As the Renewal Team and MDC leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube parties crash out of politics leaving the nearly 100 years-old Robert Mugabe to enjoy a power vacuum, Zimbabwe’s democratique may have its last ray of hope in one woman – Barbara Nyagomo.
The UK based Barbara Nyagomo, a professional nursing practitioner, social work specialist and philanthropist whose innovations have been reportedly copied by Joice Mujuru’s ZANU People First, and the Renewal Team, has re-invested herself back into Zimbabwe having left home in 1997, now to tackle ZANU PF’s waning stranglehold. Having birthed groundbreaking international initiatives, the 1Million Zimbabwe Voices, her soap making company, charity work in the UK and Uganda among other feats, Nyagomo has decided to sacrifice her life fighting for people’s freedom.
“I am returning home and have already started with the launching of PDZ – Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe,” the mother of two who is also an acclaimed academic explorer told ZimEye.com.
In Harare and Bindura ZimEye.com caught up with several youths at the University of Zimbabwe and Bindura who have caught onto Nyagomo’s flame.
Her Media and Liaison Officer, Leonard Koni told ZimEye.com, “Zimbabwe is endowed with vast mineral deposits and good arable land but its people have been reduced into beggars and are living in abject poverty. Our country used to be a breadbasket of the region but all has gone down the drain. Our roads are in a poor state. The service delivery system has collapsed and the garbage has not been removed for quite some time and it is now in its intensive care unit.
“Zimbabwe has the capacity to grow with a very good GDP. Since 1997 our leaders have failed to resuscitate the economy to its expected standard. We have been overtaken by such countries like the troubled Rwanda which is now enjoying its economic boom. Politics of patronage has killed the country. Corruption within the government sectors is so prevalent and very few people have been arraigned before a competent court to prosecute the culprits. Thousands of US dollars are being siphoned in parastatals and little action is being taken.
“We as Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe do appreciate a job well done by the revolutionary party in ushering independence to Zimbabwe. We also appreciate MDC-T for creating a democratic space in this political discourse.
“We have failed to recognize the new blood to come into leadership. We have witnessed the recycling of old leaders in the corridors of power and thereby creating a lack of new ideas. A healthy nation needs a fusion of new ideas and brains. We should think outside our quadruple if we are to achieve these millennium goals.
“The cash-strapped government relies heavily on donated drugs and it has also allowed cheap imports
into the country, leaving local manufacturers reeling under economic hardships.
“We as Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe condone such kind of leadership. Our cities have become eye sores. You hardly walk along the streets without hearing vendors touting for customers. Harare the once beauty and sunshine city has disappeared.
“The Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe has a vision to bring back the lost beauty of most of the towns in Zimbabwe. It is so sad to learn that some towns have turned to ghost towns. The industry is no longer there. We have failed to lure direct foreign investment due to inconsistency in our economic policies. We have failed to stimulate our industries and we have increased more imports instead of exporting finished products. We have crafted many economic blue prints from Esap to ZimAsset but nothing has materialised on the ground. Too much talk without action is the order of the day. There is miscarriage of leadership. The people have lost faith in their leaders. The government is still muzzling the discerning voices.
“The Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe denounce lack of freedom of expression which is being compromised. It is so sad to learn that our own Zimbabwe Republic Police has failed to locate Itai Dzamara a journalist cum political activist. The Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe embrace a society where a Kalanga, Shona, Ndebele, Chewa, Nambia, Tonga etc will interact , live in peace and harmony.”

Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa has pleaded with donors for continued funding of the collapsing  health sector and  assured them that they will  not   divert any future  funding extended to Harare.
The Minister made  the plea last week at the signing ceremony for a $13 million Health Transition Fund grant extension from the EU through UNICEF in Harare.
He was also  updating donors on investigations of the  alleged abuse of at least $1.5 million which was part of the Health Transition Fund meant for nurses and  doctors  by his senior ministry officials.
“We had a full day meeting with representatives of funding   partners and the entire senior health staff where we reviewed   both  the negative and  positive  reports pertaining the funds they  have been giving us through the Health Transition  fund”.
“We recommended that there was need for wider consultations before any funds are distributed a thing which was lacking before.
“We also discussed the issue of targeted approach I n which hospitals were given money directly from government without following any other procedures and channels.
“This was also causing some  loopholes .We  agreed  that  this should go ahead but there  must be ways which should  be followed, ensuring that tender procedures have been  agreed up on by the head office,”Dr Parirenyatwa explained.
Recently   Health Services Board Chairperson Dr Lovemore Mumbengeranwa   said told reporters that government was aware of how the alleged misused funds were used.
“What people do not understand is the fact that we have gone through various steps where from the multicurrency situation everybody was earning $100  you know that and we are in the process of building up the salary structures and various allowances .
“One of the things which arose during the hyper inflationary era is that we had a situation where junior grades because of the allowances they were getting were now earning mo re than their senior grades and you know that is an unattainable situation in terms of supervision,”said Dr Mumbengeranwa.
“So as a temporary measure certain allowances and in this particular case On Call allowances were being paid to doctors who are stationed in the Ministry.
“We need those expertise, we need those highly qualified doctors to run programmes, but their counterparts who were working as clinicians were getting these On Call allowances and that brought about a serious discrepancy where at the end of the day you not have been able to attract staff to work in administrative positions .As a result and as a temporary measure, treasury was quite clear, yes they can get it and its treasury which endorsed that.
“As a temporary measure they could get these allowances but, please do not call them On Call allowances call them something else and of course we were over taken by events in the process,”he said.

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Prophet Walter Magaya yesterday launched the second part of his criticism of Vapositori sects, challenging them to stop operations because they are allegedly using evil spirits from the marine world.
Addressing congregants during the launch of his booklet in Harare yesterday titled: “Marine Spirits, Part 2”, Prophet Magaya said he was not against Vapositori sects, but the spirit behind their powers.
He said his intention was not to attack anyone, but to reveal the secrets of the marine kingdom which had caused unnecessary despondency in people’s lives.
“Being a white garment sect follower means you are supernaturally empowered to fail,” he said. “My intention is for all Vapositori operating with the powers of the marine to stop operating. If your gathering does not accept Jesus Christ and believes in marine resources like reeds, pebbles or if it uses traditional tools or it believes in totems it means it’s not a church, but a cult.”
The launch of the booklet comes after Prophet Magaya received scathing attacks following the launch of Part One of the booklet early this year.
In the Part One booklet titled “Marine Spirits, Mweya Yemumvura”, he claimed that the Apostolic sects’ powers were derived from spirits that reside in the “marine kingdom” and that they do not believe in the Bible.
He also claimed that Apostolic sect preachers had a tendency to threaten congregants with death. ACCZ executive president Johannes Ndanga, then accused Prophet Magaya of launching “unrestrained and unprovoked attacks” against them and also accused him of being possessed by demons.
They also claimed that he had snakes in his anointing oil. In the new booklet launched yesterday, Prophet Magaya names and explains all the tools used by the Vapositori and the reasons behind.
He explained why he thought the apostolic sects refer to one man as men (Madzibaba) and one woman as women (Madzimai).
“Everyone who worships in this white garment shrines is addressed to in the plural sense regardless of their age,” he said. “They are very correct to advise you that way because the moment you become a follower, several spirits are drawn into your life.”
Prophet Magaya took time to defend the use of anointing oil, wrist bands and other tools, saying it was not about the spirit behind them.
“It’s not about what you are doing, but what matters the most is about the spirit you are using,” he said.

AN unlicensed policeman appeared in court last Friday charged with negligent driving after a commuter omnibus he was driving overturned and injured five passengers in Harare.
The incident occurred in the city centre. The Chikurubi Training Depot-based cop was also charged with driving without a licence. He was granted $50 bail.
Prosecutor Mr Oscar Madhume alleged that on May 27 around 9 pm the policeman drove a Toyota Hiace which he had taken from Francis Majurivevu.
He was in police uniform. The court heard that the commuter omnibus was carrying 18 passengers heading to Mabvuku.
It is alleged that the policeman was driving due east along Robert Mugabe Road.
He failed to control the vehicle which veered off the road before overturning and injuring five passengers.
The injured passengers were rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital. The matter was reported to the police leading to the cop’s arrest.

A Harare woman has gone missing in the capital.
The lady who is 81 years old went missing yesterday .
Below is a picture of Mrs Alice Muvengwa.

She was travelling from Hatfield to Crowbrough and never reached her destination, family members told ZimEye.com.
” Our family is very worried, ” the source said.
Anyone with detail on Muvengwa’s whereabouts is asked to contact the nearest police station preferably in Marlborough; or contact Mai Mupfurutsa on 0779651678 or Mai Stan 0772497919

Expelled former Vice President Joyce Mujuru together with all Western countries are causing draught, key figures in ZANU PF say.
While ZANU PF politburo extrovert Sikhanyiso Ndlovu says Western countries are deliberately disturbing Zimbabwe’s climate in order to discredit Robert Mugabe’s land reform program, Chiefs’ Council head Chief Fortune Charumbira has claimed former Vice-President Joyce Mujuru’s alleged “witchcraft” are causing drought in the country.
Charumbira, who is on the ZANU PF payroll and does not hide his loyalty to Zanu PF, in March claimed that the gods were angered by Mujuru’s alleged plot to oust Mugabe, hence the erratic and poor rains this farming season.
He was quoted earlier in March by the Newsday dailie saying “Masvingo yakaona nhamo neGamatox (Masvingo was in trouble with the Mujuru faction), even among the rank and file of chiefs. You were supposed to go to Beatrice first (where Mujuru has a farm), otherwise you would not get a farm,” he claimed to the bewilderment of most people present.
“Mafaction ange ofamba achiroya masikati machena (Factions were practising witchcraft in daylight). They wanted to take President Robert Mugabe’s throne, that is why we did not get good rains this year and there is a drought. By flushing out Gamatox (faction), the country has now been cleansed,” Charumbira said.

President Robert Mugabe is feeling the heat over Itai Dzamara’s disappearance 3 months ago and has as a result ordered that a file be opened on the missing activist.
Report by The Standard |Foreign Affairs ministry officials told The Standard recently that Mugabe has since ordered the opening of a file on Dzamara following pressure from the UN which wants answers.
“The Dzamara issue is giving people sleepless nights. There are a lot of theories about his disappearance but the problem for the government now is that the UN has demanded answers,” an official said on condition of anonymity.
“Some countries, particularly in the West are agitating for the issue to be discussed at the next meeting of the Security Council and General Assembly.”
According to the official, there has been a flurry of communication between UN and Zimbabwean officials with the world body demanding answers on Dzamara’s whereabouts.
Dzamarai
“They have demanded answers and the government at one time in a letter claimed Dzamara had been abducted in an MDC-T vehicle.
However, that explanation was rejected by the UN because government could not explain how that information was obtained and what happened after the abduction,” the Standard was told.
While Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Joey Bimha flatly denied there had been any communication between Zimbabwean authorities and UN officials, a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) official in Harare confirmed it.
“It is true there has been communication between the UN Human Rights High Commissioner and the Zimbabwe High Commissioner in Geneva [Switzerland]. That is the channel of communication. I am not quite certain about the nature [of the conversation] but that there have been some discussions about the issue, I have no doubt,” said the official.
But Bimha denied there had been any discussion over the matter.
“As far as I am concerned, there has not been any communication regarding that matter,” he said.
Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was unreachable.
Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) chairperson Elasto Mugwadi seemed to confirm that indeed authorities in Harare had been taken to task by the global body over Dzamara’s disappearance.
“Not really directly but there have been discussions between us and the UN representatives in Harare and the UNDP officials in the country. The problem is there has not been a breakthrough on the case and it is difficult to say anything beyond what we said in our appeal that he should be released if he is in the custody of the state,” Mugwadi.
“However, the State also seemed not to know of his whereabouts. The UN, we expect, would have spoken directly with the relevant ministry and I remember in one of our meetings we suggested they also discuss with the police as regards the court order that required authorities to report progress on the investigation fortnightly.”
He added: “We suggested that they take the issue directly with those that have the obligation to comply with the High Court order.”
There have been suggestions that the government has been dragging its feet to the extent of being in “contempt of court” by failing to meet court demands to provide the two-week updates.
Efforts to get comment from the UN deputy regional representative Kathrine Liao in Pretoria, South Africa drew blanks.
Information minister Jonathan Moyo in an interview with BBC recently claimed Dzamara could have slipped through the country’s borders into another country, just like British citizens ended up in Syria despite tight security. Moyo said the issue of the activist’s disappearance “was obviously of concern to the government. People disappear every day… We have quite porous borders.”
Sources also claimed Zimbabwe’s embassies across the globe and in particular in Britain have been picketed over the activist’s disappearance and government’s alleged lacklustre approach to finding him.
“Our embassies are under a lot of pressure, particularly in South Africa and the UK. There are demonstrations over Dzamara on a daily basis and the situation is bad in Britain because police in that country have given the demonstrators the greenlight to do as they please,” said the foreign affairs official.
A visiting US diplomat Steven Feldstein recently said the Americans wanted “the facts” on Dzamara’s disappearance as soon as possible.
Former Vice-President Joice Mujuru — expelled from government and the ruling party on charges of plotting to assasinate Mugabe — has also weighed in and urged her former boss to “concentrate on finding Dzamara” and focus on more pressing issues than on imaginary plots to kill him.
Dzamara, a journalist turned democracy activist known in Zimbabwe mostly for his “Occupy Africa Unity Square” campaign against Mugabe’s government, was allegedly abducted by suspected State security agents on March 9 after spending months agitating for the 91-year-old leader’s ouster.

