The Electoral Court has dismissed with costs an application by ousted Minister of State for Masvingo Province, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti Chuma, who is challenging his expulsion from Zanu PF and subsequently Parliament.
Dismissing the application, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu ruled that political parties are associations of people of common purpose and interests, hence domestic remedies are best suited for such a case.
Justice Bhunu said that the applicant had approached the court before exhausting domestic remedies at his disposal, adding that the Electoral Court has no appeal jurisdiction and is limited to its review, whereas the Zanu PF Central Committee is capable of determining Bhasikiti’s case fully by delivering both procedural and substantive justice.
He also found that domestic recourse remedies is a less complex and faster process that relieves applicant of the complexities and controversies of the need to seek leave to sue the President as head of state.
Bhasikiti was expelled from the ruling party on allegations of pushing for regime change and ouster of the president.
His expulsion from the party led to his sacking from parliament and loss of his ministerial post in terms of the constitution.

The outgoing Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition director Mcdonald Lewanika is being accused of continuously siphoning the coalition’s funds through unsanctioned international trips at a time he was supposed to have left the organization.
Lewanika who was kicked out of the civil society representative grouping last year  after being slapped for allegedly abusing donor funds, flouting tender procedures among other bad corporate governance issues, remains at the helm of the organization with the blessings of a “few”  divided   board members.
Using the Coalition’s finances Lewanika, and others allegedly chewed over $15 000 on allowances on top of a sponsored  one week long Zimbabwe-Europe Network in  Brussels.
A respected source within the disgruntled coalition’s workers told this reporter on Thursday that the three who returned early this week “illegally’ went to Europe.
“The three had gone there to present on behalf of Civil Society Organizations’ the country’s situation to Europe about the Zimbabwe situation”, said the source
“Although their trip was sponsored by the hosts their attendance was illegal because the board had not sanctioned it. When attending such high level meetings the board should sit and select members to attend on behalf of the coalition”.
Late last month Lewanika  indicated that he was leaving the organization “soon” and appointed his Programmes Manager Nixon Nyikadzino to the acting directorship.
“He told us that he is leaving in August and we understand that he wants to left the $8 00 000 which was donated by some development partners recently exhausted,” added the sources.

There was chaos once again in Harare on Thursday afternoon when police exhausted themselves attacking vendors stationed various locations in the CBD, shortly before the attacked men and women began preparing to return to sell.
In what is now a thrilling drama, vendors vowed to return to their selling posts albeit after being brutalised as more than thirty were arrested.
The cops used brute force on them resulting in many sustaining injuries. The police demonstrated that they have been given military training, the Zimbabwe Informal Sectors Organization (ZISO) said.
ZISO’s director Promise Mkwananzi said the municipality police were too swift in manhandling the vendors.
“The skill and efficiency which the vendors were decimated reflect military training,” Mkwananzi said.
“It could be that the regime shied away from a total military operation by camouflaging the army with municipal uniforms,” he said.
But Mkwananzi said the vendors cannot be cowed down.
“More than thirty vendors were arrested and heavily assaulted.
“We have resolved to reconstruct structures tomorrow and continue sell,” Mkwananzi said.
The move comes after government ordered the vendors off the Central Business District sending them off to remote outposts. Following the fall of the economy, Zimbabwe’s vendor community now numbers more than six million – Zimbabwe’s entire voting population.

The ministry of youth, indigenisation and economic empowerment has been involved in mysterious money transactions with the employment creation fund that falls under it.
This was revealed in a recent report on public accounts following an audit by the Auditor General (AG).
The audit revealed that the ministry paid a grant to the youth development and
employment creation fund account and later borrowed from it. Subsequently, the ministry reimbursed the money to the youth fund under unclear circumstances.
“The practice of borrowing money from the fund cripples operations of the same and exposes financial resources to misappropriation. The ministry should desist from borrowing financial resources from the fund as this may negatively affect its operations,” read the report.
At the beginnng of 2014, the ministry owed the fund some $130,000 while during the same year, expenditure amounting to $9,863 was met from the fund’s resources. “My concern is that this may result in the fund account failing to meet its objectives. The practice of borrowing money from the fund is not in line with current regulations,” said the AG, Mildred Chiri. In response, the ministry said the money was borrowed to “cover pressing issues that had arisen within the ministry with the intention of reimbursing the fund”. It accused treasury of availing resources to the ministry “as and when it liked”, forcing them to dig into fund coffers.
In addition, the ministry’s houses at vocational training centres from which it was collecting rent were not classified according to size and type for easy management of the rentals, noted the report. As a result, the AG could not do the monthly rates as stipulated by treasury regulations.
Contrary to the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act (Chapter 22:19) the ministry had long outstanding revenue amounting to $93,687 accrued from departmental surcharges.
“Delays in recovering outstanding departmental surcharges and disallowances may result in the outstanding amounts being irrecoverable.
This also deprives the government from using the money for other activities,” reads the report. Out of $534,598 loans given out to youths, only $47,847 was recovered. “No allowance was created to recognise the potential loss that could arise as a result of irrecoverable loans,” noted the AG. thezimbabwean

• Kasukuwere labelled an animal

Saviour Kasukuwere the new Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister on Thursday morning clashed with the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Justice Mayor Wadyajena.
Both men who are ZANU PF, tore into each other over a $10 million indigenisation Trust Scheme with Kasukuwere being labelled an “animal,” by Wadyajena
The two slammed each other when Minister Kasukuwere appeared before the committee chaired by Wadyajena this morning to give evidence on the circumstances surrounding the Zimunya-Marange Community Share Ownership Trust.
Minister Kasukuwere accused Wadyajena of abusing his position as committee chairperson to witch-hunt him while the latter said he (Kasukuwere) was not an animal worthy witch-hunting.
Minister Kasukuwere was in charge of the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment when the Community Trust was established in 2012 at a ceremony where he indicated that the five diamond mining companies in Chiadzwa had pledged $10 million each towards the Trust.
But when the same companies appeared before the same committee, the majority of them claimed that they did not pledge anything to the Trust.

Prophet Uebert Angel of The Spirit Embassy Church is pleasuring himself on church women he claims to be conducting deliverance prayers for, an investigation has found.
The married Uebert Angel whose real surname is Mudzanire, changed after he was listed for academic fraud, is using Psycho-Spiritist technics on his victims, as he lures them simply using the phrase, “This is Papa.”
Angel’s episode came to light following an investigation spanning over 24 months.

CONTINUE READING – CLICK HERE …

Do you have brilliant business ideas?  – The upcoming Innovation Baraza Fair could be the right place for you.

Nearly forty (40) innovative ideas beat out hundreds of competitors, across sectors, to be represented at the Innovation Baraza Fair to be held on Friday July 10th at the Baraza Pavilion in Tynwald, Harare. Organizers announced last week that the successful ideas include innovations in the agriculture, finance, health, resource management, infrastructure, community, retail, and trade sectors of Zimbabwe.
 
According to Udugu Institute, the event organizers, “Africa has 7 of the 10 fastest growing economies, a forecasted higher working age population than anywhere else in the world, and countless other metrics that all point to one simple thing: new and alternative ways to grow are required to create sustainable value and an inclusive society. Innovation Baraza is a platform to connect the Zimbabwean society, and investment and market potential, with the ideas that will make Africa better.”
 
The Friday fair, open to the public from 10:30am to 4:30pm, will feature exhibits, food vending, and an inspirational formal program that includes Minister of ICT, Honorable Supa Mandiwanzira and more. Top Zimbabwean innovators will present their game changing ideas and new approaches that challenge the norm and improve Zimbabwean lives throughout the day for judges across sectors and the overall public – which has a crucial vote in the process. The top five finalists on Friday will be invited to the prestigious Simba Savannah Investors Forum later this year.
 
The United States Embassy, along with a number of other sponsors, are supporting the initiative which features the eight most active incubator and accelerator hubs in Zimbabwe in a crucial role.
 
“We are excited to support this opportunity for Zimbabweans who are crafting innovative solutions to local challenges, and who are seeking investors to bring those solutions to market.” said Karen Kelley, Counselor for Public Affairs at the United States Embassy. “Our support for entrepreneurship is one of the most critical ways that we can support efforts that will lead to economic prosperity in Zimbabwe, which is an important goal for the U.S. mission here.”
 
The successful contestants have been working with technology centres such as the Hypercube Hub, Emerging Ideas, Area 46, and MotoRepublik who have been preparing them for the Innovation Baraza showcase. The tech hubs will continue to mentor all budding entrepreneurs with what it takes to get started and what it takes to make it as a Zimbabwean entrepreneur.
 
Admission is free. And your vote matters. Come to Innovation Baraza and be inspired by the
“Zimmovators.” For more information, see www.innovationbaraza.com.
 
Innovation Baraza 
10 July 2015 
 
10:30 AM 
Doors Open to Public
 
Master of Ceremony: Asa Jogi, CEO, The Jogi Group
 
10:30 – 12:00 PM 
Public Exhibition and Judges Rounds
 
Judges:
Chipo Mtasa – Managing Director, TelOne.
Mustafa Sachak – Chief Executive Officer of Zimnat Insurance Group
Mary–Jane Mberi – Associate Director, PWC
Representative TBD – CBZ
Catalyst Vote – Collective of the 8 partner hubs for Innovation Baraza
 
12:00 – 12:30 PM 
Keynote Speaker Supa Mandiwanzira
Minister of ICT, Postal & Courier Services
 
12:30 – 1:30 PM 
Lunch + (Judges Convene for Innovator’s Hunt Selections)
 
2:00 – 3:00 PM 
Public Innovator Presentations
 
INNOVATOR’S HUNT 
3 x 5 min Innovator Pitches 
Inspirational Speaker (3 min): Takunda Chingonzo, Co–Founder, NeoLabs, Saisai Wireless 

1. x 5 min Innovator Pitches 

Inspirational Speaker (3 min): Dr. Nozipo Maraire, Neurologist 

1. x 5 min Innovator Pitches 

Inspirational Speaker (3 min): Nomvula Mhambi, Founder, Disruptive Innovation  
 
3:00 – 3:30 PM 
Interlude (Judges Convene for Simba Savannah Selections)
 
3:30 – 3:45 PM 
Simba Savannah Innovators Pack of 2015 Announced
 
4:00 PM 
Closing Remarks and Open House
Closing Remarks By: Quinton Kanhukamwe – Vice-Chancellor of Harare Institute of Technology (HIT)
Proud Partners: 
 
Proud Sponsors: 
 

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s latest Cabinet reshuffle undermined Unity Accord between PF Zapu and Zanu PF after he handed the Home Affairs portfolio back to his original party, analysts said yesterday.

Mugabe on Monday reassigned long serving Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi, a former PF Zapu official to State Security in his second Cabinet reshuffle inside seven months.
The Home Affairs portfolio headed by the likes of late Vice-President John Nkomo and Dumiso Dabengwa was a preserve of PF Zapu members since the peace accord to end the Gukuruhundi atrocities in 1987.
Mugabe, last December was criticised for appointing Phelekezela Mphoko to take the Vice-Presidency slot usually reserved for PF Zapu members as he succeeded Nkomo.
Mphoko was originally a PF Zapu member, but he was accused of deserting the party at the height of the liberation struggle while posted in Mozambique to join Zanu PF.
Mugabe was also criticised for abolishing the Zanu PF chairperson post at the last congress as he demoted Simon Khaya Moyo, who is now the party’s spokesperson.
Paul Siwela, a 2002 presidential candidate now in self-imposed exile after escaping a treason trial, said the Unity Accord was always prone to manipulation by the 91-year-old leader.
“That agreement confirmed the defeat of Joshua Nkomo and PF Zapu by Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF,” Siwela said.
“That defeat was effected by PF Zapu losing its leadership and surrendering all political power to Zanu PF in return for nothing.
“They further lost their identity by accepting the already-existing Zanu PF name though foolishly agreeing that they had been accommodated by Zanu PF.”
He said PF Zapu policies and programmes were thrown into the dust bin including political friends.
“Zapu surrendered its political base and any meaningful resource without compensation in the purported political power sharing arrangement,” he said.
“The agreement further exonerates Zanu PF from genocide and makes PF Zapu assume the blame.”
Siwela said PF Zapu members got a raw deal from the very beginning.
“The ascendency to political leadership in both Zanu PF and the government for former members of PF Zapu right from the beginning was based on the whim of President Robert Mugabe and not the agreement,” he said. “Current and future developments would always be based on Zanu PF ideology.”
The former Zapu Federal Party leader said Mugabe valued the agreement only in so far as it confirmed the defeat of late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo and PF Zapu.
“I note that Mohadi becomes the first Ndebele person to be appointed State Security minister,” Siwela said. “This does not surprise anyone given the internecine succession wars in Zanu PF.
“It became not only prudent, but very imperative for Mugabe to appoint a very loyal and honest person without divided interest to monitor the unfolding ugly situation which would ultimately destroy Zanu PF. Mohadi became the most suitable person for the office.”
Dabengwa and other top officials pulled out of Zanu PF in 2008 citing lack of respect for the Unity Accord.
His Zapu party insists that those who remain in Zanu PF do not represent the former liberation movement.
Bulawayo-based political commentator Methuseli Moyo said there was no longer a substantive Unity Accord, but Zanu PF wanted to pretend the deal still subsisted.
“What is important now for Mugabe is managing succession politics in his party than any other pressing matter,” Moyo said.
“In fact, the Unity Accord had no terms, but just traditions which Mugabe chose to abandon to deal with current dynamics in the party.”
South Africa-based political commentator Ezra Maplanka said the Unity Accord had lost relevance.
“I personally feel this accord has lost relevance if ever it was relevant to start with,” he said.
“It failed and it still fails to show its meaning to the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans especially those from the south-western part of the country.
“It only managed to portray itself as a mere political arrangement for the former liberators to bring a common ground to settle old scores and work together on that level.”
The Unity Accord only specified Zanu PF and the government having two Vice-Presidents, one from PF Zapu and the other from Zanu PF. Its signing is still celebrated on December 22 annually.-SouthernEye

There was chaos in Harare yesterday when municipal police pulled down illegal vendors’ tents and tables to force them off the streets, but their action was in vain as the traders were back on the streets and pavements within hours. -READ MORE-Violence as Police Attack Vendors Again.

