Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has bemoaned the pathetic state of the country’s roads.

The CCC leader had a torrid time as he travelled to Gokwe to attend change champion Tino Chiremba’s burial.

According to President Chamisa, the Kadoma- Gokwe road is a total disaster.

“KADOMA TO GOKWE VIA SANYATI ROAD A TOTAL DISASTER…

It took us more than 5 hours to cover a distance of about just 125 km to get to TINO’s homestead in Chikarimatsito, Gokwe.

The New Great Zimbabwe reconstruction agenda is our first task to rescue our national roads network,” the CCC leader observed.

 By A Correspondent- A Kambuzuma welder died on Saturday morning after a sewage truck which was being fixed close to where he was working exploded.

The welder known as Bene operates at Kambuzuma shoping centre in Section 2. He reportedly died on his way to hospital. A source said he was just working close to the truck which was being fixed by another welder.

The incident occurred in Kambuzuma around 10am, where a sewage truck exploded when its tank was being repaired.

Pana welder anga achinama the truck along Kambuzuma Drive just close to the welders’ area irikuseri kwe mashops epa Section 2.

“So this welder abva abatanidzirwa ne exposion and died on his way to hospital,” said the source.

A witness said:

“Welder uyu ndaingomuziva nekuti Bene ayishandira paPakaz ndopaaitira welding yake and only one person was confirmed dead while two others were seriously injured and were all rushed to hospital.”

-HMetro

By- Zambia has ended power cuts at a time when its neighbour, Zimbabwe, is having countless hours of darkness.

Zambia’s power utility, the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO), announced at the weekend.
ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mapani told the state media that the country would no longer experience load-shedding.

He said households and companies countrywide will now enjoy 24 hours of power supply without disruptions.
Mapani said this comes after ZESCO restored and upgraded power generation at various power stations in the country.
Addressing a media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday, Mapani said ZESCO had revamped the Victoria Falls power station, which is currently feeding about 20 Megawatts into the National Grid.
He said ZESCO has also upgraded power generation at Kafue Gorge Upper and Lower Power Stations by over 150 megawatts.
He also disclosed that ZESCO would soon increase power generation at Lake Kariba from the current 250 megawatts to 350 due to the water levels in the Kariba Dam.
Zambia also plans to begin the importation of about 120 megawatts from Mozambique, Mapani further revealed.

By- Hip hop artist Holy Ten, real name Mukudzei Chitseme continues to lose fans on his social media platform following the explosive interview in which he dissed Winky D.

In an interview last week, the Kumba Kune Vanhu hitmaker shocked music fans when he described the Gaffa President as a Snake.

Before that interview, Holy Ten had 289 000 Instagram followers, which has rapidly dropped to the current 279 000.

The rapper has lost 10 000 followers within five days and has now even made his Instagram account private.

Tinashe Sambiri| CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the late change champion Tino Chiremba as a dedicated citizens’ hero.

Tino Chiremba was laid to rest in Gokwe on Saturday.

President Chamisa attended the citizens’ hero’s final send-off.

“I’M IN GOKWE…
Laying to rest a Change Champion and Citizens’ hero Tino Chiremba.

Tino touched many lives and dis a lot to develop his community. Rest In Power Tino,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

By A Correspondent- A ZESA cable thief was arrested when he went to hospital to get treatment for burns that he sustained during the theft.

Tinashe Tatenda Ndoreka (25) has since been sentenced a 20-year jail term for copper cable theft.

In a statement on twitter, the police said:

‘’The ZRP confirms the arrest and conviction of Tinashe Tatenda Ndoreka (25) for theft of copper cables which occurred in Chimhanda area, Rushinga, Mt Darwin between Jan and Feb, 2023. The matter came to light when the suspect was electrocuted and sought medical attention.

“A 16-metre squared 4-core armored cable was recovered from a local dam and some copper cables were recovered from the suspect’s disused toilet. The suspect has since been convicted and sentenced to an effective 20-year jail term.’’

By A Correspondent- Members of Parliament on Wednesday cornered the acting leader of government business in the National Assembly, Felix Mhona, and deputy Finance minister Clemence Chiduwa over an unfulfilled promise made to the military in 2020 for construction of garrison shops in barracks to serve soldiers with cheap basic food commodities.

In a post-cabinet briefing to journalists in Harare on 26 February 2020, Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube said the cantonment shops would enable military personnel to be “issued with a card or credit limit to buy what they want monthly”.

At that time, Zimbabweans, particularly civil servants, were enduring one of the worst economic crises characterised by acute shortages of fuel, electricity, foreign currency and basic goods like maize-meal as well as cooking oil. Ncube’s promise to introduce garrison shops was calculated at pacifying the soldiers who were increasingly becoming restive. Zimbabwe’s year-on-year inflation was as high as 525% at the time.

Two years before the promise, Ncube had introduced austerity measures he said were going to boost the economy, but his interventions turned out to be ruinous to public sector workers, and the military which had staged a coup to topple Robert Mugabe in 2017.

Junior and middle-ranked military personnel, who had hoped to be rewarded for staging the coup that ushered in President Emmerson Mnangagwa, were left grumbling as economic harships mounted.

However, three years later, the government has not opened rhe promised garrison shops, prompting MPs to raise questions on Wednesday in the National Assembly.

Opposition MDC-A proportional representation MP for Midlands Catherine Gozho kicked off the grilling of Mhona and Chiduwa. Mhona is also Transport minister.

“My question is directed to the minister of Defence and War Veterans. Since the honourable minister is not here, I will direct it to the leader of government business. In 2020, government promised to build garrison shops in barracks so that the military personnel can buy basic commodities at low prices. Have the garrison shops since been constructed like you promised?” she asked.

In his first response, Mhona, who was standing in for Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and leader of government business, said:

“The honourable member is so passionate about the welfare of the military and she asked whether the garrison shops have been built.”

“What I would want to explain to the august House is, the garrison shops may not have been constructed as expected, but government has ensured that the security forces are well looked after. I think the honourable minister for Defence and War Veterans will explain to the august House the important aspects concerning the welfare of the forces so that we understand what has been done.”

The Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) MP for Mbizo constituency, Settlement Chikwinya, followed up with another enquiry.

My understanding is that there are some barracks with existing garrison shops. The government’s promise at that time was to supply these garrison shops with subsidised commodities?” he queried, before Speaker Jacob Mudenda said: “Is it your understanding or knowledge?”

Chikwinya responded and turned the heat on deputy Finance minister Chiduwa.

“Knowledge. Understanding based on knowledge and I speak of 5.1 Battalion, that is Battlefields … So, they have garrison shops.”

“The undertaking by government was to supply these garrison shops with subsidised basic commodities so that soldiers could buy at subsidised prices.”

“That undertaking was made by the minister of Finance. I would want to know from the deputy minister of Finance here present whether the present garrison shops that are already there are supplied with subsidised basic commodities so that at least soldiers can buy at subsidised prices,” asked Chikwinya.

In response, Chiduwa shifted the blame to the Defence ministry led by Oppah Muchinguri, but was interjected by other MPs.

“On this issue, ministry of Finance provides the resources but in terms of implementation, it is done by the parent ministry. At the moment, Ministers cornered over false promise to military I am not sure if they have done it, otherwise. I would still need to check because the provisions were approved here in Parliament, so I would need to check if there was a budget for the garrison shops,” he said.

The matter was put to an end by Mudenda who held back more questions from MPs by saying Chiduwa needed more time to go and investigate the issue of the garrison shops in barracks before getting back to Parliament with a conclusive response.

“The answer by the honourable deputy minister is adequate. Let him go and find out what exactly the position is and come back to the august House,” said Mudenda.

Last year, independent Norton MP Temba Mliswa also cornered Muchinguri-Kashiri over the poor welfare of rank-and-file soldiers, saying they were supposed to get improved income from profits made in military companies like Rusununguko Inkululeko.

Mliswa told Parliament that junior soldiers were suffering in the barracks yet their seniors were enjoying comfortable lives from income raked in from military companies like Rusununguko Nkululeko (Private) Holdings.

The military company is the brainchild of the late Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo and has vast investments in various sectors of the economy, including in the media after getting a television licence to operate its NRTV station.

Mliswa took on Muchinguri-Kashiri over the business entity which symbolises the opaque commercialisation of the military whose financial owners have gone unscrutinised. The army also has other income-generating projects like the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI), but the profits realised do not trickle down to rank-and file soldiers.

-Newshawks

By A Correspondent- Local Government minister July Moyo’s staggering US$155 million Chiredzi land deal — stinking to high heaven in the lowveld — for his cronies has now fully exploded as residents and Members of Parliament up the ante in the explosive issue which underlines rampant corruption in local authorities involving senior municipal and political bigwigs.

This comes after Chiredzi residents had initially made appeals to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government to stop Moyo and his associates from parcelling out land for the town’s expansion and to investigate the corrupt land deal.