Government is over the next two months demolishing over a thousand houses (in Harare alone) the State says were constructed in undesignated areas after it ordered municipalities to “regularise” land use.
The cost of destroying the houses is the same as the one that could have been used to build an equivalent number of new properties for the people who are now set to be made homeless by August this year – The current cost of demolishing a house ranges from $9,000-$13,000 for a small 80-120m2 detached property, up to $20,000-$24,000 for a more substantial property of 200-250m2.
Although costs could be mitigated if there are materials with salvage value, the values of perceived gains are still outweighed by the gross demolition costs thereof.
In Chitungwiza, authorities have begun negotiating with people “illegally” occupying land and have made a police report against groups that have threatened to assault them for seeking to move them.
Over 1 000 unapproved structures have been constructed in the town in recent months, while Harare has roughly 20 illegal settlements to contend with. Many families will see their houses demolished, as unscrupulous property developers led them to believe that the residential stand purchases were above board.
Last week, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo ordered councils to formulate firm and time-bound strategies on illegal settlements.
It could not, however, be immediately determined how other local authorities will handle the matter.
Chombo said: “The days of lackadaisical plan implementation are over and I am demanding councils become more serious in this aspect of their work. Accordingly, you are with immediate effect, to come up with a robust timetable for the return of order in the various illegal settlements in your local authorities.
“I am aware that some misguided elements are currently occupying what they deem ‘idle land’ within municipal boundaries and in peri-urban areas with the intention of becoming land barons. Where such invasions do occur, you are to immediately work with your local provincial and district administrators and the Zimbabwe Republic Police to end the invasion and halt any efforts to effect a settlement.”
Following this directive, Harare Town Clerk Tendai Mahachi devised a plan to clear all illegal settlements in the capital within two months, with assistance from the Joint Operations Command for Harare Province.
The plan — shown to the State Media — shows that teams comprising council officials and law enforcement agents will lead the exercise.
Mahachi said notifications have already been dispatched to those building on and/or occupying undesignated areas.
“Council and JOC have audited land occupations in Harare and established the existence of a number of illegal settlements. Occupants of the land were duped to pay varying amounts by space and land barons for land that belongs to council and Government (State land).
“None of that money was ever remitted to City of Harare. To adess the matter, teams comprising council officers and law enforcement agents have been put in place to come up with plans to remove illegal settlements. We have a two-month period within which to do that.”
In Chitungwiza, The State Media witnessed illegal land occupiers constructing small houses in St Mary’s and Manyame, and Town Clerk Mr George Makunde said more such structures were sprouting all over the town.
Mr Makunde said: “We estimate that these illegal structures are now over 1 000. People have gone on a rampage, occupying as much land as they can without council permission.
“We suspect some land barons are behind this.
‘‘They have already started building structures and as council, we have issued ‘Stop Development’ orders to try and halt this lawlessness.”
Shady property developers, usually referred to as “land barons”, take advantage of desperation for affordable housing to “allocate” residential stands in unapproved areas, pocketing huge amounts of money from their criminal enterprise.
Most illegal settlements do not have running water, sewer reticulation systems, roads and electricity.
Some structures in Harare and Chitungwiza have been built on wetlands, under power lines or on top of sewage pipes.
The move also comes after the High Court in 2014 had senior Judge Nicholas Mathonsi ordering Harare and Chitungwiza to stop demolition of illegal residential and business properties.

PUPILS at a Bulawayo school whose parents have not paid fees have been spending the day in a fenced enclosure instead of attending lessons, Sunday News can reveal.
Officials at Sobukhazi High School are keeping the pupils at the enclosure which is popularly known as the “cage” until their fees is paid in full.
Parents and pupils, who spoke to this publication expressed their displeasure over the development, saying this had been going on for more than two weeks, with about 30 pupils being locked in the “cage” daily.
“What I understand is that all pupils who owe the institution have not been able to attend lessons. They would spend the whole day inside a cage until their mates dismiss. We are concerned because these affected pupils include some who are preparing for their final examinations.
“I think this is clear cruelty but you never know because institution policies differ from one institution to the next; we end up asking ourselves if the institution is going to educate only those who are capable of paying fees,” said one parent, who declined to be named.
When our news crew visited the institution on Wednesday last week, some pupils were inside the cage with a security guard monitoring the situation.
Pupils, who were once affected by this policy said the school officials did not allow their parents to make payment plans.
“I have been in the cage ever since schools opened and I now fear that by the time my parents manage to pay my fees in full, I will fail to catch up with the others,” said a Form Two pupil who was in the “cage”.
“I was once in that cage for some days last week. If you are put inside there, whether you have a genuine case or not, you are not allowed to go to the classroom for lessons. I was released after my parents had fully paid my fees. However, my friends have been forced by the situation not to come to school,” said a Form Three pupil.
Approached for a comment, Sobukhazi deputy head, a Mr C Ndlovu, was evasive and denied ever locking pupils in the “cage”.
“I am not allowed to talk to the Press and for your own information how do you think we can do such a thing. You reporters have a tendency of targeting Sobukhazi High of all these schools. You are probably doing this story for your own benefit. What I can tell you is that some students come to school in the afternoon, when they arrive before their lessons start we put them in the cage so that they do not disturb those who are already in class,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Bulawayo Provincial Education Director Mr Dan Moyo were fruitless as his phone went unanswered.
In a telephone interview, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said he had not received any reports about the issue.
“I do not know anything about that. Honestly, in this age it is not a good thing to do such a thing to students especially for failing to pay fees. However, it is possible to have them put in a fence if they do not have infrastructure to accommodate them while waiting to attend lessons,” he said. sunday news

Sahara Reporters| “I wasn’t trying to make news, I was just trying to ask at least one question on how long this would be, when will you [Mugabe] step down as President” she explained
The Nigerian journalist who confronted Robert Mugabe last week, Adeola Fayehun, has explained her attempts to interview Mugabe.
The explanations were made at a Sahara TV panel on Saturday where she explained that she was surprised that the other journalists at Eagle Square only asked him to smile for the cameras. When she got access to Mugabe afterwards, she decided to question the President.
“I wasn’t trying to make news, I was just trying to ask at least one question on how long this would be, when will you [Mugabe] step down as president”, she explained.
The Zimbabwean President is often hard to get hold of, and does not often grant interviews. As he finishes his 6th term in power, many have wondered if the 90 year old can perform the duties of the office, especially as Zimbabwe faces economic problems and a disturbing human rights record, especially towsrds opposition activists, politicians and journalists. The question of whether any person should rule for 6 terms in a republican democracy has also been raised.

Lance Guma, speaking on the same panel, lauded Adeola. Guma is an exiled Zimbabwean journalist living in the UK. “A lot of people are happy that someone had the courage to ask the obvious questions,” he declared.
The Zimbabwean Minister of Information had led the backlash to Adeola’s questioning, insisting that she had disrespected the President and jeopardized his security by questioning him so aggressively. Adeola insisted that she had no desire to claim the limelight.
“I wasn’t trying to make news, I was just trying to ask at least one question on how long this would be, when will you [Mugabe] step down as president”, she insisted.
Guma insisted that Moyo had missed the point. “All she [Adeola Fayehun] did was ask questions that our own Information Minister [Moyo] asked in 2005.”
“There is no different whatsoever in the questions asked so I do not think simply asking someone when they are going to step down, why there is no democracy in Zimbabwe can constitute a breach of security”, he pointed out.
As Fungai Maboreke, the thrid panelist concluded, Adeola had brought up a question that was important. “I think at this point, its the length of time and this continuous persistence of trying to keep running the country”, he explained. “You can clearly see that you [Mugabe] failed on all sectors, he opined, pointing out that “people want to try and understand why at that age after enjoying such a lustrous career.”

[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images/2015/05/mphoko2.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images/2015/05/mphoko2.jpg” width=”640″ align=”right” title=”mphoko2″ frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]HARARE – Fearless former war veterans’ leader, Jabulani Sibanda, claims that Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko sold out during the liberation struggle when he allegedly diverted weapons meant for the late Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu to President Mugabe’s Zanu, a move he says could have led to the needless death of thousands of people.
Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko
Damningly for Mphoko, a number of Zapu bigwigs who spoke to the Daily Newsyesterday — including Dumiso Dabengwa and Thomas Ngwenya (a former deputy to Mphoko) — appeared to buttress the claims.
Mphoko himself has previously admitted that he diverted weapons meant for Zapu’s military wing, Zipra, to Zanu’s Zimbabwe National African Liberation Army (Zanla).
Tearing into Mphoko with relish at the weekend, Sibanda said while there was nothing wrong per se in the VP having diverted weapons to a sister liberation movement, Zipra intelligence officials had subsequently discovered that some weapons that were in the hands of the Rhodesian Selous Scouts had serial numbers identical to those diverted by Mphoko.
“I know that he remained in Mozambique when others withdrew, and by his own admission he diverted weapons meant for Zipra to Zanla.
“I don’t have a problem with that sharing of weapons between liberation movements, but it was not done right,” Sibanda said.
Characteristically shooting from the hip, Sibanda added that some of the weapons that were diverted like anti-air missiles had resulted in Zapu cadres and supporters being left exposed as there was nothing for them to use to defend themselves against the Rhodesian Airforce — which allegedly led to “massacres”.
“People died because of Mphoko. There was nothing to use in defence. At the same time people were trained to use those weapons and so to have given them to people who were not trained was also like killing the Zanla combatants,” he charged.
Laying further into Mphoko, Sibanda said investigations by the Zipra intelligence had also allegedly discovered that not all weapons which were diverted went to Zanla.
Some of the weapons allegedly found their way to “the South African intelligence, which then found their way to Zimbabwe and were arming Selous Scouts who were moving with AK47s pretending to be guerrillas killing innocent people”.
“Now we know because Mphoko has said it with his own mouth that he diverted weapons. He therefore cannot accept that he diverted weapons to Zanu and then deny that some of the weapons went to South Africa. Some of the weapons used by the Selous Scouts had serial numbers that were so close to some weapons Zipra had,” he said.
Dabengwa, the former Zipra intelligence supremo — who was nicknamed the Black Russian during the liberation struggle — appeared to buttress Sibanda’s claims but was quick to say “it would not be fair for me to speak about the intelligence issues”.
“I have made my comments on Mphoko and I will not make any further comments on him. I don’t think that would be fair. Other comrades can speak, but my position does not allow me to speak,” Dabengwa said.
Asked if Zipra’s intelligence had gathered that Selous Scouts had been armed with artillery similar to that used by the guerrillas, Dabengwa said “it was true”.
“We heard about those allegations and we made our investigations and the allegations were proved to be true,” Dabengwa said.
Sibanda, who was accused by Mphoko of being a sodomite, said he had been provoked into exposing the VP because of his “insensitive comments”.
“This only shows that some weapons were diverted. Mphoko enriched himself with the blood of the people of this country. That is where he derives all this wealth that he is throwing around.
“He had a lavish wedding in Mozambique where people like (South African President Jacob) Zuma were part of his bridal team going to expensive hotels. Some of the weapons were used by Matsanga (Renamo) to destroy Zanu, which is what happens when you have zvipfukuto ( weevils) in your midst,” Sibanda said.
Mphoko is said to be closely connected to the fast growing Choppies Zimbabwe supermarkets, whose parent company Choppies is angling to list on the London stock exchange.
However, his stint as the Vice President has been dogged by a number of controversies, including his pronouncements on Gukurahundi, amid accusations that he is part of a faction of Zanu PF hardliners that is fighting his counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Contacted for comment, Ngwenya, Mphoko’s deputy during the liberation struggle, said the VP “just disappeared” when other comrades were arrested in Mozambique after a fallout between Zanu and Zapu.
“Our statistics were taken during the raid at Gwayi assembly point so I won’t confirm (if weapons were sold to the South Africans) but there is a possibility.
“Mphoko, as we were in Zipa just disappeared. I don’t know where he went. We only heard that he was in Maputo when we were in Tete. He only surfaced after independence, but where he went to and what he was doing nobody knows,” Ngwenya said.
Repeated efforts to get in touch with Mphoko yesterday were fruitless. -Daily News

MDC Renewal Mat South Youth Press Statement
As the MDC Renewal youth of Matabeleland South we receive with regret news that our party Treasurer General Elton Mangoma has quit the party and formed a new party.
The Mat South Youth Assembly of the party by means of this statement disassociates itself with the new party formed by Mangoma and others.
We believe that as the MDC Renewal Team we have proper party channels through which any grievances within the party can be addressed and the Treasurer General is well aware of those procedures and should so have presented his issues to the National Working Committee and National Council if he had any as per order.
It is our view that as leaders we should stand together and work hard to uplift the people of Zimbabwe in general and Mat South in particular who have not enjoyed any fruit of independence and those efforts begin with us as a party having a unity of purpose and not prioritising personal aspirations over the wishes and struggles of the people we are supposed to be leading.
The Mat South Youth Assembly therefore calls on all youth members in the province and indeed the country not to be swayed but to remain calm, steadfast and guided by the Mandel Training Centre resolutions that clearly guide our vision.
That as it may be, we would like to call upon our leaders to comply with the conflict resolution procedures as guided by the party’s laid out procedures than divide the movement at this very crucial stage as we approach congress and policy conference. It is our belief that personal egos and grudges have no room in our vanguard movement as we seek to build an alternative to the failed government of Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF.
We believe in the courage to be different.
Wellington Nare Mat South Youth Secretary
Methuseli Ngwenya Secretary for informal and publicity
Ngqabutho Moyo Organising Secretary
Bhekinkosi Dube Youth cadre development

NewZimbabwe | A TOP ZANU PF official’s hypothesis for the failure of the party’s land redistribution programme is that Britain and America have imposed sanctions on the country’s weather patterns.
The stunning revelation was made by former education minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu while addressing a public meeting in Bulawayo on Thursday.
Pressed to explain the decline in agricultural production, Ndlovu said Western countries are tampering with the country’s rainfall patterns in order to sabotage the land reform programme.
Zimbabwe embarked on the chaotic fast track land reform programme in 2000, forcefully taking prime agricultural land from the minority white farmers and parcelling it out to locals, most them supporters of the ruling Zanu PF party.
President Robert Mugabe says the programme was meant to correct historical wrongs in the distribution of land but opposition parties have accused Zanu PF of embarking on the programme as a way of propping up its waning fortunes.
Agricultural production has gone down drastically in the last fifteen years, with the government this year expected to import over 700,000 tonnes of maize from neighbouring to avert food shortages, partly caused by a dry spell sweeping through the country.
At independence Zimbabwe was said to be producing 28 million tonnes of maize, which declined to about 17 million tonnes in the 1990s.
“The West say we have failed. We have not; we are saying to them, bring the weather patterns to order and we will produce and even export to those countries,” Ndlovu said.
Ndlovu cited Stephen Hawking’s book Economic Hit-man, as containing damning evidence that western countries manipulated other nation’s rainfall patterns.
He reiterated his party’s official excuse that sanctions imposed on the country had wreaked havoc on the country’s economy.
Government is currently carrying out a land audit in various provinces and Zanu PF bigwigs who had been allocated large swathes of land are set to have some of the land repossessed. – NewZimbabwe

Perhaps an illustration of the petrifying perils of supporting Robert Mugabe – the man who praised and loved President Robert Mugabe so much that he equated the 91 year old man to Cremora, Webster Shamu, was yesterday booted from the party.
Shamu is known for many praises of Mugabe and his ZANU PF party.
He once said he would fight all odds to be called Robert Mugabe’s second born son after Robert junior.
He is also known for bragging during the government of national unity, in a song that screamed under the title: “Can You See How Tasty Power and Control Are?”
On the 2nd March 2011, Shamu who was at the time Media, Information and Publicity minister, said Mugabe was feared the world over because of his intelligence and was like Cremora.
But yesterday Shamu was met with his destiny and analysts say despite the multitude of his praise and worship for Mugabe, he will never rise again politically, not in this lifetime. READ MORE -Politburo Kicks Out Webster Shamu, Sylvester Nguni And 37 ‘Mujuru’ Allies

