By Farai D Hove | CCC president Nelson Chamisa must boycott the upcoming 2023 polls until the day the Zengeza MP Job Sikhala is released, news readers have said.

Writing on Saturday afternoon, Robert Chinama said, there should be no participation until Sikhala is released from prison.

The family spokesperson and lawyer of the murdered CCC activist, Moreblessing Ali, Sikhala, was arrested over mythical and cultural statements he was ordered to announce by the mourning family in honour of the victim and to discourage the ongoing violence. The Ngozi statement he uttered was is a common spiritual chant commanded of communities for more than 5,

“I think as Zimbabweans and CCC suppoters kana mutongo wava Sikhala uri kuuya uyu vakanyimwa bail again let us all not go for the elections coz hazvibatsire kuno voter umwe wedu ari mukati izvozvo zvega zvinotoratidza kuti maelections haasi free and fair.”

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has exhorted Zimbabweans to anticipate real change after decades of economic abyss.

President Chamisa on Friday attended the inauguration of Lesotho Prime Minister, Sam Matekane.

The CCC leader also held a brief discussion with popular South African politician Julius Malema.

“IN LESOTHO.. ATTENDING THE INAUGURATION at SETSOTSO stadium, MASERU. So honoured to be invited to witness yet another smooth democratic transition in Africa. Africa is rising.

The future is exciting. Zimbabwe get ready! #Citizensfirst

Africa is one, indivisible and rising. I was so humbled to meet with my brother CIC@Julius_S_Malema. The future of Africa is exciting,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

“Our Change Champion in Chief, Advocate @nelsonchamisa is currently attending the inauguration of Mr. Sam Matekane, Prime Minister-Elect of the Kingdom of #Lesotho. Smooth democratic transition is slowly becoming a phenomenon in Africa. A New Great Zimbabwe is loading,” CCC said in a statement.

By A Correspondent- A Capetown-based Zimbabwean music promoter Ishmael Nkata popularly known as Mandebvu was shot dead last night.

The entrepreneur owned a venue called “The Gardens” in Cape Town where he invited a number of Zimbabwean artists to perform.

This is a developing story.

By A Correspondent- Outspoken Norton legislator Temba Mliswa (Independent) has said the Zimbabwean government is behaving worse than the Rhodesian regime which allowed relatives and colleagues of political prisoners to visit them in jail.

Mliswa made the remarks after CCC leader Nelson Chamisa was on Thursday barred from seeing jailed Zengesa West MP Job Sikhala and his Chitungwiza North counterpart Godfrey Sithole as well as 14 other CCC activists who are in pre-trial detention at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. Said Mliswa:

The blocking of Nelson Chamisa from meeting with Sikhala and others is most unfortunate. We don’t expect such in a liberated country.

Our own liberation fighters when imprisoned by the Rhodesians were allowed visitor.

 Why do we have to go so low? We can’t be worse than Rhodesia.

Chamisa told reporters on Thursday that he was made to wait at the jail for more than two hours before the officer in charge, one Hukurume, informed him that he had been instructed by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi that he (Chamisa) will not be allowed to see Sikhala and the other CCC activists.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), George Charamba, said Chamisa should visit his colleagues at their next court appearance.

By A Correspondent- A 33-year-old man from Maraposa Plot in Matabeleland North province was arrested and taken to court for having sexual intercourse with his grade 7 lover aged 15. 

The court heard that Nqobani Ndlovu was caught during a bush sex romp with his teenage lover who is a Grade Seven pupil at one of the schools from the area, according to B-Metro.

What Happened:

It is alleged that on 26 September at around 4 pm Ndlovu met the victim while on her way from school and proposed love to her and she accepted his proposal.

It is reported that afterwards, the two parties parted ways as they proceeded to their respective homes.

is alleged that the following day at around 3 pm, the victim on her way from school met Ndlovu, who reportedly got hold of her hand and asked to have sex with her and agreed.

Without wasting time, Ndlovu reportedly took the girl to a nearby bush and they had sex.

While in the act, Ndlovu was spotted by a passerby who then raised the alarm.

Seeing that they had been seen the two lovers fled from the scene but the passerby who had positively identified the girl went and notified her parents.

When she was confronted by her parents, the girl confessed that she was in love with Ndlovu and that they were caught having sex in the bush.

A report was made to the police leading to Ndlovu’s arrest and subsequent appearance in court.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody until October 28.

What The Laws Say:

Having sexual intercourse with minors is prohibited since the minimum age of marriage is 18 years for both girls and boys.

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo woman has been sentenced to serve a 25-year jail term at Chikurubi Female Prison in Harare after being convicted of murdering her husband on March 2, 2018. 

Nomzamo Luhle Dube (34) of Pumula South in Bulawayo claimed that she stabbed her husband, Martin Luther Jabulani Ncube, with a kitchen knife after he arrived home late after a beer drink.

Speaking during an interview at Chikurubi Female Prison, Dube said her late husband reportedly arrived home at around 1 am and knocked on their door.

She claimed that when she woke up and opened the door, her late husband started assaulting her accusing her of delaying opening the door. Dube added: 

He kicked me all over the body during which he tripped and fell and at that point he picked a knife which was on the floor and tried to stab me.

Dube said she managed to take the knife from her husband and accidentally stabbed him in the chest. 

This was contrary to what her daughter had told the court, resulting in her conviction of murder.

Her minor

minor daughter gave the court a detailed testimony of how her mother incessantly attacked her stepfather, the now-deceased Martin, before she stabbed him as he pleaded for mercy.  

She told the court that her mother later instructed her to open the door and when the deceased walked in, an altercation ensued between the two. The daughter told the court during trial:

My mother refused to open the door and he persistently pleaded with her to open, but she remained adamant. 

When dad walked in, my mother immediately shouted at him before they went to the bedroom. I followed them and witnessed my mother indiscriminately punching dad on the face as he continuously pleaded with her to stop. 

Throughout the scuffle, my dad never retaliated, but only pushed my mother resulting in her hitting against a wardrobe.

Dube was convicted of murder with actual intent by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva and sentenced to 25 years in jail.

Death sentence:

The Constitution says those convicted of murder can be given a death sentence but women are protected from the sentence.

Explaining this situation, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi saidduring public consultations and a referendum, an overwhelming majority of people voted for retaining the death penalty. He added:

Resultantly, section 48 (2) of the Constitution permits the sentencing of men between the ages of 21 and 70 years if they are convicted of murder committed in aggravating circumstances. 

By A Correspondent- Elon Musk fired Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal along with three other top executives including legal executive Vijaya Gadde as soon as he acquired the microblogging site.

