A son of Zimbabwe’s first post-independence president, Canaan Sodindo Banana, says centralization of political power has devastated the southern African nation once regarded as one of the continent’s bread baskets.
Forty-eight year old Nathan Sipho Banana, who describes the State House where he grew up as an executive prison, says this sad development can only be reversed if Zimbabweans adopt a common national socio-economic vision.
Banana whose father was convicted of sodomy, further says this can be enhanced through accountability and transparency among the nation’s political leaders.
He speaks to Studio 7’s Gibbs Dube in this exclusive interview in which he also talks about his childhood and life after leaving the State House.
His father was convicted and jailed for sodomy. He pleaded not guilty of 11 charges of sodomy and related issues. – VOA

Expelled former Hurungwe West MP Themba Mliswa has laid into ZANU PF’s secretary for Administration Ignatius Chombo saying the latter abused his liberties in the party to execute his long standing grudge on him.
“Chombo abused the grace of both God and man and we shall see how far he goes because indulging with “grace” you cannot go far,” said Mliswa speaking to a friend last Thursday.
Adding fire to his outrage on Chombo, Mliswa told a weekly, boasting that he is preparing to embarrass Chombo now that by elections have been set for, and he will contest as an independent.
“I wouldn’t pick a fight I would lose. I have never lost an election in my life. I was the provincial secretary for lands which I won. Before that, I was provincial youth chairman. Then I won the district coordinating committee elections for Hurungwe and stood for parliamentary elections and won before I went on to win the provincial chairmanship. After the vote of no confidence, I stood for Central Committee elections and got the highest number of votes but was once again blocked. I can stand for any constituency in Hurungwe and win easily, he told the Financial Gazette.
Mliswa said Minister Ignatius Chombo was the reason he was expelled from the party.
“When talking about my downfall, you can never escape mentioning (Ignatius) Chombo. He clearly doesn’t like me and he sees me as a threat. Is it because I do not come from Mashonaland West, or that the chairmanship there is a preserve for the Zezurus and not for any other Zimbabwean? I then get confused and fail to understand the motive of the liberation war. He is a man who is used to usurping the powers of the provincial chairman and would want everyone to tow his line. He needed to be the centre of power in the province when the (party) constitution clearly states that the chairman is the centre of power. He was not happy with my work ethic because I wanted to do things constitutionally.
I will give it to Cde Chombo that I am glad he is there as secretary for administration. I did not understand how people like Cde (Webster) Shamu would say ‘chef’ to Chombo and yet, Cde Shamu was way too senior to him from a structural point of view; so I never understood why he would always say ‘chef’ to someone on number 16 on the national structure. Mai Madzongwe (Senate President, Edna Madzongwe) became a Politburo member earlier, but the two (Shamu and Chombo) would never want to refer to her as ‘chef’. That creates confusion, but if you are going to lead, you want clarity and I sought that clarity. I saw this confusion as the reason why many chairpersons in this province would be forced out. Chombo wants to put everyone in his palm. If you are not on his, you go, and for sure I was not on his side and I also went.
It is important to understand that while the party is supreme, it derives its supremacy from the people. So it’s equally important that the party hears from the people who I have worked with, what they think about all the allegations levelled against me. I intend to go back to the constituency and talk to the people. If they have resolved to have me stand, I will stand. The electorate must not be taken for granted or abused. When they decide to vote a person into office, they know what they are doing.
Mliswa said he was treated harshly by Zanu PF.
“I want to be heard. I feel that the decision to expel me was harsh, it was very harsh. We are young people and are bound to make mistakes. That should not warrant the highest organ (the Politburo) to sit down and expel me. There are people who have made mistakes bigger than mine but are still in the party. I did nothing wrong. You can’t expel me for disrupting meetings. Our (ZANU-PF’s) constitution is very clear on issues of dismissal.
Mliswa said he was not part of the Mujuru camp.
“That’s all lies. I don’t belong to anyone. I made myself in politics. So to say I belonged to the Mujuru faction is not true. What tells you I was? She was vice president of the party and country and people respected the office and not the individual. If someone can be expelled for that, then everyone who has worked with her when she was acting president, including the service chiefs who saluted her, must go. But that’s not the case. I know of no meeting I ever attended where it was discussed that the President must be toppled and Mai Mujuru must take over.”

Liberation hero and former Mozambican President Samora Machel’s widow, Graca, is in Harare for a grand women’s empowerment conference.
Graca who is also Nelson Mandela’s widow, will be addressing Zimbabweans tomorrow morning.
The function hosted by the Network of African Business Women’s forum, is being held at Meikles Hotel starting at 8am.
It is costing $50 per head.
More details below:

ZANU PF Information mic-cast Psychology Maziwisa and MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu fired shots at each other on Thursday with Gutu (who has a long history of retreating to using base ageism when pressured in a debate) calling the former a misguided missile and a ‘young man.’
He went on in bold print to utilise gheto insults such as “stupid” in describing Maziwisa.
The two had been debating with the public on the issue of President Robert Mugabe’s daughter Bona’s presence during the Japan governmental visit, something academics said the enraged Gutu should instead investigate so to raise real points of abuse such as if Bona’s hotel bill was paid for by government. But Gutu without mentioning any issue of such abuse, threw daggers at Maziwisa following the ZANU PF spkesperson’s ZTV interview in which he defended Bona’s presence in Japan.
Below was Gutu’s statement in full:
Many Zimbabweans do not even know the attention – seeking Psychology Maziwisa from a bar of soap. To millions of peace-loving and well-groomed patriots, this misguided and uncouth young man is nothing but just another brick in the wall.
It is extremely unfortunate that one Psychology Maziwiza characteristically attempts to spring up to the defence of the indefensible regarding one Bona Mugabe – Chikore’s State – funded jamboree to Japan. That a little-known political turncoat by the name Maziwisa takes advantage of the Zanu PF – controlled ZBC TV in order to launch a crude, primitive and malicious attack on the person of MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai just goes to show how low the fascist, faction – ridden and beleaguered Zanu PF regime can sink in desperately attempting to divert the people’s attention from the crumbling economy as well as the collapsing public health delivery system.
It is absolutely shocking and uncivilised for someone with such a dubious character and controversial personal lifestyle to denigrate the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe in such a crass and uncouth manner. This Maziwisa boy desperately needs expert psychiatric attention to help him cope with the hazards that come with leading a rather controversial lifestyle. Maziwisa has definitely taken leave of his senses. He needs every concerned Zimbabwean’s prayers to help him get rehabilitated back into mainstream and conventional society.
In a typical Mugabe hero-worshipping fashion, Maziwisa, a moral pervert himself, had nothing substantial to tell the nation to prove his point except to attack Morgan Tsvangirai’s personality with his foul and unmeasured diatribe.
Whilst it is common knowledge that the junior Zanu PF employee, working in the regime’s information department, is merely singing for his supper, he should be mindful that it is not in his best interest to throw stones when he knows that he, himself, is fully ensconced in a very transparent glass house!
For one Psychology Maziwisa to get stupidly carried away and abuse the public broadcaster to wantonly insult other citizens and the intelligence of the people of Zimbabwe, it would certainly attract dire consequences on his personality and character, not least his ominous and wayward identity.
The MDC takes great exception to the unfortunate and Stone-Age utterances that were made by the thoroughly misguided and hopelessly excitable junior spokesperson of the Weevils faction of the collapsing Zanu PF party. As a responsible and family – centred political party, the MDC will not succumb to the temptation of unmasking one Psychology Maziwisa’s rather unusual and controversial personal lifestyle. Suffice to reiterate that this young man should have some little bit of decency in both his public and private lives.
 
In response however, Maziwisa launched a direct attack on Gutu’s MDC-T party. Below was his statement:
“We have noticed with great pity the rather desperate attempt by Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party to make issue with Madam Bona Mugabe’s trip to Japan in which she accompanied her father, and our dearest leader, President Robert Mugabe.
Not only is this another sign of Mr. Tsvangirai’s pettiness, it’s a demonstration that he is clueless about what happens in the global political sphere, especially since there is no law (domestic or international) that precludes a head of state from travelling with his or her daughter on state visits.
While we don’t expect Mr. Tsvangirai to know this from personal experience because he has never been a head of state himself and is unlikely ever to become one in his lifetime, at least we reasonably expect that he should be acquainted with these basic facts because they are a matter of public record. It’s really not too much to ask from someone who has a well-known dream of one day becoming Zimbabwe’s head of state.
It is a matter of public record, for instance, that former US President Bill Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, not only attended incalculable state meetings and functions with her father, she in fact, when her mother was away campaigning, became the focal point at White House where she received several foreign dignitaries. Madam Bona Mugabe has not done anything nearly as much.
We refuse to buy into the narrative that for as long as it’s President Mugabe doing it- no matter how perfectly lawful it is, it’s wrong, but if it’s Bill Clinton doing it it’s cool. It’s a barbaric way of doing politics.
The fact of the matter is that Tsvangirai needs to mind his miserable political business. Isn’t it amazing that he has become so desperate for attention that he wants to generate headlines even with the pettiest of issues? It is a very sad situation indeed and a clear sign that Mr. Tsvangirai might just be beginning to see that his political career is drawing to an unhappy end.
At least President Mugabe is travelling abroad with his daughter. Tsvangirai has travelled on innumerable foreign missions with concubines, most of whom are young enough to be his daughters. If he sees glory in that, then shame on him.
He needs to shut up and concentrate on sharpening his leadership skills.
Make no mistake, we are not at all perturbed by this.
As far as we are concerned, Chimpanzees scream, dogs bark and Morgan Tsvangirai talks nonsense.”

The Environment, Climate and Water Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has saved top female journalist and Herald Business editor, Happiness Zengeni from being booted out of the Zimpapers stable for the publishing of an alarming and explosive story, ZimEye.comhas learnt.
The business section of The Herald on Tuesday published a revealing story headlined “February inflation points to a dying economy”.
The Herald editor Caesar Zvayi viewed the title as alarming and ordered Zengeni and her deputy, George Chisoko, to write detailed reports explaining how ‘such a screaming headline’ ended up being published.
Chisoko was subsequently suspended because he was the duty editor on that day.
Under normal circumstances the Editor, despite being absent is answerable for any editorial mistake published in a newspaper.
In December Zvayi, was sent on forced leave for publishing story headlined “Gono, Biti ties raise suspicion”.
Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said the story was based on “emotive and false assertions that smack of a hidden political agenda.”
In his defence Zvayi said he was not present when the story was published but he was sent home despite raising that excuse.
Highly placed sources within the publication’s editorial team have claimed to both the Minister and ZimEye.com that Zengeni was Kasukuwere’s girlfriend hence the survival. They accused the ZANU PF commissar saying he was in love with the female journo said to be “very attractive and beautiful” hence the unusual gesture.
“She (Zengeni) spent the rest of the day (Tuesday) under pressure from Zvayi for the story, and only to be rescued by Minister Kasukuwere. In fact the directive to suspend her and Chisoko came from the Ministry of Information but because the Minister in charge (Jonathan Moyo is a close ally of Kasukuwere the decision to fire her was then reversed and Chisoko was sacrificed,” said the source.
Zvayi confirmed Chisoko’s suspension saying his actions were meant to cause alarm and despondency.
“To this end, I am suspending you for the next two weeks on full pay with immediate effect. During this period, March 17 to April 3, you are not allowed to enter company premises”.said Zvayi in a letter he wrote to Chisoko and seen by ZimEye.com
Efforts to obtain a response comment from Minister Kasukuwere failed as his phone kept ringing without being answered.

One man died and two others were injured on Wednesday when an elevator fell several floors in a government building in the Zimbabwean capital Harare, according to a report.
ZBC TV reported that three technicians are understood to have been working on four old elevators at Chaminuka Building, where the spy agency — the Central Intelligence Organisation — has offices.
“An elevator car they were decommissioning accidentally fell,” the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) said in its main evening news bulletin.
Earlier unconfirmed reports said that the lift had fallen nine floors. This was not confirmed by the TV report.
“The three were taken to hospital, where one died. Medical personnel say the condition of the other two is stable,” the ZBC said.
Investigations are continuing.

In another farm wrangle, Zenzo Ntuliki a senior security official who sought to bar a commercial farmer Tim White from interfering with activities at the farm,  has lost as his application was dismissed by the Bulawayo High Court.
Justice Nokuthula dismissed an urgent chamber application by a senior intelligence officer who sought a provisional order to stop an Esigodini white commercial farmer from kicking him out of Avalon Farm in Umzingwane district.
In a similar case  recently, Rodney Mashingaidze, a district officer in the President’s Office, lost his case against a white commercial farmer, Peter Cunningham at Maleme Farm in Kezi District.
Ntuliki cited White, officer commanding police in Matabeleland South, Happymore Sigauke and the Sheriff of the High Court as respondents.
In her ruling, Justice Moyo said she did not dispute that Ntuliki was allocated the land after it was gazetted by government in 2003. She, however, ruled that the applicant did not follow the proper procedures in occupying the farm and subsequently dismissed his application.
“Applicant must wait for the law to take its course before creating urgency for himself. It would seem applicant failed in his bid to despoil first respondent (White). In my view, the applicant should have followed due process in seeking to occupy the farm rather than confronting the first respondent and advising him of his imminent take-over of the farm. He should have left it to the lands authorities to notify the respondent to vacate the farm and give him a reasonable period within which to leave,” said the judge.
Justice Moyo said the Ministry of Lands and Rural Settlement should have notified White of its decision to repossess the farm and allowed the concerned parties to be heard.
“It’s my considered view that the Ministry of Lands and Rural Settlement cannot allow a party to occupy land and then offer the same land to another without following the requirements of the rules of natural justice that demand that the one who understands has a right to remain in occupation, should be duly notified of the intention to take that right away, make representations if any, and a decision be taken subsequently after all the concerned parties have been heard,” said Justice Moyo.
“In my view, administrative decisions should be taken within the ambit of the law. For the applicant to have a well grounded fear that the first respondent wants to dispossess him of the farm or to disturb his effective control, applicant must have occupied the farm after following due process, which is not the case in this situation. I accordingly dismiss the application with costs,” ruled Justice Moyo.
In his founding affidavit, Ntuliki who is being represented by Cheda and Partners accuses White of blocking his workers from occupying Avalon Farm and refusing to vacate the property.
“This is an urgent chamber application for an interdict against White. I’m the legal holder of real and personal rights over an area of land known as Lot 2 of Lot 36 Essexvale also known as Avalon Farm in Esigodini. The farm was gazetted and acquired by the government in 2003 and it was subsequently offered to me in terms of the Agricultural Land Settlement Act in 2014,” said Ntuliki.
He argued that White has been refusing to vacate the farm despite having initially reached an agreement to leave on January 10, this year. Ntuli said he has an offer letter from the ministry.
“White was supposed to vacate the farm on 10 January, 2015, but he reneged on his word and my workers have been reduced to vagabonds as he is stopping them from moving in and they are now squatting in the bush,” said Ntuliki.
The state security official is also accusing the commercial farmer of endangering his livestock through illegal mining activities.
“The respondent is vandalising my irrigation equipment and he is also conducting illegal mining activities within the vicinity of the farm thus endangering my livestock due to massive environmental degradation as he is leaving large open pits, cyanide and mercury, which are dangerous chemicals. He is also polluting water sources on the farm,” said Ntuliki.
In his opposing papers, White said he has been in occupation of the 142 hectares farm since 1998 after he bought it from his family.
“Lot 2 of Lot 36 Essexvale commonly known as Avalon Farm was purchased by my family in 1988. It was held under a holding company PHW Farm (Pvt) Ltd. In 1998, I sold my town house and bought the farm from my family,” he said.
“I believe I’m in lawful occupation of the farm because I was granted a permit to remain in occupation of the farm by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Settlement in 2007 and that permit was confirmed in writing,” said White.
He further argued that he had not been officially notified by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Settlement to vacate the farm. – State Media

