SEX VIDEO ANOINTING: Church Responds to ZimEye

The Zim Pastor at the centre of the video sex scandal has been named as Lloyd Gangate of Covenant Life Church  in Johannesburg.  Gangate was caught in flagrante delicto on closed circuit television (CCTV) mounted by a suspicious congregant’s husband.

The husband, Mr Masvanhise, works in Saudi Arabia but was alerted to pastor Gangate’s frequent visits to his home by complex security guards.

Allegations of an affair between Mrs Masvanhise and Mr Gangate were previously put before the church but were vehemently denied by Gangate according to a communique released by the church. In the video it is also alleged that Mrs Masvanhise was previously questioned about the allegations of an affair but denied any impropriety.

It was due to this state of affairs that a suspicious Mr Masvanhise then secretly installed the CCTV equipment in his matrimonial bedroom. The equipment could be remotely accessed via the internet. On 19 June 2015 Pastor Lloyd Gangate was filmed engaged in sexual congress with Mrs Masvanhise on CCTV in Mr Masvanhise’s matrimonial bedroom.

 

In the video Mrs Masvanhise can be seen anointing the bedroom after making a call most likely to confirm the Pastor’s attendance. Perhaps  following in the footsteps of the loose woman mentioned in Proverbs 7:10-23, Mrs Masvanhise turns on the electric blanket to keep the bed toasty in anticipation of the tryst with Gangate.  The pastor then walks in takes off his clothes and hops into bed with her. You then see rapid furtive movement under the covers.

In an interview today with ZimEye.com,  Senior Pastor and general secretary, Dr Msindo expressed concern not only for the spouses that were hurt by the infidelity but for other potential victims of the perverse Gangate.  Dr Msindo also stated that the church had tried to reach out to Mr Masvanhise in an effort to apologise but this was rebuffed. Mrs Gangate has been offered counselling.

 ZimEye.com has established that Gangate was swiftly fired as the shepherd to the South Africa flock soon after reported himself to the overseer. Gangate is also barred from contacting members of the Covenant Life Church according to the following statement released by the Church.

            *  *  *  *  *  *  Ends  *  *  *  *  *  *

STATEMENT OF COVENANT LIFE CHURCH

29 June 2015

From: The General Secretary

 Covenant Faith Ministries

To: The Churches of Covenant Faith Ministries

REF: Adultery Case of Mr. Lloyd Gangata

On the night of 26 June 2015, the Overseer of South Africa received a call from Mr. Lloyd Gangata with shocking news of his own infidelity. When he heard the news, the Overseer speedily booked an air ticket to rush to the region where this had happened. He arrived in the afternoon of Saturday 27 June.

In the company of two senior leaders of the Ministry in the region, a Pastor and an Evangelist, the Overseer asked Mr Gangata to officially tell his story to the committee of three. He admitted that he committed adultery with a married woman.

We noted that Mr. Gangata hid this sin from us and had vehemently denied this wicked affair when he was confronted earlier by those who had suspicions. He did not seek any help from his seniors in the Ministry at any stage so that he could be freed from this adulterous entanglement.

We explained to Mr. Gangata the full implications of this shocking deed on his own marriage, the marriage of the lady that he violated, the branch of the church that had entrusted him with leadership, the numerous people who were being mentored by himself and those that looked up to him as a model of a pastor.

By committing adultery, Mr Lloyd Gangata has done the following:

• Violated the sanctity of marriage as a covenant, first and foremost in his own marriage

• Violated the sanctity of marriage of another couple. This will leave serious scars on them

• Severely impaired on the integrity of the church that had trusted him with pastoral responsibilities

• Severely affected relatives of at least four other families (and more) that are directly affected by this.

• Severely impacted negatively on some friends of the Church

The Church is not in a position to tolerate sin and hypocrisy of any form and this position stands. We stand guided

by the Word of God, which we believe is the ultimate arbiter and authority on matters pertaining to life and godli-ness as our constitution states clearly. Accordingly, it was decided by the panel that listened and considered Mr

Lloyd Gangata’s case as follows:

• That with effect from Saturday 27 June 2015, Mr. Lloyd Gangata is relieved of his responsibilities as a pastor

• That there is no intention at this stage and in the near future to entrust him with any leadership position

That he is barred from ever visiting the branch or associating with any member of the church

• That he is hereby barred from acting for and/or speaking for or on behalf of the church anywhere and at any time,

• That relevant structures of the Ministry leadership will be available to help him to recover and become a repented

Christian on condition that he is willing to repent and on condition that he adheres to advise and counselling and fully recover and forsake sin

We are a Bible believing church that intends to balance the twin issues of Ministerial integrity and at the same time

helping the weak. We think that like everyone that has been caught in sin, Mr. Lloyd Gangata, disappointing as he has been to the church and wicked as he has behaved, deserves a chance to be helped in the manner that is clearly stated in Galatians 6 verses 1-4.

The Church that he was pastoring has a new leader placed over it. On 28 June early in the morning the rest of the

local church leaders were informed of the former Pastor’s behaviour. The Overseer also addressed the ordinary mem- bers the same day in the service. He asked members who could have been potentially violated to be in contact with

him so that appropriate assistance will be rendered. The wife of Mr. Gangata has been talked to and different sce- narios have been put to her in the light of what had happened. The Biblical perspective over this matter was made

known to her and we will respected her informed decision. She continues to receive counselling in this difficult time.

Her family has been informed about this and we keep engaging them on this unfortunate thing that happened. Like us, they remain seized with this matter.

We however regret that efforts to contact one of the affected parties has not been successful for many reasons. The overseer, on the night of 27 June tried to contact the husband whose wife was involved with Mr Gangata with the view to offer our apology as a church for this issue and to explain the detail that had come to our attention on this issue. We regret to say that the gentleman was not in a mood to talk to the church, and we fully understand and respect his feelings over this matter, for he is indeed a victim and is very much hurt by this unfortunate and uncalled for happening. Our feelings are for him and all that are in his family as they are also seized with this matter. We hope in the future an appropriate environment will be created for us to offer our apology as church for the damage that Mr Gangata inflicted on his marriage. We reckon that this will not be easy, but we are available, even as we also feel equally hurt and cheated by a man that we had trusted with such a huge Christian responsibility of pastoring, which requires one’s character to preach more than his words. We are also sorry to the world at large for this as this does not send a proper message to the world. As stated earlier, the church does not associate with adultery and we are sorry that this happened to someone whom people looked forard to, notwithstanding that he was a young and junior member of our pastoral team.

The church requests that the privacy of Mrs Gangata be respected in this difficult time. She is a victim and will re- quire healing. Equally, we request that the privacy of the man whose marriage was violated be respected and that any

pictures – be they still or motion – that any of our members who may have come into contact with him in any capac- ity be not distributed to any media, print, electronic or any other form. In these times, as in good times, we have to remain prayerful and give our whole to God.

The church reckons that a number of our members, especially those at the branch are hurt. We however ask that all our members exercise restraint, talk to your local pastors for emotional help on this issue, and lastly, continue to stand strong in the faith. We all still want to make it to heaven, so we have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, acknowledging that we have our characters to build and lives to live for Christ. We won’t be distracted by this case that, although very serious, is one regrettable case that has happened amongst thousands of our believers who have, for years exercised themselves unto godliness.
 
Finally, be strong in the Lord.
 
Yours
 
E. Msindo, General Secretary
cc: Leaders
File: General Secretary

Chiyangwa’s Zeco Holdings Crumbles In Massive Losses

Phillip Chiyangwa’s Zeco Holdings is nearing collapse as the company is crushed under by administration costs of $2,6 million way above and strangling its meagre revenue $500,000.
Struggling engineering concern Zeco Holdings has narrowed its loss to $2,1 million for the full year to December from $$4,7 million in prior comparative period on cost cuts, the company said at the weekend as it faces questions about its future as a going concern.
The firm’s administrative expenses, at $2 million ($2,6 million in FY13) continued to exceed revenue, at $500,000 ($604,000 FY13) by a significant margin.
Zeco, a serial offender against the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listing rules, is two months behind the mandatory financial reporting deadline for firms with a December year-end.
Group chairman Phillip Chiyangwa said the delay was “due to the extra work and time required to ensure full disclosure relating to the discontinued operations.”
The company also announced that it had shut down its plastics business, Zimplastics which, according to Chiyangwa, “had become unviable with no prospects for recovery.” – The Source

Mnangagwa Humiliated, Revealed As “A Mental Retard”

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been humiliated by proving himself to be a mental retard, Zimbabweans have concluded.
Mnagagwa was dressed down by the MDC-T’s Nelson Chamisa when the VP in parliament tried to shoot down the latter on the grounds of age. But Chamisa told him if he wants to press on age issues, he would be directly insulting his boss the Head of State.
“In the televised debate we see Mnangagwa displaying himself as a complete fool-mental retard”, said analyst Lenson Jongwa. VIDEO:

Gwanda Deadly Fires: Chombo Must Axe Council

Gwanda residents have raised their voice against the council following deadly fires which ravaged and destroyed the Power Sales Shop in the Central Business District. They are calling on Local Government Minister Ignatius to act before it is too late by absolving the council of the fire service responsibility.
FULL TEXT of the statement by the Gwanda Residents Association:.
Since the event of the fire that burnt down the Power Sales shop in the Central Business District in Gwanda on Wednesday, 24 June 2015 , we have been inundated with calls from various media houses and members of the public seeking to understand the position of the Residents Association on the matter.
As stated to other sectors already, as Gwanda Residents Association and indeed residents of Gwanda, we are all still disturbed and shocked by the extent to which the Power Sales shop was burnt down while our Municipal Fire Services team failed to deal with the fire.
While we share a lot of sympathy with the Management and Directors of Power Sales on the sad and huge loss, as Residents representatives we are not only worried about the extent of the damage experienced by Power Sales nor about the circumstances around how the fire started, we are also and more so worried about our Municipality’s preparedness and capabilities in dealing with emergencies of this nature.
What worries us more is that our council does not possess a good history of successfully dealing with fires of any magnitude which they have been called to attend to.
In recent years, property running into hundreds of thousands of dollars has been destroyed by fire in and around the town on several separate occasions and in all of them council has rushed to the scenes and failed to deal with the fires.
In the worst incident to date, a couple of years back about ten lives were gruesomely lost when a truck and a smaller vehicle had a head on collusion a few kilometres out of town and, as always, all our Emergency Services could do was to hopelessly stand by and watch while people and the vehicles burnt to ashes.
It is with these continuous disasters and failures by our council in mind that as residents of Gwanda then find ourselves living in fear with no guarantee that our lives and properties are safe in the hands of our council’s emergency services department.
We are wondering how many more lives and how much more property should be destroyed before we can all say “enough is enough” and bring this to an end.
Of major disappointment is that all these losses happen as our council continues declaring that it has acquired state of the art fire fighting equipment and that the staff has been provided with the best training available.
Residents have been shocked time and again to see our fire fighting teams arrive to the scene of a fire failing to operate the fire fighting equipment and/or showing a complete lack of skill and knowledge on how to fight the fire.
After the recent fire at Power Sales, as Residents representatives in the company of some key stakeholders from the town, we invited council to a round table to discuss our preparedness to these disasters with a hope that a collective strategy would be formulated therefrom but council was not prepared to have the dialogue and dismissed the invitation as being unwarranted.
Following this refusal for dialogue by our council, we have no alternative but to appeal to the Ministry of Local Government to immediately suspend Council from offering this service and set up a commission of enquiry into the operations and capabilities of our town’s emergency services department as we can no longer stand the risk of having more properties and lives destroyed by fire in Gwanda.
We expect the commission of enquiry to be able to give a full report on whether our council is indeed prepared and capable to handle these emergencies and if not come up with what really needs to be done to build this department to it’s expected standards.
While that is on going, our local Civil Protection Unit will need to take the matter as a crisis and engage the services of the Zimbabwe Republic Police to set up a fully fledged emergency services section within the police in the town. This section within the police will be expected to attend to these emergencies far much better than what has been the case with our Local Authority until such a time that the Council department is satisfactorily set up and functional.
Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo Information and Publicity Secretary Gwanda Residents Association.

Triangle Beats Kariba

NEW ZPC Kariba head coach Sunday Chidzambwa had a disappointing return after his side lost to Triangle in Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
BY KENNETH NYANGANI IN CHIREDZI
TRIANGLE . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0)1
ZPC KARIBA . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0)
Hardlife Mavhundi made the difference in the 73rd minute.
It had been a long road for Chidzambwa, a former Warriors coach, who quit Dynamos on September 5, 1999 after the Harare giants were defeated 2-0 by Tunisia’s Esperance in the Caf Champions League at the National Sports Stadium.
Since then, a lot has happened: He has coached the Warriors, served a match-fixing ban and coached in the South Africa Premiership. His last coaching stint was South African National First Division side Black Leopards in 2013.
Chidzambwa’s return yesterday after 16 years’ absence from the local league clearly frustrated the home side charges for 72 minutes as they defended with their backs against a side that had destroyed visiting teams with ease.
Chidzambwa said the game of football was all about creating chances and making use of them.
“As long as you create scoring chances you have a better chance of winning games, the problem comes when you don’t create opportunities. So by missing good chances in the first half it was not good at all,’’ he said.
His counterpart Kelvin Kaindu said it was good to collect another three points at home.
“This is a hard-fought three points and our opponents defended well. I am happy we created a lot of scoring opportunities, but in the second half we raised our game and we scored the winning goal,” he said.
ZPC Kariba were first on the offensive, but Pride Tafirenyika failed to beat the opposition goalkeeper Ashley Reyners from outside the box while at the other end, Pasca Manhanga was let loose by the visitors’ rearguard before unleashing a cross that was connected well by striker Felix Kuswatuka, but hit the upright post.
In the 28th minute Young Warriors players Praise Tonha and Malvern Gaki had a neat exchange of passes on the right channel finding midfielder Kuswatuka inside the box, but the visitors’ defenders were quick to clear out the danger.
Reyners was then quick to react to a Tawanda Nyamandwe shot after he was set up by the exciting Raphael Manuvire, who had subtracted a cluster of his markers.
Triangle had a penalty appeal waved away by Bikita-based referee Makonese Masakadza after defender Appiah Sylvester handled Lameck Nhamo’s cross in the 47th minute. Triangle, however, broke the ice in the 73rd minute when former Masvingo United player Mavhundi headed home a Tonha corner kick.-Newsday

Mliswa Has No Case Against Guzah – LEGAL ANALYSTS


Losing candidate for Hurungwe West Temba Mliswa has no potent legal case against winner Keith Guzah’s election, legal experts at the Veritas NGO say.
In the issue released at the weekend the experts state that the man does not have legal strength for a lawsuit against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. Even on the issue of Guzah’s alleged criminal conviction, the law only says that a person is ineligible for parliament if he or she was booted from parliament in the past five years for an offence of which Guzah was nowhere near parliament during the period.
 

FULL TEXT:
Hurungwe West, Swearing-in of New MPs, New Vacancies

 
A controversy has arisen over whether ZANU-PF’s Keith Guzah, declared winner of the Hurungwe West by-election on 10th June, was validly nominated to stand for the constituency.
What Does the Constitution Say?
All the Constitution says about qualifications for a constituency candidate is that a person is qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly if “registered as a voter” and at least 21 years old. A candidate is ineligible if he is not qualified to be a voter at all, or was compelled to leave Parliament in the previous five years because of being convicted of a crime [section 125].
The Constitution does not say that a constituency candidate must be registered on the constituency voters roll. [If this had been intended it would have said so directly – in the same way as sections 274 and 275, which state that an urban or rural councillor must be a registered voter in the urban or rural area concerned.]
Nor does the Constitution say that Act of Parliament can add additional qualifications or disqualifications for a constituency candidate. Hence any provision in the Electoral Act that attempted to do so would be null and void for inconsistency with the Constitution.
 
What Does the Electoral Act Say?
As stated above the Electoral Act cannot validly add a qualification for a constituency candidate that is not in the Constitution. And in fact it does not say anything about whether a candidate for a constituency seat must be registered on the voters roll of the constituency for which he is standing. What the Act does say is that if a candidate [presumably wanting to show good will and getting more backing in a constituency that has asked him or her to stand as its candidate] wants to transfer his registration as a voter from another constituency to the one in which intends to stand, he or she may do so [Section 23(1) of the Act]. But there is nothing in the Electoral Act which compels a candidate to do so, and an inference cannot be drawn from this section that he or she has to do so.
The nomination form in the Ninth Schedule to the Electoral Act seems to be what has caused some confusion. There were two versions of the pro forma certificate to be signed by candidates in the form distributed by ZEC:
One says “The candidate is enrolled as a voter in the constituency”. The other says The candidate is enrolled as a voter in the …………………… constituency” – leaving a space for the name of any constituency to be filled in. With the dots, the form reflects the Constitution [i.e. the true legal position]. Without the dots the interpretation is ambiguous. This suggests that the dots were omitted when the Act was printed, but whatever the explanation the presence or absence of a few dots in a mere form is no basis for reading an additional qualification into the Electoral Act, particularly when, like this one, the form also contains other obvious drafting errors.
There has been a suggestion in the press that ZEC should rerun the election. ZEC has no power to do so. The losing candidate will have to seek his remedy through the courts. He has already done so.
16 New ZANU-PF Constituency MPs Sworn In
Following the ZANU-PF clean sweep in the sixteen by-elections 10th June, the new ZANU-PF constituency members of the National Assembly were sworn in on Tuesday 16th June. The names of the new members and their constituencies are:
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province-
Lobengula: Maideyi Mpala;
Luveve: Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo;
Makokoba: Tshinga Judge Dube;
Pelandaba /Mpopoma: Joseph Tshuma;
Pumula: Godfrey Malaba Ncube
Harare Metropolitan Province
Dzivaresekwa: Omega Sipani-Hungwe;
Glen View South: Pius Madzinga;
Harare East: Terence Mukupe;
Highfield West: Psychology Maziwiza;
Kambuzuma: Tinashe Maduza;
Kuwadzana: Betty Nhambu
Manicaland Province
Chikanga-Dangamvura: Isau Fungai Mupfumi;
Headlands: Christopher Peter Chingosho
Mashonaland West Province
Hurungwe West: Keith Never Guzah
Matabeleland North Province
Tsholotsho North: Jonathan Nathaniel Moyo
Midlands Province
Mbizo: Vongaishe Mupereri
Seven New MDC-T MPs Sworn In
On 16th June ZEC in General Notices 186 and 187 declared the MDC-T party-list replacements for the unseated MDC Renewal Parliamentarians. The MDC-T replacements were sworn in on Thursday 18th June:
Senators: Anna Chimanikire [[Harare Metropolitan Province]; David Anthony Chimhini [Manicaland]; Theresa Maonei Makone [[Harare Metropolitan Province]; Beki Sibanda [Matabeleland South].
National Assembly women party-list members: Susan Matsunga [Harare Metropolitan Province]; Nomvula Mguni [Bulawayo Metropolitan Province]; Machirairwa Mugidho [Masvingo Province].
Two More Vacancies Announced
On Wednesday 17th June the President of the Senate announced two new vacancies after receiving notification from ZANU-PF that the Mrs Olivia Muchena and Mr Dzikamai Mavhaire were no longer members of the party.
All 5 MPs expelled from ZANU-PF on 21st May have now had their seats declared vacant. [See Bill Watch 21/2015 of 15th June for the previous week’s announcement that three National Assembly seats were vacant because of the expulsion from ZANU-PF of Mr Bhasikiti, Mr Butau and Mr Kaukonde].
Mr Bhasakiti is contesting his expulsion in the High Court and won a constitutional court case delaying the holding of a by-election to fill his seat pending the result of his High Court application.
Update on Parliamentary Numbers as at 19th June
National Assembly
Occupied seats:
ZANU-PF…………………………………..
206
MDC-T……………………………………….
56
MDC………………………………………….
2
Total occupied seats:……………….
264
Vacancies:
ZANU-PF (1 party-list seat,
5 constituency seats)………………….
6
Total number of seats: ………………..
270
Senate
Occupied seats:
ZANU-PF…………………………………..
35
MDC-T……………………………………….
21
MDC………………………………………….
2
Chiefs ……………………………………….
18
Disabled representatives …………..
2
Total occupied seats:……………….
78
Vacancies:
ZANU-PF only……………………………
2
Total number of seats: ………………..
80

Bashir, Mugabe, Zuma and the Dead Victims


Andrew Donaldson says the numbers killed in Dafur are so great and impersonal, they mean almost nothing.
MUCH has been written about our government’s shameful role in the continuing liberty of the Sudanese sickbag, Omar al-Bashir. Unlike many commentators, however, I have actually met a couple of his victims.
It was not a big thing. Al-Bashir has, if I may, many, many victims. It sort of comes with the territory with genocide. By most accounts, his militia, the Janjaweed, were responsible for the murder of 300 000 people in Darfur, a bit of scrub in the western part of Sudan all but meaningless in the geopolitical scheme of things save for its natural resources. (The Chinese got the concessions, apparently.) A further two-and-a-half million people were uprooted and displaced in what has tidily been referred to as “ethnic strife” in the region.
The numbers are so impersonal, they mean almost nothing. That’s also part and parcel of the modern genocide “package”. We’re no longer affected by such things. Put it down to atrocity fatigue. Kill three people and you’re a mass murderer. Kill 30, well, you still need locking up — but this time as a mental patient. Kill 300 000, on the other hand, and you get to park your private jet at Waterkloof as the 21st century Kurtz whispers, “What horror, what horror?”
It would be a completely different story, of course, if you took a stroll in your neighbourhood, and you turned a corner, and there, on the pavement, right in front of you, in her ragged purple robes, was one of al-Shabir’s victims, a wailing and sobbing woman so wracked with grief that she was clawing at her face and tearing out her hair.
That was how I found Hamat Kadamala Hassan one afternoon in early January 2008. I was living in the previously advantaged suburb of Melville, Johannesburg, and there she was, a Masalit woman many thousands of kilometres from her home, screaming in the street. I could not understand a word she was saying, and she couldn’t understand me.
After a great deal of assistance from the then local DA city councillor who managed to find an Arabic translator — Sharon Sabbagh, wherever you are, take a bow — Hassan’s story slowly emerged. And quite a tale it was, too.
Some months previously, in 2007, the Janjaweed slaughtered everyone in Hassan’s village. Fortunately for her, she was out in the fields with a granddaughter when they came and could hide. There was only one other survivor — her grandson, 13-year-old Rachid Dahiye.
He had been caught by the raiders and thrown into a burning hut. Somehow — and this is the part that I find most extraordinary — the boy forced himself to stay put inside that burning pyre until the raiders had left and it was safe to emerge.
His injuries were terrible. Badly disfigured, he and his grandmother and sister walked for days to a refugee camp across the border in Chad. Doctors there were not able to provide Dahiye with the treatment he needed, so an international appeal was launched to raise funds for the boy.
Children of Fire, a Johannesburg-based organisation that helps kids burnt in shack fires and other disasters, agreed to pay for Dahiye’s flight to South Africa and cover the costs of his skin graft operations here.
Dahiye and his grandmother arrived on December 26, 2007. A week later, on January 3, Hassan was told by Children of Fire that she had to return to Chad. She flatly refused, stating that she wished to remain with her grandson for the duration of his stay in South Africa.
It was an understandable position, but Children of Fire thought otherwise. On January 10, when Dahiye underwent his first operation, the organisation tried to force Hassan on the next flight to Chad. Again, she refused to budge. This time she was thrown out on the streets and left to fend for herself — alone, terrified, unable to communicate with anyone, a stranger in a strange city.
To cut to the chase, the matter eventually wound up before the Pretoria High Court, which appointed advocate Jacob van Garderen, then national director of the Refugee and Migrant Rights Project at Lawyers for Human Rights, as the curator for Dahiye. Hassan was allowed to stay.
In May 2008, Dahiye and his grandmother left South Africa for Tunisia, where he continued to receive treatment for his burns. Hopefully, he has fully recovered and, nothwithstanding the awful scars he will bear for the rest of his days, enjoys a full and happy life today.
But I wonder what he thinks of the way we helped al-Bashir evade justice, and hope that he doesn’t judge us too harshly.
This article first appeared in the Weekend Argus.

South Africa: Zim Robbers Guilty Of 2nd Murder

IOL|A MAN who was part of the gang convicted for killing former heavyweight boxing champion Corrie Sanders, has now been convicted for the robbery and murder of a smallholding owner by the High Court in Pretoria.
Zimbabwean national Samuel Mabena, 31, and co-accused Bismack Dick, 28, also from Zimbabwe, stormed into the Brits home of Mauritz Oberholzer, 65, at 2am on September 5, 2012, and shot him through the nose with the bullet ending up in his neck.
The pair – who were part of a gang whose other members were not apprehended – had torn the security door out of its hinges, broke down the front door and the couple’s bedroom door before ripping out a safe from the wall.
They stole several firearms and other belongings from the home.
Mabena and Dick were, last week, each sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional 25 years by Judge Letty Molopa-Sethosa.
Handing down her judgment, Judge Molopa-Sethosa said the two had shown no remorse for their actions and blatantly refused to take ownership of their actions.
Society was tired of criminals committing crimes with no respect for human life, she said.
“Murder in such a manner is a heinous and despicable offence by the youth that our communities have had to endure. It is up to us to send a strong message this will not be tolerated any longer,” she said.
Legal representatives for both men applied for leave to appeal against the judgment and sentencing.
They said the judge had over-emphasised the impact on the community, the grievousness of the crimes and did not take into consideration their personal circumstances.
Their request was refused by Judge Molopa-Sethosa who said no compelling or substantial circumstances had been submitted that would warrant anything less than the prescribed minimum term she had meted out in the matter.
After sentencing, Oberholzer’s family cried with relief. They said they were still struggling to come to terms with the killing.
Younger brother, Pieter Oberholzer, said the victim’s wife Marie had been struggling immensely.
“She still has nightmares and has had to sell their family home as she could no longer stay in that house. We are satisfied with the judgment and work of the police, but things will never be the same again for any of us,” he said.
“She misses him, especially during the birthdays and anniversaries because they had been married for 25 years before his senseless killing,” said Oberholzer.
Sanders’s brother Mike was in court to support the family as he knew them well and because the man who killed his brother was involved. Mabena is serving 30 years for his role in killing Sanders.- IOL

Tsvangirai Announces Exciting Political ‘Breakthrough’

tough talk...Wilbert Mukori
tough talk…Wilbert Mukori

“MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday tagged Joyce Mujuru and PDZ party leader Barbara Nyagomo into his MDC party,” reported ZimEye. 
 “ZimEye.com can reveal members of the various political formations were pulled into the MDC State of The Nation Address special function on Saturday” 

Exciting indeed!

Tsvangirai gave the nation details of the consequences of the Zanu PF’s rigged elections in his address but said nothing about how the rigged July 2013 elections were themselves a consequence of MDC’s failure implement the democratic reforms agreed in the GPA.
 
Tsvangirai and his fellow MDC leaders had five years to implement the reforms but failed to get even one reform implemented. SADC and others had warned MDC on the need to implement the reforms to ensure future elections were free, fair and credible but MDC ignored the warning.
 
All along Tsvangirai has publicly denied that SADC heads warned MDC on the reforms. But three months ago his spokesman, Luke Tamborenyoka, has publicly admitted to MDC being warned on the reforms and the “folly” of ignoring the warning. MDC made the public admission just before the scheduled SADC meeting in Harare because the party wanted to meet SADC heads and present them with another one of MDC’s endless petitions. SADC heads ignore MDC.
 
Ever since the rigged July 2013 when SADC heads dismissed Tsvangirai and his fellow MDC leaders as corrupt, incompetent and sell-outs they have pointedly ignore MDC. SADC vomited you MDC lot out then, so did the Western donors and many others too; they will never gone back to eat vomit.
 
Yes MDC still has some followers amongst the Zimbabwe electorate but these are who have never understood what the reforms were throughout the GNU years and still do not to this day! These are the naïve and gullible who have been brainwashed by the decades of Zanu PF propaganda into simpleton who can only follow like sheep and are incapable of thinking for themselves or see reason! It took two decades for them to finally accept that Mugabe is a corrupt and murderous tyrant it will take another two decades for them to see Tsvangirai for the corrupt and incompetent man he is.
 
To be fair to the MDC supporters, they are not the only ones who have no idea what the democratic reforms are about. Tsvangirai and his MDC teams have no clue what these reforms are. Since the rigged July 2013 elections MDC-T has called for the boycott of all future elections until their demands of eight electoral reforms are implemented.
 
“In the previous elections, the people of Zimbabwe have won the election but lost the results and we pledge in our diversity to continue to insist on the implementation of both the Constitution and the reforms agreed under the auspices of SADC and the African Union,” said Tsvangirai is his Saturday address.
 
Tsvangirai has never mentioned and of the GPA reforms until now. If he really understood anything about the GPA reforms then he would know that Zanu PF will never ever implement these reforms now that the GPA has expired just because Tsvangirai has finally woken up to their importance!
 
 
“I see the true grand coalition (MDC-T being joined by Mai Mujuru’s People First and Nyagomo’s PDZ) not as the unity of individuals or leaders of political parties, but as a unity of Zimbabweans who possess shared values and convergence on the patriotic goal to take our country forward,” said Tsvangirai.
 
“Today, I promise Zimbabweans that we are on the brink of an exciting political moment and they will be see us as political leaders converging on those issues that matter most to us all Zimbabweans.”
 
This is nothing but a case of the blind leading the blind deeper and deeper into the political and economic hell Tsvangirai got the nation into by failing to implement the raft of democratic reforms agreed in the GPA in 2008.
 
Until the Zimbabwe electorate take time to understand what the reforms are about; only then will they elect the men and women who too understand the reforms and will the nation be assured that all the reforms will finally be fully implemented; this nation will never break the endless cycle of empty promises change from the opposition followed by more Zanu PF rigged elections.

WATCH:Zimbabwean Pastor Caught In Bed With Married Woman

VIDEO:

A Zimbabwean pentecostal pastor based in South Africa has been caught on video in bed with a married woman.
The development comes after another Zim pastor based in the UK was axed from his job after going on a fling with another married Londoner.READ MORE-Top Pastor Caught ‘Having Sex’ with Married Woman, Stripped
The incident which happened at the woman’s marital home in Johannesburg, was filmed by the husband using installed CCTV cameras which transmitted live via a live internet line.
He watched the whole “bedroom horror” while away at work in Saudi Arabia.
The husband in the video narrates the whole incident in Shona. “Now they have finished bathing and she is preparing the bed which has a warm electric blanket…”
“Where are you, are you coming,” the preacher says.
Now that she has finished he dives into the bed before her. She then follows just before the drama starts. MORE TO FOLLOW…

Dzamara: US Congressmen Jet Into Harare

Due to the humanitarian situation following the Itai Dzamara disappearance, a two member staff delegation from the United States Congress is in Zimbabwe on a three day visit until June 30th 2015.
The Staff Delegation is led by Gregory Simpkins is Staff Director for the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa, Health, Human Rights, and International Relations. Mr Simpkins will be accompanied by Piero Tozzi, Counsel in the House Subcommittee on Africa, Health, Human Right and International Relations. The two officials will meet representatives of government, business and civil society organizations to hear firsthand accounts about the situation in Zimbabwe in relation to human rights, democracy and governance.
Early this month, the U.S. Congress subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations conducted a hearing on Zimbabwe. During the hearing a wide range of issues including United States government policy on Zimbabwe and future relations between the two countries. Dr Shannon Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, gave a presentation during the hearing which is available online. Dr Smith and Steven Feldstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, visited Zimbabwe on May 12 on a similar fact-finding mission.
BIOS
Gregory Simpkins is Staff Director for the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, where he manages subcommittee activities and advises the Chairman on policy issues, arranges Congressional hearings, drafts legislation and conducts oversight missions. He served in the same position from 1997-98 and from 2005-2006.
Mr. Simpkins has served in a variety of positions in civil society, allowing him to help shape or implement U.S. policy on Africa, including two versions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and U.S. corporate support for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. A journalist who has worked in national and local radio as a reporter, talk show host and producer since 1977, Mr. Simpkins has written for national and international magazines and newspapers, including the Christian Science Monitor, the Washington Times, Jane’s Terrorism and Security Monitor, the Nairobi (Kenya) Law Monthly and The Guardian (Nigeria). From 2009-2011, wrote the blog Africa Rising 2010.
Mr. Simpkins also has been an interview subject on Africa events by such media outlets as the Voice of America and the British Broadcasting System and has lectured on Africa issues before audiences at such institutions as the Carnegie Institute for International Peace, the Heritage Foundation, the U.S. Foreign Service Institute, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University and the Emancipation Support Committee (Trinidad and Tobago).
Beginning in 1987, Mr. Simpkins has been involved in foreign advocacy projects. In recent years, he has designed and managed democratization, trade and capacity-building programs in Africa. He helped to establish the African Democracy Network, an organization of more than 200 African democrats from 31 nations in 1994; the AGOA Civil Society Network, a coalition of African NGOs concerned with the equitable implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and the U.S. Civil Society Coalition for African Trade and Investment, an alliance of U.S. civil society organizations working on U.S.-Africa trade.
He holds a B.A. in journalism from George Washington University and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management.
============
Piero A. Tozzi is counsel to the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. He holds a JD from Fordham University School of Law and a BA from Columbia University.
Prior to joining the Subcommittee, Piero authored numerous articles on international law, constitutional law and comparative constitutional law, and his work has been cited by the United States Supreme Court. In addition, he has submitted friend of the court briefs to the Supreme Courts of Mexico and Argentina, as well as the Interamerican Court of Human Rights.
At the Subcommittee, Piero’s focus has been on oversight of US global health and food security programs, as well as monitoring human rights issues in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. He also is tasked with overview of international organizations, in particular the United Nations. Piero engages with civil society organizations and other stakeholders on a regular basis, and negotiates the advancement of legislation within the Foreign Affairs Committee, other House Committees with overlapping jurisdiction and with the Senate, in particular the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Piero speaks Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, and lives with his wife and three children in northern Virginia.

