By A Correspondent- A 33 year old Warren Park woman was arrested for organising an armed robbery against her wealthy married lover for allegedly failing to provide her ‘satisfactory financial support.’

Beulah Zimhondi appeared before magistrate Taurai Manuwere charged with armed robbery and was remanded in custody.

Zimondi allegedly hired four men to rob Jonathan Gapare, a construction tycoon.

It is alleged the Zimondi and Gapare have been in a relationship since 2020 and the accused was not satisfied with the financial help she was getting.

She allegedly planned the robbery together with four accomplices named as Daniel Mutasa, Taurai Pangai and the other two only identified as Sir Calaz and Gunners but are still at large.

 After several meetings to to perfect their plan, they allegedly met at Zimondi’s place of residence overnight on October 29. The following morning, at Zimondi’s direction, they allegedly stormed Gapare’s house, which was nearby, armed with pistols.

Upon arrival, they introduced themselves to the complainant saying they were sent by the complainant’s client Dingilwazo Moyo to collect money.

Gapare took them into his house and the gang produced pistols and tied all the people in the house using shoelaces and cables.

They got away with US$1 490, four mobile phones and electric gadgets before exiting the house through a back door and scaling a precast wall.

By- The leader of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Nelson Chamisa, has said the ruling ZANU PF has failed to address the country’s power crisis and proposed possible solutions.

The party emphasised the need to modernise power generation infrastructure in a social media post. The party said:

ZANU PF has failed to solve the power crisis. A CCC Government would: 

1. Rehabilitate Hwange Power Stations 

2. Build additional hydro-power.stations, including at Batoka Gorge 

3. Modernize Zimbabwe’s transmission infrastructure

4. Open up the energy sector to independent power producers 

4. Invest in renewable energy including solar, wind & gas

This comes after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) advised Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to shut down the Kariba South bank power station for the remainder of the year due to low water levels at Kariba Dam.

ZRA chief executive officer Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, used more water than it had been allocated, hence the need to close the power plant until at least January 2023 to allow the dam to fill.

Zimbabwe experienced acute power shortages in the past three years with authorities blaming ageing equipment’s incapacity to generate enough power, reduced electricity imports and water shortages at Kariba Dam.

Government critics blame the ZANU PF-led government for the country’s prolonged electricity challenges saying little has been done to increase electricity generation since the 1980s.

By- A court case in which the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) is challenging the termination of the Zimbabwe exemption permits(ZEP) has been moved to April 2023.

The case was set down for Monday, and will now be heard in April, Times Live said quoting Nicole Fritz the director of the foundation.

Nicole Fritz said a three-bench panel of judges would hear the matter when it resumed. Said, Fritz:

We are disappointed that hearing dates could not be secured earlier in that we are anxious to have the matter heard by the courts and for a just resolution to be determined.

HSF is challenging Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s decision to terminate the ZEP on June 30, 2023.

The HSF wants the high court in Pretoria to declare the decision by Motsoaledi to terminate the ZEP — and his limited extension to the permit — unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.

The application is being opposed by the home affairs minister.

On the case only being heard in 2023, Zimbabwe Immigration Federation chair Luke Dzviti said: 

For now it’s not a train smash, I am not really disappointed because we still have a grace period. It’s fine as long as it happens before Zimbabwean nationals who are ZEP holders become illegal immigrants.

Dzviti said they were fine with the home affairs directive which says no one can be arrested or deported.

By- The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has said that more women are approaching them, reporting that they were sexually abused by the leader of the Prophetic Healing Deliverance Ministries, Walter Magaya.

 The Herald reports that there are also girls coming with similar reports.

Speaking during a recent press briefing on the preliminary findings of the national inquiry on sexual exploitation and abuse of young girls and child marriages, ZGC chairperson Commissioner Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe said:

There have been some complainants that have come through but we can not share at the moment how many they are.

We have had some responses in terms of some people coming forward and we are still waiting for more responses. We will inform you as we get more responses from the complainants.

Investigations into allegations of exploitation and abuse of women by Magaya started last month, according to ZGC.

Previously the probe had been halted in 2019 after Magaya filed an urgent application at the High Court questioning the validity of the investigations.

However, the courts ruled in favour of the Commission paving way for the continuance of the probe.

The Commission is still calling on members of the public who might have complaints against the clergyman to come to present their grievances.

By A Correspondent- Chiadzwa villagers and civil society organisations (CSOs) have sued the police for banning a planned demonstration against the looting of diamonds and human rights abuses perpetrated by State security agents in Marange.

