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.

By-Harare City Council (HCC) has reduced the penalty parking fees from US$132 to US$65.

This follows a public outcry over a US$132 penalty charge for failing to display a valid parking ticket worth US$1 per hour.

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the City resolved to have the parking penalty charge reduced to US$57 and the clamping charge of $65 delayed by up to three hours.

Mayor Mafume said motorists are now expected to pay US$57 within three hours if a vehicle is clamped. Speaking during a Special Council Meeting recently. Mayor Mafume said:

The effect is that one will get a ticket of US$57 across the board no matter the offence. If you have been parked and you are late by 30 minutes you will simply pay the parking fee arrear but after 30 minutes the motorist will be issued with a penalty ticket of $57 which must be settled within 3 hours. The clamping and towing fine of $65 will be charged to motorists who fail to pay the $57 penalty fee within three hours.

He said if a motorist fails to pay during the specified period, it means that he has to pay US$57 plus a parking fine of US$65.

If a motorist exceeds more than 30 minutes from their booked time, they will be fined.

Mayor Mafume said Council has instructed the Finance and Development Committee to begin the process of reducing the fines.

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa recently ordered Harare councillors to quickly review downwards the parking penalty charges following a public outcry. 

The ruling ZANU PF had also condemned the CCC-dominated local authority over the manner in which City Parking has been enforcing traffic by-laws in Harare’s central business district.

By James Gwati- The Zimbabwe Miners Federation President Henrietta Rushwaya has challenged journalist Hopewell Chin’ono over his utterances that the former ZIFA CEO caused his arrest.

Rushwaya contacted ZimEye seeking to tell her side of the story regarding published allegations that state that she or her sympathisers caused the arrest of Chin’ono.

 She briefly spoke during a scheduled Twitter space session on Thursday night where she challenged her accuser to come out and confront him publicly.

Rushwaya’s choice for a neutrally moderated debate is with the only publisher (a member of the Al Jazeera Investigative Unit documentary-making team) whose exclusive stories since 2018 triggered the #GoldMafia investigation, Simba Chikanza. 

She (HR) was interviewed by Simba Chikanza (SC)

SC: Miss Rushwaya, good evening, you contacted me, seeking to tell your side of the story regarding the many published articles out there that point you as the one who caused the arrest, or is linked to the arrest, being that there are people who are around you or connected to you who caused the arrest of a colleague in our industry, Hopewell Chin’ono, but right now I am going to ask you because as you can see the public want to know so much out of what has now been disclosed to them. Let me start here, by getting into what you contacted me at first.- Did you get Hopewell arrested for tweeting over your bail case?

HR: What did Hopewell do to me? What is it that you’re suggesting that could make me even desire to do such a thing, if I had the capacity or means to do such a horrendous thing? I don’t even have the capacity, I am just a small fish.

SC- You’re saying to me that you don’t have the capacity, but is there not a possibility your “handlers” or someone close to you, or even sympathising with you, as Hopewell Chin’ono says, got him arrested over your bail case?

HR: LAUGH LAUGH. I don’t see Hopewell being any relevant to anyrhing to do with me, other than, than the on the ground journalists, if at all they are there.

SC: But tell me, are you telling me that Hooewell is mad. Are you implying that he is targeting you because of guesswork? I mean, people ask you especially after watching the documentary today, why are you the publishing target of an award winning journalist? Is this not a reason to believe that you have a case to answer?

HR: I don’t know what the case is, perhaps I should win awards!

SC: Are you being real there, and Miss Rushwaya, have you not gotten other journalists arrested before?

HR: As a peace loving Zimbabwean, I don’t believe in the victimisation of anyone… I’ve been a victim of objectification. And as a woman I’ve suffered for things that men still continue to do without being attacked at all.

SC: Miss Rushwaya, we see you in this Al Jazeera documentary. It’s your voice, and you are communicating things here and there, or at least we say, we hear you so. Miss Rushwaya, do you you not wash money?

HR: I am not going to pre empt my legal processes, but meanwhile I I can say anyone can record a phonecall and make a twisted story. You, Simba, when you once phoned me claiming I am not at all in prison, what did you find out in the end? It’s not for me to tell you what my next move is, but, let me the games begin.

SC: Please tell me, ever since Hopewell got arrested, have you cared to connect with him, or maybe should ask you, has he connected with you physically and the like, I think people would like to know the nature of your relationship there.

HR: I am being accused of being close to people of power, who are only being perceived by Hopewell, and known to him, and these people are said to be responsible for causing arrests, and I was arrested on the 20th October (sic)…

Men inside the NPA are discussing my case and a male journalist, while I am suffering, and then the same male comes out to accuse me of being connected to the same male prosecutors he alone has access to.

TYPED THROUGH- From his own notes, Hopewell reveals he has privileged access to the NPA. Why doesn’t he use that access to help people like Jon Sikhala?

Even to help me or even to help himself out of this whole case… (sic) Am I missing something here? These are not adding up.

These are people who have the capacity… to effect an arrest[sic, SOUND BREAKING, NETWORK].

Hopewell, has never bothered to call me, visit me, or even contact me, and yet I am his punch bag on a day to day basis, if I am such a horrible person, why not come here, and we record. Or you record me phone me to expose me, before you scream my name out to the whole world.

SC: Now, wait, are you telling me that he has has even called you? This would be a serious allegation if I call him and he gets a chance to speak- will you wait for him? Because I am of the believe that he …. are you okay to wait? Maybe, let me say, I am not in way suggesting that you are not being truthful, what I am simply saying is to bring him here and he can come here and answer that he never called or never connected with you, and unfortunately at present I do not seem to see him l, as yet, which is a challenge.

I don’t know how much longer we are going to wait here.

By- The Julius Malema-led Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has condemned Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill passed by the parliament on Tuesday.

In a statement the EFF, said it condemns Uganda’s anti-homosexuality Bill because it criminalises people because of their sexual identity. Reads the statement:

EFF CONDEMNS UGANDA’S ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemns the inhumane Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which was passed by the Parliament of Uganda on the 21st of March 2023. The Bill, would outlaw same-sex relationships and bans any identification as being part of the LGBTQI+ community. 

The draconian law, which is rooted in religious fundamentalism and hate would result in penalties for members of the LGBTQI+ community which include life imprisonment and the death penalty. The Bill passed in Uganda is a massive step backwards for Africa and a gross violation of human rights.

The stigma and hatred towards the LGBTQI+ community not only in Africa but across the world, infringes on the rights of individuals to identify as they see fit and express their sexuality without fear of persecution. It is completely irrational, as it is based on homophobic and baseless rhetoric which collates sexual crimes with queer identity.

It is a Bill that criminalizes the existence of people on the basis of their identity, and will open doors to numerous human rights violations. The EFF urges the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni to not sign the Bill which was adopted by the Ugandan Parliament, and embark on a massive program of education on sexuality, gender identity and on the rights of people to freely express themselves and associate with whomever they please.

The harmful rhetoric and propaganda that is pervasive in Africa against the LGBTQI+ community is baseless and illogical, as crimes committed by all sexes and genders of society are without justification, attributed to the community.

The EFF will without shame continue to associate itself with the LGBTQI+ community, as we will always be opposed to the criminalizing of people because of their sexual identity.

The parliament of Uganda adopted the new Bill which is aimed at cracking down on homosexual activity.

People who identify as gay now run the risk of serving life in prison in Uganda. 

The new legislation also includes the death penalty in certain cases.

In 2014, Uganda’s constitutional court nullified another act which had toughened laws against the LGBT community.

Same-sex relations are banned in about 30 African countries where many people uphold conservative religious and social values.