The vendors appeared to have responded positively to the relocation as they left the illegal vending sites upon being ordered to do so, but returned to illegal street and pavement vending despite the presence of municipal police and the watchful eyes of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
ZRP officers were present on the streets, but did not take part in the exercise as they only monitored developments from their vehicles.
There were fistfights among illegal vendors who had rushed to some of the designated sites upon discovering that council had double allocated some of the vending booths.
The fighting ended after the vendors restrained each other and agreed that it was not their fault that vending booths had been double allocated.
Harare mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni said yesterday that council had no capacity to remove the vendors and was now seeking a meeting with Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere for help.
The mayor said he had since cancelled a foreign trip so that he could meet the minister.
“I would want to see the minister after I meet officials on the ground so that we can present to him what we think are our shortcomings inasmuch as the relocation of the vendors is concerned.”
The city authorities had earlier vowed not to remove the illegal vendors, arguing that they were following the opposition MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s utterances that Government must not act on them.
Harare City Council is dominated by MDC-T councillors. But Minister Kasukuwere yesterday said it was the responsibility of Clr Manyenyeni to ensure that city by-laws are followed.
“The mayor is in charge of making sure that the city’s by-laws are adhered to.
“I have not heard the mayor saying he has failed to contain the situation. All we want is a clean environment where business is conducted freely.”
Minister Kasukuwere on Monday warned council authorities that if they did not clean up the mess brought by vendors, he would instead clean up Town House.
He also vowed to end lawlessness in Harare and other local authorities saying he wanted to see the upholding of law and good administration of both rural and urban areas.
Vendors told The State Media that they were willing to move to the designated sites, but there was no infrastructure and ablution facilities.
It is council’s responsibility to provide the required infrastructure at the vending sites.
A fruit vendor, Mr Proud Mureverwa, who registered to trade at Copacabana, blamed council for making double allocations.
“Council allocated us to sell from here, but we were surprised when a group of vendors whose tents were pulled down by council came here claiming to have been allocated the same booths to sell their wares,” he said.
“This is the reason you saw vendors exchanging blows. We cannot have fruit and clothing vendors trading from the same place.”
Ms Martha Sithole, a clothing vendor, said after the city council pulled down their tents they had no choice but to go to Copacabana where they were allocated the booths.
“We were also given vendor cards to operate at Copacabana, but it seems the city made a double allocation,” she said.
The city’s principal communications officer Mr Michael Chideme admitted that the city had made double allocations.
“The issue of double allocation is an administration issue which we are currently looking at,” he said. “We are happy with the progress and the way our municipal police are handling the matter.”
National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (Navuz) director Mr Samuel Wadzanai said vendors will remain put if the city did not facilitate proper infrastructure for them to trade.
“Our members are still operating at their respective sites,” he said. “We will move out once council provides us with proper infrastructure, not open spaces without ablution facilities.”
Other vendors’ unions said they were prepared to move to the designated areas while the city council makes finishing touches in providing the required infrastructure.

SEVEN Zimbabweans were killed on the spot, while nine others were seriously injured when a Musina-bound commuter omnibus they were travelling in collided with a haulage truck about 2km from Beitbridge Border Post along the N1 Highway in South Africa early yesterday.
Witnesses said the two vehicles collided around 5am near the weighbridge.
They said the driver of the border post-bound haulage truck made a right turn in front of the speeding kombi which was travelling towards Musina with 15 passengers, resulting in a collision.
“Seven people died instantly and nine others were seriously injured as a result of the collision. It was horrific.
“Bodies were strewn all over the place before emergency workers and the police took them to Musina government hospital” said Mr Phefumula Sibanda who arrived at the scene soon after the accident.
Limpopo Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto said they had since opened a charge of culpable homicide against the truck driver.
She said the deceased were conveyed to Musina government mortuary.
“The circumstances around the accident are being investigated and a case of culpable homicide was opened.
“Seven people died on the scene and nine were injured, including the driver of the taxi, and were taken to a hospital at Musina for treatment.
The driver of the truck was not injured” she said.
Lt Col Otto said all the 15 passengers in the kombi were from Zimbabwe adding that the deceased names would be released once their next of kin have been informed.
She said eight of the injured were undergoing treatment at Musina Government hospital while another critically injured had been taken to Polokwane Provincial Hospital.
She added that motorists should always abide by road traffic regulations to avoid unnecessary loss of life.
The N1 highway is one of the busiest roads in South Africa as it links that country to the rest of Africa and it is the route, which handles a lot of commercial cargo movement.
The road has also become a death trap for Zimbabweans and citizens of countries north of the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers.
Last year over 10 Zimbabweans were killed in road carnages between Musina and Polokwane in Limpopo province.
In July 2011, 14 Zimbabweans perished, while nine others were seriously injured when a bus they were travelling in was involved in a horrific crash along the same road near Witvlag turnoff between Louis
Trichardt and Musina towns when the driver of a Johannesburg-boundTrans Africa Lux bus lost control of the vehicle.
Twenty four other Zimbabweans perished in a pile-up accident between Louis Trichardt and Polokwane towns on the N1 highway.
In 2005, 19 Zimbabweans died when a kombi they were travelling in plunged into a dry riverbed 15km from Louis Trichardt.

VOA|Some factories that were forced to shut down due to the harsh economic situation in Zimbabwe are now serving as churches.
Tapiwa Mashakada, a top member of the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai, made this claim during a parliamentary debate on the state of the economy Wednesday.
Mashakada took aim at the Zanu PF government for failing to deliver on its promises to create 2 million jobs, adding many people were now living on one dollar a week.
But Zanu PF lawmakers defended their record, saying the economy was suffering because of western sanctions.
MDC-T legislator Dorcas Sibanda said it was sad that companies have shut down leaving thousands of people unemployed.
She said it was the duty of President Robert Mugabe’s government to cater for the needs of all Zimbabweans. -VOA

Former Vice President Joyce Mujuru, her ally Didymus Mutasa and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai are special-invited guests to the Itai Dzamara Saturday prayer rally, but MDC formation leaders Elton Mangoma, Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti are all blocked, it has emerged.
 
The powerful Zimbabwe Policy Dialogue Institute members largely concluded that it is only Vice President Joyce Mujuru and Tsvangirai who have been invited to the prayer function and by Wednesday night indications were that the others are blocked.
 
Heads were rolling on Wednesday afternoon when analysts at the famous policy think-tank debated what they said portrays Mangoma, Biti and Ncube in serious bad light, after it was confirmed the names of the three were out-rightly excluded from Saturday’s prayer program.
But how can Tsvangirai invite his “poisonous” arch enemies Didymus Mutasa and Joyce Mujuru who he previously accused of burning alive MDC activists including little Christpowers Maisiri, while at the same time ironically blocking Ncube, Mangoma and Biti, policy thinkers debated.
 
Some began to speculate saying that the rally is no prayer function at all but a publicity venture as said by former MDC spokesman, Mr. Nhlanhla Dube.
There were numerous emotional exchanges which led to Tsvangirai’s rally-commissar Job Sikhala hurriedly promising to contact the Dzamara family to beg them if for instance Biti can attend.
“Let me phone the Dzamara family and hear whether there is any problem to have Tendai Biti on the prayer Gala. I agree Promise, there is absolutely nothing sinister to invite Tendai Biti on this occasion. I personally want to see Biti present,” said Sikhala who also said others were invited.
But MDC leader Welshman Ncube interjected saying Sikhala was not telling the truth. Wrote Ncube, ” Job, a person of your standing should refrain from telling untruths.
 
“At no time has any one of the organizers contacted me personally or my office or any office in the party.
 
“This morning the media kept asking our information department as to how it is that our party or leadership are not being referred to in any of the statements relating to the event.
 
“As a result the Byo office contacted Cde Kurauone Chihwayi, our Secretary for External Structures  to find out from him if he had any information on the matter. He did not have but he then took it upon himself to talk to Bishop Magaya and asked him how and why it is that we have not been were invited.
 
“The good Bishop then claimed that they had our written invitation but did not know how or where to contact us as they were not aware of the addresses of our offices or any of our party emails or the telephone numbers of any officer or official of the party.
 
“In short, none of them as organizers knew how or where to find us. Cde Chihwayi then gave him our HQ address in Harare whereupon the good Bishop promised  that the invite would be delivered today.
 
“The good Bishop later foned Cde Chihwayi around 4pm today advising that the letter was unlikely to be delivered today.
 
“If you believe the good Bishop’s story that they had the invitation for us but they did not know how and where to find us then please also believe that my mother is a virgin.”
 
Om the other hand Elton Mangoma separately told ZimEye.com “We havent yet seen the invitation. As a party we strongly sympathise with the Dzamara family and still reiterate that the government is responsible for his disappearance . We demand that he be handed back to his family alive,” he said

The recent reassignment of the former Information and Media Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, to the Higher Education Ministry has been welcomed, by the community of Matabeleland as a blessing.
In a ZimEye.com opinion survey yesterday, 70% of Bulawayo, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Kezi and Lukosi, expressed their appreciation for Mugabe’s cabinet reshuffle, as most said on the side they believe Professor Jonathan Moyo’s could be the person to address tribal imbalances at the country’s universities.
The sample for the survey numbered 10 randomly selected people.
“Jonathan is a goal getter, he is the most educated person to be found in Matabeleland, and as we are still without science schools, all this could soon be history, as our own son is now responsible for higher education,” said Nompilo Mkandla of Mbuyazwe in Nyamandlovu.
Another Bulawayo resident who comes from Lukosi district of Matabeleland North, Laimon Gwala, also concurred with Mnkandla.
“The current government had deliberately ignored improving the education system in our provinces, in a move that was calculated to reduce scientists from our regions. We have very few science schools and yet we have a Science University in our province.
All those who are at our highest institutes of learning, are from outside of our villages, as most of our children cannot qualify to enrol because of the lack of science schools,” said Gwala.
Arnold Bhule, a retired educationist, also told ZimEye.com that this is the time Mugabe has realised his blunder for the people of Mnthwakazi. “Mugabe has long been disadvantaging the education of Bulawayo people and Matabeleland. This time he has recognised us by giving us our son Jonathan to revive our lost education pride.
I would like to thank our ancestors for getting into Mugabe’s thick head and hard heart, by reminding him that Matabeleland people need education too,” said Bhule.
University Students Council representatives also welcomed their new Minister Jonathan Moyo to the Ministry of higher and Tertiary Education, and they said he was capable of bringing a tremendous change in the sector.
Professor Jonathan Moyo takes over from Mrs Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, who has been reassigned to head Water and Environment Ministry.

Violence has broken out in Harare this morning as municipal police attacked vendors in a potentially explosive situation likely to hurt many vulnerable pedestrians.
Municipality police are at present “everywhere” in the CBD physically pushing vendors to move to designated areas.
In retaliation vendors who are fully registered, are grouping and shouting slogans against the move.
A witness told ZimEye.com people should stay at away from the city centre today. “If one does not have serious business in town today let them stay out of the hot zones. The situation is likely to be bad later in the day as some rowdy elements come into town,” they said.
Promise Mkhwananzi the Programs Coordinator of the Zimbabwe Informal Sectoe Organisation told ZimEye.com the attackers are municipal police.
“They are municipal police,” he said adding they are in groups of fifties.
He further added saying,
“Vendors are being kicked out under our nose. We have learnt nothing and forgot nothing.
” Murambatsvina came and passed we pledged that never again would such an opportunity pass under our nose. Here it is.
“Passing as we watch arguing which leader can give a better speech than the others.
 

thezimbabwean| Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa scored victory over Jonathan Moyo when he successfully lobbied President Robert Mugabe to demote the former information minister to the higher education portfolio.
Mugabe on Monday reshuffled his cabinet and surprised many by removing Moyo from the powerful information ministry. Former allies Mnangagwa and Moyo had become sworn enemies over the Mugabe succession issue. The vice president was angered by Moyo’s continued use of the official media to denigrate him and his other political foes.
Sources told The Zimbabwean that Mnangagwa curried favour with Grace Mugabe to convince her husband to shift Moyo because of his manipulation of the media.
“Mnangagwa has been lobbying behind the scenes to have Moyo removed. His trump card was Amai who he used to push the president to move him,” said the source. Mugabe’s wife is now widely believed to be virtually running government affairs as age and illness take a toll on the president.
“It is all about the succession war in the party. Apparently, Moyo had teamed up with a number of powerful party members to throw their weight behind VP Mphoko as a way of spiting Mnangagwa,” said the Zanu (PF) insider.
The sources said the Monday reshuffle would worsen divisions in the party. “The party is at great risk of disintegration. It is clear that the party has been forgotten as the succession wars get hotter. Non-one cares about Zanu (PF) now and it is about personal political gain,” said the first source.
The sources agreed that Moyo, Kasukuwere and others opposed to Mnangagwa would intensify their battle to gain more political clout ahead of the 2018 general elections, adding that Grace might end up being politically alienated as the vice presidents felt humiliated by her revelation that they grovelled at her feet.
The information ministry was left vacant and the labour minister, Prisca Mupfumira, will continue acting. The reshuffle also saw Ignatius Chombo, who ran the local government ministry for many years, moving to home affairs.
Chombo, the new Zanu (PF) administration secretary, is believed to be Mugabe’s strategic ally who protects his estate and other interests and being moved to home affairs is considered a reward, even though the minister was at one time linked to the Mujuru faction. Kembo Mohadi, who held the home affairs portfolio, went to state security.

President Robert Mugabe blasted off into the sky, his 23rd flight yesterday, in another expensive unnecessary this time to the United States of America which saw his wife, Grace join him, the latter who has bunked Mugabe trips to African countries saying she is too ill to travel.
But yesterday Mrs Mugabe’s cancer temporarily left her as she joined her husband headed to the US to speak at a United Nations conference that can be attended by Mugabe’s large ambassadorial  staff stationed in that country who can easily read out his speech.
Besides numerous diplomats there in the United States, the president has two idle ambassadors one at the US government outpost and another to the United Nations.
Despite the large human resource in that country Mugabe left for New York, for the purely chat based conference which merely discusses the Ebola crisis.
Zimbabwe has had no problems whatsoever with the ebola disease.
He was accompanied by a group of hangers on, his wife, Grace Mugabe, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba and a untold number of government officials.
The state Media  reported  attempting to justify the trip saying: the Ebola haemorrhagic fever has devastated three West African countries since its outbreak left more than 11 000 people dead and affected more than 27 000 others.
 
UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon is hosting the International Ebola Recovery Conference as part of efforts to ensure the affected countries receive resources and the necessary support that they require to overcome the Ebola outbreak.
Heads of state from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the three countries most affected by Ebola, have been invited to the conference and President Mugabe has been invited as leader of the African continent.
Affected countries will share their national as well as regional recovery plans and budgets for the next two years.
Officials from the AU, the African Development Bank (ADB), the European Union and the World Bank, among others, are expected to attend the conference.
The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history and affected a number of countries in West Africa.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of the end of June this year, 27 551 cases and 11 236 deaths had been recorded with the majority in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
874 health care workers in the three most affected countries were infected with the Ebola virus and 509 of them died.
After months battling with the disease, WHO declared Liberia Ebola free on the 9th of May 2015 after 42 days with no new reported cases.
The situation in Guinea and Sierra Leone is also improving with most new cases emanating from registered contacts.
The projection is that by August 2015, the two countries will also be declared Ebola free.
While the number of Ebola cases have started to go down, the three countries are still in need of financial and technical resources to support and totally eradicate the disease.
The AU has been spearheading continental efforts to respond to the epidemic under the Africa Against Ebola Solidarity Trust, as well as the AU Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, and the support from international partners will complement the AU efforts.
Governments in the affected countries, the African region and the international community are coming together to stop the outbreak and the conference convened by the UN is thus expected to further strengthen the recovery and reconstruction of the affected countries in particular and the West African region in general.
On his departure, President Mugabe was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, cabinet ministers, service chiefs and several government officials.

Bulawayo – ZRP officers were caught assaulting Freelance photographer, Crispen Ndlovu.
A large group of witnesses caught the cops taking the law into their own hands, torturing the journalist in the city.
The police officers, who were manhandling a cell-phone thief, butchered the journo for taking press pictures.
Ndlovu has since reported the matter to the Bulawayo Central Police station, and the docket on assault, case number IR5412/15 was opened.
Zimbabwe’s police have been on record assaulting journalists and even persecuting them for carrying their duties, with cases of the brutal attacks of Photo-journalist Angela Jimu, Chrispen Tabvura, Tapfuma Machakaire and Privilege Musvanhiri.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists Secretary General, Foster Dongozi, blamed the police for breaking the law by attacking media practitioners for performing their duties.
Ndlovu was attacked by police while he was photographing members of the Police beating up a suspected cell-phone thief. Police details forced him to delete his photographs which he was later able to recover.
He is currently being monitored by doctors.
Dongozi condemned the assault, saying police needed to be taught that journalism was a lawful profession in the country. “Police must behave themselves and conduct themselves in a professional manner and not go about beating journalists. That kind of policing cannot be professional and only serves to portray the force and the country in extreme negative light,” he said.

Former Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has again taken President Robert Mugabe to court over the Mwenezi East by-election after the veteran ruler ignored a court order against setting a poll date for the constituency.
Bhasikiti, fired last month on allegations he supported former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, had on June 25 won a High Court order stopping Mugabe from proclaiming a by-election date until the former Mwenezi East MP’s case challenging his expulsion from Zanu PF was dealt with by the courts.
Mugabe last Friday set July 20 as the date for the sitting of the nomination court for the Mwenezi East by-election to be held on September 19.
In an urgent chamber application filed at the Constitutional Court by lawyer Tonderai Bhatasara yesterday, Bhasikiti said Mugabe was in contempt of court.
Mugabe is cited as the first respondent while the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission was cited as the second respondent.
“I further contend that the first respondent’s actions are in breach of the order of the 25th of June and clearly in contempt,” Bhasikiti said.
“The first respondent was a party to the proceedings in case number CCZ45/2015.
“In other words he was aware of the order and the basis in respect of which this honourable court had proceeded to make the judgment.”
Bhasikiti said Mugabe was making a High Court matter academic yet it was also his duty, like any other citizen to respect the laws of the land.
He said the proclamation of the by-election date would prejudice his rights to a fair trial as the matter was still to be concluded.
He said his case was pending before the courts and allowing the sitting of the nomination court to go ahead would deny him the right to participate in the by-election.
Bhasikiti said Mugabe had violated the court order, the Constitution of the country and the principle of the rule of law.
“This court and all the judges who sat in that hearing, will recall that in arriving at the decision, the court and the lawyers concerned took note of the fact that a by-election had to be held by the 10th of September 2015,” he said.
“That being the case, it meant that in terms of Section 38 of the Electoral Act, the nomination Court, could sit at least 30 days before, which would have been the 10th of August 2015.
“The first respondent would have been aware of this and was aware of this, but notwithstanding this; he fixed the date of the proclamation in such a manner as to interfere with the integrity of the order of this honourable court.
“The proclamation is null and void to the extent that it provides for a by-election way out of the 90 days provided for by Section 159 of their Constitution.”
He said the matter was very urgent because he stood to be prejudiced of his right to participate in the elections.
“In any event, once the nomination court has sat and I lose the case, it means I would have been denied by right to participate in that election as a candidate even an independent candidate for Mwenezi East,” he said.
Bhasikiti is one of the former top Zanu PF officials who have vowed not to take their expulsion from the ruling party for allegedly supporting Mujuru lying down.-SuthernEye

Registrar-General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede has urged Zimbabweans to use natural family planning methods as modern contraceptives present serious health complications to women.
He accused the West of promoting dangerous birth control measures to depopulate developing nations.
In a presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Mr Mudede said the withdrawal method and rhythm (safe phases of the menstrual cycle) method could be used safely for birth control.
Committee chairperson Cde Beatrice Nyamupinga said Mr Mudede was summoned to explain the dangers of birth control methods, especially Jadelle, which he denounced.
“Most women have panicked and are no longer sure of what they should use for birth control,” she said.
Mr Mudede said he received several responses and some threats and said this would not deter him from fighting for his cause.
“I am working in the interest of the nation. Birth control methods particularly Norplant has 51 side effects. Research has shown that Norplant was banned in America, where it was manufactured but is still being used in Zimbabwe.
“A study carried out by the University of California in the United States showed that participants who took birth control drugs for three years doubled their risk of developing an eye problem, glaucoma,” he said.
He pleaded for funding to support research on the natural birth control methods, which he said were being ignored as emphasis had always been on Western drugs, despite negative effects on users.
He said control of black populations in the world had been a Western policy since 1972 when Henry Kissinger, then director of the USA national security council suggested that population in the developing countries had to be controlled.
“This explains why millions of dollars are being poured into birth control programmes than into development projects.
“For the past 10 years, the Zimbabwean population has not been growing significantly due to the use of these drugs,” he said.
Mr Mudede’s counterpart, Mr Richard Hondo, a physio neurologist said side effects of the drugs included cancer, obesity, low libido, back pain, migraine headaches and bleeding, among other things.
Witnesses brought by Mr Mudede said they switched to natural methods after side effects such as decline in sexual drive, bleeding and eye problems.
Ms Chipo Matowanyika said she abandoned the pill after developing blood clots on her body.
“I also experienced headaches and developed pimples and this stopped when I started using the natural methods,” she said.
Mrs Moreblessing Shava said she bled continuously, gained weight and felt nauseous because of continuous use of Jadelle.
Ms Shingai Mandaza said : “I now rely on natural methods and I have since lost 12 kilogrammes,” she said.
Senator Hubert Nyanhongo said Mr Mudede’s project was noble but urged Mr Mudede to work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to educate the nation,” he said.

THE Zimbabwe Community in South Africa (ZCSA) is seeking an audience with newly-appointed Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo to apprise him on “sticking immigration challenges”.
ZCSA is an organisation assisting Zimbabweans to comply with the new South African permit system and immigration requirements.
The lobby group’s chairperson Ngqabutho Mabhena told Southern Eye in an interview yesterday they were keen to interact with Chombo though the Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa.
“We would like a meeting with him through the Zimbabwe embassy to brief him about the work we do and solicit his views,” Mabhena said.
He said ZCSA was grateful to former Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi who was instrumental in “thrashing out a fair permits deal” for Zimbabwean immigrants in the neighbouring country.
The permits issue has remained a thorny one in the aftermath of South Africa’s setting of new regulations compelling Zimbabweans to compulsorily register.
South Africa first issued the special permits in 2010 to regularise the stay of illegal Zimbabwean immigrants in that country that conservative figures put at around two million.
The permits expired last year before the special dispensation was extended to 2017 and permit holders were required to apply for renewals.
Zimbabweans whose applications for work and business permits were turned down were recently given a lifeline after appeals.
The South African government is expected to issue Zimbabweans with the new special permits by end of July.
South Africa’s Home Affairs department has reportedly processed more than 100 000 special dispensation permits for Zimbabweans since October last year.
The permits were given to Zimbabweans who at the time held the Zimbabwean Special Dispensation Permit (ZSDP) valid until December 31 2017.
A ZSDP permit allows Zimbabweans to remain in South Africa and apply for a visa relevant to terms of stay in that country.
Millions of Zimbabweans are scattered across the globe fleeing political, economic and social upheaval at home, with the majority of them in South Africa.-SouthernEye

More than 3,000 illegal gold panners have been left stranded in the farming town of Bindura, Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland Central province, following their eviction by the police two weeks ago.

The situation nearly turned nasty in Harare on Tuesday as some vendors resisted an attempt by council to relocate them to vending sites that have been set up by the local authority.
Police officers tried to destroy market stalls erected by vendors at Copa Cabana and urging the street traders to relocate to new vending sites that have been set up by the city council, a move that was resisted by the vendors.
Promise Mkwananzi, programs coordinator of the Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Informal Sector Organization, told Studio 7 that the actions of the municipal were unjustified because council has not yet put proper infrastructure at the new newly-designated vending sites.
Mkwananzi urged the council to ensure that all the street traders were accommodated in stalls that have proper infrastructure and are moved after government has agreed with all stakeholders on proper ways of relocating vendors.
He added that authorities should ensure that they create employment and put the country’s economy back on track first before evicting the street traders.
The board secretary of the vendors union of Zimbabwe, Justice Munayi, who also sells wares on Harare’s street pavements, condemned the municipal police action. He tells Studio 7 that removing vendors from the streets will have a negative impact on their lives as the economic downturn shows no signs of abiting.
Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni said his council’s policy is that no vendor will be forcibly evicted from the city center.
Meanwhile, the drama at Town House over the suspension of Town Clerk Tendai Mahachi continued today with Manyenyeni giving him a two-day ultimatum to submit his employment profile.
This comes after Mahachi returned to resume his duties at Town House yesterday, less than a week after being sent on forced leave.
The Harare mayor told a news conference that he would now engage the newly-appointed Minister of Local Government, Savior Kasukuwere, over Mahachi’s matter.
But Kasukuwere noted that he was still new in the ministry and would want to get an insight into the affairs of the Harare City Council before making any pronouncements.
Mahachi was suspended for allegedly failing to give the city salary schedules for council executives.

Leading politicians will on Saturday converge at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Harare, for a prayer meeting for abducted journalist and activist, Itai Dzamara.
Dzamara was abducted by unknown men on March 9 and his whereabouts are yet to be established.
There is widespread suspicion that he was taken away by state security agents following his protests calling on President Robert Mugabe to step down due to governance failure.
The prayers meeting will be attended by MDC-T’s Morgan Tsvangirai, Joice Mujuru, Simba Makoni, Dumiso Dabengwa, Rugare Gumbo and Temba Mliswa among others who represent the opposition.
Mujuru is leading an informal political formation calling itself People First that emerged when she and other former Zanu (PF) heavyweights were expelled from the ruling party for allegedly seeking to topple Mugabe.
Religious leaders and civil society leaders will also attend the meeting. A similar gathering was recently thwarted by the police.
A prayer meeting conference will be held tomorrow morning at the Media Centre in Harare. Talk of a grand political coalition to fight Zanu (PF) rule is gathering momentum. -TheZimbabwean

Police have descended onto vendors at Harare’s Copacabana rank area in the CBD.
Hoardes of officers are in chaotic battles with street merchants stationed here at present. Scores of elderly family women fearing for their lives, are struggling to flee from the marauding officers.
The development comes barely 24 hours after controversial land baron Minister Ignatius Chombo was handed the police portfolio under the Home Affairs Ministry, his new appointment by President Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwe’s vendor business soaring with over (6) six million members, now constitutes a significant part of the entire gross domestic product.
More to follow…

A ZRP Officer at Nyamandlovu, Constable Mazhambe was caught on video pleasuring himself on a maid.
Three wives of neighbouring ZRP Nyamandlovu officers were patiently glued to their device as they carefully recorded the act through a next door window.
Constable Mazhambe is now under investigation for having sex with the female domestic worker of Sergeant Manyanye who is now based at ZRP Gwanda.
The main handset with the footage is currently in the possession of the Officer in Charge at Nyamandlovu for investigations.

