stood at $3,8 million while net profit, at $2,3 million, was higher compared to $1,3 million achieved in the 11 months of the previous year.
Nampak Zimbabwe was created following the merger of Hunyani, CarnaudMetalbox and MegaPak last August. South Africa’s Nampak holds a controlling 51.43 percent interest in the merged entity.
Beverages manufacturer Delta Corporation, swapped its 51 percent shareholding in Megapak for a 23 percent stake in the new firm. Agro-processor TSL also exchanged its 40 percent shareholding in Hunyani for a 17 percent stake in Nampak Zimbabwe.
The group incurred manpower restructuring costs of $1,1 million, mainly at Hunyani, and a once-off charge of $358,000 relating to the merger of the three businesses
CarnaudMetalbox achieved a 13 percent increase in revenue on improved can and HDPE bottle sales and returned to profit from a loss position the previous last year. The company managed to expand its product offering, particularly to the dairy sector, while containing costs.
During the year, Hunyani recorded decline in revenue and operating profit by two percent and 59 percent compared to the prior period. A reduction in costs and new machinery is expected to place the business on a solid footing for 2016.
Mega Pak recorded a 13 percent decline in revenue compared to the prior year on depressed volumes for PET and pre-form products, driving operating profit down 43 percent .
The group’s capital expenditure amounted to $8,6 million after the purchase of plant and machinery to increase capacity and product range which it said would give it better footing going forward future.
“Major expenditure was on the pre-form machinery for $2,9 million and the tobacco line at $2,3 million, with the balance spent on various plant and equipment, IT infrastructure and the vehicle fleet,” the company said.
It added that the economic outlook remains challenging, with little short-term relief in sight for the manufacturing industry.- Source

My Brother Sodomised Me

A 22- year-old Bulawayo man says his older brother has sodomised him.
The brother, 29, appeared in court yesterday facing sodomy charges.
The man from Nkulumane 5 appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Abednico Ndebele facing a charge of indecently assaulting his brother.
The charged man however told the court that the whole matter was to do with his brother making up the allegations from spite after he earlier on caused his arrest and imprisonment for assault.
“My brother is making this up. He is just trying to fix me for sending him to prison when he assaulted me and my friend,” he said.
The complainant told the court that his brother was gay and it was no secret.
“My brother is gay everyone knows that. He abused me earlier this year. I had to report him because I’ve had enough,” he said.
The case was remanded to December 16, 2015 for trial at the Bulawayo regional court.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza told the court that on an unknown date in April 2015 and during the night accused arrived home and found complainant allready asleep. “Accused person then forced the complainant to have anal sexual intercourse with him,” said Mageza.
The prosecutor said the matter was reported to the police leading to accused’s arrest.

ZINASU demands the cancellation of admission of guilty fines

ZINASUThe Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has lodged an appeal advocating for the cancellation of admission of guilty fines which 16 of our members were made to pay after being arrested during a peaceful march on the 13th of November 2015.
We held a peaceful march in the CBD on Friday the 13th of November 2015 in our quest to hand over a petition at the Parliament. This led to the unfortunate arrest of 16 of our members all of them females while some managed to escape arrest but we were badly beaten by the truncheon armed police officers. The 16 who were arrested were detained at Harare Central Police Station for a night were some heartless police officers denied them access to medical treatment irrespective of the fact that they were visibly injured as a result of the brutal beatings orchestrated by the police officers.
After one night detention the 16 arrested were made to pay US$20.00 fine each something which they did with a heavy heart because it was against their will but circumstances which were prevalent at that moment forced them to oblige.
It is against such a sad background that we have seen it fit to seek the cancellation of the admission of guilty fines because it remains clear that our members were and are not guilty of any case. Our members only paid the fines not that they were guilty but simply because they had no better option but rather do something that would allow them to seek immediate medical attention. It is an open secret that all of them were in serious pain yet they were denied medical attention in the cells hence like any other human being in bid to serve their lives, the payment of fine was the only option that would allow them to be released so as to seek medical attention something which was a crucial necessity at that time following the brutality at the hands of the police station.
We would like to categorically state that the march was a peaceful one hence it was a justifiable cause even up to now. We were simply exercising our freedom to demonstrate and petition as clearly enshrined in the national Constitution under section 59. With this we profoundly believe that the arrests were unlawful, more so the brutality and detention
were indeed uncalled for hence we feel we can’t continue folding our hence in the face of this wicked machination.
Up to date it remains unjustifiable and baffles our minds on the reason why our members were arrested when they were acting in accordance with the Constitutional provisions. It also leaves a lot to be desired when we try to think the reason why armed police ruthlessly pounced at our innocent members who were only armed with placards carrying simple and clear messages.
In the meantime we have instructed our Lawyer Obey Shava to appeal to the Officer in Charge (Law and Order) to cancel the admission of guilty fines as soon as possible, failure of which we will not hesitate to take further steps with our legal legs to ensure that justice prevails. We are glad that our Lawyer has since written a letter which has already been served to the Officer in Charge citing all the injustices they are presiding over, we are waiting to hear from them before we take another step. We are prepared to sue the state once and for all because we strongly feel it is now high that the continued violation of human rights that has been existing in our country since time immemorial immediately comes to an end.
Statement issued by:
Tererai Obey Sithole

Grace Dishes Out Cooking Oil, Soap

State Live Updates of Grace Mugabe’s Mat South rally.
1322: Dr Grace has donated sugar, 2000 kgs of soap, 1800 litres of cooking oil, 10 soccer kits for secondary school, 30 footballs, 30 netballs, 6 tractors, 40 knapsacks, Compund D fertiliser, 27 tonnes of cotton seed, 6 food hampers for the Chiefs, 100 litres worth of fuel coupons for each chief
1312: “The fourth one is Value Addition and Beneficiation…I think the clusters are not enough though because some of the agreements signed with the Chinese don’t quite fit in the four clusters. There must be clarity. Government doesn’t want us to mine our minerals and not add value to those minerals. It is now law that minerals should be beneficiated.
Here you have wild fruits like the Baobab instead of just plucking that fruit from the tree you can actually make juice from that fruit. There is an Italian company that wants to come help us breed amancimbi so that we rear them throughout the year instead of just waiting for their season to come.”
1300: “The third one is the Utilities and Infrastructure cluster that looks at such areas power generation and for the irrigation infrastructure to work properly we need power and currently we are facing power shortages. Amongst the agreements signed between President Mugabe and President Xi are agreements that will see the rehabilitation of Hwange Thermal Power Station that will add 600MW to the national grid.
“These are important things that are being done buy our Government, this cluster is the one that talks of irrigation cluster. There are tractors coming from China, Brazil and Belarus and these are going to those with irrigation schemes only and others will get later. This cluster includes roads as well and the agreements included the rehabilitation of our roads and airport as well as the building of a new Parliament building. Buses will also soon be assembled locally.”
1252: “This area is good for livestock and Government is buying cattle in order to supplement the national herd. President Mugabe has the Presidential Input programme in which he gives us inputs. President Mugabe wants us to live well.
The other cluster is Social Services, the whole country had one university at independence and the Government cares for human capital development. This cluster also deals with health and the Chinese will build a warehouse to stock medicines. They also helped us with digilisation. I saw it here you have an information centre, an informed society is an empowered society.”
1245: “This area is drought prone that’s why Government set up irrigation schemes like the one being doine here by ARDA. We want to see more schemes like this happening. Yes we were the breadbasket of this Southern Africa region and if we do these schemes properly we shall return to that pinnacle.
“Some of you got farms and your Government saw it fit that it looks for implements that can work on such large tracts of land. This is to mshow you that even though times are hard they had to ensure that they fulfill their promises.”
1241: “ZimAsset is a programme that has been well thought out. Under this programme, the President and his lieutenants came up with four clusters and one of that cluster is Food Security and Nutrition…all of here we are soldiers of this country and must work for this country but for you to execute your role you must be well fed with nutritious food.
Government saw it fit that they approach friendly countries like China, Russia, Brazil and Belarus and you know the President went to China last year on a State visit and i had the privilege of accompanying him. He went with the ZimAsset programme and asked for their help. He spoke to Brazil as well. I’m explaining this because there are others that come here and lie that we can’t implement this programme.”
1235: “You can see with Tsvangirai’s ways. When he was made prime minister he saw it as a chance for him to womanise. Don’t waste your time with such people because there are people who still believe the MDC will save the nation. They only come towards election time and they never say what they are doing for the people.
“They laughed when President Mugabe launched the Look East policy but today those who mocked the President for looking East, they are now the same ones going to the East with their begging bowls. Mugabe knew what he was doing because during our struggle for independence we went to China for assistance and we managed to accomplish our mission.”
1230: “Now you should tell them that we don’t want your food. Tell them to open doors for foreign investment because we want to take care of ourselves. We know we were given this country by God and know that we have leaders and a party, Zanu-PF, that we follow and if you love us make it possible for us to leave a legacy for our future generations.
“Morgan Tsvangirai personally called for sanctions and you wonder what kind of a leader is he that wants to people to suffer. It’s just like when you were courting your wife, you didn’t beat her up first for her to love you. You approached her in a courteous way and convinced her.”
1223: “That’s why the British helped in starting the MDC so that it competes against Zanu-PF which they could not infiltrate through the use of money. You saw many people joining the MDC because they thought the MDC would bring the desired development yet they were lied to. I’m happy that with the passage of time people have realised that the MDC is not a homegrown party but are puppets of the West.
“Yes we may have people who are unemployed and other failing to take care of their families but we should not forget especially here in Matabeleland South where Dr Nkomo hails from. We may struggle, yes, but the country is ours and we should remember that we should take heed of our actions today as well as their impact on the future generations. I say this because there are NGOs who come and donate foodstuffs yet they don’t provide the means for you to sustain yourselves.”
1215: “The war was not fought for independence only but for the land as well so our Government led by Zanu-PF saw that the time had come for people to get land for them to farm and saw it fit to take back the land which the British did not like and led the West in imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe. These sanctions are meant to hurt the people so that they perceive their Government as incapable of running the country.”
1213: “We are saying this so that we remember the sacrifice that brought our nation. We say this so that all the time we have respect for the fighters of the liberation struggle. We are happy today in Zimbabwe because of these people that brought independence. We have them here the like of Moyo and Mohadi…who others claim to be wealthy but they are not but are people who sacrificed a lot for the country’s independence”
1209: She says Zanu-PF got all 13 constituencies in the 20113 elections and would like to thank the people of the province. She says it could not have happened either way because this is an important province from which Father Zimbabwe, Dr Joshua Nkomo hails from. She says the unity brought about by Dr Nkomo should remain so that his soul rests in peace.
“Dr Nkomo is one of the biggest heroes that led Zimbabwe to freedom. He struggled in his life for Zimbabwe to gain independence.”
1200: Dr Grace Mugabe is now making her address.
1157: Kasukuwere has invited the First Lady to address the gathering.
1155: Kasukuwere the reasons behind the First Lady’s countrywide tour saying she never started her philanthropic activities when she became First Lady or chairperson of the Women’s League but before. He also says Dr Mugabe is in Matabeleland South to thank the people for the support they give to President Mugabe.
1134: Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere is the Master of Ceremony. He is now introducing members of the Politburo on stage as well as ministers present. Some of the ministers present include Kembo Mohadi, Simon Khaya-Moyo, Abednico Ncube and Thokozile Mathuthu.
1116: The First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe is in Maphisa, Matabeleland South, as part of her countrywide tour in which she has been addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters as part of the Women’s League rallies.

BREAKING -Pasuwa announces 2016 CHAN squad

A Zimbabwe national team coach Kalisto Pasuwa has announced a 32 member squad ahead of the 2016 Orange African Nations Championship finals (CHAN).
The tournament will be held in Rwanda from January 16 to February 7 2016.
Pasuwa has blended youth with experience in his squad to strike the right balance for a tough campaign.
Pasuwa has indicated the need for thorough preparations ahead of the CHAN finals.
“We need to prepare adequately as this group is tough.  All these teams Zambia, Uganda and Mali have a large number of locals representing their senior team in their Afcon qualifiers. They are well organised and have solid structures,” Pasuwa told the Association’s official website www.zifa.org.zw.
Pasuwa also gave an insight on why he called a larger pool of players.
“I have fears over possible injuries considering that the players are coming of a high intensity season end therefore some players are reported to have injuries and we need to manage their fitness carefully as they are entering pre-season,” said the history making coach.
The coach expressed his wish to reach the final in Rwanda next year.
“It’s our wish as Zimbabwe to progress to the final and have a good run in the tournament,” said Pasuwa.
Zimbabwe were drawn in Group D of the 2016 African Nations Championship finals along with Cosafa rivals Zambia, Mali and Uganda following the draw that was conducted at the Serena Hotel in Kigali.
Warriors finished fourth at the 2014 tournament which was hosted by South Africa.
Group D matches will be played at the Rubavu Stadium in Gisenyi.
Zimbabwe’s Warriors who eliminated Zambia’s Chipolopolo from participating in the 2014 tournament, have appeared at every final tournament since the inception of the CHAN tournament in 2009.
Zambia will be making their second appearance at the Chan finals tournament having qualified for the first edition held in Ivory Coast in 2009
West Africans Mali have participated at the CHAN finals since 2011 and at the previous tournament were eliminated by Zimbabwe at the quarter-final stage.
East Africans Uganda have been steady campaigners since 2011 and will be making their third appearance at the CHAN finals. The Cranes have never made it past the group stage of the tournament.
In the 2014 CHAN tournament, Uganda were in group B together with Zimbabwe and held the Warriors to a goalless draw at Athlone stadium in Cape Town.
ZIMBABWE 2016 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 (Chicken Inn 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)
2016 CHAN GROUPS
Group A: Rwanda, Gabon, Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire
Group B: DR Congo, Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia
Group C: Tunisia, Nigeria, Niger, Guinea
Group D: Zimbabwe, Mali, Uganda, Zambia.
Source: www.zifa.org.zw

Mugabe Accommodates Gays

Under Robert Mugabe’s administration, the National AIDS Council says they are going to accommodate gays and sex workers in the country’s HIV programming to curb the further spreading of the pandemic.
This was announced by NAC Chief executive Dr Tapuwa Magure to gays who are attending the 2015 International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Africa (ICASA) in Harare.
Magure said “We are not going to discriminate anyone in HIV programming”.
“Although we have managed to reduce HIV prevalence in general from 29% in 2007 to the current 14% prevalence in key populations’ remains higher and this calls for action from government,”   Magure told Gays, sex workers and Women who have Sex with Women.
Magure said they have scaled up the number of people living with HIV on treatment to slightly above 900 000.
Zimbabwe has 1.4 million people who are living with HIV and still struggles to place all of them on treatment.
The country depends on donor funding for AIDS treatment on top of a 3% AIDS levy it deducts from formal workers.
Government is planning to levy the informal sector as a way of augmenting the dwindling AIDS funding.
mugabe

HIV Prevalence Among Prostitutes Skyrockets

UNAIDS says Zimbabwe needs to scale up its AIDS management programmes on sex workers whose HIV prevalence is skyrocketing .

The organisations Zimbabwe coordinator Michael Bartos told delegates attending a the 2015 International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Africa (ICASA) on key populations in Harare HIV incidence among sex workers stands at 10% .

According to statistics there are 52,214 sex workers throughout the country.

Out of the 52,214 sex workers 26,090 of them have tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)), and 10,922 have tested positive for HIV.

An NGO which advocates for sexual health rights, the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research recently revealed that that at least 20 percent of sex workers are HIV positive.

The NGO recommended that government should include this key sector in the country’s HIV and Aids programming if it is to reduce new infections which fuel the pandemic at a time the world is striving to end AIDS.

“The current HIV incidents among sex workers in Zimbabwe and principally female sex workers is 10% and what that translates to is that for every whole hoard of sex workers there is a chance of fewer of them being HIV negative and this very high and enormous,”

He said his organisation remains committed to Bartosfunding research in key populations.

“For progress towards ending AIDS to be achieved health programmers should locate the affected communities identify, acknowledge and recognise them, “he said.

Bartos said research to establish the real number of Men who have sex with Men is also crucial for the country’s HIV management.

Zimbabwe is one the African countries which criminalise gay activities and sex work and this has made it difficult for organisations which represent these key population groups from researching on HIV related issues.

Albeit the criminalisation of their activities Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) recently conducted a research which revealed that at least 50% of their members where HIV positive.

In a study the organisation carried did in partnership with local partners and SADC member states, in five sites (383) it emerged that there was 23.5% HIV prevalence among Men who have Sex with Men HIV prevalence and (179) 32.6% for Woman who have Sex with Women (WSW) .

As of last year (2014), GALZ had a known number of 2273 (MSM) and 380 (WSW) throughout the country.

TB Joshua Goes Missing

LAGOS – Nigerian preacher TB Joshua and two contractors facing trial for criminal negligence over a church building collapse that killed 116 worshippers have gone missing soon after court proceedings commenced.
The three were no where to be found at court on Monday, prompting the jutb-joshua-31dge to adjourn the case.
The case at the Lagos high court followed a coroner’s ruling in July that blamed Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) and two engineers for the September 12, 2014 tragedy.
Most of the victims were South African.
Coroner Oyetade Komolafe in his verdict attributed the collapse to structural failures and said the church should be prosecuted as the six-storey guesthouse did not have planning permission.
Joshua, who maintains the collapse was caused by a mysterious “hovering” aircraft seen over the building beforehand or a controlled explosion, repeatedly failed to appear at the inquest.
At court on Monday, Joshua was again absent, as were the two engineers who have called the coroner’s verdict “unreasonable, one-sided and biased”.
One member of the church’s trustees was present.
The hearing was told the engineers, who have unsuccessfully tried to obtain an injunction to prevent their arrest and prosecution, had not been served with a summons.
Judge Lawal Akapo said he was unhappy at the defendants’ absence and said he would not tolerate any unnecessary delays of the trial.
“It appears the defendants are not mindful that this is a criminal proceeding. This is a criminal trial and a sensitive matter like this one should be given accelerated hearing,” he said.
He directed the defence team to provide the court with the engineers’ addresses within 72 hours and adjourned the case until December 11.
Joshua, who counts powerful politicians from across Africa among his flock, is known to followers as “The Prophet” and “The Man of God”.
He is a self-styled faith healer and mystic who also runs a popular evangelical television channel.

