Tinashe Sambiri| CCC vice president Hon Tendai Biti has described the detention of Hon Job Sikhala as unacceptable.

Writing on Twitter, Hon Biti called for the immediate release of Hon Sikhala.

“The 7 month incarceration of Honourable Job Sikhala is proof beyond reasonable doubt that this is a rogue regime that is not ready for full international engagement.Bail is a constitutional right . Sikhala must be freed #FreeWiwa #Justiceformoreblessingali @euinzim.”

Responding to Hon Biti’s tweet one @mpofucollen said :

“Attempted murderers are given bail, why not Job? why???

Those two bouncers who wanted to kill people with a jungle knife, were yesterday given bail.. What is Job’s case exactly??”

By A Correspondent- An unlicensed driver who stole a relative’s Mercedes-Benz in Bindura and drove to Bulawayo was sentenced to 10 years behind bars by a Bindura magistrate today.

Alington Ambulance (24) will however serve seven years after the magistrate suspended three years on condition of good behaviour.

Prosecutor Victoria Choga told the court that on January 11 Fatima Phiri visited her in-laws in Bindura.

Upon her arrival, she met Ambulance who asked for car keys in order to put an axe in the boot for safekeeping.

Phiri gave her the keys and he opened the boot and placed the axe.

He subsequently opened the driver’s door and drove away at a high speed.

Ambulance drove from Bindura to Shangani and he was arrested at Bulawayo tollgate.

By A Correspondent- The construction of 112 “Dubai style” apartment units at Millennium Heights Block 3 is progressing well with work now on the superstructure.

The four-storey affordable lifestyle block will be ready by the second quarter of 2024 paving way for Block 4 which will have six cascading floors and 86 apartment units with studio to three bedroom units on offer.

Block 3 is almost sold out while sales for block 4 have begun and is moving fast.

At least 1000 apartments units are planned for Millennium Heights over a 10 year construction period.

Each apartment brings with it unique features that differentiate it with the rest to avoid monotony and to bring diversity in architectural designs.

During a recent event to mark the handover of block 2 last December, West Property CEO Mr Kenneth Sharpe said his company was “reaffirming the reality of our vision to lay 1 billion bricks by 2050”.

Said Sharpe:

“We are certainly playing our part in rebuilding Zimbabwe and contributing towards the middle income society by 2030.

Our punchline is “Bringing Dubai to Zimbabwe’’. We want the same beauty and splendour that attracts visitors to Dubai to be experienced here in Zimbabwe.”

Sharpe said West Property was building safe gated community neighbourhoods where people can live, work, play and shop in as well as amenities that include sports facilities for tennis, swimming, running, and walking tracks, braai areas, crèche, church, co working spaces, shopping malls, internet connectivity and green energy in the form of solar energy and above all a royal experience to live in style.

The blocks of apartments adorn the Millennium Park, one of the company’s largest mixed use lifestyle estates that includes Millennium Heights, Pokugara Residential Estate, the Mall of Zimbabwe and several office parks combining the live, work, play and shop concept in one area.

By A Correspondent- Harare regional magistrate Taurai Manuwere has ruled that Gokwe Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena (Zanu-PF) has no case to answer in a matter he was accused of money-laundering and fraud charges involving US$5,8 million.

Manuwere said the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) failed to prove how Wadyajena performed the illegal transactions from countries such as the United States (US), Holland and Mauritius.

The regional magistrate then removed Wadyajena from remand saying Zacc had no case, adding that they arrested the legislator to investigate him.

Wadyajena was represented by Oliver Marwa and was being charged together with his firm  Mayor Logistics, Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) bosses Pius Manamike, Maxmore Njanji, Chiedza Danha, as well as Moncrois PowerPoint Company.

They were all removed from remand.

“The factors the court found in this application is the extent of delay, the reason for delay, the seriousness of the charge, the prejudice of the State, and the adverse interest of the public. This is a clear case and the refusal of remand should be granted, the accused persons have been on remand for more than six months,” Manuwere said, adding that the State had asked for a month from August last year to complete their investigations, but had failed.

Manuwere said the accused could not be kept in remand as it was unknown when the State would conclude its extra-territorial investigations.

-newsday

 By A Correspondent- A 17 year Epworth boy has been arrested for allegedly rɑp!ng his girlfriǝnd at her parents’ home.

Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi has, however, shifted the matter to the Victim Friendly Court since it involves minors.

The accused (name withheld to protect the victim) was remanded in custody to February 10.

According to court papers, both parties were dat!ng. It is alleged that sometime in December 2022, the accused pr0p0sed l0ve to the complaint who agreed.

During the same month, the accused visited the complainant at her homestead where he forced her into ƨǝx without her consent.