THE family of the woman who was crushed to death together with a technician when an elevator crash-landed on them at the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) headquarters in Bulawayo, has blamed the parastatal for her death.
NRZ has suspended the use of the lifts at Parkade Centre following the death of the two on Friday.
The Chronicle visited the building, owned by the NRZ Pension Fund along 9th Avenue yesterday and read a notice informing the public to use the stairs as elevators were out of order.
Businesses renting the offices on the 23 floors of the tallest building in Bulawayo said they were losing business as clients were not prepared to use the stairs.
Elizabeth Mlangeni’s family said her death and that of the elevator technician, Kevin Musina, could have been avoided if the company prioritised the safety of workers.
Mlangeni and Musina were found dead at the company’s basement by a technician who was making a follow up on the latter who had not returned to work following a call by NRZ staff over a faulty lift.
Mlangeni’s brother Medicine Mhango said the parastatal put workers’ lives at risk by continually allowing its employees to ride on faulty lifts.
“I spoke to the NRZ’s general manager today in the afternoon. He said the company has had problems with its lifts for years,” said Mhango.
“What’s the most prized asset in a company? To me it’s the company’s workers. The lifts were dangerous to employees, why let the employees ride them?”
He said instead of compromising the safety of its workers, the NRZ should have shifted working hours to give workers time to climb the stairs and avoid using the lifts.
Mhango said his sister’s death was difficult to accept.
“It has left many of us shocked. She was a devout Christian and blameless. That’s why it’s difficult to accept and understand her passing,” said Mhango.
Mlangeni’s son Christpean, a student at the University of Zimbabwe, said he was devastated by his mother’s death.
He said he got worried when he called her and her phone kept ringing. It was uncharacteristic of his mother to ignore his calls, he said.
The family said they were still waiting for the postmortem report and finalising on burial arrangements.
Mlangeni is survived by a husband and two children who are both at university.
Musina’s father, Stephen Musina, said he had lost a peace-loving son who respected his community.
NRZ public relations manager, Fanuel Masikati, said he was not in a position to comment on the matter as he had just returned to the country after attending a funeral in South Africa.
“You can contact the acting general manager Mukwanda (Lewis) or the board chairman Mabena (Alvord),” said Masikati. Chronicle

Parliament was yesterday told that 58% of Zimbabweans interviewed during a baseline survey conducted by Plan International in Harare and Bulawayo did not see anything morally wrong with men bedding underage girls.
The issue was disclosed before the Parliamentary Thematic Committee on Gender by Plan International gender adviser Tinotenda Hondo, who had appeared before the committee together with Msasa Women’s Project director Netty Musanhu.
“A recent study by Plan International in Harare and Bulawayo shows 58% people in communities do not see anything morally wrong with men sleeping with girls under 18 years,” Hondo said.
“Of the men in the study who admitted to paying for sex, 40% had knowingly slept with sex workers as young as 11 years old, and only 11% knew that child marriage was prohibited.”
Hondo said cultural and religious practices were some of the fuelling factors of early child marriages, where some girls were given up as appeasement for ngozi, as a reward to a good son-in-law or even after the older sister dies a young girl was given in marriage to take over.
She said most of these cultural and religious practices were done clandestinely, while some families were in the habit of protecting rapist family members.
Musanhu also said that in 2014 her organisation attended to a total of 21 456 women and girls who were victims of gender-based violence and rape.
“In Chiredzi we attended to 2 482 women and girls, in Gweru 2 878, Harare 10 250, and in Bulawayo 5 846. This year 2015 in January we have since attended to 847 cases, in February 947 cases, and out of these statistics 77% were young rape survivors.
We recently attended to an 11-year-old girl who had multiple disabilities but she had been raped and was pregnant,” she said, adding most of the victims would have been infected with sexually-transmitted illnesses.
“We set up shelters at communities such as Bubi, Buhera, Chikomba, Gutu, Gokwe, Marange, Mwenezi and in Bubi. Between January and June 11 cases of rape were recorded and the youngest being five years. In Buhera our youngest survivor of rape was four years. Our shelter in Marange always has the highest cases of rape victims and early child marriages.”
The two organisations said it was now pivotal to strengthen the legal framework to curb early child marriages. Newsday

Harare Town Clerk, Tendai Mahachi is back at work barely a week after he was sent on an indefinite forced leave.
Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni however has professed ignorance over the Town Clerk’s return.
Dr Mahachi told the ZBC News off camera that his lawyers have written to the Local Government Board but could not be drawn into revealing the contents of the letter.
Mayor Manyenyeni however said he is not aware of Dr Mahachi’s presence at Town House and maintained that he is still on forced leave.
“He is still on leave, we are sorting out issues in his absence, it’s actually news to me that he is here,” he said.
Last week while making his final remarks at the monthly full council meeting, Mayor Manyenyeni sent Dr Mahachi on an indefinite forced leave, saying the move was to pave way for the ironing out of the succession issue and to address hefty salaries being drawn by council executives.
Meanwhile, the Harare City Council has refuted allegations that it’s misplaced priorities are alienating people from the government.
This comes after council lied that it was on course to finish preparing the identified new vending sites but went on to miss the target.
Vendors continue to sell their wares haphazardly on pavements 10 days after the deadline of 26 June elapsed.
Council had promised to complete work on the identified vending sites but 10 days later, progress is still slow.
Harare City Council Spokesperson, Mr Michael Chideme insisted that everything is on course, adding the council is now concentrating on registering people and encouraging the vendors to occupy their newly designated places to avoid confrontation.
“We are not alienating people from government, we are following council procedures in dealing with the matter,” he said.
Council also said it is earmarking the relocation of more vendors to areas such as Cripps and Seke Road, City Sports Centre and Coventry holding bay.
An estimated 3000 vendors have registered so far but the sites visited by the ZBC News are not yet ready to be occupied.

VICE-President Phelekezela Mphoko may have been sold a dummy by Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) when he was made to commission the $32 million mining equipment some of which has reportedly turned out to be second-hand and obsolete machinery, it has been learnt.
Some of the much-publicised equipment has already broken down before any mining has taken place with the board and management reportedly trying to sweep the matter under the carpet.
One of the second largest shareholders, Nicholas van Hoogstraten, was recently quoted in the media expressing reservations over the importation of the equipment alleging there was “gross corruption” in the acquisition of the machinery reportedly because it was bought from Third World countries.
HCCL corporate identity and public relations manager Elta Sanangura told NewsDay: “The fact is that we are still in the commissioning phase of the new equipment. We have teething problems as we do load-testing of the equipment.
“Specifically, we have hydraulic system problems on the BEML equipment. The problem has been diagnosed to be a manufacturing problem, the manufacturer is expeditiously responding to this problem and providing new components and spare parts. These new parts will arrive this week. The fact that the same problem has been found on different machines means that it is a manufacturing problem.”
Sanangura added: “Such problems occur during the commissioning phase. Once the machines are deployed into production and their performance during operation has been monitored and approved, then commissioning can be completed. It is unfounded and premature to report that the machines are second-hand. They have new serial numbers and are under warranty.”
Responding to the earlier reports, BEML Ltd in a letter to HCCL managing director Thomas Makore yesterday added: “We confirm that the mining equipment supplied to M/s Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) is indeed brand new and is in complete compliance with the specifications agreed to between HCCL and BEML and supplied after due certification by our quality team, besides your own team.
The EXIM Bank of India also assessed BEML’s capacity and capability in supplying quality equipment before they finalised to support the finance package. As such, there is no room for supplying any equipment of inferior quality.
“It is pertinent to mention here that apart from holding a major market share for this equipment in India, BEML has exported similar products to more than 60 countries globally, which are gainfully deployed.”
But insiders at the colliery company said some of the seats, types and other ancillary parts of the equipment were clearly worn out before the machines could even commence open cast operations.
It is understood that one of the new graders reportedly broke down at the beginning of June this year while it was in the process of surfacing of one of the roads at the colliery in preparation for Mphoko who officiated during the Kamandama Mine Disaster commemorations where the colliery community remembers the 427 miners who perished in an underground explosion on June 6, 1972.
“To make matters worse, it is only the top management and some board members who went to both Belarus and India to buy the equipment who were not even familiar with the mining operations let alone on how to operate or repair the machinery,” a well-placed source told NewsDay last week.
The issue of obsolete equipment has reportedly attracted the interest of the President’s Office who have demanded an explanation from the management on how the equipment was sourced. If it was proved that the procurement process was flawed this would be an embarrassment to both government and other stakeholders.
This also came at a time when HCC has reportedly spent more than $200 000 to hire chairs and tents from a Harare-based catering firm while employees were owed over 20 months’ salary arrears.
This was despite the fact that the colliery company has a catering department that has tents and chairs to accommodate more than 500 guests at any given time.
Some of the officials who graced the commissioning of the mining equipment included several Cabinet ministers, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe officials, Indian ambassador and top Belarus government officials among others.SouthernEye

TWO men who attacked a reveller at a Bulawayo bar claiming to be launching xenophobic attacks have been slapped with 210 hours of community service after being convicted of public nuisance and assault.

Mongameli Ndlovu (19) and Mzingaye Dhlamini (28) of Kingsdale in Bulawayo pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Merilyn Mutshina.

They were charged with public nuisance and assaulting Thomas Garadza (30) of Queens Park, Bulawayo, during a beer drink at the Wise Waters Bar in Queens Park West.

Mutshina on Friday convicted and sentenced the two to 12 months in jail. Four months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

The remaining months were suspended on condition that they performed 210 hours of community service at Queens Park Police Station. The developments came after the two called their defence witness Peter Joseph who defended them saying they did not assault anyone, but members of the Zimbabwe National Army who claimed they were sent by Zanu PF, did assault supporters of the opposition MDC-T.

Joseph said on the day there was a “Ladies’ Night” party at a local bar and soldiers arrived and started insulting people saying they had a right to do whatever they wanted because they were security forces. He said the soldiers were not in uniform and one of them was carrying a whip.

“One armed with a whip started beating people saying Zanu PF instructed them to whip MDC-T supporters,” Joseph said. “Accused one (Ndlovu) snatched the whip and went downstairs with it. We then took advantage to escape.”

He said the two were arrested by the police.

Prosecutor Danmore Kasenza told the court that on June 11 2015 at 11pm, Garadza was drinking beer at a local bar . He was allegedly dragged downstairs by Ndlovu and allegedly assaulted by Dhlamini using a whip all over the body. The two claimed to be launching xenophobic attacks. Garadza sustained injuries and was treated at a hospital where a medical report was compiled by a medical doctor.

A report made to the police led to the arrest of the two.  SouthernEye

As ugly succession wars continue to disembowel President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party, insiders say the party’s faction rallying behind Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa now has the competing group made up of ambitious Young Turks on the ropes.
Well-placed sources told the Daily News yesterday that the Mnangagwa faction was now “incontrovertibly on top of the Weevils and Gang of Four” after a supposed key ally of the VP won the party’s Mashonaland East provincial chairmanship at the weekend against a candidate perceived to be loyal to embattled national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.
Kasukuwere is alleged to be a central figure in the group of ambitious young party officials who have designs on higher office and who are known by the moniker Generation 40 (G40).
A smaller unit of the G40 is derisively referred to as the Gang of Four, and is seen as vehemently opposed to Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe.
With Mashonaland East having allegedly become the latest battleground between Mnangagwa and the G40, resident minister Joel Biggie Matiza — said to be a close ally of the VP — soundly thumped Chikomba East legislator Edgar Mbwembwe in the weekend provincial elections, garnering a massive 15 126 votes to Mbwembwe’s 8 845.
And even more importantly for Mnangagwa’s supporters, two other candidates belonging to the camp also won their provincial contests to leave the G40 “gasping for air”.
“If this was a soccer match it would be Mnangagwa 2, Kasukuwere 0, and the scoreline would only get worse for the divisive Weevils and Gang of Four. Remember that the G40 is already in disarray after the First Family put some distance between them and these over-ambitious factionalists.
“Now, they have lost Mash East and I can assure you that more bad news is coming their way. In the end, they will be very lucky to escape the same fate that befell the Gamatox (the Zanu PF faction aligned to former Vice President Joice Mujuru). It’s almost over bar the shouting,” a party official seen as close to Mnangagwa said yesterday.
The Daily News’ sister paper, the Daily News on Sunday reported recently that as Zanu PF’s deadly factional and succession wars continue to rip the former liberation movement apart, it had emerged that Mnangagwa’s supporters were ratcheting up the pressure on politburo members Kasukuwere and Jonathan Moyo, including allegedly frantically trying to convince Mugabe to drop them from Cabinet.
Sources told the newspaper that there was a renewed effort to see to it that the two Cabinet ministers were “stopped dead in their tracks”, amid the untested allegations by Mnangagwa’s supporters that they were opposed to the party strongman succeeding Mugabe.
However, the victorious Matiza refused to say much about his Mashonaland East victory when contacted by the Daily News yesterday, including the claims that his victory meant that Mnangagwa was on the ascendancy in the ruling party.
“I cannot say much as I am in church. Can you please try calling me after,” he said — although subsequent efforts to reach him were unsuccessful until the time of going to Press.
But, controversial musician-cum-politician, Energy Mutodi — a self-confessed fanatic follower of Mnangagwa claimed on his Facebook page yesterday that Mbwembwe in fact allegedly belonged to the “original” Zanu PF faction that uses the slogan People First, and which is linked to the Mujuru camp.
“Mashonaland East Resident minister Joel Biggie Matiza is the new Zanu PF provincial chairman after scooping 15 126 votes against a People’s First candidate Edgar Mbwembwe who got 8 845 votes according to reports.
“Matiza had been paired with Aplonia Munzverengi who also won the Women’s League top post with 5 612 against Mbwembwe’s People’s First candidate Beatrice Nyamupinga who polled 4 386.-DailyNews

Outgoing Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, was Monday morning humiliated once again by President Robert Mugabe and told to pack his remaining belongings from the powerful Munhumutapa Offices he was previously occupying.
He has been pushed down to the Tertiary Education Ministry.
ZimEye.com can reveal Moyo has been demoted to the Higher Education Ministry in a shocking cabinet reshuffle Monday.
The development confirms earlier revelations by ZimEye.com that the country’s security chiefs pushed for Moyo’s ouster as they felt threatened by his growing prowess through the State Media where he also appointed allies as news editors, the latter who continued claiming he would bounce back.
 
Other appointments are as follows:
Ignatius Chombo  – Home Affairs (reassignment),
Kembo Mohadi – State Security,
Savior Kasukuwere – Local Government(reassignment),
Prisca Mupfumira – is now Information Minister in an acting capacity.
Nyasha Chikwinya who was made the governor for Harare province, did not take her oath.
Brigadier Ambrose Mutinhiri was made Minister of State for Mashonaland East.