Jonathan Moyo Risks Lawsuit over Twitter Insults

Information minister and government spokesperson Jonathan Moyo could be sued for his endless string of insults on social media platforms, analysts have said.
Ever since Moyo joined micro blobbing site Twitter early this year, some of his conversations with followers have degenerated into serious verbal exchanges with the acerbic minister at times using uncouth language to denigrate the views of his followers, and at times using such words like “idiot”.
Moyo has justified the use of the hate language saying if provoked, he would retaliate.
Media expert and lawyer Chris Mhike said national leaders, particularly politicians and government officials were expected to be dignified and measured in their conduct and speech.
“Some of that insult language is certainly not ministerial,” Mhike said.
“As Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services (assuming that he still holds that portfolio), Prof. Moyo would also do well to lead by example through respecting the ethics of mass communication and therefore refraining from venomous language.”
Mhike said Moyo could easily be sued by aggrieved persons or institutions under civil law; or proceedings could be instituted against him in terms of criminal law and procedure, and that could be embarrassing for him.
“While he commendably objects to the existence of criminal defamation in Zimbabwe, that law is still officially valid, according to the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe and in terms of the Criminal Law [Codification and Reform] Act. The recent conviction of Tatenda Machingauta who had insulted Hon. Joseph Chinotimba on Whatsapp is a clear example of the applicability of criminal law to those who use offensive language on social media platforms,” Mhike said.
Moyo, who amassed close to 16 000 followers since he joined twitter in February, was in recent weeks involved in a verbal showdown with former South African Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni whom he described as an “Uncle Tom, irrational, foolish and a charlatan”. That was after Mboweni tweeted that he was annoyed by Moyo’s rants on twitter at a time Zimbabweans were suffering.
Media lecturer, Alexander Rusero said Moyo’s outbursts on social media was uncalled for since he was a government minister and spokesperson. He said Moyo ran the risk of having his personal views being mistaken for government views.
“There will be some implications of being a government spokesperson. Moyo is someone who is free to express himself but at times becomes excited and overwhelmed and forgets his government role,” Rusero said.
“I am not sure how bad the language is but sometimes it can be construed to represent government position. Moyo should know better. I don’t think he is intelligent, he is just a learned professor.”
Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya said Moyo should exercise restraint on social media platforms as a government spokesperson.
“Moyo should understand that he is far from being a private citizen and some people might just be there to provoke him into such rants that could be damaging to the government,” Ruhanya said. – The Standard

Sex, Drugs 16Girl-Children Arrested

SIXTEEN pupils from Milton High, Townsend Girls’ High, Pace College and Girls’ College, were arrested on Friday after they were caught drinking and abusing dangerous drugs at Centenary Park in Bulawayo.
The pupils, all clad in school uniforms, were arrested and taken to Bulawayo Central Police station facing public drinking charges. They were arrested around 5PM when police raided the Centenary Park after receiving an anonymous tip-off.
The pupils, whose names cannot be published as they are minors, are also believed to have been engaging in sexual activities as there were used condoms nearby.
A source said the pupils were raided by police details from the dogs section. The police, the source said, found the pupils with bottles of whisky, dagga and a widely abused cough syrup with a high alcohol content, Broncleer, popularly known as Bronco.
They said the group made up of eight boys and eight girls admitted to drinking, taking dangerous drugs and engaging in sexual activities.
“They were all drunk when they were arrested. They said the park was their new base where they would freely drink and enjoy themselves,” said the source.
The pupils were released after their parents, guardians and school authorities were called in.
They painted a dejected picture tinted with shame as they sat on the floor at the police station with exhibits in front of them.
Bulawayo province police spokesperson, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, confirmed the arrests.
“I can confirm that a group of boys and girls were rounded up by police on Friday but they were dealt with accordingly. They’ve since been released and the matter is being handled by their parents and school authorities. As the police we’re still investigating and tracing suppliers of the dangerous substances they were found in possession of,” said Inspector Moyo.
He urged parents to always monitor their children in terms of behaviour and whereabouts after school and on weekends.
“These days the pupils are engaging in Vuzu parties and they are now doing them during school days. As such we’re encouraging parents and guardians to monitor them particularly when they say they are going to weekend parties as they use the opportunity to indulge in unsafe sex,” he said.
Insp Moyo said police have joined forces with the National Aids Council and Childline Zimbabwe to do campaigns in schools against alcohol abuse and unsafe sex.
“We have joined hands with NAC and Childline Zimbabwe in holding awareness campaigns in schools to highlight the dangers of drug abuse and engaging in unsafe sex in greater Bulawayo.
“We have been doing these campaigns for about a month now,” said Insp Moyo.
Teenage binge-drinking in Bulawayo has reached alarming levels amid concerns of moral decay in the city.
Over the past few months, there has been a plethora of house parties hosted by youths, who in most cases are as young as 13 years in the affluent suburbs of Bulawayo.
The teens organise house parties on the social networking platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber and Mxit.
It remains a mystery where the teenagers, most of whom are still in school, get the money to host the parties and buy the alcohol and drugs. Equally baffling is whether the children have the blessings of their parents and guardians when they host the wild parties.

Police: We’re Still Chasing Mliswa

Police yesterday said investigations on former Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Temba Mliswa for possessing suspected stolen farming equipment at one of his warehouses in Harare, were still continuing.
Police sources said Mliswa would soon be questioned once investigations have been completed. “The equipment is still under police guard as investigations on the case continue. He will be questioned soon,” said a police source.
It is believed that the equipment was part of equipment that was distributed under the Government’s Farm Mechanisation Programme, a few years ago. Police were recently deployed to the warehouse, which is along Simon Mazorodze Road, to guard the equipment.
Police and officials from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe also visited the premises and they will soon question Mr Mliswa in connection with the case. Last week chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the developments.
“Yes, there is equipment under police guard belonging to Mliswa. We are carrying out investigations,” she said without divulging any other details for fearing to jeopardise the investigations.
In February, the embattled former Hurungwe legislator was arrested for illegally possessing seven AK47 assault rifles, with the police still to establish the intention for which he held the guns.
Mliswa was picked up by detectives from the CID Law and Order Section at his Spring Farm in Karoi where the guns were discovered.
According to sources, Mliswa was allegedly found in possession of the seven unlicensed AK47 rifles which were stashed at his farm. This was not the first time that Mliswa has had a brush with the law, although he was acquitted on several occasions.
In 2010, his lawyers sensationally revealed that he was facing up to 78 charges in Zimbabwe’s court system.
This was after he was arrested in the same year on allegations of extorting $1 600 from relatives of his two employees and the theft of 56 cattle in Karoi. In the same year, Mliswa along with Martin Mutasa and George Marere spent weeks in prison after being arrested on charges of fraud involving $1,05 million.
The three were alleged to have defrauded a Harare man, Paul Westwood, of his 50 percent shares in Noshio Motors, a car dealer jointly owned by Westwood and Hammarskjöld Banda and his wife.
After release on bail, Mliswa was re-arrested and charged for crimes dating back to 2002, which included cases of assault and common assault, theft, public violence, contempt of court, extortion, malicious damage to property, Shop Licences Act violation, Firearms Act violation and housebreaking.
Mliswa and his co-accused were acquitted of the Noshio case in June 2011.

Zimparks Official(bogus) Tries To Rape 4 Women

A MAN, who pounced on four women, who were fetching firewood, masquerading as a Zimbabwe Parks and Wild Life Management Authority (Zimparks) official and attempted to rape them has been jailed for three years.
Chamunorwa Nyangore (30), from Machipisa village in Gambuzi, was convicted and sentenced on four counts of attempted rape by magistrate Ngoni Nduna last week.
The court initially sentenced him to five years, but suspended two years on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecutor Hazel Kondo told the court that Nyangore met the women, who were fetching firewood at Highlands Farm, on December 24 last year.
He identified himself as a Zimparks employee and told them that they were all under arrest for poaching.
The court heard that Nyangore force-marched the women up a hill where he later demanded $80 from them.
After they indicated that they did not have the money, Nyangore ordered them to undress and lie on the ground as he prepared to rape them.
However, the women got up and fled in different directions.
The women reported the matter to the police, leading to Nyangore’s arrest.-Newsday

368 Cops Axed

A TOTAL of 368 police officers were last year dismissed from the Zimbabwe Republic Police for various acts of misconduct, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has said.
Responding to a question in Parliament last week, Deputy Minister Ziyambi said the officers had been discharged in accordance with the Police Act.
“In 2014, the police force recorded 156 deaths among its members, 467 resignations and 368 were discharged for misconduct.
“A member can be discharged for misconduct, after conviction of a criminal offence, if he or she is unfit for duty by failing to adhere to the police code of ethics and it’s recommended that he or she be discharged as unsuitable.
“Some members were discharged for desertion, where a member is discharged after absenting himself or herself for a continuous period of 21 days or more. A board of inquiry then declares that he or she is a deserter,” Deputy Minister Ziyambi told Parliament.
The highest number was recorded in 2013, when a total of 448 police officers were discharged from the police force compared to 345 in 2012.
Deputy Minister Ziyambi also revealed that about seventy-five percent of police officers in the country had no official accommodation. He said thousands of police officers are in need of decent accommodation.
Deputy Minister Ziyambi said his ministry was negotiating with local authorities for residential stands for members of the police force. The deputy minister said police have housing committees in all provinces that are responsible for addressing the accommodation issue.
He said police officers who reside outside police camps are entitled to a living-out allowance as a condition of service.
“Three quarters of police officers don’t have official accommodation. In other words, about 75 percent of our officers need accommodation and the ministry has put in place plans to provide decent accommodation for police officers,” he said.
The deputy minister said construction of houses for police officers had already begun in some parts of the country.
“The building of additional housing units in already existing police camps is underway as exemplified by building of flats at Tomlinson Depot, housing units at ZRP Glen Norah, housing units at ZRP Msasa in Mashonaland East Province, housing units at ZRP Dotito in Mashonaland Central and housing units at ZRP Nehanda in Midlands Province. These are the projects that we’re undertaking,” he said.

Rwanda President Kagame Blasts UK

KIGALI – Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has launched a scathing verbal attack on the UK government after the arrest of his intelligence chief.
In his first comments since the arrest, Mr Kagame said it was a continuation of “colonialism” and accused the British of “arrogance and contempt”.
Karenzi Karake was detained at London’s Heathrow Airport on Saturday, in response to a European Arrest Warrant.
He is accused of ordering massacres in the wake of the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
The president said that the British authorities “must have mistaken [Gen Karake] for an illegal immigrant. The way they treat illegal immigrants is the way they treat all of us”.
He added that the British had been patronising, “wagging a finger at the African and telling him this is where you belong. We are no longer the African that belongs there”.
Gen Karake has appeared in a London court.
In Rwanda, protests have continued outside the British High Commission in the capital, Kigali.
Protesters have threatened to remain until the Gen Karake is released.

Newly-Crowned Miss Zim Robbed

Newly-crowned Miss World Zimbabwe Annie-Grace Mutambu was on Friday night attacked by robbers in her neighbourhood in Cranborne.
Mutambu was crowned on Friday afternoon and the attack took place on the same night and she lost a laptop. She was in the company of her sister who also lost a mobile phone in the robbery.
Tendai Chirau, Miss Zimbabwe Trust’s communications and programmes manager said they were shocked by the attack and that they hope justice will be served.
“It’s just like in a family when a misfortune falls on someone, we are not happy as the Trust.
“We are not sure if it was a genuine criminal attack or it’s our detractors who attacked her. We hope the police will catch them and bring them to book,” he said.
Her mother Mrs Mutambu said the two were robbed by six men who were in a red VW Golf.
“They were walking from my sister’s house, five minutes’ walk from our house, around 7pm, in Monroe Street. As they were walking from the house, they saw the VW Golf parked. The men approached them saying they wanted to ask them something.
“Sensing danger, they walked on fast and three other men came out of the car. One attempted to hug her but she refused and the three jumped on her. Her sister tried to fight them off.
“The girls started screaming, attracting the attention of neighbours who opened their gate. When the robbers realised that there was activity they drove off, but one of them grabbed the laptop and the phone.
The case was reported at Braeside Police Station under case number RRB2435003.
“Annie-Grace was kicked in the chest and her sister in the stomach. When we went to the police station, they told us that there was a similar case that happened the previous week on the same road.
“We later took her to hospital. She is feeling better physically but she as traumatised,” said Anne-Grace’s mother.-DailyNews

Mapostori Take Over Harare

Harare-News|Debate over Mapostori use of open spaces
Various apostolic sects have taken over many of the city’s open spaces in contravention of the City of Harare’s (CoH) by-laws. Harare News toured a number of spots where these sects conduct their business to check if they meet the standards set by council. Most of the places fall short of the required standards as they do not provide water or proper ablution facilities.

A senior member of the Johane Masowe eChishanu sect, who only identified himself as Madzibaba Enock, defended the Mapositori tradition of worshipping in open spaces. “God told us to worship in the wilderness (Masowe) and so we don’t construct buildings to pray in,” he said, adding that his own sect has complied with the local authority requirements. “For us, the place we use for worshipping meets the standards set because there are toilets and water provided,” said Madzibaba Enock, who worships at the open space near the Delta Beverages manufacturing plant along Seke Road. The venue, known by many as PaCoke Cola, is serviced by toilets and tap water that were supplied by council for commuters at the nearby bus terminus. The worshipers took advantage of this and established their base there. “When you see churches that don’t meet the required standards then they are illegal,” he added.
Madzibaba Hebron is an elder in the nguwo Tsvuku sect which conducts their services at an open space between Rufaro Stadium and Mupedzanhamo clothes market in Mbare. He said that there are more than 30 sects who worship there. He said, “We don’t spend a lot of time here, so we don’t see that it is necessary to pay the council for any services.” At this spot there are no ablution facilities and no provision of water.
Mudzidzi Miriam of Warren Park agreed with Madzibaba Hebron that most of these sects are conducting their business in contravention of council by-laws. “We do not commit ourselves to a permanent spot because most of us are nomadic, save for very huge gatherings,” she said. She added that most Apostolic sects do not carry food to church so they don’t litter the environment and that they rarely cut down trees as they provide shelter and shade. She also claimed that because of political connections most sects cannot be prosecuted by council for not working in line with its by-laws. “Having members who are politicians in one way or another is common among the Apostolic sects and when need be, they protect us,” she said.
Meanwhile Michael Chideme, City of Harare Principal Communication Officer, said that these churches should consult with council before they occupy any open space for their activities. “They should apply and follow our standards which require them to make sure that there are proper sanitary facilities, such as the provision of water and toilets, put in place,” he said. Chideme was not forthcoming on what the Council’s position is on those who do not meet the standards, as well as the price charged for leasing or buying such land. He requested Harare News to email questions to him but he has not yet responded to them.
Some of the apostolic sects that do not worship in buildings include Johane Masowe Jerusalem, nguwo Tsvuku, Johane Marange, Johane Masowe Sabata, Zviratidzo zvevapositori, Vadzidzi, and Zion Yetambo.
These sects convene mass yearly gathering (misangano yegore). Mapostori gatherings have in some instances attracted people from around the country and neighbouring countries, posing the danger of spreading communicable diseases, such as cholera and typhoid, owing to the lack of proper sanitary services.

Baba Jukwa: UZ Student Freed


The State yesterday withdrew charges against Romeo Tanyaradzwa Musemburi, a University of Zimbabwe student, charged with attempting to commit an act of insurgency, banditry and sabotage.
The charges arose after he posted an article through a baba Jukwa e-mail account.
Prosecutor Idah Maromo did not delve into the reasons behind the withdrawal.
Musemburi’s lawyer Tonderai Bhatasara applauded the State’s move.
“The withdrawal of the charges against my client was long overdue and vindicates his protestations regarding his innocence,” he said.
“It was clear from the beginning that no offence had been committed and the arrest, charging and detention was a mere fishing expedition.”
Musemburi, 20, of 113 Shortstone Waterfalls in Harare, is a third-year student currently studying towards an honours degree in Economics.
He was appearing before Harare magistrate Douglas Chikwekwe.
Maromo alleged that on August 3 last year, Musemburi used his gmail account [email protected], to write and post an article to [email protected].
The e-mail read, “We want pfuti (guns) give us and we will hit the streets and fight for democracy.”
It was the State’s case that Musemburi’s article was meant to commit an act of insurgency, banditry, sabotage, terrorism with a view to overthrow the government through unconstitutional means.-DailyNews

Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan UK Launch & Roadshow 

THE Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan (http://www.diasporafuneralcashplan.com/) is set for an official launch in the UK next month, organisers have said.
 

The launch is scheduled to take from 17 to 18 July in three major UK cities.
 
In London, the launch (http://www.diasporafuneralcashplan.com/events)  will be in the Russell Suite at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel West End, while in Manchester it will be at world famous Knights Lounge, Old Trafford Stadium (Man U FC). In Birmingham it will be in the Trinity Lounge at Villa Park Stadium (Aston Villa FC).
 
Underwritten by Zimnat Life (Zimbabwe) and Madison Life (Mlife, Zambia), the Diaspora funeral Cash Plan is an innovative cash-based funeral insurance which offers guaranteed acceptance for all applicants under the age of 75 without any cumbersome and intrusive medical checks on application or claim.
 
The organisers said while attendance would be free, all those interested in the road show must register on Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan website by the 10th of July 2015. This is to help with catering logistics and entry preference will also be given to pre-registered attendees.
 
The Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan, which is a cover for life and permanently a US$ denominated scheme, started in 2012.
 
The cover is targeted at alleviating the many traumatic situations that diaspora families have faced over the years.
 
Oftentimes, when they lose relatives in foreign countries or a close relative back home, many families struggle to send bodies of their loved ones to their final resting places.
 
The cover is available for up to US$20,000 per life.
 
“The purpose of the roadshow is to get to meet and thank the wide community who are using the Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan to guarantee themselves peace of mind.
 
All stakeholders will be under one roof including the Directors from Zimnat Life and Mlife, product advisers, existing clients and potential clients. Even more importantly, there will be testimonials from families that have benefited from the cover,” explained the Director Dr Sibert Mandega.
 
With guaranteed acceptance and no medicals at all, the qualifying requirements for one to be covered are streamlined and tailored to ensure a hassle free claim process.
 
Under the scheme, bereaved families get instant US$s cash pay-out at the death of their loved ones along with a range of other benefits targeted at alleviating the burdens that come with bereavement, especially in the diaspora.
 
The guarantee is that within 24hrs of proof of death, the cash is immediately remitted by Telegraphic Transfer into any bank account worldwide which provides instant relief to bereaved families.
 
The cover is available 24/7 through Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan website and interested applicants can also apply over the phone.
 
Traditionally, funeral insurance is structured as a goods and services which makes it inflexible and territorial.
 
“The Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan is uniquely a cash-based cover in appreciation of the complexities of diaspora death.
 
When it comes to diaspora death, a lot of families have had to resort to public begging mainly because families are suddenly faced with need for upfront cash resources to cover body repatriation, family travel, prolonged funeral vigils in the diaspora and back home and, of course, the burial costs.
 
Being cash-based and permanently US$ denominated, the Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan offers complete flexibility as it is a worldwide cover, a protection without borders.
 
Besides, body repatriation is not mandatory,” said Roda Williams the scheme’s Spokesperson.
 
The organisers said besides free buffet, a few luck winners will be sure to walk away with goodies like tablets and smart phones from the prize draws.

Makandiwa Fake Miracle: Truth Hurts

“When the truth causes offence it is rather better that offence be caused than the truth to be denied.”

THE above statement, by anonymous, in my opinion, should be dear and near to anyone whose work involves informing and educating the public. It may be politics, religion, economic or social issues yet the philosophy applies with equal force. It is better, far much better that offence is caused than for truth to be denied. People who speak the truth may not, themselves, be perfect but that is definitely no reason to suffocate the truth.lenny zuze
The last week saw religious people, in one way or the other, caught up in a war of words between themselves and against both the print and electronic media. There are some who wish they could gag the media; who feel the media should turn a blind eye on particular matters involving some supposedly sacred religious cows, prophets in particular.
This position is a little unfortunate because the media, on its part, cannot neglect its role of informing and educating the nation on things of public interest. It cannot shy away from reporting what is in the public domain. In particular, there seems to be quite a number of people who will want activities of their church leaders kept under a lid and will vent their frustrations on the media who would simply be doing their job and analysts whose role is to give their opinions on pertinent matters.
Probably drunk with the ‘touch not God’s anointed’ philosophy, vitriol was poured on the media and media analysts for having an ‘obsession with prophets.’ In the last week, the media covered a number of stories on Emmanuel Makandiwa and Walter Magaya. A public spat raged on over Emmanuel’s and Makandiwa’s fake miracle video. The video in which Makandiwa is accused of performing a fake miracle on a woman with a fat belly had social media ringing with nasty exchanges. Makandiwa’s followers threw everything against anyone who spoke against their leader. Makandiwa himself had to uncharacteristically defend himself over the fake miracle video that has gone viral.

 
In the alleged fake video, a person is caught on camera from behind the woman with a fat belly and allegedly pulls a string to deflate a balloon wrapped around the woman’s body while Makandiwa prays over her. The video is quite controversial and whether the miracle is true or not is for individuals to decide. What I find appalling, though, is to bash the media for reporting on it. On the other extreme, Walter Magaya made news for a donation he made to the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) accompanied by rants against officials whom he accused of abusing donated funds.
Again, update on his war with apostolic sects was covered and perhaps nothing raised emotions than the Kwekwe inquest which kicked of last Tuesday. After a PHD all-night prayer meeting last November, eleven people died and 43 others were left injured in a stampede. PHD leader Walter Magaya, members of the police and Kwekwe city council officials, are expected to appear before a Kwekwe resident magistrate to give their version of events on the fateful night on November 28. A local daily was blasted by Magaya’s followers for covering the issue extensively and for ‘having an agenda to pull him down.’
It’s crucial that the public is aware of the role of the media and analysts; there is absolutely no crime with media covering an inquest on the death of eleven souls. That is a matter of national interest. There is no crime in social commentators giving their take on such a matter. It is quite disturbing that, given Zimbabwe’s high literacy rate, quite a number do not have an idea what an inquest is to the extent of using expletives against journalists merely doing their work.
An inquest, far from the wild accusations, is simply an investigation into what took place including reports, post mortem results from doctors and witnesses’ accounts; it serves to bring out truth and, where necessary, serve justice to the deceased and their families and surely if this offends someone, little can be done to their frail egos. I see no reason for threats against newspapers simply carrying out their mandate. Prophets followers are all too happy when the good deeds of their leaders are reported but turn caustic when the other side is reported.
It does not matter the high sounding titles they have bestowed upon their church leaders; whether they call them, ‘holy man of God’, ‘anointed one’ or ‘another god’ that should not, by any inch, scare journalists and analysts into delving in matters of public interest involving them. If they should do well it gladly should make the news and also if they should fall spectacularly from grace, the media and analysts cannot be blamed for reporting or writing.
Again, I repeat, it is better that offence be caused than for the truth to be denied.
Learnmore Zuze can be contacted at [email protected]

Tsvangirai Pulls Mujuru, Nyagomo Into MDC-T

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday tagged Joyce Mujuru and PDZ party leader Barbara Nyagomo into his MDC party.
ZimEye.com can reveal members of the various political formations were pulled into the MDC State of The Nation Address special function on Saturday.
Correspondence letters seen by this reporter read Mr.Tsvangirai inviting the parties into the MDC.
During the Saturday function Tsvangirai gave clarity to his vision for Zimbabwe’s political future as he indicated a possible coalition with Joyce Mujuru, Nyagomo’s PDZ, and other formations.
Said Tsvangirai, “I want to tell Zimbabweans today, that our convergence on non-participation must mean that there are exciting political prospects on the horizon.
“I as Morgan Tsvangirai, and the party I lead are prepared to work with Zimbabweans of all shades and political colours to bring back the country to sanity.
“I see the true grand coalition not as the unity of individuals or leaders of political parties, but as a unity of Zimbabweans who possess shared values and convergence on the patriotic goal to take our country forward.
“Today, I promise Zimbabweans that we are on the brink of an exciting political moment and they will be see us as political leaders converging on those issues that matter most to us all Zimbabweans.
“It is on this score that I can tell you here that on the 11th of July in Harare, I will be joining other Zimbabweans from various political backgrounds at a prayer meeting for Itai Dzamara that is being organized by the church.
“In the previous elections, the people of Zimbabwe have won the election but lost the results and we pledge in our diversity to continue to insist on the implementation of both the Constitution and the reforms agreed under the auspices of SADC and the African Union.” READ MORE – 
Barbara Nyagomo could not attend the function in person being represented by party officers as she is in the UK, and Mujuru was also present via a proxy, sources said.

Mugabe : Zanu PF Will Not Tolerate Corrupt Leaders

President Mugabe has promised that the party will not stand by and watch while some people use the name of the party to commit crime and tarnish Zanu PF. He bemoaned that some leaders are using  Zanu PF to further personal interests by engaging in corrupt activities.
The President said this yesterday when he was addressing Zanu PF’s Youth League National Assembly at the party’s headquaters .
“There are some amongst us who are corrupt. Corruption is not just in Zimbabwe, but in Africa. Everywhere, there is corruption, corruption, corruption . With less business opportunities in the country there is a far better room for corruption, there is far better room for crime.
We have quite a number of bank scams. Those in the banking sector (have been) helping themselves to the deposits of the clients. Sometimes they do it in the hope that as time goes on they will repay, but alas that is usually not the case and they fail to return the deposits they would have shared amongst themselves and the bank becomes illiquid.
We have subscriptions, they are meant to come to the party and not to be shared amongst some people, no. The positions you have been given are because of the confidence of the people. You have not been given (the positions) to abuse them, to benefit yourself.
Don’t go and say there is a fund that has been created by (Vice-President Emmerson) Mnangagwa and everyone should contribute US$5 apa Mnangagwa haana kumbodaro; to (go to people and) say the President and First Lady vati vanoda mari. You spoil your name and in the process spoil the name of the party.
The thuggery you have been doing, you have not been sent by anyone. Some leaders claim the President has said this piece of land should be given to so and so. We know what is happening, no, no, no.”  the President said
President Mugabe also talked  about the arrest of  the suspended  Zanu PF Harare Provincial Youth Leader chair person  Godwin Gomwe to the youth leaders.
He described how Mr Gomwe and his accomplices allegedly abused the First Lady’s name to steal from home-seekers and other people  US$46 000.
“We want you to be good leaders, honest leaders. Idya cheziya. Don’t take advantage of the people. Don’t use the names of the leaders to cheat the people and rob them of their property.
Izvi ndizvo zvatanzi tiite naPresident; tiite naVice-President; tiite naMinister’ – zvese zviri zvenhema. Mumwe wenyu ndizvo zvakamusungisa. We wish him well. Apfidza. But you don’t improve yourself by hanging yourself.
You don’t go to Heaven by hanging. Don’t spill your own blood. Ivo VaDhara vekumusoro uko vakati tivepo, iwe woti haudi kuti uvepo; unoti kudiiko kana Vakubvunza? It is also cowardice in that situation. Ehe, punishment will come your way, but you don’t resolve it that way.’’ he said.
The president also expressed sorrow on farms that are underutilized and noted that some of the farmers were just holding on these properties for prestigious purposes, as he was responding to the youth’s request for land.
Young people were urged  to diversify economic interests, adding that Zanu PF was working with different countries to ensure broad empowerment.
“We give land not for prestigious purposes, but for economic purposes,”  said the President.
During  his  address, the President pointed that for Zimbabwe to develop it needs  Zanu-PF leaders who are responsible ambitious and disciplined.
He noted that it was imperative to have morally empowered youths for an economically empowered society.
President Mugabe said discipline would help party members understand the importance of subjecting themselves to Zanu-PF’s ideologically structured rules.
“We always believe the party is more important than an individual. I am what the people have made me. No one should say he is greater than the party. We have our effectiveness and experiences and their worth to us is when we join the masses of Zanu PF,” he said.
Youths were challenged to empower themselves through skills development so as to create jobs rather than waiting to be employed.
He said youths were  tomorrow’s leaders and should defend Zimbabwe from any threats to its peace.
“You have the right to fight for your country. You don’t give up. Even if someone has come with money, don’t sacrifice principle on the altar of opportunities. You say get away with your money, my land comes first, I am fighting for my land. That is the principle.
“You should get a national consciousness, an awareness of the evils of imperialism, distinction between right and wrong, you stand by what is right.” said the President
On the civic duty of voting, President Mugabe said party members should be educated on the importance of all electoral processes.
The President said Zanu PF wanted to see clear structures in all provinces and the issue of restructuring should be practical
He appealed to young people to work towards successful implementation of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.
“Roll your sleeves and work towards the implementation of Zim-Asset. Develop the economy for Zimbabwe,” the President said.
At the same meeting, Zanu PF Youth League national chairperson Pupurai Togarepi said corruption in the party and Government had reached worrying levels.
“As the Youth League we will deal with those from our wing decisively as we complement the effort to rid our society of this unacceptable (corruption) scourge,” he said.
The meeting was meant to strategize implementation of various youth programmes.
Also in attended were VP Mnangagwa, party secretary for Administration Mr Ignatius Chombo and National Political Commissar Mr Saviour Kasukuwere. – State Media

PICTURES: Could This Man Be Dzamara’s Abductor?


COULD this be the man responsible for Itai Dzamara’s abduction?  – The ZRP cop tried to attack and cause grievous bodily harm on Harare West MP Jessie Majome, on Wednesday at the same spot where abducted Itai Dzamara was once brutalised earlier in the year…READ ON

ZRP Cop Humiliated while Trying To Assault MP Majome at Dzamara Site

COULD this be the man responsible for Itai Dzamara’s abduction?  – The ZRP cop tried to attack and cause grievous bodily harm on Harare West MP Jessie Majome, on Wednesday at the same spot where abducted Itai Dzamara was once brutalised earlier in the year.

The cop, (name supplied) violently encroached into Majome’s private space as she marched into parliament house for work. He threatened to assault before creeping away in shame into the back of a lorry.
“This police officer of the black boots section just threatened to beat me up with his fellow anti riot troops for taking his photograph outside Parliament of Zimbabwe encamped there and blocking my way,” said Majome.

