By-A Masvingo-based bishop has escaped with money he duped over 30 people in a bogus cannabis farming deal.

Bishop Trust Sangweni of the Evangelical Apostolic Christian Mission Church formed a cannabis farming group, which should have been operational by now.
One of the bishop’s victims, Peki Wushe, told H-Metro that the bishop had disappeared to South Africa.
“I was recommended to join the group, called Archmedicinal Private Limited, by a friend who once attended his church in December 2021.
“Upon joining, we were required to pay US$250 to cater for paperwork and errands.
“He would often come to Harare claiming he wanted to fix the group’s paperwork, and we would pay logistics fees for all his trips,” she said.
Wushe said he would tell them the money required was to pay for environmental impact assessment, Environmental Management Agency, land and the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency.
“I paid close to US$1 600. He is a sweet talker, and no one thought we would be scammed until today.
“At one time, we sponsored his trip to Cape Town as he convinced us that he was looking for investors.
“In July this year, he said the investors were in Zimbabwe and he needed more money to finish paperwork so that we would not look confused,” she said.
Wushe said she became suspicious when she returned to Zimbabwe from Dubai in August and the bishop failed to present evidence that there was some progress.
“He had promised to hold the ground breaking ceremony in September, and we prepared our outfits for the day.
“He assured us that everything was in order and unresolved matters were being worked on.
“Those who asked a lot of questions about the project were called hypocrites. In October, the group went silent,” she said.
Wushe said she decided to check with the authorities.
“I found out that the company was indeed registered in July this year.
“He was in the board of directors, together with his wife Silibaziso Zhou and Nyika Sangweni, his brother.
“I went to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement and they told me that they were not aware of the group.
“When I informed other members of the group, he fled to South Africa,” she said.
Another group member, who requested anonymity, said they were fooled into believing he was genuine.
“No one thought he would rob us of our money since he is a bishop.
“We also contributed together with some of his church members, and thought we had managed to grab a life changing deal,” he said.
H-Metro spoke to Bishop Sangweni’s wife, Silibaziso, who distanced herself from the farming group.
“Sangweni went to South Africa last month. People are always coming to me claiming that they were duped by my husband.
“I do not know why they are bothering me. I knew there was a cannabis group he talked about, but I did not know I was one of the directors.
“Mufonerei iye panumber yake. I can send you his WhatsApp number; he has been communicating with some members of the group,” she said
However, efforts to reach Bishop Sangweni were fruitless.
The matter has been reported to the police under case number IR 101503. H Metro

By- Kenyans are bitter about the newly elected president, William Ruto’s failure to turn the economy around.

The people of Kenya said Ruto’s first 100 days in office have been tough and different from what they expected.

  Ruto won the contested August 9 elections.

After his election, he cast himself as a champion for the downtrodden, vowing to create jobs and tackle a cost-of-living crisis that has left many Kenyans struggling to put food on the table.

Kenyan shop attendant Winnie Wanjiru Mwaura was brimming with hope when she signed up to be an election agent for William Ruto during the August 9 polls and was elated when he became president.

But barely 100 days after the rags-to-riches businessman took office on September 13, the 21-year-old wants nothing to do with him. The first-time voter told the Nation:

Life has only become worse under him.

More pain for Kenyans in new Ruto, IMF loan deal

When Ruto (56) came to power, he slashed food and fuel subsidies introduced by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta arguing that the interventions had “not borne any fruit.”

Their removal was a request from the International Monetary Fund, a major lender to the East African economic powerhouse. 

Business analysts including Ken Gichinga, chief economist at business analytics firm Mentoria Economics say the move to remove the fuel subsidy was not very strategic as it has led to a slower economy, rising inflation and higher interest rates.

The Central Bank of Kenya raised interest rates by a cumulative 1.75 per cent in 2022, while inflation soared to a five-year high of 9.6 per cent in October.

Even Ruto’s pet project, the 50-billion-shilling ($408-million) “hustler fund”, has sparked controversy, with some accusing him of abandoning promises to make the credit scheme interest-free.

The fund, launched last month, will offer personal loans of up to 50 000 Kenyan shillings, with interest charged at eight per cent a year, lower than the rate of inflation.

Borrowers have already complained of difficulty in getting loans higher than 1 000 Kenyan shillings approved, despite the fund’s stated objective of boosting financial access for the country’s poorest citizens.