Zimbabwe Republic Police officers fired directly at prisoners who rioted at a high security jail in Harare last week, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa told parliament on Wednesday as he confirmed a ZimEye.com exclusive coverage of the brutal killings on the day. [READ MORE – Chikurubi Riot: 7 Prisoners Shot Dead as Mass Torture Begins;   ………...  Massive JailBreak, 1 Shot Dead as Fire Breaks Out at Chikurubi Maximum Prison ]
Mnangagwa contradicting the prison authorities’ spokesperson who claimed no gunshots were fired, said however officers fired live bullets onto the unarmed prisoners while also alleging that the disgraced former ZANU PF MP candidate and church pastor, Robert Gumbura convicted of rape, had masterminded the prison food riot.
He said the prisoners had “armed themselves” with pieces of wood and bricks and began attacking officers at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on Friday because they thought the police “[did] not have bullets”.
“When the officers felt that they were in serious danger that is when they fired and one inmate died in prison,” Mnangagwa said, contradicting earlier claims from a prisons spokesman that the first reported casualty was not shot but died in a stampede.
“Those who got wounded, one died the same day and the other three died later on. Altogether five have passed on,” he said.
“Two had climbed the roof to escape and that is why they were shot,” the vice-president, who is also justice minister, added.
He did not say whether the fifth victim died of gunshot wounds or from other injuries sustained during the chaos, which lasted three hours and was sparked by discontent over poor food.
The Prisons spokesperson had last week insisted that officers only used blanks.
Harare West MP Ms Jessie Majome (MDC-T) asked why Mnangagwa’s version was different from spokesperson of the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services, Elizabeth Banda-Karinda’s, who was quoted in the media saying inmates died during an ensuing stampede.
Mnangagwa responding, admitted that he “had read in the press” what was said, but added: “I am giving this house the report I have received as Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
“I have no doubt that the report… is the authentic and official report, not the one that is in the newspapers,” he added, in an official transcript of his speech.
Meanwhile ZimEye.com can reveal that the number of the shot prisoners is actually seven(7) and the prison authorities have been suppressing the figures since last Wednesday.
ZimEye/SAPA

[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2014/07/gumbura999.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2014/07/gumbura999.jpg” width=”250″ align=”right” title=”gumbura999″ frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]Jailed RMG Independent End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura masterminded a foiled escape bid by prisoners at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, leading to the death of five inmates who were shot after ignoring warning shots by security details, Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa said yesterday.
Responding to questions from legislators in the National Assembly, Mnangagwa said the inmates, most of them dangerous, initially thought that prison warders and other security details were not armed and proceeded to climb ceilings in a bid to escape.
When reinforcements fired warning shots, he said, the inmates thought the guns had no bullets resulting in shots being directed at them to stop the escape.
“They conspired to break away from prison. A group of a hundred were involved in this conspiracy, surprisingly also, Gumbura was chairing that conspiracy. They went into the kitchen and caused damage, breaking pipes, attacked prison warders and eight of them were injured. While that was happening the core group was climbing into the ceiling trying to escape. When reinforcement came they thought they had no bullets and attacked the officers.
“They (security teams) then fired into the air but they (inmates) said there is nothing in the guns. They then fired straight at them, that was when they retreated and order was restored. We have now enhanced security.”
Harare West MP Ms Jessie Majome (MDC-T) asked why Mnangagwa’s version was different from spokesperson of the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services, Elizabeth Banda-Karinda’s, who was quoted in the media saying inmates died during an ensuing stampede.
“It is true that I read what you said. But I am giving you a report I got. I have no doubt that the report is authentic and a formal report. I believe that what I said represents what happened,” said Mnangagwa.
On relish, he said the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority had since given prison authorities cooking oil confiscated at border posts for violating entry requirements to feed the inmates. – State Media

Tendai Biti press statement:
The Parliamentary ruling made on Tuesday, 17 March 2015 by the Senate President, Edna Madzongwe and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Jacob Mudenda and to purportedly expel 17 members of parliament and four senators marks a sad and tragic day for democracy in Zimbabwe.
It is a heavy blow to democracy and democratic agenda when the MDC Renewal Team is building a new narrative and that narrative is to provide the solution.
It is unprecedented anywhere in the history of democracy. Democracy is a very simple process as the people have a say on the issue of recalling an MP not a political party.
The sum total of the people who voted for the MPs in 2013 comes to 102 000 people. The expulsions are therefore undemocratic and not supported by the Constitution.
It is a reflection of naivety, a reflection of surrender by Morgan Tsvangirai as these spaces are going to be very difficult to recover.
Our erstwhile colleagues have now agreed to collude with the ruling party to reverse the gains that the democratic movement has made over the last 15 years.
Our lawyers are in the art of crafting court applications to challenge the ruling. There is no right of recall of an MP in the Constitution.
It is ironic that at a time when they are preaching their message of ‘big tent’ politics, they have seen it fit to cut the nose to spite the face by donating parliamentary seats to Zanu PF at a time when the Zimbabwean democratic opposition movement in Zimbabwe must be making efforts to close ranks and fight the Zanu PF dictatorship. It is a sad reality that they are now more Zanu PF than Zanu PF.
Zimbabwe’s economy is currently experiencing rapid decline and the citizens are suffering with poverty and deprivation on the rise.
The people are suffering and they are looking for a political alternative that gives them hope for a better future.
Zanu PF has demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that it does not have a solution to the challenges we are currently facing. The people are looking up to the opposition to offer leadership and yet our colleagues choose to go to bed with Zanu PF to further erode the little democratic space we had occupied in Parliament following the grand electoral theft by Zanu PF in 2013.
While we respectfully differed with Tsvangirai and his colleagues on strategy and principles, we never imagined that they would one day collude with Zanu PF against the people’s democratic project.
The people of Zimbabwe expected that the few MPs from the MDC formations in Parliament would work together to bring sustainable solutions to the country’s challenges and we have no doubt that they are now disillusioned by Tsvangirai’s shenanigans with Zanu PF.
Further, the ruling by the Speaker yesterday is clearly part of a political strategy that has nothing to do with the law as it is unconstitutional. In making his ruling yesterday, the Speaker of the House of Assembly did not follow due process.
On two occasions last year, 8 May and 14 November, Mudenda ruled that there were two centres of power in the MDC-T and that the legitimacy of the party’s leadership had to be determined by a competent court of law.
The question now is what has made Mudenda change his earlier judgments when the courts have not made any ruling on the matter and the circumstances of the matter have not changed?
Regrettable as it is, it is now apparent from Tuesday’s judgment that there is now political incest between Zanu PF and Tsvangirai and his cohorts.
The actions of the Speaker of the House of Assembly are unconstitutional as the party that purports to have written to him does not exist and Mudenda has succeeded to be in the same bed with it.
Meanwhile, as the MDC Renewal Team, we will intensify our radical constitutional and democratic struggle and we assure Zimbabweans that Parliament or no Parliament, we will be executing the people’s democratic project on the streets and other legal platforms.
The MDC Renewal Team is guided by the Mandel resolutions of 26 April 2014. We will continue with the idea of pushing for the alignment of the country’s laws with the Constitution. We will push for genuine electoral reforms. We will push for the agenda of economic transformation. We will depart from the use hate language and impunity.
We will continue with the idea of the grand coalition of democrats, the national convergence. As genuine democrats, we are able to regroup and in 2018, we give the people of Zimbabwe a chance of undoing what Zanu PF has done for the past 35 years because we are in the correct.
In soccer they say the one with the ball is the one who is marked and the MDC Renewal Team is being marked because it is in control of the ball.

An international journal has published a photograph of a rare lightning strike over Zimbabwe taken by a Mutare resident last month. Dr Peter Lowenstein took the photo of the bolt, which is absolutely straight – unlike most lightning strikes which have a zigzag shape.

The journal Earthsky says the occurrence is very rare. “It was sheer luck to catch that bolt – surely a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. There were only three visible and audible strikes during that storm, many minutes apart,” said Lowenstein.
The strike is known as a positive cloud-ground (CG) strike. Apart from being much less common than normal negative lightning, positive lightning is very energetic with discharge currents exceeding 100,000 amperes (compared to less than 30,000 for negative strikes).
-zimbabwean

Following a harsh legal threat issued by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights on Tuesday, to the University of Zimbabwe which had evicted students and closed the institution, UZ Vice Chancellor Levy Nyagura, Wednesday reversed the decision and reopened the college.
“Following an earlier statement issued yesterday advising students, members of the public, and indeed the University of Zimbabwe Community that the institution was going on recess until 24 March, 2015, I am happy to advise that urgent issues that needed immediate attention have now been resolved.
“Consequently lectures resumed today March 18, 2015 at 0800 hrs.
“Resident students should return to their hostels immediately and attend lecturers,”Nyagura said in a statement.
ZLHR on Tuesday, threatened Nyagura with legal action for giving students a short notice to vacate the University campus.
This was after the students had demonstrated against the striking lecturers and starvation.
Nyagura however attributed the reopening of the college to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Oppah Muchinguri whom he said rescued the desperate situation.
Nonpayment of salaries of lecturers at the Masvingo’s Great Zimbabwe State University Midlands State University, and the UZ soused the riots.
 
 
 

Francis Mufambi, who has resigned from the Welshman Ncube-led MDC, has likened the opposition party president to the late Uganda authoritarian leader Idi Amin.
Mufambi, who was the party’s national youth secretary for international relations, told the Daily News that he was resigning from the party because it had deviated from its initial values and norms.
“I am actually sad that I am leaving the MDC but I have to do it after realising that we are creating a monster more than Idi Amin,” Mufambi said.
“The innocent are actually suffering, while the guilty are rejoicing.
“The president of the party (Ncube) is surrounded by a very dangerous and destructive cabal led by Edwin Mushoriwa and the president just accommodates them because they are people who sing for their supper and dance for sadza.”
Mufambi becomes the latest official to jump ship in the wake of the resignation by Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, who was the organisation’s secretary-general and lately Nhlanhla Dube, the spokesperson.
Other officials that have left are Frank Chamunorwa, who was the vice national chairman.
Mufambi, who has also served in the international relations implementation committee of the United MDC, has been holding a senior position in the Ncube-led MDC since 2011.
“I am terminating my membership with the MDC,” he said.
“There are factional issues that I am not happy with. As one of the senior youth leaders, I was faced with a lot of blemishes and faults.
“If you are thought to be in Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s camp, you are treated like a leper. The way they treated Priscilla’s issue was unconstitutional.
“They said the presidency has accepted the resignation when in actual fact there is no organ called the presidency in the MDC.”
He said the party was condoning hate speech and other unconstitutional acts.
He added that there were other party members who had done a hatchet job of copying and pasting Zanu PF’s tactics in pursuit of power, adding that Misihairabwi-Mushonga was being treated in the same way former Vice President Joice Mujuru was treated in Zanu PF.
“This is the biggest castration of democratic order of our times. I will be happy to leave the organisation whose chances to win after such acts are between slim and none. It’s possible for my grandmother to be a goalkeeper for Dynamos than Welshman to be president of this country,” he said.
He said there was need for opposition parties to work together and have unity of purpose.
“There is ego among leaders. They are selfish. Most of them are running political parties to fund raise for their private projects. We can only talk of winning on the day that all opposition parties will come together and fight Zanu PF as a united force,” he said.
Mufambi said he was fighting for democracy in the country and had lost several of his relatives through Zanu PF’s iron-fisted actions.
“My mother was beaten by Zanu PF thugs, who caused her sickness, culminating into her death. There is need for a very radical programme of action characterised by mass action,” he said.
-DailyNews

Dear Editor,
On the 11th March women from different denominations in gweru donated foodstuffs to Mudavanhu ZimCare Trust school in Mkoba.
As the role of churches is to assist vulnerable members of the community, the donors came from Salvation Army, Anglican and Methodist churches. PICTURES:

The expulsion of at least 17 MDC-T PMs from Parliament has been received with joy by Zanu PF yesterday with much focus  on the most valued  Tsholotsho North constituecny,which a few  Zanu PF failed to win in Matebeleland during the 2013 elections.
Zanu PF national commissar Saviour  Kasukuwere wrote on Twitter encouraging Prof Jonanathan Moyo who lost the seat with a narrow margin to  Mrs Roseline Nkomo to grab the seat saying, “Jonso bring back our constituency. Bring it back home!”
Prof Moyo  proudly twitted back  to Mr  Kasukuwere’s call saying, “Copied National Commissar. This is a case of a lost but found constituency.”
Mrs Nkomo, who polled 4 827 votes to Prof Moyo’s 4 163, was one of 17 MPs and four Senators who peeled away from the Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T to form the United Movement for Democratic Change (UMDC) – a coalition with the Professor Welshman Ncube-led MDC. Mr Tsvangirai’s MDC-T party petitioned the Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda to expel the MPs, claiming they had fallen foul of rules which bar lawmakers elected on a party’s ticket from “crossing the floor” – that is joining another party. Adv Mudenda granted the MDC-T its wish yesterday, effectively setting the stage for 17 by-elections. Zanu-PF sees this as an opportunity to consolidate its huge parliamentary majority and few victories would give the party as much satisfaction as reclaiming Tsholotsho North.
In the 10 Matabeleland North constituencies, Zanu-PF lost only in Tsholotsho North, Nkayi South and Hwange Central. The party had a clean sweep in Matabeleland South, winning all 13.
Bulawayo, though, was a tough nut to crack – yet Zanu-PF could gain an unlikely foothold if the MDC-T and the UMDC carry out their threats to boycott the elections.
Five seats are up for grabs in Bulawayo – Mr Bekithemba Nyathi (Mpopoma Pelandaba), Mr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo (Lobengula), Mr Reggie Moyo (Luveve), Mr Albert Mhlanga (Pumula) and Mr Gorden Moyo (Makokoba). The axed MPs have a tough decision to make – stick with the party’s boycott directive or break ranks and contest. A boycott would deliver the seats to Zanu-PF. Mr David Coltart, a member of the UMDC, observed: “Given that the MDC-T say they’re boycotting by-elections, are they happy to hand these seats over to Zanu-PF? One thing is crystal clear from Twitter – both Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere issued deliriously happy tweets about the move. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.” The UMDC yesterday appeared determined to fight Adv Mudenda’s ruling in court. Former MDC-T secretary general Mr Tendai Biti, now a key figure in the UMDC, was yesterday not ready to entertain talk of by-elections. His Harare East seat was also declared vacant. “The ruling is clearly political and is borne out of the relationship between Tsvangirai and Zanu-PF. We’re obviously going to challenge this in a court of law,” said Mr Biti.
Prof Ncube, one of two interim leaders of the UMDC, told The Chronicle last night that if it got to it, they would not contest any by-elections. “No, we’ll not contest. We’ve not contested in a single by-election since the 2013 elections, whether for council or Parliament and we’ve said it several times that we don’t want to take part in any by election,” said Prof Ncube.
Should the MDC-T or UMDC rethink their positions and contest, two other marginal seats – other than Tsholotsho North – could be closely fought. In Harare East, Mr Biti garnered 9 538 against 8 190 for the Zanu-PF candidate, while in Dzivaresekwa Mr Solomon Madzore won by less than 1 500 votes after he managed 6 591 against Zanu-PF’s 5 402.-herald

