By A Correspondent- A man who used false documents to secure employment as a child psychologist and “live a fake life” has been jailed for four years.

Nikiwe Dube (41) with an address at Colpe Drive, Deepforde, Drogheda, Co Louth pleaded guilty to four charges of using a false instrument on dates between November 2019 and February 2022 including a psychological transcript with a false garda stamp, a false identification badge purportedly from the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and a fake medical certificate.

He further pleaded guilty to two counts of deception in that he dishonestly induced TTM Healthcare to put him on their books of employment, causing a loss, on a date between August 15th, 2021 and September 9th, 2021 and that he did dishonestly induce the HSE to give him an interview towards employment on August 18th, 2022.

Dube used false documents to secure employment as a child psychologist in the public and private healthcare sectors when he didn’t have the required academic qualifications, the court heard.

Imposing sentence on Wednesday, Judge Elva Duffy said Dube had put himself “out there” as a medically-trained professional and was working with children and adolescents who were clearly in a very vulnerable position because they had come looking for help.

‘A Complex fraud’

She said Dube knew what he was doing and described it as “a complex fraud”. She said he had chosen to “live a fake life” where he abused trust and received significant money for his work.

Judge Duffy said Dube carried out this fraud “without an apparent purpose” and “set himself out to be someone he was not”.

She also noted that the State confirmed that the gardaí have not been able to confirm Dube’s true identity and said “that is of some concern to the court”.

Judge Duffy acknowledged that Dube made immediate admissions, has expressed remorse and that his plea of guilty was valuable as it would have been a difficult case to prove. She further acknowledged a positive probation report and governor’s report and the fact that Dube is a diabetic.

She said the case warranted a headline sentence of five and half years before she imposed a sentence of four years, having taken the mitigation into account. The sentence was backdated to when Dube first went into custody on August 5th, 2022.

The court heard that in February 2022, Dube was put forward for a senior post as a child psychologist with an annual salary of €80,000 by recruitment agency, TTM Healthcare.

Application

This application was reviewed by the head of psychology at Avista Medical, who had some concerns that the submitted documents, including a letter of validation, did not conform with the standard content and format.

This person brought his concerns to the attention of the human resources department.

Separately on March 15th, 2022, an assistant principal officer in the Department of Health’s professional regulation unit, which is responsible for the validation of foreign psychology qualifications, told gardaí they had been contacted by Avista in relation to the letter of validation included in Dube’s application.

The Department of Health staff member said the unit had checked their archives and had no record of Dube.

As such, the letter of validation was not issued by the Department of Health. Further enquiries determined the letter of validation to be false.

Gardaí then contacted the recruitment agency TTM Healthcare, who provided them with documents including a letter of validation, a GNIB card, transcripts from the University of Zimbabwe and a Zimbabwean police clearance certificate.

The court also heard Dube was employed by Gateway Residential Care in Sligo between November 2019 and November 2021 as a child psychologist. He received €172,000 in wages and expenses during this period.

Gateway Residential Care provided gardaí in March 2022 with documents including a letter of good standing from the PSI and documentation from the University of Zimbabwe including a qualification in psychology.

Gardaí also spoke with a recruitment consultant working for TTM Healthcare who said Dube contacted them in August 2021 about a vacancy for a HSE clinical post. Dube was screened, and it was confirmed that he met the requirements of the post.

Dube provided documents to TTM Healthcare including a Master of Science in clinical psychology transcript, a diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy, his GNIB card and a letter of validation. Garda vetting forms for TTM Healthcare and the HSE were also completed.

Dube was approved for a locum post in November 2021, however TTM paid his wages of €11,628 during this period due to outstanding garda vetting.

The investigating garda confirmed that much of Dube’s work was carried out remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic and he had limited interaction with patients, both supervised and unsupervised.

Dube also had an identification badge purportedly from the PSI, however the society does not issue badges. The PSI contacted the University of Zimbabwe, whose staff confirmed that Dube had not studied there.

In May 2022, a garda at the Navan Garda Immigration Office confirmed that a stamp on a transcript did not originate from that office.

Gardaí arrested Dube in August 2022 in Drogheda. After caution, he told gardaí that he had been expecting this, but not at that moment.

He told them that he had paid over €4,300 online for a pack of documents and that he knew he should not have done it.

Dube made no comment when interviewed. He has no previous convictions and has been in custody since August 5, 2022.

The investigating garda agreed with Gerardine Small SC, defending, that her client made admissions when first approached by gardaí. He also confirmed that Dube had been in custody since his arrest and that his guilty plea avoided what would have been a complex trial.

No victim impact statements were provided to the court.

Ms Small asked the court to take into consideration her client’s early guilty plea, immediate admissions and expressions of remorse. She said her client had educational attainment in this area.

Dube was born in Zimbabwe and worked as a LGBT counsellor for six years, the court heard. He had to flee the country due to concerns for his safety and applied for international protection in 2018.

A governor’s report and an education report were handed to the court. Dube is an enhanced prisoner and works in the prison laundry. He also volunteers as a listener with the Samaritans.

A letter of apology was also handed to the court. Dube is diabetic and has issues with cholesterol for which he takes medication.

Ms Small said Dube is aware of the “serious breach of trust” and the seriousness of the offence. She noted that he accepts that he sought refuge in a country and his “behaviour towards that country is wholly unacceptable”.

By A Correspondent- It is normal, occasionally, in any relationship that tempers flare and hurtful words are spoken.

But what happens when you discover that your loved one is cheating on you?

Wonder no more!

Tofara Masendu (28) from Bulawayo was left groaning in agony after his girlfriend Sithandazile Ncube (20) scalded his face and genitals with boiling cooking oil after he assaulted her as punishment for allegedly double-crossing him.

A source close to the incident said Masendu was relaxing on the bed with his girlfriend at his place at a flat in the city centre when they had a fallout.

“Masendu told her that he bumped into raunchy chats on her phone which she was exchanging with another man. After that he accused her of cheating on him,” the source said.

The source said in the midst of that the pair exchanged harsh words which resulted in Masendu bashing her.

“He grabbed her before throttling her. He then punched her and kicked her all over the body while accusing her of disrespecting him and cheating on him,” said the source.

After bashing her, Masendu relaxed on the bed and subsequently fell asleep and it was during that time when things turned nasty for him.

“His girlfriend boiled cooking oil and poured it on his face and genitals. After that she fled leaving him groaning in agony,” the source said.

Masendu reported the incident at Bulawayo Central Police Station leading to the arrest of his girlfriend.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.

He said: “We urge community members to engage third parties such as friends, relatives or pastors rather than resorting to violence because such unbecoming behaviour might lead to an unnecessary loss of life.”

Efforts to get a comment from Masendu were fruitless

By A Correspondent- Six (6) people died in a road traffic accident that occurred in Rusape along the Harare-Mutare Road on Friday evening.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident to ZBC News, saying three people died on the spot while the others died on admission at Rusape General Hospital.

Asst Comm Nyathi said that a Harare-bound commuter omnibus side-swiped a haulage truck, as the driver tried to overtake at a sharp curve before Rusape tollgate.

Six other people who were in the commuter omnibus are admitted at Rusape General Hospital after sustaining injuries.

By A Correspondent- A Chigodora family is in hot soup after it discreetly reburied its six-year-old child’s empty coffin following the vandalisation of the grave, coffin and body.

Three years down the line, the whereabouts of the corpse that was dug up soon after its burial remain unknown.

Although the father’s child, Joe Mureyani, later passed on under mysterious circumstances and his wife relocated to South Africa, members of the Mureyani family were dragged to Headman Chigodora’s court last Saturday to explain why they never bothered to inform the local traditional leadership following the incident.