Ruto, who marked his one-hundredth day on the job on Thursday, also failed or neglected to deliver on his campaign pledge to achieve gender parity in his cabinet, naming just seven women to his 22-member team.

Despite a “disappointing” start, however, Manyora, who supported Ruto’s opponent Raila Odinga during the polls, said it was too early to dismiss the president and his team.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has pointed out that Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa lacks sincerity in terms of fostering national unity.

Despite killing, arresting and torturing political rivals, Mr Mnangagwa insists the so called second republic has transformed the lives of many.

According to President Chamisa, the persecution of citizens by the regime is a mockery of national unity tenets.

Below is President Chamisa’s Unity Day statement:

WE THE CITIZENS, yearn for real unity based on equality, tolerance, justice & freedom.This was the vision of our founding leaders,such Dr Joshua Nkomo,who made sacrifices to bring us together. Today on Unity Day,we recommit ourselves to building a new, great, united Zimbabwe.

MAKING ZIMBABWE A WINNING NATION…We will unite all Zimbabweans across politics,race &tribe.Unity wins peace &prosperity for nations.Unity thrives nations.There can never be true unity without true dialogue &love.We need each other.Unity is good for us all &for a thriving economy.

Unity doesn’t manipulate or rig elections.Unity doesn’t imprison or persecute political competitors.Unity is not unjust or unequal.Unity is neither violent nor terrorist.Unity is not violence or vengeance.

Unity is not hateful or vindictive.Unity is love and forgiveness #FreeWiwa

By-Police in South Africa have arrested over 1 000 wanted suspects during a roadblock.

The arrests were effected in Pretoria West on Thursday morning.
It’s part of an O Kae Molao operation.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Elias Mawela told eNCA that he’s pleased with today’s progress.
Mawela says that they have recovered two stolen vehicles during the operation.
The commissioner also says that they have arrested 77 undocumented persons. The nationalities of the arrested people were not disclosed.

By-Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeated that Zimbabwe remains a unitary state and ruled out possibilities of declaring Matabeleland a Mthwakazi state.

In his Unity Day statement, Mnangagwa said there was no room for divisions, hatred, and yet another ethnic conflict among Zimbabweans.

ZBC News cites him as saying: 

Through the historic show of leadership and vision by our founding fathers, our nation escaped the baneful cycle of lost independence conflict. We take pride in the fact that the agreement was homegrown with our two liberation movements, namely the Zimbabwe African National Union, ZANU and the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union, ZAPU, putting aside their differences for the greater national good. Let us always remain mindful that we are a unitary state, with many languages, tribes and cultures, united under one national flag and national anthem. There is no room for division, hatred or conflicts.

In our diversity is our collective strength and resources to resolve questions and challenges of the day. Together we must equally tap into the vast opportunities that are presenting themselves across all sectors of the economy. Today, we, therefore, celebrate our diversity and take pride in our unity as one people.

The construction of dams, energy, health and education infrastructure is ultimately for the benefit of all Zimbabweans. This is the national character trait and unity which must be entrenched as we concertedly develop, modernise and industrialise our country for a higher quality of life for all people.

He added that Zimbabwe needs peace as 2023 elections approach. 

Mnangagwa said elections should never be an excuse or pretext for political conflict, disturbances hate speech or disharmony. 

He said unity, patriotism, loyalty and love for Zimbabwe should always be the guiding beacon for Zimbabweans, no matter the season of times.

By- Kenyans have said life during William Ruto’s first 100 days has been tough and different from what they expected.

  Ruto won the contested August 9 elections.

After his election, he cast himself as a champion for the downtrodden, vowing to create jobs and tackle a cost-of-living crisis that has left many Kenyans struggling to put food on the table.

Kenyan shop attendant Winnie Wanjiru Mwaura was brimming with hope when she signed up to be an election agent for William Ruto during the August 9 polls and was elated when he became president.

But barely 100 days after the rags-to-riches businessman took office on September 13, the 21-year-old wants nothing to do with him. The first-time voter told the Nation:

Life has only become worse under him.

More pain for Kenyans in new Ruto, IMF loan deal

When Ruto (56) came to power, he slashed food and fuel subsidies introduced by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta arguing that the interventions had “not borne any fruit.”

Their removal was a request from the International Monetary Fund, a major lender to the East African economic powerhouse. 

Business analysts including Ken Gichinga, chief economist at business analytics firm Mentoria Economics say the move to remove the fuel subsidy was not very strategic as it has led to a slower economy, rising inflation and higher interest rates.

