Tinashe Sambiri

CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa on Thursday stepped into the Zanu PF terror zone.

President Chamisa addressed thousands of CCC supporters at Mataga Growth Point in Mberengwa where he exhorted citizens to vote in numbers.

Despite rampant intimidation, Citizens are determined to fight for real change.

“AT MATAGA IN MBERENGWA.

There is hope written all over the faces of the citizens in this zone of terror and intimidation.

The Citizens government is a big win and victory #ForEveryone,” President Chamisa said in a statement on Twitter.

By A Correspondent- Independent presidential candidate Saviour Kasukuwere’s case where he is seeking the nullification of the High Court ruling that removed him from the ballot will now proceed after the Supreme Court ruled that the matter be heard on July 27.

Prior to the ruling by the Supreme Court, Kasukuwere had withdrawn his application that was challenging a motion by Lovedale Mangwana to have the matter of his candidature resolved urgently.

The court also ordered both Kasukuwere and Mangwana lawyers to submit their arguments on July 26.

“An order by consent was issued, you recall that Saviour Kasukuwere filed an appeal against the judgment of the High Court and Mangwana filed an urgent chamber application asking that the appeal be heard on an urgent basis,” Kasukuwere’s lawyer, Method Ndlovu said.

“We took instructions from our client who requested that we consent to that order being sought so we have agreed that the appeal will be heard on an urgent basis.”

Kasukuwere was recently blocked from contesting in the August 23 Presidential election by the High Court.

High Court judge Justice David Mangota nullified Kasukuwere’s nomination ruling that he should stop “masquerading as a candidate.”

This followed an application by Zanu-PF activist, Lovedale Mangwana who successfully argued that Kasukuwere had ceased to be a registered voter as he has been out of his constituency for over 18 consecutive months.

However, Kasukuwere was back on the ballot paper after his legal team successfully appealed the nullification of his nomination at the Supreme Court.

His appeal suspended the High Court order.

Kasukuwere’s case procession comes after United Zimbabwe Alliance leader Elizabeth Valerio was successfully added to the Presidential candidates list becoming the only woman to feature in this year’s presidential race

By A Correspondent- A member of the Zimbabwe National Army allegedly falsified documents to claim $23,160 quadrillion during the hyper-inflationary era for injuries sustained during the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) war.

Nason Mhlanga (47) yesterday appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi who granted him US$50 bail.

The complainant is the Public Service Commission Pension Agency being represented by pensions assistant Simbarashe Matengaifa.

Mhlanga is a beneficiary of medical assistance in terms of the State Service Disability Benefits Act after being injured during the war.

According to the State, Mhlanga manufactured fake quotations and receipts that he used to siphon cash from the pensions office. Following the misrepresentation, Mhlanga was paid a windfall.

The complainant later learnt that the quotations and receipts were fake and filed a police report, but Mhlanga went into hiding until he was arrested on Wednesday.

By- The UK government has opened another sector for foreigners to apply for and get work permits.

London has added Bricklayers, plasterers and other construction jobs to the government’s “shortage occupation list”, making it easier for foreign builders to come to Britain amid labour shortages partly caused by Brexit.

The UK government has relaxed visa restrictions for a number of sectors that face severe worker shortages, and has added bricklayers and masons; roofers, roof tilers and slaters; carpenters and joiners; plasterers and other construction workers to the list. Fishing jobs have also been added to the list.

The Home Office said that this would “aid the delivery of key national infrastructure and stimulate growth for related industries”.

Those working in a shortage occupation can be paid 80% of the job’s going rate and still get a skilled worker visa, and benefit from a lower application fee. Applicants need a sponsored job offer from an employer and must meet English language requirements.

The independent migration advisory committee recommended in March that construction workers be added to the shortage occupation list. The list already includes care workers, engineers, web designers and laboratory technicians, along with healthcare roles.

This allows employers to recruit staff from abroad on salaries as low as £14,880 for senior care workers and from £15,120 for lab technicians.

With the move, Rishi Sunak faces a further backlash from Conservative MPs, after making promises to reduce immigration. Conservative governments have promised since 2010 that they would cut net migration.

Overall migration into the UK reached a record of 606,000 last year, up 24% on the previous year, while the backlog of asylum cases is also at an all-time high.

Britain’s construction industry has long battled worker shortages, but Brexit has worsened the gaps as EU citizens can no longer come to work in the UK without visas as before. Many EU workers returned to their home countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Suzannah Nichol, the chief executive of Build UK, said: “It is vital that construction is able to fill vacancies and quickly address shortages around particular roles.

“So we welcome the news that five occupations will be added to the shortage occupations list, which will help the industry continue to deliver the schools, homes, hospitals and infrastructure that we need.”

However, Sir John Hayes, a former minister and ally of the home secretary, Suella Braverman, told the Daily Telegraph that the government should be “training up the British workforce” instead.

-The Guardian

By-The body of the founder of Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga) Forward in Faith Ministries International, Ezekiel Guti, is still in South Africa and is expected to arrive in the country this weekend.