A Chinotimba area Form Two pupil at Mosi-oa-Tunya Secondary School in Victoria Falls is battling for life at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo after he was gored by a wounded lone buffalo in the resort town on Sunday morning.Relatives said the attack took place at around 8AM between the gorges and a railway line near the veterinary offices.
They said 14-year-old Brendon Nkomazana was fetching firewood with his elder sister, Vanessa, in the company of four neighbours when he was attacked.
Some members of an apostolic sect who were conducting a service nearby reportedly took to their heels and abandoned church when they heard Vanessa screaming for help.
The family said by yesterday afternoon, the boy was yet to be attended to despite the fact that he was still semi conscious and bleeding from the mouth.
Brendon reportedly sustained injuries under the left ear as the buffalo’s horn narrowly missed his throat. His cousin, Cecilia Ndlovu, said Brendon was lucky to be alive.
“They left after 8AM to fetch firewood with three girls and two elderly women. They said they heard Brendon scream and shortly thereafter saw him being tossed into the air after the buffalo attacked him. He might not have seen it coming because the grass is long while trees are still green,” said Ndlovu.
She said the wounded buffalo tried to attack him again but failed because he lay still in the grass. “It threw him into the grass and he lay there still. The buffalo looked for him and trampled everywhere but couldn’t locate him. The other members of the group hid behind some bushes watching from a distance. When the buffalo moved away after failing to locate him, they quickly hurried to where Brendon lay and carried him while calling for help,” she said.
Brendon’s uncle, Calvin Lowani Shoko, said his nephew could hardly breathe when he was rushed to Victoria Falls District Hospital.
“I was at the bus terminus when I received a call that Brendon had been attacked by a buffalo. I rushed to the bush and found that he had already been carried to hospital by a Vehicle Inspectorate Department truck. After realising that the buffalo had moved away, Vanessa ran to seek help from a nearby church but the apostolic sect members picked up their garments and fled when she told them there was a wounded buffalo nearby.
“The two elderly women who had accompanied the children to fetch firewood helped carry Brendon and were later picked by a VID vehicle which rushed him to hospital. At that time he was bleeding profusely while the neck was swollen.
“Looking at where it gored him, it narrowly missed his throat and only God knows how he survived. He could hardly breathe and they stitched him to stop the bleeding but he started bleeding from the mouth. He was given some pain killers and immediately transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital where he is admitted,” said Shoko.
Brendon’s aunt, Nyembezi Ndlovu, who accompanied him to Bulawayo, said by yesterday afternoon he had not been treated as they were told to wait for a doctor.
“We arrived at around 3PM on Sunday and he was admitted. When we arrived for the afternoon visit today (yesterday) he hadn’t been put on a drip and hadn’t eaten anything. He can hardly breathe and is still bleeding from the mouth. He is still half conscious and that’s worrying us. We only hope God will intervene and heal him,” said Ndlovu.
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers hunted down and shot the buffalo on Sunday. Last year, a man from Monde was killed by an elephant near Masue River while another was gored by a buffalo in Victoria Falls town as wild animals continue to wreak havoc.
Only last month, a 24-year-old Bulilima man escaped with severe injuries after a leopard attacked him while he was searching for donkeys in a bushy area.
Gift Moyo of Male Village in Dombodema area said the animal pounced on him from a tree. His seven dogs, which were accompanying him, saved his life as they fought the leopard off before the animal could injure him further.
Moyo’s wounds were stitched at the local Dombodema Clinic.

A 36-year-old Harare man was yesterday arraigned before the courts for assaulting his wife for denying him sex.
Oliver Chaibva, of number 16297 Sunningdale 2, Harare, was warned and cautioned by Mbare magistrate Ms Precious Muzondo not to repeat such barbaric behaviour. Chaibva pleaded guilty to physical abuse.
Circumstances are that on February 13 this year Chaibva and his wife Fatima Muma (34) were sleeping in their bedroom. The court heard that around 00:30 hours Chaibva woke his wife up and demanded sex.
The wife refused saying she was tired. Chaibva forcibly tried to have sex with Muma but failed. He beat her up. Chaibva was arrested after Muma reported the matter to the police.

The troublesome nationwide lecturers’ strike together with the subsequent students’ strike at the University of Zimbabwe are now no more, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Minister and Pastor Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has claimed.
As students slept rough on Harare’s streets with riot police pursuing them from behind into the night, Muchinguri-Kashiri issued a statement claiming that the strike should end.
This was so despite an official statement by the University of Zimbabwe authorities that the institution will only open on Tuesday the 24th March.
Mrs Muchinguri-Kashiri among other things said that the government had released outstanding salaries for state university lecturers and staff to end strikes which had forced the University of Zimbabwe to temporarily close.
Lecturers at state universities, including Midlands State University (MSU), National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) abandoned lectures last week in protest at the non-payment of February salaries and last year’s bonuses.
Muchinguri-Kashiri, speaking to reporters in Harare yesterday, said she met with representatives of university staff before appealing to Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa for an urgent solution to end strikes at the institutions of higher learning, as well as a demonstration by students at the UZ.
“I wish to confirm the position taken as follows: that salaries will be mobilised and released before the end of the day, Tuesday, March 17, 2015, whilst the bonus will be staggered,” she said.
She said lecturers should return to work immediately. “Pursuant to this resolve, members of staff in all State Universities are requested to resume normal teaching, learning and research activities with immediate effect,” she said.
Muchinguri-Kashiri said treasury highlighted financial challenges the government was facing and efforts being made to address the situation at state universities.
“Treasury officials expressed their sincerest regret over the dismal failure to meet the dates designated as pay dates,” she said.
Meanwhile, the UZ announced on Tuesday it was closing until March 24, 2015, after students demonstrated in solidarity with lecturers and non-academic staff.
But Muchinguri-Kashiri said the UZ will open for lectures today.
“We’ve been communicating with Vice Chancellor Levy Nyagura to discuss the way forward given what we agreed with workers’ representatives. He did agree that he took the decision to close because of the demonstrations which took place,” she said.
“We both have agreed that activities have to resume and UZ will be opened tomorrow morning (today) with lectures. I hope all the institutions will adhere to the directive.(New Ziana/Additional Reporting)

FULL STORY – CLICK HERE to read

Zimbabwe’s parliament has expelled 17 legislators who left the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party after a bout of infighting in the party last year, the national assembly’s speaker said on Tuesday.
The expulsion of the members, including former MDC secretary general and finance minister Tendai Biti, could further weaken the opposition’s voice in parliament, where President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF enjoys a commanding majority.
Biti, an outspoken lawyer, was thrown out of the MDC by its leader Morgan Tsvangirai last April after his rebel MDC Renewal group failed in an attempt to oust Tsvangirai who has been at the helm of the MDC since its formation in 1999.
The opposition MDC party, which re-elected Tsvangirai as its leader in November, asked parliament early this month to expel Biti’s group for having left the party, deepening the turmoil that has split the MDC.
Speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda said Biti and his group did not challenge the request by the MDC, and announced their expulsion. The affected members were ushered out of parliament.
Under Zimbabwe’s constitution, if a member of parliament joins or forms another political party, their seat is declared vacant and a fresh election is called within 90 days.
Four more members in the upper Senate chamber were expected to suffer the same fate.
Jacob Mafume, spokesman for the MDC Renewal group said they would use legal means to challenge the speaker’s decision. – Reuters

Several University of Zimbabwe students have been arrested for staging a demonstration against the protesting lecturers and starvation.[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2014/09/US-university-of-Zimbabwe.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2014/09/US-university-of-Zimbabwe-403×232.jpg” width=”403″ align=”none” title=”UZ university of Zimbabwe” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]
Anti-Riot police mercilessly threw the striking students into their armored trucks and took them Harare Central Police.
The University then ordered all students to vacate the institution and closed the college until next week Wednesday.
Hundreds of frustrated University students had staged a demonstration at the campus which forced the Vice chancellor to flee.
They were demanding an end to a strike by lecturers which they said was compromising their education.
They also said the University was starving them and needed government to intervene.
The authorities called Anti-Riot police to disperse the angry students who resisted and vowed to stay put.
In a statement, the institution of higher learning said it was taking a ‘recess’ for one week to resolve issues that required ‘immediate attention’.
“The University of Zimbabwe is on recess from 17^th March to 24 March 2015 in order to address issues that require immediate attention. All students are expected to vacate the halls of residence and the University campus with immediate effect and by not later than 3pm today 17 March 2015.Lectures will resume on Wednesday 25 March 2015,”read part of the memo written the Registrar of the University one S M Chevo and seen by Zimeye.
 

By Chrispen Tabvura
ZimEye Correspondent
One of Zimbabwe’s successful young and upcoming musician Vengai Kanhema popularly known as Vekann, has set aside cash and clothing, for the Bulawayo’s dumpsite orphans.
The Harare based singer, Vekann, who has become an answer to the orphans’ prayers, contacted ZimEye.com, after reading what he described as an emotive story of the plight of the impoverished orphans, who are residing at the dumpsite, following deaths of parents and guardians.
“I was touched by the story, that’s why I have set aside a few goodies that I am taking to Bulawayo for these orphans. I am also going to stage shows in Bulawayo and surroundings, with 60% of the proceeds going towards the upkeep of these special people,” said Vengai.
The musician’s latest video ‘Usakanganwe’, was voted March 2015 video of the month on local Zimbabwean television.
Vengai has songs such as Rwendo, Dzikama, Tichafara, Rega ndiende, kabhachura, to mention but a few that have made it to the top chats.
He also applauded ZimEye.com for publishing human interest articles that also encouraged him to look for these orphans.
“You are doing a wonderful job ZimEye, had it not been for your stories concerning these innocent souls, the nation would not be in a position to guess,” he said.

A 40-YEAR-OLD Goromonzi man appeared at the High Court yesterday facing a murder charge after he allegedly killed his neighbour in 2007 and immediately inherited his wife.
Temba Lungu was arrested last year after having been on the run since he allegedly committed the offence. Temba, who is suspected to be part of a three-member gang that allegedly suffocated and threw Charles Kureti into the flooded Pote River, leaving him to die with his hands tied together at the back with a piece of wire, yesterday denied the murder charge.
The court heard that Temba allegedly started co-habiting with Kureti’s wife, Neria Wadson, barely five days after the murder. The alleged relationship continued until April 18 2010 when they separated.
According to prosecutor Henry Muringani, Temba and his accomplices, identified as Freza Wadson and Chrispen Lungu, killed Kureti on May 17 2007 at Ngwandangwanda village under Chief Chinamhora in Domboshava.
His alleged accomplices have already been convicted over the same charge.NJustice Owen Tagu heard that on the day in question, Temba invited Kureti and his wife to his parents’ home, claiming the family intended to resolve the couple’s marital disputes.
The three are alleged to have then tied Kureti’s hands with a piece of wire and force-marched him to Pote River where they shoved a T-shirt into his mouth, wrapped his head and face with his pair of trousers before throwing him into the water.
Kureti’s body was discovered floating in the river by Zivanai George who made a report to the police, but efforts to locate his relatives proved fruitless, prompting police to accord him a pauper’s burial.
In her statement to police, Neria said Temba confided in her that the body recovered floating in Pote River was her husband’s and as a result of fear, she gave in to his amorous advances.
In his defence, however, Temba denied participating in the murder, but told the court that he tried in vain to restrain his colleagues from causing harm to Kureti.
Through his lawyer Emmanuel Nyambuya, Temba said: “Accused will state that Chrispen Lungu and Freza Wadson are the culprits and the perpetrators of the crime as they are the ones who purportedly took the now-deceased out of the homestead of Radious Lungu claiming they were taking him to the police station.” The trial continues today.

By Chrispen Tabvura
ZimEye Correspondent
After several years of unsuccessfully requesting Bulawayo City Council authorities to rehabilitate all the streets and roads in his constituency, which are pothole manifested, Councillor Silas Chigora has decided to do it personally using his personal vehicle and shovels.
Several motorists, who were interviewed by ZimEye.com, said the servicing of these roads is long overdue and were supposed to be done more than 20 years ago, as this predicament has been haunting motorists and residents, for too long.
The potholes which have become an eyesore in the city of Bulawayo and his ward included have caused a lot of damage to vehicles. In an interview with Chigora during the implementation, he told ZimEye.com that he has long requested the council authorities to repair the streets but without success.
“I have requested the relevant council department to rehabilitate these streets, but I have realised that it has taken too long, and the community will think that I am not doing my job. I have also communicated this predicament to my constituency, and found it better to take the situation head on,” he said.
The Councillor, who had filled more than 120 potholes by midday yesterday, was also working on the cleaning exercise, with his Action team picking up litter from around the ward, to ensure a clean environment and improved health atmosphere.
“I am also trying to improve on achieving a litter free ward four to set the pace for other wards, so that they can learn from our area. I will be glad to see our council performing their duties as this will then spiritually encourage the ratepayers to pay off their arrears,” said Councillor Chigora.
Bulawayo City Council has been evading journalists since the beginning of 2015, as evidenced by the Mayor’s snubbing of two pressers and informal traders’ call to meet the City father.

UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE lecturers have launched a massive strike against their employer, government, after failing to get their salaries on time.
Every single lecturer has joined the strike as they voiced they are not backing down until government acts on their requests.
This came as they also met officials from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development but nothing was forthcoming from the meetings.
The development also came after Midlands State lecturers began their own strike.
But UZ received the below comment from Media Minister Jonathan Moyo.
“I feel 4 the striking Cdes. Why are state varsities failing to be cost effective when private ones are not?,” he said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, sources at MSU revealed that the lecturers have not yet been paid February salaries yet it is almost towards the end of yet another month, March.
“We are still not sure when our salaries will be paid because the authorities keep on saying next week,” the source said.
“Last month we only got our salaries after two weeks of February,” they said

A TEACHER AT KUWADZANA 2 High School is in trouble for sending nude pictures to a 14 year old girl during lessons last week.
Mr Courage Chikowo, 24, the music teacher for the school, was trapped when he committed the offense during classes using social network Whatsapp.
Prosecutor Ms Revai Mudozori narrated charges against the educator that on March 13 Chikowo proposed love to the pupil through a text message and also sent out nude images.
Charges state that Chikowo would at various other times send the girl obscene messages.
Chikowo is alleged to have gone further and sent the pupil nude pictures of female organs.
The pupil arranged to meet Chikowo after school.
Chikowo was not aware that this was a trap.
Police arrested him right at the meeting place.
The teacher was on Saturday dragged before Mbare magistrate Ms Jackie Munyonga where he was charged with contravening section 88 (a) of the Postal and Telecommunications Act.
He admitted to the charge and was remanded in custody to today (Tuesday) for bail ruling.

The former Kingdom Bank founder Nigel Chanakira, has been granted an honourary doctorate from the Philanthropy Institute that ows its fame from bestowing the same on Harare businessman Phillip Chiyangwa.
Chanakira wrote commenting on Monday evening, “It’s official! I was today granted a doctorate in letters from the International Institute of Philanthropy. Henceforth to be referred to as Dr Nigel MK Chanakira. I was thinking of opening a surgery. Lol!”

