Johannesburg – Zimbabweans on Wednesday reacted enviously on social media to news that Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan had conceded defeat in the country’s landslide elections.
Some Zimbabweans made reference to their own president Robert Mugabe, now 91, who lost the first round of presidential elections in March 2008. Results were delayed for five weeks.
When it was finally confirmed that opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai had won more votes than Mugabe, supporters of the president, backed by the military, embarked on a campaign of retribution. At least 200 MDC supporters were killed.
According to the official 2008 tally, Tsvangirai’s first round lead over Mugabe was not enough for him to be declared an outright winner. There were strong suspicions however that the figures had been manipulated to deny the MDC leader outright victory. Tsvangirai pulled out of a second round of voting, citing violence against his supporters. Mugabe was eventually pushed by the regional SADC grouping into a power-sharing government that lasted four years.
In contrast, Nigeria’s Jonathan on Tuesday swiftly conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler. Buhari promised Nigerians that “change has come”.
“Well done Nigeria. Well done Goodluck. Zimbabwe do take note,” tweeted user @LiyaJemima.
“If the Nigerian election had been in Zimbabwe the results would have taken five weeks or more to announce,” said @gidi_gabriel.
The state-owned Herald newspaper, which is the voice of the Mugabe government, carried an agency story on Jonathan’s defeat without comment.
Tsvangirai decided to contest presidential elections in July 2013, even though many electoral reforms he had called for had not been implemented and his party did not have access to the electoral roll. The MDC leader lost to Mugabe, who has been in power in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. – M&G

There was drama at Makokoba main bus terminus, when a toddler who was on her mother’s back foiled the thief who had opened the zip of a handbag in a move to fish out money which was meant for traveling expenses.
A two and a half year old Sasha Mabhena opened a more than lightning slap across the thief’s face who had opened the handbag, leaving the long fingered man to seek refuge at the nearby Mzilikazi police station, as the travellers temporarily shelved their jostle to enter the bus, to mete instant justice to the crook.
While the mob was shouting for the capture of the fleeing crook, rank marshals were outpaced before the robber stormed into the nearby Mzilikazi police camp for safety from the marauding crowd that was in pursuit, baying for his head.
Hundreds of people who were at the main bus terminus to travel for holiday to their respective destinations , stormed Mzilikazi police station in hot pursuit of the mugger, but were restrained by the officers who were manning the station, from assaulting him
“Bring him out here, we want him for stealing our bus fares, come on you corrupt police officers handover that robber to us for a strong action and we will give him back to you soon after thoroughly dealing with him,” shouted the angry mob.
Riot police had to be called to quell  the situation as more and more people were thronging the police station in search of the crook.
Last month, a cell phone thief was nearly killed by the mob after he snatched a handset from a woman who was on  her way  shopping.

As the issue regarding the sickness of the First Lady Dr. Amai Grace Marufu Mugabe continues to unravel, there are unsettling reports about her rapidly deteriorating condition emerging from the inner circles.
As a Central Intelligence Office agent spoke out yesterday, President Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba was seen admitting that indeed Grace earlier on in March was secretly flown out of the country to Dubai to receive emergency treatment.
Since last Christmas, Dr. Mugabe has been reported to be battling incurable colon cancer. That was the problem that saw the first family remain in Asia for almost two months as the first lady was reportedly receiving chemotherapy. This problem comes in the wake of some of the famous miracle prophets in Zimbabwe who have failed to heal the Mother. All three are nowhere near the issue and have been evasive as they have all sugar coated their failings by praising President Mugabe.
The red flag after the holiday was the first lady’s absence from the national picture. Some papers were insinuating that she had issues with a daughter that was reported to be on Mugabe ‘ s will as a child between Mugabe and Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri. Later the notorious doctor emerged but had calmed down on her loud speeches due to her illness. But it was during her absence that some overzealous ZANU PF activists evicted innocent peasants from Manzou farm in Mazowe to pave way for Grace Mugabe ‘ s animal farm.
Now the latest report from inner circles has it on record that the first lady could possibly meet her creator before this coming independence day. So frail is her reported condition that her family has been depressed and anxious. The remission process has not been impressive and her body continues to suffer from pain as the colon cancer eats her up.
Yesterday a Central Intelligence Office agent told ZimEye.com in Harare, the First Lady will likely not be breathing in 14 days’ time.
“Amai may not be with us after the next two weeks, it is very sad”, the man who cannot be named for his protection said.
More to follow….
More to follow. …

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission yesterday announced that preparations for the 2018 harmonised elections are underway and that it would soon embark on a nationwide voter registration exercise to capture names of prospective voters.
Justice Rita Makarau Zec chairperson said during a feed-back meeting with various stakeholders and political parties that the organisation was working on logistical arrangements to kick off the massive exercise.
The feedback meeting involved Zec updating the stakeholders on the pilot voter registration exercises that were carried out in Mt Darwin West and Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituencies recently as a precursor to the national registration of voters.
“All that we are doing now is in preparation for 2018,” said Justice Makarau. “I thought one of you would stand up and say “Zec, stop registering voters” and I did not hear that, so I will record it as an emerging consensus that yes, Zec should proceed with the pilot exercise and register as many voters as it possibly can.
“Again, an emerging consensus is that we must continue with the dialogue…at the end of the day if the product is good it belongs to you and if it is bad, Zec will take responsibility for the product.
“Because you have given us a vote of confidence that what we are doing appear to be good, we appear to be in the right direction, I will venture now to say we have been given the green light to pilot this on a national level and we will start registering voters nationally as soon as logistical arrangements are put in place.”
The new Constitution empowers Zec to compile and maintain the voters’ roll and the electoral body has carried out pilot registration exercises to test its systems in constituencies where by-elections have been conducted.
Justice Makarau took the opportunity to explain why Zec had changed from its initial stance that it would not carry out registration of new voters unless enabling legislation had been put in place.
“There are two schools of thought on this one,” she said. “One says in the absence of the legislative framework Zec cannot rely on the constitutional provisions alone (to register voters). The other one says no, the constitutional provision is adequate and you read the other laws that are in existence to be in conformity with the Constitution and where those laws contradict the Constitution you read them as pro non scripto (as if they were not written).
“We have those two positions confronting Zec and we are saying one of them is correct. But before a determination is made, we in Zec, we don’t know which one is correct and we will proceed to register voters until we are stopped by a court order that explains our U-turn.”
Justice Makarau said Zec was consulting other electoral management bodies in the region to adopt appropriate technologies in the compilation of the voters’ roll.
“Are we going to come up with a new compilation? Yes, we are,” she said. “We are looking into the Sadc region to see what technology our sister EMBs are employing and we are trying to borrow some of that technology and expertise again on a pilot basis to see which one suits us.”
Justice Makarau reiterated that Zec would continue using the old voters’ roll as the basis for its registration exercise.
“Are we coming with a new voters roll? I have an ambiguous answer to that, yes and no,” she said. “Yes, in the sense that the voters’ roll that is coming is new to Zec, Zec has never had a voters’ roll of its own.
“So, it’s new to us, it’s new to Zec. Zec has never had a voters’ roll before, all the faults in that voters’ roll should you find ghost workers or ghost voters on that voters’ roll, the faults will now be Zec’s faults and not the Registrar General’s. In that sense it’s a new voters’ roll, it’s coming from a new body.
“Is it a new voters’ roll? No, it can’t be. Zimbabweans have not changed. We can’t create new people to put on the voters’ roll, so St Mary’s voters’ roll will still have Job Sikhala on it and to that it’s not a new voters’ roll. It’s just a voters’ roll that is being maintained or compiled by Zec.”
Justice Makarau said they would not adopt a new model of voter registration as it was clearly spelt out in the law.
“We are using the model that vaMudede (Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede) used to use,” she said. “The model of voter registration is laid out in the law. The law mandates us to carry out a continuous voter registration system.”
Justice Makarau defended the use of national identity cards to register voters, saying the document had proved reliable and challenged anyone with a better alternative to proffer it.
She urged people not to use their differences with Mudede to besmirch the document.
“I don’t know if there is anyone without a national identity card, one that enables us to transact in a number of commercial activities,” said Justice Makarau. “It is a reliable document.
“The reason I’m saying so is because most transactions that bind us as Zimbabweans are based on the ID and we have had very few complaints about the security and integrity of the ID. Why I’m raising this issue is because our voter registration system is also based on that document.
“Yes, we may not like vaMudede, but most of us flash the ID left, right and centre and it’s actually the document that gives us our identity and we in Zec thought it is the document we could use as the basis for starting our voter registration exercise.
“We are using the ID number because we are told it’s unique, it’s yours and yours alone and we are saying it’s a good basis to give you a voter registration identity. But you can come back and tell us that there is another document we can use, let’s use our degree certificates those who have them and those who don’t have them, our clinic cards. We have to come up with a document that all Zimbabweans agree on.” -chronicle S

Hundreds of teachers and other civil servants who had gone on study leave at various school and universities throughout the country at the beginning of the current semester have been ordered to go back to their workstations because Government has no money to pay relief staff.
This order is despite the fact that the civil servants had paid fees ranging from $525 to $800 for the semester depending on the programme. The civil servants were also irked by the fact that the fees they paid was not reimbursed and some of them had moved their properties from their workstations to other places.
Shattered civil servants left the universities just days after they had settled and some actually cried when the news was broken to them, said sources at the Great Zimbabwe University in Masvingo where about 60 students were forced to leave.
“It is not all civil servants who were ordered to go back but there is a large number which was said to have had no study leave clearance letters from the employer,” said a source.
The Mirror is reliably informed that teachers who had joined various universities were phoned by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education last week and ordered to go back to their workstations.
The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Lazarus Dokora said the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare was the best to comment on the matter as they were the employer. The Minister of Public Service, Prisca Mupfumira said she can only comment after a week.
“I need to verify this information so please get hold me after a week,” said Mupfumira.
The Mirror is informed that Government had to withdraw the civil servants because the bill to pay salaries to the relief workers threatened to balloon the wage bill. In addition to paying the salaries for the relief workers, Government would also pay half salaries to get comments from the Universities were fruitless. -Mirror

The MDC Renewal Team has reiterated it will not contest in the forthcoming 14 by-elections following the recall of 21 MPs by MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, saying Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda erred in interpreting the Constitution when he declared the seats vacant.
The Renewal Team joins the MDC-T which has also said it will not participate in any elections before so-called reforms are carried out.
The 14 seats, together with seven others won by the MDC-T on proportional representation in the July 31, 2013 harmonised elections, were declared vacant after MDC-T wrote to Adv Mudenda indicating the legislators were no longer representing its interests in both the National Assembly and the Senate after they joined the MDC Renewal Team.
The 21 legislators first joined the Renewal Team led by Tendai Biti before a merger with the MDC faction led by Professor Welshman Ncube to form United Movement for Democratic Change.
President Mugabe has since proclaimed April 16 as the date when the Nomination Court will sit in five provincial capitals to receive names of those who intend to contest in the 14 by-elections set for June 10.
The Renewal Team has since gone to court contesting the expulsion of the legislators and its urgent application is set to be heard on April 14.
Renewal Team spokesperson Jacob Mafume on Tuesday said there was no need to contest in the by-elections since they believed the legislators were unfairly treated because they never crossed the floor.
“The true position is that we did not form a new party, we expelled a few leaders from MDC-T,” he said. “We believe that the Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda erred in his ruling, so the question of by-elections does not arise.
“We believe the economy has bigger problems to solve than by-elections. The money that is being used to fund the by-elections could be used to avert the hunger following the incessant rains.”
Zanu-PF is getting ready for the by-elections, with a number of its prospective candidates having submitted their curriculum vitae which are now awaiting vetting before primary elections are held.
Of the 21 vacant seats, MDC-T will nominate people to fill seven of them won through proportional representation using the party’s share of the vote in the July 31, 2013 harmonised elections.
The 14 by-elections will be held on the same day with those of Headlands and Hurungwe West to replace expelled Zanu-PF legislators Didymus Mutasa and his nephew Temba Mliswa, respectively.

A total of 10 prisoners were sentenced to death in 2014 pushing the number of inmates on death sentence to 95.
Amnesty International Zimbabwe (AIZ) on Wednesday disclosed the rise in the number of prisoners on death row as it launched worldwide report on death sentences and executions carried in 2014.
AIZ executive director Cousin Zilala told journalists at a media briefing held in Harare that 10 prisoners were sentenced to death in 2014 as Zimbabwean authorities resorted to capital punishment to combat crime.
The 10 prisoners include a Mozambican national identified Isaac Mlambo. Zilala said figures obtained by Amnesty from the government showed that a total of 95 prisoners were under sentence as at the end of December last year. -State Media
Four prisoners who were under sentence for death had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment while no prisoner under sentence for death were pardoned in 2014. In 2014, only one prisoner was exonerated from death sentence, Zilala said.
Zilala, whose organisation has been advocating for the abolishment of the death sentence and for a moratorium on executions said the death penalty is “cruel, inhuman and degrading.”
Globally, Amnesty International opposes the death penalty at all times – regardless of who is accused, the crime, guilt or innocence or method of execution.
Amnesty International has been working to end executions since 1977, when only nine countries had abolished the death penalty. Today, the number has risen to 140.

ZANU-PF will hold primary elections to select a candidate for the Headlands constituency by-election set for June 10.
The constituency was left vacant following the expulsion of former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa.Zanu-PF national political commissar Mr Saviour Kasukuwere announced the date in a statement yesterday.
He said deputy secretary for administration  Mr Douglas Mombeshora, would lead the team seconded by the national commissariat to conduct the polls.
“The Zanu-PF secretary for commissariat, Mr Saviour Kasukuwere wishes to announce that the Zanu-PF primary election for Headlands constituency is going to be held on Sunday, April 5, 2015,” reads part of the statement.
“Party members will go to vote at their usual polling stations. The polling stations will open at 0700 hours and will close at 1900 hours.”
The voting, Mr Kasukuwere said, would be done according to cells and members would be required to produce national identity cards or valid passports as proof of identity.
Twelve candidates have been approved to contest in the elections.
Those approved are  Christopher Chingosho, William Taurai Chiripamberi, Sheila Mahere (Nyagumbo), Tinaye Chigudu, Elizabeth Mukungatu, Tedius Nyikayaramba, Albert Nyakuyedzwa, Nathaniel Mhiripiri, Timon Tandi, Moses Chikwariro, Ndakaitei Mandangu and Dakarai Mapuranga.
Mapuranga’s CV was initially rejected on the grounds that he was not in provincial structures for the minimum five years.
Mutasa was expelled from Zanu-PF together with his nephew Temba Mliswa for bringing the name of the party into disrepute.
The two were part of a putchist cabal led by former Vice President Joice Mujuru that wanted to illegally topple and/or assassinate President Mugabe.
The duo was recalled from Parliament following their expulsion from Zanu-PF. -chronicle

