A thieving 18-year-old prostitute appeared in court on Friday for allegedly stealing $2 600 from her client, who is a tobacco farmer.
Tanyaradzwa Kapange was charged with theft and appeared before Mbare magistrate Ms Gladys Moyo. She admitted to the allegations. Kapange was remanded in custody to today for sentence.
She told the court that she had stolen from Freedom Chimukuyu (33) during the night because she had noticed that he had a lot of cash on him.
“I knew that he was a tobacco farmer and that he had made sales that day so, I figured where his money was and I stole it,” he said. Facts are that on May 26 around 21:00 hours at Pamview Tobacco Industries in Glen Norah, Chimukuyu took Kapange to a booking room.
The two agreed to spend the night together and Chimukuyu was to pay $10 for Kapange’s services.
The court heard that Chimukuyu fell asleep and Kapange stole $2 600 from his trousers pocket and ran away. Chimukuyu reported the matter to the police leading to Kapange’s arrest.
Mr Stanley Musekiwa prosecuted. -Herald

SIXTEEN people escaped death by a whisker yesterday when the driver of a commuter omnibus they were travelling in failed to negotiate a curve and the vehicle veered off the road and landed on its roof in a ditch along Khami road in Bulawayo.
Two people were seriously injured in the accident which happened at around 2:30PM.
The kombi was travelling from the city centre to Nkulumane 12 suburb with 18 passengers on board. Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the accident.
“Yes we received an accident report which happened around 2:30 PM along Khami road and we’re still investigating the cause of the accident. Two people were seriously injured and others escaped with minor injuries and were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital,” said Insp Moyo.
Eyewitnesses said the commuter omnibus driver was speeding. Maibongwe Mpofu, one of the kombi passengers, said he heard a sudden bang and the next thing he found himself in a ditch.
“I just heard a bang and I think it was from the impact of the kombi hitting a kerb before it landed on its roof in the ditch. I only found myself in this drainage ditch and I came out unhurt but the driver was speeding,” said Mpofu.
A police officer who witnessed the accident said the young driver was speeding and there are suspicions that he might have been drinking alcohol.
“I was just behind the kombi, travelling from town and I saw it veer off the road in front of me before it overturned and landed in the ditch. I suspect the young driver was drunk because a half empty bottle of whisky was found in the vehicle,” he said.
Another witness urged police to arrest under age drivers and others who drive under the influence of alcohol as they put people’s lives at risk.-Chronicle

ZimEye.com reveals the woman beaten up by ZANU PF Harare West MP Shadreck Mashayamombe’s bodyguards last week but one. (READ MORE –Police Called In as Grace Mugabe is “Skirted” By Shaddie Mashayamombe – )Her name is Annah Shapure and she is a war veteran. She was stitched at Harare Central Hospital. Six stiches which were removed yesterday.
 
The first pictures which were published by ZimEye.com are already in the President’s office, VP Mnangagwa and Simon Khaya Moyo offices.
 
As First Lady Grace Mugabe contemplates booting Mashayamombe from the party she has begun pursuing the matter with Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri.
 
Mrs Shapure burst out saying: ” My son, I am the one who brought that mineral water from my fridge at home to give our guests. But I was surprised to be hit by a brick in front of Mai Chizema(Zanu Pf deputy Secretary for Health in the politburo). Now these young men from Waterfalls police station are letting the boys roam freely in the streets but as a war veteran I will go straight to Chihuri’s office, ” she said. PICTURES:
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She was stitched at Harare Central Hospital,six stiches which were removed yesterday. Her name is Annah Shapure and she is a war veteran. The first pictures which were published by Zim Eye are already in the President’s office,VP Mnangagwa and Simon Khaya Moyo’s offices.

Johannesburg – The recent spate of xenophobic attacks in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal were not spontaneous, unsurprising, or the last South Africa would see, said Dr Roni Amit of the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS) at the University of the Witwatersrand on Thursday.
“We will see more xenophobic violence, particularly with local elections coming up,” said Amit, “This violence did not start or end in 2008, it didn’t just start this year, nor is it a surprise”.
Amit spoke at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Safety and Violence Initiative’s (SaVI) panel discussion, ‘Understanding, responding to, and preventing xenophobic violence in South Africa’.
Through research from the 2008 xenophobic attacks, ACMS found that although social factors such as poverty and unemployment played a part in xenophobic violence, it was not the main contributor.
“Areas that were and are most affected by xenophobic violence are not the most populated with foreign nationals or the poorest in terms of service delivery,” said Amit.
“The three most important factors contributing to xenophobic violence are political leadership, lack of conflict resolution processes, and very few prosecutions”.
Amit said local leaders, particularly on a micro level, caught in power struggles would capitalise on economic and social factors
“We found that in certain areas, leaders wanting to gain favour from the community would use frustrations with foreign nationals and incite the violence in order to consolidate power.”
Amit added that government was guilty of conveying a “fair amount of misinformation” and providing “some legitimacy for the violence”.
“By saying you condemn the violence and then referring to improved border control and investigating the legality of papers as a solution, government is saying that that this is okay.”
“Besides selling well with the public, border control will not solve the issue of xenophobic violence,” said Amit.
She said that the “culture of impunity” encouraged criminal entrepreneurs to attack foreigners because they knew they would not be caught.
Joining Amit on the panel was Major-General Jeremy Vearey, the South African Police Services’ Head of the Anti-Gang Strategy in the Western Cape and Chris Giles from Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU).
VPUU, a City of Cape Town project aimed at reducing violent crime and improving social conditions, had an anti-xenophobia strategy based on social integration and inclusion.
“As a preventative measure, we encourage foreign nationals to join street committees and neighbourhood watches,” said Giles.
Giles said foreign nationals and locals were also encouraged to share cultural experiences as well as business skills and added it was critical the justice system shared routine feedback with communities to ease tensions and distrust.
Vearey referred to the 2008 xenophobic attacks saying the then-provincial police commissioner – General Mzwandile Petros – claimed everything was under control and they were prepared.
“But on May 22, we were caught off guard even though the attacks in this province followed two weeks after the last one in Gauteng,” said Vearey.
He said the police were hesitant to call the 2008 attacks xenophobic as they did not, operationally, have a response with which they could associate it.
“The police work in a normative environment. We see a murder case or a case of rape and we know the process to follow. With the attacks of 2008, we did not develop a strategy because we didn’t have a label to tag it against,” he said.
Vearey said police intervention should be a last resort and that as a preventative measure, they were bringing in civil society to settle tensions.
“We need to identify the non-profits who have the ability to mediate in communities, which is what we did in 2008 with the TAC,” he said.
Vearey added that a military response to xenophobic violence was not the solution.
“In 2008, we immediately moved into a militarised response and said that we should first establish public order before we would have a discussion,” he said.
“So, the decision to resort to the military in other parts of the country is a worry for me”.
ANA

ZANU (PF) secretary for Administration Ignatius Chombo and Transport Minister Obert Mpofu have threatened with death the officer who presided over the Harare East primary election and forced her to withdraw the candidature of Terrence Mukupe who had won the polls.[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2014/07/chombo.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2014/07/chombo.jpg” width=”300″ align=”none” title=”chombo” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]
Mukupe who was Mpofu’s collapsed Allied bank chief executive officer contested in the primary elections (651) on 11 April and beat Mavis Gumbo (369).
But Chombo reversed the election result and appointed Gumbo to represent the party in the June 10 by-elections.
In an application Mukupe filed to the electoral court challenging the withdrawal of his candidature death threats were given to the presiding officer who fearing f or her life later complied.
“I was called in the nomination court after winning the election by some sympathizers where in the gallery I demanded to see the latter which Chombo was said to have written disqualifying my participation but up to date that letter has not been shown to me”,said mukupe.
“I immediately phoned Mr Kasukuwere who was outside the country and he appointed an officer to confirm that I was the duly elected member of the party for Harare East constituency which was promptly furnished to Masimirembwa while the nomination court was in session.
“But Masimirembwa remained adamant that my candidature had been withdrawn by the party and confirmed his previous vows that I would not participate”, he said.
“The presiding officer confirmed that my papers were in order and could no t be withdrawn in the manner that had been done but had received threats and life was in danger if she acted otherwise”.
“She received several calls from Chombo and adjourned the process for seven times before telling me that the decision to reject my nomination papers was now political as she had been threatened”.

Effort Musandinane (39) who made headlines in February for making a huge statue of the President which is yet to be donated to Zanu PF has been arrested and convicted for conning the public using fake US$ notes.
A Zvishavane Magistrate convicted Musandinane of splashing and using a fake US$100 note.
Musandinane was slapped with a 12-month jail sentence and three months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, seven months on condition that the convict performs 315 hours community service and the other two months were suspended on condition the convict restitutes the complainant of $89, the Mirror reports.
Prosecutor Sheila Mutandi told the Court that on February 18, 2015 Musandinane of Bere township, Mashava got to Jenet Moyo’s Ecocash booth where he said he wanted to change his $100 but the complainant indicated to him that she did not have change.
Musandinane then indicated again that he wanted to make cash in transaction of US$11 to his friend who needed bus fare. He tendered a genuine $100 which the complainant took into the shop to get change.
Whilst the complainant was in the shop the convict indicated that he had changed his mind and wanted to take back his money and the complainant handed back the money and Musandinane went back to his vehicle.
After a while the convict returned and suggested that she give him $90 change and that he would give her $101 to facilitate the transaction of $11 and he supplied details of where the money was supposed to be transferred.
Musandinane then tendered a fake $100 note to the complainant together with a genuine $1 note and he was given $90 change. After giving the complainant the fake money the convict rushed to his car and fled. When the complainant went back into the shop she then discovered that the money was fake but when she rushed to Musandinane, he had already gone.
Musandinane was arrested by detectives after a tip off on February 25, 2015.

Dear Editor
At least 6 people (most of them Vapositori) died on the spot this morning following a serious accident uphill along Bulawayo Road towards Roundabout, in the Kuwadzana area.
A Sprinter carrying the Vapositori travelling from Bulawayo to a Harare shrine crashed into a parked haulage truck. There were bodies strewn all over, with some still trapped inside when we arrived there. Vapostori were travelling from Bulawayo to a Graniteside open space shrine.
The driver is believed to have been tired at the wheel before the accident occurred.

Simon D, Harare

Crisis continues in the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition as board members boycott meetings demanding for the stepping down of the “fired” origination’s director Macdonald Lewanika.
The board members have written strong letter to the troubled organization’s acting chairperson Samkeliso Khumalo informing her that they will never attend any board meeting until Lewanika “who we fired last October” leaves the Non Governmental Organization.
“We the undersigned legitimately and lawfully elected members of the board of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition wish to state clearly and without equivocation that we will not attend the board meeting called by the former director Mr. Mcdonald Lewanika on 8 April 2015 for the following reasons”, wrote the board members.
“The board meeting has been called by an ex-employee of the organization Mr.Lewanika irrespective of the fact that a duly constituted board met on 10 October 2014 and agreed that his contract will not be renewed when it expired on 31 December 2014.
“We are concerned about the continued lawlessness and impunity at Crisis Coalition and we demand a return to lawful legitimacy”.
Since last October the coalition has not held any board meeting.
Samkeliso Khumalo could not be reached for comment as she was said to be out of the country on official business.
Mfundo Mlilo the organization’s spokesperson said they did not hold the meeting because the chairperson was out of the country.
“It is not true that the meeting did not go on because of the latter you are referring to. It was because Khumalo is at school In the UK”.
Mlilo said “We extended his (Lewanika) contract to December 2015”.
Lewanika was fired by the board last year for incompetence. The organization then had invited an external auditor who exposed corruption and bad corporate governance in the NGO.
But the decision was reversed by three of the ten board members aligned to Lewanika,who later extended his contract which expired last December.

Zanu People First — an offshoot of the ruling Zanu PF party — has reportedly sponsored candidates to contest in the forthcoming June 10 parliamentary by-elections as independents.
REPORT By Newsday
The development could put Zanu PF to the test for the first time since the expulsion of key party members on trumped-up charges of plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe, as the new outfit’s officials warned of a bruising battle at the ballot box.
The faction — believed to be fronted by ousted former Vice-President Joice Mujuru — is made up of mainly disgruntled current and fired Zanu PF senior officials.
Although Mujuru has remained silent over her alleged links to the new political formation, the group’s spokesperson and ex-Zanu PF publicity secretary Rugare Gumbo yesterday confirmed the development.
Gumbo added that at the moment the candidates were not receiving any material support from the party although they had been allowed to work as one entity under the Zanu People First tent.
He, however, declined to name the candidates operating under the outfit’s banner.
“We don’t think there is any problem in contesting under the People First umbrella. It is their democratic right. If there are youths who want to contest under us, then what’s wrong with that? Let them contest and we are happy about that,” Gumbo said.
As of yesterday, Zanu People First had reportedly taken on board six candidates in Harare, one from Chikanga-Dangamvura constituency in Mutare, one in Kwekwe and several others in Bulawayo.
“In Harare, we have six candidates. We have others in Bulawayo, Mutare, Kwekwe and Headlands,” one of the members, who declined to be named, said.
“We are making sure that per every constituency we have a candidate. We will come up with common campaign material, symbols and message so that there is uniformity. We are just campaigning as one.”
The official said: “Notably the majority of the candidates are youthful and it is common knowledge that we were all affected by the purge in Zanu PF in one way or the other.”
Top Zanu PF cadres — including 16 Cabinet ministers, their deputies and provincial executives — were guillotined by the ruling party and government together with Mujuru on allegations of plotting to assassinate Mugabe in the run-up to last December’s congress.
Following the sacking of nine provincial party chairmen and provincial committee members, Zanu PF national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere has been travelling the length and breadth of the country setting up new structures.
The purges have continued following no-confidence votes against perceived Mujuru allies, labelled “Gamatox” and either suspended or expelled from party structures.
Axed former Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman and Hurungwe West independent candidate Temba Mliswa confirmed the development, adding the new coalition also encompassed disgruntled former MDC-T MPs.
“There has been an understanding that we must fight together. This is a coalition of independent candidates because some are not from Zanu PF,” Mliswa said. Mliswa vowed that the forthcoming by-elections would not be a stroll in the park for Zanu PF as the independents’ coalition had covered a lot of ground. -Newsday

The State was left with an egg on their face yesterday when Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa Mufani, accused of ordering his church members to beat up police officers last year but one all because of grainy video footage, brought evidence in the form of the same person who appears in the video.
There was drama in court when Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa Mufani brought a defence witness who then testified that he was the man in the video, and not Mufani. Madzibaba Mufani is facing charges of public violence, but is denying the charges arguing that he was not at the church shrine on the day the offence was committed.
Some of the State witnesses who testified identified Madzibaba Mufani in the video which was played in court.
In the video, a man whom the State alleges to be Mufani is seen seated with other congregants and is the first to launch an attack on the police.
Madzibaba Mufani brought a member of his sect, Nesbert Jachi, who is of the same height and wears a long beard as his witness.
The video was again played and Jachi told the court that it was him appearing in the video.
He said Mufani was not present on the day in question, arguing that witnesses who testified before were lying against Mufani.
“It is me in the video and if you take a closer look, the person you are saying is Madzibaba Mufani has black beard and Mufani’s is white,” said Jachi.
Jachi said he had no reason to lie before the court but was only there to tell the truth.
He added: “The person in the video has thick lips and my nose is the same as that of the person in the video. It is me in the video,” he said
During cross-examination, prosecutor Ms Francesca Mukumbiri told Jachi that he had just helped the police from the Law and Order to apprehend another suspect since he had confirmed that he was the one who walked towards the police singing “Umambo Hwepfumo Neropa”.
“Witness, are you aware of the effects of being an imposter? You have just assisted the police from the Law and Order section to arrest another culprit. That man in the video was the first to launch the attack so you are going to be arrested,” said Ms Mukumbiri.
In response, Jachi said he did not care about being arrested adding that it was better to be arrested for telling the truth.
Another witness who testified, Bongani Magwenzi, also exonerated Mufani saying he was not at the Budiriro shrine on the day in question.
His line of answering questions was the same as that of Jachi.
Magistrate Mr Milton Serima rolled over the matter to today when a fourth defence witness is expected to testify.
Mufani is being represented by Mr Tawanda Takaendesa. -State Media