The issue has since been transferred to Acting Chief Zimunya’s court and will be heard on August 6.

Headman Chigodora’s court heard that three years ago, the Mureyani family did not report to the traditional leadership that its son’s body and coffin had vanished from the grave after burial.

However, the family made a police report.

Headman Chigodora said the coffin was later found, but the body is still missing, three years later.
Asked why they did not report the matter to their Village Head or Headman Chigodora, the family begged for forgiveness.

Derrick Mureyani narrated: “My aunt was walking past the grave when she discovered that it had been tampered with. The grave had been dug and the coffin removed. This happened a few days after the child’s burial. We told our elders, and we conducted a search, but found nothing.

“However, days later, someone saw a child’s coffin inside the house of a villager who is mentally-challenged. The coffin looked like the one that we had buried the child in.

“Police were alerted and the villager was arrested. He was taken to the psychiatric unit where he was evaluated and was released recently.

“However, the body is yet to be found up to this day,” said Mureyani.

Inside the coffin that was found in the villager’s house was the shroud that the child’s body was wrapped in, as well as his clothes that had been put in his grave.

Headman Chigodora accused the family of performing rituals at the cemetery without notifying the traditional leadership.

“As far as I am concerned, that child’s spirit is roaming around this area because the body is yet to be found. This is probably why your family is suffering from mysterious illnesses.

“You had no right to visit the cemetery and perform your rituals without notifying the local leadership.

“You reburied the empty coffin on your own without informing anyone. This shows that you were trying to cover up something. Since you do not want to tell this court why you never reported this matter, it is proper for me to transfer the matter to Chief Zimunya’s court,” said Headman Chigodora.

The family then said the traditional healers they consulted over the matter accused the family’s patriarch, Zacharia Mureyani, of being behind the corpse’s disappearance; as well as Joe’s death.

“After the mysterious disappearance of the child’s corpse, Zacharia ordered Joe to deliver some red cloth to Clever’s home. Joe was not aware that this was a ploy to kill Clever.

“However, this backfired on Joe and he died shortly afterwards. This matter was also kept under wraps for three years.

‘‘This means that both Joe and his son’s restless spirit are still roaming around this area,” said Shepherd Mureyani, a family member.

“We were told by a traditional healer that the late family members’ spirits are roaming around Zacharia’s homestead and there will be no peace within this family until he confesses.

“Zacharia confessed on that day, but has not done anything to save the situation,” said Shepherd.

However, Zacharia vehemently denied being responsible for the disappearance of the child’s corpse.

“The truth is that there are a lot of witches and wizards in our family and people should not only accuse me,” he said.

-Manicapost

By- A Bulawayo Judge has blocked twelve Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP candidates from contesting the 2023 elections for filing their nomination papers after the regulated time of 4 PM on 21 June. 

Three others from other opposition parties are set to be struck off the ballot.

Justice Bongani Ndlovu ruled:

It is declared that the decision of the first respondent (ZEC), sitting as a Nomination Court at Bulawayo on 21 and 22 June 2023 to accept the respondents’ nomination papers and candidature in the elections scheduled for 23 August 2023 is declared null and void and is hereby set aside.

This could result in ZANU PF winning all 12 National Assembly seats in Bulawayo unopposed, as they did in Bulawayo South in the previous elections. Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube is among ZANU PF candidates now elected unopposed. 

CCC national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, has stated that the party will appeal against the ruling. In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, Mahere said:

We’ve received a report that our @CCCZimbabwe candidates in Bulawayo have been barred from contesting. Details to follow.

The @CCCZimbabwe will appeal against the Byo Judgment. Citizens have the right to nominate candidates within the ambit of the law & to be represented by MPs that they choose in a free & fair election. The right to parliamentary representation of choice is sacred. #ForEveryone

Some background:

On 19 July, the Electoral Court consolidated a dozen applications filed by ZANU PF activists seeking to have CCC National Assembly candidates in Bulawayo disqualified from the 23 August elections. The applicants, who only described themselves as “registered voters,” argued that CCC, other opposition parties, and independents filed their nomination papers after the regulated time of 4 PM on 21 June and should not be allowed to contest. 

CCC claims that all its candidates in Bulawayo filed their papers by 4 PM, but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) asked them to correct signature anomalies on the forms. The party argues that its candidates were ready to file the corrected forms by 4 PM and were present at the Nomination Court, but ZEC was assisting other candidates. The process continued into the wee hours of 22 June. The candidates have argued in a court filing that their papers were delivered to ZEC before 4 PM, but the nomination papers appear to have suddenly disappeared while in the court’s custody.

ZEC lawyers argued that the CCC applicants were given all the facilities and rights prescribed by the Electoral Act and were not denied their right to file nomination papers. They argued that Mr Ncube, ZEC’s Nomination Officer, explained that he announced the close of the Nomination Court and invited all present to submit their nomination papers. He said he further instructed the police officers to collect all nomination papers outside the court, except those already inside.

ZEC lawyers added that when Ncube examined the party lists for the CCC, he found that the party had submitted three party lists for Senatorial, National Assembly and Youth quota, but did not have one for the provincial council. He then sent their representative back to make corrections on anomalies. The lawyers said the corrected party-list nomination papers were returned with the provincial council party list added, which was not part of the original submission. Ncube denied losing the nomination papers of the CCC members and stated that the factual narration given by the applicants is not correct. 

By- CCC leader Nelson Chamisa said the disqualification of his twelve MP candidates from contesting 2023 means President Emmerson Mnangagwa has nullified the polls.

The 12 Bulawayo aspiring MPS were Thursday disqualified for filing their nomination papers after the regulated time of 4 PM on 21 June. 

CCC tweeted:

A few hours after the High Court’s decision to bar our 12 Bulawayo MPs, President Nelson Chamisa responded to this politically motivated ruling at a cluster rally in Kadoma. He warned that if the move stands, Mr. Mnangagwa would have nullified the elections.

Justice Bongani Ndlovu ruled Thursday:

It is declared that the decision of the first respondent (ZEC), sitting as a Nomination Court at Bulawayo on 21 and 22 June 2023 to accept the respondents’ nomination papers and candidature in the elections scheduled for 23 August 2023 is declared null and void and is hereby set aside.

This could result in ZANU PF winning all 12 National Assembly seats in Bulawayo unopposed, as they did in Bulawayo South in the previous elections. Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube is among ZANU PF candidates now elected unopposed. 

CCC national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, has stated that the party will appeal against the ruling. In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, Mahere said:

We’ve received a report that our @CCCZimbabwe candidates in Bulawayo have been barred from contesting. Details to follow.

The @CCCZimbabwe will appeal against the Byo Judgment. Citizens have the right to nominate candidates within the ambit of the law & to be represented by MPs that they choose in a free & fair election. The right to parliamentary representation of choice is sacred. #ForEveryone

Some background:

On 19 July, the Electoral Court consolidated a dozen applications filed by ZANU PF activists seeking to have CCC National Assembly candidates in Bulawayo disqualified from the 23 August elections. The applicants, who only described themselves as “registered voters,” argued that CCC, other opposition parties, and independents filed their nomination papers after the regulated time of 4 PM on 21 June and should not be allowed to contest. 

CCC claims that all its candidates in Bulawayo filed their papers by 4 PM, but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) asked them to correct signature anomalies on the forms. The party argues that its candidates were ready to file the corrected forms by 4 PM and were present at the Nomination Court, but ZEC was assisting other candidates. The process continued into the wee hours of 22 June. The candidates have argued in a court filing that their papers were delivered to ZEC before 4 PM, but the nomination papers appear to have suddenly disappeared while in the court’s custody.