Masvingo Provincial minister Shuvai Mahofa has blocked the overzealous Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi on his tracks to grab a productive farm that supplies poultry products to the whole province and beyond.
It is suspected greedy Mzembi owns two more farms in the province as Shuvai Mahofa pronounced that investigations will start to establish the farms in questions. Mahofa’s stance to resist the greedy takeover of farms by Zanu PF officials comes after Matebeleland villagers successfully blocked CIO agent Rodrick Mashingaidze from taking over Maleme farm.
Walter Mzembi lost the battle to take over part of Barquest Farm which houses the biggest chicken hatchery project here after the provincial lands committee recommended the withdrawal of his offer letter.
The minister was early this year issued with an offer letter to take over about 367 hectares of Barquest Farm owned by Mrs Hellen Mitchell.
The farm is located 20km east of Masvingo city on the shores of Lake Mutirikwi and houses a hatchery project that produces 100 000 day-old chicks per week.
Besides supplying day-old chicks to Masvingo, Barquest Farm also supplies Manicaland and Midlands provinces.
This forced the Masvingo provincial leadership, led by Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa, to bar Eng Mzembi from taking over the farm, arguing that it was strategic to the economy of the province.
Eng Mzembi defended his plans to move into Barquest Farm, saying he would not interfere with Mrs Mitchell’s chicken hatchery project but intended to partner her.
He said the portion of land allocated to him had been gazetted for compulsory acquisition under the land reform programme.
Sen Mahofa yesterday said the provincial lands committee turned down Eng Mzembi’s plans.
She said investigations were underway to establish how many farms Eng Mzembi owned in Masvingo.
“The Masvingo provincial lands committee met and agreed that Minister Mzembi should not move into Barquest Farm and a letter recommending the withdrawal of his offer letter for the land in question is being prepared and will be sent to the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement Dr Douglas Mombeshora,’’ she said.
“The only thing we can do for Minister Mzembi is to look for another farm for him but we are first investigating reports that he already has two farms with one of them said to be a conservancy on the outskirts of Masvingo.’’
Senator Mahofa said they wanted to know what happened to Minister Mzembi’s chicken farming operations at Standard A1 Farm near Stop Over business centre.
Minister Mzembi claims that he bought the farm before the start of the land redistribution exercise.
Acting Masvingo provincial chief lands officer Mr Fortune Chimbishi refused to shed light on Minister Mzembi’s future at Barquest Farm only saying they were going to look for another farm in Masvingo for allocation to the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister.
A few years ago, Zimbabwe chiefs’ council president Chief Fortune Charumbira attempted to take over Barquest Farm but was stopped after the provincial leadership said the property was of strategic importance to Masvingo province.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa colluded with the army and Chinese mining company Anjin Investments to steal diamonds from Marange, according to Didymus Mutasa.
In an interview with The Zimbabwean, the Zanu (PF) former secretary for administration, who was recently fired from the party for “breaching protocol”, confirmed the widely shared views that Marange diamonds were looted by senior ruling party officials.
Mutasa has for a long time supported Joice Mujuru, Mnangagwa’s rival in the battle to succeed President Robert Mugabe, and has filed a Constitutional Court application to challenge the Zanu (PF) December congress, which he insists was unconstitutional.
“Those who benefitted from diamonds in Chiadzwa are (VP Emmerson) Mnangagwa and others from the army including a company called Anjin,” said Mutasa.
A 2004 United Nations report also named Mnangagwa as one of the many officials, military figures and international corporate agents who had looted diamonds and other precious minerals from war-ravaged Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Zimbabwe had sent troops to the DRC in 1998 to rescue the government of the late Laurent Kabila from a rebel onslaught, and high ranking officials from government, including army generals, were reported to have amassed overnight riches through the minerals smuggling.
Mnangagwa has also been linked to an underground illegal gold mining syndicate in the Midlands province but he has denied the reports.
There are three shareholders in Anjin – the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (10 percent), Chinese firm Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company (50 percent) and The Zimbabwe National Army (40 percent). The defence forces commander, Constantine Chiwenga, is believed to be a strong Mnangagwa ally.
In 2013, former ZMDC board chair Goodwills Masimirembwa confirmed that the army owned shares in Anjin when he addressed journalist in Mutare.
As a result of the massive diamond looting, the treasury failed to realise taxes and royalties, said Mutasa. “When we still had the government of national unity, (Finance Minister Tendai) Biti kept asking where the diamond money was going as it was not finding its way to treasury,” he said.
Biti was at loggerheads with Zanu (PF) cabinet ministers then, as he boldly declared that diamonds revenue was not coming to the national fiscus in 2011 and 2012 and hinted at large-scale looting.
Civil society organisations have also raised concerns over massive looting in Chiadzwa.
Mutasa further indicated that former Manicaland Provincial State Minister Chris Mushohwe was also part of the cartel that benefitted from the diamond loot at the expense of the entire nation.
During his tenure as Zanu (PF) secretary of administration, Mutasa blew the whistle against former party members who were accused of siphoning diamond funds from Marange firms. This resulted in the suspension of provincial chairperson Mike Madiro, his deputy Dorothy Mabika, provincial youth chairperson Tawanda Mukodza, youth secretary for security Admire Mahachi, youth secretary for information and publicity Masimba Kangai and former District Coordinating Committee chairperson for Mutare Urban Clever Muparutsa.
The members allegedly received a combined $700,000 from Chiadzwa firms. Mutasa also hinted that he had gathered documented evidence that other party stalwarts from the Women’s League were extorting funds from Chiadzwa.
He was dislodged from his position in a nasty factional war threatening to split Zanu (PF) before he could deal with the matter.
In 2012, Global Witness released an investigative report that revealed the intricate link between Zanu (PF) and the military elite in shadowy joint venture companies that were used to loot diamonds in 2008, with part of the proceeds being used to fund human rights abuses.
“Research by Global Witness suggests that links between diamond companies in the controversial Marange diamond fields and military, police and intelligence organisations loyal to President Mugabe may be continuing to fund repression.
“These groups were implicated in widespread and systematic violence during the 2008 elections, during which at least 200 people were killed whilst thousands were tortured and beaten. Human rights abuses in Marange have continued since the army’s seizure of the diamond fields in 2008,” said the report.
“Our investigations reveal how opaque company structures can hide who benefits from diamond revenues and provide cover for the military and secret police. State-owned diamond mining entity ZMDC is the nominal joint venture partner in Marange’s main diamond companies. However our findings indicate that the true beneficiaries of some Marange concessions, are often obscured but include members of the security forces and individuals linked to the Zanu (PF) leadership,” added the researchers.
The report also identified a Hong Kong-based Chinese national, Sam Pa, as an international agent who had financed the secret police in return for diamonds and other business opportunities. zimbabwean

There was drama Wednesday morning at Falkirk magistrates court in Scotland, when journalists were set upon by a mob belonging to Agape for all Nations Church.
The incident happened on the first day of the trial of the church’s leader Masocha who stands accused of child molestation charges.
In an incident that came with threats, the mob attempted to rid journalists of their cameras, notepads and recording devices at the end of the first session of the trial. The journalists were photographing Masocha as he was walking out of court when the mob descended on them.
The drama heightened when a Masocha bodyguard took off his suit jacket and covered the preacher’s face and upper body. The group numbering twelve visibly emotional Africans covered the preacher’s body like a swarm of bees on a hive.
Two women, one of them a Tswi speaking Ghanaian would rush bulge into journalists trying to smash their cameras.
Scotland’s laws on press freedoms are unlike in Zimbabwe where most of Masocha’s followers are from.
Journalists were only saved by the presence of police officials who allowed them to continue with their work.‎ ZimEye’s correspondent escaped the mêlée to file this report with HQ.
Full court report to follow…

Yesterday hundreds of people were turned away from Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya’s meeting at the Bulawayo City Hall after they failed to pay $20 to attend a fund-raising event.Members of his security team barred those who did not have what they referred to as “partnership cards” from gaining entry. The “partnership” is used to raise money for Magaya’s Yadah TV, which broadcasts his sermons across Africa.
Annoyed congregants became hostile as more than 15 police officers tried to restore order.
“If you don’t have money to purchase the partnership card just leave this place now!,” shouted a member of the PHD security team. “It’s of no use for you people to crowd the place when you aren’t members and worse you don’t have money to join.”
A large group of Magaya followers, numbering a few hundred people, insisted that they had not been told they would need to pay. They eventually sat themselves outside the City Hall, waiting for the preacher to finish his programme inside the hall and meet them.
“This service is actually meant for those who support the vision of the prophet. If you watch Yadah TV, then you would know that the money is used to take care of the underprivileged and day-to-day running of the church,” one PHD security guard told a woman turned away at the door.
A weeping Magaya follower, Duduzile Sibanda, told The Chronicle that she was having difficulties in conceiving but failed to see the prophet as she could not afford to pay the $20.
“I’m just stranded and don’t know what to do. I came here declaring an end to my problems but now my spirit is down. I wish I had been aware that I was supposed to bring $20 dollars,” Sibanda said.
The Chronicle was denied entry into the hall.
Last year, 11 people died during a stampede at Mbizo Stadium in Kwekwe as an estimated 30,000 people attempted to leave the venue.
Prophet Magaya’s visit to Bulawayo came two days after Eagle Life Assembly leader Prophet Blessing Chiza held a “mega anointing service” on Sunday at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.
A majority of the people at the service failed to get his “anointing oil” as they could not pay the $10 price. -chronicle

A prostitute who was stripped naked and tortured by at least three women and recorded in a seven minute video, was actually with a ZRP police officer at the time, ZimEye.com can reveal in a development that may likely prove a massive cover-up by officers.
ZimEye.com broke the story way back in February (SEE Woman Stripped Naked, Sexually Assaulted as Harare Policeman Watches ).
This reporter can reveal the name of the police officer who is stationed at the Braeside Police outpost. ZimEye.com can also reveal his exact address where the incident took place which is 12A Nirvana Road Hatfield. He is heard in the recording vocalising from within the house as he somewhat pacifies with the suspects.

The cop early in February allowed his wife and her friends to attack his girlfriend discovered sleeping in his house.
The violence occurred after the ZRP officer’s wife charged at the woman accusing her of cheating with her husband.
Some witnesses have suggested that the victim furthermore is a minor since in the clip, one of the women calls her a child “nhanha”.
Several witnesses have told ZimEye.com  how the man also caused the fracas after he had allegedly squandered $1600.00 on the girlfriend.
Meanwhile the Chief police spokesperson Commissioner Charity Charamba has said the victim has not yet approached the police to file a torture report.
“We are still waiting for the complainant to come and make a report and also waiting for anyone who has any leads to the women who were abusing her to come forth with the information,” Charamba said.
“The video is disturbing and shocking that other women would actually do that to another woman — that is not acceptable at all. If there is anyone who knows the victim, please advise her to come to the police and report the matter. Some unruly female hooligans are being shown torturing and indecently exposing and impinging on a certain woman’s body.”

The Zimbabwean embassy in London was Tuesday morning invaded by heavy-booted angry activists demanding the release of their Zim based colleague Itai Dzamara who was abducted in Harare on the 9th of March.
The activists led by Martin Chinyanga, marched into the posh Central London property armed with heavy boots, loudly stomping them and emotionally waving their placards while singing war-cries until the building became besieged under their noise. “It really looked like the whole building has been taken,” an onlooker attempted to describe the scene. It was at that point the embassy diplomats rushed to telephone for help and in a matter of minutes British Police armed with rifles descended onto the place.
Upon entering, police officers did not find difficulty handling the activists as the latter did not resist and were all thus force-marched to the nearby police station at Charing Cross Tube Station.
It was at the police station that Martin Chinyanga began to question the police action hinting that British Police cannot legally arrest for a crime committed in a foreign embassy, what has been the case with the Wikileaks whistleblower Julian Assange case. Assange has for more than two years been domiciled in the Ecuadorian embassy not far from the Zimbabwean embassy.

 
Charged for trespassing
But Assange’s case is different from Chinyanga’s since the former is under the full protection of the Ecuadorian laws whereas Chinyanga has breached the foreign nation (Zimbabwe)’s laws, and he was yesterday slapped with preliminary British charges of trespassing into the embassy.

He told ZimEye.com  soon after his release at 11 PM, the police have ordered him to return in May for routine reporting on the charges once the required evidence has been gathered. “They told me to come back in May,” he said.
Meanwhile the search for Dzamara continued in Zimbabwe with the MDC-T reportedly putting together a team of experts to surf around the country. He has been missing since his abduction on March 9, 2015. It is believed that the Mugabe government performed the act with the intention of demoralising his growing activism. READ MORE – ITAI DZAMARA: Demo Turns Nasty as Chinyanga is Arrested.

A serial rapist separately lured six women into the bush with claims that he had prophetic visions about their lives, prosecutors said.
Ephias Ndlovu, 42, of Trenance suburb in Bulawayo, allegedly kept his victims – including two high school girls – in the bush overnight after his promises to “cleanse” them turned into a living nightmare.
Ndlovu will appear in court on April 10 after his trial failed to kick off before senior Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira yesterday due to a mix-up in the prison documentation.
He has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of kidnapping.
An outline of the charges prepared by prosecutors says Ndlovu’s first victim was a Form 1 pupil whom he approached while she was selling potatoes at Entumbane Complex just after 2PM on April 1 last year.
Ndlovu, prosecutors say, produced a $100 note but the girl indicated that she did not have change. He asked her to follow him to his house so that he could get change.
On arrival at his home in Lobengula, Ndlovu instructed the pupil to wait for him outside. He emerged after a few minutes and told her he could not find a smaller denomination, and suggested that they continue walking around looking for change.
At around 6PM, they got to a bushy area where the girl insisted on going back home. Ndlovu told the girl that the Holy Spirit wanted her to remove her panties, warning her she could die for failing to comply, it is alleged.
Ndlovu, say prosecutors, lifted his victim and placed her on a rock and raped her once. He detained her the entire night and raped her four times.
His second victim was a domestic worker aged 20 who met Ndlovu on her way to Cowdray Park on April 6 the same year at around 1PM.
As they walked, Ndlovu told the woman that the Holy Spirit had showed him that she would suffer abdominal pains and that she had something on her chest, it is alleged.
He told her that he could provide the spiritual solution.
He warned the woman that she was going to choke to her death if she refused to go with him to his home for a “healing session”. The woman followed Ndlovu.
The trial will hear that he led her to a wooded pathway and sat her down, claiming his wife would come and give him keys to the house.
Seven hours after they had first met, Ndlovu grabbed the victim by her jacket, struck her with a stone on the forehead and pushed her to the ground.
He raped her twice while holding the same stone and kept her for the whole night, it is alleged.
He met his third victim at a bus stop in Pumula South, a 17-year-old girl to whom he introduced himself as a prophet.
He told her he would give her a red rose which, when placed in vinegar, would cleanse her of bad luck.
He told the teenager the flower could only be found in the bush, and the girl followed her, it is alleged.
Once in a secluded spot, he demanded sex but the girl refused.
Ndlovu detained her for the whole night saying there were thugs in the bush and released her the following morning unharmed.
The fourth victim, 21, met Ndlovu and he asked her for directions to Emganwini after which he immediately told her that he was a prophet.He “prophesied” that the woman ate human flesh mixed with hair. From that moment, the woman became confused and found herself sleeping in a bush, covered with a brown blanket the next day.
She noticed that her panties and tights that she had been putting on were beside Ndlovu’s bag, but he was nowhere to be seen.
A Form 3 pupil from Lobengula West was Ndlovu’s next target. She found him sitting under a tree on her way from Nkulumane Complex.
He identified himself as a prophet and told the girl that she was bewitched by an old woman from the suburb. Ndlovu insisted that he could heal her with a herb called Dhuba mixed with vinegar. The girl was deceived into following Ndlovu into the bush where she was raped and detained for the whole night.
Ndlovu, it is alleged, sold his sixth victim the same story about eating human flesh and told her she needed a herb only found in the bush to cleanse her. Once there, he raped her and released her the following morning.
He was arrested on May 19 last year and all six women picked him out at an identification parade. -chronicle

ZANU PF’s Secretary for Administration the controversial Dr Ignatius Chombo has made claim that the United States Embassy is pouring in undisclosed amounts of money to bankroll sacked Zanu-PF legislator for Hurungwe West Mr Temba Mliswa.
This came as Mliswa who was booted from the party vowed to humiliate Chombo as he announced he is contesting the upcoming June by elections as an independent.
Chombo at the weekend voiced saying “despite the involvement of the Americans through their spy agent Mr Eric Little” who was funding Mr Mliswa, Zanu-PF was confident of retaining the seat.
Speaking after a meeting with traditional leaders including chiefs, headmen and kraal heads from Hurungwe at Zvipani Business Centre at the weekend, Chombo said Zanu-PF and Government were aware of US activities in the area.
“We are aware that an official with one of the embassies in Harare called Eric Little travelled throughout the area funding certain projects and yet this individual is an enemy of Zimbabwe,” he said.
“He is in the country to promote regime change.”
Chombo warned aspiring Zanu-PF candidates against associating with regime change agents and using their funds, saying they risked being expelled from the party.
“So, if there are any individuals or any members of the party wanting to replace Temba (Mliswa) and they are going to use these funds from sources that are illegal and illegitimate, we will consider them to be enemies of the party and enemies of the State and they will be appropriately disqualified,” he said.
Nine candidates are vying to represent Zanu-PF in the Hurungwe West constituency by-election on June 10.
Chombo said the party should move quickly to hold primary elections to choose a candidate to represent the party so that all efforts would be channelled towards one candidate.
He said people in Hurungwe West should be allowed to choose a candidate of their choice and any attempt to impose a candidate would not be tolerated.
Chombo later addressed members of the Johanne Marange apostolic sect at their Kemureza Shrine where he explained the reasons why Mr Mliswa was expelled from the party and why elections have to be held.
Church representative Mr Isaac Tivakudze said anyone who rebelled against President Mugabe was not fit to lead the people.
“We stand resolutely behind President Mugabe and anyone who has other ideas is not with us,” he said.
Mr Mliswa together with his uncle and former Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Mr Didymus Mutasa were expelled from Parliament in February after the party wrote disowning them for allegedly going against party dictates, a move seen to have only been a purging of all perceived allies of expelled Vice President Joice Mujuru who was going to replace Mugabe anytime soon.