The villagers filed a lawsuit through Chiadzwa Community Development Trust chairperson Newman Chiadzwa at Mutare Magistrates Courts last Thursday seeking an interdict against the police on the planned demonstration.

Chiadzwa is being represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, while Xavier Chipato is the presiding magistrate on the matter.

Mutare Police Rural, cited as the first respondent, banned the demonstration, which was slated for November 15, 2022.

Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe are the second and third respondents, respectively.

In his founding affidavit, Chiadzwa said the demonstration was organised by him and eight CSOs.

“I wish to state that it cannot be gainsaid that there is a clear impression that the first respondent seeks to prevent me from holding the intended demonstration together with other participants. The reasons put forward by the first respondent to prohibit the intended demonstration are not cogent and are clear misinterpretations and misapplication of the law.

“I must point out that I only desire to enjoy the rights that are enshrined in the Constitution and peacefully so. I further wish to highlight that section 10(1(c) of the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act relied upon by the first respondent cannot be read in isolation. I submit that I have no other alternative remedy available to me apart from approaching this honourable court and have respondents interdicted from interfering with intended demonstrations,” part of the lawsuit read.

The matter is set to be heard this week in Mutare, where the police is expected to file its heads of argument.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- The MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora says it will hold its 5th Ordinary Congress on 18 December 2022 in Harare.

Mwonzora notified party members about the development, saying this is in line with the MDC-T constitution. He said:

In line with the constitution of the Party, and following the relevant internal processes, notice is hereby given that the 5th Ordinary Congress of the Movement for Democratic Change (Tsvangirai) will be held on the 18th of December 2022 in Harare.

Mwonzora was recently nominated by the MDC-T National Council as the sole presidential candidate for the party’s 5th Ordinary Congress.

On 21 November 2022, party spokesperson Witness Dube said Mwonzora is now the party’s duly elected presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.

At the same National Council meeting, Chief Ndlovu was also nominated 1st Vice President unopposed.

By A Correspondent- Community leaders say the prevailing economic hardships have forced parents to abandon their children, making them vulnerable to sexual abuse.

This came out during engagements on gender-based violence (GBV) in public spaces organised by the United Nations (UN) Women in partnership with the Spotlight Initiative in Umzingwane district, Matabeleland South province.

Zimbabwe has recorded a surge in child marriages, with child rights activists advocating for stiffer penalties for perpetrators.

Activists under the banner of HeforShe, a UN-sponsored solidarity movement against GBV yesterday bemoaned the increase in child-headed families as parents flock to the diaspora to eke out a living.

“Children need guidance and protection from their parents. But what we have witnessed is children are nurturing themselves because of the absence of their parents. Children are often left in the custody of other people as their parents go to cities or even out of the country to look for jobs,” local church leader Lovemore Sibanda said.

Those guardians sometimes fail to protect them from abusers or provide moral guidance to them which results in the children behaving in a wayward manner.

“Sometimes those people who are left as custodians of children tend to sexually or mentally abuse them. Families should put in place concrete measures to strike a balance between protecting children from social ills and the need to meet their economic needs.”

HeforShe champion Vusumuzi Mpofu said parents and guardians were increasingly disregarding child protection laws due to the need to provide for families.

“We see parents taking children to the markets and turning them into vendors, which is against the laws. They spent the whole day loitering at the marketplaces mingling with older boys and men who eventually abuse them,” he said.

“Such environments are not conducive for child development and growth. Parents should protect children from dangers of the society. There is a need for increased education among parents on children’s rights.”

Activists against GBV have raised the red flag on child abuse after a nine-year-old girl from Tsholotsho gave birth at Mpilo Central Hospital.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A 25 year old man has been arrested for allegedly posing as a police officer and demanding bribes from unlicenced business operators and artisanal miners at Selous, Mashonaland West province.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“On November 25, 2022, ZRP Saruwe arrested Welcome Darikwa (25) in connection with impersonating a police officer.

The suspect demanded bribes from shops owners and artisanal miners whilst pretending to be a police officer,” said Nyathi.

He said in one of the cases which occurred on November 24 this year, at Norwood farm in Selous, the suspect demanded and received US$58 bribe from an artisanal miner for failing to produce an Environmental Management Agency (EMA) licence.

“The suspect had allegedly approached the miner pretending to be a detective from CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit deployed to check for licences at mines and shops in the area,” said the police spokesperson.

By A Correspondent- Labour unions have raised concern over the safety of teachers following an incident where Zanu-PF Gutu district co-ordinating committee (DCC) vice-chairperson Fabios Musara allegedly detained teachers at Machingambi Secondary School for participating in a research and data collection exercise.