The Central Bank of Kenya raised interest rates by a cumulative 1.75 per cent in 2022, while inflation soared to a five-year high of 9.6 per cent in October.

Even Ruto’s pet project, the 50-billion-shilling ($408-million) “hustler fund”, has sparked controversy, with some accusing him of abandoning promises to make the credit scheme interest-free.

The fund, launched last month, will offer personal loans of up to 50 000 Kenyan shillings, with interest charged at eight per cent a year, lower than the rate of inflation.

Borrowers have already complained of difficulty in getting loans higher than 1 000 Kenyan shillings approved, despite the fund’s stated objective of boosting financial access for the country’s poorest citizens.

Ruto, who marked his one-hundredth day on the job on Thursday, also failed or neglected to deliver on his campaign pledge to achieve gender parity in his cabinet, naming just seven women to his 22-member team.

Despite a “disappointing” start, however, Manyora, who supported Ruto’s opponent Raila Odinga during the polls, said it was too early to dismiss the president and his team.

By-The National Aids Council (NAC) has said that they are worried by the emergency of male sex workers in Kwekwe.

NAC co-ordinator for Kwekwe urban, Ms Fadzai Mudondo said there was a need to engage them so that they do not contract sexually transmitted infections and suffer in silence.

She made the remarks while speaking during a stakeholder meeting in Kwekwe recently. The Chronicle cites her as saying:

We have noticed a significant increase in the male sex workers although they are not willing to open up. Most of them are bisexual and some gay while some prefer women only.

We started engaging some of them with the hope of creating peer educators so that they can get access to our services and even medical services.

Unfortunately, we are not getting a positive response, but we will continue engaging them.

The male sex workers usually target elderly sex-starved women as well as widowed women.

Ms Mudondo said their female counterparts are forthcoming and by the third quarter of 2022, about 64 female sex workers were accessing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) ) which can reduce one’s chance of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use.

Regarding the HIV/Aids situation in Kwekwe urban, Ms Mudondo said there was a decline in both prevalence and incidence rates.

Mining towns and their floating population of artisanal miners tend to have higher rates and attract more commercial sex workers.

The Midlands province is rich in mineral resources, a situation that has seen an influx of artisanal miners who are high spenders thereby attracting the attention of commercial sex workers.

According to NAC, Midlands has an estimated 7 000 commercial sex workers with about 2 500 based in Shurugwi, although the cities of Gweru and Kwekwe attract large numbers.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has pointed out that Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa lacks sincerity in terms of fostering national unity.

Despite killing, arresting and torturing political rivals, Mr Mnangagwa insists the so called second republic has transformed the lives of many.

According to President Chamisa, the persecution of citizens by the regime is a mockery of national unity tenets.

Below is President Chamisa’s Unity Day statement:

WE THE CITIZENS, yearn for real unity based on equality, tolerance, justice & freedom.This was the vision of our founding leaders,such Dr Joshua Nkomo,who made sacrifices to bring us together. Today on Unity Day,we recommit ourselves to building a new, great, united Zimbabwe.

MAKING ZIMBABWE A WINNING NATION…We will unite all Zimbabweans across politics,race &tribe.Unity wins peace &prosperity for nations.Unity thrives nations.There can never be true unity without true dialogue &love.We need each other.Unity is good for us all &for a thriving economy.

Unity doesn’t manipulate or rig elections.Unity doesn’t imprison or persecute political competitors.Unity is not unjust or unequal.Unity is neither violent nor terrorist.Unity is not violence or vengeance.

Unity is not hateful or vindictive.Unity is love and forgiveness #FreeWiwa

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has pointed out that Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa lacks sincerity in terms of fostering national unity.

Despite killing, arresting and torturing political rivals, Mr Mnangagwa insists the so called second republic has transformed the lives of many.

According to President Chamisa, the persecution of citizens by the regime is a mockery of national unity tenets.

Below is President Chamisa’s Unity Day statement:

WE THE CITIZENS, yearn for real unity based on equality, tolerance, justice & freedom.This was the vision of our founding leaders,such Dr Joshua Nkomo,who made sacrifices to bring us together. Today on Unity Day,we recommit ourselves to building a new, great, united Zimbabwe.

