By A Correspondent| A cyber pressure group Team Pachedu has rallied opposition legislators to reject the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) preliminary delimitation report saying it was based on a flawed voters roll.

Team Pachedu has worked tirelessly to expose the flaws in the voters roll showing duplication of registered voters, ghost voters and abuse of residential addresses in a move that cast doubts on the credibility of elections being held in the country.

The internet based group has since warned legislators who are due to receive and debate the delimitation report beginning today the 6th of January 2023.

“The delimitation report is based on a shambolic voters roll which Zec illegally refused to avail to stakeholders since May 30 when the delimitation roll closed. The report is manifestly flawed and should be rejected in its entirety for this very reason,” said Pachedu.

Last year, countless Zanu PF aligned groupings trashed the ZEC delimitation report citing lack of wide consultation.

A group by the name Councillors4ED dismissed the report calling for the commission to use old boundaries in the forthcoming harmonised elections.

Pastors beat each other up as violence broke out inside the Christ ministries’ Belvedere, Harare, branch service, with the following narration being published by one Pastor Colin Zondai Makoni-

WATCH VIDEO…

To all Christ Ministries church pastors, elders and members. I am writing to express regret to congregants for the religious violence that took place after provocative hate speech by the master of ceremonies during the big Sunday in Belvedere yesterday. We and the perpetrators of violence were summoned at the central police station this morning. Amai Reverend Leddie Makoni, Tanakasei, Jullen Kanyenze, Eustace, Lucinah Makoni and Pastor Tafadzwa Sirewu were present. the officer in charge spoke about the need for conflict resolution at family and church level. The Zrp kopje ordered the rival factions to reconcile and maintain peace and order and resolve issues through the due processes of the law. They said that they have the power to close down the church if violence continues. They told us that no one, even the steering committee has power and mandate to chase away people from the church and can only do so by obtaining a court order since the case has been filed with the supreme court of Zimbabwe. We the dissenting voices have the right to attend church services and participate in the church program s without victimization. Pastor Sirewu was summoned to go and brief his followers about this position. If the church elders have any bone of contention with us let them use the proper legal channels and not use violence. Finally, the perpetrators of violence were fined and they paid an admission of guilt. We have also been given supporting documents to go for medical examinations after the assault. This police will begin their investigations and call witnesses who had attended the church service. The police will be attending church services to maintain law and order starting this Sunday. This is the current state of affairs. Yours Sincerely, Colin Zondai Makoni Senior Pastor Christ Ministries church

Mthuli Ncube Says Zim Economy To Lead Entire African Continent In 2023

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 6, 2023

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube says he remains confident that Zimbabwe’s economy will grow by 3,8 percent this year driven by strong performances in the mining, construction, agriculture and housing sectors, despite challenges such as electricity shortages and potentially uneven rainfall patterns.

Prof Mthuli Ncube said the harmonised elections expected sometime this year should not have any adverse impact on the economy. In the 2023 National Budget statement, Prof Ncube said the economy was projected grow by 4 percent last year, still high but lower than 2021, mainly due to global and domestic developments, particularly the impact of high inflation and resultant stabilisation measures on credit and demand.

This year, global economic growth is projected to moderate to 2,7 percent, down from 3,2 percent last year, but Zimbabwe is banking on strong mineral prices, among other factors, to achieve a 3,8 percent economic growth, significantly beating the global average and being among the African leaders. Global tensions, especially in Eastern Europe where Russia is conducting a special military operation in Ukraine, have caused major supply disruptions and led to historical high prices for most commodities in 2022, and these are projected to remain high in the medium term. “We are very upbeat about the outlook of the economy as I presented in the 2023 National Budget statement. “We still expect the economy to register a 3,8 percent economic growth during 2023, sustained by bullish performance in the mining, construction and agriculture, as well as accommodation sectors,” Prof Ncube said.

In line with Emmerson Mnangagwa’s New Year message, he said, focus for this year is on continuing the national economic transformation agenda by modernising, industrialising and growing the economy in the march towards the attainment of Vision 2030 of an empowered and prosperous upper middle income society. “We are cognisant of the risks ahead such as the domestic power generation constraints, potentially uneven rainfall patterns, as well as global economic uncertainties emanating from geopolitical developments and the post-Covid-19 impact on the global economy. “Notwithstanding, we are optimistic that we will achieve the 2023 macroeconomic targets as outlined in the 2023 National Budget, as Government is implementing mitigatory measures against the risks to ensure the economy remains on the desired trajectory. “It remains our aim to consolidate stability and resilience so that economic growth going forward, is achieved in a less volatile environment.” Prof Ncube said the historical volatility of GDP growth where one or two years of high growth are interrupted by a year or two of low or negative growth, militate against the long-term compounding of annual growth rates and sustained growth to achieve Vision 2030 targets, which require consistent and stable annual growth rates of above 5 percent. To ensure economic growth targets are achieved, Zimbabwe is addressing electricity supply issues after generation levels declined considerably due to low water levels at Kariba Dam and frequent breakdowns and logistical challenges at Hwange Power Station.