A mother caught  a 16-year-old teenage boy sexually abusing her two children aged 4 and 5 respectively.
The teenager from Luveve who can not be named for legal reasons shocked the court yesterday when he claimed that the two minors aged 4 and 5 had seduced him.
The boy made remarks when he appeared before Western Commonage provincial magistrate Mafios Willard Moyo facing charges of violating Section 65 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The suspect told the court that on March 3 this year, the toddlers approached him and pleaded with him to unzip his pair of trousers.
He claimed the minors then pulled his pants down and demanded he joins them in their game.
“I was sitting at my friend’s house when the girls came to me asking that I take the role of being a father in their child games, but I refused. They both came and pulled my trousers off, I told them to stop (but) they persisted,” he added.
The teenager said the girls kept nagging him until he gave in to their sexual demands.
“I did not want to have sex with them because I saw that they were minors hence I opted to do anal sex since they persisted.
“I only sat on a chair when they started jumping all over me until I got tempted,” he said.
He was caught red-handed in the act by the mother of one of his victims, who in a fit of rage dragged him half-naked through the neighbourhood, before taking him to the police station.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody to May 5 for sentence.
Mufaro Mageza prosecuted. – Southern Eye

Zimbabwe is now ready to host the Extraordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government in Harare next week, with the region’s senior officials starting to arrive tomorrow for meetings, an official has said. Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Joey Bimha yesterday told the State Media that all was in place for the April 29 event.
“We are on top of the situation and we have been given the funds to run the event,” he said.
“The Extraordinary Summit will be preceded by the meetings of the Standing Committee of Senior officials whose delegates start arriving on Friday (tomorrow).
“Their meetings will be on Saturday and Sunday.” Ambassador Bimha said the meetings of the Council of Ministers would take place on Monday and Tuesday. “The preceding meetings will take place at Meikles Hotel while the Heads of State and Government will meet at Rainbow Towers,” he said.
Ambasador Bimha said Government had invited African Union Commission chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa executive secretary Dr Carlos Lopez and COMESA secretary general Dr Sindiso Ngwenya. “They were invited to attend in light of the fact that we are discussing the issue of industrialisation,” Bimha said.
“We expected recommendations made by the Ministerial Taskforce on Regional Economic Integration to be discussed by the Standing Committee of Senior Officials and then make recommendations to the Council of Ministers who will in turn forward them to Summit where we hope the recommendations will be endorsed.”

A woman from a polygamous marriage appeared in court in Bulawayo on Monday and boasted about how and why she poured dog waste on  the junior wife.
Sukoluhle  Moyo 32,from the outskirts of Bulawayo, West Acre ran amok last weekend, mixed water and dog waste and poured it over Siphiwe Dube after she was caught inducing an abortion.
Prosecutor Nomzamo Ndlovu told the court that Moyo and Dube had some differences  dating from long back when they used to share  a house, which led their husband to separate them.
Ndlovu described to the court how  Moyo went mad after Dube threatened to tell about the abortion. Moyo started by shouting at Dube in the morning and then went on to mix water and  dog waste, which she threw at the junior wife.
Provincial magistrate Willard Mafios Moyo of  Western Commonage slapped her with a six-month jail term after she pleaded guilty to violating Section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Two months of her sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour and the remainder was set aside on condition she performs 210 hours of community service commencing yesterday.
Moyo defended herself,  saying she was upset because Dube had insulted her.
“I committed this offence because i was provoked,” she said.
Moyo went on to explain  and justify herself stating that it was unfortunate she could not provide the evidence in court which was in the form of verbal insults.
“I just cannot produce evidence of her insults in court, but the words that she spoke to me were more abusive than my actual act. She went around telling people I had an abortion which I have no idea of.” Moyo said.
Dube denied the allegations saying she never gossiped about Moyo,instead she said Moyo had poured the same substance on her  baby who is five-months old.

MDC-T will not take part in the 2018 general polls if the Zanu (PF) government fails to bow to increasing calls for electoral reforms says MDC-T president, Morgan Tsvangirai. He made the bold statement over the weekend while addressing thousands of unemployed citizens at the party’s rally in the city’s populous suburb of Mkoba.
“No reforms no elections. Let them rule. We have come to realise that the popular party (MDC-T) is not in government. It is rather the unpopular party Zanu (PF) that is in power but without the people’s mandate. Why is that so? The answer is simple and it is because we have allowed ourselves to be involved in these sham elections. Now we have learnt from our mistakes and we will not take part in any future elections without reforms that all, including us, can endorse,” said Tsvangirai.
Recently the MDC-T national executive committee and national council endorsed the party’s position to boycott the June 10 by-elections occasioned by the recall of 21 MDC Renewal MPs last month. Fourteen parliamentary seats mostly in Harare and Bulawayo will be contested.
Tsvangirai said his party wouldgo into the constituencies where the by-elections will be held and urge the party’s supporters to stay away. “We have resolved to visit those areas and urge our supporters to popularise the slogan ‘No reforms, No Elections.’ That way we are satisfied Zanu (PF) will finally realise the importance of the necessary reforms.”
MDC-T is demanding access to the electronic version of the voters roll. They also demand equal and unfettered access to the public electronic and print media. The party also wants traditional leaders to desist from intimidating voters and ensure that MDC-T supporters in rural areas are allowed to attend political meetings of their choice. The party also complains of indirect intimidation of MDC-T supporters by state security agents in urban areas – particularly in high density suburbs.
Some political commentators say the party will dent its support base, especially in areas where it has held sway in the past decade, if it does not contest the polls. Others have pointed out that the party has sold out to Zanu (PF). On the other hand, others say the MDC-T is right in its boycott as participating would legitimise the flawed electoral process, the predetermined outcome of which would not benefit the nation at large anyway. zimbabwean

MDC Renewal Team Statement
1. Xenophobia
The Renewal Team is disturbed by the despicable acts of carnage that is being orchestrated against foreigners in South Africa. The team stands with the Zimbabweans who are in South Africa and indeed all the affected families. In particular, we mourn with the family of Naume Gurusa (41) who was killed needlessly under these appalling ferocious attacks.
The team holds the government of Zimbabwe responsible for the economic meltdown that has caused our people to look for greener pastures elsewhere. In this regard, we urge the government of Zimbabwe to uphold its constitutional responsibility to create conducive conditions for the people. President Mugabe and his government must seize themselves with resolving the economic crisis, creating more jobs and other economic opportunities, clamping out corruption and distributing the country`s wealth more fairly.
Zimbabweans are smart, educated and hardworking people. Our country is endowed with enormous amount of natural resources to generate enough wealth for all of us. However, we are cursed with an insensitive, corrupt and unaccountable government and leadership. Further, we urge the African Union and SADC to take bold steps to put an end to this potentially contagious scourge. The attacks fly directly in the face of the region’s efforts towards regional integration which is important for faster and easy trade and cooperation among the member states.
2. State Repression
The Renewal Team is concerned with the rise in state repression over the last few months. The alleged abduction and disappearance of Itai Dzamara is unacceptable in a democratic society. The government of Zimbabwe is obliged to provide answers as to the whereabouts of Itai Dzamara. His family and children need him as he is the sole breadwinner.
On the 17th of April 2015, a day before the Independence Day, the police needlessly and severely assaulted ordinary citizens and human rights activists for no apparent reason. The affected included Dianna Nyikadzino and Sydney Chisi. We condemn in the strongest possible terms these violent attacks on unarmed civilians and human rights activists. It is paradoxical that the government would attack human rights activists who were protesting against the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Despite the fact that these protests were not directed at the government, the government still responded with equal fear and equal force. This shows that inwardly, the government of Zimbabwe is afraid and knows that it is responsible for the brutal attacks on Zimbabweans living in South Africa.
3. Recall of Renewal Team MPs in Parliament.
The Renewal Team notes with disdain the recall of the renewal MPs from parliament by the MDC-T working in cahoots with ZANU PF. The recall illustrates clearly the fact that MDC-T is now in connivance with ZANU PF to shortchange the people`s struggle for change and democracy. Why on earth would the MDC-T engineer and celebrate the reduction of opposition voices in parliament? Is it not curious that the MDC-T has decided not to contest those seats, after making them vacant, and allow them to be occupied by ZANU PF? However, contrary to the intentions of both ZANU PF and MDC-T, the Renewal Team has emerged much stronger, united and solid than ever before. Our MPs have demonstrated one of our core-values of selflessness. They have given up their seats for what is right and will now be fighting together with the party for the betterment of the people`s living standards. As Renewal Team, we resolved that we will not participate in these elections and call for proper electoral reforms to be implemented to allow for free and fair election.
4. Political and Economic Reforms
We pledge to continue to work together with other democratic actors in pursuit of human rights, good governance, freedom, peace and economic prosperity. In this endeavor, we will work with other opposition political parties, civil society, labor, students and the churches and indeed any other group that pursues these just, legitimate and non-negotiable demands.
MDC Renewal Team: The Courage to be Different!!!
Elton Mangoma
Treasurer General
www.mdcrenewalteam.com

JOHANNESBURG – A 33-year-old pregnant woman was shot dead on Monday while picking up her daughter at school.

“Two suspects shot dead a woman at a school in Braam Fischerville in a alleged hijacking,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Kay Makhubela said.
The hijacking happened at Khula-Nolwazi primary school.
Makhubela said the suspects sped off with the car but it was later found abandoned.
“A white Toyota Corolla was found abandoned in Dobsonville extension 3.”
He said police were investigating.
No arrests had been made.
– eNCA

• “Prophet went after my genitals to treat stomach ailment”
• Underwent 8 hours of deliverance service.
• “…told church members his body-sweat Is Holy Spirit Anointing,”
• Trial due end on 4^th April 2015.

 
As the case against Prophet and Archbishop Walter Masocha’s Agape of All Nations church based in Stirling, continues with only one witness testifying to date, the latter, a 32-year-old Zimbabwean woman who joined the church before exiting, says the preacher allegedly touched her inappropriately after informing her he would remove something from her genitals.
This was to cure her of a stomach ailment.
The former church deacon who is mother of four, wept in court as she told a court that a man she called The Prophet touched her inappropriately while claiming he was curing her of a stomach ailment.
She said she had been persuaded by her husband’s family to join an English branch of a Pentecostal church known as Agape for All Nations, based in Stirling .
The woman, who cannot be named, said as part of her involvement with the church, she had to undergo an all-night “deliverance” after her husband, whom she has since left, told her she had to be delivered from demons.
She said: “In Manchester in 2011 I went an eight hour deliverance service. I was literally pinned to the floor and people were pushing my head. It was quite a violent process.”
She said the Agape church, which she said now had many branches, was founded by 51-year-old Walter Masocha, who was called “The Archbishop” and “The Prophet” and claimed to have heard God speaking to him after fasting for a week at a prayer meeting in St Andrews.
She said: “He said that in an audible voice, God had told him to found the church and ‘deliver my people who are suffering’.”
She said she paid several visits to Masocha’s large home, Cosyneuk House at Sauchieburn, near Stirling, which she said had five bathrooms, “numerous” bedrooms and a large kitchen.
She said Mashocha – who always had a bodyguard – used to touch her when he was praying for her.
She told jurors at Falkirk Sheriff Court : “It was on more than one occasion. I went home and spoke to my husband and my husband said he [Masocha] was anointed, and he was The Prophet and he was allowed to do that.”
She said she and other female church members called Masocha “My Dad”.
She said one one occasion in 2012 she had gone into Masocha’s office in Coseyneuk House “to see him about the work of God”.
Masocha had hugged her “very intimately”, caressing her back and kissing her round the neck.
She said: “I felt confused, I felt violated.
“He was saying ‘receive my love’.
“At one point I felt his manhood against me.”
On another occasion in May 2013, also in Masocha’s office, he told her he would pray “for her whole body”.
She said: “He touched the top of my head, my eyes, my nose, my ears. He was saying ‘I’m praying for every part of your body’.
“He touched my shoulders, and went down and touched my chest.
“I felt violated.”
She said she had once gone to his office for prayer with a stomach complaint.
She said: “He said he was going to pray it away. He touched my tummy, then his hand went down my body, onto my private parts.”
Weeping, she said: “It was like he was feeling me. I was so shocked. At that time I saw him as somebody who could never do any wrong, because that was what he used to teach us.
“My husband told me ‘the Prophet is seeing something in your genitals that needs to be removed, so he was removing that’.
“Outside, I had to believe that, but inside I didn’t.”
The woman told the court that she later fled her matrimonial home with her children, and spoke about what had happened to her brother, and others.
She said: “Suddenly, my eyes were opened. This man was touching me inappropriately.”
She added that Masocha has told her that God had told him that “he was the one with the keys to her destiny”.
She said she and her husband had paid over “a lot of money” to the church, including £600 in an envelope they had saved for a mortgage, “child credits”, and “tithes”.
She said: “The doctrine we were taught was that we had to release money, and God would open doors for us.”
“You are putting in most of your money to the point where your children are left hungry.”
Masocha, of Sauchieburn, denies sexually assaulting the woman between April 01, 2012, and March 30, 2013.
Further charges, which he also denies, allege that he induced a 12 year girl to sex-massage his body with oils and engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl.
He is said to have committed the offences at the Church, at his home in Sauchieburn on the outskirts of the city, and at the plush Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perthshire .
Overall, the incidents are said to have occurred over a two-year period between January 2012 and January 2014.
 
“…told Church His Body-Sweat Is Holy Spirit Anointing,”
 
Meanwhile it was also claimed that the preacher taught people saying the sweat from his body is the anointing and people compete for it, the Falkirk Sherriff Court was told.
The court through a recorded witness statement by former deaconess testifying against the preacher, was told that Archbishop Masocha allegedly caused people to fight for his sweat. While the man was preaching, church members would fight to wipe his face and use the towel cloth to rub on their own bodies in the belief that this would bring blessings, the woman who cannot be named for her protection said.
Masocha is on trial for a series of sex charges which include making a minor massage his naked body using so called anointing oils.
Masocha denies all charges against him.
Since the case commenced on Monday only one person out of a list of at least five, has testified. She is going under cross examination which has continued into Wednesday. At the time of writing, she was preparing to enter the witness stand.
The trial, before Sheriff Kenneth McGowan and jury, will continue today.
It is projected to end on the 4^th April.     (ZimEye/ Additional Reporting DailyRecord).