MAKING ZIMBABWE A WINNING NATION…We will unite all Zimbabweans across politics,race &tribe.Unity wins peace &prosperity for nations.Unity thrives nations.There can never be true unity without true dialogue &love.We need each other.Unity is good for us all &for a thriving economy.

Unity doesn’t manipulate or rig elections.Unity doesn’t imprison or persecute political competitors.Unity is not unjust or unequal.Unity is neither violent nor terrorist.Unity is not violence or vengeance.

Unity is not hateful or vindictive.Unity is love and forgiveness #FreeWiwa

By-CCC deputy chairperson job Sikhala is likely to spend Christmas in remand prison after the High court Tuesday indefinitely reserved judgment on Sikhala’s bail application.

CCC interim secretary-general Chalton Hwende has condemned Sikhala’s continued detention, which is nearing 190 days now.

The opposition politician has been denied bail several times.
Sikhala appealed against the dismissal of his bail application at the High Court in a case where he is accused of inciting public violence.
But High Court Judge Justice Samuel Deme said he needs time to study previous judgments made against Sikhala.
According to Hwende, Sikhala’s bail application ruling was suspended indefinitely. Said Hwende:
Hon Job Sikhala’s bail application ruling was suspended indefinitely. Sadly our Judiciary is captured. Bail is a Constitutional right and Job is being punished by his political rivals who have captured the State and judiciary. This is no longer a legal matter but a political matter.
To expect a legal solution to a political problem in my view is wrong. We must examine the political options that we have as a people and exercise our rights to protect ourselves as citizens. This judiciary stole our victory they must not be allowed to steal our FREEDOM.
Sikhala’s co-accused, Chitungwiza North MP Godfrey Sithole (CCC) has since been granted bail.
Sikhala also faces a charge of obstructing the course of justice.

United Zimbabwe Alliance, Unity Day Statement

22 December 2022

UZA celebrates Unity Day, appreciating that this day is an important reflection of what it means to have unity as a foundation for development, prosperity, reconciliation and a peaceful Zimbabwe.

Celebrated every year, Unity Day is celebrated on December 22 as our nation commemorates the merger of two political parties, Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu on the same day in 1987.

The move by the then Zanu PF and PF-Zapu leaders, the late Robert Mugabe and Dr Joshua Nkomo to bury their differences and come together motivates all of us to value togetherness and make Zimbabwe a better place.

The peace accord was signed following the massacre of over 20,000 people in Matebeleland during Gukurahundi.

When Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980 and Zanu PF became the ruling party, ethnic and political differences between Zanu PF and PF-Zapu led to violence and civil unrest between 1983 and 1987.

On this important day on our Zimbabwean calendar, we remember and mourn Gukurahundi victims acknowledging that such atrocities have no place in our society going forward.

Our party appreciates the two leaders, former President Mugabe and Dr Nkomo for signing an agreement that ended the conflict in our country.

We salute them for burying the hatchet and shelving their differences in order to ensure that peace prevails.

As we join Zimbabwe in commemorating this day, our pledge is to promote and ensure that peace and unity prevails at home, in the communities and nationally for our citizens to realise their maximum potential.

Where there is peace, there is power and unity of purpose. A united nation conquers all.

When we unite in our various spheres, we embrace each other’s diversity, political differences, culture, language, race and beliefs.

This does not only provide for security and stability but it guarantees countless other benefits. Without unity, there is conflict and there is no growth or integrity. Unity is strength and it provides a constant source of positive motivation for development.

It promotes growth. We applaud political, community, business and church leaders who preach unity as it is an important bedrock underpinning social cohesion, stability and economic development.

UZA implores government to value and prioritize genuine unity ahead of political expediency and promote peace for the prosperity of our nation. United we stand but divided we fall.

Happy Unity Day

By A Correspondent- The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has welcomed government move to allow commuter omnibus operators back on the road urging transport operators to adhere to road rules and regulations.

Said PAZ President Tafadzwa Goliati.

The move by government to allow commuter omnibuses back on the roads is welcome.

However, we call upon transport operators and their employees to exercise their operations in accordance to road rules and regulations.

We also advise them to exist within transport associations that are well regulated and these associations can take a leaf from Bulawayo and Harare City should also use this practical, effective and efficient blueprint.

Moving forward, these passenger service vehicles must have passenger liability cover, certificate of fitness, route authority ,rank disk and permits from the Ministry of Transport.

They must respect law enforcement agents and must comply with the law, they must appreciate that these are not the enemy.