Man Rubs Manhood On Sister In Law’s Booty

A Bulawayo man who was recently acquitted of attempted murder and rape, was dragged to court for indecently assaulting his sister-in-law.
Edson Phiri, 31, of Sizinda suburb appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Abednico Ndebele for indecently assaulting his 37 year old sister-in-law. He allegedly lowered his trousers and rubbed his manhood against her backside, while she was talking on the phone with his wife.
Phiri was not asked to plead and Ndebele remanded him in custody to December 8.
He pleaded not guilty. “I never committed the offence I’m being accused of by my sister- in-law,” said Phiri.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said on November 24, 2015 at around 2PM the woman was at home with Phiri and his nephew.
“Whilst the complainant was in the dining room talking to the accused person’s wife on the phone, accused person came from behind and held her by the waist with his pants down to his knees. Accused person rubbed his penis on the complainant’s buttocks,” said Mageza.
In April this year, Phiri- dubbed the blood hunter- appeared in court for allegedly attempting to rape a 66-year-old woman at Ingozi Mine Squatter Camp in Bulawayo. He allegedly cut the woman with a knife on the throat before stabbing her in the chest and abdomen.
Yesterday, he told prosecutors he was acquitted of the crime.

Pistorius Guilty of Murder

Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of murder by the Supreme Court. Judge Eric Leach announced that the state’s appeal in the Oscar Pistorius case was successful.
Last year a judge gave Pistorius a five-year jail sentence for “culpable homicide” of Reeva Steenkamp, but prosecutors say he should be convicted of murder for firing four shots through a locked toilet door.
Leach said that he found Judge Thokozile Masipa’s thinking confusing.
“Even on the finding that he did not know it was Steenkamp behind the toilet door‚ it did not matter. Even if he was under the impression that Reeva was in bed‚ he had necessary intent to bring [about] the demise of the person behind the door‚” said Leach.
Hence whether Pistorius knew it was Steenkamp behind the door wasn’t actually relevant on this issue.
Leach said that in light of the improbabilities in Pistorius’ testimony, and the three different versions he provided, one can’t really say why he fired.
Leach held that a retrial would be impractical. The court has set aside the culpable homicide conviction. Pistorius is guilty of murder. He will have to go before a court again – to argue over his sentence.

China flaps Mugabe 12-Sheets But Gives Jacob Zuma R94bn 26 Mega-Deals

Large Mega Deals...Jacob Zuma and Chinese President Xi
Large Mega Deals…Jacob Zuma and Chinese President Xi

China has while barbing Zimbabwe with 12 contracts, dished out to neighbouring South Africa 26 mega deals valued at R94bn.
The deals handed Zimbabwe have no value figure attached, while the one given South Africa is definitevely announced as valued at close to R100bn.
The latest move now sees China decisively move to address the trade imbalance between itself and South Africa while yet snubbing Zimbabwe. On his latest visit to the country, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa revealed that the Chinese are standing away from Zimbabwe because of the Zimbabwe’s harsh economic policies which are not investor friendly.
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Beijing Auto Works signed a R12bn agreement, the biggest of the lot, to build a car manufacturing plant in SA, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Wednesday during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s second state visit to SA.
The China Development Bank is providing a loan facility of $500m to Eskom to support the cash-strapped utility’s infrastructure plan.
China is SA’s largest trading partner, but concern has been raised about the balance of trade.
In April, SA recorded a R73bn trade deficit with China. At the time, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said exports to China amounted to R94bn last year. Imports from China in the same period stood at R167bn, with trade between the two countries totalling R262bn. China exports manufactured goods to SA, while importing raw materials for beneficiation.
Mr Davies said the new agreements would begin to improve the situation.
IDC CE Mvuleni Qhena said the entity would identify a site for the car manufacturing plant, which was expected to create 2,500 direct and 7,500 indirect jobs. Cars built at the plant would be exported to the rest of Africa. Currently, other African countries, including Angola, imported cars from China, he said.
President Jacob Zuma said the recent hosting by SA of an inward-buying mission from China would also help to tackle the “structure of our bilateral trade, as well as the industrialisation of our economy”. He described relations with China as “at their best levels ever”. Mr Jinping said he was looking forward to a deepening of ties.
Meanwhile, Transnet has secured a $2.5bn funding guarantee from China Export Credit Insurance Corporation.
Transnet has already secured a $2.5bn bilateral loan from the China Development Bank. The parastatal will use the 15-year Chinese guarantee to finance railway, ports and pipeline projects.
It said the guarantee allowed it to raise funding in the market for its multibillion-rand infrastructure investment programme, including the acquisition and maintenance of its locomotive fleet.
The guarantee is the second major funding agreement Transnet has reached this month and the second such facility the state-owned freight and logistics company has obtained from an international institution. Last week it raised a R12bn club loan through five institutions, including Absa and Nedbank. Last year, Transnet got a R6bn funding guarantee from American export credit agency US-Exim, which will be financed by Absa, Standard Bank and Old Mutual Specialised Finance.
China North Rail and China South Rail last year won the lion’s share of work in Transnet’s R50bn programme to procure 1,064 locomotives. As part of the deal, the Chinese manufacturer will provide 56% of the locomotives. International winning bidders Bombardier and General Electric will make up the balance.
Transnet has to date invested more than R108bn through its market demand strategy since its establishment in 2012. The company intends to spend R340bn-R380bn in the next 10 years.(BDLive/Agencies)

PSMAS Doctors End Strike

The striking doctors have gone back to work bringing sanity to Premier Services Medical Investments hospitals and clinics,after the parent company, Premier Services Medical Aid Society,injected $5 million earlier this week.
Since November 23 when doctors and other staff downed their tools overunpaid salaries going beyond five months, business had been affected at the PSMI hospitals and clinics .
The arrears built up due to outstanding money owed to PSMAS by the Government. The situation improved after Government paid part of the debt and PSMAS forwarded the money to PSMI as part of clearing its own debt to its subsidiary. A visit to some of the PSMI clinics in Harare yesterday showed that the workers were going about their duties as normal.
PSMI said in a statement that workers at its clinics across the country had resumed duty. “PSMI is pleased to inform its valued stakeholders that our practitioners are back at work,” said the firm. “Management and staff have reached an understanding that they resume their work while we work round the clock to address their grievances.

“Normal service at all our units throughout the country has been restored. We have made plans to ensure that such business disruptions will not happen again in future.
“We would like to express our gratitude to all stakeholders for their support and understanding during these difficult times. PSMI remains a viable business entity, retaining pole position in the private health care service sector in Zimbabwe and we intend to maintain that position.”
PSMI said their important objective remains that of providing affordable private healthcare services to all in Zimbabwe through teamwork and innovation. PSMI business development and customer relations manager Mr Nhamo Marandu said that they paid workers last Friday.
“We paid their salaries and we are happy that our customers are now receiving their health services on time,” he said. “We are hoping to get more money from PSMAS to make sure our stocks are full and be able to pay workers the remaining salary arrears.” – Herald

UK Starts Bombing Syria

War on Syria...David Cameron
War on Syria…David Cameron
Reuters- BRITAIN’S parliament voted on Wednesday to launch bombing raids against Islamic State in Syria, supporting Prime Minister David Cameron’s case that the country needs to help destroy militants who are “plotting to kill us”.
After more than 10 hours of tense debate, lawmakers voted in favor of air strikes, by 397 to 223. British Tornado GR4 bombers could leave an air base in Cyprus within hours to launch the country’s latest military action in the Middle East.
Given Britain’s diminished role on the world stage, the victory hands Cameron the chance to restore Britain’s standing in global affairs. He had urged lawmakers not to turn their back on allies such as France in their time of need.
“Britain is safer tonight because of the decision that the House of Commons has taken,” foreign minister Philip Hammond told Sky News.
Many British voters are wary of being dragged into another war in the Middle East. Some view Western intervention in Iraq and Libya as a failure that sowed chaos across the region and the news of the vote was met by howls of disgust by dozens of anti-war protesters demonstrating outside parliament.
But the Nov. 13 attacks on Paris that killed 130 people and were claimed by Islamic State have stiffened the resolve of some lawmakers and divided the opposition Labour Party, which convinced Cameron he could win the support of parliament for extending air strikes beyond Iraq.
Cameron said the more than four-year Syrian civil war could not be resolved by military action alone, but that the strikes would “degrade” Islamic State militants – which he said should be called Daesh.
Daesh is the pejorative word used by opponents or people who do not support Islamic State to refer to the jihadist group.
“These terrorists are plotting to kill us and to radicalize our children right now. They attack us because of who we are, not because of what we do,” Cameron told a packed House of Commons, where many lawmakers sat on steps or stayed standing.
“The question is this: do we work with our allies to degrade and destroy this threat, and do we go after these terrorists in their heartlands, from where they are plotting to kill British people, or do we sit back and wait for them to attack us?”
Germany’s parliament is also expected to vote on Friday in favor of joining the campaign against Islamic State, although only to provide military support for air strikes, not actually to take part in them.
CALL TO ARMS
British air strikes are unlikely to change the military balance, given the United States is already involved, but the vote handed Cameron the chance to show Britain’s willingness to add to a Western consensus for taking the battle to militants in Syria.
Cameron said high-precision, laser-guided Brimstone missiles would help to make a real difference by hitting the de facto Islamic State capital of Raqqa and its oil-trading business.
France and the United States are already bombing Islamist militants in Syria, while Russia has bombed mainly other rebels, according to conflict monitors and Western officials, in an intervention launched on Sept. 30 to bolster its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The West says Assad must go.
The vote also boosts Cameron after he suffered a humiliating 2013 parliamentary defeat over plans to bomb Assad’s forces.
But it is a blow to the leader of Britain’s main opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, who was against launching the air strikes.
Corbyn, a veteran anti-war campaigner who argued the bombing would be ineffective and kill civilians, was forced to allow his lawmakers to vote according to their conscience in order to quell a rebellion in his party over the military action.
Corbyn had hoped media reports that Cameron told Conservative lawmakers at a meeting late on Tuesday not to vote with the Labour leader “and a bunch of terrorist sympathizers” would harden opposition to the action.
But many of his party voted with the prime minister, a move which may bring into question Corbyn’s leadership.
The British public is divided over launching the strikes, with a YouGov opinion poll showing voter support for action in Syria had fallen to the lowest level since September 2014, with 48 percent of respondents supporting strikes and 31 percent against.
Those opposed to air strikes recalled the events of 2003 when Britain helped the United States to invade Iraq after asserting – wrongly, as it later turned out – that dictator Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.
Julian Lewis, Conservative chairman of the Commons Defence Committee and a critic of extending air strikes to Syria, said the government was in denial about the effectiveness of bombing without deploying viable ground troops.
Lewis compared Cameron’s assertion that there are as many as 70,000 moderate opposition fighters in Syria with the “dodgy dossier” on Iraq’s military capabilities.
“Instead of dodgy dossiers, we now have bogus battalions of moderate fighters,” he said.

Grace Mugabe Heads To Gutu

Grace Mugabe’s cyclonic rallies have made a Masvingo turn and she is now to address a rally at Mushayavanhu Business Centre in Gutu District.
She is expected to meet thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at the venue as it has been the pattern in other provinces across the country she visited recently.
Mr Ronald Ndava who is the Masvingo Zanu PF spokesperson confirmed Mugabe’s visit and said preparations for the rally, which is expected to be attended by many people from all the districts, are at underway.

“We are happy that the First Lady is visiting us. We are ready for her and the special state events committee is assisting us to prepare for the big day,” said Ndava.

He  went to say people will be transported to the venue by buses which have already been mobilised. Mr Ndaba urged people to come in big numbers to meet the First Lady and be able to share their problems with her.
Grace Mugabe, in many places that she held her rallies,she blamed those party members who are causing problems and dividing the party.
 

Mphoko Kicked Out of Rainbow Hotel Presidential

MPHOKO PELEKEZELA MPHOKO
Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko was on Monday kicked out of the Presidential suite at the expensive Rainbow Towers hotel.
The controversial CIO agent was pushed down to a smaller diplomatic enclosure after President Robert Mugabe indicated the visiting Chinese President needed the Presidential suite.
The move came as activists protesting Mphoko’s immediate removal from the hotel, were released by police on the same day.
Mphoko, the second of Zimbabwe’s two vice presidents, checked into the hotel on December 14, 2014.
Govt has since blown at least $151 000 on bed and breakfast to date.
The revelation comes as government claimed it wanted to cut costs and was already carrying out staff and pensioner audits, the report said.
In March, the vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, defended Mphoko saying the government was still constructing his house.
Mnangagwa had been asked in parliament to explain why Mphoko was staying in a hotel.
“VP Mphoko’s house is being constructed and once painting is finished, he will stay there,” Mnangagwa was quoted as saying at the time.
Mnangagwa also hinted at the time that the government house being used by ex-prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai could not be occupied by Mphoko as it did not befit his status.
This was after a suggestion that Mphoko could move into the house used by Tswangirai since the former PM had left government.
Media reports in January indicated that Mphoko’s wife, Laurinda rejected three houses, among them, a mansion in Harare’s affluent suburb of Ballantyne Park worth $3m (R41.8m), claiming that it was too small for a person of the VP’s stature.
The Mphokos, the reports reveal have also refused to move into a house left by the late vice president Joseph Msika in Harare’s leafy suburb of Mandara, saying they wanted a house of their own, not the one vacated by others.

Gwanda summons parliament

Staff Reporter | Residents of Gwanda have dismissed a “shoddy and unprofessional” parliamentary portfolio public consultation held in the town recently demanding for the portfolio committee to return to the town and redo the consultations.
In an email sent to the Clerk of Parliament, Gwanda Residents Association Secretary Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo accuses the portfolio committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology for not fully consulting the Residents of Gwanda on the Gwanda State University Bill.
According to the email, the committee did not advertise the consultation meeting to the residents which resulted in only a handful of people attending the meeting. The few who attended were also not served with copies of the bill which left them discussing from an uninformed point.
The strongly worded email further accuses the portfolio committee for arriving in the town late and rushing the few speakers through their contributions.
According to the Residents, the consultation process does not fully present the inputs of the people of Gwanda and so misleading the parliament.
In an interview, Fuzwayo said that they were still awaiting an urgent response from the Clerk of Parliament on the matter.
“We sent the email to the Clerk of Parliament two days ago and expect a response urgently considering the urgency of the matter. If no response is received in the next 24 hours we will pursue the matter further with the Speaker and make sure that the committee comes back to consult the people on this important bill,” said Fuzwayo.

Grace Mugabe posters flood Masvingo

First Lady in last gasp campaign trail| By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo|Posters bearing First Lady Grace Mugabe and her nonegenarian husband ,President Robert Mugabe’s faces have flooded the ancient city days before the Zanu PF annual conference in a move that has all but confirmed Mrs Mugabe’s presidential ambitions.
The posters purportedly hoped to prepare people’s hearts in the town for Grace’s tomorrow rally at Mushayavanhu Business Centre in Gutu, printed by concerned war veterans in solidarity with the ambitious Mrs Mugabe have been pasted on trees and buildings across the city and party insiders have pointed out the First Lady’s presidential ambitions have been virtually confirmed.
It has also emerged the CIO hatched a plan to drum up support for Grace in Masvingo province ,an area seen as a trouble spot for the First Lady. The Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Executive has openly opposed Mrs Mugabe’s ascendancy .
The expensive posters decorated by the traditional Zanu PF colours have been printed at a time the government is struggling to pay bonuses for civil servants such that the government workers have been left guessing.
The posters show Mrs Mugabe carrying a clay pot on her head , a sign of responsibility and call for duty.
“Attention: War Veterans – as written in our constitution on section 26 and 84 -Lets meet when the First Lady comes so that we will tell her our needs so that she can pass them to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe CDE RG Mugabe .She is the one who knows when to tell him,” read the message on the posters.
Local political analyst Arnold Batirai today said :” The posters we have seen are a clear indication of Mrs Mugabe ‘s political intentions. The posters have been pasted to soak up pressure in Masvingo which is regarded as a trouble zone for the First Lady.It is clear her supporters are geared up for her ascendancy.”