She continued detailing, “so much for MP, let alone public access to Parliament in terms of section 141 of the Constitution.
He proceeded to verbally abuse me in a sexist manner and which I consider to be sexual harassment by saying it’s my husband that I should photograph and not him. My foot!
“I made it clear to him that I have a constitutional right to photograph especially public officers on duty paid my tax dollars, especially those blocking my way to sit in Parliament. He seemed to be unsettled a bit when he realized I’m an MP. He refused to identify himself and had no force (now service as the Police is now a service in terms of the Constitution) number as is now the norm.
“The police is unlawfully and unconstitutionally barricading teeming street vendors from demonstrating outside Parliament.
“This reminded me that I’m supposed to be afraid of taking photographs of all the king’s horses and all the king’s men. I’m not! I’m also reminded of a young lady who asked me in whispered incredulity when I snapped the child soldiers outside Parliament last week, if I was actually allowed to do that, to my own incredulity. What a terror-stricken nation!”
I intend to file a complaint against my insulter.

Jonathan Moyo Dead End as Mugabe Shuts Door

Moyo Out, Mphoko Next

Reports have emerged from inside sources that President Robert Mugabe has sealed the door on Information Minister Jonathan Moyo meaning the spin doctor will not be returning to the powerful information portfolio.
Sources quoted by a weekly suggested that Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko is next to be axed after Moyo following Mugabe’s wife Grace advising that spokesman Simon Khaya Moyo is more suitable. The find shows that Grace is somewhat in agreement and has also added opinion weight on Moyo’s exit.
Impeccable sources told ZimEye.com of the reason why Moyo was axed in that he made security personnel shiver in worry through his mass exposures in the State Media powerhoue.
“He made several people uncomfortable and really became more feared than general Chiwenga,” they said.
After Moyo’s ouster from government early last week, Mugabe is now in a fix over how to deal with his two deputies Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko who have allegedly struggled to get along, the Standard reports.
Sources said that Mugabe was exceedingly worried that his deputies hold ideologically and strategically divergent views and have failed to find each other since their appointment to the powerful posts. Their relatonship threatens the stability of the Zanu PF party battling to contain factional fissures.
Mnangagwa and Mphoko were appointed after the party’s controversial December congress which booted out several
leaders accused of trying to topple Mugabe.
The revelations come after Mugabe last week sacked Information minister Jonathan Moyo from Cabinet reportedly on a technicality after Moyo, whose appointment was based on his “special skills” became an MP after winning the Tsholotsho seat in a June 10 by-election.
Zanu PF and government officials at Munhumutapa government building said Mugabe’s snap decision to sack Moyo from Cabinet without even the knowledge of his two deputies has set the tone for a high magnitude reshuffle. The reshuffle would not only affect ministers linked to former Vice President Joice Mujuru who was fired from both government and Zanu Pf on allegations of plotting against the 91-year old leader.
Mugabe had hoped the exit of Mujuru and her allies would put to rest the issue of factionalism, but is worried some new centres of power in the form of the Generation 40 has emerged to square up with the Mnangagwa faction.
Moyo and party political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere were reportedly behind the G40 and have enjoyed the support of Mphoko, signalling the rift with his co-VP.
Mphoko last month clashed with Mnangagwa’s loyalists who included Psychomotor minister Josiah Hungwe for calling him Second VP, claiming he was on an equal footing with Mnangagwa.
Moyo recently told the BBC Hardtalk programme that Mnangagwa‘s appointment to the post of VP did not mean he was Mugabe’s heir apparent, claiming the succession race was still a wide open contest.
Barely six months after Mugabe appointed his two deputies, Mugabe is reportedly having serious headaches after gathering intelligence the two were operating at cross purpose and also that several of his ministers have been sucked into antagonism between the two, threatening the stability of his party.
“The President is set to make sweeping changes in his Cabinet that would possibly affect one of his deputies,” a source close to the developments said.
“The President is very worried. He is not happy over continued infighting in his party. He has intelligence that some of his most trusted lieutenants were involved in factional fights and is in a dilemma on how to deal with them after firing all those supposedly linked to Mujuru for the same offence.”
The source added. “He has headaches over his VPs who seem not to going along. They are ideologically and tactfully divergent. When he appointed Mnangagwa, he hoped his appeal to the Shona and Ndebele tribes would help resolve tribal conflicts and unite the party, but this did not happen. On Mphoko, his wife, Grace has begun to show reservations on his capabilities and has openly told her husband that Simon Khaya-Moyo would have made a better VP than him.”
Although presidential spokesperson Gorge Charamba was not picking calls yesterday, The Standard is reliably informed Mugabe would make sweeping changes to his Cabinet anytime soon and the tone had already been set by the sacking of Moyo from last Wednesday’s Cabinet.
Mugabe is also reportedly unhappy with Moyo who is accused of using the public media to allegedly feign factionalism in the party and the move to sack him could be followed by his reassignment to a different portfolio.
“The President is also worried that some of his ministers, including his deputies, were being implicated in abuse of office by extorting from potential investors extortion and he would want to crack the whip,” said another source.
The source cited Kamativi tin mine as an example. He said despite the minister of mines Walter Chidhakwa breaking a deal with Chinese investors, some of the ministers (names supplied) held parallel negotiating contracts with the Arabs and British for the same project.
This had forced Mugabe at one time to meet Chidhakwa in private to understand what was happening. Chidhakwa was not reachable for a comment yesterday.
“Supporters of one of the ministers have already been heard bragging that Chidhakwa would lose his job as soon as soon as Mugabe goes. They want every deal to be negotiated through his office. Already, the camp is extorting money from business communities to build a war chest against Mujuru in the event that Mugabe goes,” the source said.
“Mugabe is in a fix on how to deal with the spiralling of corruption and would surely make changes to his Cabinet possibly, starting from the top.”

Stone Crushing Big Business Rush in Harare

Harare News| The expansion of Msasa Park has provided a ready market for stone crushers at the expense of the environment and human health.

Shingirai Vhundura, a builder, decided to augment his sporadic earnings by venturing into stone crushing. He works at a spot between Msasa Park and Zimphos where granite rocks are plentiful. His day begins at 8 o’clock, collecting rocks using a wheelbarrow and he then starts breaking these into smaller pieces using a four pound hammer. The job is repetitive and physically demanding. Vhundura said that he, together with other stone crushers, have resorted to digging up rocks as there are few loose rocks on the surface. They have devised a plan to weaken the rocks. “We burn old car tyres on the rocks and due to the great heat followed by the cool night temperatures the rocks start to crack. We sell a wheelbarrow-full for $2.” Vhundura says 5 cubic metres (60 wheel barrows) sells for US$120, adding that when a buyer wants that quantity they pool their resources and sell collectively.
Edmore Murwira, another stone crusher who works with his wife and children, said he was forced to rope in his family to up his daily production. “The children go around pick-ing up stones while my husband and I do the crushing,” said Mrs Murwira, Edmore’s wife. She complained about the transporters who act as middlemen, saying, “When buyers approach these truck owners wanting to buy quarry stones they are told that 5 cubic metres costs $200 and the transporter pockets the difference. On top of that, transportation cost of between $20–$50 per load is charged,” she lamented.
Murwira said their market base has been boosted by the construction taking place at the nearby Msasa Park suburb, which is rapidly expanding. According to him, the stones are used for making slabs, lintels, concrete, and for other building related uses.
City of Harare spokesperson Michael Chideme, when asked about the issue referred Harare News to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for comment. “That is more of an environmental issue, please contact EMA,” he said.
According to Steady Kangata, EMA spokesperson, manual stone crushing is now a growing phenomenon that can impact the environment. “This is new, it wasn’t there all along. Previously mechanical stone crushing was done after an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) had been carried out. We are working on this new scenario because mostly these people work on land not ear marked for development and at times they burn tyres that pollute the environment,” he said. He added that people also open pits to access the rocks and that this causes erosion and pools that are dangerous to human and animals.
Rock crushing produces quarry dust which is harmful when inhaled. Most hard rocks contain silica which can cause fatal respiratory hazards like lung cancer, bronchitis, and silicosis. These people are working without masks and the tyres they burn produce fumes that are dangerous.

Cancer Hits Grace, Bob, also Killing 138,000 People

Cancer which last year struck First Lady Grace Mugabe and her husband Robert, has caused mayhem countrywide killing a record 138,000 people in 2014 alone, statistics read.
The Non-communicable disease has overtaken HIV and Aids as the leading killer in Zimbabwe, the State Media reports.
The latest World Health Organisation statistics show that the number of HIV-related deaths in 2014 (63 853) and 2013 (61 476) do not match NCD figures – even when combined.
This has spurred health authorities into action, with their focus being prevention and early treatment.
The WHO Zimbabwe Report 2014 shows that NCDs accounted for 31 percent of all deaths in that year. The remaining deaths were caused by infectious diseases; maternal, peri-natal and nutritional conditions; and physical injuries.
NCDs are diseases which cannot be transmitted from person to person. The major ones are cardio-vascular and chronic lung diseases, cancers and diabetes.
Cancers topped the list with 10 percent of deaths followed by cardio-vascular diseases (nine percent), chronic lung diseases (three percent), and diabetes (one percent).
In 2008, WHO projected Zimbabwe to register 19 000 NCD deaths yearly, far less than what has materialised.
Countries with larger populations recorded more NCD deaths in 2014. The United States had 2,6 million; Nigeria had two million, South Africa had 608 000, France had 554 000 and Kenya recorded 369 000.
Dr Owen Mugurungi – the Health and Child Care Ministry’s preventive services acting principal director – linked high incidence of NCDs to diet.
“Traditionally, NCDs have been overshadowed by world attention on HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis. However, there is now need for a policy shift in Zimbabwe. These are no longer diseases of the wealthy. Anyone can succumb as they are lifestyle-related.
“NCDs may not ravage a society as quickly and visibly as uncontrolled infection, but their death toll is real and increasing. Most of them are preventable to a degree. By becoming informed, making conscious diet and exercise decisions and being proactive about their health, individuals can do a lot to prevent them.
“Avoid things that will raise risk factors … things like smoking actively or passively, drinking alcohol in excess and many others.” Dr Mugurungi said inadequate funding was impeding the ministry’s fight against NCDs.
“If the ministry got more funds then such funds would be adequately channelled to each health programme. Zimbabwe has been struggling to meet the Abuja Declaration target. Hopefully, we will get there.
“Dissemination health information is essential, but domestic health financing must be improved to address new challenges such as the rising levels of NCDs.”
Global NCD incidence has escalated over the years and this has been linked to poor dietary and general lifestyle habits.
NCDs kill 38 million people annually with statistics showing they are responsible for almost two-thirds (23 million) of all deaths in the developing world yearly.
In 2011, the United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs resolved to activate global mechanisms, including the Global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs (2013-2020).
This plan aims to reduce the number of premature deaths caused by this group of diseases by 25 percent by 2015.
In 2013, Zimbabwe’s Parliament advocated a cancer levy, but Treasury shot down the proposal arguing that this would further burden tax-payers.
Government is working towards meeting targets in the Abuja Declaration, which African Union states signed in Nigeria in 2001, pledging to raise health funding to at least 15 percent.
Zimbabwe’s funding is between eight and 10 percent.
Mr Itai Rusike, executive director of the Community Working Group on Health, said the need to increase NCD funding could not be overemphasised. The cost of treatment of most NCDs is beyond the reach of many Zimbabweans.
The costs of cancer treatments vary according to the type of and stage. The costs include examination, diagnosis, lumpectomy, surgery and chemotherapy/radiotherapy, which run into thousands of dollars with no subsidies to alleviate the financial burden.
Figures we obtained show that a radiotherapy session costs between US$3 000 and US$4 000, while chemotherapy costs between US$100 and US$1 000 per cycle depending on the stage the cancer would have advanced to.
In India, where many Zimbabweans seek such medical care, radiotherapy costs about US$1 900 and chemotherapy is an average US$900 per cycle.
Cancer Association of Zimbabwe monitoring and evaluation officer Mr Lovemore Makurirofa urged people to be more health conscious.
“Early detection greatly reduces the cost of treatment … Sadly, the opposite is true. When a cancer is detected late, then it becomes expensive to the patient and chances of cure are almost nil,” he said.

ZRP Camp: 10 Boys Sodomised Inside

TEN boys from Western Commonage Police Camp aged between six and nine years were allegedly sodomised by a 12-year-old boy who stays in the same compound and his friends whose identities are unknown.
Three of the abused boys reportedly spent three days indoors as they could not walk after sustaining serious injuries.
The incident which occurred on Sunday, 14 June has been kept under tight wraps as the parents of the child who is accused of being the ring leader in the sodomy case are reportedly threatening the victim’s parents from reporting the matter.
The victims who are doing their primary education in various schools in the western suburbs were taken for medical examination at Mpilo Hospital where doctors found that three of the 10 children were seriously injured.
A parent whose child was seriously injured said the family had decided not to pursue the matter because “there are some serious threats which the victim’s families are receiving”.
A medical record which the family provided to Sunday News reads: “Child is definitely penetrated anally with the evidence of reflex anal dilatation and anal tissue.”
For the sake of her child, the parent said the matter should be dealt with so that there can be “peace at the camp and victims can have a peace of mind”.
“I only discovered that there was something wrong with my child when he came home limping. When I queried, he lied and said he got injured while he was playing. But I later realised that there was something wrong because his face was sour and after persisting, he then told me that he was sodomised,” the victim’s mother said.
“Unfortunately, from the whole crew which was sodomised, mine is among the three that were seriously injured. As the family we have already decided to let the issue go because the boy’s mother, whom our children are saying sodomised them, is threatening us that something bad can happen if we mention his child’s name. With that, we are no longer interested in the matter but our children need protection so that they can too grow up and have a peace of mind.”
Another parent whose child was seriously injured after being sodomised said she was shocked that children could abuse their juniors.
“Well my brother, the matter truly happened and I am still shocked on how a boy of that age can do such an act? My son is now taking some tablets which were prescribed by the doctor and I hope that he will remain at his level best. School authorities are not aware of that issue because sometimes telling them might result in the matter leaking and affecting their mental well-being,” she said.
Another victim’s parent confirmed the incident, saying her child vividly remembered what happened despite the doctor indicating that there was no penetration in the medical report.
“The child is among the children who were abused. When we ask him what happened, he tells us everything but when he went for medical examination the doctor said there was no penetration. He was also taken for counselling so that he cannot be affected by what happened,” she said.
Another parent whose six-year-old child claims to have been sodomised but whose medical report states that there was no damage or evidence of penetration, said he was having sleepless nights because his son’s behaviour had changed. He said he feared that the situation might get worse as his son continued to meet the perpetrator on a daily basis.
“The boy (name withheld) is the ring leader. He has his friends who stay outside the camp whom he brought and sodomised our kids. I am not settled because this matter is going to severely mentally affect my child. What is so disturbing is that the police seem not to be taking harsh measures to take the matter to court. How our children cannot get affected by this bad incident when on a daily basis they are seeing the person who sodomised them? My child told me that (name supplied) was the one who was sodomising him and police also know that,” he said.
The accused boy’s mother confirmed receiving the reports but denied that her child was a sodomite.
“The matter truly happened. Everybody here knows that there is that issue but my child is innocent. He is not involved in this issue; people are just spreading information which is not true at all. You can go to the charge office to get more information because that’s where the matter was reported. I never threatened people, what I simply did was to tell them to stop dragging my son’s name into the issue because he is not involved,” she said.
The mother of the third boy who is said to be seriously injured refused to divulge any information. She said the matter was not for public consumption. Despite other victim’s parents and some residents telling the paper that her child was seriously injured, she denied the matter.
“My child is not part of that crew which was sodomised. I will not entertain further questions on that matter,” she said before turning her back.
Contacted for a comment, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said he could not give a comment because he had not received the report.
However, officers at his office had earlier indicated that they had compiled a report which they were waiting for Insp Moyo to release after he was done with a meeting he was attending. Sunday news

Chombo: We Will Arrest Land Barons

Criminal land barons who are illegally parcelling out residential stands using Zanu-PF’s name will be arrested, the ruling party’s Secretary for Administration and Local Government Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo has said.
Dr Chombo told The State Media last week that it was a criminal offence for party activists to parcel out land. He said Zanu-PF does not condone such behavior and those found on the wrong side of the law would be brought to book.
“All the laws in this country were made by Zanu-PF. So we cannot make laws that we do not want to follow. We want them to be followed to the later not only by our supporters and activists but also by the generality of Zimbabweans.
“We do not tolerate criminal activities and anyone who breaks the laws will be arrested especially land barons and unscrupulous land developers who are hiding behind the name of the party to do their criminal activities. I can assure you that they will find themselves behind bars,” he said.
He said his ministry had directed all local authorities to draft mechanisms to deal with illegal settlements.
“We have given them two months to deal with the issue of illegal settlements. So as we speak they are assessing the magnitude of the problem and they will make their presentations and we will take it from there,” he said.
Dr Chombo said some settlements would be regularised as the beneficiaries were mere victims of the criminal barons’ activities.
“We are legalising some of those illegal stands but obviously some will be affected. For example those who are building on institutional stands like schools, under power lines and so on (will be removed),” he said.
A fortnight ago, former Zanu-PF Harare province youth chair Cde Godwin Gomwe was arrested for allegedly giving out stands illegally.

Army To Shoot Every Vendor – Tsvangirai


The army were this month preparing to shoot Zimbabwe’s vendors, Morgan Tsvangirai says. FULL TEXT:
We meet today on the 27th of June, a day that invokes blood-soaked memories of the unmitigated and State-sponsored violence we witnessed seven years ago.
Exactly seven years ago to the day and three months after I had defeated him in an election; President Mugabe contested against himself in a bloody election run-off and claimed he had won.
Four days ago, we buried Brighton Matimba, the MDC’s head of social welfare whose office was burdened with the catastrophe of 2008. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
I pulled out of the run-off after that violence which was meant to punish the people for exercising their democratic right to vote for me and the MDC. But that did not stop Mr. Mugabe from participating in a ridiculous so-called election as a sole candidate.
We also meet today, two years after the people’s vote was subverted in yet another stolen election on 31 July 2013, but the economic collapse and the national despondency after that monumental fraud are now so palpable and evident to all they cannot be hidden anymore. Our country faces an unprecedented catastrophic economic and social collapse.
They told us then, that it was an overwhelming victory for Zanu PF; but we can now all testify that the true victor in that election was evil and the hopelessness of the people that we see around us today.
On Friday, 24 January 2014, I presented a state of the nation address in which I pointed to a country fast accelerating towards a monumental implosion.
Today, as I rightly predicted, the meltdown is upon us while the party in government remains pre-occupied with ceaseless internal purges and diversionary succession wars while the nation teeters on the brink of total collapse.
I have travelled across the country and seen for myself the problems facing the people. I have seen the desperation on many faces, the poverty and despondency that has been brought about by the inevitable failure of ZANU(PF) to keep their empty promises which they continue to make to the people.
From the flood victims of Mahuwe in Mashonaland Central, to the suffering many in Tsholotsho, from Chipinge to Binga, from Mudzi to Kariba, I have met and spoken to humble ordinary men and women who have testified to an unbearable life under the incompetent leadership of this government.
Apart from the discouraging economic signs now visible everywhere, the demon of State sponsored violence is back as typified by the abduction more than 100 days ago of Itai Dzamara, who remains missing to this day.
After co-existence of the political parties in an inclusive government for four years, we thought the violent past had become another country.
We were wrong. The leopard has remained faithful to its spots.
And in open provocation to the peace-loving, hardworking people of this country, the army only last month rescinded on a threat to gun down millions of suffering vendors eking an honest living by selling their wares on the streets.
Instead of promising the nation food, stability, development, progress and jobs, the government promised gunpowder and violent removal to the innocent millions of our people who are only trying to feed their families.
On the few occasions that he is in the country nowadays, we wonder if the President takes time to even think about the monumental economic and social crisis engulfing the nation and the suffering that we the ordinary people are going through. It is evident that Mugabe does not care and if he does, he surely has a funny way of showing it! Our country is on autopilot to nowhere.
The economy
It is now 26 months since the elections in July 2013 brought to an end the inclusive government that had ushered in outstanding progress and provided respite to the people.
It is now obvious to all serious observers that the elections in 2013 were perhaps the most manipulated and rigged election in our short history.
After years of poor governance, corruption and soaring inflation, the inclusive government brought price and fiscal stability, direction and rapid economic recovery that brought hope back.
This was most clearly demonstrated by revenue to the State which expanded from just $280 million in 2008 to $4,3 billion in 2013.
Zimbabweans remember with nostalgia the good times of the MDC in government but it all seems like a long time ago, given the dispiriting reality now around us. After the purported victory of 2013, the economy lost no time in casting a vote of no confidence in the Zanu PF led government that had been imposed on the people. Within days, values on the stock market began to decline and are now barely half what they were in 2013 while more than $2 billion has fled our markets over the past two years.
In the banking sector, most indigenous banks, rotten with patronage , insider loans, poor management and lack of regulatory oversight by the Reserve Bank, have all but collapsed. So much for indeginization!
In the past two years, 40 per cent of our commercial banks have either been placed under curatorship or in liquidation with the loss of over $1 billion of the people’s savings and income.
The flight of capital, loss of cash balances at the banks and the liquidation of investments have resulted in a cash crunch that is paralyzing the private sector, exacerbating the closure of companies and inhibiting economic activity throughout the country.
These immediate problems have been further exacerbated by the resumption of demands for the transfer of assets to politically connected individuals and military officers under the guise of indigenization.
The continued onslaught on the rule of law and property rights, have reduced Foreign Direct Investment to new record lows.
As a consequence, it is our view that the national economy in fact contracted in 2014 and that this contraction in economic activity is accelerating by the day. This view is supported by the decline in national tax receipts to $3,8 billion in 2014 and the revised budget of $3,5 billion in 2015. Even this reduced estimate is now looking optimistic.
It seems as if Zanu PF has learnt nothing from its 35 years in power. To illustrate this lack of understanding and ignorance of economic principles, the unjustified and unbudgeted expenditures in 2014 and in 2015 have pushed the budget from the surplus achieved during each of the years of the MDC control of the fiscus, to over $1 billion in 2014 and a projected $1,5 billion in 2015.
This means that the government has incurred a totally unsustainable budget deficit of 23 per cent of expenditure in 2014 and it should be noted that this is approaching 31 per cent in 2015. This is totally unacceptable and violates the fundamental principles underlying the International Monetary Fund’s Staff Monitored Programme (SMP), negotiated under the inclusive government and signed by President Mugabe in 2013.
The consequences of this accelerating collapse of the economy are extremely grave; unemployment has reached record highs, disposable incomes have declined and the State is unable to meet its day to day needs for it to be effective in delivering services to the people.
In the midst of this crisis, Zimbabwe faces the worst food shortages since 1992 when extreme drought conditions forced massive food imports and 2008/9 and over 70 per cent of the population needed food aid from the international community.
This is exacerbated this year by the collapse of incomes and the inability of millions of Zimbabweans to meet their basic needs. We have heard recently that now the government is begging for food aid from a donor community which they insult on every turn. That is not only embarrassing, but indicates the level of desperation and incompetence of this government.
One of the things that make this situation even worse, is the continued denial of the regime of the fact that their land reform programme has been an unmitigated disaster for everyone.
That disaster is characterized by the continuous land invasions, new farmers without security or support, land owners dispossessed of billions of dollars of assets without compensation and the displacement of two million people who used to make a living on the farms and the need to import virtually all of our food.
This is compounded by an incompetent and bungling Minister of Agriculture who neither understands what is wrong nor has a clue as to how to make things work again. He has persistently overestimated local production volumes to please the President with lies and this year is no exception.
This crisis is further compounded by the decision last year to tell the World Food Programme that they were “no longer needed”. As a consequence, the international community (with the exception of China and Russia), who have in the past 7 years poured billions of dollars into Zimbabwe and provided food and health services and assistance with clean water supplies, is ill-prepared for yet another year of desperate humanitarian needs for Zimbabwe.
Because of corruption and incompetence, the Grain Marketing Board and the Ministry of Finance simply do not have the resources or the capacity to respond to our urgent needs. Simply to protect his pride, the President does not have the courage to declare a food emergency and ask those whom he disparages for help.
What we have heard in an unclear and muffled tone is Mugabe’s deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, belatedly asking for $300 million from development agencies to mitigate this disaster.
And as the nation stares another season of starvation, we want to warn against any partisan distribution of food to the people of Zimbabwe. We suspect that this partisan approach to food distribution will happen once more, putting millions of our people at the risk of starvation.
We urge the world and the development agencies to look out for this persistent Zanu PF behavior to deny citizens their right to food along partisan and political lines. We as the MDC will also deal with these problems as best we can and our supporters will be asserting their right to food just as all other deserving Zimbabweans.
Fellow Zimbabweans, there will be consequences for this multi-layered crisis currently facing the country. One of these, will be an increase in human flight as thousands of Zimbabwean economic migrants flee to countries who offer opportunities denied in their home country. The South Africans are not responsible for Xenophobia – leaders like Robert Mugabe are directly responsible and yet continue to deny this fact but are quick to blame others. That is typical.
Another consequence of the collapse of the economy is the massive growth in our informal business sector which they are now calling the “new economy” in order to once more, blame exogenous factors for the problems they have clearly created.
Today, only eight per cent of all adults are formally employed and therefore 92 per cent of our population depends on informal business activity for a living. We have about 700 000 small scale peasant farmers, 2,5 million street traders, 500 000 small scale miners, 180 000 cross border traders and 100 000 mini bus operators who, despite the continuous harassment by the police, must move the nation every day with amazing ingenuity and efficiency.
Today, more money circulates in this “shadow” economy than in the formal sector and it makes a huge contribution to our collective welfare and being albeit informal. Without this army of hard working small business persons and without remittances from the estimated five million Zimbabweans now living outside the country, things in the country would be very much worse. In fact, they would be disastrous!
This community of hardworking, innovative and enterprising people is a breeding ground for the next generation of successful miners, farmers and entrepreneurs. Far from recognizing their contribution, Zanu PF regards them as “urban rubbish” and “illegal miners” and is doing all they can to dislodge them from their places of work and sustenance.
Let me remove any doubt from your minds, any attempts by the regime to mount a second “Murambatsvina” will be strongly resisted and the MDC commits itself to the protection of all informal business persons, their inclusion in our economy and to making it possible for them to grow and prosper.
This crisis we face now is quite different from the collapse that took place from 1997 to 2008. This time we have deflation, not inflation, we have a hard currency and no shortages but no money with which to buy what is in the supermarkets. In 2008 the region was assisting us in our efforts to secure the fundamental changes we needed to get our beautiful, hard-working country back on its feet. Today, the region is ignoring our situation.
In 2008, the Fishmonger Group of 17 countries committed themselves to our stability and recovery to give us time to get our democracy back on track. Today, they have other priorities and are leaving us to deal with this new crisis on our own.
Rights and governance
The governance MDC yearns for is social democracy with policies underpinned by the sacrosanct values of justice, solidarity and freedom. Contrary to the Zanu PF philosophy, we cannot have policies centred only on distribution of limited assets at the expense of production. In the absence of economic production, there is nothing to distribute.
True and genuine empowerment speaks to a welfare State based on production anchored on sound policies that promote domestic and foreign investment. Any other empowerment policies in the absence of production fall far short of what the people expect and deserve.
The primitive emphasis on re-distribution of limited assets, rent seeking mentality with unjustified entitlement is what has brought this economy and this country to its knees. As a nation, we had done well by writing our own Constitution to infuse the values and culture under which the people said they want to be governed. This is the only governance culture which will spur our national development and prosperity.
It is now over two years since this country adopted a new national Constitution, achieved after 15 years of struggle and popular demands for change. Apart from the respite given to the people of this country, the only other real achievement of the GPA and the inclusive government was the negotiation and agreement on a new constitutional dispensation.
Yet two years down the line, the new Constitution has not been implemented properly by changing the 400 instruments of legislation that require amendment if we are to bring the new governance charter to life. Even the Speaker of Parliament last week complained about the lethargy by the Minister of Justice, who is also the Vice President, in seeing to it that Zimbabweans live under their new Constitution.
It must be noted that if this process is concluded in a responsible and legal way, most of the reforms enshrined in that Constitution would return Zimbabwe to sanity, economic recovery, freedom and democracy.
We in the MDC hold dear the issue of credible elections and reforms that would poise this country for growth and development. As I have said, most of the reforms are now in our Constitution.
As a party, we have made a firm commitment to withdraw from the electoral system until it is reformed along the lines envisaged in the GPA, signed under the auspices of SADC and the AU.
There is little purpose in submitting our supporters to elections when the whole system is so subverted and undemocratic. So firm are we in our adherence to the implementation of the Constitution and a new governance culture that we are demanding full compliance with the SADC norms and values for democratic activity. Nothing short of that will suffice. Until that is achieved to our satisfaction we can confidently promise our people that we will not participate in any election.
In the past year, virtually every political party except the MDC has disintegrated, leaving the people with neither leadership nor hope. We in the MDC committed ourselves in 1999 to changing our government democratically, within the law and without violence.
We have stuck to those principles and we have neither beaten one policeman nor broken a single window in the past 16 years while we ourselves have been beaten, abducted and killed.
I am not sure whether we can maintain that stance into the future.
One thing is for sure, the present situation is untenable and unacceptable and perhaps the time has come for us to take matters into our own hands and force the changes that are needed.
I know that there are many in Zanu PF today who share that sentiment that the future is indeed in our hands.
The Social services sector
Our social services sector, particularly health, education, water and sanitation services, is in limbo. Once the pride and marvel of our people, our schools and hospitals have collapsed under this government’s watch.
Despite our major success in the education sector, during the era of the inclusive government, there has been palpable decline in terms of quality and access since 2013. For example, the recently introduced examination fees for Grade 7 students are not consistent with the new Constitution of Zimbabwe, which regards access to basic education and health as rights and not as privileges.
On the health sector, our major referral hospitals such as Harare hospital, Parirenyatwa and Mpilo have become death chambers while morale remains low as witnessed by the recent job action by doctors and nurses.
Whereas during the era of the inclusive government we had created the Education Transition Fund (ETF) and the Health Transition Fund (HTF) together with development partners to engender progress, today the social services sector has collapsed under ZANU(PF) mismanagement.
Even our local authorities are broke and struggling to provide clean water and sanitation services.
Zanu PF’s populist decision to cancel all debts in the run up to the last election has come back to haunt our councils as all of them are owed hundreds of millions of dollars, with government itself being the biggest debtor to local authorities.
These debts were cancelled in one fell swoop and today no resident feels encouraged to pay rates and services as they feel that the Zanu PF government will bring back the ill-advised bonanza towards the 2018 election.
Our streets are teeming with millions of Zimbabweans seeking to earn a living in these harsh economic times characterized by job losses and an unemployment rate of 90 percent. As it becomes apparent that the Zanu PF election promise to create two million jobs was just an election gimmick, the streets have provided sanctuary to the many unemployed Zimbabweans seeking to earn a living.
This is a ticking time bomb and a threat to national stability. The only viable solution is to create employment as opposed to threatening vendors on our streets with gunpowder. They simply want jobs and not bullets!
With government legitimacy, policy clarity and policy consistency, we can begin to deal with some of these problems that we in the MDC effectively dealt with during our short stint in government.
Security
The threat by the government to deploy soldiers to violently hound out vendors from the streets and the abduction of Itai Dzamara by State security agents have brought back the debate on the security of citizens in this country.
Today on 27th of June, the seventh anniversary of the violent clampdown on the people in 2008, we find ourselves in the ironic position where we are not safe in our own country. Zimbabweans are in the invidious position of being unsafe both in South Africa where others recently suffered xenophobic attacks, and even in their own country, where only last week innocent citizens in Gutu, Masvingo were violently driven out by soldiers from land they occupied in 2000.That is unacceptable.
Section 212 of our new Constitution is clear that the function of the Defence Forces is to protect Zimbabwe, its people, its national security and interests and its territorial integrity and to uphold this Constitution.
But the security forces, including the police, the intelligence services and even the prison services, have been made themselves become the biggest threats to the citizens of this country.
At Chikurubi Maximum security prison recently, police and prison officers shot and killed during several inmates following a riot over food. Many others were subsequently tortured and subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of the Constitutional rights of prisoners.
But it is the vicious assault of an honourable MP, Costa Machingauta, the assault of villagers and headmen in Hurungwe West and the abduction and disappearance of Dzamara that stick out like a sore thumb in the gross human rights abuses experienced this year alone.
I know that the security services themselves do not harbor any ill-intentions against their fellow citizens. They are a patriotic sector that is just abused by the State. In any case, most of them are under the age of 40 and have nothing to do with the power retention agenda of this government. Our soldiers, police officer and members of the intelligence services are professionals who want better working and living conditions like all of us. Left to their own desires, they would not harass anyone. They want decent salaries, better working conditions and decent uniforms. Like the rest of the citizenry, they also want a new Zimbabwe; a country where they would be able to prosper and to pursue and live their dreams.
We applaud the EU and other members and groups in the international community who have spoken out and made resolutions on the increasing human rights abuses in this country.
We urge the region, the continent and the broader international community not to abdicate their responsibility but to stand by the people of Zimbabwe in these trying times. They must speak out and make it clear to this brutal regime that the world will not stand by and watch while this country slides down this ruinous and violent path, negating and eroding all the positive signals that had been engendered by the inclusive government.
Infrastructure
Poor and collapsed infrastructure has become the bane of this country. Roads, railways, airports and our ports of entry have failed to inspire confidence; neither do they showcase a country ready to do business nor do they spur investment, tourism and economic growth.
Run-down infrastructure, coupled with industry grappling with obsolete and outdated machinery and capital equipment have not helped matters in creating a truly business environment that reflects a modern economy of the 21st century.
The dire state of key enablers for economic growth such as the energy sector and ICTs tell their own sad story. There are no tangible steps being taken towards increasing power generation especially in the area of utilizing renewable energy. With 3 000 hours of sunshine per year, we ought by now to have harnessed this critical enabler for growth and development and improved upon the framework we in the MDC had laid out during our short stint in government.
Instead of harnessing ICTs as key enablers for growth and development, this government thinks ICTs are a threat and not an opportunity. We have legislation that allows for snooping into private communications and several censorship laws that discourage rather than encourage the use of ICTs. Again, we have seen the undoing of the liberal environment we in the MDC tried to create when were in charge of this portfolio during the inclusive government.
Only last week, we missed the deadline to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting but the government has instead tried to mislead the nation that the deadline was partly met when in fact it was totally missed.
While other countries have moved to the era of e-health and e-learning by harnessing the use of ICTs for growth and development, this government has dismally failed to improve on what we did during our time in government.
My Vision and the Way forward
For some of us, the new Zimbabwe we have fought for all these years is anchored on a clear vision for our country.
In the meantime, before we realize that vision, there have to be short-term recovery measures to rescue this economy and save this country from falling over the precipice. The short-term interventions must deal with the problems of starvation and social services sub-sectors of health, education, water and sanitation.
There has to be a new culture of professionalism in our State institutions which have proven their inefficiency and lack of proper work ethic expected of State entities. This of course, is because they are mired in patronage at the expense of delivery.
I want to say that we in the MDC believe that there is no sanctions regime and our national predicament has nothing to do with the so-called sanctions that have become a convenient cover-up for Zanu PF failure and incompetence. They have become masters in continually denying that the problems we face today were mainly created by them and them alone.
There is a basis for international engagement in these short term measures to bring back the country on the rails. But that engagement and intervention must be conditional on Zimbabwe respecting values such as democracy and respect of the rights of the citizen which must mean the demand and insistence by the international community for the implementation of far –reaching reforms.
As I have said, most of these reforms and new governance culture are enshrined in the Constitution that Zimbabweans wrote for themselves but which this government is refusing to implement.
I envision a new country with a vibrant economy that meets the aspirations of all Zimbabweans underpinned by policy consistency, growth and prosperity for all.
In the new Zimbabwe, I see a great nation rising from the ashes of Zanu PF misrule. I see the realization of our promise for a better future for our children and our great grandchildren in a land full of happiness, abundance and the inalienable right for all of us to pursue our ambitions without limit.
I see the possibility of reconciliation of all peoples regardless of race, tribe, gender or political affiliation; a nation working together in resolving its problems.
I envision a Zimbabwe with a new ethos, where people live in peaceful co-existence regardless of their cultural, ethnic, racial, religious or political differences.
I envision a Zimbabwe where all can live up to their full potential. Given our traumatic past, we must learn to tolerate and reconcile with each other; to draw a line in the sand and say never, never again should any citizen be slaughtered on ethnic, racial, political or any other grounds for that matter.
We must be an inclusive, united society that is ready to swim or sink together, where diversity is celebrated rather than punished.
It is the celebration of our differences that will ultimately make our democracy hold.
In the new Zimbabwe, there will be no compromise on the dignity of every citizen, which, thankfully, is now enshrined in our Constitution.
All citizens must enjoy the true meaning of life by being treated equally by government and all State institutions. The equality and dignity of all citizens will be the cornerstone upon which our democracy will be built in the new Zimbabwe.
We aspire for a Zimbabwe characterized by economic prosperity, equity with notable increases of GDP and individual income levels.
I envision a country that uses modern technologies to accelerate productivity through strategic investment partnerships in the agricultural, manufacturing and mining sectors; productivity that will ultimately benefit the ordinary citizen.
I yearn for a new Zimbabwe with a modernized transport infrastructure that includes the resuscitation of the competitiveness of our national airline. We need to invest in upgrading our airports to promote commerce, trade and tourism.
I see a new Zimbabwe where the participation of women and the youth in mainstream economic activities is guaranteed and encouraged.
We aspire for a new nation with an accountable government; a country where a prosperous and inclusive economy prevails underpinned by the rule of law, political stability, policy consistency and predictability.
We must build a corrupt-free Zimbabwe with a government that is at the forefront of aggressively tackling systemic graft and dismantling the rise of unjust scales.
An efficient public service is the cornerstone of an efficient government. There is need in the new society we envisage to de-politicize the public service; to harness efficiencies and new competences as well as implementing institutional transformation to prepare public institutions with the onerous role to efficiently serve the people of Zimbabwe.
Efficient social service delivery will engender happiness among our citizens by ensuring the provision of affordable and qualitative clean water, affordable housing, healthcare and education across the nation.
We strongly believe in the sacred commitment to our liberation war and democratic struggle objectives and honour all of our fallen heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate price for us to be free from oppression of man by man.
I pledge that all our fallen heroes and heroines will one day be fully recognized as the champions of our country’s important struggles. We pledge to always celebrate and honour them, and to respond to the welfare needs of their families in a sustainable manner.
Conclusion
The return to legitimacy through a credible election is the only durable and acceptable answer to the crisis facing the country.
It is for this reason that we have launched our Without Reforms, No elections campaign after noting that we needed to make this issue a priority ahead of the next election, whenever it is going to be held.
There has been some misinformed criticism of our decision not to participate in the just-ended by-elections. It must be understood that we are looking at a far much bigger picture and ahead of the 2018 elections, we must address those issues that have affected the credibility of our elections since 2000.
There has been convergence around the issue of non-participation from most players in the opposition party circles, including even those who only a few months ago were in the top echelons of Zanu PF.
They have come out in the open to laud our decision not to legitimize this charade masquerading as legitimate elections.
That convergence means that for once, the majority of Zimbabweans are united on the one key issue which is to ensure that the next election is not only truly free, fair but credible as well. We must begin to address, once and for all, the contentious issue of a disputed legitimacy which is the root cause of our current national crisis.
I want to tell Zimbabweans today, that our convergence on non-participation must mean that there are exciting political prospects on the horizon.
I as Morgan Tsvangirai, and the party I lead are prepared to work with Zimbabweans of all shades and political colours to bring back the country to sanity.
I see the true grand coalition not as the unity of individuals or leaders of political parties, but as a unity of Zimbabweans who possess shared values and convergence on the patriotic goal to take our country forward.
Today, I promise Zimbabweans that we are on the brink of an exciting political moment and they will be see us as political leaders converging on those issues that matter most to us all Zimbabweans.
It is on this score that I can tell you here that on the 11th of July in Harare, I will be joining other Zimbabweans from various political backgrounds at a prayer meeting for Itai Dzamara that is being organized by the church.
In the previous elections, the people of Zimbabwe have won the election but lost the results and we pledge in our diversity to continue to insist on the implementation of both the Constitution and the reforms agreed under the auspices of SADC and the African Union.
We urge SADC and the rest of Africa not to be by-standers on the insistence of these reforms that we as political parties agreed under their watch.
Twice in the past 10 months, I have written to heads of State of SADC and Africa on these issues but I will be directly engaging them in due course. The people’s victory has been stolen from us for far too long and it is time to draw a line in the sand and be the captains of our destiny.
We can no longer give that responsibility to others or to ZANU(PF) who have unashamedly shown us throughout the years that they neither care nor are they competent in taking Zimbabwe forward.
I have always said that at a personal level, I am greatly inspired by the story of David as a major lesson to victims of theft to salvage their stolen legacy and their pick-pocketed treasure.
After the enemy had stolen everything from him, as the enemy of freedom did to the people of this country on July 31, 2013, David does not resign to fate, as some people expected us to do.
According to the book of Samuel, David asks the Lord whether it would be possible for him to recover his property; his treasure which the enemy had stolen from him. The Lord says to David: “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and recover all.”
And so the people of Zimbabwe shall pursue the one who stole their destiny on July 31, 2013 and in the previous national elections. They shall certainly overtake and recover all.
The people’s will is sovereign and no thief can steal God’s time.
The people’s sweet victory and the realization of the national dream can only be postponed or delayed but never abandoned.
We may not recover the lives which were lost in the senseless violence over the years and we may not be able to recover the lost time. But we shall definitely pursue and recover the lost dignity and the pride of this nation and its people.
Only then can those who have died in our war of liberation and democratic struggles of our nation rest in peace with the satisfaction that we have completed their quest for freedom and peace for all.
Yes, we owe it to those heroes and heroines and to future generations to deliver a free Zimbabwe well within our lifetime.
It is not impossible!
I thank you