As Passengers Association of Zimbabwe, we are going to work with all government and local authority bodies and insurance to ensure that there is compliance, whilst ensuring that errant kombis are brought to book.

We thank all key stakeholders, including the ZRP, Insurance Council of Zimbabwe, Ministries of Transport, Local Government and Public Works, and Health and Child Welfare and ZIPTO for their efforts and assistance towards sustaining passengers rights and safety.

PAZ INFO DESK

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has responded to the banning of party rallies by the Zanu PF regime.

The CCC leader has also said threats will not disrupt the people’s struggle.

“RALLY or NO RALLY tinopinda chete

Siyangena kuphela!!
Threats or persecutions we are in & next!

We are the nation’s solution, the nation’s answer.We have a plan!
We are NATION BUILDERS.

We are TRANSFORMERS.
We are CHANGE CHAMPIONS.

Trust the process. Focus!#FAKAPRESSURE,” said President Chamisa in a statement.

By- Arts deputy minister, Tino Machakaire, has mobilized top Zimbabwe musicians to perform in his Wedza village in Mashonaland East province on Christmas day.

Machakaire, a close vice President Constantino Chiwenga, ally and hails from the same rural home with Chiwenga has hired big names, including Alick Macheso and Jah Preizer, to perform his sponsored X-mas gig.

Justifying this personally organized gig on his Facebook page, Machaire said he wanted to fulfil his childhood dreams of attending a live musical show.

Below is what he wrote:

No matter where you go, remember the road that leads you home.” Growing up in rural Wedza, it was always my desire to attend a live show. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, I was never afforded that opportunity. This is why every year, I strive to give back to the people in my constituency and bring to them the artists they love and yearn to see performing live. This is also an opportunity for those with varying talents to showcase them and potentially get scouted.
Initially, I had thought to book an international artist and we had engaged their management. Upon reflection however, I realized that it would be better to engage and empower our local artists. These are the people we spend all our time with, they have the same stories as us and speak the same language as us. What does it benefit us or the local arts industry to fork out thousands of dollars to outsiders. It is better we empower our own with that same money. It is in that vein of thought that I invite you all to the annual Wedza Arts Festival 2022. It is bigger and better and 100% local. Come with your friends and family and enjoy purely Zimbabwean entertainment for free. I hope to see you all on Sunday, 25 December 2022.

By- A pro-President grouping calling themselves Vendors4ED in Bulawayo is forcing vendors to pay for space to sell their wares.

A CCC Senator revealed this for Bulawayo Tsepiso Mpofu in a WhatsApp exchange with one of the space barons.

In the chat, Mpofu accused the ZANU PF-linked activists of stealing from poor vendors and bringing people from outside Bulawayo to trade in the city. She said audio circulating on social media:

These space barons are bringing people from Masvingo and registering them as voters in Bulawayo as Zanu PF has been struggling to get enough votes in Bulawayo since 2000.

In response, the space baron said they will allocate space to vendors whether Bulawayo City Council likes it or not. He said:

We are vendors for Economic Development (ED). If we allocate people stands here, we do not choose whether one is ZANU PF or not.

We do not seek permission, but we simply tell you that we are doing this and that, whether you say you do not want it, we do not care at all.

Mpofu on Tuesday told Southern Eye she was now being threatened by Vendors4ED who are demanding that she should show them the person who is collecting money from the vendors.

She added that ZANU PF should not politicise vending as vendors are trying to make ends meet.

ZANU PF Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Archibold Chiponda refuted the allegations made by Mpofu. He said:

Can she provide us with names and details of the people doing this or some evidence? Politics is a numbers game.

If we were to bring people from Masvingo to come and vote in Bulawayo, how do you think ZANU PF as a party in Masvingo will feel?

Of course, we will be reducing their votes in Masvingo, and what senator Mpofu is saying does not make sense.

Deputy mayor Mlandu Ncube backed Mpofu’s claims, saying the space barons are sabotaging the City of Bulawayo. Said Ncube:

That is what has been happening along 5th Avenue. That is what those hooligans are doing, claiming that they were sent to do so. But soon council will remove them regardless of political affiliation.

They must understand that Bulawayo voters are smart voters, and they are worried whenever they see people sabotaging the council’s vision to develop a smart city.

| Southern Eye

By- Over 3000 villagers who benefited from the land reform are facing eviction from a Chegutu farm by the government.

According to reports, the government wants these farmers to pave the way for a platinum mining project the government intends to embark on.