Reports claimed that Musk is apparently running a cleaning drive at Twitter and earlier there were reports which said that Musk may fire up to 75% of Twitter’s staff.

CEO of electric car maker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and self-described free speech absolutist also fired Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal, according to people familiar with the matter.

He had accused them of misleading him and Twitter investors over the number of fake accounts on the platform.

He said in May he would reverse Twitter’s ban on Donald Trump, whose account was removed after the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The former U.S. president previously said he won’t return to the platform and has instead launched his own social media app, Truth Social.

Musk tried to calm Twitter employee fears that major layoffs are coming and assured advertisers that his past criticism of Twitter’s content moderation rules would not harm its appeal.

As news of the deal spread, some Twitter users were quick to flag their willingness to walk away.

European regulators also reiterated past warnings that, under Musk’s leadership, Twitter must still abide by the region’s Digital Services Act, which levies hefty fines on companies if they do not control illegal content.

By A Correspondent- A Buhera man who trafficked a married woman to Masvingo Province and stayed with her against her will from November 2021 to January 2022 has been sentenced to spend the next 70 years in jail.

Witness Jichichi of Muchuwa Village under Chief Nyashanu was not represented by anyone when he appeared before Rusape regional magistrate, Mr Francis Mapfumo.

He was  convicted on one count of human trafficking and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

ichichi was also convicted on three counts of rape and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in each of the cases.

He, however, was acquitted of deliberately infecting the woman with HIV, according to Manica Post.

What happened:

Prosecutor, Mr Marlon Makamba said Jichichi lied to the victim and her husband that he was an employee of a development partner and could facilitate the couple’s employment within the organisation in Masvingo.

He tricked the husband to remain behind in the village and lied that he was going to the development partner’s local offices to sign the employment contract with the complainant.

Jichichi was also convicted on three counts of rape and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in each of the cases.

He, however, was acquitted of deliberately infecting the woman with HIV, according to Manica Post.

What happened:

Prosecutor, Mr Marlon Makamba said Jichichi lied to the victim and her husband that he was an employee of a development partner and could facilitate the couple’s employment within the organisation in Masvingo.

He tricked the husband to remain behind in the village and lied that he was going to the development partner’s local offices to sign the employment contract with the complainant.

Jichichi only released his captive after learning that the woman’s relatives were looking for her on both formal and social media platforms.

By A Correspondent- A 13-year-old pupil at Chinotimba Primary School in Victoria Falls had to write part of her ZIMSEC Grade Seven general examinations on a hospital bed soon after giving birth last month.

The learner was heavily pregnant when she sat for her first paper before going into labour that same afternoon.

She wrote four papers at the Victoria Falls Hospital maternity ward ignoring labour pains.

 teenage mother met Thumelani Sibanda in January this year, an 18-year-old assistant builder who was working at a house next door and the two started dating.

She only discovered she was pregnant in August when her maternal aunt noticed abnormal changes in her body.

Her mother then informed the school authorities who advised that she could do extra lessons at home and only come to school to write the examinations. Said the teen mother:

I was okay when I went to write my first paper on a Monday but other learners kept looking at me.

I left school going home after the exam and along the way, I started feeling pain.

When I got home I just lay down on the floor as the pain increased.

My aunt called a neighbour and they rushed me to hospital where I was taken to theatre for an operation.

I gave birth and I was so happy when I saw my baby which was 2.8kg.

A room was then set up for her where teachers came to invigilate her while nurses took care of the baby.

She was admitted to the hospital between Tuesday and Friday and wrote all the week’s papers there.

Her family said they met Sibanda’s family who pleaded for their son not to be reported to the police.

In Zimbabwe, it is a criminal offence to have sexual relations with a minor.

By A Correspondent- Augur Investments OU has set the record straight on claims by CCC VP Tendai Biti that the property company was fraudulent and had not complied with the country’ s company registration processes.

In a statement, the company said is important to highlight that the firm had complied with the laws of Zimbabwe and any regulatory processes were duly followed.

Said Augur Investments OU:
“It is important that Mr Biti is put to the strictest of proof to substantiate his baseless utterances.

It is untrue for anyone to allege that Augur Investments OU was not registered or licensed to operate in Zimbabwe. The Minister of Justice approved the registration of Augur Investment as a foreign company to operate in Zimbabwe as per Section 330 of the then Companies Act Chapter 24:14 and a certificate to that effect was issued in 2009 and 2012 respectively. Augur Investments is duly authorised to operate in Zimbabwe as evidenced by a Certificate of Registration as a Foreign Company issued by the Registrar of Companies on the 3rd of May 2010.”

We publish below the full text of the statement:

MATTER OF FACTS

Following the circulation of recent statements by Mr Biti concerning Augur Investments and its operations in Zimbabwe, we wish to set the record straight and correct any such ludicrous claims by Mr Biti. 

The relationship between Augur Investments OU and the City of Harare dates back to 2007 with the common and shared vision for the development of the City of Harare and in particular the upgrading of the Joshua Mqabuko NkomoExpressway (Airport Highway Road). The major highlights of the events leading to the projects are shown below:

▪ A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Augur Investments OU and the City of Harare in June 2007 and consequently a Shareholders Agreement was signed between Augur Investments OU and City of Harare in September 2007.

▪ The initial request from the City of Harare was for the construction of the Airport Highway through the Mukuvisi Corridor, from Dieppe Road to Enterprise Road, be part of the Joint Venture project.  However it was established that the ownership of the Highway would then become the property of Sunshine Developments P/L which was not possible as well as the estimated cost being too great for the Joint Venture. 

▪ Subsequently in February 2008, in negotiations with the City of Harare, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Local Government, Augur was invited to finance, design and construct the Airport Highway in its entirety, from the Harare Main Airport to Enterprise Road.  Such special relationship was sanctioned by Council through its Resolution of 29^th May 2008 and Council resolved to pay Augur Investments OU through transfer with suitable land for the works done on the Airport Road Highway construction.

▪ Presidential and Cabinet approval was granted and presentations were made in March and April 2008, highlighting Sunshine Developments P/L, Joint Venture projects as well as the Airport Highway Route.

▪ The Airport Highway Memorandum of Understanding and subsequent Memorandum of Agreement were signed in May and June 2008 respectively.

▪ The Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA) on 29 August 2008 had approved the Sunshine Developments Pvt Ltd JV entity between Augur Investments and City of Harare under certificate number 000334.