Yesterday Zanu PF violent youths belonging to two factions within Zanu PF disrupted the meeting held in Kwekwe as factionalism deepens in Midlands.
The violence at the ruling party’s district headquarters was blamed on youths allegedly aligned to suspended official Kandros Mugabe.
Zanu PF officials said the youths, claiming to be part of the party’s structures, stormed the meeting, but were blocked by security personnel before they turned rowdy and pelted their rivals with stones.
Former councillor Reason Nyamadzawo’s car windows were smashed in the skirmishes.
Police had to be called in to restore order as the youths fought running battles in the central business district.
“He said there would be no sacred cows and nobody would be spared. Those caught in the net will be prosecuted while those who are clean will be left to do their work.” Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Mugabe was recently slapped with a five-year suspension from the ruling party on charges of fanning factionalism and disrespecting party leadership.
Zanu PF Midlands spokesperson Conelious Mupereri, who attended the meeting, accused Mugabe of sponsoring the perpetrators of yesterday’s violence and vowed tough action against the culprits.
“We were holding an inter-district meeting where we were giving the districts updates on matters that were discussed during the provincial executive meeting held on April 16,” Mupereri said.
“The youths came in a vehicle we know belongs to Mugabe and attacked us.
“These people were suspended from the party and now they are causing violence.
“This now calls for another disciplinary hearing and since they are suspended, if found guilty, they can only be expelled from the party.”
But Mugabe said he had no hand in the violence and pledged his allegiance to the Zanu PF leadership.
“I will never fund any form of violence. I respect President Robert Mugabe and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” he said.
“Those people who want to accuse me of violence have an agenda to tarnish my image. I don’t stand for personalities, but for the party and I will continue to support the party.
Mugabe also pledged his support to Vongaishe Mupereri the Zanu PF candidate for the Mbizo constituency by-election.-southern eye

There was drama yesterday in court when an elderly woman cried uncontrollably and fainted after listening to her daughter  giving evidence on how she strangled and killed her new-born baby with the help of two her close friends.
This led magistrate Judith Taruvinga to adjourn the court proceedings  for about 10 minutes while  Helen Mugariri’s mother   was taken outside where she later gained consciousness.
Helen Mugariri from Mkhoba 20, is facing infanticide together with her two friends.
Mugariri told the court how Carol Hamandishe and Agrita Jiti helped her to kill her baby and on hearing this her mother collapsed.
The three woman are denying the charges but were remanded in custody to May 7 for continuation of trial.
In her defence, Mugariri said she did not intend to kill her baby but her friends made her commit the crime.
She said her friends told her that looking after the baby was going to be difficult for her since she was a single mother who already had two kids that she was struggling to look after.
Mugariri said her friends found her after she had just given birth in her room with the baby still in between her legs at her lodgings in Mkoba 20.
“Hamandishe and Jiti found the baby still alive and the umbilical cord was still attached to it. Jiti strangled the baby and covered it with a comforter. I then noticed that the baby was no longer breathing and that’s when I discovered that the baby was dead,” she said.
Prosecuting Daniel Tafuma told the court that on March 25, Mugariri who was pregnant felt labour pains and asked Hamandishe to look for her landlady Sarudzai Chipfunde to come and assist her.
He said when Hamandishe could not find the landlady, she proceeded to Jiti’s house in the same neighbourhood. Tafuma said Mugariri gave birth alone while her friend, Hamandishe, was still at Jiti’s house.
“During Hamandishe’s absence, Mugariri’s friend Sibonokuhle Simango arrived looking for her and when she knocked at the door she was called by Mugariri who was lying on the floor covered with a blanket,” he said.
Tafuma said Simango heard a baby crying from Mugariri’s blankets and went on to congratulate her.
He said Mugariri only replied “zvakaoma” (kunzima).
“Simanga then left and met Hamandishe outside and told her that the accused had given birth.
Hamandishe then went back and told Jiti and Chipfunde that Mugariri had just given birth,” said Tafuma.
He said Hamandishe, Jiti and Chipfunde entered the room and found Mugariri strangling the baby with a blue towel wrapped around the baby’s neck.
Tafuma said Mugariri then placed the baby in a plastic bag. He said Chipfunde went and reported the matter to the police.
“An ambulance was summoned and Mugariri together with her baby’s body were taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital. The baby was certified dead at the hospital,” said Tafuma. -chronicle

Morgan Tsvangirai has been ditched by the late Ndabaningi Sithole’s ZANU Ndonga party.
The party’s president Wilson Khumbula has announced he is dissolving it and joining Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF. Before last week, Tsvangirai had enjoyed support and allegiance from the party.
But a war of words has erupted in ZANU Ndonga where some long-standing party cadres are disputing Wilson Khumbula’s latest move saying his decision to join ZANU-PF was personal.A fortnight ago Khumbula announced that the party was dissolving as the leadership had forged an alliance with ZANU-PF in the wake of what he called behind-the- scenes talks between the two parties.
He immediately urged his members to join the “various ZANU-PF structures.”
But despite his claims, Denford Musiyarira has since assumed leadership of ZANU Ndonga.
Musiyarira told the Financial Gazette recently that the party was still in existence and that those who have migrated to ZANU-PF had done so in their personal capacities.
ZANU Ndonga was founded by the late veteran nationalist, Ndabaningi Sithole, after he broke away from ZANU-PF.
Sithole died in 2000.
The party has consistently won the Chipinge seat, which happened to fall in Sithole’s home area, until 2005. Khumbula, who was Sithole’s deputy, took over the party after the death of his predecessor but fared dismally in the 2002 presidential elections before the party went on to lose its parliamentary seat in the 2005 elections.
Sharp divisions followed afterwards as some leaders started questioning his leadership, resulting in two factions emerging, led by Khumbula and Gondai Vhutuza.
Another splinter group later sprang up fronted by former chairperson of the party, Reketayi Semwayo, who forged an alliance with Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change in a bid to win the Chipinge Central National Assembly seat in 2013, but lost. Both Vhutuza and Semwayo have since stepped aside from the leadership of the party, allowing former chairperson, Musiyarira, to take over as president.
This week, Musiyarira said the party has not been dissolved as Khumbula claimed.
“I want to make it very clear that ZANU Ndonga is still there as a political party and I am now its president,” he said. “I have actually just walked out of a strategic party meeting. It’s not a surprise to us that Khumbula has joined ZANU-PF. He has always been a ZANU-PF person. As far as we are concerned, it is only Khumbula who has joined ZANU-PF in his own personal capacity and he should stop pretending that he is representing us. Let everyone know that ZANU Ndonga is still alive and very active. We urge our members and supporters to therefore refuse to be swayed,” Musiyarira said. – Fingaz/Additional Reporting

FORTY eight Zimbabweans endured a four-hour hijack horror aboard an Intercape bus in neighbouring South Africa yesterday. Four pistol and rifle wielding men got away with cash, cellphones and gadgets worth tens of thousands of dollars when they commandeered the Bulawayo/Johannesburg bus near Hammanskraal at around 3.30AM yesterday.

No one was injured in the robbery. The bus company confirmed the robbery yesterday.
Passengers, who were still struggling to come to grips with the ordeal, said that the hijackers impersonated police officers to stop the bus.
They said the robbers locked the drivers in a compartment in the bus and took the passenger list.
“I was asleep when I heard loud screams. At first, I thought the bus had been involved in an accident. I nearly fainted when I saw a man waving a pistol in my face and demanding cash,” said a passenger who identified herself as MaBhebhe.
She said the man took R8,000 which she intended to spend on shopping in the neighbouring country.
“He also took my Samsung Galaxy S4 and camera. Everyone was terrified as we thought it was a xenophobic attack. We had seen images of people being burnt alive or viciously slashed with pangas. I thought they were going to burn the bus with everyone inside,” said MaBhebhe.
Another passenger who declined to be named said passengers complied with the gunmen’s demands as they feared being shot.
“When they flagged down the bus they appeared as if they were police officers. We were surprised when they produced guns,” said the passenger. “Before they got to me, I hid my phone and about R10,000 in my panties. I gave the gunman R200 and he demanded my phone.”
She said she told the man she did not have a cellphone and he used the passenger list to find the mobile number of her next of kin and called her.
“He introduced himself as an Intercape driver and asked my sister for my phone number.
“I was sweating fearing he was going to dial my number and the phone would ring. My sister refused to give him the number, demanding to talk to me instead. She thought we had been involved in an accident,” said the woman.
She said the armed robber cut the phone and moved to the next passenger. Another passenger said he lost about R40,000 to the robbers. The bus arrived at Park Station at 10 a. m, five hours later than the scheduled time.
The bus company said the bus was hijacked in full view of police officers. “Intercape can confirm that on 21 April at 03:30am an Intercape coach with 48 passengers on board was held up at the Carousel Tollgate at gun point by four armed men.
“The coach was in-bound from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, with 48 passengers, 5 drivers and one host on board. The coach passed through police presence at the tollgate and stopped on the other side of the tollgate to do a driver change,” read the statement.
The scheduled changeover was done at the tollgate under the lights in line of sight of the police and tollgate staff. “The coach was approached by four armed men who then forced the coach driver to proceed to an area out of sight of the police and tollgate staff.
The armed men then robbed the staff and passengers of valuables, cellphones and IT equipment,” read the statement. The bus company said the incident was reported to the police. “A case of armed robbery was opened against the four armed men by Hammanskraal police. The bus proceeded to Johannesburg after police took statements from the passengers and the bus crew.
Passengers were assisted with further travel arrangements upon arrival at Johannesburg station,” said the bus company. The bus incident comes in the wake of xenophobia attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.
Xenophobic attacks broke out in Durban after King Zwelithini’s statement last month that foreigners should leave the country. – Chronicle

The Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) could be facing imminent collapse if the sum of US$2 million awarded to the former Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Cuthbert Dube at arbitration is paid out.
The medical aid society is in debt and is already struggling to procure drugs or pay doctors.
It has become a time of uncertainties for PSMAS members who no longer trust what the future holds for them.
For the past months, PSMAS members have been struggling to get medication at PSMAS pharmacies while some doctors and hospitals are turning them away.
While the situation has already been bad for PSMAS, the latest development in which the labour court arbitrator awarded Dr Dube a whooping sum of US$2 million could collapse the medical aid society.
PSMAS is, however, contesting the ruling with interim manager Dr Gibson Mhlanga confirming an appeal has been lodged with the labour court.
“The institution will not collapse. We are taking measures to date with our lawyers and we have launched an appeal with the labour court, and by virtue of that the ruling will be suspended until the law has taken its course,” said Dr Mhlanga.
PSMAS was on Tuesday ordered to pay the ousted former group chief executive more than US$2 million in salary arrears which accrued since his dismissal in January last year.
The organisation was also ordered to reinstate Dr Dube. – State Media

By Lucas Muhlauri| A man and a woman, all Zimbabweans have been shot by unknown assassins in Alexander Township, Gauteng province, as South Africa’s xenophobic crime continues to rip into society.
The shooting occurred in the last hour. ZimEye.com is reliably informed that the attackers used a 9mm pistol before fleeing into the neighbourhood. The exact location of the crime scene is in 16th Avenue, Alexander Park. (Click map below to navigate to the exact spot).

Paramedics and Police officers have just arrived in 16th Avenue, a few minutes ago.
The victims’ name’s were not available at the time of writing.
More to follow as the events unravel….

The first batch of Zimbabweans fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa arrived at Beitbridge Border Post last night with harrowing tales of how they narrowly escaped death and witnessed some people being killed. Most of the 407 people, who arrived in a convoy of six luxury buses and a haulage truck supplied by the Government, looked distraught and vowed never to return to South Africa after missing death by a whisker upon being sold out by their neighbours.
Mr Climate Mushanga of Zaka said he had to flee, leaving behind his South African wife and two children after watching his cousin being beheaded.
“On Tuesday last week, I watched my cousin Pepukai Museyi being beheaded by a group of rowdy Zulus armed with machetes, knifes, knobkerries and guns who were toyi-toying, singing songs denouncing foreigners,” he said.
“It seemed that the South African Police were laughing while my relative was being killed. We were only helped by the Metro Police who took us to a camp where other Zimbabweans were. As a result, I left my wife whose life I don’t fear for because she is South African. I fear for the lives of my children because these people were ruthless.”
Mr Daniel Sungai (46) showed his hand which was injured as he blocked a knife from rowdy South African gangsters.
“I ran for my life and mobilised other Zimbabweans so that we could fight back, but we were overpowered because they outnumbered us, so we ended up giving up and running back to Zimbabwe with our lives,” he said.
“I lost my money and cellphone during the scuffle. I will never return to that country again.”
Ms Margaret Dhambuza of Chiredzi said she fled her home after she was sold off by her neighbours.
“The South Africans were making rounds in the Chatsworth area of Durban hunting for foreigners to kill and when I heard about it, I took my two children and went to the highway where I was rescued by the police,” she said.
Ms Brenda Mavenge, also of Chiredzi, said her house was destroyed and her husband was thoroughly beaten.
“They travelled in groups armed with knives, knobkerries, machetes and guns,” she said. “I suspect we were sold off by our neighbours. Those people are ruthless. We watched some children being beaten and being thrown in storm drains full of water. I will never go back to that country again although my husband remained.”
The xenophobia victims are expected to leave for their various destinations early this morning after putting up at a holding centre established by the Government at Beitbridge.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Cde Abednigo Ncube, who was part of a Government delegation welcomed them.
“As Government we were disturbed with the disturbances and were worried about the safety of our people,” he said while addressing the victims. “We have been in constant touch with the South African Government on a regular basis to get the latest information on the attacks so that we could come up with a plan.
“We will try and solve the issue with the South African government and you can return once we are sure that you will be safe there.”
Cde Ncube said Government would provide three buses, while other partners had provided a similar numberto carry the victims to their respective homes from Beitbridge.
Civil Protection Unit director Mr Madzudzo Pawadyira said they expected more Zimbabweans to flee South African if the situation remained the same.
The repatriation of 360 more Zimbabweans displaced by the attacks was delayed yesterday after the South African Home Affairs department prioritised processing documents for Malawian nationals who also want to leave.
The group was expected to leave for Zimbabwe yesterday, but has to wait a little longer until the documentation of close to 3 600 Malawians is completed at both the Chatsworth and Phoenix holding centres in Durban.
Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa Mr Isaac Moyo said they were hopeful that the host government would deploy more home affairs workers to speed up the repatriation process.
“We have idenfied and documented our people and are waiting for the host government to finalise its processes,” he said. “If they don’t deploy more staff, the process of repatriating these people might take long.”
Mr Moyo said the situation appeared calm in the area.
“We attended a meeting with a number of traditional leaders from Kwazulu-Natal today, including King Zwelithini and he promised to work with other leaders to ensure the safety for migrants within 30 days,” he said.
Speaking during a meeting yesterday, King Goodwill Zwelithini denied that he incited the violence, saying he was misquoted by the media.
Addressing the same meeting where King Zwelithini spoke, South Africa’s Prince Mongosuthu Buthelezi said: “There is no sense in what is happening. A spark has been ignited, and it has taken flame in terrible proportions”.
“The fact is, chasing out other nations will not solve any of our problems, because these are own problems. They are rooted in our hearts.”
 