The teachers were hired to conduct a data collection exercise by Australian-based Felix Mavhondo for his latest research.

Mavhondo works in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University as a professor of marketing. The teachers had been authorised to do the data collection exercise.

Sources told NewsDay that there was a crisis on Tuesday last week when Musara stormed the school premises and summoned all the teachers who participated in the data collection exercise and accused them of being opposition activists.

“The teachers were detained for several hours. Musara threatened to beat them up, accusing them of being opposition activists. Some students at the school witnessed the teachers being embarrassed. Learning time was lost,” said the source.

Musara could not be reached for comment.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure confirmed the incident and called upon political parties to refrain from harassing teachers.

“Punishing teachers for engaging in academic research is an affront to both academic freedom and national development. Zimbabwe should be constantly chasing new frontiers of knowledge to find an escape route out of the deep hole we are trapped in. It’s not everyone is comfortable living in the Stone Age when the rest of the world has moved on,” Masaraure said.

“We call upon the ruling party to modernise its approach to politics. The persecution of teachers is a threat to access to education for the learners and a huge impediment to achieving the goals set out in NDS1.”

Educators Union of Zimbabwe (EUZ) general secretary Tapedza Zhou said the events at Machingambi Secondary School were disturbing.

“We are concerned about events at Machingambi Secondary School on 22 November, where teachers were victimized for partaking in research yet the foreign researcher was given a green light by the ministry.

 “The approving ministry must restrain political leaders from interfering with our teachers in schools. These current dynamics are an epitome of disaster,” Zhou said.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Former Zanu PF Politburo member Jonathan Moyo has hit back at Saviour Kasukuwere after the latter said he will never beg ZANU PF or President Emmerson Mnangagwa for forgiveness, and seek readmission into the party.

Kasukuwere, who, like Moyo, fell out of favour with ZANU PF following the November 2017 military coup, recently said he will not go on his knees to beg for forgiveness from his erstwhile colleagues.

He made the remarks after Moyo and another self-exiled former cabinet minister, Patrick Zhuwao issued a public apology to ZANU PF members over their role in a campaign calling for the party to be removed from power.

Responding to Kasukuwere, Moyo claimed the former ZANU PF political commissar made endless calls begging ZANU PF to be readmitted into the ruling party. Wrote Moyo on Twitter:

Yet days after the coup, Savior Kasukuwere coined the term “New Dispensation”; he later made endless forgiveness calls and begged a ZANU PF bigwig with “APOLOGY CATTLE”!

It’s cheap for Tyson to make hay out of the open ‘apology letter’ @PatrickZhuwao and I wrote. Our letter is public and is to ZANU PF members; unlike his private ‘APOLOGY CATTLE’ to ZANU PF bigwig.

@Hon_Kasukuwere, in 2017 wrote “Let’s embrace the new dispensation and build our nation. Unity is strength and peace are prerequisites for progress.

In a leaked virtual address to his supporters, Kasukuwere said he is not a coward and is available to lead if his supporters invite him to do so.

By- MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora has set his Party’s 5th Ordinary Congress date on 18 December 2022 in Harare.

Mwonzora notified party members about the development, saying this is in line with the MDC-T constitution. He said:
In line with the constitution of the Party and following the relevant internal processes, notice is hereby given that the 5th Ordinary Congress of the Movement for Democratic Change (Tsvangirai) will be held on 18 December 2022 in Harare.
Mwonzora was recently nominated by the MDC-T National Council as the sole presidential candidate for the Party’s 5th Ordinary Congress.
On 21 November 2022, party spokesperson Witness Dube said Mwonzora is now the Party’s duly elected presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.
At the same National Council meeting, Chief Ndlovu was also nominated 1st Vice President unopposed.

By- South African police have opened a crimen injuria case against a 60-year-old from Benon, Ekurhuleni, after she allegedly called for black people to be banned instead of banning pit bulls.

In South African law, crimen injuria refers to a wilful injury to someone’s dignity caused by the use of obscene or racially offensive language or gestures.

Gauteng police spokesperson Brenda Muridili said the 60-year-old uttered the speech on a widely circulated WhatsApp voice note.

She said the suspect was arrested and released the same day on a warning to appear in court on 27 March 2023.

What the woman said

Bookkeeper Belinda Magor was responding to a message on a WhatsApp group in which she said black women’s uteruses and ovaries should be removed. In the clip, she said:

Estella/Stella, I agree with you wholeheartedly. What I say is ban the black man.

They rape, they steal, they kill, worse than any pit bull could, and they get away with it. Ban those that are making the laws, ban Ekurhuleni, ban the black man.

