By-Zanu PF has started frog-marching villagers to voter registration centres.

The party’s Youth League is leading the coercive programme, which starts Monday.

Youth League’s chairman for Harare province, Emmanuel Mahachi, told state media at the weekend that : “As we are approaching elections, we have seen that a considerable number of youths in Harare are yet to register to vote. Starting on Monday (tomorrow), we will be encouraging youths in all constituencies in the province and offering them transport to register to vote.
“ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) has for now closed registration centres in constituencies and wards, so people can now only register in the city centre (Cecil House and Market Square). We have seen that our youths may need assistance in terms of transportation to these registration centres,” he said.

Mahachi said youths are continuing to see the benefits of supporting and joining the party through various youth-centred projects championed by President Mnangagwa.
He urged the party’s youths to refrain from being lured into campaigning for individuals before a directive has been given by the party leadership.
“For now, we are campaigning for our President because we have not yet been instructed to start choosing candidates. So, we are urging the youths to remain steadfast and not be swayed by aspiring primary elections candidates before we have been advised to do so by the party leadership,” said Mahachi.

• Sunday Mail

 By- The Zanu PF-led government may dissolve Parliament and call an early election, a legal think tank Veritas has predicted.

Zimbabwe is supposed to hold general elections between July 27 and August 26 2023 but this may not stop the government from calling for early polls, reported NewsDay.

The government is reportedly fast-tracking passage of the delimitation report as well as election-related legislation in Parliament and this is seen as part of a wider plot to call an early election that will find the opposition unprepared.

Veritas, in its latest weekly Election Watch report, said:

There are straws in the wind which may point to an early election. Government may be trying to get important Bills through Parliament quickly so that Parliament can close for an early election.

Some of the Bills could be seen as strengthening the ruling party’s grip on society in advance of an election: the PVOs [Private Voluntary Organisations] Amendment Bill and the ‘Patriot Bill’, for example.

To say there have been problems with delimitation is putting it mildly.

The preliminary delimitation report that was presented to the President on December 26 was deeply flawed, as we pointed out in our Election Watches 1/2023 and 2/2023 and as Parliament pointed out in its report to the President.

No one seems to like the report, except perhaps the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and her deputy.

Some of the outstanding Bills that are before Parliament include the Judicial Laws Amendment Bill, National Security Council Bill, Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, Child Justice Bill, Police Amendment Bill and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Bill. Veritas said:

As we explained in our earlier Election Watches, delimitation must be completed at least six months before polling day in an election if it is to be used for that election (section 161(2) of the Constitution) and — unless Parliament is dissolved early — the next general election must be held between July 28 and August 26 this year.

So if this delimitation report is to be used in the mid-year election, it must have been published between January 28 (for an election held on July 28) and February 26 (for an election on August 26).

The report is already too late for a July election, and the deadline for an August election is fast approaching and probably cannot be met.

… If a final delimitation report cannot be produced in time, and existing electoral boundaries remain in place, an early election will be easier to arrange because it will not be necessary to reorganise and relocate polling stations, constituency centres and so on.

On Friday, 03 February, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Priscilla Chigumba was at State House to deliver to President Emmerson Mnangagwa the draft of the final report on the delimitation of constituency and ward boundaries which takes note of concerns that he and Parliament raised.

Chigumba said the draft report, which the President will now go through, could be gazetted in the next 14 days.

If you keep on participating in a flawed process… this is a totally vicious cycle… says @WilbertMukori https://t.co/ne8RjUIqxG

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 4, 2023

Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday received a draft preliminary delimitation report from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) —

Will ZEC Hold Free And Fair Elections This Year?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 5, 2023

which was amended after submissions from both Parliament and the President himself, as per Constitutional requirement — and is expected to favour the elections management body with his comments, after which the statutory body will compile the final document for gazetting, having either taken the comments into account or disregarded them, it has been learnt.

CCC has fallen into a trap of participating in an election that is already rigged, says @WilbertMukori https://t.co/ne8RjUIqxG

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 4, 2023

There were erroneous reports that the document that was handed over to President Mnangagwa was the final delimitation report.

Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba told The Sunday Mail yesterday that the President will submit his comments to ZEC after studying the draft preliminary delimitation report, as amended.

“Following submission of the preliminary report by the ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission), that action put in train two sets of reactions: One from Parliament (of Zimbabwe) and another one from His Excellency, the President. Both these are by way of feedback to ZEC’s preliminary delimitation report. Both sets of reactions were given to ZEC, and the first to do so was Parliament of Zimbabwe, through the President, as required by the Constitution. Then the President later sent his own response to the preliminary delimitation report,” said Mr Charamba.

“Out of those two responses, ZEC then produced a draft preliminary report with the new amendments, which means amendments from Parliament and amendments noted by the President. What the chairlady of ZEC (Justice Priscilla Chigumba) gave the President (on Friday) was the preliminary report, as amended by the reactions from both Parliament and from the President.”

ZEC handed over the initial preliminary report to President Mnangagwa on December 26, 2022.

Both the National Assembly and Senate were subsequently summoned last month to debate the report after it was tabled in Parliament.