I Never Said Nelson Mandela was A Sellout – Malema

jjjj
News24|EFF leader Julius Malema says he does not believe late former president Nelson Mandela was a sell-out, however he stands by the fact that he made compromises.
Malema was explaining the statements which he made while addressing the Oxford Union in the United Kingdom.
“We must say a collective of the ANC has compromised the Freedom Charter. You [the media] chose to say I said Mandela sold out,” he told reporters in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
“If that helps you to sell your newspaper go on with it, but I know what I said, and I still say it and I said it before… they have compromised the fundamental principles of the Freedom Charter.”
Malema said everything he said about Mandela was true and he was not willing to sugarcoat anything.
“I don’t belong to a religion called Mandela. President Mandela is a human being like all of us. He’s got his own shortcomings. His legacy and his contribution to the struggle will be a permanent subject for critique in South African politics… if you don’t want to vote for me because I’m critiquing Mandela then you want to live a lie.
“Give your vote to those who live a lie, I don’t live a lie,” he said.
Malema told the Oxford Union that Mandela had turned his back on parts of the revolution after being released from prison.
“The deviation from the Freedom Charter was the beginning of the selling out of the revolution. But why did Nelson Mandela sell out the Freedom Charter? When Mandela returned from prison he got separated with Winnie Mandela and went to stay in a house of the rich white men… he was looked after by the Oppenheimers,” he said.
“Nelson Mandela used to attend the club meetings of those white men who owned the South African economy at the time.”
Malema’s comments were in response to a question on whether Mandela betrayed the people of South Africa in exchange for political power.
Malema said these white men had access to Mandela 24 hours a day and they told him that “what he represents would not be achieved”.
“That’s when he turned against himself,” Malema said.
Malema’s statement had raised the ire of Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela, ANC deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte and the ANC Youth League, to name but a few.
However, the EFF leader on Wednesday was not bothered by their comments, saying they could “go and hang” if they were unhappy.
“I’m not going to be blackmailed, because Mandela is no more [people are saying] you can’t speak about him like that. We speak about many, many people who sold out the revolution in the past, in South Africa and internationally.
“I agree compromises were made, but to single out Mandela is not correct. I don’t believe Mandela sold out. I believe Mandela made a contribution to a particular extent and it is up to us to take from there and move forward,” Malema said. News 24

Zimbabwe loses 300 MW Electricity after Hwange plant Collapse

hwange
Reuters-Zimbabwe lost 300 megawatts of electricity after two units broke down at Hwange power station due to be expanded through Chinese funding next year, an official with the state power firm said on Wednesday.
The Southern African country is experiencing crippling power cuts blamed for keeping away potential investors in an economy struggling to emerge from a steep recession between 1999-2008 that saw the economy contract by nearly half.
During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Zimbabwe on Tuesday, China agreed to provide a loan of more than $ 1 billion to expand the Hwange plant by 600 MW.
Hwange, the nation’s biggest power plant, is designed to generate 920 MW but has been producing just more than half of its capacity due to frequent breakdown of its ageing equipment. With the two units out of service, the power plant is generating about a third of its capacity.
“We expect Hwange unit 5 to come back on Thursday morning and unit 6 the following day,” Fullard Gwasira, spokesman for ZESA Holdings, told Reuters.
He said the two units broke down late on Tuesday at the plant located in western Zimbabwe.
The problems at the coal-fired Hwange, as well as low dam water levels at the Kariba hydro-power plant in the north of the country, have kept power generation below 900 MW, less than the country’s peak demand of 2,200 MW.
Six in 10 people have no access to electricity in Zimbabwe. It has, in the last two years approved several power projects, but which have so far failed to take off due to lack of funding. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by James Macharia)

Dzamara mates Released

Five activists and friends of abducted activist Itai Dzamara arrested for protesting against Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s hotel blow on Monday, have been released.
The fearless five are calling for Mphoko’s immediate exit from the Rainbow Towers hotel where he has blown over $152,000 of taxpayer money to date.
They were Wednesday afternoon released without any conditions and their court appearance cancelled after spending two nights at the Central Police station.
The activists are Dirk Frey, Tendai Tendayi, Lynnette Mudehwe, Irvin Takavada, Elvis Mugari, and Tonderai Chigumbu.
The police had attempted to use Section 46 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act.
Meanwhile, commenting on the development before their release,the DARE Youth Movement said it demands the immediate freedom of our youth leaders arrested for demonstrating against abuse of state resources by government executive officials.Indeed the extravagance of government leaders does not reflect the dire state of our economy. The opulence and grandeur of Zimbabwe elite is in fact criminal in the face of starvation and poverty among Zimbabweans. Our hospitals are short of drugs and equipment with a dire medical staff remuneration discord. That a vice president would acrue a bill of more than two million dollars on hotel fees is surely the worst insult to Zimbabweans.DARE political party condemn the selfish, looting mentality of Robert Mugabe, Phekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa.
We are equally astounded that the police who are lacking in resouces to police the state for lack of budgetary support brutally crush demonstrations. In fact the requirement to notify police is an unjust requirement flying in the face of freedom. Faced with a crisis of mammoth proportions, it is pathetic that Zanu Pf decides to fight democracy by silencing the demand for just expenditure. We can not continue to be pushed into state debt through negligence and corruption.We are concerned that Ziscosteel and some state companies are folding for lack of resources. Indeed we are moving into a new era where we can not accept abuse of office and state resources for party or personal whims. The same situation happened during the constitutional commission with Jonathan Moyo spending nearly a year at the Rainbow Towers at the expense of the state. Indeed we must remind the executive arm of government that Zimbabwe is poor and can not sustain their opulence hence the peacefull request for the present government to step down forthwith.They have failed to create wealth yet spend whatever little is coming through high taxes. We call upon the people of Zimbabwe to demand the immediate release of DARE cde’s and friends.We categorically warn that looting will not be tolerated in our impoverished nation.Once again we hasten to call and invite Zimbabweans to action against the Zanu Pf regime. We ask for cancellation of the RBZ bill and the takeover of private or corporate debts by the state where there is proven recklesness of resources.We ask for the auditor general’s report to be investigated throughly by an independent body to get to the bottom of missing $5 billion gvt funds.We are clear that awarding without procurement process Nikuv Projects a tender to clandestinley run elections in Zimbabwe in 2013 is a crime that must be answered. We indeed ask why George Charamba is still in government when he was fingered in the PSMAS scandal.We are stupefied why David Kajese Parirenyatwa is still a minister of health despite looting the PSMAS fund and creating new terminology to cover up stealing.It is time we stand up for democracy and freedom of expression and speech.We once again call on the police to desist from brutal crackdowns on opposition supporters.It is clear that repression and suppression will not deter our struggle for democraticaly restored and empowered Zimbabwe.Aluta Continua

China Zimbabwe Investment Nonsense

By Vince Musewe | I think that there is this wide misconception in Zimbabwe that since the Chinese President has visited, we will see an economic turnaround spurred by Chinese investment. Nothing can be further from the truth.
It is about time that Africans realise that Chinese aid is not intended to impact recipient state’s governance or sovereignty in any positive manner whatsoever. It is primarily intended to benefit China and China alone.
It has been proven that China’s agenda of non-interference with domestic affairs has been particularly directed to African states where it will produce the most economic and political benefits for the Chinese. This agenda is always welcome by African leaders who seek to remain in power, especially through repressing competition since China will turn a blind eye to domestic issues.
It is in this backdrop that we must appreciate any interest of China in failed states such as Zimbabwe. China has clearly remained unconcerned on the call for democratic reforms in Zimbabwe and has, through the years, been a spectator to ZANU (PF) political repression of Zimbabwean citizens. This appeals to dictators as they are left alone to do as they please while China provides a helping hand due to historical ties.
Clearly China does not care about our freedom and continues to strengthen the hand of pariah states in Africa while purporting to respect their sovereignty. It has been found that actually, Chinese aid may influence political violence through bolstering the capacity of the repressive central state to engage in repressive violence against competitors and civilians, in order to secure the regime’s dominance.
A working paper on “Chinese Aid and Africa’s Pariah States” by Roudabeh Kishi and Clionadh Raleigh of the Department of Geography, University of Sussex boldly states that “There is evidence that those African states which tend to receive a higher proportion of Chinese aid exhibit weak rule of law, forging an environment in which Chinese economic initiatives can flourish without barriers. By providing resources to state leaders who are not afraid to use repression as a means to quell competition”, China cannot therefore be said to the friend of the millions of Africans who today must suffer oppression and poverty because of predatory leadership.
The continued condemnation of the conditions of aid the West by Zimbabwe and its reframing of any Western involvement as a “regime change agenda by imperialists” has played into the hands of the East who could certainly have worse motives. The sad reality is that Africans in their desperation have chosen to ignore the fact that China has a grand strategy for Africa while Africa has no strategy for China at all. African leaders are being naïve and expedient in order to retain political power at the expense of creating sustainable home grown economic development policies.
There is no doubt that Zimbabwe has significant opportunity for investors, but we have seen that where China invests in Zimbabwe, the deals are not only opaque but result in no direct positive social impact for locals. Added to this, has been the hidden environmental cost of China’s projects which continue to adversely affect our land scape particularly in the mining sector.
It will be only when we can set the agenda for China and any other investor in Zimbabwe that we can begin to benefit from them but this will not happen as long as we remain a weak partner without own capital resources. This is most unlikely to happen as long as our politicians are compromised and there is no leadership that puts the country first.
I think we are going to be disappointed with China. The expectations of an economic rebound spurred on by Chinese investment will therefore remain a wish and an illusion that will continue to be sold to all and sundry by a ZANU (PF) repressive regime which has run out of tangible economic solutions.
However, the biggest favour China could do for us now is to insist that Mugabe retires so we can get on with reviving our economy.
Vince Musewe is an economist and author based in Zimbabwe. You may contact him on [email protected].

Naked Manhood Exhibit In Court

There was drama at the Zvishavane Magistrate’s Court when a man who wanted to justify his reason for severely assaulting his former wife almost pulled out his private parts to show the magistrate the scars that had been caused on it by the former who had pulled it.
Ralph Black (34) said he did not just assault his former wife but the two were fighting. To prove that they were fighting he wanted the magistrate to see bruises caused on his private parts by Delta Charlie (23).
He said Charlie pulled his private parts until there were bruises on them. Magistrate Peter Madiba however, declined the production of such exhibit in court.
It is the Sate case that the two were staying together as husband and wife and there was a misunderstanding when Charlie wanted to take away some of her property which she left when the two divorced.
On November 15, 2015 and at around 5pm Charlie arrived at Black’s house where she saw the accused’s mother. The complainant arrived soon afterwards. The accused allegedly assaulted the complainant with fists several times on the face and on the head. Charlie made a Police report. Black was arrested and charged with domestic violence and physical abuse. Mirror

Raided Mphoko “Sex Hotel”Activists Freed

The state has freed human rights activists who on Monday protested against the continued stay of Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko in Rainbow Towers Hotel.
Mpoko since his appointment as the vice President Last year in December is staying in the five star hotel together with his family.
Tendai Tendayi, Lynnette Mudehwe, Irvin Takavada, Elvis Mugari, Tonderai Chigumbu and Dirk Frey on Monday stage a demonstration against Mphoko and were immediately arrested.
The police charged them with Criminal Nuisance under Section 46 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act.
Gift Mtisi  the five activists’ attorney told reporters  that his clients were released without “setting foot” at the  court yard.
“From Harare Central Police station we went to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) offices and they said there was need for more investigations to establish certain issues,”said Mtisi.
“Once that has been completed the police will proceed by way of summons”.

Acting President Phelejezela Mphoko
Acting President Phelejezela Mphoko

MDC Wanted Me Jailed – ex Mayor

Ex mayor claims MDC wanted him sent to jail
Staff Reporter
Former Gwanda mayor, Lionel De Necker claims that he was today cleared of $20 000 fraud charges at the Gwanda magistrates court and blames his former party the Welshman Ncube led MDC for being behind the efforts of having him thrown to prison.
De Necker a former National Executive Member of the MDC and elected Mayor under the MDC ticket claims to media that some officials in the party were in the lead in trying to get him down. Speaking bitterly, De Necker claims that the matter is not yet over as he is preparing to take legal action against all those who were behind tarnishing his image.
De Necker was accused of selling a commercial stand to two prominent Gwanda businessmen.
Two weeks ago he briefly appeared before magistrate Sheila Nazombe accused of selling the stand to the two businessmen for $15 000 and $20 000.
He wrote on his twitter account soon after the court ” Fraud case against me was thrown out of court today at the Magistrates Court in Gwanda.
“I feel justified, but the damage has been done”.
Recently he posted another tweet saying “Facing one of my toughest battles yet. 
 They want me gone for good. Huge betrayal from former colleagues”.
Sources within the MDC offices in Bulawayo expressed ignorance on the allegations against the party raised by De Necker referring questions to the party Matabeleland South Provincial chairman Pilate Ndebele who was not reachable for comment. However, a party member in Gwanda who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that De Necker had serious personal clashes with some members of the party in the town.
“De Necker has personal problems with a member of they party who happens to be friends with one of the businessmen involved in the case and their clash doesn’t warrant throwing the party into the matter,” said the member.
Between December 2013 to August 2015, De Necker was said to have approached Joseph Mutiyeni, proprietor of Growly Enterprises, and advised him that he was selling a commercial stand, Number 635 Soudan Street, which he had bought from council.
The two entered into a deal and the stand was sold for $15 000, with Mutiyeni initially making a deposit of $5 200 and later settling the balance.
De Necker allegedly later went to Charles Tshuma, proprietor of Oasis Hardware, and sold the same stand for $20 000.
Mutiyeni became suspicious in August last year when he realised that “his” stand was being developed by Tshuma and reported the matter to the police, leading to De Necker’s arrest.
It is still not clear yet to media how the case was thrown out of court.

Pistorius Guilty of Murder

Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of murder by the Supreme Court. Judge Eric Leach announced that the state’s appeal in the Oscar Pistorius case was successful.
Last year a judge gave Pistorius a five-year jail sentence for “culpable homicide” of Reeva Steenkamp, but prosecutors say he should be convicted of murder for firing four shots through a locked toilet door.
Leach said that he found Judge Thokozile Masipa’s thinking confusing.
“Even on the finding that he did not know it was Steenkamp behind the toilet door‚ it did not matter. Even if he was under the impression that Reeva was in bed‚ he had necessary intent to bring [about] the demise of the person behind the door‚” said Leach.
Hence whether Pistorius knew it was Steenkamp behind the door wasn’t actually relevant on this issue.
Leach said that in light of the improbabilities in Pistorius’ testimony, and the three different versions he provided, one can’t really say why he fired.
Leach held that a retrial would be impractical. The court has set aside the culpable homicide conviction. Pistorius is guilty of murder. He will have to go before a court again – to argue over his sentence.

School Head Leaks Exams To Relatives

CHIVHU  : A daring school head here opened two examination papers for his relatives in yet another incident that has reflected Zimsec’s ineptitude. The headmaster of Mhari High School in Chikomba District ,Godwell Manyame(48), appeared before Chivhu Magistrate Archie Wochiwunga facing two counts of unlawfully opening the Zimsec papers .
Manyame who was in possession of school keys when the incidents happened last month allegedly gained entry into the examination store-room and opened the Zimsec Advanced Level Business Studies paper 2 and gave the paper to Prince Zisadza an A Level candidate who allegedly discussed it with a friend. Manyame also reportedly opened the Geography A level paper 2 and revealed it to the same candidate. Zisadza was found in possession of pre-written examination scripts and the invigilators alerted the school deputy head but Manyame allegedly ordered the invigilators to continue with the respective examinations despite the leakage.
The examination leakages that have been reported across the country are a cause for concern among educationists and parents who feel the education standards in the country have been compromised. Some educationists have called on the government to revert to the Cambridge Examination system . There are fears that incidents of such magnitude have been swept under the carpet since the Zimsec system has created loopholes that have resulted in numerous exam leakages.

Grace Mugabe in Terror Attack, Raids Another Milk Farm

President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace has invaded another dairy farm, and this time one owned by a liberation war collaborator. Mrs Mugabe utilised armed police officers to terrorise the Goromonzi based farm owner. The development will now turn Grace into a tripple owner of vast farmlands in the latest acceleration as she reportedly races against time before her husband’s imminent death. It also comes after Mrs Mugabe within months made destitude hundreds of jobless families in Mazoe where she displaced the people opting to put wild animals in their stead.

Over 20 armed police officers escorted First Lady Grace Mugabe’s aide, Deputy Police Commissioner Olga Bungu, to evict prominent dairy farmer and liberation war sponsor, Gillian Munn from her Mashonganyika Farm in Goromonzi last week.
The family claims to have been heavily involved in the liberation war, where they funded Zanu PF war efforts and continued to support the party well into independence. Last Monday, the family and its farm workers had their property thrown out of the farm and dumped outside, where they watched helplessly as the property was soaked by rain.
“Now I have become a hot potato. Emmerson [Vice-President Mnangagwa] knows that my husband was there at Lancaster [House at which the agreement to grant the then Rhodesia independence was inked in 1979]. But now he is scared, he cannot say anything.
“I have spoken to [Douglas] Mombeshora [Lands minister]. He says he wants me to continue going to his office, and instead of resolving this issue, he wants to give me an alternative farm. But I do not need an alternative farm. I want my farm,” she said.
“On Saturday, I was picked up and detained at Goromonzi Police Station until my lawyers came to my rescue. I was in police cells until Sunday. Now I have been moved out by Bungu, but she is still following me around. She wants my dairy equipment”.
Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson, Nolbert Muzondo said if the farmer had a problem with police conduct, she had a right to lodge a complaint.
“It seems she has a complaint against police and our procedure is that she can use our national complaints desk at Police General Headquarters,” he said, without specifically responding as to whether police had used brute force in the eviction.
Munn is now operating from a nearby farm, where a colleague has sheltered her family.
She said she would be approaching the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) for redress.
“I am going to the ConCourt and I will sue this woman [Bungu] for everything she has. She has disregarded a High Court appeal that should have suspended any other judgment that could have been passed. She wants everything I won, including accusing me of vanadalising my own property. It is insane,” she said.
President Robert Mugabe has in the past reportedly assured the Munns that they would be protected but seems to have developed an indifferent attitude to the widow’s plight.
Munn’s late husband owned a printing and publishing company, Munn Publications, which used to publish Prize Magazine to prop up Mugabe’s rag-tag guerilla army during the war.
The 209-hectare farm, registered in 2002, produces nearly 10 000 litres of milk per month, grows about 110 hectares of maize and employs over 100 workers.(Newsday/Additional Reporting)

Grace Mugabe’s Mate Refuses to Pay Council Licences

By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo| Zanu PF activist and well known Grace Mugabe ally Gilbert Chikwata has resisted an eviction notice from Masvingo City Council following non payment of the trading licence of his ZimAsset shop, ZimEye.com can reveal.
Chikwata, who is the director of People’s Shop a multipurpose business enterprise he started as a beneficiary of Mrs Mugabe’s patronage, defied a directive from the city council to close the shop at Mucheke Terminus and also chased municipal officers from the premises.
The ZimAsset programme has been criticised for benefiting only Zanu PF functionaries while nothing is done to eradicate poverty among millions of Zimbabweans many who are unemployed and are droving the streets.
Chikwata who is facing arrears of up to $30 000 in unpaid licence fees and other utility bills, is using political muscles to defy the council directive. Several attempts to evict him have hit a brick wall since he boasts of being backed by Mrs Mugabe.
“Chikwata will not be evicted by people who are working all round to discredit the Dr Amai Mugabe inspired ZimAsset so no one will move him away from this shop,” said a worker at the People ‘s Shop.
Although Masvingo City Mayor Hubert Fidze was not readily available for a comment, Chikwata has reportedly vowed to continue with his business at the shop.
He also reportedly accused the municipal police officers of being imperialists and sellouts.

Khune signs for Orlando Pirates

Sports Reporter
Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune’s younger brother, Jacob, has joined Orlando Pirates’ Academy.
This was revealed by the former Bafana Bafana and Chiefs goalkeeper on Monday, shortly after Jacob was officially promoted from the Augusto Palacios Apprentice Academy to the Orlando Pirates U-17 Academy.
“Congratulations to my younger brother Khune Jacob for being promoted from Augusto Palacios Apprentice Academy to Orlando Pirates you’ve made the family proud,” Itumeleng posted on his Instagram account on Monday.
Lucky Khune, who is older than Jacob and younger than Itumeleng, also played for Chiefs as a striker and left to join Chippa United at the beginning of the current season.