Electricity shortages are affecting the entire SADC region, with Zambia announcing on Wednesday that it would increase load shedding to 12 hours a day due to low water levels at Kariba Dam which they share with Zimbabwe. The two countries are now having to use just the inflows into the lake, in a low flow month, having exhausted the stored flood waters. The Zambezi never runs dry, but at the moment what flows over the Victoria Falls is what flows into the largest power station in each country. The Maamba Collieries Limited Plant’s 150MW generator was also taken out for routine annual maintenance from January 4 to 20, worsening the electricity situation in Zambia. Prof Ncube said the power situation in the SADC region was compromising electricity sharing through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). However, he said, the Government has mobilised resources to secure additional imports from Electricidade de Moçambique of Mozambique and other SAPP members with surplus to support the current power supply, assisting in reducing load shedding. “Efforts will be made to secure additional imports while work is underway to ramp up domestic production at Hwange Power Station and other small thermal power stations, complemented by Independent Power Producers initiatives. “Recently, Government announced an Implementation Agreement to expedite the commissioning of 27 solar IPP installations with potential to generate over 900MW. “The GIA includes a project development support agreement, a power purchase agreement, and an agreement with the RBZ for guaranteed payments of dividends and foreign loan repayments to external investors and lenders,” said Prof Ncube. Much of this IPP generation would be solar, which can be implemented quickly once the investor is willing to move. The extra power during the day would allow Zesa to store more water while the sun shines to use in the power station at night.

Turning to the expansion of Hwange Power Station where two new Units, 7 and 8, will generate an additional 600MW, Prof Ncube said the Government “is working tirelessly” to ensure the completion of the project. “To date, it is pleasing to see that the technical tests are progressing well and Zesa expects the first additional 300 megawatts from Unit 7 soon,” he said. Prof Ncube said the Government will continue to ensure price and exchange rate stability which has come about as a result of deliberate interventions such as the enforcement of value for money on all Government contracts, introduction of gold coins to mop up surplus liquidity and offer an honest alternative store of value. Treasury has also increased the bank rate to positive real interest rates, as well as a cocktail of other measures introduced by both Government and the Central Bank during the course of last year. Some economists claim that the stability would be eroded once the Government starts paying all contractors who are undertaking infrastructure development. But Prof Ncube said: “Let me set the record straight, Government is paying all its suppliers after the validation exercise while re-negotiations were undertaken on overpriced contracts. Therefore, the current stability cannot be attributed to non-payment of suppliers. The value for money exercise is meant to ensure that supplies to Government are correctly priced in the public interest and to ensure that overpriced goods do not adversely impact the exchange rate and inflation stability.”

When value for money was enforced, around 70 percent of contractors were quickly able to establish their credentials and were paid, so the delays only affected 30 percent. In respect of the auction rate system for foreign currency, Prof Ncube said it was always a stepping stone towards a market determined exchange rate as part of the broad macroeconomic reforms, hence the introduction of the willing-buyer willing-seller exchange rate system. During the year, the auction rate, used for bulk imports, came into alignment with the interbank market rate. Prof Ncube said they have already re-affirmed their commitment to refine the current auction system to enhance efficiency through further liberalisation of the market as outlined in the 2023 National Budget. “This was further buttressed by the resolution of the Monetary Policy Committee in December 2022,” he said. Asked if the anticipated harmonised elections will not negatively affect economic stability, Prof Ncube said Government operations were “autonomous of the political calendar”.

“We have already set the economic agenda through the 2023 National Budget outlining projected economic growth, supporting policies and programmes. A budget has been allocated to priority areas including the harmonised elections. “Instead, the holding of elections has the potential of enhancing economic activities as political parties and contestants spend their resources through campaigns and related activities,” said Prof Ncube. Zanu PF’s 7th National People’s Congress held at the end of October last year overwhelmingly resolved that President Mnangagwa be the party’s presidential candidate following a realisation that the infrastructural development projects he initiated needed to be completed while new ones are started. Presently, the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport is being modernised while about 171km remain to be rehabilitated on the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway after 400km were completed and opened to traffic. Other projects include the game-changing Lake Gwayi Shangani construction, the expansion of Hwange Power Station, construction of many dams such as Muchekeranwa, the Dinson Steel project in Manhize, and the modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post.

