By- Several ministers and Zanu PF parliamentarians fell by the wayside in the weekend’s party’s primary elections.

While the Zanu PF Politburo is expected to confirm the election outcome, results from provincial and constituency command centres showed that several new entrants won against some seasoned politicians.
Masvingo and Midlands provinces held primary elections yesterday after they failed to do so on Saturday due to unforeseen technical challenges.
Zanu PF National Political Commissar Cde Mike Bimha told ZBC TV last night that results had started trickling in.
He said the party had received some complaints and an ad-hoc committee will meet today to consider the complaints.
“”Results have now started trickling in. We should have all the results in the 10 provinces by tomorrow. We have also received complaints and we hope that the ad hoc committee will meet tomorrow to consider those complaints,”” said Cde Bimha.
In Mashonaland East Province, results indicated that Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza fell to fellow Cabinet minister, Cde Felix Mhona as the two fought it out to get the right to represent the revolutionary party in Chikomba East National Assembly constituency.
Cde Mhona, who is Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister contested in Chikomba East after his constituency, Chikomba Central, which he represented was collapsed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission delimitation exercise.
There were also reports that Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Minister David Musabayana had lost to lawyer Cde Itai Ndudzo in Wedza North.
In Manicaland, Chimanimani West constituency sitting MP and Manicaland Province Minister of State and Devolution Nokhutula Matsikinyere lost to newcomer Wilson Maposa.
In Mashonaland West Province, sitting Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna and Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Mary Mliswa (Hurungwe West) also lost in the elections. In Chegutu East current MP and Zanu PF Deputy Political Commissar Cde Webster Shamhu reportedly lost the primaries.
In Goromonzi West, former legislator for the area, Cde Beata Nyamupinga bounced back after she won the right to represent the party which was initially held by Cde Energy Mutodi who has transferred to Masvingo Province.
In Buhera, Manicaland Province, all the constituencies were won by new entrants.
In Buhera West, Zanu PF Director of Information, Cde Tafadzwa Mugwadi beat incumbent, Cde Soul Nzuma and four others while Cde Joseph Chinotimba fell to Ngonidzashe Mudekunye in Buhera South with Cde Samson Matema claiming the scalp of the sitting legislator, Cde Mathew Gijima Nyashanu in Buhera Central. Cde Philip Guyo won in Buhera North replacing Cde William Mutomba who is a Senate candidate.
In Mutasa North, sitting legislator and chairperson of the portfolio committee on Women Affairs, Cde Chido Madiwa lost to Cde Obey Bvute, while businessman and sports guru, Cde Innocent Benza won the right to represent the party in Mutasa Central constituency.
In Mashonaland Central Province, the sitting MP for Guruve North, Cde Girovha Dzepasi fell to Cde Tendai Pinduka who beat six other candidates while in Guruve South, the sitting legislator, Cde Patrick Dutiro faltered against Cde Christopher Magomo.
Vote counting continued in most areas while Midlands and Masvingo provinces counting was expected to start last night.
The situation was calm in most areas visited by The Herald yesterday.
In Harare, provincial youth chairperson Cde Emmanuel Mahachi, who is also Mbare National Assembly Constituency aspiring legislator, said the elections were organised and held in a peaceful manner.
“”There were no cases of violence since our members were advising them that the President does not condone violence. We congratulate all the winning candidates while to losing candidates we say there is always next time.
“”I encourage party members to remain calm and peaceful. In Zanu PF, there is no winner or loser, only that one will be going to represent the party in the general elections,”” he said.
In Chitungwiza by the end of the day, voters and candidates were milling around the command centres waiting for the final compilation of results.
At Zengeza East Constituency command centre, Chitungwiza acting Mayor Kiven Mutimbanyoka was seen in a jovial mood with voters at the Publicity Centre.
In Epworth at Tembwe district, Hunyani preliminary results were already displayed at the command centre by midday.
In Mabvuku-Tafara voting ended on Saturday and it went on peacefully. Polling agents yesterday transported ballot papers and boxes to the national command centre in the city.
They were escorted by a team of police officers that had been deployed on the ground.
In Greendale, voting also ended on Saturday night.
In Beitbridge, Matabeleland South Province, the voting process ended well and by the end of the day yesterday, party officials were still consolidating figures.
Under Beitbridge East, Cde Albert Nguluvhe contested against Cde Steven Stubbs.
In Beitbridge West, incumbent Cde Ruth Maboyi stood against, Cdes Thusani Ndou and Alfred Makhomo Moyo.
Cde Tambudzani Mohadi and former Beitbridge mayor, Cde Showa Moyo contested for the senatorial seat.
In an interview, Cde Nguluvhe said:
“”This is a practice within the party where democracy is being exercised. People are allowed to choose their representative at whatever level. There is no loser. The party comes first. I therefore, call upon everyone to be united and start to campaign for our President and the party. Congratulations to everyone.””
In Masvingo, there was high voter turnout although polling was delayed in most areas around the province owing to delays in the arrival of voting material.
However, by 9am yesterday, voting had kicked off at most polling centres with long queues forming at most polling centres with members waiting to cast their ballots.
When The Herald visited some polling stations like Zvamahande in Masvingo West, Chirichoga, Masvingo Central and Shakashe in Masvingo North, there were long winding queues of voters waiting to cast their ballots with many commending the peaceful process.
Some however complained of missing their names in the voters’voters’ register.
War veteran Cde Hilda Mavuto, told The Herald that the primary elections were not about individuals but the party, adding that Zanu PF should be the biggest winner.
“”This race (primary election) is like a race (of horses) the best horse (winner) is our best foot forward and must be supported by everyone. I am here to vote just to remind the young people that this country came at a huge price,”” said Cde Mavuto.
In Masvingo Central one of the aspiring parliamentary candidates Cde Addison Zvobgo (Junior) requested for voting to be extended by a day noting that some voters from Chatikobo in Ward 23 had failed to vote after failing to access a voting centre because of floods in Mutirikwi River.
“”The dam (Lake Mutirikwi) is releasing water downstream because floodgates are open and some voters in Chatikobo could not go and vote,”” said Cde Zvobgo.
Voting closed at most polling by 5 pm with queues having been cleared though there were some isolated polling stations such as Chirichoga in Masvingo Central where voting had to be extended to clear the queues occasioned by initial delays.
In the Midlands Province, voting had been extended beyond 4pm across the province amid a huge turnout at most polling stations.
Midlands provincial elections directorate head, Cde Simbarashe Mbengegwi said the province has been given the greenlight by the national directorate to extend the deadline. There were still long queues at most polling stations around Gweru well after 6 pm.
“”I am patient, I will be waiting in the queue until I cast my vote,”” said Mrs Linah Ngirandi who was in a queue at Pfende polling station yesterday evening.
In Mashonaland West province, the voting process which ended yesterday afternoon at all the polling stations was met with mixed feelings by contestants and the electorate.
While the whole process was meant at measuring the strength of the party and its democracy, the election system was described by some as flawless while others expressed reservations.
There were, however indications from preliminary results that some of the old guards had lost to the Young Turks.
In Mashonaland East Province, the primary elections were conducted smoothly as the electorate across the province chose their preferred candidates through the ballot box.
There was an overwhelming turnout of voters to such an extent that the voting exercise had to be extended to Sunday afternoon to accommodate every member to exercise their constitutional rights.
In the Marondera Central constituency, seasoned politician and educationist Cde Cleopas Kundiona who was battling with his long-time contestant Cde Lawrance Katsiru and prominent businessman Dunmore Mutyambizi, won the elections.
Cde Kundiona won with 2 311 votes while Cde Mutyambizi went away with 1 553 votes with Cde Katsiru managing only 468 votes.
In Goromonzi North, Cde Ozias Bvute won with 3 225 votes against Cde Kudzai Majuru who bagged 1034 votes.
In Bulawayo and Matabeleland North, the voting exercise continued yesterday and the two Matabeleland provinces without incidents.
In Bulawayo, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Cde Raj Modi sailed through uncontested and will represent Zanu PF in the harmonised elections.
Prof Ncube is eyeing the National Assembly seat for Cowdray Park while Cde Modi will battle it out with opposition parties for the Bulawayo South seat.
By last night, Zanu PF Politburo member in charge of the primary elections in Bulawayo, Cde Elphas Mashava, and the party’sparty’s provincial leadership, were locked in a meeting at Davis Hall to wrap up the meticulous verification process.
The Chronicle news crew observed that at two polling stations located at the Bulawayo Polytechnic and Nketa 7 Library, voters underwent meticulous verification before casting their votes and by 1pm, the process had ended.
In Matabeleland North, the voting spilled into yesterday in Lupane West constituency while the rest closed Saturday night. There are 13 constituencies in the province with seven districts.
Cde Headman Moyo who is in charge of elections in the province said they were waiting for all districts to submit results and deliver ballot boxes to the provincial command centre.
He said the elections had gone on well without any incidents of violence.
“”People have voted peacefully and we did not witness any unfortunate incident. We had given a deadline of 1pm today (yesterday) for all centres to close and for now we are waiting for results from districts such as Binga,”” he said.
Senior party members including the party’sparty’s provincial chair Cde Richard Moyo, Nkayi North legislator Dr Sithembiso Nyoni and her Nkayi South counterpart Cde Stars Mathe won the primaries.

Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s drum is about to rupture.

This was said by CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa.

According to the CCC leader, Mr Mnangagwa’s party is falling apart with each passing day.

“When a drum begins to beat louder, there is a possibility that the drumhead or drumskin is about to rupture. In Zimbabwe’s political arena the beat of the drum has been growing louder and more intense with each passing day..the nation is about to be born again! #ANewNation,” the CCC leader posted on Twitter.

“Zanu PF looks for a leader who wants to lead the people, but we want a leader whom the people want. Zanu PF wants its candidates to submit curriculum vitaes, but we focus on community track record — what are the people saying about the leader they want? Zanu PF wants individuals with financial prosperity, but we are concerned with personality. We are putting emphasis on citizens’ participation. There will be no imposition of candidates. The power is with the citizens. Where there are ties between candidates, citizens will still be expected to decide on their own the best candidate,” added President Chamisa.

Eighteen-year-old model Makanaka “Melladiorr” Melissa said she is dedicated to transforming the profession to ensure that the rampant sexual harassment that models can face comes to an end.

Speaking to H-Metro, the Upper Sixth student said there is a need to change the negative perception towards women. She said:

I am inspired by the need to change the community and industry as a whole.

I want to advocate for the girl child through the professionalism of art and I will use it to show how women hold the same power as men and, hopefully, this would eradicate some of these societal ills.

The industry at times can be a very unsafe place for the girl child because, rather than being viewed as creatives, we are often manipulated.

We are manipulated into thinking that being in intimate relationships with the sponsors will increase our popularity and make it possible to earn certain amounts but I am a firm believer in morals, self-respect and hard work to achieve success.

She said she wants to work together with other models to find ways to eradicate girl child abuse in the industry and outside the industry too. Said Melladiorr:

Girls deserve the same freedom just as the boy child does without returning any sexual favours.

Makanaka Melissa acquired her training from 106 Models. She has worked with EatnLick, ZIMA Awards, Model Guide, and as a brand ambassador for Footwear Plaza and as a video vixen for music videos. She said:

As a person, you should be disciplined. I do things on time and I work with a schedule.

I have time for school work and I have time for my profession but always put school first.

All aspiring models should dare to be different and not lose their moral values for fame.

By A Correspondent- Gospel musician Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave referred to her singing gift as a curse after she was trolled on social media and she has yet again clapped back on a fan Norman Munyaradzi who commented on the singer’s family photo saying it was not complete without a father figure.

In the photo, the award-winning gospel musician posted a picture of herself posing with her two sons and daughter. This is not the first time the gospel celebrity has posted a picture of her children, mostly because they have been involved in some of her projects. However, her husband has not been in any of Fungisai’s projects.

“Ko baba varipi? The pic looks incomplete without a father figure,” commented Norman Munyaradzi.

Fungisai clapped back at the fan, saying her husband does not owe them any social media presence.

“Whoever gave you the right to drag my husband into social media just because ndakakuimbirai gave you the wrong idea. I don’t know what entitlement you think you have to treat him like he owes you social media entertainment too,” she replied.

“Such family pics can be found on our home walls and I reserve the right to post what I choose on my entertainment page.

“Sorry to say my husband shall not be part of the entertainment here. Ndini muimbi wenyu.”

Other celebrities such as Madam Boss born Tarisai Cleopatra Chikocho were also caught in the same situation.

During her interview with Dj Olla on StarFM, Madam Boss clearly stated that if people were asking about her as brand Madam Boss she would have answered because she is the celebrity, but when it came to her husband she refused to give any details saying he was not the celebrity.

Following Fungisai’s clap back, another fan sympathised with her saying that the singer’s personal life is her choice.

“She is right about her personal life and her choices. We should learn to mind our business naye which is music,” commented the fan.

Fungisai went on to pour out on Facebook how she has been receiving constant attacks all her career life and referred to her singing gift as a curse.

The insults I have suffered my whole career life, I would have to be divine not to feel it at this point. Indeed I can conclusively say it’s a cursed gift not worth pursuing and I don’t advise anyone to choose this path in life,” she posted.

“You risk dying at a young age, it is really not worth it young people.”

The gospel singer has been trolled on social media, at one point she fired back at a fan, Farai Manguvo, after he commented that the singer was getting old.

She also once furiously hit back at people who were comparing her with Jah Prayzah following the release of her musical video Mutsvene (Holy).

Fungisai’s career has been characterised by ups and downs, but the determination to keep the Christian voice loud has been her encouragement. However the constant trolls seem to have had the best of her as she now refers to her gift as a curse. —Standard

By A Correspondent- One hundred (100) children aged between two and 12 years have benefitted from free hernia scanning and surgical operation exercise at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare.

According to Business Times, the exercise was conducted by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Japanese government and Celebration Health.

Dr. Patricia Mtambanengwe told the publication that they had come to Mutare to operate on only 100 patients diagnosed with hernia. She said:

We are aware of the large numbers here, but there is only a limited number of patients that will be attended to during the course of this programme.

Mtambanengwe said that there are more than 1000 hernia patients countrywide that need to be attended to.

Concellia Makoni from Marondera, whose child was successfully operated on, on Tuesday, said:

I am so grateful, I do not know how to thank all those behind this gesture, the Japanese government, the Zimbabwe government, Celebration Health and the WHO for rescuing my child.

I was hopeless and have just been given hope. I am the happiest person today, God is great.

However, some mothers travelled long distances but left Mutare disappointed after their children were not checked and operated on.z

One such mother was Lovejoy Kusena who said she spent a lot of money after travelling from Nyanyadzi, about 125km south of Mutare.

A hernia scanning and surgery procedure is estimated to cost at least US$400.

Symptoms of a hernia in a child

• A full, round belly.
• Belly pain and soreness.
• Vomiting.
• Fussiness.
• Redness or discoloration near the hernia.
• Fever

By A Correspondent- The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party led by Nelson Chamisa has launched a WhatsApp ChatBot which it said enables citizens to instantly access information on the party’s activities, voter registration, and any other key information. The party said:

Our youth task force has launched a WhatsApp ChatBot which enables citizens to instantly access information on the party’s activities, voter registration and any other key information.

Send “REAP” to WhatsApp number +263 712222697 and get chatting!

REAP or “Mugwazo” is a nationwide rural mobilisation exercise launched by CCC in April 2022.

Speaking about the programme last year, CCC interim secretary for rural mobilisation, Happymore Chidziva, said:

We have launched a massive recruitment and mobilisation exercise called Mugwazo. We are meeting ordinary citizens in rural areas.

This is a nationwide programme where we are mobilising people to register to vote and recruit them to the CCC party. We are targeting every district in Zimbabwe.

By A Correspondent- Underpaid Zimbabwean nurses and doctors have vowed to find alternative ways to circumvent a foreign recruitment ban recently imposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), saying they cannot bear the poor working conditions anymore.

WHO recently red-listed Zimbabwe among 53 other nations experiencing acute shortage of health personnel, a development which prompted the United Kingdom (UK) to stop active recruitment of nurses from the southern African country.

Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union secretary-general Douglas Chikobvu described the recruitment ban as a major blow for health professionals.

“As it stands, the future of Zimbabwean nurses set to leave for greener pastures has been dealt a big blow,” Chikobvu said.

“The government has been sort of abusive on how (it is) handling the plight of nurses. Instead of addressing the root causes, (it is) coming up with a raft of measures to tie our already impoverished and starving nurses. The reason for massive brain drain is due to measly wages. What we all expected the government to do was to swiftly address bread and butter issues by awarding nurses a living wage in US dollars.”

Latest statistics by the UK’s Office of National Statistics showed that Zimbabwe was among the top five countries that registered the highest number of citizens granted work visas to Britain over the past two years.

Zimbabwe has over the past years recorded a mass exodus of skilled workers, including at least 3 000 health professionals to the UK in the past two years, with some opting for menial foreign jobs owing to poor remuneration back home.

“The government of Zimbabwe should consider the concept of formalising the export of surplus health professionals in order to protect its citizens working abroad because if migration is not formalised, health professionals will still leave the country anyway,” Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said.

Not every nurse trained has to work for the State throughout their working life. But the country’s health delivery system can benefit from the experience of the returnees gained while in the receiving countries. It’s important to invest in people to harness talent. Why train and let people go.? This is a highly critical and precious resource. It’s a death sentence to citizens as they cannot access quality health care.”

By A Correspondent- Three ministers were among prominent ZANU PF members who were defeated in primary elections held over the weekend.