Get all the black women and cut out their uteruses and their ovaries so that they cannot procreate because they will all turn out the same because they are all the same.

I’m very passionate about this. Ban them, kill them, shoot them. Get rid of them because they are the problem. Not pit bulls, not animals.

Animals are beautiful, and they deserve a warm bed, food, love and attention, and everything else.

God created those animals. Who created the black man? Do you think God? I don’t think so.

Call to ban pit bulls in South Africa

The call to ban pit bulls in South Africa comes as other countries such as Russia and the United Kingdom have either banned or put restrictions on ownership of the breed or its importation.

Last Sunday, two American pit bull terriers mauled to death a three-year-old boy, Keketso Saule, in Phomolong township in South Africa. | IOL

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

President Chamisa on Saturday described the country’s hospitals as death traps.

See statement below:

OUR HOSPITALS ARE TERRIBLY SICK…

I’m so heartbroken after I visited Harare hospital yesterday.Our hospitals are death traps.

No electricity & water for days,no medicine & no machines. The inadequate & improper food, the worn out linen, the dilapidated beds and the general decay of the infrastructure ! We must unite to save our beautiful Zimbabwe .

I hear it’s the same at Mpilo,Pari & all other hospitals.

We are not poor. We just have poor leadership and poor priorities! We’re ready to #FixOurHealthcareSystem

By A Correspondent- A 33 year old abusive man from Mpopoma suburb in Bulawayo has been sentenced to four months in prison for smacking his wife over relish.

Roy Ndora pleaded guilty to physical abuse as defined in Section 3(1) (a) and Section 3(1) (b) as read with Section 4 of the Domestic Violence Act Chapter 5:16 when he appeared before Western Commonage court magistrate Shepherd Mjanja.

The magistrate sentenced him to four months imprisonment(or $30 000 fine).

The magistrate also sentenced him to 60 days imprisonment for malicious damage to property which was wholly suspended on condition that he compensates his sister US$100 being the value of the rear windscreen of her car which he damaged.

The court heard that on 12 November 2022 and at around 8pm, Samkele Moyo (31) was at home waiting for her husband to bring relish.

It is reported that when he arrived she asked him about the relish she had been waiting for and for no apparent reason he started assaulting her with open hands all over her body.

The court also heard on 15 November 2022 at around 7pm, the helpless Moyo went to her husband’s sister and sought refuge.

Ndora followed her there where upon arrival, he demanded to see her. His sister refused him access and he then became violent and damaged the rear windscreen of her car.

The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Ndora.

It also emerged in court that Ndora was a serial abuser who was always in the habit of verbally and physically abusing his wife together with their child.

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

President Chamisa on Saturday described the country’s hospitals as death traps.

See statement below:

OUR HOSPITALS ARE TERRIBLY SICK…

I’m so heartbroken after I visited Harare hospital yesterday.Our hospitals are death traps.

No electricity & water for days,no medicine & no machines. The inadequate & improper food, the worn out linen, the dilapidated beds and the general decay of the infrastructure ! We must unite to save our beautiful Zimbabwe .

I hear it’s the same at Mpilo,Pari & all other hospitals.

We are not poor. We just have poor leadership and poor priorities! We’re ready to #FixOurHealthcareSystem

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

President Chamisa on Saturday described the country’s hospitals as death traps.

See statement below:

OUR HOSPITALS ARE TERRIBLY SICK…

I’m so heartbroken after I visited Harare hospital yesterday.Our hospitals are death traps.

No electricity & water for days,no medicine & no machines. The inadequate & improper food, the worn out linen, the dilapidated beds and the general decay of the infrastructure ! We must unite to save our beautiful Zimbabwe .

I hear it’s the same at Mpilo,Pari & all other hospitals.

We are not poor. We just have poor leadership and poor priorities! We’re ready to #FixOurHealthcareSystem

By Farai D Hove | Police officers watched as Norton MP Temba Mliswa was violently slapped down by ZANU PF youths at a provincial hero’s funeral.

In a development that saw the legislator being escorted by police officers, Mliswa is on video screaming fire and brimstone at the cops.

He was at the time being accused of being an independent MP who is disrespectful of the ZANU PF leadership.

“No one will gather again the country [because of this violence.],” Mliswa bursts out at the cops. He continues saying.

“As police you have messed the president up, be ause you are supposed to maintain law and order,” Mliswa adds.

A comment from the police was not possible at the time of writing.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

By- The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) said that they have temporarily suspended the urban commuter train service because of heavy debts owed to them by Zupco.