Violence broken out in the Christ ministries’ Belvedere, Harare, branch, with the following narration being published by one Pastor Colin Zondai Makoni-

WATCH VIDEO…

To all Christ Ministries church pastors, elders and members. I am writing to express regret to congregants for the religious violence that took place after provocative hate speech by the master of ceremonies during the big Sunday in Belvedere yesterday. We and the perpetrators of violence were summoned at the central police station this morning. Amai Reverend Leddie Makoni, Tanakasei, Jullen Kanyenze, Eustace, Lucinah Makoni and Pastor Tafadzwa Sirewu were present. the officer in charge spoke about the need for conflict resolution at family and church level. The Zrp kopje ordered the rival factions to reconcile and maintain peace and order and resolve issues through the due processes of the law. They said that they have the power to close down the church if violence continues. They told us that no one, even the steering committee has power and mandate to chase away people from the church and can only do so by obtaining a court order since the case has been filed with the supreme court of Zimbabwe. We the dissenting voices have the right to attend church services and participate in the church program s without victimization. Pastor Sirewu was summoned to go and brief his followers about this position. If the church elders have any bone of contention with us let them use the proper legal channels and not use violence. Finally, the perpetrators of violence were fined and they paid an admission of guilt. We have also been given supporting documents to go for medical examinations after the assault. This police will begin their investigations and call witnesses who had attended the church service. The police will be attending church services to maintain law and order starting this Sunday. This is the current state of affairs. Yours Sincerely, Colin Zondai Makoni Senior Pastor Christ Ministries church

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa foresees real change coming in 2023.

In a brief statement posted on Facebook, the CCC leader called for unity of purpose in the struggle for change.

“WHAT I SEE..I see victory. I see change. I see prosperity. I see freedom. I see dignity back. I see happiness.

I see everything brand new. I see a New Great Zimbabwe! I see HIS hand and His word.

Let’s join hands and make this beautiful country that best place.Prayer works! #Isee,” said President Chamisa.

By-Two violent Harare bouncers, arrested for allegedly attacking patrons at Pabloz Night Club, Sam Levy Village, Borrowdale, on 22 December 2022, have been denied bail.

Gideon Sanyangore (32) and Blessing Kumunda (36), appeared before Stanford Mambanje at the Harare Magistrate Court on Thursday for bail hearing.

In his ruling, Mambanje said Sanyangore and Kumunda were not eligible for bail, citing their violent nature. Said Mambanje:

Thus according to the State, the interests of the public will be undermined if the two accused are released on bail as they have been causing havoc for a long time now and they are likely to interfere with witnesses since they had already displaced violent behaviour before.

The applicants are facing a serious charge of attempted murder…I also can’t ignore the fact that the accused ran away from the scene and went on for days without being located.

I cannot ignore these facts because you can’t go about stabbing people and expect the issue to go unchecked.

It was pressure from the social media videos that drove them to hand themselves over to the police… social media launched an outcry to have the two arrested after their notorious ways went viral.

Sanyangore and Kumunda remain detained until 31 January 2023. 

– NewsDay

By James Gwati- The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has lost one of its top, young, promising female officials, Assistant Commissioner Zandile Sibanda.

Ass Comm Zandile Sibanda died in the capital on New Year’s Eve after a short illness.

She was 47.

Sibanda joined the Prison Service in 2001.

Her first posting was at the organisation’s Headquarters, the then newly introduced security department.

In 2004 she was assigned to work in the office of the late and then Prisons Boss, Rtd Major General Paradzai Zimondi.

She was promoted and re-assigned in 2020 and appointed the Deputy Director for Rehabilitation and Reintegration in the same office.

The service in 2021 elevated her to Director of Rehabilitation and Reintegration, a position she held until her death.

The late Ass Comm Sibanda was buried Wednesday in Ntabazinduna, a few kilometers East of Bulawayo.

By- Police have recovered five stolen rifles after shooting down a robber in Belvedere.

ZimLive reports that the shoot-out happened close to a supermarket in Belvedere Wednesday after police cornered two armed robbery suspects.