Speaking on State television on Sunday night, ZANU PF political commissar Mike Bimha said results had started trickling in. He said:

We should have all the results in the 10 provinces by tomorrow (Monday). We have also received complaints and we hope that the ad hoc committee will meet tomorrow to consider those complaints.

According to NewZimbabwe.com, Industry and Commerce Minister Sekai Nzenza was defeated by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona in Chikomba East.

Two provincial affairs ministers also lost in the primaries.

Manicaland Province Minister of State and Devolution Nokhutula Matsikinyere lost to Wilson Maposa while in Mashonaland West Mary Mliswa was defeated in the Hurungwe West.

War veteran and trade unionist Joseph Chinotimba lost to Ngonidzashe Mudekunye in Buhera South while Dexter Nduna, who was recently filmed on his knees, begging for votes, was defeated in Chegutu West.

ZANU PF deputy political commissar Webster Shamu was defeated in Chegutu East.

Meanwhile, Herentals Football Club owner, Innocent Benza, won the right to represent the party in the Mutasa Central constituency.

By- Several ministers and perennial Zanu PF parliamentarians fell by the wayside in the weekend’s party’s primary elections.

While the Zanu PF Politburo is expected to confirm the election outcome, results from provincial and constituency command centres showed that several new entrants won against some seasoned politicians.
Masvingo and Midlands provinces held primary elections yesterday after they failed to do so on Saturday due to unforeseen technical challenges.
Zanu PF National Political Commissar Cde Mike Bimha told ZBC TV last night that results had started trickling in.
He said the party had received some complaints and an ad-hoc committee will meet today to consider the complaints.
“”Results have now started trickling in. We should have all the results in the 10 provinces by tomorrow. We have also received complaints and we hope that the ad hoc committee will meet tomorrow to consider those complaints,”” said Cde Bimha.
In Mashonaland East Province, results indicated that Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza fell to fellow Cabinet minister, Cde Felix Mhona as the two fought it out to get the right to represent the revolutionary party in Chikomba East National Assembly constituency.
Cde Mhona, who is Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister contested in Chikomba East after his constituency, Chikomba Central, which he represented was collapsed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission delimitation exercise.
There were also reports that Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Minister David Musabayana had lost to lawyer Cde Itai Ndudzo in Wedza North.
In Manicaland, Chimanimani West constituency sitting MP and Manicaland Province Minister of State and Devolution Nokhutula Matsikinyere lost to newcomer Wilson Maposa.
In Mashonaland West Province, sitting Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna and Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Mary Mliswa (Hurungwe West) also lost in the elections. In Chegutu East current MP and Zanu PF Deputy Political Commissar Cde Webster Shamhu reportedly lost the primaries.
In Goromonzi West, former legislator for the area, Cde Beata Nyamupinga bounced back after she won the right to represent the party which was initially held by Cde Energy Mutodi who has transferred to Masvingo Province.
In Buhera, Manicaland Province, all the constituencies were won by new entrants.
In Buhera West, Zanu PF Director of Information, Cde Tafadzwa Mugwadi beat incumbent, Cde Soul Nzuma and four others while Cde Joseph Chinotimba fell to Ngonidzashe Mudekunye in Buhera South with Cde Samson Matema claiming the scalp of the sitting legislator, Cde Mathew Gijima Nyashanu in Buhera Central. Cde Philip Guyo won in Buhera North replacing Cde William Mutomba who is a Senate candidate.
In Mutasa North, sitting legislator and chairperson of the portfolio committee on Women Affairs, Cde Chido Madiwa lost to Cde Obey Bvute, while businessman and sports guru, Cde Innocent Benza won the right to represent the party in Mutasa Central constituency.
In Mashonaland Central Province, the sitting MP for Guruve North, Cde Girovha Dzepasi fell to Cde Tendai Pinduka who beat six other candidates while in Guruve South, the sitting legislator, Cde Patrick Dutiro faltered against Cde Christopher Magomo.
Vote counting continued in most areas while Midlands and Masvingo provinces counting was expected to start last night.
The situation was calm in most areas visited by The Herald yesterday.
In Harare, provincial youth chairperson Cde Emmanuel Mahachi, who is also Mbare National Assembly Constituency aspiring legislator, said the elections were organised and held in a peaceful manner.
“”There were no cases of violence since our members were advising them that the President does not condone violence. We congratulate all the winning candidates while to losing candidates we say there is always next time.
“”I encourage party members to remain calm and peaceful. In Zanu PF, there is no winner or loser, only that one will be going to represent the party in the general elections,”” he said.
In Chitungwiza by the end of the day, voters and candidates were milling around the command centres waiting for the final compilation of results.
At Zengeza East Constituency command centre, Chitungwiza acting Mayor Kiven Mutimbanyoka was seen in a jovial mood with voters at the Publicity Centre.
In Epworth at Tembwe district, Hunyani preliminary results were already displayed at the command centre by midday.
In Mabvuku-Tafara voting ended on Saturday and it went on peacefully. Polling agents yesterday transported ballot papers and boxes to the national command centre in the city.
They were escorted by a team of police officers that had been deployed on the ground.
In Greendale, voting also ended on Saturday night.
In Beitbridge, Matabeleland South Province, the voting process ended well and by the end of the day yesterday, party officials were still consolidating figures.
Under Beitbridge East, Cde Albert Nguluvhe contested against Cde Steven Stubbs.
In Beitbridge West, incumbent Cde Ruth Maboyi stood against, Cdes Thusani Ndou and Alfred Makhomo Moyo.
Cde Tambudzani Mohadi and former Beitbridge mayor, Cde Showa Moyo contested for the senatorial seat.
In an interview, Cde Nguluvhe said:
“”This is a practice within the party where democracy is being exercised. People are allowed to choose their representative at whatever level. There is no loser. The party comes first. I therefore, call upon everyone to be united and start to campaign for our President and the party. Congratulations to everyone.””
In Masvingo, there was high voter turnout although polling was delayed in most areas around the province owing to delays in the arrival of voting material.
However, by 9am yesterday, voting had kicked off at most polling centres with long queues forming at most polling centres with members waiting to cast their ballots.
When The Herald visited some polling stations like Zvamahande in Masvingo West, Chirichoga, Masvingo Central and Shakashe in Masvingo North, there were long winding queues of voters waiting to cast their ballots with many commending the peaceful process.
Some however complained of missing their names in the voters’voters’ register.
War veteran Cde Hilda Mavuto, told The Herald that the primary elections were not about individuals but the party, adding that Zanu PF should be the biggest winner.
“”This race (primary election) is like a race (of horses) the best horse (winner) is our best foot forward and must be supported by everyone. I am here to vote just to remind the young people that this country came at a huge price,”” said Cde Mavuto.
In Masvingo Central one of the aspiring parliamentary candidates Cde Addison Zvobgo (Junior) requested for voting to be extended by a day noting that some voters from Chatikobo in Ward 23 had failed to vote after failing to access a voting centre because of floods in Mutirikwi River.
“”The dam (Lake Mutirikwi) is releasing water downstream because floodgates are open and some voters in Chatikobo could not go and vote,”” said Cde Zvobgo.
Voting closed at most polling by 5 pm with queues having been cleared though there were some isolated polling stations such as Chirichoga in Masvingo Central where voting had to be extended to clear the queues occasioned by initial delays.
In the Midlands Province, voting had been extended beyond 4pm across the province amid a huge turnout at most polling stations.
Midlands provincial elections directorate head, Cde Simbarashe Mbengegwi said the province has been given the greenlight by the national directorate to extend the deadline. There were still long queues at most polling stations around Gweru well after 6 pm.
“”I am patient, I will be waiting in the queue until I cast my vote,”” said Mrs Linah Ngirandi who was in a queue at Pfende polling station yesterday evening.
In Mashonaland West province, the voting process which ended yesterday afternoon at all the polling stations was met with mixed feelings by contestants and the electorate.
While the whole process was meant at measuring the strength of the party and its democracy, the election system was described by some as flawless while others expressed reservations.
There were, however indications from preliminary results that some of the old guards had lost to the Young Turks.
In Mashonaland East Province, the primary elections were conducted smoothly as the electorate across the province chose their preferred candidates through the ballot box.
There was an overwhelming turnout of voters to such an extent that the voting exercise had to be extended to Sunday afternoon to accommodate every member to exercise their constitutional rights.
In the Marondera Central constituency, seasoned politician and educationist Cde Cleopas Kundiona who was battling with his long-time contestant Cde Lawrance Katsiru and prominent businessman Dunmore Mutyambizi, won the elections.
Cde Kundiona won with 2 311 votes while Cde Mutyambizi went away with 1 553 votes with Cde Katsiru managing only 468 votes.
In Goromonzi North, Cde Ozias Bvute won with 3 225 votes against Cde Kudzai Majuru who bagged 1034 votes.
In Bulawayo and Matabeleland North, the voting exercise continued yesterday and the two Matabeleland provinces without incidents.
In Bulawayo, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Cde Raj Modi sailed through uncontested and will represent Zanu PF in the harmonised elections.
Prof Ncube is eyeing the National Assembly seat for Cowdray Park while Cde Modi will battle it out with opposition parties for the Bulawayo South seat.
By last night, Zanu PF Politburo member in charge of the primary elections in Bulawayo, Cde Elphas Mashava, and the party’sparty’s provincial leadership, were locked in a meeting at Davis Hall to wrap up the meticulous verification process.
The Chronicle news crew observed that at two polling stations located at the Bulawayo Polytechnic and Nketa 7 Library, voters underwent meticulous verification before casting their votes and by 1pm, the process had ended.
In Matabeleland North, the voting spilled into yesterday in Lupane West constituency while the rest closed Saturday night. There are 13 constituencies in the province with seven districts.
Cde Headman Moyo who is in charge of elections in the province said they were waiting for all districts to submit results and deliver ballot boxes to the provincial command centre.
He said the elections had gone on well without any incidents of violence.
“”People have voted peacefully and we did not witness any unfortunate incident. We had given a deadline of 1pm today (yesterday) for all centres to close and for now we are waiting for results from districts such as Binga,”” he said.
Senior party members including the party’sparty’s provincial chair Cde Richard Moyo, Nkayi North legislator Dr Sithembiso Nyoni and her Nkayi South counterpart Cde Stars Mathe won the primaries.