The Constitutional Court has ruled in favour of Tendai Biti and his group of expelled legislators, so far.
The court ruled saying the application filed by the 14 members challenging their expulsion from parliament should be heard on an urgent basis.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku ruled Tuesday that the application filed by MDC Renewal Team secretary general Tendai Biti and 13 others challenging their expulsion should be heard urgently because President Robert Mugabe has already proclaimed the date of by-elections in constituencies that were represented by the applicants in the august house.
In a notice published in the government gazette on Friday, President Mugabe announced that the nomination court will sit on April 16th while by-elections in the affected constituencies would be held on June 10th.
In view of this, the chief justice said the application to set aside Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda’s ruling expelling Biti and his colleagues, should be heard on April 14th before the nomination court sits two days later.
Lawyers representing Mudenda also consented that the matter was urgent.
The expulsion of the MDC Renewal Team members from parliament followed a request by the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC formation, which argued that Biti and his colleagues were no longer representing the interests of their party.
PARTY SQUABBLES
This followed in-house squabbles last year that resulted in Biti leading a group of senior MDC-T officials in breaking away from the main opposition party.
Subsequently, Biti and his team suspended Tsvangirai and the opposition’s national chairperson Lovemore Moyo but the Tsvangirai camp re-grouped and instead expelled Biti from the party.
In papers filed in the courts, Biti and others contend that there is a leadership dispute in the MDC-T and this was a matter that should have been dealt with by the courts and not by the speaker of parliament.
Meanwhile, the application filed by former Zanu PF secretary for administration and Headlands legislator Didymas Mutasa and former Hurungwe West parliamentarian Temba Mliswa challenging their expulsion from parliament, is set to be heard Wednesday.
Mudenda expelled Mutasa and Mliswa from parliament following a written request by Zanu PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo. Both Mutasa and Mliswa have since been expelled from Zanu PF for allegedly bringing the name of the party into disrepute.
However, Mutasa insists that no one in Zanu PF has the right to expel him as he does not recognize the new leadership following the ruling party’s congress held last December.
VOA

President Mugabe has challenged Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to take an active role in turning around the economy by working closely with the Government.
Addressing Zimbabweans based in Ethopia on Sunday, the President said economic revival required the participation of all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation.
Zimbabweans living in  Addis Ababa hosted a dinner in honour of President Mugabe’s achievements.
The African Union and Sadc chairman was attending the 18th Comesa Summit.
“Ethiopia has managed to do a lot of construction and improvement because a lot of its people are in the Diaspora. It is also happening in other countries like Cape Verde Islands and I want to urge our people to come together,’’ President Mugabe said.
“A Zimbabwean is a Zimbabwean whether Zanu-PF or MDC. This is one area we cannot be separated from each other; an area where we are Zimbabweans together.”
President Mugabe said the leadership was ready to get ideas and advice from fellow citizens in the Diaspora.
“Let us try to utilise our resources to the best of our ability. We must also have good roads. We need power and that is what we are trying to produce in Kariba,” he said.
“All this can happen in an environment with peace where people can interact easily, where people are not afraid and can talk as friends and allies and as ama Zimbabweans.”
President Mugabe urged Zimbabweans to cherish the peace prevailing in the country.
“We protect that environment and cherish it, that environment of peace where we support one another. You may be Gushungo, Shoko or Khumalo, but what comes first is peace. The fact that we fought together created Zimbabwe as our home.”
He challenged Zimbabweans to embrace the five-year economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.
“Zim-Asset has a meaning to the people and they must know the meaning.
“Industrial planners and experts in the economy must explain to the people what Zim-Asset means and make them understand its objectives to the entire nation,” President Mugabe said.
“We need front-runners who will lead the nation in implementing programmes that will bring development to the country. We must also be educated about the struggle so that we know where we are coming from and where we are going.
“As a nation, we have adopted principles and we will never sacrifice them,” President Mugabe said.
The event was attended by Zimbabwean Ambassador to Ethiopia Albert Chimbindi, Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha, Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba, senior Government officials and Zimbabweans living in Ethiopia. -herald

Beitbridge Senator Tambudzani Mohadi has raised concern over the rising number of cases of murder and corruption across the district.
She made the remarks during the police annual merit awards held at Lutumba Business Centre recently.
“It is sad to note that the rate of murder cases continues to rise in Beitbridge District where in 2013 we recorded eight cases and had 12 reports last year, this is really sad,” she said.
“People need to respect the sanctity of life.”
Sen Mohadi said in some cases, crime was being fuelled by corrupt members of the public and rogue police officers.
Official figures from the police show that 133 robbery cases were recorded in 2013 in the district in comparison with 132 last year, while those of stocktheft, rape, assaults and housebreaking were on the decline.
Sen Mohadi called for increased community participation in crime-related matters.
“We are worried at the rate at which some members of the community are hiding some of the known dangerous criminals in their homes,” she said.
“It is of paramount importance that we complement the police in their quest to curb crime rather than playing hard ball or giving them bribes.”
Speaking during the same event, police officer responsible for administration in Matabeleland South Assistant Commissioner Mildred Muzzah said police should not be swayed by resource constraints to engage in corrupt activities.
“We will not tolerate corruption in the force,” she said. “Let’s work with what we have and ensure that we live within the confines of the law.”
Beitbridge Crime Consultative Committee chairman Mr Willard Mateveke said the fight against crime and corruption needs an integrated approach. herald

London -Protests calling for the release of abducted activist Itai Dzamara turned nasty on Tuesday when London protester Martin Chinyanga was arrested by British Police.
Charges against him were not clear at the time of writing apart from them being verbalised as tresspassing. The below was an account sent in by ZAPU’s Thulani Nkala:
 
Mr Arthur Molife, ZAPU Vice Chair who was part to the demonstrations at the Zimbabwe Embassy today in London sent a distress call after the arrest of the fellow demonstrator, Mr Martin Chinyanga. Mr Martin Chinyanga is known for his fiery opposition to Mr Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF regime. He has advocated for its democratic deposition. Like thousands of other Zimbabweans Mr Chinyanga is very angry at the state of governance in Zimbabwe, which has turned everyone to a beggar or a vendor.
Mr Chinyanga on many instances in the demonstrations has squared up with the law enforcement agents, reasoning with them to let people peacefully demonstrate against the evil regime of Robert Mugabe. He was particularly riled by the abduction of Mr Itai Dzamara.
Mr Molife wrote as follows: Cdes, I and other Demonstrators at Zimbabwe Embassy are safe and free. However and unfortunately, our Cde Martin Chinyanga has been arrested and detained at London’s Charing Cross Police Station.
We were asked as a group to walk to the Police Station, which we all did. On arrival, the Police approached Cde Chinyanga and asked him to enter into the Police Station, which he voluntarily did, whilst the rest of us were asked to remain gathered outside. But five minutes later we were told that Chinyanga had been arrested, but not charged yet. He was being questioned about trespassing by illegally entering Zimbabwe embassy twice/thrice in less than three months. We have a feeling that there could be multiple of frivolous charges against Cde Chinyanga, possibly including him resisting arrest as we could hear him (loud and clear) outside the Police Station shouting, “…am I being arrested now…”. The rest, after his disappearing shout, we do not know. Cde Chinyanga, may be detained for up to 12hrs or 24hrs. The Police told us. I shall be going back there between 5pm and 6pm to check on him and for more information from the Police then give a brief after that visit.
In the meantime, there is very little information to give until after my going there. I hope our broad alliance of demonstrators will have the courage enough to take up Cde Chinyanga’s case and defend his right to freely express his democratic right. It may appear that his arrest by the British Police is at the instigation of the Government of Zimbabwe. There is more to come. Cde Chinyanga, should not be left to walk alone. Never Cdes. Double standards of the British law enforcement shall be exposed, how on earth they can defend a man who has killed more than 30 000 of his citizens. A man who continues to steal elections without care? Zimbabweans from all walks of life shall stand up and continue demonstrations and if need be they are prepared to fill all the British prisons.
The man who should be arrested is Robert Mugabe not Mr Chinyanga. Mr Chinyanga did not kill anyone. Mr Chinyanga was exercising his democratic rights.
By Arthur Molife (ZAPU).

HARARE – A deadly cocktail of uncertainty, panic and fear has gripped many notable Zanu PF officials who either rose up their party structures or clung onto their positions at the height of the ruling party’s ugly infighting last year, riding on the coat-tails of influential but now ailing First Lady Grace Mugabe (pictured).

 
This comes as Grace’s withdrawal from the public domain over the past four weeks, as well as the unexplained extent of her illness, continues to set tongues wagging — with Zimbabweans speculating furiously about her well-being and what this means for President Robert Mugabe, Zanu PF and the country.
 
Mugabe’s normally publicity-mad wife has not been seen in public since early this month,  and was recently reported to be unwell by her top ally and politburo member Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri — who, however, did not give details about the extent of Grace’s illness.
 
The first lady also underwent what her husband said was an appendix operation in Singapore late last year — even though this supposedly minor procedure kept her away from the country for more than two months, recuperating.
 
Well-placed Youth and Women’s League sources who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said many officials in the two structures who were close to Grace were now allegedly being bullied and victimised by their more powerful colleagues who had not benefitted from the first lady’s combative politics of the past few months.
 
In the meantime, Grace herself apparently returned to Zimbabwe from Dubai on Friday aboard an Emirates flight, but did not — once again, accompany her globe-trotting husband who left the country on Saturday, first for Tanzania, and then for Ethiopia — choosing instead to retreat to the First Family’s “Blue Roof” Borrowdale mansion.
 
“Many of us who are close to Dr Amai (Grace) and others who benefitted from her dramatic entry into formal politics last year are reeling at the moment in her absence. We fear that things could get worse for everyone if Dr Amai does not return to her (Women’s League) duties soon,” a Youth League official said.
 
Analysts also concurred yesterday that her continuing failure to attend to her duties would not bode well for her Zanu PF faction, with Maxwell Saungweme saying her dramatic entry into formal politics last year had created another centre of power in the ruling party, thereby weakening it.
 
“To some extent, this undermined the power that her husband wielded in the eyes of many,” Saungweme said, adding that her prominent role in the ouster of former Vice President Joice Mujuru had created more problems for Mugabe and heightened factionalism in Zanu PF.
 
“Grace became a centre of power, her husband is another, the Gang of Four is another, (Vice President Emmerson) Mnangagwa is another and Mujuru and her Gamatox crew are another centre of power.
 
“Her absence really deals a blow to her own centre of power and her hangers-on such as (newly-appointed minister of State for Masvingo Shuvai) Mahofa.
 
“She created a lot of confusion which she can no longer properly manage during her extended absence. The more she is out of the picture, the more the confusion is for her followers, the party and the country,” Saungweme said.
 
Contacted for comment yesterday about the whereabouts and state of health of Grace, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said, “I am in a meeting and I will send a statement later”.
 
Senior researcher with Human Rights Watch, Dewa Mavhinga, said Grace should leave politics and rest, “instead of creating confusion”.
 
“She has immense influence in the party and there is a perception that she is a centre of power and clearly her allies are worried about her prolonged absence.
 
“However, this has no major political implications. Given that she is unwell, the best decision for her when she comes back would be to leave politics altogether and concentrate on her well-being and that of her family,” Mavhinga said. -Daily News

AS NINE inmates at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, suspected of organising the fatal food riots that occurred at the correctional centre appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts yesterday on charges of attempting to escape from lawful custody, malicious damage to property and negligence, it emerged that rapist pastor Robert Martin Gumbura, charged for allegedly inciting the rioting, was falsely blamed for the incident.
ZimEye.com which closely followed the riots having also broken the news as it happened, for a whole 5 day period aftrerwards found no single accusation or even suspicion from the officers involved in the incident and entire quelling of the riots, journalists having taken priority interest in the man’s affairs during the whole commotion.
As five prisoners made a successful exit, Pastor Gumbura (currently serving a half a century jail term for rape), was also far away from the area where guards were overpowered.
Three impeccable prison officials interviewed into the weekend of the incident occurring, have revealed that apart from the random beating up of prisoners, there was no investigation conducted that would credibly point to the preacher’s alleged conduct. Mr Gumbura’s cell is also in the B hall area and the riot took place in the C and D halls which are too far away for any coordination to have been conducted by the accused. Guards also said that the accused has never intermingled as claimed.
This revelation also came as there was a massive cover up on the numbers of prisoners who have been shot dead as punishment for having rioted. ZimEye.com has revealed that 15 people have been murdered as punishment.
Revelations into the cover up are further confirmed by inconsistencies and shocking contradictions between what was announced by the Prisons spokesperson, Mrs Elizabeth Banda and later was claimed by the minister of justice who is also vice president of the country, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Banda claimed that no one was shot and that blank bullets were used, also saying that only one person died, while Mnangagwa made the admission that several prisoners were shot dead in cold blood, speaking to parliament a week later.
 
ZimEye.com journos contend with evidence that the prison authorities and the Minister of Justice are not credible witnesses and they have compromised facts in the case.
 
The whole commotion was started when prisoners protested the inhumane treatment at the hands of prison guards and the sadza they were being constantly fed with which has nothing else besides soup.
Gumbura who guards reveal was nowhere close to the riots, is now being charged together with notorious armed robbers Lucky Matambanadzo and Lucky Mhungu, among others.
But the State alleges that in February this year, Gumbura incited inmates in B Cell, urging them to revolt against prison authorities for giving them a poor diet. After the alleged address, the prisoners allegedly spent the night singing in protest state papers say.
On March 13, Matambanadzo, Mhungu and their alleged accomplices addressed inmates in C and D cells, influencing them to join the protests.
Hell broke loose the following day, when the prisoners went wild, climbing up the walls, breaking asbestos sheets, windows and water pipes, among other infrastructure.
Prison officers opened fire on the striking inmates, killing five of them while several wardens were left injured in the skirmishes.
The suspects have been remanded to mid-April for trial.
 