While the uproar intensifies, the entity Moyo gave the contentious land to, Full Life Open Arms Africa Investments, is now selling it unserviced residential stands at US$20.61 per square metre. Given the land size of 750 hectares and that 1 hectare is 10 000 square metres, this means sold in full the land cost US$155 million.

The development has infuriated Chiredzi residents, who in November 2022 petitioned Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda, urging Parliament to investigate the minister’s abuse of power as well as establish the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the land.

Residents say officials from the two local authorities are afraid to challenge the minister over the murky parcelling out of the land.

Zanu-PF’s Chiredzi West legislator Farai Musikavanhu this week told The NewsHawks that the project lacks transparency.

Full Life Open Arms Africa Investments (FLOAAI) was in 2018 given the mandate to develop 750 hectares of land meant for Chiredzi town expansion. The allocation was done within a few days when Chiredzi Town Council and Chiredzi Rural District Council were being run by special commissions appointed by Moyo after the 2018 elections. At the time, Zimbabweans were anxiously awaiting the results of an electoral petition by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa at the Supreme Court.

The land in Buffalo Range Extension, north of Chiredzi town, was under the jurisdiction of Chiredzi RDC and the two local authorities signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly develop the area, which is meant to be Chiredzi’s new town.

Residents and stakeholders raised a red flag a few weeks ago after the developer, FLOAAI, started selling unserviced stands at US$20.61 per square metre.

According to a petition presented to Parliament and signed by four members of Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (CHRRA), FLOAAI was handpicked by Moyo without following public procurement procedures.

The petition further said the developer is a land baron who is set to prejudice the two Chiredzi local authorities of a substantial amount of money since he is now selling unserviced stands without paying a cent to the local councils.

Residents also say they were not consulted when the land was grabbed. They also complained that an environmental impact assessment was also not carried out.

“Your petitioners Jonathan Shonhiwa, Emmanuel Marimba, Lucky Mupungu and Lyold Sithole having consulted residents and other key stakeholders respectfully are worried about the high level of corruption on 750ha of land in Buffalo Range area allocated to both Chiredzi Town Council and Chiredzi Rural District Council for development on a joint venture based on percentage sharing,” the petition to Parliament reads.

“Now therefore, your petitioners beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its constitutional role and address the issues which are of public concern. It is alleged that Minister July Moyo handpicked a developer for the 750h in Buffalo Range area in Chiredzi without following proper legal tender procedure and allowing both councils to advertise.

The developer who does not have any history of works in other towns has not paid any cent to the two local authorities but is now selling unserviced stands prejudicing the two councils.

“. . . The minister of Local Government abused his powers, to back and award the developer, without the two local authorities, hence the local authorities are in fear to whistleblow the wrong doings.”

Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (CHRRA) chairperson Jonathan Shonhiwa told The NewsHawks that members of his association are deeply concerned about the level of corruption involved in the development of Chiredzi’s new town. He said it is a shame to note that high-level office bearers are involved in awarding a job of that magnitude to a developer without using a competitive tender procedure.

“As CHRRA we are worried about the selection procedure of unsolicited bidding instead of competitive tender procedure since it involves a lot of money to develop the 750 hectares. They did this with the influence of officials from the ministry of Local Government and Public Works, since the handpicked developer, Full Life Open Arms Africa Investment, had proved that he has no money and capacity to develop the area. He is now selling 1 700 undeveloped stands at US$20.61 per square metre against the agreement signed between the developer and councils,” said Shonhiwa.

FLOAAI chief executive officer Godfree Nelson Madanyaya was evasive when The NewsHawks reached him for comment.

“I am one of the happiest people in this world. How can l help you and what do you want to hear from me?” said Madanyaya, before he abruptly terminated the call.

Chiredzi Rural District Council chief executive officer Ailes Baloyi said there is an agreement between the joint venture and the developer for him to develop 350 hectares and the remainder will be developed at a later stage.

He said councils will benefit from the sale of stands as well as shortening their ballooning waiting lists.

Acting Chiredzi Town Council secretary Wesley Kauma told The NewsHawks the misunderstanding over the project was caused by former town secretary Charles Muchatukwa, who is now late, as he acted on behalf of council without consulting councillors and town management. He said the developer was selling unserviced stands to recoup his costs which he used for the feasibility studies and necessary surveys.

“Yes, there is confusion regarding this project and it is true that information about it is not public. The agreement is that the developer should recoup his costs through selling stands. Our councils are the ones which approached the minister and he gave us the idea of bringing in the developer of which all other developers were not willing to take up the job due to magnitude of the area and this developer took that risk,” said Kauma.

Chiredzi West legislator Farai Musikavanhu told The NewsHawks that the project lacks transparency.

He said the land should be recovered “from dirty dealers”, adding all stakeholders must be involved in the process.

-Newshawks

By A Correspondent- With the little life that was left inside her, one woman fought to christen her newly born baby before breathing her last a few decades ago.

On her bedside, she left a piece of paper on which she had written her child’s name – Mugove Chizutu.

The ill-fated circumstances that marked the start of Mugove’s life would continue to haunt him throughout his life.

His existence, it appeared, was mired in a web of hopping from one unfortunate life event to the next.

Having been dealt this devastating blow at birth, Mugove was raised at an orphanage where circumstance always seemed to conspire against giving him a fair shot at succeeding in life. Upon reaching 18 years of age, he was ejected from the orphanage as he had reached adulthood.

What awaited him outside was a difficult life, one of constantly moving from one thankless job to the next. Coupled with an addiction to hard drugs, this cocktail of wretched circumstances threatened to drive him to the brink of giving up.

Last week, Mugove tried to put an end to it all. He survived a suicide attempt after launching himself from the ninth floor of Tanganyika House in central Harare, marking a sad turn of events for the youthful Hatcliffe man, who seems to have never known rest since birth.

The incident, which was captured on video and circulated widely across social media platforms, captured nationwide attention.

It hinted to the rising cases of suicide in the country.

In the video, Mugove is seen leaping from the building before landing with a thud on the roof of an old garage below, amid loud screams of disbelief from the crowd that was watching.

He miraculously survived. However, he suffered a fractured left hand, a broken jaw and deep cuts on his head and legs. He was admitted to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, where his condition is currently said to be stable, but critical.

Little is known about what triggered the tragic chain of events that drove Mugove towards ending his life.

Known to his peers as “Blujoh Bantan”, Mugove, who is in his twenties, grew up at Ivordale Orphanage, which is run by a local church in Murehwa. At this institution, he enjoyed the comfort and care of foster parents.

After being expelled from the orphanage, he found life outside relentlessly unforgiving.

A Hatcliffe woman, who took Mugove into her home after his expulsion said he lived a troubled life.

“Mugove’s mother died in hospital and only left a note with his name and his father’s surname,” said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous.

“While we don’t know much of what happened next, all we know, according to what he told us, is that he was taken to Ivordale Orphanage in Murehwa. The orphanage is run by a local church and these are the people who took care of him in terms of upbringing and schooling until he turned 18.

“He was then asked to leave the orphanage and go and start his own life elsewhere since he was now an adult.”

She said she met him as he desperately searched for a place to stay.

“He came to me after being referred by a close relative of mine who used to work at the orphanage,” she added.

“The relative pleaded with me to take him in until he found his feet.

She said during the short period she stayed with him, she noticed that Mugove was exhibiting traits of drug abuse.

After he got a job at a hardware shop in town, he moved out to live with a friend.

They later went their separate ways after a feud with their landlord.”

She last heard from Mugove when he was committed to a drug rehabilitation centre, where he was recovering from drug addiction.

Upon release from the centre, he moved to Epworth.

Not much is known about the circumstances that led to his suicide attempt last Tuesday. A vendor who sells soft drinks adjacent to the scene of the attempted suicide told The Sunday Mail that before the incident, Mugove had asked her for water as he was making his way into Tanganyika House.

The witness, who also chose to remain anonymous, said Mugove was shouting and complaining about being tormented by “invisible people” whom he said wanted to kill him.

“I saw him that morning when he asked me for water,” said the witness, adding that he appeared intoxicated. He then said someone was trying to kill him, and he proceeded with his mission.”

Minutes later, Mugove would leap from the building in an apparent suicide attempt.

“I was sh0cked after coming across pictures of him on WhatsApp when he attempted suicide,” said the Hatcliffe woman who stayed with him earlier.

“I always noticed that he exhibited traits of mental health issues, but never thought he would attempt suicide.”

She added: “He is a good person; I never imagined it would come to this.”

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said the authorities were worried about rising cases of suicides in Zimbabwe.

“The cases are worryingly increasing,” he said.

“We are analysing the issue in order to come up with correct statistics of suicide cases and related data. Once these details become available, we will provide them to the public.”

The latest available World Health Organisation data, reported on in 2019, shows that 14 out of 100 000 deaths in Zimbabwe are a result of suicide.