Broke RBZ Bails Out Struggling Banks

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has moved in to tame a cash shortage that saw some banks running out of money since Friday last week.
A snap survey conducted by Chronicle in Bulawayo showed that banks such as the People’s Own Savings Bank (POSB) branches had no cash over the weekend to Monday.
Those wanting to withdraw their cash were told to wait for cash from depositors.
The situation was the same at ZB Bank branches where depositors spent several hours in the queue only to withdraw a maximum limit of $100.
Similar reports were made in the Midlands province where gold miners failed to get money from ZB Bank-run gold buying points between Friday and Saturday.
ZB runs the centres on behalf of Fidelity Printers and Refineries, the country’s sole gold buyer.
Central bank governor, John Mangudya, on Monday acknowledged the shortage but said the monetary authority had moved in to disburse cash to Bulawayo banks.
The situation was expected to have normalised by yesterday.
“It has been brought to our attention that some banks in Bulawayo had run out of cash since Friday. And this was a temporary cash challenge emanating from the fact that some of the banks had underestimated their cash requirements and had what they thought was normal despite being a monthend when companies would be paying salaries,” said Mangudya.
“We’ve this (Monday) afternoon disbursed cash to the banks in Bulawayo.”
He said since the country was importing money, it was imperative for banks to plan ahead as they were logistical issues that required to be sorted out to ensure availability of money in the economy.
Since the adoption of the multi-currency system in 2009, the apex bank has not been printing money and the economy has been dominated by the United States dollar.
Other currencies such as the rand, pula, pound, yuan are also used for trading purposes.
“Going forward, as the central bank and the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ), we need to plan to avoid the cash crisis particularly during the festive season when demand for cash is high taking into consideration that the country is a cash economy as opposed to use of cards,” Mangudya added.
An official from a ZB Bank in Bulawayo admitted the bank had experienced a cash shortage.
“The challenge that you’re referring to was experienced last week so, now there’s nothing to talk about because it has been sorted. It was just a minor glitch,” said the official who declined to be named.
Comment could not be obtained from POSB.
In his 2015 mid-term monetary policy statement, Mangudya said the banking sector’s aggregate core capital base had increased significantly by 19 percent from $753.3 million to $899.10 million from June 30 last year to June 30 this year.
He said growth in the aggregate core capital position was largely underpinned by increased retained earnings.
“As at June 30, 2015, all operating banking institutions were in compliance with the prescribed minimum capital requirements.”
In terms of the banking sector performance, Mangudya highlighted that financial institutions remained profitable with an aggregate net profit of $43.01 million (excluding Tetrad Investment Bank — under provisional judicial management) for the half year ended 30 June 2015, up from $26.53 million during the corresponding period in 2014. A total of 14 out of 18 operating banking institutions recorded profits for the half-year ended June 30, 2015.
Losses which were recorded by the remaining institutions were mainly attributed to increased levels of provisions.
Such provisions, Mangudya said, had been narrowing over the period under review.
“To enhance earnings performance, a number of banking institutions continue to rationalise operating costs, while simultaneously implementing revenue enhancing measures, which include growth of non-funded income through introduction of new technology driven products and corporate finance structures,” he said.-State Media

Zimbabwe Woos Chinese President for $4bln Cash

Xi-Jinping1
Nelson Banya (The Source) – Zimbabwe expects to sign agreements worth about $4 billion for the upgrade and construction of four power plants with a combined electricity generation capacity of 2,400 megawatts, during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two-day state visit to the southern African country, a government minister said on Tuesday.
Xi, who was accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, touched down in Harare just after 0800GMT and was met by his Zimbabwean counterpart President Robert Mugabe amid a colourful mix of Chinese and Zimbabwean pageantry.
Xi is the second Chinese president to undertake a state visit to Zimbabwe, after Jiang Zemin’s May 1996 trip to the southern African country, which holds China as one of its foremost allies.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa told reporters soon after Xi’s arrival that the two leaders would follow up on agreements signed when Mugabe visited China in August 2014.
“The visit of President Xi is going to consolidate and cement some of the agreements and in fact undertaking also to further co-operate with respect to those agreements which are not yet mature for signing at this moment,” Chinamasa said.
“So, as far as we are concerned as Zimbabwe, the visit is very significant, it is deepening, broadening our economic co-operation. We are going to be signing Hwange 7 and 8 ($1.3 billion expansion project), which when undertaken, will add 600MW into the national grid,” Chinamasa said.
“There are also three other power projects which are going to be funded by the Chinese and these are private sector-driven; they’re Makomo Resources, China Sunlight and Lusulu – each of them adding 600MW to the grid. In the first half of next year we should see two of these reach financial closure.”
In July, Zimbabwe’s French-backed PER Lusulu Power signed an agreement with China State Construction Engineering Corp Ltd to build a $1.1 billion coal power station starting in April 2016, with the 600MW plant being the first phase of a 2,000 MW project.
Lusulu officials have said China State Construction Engineering Corp will design and construct the plant, as well as build power lines to transmit the electricity and expects to complete the project in 2019.
Makomo Resources, Zimbabwe’s largest coal producer by output, has also laid out plans to build a $1.5 billion, 600MW thermal power plant in Hwange, to be financed by Chinese investors.
China Africa Sunlight Energy, a 50/50 joint venture between Zimbabwe’s Old Stone Investments and Shandong Taishan Sunlight of China, plans to spend $2,1 billion in the next five years on power generation, coal mining and methane bed gas extraction in Matabeleland North.
Zimbabwe’s ageing power plants have struggled to cope with increasing demand – generating just over 1,000MW against peak demand of 2,200MW and leaving households, mines and industries to endure hours of rolling power outages.
In 2018, the country expects to have an additional 300MW from the Chinese-funded expansion of its Kariba South power plant, which was built between 1956 and 1962 with an installed capacity of 750MW.
Chinamasa added that road construction deals were also expected during Xi’s state visit.
“As all of us know, we have had a long relationship with the People’s Republic of China, dating back to the pre-independence days, but the relationship has largely been diplomatic and political. It’s only in the past 6 and 7 years that we have started an economic relationship,” the finance minister said.
“Chinese investors are becoming quite strong in terms of their investments in Zimbabwe. We already have more than 100 Chinese companies who have invested in Zimbabwe and there’s a lot of interest in all sectors of the economy from Chinese investors. So this visit gives a guide to Chinese investors that Zimbabwe is a safe and viable investment destination.”
China’s importance to Zimbabwe’s economy has grown over the past 10 years, with trade between the two countries doubling to $1,2 billion between 2010 and 2014.
The International Cooperation Centre – National Development Reform Commission of China’s director general Cao Wenlian on Monday told a China-Zimbabwe Business Forum that it was considering putting Zimbabwe on priority list of African countries that Beijing targets for investment, alongside Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mozambique and South Africa.
There are 45 countries on the Asian giant’s investment priority list worldwide.

62 MDC-T Homes Torched Down

hut burnt
Some 62 MDC supporters at Nyagundi Resttlement have been left homeless after their homes were burnt down by Zanu PF supporters.
The Zanu PF supporters were led by Darlington Fungurani who claimed that the MDC supporters had settled on his land.
But villagers said that the Provincial Lands committee allocated five hectares to each family at Nyagundi resettlement. However, Fungurani claims that 17 hectares of land within the Nyagundu, 35 hectares resettlement belongs to him. After heated arguments last Wednesday, Fungurani is alleged to have torched the activists’ homesteads as a way of forcing them to vacate his land.
One of the affected villagers, Enoch Mugumbate said that he had lost property worth over $500 as well as cement, maize seed and fertiliser.
“Last Sunday I was not home and my wife was at a funeral. My child was alone at home and told to me that some men asked him for my whereabouts. The child did not where I was. A few moments later some villagers approached me and told me that my garden was on fire,” said Mugumbate.
“We rushed to the garden and as we approached, I realised that my house was on fire as well. We recognised Fungurani and two of the other three men seen at my homestead, these men were Average Fungurani and Patrick Machacha. Unfortunately it was too late to put the fire out,” he said.
“Some youths came to my place and accused me of occupying someone else’s land and then torched and destroyed my property,” another villager Simon Charles told this reporter.
The villagers reported the various incidents to the Odzi Police station and although some officers came to view the scene, they have done nothing except tell the villagers that they would get back to them.
The villagers did win a court order in Mutare that barred Fungurani from evicting any families from the area.
Contacted for comment Fungurani said he was not the person who torched the homes.
“I do not know about that. I am not the one who torched their houses. In fact these people are the ones that torched their own houses in order to fix me and make an issue out of it,” said Fungurani.
He did admit to burning their gardens: “I only burnt their gardens because I was preparing my fields and got some villagers to help me. I have witnesses to prove this. The land belongs to me and I have the right to remove these families from my land,” said Fungurani.
A police officer at Odzi who attended the scene commented as follows: “This is political. We are too junior to comment on such issue. We will wait to hear from our superiors on what action to take.”
Police spokesperson, Luxon Chananda was not available for comment. – The Zimbabwean

MUGABE DEATH: Grace Rushes Into Matebeleland

GRACE-
The rush in the wake of President Robert Mugabe’s imminent exit has seen his wife accelerate her marathon visits across the country, this time in Matebeleland where she was just a few weeks ago.
Grace Mugabe who was never in politics before, is now doing all this in order to woo voters for support as soon as her husband is gone, analyst David Mamba says.
All is set for the First Lady Grace Mugabe’s rally to be held at Maphisa, Matabeleland South Province tomorrow with thousands of people expected to attend the event, the ZANU PF broadsheet media reports saying.
Senior Zanu-PF members from the province, members of the State Functions Committee and members of the business community yesterday held a preparatory meeting in Gwanda town.
Transport to ferry people from all the seven districts has been organised.
Zanu-PF acting provincial chairperson Cde Rabelani Choeni said he was happy with the preparations and encouraged the continued spirit of oneness among the people in province.
“We are very happy that the First Lady is coming to our province. Tomorrow we will go to the venue in Maphisa for the final touches. We are expecting thousands of people to attend the rally,” he said.
In an interview after the meeting, the Secretary for Legal Affairs and Women Issues at national level, Senator Tambudzani Mohadi said the province was ready to host Cde Mugabe.
“We are ready as a province to play host to the First Lady and our preparations are on schedule. All is set for Cde Mugabe’s rally and we expect thousands of people to attend,” said Sen Mohadi.
She said transport to the meeting venue was available in all the districts as individuals had volunteered to ferry the people.
Sen Mohadi invited women to come in their numbers to meet the First Lady.
“My message to every woman is, let us all come, meet and interact with our mother in numbers because this is an opportunity no woman should miss,” she said.
The First Lady has over the past weeks been conducting rallies in provinces where she has castigated some elements within Zanu-PF for sowing seeds of division in the ruling party.
Meanwhile, the meeting also discussed the progress made in fundraising for the Zanu-PF annual conference set for Victoria Falls this month, where it emerged that some districts have surpassed the set targets.

ZRP Cops Killed in Car Accident

 
State Media-Two police officers died on the spot while a woman was seriously injured when the vehicle they were travelling in collided head on with a haulage truck on the outskirts of Gweru yesterday morning.
The Mazda vehicle which was coming from Kwekwe, was being driven by one of the officers. The injured woman was rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital and her condition is said to be critical.
When the State Media visited the scene of the accident, which is about 20km from Gweru at around 10AM, the bodies were still at the scene covered with jackets.
Police officers later placed them in one coffin before they were taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary at around 10:30AM. Witnesses said the accident occurred at around 5AM.
“I saw the white Mazda encroaching onto the lane of oncoming traffic leading to a head on collision,” said a motorist who declined to be named.
Another witness Tinei Masuku said the haulage truck veered off the road after the impact.
Efforts to get a comment from Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko were fruitless as he was said to be out of office.
His mobile phone went unanswered.

CIO Pull Down Gays ICASA Stand

Members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation CIO have  pulled down exhibition stand(s) belonging to the affiliates of the African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR) the Harare’s Rain Bow Towers’ ICASA venue .
AMSHeR represents gays, lesbians, sex workers transgender people and people who use drugs.
The stands according to the affected were pulled because of “attractive wording and labelling” posters and banners.
AMSHeR executive director Kene Esom confirmed the pulling down of their stands which he said happened on Sunday and was later resolved.
“It was an issue of labelling, and naming of our stands which attracted their attention .This is the problem we are having of hiding things which are happening that is fuelling the spread of HIV, and we are saying we should name and label things and issues as they are ,”he said.
“We are saying there are men who are having sex with men. There are women, who are having sex with women, and there are sex workers, and these are realities happening in our societies, but we continue pretending as if these people do not exist”.
“Who are these men who are having sex with men, and who are the clients of sex workers? , and this is what we are saying,” said Esom.
Esom said a compromised was however reached.Bonyongwe
“I am happy that finally our stand is now up but well inside the community village”.
 
 

‘Mugabe Is No More’

DIDYMUS-MUTASA-mugabe-no-more
With President Robert Mugabe’s post-congress Zanu PF teetering on the brink of a complete implosion due to its seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars, the People First movement says there has never been a better time for Zimbabweans to push for their “total independence”.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, former Presidential Affairs minister and People First stalwart Didymus Mutasa also said none but Zimbabweans themselves could improve their worsening lot and “foster their total freedom”.
The soft-spoken former close confidante of Mugabe also warned the warring post-congress Zanu PF to brace itself for “the mother of all fights” when the country goes for the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections, saying People First was “close” to launching formally.
And speaking as a former ruling party bigwig who knows its workings and dynamics intimately, he said embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa was in real danger of suffering the same fate as former Vice President Joice Mujuru — who was expelled from the ranks of the former liberation movement late last year on untested allegations of plotting to oust and kill Mugabe.
“The post-congress Zanu PF didn’t think things through when it decided to expel us from the party. They thought that we would go back there begging for mercy, but Mai Mujuru, Mutasa, VaGumbo (Rugare) and Jabulani Sibanda didn’t do that. We are taking the fight to them.
“We, together with many other Zimbabweans were part of the struggle, and we did not participate in that struggle to be misgoverned but for democracy to take root in the country.
“That is what we are fighting for now. We want democracy and we want to see our country fully liberated,” Mutasa said, adding that the post-congress Zanu PF was at its weakest point due to its deadly infighting.
Mugabe’s warring party split into two bitterly-opposed formations at the end of last year, at the height of its internal ructions, with its purged liberation struggle stalwarts moving to initiate the re-establishment of the “original” Zanu PF — which uses the slogan People First.
And even though the party is still to be officially launched, panicking post-congress Zanu PF officials have gone into overdrive bad-mouthing both the movement and its presumptive leader Mujuru — with First Lady Grace Mugabe recently telling her supporters that the movement was targeting teenagers as young as 15, allegedly enticing them with cell-phones, so that come 2018 they would vote People First into office.
Asked by the Daily News to comment on these claims, Mutasa said “she has to prove her allegations and name the persons distributing those cell phones, otherwise it’s not even worth talking about”.
He also confirmed that People First now had a draft constitution that would soon be distributed to structures around the country for the consideration of its supporters, adding that “the time has come to take Zanu PF head-on”.
“The post-congress Zanu PF is consumed by its vicious factional and succession wars and the economy is in freefall as Cabinet ministers commit themselves more to party business rather than bread and butter issues.
“If ever there was a time for Zimbabweans to take them on, it is now,” Mutasa said, adding that it was a matter of time before the ruling party was turfed out of power.
Mutasa spoke as the mindless bloodletting in the ruling party is getting worse, amid heightened efforts by Mnangagwa’s enemies to “checkmate” the embattled VP.
Well-placed sources who spoke to the Daily News said so explosive was Zanu PF’s politburo meeting last week that a female Cabinet minister and perceived staunch Mnangagwa ally had allegedly wept uncontrollably amid fierce factional fighting — and as a stunned Mugabe apparently watched the farce in stony silence.
One of the sources said after the politburo endorsed the suspension and expulsion of many supporters of the VP, more senior party officials loyal to Mnangagwa were set to face the chop in the next few months, as the post-congress Zanu PF’s factional and succession wars continue to escalate.
Mnangagwa is said to have not personally attempted to either oppose or stop last Wednesday’s suspensions and expulsions during the politburo meeting, appearing instead to “look up to president Mugabe for direction and help, but Gushungo (Mugabe) never said a thing”.
Among the officials who were either expelled or suspended on various allegations, including those related to fanning factionalism, included former Manicaland women’s league boss Happiness Nyakuedzwa and former Mashonaland Central youth league chairperson Godfrey Tsenengamu.
In addition, former Harare provincial chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa, former Harare women’s league chairperson Ratidzo Mukararati, and former Masvingo chairperson Paradzai Chakona, all had their votes of no confidence upheld.
Another source claimed that there had also been “a fierce row” between Grace and Water minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, which had allegedly left the latter battered and in tears.
“Team Lacoste (Mnangagwa camp) received a mighty beating in the meeting. People like (political commissar Saviour) Kasukuwere and (deputy youth league secretary Kudzanai) Chipanga vigorously lobbied for the ouster of Mnangagwa’s supporters, especially in Manicaland where the vote of no confidence on Nyakuedzwa was upheld,” a politburo member who claimed to be “non-aligned” said.
Muchinguri-Kashiri — who is allegedly aligned to Mnangagwa and has recently been locked in a vicious power struggle with Grace’s supporters in Manicaland — is said to have started the fight with the first lady whom she accused of fuelling infighting in the troubled province.
Muchinguri-Kashiri, according to insiders, allegedly told Grace that she was the most senior party official in the province and thus always needed to be consulted on important decisions impacting on the region — apparently further insinuating that Grace had so far failed to run the women’s league properly.
“This angered Amai (Grace) and as she spoke, she got angrier and angrier, saying ‘wakabvira kare uchindijairira … (You have never respected me)” — apparently going on to give Muchinguri-Kashiri a severe tongue-lashing which resulted in the Water minister crying.
Ironically, the two women were buddies only last year when they worked together to oust Mujuru from power. In addition, Muchinguri-Kashiri relinquished her post as women’s league secretary to make way for Grace.
Mugabe is said to have avoided joining the bust-up, only speaking much later when he appeared to admonish both Muchinguri-Kashiri and War veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa for often flaunting their liberation war credentials to get special treatment in the party.
“The president acknowledged the important role the war veterans had played, and continued to play, but warned that their continued deification could divide Zanu PF,” another source said. -DailyNews

President Grace Has Come: Prepare to Salute – Bhasikiti

bhasikiti
Former Masvingo provincial minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has warned his former comrades in the warring post-congress Zanu PF to prepare to salute First Lady Grace Mugabe as the party’s leader, saying sarcastically that “she is going to inherit what is rightfully hers”.
Speaking tongue-in-cheek in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, amid a push by Grace’s supporters that she and not Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeds Mugabe, Bhasikiti said the ruling party was no longer “a people’s party, as it is now a Mugabe fiefdom”.
Bhasikiti, who was sacked from the ruling party together with dozens of other party bigwigs for supporting former Vice President Joice Mujuru, said the constitutional changes that had been adopted during Zanu PF’s damp squib “elective” congress in December last year “effectively entitle Grace to take over from her husband, and subsequently her children as well”.
“Grace is totally right in her aspirations to succeed the president because there is no way she can let her family estate be taken away by outsiders.
“The party is Mugabe’s property and it is only normal for a wife to take over the administration of the Gushungo family property from her husband and subsequently hand this over to her children,” Bhasikiti said.
He added that those senior party officials such as Mnangagwa who were allegedly angling to take over from Mugabe when he “finally calls it quits are day-dreaming”.
“Do not expect any other leader besides Grace because that would be abnormal. Even at law, it is the immediate family — that is the wife and children, who inherit a husband’s property.
“As it stands now, since December 2014 Grace has every right over the party. Party officials should by now know who the owner of the party is. Grace is perfectly correct in demanding her rightful place in the party,” he added.
However, the former Mwenezi legislator was quick to emphasise that Grace’s “proprietary rights” were only limited to the post-congress Zanu PF.
“When it comes to the national presidency she will have to meet us as People First, where we believe in putting the interests of the people at the front burner of everything.
“There, she has no rights as we will provide the national president. When you look for the country’s president, look no further than People First because we are the people’s party,” he said.
Chipping in, MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said Zanu PF had never been a democratic institution, hence “its personalisation by the First Family”.
“We all know about the undemocratic nature of Zanu PF. They have, unlike us in the MDC, never held democratic elections. So, whether it is Grace or Mnangagwa, it really doesn’t help Zimbabweans.
“What we know is that come 2018, the MDC will provide the country’s president and that will be Morgan Tsvangirai,’’ Mwonzora said.

