TURMOIL in the Professor Welshman Ncube-led MDC has deepened with the party’s deputy national chairperson Frank Chamunorwa resigning from his position in protest over allegations of being disloyal to the party leader.
Chamunorwa’s resignation comes barely two weeks after former party secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga resigned following a fall out with Ncube over positions in the proposed new party to be formed when MDC and MDC Renewal merge.
The resignation also comes ahead of a joint rally between MDC and MDC Renewal at Stanley Square in Bulawayo on Sunday.
In his emotional resignation letter dated 24 February, Chamunorwa revealed that he had been fingered to be part of “a gang of four” comprising senior party members who have rebelled against Ncube.
In the alleged gang of four comprises Chamunorwa, former secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga, party national chairperson Goodrich Chimbaira and spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I humbly tender my letter of resignation. I have to reconcile the events that have taken place in the party in recent weeks and the inconsistencies that have bogged the party to the extent of leaving me with no other choice but resign from my vice chairman’s post henceforth,” wrote Chamunorwa.
He reminded Prof Ncube of an incident in 2005 when he was beaten up by MDC youths allegedly at the behest of Morgan Tsvangirai because of his allegiance to the Law Professor at the time of the split.
Chamunorwa in the letter said the “shallow insinuations of tribal inclination” Prof Ncube was accused of did not deter him from leaving the main MDC as Tsvangirai had failed to uphold the tenets of constitutionalism.
“You also know president that I remained a loyal cadre of our MDC under your stewardship and that loyalty remains sacrosanct to today. I have never doubted your leadership nor do I intend to do so now.
“To then learn after what we went through together more so the torture and beatings cum trauma I went through because I had chosen, and rightly so, to follow you with your leadership style that to me was impeccable that today you cast aspersions over my loyalty both to party and to you sir is heart-rending and unfortunate,” wrote Chamunorwa.
“You’re aware, sir, that I now have become embroiled in the so called gang of four which is being accused and or credited with plotting a coup against your leadership in the scenario of the unification currently raging on.
“The serious and dangerous insinuation that I could be party to a grand design to unseat you is not only absurd but ludicrous in mild terminology and renders my continued part of your team untenable.”
Chamunorwa said the “yoke” of mistrust placed on him had left him disillusioned and sad.
He said he would remain loyal to the party and pray that one day Prof Ncube will realise how wrong he was about his conduct.
Chamunorwa said as a result he was “grudgingly” relinquishing the post that he said Prof Ncube had fought so hard to bestow on him.
Dube yesterday declined to comment on the developments saying he had not seen Chamunorwa’s resignation letter.
On the alleged “gang of four,” Dube said, “I’ve never been in the habit of commenting on fiction.” Dube said his party was a serious one that dwelt on equally serious matters.

The High Court has quashed a default judgment in which Central Intelligence Organisation Director-General Retired Major-General Happyton Bonyongwe was awarded $10 million defamation damages against Africa Consolidated Resources boss Mr Andrew Cranswick.
Justice Happias Zhou described the $10 million as a strange award in Zimbabwe considering that most damages awarded since the introduction of the multi-currency system ranged from $2 000 to $7 000.
Rtd Maj-Gen Bonyongwe sued Mr Cranswick over a WikiLeaks report that linked him to alleged diamond looting in Chiadzwa. In 2012, High Court Judge Justice Ben Hlatshwayo granted a default judgment against Mr Cranswick and ordered him to pay costs of the suit.
The decision was made after Mr Cranswick’s defence papers were struck out of the record for failure to attend pre-trial conferences.
Mr Jonathan Samukange successfully challenged the default judgment on behalf of Mr Cranswick. Justice Happias Zhou, in a judgment delivered yesterday, set aside the default judgment and ordered the reinstatement of Mr Cranswick’s opposing papers.
He also directed the parties to go through the normal court process starting from the pre-trial conference.
“Taking into account all the relevant factors, I am convinced that good and sufficient cause has been established for this court to set aside the default judgment.
“The effect of my order is to reinstate the applicant’s defence which was struck out. In the result, it is ordered that the order granted in Case Number 275 /11 in default of the applicant on November 16, 2012 be and is hereby set aside.” herald

A 40 year old security guard who allegedly forced himself onto a 19 year old woman as “payment” over a five dollar debt has been dragged to court.
Ndodana Nyathi of Magwegwe North suburb appeared before magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze yesterday charged with rape. Nyathi, who was employed as a security officer at Archers Clothing Factory in Belmont was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to March 17.
The state’s case is that on December 9, the complainant (name withheld) met Nyathi at Egodini Bus terminus where he then demanded his five dollars that she supposedly owed him.The complainant said she had no money at the time but promised to reimburse Nyathi at a later date, the court was told.
It is alleged that Nyathi indicated to the complainant that the money she owed belonged to his boss and since she had failed to repay, she had to accompany him to his boss and explain to him.
The complainant complied, then she and Nyathi boarded a commuter omnibus to his work place.Upon arrival, the complainant was told to remain in the guard room while the accused went to call the boss.
Minutes later, the complainant was led to another room by another security guard who told her she could wait for Nyathi there.Nyathi returned and ordered her to wait for him in a white Mazda 323 parked near the guard room.The complainant did so and sat at the back seat of the car where Nyathi followed, jumped inside the vehicle and locked all the doors.
The court was told Nyathi started fondling the complainant’s breasts and continued despite her pleas to stop.Nyathi forcibly removed her pants and raped her. Radio Dialogue

A Bulawayo woman has died of excessive bleeding after she allegedly had sex with a ghost she reportedly met at a city nightspot.
The woman, Sithandazile Mpofu from Pumula East, died on Monday last week. Before she met her death, she told her sister that she found herself stark naked on top of a grave at Luveve Cemetery.
While narrating her ghostly experience, she started frothing on her mouth and bleeding from her privates.
A close relative confirmed the incident saying Sithandazile died after she complained of having slept with a “man” who she suspected was a ghost.
The relative who refused to be named said following Sithandazile’s mysterious death the family was planning to hire an n’anga to perform some rituals on her grave so that she would not be turned into a “zombie”.
“The way Sithandazile died puzzled everyone. Before she died she claimed that she met a certain man at a city night club which she later suspected was a ghost before he asked her to go to his home for an all night sexual encounter. She agreed but was surprised to find herself stark-naked at Luveve Cemetery while on top of a grave.
“She said while on top of the grave, she was feeling that someone was touching her and his hands were pushing her against her will. She said she was feeling the weight of a man on top of her but she couldn’t see anybody. While narrating her ordeal she started frothing and bleeding from her privates and that is when her sister discovered that something mysterious had happened to her.
“She was taken to Esiphezini where her health deteriorated before she was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals. She however, died two days later. We later thought that she was supposed to be taken to a prophet or inyanga since the problem looked supernatural,” said Sithandazile’s distraught relative. b metro

History has been struck as renowned Zimbabwean scientist, Professor Christopher Chetsanga published the first ever Shona Science Dictionary.
Prof Chetsanga has published the 378 page Shona Science Dictionary.
The book titled “English-Shona Science and Technology Dictionary” has earned praises nationwide. This huge contribution to the reclamation of Zim language in science and technology, took one of Zimbabwe’s leading scientists 10 years to complete the work.
The dictionary which is titled Duramazwi reSainzi neHumhizha reChirungu neChishona was by printed by College Press in December last year .
Prof Chetsanga told local Mirror in an interview that the project was a challenge as it was difficult to have English science words which mean the same in Shona and it took him about 10 years to compile the 378 paged book.
Gracion Muzenda, a  College Press Senior Education Representative said the dictionary was published in order to explain English science words in simpler terms which will help learners into a better understanding of the subject.
Muzenda said that this new dictionary is the beginning of a project to translate all science words into Shona to help in simplifying the subject.
He also said that the dictionary was being sold at all College Press outlets and book shops at US$18,95. Some teachers however, think that the dictionary would not add much value since pupils will still write their exams in English.

According to government records 187,000 children are living with HIV-AIDS and are in dire need of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART). But thousands are dying while the drugs expire in store-rooms. Only 46% of these children are on ART, while many die of AIDS before being diagnosed.

Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has laid bare core facts on how the 2013 elections were rigged including shocking details on how villagers were forced to place their “x” on ZANU PF candidates. Mnangagwa’s expose on what has also been termed “Nikuv rigging”, follows an earlier ZimEye.com article which revealed how headmen were being compelled to monitor voting trends by individual commoners.
Report by Newsday
Mnangagwa last weekend unwittingly exposed Zanu PF’s election-rigging strategies when he told party members in Midlands that they had devised a system where traditional leaders, ward chairpersons and councillors would closely monitor their subjects to ensure they voted for the ruling party’s candidates in the forthcoming by-elections slated for March 27.
 
Addressing Zanu PF members at the launch of his wife Auxilia’s election campaign for the Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituency, Mnangagwa said they would monitor voting patterns, apply intimidatory tactics and trail voters so that they voted for the ruling party candidates in the Chirumanzu-Zibagwe and Mt Darwin West by-elections.
He warned that those who failed to vote for the ruling party would be effectively closed out of government programmes by what he termed ruzhowa [perimeter fence]. He also insinuated that those known to be against the party should not be given a chance to cast their vote.
“What has brought us together is an election which is coming
. . . Auxillia will be contesting with three other candidates which candidates do not have a history, and I don’t even know what these people have done in their lives,” Mnangagwa said.
“I therefore ask of all the 12 wards in Chief Chirumanzu’s area that you should go to the polls with the headman in front, district chairman following behind with the people and the councillor should also come, then go and vote.”
He added: “We know that each polling station has its own results, we will want to know from each polling station where the people would have come from and how did they get in. What we might fail to know is how death will come, but anyone who is voting we can trace the pattern because they have one.
“Nobody comes to vote in the same manner death comes, for death you cannot build a fence to keep it out, but a person who votes we can tell if they are for us or not with us and those who are not ours we will fence them out,” said Mnangagwa.
He said during the 2013 general elections he won his seat by
18 000 votes while the other two candidates failed to garner between them just 2 000 votes and he was expecting that this time around the votes would be tripled in favour of his wife.
Zanu PF after the 2013 elections engaged in a witch-hunting exercise to weed out perceived main opposition MDC-T supporters from farms in the Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituency.
Mnangagwa confirmed that a similar purge could be applied if the electorate voted “wrongly” in the by-election.
“I don’t see how that can happen that here in Chief Chirumanzu’s area, here in Chief Samambwa’s area we can get lost votes. We just want correct votes on the day,” he said.
Mnangagwa’s admission validates the MDC-T’s accusations that previous elections have always unfairly favoured Zanu PF which relies on intimidating voters. The MDC-T, which has boycotted the by-elections, said the party was not surprised by Mnangagwa’s comments.
“They cannot be trusted with holding a free and fair election which passes the test of credibility and we are therefore not shocked that Mnangagwa and Zanu PF said that because they are perennial vote riggers who will stop at nothing in manipulating and bastardising the electoral process just to secure a win,” said MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu.
Gutu went further to say voters in any election should be given an unfettered right without any undue influence from anyone to vote for a candidate of their choice.
Zanu PF has been accused of using underhand tactics which included violence, constituency border tampering and manipulation of the voters’ roll just to win polls.
Gutu said his party boycotted the polls because it was clear that the process was already predetermined.
The only opposition parties that have confirmed participation in the two by-elections are little-known National Constitutional Assembly and Transform Zimbabwe.

Harare – Zim magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe has defied United Nations charters on the protection of asylum seekers and ordered 179 Ethiopians, who illegally entered Zimbabwe through Nyamapanda Border Post, to return to their country.
The group aged between 15 and 28 pleaded guilty to contravening Section 29 (1) of the Immigration Act prohibiting unlawful entry into the country. Mr Mahwe warned and cautioned the group before handing them to the Immigration Department for immediate deportation.
The Ethiopians had to be dragged out of the courtroom by prison officers as they pleaded to be granted asylum. They said they were running away from political violence in Ethiopia which has killed their relatives and parents.
The Ethiopians said they heard that there is a refugee camp in Zimbabwe and want protection. Mr Mahwe advised the Ethiopians to seek proper documents first before coming to Zimbabwe.
Prosecutor Ms Francesca Mukumbiri said the Ethiopians sneaked into Zimbabwe last October. They were spotted in Seke by villagers who alerted the police. The Ethiopians had no permits.

A woman yesterday made stunning revelations in court when she exposed her son-in-law who demands to be intimate with her.
Chiwoniso Muzongondi claimed Virimai Karombe was in the habit of sending messages on her husband’s mobile phone demanding to sleep with her. Muzongondi made the revelations at the Harare Civil Court where she was seeking a protection order against Karombe who she was accusing of disturbing her peace.
“He divorced with my daughter and now he is in the habit of sending messages on my husband’s phone threatening to kill him if he fails to hand me over to him”, she said.
Muzongondi told magistrate Ms Ruth Kamangira that Karombe was in the habit of coming to her matrimonial house where he insults her with obscene words in front of her children and neighbours.
“In the text messages he sends on my husband’s mobile phone he will be demanding to have children with me. To make matters worse he is also threatening to kill me if I don’t meet his demands,” Muzongondi said.
She said they have been at Warren Park Police Station several times because of Karombe’s violent behaviour.
“He even has the guts to visit my children at their schools disturbing their education and my close friends are now scared of coming to my house because he always threatens to physically abuse them”, she said.
Karombe denied the allegations levelled against him by Muzongondi, but told the court that he was not opposed to Muzongondi’s application.
“I am not opposed to her application, you can go ahead and grant her as she pleases,” he said. Ms Kamangira granted the order in Muzongondi’s favour which barred Karombe from verbally or physically abusing her.
She also ordered Karombe to keep peace towards Muzongondi at all times.

Newly appointed Masvingo Resident Minister, Shuvai Mahofa, has commended Zimbabwe’s First Family for what she calls their recognition of the hard work she is doing in the region.
Mahofa, who is replacing fired Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, told VOA Studio 7 she was surprised by the appointment following her stint with various ministries in the past.“I thank the President and the First Lady very much for having seen the work that I have been doing and the experiences that I have gained in different ministries and them thinking that I am the person who can do the job.”
Mahofa is part of a group of Zanu PF senior officials who ousted former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her colleagues before the Zanu PF congress last December, claiming that they wanted to topple President Robert Mugabe. Mujuru and other ousted Zanu PF members, including former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa and former party spokesman Rugare Gumbo have dismissed the allegations as wishful thinking.
Mahofa has promised to relocate the people settled at Nuanetsi Ranch after they were forcibly being evicted from the Tokwe Mukosi basin due to flooding. Masvingo Rural District Council chairperson, Killer Zivhu, told VOA Studio 7 recently that Nuanetsi Ranch has been hit by crippling food shortages, malaria as well as a poisonous spider outbreak wreaking havoc and now allegedly responsible for scores of deaths.

MDC leader writes saying that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s pronouncement that is trained to kill referring to two multi million dollar investors, presents an ideologically ugly face of the Vice President also proving his violent past which all scare away investors. 
Writes Tsvangirai,
Zimbabweans, and indeed the world, were shocked at the weekend when Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa issued chilling death threats to investors that have poured millions of their money into the country’s economy.
Campaigning for his wife in Chirumanzu-Zibagwe at the weekend, the second-in-command in government said he was “trained to shoot and kill” and accused two companies, Tongaat Hullet and Bindura Nickel Corporation of working with ousted vice President Joyce Mujuru.
Mnangagwa’s chilling threats to investors do not befit his office and only unwittingly serve to convey the message that murderers and unrepentant hardliners are in charge in Harare.
The Vice President does not provide any evidence of what crime the two companies have committed. But his chilling statement is a vindication of what we have said all along that the leopard will always remain faithful to its spots. Even if they had committed a crime, the legal route is more civilized than death threats.
Any threat to investors should send a clear message to those walking the path of unconditional re-engagement with Zanu PF that their hope for any sort of civility and reform by the party in the seat of government is grossly misplaced. This remains the same old Zanu PF that we have known for years; a party of thugs and murderers.
The two companies threatened by the Presidency of the country are long-time investors that have braved the harsh economic environment and created employment for the people of this country. The last message they expected from the highest office in the land is a blood-soaked threat, which threat will also influence any other investor who was prepared to pour their money into our troubled economy.
The so-called new brooms that joined Mugabe in the cockpit of the country are unrepentant hardliners who are still stuck in the same outmoded politics of violence and bloodshed. They cannot be expected to attract any investment for the country, nor can they run a modern economy.
And in line with the dynasties that are slowly being established in the country, the Vice President was campaigning for his wife who wants to take over his former constituency.
Zimbabwe wants a break from the past. The country is in desperate need for Foreign Direct Investment and the confidence of investors such as Tongaat Hullet and Bindura Nickel Corporation who have benefitted the country and created employment for the people of Zimbabwe.
A Vice President who threatens investors with death for an undefined crime has no place in the 21st century.