“Mnangagwa To Be Assassinated”

ZANU PF song owl Energy Mutodi has written claiming that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to be assassinated, attracting negative backlash from opposition figures the likes of UCAD leader Albert Matapo.
The report comes after the same Mutodi claimed that abducted activist Itai Dzamara is currently hiding at a hotel in Botswana, and that he has evidence of Joyce Mujuru performing witchcraft rituals to kill President Robert Mugabe.

Below were the claims:
By Energy Mutodi
VP EMMERSON MNANGAGWA TARGETED FOR ASSASSINATION

A close ally of Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko businessman (F****** ********) is plotting an assassination on Hon. VP E.D Mnangagwa since last year it has emerged. At the core of the plot is the succession issue as well as Gukurahundi. According to documents that are now in our possession, (F****** ********) approached former MDC-T treasury general Roy Bennett in Fourways, South Africa, where he told him of his intention to assassinate Mnangagwa for what he said were unwarranted arrests and malicious Exchange Control crimes which were leveled against him at the direction of the VP in post independence Zimbabwe.
During the meeting, Mutanda who intimated that he had served as chief body guard to the late VP Dr Joshua Nkomo emphasised the need to avenge sufferings he endured from Mnangagwa. He said he had been victimized by Mnangagwa for trying to expose the role he had played in the Gukurahundi killings as well as that of the President.
Mutanda also briefed Bennet how he had lost millions of dollars after a Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ) bank auctioned off his personal property and goods held at Caps Holdings under the orders of VP Mnangagwa. Mutanda then promised Bennet that he would help him recover his lost farmland in Chimanimani provided he helped him fight and oust Mnangagwa because he was sure that VP Mphoko was going to be the next president as they would strategically remove President Mugabe from power after tactfully isolating him from his strong and staunch supporters.
Mutanda further mentioned that there is no way Mphoko will not be President as they have a good link with Russians and the South African government who will help them in getting rid of President Mugabe as soon as Mnangagwa is eliminated. However Roy Bennet turned him down, mentioning he did not believe him and his plans. He suspected Mutanda could have been an imposter and CIO operative. Mutanda further met Roy for the second and third time but was again told off as the former MDCT legislator emphasised that he was no longer interested in politics and was focusing on his life and family.
Mutanda, who is said to be married to the late Joshua Nkomo’s daughter who was divorced by former Minister Francis Nhema is said to have disclosed in further meetings with different people that he was working with Professor Jonathan Moyo and Vice President Mphoko himself to make sure that Mnangagwa was blocked from taking over from President Mugabe. He added that Mphoko would work with a Mthwakazi Liberation Front party to keep the Gukurahundi issue alive in Matebeleland while Professor Moyo would use Zimpapers and other media houses to discredit Mnangagwa.
He also added that under the grand plan, which would be kept away from Mashonas such as Saviour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwawo who may spill the beans due their ethnic backgrounds and closeness to Ngwena, newspapers would first accuse Mnangagwa as being at the centre of Gukurahundi atrocities while exonerating Mugabe so as to win the President’s support or at least make him indifferent.
They would also issue radio station licenses to their loyalists where campaigns against VP Mnangagwa will be executed. He added that when public support for Mnangagwa waned, a plan to assassinate him would be put into action whereby he would be shot in Bulawayo while attending a Bosso-Dembare challenge match in honour of Gushungo’s AU and SADC chairmanship. The shooting would be publicized as a Gukurahundi revenge act and when it happens, the VP would be in the company of his Shona speaking peers such as Saviour Kasukuwere who would not have been briefed of the plot.
In the long term plan, when the team would have succeeded to pull down both Mnangagwa and President Mugabe, Phelekezela Mphoko would serve only one term, becoming Africa’s new hero after Nelson Mandela. Albert Matapo would be appointed Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces while Emmanuel Marara would head the ZNA. Moyo will then take over from Mphoko as President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces.

Obert Mpofu Office Blows $2mil Phone Bill

Auditor-general Mildred Chiri has recommended proper monitoring of telephone usage by staff at the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry after they incurred a $2 million telephone bill.
This was exposed in the audit of the ministry’s appropriation account for 2014 where Chiri noted the ministry’s telephone bill was high; giving rise to suspicions that staff was probably misusing phones since 2012.
“The ministry’s telephones at head office are open to members of staff via the switchboard, but there are no measures in place to control the use of landlines such as limiting the time spent on private calls to reduce the cost of the monthly bill,” read Chiri’s audit report.
“As a result of weak controls, the Ministry of Transport had an outstanding telephone bill of $1 919 774 dating back to 2012.” Chiri said the risk or implication of the telephone bill was that staff was abusing the telephone facility, leading to huge bills.
“The Ministry of Transport should introduce controls over the usage of telephones so that costs are minimised,” the Auditor General said. When the ministry was approached on the matter, they said measures were being taken to control the use of landlines.
“A PABX system with a monitoring device has been installed. The outstanding balance of $1 919 774 is dating back to a time when balances were converted from the Zimbabwe dollar to the United States dollar,” the ministry responded. But, Chiri said her audit later established the PABX was not installed as stated by the ministry.
Chiri’s audit revealed that between January 2012 and May 2014 the ministry suffered a loss of $181 950 through fraudulent activities by an accounts clerk based in Victoria Falls. “The accounts clerk resigned when the fraud was uncovered to avoid prosecution, but no subsequent action was taken to recover the loss suffered,” the audit unveiled.
The Auditor-General said failure to strengthen internal controls exposed public funds to misappropriation, adding delays in taking action on the suspect may send wrong signals to staff and management that fraud can be tolerated.
Management’s response to the audit was that they had reported the issue to the police in 2015, adding the reference number of the case could be made available for audit. But Chiri said the ministry should have made more efforts to recover the money. -Newsday

MDC-T Man Jailed 5 Years for Raping a UK Child


Sheffield – A prolific Morgan Tsvangirai party official who is seen in numerous footage standing by the MDC leader, Jenatry “Chihota” Muranganwa, has been convicted of raping a 12 year old girl.
Chihota was yesterday slapped with a five(5) year jail term for grooming and then pleasuring himself on the innocent minor.
He is set to be deported from the United Kingdom soon after his release.
The first investigative story which first appeared on ZimEye.com last year, revealed how Chihota popularly known for a long period for his energetic singing at MDC-T party meetings, had an affair with a married woman, (name withheld) whose daughter he would soon attack for his gratification.
He even at one time booked a room at a local Premier Inn and was seen pulling the minor into the budget hotel for intimacy.

When contacted by ZimEye during an investigation soon after the hotel fracas, Chinota did not deny abusing the girl.
But he soon afterwards hired lawyers attempting to block the fangs of the law.
The truth however prevailed and he was arrested and then tried. The trial which was heard on Thursday in court room 9 under case number T20147806, returned a guilty verdict for the severe statutory rape and grooming. He was subsequently sentenced on Friday morning.

“Nothing Wrong for CIOs Working at ZEC” – OPINION

DISCLAIMER: The opinion expressed in the below article is the writer’s alone.
By Chido Chikuni

The recent claim by a local think tank, Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI), that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), together with the state security agents assists the ruling party, ZANU-PF, in rigging elections does not hold any water but it’s just a mere accusation.
Firstly, Pedzisai Ruhanya, who is the ZDI Director, should know that there is nothing wrong for security forces to work at ZEC. The fact that security forces were selected to work at ZEC means that there are competent and efficient enough to work at that institution. One would wonder if there is an Act in the Constitution or a condition that prohibits officers from security forces to perform any other duties in the Government. Security forces are there to serve the nation, hence, they can be directed to do any duties that assist in developing the nation.
ZDI came openly criticizing ZEC claiming that it was stuffed with Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) operatives. Ruhanya also condemned the ZEC chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau saying that she was undoubtedly a product of the ruling party patronage network. Contrary to Ruhanya’s waffling, there is nothing wrong for Justice Makarau to perform her duty despite her political affiliation.
Most commissioners at ZEC were seconded either by the opposition MDC-T party or the revolutionary ZANU-PF during the Government of National Unity. So there is indeed no reason for ZDI to make noise Makarau whose position was also endorsed by the opposition.
It is known that Ruhanya is a holder of doctorate degree in media and democracy from thye University of Westminster in Britain. For that reason, a learned person like Ruhanya should resist from waffling nonsense in the media.
As a product of the western world, Ruhanya’s mind could have been colonized so much that his line of thinking is now in tandem with the regime change agenda.
ZDI is said to be a one-man’s think tank. Ruhanya has nothing constructive to say than singing for his supper. As a Non-Governmental Organization, ZDI receives funds from donors. Most NGOs have an agenda of regime change in this country, hence, Ruhanya is a catalyst in this equation.
It is worrisome that some so called analysts, including some those who are not even based in Zimbabwe, want to set an agenda for this country.
Also, it is incorrect for MDC Renewal Team spokesperson, Jacob Mafume to say that Justice Makau was supposed to engage political parties that boycotted elections. Honestly, on what grounds was she supposed to engage these opposition parties? Is it supposed to be a matter of fact finding on why a political party failed to participate in the by-elections.
Those blaming ZEC for rigging elections should provide tangible facts or proof which shows that elections were rigged. Ruhanya’s allegations are baseless. When think tanks like ZDI makes such allegations, they should come out with evidence to prove them. It is easy for ZDI to waffle lies, but it becomes very difficult for it to come up with facts to back up such lies.
Despite all the allegations and blames put on ZEC, ZANU-PF remains the people’s choice.
DISCLAIMER: The opinion expressed in the above article is the writer’s alone.

Top Pastor Caught ‘Having Sex’ with Married Woman, Stripped


A top pastor in the United Kingdom exposed while allegedly engaging in nature’s forbidden pleasures with a married woman, has been stripped.
ZimEye.com can reveal that Rev Tsaurai Kudakwashe Mapfeka has nosedived from a man of the cloth to that of the broth after being found guilty of jumping into bed with a congregant’s wife.
The development has left many Methodist church men regretting as they told ZimEye.com they would never again allow their wives to be counselled by a male pastor.
Mapfeka who earlier in the year was humiliated by his lover’s husband, Maxwell Chirewa in full view of worshippers, will have to sweep the United Kingdom’s streets for a living. He was on Thursday slapped by the church with a penalty of 2 years 6 months under the status of Involuntary Leave.
Internal church meetings now exclusively revealed by ZimEye.com show that
that the trial court for the Mapfeka-Chirewa Case was set on June 23 under Bishop Alfred Wesley Gwinn Jr who was presiding, which returned a verdict of guilty on June 24.
On the 25th June the jury went again into session to deliberate on the penalty. They returned with a penalty of 2years 6 months under the status of Involuntary Leave.
Rev Mapfeka will now report to the Board of Ordained Ministry about where he would be attending church. He will be required to maintain a good standing status during that time. The verdict and penalty will be with immediate effect as from June 25, 2015.
Sources told ZimEye Mapfeka has also been deprived of his church mansion.
“On the housing transition we leave it in the hands of the leaders in the UK to process, monitor and implement that transition in a way which does not go against the laws of the United Kingdom,” the source said.
Drama in church
Mapfeka was exposed early in january during the thanksgiving announcement by Mr. Chirewa who in the middle of church seized the microphone to announce that Rev Mapfeka was having an affair with his wife.
While elders tried intervened and took Chirewa outside for him to cool down, more drama ensued as the pastor and his wife followed on collecting their children for a speedy exit.
Chiwera then remained behind as he revealed all to members on that Mapfeka was having an affair with his wife, Linda Chirewa who he said once lied to him saying to have gone to Zimbabwe when she soon went to Germany on holiday with the reverend.

He produced photo-graphics of the two in Germany and a number of shocking WhatsApp messages. Among the text messages were exchanges said to have been between Linda and Mapfeka. In one of the messages Linda writes “Am thinking pane varikunakiranawo sesu so lolest (Just wondering if there are any out there who are enjoying each other just as we do ” to which the cleric replied “ukanzwa vamwe undiudzewo (If you hear of any do tell me).”

She continued “Musiwa 2 nguva dzino chinenge chakachaya kkk (On the 2nd at exactly this time we will be having fun” to which Mapfeka replies “8 days, wakavhura (Have you opened?” Linda asks: “Kuvhura (Opening?)” and the Revered replies “Ehe! (Yes)”.

Journalist Imprisoned for Publishing Newspaper Without Registration


AFP|A ZIMBABWEAN journalist has been sentenced to a year in jail for publishing a newspaper without government registration, the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) said Friday.
Foster Dongozi, ZUJ secretary-general, said Patrick Chitongo was convicted by a magistrate’s court on Thursday and received a one-year prison sentence.
“It’s a sad day for press freedom when people are jailed for disseminating information,” Dongozi told AFP.
“However, we advise that, much as we disagree with the law which compels journalists to register, those intending to practise or publish should comply to avoid ending up in dicey situations.”
Regional media freedom advocacy group, the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA), said Chitongo had been jointly charged with three interns after publishing three issues of a newspaper called The Southern Mirror.
They were charged with breaching the country’s media laws, which forbid “carrying on or operating a mass media service without a valid registration certificate.”
Chitongo’s co-accused were acquitted after the court found that they were college students who did not have a say in the paper’s publication.
Chitongo denied the charges, saying the publications were dummies he intended to hand in to the media commission for registration.
Under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, journalists have to register annually with a government-appointed commission and publishers need to have a registration certificate.

South Africa: Mystery Fire Burns Up Zim Buses, Zimbabweans nearly Killed

Scores of Zimbabweans were nearly killed yesterday when three buses instantly caught fire in a “mysterious” incident that saw the flames extending all the way to two nearby trucks.
The accident occurred at around 4pm in Newton, along Main Street, the area where most Zimbabwean cross border buses park before they leave South Africa for Zimbabwe.

The trucks were carrying piles of luggage destined for various towns in Zimbabwe, Bulawayo Masvingo, Kwekwe, Gweru and Harare.
 
The Munhenzwa, Elite and Hi-Tec coaches were reduced to ashed-black metal by inferno some have suggested may have emanated from a cigarette butt that caught onto leaking petrol.

Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa Mr Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro said the cause of the fire was yet to be established.
“Indications are that the fire started from an Elite coaches bus which then spread to Munhenzwa and Hi-Tech and the two trucks. However, no human life was claimed though property worth thousands of rands was reduced to ashes.
“We are yet to establish the total value of the property which was destroyed. Our officers are still on the ground,” he said.
Mr Mukonoweshuro said fire-fighters tried to pull the Munhenzwa bus from the scene, but it was too late.
One of the witnesses identified only as Mai Kuda, said the cause of the fire was still a mystery.
“It is a shock how a cigarette butt can be said to have caused so much damage to three buses and trucks. I heard that there was fire here and rushed to check if there were any people I knew, fortunately nobody was hurt except groceries and various properties which were damaged,” she said.
Of late there has been an upsurge in robberies by criminals purporting to be South African police officers targeting Zimbabwean cross border buses outside Polokwane and Pretoria cities.
The suspects are yet to be accounted for. Efforts to get comments from authorities at Munenzwa, Hi-Tech and Elite coaches were fruitless last night.
One of the ladies who works at the Newton area, Ms Tendai Zhou, said other bus crews had to drive off from the area as the fire raged on.
“The situation was terrible and we suspect that the fire was started deliberately by jealous people considering that most of the buses have been robbed along the N1 Highway.
“In most cases we will be having more than 50 buses here especially those going to Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia,” she said. (State Media/Additional Reporting)

Econet Wireless Boss Fitzgerald Steps Down

Econet Wireless Global chief executive officer Craig Fitzgerald has stepped down and will now become advisor to founder Strive Masiyiwa.
Econet Wireless Global is a privately own company based in Mauritius with Econet Wireless Zimbabwe as its flagship.
“We can confirm that Mr Craig Fitzgerald resigned from the company at the end of last year, in order to pursue other interests,” the company said in a written response to questions.
“The circumstances of his departure were completely amicable, and after he completes his notice period, he will transition to a new role as an advisor to the Executive Chairman. Mr Fitzgerald’s former role has been divided between a number of senior executives in the group, who report directly to the executive chairman. The telecoms group, under which Econet Wireless Zimbabwe falls, now reports to Mrs Tracy Mpofu.”
Fitzgerald joined Econet as chief financial officer in 2000. In this position Fitzgerald was responsible for financial reporting as well as all corporate finance and merger and acquisitions activities of the group. He was appointed group chief executive in 2009. -The Source

Jonathan Moyo Now Banished Forever – REPORT

Expelled former Media minister Jonathan Moyo is not returning to the government information department he was heading, impeccable sources have suggested of the man who met a humiliating end early this week when president Robert Mugabe kicked him out of cabinet in full view of colleagues.
Until today Jonathan Moyo had claimed that he was out of government only temporarily. He communicated this theory to his clique of handpicked editors who have continued to control the powerful state media broadsheets The Herald, Sunday Mail and The Chronicle.
But the worms of shame swam to shore on Friday afternoon when it emerged professor Moyo is unlikely to be reinstated.
This came despite numerous public comments aired that Mugabe was going to reinstate him.
“The President has his choice man who should be made known in a few days time. Jonathan Moyo all this while thought special irreplaceable but we have many literate, competent, and more deserving spokesmen in the party,” said a source.
Other sources said the “speed and stealth” with which Mugabe had dealt with Moyo not only suggested that “there is one centre of power in Zanu PF” but also that a major Cabinet reshuffle was in the offing, “which spells danger for many complacent bigwigs”.
“It is squeaky bum time at the top in Zanu PF and government, to borrow football lexicon. By freezing Moyo, even if this is temporary, Gushungo (Mugabe) is showing all and sundry that he is in charge and the sole centre of power in the party. It’s as simple as that for me.
“But others also say, and with good reason too, Fear as Cabinet reshuffle looms that a comprehensive and long-rumoured Cabinet reshuffle that should have happened after the ouster from power of Mai Mujuru and her allies last year is finally here, which spells danger for many complacent bigwigs who have until now thought that they are safe,” a senior Zanu PF official said yesterday.
Another insider said what had alarmed many ministers was the fact that Moyo’s removal from Cabinet had come “like a bolt from the blue” and at a time that the new Tsholotsho North legislator looked “very secure” both at party and government level, despite Zanu PF’s worsening factional and succession wars.
“Of all the comrades in the party, he was one of the few that behaved and moved around with a swagger, which is why we were all shocked when the president chased him away from the Cabinet meeting without notice,” a minister said.
Talk within Zanu PF has for the past few months been about looming Cabinet changes, with many insiders pointing to the need for Mugabe to not only rejuvenate his under-performing Cabinet, but also replace all the people he had fired as part of the ruling party’s ruthless purges of the past seven months.
Another source said yesterday that there was “an understanding” in Zanu PF that the ejection of Moyo from Cabinet was “part one of the equation” and that the political future of other bigwigs such as Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, Tourism minister Walter Mzembi and Energy minister Samuel Undenge were also on the line.
“It’s not so much that the expectation is that any or all of these gentlemen will necessarily be fired, the emerging view is that they will more likely be re-assigned to other posts which may not sit well with some of them.
“It will also not be surprising if the president announces this long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle within the next two weeks, an opportunity that he may use to energise Cabinet and replace under-performing ministers in a continuing revamp that he started spearheading late last year,” a politburo member said.
Mugabe himself has recently expressed dissatisfaction with the performances of some of his Cabinet ministers, amidst a worsening economic crisis in the country that has seen Zimbabwe move from once being regarded as a regional bread basket to a much derided basket case.
Speaking in an interview with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation current affairs to mark his 91st birthday in February, the only leader that Zimbabweans have known since the country’s independence from Britain in April 1980, said pointedly that some of his ministers were not delivering.
In the meantime, and as part of the toxic mix pulling Zimbabwe backwards, Zanu PF’s deadly factional and succession wars continue to cast a long shadow over the country and Mugabe’s own political life, with many of his trusted lieutenants divided on the basis of their factional orientations that saw former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her allies being purged from the post-congress party.
Among other party stalwarts who have been sacrificed in the mindless bloodletting since then include former Cabinet ministers Didymus Mutasa, Nicholas Goche, Francis Nhema, Olivia Muchena, Webster Shamu and Dzikamai Mavhaire.
Worryingly for many, there is no indication that the era of the brutal purges is now behind and that the party and country can now focus on critical governance and service delivery issues.
If anything, more senior officials are said to be facing the sack under the continuing party expulsions, with several ministers linked to Mujuru — among them Education minister Lazarus Dokora and Sports minister Andrew Langa — top of the guillotine list.
Mugabe’s freezing of Moyo out of Cabinet on Tuesday took many people by surprise, with no clarity up to today whether this is a permanent move or temporary one.
Moyo, who was appointed Information minister as a non-constituency Member of Parliament after the disputed 2013 harmonised elections, successfully contested for the Tsholotsho North constituency in the June 10 by-elections.
It was not clear whether his going for the seat allegedly without Mugabe’s blessing infuriated the nonagenarian or whether the president was merely throwing his weight around or just being a stickler to constitutionalism as Moyo’s legislative status had changed — which meant that he would need to be re-appointed as minister.
But the Daily News was told that the stunning drama that saw the loquacious politburo member being chased away from Cabinet began as soon as the Cabinet meeting started on the day when Mugabe allegedly summoned Moyo and told him to get out of the meeting.
A well-placed source claimed that a supposedly surprised Moyo had then approached Mugabe to ask for forgiveness, but that the nonagenarian would have none of it.
If Moyo’s banishment from Cabinet is not temporary, this would not be the first time that the Zanu PF secretary for science and technology has been shown the door by Mugabe — as he was booted out in 2005 after he allegedly refused to obey Mugabe’s orders not to stand as a candidate in the same constituency.
Moyo took part in the 2013 national elections but lost the Tsholotsho seat to a newcomer, Roselyne Nkomo.
A year ago, Mugabe savaged Moyo while speaking at the National Heroes Acre in Harare, at the burial of former Cabinet minister Nathan Shamuyarira, saying Zanu PF had been infested by weevils which needed to be taken care of.
This came in the wake of another brutal assault on the beleaguered Moyo a few days before that when he described the minister as the “devil incarnate”, as factionalism in Zanu PF reached alarming levels.
Mugabe then accused Moyo of causing confusion in Zanu PF, being dishonest and lacking principled vision — further describing him as a counter-revolutionary who had employed Zanu PF enemies as editors at State media companies.-DailyNews/Additional Reporting

Guzah Is a Car Thief Who Changed Name Like Uebert Angel: Mliswa

Former Zanu (PF) provincial chair for Mashonaland West, Temba Mliswa, has alleged that Keith Guzah who beat him in a by-election in Hurungwe West recently, failed to disclose to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) that he was a car theft convict.
He then soon afterwards changed his real name the same way church preacher Uebert Angel has done (the latter who did so after being published for academic fraud).
Under the Electoral Act, candidates are supposed to declare their past convictions and failure to do so must lead to disqualification.
Mliswa, who held the Hurungwe West seat, ran as an independent after being fired from Zanu (PF) and lost narrowly to Guzah.
He is contesting the outcome of the pol and wants the results nullified.
ZEC chair, Rita Makarau, has already acknowledged that Guzah was not registered in the constituency as also required by the law.
In papers filed under case number EC05/15, Mliswa alleged that Guzah failed to disclose that he was once convicted for theft of a car.
Apparently, Guzah was convicted under an alias, Never Phiri.
Mliswa’s lawyer, Dunira Hungwe, confirmed the claim against Guzah in court papers yesterday.
“We filed papers for the nullification of the Hurungwe West by-election results and besides the now common cause that Guzah fraudulently refrained from advising the Electoral Commission that he was once convicted under the name of Never Phiri,” Hungwe said.-thezimbabwean

Wife Stripped Naked By Hubby In Public

DESPITE having been married for the past 34 years, a Mutare man shamed his wife by stripping her naked in public following a domestic dispute.
Veronica Chikwinya had to seek shelter at a nearby house with her hands covering her private parts after her husband, Kephas Kunhuwa, assaulted and left her in her birthday suit.
The couple appeared before Mrs Yeukai Chigodora with Chikwinya seeking a protection order against her violent husband.
“We married in 1981 and since then I have been his punching bag. He recently stripped me naked after I had gone to his sister’s funeral in Mozambique and when I came back he assaulted and insulted me.
“He stripped me naked, Your Worship. I had to seek shelter at a nearby house with my hands covering my private parts. Your Worship I looked like a mad woman,” she said.
Kunhuwa admitted to stripping his wife, but blamed his wife for having extra marital relationships.
“At her age she is involved with a very young man who is old enough to be our grandchild and he was also one of our farm hands. That only provoked me and I am sure that she had not gone to my sister’s funeral , but to a honeymoon with her young lover. Of course I did strip her and I am not sorry about that. I do not assault her at all, she is lying to the court,” he said.
Mrs Chigodora asked him how Chikwinya got injured since she had shown the court scars all over her body. “Well, I did push her at one time and she fell,” he said.
Mrs Chigodora ordered Kunhuwa to desist from assaulting, insulting, harassing and disturbing his wife. However, she said she could not order them to separate since it was not in her jurisdiction to do so.-Manica Post

Who Really is an ‘Ordinary’ Zimbabwean?