— Sunday Mail

By A Correspondent- Police have arrested three suspects in connection with attempted murder and armed robbery cases that occurred in Harare and Chitungwiza between 30 October 2022 and 29 January 2023.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi identified the suspects as Brighton Bester Moyo (23), Brave Zhou alias Kudakwashe Moyo (37), and Tapiwa Mbirimi (35).

Asst Comm Nyathi said Zhou was injured during a shootout with detectives in Mbare, Magaba area on 04 February and later succumbed to gunshot wounds on admission at Sally Mugabe Hospital.

Police are looking for the other suspects only identified as, Ndex, Archford, Carrington, Ashey and Simon, who are still at large. Reads the statement:

ARREST OF BRIGHTON BESTER MOYO AND TWO OTHERS FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ARMED ROBBERY CASES

The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Brighton Bester Moyo (23), Brave Zhou alias Kudakwashe Moyo (37) and Tapiwa Mbirimi (35) in connection with a spate of attempted murder and robbery cases which occurred in Harare and Chitungwiza between 30th October 2022 and 29th January 2023.

On 25th January 2023, detectives from CID Homicide, Harare, received information that linked Brighton Bester Moyo to attempted murder and robbery cases which occurred on 05th January 2023 in Zengeza 4, Chitungwiza where the complainants were attacked before US$16 030 and ZAR3 900 cash, several cellphones and a Beretta Pistol with 14 rounds were stolen.

It was established that the suspect is serving a 27-month jail sentence for a case of assault at Beitbridge prison.

Detectives interviewed the suspect at the prison and he implicated Brave Zhou alias Kudakwashe Moyo and three others.

On 25th January 2023, detectives from CID Homicide, Harare, received information that linked Brighton Bester Moyo to attempted murder and robbery cases which occurred on 05th January 2023 in Zengeza 4, Chitungwiza where the complainants were attacked before US$16 030 and ZAR3 900 cash, several cellphones and a Beretta Pistol with 14 rounds were stolen.

It was established that the suspect is serving a 27-month jail sentence for a case of assault at Beitbridge prison.

Detectives interviewed the suspect at the prison and he implicated Brave Zhou alias Kudakwashe Moyo and three others.

On 04th February 2023, detectives received information that Brave Zhou was travelling to Harare from Beitbridge.

The detectives went to Mbare, Magaba area where they spotted the suspect walking along Cripps Road.

When the detectives approached the suspect to arrest him, he withdrew a pistol and fired at them leading to a shootout.

Subsequently, the suspect was arrested and referred to Sally Mugabe Hospital where he died on admission.

The arrest led to the recovery of a Toyota Corolla vehicle, registration number ADS 6050 which was bought by the suspect using proceeds of crime, a 7.65mm Vizol pistol with a magazine of one round, a crowbar and a Samsung ES27 digital camera.

On 07th February 2023, detectives reacted to information that led to the arrest of Tapiwa Mbirimi alias Captain in Bulawayo.

An Itel cellphone, various clothes, various tools, a 6.35 Berretta pistol with an empty magazine, a Qbook laptop, Samsung 55-inch television, defy refrigerator, a TV stand, a speaker and a bed were recovered from the suspect.

The suspects are linked to thirteen cases of attempted murder and robbery cases which occurred in Chitungwiza and Harare.

These include a robbery case that occurred on 30th October 2022 at Ashdown Park, Harare where two complainants were attacked before three cellphones, a Bluetooth speaker and US$1 293 cash were stolen, and eleven cases of attempted murder and robbery which occurred on 29th January 2023 at Savanhu Village, Mayambara, Seke where the suspects ran amok attacking villagers with machetes and iron bars before stealing 14 cellphones, two pairs of shoes and US$928 cash. T

he suspects shot one of the complainants with a pistol on the back.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of the outstanding suspects only identified as, Ndex, Archford, Carrington, Ashey and Simon.

Anyone with information to contact National complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, WhatsApp 0712 800 197 or report at any nearest Police Station.

By A Correspondent- Members of Parliament have expressed concern with the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco)’s inability to pay farmers for their 2022 deliveries, reported ZimLive.

The legislators also bemoaned Cottco’s tendency to use groceries to pay farmers for their cotton.

Speaking in the National Assembly last week, Kambuzuma legislator Willias Madzimure (CCC), demanded that the government cotton merchant treats cotton farmers with dignity. Madzimure said:

The issue of giving farmers groceries and sometimes equipment to use in the fields does not augur well for farmers.

When farmers deliver produce, they are expecting to get their money in cash so that they will then decide on their own what they want to use the money for, instead of them being asked to go to a shop and pick up groceries or implements.

Gokwe-Kabuyuni legislator Spencer Tshuma (ZANU PF) noted that cotton farmers were now failing to pay school fees for their children.

Responding to the lawmakers, Acting Agriculture Minister Felix Mhona confirmed farmers have been paid using groceries.

He, however, added that farmers were never forced to accept groceries saying it was a voluntary arrangement between the parties. He said:

I think the time when that was happening was more of a voluntary programme where one would opt to get groceries. Of late, this is not happening.

Where people were actually getting groceries in terms of payment, going forward and as it is now, the government is going to pay farmers their hard-earned money and not in the form of goods.

Mhona also acknowledged that payments to cotton farmers had been delayed and said the government was looking into the issue to ensure that the farmers are paid.

Finance Deputy Minister Clemence Chiduwa said cotton farmers were owed more than US$28 million. Said Chiduwa:

Last week but one is when we agreed that in order for us to pay out that money, we are paying US$5 million per week.

So, I expect that in the following week, we will be able to pay all the outstanding money in tranches of US$5 million per week.

By A Correspondent- Citizens Coalition for Change Chitungwiza North legislator Godfrey Sithole has claimed that suspected state security agents have been trailing him as part of attempts to intimidate him.

The legislator was incarcerated in June last year alongside Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala after political violence erupted at the funeral of slain CCC activist Moreblessing Ali in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza.

They were detained alongside 14 other Nyatsime residents charged with inciting public violence.

Sithole and the Nyatsime 14 were granted bail in November last year while Sikhala remains behind bars.

Sikhala faces a separate charge of obstructing the course of justice and the state has been denying him bail arguing that he is an unrepentant repeat offender.

I have noticed that there are people who are monitoring and following me just like a hawk does its prey,” Sithole said.

“We have been receiving strange visitors at my residential place purporting to be lost and some asking funny questions, on a daily basis.

“It is not a coincidence, they are being sent.

“I have also noticed that cars without registration numbers are following me and others are parking nearby.”

Sithole spent more than five months in prison alongside 14 Nyatsime residents as they were constantly denied bail.

The legislator, who is serving a second term in office as an MP, said while jail time might have brutalised his flesh, he will soldier on.

“The devastating prison stay is like a hell hole, heart wrenching, but it has not killed my spirit. In fact it has re-energised me,” he said.

“The desperate regime is keen to cling to power at all cost, but democratic change is within sight.”

Opposition parties accuse the ruling party of converting security forces into an extension of the ruling party.

“In this country we have a situation whereby security agents and government institutions declare that they only take orders from seniors, not recognising the law, trashing their constitutional duties,” the MP said.

“Professionalism and respect was lost due to crass political opportunism.”

Zimbabwe goes to the polls this year and the Citizens Coalition for Change, the main opposition party, has raised a red flag over the banning of its gatherings and rallies.

— The Standard

By A Correspondent- A High Court judge has ordered the reinstatement of a prison officer after establishing that she was unfairly dismissed from service in 2019.

Rhoda Mawadze was the Rations officer-in-charge between August and December 2018 when some food items meant for prisoners went missing, reported ZimLive.

Mawadze was brought before a disciplinary committee chaired by Prisons Chief Superintendent Tawanda Chimika, which found her guilty of misappropriating inmates’ food stocks before recommending her dismissal.

She was unhappy with her dismissal and appealed through the High Court.

During the High Court hearing, it became clear that the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) accounting processes were in a bad state.

It was also established that responsibilities were haphazardly distributed among different members, making it wrong to blame a single individual for the mess.

Mawadze’s appeal was presided over by Justice Catherine Bachi-Muzawazi. The judge noted:

… there was a glaring revelation of shortfalls, loopholes and weaknesses in their bookkeeping, handover procedures, security, and unrestricted access to food stores were a clear illustration of maladministration or administration in-efficacy and inefficiency.

Justice Bachi-Muzawazi ruled that Mawadze was made a sacrificial lamb and ordered that she be reinstated without loss of salary from the time she was fired in 2019. Said the judge:

She (Mawadze) then became the target and victim of a report she had initiated.

Even the handover-takeover procedures were not observed from the time the applicant assumed the rations post to the time the offences were laid against her.

They should have taken the flaws that were highlighted in evidence as a learning curve and a chance to re-evaluate and improve the inefficiencies in the system instead of taking a defensive strategy of penalising the small fish who brought the whole inefficiencies and saga to light.

…The court found the administrative decision grossly irregular and accordingly, dismissed the point in limine and upheld the applicant’s claim in terms of the draft order sought.