Drama has erupted in Bulawayo after women at the heart of the city were found stripping naked in the men’s public toilet(PICTURED).
This came as an embarrassing video circulated on social networks of a man caught masturbating less than 50 metres from the area where women are using the same toilet. The identity of the man in the video could not be ascertained at the time of writing.
Bulawayo’s female vendors and their clients are at a high risk of getting raped or sexually abused as their toilets are locked by the BCC, thereby forcing them to share the toilets with their male counterparts.
In a harrowing revelation by informal traders during the launch of a massive cleaning exercise around the Lobengula street mall that includes the Bulawayo main commuter omnibus rank, yesterday, ladies are sharing toilets with men.
Zimeye.com captured a desperate woman waiting at the closed and locked female toilet, intending to get her chance to go into the gents’ latrine.
“We are appealing to the city council to open ladies toilets which have been closed several months ago for reasons not known to us. We have been risking sexual abuse and possible rape by strangers, as we will be relieving ourselves inside the men’s toilets. Please city council, do something and I hope you are listening. This was going to be instantly answered had it been that the Mayor who we invited for this function was here,” said Mrs Marvis Thabo, a vendor at Lobengula Street Mall.
Her sentiments were supported by Albert Sibanda, the Chief Executive Officer for the National Commuter transport Association Trust. “We have been pleading with the city fathers to have mercy on these mothers who may be vulnerable to sex starved men. They can be raped or robbed while helping themselves from gents’ toilets. Why can’t the Council do something and open the ladies’ toilets so that they can relieve themselves in relevant latrines?” asked Sibanda.
Several women who spoke to ZimEye.com expressed their disgruntlement for the Bulawayo city Council’s actions against the innocent community who are also ratepayers for the local authority.
“We are going to take action if these toilets are not opened this week. It is our right to have public female toilets open to serve us. We have since approached the Women Lawyers Association to look into our predicament,” they complained.

Asked to comment on the closure of women toilets at the mall, Bulawayo City Council promised to come back with a comment, but that had not been done at the time of going to press.

Rusape – Central Intelligence agents last night blocked loyal ZANU PF cadres from being accredited for Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebrations slated for the weekend following a Whatsapp scouring of the people’s phone numbers.
While it was not clear how the CIO are reportedly scouring the Whatsapp network, several cadres were left stranded at ZANU PF headquarters in Rusape and had to report the matter to the police after they were kicked out of the queue for accreditations after being accused of supporting expelled Vice President Joice Mujuru.
They will not be able to travel to the Vic Falls luxurious function where elephants will be slaughtered for meat.
A group of unnamed men finger-pointed several party members instructing them to move out of queue last night. The ejected cadres ended up fleeing the offices for their houses, ZimEye.com was told.
“We are staying indoors fearing for our lives. We are being accused of using Dr Mujuru’s picture as a profile picture on Whatsapp,” some of the booted members told ZimEye.com
Efforts to obtain a comment from party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo were fruitless at the time of writing.

UK Capital City London Mayor, Boris Johnson, has written the below article dedicated to Robert Mugabe’s birthday. In the satirical piece, he blames the opposition Labour party for destroying UK relations with Mugabe and causing the suffering of Zimbabwe’s white farmers.
By Boris Johnson

I can’t imagine that anyone in his right mind would actually want to go to the 91st birthday party of Robert Gabriel Mugabe, which takes place this Saturday.
It promises to be an event of truly spectacular moral ugliness. While his people are starving, the ancient despot will convoke 20,000 cronies at a kind of golf club-cum-safari lodge near the Victoria Falls. In scenes reminiscent of the more disgusting and luxurious behaviour of the emperor Commodus, he will cause various exotic beasts to be slaughtered for the feast.
Five impalas will be roasted, two sables, two buffaloes – and then, to the ululations of his drunken Zanu-PF supporters, there will be a series of culinary climaxes, each more revolting than the last. A local farmer has procured two elephants, and after these rare and majestic creatures have been butchered for the delectation of the semi-deified Mugabe, there will be one more type of meat to come – an animal that you might think was semi-sacred, whose killing should be taboo, a creature that people would never normally dream of eating. Yes, a lion, the king of the animal kingdom, will lay down its life before the meat-maddened mob and have the honour of surrendering its mortal flesh to the palsied gullet of the man who still calls himself the “Hitler of Africa”.
And then, at last, the cake will appear, predicted to weigh 200lb, and in the most depraved and demoralising vignette of all, this crowd of brainwashed Zimbabweans will sweetly sing Happy Birthday to the man who has impoverished their country. This birthday party is predicted to cost $1 million at a time when Zimbabweans are living on 35 cents a day. Teachers across the country have been forced to contribute $10 each to put on the show.
The whole exercise is utterly nauseating – and my only question, as I say, is who on earth would want to be there?
Who is going to be toasting Mugabe in champagne and Tusker lager? Who is going to feature in the photo spread in the Zimbabwean equivalent of Hello! or OK!? I doubt that Britain will be represented at all – but by rights there is one man who damn well should be there, one man who should be down on the dance floor with Mugabe’s buxom assistants, and flashing his familiar glistering smile at the gathering.
If there were any justice in the world, that man would break off from giving advice to sundry other dubious regimes and help old Bob with the job of blowing out his candles. And that man, naturally, is Tony Blair.
Zimbabwe is now the second poorest nation on earth – beaten only by Congo for overall grimness. The people are so badly malnourished that one in three children is physically stunted, according to the UN. If you go there you see the ravages of HIV, the emaciated figures standing listlessly on street corners. Companies are constantly going to the wall.
But it is vital to recognise that Zimbabwe was not always like this, and did not have to be like this. This Mugabe tyranny is no accident – and Britain played a shameful part in the disaster. Readers will remember the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement, by which Margaret Thatcher granted independence to Rhodesia. At that time the country was a breadbasket, a flourishing agricultural producer, with about 6,000 commercial farmers. The only trouble with those farmers was that the most successful of them were white – and Mugabe’s long reign has been characterised by one overwhelming objective: to exterminate the last vestiges of white power, whether political or economic.
As he has said: “The white man is here as a second citizen. The only man you can trust is a dead white man.” So it was crucial that the Lancaster House Agreement protected the interests of these white farmers. They could, of course, be bought out, but their land could not be simply seized. There had to be a “willing buyer, willing seller”. The British government agreed to fund the arrangement, compensating the former colonial farmers for land that they gave up. Under that arrangement the white farmers were able to survive – more or less; Zimbabwe remained economically viable – more or less.
And then in 1997, along came Tony Blair and New Labour, and in a fit of avowed anti-colonialist fervour they unilaterally scrapped the arrangement. The overseas development minister, Clare Short, made it clear that neither she nor Blair gave a stuff about the former colonial farmers. As she put it at the time: “I should make it clear that we do not accept that Britain has a special responsibility to meet the costs of land purchase in Zimbabwe. We are a new government from diverse backgrounds, without links to former colonial interests. My own origins are Irish and, as you know, we were colonised not colonisers.”
It was that betrayal of Lancaster House that gave Mugabe his pretext to launch his pogroms against the whites. I remember going to a place called Mazowe, not far from Harare, where Mugabe now has one of his vast personal ranches. I met an old ex-Rhodesian couple whose family came from near London, whose kitchen dresser bore the medals their relatives had won fighting for this country. I remember them physically trembling with fear of the Zanu-PF thugs who were waiting at the gate to their farm; and it wasn’t long before they were gone – driven out by sheer intimidation. They died not long afterwards.
The Labour government enlisted this country in all sorts of wars around the world, some more disastrous than others. British soldiers went to fight and die in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in the Balkans. Here we had people with close relatives in our own country – yes, our own kith and kin – and we did absolutely nothing. We turned our backs on the very people who were actually indispensable to the economic well-being of Zimbabwe, and Labour essentially allowed Mugabe to launch a racist tyranny.
It was Labour’s betrayal of the Lancaster House Agreement – driven by political correctness and cowardice – that gave Mugabe the pretext for the despotic confiscations by which he has rewarded his supporters. And that is why Blair should be there: to mark Labour’s special contribution to the tyrant’s longevity in office.
– Originally published in the UK Telegraph paper.

A PELANDABA man was yesterday so desperate to commit suicide that he drank poison and when if failed to kill him, he hanged himself at his home for undisclosed reasons.
The deceased, identified as Thamsanqa or saRachy (53), reportedly tied a rope around his neck and hung himself in his bedroom at around 9am.
When Southern Eye arrived at the house at around midday, the body was still inside his bedroom, while neighbours and passers-by milled around the yard, hoping to catch a glimpse of the deceased.
A neighbour, who declined to be named, said they were still in shock. Thamsanqa decided to end his life when they were sitting outside the house.
“We came from the hospital in the morning and we greeted him while he was sleeping on his bed,” he said.
“He had earlier on tried to kill himself by drinking rat poison.
“We later checked on him, as there was silence in the house, but the door was locked and we asked each other where he had gone, as we hadn’t seen him leave.”
The neighbour said they peeped through the window and saw the deceased’s body hanging with a rope around his neck.
“We rushed to tell his brother what had happened and they later called the police,” the neighbour said.
The deceased’s brother said he was not in a position to comment, as he did not know what could have led to his younger brother committing suicide.
“We cannot say anything because as a family, we are failing to come to terms with Thamsanqa’s death,” he said. “We want to ask his wife and our in-laws whether there was anything that could have made him kill himself so that we really know the causes of his death,” the brother said.
“The deceased’s wife was not around when the incident happened, as she had gone to order some vegetables for resale.”
The deceased’s wife, who appeared devastated at the loss of her husband, was not in a position to speak to the media. The police arrived at the scene and took the deceased’s body to Mpilo Central Hospital mortuary after midday. Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said he was yet to receive information on the case.
There have been a number of suicide cases in Bulawayo in recent weeks. Recently, a teacher from Emakhandeni Primary School allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at Ingutsheni Central Hospital after nurses refused to allow her to go and nurse her baby.
Last week a businessman allegedly shot himself in an apparent suicide over suspected economic related pressures at his Ilanda home.

ZANU PF praise-singing of President Robert Mugabe has reached a zenith, with party political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere likening the ageing leader to God.
Addressing Zanu PF members on Saturday at the launch of Auxillia Mnangagwa’s campaigns, Kasukuwere said those who were defiant after losing their posts at the party’s congress last year should form their own parties and leave Zanu PF which was led by their god, Mugabe.
“There is only one Zanu PF and it is the one which is led by our god, President Robert Mugabe,” he said.
“If they want their party, they should just go ahead and form it and give it a name which is not Zanu PF.
“They can’t claim to be the real Zanu PF when they were defeated in elections.”
Following the December 2014 congress, there has been a bootlicking stampede, as several Zanu PF officials seek to outdo each other in praising the veteran ruler.
Axed secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa has maintained that the December 2014 congress was illegal, drawing the ire of senior Zanu PF officials and attracting a backlash from Kasukuwere.
Kasukuwere said Zanu PF was super league material and those who sought to oppose it were playing in the wrong league.

On his part, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa sensationally repeated claims that fired Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo was recorded while discussing strategies of removing Mugabe from office even it meant assassinating him.
“Rugare Gumbo was recorded while at the Rainbow Towers, saying by the December 2014 congress they would remove president Mugabe from office, even if it meant killing him,” he claimed.
“Mutasa told his girlfriend that he had plans to kill the president.
“I don’t know what it was about the girlfriend that excited him to that extent, but the girlfriend later told us about the threats.”
Gumbo has, however, dismissed Mnangagwa’s claims and accused him of daydreaming before challenging him and government spies to make the recordings public.
“He is daydreaming. What I can say is that is voice morphing, because there is no substance in the allegations. They should just make the recordings public if they have them,” he said.
Gumbo rubbished Kasukuwere, whom he labelled a political novice who had no history of the liberation struggle.
“It is them who have formed a new party which they are now calling Zanu PF not us,” he said defiantly.
“The party which they front now has an illegal politburo and illegitimate leaders who were not elected by the people.
“We have never moved away from the party which liberated this country and, therefore, cannot be told by novices who have no history or knowledge of that struggle to form a new party.”
Turning to Mutasa, Mnangagwa said it was stupid for a person who organised the Zanu PF December 2014 congress to turn around and say it was now illegal.
“Mutasa failed to make it into the central committee because he was defeated during internal party elections in Manicaland,” he said.
“He is the one who wrote to notify party structures about the congress and he wrote to invite resolutions and motions for congress from all 10 provinces as secretary for administration, now he turns around to say it was illegal,” he said.
Mnangagwa further told the gathering of more than 10 000 supporters that the December 2014 congress was the biggest in the history of the party, attracting more than 12 000 delegates when in the past only around 6 000 to 7 000 attended congresses.
The most popular slogan which was repeated by the few remaining white farmers in Zibagwe was “down with gamatox”, a slogan banned by the politburo towards congress last year.
A new slogan was crafted with youths chanting “down with Didymus Mujuru” during the rally held in Zibagwe some 40km outside Kwekwe along Mvuma Road. – SouthernEye

Top ZANU PF bigwigs and heavyweights in Hurungwe West have rushed to support expelled legislator Temba Mliswa.
In a development that is set to embarrass Robert Mugabe and his handpicked politburo, officials who met at a function to celebrate Karambazungu Secondary School’s improved Ordinary Level pass rate on Saturday, barely 48hours after Mliswa was booted, vowed to support the motormouth MP.
Mliswa was last week expelled by the party’s highest decision making body together with his uncle Didymus Mutasa.
But instead accepting the expulsion, Mliswa at the weekend function said he had decided to go solo after being pressured by members of his constituency.
The celebrations were attended by 18 Zanu PF district chairpersons, chiefs, headmen and war veterans from the constituency.
“I’m humbled by the request to stand as an independent. I will definitely answer positively to the call. It’s quite encouraging that people still believe in my leadership regardless of some of the decisions made. I think it also exposes inwas a way that most of the decisions are not made from a consultative point of view,” Mliswa said.
“Since the people have asked me to stand as an independent, the struggle is no longer mine. It is now the people’s struggle.”
Mliswa said he sees himself bouncing back in Zanu PF one day after the current dust has settled down.
“Historically, I have always bounced back. I was once the provincial secretary for lands before I was suspended. I came back as the DCC (district co-ordinating committee) chairperson and the DCCs were dissolved, then I came back as a Member of Parliament and provincial chairperson, I am out again as the chairperson and out as MP. I will bounce back again in future this time it will be a double comeback,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Headman Modekai Marecha said: “We want Mliswa to confirm to us that he can stand for us as an independent. We are prepared to support him all the way.”
A war veteran who only identified himself as Air Marshall said freedom fighters in the constituency would do everything possible within their power to support Mliswa to finish the projects he had initiated when he was voted in 2013.
“The time to vote for imposed candidates is a thing of the past. We will not allow that anymore,” he said. Mliswa is likely to contest the Hurungwe West by-election against Dorcas Bere of Zanu PF whom he beat in the primary elections in 2013. Other contestants are likely to be MDC-T Renewal Team member and former MP of the area Severino Chambati and MDC-T’s Wilson Makanyaire. (Newsday/Additional Reporting)

Mnangangwa should be brought to order
OPINION|Recent remarks by Emmerson Mnangagwa to the effect that ” he was trained to kill ” are tantamount to a morbid , wicked and nefarious attempt to instill fear not only in the hearts of the management of Tongaat Hulett and Bindura Nickel corporation but also in the hearts of all peace – loving Zimbabweans. Mnangagwa should be brought to order. While he might be boastful of his notorious history as a trained hitman and assassin, he should be advised that the people of Zimbabwe are not going to be cowed into submission simply because of his wicked and weird threats.
The people of Zimbabwe are a gallant and resilient lot who will never give in to the cowardly and dastardly threats being uttered against them by a man who is expected to behave and conduct himself in a decent and law – abiding manner both as a lawyer and also as the country’s first Vice – President.
As the MDC , we strongly condemn the uttering of such crude and unlawful threatening statements by any individual; more so by a man who has a sordid and soiled history especially in regard to the Gukurahundi genocide. Zimbabweans do not want to be ruled by a blood-thirsty and cruel cabal in the moribund Zanu PF party. As the country’s largest and most popular political party ,the MDC calls upon Emmerson Mnangagwa and all other like – minded trigger – happy Zanu PF functionaries to appreciate that enough is enough. They cannot and indeed, they shouldn’t be allowed to continue to treat the people of Zimbabwe as a piece of trash.
The time has now come for all patriotic and peace – loving Zimbabweans to call upon this Zanu PF cabal to stop behaving like a law unto themselves. The time will soon come when all perpetrators of gross human rights abuses will be brought to book. They will soon face the music. Today , these rogues and political thugs might appear strong and invincible like the biblical Goliath but it’s just a matter of time before the tables are turned against this criminal and corrupt cabal.
Zimbabweans do not deserve to be treated with this type of Stone age savagery and cruel contempt. We all know that this ZanuPF cabal has been instrumental in rigging elections and ensuring that Robert Mugabe continues to rule the country although the people of Zimbabwe have long since rejected the nonagenarian dictator at the ballot box. History is on our side and we all know that the darkest hour is just before dawn. Emmerson Mnangagwa should be told in no uncertain terms that we do not fear him. Thus , these cowardly threats will only serve to galvanise the people’s resolve to emancipate themselves from the slavery imposed upon them by this criminal cabal in Zimbabwe.
The day of reckoning is fast approaching and a New Zimbabwe free from ZanuPF tyranny and corruption is on the horizon. The people of Zimbabwe will soon be marching to victory. That’s for sure.
MDC: EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL
Obert Chaurura Gutu