Temba Mliswa| The decision to participate or stand for office as a citizen is a right bestowed to every individual and should be peacefully enjoyed. This right remains grounded in the ethos of the liberation struggle, one in which great sacrifices were made by ordinary, gallant and dedicated daughters and sons of Zimbabwe. This right should be cherished and guarded jealously, without anyone claiming superior entitlement. We are equal before the law and under God.
Following my arbitrary expulsion from ZANU Pf and my decision to stand as an
Independent Candidate, residents and constituent members of Hurungwe West have
been mercilessly subjected to varying forms and degrees of violence, all intended to undermine the existence of a conducive environment for the holding of free, fair and credible elections. The continued prevalence of coercive campaign methods,
violence and intimidation unfortunately prevailing in Hurungwe West defies these
fundamental tenets and principles which are founding values of the Zimbabwe we
covet as provided in the Constitution.
As an aspiring Independent Candidate I have registered these concerns on numerous
occasions with the authorities, including with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
It is saddening to note that the institutions mandated with safeguarding our lives
and rights have been subverted, rendered impotent and unable to protect the many
innocent, defenceless, unarmed citizens under attack from supposed custodians of
national values. To restore confidence in institutions and systems, the responsible
authorities need to urgently return to their constitutionally enshrined mandate for
purposes of instilling confidence in the electorate and citizens to avert the situation of our country being seen and viewed as a pariah state with selective application of the law.
I salute the constituent members of Hurungwe West, volunteers, women, youths,
and the elderly who have, despite these very trying times remained steadfast in
defence of truth, peace and sustainable development. They are the real custodians
of our values and aspirations.
Humbled and encouraged by such commitment, sacrifices and resilience by ordinary
citizens of Zimbabwe and the constituents of Hurungwe West, as an individual, I
affirm my resolve to stand for what is just and fair, the civil heroes and heroines of Hurungwe West and Zimbabwe will emerge victorious and justice and peace shall
reign once again.
– Temba Mliswa

REVIVAL Centre Church leader and prophet, Adventure Mutepfa, was on Monday convicted of culpable homicide and was fined $400 or four months imprisonment. He had pleaded not guilty to the unlawful or negligent killing of a person.
Mutepfa appeared before Mutare magistrate, Miss Venencia Zvichanzii Mugota, who said the only reason why the prophet was spared time in prison was his 30 years clean driving record.
Said Miss Mugota: “This court finds you guilty as charged. However, in passing sentence I considered the fact that the accused is a family man. He is also a first offender who has managed to maintain a clean driving record for three decades.”
The court heard that on December 3 last year, Mutepfa knocked down Mr Joab Madzibangure while driving to a Wednesday service. He was driving along Mutare-Chimanimani Highway when he lost control of his speeding vehicle when he got to the 3,5km peg near Quest Motors and it swerved to the right, hitting Mr Madzibangure in the process.
Although Mutepfa rushed Mr Madzibangure to Mutare Provincial Hospital, he later died after admission. Prosecuting, Mr Medson Garidza told the court that despite the imminent danger, Mutepfa failed to stop or control his vehicle leading to the victim’s death.
In his defence, Mutepfa, who had no representation, denied responsibility of having killed Mr Madzibangure saying it was neither his intention nor premeditation, but just an honest accident.
He added that Mr Madzibangure was the one who was not in control of his actions and he actually chose his fate when he jumped into his moving vehicle.
“I was driving along Mutare-Chimanimani Road and when I approached Quest Motors, a vehicle on my left swerved towards my lane and I tried to stop. On the extreme left was a parked kombi and when I tried to figure out why the vehicle had swerved, I suddenly saw the pedestrian in front of my car.
“He had just been missed by the swerving vehicle. The victim made an about U-turn and started moving backwards. I tried by all means not to hit him, but in vain. I had firm control of the car and I wasn’t driving fast.
“This is explained by the fact that the victim did not sustain any visible injuries. I was not driving negligently, rather the pedestrian himself is the one who negligently crossed the road, causing mayhem as he jumped onto my vehicle,” said Mutepfa.
One of the witnesses, however, insisted that Mutepfa had knocked down the victim on the island of the road. manica post

First Lady Grace Mugabe’s son, Russell Goreraza, was today found guilty of killing a pedestrian a few months ago.
Rusell Goreraza, the son of Mrs. Mugabe and her first husband, former Air Force of Zimbabwe intelligence officer Wing Commander Stanley Goreraza, was arraigned before a Harare magistrate to face charges of culpable homicide.

Prosecutor Venencia Mutake told the court that on February 23 this year, Russell was driving his BMW vehicle registration number ACO 0266 along Samora Machel Avenue in Harare’s central business district when he knocked down an unidentified pedestrian who died on the spot.
The state attorney said the first lady’s 31 year-old son was over-speeding resulting in him failing to apply emergency brakes to avoid the accident.
Goreraza, who spent a night at Rhodesville Police Station, pleaded guilty to the charge and immediately apologized for causing the death of the un-identified pedestrian.
Magistrate Vakai Chikwekwe then ordered Goreraza to pay a fine of $800 or alternatively spend two months in jail. The magistrate said he was lenient on the accused person because he was never convicted before adding that he was the custodian of his minor child following his divorce with his wife.
After the magistrate gave his ruling, Goreraza rose again to apologize for the unidentified person’s death.
Coalition Against Corruption director Terry Mutsvanga the non-disclosure of the deceased person’s identity in court is suspicious.
Mutsvanga said this puts a dent on the first family’s image.
This is almost the first time in the history of culpable homicide cases in Zimbabwe that a deceased person under such road accidents has not been identified.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba was not reachable for comment.
Russell Goreraza made headlines recently when he was allegedly refusing to pay workers at his Tolrose Gold Mine in Kadoma. He also made headlines for the wrong reasons when he was involved in several violent incidents at drinking joints.-VOA

The 287th session of the Zanu PF politburo has endorsed the National Disciplinary Committee’s decision to suspend 39 members from three provinces that had not been discussed at the last sitting a few weeks ago.
Thirty-seven party members were suspended for two years while two others Webster Shamu and Sylvester Nguni (Mashonaland West) were suspended for three years.
The suspended cadres are from Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and Mashonaland West.
Those suspended from Mashonaland West include kindness Paradza, Joshua Chakona, Adrian Musiwa, Steven Karenga, Constance Shamu, Jackson Chizanga, Dominic Muza, Mernard Waneke, Talent Muduuri.
In Matabeleland South, Andrew Langa, Jabulani Phetshu Sibanda, Jeremiah Langa, Moffat Sithole, Ollen Ncube, Morris Muhambi, Lungisani Nleya, Malachi Nkomo, Alice Dube, Clara Langa, Greater Ncube, Vongai Mpofu, Alma Mkwebu, Ndabayabo Ndhlovu, Tafirenyika Seremani and Moses Langa, have been suspended.
Those suspended from Bulawayo are Callistus Ndhlovu, Christopher Dube, Elifasi Mashabe, Charles Chiponda, Nicholas Mhlanga, Canaan Ncube, Bertha Moyo, Methuselah Ndhlovu, Quite Moyo, Bheki Dube, Calvin Musuta and Noma Mokoena.
Those who have been suspended and are legislators will, however, continue to attend parliament.

France’s Ambassador says his country is a serious foreign investor Zimbabwe should consider which does not strike “mega” deals which he described as “hit” and “run” business deals.

President Robert Mugabe last year signed a number of mega deals with China and Russia which are yet to be realized.
Speaking to journalists in Harare Friday after a high level diplomatic meeting he held together with the visiting French Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs Mr Rémy Rioux, and government officials French Ambassador to Zimbabwe Laurent Delahousse said his country signs genuine business contracts.
“What I want to stress is the approach of French companies in Zimbabwe is not an approach for deals.
“French companies are not looking for deals, be they legit deals or shady deals or even mega deals. That is not their interest.
“French deals are looking for clever, win-win, long term business relations in Zimbabwe. When they come to Zimbabwe it is not for three years, it is for the long term.
“Total has been here in a long term, Lafarge has been here in a long term.
“You will not see French companies do a deal and then disappear. It is not hit and run. It is investing in a long term.
“So it needs security, it needs of-course certainty on the protection of your investment. It needs some security on the legal issues .It needs security on property right” he said.

A BEITBRIDGE teacher and a pupil died on the spot when a vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road and hit a tree, police confirmed yesterday.
The accident happened last Friday at around 3.30PM on the road linking Chamunangana and Zezani villages in Beitbridge.
Acting police spokesperson for Matabeleland South Province, Sergeant Thabani Mkwananzi, said Phinos Ngonidzashe Bere, 29, who was a Science teacher at Kwalu Secondary School and a form four pupil from the same school, Rejoice Tlou, 17, died when an overloaded Toyota Noah vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road and hit a tree.
“The driver, Conwell Sibanda, 19, was driving towards Zezani Business Centre from Chamunangana area with 17 passengers on board. He then lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road to the right and hit a tree,” said Mkwananzi.
Bere was buried on Wednesday in Gweru and Tlou at Zezani on Tuesday. Sibanda is expected to appear in court soon charged with culpable homicide.

Bradford – The “Miracle Diesel and Petrol” Zimbabwean “prophet” Uebert Angel promised multitudes in April this year, is a pure fluke, church members have charged.
On the 30th April, Angel preached to a congregation at Zambian pastor Ramson Mumba’s El Shaddai church in Bradford saying they would upon leaving the premises instantly see miracle fuel in their tanks.
He even proffered assurance saying he would check up on progress via the Whatsapp network.
“And we want you to Whatsapp that number, take the photo of the gauge as you go out there. You know it was on empty or it was on quarter tank….You don’t even need to go out of this place at the end of this service….,” he said. VIDEO:

But top church members who attended the meeting have told ZimEye.com there was no extra petrol at all in their tanks. Fifteen (15) people were interviewed. Thirteen(13) key church members said there was nothing other than their faith with them, just as two others the latter who have diesel engine cars said it was all a fluke.
“We have interacted with everyone who attended church and have found out no one experienced a breakthrough, perhaps it will happen soon. We keep holding onto faith though, because we are victorious; Nothing moves our faith,” one senior member only identified as John who has been in the church for over 7 years said.
Another El Shaddai follower, a Zimbabwean who has a diesel engine vehicle told ZimEye.com, “There was nothing, hapana zviripo apa, I am shocked Pastor Ramson (Mumba) who I always thought is on track, allowed this guy to preach” he said.
Angel’s real surname is Mudzanire and was changed after he was listed for academic fraud.
The “prophet” has in recorded video footage told thousands of church members to go and raid cash machines so God can bless them. He is also wanted in Zimbabwe for fraud involving a $300,000 Bentley Car.
Despite the negative development, Mumba has continued to engage Angel in his services and the two are scheduled for a conference on the 20th June in Birmingham.

It never rains but pours for an 82 year old Masvingo grandfather from Muchehe Village under Chief Murinye, as neighbouring hookers and widows who were sexually quenching their desire from the mentally ill young man are breathing fire over the unauthorised circumcision, which was carried without the victim’s consent.
Kufakunesu Pagwaringira’s grandfather who has since been slapped with a six-month jail term after he bound the man and forcibly used a home-made knife to circumcise him, is said to be seeking police protection, after he was threatened with unspecified action from the mentioned women, who are accusing him of having caused their lover’s anguish, by using the domestic knife.
 
Pagwaringira who was sentenced by Masvingo Regional Magistrate Judith Zuyu, told this reporter that he is now fearing for his life, after receiving threats from these hookers, who are staying in the same village. “He is a cruel old man, who belongs to hell, because he is not a medical practitioner and therefore is not authorised to operate anyone. He has inconvenienced us sexually, because Gibson is our man,” said a hooker who only identified herself as Kumbirai.
 
Sixteen-year-old Gibson Hwekave who is mentally challenged only got some herbs applied to the wounds after the operation. It is said that Pagwaringira circumcised the boy because he was sexually abused from time to time and Pagwaringira felt that he could protect him from sexually transmitted diseases by removing his foreskin.
 
 
Pagwaringira pleaded with the court to give him a non-custodial sentence since he was the only one looking after the mentally challenged boy, and was sentenced to a wholly suspended jail term.
 
 
The Court heard that the accused called the complainant into his house and asked him to get some nice clothes so that they could go to church, and the complainant complied.
 
 
However Pagwaringira tied Hwekwave’s hands behind his back, before he force-marched the complainant onto a mountain and ordered him to lie down on a rock.
He removed Hwekwave’s pair of trousers and produced a knife from his pocket and cut the foreskin of the complainant’s manhood afterwards applying some herbs.
 
Magistrate Zuyu slapped Pagwaringira with 6 month imprisonment wholly suspended for 5 years.
 
 
An unknown caller, most suspected to be one of the hookers, tipped the Police who discovered that a home-made knife had been used to circumcise the boy.
Pagwaringira was arrested and the knife was then recovered as an exhibit. The complainant was referred to hospital for medical examination by a medical doctor who compiled the expert report used in court.

An 18 year old woman the State Media says is a witch, was last week Tuesday caught in the act trying to knife a woman so to steal her uterus. FULL REPORT:
A CREEPY looking suspected teenage alleged “witch” was last week Tuesday morning caught in action in the sprawling high-density suburb of Dangamvura allegedly trying to remove an 18-year-old’s uterus in a suspected case of witchcraft.The young witch — who identified herself as Janet — ran out of luck when the would-be victim, Joy Marwa of P346B woke up to the shock of her life around 2am to come face to face with the young witch who was allegedly staring on the mirror in her bedroom preparing in the hope to soon “transfer” the uterus to her “elders” in Buhera.
Further investigations also revealed that Janet was heating seven rand coins on the stove in Joy’s kitchen as part of the uterus transfer rituals.
Surprisingly, the main gate, main doors and screen gate at the house were all locked.
Perplexed neighbours and residents immediately rushed to the house after the terrified Joy screamed for help and sought assistance from her sister, Patience.
“I woke up to realise that a stranger was standing in my room staring at the mirror. I was so scared. At first I thought it was my aunt or a thief who had entered my room. I asked her what she wanted and she said she wanted my uterus. Akati ndirikuda chibereko chako nekuti inini handisisina. Ati mari iyi ikangotsva chete zvangu zvaita. I woke up in awe and screamed for help. I went to the kitchen and the stove was on as she was heating a R5 and R2 coins in a cooking spoon. She also had a fork.
“We further quizzed her and she said they were 28 in their kingdom. There were also some strange concoctions on the door. I screamed for help and all neighbours and my aunt woke up,” said the visibly shocked Joy who was accompanied by her sister, Patience.
“We are still scared. We really want to know the person who sent her to our house. Police should allow us to meet her. This is strange and we really hope this will be amicably solved,” said Patience.
When The Weekender arrived at Dangamvura Police Station on Tuesday morning, scores of dazzled and restless residents were jostling to catch a glimpse of Janet who was in police custody.
And upon meeting The Weekender at the police station, Janet started groaning and rumbling like an incensed pit-bull, her grumpy voice could be heard from a distance.
She started covering her face with a blanket complaining of a severe cold before she stood up and stared reporters. She said she was sent by her “elders” from Buhera.
“I come from Odzi. I don’t know how I came there. I was at Manyange’s house where we usually meet and discuss pressing issues. Some people from Buhera sent me. I was looking for something at that house,” she said before refusing to divulge more information.
It could not be established who Manyange was and where the house was located.
Acting Officer-In-Charge Dangamvura, Inspector Across Matanda, said they were still digging deeper into the matter.
“We are yet to ascertain the real intentions of this young girl. We can, however, not rule out the possibility that she could be a mental patient. We are doing further investigations,” he said.
But was Janet a girl on a mission?
Well-known Dangamvura prophet from Johane Masowe Yechishanu yeNyenyedzi Nomwe, Madzibaba John, who was also present at the police station, said there was a possibility that Janet did not know anything about what was happening.
“It is possible that she might have been used for witchcraft purposes by mischievous people. It is highly unlikely that she knows anything taking place around her. I am here to pray for her and after that she might divulge more information like her real intention and who sent her,” he said.
Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association president, Mr George Kandiero, said that was a clear case of witchcraft.
“If she wanted her uterus, then that is a clear case of witchcraft. She was really determined to complete her mission without failure. It is very possible that she could have been sent by some people.
“If the doors and gates were locked and she did not have spare keys to enter into that house then she can be safely called a witch,” said Mr Kandiero.