ZANU PF leader President Robert Mugabe has filed his opposing affidavit to the court challenge filed by former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa and ex-spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, saying the duo had no locus standi to challenge their expulsion from the ruling party as they were no longer bona fide members.
In papers filed on his behalf by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa on March 18, Mugabe said Gumbo and Mutasa should have exhausted internal remedies to contest their expulsion before taking the matter to the High Court if they respected the party’s constitution as they so claimed.
Mutasa and Gumbo approached the High Court last month seeking an order compelling Mugabe to reverse their expulsion and the outcome of the party’s December congress.
The pair claimed that the congress was held in violation of the party’s constitution.
“The fact that they are not members of the first respondent (Zanu PF) immediately strips them of their rights as members of the first respondent as enshrined in clause 17 of the former Constitution or clause 20 of the new Constitution,” Mugabe said.
“The applicants have not had the expulsion set aside whether by first respondent (Zanu PF) or by any court. They therefore would not be able to establish their legal basis for challenging the goings-on within the first respondent.”
Mugabe also said Mutasa and Gumbo have no locus standi to represent “unnamed” people “they allegedly seek an order on behalf of”.
He also said the High Court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the matter before it is set for by Zanu PF as required by the party’s constitution.
“As the applicants themselves concede they did not file the application within the prescribed eight weeks, the application is not properly before the court unless and until a proper application for condonation has been made and granted,” Mugabe argued.
The Zanu PF leader accused Mutasa and Gumbo of failing to even engage the central committee to register their grievances.
“If this honourable court were to determine this matter, it would be talking away the central committee’s powers which as per the first respondent’s constitution, is final arbitrator on these questions.”
In his court papers, Mutasa claimed that he wrote to Mugabe seeking an internal remedy which he ignored, forcing him to approach the courts for redress.
But Mugabe said Mutasa could have written to the central committee, not to him, claiming the letter was not a genuine appeal for redress, as it was the applicants’ ill-fated manoeuvres against the due electoral process.
He said the reference to First Lady Grace Mugabe when she is not cited in the papers was a show of cowardice to attack someone without giving them the right to respond. Mutasa, in his papers, described Grace’s entry into politics as toxic and the origins of intolerance in the party.

THREE members of the Zimbabwe National Army died on the spot and several others were injured yesterday when their luxury coach was involved in a road accident at the 300km peg along the Harare-Chirundu Road.
Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore said the bus was carrying recruits for a training exercise in the Zambezi Valley and Makuti area.
“Two officer cadets and a member of staff died on the spot and several were injured. Names of the deceased will be announced when the next of kin have been informed,” Makotore said.
“The injured have been airlifted to Karoi and Kariba hospitals respectively and seven of those with life-threatening injuries were airlifted to Harare.”
Meanwhile, two gold panners are feared dead after a disused mineshaft they were working in at Falcon Gold Mine in Chakari collapsed and buried them alive yesterday morning.
Sources said four panners were underground when the tragedy occurred, trapping three of them underground. One escaped and reported the case to the local councillor who immediately alerted the police.
Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed the incident and said two panners were rescued while the third one was yet to be accounted for. – Newsday

VIOLENCE broke out in the Movement for Democratic Change Renewal Team in a power struggle between party Secretary General Tendai Biti and, Treasurer Elton Mangoma supporters over party leadership at the weekend, ZimEye.com can reveal.
 
Two Mangoma supporters were landed bloody bashes on their bodies right in the middle of saying prayers during a rally at the large CJ Hall in Highfields.
 
One of the attacked Jabulani Munyanyi popularly known as Greyhound told ZimEye.com he was assaulted solely as punishment for supporting Mangoma during a time when popularity was fast growing in Mangoma’s favour against Biti following the recalling of the party’s MPs this month.
 
“I was even warned a day before by the provincial chairperson Dumisani Makwanya that this was going to happen to me,” he said almost in tears.
“They also attacked my colleague, Friday Nleya,” he added, hinting also that the group of youths also took his cellphone. “They also took my Samsung Galaxy S4,” he said.
When quizzed by ZimEye.com on the possibility of the attack being caused by real thugs who may have taken advantage of the tension, Munyanyi replied saying he was absolutely sure of the political motive behind the attack since he had been warned a day before by the chairperson Dumisani Makwanya.
He also added saying: “I personally know these boys and their motive,” he said.
 
No Police Report
But there is no police report yet and Munyanyi said Secretary General Tendai Biti allegedly told him not report to the police yet until a full report is written down.
 
Biti and Mangoma in fist fight (near).
Meanwhile, the weekend violence came at a time when Biti and Mangoma themselves were caught in a near fist fight against each other, while some cadres say they actually did exchanged blows during a meeting at the weekend.
The meeting, party sources said, later resolved to hold an early national elective congress to end the simmering factional fights.

The opposition party has been under the caretaker leadership of its guardian council headed by chairperson Sekai Holland since last year when its leaders broke ranks with the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T.
However, the membership still believes that the de facto leaders were Biti and Mangoma.
The leadership fights allegedly intensified with the expulsion of Biti and 20 others from Parliament a fortnight ago and members now view this as an opportunity to deal with the leadership question decisively.
“The fight between Biti and Mangoma for leadership came again under the spotlight at Thursday’s meeting where some Biti allies accused Mangoma of campaigning for the presidency ahead of the congress to the detriment of the party,” an insider said.
“It was then agreed that a congress should be held soon, between end of June and early October this year, to bring to finality the question of leadership.”
Biti and Mangoma could not be reached for comment yesterday.
MDC Renewal Team spokesman Jacob Mafume yesterday confirmed plans for an early congress.
“We agreed that we should have our own congress and policy conference as soon as possible so that we have substantive leadership,” Mafume said.
He, however, said the congress was not being held to end the hostilities between Biti and Mangoma.
“This is not about political contestation, but most of the leadership today is made up of people in acting capacities except Biti, Mangoma and Solomon Madzore. The scenario affects execution of programmes especially to those who are in acting capacity,” he added.
But another insider said the leadership question was bordering on who can give the party greater traction as the country moves towards the 2018 elections.
“Most in the party think Biti will give them traction because he is more popular and has more gravitas than Mangoma. However, Mangoma has done a lot of groundwork thereby having more supporters on the grassroots thus setting a stage for a bruising fight,” the source said.
Mafume said the meeting also endorsed the court challenge to the recall of its MPs from Parliament and reiterated the party’s position to continue boycotting future elections until electoral reforms have been implemented. ZimEye.com /Additional Reporting – Newsday

President Robert Mugabe caused a scene last week when he invaded a young peoples’ meeting which even youthful ministers like Saviour Kasukuwere half his age were unwanted guests.
The Arusha, Tanzania based meeting intended for young people, none of his age – the third Africa-China Young People’s Forum, cracked into confusion when hoardes of heavily built CIOs and Mugabe body guards marched into the building much to the amazement of the attendants. The invited were mostly teenagers of ages 13 and up to the 30 age mark. Apart from 91 year old Mugabe, the only other elderly man and a Head of State present, was none other than the host President Jakaya Kikwete.
Soon after the meeting, instead of flying back home after a Tanzania scene, Mugabe decided to go to Ethiopia to a meeting any of his ambassadors on full government salary could attend.
As over 200,000 litres of jet fuel are blown up in less than (2) two weeks, the alway-globe trotting Robert Mugabe has flown away once again this time to Ethiopia after spending government money attending a forum meant for youths younger than his own children.
Analysts and medical experts claim that the reason why Mugabe is making such obvious blunders is his advanced age which inhibits youthfulness and productivity.
“Akurisa – He is too old and so he shoud really rest”, said political analyst Paradzai Jumba.
Meanwhile the summit where Mugabe usually dozes off a quarter way into the meeting, is the 18th Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit which begins today.
ZimEye.com readers propose that millions of dollars every month could be saved as Mugabe makes use of government staff who could easily represent the State in these foreign lands.

It is disaster for MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai who this week sits down his National Council to consider a By-Elections Snub U-Turn concept paper Tsvangirai has rushed to prepare revealed by ZimEye.com last week.
ZimEye.com  last week exclusively revealed Tsvangirai is boiling in confusion over whether to participate in the upcoming by elections which are set to give ZANU PF a parliamentary presence and allow Mugabe to take over strategic urban areas MDC-T party enjoyed.
The constituencies were left vacant after the so called ‘rebels’ – Tendai Biti and his Renewal Team, were booted from parliament under Tsvangirai’s bidding.
If MDC-T at the end of the week decides to boycott the by-elections, it will be a walkover for ZANU PF, something the revolutionary party has begun celebrating in editorial overtones in its broadsheet, The Herald.
The MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu speaking at the weekend revealed his party had in recent days been troubled over whether to boycott and allow Zanu-PF to sweep all the seats or go into the race and fight to retain the constituencies.
Gutu said the national council will now convene and make a determination.
“In view of the fact that the dates have been proclaimed, the national council will have to meet earlier to make a decision. This is because it is the only organ mandated to amend, alter or even uphold a decision of congress. Not even the president of the party, secretary general or myself has such powers,” said Mr Gutu.
“We have a standing position of congress not to participate in any elections. That cannot be overturned unilaterally. The national council is the highest decision making body in between congress.”
Gutu did not comment substantively on impeccable reports that there were some in the opposition party advocating participation.
“It is difficult to get into people’s minds and hearts. I wish if I was a prophet I would have known,” said Gutu. ALSO READ –  Tsvangirai In U-Turn Spin Over By Elections—

The law firm of MDC-T secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora had property attached over outstanding rent arrears to the tune of $34 000.
Mwonzora and Associates also faces eviction from Fidelity Life Centre along Raleigh Street in Harare after defaulting on rent due to Zimre Properties.
The Sheriff of the High Court on February 20 this year attached office furniture on the instructions of Zimre’s lawyers Mhishi Legal Practice.
Last week, officers from the Sheriff stormed Mwonzora and Associates’ offices to remove the attached property and to eject the law firm but the process was stopped by Zimre’s lawyers to allow for a settlement.
Some of the property had been taken outside the building when the process was put on hold. The attached property includes, a desktop computer, five desks, Fridge Master refrigerator, two filing cabinets and a set of four blue reception sofas.
The Sheriff is also armed with a writ to eject Mwonzora and associates from the 4th floor of the building.
The ejection and attachment process was effected after High Court judge Justice Amy Tsanga issued a consent order to that effect.
Justice Tsanga’s order dated January 13 2015 reads:“It is ordered by consent that the lease agreement between the parties be and is hereby terminated and to this end, the first defendant (Mwonzora and Associates) shall vacate immovable property, 4th Floor, Fidelity Life Centre, Number 5 Raleigh Street on February 28 2015, failing which the deputy sheriff be and is hereby authorised to eject the first defendant.
“First defendant be and is hereby ordered to pay plaintiff the sum of $33 294,43 . . . ”
In terms of the order, Mwonzora and Associates was supposed to pay $5 000 by February 28.
Thereafter monthly instalments of $2 500 until clearance of the debt. Payment, according to Justice Tsanga, should have been paid at the first day of every month.
However, the law firm did not comply with the order resulting in Mhishi Legal Practice through Mr Harrison Nkomo obtaining a writ of execution and a writ of eviction. -State Media

MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai has described Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere as a “confused weevil” following his claims that the former premier was a ruling party functionary.
Kasukuwere on Friday told journalists in Mt Darwin that Tsvangirai was a Zanu PF political commissar, his own position, because of his decision to recall 21 MDC-T MPs from Parliament and the subsequent resolution by his party to boycott by-elections for the seats.
Tsvangirai, through his spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka yesterday said Kasukuwere seemed desperate to have the MDC-T participate in the by-elections for the 14 seats that are up for grabs.
“Saviour Kasukuwere is a confused weevil. He appears desperate for us to participate in this cheap fraud,” said Tamborinyoka.
“The by-elections and any elections for that matter taking place in the absence of reforms is a circus and being part of any circus has never been our favourite pastime because we are a serious party. We are so serious that we take seriously the party’s highest decision making body; congress which resolved that the party would not take part in any election in the absence of reforms.”
Tamborinyoka added: “You will see us abstaining from an election of a burial society committee leadership because the credibility of that election is not guaranteed. The problem is that the weevils have already eaten into this by-election.”
He said the MDC-T national executive and national council would meet soon and expose the shenanigans around the by-elections.
Tamborinyoka said the MDC-T congress in November last year adopted a road map to legitimacy and participating in already rigged elections was not among the four sign posts of the road map.
“We are concentrating on dealing with a bigger picture of the national electoral environment and in the meantime we will not sanitise petty theft disguised as elections so Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC T are sticking to the decision of congress, but we understand Zanu PF is desperate for a competent political commissar that is why Kasukuwere wishes MT [Tsvangirai] were in their team,” he said. standard

There was drama in Harare South’s Ushewekunze area yesterday as residents went for ZANU PF MP Shadreck Mashayamombe’s blood after he sold fake stands obtaining thousands of dollars for his pocketing.
Mashayamombe who was introduced to the nation last year as First Lady Grace Mugabe’s prodigal son, lives in Ushewekunze and is one of Harare’s top land barons.
He allegedly defrauded home seekers tens of thousands of dollars through a dodgy scheme he was running in this area where he has through ZANU PF obtained vast tracts of land he has now converted into residential stands, but is is all a scam, residents reveal.

He sold stands in the Crest area where customers had already begun building their house being told by a company Crest Breeders after spending thousands each, that they did not own the land at all. Crest Breeders told them that Mashayamombe must just compensate them but he has devised a plan to let the residents continue paying him so that he can provide title deeds in 3 years’ time at $4 /square metre.
According to sources, “he even sent his young brother by the name Cephas to disrupt the meeting and the ZBC news team had to run for dear life changing direction as they randomly fled into Chitungwiza after his mujibas threatened to confiscate their camera.”
“Mashayamombe was directing everything over the phone from Mbudzi round about,” the source said.
Attempts to reach his cellphone were fruitless as it was put into voicemail.
Another source added accusing him of “conniving with Crest Breeders to extort money from the residents promising them title deeds and you know this shefu syndrome in Zim an MP can do whatever he feels like. He has more than 1000 stands in Ushewekunze alone,” they said.

As over 200,000 litres of jet fuel are blown up in less than (2) two weeks, the alway-globe trotting Robert Mugabe has flown away again this time to Ethiopia after spending government money attending a forum meant for youths younger than his children.
Mugabe arrived in Addis Ababa to attend a summit that his numerous own ambassadors already on government payroll, could have attended.
The summit where Mugabe usually dozes off a quarter way into the meeting, is the 18th Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit which begins tomorrow.
Instead of flying back home after a Arusha, Tanzania meeting intended for young people, none of his age – the third Africa-China Young People’s Forum, Mugabe decided to go to Ethiopia.
He was met at the Bole International Airport by Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha, Ambassador to the African Union Albert Chimbindi, Zimbabwean Ambassador to Zambia Gertrude Ratidzo Takawira, several senior government officials from Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, officers, from the COMESA Secretariat and Zimbabwean Embassy officials.
The COMESA Summit will see the hand-over of the COMESA chairmanship from DRC President Joseph Kabila to Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
Egypt will this year host the Tripartite meeting of SADC, the East African Community and COMESA late in the year.
The theme for this year’s COMESA Summit is ‘Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialisation.’

POLITBURO member Oppah Muchinguri who (reportedly) had an argument with the late ZANLA army commander Josiah Tongogara just before his untimely death in 1979, has this time opened fire with youthful ZANU PF Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere. Kasukuwere’s job alone is already a deep pool of blood, with documented records of the untimely deaths of his predecessors: Border Gezi, Elliot Manyika, and former Defence Minister Moven Mahachi all killed in dodgy, highly suspicious car accidents.