Matabeleland North Province Zanu PF bigwigs had to intervene last Friday to assist the Youth Wing raise money and other donations for the 21st February Movement celebrations to be held in the resort town of Victoria Falls.
The local fundraising sub-committee had told politburo members from the province — Jonathan Moyo, who is Secretary for Science and Technology, Obert Mpofu (Finance), Cain Mathema (Lands), Jacob Mudenda who is also Speaker of Parliament and Thokozile Mathuthu that out of the target of $80,000, they had only raised $4,800 cash and $27 worth of goods.
Following the intervention of the politburo members, a total of $80,000 was raised at the meeting as well as 30 head of cattle and game meat.
Mr Mpofu chipped in with a timely donation of $40,000 plus fuel, Moyo donated 20 head of cattle and Mudenda donated two beasts.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North Provincial Youth chairman Mr Tamuka Nyoni said: “We set a budget of $80,000 as a province and so far $4,800 had reflected on the account. Before we came here we met Mpofu who gave us $10,000 for transport and fuel. He has also deposited $30,000 into the account to make a total of $40,000. We’re grateful but we’re yet to get our target because we expect between 15,000 and 20,000 people to attend,” Nyoni as he announced the donations.
Mr Nyoni said goods worth $27,170 had been received. Local authorities from the seven districts Binga, Bubi, Hwange, Lupane, Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza contributed a combined $4,056 while the pastors’ fraternity in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls donated $500 and $300 respectively.
The Zimbabwe Power Company raised $3,000 for the 29th edition of the celebrations initiated by the Youth Wing in 1986. The national organising committee set a budget of $1.2 million.
Hwange District Administrator Tapera Mugoriya, told the meeting that a total of 10 buffaloes had been pledged and four were coming from Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and Gwayi.
He said 22 beasts were donated by Cdes Moyo and Mudenda while eight had been raised from other well-wishers together with two kudus. The target of five tonnes of maize meal has been reached after Matetsi Ward pledged four tonnes on Friday to add to one tonne of mealie-meal already donated.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has set aside $70,000 to cater for more than 130 children born on February 21.
The children will be flown from Bulawayo and Harare and arrive in Victoria Falls on Tuesday ahead of the party at Victoria Falls Farm School in the afternoon on Friday. Their accommodation has been provided by hotels and lodges through the Hotel Association of Zimbabwe. The main celebrations will be held at Elephant Hills Resort Gold Course before a gala in the evening at Chinotimba Stadium.
Addressing the meeting attended by party supporters and business executives. Provincial Minister of State Mr Mathema said the celebrations were a state function that needed everyone’s cooperation.
“We’re here to help each other ahead of this huge event. So much work has to be done which is why we came to listen to committees as they give updates. Once the President comes for a function it becomes a State function. We’re all involved and let’s work together as civil servants and other structures,” he said.
He challenged the host province to lead by example and attend in numbers.
“Our plea to Matabeleland North Province is that since we’re expecting a huge crowd, let’s go and bring as many people as we can so that we celebrate together with the President. This is the first time President Mugabe is coming to Victoria Falls as AU chair and the first time the First Lady is coming as Secretary for Women’s Affairs so we’ve all the reasons to celebrate,” said Mr Mathema.-chronicle

Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Hwange are said to be on a spree arresting any woman they find walking in the streets of the town after dusk and accusing them of prostitution.
Reports sent through to the media indicate that members of the ZRP this weekend held an operation to clear the town of suspected “ladies of the night” and in the process arrested any woman they found walking in the town centre after sunset. The operation which intensified over the weekend is said to have been in place since the beginning of the year.
The women sending through the tip off to the media say that police wantonly arrest any woman they find outdoors and charge them with loitering for purposes of prostitution a crime which attracts a $10 instant fine. The women claim that some of them were arrested while just taking an evening walk in the cooler hours of the evening. The women claim that they were forced to pay the fine after police officers insisted that if they did not pay the fine they would be arrested and kept in police custody and appear in court after the weekend.
“Am actually very angry with the police right now,” writes one lady who claims to be employed as a professional clerk in one of the engineering companies in the town.
“I honestly feel that my right to freedom of movement has been seriously infringed on by the police. I wanted to take the matter further with the courts but unfortunately I threw away the admission of guilt ticket in anger as I could not stand my fiancé seeing me with a fine for prostitution,” said the lady.
In a follow up of the matter a number of women in the mining town confirmed the harassment by the police officers. The women said that they were made to believe by the police that the new constitution stops women from walking around at night without the company of a man.
One lady who confessed to being a sex worker said that they are having a hard time with the police who are making large amounts of money off them on the loitering charge. The lady said they have to hire metered taxis to move around at night which is very expensive. She said as a cheaper method they are resorting to hiring men to walk around or be with them in town in the course of their business.
“We are forced to either move around in taxis which are very expensive or hire men to be with us to be protected from the police but that disturbs our business as clients evade us thinking we are taken already,” said the lady.
Another confessed sex worker claimed that the police normally agree to be paid in kind by the women once they have been caught without the $10 fine money. The woman also concurred that some innocent women either going out for a walk or drink have fallen victim to the police.
“We have seen some who are just picked up while on their business not related to prostitution and they normally just pay the fine as the police make us believe that the new constitution bars women from walking alone at night.”
An officer at Hwange Police station would not comment on the matter referring the reporter to the Community Liaison Officer who was said not to be on duty over the weekend. The officer however agreed of the existence of the law authorising police officers to arrest women suspected of loitering for purposes of prostitution emphasising that it is applied at the discretion of the arresting officer. The official who would not give his name said anyone who feels unfairly arrested has a right to refuse to pay the station fine and have their case heard by a magistrate court.
“Everything is at the discretion of the arresting officer. If one feels unfairly arrested they can demand to go to court and the issue of whether the person goes to court from police custody or home is also decided by the arresting officer but normally we would prefer all our suspects to be taken to court from our custody,” said the officer.

A teacher at Emakhandeni Primary School in Bulawayo allegedly committed suicide on Friday by hanging herself at Ingutsheni Central Hospital after nurses reportedly refused to discharge her to go home and breast feed her baby.
Sources at the hospital said Precious Ngwenya, 31, was admitted to the hospital at the beginning of this month after an altercation with her long time married boyfriend worsened her mental illness.
The Grade Five teacher was on maternity leave after giving birth three months ago an had been on medication for mental illness for some time but was in a stable condition.
The boyfriend, Buka Dladla, who stays in Lobengula with his wife and family, is a headmaster at Mzilikazi Primary School. He is a former deputy head of Emakhandeni Primary.
Ngwenya and Dladla had two children together aged two years and three months.
Sources at the hospital told The Chronicle that Ngwenya was brought in on February 1.
“According to Ngwenya, an argument ensued between her and her boyfriend after she saw another woman, who wasn’t Dladla’s wife dropping him by her gate. She questioned why a woman was dropping him off and Dladla told her that the woman was a friend,” said a source at the hospital.
“A heated argument ensued between the two and it’s suspected that caused the deterioration of Ngwenya’s condition forcing Dladla to take her to the hospital. She was admitted until she committed suicide on Friday.”
The source said Ngwenya would, on a daily basis, ask the nurses to allow her to go home so that she could breatsfeed her three-month-old baby.
The hospital’s regulations do not allow mentally ill women to bring their children to the hospital until their condition stabilises.
“Due to her condition, she was a danger to the child and it wasn’t possible for her to be discharged but she kept on insisting that she wanted to go home.
“She was moved to a side ward, where she took the opportunity to tear a blanket and used a strip to hang herself,” she said.
Ngwenya’s condition, the source said, had worsened to the extent that she would climb onto the ward’s roof.
When The Chronicle visited Ngwenya’s Emakhandeni home yesterday, relatives declined to comment and refered all questions to Dladla.
Dladla, who was reportedly attending his sister’s funeral, could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone went unanswered.
Neighbours who were spoken to said Ngwenya was a peaceful woman who never showed any signs of distress. They, however, said her condition could have worsened after she lost her mother sometime last year.
A colleague, who declined to be named, confirmed that Ngwenya had been a psychiatric patient for some time, but said her condition was stable and never interfered with her work.
“She was always in a jovial mood and did her work diligently with no problems. The news that she committed suicide came as a shock to us.
“She started having an affair with Dladla when he was the deputy head at the school and they had two children together. We had never heard about any problems between them. They looked happy,” said the colleague.
Ingutsheni Hospital clinical director Dr Naboth Chaibva refused to comment on the issue yesterday, saying he was not at work and could only comment from his workplace.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said he was yet to receive the information.-chronicle

Journalists were last week ordered to stop recording and to also delete footage of the ZANU PF disturbances that occurred in parliament.
The unconstitutional order was made by roudy members of parliament within the ruling party who moved to stop the journalists from proceeding with their daily capturing of parly business.
The development has led to the MDC-T taking Robert Mugabe’s party to task over its illegal actions. Said MDC-T Mabvuku-Tafara representative Mr James Maridadi, “Members of the Fourth Estate were barred from taking pictures or recording audio and video feed yesterday and it’s an infringement of their rights because this is a public institution,” he said.
He continued, “I wanted to find out who gave that order and using what authority because one journalist called (Godwin) Mangudya was forced out of the gallery when he refused,” said Mr Maridadi.
Jacob Mudenda then asked Mr Maridadi to bring journalists who witnessed the incident on Tuesday to get a picture of what transpired before he makes his ruling.
“Can you bring one journalist on Tuesday who can approach the chair and I will investigate,” he said.
Mudenda is ZANU PF appointee and MDC-T MPs speculate that he is likely to prejudice the investigation in ZANU PF’s favour.
Journalists use their cellphones to record audio and videos of proceedings or update live blogs for their publications but were forced to switch off their cell- phones during disturbances caused by the MDC-T legislators over the absence of some ministers during the question and answer. Journalists accredited to cover Parliament proceedings were ordered to switch off their cellphones, prompting MDC-T Mabvuku-Tafara representative Mr James Maridadi to raise a point of order seeking clarification on who gave the order and using which parliamentary standing order. Journalists were also warned against using their cellphones in the Press Gallery.

Hoardes of Zimbabwe youths in Harare on Friday staged a  successful demonstration against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson Rita Makarau whom they accused of continuously rigging elections in favour of ZANU (PF).
The youths most of them from the National Youth Action Alliance started their protest from the town house (Leopold Takawira & Jason Moyo) and handed over their anti-Makarau petition at the ZEC offices near Net One building.
The placarded youths were later addressed by the MDC-T national executive member Job Wiwa Sikhala outside ZEC offices after they had thrown in their petitions through the gate which had been closed by the security details.
Some of the placards the demonstrators were holding read ‘We demand electronic voter’s roll”, ‘We are tired of Nikuv and ZEC rigging’, and ‘No elections before a truly independent ZEC’,
In his address Sikhala said the ZEC boss should step down forthwith.
“People of Zimbabwe have for a long time being robbed of their votes by Makarau who have been used to steal the elections by the ZANU (PF) regime.
“She has been used to deprive people of their democratic right to choose a government of their choice and today we have come here to demonstrate against that through petitioning her to resign .We need an impartial and independent ZEC chairperson .Makarau must resign now,” he said.
The crowd which was not this time disturbed by the police proceeded to the parliament of Zimbabwe where they also threw their petition.

Govt cancels Telecel licence –
GOVERNMENT – through the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services — has effectively cancelled the agreement that has allowed Telecel Zimbabwe to operate, but it will not force its closure as it seeks to tide over the business to more responsible investors.
 
Information gathered by The Sunday Mail Business indicates that Government will this week call for a meeting with shareholders – Telecel International and the Empowerment Corporation – in order to advise them of the new position and also discuss the future of the business.
 
It is believed that the authorities intend to buy out the current shareholders and court new investors.
 
Both shareholders have recently indicated their own intentions to divest from the mobile telecommunications operator.
 
In December 2014, Vimplecom – which indirectly bought 60 percent of Telecel Zimbabwe through the acquisition of Mr Naguib Sawiri’s Orascom Telecom Holdings in 2010 – said it would review its position in the local unit.
 
Similarly, some shareholders within the Empowerment Corporation (EC), a grouping of local investors who own 40 percent of the business, have been willing to offload their stake to local equity investment and advisory firm Brainworks Management Capital.
 
Government has allowed Telecel to operate without a licence since it first rolled out its services in 1998 but has now decided to decisively cancel the agreement, which was struck in June 2013.
 
The Postal Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe and Telecel Zimbabwe have since been notified of the decision. Ironically, Econet Zimbabwe – majority owned by local businessman Mr Strive Masiyiwa – paid the US$137,5 million licence fee in 2013, but Telecel Zimbabwe, which is controlled by a foreign entity, negotiated softer terms.
 
The terms of the licence renewal agreement that was signed on August 6, 2013 stipulated that Telecel would pay US$14 million by August 6, 2013 – a sum yet to be paid in full.
 
A follow-up meeting was held on June 30, 2014, and it was agreed that the operator would settle the outstanding amount while aligning its shareholding structure by December 1, 2014. By the set deadline Telecel had only paid US$5 million.
 
Having bended over backwards for more than two years in order to accommodate the business, Government seems to have reached the limit of its patience.
 
ICT, Postal and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira last week said Government could no longer tolerate a situation where an investor that had not fully complied with the laws of the land, including paying its licence fee, continued to speculate with the asset in offshore markets.
 
“Telecel has been operating without a licence since the expiry of their licence. They need to have paid US$137,5 million, which is the licence fee due to Government. They failed to pay, they asked for payment terms and they were granted payment terms through an agreement with the Ministry of ICTs, and they have even reneged on that agreement; therefore, the ministry, or Government, has cancelled that agreement.
 
“Effectively this means that they are operating without a licence – in fact they have not had a licence anyway. The reason why we are allowing them to operate is simply because we aknowledge that as a business, they employ Zimbabweans; they have subscribers who, if we take drastic action, will be inconvenienced.
 
“Therefore, Government’s position is that all shareholders and/or purported shareholders of the company must now engage Government and not anyone else on the future of their assets, and not the business. The business operates on the basis of the licence they don’t have. The attempts by anyone – whether it is Telecel International or Empowerment Corporation – to sell shares runs the risk of being perceived as fraudulent because there is no licence and an agreement, which has allowed the business to operate, has now been cancelled.
 
“Government now intends to put all the noises around Telecel, which have been with us for many years, to rest once and for all,” said Mr Mandiwanzira.
 
He said potential investors in the business should engage Government since it was the licensing authority. Government will engage investors to negotiate for the value of the shareholding with a view to buying them out.
 
“We cannot have a Zimbabwean asset being traded internationally, offshore, with no benefit to Zimbabwe at all, with no tax revenue coming to Zimbabwe, with no capital gains coming to Zimbabwe; and yet that business in Zimbabwe is not compliant with our indigenisation laws and does not even have a licence.
 
“So, we have people who are busy speculating on an asset in Zimbabwe which hasn’t paid a licence fee. A licence fee is a payment to the people of Zimbabwe for the use of a finite resource, which is the frequency.
 
“Now, the people of Zimbabwe have not benefited from the use of this frequency and somebody who is a majority shareholder is now trading this frequency without even paying for it in Zimbabwe.
 
“Only a foolish government can allow that thing to happen, and we are not a foolish government – that is why I am taking the action that I am taking . . .
 
“We want to advise people who are busy negotiating (for) these shares – whether they are owned by Empowerment Corporation or whether they are owned by Telecel International – that they better be advised that they are buying something that is not going to have the support of the Zimbabwe Government.
 
“We are now getting back the business because it has not benefited the people who were supposed to benefit in the first place. It has not benefited the people of Zimbabwe.
 
“We demanded that Econet, which is majority Zimbabwean-owned, pay in full their licence fee of US$137,5 million, and they did. Then we go on to give concessions to a majority foreign-owned company to pay over a period, and that company even fails to make the payments as had been agreed.
 
“It’s unfair, and we have to have a level playing field in this market,” explained Minister Mandiwanzira.
 