On January 19, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda then handed over its comments on the proposed amendments to the delimitation report to President Mnangagwa, who later transmitted it to ZEC as required by the law.

He also submitted his own comments on January 23.

After going through the reactions from both the President and Parliament, ZEC then produced the draft preliminary delimitation report, which was submitted to the former on Friday.

“The President, in turn, will go through that preliminary report, as amended. Depending on how he views it, he will then give ZEC his final comment on that draft preliminary report, as amended,” added Mr Charamba.

“Those would be his final comments on the matter, and ZEC will exercise its Constitutional right to either take them into account or to discard them, because the Constitution gives ZEC the final say on the compilation of what then becomes the final delimitation report. So, the final delimitation report is then what will be given to the President for gazetting.”

This is the first delimitation report that would be produced under the new Constitution adopted in 2013. – state media

Tinashe Sambiri|Speaking during an interview on his 45th birthday, CCC leader President Nelson
Chamisa called for the implementation of reforms before polls.

According the CCC leader, 2023 is a year of citizens victory.

Said President Chamisa:” We want reforms before elections. Our position is firm and clear, we want a credible voters roll.

Many people don’t really understand the fact that God is in it …I am wholly inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Nobody can oppose the will and purpose of God Almighty.”

” We have done a lot to win the coming polls. Mugwazo is yielding effective results.

We are not afraid of feeble attempts by the regime to stop and disrupt the citizens’ struggle.”

Interview with President Nelson Chamisa @45 courtesy of Techmag Tv

Watch the interview below:

Tinashe Sambiri|Speaking during an interview on his 45th birthday, CCC leader President Nelson
Chamisa called for the implementation of reforms before polls.

According the CCC leader, 2023 is a year of citizens victory.

Said President Chamisa:” We want reforms before elections. Our position is firm and clear, we want a credible voters roll.

Many people don’t really understand the fact that God is in it …I am wholly inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Nobody can oppose the will and purpose of God Almighty.”

” We have done a lot to win the coming polls. Mugwazo is yielding effective results.

We are not afraid of feeble attempts by the regime to stop and disrupt the citizens’ struggle.

You see we have leaders who are looting State resources at an alarming rate. When one is asked to swear before assuming office, one is supposed to serve with reverence and sincerity. Unfortunately they ( Zanu PF heavyweights) don’t comprehend the essence of swearing before God.”

Interview with President Nelson Chamisa @45 courtesy of Techmag Tv

Watch the interview below:

 By- The Zanu PF-led government may dissolve Parliament and call an early election, a legal think tank Veritas has predicted.

Zimbabwe is supposed to hold general elections between July 27 and August 26 2023 but this may not stop the government from calling for early polls, reported NewsDay.

The government is reportedly fast-tracking passage of the delimitation report as well as election-related legislation in Parliament and this is seen as part of a wider plot to call an early election that will find the opposition unprepared.

Veritas, in its latest weekly Election Watch report, said:

There are straws in the wind which may point to an early election. Government may be trying to get important Bills through Parliament quickly so that Parliament can close for an early election.

Some of the Bills could be seen as strengthening the ruling party’s grip on society in advance of an election: the PVOs [Private Voluntary Organisations] Amendment Bill and the ‘Patriot Bill’, for example.

To say there have been problems with delimitation is putting it mildly.

The preliminary delimitation report that was presented to the President on December 26 was deeply flawed, as we pointed out in our Election Watches 1/2023 and 2/2023 and as Parliament pointed out in its report to the President.

No one seems to like the report, except perhaps the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and her deputy.

Some of the outstanding Bills that are before Parliament include the Judicial Laws Amendment Bill, National Security Council Bill, Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, Child Justice Bill, Police Amendment Bill and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Bill. Veritas said:

As we explained in our earlier Election Watches, delimitation must be completed at least six months before polling day in an election if it is to be used for that election (section 161(2) of the Constitution) and — unless Parliament is dissolved early — the next general election must be held between July 28 and August 26 this year.

So if this delimitation report is to be used in the mid-year election, it must have been published between January 28 (for an election held on July 28) and February 26 (for an election on August 26).

The report is already too late for a July election, and the deadline for an August election is fast approaching and probably cannot be met.

… If a final delimitation report cannot be produced in time, and existing electoral boundaries remain in place, an early election will be easier to arrange because it will not be necessary to reorganise and relocate polling stations, constituency centres and so on.

On Friday, 03 February, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Priscilla Chigumba was at State House to deliver to President Emmerson Mnangagwa the draft of the final report on the delimitation of constituency and ward boundaries which takes note of concerns that he and Parliament raised.

Chigumba said the draft report, which the President will now go through, could be gazetted in the next 14 days.

By A Correspondent- A non-governmental organisation, Amnesty International, has pleaded with President Mnangagwa to reject the contentious Private Voluntary Organisation amendment Bill saying it shrinks the democratic space in Zimbabwe.

The PVO amendment bill sailed through Senate, with all senators except Morgen Komichi voting for it to be passed into law.