Guti died on July 5, after serving for 63 years since he founded ZAOGA FIF.
In the past fortnight, tributes have been pouring in from celebrities, politicians, business leaders, clergymen and other influential figures in Zimbabwe and the rest of the world.
In a letter addressed to Greater Harare, Norton and Chitungwiza leaders and saints, Secretary General of ZAOGA FIF Apostle Mishael Nyambo said: “We announce the homecoming of our Father, who is accompanied by our mother, Archbishop Prof Eunor Guti and the family this Saturday around noon.
“We therefore encourage Greater Harare, Norton, and Chitungwiza members to come in numbers and honour our Father at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Harare, on this historic day,” Apostle Nyambo said.
He also said mourners would line up along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Road from the airport roundabout to Braeside roundabout before the convoy proceeds to a funeral parlour.
The church had organised grand celebrations which everyone was free to attend. Those from outside Harare were encouraged to come for the grand celebrations scheduled for 3 – 6 August.
The late Ezekiel Guti has been described as a modern day Christian giant who dedicated his life to preaching the word of God.
In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa said the death of Prof Guti left him “deeply shattered and saddened”.
He said Guti’s works and footprints indelibly abounded across the length and breadth of the country, well beyond the vast, national movement of congregants and places of worship that he led.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga described the late clergyman as a towering figure in Zimbabwe’s Christian movement, nation building and preservation of the social fabric.
Over and above his religious calling, Guti also played a role in several other nation building initiatives including in the education and health sectors where he founded the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University and the Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Harare.
-Herald

By- In a shocking development about the murder of Tapiwa Makore, there are fresh revelations that murderers boiled the boy’s head to contain the smell from its decomposing state before taking it to a traditional healer in Mozambique.

Tapiwa was murdered by Tafadzwa Shamba and his uncle and namesake Tapiwa Makore in 2020 in a ritual to boost the latter’s cabbage business.

Gaylord Shamba (59), who is the uncle of Tafadzwa, told the weekly publication Kwayedza that his nephew confessed that the boy’s head was taken to a Mozambican “n’anga” for ritual purposes. He said:

I once visited him when he was in the cells to find out what really transpired.

He confessed that he killed Tapiwa after slicing him into pieces and stashing the body parts into plastic papers, including the head, as per instructions.

He confessed there were others involved, including Tapiwa Senior, who took the head and left with it for Mozambique after it was cooked.

Tafadzwa made it clear that he doesn’t know where the head is.

He insists that the sangoma did not accept the head they took to Mozambique as the n’anga wanted a fresh and uncooked head, similar to a chicken head.

It is said the entourage dumped the head along the way, but he was not sure whether it was dumped on the Mozambican or Zimbabwean side.

Tapiwa Jr was buried several months after his death with his head still missing.

Shamba and Tapiwa Sr were recently sentenced to death by High Court Judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi.

By-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s gold smuggler and controversial preacher Uebert Angel has donated 5 600 bags of foodstuffs to Zanu PF supporters.

According to the Twitter handle @zanupf_patriots, Angel made the donation this Wednesday. Said Zanu PF.

Thank you, Ambassador Uebert Angel… Today Ambassador Angel donated 5 600 bags of food to families who had gathered in support of Cde ED and our party candidates.

Angel was appointed Presidential Envoy and Ambassador at Large for Europe and the Americas by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on 17 March 2021.
He is also a self-proclaimed prophet and the founder and leader of Good News Church, formerly Spirit Embassy.
Angel claims God uses him to heal the sick and predict the outcomes of elections and football matches.
In early 2021, an Al Jazeera documentary called “Gold Mafia” alleged that Angel offered to use his status to assist Al Jazeera reporters who posed as Chinese nationals launder millions of dollars through a gold-smuggling scheme.
Angel claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was aware of his schemes. He said in one of the episodes:
I can call the president now, not tomorrow, now and put him on speaker, it’s not an issue. We are the government.
Despite being caught on camera bragging that he could use his diplomatic cover to carry large volumes of dirty cash into Zimbabwe as part of a laundering operation also involving gold smuggling, Angel was recently appointed as the African Union’s Pan African Parliament (PAP) Ambassador for Interfaith Dialogue and Humanitarian Affairs.

By A Correspondent- The Bulawayo High Court will this afternoon deliver a ruling on preliminary points raised in the case in which 12 registered Bulawayo voters are challenging the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s decision to accept nomination papers of Citizens Coalition for Change candidates arguing that they filed their papers after the 4pm deadline.

At the High Court in Bulawayo

CCC is being represented by Advocate Mpofu and Prof Welshman Ncube. The case is before Justice Bongani Ndlovu.

Proceedings at the High Court in Bulawayo

More details follow…

By A Correspondent- A family from Borrowdale, Harare, was robbed of a Mercedes Benz, gun and cash by robbers just before midnight.

ZRP spokesperson for Harare Province, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the robbery incident.

He said Paul Themba Munashe (50) and his family were subjected to emotional abuse by five robbers soon after arriving at their Brookview house from a church function. Said Insp Chakanza:

The complainant arrived home from a church function with his wife and their two minor children at around 11.30 PM driving a silver Mercedes Benz E280 registration number AEW 3882.

As they were entering the house, they were confronted by five men armed with unidentified pistols wearing face masks.

They forced the complainant and his family into the house and demanded cash from him.

The complainant took out an envelope from his pockets containing US$1 000 and handed it to them.

They demanded his firearm and also took a Dell laptop from the bedroom and tied the couple with shoelaces.

They drove away in his vehicle with a 5kg gas tank, gas heater and marriage certificate book.

Armed robberies have been on the increase in Zimbabwe in recent years as a lot of people now prefer storing value in US dollars often stocked away from formal banking institutions for fear of losing them.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, Zimbabwe recorded 1 120 armed robberies in 2021, compared with 931 in the previous year.

In 2022, in a bid to reduce robberies and rampant gun crime in Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa extended a gun amnesty that allowed Zimbabweans illegally in possession of firearms to surrender them to the police with no questions asked.

By A Correspondent- LEAD President Linda Masarira has called for dialogue and unity calling on fellow citizens to desist from using the social media to insult each other.

We publish below, Masarira’s full statement:

One thing I have done in my life is to believe in me. Even when some people tried to bury me because I didn’t believe in their normative leverage strategies, they failed because I am a seed. A seed does not die. It might germinate late, but it will germinate.