Resultantly, it is ordered that the decision handed down by the first respondent on 12 May 2019 be and is hereby quashed and set aside.

The applicant be and is hereby immediately reinstated to her employment without loss of salary.

Prisons Chief Superintendent Tawanda Chimika, Commissioner General ZPCS Moses Chihobvu and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe were cited as respondents.

When you talk of reckless driving, you are bound to come across this recent picture of Zupco bus drivers who were heading different directions but couldn’t find time to pull over on a curve to greet each other but just stopped in the middle of the road and did their business while other commuters beg for safe passage.

The picture has sent social media abuzz this follows the recent Rimbi accident which saw bus drivers blocking each others way and ended in a horrific accident.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF secretly imported a fleet of over 200 top-of-the-range vehicles to traverse the country while seeking votes in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s re-election bid.

A senior Zanu PF official told The Standard that the party kept the importation of the fleet out of public attention to manage a possible public outrage which he said could cost it in the upcoming elections.

The ruling party has been accused of splashing funds on party cars and regalia at a time the majority of the citizens are wallowing in poverty.

The double cab vehicles are kept at a private residence in the leafy suburb of Mandara in Harare under guard by state security officers waiting for branding and distribution to party chefs.

“These are off-road vehicles, which are awaiting distribution to senior party members,” the official said.

The vehicles are for a rigorous rural campaign. Every place should be reached, hence the support.

“But obviously the party cannot parade the vehicles as it could stir anger among those whom it wants votes from.”

anu PF secretary for transport July Moyo curtly said he was not aware of the imported vehicles.

“The finance department is better placed to respond to your questions,” Moyo said.

“They are responsible for importing the vehicles and they will be handed over to me. I haven’t received any vehicle.”

Party secretary for finance Patrick Chinamasa was not picking calls.

Zanu PF political commissar Mike Bimha said he could not comment on importation of the vehicles, but defended the party spending on cars and other campaign resources.

“We really need the cars for rural mobilisation, in fact, many of them, because we are geared up for a massive campaign,” Bimha said.

“People should know that there is a difference between the government and the party.

“Zanu PF gets funds from well-wishers and also from membership subscription and other projects. It has no access to state coffers.

“Therefore, how it spends its money, it’s no one’s business. If there are complaints about public services, they must be directed to

the government and not to Zanu PF.”

Zanu PF had only 45 motor vehicles and three buses when Mnangagwa assumed power in 2017, according to the party’s central committee report released last year.

The ruling party acquired an additional 438 new motor vehicles in 2018 alone, bringing the fleet size to 486.

The party also bought more vehicles in 2020 while Mnangagwa also donated 30 double cab vehicles last year, bringing the fleet size to 531.

Political analyst Elded Masunungure said while Zanu PF was not answerable to citizens for its expenditure, it was obliged to be accountable to its supporters.

“We have seen a fusion of Zanu PF and the state, which makes it difficult to distinguish between the two,” Masunungure said.

“Under circumstances where there is dire need of assistance among the populace, Zanu PF as an institution has the duty to at least serve its supporters, if not the whole nation.

“It cannot be accountable to every citizen, but it has its supporters. It is buying vehicles for the top chefs, but what about its supporters?”

-Standard

By A Correspondent- Police are on the trail of 10 prominent drug kingpins in the capital who are understood to have been supplying large quantities of illicit narcotics to the public.

In the last two weeks, law enforcement agents have arrested over 1 500 drug dealers countrywide under an operation codenamed “No to dangerous drugs and illicit substances: See something, say something”.

The operation, which is a multi-agency effort, is designed to flush out criminal drug syndicates behind the current drug epidemic.

Secretary for Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Tafadzwa Muguti told The Sunday Mail that the authorities were doubling down on the ongoing operation.

“Once the police have reasonable suspicion that you are dealing in drugs, they have no choice but to call you in for questioning,” he said.

In Harare Province, I understand at least 10 well-known drug lords are on the run and police are looking for them.

“As Government, we will continue to pour resources into the operation to make sure all those responsible for selling drugs are brought to book.”

“No fish is too small or too big; as long as you play a role, you will face the music.”

Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said several high-profile suspects were wanted for questioning.

“We can neither deny nor confirm that specific individuals are wanted for questioning, but police have intensified investigations into several suspected drug kingpins,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“Some have gone into hiding, but police will not leave any stone unturned as we continue with the operation across the country.

“To date, about 1 500 people have been arrested in connection with their involvement with drugs across the country.”

Some of the known drug dens in the capital had reportedly closed shop by last week after police rounded up hundreds of drug peddlers.

It is believed that police were keen to interview a prominent Mbare-based businessman and music promoter suspected of heading a drug cartel in the suburb.

Added Asst Comm Nyathi: “So far, police have recovered large quantities of mbanje, crystal methamphetamine — commonly referred to as mutoriro — and bottles of banned addictive cough syrups such as BronCleer, Benylin with Codeine and Adco-Salterpyn syrup, among other illicit substances in a recent raid in Mbare.

Some of the houses we raided were being used by people as waiting rooms, but are now being occupied by some families who were engaging in criminal activities such as brewing illicit and dangerous substances, which promote drug and substance abuse and related criminal activities.”

The public is being encouraged to assist law-enforcement agents during the crackdown.

— Sunday Mail

By- A female Zanu PF member of Parliament, Getrude Chibagu, has shocked Parliament after saying she wants to carry President Emmerson Mnangagwa on her back.

The proportional representation legislator said he wants to carry Mnangagwa “because he is doing a very good job”.

Speaking in the National Assembly recently during the debate of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) speech, Chibagu said Mnangagwa drilled boreholes for people in Mbire District, and this has transformed their lives. She said:

Mr. Speaker, as I am speaking, if it was possible to carry an old person like a baby, I would carry His Excellency President Mnangagwa on my back because he is doing a very good job, working very hard and supporting every Zimbabwean.

So, what would you want? You find young people taking mutoriro, they are destroying themselves, but we need to work very hard, we need to farm our land.

You hear people like Kanyemba-Bhonzo who broadcast at ZBC, he comes from our area Kanyemba and this is a very good thing. In this august House, there is a need for us to value development, emulating His Excellency.

I will not say much but my plea is that as Zimbabweans, let us work hard and develop our nation.

According to Open Parly, Chibagu once spent the entire term without saying anything in Parliament.

Chibagu is serving her 3rd term in Parliament. She was a Senator (2008-2013) and then elected to National Assembly (Women’s Quota) from 2023 to 2018 and then from 2018 to 2023.

By-The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) senior reporter and Zanu PF sympathiser Tendai Munengwa and a member of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) Henry Kachere have been arrested for extorting US$25 000 from President Emerson Mnangagwa’s gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya.

Munengwa and Kachere appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda at the weekend.

The court heard that the duo connived to extort money from Sakupwanya by threatening to expose some sensitive classified information of some illegal gold dealings they allegedly claimed were happening at his company.

Pursuant to their plan, Munengwa is said to have approached Sakupwanya and demanded US$25000 so that he could bring the documents and cause their destruction upon payment.

As a result of the undue pressure exerted on him, Sakupwanya indicated he could afford US$15000.

Munengwa allegedly accepted the money and indicated he was going to bring the CIO officers handling the matter to his offices on February 9.

Allegations are that, the same day, the police obtained a trap authority and Sakupwanya gave the money to Tozivepi Milward, his security officer, to give the money to the two.

It is alleged that Munengwa and Kachere went to Better Brands offices in Greendale where Kachere showed Milward the file, which they claimed contained incriminating information.
Milward then handed over the trap money to Munengwa who received it and took possession of the cash.

The police reacted promptly and arrested the two at the scene.

The trap money was recovered from Munengwa.

By A Correspondent- A community in Southview Park, Harare, is living in mortal fear of vicious dogs belonging to a family that recently moved into the neighbourhood. Some, if not most, properties in the suburb are not gated, which makes the residents vulnerable to potential harm.

“They (new family) have two big dogs and several puppies, which are making them even more aggressive. The dogs have attacked us on several occasions,” complained one of the residents.

“Talking to the owners is not helping, as they have only encouraged us to befriend the dogs to avoid being attacked. We now spend most of the day in the house, while getting home late at night is now risky. There is a real possibility of being mauled to death.”

The dogs were also reportedly messing their yards. The residents’ fear is shared by many other communities countrywide

Cases of dog attacks are worryingly on the rise. Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, told The Sunday Mail Society that dog attacks have become a “serious matter”.

Some of the dog owners have been charged with culpable homicide,” he said.

“This has become a serious matter. People are breeding dangerous dogs and instead of exercising maximum caution, they actually leave these dogs unattended, while others do not have the security needed for one to have dogs on their premises.”about:blank

Medical practitioners claim there has been an alarming increase in the number of patients being treated for dog bites.

“In the past, we would attend to an average of two or three cases per month, but in the last half of 2022, cases spiked to at least seven,” said Dr Regis Murwira, a general practitioner.