-Herald

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has introduced a programme to profile learners to enable their grooming and the nurturing of their skills progressively.

Under the programme, “Learning Support Services Client Profile Database”, profiles will be created for every learner.

A school in Bulawayo sent a letter to parents and guardians inviting them to participate in the exercise. The letter, which was seen by the Chronicle, reads in part:

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MOPSE) is rolling out a programme to screen and profile learners in schools.

In this regard, the Learning Support Services is developing a system to enable schools to create profiles for individual learners.

A set of screening and profiling tools has therefore been introduced for use in schools. You are invited to the school for the data collection on your child.

It is an assessment of developmental domains of functioning in young children.

It is for individual child and parent benefit through child-centered approaches, referrals and monitoring.

… Let us avoid sending just anyone from the family e.g. driver, house helper, or a distant relative as this may lead to the collection of inaccurate data.

The collected information of individual learners will be fed to the Education Management Information System database and will be updated throughout their infant, junior and Secondary education years hence the need to supply accurate data.

Primary and Secondary Education Ministry communications and advocacy director Taungana Ndoro said:

This is going to assist in the management of the child so that when a certain talent is identified in the learner, we develop that talent from an early age.

We want to groom and nurture the skills that they have from the primary and secondary levels.

There is a lot of information that we need from the parents and guardians and we will even need information like the number of siblings and a lot of other things.

So, it’s a huge tool. We will collect data until the data of the last pupil in our school has been collected.

Ndoro urged parents and guardians to cooperate with education officials during the exercise.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean businessman, Simon Rudland, has demanded a public apology from Al Jazeera Investigations after he was named as part of the “gold mafia” and the biggest funder of smuggling activities in Zimbabwe in a documentary that premiered recently.

During an undercover investigation by Al Jazeera journalists, self-confessed gold smuggler Ewan Macmillan alleged that Rudland was the major financier of the gold smuggling in Zimbabwe and was owed about US$200 million by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

Episode One of the Al Jazeera documentary titled “The Laundry Service”, alleges that Rudland launders money through both Zimbabwean and South African companies.

MacMillan, a self-confessed gold smuggler who was exposed by undercover Al Jazeera journalists, said:

He (Simon Rudland) bankrolls this whole country. If he wants, he phones up the governor, the reserve bank governor. ‘Hi, I want a meeting. Okay, fine. What time?’ ‘I am coming at 11. Okay, fine.’

He is massive. He is one mother***, my friend. You have no idea, how big he is.

Rudland, who is the owner of Gold Leaf Tobacco, also indicated he will be suing Al Jazeera over the broadcast. Reads his statement:

I deny all allegations made against me concerning gold smuggling, money laundering, or collusion with any government.

The allegations are false and are made without any proof and the documentary is extremely sensational, this propaganda is injurious to my good name.

I urge Al Jazeera to retract their statements and issue a public apology.

Notwithstanding this, I will in any event be instituting legal action against the media house for severe reputational harm caused.

The four-part Al Jazeera documentary titled “Gold Mafia”, also implicated President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Special Envoy Uebert Angel, the President’s niece Henrietta Rushwaya, and Kamlesh Pattni in alleged gold smuggling and money laundering activities in Zimbabwe.

When a drum begins to beat louder, there is a possibility that the drumhead or drumskin is about to rupture. In Zimbabwe's political arena the beat of the drum has been growing louder and more intense with each passing day..the nation is about to be born again! #ANewNation pic.twitter.com/uaoQUlRI5Q

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) March 26, 2023

"Mukai tinochera gold" @zanupf_patriots pic.twitter.com/w24OuyN4Ne

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 27, 2023

Six people believed to be Zanu PF supporters died, while 18 others were injured when an Isuzu lorry was involved in a head-on collision with a Nissan Diesel truck along Murambinda-Betera Road in Buhera on Saturday.

The accident occurred near Mugombe Primary School and the supporters were participating in the party’s primary elections in Buhera.

The names of the deceased will be released once their next of kin have been advised.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident.

“The bodies of the victims were taken to Murambinda Hospital mortuary for post mortem whilst the injured are admitted at the same hospital,” he said.

“The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.”

Police would release more details about the accident once investigations had been completed.-state media

The agenda against me is singular, to separate me from my son, all the images; footage she is leaking to the public is to try claim I’m unwell to care for our son, it’s so unfair and humiliating; but let me respond to this accusation list; we shall meet them in court.??

I was not aware the relationship was even over, while on holiday in December with my family, my sons mother informed me of a new relationship she was in with her new lover who happens to be a friend of mine. It was a devastating couple of days I had no idea our relationship was at that point over.

The address this document has been sent is NOT my address, I am failing to understand why this would be sent to an address that is not mine. That address is the house my late mother lived in and currently no one resides in. I’m so confused.

I did not move to South Africa and leave my son in Zimbabwe, I moved to South Africa WITH my son and his mother, he was still in school in Zimbabwe so only when not in school they would move to me while I prepared their relocation.

I’m not sure how she “realised” I was living with another woman yet she is the one who secured our lease in the very house I live and she has a key to the house. I have never lived with another woman but her in my life.

She says I “forcibly” took our son from her? How does that physically work? Why would you not go to the police, or refuse to leave? How do I forcibly take a human being? We both escorted her to the airpot and she said she would be back in 2 weeks.

She returned to Zimbabwe because her lover who she herself told me called Scott Sakupwanya needed her for an event. Yes we fought about it, I admit, but I did not have issues with her moving on from me, I was now broke and bankrupt, it’s understandable, we agreed the child can stay with me.

I have full evidence that I was the one who begged her to spend Xmas with us because our son missed her terribly. When she got to South Africa I have full evidence we went to a holiday destination out of South Africa. Upon return, she was with me in the same property She holds lease so.

I’m not sure when she found the child in bad health and sores in his mouth, she says I locked my own son in a house. Bizarre, the child has 2 full time nanny’s and a nurse. I challenge her to show me the medical reports.

I will provide the evidence of her being the lease holder of our residence in South Africa. She says my business is not in the best interest of the minor- how ridiculous. My business is how she has clothes and fed herself since I met her.

I have never been to her mothers house, to be clear, her mother was beaten like a dog by her father while living in Ray Kaukondes house in Waterfalls. He kicked them out on the street literally, I built a $300K home for her on a plot she had. Again, we shall bring evidence to court.

She says I have abused her? I have never eat slapped my child, this is such slander and designed to ruin my brand. I have treated this girl like royalty, and what was the reason I abused her again? Did anyone get that part?

Apart from having never been to her “mothers house”. I will call the mother to a lie detector and hear this from her.

She said it’s her who decided to not return my son to me which she is equally admitting she had agreed? She says I pulled him out of school, in court I will show my son is enrolled at Crawford International in South Africa. I was shocked he was not brought back to school as agreed.

What an annexture, pencil written analysis by an non registered professional. Please check with Ministry of Education if they recognise that Organization. The report is fabricated by a non registered organisation. How do you say a top 3 school in Africa is not in his best interests, he must go to a under the tree school in Zimbabwe instead?

She has made attempts where? How? I have called her to speak to my son and she changed numbers. I even travelled to go to Zimbabwe and I learnt to my shock when I got home she sold everything and relocated. The house I had left her in she had sold and put the money with Lunga her lover advisor.

What is the reason she wants to restrict me to 2 weeks on holidays only with my son? Why can’t I be in his life? I am a lot of things, but I’m not a bad father. I have no other family but that boy. The wickedness here is surreal to me.

There are serious cases that hinder why the child should be with me. His healthcare is here, his school is here, his father is here, I offered the mother advance pay of all her flights to see him at will and he can be in Zimbabwe for holiday. She says she has always been taking care of him, she was last employed before he was born, I have taken care of them both since.