The Parastatal’s spokesperson Andrew Kunambura said in a statement that the suspension was effective from 28 November 2022. 

He said:

The suspension was occasioned by an unsustainable operating environment arising from huge debts owed to NRZ by ZUPCO.

NRZ was therefore left with no option but to suspend commuter trains from 28 November due to capacity challenges.

Normal services will resume once ZUPCO fulfills its obligations as set in the agreement.

The urban commuter train service was launched in partnership with ZUPCO last year to ease congestion in Bulawayo and Harare at the height of the coronavirus crisis. | CITE

By- Zanu PF has terrorised Gutu- Mpandawana growth point targeting CCC members.

CCC Gutu district elections officer Lloyd Mupfudze told The Mirror that the violence is creating a humanitarian crisis by the day with more than 30 families running away from homes and workplaces.

Mupfudze appealed to well-wishers for food and shelter for the victims of the violence adding that the situation was deteriorating. He said:

There is a crisis. Families that have run away from their homes don’t have shelter and food. Others have lost sources of income after being pushed out of their workplaces.

These victims and their children need to eat and a place to sleep but we have no means to help.

Many people are sleeping in the bush for fear of being attacked at night. The majority of the victims are residents of Mpandawana while others stay on the outskirts of the growth point.

Many people have moved together with their children out of the district to Harare and other places.

It is well-organizedwell-organized and funded violence in the district and the Police is not arresting anyone to the extent that some people are assaulted at Police stations and in front of senior officers.

The godfathers of the violence are known and they openly brag about it. Gangs of hired thugs move in groups in broad daylight armed with banned weapons like catapults, knobkerries, stones and machetes.

They choose their victims randomly and they abduct, assault men and women in public.

Meanwhile, the Officer Commanding Masvingo East, Superintendent Taurai Mambure, was reportedly forced to call for an urgent all-parties meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue of violence.

Mambure reportedly barred The Mirror from the meeting and refused to give a statement after more than 4 hours of deliberations.

Alleged victims of political violence

Four Makumbe brothers Tom, Kudakwashe, Nhamo and Jervas were reportedly severely assaulted, thrown into sewage and had their phones crushed.

The brothers have a welding company at Mpandawana Growth Point but they closed the shop and disappeared.

CCC councillor, Bernard Chimwango’s wife, Blessing Chiriga was assaulted this week at the main bus rank.

She and her children have left the district for fear of further attacks, while Chimwango is also no longer staying at his house which is at Mpandawana, reported the mirror.

Who is behind the attacks?

According to The Mirror, the ringleader in the attack has been identified as Josephat Sarukore who is the ZANU PF District chair.

Sarukore’s brothers Tawanda and Samson have also been fingered while Joseph Mudziwepasi, a son of a businessman at the growth point has openly confirmed his role in the violence.

By- The Emmerson Mnangagwa-led government is targeting CCC officials and wants to jail them ahead of the 2023 elections.

The Zanu PF administration is doing this by amending the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act so that it criminalises anyone who insists that there are no sanctions in Zimbabwe.

Zanu PF has consistently accused the opposition of inviting sanctions on its members.

The Cabinet last Tuesday approved the amendments, which are set to introduce harsh penalties for citizens found guilty of “harming the country’s national interests”.

Citizens who invite a military attack on Zimbabwe from a hostile foreign government through private correspondence will face the death penalty or life imprisonment under this amended law.

Those who campaign for economic sanctions and trade restrictions would be liable to imprisonment for a period of up to five years.

According to the proposed new law, citizens who actively encourage sanctions on Zimbabwe would be barred from voting, registering as voters, and holding public office for up to 15 years. Reads the Bill’s memorandum:

Our Constitutional order of Zimbabwe that is based on parliamentary democracy affords many avenues for aggrieved citizens to redress their wrongs, including against the State.

It is therefore improper for citizens and residents of Zimbabwe to implement measures that undermine our sovereignty, dignity and independence as a nation. This (new) clause will criminalise such conduct.

According to the Bill, any citizen or permanent resident of Zimbabwe who actively participates in meetings whose object involves imposing sanctions or trade embargo against Zimbabwe shall be guilty of wilfully damaging the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe. It reads:

Upon conviction, the courts can impose a fine not exceeding level 10 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or both; additionally or alternatively on the motion of the prosecutor, to any one or more of the following, if the offence is attended by aggravating circumstances — termination of the citizenship of the convicted person, if the convicted person is a citizen by registration or a dual citizen: Provided that the convicting court shall not impose this penalty if it would effectively render the convicted person stateless; cancellation of the permanent resident status of the convicted person, if the convicted person is a permanent resident; or prohibition from being registered as a voter or voting at an election for a period of at least five years but not exceeding fifteen years.