The investigation into abducted activist Itai Dzamara’s disappearance has opened a can of worms amid revelations of bitter fighting between Dzamara and a group of his friends in the Occupy African Unity Square organisation.
This exclusive ZimEye.com investigation’s discovery reveals what the Police could have easily obtained as evidence in studying the man’s disappearance.
There are three peripheral points into this investigation and they are:  first of all digital footprints on the activist’s email, and social networking websites. Secondly there are witness statements from close friends who were with him before the abduction; and thirdly there are phone records before and after the incident.
This investigation looks into scuffles revealed through Dzamara’s official social networking portal hours before he disapparead.
*There is one unreported key matter on circumstances around Dzamara before his abduction and this discovery proposes that his friends utilised personal connections in the CIO to abduct him so to make him cough out money, a $200,000 cheque they claimed he had received from a US donor. This they wanted to at the least to share among themselves but were more concerned that Dzamara would spend the money on his own or with his Tsvangirai connections as he was now going onto provate meetings with the MDC-T leader . According to this investigation, when they failed to obtain access, the friends then utilised nefarious elements within the Central Intelligence Organisation to put Dzamara under pressure as according to an earlier find after he failed to release that money. Evidence of the $200,000 allegation, have been spotted in Whatsapp and email chats between a man (Name Withheld)  and A CIO agent working on Dzamara at the time.
There is strong evidence to support this proposition and this is seen in that late Friday afternoon barely three days before he was abducted, a furious colleague of his wrote on Facebook announcing to the rest of the OAUS group that Dzamara had been suspended for breaching the organisation’s code of conduct by jumping into bed with compromised individuals, referring to MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Soon after this allegation and the announcement were posted online, Dzamara would ascend to the forum a few hours later fighting back tooth and nail saying that no one can suspend him.
“This is a joke,” he announced.
That forum chat has since disappeared from the Facebook website, amid suspicion that the culprits did this on purpose to cover up for their crime.
However, the fight lasted into the late hours of Sunday nine hours before he disappeared.
The whole incident took place between Friday (night) the 6th March and Monday the 9th, the day of his abduction.
In the morning of Monday he was abducted outside a barber shop in Glen View and his disappearance was first announced by DARE party leader Gilbert Dzikiti who told ZimEye.com of the development.
Dzamara would retaliate saying that no one can stop him. “No amount of shouting, threats or attempts at mudslinging by some elements shall stop me from both calling for, and working towards, collaboration and unity of national players and stakeholders in fighting for a new Zimbabwe.
“In addition, we are not stopping rolling out action programmes, together with other players and in unity,” he said.
When contacted for a comment on this discovery, Dzamara’s brother, Patson ruled the whole investigation out saying Itai’s friends are too young to have done that.
“We looked into that dimension but nothing much to consider there. The young boys do not have the capacity to do that.”
But the first suspects on Dzamara’s abduction should essentially be his friends, this reporter contends due to the nature of bitter discourse and fighting just before the disappearance occurred.
Meanwhile Zimbabweans have speculated that Envoronment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere is behind the abduction. To date there is however no evidence to support this assertion.

Zanu PF Youth League secretary for administration Lewis Matutu is under investigation from the party’s Midlands provincial leadership for allegedly abusing First Lady Grace Mugabe’s name for extortion purposes.
Matutu, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally, reportedly fleeced some Midlands businesspeople of large sums of money claiming he would channel the funds to the First Lady.
Provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri confirmed the matter yesterday, saying Matutu’s fate would be decided in the next two days.
“Why should you not wait for two or so days before the matter is finalised (after which) I will be able to give you a proper position? There are so many allegations that are being raised; some of which are baseless, but let us talk after the outcome of the findings,” Mupereri said.
But, Matutu yesterday denied the allegations.
“It’s not true. People with hidden agendas are out to destabilise the party by lying to the leadership. I want evidence to be presented before me and the party leadership so that the truth is put to the public,” Matutu said.
According to well-placed sources, Matutu’s alleged shenanigans were exposed last Thursday by Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia. She claimed Matutu had also unsuccessfully tried to decampaign her in the run-up to the Chirumanzu-Zibagwe by-election which she eventually won.
“Amai Mnangangwa was not happy with the behaviour of Matutu and she denounced the boy [Matutu] in the provincial co-ordinating committee. She said the boy is abusing the name of the First Lady by going to businesspeople in Zvishavane and the entire Midlands getting money from them claiming he has been sent by her. She also raised allegations that Matutu had objected to her candidature to replace the VP as Chirumanzu-Zibagwe MP,” a source who attended the meeting said. – Newsday

It never rains, but pours for the dismissed former Vice president Joice Mujuru, as she is once again implicated in a “failed coup attempt”, that was supposed to be executed through Madzibaba Ishmael of Budiriro.
 
The alleged coup deal came to light during cop basher, Madzibaba Ishmael’s trial at the Magistrates Court in Harare this week. The Johanne we Chishanu’s Budiriro leader, told the packed court that he was being fixed by Johannes Ndanga, who is the President of ACCZ for refusing to pray for his wishes of pulling down Mugabe from the presidential seat.
 
“Ndanga visited my Shrine and asked me to pray for his ambitions, of dragging down President Mugabe from his position and replace him with Mai Mujuru, while he (Ndanga) becomes the vice president, thereby creating a God fearing Zimbabwe.
Today he is fixing me for refusing all these weird demands, which I dismissed, and I am suffering for Ndanga and Mujuru’s desires. Mambo wangu, ndiri kufira mhosva yandisingazivi, zvekare ndiri kungoitirwa hutsinye, nekuda kwekuti Ndanga anoda kuva vice President.
 
Ndakaramba kuvashandira zvavaida kuti vatore hutongi we Nyika kubva mumaoko ava Mugabe. I refused their demands of taking power from Mugabe through my prayers,” said Madzibaba Ishmael in his defense outline.
 
Ishmael, also claimed that Bishop Ndanga said the country was sick and tired of being led by non- Christians, hence the need for God fearing people like Dr Joice Mujuru and him to take over.
 
With tears gushing from his eyes, Mufani also told the packed court that he was not present when the police and journalists were attacked at his shrine two year ago.

KentOnline|A banned Zimbabwean driver, Kalvin Mapungwana who smashed a car into a Herne Bay roundabout and then ran off has escaped prison following a light sentence.

Magistrates decided that Mapungwana should receive a suspended sentence and curfew after he ploughed the MG ZR into a kerb in Sea Street and destroyed railings on the other side of the road.
At a previous court hearing, the 21-year-old, of Puffin Road, admitted driving without due care and attention, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, driving without insurance and driving while banned.
On Friday, magistrates in Canterbury sentenced him to 56 days in prison, suspended for two years, with a three-month curfew between 7pm and 7am.
The court heard that Mapungwana took his brother’s car after they argued on the evening of August 8.
At 10.25pm he hit the roundabout and then ran off into Grand Drive, where he was seen hopping through gardens.
The car somersaulted and went through the Sea St roundabout before landing on railings outside a fish and chip shop
Student Daniel Dooner, who was driving along the Sea Street when Mapungwana overtook him, said: “It was just a small dot in my rear view mirror and then he suddenly right up behind me.
“It overtook me near the Co-op but there was another car coming the other way so it had to pull in quickly, forcing me up onto the path. His back wheel hit the kerb and chucked the car sideways into the roundabout. It was like something you’d see on TV.”
Police found Mapungwana’s DNA on the airbag, but could not find the driver.
Kalvin Mapungwana smashed his brother’s car into railings in Sea Street
Mapungwana, who works as a labourer, handed himself into a police station on August 14.
He had already been on a three-year driving ban.
As part of his sentence, Mapungwana must do 20 days behavioural therapy with the Thinking Skills Programme. He must also pay an £80 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. – KentOnline/Additional Reporting

Bristol Post|A SPEEDING DRIVER being chased by police who abandoned his car where cops later found cocaine, leapt into Bristol’s River Frome and had to be rescued has been jailed for 16 months.
Simbarashe Monhlani sped off when officers tried to stop him, before losing control of the hired VW Golf and running off, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Police found him in the river, clinging on to a large branch and grappling with his trousers, and they threw him a line and hauled him out. He later denied intending to deal a lump of crack cocaine found in the car.
Monhlani, 27, of Jiggins Lane in Birmingham, denied possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply in July 2013. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and possessing 3.1g of Class B drug cannabis.
A jury of six men and six women found him guilty of simply possessing the crack cocaine.
Judge Euan Ambrose told him: “The driving was very dangerous and very fast through residential streets on a summer’s evening.”
The judge banned him from driving for two years and ordered him to pass an extended driving test.
He told him to pay £490 costs and ordered the destruction of drugs seized.
Alistair Haggerty, prosecuting, said on the night of St Paul’s Carnival PC Dean Ward was in a police car in Barton Hill and his attention was drawn to a VW Golf containing four men.
Haggerty told the jury: “The vehicle sped away from him.
“He activated his siren and blue lights to stop it. The driver was Mr Monhlani and he made no effort to pull over.”
The court heard Monhlani drove at 45mph through a 30mph zone before overtaking a vehicle on a blind right-hand bend.
He then accelerated up to 60mph, went on the wrong side of the road and lost control.
Haggerty said: “He stopped at Napier Road, near the Ikea store which is near the M32.
“Mr Monhlani and the front seat passenger ran.
“The front seat passenger was arrested and the back seat passengers were arrested.”
Monhlani was seen to jump over a fence and into the River Frome, where he submerged before re-appearing.
Haggerty told the court: “He was attempting to use a branch to clamber out.
“He was messing around with the waistband of his trousers. He continued fidgeting underwater.
“Police units arrived, and the fire brigade, and they helped Mr Monhlani from the river.”
PC Richard Friend arrested the soggy suspect and found £240 in bank notes in his back pocket.
Police searched the VW Golf and found £385 in bank notes as well as immigration papers in Monhlani’s name.
They also found a 11.32g lump of 26 per cent pure crack cocaine – said to be enough for 56 0.2g deals – and a further £250 cash, the jury heard.
Monhlani denied intending to supply drugs and denied cash in the car was his.
In a second interview he said he was a cocaine user who had come to Bristol for carnival and the cocaine was just for him.
Monhlani told the court he was born in Zimbabwe and came to the UK in April, 2000, where a threat of deportation was continually postponed.
He confirmed he wasn’t able to work or get a National Insurance number.
He said: “I get money from criminal activity. I had £240 in my back pocket and £250 worth of drugs.
“I get money from shoplifting. I’m just the driver, I make sure we could get away.
“My friend would sell stolen goods straight away and we would split everything equally making, on a good day, £400.”
Monhlani couldn’t recall how much cocaine he had taken that day, which was his first visit to Bristol.
But he shed light on why police saw him fiddling with his waistband in the river.
He said: “My trousers kept falling. The string was loose. I had to keep pulling up my trousers every few seconds.
“I was clinging on to a branch and they threw a rope down to me.”

The managing director of state-owned mobile operator NetOne, Reward Kangai is planning to punish US companies that use the voice over the internet (VoIP) and web based sms technologies by making them pay taxes.
Kangai is related to the late politburo member Kumbirai Kangai and if his motives prevail, Zimbabwe will become the only country in the world to encroach into the dynamic online business which is daily creating millionaires overnight.
Speaking in Victoria Falls, Kangai bemoaned the effect of social network applications such as Whatsapp, Viber, skype and others, saying they are eating into mobile network operators’ revenues while enjoying unfair competition as they do not pay tax.
Kangai told reporters at the recent Innovation Africa Digital Summit that the industry was full of “over the top” players who ride on existing infrastructure without paying taxes.
He said there was a need for government to come up with modalities that would allow locally run applications that would generate money for local companies.
“In this telecoms industry capital expenditure is very high and increasing because of demand for broadband services. We have to continuously upgrade our systems, which needs capital but you find there are some operators who get returns from use of our networks. Our revenues are going down because there are some clever over-the-top players who ride on our infrastructure for free and use our services for their benefit yet they don’t pay taxes,” said Kangai.
“We know that customers are enjoying all these services such as Whatsapp, Viber and others but what they don’t know is that they use our expenditure.”
He implored government to investigate the sector.
“There is a need for a consolidated approval from government because there has been no common position in dealing with this. This is why we are (looking at) having our own applications that can generate money even for the government through taxes,” he said.
NetOne, the country’s oldest mobile phone operator, is also the second biggest, with 3,3 million subscribers according to latest Potraz data.
The firm is working on a number of packages – one of them 4G service and expects a 50 percent increase in subscribers by the close of 2015, Kangai added.

President Robert Mugabe, who is also the SADC and African Union (AU) Chairman, has left for Indonesia to attend the Asia-Africa Summit and the ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the Bandung conference.
President Mugabe, who is accompanied by the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and senior government officials, is going to be among more than 30 heads of state from Africa and Asia who will gather in Jakarta this week to share their countries’ economic development experiences.
The delegates will also commemorate the 10th anniversary of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP).
The summit, which is held after every 10 years, is running under the theme: ‘Strengthening South-South Cooperation to Promote World Peace and Prosperity,’
The summit will also help Asian and African nations build stronger partnerships while giving the leaders opportunities to discuss solutions to overcome common challenges such as poverty and underdevelopment through the strengthening of south to south cooperation.
In 1955, representatives from 29 Asian and African countries met in Bandung, Indonesia to discuss independence, peace and economic prosperity.
The conference marked an important milestone in the history of Asian and African countries as it adopted a final communiqué speaking out against imperialism and super power hegemony.
The Asia-Africa conference was originally held to address peace, security and economic problems during the cold war between the United States and Russia when both the western bloc and the eastern bloc were vying to win support from Asian and African countries.
The United Nations (UN) recognises the Non-Aligned Movement and the organisation still holds regular summits, but the removal of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which ended the cold war, made it irrelevant.
Cde Mugabe was seen off at the Harare International Airport by the two vice presidents, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa and Cde Phelekhezela Mpoko, Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi; Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo; the Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province, Cde Miriam Chikukwa, senior government officials and service chiefs.

ZimEye.com brings live updates from the trial of church founder Archbishop Walter Masocha of the AGAPE for All Nations Church in Falkirk, Scotland.
Masocha has been slapped with a series of sex offence charges which include making minors massage his naked body using so called anointing oils and sexually abusing some female members of his church. One of the charges was dropped after the complainant withdrew under unexplained circumstances.
The case opened early morning Monday with Masocha entering court accompanied by his lawyer.
All witnesses were present and unlike last week Friday, his lawyer turned up.
A 15 member jury set up was individually asked to confess all and any possible connections with the preacher. All responses came back negative leading to the judge moving the case for trial.
The first witness took stand at around lunch time.
However because the case involves minors, journalists and outsiders were ordered to be out of the court room.
The case continues tomorrow, Tuesday.

Former Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) CEO, Dr Cuthbert Dube has won an labour case against the health service provider, after an arbitrator ruled that PSMAS owes him more than US$2 million in salary arrears accrued from January this year.
The arbitral award has been filed at the High Court for registration as an order by Dube’s lawyer, Mr Jonathan Samkange.
The arbitrator found that Dube’s contract of employment at PSMAS is still in effect, hence Dube is entitled to US$2,07 million (US$2,070,000) calculated from January 2014.
Dube had filed a case of unfair labour case against Premier Service Medical Investments (PSMI) for none payment of salaries. – State Media

The opposition Zimbabwe Development Party President Kisinoti Mukwazhe has challenged President Robert Mugabe to surrender the leadership of regional and continental bodies if he does not “firmly” deal with South Africa over Xenophobia.
Hundreds of foreign nationals have been killed to date while thousands displaced by the barbaric xenophobic attacks taking place in South Africa.
The South African government has been blasted for not taking adequate action against their nationals involved in the brutal attacks.
President Robert as the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, Mukwazhe on Monday said should decisively deal with South Africa.
“He must either surrender the chairmanship of SADC and AU and give the responsibility to those who are capable of delivering, ” said Mukwazhe.
“It is better for us to know that AU and SADC are led by a clique of leaders who are there to spend resources for nothing as opposed to tackling issues affecting the region and  the continent, if they fail to challenge the South African government over these attacks”.
President Robert Mugabe last week at his country’s 35^th anniversary celebrations said as SADC and AU they were going to tell the South African government to stop xenophobia.
But Mukwazhe said President Robert Mugabe should not just speak, but take action.
“He should use his power as the leader of the continent by deploying soldiers in South Africa because the SA government has failed to control the situation”, he added.
“South Africa should be suspended from SADC and the United Nations should slap it with sanctions for these atrocities”.