VICE PRESIDENT EMMERSON Mnangagwa is in trouble and set to be exposed after he uttered alleged falsehoods on President Robert Mugabe’s peak moments just after the 2008 elections.
Mnangagwa “falsified” information as he made claim that Mugabe became vulnerable when the President’s then security and administration chief Didymus Mutasa crossed floor to make way so MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai could become President of Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa’s utterances were made in Headlands Tuesday where the Vice President was campaigning for the party.
Responding to Mnangagwa’s frontal attack on him and other liberation struggle stalwarts, Mutasa warned yesterday that he would unleash a “treasure trove of damning information” that he had on the VP if the post-congress Zanu PF strongman continued to “mouth falsehoods” and act maliciously.
Mutasa told ZimEye.com Mnangagwa is speaking utter falsehoods. “What would you expect from him. He says he was trained to kill and forgets that he will never kill the truth,” said Mutasa.
He explained to ZimEye.com, “the 2008 election results were announced when all contestants were at their constituencies. I was at Rusape, he must have been at Kwekwe facing his defeat.
“On hearing the results I rushed from Rusape to State House and was the first person to be with the President.”
In another interview still dealing with Mnangagwa, the former close confidante to President Robert Mugabe said ominously this time to a local daily, the DailyNews, that “those who live in glass houses (Mnangagwa) should be extra-careful about throwing stones”.
He rubbished the claims as “utter nonsense”, while also dismissing Mnangagwa’s assertions that he had fled the capital Harare after receiving news that Mugabe had been soundly thumped by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the 2008 presidential elections.
The 2008 polls were later widely discredited as a farce after desperate ruling party hardliners delayed the announcement of the election results for weeks on end, before employing barbaric methods to retain power.
While the MDC has always maintained that it won those elections hands down, the fallout between the warring former Zanu PF comrades is threatening to reveal salacious details of what really transpired when Mugabe and his party lost those elections to Tsvangirai and the official opposition.
In fact, Mutasa revealed yesterday, Mugabe’s inner circle — including Mnangagwa — had been “scattered around the country” during that period of June 2008 when the announcement of the results of the presidential elections were deliberately delayed as authorities worked to manage the situation.
“We were all in our constituencies during that time. Iye (he) Mnangagwa was also in his constituency,” he said. Further mocking Mnangagwa for abandoning the Kwekwe constituency for the comfort of a “tailor made” seat of Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe, Mutasa also said that the VP was “a well known loser who prefers to run away” when the going gets tough”.
“We all know he is a loser and he failed to win in Kwekwe and ran away. When I heard the results (of the 2008 elections) I quickly came to State House. I was the only one who stood by the president during that day until others started trickling in,” Mutasa countered.
Analysts predict that the brutal purges in Zanu PF that have seen the expulsion of former top officials such as Mutasa, Rugare Gumbo and former Vice President Joice Mujuru from the party, will soon result in the disgruntled members “baring their souls” about Zanu PF’s secrets that have kept the ruling party in power since 1980.
Mutasa said pointedly yesterday that individuals in Zanu PF, including Mnangagwa, had “a lot of skeletons in their cupboards”, which would embarrass them and shock the nation if they were exposed.
“He was trained to kill but he cannot kill the truth. He should not say zvinhu zvenhando (nonsense) because we know a lot about him. He should just shut up, otherwise tinomupfumura (we will expose him).
“When he was released from detention in Zimbabwe, he went to Zambia and stayed there. I will not say much about those days. What I know about Mnangagwa is not for public consumption for security reasons. I will not speak much, at least yet,” the former senior Cabinet minister said.
Bernard Manyadza — a former member of the Zanla High Command whose nom de guerre was Parker Chipoyera, and who trained top military officials during the liberation struggle such as Air Force commander Perrence Shiri and Army general Constantine Chiwenga — has in the past said that he only met Mnangagwa once in exile and never heard of him.
“I didn’t know him. I met him once at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka when I was introduced to him. That was the time when people were arrested in Boroma, the time we had Zimbabwe Liberation Council, and we said to him since you know Zambia can you help us rescue comrades in Boroma so that we take them to Mozambique but he said he could not assist because he wanted to complete his studies,” Manyadza recently told the paper.
Mnangagwa, whose alleged political ruthlessness is captured in his nickname Ngwena (the Crocodile) has been an enigma to many Zimbabweans, with another war veteran alleging yesterday that he was “a minor league player” during the liberation struggle, who only came to the political forefront towards the end of the liberation struggle as a presidential aide.
However, Mnangagwa has described himself as “soft as wool” and that the moniker Crocodile came from the famous Crocodile Gang that allegedly blew a train in Masvingo during the liberation struggle — a group he says he was a member of.

A prostitute from Inyathi was yesterday morning found dead with her face split open a few metres from the local police station. Senzeni Sibanda, 29, is said to have left a local night spot in the company of man identified as Dube, a caretaker at
Inyathi police have since brought Dube in for questioning.
Dube, who is said to be in his late 50s, was the last person seen in the company of Senzeni after they left Senco Cocktail Bar at Inyathi Business Centre around 2AM yesterday, apparently to spend the rest of the morning together.
A Chronicle newscrew visited the scene of the gruesome murder which is along a secluded path just a few metres away from Inyathi Police Station’s perimeter fence.
Senzeni’s body was still lying on the ground face down covered with a red blanket. Two police officers were standing guard over it. There were blood stains on the ground suggesting there was a tussle between Senzeni and her assailant.
Scores of people were gathered, among them Senzeni’s colleagues, and shocked villagers. Her relatives, who were still struggling to come to terms with her death, were also at the scene.
Police collected the body at about 12.30PM. When they removed the blanket and turned her body over, Senzeni’s face had a deep gash running across from the temple down to the nose.
Her clothes had blood stains and some clotted blood was on the ground.
Senzeni’s friends and relatives started crying uncontrollably the moment the blanket was removed. The murder weapon had not been found but it was suspected that her killer used an axe to strike her over yet-to-be-ascertained reasons.
Senzeni’s aunt, Medrina Sibanda, said she received a phone call in the morning concerning the death of her niece. Medrina said she learnt that Senzeni, a mother of one, was drinking beer with Dube in the company of her friend, Sizalobuhle Khumalo, at Senco Cocktail Bar the previous night.
She said at around 2AM, Senzeni left the bar in the company of Dube who had proposed to have sex with her. “I was told that the two left the bar to go and sleep together at Dube’s house. That’s all I heard,” said a grieving Medrina.
“I don’t know what happened or what the misunderstanding was about which led to the gruesome murder of my niece. I was only called this morning and we are very saddened by her untimely passing away because she was indeed a good person.”
Senzeni’s brother, Xolani, said his sister is survived by a 10-year-old daughter. He said his sister was a well known lady of the night in Inyathi area. Senzeni’s friend, Sizalobuhle, confirmed she was with Senzeni and Dube drinking beer at the local popular joint. She said at around 2AM, she told the two that she was leaving the bar since there were no clients.
Sizalobuhle, said as they were walking home, Senzeni gave her an open can of Castle Lite beer which she had been drinking for her to finish.
“The bar was almost empty and there were no potential male clients for me. So I told them that I was leaving and they stood up and we left the bar together. As we were walking, Senzeni and Dube took a path into the bush and I told them that it was too dark to take that route. It was at that time that I parted with them going home,” she said.
Sizalobuhle said she went alone to her house and was shocked to discover in the morning that her long-time friend had been gruesomely murdered. She said they knew Dube quite well.
Sizalobuhle said Dube had been buying beer for them the whole night until they left the bar.
She said she had no idea as to what could have led to the murder.
“For all I know we were all happy and the two were showing each other lots of love and affection when I left them,” he said. Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese could not be reached for comment.

High Court Judge, Justice Francis Bere, on circuit in Masvingo, has lambasted the police for ineptitude when conducting investigations of serious cases like murder.Justice Bere said this yesterday when he acquitted 63-year-old Kefas Muchemi of Muchemi Village under Chief Nyakunhuwa in Zaka of murder charges.
Kefas fatally stabbed his brother’s son, Shadreck Muchemi in 2012 during a beer drink while fighting over the village headship roles. He stabbed his nephew on the left side of his chest resulting in Shadreck dying on the spot. Kefas, who was represented pro deo by Takura Kuchenga of Legal Aid Directory, was acquitted after the defence counsel argued that Kefas acted in self-defence when he fatally stabbed Shadreck.
Justice Bere said police investigations were poorly done. The State only presented two witnesses, the owner of the homestead, Amon Makusha, where the now deceased and accused were drinking beer and the village head, Bodius Muchemi, who is Shadreck’s father.
Justice Bere said the police could have been more thorough in their investigations and provided more witnesses other than Makusha and the village head.
‘‘The court is left to rely on Kefas’ version of events especially on the circumstances that led to Shadreck’s stabbing. We find it awkward that from all the people drinking beer at Amos Makusha’s homestead, there is none who witnessed the incident. Of course, there is a risk of exaggeration in the accused’s evidence but the court is unable to dismiss it on the basis of speculation,” he said.
Justice Bere said the courts were hamstrung when it came to further investigating cases as they rely solely on the police for that duty.
In his judgment, Justice Bere sitting with assessors Samuel Mutomba and Joseph Mushuku, said the court could not reject Kefas’ evidence that that the now deceased was aggressive and had threatened him with death hence he acted in self-defence.
He said while in other countries, the courts have the mandate to further investigate cases, the situation was different here.
“The accused acted in the manner necessary when someone is under attack. The court does not adopt an armchair approach in cases like this because the evidence given by the accused cannot be dismissed as the court has no mandate to further investigate. In other jurisdictions, the courts enjoy that mandate but not here in Zimbabwe. That is the work of the police,” said Justice Bere.
Shadreck was aged 24 at the time of his death in 2012. Under cross examination, Kefas admitted to have stabbed Shadreck but, however, denied that he had the intention to kill his nephew.
Kefas said he wanted to inflict pain on Shadreck’s upper part of the left hand so that he could free himself from the deceased’s firm hold but accidentally reached for the chest.
Prosecuting, Takunda Chikwati said in May, 2012 Kefas and Shadreck were with other patrons at Makusha’s homestead for a traditional beer drink.
“At around 7AM, Kefas, acting on behalf of the village head, Bodius Muchemi, 72, who is also his brother and father to the late Shadreck, took out beer meant for the village elders.
He took out two tins filled with beer and gave them to Mavhima Maoneke to mark the traditional beer drinking ceremony. When this happened, the village head, Bodius Muchemi, had not yet arrived,” said Chikwati.
The court heard that Shadreck was not amused by Kefas’s actions and started accusing him of wanting to overthrow his father from the position of village head.
Chikwati said Shadreck then charged towards Kefas who he grabbed by the left hand and dragged him out of the hut and yard.
“In order to free himself, Kefas then produced an Okapi knife from his pocket and stabbed Shadreck on the chest. Shadreck fell down and died instantly,” he said.
After realising that Shadreck was dead, Kefas fled the scene heading towards his homestead. He narrated to his family what had happened at the beer drink before he later handed himself to the police.
Police attended the scene and took the body to the hospital for postmortem.
Results of a postmortem showed that Shadreck died of haemorrhaging shock and stab wound. He had a deep stab wound on his chest.

Zanu PF Harare province youth league chairperson Godwin Gomwe, who is in remand prison, has once again been dragged to the High Court on an urgent basis for allegedly invading land situated in Harare’s Westlea suburb.

The woman who took on bravery against odds to expose the preacher (who flaunted himself as God’s High Commissioner) Walter Masocha, taking on herself “the Samson mantle,” Jean Gasho, has launched a powerful charity organisation to support victimised church people. The legendary Samson of the Bible used the jaw bone of a donkey in a flash to kill one thousand men, and Jean Gasho picked up her own “jaw” to crush the injustices of the man who called himself God’s High Commissioner and everyone’s “Daddy,” and yet was no holy man at all, being soon revealed as a sex offender preying on simple minds using God’s name.
 
Her organisation is called JAW – Just A Woman and seeks to help female victims of religious abuse. In a statement to ZimEye.com, Jean said, “JAW is a non-profit charity organisation with a primary goal of educating and empowering women against religious and domestic abuse.
 
 
“The charity aims to raise awareness on what religious abuse actually is, and how women can prevent themselves from falling victim to cult leaders who prey on vulnerable adults.
 
 
“JAW will also have a support network for victims of sexual abuse by the clergy, and other life threatening abuses facing women in cult like churches today.
“Religious abuse is on the rise in the United Kingdom, and our charity aims to provide a support network for such women that is so void in our communities today,” she said.
 
Meanwhile Jean’s father Never Gasho has spoken from Zimbabwe blessing his daughter for the work she is now doing. His tribute to her was heard by guests and speakers who attended the JAW launch in Milton Keynes on Saturday 31 May 2015. Among the guests was newly appointed Mayor of Milton Keynes Mr Keith McLean and his wife Mayoress Victoria McLean.

The Mayor encouraged Jean to continue the work she was doing and said he would support her charity in the best way he could. BEFFTA founder Pauline Long, Evangelist Kalonga and former Agape survivor Sifiso Nduna were among the guest speakers whilst International Business Entrepreneur Nick J Reynolds delivered a key note speech on breakthrough that left guests feeling motivated and empowered. Entertainers at JAW launch included Jazz singer Cynthia Gentle and Monalisa Sibanda. Children’s worker Melissa Sibanda and young Blogger Bekaa Maphosa were among the youths who graced the event with spoken word and poetry.
 