The Zimbabwe Land and Agrarian Network (ZiLAN) has since urged the government to respect the land rights of the beneficiaries of the land reform programme.

In a statement on Tuesday, ZiLAN called on the government to consult the farmers and agree on appropriate compensation measures with them before they are relocated. Said the group:
The Zimbabwe Land and Agrarian Network (ZiLAN), in its traditional Annual Policy meeting held on the 24th of November 2022, deliberated on various policy issues and their implications on smallholder farmers.
As a network working with smallholder farmers in pursuit of land rights and the advancement of socio-economic status noted a disturbing trend of threats of evictions and /or actual evictions of smallholder farmers in communal and resettlement areas to pave way for investments in various forms.
Information received from smallholder farmers across the country points out that in most cases the affected communities are excluded or inadequately consulted while in some cases farmers have been displaced without receiving commensurate compensation.
… From our ongoing engagements with key stakeholders involved, the community in question has not been adequately consulted with regard to the development.
As we monitor the situation closely, it is our firm belief that this development infringes on the fundamental rights and freedoms of people as set out in Section 72 of the Zimbabwe Constitution.
While cognisant of the fact that development will always result in the inevitable loss of land by communities, the network calls for the following to ensure that the land rights of people are protected and upheld; we therefore implore that; due diligence, due process, transparency and accountability be followed in all land matters that have the potential to affect livelihoods.
… In cases of eviction, compensation should be agreed on and honored through inclusive processes for the benefit of all parties concerned.
Respect for people’s cultural and spiritual practices be upheld.
Compensation should not only be about resettlement but restitution.

By-Chief Gwesela of Zhombe in Midlands Province has appealed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to intensify patrols in his area following an upsurge in armed robberies.

The traditional leader told Southern Eye that communities in his area are living in fear of armed robbers who were targeting shops.

He said unidentified armed robbers recently used explosives to blow up two shops at Zhombe East business centre before stealing goods. He said:

We are living in fear of yet-to-be-identified armed robbers who are pouncing on shops and stealing goods.

We have reported the robbery cases to the police and our hope is that they will soon be nabbed and taken to the courts to answer for their bad deeds.

Chief Gwesela said people in the Midlands province now feel their safety is no longer guaranteed.

By- Former G-40 senior member Shadreck Mashayamombe has retired from active politics.

Mashayamombe, who has been in self-imposed exile in South Africa since 2018, announced this to NewsDay.

It is true, I decided to take a break from politics. I now want to concentrate on my business and farming.

I now want to concentrate on business. I have been away from home since 2018 and the political landscape has changed.

It is time for me to hang my boots and concentrate on business.

He was reportedly a pivotal member of the G40, a ZANU PF faction that was opposed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa taking over from the late former president Robert Mugabe before the November 2017 military coup.

Mashayamombe was reportedly abducted, tortured, and robbed of US$50 000 by army assailants during the coup.

In December 2017, Mashayamombe’s house was raided by suspected ZANU PF activists who assaulted his brother, leaving him badly injured.

When he appeared before a commission of inquiry into the August 1, 2018 shootings led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, Mashayamombe reportedly broke down as he narrated his ordeal.

In the 2018 general elections, Mashayamombe contested for the Harare South seat but narrowly lost to ZANU PF’s Tongai Mnangagwa after the party fielded double candidates. | NewsDay

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has responded to the banning of party rallies by the Zanu PF regime.

The CCC leader has also said threats will not disrupt the people’s struggle.

“RALLY or NO RALLY tinopinda chete

Siyangena kuphela!!
Threats or persecutions we are in & next!

We are the nation’s solution, the nation’s answer.We have a plan!
We are NATION BUILDERS.

We are TRANSFORMERS.
We are CHANGE CHAMPIONS.

Trust the process. Focus!#FAKAPRESSURE,” said President Chamisa in a statement.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has condemned the prolonged detention of Hon Job Sikhala.

The judgement in Hon Sikhala’s bail application has been reserved.

This means Hon Sikhala has spent 190 days in prison.

Advocate Mahere has called for the immediate release of Wiwa, arguing Zanu PF murderers are walking scot- free.

In a statement CCC said :

“COURT UPDATE: Judgment in the bail appeal of Hon Sikhala has been reserved. We continue to lead a campaign for his immediate release. Sikhala is innocent.

He has been jailed without trial for 190 days for a crime he did not commit.”