THE PRESIDENT ON FRIDAY: WEEKLY COMMENTARY ON National Issues
Who Really is an ‘Ordinary’ Zimbabwean?
A few years ago, I heard an Afro American rhythm and blues singer named John Legend sing this about ordinary people: ‘We’re just ordinary people. We don’t know which way to go. Cuz we’re ordinary people. Maybe we should take it slow…’ In my long experience as lawyer and politician, I have heard, on numerous occasions, politicians habitually use the ‘ordinary Zimbabweans’ phrase. This ‘amorphous’, almost legendary demographic group attracts both attention and pity in equal measure. Our government has committed many a ‘quasi-fiscal transgression’ in the name of ‘ordinary Zimbabweans’.
Legislators and Councillors of diverse political provenance claim to represent ‘ordinary people’ while residents associations boast how they are doing the bidding for ‘ordinary rate payers and lodgers’. Women’s groups also attempt to attract funding for ‘ordinary women’ as youth organisations associate themselves with the ‘cause of the ordinary young man and woman’.
I want to deal with this subject for good reason. As a president of a political party, I am oftentimes confronted with (justifiable) criticism that we leaders are detached from the expectations of ‘ordinary Zimbabweans’. We are said to talk above them in pursuit of self-preservation. Our ideology, critics continue, is academic and cannot be ‘broken down’ into bread and butter essentials affecting ordinary citizens. We live in lofty ivory towers and levitate on egocentric self-delusion. The tragedy of high office is that once we are elected, we not only drift from but also despise these ‘ordinary people’ that sacrificed time, money, life and limb to get us into these undeserved positions.
But who really are these ordinary people? Has this anything to do with one’s income, class, location, level of education, political position, race, creed, tribe, ethnic group or religious affiliation? Where do we find, identify them and know what their needs are? The Oxford dictionary, inevitably blunt, says that ordinary people have ‘no special or distinctive features … (and are) normal’. Other sources refer to them as people ‘of no special quality or interest; commonplace; unexceptional, plain or undistinguished, somewhat inferior or below average; mediocre, of no exceptional ability, degree, or quality; average.’
Those who sympathise with President Robert Mugabe’s seemingly eternal and nauseating cling on political power always claim that his ‘success’ (more like domineeringly suffocating presence!) can be traced back to that ZANU PF has ‘better grassroots links’ than any of the MDC opposition parties. In other words, his party has stronger umbilical connections and is identified with the ‘masses’. My interpretation of this is that there is ZANU PF the ‘organisation’ and then the ordinary membership ‘as distinct from the active leadership of a party or organisation’. From this perspective, it would mean that those of its members at village or cell level are the ‘ordinary’ who define the party’s electoral pattern and its performance at national level. A social scientist would therefore be correct in saying the ‘ordinariness’ – for want of a better term – has income class connotations, because this group tends to be mainly composed of peasants, villagers and resettled farmers.
Tragically, it is the same group that ZANU.PF has intimidated, impoverished and fettered with criminal benevolence over the past thirty-five years. Whenever my party, the MDC, or any other opposition party for that matter, attempts to ‘sell’ issues to this group of ‘ordinary’ citizens, we tend to come short because we do not have access to massive State resources to buy allegiance. However, winning the masses’hearts involves engaging them in programs that transcend superficial promises and short-term freebies.
My colleague in the struggle for democratisation, Tendai Biti, popularised the phrase ‘the grandmother from Dotito’ as his own description of the ordinary person. Listening to him speak, one would get the impression that we in the opposition would not win her heart as long as our politics was about the huge government deficit, the IMF debt, quasi-fiscal expenditures, foreign direct investment and a host of other ZANU PF ‘economic transgressions’.
We are aware that ZANU PF preyed on the political frailties of this proverbial grandma in Dotito by convincing her that her village had no roads, electricity, water and clinic because the white man – Tony Blair – had imposed sanctions on President Mugabe. This Machiavellian approach presupposes that the deficit in service delivery and other social inadequacies – including the drought – can be (mis)understood as originating from some distant bad white man. This is the same grandmother made to queue behind her village head and ‘assisted’ to vote because she is ‘ordinary and illiterate’.
As a working people’s party, we know that our ‘ordinary’ political base – the blue collar worker, the farm worker and the civil servants – have been savaged by retrenchments and pitiful wages. They are weak, miserable and now vulnerable to ZANU PF manipulation and exploitation. They are ordinary because they are poor, unemployed and stressed up, so we need to find a way of unlocking this mass and responding to their needs.
Unlike John Legend, our ordinary people know exactly where to go, because just after independence, they were there. They cannot afford to take it slow, because they are far behind people of similar ‘ordinary status in Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa and Malawi. Our ordinary people carry the key to unlock the shackles of ZANU PF oppression and expose its lies. Our ordinary people need running water in their kitchens; electricity in their sitting rooms; books in their classrooms and clinics in their wards. They need affordable education and safe housing.
As I observed last week, our ordinary people are desperate for safe and secure jobs; salaries above the poverty datum line; safe transport and quality social services. In the bigger scheme of things, everybody is equal – the grandmother from Dotito and the grandmother from Burnside or Borrowdale.
It is our responsibility, as a party, to raise their hopes that not all is lost – they can be retrieved from being ordinary to extraordinary – only if they re-discover their people power.

US Envoy: Zim Politicians Too Egocentric, Love Nice Cars

VOA|Panelists discussing the state of Zimbabwe’s democracy and economic development at an event hosted by the Washington Based think tank, National Endowment for Democracy (NED), expressed cautious optimism, of the country’s future.
United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bruce Wharton, one three panelists at the NED event, titled, “The Challenges of Democratization and Economic Recovery in Zimbabwe”, dismissed an “Arab spring”-like revolt in Zimbabwe, despite the country’s political and economic hardships, citing the population’s high level of education and strong religious belief.
Wharton further said he was optimistic because Zimbabwe was in a very slow generational transition from a generation of men and women who fought against the minority government in the 60s and 70s to a modern pragmatic and less didactic group of people who are coming behind them.
Wharton attributed part of Zimbabwe’s problem to the caliber of the country’s politicians, whom he says are more interested in it as a way of living to pay their bills and get nice cars, than protecting the people.
Academic and Southern African Economic and Political Trust chairperson, Ibbo Mandaza, also a panelist, too expressed optimism for Zimbabwe, but described the last ten years as “tumultuous” but filled with “incorrigible optimism.”
But he questioned Zimbabwe’s ability to reform under the current leadership.
Mandaza, who is part of a movement called the National Convergence Convection, with Bishop Sebastian Bakare, advocates for engagement with the 50 percent of Zimbabwe’s skilled professionals living in the Diaspora.
Part of the audience which attended the panel discussion on Zimbabwe’s political and economic processes in Washington DC on Wednesday. (Photo: Marvellous Mhlanga Nyahuye)
Part of the audience which attended the panel discussion on Zimbabwe’s political and economic processes in Washington DC on Wednesday. (Photo: Marvellous Mhlanga Nyahuye)
Businessman and consultant, Shingi Munyeza, who was also part of a business delegation from Zimbabwe that is currently on a fact-finding mission to the U.S., said while prospects for an economic turnaround are high, raised concern over the lack of liquidity in the formal sector.
Munyeza said the adoption of the US dollar as a currency of exchange has plunged the country into a crisis because goods and services are more expensive than from South Africa.
Among the crowd in attendance for the discussion, which included members of Zimbabwe’s embassy staff, was Sharon Hwekwete, a Hubert Humphrey fellow and human rights lawyer.
Mandaza said he and his partners in the national convergence hope to raise $10 billion that will go toward debt relief, education and other programs that could help jump start the country’s economy.-VOA

Mugabe Crushed By Bhasikiti

THE Constitutional Court has barred President Robert Mugabe from declaring Mwenezi East constituency vacant following the expulsion of MP Kudakwashe Bhasikiti from Zanu PF.
The full Constitutional Court bench agreed with Bhasikiti that Mugabe should be stopped from declaring the seat vacant until the High Court finalizes his expulsion case.
Represented by MDC-Renewal Team’s Tendai Biti, the former Masvingo provincial state minister recently filed an urgent chamber application seeking to bar Mugabe from calling for by-election following hi recent ouster. Radiovop

There is No Fool Like Mutasa |OPINION

opinion_angry1-CopyIn the early 90s in my home area in Chipinge, a Mhlanga family was nearly annihilated after a spate of deaths seized the family. It was after visiting several Sangomas and prophets that the least suspected family member was repeatedly pinpointed as the cause of the deaths. He did not have a stable mind so people never thought killing a person could ever cross his mind.
It was then that my people learnt to distrust even their own shadows. Didymus Mutasa is such a person that people have become used to ignoring, believing he is an old man who has gone out of his mind. It is no longer time to view him as such. The Shona people have an adage that goes: ukasekerera benzi rinopinda negejo muchurch.
Mutasa has been rumbling ever since he was shown the exit door with no one giving him the attention he so desperately looks for. As President Mugabe aptly described him, Mutasa is a stray braying ass. It is, however, time that Mutasa is reined for he is now running into the church with the plough.
The law is very clear on people who divulge state secrets. Thus, the law must take its course and he must face the music. It will be a bad precedent if Mutasa is not punished for putting the security of this nation at risk. As he was charged with the security of this country, we are not sure how many secrets he volunteered to the enemy. Mutasa and his colleagues have been accused of hobnobbing with the American intelligence officers at the local embassy whose chief agenda is to effect a regime change in Zimbabwe. It cannot be an over assumption if one alleges that the CIA is in possession of the state secrets that was volunteered by Mutasa.
Mutasa’s colleagues in the People First must learn something here. They can share secrets with him at their own peril. Once they fall out, he will head for the mountaintop to bare it all. It is a matter of time before he let slip all the plotting that he and his cabal are accused of.
Mutasa said that he used to get tired of reading reports from the Central Intelligence Organisation that were not so good. I think the CIO had since discovered that the old man is not fit to access important state secrets, thus they gave him what he deserved. A silly report to a silly recipient was the equation.
 

Zimra Goes After Prophets’ Churches Cash


The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority is launching out after millions made by Zimbabwe’s mushrooming prophets for taxes.
Millions of dollars are expected to be raised from the raid seen to start with controversial personalities the likes of Emmanuel Makandiwa, Uebert Angel, and Walter Magaya.
The move came after Ubert Angel(Mudzanire) boasted that he is worth $60million, a bounty made while working in Zimbabwe. He relocated from the United Kingdom a poor man only rising from the grass in Zimbabwe, meaning his fortunes were made from church offerings within the country. Zimra has been blasted for allowing prophets and preachers to make millions without paying tax.
As a result of numerous complaints, the government revenue collector has announced it is going after money made by preachers for taxation. Zimra’s Commissioner General Gershem Pasi told the portfolio committee on Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives Development, “We are now focusing on them (churches) and we have engaged them, we are setting parameters.”
He continued, “we don’t care how they make their money and come November we will be through with our legislative proposals to the minister (Patrick Chinamasa Finance and Economic Development) which will tighten that area because we have seen loopholes there. They are not immune to taxation.”

Mugabe Better Off with Moyo Inside Tent Pissing Out than Outside Pissing (or worse) In!‏

tough talk...Wilbert Mukori
tough talk…Wilbert Mukori

“Moyo’s victory was seen as spiting President Mugabe who had appointed him a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament before he proceeded to appoint him a minister in his bloated government,” commented a Bulawayo based Staff Reporter. I can well believe that!
Professor Moyo is already a heavy-weight in Zanu PF and government but when he lost his parliamentary seat in the July 2013 elections and had to depend on Mugabe’s generosity to pluck him out of obscurity it made Mugabe feel powerful. Mugabe is a control freak. Nothing pleases him more than to see all his subordinates grovel up to him.opinion_angry1-Copy
Winning back the Tsholotsho parliamentary seat after the humiliating defeat in 2013 would have pleased Moyo greatly and boosted his self-confidence while adding a peacock tail feather to his cap. Mugabe would have seen this as the Professor trying to re-assert himself. He waited for Moyo to take his seat in the cabinet meeting and then suddenly showing him the door in a calculated move designed to humiliate Moyo and remind him who is boss. Poor Jonathan Moyo, he clearly did not see this one coming and it knocked the wind out of his sail.
He has been the flying Zanu PF party and government supremo ruling his powerful ministry of information and dictating to all what they will know and think but often doubling up as government spokesman and supervising all other government departments. His bi-election victory was going to allow him to comment freely on parliamentary business without fear of the snotty rhetorical question “Who elected you?”
Yes, Professor Moyo must have entered the cabinet room expecting be showered with congratulatory greetings for his electoral victory. He certainly did not expect to be told to bugger off, he was no longer welcome there!
No wonder Moyo was suddenly and uncharacteristically quiet for a long time – a whole 48 hours – with nothing written or initiated, not even a tweeterish comment – nothing that is, other than speculation on what happened in the Cabinet room on Tuesday. Falling from such a dizzying height and landing on his bald head must have left our high flier dazed and for once, speechless.
This is not the first time Moyo has encountered unexpected humiliation. In 2013 we saw him being dressed down before the media. After Mugabe called Moyo the “devil incarnate and a weevil destroying Zanu PF from within” everyone thought the Professor’s beacon was fried! Didymus Mutasa was so pleased to see Moyo in trouble he even offered to supply the gamatox, the insecticide, to kill the weevils.
But a miracle happened soon afterwards. Whatever the Professor said or did to Mugabe at their private meeting after the public denunciation worked like a charm. It was Didymus Mutasa and others who were summarily sacked from cabinet, the party and then parliament. Moyo must have thought his charm worked and his position in cabinet was safe and secure.
The morale of Moyo’s story is that Zanu PF is imploding and no one’s position is safe not even Mugabe’s own position is safe. Mutasa has already started to spill the beans of how Zanu PF has been rigging elections and, no doubt, the drip, drip leak of the party’s dirty past will now continue until Mugabe and all still left in the party are forced to resign. Moyo will definitely have even more damaging details on Mugabe which if released will force the tyrant to resign immediately.
Throwing Professor Moyo out of the cabinet is one thing but if Mugabe throws him out of the party and parliament like he did with Mutasa and others then Mugabe’s days in State House will be numbered.
“It is probably better to have him (FBI director, Edgar Hoover) inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in,” said former US President Lyndon B Johnson. Mugabe’s position is a lot worse in that those inside the tent want to throw him out and those outside are more than pissing. They are shooting in!

THE NUISANCE OF SELF-BETRAYING POLITICS

opinion_angry1-CopyIn his June 14 piece titled “A Poisoned Chalice, Pyrrhic Victory,” Patrick Zhuwao painted a glim picture of the perceived ZANU-PF political success story, and he questioned why I write in general terms about the shortcomings of ZANU-PF, without taking direct aim at the sinning leadership. This is quite a fair question deserving a satisfactory answer.
He went on to write in detail about his own experience as someone within the ZANU-PF leadership, and also as a businessperson who has met first hand with the menace of patronising politicians, the predatory kleptomaniacs that often thrive on raiding shares in other people’s business initiatives.
On December 27 in 2013, I took direct aim at some corrupt members of ZANU-PF leadership in a piece titled “Do we have a revolution betrayed?” published by this paper, and this is not to provide an answer to Zhuwao’s demanding question.
There are a number of issues that I raised in that article, and this week we will recap and look at these in the context of where the country is with the leadership of ZANU-PF, perhaps enjoying uncontested or uncontestable power at the moment, thanks to the highly confused opposition politicians in the country.
Political supremacy should never be allowed to be a monopoly of a few people, and this is one of the greatest challenges African politics faces today. When this is allowed to happen it becomes inevitable that the masses will face a slow and painful starvation.
It is hard to imagine that we have allowed our country to degenerate into this jungle where hard work and merit no longer reward as much as blind loyalty, crime and corruption.
Democracy by its very nature must not breed condescending politicians who survive on manipulating the behaviour of all in order to enlarge their own tentacles. Zimbabwe must rid itself of the vote politician who sees nothing beyond the defeat of an opponent for political office.
We would be a lying nation if we do not accept that there are genuine concerns over matters of accountability in our country. We had the massive media exposures of 2013 where egregious malfeasance was exposed in many public owned companies like PSMAS, ZBC, Air Zimbabwe, NRZ among others, and this time we are reading about breathtaking conning of the masses through unscrupulous “house cooperatives”.
Instead of celebrating two years of the election-winning ever-glorious Community Share Schemes; we are now confronted with gruesome grilling of people suspected to have benefitted from the scheme in an unbefitting manner. One would think by this time our communities would be counting the number of clinics, roads, water sources, or schools benefited from this election-winning superhero program.
We cannot go far with people out there who owe their luxurious lifestyles to profligacy derived from perfidious obedience to the powerful, and have very little regard for the people.
It is hard to believe that a simpleton like Godwin Gomwe could con so many people for such a long time unnoticed, like it was hard to believe that Happison Muchechetere could millionairise himself unnoticed at the ZBC, as was reportedly doing Cuthbert Dube at PSMAS, and those two convicted Air Zimbabwe cretins whose names I will not bother to remember.
I am hardly convinced that anything has significantly changed at Net One, NRZ, ZESA, GMB or any of the Parastatals after the media exposures of 2013. We dramatise our politics and look away before we have hardly corrected anything.
I have written this before, and I will repeat it. We cannot for our own sake keep blaming imperial games for our own shortcomings and mistakes, even if that was the only pathway to secure the vote.
If the truth were to be told, Western sanctions, devastating as they have been, now stand like a pea next to the mountain when compared to the scandalous conduct from some of the people in our leadership, be it in industry or in politics.
We cannot expect the dedicated and well-meaning citizen to continue to camouflage the stinking ways of looters and cretins in our leadership. It is about time we put a stop to patronage and protection politics in the republic.
We cannot continue to utter principles of people-oriented policies for the sole object of keeping the masses enslaved in the myopia of sweet populism. Zimbabwe cannot be allowed to degenerate into a country where our people start to consider it a miracle that life is beautiful.
Our political community harbours monstrous brutes obsessed with the demon of self-aggrandisement, and the scourge smites across the political divide.
It is time our generation cleanses the country of evil, corruption, abuse, and all forms of violence. We are an independent and free country, and we must live up to the expectations of such status.
For the end to justify the means the end must be justifiable in itself; and to this end our land reform program and our economic empowerment policy must deliver prosperity to the people. I hope ZimAsset will ensure this.
If we fail to produce on the land we have occupied, we are sending a clear message out there that we are so obsessed with the black skin that for its sake we are even prepared to resettle poverty on our fertile lands. That kind of racial bigotry does not have a place in today’s society.
There is no better justice for the people of Zimbabwe than the economic success of a black controlled economy, but we must understand that mere dispossession of the colonially privileged will not in itself bring freedom and happiness.
Our politicians must always remember that people are like war – they will have their way.
We stand today in the face of Africa as that country still led by a revolutionary founding father of African independence, and frankly the man is highly admired by most of the people across the continent.
Is it not sad that the same man now seems to be holding together what appears to be a treacherous lot of outrageous malingerers? That perception is dangerous for Election 2018, as Patrick Zhuwao kept repeating in his piece.
Stopping a treacherous opposition from turning the country into a smelly imperialist barrack is quite plausible from any angle, but surely that alone does not suffice in the running of a country. This is what ZANU-PF politicians need to grasp in their heads.
A revolution that breeds wrecking poverty for its people is to the masses a tripartite party to the threesome evil that includes slavery and imperialism.
The ruling party must not rejoice so much in sweeping electoral victories, contrived or genuine. Rather the party leadership must spend sleepless nights hunting more for economic solutions for the country, not displaying unquestionable expertise in providing swift solutions to the chaos in the internal politics of the revolutionary outfit.
We as a country cannot allow a situation where the crumbs from the table of imperialism come across as more appealing than the rewards of independent nationalism. That is betrayal to the revolution, and it is demeaning.
A revolution is not made more powerful by bickering and infighting, and there is absolutely no dignity or wisdom in the dwindling of numbers in the game of politics. Those within ZANU-PF that are taking advantage of the Joice Mujuru politics to settle personal differences with personal enemies must realise that the nation deserves better than being exposed to such empty jokes.
We need leaners in this revolution, not past dwellers reveling in historical glories. We must from the actions of our detractors learn our survival, and it is not a sign of strength or cleverness to give as an excuse for our failures the actions of our enemies.
Economic sanctions were not put in place so we can have an excellent reason for canvassing for sympathy and votes, or so that we can exonerate ourselves from our own shortcomings.
ZDERA to us must be a sign of our strength as a country, not of our weakness. The United States fears independent nationalism, and ZDERA is the United States’ statement of fear in the face of our pro-people economic policies.
It is not by any means a statement of strength. It is a cowardly act from a terrified falling emperor, and it must inspire us to instill through our success more fear into the enemy, if I were to borrow from the often-misinterpreted yesteryear statement from President Mugabe.
We cannot keep applauding the crybaby politician who never stops bellyaching about the ruin of economic sanctions. Rather we must hunt for and applaud the politician of solutions, the politician that will inspire us as a country to render the sanctions economically ineffective.
So far we have celebrated our bravery and strategies in making the sanctions politically ineffective, and that is fine, but not an end in itself.
Anyone that trembles before the precepts established by the enemy cannot dream of vanquishing the same enemy, and that is why the politician bent on convincing us of the devastating strength of sanctions cannot be hailed for a hero.
Some politicians in our government do not get along with the mirror, because they are very much aware of the scary image they know will confront them.
But it is the duty of the responsible citizens to keep the mirror gazing in the faces of public officials, whether they like it or not.
Zimbabwe we are one and together we will overcome. It is homeland or death!!
REASON WAFAWAROVA is a political writer based in SYDNEY, Australia

Tax Payers Owe Over $1 Billion, Zimbabwe Likely To Miss Revenue Targets

Zimbabwe’s tax agency says unpaid levies have doubled to over $1 billion over the last two years as the economy tilts towards the informal sector due to company closures, warning that it could miss this year’s revenue targets with dire repercussions for Treasury.
Zimbabwe finances its entire budget from taxes because multilateral lenders like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank have said they will only resume lending to the country once it clears its over $10 billion debts with the global lenders.
This year, Zimra has targeted to collect $4,1 billion revenue against expected expenditure of $4,115 billion and Pasi said the country needs urgent policy reforms to address the rapid de-industrialisation and the informalisation of the economy, adding that the agency “would have challenges in meeting targets.”
Official data shows that 4,610 companies closed operations between 2011 and October last year, rendering over 64,000 workers jobless, although analysts believe the figures could be higher.
Company closures have resulted in the proliferation of informal businesses that are largely evading tax obligations, Pasi said, adding that outstanding taxes were at $1 billion, from $500 million in 2013.
“We have challenges with the SMEs because there is a high level of non-compliance. Most of them are of no fixed aboard. We need to have a developmental industrial policy which can help us resuscitate industries,” Pasi told a parliamentary portfolio committee on SMEs and cooperative development.
“The level of compliance is a reflection of the current economic hardships where we have liquidity constraints, lack of credit lines which I think have also been made worse by the closure of too many companies.”
Zimra also threatened to ‘act ruthlessly’ on companies and individuals that failed to negotiate with the authority for a payment arrangement of outstanding tax obligations during an extended window opened last year.
“Amnesty, we had to extend it, it is now coming to a close at the 30th of this month and I must say the response has not been what we expected. We came up with the issue of amnesty because there was a lot of pressure on Zimra that we were being too heavy-handed in collecting revenue,” Pasi said.
“We are now saying that after the amnesty, we need to be ruthless and we may want our minister to bring some legislation which can tighten it further for those who are delinquent because we have done all we can to say ‘come clean’.”
Limited access to long-term capital and antiquated machinery has resulted in thousands of firms folding, driving thousands into to the poorly regulated informal sector. Government, two years ago, formulated its ambitious blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zimasset) to stimulate economic growth but implementation has stalled due to poor funding for critical projects.
“We need to address this issue to the extent that it should be given the urgency that it deserves. Sometimes I feel that as Zimbabweans we are too laid back, we believe things will right themselves at an appropriate time but we are creating a generation which may never know what formal employment is all about and that generation is wasted investment,” Pasi said.
“If we don’t do that then you will find out that we will spend a lot of resources dealing with a passing phenomenon. We will put a lot of money trying to make sure that vendors are accommodated but when we have created employment as we must, we would have built a lot of white elephants.”
Pasi also appealed to Parliament to push for measures to improve the country’s rankings in the ease of doing business. He said Zimra would also introduce new measures to levy local taxi operators as well as re-introduce encrypted fiscalised tax registers to widen the revenue base.
Commenting on the proposed Special Economic Zones now seen in government as a source of foreign direct investment inflows, Pasi said the agency is pessimistic that the economic zones would spur investment.
“We have had these economic zones in the past. We called them Export Processing Zones and then we abandoned them because they did not yield the desired results. So now I see we are almost repeating the same thing and we are likely going to see the same results,” Pasi said. -The Source

Zimbabwe Denies Closing Down Companies For Non-Compliance

Zimbabwe has denied and ruled out shutting down companies failing to comply with its indigenisation law, opting for engagement but admits failing to enforce the legislation with some firms ignoring it completely, a junior minister told Parliament on Thursday.
The Indigenization Act — enacted in 2008 — requires foreign owned companies valued at over $500,000 to cede 51 percent to black locals. The local ownership law has been cited as a major impediment to foreign investment in an economy battling to recover from a decade-long recession.
Last week, advisory firm Brainworks Capital said only one indigenisation deal had been consummated by government, while transactions worth over $1 billion with major platinum mining firms Anglo American Platinum, Impala and Aquarius had been abandoned.
Youth, Indigenization and Economic Empowerment deputy minister, Mathias Tongofa told the parliamentary committee on indigenization that the miners were among the many in mining and manufacturing who were yet to submit revised plans despite the deadline expiring in March.
In January, the government gave businesses 60 days to amend their indigenisation plans as part of changes to the law to encourage investment.
“Some (companies) are adamant, some are violating the law and some haven’t even filled in the forms yet,” said Tongofa, adding that government had processed 1,170 applications in the last five years.
“There are provisions within the law to punish these companies. However, the ministry doesn’t do it in isolation. According to the law, we should work together with the licencing authorities to either deny renewal of licences or revoke the licences.”
Mobile operator Telecel Zimbabwe had its operating licence revoked in April for failing to comply with the law but challenged the decision in court. The High Court also allowed it to continue operating until a ruling on the challenge is made.
Tongofa said government was trying to strike a balance between applying the law and preventing job losses through company closures.
“We try to balance the act between the closure of companies and viability of the economy as well. We are sandwiched so to speak,” he said.
“We are not saying we are not going to force (companies) to comply but we are saying we don’t want to use that hard way of doing it because they will close. We are looking at the repercussions.”
Tongofa however said some of the “most difficult” companies were complying but also attributed the delays in implementation of the law to disharmony with other legislations crafted during the colonial era.
“There is therefore need for government to revisit other pieces of legislation such as the Mines and Minerals Act and Zimbabwe Investment Act to ensure that the provisions reinforce implementation of the new constitutional requirements and the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment legislation,” he said.
Tongofa said since 2011, at least 61 Community Share Ownership Trusts had been registered, with only 20 being functional while $38 million seed capital had been deposited by companies.
At least $14,7 million had been spent in the past two years, he said. Since 2010, at least 187 Employee Ownership Trusts had been established.- The Source

Mnangagwa Blames Britain For Water Problems

It is now 35 years after Zimbabwe attained Independence from Britain but government still blames the former colonial masters  for its failures.
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday shocked delegates attending a water conference underway in Harare when he said  government’s failure to provide portable water to its citizens was caused by Britain. 
Mnangagwa  said were it not because of the former “colonizers” who left obsolete water pipes government would be providing safe water. 
“Zimbabwe still has gaps that we inherited from the skewered system from former colonial masters. We need to address that,” said Mnangagwa.
As a result of government’s failure to provide portable water, women and children walk long distances to get the precious commodity. 
Most urban centres experience extreme water shortages for years now, raising fears of waterborne diseases that thrive in unhygienic conditions.
Residents have resorted to drilling boreholes in a bid to counter the water challenges, but this has been said to deplete the water table.
Most of these boreholes have not been sanctioned by authorities.
The worst affected are those who have moved onto new housing developments and settlements which do not have infrastructure for water.

Mugabe Runs Away from Journalists in Mozambique | BREAKING NEWS


President Robert Mugabe attempted a run away from journalists in Mozambique on Thursday afternoon amid fears that Nigerian journo Adeola Fayehun was present in the country.
Mugabe was met with a heavy atmosphere of humiliation upon touching down in Maputo as he had lost his liberation hero lustre being met by a generation that is future-looking. Mozambique has had at least eight Presidential changes since independence in 1975.
Mozambique is celebrating its 40th independence anniversary amid pomp, music , dance and drama.
Zimbabwe’s President was among dignitaries the likes of Presidents of Angola, Namibia, Zambia among others together with former president of Botswana Festus Mogae.
ZimEye.com’s correspondent in Maputo gave this update: A few minutes ago, Mugabe was seen chatting with other dignitaries . He also greeted one of Samora Machel’s grand daughters.
It was at that point that Mugabe attempted to evade journalists.
“Security initially had refused the journalists to get near him. But they later allowed the grilling after a vetting which determined that Nigerian journalist Adeola Fayehun was not among the group of scribes present.
“During the address Mugabe congratulated the people of Mozambique on the milestone of their 40th anniversary.
Mozambique has had at least eight Presidential changes since 1975 unlike Zimbabwe which has known only one leader.
Mugabe however said he and the people of Zimbabwe received with gladness Mozambique’s independence because it became a launchpad for the liberation of neighbouring countries.
“He bemoaned that key heroes he worked with Eduardo Modlane, and Samora Machel are not alive today. But they left a legacy, said Mugabe.
“He said the likes of Chisanno, Guebuza, Chipande and others are there to continue that legacy.
“After the laying of wreaths at the heroes acre Mugabe together with other dignitaries left for Machava stadium for the national event event.