Police Assistant Commissioner (Operations) Gideon Baloyi has been demoted to the “propol’s pool” after he challenged Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi to probe Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri for allegedly covering up high-profile criminal cases and rewarding corrupt officers.
Baloyi’s transfer was communicated to his station through a radio signal last Thursday with his post set to be filled by a chief superintendent Mubaiwa.
The propol’s pool is a reserve in the police where officers will not be holding any specific portfolios, making them virtually powerless.
Sources said Baloyi was expected to assume his new duties at the police provincial headquarters this week.
Mohadi yesterday professed ignorance over Baloyi’s demotion, saying he was yet to receive the letter.
Masvingo Police Provincial Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner Martha Mofolo, refused to take questions from NewsDay.
Baloyi made headlines last year after being slapped with a nine-month jail term for allegedly trying to protect Nevermind Kufakunesu, accused of swindling local businessman Batsirai Mupindu of chickens worth $21 000 in January 2014.
Baloyi was later acquitted by the High Court after he successfully appealed against both conviction and sentence. He was then transferred to Masvingo.
Before turning to Mohadi, Baloyi had initially written to Chihuri and Deputy Commissioner-General (Crime) Godwin Matanga raising similar complaints, but got no response.
In a leaked strongly-worded four-page letter titled, ZRP: A Transforming Organisation Weighing Heavily on Transparency, which was copied to President Robert Mugabe, Baloyi “named and shamed” some senior police officers he claimed were walking scot-free despite committing serious crimes. He named one top official (name provided), still serving in the force, who allegedly fatally shot a street kid for stealing his mobile phone.
He also named an ex-commissioner and a superintendent whose corruption cases were allegedly swept under the carpet while another ex-commissioner left in a huff to claim benefits when charged with criminal abuse of office.
“I am sure this document will not offend particular individuals, but it is meant to correct our organisational policies that laws of the land should not be applied to selected individuals,” he said.
“Defeating the course of justice, according to my understanding, applies equally to all public office holders, police officers included. The million dollar question is, ‘Will they ever stand trial or they will simply go scot-free’.”
Baloyi also added a Zanu PF factional perspective to the dispute, claiming he was being persecuted for campaigning for Mugabe in the June 2013 harmonised elections.-Newsday

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been fingered as complicit in the stealing of prisoners’ meat by participating in concealing the crime.
When the prison riot happened in March, Mnangagwa falsely blamed the incident on incarcerated pastor Robert Gumbura.
But investigations by Prison Services boss Gen Paradzai Zimondi have revealed that when prisoners rioted, they were only protesting rampant theft of farm meat belonging to the prisoners in a development that has seen juniors Assi’ Commissioner Pambayi at Chikurubi Maximum and Chief Superintendent and Chomurenga Farm being grilled by Zimondi who has informed President Robert Mugabe there is evidence of theft which caused the prisoners to riot. The ZPS has numerous prisons in very province which have cattle, goats and pigs. According to Zimondi, Harare Prison farm alone, is able to feed Zimbabwe’s prisons countrywide on its own for a whole year. He said the farm’s produce can supply all the prisons countrywide, and yet prisoners who work those farms are living on empty stomachs ‘into the fifth day’.
The Zimondi report now features contrary to Mnangagwas. Responding to questions from legislators in March, Mnangagwa said the inmates were merely influenced by Gumbura. He said that most of them being dangerous, initially thought that prison warders and other security details were not armed and proceeded to climb ceilings in a bid to escape.
When reinforcements fired warning shots, he said, the inmates thought the guns had no bullets resulting in shots being directed at them to stop the escape.
“They conspired to break away from prison. A group of a hundred were involved in this conspiracy, surprisingly also, Gumbura was chairing that conspiracy. They went into the kitchen and caused damage, breaking pipes, attacked prison warders and eight of them were injured. While that was happening the core group was climbing into the ceiling trying to escape. When reinforcement came they thought they had no bullets and attacked the officers.
“They (security teams) then fired into the air but they (inmates) said there is nothing in the guns. They then fired straight at them, that was when they retreated and order was restored. We have now enhanced security.”
Harare West MP Ms Jessie Majome (MDC-T) asked why Mnangagwa’s version was different from spokesperson of the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services, Elizabeth Banda-Karinda’s, who was quoted in the media saying inmates died during an ensuing stampede.
“It is true that I read what you said. But I am giving you a report I got. I have no doubt that the report is authentic and a formal report. I believe that what I said represents what happened,” said Mnangagwa.
On relish, Mnangagwa said the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority had since given prison authorities cooking oil confiscated at border posts for violating entry requirements to feed the inmates.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa together with his wife flew out of Harare yesterday evening for a five-day official visit to China carrying with him stolen animals (8) eight baby lions, and (24) twenty four elephants. (ALSO READ – Govt Smuggles Baby Lions to China.)
The animals were driven from Hwange overnight Saturday to meet Mnangagwa in Harare.

Mnangagwa was in addition to the animals accompanied by his wife Auxillia and  agroupd of hangers-on: Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha, Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni and numerous senior Government and Zanu-PF officials.
During his visit, Mnangagwa is expected to hold meetings with his counterpart, the Vice President of the People’s Republic of China Mr Li Yuanchao, the Communist Party of China Minister of International Cooperation, Mr Wang Jiarui, Chinese businessmen, leaders of Qingdao Municipal Committee and Municipal Government and officials from the National Development and Reform Commission.
Mnangagwa is also expected to sign several agreements, among them a memorandum of agreement between the Communist Party of China and Zanu-PF and another memorandum of understanding between the National Development and Reform Commission and the Office of the President and Cabinet.
The Vice President’s visit to China comes at a time when Zimbabwe is struggling to implement secret multi-billion deals in various sectors of the economy were sealed by President Mugabe during his State visit to China last year.
The deals have however brought no benefit to Zimbabwe to date.

A former employee of a named Bulawayo lodge has revealed shocking information about several lodges in and around Bulawayo installing hidden video recording cameras to capture unknowing clients making love in the rooms.
Speaking to ZimEye.com in confidentiality, the former employee of a lodging located in the CBD of Bulawayo said the exercise which is predominantly done in Harare is slowly finding its way to most Bulawayo lodges and low class hotels. According to the source, the lodge owners are working with Nigerian men who pay a huge amount for the video recordings.
“The idea is being engineered by Nigerian business people who install the equipment in the rooms and capture unsuspecting clients in the act,” said the man.
The source further explained that in some cases the owners of the lodges are not aware of the existence of the cameras as the Nigerians work with unscrupulous managers and staff at the lodges. It is claimed that the Nigerians pay up to as much as US$1000 for a week’s recording.
Most of the low class city lodges are offering rest rooms for $5 per hour during the day and about $15 for a night and these are the ones targeted by the Nigerians as most clients using the lodges will be in the company of sex workers. The man also claims that some sex workers are part of the arrangement and deliberately engage in what he described as “classic moves” in the act for the best pictures.
The source warned that people should be worry of lodges that always keep their lights on or use light curtains as this is done to enhance lighting in the room for the hidden cameras.
“Most cases the rooms involved always have the light on and the switch deliberately made out of order,” he said.
In order to avoid the filming, the man advised clients using lodges to check the room for hidden cameras by closing the curtains in the room and switching off the light then switching on their cell phone camera without the flush, move it around the room, if a little red light is spotted on the phone then a camera is hidden in the room.
The source also advised clients to refuse to use rooms with malfunctioning light switches or with exceptionally enhanced lighting. He also warned men who are serviced by ladies who will insist on changing positions and moves in the room as they will be deliberately positioning for the best picture in front of the cameras.
The man directed this reporter to the lodge in question and insisted on asking for room 7 where he was confident the cameras were set up but a suspicious lady at the lodge reception refused to offer the room to the reporter. Questioned why, the receptionist insisted that the lodge was fully booked and the room in question “out of order ” before asking the security officer on duty to order the reporter out of the lodge as she wanted to reconcile her cash from previous night bookings.
A couple of ladies of the night interviewed at the corner of Samuel Parirenyatwa Street and 14th Avenue confirmed existence of cameras at city lodges and some of them being party to the recordings. The ladies claim to be charging $10 for each successful recording session paid on the spot by lodge operators.

VINCENT TAFIRENYIKA, the Director of National Association of Youth Organisations (NAYO) and a top MDC-T activist, died on the spot Saturday night while coming from Sanyati on his way to Harare.
ZimEye.com can reveal Mr Tafirenyika together with two other men, the driver, and another relative who had on Saturday travelled to Sanyati for a traditional marriage ceremony, died in their vehicle around 7pm Saturday. Other passengers are said to have sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving vital medicals.
The accident occurred just after Chegutu following a disastrous attempt to overtake a vehicle leading in front. “On their way back after Chegutu they wanted to overtake and they had a head on collision at a blind turn”, a top family friend told ZimEye.com

His body was taken to Chegutu hospital and will be soon taken for burial.
Tafirenyika who was living in Budiriro, leaves behind a family of three children the oldest who was in grade four.
He has been described as a hard working man. Commented MDC Youth Secretary General Discent Bajila: “I’ve known Vincent for sometime.
“He was a hard working young man.. In 2012 I was part of a group that elected him into the founding board of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Alumnus Association. We did so because we had trust in him and he didn’t disappoint. His death renders our generation poorer in terms of leadership.
“That means those of us who remain have greater work to do because the void he leaves must be closed,” he said.

Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s relationship with Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya-Moyo has deteriorated to very low levels.
Impeccable sources told The Standard yesterday that the matter came to a head two weeks ago when new Makokoba lawmaker Tshinga Dube organised victory celebrations following his June 10 by-election win. Dube invited Mphoko as guest of honour and also reportedly invited Khaya-Moyo who arrived at the venue before the VP.
“Khaya-Moyo arrived before Mphoko and when the vice-president, then on his way to the function, was advised that the spokesperson was already there, he ordered his aides to make a U-turn and never came to the celebrations,” said a highly-placed source.
“It is that bad and this goes back to the fight for the vice-presidency in which Mphoko was accused of being a Johnny-come-lately.”
The source said the two were fighting over control of the Zapu element in Zanu PF.
“Mphoko obviously feels threatened by Khaya-Moyo, while the spokesperson still thinks that despite his congress set-back, there is still a chance,” he said.
While denying any knowledge of the incident, Khaya-Moyo said it would “be unfortunate if it happened that way”.
“I was brought up properly and do not harbour any grudges or hate anyone. I was invited to the occasion and attended as such. Ask Dube or the Zanu PF Bulawayo executive. If it happened as you say [that Mphoko retreated] then it is most unfortunate,” Khaya-Moyo said.
Zanu PF’s Bulawayo chairperson Dennis Dube also referred questions to his namesake, the new MP.
“I also came in a bit late but we did not organise the event. It was an individual effort by the new MP to celebrate his victory,” the provincial chairperson said.
Efforts to get a comment from Tshinga Dube were fruitless as his mobile phone was unreachable.
The fallout between Khaya-Moyo and Mphoko follows Mugabe’s admission that all was not well between his two deputies.
Mugabe told a Zanu PF youth league meeting last Saturday that ruling party groups were coalescing behind VP Emmerson Mnangagwa on the one hand and Mphoko on the other.
Just over six months ago, in December 2014, Mphoko — then an outsider and relatively unknown in the country’s political arena — was chosen ahead of Khaya-Moyo into the ruling party’s presidium. Earlier indications had been that the then party national chairman had one foot into the second most powerful office in the land.
A series of events beginning mid-2014 during the youth and women’s league elective conferences saw a vicious shift in fortunes for a faction in Zanu PF then led by deposed former Vice-President Joice Mujuru. Mujuru and her allies, along them then secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, former spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, ex-war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda and nine provincial chairpersons, cabinet ministers and deputies, were forced out in brutal fashion, accused of plotting against veteran ruler Mugabe.
However, Khaya-Moyo, despite his reported strong links to the Mujuru group, survived the chopping block by the skin of his teeth. But his fight for the party second secretary’s position which would have guaranteed him the position of deputy president went up in smoke. He was demoted to party spokesperson while the national chairman’s position was abolished by Mugabe.
The fight for supremacy in Matabeleland has thus continued despite Mphoko’s ascendancy.
“He feels inadequate because he does not have the roots that are required for the rough and tumble of Zimbabwean politics. In his bid to find space, he has obviously stepped on a few toes or rubbed others the wrong way,” The Standard heard from a senior Zanu PF member.
Mphoko could not be reached for comment. standard

First Lady Grace Mugabe has cast a strange eye on Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo, expelled Hurungwe Legislator Temba Mliswa has charged.
Despite her commendable achievements, said Mliswa, the First Lady has shown strange favour towards Chombo, Saviour Kasukuwere, and Obert Mpofu.
“I certainly commend the First Lady for dealing with issues of corruption, going for them, true I like that. Yes, Mai Mujuru is corrupt, Didymus Mutasa is corrupt, but First Lady you are missing Chombo, you are missing Kasukuwere; you are missing Obert Mpofu,” said Mliswa.
Temba Mliswa Bulawayo was speaking in his press address in Bulawayo. In yet another vicious attack from one of its young and energetic, recently ousted senior member, ZANU Pf is at the receiving end, after Temba Mliswa also labelled Robert  Mugabe’s cabinet a bunch of cowards and dead wood.
The statements were made at the Bulawayo Press Club this week, when the vibrant Mliswa bared his heart out.
He also took a swipe at all ZANU PF members who pretend to hurt the former vice President Mrs Joyce Mujuru. Listen to the Audio for more.

• Sex positions.
• Naked picture.
• Prophet begs young church girls for sex

Man of the cloth and man of the “broth” – fugitive preacher “Prophet” Uebert Angel has been exposed in a sex scandal with female church members.

The 37 year old preacher who makes church folk revere him under the title “Major Prophet”, and “Papa,” is currently under fire for other scandals some in which church members are threatened with eternal punishment if they dare query his conduct. He is now in the business of approaching young girls for sex.
ZimEye.com can exclusively reveal Angel (real name Mudzanire) is in secret prowls behind the walls to pleasure himself on unsuspecting girls.
One woman in her twenties (in Zimbabwe), was soon after a slopper, ordered to vocalise a denial as she said that the preacher did not rape her. But the same woman would in a different conversation with Angel’s Zimbabwe based former Chief of Staff, Terrence Madiro, acknowledge that she slept with the preacher. In the below footage she is heard affirming when told, “you are the ones who were laid, lets hope it was done when his health was well.”
In another case to do with another congregant based in the UK, Angel approached the woman, (Name Withheld), via the microblogging website Twitter and also via the Whatsapp network between the 10th July and October 2014, when he demanded of the woman to send a nude picture of her. He was throughout the period of his luring addressing himself as “Papa” when he also told the woman to inform him what “sex position” she prefers.
“Tell me what sex position you would like me to do you,” he wrote.
The digital communication records have been fully corroborated with the Twitter company for IP(internet protocol) authenticity. Although Angel attempted to destroy the records in their entirety, ZimEye.com was able to retrieve the full data cache including that from the Whatsapp network.
The full pack of shocking videographic evidence now compiled into a documentary is on the way to be broadcast while it passes through lawyers for redactions for the purpose of privacy concerns.
When contacted for comment by ZimEye.com, Angel dodged questions. However, on the day he was handed a final written request with evidence of his infidelity to his wife Beverly, an unrepentant Angel took to micro blogging site twitter to state that he was not bothered about what people say about him. To add salt to his wounded victims, he posted a picture of himself on a stationery chartered plane sitting with his wife’s brother in a rigid exterior to show he is still married to his wife.