Mugabe Buses School Children To Welcome Chinese President

Zanu PF on Tuesday bused hundreds of hungry school going children and forced them to go to the Harare International Airport for the visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping who arrived in Harare Tuesday morning.
The Chinese leader who has a pre-scheduled trip to South Africa where he will chair the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) from December 2 had been begged by President Robert Mugabe to pass through Harare on his way to Johannesburg and is expected to seal the so-called mega deals he discussed in Beijing last August with the aging Zimbabwe leader.
Scores of school children from as far as Chitungwiza’s St Marys’ high school and Harare’s Girls high were bussed to the Harare international Airport to welcome the Chinese leader.
Some were also paraded at the Rain Bow Hotel where Jinping went for lunch.
At the weekend more than 50 international delegates attending ICASA were displaced by the Chinese President’s advance team.

Govt Hires Collapsed Bank Boss for Top Regulatory Job

The Zimbabwean government has entered controversy once again by appointing the failed boss of the collapsed AfrAsia Bank, Lynn Mukonoweshuro, to the regulatory IPEC board now to control the country’s insurance industry.

 
Mukonoweshuro has been appointed by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa.

This came as Government raised the minimum capital requirements for short-term insurers and life assures, with the newly appointed Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) board expected to enforce them during the first quarter next year, finance minister Patrick Chinamasa said on Monday.
Presenting the 2016 budget last week Chinamasa announced that government increased minimum capital requirements for short-term insurers from $1,5 million to $2,5 million and that of life assurers from $2 million to $5 million while funeral assurers will now be required to have a minimum of $2,5 million from $1,5 million.
“Given the dynamic nature of the financial services sector and the need for adequate capital that is commensurate with risks involved as well as assumed in the insurance business, the IPEC Board is expected to implement proposed minimum capital requirements for short term and life insurers, as well as review the qualifying assets for minimum capital requirements to improve asset quality in the first quarter of 2016,” Chinamasa told journalists on Monday while introducing the new IPEC board.
The board will be chaired by former chief executive of the collapsed AfrAsia Holdings Zimbabwe Lynn Mukonoweshuro who will be deputized by economist George Mazhunde.
Other board members include academics Abednico Dube and Tafadzwa Zinyoro as well as Anna Mashingaidze who has a background in finance.
The performance of Zimbabwe’s insurance and pension sector has largely remained depressed owing to low economic activity, legacy issues emanating from the conversion of insurance and pension policies from the inflation ravaged local currency to US dollar values and liquidity challenges among others.-Source

Robert Mugabe party Has Died


Opposition Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD) leader Simba Makoni has claimed Zanu PF does not exist anymore as a political party and has completely lost support of the grassroots.

Outblast...Simba Makoni
Outblast…Simba Makoni

Makoni, for years a senior member of the ruling Zanu PF party who challenged President Robert Mugabe for the presidency in the March 2008 vote and came out third, told the Daily News that the ruling party was dead and buried.
“Zanu PF doesn’t exist anymore as a political party, there is what I call upper crust of leadership and they do not have any support of the grassroots,” Makoni said.
“The final nail on the coffin was hammered in December 2014. It’s sad because this is a party of history but it has refused to be the party of the future and party of the present.”
Makoni said his MKD, which has its genesis in his participation in the 2008 elections as an independent presidential candidate and only became a fully fledged political party on July 1, 2009, was prepared to work with other pro-democracy parties.
“We are ready to work with anyone who is committed to genuine change,” Makoni said.
“If tomorrow Robert Mugabe wakes up having changed like Paul in the Bible, we can work with him.”
Despite his years of service to Zanu PF, Makoni has been described by Mugabe himself as a “traitor” and “western puppet”.
Up until he announced his candidature for the 2008 elections, Makoni remained a member of Zanu PF’s policy-making body, the politburo. He garnered 8 percent of the March 2008 presidential vote.
With a PhD in chemistry, Makoni was brought in as Finance minister in 2000 to restore relations with donors and the business community but failed to change Mugabe’s policies.
He was sacked 18 months later after calling for a devaluation of the currency to try and boost exports.
Slamming Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa’s $4 billion national budget presented last Thursday, Makoni said although Chinamasa dropped a number of statements around revenue measures, there was no coherent presentation of where the $3,8 billion is going to come from, raising questions about how the Finance minister is going to finance that expenditure.
Variously described as a moderniser, a technocrat and a “young turk”, Makoni said Zimbabwe needed change, and that change must start in the leadership.
“It’s quite clear that Mugabe and Zanu PF are now clueless,” Makoni said.
“I saw it even when I was still there (in Zanu PF), we were trying to keep our positions and there was nothing we were doing. We need change in leadership but this change is not just for Mugabe, it must also be the change of the mindset.
Each one of us must accept that we are responsible for our welfare and development kwete kuti dai hurumende yandipawo (not say only if government gives us).
“We can have a new president tomorrow but if he or she continues with the mindset of donating to people, we will not come out of this crisis; we need to change our behaviour.
“The best empowerment that I can recommend you is to remove the impingements that stop you from doing what you want to do for yourself. No one knows your interests better than yourself.
“So this whole psychology which says tichakuvakirai zvipatara, zvikoro ne mabridge (we are going to build you hospitals, schools and bridges) is what we must stop.
“The former Sadc executive secretary said when leaders seek support to take up leadership positions, it must be not on the basis of promising donations.
“We must move away from the mindset of dependency,” he said.
“Many young people are refusing to go to work not because they are not getting jobs but they need to get money in an easy way. So the new government, when change takes place, needs a commitment on attitude change.
“In 2010, we launched a programme which we call Simba Conversation, where we were working with all leaders who are committed to genuine change and it is still operational. We discuss the future of our country and what we have to do.
“Change will not make itself, change is made by somebody. Mugabe made change from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe and we also want to make change from a poor, fearful, harassed Zimbabwe to a peaceful Zimbabwe.”
Makoni has struggled to clean himself of the image that his party is a covert Zanu PF operation.
When he walked out of Zanu PF on February 5, 2008 claiming 60 percent of top Zanu PF officials backed him, only former Home Affairs minister Dumiso Dabengwa was the only heavyweight to publicly join his camp.
Dabengwa, who has now broken away from MKD to form his own Zapu, recently made sensational claims that Makoni was in fact used to split the opposition vote and give Mugabe victory in the 2008 vote. Dabengwa claimed Makoni was used as a “braai stick.”
And he is not the only one to make such claims. Retired major Kudzai Mbudzi, one of the top officials in MKD, who has since joined People First, told journalists in Harare recently: “I knew from the beginning that Makoni and I were never going to win, we were just used to remove Zanu PF from the mud.”
These claims were repeated by Dabengwa at a rally held in Gwamayaya communal lands in Nkayi last year.
“We used Makoni to stop the old man (Mugabe) and Tsvangirai; whose track record we did not feel would make him a good president.
UMakoni wayeludlawu lokos’inyama. Nxa usuqedile ukosa inyama uyalulahla udlawu uzidlele inyama yakho (Makoni was a braai stick. You put away the braai stick when you have finished roasting and then enjoy your meat),” Dabengwa said. Daily News

Cops Caught In The Act Demanding Bribes

Two detectives from Beitbridge yesterday were each fined $400 for demanding a $2,000 bribe from a suspected smuggler.
Macdonald Mbombi and Stanford Muzombi, allegedly intercepted Organizer Makuwe who was illegally transporting a truckload of unrefrigerated apples from South Africa to Zimbabwe. The police officers pounced on the truck soon after it had entered the country through Beitbridge border post. The detectives both pleaded not guilty to criminal abuse of office. Beitbridge resident magistrate, Gloria Takundwa how ever convicted due to the sufficient evidence provided.
She fined them $400 each.

She further gave them three months in jail, which she suspended on condition that they pay $1,300 to Makuwe. The prosecutor, Jabulani Mberesi, told the court that on June 22 last year, the detectives received a tipoff that there was a truck carrying smuggled apples.
Following the tipoff, they found the truck at Redan Service Station and arrested Makuwe.
The court heard they arrested Makuwe and demanded $2,000 to release the truck. After negotiations the detectives settled for $1,300, which Makuwe transferred to their cell phones via Econet’s EcoCash service. Soon after he ttransfered the money, Makuwe reported the matter to the police and two the detectives were arrest.

Mphoko ‘Sex Hotel’ Activists Raided

Several activists protesting Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s continued stay at the posh Rainbow Towers hotel, were yesterday raided by armed policemen.
Since Mphoko checked in, on December 14 last year, the hotel has gained social notoriety now being named “Mphoko’s Sex Hotel” as the second in command refuses to rent a house saying there is none that fits his status while yet blowing taxpayer funds unnecessarily.
To date over $152,000.00 has been paid by the taxpayer which money activists say could have paid for needy areas in the national budget.
The protesters had armed servicemen storm them after descending on the hotel yesterday afternoon demanding that Mphoko must move out forthwith. They are Dzamara mate, Dirk Frey, Tendai Tendayi, Lynnette Mudehwe, Irvin Takavada, Elvis Mugari, and Tonderai Chigumbu, and they are at Central Police station awaiting court appearance.

The disturbance according to cops could not be tolerated as the same hotel is under security surveillance as the ZRP prepares for the Chinese President jetting into the country tomorrow morning.

The Chinese head of State is to stay at the same hotel for the duration of his national visit.
Meanwhile, the activists are demanding that Mphoko must with immediate effect check out of the hotel so that taxpayer money wasted on it all can be channelled to the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Mphoko: Thugs Nabbed for Robbing Vice President

Choppies
Staff Reporter| ZimEye| A cartel of shoplifters in Gwanda has been arrested for stealing from the Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko owned, Choppies Supermarket, located at Phakama business centre, hardly six months since it opened its doors.
A shoplifting syndicate that includes a security guard appeared at the Gwanda Magistrates court facing theft charges from the Vice President’s busy shop.
Friday Sibanda (22), Fanel Tshuma (38) and Hannah Ngwenya, employed as a security guard appeared, before Gwanda magistrate, Sheila Nazombe, after they were caught on closed-circuit- television (CCTV) stealing goods from the supermarket.
The trio who were represented by McAllister Ncube denied the charges, but were convicted by Nazombe due to overwhelming evidence after they watched the CCTV footage.
They were sentenced to 18 months behind bars, with 3 months suspended on condition they pay restitution of $30 each to Choppies. The remaining 15 months were wholly suspended on condition that they each perform 420 hours of community service.
The court heard that on November 8, Sibanda and Tshuma walked into Choppies pushing a trolley just like any other customer. While inside the shop, Sibanda started to load the trolley with goods while Tshuma pushed it around.
The pair proceeded to buy a piece of cake which they paid for before going to purchase electricity and they proceeded to the exit with Sibanda now pushing the trolley laden with goodies worth $90.
Ngwenya who manned the exit, allowed the pair to leave without them producing a receipt for the goods in the trolley. An alert security guard, who suspected the three had connived approached management and asked them to play the CCTV footage which revealed the trio had worked in common purpose to steal the groceries leading to their arrest.

Kids’ Data at Risk As Toymakers’ Tracking Database is Hacked

As toys go high-tech, hackers are zeroing in on a particularly vulnerable target – children.

VTech's Preschool Learning Tote and Go Laptop.
VTech’s Preschool Learning Tote and Go Laptop.

VTech, a Hong Kong-based company that sells baby monitors and digital learning toys such as children’s tablets, announced over the weekend that the data for 5 million “customer accounts and related kids’ profiles worldwide” were compromised as part of a cyber attack. The stolen data included names and birthdates of kids, mailing addresses, email addresses, as well as what e-books, learning games and other software were downloaded to toys, the company said in a statement posted online.
ABC News Australia reported that 18,000 Australian parents and their children were affected.
Credit card information and Social Security numbers were not breached.
Troy Hunt, who runs a service that alerts consumers to data breaches, reviewed information provided to the tech-site, Motherboard, by the alleged hacker and found it was possible to link the stolen data about kids back to their family’s last name and home address. Shares in VTech were suspended from trading early on Monday, but resumed later in the day.
Privacy advocates warn that the VTech incident may be one of many online breaches that will involve children. Companies are increasingly producing and marketing high-tech toys that link dolls and games to the internet – as well as information about the kids playing with them. But the V-tech breach shows this data isn’t always being guarded well.
“Toy companies are rushing to cash in on the changing nature of childhood in the Big Data era, where internet-connected toys are linking children to a vast surveillance network,” Jeffrey Chester, the executive director of the Centre for Digital Democracy, said. “These playthings can monitor their every move, turning what should be innocent and pleasurable experience into something potentially more sinister.”
VTech sells popular toys mainly for young toddlers, including its “Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker”, “Baby’s Learning Laptop”, and “Kidizoom Smartwatch DX”. The breach involved data collected by its Learning Lodge app store, where customers could download games and educational programs for some toys. The company took down the Learning Lodge website and as of Monday, consumers could see only a message: “Due to a breach of security on our Learning Lodge website, we have temporarily suspended the site.”
VTech is hardly the only company going high-tech. This holiday season, Fisher-Price has been hawking its Smart Toy Monkey as an “interactive learning buddy” that “talks, listens and remembers what your child says.” The company states on its website that “we never send voice data over the internet”. The toy, however, checks a “secure server each day to see if there are new activities for your toy to learn” and remembers how engaged a child is with each activity.
The new “Hello Barbie”, a doll that uses artificial intelligence to learn about children and carry on real-time conversations, was released last month – raising alarm bells for some consumer protection watchdogs. Mattel and ToyTalk, the company behind the doll’s voice features, have gone to great lengths to assure customers that information the doll collects will be safeguarded. But even the doll’s privacy policy acknowledges that they cannot promise the data will stay private.
“We take reasonable measures to protect personal information in an effort to prevent loss, misuse, and unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction,” it reads. “Please be aware, however, that despite our efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable and no method of data transmission that can be guaranteed against any interception or other type of misuse.”
All too often, companies are rushing to add connectivity to their products without taking the security and privacy implications into account. Many toys are probably already vulnerable to data breaches, but have gone under the radar because attackers haven’t figured out how to make money from hacking them yet, Tyler Shields, a principal analyst focused on digital security at Forrester Research, said. He said he expects that to change rapidly.
“The concept of a stand-alone product is fading away – even something as simple as a toy is transitioning to the idea of a service where you get an internet-connected device,” he said. “As we see an explosion in internet-connected devices we are going to see an explosion of attacks targeting those devices.”
Mr Chester said he alerted the Federal Trade Commission to the VTech incident over the weekend, hoping it will open an investigation into the company for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA – a law designed to help protect the privacy of kids under age 12.
The agency declined to weigh in on the specific incident. “FTC investigations are non-public and we do not comment on an investigation or the existence of an investigation,” a spokesperson said.
If the agency were to investigate VTech, that investigation may be complicated by the international nature of the breach: The company is based in Hong Kong and it affected consumers from countries across the globe. -Washington Post

Grace Mugabe Jump Into Presidency Imminent | BREAKING NEWS

FIRST LADY Grace Mugabe’s jump into the presidium is imminent after the President’s wife was given a firm vote of node from three major provinces, the latest being Mash East and Bulawayo.