The opposition and civil service unions yesterday rounded on President Robert Mugabe and his misfiring Zanu PF government, saying farcical developments around bonuses for State employees underlined the fact that the centre could no longer hold within the ruling party.
The criticism included claims that the bonus disaster showed that Mugabe was no longer in charge, that government was demonstrating how “hopelessly clueless” it was about fixing Zimbabwe, and that the State was now run as a “chaotic free-for-all”, with ministers working without supervision and doing as they wished.
This followed Mugabe’s often random speech at the Independence Day celebrations at the National Sports Stadium, in Harare, on Saturday where he gave Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa a humiliating public shellacking, emphatically denying that the government had decided against awarding civil servants bonuses this year and next year.
“I want to make it clear that the report which was in the newspaper (presumably The Herald) that bonuses were being withdrawn is not government policy. The cabinet did not approve that at all. And the presidency never, never was consulted on the matter. We were never consulted the three of us, that is myself and the vice presidents.
“And we say that is disgusting to us, and it will never, never be implemented at all. So let the civil servants not be down-hearted. That will not happen,” Mugabe said.
The pragmatic Chinamasa, accompanied by his Information counterpart Jonathan Moyo, had announced at a media briefing in Harare last week that Mugabe’s broke government was suspending bonus payments until 2017.
“Government has decided to suspend bonus payments to the civil servants in 2015 and 2016, and the situation will be reviewed in 2017 in the event that we are able to build enough capacity,” Chinamasa said.
Reacting to the farce yesterday, Zapu spokesperson Mnjobisa Noko said the embarrassing discord smacked of a “hopelessly clueless and directionless” government.
“What we are seeing is a government that will not lead Zimbabweans to prosperity as what they are looking at is themselves and themselves only.
“It is a situation where we have a president who is always air-borne and who does not know what is on the ground, and where ministers are clueless about the suffering of the man on the street, including civil servants,” he said.
Noko added that Mugabe had contradicted Chinamasa in a desperate endeavour to “justify his own salary increment” after the nonagenarian recently claimed that he was one of the poorest presidents in the world.
“This is about his salary justification at a time that the people of Zimbabwe are sinking deeper into poverty. They are blinded by power and do not care about the welfare of the ordinary people,” he said.
The spokesperson of the Zanu PF “People First” formation, Rugare Gumbo, said that the current confusion around bonuses were not new in the ruling party and showed that Mugabe was losing his grip on power.
“There is a free-for-all that demonstrates that the centre can no longer hold. People are taking advantage of the president’s lack of grasp of what is happening in the party and country. People are also taking advantage of the old man’s age and making unilateral decisions.
“It’s now a question of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing,” Gumbo said, although he also doubted that Chinamasa had made his earlier announcement unilaterally.
“It’s a party of policy inconsistences which we have always witnessed and which we are now called upon to change. We were involved in some of these things, where decisions were made and changed. Some of us are not really surprised,” he said.
Writing on his Facebook page, MDC spokesman Obert Gutu also doubted that Chinamasa could have made the announcement unilaterally.
“Knowing Chinamasa as I do, I don’t believe that one bit. Someone is lying,” he said.
The Secretary General of the Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ), Robson Chere, said his union — which boasts more than 5 000 members — was baffled by Mugabe’s statement.
“The wild proclamation by President Mugabe on Independence day to the effect that bonuses will be paid to civil servants, contrary to Chinamasa’s position is baffling to us as Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe,” Chere said.
He also claimed that the ongoing confusion allegedly showed that there was a plan “to make civil servants suffer”.
“Other Unions and individuals would claim that the centre has fallen and there is no more co-ordination and unity of purpose in government. Our union however believes that there is a coordinated approach to make us suffer.
“Mugabe is an accomplice to the suspension of bonuses. He might have been playing politics when he made the wild proclamation or might have forgotten what they agreed on in cabinet which is a natural symptom of old age,” Chere said.
RTUZ said it wanted the government to issue a positive cabinet resolution on bonuses, whereupon a failure to do that would “push us into the streets”.
Efforts to get a comment from Chinamasa and Moyo yesterday were fruitless as their mobile phones went unanswered.
But Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba defended the nonagenarian’s position and modus operandi yesterday.
“The boss has spoken,” he said.
Asked if this was not creating unnecessary confusion concerning the correct position on the issue, Charamba said Mugabe’s statement was the correct position.
“The minister has been corrected. There is a distinction between taking a position as a matter of principle and its implementation. So there is no discord. The president has spoken,” Charamba said. – DailyNews

Clashes between locals trying to loot foreign-owned stores and police have taken place overnight in a township outside Johannesburg, as tension persists in several South African cities following attacks on immigrants.
This came as the total number of deaths reached seven. South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma announced saying a total of seven people have died in ongoing attacks on immigrants and he postponed a key ceremony because of the crisis.
The office of President Jacob Zuma said Monday that the ceremony scheduled for next week bestows the country’s highest official honor on South Africans and foreigners who have contributed to South Africa. His office said it must be postponed so South Africa can mourn the victims of anti-immigrant violence.
Meanwhile Radio station Eyewitness News reported that police shot rubber bullets at rioters in Actonville in clashes that continued into the early hours of Monday morning.
Gauteng Police spokesperson Colonel Lungelo Dlamini told Al Jazeera that police were called in after roads were closed but that no looting had taken place. He denied reports that police had fired rubber bullets, claiming that only tear gas had been used.
“The situation is quiet now, but we do have a lot of police presence in the hotspots,” Dlamini said.
Meanwhile, speaking to 702 news on Monday, David Mahlobo, minister of state security, described the country as “relatively stable over the past 48 hours”.
Residents of #Actonville were dispersed by police after they took to the streets last night, blocking the roads outside the hostel #sabcnews — Jamaine Krige (@jour_maine) April 20, 2015
At least 1,000 people have been displaced after violence against foreign nationals flared up on March 30 in Durban. The violence soon spread to townships around Johannesburg. – Al Jazeera/Eyewitness News

Falkirk, Scotland – The case in which AGAPE for All Nations church founder Archbishop Walter Masocha is on trial for multiple sex charges has been dragged into this week after the preacher’s lawyer failed to turn up for Friday morning’s trial, just as a court official said witnesses were missing.

Witnesses were abruptly forced into a local hotel over the weekend after the prosecutor told them they will have to remain in town because the preacher’s lawyer did not turn up. They were seen in the premises Friday morning receiving the announcement.
Some of the witnesses have travelled more than 200 miles away in England.
The hotel, transport, food and upkeep are fully paid for by the UK government’s Justice Ministry.
Earlier a court clerk had said that witnesses were missing hence the lifting to Monday, but it emerged beyond that issue, another vital element was the missing solicitor.
The case was originally scheduled to be concluded on last Monday 13th April and was lifted to Friday when the disappointment occurred.
It will be heard this morning at Falkirk Sherrif Court and Masocha has been told the judge will proceed without the lawyer if he does not turn up again.
The lawyer’s name was not available at the time of writing.
Masocha is on trial for several sex alleged offences which include making minor girls perform a sex act on his naked body using so called “anointing oil”. His lawyer has said the latter was a church practice.

The decapitated body of a woman found in a refuse bag in northern Johannesburg, is that of a Zimbabwean woman, Mrs Naume Garusa (41), who has become another casualty of South Africa’s xenophobic killings.
Garusa is the second Zimbabwean to be decapitated in the latest xenophobic attacks.
The police’s Lungelo Dlamini said a case of murder had been opened when they discovered for body last Tuesday at a time they said they could not verify her identity.
“We don’t know who the victim is, and we are appealing to the members of the public who reported the missing person to come forward as she might be one of the people who were reported missing,” Dlamini said at the time.
But a report released Sunday revealed she was Mrs Garusa who has since become the latest victim of horrific xenophobic attacks.
Speaking at her funeral wake at a relative’s home in Mufakose, Harare, her son Brain Garusa, who is a student at the University of Zimbabwe, said he was shocked to receive reports of his mother’s death just two days after talking to her on her mobile phone.
“I am still in a state of shock because just a few days before her disappearance I had spoken to her. She had promised to send some money the following day.
“I asked her about the xenophobic attacks and she said the situation was tense but calm,” said Brian.
Mr Emmanuel Mhondiwa, who is brother to the deceased, said the family was devastated with the manner in which Mrs Garusa lost her life after working in South Africa for more than 12 years.
“She was the sole breadwinner to her children following the death of her husband and she had done so well as to be able to send one of them to university. When we started seeing images of xenophobic attacks on television we never imagined that our own flesh and blood could soon be a victim,” said Mr Mhondiwa.
He said his sister was reported missing on Thursday after some xenophobic disturbances in Johannesburg and the following day her body was found by police in a nearby bushy area with her head decapitated. Mr Mhondiwa said relatives in South Africa confirmed that his sister had been attacked by marauding xenophobic elements who targeted her as she came from her workplace.
“She has been working in South Africa since 2002 and her papers, including a work permit, were in order. We just don’t understand how fellow Africans could do this to another human being. We urge our Government to urgently deal with this matter as most deaths are not being reported,” Mr Mhondiwa said.
University of Zimbabwe Student Executive Council secretary-general Valentine Masaiti, who was part of a large contingent of students who visited the Mhondiwa family in Mufakose to commiserate with their fellow student, appealed to Government to liaise with the South African government to ensure that peace prevailed and reduce the loss lives. Mr Mhondiwa said Mrs Garusa’s body is expected to arrive in Zimbabwe tomorrow and will be buried in Chikombedzi, Chiredzi, on Wednesday.

…as Ebola Death Toll Hits 12,000…
The bodies of Zimbabweans who have died while in West African countries hit by the Ebola virus, are no longer allowed into the country, government has announced.
The Ministry of Health announced Friday that the move is to minimise the risk of infection in the country.
The Director of Disease Control, Dr Portia Manangazira said, “We have moved to minimise as much as possible the risk of ebola infection by blocking corpses from ebola hit countries.
“It is for that reason that the repatriation of bodies from Ebola affected countries is prohibited,” she said.
She without revealing the statistics of dead bodies received into the country from the same country this year, continued saying government is following international health guidelines.
“Burials should be dealt with there and this is consistent with international health regulations,” she said.
The report came as it emerged total number of people killed worldwide by the Ebola virus has reached 12,000 according to the latest statistical report published by the World Health Organization.
The current Ebola endemic began in southern Guinea and later spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Senegal and has infected a total of 24,992 people since the outbreak started in 2014, according to the WHO report.
Some 4,000 deaths from the disease have been registered in Liberia, with the largest number of lethal cases being accounted for Sierra Leone, as Ebola virus killed 11,889 people there, the report said.
Although there is no officially approved medication for the disease, several countries, including Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan are currently working on developing the vaccine.
In January, Russia’s Health Ministry said that a Russian-made vaccine may become available for mass use in early 2016.
Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/ebola-death-toll-worldwide-exceeds-10000-who/#jyDbBPdMf2Hcp9Ul.99

A 10-year-old girl reported her 50-year-old mother to the police for physical and psychological abuse. The minor, a Grade Five pupil at Blakiston Primary School, Harare, alleges her mother denies her food and forces her into nightclubs. The girl’s parents are divorced. The woman appeared before magistrate Mr Milton Serima charged with contravening the Children’s Act.
In her evidence-in-chief during trial, the girl narrated how her mother would physically and verbally assault her. At times she would call her a prostitute, the court heard. The girl said when her father brings school fees and money to buy books, the mother uses it to buy alcohol.
She said all the family property was attached by the Deputy Sheriff over debts and she sleeps on the floor without blankets. The mother returns home in the wee hours from nightclubs.
The mother, a former bank teller, denies the allegations. The minor’s evidence was corroborated by a neighbour, her headmaster and the probation officer.
“She always tells me to ask for some money from daddy, so when I do not do as she says, she will then physically assault me calling me a prostitute. If daddy gives me money for books and other school material, she takes that money and buys beer with Uncle Paul,” she said.
“Mommy always tells me that I am HIV-positive and that I am going to die soon. I get food from our neighbour and she is also the one who gave me a blanket. I sometimes go to school on an empty stomach hence I cannot concentrate in class.
“When she takes me to the night- clubs, she orders me not to tell daddy.”
The girl said she wanted to stay with her stepmother whom she said was a loving person.
A neighbour, who was the second witness, narrated to the court how the 50-year-old woman ill-treats her child.
“I tried to talk to her about the abuse but vakanditi mwana wavo saka vanoita zvavanoda naye. She is a drunkard and whenever she is high, she assaults the poor girl. I am the one who always gives her food,” she said.
The probation officer said when he visited the woman’s house there was no sign of food.
He said when they visited the girl’s school, the headmaster said the minor’s performance was declining.
The headmaster said the girl was attending school on an empty stomach.
The probation officer said the girl’s mother needed help as she was offloading her stress on the minor.
The trial continues tomorrow. – Herald

A Matobo man paraded his ex-prostitute girlfriend naked around the village as punishment for confronting him over impregnating another woman, a court heard.
Patricia Dube, a mother of two who said she was once a prostitute, said her boyfriend, Brian Mwinde of Mgadla Village, kicked her out of her homestead, tore off her clothes and forced her to walk around the village naked on several occasions.
She told a court that Mwinde, who lives at her homestead, made her walk around stark naked while her children aged four and seven years watched.
Dube told magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure that the latest incident was on March 20 after Mwinde got drunk and started insulting her saying she was a prostitute.
“Your Worship, he was shouting at the top of his voice telling people that I’m a prostitute. I was helped by my neighbours who took a blanket and covered me up.
“I’m seeking a protection order because I don’t want him to abuse me anymore. I don’t want him near me and my children. When he gets drunk he tells me that he took me off the streets and made me a better person.
“I accepted to be in a relationship with him because I wanted to stop selling my body for money and I wanted my two children to grow up with a father figure. Now I’m regretting because he is teaching them a bad thing and tells them that I’m nothing but a prostitute,” said Dube.
The magistrate granted the protection order and ordered Mwindi to vacate the homestead with immediate effect.
Mashavakure told Dube to go for a two week counselling session with her children.
Mwindi told the magistrate that he was stressed after impregnating another woman. He said he was a home-keeper who is earning peanuts.
“Sometimes when I beat her up I would have seen her in the company of other men. I then concluded that maybe she had returned to her old ways behind my back. If she wants me out of the house it’s fine, I will go.
“It wasn’t my intention to do all those things to her. After receiving the news I drank a lot of alcohol and became intoxicated. I did all those things under the influence of alcohol,” Mwindi said. – Chronicle

MDC-T Deputy President Thokozani Khupe is plotting a violent removal of her boss Morgan Tsvangirai, the State Media suggests in a development that comes shortly after Khupe stormed out of the National Council meeting when Tsvangirai declared that the party will not contest in the upcoming June bi-elections.
 