ZEC lawyers argued that the CCC applicants were given all the facilities and rights prescribed by the Electoral Act and were not denied their right to file nomination papers. They argued that Mr Ncube, ZEC’s Nomination Officer, explained that he announced the close of the Nomination Court and invited all present to submit their nomination papers. He said he further instructed the police officers to collect all nomination papers outside the court, except those already inside.

ZEC lawyers added that when Ncube examined the party lists for the CCC, he found that the party had submitted three party lists for Senatorial, National Assembly and Youth quota, but did not have one for the provincial council. He then sent their representative back to make corrections on anomalies. The lawyers said the corrected party-list nomination papers were returned with the provincial council party list added, which was not part of the original submission. Ncube denied losing the nomination papers of the CCC members and stated that the factual narration given by the applicants is not correct. 

By- A Bulawayo Judge has blocked twelve Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP candidates from contesting the 2023 elections for filing their nomination papers after the regulated time of 4 PM on 21 June. 

Three others from other opposition parties are set to be struck off the ballot.

Justice Bongani Ndlovu ruled:

It is declared that the decision of the first respondent (ZEC), sitting as a Nomination Court at Bulawayo on 21 and 22 June 2023 to accept the respondents’ nomination papers and candidature in the elections scheduled for 23 August 2023 is declared null and void and is hereby set aside.

This could result in ZANU PF winning all 12 National Assembly seats in Bulawayo unopposed, as they did in Bulawayo South in the previous elections. Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube is among ZANU PF candidates now elected unopposed. 

CCC national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, has stated that the party will appeal against the ruling. In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, Mahere said:

We’ve received a report that our @CCCZimbabwe candidates in Bulawayo have been barred from contesting. Details to follow.

The @CCCZimbabwe will appeal against the Byo Judgment. Citizens have the right to nominate candidates within the ambit of the law & to be represented by MPs that they choose in a free & fair election. The right to parliamentary representation of choice is sacred. #ForEveryone.

On 19 July, the Electoral Court consolidated a dozen applications filed by ZANU PF activists seeking to have CCC National Assembly candidates in Bulawayo disqualified from the 23 August elections. The applicants, who only described themselves as “registered voters,” argued that CCC, other opposition parties, and independents filed their nomination papers after the regulated time of 4 PM on 21 June and should not be allowed to contest. 

CCC claims that all its candidates in Bulawayo filed their papers by 4 PM, but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) asked them to correct signature anomalies on the forms. The party argues that its candidates were ready to file the corrected forms by 4 PM and were present at the Nomination Court, but ZEC was assisting other candidates. The process continued into the wee hours of 22 June. The candidates have argued in a court filing that their papers were delivered to ZEC before 4 PM, but the nomination papers appear to have suddenly disappeared while in the court’s custody.

ZEC lawyers argued that the CCC applicants were given all the facilities and rights prescribed by the Electoral Act and were not denied their right to file nomination papers. They argued that Mr Ncube, ZEC’s Nomination Officer, explained that he announced the close of the Nomination Court and invited all present to submit their nomination papers. He said he further instructed the police officers to collect all nomination papers outside the court, except those already inside.

ZEC lawyers added that when Ncube examined the party lists for the CCC, he found that the party had submitted three party lists for Senatorial, National Assembly and Youth quota, but did not have one for the provincial council. He then sent their representative back to make corrections on anomalies. The lawyers said the corrected party-list nomination papers were returned with the provincial council party list added, which was not part of the original submission. Ncube denied losing the nomination papers of the CCC members and stated that the factual narration given by the applicants is not correct. 

By-The government has announced that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has received a helicopter from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Information Secretary Nick Mangwana, Information, made the announcement saying that the gift was presented to Mnangagwa during his attendance at the Second Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, held in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, from 27th to 28th July 2023. 

In a Twitter Mangwana said:

In this picture collage, you are looking at the Zim1 Helicopter gifted by President Putin to President @edmnangagwa. This bird will soon be gracing our skies.

There are doubts and suspicions about the nature of the helicopter “donation”, with some commentators expressing concerns that not enough information has been provided regarding the gift. Some have questioned the motives behind the donation.

Several commentators on Twitter suggested that the gift could be part of a larger exchange that may not have been disclosed to the public.

In May Zimbabwe received 18 helicopters from Russia worth $320 million. These helicopters will be deployed in the health and security sectors, as well as during natural disasters. The partnership is seen as an indication of the growing relations between Harare and Moscow, with additional helicopters set to arrive by 2025.

According to reports, the 18 helicopters were bought for $10 million each, even though they are believed to be secondhand and originally cost $2.5 million when new. Former Minister of Finance and CCC deputy president, Tendai Biti, has raised concerns that procurement procedures were not followed in the purchase of the helicopters.

By A Correspondent- Nearly 350 000 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 fell pregnant between 2019 and 2022 in Zimbabwe.

This was said by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Zimbabwe’s adolescent sexual health reproductive specialist Blessing Nyagumbo on Tuesday.

Addressing journalists, Nyagumbo said the country recorded a sharp increase in pregnancies among girls and teenagers in the past three years. She said, as quoted by ZimLive:

Between 2019 and 2022, there were about 1.7 million pregnancies recorded in Zimbabwe and out of that, 21 percent happened amongst adolescents that are between the ages of 10 to 19 years and that translates to around 350 000 teenage pregnancies.

That tells you how devastating the rate of teenage pregnancies in Zimbabwe is.

According to statistics, in 2018, about 3 000 girls dropped out because of pregnancy.

In 2019, the number remained relatively steady, but in 2020, the number rose to 4 770.

In 2021, the number rose again as about 5 000 learners got pregnant in that year’s first two months.

Nyagumbo said it is imperative to take sexual reproductive health education to schools as raising awareness will reduce cases of sexual exploitation of minors. She said:

One of the preventing strategic interventions that we support as UNFPA is strengthening the delivery of sex education in schools.

Teenage pregnancies and child marriages skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic when schools were closed for an extended period of time.

We publish below a response to claims by Citizens Coalition for Change Spokesperson Ms Fadzai Mahere to the effect that ZBC reporting is unconstitutional and in favour of ZANU PF

ZBC Election Coverage

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation notes with concern a statement released by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Ms Fadzai Mahere.

The statement dated 25 July 2023 has serious allegations to the effect that the ZBC in particular has failed to comply with the law in the coverage of the 2023 General election.

The ZBC is alive to the fact that it is a National Broadcaster and its elections coverage is guided by the laws of the land in this case, The Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) and the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment number 20 of 2013 of particular note Section 61.

The ZBC appreciates that according to the Electoral Act, the election season runs from the day of the Proclamation of the election dates until the day of the inauguration of the winner of the Presidential election.

In this case, our election season began on Wednesday the 31st of May 2023 and will end on the day of the inauguration of the Presidential winner.

Guided by the Electoral Act that requires the National Broadcaster to ‘equitably’ distribute free airtime to contesting political parties, on the Proclamation Day, the ZBC had a news story aired on the Main News (8pm television) and other bulletins including all the six radio stations under the ZBC stable namely, Radio Zimbabwe, National FM, Power FM, Classic 263, Khulumani FM and Central Radio.

The story featured the three main political parties at that stage namely CCC, MDC A and ZANU PF. From the CCC it was Fadzai Mahere who spoke on behalf of her party. (ZBC Main News bulletins are a matter of public record and can be viewed on ZBC News Online stream on Facebook as the bulletins are streamed).

On the day of the nomination Court i.e Wednesday the 21st of June, ZBC News covered and aired a story that featured CCC President Mr. Nelson Chamisa commenting about the nomination process. The following day 22 June, again Mr. Chamisa was on the news commenting about double candidates.