How will she look after the child best when her first act is to restrict the child of a father and slander the image of the father to portray me like a monster?

How do you say “fit” in one sentence, then “been doing all along”- the level of disregard of the hand that has fed this family is gut wrenching but that said, I fail to understand why I can’t be given access to the child.

Tinashe Sambiri|Controversial former Zanu PF MP for Chivi South and businessman Killer Zivhu has challenged Uebert Angel’s authenticity as a “man of God.”

Commenting on the gold looting scam exposed by Al Jazeera, Zivhu slammed criminals within the new dispensation.

According to Zivhu, the gold looting scam reveals corruption is killing the economy, not sanctions.

See below Zivhu’s argument:

Guys if Uebert Angel is really a Prophet of God, why asina kuona mumweya, kuti AL Jazeera deal was a trap, muchasvinura henyu mati madini.

Criminals around Mugabe, are now in exile including Jonathan Moyo, what are we going to do with criminals around New Dispensation, the Man of Gold or the Man against God, is boasting about selling the Country.

This gold issue has nothing to do with America, stop this propaganda guys, we are not insane veduwe, Angel ari kuzvitaurira pa video, and this is not an edited video, musatijairira kungoti every wrong doing , it’s because of Americans tinyareiwo.

Kana mazogara Judads Iscariot was not a Prophet, he was after money not salvation, this fly by night Prophets of yours are evil , they destroy your future whilst you are clapping hands.

Wisdom from Chivi, AL Jazeera’s documentary is like an eye opener to farmers , they will know the seeds Eaters, why wasting time and energy ploughing , when you know the seeds Eaters will finish before germination.

Wisdom from Chivi, don’t force people to like you, don’t force people to believe you, don’t force people to respect you, don’t underestimate people, they are dangerous when they remain silent and pretend to be clueless.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean actor and film producer Shaun Mundawarara is part of Disney’s The Lion King tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland as an understudy for the role of Simba.

This comes after the multi-talented actor attended an open casting call held in Cape Town last year.

He was called back for a second round of auditions in February 2023 where he was signed on as a cast member for the tour.

In 2022, Mundawarara was the first Zimbabwean to win a best performance by male actor in a lead role award in Kenya.

He was also an outstanding theatre actor at the 2023 National Arts Merit Awards. “Dreams come true,” said Mundawarara.

I am so excited to share that I am joining the cast of Disney’s The Lion King UK and Ireland tour as part of the ensemble and understudying for the role of Simba

By A Correspondent- Police in Kamativi have arrested a 34-year-old man for allegedly striking his mother with an axe after accusing her of witchcraft.

In a statement on Thursday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said the suspect Sumayili Juma went wild on Tuesday before striking his mother with an axe on both shoulders.

“Police in Kamativi have arrested Sumayili Juma (34) in connection with a case of murder which occurred on March 21, 2023, at Kilima 19, Simbala Village, Binga.

“The suspect struck his mother with an axe on both shoulders and head after accusing her of witchcraft.”

Blogger Rose Mudiwa has issued an apology to socialite and businesswoman Pokello Nare following a ‘malicious’ story she posted last week.

In a since-deleted article, Mudiwa, real name Rhoda Mudyirwa, alleged that Pokello was having an illicit affair with an unidentified Ben 10. She further alleged that Pokello’s supposed Ben 10 had gone missing.

Following the allegations, Mudiwa, who runs Rose Lifestyle News page, publicly apologised to Pokello.

Mudiwa apologized to Pokello on Facebook for peddling falsehoods against her. She said that the story was fabricated and sensationalized for clickbait.

Apologizing to Pokello, Mudiwa initially wrote a statement before issuing another through a video.

“I would like to publicly retract any post that my team and I have made on my timeline that was offensive towards Pokello and her family, friends and associates. I would like to apologize for causing any grievances.

 “I have informed my team and we have agreed to be respectful at all times. I would also like to apologize to any other person that may have been affected by any posts made prior to this statement.

 “It has been an oversight on myself and my team, we took a circulating story and posted without any thoughts on the repercussions. We did not intend to cause any harm. Thank you for your understanding.”

By A Correspondent- Chiefs and village heads are set to receive lump sum payments of at least US$550 each as part of Covid-19 allowances backdated to May 2022.

There are about 26 000 village heads countrywide, who were expected to get US$50 per month from May last year as part of the perks.

Ministry of Local Government and Public Works’ communication and advocacy director Mr Gabriel Masvora said the payments have since been approved and will be distributed through the Salary Service Bureau.

“The ministry has now approved that the village heads receive US$50 per month as the Covid-19 allowance, and it will be backdated to May last year,” he said.

Government introduced a Covid-19 allowance for civil servants in May last year, as they were considered key in the fight against the pandemic.

“Village heads approached the ministry and argued that they have been playing a major role in the fight against the pandemic, hence they deserved to receive the allowances,” added Mr Masvora.

Government has also approved a medical aid facility with the Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) for traditional leaders.

“Government will pay 80 percent of the cost. Chiefs will contribute US$3, sub-chiefs US$2 and village heads US$1 per month towards the medical aid facility,” he said.

The amount will cover a maximum of five family members.

Village heads are traditional leaders who perform a variety of legislative, administrative and ceremonial duties determined by tradition.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management (Zimparks) has managed to account for a crocodile that recently attacked and seriously injured two teenage boys in the Chivake River in Gutu.

Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo told The Herald that the crocodile was shot and killed by rangers and its carcass taken to Masvingo. Said Farawo:

We eliminated the crocodile in the Chivake River in Gutu after it attacked and injured two boys who were taken to Chivhu Hospital for treatment. Their condition is stable.

Every time there is a problem animal, Zimparks attends to such situations and either kills the animal or animals or just scares them away and in this case we killed the problem crocodile in Chiguhune.

Farawo implored members of the public to treat water bodies with caution as they risk being attacked by crocodiles.

Cases of human-wildlife conflict have been on the rise in recent years and this has been attributed to a population increase of both humans and wildlife, the effects of climate change, deforestation, illegal cutting of grass, and general mismanagement of natural resources.

By Acie Lumumba

Dear friends;

I am dealing with an incredibly painful public failure at the moment, In December last year I became bankrupt and went into debt after spending 5 months cancer treatments.

My wife confessed she was having an affair with Zweli Lunga and Scott Sakupwanya friends and business associates I had known for over 10years; when I knew of my sickness I moved all my assets into her name for the sake of our son.

There are things about to come out that will embarrass any man and destroy any ego but I ask again that you understand it’s sensitive and I would have preferred it private, they have just chosen to make a public humiliation out of me.

I have learnt on Monday I will be served with a ‘cease and desist’ order to not mention the matter, Zweli got her to sell all my assets which I have no issues with- I’ll rebuild it all. The real issue is her two lovers are so hell bent over proving a point they are using all influence to restrict me from access to my son. They have requested the courts to never allow me time with my son by myself.

As they start their campaign of mistruths exclusively designed to prove I’m unfit to father my son, do remember I’m just a father desperate to be in his child’s life. I just want access to my son, I think it is brutally dark and wicked for them to restrict that.

Even if I was a monster, he’s my son, except I’ve done nothing but work like a junk yard dog for that boy .

I am currently consulting legal guidance but I challenge them to a lie detector on my account to validate a single line of lies they are peddling. I have to fight for my son, I don’t know what else to do

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) said that its electricity token purchase system is currently down.

In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, ZETDC, a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, said the challenge is affecting its customers countrywide. ZETDC said:

We would like to advise you that our electricity token purchase system is currently down.

Our team is working flat out to ensure the restoration of service. The inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.

ZETDC, however, did not give the timeframe for when its electricity token purchase system is expected to be up and running again.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has extended voting in the primary elections to this Sunday, with Masvingo and Midlands provinces expected to start voting as scheduled.

The revolutionary ZANU PF party’s internal democratic process received an overwhelming response this Saturday.

Briefing the media at the party’s headquarters in Harare this Saturday evening, ZANU PF National Political Commissar Dr Mike Bimha said centres that completed the voting process should proceed to count votes.

“This massive exercise is testimony to the popularity of President ED Mnangagwa. Due to the multitude of our party faithful who thronged polling stations, the party has been forced to extend voting to the 26th of March. This was due to these boundaries and logistical delays due to numbers. We are expecting 4.3 million voters to vote in these primary elections.

“We received information that some supporters were not captured in cell registers, we urge these supporters to be captured as we march towards the attaining of 5 million votes. The party is seized with getting voting materials and will be extended from 0700hrs to 1300hrs. Those who completed their voting should proceed to count votes and publish then at the centres,” he said.

Dr Bimha also noted that Masvingo and Midlands provinces will commence the voting process this Sunday as scheduled from 0700hrs to 1600hrs.

“Masvingo and Midlands as reported earlier will commence the voting process at 0700hrs to 1600hrs. Returning officers and polling agents at all booths are directed to safeguard the integrity of the voting material,” he said.