The bill now awaits the assent of Mnangagwa to become law.

Amnesty International director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah in a statement said the proposed bill will cripple the civic space, derailing efforts to render humanitarian support.

“The PVO Amendment Bill in its current form threatens civic society organizations working on human rights in Zimbabwe. The proposed bill, if it becomes law, will have dire consequences, including restricting civic space and access to humanitarian support services in Zimbabwe as it will immediately render all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), not registered as PVOs, illegal.

“This bill, if passed by the president, could be used to deny registration of human rights organizations due to the work that they do, including defending rights such as freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

The bill would also exacerbate the growing crackdown on civil society organizations, increase human rights violations and make it more difficult for the people to hold the government to account. There is a risk that employees and board members of NGOs could be arrested and subjected to punitive measures, including imprisonment, simply for doing their work,” said Chagutah.

The bill will give the government to monitor NGOs’ financial status and how they are used.

Government claims some NGOs are laundering money and supporting opposition political parties.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has defended the bill saying the law would improve transparency of NGOs.

However, observers believe the bill will stifle NGOs which have been championing humanitarian aid with estimates saying the country will likely lose US$1 billion annually as a result of the PVO amendment.

Chagutah added: “President Mnangagwa must use his leadership position to reject this bill as it is repressive. The President must ensure that this bill is never signed into law.

Any future law must fully reflect international human rights standards and reaffirm the country’s human rights obligations towards the promotion and protection of the human rights of everyone including those who work to defend the rights of other people. NGOs must be allowed to operate freely and to do their work without any reprisals”

By A Correspondent- What would you do if a person who almost wrecked your mɑrriɑgǝ lies that they have your baby and you are forced to maintain the child for 11 years?

Well, a prominent Bulawayo pathologist Dr Roger Kruger Hendrick Chigangacha tabulated the money he spent maintaining the child, estimated the monetary value of the anguish he went through over the years because of the lie and arrived at US$163 000, which he is now demanding from the woman.

The doctor is suing his foreign-based ex-girlfriǝnd, Natasha Popova Sibanda, a former actress in the TV drama Amakorokoza, for US$163 000 for falsely attributing the patǝrnity of “their” child to him. Natasha starred as AK’s wife in the drama.

Through his lawyers Mashayamombe and Company Attorneys, Dr Chingangacha filed summons at the High Court in Bulawayo citing Sibanda as the defendant under case number HC51 / 23.

The summons were filed on 20 January 2023.

The pathologist accused his ex-girlfriǝnd of faking the paternity of her daughter who is now aged 11 years by claiming that he was the father of the girl.

However, last year in December, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiling was conducted on Dr Chigangacha and his purported daughter and the results convincingly disqualified the pathologist from being the girl’s biological father.

In papers before the court, Dr Chigangacha said Sibanda’s actions subjected him to humiliation, stress and a sense of betrayal.

“On 19 December 2022, and through DNA profiling carried out on me and the minor child, the profile results conclusively excluded me as being the biological father of the child. It was reasonably foreseeable or ought to have been foreseen by the defendant that her pr0miscu0us behaviour at the time of concepti0n would have resulted in me being falsely imputed fatherhood of the child,” he said.

Dr Chigangacha said despite the knowledge that he was not the father of the child, Sibanda deceitfully passed off her daughter as his.

“By reason of the defendant’s conduct, I acted on her misrepresentation and paid for all the educational requirements of the child up to December 31, 2022.

I have also expended some money in respect of travels and costs towards the general welfare and upkeep of the minor child,” he said.

Dr Chigangacha wants the court to direct Sibanda to pay him US$100 000 for her wrongful and deceitful attribution of patǝrnity of the child to him.

He also wants the court to compel the former actress to pay special damages of US$63 000 arising from the payment of the child’s education, health, and incident costs including her upkeep and welfare.

Dr Chigangacha wants the money to be paid with interest at the prescribed rate from the date of issue of summons to the date of payment in full.

He said soon after Sibanda gave birth, she granted him the naming rights of the child. Dr Chigangacha also made a sworn declaration at the registrar of births that he was the biological father of the child.

Dr Chigangacha said he was involved in an extra-marital ɑffa!r with Sibanda from 2011 until June 2012 during which they engaged in ƨǝx. Sibanda c0nceived and gave birth on May 20, 2012.

Sibanda is yet to respond to the summons. In 2014, Sibanda made headlines when she was dragged to court by Dr Chigangacha’s wife, Tholakele Ncube who accused the former actress of having an adultǝr0us relati0nship with her husband.

Ncube said Sibanda was in the habit of coming to her matrim0nial house threatening her with marching orders saying she was now the doctor’s new and l0ving wife.

Sibanda openly declared her undying l0ve for the doctor, saying Ncube should come to terms with the fact that they were now both Dr Chigangacha’s wives.

— BMetro

By A Correspondent-Government has started re-registering private schools that it had shut down last year saying the move would help accommodate thousands of South Africa-based pupils likely to join their parents coming back home following expiry of their Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs) in June this year.

The returning learners will also undergo a stringent vetting process before they can be admitted into local schools, a top government official said yesterday.