My life journey taught me to be bold, courageous, resilient, tenacious, and pragmatic. Even when all the odds have been against me for believing in realistic ways to reclaim our identity not only as Zimbabweans but also as Afrikan people,

I have continued to thrive in adversity. People without identity are future less as identity crisis will always stifle growth and prosperity. We are people who are trying to exist in a borrowed space with borrowed culture, borrowed systems, borrowed identity, borrowed lifestyles, and borrowed everything. In the midst of all these borrowed things, we have found ourselves in a gango of intolerance, toxicity, polarity, corruption, hate, greed, malice, etc.

Why do we even hate each other so much for just having different opinions? Why do some people even pride themselves in typing vulgar insults in social media spaces? If only the unity that leaders have at the top could cascade to the followers, we would definitely be in a better space politically.

As I gaze into the horizon awaiting my fate on 24 July 2023, I pray for unity of purpose, tolerance in our diversity, love for thy neighbour, and above all peace. Dialogue should always be our preferred conflict resolution method.

Even the worst wars ended with dialogue. Violence should be condemned by all Zimbabweans, and as we campaign, let us exercise restraint and let love lead.

By A Correspondent- In a shock incident, a 15-year-old Mwenezi male juvenile stabbed and killed a rival, also 15, over a girlfriend.

Police said Wednesday they were investing a case of murder involving the unnamed juvenile.

“Police in Mwenezi are investigating a case of murder in which a male juvenile, 15, stabbed another juvenile, 15, with a kitchen knife on the shoulder and head after an argument over the suspect’s girlfriend on 18 July 2023 near Masongwe Secondary School.

“The victim died on the spot,” police said.

The incident follows growing cases of teenagers in parts of the country turning to murder to settle arguments often over girlfriends and boyfriends.

In November last year, a 16-year-old Harare girl was arrested for stabbing and killing a 35-year-old man with a knife following a quarrel at a shebeen in Harare’s Hatcliffe suburb.

The victim, Amos Mhere, died on the spot after being stabbed on the chest with a kitchen knife.

A year earlier, another 15-year-old schoolgirl died after she was stabbed by a 16-year-old rivalrival, girlfriend,  during an ill-fated fight over a boyfriend in Nkayi district’s Ngwaladi area in Matebeleland North.

“The suspect stabbed the victim with a kitchen knife which she was given by her 14-year-old cousin,” police said at the time.

Just recently in July, a 19-year-old Fort Rixon teenager was stabbed to death allegedly by a 17-year-old juvenile who was reportedly incensed by the deceased’s attempts to stop a brawl he was having with another youth over a 15-year-old girlfriend.

Police identified the victim as Mthokozisi Sibanda.

By A Correspondent- The opposition United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) party has welcomed a ruling by the Electoral Court instructing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to take the necessary steps to ensure that its leader, Elisabeth Valerio, is added to the ballot.

In a statement released this Thursday, 20 July, UZA national spokesperson Elvis Dzvene said from the onset, they were convinced that justice would prevail. He said:

Our party recognizes the ruling as a crucial milestone in promoting a democratic and inclusive electoral process. We welcome the court’s ruling appreciating that justice has been served.

It was not right for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to reject our party leader’s nomination papers as there was no legal basis for this.

The June 21st decision of the elections body was incorrect considering that President Valerio availed all the relevant documentation to indicate that payment had been effected on time.

While UZA welcomes the ruling, we are equally unhappy about the time that we have spent in the courts challenging the unfair and unjust rejection of our nomination by ZEC. Our campaign has already begun, however, not having our President on the ballot was a setback.

It is important to note that we remained optimistic that justice would be served. We have not been deterred by the difficulties and our candidates nationally are on the ground spreading the UZA ideology to the electorate.

Dzvene called for peace in the run-up to the elections to ensure that voters cast their ballots in an environment free from intimation.

Valerio became the only female presidential candidate nominated for the 2023 elections and her name will now be added to the list of presidential candidates.

By A Correspondent- Government has angrily reacted to campaign billboards mounted by self-exiled former minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s campaign team, and has ordered  advertising companies to seek approval first before erecting them.

This comes after Kasukuwere’s campaign team mounted a huge billboard along Robert Mugabe Road and another along Simon Mazorodze Road in Harare.

Kasukuwere is one of the 11 candidates in the August 23 presidential race, and is likely to draw most of his support from Mnangagwa’s ruling Zanu-PF party to the advantage of the opposition.

A letter sent to advertising companies by the Office of The Provincial Road Engineer says advertisers have to be given greenlight before placing highway billboards.

“Please be informed that all content to be advertised on billboards on State highways in Mashonaland Central now requires prior approval from the office of the Provincial Road Engineer,” the letter  dated July 18, 2023 read in part.

“Therefore, each company seeking to put up new content on their billboards should take due diligence to notify this respective office before installation, clearly specifying the nature of the content.”

Previously poll candidates did not seek permission to put up campaign posters on national highways. In response, Kasukuwere said this was a clear indication that the ruling party was running scared.

“Allow us to campaign! These fellas are scared, pound for pound! August 23! Chachaya,” Kasukuwere posted on Twitter.

The former Zanu-PF political commissar is facing impediments in his push to contest for the biggest office on the land.

He is currently campaigning from South Africa after government said he would be arrested upon arrival in the country to faceoutstanding criminal charges.

His candidacy was challenged at the courts by Zanu-PF activist Lovedale Mangwana.

The High Court ruled in favour of Mangwana, but Kasukuwere filed a Supreme Court appeal. The case will be heard today.

By A Correspondent- A Nigerian journalist, author and activist has told of his hell after he was detained for 13 hours at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, before being ordered to board a flight back to his country.

David Hundeyin said authorities advised him that he needed a visa to enter Zimbabwe.

“I landed in Zimbabwe earlier today (Wednesday), and I have been detained at Harare Airport inside a smelly locked room for nearly 7 hours,” he wrote on Twitter during his ordeal.

“They said that despite using the travel document of a country with a visa-free relationship, my nationality is still Nigerian, and thus, I need a visa. I was processed for removal from their country and locked in a tiny room, but I have heard nothing from anyone for several hours.”