Current Affairs

The ZBC has availed three election programmes for political parties namely, The Candidate, The Manifesto and Constituency Indaba. All Presidential candidates are free to present their Manifestos and also be interviewed on “The Candidate”. Aspiring legislators can also be featured on The Constituency Indaba though regrettably some have refused to take part.

Recording of these programmes is underway while others have already been aired. There are 11 Presidential candidates and possibly 12 and the National Broadcaster cannot change this schedule by saying CCC President must be the first or second.

Every candidate has the same rights and when the dates according to the schedule come, indeed Mr. Nelson Chamisa will be invited to present his Manifesto and be featured on ‘The Candidate’.

All these programmes are on television and Zbc’s six radio stations.

News Reports

Guided by the laws, Zbc News reporters across the country have put in deliberate efforts to speak to all contesting candidates. Some have agreed while others have refused. Among the CCC candidates those who agreed and were covered include Mr. Febion Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi (Mabvuku National Assembly) on 5 July 2023, Mr. Jastone Mazhale (Gwanda-Tshitaudze), Lynette Karenyi (Chikanga) with stories being aired on 13 July 2023. Nicola Watson for Bulawayo South was covered on 15 July 2023.

The CCC Official launch rally in Gweru on the 16th of July was also covered and flighted by ZBC on the same day with the party President Mr. Nelson Chamisa being featured. The following day 17 July 2023, Mr. Chamisa was also featured speaking about the land reform, a story aired on all ZBC news bulletins. On 19 July 2023, Party spokesperson Ms Fadzai Mahere was featured commenting on double candidates.

Other CCC officials featured on the ZBC plattforms also include Mr. Vusa Moyo (Hwange West), Mr. Clifford Hlatshwayo (Chipinge South), Mr. Josiah Makombe (Gweru Urban), Ropafadzo Makumire (Chiredzi Central), Mathew Mlambo (Chipinge East) among others.

However the following CCC candidates refused to speak to ZBC: Gift Ostallos (12 June 2023), Discent Collins-Bajila (Emakhandeni/Luveve), Obert Manduna (Nketa), Chidaushe Emmanuel (Chivi North), Makotose Peter Alexios (Chivi Central), Patrick Mugwambi (Shamva South), Mavis Maringisanwa (Shamva North), Patrick Dube (Gwanda South), Desire Nkala (Gwanda North), Chinembiri Muchengeti (Chikomba East), Emmanuel Punungwe (Chikomba West), Douglas Gumbo (Chiredzi South), Petias Manyika (Mt Darwin East) and Lovemore Dhlumo (Chipinge Central) among others.

The ZBC is also in possession of some audio recordings with the candidates refusing to speak to our news crews. Mr. Petias Manyika (CCC candidate for Mt Darwin East told the ZBC News that their party has made a decision not to speak with the ZBC.

This statement has however not stopped the ZBC from seeking interviews from other CCC candidates. The ZBC as a National Broadcaster respects the journalistic ethics such as fairness, accuracy, balance, objectivity and confidentiality of sources but also respects the rights of individuals not to speak to the media.

Editorial independence

It is also important to note that the ZBC is independent ad has a competent editorial team that understands what to publish and how to publish it. Even an election season doesn’t take away this editorial independence that is provided for by the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 61 (4) ‘All state-owned media of communication are:
(a) free to determine the editorial content of their broadcasts or other communications’ The Supreme law of the land thus gives the ZBC editorial independence to decide what and how to publish though. Section 61 (5) of the Constitution also gives ZBC the basis of its editorial policy.

Commercial Content

According to the law, ZBC is mandated with offering political parties a discount of 30 percent during prime time. Other political parties have submitted their advertisements and to date the National Broadcaster is yet to receive any such from the CCC.

No right is absolute

All content including the commercial content is subject to editorial scrutiny as provided by the law in section 61 of the constitution of Zimbabwe.
61(5) ‘Freedom of expression and freedom of the media excludes- (a) Incitement to violence (b) Advocacy of hatred or hate speech (c) Malicious injury to a person’s reputation or dignity (d) Malicious unwarranted breach of a person’s right to privacy.

As the Constitution provides, we therefore urge political players not to use hate speech, misinformation among others as this cannot be broadcast on ZBC platforms.

While it is understood that elections are an emotive subject and that the campaign is hot and might cause frustrations, it is however unfair to vent these frustrations on the ZBC.

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean court has stopped Labenmon Investments, a Chinese mining company, from conducting illegal mining operations on ancestral land belonging to some Mutoko villagers in Mashonaland East province, following an outcry by the dwellers.

The villagers led by George Makanjera and Judgmore Chibanda filed an urgent chamber application on 30 June 2023 at Mutoko Magistrates Court, seeking an order to interdict the Chinese mining company from prospecting, conducting exploration or any form of mining activity in four villages in Mutoko namely Moyosvi, Chibanda, Gumbeze and Kadore.

The villagers, who were represented by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Kelvin Kabaya of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, also asked the court to order Labenmon Investments to remove some pegs which it had installed in the four villages within 24 hours.

Apart from Labenmon Investments, the villagers also listed Mines and Mining Development Minister Hon. Winston Chitando, Environmental Management Agency and Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency as respondents.

The villagers resorted to taking legal action against Labenmon Investments after the Chinese mining company installed some pegs on about 150 hectares of land covering grazing pastures, cultivation and places of traditional and cultural significance in the four villages.

At one time, the mining company was fined a beast of cattle by a local traditional leader for visiting and pegging the sacred areas without notifying him or obtaining his approval.

Despite not holding the required paperwork, Labenmon Investments proceeded to bulldoze its way into the area to begin operations that were threatening the livelihoods of dozens of families.

Chinopfukutwa and Kabaya protested in court that some Labenmon Investments employees had in May 2023 camped on the villagers’ land and had told them that they wanted to drill boreholes and inspect their pegs as they had invested in purchasing the mining claims to mine in the villages.

However, the villagers challenged them to produce documentation to prove their claims and this exposed the illegalities behind the mining scheme as the company’s representatives produced a copy of a certificate of registration after transfer of mining claims in respect of claims named Mudzonga located some 3.5 kilometres east of Bandamakara School, a Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) licence issued on 27 February 2023 and a map for the mining project in Mudzonga.

They also produced correspondence from the Environmental Management Agency dated 13 May 2023, in which the company was advised to carry out a full Environmental Impact Assessment.

Mutoko Senior Magistrate Terrence Mashaire brought relief to the Mutoko villagers after ordering Labenmon Investments not to prospect, conduct exploration or any form of mining activity in the entirety of Moyosvi, Chibanda, Gumbeze and Kadore villages without following due process and the law.

Magistrate Mashaire ordered Labenmon Investments to remove its pegs installed around Moyosvi, Chibanda, Gumbeze and Kadore villages within 24 hours and also ruled that in the event that the Chinese mining company does not comply with his order of removing pegs in the villagers’ land, the Messenger of Court would be authorised to remove the pegs from their fields.

Magistrate Mashaire noted that the villagers took action upon realising that their environment was being threatened and said they have a constitutional right to enjoy use of their property and defend it against invasion as Labenmon Investments’ presence on their land is inconsistent with the law.

The Magistrate ruled that the Chinese mining company had not been certified or authorised to carry out mining operations in the four villages and said for Labenmon Investments to want to carry out mining activities without obtaining the relevant approvals and without consulting the villagers would be a violation of Zimbabwean laws governing the protection of the environment together with people residing in the four villages.

By A Correspondent- Residents of Mbare have applauded the Government for prioritising them in the ongoing Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme, which saw the drilling and installation of 10 more boreholes with solar systems.

