By-Police details in Harare are hunting down a bouncer who wreaked havoc at Pabloz Night Club, Sam Levy village, Borrowdale, Harare, on Unity Day.

The bouncer brandished a knife and threatened to stab other patrons.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said the suspect had to be restrained by other people but not before one person was stabbed in the right hand. A statement from the police reads:

The ZRP reiterates that investigations are at an advanced stage with a view of arresting the suspect who is seen on a video that has gone viral on social media openly brandishing a knife at Pabloz Night Club, Sam Levy village, Borrowdale, Harare while threatening to stab other patrons after a dispute. The suspect had to be restrained by other people.

The incident occurred on 22/12/22 and was reported at ZRP Borrowdale. One person sustained a stab wound on the right hand.

The police will give an update soon. The suspect’s particulars will also be revealed.

According to H-Metro, the ZRP has launched a manhunt for Gideon Sanyangore and Blessing Kumunda in connection with the incident at Pabloz nightclub and “chaos” at various music events.

By- Police in the Free-State province have arrested three Whites who beat up two black teenagers for using a local pool.

A thirteen and 18-year-old were attacked by a group of white men at the resort on Christmas Day at Maselspoort Resort outside Bloemfontein.
It is alleged the white men tried to prevent the teens from using the swimming pool at the resort.
The alleged racist attack, filmed by their sister Tumii Frost and posted on Twitter, has sparked widespread condemnation from the community, government, and political parties.
While police have confirmed they are investigating charges of common assault, the teens’ father Brian Nakedi told The Citizen authorities should be investigating attempted murder charges.
Ramaphosa has commended the South African Police Service for opening dockets and launching investigations into the case of suspected racism.
“As black and white South Africans, we should be united in condemning all manifestations of racism and attempts to explain or defend such crimes.
“Racism is not a problem to be fought by black South Africans only.”
“We must also be united in ridding our society of the violence we see in the videos of the incident at the Free State resort, whether such violence comes with racism or not,” the president said.
Ramaphosa added that there is no place for grown men attacking children in South Africa.
“It is deplorable that adults dealing with teenagers resort to violence with such disturbing ease, hurting people physically and offending provisions in our Bill of Rights around security of the person, including the right to dignity and being free of violence.”
Ramaphosa said racism in South Africa must end.
“Under the rule of law, we must let investigations take their course but under the rule of law we can and must also declare that racism has no place in our society and racists have no place to hide.
“We must defend our continuing national mission of ridding our society of the divisions and the hurts of our past,” Ramaphosa said. — The Citizen.

By-Zimbabweans in South Africa have expressed mixed feelings as the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) facility is left six months before the extension expiry.

The South African government announced its terminating the ZEPs in June 2023.

This decision will affect about 180 000 Zimbabweans residing in that country.

As early as October, the Zimbabwean government announced that it was prepared for its nationals who were coming home to start a new life and would assist them with transport and other logistics.

Statistics from the Home Affairs department suggest that there has been a low uptake of other visa facilities amid reports that some Zimbabweans are looking for jobs abroad as caregivers and elementary school teachers.

On average, more than 12 000 people are entering Zimbabwe through Beitbridge daily during the festive season.

Between 5-10 December, 62 770 people entered Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge border.

South Africa’s head of immigration at the border, Cannie Magaya, told News24 that although they had no figures yet, on the days leading up to Christmas, there had been an increase in traffic.

She said it could stay like that until early January when people start returning to South Africa.

Brian Moyo, a Zimbabwean working as a teacher in SA, didn’t apply for the special skills visa because he felt it was a waste of time.

While he is going back home in early January, he has set his sights on jobs in China. He said:

I teach English and that’s not a special skill. I stood a chance as a science or mathematics teacher, as such, applying for other visas was a waste of time for me.

Moyo who taught at some private schools back home before migrating to South Africa feels his experience there could help him in China. 

Salaries for teaching jobs in China range from R70 000 to R120 000, depending on the type of school and level of experience.

Another opportunity will come into effect in March when the United Kingdom opens up for teachers from South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

Working in South Africa has also become very difficult for those spending their money in Zimbabwe because of the rand’s volatility against the US dollar, the preferred currency of trade.

During the festive season, R100 is the equivalent of $5.80, but most shops or businesses only value it at $5.

Steven Tshuma, another Zimbabwean based in South Africa said he is starting a nurse aid course with the Red Cross in SA early next year to capacitate him to work in Canada or Australia.

Tshuma who works at a restaurant and has come face to face with members of Operation Dudula – a vigilante group that intimidates migrants, says he has no excuse to be in South Africa as Dudula “could burn us alive.”

By the end of October, fewer than 10% of ZEP holders had applied for the available mainstream visas.

An estimated 180 000 ZEP holders will be affected by the 30 June 2023 deadline set by the government.

Shiela Ncube, a domestic worker in Johannesburg, has no plans of leaving the country.

She hopes her boss will find a way around the system to keep her in SA.