The Bill also says those convicted of actively encouraging sanctions will be prohibited:

… from filling a public office for a period of at least five years but not exceeding fifteen (15) years, and, if he or she holds any such office, the convicting court may declare that that office shall be vacated by the convicted person from the date of his or her conviction, unless the tenure of the public office in question is regulated exclusively by or in terms of the Constitution.

If the amendments are passed into law, Zimbabwean citizens who call for military or other armed intervention in Zimbabwe by a foreign government will face the death penalty. It reads:

Any citizen or permanent resident of Zimbabwe who, within or outside Zimbabwe, actively partakes (whether himself or herself or through an agent, and whether on his or her own initiative or at the invitation of the foreign government concerned or any of its agents, proxies or entities) in any meeting whose object the accused knows or has reasonable grounds for believing involves the consideration of or the planning for – military or other armed intervention in Zimbabwe by the foreign government concerned or another foreign government, or by any of their agents, proxies or entities; or subverting, upsetting, overthrowing or overturning constitutional government in Zimbabwe; shall be guilty of wilfully damaging the national interest of Zimbabwe and liable to — the same penalties as for treason; or the same penalties as for subverting constitutional government, in a case referred to in paragraph (b).

ZANU PF director for information and publicity, Tafadzwa Mugwadi, welcomed the Bill, saying “national interests are sacrosanct to all Zimbabweans, notwithstanding their differences, political or otherwise.” | The Sunday Mail

By- The Zanu PF government has amended the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act so that it jails opposition members it accuses of inviting sanctions in the country.

The Cabinet last Tuesday approved the amendments, which are set to introduce harsh penalties for citizens found guilty of “harming the country’s national interests”.



Citizens who invite a military attack on Zimbabwe from a hostile foreign government through private correspondence will face the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Those who campaign for economic sanctions and trade restrictions would be liable to imprisonment for a period of up to five years.

According to the proposed new law, citizens who actively encourage sanctions on Zimbabwe would be barred from voting, registering as voters, and holding public office for up to 15 years. Reads the Bill’s memorandum:

Our Constitutional order of Zimbabwe that is based on parliamentary democracy affords many avenues for aggrieved citizens to redress their wrongs, including against the State.

It is therefore improper for citizens and residents of Zimbabwe to implement measures that undermine our sovereignty, dignity and independence as a nation. This (new) clause will criminalise such conduct.

According to the Bill, any citizen or permanent resident of Zimbabwe who actively participates in meetings whose object involves imposing sanctions or trade embargo against Zimbabwe shall be guilty of wilfully damaging the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe. It reads:

Upon conviction, the courts can impose a fine not exceeding level 10 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or both; additionally or alternatively on the motion of the prosecutor, to any one or more of the following, if the offence is attended by aggravating circumstances — termination of the citizenship of the convicted person, if the convicted person is a citizen by registration or a dual citizen: Provided that the convicting court shall not impose this penalty if it would effectively render the convicted person stateless; cancellation of the permanent resident status of the convicted person, if the convicted person is a permanent resident; or prohibition from being registered as a voter or voting at an election for a period of at least five years but not exceeding fifteen years.

The Bill also says those convicted of actively encouraging sanctions will be prohibited:

… from filling a public office for a period of at least five years but not exceeding fifteen (15) years, and, if he or she holds any such office, the convicting court may declare that that office shall be vacated by the convicted person from the date of his or her conviction, unless the tenure of the public office in question is regulated exclusively by or in terms of the Constitution.

If the amendments are passed into law, Zimbabwean citizens who call for military or other armed intervention in Zimbabwe by a foreign government will face the death penalty. It reads:

Any citizen or permanent resident of Zimbabwe who, within or outside Zimbabwe, actively partakes (whether himself or herself or through an agent, and whether on his or her own initiative or at the invitation of the foreign government concerned or any of its agents, proxies or entities) in any meeting whose object the accused knows or has reasonable grounds for believing involves the consideration of or the planning for – military or other armed intervention in Zimbabwe by the foreign government concerned or another foreign government, or by any of their agents, proxies or entities; or subverting, upsetting, overthrowing or overturning constitutional government in Zimbabwe; shall be guilty of wilfully damaging the national interest of Zimbabwe and liable to — the same penalties as for treason; or the same penalties as for subverting constitutional government, in a case referred to in paragraph (b).