This follows successive years of failure by opposition led councils to provide basic services such as potable water to urban dwellers, opening the doors to the spread of diseases like cholera.

President Mnangagwa has come to the rescue of Mbare residents that have been reeling with perennial water challenges by directing the drilling of 10 more boreholes as Government paces up efforts to end water woes in the capital city.

The project, which has taken a revolutionary turn, will see water from boreholes being fed into household taps, shifting from the traditional hand pump boreholes.

In separate interviews, residents who spoke to The Herald hailed President Mnangagwa for the timely intervention saying they had been going for weeks without clean water.

“We would even go up to five days without water, and the worst part is that we had few boreholes, so fights would erupt as people jostled to receive at least a bucket of water,” Ms Tatenda Mandere a resident of Mbare said.

“Peace has finally been restored, and I believe that going forward, it will be extremely uncommon to witness arguments over buckets of water.”

Another resident, Mr Arnold Takavarasha said the move was long overdue.

“This is definitely a positive development and the government ought to have contributed sooner rather than later given that opposition leaders often take us for granted.”

Mbare Zanu-PF aspiring councillor for ward 3, Cde Simbarashe Chanachimwe said people should vote out inept opposition legislators and councillors who have been failing to deliver services for the past years.

“The CCC-led council has failed and it is clear that they have nothing to offer so it is high time that we vote for the people’s party Zanu-PF.

“Our President gave us 10 boreholes as part of the ongoing Presidential borehole drilling scheme in line with vision 2030.

“We are happy that through the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa, people will be able to access clean and safe water.”

Zanu-PF Mbare Constituency aspiring candidate Martin Matinyanya described the drilling of boreholes as a huge development.

“Our President has done very well , we are very happy that the types of boreholes are different from conventional hand pump boreholes, people will get water straight from the taps.

“We see this as a huge development, water is very important, everyone is happy and anytime of the day you can get water because the system uses solar energy.”

As a community, Cde Matinyanya said they were going to protect the property jealously against any vandalism.

“Everyone will protect these solar panels that have been put, and if you look closely, the boreholes have been strategically positioned where security is assured, such as next to car parks.”

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has left for St Petersburg, Russia where he is set to attend the second Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.

The Second Russia Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which will be held in St Petersburg, in the Russian Federation, from the 27th to the 28th of July will provide a platform for Russia and African countries to expand cooperation in various sectors of the economy.

Zimbabwe and Russia are expected to sign several Memoranda of Understanding and agreements during the forum, which will further enhance cooperation between the two countries.

The inaugural Russia-Africa Summit, was held in Sochi, in the Russian Federation, in October 2019.

President Mnangagwa was seen off at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International airport by Vice President General Rtd Dr Constantino Chiwenga, other senior government officials and service chiefs.

By A Correspondent- The European Union (EU) says it will deploy more than 150 observers to Zimbabwe’s August 23 elections.

Brussels revealed this yesterday as it deployed the first batch of 46 observers to the country’s 10 provinces ahead of the harmonised polls.

The EU election observer mission in Zimbabwe said its team was ready to cover the “hard-to-reach areas” to impartially assess the plebiscite’s credibility, freeness and fairness.

Addressing the observers in the capital yesterday before their deployment, EU mission deputy chief observer Beata Martin Rozumitowicz urged the observers to be independent and impartial in doing their work.

Rozumitowicz told journalists at the same venue that they are maintaining a non-interference policy in the electoral process.

“We are deploying long-term observers to all 10 provinces of the country,” she said.

“They will go throughout the country, not just in Harare, but all the way down to the village level and they will go to the hard-to-reach areas.

“In the course of their duty, EU observers will meet local electoral officials, candidates and representatives from political parties, as well as civil society and media.

“They will be impartial and they will not interfere in the electoral process in the course of their work.

“They will only use first-hand and verified observation in their reporting.”

The EU team is observing the elections for the second time since 2018.

“On the election day, the mission will be supplemented across the country by 44 short-term observers, a delegation from the European Parliament and a number of locally-recruited short-term observers, drawn from the diplomatic community. This will bring the number of European observers on polling day to over 150 from 27 EU member States as well as Canada, Norway and Switzerland,” the EU said in an statement released earlier yesterday.

A core team of 11 analysts from the EU arrived in Harare on July 8.

A final report, which will include a set of recommendations for future electoral processes, will be released at the completion of the observer mission.

After the 2018 elections, the EU team made 23 recommendations, including 10 priority ones aimed at aligning the Electoral Act with the country’s Constitution, strengthening the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and improving information-sharing by the commission throughout the electoral process.

Other recommendations included escalating voter registration as well as the transparency, verifiability and integrity of the results management process and mitigation of abuse of State resources, among others.

In its follow-up mission to Zimbabwe last year, Elmar Brok, a former member of the EU Parliament and chief observer of the EU election observer mission to the 2018 general elections, said most recommendations were  ignored.

Rozumitowicz said the findings of the long-term observers would be analysed by its core team in the country.

“The chief observer of the EU election observer mission, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, will present the initial findings and conclusions of the mission two days after the elections. The mission will remain in Zimbabwe to observe the post-electoral environment and follow possible appeals and complaints,” the EU said.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the observers were welcome, adding that they should stick to their mandate.

“We are welcoming our observers,”  Mutsvangwa said.

“We don’t expect them to be monitors, but to be observers.”

Zimbabwe’s elections have been marred by violence, voter intimidation and allegations of rigging, leading to disputed results

By-Government workers have dragged to High Court President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Public Service Commission and other officials over the authority’s penchant for unilaterally reviewing public workers’ salaries.

According to the NewsHawks, the civil servants argue that the current setup where the Public Service and Social Welfare Minister single-handedly decides how much they should earn is unconstitutional.
They are therefore seeking a ruling that declares the current set-up unconstitutional and a declaratory order that forces collective bargaining involving all civil servants’ unions on their salaries and allowances.
The first applicant in the latest court application is the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union (ZIMTA) led by its chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu.
The other applicants are the Civil Service Employees’ Association (CSEA) representing the rest of public service workers with a membership of 2 600 civil servants; Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) Educators’ Union of Zimbabwe (EUZ) and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ).
The Public Service Commission is cited as the first respondent and Mnangagwa as the second respondent. The application reads in part:
The 2nd Respondent is the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe cited herein in the official capacity as the person responsible for the approval of salaries, allowances and other benefits of members of the Public Service as may be fixed by the 1st Respondent in terms of section 2003(4) of the Constitution.
Other respondents cited are Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, Public Service Minister Paul Mavima and Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Attorney-General Prince Machaya is also cited as a respondent because he is the person who is the principal legal adviser to the government, responsible for drafting legislation on behalf of the government as well as representing the government in civil and constitutional matters.
The trade unions are being represented by the law firm of former Highfield MP and trade unionist Munyaradzi Gwisai, Matika and Gwisai Attorneys.
The matter under case number 8261/22 at the High Court of Zimbabwe, was set down to be heard on 21 September by Justice Lucy Mungwari.

By A Correspondent- CCC Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has said the party has received a report that a suspected bomb device was thrown at the home of St Mary’s member of parliament candidate Brighton Mazhindu last night.

Mahere said the Zimbabwe Republic Police attended the scene.

“The Bomb Disposal & Forensics Units are currently investigating the incident. Those who were present report that the object was targeted at the main bedroom but narrowly missed and exploded in the carport.”

Below is the tweet from Mahere:

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has promised President Emmerson Mnangagwa a seat in Zimbabwe’s 10th Parliament as Leader of Opposition, a position the former unsuccessfully tabled for him in 2018.