“To attend to dog attack cases, the patient should have a police report. We administer rabies injections before attending to the wounds. For a rabies jab, one should part with at least US$25, excluding the consultation fee.”

Dog breeding seems to have not only become a viable business venture, but a new hobby for many residents.

Actually, cross-breeding, which should ideally be done only by authorised officials, has become a common practice for dog owners curious to produce the most vicious dogs possible.

It is now common for households, even those in high-density suburbs, to own breeds such as the pitbull, boerboel, doberman, bullmastiff, rottweiler and German shepherd, even when their environs are not suitable to keep such varieties.

For some, owning such dogs is fashionable and a status symbol.

While the furry creatures can be adorable family pets that can conveniently provide security, they can potentially do a lot of harm.

It is not surprising that the authorities in South Africa have since proposed to ban pitbulls following a slew of attacks that were often fatal.

In Zimbabwe, a six-year-old girl was mauled to death by two vicious boerboel dogs while playing in Goromonzi last year.

Prior to that, a 70-year-old man died after being severely attacked by stray dogs in Ardbennie, Harare, on his way home.

Also, in 2021, a Grade Five learner died in Chegutu after she was brutally attacked by three dogs on her way to school.

People breed canines for different reasons — as guard dogs, pets or for sale.

In some instances, they are trained for combat and also used as scouts, messengers, mercy dogs and trackers.

Regulation

However, it is illegal to own an unlicensed, unvaccinated and unsterilised dog.

Local authorities are responsible for issuing licences for pets after an applicant produces a valid rabies vaccination certificate and payment of a stipulated fee, which is currently pegged between US$10 and US$15 annually.

The licence bears the year and licence number.

“If a licence badge is lost, defaced or destroyed, the owner of the dog in respect of which such licence badge was issued must, on payment of a sum equal to 50 percent of a fee fixed in terms of the by-laws, obtain a duplicate of such licence,” reads part of the City of Harare by-laws.

“A licence or licence badge issued in accordance with these by-laws shall not be transferable to any other person or from one dog to another.”

The regulations also emphasise that it is illegal for anyone to keep a dog which – through constant or excessive barking, howling, whining or straying – creates a disturbance or threatens the comfort of others. Repeated complaints can result in the council, through a health inspector or authorised officer, taking action against the owner. Likewise, owners of stray dogs can also be charged.

Local authorities, however, seem to have become lethargic in enforcing the law. But Harare City Council spokesperson Innocent Ruwende claims their officials are active on the ground.

“It is the owner’s duty to get their dog sterilised and to seek clearance in the event that they want to breed. However, breeding for commercial purposes is illegal,” said Ruwende.

Simbarashe, a backyard breeder in Houghton Park, Harare, and an owner of a beverage manufacturing company, presently has four dogs and two puppies at his residence.

Although they are licensed and vaccinated, the dogs have not been spared.

He says the dogs are for security, both at home and work.

“No one has ever come to my place for home checks. This means something is wrong with the authorities. They need to see if we are adhering to the stipulated numbers or not.

“The fact that all my dogs are licensed shows that they do not have a proper tracking system to ensure we do not exceed the maximum number allowed per household,” he said.

Only a maximum of two dogs are allowed per household as per the Harare Dog Licensing and Control By-laws (2015). However, they do not have restrictions on the type of breeds.

Responsibility

It is an owner’s responsibility to ensure the dogs are well-fed and do not escape.

In most instances, dogs wander in search of food, which later results in them attacking people. Should one face challenges in maintaining the pets or feel they no longer need them, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) recommends they be surrendered to them at no cost.

“Our kennels in Harare have a maximum carrying capacity of 100 dogs, but they currently have more than 170 canines. Some of them are given up by their owners, while, as part of our mandate, we also move around collecting strays and sheltering them,” SPCA animal welfare inspector and administration manager Mark Beru said.

He urged dog owners to consult them or other qualified specialists for proper understanding of the pets.

“If one needs a dog, they are also able to get it from our offices for free. The procedure, however, demands that SPCA first conducts home checks to ensure the potential owner has what it takes to keep a dog.

“However, a fee of US$100 (or equivalent) is supposed to be paid by the new owner to cater for full vaccination, sterilising and microchipping.”

Microchipping is a process whereby a chip is implanted between the dog’s shoulder blades under the skin to make easy tracking of the pet in case it is lost or stolen.

“When a dog or bitch is not sterilised, it is in its nature to procreate, and, in the process, becoming vicious. Dog owners are being irresponsible. Backyard breeding shows that a lot of dogs out there are unsterilised, and the offence attracts a jail term,” warned Beru.

Certified dog breeder Matthew Holmes notes that pet owners need to know the behaviour and temper of the breeds they have.

Veterinary surgeon Dr Tashinga Nyamutumbu believes breeding procedures must be thoroughly understood.

Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba says local authorities need to come up with measures that compel dog owners to comply with regulations.

— Sunday Mail

By A Correspondent- There was drama in Rushinga when two brothers allegedly dug up a grave to recover US$300 they believed was buried with the deceased.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe said Ranganai Magara (47) and Owen Magara (45) are facing charges of tampering with a grave.

On September 23, last year, the brothers buried Ranganai’s 19-year-old son who had committed suicide.

It is alleged that the son’s spirit possessed Owen revealing that he was buried together with US$300.

This motivated the two to seek permission to exhume the grave, but their headman Trust Kaimba (38) of Mukuyu Village refused saying he had no authority to grant such authority.

The two later mobilised some of their relatives and went on to exhume the grave without authority, but recovered no money.

— The Standard

By A Correspondent- An Apostolic Faith Mission Church of Zimbabwe (AFM) pastor, Tawanda Sakadzo has been dragged to court facing allegations of rɑp!ng a 12-year-girl on two different occasions.

The case was, however, postponed to a later date by Masvingo regional magistrate Bishard Chineka.

Sakadzo, who is represented by Omen Mafa of Mutendi, Mudisi and Shumba Legal Practitioners, is alleged to have rɑpǝd the minor in March 2021 at AFM Church in Village 25 under Chief Shumba in Masvingo District. Sakadzo is denying the charge alleging that he was in South Africa at the time the minor was rɑpǝd.

Prosecutor, Mr Liberty Hove, told the court that on the first count, Sakadzo offered a plate of rice to the minor and her sibling at his residence on their way from school. Sakadzo then allegedly started f0ndling the minor’s brǝɑƨts as they were eating and the sibling threatened to reveal the matter.

The accused released the girls and on their way home, the minor realised that she had left her face mask at the accused’s residence and went back to collect it.

Sakadzo then allegedly began f0ndling the girl’s brǝɑƨts and rɑpǝd her once. He then threatened to kill her if she disclosed the matter to anyone.

On another date, Sakadzo met the minor when she was fetching water at a community well with two siblings. The State alleges that he started taking selfies with her and after that the two started watching videos on the phone. Sakadzo allegedly ordered the girl’s siblings to leave and he rɑpǝd her at the well.

The minor did not reveal the rɑpǝ to anyone and her mother noticed blood stains on her pantiǝs and bought her san!tary wear.

The mother then quizzed her daughter after noticing that she was not using the sanitary wear that she had bought. It was then that the minor revealed the rɑpǝ ordeal and the case was reported at Muchakata Police Station leading to the arrest of Sakadzo.

— Sunday News

Credit: Masvingo Mirror

Villagers in Ward 8 Gutu North are being asked to pay 50c each to thank MP Yeukai Simbanegavi for what she did for them in the last 5 years.

Village heads yesterday collected money in Guvamatanga, Mupuwi, Machinya, Chipenzi, Shamu, Mucheka & Hamandishe villages. Most villagers did not have the money as they struggle to get 2 meals a day and depend on social welfare for food. The money will be handed over to the organisers at Vutsinda Business Center today.

By-The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) senior reporter and Zanu PF sympathiser Tendai Munengwa and a member of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) Henry Kachere have been arrested for extorting US$25 000 from President Emerson Mnangagwa’s gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya.

Munengwa and Kachere appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda at the weekend.

The court heard that the duo connived to extort money from Sakupwanya by threatening to expose some sensitive classified information of some illegal gold dealings they allegedly claimed were happening at his company.
Pursuant to their plan, Munengwa is said to have approached Sakupwanya and demanded US$25000 so that he could bring the documents and cause their destruction upon payment.
As a result of the undue pressure exerted on him, Sakupwanya indicated he could afford US$15000.

Munengwa allegedly accepted the money and indicated he was going to bring the CIO officers handling the matter to his offices on February 9.
Allegations are that, the same day, the police obtained a trap authority and Sakupwanya gave the money to Tozivepi Milward, his security officer, to give the money to the two.
It is alleged that Munengwa and Kachere went to Better Brands offices in Greendale where Kachere showed Milward the file, which they claimed contained incriminating information.
Milward then handed over the trap money to Munengwa who received it and took possession of the cash.
The police reacted promptly and arrested the two at the scene.
The trap money was recovered from Munengwa.