Report by The Daily News

It never rains but pours for President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu PF, with well-placed sources telling the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that two of the nonagenarian’s most trusted lieutenants are at each other’s throats over the selection of party candidates for forthcoming by-elections, among other differences.
The sources said the new fissures had generated “unwelcome tension” in a party that is already reeling from an ugly internal rebellion and deadly factionalism that have seen many senior officials, including former vice president Joice Mujuru and her allies, being purged ruthlessly.
In the new hara-kiri, former allies and alleged members of the powerful Gang of Four — Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and Saviour Kasukuwere — have apparently crossed swords over candidates to participate in the forthcoming Headlands by-elections.
The two senior politburo members worked together in support of controversial First Lady Grace Mugabe and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the run-up to Zanu PF’s disputed congress that was held in Harare last December, which is now a subject of court action by Mujuru’s allies, including former Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa.
Kasukuwere holds the influential politburo post of political commissar and is driving the party’s divisive restructuring exercise which has put him at odds with rival groups who suspect he could be quietly cultivating his way to the presidency in 2023 or even 2018.
The party insiders who spoke to the Daily News On Sunday yesterday also said Muchinguri-Kashiri was miffed by Mnangagwa’s apparent lack of “appetite” to reward her for the role she had played in Mujuru’s ouster, and that she was desperately trying to reach out again to the party strongman after falling out with Kasukuwere.
Kasukuwere, the sources claimed, was leading a party faction calling itself Generation 40 (G40), comprising mainly young, but ambitious politicians angling to position themselves for higher office in future.
It is further claimed that Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo and Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwawo are members of the G40 — even though Moyo is way older than the other members of the group.
What had particularly irked some of Kasukuwere’s party detractors was that many G40 members affectionately, but inappropriately — in Zanu PF parlance — referred to him as Obama, comparing him to the sitting American president, Barrack Obama, and inferring that he was a future Zimbabwean president in the making.
“It is this suspicion that is at the centre of the bickering which has been amplified by the short-listing of candidates for by-elections and the deployment of politburo members to oversee Zanu PF’s restructuring exercise,” one of the sources said.
The source added that Muchinguri-Kashiri’s recent claims that there were still people campaigning for Mugabe and Mnangagwa’s ouster were a result of “her tiff with Kasukuwere”.
“Her allegations are aimed at Kasukuwere and Moyo who are pushing hard for their candidates in the by-elections, taking advantage of Kasukuwere’s strategic position in the party. She is saying those things just to please ED (Mnangagwa) after realising that she no longer has a place in the G40.
“She feels terribly used by Moyo and Kasukuwere,” another insider told the Daily News on Sunday.
On the other hand, Kasukuwere’s camp was apparently accusing Muchinguri-Kashiri of seeking to block their candidates from contesting in the crucial by-elections.
One of Headlands’ by-election candidates, Dakarai Mapuranga, has since been barred from contesting the poll, despite being in the Manicaland provincial youth league executive.
The sources said Mapuranga was being blocked on the basis that when he transferred from Harare to Manicaland he had not been cleared by his former district.
Mapuranga, who is believed to be aligned to the Kasukuwere camp, has since written to the party’s national elections directorate appealing against the decision to bar him from the election.
Kasukuwere declined to comment on Muchinguri-Kashiri’s statements yesterday, as well as their alleged fall-out.
“Why do you ask me about what Muchinguri said as if you do not have her number? Ask her, she will tell you,” Kasukuwere said. Muchinguri-Kashiri was said to be in a meeting most of the day yesterday.
Hesitant party spokesperson Simon Khaya-Moyo referred questions on Mapuranga’s issue to Kasukuwere. But another well-placed source said Kasukuwere was set to reverse the decision to bar Mapuranga from the election tomorrow.
“He (Kasukuwere) wants to ensure that he has total control of the process of choosing candidates in these by-elections because Mnangagwa’s group is also pushing for its own candidates.
“If it has nothing to do with the seemingly unending struggle for mastery in the party, then how do you explain the fact that Mapuranga is allowed to sit in the provincial executive but cannot contest for a position in the same province,” said an executive member from Manicaland Province.
Mnangagwa’s camp on the other hand is reportedly livid that most of the politburo members deployed to oversee the party’s restructuring exercise in the provinces were sympathetic to the G40 camp.
“Kasukuwere made sure that the exercise left out party supporters known to be loyal to Mnangagwa. The matter was even raised at a recent meeting at the party’s Midlands provincial headquarters. The war is not over,” said a Mnangagwa loyalist.
Last week former party spokesman, Rugare Gumbo — who was sacked from Zanu PF in the run-up to the shambolic December congress — revealed that his group, which includes Mutasa, had made overtures to MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and join hands with them in an endeavour to extricate Zimbabwe from its current economic and political crises.
Mujuru, while not known to be publicly involved in Mutasa’s and Gumbo’s overtures, recently told of her bitterness for having been used by Mugabe for 42 years.
All this has attracted some veiled threats from Zanu PF against the camp, through shadowy but well-informed Herald columnist — Nathaniel Manheru — who is widely believed to be Mugabe’s spokesman George Charamba

The number of dead inmates from the Friday 13th of March shooting of prisoners following their food riot has risen to 15, ZimEye.com can reveal.
This came as Justice Munister Emmerson Mnangagwa and his juniors in the Prison Service, continued to suppress the figures of the deceased.
Mnangagwa’s office has embarassingly admitted that the prison authorities opened gunfire on the rioting prisoners instead of restraining them, a statement that has sharply contradicted that of the Prison Services’ spokesperson who claimed that no one was shot, and that police officers fired what she termed were “blank bullets” on the prisoners.
To date the Prison services have officially said only 5 prisoners were killed after initially claiming only one had died but were forced to raise their records as the facts weighed against their fabrications.
Denials by the officials were seen as an attempt to cover-up and there were calls by concerned prison guards for government to probe the incident in order to establish what actually happened, and to get the numbers of inmates who were either injured or had been killed.
They have asked that the parliamentary committee dealing with prisons should urgently visit the maximum security prison to see for themselves the injuries that were inflicted on the prisoners.
“There was a serious bloodbath. The truth needs to be told,” a prison guard who was involved in the action to quell the riots, said.

As the search for the abducted democracy activist Itai Dzamara took peak at the weekend, the ROHR Zimbabwe board member who is also the National Vendors Union Zimbabwe Board Chairperson Mr Sten Zvorwadza yesterday the 28th of March escaped an attempt to abduct him along the Harare Chegutu highway.
The grisly act that left Mr Zvorwadza, a former parliamentary candidate for the MDC-T party who has been coordinating the search for Dzamara, with multiple injuries, happened along Harare-Chegutu highway at around 12 noon, ZimEye.com is reliably told.
Four armed men driving a Ford Twin Cab Registration Number ACO 4856 (PICTURED) suddenly stopped and blocked Mr Zvorwadza’s car and unprovoked started assaulting him allover his body and in the same process attempting to force him into their car. Zvorwadza was eventually assisted by other motorists to foil the abduction.
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW.

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance PHD) ministries leader, Walter Magaya, has revealed that he dishes out money to sex workers and runs projects for them.
Magaya told journalists during his Ladies All Night Prayer on Friday night that on a daily basis he assisted hundreds of sex workers with various projects.
“I give prostitutes money here on a daily basis to assist them get out of that thing. As a church we run projects for them so that they change their lives,” he said.
The all-night prayer, which sought to tackle anti-marriage spirits and deliver women from demons that affect their marital lives, attracted thousands of women who filled the church’s premises in Waterfalls.
Magaya said his church was the “turning point” for ladies of the night who ended up meeting with their salvation. But his stance has resulted in him being linked to various women, which has attracted negative attention for the youthful prophet.
Magaya told journalists that his church had also helped gays and lesbians transform their lives, describing homosexuality as a “spirit which was anti-God”.
“As a church we are fortunate to be operating in a country where we have a President who has a stance against gays and lesbians. But as a church, we have helped quite a number of gays who manifest here,” he said.
“I personally view it as a spirit that needs to be addressed and it’s anti- God. I know that in other countries such as South Africa, it is allowed, but we are going there to deal with it on May 30-31. I will show that this is a spirit which needs God’s intervention.”
President Robert Mugabe has repeatedly described gays and lesbians as worse than dogs and pigs. Magaya’s all-night prayer was broadcast live on the national television, the church’s Yadah TV and also attracted coverage from South Africa.
Gospel diva, Fungisai Zvaka-vapano Mashavave and Amai Olivia Charamba thrilled the all night prayer with breath-taking performances which drove the women into the spiritual world.
Mashavave belted out her all-time hits such as Zvikomberero which had the fully packed blue shed church and it’s overflow singing along. Amai Charamba, one of the country’s top female musicians, put up a top-notch performance which included her hit songs such as Daily Bread and Mafuta among others. standard

A Grace Mugabe ally and ZANU PF’s Mudzi West MP, Acquillina Katsande, has died after being “haunted for years by spirits” avenging the murdered local MDC-T Chairman Cephas Magura.
She was 55.
 
Involved in the Murder of MDC-T Chairman Cephas Magura

Katsande who dropped dead at West End Clinic Saturday morning , will be remembered for her involvement in the murder of MDC-T Chairman Cephas Magura after whose death she insultingly gloated over his departure saying he only fell from a ZANU PF car, when in actual fact that vehicle was her own.
To date most of the people involved in Magura’s death have died beginning with the first two who dropped dead within two days [CLICK HERE to read more_].
ZimEye.com exclusively covered the murder investigation. (READ MORE – ZANU PF MP in trouble over Magura’s death ).
 
Katsande now even snubbed by ZANU PF
Meanwhile, as if her loss of life was not enough to pump her bad luck, it emerged that her own party ZANU PF would decide not to honour her with a hero’s burial. Her son, George, confirmed his mother’s death admitting she will be buried rather in Mudzi on Monday.
 
Brief History
Katsande became Member of Parliament for Mudzi West from 2005 up to the time of her untimely death.
She was also elected Secretary for Administration for Mashonaland East Zanu PF Women’s League in 2008 before taking over as Chairperson in 2013 after the death of Keresenzia Nyakudya before a vote of no confidence was passed on her late last year.
She lives behind five children and 12 grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at Plot Number 15, Glen Forest farm in Goromonzi.

A married Zaka woman stunned fellow villagers when she confessed that she routinely uses mubobobo to enjoy sex with scores of men in the village.
Ndakaitei Mutuma told a traditional court presided by Chief Ndanga after being accused of having juju which was making married men to stalk her for sex.
Mutuma also boasted that she has muti that enable her to mysteriously remove a man’s sexual organ and allegedly ‘enjoy it in the comfort of her bedroom and return it after pleasuring herself’.
Mutuma was in court after her husband Albert Mutama told the court that he caught her red-handed engaging in sex with another man, identified as Joseph Chrindo in their bedroom hut.
Chief Ndanga said “In my life and experience as a Chief I had never heard or presided over a case like the one involving one of my subjects Ndakaitei Mutuma.
“She confessed before a packed court that she was using juju to sleep with scores of married men in the village.
“What she does is that she goes to the wife of a man she desires and gives her a cloth which she is always moving around with. After giving her that cloth smeared with juju that’s woman’s husband will immediately look for her or go after her.
“Even if the victim’s wife discovers the affair, she would not do anything and when she dares confront her she will become powerless the moment she start questioning her” said the chief. b metro

[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/03/masiyiwa9000.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/03/masiyiwa9000.jpg” width=”900″ align=”right” title=”masiyiwa9000″ frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]Zimbabwe journalists yesterday reminded Strive Masiyiwa that the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo gave him the licence to operate Econet not to suppress freedmon of expression.
Journalists led by the Foster Dongoza the leader of Zimbabwe Union of Journalists yesterday forced the Econet’s banking unit, Steward Bank to abandon a media briefing.
This was in protest over a Thursday raid of a news agency, The Source. In the below video one journalist is heard shouting, reminding Masiyiwa that Nkomo facilitated his bid to operate Econet in order to promote freedom of information and not to suppress it.

Econet invaded The Source newsroom claiming it wanted to seize stolen from the mobile phone operator. This was after the online publication published two explosive articles about Econet and Steward Bank.
One of the articles titled “Debt-distressed Zimbabwe moves to reschedule domestic debt claimed that Government had borrowed $30 million from Econet, disbursed through Steward Bank, in a deal brokered by Mr Nyambirai.

Pandemonium seized the Zim-cyberspace amid claims that First Lady Mrs Grace Mugabe has died.
A stream of continuous phone calls kept hitting the ZimEye.com newsline into the night Friday with people asking to know of the First Lady’s “fate.”
This came as a well known social media personality flashed forth an announcement that Mrs Mugabe has died. The faceless Facebook troll  announced saying “ZIMBABWEAN First Lady Grace Mugabe has died. She was 49 years old…”
But the reports were dismissed by a top ZANU PF member who commented in the late hours saying: “There is no truth to that. Where did you hear it? She is well and fit.”
The highly placed official went on however to admit that Mrs Mugabe “was flown out Zimbabwe in an emergency operation ,”  they said shortly before strictly requesting anonymity.
However politburo member and Grace-pal Oppah Muchinguri made official confirmation to the full Thursday saying that Mrs Mugabe truly did fly out of the country in order to get medical attention albeit as she played down the medical  part as a mere “checkup.”
“There is nothing amiss or strange about the First Lady going out for a medical checkup,” Muchinguri told this reporter further confirming the development.
More to follow as the story unravels…..

• Mugabe envoy flees into hiding.
• Ready to shoot British  Terror Squad enter with bullet-loaded machine guns
• Release Dzamara now!

 
Robert Mugabe’s London offshoot office was humiliated by heavily armed British Police on Thursday when the embassy raised a false terror alarm causing a disturbing hoax scene in the latest of the Itai Dzamara  abduction development.
Ready to shoot British  Terror Police Squad ended up warning the under siege Zimbabwe Embassy not to ever again  waste their weaponry, fuel and time in another false alarm, after Zimbabwean citizens besieged the embassy demanding the release of democracy activist Itai Dzamara.
A group of Zimbabweans among them ZAPU activists, and Zim Vigil members on Thursday morning stormed the embassy calling for the release of the activist and a return to the rule of law.
Speaking to ZimEye.com after William Chinyanga confirmed that, ‘Zimbabwe’s London ambassador today called anti- terrorist police, but at the end the police gave the embassy staff a warning that they must not raise false alarms.’
The police rapid response team accompanied by snipers reacted immediately on an assumption that the embassy was under terror attack. They came wielding MP5SFA3 semi-automatic carbines with an EOTech 512 holographic-sight attached.

After storming the embassy, the police however came face to face with peaceful protesting Zimbabweans. After establishing that the demonstration was a genuine protest, the cops fired back at the embassy staff telling them, ‘do not make false calls about terror’, and they demanded to see the ambassador who was nowhere to be seen having fled into hiding.
The Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa was also under siege and activities were disrupted.
Disruptions at Zimbabwe embassies around the world are expected to intensify and according to the activists they will close all embassies. The activists told ZimEye.com that the struggle is set to topple all embassies as Zimbabweans back home have little freedom to express their anger against the government.