The country, with a student population of six million, has a deficit of 3 000 schools.

Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro yesterday confirmed that government was regularising deregistered private schools to absorb the returning pupils.

“Processes are underway to put in place measures to adopt the learners into local schools,” he said.

“We have those schools that we call non-governmental or private schools that are in the process of being registered and regularised, and government is building more schools. We are also encouraging private players to play their role and make sure we have enough schools to cater for the deficit, particularly in the highly-populated areas,” he said.

Information ministry secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana said returning students would be assessed before enrolment.

In November 2021, the South African government announced that it would not extend the ZEPs issued in 2017 and ordered the permit holders to renew them following their expiry on December 31, 2021.

The deadline was further extended to end of June this year after only a few ZEP holders sought regularisation of their stay.

A total of 178 412 Zimbabwean nationals were granted exemptions in 2017. Zimbabwean ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi announced early this week that government had launched a mapping system to facilitate identification and transportation of the returnees.

Teachers’ representatives said the returnees would exert pressure on the existing infrastructure.

“We already have a deficit of schools and teachers but more pupils are coming,” Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said.

“We will have bloated classes. Resources like chairs, books and others will also be in shortage. We would have hoped that the government would engage its South African counterpart for a gradual returning of our people instead of a once-off flooding of returnees. We know that an additional number of learners will worsen the plight of learners in schools.”

Zimbabwe Teachers Association secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said: “No doubt those learners will be crammed in classes because already the teacher-pupil ratio was abnormally high. Teachers are very committed but government should now take this issue seriously to avoid worsening the situation.”

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Government has moved to uproot rogue teachers reportedly ill-treating pupils whose parents would have failed to pay for extra lessons.

The latest case happened in Norton, Mashonaland West province, where an unidentified parent revealed that an early childhood development (ECD) class taught by one Mrs Chirombo was divided into groups,  with the teacher only attending to paid-up pupils.

“Those audios are for my child who is doing ECD at Norton 1 School. I don’t know what it means. At first I thought that she was joking, but now the child has reported this for the third time.

“My heart is in pain. I don’t know what I should do but my heart is bleeding. I don’t know how best you can help me. My child is in ECD B Diamond, taught by madam Chirombo,” the affected parent said.

Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro told NewsDay Weekender that the ministry and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission would investigate the matter.

 “Give us the names of schools, teachers and classes and we will deal with that immediately. If you can do that by Monday morning, our officials will be there. We are now waiting for whistle-blowers to give us names of teachers who are engaging in those underhand and corrupt dealings. We are waiting for people to give us information because sometimes we don’t have enough information as to who exactly is doing what.

“We are going to bring sanity into the education sector by uprooting those rotten tomatoes that have been denying our learners their constitutional right to quality education. The long arm of the law is going to catch up with those unscrupulous teachers and they will be dealt with in terms of the Code of Conduct and Prevention of Corruption Act,” Ndoro said.

He urged parents and guardians to forward names of teachers and schools involved in such malpractices.

Educators Union of Zimbabwe president Tafadzwa Munodawafa said: “Our union notes with concern the reported cases but we blame government for negligence and being short-sighted. We bemoan the decay of educational standards exhibited through classes between parents and teachers. However, we attribute the blame to the government. By failing to pay teachers a living wage, the monster called extra lessons was created.”

By A Correspondent- Four South Africa-based Zimbabweans appeared in court today on allegation of teaming up with six locals and committed a spate of armed robberies in and around Harare.

Deborah Mukambachaza, Gadiel Majaya, Tonderai Shingirai Murapa and Wellington Mushipe, who were all based in South Africa, appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court charged with unlawful entry, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

The quartet is jointly appearing with Simbarashe Chitekete, Locadia Simeti, Alouis and Allen Mususa, Donald Sibanda and Esnath Musingo.

The 10 suspects allegedly broke into offices at Rusununguko High School in Goromonzi on January 27 and went away with laptops and US$1814 cash.

They also allegedly robbed a farm worker at Sunrising Farm in Goromonzi on November 21, 2022 and went away with US$120.

The 10 suspects were nabbed after detectives hoodwinked them into believing that they were also robbers from Beitbridge, who wanted to partner them in crime.

They were then nabbed in Harare’s city centre where they had agreed to meet on February 1 with intentions to go and rob Rusununguko High School in Goromonzi.

By A Correspondent- Police in Mount Darwin are hunting for suspected murderers who allegedly killed Previous Muchena (26) before hanging his body on a tree branch.

Sources close to investigations  said the body was found  on Monday with wounds on foot, chin and occiput.

“We are appealing  for information  which may lead to the arrest of suspected murderers who killed Muchena before hanging his body on a tree branch in a bushy area near Churuma  Business Centre in Mount Darwin,” said the source.

By A Correspondent- The High Court has cleared a Muzarabani woman of murder charges following the couple’s violent quarrel 14 February last year which saw her stab and kill her husband in self-defence.

Lackia Chirwa, 23, walked free after High Court judge, Esther Muremba found her to have acted in self-defence when she stabbed Promise Mukombe once in the stomach.