Jonathan Moyo Disappears


Two days after he was expelled, former Information and Media Minister Jonathan Moyo has gone missing.
Moyo was fired by President Robert Mugabe in a development legal analysts say was deliberate as Mugabe did all under the guise of a technicality of Moyo having been elected an MP saying he needs a new appointment letter.
Moyo’s sympathisers led by Herald Editor Caesar Zvayi rushed to claim his ouster from cabinet was only temporary and he would be installed to his post.
But Moyo who has since switched off his cellphone is reportedly licking his wounds as it becometh clear he was jilted and Mugabe has shut the door on his political fortunes.
He was nowhere to be seen in parliament yesterday as his phone was also turned off.
Mugabe’s legal advisors claim that Moyo had to be removed from office to pave the way for a re-appointment after his return as an MP for Tsholotsho.
Top Legal Analyst Lovemore Madhuku however had a differing interpretation. Dr Madhuku says:
1. A person appointed as a Minister from outside Parliament in term of section 104(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013 does not vacate his or her office as a Minister upon being elected a Member
of Parliament.
2. A person who is appointed from outside Parliament does not become a Member of Parliament. He or she is only entitled to sit and speak in Parliament, but without a vote: section 104(5) . He or
she has the same status in this regard as a Vice President or an Attorney General.
3. The only circumstances in which the office of a Minister becomes
vacant are specified in section 108.
4. Every Minister, whether appointed from in or outside Parliament, ceases to be a Minister if (i) fired by the President, (ii) he or she resigns or (iii) a new President assumes office.
5. Outside the above three situations, section 108 draws a distinction
between ministers appointed from Parliament and those appointed
from outside Parliament. A Minister appointed from Parliament
automatically vacates office as a Minister if he or she loses his or her seat in Parliament: section 108(2). A Minister appointed from outside Parliament remains a Minister if he or she gains a seat in Parliament because subsection 4 of section 108 does not require such a Minister to vacate office in those circumstances. On the contrary, the principle in the constitution is that such a Minister`s position is strengthened when he or she gains a seat in Parliament.
6. The President is only allowed to appoint a person from outside
Parliament on the basis of that person`s “professional skills and competence”. In other words, the President must only appoint persons from outside Parliament if he/she is of the opinion that there are no such professional skills or competencies in Parliament.
The President is limited to only 5 such Ministers. Thus, if some of the Ministers find seats in Parliament, the spirit of the Constitution is satisfied and the President may either not appoint new Ministers from outside or look for other skills still missing from Parliament to
maintain the quota of 5(for outsiders).
7. There is no new procedure required for a Minister appointed from outside Parliament to continue with his or her duties after gaining a seat in Parliament.
8. Regarding the reports surrounding Minister Jonathan Moyo, if it is true that some advice were given to the President suggesting that he ceased being a Minister upon becoming a Member of Parliament, that advice would certainly be an incorrect reading of the
Constitution.
9. The wrong advice may have stemmed from one or both of two situations. The first situation may be that the advisers thought he became a Member of Parliament upon being appointed a Minister and therefore ceased to be a Minister in terms of section 108(2). As
already indicated, a person appointed to be a Minister from outside Parliament does not become a Member of Parliament.
10. The second situation is that the advisers may have misunderstood
section 108(3) which provides as follows:
“.. a Minister or Deputy Minister who was not a Member of Parliament
on appointment as Minister or Deputy Minister vacates his or her office
as such if circumstances arise that would result in his or her seat becoming vacant were he or she a Member of Parliament.”
This provision refers to some aspects of section 129 such as ceasing to be qualified for registration as a voter, being declared insolvent and being convicted of certain offences. The provision has no application whatsoever to the issue of gaining a seat in
Parliament.
1. There are only two legal ways in which Jonathan Moyo may vacate office as a Minister in the current circumstances. These are (i) being fired by the President and (ii) himself resigning.
PROF LOVEMORE MADHUKU
24 JUNE, 2015

HIV Vaccine Trial Run In Zimbabwe

In the near future Zimbabweans may soon be immunised against HIV transmission if trials for a vaccine to stop the spread of the deadly virus are a success.
The same trials will also be carried out in Zambia and Malawi, as a step by Southern Africa gears up efforts to fight HIV.
Local scientists are already working on the commencement of the vaccine trials.
University of Zimbabwe scientist Dr Lynda Stranix-Chibanda is leading the trials on behalf of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) which is in partnership with UZ and the University of California San Francisco (UZ-UCSF).
Dr Stranix-Chibanda said they were conducting awareness campaigns in communities to ensure that processes involved in research and issues around vaccines are well understood.
After the awareness campaigns, recruitment of trial volunteers would start.
Dr Stranix-Chibanda said although more work still needed to be done at Seke South Clinic, which will be used for the research, they were close to having everything in place for the trials.
The study protocol was undergoing final revisions prior to being submitted for approval to regulatory authorities.
“While this delay may be frustrating, it emphasises the systematic process researchers and regulators follow to protect the safety and rights of participants,” Dr Stranix-Chibanda said.
She said the processes will see the trial beginning between October and December this year instead of the initial proposed dates in August.
“We will not be able to start the trial until the revised protocol has undergone full review and approval by all the regulatory bodies in Zimbabwe,” she said. “This would be the first time Zimbabwe is participating in an HIV vaccine trial.”
The study known as HVTN 107 is expected to recruit participants over a period of six months and follow them up very closely for three years to evaluate the vaccine product’s effect on the immune system and monitor for side effects.
Dr Stranix-Chibanda said it could take some time to conclude if the vaccines prevent new HIV infections.
“A product’s safety must first be verified in small studies before large-scale trials are conducted to see if it actually works to prevent new infections,” she said. “This is quite normal in vaccine research, the polio vaccine took 70 years to develop.”
Dr Stranix-Chibanda said it was important for Zimbabwe and the region to take part in such trials for HIV prevention because of the burden of the disease.
The product earmarked for trial in the three Southern African countries is based on a similar vaccine tested in Thailand a few years ago, whose results showed 60 percent protection in preventing HIV infections among adults in the first year after vaccination.
The product used in Thailand was modified for the HIV strain in Southern Africa.
Only the Thailand study out of six major vaccine studies conducted so far has promised to prevent new HIV infections.
A number of such trials will be conducted across Southern Africa to test different regimens of the virus.
Addressing journalists at a media symposium on HIV vaccines held in Zambia recently, a scientist with the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia Dr Margaret Kasaro said a vaccine was the answer to ending the spread of HIV.
Dr Kasaro said a vaccine that has a 30 percent chance of protecting people from getting HIV when administered to about 20 percent of the people who need protection can save up to six million lives.
Facilitated by AVAC – an organisation involved in simplifying science for the ordinary person, the media symposium was attended by journalists from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.  -State Media

Mliswa:Declare Me Winner of Hurungwe Bi-Election

THEMBA Mliswa has lodged a petition with the Electoral Court seeking to nullify the victory of Zanu-PF legislator Keith Guzah in the Hurungwe West by-election.
He argues that Guzah was not eligible to contest in the by-election because he was not a registered voter in the constituency. Mliswa wants the court to nullify Guzah’s victory and declare him the winner.
Guzah polled 5,961 votes against Mliswa’s 4,239 ballots in the by-election held on June 10.
In a petition filed at the Electoral Court yesterday, Mliswa also claimed that Guzah is an ex-convict.
He cited electoral malpractices as well as intimidation as the basis for his complaint.
“Having familiarised myself with the electoral law, I can safely state that one cannot stand as a parliamentary candidate in a constituency in which he or she is not registered,” stated Mliswa in his affidavit.
He said he would prove at trial of the petition that Guzah was not registered as a voter in any of the wards in Hurungwe West.
To that end, Mliswa claims Guzah stood disqualified from contesting in the constituency.
“The fact that respondent is not a registered voter in Hurungwe West, whether by error, negligence or design, clearly impugns the respondent’s election and the electoral return that declared him the winner,” he said.
“Having considered the legal import of the foregoing, this court (Electoral Court) is thereby enjoined to declare me the winner of the by-election due to my legitimacy.”
Mliswa further contends that Guzah’s previous conviction, coupled with his refusal to appraise electoral authorities of his criminal record, barred him from holding office as a Member of Parliament.
“The fact that the respondent hid the essential information from the electoral authorities substantiates the allegation that the respondent committed electoral fraud,” he said.
“In that case he is disqualified from being a Member of Parliament.”
Mliswa intends to lead evidence that Guzah and his agents engaged in widespread intimidation of the electorate.
“The most sinister of those intimidatory activities was the open deployment of military personnel at schools throughout the constituency, who declared that there would be widespread reprisal should I win the election,” he said.
He also accused Guzah of using traditional leaders’ influence in his political activities ahead of the polls and massive vote buying. Guzah has up to three weeks to respond to the petition.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on Monday attempted to clear the air on the alleged bungling in handling the Hurungwe by-election.
ZEC declared that Guzah, was lawfully and procedurally nominated as a candidate for the Hurungwe West by-election though he failed to cast his ballot in the polls conducted on June 10.
Musindo Hungwe instructed by Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara is acting for Mliswa.

South Africa Kicks Out 800 Zimbabweans

In a bid to bring down the number of illegal immigrants, South Africa is expected to send around 800 Zimbabweans back home today by train.This will be the second batch to be brought home.
An official said that the first group of 796 men arrived in the country via the Beitbridge border post on June 3. The latest arrivals will bring the total number of people who have been deported from South Africa since the beginning of the year 8,750.
It is alleged that these people were picked up for violating South Africa’s immigration laws.
Yesterday Zimbabwe’s Consul General to South Africa, Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro said the documentation of those due for deportation would be completed today( Wednesday).
He went on to say the group would be left at the National Railways of Zimbabwe station adjacent to the government-run reception and support centre which has a carrying capacity of 1,000 people at any given time.
“We expect them to leave Johannesburg on Thursday (tomorrow) and arrive in Zimbabwe the next morning.
“There are over 800 people due for deportation, but we’ll have the exact number by end of day tomorrow (yesterday) upon completion of the documentation processes”.stated Mukonoweshuro.
He said they had agreed in principle with the Home Affairs department that children and women would always be deported in buses.
Mukonoweshuro said the train was introduced as a way to reduce over crowding at the Lindelani Transit Holding Centre by illegal immigrants.
He said the train would only be used in cases where there would be larger numbers of people at the centre.
Mukonoweshuro suggested the need for Zimbabweans travelling to South Africa to always ensure that they have the right needed documents. “Those travelling with children must be aware of the new requirements of long birth certificates and the requisite affidavits, in cases where only one of the parents is travelling with a minor,” he said.  -State Media

Mpofu Fakes $Millions in Allied Bank Purchase Values


Transport Minister Obert Mpofu has been fingered for allegedly faking millions of dollars in purchase values for his collapsed Allied bank.

The major shareholder of the collapsed Allied Bank, Trebo & Khays, overvalued and failed to transfer assets pledged as part of the purchase transaction, the bank’s liquidator said on Wednesday.
Allied Bank, which formerly traded as the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Banking Group (ZABG) was created out of the merger of three troubled banks in 2004 as the central bank sought to contain the contagion from a financial sector crisis.
Trebo & Khays, transport minister Obert Mpofu’s family investment vehicle, owned 95 percent of Allied Bank at the time of its closure earlier this year.
In 2012, Trebo & Khays (Private) Limited purchased the then ZABG for $22,5 million, using real estate and $8,4 million in cash.
As part of the payment, Trebo and Khays would surrender land and buildings valued at $16,7 million and a motor vehicle worth $21,000 but, according to liquidator Cecil Madondo, these were never transferred.
Independent valuators had also placed a significantly lower value on the property, less than $5 million.
“So the value was overstated. Faced with this situation, and based on our preliminary investigation, the said immovable property belongs to the bank and it reflected as assets,” Madondo told creditors on Wednesday.
“The immovable assets subscribed as purchase equity consideration by Trebo and Khays should be brought to the fore as these have a material bearing on the success of this liquidation.”
Madondo said he would also seek to secure title deeds of the properties, carry out valuations before disposing them as well as recover vehicles being held by some managers.
Madondo said the bank’s loans worth $3,5 million were mainly related party transactions, with only $26,000 having been recovered.
The bank is likely to write off close to $500,000 in unsecured debts among others.
“The parties to the transaction of the bank should also be asked to account for funds entrusted to them with the banking public subject to the outcome of our forensic audit investigations and a legal opinion,” Madondo said.
According to the bank liquidator’s interim report, the financial institution collapsed due to, among other factors, negative core capital, illiquid toxic assets, management shortcomings, gross undercapitalization, persistent losses, abuse of depositors’ funds, high volume of non-performing loans and bad corporate governance.
When the High Court approved the bank’s liquidation in February, its assets were recorded at $25, 8 million while liabilities stood at $34,4 million.
Allied Bank Limited was issued with a banking licence in 2005 following the sale of assets of other troubled banks – Royal Bank Zimbabwe Limited, Barbican Limited and Trust Bank – and was wholly owned by Allied Financial Services Limited, a government investment vehicle that was managed by the central bank.
Throughout the five year existence to 2010, ZABG faced legal challenges from the shareholders of Barbican, Trust and Royal Bank who challenged the sale of their banks’ assets to ZABC. ZABG was subsequently unbundled in 2010, following an out of court settlement and the return of assets to the banks.
However, according to the Allied Bank liquidator, the unbundling had a negative effect on the bank as it retained all liabilities amounting to $22,5 million, which left the institution critically undercapitalized with a negative core capital of $7,6 million as at December 31, 2010.
As at 31 March 2012 its core capital stood at negative $9,4 million against a minimum regulatory capital requirements of $12,5 million and needed urgent recapitalization.

South African Police Discover 200 Bombs on Zim Bus

News24|TWO hundred bombs have been found in a bus that had come from Zimbabwe at the Beitbridge border post, the SA Revenue Service (Sars) said on Wednesday.
“Sars officials discovered 200 explosive detonating devices in a bus at the Beitbridge border post on June 23, 2015 [Tuesday],” it said in a statement.
“Just before 22:00 on June 23 [Tuesday], a customs detector dog unit member was conducting a search of a bus which had just entered South Africa from Zimbabwe when he discovered the detonating cords hidden in a bag on the bus.”
The cords were wrapped in clothing at the bottom of the bag, which allegedly belonged to the conductor of the Zimbabwe-registered bus.
“The SAPS explosives unit was called in and the 200 detonating cords were handed over to them. The suspect was arrested and is in the custody of SAPS.
“The cords, which contain explosives, could be used in criminal activities such as the illegal mining industry, blowing up ATMs, etc.”
Sars said it would continue to do everything in its power to ensure prohibited and restricted goods, such as explosives, were prevented from entering or leaving South Africa illegally.

Man Slapped With Prison Sentence for Insulting Chinotimba

A Harare man has been slapped with jail sentence for insulting Búhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba on the Whatsapp network.
Mr Tendai Benjamin Machingauta from Epworth, narrowly escaped prison when he opted for an alternative fine of $100, all for expressing himself on Chinotimba charges which the Buhera legislator told ZimEye.com soon after the trial, cause and incite violence.
The court yesterday upheld that Machingauta insulted Mr Chinotimba by his beard. The exact words used in the Whatsapp chat were “Pfutseki Chinotimba, mandebvu aro.”
Harare Magistrate Vakai Chikwekwe bowed to the prosecutor Sharon Mashavira’s arguments who said that the “insults can lead to inciting violence and, therefore, a short, sharp and effective prison term would be appropriate in these circumstances.”
At the end of trial Chikwekwe ruled that Machingauta’s words were violence centric. The magistrate indicated Machingauta deserved a worse sentence and was only saved because he is a first time offender. “In assessing sentence I took into consideration that the accused showed contrition by admitting to the charge and is married and has two children,”
“Imprisonment is rather harsh to a first offender and I, therefore, fine you $100 or one month in prison,” the magistrate said.
Contacted for comment soon after the trial, Mr Chinotimba told ZimEye.com even after Machingauta’s conviction, he would not forgive the 29 year old man.
“How can I forgive him, it is too late now that he is in cells. If I was to forgive him, it could only have been earlier”, Chinotimba said.
Chinotimba in the exclusive ZimEye.com interview added to his anger sating that Machingauta’s crime was that of forming a Whatsapp group in which he together with some friends started a party in which they added the legislator shortly before hurling insults on him.
“I never applied to be in their party, I am a ZANU PF member,” said Chinotimba.
When grilled over the fairness of the judgement given the fact that Chinotimba himself has insulted others beginning with MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai attacks which have credibly triggered violence over the years, Chinotimba replied saying, “You are now talking about the opposition party, that is something else, we do attack each other in parliament knowing that so and so is which side of politics.”
This man registered me into their party without my consent, Chinotimba hinted to ZimEye.

Mugabe Swindles $11Million ZINARA Cash Meant for Road Repairs


ZIMBABWE’S ROADS which could have all been fixed in less 7 days, are in a desperate state just as President Robert Mugabe’s family administration loots an estimated $11Million siphoned through the dodgy ZINARA parastatal government falsely claims is renovating the roads, attempting a job that can easily be completed by full salaried Transport Ministry staff members.
ZINARA which is headed and single handedly controlled by Mugabe’s cousin, Albert, failed to deduct $7,5 million being 10 percent withholding tax to 23 suppliers that had no tax clearance and proceeded to pay $4,1 million to creditors without authorised payment vouchers, an audit has revealed.
According to the audit, Mugabe’s senior management were paying themselves hefty monthly allowances, including $9 000 holiday allowance per individual outside the payroll, prejudicing the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority of revenue in tax. Zinara is among seven State entities that had adverse reports from Auditor-General Ms Mildred Chiri in her 2014 report that was made available yesterday.
Already Transport Minister Obert Mpofu has resigned from the blame as he told ZimEye.com earlier, “call ZINARA, don’t call me. ZINARA is under a board, why don’t you talk to the board chairman,” he said as he avoided naming Mr Mugabe’s name.
The parastatal collects more than $5,5 million per month from 26 tollgates, owes among its debtors the Development Bank of South Africa ($12,8 million), NMB ($8,5 million), the Department of Roads ($5 million) and Cimas for employees’ medical aid cover.
It also collects around $130 million annually from road access fees, vehicle licensing, transit fees, and fuel levy, among other revenue streams.
The State Media reports that the The Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation paid $3,1 million on corporate social responsibility with no breakdowns, acknowledgement of receipts from beneficiaries and gave non executive directors 2 940 litres per individual with $27 450 holiday allowance each without the parent ministry’s approval.
The Environmental Management Agency board raised its own fees without approval from the parent ministry, while the Health Services Board approved increased fuel allocations for board members without the concurrence of Treasury among other ills noted.
On Zinara, Ms Chiri said the Administration dealt with suppliers that had no valid tax clearance and had paid $75 million to 23 suppliers prejudicing Zimra of $7,5 million in tax.
“I observed that Zinara did not deduct 10 percent withholding tax for payments made to suppliers without valid tax clearance certificates,” she said.
Some of the firms were Infralink ($63,7 million), Twalumba Civils (2,4 million) Group Five Engineering ($200 000), Heritage Agro Equipment ($2,4million) Badon Enterprises ($2,4 million) Fremus Enterprise ($2,2 millon) Applied Wighing Scale ($200 000) Bitumen, Brown Engineering, Forit, Cortman Investments, Gratic Trading, Easthset, Gramaton, Tegasteel among others.
In response, Zinara management told the auditors that tax clearances lapsed after the firms were already contracted leading to the exposure but said efforts to recover the money were on course.
“Infralink has been part of Zinara and was formed only for the purposes of acquiring DBSA loan and repayment thereof. Zimra had two of its commissioners conflicting on Infralink registration for VAT and income taxes. One commissioner registered it and another de-registered it. This brought confusion and the likely exposure,” read the brief response.
On the $4,1 million payment that occurred between 2012 and 2013, Ms Chiri said in terms of Zinara standing instructions for payment to be made, payment voucher and the bank transfer request should be authorised by the relevant signatories.
“I observed that payments amounting to $4 157 937 were made without authorisation since the payment vouchers were not signed by the relevant signatories. The risk is that fraud and errors may not be detected resulting in financial loss to the organisation,” she said.
It was noted that management paid themselves allowances outside the payroll thereby circumventing payment of tax.
The monthly allowances were home telephone ($225), entertainment ($750), home security (24hours) private fuel (750 litres) and holiday allowance ($9 000.)
“Vehicle loans amounting to $140 000 availed to each of the directors were above the authorised $100 000 in the contracts of employment,” she said.
Zinara former chief executive, Mr Frank Chitukutuku unilaterally increased his salary from July to December 2013, said Ms Chri.
The Administration bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee and office furniture for an official in the parent ministry worth $83 000 and $10 230 respectively.
“I also noted that on December 28 2012 the Administration paid for Christmas hampers worth $173 000 to staff at the parent ministry in violation of the Roads Act.
The Administration disbursed funds to local authorities beyond the budgeted allocations as high as 1 503 percent while others received nothing.
For example, the Department of Roads got $14,3 million against an allocation of $3,3 million, Rusape town council got $668 000 against an allocation of $93 000 in 2013 while in 2012 it got $992 000 against an allocation of $124 000.
Kariba urban council did not get anything for in the two years while it had an allocation of $150 000 (2012) and $94 000 (2013).

Cop Basher Madzibaba Fails Prison Release

The jailed Johanne Masowe eChishanu Vapositori sect leader Ishmael Chokurongerwa
has failed to obtain a bail release.
Madzibaba Ishmael’s hopes were dashed when the High Court dismissed it for lack of merit.
Justice Garainesu Mawadza ruled declaring there are no prospects of success on appeal for the cop basher leader.
The court dismissed Chokurongerwa’s application for bail pending appeal ruling that the lower court had properly assessed the credibility of the state witnesses’ evidence and that he found no fault in the judgement of the lower court.
Justice Mawadza said it is not in dispute that public violence occurred at the Budiriro shrine resulting in the assault and subsequent injuries on police officers, journalists and members of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe while what was in dispute was Chokurongerwa’s presence at the shrine.
He said Chokurongerwa in his defence outline failed to set grounds for the truthfulness of his alibi and failed to give all material facts relevant to his defence leaving the court to exercise its discretion.
On the sentence he said the 5-year jail term imposed on Chokurongerwa was commensurate with the seriousness of the offence, considering that people were seriously injured while state equipment was damaged.
He said the interests of due administration of justice and the rights of the appellant were balanced.-State Media

Mugabe Flies Out of Country to A Gig

President Robert Mugabe ignored spending warnings once again on Wednesday flying out of the country for a party.
Mugabe flew away accompanied by a large crowd  headed  for Maputo, Mozambique for that country’s 40th Independence Day commemorations.
The function could have easily been attended by Zimbabwe’s ambassador who together with his large group of diplomats  are all on full government salary.
Mugabe was seen off at the Harare International Airport by his deputy  Emmerson Mnangagwa, Defence Minister Sidney Sekeramayi, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda and service chiefs.
Mozambique will this Thursday mark 40 years of independence from Portuguese rule.
Meanwhile the State Media defended Mugabe’s trip saying the neighbouring country’s history can not be separated from Zimbabwe as the two share not only common borders but a history of struggle against colonialism.

Police Crushed By Vendors in Harare |BREAKING NEWS

Police forces who came in armoured puma vehicles succumbed on Wednesday afternoon as vendors protesting against their removal continued charging into the Central Business District.
A barrier close to parliament was removed by the determined men and women as police retreated upon seeing hoardes of furious Street Merchants flooding into the city centre.
Gun totting cops became motionless upon seeing even disabled vendors pushing them away.
Our member living with disability in the wheel chair delivered her demands and the Deputy Clerk of Parliament received the petition only to sound back that it was the vendors right to deliver the requests without police hindrances. (Woman in spectacles addressing journalists soon after receiving the petition.)
 

The Zimbabwe National Vendors Union leader Stendrick Zvorwadza told ZimEye.com, “the constitution of Zimbabwe provides on section 59 Freedom to demonstrate and petition. ZRP is breaking the law by trying to stop the demonstration.
“I am pretty sure that fighting such a huge gathering is tantamount to simply inviting civil unrest unnecessarily. The right thing for ZRP under these circumstances is to monitor the situation from a distance.
 
“Remember, ZRP is heavily compromised because National Vendors Union Zimbabwe has other Civic Organisations in solidarity. We are also privileged to have a radical human rights organisation, ROHR Zimbabwe, with us on this demonstration.”
The vendors whose number exceeds 6 million unemployed people across the country, are taking the petition to Parliament this afternoon requesting a reversal of government action to remove them from the Central Business District.

Govt Owes Diplomats $40Million Salaries

Government owes diplomats at the country’s foreign missions, more than $40million in salaries.
This was revealed yesterday in parliament as non-constituency Member of Parliament Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, who sits on a parliamentary committee on foreign affairs said Treasury should cut travel costs and prioritise the welfare of ambassadors and embassy staff in foreign countries who have gone for months without receiving salaries.
Although Finance ministry secretary Willard Manungo, claimed that government owes over $10 million arrears for at least 43 diplomatic missions, the figure was revealed to far much higher.
“We have 43 foreign missions and we are not able to pay their salaries on time as we are doing with other civil servants,
“We are now proposing that we transfer their salaries to Salary Service Bureau through which we pay all the other civil servants rather than putting it through the ministry of Foreign Affairs.” Manungo claimed.
But in a separate hearing it was revealed as of March this year, staff at Zimbabwe’s foreign missions had not been paid for eight months and were owed $40 million in salary arrears. Foreign affairs secretary, Joey Bimha said then they have not received a salary increase in over 10 years as government struggles with budgetary constraints.
“You cannot have all your 100-plus directors travelling business class, if you look at your air travel expenses given the number of delegations you take to (foreign) summits, it is unsustainable,” said Misihairabwi-Mushonga, a former minister of regional integration and international co-operation in Zimbabwe’s unity government between 2009-13.
“How is it that a nation that is so poorly resourced can still behave in such a manner like there is so much money in the country yet we are facing a crisis?”…ALSO READ – Parliament Orders ‘High Flying’ Got Officials to Travel Economy Class

HWPL ceremony for delivering Donation of Nepal Earthquake

Donation worth approximately $40,000 raised during the 2nd Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace internally and externally will be officially delivered to Nepal through the Embassy of Nepal to Republic of Korea

Message from international members of HWPL toward Nepal in distress: Love, Hope and Peace

 

 On June 22nd, at the Peace Palace in Goseong, Gangwon Province, Korea, delivery ceremony of <Donation of Korean headquarter of HWPL the 2nd Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace on May 25th>. The donation was raised during the 2nd Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL). 19,313 international members of HWPL donated about $ 40,000 which will be officially delivered to Nepal through the Embassy of Nepal to Korea.

During the event, Chairman Lee of HWPL, feeling for the situation in Nepal delivered the donation to KAMAN SINGH LAMA, Embassy of Nepal to Korea with a warm message wishing restoration and relief of the nation. Ambassador KAMAN SINGH LAMA expressed his gratitude toward Chairman Lee and his relief activities for Nepal as well as to the members of HWPL for their endless attention and efforts to bring forth peace with all hearts.
The ‘2nd Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace 2015’ and ‘International Peace Youth Group Walk Festival’ was a grand event that took place in 30 countries worldwide, participated by 200,000 youths and women through 43 branches including United States, Sweden, Bulgaria, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, etc. and 21 major cities in Korea.
On the day, all of the participants prayed for victims of Nepal Earthquake and a donation booth titled “The Path of Bringing Cheer to Nepal” was opened. Photo exhibition for sharing current situation of the victims, writing a message of hope, fund-raising indicated the ideology of HWPL that is to break the wall of boundaries, religions, societies and races and embrace love as one family. Not only in Republic of Korea but also in Australia, New York, Netherland and San Francisco donation booths for Nepal were promoted.

Nepal and HWPL has another event that made special bond between them. On April 11th, “World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Office was held in Kathmandu, Nepal and about 150 participants from various religious backgrounds including Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism promised to work with HWPL. WARP Offices is evaluated as a progressive gathering to seek for a solution to world peace, a common goal of human beings by comparing scriptures of different faiths. The meetings have been actively arising around the world in 62 places in 40 countries including Russia, England, India, United States of America, South Africa and the Philippines.
Chairman Lee of HWPL, Chairwoman of IWPG and the peace delegates visited Philippines on May 23rd as a part of their 18th World Peace Tour. The two representatives spurred to achieve World Peace by dedicating every minute of their time for promoting peace activities such as the 2nd Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace, Unveiling ceremony of Mindanao Peace Agreement Monument, Peace Dialogue with political leaders, and World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (“WARP”) Office meeting with Filipino religious leaders.
Besides, designating ‘HWPL’ day in the state of Mindanao to commemorate the signing of Mindanao peace agreement to cease the conflict and delivering congratulatory speeches on HWPL’s work by the governor, representative of Moro-Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) highlighted two representatives’ dedications in taking practical approaches to establish World Peace.
HWPL expressed to seek for solution to give continuous assistance and earliest recovery and reconstruction of Nepal’s earthquakes on two occasions in 81 years which brought loss of life and homes.

Zimbabwe Industry Calls for Ban on 2nd Hand Clothing Imports

Zimbabwe’s manufacturing firms want government to consider banning the import of second hand clothes as part of reforms to protect the local industry, Parliament heard on Tuesday.

Used clothes have flooded the domestic market, compounding the woes of a local textile industry on the verge of collapse. Industry experts say Zimbabwe has a market for 80 million garments but only 20 million of those are locally manufactured. Almost 90 percent of imported new clothes are exempt from duty because of regional trade agreements, analysts noted.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) national council member Jeremy Youmans told a parliamentary portfolio committee on industry and commerce that industry requires access to long-term capital, as well as clarity on the indigenization and empowerment law among other measures to compete on the same terms with foreign companies that have established a foothold in the country.
“Second hand clothing in South Africa is banned, if they catch (anyone selling) they will burn it. Maybe that is something we need to consider,” Youmans said.
“As a clothing industry certainly, we have always said we don’t want to stop it because that clothing is being donated to some people who cannot buy clothes themselves. The problem is that they are not going to those people, they are going into our markets and somebody is buying those clothes, it’s a very difficult situation.”
He added that the revival of the cotton industry would be key in boosting capacity of the country’s textile industry.
CZI vice-president Sifelani Jabangwe said Zimbabwe should improve on its business climate to become competitive by doing away with bureaucracy which drives the cost of doing business.
“One of the challenges is that in order to comply with being formally registered, we have to be registered with a number of bodies depending with the nature of the business and they charge licence fees,” he said.
“When you add up these costs, individually they seem to be so low but when you add them up just to be formally operational it is actually a significant cost to the extent that this causing other businesses to close down.”