By- Limpopo health MEC Phophi Ramathuba has been reprimanded by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) for unprofessional conduct and unbecoming behaviour after she shouted at a Zimbabwean patient in a Limpopo provincial hospital in August 2022.

SowetanLive reported that though Ramathuba was at the hospital in her capacity as a health MEC (government official), and not a practising doctor, she is a medical doctor by profession.

The opposition EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi laid a complaint with the HPCSA against Ramathuba, accusing her of violating the dignity and human rights of the patient.

Ndlozi was acting in his capacity as the EFF’s Limpopo provincial convener. In his complaint to HPCSA, Ndlozi said:

This follows a disturbing video clip that is circulating on social media where she is seen belittling and abusing a Zimbabwean patient in Bela-Bela Hospital.

It is evident in the video that MEC Ramathuba has violated her core ethical values and standards for good practice as outlined by the Health Professionals Council of South Africa.

The standards say: “healthcare practitioners should respect patients as people, and acknowledge their intrinsic worth, dignity, and sense of value”.

Ndlozi pleaded with HPCSA to investigate Ramathuba’s conduct and take appropriate action against her.

The HPCSA’s first medical and dental committee resolved in January 2023 that there was evidence of unprofessional conduct on Ramathuba in terms of the regulations under the Health Professions Act.

In a report dated 9 February, HPCSA said it will impose a penalty, caution and reprimand Ramathuba “for unprofessional behaviour and unbecoming [conduct] of a medical professional to be shouting at a patient’s bedside as the patient was vulnerable at the time”.

In a video that was widely shared on social media, Ramathuba could be heard telling the patient that migrants were to blame for her department’s stretched budget.

Her words sparked a debate in both South Africa and Zimbabwe, with some in support while others felt she was unfair to the patient.

Ramathuba, however, defended her controversial statement arguing that foreign nationals are abusing South Africa’s health system. She said:

I did stand by its content because I need to share that understanding that they are not doing anything to our surgical backlog, people are abusing the system.

When they hear that the MEC is coming to this district with special care, they leave their country, enter SA illegally, and come to our hospitals but doctors who operate them for ethical reasons even though the Constitution will cover the doctors, but they don’t refuse to operate them.

The South African whom we did this budget for is unable to get operated because they’re still flooding even our initiatives. This is an initiative outside our daily work.

By- A female Zanu PF member of Parliament, Getrude Chibagu, has shocked Parliament after saying she wants to carry President Emmerson Mnangagwa on her back.

The proportional representation legislator said he wants to carry Mnangagwa “because he is doing a very good job”.

Speaking in the National Assembly recently during the debate of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) speech, Chibagu said Mnangagwa drilled boreholes for people in Mbire District, and this has transformed their lives. She said:

Mr. Speaker, as I am speaking, if it was possible to carry an old person like a baby, I would carry His Excellency President Mnangagwa on my back because he is doing a very good job, working very hard and supporting every Zimbabwean.

So, what would you want? You find young people taking mutoriro, they are destroying themselves, but we need to work very hard, we need to farm our land.

You hear people like Kanyemba-Bhonzo who broadcast at ZBC, he comes from our area Kanyemba and this is a very good thing. In this august House, there is a need for us to value development, emulating His Excellency.

I will not say much but my plea is that as Zimbabweans, let us work hard and develop our nation.

According to Open Parly, Chibagu once spent the entire term without saying anything in Parliament.

Chibagu is serving her 3rd term in Parliament. She was a Senator (2008-2013) and then elected to National Assembly (Women’s Quota) from 2023 to 2018 and then from 2018 to 2023.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa gave citizens hero Tino Chiremba a befitting send-off.

On Friday CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba said in a brief statement:

“…President @nelsonchamisa paid his last respects to Champion @tinochiremba who has gone before us. Tino is a Citizens hero, his works speak…

We salute him and pray that his soul rest in perfect peace. Go well Qhawe lama Qhawe!”

Writing on Twitter President Chamisa described 2023 as a year of citizens’ victory.

“Today we had a robust Citizens National Agenda setting meeting with the Change Champions & leaders from across Zimbabwe. It’s exciting. This is the year!!!”

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa gave citizens hero Tino Chiremba a befitting send-off.

On Friday CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba said in a brief statement:

“…President @nelsonchamisa paid his last respects to Champion @tinochiremba who has gone before us. Tino is a Citizens hero, his works speak…

We salute him and pray that his soul rest in perfect peace. Go well Qhawe lama Qhawe!”

Writing on Twitter President Chamisa described 2023 as a year of citizens’ victory.

“Today we had a robust Citizens National Agenda setting meeting with the Change Champions & leaders from across Zimbabwe. It’s exciting. This is the year!!!”

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa gave citizens hero Tino Chiremba a befitting send-off.

On Friday CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba said in a brief statement:

“…President @nelsonchamisa paid his last respects to Champion @tinochiremba who has gone before us. Tino is a Citizens hero, his works speak…

We salute him and pray that his soul rest in perfect peace. Go well Qhawe lama Qhawe!”

Writing on Twitter President Chamisa described 2023 as a year of citizens’ victory.

“Today we had a robust Citizens National Agenda setting meeting with the Change Champions & leaders from across Zimbabwe. It’s exciting. This is the year!!!”

By-The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has reprimanded Limpopo health MEC Phophi Ramathuba for unprofessional conduct and unbecoming behaviour after she shouted at a Zimbabwean patient in a Limpopo provincial hospital in August 2022.

SowetanLive reported that though Ramathuba was at the hospital in her capacity as a health MEC (government official), and not a practising doctor, she is a medical doctor by profession.

The opposition EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi laid a complaint with the HPCSA against Ramathuba, accusing her of violating the dignity and human rights of the patient.

Ndlozi was acting in his capacity as the EFF’s Limpopo provincial convener. In his complaint to HPCSA, Ndlozi said:

This follows a disturbing video clip that is circulating on social media where she is seen belittling and abusing a Zimbabwean patient in Bela-Bela Hospital.

It is evident in the video that MEC Ramathuba has violated her core ethical values and standards for good practice as outlined by the Health Professionals Council of South Africa.

The standards say: “healthcare practitioners should respect patients as people, and acknowledge their intrinsic worth, dignity, and sense of value”.

Ndlozi pleaded with HPCSA to investigate Ramathuba’s conduct and take appropriate action against her.

The HPCSA’s first medical and dental committee resolved in January 2023 that there was evidence of unprofessional conduct on Ramathuba in terms of the regulations under the Health Professions Act.

In a report dated 9 February, HPCSA said it will impose a penalty, caution and reprimand Ramathuba “for unprofessional behaviour and unbecoming [conduct] of a medical professional to be shouting at a patient’s bedside as the patient was vulnerable at the time”.

In a video that was widely shared on social media, Ramathuba could be heard telling the patient that migrants were to blame for her department’s stretched budget.

Her words sparked a debate in both South Africa and Zimbabwe, with some in support while others felt she was unfair to the patient.

Ramathuba, however, defended her controversial statement arguing that foreign nationals are abusing South Africa’s health system. She said:

I did stand by its content because I need to share that understanding that they are not doing anything to our surgical backlog, people are abusing the system.

When they hear that the MEC is coming to this district with special care, they leave their country, enter SA illegally, and come to our hospitals but doctors who operate them for ethical reasons even though the Constitution will cover the doctors, but they don’t refuse to operate them.

The South African whom we did this budget for is unable to get operated because they’re still flooding even our initiatives. This is an initiative outside our daily work.

By A Correspondent- Police have laid criminal nuisance and assault charges against Nation Musekiwa, 34, the Harare man who last week mysteriously fired at High Court judge, Emiliah Muchawa’s vehicle using a pellet gun.

Musekiwa, a resident of Goodhope, Westgate, was Wednesday hauled before Harare magistrate Evelyn Mashayakure to answer to the charges.

When he appeared in court, he initially pleaded guilty to the charge but later changed his plea to not guilty.

his resulted in his matter postponed to March 8 for trial.

According to the State, on January 31 this year, the judge was driving home with her husband Panganai Muchawa in her silver Land Rover Discovery.

It is alleged around 7:15 pm, when the couple approached Tom Farm along Old Mazowe Road, they observed Musekiwa’s Honda Civic vehicle following them but did not suspect anything untoward.

As they were about to turn into GoodHope Road, off Old Mazowe Road, they realised the vehicle was still trailing them.

Court heard Musekiwa overtook them, heading towards the direction of their residence.

It is further alleged Musekiwa parked close to their main gate entrance.

He allegedly fired a shot in the air, forcing the couple to seek refuge at Justice Chinembiri Bhunu’s home while taking advantage of police officers who were on night guarding duty.

The state alleges that Constables Kambamura and Chidaushe who were on duty on the day, opened the gate after the frightened judge had hooted.

Musekiwa then drove away.

The judge made a police report with the scene later attended by the police officers who managed to pick a blank 9mm cartridge on the tarred road outside the judge’s home.