It has also since emerged that a preacher who worked for Masocha, was fired for supporting Jean’s plight. Evangelist Walter Nhliziyo was slapped with a P45 by Masocha making him immediately jobless. He wrote to Jean just before the function last Saturday: “This weekend we celebrate you Jean. Congratulations on the launch of JAW!!!!
To one you are a Mentor. To a few you are Mother. To many you are a Philanthropist and an Artist. To crowds you are a Blogger and Author. To multitudes you are a Women’s Rights Activist and a Survivor of Abuse. To all, and by all, you are LOVED.
We’ve heard this question thrown around in our homes of late, but where do you begin when honouring the servant life of a woman such as yourself. How do we say ‘thank you’ for all that you have sown, laid down, picked up, carried and poured into our lives? We’ve grasped for words that carry the weight and distinction that you deserve and come up wanting. So in order to best articulate what is in our hearts for you – who you are, and all that you have done – simply: a ‘Big Thank you”.
Thank you for answering the call. For building a blog and throwing open the doors.
Thank you for being sensitive to the Spirit, for committing to the personal journey of discipleship in order that we might share in the fruit of your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Thank you for counting the cost – for looking ahead and taking the road less travelled anyway.
Thank you for going the distance. For never letting anyone take advantage of who we are and what we’re all about – even if it means taking several punches every once in a while.
Thank you for leading by example –
Thank you for being you-
Thank you for BEING THERE. When the sky is falling and when all is well, proving that family is made in both the valleys and on the mountains, with equal measure of weeping and rejoicing.
Deficits have not swayed you. Critics have not moved you.
So this last weekend of May 2015, it is our deepest honour and profound privileges to share in this milestone, as you have shared in ours. Thank you does not seem enough to a woman that has personally ushered thousands upon thousands of us into the light.
Again, we say Thank You. Heaven applauds you and we rejoice that you are a sister in the Gospel.
I speak over you today the promises of GOD to a woman who has laid her life for All. And I say to you with all sincerity and belief that truly, Jean Gasho, your very best is yet to come.
With all our love,
Evangelist Walter Nhliziyo and family (Scotland-UK)”
VIDEO:

A MAN from Chiredzi will spend the next 22 years in prison after a High Court Judge found him guilty of stabbing his father to death in a row over witchcraft allegations.
Lovemore Zimoni, 29, of Village 2, Levanga Resettlement area, murdered Naison Zimoni in cold blood after the latter attempted to chase him away from home for labelling his mother, Marita Zimoni, a witch.
Lovemore courted the ire of Naison, who was 51 at the time in 2010, when he accused his mother of bewitching his wife.
High Court Judge, Justice Francis Bere who is on circuit in Masvingo, convicted Lovemore of murder with actual intent and sentenced him to 22 years in prison.
Delivering judgment, Justice Bere said while it could be true that Lovemore was angered by his father’s intervention in a dispute that concerned him and his mother, it was apparent that he had an intention of callously killing his father.
“You stabbed him because you wanted him dead given the multiple stab wounds and the vulnerability of the position you targeted. You could’ve been angered or acted in self defence but the weapon you used clearly shows that you had the actual intention of eliminating your father. However, in passing sentence, the court shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that you’ll be haunted for the rest of your life for having killed your biological father,” said Justice Bere.
He said the fact that the deceased was not armed and Lovemore went on to assault him using a dangerous weapon shows that the crime was premeditated.
“All the evidence given before this court shows that the accused had planned to murder his father and the lies that he acted in that manner because of the imminent danger from Marita who was holding a hoe do not hold water,” said Justice Bere.
Lovemore was represented pro deo by Frank Chirairo.
Prosecuting, Elson Chavarika said on March,31, 2010, Lovemore was at the family homestead with his late father, Naison and mother, Marita (age not given) when a dispute erupted over accusations of witchcraft.
“Lovemore accused his mother of bewitching his wife and threatened to hurt her. He then took his wife away and the couple put up at a fellow villager, Kelvin Gwama’s homestead. They returned home on the following day,” said Chavarika.
The court heard that when Naison saw Lovemore, he ordered him to leave his homestead because he had accused his mother of bewitching his wife.
“However, Lovemore refused and a dispute ensued. The dispute degenerated into a fight. During the shoving and pushing, Lovemore drew a knife and stabbed Naison several times on the abdomen and head,” he said.
Chavarika said Naison fell down and died on the spot. He said Lovemore immediately fled the scene. A report was made to the police leading to his arrest.
Naison’s body was taken to Chiredzi District Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.
A post-mortem report availed in court showed that Naison died as a result of multiple stab wounds.

Barely 48 hours before the upcoming hotly contested by-elections, Themba Mliswa’s Chief Election Agent,Goodwell Zinyama, has been arrested.
At approximately 18:30hrs yesterday evening (Wednesday 3rd June 2015), Mr. Goodwell Zinyama, Mliswa’s was arrested by members of the ZRP Chinhoyi on what Mliswa’s team say are “trumped up charges of assault”.
 
Zinyama was travelling from Harare to Karoi with a group of students when the combi they were travelling in was stopped at a road block on arrival in Chinhoyi.
“It seems as though the police were on the alert for the combi and had trailed it from Harare,” a witness report seen by ZimEye.com says.
 
At the time of writing he was under detention at Chinhoyi Police Station.
The arrest is seen as another in the now frequent attempts by the ruling party to frustrate Mliswa candidacy as an Independent in Hurungwe West. Mliswa himself was released only a few hours before this arrest as the State failed to prosecute due to the absence of grounds.
 
Mliswa team told ZimEye.com, “This has now become the modus operandi as false charges upon false charges are being heaped upon Temba and his team to interfere in their campaign efforts. What is saddening to note is the way in which the ZRP, the custodians of law and order are being blatantly used at the whim of political expediency.
 
“We are working tirelessly to secure Zinyama’s release and pray that justice will prevail.”

Resolutions of the MDC Renewal National Council
Following recent developments in the renewal team which most of you are well versed with, in particular, the deviation of our erstwhile colleagues from the Mandel declaration which we hold to be timeless and sacrosanct, we the renewal democrats gathered here today on the 3rd of June in the year of our Lord 2015 have decided to peacefully disassociate ourselves from them.
Guided by the original MDC`s founding values and principles of September 1999 and the timeless philosophies encapsulated in the Mandel declaration of 26 of April 2014, we the democrats gathered here today make the following proclamations and pledge to live by them in the prosecution and execution of our struggle for a better Zimbabwe, a prosperous economy and a free people. Free from want and deprivation, free from fear and repression and indeed free to pursue our happiness and economic prosperity, make the following resolutions:
1. We shall pursue the philosophy and ideology of modern nationalism. This entails that we will, in all our endeavors always put our country and its people first before all else. We shall always pursue the emancipation and liberation of the region and indeed Africa as a whole. We endorse unreservedly all the noble efforts in the region and in the continent to fight for political autonomy and economic progression of Africa and its member states. In this regard, we endorse the latter and spirit of the African Union`s vision 2063 in its entirety. We will strive to contribute positively towards its realization both as an opposition political party and indeed when we come to government as we will certainly and inevitably do! In seeking to develop our nation we will embrace and work with the rest of the international community while leveraging on our resources to the best benefit of our people.
2. We believe that no matter how protracted, bitter and costly the struggle for change may be, it is nevertheless a just and legitimate cause. In this regard, and in spite of all the repressive mechanisms laid before us by an illegitimate and authoritarian regime of Robert Mugabe, we will pursue the struggle for change using non-violent, peaceful but fearless and bold methods. All our efforts will be aimed at galvanizing the people of Zimbabwe towards national reconciliation and nation-building. This country is afflicted by a horrendous past and our people bear deep scars from gross human rights violations and socio-economic deprivation. We therefore believe that the government must pay reparations and compensation for all victims of state sponsored violence and unrestrained economic deprivation and political persecution.
3. The economic situation reflects the dismal failure of the present government not only on its 2013 electoral promises but as well as on its constitutional duties and responsibilities to ensure a working and a workable environment for our hardworking and peaceful people to pursue their economic interests. This has led to a proliferation of vendors and an alarming rate of emigration to neighboring countries due to acute levels of unemployment forcing our people to live as second class citizens vulnerable and exposed to xenophobic and other forms of ridicule and exploitation. There is therefore no doubt that this country now needs renewal and revival. Revival of the economy, of the critical state institutions that have been rendered moribund and indeed the renewal of hope and the belief that we as Zimbabweans are no lesser humans and deserve no lesser respect from our government and our publicly elected officials. Zimbabwe has enough wealth for all of us and indeed for all future generations if managed properly and shared more fairly and transparently. Our people remain trapped in abject poverty because of the shameless greed and selfishness of a few individuals.
4. Ever since Mandel, there has been institutional stagnation in terms of building the party and its institutions. We have therefore drawn a line in the sand and start to build the people`s institution in earnest. In so doing, we believe that we must build a strong party in our own accord. We will continue to uphold and pursue social democratic values by fostering and maintaining durable relationships and networks with our grassroots members and working together with like minded parties, organizations and individuals who believe as we do, that the we can never claim to be leaders until and unless the interests of our people become the focus of our leadership. This shall be the guiding ethos of our leadership style and we will remain open and amenable to working with the others in various forms and capacities to pursue and attain change, political freedom, economic prosperity and democratic, transparent and accountable governance.
5. For a longtime, following the Mandel declaration, we have been dithering and ambivalent in constituting our party properly. As a result we have suffered an identity crisis. Thus, we want to put this confusion to rest by constituting ourselves into a clear and unambiguous leadership and party identity. In that regard, our party will be called …………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. In conclusion, we will do whatever is permissible in a constitutional and democratic society to achieve the change that Zimbabweans yearn for. We verily believe that the golden goal of change is well within our reach and achievable. We call upon the unity and effective organization of and by all democratic forces in ensuring that political change and economic freedom are achieved well within our lifetime.
Renewal: The Courage to determine our own destiny!!!

A ZIMBABWE NATIONAL ARMY SOLDIER based in Bulawayo sneaked into his neighbour’s house in Kensington suburb and kidnapped the family’s seven-year-old daughter before leaving behind a dead owl and a black bag in the yard, sparking satanism fears.
In ways reminiscent of the Itai Dzamara abduction, the army officer disappeared with the girl in the think of the night.
The State Media reports the abducted girl’s father, Dennis Moyo, 46, yesterday narrated how the suspect, Njabulo Tshuma, sneaked into his home shortly after 11.45PM on Tuesday and abducted his daughter, a Grade Three pupil at Umguza Primary School.
“We were sleeping with my wife in our bedroom when I woke up to the sound of footsteps. I left my bedroom to check where the sound was coming from and I got suspicious when I discovered that my daughter wasn’t in the lounge where she sleeps,” said Moyo.
He said on stepping out of the house, he spotted Tshuma fleeing through the gate carrying his daughter.
Moyo said the suspect had covered the girl’s mouth so that she could not scream.
“I saw a man fleeing carrying my daughter and chased after him and when he realised that I was catching up, he dropped the girl and continued running,” said the terrified father of three.
Moyo, who managed to positively identify Tshuma in the dark, said he took his daughter and went back home where upon arrival he found a bag containing Tshuma’s pay slip, among other documents.
“I suspect that Tshuma dropped the bag as he fled in the dark and didn’t realise it,” he said.
Moyo’s wife, Christine, said they suspected that Tshuma could have abducted their daughter for ritual purposes after they also found a dead owl in the yard.
“Soon after the incident, we found a dead owl tied with a red string. We believe that it could be something to do with satanism. We’re now living in fear after this incident,” she said.
Moyo said soon after the incident, he followed Tshuma to his home and found the gate locked.
“I then went to Kensington Police Base and filed a report before I joined the police who went to Tshuma’s home where they managed to arrest him,” he said.
Bulawayo Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo yesterday said they were not aware of the incident.
“The report hasn’t yet been brought to us, however, we’ll contact the relevant police station and come back to you,” he said.
The incident comes barely a week after another woman had her newly born baby stolen by a bogus nurse at St Luke’s Mission Hospital in Lupane.
The mother, only identified as Evers, 32, delivered by caesarean section on Thursday last week. Expecting mothers and those who have delivered at the hospital are now living in fear after the baby-snatcher left a chilling message written on a piece of paper outside the hospital.
The piece of paper had the message: “Hospital staff you are Satanists who live on human blood”.
The woman who stole the baby was spotted outside the hospital premises in the early hours of Friday morning carrying the baby by two people who were coming for an early morning visit to the hospital.

President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace says that her pain has continued troubling since her diagnosis for colon cancer earlier in the year.
Speaking during an address in Harare where she attempted to ward off worries about her ill health casting a white face that she is fit as a fiddle, Grace said she regularly seeks medical treatment as the pain has continued across the months and it keeps coming. “At times I have pain here and there but it can be treated, that’s why I sometimes go for treatment and come back fully recovered,” she said, albeit bravely.
There are fears Mrs Mugabe’s cancer may have grown into other tissues beyond the intestines. This has been correlated by the persistent pains.
Grace made these revelations as she addressed women at the start of the Zanu-PF Women’s League national executive council meeting at the party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday. But she pulled a brave face saying she had the same energy as last year when she addressed rallies across the country in her “Meet the People” tours.
“I’m happy we’re meeting while we’re all in good health. I’m very healthy,” she said.
She continued, “I still have the same energy as I had last year.
“That’s why we thank God because at times you become ill and you don’t know what it is and you end up with much bigger problems, but when you know and you’re treated you become well and continue working for the country,” Mrs Mugabe.

ZimEye reveals the names of Elton Mangoma’s senior executives in their new party(Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe) RDZ formed today 3rd June 2014.
They include 5 men and one (Yet To Be Named) female boss.
The six are:
Elton Mangoma – President
Pishai Muchauraya – Spokesperson
Fidelis Mugari
Promise Mukwananzi
Trust Chikohori
A Lady(name withheld)
The other four do not have defined roles as yet, ZimEye.com was told. [ALSO READ-Mangoma Bolts Out of Renewal, Starts Own Party.
Mr Muchauraya told ZimEye.com on Wednesday the above six will lead the new party up to congress whose date was not disclosed at the time of writing.

MDC Renewal Treasurer General Elton Steers Mangoma has bolted out of the outfit to start his own party.
Mangoma’s party is called the Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe.

Announcing the development, the formation’s Spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya told ZimEye.com, “We are now RDZ. I am the Spokesman.”
The move comes at a time when he had been suspended by an ad hoc committee disciplining him for causing violence on a party cadre accusing him of bedding the man’s wife.
It was not clear at the time of writing how many people there are in the party.