Two people are feared dead after an elevator had a free fall twenty three floors down the NRZ building in Bulawayo.
Information currently trickling in at the site of the accident says that a female employee of the Bulawayo Beitbridge Railway Company housed on the 23rd floor of the building got into the elevator late yesterday evening upon knocking off from work and got stuck in the elevator before it could leave the floor.
The lady is said to have called the local technician from the elevator’s internal communication device. The technician managed to make his way into the lift but on trying to release the lift it lost grip and went on a free fall twenty three floors down.
Since the accident happened after hours no one in the building realised that an accident had occurred until 18 hours later when a colleague of the technician discovered his colleague was not available at his place of duty.
On checking the colleague’s log book that’s when he discovered that he had recorded a call for a stuck lift on the 23rd floor but there was no entry of the result of the accident call.
On investigation he discovered that the lift in question had thumped down to the basement.
Bulawayo fire and ambulance personnel and members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police are currently on site trying to retrieve the bodies of the deceased people.
Information is still coming through and this reporter remains on site as the events unfold.

Ever since controversial First Lady Grace Mugabe revealed that the country’s vice presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko take instructions from her, the two Zanu PF “strongmen” have become the butt of bad jokes at dinner tables and on social media.
And yesterday, stalwarts of the country’s liberation struggle joined the fray, describing President Robert Mugabe’s co-deputies — both of whom have until now been seen as tough and strong-willed personalities — as “weak pawns” who were allegedly clinging to their positions through “shameless bootlicking” of the nonagenarian’s influential wife.
Speaking during a ground-breaking ceremony for a housing project in Kadoma on Wednesday, Grace — who has no formal executive functions — surprised the gathered crowd when she disclosed that she often sat down with the two VPs, who were both present at the function, to tell them what to do.
“The leadership of VPs has changed. It is different because in the short time that these two men have been appointed to office, I cannot count how many times I have sat down with them and discussed the development of Zimbabwe.
“That is the leadership that we want, leaders who know they are servants of the people. They know they are there to work for the people and understand that they have been given jobs to work for the people.
“They know that they must sit down with Amai to discuss about developmental issues. I support that. VP Mnangagwa, I support that and am sure you have lost count the number of meetings we have had.
“This never happened in the past as there was a woman who wore dresses like me (former Vice President Joice Mujuru) but never came to me to discuss about the development of Zimbabwe.
“But I tell you, Mnangagwa comes with a notebook, Mphoko comes with a notebook to listen to me. They know I am younger than them but they appreciate that I am Amai and I have something to tell them about developing the nation.
“They will be taking down notes as I speak. I tell you, they will be jotting down notes as I speak so that the nation moves forward. I would like to tell them that I want that relationship to continue because that is the only way Zimbabwe can develop and become successful,” Grace said.
And as if to confirm the First Lady’s power over him, Mnangagwa appeared to ask for her permission when it was time for him to depart early for Harare, before the end of the function.
Former Presidential Affairs minister and close confidant of President Robert Mugabe, Didymus Mutasa, told the Daily News yesterday that he had never heard of a minister, never mind a VP, making a report to a First Lady or any other unelected official in his long tenure in government.
He also pointed out the fact that Grace was well below the VPs even within the post-congress Zanu PF structures as Women’s League secretary, which made it even more ridiculous that the VPs would willingly subject themselves to her at State level.
“It is a new type of democracy where two vice presidents report to a person who was not elected. This only started last year at the so-called December congress. I however do not think that this type of democracy will take us far and we now have to wait and see how this circus ends,” Mutasa said.
Grace, a former typist in the president’s office, entered Zimbabwe’s tumultuous political fray last year ahead of the party’s disputed congress, and was instrumental in masterminding the decapitation of former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her allies — who have all since been purged ruthlessly from both the ruling party and government, amid untested claims that they plotted to oust and kill Mugabe.
Scornfully, Mutasa added that the behaviour of the VPs was “a clear negation” of the tenets of the liberation struggle which among other goals had aimed to bring “wholesome democracy” to the country.
“I believe people who died during the war were not fighting for this. I was not fighting for this, I was fighting for the freedom of the masses.
“I don’t know how these VPs think, although it is up to them to behave as they please because they are serving at the will of someone,” he said.
Reminded about freedom fighter Margaret Dongo’s famous words in the 1990s when she likened Zanu PF’s fawning bigwigs to Mugabe’s wives, Mutasa said tongue in cheek that he hoped Zimbabwe would not allow same sex marriage “because it could end up embarrassing us”.
Spokesperson of the “original” Zanu PF that uses the slogan People First, Rugare Gumbo — and the first of many senior officials to be expelled from Zanu PF ahead of its damp squib “elective” congress last year, said everything that was taking place was meant to reflect that the two VPs served “at the mercy of their masters”.
“They said they wanted to create one centre of power, and these two guys were appointed by Mugabe and his wife. Mugabe and his wife now do as they want.
“So we are not surprised because to all intents and purposes, these two VPs are ceremonial, they are lame ducks who can be fired anytime,” Gumbo said.
On her part, Dongo said she was so shocked by the revelations, that for once she almost felt “tongue-tied”.
“I am still preparing a comprehensive response. This is unacceptable,” she said.
In the early 1990s, Dongo caused pandemonium in Parliament after she called Zanu PF MPs, including cabinet ministers, “Mugabe’s wives”.
So incensed by the assertion was the late liberation war icon, Solomon Mujuru, who had by then traded his military uniform for a berth in the august House, that he wanted to beat her, insisting that he was his own man.
Zanu PF insiders also told the Daily News yesterday that the majority ruling party legislators and other party members who were seeking higher officer were also “behaving like the two VPs and reporting to Amai in order to get promotions and the president’s ear”.-Dailynews

Former Deputy Justice Minister Fortune Chasi has been roped into a senior parliamentary role.
Chasi who was ejected by First Lady Grace Mugabe last year after she publicly accused him of blocking her land grabs, has been appointed into the Parliamentary Legal Committee, a promotion he denied has anything to do with his former senior Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as some reports allege.

Chasi will wield the influential role of formulating laws for both debate and passage.
ZANU PF’s chief whip Joram Gumbo confirmed the development. “Yes I can confirm Mr Chasi is now part of the committee since last week,” he said.
Chasi was last year randomly ejected from his parliamentary seat when the Joyce Mujuru purge began. He was then subsequently removed from his ministerial post. But he continued a strong bond with VP Mnangagwa and was not vindictive, a source said.
Chasi responding to reports has said Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has nothing to do with his appointment saying that it was rather the ZANU PF party which did.
He responded saying, “a somewhat misleading article has hit the airwaves over my appointment to the above Committee. The purpose of this post is to correct the impressions that may have been created by the article in question.

Harare preacher Emmanuel Makandiwa has admitted to his fake belly fat miracle in April. In a televised address, Makandiwa flanked by his staff admitted the video expose footage released by ZimEye.com is genuine apart from arrows pointing to his fraud. To add to this, the Kwekwe based woman under investigation, evaded supplying evidence she two weeks earlier claimed she possesses. SEE VIDEOS BELOW:

A CENTRAL Intelligence Officer (CIO) stationed at Parliament yesterday appeared in court facing charges of extorting $10 000 from a Kenyan national using the name of Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi.
It is the State’s case that Zvikomborero Walter Ngorima on Wednesday, went to Timothy Waweru’s residence in Highlands pretending to be seeking Benjamin Masyuku, who is a director of Inyaka Mine in Zvimba.
On being told that Masyuku was in the United States on business, the State alleges that Ngorima demanded $10 000 from the complainant saying it was for Mohadi and his deputy Ziyambi Ziyambi.
He said it was a bribe to facilitate Masyuku’s return after his deportation in 2013.
“Accused alleged that the two ministers were furious about Masyuku’s failure to honour his promise to give them a reward of $10 000 for facilitating his return to Zimbabwe after his deportation in 2013,” the State papers read.
“Accused then threatened the complainant that his failure to avail Masyuku or pay the money was going to result in him being deported by the immigration department or sent to prison.”
Waweru allegedly pleaded with Ngorima to go back and tell the ministers to wait for a week when Musyuku was expected to have returned to Zimbabwe.
Waweru then told his friend David Kurwaisimba about the incident.
Kurwaisimba is said to have approached Mohadi who denied sending Ngorima and advised the complainant to report the matter to police.
The State says it has evidence against Ngorima in the form of statements from five witnesses confirming his actions and audio recordings of the conversations he had with the complainant.
Magistrate Tendai Mahwe did not ask Ngorima to plead and remanded the matter to July 17. Newsday

Statements by South Africa’s opposition EFF leader, Julius Malema that President Robert Mugabe is not to blame for the problems in Zimbabwe and that he and other African leaders, with the exception of South Africa should rule for as long as they like are sickening as they betray either a serious lack of understanding on the Zimbabwean situation or a deep hatred for the people of Zimbabwe.
Malema is entitled to his opinions, but when he makes such inflammatory statements over a situation he does not have a full grasp of, it crosses the line.
It baffles the mind why he would absolve President Mugabe of all blame of Zimbabwe’s problems when he and his Zanu PF party have presided over the suffering of Zimbabweans through the mismanagement of the economy, corruption, violence and genocide over the past 34 -years. The country has been reduced to a vending economy due to catastrophic unemployment while millions of Zimbabweans have fled the difficult conditions to other countries, South Africa included, under President Mugabe’s watch.
What is so troubling and inexplicable about Malema’s remarks is that he makes it clear that democratic practices should only be applicable to South Africa and not any other African country. For him to say any other African leader with the exception of South Africa can rule for more than two terms is foolish and should not be coming from of a person who aspires to be a President of a country one day. As MDC we find it quite disturbing that Malema finds it palatable to condemn the rest of Africa to the whims of dictators while fighting against the same in his own country. His statements betray his selfishness, hypocrisy and a blatant disregard for the welfare of the rest of Africa.
As MDC we believe that as a continent, the day we begin classifying some countries as more worthy than others is the day we abandon our commitment for a just, prosperous and democratic Africa.
Kurauone Chihwayi
MDC Secretary for International Relations

Following the expulsion of Mr Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, David Butau and Ray Kaukonde respectively from both Parliament and the ruling party Zanu PF,the President Robert Mugabe has set September 19, 2015 as the date for by-elections for Mwenezi East, Mbire and Marondela Central.
Yesterday the Government Gazette published that President Mugabe said these seats became vacant after the three stopped to be members of the ruling party.
“I do, by this proclamation, order new elections for the constituencies of Mbire, Mwenezi and Marondera Central.
I do, by this proclamation, fix 19th day of September 2015, as the day on which a poll shall be taken if a poll becomes necessary in terms of section 46(17) of the Electoral Act.” said President Mugabe.
President Mugabe said the Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda notified him of the existence of the vacancies as set by the law.
Section 39(2) of the Electoral Act empowers the President to make a proclamation ordering new elections after receiving notification of a vacancy in the membership of Parliament.
In the proclamation, President Mugabe set July 20, 2015 as the date on which nomination courts shall sit to receive nominations from aspiring candidates for the three vacant constituencies.
The nomination courts will sit at Bindura Magistrates’ Court for Mbire, Masvingo Magistrates’ Court for Mwenezi East and Marondera Magistrates’ Court for Marondera Central.
The three former legislators were fired from the ruling party after they were linked to a cabal led by former Vice President Joice Mujuru that sought to topple President Mugabe from power at the 6th National People’s Congress last December.
In addition, the party has also expelled Dr Olivia Muchena and Mr Dzikamai Mavhaire, who are Senators.
The proclamation comes after Mr Bhasikiti, the erstwhile Mwenezi East legislator and Minister of Provincial Affairs for Masvingo, had taken the President to the High Court challenging his expulsion from the party.
Mr Bhasikiti’s case flopped after the court ruled that the matter had been overtaken by events after Adv Mudenda had declared the seat vacant when he received a letter from Zanu PF disowning him.
Mr Bhasikiti had also sought the Constitutional Court to bar the President from calling an election in his former constituency before the end of his case whereby  he was contesting his expulsion from Zanu PF.
High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu on Wednesday reserved judgment in Mr Bhasikiti’s case challenge.
By-elections have already been conducted in Headlands and Hurungwe West constituencies after Zanu PF expelled former legislators Mr Didymus Mutasa and Mr Temba Mliswa respectively for their link to the cabal that sought to unconstitutionally remove President Mugabe.
Other by-elections were also recently held in 14 constituencies after the opposition MDC-T disowned its legislators who had joined the splinter Renewal Team.
All the by-elections were won by Zanu PF after the MDC-T boycotted them on the grounds that it wanted electoral reforms first.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said Zanu PF had nominated  Kereniya Uta to fill the vacancy in the National Assembly following the death of  Annastacia Nyahwo.
Nyahwo held the seat as one of the party-list members.
Justice Makarau said anyone wishing to object to the nomination of Mr Uta may lodge their objection with the ZEC Chief Elections Officer.

Ousted ZANU (PF) Harare provincial chair Goodwills Masimirembwa has been embodied in a $3 million dollar scandal from the government’s vehicle parastatal CMED.
Sources close to the investigation told ZimEye.com Masimirembwa allegedly abused part of a $10 million grant which was extended to CMED by the Central Bank to recapacitate the ailing company.
“The net is closing and very soon Masimirembwa will be summoned to the courts of law to answer the allegations,” said one of the sources investigating the case.”
Masimirembwa was once Robert Mugabe’s highly trusted man until the Joyce Mujuru purging began last year.  He was axed on allegations of factionalism and attacking Mugabe and also allegedly misleading vice president Phelekezela Mphoko on who should be the party’s candidate for Harare East in the June 10 by-elections.
More to follow…

THE Officer-in-Charge of Guyu Police Station in Gwanda allegedly raped his subordinate after proposing love to her for two years with no luck.
Inspector Smart Dickens Siziba, 46, allegedly pounced on a general hand working in his office and raped her after putting on a condom.
His trial is set to start on July 27 before senior regional magistrate, Trynos Utahwashe.
The State led by Robin Mukura alleges that sometime in 2012, Insp Siziba proposed love to the rape victim and she turned him down.
“Insp Siziba kept on calling the woman and would sometimes send her love messages on her mobile phone but the woman continuously rejected the proposal. Sometime between January and February 2013, Insp Siziba summoned the woman to his house and she complied,” said Mukura.
He said at around 8PM, Insp Siziba met the woman at the door before they both proceeded into the house.
“While in the passage, Insp Siziba got hold of her right hand and led her into his bedroom. When they entered the bedroom, Insp Siziba was quick to undress and he started to caress the woman, fondling her breasts in the process,” Mukura said.
He said Insp Siziba overpowered the woman who vainly tried pushing him away.
“Insp Siziba pushed the woman onto the bed and she fell on her back. He then forcibly lowered her trousers and tore her panties in the process. He then took a condom which was under his pillow and put it on. While he was busy putting the condom on, the woman got off the bed, dressed up and walked towards the door,” Mukura said.
“He grabbed the woman and pushed her back onto the bed and raped her once. After raping her, Insp Siziba escorted her to the gate. On the following morning he summoned her to his office and told her the rape incident was their secret but the woman divulged the information to her friend.”