Hundeyin later reported that he had been joined in detention by a Ugandan woman, also denied entry over visa issues.

He protested in another tweet: “No-one appears to be in charge of anything, and even though my return flight to Addis has been rescheduled for tonight, I am still locked in this room, and I risk missing my flight. They appear to have forgotten that they have people in detention here. I am ready to hop on my flight and never come back to Zimbabwe for the rest of my life.

“Please, someone out there who is actually in charge of something should let me go so I can be on my merry way. I’m not interested in visiting Zimbabwe anymore. I want to go home. Please.”

Hundeyin was allowed to use the toilet for the first time after a lengthy 10 hours detention with the Zimbabwean authorities assuring him he would be allowed to catch his exit flight.

Although he is Nigerian, Hundeyin lives in London and was reportedly using a travel document of another country, known as a “1966 Convention Travel Document”, which is a passport issued to people who have sought asylum.

The founder of the West Africa Weekly, a Substack newsletter, later boarded an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Addis Ababa. He tweeted that he was “safe and well”, adding: “I was untouched and unharmed.”

The Zimbabwe government accused Hundeyin of seeking special treatment.

Ndabaningi Mangwana, the secretary of information, said Nigerian nationals were in Category C of entry requirements and must obtain visas before embarking on their travel to Zimbabwe.

“I’m sorry that this journalist found himself in this situation. That said, we do have immigration laws in our country that are obligatory to all prospective entrants, and no profession is immune to them. If someone’s travel document is such that they need a visa, that law applies to everyone including an award-winning journalist. Our laws are blind to social stations or attendant achievements,” said Mangwana.

George Charamba, the spokesman in the presidency, had a more hostile take on Hundeyin’s troubles.

“Thanks to our security arms for neutralising this agent provocateur. Zimbabwe has no time for hired guns and pseudo-Africans,” he tweeted.

-ZimLive

By-The body of the founder of Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga) Forward in Faith Ministries International, Ezekiel Guti, is still in South Africa and is expected to arrive in the country this weekend.

Guti died on July 5, after serving for 63 years since he founded ZAOGA FIF.
In the past fortnight, tributes have been pouring in from celebrities, politicians, business leaders, clergymen and other influential figures in Zimbabwe and the rest of the world.
In a letter addressed to Greater Harare, Norton and Chitungwiza leaders and saints, Secretary General of ZAOGA FIF Apostle Mishael Nyambo said: “We announce the homecoming of our Father, who is accompanied by our mother, Archbishop Prof Eunor Guti and the family this Saturday around noon.
“We therefore encourage Greater Harare, Norton, and Chitungwiza members to come in numbers and honour our Father at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Harare, on this historic day,” Apostle Nyambo said.
He also said mourners would line up along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Road from the airport roundabout to Braeside roundabout before the convoy proceeds to a funeral parlour.
The church had organised grand celebrations which everyone was free to attend. Those from outside Harare were encouraged to come for the grand celebrations scheduled for 3 – 6 August.
The late Ezekiel Guti has been described as a modern day Christian giant who dedicated his life to preaching the word of God.
In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa said the death of Prof Guti left him “deeply shattered and saddened”.
He said Guti’s works and footprints indelibly abounded across the length and breadth of the country, well beyond the vast, national movement of congregants and places of worship that he led.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga described the late clergyman as a towering figure in Zimbabwe’s Christian movement, nation building and preservation of the social fabric.
Over and above his religious calling, Guti also played a role in several other nation building initiatives including in the education and health sectors where he founded the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University and the Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Harare.
-Herald

By-Over 45 people have been hospitalised following a massive underground gas explosion in the Johannesburg CBD, that caused substantial damage to nearby roads and causing sinkholes.
Videos seen on social media showed cars toppled along Johannesburg’s Bree Street.
According to an alert sent by the Johannesburg Joint Operating Committee of Alexandra, Midrand, Sandringham and Sandton, the explosion occurred yesterday at about 5.46pm.

“We are aware of an explosion on Bree Street in the Johannesburg CBD, possibly on the gas lines underground.
“At this time we request the public to stay clear of the area to allow emergency services to attend to the scene,” said the note.
ER24, City of Johannesburg EMS, Disaster Management and several other services responded following the reports of the underground gas explosion.
“On scene, medics and rescue personnel discovered several overturned vehicles along the road, which seemed to have been split wide open,” ER24 said in a statement.
“Medics set up a triage area a safe distance away while Fire and Disaster Services evacuated the general area.
“Initial reports from the scene showed that several people had sustained minor to moderate injuries.
“The patients were treated for their injuries and later transported by various services to nearby hospitals.
“The exact details surrounding this incident are unknown, but the relevant authorities are on the scene for further investigations,” ER24 said.
Huge explosion causes massive sinkhole in Joburg, South Africa.

Joburg Metro Police spokesperson Xolani Fihla said they had sent officers to the scene to confirm if the videos were true.
“At this stage we have sent officers to the scene to confirm if indeed the videos are true.
“At the present moment, all we know is what we have seen in the videos,” said Fihla.
Other widely recorded voice notes said affected streets in Joburg included Bree and Loveday Streets and some cars had apparently sunk underground.
IOL photojournalist, Timothy Bernard, who was at the scene said he witnessed a 10 metre wide trench. He said there was a smell of gas in the air.
-ILO

Mozambique’s ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party is reportedly campaigning for ZANU PF in Chipinge South constituency, where Enock Porusingazi is the sitting legislator.

NewZimbabwe.com posted a video showing a FRELIMO official, whose name is not given, telling ZANU PF supporters in Chipinge South’s Ward 28 that businesspeople who fail to support ZANU PF in upcoming elections risk being shot and killed.