ZANU PF director for information and publicity, Tafadzwa Mugwadi, welcomed the Bill, saying “national interests are sacrosanct to all Zimbabweans, notwithstanding their differences, political or otherwise.” | The Sunday Mail

By- Zanu PF has displaced more than 30 CCC family members in Gutu- Mupandawana growth point.

CCC Gutu district elections officer Lloyd Mupfudze told The Mirror that the violence is creating a humanitarian crisis by the day with more than 30 families running away from homes and workplaces.

Mupfudze appealed to well-wishers for food and shelter for the victims of the violence adding that the situation was deteriorating. He said:

There is a crisis. Families that have run away from their homes don’t have shelter and food. Others have lost sources of income after being pushed out of their workplaces.

These victims and their children need to eat and a place to sleep but we have no means to help.

Many people are sleeping in the bush for fear of being attacked at night. The majority of the victims are residents of Mpandawana while others stay on the outskirts of the growth point.

Many people have moved together with their children out of the district to Harare and other places.

It is well-organized and funded violence in the district and the Police is not arresting anyone to the extent that some people are assaulted at Police stations and in front of senior officers.

The godfathers of the violence are known and they openly brag about it. Gangs of hired thugs move in groups in broad daylight armed with banned weapons like catapults, knobkerries, stones and machetes.

They choose their victims randomly and they abduct, assault men and women in public.

Meanwhile, the Officer Commanding Masvingo East, Superintendent Taurai Mambure, was reportedly forced to call for an urgent all-parties meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue of violence.

Mambure reportedly barred The Mirror from the meeting and refused to give a statement after more than 4 hours of deliberations.

Alleged victims of political violence

Four Makumbe brothers Tom, Kudakwashe, Nhamo and Jervas were reportedly severely assaulted, thrown into sewage and had their phones crushed.

The brothers have a welding company at Mpandawana Growth Point but they closed the shop and disappeared.

CCC councillor, Bernard Chimwango’s wife, Blessing Chiriga was assaulted this week at the main bus rank.

She and her children have left the district for fear of further attacks, while Chimwango is also no longer staying at his house which is at Mpandawana, reported the mirror.

Who is behind the attacks?

According to The Mirror, the ringleader in the attack has been identified as Josephat Sarukore who is the ZANU PF District chair.

Sarukore’s brothers Tawanda and Samson have also been fingered while Joseph Mudziwepasi, a son of a businessman at the growth point has openly confirmed his role in the violence.

FULL TEXT- The ZRP reports a fatal road traffic accident in which three people died and one person was seriously injured when a Zhong Tong bus with 50 passengers on board had a head on collision with a Toyota wish vehicle with four occupants on board.

The accident happened at the 65 km peg along Ray-Chiredzi Road. The bodies were taken to Msiso Hospital Mortuary for post mortem whilst the injured is admitted at the same hospital.

2/2 at the 65 km peg along Ray-Chiredzi Road. The bodies were taken to Msiso Hospital Mortuary for post mortem whilst the injured is admitted at the same hospital.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) November 26, 2022

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa says the citizens project is proliferating rapidly.

Despite relentless attempts to disrupt the citizens project, change is unavoidable, according to the people’s President.

“GETTING READY….CHANGE CHAMPIONS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Receiving the delimitation report, voter registration update, voters’ roll status, the state and status of the citizens project, the political & economic situation,national budget and #PREPARE.

It’s game on!!#fakapressure,” said President Chamisa in a brief statement.

By Farai D Hove | Norton MP Temba Mliswa was slapped down by ZANU PF youths at a provincial hero’s funeral.

In a development that saw the legislator being escorted by police officers, Mliswa is on video screaming fire and brimstone at the cops.

He was at the time being accused of being an independent MP who is disrespectful of the ZANU PF leadership.

“No one will gather again the country [because of this violence.],” Mliswa bursts out at the cops. He continues saying.

“As police you have messed the president up, be ause you are supposed to maintain law and order,” Mliswa adds.

A comment from the police was not possible at the time of writing.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa says the citizens project is proliferating rapidly.

Despite relentless attempts to disrupt the citizens project, change is unavoidable, according to the people’s President.

“GETTING READY….CHANGE CHAMPIONS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Receiving the delimitation report, voter registration update, voters’ roll status, the state and status of the citizens project, the political & economic situation,national budget and #PREPARE.

It’s game on!!#fakapressure,” said President Chamisa in a brief statement.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC vice president Hon Tendai Biti has described Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address as empty and void of logic.

Hon Biti accused the Zanu PF leader of destroying the principles and components of nationalism.

Zimbabwe has been reduced to a mere teapot – shaped country without unity, love and freedom, according to Hon Biti.