On another occasion, on January 31, 2023, at around 2330 hours, the accused was then caught red handed by the complainant’s father having ƨǝxuɑl interc0urse with the complainant.

The girl was taken for medical examinations. The report will be used as evidence in court.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Newly elected Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) president Rumbidzai Matambo has suggested that the country’s law curricula must be revised to satisfy new industry trends.

Matambo says recent law graduates seem to be out of touch with new trends in the legal profession.

Speaking to journalists after paying a courtesy call on Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda yesterday, Matambo said: “The purpose of the visit was to introduce the LSZ’s new leadership. As of February 1, LSZ had a new president and vice president (Lison Ncube) in line with our constitution. We also met to discuss areas of cooperation and areas of mutual interest between the legal profession and Parliament.”

She said LSZ will be working on developing the legal education system in Zimbabwe.

The current one is a bit outdated. We now have more law schools and graduates. We feel the system needs to be looked at again and revamped and get aligned with current trends. We will also be cooperating on the alignment of laws with the Constitution,” she said.

“We are generally looking at degrees from universities to see if they are meeting the demands of the ultimate consumers – legal practitioners and government departments. The idea is to bring together all stakeholders in the legal education sector to discuss that and also look at post graduate training qualifications and in-house training.”

She indicated that consumers of the legal profession are complaining that graduates being churned out are of low standards.

Some of the universities that teach law are the University of Zimbabwe, Great Zimbabwe University and the Midlands State University.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Temba Mliswa’s hold on the Norton Parliamentary seat will be tested in the upcoming general election when Richard Tsvangirai, son to late pro-democracy icon Morgan Tsvangirai, contests him.

Richard, a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) member and loyal follower of party leader Nelson Chamisa, has already started his campaign despite the party’s silence over the issue.

Unlike his brother Vincent who aligned himself with MDC Alliance leader Douglas Mwonzora after an expected but grand 2020 fall out, Richard has been rooting for Chamisa since his return from Australia.

Independent Mliswa on the other hand, is regarded as one of the most vocal and hardworking Members of Parliament (MP), setting up an intriguing battle between him and the CCC.

A campaign poster circulating on Facebook promises; “Ethical leadership, demonstrating fairness, honesty and integrity.”

After expulsion of then Norton MP Chris Mutsvangwa from Zanu-PF, Mliswa beat the ruling party’s Ronald Chindedza by over 2,000 votes to claim the constituency for the first time.

He was to beat Mutsvangwa, who had just been appointed Presidential Advisor, upon his return to the satellite town in 2018.

Said Mliswa in response to the Tsvangirai reports: “Can CCC clarify if they have done primary elections. Seems they have dumped 2018 losing candidate Samuel Matemera and chosen Richard.

“If that is so I would like to thank you for the 7,000 votes which Matemera got in 2018 and have now swayed my way.”

A former Zanu-PF provincial chairperson, Mliswa has enjoyed on-off relations with the ruling and opposition parties which backed him in past electoral triumphs.

Meanwhile, following its formation in 2022, the CCC announced that it would do away with internal votes to decide who stands at elections but instead allow residents to choose candidates for themselves.

Richard has been visiting sections of the Norton community in a bid to endear himself to constituents and set up a possible upset for Mliswa.

-NewZim

By A Correspondent- Hethimex, a Belgian corporation, has given the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) 30 days to pay its US$9.6 million debt or face legal action.

The debt emanated from a 2003 deal that Hethimex and the state-owned rail company entered resulting in NRZ purchasing parts for general motor locomotives using a revolving credit facility, Zimbabwe Independent reported.

A recent report to the parliamentary committee for transportation suggests that the parastatal has failed to make payments on the debt, which has forced Hethimex to take urgent action. Reads the report in part:

NRZ had been paying and continued to receive the spares, however, when the country re-introduced the ZWL (Zimbabwean dollar), most of the company’s clients opted to pay in ZWL resulting in NRZ failing to service the account.

The debt at one stage ballooned to US$12 million and the management tried to reduce the debt and paid US$2,5 million in instalments. Due to non-payment of instalments by NRZ in 2022, Hethimex decided to demand full payment of the US$9,6 million outstanding and failure of which they opted to have the matter taken to arbitration at a court in London.

The government agreed to bail out NRZ through a loan and served as the contract’s guarantor but the government has not kept its promise prompting Hethimex to issue a 30-day notice of arbitration on January 6 2023:

The report further states that any Zimbabwean government asset would be attached to settle this debt since the agreement was guaranteed by the government.

The burden of the debt —the principal amount plus interest— is one of the major issues making it difficult for the parastatal to acquire finance for recapitalisation.