GRACE-PRESIDENCY
The development follows a secret plot exposed by ZimEye.com on how Mrs Mugabe plans to sideswipe Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a bloodless transition.
Mrs Mugabe’s bitter rival Mnangagwa’s mooted ambitions to succeed President Robert Mugabe suffered another hammer blow at the weekend after Mashonaland East and Bulawayo became the latest Zanu PF provinces to call for a return of the women’s quota system in the warring ruling party.
The two provinces join party structures in Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central which have also said that they would like to see women represented in the former liberation movement’s presidium as soon as possible — a proposal that is likely to prejudice Mnangagwa if adopted.
Commenting on the critically-significant development to the Daily News yesterday, Zanu PF Goromonzi West MP, Beatrice Nyamupinga — who is also the chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development — said she was in full support of the return of the quota system within Zanu PF.
“I am not the secretary for information, but as a woman I support the proposal. I see nothing wrong with what Mashonaland East has said for example.
“I applaud the women of Mashonaland East for their proposal. It is actually a requirement in our national Constitution that there should be a 50-50 percent representation between men and women, and the party presidium is not an exception,” Nyamupinga said.
Zanu PF insiders say if the push for a return of the party’s quota system succeeds, it will place in jeopardy Mnangagwa’s mooted presidential ambitions as it would be unlikely that he would be part of the party’s presidium in that event­ — with First Lady Grace Mugabe well-placed to replace him.
Were that to happen, it would be déjà vu for Mnangagwa, as the same quota system was also used against him in 2004, which saw the elevation of former Vice President Joice Mujuru to the presidium ahead of him then.
Nyamupinga said it was not right that any organisation or forum should sit in the total absence of women, adding that it was her duty as the chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on Gender to ensure that issues relating to the equal representation of women were pushed forward.
This, she said, would protect the rights and interests of women and the girl-child.
The Mashonaland West women’s league was the first to openly move to demand the return of a women’s quota system in the Zanu PF constitution, a clear statement that they wanted Grace to take over from Mnangagwa as party vice president.
The move to return the party quota system comes after it was discarded late last year, at the height of the post-congress Zanu PF’s factional and succession wars.
The embattled VP is currently embroiled in a bitter fight with the ruling party’s ambitious Young Turks, the Generation 40 (G40), in the bitter fight to succeed Mugabe — raising growing fears among his supporters that the Midlands godfather may go down in the same manner that Mujuru was deposed from power last year.
All this also means that next week could prove to be one of the most important and significant periods in the long political life of Mnangagwa when Zanu PF meets at its Victoria Falls conference, and as the war to succeed Mugabe gets hotter and nastier by the day.
Party insiders say the G40 are rabidly opposed to Mnangagwa succeeding the increasingly-frail nonagenarian, and that the ambitious Young Turks are backing Grace to take over from her husband.
There is also growing talk that Harare will soon move to support the resolution by the other provinces, that the ruling party returns the women’s quota system at next month’s increasingly-important conference.
Sources also claim that all of Zanu PF’s provinces, except for Masvingo and Midlands, are pushing for Grace to become vice president.(DailyNews/Additional Reporting)

Broke Govt Fails to Pay Pensions

Government has moved salary pay dates for all pensioners to next week after failing to raise the money this week.
In a statement, the secretary for the Public Service Commission (PSC), Mrs Pretty Sunguro said Government — through the Ministry of Finance — will be paying the salary of all pensioners by December 10.
She said the PSC regretted any inconvenience caused by the change in the pay dates.
“The Public Service Commission wishes to advise that the Ministry of Finance (Treasury) has moved the November 2015 pay dates for pensioners,” Mrs Sunguro said.
“War veterans’ pension, war veterans’ spouse and children’s pension, ex-political prisoners, detainees and restrictees’ spouse and children’s pensions, and national heroes’ spouses and children’s pension will be paid on December 8 where as the rest of the pensioners will be paid on December 10 this year,” she said in a statement.

Crocodile Shot Dead

A crocodile that has been wreaking havoc along Mukuvisi River in Harare was shot dead last Friday by a Parks and Wildlife Management Authority team.
The crocodile’s presence became known after some members of the Prophetic, Healing and Deliverance Ministry led by Prophet Walter Magaya, which has its church building along the river, spotted it a few months ago.
Prophet Magaya once raised alarm on the presence of the large reptile near his church. The more than three-metre-long reptile was shot twice after some months of hiding in the muddy waters.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials last Friday paraded the dead crocodile in the city centre to raise awareness on the dangers of provoking wild animals. Scores of people thronged streets near Herald House to witness the rare spectacle, with the officials educating them on the dangers of crocodiles and their behaviour.
“This is the crocodile we have been receiving reports on,” said Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority public relations manager Ms Caroline Washaya Moyo.
“At one time there was a teenager from Prophet Magaya’s church who reported the presence of this crocodile.
“They were citizens concerned that it was posing a threat to humans and we have been monitoring it together with the police who were also receiving reports to do with this particular crocodile. People thought the crocodile had disappeared, but it never went anywhere. Mukuvisi River is heavily polluted, so it would easily hide.”
Ms Washaya Moyo appealed to people to be cautious on approaching water bodies this rainy season as crocodiles have a tendency of flowing along with the water. “We decided to put it to sleep today by shooting it and it was shot twice,” she said.
“It put up a fight, but finally succumbed to the wounds. The question that has been asked is if it is male or female? With crocodiles, unless you skin it, you cannot tell because its sexual organs are inside.”
Ms Washaya Moyo said at least 37 people were killed by crocodiles countrywide between January and October this year while 24 others were injured. State Media

Mugabe Blames the West for Carbon Emissions Burden

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe lashed out at “miserly” developed nations at the UN climate summit Monday, accusing them of trying to shift the burden for curbing carbon emissions onto poor countries.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who has a sour relationship with the West, said developed nations were historically responsible for the “precarious climate environment we currently live in”.

President Robert Mugabe, who has a sour relationship with the West, said developed nations were historically responsible for the "precarious climate environment we currently live in".
President Robert Mugabe, who has a sour relationship with the West, said developed nations were historically responsible for the “precarious climate environment we currently live in”.

LE BOURGET, France: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe lashed out at “miserly” developed nations at the UN climate summit on Monday (Nov 30), accusing them of trying to shift the burden for curbing carbon emissions onto poor countries.
The elderly firebrand, who has a sour relationship with the West, said the developed nations were historically responsible for the “precarious climate environment we currently live in.”
“It is unconscionable that not only are developed countries miserly in providing the means” for developing countries, “but also want inordinately to burden us with cleaning up the mess they themselves have created,” he told the gathering.
Mugabe was among 150-plus heads of state and government attending the opening one-day summit of a two-week conference tasked with crafting the first-ever truly universal climate pact.
A key disagreement between rich and developing nations at the talks revolves around who should be doing what to curb climate-altering emissions from burning fossil fuels, and who should pay.
Mugabe said African countries were not to blame for climate change and had more at risk, as they did not have the money for shoring up defences against impacts such as droughts and rising seas.
“We cannot and we will not assume more obligations,” he said. “Doing so will dent our development aspirations, and in particular our efforts to eradicate poverty.”
– AFP/ec

Victory For Mnangagwa Zanu PF Fires Pro-Grace Mugabe Ally

The Emerson Mnangagwa camp has a recorded victory in Manicaland Province as the party on Monday fired the province’s Women’s League Chairperson, Happiness Nyakuedzwa who is aligned to the first lady Grace Mugabe.
ALSO READ –
GRACE-PRESIDENCY
Nyakuedzwa has been slapped with a 2-year suspension from the party.
Last week Grace Mugabe ordered the party’s Women’s league spokesperson Monica Mutsvangwa  to stop implicating Nyakuedzwa in factional fights which have crippled Zanu PF.
Mutsvangwa and her allies took advantage of the absence of Grace Mugabe who is in Paris France for  the climate change conference with her husband President Robert Mugabe and fired her(Grace) ally.
 

BREAKING NEWS: 2015 Soccer Stars of the Year Announced

The 2015 Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Stars of the Year have been selected at an event held in Harare this morning.
League champions Chicken Inn have four players on list including their captain Danny Phiri and club top goal scorer Edmore Chirambadare.
Former champions Dynamos and runners up to the league contributed two player in Ocean Mushure and goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva.
Highlanders and CAPS United had a players each .With Knox Mutizwa being selected from Highlanders while Stephen Makatuka made it from CAPS United.
The winner will be announced at a dinner on Friday evening.
Soccer Stars of the Year:
Edmore Chirambadare(Chicken Inn)
Knox Mutizwa(Highlanders)
Stephen Makatuka(CAPS United)
Brian Muzondiwa (FC Platinum)
Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn)
Ocean Mushure (Dynamos)
Tatenda Mukuruva(Dynamos)
Raphael Manuvire (ZPC Kariba)
Hillary Bakacheza(Triangle)
Elvis Chipezeze(Chicken Inn)
Clemence Matawu(Chicken Inn)

CIO Attacks:Gays Petition Mugabe

After their conference material had been confiscated by the homophobic Zimbabwe government at the weekend, Gays, Lesibians,Trans-gender and people who use drugs from the African continent attending the ICASA conference in Harare on Monday petitioned President Robert Mugabe as the African Union chairperson to respect their rights.
Below is the full communiqué which the key populations wrote.
We, the undersigned African communities of people living with HIV, men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who use drugs, trans-diverse persons in all our diversity in sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
Concerned   by   the   growing   prevalence   of   HIV   infections   and   AIDS-related   death   among   key populations, including young and adolescent key populations .
Also concerned by the legislative, policy and social frameworks that deny legal gender recognition, perpetuate  violence,  stigma,  discrimination  and  exclusion  of  key  populations  services,  including healthcare and HIV-related servicesFurther concerned by the refusal to acknowledge the resilience and the immense contribution of key population communities and initiatives within the HIV response
Appalled  by  an  evolving  development  agenda  that  is  not  people-centred;  that  deprioritises  the human  rights,  access  to justice  and the health  needs  of key populations  and other  marginalized groups  Condemn  the  continued  violence,  stigma,  discrimination,  and  laws  that  criminalize  key  populations and exclude us from accessing information, justice and health services.
Condemn  health  systems  that  are  hostile  to  key  populations;  that  are  used  to  arrest  and  detain  us and violate and objectify our bodies and subject us to cruel and degrading treatment.
Also condemn the lack of investment, particularly domestic investment in key populations in the HIV response Condemn   political   statements,   declarations,   strategies,   and   national   plans   that   include   key populations as a token without any commitment and investment in meeting our needs
Further  condemn  continuing  exclusion  from  programs  and  interventions  with  the  excuse  that  ‘they are invisible’, ’there is no evidence’ and ‘they lack capacity’
Hereby  demand  urgent  action  and  investment  to  address  increasing  HIV  infections  and  aids  related death among key populations including young and adolescent Key Populations
Demand  investment  in  community  systems,  as  well  as  the  resourcing,  strengthening,  upscaling  and integration of community-led interventions.
Demand the involvement of key populations in planning, design, implementation and monitoring of strategies, policies, plans, and programmes .
Demand  genuine  partnership  in  research  in  an  equitable,  dignifying  and  beneficial  manner  that guarantees community ownership
Demand  that  healthcare  providers  abide  by  the  Hippocratic  oath  by  delivering  quality,  appropriate,non-discriminatory services , that respect confidentiality and the needs and choices of the individual.
Demand   that   the   contribution   of   communities   of   key   populations   in   the   HIV   response   be acknowledged, valued and adequately remunerated.
Demand  explicit  targets,  indicators  and  investments  be  made  in  the  development  agenda  that prioritises human rights and health needs of key populations and other marginalized groups.
Demand  appropriate  allocation  of  funding,  particularly  domestic  funding,  and  other  resources  be made to communities of key populations and key population-led initiatives;
We  call  on  HIV,  human  rights  organisations,   broader  civil  society  and  other  stakeholders   to demonstrate   and  stand  in  solidarity   with  and  demand  accountability   and  investment   in  key populations communities and key population-led initiatives in order to achieve the end of AIDS.
As communities key populations, in order to advance the HIV response, we commit to organise and operate with professionalism  and transparency; continue to work in solidarity with each other and other marginalised  and vulnerable groups including youth and adolescents living with HIV, women and  girls,  people  with  disabilities,  migrants  and  displaced  peoples;  mobilise  and  organise  our communities; support our communities including those of us living with HIV; and
We  also  collaborate  with  government  and  other  relevant  stakeholders;  educate  and  sensitize government, other relevant stakeholders and our peers; be present and committed in the forefront of interventions; hold ourselves, governments, and stakeholders.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mphoko-Ndebeles Have a Right to Rule the Country

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko says that there is no single tribe in Zimbabwe solely entitled to rule the country.
Addressing ZANU PF supporters at the party fund-raising dinner dance in Bulawayo over the weekend, Mphoko told Bulawayo based party members to rise up and be counted in the party leadership and not leave leadership as a preserve of people from outside Matabeleland regions.
The controversial Vice President threw accusations at members of the party from other regions who go around spreading campaign that the leadership of the country can only come from one sector of the country, describing them as senseless.
“Those who are saying there must be a certain tribe to lead the country are misplaced. There is nothing like that. We never fought the war on tribal grounds,” said the Acting President.
Prior to Mphoko’s statement, the ZANU PF chairman for Bulawayo province alderman Naison Ndlovu also castigated people who come from outside Matabeleland regions and dominate the people of the region. Ndlovu warned members from outside the region against bringing cultures that are foreign to the people of the area.
” Don’t come to Bulawayo with your ideas and behaviours from Masvingo, Harare and Mutare and expect to force them here in Bulawayo. We have our own way of living which must be respected and we be accorded priority in running our own thing, ” said Ndlovu.
Vice President Mphoko reiterated Ndlovu’s sentiments challenging the people of Matabeleland and Bulawayo against accepting second fiddle in the affairs of the country.
” People of Bulawayo you have to do things on your own. We must not look down upon ourselves because we have the potential to do well. You must stand up and do things for yourself and Bulawayo has everything hence I urge you to stand up and be counted,” said Mphoko.
The fundraising dinner which the party has described as a huge success, was to raise funds for the party’s conference scheduled for Victoria Falls next week. In attendance were Kembo Mohadi who is the party’s Secretary for Security and also the Minister of State for National Security, the Deputy Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators and Former Political Detainees Tshinga Dube, Fred Moyo who is the Deputy Minister of Mines, Mining Development, Bulawayo Parliamentarians, party members and the city’s business community.

Dad, 60, Rapes 2Yr Old Daughter

A 60-YEAR-OLD sexual deviant man from Chiredzi raped his two-year-old daughter and shattered her bladder in the process.

The girl now has complications in relieving herself and is most likely never to have any children, after the cruel encounter with her biological father.

The father whose name cannot be published to protect the minor’s identity, is a member of the Chipiwa Sugarcane Farmers’ Association, who sexually abused the minor once at a farm in Mkwasine where the girl lives with her paternal grandmother.
Appearing before Chiredzi magistrate, the ruthless father, last week, was not asked to plead. He was remanded in custody to December 2. The magistrate advised him to apply to the High Court for bail.

Meanwhile, the Chiredzi community are said to be preparing to pounce on the abusive father, once they get an opportunity at the court appearance in December.

The prosecutor, Liberty Hove, said on September 27 at around 2 PM, the rapist father, visited the minor at Mkwasine estates.

“The father is said to have phoned the minor’s grandmother saying he missed his daughter and wanted to take her to his house for the night. The grandmother gave him permission,” said Hove.

The court heard the rapist parent found the grandmother away and called his daughter before ordering her to lie on the sofa and removed her panties.

“He raped her once after which he threatened to kill her if she dared to report what had happened. However, all hell broke loose when the grandmother arrived home and noticed that the girl had complications in passing urine,” said Hove.

The grandmother interrogated her and she implicated her father. The grant mother who ZimEye.com cannot identify, wept bitterly before reporting her son to the police, who arrested and
locked him away.

Zimbabwe’s rape cases involving the relatives of victims, has been on the increase every day, with some going unreported due to death threats and ignorance.

CIOs launches Raid Attacks On Gays

The Central Intelligence Agency, CIO, has lauched a clampdown on foreign gays and lesbians attending the International Conference on Aids and STI’s in Africa (ICASA) in Harare and seized their workshop material at Harare International Airport.
Suspected State security agents yesterday pulled down an exhibition stand mounted by the group to display and house its members and sex workers at the conference venue. The exhibitors were later allowed to display their wares, following massive protests and lobbying by local and international human rights groups.
Addressing a pre-conference workshop for key people, Kene Esom, the executive director of African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR), said the confiscation of most of their material by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) had disrupted the group’s programmes.
“The material is still held because the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority is still conducting an assessment on them. The challenge is that we have attended many conferences of this nature and we have never been required to pay duty on such conference material, especially when you had bid to host the conference,” Esom said.
“As you can see, it has impacted on the quality of the pre-conference because we have agenda material and information material for interaction, which we haven’t gotten.”
Esom said when Zimbabwe won the bid to host the conference, his organisation made an effort to lobby Health and Tourism ministers, as well as the National Aids Council (NAC), among other stakeholders, to guarantee the non-discrimination of key populations such as transgender people.
He also disclosed that their exhibition stand was temporarily ransacked and pulled down, after State security agents felt offended by some of the material on display.
Esom challenged the local community to break the silence on same-sex relationships and be more tolerant.
Speaking at the same event, NAC chief executive Tapiwa Magure said it was not fair to discriminate key populations because they would be left behind in terms of accessing vital information.
“I want to assure you that we will not discriminate anyone in this country. I want to make sure that information reaches out to everyone,” he said.
President Robert Mugabe has, however, repeatedly sounded his disdain for homosexuality and repeated his anti-gay stance at the just-ended United Nations Summit in New York, the United States.
Mugabe has often described lesbians and gays as “worse than pigs and dogs”.
The local gay population has accused the country of “dodging” the question about the participation and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Zimbabwe and those attending the on-going ICASA.
Gays and Lesbians’ Association in Zimbabwe director Chesterfield Samba in a statement said the government had always exhibited homophobic attitudes to these groups, hence it was a high risk population.
“Sex between men is criminalised in Zimbabwe, thus driving them underground and making
them difficult to reach with HIV interventions,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAids) yesterday marked the ICASA official opening with a call for countries to further accelerate their response to Aids.
The conference is taking place in Harare this week against a backdrop of great progress in the Aids response, even though stakeholders in the health sector still face a number of challenges in reducing the spread and impact of the disease.
“Africa is on the brink of breaking the Aids epidemic. We have no time to lose. We have five years to fast-track the Aids response,” UNAids executive director Michel Sidibe said at a Press conference in the capital.
UNAids is introducing its new fast-track strategy which involves front loading investments in the Aids response to reach an ambitious 90-90-90 treatment target by 2020, where 90% of people living with HIV would be in a position to know their status and an equal number accessing treatment .
The conference was opened by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, where he made a veiled attack on gays and lesbians saying: “We equally reject attempts to prescribe ‘new rights’ which are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs.” Newsday/Additional Reporting