She has been with the family for close to a decade.

Asked about looking for housekeeping jobs abroad, she replied: “No way.”

By- The opposition CCC’s Manicaland Elections Director Gabriel Chiwara has died.

Chiwara died Tuesday of an electric shock from a fault that occurred while at work.

“We are sorry for losing Sekuru, we hear he got electrocuted following a fault in the ceiling; so it was discovered later after failing to return home; so this how we hear it all happened,” an unnamed nephew said in a voice message.
Further details were not available at the time of writing.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC youth taskforce spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has urged citizens to fight for the release of Hon Job Sikhala from jail.

According to Chuma, silence over Sikhala’s detention is an endorsement of the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s evil machinations.

Sarkozy fumed:
“Silence over @JobSikhala1 issue is not only betrayal but endorsement of Mnangagwa’s evils.

Let’s not tire in demanding his freedom!

FreeWiwa.”

“FREE SIKHALA: Hon @JobSikhala1 has been locked up in the country’s maximum security prison, Chikurubi Maximum Prison for 196 days without trial.

He’s been denied bail by the regime in Harare on numerous occasions yet bail is a constitutional right. #WiwaWednesday #FreeWiwa,”CCC said in a statement on Wednesday.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has said a new Zimbabwe is coming in 2023.

The CCC leader is at his rural home in Gutu for the festive season.

“I’M IN GUTU at my rural home.

Keep strong and safe. We have a great task ahead of us.

We have to deliver New and Great Zimbabwe no matter what! God bless you,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.

By James Gwati- The death toll Boksburg gas tanker explosion has risen to 26.

The tanker driver has since been arrested and charged with culpable homicide and negligence, among several other offences.

The 32-year-old driver was expected to appear in court today but could not make it as the police are still looking for some company details.

Gauteng provincial Premier, Panyaza Lisufi, told reporters Wednesday that eight more people have died in the past few hours.

Among the dead, eight of them are nurses who were on duty at OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.

The explosion happened Saturday morning on Hospital Road, a few metres from OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.

The truck is reported to belong to LP Gas.
The fire from the explosion also destroyed the OR Tambo Hospital.

The tanker drove into a low-lying bridge resulting in the accident.

Videos and photos shared on social media show bodies lying on the ground and severely burnt people trying to get medical help.
https://twitter.com/TheCitizen_News/status/1606535591163740160

By James Gwati- The death toll Boksburg gas tanker explosion has risen to 18, eight of the deceased being nurses.

The tanker driver has since been arrested and charged with culpable homicide and negligence, among several other offences.

Newzroom Afrika reports Tuesday that 18 people have died as a result of the accident. The news channels said eight of them are nurses who were on duty at OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.

The explosion happened Saturday morning on Hospital Road, a few metres from OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.

The truck is reported to belong to LP Gas.
The fire from the explosion also destroyed the OR Tambo Hospital.

The tanker drove into a low-lying bridge resulting in the accident.

Videos and photos shared on social media show bodies lying on the ground and severely burnt people trying to get medical help.
https://twitter.com/TheCitizen_News/status/1606535591163740160

By-The leader of the MDC, Douglas Mwonzora, said that he would rule Zimbabwe better than it is in the hands of Zanu PF.

He also said he was prepared to perform more than any other party if elected in the next year’s election.

In his Christmas Day message, Mwonzora, who is yet to contest in any election since taking over leadership of MDC from Thokozani Khupe at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, said:

I know that there are many of us who are stressed regarding what to spend on Christmas because the money and resources are not there.

Please take heart in the fact that the new government led by the MDC is coming.

It is a social-democratic government that is going to bring prosperity and end the suffering of Zimbabweans, and peace for the people of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a high rate of inflation, exchange rate volatility, the erosion of salaries for those with jobs and a high rate of unemployment.

Mwonzora was recently elected uncontested to represent the MDC at next year’s elections.

He will likely face CCC president Nelson Chamisa and ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa in the race for the highest political office in the land. | NewZimbabwe.com

By-Gweru district has recorded a high number of condom distribution, the National Aids Council has announced.

NAC said Gweru District received over 600 000 condoms for both females and males from January to date.

Three hundred eighty-eight thousand thirty condoms were distributed during the same period in 2021.

Petros Mazengwa, who is Gweru District HIV and Aids co-ordinator at the National Aids Council (NAC) told the Chronicle that this is mainly attributed to the role played by Condom Champions (CC) who are supporting the distribution of condoms. Said Mazengwa:

Gweru district has recorded a surge in condom use after over 600 000 condoms both female and male were distributed from January to date. Condoms distributed are 581 709 males and 24 716 females.

A total 388 030 condoms were distributed last year in the district meaning we have a surge in condom distribution this year.

He said the CC volunteers are based in the wards and are involved in condom distribution, monitoring and information dissemination on “combination HIV prevention”. Said Mazengwa:

The district currently has 19 Condom Champions covering all wards. The Condom Champions also support other combination prevention programs by way of creating demand for services like HIV testing services (HTS), voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), cancer screening and others.