Troubled Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition director Macdonald Lewanika has bowed down to pressure which was being exerted by the civil society movement’s board of directors and resigned.
Among other allegations Lewanika was accused of flouting tender procedures and abusing donor funding.
The former Crisis in Zimbabwe boss also forced out Dewa Mavhinga from chairing the troubled organization’s board late last year after an external auditor had unearthed corruption in the Coalition.
Below is the resignation letter which Lewanika wrote to the “board”.
Dear Colleagues
1.) This note serves to inform you that I submitted my Notice of
Resignation letter as Director of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on May
17 2015. I am thus now serving my notice and will shortly be taking my
leave from this station.
– The leadership is still developing an Exit and Replacement plan and
colleagues will be briefed appropriately when these details have been fully
fleshed out. In the meantime, I urge colleagues to continue conducting
themselves professionally and continue to execute their duties, as will I,
till my time of departure.
– I also urge colleagues to desist from turning the issue of my replacement
into a political campaign, either for themselves or their preferred
candidates. A transparent and official process will be laid out and those
interested or with strong feelings around who should replace me can then
take a que from that and act appropriately.
2.) I would also like to officially announce the departure from Staff of
Vivid Gwede, who submitted his Resignation letter to me last week on Friday
the 29th of May 2015. Vivid has now joined the Zimbabwe Human Rights
Association ( ZIMRIGHTS) as their Information Officer. For those who were
in Vhumba for the Programs Team Planning Session we did mention Vivid’s
departure and bed him farewell. In addition to Vivid, Our receptionist Eve
Mazunga also left the organisation.
– As above I urge colleagues to act professionally and continue to conduct
their duties.
– Given our financial situation and also the fact that I shall soon be
replaced, I will not be making or instituting any substantive replacements
for these two colleagues – I will leave this task for the new leadership at
Secretariat Level.
3.) I however have made interim arrangements for Zvikomborero Mache to
return to the organisation to fill in for Zvikomborero Tafirenyika, in my
office, while the later is on leave. Zviko Mache is available to assist
with other duties and has so far been also assisting with manning the
reception desk.
If there are other interim measures, these will be communicated and shared
with colleagues accordingly.
Sincerely
McDonald

Arrested Hurungwe West parliamentary contestant Themba Mliswa has been released by the police and is now a free man.
ZimEye.com which broke the news of his arrest yesterday can exclusively reveal Mliswa was released this afternoon at about 3pm, Wednesday 3rd June 2015.
The release came after the police in Karoi refused to prosecute due to insufficient grounds and also lack of evidence.

Mliswa was yesterday arrested on charges of allegedly destroying party posters of his ZANU PF rival and (yet) village outcast Keith Guzah. He was referred to Karoi Police station this afternoon where cops fumbled over files failing to obtain substantial grounds of prosecution.
Evidence has emerged that it is in fact ZANU PF which is destroying party poster materials. In Harare, Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe, PDZ led by UK based Barbara Nyagomo filed a police case showing how numerous ZANU-PF activists were on a rampage removing posters of other parliamentary contestants as the upcoming by elections draw nigh.

FULL STORY – CLICK HERE-Grace Dissed By Chombo

FULL STORY – CLICK HERE-Grace Dissed By Chombo

A 27 YEAR-OLD Zimbabwean man based in Bredasdorp, Western Cape in South Africa has been arrested for allegedly killing his 14-year-old girlfriend and hiding the body under a bed at his home.
Western Cape provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut, said the teenager’s body was discovered under the suspect’s bed on Sunday morning at his home in Zwelitsha.
He identified the girl as Elba Japhta of Bredasdorp. Lt Col Traut said they were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder.
“The girl was staying with the suspect at his home in Bredasdorp. The girl was beaten and stabbed to death. We’re however, still trying to establish the circumstances surrounding the matter,” he said.
Police said the girl had been living with the suspect for two years. Lt Col Traut said the suspect is expected to appear in the Bredasdorp Magistrates Court today facing a murder charge.
According to South African media reports, the Bredasdorp Community Police Forum alleges that the child had been in a relationship with the suspect for the past two years.
Social Development MEC Albert Fritz said his department was sending a team of social workers to the family of the murdered child.
“We continue to urge parents to play the greatest role in ensuring we protect and provide an enabling space for our children. If you see something, say something,” said Fritz.
Another Zimbabwean cannibal who killed a man before cutting out his heart and eating it with a knife and fork was last month jailed for 18 years.
Andrew Chimboza launched the horrific attack on 62-year-old Mbuyiselo Manona after a heated argument in Cape Town’s Gugulethu Township in June 2014. The 35-year-old claimed that Manona initially attacked him because he thought he was sleeping with his girlfriend.
Chimboza retaliated by slitting his throat and stabbing him multiple times.
He then chopped out his victim’s heart “because it was full of hatred and jealousy, but he later confessed that he didn’t know why he had eaten it. Chimboza pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced at Western Cape High Court by Judge Ashley Binns-Ward who described the assault as “extremely brutal.” Chronicle

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai was going to become President of Zimbabwe in 2008, admitting for the first time that the MDC leader won that year’s elections.
Speaking while shooting down former ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa, Mnangagwa said Tsvangirai was fully set to rule Zimbabwe. He alleged that Mutasa acted in support of Tsvangirai’s automatic presidency in that election when Robert Mugabe was beaten by the MDC leader who garnered 73% of total votes.
“In 2008 when (MDC-T leader Mr Morgan) Tsvangirai almost ruled this country, I was the chief election agent for the President and Mutasa was the secretary for Administration.
“Surprisingly, when the results were announced, Mutasa had already packed all his belongings from the office. When I phoned him he told me that he was already in Rusape,” said Mnangagwa.
He continued his barrage against Mutasa saying, “we wondered how the secretary for Administration would run away at such a critical moment. I phoned (Nicholas) Goche. He also said he was already in Bindura. How could a man in charge of our security at the time desert us at that critical moment? This is the kind of people we were dealing with. They thought MDC was going to rule this country,” he added.
Mnangagwa made these remarks while addressing rallies in Mutata’s Headlands stronghold and Mutare areas to drum up support for the Mugabe controlled party’s candidates ahead of next Wednesday’s parliamentary by-elections.

ZANU PF politburo member Oppah Muchinguri has conceded that there are deep divisions within the ruling party, while slamming Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene, for overstepping her duties in controlling the province.
Muchinguri made the remarks in Mutare yesterday at a campaign rally to drum up support for Zanu PF Dangamvura-Chikanga candidate Esau Mupfumi at St Mary’s Secondary School ahead of next Wednesday’s by-election.
She told Vice-President Emerson Mnangagwa and other top Zanu PF officials, among them political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, acting provincial chairman Samuel Undenge and senior government officials, that all was not well in the ruling party.
Muchinguri, who is also Higher Education minister, said there were sharp divisions in Zanu PF before pleading with Mnangagwa to return to Manicaland to address matters dividing the province.
“Boss (Mnangagwa), you should continue to come here because you said important words of being united in the party. So if it is possible, you also come again to address issues of unity in the party here,” she said.
“This is political commissar and I don’t need your job. I have my own duties as the Minister of Higher Education and my duty is to sharpen my students’ minds. You should be content by what God gave you. If we know that everyone has their duties, then we will move forward.”
Muchinguri said Mnangagwa was not power-hungry, hence he waited for his time to be appointed as VP by President Robert Mugabe.
“He was almost executed during the liberation struggle and look where he stands,” she said.
Both Muchinguri and Chimene were reportedly locked in a dispute for control of Manicaland after former Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa was expelled from the ruling party.
Mutasa used to be the political godfather in Manicaland and Muchinguri was now being considered the new provincial power broker.
Chimene is considered the provincial iron lady for her no-nonsense stance in politics and government.
Mnangagwa, who addressed Dangamvura on one foot as he wanted to rush back to welcome Mugabe from Sudan, said Zanu PF was still intact because it sacked wayward members.
“In Zanu PF, if you are out of way, we sack you and the party will remain strong. Zanu PF is more important than anyone else. And I heard MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai said no election with no reforms, we are saying that they should continue to do that and we will continue to participate in elections after every five years,” he said.-Newsday

Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo has dissed First Lady Grace Mugabe’s orders on respecting vendors. Chombo took advantage of The First Lady’s absence and her time of illness to abuse vendors. In March Mrs Mugabe warned government and police against abusing vendors saying they also have their rights. READ MORE…
We’re Just Vendors Not Soldiers
Zimbabwe’s vendors have thus responded angrily to Minister Chombo’s threats of military action on them using the Zimbabwe National Army to clamp down on the “innocent vendors, who are (yet) only trying to earn a living through legal means”.
“We are just a poor and unarmed community, who are operating legally and we are contributing $2, 60 per day to the council. How can a vendor who is un-armed let alone being voiceless, fight a soldier?

“How can soldiers who are supposed to protect us go against their mandate of security, and begin killing their own?,” asked Edward Manning, who is the national President of the Informal Sector and Vendors.
Addressing journalists in Bulawayo Tuesday, Manning said that all vendors have been contributing towards the council revenues.
“We have been paying money to the council and we also have agreed with the government to pay $1 every day as tax, but we are surprised by Chombo who is eager to spill blood for no reason,” he said.
Manning also accused Chombo of imposing draconian measures, at a time the First Lady Grace Mugabe is not in the country.
“The First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe ordered the police and government to leave vendors alone because she is aware of our plight and efforts. She ordered the stoppage of the harassment of informal traders, but now that she is out of the country, Chombo is flexing his muscles during her absence.
We are a membership driven association, and we are going to act according and also engage the relevant authorities as a community. We are a law abiding community, who want to see the success of our country, not evil thinking in Chombo(sic),” said Manning. See Video for more…

MDC Renewal Team Treasurer General Elton Steers Mangoma had on Tuesday a committee decide on recommendations to suspend him over allegations he hired party youths to assault so called “sex rival” Believe Tevera. Tevera is the man who claims Mangoma is in an adulterous affair with his 20-year-old wife, Yemurai Maravanyika.
The Renewal Team’s spokesperson Jacob Mafume told ZimEye.com the conclusion does not amount to a suspension. “It is a recommendation from the committee,” he said.
The party’s senior decision making committee last week began sitting down as it investigated the violence that occurred at the party offices last week concluding that it was “satisfied” that Mr Mangoma has committed serious offences. The findings also found that Mr Believe Tevera could have handled himself better but he is more sinned against than being the sinner.”
“We find his role in the coordination and sponsoring of violence against party members to be overwhelming. The gang of youth and hired thugs were ferried and transported using the respondent’s vehicle. • One of the thugs was later seen providing the respondent with personal security. • The thugs have gone on to incessantly threaten many party members, including staff members perceived not to be aligned to his agenda,” the report read.
Below was the full report of the adhoc commitee on the violence that took place at the MDC Renewal Team offices
MDC RENEWAL TEAM REPORT NO 1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS OF THE ADHOC COMMITTEE ON VIOLENCE AT THE PARTY OFFICE
02 JUNE 2015 1.
Having carefully heard evidence, and read statements from key witnesses, it is clear to us that the charges that the arise form the facts in this matter generally fall under three categories which are. :-
(a) Those that relate to Violence against members of the party.
(b) Those that relate to bringing the party into disrepute. (c) Those that relate to factionalism and creation of division and discohesion in the Party.
2. From our findings above, we are satisfied, on the facts provided before us that Mr Mangoma has committed serious offenses and that Mr Believe Tevera could have handled himself better but he is more sinned against than being the sinner .
We have no doubt in our minds that Mr Mangoma in trying to respond to allegations against himself has failed to meet the standards expected of a senior party member and has himself gone on to commit offences against the party as more fully appears below :-
a) he coordinated youths and a vigilante group to assault members of the party
b) he brought the name of the party into disrepute;
c) he caused and has been a centre of divisions in the Party causing serious dysfunctionality of the party.
• We find his role in the coordination and sponsoring of violence against party members to be overwhelming. The gang of youth and hired thugs were ferried and transported using the respondent’s vehicle.
• One of the thugs was later seen providing the respondent with personal security.
• The thugs have gone on to incessantly threaten many party members, including staff members perceived not to be aligned to his agenda.
• We find that the holding of a press conference and the utterances thereof to be undesirable and to have brought the name of the party into disrepute, as he to dragged the entire party and some party leaders into his private social matter. Through the use of innuendo and unbecoming rumour mongering.
• We find that the Mr Mangoma violated the party team of ethics by creating and managing a centre of discohesion and disunity causing party dysfunctionality. The respondent buttressed this mischief by advising the media at his press conference that the party was headed for a split.
• We find Mr Mangoma to possess unbriddled ambition where he has employed unorthodox , illegal and uncouth means to fulfil his perharps child hood ambition to a president of something or anything before nature takes him. The undue haste in his manner and methods is that of a suicide bomber who destroys himself in the process of his mission.
• This ambititon has made him to forget the solidarity afforded to him by the very same members on whom he is instigating violence and a relentless smear campaign without any hint of restraint. The irony is that the same methods he employs today including but not limited to sponsoring and coordination of thugs to beat up victims, factionalism , vote buying, smear campaigns the list appears endless.
• A clear indication of the above is the fact that Mr Mangoma refused to appear before the committee sighting unclear reasons for doing so. He clearly showed a marked disdain for party leadership and processes.
Recommendations
1. We have carefully considered the onerous responsibility on our part. In arriving at this decision, we are fully cognisant of party values and party vision for Zimbabwe as outlined at the Mandel declaration on 26th April 2014.
2. In view of these values, it is our respectful finding that the misdemeanours committed are so gross and warrant disciplinary action to be taken.
3. We therefore hold that, in view of the gravity of the matter, it is our recommendation that the respondent be suspended forthwith and not be allowed to be engaged in party activities, pending the disciplinary process.
4. We also recommend that the identified members of the party involved in the perpetration of violence be subjected to a disciplinary process.
We so report accordingly.
SIGNED AND DATE 2 JUNE 2015 ____________ ________________ Bensoni Ntini Solomon Madzore (Chairing)

Barely four days before the upcoming by-elections, Hurungwe West parliamentary candidate Themba Mliswa has been arrested.
ZimEye.com can reveal that Mliswa was stopped and apprehended while driving to Karoi at a roadblock close to Magunje on Tuesday afternoon.
The arrest was conducted at approximately 15:00Hrs.
He was taken into police custody on charges of allegedly tearing down the posters belonging to another candidate Keith Guzah, and disrupting meetings which meetings were not defined at the time of writing.
He was with immediate effect taken to Magunje Police Station where he is to be transferred to Law and Order section in Chinhoyi.
Mliswa’s publicity secretary told ZimEye.com this was so despite this being “a false claim and the fact that Temba had just had his car stoned by ZANU PF youths led by Nigel Murambiwa the individual who led the farm invasion of Spring Farm and who has still not been questioned or arrested in that matter or the theft of Temba’s car in which he was named as the culprit, ” she said.
She added, “the police have not responded to any of Temba’s reports and yet have rushed to arrest him for no valid or factual evidence.”
More to follow as events unravel….