By- There were chaotic scenes at the MDC party congress in Harare on Sunday where a party member, Silas Zakeu, was assaulted by fellow members for calling the leadership a ruling Zanu PF project.

The congress was also marred by a low turnout, which was much lower than the 2 500 delegates touted by the party’s leadership.
MDC’s outgoing vice-president Elias Mudzuri snubbed the congress amid claims that he was not happy with the nomination process.
Zakeu, a organising member in Chitungwiza, was bashed for giving interviews to the Press attacking the party leadership.
He told journalists recently that a section of the MDC party leadership had been “bought by Zanu PF”.
“There is no MDC to talk about. Some of the people are bogus, while others have been bought by Zanu PF. This is why Nelson Chamisa left the party,” Zakeu said, inviting the wrath of party supporters.
He was left for dead.
MDC party spokesperson Witness Dube said he was aware of the incident, adding that the party expected Mudzuri to attend the congress.

“On that (Zakeu) incident, it is unfortunate that this happened and it is unfortunate that he came to the venue in contradiction of what people have gathered for and obviously tempers were going to flare.
“Mudzuri was expected to attend the congress to see the assumption and ordination of two vice-presidents,” Dube said.
Chief Ndlovu was elected the new first vice-president while Paurina Mpariwa became the second deputy leader.
Dube blamed the low turnout on the party’s lack of resources.
Most delegates had to pay their way to the one-day congress.
Addressing delegates in his opening remarks, party president Douglas Mwonzora said there were no resources.
“I want to thank you for coming to the congress. You know the party has no resources and you have not eaten anything since morning, but I would like to thank you for the sacrifice,” he said.
“We are the only credible party in the country. In the last by-elections, we fielded the largest number of women candidates. We are going to eliminate all forms of corruption. We are losing billions (of dollars) and we are going to provide enough foreign currency to our local authorities.”
Mwonzora had been dithering on congress dates until he elbowed out another presidential aspirant, Norest Marara.
Marara took Mwonzora to court over the matter.
-NewsDay

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader President Nelson Chamisa has pointed out Zanu PF scared of the coming polls.

Speaking in Harare at the weekend, the CCC leader said the party vision would go beyond 2023.

Said President Chamisa:

“Our preoccupation is to win a nation. We must win Zimbabwe for change. Nation builders unite and love. Peace, truth, unity, love and reconciliation are the tools we’re going to use to build Zimbabwe.

We think beyond winning elections. That’s where we differ from Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.

Mr Mnangagwa only thinks of winning elections. Nothing is working in Zimbabwe, you can’t even pay lobola …

We are nation builders, let’s unite for the purpose of rebuilding the grounded economy.

Nation builders don’t fight among themselves, let’s focus on our objective of winning Zimbabwe for change.

Wakawana hauna kuroora, this is because of the deepening social crisis.”

He also wrote on Twitter:

“OUR IMPORTANT TASK is not to just merely replace Zpf without introducing a new governance culture. We seek to raise the leadership bar and attract credible, strong, capable & quality leaders who serve Zimbabwe with dignity & distinction, guaranteeing quality services, rights, dignity & security for all citizens. Blessed Monday fellow citizens! #FakaPressure”

By- The African National Congress ANC has said that the wast should lift the sanction they imposed on Zimbabwe so that Zimbabweans would stay in their country.

ANC said continued sanction on Harare was pushing Zimbabweans to flood South Africa.

The party’s newly-elected secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, has said they will intensify assisting Zimbabwe to recover from decades of economic problems.
Addressing journalists in Joburg in his briefing in his new capacity as ANC secretary-general, Mbalula said:
We must be very much concerned about what is happening in Zimbabwe, and what role we need to play. We do not subscribe to the idea of regime change in Zimbabwe.
We need to campaign very hard to get things right because Zimbabweans are coming to our country in their numbers.
Something is not right in their own country (and) we must support them. Once that country becomes what it was, there will be no Zimbabwean here.
So, the British must think very hard about what they have done, and the Americans. They must uplift the sanctions so that Zimbabwe can grow.
Mbalula urged the British government to honour a promise it reportedly made to Zimbabwe to compensate white farmers whose land was expropriated for redistribution to landless black about two decades ago. He said:
The British know what they agreed on in Lancaster. They must come to the party, and invest in the compensation of Zimbabwe in the programme of land redistribution.
The 40 or something billion pounds they promised Mugabe and ZANU PF, they must come to the party and not use the land reform programme of ZANU PF as a scapegoat and run away.
They must come to the party, and Zimbabwe will be a better country. Zimbabweans never (used to) come into this country, which was the bread basket of the African continent. It was an economy that was alive, people were working in Zimbabwe.
Now you have Zimbabweans crossing (into South Africa), facing life and death … coming into our country because there is no life. Life is here in South Africa and that has burdened our economy.
As the ANC we will not agree in ideological terms, that Zimbabwe must be turned into a client State, next to us. So, we need to get that right.
We need to campaign for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, and the Cuban people.