Some of the debts listed in the report:
1). NRZ owes €2.7 million to the Department of International Development in Central Africa. The money was used to start electrifying the Dabuka to Harare railway line in 1983.
2). Natexis Banque, a French-based lender, is owed €956 398 which was used to purchase 30 electric locomotives that ran along the Dabuka to Harare railway line.
3). German investment and development bank Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbau is owed about €4.05 million which was used to purchase 30 locomotives.
4). The New Limpopo Bridge Project Investment is also owed around US$3 million by the NRZ.
5). Interim Solution Resources is owed about R68.697 million (US$3.4 million) which was used to pay overdue transportation and equipment hire fees.
6). NRZ owes Mozambique Railways (CFM) a total of US$4.96 million. 

The NRZ has since asked the government to take over its debt.

By-A Harare man reportedly lost US$300 to self-confessed hookers he had hired on Friday, a Harare court heard over the weekend.
Two suspects, Tsungirirai Mamvura and Nyasha Mpofu, were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.
Allegations are that on Friday night, Tsungirirai was approached by the complainant and they agreed on an amount.
The State said the two went to a certain flat known as a hub for sex workers along Samora Machel Avenue.
The State said the complainant fell asleep and Tsungirirai searched his trousers pockets and stole US$300 which she gave her friend Nyasha to hide.
It is said when the complainant woke up, he realised that his money was missing and he filed a police report at the Fife Avenue post, leading to the duo’s arrest.
A total of US$160 was recovered from Nyasha upon arrest.
The two were remanded in custody to today for bail consideration after it was indicated that they are of no fixed abode.
Polite Chikiwa appeared for the State. H Metro

By A Correspondent- A Harare man reportedly lost US$300 to self-confessed hookǝrs he had hired on Friday, a Harare court heard over the weekend.

Two suspects, Tsungirirai Mamvura and Nyasha Mpofu, were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.

Allegations are that on Friday night, Tsungirirai was approached by the complainant and they agreed on an amount.

The State said the two went to a certain flat known as a hub for ƨǝx workers along Samora Machel Avenue.

After several rounds of hard core lulɑ lulɑ, the complainant fell asleep and Tsungirirai searched his trousers pockets and stole US$300 which she gave her friend Nyasha to hide.

It is said when the complainant woke up, he realised that his money was missing and he filed a police report at the Fife Avenue post, leading to the duo’s arrest.

A total of US$160 was recovered from Nyasha upon arrest.

The two were remanded in custody to today for bail consideration after it was indicated that they are of no fixed abode.

Polite Chikiwa appeared for the State.

— HMetro

By-A South African xenophobic and anti-foreigner group on Monday demonstrated outside Pretoria High Court opposing the Zimbabwe exemption permit (ZEP).

The xenophobic groping Monday sang and marched outside the high court leading to the closure of a section of Madiba Street.

TimesLive quoted national deputy chairperson of Operation Dudula Dan Radebe as saying:

We are here to demonstrate our dissatisfaction with the extensions of ZEPs because the moment you extend it for another six months, it means you are saying to South Africans, they have become accustomed to poverty, so they can hold on for another six months, while these foreigners take South African jobs and things like that.

We are here to demonstrate to the court that we are not happy with the extension of the ZEP, and this is not limited to the ZEP.

Today is also about us applying to be part of the proceedings.

Operation Dudula wants to join a court application by the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) that seeks a review of the lawfulness of the decision by SA Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to terminate the ZEP.

HSF wants the high court in Pretoria to declare the decision by Motsoaledi to terminate the ZEP and grant a limited extension of 12 months unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.

Motsoaledi is opposing the application by HSF challenging the termination of the ZEP.

HSF is still pursuing its legal challenge, despite Motsoaledi extending the permit by another six months from the initial 12-months extension that expired on 31 December 2022 to 30 June 2023.

Operation Dudula has applied to the court to join as a respondent in the application.

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:

By- In an embarrassing clear political bias, the courts today freed Zanu PF Legislator for Gokwe-Nembudziya, Justice Mayor Wadyajena accused of stealing US$5 Million from Cottco, at a time the same courts denied bail for CCC deputy chairman Job Sikhala who was arrested for demanding justice.

Wadyajena and Cottco bosses are accused of embezzling funds meant for acquiring bale cables and bought more than ten trucks.

Wadyajena was jointly appearing in court with Cottco bosses Pius Manamike, Maxmore Njanji, Chiedza Danha and Fortunate Molai on fraud, money laundering and concealing a transaction from a principal charges.
Wadyajena’s Mayor Logistics and Danha’s Pierpoint Moncroix were also being charged.
Harare Regional Magistrate Mr Taurai Manwere ruled that there was unnecessary delay in completing investigations by the State.