It is thus untrue for Mr Biti or anyone to assert that the Airport Road Contract was an illegality as the Road project was sanctioned by both City of Harare and the Government of Zimbabwe which on the 5^th of May 2009, the Permanent Secretary of Local Government, Rural & Urban Development wrote to advise Augur that Cabinet had granted National Project Status for the Airport Highway Project. Hence the project was endorsed by both Council and the Government in which Mr Biti was serving at that material time as the Minister of Finance. In any particular country, Zimbabwe included there is nothing illegal for City Council and government to collaborate with private business players in the development of the country.

It is important to highlight that in 2009, Augur Investments OU sought the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s authority to acquire 100% shareholding in its Zimbabwean subsidiaries and such authority was granted in 2009 by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The RBZ wrote to Augur that:

“We write to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 03 September, 2009 and advise that Exchange Control is agreeable to the applicant acquiring 100 percent of west Property Company and 100 percent share of shelf companies”.

It is important to highlight that Augur Investments OU has complied with the laws of Zimbabwe and any regulatory processes have been duly followed and Mr Biti is put to the strictest of proof to substantiate his baseless utterances.

It is untrue for anyone to allege that Augur was not registeredor licensed to operate in Zimbabwe. The Minister of Justice approved the registration of Augur Investment as a foreign company to operate in Zimbabwe as per Section 330 of the then Companies Act Chapter 24:14 and a certificate to that effect was issued in 2009 and 2012 respectively.

Augur Investments is duly authorised to operate in Zimbabwe as evidenced by a Certificate of Registration as a Foreign Company issued by the Registrar of Companies on the 3^rd of May 2010.

We refute claims that our payments of land by the City of Harare were fraudulent. Once Augur completed the works on the road, Interim Payment Certificates were duly generated and submitted for assessment through an agreed independent engineering evaluator for assessment. Once such assessments were done, such IPC was then sent to the City of Harare for payment of the prorate portion of the land.  Proof of such interim payment certificates exists both with the Council and with Government departments.

Hence it is malicious and false to allege that we acquired the land illegally. In simple terms, we were paid for the works that we duly completed.

It is within the public realm that Government cancelled the Airport Road Highway contract and we litigated the matter and we managed to amicably resolve the matters through a Deed of Settlement that was subsequently registered into an order of the Supreme Court under SC878/19 and as a High Court Order under HC4528/19. It is normal practice for parties in litigation to settle and such settlements are accepted by the Courts.

Hence there exists no basis for anyone to allege that the settlement was an illegality when such settlement was done with the blessing and full consent of the parties in litigation.

Whilst Mr Biti would want to create sensational stories without basis, we reiterate that our developments are fully compliant with the Environmental and urban Planning Laws. The Environmental Management Agency granted the environmental impact assessment certificate in 2012 for the development of the Borrowdale West Millennium Park to develop shops, housing, medical centre and related infrastructure. 

All other developments currently being carried out by the company have EIA certificates and are in compliance with environmental and town planning laws statutes.

While malicious attempts have been made by Mr Biti to divest control of our properties through numerous litigation challenging our title to our Pomona Land, the matter has been litigated to its natural conclusion by the Supreme Court in Allan Markharm v Augur Investments Case Number SC 229/22 wherein Mr Biti’s clients lost the matter and were ordered to pay costs of suit to us. The High Court under HC 425/21 had ruled in our favour as well. Hence there exists no basis for anyone to challenge our title to our Pomona land as it was paid to us for work done on the Airport Highway Project. 

We reiterate that the land that we legally acquired is being improved through provision of on and offsite infrastructure such as roads, water, wastewater and storm water drains. The people who have for long not been able to access serviced land are now getting value added land for residential and commercial developments. 

In this regard, we are contributing significantly to the infrastructural development of Zimbabwe and the developed land will serve generations to come and ensure that our people enjoying maximum benefits through such infrastructural development.  

We remain committed to partnering with both Council, Government and other key private players in developing land for our people and ensuring that we help create sustainable communities where our people can work, live, play and shop.

By-Zanu PF government recently allowed MDC-T President Douglas Mwonzora to visit the detained CCC deputy chairman, Job Sikhala but denied CCC President Nelson Chamisa to do the same.

Chamisa was held Thursday by Chikurubi correctional officers for three hours before they blocked him from seeing Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole.

Sikhala and the other party activists from the Nyatsime area are detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
The directive to block Chamisa came from Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.

Speaking to reporters, Chamisa said prison authorities said they had received instructions from Ziyambi to bar him from seeing Sikhala and the other CCC activists. Said Chamisa:
It’s so disheartening to know that just after we had been made to wait for three hours, we were then told that we can now enter to be able to see our colleagues.
We were then invited to the office of the Officer in Charge of prisons Mr. Hukurume. He indicated to us that it is unfortunate that we are not able to see Honourable Job Sikhala and the other Nyatsime colleagues, our citizen heroes because the Minister of Justice has instructed that we can’t see them.
We were surprised because they had made us wait for almost two, three hours. You can bear witness and testimony to that.
But all of a sudden they said they had received an instruction that you cannot see all your colleagues. So we are not able to see them.
It is an embarrassment, it is harassment, and it is unacceptable that we have this kind of abuse of the law.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPSC) said Chamisa was free to visit his colleagues at Chikurubi, and today’s events came as a surprise to the opposition leader.

By-Prison officials at Chikurubi prison Thursday held CCC President Nelson Chamisa for three hours before blocking him from seeing MPs Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole.

Sikhala and the other party activists from the Nyatsime area are detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
The directive to block Chamisa came from Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.

Speaking to reporters, Chamisa said prison authorities said they had received instructions from Ziyambi to bar him from seeing Sikhala and the other CCC activists. Said Chamisa:
It’s so disheartening to know that just after we had been made to wait for three hours, we were then told that we can now enter to be able to see our colleagues.
We were then invited to the office of the Officer in Charge of prisons Mr. Hukurume. He indicated to us that it is unfortunate that we are not able to see Honourable Job Sikhala and the other Nyatsime colleagues, our citizen heroes because the Minister of Justice has instructed that we can’t see them.
We were surprised because they had made us wait for almost two, three hours. You can bear witness and testimony to that.
But all of a sudden they said they had received an instruction that you cannot see all your colleagues. So we are not able to see them.
It is an embarrassment, it is harassment, and it is unacceptable that we have this kind of abuse of the law.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPSC) said Chamisa was free to visit his colleagues at Chikurubi, and today’s events came as a surprise to the opposition leader.
MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora was recently given permission by ZPCS to visit Sikhala and Sithole but the duo allegedly refused to meet him.
Sikhala, Sithole, and the other 14 CCC activists from Nyatsime have been in pre-trial detention since June on charges ranging from inciting violence to public violence.