On the fateful night, Mukombe had allegedly threatened to kill Chirwa whom he had accused of infidelity.

Court heard he arrived home drunk at around 11pm on the day while shouting at Chirwa whom he labelled a prostitute.

Chirwa was asleep in the bedroom hut with the couple’s toddler.

It was proved that Mukombe then started assaulting his wife indiscriminately, and threatening to kill her.

Mukombe then tried to reach for an okapi knife which was in a cardboard box in their hut.

The couple started tussling each other to try and reach for the weapon with Mukombe biting his wife on her shoulder in the process.

During the scuffle, Chirwa was first to reach for the knife which she used to stab her husband once in the stomach.

Mukombe is said to have then exited the couple’s bedroom for his parents’ home and later succumbing to the injuries.

In passing her ruling, Justice Muremba said the fact that Chirwa stabbed her husband once, supports the fact that she was defending herself.

She ruled Chirwa had managed to satisfy the court that she acted in self-defence.

“The deceased was stabbed with the knife by the accused at a time when he was twisting her arm and biting her shoulder. She said she was in excruciating pain.

“Besides, the deceased had made it categorically clear that he wanted to kill her.

“In terms of s253, for the defence of self-defence to suffice, the harm caused by the accused must be caused to the attacker and not to an innocent third party. This is exactly what happened in this case.

“The accused stabbed the deceased who was attacking her and no other person.

“It was just the two of them and their small child in the bedroom.

“The accused managed to satisfy all the requirements of the defence of the person.

“The accused is therefore found not guilty and acquitted,” Muremba ruled.

By A Correspondent- The diarrhoea cases come after typhoid wreaked havoc in Harare, with 19 new suspected cases having been recorded early this week.

SIX people died while over 6 000 diarrhoeal cases were recorded countrywide inside one week last month, with health experts blaming local authorities for the outbreak.

A statement released by the Health and Child Care ministry yesterday states that underage children make up almost half of the recorded diarrhoea cases.

“A total of 6 894 common diarrhoea cases and four deaths were reported this week. The deaths were reported from Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (2), Mangwe District (1) and Gwanda District (1),” read the ministry’s weekly disease surveillance report for the week ended January 22, 2023.

Of the reported cases, 3 076 were from under the age of five. The provinces with the highest number of cases are Mashonaland East province (1 223) and Manicaland province (1 138). The cumulative figures are 20 299 cases and six deaths.”

Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enock Dongo told NewsDay Weekender that diarrhoeal diseases were not surprising during the rainy season, but blamed local authorities for poor service delivery.

“It has always been the case that during the rainy season, people will be very vulnerable to diarrhoeal diseases. We are not really surprised especially looking at the lack of supplies of clean water by the local authorities across the country. People resort to drawing water from wells which are getting contaminated by what is being washed by the rains. People drink that water. Mangoes also lure houseflies, they are contributing to diarrhoea,” Dongo said.

The diarrhoea cases come after typhoid wreaked havoc in Harare, with 19 new suspected cases having been recorded early this week.

A total 63 suspected cases were recently recorded in Glen Norah, while other cases were reported in Glen View and Budiriro, among other high-density suburbs.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Mazowe ward 16 councillor Munyaradzi Mutauri was humiliated and bashed at a funeral in Glendale where he wanted to give a speech recently.

The matter came to light at Bindura magistrates courts on Thursday were Patrick Chikonye (32) and Rony Wachi pleaded guilty to assault charges before magistrate Samantha Dhlamini.

They hit him with a wooden log on his back.

The duo was fined 30 000 each failure to pay would earn them three months behind bars.

By A Correspondent- A Harare woman took her ex-husband to the Harare Civil Court claiming US$200 as child support for their minor child.

Brenda Gwande told the court that her ex-husband, Bernard Mudimu, is stingy when it comes to supporting his youngest child.

“He spends US$20 on fuel every three days, but is stingy when it comes to his child. He is not cooperating even when it comes to the child’s birth certificate.

Anyway, if he doesn’t man up to his responsibilities, l can do it on my own.

He doesn’t stay with any children, his other children from another wife actually call me asking for money saying their father has abandoned them,” she said.

Bernard said he had custody of two other children whose mother passed away.

l barely earn enough, but l want the best for my child and when l get a stable job, l will apply for an upward variation on my own. When l call her for us to get a birth certificate for the child, she ignores my calls,” he said.

Magistrate Sharon Mashavire ordered Bernard to pay $35 000 and to buy clothes twice a year.

— HMetro

By- Zimsec has announced that they have nullified O-level results for 4 961 candidates who cheated in the 2022 exams.