Bloody Gunshot: Businessman Killed In Kwekwe

MIDLANDS police have launched an investigation after a Kwekwe gold miller was shot dead on the outskirts of the gold mining city on Sunday night.
Witnesses said a three-man gang shot Handson Moyo at around 11PM at his Dark-Horse gold mill in Marshville. The robbers made off with 350kg of carbons containing gold concentrate.
Moyo and his employees were at the carbon house where he was storing semi-processed gold preparing to transport it to Fidelity Printers when the robbers struck.
Dark-Horse Administrator, Tafadzwa Dzapasi, said when he got to the carbon house together with Moyo, the three men emerged from the dark and produced a pistol. They ordered them to lie down while they ferried the bags containing carbons to their getaway car. Dzapasi said Moyo was tied onto a pillar while the other two employees were ordered to undress as the robbers looted the semi-processed gold.
Moyo, said Dzapasi, managed to untie his hands and tried to wrest a pistol from one of the robbers. The robber fired a shot aimed at Moyo’s head and he died on the spot.
Dzapasi said the robbers went and robbed other employees who were working at the mill and stole gold ore.
Midlands Provincial Mining Director Engineer Tapererwa Paskwavaviri said cases of gold robbery were now rampant at mines and mills around the province.
“There’re several other cases that we’ve received of armed robbers who’re on a robbing spree, targeting small scale gold mines and mills,” said Paskwavaviri.

Parliament Orders ‘High Flying’ Got Officials to Travel Economy Class


Government officials travelling on business should fly economy class in order to limit expenses as the country is struggling to pay the salaries of diplomats on foreign missions, Treasury was told on Tuesday.
As of March this year, staff at Zimbabwe’s foreign missions had not been paid for eight months and were owed $40 million in salary arrears. Foreign affairs secretary, Joey Bimha said then they have not received a salary increase in over 10 years as government struggles with budgetary constraints.
Non-constituency Member of Parliament Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, who sits on a parliamentary committee on foreign affairs said Treasury should cut travel costs and prioritise the welfare of ambassadors and embassy staff in foreign countries who have gone for months without receiving salaries.
“You cannot have all your 100-plus directors travelling business class, if you look at your air travel expenses given the number of delegations you take to (foreign) summits, it is unsustainable,” said Misihairabwi-Mushonga, a former minister of regional integration and international co-operation in Zimbabwe’s unity government between 2009-13.
“How is it that a nation that is so poorly resourced can still behave in such a manner like there is so much money in the country yet we are facing a crisis?”
In response, finance secretary Willard Manungo said government was instituting measures to review expenses incurred in foreign travels.
Zimbabwe has diplomatic missions in 43 countries.
President Robert Mugabe has come under spotlight for his travels, which have seen him rake up air miles on visits to no less than 15 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia this year.

Mnangagwa Humiliated By Nigerian Journalist, Exposed as “A Liar”

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been humiliated by the Nigerian Journalist who grilled President Robert Mugabe on his exit date.
Mnangagwa was labelled a liar and a deceiver after he claimed without any evidence that Nigerian journo andSahara News scribe, Adeola Fayehun had apologised for her ‘unbecoming behaviour’ on Mugabe.
The TV presenter of the Keeping It Real, Fayehun, writes dressing down Mnangagwa on his claims questioning how Mnangagwa, Mugabe heir apparent thinks he can run the country when he cannot tell the simple truth.
“I don’t think I have laughed that much when a Zimbabwe website said I had apologised to Mugabe, they took my sarcasm and twisted it for their own interest,” she said in her latest show,” she said
She continued, “the most interesting article that I read this past week was the one where the Zimbabwean Vice-President said that they received an apology letter from me. So now the Vice-President is also a liar. How do you run a country like that?
“I mean you basically lied; I didn’t write any letter, bring it on.
“Anyway, for the record I did not write an apology letter for asking Mr Mugabe when he will step down.”
Mnangagwa claimed to Parliament while responding to a question from Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena, that the journalist had apologised. His claims where also published in the State Medi broadsheet The Herald, but there was no single recorded or written evidence to support it.
“I am aware that the journalist has written to her government apologising for her behaviour and the embarrassment she caused her country,” said Mnangagwa.

Vendors Mass Action In Harare as Govt Faces Fire Over Evictions


Zimbabwe’s vendors are charging on government this morning over the eviction from the Central Business District.
In a mass protest the first of its kind set to cause shockwaves across Harare the street merchants are enflaming at Parliament house.
National vendors union of Zimbabwe chairperson, Sten Zvorwadza told ZimEye.com, “We are marching from Parkade to Parliament to deliver a petition to prevent the government from evicting vendors from CBDs across the country.
“Civic Society Organisations are also attending the march as partners. ROHR( (Restoration of Human Rights) Zimbabwe will be a key partner. There will be heavy riot police presence in Harare today.”
The move comes at a time when the vendors also filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court to bar police from disturbing their planned march aimed at seeking suspension of their removal from the streets on Friday.
Government gave notice that all illegal vendors will be evicted from the streets on Friday.
But the vendors’ body, National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe is opposed to the removal and they seek to petition Parliament to suspend the decision to evict them.
To that end, the NVUZ wants to hold a march today in Harare where they will petition the Parliament of Zimbabwe to defer the eviction pencilled for Friday.
In the urgent application filed yesterday by Maunga, Maanda and Associates, Officer Commanding Police in Harare Central District, Police Commissioner General and Home Affairs Minister were listed as respondents.
The lawyers filed the papers after their clients had been barred by the police from holding the march.
In an affidavit, NVUZ national director Mr Samuel Wadzanai said the union wanted Parliament to intervene and ensure the postponement of the eviction to allow the illegal vendors to properly register and be allocated vending sites.
“Applicant is aware that Parliament has an oversight role over the acts of the executive or any other authority.
“It is in this light that applicant intends to petition Parliament seeking it to intervene by seeking to postpone the impending removal of the applicant’s members from the streets.
“The petition the applicant intends to hand over to Parliament is to seek its attention in order for it to suspend applicant’s members’ eviction for some time to enable certain measures to be put in place,” said Mr Wadzanai.
Mr Wadzanai said the police threatened to stop the march if the vendors persisted.(State Media/ZimEye)

Landmark Inheritance Court Victory For Kids Born Out Of Wedlock

THE High Court yesterday ruled that children born in and out of wedlock now have the same right to their parents’ estate and property should be shared equally without discrimination.
In a landmark inheritance judgment, Justice Hlekani Mwayera, outlawed the practice of discriminating against children born out of wedlock in inheritance matters, saying it was in violation of the Constitution.
The judge made the ruling in a case in which a Harare widow Ms Elsie Bhila, was trying to bar her late husband’s three children (born out of wedlock) from benefiting from their father’s estate.
Justice Mwayera frowned at the outdated and unconstitutional belief of viewing children born out of wedlock as “bastards”, “devils” and “illegitimate”.
Harare lawyer Mr Caleb Mucheche of Matsikidze and Mucheche Legal Practitioners, represented the three children in the matter, while Mambosasa Legal Practice acted for Ms Bhila.
Justice Mwayera’s judgment was based on Section 56 (3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which reads:
“Every person has the right not to be treated in an unfairly discriminatory manner on such grounds as their nationality, colour, tribe, place of birth, ethnic or social origin, language, class, religious belief, political affiliation, opinion, custom, culture, sex, gender, marital status, age, pregnancy, disability, or economic or social status or whether they were born in or out of wedlock.”
The judge said the common law position of excluding children born out of wedlock in inheritance matters was discriminatory and in breach of the Constitution.
“The common law position of excluding children born out of wedlock violated the constitutional rights to protection of the law and freedom from discrimination.
“These rights have always been in the Zimbabwean Constitution, the old Act 1979 and have been more pronounced by the wording in the new Act, the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013.
“A reading of this section (56 (3) of the Constitution) clearly outlaws discrimination on the basis of being born out of wedlock. “The third to fifth respondents (three children) have a right to equality and non-discrimination,” said Justice Mwayera.
However, the judge said the surviving spouse was entitled to inheriting the matrimonial home that the couple used to stay at the time of death.
The other properties, according to the judge, fell under the free residue of the estate that should be shared among all the beneficiaries.
“The surviving spouse is entitled to the matrimonial house plus goods and effects and in case of a civilly married spouse, he or she is entitled to a share in the joint estate and further share in free residue while descendants, parents, brothers or sisters are also entitled to a share in the free residue . . . ”
Mr Hillary Hoyini Komati Bhila, who was married to Ms Bhila died in 1999.
The estate was registered with the office of the Master of High Court.
Ms Bhila, being the surviving spouse, was appointed executor but an independent executor later replaced her upon discovery of the existence of the three other children.
The estate had two houses, one in Borrowdale and the other one in Houghton Park among other properties.
Ms Bhila was awarded the matrimonial home House Number 1247 Mukuvisi Road in Houghton Park and the Borrowdale house together with other property were treated as free residue to be shared among the other beneficiaries.
Irked by the decision, Ms Bhila approached the High Court arguing that she worked hard to acquire all the property although it was registered in her late husband’s name.
Ms Bhila argued that the three children born out of wedlock were not entitled to the free residue.
That resulted in the matter spilling into the High Court for determination.

Nigerian Exposed Mugabe’s Nakedness Mutasa Dishes All Out

tough talk...Wilbert Mukori
tough talk…Wilbert Mukori

“There is no democracy in Zimbabwe!” shouted the Sahara TV Journalist, Adeola Fayehun, at Mugabe, in her melodic Igbo accent!
Mugabe was in Nigeria to attend the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari following elections that everyone agreed were free, fair and credible. Ms Fayehun reminded Mugabe of Zimbabwe’s 35 year history of intimidation, violent, murders and rigged elections under his rule!
What made Ms Fayehun’s mocking of Mugabe’s poignant is that she dared say out loud what we all knew but did not dare even whisper in their privacy of our own homes, for fear the walls have ears! She is the boy who shouted “The Emperor has no clothes!” in The Naked Emperor fairy.
Didymus Mutasa has dropped a bomb shell by giving details of how Mugabe had rigged the 2008 and 2013 elections; a detailed account of the naked Emperor’s shrivelled and sunken in buttocks!
Mutasa told the South African Sunday Independent newspaper that Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in the 2008 elections. Zanu PF was “shocked by the result”, he said and he, as security minister at the time, had rushed to protect President Robert Mugabe at the State House.
“I was terrified, I had to go and protect the president from harm as we were frightened Tsvangirai would do what he said he would do and march to State House. If he had, no policeman would have stopped him,” said Mutasa.
According to the Sunday Independent, Mutasa blamed Tsvangirai for fleeing to Botswana in the aftermath of the polls. “Instead,” Mutasa said, “Tsvangirai went to Botswana.”
Yes going to Botswana was a blunder but that was not the only blunder Tsvangirai made in those critical days following the March 2008 elections. After three days with only a tiny fraction of the elections results declared; people like Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke for many people when expressed his concern at the inordinate time Mugabe and Zanu PF were taking to announce the election results. Tsvangirai issue a rebuff statement saying the delay was not important. In the end it took five weeks to announce the results.
Now it is clear Mugabe had used the five weeks “cook” the results to the 46% that was announced, short of the 50% plus 1 needed to avoid a run-off. Mugabe had also used the five weeks to come up with a fool proof plan to ensure he will won the run-off elections and to muster the mojo to carry out the plan.
Mugabe has often boasted that he has “degrees in violence” but the wanton violence the nation was subjected to during the 2008 presidential run-off was the worst the world has even seen. Even someone with degrees in violence need time-off to fortify himself for what he was about to do.
Didymus Mutasa was not done yet with his description of the naked Emperor; he gave the SA paper a detailed account of the Emperor’s manhood, a defrosted shrimp!
“I don’t know how much cheating there was in elections, but I do know that in 2013 (finance minister) Patrick Chinamasa cheated to win. He bussed people in (to vote for him.) I protested to him and to the Zimbabwe Election Commission,” Mutasa continued.
“We will never know how many people voted for Zanu-PF out of fear. I didn’t know there was fear in those days. I now see it myself. And there is a lot of fear.”
The people bussed in to vote for Zanu PF parliamentary candidate, Chinamasa; did not vote for him alone but would have voted for the party’s presidential candidate, Mugabe, too. There were reports of people being bussed in to vote up and down the country in the July 2013 election; many people saw the hooded youths bussed in to vote in Harare.
Zanu PF, with the help of the Israeli firm Nikuv, had inflated the number of people eligible to vote to six million. For a country with 12 million people it is impossible that 50% of them will be over 18 years of age!
Zanu PF has stubbornly refused to release the voters roll although the regime is required to do so, at least a month before the election, by law. The voters roll was the smoking gun in the vote rigging and no wonder Mugabe refused to this day to release it!
“He is so old!” Ms Fayehun remarked. At the rape old age of 91 years Mugabe is old and should be the fountain of wisdom; he should have known he would not get away with rigging elections; he would make a complete ass of himself striking out naked with his shrivelled and sunken buttocks!
Rigging elections is a very serious crime, it is treason. If the people cannot have a meaningful say in the governance of the country through peaceful meaning, the vote, they may well resort to violence as the only other way left for them.
Rigging elections are the clear signs of political oppression and always result economic paralysis. Resorting to violence to end the political oppression is costly; like all violent changes they are destructive and the end result may take you from the frying pan into the fire. It is most desirous therefore that the nation must have free, fair and credible elections and to ensure the nation is never forced to use violence to bring about change, punish those who rig elections.
Now that the whole world knows Mugabe rigged the 2013 elections just as he rigged the 2008 and all the other past elections, he must know that he is illegitimate, he is a naked Emperor; how long can he pretend that he is clothed?
“Where is President Jacob Zuma?” asked Adeola Fayehun. Turning away from Mugabe as if to say he was a pathetic waste of space. Well, he is apathetic waste of space alright!

12-year-old Girls are Kids not Wives, Parly Tells Tomana

Debate in the National Assembly opened yesterday with harsh criticism of Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana over his remarks that 12-year-old girls can consent to sex.
Legislators also want the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act to be repealed.
The legislators diverted the debate, which was on the report on public consultations recently carried out in several cities around the country on the gender commission, to direct attacks on Prosecutor General Tomana.
For Ms Thabita Khumalo, Nyasha Chikwinya and Beatrice Nyamupinga (Chairperson of Gender Parliamentary Portfolio Committee), the matter is simple, a 12-year-old is not a woman but a child.
While Prosecutor General Tomana is in the eye of the storm, Section 70(3) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act states that ‘defence under a charge of engaging in sex with a minor can be derived if there is reasonable grounds to prove to a court of law that the perpetrator had enough reason to believe that the young person concerned was over the age of 14 years at the time of committing the crime.’ 
The argument in the court of public opinion which saw Prosecutor General Tomana’s utterances courting the ire of Parliament is that while the he was interpreting the law, he went on to express his personal opinion. 
With the constitution now clear that the age of sexual consent is 18, there is consensus the statute is not only outdated but morally wrong.

Mliswa Sues ZEC Over Guzah Victory

Temba Mliswa, who contested as an independent candidate and lost in the Hurungwe West by-election, is today expected to approach the Electoral Court challenging the victory of Zanu-PF lawmaker Keith Guzah.
Guzah polled 5 961 votes against Mliswa’s 4 239 in a hotly contested by-election on June 10.Mliswa’s lawyer Mr Msindo Hungwe of Kadzere, Hungwe and Mandevere Legal Practitioners told The Herald yesterday that they were ready to challenge Guzah’s victory in court.
“We believe that our legal argument is unassailable,” said Mr Hungwe. He said they have finished drafting papers and were ready to go to the Electoral Court.
“We are filing our petition first thing in the morning tomorrow (today),” he said.
“For the finer details of what is contained in the petition, the world has to wait for the filed copy.”
Sources close to the matter said Mliswa’s lawyers have instructed a top lawyer Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara to argue the petition.
The move to challenge Guzah’s victory comes after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Monday cleared the air on the alleged bungling in handling the Hurungwe West by-election.
ZEC declared that Guzah was lawfully and procedurally nominated as a candidate for the Hurungwe West by-election, although he failed to cast his ballot in the polls.
It emerged that Guzah did not vote because his name was not yet appearing on the Hurungwe West Constituency voters’ roll after he transferred his voting registration from Magunje Constituency.
ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said notwithstanding that he had transferred his registration as a voter to Hurungwe West, Guzah’s name was not electronically updated on the voters’ roll for that constituency because of a transposition of the block numbers relating to his old and new registrations.
“His old block number was captured as his new block number and the transfer was therefore not effected on the computer,” said Justice Makarau.
In line with ZEC’s policy to avoid counterfeit slips, Guzah was denied the right to vote in the by-elections.
Justice Makarau challenged anyone with evidence that Guzah voted to approach the electoral body for further investigations.
Reports in sections of the private media claimed that the electoral body accepted Guzah’s nomination papers without verifying.
However, Justice Makarau said the Zanu-PF candidate’s nomination was qualified based on his transfer whose V3 form was there for inspection by anyone.

Jonathan Moyo Axed From Government | BREAKING NEWS

Information and Media Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has been axed from his influential role as cabinet minister.
In a development that has left not only cabinet but the entire Politburo shivering, Moyo was told to pack his bags and go home following a cabinet meeting Tuesday afternoon, ZimEye.com can reveal.
Moyo was shown the door from the cabinet shortly after his protest against Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana. The mouthy Minister publicly humiliated Tomana over comments he made on the age of consent in which Tomana said girls 12 years old could have sexual relations.
Moyo dressed down Tomana not only on social network website Twitter, but also through the powerful State Media the Herald and the Chronicle.
Contacted for comment, sources close to the Minister maintained that the development is likely to be reversed Wednesday after Moyo had presented his appeal.
Many in the Chipfukuto group that supports Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to the Presidium, also continued claiming Moyo was the Faceless Facebook character Baba Jukwa, despite an investigation that excused him from the allegations.
But the cause for Moyo’s suspension or being fired could be off tune because Moyo had a valid cause to comment on children’s rights.
Speaking on the 12 year consent issue, another commentator wrote,
“People should not speak in tongues when they want to state the obvious. It’s such a disappointment when subject matter experts cry foul over the obvious. The public takes what it’s given. It doesn’t concern itself on what the letter of the law states. By the end of it all, it’s your words versus public opinion. The PG was not talking to lawyers. He was talking to lay persons. They take it the way it’s given.”
More to follow…

Disclose Mugabe’s Spending Figures, US Urges

The US State Department has said Zimbabwe must make public President Robert Mugabe’s office budget as a step towards improving fiscal transparency.
This comes after the Comptroller and Auditor-General Mildred Chiri revealed that the President’s Office failed to produce documents for auditing purposes such as invoices, receipts and goods received to support payments.
“Zimbabwe’s fiscal transparency would be improved by detailing revenues and expenditures including allocations to the office of the President and Cabinet, and revenues from state-owned enterprises and natural resources; and making supreme audit institution reports publicly available within a reasonable period of time,” the US State Department’s 2015 Fiscal Transparency Report says.
The report said the budget is publicly available but does not clearly detail the large allocation to the office of the president and Cabinet.
Chiri’s latest report on the 2011 budget appropriations tabled in Parliament said Mugabe’s office paid for assets valued at about $500 000 without attaching invoices to validate the payments.
“The supreme audit institution audits the budget but its reports are not publicly available within a reasonable period of time,” the US State Department report said.
George Charamba, the presidential affairs spokesperson, could not be immediately reached for comment yesterday.
Annual reviews of the fiscal transparency of governments that receive US assistance help ensure taxpayers’ money is used appropriately and provides opportunities to dialogue with governments on the importance of fiscal transparency.
The US has provided over $2,6 billion in development assistance to Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, according to Shannon Smith, deputy assistant secretary for the bureau of African affairs.
“Zimbabwe’s fiscal transparency would also be improved by establishing laws and regulations governing natural resource extraction contracts and licensing, following the law in practice, and making basic information about such awards and contracts publicly available,” the US report said.
Fiscal transparency is a critical element of effective public financial management, helps in building market confidence, and underpins economic sustainability, as well as fostering government accountability. Daily News

Tsvangirai : Mugabe Begged For Mercy In 2008

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday revealed how a desperate Zanu PF had dispatched its leading lights to him, allegedly including former State Security minister Nicholas Goche, to try and broker a deal that would save the party’s and President Robert Mugabe’s bacon after they had lost the March 2008 elections.
Amplifying the stunning revelations at the weekend by former Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa that Zanu PF bigwigs had been left numbed by that surprising loss, the former prime minister’s spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, said Zanu PF had initially conceded defeat but soon changed its position and went on to use thuggish methods to remain in power.
Speaking to the Daily News from Tsvangirai’s Highlands home where he said he had gone to get more details and “the true story” about the 2008 events from his boss, Tamborinyoka however, disputed Mutasa’s assertion that the opposition leader had contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by running away from the country after winning the polls instead of seizing power at the time.
He said Tsvangirai had only left the country for Botswana at the time because his life was indisputably in danger at the time, in addition to also using the opportunity to drum up much-needed regional and continental support.
“You should know, for example, that Goche held a meeting with (former MDC deputy treasurer-general Elton) Mangoma and conceded defeat. Goche asked that we accommodate Zanu PF in the new government. After initially conceding defeat, they then went on to hold their own politburo meeting where they reversed that decision and said they would now go for a presidential run-off.
“Mind you, in the March 14 Sadc meeting before the delayed election results came out (former South African President Thabo) Mbeki spoke about the possibility of a run-off and when we look in retrospect we can now conclude that a plan was already underway to subvert the will of the people,” Tamborinyoka said.
Goche, who has since been brutally purged from both the post-congress Zanu PF formation and the government — on untested claims that he, former Vice President Joice Mujuru and other party bigwigs were plotting to oust and kill Mugabe — was once one of the nonagenarian’s most trusted lieutenants.
It was in that light that he was subsequently appointed one of Zanu PF’s negotiators in the Global Political Agreement (GPA) talks that ultimately led to the formation of a stabilising government of national unity.
Although the MDC and Tsvangirai won the 2008 elections, authorities later said, after weeks of suspicious prevaricating on the election outcome, that he had failed to garner enough votes to win the presidential poll outright — which they claimed necessitated the holding of a run-off that was characterised by serious violence and the murder of hundreds of opposition supporters.
“Tsvangirai went out to engage the region and he didn’t flee as alleged by some. He went to engage the region and the region did intervene if you check the record,” Tamborinyoka said yesterday, going on to urge Mutasa to “reveal all and stop hiding under the alleged oath of secrecy”.
“It is really amazing that Mutasa is finally coming out and stating what took place. But we want to know everything. He should tell the nation who withheld the results, who killed innocent Zimbabweans and who subverted the will of the people. He should tell all,” Tamborinyoka said.
“While we appreciate that he has finally seen the light, he must stop hiding behind the oath of secrecy and reveal all about the murders, abductions and violence,” he added. Tamborinyoka said Mutasa’s weekend remarks fully justified why his party had resolved to boycott elections until critically-needed electoral reforms were implemented.
“What Mutasa said vindicates our stance that no reforms, no elections. As long as there are no reforms, the will of the people will always be subverted. So we say no reforms, no elections and we are not going back on that,” he said.
Mutasa, a former close Mugabe confidante revealed for the first time at the weekend that he and other Zanu PF officials were shocked out of their pants after Tsvangirai and the MDC won the 2008 elections — to the extent that he had rushed to Harare from Rusape to try and protect Mugabe at his official residence.
Now out in the cold after being axed from the ruling party for siding with Mujuru, Mutasa said: “I immediately drove, at speed and alone, from my home in Rusape, to State House in Harare.
“I was terrified, I had to go and protect the president from harm as we were frightened Tsvangirai would do what he said he would do and march to State House. If he had, no policeman would have stopped him. Instead,” Mutasa laughed, “Tsvangirai went to Botswana.”
In those elections, Mutasa was the only Zanu PF senior official who retained his parliamentary seat, while Tsvangirai easily beat Mugabe in the first round of the presidential poll before pulling out of the second round because hundreds of his supporters had been killed.
“I don’t know how much cheating there was in elections, but I do know that in 2013 (Finance minister) Patrick Chinamasa cheated to win. He bussed people in (to vote for him.) I protested to him and to the Zimbabwe Election Commission.
“We will never know how many people voted for Zanu PF out of fear. I didn’t know there was fear in those days. I now see it myself. And there is a lot of fear. And I must say, again, I am very, very sorry. That I must stand up to be counted.”
Mutasa also said that he regularly chaired the informal but powerful Joint Operations Command, a structure of top security personnel that meets once a week.
“We discussed many things, such as violence. How to stop it. If food was short we talked about how to find it, usually from South Africa. The joint command did produce top-secret documents every week.
“Secrecy still binds me, from when I was minister. But of course, you know that some waiters in hotels work for the CIO. Your phones are listened to a lot. The CIO is huge.
“It produces many reports. From the UN, there will regularly be a report. A report about the British. Or India. Not very good reports really. I had to read them. They made me tired.”
“I do now know that Zanu PF did violence. And cheated in elections. But both sides did violence, I accept it was mostly Zanu PF violence. I am very sorry about that,” Mutasa said.-Daily News

EXPOSED: “Sex Beast” Chombo Is Pokello’s Father

Local government and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo is socialite Pokello Nare’s father.
Since the day ZimEye.com released the expose in 2013, it is now official that Pokello is daughter of the controversial minister. Chombo appeared as Pokello’s father at her wedding with her Ghananian Elikem last week.

It is claimed that Pokello, now nicknamed Pornello’s immoral behaviour witnessed on live international television, is a result of her upbringing caused by poor parenting.
 
A source said,  “you want to know more about this girl? She is indeed Chombo’s daughter and in the eighties all through the nineties he was constantly together with them – Pokello’s mom in Harare. I saw them myself, call him now and see if he will deny it. Just take a look at her, you can see Chombo painted on her face. Mhanza iyo ndeya Chombo- That forehead is Chombo’s,” the source who requested anonymity said.
He added that there was a decision to never use the Chombo surname.
“There was obviously an agreement to use the surname Nare and that she never uses Chombo as the minister feared that would ruin his career,” he said.
Chombo labelled a Sex Beast, has presided over an unpopular era of local government administration which has seen many mayors belonging to non-ZANU PF parties being removed by him only to be reinstated when discovered that Chombo was the one in breach.

ZRP Cops Are Street Vendors | INVESTIGATION


In a revelation that has left many Zimbabweans shocked, more than 45% of the illegal vendors in Bulawayo and Harare are Zimbabwe Republic Police officers’ wives just as many cops are themselves also street merchants.
According to vendors’ representatives, the wives who are mostly selling meat and fish do not face the wrath of their husbands, and what they sell would have been confiscated from the civilian vendors.
“We have been victims of Police and municipal security, as they do not arrest vendors from Ross Camp, which house police and their spouses. On several occasions, we have been arrested by municipal police and our goods ending up in the hands of their spouses reselling them on the streets, much to our pain,” said Sikhola Bhebhe a Lobengula street vendor.
Another Bulawayo’s Fife street vendor also told the mayor during the meeting that, it was the duty of the city fathers to treat their ratepayers equally, without segregation. “I am not happy with the way municipal police and the ZRP handle our issues. They only arrest us, leaving their wives to feast on our wares. One day we will poison our wares and let them eat as they are also using evil tactics,” said a visibly dejected Sitshengisiwe.
The vendors and informal traders’ chairperson and president, Edward manning, confirmed that police wives constitute the said percentage. “That is true that police wives and their relatives sell meat at Lobengula Street and also in the surrounding streets. They are the highest number of illegal vendors, as they are not affected by police raids and municipal security. We are appealing to the responsible authorities to take action equally not selectively as is the case at present,” said Manning.
Asked to comment, the Bulawayo Mayor told ZimEye.com that he was not sure of the number of police spouses and that he was currently busy trying to find solutions before the 26th June deadline.
“I am currently concerned with the way forward on how to solve our deadline issue with vendors, who are our ratepayers. Our colleagues in the council will look into that accusation, as this was said by a number of vendors’ representatives,” said Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo.

Zimbabwe Has The Weakest Army In Africa – STUDY

16. Zimbabwe – Power Index: 3.0955

Zimbabwe has the weakest army in Africa(on a large batch of 16 nations), a study has concluded. The African Leadership study ranks Zimbabwe number 16 with a Power Index of 3.0955. This means countries whose freedoms were purchased with this country’s cold blood such as the DRC and South Sudan are now by far superseding Zimbabwe’s might.
Since the disastrous farm invasions which began in 2000, the national army has been rocked by massive resignations that have left an entire new generation of born free soldiers (pictured) as older officers head into the diaspora for greener pastures.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) include the Zimbabwe National Army and the Air Force of Zimbabwe.
“Being a landlocked country, they lack a naval force. The country also holds a strong paramilitary force with its own air wing. ZDF includes 30,000 active personnel, 20,000 reserves, 325 armoured fighting vehicles, and 92 aircraft,” the study states.
 
 

15. Ghana – Power Index: 2.9726

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) are supervised by the Ghanaian Ministry of Defense, and are under the command of President John Dramani Mahama. The GAF’s external operations since the 1960s have seen involvement in turbulent international situations including the Rwandan genocide, the Iran-Iraq war, and the Lebanese Civil War. Active front line personnel number 13,500, armored fighting vehicles for the land forces number 125, and the GAF has 24 aircraft, and 23 naval vessels.
 


en.wikipedia.org

14. South Sudan – Power Index: 2.7689

Founded as a guerrilla movement in 1983, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) played a large and violent role in the disastrous Second Sudanese Civil War. Its commander-in-chief is Salva Kiir Mayardit, and it has a land force with 110 tanks, 250 armored fighting vehicles, 210,000 active front line personnel, and a tiny air force with nine aircraft.
abcnet.au

13. Uganda – Power Index: 2.6895

The Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) was formerly the National Resistance Army, renamed after the 1995 enactment of the constitution. It has almost managed to push the violent Lord’s Resistance Army — a children’s army — out of Uganda. UPDF relies heavily on Russian, Polish, and Chinese military materials. Its land systems consist of 350 armored fighting vehicles and 25 towed artillery pieces; 43 aircraft and eight naval vessels.
commons.wikimedia.org

12. Democratic Republic of Congo – Power Index: 2.6642

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) started coming into its own after peace was restored following the horrendous Second Congo War, which ended in 2003. The military’s greatest asset is its land forces, although it also holds small air and naval units. Because of massive ongoing instability in the region, the U.N. has deployed armed forces to assist the FARDC. Some features of the DRC’s military include 90 tanks, 200 armored fighting vehicles, 42 aircraft types, and 20 naval vessels.
armyrecognition.com

11. Sudan – Power Index: 2.3465

The Sudanese Armed Forces serve and protect the Republic of Sudan. Their units are comprised of the land forces, air force, navy, and the Popular Defense Force–the military wing of National Islamic Front. Their enemies are the rebel group the Sudan People’s Liberation Army of the Republic of South Sudan — a result of two violent civil wars that split the nation. They receive most of their military equipment from Russia and China, including 360 tanks, 400 armed fighting vehicles, 168 aircraft, and 18 naval crafts.
Alarabiya.net

10. Libya – Power Index: 2.3353

The strength of Libya’s military comes mainly from its large cache of equipment, despite a relatively small number of active troops. Further hampering Libya’s abilities is the continuing violence and unrest stemming from the revolution which began in 2011. A stable government has yet to emerge from it. Regardless, the country still has available 2,500 armored fighting vehicles, 500 tanks, 600 towed artillery pieces, 6,500 logistical vehicles, and much more.
en.wikipedia.org

9. Angola – Power Index: 2.2599

The Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), headed by Chief of Staff Geraldo Nunda, succeeded the Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola in 1991. It has three components: the army, the navy, and the air force. Its involvement in training the armies of Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau was controversial, especially as the leaders of the 2012 Guinea-Bissau coup d’etat cited Angola’s military mission as a primary reason for an uprising. The FAA owns 920 armored fighting vehicles, 140 tanks, 270 pieces of aircraft, and has a navy of 56 craft.
commons.wikimedia.org

8. Tunisia – Power Index: 1.8635

The Tunisian Armed Forces is composed of three mechanized brigades, one Saharan territorial group, one special forces group, and one military police regiment. They have contributed to peacekeeping missions, including during the Rwandan genocide, and were forced into border clashes with Libyan rebels in 2011 during their civil war. They hold 900 armored fighting vehicles, 350 tanks, a manpower of over five million, 139 pieces of aircraft and a total naval strength of 50.
en.wikipedia.org

7. Morocco – Power Index: 1.8499

Highly dependent on foreign equipment, the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces have been involved in the conflict with the POLISARO, a liberation movement fighting for the independence of Western Sahara. They are involved in numerous peacekeeping missions, including in Somalia. The military has at its disposal 2,120 armored fighting vehicles, 1,348 tanks, 323 total aircraft pieces, and a total naval strength of 121.
Shout-Africa.com

6. Kenya – Power Index: 1.7689

Kenya has established itself as a vital participant in international peacekeeping missions, and is able to do so due to its merchant marine strength and an enormous labor force – resulting in high available manpower. Though it doesn’t possess as much of its own equipment, its role as a member of international teams allows the Kenyan military to share resources with other countries, strengthening its own capabilities at the same time.
 