Expelled ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa has defeated his boss Robert Mugabe so far on the constitutional court challenge against him and his nephew Temba Mliswa’s expulsion from the party.
Mugabe had to date threatened to humiliate any judge who dares to even consider Mutasa’s case for a hearing. READ MORE…-Mugabe Threatens Judges Hearing Didymus Mutasa’s Case.  Mugabe even said the challenge was useless and he would want to personally see which judge would hear it.
But yesterday Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku ruled that the constitutional challenge by former Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Mr Didymus Mutasa and his nephew Mr Temba Mliswa was urgent and must be heard by the Constitutional Court’s full bench on April 1.
Messrs Mutasa and Mliswa are contesting the constitutionality of their expulsion from Parliament as legislators for Headlands and Hurungwe West, respectively.
However, the latest decision did not suspend the proclamation by President Mugabe for by-elections to fill the vacant Headlands and Hurungwe West constituency seats.
Parliament recently declared the duo’s positions in the National Assembly vacant following their dismissal from Zanu-PF.
Mugabe’s lawyer Mr Terrence Hussein yesterday confirmed the outcome announced in a closed session in Chief Justice Chidyausiku’s chambers.
“Chief Justice Chidyausiku granted the relief that the two applicants wanted, that is, a pronouncement that their case was urgent and that an earlier hearing of the main challenge be set.
“The main challenge will be heard before the nine judges of the Constitutional Court on April 1 2015. However, the Presidential proclamation for the by-election remains in force unless the court rules otherwise on April 1,” said Mr Hussein.
Professor Lovemore Madhuku, who was representing Mutasa and Mliswa, confirmed the development.
“Our clients got the order that they sought and their main application will now be heard urgently on April 1,” said Prof Madhuku.
Prof Madhuku, who was being assisted by Mr Tafadzwa Mugabe and Mr Phillip Nyakutombwa, said the court will ensure that a determination is made before the set by-election nomination date, April 8 2015.
“Hearing in the main challenge has been set on April 1 to allow the court to finalise the case before April 8,” he said.
Parliament of Zimbabwe lawyer Mr Simplisius Chihambakwe filed a notice of opposition to the chamber application arguing that the matter lacked urgency.
He submitted that the applicants were expelled on March 3 but they decided to file the application nine days later, a confirmation that the matter was not urgent.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission did not oppose the chamber application for urgency.
But the court ruled in favour of Mliswa and Mutasa.
Messrs Mutasa and Mliswa argue that Zanu-PF did not follow due process in expelling them, hence the National Assembly Speaker’s decision to declare their seats vacant was a nullity.
The two seek to bar any by-election in Headlands and Hurungwe West constituencies.
National Assembly Speaker Advocate Jacob Mudenda, President Mugabe and the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Justice Rita Makarau, were listed as respondents in the court application.
Messrs Mutasa and Mliswa allege that their expulsion from Parliament violated their constitutional rights, hence the decision must be nullified.
They said that their right to equal protection of the law enshrined under Section 56 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe was violated by Adv Mudenda’s conduct.
The duo’s right to stand for election for public office, if elected, has also been violated by the Speaker’s declaration of March 3 this year, they alleged.
The two argue that their right to administrative justice as protected by Section 68 of the Constitution had been infringed by the March 3 announcement.
The duo seeks an order nullifying the Speaker’s announcement and the declaration.
They also seek an order declaring them legitimate members of the National Assembly for
their respective constituencies.
Mr Mliswa filed a supporting affidavit, associating himself with the main affidavit deposed by Mr Mutasa.
He said his expulsion from Parliament was a humiliating incident because he had not been notified in advance. (State Media/Additional Reporting)

THE UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is demanding £3,000 from a Zimbabwean mother after she gave birth at Norwich University Hospital in 2013.
The National Health Service (NHS) is still pursuing a thirty-four year old Zimbabwean mother for the bill one and a half years later. The unpaid bill is part of the £62million cost of ‘health tourism’ to Britain, which has generated heated debate.
Caroline Nyadzayo, who was once pictured with the health minister Daniel Poulter on his visit to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, was an “NHS tourist” from Zimbabwe who is still facing demands to settle her hospital bill.
Nyadzayo, an advertising executive now in Harare, told The Sunday Times it was ‘unfair’ she was still being pursued, because the baby’s father is British.
“I know the system may believe I travelled [to Britain] to abuse the NHS benefits, but as a matter of fact I just wanted to have my first baby as a family and surely everyone is entitled to that.”
The couple was questioned about the birth when they entered Britain at Norwich Airport in October 2013 but were released when they agreed they would be paying for it.
“I was told because I was 31 weeks pregnant it was likely I was going to use the NHS to my advantage. We said we would pay for the birth. But we had no idea how much we’d be charged.”
The British government is facing growing pressure over the scale of “health tourism” to the country and the media in the UK are now using Nyadzayo’s case to profile the problem. Her photo opportunity with the Health Minister no doubt attracted attention.
Data released by NHS trusts show that one London hospital is owed £17.9million by foreigners not entitled to free services. A total of £62million is due to 100 trusts, according to information published under the Freedom of Information Act.
The scale of health tourism has been underestimated for years. The Department of Health recently estimated that the annual figure could be as high as £2billion. Analysis showed that one patient racked up a tab of more than £420,000.
Several others owed more than £100,000 for lifesaving treatments including dialysis, bone marrow transplants and chemotherapy. Another is being chased for more than £15,000 over treatment for alcoholism.

Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa has clashed with Speaker of the House of Assembly Jacob Mudenda over the appointment of a new clerk of Parliament.
The position of clerk of Parliament fell vacant in November following the ‘dismissal’ of Austin Zvoma who had been at the helm of the august house for three decades.
Zvoma was forced to retire after he had argued that despite having reached the 65 year retirement age ,the new constitution allowed him to serve for another two five year terms.
Officials at the Parliament told ZimEye.com on Monday  that Mudenda who pushed for the retirement of Zvoma was ‘vigorously’ pushing for  Helen Dingani to fill in Zvoma’s post.
Dingani is a former deputy clerk of Parliament and was in 2010 seconded to the Pan African Parliament, where she worked for three years.
Prior to the posting she had served Parliament for 29 years.
“Mudenda is vigorously pushing for the appointment of Dingani as the clerk of Parliament because they are both Ndebele speaking and come from the same region, Matabeleland North. Dingani hails from Hwange and Mudenda comes from Binga,” said the officials.
“But the Vice President is against the move and his argument is that Dingani is also a retirement-candidate, because she had also served the institution for close to three decades”.
Mnangagwa doubles as the Vice President and the Justice Minister, and parliament falls under his portfolio.
Early this year Mudenda barred Zvoma from visiting Parliament after the ousted former clerk was visiting the legislative assembly and conducting “secret meetings” with workers. 
Mudenda wrote to acting clerk of Parliament, Kenneth Chokuda, advising him to bar Zvoma from entering the Parliament premises.

A top Zimbabwean Prophet’s son was yesterday found dead in a bath tub just outside London.
Madzibaba Rungano “Gloryby” Jaravaza’s 22 year old son, Zvikomborero, was found drowned in the family’s bathroom in Luton on Sunday afternoon just after 4PM  in a case of suspected drowning. He had been bathing at the time, witnesses said.
“His younger sister had herself turned on the tap water in the tub for him when after walking downstairs, she was shocked to return finding him drowned,” a family source told ZimEye.com.
Zvikomborero Jaravaza (pictured) is said to have been suffering from epilepsy and a full post-mortem is now awaited.
Madzibaba “Gloryby” Jaravaza is known in the United Kingdom for his many predictions associated with exalted terrestrial beliefs. Believers claimed Sunday that his son’s death had been prophesied in a New Year eve service.
Floating rumours spiraling on Monday claimed the deceased was murdered in order to fulfill the prophecy.
But Madzibaba Jaravaza has denied the claims saying the child prophesied of in a New Years’ service is not his son and was a much younger lad. “That was a much younger child who we hoisted before everyone to see,” he said.
Zviko is to be buried in Zimbabwe soon after the postmortem has been conducted. More to follow as the story unravels…

SENATE President Edna Madzongwe has said a suburb must be named after First Lady Grace Mugabe in the Lowveld, as senior Zanu PF officials continue trying to outdo each other in an effort to curry favour with the First Family.
Speaking at a gala organised by the Zimbawe Amalgamated Housing Association (Zaha) in Chiredzi’s Chishamiso Stadium in Hippo Valley on Saturday, Madzongwe, standing in for Grace as guest of honour, said land should be provided for the construction of a suburb named after the First Lady.
“There is need for the creation of a housing scheme in Chiredzi, where a farm will be allocated to Killer Zivhu’s Zaha which will be named after Grace Mugabe,” she said to chants of approval from the guests.
Since her entry into mainstream politics, Grace has been the recipient of unrestrained fawning from Zanu PF members, who hope this could guarantee them positions in the party.
Speaking at the same function, newly-appointed Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Shuvai Mahofa threatened sugar producing company Tongaat Hullet with closure for failing to adhere to the country’s indigenisation laws.
The threats come after accusations by top Zanu PF officials that the company — which employs about 10 000 people – was funding a plot by some members in the party to oust President Robert Mugabe.
“For Tongaat to be in Zimbabwe they should follow government rules because we can close it,” she warned. I can stop it any time.”
Recently, Tongaat reportedly spurned the government’s $30 million loan request to fund the completion of Tokwe-Mukosi Dam. Zanu PF officials, Mahofa included, last month demanded that the company cedes 20 000 hectares to be given to indigenous farmers.
Tongaat is among companies from Masvingo that are yet to contribute money to the Community Share Ownership Trusts. Mahofa, who replaced former Provincial Affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, fired for his alleged links to axed Vice-President Joice Mujuru, said she was ready to settle land disputes in the province as well as chieftainship wrangles.
She revealed that 18 000 Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims housed in Nuanetsi Ranch were to be moved to Chiumburu Farm in Chiredzi.
Zanu PF legislators believed to be aligned to Mujuru-dubbed “gamatox faction”, among them former provincial chairperson Callisto Gwanesta, were embarrassed at the function, with both Madzongwe and Mahofa urging them to repent. southern eye

Didymus Mutasa,former Zanu PF administration secretary and Headlands MP has claimed that the ruling party is intimidating his supporters as it has deployed State security agents in the constituency ahead of a by-election to be held on  10th of  June this year.
Mutasa who was  fired from Zanu PF and recalled from Parliament over alleged indiscipline after he filed a court challenge seeking nullification of the party’s December 2014 congress outcome, has expressed that will contest and defend his parliamentary seat as a Zanu PF candidate as he has always done.
A total 15 aspiring candidates have been listed by Zanu PF to contest primary elections to choose a suitable candidate for the by-elections. Mutasa  said  nothing will deter him  and  is ready to contest in the by-election described himself as still belonging to  Zanu PF .
“I have already stated  that I will contest the by-election under the real Zanu PF, and I don’t know which other Zanu PF they are talking about. I am still a bona fide party member and l would contest any by-election in my constituency under the party’s name. I don’t want to let  down the people in my constituency.” he said.
Talking about his campaigns he described how  these were being  sabotaged by the state security agents.
“Already there is no fair play because the army and CIO (Central Intelligence Organisation) are already patrolling the area intimidating my supporters.
Those illegal party candidates should campaign for themselves without misusing State  instruments like the army, police, the CIO and other civil servants.”  said Mutasa.
Mutasa has named one of the  top Air Force of Zimbabwe official (name supplied), whois claimed  to be  leading the terror campaign against his supporters.
During his hey days in  Zanu PF, Mutasa was President Robert Mugabe’s close aide and was once  in charge of the CIO.
Samuel Udenge the  acting provincial chair for Manicaland Samuel Undenge has confirmed that 15 candidates were vying for  the Headlands seat.
Among those listed are former Manicaland governor Tinaye Chigudu, outspoken war veteran Nathaniel Mhiripiri, provincial youth league chairperson Dakarayi Mapuranga, Nation Madongorere, Christopher Chingosho, councillors Taurai Chiripamberi and Mathias Dakura.

FORMER VICE President Dr Joice Mujuru is facing charges of fraud after a Jonathan Moyo media investigation stated that she has communicated falsehoods regarding her dead husband Solomon’s estate and the latter’s children. A Police source said plans are underway to charge Mrs Mujuru after evidence showed she allegedly “lied” and there is “insurmountable evidence that she has personally falsified facts surrounding her late husband’s will” .
State Media Report:
Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru has disowned her late husband General Solomon Mujuru’s son as the fight for the national hero’s estate, believed to be running into billions of dollars, gets nasty.
Dr Mujuru is up in arms with Tendai Mujuru whom she wants to prove that he is General Mujuru’s blood.
Reliable sources told The Herald that the demand by Dr Mujuru is despite the fact that she has taken care of Tendai since the age of two.
All hell broke loose when General Mujuru died in an inferno at his Beatrice farm house on August 16, 2011.
Through her lawyers, Dr Mujuru wrote to Tendai’s lawyers on January 19, 2015 demanding that he proves that he is Gen Mujuru’s son.
“We advise that our client does not acknowledge the alleged paternity of Tendai Mujuru,” reads the letter.
This was after Tendai’s lawyers had written to Dr Mujuru on December 8, 2014 demanding that she releases Gen Mujuru’s Will if she was in possession of the document.
“Your client is free to take steps to establish such paternity and, should your client be so advised, they are free to institute any legal proceedings in connection with what they allege are their rights,” further reads Mujuru’s letter.
The Herald is reliably informed that when General Mujuru was alive, Tendai stayed at a family property — Plot Number 72 Lurna Road in Borrowdale.
He would also stay with Gen Mujuru at the Beatrice Farm.
It is a 100-hectare plot on which General Mujuru had hundreds of cattle.
“A week after Gen Mujuru’s funeral, riot police were sent to banish Tendai from the property,” said a source.
Dr Mujuru was still Vice President then.
While Dr Mujuru doubts Tendai’s paternity, his birth certificate indicates that he is the son of General Mujuru.
At his funeral, Tendai was paraded together with other children as General Mujuru’s son.
The Herald is also reliably informed that an executor is likely to be appointed this week to administer General Mujuru’s vast business empire.
He was ranked among the richest Zimbabweans with business interests cutting across almost all sectors of the economy from diamonds to Chrome.
General Mujuru’s will has disappeared, forcing Tendai to seek legal action after the national hero’s widow failed to register his estate as required by law.
According to the Administration of Estate Act Chapter 601 Section 5, the estate should have been registered within 14 days of Gen Mujuru’s death.
Dr Mujuru was supposed to have registered the Estate in her capacity as the closest person to the deceased, although the law does not bar intended beneficiaries from doing so.
Through his lawyers, Tendai wrote to Dr Mujuru demanding that she releases Gen Mujuru’s will if she is in possession of the document.
In a letter dated December 8, 2014 titled “Estate late Solomon Tapfumaneyi Ruzambu Mujuru”, the lawyers wrote: “We refer to the above matter and advise that we act on behalf of Mr Tendai Mujuru, kindly note our interest.
“Our client is a biological child to the late Solomon Mujuru. Our client has registered the estate of the late Solomon Mujuru under DR19/19/14. The estate had not been registered despite the time lapse since death.”
“We have been instructed to request from you a copy of the will of the late Solomon Mujuru if same is in your custody.
“Our instructions are that you may have a copy and if you could furnish it we would be most obliged.
“The Will is necessary for estate administration. We look forward to your response.”
Tendai’s lawyers threatened to convene a meeting and appoint an executor if Dr Mujuru does not co-operate.
“If we do not hear from you within seven days then our client will proceed to call for an edict meeting for the appointment of an executor.”