A 36 year old man from Gwanda appeared at Bulawayo High court facing murder charges.
Bhekimpilo Moyo of Spitzkop North surburb who killed his drinking mate before robbing him of R450 was yesterday convicted by Justice Nokuthula Moyo of murder with actual intent, but pointed out  that there were extenuating forces.
Moyo pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering 40 year old Petros Sibanda.
Justice Moyo agreed with the defence counsel, Bruce Masamvu, that intoxication was an extenuating circumstance.
In her judgment, Justice Moyo rejected Moyo’s defence, saying it was a fabricated story and he had killed Sibanda and robbed him of his money because he was greedy.
“It’s the court’s finding that Moyo killed Sibanda and robbed him of his money so that he could not live to tell the tale. You were driven by greed and you are found guilty of murder with actual intent,” ruled Justice Moyo.
In passing sentence, Justice Moyo said it was the duty of the courts to uphold the sanctity of human life.
“Moyo killed Sibanda during the course of a robbery. He committed an abominable crime of killing a colleague who was buying him beer and indeed that shows ungratefulness on his part. A murder committed in the course of a robbery is conduct that can’t be accepted in our society,” she said.
“The sanctity of life should be emphasised through stiff sentences and you are accordingly sentenced to 35 years in jail”.
Prosecuting, Thompson Hove said on January 7, 2014, shortly after 8PM, Sibanda was drinking beer at Crystal Spirits Nightclub in Gwanda when Moyo joined him.
“As they were drinking beer, Meluleki Dube came and joined Moyo and Sibanda and the trio drank until early morning hours,” said Hove.
The court heard that at about 3AM, Sidingulwazi Ncube, a security guard manning the nightclub, ordered the three men to leave the drinking spot as they were closing.
After leaving the nightspot, the trio walked together towards Spitzkop bus terminus where Dube took a different route.
The court heard that Moyo and Sibanda continued walking together.
Along the way Moyo picked a stone and struck Sibanda twice on the head and he fell down and died instantly.
“Moyo then searched Sibanda’s pockets and fished out R450 and fled the scene,” said Hove.
Sibanda was found dead by the roadside after having been last seen leaving the nightclub with Moyo in the early hours of the morning. -chronicle

State Media:A BULAWAYO man has been dragged to court by his wife for allegedly being sexually abusive. But in denying the allegations, Bhekimpilo Ngwenya, a vendor from Kingsdale suburb, said his wife Maria Njovo, prefers bush sex and this was the source of their problems.
He told magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure that when he refuses to go to the bush and sleeps with her in the house, she says he is abusing her. Njovo, who is also a vendor, was applying for a protection order saying she no longer wants to live with Ngwenya.
“Your Worship, I just don’t want be with him anymore. He harasses me whenever I meet him. He sleeps with me by force and doesn’t choose a place. He just sleeps with me wherever he feels like even in the bush,” Njovo said.
She added that Ngwenya mocks her about her HIV status and tells their child that she is going to die anytime soon.
“I was thinking of going back to him and fixing our marriage but he is harassing me. My child was also emotionally affected when she learnt about my status and she couldn’t concentrate on her studies,” Njovo said.
When the magistrate asked Ngwenya if he had a problem with the protection order being granted, he said it was going to protect him as well.
“The way she hates me now I think it’s best if it can be granted because If I get caught having sex with her in the bush, she will cry rape. I think this protection order will also protect me as well,” he said.
Ngwenya said he did not disclose Njovo’s status to their child but it was Njovo’s sisters who told the child.
“Your Worship, I and her sisters aren’t in good books. They’re the ones who told the child about her status. When I came to visit my child, one of the sisters chucked me out saying I’ve Aids and I infected Njovo. They said that in the presence of our daughter,” he said.
Magistrate Mashavakure granted Njovo the protection order and directed Ngwenya to stop being sexually abusive. Chronicle

ZANU PF officials in Mount Darwin are forcing people to vote  for their Mount Darwin West  House of Assembly candidate Barnwel Seremwe in a by election currently underway . 
The Mount Darwin West parliamentary seat fell  vacant after  the ouster of former Vice President Joice Mujuru from government by ZANU PF in December.
People who spoke to ZimEye.com, Friday morning said a team of the known ZANU PF officials led by their party district chairperson, one Munyuki, visited every household telling people to go and vote for Seremwe.
“They were threatening us that if we do not go and vote for him (Seremwe) they were going to displace us. This was also happening in wards 17, 20 and 21 where some youths were force marching people to go to the polling stations and vote for Seremwe only,” said the villagers who requested not to be named for fear of victimization.
A rights lobby organization, Heal Zimbabwe Trust which has deployed its officials to monitor the by-elections also confirmed the reports of people being force marched by ZANU PF to the polling stations. 
ZANU PF and the Lovemore Madhuku led National Constitutional Assembly party are contesting the by-election which has been boycotted by the MDC formations.

President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace has been attacked by a rare type of stubborn cancer that has returned to torture her barely two (2) months after a major operation, ZimEye.com has been told.
Impeccable Mugabe family sources have confirmed that Mrs Mugabe had a troublesome cancer pierce through her vital organs at the intestines.
Colorectal cancer is an incurable malignant tumor which shoots out from its victim’s inner wall of the large intestine.
Her husband, Robert had claimed earlier six weeks ago that she has had an operation to remove an appendix.
He said this to explain her failure to return with him from their holiday in Singapore.
However relatives say the truth is that a long 31cm stretch of her colon (large intestine) was removed during the operation, but the same pains she has been previously enduring, suddenly returned in March.
To date the government has not said anything about Grace’s absence.
But her colleague(in booting out former Vice President Joice Mujuru) and Zanu-PF politburo member Oppah Muchinguri, has confirmed that she is truly out of the country seeking medical treatment.
“There is nothing amiss or strange about the First Lady going out for a medical checkup,” Muchinguri told this reporter further confirming the development.
It was not clear how Mrs Mugabe’s health is now as for today since Muchinguri sped from the scene before answering further questions.
Meanwhile there was much public talk about Grace’s son in law Simba Chikore who has also been out of the public eye. But of this three sources said it was all a publicity stance to stage manage Grace’s long absence.

Bulawayo- Business to a halt in Lobengula Street in yet another disgusting disclosure, as four Lobengula street fruit vendors hospitalised each other over corpse water that disappeared before sharing.
The Four, Dumisani Sibanda, Thabiso Tshuma, Melody Mloyi and Monica Mlilo, fought a vicious bloodbath of blows, after the latter accused one of them of stealing corpse water that was acquired by Thabiso from a Kelvin Industrial Funeral Parlour.
The development brings the total number of named-and-shamed corpse water crooks to nineteen (19) after fifteen (15) others were arrested in separate incidents last year.
The water according to other vendors who refused to be identified, is needed to create their business-charm, to attract clients, so they buy their fruits and vegetables. They sprinkle the water that would have been used by undertakers when bathing the deceased at their funeral parlours.
“If you buy corpse water sprinkled fruits, you automatically become a permanent consumer, as this will force your heart and mind to look for me,” said a vendor who was identified by others as Na-Nomsa, who plies her vending business in Bulawayo’s Lobengula Street.
ZimEye.com tried to convince Thabiso to comment on the cause of their fight, that brought business to a halt in Lobengula Street, but she became arrogant and threatened this journalist with assault by her bouncer boy-friend who works at a Bulawayo night club.
But Melody opened up and revealed their source of corpse water in anger. “We contributed $70 to buy corpse water from Mthandazo Funeral parlour, for business, but Monica and Thabiso opted to steal the magical water for their use, forgetting others who contributed,” she shouted on top of her voice.
Last year, 15 vendors were reprimanded for public fighting over the ware, and they were handed a final warning by their Association for the offense of using corpse water to lure clients.
ZimEye.com managed to get in touch with Mthandazo Funeral Parlour Manager in Kelvin, Mr Killian Nkomo, and he dismissed the allegations as malicious. “This is malicious and total fabrication. However, we will investigate the issue, with our undertakers, as this is not for the first time to hear such accusations from vendors and the public.”
But the Vendors and Informal traders Association National President, Edward Manning speaking to ZimEye.com confirmed the existence of the deals between vendors and funeral houses undertakers. “This has been happening, and we warned our members against using dirty charms on innocent and unsuspecting clients as this is a health hazard,” he said.
He added,
“The four fought over corpse water and we have issued them with a final warning, this time we are going to chase them away from Lobengula Street for their evil doings,” said Manning who appeared visibly angry.

There was drama when two Central Intelligence operatives and ex-soldiers, were caught in the act robbing a warehouse at Nembudziya Growth Point.
In a typical movie style operation, a security guard with Fawcett Security Company, based at the growth point shot and captured the two armed robbers, forcing them to surrender their guns and loot valued at more than $40 000.
They were driving a five tone truck when they met the end of their acts.
The security-man who cannot be named for his protection, had knocked off from duty, leaving his work-mate to takeover when the brutal pair descended on the shop they guard.
According to sources privy to the incident, the suspects are ex- service men, hence the need to protect the security of guards.
According to Nembudziya police sources who refused to be named for professional reasons, “these guys were just armed and were ready to go away with their loot from the whole warehouse, as they were driving a five tone truck, which they had loaded their treasure before they met their fate.
This guard who thwarted the robbery has done a wonderful job, and was just good enough to counter attack them by shooting their driver and a gunman on their legs, injuring them in the process,” said the officer before referring this journalist to their Head Office for official comment.
Another shop operator identified as Makechemu was also robbed at gun point recently by people suspected to be militarily trained, as he said they were brandishing AK rifles when they pounced on his business last week at Chireya business centre.
The Midlands police press and liaison office confirmed arresting the armed robbery suspects, but could not shed more light on the revelation that they are ex-servicemen, who served the Zimbabwe defence forces and the CIO.
The injured suspects who also cannot be named for fear of jeopardising investigations, are detained at Harare Hospital under heavy police guard, who are monitoring their recovery progress for them to appear in court anytime soon.

The Mujuru family lawyer Mr Thakor Kewada has revealed that the late General Solomon Mujuru’s widow, Dr Joice Mujuru, has his will, but is refusing to avail it to the court, a move that has led the High Court to appoint an independent executor of his estate, Mr Stern Mufara.
Mr Kewada said in a letter to the Master of High Court, Mr Eldard Mutasa, on Tuesday that Dr Mujuru once read the will to her daughters, but was clinging to it.
This was after the Mujuru family was given five days last week to produce the will at the court.
Mr Mufara is a renowned professional executor who operates from Nyika, Kanengoni and Partners Legal Practitioners in Harare.
Mr Mutasa, in a letter to Mr Kewada, said the family had delayed in registering Gen Mujuru’s estate and producing the Will, to the prejudice of potential beneficiaries and creditors, hence the need to appoint an executor to wind up the process.
“Mindful of the fact that it has taken almost four years without anyone producing the purported Will, if ever it does really exist, my office, on the background of your confirmation that you do not have a Will, but rather a trust deed, has to proceed as resolved at the aforementioned edict meeting,” he said.
“Further delays in winding up this estate will not only be prejudicial to potential beneficiaries, but also to potential creditors and the fiscus in the form of death duties.
“Accordingly, pursuant to the resolution made at the edict meeting, my office, by copy of this letter, hereby appoints Mr Stern Mufara of Messrs Nyika Kanengoni and Partners Legal Practitioners, 155 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare, to be the executor of the estate of the late Solomon T. Mujuru.”
Mr Mufara, according to Mr Mutasa’s letter, is expected to deal with all matters affecting the estate as required by law.
In a letter to Mr Mutasa dated March 24, 2015, Mr Kewada said he did not have the last will executed by the late Gen Mujuru, but he had a duplicate of the original copy of the Solomon Mujuru Family Trust in which 13 beneficiaries were listed.
Dr Mujuru and 12 children with birth certificates bearing the name of the late Gen Mujuru’s name as their father were listed in the document as beneficiaries.
The 12 are: Maidei Mujuru (born 01-05-74), Kumbirai Mujuru (02-08-78), Chipo Mujuru (21-08-79), Tendayi Mujuru (02-07-81), Nyasha Mujuru (24-07-84), Kuzivakwashe Mujuru (21-09-89), Takunda Arthur Mujuru (17-01-88), Tsitsi Mujuru (23-03-79), Bianca Mujuru (28-03-79), Naomi Mujuru (12-04-94), Ngonidzashe Mujuru (20-03-84) and Tawanda Mujuru (23-03-94).
Mr Kewada indicated that some years back, he drew a will for the late Gen Mujuru in which he was nominated as executor, but the will was kept at the late national hero’s Churchill Avenue offices.
He said efforts to get the will from Dr Mujuru were fruitless despite information that she even read it to her children after Gen Mujuru’s death.
“I have on at least two occasions before his death seen the said will at his office in Churchill Avenue, Harare,” said Mr Kewada.
“After the General’s death, I requested his widow, Dr Joice Mujuru, to let me have the original will to lodge with the Master’s office and have his estate formally registered.
“Dr Mujuru informed me that she was going through all the documents at the late General’s office and will let me have the will when she had located it.
“On a number of occasions over the past four years, I requested Dr Mujuru and/or her daughters to let me have the will.
“She said she was still going through the documents and had not located it.”
Mr Kewada said some two years ago, Dr Mujuru’s daughters told him the their mother had the will.
“About two years ago, the General’s daughter Nyasha told me Dr Mujuru had the will as she had gathered her four daughters together and read out the will at a will reading meeting,” he said.
“I requested Nyasha to inform her mother to let me have the will, but the will has to this day, never been delivered to me despite my several requests.”
Mr Kewada said on Friday last week, he communicated with Dr Mujuru over the edict meeting held on the same day and she indicated that she had the will.
“I advised Dr Mujuru that she and her four daughters should attend the edict meeting and she should let the Master of the High Court have the will of the late General,” he said.
“Dr Mujuru replied to my text message stating: ‘You took a copy and we were supposed to meet’. This presupposes Dr Mujuru has the will. I certainly did not take or get a copy of the signed will. If I had, I would have lodged the copy and registered the estate immediately. I informed Dr Mujuru of this.”
Mr Kewada said he told the Mujuru family members that if he was to be appointed the executor of the estate, he would cease to represent them while only attending to winding up the estate.
General Mujuru died in an inferno at his Beatrice Farm in 2011 and was buried at the National Heroes Acre. – State Media

THE Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has embarked on a nationwide recruitment of officer cadets in a move meant to further strengthen the country’s defence forces.
Speaking on the sidelines of national tree planting day commemorations held in Bulawayo yesterday, 1 Infantry Brigade Acting Commander Colonel Mpulaeng Siziba said the national army had started accepting applications for officer cadets who would undergo an intensive 18 months military training programme.
“Applications are invited from qualified candidates to train as officer cadets. Upon completion of training, these candidates will be commissioned as lieutenants. We encourage youths from Matabeland to come and join the force on time. In the past we had cases where youths started applying when the deadline had elapsed. The deadline for recruitment is April, 5,” said Col Siziba.
A notice issued by the army said interested candidates should have a minimum of 5 “O” levels including Mathematics and English and a minimum of 6 points at A-Level in any subjects.
They should be between the ages of 18 and 22 for A Level certificate holders and up to 24 years old for diploma and degree holders. – State Media

A Zimbabwean soldier in the British Army sexually assaulted two female colleagues, creeping into bed with one and licking her nipple as she slept, a court martial heard Wednesday.
Private Taaziva Mutekedza, 37, allegedly entered the woman’s room, took his jeans off and climbed into her single bed after a night out. The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was naked and felt “angry” and ‘scared’ when she woke to find Mutekedza on top of her.
She pushed him away and told him to “get off’ but he then tried to calm her down by saying “it’s OK” and offered her a cigarette to help her relax, the court heard.
Bulford Military Court Centre in Wiltshire heard the alleged incident took place in October 2013 at the New Normandy Barracks in Aldershot, Hants, after Mutekedza had been drinking in the town until 2am.
Opening the case, Commander Caroline Kenyon, prosecuting, told the court Mutekedza denies two charges of sexual assault against two separate female soldiers.
On the other occasion, Mutekedza is accused of knocking on a woman’s door in the early hours of the morning, pulling her head towards him and asking her why she was not “going to give him a cuddle”.
Detailing the first alleged offence, Cdr Kenyon told the court: “In the early hours of the morning the woman returned alone to her room.
“She took her clothes off and fell asleep naked; she did not lock her door as she felt safe. She was sleeping in a single bed but she awoke to find the defendant on top of her wearing boxer shorts.
“The defendant was licking her right breast and was feeling her naked body with his hands. He said: ‘It’s fine’. “She challenged him but the defendant told her she returned to her room with him.
“She denied this and felt upset and scared. She told him to get out of her room and he eventually did.”
The woman, who was in her early twenties at the time, told the court she felt “shocked” and “angry”.
She said: “The night before the incident I went out into Aldershot for a few drinks and did not return until the early hours of the morning.
“Private Mutekedza was out but he was not out with us. I had had a lot to drink but I knew exactly what I was doing at the time and I arrived back at my room between 2 and 3am.
“I entered my room, shut my door and undressed down to nothing and was naked and I got into bed. I did not lock my door because I thought I was in a safe place.
“The lights were off and I went to sleep and I remember waking up with Private Mutekedza on top of me. He was wearing boxer shorts and socks. He was licking my right breast; he was using his tongue. He was feeling me with his hands; he was feeling my chest area.
“I was quite shocked to be honest. I pushed him off me and asked him what he was doing. He tried to say that he came back with me which I know he did not.
“He tried to calm me down, he tried to say ‘It’s OK’ and tried to get me to go out for a cigarette. I said it’s not OK and I was more concerned about getting him out of my room – I was angry.
“There was a pair of his jeans on my floor. I had to ask him to leave several times; he was in my room for five minutes.”
She reported the incident and was later interviewed by the service police. The defence suggest she invited Private Mutekedza back to her room to have a drink after sharing a taxi home from the Yates’s pub in Aldershot.
She says this is not true. Mutekedza is accused of sexually assaulting a second young female soldier in the early hours in January, 2014. Cdr Kenyon added: “A woman heard a knock on her door in New Normandy Barracks and the defendant was outside and appeared drunk.
“He said words of this affect ‘You know I really like you’. “He grabbed her hand and she tried to close the door but the defendant blocked her doorway and pulled his hand back when it was on the back of her head.
“The defendant said ‘why are you not going to give me a cuddle?’ “He tried to pull her head towards him and she told him to go away.
“He left and again said ‘you know I really like you’.” Private Mutekedza, of 22 Field Hospital, based at the New Normandy Barracks, denies two counts of sexual assault.
The Zimbabwe national was a combat medical technician at the time of the alleged first incident. The trial continues. – The Zimbabwean