He said condoms are usually distributed at hotspots like beer outlets, clubs and other public drinking facilities as well as at universities and colleges.

When used correctly and consistently, condoms are a reliable method of preventing pregnancy and protecting both partners from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). | Chronicle

By- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has opened up on the assassination of national hero and Zimbabwe National Liberation Army (ZANLA) commander Josiah Magama Tongogara.

Tongogara died in a suspicious accident on the eve of independence.

Chiwenga opened up while addressing relatives, friends, colleagues and senior Government officials who had converged at the National Heroes Acre to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of Tongogara’s death. Said Chiwenga:

To be where we are today it is because of that intelligent and brilliant commander, he foresaw things that we did not see ourselves at that time, that yes we are fighting but one day we will be free.

He was very aware that he would not see the new Zimbabwe, that he would not see independent Zimbabwe.

He would always say well let us fight, the day l go is the day you are going to be free.

We don’t know why, because he had a prophetic mind. It was unfortunate that he died on that fateful day.

Tongogara was born on 4 February 1938 in Shurugwi and died on Boxing Day in 1979 in a vehicle accident in Mozambique, soon after the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement. | The Herald

By- A women’s political rights lobby grouping, the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE), is challenging the Customs and Excise Act which prohibits the importation of sex toys (dildos), saying the law violates women’s rights to pleasure.

WALPE executive director Sitabile Dewa lodged a court application challenging the legality of Section 47(1) b of the Customs and Excise Act which criminalises the importation of goods regarded as indecent.
In a statement, WALPE said the law is archaic and infringes on women’s rights to sexual pleasure. Part of the statement reads:
WALPE executive director Dewa is approaching the courts to challenge Section 47(1)b of the Customs and Excise Act which prohibits the importation of any goods which are indecent, obscene, or objectionable.
She is arguing that the law is draconian, and archaic and infringes on women’s rights to sexual pleasure, right to choice and association.
Dewa is being represented by human rights lawyer Jeremiah Bamu of Mbidzo Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners.
The law was used to convict a Harare resident, Ayanda Muponda, who sold dildos.

In the age of high- tech innovation that we now live in, many have come to associate innovation and creativity with technological advances – new and improved products and processes, faster devices that can do more, and sleek interfaces that elevate user experiences.

It is however rare to come across a company that takes the principles of  innovation and creativity beyond product and process design and into marketing and CSR. From its inception the Econet brand has always been associated with a pioneering mindset.

As the country’s  leading telecommunications, media, and technology company, Econet Wireless has been at the forefront of developing numerous innovations designed to meet the needs of their individual and corporate customers.

From mobile wallets to ride-hailing apps, they are almost always first on the market with technology-enhanced products. 

This culture of innovation goes beyond product design, and permeates the very ethos of the company, as seen in its cutting edge marketing and social responsibility campaigns.

Over the past twenty years, the company has supported innovative social impact programmes in education, public health and youth leadership.

The culture of creativity is evident in this year’s IKhisimusi Sifikile promotion, where the brand has masterfully collaborated with popular artist Jah Prayzah in a remake of the Christmas anthem originally sung by legendary Paul Matavire.

In a move that could be described as a stroke of genius, the Econet leadership team has also built a CSR component into the promotion, ensuring that the Christmas spirit goes beyond meeting the needs of their own customers and  into the broader community.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many underprivileged groups and individuals have continued to suffer the consequences, with reduced donations coming in as they fall further down the list of priorities for hard-pressed corporates and families.

The Econet promotion aims to promote generosity by triggering the implementation of initiatives with positive sustainable impact.

It reminds consumers that the festive season is as much about giving as it is about receiving and enables interactive engagement with customers.

It is no wonder that the company scooped three coveted awards at the year’s Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) Superbrand Awards.

These were Overall MAZ Superbrand of the Year, Best Superbrand in the Telecommunication sector and Best Superbrand in the Business-to-Consumer category.  

Running under the theme: Brand Relevance and Dominance in the Age of the customer, the awards aimed to recognise brands that demonstrate continuous innovation and creativity, and the iKIhisimusi Sifikile promotion is just one example of how Econet leads in this area.

Where an annual promotion could become dull and repetitive, the Econet team has risen to the challenge, adding higher stakes, more strategic collaboration and border community care to their annual end of year campaign, demonstrating its commitment to innovation and creativity.

– Ends

” My nephew is the one involved in this accident,” explains a mourning Sydney Mugadza over the Beatrice road accident that killed 2 people (pic).

He explains over the circumstances saying,

” I think he was sleeping because he was coming from a funeral and transporting a mother from the airport, when he rammed straight into this bus at Beatrice road,” he adds.

He continues hinting that two people died: “a brother in law and my nephew perished,” he says.

By James Gwati- The ruling Zanu PF party is pressing for the arrest of CCC Harare councillors on crafted allegations of land corruption.