ZANU PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa said the extension of the voting process is democracy at play.

“We always boast that ZANU PF is there to rule by the consent of the people, extending democracy to the grassroots level. None was disqualified for frivolous reasons. Enthusiasm in the polling booth catering for membership of the party, this election will be the end of CCC,” he said.

ZANU PF’s primary elections are meant to select candidates who will represent the party in the National Assembly, Senate, women and youth quotas as well as local authorities in the forthcoming general elections.- ZBC News

By A Correspondent- The Office of Presidential Envoy and Ambassador at Large (OPEAAL) Uebert Angel has responded to the Al Jazeera documentary, which alleged that he is part of the criminals steering gold smuggling and money laundering worth billions of US dollars in Southern Africa.

 Al Jazeera, on Thursday, released its first instalment of a four-part documentary which name-dropped government dignitaries involved in illicit gold trade and money laundering in Africa. 

As revealed in the documentary’s first episode, the self-styled prophet Angel said he could use his diplomatic status to assist undercover Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit poised as potential investors to smuggle tonnes of gold out of the country.

Uebert Angel Responds To Al Jazeera Documentary Allegations

In a statement released by the Chief Investment Officer at OPEAAL Sobona Mtisi said that he [Angel] played along and exaggerated figures as he suspected something was amiss with the ‘potential investors.”

 “Following the release of the Aljazeera documentary titled The Gold Mafia, there has been a lot of misinformation, speculation, and deliberate efforts to scandalise the Presidential Envoy and Ambassador at Large, H.E Ambassador Uebert Angel. This statement serves to clarify some of the issues raised. These “investors” called the OPEAAL office, were referred to me, and I met with them. I was present at all the meetings, I know what happened and speak in my own capacity…

“Given this strange request, Ambassador Angel suspected something was amiss. He consulted with the Security Experts attached to the OPEAAL, who further advised against arranging a meeting with the President. There was a consensus among the OPEAAL team and security experts that these individuals might not be genuine investors. The challenge was what if the team’s suspicions were wrong, and the country loses billions in investment. On the other hand, what if the team’s suspicions were proved right, what were the implications of meeting these “investors”.

He added that he did not call Rushwaya but a person pretending to be her as a rouse. Angel claims that he also did the same when he called Auxillia Mnangagwa.

The statement reads:

“After these suspicions, the team switched to ‘red’ protocol, with the decision to proceed with extreme caution, be in the middle, and play along, and never to facilitate a meeting between the “investors” and the His Excellency, the President. With this knowledge, and at the insistence of the “investors” Ambassador Angel made several calls to decoys working with our office. It is these decoys who posed as Henrietta Rushwaya, the First Lady, and the First Son.

By A Correspondent- A lorry carrying Zanu-PF supporters was involved in an accident along the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge road.

Three people died on the spot whilst the other three died at Murambinda Hospital.

The other 17 have severe injuries and are in hospital.

By A Correspondent- More than 450 000 people have registered to vote during the final nationwide biometric voter registration exercise that ends today.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) will now begin the process of removing duplicate registrants using its high-tech fingerprint identification system, before all genuine new voters are added to the voters’ roll.

The number of registered voters could rise to more than six million for the first time in the country’s history, once ZEC completes the deduplication exercise.

Ahead of the voter registration blitz, there were around 5,8 million people on the voters’ roll.

ZEC acting chief elections officer Ms Charity Ngandini said the final number of new registrations will be announced after removal of all duplicates.

“The commission recorded a cumulative total of 451 811 initial registrants across provinces as at March 21, 2023,” she said.

“A total of 191 738 transfers were also recorded during the initial 10 days of the mobile exercise.

“Please, note that voter registration statistics recorded in the field do not necessarily reflect the actual entries that are finally added to the voters’ roll.

“The commission will announce the final figure after running the fingerprint identification system to remove duplicates.”

Statistics obtained from ZEC show that Matabeleland North province has the highest number of new registrants at 93 275, while Bulawayo recorded the least number of new registrants (9 968).

In Harare province, 58 679 people registered as new voters, while Mashonaland West had 53 939 new registrants, with 48 096 others registering in Midlands province.

Mashonaland Central province had 46 036 new registrants, while 45 745 new voters were recorded in Masvingo province.

Manicaland recorded 43 741 new voters, with 38 016 registering in Mashonaland East, while Matabeleland South registered 14 316.

The registration blitz, which began on March 12, ran for two weeks.

Ms Ngandini said following conclusion of the voter registration exercise, the commission will undertake data cleaning processes, which will be followed by public inspection of the voters’ roll.

She said one of the main challenges faced by the commission during the exercise was the number of duplicate voters.

“The commission is worried about the number of people who continue to be turned away during this exercise for the same reasons, as previously reported, already registered, aliens or non-Zimbabwean citizens,” she added.

“However, it is noted that some of the initial registrants are duplicates and that some voters have transferred more than once within the same period.”

Last year, ZEC expressed concern over some non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations that were providing incentives to hundreds of people to register to vote, resulting in the people making multiple registrations for them to access the money.

The duplicate registrants were exposed after ZEC’s ultra-modern biometric registration system — which, among other things, enables fingerprint mapping — flagged those who had registered multiple times.

Zimbabwe will hold its harmonised elections later this year, with ZEC having tabled a $130 billion budget to conduct the polls.

Treasury is now expected to start disbursing the funds for the polls.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF yesterday held chaotic primary elections marred by violence and vote rigging claims with some candidates’ names missing from cell registers while ballots were not delivered in some areas.

In Mashonaland Central, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s shadowy campaign team, the Forever Associates Zimbabwe Trust (FAZ), was accused of vote rigging in Bindura, Muzarabani, Mt Darwin and Rushinga where 27 cell registers were reported missing.

Some polling stations were yet to receive ballot papers by 4pm in the province.

“The way FAZ is conducting elections in Mt Darwin raises a lot of questions.

“How can cell registers be missing honestly?,” a disappointed Zanu-PF member said.

In Matabeleland South, Beitbridge, police were summoned late yesterday afternoon to restore order at Beitbridge Mission where chaotic scenes were the order of the day.

Several Beitbridge candidates slept at their district command centre housed at the Beitbridge Old Police Station command centre fearing ballot box stuffing.

“This is real politics; we slept here to guard our interests,” a candidate said.

At 6am, several policemen were deployed to different polling stations spread across the district with some centres 150km away from the command centre.

Unlike in the past where only the Zanu-PF old guard including senator Tambudzani Mohadi and Metrine Mudau featured in the primaries, yesterday there were youths contesting.

In Matobo’s ward 25, elections were called off because of violence. The violence was sparked by vote rigging reports.

Fear and intimidation characterised the elections in Mashonaland West with scores of people failing to find their names in the voter’s register.

When The Standard visited a polling station at Chegutu Country Club the queue, mainly composed of illegal artisanal miners, was moving slowly with scores of people complaining that their names had disappeared from the voters’ roll.

Sitting MP Dexter Nduna was facing off with Farai Chigavazira.

Supporters linked to Chigavazira stormed Bosbury Primary School armed with machetes to stop the elections in Ward 24 before taking away voting materials.

In Sanyati Constituency, the two front-runners, Mines deputy minister Polite Kambamura and Thembikosi Magwaliba were both accused of violence and intimidation of each other’s supporters.

In Hurungwe East, some voters failed to vote at Kavaya Secondary School, Chimusimbe Primary School and Zvarai Primary School because there were no ballot papers.

Zanu-PF members in Murewa South Constituency were left seething with anger after ballot boxes failed to be availed in time.

In Murewa South, voting continued beyond 4pm.

In Marondera East Constituency, at Mountview Training Centre, a number of voters were still to cast their votes after 2pm.

Speaking to The Standard, some voters claimed that their names were missing from the cell registers despite the recent cell verification exercise.

Some voters at Chikangwe hall in Hurungwe said their names were missing from cell registers and chaos and confusion reigned supreme.

A voters’ cell register for the Johane Marange Apostolic sect members went missing at Chikangwe hall.

 Some Apostolic sect members tried to break into the hall as they demanded explanations from the election teams.

It was the same story in Matabeleland North where some voters failed to find their names on the voters ‘roll.

A Zanu-PF member who wanted to cast his vote at Lupane Primary School complained that their names were struck off from the voters’ roll.

” It all points to rigging,” he said.

There was also chaos in Manicaland where ballots were delivered late.

Zanu-PF Commisor Mike Bimha said some areas had been allowed to extend voting to between 7am and 1pm today.

The Government says it plans to repatriate more Zimbabweans who are stranded in Oman, an Arab country located in Western Asia.

The Zimbabwean nationals, the majority of who were females, were lured into slavery through false promises of well-paying domestic work in Oman.

Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage permanent secretary Major-General (retired) Dr. Gerald Gwinji said 107 women and men were repatriated from Middle Eastern country.