By-Members of Operation Dudula, a South African anti-foreigner group, have demonstrated opposing the Zimbabwe exemption permit (ZEP) extension outside the Pretoria High Court.

The xenophobic groping Monday sang and marched outside the high court leading to the closure of a section of Madiba Street.

TimesLive quoted national deputy chairperson of Operation Dudula Dan Radebe as saying:

We are here to demonstrate our dissatisfaction with the extensions of ZEPs because the moment you extend it for another six months, it means you are saying to South Africans, they have become accustomed to poverty, so they can hold on for another six months, while these foreigners take South African jobs and things like that.

We are here to demonstrate to the court that we are not happy with the extension of the ZEP, and this is not limited to the ZEP.

Today is also about us applying to be part of the proceedings.

Operation Dudula wants to join a court application by the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) that seeks a review of the lawfulness of the decision by SA Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to terminate the ZEP.

HSF wants the high court in Pretoria to declare the decision by Motsoaledi to terminate the ZEP and grant a limited extension of 12 months unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.

Motsoaledi is opposing the application by HSF challenging the termination of the ZEP.

HSF is still pursuing its legal challenge, despite Motsoaledi extending the permit by another six months from the initial 12-months extension that expired on 31 December 2022 to 30 June 2023.

Operation Dudula has applied to the court to join as a respondent in the application.

By- Zanu PF has suspended its Manicaland women’s league boss, Happiness Nyakuyedzwa, for insubordination.

The party’s women’s league secretary Mabel Chinomona wrote to Nyakuedzwa notifying her of the suspension after she reportedly disputed elections held recently in the province.

It is alleged that Nyakuedzwa also insulted the party’s secretary for external affairs, Betty Kaseke, during chaotic party elections, according to NewsDay.

In a letter dated February 2, Chinomona suspended Nyakuedzwa for 21 days from carrying out party activities pending investigations. The letter read:

Take note that the national leadership has resolved to issue you with a prohibition order pending the hearing of your case as per attached charge sheet. As such, you are provisionally barred from taking in any party activity for the next 21 days pending inquiry into the allegations levelled against you. Further take note that you have the right to be assisted in the conduct of your case by a member of the party of your choice in terms of article 10 section 75 of the party constitution.

Be advised that your matter will be heard at the Zanu PF headquarters 21 days after receipt of this letter.

It is alleged that you disrupted elections which were officiated by national secretary for external affairs in the women’s league, comrade Betty Kaseke. On the day of the elections, the report outlines how you allegedly insulted and threatened comrade Kaseke and incited violence against elections officials.

Other crimes include tearing election ballot papers and imposition of members to fill vacant positions.

By- Zanu PF has suspended its Manicaland women’s league boss, Happiness Nyakuyedzwa, for insubordination.

The party’s women’s league secretary Mabel Chinomona wrote to Nyakuedzwa notifying her of the suspension after she reportedly disputed elections held recently in the province.

It is alleged that Nyakuedzwa also insulted the party’s secretary for external affairs, Betty Kaseke, during chaotic party elections, according to NewsDay.

In a letter dated February 2, Chinomona suspended Nyakuedzwa for 21 days from carrying out party activities pending investigations. The letter read:

Take note that the national leadership has resolved to issue you with a prohibition order pending the hearing of your case as per attached charge sheet. As such, you are provisionally barred from taking in any party activity for the next 21 days pending inquiry into the allegations levelled against you. Further take note that you have the right to be assisted in the conduct of your case by a member of the party of your choice in terms of article 10 section 75 of the party constitution.

Be advised that your matter will be heard at the Zanu PF headquarters 21 days after receipt of this letter.

It is alleged that you disrupted elections which were officiated by national secretary for external affairs in the women’s league, comrade Betty Kaseke. On the day of the elections, the report outlines how you allegedly insulted and threatened comrade Kaseke and incited violence against elections officials.

Other crimes include tearing election ballot papers and imposition of members to fill vacant positions.

By-Israel’s ambassador to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana has been robbed.

 Ambassador Ofra Farhi was mugged on the street in Lusaka, Zambia, last week, with the robbers getting away with her diplomatic passport, her cellphone, and some cash that was in her bag.

Ambassador Farhi was crossing a street in Lusaka on Friday when she was mugged, according to Ynet, as cited by The Times of Israel.

A car pulled up alongside her and the occupants grabbed her bag and dragged her resulting in her sustaining some minor injuries.

Farhi’s bodyguards, who were with her at the time, did not manage to prevent the crime.

She was treated at a local clinic and continued on to her scheduled meetings with local officials.