YNaija.com

5. Nigeria – Power Index: 1.5261

Due to its size, it’s no surprise that several hundred thousand troops comprise the Nigerian Armed Forces — army, navy, and air force. Like Algeria, an abundant domestic oil supply eases the financial burden of involvement in military conflict. Nigeria has more than 1,400 armored vehicles, 360 tanks, and 6,000 logistical vehicles at its disposal, as well as nearly 300 aircraft and 25 high-powered naval vessels.
BBC.co.uk

4. South Africa – Power Index: 1.3467

As it hasn’t been embroiled in an international military conflict for some time, South Africa uses its highly advanced military for peacekeeping and international cooperation. Its aircraft and naval vessels are notoriously well equipped with the latest technology, and though the country has less than 100,000 active front line personnel, it has the capabilities and manpower for much more. Add to that a vast array of land system technology, and the South African military is a force to be reckoned with.
TigraIOnline.com

3. Ethiopia – Power Index: 1.3229

As a landlocked country, Ethiopia has focused its resources on developing its army and air force to an impressive degree (the GFP doesn’t penalize landlocked countries for not having a naval force). Several hundred thousand personnel make up its current force, and it has significant numbers of land and air systems at its disposal. An enormous population allows Ethiopia to maintain a large fighting force, and gives the country one of the greatest militaries on the continent.
en.wikipedia.org

2. Algeria – Power Index: 1.1698

As Algeria has a large maritime border, it has developed all its military capabilities to an impressively modern degree, including its land, sea, and air forces. Algeria’s active frontline personnel number more than 127,000 troops and it has nearly 2,000 armored fighting vehicles at its disposal. Algeria also has the added benefit of its own oil reserves, allowing it to use its own fuel to power tanks, aircraft carriers, naval vessels, and more.
En.Wikipedia.org

1. Egypt – Power Index: 0.6122

Egypt puts itself over the top with regard to military strength due to the sheer size of its armed forces. Nearly 500,000 personnel serve on its active frontline force, far surpassing all its African counterparts. It has nearly 10,000 armored fighting vehicles, 60,000 logistical vehicles, 900 aircraft, and large oil reserves from which to draw. The military has been somewhat undermined in the wake of the Egyptian Revolution, but some argue that its increased role in government has made it stronger than ever. Whether or not this is a cause for celebration or concern will remain debated for some time to come.

Nicholas Goche Collapses and Dies


Former CIO Boss and cabinet minister, Nicholas Goche’s son, Nicholas (jnr) Goche has died in South Africa.
Goche died last week after collapsing at his apartment.
Family sources said Nicholas (jnr) died in South Africa after collapsing and fracturing his skull at his flat in Morningside, South Africa.
Information availed to reporters is that Nicholas (jnr) was chatting with a relative on Sunday 14 June 2015 and suddenly passed out.
This prompted the relative to rush to his flat. The relative broke into the flat and found Nicholas (jnr) lying down which made the relative to call an Ambulance which responded after some time.
“Doctors had to put him in a medically induced coma but he succumbed to the injuries during the week,” said the source.
Nicholas has been on kidney dialysis for sometime.

Mutasa To Expose All Secret NIKUV Files to Tsvangirai


Former ZANU PF Security and Administration boss Didymus Mutasa says he is ready to offload NIKUV election rigging files to MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
When he was kicked out of the party last year, Mutasa fled with a pile of secret files he ‘looted’ from the ZANU PF Shake Shake building. Speaking for the first time Mr Mutasa who Mugabe “betrayed” by expelling him from ZANU PF, said he will now let all Zimbabwe know what really happened in successive elections beginning with the 2013 polls.
Mutasa’s files are set to reveal as well how ZANU PF killed ZEC officials. A recent exclusive investigation by ZimEye.com shows that top ZEC official Shupikai Mashereni was killed shortly after he approached Mr Mutasa for a Headlands farm promised as a reward for a sterling job for the 2013 election fraud.
Mutasa yesterday further told the daily Newsday he was ready to stand in court and give evidence on how the ruling Zanu PF party rigged the 2008 election “if approached” by the opposition MDC-T.
Mutasa said that “if the MDC people approach me”, he was more than willing to testify as an MDC-T witness, adding that he had over the past few months held several meetings with MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai to strategise for the 2018 elections.
“Even (President Robert) Mugabe said it at congress (that the MDC-T won by a landslide). Am I not saying something that has been said before? The president of Zanu PF had said it before. When I met Tsvangirai several times, he always told me about it.
Three months ago, I met Tsvangirai and he said it again. If the MDC-T approaches me, then I will consider that matter (to stand as a witness),” Mutasa said.
The former Headlands MP is one of the main figures in the People First project which comprises expelled Zanu PF members and believed to be led by former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
The opposition MDC-T was reportedly mulling dragging the ruling party to court, engage African Union (AU), regional power broker Sadc as well as lobbying the international community over Mugabe’s alleged electoral fraud.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said the opposition party would use the information coming from Mutasa to lobby local, regional and international bodies against Zanu PF.
“The revelation from Didymus Mutasa merely confirms what we, as the MDC, have always known. In fact, we did not narrowly win the 2008 harmonised elections. We won those elections with a landslide of well over 73%.
“Mutasa’s confession simply solidifies our conviction to ensure that the electoral playing field in Zimbabwe be evened up in order to produce free and fair elections that will give rise to legitimate results,” Gutu said.
“We will use this information in our ongoing peaceful and democratic struggle to convince Zimbabweans and, indeed, all peace-loving people within Sadc, the AU and the entire universe, that the Zanu PF regime is illegitimate. For as long as it lacks political legitimacy, this regime will never ever be able to turn around the economic fortunes of Zimbabwe.”
Gutu, however, could neither deny nor confirm his boss’ meetings with Mutasa.
“I am not in a position to comment on who my president meets and what it is they discuss. He has a spokesperson,” Gutu said.
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka was not available for comment.
Gutu, however, disputed Mutasa’s claims that Tsvangirai instead of claiming power had fled to Botswana.
“Morgan Tsvangirai did not flee the country after the 2008 elections. Surely, matters of a security nature cannot be divulged in the public domain. Do you know that practicing politics in Zimbabwe, particularly opposition politics, is a very high risk activity? Don’t you know that Big Brother is always snooping and watching every move that you make? Come on, my brother!” Gutu said.
Last year, in what has become common, Mugabe in a gaffé told war veterans ahead of his party’s congress that Tsvangirai “won by 73%” though his spin doctors said this was “a slip of the tongue”.
Meanwhile, Information minister Jonathan Moyo questioned how “a petrified Mutasa” would have sought to protect the Zanu PF leader following rumours that Mugabe had lost the elections to Tsvangirai.
“How could a frightened Mutasa rush to State House to protect Pres(ident) Mugabe after 2008 polls? We know he went (into) hiding!” Moyo queried.
As regards the Gukurahundi atrocities that Mutasa claims he was not aware of, the Information minister, who reports say lost a relative in the decade-long State-sponsored violence that targeted Matabeleland and parts of Midlands provinces, pointed out that Mutasa would have known about the atrocities as he was head of the country’s legislature.
“Mutasa says he didn’t know of Gukurahundi as he was Parliament Speaker in Harare yet PF Zapu told all in Parliament!” Moyo said.
But Mutasa maintained he was never briefed, saying that Moyo could check with parliamentary records.
“They can always check with the Hansard (official National Assembly publication), I did not know about that (Gukurahundi),” Mutasa said.
Reports claim that some 20 000 civilians were callously murdered by the North Korean-trained 5th Brigade unleashed by Mugabe, then Prime Minister, to “quell” the disturbances blamed on a handful of “bandits” allegedly linked to the late PF Zapu leader Joshua Nkomo who was later to become Vice-President.

Mphoko mrs Beaten Up and Robbed R1 million


Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s wife has been beaten up and robbed R1 million in South Africa.
IOL News|Men pretending to be police officers attacked and robbed the wife of one of Zimbabwea’s vice-presidents and other passengers of money and goods worth over R1 million in Joburg this weekend.
Zimbabwe has two vice-presidents.
The vehicle in which Laurinda Mphoko, the wife of Phelekezela Mphoko, was driving was stopped at the corner of Barry Hertzog Avenue and Empire Road in Parktown on Saturday.
Mphoko was on her way to the Oriental Plaza in Joburg at the time.
According to a source, there were five others in the car besides Mphoko, including a 4-year-old boy.
At some point, the little boy is alleged to have drawn their attention to a white car that had been following them for some time but no one took much notice of his observation until it was too late.
The four men from this car stopped the vehicle Mphoko was in and flashed a wallet containing a police badge at them.
“One of the men had a pistol; the others were carrying knives,” the source said.
In the attack, Mphoko and her daughter, who is a doctor, were allegedly assaulted.
Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, a spokesman for the provincial police, confirmed the incident but said he was “not aware of any assault”.
“The driver was confronted by an unknown number of suspects driving a white Hyundai. Suspect(s) showed them what looked like a police appointment document. They (the victims) were threatened with a knife and the suspects demanded their personal belongings,” said Dlamini.
He said the “victims were then robbed of a ruby-and-diamond ring, bangles, $1 000, a Cartier watch and Samsung Galaxy phone”.
“The estimated value of the stolen goods was about R1m. No one has been arrested yet.”
Two weeks ago, a Nigerian AU delegate was attacked by suspects who pretended to be police officers.
The man was on his way from the airport to Sandton when the suspects stopped him on the M1 at the Marlboro turn-off. He was robbed of $5 000 and R700.
The suspects were also driving a Hyundai.

Chinotimba Slapped with Fraud Probe

ZANU-PF Buhera South National Assembly representative Joseph Chinotimba is up in arms with the Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Workers’ Union who accuse him of siphoning funds from the labour body when he is no longer a trade unionist.
Chinotimba is a former ZURCWU president and ceased to be its leader when he joined politics in 2008. The politician resurfaced last year after appointing himself executive ZURCWU patron for life.
ZURCWU secretary-general Mr Bernad Dhanda yesterday told The Herald that Chinotimba was directing union funds into his personal CBZ Kwame Nkrumah bank account.
He said acting on the instruction, Mutare City Council deposited $9 540,83. Chinotimba is also being accused of confiscating the union’s registration certificate.
“As Chinotimba continued his discord in the local government sector masquerading as a trade union official, he has proved that he is not doing this to represent workers, but that he is aiming to fraudulently siphon union funds into his personal account,” said Mr Dhanda.
“He ceased to be a union official in 2008 when he resigned from Harare City Council municipal police and stopped to be a subscribing member.”
Mr Dhanda said the ZURCWU constitution stipulated that for one to be a president, one must be recommended by council or branch where one is employed.
“It is a union for the workers in the local government sector employed by either an urban or rural council. But Comrade Chinotimba is saying the constitution does not matter, the union is mine as long as I am in possession of the original copy of the union’s certificate of registration.”
The ZURCWU has since reported Chinotimba at Mutare Central Police Station under RRB 2390113.
The union is also accusing Chinotimba of using his political muscle to order Gweru, Kwekwe and Chegutu town councils to deposit workers’ union dues in his account.
Mr Dhanda said the ZURCWU was investigating the amounts of money Chinotimba took from these councils.
Yesterday, Chinotimba maintained he was still ZURCWU president.
“Dhanda does not know what he is doing. I am the president of that union. I formed it, I own it and will not give the certificate to anyone. How can I give the certificate to anyone else when it is mine?”
Added Chinotimba: “The constitution says that any Zimbabwean can be a union member as long as workers like you. He no longer has people who like him that is why he is acting in such a manner.
“The case is at the High Court yet he is already making a lot of noise. Let us wait till the judgment is made and see who the president of the union will be,” he said.
He denied that unions funds were being deposited in his personal account. “The account being used is for the ZURCWU and I am just a signatory there.”

Arrested Prostitutes Sue Mohadi

THREE Bulawayo women, who were recently arrested for allegedly loitering in the city for the purposes of prostitution, have dragged the Minister of Home Affairs Kembo Mohadi and the police to court for violating their constitutional rights and unlawful detention.

Lindiwe Moyo, Lingiwe Moyo and Renny Sithole who are the applicants in the matter cited Minister Mohadi, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, the officer in charge of Bulawayo Central Police Station, Inspector Loyiso Mpofu and one Constable Chipfira as respondents.
The three women through their lawyers, Phulu and Ncube Legal Practitioners, last week filed a court application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking an order compelling the respondents to refund them the $5 admission fines for the purported crime within 14 days.
The trio also seeks a court order declaring the arrest on April 17, 2015, illegal.
They argue that it violated their fundamental rights to personal liberty protected by section 49 (1) (b) of the constitution.
In her founding affidavit, Lindiwe challenged the police actions, saying the charge under which she was arrested was unlawful and invalid.
“I’m making this application for an order to declare my arrest illegal on the basis that I was arrested for an offence that doesn’t exist in law and for an order that my right to personal liberty in terms of section 49 (1) (b) of the constitution was violated,” she said.
“I was arrested for a non-existent crime of loitering for the purpose of prostitution, which was provided for under section 4 of the Miscellaneous Causes Act. The Miscellaneous Causes Act was repealed on July 1, 2006 and replaced by the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.”
Under the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act, there is no longer a crime called loitering for the purposes of prostitution.
Lingiwe and Sithole in their supporting affidavit concurred with Lindiwe. The three applicants were arrested shortly after 5AM while standing outside Golden Grill food outlet situated between Fort Street and 10TH Avenue.
They are denying any wrongdoing, saying they were forced to pay admission of guilt fines.
“I was standing outside Golden Grill in the company of Lingiwe while Renny was inside the shop when a uniformed police officer confronted us and said we were under arrest for loitering for the purposes of prostitution before demanding $3 from us,” said Lingiwe.
“When I demanded an explanation two other police officers emerged just when Renny was coming out of the shop and they handcuffed us.”
She said they were taken to Bulawayo Central Police Station where they were detained for several hours before being ordered to pay $5 admission fines.
“We were treated in the most degrading manner. We were labelled prostitutes by police officers who continually taunted us. Despite denying any wrongdoing we were forced to pay a fine of $5 for the crime of loitering for the purposes of prostitution,” said Lindiwe.
Mpofu has through the Attorney General’s Office (Civil Division) filed a notice of opposition challenging the application by the three women.
Mpofu argued that the trio failed to adhere to the Order 33 Rule 259 of the High Court Rules 1971 by delaying in filing the application.
“They (applicants) paid the fines on April 17, 2015 and only filed their application for review eight weeks later. The applicants were arrested and charged in terms of section 81 of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act,” said Mpofu.
He said the three women voluntarily paid the fines and signed the forms of admission of guilt.
“They were advised of the options to be taken to court that same morning for the same charges preferred against them if they were not willing to pay the fines. The applicants should explain how they paid if they were not aware of their charges,” argued Mpofu in his opposing affidavit.
Last month the Constitutional Court ruled against the routine arrest of women on allegations of soliciting for paid sex in the streets.
The court said as long as there were no men who would confirm being approached by the women for the service the arrests were unconstitutional.
This was after nine women had filed an application challenging the constitutionality of Section 81 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], after they were arrested and charged with soliciting for the purposes of prostitution.
In their application, the women argued that the crime of soliciting requires allegations of an act and a person so acted upon rather than the mere fact of being found at a street corner or being a woman in the central business district at night. The women, who argued that they were a vulnerable group, also said their right to personal liberty guaranteed in Section 49 of the Constitution and their right to equal protection and benefit of the law under Section 56 (1) of the Constitution had been violated. chronicle

Pokello Gets Married USD16,000 Lobola

SOCIALITES Elikem Kumoridze and Pokello Nare are now married traditionally 3-MOB reports.
It all happened at the family home in Harare where the Ghanaian paid a bride piece of a whopping USD16,000 for the woman, the site reported saying.
Local government minister Ignatius Chombo rumoured to be Pokello’s father, was there present playing his part in the ceremony.
The site also published the below pictures said to have leaked from the ceremony:

ZANU’s 2Million Jobs; Your Fault Fellas

I chose not to comment about this election promise of miraculously creating TWO million jobs when all along companies have been closing, with some shutting doors on the very day the promise was being made.
 
Why blame Zanu? It was just an election campaign, a promise like all parties were promising us a heaven on earth! Sadly, we are so naive and believe anything, hence now shouting our voices hoarse asking about the two million jobs. Obviously no government has ever achieved that feat. And why would anyone sane think that a ZANU government was going to succeed in this obvious lie?
Ahh yes, by the way it created more than two million jobs for vendors, so maybe it succeeded. Folks, we better be serious, there are promises made merely for campaign purposes, and this was one of them. Bear in mind, we always say its not government’s business to be in business. Government should only create enabling policies that make employment creation a possibility.
 
That is where we should be holding Zanu accountable and exerting pressure for it to do; not creating jobs. It is not its role, or else we are asking it to employ all the Green Bombers; adding more into its ghost civil service pay roll. Employment creation belongs to the private sector, and to individuals like you and me! Sadly, now l hear the same government lying that it will import its army of unemployed graduates and professionals to other countries. Do not believe this crap folks, all countries have huge unemployment figures. You don’t wanna experience xenophobia whilst your government bosses and their kids are dining and wining at top class Borrowdale mansions or overseas.
 
Lets think ahead and try to do something for ourselves. Life is full of setbacks, you have to roll up your sleeves and get on with it. Why should we get lied to and still hopefully believe an obvious lie. This is typical as to why this country is in so much trouble, we want to blame everyone except ourselves and continue wanting help to sort our own mess from the same liars. We need to get a grasp on reality and start teaching some of the old values like self discipline and self reliance; and separating unattainable political lies from reality. Together, we can hard to fix our politics and economy without wasting precious time believing in Zanu’s heap of lies.
Ndaba Nhuku

Workers Unions Calls For An Audit At NRZ,Fearing Massive Corruption

The workers unions at struggling state-owned National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) on Monday called for a forensic audit at the parastatal, citing massive corruption and asked government to review public private partnership agreements with a South African firm which they say are not benefiting the company.
Presenting oral evidence before a parliamentary portfolio committee on transport and infrastructure developments, three unions representing the workers said they felt the parastatal was being short-changed.
“It would actually assist to have a forensic audit because the information we have as employees might not be enough because some (of the information) is also hidden. Everything is not well as we speak and at the end of the day you might see NRZ collapsing,” said the president of the Railway Artisans Union, Shadreck Mutakura.
He said a report on the parastatal by the auditor general — which was instigated by the unions — had not been made public.
“The late general manager (Mike Karakadzai) simply said the report was very negative against management,” he said.
President of the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Railway Workers Union, Kamurai Moyo said there was need to reduce the number of top managers, who are over 10.
In 1999 the company had one general manager and three assistant general managers presiding over 12,000 employees while moving 18 million tonnes of goods annually. Currently, it has one (acting) general manager, five directors and several managers who superintendent 6,000 employees.
“We are only able to move three million tonnes (of cargo annually). There is something that is not right because the number of employees is reducing but the number of managers is increasing. This is an anomaly we are observing as unions,” said Moyo.
The parastastal has been run by Lewis Mukwada in acting capacity since the death of Karakadzai in a car crash in August 2013, and Moyo said the absence of a substantive general manager was affecting operations.
Workers have gone for 13 months without getting paid and are owed $68 million.
“NRZ has only paid three times this year, which was for last year’s June, July salaries,” he said.
The union leaders also questioned the public private partnership entered with foreign companies such as Bulawayo-Beitbridge Railway (BBR) and Strauss which they said were skewed in favour of the partners and urged government not to renew them when they expire.
South African logistics giant, Grindrod Limited in 2013 bought an 85 percent stake in BBR through its subsidiary, New Limpopo Projects Investments (NLPI) and entered into an agreement with government and the NRZ to service and market the 470 kilometre rail link between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls to provide a North-South corridor.
As part of the deal, NRZ can access funding for refurbishment of locomotives and recapitalization, renewed every five years and is set to expire in 2021.
“We actually suspect a lot of things are happening with the agreements. We have not for a long time derived any benefit coming directly to NRZ,” Mutakura said.
President of the Railway Association of Enginemen, Honest Mudzete questioned the viability of the agreement between government, NRZ and NLPI which he said had ring fenced the cash cow of NRZ resulting in the company losing business.
Through the joint venture, NLPI was now moving goods from South Africa through Zimbabwe into DRC and Zambia and traffic from Hwange to Zambia and DRC.
NLPI was also moving wheat from South Africa to Zambia as well as fuel from Feruka through BBR as well as to Botswana by Strauss.
“The agreement ring fenced areas where NRZ was making profit and that is our main concern. The agreement is skewed in favour of the partners,” he said.
Chairman of the parliamentary committee Dexter Nduna said he would request NRZ to present the agreements with Strauss and BBR before Parliament.
“We are going to require that they bring to Parliament those agreements and we are going to scrutinize them,” he said.
NRZ is saddled with a $144 million debt and government is negotiating with the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) for a loan of up to $700 million to fund its rehabilitation.

Chiyangwa Finally Discharged from Hospital


Harare Businessman Phillip Chiyangwa has been discharged from hospital.
Chiyangwa told ZimEye.com Monday afternoon he is now at home after his long surgery stay since his falling to injuries from his house fire last Thursday.
Mr Chiyangwa needed bottles removed from one of his legs, the hurt he received after entering his bedroom seeking to retrieve something as the fire raged on his White House mansion on Thursday morning.
He told ZimEye.com at 14:21Hrs(GMT) Monday, “Been discharged going home now.”
Many at the weekend rushed to circulate bizarre speculative claims that the fire which began in Chiyangwa’s bedroom was of juju origins saying a witchcraft snake caused it, and one message read in part: “ZANUPF Phillip Chiyangwa’s money snake spit fire instead of money and burnt his mansion….”
But Mr Chiyangwa’s assistant told ZimEye.com the causes of the fire are now fully known. Ruling out foul play, he said “there was a conflict of connections between air cons and the lighting wires triggering an electric fault,” he said. READ MOREChiyangwa Deadly Fire Mystery Solved

Guzah’s Name Not on Hurungwe West Voters’ Roll-ZEC

[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images/2015/05/makarau.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images/2015/05/makarau-412×203.jpg” width=”412″ align=”none” title=”makarau” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ZEC has officially admitted that   the newly elected Hurungwe West legislator Keith Guzah was not a registered voter and was not even eligible to vote on the Election Day. 
Guzah reportedly beat Independent candidate Temba Mliswa in the June 10 by-elections which the  latter has contested saying they were marred with violence and various other irregularities. The contestation came after Mliswa alleged that he was not allowed to campaign  in the constituency during the run up to the election. According to Mliswa, Guzah used repressive state apparatus to bar Mliswa from accessing the electorate. Guzah did so with the assistance of government.
Human rights organisations   such as the Zimbabwe Peace Project and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights recorded cases of violence against Mliswa and his supporters in Hurungwe West  before the by-elections. Even the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission  acknowledged the violence which was perpetrated by ZANU (PF) against  Mliswa. In a statement Monday after Mliswa had complained that Guzah was not registered to vote in Hurungwe West ,the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Rita Makarau said although it was true that Guzah did not appear on  Hurungwe West voters’ roll his name was initially there before he transferred to Magunje.
“On 23 March 2015, he lodged an application with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission at its Head Office Voter Registration Centre, based at Quantum Mahachi Building, to transfer his registration as a voter from Magunje to Hurungwe West. The V3 Form setting out his application for transfer of registration as a voter bears Serial Number 010599A and is available for inspection to all interested parties.
ZEC said: “On the basis of the above transfer, Keith Guzah was duly nominated as a candidate for Hurungwe West on 08 April 2015 when the nomination court for that by- election sat. “Notwithstanding that he had transferred his registration as a voter to Hurungwe West; Keith Guzah’s name was not electronically updated on the voters’ roll for that constituency because of a transposition of the block numbers relating to his old and new registrations.
“His old block number was captured as his new block number and the transfer was therefore not effected on the computer. He was retained on the voter’s roll for Magunje.  “On polling day, Keith Guzah was denied the right to vote as his name was not on the voter’s roll for Hurungwe West”.

Chiyangwa Deadly Fire Mystery Solved

Harare businessman Phillip Chiyangwa who is still in hospital for treatment despite coming out of theatre Saturday has communicated that the mystery to the fire that could have taken his life has been solved.
Many rushed to create and circulate bizarre speculative claims that the fire which began in Chiyangwa’s bedroom was of juju origins saying a witchcraft snake caused it, and one message read in part: “ZANUPF Phillip Chiyangwa’s money snake spit fire instead of money and burnt his mansion….”
But Mr Chiyangwa’s assistant told ZimEye.com the causes of the fire are now fully known. Ruling out foul play, he said “there was a conflict of connections between air cons and the lighting wires triggering an electric fault.”
Meanwhile Mr Chiyangwa has not fully recovered from injuries inflicted from the inferno that blazed a large part of of his mansion last Thursday morning. Chiyangwa who came out of theatre on Saturday is stuck in hospital until possibly tomorrow Tuesday when he might be released.
His PA also told ZimEye.com, ” He is at the hospital”,
“He is out tomorrow”, he said.

$4M Vanishes From War Vets Fund

The government has reportedly dispatched auditors to investigate alleged abuse of nearly $4 million siphoned from the war veterans’ pension and education fund.
This came amid reports that war veterans have not been receiving their monthly payouts and education allowances for some time due to lack of funds, resulting in some of their children dropping out of school or colleges.
Although officials in Treasury and War Veterans’ ministry refused to comment over the matter yesterday, sources privy to the investigations told NewsDay that the money mysteriously “vanished” before the reconstituted war veterans’ department.
“The department received the money early this year to pay for education and pension allowances to war veterans, but the money cannot be traced now. Not even a cent of it,” a source who declined to be named said.
“The issue only came to light when senior civil servants from the ministry responsible for war veterans headed by Christopher Mutsvangwa approached Treasury cap in hand for funds to pay for war veterans children’s examination fees.
“They were quizzed on how they had used the $4 million and this group knew nothing about the issue. So those who were in charge of the department before the ministry was created are now being called to account.”
Zimbabwe Defence Forces spokesperson Colonel Overson Mugwisi requested questions in writing.
“Could you please email me your questions so that those who were in charge of the department answer for themselves,” Mugwisi said.
Mutsvangwa, who is also Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association chairperson, confirmed that his ministry had indeed sought Treasury help, but denied sanctioning an “audit yet”.
“I have not yet sanctioned an audit, but it is true that we recently approached Treasury for funding. We were given about $1 million, but we still need more because there are a lot of things that still need to be set up, but of great concern to us is the welfare of war veterans and we think Treasury can do more to support us,” he said.
Mutsvangwa could neither deny nor confirm whether his officials were quizzed by Treasury over the abuse of the funds, but the ministry’s secretary, Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, insisted that those who abused the funds should be made accountable.
“If people committed any crimes, the law will catch up with them and if any audit is to be sanctioned in future, then it will be in order, but it will not be a witch-hunt. People should act with probity when handling public funds and we should be seen to account for public funds when we deal with them,” Tapfumaneyi said.
“We have a mandate to deliver on the welfare of war veterans those things that have not been done for the past 35 years and will not be distracted by rumours.
“As a ministry we have only been in existence for two months and have not been given the chance to implement what we think are programmes that will solve the problems that have been created over time.” -Newsday

Grace’s Son Caught Lying In Court


Grace Mugabe’s first born son Russell Goreraza reportedly misrepresented facts at the Harare Magistrates Court over his marital status in a reported bid to walk away with a lenient sentence after being recently convicted of culpable homicide.
Goreraza allegedly misled the court two weeks ago when he appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Vakayi Douglas Chikwekwe on a charge of fatally running over a city vagrant.
However NewsDay claims that it has it on good record that Goreraza’s divorce matter was still pending at the High Court under case number HC11013/14.
According to the court papers, President Robert Mugabe’s step son filed for divorce against Gladys Chiedza Goreraza (nee Chiwaya) on December 11 last year and the matter was yet to be entertained by the judges of the High Court.
Goreraza told the court that he was a divorcee who was looking after his minor child with his “former” wife.
Goreraza’s submission, however, persuaded Chikwekwe to spare him a jail term and instead fined him $800 for an offence which often attracts incarceration and cancellation of the driver’s licence or prohibition from driving for a certain period.

Tomana Refuses To Leave

UNDER-FIRE Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana has dug in his heels declaring he would not be haunted into resigning from his post following his alleged gaffé over the age of sexual consent.
Tomana last week torched a fierce storm after he was quoted as saying children below the age of 16 could legally consent to sex and marriage. His remarks attracted a backlash from politicians and child rights defenders, some of whom labelled him “a sexual pervert” and “child abuser”.
However, Tomana yesterday told NewsDay his statement had been misinterpreted and politicised to force him out of government, but vowed to hang on despite the heavy criticism.
“Why should I resign? Because the social media has been making unsubstantiated allegations against me? Some people have decided to crucify me without even trying to put the facts of what I really said on the table,” Tomana said.
“I have been called a pervert, a child abuser. I am already tainted and tarnished, but processes will be followed and they should be followed to make sure that those that are right are proven right and those in the wrong are proven so.”
While at first the opposition MDC-T demanded Tomana’s expulsion, the party spokesperson Obert Gutu said after listening to the audio, it became clear that the statements had been politicised.
“It’s apparent that Tomana has now been caught up in the crumbling Zanu PF’s factional wars. The political vultures are going for the jugular,” Gutu said.
“I am of the opinion that he was very careless and imprecise with his remarks, particularly considering the fact that he was commenting on a very emotive subject. As a lawyer, he should learn to be precise and smart when answering difficult questions. He should have categorically condemned the practice of having very young girls taken into marriage. I am afraid to say that he was dodgy, incoherent and evasive in that interview. The least he can do now is to apologise for making those controversial remarks.”
Political and social scientist Eldred Masunungure concurred that the Prosecutor-General had been entangled in a political cobweb.
“Everything in this country has political interpretations, especially if one is a senior public official. For Tomana, it is even worse because rumours that he had been in the wrong basket and had a soft spot for former Vice-President Joice Mujuru seem to have been proven right by the manner in which he was hanged out to dry,” Masunungure said.
“But Tomana also needs to reconcile the fact that in the print version of his interview, he seemed to insist that he was proffering a personal opinion, but in the rebuttal that we have read, he is emphatic that he was only interpreting the law as is, whether he likes it or not.”
Children’s rights activist and Katswe Sistahood programmes manager Winnet Shamuyarira said Tomana’s problem was that he was not emphatic in his condemnation of the existing law’s tacit support for child abuse.
“While he seemed to have been explaining the law, he (Tomana) creates a problem in that he advocated against the realignment of the law that encourages abuse of children. That, we have a problem with,” Shamuyarira said.
“We cannot be seen to celebrate paedophiles and those that abuse children because if an older man seeks out a 12-year-old and has sex with them, then that man has a problem.
“If we are saying a 12-year-old can sustain a family and have children as a mother, we should then go ahead and allow them to vote as well as have driver’s licences because basically, we are saying they are able to make any decision that older people can make. Our problem is that we view girls and women as sex objects.”
Legal expert Alex Magaisa said Tomana “spoke like a man in a pub” and deserves every condemnation coming his way.
“Of course, he lost it! There is no question about it. Everything that is printed is what he said. You guys (media) should not fall into the trap of politicising everything. This is an important social issue over which the country’s highest legal officer has made some reckless and thoughtless comments,” Magaisa said.
“Tomana spoke like a man in a pub and he has no business doing that. We get a poor government because there are people out there who are prepared to accept mediocrity and to understand mediocrity.
You heard him there making some ridiculous policy pronouncements on child marriage, saying 15-year-olds can make conscious decisions to marry, but the Constitution very clearly says the age of marriage is 18.”-Newsday