However, according to the Government’s database, about 21 Zimbabweans remain stranded in the country. Said Gwinji:

In response to distress calls made by victims of trafficking in Oman, the Government of Zimbabwe allocated resources through Treasury for the repatriation of 107 Zimbabwean nationals.

There have been several reports of Zimbabweans who have fallen victim to traffickers.
Using information extracted from the reports, a WhatsApp platform was created to facilitate coordination and to have an appreciation of the number of victims of human trafficking and, as of December 2022, at least 128 people have been trafficked to Oman, with the majority having been repatriated by Government.

Furthermore, Government is considering carrying out the second phase of the repatriation exercise to bring back stranded Zimbabwean nationals in our database.

A total of 69 cases of trafficking in persons (TIP) involving 139 victims of trafficking were recorded and investigated.

Seven suspects were arrested for TIP in 2022 and are currently in custody pending trial, while three were arrested for domestic trafficking cases.

Suspected human trafficker on the run

Police have since launched a manhunt for Jacqueline Takure, nee Chikukwa (45) who is wanted for questioning in connection with suspected human trafficking.

In 2022, Takure allegedly posed as an employment agent and misrepresented to five people that she could facilitate their employment in well-paying hotels in Dubai.

She then facilitated the travel of the victims to Oman where they had their passports confiscated by her accomplices on arrival.

Kafala System

Most Gulf nations enforce the kafala labour system. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the system gives private citizens and companies in Jordan, Lebanon, and most Arab Gulf countries almost total control over migrant workers’ employment and immigration status.

The kafala system resembles a form of indirect slavery, making it harder for migrants to escape such dreadful situations, according to a report.

Female domestic workers who attempt to run away reportedly fall victim to sex traffickers.

By-First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and her son Emmerson Junior will most likely feature in Al Jazeera’s “Gold Mafia” documentary, with three out of four episodes yet to be premiered, it has emerged.
This was revealed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Ambassador At Large Uebert Angel in a statement released on Saturday as his office tried to clear his name after undercover Al Jazeera journalists showed him offering to launder US$1.2 billion boasting that he was the second-most-powerful person in Zimbabwe.
In the first episode of the documentary, titled “The Laundry Service”, Angel is seen calling Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) president Henrietta Rushwaya in the presence of the undercover reporters.
Angel made the calls in an attempt to convince the “investors” that he was able to facilitate the laundering of more than a billion US dollars in cash.
However, in a statement on Saturday, Angel’s office said during his interactions with the Al Jazeera crew, he suspected that they were not genuine and decided to use “decoys”.
Angel inadvertently revealed that the President’s wife and son will feature in the documentary when he said “these decoys… posed as Henrietta Rushwaya, the First Lady and the First Son”.
A statement released on his behalf by the Chief Investment Officer in the Office of Presidential Envoy and Ambassador at Large (OPEAAL), Sobona Mtisi, read in part:
After these suspicions, the team switched to ‘red’ protocol, with the decision to proceed with extreme caution, be in the middle, and play along, and never to facilitate a meeting between the “investors” and the His Excellency, the President.
With this knowledge, and at the insistence of the “investors” Ambassador Angel made several calls to decoys working with our office.
It is these decoys who posed as Henrietta Rushwaya, the First Lady, and the First Son.
The calls to the decoys were made in light of the leading questions asked by the “investors”.
They kept pushing to have the First Family in the discussion, especially the First Lady and the President.
They even threw in figures to help in the charity organisation which Ambassador Angel refused and even told them he had his own money; this part was omitted from the documentary.
It’s just amazing how people are made to believe what has been propagated as gospel.
The best these people got are the audios from the decoys, they never got the chance to film the President or the First Lady because the Ambassador was already informed by the security agents prior to getting in the meeting that they didn’t have the money they claimed to have.
However, as aforementioned, we battled with what if the intelligence is wrong and the country loses the much-needed investment.
The decoys helped in asserting that if they were real investors, we would be able to get it from their reactions after the call.
There is no way Ambassador Angel could get hold of the First Lady and First Son without pre-arrangements and standard security clearance procedures in place in meeting with the First Family.
Moreover, the Ambassador has never met the First Lady. They never met and never had any direct dealings.
It would have been prudent for these “investors” to verify if the calls were indeed made to the people that Ambassador claimed to be calling.

By-First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and her son Emmerson Junior will most likely feature in Al Jazeera’s “Gold Mafia” documentary, with three out of four episodes yet to be premiered, it has emerged.
This was revealed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Ambassador At Large Uebert Angel in a statement released on Saturday as his office tried to clear his name after undercover Al Jazeera journalists showed him offering to launder US$1.2 billion boasting that he was the second-most-powerful person in Zimbabwe.
In the first episode of the documentary, titled “The Laundry Service”, Angel is seen calling Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) president Henrietta Rushwaya in the presence of the undercover reporters.
Angel made the calls in an attempt to convince the “investors” that he was able to facilitate the laundering of more than a billion US dollars in cash.
However, in a statement on Saturday, Angel’s office said during his interactions with the Al Jazeera crew, he suspected that they were not genuine and decided to use “decoys”.
Angel inadvertently revealed that the President’s wife and son will feature in the documentary when he said “these decoys… posed as Henrietta Rushwaya, the First Lady and the First Son”.
A statement released on his behalf by the Chief Investment Officer in the Office of Presidential Envoy and Ambassador at Large (OPEAAL), Sobona Mtisi, read in part:
After these suspicions, the team switched to ‘red’ protocol, with the decision to proceed with extreme caution, be in the middle, and play along, and never to facilitate a meeting between the “investors” and the His Excellency, the President.
With this knowledge, and at the insistence of the “investors” Ambassador Angel made several calls to decoys working with our office.
It is these decoys who posed as Henrietta Rushwaya, the First Lady, and the First Son.
The calls to the decoys were made in light of the leading questions asked by the “investors”.
They kept pushing to have the First Family in the discussion, especially the First Lady and the President.
They even threw in figures to help in the charity organisation which Ambassador Angel refused and even told them he had his own money; this part was omitted from the documentary.
It’s just amazing how people are made to believe what has been propagated as gospel.
The best these people got are the audios from the decoys, they never got the chance to film the President or the First Lady because the Ambassador was already informed by the security agents prior to getting in the meeting that they didn’t have the money they claimed to have.
However, as aforementioned, we battled with what if the intelligence is wrong and the country loses the much-needed investment.
The decoys helped in asserting that if they were real investors, we would be able to get it from their reactions after the call.
There is no way Ambassador Angel could get hold of the First Lady and First Son without pre-arrangements and standard security clearance procedures in place in meeting with the First Family.
Moreover, the Ambassador has never met the First Lady. They never met and never had any direct dealings.
It would have been prudent for these “investors” to verify if the calls were indeed made to the people that Ambassador claimed to be calling.

By- A Bindura Zanu PF councillor was publicly beaten up for bedding a colleague’s wife.

According to the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), Bindura North Ward 12 Councillor, Wendile Machisi was assaulted by one Webester, who accused him of bedding his wife.

During the assault, Machisi did not retaliate but remained calm, fearing he would be disqualified ahead of the ZANU PF primary elections. ZPP said:

On 17 March, in Bindura North Ward 12, ZANU PF sitting councillor Wendile Machisi was assaulted by a Bindura University student identified as Webester during a campaign rally at the Progress Shopping Centre bus terminus.

The incident happened around 5 PM when Machisi was addressing residents ahead of the ruling party primary elections.

Machisi was slapped in the face by Webester who accused him of having an affair with his wife.

Machisi did not fight back but only warned his bodyguards to remain calm in fear of being disqualified.

By-Self-proclaimed prophet and Gold smuggler Uebert Angel is provoking another military coup after undermining the Vice President and former Zimbabwe Defence Forces Boss, Constantino Chiwenga.

Angel has said he was more powerful than the organiser and leader of the November 2017 coup that toppled the late President Robert Mugabe from power.

The controversial preacher said he was second in command after President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

If the claims are anything to go by, Angel occupies a higher position than Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Chiwenga was the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) when the military staged a coup in November 2017, which removed former President Robert Mugabe from power.
Some political commentators believe Chiwenga is the man in charge of the country, with Mnangagwa just the face of the government.
Angel, who was appointed a special envoy and ambassador-at-large to Europe and the Americas by Mnangagwa in 2021, boastfully told Al Jazeera undercover journalists the position was created specifically for him. He said:
I am an ambassador-at-large; I am an ambassador to 85 countries. As the special envoy, I am a representative of the President.
If you then look on paper in that position, I am number two, and there is no position like that in the country.
It was just one position that was never filled in. And I occupy that, it was created for me.
Angel is a self-proclaimed prophet at his Good News Church and claims he can heal the sick and predict the outcomes of elections and football matches.
In Episode One of the Al Jazeera documentary, Gold Mafia, Angel boasted that he could assist his guests to launder as much as US$1 billion in cash using diplomatic cover.
Angel appeared to be encouraging them to take advantage of his close ties with Mnangagwa.