By- Zanu PF women’s league has said that Emmerson Mnangagwa should rule until he dies.

They said they would push for the amendment of the national Constitution and accommodate their wish.

ZANU PF women’s league Midlands Provincial chairperson, Tsitsi Zhou, said Mnangagwa is development-oriented and must have an uninterrupted rule. Zhou said:
As women, we are mobilising and ensuring that people have registered to vote. It must be known that no other party will ever rule in Zimbabwe besides ZANU PF.
We are going to give President Mnangagwa a fresh mandate in the coming elections, and we will tell those in parliament to amend the Constitution to give him another term beyond 2023 because the President is a hard worker, and we will hand him another term.
She said since Mnangagwa assumed power in 2017, he has initiated numerous projects in a short space of time. Said Zhou:
What the President has achieved in a short time, if he was to be the one in power for the past 37 years, then the country would have made serious economic strides.
His hard work can be testified by the Chirundu-Beitbridge Highway.
What gives us confidence that ZANU PF is a progressive party is based on the fact that the country’s number one citizen is from ZANU PF and he is from Kwekwe, that is where he casts his ballot.
The ZANU PF brand gives us confidence because it spells out victory. Because we are ZANU PF.
We have already won the 2023 elections. We are seeing many people who want to join ZANU PF.
We now have teachers for ED, civil servants for ED, and nurses for ED.
If Mnangagwa is re-elected in 2023, the law does not allow him to run again in 2028 as he would have been in office for two terms.
He can only contest for the presidency for a third time if there is a constitutional amendment.

By- The African National Congress ANC has said they were worried about the massive influx of Zimbabweans coming to South Africa.

The party’s newly-elected secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, has said they will intensify assisting Zimbabwe to recover from decades of economic problems.
Addressing journalists in Joburg in his briefing in his new capacity as ANC secretary-general, Mbalula said:
We must be very much concerned about what is happening in Zimbabwe, and what role we need to play. We do not subscribe to the idea of regime change in Zimbabwe.
We need to campaign very hard to get things right because Zimbabweans are coming to our country in their numbers.
Something is not right in their own country (and) we must support them. Once that country becomes what it was, there will be no Zimbabwean here.
So, the British must think very hard about what they have done, and the Americans. They must uplift the sanctions so that Zimbabwe can grow.
Mbalula urged the British government to honour a promise it reportedly made to Zimbabwe to compensate white farmers whose land was expropriated for redistribution to landless black about two decades ago. He said:
The British know what they agreed on in Lancaster. They must come to the party, and invest in the compensation of Zimbabwe in the programme of land redistribution.
The 40 or something billion pounds they promised Mugabe and ZANU PF, they must come to the party and not use the land reform programme of ZANU PF as a scapegoat and run away.
They must come to the party, and Zimbabwe will be a better country. Zimbabweans never (used to) come into this country, which was the bread basket of the African continent. It was an economy that was alive, people were working in Zimbabwe.
Now you have Zimbabweans crossing (into South Africa), facing life and death … coming into our country because there is no life. Life is here in South Africa and that has burdened our economy.
As the ANC we will not agree in ideological terms, that Zimbabwe must be turned into a client State, next to us. So, we need to get that right.
We need to campaign for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, and the Cuban people.

By- A Harare woman has been convicted and jailed for selling s*x toys.

Unity Ayanda Muponda was ordered to perform 640 hours of unpaid work.

She was initially jailed for 24 months by a Mbare magistrate, who suspended six months of the jail term on the condition that she does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
The remaining 16 months were suspended on condition that she performs community service.
Muponda, who traded her stuff on various social media platforms, was convicted for violating the Custom and Excise Act and exposing children to pornographic material.
Her lawyer Mr Zorodzai Dumbura indicated that they will appeal against Muponda’s conviction and sentence.