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Sunday poured defamatory statements against his ousted rival Joice Mujuru as he alleged she was last year plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe. He made these statements herewith published in the official government broadsheet. It was not clear at the time of writing what Mujuru’s reaction is going to be following this development.
REPORT by the State Media:
Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed that former Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Kudakwashe Bhasikiti was sacked for raising funds for a failed plot to kill President Mugabe at the behest of former Vice-President Dr Joice Mujuru.
Cde Bhasikiti, VP Mnangagwa said, secured the funding from lowveld sugar producer Tongaat Hulett and the country’s sole lithium producer, Bikita Minerals.
Speaking during the official launch of the campaign for Zanu-PF’s Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe MP designate, Cde Auxilia Mnangagwa, VP Mnangagwa said Cde Bhasikiti was being used as a point man to secure funding from the sugarcane company and the mine to sponsor the failed project to overthrow President Mugabe either at the congress or through assassination.
Cde Bhasikiti last week became the 17th minister to be fired by President Mugabe “for conduct inconsistent with his duties and functions”.
“In terms of Section 108 (1a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, the President, has terminated the employment of Honourable Kudakwashe Bhasikiti Chuma as Minister of State for Masvingo Province as his conduct had become inconsistent with his prescribed duties and functions. The termination is with immediate effect,” Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said in a statement on Thursday night.
VP Mnangagwa said the Government would soon take remedial action against Tongaat Hulett and Bikita Minerals for funding the treasonous project.
“We are aware that Tongaat Hulett and Bikita Minerals were sponsoring maGamatox (Mujuru cabal) for its botched project to topple President Mugabe through unscrupulous and uncouth means. I am sure you heard that President Mugabe recently relieved Cde Bhasikiti of his duties.
“That was the reason because he was involved in that project of funding for the mission to assassinate President Mugabe. We are definitely going to deal with them. Hatichaiti zvedu zvepfuti asi tichaona zvekuita (We will deal with them),” he said.
VP Mnangagwa said all members of the party that had either been relieved of their duties or suspended and still wanted to be part of Zanu-PF should apologise and repent before being re-accepted by the party.
He said no one was indispensable and Zanu-PF would not go to the suspended members begging them to come back to the party.
“Those that still want to be part of us must reform and come and apologise and show remorse. No one is supposed to go and beg them to rejoin the party. It is cold out there. No one has ever disobeyed the party leaders and violated the constitution and became successful. We have living examples of failed politicians who walked out of the party and became miserable,” he said.
VP Mnangagwa said the Government had remained committed to reviving the economy by ensuring that all strategic national developmental projects were fully implemented and commenced with immediate effect.
He said the Government was intensifying the implementation of 23 strategic projects that include a platinum project in Zvimba and New ZimSteel that were prioritised to ensure immediate revitalisation of the economy.
VP Mnangagwa said the Government would soon merge all diamond companies operating in Chiadzwa to form either a single or two strong companies that would efficiently and sustainably extract the mineral resources in the area.
He said the country must benefit from the diamonds and other depleting resources that would soon be extinct.
VP Mnangagwa said the country was losing potential revenue to gold leakages that were recently discovered by Government.
“We are intensifying the implementation of Zim Asset. We are going to merge all the diamond mines so that we are left with one or two strong companies. We are doing this because we must fully benefit as a country from those minerals.
“We have also discovered 28 gold leakages that have affected the output of gold. We used to get 26 tonnes of gold every year and that output dropped to only three tonnes but now it has risen to 15 tonnes.
“We are hopeful that we will get more than what we are getting because we are plugging the leakages,” he said.

As President Mugabe celebrated his 91st birthday yesterday, mothers who gave birth at different hospitals across the country on the same day named their babies after him.
The President is understood to have enjoyed his birthday at a private reception with his family.
Scores of Zimbabweans also marked 21 February with congratulatory messages on social media and sent happy birthday wishes to the President.
Further, Diplomatic Corps Dean Ambassador Mawampanga Mwanananga said Africa was blessed to have an iconic leader in the mould of the African Union Chair.
Celebrations kicked off on Friday night as thousands converged on Harare’s City Sports Centre for the 21st February Movement fundraising musical gala.
A blockbuster line-up, which featured Alick Macheso, Suluman Chimbetu, Winky D, Tocky Vibes, Soul Jah Love and Seh Calaz lit up the venue with polished all-round performances befitting the occasion.
Funds raised at the gala could not be established, though they will be channelled towards the hosting of the 21st February Movement celebrations in Victoria Falls this Saturday.
Themed “Celebrating the birth of Gushungo, the icon of Zimbabwe’s revolution and champion of youth empowerment”, the main event will draw youths from across Zimbabwe.
Yesterday, several enchanted families celebrated in a unique manner as they welcomed newborns at various health centres countrywide.
By noon, 24 babies – 13 of them female – had been delivered at major hospitals contacted by The Sunday Mail.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals had the highest number (nine), while Chitungwiza General Hospital registered six; United Bulawayo Hospital four; Masvingo Provincial Hospital three and Marondera Provincial Hospital two.
At Parirenyatwa, two were named after President Mugabe: One was christened Gabriel Gama and the other Robert Chidawo.
Ms Debra Gama said she wanted her son – Gabriel – to be an exemplary and visionary leader like the President.
“I would like to wish President Mugabe a happy birthday. People asked me this morning (yesterday) what the baby’s name would be and I told them he shall be called Gabriel.
“I hope God will bless him with long life and wisdom just as he has done with President Mugabe.”
Ms Esther Chidawo said: “I am happy I have given birth to my son on the same day that President Mugabe was born. I decided to name him Robert because of this.
“I hope he will follow in his (President Mugabe’s) footsteps.”
The Zanu-PF Youth League weighed in with articles of clothing worth thousands of dollars for
babies born yesterday countrywide.
At Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the party’s secretary for youth affairs, Cde Pupurai Togarep, said: “We want to instil a sense of responsibility and pride in children born on this day because it is the day that President Mugabe was born.
“We want them to be proud of who they are, their country and follow in the President’s footsteps, and this can be achieved through events like these.”
Ambassador Mwanananga — who is also DRC’s chief diplomat to Zimbabwe — described the President as a global icon.
He said as AU Chair, President Mugabe will be a key conduit to meeting Agenda 2063 objectives.
“We wish President Mugabe all the best on his birthday and many more years and blessings from God. For us, it is a blessing to have him and work with him as Africans. Africa has been blessed to have such a leader.
“He is an icon in the same category as the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Kenyatta and Mandela, to mention only a few. He believes in the destiny of Africa.
“In Africa, we have different types of leaders: Those who believe that the destiny of the continent lies in the hands of outsiders, specifically the West, and then there are leaders such as President Mugabe who believe that Africa can stand on its own.”
He went on: “His Chairmanship of the African Union could not have come at a better time; a time when he is going to guide the continent towards the first stages of Agenda 2063, which seeks to see Africa emerge as a global powerhouse.
“His stance on resource nationalism has also been very inspirational to all across the continent. God gave every people their own piece of land; even the Eskimos were given their own piece of land.
“We were given Africa, and all its resource wealth belongs to us. As President Mugabe always says, those people should leave us alone and he is totally right.”-sunday mail

• ZANU PF plot to murder their own MP Paul Mangwana 
• How Mangwana and Mwonzora Emerged as Zimbabwe’s National Heroes

For the first time since the days of ZANU PF leader Herbert Chitepo in 1975, it has in graphic detail been revealed how Robert Mugabe’s lieutenants plotted to brutally decapitate Paul Mangwana through a fake car accident in the days running up to the 2013 elections. Mangwana, a senior lawyer and former Co-chairperson of the constitution making body, COPAC, makes these revelations during the  BBC documentary “Mugabe And The Democrats”.
The documentary evidence reveals how Zimbabwe’s most unlikely twins and Co-chairpersons of COPAC, Paul Mangwana (Zanu PF) and Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T) persevered through intense persecution and impending death, as they toiled to bring about a new constitution for Zimbabwe in 2013.

Mangwana and Douglas Mwonzora are today Zimbabwe’s weird twins both by birth and political disposition but are our modern day heroes representing what we could achieve as a country by working together despite our political affiliation.
They represented the interests of their political parties in the quest to find a constitution that would hopefully guide Zimbabwe’s future; And through the  constitution drafting process they made great strides despite real death threats, harassment and arrests.
But deep beneath the very obvious facts that they were the co-chairs of the constitution drafting organ lay the fundamental pressures from their respective political party leadership and assassination by Zanu PF.
Paul Mangwana was the most exposed as he represented a very ferocious ZANU PF that was ready to kill him after accusing him of colluding with his peers in the constitution drafting team for seeking to elimininate Mugabe from participating in any future elections. Zanu PF accused Mangwana of assenting to the insertion of a clause that barred anyone who previously held a position of president for two terms from contesting the next elections in Zimbabwe starting from 2013.
This was swiftly noted as a tactical move to eliminate Mugabe, leading to threats on Mangwana’s life though Mangwana was not part to the clause.  ZANU PF’s stance to use brutal force to get its way in the constitution came to a climax at Mai Musodzi in Mbare when bused ZANU PF militants disrupted the proceedings under the command of their party leadership and attempted to attack both Mwonzora and Mangwana as they yelled at ‘sellout’ Mangwana.
Reports are that their remuneration for this act was no more than $1 beside promised favours, all so that they could betray their very own souls.
Mangwana knew well in advance that his party was planning violence and he says he had told ZANU PF leaders not to go ahead with the planned violence at Mai Musodzi hall.
Following Mai Musodzi skirmishes and a plot to derail the constitution by arresting Mwonzora, the two co-chairs Mangwana and Mwonzora realised they faced the same devil ZANU PF, and for the benefit of the nation agreed to press ahead with the constitution making exercise despite clear signal by ZANU PF to cause havoc and bring the whole process to crashing end.
It only took Mangwana a call to beg his superiors to stop all planned violence. As part of many attempts to frustrate the constitution process, ZANU PF ordered the arrest of Mwonzora leading to delays in the constitution making process.
A documentary by BBC reveals how much pressure Paul Mangwana was under from his party at a time he was seeking to implement a better future for Zimbabwe by delivering a balanced people driven constitution. Mangwana battled through his own conscience for the need to represent the views of the nation in the knowledge that  he was clearly marked for gallows in the event of a slip. He worked with his political opponent and co-chairperson Mwonzora in the spirit of oneness for the benefit of the Zimbabweans but realised how vulnerable he was as he pushed to satisfy the unrealistic demands of his party that were not people driven.
In his own words Mangwana admits his party is brutal and uses all national institutions to enforce that brutal rule. In conclusion Mangwana says ‘Myself and the project had to be destroyed’,  adding that it would be through a quick accident. The full video motion picture will one day doubtlessly be used to try Robert Mugabe even in his grave, so that these things are not repeated ever again on Zimbabwean soil.

ZAPU and Matebeleland people have joined hands in their fight to stop the take over of Maleme farm in Matebeleland South by president Mugabe’s lieutenant Mr. Mashingaidze.
Mashingaidze has recently sought to forcefully occupy Maleme farm assisted by his party ZANU PF and party thugs. The occupation of the farm has raised eyebrows as the takeover is disrupting farming activities that have benefited thousands of local people in the area. But now the government is seeking to accommodate an individual at the expense of the benefit that the local population as enjoyed in the farm.
The new land occupation has raised many questions as benefactors have been individuals from distant regions while locals are displaced and left landless by government. Locals and opposition parties have accused ZANU PF government of parceling out land on patronage basis with military and other security personnel being the benefactors of the land grab.
Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) led by Dumiso Dabengwa has voiced concerns over the current move to occupy Maleme farm , saying: ‘As a revolutionary that is pro-people the party notes with disgust the recent invasion of Maleme Farm in Matabeleland’s Matobo district, which is owned by Mr. Cunningham by one Mr. Mashingaidze.
The farm which houses Shalom Campsite and Ebenezer Training Center has been a hive of entrepreneurial activities with many jobless youths and women directly benefiting through employment and agriculture training.
The whole province has also been benefiting from its extensive poultry farming project while the Christian community at large has come to regard Maleme farm as its home due to its cheap and conducive boarding facilities.
The move by Mr. Mashingaidze and his ZANU PF party not only goes to show how anti-people they are but also shows how the ZANU PF government has turned injustice into law.
What is more shocking to ZAPU is that this latest invasion of the particular Farm by one of the ZANU PF cronies, confirms our fears that at a time Zimbabweans are swimming in poverty, the clueless government is setting its eyes on looting from the ordinary Zimbabwean.
At a time when most youths are roaming in the streets due to high unemployment, Maleme Farm as one of the few productive farms left in the country, has been safeguarding livelihoods by offering employment and agricultural training to the people of Matebeland, highly hit by de-industrialization.
We are disheartened that this move seems to have the evil blessings of the Zanu Presidency through utterances made by the Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa, that farm invasions of the few remaining white owned farms will continue unabated.
It is also reported that Mr. Cunningham was subsequently ordered not to move any properties from the farm as this would constitute theft.
This is clearly a fraudulent act of the highest order and as ZAPU we utterly condemn this heinous crime against Mr. Cunningham and the ordinary people of Matobo.’

Zimbabweans have resolved to take the law into their hands on Botswana citizens plying their business here, following the deaths of five cross borders employment seekers, at the hands of Botswana Police recently.
The cross border traders who have since established themselves into a powerful pressure group, with a sole aim to confront the Botswana government through their Zimbabwean office are seeking compensation from the perpetrators, failure of which they threatened with counter attack on Botswana citizens who are either at colleges or doing business as indication of communicating their disgruntlement.
Last month, four Zimbabweans were attacked by Botswana Police and left for dead, which happened as soon as they reached their homes in Tsholotsho and Kezi respectively.
Solomon Ncube 32, Khulekani Moyo 28, Mosh Malaba 41 and Obert Malaba all of Shumbeshabi village were severely attacked by Botswana Police and died soon after their arrival in their respective homes.
The families, who were weeping when ZimEye.com visited them last week, expressed their nastiest bitterness. “We did not expect that from our neighbouring brothers. How can they kill their fellow Africans who are trying to earn a living, and yet they are being schooled here in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Vusimuzi Malaba a father to the late slain brothers.
His sentiments were echoed by those of Salatiel Ncube, whose only son Solomon was also buried in the same district after he was attacked by Botswana Police.
“We are going to attack their sons and daughters who are here, and we will make sure that we hunt them from their college bases and revenge their parents’ cruelty,” he told ZimEye.com before weeping bitterly.
In a recent brutal attack again, another Zimbabwean man died after he was severely beaten by Botswana police for illegally entering their country.
Oscar Kani, 35, of Mkhubazi Village, Sanzukwi area in Mangwe District, arrived home unconscious on Monday afternoon after he was collected by relatives from a hospital in the neighbouring country.
He died on last Wednesday at Brunapeg Hospital in Mangwe where he was admitted. Kani’s uncle, Kenneth Ncube, who is the senior village head in the area, said his nephew could hardly speak or move when he arrived home.
“I received a phone call from a relative in Botswana telling me that Oscar was critically ill as he was thoroughly beaten up by the police.
“I sent my son to collect him from a hospital where he had been admitted in Botswana. My son later called and asked for a car to ferry my nephew as he could not walk,’’ said Ncube.
He said Kani had blisters all over his body, a swollen stomach and knees as well as scars on his head. Ncube said Kani was diagnosed with subdural haemorrhage caused by the head injuries.
He said his nephew was rushed to Brunapeg Hospital where he later died from the injuries. Ncube said relatives in Botswana informed him that his nephew was picked up from his workplace by Botswana police who accused him of being an illegal immigrant.
“My brother in Botswana told me that my nephew was arrested and a few days later they heard that he had been admitted at a hospital in Francistown,” said Ncube.
He said Kani left for Botswana in 2012 in search of employment. He was buried at his rural home.
The pressure group which is called Cross Border Victims Association is compiling figures of their fellow brothers and sisters who have been brutalised by Botswana Police, and petition their Zimbabwean embassy before taking action. “We are going to seek an explanation from the ambassador before we take action on flashing all the Tswanas who are here,” said Nkululeko Khumalo who is the interim chairperson of the newly established organisation.
Efforts to get comment from Botswana’s Ambassador were fruitless by the time of going to press, as he was busy with the President’s birthday function.

AT LEAST 17 workers fired from the MDC-T at the height of factional fights between party leader Morgan Tsvangirai and fired secretary-general Tendai Biti won their case and were reinstated with full salaries and benefits a bill calculated at more than $100,000.
 
 
According to the ruling by the labour court, former party director-general Toendepi Shonhe and 16 other workers will have to receive salaries and benefits from the date of their unfair dismissal.
 
 
However, the court ruled that if the relationship was now untenable, the workers would receive damages as agreed by the two parties.
 