Pushing for the arrests of Chamisa aides is the Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province Tafadzwa Muguti.

Zanu PF appointed Muguti to spy on the CCC-dominated Harare city council.

Muguti announced on Christmas day that the arrests of several CCC councillors were imminent.
He said:
We have been witnessing massive land sales even in wetlands. When I engaged the Mayor [Jacob Mafume] he also expressed concern.
We will get to the bottom of this and find out who did what and when. I can promise that we will deal decisively with all those who cut corners to enrich themselves.
We will not leave any stone unturned as we seek the truth. The level of corruption in the [Harare City Council] has reached exhaustion and disgusting levels.
The land is easily sold off, including wetlands with no change of use. Heads will roll that I can promise.

Last week the state media also hinted at the imminent arrests.

The Herald said that CCC and MDC Alliance councillors, working in cahoots with top council officials, were buying commercial and industrial stands for as little as US$60 and reselling them at more than US$120 000.

By James Gwati- Police in South Africa have arrested and charged the gas tanker driver that exploded in Boksburg, Gauteng.

The 32 years old South African driver was arrested while in hospital, receiving treatment for the burns from the explosion.

He has been charged with culpable homicide and negligence, among several other offences.

So far, 15 people have died as a result of the accident.

The explosion happened Saturday morning on Hospital Road, a few metres from OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.

The truck is reported to belong to LP Gas.
The fire from the explosion also destroyed the OR Tambo Hospital.

The tanker drove into a low-lying bridge resulting in the accident.

Videos and photos shared on social media show bodies lying on the ground and severely burnt people trying to get medical help.
https://twitter.com/TheCitizen_News/status/1606535591163740160

Opposition MDC president Douglas Mwonzora has promised to fix all problems being faced by Zimbabweans who are currently struggling to make ends meet in this festive season and beyond when he eventually takes over next year.

Mwonzora, who is yet to run in any election since taking over leadership of MDC from Thokozani Khupe, said Zimbabweans should expect prosperity next year.

“I know that there are many of us who are stressed regards what to spend on Christmas, because the money and resources are not there,” said Mwonzora.

“Please take heart in the fact that the new government led by the MDC is coming. It is social-democratic government that is going to bring prosperity and end suffering of Zimbabweans, peace for the people of Zimbabwe.”

A high unemployment rate, poor working conditions and low salaries have resigned Zimbabweans to a subdued festive season.

Mwonzora was recently elected uncontested to represent the MDC at next year’s polls.

He will stand against rival Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) president Nelson Chamisa and Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa, who are the main contenders.

-NewZimbabwe

By James Gwati- Zanu PF is pushing for the arrest of CCC Harare councillors on allegations of land corruption.

Pushing the arrest of Chamisa aides is the Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province Tafadzwa Muguti.

Zanu PF appointed Muguti to oversee the affairs of the City, dominated by CCC councillors.

He announced on Christmas day that the arrest of CCC councillors was imminent.
He said:
We have been witnessing massive land sales even in wetlands. When I engaged the Mayor [Jacob Mafume] he also expressed concern.
We will get to the bottom of this and find out who did what and when. I can promise that we will deal decisively with all those who cut corners to enrich themselves.
We will not leave any stone unturned as we seek the truth. The level of corruption in the [Harare City Council] has reached exhaustion and disgusting levels.
The land is easily sold off, including wetlands with no change of use. Heads will roll that I can promise.

Last week the state media also hinted at the imminent arrests.

The Herald said that CCC and MDC Alliance councillors, working in cahoots with top council officials, were buying commercial and industrial stands for as little as US$60 and reselling them at more than US$120 000.

By- The death toll for the weekend gas tanker explosion in Boksburg, Gauteng, has risen to 15.

The explosion happened on Hospital Road, a few metres from OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.
The truck is reported to belong to LP Gas.
The OR Tambo Hospital is on fire, with patients scrambling to safety.
Three or four cars are also said to have been involved in the accident.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the tanker drove into a low-lying bridge.

Videos and photos shared on social media show bodies lying on the ground and severely burnt people trying to get medical help.
https://twitter.com/TheCitizen_News/status/1606535591163740160

By-Some workers at the Chinese-owned Hualin Investments (Pvt) Limited mine in Pumula North, Bulawayo, are reportedly sleeping in dog kennels due to a shortage of accommodation.

This was revealed by a study on the mine conducted by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, Peter Nkala.

The research was titled “Quarrying my doorstep: The case of one company in Ward 17, Bulawayo Metropolitan Province”.

Nkala presented his findings at a Policy Brief hosted by the Public Policy and Research Institute of Zimbabwe (PPRZ) last Thursday. He said:

Some of the concerns raised are that blasting is affecting the houses and other infrastructure in the area.

There is damage to the roads in the area as 21-tonne trucks coming to collect the quarry are damaging roads.

Employment of outsiders who are actually desperate that they accept living in dog kennels.

… People are working long hours and are underpaid. Dust from the quarry is affecting people as well as flora and fauna.