Chamisa, who is widely expected to present Mnangagwa with the most competition among 10 other presidential candidates, was speaking at a rally in Chirumanzu South constituency where he had gone to drum up support for his parliamentary candidate Patrick Cheza.

In 2018, with intentions of making it back into the United Kingdom’s (UK) Commonwealth, Mnangagwa offered Chamisa a similar post.

“Under our Commonwealth parliamentary democracy, the opposition is recognised; we recognise the leader of the opposition in Parliament. This is what we are going to do ourselves,” said Mnangagwa.

A constitutional amendment was reportedly considered by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, a move that was eventually scuttled by Chamisa’s decision to dismiss Zanu-PF’s antics.

“We are going to deal with nation-building, we want to unite people. We want to celebrate national events as a country,” said Chamisa.

“Mnangagwa will be the leader of the opposition in Parliament starting on the 24th.

“A leader of opposition is not an enemy of the state, he is an extension because government is not one side, it is two sides, the opposing side and the governing side but these comrades of mine do not know that.”

To counter overspending by the state, Chamisa promised a 15-member Cabinet of performance-based ministers who will be relieved of duties if they fail to deliver.

“Do not choose darkness over light. Governance is the second thing which we are going to fix,” added Chamisa.

“We no longer want MPs and Ministers who get elected so as to abuse public funds, we want people who know that Ministers are about developing this country.

“We will have just 15 Ministers, the moment we get more than those then it will simply be a ‘jobs for the boys’ situation.

“Let us have a mean and lean government that is accountable, where one who fails leaves.”

Ndavaningi Mangwana, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, has responded to a statement issued by CCC on Tuesday, 25 July alleging State media bias in covering political events.

Mahere said that “it is a matter of public record that ZBC refuses to give any independent or fair coverage to the CCC” leader Nelson Chamisa.

She was responding to claims by the Deputy Information Minister, Kindness Paradza, that the opposition is “refusing to take up airtime on ZBC.”

Posting on Twitter, Mangwana said the Government has directed ZBC formally respond to the CCC public statement so that issue is resolved amicably.

Said Mangwana:

The Public Broadcaster is independent of Govt and has its own board, management and editorial team as well as policy.

We support them with policy directions, resource advocacy, and parliamentary accountability. We have since asked them to formally respond to the CCC public statement so as to correct any misunderstandings which may have arisen between the parties.

The ZBC have assured us that they will issue a statement in the spirit of public institution accountability.

The position of Govt is that;

-the Public Broadcaster is there to serve all. This includes all political parties, all natural or juristic persons.

From our preliminary inquiry, we have been made to understand that, there are challenges with bringing CCC people on air as they either don’t want to come to programs or they have internal contradictions which give them a challenge in deciding who should moderate or appear on a program and how the program should be structured.

This sometimes leads to indecisions on who should attend a program on their behalf and the embargoing of others from attending.

The Public Broadcaster tries to avoid getting involved in these internal contradictions which sometimes lead to the party not being represented at all in spite of ZBC’s efforts at having equitable representation of all players.

When it comes to the airing of CCC adverts, the ZBC reports that CCC leadership has an “unrealistic” expectation that ZBC should do the commercial productions for them.

This is a misunderstanding of the public broadcaster’s role. The CCC party needs to have its own creatives to do its productions just like Zanu PF.

The ZBC is a broadcaster and not an advertising agency and would appreciate completed productions and of course commensurate payment for the purchased airtime.

May we take this opportunity to point out that Zanu PF pays for all the rallies that are aired live on television.

Govt itself pays for the National Heroes Galas that also benefit from live broadcasts.

We call upon everyone to support our National institutions in their commercial efforts to avoid turning into fiscal burdens to the taxpayer.

By A Correspondent- A Chitungwiza gang popularly known as Black Vendetta is terrorising residents of the dormitory town particularly Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporters, NewsDay has established.

There are claims that the gang is linked to Zanu-PF, but the ruling party yesterday disowned the vigilante group. The gang recently clashed with CCC supporters in Unit O.

CCC ward 22 (Unit O) candidate, Rosaria Mangoma told NewsDay that the gang was stalking her.

“Last week, they came in the middle of the night, threw stones on the roof of my house, banging the gate while singing and uttering derogatory things about me,” Mangoma said.

The case was reported to the police.

The gang is not new to crime in the dormitory town as it has been involved in illegal land grabs in the past.

In April, the gang deflated tyres of a vehicle belonging to CCC legislator, Godfrey Sithole.

“They want units N, O and P to be no-go areas for the opposition. It is archaic politics, an old tactic of intimidating people ahead of elections,” Sithole told NewsDay.

“They are being used by politicians to pursue personal and political ambitions.”

Harare metropolitan police spokesperson, Julius Chakanza, professed ignorance about the gang.

“I don’t know about them. I have to check on your claims,” Chakanza told NewsDay.

Efforts to get a comment from national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi were in vain.

Zanu-PF chairperson for Harare metropolitan province Godwills Masimirembwa, said the ruling party had no links to the gang.

“As Zanu-PF, we don’t operate gangs or promote gangsterism,” Masimirembwa said.

“We don’t know anything about that group and individuals. Politicians and political parties who have complaints should liaise with responsible authorities such as the police without involving Zanu-PF.”

By A Correspondent- Parents and guardians will now become liable for crimes committed by their children under the Children’s Amendment Act.

The newly-gazetted Children’s Amendment Act stipulates that parents who fail to discipline their children, leaving them to commit crimes, will be liable to criminal charges.

A parent or a guardian can be charged and convicted of an offence that a child commits if it is proven that they did not take reasonable steps to stop the child from committing the offence.

The Act was passed by Parliament last month and signed into law by President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently.

The law defines a child as anyone under the age of 18. Before, there was a distinction between children and young persons.

According to Section 13 of the Act, a parent or guardian who fails to prevent their child from committing a crime shall be punished for the offence that the child committed. It says:

Any person, including a parent or guardian of a child who—

(a) encourages a child to commit an offence; or

(b) trains a child in the commission of an offence; or

(c) knowingly provides a child with facilities to commit an offence; or

(d) being a parent or guardian of a child fails to take reasonable steps to ensure that the child does not commit an offence where the parent or guardian of the child was in a position to take such steps;

shall be guilty of an offence and liable to the penalties that could have been imposed on him or her had he been guilty of the offence that the child committed.

The law also says a parent or guardian “who, without reasonable cause, denies medical treatment or access to medical treatment to a child in their care can be fined up to level 5 or jailed for a year”.

By A Correspondent- Exiled independent presidential candidate Saviour Kasukuwere has  demanded that the Zanu-PF government must release all political prisoners, and pledged  to act on the issue  if elected into office on August 23.

Kasukuwere made the pledge when launching his election manifesto on Monday. He became the first presidential candidate to make the pledge ahead of next month’s polls.

Kasukuwere said Zimbabwe did not need draconian laws such as the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act also known as the Patriot Act.

The former Zanu-PF commissar also said the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment Bill needed to be kept  away from the country’s statutes.

“I Saviour Kasukuwere pledge to you on being elected by the voter as President to pay immediate attention to the following; halting proceedings on the PVOs Bill and Patriot Act, reforming Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and fighting corruption.

“Expediting the reforming of the State enterprises and government institutions.”

Mnangagwa recently signed into law the “Patriot Act”, which has been condemned as one of the most draconian and unconstitutional laws in the land.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa  recently signed into law the “Patriot Act”,

According to the Act, convicted Zimbabweans face severe penalties such as death and revocation of citizenship.

Zimbabweans can be punished for simply meeting agents of hostile foreign governments.

The PVOs Bill, passed by the Senate in February, is awaiting Mnangagwa’s assent.