Parents or guardians who accept lobola from men seeking to marry girls under 18 years of age could in future face prosecution, together with their children’s suitors, if a motion before Parliament is approved and incorporated in the statutes.
In the debate on a motion which began on Thursday, legislators want the age of marriage for both males and females raised from 16 to 18 years.
Senators across the political divide this week questioned Prosecutor-General Mr Johannes Tomana’s recent sentiments that children aged 12 years could get married if they were idle.
Midlands Senator Lilian Timveous (MDC-T) is steering the motion in the Upper House calling on Government to enact and enforce laws that raise the age of marriage to 18 for both girls and boys.
While the laws are meant to protect both sexes, it is girls who are the most affected by child marriages due to economic circumstances, culture, religion and abuse by male adults.
Sen Timveous called for urgent re-alignment of existing laws to the Constitution.
“The Marriage Act Chapter 5.11 is unconstitutional because it allows marriage for people below the age of 18,” she said.
“Sections 20 and 22 of this Act say, “a girl between the age of 16 and 18 can marry with the consent of her mother or father”.
“The Customary Marriage Act, Chapter 5.07 is also unconstitutional on the basis that it does not provide for a minimum age of 18 years for marriage.”
Mashonaland Central Senator Monica Mavhunga (Zanu-PF) said under the envisaged dispensation, men who marry children under 18 years would be prosecuted.
“If a person is engaged in child marriage, one should be given a deterrent punishment,” she said.
“All those people who agree to these early child marriages should also be taken as accomplices and be sentenced as well because they are equally guilty.”
Chiefs representative in the Senate, Chief Musarurwa of Mashonaland East, trashed Mr Tomana’s sentiments, saying anyone who married a 12-year old girl was a rapist.
“As a mother, does it not affect you to accept that lobola?” he said. “That is witchcraft. You are bewitching your own child by carrying out such practices.”
MDC-T Senator for Matabeleland South, Sithembile Mlotshwa, supported the motion, saying there was need to protect girls.
“I think 18 years still is not enough for the girl to consent to marriage because marriage is a very serious affair where you need to have your act together, where you need to exactly know what you are supposed to do,” she said.
“I really believe Zimbabwe must take a leading role in Africa by showing that it is taboo that young girls are being married. Africa is the worst place when it comes to the child marriages.”
Senator Alice Chimbudzi of Zanu-PF (Mashonaland Central) added: “My question is, how beautiful is a 12-year old child and why should that child be betrothed to a man?”
Mr Tomana torched a storm when he reportedly said children should be allowed to choose marriage as an option if they were idle.
Many Zimbabweans reacted angrily to Mr Tomana’s remarks and called for his resignation. First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe this week joined the debate, saying Mr Tomana’s comments were irresponsible.

Government has increased the mandatory blending ratio of unleaded petrol from 10 percent ethanol to 15 percent with immediate effect following significant improvement in supplies of ethanol from Green Fuel.
The move is likely to see a decrease in the pump price of the blend which is currently pegged between $1,46 and $1,53 per litre, depending on location.
Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Samuel Undenge announced the new ratios in a Government Gazette published yesterday.
“It is hereby notified that in terms of section 4(1) of the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Regulations, 2013, published in Statutory Instrument 17 of 2013, as amended by Statutory Instrument 81 of 2014, the Minister approves the current level of mandatory blending to 15 percent,” reads part of the gazette.
“The blending of ethanol and unleaded petrol at E15 is now sustainable because there is now adequate supply of ethanol to sustain blending at the 15 percent level.”
The blending ratio was reduced from 15 percent to five percent in December last year due to low sugar cane supplies from Green Fuel, which is the country’s sole ethanol supplier.
This was after the company faced challenges in harvesting the cane due to water clogging.
Green Fuel is a joint venture between the Government through arda and two private investors Macdom and Rating.
Arda board chair Mr Basil Nyabadza is on record as saying the company was keen to reach 20 percent ratio before the end of this year.
Green Fuel initially projected that by 2018, it would have completed the construction of Kondo Dam, which is worth $300 million and also employ 36 500 people.
It is no longer certain if Green Fuel would be able to sustain the demand of ethanol after it emerged that there is a mass exodus of employees at the company due to erratic payment of salaries.
Sources said the company owes its employees salaries for the past six months.
As a stop gap measure, Government last year, contracted Triangle to temporarily supply ethanol after Green Fuel failed to meet the increasing demand on the market.

Three children died this Thursday after their house was gutted by fire in Epworth.
A two year old died on the spot while a six year old and a nine year old died on admission at the hospital.
Harare province police Acting Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Simon Chazovachii said the fire was caused by a candle which was left burning while the children aged 2,6 and 9 we left alone in the house.
Police say no foul play is suspected but urged the public not to leave children unattended.
This week a fire destroyed former RBZ Governor Gideon Gono’s house and destroyed property worth thousands of dollars.
Last month, property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed when fire gutted the house of businessman Philip Chiyangwa in Borrowdale.

Barely two days after First Lady Grace Mugabe spoke out against rapists and paedophiles, another rapist has reportedly been arrested in Mutare for abusing girls some who were 10 years old.
The arrest of Vengai Chimombe (33) of House Number 104 Muchena, Sakubva is likely to clear a litany of rape cases that hogged Mutare’s oldest high-density suburb in recent months, the State Media reports.
His arrest comes at a time when ZANU PF for Kambuzuma Tinashe Maduza was yesterday on the run for similar offences.
Luck ran out for the married suspect, who had managed to evade law enforcement agents for close to two years, when a 10-year-old victim spotted him at a busy market place in the suburb.
Upon seeing the person who forcibly deflowered her, the girl screamed, alerting residents who subsequently gave chase as Chimombe took to his heels.
Although he managed to escape, his cover had been blown off as residents got to know that Chimombe was the person behind the serial rape cases that had literally sent parents into panic mode.
Detectives then lied in ambush at his house, leading to his arrest.
Speaking at Sakubva Police Station, the suspect who is married with two daughters, narrated his modus operandi.
He appeared to have lost count of the number of girls he allegedly raped.
“I started raping these girls last year. I lured them into mountains. I don’t know what evil spirit had corrupted my mind to act the way I did. I pretended as if I needed assistance from them after which I would rape them. I only failed to rape one girl, who fought to free herself. She fought hard and I became powerless to rape her.
“When I raped the last victim, my wife had spent a month away from home. In the process of raping the girl, she soiled herself and I left her lying unconscious and bolted from the scene,” he said.
He became speechless when asked how he felt if his two daughters were to face the same abuse he perpetrated on the girls.
“It will hurt me and I would not like anyone to do that to my children,” he said.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Enock Chishiri said an identification parade was quickly conducted at Sakubva Police Station after his arrest, where four of the victims positively identified him as the perpetrator of the sexual abuse.
Detectives who witnessed the identification parade said it was a painful sight as the young girls wept uncontrollably when they set their eyes on Chimombe.
“They vividly remembered him as the person who abused them,” said a detective who requested anonymity.
Insp Chishiri said Chimombe pounced on the girls since last year.
“He would target his victims in bushy areas along the Mutare-Beira Road near Valley Lodge as well as near Mutare Teachers’ College en-route the Dangamvura Link Road. On August 24 last year he met a 15-year-old girl along Beira Road near Valley Lodge. He pounced on the teenager, grabbed her and raped her once.
“In February this year on an unknown date, but around 7am, he approached a 13-year-old girl near Mutare Teachers’ College. He offered to give her $2 if she assisted him to go and carry some goods. Along the way he went to Nyakamete Hills where he raped the unsuspecting girl once,” said Insp Chishiri.
On May 18 around 6am, he met a 10-year-old Sakubva girl on her way to school near Mutare Teachers’ College and lured her to a mountain which lies between the Grain Marketing Board premises and Fern Valley. He raped her once.
“On June 21 at around 12pm he met a 14-year-old girl and lied to her that he wanted to collect some goods at Gimboki South Housing Scheme in Dangamvura. He offered the girl $2 for assisting him. While on top of Dangamvura Mountain en-route Gimboki, he grabbed the girl, tied her legs and raped her once. In the process of raping the teenager, she soiled herself, but he went on to wipe clean the girl with a doll she was carrying and continued to sexually abuse her.
“She became unconscious. The girl, who was left for dead, was only helped by a woman who had gone up the mountain for afternoon prayers. She carried the unconscious girl down the mountain with blood stains all over her clothes. The matter was reported at Sakubva Police Station. Four days later, one of the victims spotted the accused in Muchena where he resides. After his arrest he admitted to all the charges. He is assisting us with investigations,” said Insp Chishiri.
Chimombe was expected to appear in court soon.-Manicapost

Clashes between housing cooperatives in Harare South and Ruwa have continued unabated with the latest clashes resulting in members of the Solomon Mujuru and Shingiriro housing cooperatives clashing in a log fight resulting in a shooting which left a dog dead.
According to the ZRP National Spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, members of Ruwa’s Solomon Mujuru Housing Cooperative led by Oswell Gwanzura and Petronella Kagonye aligned Shingiriro Housing Cooperative this Thursday morning, engaged in a fight following the removal of pegs from the disputed Solomio Farm by Kagonye’s faction of youths on Monday.
The melee resulted in a dog dying from a gunshot when Kagonye’s body guard fired a shot at the Gwanzura aligned youths.
Meanwhile, Harare South Housing Union, the Apex Board and Hilarious Housing Cooperative also clashed this Thursday morning over allocations and evictions, with the squabble only calming after the involvement of security forces.
The three parties however say they have resolved their differences, citing miscommunication as the cause for the disturbances.
Of late, Harare and its surroundings has seen an influx of leadership wrangles and land ownership, with unregistered cooperatives putting up Zanu PF and national flags on unsanctioned land, and using party senior officials to authenticate their settlements. -ZBC

More police corruption on the roads is expected after Zimbabwe’s poorly-paid police forces stationed at various camp outposts joined teachers in being forced by government to pay rentals for their staff accommodation, ZimEye.com can reveal.
The rentals, range from $20 to $40 while those for teachers are $50 to $150.
Cops at Queenspark Police Station in Bulawayo were yesterday threatened if they do not pay, ZimEye.com can reveal. But Bulawayo’s Queenspark like many others in the country, is notorious for poor sanitary conditions amid a dying infrastructure.

In a separate investigation by a local daily, Newsday, reporters found that teachers are also on the line to be strangled by government for rentals.
Although Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora said he was not
aware of the matter, teachers’ unions said workers from the Ministry of Local Government had already visited several government schools to assess the state of the houses in order to come up with the appropriate rental charges.
Some teachers at government schools in Mbire district claimed their houses had already been assessed. “No, I am not aware. I will get the permanent secretary to check with her counterpart,” Dokora said last Thursday.
Teachers’ unions said they would express their concerns to the parent ministry when they meet government this week. Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe chief executive officer Manuel Nyawo said some government schools had always been paying nominal rentals and the “astronomical” hike of rentals on the poorly remunerated teachers was a cause of concern.
“We are in possession of a paper from government signed by the Local Government permanent secretary Engineer George Mlilo. We are surprised by the move and we are surely going to table it before the Apex Council meeting with government next (this) week,” Nyawu said.
Apex Council is the umbrella body for all civil service workers’ representatives. Mlilo said he was attending a funeral and would welcome questions today.
“We don’t see the rationale for levying teachers’ rent, a teacher naturally should be accommodated by the school. We would appreciate if the government had increased salaries substantially. Where does government want our colleagues to fork out the rentals from?” Nyawo asked.
Teachers in Zimbabwe are among the least paid in the region, with most of them earning well below the poverty datum line of $600. The development comes after Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa last Wednesday ruled out any civil service salary hike this year citing a serious cash squeeze.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe national co-ordinator Ladicious Zunde said it was disturbing that the Local Government ministry had bypassed line ministries.
“What the Local Government ministry was doing was a clandestine move to rob teachers of their hard-earned cash,” Zunde said.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union chief executive office Sifiso Ndlovu said: “The issue is typical of unfair practice on the part of government. We cannot have some teachers pay rent while others do not pay.
“This will divide them. There is no equitable treatment of civil servants. In terms of equality and values, it is not sustainable. Government has not increased salaries and they increase and introduce rentals on teachers, this is an oxymoron. The issue is under discussion at the National Joint Negotiating Council where government has raised it and as unions, we have also raised our concerns. The Local Government ministry should have been working with other ministries.”
The government has been experiencing serious cash flow problems that has seen it changing its workers’ pay date, threatening to scrap payment of bonuses and in January increasing rentals by 100% for all those civil servants who stay in government accommodation. Some of the teachers who spoke on condition of anonymity said they would consider securing cheaper accommodation away from the schools.
The new lease agreement forms given to teachers to sign were headed, Institutional and Pool Houses-Flats, Agreement of Lease entered between Local Government, Public Works and National Housing ministry.
Under the new terms, teachers would no longer be allowed to do any commercial activities at the premises, and not more than 10 people would be allowed to stay under one roof, including religious gathering, while it will also be an offence to keep the property infested with cockroaches, beetles, bees, fleas and rodents.