ZANU-PF Harare provincial youth chairman Godwin Gomwe attempted to shoot himself when he heard that police were looking for him in connection with a case in which he is accused of extortion using the First Lady, Grace Mugabe’s name.

 

Former Masvingo Provincial State minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has lashed out at First Lady Grace Mugabe and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, saying the two have no authority to expel him from Zanu PF.
Bhasikiti told the Daily News that he will not be expelled from the ruling party by a politburo that is packed with people who were illegally appointed to their positions.
In defiance of last week’s Zanu PF decision to expel him along with seven other senior officials from the party, the outspoken former politburo member said it was unacceptable that people who do not even know him are now pronouncing judgment on him.
The expulsion of Bhasikiti from Zanu PF has already triggered intense jostling for his soon-to-be-vacant Mwenezi East constituency.
However, the incumbent is resolute he will see out his term until 2018.
“At the moment, no one can expel anyone from the party because the chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo and the secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa have never sat down and considered my case,” he fumed.
“The outcome of the congress has been challenged and I only recognise a disciplinary committee headed by Cde Moyo and Cde Mutasa,” Bhasikiti added.
Mutasa, the former State Security minister, apart from dragging Zanu PF to court seeking nullification of the 2014 December congress, still defiantly refers to himself as the secretary for administration of the ruling party.
But on the other hand, Khaya Moyo has accepted his fate and his less influential position as a spokesperson of the party.
But with the ruling party on a warpath and purging all people aligned to ousted former Vice President Joice Mujuru, Bhasikiti said there is a desperate attempt to create a contingent of bootlicking MPs.
“The new Zanu PF is trying to find new MPs but I cannot be expelled from Parliament because the congress that brought this Zanu PF was illegal,” Bhasikiti said.
“When we were elected in 2003, we never heard of Mphoko, Grace or Togarepi. I don’t listen to them. Who is Mphoko? Who is Grace? I can only sensitise the judiciary system so that they stand guided accordingly.”
Mphoko and Grace are both members of the ruling party’s disciplinary committee that has so far expelled dozens of former party heavyweights. But the victims, most of them accused of siding with Mujuru, claim due process was not followed as they were not invited to defend themselves.
Asked if he would succeed with the court case after the failure by Mutasa, the former Headlands MP and Temba Mliswa, the former Hurungwe West MP to have the courts spare them from parliamentary recall, Bhasikiti said he has so many options.
“Should the judiciary fail to act, I know the people who elected me will act,” he said.
“I am a full member of Zanu PF and will serve the people who voted me into office. People like Mphoko and Grace are out of the question, does he even know me? Ana Grace Bhasikiti vanomuzivirepi? (Where does Grace know me from?). Our recognised leaders never sat in that meeting that expelled us.” DailyNews

A Nyanga man is facing theft charges after he was caught wearing a local woman’s underpants.
Mr Handsen Mombeyarara from Chief Katerere’s Dzonya village, has been slapped with section 113 of the Criminal Law and Codification Act after he was found wearing Mrs Memory Simango’s underwear.
Charges are that on the 20th April, Mombeyarara was caught wearing the woman’s undergarments after he had been apprehended by villagers for trespassing into one Mr Tawanda Maye’s house. Memory Simango is a neighbour of the latter and allegations are that Mombeyarara took the woman’s underwear from the drying line during the night the previous day, 19th April.
Hearing the case magistrate Sekai Chiundura said the man’s mental case was a suspect cause to his unusual behaviour. She ordered that his mental health be examined. “Your behavior is not that of a normal person and so you must first go for a mental evaluation before trial starts,” she said.
Mombeyarara however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The State is being represented by prosecutor Shepherd Chawarira and the trial is set to be next heard on the 6th June.

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called on local authorities to dismiss government directives on removing vendors.
In a statement delivered Tuesday afternoon, Tsvangirai said Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo’s orders on councils to remove vendors from the streets where they trade is unconstitutional and illegal. He said the ZANU PF government is abusing the National Army to carpet its failures. Below was his statement in full:
In terms of Section 276 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, “a local authority has the right to govern, on its own initiative, the local affairs of the people within the area for which it has been established, and has all the powers necessary for it to do so.”
The utterances by Ignatious Chombo demanding that all local authorities should forcibly remove vendors from the streets are therefore unconstitutional. Local authorities are urged to reject any unconstitutional directives issued by the Zanu PF regime.
The MDC is extremely disturbed and concerned by the announcement that was made yesterday by Zanu PF’s Ignatious Chombo to use the Zimbabwe National Army to remove vendors from the streets of the cities, towns and growth points throughout Zimbabwe. The Zanu PF regime must not abuse the National Army to cover for its failures.
The Zanu PF regime’s modus operandi is reminiscent of previous operations like Murambatsvina that took place in May 2005 and the Gukurahundi genocide of the early to mid – 1980s. It is totally unfair for the corrupt and chaotic Zanu PF regime to unleash the whole might of the military on innocent citizens struggling to eke out a living in the face of a crumbling and collapsing economy that has been brought about by years of misrule and corruption by the same regime. The Zanu PF regime created the problem of joblessness by failing to properly and efficiently run the economy. The regime can, therefore, not seek to punish the vendors for a problem that the government created.
The regime must take full responsibility for the suffering that the people are going through after it failed to fulfil its election promises of creating 2 million jobs.
The issue of the people on the streets is symptomatic of the ZanuPF regime’s failure to run the country. No less than 55,000 workers have lost their jobs over the past three years after more than 610 companies closed shop countrywide. The trend is continuing with companies closing almost on a daily basis throwing millions of people onto the streets.
Against the background of a comatose economy and unfulfilled electoral promises, the Zanu PF regime must instead resign in shame rather than unleash the army on innocent citizens struggling to eke out a decent living.
The army must refuse to be used against their brothers, sisters and even their wives and husbands who are trying to salvage an honest living from vending under the prevailing difficult circumstances. The MDC would like to strongly warn the Zanu PF regime to exercise restraint and to be wary of a restive and hungry population.
The MDC will hold Robert Mugabe and his regime to account for any casualties that might be suffered in the ill – conceived brutal plan.
The MDC challenges the Zanu PF regime to come up with an alternative plan for the people’s survival rather than brutally curtailing their means of survival in this very difficult economic environment.
It is now very evident that the corrupt Zanu PF regime has totally failed to meet the essential needs of the majority of the people of Zimbabwe who are living in abject poverty and destitution.
In view of this, the MDC has developed a genuine and sustainable plan to create a developmental state which will move beyond rhetoric and begin calculating “genuine progress,” in a way that takes seriously ecological and social values.
In this plan, people’s livelihoods will be improved, starting with food security, decent jobs, affordable primary health care and education, access to clean water, sanitation and adequate shelter.
The social and economic rights are indivisible and the MDC advocated for them to be enshrined in the recently completed new Constitution of Zimbabwe. According to the MDC plan, the greatest social and economic upliftment of citizens will be achieved through wealth creation associated with investment and the creation of gainful employment.
At the epicentre of the MDC’s upliftment model is the creation of an enabling environment for entrepreneurship to flourish and extend the right of citizens to own property and claim the protection of the State for their civil, socio -economic and property rights.

First Lady Grace Mugabe no longer sleeps with her 91 year old husband Robert having been kicked out of the matrimonial bedroom, State House sources claim.
The impeccable State House sources told ZimEye.com that Grace was booted out following strong security fears raised by intelligence and army chiefs who cited the mysterious death of Nigeria’s former ruler Sani Abacha, said to have died while on top of a woman 3 years after Mugabe married Grace in June 1998.
“She no longer sleeps in there and they stay together but briefly just for intimacy. Shortly afterwards he leaves for his bedroom,” one of the sources who cannot be named, said adding that Mugabe is closely guarded even in his private dwelling as his wife is not trusted. [READERS ADVICE – The exact words uttered have been vigorously altered so to protect the source’s identity].
In December last year Mugabe told ZANU PF members that he is daily troubled by Grace. “This is what she daily does to me at home, so in your presence I just have to force myself to listen, ” he said.
 
It was not clear when exactly Mrs Mugabe was kicked out of her husband’s bedroom.
 
Recently Mugabe embarrassed his wife by saying her Ph.D feat was really “an achievement of ignorance” only created by Mugabe apologist Professor Claudius Mararike, as he pointedly linked it up with academic fraud findings that outrightly dismiss Mrs Mugabe’s certificate.

Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday warned vendors that the services of the army and police will be enlisted if they refuse to move to designated sites.
Addressing a press briefing in Harare yesterday, Chombo said the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) – a think-tank of top security commanders – will enforce the law. Brigadier general Anselmo Sanyatwa, a member of JOC, warned the vendors to immediately decamp to designated sites.
“Address your people about the designated sites which are contained in the document that HCC (Harare City Council) presented here,” Sanyatwa said. “Make sure that your people go to those sites. If not, we do not care about the vendors that are on the streets in town, we will deal with the leaders.”
Chombo said vendors will be given until June 8 to move to the 26 designated sites.-Dailynews

MDC Renewal Secretary General Elton Mangoma has slapped charges on the party’s provincial youth leader Mr Believe Tevera who raised allegations of adultery on his boss Mangoma.
Mr Mangoma’s spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya told ZimEye.com Mangoma’s lawyer was in the final stages of lawsuit papers Monday mid day.
“We are suing him,” said Muchauraya indicating that he will be providing an update on the case.
This cam as the woman at the centre of the allegations against Mangoma, Yemurai Maravanyika told ZimEye.com she does not even know Mangoma personally.
Click here to LISTEN MANGOMA Sex accused speaks. Yemurai Maravanyika’s statements come as a report suggested that  the allegations on Mangoma are false and are part of a  greater scheme to damage his political career.
Meanwhile Tevera also raised counter charges against Mangoma approaching the Civil Court seeking a peace order against the party’s treasurer-general Elton Steers Mangoma, who allegedly snatched his wife.

The report continued, “On or around May 9 this year I established that Mangoma was having an extra-marital affair with my wife, (Miss) Yemurai Maravanyika,” read the affidavit.
“And, the two had become love-birds hence causing serious marital problems and even affecting the welfare of our innocent year-old son as (Mr) Mangoma is having quality time with my wife.
“Aggrieved with loose pants of (Mr) Mangoma and the respect I have for him based on the leadership hierarchy, I then wrote a petition so that an inquiry would be made as to the conduct of (Mr) Mangoma.”
Mr Tevera added that he never knew that his love for democracy would be taken advantage of by (Mr) Mangoma.
“He is having an extra-marital affair with “his daughter” in age — my wife. I also want it to be clear with the court that when I went to the MDC Renewal offices on May 26, (Mr) Mangoma was there. All of a sudden he started shouting on top of his voice, pushed me, yet my crime was to seek justice through an inquiry why he is prejudicing my family having moonlight if not Romeo and Juliet romance.”

Furthermore, Mr Tevera said Mr Mangoma shouted abusive language and unprintable words.
“He went on to instruct a group of visibly drunk and bellicose hooligans to handle me, but I had no option than run for my life. However, luck did not go on my way as I was caught and thoroughly bashed by Mangoma thugs.
“I subsequently made a police report under IR051347 at Harare Central Police Station.”
Mr Tevera added that Mangoma was being cruel and egotistical. After having an extra-marital affair with my wife, he goes on to use his financial muscle to deploy violence against me,” read the affidavit.
“So remorseless has been (Mr) Mangoma that I received a number of threats from anonymous persons acting on his behalf. He has deployed thugs to harass me at my residential place to the extent that on the night of May 26, I slept at Glen View Police station.
“On the night in question, I was harassed by a group of men driving a white twin cab and a grey Toyota Ipsum. I reported the case to the police.”
Since the day of the assault, Mangoma is reportedly threatening Mr Tevera with unspecified action, read the affidavit.
“I am now living (sic) in fear for my life. Because of this I have no option, but to approach the court seeking a peace order on the basis of the above.” The matter will be heard at the Harare Civil Court on June 9.

AXED Vice-President Joice Mujuru has apologised for her role in failures by President Robert Mugabe’s administration, saying she has had time to introspect and hinted to a future role in politics away from Zanu PF.
In a statement yesterday, a subtle Mujuru said her sacking was inevitable, as she had a divergent vision for the country from those in the Zanu PF leadership.
“For my own role in this failure, I am truly sorry and I apologise to my fellow Zimbabweans,” she said.
“This humbling experience [her sacking] has afforded me an opportunity to reflect on the higher ideals of the armed struggle and with sadness, I have had to digest the many shortcomings in delivery.
“It is a time in our history for contrition and reflection, for cleansing and for divinity of faith.”
Mujuru — who has kept the nation guessing as to her next political move — said Zanu PF had descended into “a paranoid and insular organisation”, although she said she would not join the “finger-wagging class” in apportioning blame.
“We collectively failed in our basic mandate to the nation,” she said.
The former Vice-President — who was accused of plotting to assassinate Mugabe and staging a coup — said six months after her sacking, she was yet to be charged in court or face a disciplinary hearing, a clear indication that the law is “used not as an instrument of justice, but as a blunt weapon for silencing dissenting voices”.
Mujuru has in recent weeks been attacked for not standing up for her supporters who were axed in the aftermath of Zanu PF’s congress last December, but she insists that she will not challenge Mugabe — whom she viewed as her “father” — on a public platform, as this was against the ideals of the liberation struggle and an affront to her culture.
In the statement, pregnant with innuendo, Mujuru says she has resolved to serve the nation in whatever role God apportions her, before contemplating on her future and imagining scenarios for the country.
In the scenarios she puts across, Mujuru makes nuances to “people first” — a term used by a group of axed Zanu PF members whom she has been linked to — something which some may say is an indicator of where her political future lay.
“Imagine [a] nation, where the leaders embraced its greatest asset, people, first,” she wrote.
“Imagine our nation where we put country, people first and everything else afterwards.”
Mujuru goes on to imagine a country where freedom of expression and association are enjoyed without fear of reprisals, before rhetorically asking if “this is too much to imagine”.
Mugabe’s former deputy said her expulsion from government and Zanu PF was initially devastating and she felt betrayed, but she had time to introspect before her next move.
Mujuru, who was Mugabe’s deputy for 10 years and a member of Zanu PF for 42 years, was expelled from the party following a brutal purge of her and her supporters after they were accused of plotting against the President.
First Lady Grace Mugabe, who led the onslaught, said if Mujuru were to die, her carcass would not be disturbed by dogs and fleas, a statement that sent shockwaves, but which Information minister Jonathan Moyo backhandedly described as just political banter. – Newsday

GOVERNMENT has given vendors a seven day ultimatum to vacate Harare’s central business district to designated vending sites in a bid to restore order.
Local government, national housing and urban development minister, Ignatius Chombo, gave the ultimatum at a press conference on Monday attended by several vendors associations and the leadership of several local authorities across the country.
Chombo ordered all urban councils to implement the directive, saying failure to do so will see government launching a massive crackdown on them.
“By Monday next week (June 8) everyone should be off the streets,” said Chombo. He said his ministry was in talk with the ministry of Home Affair who will dispatch the police to help them restore order.
He said vendor organisations and the ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and co-operative developments should join his ministry by encouraging their members to co-operate as they endeavour to maintain standards and rid themselves of the “anarchy that currently prevails”.
Chombo said the time for illegal vending was over and vowed that his ministry would work hand-in-glove with the city council to remove all “illegal vendors”.
He said the vendors should relocate to designated sites which will cost US$1 per day from the initial US$3.
Despite earlier threats by urban local authorities to remove vendors from central business districts as a way of decongesting and cleaning up the country’s increasingly dirty towns especially the capital city Harare street traders say they will stay put in the areas where they are currently operating from.
National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (Navuz) chairperson, Stan Zvorwadza, is on record saying his members had “resolved” that they would not move and that they in fact needed to be protected by the law.
The union, which claims to have six million vendors under its umbrella nationwide, and more than 100 000 members in Harare alone a figure that includes many disabled people said it was sad that authorities were taking long to accept that Zimbabwe was now a “vendor nation” out of necessity.
He said he was also concerned about the apparent reneging by cities on the planning authority duties bestowed on local authorities.
“There is far too much disorder in the development of housing estates within your boundaries and you appear to have adopted the role of spectator,” said Chombo.
“May I remind you that the responsibility for the spatial planning has been decentralised to you and this does not mean approving plans alone. You are expected to oversee the implementation of the standards set by yourselves and central government as well as to vigorously pursue the task of development control,” he said.