“Having taken into consideration the law facts, submissions and mitigation in this matter, it is the tribunal’s view that: it is hereby ordered that the claim of unfair dismissal is upheld and I order that the respondent reinstate the claimants with full salary and benefits from the date of the unfair dismissal and if the employment relationship is no longer tenable, damages as mutually agreed between parties, in lieu of reinstatement,” the order read. -Newsday
 
“Parties may submit themselves for quantification of damages if not resolved. The claimants to meet full costs of arbitration fees as determined before the conciliation officer.”
 
In their court papers, the workers, who were employed in several departments by the MDC-T, said they were unlawfully dismissed from work and failed to agree with their employer on settlement.
 
They claimed that they were violently barred from attending duty by violent MDC-T youths at Harvest House who accused them of aligning themselves with Biti.
 
“It was submitted that the claimants stopped reporting for duty in February 2014. It was further alleged that the claimants were chased away after a fall out between the then secretary general of the MDC-T Tendai Biti and respondent’s loyalists. It was further submitted that violence was used to root out those considered to be loyal to Biti,” the order said.
 
The workers said there was no disciplinary action taken against them and efforts to engage then acting secretary-general, Tapiwa Mashakada, hit a brick wall. -Newsday

As the President turns 91 this Saturday, the people of Bulawayo have joined the rest of the nation in wishing him a happy birthday, the State owned broadcaster, ZBC claims.
FULL REPORT: Every 21st of February, the nation celebrates the President Cde Robert Mugabe’s birthday.
The ZBC News crew took to the streets of Bulawayo and spoke to several people who wished President Mugabe a happy birthday.
At Mpilo Central Hospital, mothers who gave birth from 12 midnight were excited that their babies share a birthday with the President.
Some of the mothers took time to wish Cde Mugabe a happy birthday, with some excited at the prospects that their babies may one day become leaders.
In 1986, the 21st February Movement was established in honour of President Mugabe.
The movement seeks to mould young people with integrity.
This year the 21st February Movement celebrations will be held in Victoria Falls on the 28th of this month.

A soldier reported to belong to the Central Intelligence Organisation, was on Friday morning found dead and his body in pieces on a rail line close to Rusape, expelled ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa’s home area.
The man who cannot be named until relatives have been informed, was found dead with his body bruised in ways too gross for the print.
Two witnesses have said he was accidentally killed by a passing train having ‘strayed’ into a locomotive’s way.
 
Stripped Naked Exposing Private Parts
But pictures in ZimEye.com’s possession show the man’s hand crushed on the tracks but the rest of his body which was fairly intact, being bent to one side. Suspicion that he was murdered was further fuelled by the fact that his trousers were on the spot found half stripped while exposing his private parts.
His death comes after two intelligence agents died following a suspicious car accident close to Chiredzi, in which their vehicle was not only burnt up, but exploded into several parts.
A comment from the police could not be obtained at the time of writing as telephones were not being answered.
WARNING: Disturbing pictures (below) . To access the FULL UNCENSORED pictures, readers may Whatsapp a subscribe request to  ZimEye.com +447426963301 

 

TWO female thieves who robbed another woman of $370 in OK Supermarket, Makoni were nabbed after they were identified on CCTV camera.
Panashe Madziva(27) and Yolanda Nyabadza(29) both from Mbare appeared before Chitungwiza Resident Magistrate Donald Ndirowei this week facing two counts of theft and fraud.
Prosecutor Ntombikayise Nleya told the court that on January 29 this year at around 1200 hours the complainant, Jane Tsiga (25)an employee at Chitungwiza magistrate court was in OK Supermarket buying some groceries.
The two accused persons were following the complainant with one of shielding Tsiga’s bag as the other was cutting it with a sharp object.
The accused persons took the complainant’s wallet with cash amounting to $370 and her particulars.
Madziva and Nyabadza were however being recorded on CCTV camera in the supermarket.
The complainant made a police report and positively identified the accused persons.
Further allegations are that on February 3 this year at around 1230 hours another complainant Maritha Zumbani from Unit B in Chitungwiza, met the two accused persons at Makoni.
The accused were in the company of two male accomplices who are still at large.
Madziva and Nyabadza told the complainant that someone had their $5 000 but did not know how to count it and requested her to help them count the money.
The complainant was then ordered to surrender her valuables to the male counterparts as assurance that she would not run away with their money.
The court heard that the complainant was referred to a house in Unit B, Seke to collect the money.
After realising that she had been duped the complainant went back to where she had left the two accused persons, but found them gone with her phone, $60 and R200.
On February 12 the two accused tried to dupe her again using the same modus operandi.
The complainant notified members of the public and the two were apprehended.
They were remanded in custody to February 19 for continuation of trial.-Newsday

President Robert Mugabe faced with a fast failing economy, is preparing to celebrate his birthday where several elephants are to be slaughtered. Mugabe joked saying he is happy to reach the age of 91.
Answering a question from the Jonathan Moyo controlled media on his birthday message in Pretoria, South Africa, where he chaired the Extraordinary SADC Double Troika Summit on Lesotho, Mugabe had delegates in stitches when he threw some jokes.
He jokingly said he had forgotten about his birthday and that he imagines how many tonnes of sugar he has taken in the 91 years.
“I have had a lion’s share, I am sure,” he said. “But seriously, I am happy I am that age. I am happy God has looked after me. And I am happy also that my relatives, my friends and they include of course political friends who have assisted us in the struggle, South Africa included, have made me happier that I have seen my country become an independent one.
“I have also seen my country also going to the assistance of others which had not become independent and ensuring that they got their independence. But when all is said and done, I said to the good Lord, thanks for giving me this long life.”
There was a round of applause from the floor after President Mugabe finished speaking.
President Mugabe will celebrate his birthday in Victoria Falls next Saturday at a colourful function that will coincide with the 29th edition of the 21st February Movement.
The 21st February Movement was inaugurated in 1986 under the auspices of the Zanu-PF Youth League to encourage Zimbabweans, particularly youths to emulate President Mugabe’s revolutionary ideas, charismatic leadership and selfless policies.
As of yesterday, congratulatory messages were already streaming in from organs of Zanu-PF and ordinary Zimbabweans, wishing the President more years of good health and wise leadership.
In a statement, Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo, hailed President Mugabe not only for his exceptional role in the liberation of Zimbabwe, but his remarkable work in post independence era.
“Given the rarity of this achievement, we believe that this is the best evidence yet that his leadership is indeed the will of the Almighty God,” he said.
“We wish him many more and look forward to more years of his extraordinary stewardship.
“President Mugabe has done remarkable work not just in respect of our liberation (of which every Zimbabwean, including our brothers and sisters in the opposition, is a beneficiary) but also in terms of capably leading Government since independence.”
He said the 21st February Movement celebrations next weekend would afford the young people a golden opportunity to reflect on the leadership of President Mugabe who was not only appreciated in Zimbabwe but also cherished the entire world as amply demonstrated by his election recently to lead both the SADC and AU.
“It is trite that President Mugabe’s birthday celebrations are always sponsored by patriotic Zimbabweans and never by Government. The suggestion that public funds were used to sponsor this year’s celebrations is therefore unfounded,” he said.
Khaya Moyo said desperate attempts by MDC formations with the backing of the grovelling Western media that President Mugabe’s birthday celebrations would gobble US$1 million were useless smear campaign that would not stop the people of Africa in general and Zimbabweans in particular from idolising this special man.
The Zanu-PF Youth League, which is organising the 21st February Movement celebrations, said it was elated that President Mugabe had achieved a rare feat in life.
The league’s deputy secretary Kudzai Chipanga, said this year’s celebrations of the 21st February Movement, were unique because they were also coming at a time when President Mugabe had been crowned the Sadc and Africa Union chairman.-State Media

Expelled former Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairman Temba Mliswa, has revealed that he admires Professor Jonathan Moyo the man he has also alleged “is a homosexual”.
Mliswa said he has accepted his fate and is finding comfort in Information Minister Jonathan Moyo’s political comeback charm after he was expelled from Zanu PF in 2005.
Moyo was ejected from Zanu PF after defying President Robert Mugabe and stood as an independent in parliamentary elections. His constituency had been designated for women candidates in the party.
But he bounced back in 2009 and Mr. Mugabe picked him for the second time round as his information minister. Moyo now sits on the party’s supreme decision-making body, the politburo.
The Zanu PF politburo expelled Mliswa and former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa on Wednesday accusing them of insubordination.
Mliswa, who’s also the Hurungwe West lawmaker, told VOA he, however, is yet to receive official communication about his expulsion from Zanu PF.
He says the people in his constituency appreciate the work he has put in as he tried to improve their lives.
“The work I’m doing in Hurunge West is good enough for the next ten years,” said Mliswa. ” It will be difficult for anyone to out-do what I have done because I was and I’m truly committed to the people there and they appreciate.”
He continued: “They are good people, they stood by me and they deserve a better life; a transformation of their daily lives. I know they are not happy, they are aggrieved but I will tell them that that’s politics at the end of the day and I will give them examples of people like Jonathan Moyo who were expelled from the party but came back into the central committee, into the politburo; he’s now minister of information and is one of the kingpins of the party.”
Zanu PF spokesman Simon Khaya Moyo was said to be out of town, but politburo member and lawyer Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana told VOA there was nothing wrong with the expulsions or ongoing purges in his party.
He said anyone who takes aim at President Robert Mugabe would be expelled from the party immediately.
Zanu PF has been purging its structures of allies of ousted former Vice President Joice Mujuru who was accused of plotting to assassinate President Mugabe so she could assume office. Mrs. Mujuru has refuted the allegations. – VOA/Additional Reporting

A deadly black mamba is coming between a thirsty Zimbabwean city and its water by attacking technicians trying to finish work on a new water reservoir, it was reported on Friday.
The snake “is chasing away” engineers and electricians trying to connect electric meters at water tanks above the eastern city of Mutare, the state-run Manica Post reported.
“(Engineers) said a big black mamba viciously attacked them last week in the company of technicians who wanted to upgrade the power grid at the holding tanks to cater for the new electric meters,” the newspaper reported. There were no reports of injuries.
The holding tanks will reportedly supply water to a new 10 million litre reservoir for more than 5000 households in the city’s low-income Chikanga suburb.
The reservoir is due to be commissioned next week if the engineers manage to finish their work.
The black mamba is one of Zimbabwe’s deadliest snakes and is widespread in low-lying areas.
Willard Manungo, an official in the finance ministry, urged the technicians to have the snake trapped or chased off by game rangers, the Manica Post reported.

The European Union bloc has slapped renewed sanctions on President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace.
The EU announced it is reviving its restrictive measures for another year, including a travel ban and asset freeze, according to a notice on Friday in the EU’s official online portal.
The move comes after former minister of state in the president’s office Didymus Mutasa publicly dressed down Mugabe’s wife, Grace.
The sanctions will be in force until February, 20, 2016.
Until today the EU had been working to restore Mugabe’s status as it was pre 2001.
The move has attracted a barrage of criticism from within ZANU PF. Zanu PF deputy information designate, Psychology Maziwisa responded atacking the EU. He said the bloc is displaying arrogance and its actions are surprising as they appear to be eroding the spirit of re-engagement.
“This is a display of arrogance ad total disregard of the re-engagement efforts that have been witnessed,” Maziwisa said.Only a few days ago, there were cheers when Europe unveiled development aid to the tune of US$270 million although government still held reservations on why the President remains under sanctions.

Municipality of Gwanda councillors are reported to be mobilising residents of the town to go out on a mass demonstration against the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) over continued water woes in the town.
In the latest radio news broadcast on Star FM News, Gwanda Residents Association spokesperson Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo is quoted as saying that the councillors have called the residents of the town to a meeting at the town’s stadium tomorrow morning to discuss the stand off between Council and ZINWA on the erratic water supplies in the town. According to the news broadcast, Gwanda has been facing water problems for a long time as a result of a stand off between ZINWA and Council over an outstanding debt.
Speaking on the news broadcast Fuzwayo told Star FM news that his association is not fully informed on the proposed residents meeting but aware that its to discuss the water crisis. In a follow up by this media, Fuzwayo confirmed that they had been in a meeting with one of the councillors who indicated that council is calling the residents to announce that council has failed to handle ZINWA and handing over the case to the residents.
“I can confirm that one of the councillors has indicated to residents in a public meeting held today that council will indeed tomorrow meet with all the residents of the town and mobilise them to demonstrate against ZINWA dependent on the outcome of a meeting between Council and ZINWA held today,” he said.
Probed further on the possibility of the council taking such a move, Fuzwayo refused to commit himself to matters around the council meeting as it was not communicated to the Residents Association formally. He expressed disappointment in council trying to coerce people to a demonstration against ZINWA where as council called the police to call off a similar demonstration organised by the residents against ZINWA late last year.
“I am not going to comment beyond what the councillor said except that if this is what council is planning its sad because this issue would have been sealed last year had council not intervened by calling the police to stop a residents demonstration on the same matter because it was led from within the residents,” said Fuzwayo.
“We can not stop them if the legal provisions around their operations allow councillors to lead demonstration all we want as residents is water from the pipes and not points scoring,” he added.
According to Fuzwayo, council refused to have a tripartite meeting involving ZINWA, Council and the Residents Association which he believes remains the only logical way towards an amicable solution to the water problems.
“We asked for a formal tripartite meeting between ZINWA, Council and Residents representatives last year but council snubbed us while ZINWA came forward,” said Fuzwayo. “Its hopeless holding separate meetings. As residents we want water so if we meet and realise ZINWA is to blame we will get ZINWA out of our water and if its council the same will go for them without fear or favour,” added Fuzwayo.
Comment could not be sources from the Mayor’s office nor from the Town Clerk who were both said to be in a meeting. However a council official who would not be named confirmed that council will tomorrow hold a meeting with residents to discuss the water problems in the town and a way forward on the Council and ZINWA stand off.

A defiant Temba Mliswa, the expelled former Zanu PF provincial chairperson for Mashonaland West, went on with his normal duties as a ruling party legislator yesterday, saying he was still to be officially notified about his reported expulsion.
Mliswa told the Daily News yesterday that he was “completely in the dark” about the allegations that had been levelled against him, and why he had not been summoned to attend any party hearing — having only learnt “through the media” that he had been expelled.
In that light, the firebrand politician said, he would carry on his work and remain a loyal cadre of the ruling party, as “politics runs in my blood”.
Speaking to the Daily News soon after chairing the parliamentary portfolio committee on Sports and Education yesterday, Mliswa said he was not moved by all the reports about him, including those that said he had been expelled from the ruling party.
“I don’t know the reasons why it is said that I was expelled from Zanu PF as I have only read about it in the Press. There was no disciplinary hearing against me or any charge laid against me.
“People can also kick Temba out of politics but they cannot take away politics from me. I want to thank my party for giving me the opportunity to work for it and I will remain serving it,” Mliswa added.
Asked further why he was still attending Parliament given that his party had expelled him, he said as he was yet to receive an official notification from Zanu PF, he could not stop working for his constituency.
“There are formal procedures to be followed, and the Speaker of the National Assembly is yet to receive the letter stating that I am fired from the party and that I am no longer an MP, just as I have also not received any expulsion letter,” Mliswa said. He added that his portfolio committee members had asked him to continue chairing the committee as he was still the legitimate chairperson.
Pressed further about what the future had in store for him, Mliswa said he would take a back seat and rest at his farm in Hurungwe West, if his expulsion was confirmed, but would continue to support Zanu PF. “I am not going to stand as an independent candidate in the event of a by-election in my constituency. The people in the constituency will decide, but I am going to remain with them and work with them.
“I am not the first politician to be expelled as it has happened to many others, but one can always come back in the future,” Mliswa said.
Announcing Mliswa’s expulsion on Wednesday, following a politburo meeting that was held in Harare, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the former Mashonaland West chairperson was fired for disrespecting the party’s national leadership and interrupting meetings in his province.
“On Cde Temba Mliswa, the former chairman of Mashonaland West, he has also been expelled from the party on an array of charges ranging from insubordination, denigrating national party leaders, interfering with the running of the Youth and Women League in Mashonaland West, extortionist behaviour and continuing to interrupt party meetings in that province. “His expulsion from the party (also) renders his seat in Parliament vacant,” Moyo said.
Confusion continued to abound yesterday as to when Zanu PF’s disciplinary committee had met to reach its decisions on Mutasa and Mliswa, amid conflicting reports from lickspittle State media — raising much speculation and serious doubts about how the much-debated decision was arrived at. daily news

FAILURE to stomach her husband’s cheating landed a 17-year-old woman in court last week after scalding his small house with boiling water. 
 
 
Appearing before senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura, Letwin Chaparara pleaded guilty to have intentionally caused bodily harm to Tracy Mukwekwezeke (23) by pouring boiling water on her face and chest. Prosecuting, Mr Donald Mudadirwa, told the court that the two are neighbours in the Destiny residential area.
 
“On the day in question, Chaparara saw the complainant in the company of her husband at around 8.30am and suspected that the two were having an affair. She confronted the two and threatened to dump her child with Tracy so that she would take care of her as she intended to snatch her husband.
 