There are unfulfilled promises by the investor such as donating Jojo tanks.

The company drilled a borehole to meet their water requirements but it is said they will not share the water with the community, which is not good neighbourliness.

After the presentations, participants queried how Hualin was allowed to operate without considering the effects of its activities on the environment.

Ward 17 councillor, Sikhululekile Moyo, who was also present at the policy brief, said Hualin applied to operate as was given a licence by the Ministry of Mines. | CITE

By James Gwati- The country has lost one of the finest and young judges, justice Elija Makomo.

Makomo died at the Avenues clinic this morning after a short illness.

He was 44.

Sunday, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) said it had lost a valuable asset in a statement announcing his death.

” The Judicial Service Commissioners; the Judge President of the High Court; Judges and Magistrates; the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission; and all members of the Judicial Service would like to express deepest condolences to the Makomo family on the passing on of the Honourable Justice Elijah Makomo at the Avenues Clinic in Harare on Sunday, 25 December 2022.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Mrs Ansicaria Makomo and children. May the Lord comfort them during this difficult time,” said JSC.

Makomo joined the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as a Magistrate in 2005 after a brief stint in the police force.

He rose through the ranks in the Magistracy and was promoted to Deputy Chief Magistrate in 2018.

He was the Registrar of the High Court from 2012 to 2013 and became the Chief Registrar of the Superior Courts, following in 2019.

In 2020, Makomo was appointed the JSC Head of Policy and Legal Services.

In 2021, he became a Judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe.

Justice Makomo studied Law at the University of South Africa.

He also had a Master of Law in Corporate Law and Masters in Business Administration.

Mourners are gathered at number 323 off Biston Road New Grange Harare.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

By- Chang Champion-in-chief and opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa has sent food packages to the Nyatsime 16 and jailed party’s deputy chair Job Sikhala’s family.

Gift “Ostallos” Siziba, the party’s deputy spokesperson, said on Friday that the food hampers were proceeds of the 2022 Presidential Charity dinner.

He posted on Twitter:
Today President Chamisa handed over food hampers to the less privileged, people living with disabilities, and the elderly.
These are the proceeds of the 2022 Presidential Charity dinner held last week.
The Presidency does this as a gesture of love and solidarity.
… Today President @nelsonchamisa sent Christmas hampers to Hon Job Sikhala family and the Nyatsime 16.
We spent our day with these progressive Citizens as part of our practice of solidarity.
Thank you, Zimbabwe for the love and support. One day we shall be free. Together we can!
Chamisa also confirmed the development via his Twitter account. He wrote:
Christmas time is about loving, giving and sharing. We had such a special and wonderful time today as we distributed hampers to the elderly and deserving in society.

By- The opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa has handed out food packages to the jailed Zengeza West Job Sikhala’s family.

Chamisa also did the same to the “Nyatsime 16”.

Gift “Ostallos” Siziba, the party’s deputy spokesperson, said the food hampers were proceeds of the 2022 Presidential Charity dinner.

He posted on Twitter:
Today President Chamisa handed over food hampers to the less privileged, people living with disabilities, and the elderly.
These are the proceeds of the 2022 Presidential Charity dinner held last week.
The Presidency does this as a gesture of love and solidarity.
… Today President @nelsonchamisa sent Christmas hampers to Hon Job Sikhala family and the Nyatsime 16.
We spent our day with these progressive Citizens as part of our practice of solidarity.
Thank you, Zimbabwe for the love and support. One day we shall be free. Together we can!
Chamisa also confirmed the development via his Twitter account. He wrote:
Christmas time is about loving, giving and sharing. We had such a special and wonderful time today as we distributed hampers to the elderly and deserving in society.

By-Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has taken over from President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has gone on annual leave.

Chiwenga will be the acting President until the end of January when Mnangagwa returns.

The state media cited Acting Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Mr George Charamba.

 He is quoted as saying:

Just to inform the nation that His Excellency, President Mnangagwa started his by annual leave yesterday the 23rd of December which will run until the end of January, he has no intention of leaving the country he will spend his entire leave in the country, most probably between the capital and his farm. You know he’s a big farmer, he is behind the agriculture transformation that he has always called for, and he decided to lead by example. And my hunch is that he will be tending to his crops as well as his animals. Vice President Chiwenga will be the Acting President for the entire period the President is on leave.

The President traditionally takes his annual leave in January. 

Unlike his predecessor, the late Robert Mugabe who would fly to the Far East during his annual vacations, Mnangagwa has previously spent month-long vacations in the country.

Govt has promised to house 2,000 state employees by April next year.

The govt says a housing boom is expected in the country which will see an initial 2 000 civil servants getting houses in a pilot project that has already started in Bulawayo with the recipients expected to move into their houses in April next year.

The project is set to spread to Harare and Marondera once the pilot project has been completed with more units being constructed for the Government workers.

The initiative will go a long way in addressing the national housing backlog that is currently pegged at just over two million.