The official claimed he was in the company of an army commander adding that if ZANU PF loses to MDC and CCC, that will be the end of Zimbabwe’s relationship with Mozambique. Said the official:

FRELIMO’s message to businesspeople is that they should support Zanu PF; if they fail to do so we have brought with us a commander in our army, he shoots, and he will shoot as he does back home.

It is better that we end our relationship if Mnangagwa loses, we would not want you in Mozambique. We want you to support Porusingazi and Mnangagwa.

The FRELIMO head office says that we will not lose to the MDC or CCC.

The official said if ZANU PF loses, Mozambique will not allow Zimbabwean businesses to import fuel through the country.

In 2019, Mozambique threatened Zimbabwe with sanctions, after repeatedly warning Harare against imposing trade sanctions on a variety of goods exported from Maputo including alcohol.

Mozambique’s Minister of Trade and Commerce, Rajendra De Sousa allegedly told Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa that the ban could be met with retaliation.

During a business seminar in Maputo, De Sousa told Mozambican industrialists that Zimbabwe had placed bottlenecks for trade between the neighbours in clear violation of the SADC Free Trade Protocol agreement.

The minister said that he told Mnangagwa that Mozambique could also close its border with Zimbabwe for three days which would complicate life for Harare.

ZANU PF and FRELIMO’s relationship goes back to the days of the liberation struggle when Mozambique provided sanctuary to thousands of ZANLA freedom fighters.

By-Nine people have been hospitalised following a massive underground gas explosion in the Johannesburg CBD, causing substantial damage to nearby roads and causing sinkholes.

Videos seen on social media showed cars toppled along Johannesburg’s Bree Street.
According to an alert sent by the Johannesburg Joint Operating Committee of Alexandra, Midrand, Sandringham and Sandton, the explosion occurred at about 5.46 pm.

“We are aware of an explosion on Bree Street in the Johannesburg CBD possibly on the gas lines underground.
“At this time we request the public to stay clear of the area to allow emergency services to attend to the scene,” said the note.
ER24, City of Johannesburg EMS, Disaster Management and several other services responded following the reports of the underground gas explosion.
“On scene, medics and rescue personnel discovered several overturned vehicles along the road, which seemed to have been split wide open,” ER24 said in a statement.
“Medics set up a triage area a safe distance away while Fire and Disaster Services evacuated the general area.
“Initial reports from the scene showed that several people had sustained minor to moderate injuries.
“The patients were treated for their injuries and later transported by various services to nearby hospitals.
“The exact details surrounding this incident are unknown, but the relevant authorities are on the scene for further investigations,” ER24 said.
The huge explosion causes a massive sinkhole in Joburg, South Africa.

Joburg Metro Police spokesperson Xolani Fihla said they had sent officers to the scene to confirm if the videos were true.
“At this stage we have sent officers to the scene to confirm if indeed the videos are true.
“At the present moment, all we know is what we have seen in the videos,” said Fihla.
Other widely recorded voice notes said affected streets in Joburg included Bree and Loveday Streets, and some cars had apparently sunk underground.
IOL photojournalist, Timothy Bernard, who was at the scene said he witnessed a 10-metre wide trench. He said there was a smell of gas in the air.
-ILO

By- The tainted self-proclaimed prophet and Gold Mafia Kingpin, Uebert Angel, has landed the African Ambassadorial post.

Controversy Surrounding Uebert Angel’s Ambassadorial Appointment to the African Union

Zimbabwe’s Ambassador At Large’s recent appointment as the African Union’s Pan African Parliament Ambassador for Interfaith Dialogue and Humanitarian Affairs has been met with scepticism and raised eyebrows.

While Nehanda Radio reported the appointment, it is important to critically analyze the circumstances surrounding this decision and consider the controversy that has surrounded Angel’s previous ambassadorial position and his conduct as an envoy.

Questionable Previous Ambassadorial Appointment:
Uebert Angel’s first ambassadorial position in Zimbabwe, obtained in 2021, came under scrutiny when it was reported that he paid a substantial sum of USD 200,000 to Zimbabwe’s First Family to get the appointment passed after intervention through Emmerson Mnangagwa’s nephew, Tongai Mnangagwa, and the First Family’s twins.
Tongai Mnangagwa confirmed the development to ZimEye at the time just as the CIO (Central Intelligence Organisation) and Presidential staff members were at pains to stop the “president” from soiling himself with someone well known for money laundering and (per his own confessions) cash machine hacking. President Mnangagwa would soon regret the appointment when Angel leaked many high level money laundering operations that implicate many high profile Zimbabwe government persons who he would phone and allow undercover journalists to hear them speaking out loudly.
This revelation raises concerns about the transparency and legitimacy of the AU appointment process. All this casts doubt on the integrity of Angel’s ambassadorial role and raises questions about the motives behind his subsequent appointment to the African Union.
Lack of Performance and Criminal Accusations:
Since his appointment as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador At Large, there have been no notable achievements or tangible contributions attributed to Uebert Angel in his capacity as an ambassador. Additionally, serious issues particularly his involvement in illicit activities. The documentary “GoldMafia” revealed links between Angel and very clear money laundering operations. These accusations depict him as a member of a criminal network rather than an ambassador working towards the betterment of Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole. He is filmed arranging to transport 1,2 bln dollars of dirty money to Zimbabwe.
Position as Ambassador at Large:
The title “Ambassador At Large” itself raises concerns. The term typically refers to an envoy who represents a country’s interests on specific issues. However, in this context, it seems to connote an individual granted excessive privileges and powers, possibly for personal gain. The absence of clear responsibilities and accountability raises further questions about the legitimacy and purpose of such a position.
Questionable Announcement and Confirmation:
The announcement of Uebert Angel’s appointment to the African Union’s Pan African Parliament Ambassador role has primarily been circulated through online media, with Nehanda Radio as the main source. The lack of official confirmation from the African Union itself adds to the uncertainty surrounding the legitimacy of this appointment. Given the controversies surrounding Angel’s previous ambassadorial position, it is crucial to exercise caution and await an official statement from the African Union regarding his appointment.
The appointment of Uebert Angel as the African Union’s Pan African Parliament Ambassador for Interfaith Dialogue and Humanitarian Affairs raises serious concerns. The allegations of a dubious payment for his previous ambassadorial position in Zimbabwe, the lack of performance in that role, and the criminal accusations against him suggest a troubling pattern. The position of Ambassador At Large and the absence of official confirmation regarding his African Union appointment add to the skepticism surrounding his credentials. Until more information is available and official statements are released, it is essential to approach this appointment with caution and uphold the principles of transparency, integrity, and accountability that should underpin such prestigious positions.