…Information perm sec Nick Mangwana said there was nothing wrong with civil servants spending work time at the ruling party congress…

The Zanu PF elective congress, which kicked off in Harare on Thursday and ends today, has virtually grounded government business as all Cabinet ministers, secretaries, heads of department and parastatals have been railroaded to the indaba.

Notable faces at the ruling party extravaganza yesterday included Civil Service Commission chairperson Vincent Hungwe, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda, directors and parastatal heads, among others.

Information permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana yesterday said there was nothing wrong with civil servants spending work time at the ruling party congress.

“They have been invited to the congress of a political party to help us understand their policy thrusts which we have to implement in government,” Mangwana said.

In his address, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also the party’s first secretary, said Zanu PF’s campaign machinery was now ready to roll with all mobilisation resources already in place.

“Zanu PF is ready. Our systems are oiled. Election materials and resources are in place to mount a roaring campaign for a thunderous victory of our party. The people’s revolution is ongoing and unstoppable,” Mnangagwa said.

“Collectively as delegates at this congress, we pronounce our party’s readiness to yet again win another mandate to govern our beloved motherland.”

Mnangagwa has been endorsed as Zanu PF’s sole presidential candidate.

He will likely square off with opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa, whom he narrowly beat in the 2018 disputed elections.

A number of other opposition leaders, including those representing fringe political parties, are also eyeing the presidency.

But Mnangagwa vowed that Zanu PF “will continue to rule the land of our forefathers”.

He also told delegates that the party’s constitution would be amended to align it with the new socio-economic and political realities.

“The amendments to the party constitution which will be tabled at this congress are reflective of the new socio-economic and political realities,” Mnangagwa said.

“These must further enhance efficiency and synergies in the implementation of the party mandate, resolutions, policies and programmes, this is in line with the democratic principles, constitutionalism and the rule of law that anchor our party.”

His deputy Constantino Chiwenga rubbished speculative reports that he was angling to challenge Mnangagwa at the congress, saying: “He is the only leader we know. He deserves another opportunity to lead us. He has everything needed to lead us. We wish many more years for our leader and that God grants him more wisdom. His works have surpassed our expectations.”

Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to the Zanu PF leadership in 2017 is, however, being challenged in the High Court by former party youth member Sybeth Musengezi, who claims it was unprocedural.–
-Newsday

MATTER OF FACTS

Following the circulation of recent statements by Mr Biti concerning Augur Investments and its operations in Zimbabwe, we wish to set the record straight and correct any such ludicrous claims by Mr Biti. 

The relationship between Augur Investments OU and the City of Harare dates back to 2007 with the common and shared vision for the development of the City of Harare and in particular the upgrading of the Joshua Mqabuko NkomoExpressway (Airport Highway Road). The major highlights of the events leading to the projects are shown below:

▪ A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Augur Investments OU and the City of Harare in June 2007 and consequently a Shareholders Agreement was signed between Augur Investments OU and City of Harare in September 2007.

▪ The initial request from the City of Harare was for the construction of the Airport Highway through the Mukuvisi Corridor, from Dieppe Road to Enterprise Road, be part of the Joint Venture project.  However it was established that the ownership of the Highway would then become the property of Sunshine Developments P/L which was not possible as well as the estimated cost being too great for the Joint Venture. 

▪ Subsequently in February 2008, in negotiations with the City of Harare, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Local Government, Augur was invited to finance, design and construct the Airport Highway in its entirety, from the Harare Main Airport to Enterprise Road.  Such special relationship was sanctioned by Council through its Resolution of 29^th May 2008 and Council resolved to pay Augur Investments OU through transfer with suitable land for the works done on the Airport Road Highway construction.

▪ Presidential and Cabinet approval was granted and presentations were made in March and April 2008, highlighting Sunshine Developments P/L, Joint Venture projects as well as the Airport Highway Route.

▪ The Airport Highway Memorandum of Understanding and subsequent Memorandum of Agreement were signed in May and June 2008 respectively.

▪ The Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA) on 29 August 2008 had approved the Sunshine Developments Pvt Ltd JV entity between Augur Investments and City of Harare under certificate number 000334.

It is thus untrue for Mr Biti or anyone to assert that the Airport Road Contract was an illegality as the Road project was sanctioned by both City of Harare and the Government of Zimbabwe which on the 5^th of May 2009, the Permanent Secretary of Local Government, Rural & Urban Development wrote to advise Augur that Cabinet had granted National Project Status for the Airport Highway Project. Hence the project was endorsed by both Council and the Government in which Mr Biti was serving at that material time as the Minister of Finance. 

In any particular country, Zimbabwe included there is nothing illegal for City Council and government to collaborate with private business players in the development of the country.

It is important to highlight that in 2009, Augur Investments OU sought the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s authority to acquire 100% shareholding in its Zimbabwean subsidiaries and such authority was granted in 2009 by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The RBZ wrote to Augur that:

“We write to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 03 September, 2009 and advise that Exchange Control is agreeable to the applicant acquiring 100 percent of west Property Company and 100 percent share of shelf companies”.

It is important to highlight that Augur Investments OU has complied with the laws of Zimbabwe and any regulatory processes have been duly followed and Mr Biti is put to the strictest of proof to substantiate his baseless utterances.

It is untrue for anyone to allege that Augur was not registeredor licensed to operate in Zimbabwe.
The Minister of Justice approved the registration of Augur Investment as a foreign company to operate in Zimbabwe as per Section 330 of the then Companies Act Chapter 24:14 and a certificate to that effect was issued in 2009 and 2012 respectively. Augur Investments is duly authorised to operate in Zimbabwe as evidenced by a Certificate of Registration as a Foreign Company issued by the Registrar of Companies on the 3^rd of May 2010.

We refute claims that our payments of land by the City of Harare were fraudulent. Once Augur completed the works on the road, Interim Payment Certificates were duly generated and submitted for assessment through an agreed independent engineering evaluator for assessment. Once such assessments were done, such IPC was then sent to the City of Harare for payment of the prorate portion of the land.  Proof of such interim payment certificates exists both with the Council and with Government departments. Hence it is malicious and false to allege that we acquired the land illegally. In simple terms, we were paid for the works that we duly completed.

It is within the public realm that Government cancelled the Airport Road Highway contract and we litigated the matter and we managed to amicably resolve the matters through a Deed of Settlement that was subsequently registered into an order of the Supreme Court under SC878/19 and as a High Court Order under HC4528/19. It is normal practice for parties in litigation to settle and such settlements are accepted by the Courts. Hence there exists no basis for anyone to allege that the settlement was an illegality when such settlement was done with the blessing and full consent of the parties in litigation.