The five rifles were stolen from Mutangadura Farm in Ruwa during a recent robbery.

The online news portal cites an eye-witness:
One suspect was shot dead, and a second one was taken to hospital following the incident outside OK Marimba at around 5PM.
Late afternoon shoppers hid inside shops and crouched next to parked vehicles after gunfire erupted, this after the suspects allegedly resisted arrest.
The dead man was named by law enforcement sources as Tichaona Kariwo, who was pronounced dead on admission at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
The second suspect, Courage Kadumba, is in police custody.

Kadumba is expected to appear in court on Friday with two others who were arrested during further police investigations.
-ZimLive

By A Correspondent- Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Theodius Chinyanga has announced that Zimbabwe might get its plastic driver licence discs sooner than expected.

The plastic discs which are said to have security features that will make them difficult to forge are expected to be issued out early this year. Another added advantage is that they will be machine-scannable to ascertain their authenticity.

In his statement Chinyanga is quoted saying:

“In compliance with the International Organisation for Standardisation and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 18013 standards on driver’s licences, the ministry applied for the Issuer Identification Number, which uniquely identifies CVR as the issuing authority in Zimbabwe, across all ISO member states.

“The IIN was issued in November 2022,” he said.

“The ministry has since encoded the IIN on the card design and submitted to SADC, who are currently reviewing it.”

Chinyanga denoted that while waiting for the review process the ministry has already started the production of the materials needed such as ink, ribbon and foil.

This explains why those who are presently passing driving tests at the Vehicle Inspection Department depots are being issued with temporary paper driver’s licences.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has issued a statement in response to social media reports that the entity has banned the airplay of Winky D’s latest music which has been labelled by many as being controversial and anti-government.

In a statement issued on Wednesday the public broadcaster said:

ZBC’s statement in relation to false allegations made on social media about Winky D’s songs being banned on its platform

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has noted with concern unfounded messages circulating on various social media platforms alleging that there has been a ban on Winky D’s songs on the ZBC platforms.

ZBC is a public broadcaster and is guided by the philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind. It should be categorically stated that we do not discriminate against any music artists.

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean university lecturer has dragged a traditional leader to court for accusing him of proposing love to married women in Chigodora.

Ranganai Njodzi, a Computer Science lecturer at a local university, is accused of destroying marriages in the peri-urban area of Chigodora and pampering the wives with chickens.

The lecturer is also accused of assaulting the women’s husbands and leaving them for dead.

This was revealed recently after Njodzi dragged Village head Gosho whose real name is Denford Zimunya to Headman Chigodora’s court.

Njodzi accused Gosho of soiling his image in the community through what he described as unfounded allegations. He said:

Gosho called for a meeting at his homestead and told the gathering that I was a marriage wrecker and robber.

He instructed the people to attack me with stones and I now fear for my safety because these people are baying for my blood.

They no longer want me in the area because of the instructions they got from their community leader, yet I am not a marriage wrecker.

He has tarnished my image in the community. I work at a local university and some of my students stay in the area. They no longer respect me because of the allegations.

This man (Gosho) hates me, a reason why he wants to destroy my good social standing.

Njodzi challenged Gosho to bring forward witnesses who can confirm that he had proposed love to married women.

Gosho said he had witnesses, adding that the husbands and their wives refused to attend the court out of fear of victimisation. He said:

I have witnesses. He is in the habit of proposing love to married women and pampers them with chickens.

When the women’s husbands confront him over the issue, he assaults them.

He even stripped naked one of the husbands before assaulting him. The man fled and hid in the graveyard.

The village head said he was about to expel Njodzi out of his area saying he doesn’t accept marriage wreckers.

However, Headman Chigodora criticised Gosho for tarnishing Njodzi’s image before establishing the truth. He said:

Instead, after hearing the allegations, you hurriedly convicted Njodzi in his absence and ordered people to stone him. You were wrong and should rectify your mistake.

We do not know whether he is womaniser or not, but he needs to be given a chance to present his side of the story.

-manicapost

By A Correspondent- Former Mighty Warriors striker Rufaro “Mafidi” Machingura has died this morning.

The sad news was confirmed by the Women  Super league.

Machingura died after a long illness. 

She also played for Black Rhinos Queens as a striker.

Mourners are gathered at House Number 4617 Retreat, Waterfalls  in Harare.

During her time she led the Mighty Warriors to big tournaments like COSAFA.

By- Police in Harare’s Belvedere area have shot dead a robbery suspect and injured another.