Once signed into law, government will be equipped with wide-ranging powers to interfere in the operations of civil society organisations.

In February, United Nations experts pleaded with Mnangagwa to reject the Bill.

Critics, human rights groups and the opposition say the Bill will severely restrict civic space and the right to freedom of association in the country.

Mnangagwa has, however, said he would not hesitate to sign the Bill into law once it lands on his desk.

The exiled former Cabinet minister said his manifesto was anchored on the vision of a functional, peaceful and prosperous nation.

“It’s time to reconcile and put our past differences aside and embrace one another while acknowledging our failures and repairing the damage that our acts of omission and commission have caused.

“The Gukurahundi question requires permanent resolution, and a peaceful closure, as with other past conflicts in our history,” Kasukuwere said.

“I dream of a functional country at peace with itself, where a social contract bridges the trust deficit between the government and its citizens.

“Our country needs a capable, accountable, transparent and responsible leadership which implements the vision of the Zimbabwe we want. It’s time to renew the country’s leadership, enshrine a new national vision with aspirations to restore Zimbabwe’s glory.”

Reflecting on Kasukuwere’s manifesto, political commentator Romeo Chasara said: “The success of his campaign will depend on the practicality of implementing these ambitious proposals and gaining support from key stakeholders.”

-newsday

By-Zanu PF has hijacked the funeral of the late founder of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa Forward in Faith, Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti, with its President Emmerson Mnangagwa declaring him (Guti) a national hero.

Guti died on July 5 in South Africa, with his church and family announcing 30 days of mourning.

Guti celebrated his 100th birthday in May.

Mnangagwa visited the Guti family in Harare on Monday, where he declared national hero status on Guti.

Said Mnangagwa: “For some of the heroes and heroines on that site (National Heroes Acre), some people may not really know the profile of their works. We, who have put them there, know.
“But as for Baba Guti, his works are evident for all to see and everybody knows the great works he did. However, the church has the liberty to continue with their plans, but we, as the Government of Zimbabwe, have decided to declare Archbishop Ezekiel Guti a national hero and hereby confer that status.”
Ezekiel TV channel also posted on its Facebook page the conferment of national hero status on the “General in the Faith”, as Guti was commonly known in religious circles.
“On Monday July 24, 2023, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde ED Mnangagwa conferred the national hero status upon our late father, Apostle Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti.
“In his speech to the family and church leadership, the President pronounced that the Government of Zimbabwe decided to give this honour to Apostle Guti, in recognition of the great work and impact he has done in the nation and the world over,” reads part of the post.
Last night, the Zanu PF led by acting Secretary General Patrick Chinamasa, National Commissar Mike Bimha, Secretary for Security Lovemore Matuke and Politburo member Omega Hungwe, and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Kazembe Kazembe, visited the Guti family to deliver the news of national hero status conferred on Guti.
Chinamasa, who was representing Zanu PF Secretary General Obert Mpofu, said they had been sent by President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.
“We have been sent by the President to inform the Guti family and church that the party and President saw fit to accord national hero status to Baba Guti.
“A national hero status is accorded depending on the impact one would have done, working for his or her country.
“What has led us to come here is because of his good deeds. He did a lot of work, which everyone can testify even if one would not be a member of ZAOGA. He preached evangelism in Zimbabwe and beyond,” said Chinamasa.
Kazembe then read out the hero conferment letter from Mpofu, directed to the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda.
“His Excellency, the First Secretary of Zanu PF Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa has conferred national hero status to the late Archbishop Professor Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti who died on July 5, 2023,” he said.
ZAOGA FIF national executive chairperson, Apostle Joe Guti said on behalf of the family and church, they were grateful for the recognition that Baba Guti got from President Mnangagwa.
“He worked for 75 years preaching non-stop, demonstrating what Christianity is. God permitted him to live for 100 years of which we say the global church has benefited from that long life.
“He had a global impact on the whole world which is worth celebrating. We are here to appreciate this recognition; thank you for honouring our father, our global icon in the world of faith, not only evangelism but in the academic world, health sector, all sectors of the economy, nation building he contributed, and is worth celebrating,” said
Apostle Joe Guti.
ZAOGA FIF secretary general, Apostle Mishael Nyambo, said the church was grateful for the honour bestowed upon Guti.
“We are more than glad with the national hero status conferment, thanking that works that were done by our father were open for all to see in Zimbabwe.
“The Government was witness to the works because he did not only start a church in Zimbabwe, but other things which benefit the citizens despite not being family members.
“We are grateful that it was recognised and His Excellency, the Government and part, saw it fit to give our church leader a national hero status. We are also glad that the status came in time before his burial,” said Apostle Nyambo.
Eunor Guti said her late husband was a God-fearing man, who left a lot of teachings from which she draws strength.
“His teachings differentiated us from other nations since he taught us to be God fearing, to fight poverty through working with our own hands so that we are empowered.
“He would change countries he visited, including Jamaica, where people used to rely on missionaries. In our church, congregants were empowered and worked with their own hands and managed to buy land which they are collectively building a church,” said Amai Guti.
Apostle Nyambo said burial arrangements will be communicated in due course.
“The church and family are still doing consultations on burial arrangements, but we will advise,” he said.
ZAOGA FIF members yesterday thanked the President for honouring Guti.
Violla Shandukurai said: “He truly deserves this status. He built a university, hospitals, children’s homes, schools, was a unifier who brought souls to Christ, built many churches and never brought sorrow to the Government.
“Yes, he deserves it. This has really consoled the Guti family, Forward in Faith church and all sons and daughters of Baba in Zimbabwe and around the world.”
Mrs Loveness Chiyangwa said: “We are very grateful and honoured as a church that our father has been given this status. May all praises be given to the God of Ezekiel.”
A ZAOGA FIF elder based in the United Kingdom, Pedzisai Zisengwe, said: “He was indeed a man of God whom many people benefited from. Personally I was healed of cancer during his last visit to the UK.
“I went to the doctors and they confirmed that I had been healed.

By-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has justified the controversial national hero status he conferred on the late founder of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa Forward in Faith, Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti, saying, “his works are evident for all to see and everybody knows the great works he did”.

 Guti died on July 5 in South Africa.

He celebrated his 100th birthday in May.

The church and family have announced 30 days of mourning.

Mnangagwa visited the Guti family in Harare on Monday, where he declared national hero status on Guti.

Said Mnangagwa: “For some of the heroes and heroines on that site (National Heroes Acre), some people may not really know the profile of their works. We, who have put them there, know.

“But as for Baba Guti, his works are evident for all to see and everybody knows the great works he did. However, the church has the liberty to continue with their plans, but we, as the Government of Zimbabwe, have decided to declare Archbishop Ezekiel Guti a national hero and hereby confer that status.”

 Ezekiel TV channel also posted on its Facebook page the conferment of national hero status on the “General in the Faith”, as Guti was commonly known in religious circles.

“On Monday July 24, 2023, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde ED Mnangagwa conferred the national hero status upon our late father, Apostle Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti.

“In his speech to the family and church leadership, the President pronounced that the Government of Zimbabwe decided to give this honour to Apostle Guti, in recognition of the great work and impact he has done in the nation and the world over,” reads part of the post.

Last night, the Zanu PF led by acting Secretary General Patrick Chinamasa, National Commissar Mike Bimha, Secretary for Security Lovemore Matuke and Politburo member Omega Hungwe, and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Kazembe Kazembe, visited the Guti family to deliver the news of national hero status conferred on Guti.

Chinamasa, who was representing Zanu PF Secretary General Obert Mpofu, said they had been sent by President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.

“We have been sent by the President to inform the Guti family and church that the party and President saw fit to accord national hero status to Baba Guti.