Running parliamentary candidate and Media Minister Jonathan Moyo was yesterday given a rude awakening when he was humiliated by Tsholotsho villagers.
Tsholotsho residents bunked his rally function at Mpanedziba.
Even Prof Moyo’s own relatives failed to turn up at the event attended by less than (30) thirty people.
The people of Tsholotsho are key victims of Robert Mugabe’s Gukurahundi massacre and a pacifying Moyo descended onto the area clad all over in vivid Mugabe attire.
In response to the development however Moyo said the function was no rally, just a meeting. “This was no rally so numbers did not matter. We were at their school: Mpanedziba High School!,” he wrote on his social networking portal.
Moyo is staking his claim to the constituency after Tsholotsheans dumped him for the MDC-T in the 2013 elections. PICTURES:

A BULAWAYO man yesterday said he was shocked after his wife dragged him to court seeking the dissolution of their 19-year-old marriage that he thought was secure.
An injiva, Thokozani Ncube of Emakhandeni, said he thought that things were still rosy between him and his wife, Nobuhle Ncube, but was surprised when she approached the courts seeking an end to their marriage.
He told magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa that he did not think it was something serious when he was summoned to court.
The couple has two children and Ncube said he still loved his wife and had thought they were going to overcome the minor differences that they had when they were both in South Africa.
“Your Worship, I still love my wife. I’m surprised that my wife wants a divorce. I know we had a misunderstanding but we had said that we would solve all our issues when I come back from South Africa,” said Ncube.
“My wife and I fought when we were in South Africa and she came back home. That is when our relatives said we were going to sit down and solve the problem when I come back home.”
Muchemwa advised them to go for counselling and ordered them to come back to court on July 3 if they still want to proceed with the matter.
Nobuhle told the court that she wanted divorce because Ncube confessed that he had lost love for her in the presence of their relatives.
She said she had moved out of their matrimonial home following the alleged confession.
“What I really want the court to do is to assist us especially in the sharing of property that I and Ncube acquired when we were still together,” she said.
Nobuhle said they acquired 17 head of cattle, a kitchen unit, a double door fridge, a three piece room divider, blankets and kitchen utensils.- Chronicle

Deeply troubled Robert Mugabe who left Nigeria at the weekend for Equatorial Guinea after being humiliated there, left that country Guinea Monday to arrive in war-torn Sudan.
Mugabe who is the AU and SADC chairperson arrived in Khartoum, the capital city of the Republic of Sudan, perhaps to seek peace and solace with overstaying president President Omar al Bashir who has recently been re-elected amid equal controversy as the 91 year old leader Mugabe, as analysts said.
Analysts speculated that Mr Mugabe is struggling to recover from the horrifying humiliation at the hands of Nigerian journalists who grilled him on when he is leaving power.
Mugabe is attending Bashir’s inauguration in his capacity as chairperson of the African Union after Mugabe’s own observer missions ruled the elections as free and fair.
He left Malabo, the capital city of Equatorial Guinea Monday morning after a 2-day consultative working visit.
He was seen off at the Malabo International Airport by his counterpart, President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, cabinet ministers and some senior officials from the government of Equatorial Guinea.
Mugabe, who is accompanied by several hangers on Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba and several other senior government officials, was warmly welcomed at Khartoum International Airport by Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir, some members of his cabinet, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Sudan, Hilda Mavhudze and Zimbabwe embassy staff members.
After the national anthem, the AU chairman then proceeded to inspect a Guard of Honour.
Mugabe, the oldest among the various heads of state, will join others scheduled to attend the inauguration of the controversially re-elected Sudanese President to be held at the National Assembly, called the Omburaman.
President Bashir won the elections by 94 percent. Tuesday’s inauguration marks his second term in office since the cessation of the Republic of Sudan from South Sudan in 2011 after a national referendum.
Speaking to journalists before leaving Harare, Minister Mumbengegwi said the elections held in Nigeria and the Republic of Sudan are very important and it is imperative for Africans to come together and celebrate whenever elections are held in a free and fair environment as this ensures peace and stability on the continent.

President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF hardliners are scared stiff of ousted former Vice President Joice Mujuru and this apparently started to manifest itself as way back as 2004, former Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa has said.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily News on Sunday yesterday, Mutasa — a former close confidante of Mugabe — also revealed how hard and maliciously Mujuru’s Zanu PF enemies had worked ahead of the party’s disputed congress late last year to ensure that the widow of the late liberation war icon, Retired General Solomon Mujuru, would be ousted from power.
“Even at their illegal congress, they stopped her from attending because they thought she would cause problems for them. The Zanu PF leadership, including VaMugabe, is scared of Mai Mujuru.
“That is the reason why they are still attacking her and bringing all sorts of allegations against her,” Mutasa said.
In an ominous birthday speech earlier this year, Mugabe threatened that Mujuru and her allies would rot in jail for allegedly pocketing funds donated by well-wishers for Zanu PF’s damp squib “elective” congress that was held in Harare in December last year.
This came on top of other untested accusations against her and her perceived sympathisers that ranged from plotting to oust and kill the nonagenarian, to engaging in witchcraft and abusing her office when she was in government.
To the chagrin of hardliners, Mujuru has vehemently and scornfully refuted all these charges, going on to challenge authorities to arrest her if they knew that she was guilty in any way.
Speaking at his belated 91st birthday celebrations in March, in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Mugabe also claimed that Mutasa, a Mujuru supporter, had struggled to account for party donations when the nonagenarian had allegedly confronted him last year.
But Mutasa challenged such “false claims” yesterday, saying those who believed that they had such evidence should report the matter to the police so that the law would take its course — adding that he had “absolutely nothing to fear”.
Commenting on the post-congress Zanu PF’s ongoing brutal purges and suspensions of its senior officials, he said this manifested the fear pervading the corridors of power and how many bigwigs would do “anything and everything” to ensure that they silenced Mujuru, who was for many years the firm favourite to succeed Mugabe.
“I am not shocked by the suspensions and expulsions of more people from the post-congress Zanu PF because it is now a pattern that all the suspended and purged members are accused of backing Amai Mujuru. All those linked to Mujuru will be expelled,” Mutasa said.
However, he said he was baffled by the fact that the “petrified” party had not recalled the members it had suspended from Parliament, with analysts and insiders also saying that the ruling party was scared of testing its popularity in more by-elections, particularly as some of the suspended officials had a solid social base in their constituencies.
“The party is already on fire as it is over the purges that we have witnessed, as well as the contentious claims that Amai Mujuru’s late husband, Retired General Solomon Mujuru, plotted to assassinate President Mugabe before the revered late liberation war icon’s charred remains were found after a mysterious inferno at his Beatrice farm in 2011.
“Mercifully, it was realised that recalling more MPs and calling for more by-elections would have been suicidal for the party. As it is, 2018 is going to be a nightmare,” a senior Zanu PF official said.
The divisive allegations against Gen Mujuru, whose funeral at the Heroes Acre in Harare drew the largest crowd ever seen at the burial site, are contained in a report prepared by Zanu PF’s disciplinary committee and that was recently adopted by the party’s politburo.
Mutasa said for all the “bravado” of party Zanu PF hardliners, they were scared of “even her shadow”.
He also reiterated his belief yesterday that the death of Gen Mujuru was not normal, but part of “a grand scheme” by Zanu PF hardliners to weaken and eventually annihilate the liberation icon’s widow.
“Look at the death of her husband. Don’t you see something is not right? Why do people choose not to see what is very clear,” Mutasa said cryptically without elaborating.
Although an inquest discounted foul play in the death of the decorated war veteran — who is widely credited with catapulting Mugabe to the presidency of Zanu PF during the liberation struggle in the mid 1970s — his family remains unconvinced that his death was normal.
Meanwhile, it has also emerged that for the whole decade she was Vice President, Mujuru was sidelined by Mugabe.
Insiders say the former VP had even not been accorded benefits by the nonagenarian such as new vehicles, a government house or a farm — as had been the case with the two current VPs.
An insider said it was clear that Mujuru and her late husband had been targeted by Mugabe and “his henchmen” from day one — who allegedly wanted to “freeze them out of politics” and ensure that the nonagenarian handpicked his successor.
Mujuru was apparently only given a new armoured Land Cruiser when a similar one was also being given to controversial First Lady Grace Mugabe — and thus had to rely on “either her own vehicles or on government pool cars” when she was Mugabe’s number two.
In contrast, Mujuru’s successors, VPs Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, had been treated with new fleets of vehicles.
“The Mujurus bought their Chisipite house with their own resources and it was not a government house as many would want to say today,” the source added.
It has also been reported that a “spoiled” Mphoko allegedly flatly refused to occupy a Mandara house that was left vacant following the death of former Vice President Joseph Msika in 2009, instead asking for his own bigger home.-DailyNews

The MDC Renewal Chairman for Nyanga South, Peter Pfumai was last night attacked by unknown assailants.
The attack occurred near Mapako Business Centre.
ZimEye.com is reliably informed Mr Pfumai (pictured) was this morning on his way for vital medicals. Details were sketchy and the Renewal Team’s Manicaland spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya was taking him to the nearby hospital at the time of writing.

The attack comes at a time the Renewal Team is battling infighting between Elton Mangoma and Tendai Biti Treasurer and Secretary Generals respectively.
More to follow as events unravel…

A renowned prophet in Zaka was hit by an angry goblin when he was overpowered and almost killed by the mysterious creature that he was trying to remove from a home in the same district last week.
His customer, Rupudzi Mavhene whose home was haunted by goblins, thought Madzibaba Farai from Bvukururu was dead after he collapsed and remained motionless for several hours.
The homeowner Mavhene who had invited the prophet to cleanse the homestead from the evil creatures, rushed and made a police report, and the cops were also quick to respond to the call, but only to find the dead man “sent back from heaven”, perhaps to finish off what he had started.
The officers had to return with their silver coffin empty, as Madzibaba Farai reportedly “rose from the dead” as the Police arrived at the homestead with a coffin to collect his body.
The incident, which took place at Zivavose Village under Chief Ndanga in Zaka, drew a lot of attention from neighbouring districts of Gutu and Bikita, as village heads and Chiefs thronged the Ndanga village to get first-hand information.
Efforts to get a comment from the police were delayed, by the time of going to press, as the press and liaison office kept promising to come back with the comment, soon after official communication from the district police office.
Paul Chimedza who is Chief Ndanga confirmed the incident to ZimEye.com saying Mavhene rushed to make a police report at Ndanga Base and Police brought in a coffin but Madzibaba gained his consciousness just before he was ferried to the mortuary.
“The Mavhene family wanted to remove the mysterious object which they thought was a goblin so they hired the prophet from Bvukururu to assist them with holly spirit powers.
According to Mavhene, the cleansing started at the garden before the prophet who was now in spirits on top of a kitchen, caught a mouse and fell on the ground.
He was demanding blood and he hurriedly killed two hens sucking blood from their necks, before going into a coma.

Journalists tell Robert Mugabe to step down.

The woman accused of being in an affair with Renewal Team Secretary General Elton Mangoma, Yemurai Maravanyika’, has spoken out saying she does not even know Mangoma personally.
Click here to LISTEN MANGOMA Sex accused speaks
Yemurai Maravanyika’s statements come as a report suggested that  the allegations on Mangoma are false and are part of a  greater scheme to damage his political career.

The Zimbabwe Defence Forces President Robert Mugabe’s permission has stormed into Masvingo’s Charumbira ancestral lands to displace more than 2,000 villagers against their will.
The army says they are setting up a Chinese cement making company known as Zhing Zhong following limestone discoveries in the area.
But government does not have a relocation plan for the poor villagers so the people are to be dropped into the jungle, an official report reveals. The setting up of the cement plant means that the Government will have to look for more land for resettlement as Tokwe-Mukosi victims presently settled at Chingwizi in Mwenezi are scheduled to be moved again to about seven identified farms in Chiredzi and Mwenezi.
 
More uncertainty
There has been a lot of uncertainty in the whole development. Earlier in the year government admitted the Chinese company was shady and unknown.
Back then government also said only 16 people would be displaced. But the figure has since been revised up to 2000. Villagers have thus protested as some added vowing to resist everything as the things are not clear and government has changed facts on what exactly they are out to do.
Over 600 families in Charumbira communal lands in Masvingo have demanded full compensation and alternative land for resettlement before agreeing to pave way for a new multi-million-dollar cement manufacturing project earmarked for the area.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces entered into a joint venture with an unknown Chinese firm to establish Zimbabwe Zhing Zhong Cement Company that plans to open a cement plant in Charumbira area.
This follows the discovery of rich limestone deposits in the area last year. The company has already obtained an operating licence from the Masvingo Rural District Council.

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

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

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

She was stitched at Harare Central Hospital,six stiches which were removed yesterday. Her name is Annah Shapure and she is a war veteran. The first pictures which were published by Zim Eye are already in the President’s office,VP Mnangagwa and Simon Khaya Moyo’s offices.

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

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

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

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

Simon D, Harare