Providing decent accommodation for workers and citizens is one of the top priority areas for the Second Republic which targets to provide 1,2 million housing units by 2030 to clear the 1,5 million housing backlog countrywide.

Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the Zimbabwe National Human Settlement Policy in September last year and the Ministry of National Housing is operationalising the policy in partnership with the private sector in line with Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

Delivering affordable and quality settlements in urban and rural areas is one of the Government’s core targets to improve access to affordable and quality housing and social amenities under the economic blueprint.

The Government is working on various housing schemes for its workers with flats planned at health institutions, amid plans to have onsite accommodation at all places of work.

Most of the works is in partnership with the private sector, and Shelter Afrique, a pan-African housing development financier that provides housing solutions in the continent recently extended a US$25 million sovereign credit facility towards the construction of 3 000 housing units countrywide, with at least 300 units expected for each of the 10 provinces.

In the Bulawayo civil servants’ housing scheme, over 2 000 Government workers from the city are set to get houses at Emthunzini suburb which is being administered by Hawkflight Construction and another developer who will build houses in the Rangemore area.

The Bulawayo scheme was initiated by Zanu-PF provincial chairperson, Jabulani Sibanda, who was, however not reachable when contacted for comment.

Hawkflight’s legal and operations manager, Mr Martin Moyo yesterday revealed that after the completion of the pilot project in Bulawayo they will move to Harare then Marondera.

“This is a facility which as a company we have been doing for some time but this time around the Government is taking a lead role where it has been noted that there is a need to empower our civil servants by giving them their own houses.

“What will happen is that those interested will pay an administration fee of US$250 then they will get a complete house, either a two or four roomed and then they will pay monthly rentals of US$158 or US$198 respectively, for the next 25 years,” said Mr Moyo.

He said as a company that is into property construction they had seen it fit to come up with the scheme so as to play their role in the development of the nation.

“The Bulawayo project is a pilot programme to the nationwide venture where we will move to Harare then Marondera, where civil servants will be given the houses of their choice. This is the little we can do towards the Second Republic’s goal of leaving no one and no place behind,” said Mr Moyo.

Meanwhile, the Government is also working on modalities to facilitate a housing scheme for journalists in the country with plans already underway to build 1 000 flats as part of the first phase.

Land would also be availed to journalists to start projects.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza made the revelations at the recent Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) retreat in Victoria Falls saying providing accommodation for journalists is one of the strategies the Ministry will implement with the aim of improving conditions of service for members of the Fourth Estate.

Deputy Minister Paradza said the scheme came through engagements with the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) and a private developer has already been identified with modalities being worked out.

“What we have done as a Ministry is that after the ZUJ leadership came to see us with the Minister (Monica Mutsvangwa) they talked about lack of accommodation for their members and also land in terms of farms and plots.

“The Minister assigned me to go and find out whether we can have investors who are willing to assist in this regard and so we have identified one developer who we are working with right now. The developer has sent in the proposal and the Minister is dealing with that,” said Deputy Minister Paradza.

He said engagements are underway as he had been assigned to spearhead the process.

“So this land developer has the capacity to build for now, 1 000 flats for journalists who will have to pay say 10 percent deposit and thereafter pay just a minimum for a period of time. So we are working on that and the flats will be everywhere in all provinces.

The idea is to engage local authorities to set up land for these developers,” he said.

ZUJ secretary-general Perfect Hlongwane said the engagements are part of efforts to address the welfare of journalists.

He said ZUJ has about 1 500 members across the country and is on a mobilisation and recruitment drive to grow numbers.

“It’s a fact that a scheme is being worked on to ensure that our journalists are home owners which is something that we set out to do from the onset.

We have been engaging and we continue to do so with the public and private sectors for this and we are happy that the Ministry gave us an ear and have so far identified a land developer who we shall let people know of in due course when we are done with the preliminary process,” said Hlongwane.-state media

At least 20 000 travellers crossed from South Africa into Zimbabwe at the Beitbridge Border Post in Musina, Limpopo, from the 23rd to the 24th of December, the Border Management Authority (BMA) has said.

Different from the past years, travellers were not spending nights in the queue before being processed.

BMA commissioner Mike Masiapato says the Beitbridge Border Post is experiencing a high number of people crossing than other ports of entry. He said:

Inside the port, all the process is up and running in terms of the ICT or the computers.

We always have challenges where during load shedding the system is always going down.

This time we make sure that we have experts on the ground, so the capacity is here, additional capacity.

I can indicate that the average we are able to process over a period is about 15 000.

Last, we have processed over 14 000 and up to this point, we processed over 8 000 trucks. We processed about 600 in a 24-hour basis.

People who were crossing to the Zimbabwean side at Beitbridge Border Post from South Africa commended border officials for improving services. One of the travellers said:

The service at the border, I just arrived now but it’s moving. I hope we are going to reach home in time.

Me, I would clap for immigration because there are no queues. These guys are well-organised. It is moving 100%; I give them a clap.