The wealth-flaunting preacher, Passion Java will be kicked out of ZANU PF soon, a leading ZANU PF opinion-pusher has said.

Writing against the backdrop of public outrage over the revelations in the ongoing Al Jazeera documentary, #GOLDMAFIA, the Herald columnist, Reason Wafawarova said:

This idiot son of a scumbag and sorry excuse for a human being thinks Zanu PF is a safe house for criminals.

We will protect the revolutionary party from criminals like him. We will put him where he belongs.

Zanu PF buries nharadada. Pasi pasi muvhu nenharadada.

Ngakafusirwe aka.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has said the Al Jazeera documentary on filthy gold scams in Zimbabwe is a glimpse of rampant looting of resources by the Zanu PF regime.

According to President Chamisa, the documentary is a typical revelation of relentless looting, corruption and deceit.

“THE FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD…

The Aljazeera documentary graphically exposes the extent of the rot at the top,but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

This clearly shows how corrupt, rotten & broken leadership has destroyed a jewel and great country.

Zimbabwe is not poor, it’s just poorly governed,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has said the Al Jazeera documentary on filthy gold scams in Zimbabwe is a glimpse of rampant looting of resources by the Zanu PF regime.

According to President Chamisa, the documentary is a typical revelation of relentless looting, corruption and deceit.

“THE FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD…

The Aljazeera documentary graphically exposes the extent of the rot at the top,but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

This clearly shows how corrupt, rotten & broken leadership has destroyed a jewel and great country.

Zimbabwe is not poor, it’s just poorly governed,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

By A Correspondent | A Zimbabwean man suffering from albinism, Steven Muchato, has died.

Muchato was interviewed by ZimEye in May last year when he was appealing for funds for his treatment (see video)

“Steven Muchato gone ?,” wrote community support nurse Brenda Mudimu, informing ZimEye.

https://fb.watch/juC10Gdvwp/

Exact details of cause of death were not availed at the time of writing.

By-Self-proclaimed prophet and Gold smuggler Uebert Angel said he was more powerful than the Vice President and former ZDF commander Constantino Chiwenga and claimed he was second in command after President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

If the claims are anything to go by, it means that Angel occupies a higher position than Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Chiwenga was the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) when the military staged a coup in November 2017, which removed former President Robert Mugabe from power.
Some political commentators believe Chiwenga is the man in charge of the country, with Mnangagwa just the face of the government.
Angel, who was appointed a special envoy and ambassador-at-large to Europe and the Americas by Mnangagwa in 2021, boastfully told Al Jazeera undercover journalists the position was created specifically for him. He said:
I am an ambassador-at-large; I am an ambassador to 85 countries. As the special envoy, I am a representative of the President.
If you then look on paper in that position, I am number two, and there is no position like that in the country.
It was just one position that was never filled in. And I occupy that, it was created for me.
Angel is a self-proclaimed prophet at his Good News Church and claims he can heal the sick and predict the outcomes of elections and football matches.
In Episode One of the Al Jazeera documentary, Gold Mafia, Angel boasted that he could assist his guests to launder as much as US$1 billion in cash using diplomatic cover.
Angel appeared to be encouraging them to take advantage of his close ties with Mnangagwa.

By-Controversial preacher and exposed top diplomat Uebert Angel said he was second in command after President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

If the claims are anything to go by, it means that Angel occupies a higher position than Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Chiwenga was the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) when the military staged a coup in November 2017, which removed former President Robert Mugabe from power.
Some political commentators believe Chiwenga is the man in charge of the country, with Mnangagwa just the face of the government.
Angel, who was appointed a special envoy and ambassador-at-large to Europe and the Americas by Mnangagwa in 2021, boastfully told Al Jazeera undercover journalists the position was created specifically for him. He said:
I am an ambassador-at-large; I am an ambassador to 85 countries. As the special envoy, I am a representative of the President.
If you then look on paper in that position, I am number two, and there is no position like that in the country.
It was just one position that was never filled in. And I occupy that, it was created for me.
Angel is a self-proclaimed prophet at his Good News Church and claims he can heal the sick and predict the outcomes of elections and football matches.
In Episode One of the Al Jazeera documentary, Gold Mafia, Angel boasted that he could assist his guests to launder as much as US$1 billion in cash using diplomatic cover.
Angel appeared to be encouraging them to take advantage of his close ties with Mnangagwa.

By James Gwati-Zimbabweans are asking if the controversial preacher Panganayi Java. AKA. Passion Java would not be featured in the next episodes of the Al Jazeera investigation, “Gold Mafia”.

The documentary uncovers criminals driving gold smuggling and money laundering worth billions of dollars in Southern Africa.

Most featured in the 1st episode of the documentary is another controversial preacher, Uebert Angel, who was appointed the Zimbabwe Ambassador at large by the Zanu PF government.

Java also works with Zanu PF and has unlimited access to President Emerson Mnangagwa.
The opposition CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa, has since voiced against the grand corruption exposed by this documentary.
Chamisa tweeted Friday:
The fish rots from the head #Aljazeeradocumentary exposes the extent of the rot at the top, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
This clearly shows how corrupt, rotten and broken leadership has destroyed a jewel and great country. Zimbabwe is not poor, it’s just poorly governed.
In a follow-up statement, CCC condemned the corruption, saying the provision of social services in the country has collapsed while millions are being looted. The opposition party said:
While our health, education and infrastructure systems are on their deathbed, the few elites who are connected to government officials are making at least US$80 million every month through one of our valuable natural resources, gold.
On Thursday, 23 March, Al Jazeera released Episode One of Gold Mafia (The Laundry Service) a four-part series.
Uebert Angel, a new-age pastor who was appointed a special envoy and ambassador-at-large to Europe and the Americas by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2021, his deputy Rikki Doolan, and Mnangagwa’s niece Henrietta Rushwaya, who is the president of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), are named as part of the mafia.
In “The Laundry Service” episode, a former accountant of Kamlesh Pattni, a gold smuggler implicated in a scandal that robbed Kenya of 10 percent of its GDP in the 1990s, said his former boss is duping Zimbabwean government officials. Said the former accountant:
He (Pattni) exports jewellery and gold bars to Dubai and the rest of the world. In exchange, he has to bring foreign currency to Zimbabwe. On paper, he is bringing money to Zimbabwe.
The accountant said Pattni would declare a fraction of the value of Zimbabwean gold sold abroad and keep the rest of the proceeds out of the country.

By- A Bindura Zanu PF councillor was reportedly assaulted by a Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) student during a campaign rally on 17 March this year.

According to the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), Bindura North Ward 12 Councillor, Wendile Machisi was assaulted by one Webester, who accused him of bedding his wife.

During the assault, Machisi did not retaliate but remained calm, fearing he would be disqualified ahead of the ZANU PF primary elections. ZPP said:

On 17 March, in Bindura North Ward 12, ZANU PF sitting councillor Wendile Machisi was assaulted by a Bindura University student identified as Webester during a campaign rally at the Progress Shopping Centre bus terminus.

The incident happened around 5 PM when Machisi was addressing residents ahead of the ruling party primary elections.

Machisi was slapped in the face by Webester who accused him of having an affair with his wife.

Machisi did not fight back but only warned his bodyguards to remain calm in fear of being disqualified.

By-Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa says Zimbabwe’s current leadership is corrupt and rotten to the core.
Chamisa made the remarks in response to Thursday’s latest Al Jazeera investigation, “Gold Mafia”, which uncovered criminals driving gold smuggling and money laundering worth billions of dollars in Southern Africa. Chamisa tweeted:
The fish rots from the head #Aljazeeradocumentary exposes the extent of the rot at the top, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
This clearly shows how corrupt, rotten and broken leadership has destroyed a jewel and great country. Zimbabwe is not poor, it’s just poorly governed.
In a follow-up statement, CCC condemned the corruption, saying the provision of social services in the country has collapsed while millions are being looted. The opposition party said:
While our health, education and infrastructure systems are on their deathbed, the few elites who are connected to government officials are making at least US$80 million every month through one of our valuable natural resources, gold.
On Thursday, 23 March, Al Jazeera released Episode One of Gold Mafia (The Laundry Service) a four-part series.
Uebert Angel, a new-age pastor who was appointed a special envoy and ambassador-at-large to Europe and the Americas by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2021, his deputy Rikki Doolan, and Mnangagwa’s niece Henrietta Rushwaya, who is the president of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), are named as part of the mafia.
In “The Laundry Service” episode, a former accountant of Kamlesh Pattni, a gold smuggler implicated in a scandal that robbed Kenya of 10 percent of its GDP in the 1990s, said his former boss is duping Zimbabwean government officials. Said the former accountant:
He (Pattni) exports jewellery and gold bars to Dubai and the rest of the world. In exchange, he has to bring foreign currency to Zimbabwe. On paper, he is bringing money to Zimbabwe.
The accountant said Pattni would declare a fraction of the value of Zimbabwean gold sold abroad and keep the rest of the proceeds out of the country.