By A Correspondent- United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) President, Elizabeth Valerio’s appeal against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (ZEC) rejection of her nomination papers has been successful.

Valerio, the country’s only female presidential candidate, will now be included on the list of candidates competing for the presidency in the upcoming elections on 23 August 2023.

The decision by the electoral commission to initially reject Valerio’s nomination papers sparked controversy and drew widespread criticism from various quarters, highlighting concerns about gender representation in the political landscape.

However, the successful appeal has now opened up the presidential race, making it a more diverse and competitive field.

With Valerio’s inclusion, there are now a total of 12 candidates vying for the presidency. Among them, three prominent figures have emerged as the potential front runners, according to political analysts. Nelson Chamisa, representing the Citizens Coalition for Change party, has gained significant popularity and support among a wide range of Zimbabwean voters.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, representing the fractured post-military coup ZANU PF party, continues to maintain a strong base of support, particularly within traditional ZANU PF circles. Despite facing internal challenges, Mnangagwa is expected to put up a fierce fight for the presidency.

Adding an element of surprise to the race is the emergence of Saviour Kasukuwere, an independent candidate who has quickly gained attention as the “new kid on the block.” Kasukuwere’s unconventional approach and promises of political reform have resonated with some segments of the electorate, making him a potential wildcard in the upcoming elections.

Analysts and political observers have noted that it is difficult to determine Elizabeth Valerio’s exact position among the projected winners. With her successful appeal and the increased visibility as the only female presidential candidate, Valerio’s campaign is expected to gain momentum in the coming weeks. Her policies and vision for Zimbabwe will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the narrative of her candidacy.

At the time of writing, a full statement from Elizabeth Valerio is anticipated, where she is expected to address her supporters and outline her plans for the nation. The inclusion of Valerio as a presidential candidate signifies a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s political landscape, as it strives for greater gender equality and representation at the highest level of governance.

The upcoming 2023 elections are anticipated to be a closely contested race, with each candidate vying to secure the trust and mandate of the Zimbabwean people. As the nation eagerly awaits further developments, political analysts are closely monitoring the campaigns and assessing the potential outcomes of what is expected to be a historic election

By-The Electoral Court will tomorrow hear a dozen applications filed by Zanu PF activists seeking to disqualify CCC National Assembly candidates in Bulawayo from the 23 August elections.

According to ZimLive, the court ordered the 12 applications, filed simultaneously, to be consolidated due to similar facts.
The applicants, who only describe themselves as “registered voters”, are seeking to have CCC, other opposition parties, and independents barred from contesting.
They are arguing that the defendants filed their nomination papers after the regulated time of 4 PM on 21 June and should not be allowed to contest.
If the applications succeed, ZANU PF could win all 12 National Assembly seats in Bulawayo unopposed.
In the 2018 general elections, the MDC Alliance, which was the main opposition won 11 of the 12 seats.
ZANU PF’s Raj Modi won Bulawayo South after the MDC Alliance fielded double candidates and split its vote.
Meanwhile, CCC argues that all its candidates in Bulawayo filed their papers by 4 PM, but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) asked the candidates to correct some 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 now assisting other candidates, the party argues.
The process continued into the wee hours of 22 June.
CCC has its own application filed by the 10 candidates for the Provincial Council who were disqualified.
The candidates 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.

By-A Midlands-based police officer has been assaulted and threatened by the Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Deputy Minister Barbara Rwodzi for arresting a Zanu PF supporter for pulling down CCC posters.

NewsDay reported that Rwodzi insulted the police officer as he was preparing a docket against the ZANU PF supporter, only known as Danger who is believed to be part of her campaign team.
In a three and half minute’s audio, Rwodzi is heard calling Assistant Inspector Matsa, based at Charandura Police Station, a “stupid idiot”.
The Chirumanzu South MP also threatened to deal with the police officer.
Rwodzi told the senior cop that she will deal with him “in front of (Godwin) Matanga”, the Police Commissioner-General. She was recorded saying:
I will finish with you. Do you think CCC will win? Urimbwa (you are a dog), you are stupid go and report wherever you want.
I am going to finish you, Matsa. I will fight you to the end. Urimbwa (you are a dog).
The police officer, however, stood his ground insisting that he was only doing his job. He said:
Mai Rwodzi, you don’t have to be personal and call me stupid.
But Rwodzi told the cop that he should report her for calling him an idiot.
She said he should have discussed the matter with his superior and other officers at the station before opening a docket against a ZANU PF activist.
Rwodzi also said she will not be lectured about laws because she was responsible for making laws in the country as a Member of Parliament.

By-Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Deputy Minister Barbara Rwodzi was recorded verbally assaulting a senior police officer who arrested a ZANU PF supporter for pulling down CCC posters.

NewsDay reported that Rwodzi insulted the police officer as he was preparing a docket against the ZANU PF supporter, only known as Danger who is believed to be part of her campaign team.

In a three and half minute’s audio, Rwodzi is heard calling Assistant Inspector Matsa, based at Charandura Police Station, a “stupid idiot”.

The Chirumanzu South MP also threatened to deal with the police officer.