“A national hero status is accorded depending on the impact one would have done, working for his or her country.

“What has led us to come here is because of his good deeds. He did a lot of work, which everyone can testify even if one would not be a member of ZAOGA. He preached evangelism in Zimbabwe and beyond,” said Chinamasa.

 Kazembe then read out the hero conferment letter from Mpofu, directed to the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda.

“His Excellency, the First Secretary of Zanu PF Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa has conferred national hero status to the late Archbishop Professor Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti who died on July 5, 2023,” he said.

ZAOGA FIF national executive chairperson, Apostle Joe Guti said on behalf of the family and church, they were grateful for the recognition that Baba Guti got from President Mnangagwa.

“He worked for 75 years preaching non-stop, demonstrating what Christianity is. God permitted him to live for 100 years of which we say the global church has benefited from that long life.

“He had a global impact on the whole world which is worth celebrating. We are here to appreciate this recognition; thank you for honouring our father, our global icon in the world of faith, not only evangelism but in the academic world, health sector, all sectors of the economy, nation building he contributed, and is worth celebrating,” said

Apostle Joe Guti.

ZAOGA FIF secretary general, Apostle Mishael Nyambo, said the church was grateful for the honour bestowed upon Guti.

“We are more than glad with the national hero status conferment, thanking that works that were done by our father were open for all to see in Zimbabwe.

“The Government was witness to the works because he did not only start a church in Zimbabwe, but other things which benefit the citizens despite not being family members.

“We are grateful that it was recognised and His Excellency, the Government and part, saw it fit to give our church leader a national hero status. We are also glad that the status came in time before his burial,” said Apostle Nyambo.

Eunor Guti said her late husband was a God-fearing man, who left a lot of teachings from which she draws strength.

“His teachings differentiated us from other nations since he taught us to be God fearing, to fight poverty through working with our own hands so that we are empowered.

“He would change countries he visited, including Jamaica, where people used to rely on missionaries. In our church, congregants were empowered and worked with their own hands and managed to buy land which they are collectively building a church,” said Amai Guti.

Apostle Nyambo said burial arrangements will be communicated in due course.

“The church and family are still doing consultations on burial arrangements, but we will advise,” he said.

ZAOGA FIF members yesterday thanked the President for honouring Guti.

Violla Shandukurai said: “He truly deserves this status. He built a university, hospitals, children’s homes, schools, was a unifier who brought souls to Christ, built many churches and never brought sorrow to the Government.

“Yes, he deserves it. This has really consoled the Guti family, Forward in Faith church and all sons and daughters of Baba in Zimbabwe and around the world.”

Mrs Loveness Chiyangwa said: “We are very grateful and honoured as a church that our father has been given this status. May all praises be given to the God of Ezekiel.”

A ZAOGA FIF elder based in the United Kingdom, Pedzisai Zisengwe, said: “He was indeed a man of God whom many people benefited from. Personally I was healed of cancer during his last visit to the UK.

“I went to the doctors and they confirmed that I had been healed.

By-The Government, through the Home Affairs ministry, has laboured to state the number of the opposition CCC rallies the police banned this year.

Trying to convince the world ahead of the next month’s election, the Government said from January to July 2023, CCC had 345 of its political gatherings approved, while ZANU PF has 1 351 notifications also approved.

Addressing diplomatic missions accredited to Zimbabwe and observer missions for the harmonised elections preparedness, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Major General (Rtd) Dr Gerald Gwinji, claimed that from 1 January 2023 up to 10 July, political parties filed close to 2 000 notifications. He said:
Since January 2023, operational districts across the country are maintaining registers relating to all notifications and intentions to hold public meetings made by political parties.
During this period, different political parties have notified the police of their gatherings and some of them met the legal requirement while some could not.
The police have received a total of 1 437 notifications from ZANU PF of which 1351 were compliant, whilst 86 were not compliant as a result they could not proceed.
The CCC filed 410 notifications, 345 of these were compliant whilst the remaining 65 were not.
The MDC had 30 notifications out of which 23 were compliant; other political parties put together a total of 89 notifications and 80 were found to be compliant.
However, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said to date, the party’s 101 rallies have been banned or disrupted by the Police or ZANU PF. She added:
Which ZANU PF rally has ever been banned? Is there any letter from [the Police] that shows that they wanted to conduct a rally and were banned from doing so?

Tinashe Sambiri|Addressing thousands of citizens at Muchakata Business Centre, Masvingo Central Constituency on Monday, CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa took a swipe at Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa for ruining the country’s glamour.

President Chamisa also slammed Mr Mnangagwa’s spooks posing as FAZ.

FAZ, traditional leaders and Zanu PF hooligans are intimidating rural citizens across the country.

Below is a list of President Chamisa’s key points…

-Zim schools need new learning curriculum

-We will do away with CALA

• Economic development

-development of infrastructure

• State of the art roads and hospitals

Unraveling the Enigmatic Declaration: A Closer Look at Zimbabwe’s National Hero Status for Ezekiel Guti.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the late Archbishop Ezekiel Guti a national hero, citing his significant contributions to the country and his global impact. However, beneath the surface of this seemingly honorable gesture lies an undisclosed and intriguing reason that has sparked speculation among Zimbabweans. The hidden motive revolves around the controversial practice of corpse magic, which supposedly grants long life to those who possess the remains of individuals who lived up to 100 years. This article delves into the real reason behind the national hero declaration and its connection to Guti’s alleged ritualistic methodology, limestone bone remains, and President Mnangagwa’s ambition to reach the age of 100.

The Mystery Behind Guti’s Ritualist Methodology:

Before his death, Archbishop Ezekiel Guti in a sermon shared his “secret” to achieving long life up to the age of 100. The so called methodology involved the use of limestone bone remains from another individual who had lived to the age of 100. The source of these remains a matter of speculation, as Guti claimed to have taken three limestones(bones) from the grave of John, the son of Zebedee, during his time in Asia Minor. According to his sermon, he placed these stones in a cave in Bindura, Zimbabwe, thereby imbuing them with magical powers to grant those who came into contact with them a long life.

The Hidden Motive of President Mnangagwa:

The declaration of Archbishop Ezekiel Guti as a national hero has raised eyebrows and led to theories about President Mnangagwa’s true intentions. At the age of 81, Mnangagwa is approaching the milestone age of 100, the very age Guti himself reached before passing away. Some speculate that the President’s motivation for granting Guti this prestigious status was not merely to honor his contributions to the country but to gain access to the revered ritualistic limestone bone remains.

The Secret Power of Corpse Magic:

The belief in corpse magic and its supposed ability to grant long life has deep roots in some cultures and mystical practices. The idea that the remains of individuals who lived a long life possess special powers has fueled various rituals and beliefs throughout history. While many view this as superstitious and unfounded, there are individuals who still place great value on these practices, as evidenced by the alleged actions of Archbishop Guti.

The State Media’s Account:

The state media’s official account of President Mnangagwa’s declaration focuses on Archbishop Guti’s works, such as spearheading social services and contributing to the establishment of educational and healthcare institutions. These achievements alone are certainly deserving of recognition, and the national hero status is typically reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation.

As Zimbabwe mourns the passing of Archbishop Ezekiel Guti, questions linger about the true reason behind his posthumous declaration as a national hero. While President Mnangagwa officially lauded Guti’s contributions to the country, some wonder if there is a hidden agenda tied to the alleged ritualist methodology and limestone bone remains that promise long life. The concept of corpse magic and its potential influence on political decisions adds an intriguing layer of mystery to the nation’s recent events. As time passes, only the future will reveal the veracity of these speculations and the impact they may have on Zimbabwe’s cultural and political landscape.