Zambian Foreign Minister Stanley Kakubo and a presidential adviser both called Farhi to offer their support.

Farhi is a roving ambassador who lives in Israel and makes diplomatic visits to the countries she serves.

By- The Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has moved the third group of female offenders from Chikurubi female prison to Marodera Female Open Prison.

The move has decongested the correctional centre, holding more than its recommended capacity.

Marondera Female Open Prison was established in 2021.

To qualify for open prison, the inmate must have served at least one-third of their sentence at a closed facility where they would have demonstrated good behaviour.
Beneficiaries must also satisfy the selection board that they are of a fixed abode and are in contact with their families.

Among other specified offences, repeat offenders do not qualify for open prison.

By A Correspondent- Three robbers pounced at a house in Ascot Extension, Gweru and stole a vehicle and other goods before rɑp!ng two girls.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko yesterday confirmed the incident which occurred on Thursday.

“Police confirms investigating a rɑpǝ and other robbery cases where three unknown persons pounced on a family of four in Ascot suburb and robbed them of cash and cellphones. Two children were also rɑpǝd before the robbers drove away in the family’s Nissan Caravan vehicle,” Mahoko said.

Mahoko said on the fateful day, the three suspects who were armed with an axe, forcibly opened the door and demanded cash before threatening the occupants with death.

They tied the husband and wife with twine and covered them with blankets while demanding cash. The trio ransacked the house and took seven cellphones, two laptops, US$900, hardware tools and a Nissan Caravan vehicle, all valued at US$15 000.

— NewsDay

By A Correspondent- A man believed to be dead turned up alive eight months after his cremation in a sh0cking case of mistaken identity.

Deepak Balakrishnan Kandi was officially declared dead following his cremation ceremony before police discovered him alive in the town of Margao in Goa, India.

The 36-year-old was found in a hotel in the old station road area on Tuesday night.

Police was transferred to the custody of Kerala police, who had been searching for the man after it became apparent a body cremated months earlier was not his.

Sources claim Deepak went missing on June 7 last year from the town of Meppayur, which is in the Kerala district and around 540km south of Margao.

A missing person’s report was filed at the local police station before a body of a man recovered from a beach in Kerala in July and wrongfully identified as Deepak.

Deepak’s family performed the final rites, but days later, police discovered the cremated body in fact belonged to Irshad, a native of Panthirkkara in Kerala, who had also gone missing.

A DNA test was then carried out to confirm the remains of the man cremated were not Deepak’s and a major search was launched.

He was then discovered by officers during a routine surveillance of hotels.

— Mirror

By A Correspondent- An alleged attempt to bribe President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga by executives from the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe (IDC) using fertilisers is being investigated by the country’s anti-graft body, it has been revealed.

Disgruntled IDC employees triggered the investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) after they presented a dossier of alleged corrupt activities that included the flouting of tender procedures.

They claimed IDC general manager Winstone Makamure and chairperson Tome allegedly purchased fertilisers without following the due tender process and tried to donate them to Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.

Makamure and Tome were allegedly trying to influence the two leaders to give them an audience so that they could defend themselves against corruption allegations rocking the biggest state-owned industrial institution.

ome is pushing to be appointed substantive general manager so that he can cover up his shenanigans,” read part of the dossier submitted to Zacc.

“He favours management instead of general staff in terms of salaries and benefits.

“Resultantly, the chairman and the general manager are in connivance to ensure that their misdeeds are covered up.

“They bought 30 tonnes of fertilisers from (a company named) and donated to HE (Mnangagwa) and VP (Chiwenga) to buy their audience, but both refused to entertain them and just told them to leave the fertilisers in Kwekwe.z

They haven’t met them up to now. The company is struggling to pay for the fertiliser up to now.”

nyway Mutambudzi the chief director for presidential communications, yesterday said he could not comment on a matter that was under investigation.

“It would be improper for me to comment on a matter that is under probe by a constitutional institution,” Mutambudzi told The Standard.

“We would not want to interfere with the investigations. Zacc can answer to that.”

Zacc spokesperson Thandiwe Mlobane confirmed the developments and said the matter was being investigated under case number HCR26/01/23.

“I can confirm that Zacc received the report from IDC staff and like all other reports, it will be investigated,” Mlobane said.

The IDC executives are said to enjoy protection from some named top government officials.

Zacc investigators are said to have descended at the IDC offices on January 24 and served the institution with a warrant of search and seizure.

The aggrieved employees accused Makamure and Tome of abusing power by employing their relatives and giving them influential posts.

They were also accused of allocating company vehicles to their allies within the company and the vehicles were allegedly being used for personal business.