“Tracey told Chaparara that she was dating her husband’s friend only identified as Liberty, but she was not convinced,” said Mr Mudadirwa.
 
After the confrontation, Chaparara quietly went to her house and boiled water. “At around 10am, Chaparara followed Tracey to the bathroom where she was taking a bath and poured boiling water on her face and chest,” the court heard.
 
Asked why she committed the offence, Chaparara blamed her action on anger. “I was overwhelmed with rage, Your Worship,” said Chaparara.
 
Tracey is admitted at Mutare Provincial Hospital where she is reported to be in a stable condition. Mrs Chiundura adjourned the case to yesterday where she was expected to sentence her. manica post
FAILURE to stomach her husband’s alleged cheating landed a 17-year-old woman in court last week after scalding the suspected mistress with boiling water. Appearing before senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura, Letwin Chaparara pleaded guilty to have intentionally caused bodily harm to Tracy Mukwekwezeke (23) by pouring boiling water on her face and chest. Prosecuting, Mr Donald Mudadirwa, told the court that the two are neighbours in the Destiny residential area.
“On the day in question, Chaparara saw the complainant in the company of her husband at around 8.30am and suspected that the two were having an affair. She confronted the two and threatened to dump her child with Tracy so that she would take care of her as she intended to snatch her husband.
“Tracey told Chaparara that she was dating her husband’s friend only identified as Liberty, but she was not convinced,” said Mr Mudadirwa.
After the confrontation, Chaparara quietly went to her house and boiled water.
“At around 10am, Chaparara followed Tracey to the bathroom where she was taking a bath and poured boiling water on her face and chest,” the court heard.
Asked why she committed the offence, Chaparara blamed her action on anger.
“I was overwhelmed with rage, Your Worship,” said Chaparara.
Tracey is admitted at Mutare Provincial Hospital where she is reported to be in a stable condition.
Mrs Chiundura adjourned the case to yesterday where she was expected to sentence her.

In a shocking incident a man from Tsholotsho launched an attack on three women in one night after he allegedly accused them of failing to pay him for digging water wells at their homesteads in Bulilima.
Two of the women are recovering at Plumtree District Hospital after Khumalo axed them on their heads.
40 year Nkosiyabo Khumalo, also broke into a shop belonging to Simon Ndlela and destroyed all his goods at Zuzaphi Business centre,claiming that the businessman owed him money.
Maidah Sithole, 62, of Zuzaphi area in Ndolwane under Chief Masendu said Khumalo broke into her homestead around 2AM on Tuesday.
He was demanding payment before completing the job.
Sithole said Khumalo robbed her of R1,200.
“I was asleep at home with my grandchildren when I heard a loud knock on the door. The person identified himself as Khumalo. He told me that he had come to collect his money. I told him that I didn’t have any money. The man threatened to set our bedroom hut on fire if I didn’t open the door,” said Sithole.
Sithole said when she finally opened the door, Khumalo started assaulting her with a chisel on her arms.
This forced Sithole give R1,200 to Khumalo who complained that the money was not enough.
“He went on to hammer my head with the chisel. My two grandchildren had fled from the bedroom hut and were screaming for help but no one heard them. Khumalo struck me once with an axe and then fled.” said Sithole.
She said she fainted and was assisted by her grandchildren to get help from a neighbouring house.
Duduzile Ncube, 36, another victim from the same village, said Khumalo was well-known in the area as he had assisted a number of people by digging wells for them.
Ncube who was visibly in pain said Khumalo arrived at her homestead around 1AM and broke down her bedroom door. She was with her eight-year-old child when Khumalo attacked her.
Ncube said Khumalo demanded money but she pointed out that she did not have any.
“Khumalo struck me with an axe twice on the head. He also hammered me with a chisel and bit my upper lip and breasts as we struggled. Khumalo also tried to stab me with a knife but I ran out of the hut and hid in my backyard. He searched for me but eventually gave up as it was dark,” she said.
Ncube said she jumped over the fence intending to flee to her neighbour but collapsed on the way. She later woke up at the neighbour’s homestead.
She said Khumalo fled with her cellphone after he searched the hut and failed to get any money.
Ncube said Khumalo proceeded to her sister Sibongile’s homestead and attacked as well.
Sibongile was treated at Plumtree District Hospital and discharged.
The councillor of the area, Ian Matiwaza, said Khumalo destroyed Ndlela’s shop on the same night.
He said the man, who was still at large, broke into the shop and destroyed all the goods.
“Khumalo threw some of the goods in a blair toilet and emptied the other goods to the ground leaving shelves empty.” said Matiwaza.-chronicle

A Harare policeman watched as a woman was stripped naked and sexually assaulted in Hatfield.
ZimEye.com can exclusively reveal that the male cop identified by his first name, “Brian,” who resides at 12A Nirvana Road Hatfield, last week allowed his wife and other surrounding women to attack his girlfriend discovered sleeping in his house.
The cop works at Braeside Police Station in Harare, a source revealed.
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.
A comment from police spokesperson Charity Charamba could not be obtained at the time of writing as her phone was not reachable. More To Follow…..VIDEOS:

Sex Attack Cop Watches as … by zimeye

A ZIMBABWEAN man has died after he was severely beaten by Botswana police for illegally entering their country.
Oscar Kani, 35, of Mkhubazi Village, Sanzukwi area in Mangwe District, arrived home unconscious on Monday afternoon after he was collected by relatives from a hospital in the neighbouring country.
He died on Wednesday at Brunapeg Hospital in Mangwe where he was admitted.
Kani’s uncle, Kenneth Ncube, who is the senior village head in the area, said his nephew could hardly speak or move when he arrived home.
“I received a phone call from a relative in Botswana telling me that Oscar was critically ill as he was thoroughly beaten up by the police.
“I sent my son to collect him from a hospital where he had been admitted in Botswana. My son later called and asked for a car to ferry my nephew as he could not walk,’’ said Ncube.
He said Kani had blisters all over his body, a swollen stomach and knees as well as scars on his head.
Ncube said Kani was diagnosed with subdural haemorrhage caused by the head injuries.
He said his nephew was rushed to Brunapeg Hospital where he later died from the injuries.
Ncube said relatives in Botswana informed him that his nephew was picked up from his workplace by Botswana police who accused him of being an illegal immigrant on February 7.
“My brother in Botswana told me that my nephew was arrested and a few days later they heard that he had been admitted at a hospital in Francistown,” said Ncube.
He said Kani left for Botswana in 2012 in search of employment. He said his nephew will be buried today at his rural home. chronicle

VOA|Former Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa, says the centre of power in Zanu-PF has shifted and First Lady, Grace Mugabe, is now firmly in control of party affairs.
The 285th ordinary session of the Politburo on Wednesday expelled Mutasa and Hurungwe West Member of Parliament
Temba Mliswa soon after the return of Grace from Singapore.
Mutasa told VOA Studio 7’s Blessing Zulu in an interview, “There is no doubt from what is going on that at the present moment, that the center of their power is going to be the first lady and we find that very absurd. It has never happened anywhere that, that kind of arrangement should be the case. One of us once talked about it, way back Jabulani Sibanda intimated that what had happened was a bedroom coup, and he was dragged to court and he is still waiting to be sentenced.
“You see at yesterday’s (Wednesday) Politburo meeting the first lady sat as a member of the presidium, but you see in terms of our constitution, the secretary for Women’s Affairs, which the late Sally Mugabe was, never sat at the top table, but when she comes in for the first Politburo meeting, she seats at the top table, well it gives us an assumption that they are probably prepared for her to be the center of power.”
Party spokesman Simon Khaya Moyo said the two were fired for insubordination. But Mutasa said he does not recognise the expulsion. – VOA

Bishop Danmore Magorimbo of the Abundant Life Global Ministries is seeking a peace order against the owner of the premises his church was renting whom he is accusing of hiring bouncers who allegedly assaulted him in October last year.
In his application filed at the Harare Civil Court, Magorimbo claimed Thomas Mutizhe hired the two bouncers who assaulted him in front of his wife and a man he only identified as Mr Rubaya.
“In October 2014, I was invited to a meeting by Mutizhe in the offices of Mr Rubaya, he turned up with two very muscular men who beat me up in the presence of my wife and Mr Rubaya, tearing my clothes in the process,” reads part of Magorimbo’s application.
The pastor had to run for dear life and was seen by some of the office staff as he ran towards the city library across the road.
“I received further threats via cell phone from one of the bouncers to vacate Mutizhe’s property which the church was renting within three hours.
After these threats i wrote a letter to Mr Rubaya and surrendered the property keys.” he said.
Mutizhe in his opposing affidavit,denied the allegations levelled against him by Magorimbo.
He claimed he never attended the alleged meeting with two bouncers and never witnessed the applicant being assaulted.
Magistrate Ms Ruth Kamangira ordered both parties to come to court on Monday for her ruling.

President Robert Mugabe has left Harare yet again, this time for South Africa to attend a SADC extra-ordinary Troika meeting in Pretoria.
The meeting is aimed at resolving political tension in Lesotho and assist the country deliver a credible election on the 28th of February.
President Mugabe, who is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, cabinet ministers, senior government officials and service chiefs.
The SADC chairperson will meet other heads of state, Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security (Troika), South African President Jacob Zuma and Botswana President Seretse Ian Khama as the regional bloc seeks solutions to Lesotho’s problems.
Lesotho goes to the polls on the 28th of February and SADC wants an environment suitable for the holding of a free and fair election.
The SADC leadership has already stressed its determination to ensure Lesotho’s elections go ahead as scheduled and that the current crisis is amicably resolved for the country to move on.
South Africa’s Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was appointed by SADC to be the facilitator, recently indicated that issues around security challenges and the request for the regional bloc to provide material support for the elections will continue to receive the attention of the SADC facilitation mission. – State Media

Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has been fired from government with immediate effect.
In a statement, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda confirmed that Bhasikiti has been dismissed from his post as minister.
The statement reads “In terms of section 108 (1a) of the constitution of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, the President has terminated the employment of Honourable Kudakwashe Bhasikiti Chuma as Minister of State for Masvingo Province as his conduct had become inconsistent with his prescribed duties and functions.
“The termination is with immediate effect.”

The murder case against UK based Shonhiwa Gibson Mazikana who was due to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, was yesterday cancelled.
The case is now to be heard on April 23.
Mazikana charged with the murder of his girlfriend and Uxbridge mum-of-two Emily Munemo, had his court appearance at the Old Bailey cancelled. He was due to appear at the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court for a preliminary hearing having last appeared at Uxbridge magistrates’ court on February 4 after being arrested on Monday the 2nd February.
It was yesterday decided that the hearing was not needed.
He is now thus scheduled to appear at a plea and case management hearing on April 23.
Mazikana was charged with murder following the death of Ms Munemo, 41, at a home in Collingwood Road, Uxbridge on January 30. Munemo was found stabbed twice dying barely two hours later.  VIDEO RELATED:  

 

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BITI : RENEWALS 10 MONTHS LATER
19 February 2015 14:09
1. Introduction
It’s been ten months since the signing of the Mandel Declaration; we have been in existence for almost a year now. Our short journey so far has been a tough one, many challenges have confronted us, nonetheless l am proud we have soldered on as a united family of democrats. The political terrain continues to be fluid and unpredictable much to the detriment of the country and to the disadvantage of the people of Zimbabwe. The country lacks visionary leadership as the never ending wars in ZANU PF and a fresh wave of a possible split in the MDC – T are telling. It is up to us to provide leadership and The Solution.
2. State of the Nation: Economy
We are currently living in a Zimbabwe where an economy has ceased to exist. The informal sector has replaced the formal sector as company closures continue unabated with the situation escalating particularly in the post July 31 election. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions estimates that in 2014 alone, at least 75 companies countrywide closed down and about 9 617 people lost their jobs. These figures are alarming considering that by the end of 2013 only 20% of the active population was employed in the formal sector, meaning that those that lost their jobs were added to an already long list of unemployed people and possibly to the informal sector; bringing the total percentage of those in the informal sector today to no less than 86%.
Further to this, salary increases are a thing of the past, in an economy where the prices of goods, services and commodities remain high. There has not been a reduction in prices in tandem with the stagnation of salary increases.
The government, which remains the biggest employer, is increasingly failing to pay the civil servants on time and fewer and fewer people have a guaranteed salary at the end of every month. In practice it means that every Zimbabwean has been turned into a vendor. It means that more and more people are surviving on money earned and spent outside the formal economy. It means that the government is collecting less and less taxes. To the ordinary person, it means that it is now more expensive to pay school fees. It means it is more difficult to put food on the table, pay rentals while accessing hospitals and medication has become a luxury. More telling is that, the Ministry of Health itself has admitted that at least 10% of Zimbabwe’s population is suffering from one psychiatric condition or another, due to the economic hardships in the country.
b. Service Delivery
Service delivery throughout the country is deplorable. City Councils have failed the citizens. In cities like Harare, Gweru, Kadoma, Kwekwe and Bulawayo water is unavailable on a regular basis. On top of the water being unavailable on a regular basis, when it is available it is dirty and unsafe to drink. The amount of dirt in the cities particularly in Harare is deplorable and a danger to residents’ health. The roads in the country have become a death trap due to potholes. Council clinics are struggling to remain open. In all of this the ordinary citizen bears the brunt as they continue to pay rates and yet services are not rendered.
For these reasons, we are calling upon the citizens of Zimbabwe to boycott the payments of rates until the government and the Councils display that they are committed to delivering public services. We call upon the citizens to boycott payment of rates until the government and local authorities put in place concrete and tangible processes towards combating corruption in the City Councils particularly in the form of the exorbitant salaries that the Council bosses are earning especially in the big cities such as Harare.
c. Corruption
The amount of corruption in the country has crippled the economy and it continues unabated. Corruption in central government, government parastatals and local government and it is benefitting the few elites through patronage and patronage networks. The Auditor General’s report that reveals that 22 Ministries are unable to account for their funds is revealing of the amount of rot that has infiltrated our government. As the MDC Renewal Team, we condemn these corrupt tendencies. The resources of the people must be channelled towards the betterment of the lives of the people of Zimbabwe and must not be plundered by a select few.
3. Party Business
a. Re – Unification Process
On the 26th November 2014, the Party and the MDC led by Prof Welshman Ncube made history by signing the Re- Unification Agreement. Both parties agreed that they had more similarities than differences thus there was no need for them to fight from different corners in this democratic struggle. As you may well be aware, the two parties will be known as the United Movement for Democratic Change (UMDC).
• Re – Unification Roadmap
Both parties are currently in the process of building their structures and as you may also be aware this process was given a deadline of the 28th of February 2015. Thereafter it is expected that the structures are verified before they are merged, a process to be completed by the end of March 2015. In April 2015, there shall be a Policy Conference by the UMDC which will essentially discuss Party policies. At the same event or concurrent with the Policy Conference will be Non Elective Take Note Congresses by the two merging parties. The Congress will take note of, among other things, the Re- Unification Agreement and receive reports on the Re – Unification Process itself. Thereafter an Inaugural Elective Congress will take place in August 2015.
Fellow comrades, we have embarked on yet another difficult journey, a journey that we must win. I urge the Secretaries of Organizing throughout the country and at all levels to work, work, and work. I urge all the members of the Party and all the Party leaders to have unity of purpose and as the Party President always says, to ‘run in their own lane’.
b. 1 March Launch
The Re- Unification process/path that we have begun allows the Committees and organs of the two parties to meet and familiarize with each other at all levels. Where possible, joint programmes can be carried out. With this in mind, it is my pleasure to announce that there will be a Joint Re – Unification Launch in Bulawayo on the 1st of March 2015. The two Parties will once again be celebrating the Unification and the journey walked thus far.
c. Face to Face Launch
On the 9th of February 2015, the Party launched its ‘Face to Face’ Campaign, by the Party MPs and National Leadership walking in the streets of Harare talking to people and giving out party pamphlets. The aim of the Campaign is to bring the leadership of the party at all levels to the people of Zimbabwe to get first-hand information on the challenges that Zimbabweans are facing and for the party leaders to explain to the people THE SOLUTION that Renewal is offering. It is also a recruitment campaign meant to grow the numbers of its Party membership. Provincial, Districts and Ward leaders together with the Women and Youth Wings are encouraged to take this campaign into the Provinces and ensure that launches take place countrywide. Further to this, l encourage Party members to go face to face with the people where ever they are, be it in the market place, in the taxi ranks, in the flea markets, on the streets, their homes, on bridges and wherever they are, to preach the Renewal Gospel.
4. Conclusion
In conclusion, l urge all party members to organize themselves, plan and strategize and walk the Renewal Talk. Members can make use of various platforms available to them particularly social media which has become a cheap and effective way of communicating. Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp groups have become the order of the day and l urge members to make effective use of these modern facilities as we organize and mobilize in our localities.
In all of this let us remain focused and work hard to build the Party.
Renewing our Commitment to Social Justice,
Renew today for a better future,
Renewal: The Solution,
Yours sincerely,
HON TENDAI BITI, MP
SECRETARY GENERAL