However, traffic was heavily congested on the N1 road between Musina, a town in South Africa, and the border post. | SABC News

By James Gwati-CCC deputy chairman, Job Sikhala has missed this year’s Christmas.

The Zengeza West Member of Parliament is spending the Christmas holiday in prison after his arrest in June on trumped-up charges of inciting violence.

His son, Job Sikhala (Jnr), has described his father’s prolonged detention as “cruelty”

He made the remarks while speaking on South African broadcaster SABC News. 

The police arrested Sikhala in June on charges of inciting public violence, which erupted during the funeral wake of his deceased client and opposition party member, Moreblessing Ali.

Ali was was killed by a known Zanu PF activist Pius Mukandi.

Job Jnr said:

It is difficult for us to accept that we do not have our father, we cannot believe that he has been incarcerated by this military regime for over 190 days now. It is hard for us to accept this kind of cruelty.

It has been hard on us because Sikhala has 16 children who need to be fed, who need school fees and other expenses. We are surviving on well-wishers who have been giving us money and fuel coupons to visit him because we cannot afford.

Sikhala, who is also caused of obstructing the course of justice, claims his imprisonment is politically motivated adding that the ruling party is afraid his political influence could result in its loss at next year’s elections. He spoke from Chikurubi Prison:

I have prepared myself for a long stay and am ready to stay until the cows come home. This is just an attempt to delay the inevitable, a Zanu PF loss. I am willing to be here until the end.

Sikhala will most likely spend Christmas in jail.

His next court appearance is set for December 29.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has handed over power to his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.

Chiwenga has taken over Mnangagwa’s position in an acting capacity as the President commences his annual leave.

 Mnangagwa will be back to work at the end of January.

Chiwenga, who doubles as the Minister of Health and Child Care, will enjoy Mnangagwa’s post for the entire period the President will be on leave.

The state media cited Acting Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Mr George Charamba.

 He is quoted as saying:

Just to inform the nation that His Excellency, President Mnangagwa started his by annual leave yesterday the 23rd of December which will run until the end of January, he has no intention of leaving the country he will spend his entire leave in the country, most probably between the capital and his farm. You know he’s a big farmer, he is behind the agriculture transformation that he has always called for, and he decided to lead by example. And my hunch is that he will be tending to his crops as well as his animals. Vice President Chiwenga will be the Acting President for the entire period the President is on leave.

The President traditionally takes his annual leave in January. 

Unlike his predecessor, the late Robert Mugabe who would fly to the Far East during his annual vacations, Mnangagwa has previously spent month-long vacations in the country.

Tinashe Sambiri| President Nelson Chamisa on Friday distributed food hampers to the elderly and the less privileged.

In a statement the Citizens Coalition for Change leader said:

“CHRISTMAS TIME is about loving, giving and sharing.

We had such a special and wonderful time today as we distributed hampers to the elderly and deserving in society.

Let love lead! Show and share love! The future is exciting! #Godisinit.”

CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba wrote on Facebook:

Today President Chamisa handed over food hampers to the the less privileged, people with disabilities and the elderly.

These are proceeds of the 2022 Presidential Charity dinner which was held last week.

The Presidency does this as a gesture of love and solidarity.

It’s a season of giving and we do our best to play our part.

We thank every Citizen, the business community and compatriots in diaspora who made this possible.
Thank you Zimbabwe thank fellow countrymen.

Together!

Today President Nelson Chamisa sent Christmas hampers to Hon Job Sikhal family and the Nyatsime 16.

We spent our day with these progresisge Citizens as part of our gesture of solidarity and love.

The President appreciates the effort of everh Citizen who has stood in solidarity with our compatriots who are are unjustly treated.

Thank you Zimbabwe, thank you for the love.
Together we can!

By- Ten people have been reported dead, with several critically injured, in a massive explosion in Boksburg, Gauteng, on Saturday morning after a gas truck reportedly was involved in an accident.

The explosion happened on Hospital Road, a few metres from OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.

The truck is reported to belong to LP Gas.

The OR Tambo Hospital is on fire, with patients scrambling to safety.

Three or four cars are also said to have been involved in the accident.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the tanker drove into a low-lying bridge.

Videos and photos shared on social media show bodies lying on the ground and severely burnt people trying to get medical help.

-The Citizen

By The Citizen- Several people have died in a massive explosion in Boksburg, Gauteng, on Saturday morning after a gas truck reportedly was involved in an accident.

The explosion happened on Hospital Road, a few metres from OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.

The truck is reported to belong to LP Gas.

The OR Tambo Hospital is on fire, with patients scrambling to safety.

Three or four cars are also said to have been involved in the accident.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the tanker drove into a low-lying bridge.

Videos and photos shared on social media show bodies lying on the ground and severely burnt people trying to get medical help.

-The Citizen

By-The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, has d the Death Penalty and the Criminal Defamation of the President provisions in the Penal Code.

The two penalties have been in Zambian laws since the pre-independence era.