Chiredzi based journo Patrick Chitongo who was slapped with a one year jail term, was yesterday released on bail.
Chitongo who the State claims published a newspaper without registration, was released on bail pending appeal following intervention of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

They announced Thursday afternoon: “We are glad to advise that detained freelance journalist Patrick Chitongo has been freed on $200 bail after his lawyer Martin Mureri of Matutu Mureri Legal Practitioners, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights applied for bail pending appeal of both conviction and sentence.”
Meanwhile earlier on 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 denies 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.
More to follow…

HARARE Civil Court magistrate Trevor Nyatsanza yesterday presided over a matter where a woman accused her husband of routinely dipping a cooking stick into her private parts to “check” if she had indulged in sexual encounters with other men.
The woman, whose identity has been withheld, shocked other litigants in court when she revealed that her husband, Everson Godhini, was in the habit of physically abusing her and accusing her of messing up their family toilet.
The woman took the matter to the civil court seeking a protection order against her husband.
In her submission, the woman also accused Godhini of having an extra-marital affair with another woman who at one point also assaulted her with the help of her friends.
“He sometimes assaults me to the extent of choking me and I have even reported him to the police on several times and they now know him for that.
“Apparently, I continue to stay with him because he begs me to stay,” she told the court.
The woman also told the court that Godhini sometimes orders their children to lock her outside her matrimonial home while calling her all sorts of names and even labelling her a thief.
However, Godhini denied the allegations telling the magistrate that they only had an argument once following an incident where she left home at around 3pm claiming to have gone to attend a church service and returned home around 7pm.
He said he later seized her phone to check who she had been communicating with and that the move did not go down well with her as she became aggressive.
This, Godhini said, was after he had seen a text message where the sender had called his wife “honey” and also informing her that he was at the meeting place they had agreed.
“When I asked her who this was she was defensive and told me that at least she did whatever she did away from our matrimonial home,” Godhini said.
The court ruled in the woman’s favour and granted her the protection order.-SouthernEye

Zimbabwe is one of the top 10 unusual holiday destinations where the terror risk is low, a leading UK paper has said.
In its ranking of destinations, the Telegraph newspaper placed Zimbabwe fifth behind Mongolia, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Cambodia.
It said while the UK Foreign Office warns about mugging and pickpockets, the terror risk in Zimbabwe was low.
“All of us were conscious of the political difficulties in Zimbabwe, its history of violence and continuing human rights issues,” said television presenter Charlotte Hawkins who visited the country for Telegraph Travel last year.
“What convinced us was the glowing testimony of people who knew Zimbabwe well, in particular their stories about how hard the safari companies worked to protect natural habitats and support local communities.”
The ranking will come as a plus for the country’s efforts to woo tourists. The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry seeks to grow tourism receipts to $5 billion by 2020 aided by favourable government policies.
According to statistics from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Tourism Performance in 2014, tourism receipts were down 3% to $827 million in 2014 from the previous year despite an increase in arrivals, a reflection of a decline in expenditure. In 2013, the sector recorded receipts of $856 million.- SouthernEye

Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo has met his sudden disappointment and there is no more going back on the axing of Town Clerk Tendai Mahachi.
Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni on Thursday said he does not care about Local Government and National Minister Ignatius Chombo’s reactions over his decision to remove “corruption suspect” Town Clerk Tendai Mahachi.
Speaking during a meeting with residents, Mayor Manyenyeni said,
“I did not consult him. What I did was to copy him the suspension order,and there has nothing which has changed from my decision.”
National Vendors Union chairperson Sten Zvorwadza said since Mahachi’s ouster last week, Chombo is planning to reinstate him like he did last year. SEE-Drama as Chombo Reverses Harare Town Clerk’s Suspension.
“We are calling for a Press Conference tomorrow to forewarn Dr Chombo as regards the Town Clerk’s suspension. As usual he is planning to re-engage him back. . . . Vendors are planning to protest against such decision because vendors suffered a lot under his leadership as Town Clerk…
 
Zvorwadza told ZimEye.com that
“Vendors lost their goods running into tens of millions US dollars equivalence over the past 16 or so years.. These goods can not be accounted for, meaning kuti vaigovana zvavo. . That is the angle we are coming from… Mahachi is corrupt end of story.. Only to mention this one..! Koo tikazotaura zvekuisa maSpace Barons across Harare Districts for the benefit of him and his Party… Koo tikabatana nemaResident Trusts over abuse of service delivery funds.. haadzoke.. hatichamuda.. Leaders should be accountable to the people they lead.”

VICE PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has opened war on First Lady Grace Mugabe by dismissing Zimbabwe’s most powerful woman’s declaration on Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana’s future.
Mai Mugabe yesterday concluded that Tomana must go as he is a pervert. She added she would herself even kick him out at the function where Mnangagwa was also present and was said to be taking instructive notes from her.
Tomana is under fire for saying last month that girls as young as twelve can marry.
 
Mnangagwa addressing parliament Thursday said the man is “going no- where”.
Speaking in response to MDC-T MP for Glen View North, Fanuel Munengami, Mnangagwa replied saying, “Mr. Speaker Sir, the problem is that the hon. member did not make a follow up on the subsequent discussions on the issue on whether Mr. Tomana was really guilty of the offence.
“Nobody took into account the explanation given by Mr. Tomana that he was misunderstood and that his speech was misinterpreted,” he said.
He added: “Therefore, there is no case against him because he said he was misquoted. It is only that we are two different people; if I see something in the press, I do not believe it straight away but take it with a pinch of salt.
“I would therefore advise my fellow honourable members not to take everything at face value because one day you will be in the papers being blamed for murdering your own mother.”
It was not clear at the time of writing if Mnangagwa is to suffer the same fate as former Vice President Joyce Mujuru who was expelled from ZANU PF.

The new ZANU PF MP for Kambuzuma, Tinashe Maduza has disappeared.
ZimEye.com can reveal Maduza, 26, is on the run after police went after him on charges of sexually abusing several underage girls.
His disappearance came barely 24 hours after First Lady Grace Mugabe announced she would personally kick anyone found to be abusing young girls.[READ MORE – Grace Mugabe Opens Fire On Paedos]
Arriving at his home on Thursday afternoon, neighbours were found exclaiming how his absence has become the talk of the entire community in just a few hours.
Maduza (pictured) won the recent by-elections for the area in last month’s polls.
He is the chairman of the Graceland Housing Co-oporative.  He is  also the chairman of ZimAsset Housing Union which incorporates 15 housing co-operatives.
He also features as the vice chairman of the Zanu-PF Joshua Nkomo district youth wing among several other portfolios within the party.
More to follow…

A BRAWL over a missing $2 note ended tragically on Sunday afternoon after an angry Hobhouse man set a wooden cabin on fire resulting in a fierce fireball that killed one person and seriously injured another.
The shocking incident sent tongues wagging in one of Mutare’s fast-growing high-density suburbs.
Abshalom Chitsiku died on admission at Mutare Provincial Hospital after sustaining serious injuries all over his body, while another unidentified victim is battling for his life at the provincial referral centre.
Four others escaped with minor injuries
The suspect, Rodrick Pfungwa Murorwa (28), has since been arraigned before Mutare senior magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiwundura facing murder and attempted murder charges.
He was asked not to plead and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court since he is facing a Third Schedule offence.
He will be back in court on routine remand on July 6.
Mr Shepherd Chawarika prosecuted.
The court heard that Pfungwa kicked a burning paraffin-fuelled stove in his wooden cabin while his eight friends were seated on the bed following a misunderstanding of the missing $2 note.
The stove exploded and torched the cabin, resulting in the occupants being trapped in the raging flames.
Six people, including Murorwa, escaped with minor burns and two others were seriously burnt.
Although police confirmed the death of Chitsiku, they were yet to identify the names of the victims who were injured in the inferno.
The awful incident happened at House Number 1943 Hobhouse 2, at around 11:30am.
Assistant Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Muzondiwa Clean said investigations were still underway.
“We can confirm the death of Abshalom Chitsiku. We are digging deep into the matter to ascertain what really transpired at the house. We urge people to resolve disputes amicably than resort to violence,” said Ass Insp Clean.
According to neighbours and residents who witnessed the tragic incident, the razed wooden cabin had nine people inside — seven men and two women.
“We gather that Pfungwa had a misunderstanding with his colleagues over a missing $2 note. In fact, the guys had just been paid their dues at their workplace. He reacted by kicking the stove and that set the house on fire,” said a neighbour who requested not to be mentioned by name.
In an unrelated incident that happened in Dangamvura, four commercial sex workers in the Federation section of the suburb who lived together in a small cabin will live to regret snatching a client from fellow ladies of the trade last Saturday night after their rented apartment was set on fire the next day.
The four, who were only identified by their neighbours as Mary, Fadzi, Lorraine and Ruvimbo, were understood to have lured an unidentified cash-flaunting client last Saturday night at a local night club.
Apparently the client had been attached to a different clique of sex workers during the same night.
This did not go down well with the losing crew, who then decided to take the war to the quartet’s doorstep the following day.
Neighbours interviewed by this publication said the four sex workers have since been rendered homeless and were left with nothing, but only the clothes they were putting on when their cabin was set on fire.
“There are four sex workers who reside here and they had a scuffle over a client last Saturday night at a nearby bar. The next day, which was a Sunday, their rivals came and assaulted them.
“In fact, one of the girls who live here sustained a deep cut on the hand after she was stabbed by a knife. The other one sustained head injuries during the fight. After the four who live here were overpowered, their cabin was set on fire.
“This happened in full view of all surrounding neighbours and passers-by. We are not sure where they (the four) went after the incident, but are certain that they were left with nothing except the clothes that they were wearing on Sunday,” said one male neighbour who chose to speak on condition of anonymity.
By the time of going to Press it was not clear if the four had lodged a complaint with the police.
Police could neither confirm nor deny the incident.
“We do not have that report from Dangamvura,” Asst Insp Clean.
The four sex workers could not be reached for comment as they had deserted their rented cabin by the time this news crew visited their place on Monday afternoon.
The Federation section of Dangamvura is widely referred to as KumaMahalape, owing to its squalid conditions.-ManicaPost

• Step-Dad says “I don’t know.”
• Baby crying uncontrollably with hands on her private parts.
• White semen on the thighs and private parts.
• Child’s vagina producing a bad smell.

It was a blessing in disguise that a Chiredzi woman forgot a towel on her way to the well as she, on coming back allegedly discovered that her two-year-and-three-months old baby had just been raped by her step-father in whose custody she had been left.
The baby was crying uncontrollably with her hands on her private parts and when the accused John Chisasa (33) was asked about the baby he allegedly said he didn’t know what had happened to her.
However, the mother checked the complainant and noticed that she had white fluids identical to sperms(semen) on the thighs and on her private parts.
The local Mirror reports that Chisasa who resides at Village 3B Ruware in Chiredzi appeared before Regional Magistrate Collet Ncube facing a rape charge.
It is a State case that on November 1, 2014 Joyce Maredza left the complainant with the accused as she proceeded to fetch some water.
After walking for a while, Maredza noticed that she had forgotten a towel so she turned back and found the complainant crying.
On November 7, 2014 Maredza realised that the complainant’s vagina was producing a bad smell and took her to Chiredzi General Hospital for medication.
At the hospital the complainant’s mother was informed that the girl was raped and there was need for a Police report. Maredza then reported the matter to Mkwasine ZRP. The child was examined by a medical doctor and a medical report was produced in court as an exhibit.
The State was represented by Sophia Bhusvumani. The case will continue on July 1, 2015.-Mirror

Godwin Gomwe, the notorious former Zanu PF Harare provincial youth chair and seven others  accused of stealing $46 000 from  eight housing cooperatives in Glen Norah using First Lady Grace Mugabe’s name, were supposed to appear in court yesterday but had his lawyer getting extra time to prepare.
Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba who now represents Gomwe, stated that he  received State papers very late and was not able to prepare a  defence  for Gomwe.
“I do not understand why the State is in a hurry to proceed with this matter. My client has a right to choose a lawyer of his own and I need ample time to explain the charges to him.
“Proceeding with this matter today jeopardises the first accused’s right to adequately prepare for trial,” he said.
Prosecutor Ms Venencia Mutake argued that Adv Magwaliba was deliberately delaying the commencement of trial.
“They were served with the State papers on time this is just a delaying tactic. The State is prepared to start the trial today,” she said.
Magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe, ruled in favour of Adv Magwaliba and postponed the matter to July 9.
“It is clear that you have to take instructions from your client and you also need ample time to craft a defence outline for the accused in order for justice to prevail,” he said.
Gomwe alias Mambo (34) is jointly charged with Muchineripi Mupindu alias Ginya (36), Fidelis Ndaradza alias Brigadier (32), Haruwandi Munyawiri alias Baya (46), Hamphrey Madenyika (29), Josephine Hadziindi (59), Norah Toronga (38) and Moses Handiseni.
The other seven are being represented by Mr Shelton Mahuni of Mahuni and Matutu Attorneys. They are all facing three counts of extortion.
The State alleged that on February 11, housing cooperatives namely NRZ, Mudadirwa Zvobgo, Tenzi Tinzwei, Spring Field, Archgrace, Palmar Vision, Westgin, First Avenue, Green Image and Ingoni, all registered under the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, were allocated 300 residential stands by the City of Harare.
Gomwe allegedly mobilised 30 youths and proceeded to the construction site and informed them that the land once belonged to the late Amai Sally Mugabe. Gomwe added that the land was owned by Amai Grace Mugabe before he was chased away.
On May 10, Gomwe and his accomplices went back to the site ordering them to leave.
He insisted that the land belonged to the First Lady.
A fracas ensued, prompting the complainants to approach the High Court for a provisional order authorising them to develop the land.
Gomwe allegedly mobilised 80 more youths and forcibly removed the complainants from the site. They demanded four stands or $20 000. However, Archgrace Housing Cooperative was not included because its members were police officers.
Operations were stopped after complainants failed to raise the money. This did not go down well with Godfrey Chivasa, the chairperson of Perfect Hope Housing Cooperative because he had already given the suspects cash and 19 stands as kickbacks.
The suspects were given another $25 000.
The complainants were ordered to affiliate to an unregistered consortium named Dr Amai Grace Mugabe to avert further trouble.
Each cooperative was to pay $120 as joining fee and was issued with receipts inscribed Amai Dr Grace Mugabe Housing Consortium.
Handiseni stopped operations again saying Gomwe had not benefited from the $25 000 they had paid.
The complainants offered $5 000, which Gomwe said was not enough for a senior official like him and demanded $10 000 more.
The money was allegedly handed over to one Kuda, who is said to be the president of the Zimbabwe Council of Students Union (ZICOSU) who later handed it over to Gomwe. -State Media