Offices of  a Harare based business news organisation,The Source, are currently being raided with computers having been confiscated by suspected members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation, CIO.
More to follow…. ——ALSO READ: -Chiyangwa implicated in The Source Raid

SERIOUSLY ILL FIRST LADY Grace Mugabe fell into a coma and had to be flown to Dubai.
Mrs Mugabe is in Dubai receiving medical treatment as her health reportedly continues to deteriorate, although some sources have claimed she is in Singapore.
Sources said Mugabe’s Gushungo clan was now seeking spiritual intervention to save Grace and resolve other problems the First Family is facing.
Grace, who dominated Zimbabwe’s political scene late last year soon after being nominated to lead the Zanu PF women’s league, has not made a public appearance since March 8 when she officiated at International Women’s Day commemorations, fuelling speculation that she could be facing serious health problems.
In January, Grace was forced to remain in Singapore after the First Family’s annual holiday, as her husband President Robert Mugabe returned home alone.
Mugabe told Zanu PF supporters on arrival back home at the Harare International Airport that his wife had remained behind recuperating from a minor surgery to remove her appendix.
But our sister paper NewsDay has been reliably informed Grace is battling ill health and slipped out of the country a few days ago to seek further treatment in Dubai.
Mugabe has been globe-trotting without his wife.
In Japan, Mugabe’s daughter Bona Chikore was forced to fly from Dubai to sit by her father’s side during official meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Mugabe reportedly flew to Singapore to see his wife both on his way to Japan and on his way back, where he left Bona with her mother when he returned.
Mugabe’s elder son Robert Junior is based in Dubai, further spawning rumours that Grace may be in that country.
Grace has missed several local and regional meetings and functions, where her husband was a guest.
She has missed the Algerian trip where Mugabe presently is and the Namibian jaunt for the inauguration of new President Hage Geingob.
Sources said Mugabe was expected to fly to Asia to see Grace before returning home from Algeria, where he presently is on an official visit.
Grace failed to make it to Kutama College in Zvimba at the weekend for the school’s centenary celebrations, where her husband intimated that he was weary, having only slept two hours.
On Tuesday, acting President Phelekezela Mphoko had to stand in for the First Lady when he received about $1,5 million worth of clothes and food stuffs from a South Africa-based non-governmental organisation Givers Foundation at State House.
The donation was for about 3 500 flood victims in the Hurungwe constituency.
Givers Foundation donated nappies for children at Grace’s Mazowe orphanage home.
It could not be established what Grace was suffering from, but close sources said the First Lady was battling with cancer.
Presidential spokesperson Gorge Charamba was not picking calls to shed light on the whereabouts of Grace, who played a central role in the demolition of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s faction before the party’s December 2014 congress.
NewsDay is reliably informed that the Gushungo family, Mugabe’s clan, will from today hold a spiritual indaba in Marongowe Mountain in Zvimba to seek divine intervention on many issues, including Grace’s failing health.
The indaba will end on Sunday and family members will not be allowed to bring food except roasted and pounded maize.
According to sources, one of the spirit mediums only identified as Dutsa, was already at the mountain waiting for the family members to arrive this afternoon.
“We will be seeking spiritual guidance on social problems that are affecting the family such as failure to secure jobs and preservation of our sacred places.
“Yes, we are worried about the failing health of our mother (Grace),” said a Gushungo clan member, who declined to be named for security reasons.
“We will thank the ancestors.
“They have done a good job and our leader President Robert Mugabe is now leading the whole of Africa.” – SouthernEye

The case against Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa (Mufani) charged for ordering his church members to beat up ZRP officers in May last year took a twist yesterday when a po-lice officer contradicted earlier submitted evidence.
A female cop a police constable Chipo Chokuronga speaking at the Harare Magistrates Court, said that a conversation occurred between the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) president Johannes Ndanga and the accused church leader shortly before the violence broke forth. This was in direct contradiction with what the same Ndanga had said when he said he never communicated with the accused.
The court was left in stitches when it was passively suggested how the officer could be able to instantly recognise the accused when she did not know him before.
Chironga’s submissions however were in concert with those of the first State witness Stanley Tafireyi,
Tafireyi also submitted that Madzibaba Chokurongerwa was at the shrine on the day of the at-tack.
“When we arrived, Ndanga conversed briefly with Madzibaba Ishmael,” Tafireyi said.
He continued, “When Ndanga started addressing the gathering, someone stood up and said he should address them in Shona because there was no white person present.
“Ndanga then instructed us to arrest the person who had interjected. It was then that Madzibaba Ishmael started singing the song Humambo Hwemapfumo Neropa (Kingdom of the Blood and the Spear) and the other members followed after,” he said.
It is the State’s case that that that is when the church folk then stood up and began assaulting the cops.

State Media:At least 9,000 temporary teachers are set to lose their jobs to qualified teachers countrywide as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education moves to employ trained personnel.
In an interview after his address at the Joint Command and Staff Course Number 28 at Zimbabwe Staff College in Harare yesterday, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cde Lazarus Dokora said his ministry was inviting all trained teachers to apply for teaching posts at primary and secondary schools throughout the country.
“All trained teachers who are unemployed must be employed. All those who were employed as teachers and signed illegal or dubious contracts to teach at whatever school must be redeployed where their skills are needed and let qualified personnel take their places,” said Cde Dokora.
He said the rationalisation exercise was in line with some of the recommendations of the 1999 Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Education and Training (CIET), commonly referred to as the Caiphas Nziramasanga Commission.
He said the process of hiring qualified personnel would be completed by May 1, 2015.
He said time was ripe for the education sector to establish its own Professional Educational Council of Zimbabwe to standardise the teaching practice.
“It’s against this background that my ministry has reviewed the education curriculum based upon the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Education and Training of 1999,” Cde Dokora said.
He said despite the challenges that Zimbabwe faced over the last decade, the Zanu-PF government had ensured that the fundamental architecture of the country’s internationally acclaimed system of education remained intact.
He said the country was poised to deepen the foundations of the education system as exemplified by its continued highest literacy rate in Africa.
Cde Dokora said the high literacy rate was testimony to the fact that Zimbabwe’s system of education was built on a profound and durable architecture.
“This unquestionable architecture has tenaciously withstood the unprecedented regime change pressures that have, among other things, sought to make its subversive point by seeking to demolish the pillars of the country’s system of education,” said Cde Dokora.
He said the Nziramasanga Commission had also recommended the adoption of ubuntu or unhu as the overarching philosophy guiding the education system in the country.
He said the ubuntu philosophy was an African philosophy of humanism, a worldview that distinguishes Africans from other citizens of the world yet shares most of what is universally accepted as goodness with the rest of the human race. herald

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been caught in a fix and is now burning in reverse gear over his expelling of Renewal Team MPs for which he has drafted a U turn concept paper.
 
In what has also been referenced with the party’s Spokesman Obert Gutu, ZimEye.com can reveal Tsvangirai now itching in confusion, is set to change his position on participating in the upcoming by-elections for the 14 parliamentary seats. This came as pressure mounted from perceived potential international donors that Mr Tsvangirai crucified himself for Robert Mugabe gain when he recalled Tendai Biti and his group of MPs the MDC-T say are “rebels.”
 
The “rebels” include popular activist Solomon Madzore millions of Zimbabweans label Zimbabwe’s Nelson Mandela and pulled away untold thousands from Tsvangirai’s support base.
 
Impeccable senior sources in Tsvangirai’s office told ZimEye.com, Spokesman Obert Gutu’s announcing that the party is not going to participate but will hold an emergency National Council is the first sure step to reversing the boycott.
“That very same National Council unless Tsvangirai himself twists the decision, is the meeting that will reverse the 2014 Congress Resolutions that stops us from participating,” they said.
They also added that Tsvangirai is currently consumed in regret. “This has given the president a headache to ponder the loss of such a huge number of MPs whose presence diluted ZANU PF’s legislative stranglehold.”
 
“It is a great lesson learnt and the party has taken this issue seriously to avoid such developments in future,” they added.
It was not clear at the time of writing the full list of names of people Tsvangirai intends to field for the by elections but party heavyweights suggested that Theresa Makone, Douglas Mwonzora, Obert Gutu, and Tsvangirai’s uncle, Hebson Makuvise are all vying for the big job which has several benefits besides a salary.
The development if it goes according to plan, will also leave an embarrassing challenge to another prominent member of the party, Job Sikhala who has vowed to resign from politics altogether if his party participates in the said by-elections. One analyst last night loudly paused the following question, “What will Sikhala do?”

State Media:The Ministry of Information together with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, have filed a lawsuit demanding $58 million from the public broadcaster’s former chairman Cuthbert Dube and five top managers.
Chief executive Happison Muchechetere, general manager news and current affairs Tazzen Mandizvidza, general manager finance Elliot Kasu, general manager radio services Allan Chiweshe and head of finance Ralph Nyambudzi, who are all suspended, were listed as co-defendants with Dube.
In the lawsuit, ZBC is listed as the First Applicant and the Information, Media and Broadcasting Services ministry as the Second Applicant.
They are accused of being reckless in their management of the entity and unjustifiably enriching themselves through hefty salaries and loans.
It is argued that the six carried out ZBC’s business in a negligent and reckless manner that caused financial prejudice to the company.
ZBC contends that the top brass acted extravagantly and allocated themselves hefty loans at the time the company was bleeding and in a dire financial state.
The largest amount being claimed by ZBC is that of $28 million which the accused are said to have connived not to remit to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in respect of statutory obligations.
The managers are also accused of abusing $23 million which they took fraudulently from the company.
According to the plaintiff’s declaration, on January 19, 2010, the five managers with the approval of Dube, took a loan of $618,000 from CBZ Bank for the purchase of executive vehicles.
It is ZBC’s argument that the six misrepresented that the loan had been approved by the board when it was their own initiative and decision.
They are also alleged to have unlawfully approved a housing loan scheme agreement between ZBC and CBZ Bank on May 5, 2010.
The housing loans, according to ZBC and the ministry, was unlawfully guaranteed in the name of ZBC without the approval of the board of directors.
The five managers benefited from the fraudulent housing scheme and the company suffered prejudice to the tune of $300,000.
The loans in question attracted $24,583 as a three percent administration fees, which was borne by ZBC.
Despite receiving the said loans, the managers in connivance with Dube, continued to unlawfully access housing allowances, thereby double dipping.
ZBC suffered financial prejudice to the tune of $441,400 as a result of the continued receipt of housing allowances.
In January 2010, the ZBC board approved the chief executive’s salary increase by 10 percent, but Dube and Muchechetere unlawfully increased the salary by 93,869 percent to the prejudice of the company.
On June 1, 2011, Dube and Muchechetere unilaterally increased Muchechetere’s salary by 365,579 percent.
In March 2010, the ZBC board of directors approved salary increment of 10 percent for general managers, but Muchechetere and his fellow managers disregarded the board resolution and increased it by 77,11 percent.
In June 2011, the management unlawfully awarded general managers 297,85 percent salary increase without any approval from the board.
In January 2010, the managers and heads of departments were awarded a 72 percent salary increment in total disregard of the 10 percent that had been approved by the board of directors.
A year later, the managers and heads of departments were also treated to a 77,21 percent salary increment.
The board of directors approved a 20 percent salary increment for the general staff in March 2010, but the workers ended up getting 30,52 percent.
In March 2011, the workers were awarded 89,175 percent salary increase without the board’s approval, while they got another 22,546 percent increment in March 2012.
On July 25, 2013, Muchechetere reportedly received an irregular cash payment of $50,000 as part of his purported back pay, but no tax was deducted from the amount.
Between 2009 and 2013, the management recklessly and negligently failed to remit tax (Pay As You Earn) to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in breach of the Income Tax Act.
Failure to remit tax is likely to cost ZBC up to $10,759,494.
During the same period, the management failed to withhold 10 percent tax on the fees paid to artists and authors.
ZBC paid $1,364,393 to artists and authors between 2009 and 2013, but failed to remit $136,493,33 to ZIMRA.
Dube is being accused of theft after taking furniture belonging to the company worth $5,072. The property was acquired through some barter trade arrangement between ZBC and Teachers’ Furniture where a Samsung 65-inch LED television set, Opus Plasma stand, four Eland side stools and one Eland coffee table were delivered to ZBC.
It is alleged that Dube took the furniture and kept it for himself to the prejudice of ZBC.

 
MDC-T will hold an emergency national council meeting within the next two weeks to deliberate on the implications of the nullification of the seats held by 21 MPs belonging to the breakaway Renewal Team.
Obert Gutu, in an interview Wednesday, described the expulsion of the 21, among them the Renewal Team’s secretary general, Tendai Biti, as a major event that warranted the attention of the council, the party’s supreme decision making body.
“The recall of the MPs is a significant event that we must unpack and strategise around. It has a vast array of implications for us, so we need to treat it with the seriousness it requires,” Gutu said.
The MPs, who won their seats in the 2013 elections on the Tsvangirai party’s ticket were expelled by the speaker of parliament, Jacob Mudenda, last week. The MDC-T had insisted that the Renewal Team MPs should be recalled as they had joined a new political formation, the United Movement for Democratic Change (UMDC).
Biti, in an interview with The Zimbabwean last week, said they would challenge their expulsion at the Constitutional Court.
He argued that Mudenda had no legal authority to decide who the legitimate leader of MDC was, adding that he had earlier referred the power contest to the courts. Biti’s formation still maintains that it is the one in charge of the MDC, saying it has not formed or joined any other party, the UMDC included.
Last year, the Biti faction broke away from Tsvangirai accusing him of leadership failure.
There has been speculation on whether or not MDC-T would stop its boycott of elections without sufficient electoral reforms.
Gutu said the party stuck to its stance on the boycotts but did not completely rule out the possibility of future participation in elections, especially in light of the recall. It is likely that the ruling Zanu (PF), to which the speaker belongs as a politburo member, will push for by elections in the vacant 21 seats.
“The decision not to participate in all elections before there are meaningful electoral reforms was made at our congress last year and that is remains our position.
“The only organ that can change that is the national council and it will decide when it meets within two weeks. I would not want to pre-empt what will happen when the council meets,” said Gutu.
Analysts say a continued boycott of the elections, while justified, could play into Zanu (PF)’s hands – as it would then claim the majority of the contested seats.
Jorum Gumbo, the Zanu (PF) parliamentary chief whip, said the recall of the MPs would play to his party’s advantage and expressed optimism that they would increase their majority in parliament.
“If President Mugabe decrees by-elections for the 21 seats, that will make my life as the chief whip easier. I wouldn’t have to worry about absconding MPs because the house will virtually belong to us. We are obviously going to take most if not all the seats at the by-elections. Naturally, of course, that will give me some headache because I would have more MPs to whip,” Gumbo told The Zimbabwean. Some party insiders claimed that Zanu (PF) would take advantage of the absence of the 21 to fast track changes to the constitution.
“We are going to remove most of the commissions that the 2013 constitution provides for. It will be easy for us to make wholesale changes to the constitution, which many of us have always seen as a compromise with the MDC during the GNU (Government of National Unity),” said a senior party member.
Gumbo, however, said Zanu (PF) had not adopted an official position to change the constitution yet. “Personally, I agree with finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa, that the constitution has the potential to squeeze the economy through unnecessary institutions like some of our commissions, provincial councils and the number of MPs.
“However, that is not the position of the party yet, even though I know that many of our MPs support it. In any case, why should we celebrate the recall of the MPs, considering that we have always had a majority since August 2013?” said Gumbo. -TheZimbabwean

Four failed operations have stolen six-year-old Anotipaishe Matambanashe’s childhood after negligent medical practitioners failed to properly handle his umbilical chord at birth, and damaging his male organ in the process.
The child writhes in pain when urine gushes through large pores that were left by a local urologist.
“Anopaishe was born on the 19th of October 2008 at Zengeza 3 Polyclinic. He was born fine but a midwife negligently handled my son’s umbilical code, damaging his organ in the process,” said Shuvai Matambanashe, the boy’s mother.
The midwife in question was only identified as Sister Mandimika.
Anopaishe’s childhood has been characterised by operations to rectify his manhood and ensure that he passes urine like other normal boys of his age.
One Dr D.A Dube of number 60 Baines Avenue in Harare, who carried out the procedures completely damaged the minor’s essentials to an extent that after four operations, urine gushes from around his waistline and he moves around in diapers.
Dr Dube could not be reached for a comment.
A nurse at Dr Dube’s surgery, Sister Chimere told the State Media that Dr Dube is out of the country.
There is however hope for the little boy after all but at a cost of about $12570 for a plastic surgery in India. – ZBC

Robert Mugabe claims he is a Christian and Catholic, but the ZANU PF leader has been captured on footage several times meshing with notorious n’angas, ZANU PF’s expelled Spokesman Rugare Gumbo reveals in a development that shows that Mugabe is actually a N’anga Devil.