Pass rates, those with at least five subjects at grade C or better, rose to 28,96 percent although pass rates for boys actually fell, 11,54 percent more candidates wrote the examinations, but Zimsec was determined that cheating could not prosper.
Zimsec chairman Professor Eddie Mwenje announced both the availability of the results, and the nullification of the results of those who cheated, at a Press conference in Harare yesterday.
The cheats amounted to around 1,78 percent of the 278 760 who wrote O-level.
At the end of last year, there were reports that the O-level Mathematics papers 1 and 2, and English Paper 2 might have been leaked, and speculation that some might have seen more. Zimsec has a number of ways of tracking down those who cheated by seeing a paper before the exam.
Prof Mwenje said some were identified during the writing of the examinations but the same prior access was picked up at later stages, the marking of scripts and grade reviews.
“The results of such candidates were nullified for the subjects in question in accordance with the Zimsec Act, Section 34. Candidates, headmasters and members of the public who were caught posting question papers on WhatsApp and those buying them were arrested and appeared in court,” said Prof Mwenje.
He said all other practices that contravened the Zimsec Act were brought to the attention of Zimsec by schools.
“As a result of the combined investigations, reports from school and the identification of culprits at marking and grade review stages, a total of 4 961 candidates had results nullified. This number is out of 278 760 who registered for the Ordinary Level examination. The number represents 1,78 percent of the total candidate entry,” he said.
Zimsec said it reserves the right to withhold results even after the publication date and results which have been issued can be withdrawn upon evidence of malpractice by candidates. More so, any centres which were complicit in the examination malpractice will be de-registered.
The numbers of those punished, said Prof Mwenje, is worrisome but they were careful not to punish the innocent.
“1,78 percent is of course a reason to worry but it’s a figure we say that we have to make sure that we don’t punish other people,” he said.
Legal amendments will allow harsher punishment for cheats.
“In fact, we were lenient because we nullified the very subject that we were concerned about. The system that comes into place through the amendment Act will probably nullify every system that you have results in because we wouldn’t know if you didn’t have access to this. It’s quite a lenient approach but that’s telling you that we are not going to tolerate malpractices in our examination system.” he said.
There was an 11,54 percent jump in the number of candidates to 278 760 in November 2022 last year compared to the 249 914 candidates in 2021.
In 2022, a total of 183 584 wrote five or more subjects and 53 169 passed five or more subjects with a grade C or better giving an overall pass rate of 28,96 percent as compared to 163 179 candidates who wrote five or more subjects in 2021, with 42 985 passing five or more subjects with a Grade C or better yielding a pass rate of 26,34 percent.
The total number of male candidates who sat for 2022 Ordinary Level Examinations was 132 653 and of these 86 018 wrote five or more subjects and 21 645 passed five or more subjects translating to a pass rate of 25.16 percent. The total number of male candidates who sat for the 2021 Ordinary level examinations was 118 918 and of these 77 133 wrote five or more subjects and 20 971 passed five or more subjects translating to a pass rate of 27.19 percent. The pass rate for male candidates in 2022 decreased by 2.03%.
The results started to be accessed online by candidates or authorised personnel from yesterday. The results portal will be open for a window of five days. Candidates can access the results portal on the Zimsec website at www.zimsec.co.zw by clicking on their province for redirection to the results portals. Candidates can collect their result slips from their centres or schools from Monday.

 By A Correspondent- A 51 year old man from Bulawayo’s Lobengula West suburb pulled a sh0cker when he allegedly assaulted his l0ver’s child before bathing her and f0ndling her privɑtǝ parts.

A court heard the man, whose identity cannot be revealed since he stays with the victim, came home unexpectedly and found his l0ver’s 12-year-old child alone at home.

t is alleged the depravǝd man poured water in a dish and called the minor to bath but she refused.

The court heard that the man grabbed the minor by her hand and slapped her several times before thrashing her with a whip and forcing her to str!p nɑʞǝd. He f0rced her to bath while he touched her privɑtǝ parts.

The man, the court heard, whenever he found the minor alone at home he would bathe her and gr0pe her privɑtǝ parts. The man’s misdeeds came to a screeching halt when the minor shared the ordeal with her cousin. The cousin told the victim’s mother about the ƨǝxuɑl attacks. The mother of the victim confronted her l0ver but he denied the allegations.

She reported him to the police leading to his arrest.

The accused’s lawyer Task Viki of Macharaga and Law chambers appeared on his behalf before magistrate Shepherd Mnjanja.

He was remanded out of custody on $40 000 bail to 15 February 2023.

He was ordered to report once after two weeks at Magwegwe Police Station. He was also ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and to continue residing at his home address.

Mellisa Dube appeared for the state.

BMetro

By A Correspondent- A Form three pupil died on Thursday at Maranatha High School in Nketa suburb during sport activities. The learner, who has not been identified, collapsed as she was running.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro confirmed the incident saying it was deeply saddening.

He said details surrounding the death of the Form 3 girl are still sketchy.

“As a ministry, we would like to pass our condolences to the family, members of the community and members of the school over the death of one of our students,” he said.

— Chronicle

By- Former MDC-T Gutu central MP, and leader of the CCC in Masvingo, Oliver Chirume, has survived a fatal road accident.

The accident happened on Saturday and claimed his brother-in-law, who died on the spot.