Whilst Mr Biti would want to create sensational stories without basis, we reiterate that our developments are fully compliant with the Environmental and urban Planning Laws. 
The Environmental Management Agency granted the environmental impact assessment certificate in 2012 for the development of the Borrowdale West Millennium Park to develop shops, housing, medical centre and related infrastructure. All other developments currently being carried out by the company have EIA certificates and are in compliance with environmental and town planning laws statutes.

While malicious attempts have been made by Mr Biti to divest control of our properties through numerous litigation challenging our title to our Pomona Land, the matter has been litigated to its natural conclusion by the Supreme Court in Allan Markharm v Augur Investments Case Number SC 229/22 wherein Mr Biti’s clients lost the matter and were ordered to pay costs of suit to us. The High Court under HC 425/21 had ruled in our favour as well. Hence there exists no basis for anyone to challenge our title to our Pomona land as it was paid to us for work done on the Airport Highway Project. 

We reiterate that the land that we legally acquired is being improved through provision of on and offsite infrastructure such as roads, water, wastewater and storm water drains.

The people who have for long not been able to access serviced land are now getting value added land for residential and commercial developments. In this regard, we are contributing significantly to the infrastructural development of Zimbabwe and the developed land will serve generations to come and ensure that our people enjoying maximum benefits through such infrastructural development.  

We remain committed to partnering with both Council, Government and other key private players in developing land for our people and ensuring that we help create sustainable communities where our people can work, live, play and shop.

By James Gwati- The recent recalls by the MDC-T President Douglas Mwonzora of CCC councillors has created several by-elections.

These by-elections will be held to fill local government vacancies in Binga, Gweru and Victoria Falls.

In a notice, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said the by-elections would be held on 3 December.

He said six wards were vacant in Binga, three in Gweru, and one in Victoria Falls.

 Said Silaigwana:

In relation to the election of the councillors for the said wards, nomination courts shall sit on Thursday, 3 November 2022, commencing from 10 AM to 4 PM at the offices of the chief executive officer for Binga Rural District Council, for the purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the vacant wards 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 23 and the offices of the town clerk for Gweru Municipality, Gweru, for purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the vacant wards 4, 5 and 18.

The offices of the town clerk for Victoria Falls Municipality, Victoria Falls, for purposes of receiving nominations for candidates for elections as councillor for the vacant ward 8 of Victoria Falls Municipality.

 These are likely to be the last by-elections ahead of the 2023 general elections as ZEC recently announced that any vacancy that arises on or after 1 November will not be filled through a by-election.

Mwonzora’s MDC-T has not participated in by-elections since its candidates failed to win a single seat during the 26 March by-elections. | VicFallsLive

By-CCC President Nelson Chamisa was Thursday held for three hours by correctional officers at Chikurubi maximum security prison before they blocked him from seeing MPs Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole.

Sikhala and the other party activists from the Nyatsime area are detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
The directive to block Chamisa came from Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.

Speaking to reporters, Chamisa said prison authorities said they had received instructions from Ziyambi to bar him from seeing Sikhala and the other CCC activists. Said Chamisa:
It’s so disheartening to know that just after we had been made to wait for three hours, we were then told that we can now enter to be able to see our colleagues.
We were then invited to the office of the Officer in Charge of prisons Mr. Hukurume. He indicated to us that it is unfortunate that we are not able to see Honourable Job Sikhala and the other Nyatsime colleagues, our citizen heroes because the Minister of Justice has instructed that we can’t see them.
We were surprised because they had made us wait for almost two, three hours. You can bear witness and testimony to that.
But all of a sudden they said they had received an instruction that you cannot see all your colleagues. So we are not able to see them.
It is an embarrassment, it is harassment, and it is unacceptable that we have this kind of abuse of the law.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPSC) said Chamisa was free to visit his colleagues at Chikurubi, and today’s events came as a surprise to the opposition leader.
MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora was recently given permission by ZPCS to visit Sikhala and Sithole but the duo allegedly refused to meet him.
Sikhala, Sithole, and the other 14 CCC activists from Nyatsime have been in pre-trial detention since June on charges ranging from inciting violence to public violence.

By-Two people were seriously injured when a 30-tonne truck was hit by a train at the corner of Lyton and Paisley roads in the Workington industrial area, Harare, Friday morning.

The accident happened around 5 am.

The critically injured people are now admitted to a local hospital.

Police said they would issue a statement with further details. Herald

By- Police have confirmed a shooting incident at the Russian Embassy in Harare on Wednesday night.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the shooting victim is 24 years old.

He added that the suspect was injured and is currently admitted at a local hospital. Said Nyathi:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that investigations are being conducted in connection with a shooting incident that occurred at the Russian Embassy last night, 26th October 2022 at 1920 hours.

A 24-year-old suspect was injured and is currently admitted at a local hospital. More details will be released in due course.

Earlier, Nyathi told The Herald that the man was shot after he approached a policeman who was on duty manning the premises.

He added that the suspect was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for treatment and police were investigating the incident to establish the motive behind the shooting and also to find out why the man had approached the policeman.

Meanwhile, ZimLive reported a source as saying that the man was wearing a Zimbabwe army uniform. Said the source:

Everyone was saying he is a soldier. Security staff at the embassy didn’t know him, he certainly doesn’t work there.

By- Opposition, CCC president Nelson Chamisa said he was not too soft on Zanu PF and was strategising to lawfully remove Zanu PF from power.

Former ZANU PF youth league political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu, who now leads his own party, recently said Chamisa lacks the political clout to dislodge ZANU PF.

But addressing reporters on Thursday at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison where he intended to visit jailed legislators, Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole, as well as the “Nyatsime 14”, Chamisa said his party was aware that it is dealing with an oppressive system. He said:

Zimbabwe is a difficult place, I have been listening to people who say ‘no you are being soft’, we know what we are dealing with.

These guys are very determined to go to the full lengths to be very oppressive, but we are also equally determined and I can tell you that the citizens are totally committed and we are very clear about the change that is going to come.

Chamisa claimed ZANU PF has resorted to violence because it is scared of “imminent” defeat. He said:

We have gone into the countryside and there is massive support, that is why they are panicking. They know that defeat is imminent.

You cannot be violent while you have support, you are only violent when you are on your way out. That is the character and conduct of the defeated and losers.