Despite his public statements denigrating spirit mediums and traditional healers, President Robert Mugabe has consulted n’angas himself, says Rugare Gumbo, a war veteran and former Zanu (PF) information secretary.
“Mugabe has been consulting n’angas and all who have belonged to his inner circle know that. It is surprising that he now wants to talk as if n’angas are an unfamiliar thing to him.
That’s utter hypocrisy,” said Gumbo, a war veteran and former Zanu (PF) information secretary, of late, Mugabe has publicly attacked his former deputy, Joice Mujuru, for allegedly using traditional healers to gain magical power to get rid of him so that she could take over.
The allegations emerged in the run-up to the Zanu (PF) congress and Mugabe repeated them again during his 91st birthday bash in Victoria Falls.
Mugabe claimed that, among other things, Mujuru hired n’angas from Nigeria, a country famed for weird magic stunts, to enhance her chances to take over from him.
“She (Mujuru) even hired some Nigerian n’angas, who ordered her to get 10 chickens and each was named after all of us who were believed to be against them. All the chickens were slaughtered in belief that all of us including Amai Mugabe and [Vice President] Mnangagwa would not live up to this day,” alleged Mugabe, an avowed Roman Catholic. But he did not explain how he got the information. Mugabe fired Gumbo from the party ahead of the congress last year, accusing him of plotting to kill him, but the former information secretary dismissed that as his former boss’s “imagined shadow”.
Gumbo and former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, who has also been fired for siding with Mujuru, recently filed an urgent court challenge against their dismissal from the ruling party.
Gumbo said numerous other top leaders of Zanu (PF) frequently visited n’angas to get political power enhancing charms. A Zanu (PF) source told The Zimbabwean that one of the vice presidents was recently involved in a car accident on his way from a n’anga.
Gumbo said Mugabe also consulted apostolic sect faith healers to get prophecies on his future and life in general. In 2010, the president was photographed attending a Johane Marange Apostolic Faith sect service clad in white robes and clasping a church walking stick.
There has been speculation that the n’angas are the ones who claimed to Mugabe that Mujuru was dabbling in juju.zimbabwean

Zanu PF has launched a brutal campaign of terror against perceived supporters of former Vice President Joice Mujuru ahead of the party’s divisive primary elections to choose candidates to stand in 16 vacant legislative seats around the country, the Daily News has learnt.
To add fuel to the raging factional fires devouring the party, the schismatic process of choosing candidates for vacant Parliamentary seats also comes on the back of an equally divisive “restructuring” programme that the party’s new top leadership is undertaking.
The country is set to hold by-elections in the 16 constituencies following the recent expulsion of two Zanu PF and 21 MDC legislators from Parliament.
Seven of the 21 MDC seats will not be contested outside the opposition party as they are proportional representation seats.
Zanu PF terrorises Mujuru supporters

Victims of Zanu PF’s terror campaign against their own told the Daily News yesterday that the vicious violence, intimidation and harassment of perceived party supporters of Mujuru was escalating ahead of the internal primaries and restructuring of the party — itself, a controversial programme to weed out pro-Mujuru officials from their influential local and provincial posts.
Fearful of more harassment and worse violence, the victims pleaded with the Daily News not to identify them.
They said the fact that the MDC had said that it might not partake in any of the contested by-elections, unless necessary electoral reforms were crafted and enacted ahead of the polls, had worsened Zanu PF’s infighting as many “Weevils” felt that this was their best chance to get into Parliament.
“The Weevils (anti-Mujuru Zanu PF supporters) are running amok and terrorising all of Amai Mujuru’s perceived supporters, who they now regard as enemies in the same way that they view (MDC leader Morgan) Tsvangirai’s supporters.
“As a result, many innocent people are being weeded out of the party’s structures, harassed and assaulted, mostly because they don’t want to chant anti-Mujuru slogans,” one of the victims said.
Former Zanu PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, who maintains that he represents the pre-congress Zanu PF, confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that all supporters who were perceived to be loyal or connected to Mujuru were going through a torrid time.
“We are fully aware of the intimidation in the restructuring that is taking place, primarily because of the resistance to the ongoing thuggery by the people,” he said.
Gumbo, one of the two surviving members of the Dare reChimurenga, said an insecure post-congress Zanu PF was “targeting bona fide members in a desperate bid to scupper the chances of Mujuru” ever recovering from her ouster from power.
“They are purging anyone who they believe to be connected to Mujuru, Mutasa or Gumbo,” the liberation struggle pioneer said.
“We are hearing of massive intimidation in areas where by-elections are set to be held. We have heard reports of assaults in Chirumanzu-Zibagwe, where soldiers and the police are harassing the masses.
“The same thing happened in Mt Darwin. However, the important thing is for people to stick to their beliefs. You do not force people to follow you.
“The party is appointing people to positions in all structures as was the case at the illegal congress that was held last year,” Gumbo added.
But reacting to the allegations, Zanu PF political commissar Savior Kasukuwere, who is spearheading the restructuring, said Gumbo, former Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa and Mujuru should “shut up and enjoy their retirement” quietly.
“They must take their retirement nicely, they should just enjoy their retirement please,” Kasukuwere said.
The continuing deadly ructions within Zanu PF come at a time that President Robert Mugabe has openly admitted that he is a worried man, adding that he is having many sleepless nights as a result.
Speaking at Kutama Mission’s Centenary celebrations in Zvimba at the weekend, the frail-looking nonagenarian told gathered current and former students that he had arrived late for the event because he had only slept for two hours on Saturday night.
“I want to thank you all for coming. I was disjointed because we came back at midnight yesterday. I had two hours of sleep and … I have the habit that if I have something that worries my mind, my mind sleeps on it and I constantly jump out of sleep and say is it not time, is it not time. That is why we were a bit late in coming to this function,” Mugabe said.
However, Mugabe — Africa’s oldest leader — did not get into details about what it was that was troubling him.
Observers said among the issues stressing the nonagenarian are the rising political tensions in the country, a worsening national economic environment, the deadly infighting in Zanu PF, his sick wife and his own failing health associated with old age. – DailyNews

The MDC Youth Assembly has vowed to stand and support the party’s leadership after Prof Welshman Ncube reasingned some senior members to fill the gaps left by those who resigned. Brighton Makunike issued the following statement yesterday.
MDC Youth Assembly Firmly Behind its Party’s Leadership
The MDC Youth Assembly would like to thank the party’s Standing Committee under the guidance of our inspirational,principled and visionary leadership of President Prof Welshman Ncube for reassigning some senior members of the party into key party portfolios as we step up preparations for the next phase of our Reunification roadmap.
We also want to take this opportunity to congratulate and welcome these three senior party members on their reassignments.The assignments are a robust indicator of the unequivocal determination and solid commitment that the  MDC has to transform people’s plight. Despite the party going through thick and thin in its long history, it has remained vividly unshaken.
It is our firm conviction as the  Youth Assembly that these leaders will work to develop new initiatives and improve on already existing stratergies left by their predecessors for the good and growth of the party.
The Youth Assembly as the vanguard of the party reaffirms its unwavering support to President Prof  W. Ncube and the entire leadership of the party.We are fully behind you as we journey towards a just and fair Zimbabwe.
In unity we shall  overcome.
No retreat, No resignations, No surrender!
The Struggle Continues.
Media,Information and Publicity Secretary.
MDC  NATIONAL YOUTH ASSEMBLY. Brighton Makunike

 

Claret Ndovu
A maid from Plumtree has been arrested by police  for receiving money from different men and facilitating the rape of her South African-based employer’s 10-year-old daughter  to supplement her salary.
Claret Ndlovu, 30, would allegedly invite different men to have sex with the girl at her employer’s house in Plumtree’s ZBS area between March 1 and 15 this year.
Ndlovu, who was hired in January, has been living with her employer’s three minor children while their mother is in South Africa where she is employed.
She told the police that her employer was underpaying her and sending inadequate groceries for her and the children, hence she resorted to pimping out the young girl to supplement her income.
Ndlovu appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon Philemon yesterday to answer to charges of rape.
She was not asked to plead and remanded in custody to April 7.
Ndlovu allegedly invited a man only identified as Abednico, who is still at large, to her employer’s house and assisted him to rape the minor on several occasions. Police are now investigating the other cases of rape allegedly facilitated by Ndlovu.
Prosecuting, Jane Phiri said Ndlovu invited Abednico during the period extending from March 1 to March 15.
“Ndlovu invited her accomplice to her employer’s homestead where she is looking after three juvenile children. She unlawfully assisted him to forcibly have sexual intercourse with the juvenile on several occasions without the knowledge of the other two children,” he said.
Phiri said the offence came to light after the juvenile was referred to hospital by her teacher after complaining of abdominal pains, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.
Recently, a Bulawayo maid was sentenced to 22 years in jail after she placed a 10 month old baby in a drawer, leading to her death through suffocation. -chronicle

ZANU PF supporters in Bulawayo are exhuming British explorer Cecil John Rhodes without fail unless they are stopped after they last week threatened to dig up his remains in concert with anti-colonial protests in South Africa.

THE National University of Science and Technology (Nust) and its lecturers, under the umbrella of the Nust Educators’ Association (Nusteda) on Friday reached a stalemate on the issue of payment of bonuses, with the matter being referred to an independent arbitrator.
Two weeks ago, Nust lecturers joined other State university lecturers on a nationwide strike demanding payment of their February salaries and December 2014 bonus.
However, Higher and Tertiary Education minister Oppah Muchinguri quickly intervened and the lecturers were paid February salaries before they returned to work.
The bonus was, however, not paid leaving Nust lecturers disgruntled.
On Friday, the matter was taken before a labour officer of conciliation, where Nust was represented by Biggy Ngwenya from the human resources department, while Nusteda was represented by its lawyer Kossam Ncube and the whole executive led by Alois Muzuwe.
However, the parties failed to agree and the matter was referred to an independent arbitrator.
Higher and Tertiary Education minister Oppah Muchinguri
Higher and Tertiary Education minister Oppah Muchinguri
Ncube yesterday confirmed the latest development.
“It’s true the matter had gone for conciliation before a labour officer where both parties were to present their views so that they reach a settlement, but it failed and was referred for arbitration,” he said.
“Initially there were two matters which had been taken for conciliation, that of the February salaries and bonus.
“However, the February salaries were paid, leaving the bonus outstanding.
“When we went for conciliation, we insisted that bonuses should be paid because they were due since payslips were dispatched, but the money was not deposited.”
Ncube said Nust indicated they could not pay the bonuses since the institution relied on government funds, which were said would be staggered without giving a timeframe.
“We told them that we could not accept such a position where lecturers have to wait indefinitely for their bonus,” he said.
“Having reached that stalemate, the matter was referred for arbitration by an independent arbitrator.”
Last month, State university lecturers countrywide clashed with the government over the late payment of their January salaries and outstanding bonuses.
The government only paid their January salaries in mid-February.
Early this month, Higher and Tertiary Education deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa said bonus payments had been staggered, starting with the payment of University of Zimbabwe lecturers with the rest to receive theirs as and when funds became available. -southern eye

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s party yesterday made an announcement that it has pulled away from contesting for 14 parliamentary seats, part of the 21 seats left vacant when Renewal Team rebels under Tendai Biti were expelled from parliament.
There is no going back and even if something serious were to happen, the party said they would still not contest in what might confirm a conspiracy theory that claims that Morgan Tsvangirai struck a secret deal with ZANU PF’s Jonathan Moyo to in the first place donate the seats to ZANU PF, as analysts now conclude.
In a development in which the party has replaced only 7 seats held under proportional representation, the MDC-T refused to participate in the upcoming by- elections blaming their reasons on Israeli database management system company, NIKUV.
 
Blaming NIKUV
The party’s spokesman Obert Gutu said NIKUV was “alive and kicking” and so they fear they will be outdone by ZANU PF. “We have discovered shocking inconsistencies. We have impeccable intelligence that points to that Nikuv is alive and kicking and under the payroll of the Zanu PF regime,” Gutu said.
“We will not legitimise the electoral fraud. Until and unless electoral reforms are fully implemented, we will not take part in elections,” he added.
Gutu also said that the move was in line with their congress resolutions. “Our position is clear. We have a congress resolution and we do not vacillate or blow hot and cold. We believe in sticking to principle,
“The national standing committee met and it was unanimously agreed that we have a resolution of congress and we should not be seen to be blowing hot and cold. We say nothing has changed in as far as the electoral playing field is concerned,” he said on the decision not to participate in what analysts is just a massive cover up of a hidden agenda.
 
COMMENT:
There has to date failed to produce compelling evidence of vote tampering by NUKUV.
At first it was NIKUV, now it is Microsoft, the list is endless, says Mark Chirowo, and this is why: Every database management software on earth can be used for vote rigging with a mouse click; they are all made for this, every one of them; for the fundamental aspects of the smallest Relational Database is their capability to provide to the user sophisticated tools for analyses which can be used to predict and pre-empt performance results at any point in time. It is for this reason that the NIKUV company cannot be blamed for the 2013 elections since doing this is clearly mis-firing. The voters must be told the truth, and nothing but the truth. To lift your finger and stretch it 6,000 miles away as far as Israel is clearly an attack on Microsoft, IBM, Apple, Adobe, Sun, and every other hard working software programmer in the world, who provide even greater, more sophisticated and ‘riggable’ software.

 
The newly appointed MDC  National spokesperson Joshua Mhambi yesterday emphasised that the party remains  committed  to the reunification agreement between MDC and the MDC Renewal  saying that the expulsion of some Renewal MPs  from Parliament will not destroy the marriage.
Below is his statement.
MDC committed to Reunification
The MDC remains unequivocally committed to the full implementation of the reunification agreement as signed by us and our counterparts from the MDC Renewal on the 26th of November 2014  in Harare.
We are however aware that our opponents  are determined to ensure that the coming together of democrats is frustrated and eventually collapsed by many enemies inside and outside.
We also know that the expulsion of the Renewal MPs from Parliament is part  of the bigger strategy against the UMDC. As MDC we believe that it is our collective responsibility to ensure that our enemies and opponents do not profit from the  expulsion of the MPs from Parliament which they deliberately engineered.
While we have no control on what our opponents do against us we have total control on how we respond. We must never allow them to defeat the cause of democrats in coming together to find solutions to the challenges confronting our people.
We believe that our colleagues in Renewal remain as committed as we are to the full implementation of the reunification agreement.
Joshua Mhambi
MDC National Spokesperson