The workers claimed IDC incurred unnecessary costs from overstaffing and vehicle maintenance as the two were allegedly creating new posts in the organisation.

Contacted for comment, Tome said he was in a meeting. He had not responded by the time of going to print.

Makamure also did not respond to questions sent to him.

IDC is mandated to identify, develop and implement new and existing industries and industrial undertakings that promotes decentralisation of sustainable industrial development, equitable employment and empowerment opportunities in Zimbabwe..

The state-owned investment group has vast investments covering vehicle assembling, cement and chemical manufacturing, real estate, fertiliser production, edible oils manufacturing, mining, and industrial engineering among many others.

— The Standard

 By A Correspondent- A major campaign against drug suppliers has been launched by the police with Government backing in Harare, with 10 people arrested in the first hours yesterday.

“No to dangerous drugs and illicit substances” came as Government urged the police to redouble efforts against drug lords supplying unwanted substances to youths.

The Government sees rounding up drug kingpins would help save young people, many of whom were struggling with drugs.

Police in Harare will now man roadblocks and stop and search motorists and even passengers boarding vehicles.

Early in the launch yesterday, more than 10 people were arrested after they were found in possession of dangerous drugs such as mbanje and broncleer cough syrups popularly known as bronco.

The suspects, who are now assisting with investigations, will appear in court soon.

One of the suspects, Munyaradzi Mudyavaranzi, was found in possession of 50 bottles of Broncleer cough syrup while boarding a private vehicle.

He alleged that the couch syrup had been sent to him from someone in South Africa.

Another drug dealer was found with a small bag containing several sachets of mbanje.

Police will also be arresting users, but largely to lead them to where they bought the drugs.

Addressing journalists, permanent secretary for Harare Metropolitan Province Mr Tafadzwa Muguti said during the launch yesterday they were also educating motorists and the public on the dangers of drug abuse among the youths.

“What we have done today (yesterday) is just an awareness campaign,” he said.

“The roadblock was meant to educate the general citizens on the plight of drugs within Harare Province. As you know Harare Province is now becoming a haven of drug lords. This is our response to the drug lords as Harare Metropolitan Province.

“We are fed up and the citizens are also fed up. Together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police we have basically responded not only by raising more awareness, but also by setting up strategic points during this operation where we will be able to basically intercept. As you saw today we have managed to capture a number of drug lords who were actually transporting using passenger vehicles, using commuter omnibuses.”

Mr Muguti appealed to the public to report anyone dealing in drugs at any nearest police station, as some drug lords were using high density suburbs as safe havens, targeting people from the ages of 10 to 40 and 45 years.

“They are targeting even school children and we are also appealing to all headmasters and headmistresses, principals within the province to please report any signs that children might be taking drugs within schools. We are keen to end this pandemic, this evil which has come within our society. We are hoping that together with the media fraternity, together with all stakeholders, we can finally win and chase out this evil outside our homes,” Mr Muguti said.

Authorities were aware that some drug dealers have even gone to the extent of setting up offices and structures so that they can easily distribute drugs.

He appealed to night club owners not to let children below the age of 18 enter their premises as some of them were being introduced to drugs in such places.

Owners who breached the regulations risked being arrested and have their licences revoked, he said.

Mr Muguti said the police were going to arrest anyone found intoxicated so that he or she will provide them with information on where they were buying the drugs.

Officer Commanding Harare Province, Commissioner Wonder Tembo, said they were equally concerned about issues to do with drugs and they had come up with various measures to ensure that there was order.

“So many school children are being involved in drug abuse and we are encouraging them to stop,” he said. “We will not allow that to continue happening because it is destroying our nation. Remember, these are the future leaders and if it continues like that it means we will not have leaders tomorrow.”

Comm Tembo said police will also continue to conduct operations and awareness campaigns against drug abuse.

Police had already identified safe houses and suspected drug dealers and will soon raid them, while police intelligence teams have been heavily deployed on the ground.

— Herald

By-Three gold panners miners, who went viral on social media after narrating how they raped sex workers and were jailed, have now been freed.

The three Romeo Chirara, Admire Chirongoma and Thabani Gaza, later known as ‘Tobva Tadii Paya’ after Chirongoma repeatedly used the phrase in the narration, were sentenced to seven years in jail in 2018.

This week, a video circulated on social media showed the trio smiling after being released from prison.
People were even taking pictures with the trio.

By A Correspondent- For 81 year old Nyatsamba Sairos of Budiriro, Harare, his horrific experience at the hands of police on January 14, 2023 has left an indelible mark in his life.

On that fateful day, Sairos woke up early morning as usual planning to tend his crops a distance away from home, but later decided to visit his long-time friend who stays in the same neighbourhood.