South Africa based pro-Mnangagwa Zimbabwe Star Movement, Robert Gwarazimba, was stabbed in Johannesburg last week just after addressing a meeting.
Jephia Chivange, ZSM secretary general, said the assailants were suspected to be Zimbabweans based in South Africa and the attack was politically motivated. “The attempt at Gwarazimba’s life comes as we are preparing for celebrations to mark the president’s birthday in Johannesburg,” he said.
The party was formed by Zimbabwean youths in SA to push for Emmerson Mnangagwa’s as president of Zimbabwe. Its activities have been disturbed by regular attacks and raids by suspected CIO operatives.
“I would like to advise ZSM detractors that we will not be intimidated by political cowards who fear competition and will push our agenda as youths in the Diaspora, until Zimbabwe has realised its full potential,” said Gwarazimba, from his Johannesburg base. – TheZimbabwean

The late General Solomon Mujuru and the Prisons Commissioner retired Major General Paradzai Zimondi were being spied on by the Central Intelligence Organization at a bar where they used meet and discuss private issues.
Also under surveillance were Air force commander Perence Shiri , former Energy Minister Mike Nyambuya and the former Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Minister Simbaneuta Mudarikwa.
Before the death of Mujuru two years ago, the group would meet regularly at Zimondi’s special pub situated at Harare Central Prison, where they used to drink all night. A reliable source identified a member of the CIO (name withheld) who used to patronise the bar to spy on the group.
“At one point the spy, who was using a cell phone similar to Zimondi’s, pretended to be drunk and took Zimondi’s phone and went away. Later, after all the prison officers working at the bar had been accused of taking the phone, he returned and said he had mistaken it for his,” said the source.
“Zimondi was suspicious about the incident and ordered his security department to inspect the bar. They discovered that the place was bugged. Some ‘gadgets’ were dismantled from the ceiling and since then (end of November) the CIO officer has not returned to the mess, after visiting it daily for more than two years.”
The source said this resulted in the sacking of deputy minister Simbaneta Mudarikwa and the purging of more senior Zanu (PF) officials linked to the Mujuru family. Zimondi , a close ally of Mujuru, has allegedly been offered a diplomatic post.- TheZimbabwean

Following an announcement of the passing of the resolution on imposing prepaid water metres for Bulawayo ratepayers, the community has vowed to resort to physical treatment of council workers who are going to be installing the unwanted gadget.
“We were not informed that all our efforts were a mere waste of time, as the resolution to install the gadgets was passed in 2012, without our knowledge,” said a visibly angry Nomsa Khumalo of Bulawayo Residents Association.
The Bulawayo Ratepayers Associations have since begun their communiqué on their resolution to deal with what they brand Council rebellion, for failing to tell ratepayers the truth on their decision.
“We are not going to watch this circus taking place in our country. We are going to fight to the beater end and make sure that everything is communicated. This council is composed of failures that are bent on suffocating ratepayers, who are already suffering from economic collapse,” said Veronica Tshabalala of Nkulumane.
Jenny Williams of WOZA also poured another cold bucket of water on the Mayor’s head after she said the city father must calculate professionally. “When I met the Mayor this year, he told me that he perceives no problem in prepaid water metres, as cell phones are also prepaid. Water can also be prepaid like electricity, as this will enable one to use what he or she has paid for. This statement from the honourable city father shows what level of thinking he is at ladies and gentlemen, he is a total disappointment and problematic for Bulawayo,” she said amid roaring audience.
Several pressure groups and Residents Associations have agreed to take action in all angles, as they are in total agreement that Bulawayo City Council have an agenda against the community and ratepayers of Zimbabwe’s second largest city.
In a snap survey by ZimEye.com, Bulawayo City Council’s Health Section has not been collecting garbage for more than two weeks, thereby posing another heath time bomb for the already strained ratepayers.
Last week, Bulawayo’s Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo snubbed residents and their associations, after he had assured them that he was going to address their predicament scenario.
The residents who last year successfully staged a demo, against the city council’s idea of installing prepaid water metres, are now baying for the city father’s blood.
The Mayor had also promised to address Bulawayo journalists before he abruptly cancelled the presser in the eleventh hour, thereby causing confusion, as more than 30 media practitioners had gathered for the Mayor’s address.
 
Residents associations and civic organisations are currently organising for another massive 500 000 people’s marching to the Bulawayo’s revenue Hall, where they will be demanding to know who passed the resolution on prepaid water metres without their knowledge.
When the Mayor failed to turn up to address the ratepayers last week, Roderick Fayayo, of Bulawayo Progressive Residence Associations (BUPRA) and Jane Williams of WOZA were waiting eagerly, representing the16 organisations that demonstrated against the council’s prepaid water metres.
Bulawayo residents have since resorted to fight the Council who they are accusing of trying to hide through prepaid water metres. “The council are now revealing their highest level of corruption, after they failed to address the community on the importance of the use of the gadget,” said Nonthando Ncube of Bulawayo residence Association.
ZimEye.com again failed to get comment from Bulawayo mayor Councillor Martin Moyo, as he was said to be busy on Council business, and that all journalists must put their questions in writing through the City Council Public Relations office for comments.

A 44-YEAR-OLD Kadoma woman, Isata Mukova, has been sentenced to a nine-year jail term for stocktheft after she sold 36 beasts entrusted to her by her daughter-in-law.
Mukova was convicted of the charge when she appeared before magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba last week.
The court heard that sometime between April 26 2011 and May 28 last year at Linton Farm, Eiffel Flats, the complainant, Sheila Shuro, entrusted her cattle to Mukova as surety for an undisclosed business deal.
It was heard that during that period, Mukova sold some of the cattle without Shuro”s consent after she failed to fulfil her side of the bargain.
On May 28 last year, Shuro visited the farm and discovered the theft.
A stock card with serial number 4204198 in the complainant’s name in respect of the 36 head of cattle was produced in court as evidence.
In her defence, Mukova averred that sometime in 2005, she left the country and tasked Shuro to run several business projects at the farm.
Mukova told the court that they later agreed to let her take Shuro’s cattle as full and final payment for the business deal.
Through her lawyer Tinashe Matiyashe of Mangwana and Partners, Mukova argued that she sold the beasts based on that agreement and was shocked when Shuro later claimed ownership of the same cattle.The beasts were valued at $21 600.
Wayne Togara prosecuted. -Newsday

A young mother from Mangwe district was rushed to Plumtree hospital after killing her seven-month baby boy and trying to take her own life by drinking termite poison following a dispute with her lover.
Thokozile Ndebele, 18, who stays wit her grandparents at Guqukani Village in Tshitshi area,fed her baby with the termite poison before drinking it herself on Monday evening.
She was saved by her grandparents who rushed her to Plumtree District Hospital but her son, Conwell Mhlanga died.
Chief Tshitshi who is Ndebele’s grandfather confirmed the incident which occurred at his cousin’s homestead around 10PM.
“I was shocked to learn of this tragedy this morning. It appears that Thoko was having problems with the father of her child.
I learnt that before committing this terrible act my granddaughter left a suicide note saying she was having problems with her lover. It’s a pity that the life of an innocent baby was lost in this incident.” said Chief Tshitshi.
Motilia Nyathi, Ndebele’s grandmother described the incident saying she heard her granddaughter screaming while she was asleep and rushed to investigate.
She found the seven month old baby lying on the bed while Ndebele was writhing in pain on the floor.
“There was a bottle of termite poison on the floor and the chemical was all over my grandson’s clothes. I immediately knew that Thokozile had given it to him. The baby was dead and I couldn’t help but imagine the pain he went through before dying.” said Nyathi.
She alerted her husband and other neighbours who assisted to ferry her granddaughter to hospital in the middle of the night.
Ndebele is admitted at Plumtree District Hospital under police guard and has said her lover Kidiboni Mhlanga, had been mistreating her.
The young woman who appeared to be in severe pain as she was struggling to speak, said her lover got angry after she dumped him for being involved with several women.
Ndebele said thereafter Mhlanga started threatening to kill her.
“I was fed up of being tortured and threatened by Kidiboni and I thought killing myself would be the best option. He is always sleeping around with different women and I told him that our relationship was over.
He didn’t want to take it. I took termite poison which was stored at home and drank it together with my son while I was in my bedroom .” said Ndebele.
She said she recalls feeding her son with the poison and thereafter he started crying and wriggling on the bed.
Ndebele said she ignored her baby’s cries and went on to drink the termite poison herself. She said she later woke up in hospital, in great pain.
“I’m struggling to eat and I can’t even sit. I’m in great pain. I just wanted to die and I didn’t want my baby to remain without a mother because I’m also an orphan. I know how painful it feels to live without a mother. I wanted to take him with me,” said Ndebele.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Philani Ndebele confirmed the incident.
He said investigations were still underway.
Cases of suicide have become rampant among youths. Recently an 18-year-old boy from Empandeni in Mangwe District committed suicide by drinking a mixture of dip chemical and rat poison after being scolded by his mother.
Another 18-year-old from Magwegwe Suburb in Bulawayo hanged himself at his parents’ house while a 15-year-old from the same area committed suicide by drinking a poisonous chemical after his girlfriend dumped him.
A 19-year-old Plumtree teenager last month committed suicide in a bushy area near his aunt’s house by hanging himself over unclear circumstances.-chronicle

Former Secretary for Administration, Didymus Mutasa and his nephew Hurungwe West legislator, Themba Mliswa have been expelled from the party as First Lady, Grace Mugabe begins to flex her muscle. (Watch VIDEO Grace Mugabe marching in before expelling Mutasa)
But Mudzi South legislator, Jonathan Samkange; Bikita West member, Dr Munyaradzi Kereke and Daniel Garwe were re-admitted into the party. Mutasa and Mliswa were fired for indiscipline, with the former standing accused of a host of transgressions.
Mutasa was on record discrediting the 6th Zanu PF Congress held last December, declaring its outcomes as null and void.
He even wrote to SADC and the African Union (AU) calling on them to intervene in the matter in which he was ousted from party position of Secretary for Administration.
After such acts, the party tasked the National Disciplinary Committee to decide Mutasa’s fate. The committee is led by Grace Mugabe who now wields considerable power in Zanu PF. As soon as she returned home Zanu PF bigwigs are quacking in their boots as a cull is now expected in the Cabinet.
The disciplinary committee highlighted in its report the disparaging remarks by Mutasa against the party leadership and his utterances rubbishing the party’s congress.
The committee treated Mutasa’s case as unique and extraordinary, saying he continued to be unrepentant.
Former Zanu PF Mashonaland West Provincial Chairman, Mliswa was dismissed on an array of charges ranging from insubordination and interfering with party meetings in his province.
The expulsion of the two from the party, their National Assembly seats have been declared vacant and by-elections can be held.
On the other hand, the ruling party readmitted Dr Kereke, who was expelled in 2013 after standing as a candidate in Bikita West constituency contrary to the directive of the party which was rallying behind Elias Musakwa.
Garwe who contested as an independent in Murehwa North in the July 31 elections was also re-admitted together with Samkange.
During the same meeting, President Robert Mugabe in his opening remarks behind closed doors welcomed his wife into the meeting where he was making her maiden appearance after being elevated to lead the Women’s League.
The meeting also received briefs on ZIMASSET from Patrick Chinamasa, transport from Oppah Muchinguri and Saviour Kasukuwere for the commissariat. – State Media

Two Masvingo men are being hunted by police after one of them allegedly impregnated a domestic goat.
The goat was soon conceived a half human creature.
The foetus was noticed after the she-goat was accidentally hit by a passing truck.
The expecting she-goat hit  by a haulage truck at Chivi Growth Point last week, shocked residents when from its womb came out the foetus that had human like features.
Many people at the Growth point said except for the hooves, all other features looked human.
A spokesperson for the Veterinary Department said it was not possible for a goat to give birth to a human being.
He said the human-like features could be a result of deformities in the development of the kid. Below is the foetus that astounded many.  Pic by Martha Leboho/ Mirror

The United States government has poured into Zimbabwe $2.6Billion in the space of just 360 months. The US embassy writes refuting claims in the State Media that the western nation gave $850 million in funds to Zimbabwe NGOs between 2011 and 2014.

FULL TEXT:

The February 16 edition of The Herald newspaper published a page one article that carried a great deal of misinformation regarding USAID support to the NGO sector in Zimbabwe.   One of the greatest pieces of erroneous information was contained in the headline itself, which asserted that the United States provided $850 million in funds to Zimbabwe NGOs between 2011 and 2014.   We would like to set the record straight:

​Fact: In Zimbabwe, ​​USAID provides funding to improve food security, ​increase agricultural production and farmer incomes, ​support economic resilience and develop small businesses, promote civil society and democratic engagement, ​and provide health services to save lives.

Fact: In FY 2014, the U.S. Government provided approximately $160 million in assistance to Zimbabwe, $130 million of which went to improving  health services for  Zimbabweans in areas including HIV AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, nutrition, maternal/child health and reproductive health.

Fact: For more than 30 years, the American people, through USAID, have provided over $2.6 billion in assistance to the people of Zimbabwe, including significant food aid and emergency relief during times of critical need.

Fact: The U.S. Government works with a variety of partners and organizations and adheres to the highest standards for accountability for U.S. funds.  The U.S. Government takes seriously allegations regarding misuse of resources.  The USAID Office of the Inspector General is an independent office responsible for investigating such claims.

Members of the public who are interested in learning about ​the facts regarding USG assistance​ in this country will find accurate information at​ ​the​ official U.S. Government website:  http://www.usaid.gov/results-and-data/budget-spending/congressional-budget-justification#.

The Constitutional Court has set aside judgement on whether the laws which make it a criminal offence for someone said to have infected his or her partner with HIV are constitutional or not.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku leading a nine(9) member bench heard the case which was brought by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for human Rights urging the laws were not only vague but also unconstitutional.
ZLHR brought the cases after the conviction of two women on charges of wilfully infecting their partners with HIV.
Advocate Thabani Mpofu instructed by David Hofisi from the ZLHR submitted that there was no scientific evidence to support that “he or she was indeed infected HIV by his or her partner”.
Mpofu urged that the laws should clearly explain how the court would arrive at a conclusion that the accused person would have been intentionally and or wilfully infected his or her partner with HIV without scientific evidence.
Representing the state was Editor Mavuto from the Prosecutor General’s Office who said the contested laws were enacted with the aim of protecting and safeguarding public health.
He however agreed that there were no scientific evidence to prove that the accused person would have intentionally infected his or her partner adding that ‘actions’ and the ‘conduct’ of the accused person when the infection happened could lead to prosecution.
The laws which ZLHR wants to be repealed state that any person knowing that he or she is infected with HIV, or realizing that there is a real risk or possibility that he or she is infected with HIV, intentionally does anything or permits the doing of anything which he or she knows will infect or does anything which he or she realizes involves a real risk or possibility of infecting another person with HIV, shall be guilty of deliberate transmission of HIV whether or not he or she is married to that person and shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years.
PICTURES:

More than 100 children selected from the country’s 10 provinces, who share a birthday with President Robert Mugabe, will be flown to Victoria Falls to attend his 91st birthday celebrations scheduled for next week, where elephant and other game meat is on the menu.
Mugabe turns 91 this Saturday and as has become the norm, the 21st February Movement has organised a birthday bash for him in Victoria Falls on February 28.
This year’s celebrations are being held under the theme “Celebrating the birth of Gushungo, the icon of Zimbabwe’s revolution and champion of youth empowerment”.
Matabeleland North Zanu PF youth chairperson, Tamuka Nyoni, confirmed yesterday that the children will be going to the resort town.
“We are prepared to host them so that they enjoy their day with His Excellency President Mugabe,” he said.
“All February 21st children will be well catered for.”
A lot of food has been lined up for the day and an elephant is part of the menu after it was donated by Woodlands Wildlife Conservancy.
The new development comes as hotels and lodges in the resort town are all fully-booked for the duration of the birthday bash.
Tourism operators said Mugabe’s bash had brought them more business than regional summits normally hosted in the resort town. Reports said about 622 government delegates are booked in the resort town ahead of the bash for a period of four days from February 26 to 28.
Delegates will start arriving in the resort town on February 26.
Children will converge at the Victoria Falls Farm School on February 27 for the birthday reception, but Mugabe will only jet into the resort town the following day for the main event at Elephant Hills Hotel.
The crowd expected has doubled, with organisers of the event saying they were expecting about 20 000 people to attend, meaning more mouths to be fed than the previous bashes.
This has brought smiles on the faces of tourism players as the huge influx of delegates for the bash translates into profits for them.
Employers’ Association for Safari and Tourism Operators, president and Shearwater public relations manager Clement Mukwasi yesterday confirmed the development and said it was a real test of their capacity as an industry to handle big events.
“The occasion is a massive one,” he said.
“It’s going to bring domestic tourists into Victoria Falls like never before.
“It’s a real test of our capacity to handle the local market as an industry.”
Mugabe’s 90th birthday bash on February 23 2014 was attended by about 10 000 in Harare and 90 beasts were reportedly slaughtered for the occasion with costs reaching a staggering $1 million.
This year the money needed for the bash could surpass that of 2014 as the birthday bash is being held more than 800km from the capital.