Zimbabwe is scheduled to hold general elections in July or August 2023 but there has been an escalation of politically-motivated violence across the country since the launch of CCC early this year. | NewZimbabwe.com

By- A female student at Morgan Zintec Teachers College in Harare allegedly faked her death in a bid to fool her lover.

Pictures of the student, only identified as Shantel, seemingly dead and covered halfway with a blanket, accompanied by the fake death message emerged prompting her grieving college mates to open a WhatsApp condolence group.

However, one of Shantel’s friends disclosed that she was still alive though her whereabouts were not revealed.

Morgan Zintec principal, Tonderai Zenda, told H-Metro the message disturbed a number of students, who were writing their examinations. Said Zenda:

Shantel is one of our bridging course students. She was supposed to be among students sitting for final examinations, but she missed some of the sittings.

We heard a rumour about her death but later learnt that she is alive.

She has not been here since the rumour went around and we are also keen to know from her what happened. It disturbed some students.

A close relative of Shantel said pictures circulating on social media were taken two years ago adding that she is still alive.

H-Metro reported sources as saying Shantel faked her death after she had directed her lover to some people to pay lobola money.

After the lover paid the bride price, Shantel was reported to have devised a plan to fake her own death.

Some people were reportedly hired to act as Shantel’s relatives during the lobola ceremony.

The lover was fooled to believe he was communicating with Shantel’s mother about the death.

By James Gwati- The recent recalls by the MDC-T President Douglas Mwonzora of CCC councillors has created several by-elections to be held this December.

These by-elections will be held to fill local government vacancies in Binga, Gweru and Victoria Falls.

In a notice, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said the by-elections would be held on 3 December.

He said six wards were vacant in Binga, three in Gweru, and one in Victoria Falls.

 Said Silaigwana:

In relation to the election of the councillors for the said wards, nomination courts shall sit on Thursday, 3 November 2022, commencing from 10 AM to 4 PM at the offices of the chief executive officer for Binga Rural District Council, for the purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the vacant wards 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 23 and the offices of the town clerk for Gweru Municipality, Gweru, for purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the vacant wards 4, 5 and 18.

The offices of the town clerk for Victoria Falls Municipality, Victoria Falls, for purposes of receiving nominations for candidates for elections as councillor for the vacant ward 8 of Victoria Falls Municipality.

 These are likely to be the last by-elections ahead of the 2023 general elections as ZEC recently announced that any vacancy that arises on or after 1 November will not be filled through a by-election.

Mwonzora’s MDC-T has not participated in by-elections since its candidates failed to win a single seat during the 26 March by-elections. | VicFallsLive

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has hailed the Zimbabwe national cricket team for posting a crucial victory over mighty Pakistan.

The Chevrons beat Pakistan by one run at the Perth Stadium in a Super 12 Group 2 match on Thursday.

President Chamisa has described the Chevrons’ victory as the nation’s pride.

“Congratulations Chevrons @ZimCricketv on the win.

You make us proud. You reminded us how special it is to be Zimbabwean. Thank you for igniting that sparkle. No doubt, we are a great and a formidable sporting nation.

Sport is support. ZIMBABWE will be untouchable in every sport.”

By-Zanu PF has refused to accredit journalists from privately-owned local publications, among them NewsDay, The NewsHawks, and NewZimbabwe, accusing them of bias.

Party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa on Wednesday said the ZANU PF Politburo resolved to bar NewsDay from covering the event. He said:

For your own information, we have not refused anyone registration except for one particular publication which we feel prefers to write fiction rather than to follow events at the party, if we invite them they will also write fiction.

So, this is where we are. Even the Voice of America will be there and even foreign correspondents.

We have no problem with critical journalism but we don’t tolerate invented stories when we have Press conferences. We also need to be criticised but not on fictitious stories.

ZANU PF information director Tafadzwa Mugwadi said the matter was discussed in the Politburo because it is a serious one. Said Mugwadi:

The matter was an issue in the politburo. When this is discussed in the politburo then it’s a serious issue and a cause for concern. I think this is the time for the publication to reflect.

State security officers recently expelled Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalists from a State House event.

AMH publishes The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and NewsDay/Southern Eye, a daily publication. | NewsDay

By- Police have confirmed a shooting incident at the Russian Embassy in Harare on Wednesday night.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the shooting victim is 24 years old.

He added that the suspect was injured and is currently admitted at a local hospital. Said Nyathi:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that investigations are being conducted in connection with a shooting incident that occurred at the Russian Embassy last night, 26th October 2022 at 1920 hours.

A 24-year-old suspect was injured and is currently admitted at a local hospital. More details will be released in due course.

Earlier, Nyathi told The Herald that the man was shot after he approached a policeman who was on duty manning the premises.

He added that the suspect was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for treatment and police were investigating the incident to establish the motive behind the shooting and also to find out why the man had approached the policeman.

Meanwhile, ZimLive reported a source as saying that the man was wearing a Zimbabwe army uniform. Said the source:

Everyone was saying he is a soldier. Security staff at the embassy didn’t know him, he certainly doesn’t work there.

By-Comedienne Madam Boss, on Wednesday, returned to a local private hospital for wounds dressing after she was involved in a horrific car accident on Saturday, 22 October, a few kilometres outside Norton.

Dressed in a gray dress, the socialite, whose real is Tarisai Cleopatra Chikocho, looked far better than the day she was discharged.

She was in the company of her mother-in-law, sister, and friends.

Speaking to H-Metro, Madam Boss said she was still recovering from the shock of being involved in a near-fatal acccident. She said:

I had come for some dressing. I am yet to recover psychologically but the word of God gives me strength and hope. God is alive and loves me.

Madam Boss was on her way to a concert in Kadoma that was headlined by South African musician Makhadzi when the accident occurred. In a social media post a few days after the crash, she said:

We were on our way to Kadoma from Harare to attend the show and one wheel that wasn’t properly fitted by another company I will not disclose now just unscrewed itself from the car and the driver (Tanya) lost balance. ???thank you Tanya wakagona ku controller mota zvakanaka nekuti mota iyi yaida kuenda direction yayaida Asi you tried your best.

On my side kwakabvira moto ukadzima mota yakatanga ku nhuwa moto apa my door couldn’t open I want to thank a guy akangobva from his car akandidhonza and tese takabuda tiri vapenyu ende ticharamba tichi rumbidza Jehovha nekusingaperi ???

Tinashe Sambiri| CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa was on Thursday blocked by prison guards from visiting jailed activists.

President Chamisa waited in vain for 3 hours only to be told by prison guards they were working under specific instructions from the responsible Minister.