A Zvishavane Town Council manager for beer halls has appeared in court facing theft charges. Raphael Karanda,  50 who resides at  1718 Highlands Extension last week was remanded to Friday by magistrate Peter Madiba, as  his legal team Tafa and Associates prepared his defence. He is  now suspended.
While the council is alleging that Karanda prejudiced it of $100 000, the State outline showed a figure of only $936 as the total amount he diverted for his personal use after altering receipt books and journals.
Prosecutor Stanley Ncube told the court that from February 12 2015, Karanda received stock sheets duplicates from cashiers.
It is alleged that Karanda made alterations on the stock sheet bank copies and by means of the misrepresentation converted amounts altered to his own use, prejudicing Zvishavane Town Council.
The offence was discovered after an internal audit was carried out by senior accountant Obedience Nyakunhuwa.
The forged stock sheets and audit report will be used as exhibits during the trial.
Karanda is expected to appear in court tomorrow, when his legal representative presents his defence.
Meanwhile, Karanda appeared for the first council hearing at Zvishavane town council chambers facing theft charges of over $100 000.
Town Council chairman Esau Gwatipedza said Karanda’s hearing, pertaining charges levelled against him, was set to continue on March 25 and they were not going to leave any stone unturned over the issue.
“We had the first hearing at the town chambers with external arbitrators and the matter continues on the 25th of this month,” he said.
“But be rest assured that no stone shall be left unturned.
“Everything shall be unravelled to create order within our council.” -southern eye

A man accused of raping a 10-year-old girl left in his custody shocked the court last week when he told Zvishavane Magistrate, Story Rushambwa that he was not guilty of rape because he only inserted his fingers into the girl’s private parts.
Nabson Rupondo (49) of Chikudze Village, Chief Mtekedza Chivhu who was left in custody of two minors in October last year was brought to court by the parents of the two who allege that he raped one of the children twice.
It is the State case that sometime in October last year, at a stand at Dadaya Turn Off, Zvishavane Rupondo raped a the juvenile left in his custody after the parents went to their rural home.
Prosecutor Sheila Mupindu told the court that on the first count, the accused who is a friend of the complainant’s father sneaked into the juvenile’s blankets and removed her pants whilst she was asleep. He raped her once.
The minor only woke up to find the accused on top of her. The complainant cried out for help but was allegedly ordered to keep quiet. He also allegedly raped the girl on the second night.
It is alleged that the accused threatened the complainant and ordered hernot to tell her parents. The complainant did not tell anyone but the issue came to light on February 22, 2015 when she was interviewed by her mother after her teacher suspected that the complainant was sexually abused.
The complainant was examined at Zvishavane General Hospital. In his defense the accused who pleaded not guilty told the court that he only inserted his fingers into the child’s private parts. masvingo mirror

[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/03/11064746_1611430309078866_385477614189842755_n.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/03/11064746_1611430309078866_385477614189842755_n.jpg” width=”600″ align=”right” title=”11064746_1611430309078866_385477614189842755_n” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]Information reaching Zimeye.com indicates that the government has backed down in its attempt to takeover Maleme farm.
Vice- President Phelekezela Mphoko visited Maleme farm and held closed door meetings with the local chiefs and the government lands committee.
Chief Vuyelwa Ndiweni Nyangazonke informed the masses gathered at the farm after the closed-door meeting that the takeover has been reversed.
“I have come to tell you that this farm is yours. Consultations have been made and government has agreed that no one should take it from you,” said chief Nyangazonke in a brief address which was met with wild celebrations from the crowd.
Soon after the chief‘s address, the crowd dispersed.

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[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/03/11058619_1611308609091036_6191462107641868535_n.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/03/11058619_1611308609091036_6191462107641868535_n.jpg” width=”350″ align=”right” title=”marching to Maleme farm” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=”marching to Maleme farm”]The resistance by the people of Matebeleland over land seizures by Zanu aligned individuals is fast turning into a potential militant resistance mounted by Lobengula, Mbuya Nehanda against the colonialists.
Today the people of Matebeleland South marched to Maleme farm where they expected VP Phelekezela Mphoko to address them about the takeover of Maleme farm by CIO agent Rodrick Mashingaidze but he failed to turn up.
Hundreds drove to Maleme farm but were forced to abandon their cars by police who mounted road blocks at Maleme farm.
Determined villagers then marched to Maleme farm where VP Mphoko was expected to address them but he failed to turn up for the second time in two weeks.
One elder from the village asked for prayers as he marched to Maleme and vowed,’Sithi NO, NO and NO ngeMaleme yethu.’
‘Ngisaya eMaleme. May those going to church this morning pray for us all and pray for the land after Abantwa was once under Tjilale Bango during Mambo Empire and then Nzula the son of Princess Famona Khumalo whose grave is in this Maleme ranch during the AmaNdebele rule and under the British colonilists. Now we are independent Nzula Masuku, Sigombe Mathema, Mabuyane Ndiweni people and even Bangos and others who were displaced during the colonial rule should benefit from the land not a lone stranger or foreighner from the east. Sithi NO, NO and NO ngeMaleme yethu.’
Commenting on social media over the blockade mounted by police Ndba Nhuku said, ‘No surrender no retreat. The old and the young, women and men, the strong and ailing; all marching on together to see and hear VP Mphoko. If Mphoko is our VP, and has come to address people, why are they being turned away from hearing him?’
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Incarcerated preacher Robert Gumbura failed to flee prison fumes during Zimbabwe’s greatest ever prison escape on Friday.
As five prisoners made a successful exit, Pastor Gumbura (currently serving a half a century jail term for rape), failed to break out away from the rising smoke and he was also far away from the area where guards were overpowered.
Mr Gumbura’s cell was secured before any escape could be attempted, ZimEye.com can reveal.
Gumbura’s cell is in the B hall area and the riot took place in the C and D halls.

The commotion was started when prisoners protested the inhumane treatment at the hands of prison guards and the sadza they were being constantly fed with which has nothing else besides soup. READ MORE – BREAKING NEWS: Chikurubi Riot: 7 Prisoners Shot Dead as Mass Torture Begins-

President Mugabe yesterday urged United Nations member states to find sustainable solutions to climate change, which continues to account for debilitating droughts and floods.
The African Union and Sadc Chair said focus should centre on key areas such as mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology transfer and capacity building. Mugabe and his large entourage of hangers on have gobbled $1 million on the trip to the Far East.
Addressing the Third UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction here, he said violent conflict should also be accorded due attention as it caused mass population displacement, infrastructure destruction and economic degradation.
“In my country, and I speak as current Chairperson of the African Union, droughts occurred generally once every 10 years. They now occur almost every five years. Other Southern African countries are also suffering the impact of more frequent hydro-meteorological disasters in the form of both droughts and torrential flooding.
“The same trend in respect of similar disasters caused by natural phenomenon can be observed elsewhere on the African continent and indeed across the globe.”
President Mugabe noted the marked increase in the frequency and severity of such disasters.
This, he said, suggested that while countries sought to reduce risks, greater focus should be on the nexus between natural disasters and climate change.
“We have that opportunity here on Sendai, but also in the ongoing negotiations in preparation for the 21st Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Paris in December this year.”
The President said since the Hygo Framework for Action was adopted in 2005, tangible progress has been made in addressing disasters and improving resilience.
“Many countries have adopted national disaster policies and strategies, have made budgetary provisions for disaster risk reduction, have formulated early warning systems and have extended school programmes to include disaster education.
“Regrettably, such progress is not universal, particularly in Africa, where our countries require international co-operation and support to improve and strengthen our capacities to develop these policies and strategies.
“We welcome, therefore, the efforts made to ensure that the successor to the Hygo Framework for Action builds on its successes, but also addresses the weaknesses and gaps identified over this past decade.”
President Mugabe said the agreement on seven global targets and indicators would enable individual assessment and collective action in implementing the priorities of the Post-2015
Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction.
The President added that interfacing ensured coherence and more effective alignment of policies, and would enable nations to further reinforce fundamental pillars of international co-operation “such as the principle of common but differentiated responsibility between developed and developing countries”.
He cautioned that international co-operation and solidarity that did not recognise this and other fundamental principles — or that sought to dilute them — would be unrealistic, unfair and insincere. President Mugabe said gender sensitivity was essential in disaster risk management as women and girls were often disproportionately affected by disasters.
He said Japan’s experience in disaster risk reduction, management and recovery held important lessons for all nations.
At the conference opening, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged US$4 billion to support implementation of the Sendai Co-operation Initiative for Disaster Risk Reduction over the next four years.

ALL the 40 candidates who had applied for the position of general manager at the ailing parastatal National Railways of Zimbabwe failed to make the grade, an official has said.
This, experts said, once again raised questions on whether the country could be feeling the effects of the brain drain or simply that the company had gone down to the extent of failing to attract qualified personnel.
At the beginning of the year at least 40 prospective candidates had applied to head the parastatal and six were shortlisted by end of February but all of them failed to make the grade, board chairman Engineer Alvord Mabena confirmed.
In an interview with Sunday Business, Eng Mabena said the parastatal was set to engage a local employment agency to hunt for the right person for the job with special focus on the diaspora to entice some of the Zimbabweans outside the country who might be interested in the job.“From the first attempt we made, we did not quite get suitable candidates. We have gone through the processes and we would like to test the market once again including the diaspora to find if there is any suitable Zimbabwean out there to fill the post,” said Eng Mabena.
He said the parastatal was now in a hurry to complete the process as it had managed to finalise positions at director level hence it was imperative to fill all vacant positions in order to stabilise the system.
“We managed to get two suitable candidates for the positions of director of operations and director of finance respectively. We want to fill all positions to stabilise the system so that when funding comes through we are ready to go,” he said.
Speaking on the type of person needed to head NRZ, Eng Mabena said they wanted “a robust person experienced in executive management with a good track record of turnaround strategies. The person has to be able to run a large company like NRZ and someone with a railway background will be preferable”.
The post of NRZ general manager fell vacant after Air Commodore Retired Mike Karakadzai died in August 2013 in a car accident.- State Media

Fake Itai Dzamara s besiege London embassy
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The Itai Dzamara In London protest gathered heat on Saturday with ‘angry’ protesters shutting down the Zimbabwean embassy at The Strand just as many assumed the person of the abducted activist.
‘I am Itai Dzamara as well, they can kill but they will not take me out,” shouted one only known as Frank from Kent.
As numerous others held out placards inscribed, ‘I am Itai Dzamara’, London protester Martin Chinyanga shouted out, “if they used acid on him, they can do it on me too, ”
Dzamara, who became the first Zimbabwean to write to the 91year old President Robert Mugabe telling him to step down because he is too old for the job, was abducted on Monday morning in Harare and his whereabouts are still unknown to this day. PICTURES:

(7) seven prisoners have been gunned down at Chikurubi Maximum Prison and authorities are battling to suppress the figures, ZimEye.com can reveal.
ZimEye.com which first broke the story as it happened early Friday afternoon, can exclusively reveal that the prisoners shot dead are those mainly from the prison’s C halls where armed police officers descended onto on their way from Harare Central.
They were shot dead by the police support unit called in to quell the rioting prisoners but they ended up over-reacting on the largely male inmates who were protesting being constantly served with sadza porridge and soup.
ZimEye.com can also reveal that a prison guard, Ascom Dhenya, was yesterday struck by a brick and sustained a fracture on his left leg. Other officers were also injured in the violent commotion as prisoners protested the inhumane food they are being fed with at the prison.
By Saturday morning the figure of the dead was nearing ten (10) after an additional two were confirmed dead.
But the prison’s spokesperson Elizabeth Banda-Karinda claimed that only one person was killed and even that same person was not shot but was crushed in a stampede.
“Unfortunately one prisoner died. He was caught up in the stampede and he wasn’t shot,” Elizabeth Banda said.
 
Beating to death
Prison cells were on Saturday morning smelling fresh blood as guards conducted beatings as punishment for the riot. Those singled out for rioting were separated into one cleared cell where they were being brutally beaten up at the time of writing.
 
Shocking Admission 
Banda however admitted that the police opened fire on the prisoners but said that the ammunition used was blank.
Banda-Karinda said the prisoners did not like the vegetables they were being served along with their sadza porridge.
The State Media said a “large number” of inmates were suffering from scurvy and pellagra, both linked to bad diet.
Some prisoners at Chikurubi tried to go on a hunger strike two weeks ago over the lack of food.
The seriously injured prisoners are being treated in hospital.
A commentator calling himself Zvakaoma wrote online: “They have the full right to protest. There are no blankets, no water and nothing at all.”
 
Prison bosses looting food.
The development comes as prison authorities led by ex army officer and ZANU PF member Paradzai Zimondi presided over massive looting of the prison’s resources. Sources told  ZimEye.com prison farms are in a desperate state as Zimondi and other senior bosses have been allegedly diverting not only prisoner manpower, but also

Last Thursday, Mahofa said she had barred Mzembi from taking over part of the Masvingo farm which is home to the province’s largest hatchery project that produces 100,000 day-old chicks per week.
But the Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi has vowed to stay put on the farm which the Provincial Affairs Minister Shuvai Mahofa described as “strategic” to the province.
Barquest Farm, which is owned by Hellen Mitchell, is located near Lake Mutirikwi.
Mahofa said Mzembi should relinquish any claim to the property, adding that land would be found for him elsewhere.
But Mzembi yesterday told The Chronicle that Senator Mahofa had no power over land matters as she can only make recommendations to the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Douglas Mombeshora.
“The correct position which I wish the public to know is that I was offered Subdivision 1 equivalent to 367.51 ha in extent of Barquest Extension, which was gazetted many years ago for the purposes of compulsory acquisition and resettlement by the government of Zimbabwe, leaving the Mitchells with an ungazetted portion in excess of 500 ha to pursue their business and family interests,” said the minister.
“On my portion, as I’ve already shared with the Mitchells, I’m going to develop a hatchery, abattoir and processing plant for a poultry venture whose business elements are on file with the provincial and national government. I intend to complement the production statistics that Cde Mahofa has alluded to and she has all the information in the submission that led to my being allocated the farm.”
He added: “In the meantime, I wish to advise all that I’m now the legitimate occupant of Barquest Extension that I was offered by the government and I will commence operations after due process.”
The minister said Mahofa was best advised to engage the Minister of Lands directly and to use official channels when dealing with the matter.
He said as this was official government business, the matter has its own channels of communication and does not need amplification through the media.
He went on: “My muted silence on the matter in the face of a barrage of attacks from public media and colleagues in government and the party shouldn’t be misconstrued as an admission of guilt.
“There’s a modicum of communication that’s generally expected of us at this senior level both in government and the party that I’m observing, notwithstanding how right or aggrieved I may feel about certain issues at play.
“However, because this matter is already planted in the mindset of readers through various articles that seem to suggest that I’m grabbing a viable chicken business belonging to the Mitchells, in very brief remarks I wish to state my position to the contrary.”
Senator Mahofa had earlier said the farm was strategic to Masvingo province in terms of supply of chicks and eggs. She said besides supplying day-old chicks and eggs to Masvingo, Mitchell’s hatchery project also serviced Manicaland and Midlands provinces.
Sen Mahofa said she had already informed officials in the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement in Masvingo to identify another farm for Minister Mzembi.
She said other senior officials in the province like Zimbabwe Chiefs’ Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira wanted to take over the farm a few years ago but were stopped because of its strategic importance to Masvingo.
Sen Mahofa said the Masvingo provincial leadership would not tolerate the take-over of productive farms that benefit the majority of the people.-chronicle