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader, Prophet Walter Magaya, and controversial tourism boss Karikoga Kaseke have received splashes of praises from the Daily News paper.
The paper handed Magaya a Personality of the Year award for 2014.
A statement read stating, “Despite the fact that 2014 was undoubtedly one of the most difficult years Zimbabweans have had to endure since 1980, Magaya proved to a wide cross-section of the population that he was one of a few institutions and individuals that provided a rare ray of hope to many.
“Personality of the year award — Walter Magaya
“The young charismatic preacher managed to attract one of the largest crowds Zimbabwe has ever seen during his Night of Turnaround in November last year.
“An estimated 350 000 people from all walks of life attended the conference, a feat that all the country’s stage-hungry politicians have failed to achieve over the past 35 years of Uhuru.
“The well-known philanthropist also won the hearts of many Zimbabweans when he gave the late Studio 263 actress Pretty Xaba $18 000 to cater for her travel and medical bills at an Indian hospital, in addition to awarding scholarships to several orphans dotted across the country.”
But despite all his good deeds, Magaya did court some controversy during the year, including facing untested allegations of adultery and seeing one of his crusades in Kwekwe ending tragically.
But the publication concluded claiming that “through his ministry, characterised by fervent reports of healing and miracles, he managed to turn many Zimbabweans to God.”
Meanwhile Karikoga Kaseke was handed,
the Tourism personality of the year award.
A reading stated, ‘The strong-willed Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive, Karikoga Kaseke, is a hands-on man.
Notwithstanding the fact that he is a regulator, Kaseke, with his team, deserve praise for working so hard to revive the country’s tourism sector.
After realising that Zimbabwe was losing a lot of revenue due to lack of tourists in the country, Kaseke has gone on a successful soft diplomatic offensive — and his efforts are slowly paying off.
Last year, the sector brought close to $1 billion in tourism receipts.
Through his dedication and commitment to the industry, Kaseke personally negotiated with Egypt Air to review its decision to withdraw from Zimbabwe.

The Zanu PF attempts to drag President Tsvangirai’s name into the controversial RBZ Debt Assumption Bill will not wash simply because he is not involved in any scam at all.
The allegations by Marondera East MP Jeremiah Chiwetu that the MDC leader used $3 million of RBZ funds to buy his Highlands House are not only preposterous but defamatory as well. This is a desperate attempt to equalize the doyen of the democratic struggle in Zimbabwe with those who benefitted from the quasi-fiscal activities of the RBZ that included the provision of tractors, scotch-carts and farming inputs.
The facts of the matter are that President Tsvangirai never received $3 million as alleged by Zanu PF. He never got money from the RBZ. He got a loan from government that is just about $1 million to buy the Highlands house but he had put in $400 000 of his own personal money as a deposit before the payment of the full value of the property.
President Tsvangirai is committed to servicing his own loan from government just as the State should also reimburse him $400 000 of personal funds that was used in buying this government property.
It should not be forgotten that President Tsvangirai spent three of his four years as Prime Minister staying in his own house in Strathaven, transacting the business of the State from his own private residence when the State had an obligation to provide him accommodation befitting his status.
For the three years he stayed in his own house, President Tsvangirai did not make the use of his own house an issue because material benefits have never driven his politics.
President Tsvangirai supports the position of the MDC MPs in parliament that anyone who owes the RBZ should pay back so that we do not burden innocent Zimbabweans with debts they know nothing about.
Whoever owes the RBZ should pay. If there was anyone who benefitted from the RBZ funds, then they must pay back and not saddle innocent Zimbabweans who are surviving on less than $1 a day and struggling to make ends meet.
The decision to make Zimbabweans pay for individuals who owe the RBZ is arrant nonsense and no amount of defamatory allegations against President Tsvangirai will divert the MDC focus from the fact that good citizens who owe the RBZ must assume their own debts.
President Tsvangirai fully supports the voice of the party’s MPs in Parliament who have stood firm in defence of the innocent Zimbabweans they represent; Zimbabweans who must now suffer on behalf of Zanu PF fat cats who fleeced the central bank.
Luke Tamborinyoka
Presidential Spokesperson
Movement for Democratic Change

Announcement of the Resignation of Hon. Priscila Misihairabwi –Mushonga from position of Secretary General
On 15 January 2015, the MDC Secretary General Hon. Priscila Misihairabwi –Mushonga announced to the public through the Financial Gazette newspaper that within a period of a few weeks from that date she would be making a decision as to whether she would continue to play a central role in the party.
It is with regret that we advise members of the party and the general public that on Thursday, 12 February 2015, Hon. Priscila Misihairabwi -Mushonga tendered to the President of the party, Prof Welshman Ncube, her written resignation from the position of Secretary General with immediate effect.
The Presidency has accepted this resignation and hopes that Hon. Misihairabwi -Mushonga will continue in her other roles in which she was deployed by the party, such as her role in Parliament.
On behalf of the leadership and membership of the party, we sincerely thank Hon. Misihairabwi -Mushonga for the outstanding and committed service that she rendered to the party in her capacity as Secretary General since her election to that position in February 2011.
Edwin Mushoriwa
MDC Deputy President

FIRST Lady Grace Mugabe and opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai have been fingered as having substantially benefited from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)’s controversial $1,35 billion debt which the government wants to take over.
This came out yesterday as legislators debated the RBZ Debt Assumption Bill which sailed through the second reading stage amid protests by opposition legislators who demanded that the National Assembly conduct a secret vote in a bid to stop its passage.
Opposition MPs argued that the Bill should not be passed as top Zanu PF and government officials, among them, First Lady, benefited from it. But Zanu PF shot back saying Tsvangirai was also a beneficiary of the RBZ’s benevolence.
Opposition legislators wanted a secret vote on the bill, but Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda thwarted it, ruling that this could only be entertained at the third reading stage before the Bill could be passed into law.
MDC-T chief whip Innocent Gonese and Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa had proposed a secret vote saying Parliament could not be railroaded to pass the Bill without a clear explanation of how the money was used.
“The people are saying this is a diabolical Bill and they equate it to Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. They are saying the RBZ has assets and must pay its debts and if there are people who benefited they must be made to account,” Gonese said.
“People need to know who benefited at a time when the RBZ was behaving as Father Christmas and to solve the issue of conflict of interest, all MPs who benefited certainly must be precluded from taking part in the vote to pass this Bill,” he said.
Mudenda said: “I made a ruling that at this stage, it does not permit voting.”
Gonese said he had qualms with the way some of the debts were described because Zimbabweans could be paying for money used to buy homes for “small houses” or lobola for second wives of some individuals.
“For example, the Medallion Gold, Anglo American debt and other debts have no clear explanation as to how they were incurred,” he said. “It is only described as a variance. How can Parliament be expected to condone such a debt? We need full disclosure and explanations and those people who benefited must be made to reduce the $1,35 billion debt.”
Gonese said some amount on the RBZ debt was used to pay for electricity debts and fuel for “Zanu PF fat cats”. “You expect the poor impoverished Zimbabweans to pay? I want to challenge Zanu PF MPs that if they have the interests of people at heart they must join us in blocking this Bill so that we ensure those who benefited reduce the amount,” he said.
Nkayi South MP Abednico Bhebe reiterated: “This is a private debt and if Zanu PF MPs insist on the government taking over, then we will require that this House be divided so that Zimbabweans can actually judge who have the interests of the people in this House and who are the people in this House actually sanctioning looting.”
This prompted Marondera East MP Jeremiah Chiwetu (Zanu PF) to hit back saying the $3 million used by the RBZ to buy Tsvangirai’s Highlands house when he was Prime Minister had contributed to the contested RBZ debt.
“If we say Tsvangirai should pay back the $3 million can he manage? He cannot even manage $1 500 per month,” Chiwetu said.
In response, Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda (MDC-T) claimed that Grace’s Alpha and Omega Dairy project was built using RBZ money and partly contributed to the debt.
Zanu PF proportional representation MP Sabina Mangwende said those farmers who got farming implements sold a lot of maize to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), but had not yet been paid. She said they would only pay back for the equipment they got after the GMB had paid them for maize deliveries.
After a heated debate, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa told legislators that a separate Bill would soon be introduced in Parliament for the setting up of a Zimbabwe Debt Office to verify and validate the RBZ debt.
He, however, pleaded with MPs to urgently pass the RBZ Debt Assumption Bill in its current state, saying validation of the debt might take long as the central bank required about $250 million to recapitalise.
The Bill now goes to Committee Stage where Chinamasa promised some amendments. Newsday

FORMER war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda has urged Zimbabweans to pray for divine intervention to put an end to a “dirty corrupt lot” in Zanu PF oppressing fellow countrymen and looting State resources.
Sibanda claimed President Robert Mugabe is now surrounded by corrupt “weevils” that have hijacked Zanu PF, and persecuted the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo during the 1980s.
The firebrand ex-war veterans’ leader took a swipe at the Christopher Mutsvangwa-led association, describing it as a militia created by the army to oppress ordinary Zimbabweans.
“Actually corruption, permitted corruption, has created a ruling class in this country,” he said in a wide ranging interview.
“Zanu PF is no longer led by ordinary people, but by individuals that are able to buy votes out of ill-gotten wealth.
“I urge our people to continue praying. Those that can fast will have to do so because God has a way to put this to an end.
“We can only find the way to end this if we seek spiritual eyes and find determination and courage to save the revolution and our country, and contribute to the peace in Africa and to the world.”
Sibanda was expelled from Zanu PF and deposed as war veterans’ chairperson during a purge targeting suspected allies of then Vice-
President Joice Mujuru.
He courted Mugabe’s ire when he said all able-bodied Zimbabweans should resist a “boardroom or bedroom coup”, in apparent reference to a plot to unseat Mujuru.
Former VP Mujuru, a number of ministers, Zanu PF provincial chairpersons and other officials were booted out on charges of planning to topple Mugabe.
However, Sibanda described those behind the purge and now controlling Zanu PF as a corrupt, repressive and criminal cabal now surrounding Mugabe to loot the nation’s resources.
He said Zanu PF would be cleansed of such a “dirty lot”.
“The late (Joshua) Nkomo was loyal to Mugabe, but he was chased away and persecuted by people who today purport to be very loyal to him, but only for their selfish, personal needs and to get positions at the expense of democracy,” he said.
“What we see today in Zanu PF is people wielding power against the people and using the army against the people. I do not believe in such a party. I believe in Zanu PF that upholds the will of the people, their hopes and aspirations.
“I promise you that Zanu PF will be cleansed of this dirty lot.
“I may not be there when it happens, but this country will be cleansed of this dirty lot that are destroying the party and the country.
“Our minerals have disappeared.
“Mugabe even once asked where the minerals were. Our minerals have been taken by the same people who are destroying the party from within.
He added: “Corrupt weevils have destroyed our industries, looted diamonds, other minerals and undermined democracy.
“There is no democracy in Zanu PF and this is all because of these weevils, but the question is for how long will the nation take this nonsense?”
Sibanda described his ouster as illegal, before labelling the Mutsvangwa-led war veterans’ association as a military militia, created ostensibly by the army to oppress Zimbabweans.
“Our war veterans’ association is an affiliate of Zanu PF and not the army,” he said. “We do not exist anywhere in the Defence Forces Act.
“However, this brand new entity is affiliated to the Defence Forces and they are now using the power of the barracks to threaten war veterans.
“This is not a war veterans’ association, but a military militia that has been set up by the army to extend the arm of repression against our people.
“They don’t have support and will not have it in the foreseeable future.” – SouthernEye

Spirit Embassy Ministries founder Prophet Uebert Angel Mudzanire, convinced a Harare businessman to surrender his Bentley as a way of sowing a seed into his life, but the “man of God” immediately sold the vehicle just after receiving it despite having promised to return it to the owner if he failed to reap the promised harvest within the stipulated period, the court heard yesterday.
Mr Ndabazinengi Shava, the director of Faith Age Holdings Zimbabwe, told the court that Prophet Angel after selling his vehicle to one Phebion, relocated to the United Kingdom and blocked any communication with him.
This was revealed during the trial of Anderson Tagara who is accused of aiding Prophet Angel in defrauding Mr Shava of his vehicle valued at $300 000.
However, Tagara denied the charges when his trial opened yesterday before regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa.
Mr Shava said he believed the man of cloth when he told him that he would reap three folds.
“Just after relocating to the U.K, Prophet Angel actually called and ordered me to give his brother (Limit) the registration book and I gave it to him without any suspicions, not knowing that my car had already been sold even though the agreed eight months period had not lapsed,” he said.
In his defence through his lawyer Mr Itayi Ndudzo, Tagara denied the charges arguing that he was the owner of the car in question.
Part of the defence outline reads; “In February 2012 accused person (Tagara) purchased his own Bentley using his sole and exclusive funds.
It was only subsequent to the importation and registration of the vehicle in May that accused was approached by his then friend, Shava with an offer for the purchase of the vehicle. After negotiations the accused sold the vehicle to Shava and delivered it to him.”
Tagara told the court that in 2013 Shava approached him with an agreement of sale bearing his (Tagara) name as the seller and Benjamin Mudzanire as purchaser.
“Shava advised me that the vehicle had been sold to Mudzanire and since registration was in my name, the agreement of sale was required to divest me of ownership rights, I then signed it. “Allegations by Shava against me are entirely false and actuated by dishonesty, greedy and malice . . . he gambled his property without my involvement,” he said.
The trial continues on Friday. – State Media

The Constitutional Court is on Wednesday going to rule whether the laws which make it a criminal offence for someone who would have infected his or her partner with HIV are constitutional or not.
The argument was bought by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for human Rights last year after the conviction of two Zimbabwean women by the courts two years ago for deliberately infecting their partners, and is based on the constitutionality of the law versus the new constitution promulgated in 2013. The Constitutional Court is on Wednesday going to rule whether the laws which make it a criminal offence for someone who would have infected his or her partner with HIV are constitutional or not.
The argument was brought by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for human Rights last year after the conviction of two Zimbabwean women by the courts two years ago for deliberately infecting their partners preside over the constitutionality of the law versus the new constitution promulgated just before the 2013 general elections.
The law  in context states that any person  knowing that he or she is infected with HIV, or realizing that there is a real risk or possibility  that he or she is infected  with HIV intentionally  does anything or permits the doing  of anything which he or she knows will infect or does anything which he or she realizes involves a real risk or possibility of infecting another person with HIV, shall be guilty of  deliberate transmission of HIV whether or not  he or she is married  to that person, and shall be liable to imprisonment  for a period not exceeding twenty years.
In its (ZLHR) arguments, their case is that there is  no scientific evidence to prove the source of HIV infection which could be brought before the courts when two parties are being tried.
The rights lobby group said the conviction of such persons were done on who first reports  accusing another  as opposed to basing on evidence which is not easy to come by.
Three lawyers Tabani Mpofu,Lizwe Jamela and David Hofisi  have been delegated by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human rights to argue the case.

President Robert Mugabe is set to butcher giant elephants at his birthday celebrations.
Mugabe who turns 91 this week, is set to slaughter Zimbabwe’s endangered species at celebrations held by his party ZANU PF.
A report by the Chronicle said a prominent farmer, Tendai Musasa had pledged to donate two elephants, two buffalos, two sables, five impalas and a lion worth a combined $120 000 towards the president’s birthday bash that will be held on 28 February.
According to The Guardian the conservationists have branded the plans as unethical.
Musasa said this was his way of supporting the function and to ensure a celebratory mood.
He said the donation was “a perfect gesture”, adding that the animals would be slaughtered a few days ahead of the big day with the meat being stored by a local hotel.
“This is totally unethical”
But the chairperson of Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force Johnny Rodrigues said he was not in favour of anyone donating wild animals for a celebration or any other reason.
“They have been doing this for years now. Every time there is a celebration…, several elephants and buffalo are killed for the celebrations. This is totally unethical and should not be allowed,” Rodrigues was quoted as saying.
Mugabe’s government is already under fire for a plan to ship at least 62 baby elephants to China, the United Arab Emirates and France.
The country’s tourism minister last month said the southern African country was overpopulated with African jumbos, adding that Zimbabwe needed to urgently reduce the animals’ population.
According to Huffington Post, at least 20 000 people are expected to attend the lavish celebrations just outside Victoria Falls. News24.com/Additional Reporting