ZimLive reports that the shoot-out happened close to a supermarket in Belvedere Wednesday after police cornered two armed robbery suspects.

The online news portal cites an eye-witness:
One suspect was shot dead, and a second was taken to hospital following the incident outside OK Marimba at around 5PM.
Late afternoon shoppers hid inside shops and crouched next to parked vehicles after gunfire erupted, this after the suspects allegedly resisted arrest.
The dead man was named by law enforcement sources as Tichaona Kariwo, who was pronounced dead on admission at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
The second suspect, Courage Kadumba, is in police custody.
Police reportedly recovered five rifles stolen from Mutangadura Farm in Ruwa during a robbery.
Kadumba is expected to appear in court on Friday with two others who were arrested during further police investigations.
-ZimLive

By A Correspondent-A UK Zimbabwean employment agency is at the centre of a storm over a s** for shift work” scandal that has seen thousands of women speaking over it.
The Stevenage-based company was last night blown under the whistle over reports that most of its workers are being forced into exchanging their bodies for shift allocations which are not easy to get.
The development had the company owner’s husband fingered for demanding intimacy from newcomers. The unnamed husband was in another incident caught in the act of bedding one of the care workers who is also his wife’s relative and arrived in UK a few weeks ago.
He was pleasuring himself inside the company office.
The man quickly apologised to the female employee who found him in the very act, a source narrates.
“Akabatwa achitoseva muramu wake,” a source said, in audios availed to ZimEye.
It is said the workers are afraid to report the man, and an advisory was published last night to help guide complainants whenever they are forced to compromise their bodies.
DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS CRIMINAL IS? CONTACT ZIMEYE NOW.
The advisory reads:
Mujolo mujolo mujolo please

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa foresees real change coming in 2023.

In a brief statement posted on Facebook, the CCC leader called for unity of purpose in the struggle for change.

“WHAT I SEE..I see victory. I see change. I see prosperity. I see freedom. I see dignity back. I see happiness.

I see everything brand new. I see a New Great Zimbabwe! I see HIS hand and His word.

Let’s join hands and make this beautiful country that best place.Prayer works! #Isee,” said President Chamisa.

By A Correspondent | An NHS nurse has confirmed that she hired a male witch to perform an attack on her husband so that she can date a Nigerian boyfriend.

The development led to her husband vanishing and Manchester Police raising an alert for his whereabouts.

Tendai Maturure is the missing Manchester Zimbabwean, Patrick Mukanganise’s wife, and her husband’s Facebook account Tuesday posted a black dot with no further detail.

Mukanganise, who went missing on 30 Dec 2022, is the “victim” of a witchcraft attack (see transcript of the consultation at the bottom of the article) supposedly performed by his wife who wants him to “get stupid” so that she can date another man, according some leaked audio recordings.
video:

While it could not be ascertained if the poster is trully Mukanganise himself, several people were on Tuesday reaching out to him offering help.

“Sending love, hope you are okay,” said Kirsty Murray, while others were more direct.

“We love you isuuu,” wrote Ivy Muriva.

Another, Tendai Shona Tsopota, revealed Makanganise has been found. He wrote thanking Manchester Police saying, “wow wow thank YOU GOD,
My Jesus you’re great. Friends and family Patrick Mukanganise is alive and well.
Thank you Greater Manchester Police ……….”

Tendai Maturure later on Tuesday confirmed to ZimEye she is the one who consulted the said male witch Sekuru Tembo for methods of causing hurt on her husband so that she can bed a Nigerian boyfriend. (AUDIO ON ZIMEYE FB PAGE)

On an unknown date, a woman with the same voice as Mukanganise’s wife is heard consulting a South Africa based so called, Sekuru Tembo, and the conversation is as below.

Sekuru Tembo: “I put your photo into the vessel. The following morning, if the tree (a mufandichimuka) is dry, if it is leafy, I will put it into a hari (pot), it means something.

Right now we can now talk.”

Tendai Mukanganise: “Good day Sekuru, you said you will put my pic into the pot, with the tree, but the issue is of this person who says he likes me, but he hasn’t proposed. So how will this work out in the future?

Sekuru Tembo: When I mean I have put the man into the sack, I mean that I will have pleaded and chanted out using his totem (African surname), so that he starts only thinking about you.

“Putting him into the sack is so that he becomes stupid, all he does is to think about you. Do you still need to understand?