This marked the beginning of his real life drama which would last the next 14 days.

He says on his way to see his friend, he was caught up in the crossfire as police swooped on opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party activists attending an unsanctioned meeting at Budiriro legislator Costa Machingauta’s house.

He was arrested alongside the CCC activists and bundled into a police truck charged with disturbing public peace in the suburb.

In a heart-wrenching interview with Heart & Soul Broadcasting Services (HStv), a radio and television web cast run by Alpha Media Holdings, Sairos still insists he was wrongly arrested.

“I was just walking along the street when I noticed a truckload of riot police officers. When I was still trying to figure out what was happening, another police officer grabbed me from behind claiming I was part of the group. I was shaken. He wanted to beat me up with a baton stick, but his colleague restrained him,” he said.

The octogenarian was then bundled into the police truck.

We were taken to Harare Central Police Station in the evening and for the next 14 days, I was in detention,” he said.

Sairos was not alone in that predicament. Another senior citizen, Misheck Nyembe (72), was also accosted and bundled into the same police truck after being found walking in the streets.

“A violent police officer grabbed me from behind and shoved me into the truck. I fell and hurt my back. I can’t even sit up properly now. They took us to Budiriro Police Station and they suggested that we pay bail. I don’t know what happened, we were later instructed to get into the car and we found ourselves being locked into cells at Harare Central Police Station,” Nyembe said.

After their initial remand appearance, they were sent to remand prison.

Sairos said the prison cells were a horror sight.

“The place one sleeps is not good, the water is unhygienic and the food is unhealthy. Any time, you can get a serious illness because of the bad conditions there. One of the people who was arrested with us caught COVID-19,” he said.

Nyembe chipped in saying it was difficult to survive in prison because of his health condition and advanced age.

“Prisoners are sleeping piled up like stones. If you want to go to the toilet at night, you walk on top of sleeping inmates. Since we are already old, we end up messing up ourselves before reaching the toilet. I don’t even know my crime. I was living nicely with my children and grandchildren.

“We were put in D Class. Some of the wardens wanted to beat me up because I kept standing up due to backache. Other prisoners were very understanding, they would give me water to bath. Now I am always scratching because of bites from lice,” Nyembe added.

For Sairos, he says his greatest pain emanated from the fact that he lost income while in incarceration because he survives on menial jobs.

“I survive on menial jobs and for 14 days in remand prison, I have lost income and I do not know how my family has been surviving. I am bitter because the police just picked us randomly without considering our ages,” he said.

Added Sairos: “I am a farmer, I look after my children. I have a big family and I also want change because there are no jobs. I have grandchildren that I look after. The mother of one of the grandchildren died when she (the grandchild) was less than two years old.”

Nyembe said for seven decades, he has been trying hard to stay out of trouble, and prison was a bitter pill for him to swallow.

“What pains me is that our family has a history of staying out of trouble. My grandfather died in 1968 at the age of 115, he was never arrested,” he said.

“My father died in 2021 at the age of 101, he was never arrested and now I am 72 years and had never been arrested.

“This is so painful to me because I did not transgress in any way, but I was arrested, and have broken the family’s tradition of living a crime-free life.”

Their lawyer Chris Mhike, who managed to secure their bail on January 29, said the two should never have been arrested.

“I am happy they are out, but they should never have been arrested. Their arrest was unjustifiable,” Mhike said.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) yesterday released the 2022 Ordinary Level examination results, with 4 961 candidates having their results nullified for cheating.

The examinations were marred by several irregularities.

Candidates who had pre-access to question papers at different examination centres were identified during the writing of the examinations and also at the marking of scripts and grade review stages,” Zimsec chairperson Eddie Mwenje said in a statement.

“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.

“All other practices that contravened the Zimsec Act were brought to the attention of Zimsec by respective schools. As a result of the combined investigation reports from schools, and the identification of culprits at the marking and grade reviews 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% of the total candidate entry.”

wenje said the overall pass rate for last year’s examinations increased by 2,62% to 28.96% compared to 26,34% recorded in 2021.

“A total of 278 760 candidates sat for the November 2022 examinations as compared to 249 914 candidates who sat for the same examinations in 2021. There was an increase in the candidature of 28 846, thus translating to an increase of 11,54%.

“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% as compared to l63 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%. The statistics show that the 2022 pass rate increased by 2,62% from 2021.”

Mwenje added that school candidates who wrote five or more subjects in 2022 were 162 813 and 49 501 obtained Grade C or better, yielding a pass rate of 30,4 % as compared to that of 2021 where 148 005 wrote five or more subjects with 40 473 obtaining a Grade C or better in five or more subjects.