FULL REPORT:
THE MDC-T may be headed for another split after its deputy president Thokozani Khupe yesterday allegedly organised protests in Bulawayo against party leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s decision to boycott by elections set for June 10.
The province is considered the party’s stronghold as it is the only one in the country where MDC-T had a clean sweep in both council and parliamentary elections during the 2013 harmonised elections.
Party insiders told The Chronicle that Khupe is mobilising to push a vote of no confidence against Tsvangirai. Fierce clashes erupted during a rally at Stanley Square yesterday with members of MDC-T factions aligned to Khupe and former Mzilikazi Senator Matson Hlalo stoning and clubbing each other.
Tsvangirai, who was supposed to address supporters at the rally, reportedly developed cold feet at the last minute when he was informed there would be demonstrations against him.
MDC-T secretary Douglas Mwonzora turned up instead. Journalists fled for dear life as knobkerrie- wielding youths clashed. Party youths carrying knobkerries, bricks and an assortment of weapons chanted obscenities at each other and threatened to attack journalists who they barred from attending the rally.
A freelance journalist, Auntony Zinyange, was assaulted by MDC-T youths for taking pictures of the violent proceedings.
His colleagues from other media houses were forced to seek refuge at nearby houses in Makokoba.
The Khupe faction was angered by placards that were being waved by Hlalo’s supporters accusing Khupe of trying to impose deputy mayor Gift Banda on the province.
Banda was recently barred by the High court from being Bulawayo provincial chairman after Hlalo contested his election.
The Khupe faction allegedly wanted to take Tsvangirai to task about the party’s national executive committee and national council’s decision to endorse a boycott of by-elections.
Five parliamentary seats fell vacant in Bulawayo following the recall of 21 rebel MDC-T MPs last month.
Khupe’s faction is against the boycott as it felt the party would win the Bulawayo seats.
Hlalo’s faction supports Tsvangirai’s boycott.
Party sources said Khupe refused to address the rally on behalf of Tsvangirai at an earlier meeting held at a city hotel. Traffic flow was disrupted along the busy 3rd Avenue extension that leads into the city centre as motorists, fearing for their safety, used Khami Road.
Some of the party youths accused Khupe of foisting Banda onto the provincial chairmanship post yet he was barred by the courts from assuming the position.
Others supported Khupe and accused Hlalo of taking Tsvangirai and the party to court over the Bulawayo chairmanship.
Hlalo’s supporters were eventually kicked out of Stanley Square. The party’s spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora and Khupe arrived at the rally six hours later as the clashes died down. Hlalo’s supporters said they did not want to be addressed by the pair.
They said Mwonzora was part of the Khupe faction and would not say anything positive about Tsvangirai.
A member of the faction said Khupe had tried to force them to sign a petition to support Banda for the provincial chairmanship and form new structures in the party’s districts. “They lied to us that Tsvangirai was coming to Bulawayo. They wanted us to sign petition forms to support Banda in court. We will not support Banda because we never voted for him and he was ordered by the court not to assume the chairmanship. He was brought by Khupe from nowhere and now we’re being forced to accept him. We don’t want him here,” said the supporter who accused Khupe of dividing the party.
A Khupe supporter, who declined to be named, accused the other group of accepting bribes to create chaos at the rally. “We don’t want these people led by Hlalo because he is a rebel. How can he insist that he’s a member of the party yet he is taking the party and its leader to court and fuelling divisions within the party,” he said.
The party’s Bulawayo offices were defaced by suspected Khupe supporters, demanding that Hlalo, Bulawayo Central MP Dorcas Sibanda and the MDC–T Veterans Activists Association (VAA) to stay out of the party affairs.
The anti-VAA graffiti was sprinkled across the precast wall in bright bold spray-paint before the walls were quickly re-painted.
After the 2013 elections, the party’s offices in Bulawayo were defaced with red spray-paint by unknown people calling for leadership renewal.

CABINET MINISTER Saviour Kasukuwere has promised to investigate reports that riot police brutally beat up a human rights activist protesting xenophobic violence outside the South African embassy in Harare.
In an attack that has been condemned by global watchdog Amnesty International, video footage shows riot police using their batons to beat Sydney Chisi outside the embassy in Belgravia suburb on Friday.
Chisi had to be taken for hospital treatment in Harare. Several other protesters were also reported injured.
Amnesty’s Noel Kututwa, the group’s regional director for southern Africa, said in a statement: “The brutal beating of Sydney Chisi by anti-riot police is abhorrent.
“It is against international standards on policing of peaceful demonstrations. This must stop.”
Responding to complaints about the attack on Twitter, environment minister, Saviour Kasukuwere said: “Will investigate and if true it’s unacceptable. The law must deal with perpetrators.”
In another tweet he said: “What is wrong is wrong. Period.”
Riot police have beaten up members of opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in recent years, though incidents have been much less frequently reported since a coalition government was formed in 2009.
That government ended in 2013 when President Robert Mugabe was returned to power.
His rival MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s popularity has waned and he is seen as much less of a political threat by the Mugabe government.
Zimbabweans have speculated online that Friday’s attacks may have been partly provoked by posters carried by some protesters that mentioned the 91-year-old president’s wife Grace.
One of the posters read: “Grace, stop dancing with Zuma when Zimbos are dying,” a reference to the Mugabes’ state visit last week to South Africa.
Another placard urged Zimbabwe’s first lady to “say something [because] xenophobia will catch up with you soon in Singapore,” in a reference to trips Grace and her husband make frequently to the Far East, sometimes for health reasons.
Kasukuwere asked for video footage of the violence to be sent to him.

Nobel Laureate Francoise Barre-Sinoussi‚ who co-discovered the virus that causes Aids‚ believes it is possible that one day people will live with HIV‚ without taking medicine and yet remain healthy and un-infectious.
She was speaking at the Sci-Bono centre in Johannesburg on Friday.
Barre-Sinoussi believes a cure that will completely eliminate HIV from the body is “impossible”. But she says sending the virus into remission is possible.
The scientist explained that clinical remission is when the virus is still in the body‚ but it is not replicating‚ not attacking the cells and the person cannot transmit HIV.
The virus would also not be activating the carrier’s immune system and causing inflammation in the body‚ which is linked to lifestyle disease such as heart disease and cancer.
The reason she believes remission is possible is because up to three in 1000 HIV-positive people naturally send the virus into remission and never require medicine. They are called elite controllers. These are people whose bodies stop the virus replicating and remain healthy 20 years after infection without antiretroviral medication.
The Nobel Laureate explained that there are multiple trials trying to understand how the immune systems of elite controllers work‚ so that one day treatments can be developed for all HIV positive people.
Elite controllers were detected almost by accident. A trial in France followed HIV-positive patients from the time of them testing positive to watch how the disease developed in their bodies.
The researchers found that a very small percentage of patients never needed treatment.
“These people have an efficient immune response related to a specific genetic background‚” said Barre-Sinoussi.
There is also a group of 20 French patients who started treatment but later stopped it‚ and have remained healthy for 10 years. This group is being studied to understand how their immune system controls the virus without medication.
Barre-Sinoussi is part of an initiative called Towards a Cure‚ which co-ordinates different international funders and scientists to work together efficiently to find a way to send the virus into remission.
The SA Department of Science and Technology is also part of the initiative. Also speaking at the event‚ Wits Professor Lynn Morris said a vaccine against HIV was essential to stop the disease spreading.
“We have got to stop people getting infected. The most successful way of preventing diseases is by vaccination. Vaccination has eliminated smallpox from the world.”
“We are getting hints that an HIV vaccine is possible. A lot of people feel it is a solvable problem‚” said Morris.
Scientists have been working on a vaccine for more than 30 years and only one vaccine has offered 30% protection from the virus‚ too little for it to be used widely.
One of the many difficulties of developing a vaccine is that the virus mutates a lot. “Scientists are working to target parts of the virus that don’t change.” These could be the virus’s “Achilles heel‚” said Morris.
Deputy director of the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute‚ Francois Venter‚ said the improvements in HIV medicine have been “nothing short of a medical miracle”.
“We have gone from a situation in early 90s in which patients had handfuls of tablets that had terrible side effects and did very little‚ to patients today needing a single tablet a day with minimal side effects.”
“I am sometimes surprised at the lack of ambition in other medical fields”. He said diabetes research and treatments for high blood pressure had not progressed nearly has fast as the HIV field. – The Times

FORMER Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has urged Zanu PF officials who are being vilified and harassed in the party over their perceived links to former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, to be bold enough to jump ship and openly join the People First party.
Gumbo, who is now spokesperson for the new grouping calling itself “genuine and original” Zanu PF (1963), or simply People First, said party officials including Cabinet ministers and MPs who were being persecuted for their perceived loyalty to Mujuru should not continue to subject themselves to humiliation “at the hands of weevils”.
Gumbo told The Standard that the current purges in Zanu PF were pushing more officials and ordinary people to the Mujuru camp.
“What Zanu PF is doing will certainly affect them, but we have said whatever they are doing they are pushing people to the side of Mujuru. It’s up to the people affected to react. We hope they will be courageous enough to come out in the open,” Gumbo said.
He said Zanu PF purges had divided and caused disharmony in the country.
Perceived Mujuru allies who have so far survived the on-going purges, have on several occasions been humiliated and isolated at public events where they continue to be labelled “gamatox.”
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaking at a rally at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo last week said the purge of the Gamatox faction was far from over.
“Zanu PF is a revolutionary party. If you do not toe the correct line, you go. No one is a sacred cow in Zanu PF. People are fired one-by-one, so don’t be fooled. Those who are against the revolution will be swept aside,” Mnangagwa warned.
Tourism minister, Walter Mzembi was last week relegated to the backseat and totally ignored at a State event officiated by Mnangagwa in Masvingo. Ironically, the event was related to his tourism portfolio yet he was treated as if he was not present. Mzembi is perceived to be loyal to Mujuru.
But as the political drama continues to unfold in Zanu PF, some members of the gamatox faction last week said they no longer feared to be axed from the ruling party — some of them in fact said they looked forward to the expulsion which they said would set them free.
“They can go ahead and convene their kangaroo courts. We no longer care,” said one MP perceived to be a Mujuru ally.
“We have witnessed several innocent party officials becoming victims of the purges. With the way things are going, I will not be surprised to be a victim any time despite my loyalty to the party.”
A former Politburo member who also requested anonymity said getting fired from Zanu PF was no longer an issue to worry about, but an opportunity to look for better fortunes outside the ruling party.
“People are being sacrificed for nothing as fear of Mujuru persists in Zanu PF. Mujuru still commands a huge following and a lot of respect,” said the former Politburo member.
“The sooner they fire me, the better, because I will have more time to think about my political future. Zanu PF is not the alpha and omega of politics.”
Zanu PF has already expelled several officials, among them Mujuru, Gumbo and former secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa.
The axe is also hovering over the heads of several senior officials, including former Mashonaland East chairman Ray Kaukonde, former Public Service minister Nicholas Goche, former Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister, Simbaneuta Mudarikwa and former Deputy Justice minister Fortune Chasi. Former Harare chairperson Amos Midzi and many others are also facing the axe. – The Standard

President Robert Mugabe’s motorcade has been involved in a bloody accident a few hundred yards from his official residence.
The accident happened around 4:30pm Saturday, just after the robots by St. Georges College.
This is the third such bloody accident in less than 3 years compromising the Head of State’s security and safety.
One of the Presidential motorcade guards, a biker, was hit by a truck and left bleeding and fighting for his life. The make of the vehicle was not disclosed at the time of writing.
Mugabe was at the time heading for his house with his small battalion of security guys when this happened.
The accident was witnessed in full view by motorists travelling from Kitsi Yatota Gold mine where ZANU PF officials are reportedly “making a killing without paying taxes”.
The guard’s identity was not revealed at the time of writing amid claims that he died soon afterwards. Efforts to obtain further information from the President’s Office were fruitless at the time of writing.

Former Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairman and Hurungwe West independent candidate Temba Mliswa appeared at Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court facing theft and possession of firearms charges.
The owner of the firearms, Myles Walter Hall, told the court that the people who took “my farm house” are the same people who stole my firearms and unfortunately the accused was not among the people.
“The accused is not the one who took the firearms from the farm, but the people who forcibly took my farm house,” Hall told the court on Thursday at the start of Mliswa’s trial.
The former farmer said he knew the people who took the farm house and he reported the missing firearms at Mhangura Police Station. Hall was the then owner of Somerhill Farm where the firearms were stolen.
Mliswa is facing two counts of theft and possession of firearms.
Another State witness, officer-in-charge Law and Order Detective Inspector Neverson Kupfuma, told the court that at the time of his arrest, Mliswa was not in possession of the firearms and he was not near the fowl run when the firearms were found.
Mliswa’s employee, Steadfine Mashiri, helped the police to recover the firearms and told the court it was only him who knew where the firearms were hidden.
Kupfuma told the court during cross examination by Mliswa’s lawyer Musindo Dunira Hungwe that the accused was not in possession of firearms at the time of the arrest.
Kupfuma said he was left with the accused in the Gym hall while the other two officers went with Mashiri to recover the firearms in the fowl-run. The case was postponed to April 27 for continuation of trial.
The case was heard before magistrate Felix Mawadze while Herald Matura prosecuted.