Yesterday Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko  officially opened a classroom block at Majiji High School in Bubi District. Mphoko told pupils at this school  to focus on their studies and shun the habit of illegally  travelling to South Africa, saying there was nothing for them there but death in the neighbouring country.
Mphoko, a Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to South Africa,  donated 300 books worth $7,000 to Majiji High School,saying
“I’ve come to talk to the children. I want you to know one thing. Don’t think there’s life for you across the border. In these books is where your life is, there’s nothing for you in South Africa.
Concentrate on your education and not crossing to South Africa illegally,” said the Vice President.
The Vice President said he was speaking from experience as he had come across cases of young boys and girls who left school and ended up being exploited to become sex slaves and homosexuals.
VP Mphoko showed the pupils pictures of people who were attacked in South Africa during xenophobic violence. One of the pictures was that of a foreigner who was burnt after a tyre was put around his neck and set alight.
The VP said youths should set their sights on opportunities in the country after completing school.
He had another picture of amagumaguma (people who help others skip the border) carrying a child after the mother fled the police while crossing the Limpopo River illegally into the neighbouring country.
“What do you think this umagumaguma did to this child after the mother had fled? Obviously he threw the child into the water. You pay omalayitsha between R1,000 to R1,500 to cross illegally. Those who don’t have the money, if you’re a girl, omalayitsha — upon reaching South Africa — will detain you at their house and tell their friends that they’ve a young girl.
“They’ll hire you to their friends and by the time they recoup their money, you would have fallen sick and come back home in a coffin carrying flowers on your chest. The boys on the other hand would be hired to homosexuals.
“There’s no better place than home. Don’t rush to South Africa, there’s death there.”
VP Mphoko toured the school and officially opened an A-Level classroom block.
Majiji High School is the third school in Bubi district that has received books from the Vice President and the sixth in Matabeleland North province.
VP Mphoko has 11 tonnes of books that he will be distributing to schools around the country. He will soon visit Matabeleland South and Bulawayo.
Majiji High School head, Fisani Dube, said the school faced a number of challenges among them water problems and classroom shortages due to overwhelming enrolment.
“Honourable Vice President, we face a number of challenges particularly in the rainy season as some pupils are forced to stay for weeks or a month from school as River Mbembesi would be flooded and they cannot cross. We’re appealing for assistance to construct a bridge because this affects pupils’ performance,” said Dube.
The school with an enrolment of 513 pupils recorded a 100 percent pass rate in last year’s Advanced Level examinations.
VP Mphoko donated a personalised diary to Lower Sixth pupil Qaphela Nyathi, who was honoured as the best pupil at the school.
Speaking at the same occasion, Bubi legislator Clifford Sibanda thanked the VP for the gesture. -chronicle

Kaukonde meets Mnangagwa

-Report- by Newsday-
OUSTED top allies of ex-Vice-President Joyce Mujuru — who have been in hibernation since last year — yesterday made a surprise appearance in Marondera at a function addressed by Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a move described by many as a way of reaching out to the new leadership.
Mnangagwa, who is also Justice minister, was on a mission to explain the new Constitution to people in Mashonaland East.
The Mujuru loyalists who attended the event included former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Olivia Muchena, former Zanu PF provincial chairperson Ray Kaukonde and former Provincial Affairs minister Simbaneuta Mudarikwa.
It was not that comfortable for the three who spent several hours glued to their seats as Mnangagwa arrived to officiate at the event, over four hours late.
Kaukonde and Muchena sat side by side in the second row for the whole day while Mudarikwa spent much of the time outside in the sweltering heat.
After the event, Mudarikwa could not wait to mix and mingle with the people going straight to his vehicle while others headed for lunch.
Chiefs’ Council provincial chairperson Senator Chief Enos Musarurwa told Mnangagwa about the presence of Kaukonde and other ousted officials.
He said their appearance at the event meant they had endorsed the current leadership led by President Robert Mugabe.
“I am glad that some of the faces that had since disappeared have shown up, meaning that they have endorsed the current leadership. I acknowledge the presence of some of the worms (makonye) and I assure you that we will deal with them,” said Musarurwa.
Mujuru and several other officials were fired by President Robert Mugabe for allegedly plotting to topple him from power.
Kaukonde, who is Marondera Central MP, was accused of being the chief facilitator and bankroller of the Mujuru faction.
His appearance in public yesterday was the first since December last year.
Recently party members called for him to be recalled accusing him of abandoning his constituency.

A Harare High Court judge has ordered police to intensify the search for missing pro-democracy activist Itai Dzamara who was allegedly abducted in the capital city’s Glen View high density suburb by five unknown assailants on Monday.
High Court Judge David Mangota on Friday ordered the authorities to intensify investigations into the alleged abduction of Dzamara – leader of the Occupy Africa Unity Square pressure group – that is calling for President Robert Mugabe to step down for allegedly failing to run the country democratically and pushing Zimbabwe’s economy into the abyss.
One of Dzamara’s lawyers, Charles Kwaramba, confirmed that the ruling that was made following an urgent application filed by the activist’s wife, Sheffra, on Thursday.
The attorney said the judge, however, refused to order a search of the country’s intelligence holding cells and military bases citing security reasons.
This followed submissions by state counsel, Fortune Chimbaru, representing Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi , Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri and Central Intelligence Organization boss Happyton Bonyongwe, that the state was not aware of Dzamara’s whereabouts and was equally concerned.
A police report and court documents show that Dzamara was abducted by five unidentified men who were travelling in a white Isuzu vehicle.
Justice Mangota ordered the state to report back to the court every two weeks on the police’s progress in the investigations.
MDC founding president, Morgan Tsvangirai, is accusing Mr. Mugabe’s government of kidnapping Dzamara – a charge that Zanu PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, has denied.
Police Commissioner Chihuri on Thursday also urged his officers to intensify their investigations into Dzamara’s disappearance while Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who described Dzamara’s kidnapping as “barbaric”, told parliament that the perpetrators would be brought to book if apprehended.
Local and international civic groups, the United States, European Union, Canada and other foreign governments and entities, have condemned the former journalist’s abduction.
Dzamara’s family and the pro-democracy movement in the country are worried about his abduction. In 2008, a number of MDC activists were abducted only to be found dead a few weeks later.
Human rights activist Jestina Mukoko was abducted in the same year. She was detained incommunicado for three months but no-one has been brought to book over the issue. The same applies to MDC activists and atrocities committed on innocent civilians in the early 1980s by a national army crack unit, the Five Brigade, which left almost 20,000 people dead in the Midlands and Matabeleland regions.

The Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC- UK branch has petitioned the United Nations to bar President Robert Mugabe from attending the 3rd United Nations Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan and order the aging Zimbabwean leader to reveal and ascertain the safety of the abducted human rights activist Itai Dzamara.
President Robert Mugabe flew to Japan via the Far East early this week to attend the 3-day, UN conference starting tomorrow.
The party’s Asia Pacific Region  representative Jacqueline Zwambila on Friday said Mugabe should be ‘booted’ out of the meeting and be ‘ordered to return home and put ‘his’ house in order.
“We call on the United Nations and regional countries, especially the host country, Japan, to demand the immediate release of Itai who was abducted on Monday in broad daylight,” the former Zimbabwe ambassador to Australia [lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/03/Jacqueline-Zwambila.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/03/Jacqueline-Zwambila-186×232.jpg” width=”186″ align=”none” title=”Jacqueline Zwambila” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””] said. 
“Even if we consider that he was arrested, the 48 hour period of a lawful detention has elapsed without him brought to court. But his was not even an arrest because he was just bundled into a car – a practice that has been condemned by the Supreme Court in the case of Jestina Mukoko”.
Dzamara was abducted by unknown assailants in Harare on Monday, and up to now his whereabouts are unknown. 
The journalist cum –human rights activist had been staging peaceful demonstrations demanding for the stepping down of President Mugabe. 
The European Union, America and the Australian Governments through their local embassies on Tuesday expressed concern over the forced disappearance of Dzamara. 
MDC-T Members of Parliament yesterday walked out of Parliament in protest of Dzamara’s abduction.
 
 

A massive jailbreak has occurred as an inferno broke forth at the notorious Chikurubi Maximum prison in an incident that has seen emotional prisoners fighting off armed prison guards, ZimEye.com can reveal.
Hundreds of blankets and property worth thousands of dollars have been set ablaze as more than 200 prisoners vowed to die “if need be”. Chikurubi, a female and male prison located on the outskirts of Harare, is known for overcrowding and extremely poor sanitary conditions with cells typically measuring 9 metres (30 ft) by 4 metres (13 ft) and there can be as many as 28 prisoners housed in each cell.
“They were being given for their daily food sadza with Royco Usavi mix,” a source told ZimEye.com .
One prisoner has since been shot dead, according to a source at the site although this could not be immediately verified.
The more than 200 rioting prisoners are said to have since taken over the prison as “guards fled the scene”. Armed reinforcements have been called from the army who at the time of writing were seen in lorries heading to the institution, SEE INTERACTIVE MAP –
More to follow as the development unravels….

A 15-YEAR-OLD student at Ekuphumuleni Secondary School in Lupane, who was allegedly sexually abused by a teacher and hs testified to the same, has changed her statements, exonerating the educator, as she told the court that she was forced to make the claims by police officers who allegedly harassed and beat her up.
The teacher, Charles Muchavaka (35), got into trouble after he allegedly proposed love to the 15-year-old female learner, who accepted and the two allegedly had sexual intercourse while at the teacher’s cottage.
Muchavaka pleaded not guilty to a charge of having sexual intercourse with a young person when he appeared before Lupane resident magistrate Aelene Munamati. The state, represented by Sanders Sibanda, called the pupil to testify on Wednesday and she suddenly changed her statement, claiming the teacher never slept with her.
She said police officers investigating the case assaulted her to induce confession that the teacher had slept with her. “He never slept with me. I was forced by the police to say that he slept with me,” she said.
The magistrate remanded the case to March 16 for continuation and the State has lined up her mother to testify in the case on the day.Sibanda told the court that the student lives at Jotsholo in Lupane and attends the same school where Muchavaka teaches.
It is alleged that the matter stemmed from the fact that the head at the school and other teachers suspected that some male teachers were sexually abusing students.
That is when it was discovered that the learner was not at school, although she had been seen earlier. The head ordered that all teachers’ rooms be searched and Muchavaka refused to have his searched.
It is the State’s case that on February 2 this year Muchavaka proposed love to the student and she accepted.
On February 5 he called her to his room, where he asked to have sexual intercourse with her and she agreed. The love affair was reportedly discovered when the head found out the girl was not at school during a roll call.
Efforts to locate her on the day failed, only for her to resurface the following day. The head then took her to the police where she was questioned and revealed that she had been in the teacher’s room at the school.
It is alleged that the girl told the police that she slept with the teacher and enjoyed the encounter. The girl was taken to hospital for testing where a medical examination confirmed she had sexual intercourse.
A medical report was compiled and a report was made to the police, leading to Muchavaka’s arrest. southern eye

A vendor was pummelled when he demanded sex from a mother and his daughter after he gave them two mangoes.
Martha Zembe (55) was so incenced by Amos Magororo’s demand that she launched herself on him, before sitting on him and hitting him with a stone. She was arrested and hauled before court.
Magistrate Sibonginkosi Mkandla ordered Zembe to pay $200 fine for the offence. It is the State case that on January 24, 2015 at Kyle Dam, Magororo (30) approached Zembe and gave her two mangoes an offer which she gladly accepted.
After offering the mangoes to the accused person, it was heard in the courts that Magororo then asked for sex from Zembe and her daughter.
“Akati unoda kurara neni kana apedza neni ozorara nemwana wangu (He said he wanted to make love to me and thereafter make love to my daughter),” said Zembe.
This did not go down well with the accused person who felt denigrated by the young vendor’s request. She then took the matter into her own hands to discipline the 30 year old who she thought was ill-mannered. Mirror

[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/03/2015-03-13-09.30.39.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/03/2015-03-13-09.30.39.jpg” width=”710″ align=”right” title=”2015-03-13 09.30.39″ frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=”ZAPU Youth Front leader Arnold Dube at the embassy entrance in London today”]Zimbabwe’s embassies in UK, South Africa and other countries face disruptions today as diaspora ZAPU youths stage protest against the occupation of Maleme farm by ZANU PF CIO operative Rodrick Mashingaidze.
The youth told Zimeye.com that Mugabe and his government should brace up for a total resistance over displacement of people from their lands declaring they will close down the embassies till 2018.
ZAPU youth front leaders in UK said similar protest will take place in United States, Canada and other countries.
Today’s protest in London will extend to Saturday where ZAPU members will stand shoulder to shoulder with civil rights group Zimvigil to protest the illegal abduction of Itai Dzamara.
ZAPU YOUTH FRONT statement issued yesterday reads:
ZAPU YF protest against the occupation of Meleme farm tomorrow at Zimbabwe Embassy in London. Similar protest are to happen at Zimbabwe embassy in South Africa and America also.
The Youth Front of ZAPU will also like to invite all ZAPU Cadres and all Zimbabweans to join them and the civil rights group Vigil on Saturday at 12 pm at Zimbabwe embassy to protest the illegal abduction of Itai Dzamara.
We demand the release of Itai Dzamara and a full investigation as where he is and what has happened to him. The YF is committed is committed to protect the rights and well being of our fellow country men and will do that by all means necessary.
Join us 8:30 am Friday and 12 pm on Saturday at address: Zimbabwe House 429 Strand, London, WC2R 0JR
The Revolution Is A Relay!
By ZAPU YOUTH FRONT

Judges have ignored threats by president Robert Mugabe and have now proceeded to hear the grand lawsuit by expelled ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa who is suing the head of state and other agents for his and his nephew Temba Mliswa’s expulsion from parliament.
Their application will now be heard next week Monday at the Constitutional Court.
Robert Mugabe committed high contempt of court when he threatened any judge who would consider hearing the lawsuit.  [READ MORE – Mugabe Threatens Judges Hearing Didymus Mutasa’s Case  ]
The two argue in their application that Zanu PF did not follow due process in reaching its decision to have them expelled.
They are being represented by a legal team from Nyakutombwa and Mugabe Legal Practitioners.
Part of their lawsuit states that they seek to bar the looming by-election in Headlands and Hurungwe West constituencies. The government agents and Respondents in the case are National Assembly Speaker Advocate Jacob Mudenda, President Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Rita Makarau.