Tendai Mukanganise: “I was only told by my friend that Sekuru Tembo puts someone into a sack; But I had no clue what it means. What I am asking you is so that this man who left me, must go mad, you trap him up so that his life fails for good, and this Nigerian be turned up for me (become interested in me).

Sekuru Tembo: Not a problem amaMoyo; but right now I have people knocking on my door, they want me to help them with a chidhoma matter affecting someone. I don’t know what time you go to work. Let me talk to them.”

– THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY….

By- Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje has denied bail for the two hooligans facing attempted murder.

Gideon Sanyangore and Blessing Kumunda Wednesday returned to remand prison after their bail hearing was postponed.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Cephas Mutswebi, opposed bail, saying they are yet to obtain video footage of the pair causing commotion and attempting to stab what appears to be a Pabloz Nightclub bouncer.
He also submitted that he is yet to record witness statements from several people, hence if they are released, they would interfere with investigations.
Blessing Kumunda
He submitted that the two know the complainants and if they are released on bail, they can interfere with investigations by intimidating witnesses.
However, the bouncers’ lawyer argued that the investigating officer had half-baked information and was not aware how the fight started.
He claimed that Sanyangore was being attacked by the complainants and that was when Kumunda pushed them in a bid to rescue Sanyangore.
George Manokore appeared for the State.

By-The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) said it had not banned Winky D’s latest album from being played on its platforms.

Some commentators consider the album to be critical of the government.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 04 January 2023, the public broadcaster said:
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has noted with concern unfounded messages circulating on various social media platforms alleging that there has been a ban on Winky D’s songs on the ZBC platforms.
ZBC is a public broadcaster and is guided by the philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.
It should be categorically stated that we do not discriminate against any music artists.

By- The High Court has again denied bail for the detained CCC deputy Chair Job Sikhala.

Justice Samuel Deme made the rejection on Wednesday without giving reasons.

Sikhala has been in jail since his arrest on 14 June 2022 on charges of inciting public violence.
He was arrested after violent protests at the memorial service for slain Moreblessing Ali, a Chitungwiza Municipality employee linked to CCC whose body was found in a disused well in Nyatsime.
Justice Deme threw out Sikhala’s bail appeal without giving reasons.
He said the full reasons for the court decision would be made available in due course.
Sikhala has successively been denied bail by both the Magistrates Court and High Court on grounds that he would re-offend, as he has on many occasions been arrested on similar allegations but has never been convicted.
The CCC vice chairman claims his arrests are politically motivated as he has been a vocal critic of successive ZANU PF-led governments over the past two decades.
In fact, Sikhala has been arrested more than 60 times and has never been convicted.

By-Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he has sent a warship towards the Atlantic and Indian oceans armed with new hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles.

Putin said this weaponry was unique worldwide.

This is after Tuesday, Russia confirmed the Ukrainian army’s killings of over 60 soldiers.

Putin confirmed the development in a video conference with defence minister Sergei Shoigu and Igor Krokhmal, commander of the frigate named Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov.

He said the ship was armed with Zircon hypersonic weapons. Said Putin:

This time the ship is equipped with the latest hypersonic missile system – Zircon – which has no analogues.

I would like to wish the crew of the ship success in their service for the good of the motherland.

Shoigu added that the hypersonic missiles, known as either Tsirkon or Zircon, could overcome any missile defence system.

He also said the missiles fly at nine times the speed of sound and have a range of more than 1 000km.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said that Patriot air defence systems are expected to be deployed in Ukraine soon.

He said preparations for transferring the Patriot air defence systems from the United States of America have already begun.

On 21 December, US President Joe Biden announced a $1.85bn military aid package for Ukraine, including a Patriot missile defence system.

Ukraine is also expecting the US Congress to approve another package of almost $45 billion.

The package includes new HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems and the Patriot air defence systems. | Al Jazeera

By- Lightening has struck and killed a 42-year-old man walking with his girlfriend along a footpath in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo.

Police said Peter Gwaza died on the spot while his 30-year-old girlfriend, Priority Dube was seriously injured when the lightning struck. Police said:
The ZRP reports a sad incident in which Peter Gwaza (42) and his girlfriend Priority Dube (30) were struck by a bolt of lightning on 03/01/23 while walking along a footpath in Cowdray Park.
Peter Gwaza died on the spot while Priority Dube sustained burns on the stomach and bruises on her hands and face.

By- The High Court judge has again rejected a fresh bail appeal for CCC deputy Chair Job Sikhala.

Justice Samuel Deme made the rejection on Wednesday without giving reasons.