Sikhonjwa Blows $30k on Limo

30K blow on Limo...Sikhonjwa
30K blow on Limo…Sikhonjwa

Bulawayo socialite and comedian Babongile Sikhonjwa says he has bought a limousine worth $30,000 to use with his friends and family during the festive season.
The all white limousine Lincoln Town car has been moving around the city for the past two weeks. Sikhonjwa, his trusted sidekick Clive Chigubu, hip hop artiste Cal_Vin and his girlfriend Pearl, visited The Chronicle offices on Friday.
The excited comedian said the limo was an import from America.
“My driver and I went to Harare to get the car two weeks ago. We drove all the way from there. We spent a day in Harare before travelling to Bulawayo. Along the way we gave some people a free lift in the car,” said Sikhonjwa.
He said owning a limo was a dream come true for him and he would cherish the day forever.
“The limousine is for me to enjoy myself. Imagine if you woke up in the morning and you’d a choice to drive a limo or a Vitz to work? Obviously you’d drive the limo,” said Sikhonjwa.
He said in order to enjoy an unhindered festive season, he had hired a driver who would ferry him and his family and friends around the city and country.
“A driver has been hired to ferry us around during the festive season. Friends and family will have a chance to ride the limo with me,” said Sikhonjwa.
He said the limo would also be hired out to make money.
“The limo isn’t only going to be used for driving around and merry making. I want to turn it into a business venture where I’ll be hiring it out to people for their parties and weddings for a fee. That’s the main reason I bought the limo,” said Sikhonjwa.
Inside the limo, there are leather seats and it holds 12 people, while entertainment is provided by a television. There is also space for a bar. State Media

TB Joshua Faces Prison for Murdering 116 People in Building Collapse | BREAKING NEWS

Until today TB Joshua had dodged appearing before the courts to be questioned as he utilised lawyers to divert the judicial process…READ ON…

TB Joshua, the famed Senior Pastor and Prophet of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), is going to trial over his role in the collapse of the church’s six-story guesthouse killing 116 people last year.
A statement signed by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Bola Akingbade, confirmed TB Joshua’s arraignment for Monday, November 30, 2015.
Until today TB Joshua had dodged appearing before the courts as he utilised lawyers to divert attention.
Mr. Joshua is being arraigned alongside all the Trustees of SCOAN and two engineers who constructed the building that later collapsed, according to Mr. Akingbade’s statement.
He added, “the trustees (including TB Joshua) will be arraigned before Justice Lawal Akapo alongside the engineers that constructed the collapsed building.”
Pressure has been mounting on Mr. Joshua as the public continues to question whether he was criminally negligent over the collapse of the building. The Lagos State government has previously stated on the record that SCOAN did not have authorization or a legal permit to add floors to the guesthouse.
In the aftermath of the building collapse, Mr. Joshua claimed that it was the work of a mysterious aircraft, which had allegedly been spotted above the building. He later blamed Boko Haram for the collapse, saying that it was a terrorist attack. The Pastor has since found to be lying on both accounts.
Mr. Joshua was also caught on an audio recording offering bribes to Nigerian journalists in exchange for favorably portraying him in their reports.
Mr. Joshua has received several court summons ordering him to testify his case, but the Pastor has so far refused to comply forcing the Magistrate leading the investigation to threaten his arrest.
The church building, a guest house, collapsed in September 2014, killing 116 people, many of them South Africans (two of who were Zimbabwean and also ZimEye news readers) who travelled to Nigeria for the church’s service in Lagos.
The inquiry sat for months and set July 8 for its ruling.
– SaharaReporters/Additional Reporting

Mangoma’s RDZ Party Aides Beaten Up By ZANU PF Thugs

Elton Mangoma’s RDZ party members were on THursday assaulted by ZANU PF thugs.
The thugs reportedly numbering between 25-30 attacked party youths preparing for the bi-election in Kuwadzana 14. One of the RDZ youths was seen with agonizing in pain while wearing a torn t-shirt.
 
 

 
“We were attacked Zanu pf thugs in Kambuzuma (Joshua Nkomo area) while putting up our posters for our local gvt candidate Ebinate Rwodzi who resides in same area,” Mr Fortune Manyonga told ZimEye.com.
 
He continued, ”
“It was around 2pm they physically attacked four of us, and removed our posters saying Zimbabwe is no place for opposition politics.”
Leading the attackers’ group was one Gweshe and another only known as “Munemo”.
A police case was opened at Marimba police station under the docket number “RRB 2576169.”
Meanwhile the party’s National Organiser, Trymore Mpofu told ZimEye, the group is “not surprised by this victimisation of our members and this shows us clear that our party RDZ is a threat to this Government of Zanu PF.”
He continued, “I would like to warn all the Zanu PF youths and their leaders that this time we wont allow them to victimise the innocent Zimbabweans in front of our eyes. I also want to send a clear message that we don’t recognise the so called Zanu PF bases that were created as a tool of intimidating the opposition voices.We will make sure that this violation of human rights is coming to an end.

“It’s not good to victimise your parents just because someone have promised to buy you a bear.To the people of Zimbabwe I would like to say that don’t lose heart my fellow comrades the dictator is going,remember that God is watching everything and he will set us free soon.”

Crocodile Fails to Kill Toddler

croc3333
A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy from Hwange is lucky to be alive after he was rescued from the deadly jaws of a crocodile by alert prison officers.
The prison officers allegedly jumped into the bloodied waters of a pool where the animal was dragging the tot. They reportedly wrestled with the predator, forcing it to release its deadly grip on the child’s arm.
Tapiwa Chadoka of Mpumalanga suburb was swimming with his friends in a pool last Wednesday when the huge reptile attacked him. He was rushed from a clinic in Hwange to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo last Thursday.
Doctors had to amputate his left arm after the crocodile clamped its jaws around them, causing irreparable damage on the body tissues and bone.
When The State Media visited the boy at the hospital’s intensive care unit in the paediatric ward, he seemed to be in terrible pain.
His parents were at his bedside, continuously soothing him. The severed limb was wrapped in bandages. The boy’s father, Wadson Chadoka, who is based in Botswana, said the incident occurred on Wednesday shortly after 3PM.
“I had to rush back home from Botswana where I’m working after I got a report that my son was attacked by a crocodile.
“It appears he was swimming in a pool in Mpumalanga together with his friends when a wandering crocodile appeared from nowhere and attacked him,” said Chadoka.
He said the reptile sank its teeth into the boy’s left arm, twisted and rolled as it pulled him to the bottom of the pool. The tot, said Chadoka, screamed attracting the attention of some prison officers who were passing by.
“Luckily some prison officers who were passing by heard my son screaming for help and they quickly rushed to the scene and wrestled with the crocodile until it released him,” said Chadoka as he struggled to hold back tears.
“I’m, however, thankful to God because my son is alive although he lost his arm. As a family we’ll give him all the necessary support during this difficult moment.”
In February, a teenage herdboy from Masvingo was killed by a crocodile while on a fishing expedition along Mutirikwi River. The animal devoured some of his body parts.
The victim was identified as Shingirirai Mangwengwe of Mangare village. His death occurred against a background of increasing reports of crocodiles attacking villagers’ livestock. – State Media

MP Wants BirthControl Pills for Men

Veneranda Langa| Shamva South MP, Joseph Mapiki (Zanu PF) had people who attended a meeting of MPs and Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ) officials on family planning in Nyanga (Monday) in stitches, when he suggested that birth control pills for men should also be introduced.
Mapiki’s arguments were premised on the fact that some men were hoodwinked into having more children by their wives when they no longer wanted them.
“Are there family planning pills that have been manufactured for men to ingest to ensure they do not get tricked into impregnating women when they do not want children because some men are forced by their wives to have more children when they do not want to?
“It is also important for men to have an interest in family planning issues so that they understand when their women suffer side effects due to the family planning methods that they will be using,” he said.
PSZ acting country director Pester Siraha said although such a pill was not available in Zimbabwe, some countries were already doing research on the possibility of having birth control pills for men.
According to an analysis on an online newsletter RH Reality Check by Valerie Tarico, more men were now questioning whether they should trust women to manage contraception.
“Interest in better male controlled contraception varies widely depending on country and culture, but in a wide variety of countries, more than half of men say they want better male birth control methods,” Tarico wrote.
Siraha said it was imperative for men to also have an interest in family planning, or even to accompany their wives whenever they visited family planning clinics.
A good example of a man who is interested in family planning is Trymore Saunyama, a father of three from Nyakadzodzo village in Mozambique, which borders Chatindo village in Nyanga.
Although his village is geographically in Mozambique, it is just a 10km walk to Chatindo Clinic in rural Nyanga. This is where Saunyama accesses medical care together with his family.
On Monday, Saunyama got wind that the PSZ mobile Blue Star family planning services would be stationed at Chatindo Clinic to help villagers who have to walk very long distances seeking medical care to access the services, and to get counselling on different family planning methods like jadelle, the loop, tablets, tuba ligation, vasectomy and many others.
What was interesting about Saunyama is that he did not only accompany his wife to get advice on family planning, but he also came to the clinic with a baby strapped on his back — a rare sight.
“I accompanied my wife Dorcas Nyamanhu to the clinic because I think it is very important for men to understand the family planning method that will be recommended for their wives,” said Saunyama, with the baby sleeping soundly on his back.
“We have three children, and two of them are still very young. My wife cannot carry the two young ones so I have to help her as the clinic is 10km away from my village in Mozambique.”
Saunyama said even though he was from the Mozambican side, he was allowed to access medical treatment from Zimbabwe for a fee, including family planning services offered by PSZ mobile Blue Star clinics.
“We pay $2 consultation fees, and the family planning tablets are provided for free,” he said.
“I think men should support their wives and accompany them to family planning sessions so that they decide together which methods of family planning they would like to take. There are long term and short-term methods.
“It is imperative for couples to decide together how many children they would like to have because unwanted pregnancies can be costly. It is also not a good idea to have many children that one then fails to educate, feed or clothe,” Saunyama said.
Tariro Chimombe, the clinic team leader, said a maximum of 60 rural women accessed family planning services from the clinic every day.
“People from the neighbouring villages in Mozambique take advantage of our services and access family planning services.
“They have the same privileges as their Zimbabwean counterparts and we do not charge an extra fee,” Chimombe said.
Siraha said mounting mobile clinics in remote rural areas was helpful in ensuring women did not have to walk very long distances to access modern family planning methods.
“Most of them choose to take long-term family planning methods that can be effective for five years because it is difficult to continuously travel long distances to access family planning tablets,” Siraha said.
Legislators from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care visited the mobile family planning clinics in Nyanga.
Chairperson of the committee, Ruth Labode said mobile family planning clinics should be spread out to the very remote areas of the country that did not have clinics in order to assist women to ensure they avoided unwanted pregnancies.
Labode said she would also advocate for laws that would allow already sexually active children to access reproductive health education to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
Members of the committee said they would work with PSZ to disseminate information on reproductive health issues because knowledge and use of family planning reduced maternal mortality.
Sarah Shaw, the Marie Stopes International regional policy advisor for east and southern Africa, said Zimbabwe was well advanced in family planning systems, adding women used the same modern family planning methods as used in developed countries like England.
“The difference is that in England, use of family planning is more widespread because there are no cultural barriers. It is also free and easy to access,” she said. – Standard. By Veneranda Langa

Magaya Pastor nearly Beaten Up, Kicked Out Of Building

Outrage over practice of “facilitating demons”
By Tinoonga Mawere, Masvingo | There was pandemonium at the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe run Morgenster mission last week when a local Reverend chased congregants said to be linked to PHD leader Walter Magaya out of a church building during a so called “healing and deliverance” session.
Tempers flared when Reverend Simbarashe Munamati disrupted the session at the end of a week long revival at the mission. The session was conducted by Pastor Chimvinga from Norton. The incensed clergyman accused Pastor Chimvinga of imitating controversial spiritist preacher Walter Magaya.
Reverend Munamati said the practice of entertaining and facilitating demons was not in line with the RCZ doctrine. However the disruption did not augur well with congregants and in the melee the Reverend ordered the church members out of the temple .
“There was mayhem at the end of the revival because the healing and deliverance session that was conducted by Reverend Chimvinga was disrupted by Reverend Munamati and that triggered commotion such that the so called ‘revival’ ended prematurely. There was a near fist fight as people were being driven out of the church building,” said a congregant who witnessed the incident.
It has emerged main line churches have in recent days been losing congregants who are flocking to spiritist and cultic churches to seek solutions for various social ills. One such mushrooming church is the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministry lead by Magaya. Magaya’s all night prayer known as turn around night attracted at least 500 000 congregants early this month.
Hard pressed by socio-economic challenges, the RCZ congregants were not happy with Reverend Munamati’s disruption of the service adding they had social concerns that required spiritual remedies .

UK Bloody Murder: Zim Boyfriend Pleads Loss of Control

Bolton, Manchester – The trial of Zimbabwean soldier Josephat Mutekedza who (as charged) allegedly attacked his girlfriend leaving her body in cold blood on the 28th July, saw the man plead “Not Guilty.”


He proffered his plea citing the “Loss of Control” argument.
His girlfriend, the 35-year-old nurse, Miriam Nyazema, was found with multiple stab wound injuries at her flat and died at hospital resulting in his arrest.
The two were embroiled in a love triangle.
In pleading Loss Of Control, Mutekedza is seeking to reduce the level of crime, legal analysts quoted by the UK based ZimboLive TV say.
The matter will now be settled by way of a murder trial on the 11th of January 2016.

Female Fraudsters Hit Petrol Stations

PETROL STATION
State Media – Two women allegedly went on a spree defrauding fuel companies and service stations after lying that they were in the business of selling bulk fuel, the court heard last week.
They allegedly used the same method to defraud other people of chickens, beef, cellphones and kapenta after telling them they owned such businesses. It was alleged that Maggie Muchanyara (50) and Shuvai Chimedza (36) would approach fuel companies and misrepresent that they owned service stations and at the same time they would approach service stations and misrepresent that they owned fuel supplying companies.
Thereafter, they would ask the fuel companies to deliver fuel to service stations promising cash on delivery. Once allocated the fuel, they would lead the delivery truck to the service station pretending to have brought the consignment, get cash from the garage owner and disappear, leaving the truck driver stranded.
The driver would be left engaged in a heated argument with the garage owner over payment for the delivered fuel. The two appeared before Mr Tendai Mahwe facing several counts of fraud involving more than $40 000 and were remanded in custody after prosecutor Mrs Idah Mateke-Maromo strongly opposed bail.
It is the State’s case that on November 4, Muchanyara and Chimedza went to Primero Fuel Suppliers and pretended to be fuel buyers. They misrepresented that they were the owners of MCH service station and were given quotations for 10 000 litres of diesel.
They proceeded to MCH service station and pretended to be owners of Primero Fuel Suppliers and were given an order to supply 10 000 litres. The pair went back to Primero Fuel Suppliers and requested for an order of 10 000 litres of diesel promising to pay cash on delivery.
Muchanyara and Chimedza led the delivery truck with the 10 000 litres of diesel to MCH service station where they ordered the driver to park while they collected the payment from the office.
In the MCH offices, they met Brian Chisaka and misrepresented that they had brought the fuel and needed their cash and were given $5 000. The balance of $5 000 was to be paid after offloading. Muchanyara and Chimedza went outside and disappeared. MCH officials later asked the truck driver to offload the fuel, but he refused arguing that he wanted payment before offloading.
The officials told him that they had already paid his bosses while referring to Muchanyara and Chimedza. Using the same method, the pair duped Mashwede Diesel Services of $5 260 after misrepresenting that they were owners of RNF Petroleum in Mbare.
In another similar charge, Muchanyara and Chimedza approached Ndaitei Renzva and misrepresented to her that they owned a canteen and wanted chickens. They were given 88 chickens worth $440 and disappeared before paying.
They used the same method to dupe Agnes Ali of $196 after she had supplied them with 59kg of beef. Kapenta dealer Jonathan Hakunavanhu lost $10 200 worth of kapenta to the pair, the State alleged. Chimedza also swindled Vengai Shonhiwa of $4 570 after he had given her five cellphones on credit and also conned July Tasunungurwa of $2 000 using the same method.

Exam Cheats Banned 2 Years – Govt

ZimSec offices
ZimSec offices

Exam cheats will be banned from sitting for exams for two years in addition to their results being cancelled, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council has announced.
The Council will cancel results for pupils who were convicted of unlawfully accessing this year’s November examination material and bar them from sitting for its exams for two years.
At least 18 students were convicted in Chitungwiza, while others are still to appear at the Harare Magistrates Courts facing the same offence. Zimsec director Mr Isau Nhandara said in an interview last week that they were aware that more 30 candidates have been apprehended for cheating.
“Where there is evidence, people or candidates who were found with the extraneous material, the Zimsec provisions regulations will be instituted,” he said. “These involve cancellation of examination results that is as far as the provisions are concerned, while the legal process will carry on until it is completed.
“Those who were convicted, their results will be cancelled and the candidates will not be allowed to sit for Zimsec examinations for the next two years. That is what the Zimsec regulations provide for and the position of council (Zimsec).”
Mr Nhandara dismissed claims of a message that was circulating on the WhatsApp platform last week indicating that there was going to be a resit for O’ Level Mathematics Paper 1. The message read: “The Zimsec board is sorry to announce that the Ordinary Level Maths Paper 1 October/ November will be rewritten on December 8, 2015. For more information contact your exam centre. Please forward this to other exam students and parents of the students.”
Mr Nhandara said there would be no resits for any examination.

Zimbabwe On High Terror Alert

Zimbabwe is on high terror attack alert following a spate of terrorist attacks in Mali and France in the past few weeks, the Minister of State Security, Kembo Mohadi, said yesterday.