“MY #NYATSIME16 PRISON VISIT DENIED…

After waiting for 3hrs since 9am, just been advised by the Officer In Charge at Chikurubi Maximum prison that we are prohibited from visiting and meeting with Hon @JobSikhala1 and Sithole upon a directive from the minister.
#freethemnow,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.

By- Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has warned Kwekwe residents to be careful about lions that are roaming around the town.

This follows reports that residents of Mbizo and Msasa suburbs in Kwekwe were living in fear after a local man claimed that he heard a lion roaring while working in his fields.

The man was working in his field along Mvuma road, a few metres away from Eye of the Wild, a sanctuary on the outskirts of Kwekwe.

A message circulation on social media claims the lion is suspected of escaping from the sanctuary, which takes care of orphaned or injured wild animals.

Zimparks regional manager, Kwanele Manungo confirmed to the Chronicle having received the alarm.

She, however, said authorities at Eye of the Wild said their one and only lion was still at the sanctuary. Said Manungo:

As we speak, we are on the ground as we try to track the lion if it’s there. This is after we received calls that a man heard a lion roar while in his fields so we are trying to ascertain if indeed it’s there, but as of now there are no tracks of the said animal. Meanwhile, we urge residents to remain alert and watch their steps.

By- Residents of Mbizo and Msasa suburbs in Kwekwe are living in fear after a local man claimed that he heard a lion roaring while working in his fields.

The man was working in his field along Mvuma road, a few metres away from Eye of the Wild, a sanctuary on the outskirts of Kwekwe.

A message circulation on social media claims the lion is suspected to have escaped from the sanctuary which takes care of orphaned or injured wild animals.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) regional manager, Kwanele Manungo confirmed to the Chronicle having received the alarm.

She, however, said authorities at Eye of the Wild said their one and only lion was still at the sanctuary. Said Manungo:

We are on the ground as we speak as we try to track the lion if indeed it’s there. This is after we received calls that a man heard a lion roar while in his fields so we are trying to ascertain if indeed it’s there, but as of now there are no tracks of the said animal. Meanwhile, we urge residents to remain alert and watch their steps.

By-The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has announced that the nomination courts were set to seat next week for candidates seeking to fill local government vacancies in Binga, Gweru and Victoria Falls.

The vacancies were largely created by the mass recall of councillors by the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T, with Binga set to have the most by-elections.

Mwonzora recalled the MDC Alliances on allegations of working with the MDC-T’s rival, the Nelson Chamisa-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

In a notice, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said the by-elections will be held on 3 December.

He said six wards were vacant in Binga, three in Gweru, and one in Victoria Falls. Said Silaigwana:

In relation to the election of the councillors for the said wards, nomination courts shall sit on Thursday 3 November 2022 commencing from 10 AM to 4 PM at the offices of the chief executive officer for Binga Rural District Council, for the purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the vacant wards 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 23 and the offices of the town clerk for Gweru Municipality, Gweru, for purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the vacant wards 4, 5 and 18.

The offices of the town clerk for Victoria Falls Municipality, Victoria Falls, for purposes of receiving nominations for candidates for elections as councillor for the vacant ward 8 of Victoria Falls Municipality.

 These are likely to be the last by-elections ahead of the 2023 general elections as ZEC recently announced that any vacancy that arises on or after 1 November will not be filled through a by-election.

Mwonzora’s MDC-T has not participated in by-elections since its candidates failed to win a single seat during the 26 March by-elections. | VicFallsLive

By-Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has barred CCC president Nelson Chamisa from meeting jailed MPs Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole and the other party activists from the Nyatsime area who are currently detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

Chamisa visited the prison on Thursday morning and was made to wait for three hours before he was informed by prison authorities that he could not see his colleagues.

Speaking to reporters, Chamisa said prison authorities said they had received instructions from Ziyambi to bar him from seeing Sikhala and the other CCC activists. Said Chamisa:
It’s so disheartening to know that just after we had been made to wait for three hours, we were then told that we can now enter to be able to see our colleagues.
We were then invited to the office of the Officer in Charge of prisons Mr. Hukurume. He indicated to us that it is unfortunate that we are not able to see Honourable Job Sikhala and the other Nyatsime colleagues, our citizen heroes because the Minister of Justice has instructed that we can’t see them.
We were surprised because they had made us wait for almost two, three hours. You can bear witness and testimony to that.
But all of a sudden they said they had received an instruction that you cannot see all your colleagues. So we are not able to see them.
It is an embarrassment, it is harassment, and it is unacceptable that we have this kind of abuse of the law.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPSC) said Chamisa was free to visit his colleagues at Chikurubi, and today’s events came as a surprise to the opposition leader.
MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora was recently given permission by ZPCS to visit Sikhala and Sithole but the duo allegedly refused to meet him.
Sikhala, Sithole, and the other 14 CCC activists from Nyatsime have been in pre-trial detention since June on charges ranging from inciting violence to public violence.

By-The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has announced that the nomination courts were set to seat next week for candidates seeking to fill local government vacancies in Binga, Gweru and Victoria Falls.

The vacancies were largely created by the mass recall of councillors by the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T, with Binga set to have the most by-elections.

Mwonzora recalled the MDC Alliances on allegations of working with the MDC-T’s rival, the Nelson Chamisa-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

In a notice, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said the by-elections will be held on 3 December.

He said six wards were vacant in Binga, three in Gweru, and one in Victoria Falls. Said Silaigwana:

In relation to the election of the councillors for the said wards, nomination courts shall sit on Thursday 3 November 2022 commencing from 10 AM to 4 PM at the offices of the chief executive officer for Binga Rural District Council, for the purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the vacant wards 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 23 and the offices of the town clerk for Gweru Municipality, Gweru, for purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the vacant wards 4, 5 and 18.

The offices of the town clerk for Victoria Falls Municipality, Victoria Falls, for purposes of receiving nominations for candidates for elections as councillor for the vacant ward 8 of Victoria Falls Municipality.

 These are likely to be the last by-elections ahead of the 2023 general elections as ZEC recently announced that any vacancy that arises on or after 1 November will not be filled through a by-election.

Mwonzora’s MDC-T has not participated in by-elections since its candidates failed to win a single seat during the 26 March by-elections. | VicFallsLive

By-CCC President Nelson Chamisa was Thursday held for three hours by correctional officers at Chikurubi maximum security prison before they blocked him from seeing MPs Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole.

Sikhala and the other party activists from the Nyatsime area are detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
The directive to block Chamisa came from Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.