Rwodzi told the senior cop that she will deal with him “in front of (Godwin) Matanga”, the Police Commissioner-General. She was recorded saying:

I will finish with you. Do you think CCC will win? Urimbwa (you are a dog), you are stupid go and report wherever you want.

I am going to finish you, Matsa. I will fight you to the end. Urimbwa (you are a dog).

The police officer, however, stood his ground insisting that he was only doing his job. He said:

Mai Rwodzi, you don’t have to be personal and call me stupid.

But Rwodzi told the cop that he should report her for calling him an idiot.

She said he should have discussed the matter with his superior and other officers at the station before opening a docket against a ZANU PF activist.

Rwodzi also said she will not be lectured about laws because she was responsible for making laws in the country as a Member of Parliament.

By Wilbert Mukori- In a 1948 speech to the House of Commons, Winston Churchill paraphrased Santayana when he said ‘Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.’

Zimbabwe had all the potential to become the South Korea of Africa, a free democratic and prosperous nation, as the Japanese school Ken Yamamoto observed soon after Zimbabwe’s independence. Instead, after 43 years, he have become just another failed African country; a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs who have stayed in power all these years because the rigged elections.

Let’s face it; we are a failed state because we have failed to learn from history and have and continue to pay dearly for it. 

It took Zimbabweans nearly 20 years to accept the political reality that Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies were corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs. Having embrace the Zanu PF men and women as the nation’s liberation heroes and heroines it was a bitter pill to swallow that the same men and women would deny the people their basic freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country and even the right to life. 

The evidence that Mugabe and company did not care about the freedoms and rights of the ordinary people were there all along; it was the people who refused see and believe their own eyes. During the fight to end white colonial rule, Mugabe and his Zanu PF nationalists had promised “One man, one vote!” for example. And yet Zanu PF made it clear that if the regime was to lose the 1980 elections, the bush war would continue. 

Of course, the people voted to end the war and, in doing so, lost their right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country to this day!

It was not until the late 1990s, nearly 20 years after Zanu PF rigged the 1980 elections to impose a de facto one-party dictatorship, that the nation finally reached the consensus on the need to implement democratic reforms to restore the individual freedoms and rights. 

After the blatant betrayal by Zanu PF thugs, one would have thought Zimbabweans would be diligent in their selection of the men and women they would entrust the task of implementing the reforms. Or, at the very least, not repeat the same mistake of treating these leaders as demigods who must not be questioned much less held to democratic account, as they did with Mugabe et al.  Alas! That was not to be!

The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC/CCC leaders into power on the promise they would implement the democratic changes the nation was dying for. After 23 years, 5 of which in the 2008 to 2013 GNU, Chamisa and his MDC/CCC friends have failed to implement even one token reform. Worse still, they have been participating in these flawed elections, perpetuating the dictatorship – the very thing they were entrusted to end – out of greed.

If Zimbabwean had been diligent and attentive then they would have realised that MDC/CCC leaders had sold out by failing to implement any reforms during the GNU. Or, at the very least, figured out for themselves at the sheer futility of participating in these flawed elections without first implementing reforms. 

“The (2013) electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility,” confessed David Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.

Coltart’s confession has not helped the penny drop. Whilst most Zimbabweans accept that Zanu PF is rigging these elections, they are participating in the flawed elections because they believe CCC’s oxymoronic claim that the party has winning in rigged elections strategies (WIRES). 

These WIRES and claims that CCC will “win big” are just hot air to hide the real reasons why Chamisa and company are hell bent on participating no matter how flawed and legal the process got – greed and incompetence. It was the same reasons why MDC leaders failed to implement even one reform in five years of the GNU.

It is insane that anyone, much less the whole populous, would believe in these WIRES nonsense, especially after 43 years of Zanu PF mafiosi rigging elections. We really are a nation refusing to learn from history!

Still, these people who are ignoring the warning and insist on participating in the flawed elections will sober up on the 24 August 2023, the day after voting day, as Zanu PF claims yet another landslide victory. They will complaining that Zanu PF rigged the elections, conveniently forgetting they had rejected the advice to have reforms before elections because they had a winning strategy to each and every vote rigging Zanu PF shenanigan. 

By insisting on participating in these flawed elections Zimbabweans are not only giving legitimacy to Zanu PF but are forfeiting the right to complain about the rigged elections. Voter beware! Buyer beware! Caveat emptor!

It is too late to get the elections postponed. The opposition leaders’ last chance to pressure Zanu PF to clean up the election was by refusing to participate without the verified voters’ roll. They topped over each other to submit their nomination papers and the chance was lost. 

Still, the ordinary Zimbabwean can register their disapproval of the flawed and illegal election process by refusing to attend with Zanu PF and opposition rallies and refusing to vote. They will do even better by publicly denouncing the flawed process and the opposition for selling out. It is not too late to let the whole world know but especially SADC that these elections are flawed and that Zanu PF must not be granted legitimacy. 

After 43 years of rigged elections, 2 500 years after the Greeks gave mankind democracy as a system of government; we should know that these flawed and illegal 2023 Zimbabwean elections are a farce. And should have the common sense to demand an end to this insanity.  

Lovemore Madhuku, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) president, has stated that the chaotic scenes of crowds scrambling for free groceries at ZANU PF rallies are a sign of the government’s failure.

Speaking at a meeting in Chinhoyi, Madhuku emphasised that Zimbabweans were suffering at the hands of the ruling elite, who must be removed during the August 23 harmonised elections. Madhuku urged citizens to seek a government that cherishes prosperity and indicated that every ZANU PF rally is evidence of failure. He said:

Citizens should seek a government that cherishes prosperity. Remember there is Madhuku who will be on the ballot paper on 23 August vying for president. There would be others but don’t vote for them.

If this country was ruled effectively, people would have adequate food stocks in their households, they shouldn’t go to rallies to get basic commodities.