Expatriate teachers, particularly Zimbabweans, are fleeing KwaZulu-Natal following the violence locals have unleashed on foreigners.
Durban, the province’s capital, is the epicentre of the Afrophobic attacks that have claimed at least eight lives and spread to other parts of South Africa.
Ms Ropafadzo Mafudze, a Zimbabwean Mathematics teacher at Msinga Top Combined School in Northern KZN, said: “I could not wait for my principal to give me permission to run away from looming death by savages!
“I hiked to Johannesburg; I only have one life, and I must be afraid of losing it considering that I’m the only bread winner from a family of 12.”
The widowed mother of three alleged that district education officers, a majority of them Zulus, had been spreading hate language against foreigners.
A number of Zimbabweans are teaching in Durban and surrounding KZN where their services have largely been hailed in critical subjects such as Maths, Science and Technology.
However, many have not been paid for months, and Ms Mafudze linked this to the Afrophobic tensions.
“As I speak to you right now, all foreign teachers employed in northern KZN have not received their salaries since January.
“We strongly believe King Zwelithini’s utterances confirmed what has been secretly planned on the ground.
“Imagine working for four months without a salary. I have not paid my children’s school fees, yet we teach their children difficult subjects,” said a sobbing Ms Mafudze.
Mr Clive Mutugwi, a Computer Science teacher in Mzweni, said he fled KZN a week ago, with the violence that claimed the lives of more than 60 foreigners in South Africa in 2008 still fresh in his memory.
He said he had not been paid since January. “I saw what happened in 2008 and could not wait for such heinous things to happen to me. “I’d rather die while escaping,” Mr Mutugwi said.
“Things are not all rosy in Zimbabwe, but this time, I’m going back home to be with my family.
“If my relatives are living in peace and harmony in Zimbabwe, then we can always find things to do than live here with killers.”
Gauteng South legal counsel Advocate Gabriel Shumba weighed in: “All of us are affected by the pervasive fear that this terror is supposed to instil. We call these acts crimes against humanity, which may escalate to a genocide if nothing is done. The police are sadly part of the problem as they react late, if at all (they do).
“We call upon all countries of the world to show solidarity as we face continued persecution. Failure to pay teachers in KZN and other parts of the country is an act of xenophobia.”
On Friday, department of education KZN spokesperson Mr Muzi Mahlambi said most foreign teachers in the province were yet to receive their salaries due to a mix-up in contract renewal.
“Yes, there are reports of unpaid teachers, but the department of education is addressing them. The educators must be paid for their work whether one comes from Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Mlazi,” he said.
In an interview with CAJ, South African Democratic Teachers’ Union KZN secretary Nomarussia Kaluza hit back: “All workers must be paid for their work. If not, they must register their grievances with us so that we assist.” – CAJ News

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Saturday expressed shock and disgust at attacks on immigrants in neighbouring South Africa and said his government was working to bring back home affected Zimbabwean citizens.
At least four people have been killed in a wave of anti-immigrant violence in South Africa that started two weeks ago in the port city of Durban and spread to Johannesburg.
Mugabe said during a speech at a football stadium in the capital Harare to mark 35 years of Zimbabwe’s independence that all Africans in South Africa should be treated with dignity.
“I would want now to express our sense of shock, disgust as we abhor the incidences which happened in Durban,” Mugabe said.
“The act of treating other Africans in that horrible way can never be condoned by anyone,” said the 91-year-old, speaking on behalf of the regional Southern African Development Community and African Union, both of which he currently chairs.
An estimated one million Zimbabweans live in South Africa having escaped an economic crisis and political violence at home over the last 15 years.
Periodic outbreaks of anti-immigrant violence in South Africa have been blamed on high unemployment, widespread poverty and glaring income disparities.
The Malawian government has hired buses to repatriate 500 of its nationals, Information Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa said on Friday. He urged South Africa to provide greater protection for immigrants, echoing demands from China and the African Union.
Mugabe said his government had put in place measures to bring back its citizens but did not give details.
The state-owned Herald newspaper reported that Zimbabwe planned to repatriate 1,000 citizens and was setting up a receiving centre at Beitbridge, the biggest border post with South Africa. – Reuters

Dublin – A missing 33 year old Zimbabwean man, Michael Anesu Nhema’s car has been found.
Mr Nhema’s vehicle was yesterday found on a beach.
A relative told ZimEye.com Anesu’s black Audi A4 car with a 131 D registration, was yesterday located at Raheen Car park, Bray
“But he is not in the car and it also was locked. Nor can he swim,” the family source said.
“Michael’s family and Gardai are very concerned for his welfare”, a Gardai police spokesperson said.
Nhema was last seen in Branswood in Athy at around 9am on Tuesday 14 April.
Originally from Zimbabwe, he is described as being 1.67m (5’6″) tall, of slight build, with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Athy Garda Station on 059-8631669, the Garda Confidential line or any garda station.

The MDC-T  South Africa Youth Assembly has issued the below statement following xenophobia disturbances in South Africa, that has seen many being displaced and one reportedly being killed.
The Youth Assembly writes advising on tips and measures laid out for fellow Zimbabweans so that they can stay safe:
Greetings Zimbabweans and my fellow African Brothers
AFROPHOBIA TIPS
1) Mantain a low profile
2) limit movements
3) Avoid bars(Shebeens and Smokoloz)
4) Have your bags ready packed
5) Create community watch groups and build relations with local churches
6) Those with kids who are not going to school, send them home for now.
7) Listen and pay detailed attention to what young local kids say. Its a reflection of what was discussed last night.
8) If you are using banks make sure your bank offers cell phone banking, in case you loose your card, . If your bank doesn’t please open an Fnb account and register cell phone bankinas as soon as possible.
9)’Also limit shoprite papperbags when doing groceries- to counter jealousy.
10) Back up all your important documents eg certificates,passports, permit receipts, Assylums etc:-) write down doc identifying numbers and email it to yourself. If possible find someone in less risk areas for safe keeping
11)Avoid answering cellphones in taxis or public places unless if you can speak the local languages. Also dont be flashy with phones
12) Men, unless you are married – avoid local girls for now.
13) Those who conduct open air church services (MASOWE) or gatherings have to get their away cars ready. Create at least three escape routes.
14) Avoid walking alone but dont walk in large groups as well.
ABOVE ALL PRAYER ANSWERETH EVERYTHING. LETS ALL PRAY FOR GOD IS ALIVE. HE WILL NEVER LIVE, NO FORSAKE US.
MDC-T South Africa Youth Assembly
Contacts
Tinashe Chifamba: Organiser 084 658 8316
Shelton Chiyangwa :Chairperson 084 794 4389
Joel Marere: Treasurer 071 957 7497
MDC-T is a Zimbabwean political party led by the Right Honourable Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai.

The mayor’s mansion under the Gweru City Council has been laying idle for a while waiting for tenants to rent it but potential tenants have said the $3000 monthly rentals are too high.
Council reports show that the mansion  is not attractive to would be tenants as it does not have running water. The residence was last used by the city’s executive mayor Sesel Zvidzai whose term ended in 2008.
Minutes of council’s environment committee meeting held on February 3,  state that the value of the building was detoriating while the local authority is not getting any income from it.
“Efforts to lease the house to corporate organisations did not bear fruit since the facility found no takers as the corporates felt that the $3 000 monthly rentals were too high and the facility has no water,” part of the council report reads.
The building has become a white elephant as unrealistic rentals put off  the would be tenants.
Finance committee chairperson councillor Albert Chirau suggested that a borehole should be drilled at the property to make it attractive.
According to the council report, a number of individuals and organisations wanted to turn the mansion into a lodge, school or offices, but were put off by exorbitant rentals.
Some companies such as Unki Mine and Sino Zimbabwe unsuccessfully tried to lease the property for their managers.
Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya tried to buy the house, but his offer was turned down by council.- southern eye

As shops, businesses and vehicles owned by successful foreigners are attacked in Durban … President Jacob Zuma says all this is being caused “by social pressures” – PICS
News24|Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) president Gilbert Mutubuki has called on Zimbabwean youths to retaliate against xenophobic violence in South Africa by attacking South African businesses operating in Zimbabwe.
Zinasu is Zimbabwe’s largest students body which represents thousands of students at all universities and colleges across the country.
At least five people have been killed – including a teenager – and 46 people have been arrested since the violence flared in Isipingo, outside Durban on Friday in South Africa. Around 7 000 people of different nationalities are living in tents provided by the provincial government for those displaced by the violence.
Addressing journalists in Harare after an anti-xenophobia demonstration organised by Zimbabwe civic society groups at the South African Embassy, Mutubuki said it was high time the country’s youths retaliated by attacking South African businesses operating in Zimbabwe such as Pick n Pay and others.
“Right now we have South African businesses such as Pick n Pay operating freely here, but our brothers are being butchered in South Africa. Today in the morning, South African students at the University of Zimbabwe were having breakfast freely in the dining hall, but our sisters and brothers are getting killed. It’s high time we should do the same to all South African businesses here until they stop all this nonsense,” said an angry Mutubuki.
South Africa is home to all
Mutubuki’s call came after over 300 Zimbabwe human rights and civic society activists demonstrated at the South African embassy located in the Belgravia area in Harare this morning.
The protesters were denouncing King Goodwill Zwelithini and President Jacob Zuma son Edward, accusing the two of sparking the xenophobic violence in South Africa. There were also waving placards inscribed with messages like “South Africa is not island and should stop this nonsense” and “Stop it, South Africa”, “Africa is home to all” among others.
The demonstrators also handed over a petition to South African Embassy officials.
The protesters were later dispersed by heavily armed Zimbabwe police.
Some of the South African business operating in Zimbabwe include Pick n Pay, Edgars and Standard Bank among others.
South Africa, with a population of about 50 million, is home to an estimated five million immigrants. Over one million Zimbabweans are believed to be living in South Africa as economic or political refugees.

By Shiellah Sibanda|Once popular and former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda has promised to fight on from inside Zanu PF  for a change to take place and will never split the 35 old year ruling party.
Sibanda said he will never break away from Zanu PF to join the opposition parties as he believes change can still take place at present. He made his speech when he was a guest at a meeting organised by Bulawayo Agenda to reflect on Independence Anniversary.
Jabulani  Sibanda is one of those who were fired from Zanu PF during Grace Mugabe’s clean up spree. He allegedly accused President Mugabe and the First Lady of plotting a” Bedroom Coup”. He still awaits his trial on charges of undermining the President of the country.
Sibanda has been linked to the Mujuru faction as well as to to the Zanu PF faction branding its self as Zanu Peaople First.
“We should stand in Zanu PF whether in leg irons or not and oppose the evil in Zanu, we should not be running away and say we are the opposition.” Sibanda said.
He went on to say his beliefs and of  those few in ZanuPF were that Mugabe was surrounded by wrong people.
“I belong to a group in Zanu PF that used to say Mugabe is surrounded by wrong people, but the numbers are becoming smaller.
Mugabe has done his duty wrongly or not, he is 91 years now and we don’t expect much from him.
Are we having the right people around him? No! He is surrounded by known criminals.” he said.
Sibanda also believes that the people of Zimbabwe have been let down by Zanu PF and MDC-T.
“I condemn the wrong things done by Zanu PF and  MDC-T.  I am neither MDC nor Zanu PF. I am Jabulani Sibanda.” he boldly said.
He blames the splits in political parties saying they confuse the voters and must not be tolerated
“Politics of splitting are confusing our people. We cannot be splitting and splinting. It’s from people who don’t understand politics. We should not have opposition political parties, but a ruling party and other parties at some point.
If we pile all problems on one person we expect that person to correct the wrong. That is wrong. We have that chance of correcting that after every five years (during elections), but we are ever splitting.” Sibanda said.
MDC Secretary General Moses Mzila-Ndlovu also spoke at the same event and  said splits in the opposition showed  lack of focus.
“There are high expectations on the opposition, but opposition parties are focused on politics of deception yet we have the capacity to effect change. It’s a tragedy, but we believe in multi-party democracy.
We will be a disgraceful generation due to splits” Mzila said
Abednico Bhebhe  MDC- T deputy secretary  was among the panel that spoke and attacked Zanu PF and its failings.

Robert Mugabe has been blasted for being insensitive on Independence Day by conniving with his business-partner, a white Zimbabwean Billy Rautenbach, against the Chingwizi black people who have seen no rest after they were illegally removed by government from their dwellings.
Reports coming from the area reveal that Rautenbach whose experimental 5 year old ethanol project has dismally failed, is set to be handed another 400 hectares from the Chingwizi settlement sites. Rautenbach’s previous project also caused the displacement of thousands of black villagers who have received no compensation after even their ancestors’ graves were destroyed by the businessman.
Mugabe’s Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa is on a collision course with nearly 3 000 Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims at Nuanetsi Ranch who have put conditions for their second relocation.

Sen Mahofa this week said Government had identified seven farms in Mwenezi district where the villagers would be relocated starting next week. The villagers complained about arid conditions at the Nuanetsi which also lacks grazing land for their livestock.
Sen Mahofa said the second relocation would begin once funds were made available.
However, the villagers want to be paid compensation for lost property before they are relocated again.
Government owes the families $7 million. They are also demanding that Government sets up infrastructure like schools and clinics before moving them.
Villagers who spoke to the State Media said they were not happy with the lives they had been leading since their relocation from the Tokwe-Mukosi basin.
They have already been told they were being relocated from their current one-hectare plots to make way for a $400 million ethanol plant to be built by the Zimbabwe Bio Energy (ZBE). ZBE is linked to Rautenbach.
ZBE is one of the private companies that has undertaken to assist in the relocation of the villagers from their current plots and also promised to install running water at their new homes.
“We are not happy with the treatment that we have been receiving from the time that Government moved us here. Now we are being told that we will be relocated again. How do we build new houses when we have already expended the little resources we had on our current homes?’’ said one of the flood victims who refused to be named.
“We will voluntarily leave our plots if they pay us compensation and also build social amenities in the areas where they intend to resettle us. What boggles the mind is why we were moved here in the first place when the authorities knew that this area was not our permanent home.
“We suspect that we are being moved because this area is close to the confluence of Runde and Mutirikwe Rivers that will supply water to the ethanol plant,’’ said another flood victim.
The families said they wanted to be compensated so that they could individually look for alternative land to restart their lives.

The xenophobic attacks in South Africa have continued with the latest scare being emerging footage from the beheading of a man said to be a Durban resident. The gruesome footage in ZimEye.com’s possession shows a man holding the victim’s head in his hand by the ear. Editors were at pains Friday debating on how the incident should be reported amid fears that its publishing could trigger more attacks. The footage should be published at 10am Saturday, after reviews – More to follow….   (see video below)
Report by EWN: It’s been another consecutive night of rubber bullets, looting and violence in Jeppestown, Malvern and the Johannesburg CBD, forcing the closure of the M2 Highway.
Locals protested into the early hours of this morning, demanding foreigners leave the area.
They tried to barricade the N2-West Highway with rocks and rubble, but police retaliated with rubber bullets.
The N2 Highway became a no-go zone for motorists as police continued to shoot rubber bullets at a crowd of people throwing stones and objects at the police.
At least two arrests were made as police handcuffed the men, forcing them to lie down on the tarmac.
Police took cover behind their barriers as locals, armed with spears, scattered in different directions in a nearby field.
Officers on the ground say houses have also been looted in Malvern.
WATCH: Xenophobic Attacks: On the front line in Johannesburg:

Abducted democracy activist Itai Dzamara’s name continues roar until the day he is found and the “Mujuru” splinter group, Zanu People First party has issued the below Independence day message to the people of Zimbabwe pinnacled on Dzamara’s plight. The statement was issued by the defacto party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, who has urged the people of Zimbabwe to defend and safe guard  their hard earned freedom. Gumbo bemoaned the silence by the government authorities on the abduction of Italian Dzamara saying he was abducted for expressing his right to freedom of speech.
 
STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE ON INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS
On this historic day and occasion of our 35th Independence Celebrations, we want to express our profound gratitude to the masses of Zimbabwe for mantaining peace and unity in the midst of a myriad of challenges that have been affecting us as a nation.
Today is a very important day as it symbolises our recognition of the sacrifice of our gallant fathers, mothers, sons and daughters to liberate our country. These people sacrificed their lives to reclaim our identity and rights as Zimbabweans. Through their self-less sacrifice, we attained democracy to freely express our political choices through “one man one vote”, economic freedom, and reclaimed our land. The attainement of our independence brought to an end the dictatorship of Ian Smith and his regime. As we celebrate today, let us pause and reflect on where we are today in upholding the same values that were attained through the liberation struggle.
As Zimbabweans, let us safeguard these values and remain vigilant to resist any manoeuvres by any dynasty or so called “gangs” to reverse the gains of independence. We must always remember that “we are the architects of our own destiny”, and as such entrusting our lives and the future of many young children in the hands of a dynasty or “special gangs” would not only be a mistake but a national suicide. We must always strive to put people first. “Iwe neni tinebasa, mina lawe silomsebenzi”.
Let us shy away from divisive political tendencies and segregating people on racial and tribal lines. The struggle for the national liberation was fought by all people of Zimbabwe, for all Zimbabweans. The current purging of perceived political rivals in the post December 2014 Congress ZANU PF is an unnecessary political evil born out of failure to accommodate and deal with political differences. Zimbabweans need one another to live peacefully and enjoy the fruits of a free Zimbabwe.
It is also sad to note that we are celebrating 35 years of independence at a time when many of our fellow Zimbabweans and other nationalities are under xenophobic attacks in neigbouring South Africa. The loss of lives, and the continued threat to the safety of many migrants in South Africa is a cause for concern. We hail the stance taken by the AU to urge the South African government to stamp out this evil practice.
In our case as Zimbabwe, it is unfortunate that the failure of our political leadership has contributed to many educated and talented people to seek economic refugee in South Africa, where they are now under xenophobic attacks. Whilst we condemn these attacks as inhuman and unAfrican, we are challenging our leader President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and his coterie of selfish political opportunists and careerists to accept the blame for the brutal attack on migrant Zimbabweans in South Africa.
Had our economy been performing well, many of them would be safe in Zimbabwe and enjoying the benefits of our independence. Zimbabweans are now tired of a leadership that focuses on petty party factional wars to the point of bringing the entire nation to the brink. We need a leadership that puts people first, because Zimbabweans deserve the best.
Our economy has been declining over the past two decades. Unemployment is very high and still on an upward trend. Most companies are performing poorly with many closing down and workers losing their jobs daily. This is further compounded by an unprecedented liquidity crisis. This situation can only be revived if appropriate policy measures are taken: • Bringing in a new and open minded leadership with a vision for Zimbabwe.
• Creating a friendly and welcoming environment for local and foreign investors to operate freely. • Maintaining peace and stability in the country. • Formulating clear, consistent and predictable economic policies. • Pragmatic implementation of proposed policies. • Encouraging business to be in the fore front of shaping economic policies. • Tapping into the expertise of all Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
• Respecting and protecting the constitution, promoting constitutionalism and observing the rule of law. Today would a better day if Zimbabweans would be aware of the whereabouts of Itai Dzamara. It is heartrending to note that the present selfish leadership has failed Itai Dzamara’s family and the entire nation. The young man disappeared because he desired to express his freedom of speech, a right brought about by the independence that we are celebtrating today. As Zimbabweans, we fail to find reasons to the merciless brutality demonstrated by the current regime to this innocent young man. The nation deserves an explanation, but most importantly, Itai Dzamara’s family, especially given the existing High Court ruling ordering government to find Itai Dzamara. Let us continue praying for  the family, hoping that one day, we shall get all the answers.
May God bless us as we celebrate our 35 years of independence in a peaceful manner. We call on fellow Zimbabweans to remain calm but resolute in the defence of democracy. We are on the brink of hope and a new renaissance.
ISSUED BY:
Original and Genuine ZANU PF (1963). 17 April 2015
 

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The South African embassy in Harare is under siege from angry boot-stomping protesters who are demanding that President Jacob Zuma’s government must demonstrate seriousness to the security threatening xenophobic situation which has seen 800 Zimbabweans displaced and one reported killed. Their angers were inflamed after that country’s ambassador yesterday said his government is powerless as the police force resource is stretched. PICTURES:

A man from Magwegwe surbub stole his wife’s used underwear and donated them to his girlfriend, he regarded as more attractive, a Bulawayo magistrate has ruled.
The magistrate in response ruled that the man rightly provoked his wife to beat him up.
His wife appeared before the Bulawayo Magistrate’s court facing charges of assault but was set free after the magistrate ruled that she was provoked.
Shelter Magorogoye beat her husband Njabulo Mloyi repeatedly after discovering that  he was stealing her knickers and giving them to his girlfriend.
Prosecutor Mufaro Mageza told the court that on an unspecified date in February Magorogoye noticed that her knickers have disappeared from her drawer and thought her husband was the suspect.
She then set a trap by buying more knickers and leaving them in the same place. Mloyi saw the new  knickers and took them with an intention to give them to his girlfriend as usual.
As he did this ,his wife saw him and and she struck him with an empty bottle of beer on the face and then  went on hit him several times.
Mloyi took some property from their  matrimonial home  a few days after he was beaten  and went to live with his girlfriend.
Magorogoye said,  “This time I realised he had been giving his girlfriend my panties pretending to have bought them for her,”
Provincial magistrate Willard Mafios Moyo from Western Commonage  said it was clear Mloyi had provoked his wife.
“Such actions show carelessness and immaturity,”  said Moyo before setting Magorongoye free.
Mloyi was ordered  to return the property he took from the matrimonial home.
His wife, Magorongoye was told to report her husband to the police if he does not return the property.
Magorogoye had pleaded guilty to the assault charges, but said her husband had provoked her.
She told the court that she discovered that her husband was having an extramarital affair and she had  approached and warned the woman against dating her husband Mloyi.
But the affair never ended as the two continued seeing each other until her knickers started to disappear misteriously from their home.
This forced  her to set  a trap and caught her husband ,then discovered  he was stealing  her knickers to please his girlfriend.

The search for abducted democracy activist Itai Dzamara has roped in the services of cellular network company, Econet Wireless.
ZimEye.com can reveal Econet has worked to assist in tracing the Zimbabwean ex-journalist following his disappearance on the 9th March in Glen View, Harare. This came as the MDC-T said it was deploying a team of experts across the country to look for the man.
Beyond the normal signal tracer, using the GSM network, it is easy to track a phone anywhere on land around the world.  The latest technologies provide near pinpoint accuracy to locate exactly where a phone device is.
Dzamara’s brother, Patson confirmed Econet’s help which came after ZimEye.com had raised the use of technology with Econet.
When ZimEye.com followed up on the matter, Patson said the last signal on the latest records was traced to a location in Glen View.  The date of that signal was the 9th March 2015.
“Yes they did. His last location was Glen View,” said Patson.
An operation to exhaust Itai’s possible physical presence in the area appears to however have been aborted after it was assumed that the abductors could have easily switched off the device while still in the Glen View area on the day.
Dzamara’s disappearance has seen his lawyers taking the police and CIO to court for failing to obey a court order issued to help find the missing activist. VIDEO:

How to track Gsm mobile | cellphone tracking… by Andrew65_334

Blood was splattered all over his body which lay in an indescribable graphic sore as a Zimbabwean professional hunter was on Wednesday crushed to death by the elephant he was trying to shoot down.
Chifuti Safaris professional hunter Ian Gibson, had been seeking out the boisterous bull in the lower Zambezi Valley with a client, when he met his fateful end.
“It is with deep sadness to announce the passing of Chifuti Safaris professional hunter Ian Gibson. Ian was tragically killed by an elephant bull earlier today while guiding and elephant hunt in Chewore North (lower Zambezi Valley),” the notice, written on behalf of affiliated company Safari Classics, read.
Gibson had apparently been on the trail of an elephant bull, along with his tracker, Robert, while the client whom they were accompanying rested with the game scout.

They soon established that the animal was in musth, but continued tracking it, until they eventually spotted it about 50 – 100m away.
“The bull instantly turned and began a full charge. Ian and Robert began shouting in order to stop the charge. At very close range, Ian was able to get off one shot before the bull killed him. The scene was very graphic,” the notice concluded.
The announcement was picked up by Africa Geographic on Thursday and saw a flood of comments, highlighting the extreme contentiousness of the issue of big game hunting.
“It is with deep sadness to who? Not to me, that’s for sure! This is the best news I’ve heard in a very long time. I just hope the elephant is ok, and if so, remains so. Good riddance to this sad excuse of a human being. May he rot in hell for eternity,” one comment, left by a reader called Natalie, read.
Another, called Cranky, responded to her comment, saying: “Natalie, Ian Gibson has done more for Conservation than you and your bunny hugger friends will ever achieve in your pathetic existence.”
While most seemed to agree with Natalie’s view, the incident has raised serious questions about the value of these sorts of excursions and whether big 5 hunting should still be allowed at all.
A similar debate was sparked recently when Australian cricket legend, Glen McGrath made headline news as images of him posing with a variety of dead animals he had shot and killed surfaced online.
“If it were not for hunting there would be very little game in SA. Only due to it’s hunting value does game exist on game farms. If the animals had no commercial value they would be replaced by cattle,” John Birch commented on the Traveller24 article. – Traveller24/Agencies/Reuters

NB: To see the images, write to the ZimEye.com Whatsapp number stating your request. UPDATE – UNDER REVIEW

ANALYSIS|MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s reputation lay hanging in a balance yesterday after he was exposed for refusing to assist as his top right hand man and National Executive member, Morgan Komichi faced a torturous arrest warrant for the 2013 so called NIKUV election fraud. This came within 24hours of his own party spokesperson Obert Gutu openly praising Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and former ZANU PF MP, ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau as an honest, professional person although she is the same who presided over the 2013 sham elections for which their own officer Komichi is spuriously charged.
 
Tsvangirai who during a recorded video interview, responded on Komichi’s case saying he has all the evidence to defend but will rather fight back by ‘writing a book’, has been blasted for gross negligence as a leader who could have saved Komichi but has now chosen to sit back for reasons best known to himself.
 

A warrant of arrest was yesterday issued by Harare Provincial Magistrate, Vakai Chikwekwe for the arrest of Morgan Komichi, who is accused of fraud and contravening the Electoral Act.
 
Komichi’s appeal against conviction and sentence was dismissed by the High Court of Zimbabwe after he failed to file heads of argument as requested.
 
He was sentenced to perform 350 hours of community service at Mabelreign Polyclinic, Harare in November 2013.
 
The community service was suspended in December 2013 after Komichi successfully appealed to the High Court for a review of the case.
 
Meanwhile, Tsvangirai in responding to questions on a massive vote rigging expose by ZimEye.com which the MDC leader could have utilised in Komichi’s cause, said he pulled out of the court lawsuit for fraud despite him having a boulder of evidence but he would fight rather by “writing a book” on what happened in July 2013 in which he “exposes” the use of the army and the CIO in utilising the Israeli NIKUV software to rig the elections.
 
The MDC leader even announced that he absolves Rita Makarau and her ZEC team of rigging the electiion rigging.  Mr Tsvangirai has said that ZEC chairperson Judge Rita Makarau cannot be blamed for many things such as printing of ballot papers and the distortions in the voters’ roll.
 
In a highly gripping oration, Tsvangirai  explained on his opinion on why the MDC failed to win the just ended election which loss he also blames on the Chinese Communist party. He said the blame for the printing of fake ballot papers could not be laid on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission but rather on the army and (CIO) Central Intelligence Organisation.
“Not even ZEC could control those ballot papers,” he said.
 
He added:
 
“There were three million extra ballot papers put in the system especially in Manicalanad, in Matebeleland and in Masvingo where the MDC has very substantial representation,” he said.
 
Even Makarau Did Not Have Voters’ Roll
 
On voter registration records, Tsvangirai added that the army was in control and “even Makarau did did not have access to the electronic voters’ roll. Even the voters roll itself right up to the end even the chairperson of ZEC did not have access to the electronic voters’ roll one day before the election; Even right up to the end.”
 
“The other area was the question of the youth militia. The Chinese Communist party trained 35,000 youth militia who were deployed in various military bases, I can give you the figures but in Inkomo there so many youths. In Bharabhara there were so many youths and this there were so many youths. What was the purpose of the youth militia was actually to mark extra ballots, to stuff them and to move those youths around the country.
 
“The other area was the question of traditional leaders. Traditional leaders were used to frog march people in their various villages. By saying this village is going to vote from time to that time, the next village is going to vote from this time to that time. And the role of traditional leaders was very effective on the ground to undermine the people.
 
“The other issue was the question of assisted voters. I know in Muzarabani there were 10,500 assisted voters in a voting population of 17,000. Even teachers and headmasters claimed ignorance about voting. When it comes to the question of the deployment of military leaders we now are aware that each province had a commanding officer and that at every voting station, every registration centre there was either a CIO, a ZANU PF activist and all. Now lets look to ZEC itself. ZEC was not an independent body.
 
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission did not control anything because everything was controlled by the military and by the CIO.
 
“Right (now) as I speak the ZEC does not know the total number of the people who voted. That was the basis of our electoral challenge. We withdrew it because they would not give us the full details of those people who voted and the outcome of the voted, ” Tsvangirai said, clearing the ZEC of all and any wrong-doing in the election fraud.

 

State Media: Harare City Council has resolved to sell its residential properties to sitting tenants who have occupied the houses since independence in 1980. The city, which has various residential properties in Harare, is now working on proposed guidelines for the disposal of the houses.
According to recent minutes of the Education, Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee, councillors recommended that council considers selling its houses to sitting tenants who had been in occupation for more than 35 years.
“The corporate and housing director advised that a report with proposed guidelines for the disposal of the houses would be submitted in the next meeting for consideration by the committee,” read part of the minutes.
The committee resolved that the corporate services and housing director should report on the proposed guidelines at the next committee meeting.
Last year Government ordered all local authorities to immediately transfer into home ownership houses built for rental occupation as it moved to reduce the housing backlog presently hovering around 1,5 million countrywide.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo told parliamentarians during a national pre-budget seminar for 2015 that Government was disturbed by the ever increasing accommodation shortages as evidenced by illegal occupation of land in towns and sprouting of squatter camps.
“We are compelling all local authorities in Zimbabwe, especially the major cities who have houses on their books for the last 20,30,40,60 years being rented out to families, that we want those houses sold to the sitting tenants and title deeds given to them,” said Dr Chombo.
In line with the Revised National Housing Policy (2012), the minister said Government was also working on resuscitating the rural housing programme aimed at raising the standard of houses from traditional units to modern structures.
Under Zim-Asset, Harare province is expected to deliver 105 935 houses by 2018, the Midlands (56 760), Matabeleland North (28 772), Mashonaland West (23 819), Manicaland (21 830), Masvingo (20 269), Mashonaland Central (16 607), Bulawayo (15 100), Matabeleland South (12 500) and Mashonaland East (11 776). herald

The trial of Scotland based AGAPE For All Nations mega-church founder Bishop Walter Masocha, was moved once again today.
Masocha is on trial on charges of allegedly sexually abusing minors among other female victims, some using so called “anointing oil”.
Court officials told ZimEye.com the reason for the rapid change of dates was availability of witnesses. It was originally meant to have been concluded on the 13th April [READ MORE – “Sex Acts on Child using Anointing Oil,” Accused Bishop Walter Masocha Trial ]
The trial which has dragged for close to two years is now scheduled to be heard on Monday morning at Falkirk Sherriff court. More to follow…

A bizarre mystery inferno gutted Gokwe’s largest wholesale and supermarket, Metropitch last night and is continuing unabated, ZimEye.com can reveal.
 
Firefighters called at the scene just after midnight were at the time of writing still engaged in their battle as the mid -day fast approached as a fire brigade service truck from the Gokwe town centre appeared helpless in stopping the ferocious rising flames.
 
Traffic along main road was on Thursday morning shortly paralysed after fire gutted the roof material. Large billows of heavy smoke from the fire rose all over the shopping area while affecting neighbouring businesses.
 
Eye witnesses said the fire’s cause was not clear as there was no serious industrial activity inside that could have caused it, sparking lurking superstitious beliefs that spirits were responsible. This came as another fire last year gutted the nearby CBZ Bank and the community’s biggest flea market. Their claims however remained myth with no proof.
 
Metropitch is the largest wholesale in the area with a staff complement of more than 200 workers.
 
Neither the fire brigade nor the police could pass a comment at the time of writing. More to follow….