Speaking to reporters, Chamisa said prison authorities said they had received instructions from Ziyambi to bar him from seeing Sikhala and the other CCC activists. Said Chamisa:
It’s so disheartening to know that just after we had been made to wait for three hours, we were then told that we can now enter to be able to see our colleagues.
We were then invited to the office of the Officer in Charge of prisons Mr. Hukurume. He indicated to us that it is unfortunate that we are not able to see Honourable Job Sikhala and the other Nyatsime colleagues, our citizen heroes because the Minister of Justice has instructed that we can’t see them.
We were surprised because they had made us wait for almost two, three hours. You can bear witness and testimony to that.
But all of a sudden they said they had received an instruction that you cannot see all your colleagues. So we are not able to see them.
It is an embarrassment, it is harassment, and it is unacceptable that we have this kind of abuse of the law.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPSC) said Chamisa was free to visit his colleagues at Chikurubi, and today’s events came as a surprise to the opposition leader.
MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora was recently given permission by ZPCS to visit Sikhala and Sithole but the duo allegedly refused to meet him.
Sikhala, Sithole, and the other 14 CCC activists from Nyatsime have been in pre-trial detention since June on charges ranging from inciting violence to public violence.

Tinashe Sambiri| CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa was on Thursday blocked by prison guards from visiting jailed activists.

President Chamisa waited in vain for 3 hours only to be told by prison guards they were working under specific instructions from the responsible Minister.

“MY #NYATSIME16 PRISON VISIT DENIED…

After waiting for 3hrs since 9am, just been advised by the Officer In Charge at Chikurubi Maximum prison that we are prohibited from visiting and meeting with Hon @JobSikhala1 and Sithole upon a directive from the minister.
#freethemnow,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.

By A Correspondent- A man who transported 81 goats from Gokwe is counting his losses after the livestock was intercepted at a roadblock in Selous and the Department of Veterinary Services ordered the destruction of all the animals.

Gokwe is a high-risk zone for foot and mouth disease.

DESTRUCTION AND DISPOSAL ORDER

Information at my disposal indicates that on 19 October 2022, Eighty-one (81) goats belonging to Mr Masiya Muteyaunga, ID Number 26-146754)26 were intercepted by members of ZRP and Veterinary Services at Selous Roadblock in Chegutu District. The goats were travelling from a high-risk Foot and Mouth disease area of Karombo Village under Chief Chireya, Gokwe. The goats had Police clearance only and no veterinary movement permit. Mr Masiya MUleyatinga, therefore, contravened the Provisions of Animal Health (Movement of animals) Regulation of 1984.

Now, therefore, under and by virtue of powers vested in the Director of Veterinary Services by Section 7, Subsection (3) paragraph (a) of the Animal Health Art (Chapter 19:01) and as read with Section 7, subsection (2) paragraph (a) and (b) of the said Act, the Director orders the destruction of the eighty-one (81) goats and safe disposal of the carcasses. The Provincial Veterinary Officer for Mash West Province or his representative is hereby ordered to destroy the eighty-one (81) goats and ensure safe disposal of carcasses. The destruction and disposal must be witnessed by Police details.

March this year, the Veterinary Services Department gunned down a herd of 12 cattle after crossing a foot and mouth red zone from Gokwe North to Sanyati.

Speaking in an earlier interview with a local publication, Dr Moregood Spargo, district veterinary officer for Zvimba district, said:

FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease) red zones are areas adjacent to national parks. In national parks, there are buffalos which happen to be reservoirs of the virus. There is Chirisa National Park in Gokwe North so there is a possibility that cattle in that area are interacting with buffaloes. Therefore, allowing them to move to other parts of the country increase chances of having the FMD spreading. It’s possible that the cattle killed did not have the FMD but without vetting we could not know that’s why they were killed.

The symptoms of foot and mouths are wounds on the mouth and hooves. Spargo added that it is rare for grownup livestock to die and they usually heal within two weeks.

By- Zanu PF mobilised children to protest against Western countries’ sanctions imposed on its senior officials this week.

The party’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is on the sanctions list and with several of his government’s top officials.

The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has since condemned this politicisation of education by Zanu PF.

In a statement, ZPP said it was regrettable that learners were made to abandon lessons and take part in the march at a time some of them are writing public examinations. ZPP said:

ZPP reports that the ruling party ZANU PF has mobilised pupils from different schools in Harare to convene for an anti-sanctions march and exhibition at Moffat Primary School in Arcadia, Harare. 

The activity is being engineered by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

Some teachers across the province have been assigned to mobilise pupils to do arts, particularly poetry, drama, and traditional dances during the anti-sanctions campaign.

This is in violation of Section 75 (a) of the Constitution which states that all citizens and permanent residents of Zimbabwe have a right to education.

This is also during the time students are sitting for their final examinations. ZPP condemns the politicisation of the education system.

By- The Zimbabwean government has sent the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, to South Africa.

The SANDF reported that SANDF Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, was hosting Sibanda and his delegation.

A statement released by SANDF on Tuesday, 25 October, reads:
The Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya​ is hosting the Chief General of Zimbabwe Philip Valerio Sibanda and his delegations, at the Armscor Sports Ground in Pretoria, where the parade was taking place when welcoming the guests.
The main aim of the General’s visit is to strengthen the existing cooperation between the two countries Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The Generals and the delegates enjoyed the beautiful sounds of trumpets, drums, and saxophones, as the welcoming parade was taking place.
They then later proceeded to the headquarters at Huvo conference room where the meeting was taking place.
After lunch and exchanging of gifts, General Maphwanya ​and his guests proceeded to have dinner together.
In his speech, he highlighted that the evening is about breaking bread and reminiscing about Africans and celebrating being one.

By- The commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), General Philip Valerio Sibanda, is in South Africa for a state visit.

PV is visiting the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as a guest.

The SANDF reported that SANDF Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, was hosting Sibanda and his delegation.

A statement released by SANDF on Tuesday, 25 October, reads:
The Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya​ is hosting the Chief General of Zimbabwe Philip Valerio Sibanda and his delegations, at the Armscor Sports Ground in Pretoria, where the parade was taking place when welcoming the guests.
The main aim of the General’s visit is to strengthen the existing cooperation between the two countries Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The Generals and the delegates enjoyed the beautiful sounds of trumpets, drums, and saxophones, as the welcoming parade was taking place.
They then later proceeded to the headquarters at Huvo conference room where the meeting was taking place.
After lunch and exchanging of gifts, General Maphwanya ​and his guests proceeded to have dinner together.
In his speech, he highlighted that the evening is about breaking bread and reminiscing about Africans and celebrating being one.