He said:” The regime has failed to deal with the political question…the regime has failed to deal with the national question .

Minority groups have been isolated by the Zanu PF regime. The essence of nationalism has been lost.

Citizens are suffering due to the regime’s insensitivity.”

“Our Change Champion, Hon #BitiTendai has responded to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) by Mr Mnangagwa.

He says it is out of touch with the current situation in Zimbabwe,” CCC said in a brief statement on Thursday.

Watch : Biti rubbishes Mnangagwa SONA:

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe and a police officer only identified as Mabika have been ordered by the court to pay ZWL$800 000 to a Mbare resident who was arrested by the police in 2021.

According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Tinashe Maumbe (24), a resident of Mbare, was arrested together with his friends Reward Majoni and Tinashe Majoni by ZRP officers on 16 January 2021.

Maumbe demanded payment amounting to ZWL$900 000 as damages for unlawful arrest, detention, humiliation and embarrassment. Said ZLHR:

On 4 November 2022 and after presiding over the trial of Hon. Kazembe, Matanga and Mabika, Harare Magistrate Ayanda Dhlamini granted judgment in favour of Maumbe and ordered Matanga, Kazembe and Mabika to pay him ZWL800 000 as compensation for violation of his rights after ruling that ZRP officers had “hysterically” arrested the 24-year-old Mbare resident based on their personal opinion of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, queer and questioning people.

Out of the ZWL800 000, ZWL$400 000 is for damages for unlawful arrest and detention while ZWL$400 000 is compensation for inhuman and degrading treatment.

Magistrate Dhlamini further ruled that the police officers, who arrested Maumbe, were not even aware of the COVID-19 provisions, which they purported to have cited upon apprehending him.

The Magistrate concluded that Maumbe’s arrest and detention was unlawful and that the police officers had jeered at him and insulted him for allegedly being a homosexual and by so doing, violated his right to human dignity guaranteed in terms of provisions of section 51 of the Constitution.

By A Correspondent Embattled Zimbabwe Warriors midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi has been acquitted of attempted murder charges following his trial on allegations of scalding his four-year-old son with hot water in South Africa.

Mahachi was acquitted of two separate charges of attempting to kill his son.

This follows the former Supersport United footballer’s trial at Tredgold magistrates’ court in Bulawayo.

During trial, Mahachi’s lawyer Nkosiyabo Sibanda of Tanaka Law Chambers said his client should be acquitted on discharge arguing that the three “key” witnesses who testified in the trial gave contradicting statements.

In passing his ruling, trial magistrate Mark Dzira concurred with the defence’s arguments saying the State failed to prove the essential elements of the case adding that evidence given by the witnesses was contradictory and disjointed.

Dzira also said medical experts who examined the child could not figure out the cause of the injuries hence tilting the benefit of the doubt towards the footballer.

The trio was walking past Matapi Police Station in Harare’s Mbare high-density suburb when the law enforcement agents manning the entrance to the police station enquired where the trio was going.

The ZRP officers allegedly accused Maumbe and his friends of being homosexuals and told them that homosexuality is not permitted in Zimbabwe.

The trio was subsequently detained by the police and no charges were preferred against them. In fact, they were jeered by cops and were only released after ZLHR lawyers intervened.

With the help of Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of ZLHR, Maumbe sued Matanga, Kazembe and Mabika by filing a summons in April 2021 at Harare Civil Magistrates Courts.

Maumbe demanded payment amounting to ZWL$900 000 as damages for unlawful arrest, detention, humiliation and embarrassment.

Said ZLHR:

On 4 November 2022 and after presiding over the trial of Hon. Kazembe, Matanga and Mabika, Harare Magistrate Ayanda Dhlamini granted judgment in favour of Maumbe and ordered Matanga, Kazembe and Mabika to pay him ZWL800 000 as compensation for violation of his rights after ruling that ZRP officers had “hysterically” arrested the 24-year-old Mbare resident based on their personal opinion of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, queer and questioning people.

Out of the ZWL800 000, ZWL$400 000 is for damages for unlawful arrest and detention while ZWL$400 000 is compensation for inhuman and degrading treatment.

Magistrate Dhlamini further ruled that the police officers, who arrested Maumbe, were not even aware of the COVID-19 provisions, which they purported to have cited upon apprehending him.

The Magistrate concluded that Maumbe’s arrest and detention was unlawful and that the police officers had jeered at him and insulted him for allegedly being a homosexual and by so doing, violated his right to human dignity guaranteed in terms of provisions of section 51 of the Constitution.