At a time when Zimbabwe is reeling under sanctions that ZANU PF calls “evil” the same government deploys nothing to do, thoughtless CIO agents who move around in an unmarked twin cab to kidnap a man who is holding lawful but peaceful protests as guaranteed in the Zimbabwe Constitution. This is the very country that has been ignored by China as not being serious. The same country that has not been trusted with serious financial aid because of a wanton appetite to focus on childish luxuries.
This is the very country that has been trying to polish its image so that it can appear to be in good behavior and appeal for the removal of economic sanctions. This is a country that has been ordered by the Bretton Woods, the IMF and World Bank to improve its human rights records in exchange for financial aid. A country whose Ministers are crying daily for sanctions to be removed so that they can explore better shopping malls for their wives and children in the West. Others like the Mugabe family even want their children to try the NBA in LA in the USA. Sadly, this is the very country that continues to isolate itself through careless abrupt decisions that cost the nation at large.
Zimbabwe’s economy is on life support. Nothing is moving. Minister Chinamasa is getting tired and running out of ideas. There are no jobs. The farms are not producing because people are lazy and just want to be cell-phone farmers. The mines are at a standstill. Chiyadzwa diamonds were sapped and the proceeds fell into private pockets as blood diamonds money. Now Zimbabwean leaders wake up and try to mislead the world that they know nothing about Itai Dzamara’s kidnapping after carefully arranging for the disappearance. Who believes that?? It is already known the world over. The CIO acts on orders. They are following strict orders from the top. But then Zimbabwe is never going to be taken seriously before the World. This is a country where NIKUV arranges for elections to be forged and stolen.
A nation where only the few top leaders live comfortably as the whole nation suffers. This is a country with leaders without ethics who simply say anything to anyone with impunity. A country with a Constitution that must remain a paper theory. A country where many are terrorized by the CIO that is supposed to protect them. A country where the CIO has become a Mugabe private wing to protect ZANU PF and Mugabe interests yet it survives on tax dollars. A country where 10 000 people are ghost workers in civil service and their supposed salaries are openly pocketed by Government Ministers. The World is watching. Zimbabwe has become a big joke. People are suffering because the leaders are childish if not cruel to the masses.
No one takes them seriously. Very soon the economy will come to a standstill. It is even worse in that the human rights records and the rule of law continue to be spurned willy-nilly. People either perish by arranged traffic accidents where they get killed somewhere by bullets and are planted on the highway in smashed cars that run under fallen trees. The whole CSI scenes are arranged in early hours of the morning. The world now knows that.
At times people get kidnapped and are sent to Mahehe underground camp where the CIO practice torture and then they rush to Banket to see the Malawi sangoma who must magically subdue the dead souls to block avenging spirits from hounding the CIO. Some even drink the blood of those they kill as some take out some body parts for evil rituals. That’s why many people who disappear emerge as dead bodies with missing parts like tongues, eyes, etc etc. How evil is that? And who doesn’t know that? Everyone keeps wondering where the nation is going when there is no rule of law and nothing is working. And the Zimbabwean leaders still expect the world to take them seriously when all the major global news headlines are crying foul over the Itai Dzamara kidnapping. They are actually making the Zimbabwean situation worse.
Jones N.Mhlanga

STATEMENT BY RESTORATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (ROHR) ZIMBABWE ON THE ABDUCTION OF POLITICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ITAI DZAMARA
ROHR Zimbabwe has noted with grave concern the abduction of Political and Human Rights activist and leader of Occupy Africa Unity Square movement, Itai Dzamara purportedly by “unknown” people on Monday 9th March, 2015.
We cannot help but notice that this has all the hallmarks of the state agents and is reminiscent of numerous such abductions in the past, notably that of Jestina Mukoko on 3rd December, 2008 and Paul Chizuze on 8th February in 2012. The former went through an ordeal over a protracted period at the hands of state agents whilst the latter has not been found up to date.
ROHR Zimbabwe is urging the government of Zimbabwe to respect, among other things, the rights of citizens to express themselves and to associate with any movement or persons sharing their views as is enshrined in not only the Constitution of Zimbabwe but also in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the AU’s African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, and the Declaration of Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa, to all of which Zimbabwe is a signatory.
Rather than seeking to eliminate dissenting views, the Government of Zimbabwe should be addressing the issues that are causing the dissent and should be promoting an environment and a culture that encourages and promotes all freedoms and rights of its citizens which in turn would ultimately lead to greater participation of citizens in governance issues.
We know that it is a ‘big ask’ to ask the Government of Zimbabwe to institute a thorough investigation into the abduction of Itai Dzamara as this is tantamount to asking the Government to investigate itself.
We urge the government of Zimbabwe to cease the culture of brutal repression at par with, if not worse than, that of the Smith regime.
Until the Government of Zimbabwe heeds our call and that of many other human rights, civic and political groups, we will continue to take all necessary action to demand the release of Itai Dzamara.
By Panyika Anselm Karimanzira
Spokesperson
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe

A Grace Mugabe daughter at heart has lost her bid to represent Zanu PF in the Hwedza North by-election.
Aplonia Munzverengi will be remembered for last week scattering around posters with Grace Mugabe’s portrait on them as she prided herself as Mrs Mugabe’s daughter.
But yesterday Munzverengi came third in a poll won by one David Musabayana. The seat fell vacant following the death of Simon Kundai Musanhu, who died in January at the age of 47. Musabayana, who is an economist by profession, beat seven other prospective candidates after garnering 2 227 votes.

His closest rival, Antony Parehwa, polled 1 583 followed by Aplonia Munzverengi, who got 1 533.
Announcing the results at the Hwedza Council offices on Wednesday night, presiding officer George Rutanhire who is also a Zanu-PF Politburo member, thanked the people of Wedza for voting peacefully. He urged party members to desist from vote-buying.
Rutanhire’s remarks came in the wake of reports that some prospective candidates were dishing out donations on the election day to sway voting patterns in their favour. “If you were using money to win support that should stop forthwith,” he said.
“Zanu-PF is a big institution and it was not built through vote buying. We fought the liberation struggle without being paid and where is this spirit coming from? “We are going to report everything to our leaders that we have seen here and make our recommendations.”
Rutanhire urged Zanu-PF members to be united saying Wedza constituency should be exemplary in terms of discipline.
He said other by-elections were likely to be held soon in 17 constituencies with MDC-T Members of Parliament if the Speaker considered the letter written by the faction seeking to recall the MPs.
In that regard, Rutanhire urged Zanu-PF to be ready for the polls and deliver resounding victory. Speaking to the Herald after being declared the winner, Musabayana said he was ready to be a servant of the people of Wedza. He said his priority was to ensure that people had access to safe drinking water.
Musabayana said most people in Wedza were drinking water from unprotected sources, exposing themselves to water borne diseases such as cholera.
“We have several projects that we have lined up such as fish harvesting and contract farming that we think if implemented may help to create employment for our youths,” he said.
Mashonaland East provincial chair Aenias Chigwedere said the primary elections had exposed some discrepancies that needed to be rectified.
Others who contested in the primary elections were Lawrence Muroyiwa, Nathan Matemera, Rodwell Zinyemba, Faith Chisango and Brain Nyaguse.

MDC-T Bulawayo East legislator Thabitha Khumalo yesterday stormed Njube Hall topless after violence erupted at the party’s district rally yesterday.
She briefly disrupted an address by the party’s vice president Thokozani Khupe, alleging she was undressed by police officers. Party leader Morgan Tsvangirai who was supposed to address the rally, had returned to Harare, where MDC-T officials said he had to deal with a crisis at the party’s headquarters.
The streets of Njube turned into a battlefield as MDC-T youths fought among themselves, accusing each other of being “Zanu-PF spies.” Baton-wielding police officers moved swiftly to restore order. A number of youths sought refuge at the police station as their colleagues bayed for their blood.
Senior party officials that include national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe, national chairperson Lovemore Moyo, and Khupe seemed unmoved when Khumalo, clad in her bra, burst into the hall with a group of youths.
Bhebhe waved an agitated Khumalo aside saying: “We will deal with that later,” as Khupe continued with her address.
Khumalo alleged three other women were stripped naked by what she claimed were Zanu-PF supporters. A number of MDC-T supporters, however, said she gave her T-shirt to one of the women who were allegedly stripped.
Khumalo fumed: “We’re talking of Women’s Day and you are undressing women and they’re walking stark naked because there’re people with an upper hand. I’ve three women at the police station who had their clothes removed by Zanu-PF supporters.”
In her address Khupe admitted there were divisions in the party. She said power hungry members would not be tolerated in the party.
“Don’t be power driven, let’s be focused, our aim is to remove Zanu-PF from power. We’ve some elements in the party who joined the party to get leadership positions.”
“There are also some elements who think they’ve people here, no one owns anyone in this party, we’re here because of you so as from today no-one can come here and say that these are my people,” said Khupe.
She denounced the MDC Veteran Activists Association (VAA) saying it was sowing divisions in the party.
“We’re saying to VAA you cannot create structures within the party but you can be an affiliate group to the party, subscribing to the provincial leadership.
“We’re saying to the veterans use your energy to fight for the cause that saw the establishment of the party,” said Khupe.
Also present at the rally were national youth chairman Happymore Chidziva, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo, his deputy Councillor Gift Banda, other councillors and the MDC-T provincial leadership.
Suspended Bulawayo provincial vice chairperson Dorcas Sibanda was conspicuous by her absence at yesterday’s rallies.
Lovemore Moyo said the party was fraught with divisive elements.
“We’ve heard your cries that there is indiscipline and we’ve moved forward to ensuring discipline in the party. We want to assure that my office will change things,” said Moyo.
The party officials denounced party legislators Matson Hlalo, Reggie Moyo and Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, who won seats on the MDC-T ticket but later defected to other formations. chronicle

Lawmakers of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai stormed out of parliament on Thursday after acting Speaker of Parliament, Reuben Marumahoko, blocked Kuwadzana East legislator Nelson Chamisa from introducing a motion to discuss the alleged abduction of Occupy Africa Unity Square leader and pro-democracy activist Itai Dzamara early this week.

Mkoba lawmaker Amos Chibaya attracted the ire of the acting speaker when he led his colleagues in singing a song denouncing the system after Marumahoko refused to give Chamisa’s motion the nod. He was ejected from the House shortly afterwards and members of his party stormed out in protest.
Chamisa’s said Dzamara’s disappearance was an issue of national concern hence his motion. He said he was disappointed by the acting speaker’s decision to postpone the motion to next Tuesday.
Earlier Marumahoko had said the matter had been adequately answered yesterday when Justice Minister and Deputy President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Dzamara’s abductors would be brought to book. Mnangagwa was responding to questions from lawmakers.
Chamisa said parliament cannot conduct business as usual when Dzamara has not been accounted for.
MDC -T chief whip Innocent Gonese addressed his colleagues after the walkout. He said given past cases of political violence where activists were abducted and found dead later, Dzamara’s case was of national importance and should be discussed in Parliament.
Dzamara was abducted by suspected state security agents on Monday and there has been no word about his whereabouts since.
Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba says the police are investigating Dzamara’s alleged kidnapping but she did not have any fresh information today. Pressure has been mounting on Harare to find Dzamara or to release him if he’s being held by state security agents. The civil society has also been calling for his immediate release. VOA

Am currently marooned inside Harvest House, the MDC headquarters. An armoured police vehicle with some 40 or so policemen is right at the entrance while about 50 armed police are at the back of the building. There are about 12 of us still inside the building. They are saying they want a police helmet and a baton, without explaining where, how and why those things should be inside the building. When I tried to go out, about 10 armed riot police charged towards me, saying no one will go out of the building without the police getting their helmet and baton. Cry, the beloved country, under the AU and SADC chair.  

– Luke Tamborinyoka, Morgan Tsvangirai’s Spokesperson.

 
Zimbabwe’s main opposition party said Thursday that police had closed its headquarters, arguing that they were doing so because they feared an upswing in popular violence following the alleged abduction of an anti-government activist.
Police are investigating the disappearance on Monday of former journalist Itai Dzamara. The government has denied claims by the opposition that he was abducted by state security agents.
The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said police had closed its headquarters following a rally demanding Dzamara’s release on Wednesday.
“Heavily armed police have barricaded our headquarters,” with several party members unable to come out, MDC representative Obert Gutu said. He also accused police of assaulting more than 13 party members after Wednesday’s rally.
There was no immediate comment from the government. Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba defended the heavy police presence in Harare’s central business district, saying police needed to maintain order following the protest, which left at least seven people injured.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai cut short a visit to southern Zimbabwe.
Representatives of civil society organizations meanwhile said they would pressure the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to remove President Robert Mugabe as their chairman if Dzamara did not return.
Mugabe, 91, is the only leader Zimbabweans have known since independence from Britain in 1980.
Sapa-dpa

The seemingly “ever-shifting” Zimbabwean government has announced it is grabbing all diamond mining operations in the country.
In a move likely to further discourage already strained foreign investment, and this being the fourth time that government has shifted its policies in less than 10 years, the Ministry of Mines has announced that all diamond mining operations in the country are now to come under one firm in which the state will have a 50 percent shareholding. Mines minister Walter Chidhakwa announced on Thursday, adding that the miners have until Monday to accept the proposal.
President Robert Mugabe’s government has stakes of varying degrees in all firms operating in the Marange fields on the eastern border with Mozambique, but the new proposal could see Rio Tinto Plc’s Murowa Diamonds, which operates in south-central Zimbabwe, coming under government control.
Murowa, 78 percent owned by Rio, with the balance owned by Zimbabwean-listed spin-off RioZim, produced 344,000 carats of predominantly gem-quality diamonds in 2014.
Chidhakwa told a parliamentary portfolio committee on youth indigenization and economic empowerment that the state would own 50 percent of the new entity, which would include seven miners in Marange.
“At some point we started by saying we will first merge Gye Nyame and Kunesa concession into Marange. But we have realized that it is actually better just to bring everybody together in the first instance,” Chidhakwa said.
Gye Nyame Resources, a joint venture between the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) and Bill Minerals, represented by Ghanaian businessman William Ato Essien, had its licence revoked last year due to insolvency and failure to adhere to environmental requirements.
The company, which was granted mining concessions in Marange in 2011, was placed under final judicial management last June.
Other miners in the Chiadzwa area include Marange Resources, Diamond Mining Company (DMC), Anjin, Jinan and Mbada Diamonds.
“The new structure was given to them on Monday to consult their boards of directors. They will be coming back on Monday to tell us the outcome of their discussions with their boards. But we are very clear, this is a regulatory matter and we have said to them the only way you can participate in diamond mining in Zimbabwe is by being in this company,” Chidhakwa said.
He added that said government was ready to buy out mining companies that are not willing to be part of the consolidated unit.
“If you do not want to be in this company, we might have to work out ways, methods of parting ways, the kind of compensation that we need to give to those who may not want to participate in this company,” he said.
“I expect that on Monday, we will be meeting with the companies so that we hear the positions of their shareholders and we know who will be proceeding into the future and who will not be with us as we go into the future.”
He said while some mining companies have run out of alluvial diamonds deposits at some concessions allocated to them, Zimbabwe still has viable reserves of the precious stones.
“Because government already owned 50 percent in each and every one of these companies except in the case of Murowa but Murowa was also expected to comply with the indigenization and economic empowerment act,” he said.
The mining sector had been the most dynamic sector of Zimbabwe’s economy over the last five years, with an average annualised growth of 35 percent.
“We are not cancelling their mining licences but that would be ultra vires the law but we are saying let us together form one big company and you own a lesser percentage of a bigger company. Getting all this to be agreed upon and getting all the shareholders to buy in is a process that you must go through so that as you forward, you move forward with everybody,” Chidhakwa said.