It is alleged that on February 1, Musekiwa handed himself to Harare Central police station after he had called the judge earlier advising her that he was the one who had fired the shot.

The recovered pellet gun was sent to CID Ballistics for examination and a ballistics report will be produced in evidence.

— ZimLive

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with a series of attempted murder and robbery cases which occurred in Harare and Chitungwiza between October last year and January 2023.

In a statement, police national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said

ARREST OF BRIGHTON BESTER MOYO AND TWO OTHERS FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ARMED ROBBERY CASES

The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Brighton Bester Moyo (23), Brave Zhou alias Kudawashe Moyo (37) and Tapiwa Mbirimi (35) in connection with spate of attempted murder and robbery cases which occurred in Harare and Chitungwiza between 30th October 2022 and 29th January 2023. On 25th January 2023, detectives from CID Homicide, Harare, received information which linked Brighton Bester Moyo to attempted murder and robbery cases which occurred on 05th January 2023 in Zengeza 4, Chitungwiza where the complainants were attacked before US$16 030 and ZAR3 900 cash, several cellphones and a Beretta Pistol with 14 rounds were stolen. It was established that the suspect is serving a 27-month jail sentence for a case of assault at Beitbridge prison. Detectives interviewed the suspect at the prison and he implicated Brave Zhou alias Kudakwashe Moyo and three others.

On 04th February 2023, detectives received information that Brave Zhou was travelling to Harare from Beitbridge. The detectives went to Mbare, Magaba area where they spotted the suspect walking along Cripps Road. When the detectives approached the suspect to arrest him, he withdrew a pistol and fired towards them leading to a shootout. Subsequently, the suspect was arrested and was referred to Sally Mugabe Hospital where he died on admission.

The arrest led to the recovery of a Toyota Corolla vehicle, registration number ADS 6050 which was bought by the suspect using proceeds of crime, a 7.65mm Vizol pistol with a magazine of one round, a crow bar and a Samsung ES27 digital camera.

On 07th February 2023, detectives reacted to information which led to the arrest of Tapiwa Mbirimi alias Captain in Bulawayo. An Itel cellphone, various clothes, various tools, a 6.35 Berretta pistol with an empty magazine, Qbook laptop, Samsung 55-inch television, defy refrigerator, TV stand, speaker and bed were recovered from the suspect.

The suspects are linked to thirteen cases of attempted murder and robbery cases which occurred in Chitungwiza and Harare. These include a robbery case which occurred on 30th October 2022 at Ashdown Park, Harare where two complainants were attacked before three cellphones, a Bluetooth speaker and US$1 293 cash were stolen, and eleven cases of attempted murder and robbery which occurred on 29th January 2023 at Savanhu Village, Mayambara, Seke where the suspects ran amok attacking villagers with machetes and iron bars before stealing 14 cellphones, two pairs of shoes and US$928 cash. The suspects shot one of the complainants with a pistol on the back.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of the outstanding suspects only identified as, Ndex, Archford, Carrington, Ashey and Simon. Anyone with information to contact National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, WhatsApp 0712 800 197 or report at any nearest Police Station.

By A Correspondent- Ever been in one of those relɑti0nships that you eternally regret and constantly wonder what manner of evil spirit possessed you to go 0ut with a certain person?

Sithobekile Sibanda from Nkulumane suburb is one person who has been through the agony of such a relɑti0nship.

She is regretting ever falling in l0ve with Thabo Dube because after they broke up he frequents her home in the middle of the night to demand ƨǝx.

Sibanda told a court that their l0ve went sour after Dube accused her of chǝat!ng on him. She said Dube would constantly bash and insult her.

Sibanda said her ex would also threaten to kill her and instructed her to desert her family house.

She said she reported the matter to the police and they engaged him but he has not changed. Sibanda applied for a protection order against Dube at the Western Commonage Magistrate Court.

In her affidavit she said: “I’m applying for a protection order against my ex-b0yfriǝnd Thabo Dube. When we broke up my life turned upside down as he frequented my family home in the middle of the night and demanded to have ƨǝx with me in the yard.

“I have tried on several occasions to talk to him to refrain from his unbecoming behaviour but instead of changing he would beat me up and hurl insults at me.

“I have been subjected to humiliation and unfounded accusations. He also chases me out of my mother’s house claiming that he is the one who was paying the bills before we broke up. I now fear for my life because he also threatens to kill me.”

The presiding magistrate Sikhethile Moyo on Monday granted Sibanda a protection order.

Dube was ordered not to visit his ex’s home and not to verbally and physically abuse her.

— BMetro

By A Correspondent- We’re going to die in this car today! Those were the words of a husband who, after allegedly being caught cheating on his wife with the maid, attempted suicide with his pregnant wife in the car.

Bulawayo residents were treated to a free movie on Wednesday around 8 a.m. when Desire Charingeni and his wife Edith Mutanda got into an epic fight in a speeding car that swerved off the road and seriously injured a pedestrian.

The Parklands couple fought all the way from their house until their Honda Fit car crashed at the intersection of 25th Avenue and Matopos Road.

Velaphi Zhou, an assistant builder who was taking a walk while awaiting delivery of cement for a project he was working on, sustained a fractured shin when the car hit him as it hurtled towards a precast wall that it destroyed before coming to a stop.

Bewildered residents rushed to the vehicle which was stuck in the wall and found the warring couple still throwing verbal barbs at each other.

Witnesses said Charingeni- who was later stretchered off to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) complaining of back pain- claimed his wife had grabbed the steering, forcing him off the road.

Matanda hotly disputed the accusation saying Charingeni had threatened to deliberately crash the vehicle after she demanded divorce.

I didn’t touch the steering. He said he once had an accident in the car but this time he would make sure we die in the second one,” said an emotional Matanda.

“After dropping our child off at school, we had agreed to go to (Bulawayo) Central Police (Station) to get assistance with a divorce. He has been sleeping with the maid,” she said.

She said her husband floored the accelerator as he threatened to end their lives, resulting in the scary accident.

Matanda, who was sitting on a lawn alongside one of the houses when the B-Metro crew arrived, appeared overcome with despair. She had begun venting her rage on the news crew when she was stopped by a suspected relative.

The car was still stuck in the wall when Charingeni and Dube were taken to UBH.
Inspector Abedinico Ncube, a Bulawayo Police spokesperson, could only confirm the crash yesterday.

Circumstances are that the first party was driving due South along Matopos Road when he failed to keep his vehicle under control and veered off the road to the right side resulting in him hitting the second party who was walking due south. The first party then ran into a brick wall.

Charingeni has been charged with careless driving, and his vehicle has been towed to the Vehicle Inspection Depot (VID).

By A Correspondent- Thirty-one (31) Anjin Investments employees were fired last year alone, while four others were recently suspended pending investigations over the alleged theft of diamonds in Chiadzwa.

Some employees are working in cahoots with diamond dealers to prejudice their employers of the precious gems, according to investigations conducted by The Manica Post.

The investigations also established that several diamond dealers, some of foreign origin but based in Mutare, recruit employees in order to have easy access to the diamonds.

It is understood that well-orchestrated syndicates of employees working in the Density Medium Separator and the Corn Crusher departments of the mining plants are taking advantage of lapses in security concentration to steal diamonds that are then passed on to dealers at agreed prices.

In some cases, security officers are also part of the syndicates.

Anjin Investments (Private) Limited’s public relations officer, Mr Special Matarirano confirmed this development. The Manica Post cites him as saying:

Our CCTV observed some irregular behaviour by four of our workers and the company’s policy is that any suspicious behaviour from employees who works in the red zone attracts an immediate suspension pending thorough investigations.

Hence, those four employees were suspended pending investigations. The results of the investigations will guide the decision the company will tak

Last year alone, a total of 31 employees were relieved of their duties by the company after being found on the wrong side of the code of conduct.

In line with the security global trends, Anjin has, over the years, been strengthening its security. In this regard, the company has been installing and upgrading its integrated security systems.

This has led to the integration of physical and technological security. As a company, we have also tightened up and sealed lapses in our security systems.

The company is taking no prisoners in securing the product and the equipment.

The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), another other company carrying out mining operations in Chiadzwa, is said to have also fired a number of employees over the theft of diamond pieces.

By A Correspondent- Pandari Hotels was defrauded of US$90 000 when it bought a house in Glen Lorne, Harare from a Harare couple. 

The house which was sold in 2014 belonged to someone else

According to The Herald, the hotel only realised that it had been defrauded when it was served with an eviction order by the owners, who then had them vacate the property.

Pandari Hotels reported the matter to the police resulting in the arrest of Edzai Arifaneti and Usedia Zguwaneti.

The couple was then taken to the Harare Magistrates Court and charged with fraud.

Arifaneti and his wife were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi.

According to the State, the pair asserted that Paul Michael Newton Baker, who they claimed owned Anglovaal Investments, had sold them the property.