The president’s office confirmed the development in a statement seen by Pindula News.

Hichilema also posted on Friday saying he kept the promise to abolish the laws that inhibit democracy. He said:

Today we assented to Penal Code (Amendment) Bill number 25 of 2022, abolishing the death penalty in #Zambia & the offence of Criminal Defamation of the President.Promised to amend laws that inhibit democracy, human rights, good governance & basic freedoms.

The death penalty was a mandatory sentence for people convicted of capital offences while Defamation of the President had seen many people sentenced to jail terms for insulting the President using various platforms.

There have been reports that more people have been arrested and jailed for defamation of the president in Hichilema’s first year than were under six years of Lungu. 

In September this year, Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa, a Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Zambia, said on average, a Zambian is jailed every month for insulting President Hichilema. 

He said all these arrests and jailings of Hichilema’s critics were happening because the legal architecture that enabled the authoritarian tendencies of Lungu and previous leaders remained unchanged under Hichilema. 

There are some who believe the death penalty is appropriate for some crimes. One commentator suggested that it wouldn’t be fair for “convicted murderers to serve out the rest of their life at the expense of taxpayers is human rights? What about the human rights of the victims and their families?” 

Proponents of the abolishment of the death penalty argue that many people are wrongfully convicted and it sometimes takes years to prove one’s innocence and it would be unfair to be found innocent when one has been killed already.

By- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Generation 40 (G40) members into the Zanu PF politburo.

He Zanu PF leader is, however, keeping the usual tired horses close to him in an apparent political balancing act that betrays a leader keen on stifling factionalism and the dreaded “bhora musango” as he seeks re-election as state president next year.
G40 was a Zanu PF faction which fiercely resisted Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to both party and national presidency.
The once influential group, fronted by exiled former cabinet ministers Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere, Patrick Zhuwao and Walter Mzembi, was virtually disarmed when Mnangagwa muscled his way to the top job in a shock November 2017 military assisted coup that ousted the country’s founding leader President Robert Mugabe.
Webster Shamu, Super Mandiwanzira, and Douglas Mombeshora are some of the politicians with links to G40 who took up posts within the elite Zanu PF policy making committee.
Shamu, once a fanatical Mugabe ally and former party commissar, was widely regarded as Mashonaland West’s godfather prior to the coup.
He reportedly called for a bhora Musango in 2018 after being fired as Mashonaland West provincial affairs minister on suspicion of being a G40 loyalist.
Bhora musango, a Shona expression whose direct translation is “boot the ball off the field of play”, was coined during the height of Zanu PF factional wars when the party faithful was called to reject Mugabe as party presidential candidate while being encouraged to vote party MPs instead.
Mnangagwa appointed Shamu as deputy secretary of the commissariat after the politician had endured four years in the political wilderness.
Mandiwanzira was also appointed secretary for local government, while Douglas Mombeshora was drafted in as secretary for health and child welfare.
Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa announced last month that exiled G40 kingpins – Moyo and Zhuwao – were welcome back to the party after the duo issued a public apology for endorsing the opposition after Mugabe’s ouster.
Mnangagwa also kept the majority of the Zanu PF old guard, which consisted of a group of politicians who formed Mugabe’s inner circle prior to the coup.
Obert Mpofu, a onetime Mugabe bootlicker, was reappointed secretary for administration, while finance minister Mthuli Ncube made his debut appointment as the deputy secretary for finance, deputising Patrick Chinamasa.
Mutsvangwa was also retained as secretary for information and publicity, deputised by Chido Sanyatwa, while Paul Mangwana, who was previously the secretary of legal affairs, was reshuffled as secretary of mines, with the current speaker of parliament, Jacob Mudenda, taking over his previous post.
Mnangagwa also appointed his wife Auxillia Mnangagwa as secretary for environment and tourism.
There was no sign of Sydney Sekeramayi in the newly announced politburo with signs the wily leader was still upset over the former defence minister becoming a Mugabe choice for the country’s top job.
Mugabe announced in interviews with the media after his ouster that he intended to announce the veteran politician as his successor.
-Kukurigo

By The Citizen- Several people have died in a massive explosion in Boksburg, Gauteng, on Saturday morning after a gas truck reportedly was involved in an accident.

The explosion happened on Hospital Road, a few metres from OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.

The truck is reported to belong to LP Gas.

The OR Tambo Hospital is on fire, with patients scrambling to safety.

Three or four cars are also said to have been involved in the accident.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the tanker drove into a low-lying bridge.

Videos and photos shared on social media show bodies lying on the ground and severely burnt people trying to get medical help.

-The Citizen

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of feigning concern about national unity.

President Chamisa also paid tribute to the fallen heroes of the liberation struggle.

“Today on National Unity Day, we recommit ourselves to building a new, great, united Zimbabwe.

Thank you fellow Zimbabweans for the journey this far.

United together we shall rebuild our country,” CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba said on Thursday.

Also watch President Chamisa Unity Day Message…