The Marange-Zimunya community has threatened to stop all diamond mining activities in Chiadzwa to compel firms operating in the area to honour their US$50 million pledge to the community share ownership scheme.
There are five diamond mining companies operating in Chiadzwa and all have failed to honour the US$50 million pledge to the community share ownership scheme.
Acting Chief Marange said traditional leaders cannot stop the community any more from interfering with mining activities as the diamond companies appear to be disregarding authorities of the land.
The Chairman of the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Scheme, Chief Zimunya said there is no excuse for diamond mining companies to fail to pay their dues to the trust as the companies are extracting the resource day and night.
The Minister of State for Manicaland Province, Mandi Chimene said government should put punitive measures to force the mining companies to comply.
The Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Scheme was launched by President Robert Mugabe in July 2012 and on the occasion, the diamond mining companies pledged US$50 million.
Only US$400 000 has been released.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Walter Chidhakwa has blamed the previous Ministers of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment for not following proper procedures on the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust.
Chidhakwa said there is so much confusion in the whole issue, hence the need to bring all stakeholders together and deliberate on the way forward.
“There is so much confusion and there is need to correct some of the things which were not done properly as miners maintain they were not consulted, hence non-movement for the community share trust,” he said.
This response came after the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment chaired by Gokwe Nembudziya legislator, Justice Mayor Wadyajena summoned Minister Chidhakwa to give his side of the story.
“We have heard about US$10 million meant for all companies or it was meant for one company as literature also points different figures of between US$5 million and US$10 million. Things have not been done properly,” said Wadyajena.
Legislators took the minister to task by producing correspondence between the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the Ministry of Youth Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment.
In all the circus, the biggest losers are the local people as the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust has failed to take off owing to non-funding.

The European Union said reluctance by President Robert Mugabe to realign laws with the new constitution was promoting gross human rights violations like the abduction and disappearance of human rights activist Itai Dzamara early this week.
For this reason the Western bloc said it was pouring  $1.28 million to  support  the country’s judiciary system so that it becomes ‘consolidated’ and fully equipped   to carry out its constitutional role of   ‘promoting democracy and rule of law’.
“What we need to do and what we shall do, very shortly, in partnership again with the civil society, the Parliament and the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentarian Affairs, is to provide support to the Judicial Service Commission to contribute to an improved administration of justice,” EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Philippe Van Damme, told delegates witnessing the launch the support to constitutional alignment process in Harare Thursday.
The funding which will go for  two years will be  be channelled through the Centre for Applied Legal Research and directed to provide technical support to the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for technical support.
EU said they were also going to fund the establishment  o f independent commissions  prescribed by  the  new constitution and  equip them.
“What we will do in the next steps, is make sure that the Constitutional Commissions are established and receive the human and financial means to fulfil their constitutional mandate in an independent way, and design a sector-wide approach to support the judiciary system in its various dimensions, in order to consolidate democracy, the respect for the human rights, the rule of law,” Ambassador Van Damme pledged.
EU and other western donors supported the country’s constitution making process during the tenure of the inclusive government which led to the adoption of the new Charter nearly one and a half years ago.
 

Grace Mugabe’s future  distant and  near, looks very dark after she was stripped into the open by expelled ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa.
Mutasa in his most latest correspondences to Grace’s husband, Robert, serialised Grace Mugabe’s moral failures in both depth and detail that now create a master-precedent for future lawsuits against her with or without her husband.
The revelations now legally empower every Minister, and other party  officials fired through her cyclonic tirade  who can now sue her for impropriety, legal analysts said Thursday.
In a damning letter written to Mugabe at the end of January this year, Mutasa also said the nonagenarian had done absolutely nothing to date to mitigate the ructions bedevilling the party, as well as the chaos spawned by his wife.
“The nationwide rallies and meetings conducted by the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe became divisive and acrimonious, directly threatening party leaders and members perceived to be associated with the party Vice President and second secretary Amai Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru.
“Contrary to expectations that your excellency would intervene objectively and restore sanity; you ominously joined the fray and became judge and juror, over all and sundry,” Mutasa said.
Grace entered mainstream politics last year, following her unexpected nomination to lead Zanu PF’s Women’s League.
But Mutasa, in his letter — which is an annexure to the Constitutional Court application that he filed together with his nephew Temba Mliswa challenging their disputed expulsion from Parliament last week — believes Grace’s entrance into politics was a major source of the problems bedevilling the party, particularly when she embarked on her controversial “Meet the people” rallies around the country.
During the rallies, Grace ruthlessly savaged a number of party bigwigs — chiefly Mujuru — accusing them of corruption and planning to topple her 91-year-old husband from power.
In the letter, Mutasa said pursuant to Grace’s utterances at her rallies, several party cadres perceived to be linked to Mujuru had been booted out from their offices through irregular votes of no confidence.
He described the purges as “unprocedural and unconstitutional”.
“The nomination process for central committee positions was fraught with intimidation, threats of violence, violence, repression and as such, in no way, could it have been free, fair and constitutional.
“Constitutional amendments were railroaded before the congress in direct contravention of the constitutional provisions that regulate such amendments, in particular Article 30 of the party Constitution read with Section 253,” Mutasa said.
He said the events in the period prior to, during, and after the congress resulted in the forced removal of constitutionally-elected party leaders in nine out of 10 provinces.
“The politburo and central committee meetings immediately preceding that congress were shrouded in threats, fear and total failure to express individual opinion.
“This is based on the glaring summary suspensions, expulsions and direct malicious accusations of treason and singularisation of individuals by the president,” Mutasa said.
He added that the actions resulted in a “highly divided party, illegal and unconstitutional structures in Zanu PF with no legal basis to form a credible government”.
“Your Excellency, sanity needs to be restored in the party and we appeal to you to decisively take the necessary and corrective actions for the welfare of the party and nation.
“We are confident of your desire to expeditiously resolve this fundamental and critical matter for the good of the valiant liberation party and legacy,” Mutasa said.
Mutasa also queried the way the ruling party’s congress delegates had been accredited, adding that the way the issue had been handled disregarded Zanu PF’s standing rules and procedures.
“Numerous elected leaders were barred from attending that congress through direct and unrestrained threats to their safety and well-being.
“Several members and senior leaders of Zanu PF, including myself, do not regard that December meeting as a congress,” he asserted.
Mutasa, together with former Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, have since filed a High Court application seeking to nullify the congress.
“The present application is one that seeks a declaration to the effect that the first respondent (Zanu PF)’s congress that was held in December 2014 was a nullity and was held in breach of the respondent’s own constitution.
“Connected to the illegality of the congress is the unlawfulness and unconstitutionality of certain appointments and decisions that were made and of certain constitutional amendments that were made,” Mutasa said in his High Court affidavit. (DailyNews/Additional Reporting)

President Robert Mugabe is keeping his loyalists on tenterhooks as he delays replacing ministers he fired following a brutal purge, triggering frenzied jostling in his divided Zanu PF.
The party’s merciless purges, targeted at ex-vice president Joice Mujuru and her perceived loyalists — have claimed 17 ministers and deputies amid fears that residual elements linked to the widowed ex-VP could also be dropped from Cabinet.
“The President should reward those who worked for the party against Mai Mujuru and all those who wanted to remove him from power. We know the ‘gamatox’ (Mujuru loyalists) ministers and they should be chucked out from Cabinet,” said a source.
Ministers, who are still in government, linked to Mujuru include Sydney Sekeramayi (Defence), David Parirenyatwa (Health and Child Care), Lazarus Dokora (Education) and Andrew Langa (Sports and Recreation).
With the Constitution limiting Mugabe to appointing ministers from a pool of legislators in Parliament, the nonagenarian is presently limited to pick from those who were either elected during the 2013 elections or he appointed.
As it is, the Daily News is reliably informed that Mugabe might be forced to bring back some of the fired deputies who have thus far demonstrated unbridled loyalty to him and his increasingly powerful wife Grace.
“Three deputy ministers are coming back. Look at Tongai Muzenda (axed deputy minister of Labour) he is the son of the late vice president Simon Muzenda and there is pressure for him to be brought back because he has remained loyal to the president,” said the source.
Mugabe has thus far fired, Didymus Mutasa (Presidential Affairs minister), Webster Shamu (Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services), Francis Nhema (Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment), Olivia Muchena (Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development), Dzikamai Mavhaire (Energy and Power Development), Nicholas Goche (Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare), Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister) and Munacho Mutezo (Energy and Power Development deputy minister).
While Mugabe has come up with replacements for most of the Cabinet posts, he is still to name the new minister of Women and Gender Affairs — with his wife Grace, who is now the secretary for women affairs in Zanu PF, likely to be appointed to the post.
Among those who have also been axed from government are, Flora Buka, minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Paul Chimedza deputy minister of Health and Child Care, Sylvester Nguni minister of State in former vice president Mujuru’s office), Muzenda, Petronella Kagonye deputy minister Transport, Fortune Chasi deputy minister of Justice and Tendai Savanhu the deputy minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement deputy minister.
But Mugabe has kept those accused of belonging to the Mujuru faction guessing and on the other hand Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camp is keen on ensuring that they benefit from the reshuffle through appointments to influential posts.
Because of the looming reshuffle, many people are mudslinging and there is a raging war to discredit other people who have remote links to Mujuru, sources said.
The sources in Zanu PF accused Mugabe of taking long in rewarding his foot soldiers who “smoked out Mujuru” before the party’s controversial congress held in December last year.
“There are a lot of ‘gamatoxes’ (Mujuru supporters) that still need to be smoked out of Cabinet, as well as the key security sector and the civil service if factionalists are to be defeated once and for all,” said a party official close to Mnangagwa. daily news

The trial of Abundant Life Global Ministries pastor, Danmore Magorimbo entered day three with the state seeking clarification on a voice conversation transcript brought in as evidence.
Magorimbo is facing charges of indecent assault, attempted rape and rape but is denying all the three charges.
The trial kicked off with the state asking the complainant what Magorimbo was referring to when he was recorded saying ‘God told me the sacrifice must be dry and skin to skin,’ to which the complainant answered ‘the pastor wanted unprotected sexual intercourse with her.’
The state represented by Michael Reza also asked the complainant why the accused said it was tough to have sexual intercourse with her, and she replied that he knew that what he was doing was wrong.
The state further questioned the complainant why Magorimbo said she (the complainant) must not cause harm to the man of God and why he felt threatened when he had consensual sexual intercourse and she replied that, the accused person has been gripped by fear and wanted her not to take action as he knew what he did was wrong.
The pastor was recorded telling the complainant that, “Heavens sat down and sought how to enforce you. How it will assist you to fight and it saw it fit you to take power from the man of God. That is why it has to be dry, because heavens saw it fit that you lead the life of a man of God, life is in the blood and you know sperms are blood, it was God’s will so don’t take it lightly.”
The state said the statement proves the accused had sexual intercourse with the complainant and wanted to instil fear into her.
Magorimbo is alleged to have raped the complainant after tricking her that by having sexual intercourse with her, he will be able to drive away evil spirits allegedly unleashed on her by her husband.
-ZBC

FORMER Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono has been sued at the High Court in Harare over a $2,2 million debt, barely two weeks after Oasis Motors approached the same court over a $1,5 million debt.
This brings the total amount Gono is being sued for at the High Court over his failure to pay debts to $3,7 million. In the latest case, a South African company, ASP Marketing CC, alleges that Gono, who is the director of Lunar Chickens, entered into various agreements for the supply of maize and soya beans that would be used to produce feed for the poultry business.
Lunar Chickens did not pay for the delivery, resulting in ASP Marketing approaching the High Court for an order compelling the poultry firm to settle the debt.
A fortnight ago, Gono made headlines over failure to pay a $1,5 million debt to Oasis Motors for vehicles he purchased for Lunar Chickens staff in 2010.
ASP director Alida Aletta Craukamp deposed a founding affidavit chronicling how Gono entered into the agreements for maize and soya beans deliveries and ended up failing to pay.
Craukamp said her company was in the business of purchasing and selling agricultural products like maize, soya beans and maize bags.
Gono, according to Craukamp, met ASP officials at his New Donnington Farm in Norton and they sealed a deal for the supply of maize to Lunar Chickens at the price of $395 per metric tonne.
Each delivery, according to the agreement, would be separately invoiced and payment would be done by telegraphic transfer within 60 days from the date of presentation of the invoice.
Between December 2009 and May 2010, ASP delivered to Gono 2,209,72MT of white maize at the agreed price. Lunar Chickens also signed another agreement in which it received 2,966,07MT of soya beans at the price of $495 per MT between June and July 2010 from ASP.
Several other consignments of grain were delivered to Lunar Chickens, but Gono failed to comply with the payment agreements, resulting in the matter spilling into the courts.
In respect of maize deliveries, ASP issued and presented its invoices to Lunar Chickens, but payment was not done within the stipulated 60-day period.
For soya bean deliveries, the deadline for payment was end of August 2010.
ASP officials met Gono in South Africa in 2011 and he undertook to pay the debt with interest.
In the same year, Gono acknowledged the debt and paid $140 000, leaving a balance of more than $2,2 million.
Despite demand, Gono has refused or failed to pay the debt, it is alleged.
Responding to the application, Lunar Chickens chief executive officer Velenjani Lupankwa argued that ASP had adopted the wrong route in claiming the debt.
He submitted that Clause 14 of the parties’ agreement stated that disputes of breach of contract should be referred for arbitration in South Africa and not the local High Court.
Lupankwa argued that the agreement relied upon was an illegal one as it infringed Section 11 of the Exchange Control regulations of 1996.
The company argued that no exchange control authority had been obtained to allow Lunar Chickens to send money outside the country and that the High Court cannot be asked to sanction an illegality. Lunar Chickens argued that ASP, being a foreign company, failed to pay security of costs rendering the application fatal.
Lunar Chickens also argued that ASP sued the wrong party as it dealt with New Donnington Farm (Pvt) Ltd and RT Feeds in the agreements.
It was also stated in the opposing papers that the three-year period stipulated under the Prescription Act as the period in which a claim may be made had since lapsed and that the claim must be dismissed.
Litigation, according to Lunar Chickens, ought to have been instituted at least by July 25, 2013. Lunar Chickens also argued that the maize and soya beans were imported without paying customs duty.
Gono, according to Lunar Chickens, had no authority to act on behalf of the company when he dealt with ASP, hence the company that was sued had nothing to do with the case.
Lunar Chickens denied ever dealing with ASP, urging the court to dismiss the application with costs. herald

Dodgy Employees from the Ministry of Land and Rural Resettlement have pocketed more than $61 000 after illegally selling land to desperate land seekers. Eight employees allegedly sold land to unsuspecting people in need of farms.  Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Dr Douglas Mombeshora confirmed the incident, adding the suspects have been suspended from work.
The matter is now with police who are  investigating the case.
“All the cases were related to corruption involving illegal selling of land. The employees were working as syndicates with some people who were not employed in the ministry. I believe the money collected from the land seekers could be above $61 000. Some of the land seekers paid for land using cattle and goats. They were made to pay money ranging from $100 to $7 000 per individual,” he said.
The employees are from Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Matabeleland South and one from the ministry’s headquarters in Harare.
Minister Mombeshora said the employees were arrested after the affected people made reports.
In some cases, the illegal land dealers were trapped. Minister Mombeshora discouraged people from seeking farms through unprocedural means.
“It is difficult to deal with issues of corruption. This case involves two parties, the land officer and the land seeker,” he said. “Most of the people who were duped knew that what they were doing was illegal.
“We have been to the districts and provinces telling people on the correct procedures of acquiring land.
“One has to apply and be on the waiting list. Land is for free and no one should pay any money even for transport or fuel. The moment someone asks for money it becomes an illegal deal,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora said land seekers were sometimes forced to pay for transport and fuel costs by illegal land dealers.
There are more than 500 000 people on the waiting list. -State Media