It occurred some 25km from Masvingo near Mutimurefu just outside Mutimurefu Prison along Masvingo–Mutare Highway when the Toyota Grand Hiace burst its rear tyre and overturned three times, landing on its side off the road. The family was travelling from Masvingo to Chirume’s rural home in Gutu with the car packed with groceries for the former MP’s shop.
Five people were in the car, and Chirume’s brother-in-law, George Murombo (39), a truck driver in South Africa who was driving Chirume’s car is the one who died on the spot. Chirume’s wife Shylet Chirume nee Murombo is in a critical condition and was yesterday transferred from Makurira Clinic to St Anne’s Hospital in Harare.
Chirume’s condition is stable and he has since been released from hospital. He gave details of the accident in an interview with The Mirror
Two other passengers, Brandon, Chirume’s son and pupil at Hellen McGhie broke his right hand while Chantelle, the deceased’s daughter suffered injuries to the head and were both treated and discharged. Scarlett had just got a place at Hellen McGhie.
Chirume said all the passengers were thrown out of the car but however, in the case of Murombo, the vehicle landed on top of him thereby causing his death.
“After the accident I saw my wife lying face looking down in the middle of the road, my child was dangling from the window of the car while Scarlett was standing on the road but I could not see my brother-in-law. I attended to my wife, and then removed my son from the window and I fell down and passed out.
“I want to thank Roman Catholic priest Fr Willbrode Godzongi who passed by the accident from Mukaro Mission and took us to hospital,” said Chirume.
Murombo was buried yesterday at Murombo Village, Chief Makore in Ward 27, Gutu. He is survived by his wife and three children. Murombo worked as a truck driver for a milling company in Rustenburg, South Africa and was a devout Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Rustenburg member.
CCC national organizer, Amos Chibaya, Dzikamai Mavhaire, former Masvingo Central MP Jeffrey Chitando, Gutu CCC councillors and Masvingo CCC councillors attended the funeral.

By- A passenger travelling from Harare to Banket snatched a bag containing US$65 000 from the boot of a car that had offered him a lift.

The driver had stopped at Banket Shopping Centre Bus Stop ad, and the suspect took the opportunity to grab the bag and flee into the bush.
Police said the incident occurred on 29 January this year.
The alleged thief and his three accomplices have since been arrested and US$37 907 cash, plush a Mercedes Benz bought using part of the loot was recovered. Police said:
The ZRP confirms the arrest of Jey Mushati (33), Tongai Talent Mupatutsa (38), Osborne Mutemachani (40) and Tendai Kapita (37) in connection with the theft of US$65 000 cash on 29/01/22 at Banket Shopping Centre Bus Stop.
The complainant had offered a lift to Jey Mushati from Harare to Banket. After reaching his destination, Jey Mushati stole the money which was stashed in a bag in the boot of the complainant’s vehicle, before running away in the bush.
The other suspects chased Jey Mushati and connived to share the loot. The arrest led to the recovery of US$ 37 907 cash and a Mercedes Benz, registration number AFC 3071 which had been bought by Jey Mushati using the proceeds from the loot.
We continue to appeal to members of the public to desist from carrying large sums of money as they will likely fall prey to criminals.

By- The two Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) pilots who died this afternoon when their plane, an SF260 military trainer and aerobatics aircraft, crashed in the Mlezu College general area near Gweru were on a routine training session.

The aircraft crashed after hitting a power line.

The police are still withholding the deceased’s names until they’re next of kin has been notified.

In his condolence message, AFZ Commander Air Marshal Elson Moyo said a dark cloud had engulfed the AFZ following the unfortunate training accident.
“We have learnt, with heavy hearts, of the passing on of two of our pilots after a training accident. Right now, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased pilots,” he said.
“I want to extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased for this sad loss of AFZ pilots who were on duty and playing their part to ensure that the AFZ fulfills its mandate to defend Zimbabwe’s airspace and territorial integrity.”
In 2020, an AFZ instructor and a female student pilot died when a flying training plane developed a technical fault and crashed at Dabuka in Somabula on the outskirts of Gweru.
The two were on routine training at Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base when the accident occurred.

By- A Bulawayo man was arrested for practising Mubobo at a woman standing in a bank queue.

Tedious Muchavheruka (38) of Makokoba was arrested after a woman who was queuing at a bank in the city centre nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt something hard and slimy sliding up and down her back.
To her horror, when she turned to check, she allegedly saw a red-eyed man furiously rubbing his “fully cocked AK-47” against her buttocks.
The 21-year-old woman cannot be named for ethical reasons.
The incident, which police confirmed, occurred at a bank situated at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and 9th Avenue last Saturday.
While the woman was queuing for cash, she felt something strange rubbing against her bums and she cringed.
Upon checking, she saw Muchavheruka standing behind her making sexual movements on her.
A witness said Muchavheruka was wearing a condom, panting and had a glazed look in his eyes.
“The woman said she felt something strange in her private parts at the same time she felt as if she was falling into a trance.
“Upon checking behind her stood a man who looked as if he was having real sex with her as he was panting and was holding his “angry” manhood in his hands,” said the witness.
Seeing that he had been caught in action, he tried to shove his trouser-snake back into its natural habitat, but it was too late.
“The woman charged at him and he fled. There was a collective gasp from people in the queue and they stood in shock as improbable scene unfolded,” said another bystander.
The bystander added: “The woman reported the incident to the police. After about 30 minutes the man returned and he was arrested.”
Witnesses said a heated debate ensued among the people in the queue with some saying the man was using umubobobo – supernatural sex without physical contact – while others maintained Muchavheruka was simply masturbating.
He appeared before Tredgold magistrate Max Sibanda facing indecent assault charges.
He was remanded out of custody to Wednesday next week on $30 000 bail on condition that he reside at the address he gave at the court.
He was ordered not to interfere with State witnesses or the complainant until the matter is finalised.
He was also ordered to report at Mzilikazi Police Station on Mondays between 6AM and 6PM. B Metro