If people had cooking oil, rice and mealie-meal, they would not go to a rally to get these things, but go and contribute to nation building through exchanging views and ideas, and listen to what the leadership is promising.

Attending rallies in order to get these things is evidence of failure because the masses are suffering.

People should come voluntarily (to rallies) using their own money because they would be in a position to afford. Every ZANU PF rally is evidence of failure.

He further urged the electorate to vote for NCA in upcoming polls and remove Mnangagwa’s regime, which has not succeeded in improving Zimbabwe’s economic situation.

Madhuku also reiterated the need to rejig the 2013 national Constitution, which he said was a compromise document agreed between late former president Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, the then opposition front-man.

Madhuku has contested previous presidential polls, and despite his unwavering determination to land the presidency, he has fared dismally in past plebiscites. His participation in elections is largely viewed by detractors as a sideshow to give credence to a supposed democratic society.

The situation in Zimbabwe is dire, with some members of the public attending rallies for food and free groceries as they are unable to afford them. The economy has been in collapse for years, with some analysts claiming that the government deliberately caused this to make the electorate dependent on them. By controlling the distribution of resources, they can manipulate the voting process, determining who gets what, when, and how. Those who do not support the government risk missing out on these essential goods. Some of the goods donated at these rallies include farming inputs such as fertilizers and seeds, groceries, as well as party regalia.

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) says the construction of Kunzvi Dam in Mashonaland East Province is now 36 percent complete.

The dam is being built by a Chinese company 67 kilometres northeast of Harare, near Juru Growth Point on the Nyanguvi River, which separates Goromonzi and Murehwa districts.

When completed, the dam is expected to solve Harare’s perennial water shortages.

Speaking to New Ziana, ZINWA corporate communications and marketing manager Marjorie Munyonga, said:

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) wishes to advise the public and stakeholders that the construction of Kunzvi Dam, in Mashonaland East remains on course with the dam now 36 percent complete.

Current work at the site includes excavation of the core trench, grouting on the core trench invert, backfill on the core trench, placing fill material on the fill zone and construction of a masonry downstream access bridge.

Other works include the placement of riprap on the upstream slope, the placing of coarse filter on the upstream slope, outlet trench excavation and construction of remaining houses at the ZINWA senior camp.

Construction of the dam was first mooted in 1912. It has been shelved over the years due to financial challenges and only began in 2021. It is expected to be completed at the end of 2024.

Harare’s main source of water, Lake Chivero, is heavily polluted by sewerage water and effluent from industries.

Due to the complete breakdown of the reticulation system, raw sewerage from residential areas and effluent from industries flows directly into Lake Chivero.

This has forced the Harare City Council to spend about US$3 million every month to buy more than 11 chemicals that it uses to treat the water.

Kunzvi Dam is expected to provide Harare with “clean” water, less costly than Lake Chivero.

-NewZiana

By- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Monday invaded former President Robert Mugabe’s cabinet minister, Saviour Kasukuwere’s home area and denounced the former Zanu PF political commissar.

Chiwenga was at Chiunye Primary School in Mt Darwin South constituency, where Kasukuwere hails from.

One of Mugabe’s G-40 King pins, Kasukuwere, was disqualified last week as a presidential election candidate by the High Court.
This was after the court found that the former legislator for Mt. Darwin South had failed to meet the basic requirement of being a registered voter to enable him to contest in the August 23 elections.

Addressing the gathering, Chiwenga said he was heartened by the people of Mt Darwin’s high level of political maturity and consciousness which saw them distancing themselves from Kasukuwere’s failed attempt for the presidency.
He said such political consciousness, horned in the liberation struggle, had been a key cog in Mt Darwin’s resolute support for the quest for independence.
He paid tribute to the ruling party’s supporters for continuing to back the revolution particularly at a time President Mnangagwa had set the economy on a path to rapid economic growth.
“What we want is for people to follow the national Constitution if they want to participate in elections,” said Chiwenga.
“There is this gentleman who comes from near this place. He sold out and sought to take the ruling party as personal property. That is impossible. Zanu PF cannot fit in anyone’s pocket but we all fit inside Zanu PF.
“This idea of trying to disrupt our elections will not succeed. If you grandstand, undermining our processes it is you who will fail.
“Our Constitution is clear that our courts are there to interpret the law. If you fall foul of the law, you can’t turn around and start maligning others who were not part to your transgressions,” said Chiwenga.
The Constitution, under Section 169, stipulated that if one wanted to participate in elections, there was a period one was expected to be ordinarily resident in the country.
“That law cannot be changed to suit anybody. It is the law. If you want to be a candidate, you must meet the minimum set requirements,” he said.
Chiwenga said the ruling party and its presidential candidate were ready to face anybody at the polls and were confident of romping to victory on the back of economic development projects being championed by the Second Republic.
He implored the electorate to resoundingly vote for President Mnangagwa and the ruling party candidates so that the Second Republic could continue with the development work currently being championed across the country.
Mt Darwin South ruling party parliamentary candidate Kudakwashe Mupamhanga said the revolution was safe as people in the constituency were ready to affirm it by resoundingly voting for President Mnangagwa on August 23.
“Former members are not members and sellouts will not be tolerated and all those who want to rejoin the party should do so in a proper way like what the Vice President has said.”
Mupamhanga said: “We are emboldened, stronger and energised, ready for the harmonised elections to win for the party and vote for President Mnangagwa. August 23 is a forgone conclusion.”
-Herald

By- Four people have died in a Honda Fit accident along Harare-Mutare Road near Mabvuku turn-off. 

The accident that happened on Monday also left four other passengers injured.

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Honda Fit vehicle with four passengers on board hit a pedestrian before veering to the right, where it was involved in a head-on collision with another Honda Fit vehicle with one passenger on board.

The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals mortuary for post-mortem examinations, while the injured are receiving medical attention at the same hospital.