Sikhala has been in jail since his arrest on 14 June 2022 on charges of inciting public violence.
He was arrested after violent protests at the memorial service for slain Moreblessing Ali, a Chitungwiza Municipality employee linked to CCC whose body was found in a disused well in Nyatsime.
Justice Deme threw out Sikhala’s bail appeal without giving reasons.
He said the full reasons for the court decision would be made available in due course.
Sikhala has successively been denied bail by both the Magistrates Court and High Court on grounds that he would re-offend, as he has on many occasions been arrested on similar allegations but has never been convicted.
The CCC vice chairman claims his arrests are politically motivated as he has been a vocal critic of successive ZANU PF-led governments over the past two decades.
In fact, Sikhala has been arrested more than 60 times and has never been convicted.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC youth taskforce spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has condemned the harassment and victimisation of Winky D by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

According to Chuma, Winky D is the voice of suffering citizens.

See below the CCC official’s argument:

A ZANU PF shadowy outfit by the name EEG (whatever that means) are a danger to the ghetto. They want Winky D to be banned for singing about very issues affecting us everyday. @winkydonline is simply amplifying our voices in the ghetto.

In 1977, Ian Douglas Smith banned Thomas Mapfumo songs and later on jailed him for 90 days.

In 2023, ED Mnangagwa through EEG announced they intend to ban Winky D. Mapfumo was a voice of masses against colonialism. Winky D is a voice of citizens against corruption and poverty.

By James Gwati- Authorities in Harare have arrested CCC senior member and former Harare mayor Herbert Gomba.

According to the CCC spokesperson, Fadzayi Maherethe Harare Ward 27 Councillor (CCC) was arrested this morning at a residents meeting.

Gomba was scheduled to unveil new community boreholes and hear residents’ concerns and feedback.

Mahere tweeted:
Ward 27 CCC Councillor Herbert Gomba has been arrested by Southerton Police at a residents’ meeting where he was scheduled to unveil new community boreholes as well as hear the concerns and feedback of residents. Our lawyers have been despatched to attend to him.
Gomba was arrested in March last year on allegations of perjury and transmitting a declaration form that had false information.

By A Correspondent- Unions representing teachers have demanded the scrapping of the Government Employees Mutual Savings Fund (GEMS), arguing it is not benefiting their members.

GEMS was set up by Cabinet in March 2020 with the government saying it would provide $100 million in seed capital to improve the welfare of civil servants.

Under GEMS, civil servants are subjected to 2.5% monthly wage deductions to support the loan scheme.

But Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure said the government is still making the deductions from teachers who opted out of GEMS. Masaraure said:

The scheme was unilaterally imposed on workers. Teachers opted out but were surprised to realise that deductions continued and are still being done.

Those who have sought loans from GEMS have been denied because they are said to be earning too little to qualify. So they qualify to contribute but don’t qualify to access the loans.

We are aware that fat cats in the civil service are benefitting from the contributions of the underpaid junior civil servants.

We have clear instructions from teachers to call for the scrapping of the fraud called GEMS.
Educators Unions of Zimbabwe (EUZ) secretary-general Tapedza Zhou said:

It’s a deduction that does not help workers and no one has benefitted from the so-called loan fund. It is, therefore, a liability to employees.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) general secretary Goodwill Taderera said:

We have always said nothing for us, without and we think there has to be a way of getting back to the drawing board, because the board currently running that scheme does not include civil servants. As civil servants, we must be involved.

This level of abuse at the hands of an arrogant employer is unparalleled and should never be seen again.

Once the scheme has been dissolved, we demand both an audit and an apology for the abuse of workers’ funds.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said:
We will do everything in our power to make sure that teachers will not suffer this prejudice in 2023.

The government said that GEMS is a scheme that seeks to create wealth during and after the termination of civil servants’ employment. | NewsDay

ailed CCC vice chairman Job Sikhala on Tuesday filed an application to have his trial broadcast live when he appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.

Sikhala’s lawyer, Jeremiah Bamu, submitted that having his client’s trial broadcast live is meant to vindicate the interests of the public.

Said Bamu:

This way, the trial will be done in a fair manner and it will be a public trial and our reasons for this application are that it is meant to vindicate the interests of the public.

There is no other court or person that can come and tell you to allow or reject this decision because you are the one who is overseeing this trial proceeding and you also have an obligation to protect and give effect to members of the public who are entitled to freedom of information and who also have a right to have public access to what will take place in court and in the trial.