High Alert...Kembo Mohadi
High Alert…Kembo Mohadi

In an interview, Minister Mohadi said Government had drawn lessons from the world’s growing vulnerability to terror. “As Government we are seized with the matter (terror attacks). We are not sitting on our laurels because what recently happened in France and lately in Mali is an issue of global concern. It can also happen to us. We have drawn lessons from that and we are alert,” he said.
Minister Mohadi said security officials from Zimbabwe and Zambia met last week in Lusaka to discuss ways of fighting the trend under the auspices of the two countries’ joint permanent commission on defence and security. He said top of the agenda were the issues of global terrorism and money laundering.
“Zimbabwe is a signatory to anti-terrorism protocols through Interpol and other international bodies. We also have something to do with transnational crime which we undertake both regionally and internationally,” he said. “Last week we met our Zambian counterparts in Lusaka under a joint permanent commission on defence and security and among the major issues discussed was global terrorism and money laundering.”
Minister Mohadi said laundered money is used to fund terror attacks. He said Zimbabwe had an obligation to fight terrorism together with other countries since terrorism knows no boundaries. Minister Mohadi said Zimbabwe was working with all the 14 countries in the Sadc region in terms of intelligence.
“In the Sadc, we have structures that deal with anti-terrorism issues and as a country we do contribute in terms of intelligence. In fact, it is every country’s responsibility to fight terrorism and we are always liaising with other countries regionally and internationally in terms of exchange of security,” said the Minister.
Zimbabwe is part of the joint permanent commissions on defence and security with all Sadc countries. Minister Mohadi said the November terror attacks on Mali and France highlighted a rising global susceptibility to terrorism which called for concerted efforts in the fight against acts of terror violence.
The Mali terror attack at a luxury hotel in the capital, Bamako, left at least 21 people dead, including two militants. It came less than a week after the Paris gun and suicide bomb attacks in which 130 people were killed and several others injured. In April Al-Shabab militants stormed dormitories at Garissa University College in eastern Kenya and killed 147 people.
More than 500 students were rescued after the Islamist militants attacked the campus and took others hostage. State Media

Mujuru War-Bolster to Boot Mugabe Out

WILBERT-MUKORI
Zimbabwe had a really golden opportunity to end the corrupt and tyrannical Mugabe dictatorship during the GNU. All Tsvangirai and his MDC friends had to do was implement the democratic reforms already agreed in the 2008 Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara on behalf of their political parties and SA President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of SADC, the guarantor of the agreement.
Sadly Tsvangirai and his MDC friends did not just waste this golden opportunity to end the Mugabe dictatorship, they did so in a spectacular fashion. In the five years of the GNU they failed to get even one of the raft of GPA reforms implemented. The reforms were meant to be implemented in 18 months the GNU lasted for 60 months and still not even one reform was implemented. Not one!
Of course Tsvangirai et al showed the whole world how breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent they are. Sadly the whole nation has been painted with the same brush; now all Zimbabweans are considered breathtakingly naïve, corrupt, incompetent and, more significantly, do not have a clue how to end the Mugabe dictatorship. And so the flood gates have been opened for everyone else to tell us how to end the Mugabe dictatorship.
“To beat Mugabe, Zimbabwe needs a united opposition,” wrote Alexander Noyes, a doctorate student at Oxford University in the New York Times. Joice Mujuru and Morgan Tsvangirai are to be the backbone of this coalition.
“Ms. Mujuru matters because she is a veteran of Zimbabwe’s liberation war, has belonged to the ruling party for over three decades and was for many years a close associate of Mr. Mugabe’s,” wrote Noyes. “She was sacked from her position in December 2014 for allegedly planning to topple Mr. Mugabe.”
The liberation war is not relevant in post-independence Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans are painfully aware of how yesteryear’s liberation heroes have become today’s corrupt and murderous oppressors.
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power,” said President Abraham Lincoln.
Ms Mujuru was given power; she was right at the very heart of government for 34 years. She has never lifted a finger to stop the mismanagement, corruption and lawlessness that has landed this nation into this mess. Indeed if anything she has played a full role is landing us into the mess; she is incompetent and is certainly one of the most corrupt individuals in Zimbabwe.
The only reason one’s liberation war credentials have remained important in Zimbabwe is because Mugabe and his cronies are milking their role in that war to justify their no regime change agenda. One of the key objectives of the said war was that the blacks must be granted a meaningful say in the governance of the country. Zimbabwe has held frequent elections every five years in the last 35 years the result were engineered to ensure there was no regime change.
Mugabe has stubbornly enforced his no regime change ethos and yet claims all past nation’s elections have been free, fair and credible. No-regime-change cannot sit side by side with free democratic elections; you can have one but not both.
Mugabe has appointed his cronies especially in the security sectors, Police, Army, CIO and the very influential war veterans and encouraged them to pedal the notion that only those with liberation war credentials could be trusted to rule the nation. But even wanton violence from these security organs in 2008 failed to stop the people, determined to end the Zanu PF dictatorship, voting for changed.
The 2008 elections showed that if the elections are free, fair and credible, Zimbabweans will vote for anyone they believe will deliver real democratic change and good governance regardless of whether they have any liberation war credentials or not.
The emphasis must surely be on Zimbabwe hunting for the changes necessary for free, fair and credible elections to end Mugabe’s tyrannical rule. So why is Mr Noyes dragging us back to the bad old Mugabe propaganda that only those with liberation war history can rule!
Mr Noyes’ choice of Ms Mujuru’s possible coalition partner(s), Morgan Tsvangirai and/or Tendai Biti, is equally baffling.
“My own research in Zimbabwe found that splits in the opposition and a lack of sound political strategies hurt the chances for democratic reform during Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government, in office from 2008 to 2013,” Mr Noyes tell us. “The opposition must learn from these mistakes and come together.
“The benefits of a coalition in Zimbabwe are clear. Given Ms. Mujuru’s nationalist credentials and Mr. Tsvangirai’s broad support base, a cohesive opposition alliance between the two stands a real chance against ZANU-PF in 2018, with or without Mr. Mugabe.”
Mr Noyes must not rewrite history, our history, to suit his own ill-informed doctorate theories! It was not the “split in the opposition and lack of sound political strategies” that stopped Tsvangirai and his MDC friends from implementing even one democratic reform in the five years of the GNU. Mugabe bribed them to forget the reforms with all the good life trappings of the gravy train, the tyrant thrown in the $4 million Highlands mansion for Tsvangirai.
MDC leaders have never been more united than they were throughout the GNU especially in their resolve to kick the reforms into the tall grass. They did not want to implement any of the reforms because they know that would upset Mugabe; they were united in their common desire to do nothing to upset Mugabe.
At the end of the GNU with not even one reform implemented despite SADC leaders’ best efforts throughout the five years to get MDC to do something; it was not surprising that the regional leaders were disgusted with Tsvangirai and company. They complained of MDC leaders “were busy enjoying themselves during the GNU and forgot why they were there”.
 
There is nothing both Tsvangirai and Mujuru have said or done to show they are committed to ensuring the next elections are free, fair and credible. The former is insisting that Zanu PF must re-align electoral laws to the 2013 constitution although everyone else has shown that this would do nothing to ensure free elections. As for Mujuru, she cherishes the prospect of taking on her former Zanu PF colleagues in the tense political atmosphere of vote rigging and wanton violence; she is used to hunting in these muddy political waters.
If the opposition coalition was to win the next elections under the present undemocratic conditions, it is very naïve to even think the new regime would implement any meaningful reforms and give away the electoral advantage! If we are serious about democratic change we must demand it now and forget the idea of the coalition forming a half-way stop gap measure.
We must demand the full implementation of all the 2008 GPA reforms and then the holding of free and fair elections as the way out of this mess. The only way out!
As a Zimbabwean I would be the first one to admit that Zimbabwe wasted a golden opportunity to end Mugabe’s tyrannical rule during the GNU thanks to Tsvangirai et al’s breath-taking incompetence. But not only is Alexander Noyes’ analysis of our situation factually inaccurate there is real no intellectual merit in suggesting that the same corrupt and incompetent leaders, united to form a coalition, will get us out of this mess.
It was foolish of us to have entrusted corrupt and incompetent individuals like Morgan Tsvangirai or Joice Mujuru with the important task of removing a devilishly cunning tyrant like Mugabe from office. It would be unforgivable folly to elect the same failed individuals again to do the same task and, somehow, expect a different result!
 

Parliamentary Committee Rubbished as Residents Fume

Staff Reporter| Residents of Gwanda have rubbished the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology’s public consultation on the Gwanda State University and Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences Bills.
Recently appointed Gwanda Residents Association Spokesperson Aifheli Mudau, told media that residents of the town have expressed disappointment and anger at the parliamentary committee’s below par consultative meeting held in Gwanda on Tuesday.
The committee is said to have hurried the residents through the bill with very little time accorded for the residents inputs to the bill.
“The Portfolio Committee that came to Gwanda on Tuesday to discuss with the public The Gwanda State University Bill failed to deliver what was expected of them,” said Mudau.
According to the residents the bill will not warrant to be enacted into law as per the constitution due to lack of citizen inputs.
“Bills are proposed pieces of legislation which, if passed by parliament, become law binding on everyone in the country. As such members of the public must be afforded enough time to debate and air their views. In Gwanda people were rushed through the Bill before most could make their contributions,” added Mudau.
The parliamentary committee is reported to have got to Gwanda without notice to the residents resulting in a very low turnout. They are also accused of having brought only two copies of the bill which people battled to share.
“The Bill was never argued carefully simply because they never ensured there were enough copies for distribution to every member which left most people blindly contributing to the deliberations with most people totally lost to what exactly was happening.
The residents have since made a submission to the clerk of parliament demanding for the portfolio committee to come go to the town and make a proper consultation.
“With all due respect, We therefore as residents of Gwanda request through the Clerk of parliament that the concerned committee be sent back to Gwanda and re-engage the public.

Tongaat Hulett Workers Strike Over $5 PayRise

Nearly 16 000 employees from Tongaat Hulett in Chiredzi have gone on strike demanding a salary increment.
The Tongaat Hulett workers went on industrial action starting Friday the 27th of November claiming the employer has flatly refused to review their salaries.
The lowest paid worker at the sugar milling company gets US$170 a month, a figure which the workers say is not realistic given the performance of the company.
President of the Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Workers Union Mr Freedom Mudungwe says they want the lowest paid worker to get at least $300 but the employer is only prepared to give a US$5 increase.
According to Mudungwe what has angered the workers is that Tongaat Hulett’s employees at the Zambia and South Africa branches are being paid more than double what their Zimbabwean counterparts are getting.
“We engaged our employer and they are willing to give us just $5. Other Tongaat employees in neighbouring countries are being paid way more than what we are getting,” said Mudungwe.
Contacted for comment Tongaat Hulett corporate affairs and communications manager Adelaide Chikunguru gave the State Media a written document which among other issues states that the minimum wage of US$170 the workers are being paid is among the highest in the agriculture and agro-processing industries.
Chikunguru says they will, however, continue to engage with the employees for an amicable solution.

Sex Rage Misfires:Hubby Burns Self Up While Torching Rival’s Car

A Harare man suffered serious burns while torching a vehicle belonging to another man he suspected of having an adulterous relationship with his wife.
Businessman Munyaradzi Nyandoro was allegedly involved in a dramatic high-speed chase with Tendai Mujakachi who suddenly stopped and escaped from his vehicle.
Nyandoro then looked for petrol and sprinkled it on the vehicle, a Mercedes Benz, but some of the liquid splashed on his clothes.
When he set the car ablaze he also caught fire because of the petrol on him. Nyandoro sustained burns on his face, chest and hands and is admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital. He was last week remanded to December on his hospital bed by magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe facing charges of malicious damage to property.
The prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that Nyandoro, who had long been suspecting his wife Stella of cheating, locked her in a toilet before grabbing her cellphone which he used to lure Mujakachi to his house.
Initially, Nyandoro had told Stella that he was travelling to South Africa and she communicated with Mujakachi advising him that he could visit her house.
Nyandoro returned in the evening and Stella is said to have texted Mujakachi telling him not to come.
According to the State, Stella’s sister visited them and by the time Stella escorted her to the visitor’s bedroom, Nyandoro took her cellphone and went through the messages.
He then started communicating with Mujakachi inviting him to the house pretending to be Stella. It is alleged that in the text messages Nyandoro told Mujakachi that “her husband” had now gone to South Africa.
When Stella returned to their bedroom, Nyandoro allegedly lured her to the toilet and locked her inside before continuing to lure Mujakachi using her phone.
Mujakachi texted on Stella’s phone notifying her that he was outside the house and Nyandoro, who was already outside started his vehicle and drove towards Mujakachi.
Mujakachi jumped into his vehicle and sped off, resulting in a high-speed chase. It is further alleged that Mujakachi later dumped his vehicle after it had hit a pot hole and took to his heels.
Nyandoro got to the vehicle, removed the keys from the ignition and locked the doors and went to buy petrol. He sprinkled the petrol on the vehicle and set it ablaze, but he also caught fire because of the fuel that sprinkled on his clothes. – State Media

Chinese President Displaces Hotel Delegates

rainbow towers
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s delegation on Sunday displaced international delegates attending the 2015 International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Africa (ICASA) from a Harare hotel.
The Chinese President is due in Harare on Tuesday.
CIO details have since ordered more than 50 ICASA delegates out of the Rainbow Towers to pave way for the Chinese President’s delegation.
Although the state media said Jinping was coming on the invitation of President Mugabe sources close to the visit said the Chinese President’s wife has interests in HIV issues hence the visit which coincides with ICASA.

Being pushed out....the ICASA Harare Conference as it began in the HICC on Sunday
Being pushed out….the ICASA Harare Conference as it began in the HICC on Sunday

The State broadsheet also threw celebrations on the visit saying it will help bolster the Zimbabwe-China mega deals. But MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu, said nothing will come out of the Zimbabwe-China mega deals. “These so-called mega deals have just remained paper tigers, they have so far, dismally failed to resuscitate the comatose Zimbabwean economy,” he said.

Grace Mugabe Scared of Future without Mugabe

no-show...Grace Mugabe
no-show…Grace Mugabe

First Lady Grace Mugabe’s growing involvement in the goings-on in the ruling Zanu PF belie both her higher leadership ambitions despite her protestations to the contrary, as well as her anxiety about a future without President Robert Mugabe, analysts say.
Speaking to the Daily News on Sunday yesterday in the wake of Zanu PF’s worsening factional and succession wars, as well as the party’s tumultuous politburo meeting last Wednesday — where she clashed with Water minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri — the analysts said her ongoing countrywide rallies were also meant to shore up her power in the former liberation movement.
“It seems Grace may be driven by both ambition and fear of a post-Mugabe era, and she probably believes the best way to secure her future is to succeed her husband. But that is a huge political gamble that could backfire massively,” senior Africa researcher at the New York-based Human Rights Watch, Dewa Mavhinga, said.
“To understand what is happening in Zanu PF and Grace’s political plans it is not necessary to listen to what she says because it can easily be misleading. People must observe what she is doing and what Zanu PF is doing in order to see the real direction of things.
“All the rallies and meet-the-people campaigns, and her so-called donations are meant to create a certain image and prepare people for the inevitable announcement of her grand political ambitions.
“Whoever says there is no bigger plan behind Grace’s whirlwind campaigns across the country is lying with a straight face. This could very well be the establishment of a Mugabe dynasty, if the people of Zimbabwe allow it,” Mavhinga added.
The first lady’s vociferous band of supporters have for some time now been using custom labels, stickers on buses and cars, bottled water and T-shirts emblazoned with her face to boost her political standing in the ruling party.
In addition, they have also lately been preaching about and spreading the controversial slogan “Munhu wese kunaAmai” (everyone must follow Grace) as they seek to present her as a worthy and viable Mugabe successor.
UK-based analyst and former advisor to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Alex Magaisa, said even though Grace was denying harbouring any presidential ambitions, it was clear that she was campaigning for a top political position.
“She is using her current role to raise her profile in the hope of launching a bid in future. She is building the nest and this is a good time to do it while she has access to State resources. Whether this will remain the case if Mugabe is gone is debatable,” Magaisa said.
South Africa-based analyst Taurai Mabhachi also said it was clear that Grace was pushing to succeed her husband.
“The Zanu PF president, who is her husband, has reached the twilight of his political life. Ordinarily, this kind of a scenario sees people positioning themselves to succeed him.
“It is also a verifiable truth that Mugabe has tacitly endorsed his wife to succeed him, given the fact that many Cabinet ministers attend rallies organised by his wife.
“The mere fact that she is visiting provinces where the political power lies is a clear demonstration that she has already thrown her hat in the succession battle,” he said.
He added that the fact that Grace was also distributing farming inputs sourced by the government was a ploy by her and her supporters to curry favour with the electorate.
“She would want to win the hearts of Zanu PF supporters prior to seeking support outside the party,” Mabhachi said, adding that Grace had now effectively usurped the power of government officials.
University of Zimbabwe political scientist, Shakespear Hamauswa, said the prevailing political situation showed that Zanu PF was in a succession crisis, in which Grace had become an important player.
“What is clear and undeniable is that Grace is being used as a pawn in a chess game. She has become influential but the influence will last as long as Mugabe lives. So, she will likely be a king maker,” he said.
“The process of succession is now a mess and anything is possible. We can be guided possibly by the consistency and or lack of it in her statements.
“We can see that in Mberengwa she was diplomatic, coming out in what seemed to be an endorsement for Mnangagwa. But unfortunately, the following day she was singing a different song,” Hamauswa added.
Well-placed sources who spoke to the Daily News on Sunday’s sister paper, the Daily News said so explosive was Zanu PF’s politburo meeting last week that Muchinguri-Kashiri — a perceived staunch ally of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, allegedly wept uncontrollably in the meeting, amid fierce factional fighting — and as a stunned Mugabe apparently watched the farce in stony silence.
This came after the politburo had endorsed the suspension and expulsion of many perceived supporters of the embattled VP, amid claims that more senior party officials loyal to him were set to face the chop in the next few months, as the post-congress Zanu PF’s factional and succession wars continue to escalate.
Mnangagwa himself is said to have not personally attempted to either oppose or stop Wednesday’s suspensions and expulsions during the politburo’s deliberations, appearing instead to “look up to president Mugabe for direction and help, but Gushungo (Mugabe) never said a thing”.
Muchinguri-Kashiri — who is allegedly aligned to the VP and has recently been locked in a vicious power struggle with Grace’s supporters in Manicaland — is alleged to have started the fight with the first lady whom she accused of fuelling infighting in the troubled province.
The Water minister, according to insiders, allegedly told Grace that she was the most senior party official in the province and thus always needed to be consulted on important decisions impacting on the region — apparently further insinuating that Grace had so far failed to run the women’s league properly.
“This angered Amai (Grace) and as she spoke, she got angrier and angrier saying ‘wakabvira kare uchindijairira … (You have never respected me)”— apparently going on to give Muchinguri-Kashiri a severe tongue-lashing which resulted in Muchinguri-Kashiri crying.
Ironically, the two women were buddies only last year when they worked together to oust former Vice President Joice Mujuru from power. In addition, Muchinguri-Kashiri relinquished her post as women’s league secretary to make way for Grace.
Mugabe is said to have avoided joining the bust-up, only speaking much later when he appeared to admonish both Muchinguri-Kashiri and War veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa for often flaunting their liberation war credentials to get special treatment in the party.
“The president acknowled-ed the important role the war veterans had played, and continued to play, but warned that their continued deification could divide Zanu PF,” another source said.-DailyNews