Arifaneti and his wife are alleged to have used the proceeds from the sale of the Glen Lorne property to construct a home in Chadcombe, Harare

Pandari Hotels was ordered to leave the property in 2019 after, the true owner, Elco Walraven, was granted an eviction order at the High Court.

Pandari Hotels was then evicted in 2021.

statemedia

By A Correspondent- Police in Lupane have arrested seven people in connection with cultivating approximately 246 plants of mbanje.

Police confirmed the arrest on their Twitter page on Friday afternoon, after posting a picture of some of the suspects.

The arrests are in conjunction with a countrywide crackdown dubbed No to illicit drugs and substances.

Police said: “Meanwhile, 266 arrests were made on 09/02/23 on operation “No to illicit drugs and substances” bringing the cumulative arrests to 1 655.”

Zimbabwe is experiencing an upsurge in drug abuse cases and most of those abusing the drugs are youths.

ast year, the Ministry of Health and Child Care launched a five-year strategic plan (2021-2025) against substance abuse to curb its prevalence which has become alarming.

Substances that are commonly abused are alcohol (both licensed and unlicensed brews) tobacco, cannabis and non-medical use of controlled medicines such as codeine-containing cough medicines and benzodiazepines.

According to statistics from Active Youth Zimbabwe which is a drug treatment and rehabilitation organisation, Bulawayo province has an average age of substance use initiation that is between 13 and 14 years old.

The illegal practice has been worsened by the fact that there are no rehabilitation centres locally and addicts are likely to relapse even after treatment at Ingutsheni.

This comes at a time when Zimbabwe is working towards a drug-free society through a drug master plan which will help the country achieve Vision 2030.

The master plan aims at dealing with drug and substance abuse in society. President Mnangagwa recently launched the National Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Campaign.

By A Correspondent- When a “prophet” or a “prophetess” instructs a congregant to do something, usually the follower does not ask questions as they believe the order comes from God.

This was played out when Khulisani Moyo consulted prophetess Sidelile Masera Moyo (43) of Induna Barracks in Bulawayo at her shrine in Donnington West intending to sell his car.

It was gathered that during a prayer session which involved congregants lining up to be prayed for, Khulisani who was desperate to sell his car after he had failed on countless occasions to get a buyer knelt before Sidelile and asked her to pray for him.

The prophetess held his head and spewed out religious rhetoric. After about two days, an ecstatic Khulisani returned to the shrine to announce he had sold the car.

He told the “woman of God” that the car had been bought for US$2 200.

The cunning Sidelile told him to wrap the money in white and black pieces of cloth and bring it back for prayers.

It is reported that Sidelile told her client that she would keep the money for three days and pray over it to cast out evil spirits that might be following Khulisani.

Gullible beyond belief, Khulisani complied.

After three days when he returned to collect his money he was told to come the following day.

She kept telling him to return the following day every time he went to collect his money- ostensibly because strong evil spirits held sway over it – until the scales fell of Khulisani’s eyes and he realised he had been duped.

Eventually the prophetess confessed she had used US$1700 to settle her debts and was left with US$500.

Initially she had intimated that God had spent the money.

She told Khulisani to return the following day and repeated the pattern of asking him to return the next day.

The dissatisfied congregant finally reached the conclusion that “God was not in it” and reported Sidelile to the police.

On Tuesday Sidelile appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Shepherd Mnjanja facing a theft charge.

She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, three months were suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within a period of five years.

A further four months were suspended on condition that she restitutes Khulisani US$1700.

The remaining five months were suspended on condition that she performs 175 hours of community service.

— BMetro

By A Correspondent- Police in Mutare have barred Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) from holding a scheduled constituency rally saying the venue was reserved for sports and was also too close to the homes of property owners who are not at ease with the event held “at their doorsteps”.

CCC had sent a notice to the police advising them of its plans to hold the rally at Rowa Grounds this Saturday.

However, in correspondence directed to the conveners of the event, ZRP Mutare Rural District’s Chief Superintendent P. Mbira said the rally notice was “not compliant with the law”.

“This office acknowledges receipt of your notice on the above subject,” he said in a letter addressed to CCC’s Jack Robert Saunyama.

“Your convening notice is not compliant with the law.

The intended event is also lined up with sporting activities by local football clubs who usually use the same facility.

“Some property owners are against the holding of the rally at their doorsteps.

This office perceives the situation on the ground to be unfavourable for the holding of the rally and therefore it cannot proceed.

“Be guided accordingly.”

CCC, which has the real chance of upstaging Zanu PF in polls due this year, has seen the systematic prohibition of its gatherings by the State.

Police have moved with speed to block rallies in cases which have also seen arrests on opposition activists.

Elements linked to Zanu PF have proceeded to visit brutalities against opponents found conducting their meetings even in private spaces such as homes.

By A Correspondent- Government has greenlighted the return of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) Ordinary and Advanced Level June examinations that were suspended in 2021 following disruptions caused by Covid-19 and the resulting lockdown.

The decision to suspend the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council June examinations arose from the delays in sitting the public examinations at the end of 2020 and the alterations of the 2021 standard calendar for education.

Government has also maintained its 55 percent subsidy on the examination fee for all non-private candidates in public schools.

Zimsec announced that candidates sitting for the June 2022 Ordinary level examinations in public schools will pay US$11 with Government subsidising the cost by US$24.

Private candidates in public schools will pay US$24. For Advanced Level, candidates in public schools are expected to pay US$22 with private ones in public schools forking out US$48.

Zimsec said the examination fees are also payable in local currency at interbank rate, which will be prevailing between 8-15 March.

Zimsec spokesperson Ms Nicky Dlamini confirmed the latest development.

Yes, the June exams are back, as you know their suspension was as a result of a surge in Covid-19 cases, but now that the situation is under control, we are able to conduct the June examinations,” she said.

The return of the June examinations comes on the backdrop of serious malpractices during the November 2022 examinations that saw a number of candidates, teachers and some school heads being nabbed for cheating.

The menace led to arrests and subsequent prosecutions of those involved with some teachers and heads being convicted and jailed.

Upon release of the 2022 Ordinary Level examinations last week, Zimsec announced that 4 961 candidates out of the 278 760 that wrote the examinations had their results nullified for having pre-access to the examination papers.

The nullification of results said Zimsec was in conformity with the Section 34 of the Zimsec Act.

The last June examinations written in 2020 had 54 645 candidates who sat for their Ordinary Level compared to 75 055 candidates in 2019, translating to a 27,19 percent decrease. A total of 3 501 candidates who sat for five or more subjects, 627 passed with grade C or better while the national Ordinary Level pass rate was 17,91 percent.

There were 5 058 Advanced level candidates in 2020 compared to 5 923 who wrote the previous year with 1 769 out of 2 638 writing two or more subjects and obtaining a Grade E or better in two or more subjects, translating to a 67,06 percent pass rate.

Meanwhile, Zimsec said candidates who feel aggrieved with their examination mark have a right to appeal to the examination body for a remark upon payment of a US$20 or equivalent appeal fee per subject.

The appeal, according to Zimsec, must be submitted through and supported by the school head where the said examination paper was written.

“Request for remark should be submitted through and supported by the school head where the candidate wrote examinations. The cost is US$20 or the equivalent per subject, and request for remark should be made within 42 days of publication of results,” wrote Zimsec on their official Twitter page.

Grade Seven results for the 2022 examinations were released on November 30 while the 2022 Advanced Level results were released 28 days ago.

Both “O” and “A” level candidates whose results were released last Friday are still within the appeal window.

A total of 36 945 sat for the 2022 “A” level examinations, recording a 88 percent pass rate while a total of 278 760 candidates sat for November 2022 “O” level Exams recording a 28,96 percent pass rate.

— Chronicle

By James Gwati- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been fingered in the mysterious death of a Harare businessman, whom he grabbed a government tender from.

George Mushambi (51), the director of Tawana Power Corporation, died in Harare this week after a short illness.

His death follows wrangles with Chiwenga over a multi-million dam construction government tender the late won, which the vice President blocked and later hijacked.

Tawana Power Corporation was awarded a tender to construct the Kondo-Chitowe dam in Manicaland in 2018.

The water project was going to be the most significant inland dam to generate Electricity and feed into the national grid. It would also benefit local communities with irrigation and other farming activities.

The company working with the government had also signed bilateral agreements with the governments of South Africa (Limpopo province) and Mozambique, whose two countries the project was also going to supply both water and power generation.

Chiwenga blocked the tender and grabbed the project after realising the intensity of the project.

Mushambi had taken Chiwenga to the courts challenging these two developments.

A close Mushambi associate told ZimEye that Chiwenga could have poisoned the late businessman.

He said: We are surprised by his death, which happened suddenly, but we are not surprised by who caused it. We are very confident that Chiwenga has a hand, given the battles Mushambi was having with this top military man. Our suspicion, which can not go down the drain, is that Chiwenga could have sent some slay queens to poison this guy.

Mushambi was buried at Glen Forestry cemetery in Harare Friday.