Private candidates who wrote five or more subjects were 20 771 and 3 668 obtained grade C or better in five or more subjects, which also translates to a pass rate of 17,66% as compared to that of 2021 where 15 174 wrote five or more subjects with 2 512 obtaining a grade C or better in five or more subjects resulting in a pass rate of 16,55%. This shows a 1,11% increase in the 2022 pass rate for private candidates.”

By- The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) said it has 465 dangerous criminals with mental illness against a holding capacity of 150 at its chikurubi maximum security prison.

One of the detained mental patient inmates is Zimbabwe’s most prolific serial killer, Bright Zhantali, who is also undergoing medical evaluation to determine the state of his mental health.
The Sunday Mail has gathered that about 408 inmates committed to the unit have been classified as criminal mental patients (CMPs), which means their criminal cases are still pending before the courts.
The rest have been classified as detained mental patients (DMPs), a classification reserved for convicted criminals with psychiatric disorders.
About 55 percent of those housed in the unit were involved or are suspected of having committed offences such as murder and attempted murder, while 45 percent are either facing charges or have been convicted of serious offences such as rape and armed robbery.
Zhantali is accused of raping and killing 23 women during a year-long reign of terror that spanned Marondera, Goromonzi, Rusape, Mutare and Macheke.
The suspected serial killer, who hails from Dandamera Township in Concession, Mashonaland Central Province, is believed to have confessed to most of the murders, even suggesting that he may have killed more people.
He is suspected of having committed seven murders between January and March last year.
The Chikurubi prison psychiatrist, Chief Superintendent Christopher Njanjeni, said: “Yes, I can confirm that Zhantali is in the Chikurubi psychiatric unit, undergoing observation and treatment.
“We currently have 465 mental patients in our psychiatric unit against a carrying capacity of 150 patients.
“We have two categories of psychiatric patients — criminal mental patients and detained mental patients.
“Currently, we have a total of 465 mental patients, of which 408 are CMPs and 57 are DMPs.”
He said inmates were only committed to the unit on the orders of a magistrate.
“These people are there for medical investigations after a special ruling by a magistrate when an accused person starts to develop signs of mental illness.
“When a prisoner starts showing signs of mental health problems, the officer-in-charge of the prison reports the case to the nearest magistrate.
“A special board of professionals will then sit to determine whether the patient can be confirmed to be mentally disturbed, in consultation with professional psychiatric medical practitioners.”
He said the inmates are under the care of specially trained security officers.
“On treatment, our manual is the Mental Health Act, which dictates how mental patients are treated, in line with national and international guidelines.
“We have officers who provide physical security and medical staff, who are involved in the management and dispensing of treatment drugs.
“We also have psychologists, who continuously monitor and provide psychological support to the patients.”
The unit, he said, was presently beset by a range of challenges, including inadequate accommodation and clothing for inmates, as well as power outages.
“Medication for the inmates is also a challenge.
“We are currently using first-generation drugs to manage the patients because the modern second-generation drugs are not available.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) national spokesperson Chief Superintendent Meya Kanyezi said there are plans to expand Chikurubi’s psychiatric unit.
“Those who are willing can come on board to help us and the mental patients. These inmates are our brothers, sisters and also Zimbabweans like us,” she said.
“When a person is detained, we expect society to visit him or her.
“When people are sentenced and detained, relatives usually desert them and that is also the case with mental health patients in our custody.
“Society and relatives must visit the patients and bring them goodies from home, which also helps as a form of therapy because, as you know, as ZPCS, we take a correctional approach to the rehabilitation of prisoners.”
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Ms Angeline Munyeriwa said the authority was guided by the Mental Health Act when dealing with matters pertaining to mental illness or suspected mental illness in accused persons.
“Where an inmate is on remand awaiting trial or during the course of a trial exhibits signs of mental illness and it is brought to the attention of the prison authorities or the knowledge of the prosecutor, the prison authorities or the prosecutor is enjoined in terms of Section 27 (of the Mental Health Act) to report the fact to the magistrate,” she said.
“The magistrate will then make an order directing the accused person be examined by two doctors.”
The examination is meant to inquire into the accused’s state of mind.
“If the doctors make the same finding that the accused is not suffering from mental illness, then there will be no need for a further examination or psychiatric examination.”
However, if both doctors conclude that the accused person is showing signs of mental illness, “then the accused person will be detained in an institution designated for such a purpose for further care and management by a psychiatrist”.
But, if the doctors arrive at contradictory conclusions, an opinion from a third medical practitioner will be sought, “and the court will be guided by the three reports”.
Only the medical experts are qualified to make a finding that an accused person is genuinely suffering from a mental illness.

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