By-The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) has released the 2022 Ordinary level results.

The local examination board said they recorded a pass rate of 28.96 per cent in the exams.

Announcing the results in Harare this afternoon, Zimsec board chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje said:
“The statistics show that the 2022 pass rate increased by 2.62 percent from 2021.”
He said the results will be accessed from the Zimsec online portal from today 3pm today, while result slips will be available from centres on Monday.

Interview with President Nelson Chamisa @45 courtesy of Techmag Tv

Watch the interview below:

Visit Nyadzonya mass graveyard ugonzwisisa why Zanu pf ichifanirwa kutonga kusvika kare

By-A senior government official has said that ZANU PF Central Committee member, retired Brigadier General Epmarcus Walter Kanhanga, died after meeting with his colleagues.

Kanhanga died at the age of 73.

The state media reported that Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Minister Monica Mavhunga said Brig Gen Kanhanga had spent the day with his comrades.

“I did not get information about his illness and many people interacted with him on Wednesday. We have started the process of requesting for national hero status due to his immense contribution during and after the liberation struggle,” she said.

Family spokesperson and daughter to the war veteran, Dr Mitchell Munyoro, said Brig Gen Kanhanga died in his sleep early yesterday morning at his rural home in Guruve, Mashonaland Central Province.

Dr Munyoro described her father as a peaceful man.
“He was a very soft-spoken man, kind, and someone whom we were proud of all the time. My father was not selfish, he used to lift others up.”

Born on 6 January 1950, Brig Gen Kanhanga went to school in Guruve before he skipped the country for military training.

Minister Mavhunga said Brig Gen Kanhanga joined the liberation struggle in the 1970s and around 1974, he attained a leadership position in Zanla, the military wing of Zanu.
At Independence in 1980, he was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army where he rose through the ranks to Brigadier General.
Minister Mavhunga described Brig Gen Kanhanga as a distinguished and dedicated cadre who immensely contributed to the development of his home province of Mashonaland Central where he was a prominent farmer, and the nation at large.
Brig Gen Kanhanga was at one time a member of the Zanu-PF Politburo and at the time of his death, he was a member of the Central Committee. He also served on different boards including Zimpapers and the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
Mourners are gathered at number 33 Hyton Road, Mandara in Harare, while others are at his farm in Guruve. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.

By-The late Brigadier General (Rtd) Epmarcus Walter Kanhanga died in his sleep.

He was 73.

His daughter Mitchell Munyoro, Kanhanga, died in his sleep early yesterday morning at his rural home in Guruve, Mashonaland Central Province.

“He was a very soft-spoken man, kind, and someone whom we were proud of all the time. My father was not selfish, he used to lift others up.”

Kanhanga went to school in Guruve before joining the liberation struggle.

he skipped the country for military training.
Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Minister Monica Mavhunga said Kanhanga had spent the day with his comrades before his death.

“I did not get information about his illness and many people interacted with him on Wednesday. We have started the process of requesting for national hero status due to his immense contribution during and after the liberation struggle,” she said.

Kanhanga was at one time a member of the Zanu-PF Politburo and at the time of his death, he was a member of the Central Committee. He also served on different boards including Zimpapers and the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
Mourners are gathered at number 33 Hyton Road, Mandara in Harare, while others are at his farm in Guruve.
Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.

By- On Tuesday, a dozen Ten Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Chegutu employees were seriously injured following an explosion at the depot.

The injured workers were rushed to Chegutu General Hospital where their condition was said to be stable. In a statement, GMB CEO Rockie Mutenha said:

Preliminary investigations have pointed to a grain bucket elevator explosion which emitted some heat injuring the personnel on duty.

Provincial Civil Protection Unit (CPU) chairman, Josephat Jaji, who is also Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution permanent secretary, had put the number of the injured at nine (9):

I can confirm that nine people were injured when an explosion occurred at one of the silos that they were working in.

There were no fatalities and the injured were rushed to Chegutu General Hospital.

We are, however, waiting for experts to give the cause of the blast as investigations are now underway.

A similar tragedy occurred in 2018 when at least four people were killed while three others were seriously injured after an explosion at the GMB’s Lion’s Den Depot, near Chinhoyi.

Both Chegutu and Chinhoyi are in Mashonaland West Province. | ZimLive, NewZimbabwe.com