This request will also allow members of the family to be detailed about the ongoing proceedings in this case as this comes as a request from the accused’s children who are overseas and are not able to attend the trial.

There is no prejudice at all as this application will not cause any interference and will not be any expense to anyone and will not interfere with prosecutorial order.

We will also like to add to the requests and submit that the media be allowed to use their gadgets during the trial so as to even do their very own live feed.

Magistrate Gofa was on Wednesday expected to make a ruling on the application.

Sikhala has been in prison since his arrest on 14 June 2022 on a charge of incitement to public violence. | NewsDay

By A Correspondent- A 14 year old girl from the Johane Marange Apostolic Church reportedly died on Tuesday a few days after giving birth at home in Buhera.

Family relative and lawyer Norris Johannes confirmed Delight Masomeke’s death to NewsDay.

He said Delight, of Bvumbura Village in Chivhu, gave birth to a baby girl on 29 December 2022 at Masasa in Buhera but died three days later. Said Johannes:

The deceased is said to have given birth to a baby girl on December 29, 2022, and remained unwell until she succumbed to (an undisclosed) illness yesterday (Monday).

Her mother Nelia Matarirano is my sister, but the family was not aware that the girl was married.

All we knew was she was at school, only to be shocked by the news of her death yesterday.

Relatives wanted to hastily bury her, but we sought police intervention. We are at the police station filing a report.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told NewsDay that he had not received a report of the case. | NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Three pedestrians, including a four-year-old minor, died on Saturday in a freak road traffic accident after an Inter-Africa bus veered off the road and ran over the victims standing by the roadside.

Police confirmed the unfortunate incident which occurred along the Zaka-Nyika Road.

The police have released names of the deceased as Mary Gomo, 43, from Chihanya Village in Zaka, Margaret Chidari, 43, and Chelsea Tanatswa Chidari, 4, from Fambai Village under Chief Nhema in Zaka.

The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident, which occurred at the 15km-peg along the Zaka-Nyika road on December 31 at around 10am when a bus veered off the road and ran over three pedestrians who were standing on the roadside,” national police spokesperson, Assistant Paul Nyathi said.

“The three victims died on the spot.”

In another incident that happened Saturday, three people died when a motorist lost control of his vehicle, which crashed into a stationary car on the roadside.

Police said the accident happened at the 39km peg along the Harare-Bulawayo road on December 31 at around 5.30pm.

A motorist driving a Volvo F series truck lost control of the truck and veered off the road where he hit a stationary Honda Fit which had five occupants,” Ass Comm Nyathi said.

“Three passengers in the Honda Fit died on the spot, while two others were injured.”

— HMetro

By A Correspondent- The Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet George Charamba said that musician Holy Ten, whose real name is Mukudzei Chitsama, has been forgiven after he apologised for allegedly criticising the government.

This comes after Holy Ten said he was regretting working with Winky D in Ibotso, a song which is on Winky’s latest album titled Eureka.

The musician claimed the song had been sensationalised by commentators, mainly journalists. In a Twitter post, Holy Ten said:

Activists, journalists, lawyers – Split opinions will not do any good for a brand that’s trying to serve & save everyone so help me by not acting like I’ve picked a side. Do not politicize a project that I’ve considered a mere honor to be a part of. I regret it now honestly 

Also posting on the microblogging site, Charamba said Chitsama had been wholly forgiven but warned him never to criticize the government, saying “the feeding trough is important”. Wrote Charamba:

You are wholly forgiven Holy Ten. Next time usatize chikoro mfana Gumi. Chihiro chakakosha. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.

The song, Ibotso, has been viewed by some as depicting Zimbabwe as a long-decayed society in which the residents naively hope things will miraculously change for the better.

Brezhnev Malaba, a prominent journalist, in his analysis of the song, said Zimbabwe is a crime scene. He said:

Corruption-induced poverty has unleashed devastating poverty on ghetto youths. Hunger has ensnared naive girls into a life of debauchery. There are artistes who conveniently choose to ignore these stark realities. 

Winky D has set himself apart.

In Ibotso, he lays bare the ugly underbelly of a long-decayed society that foolishly hides beneath a threadbare cloak of self-denial, in the forlorn hope of swiftly waking up from a prolonged nightmare. Where delusion meets deceit, victims abound.

The Gafa chants: “Vanotora zvevapfupi nekureba”. What comes next is epic. Holy 10, his eager apprentice, then intones: “Sekutamba sekuseka”. From that point on, the flow is infectious, irresistible, and delectable.