By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF yesterday expressed fears that Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena’s US$5,8 million fraud charge may cost the ruling party dearly in today’s by-election set for Gokwe-Kabuyuni.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Zanu-PF legislator Leonard Chikomba in a car accident.

Zanu-PF and the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) have emerged as frontrunners in the by-election.

Addressing a Press conference in the capital yesterday, Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa indirectly threw Wadyajena under the bus and said the fraud case had a bearing on the vote outcome.

Wadyajena faces fraud and money-laundering charges involving US$5,8 million.

He is charged alongside his accomplices, Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) managing director Pious Manamike, marketing manager Maxmore Njanji, Fortunate Molai also of Cottco and Chiedza Danha, director for Pierpont Moncroix Mauritius.

They were granted $200 000 bail each last week and remanded to September 8, 2022.

“… always accepting some of the shortcomings and correcting them like what’s happening now in Cottco is what the government is working on and it has a bearing on voters, especially in that area. We need Cottco to be properly run as a business entity so that people who farm are paid in time and their money doesn’t depreciate,” Mutsvangwa said.

“Our teams are busy on the ground. The politburo appealed to the people in Gokwe to campaign and vote quietly. We want the people of Kabuyuni to vote peacefully and decide who they want to represent them.”

Meanwhile, divisions have rocked the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) amid reports of attempts to tamper with evidence implicating Wadyajena.

Internal fights within Zacc reportedly forced the anti-corruption entity to make a U-turn in its earlier public alert that was posted on its Twitter handle, where it was claiming that evidence against Wadyajena was overwhelming.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Zacc had implored the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe to do “justice” to the case.

The tweet was immediately deleted and reposted several times since being initially posted on Thursday afternoon, before it was permanently deleted yesterday.

Zacc insiders told NewsDay Weekender that there were divided opinions on how to deal with Wadyajena’s case amid claims that some “outsiders within government” were plotting to tamper with the evidence against the youthful legislator.

“Some senior government officials gave a directive for Zacc to alert the public on the need for Wadyajena to face the wrath of the law, a decision challenged by others,” a source within Zacc said on condition of anonymity.

Zacc spokesperson John Makamure unwittingly confirmed the infighting on Thursday night saying an individual within the organisation had posted the statement without authorisation from superiors.

“This is an internal matter which needs not to be publicised. Whoever uploaded the statement on our Twitter handle did so without authority from the superiors. The statement does not represent the position of Zacc as an institution,” Makamure said then.

Efforts to get a comment from him yesterday were in vain as he was not picking calls.

Zacc chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said she was at a funeral when NewsDay Weekender contacted her for comment.

Zan”I am at a funeral,” she said. “You can call me later.”

By A Correspondent- Legislators have demanded for a VIP section at prisons and correctional facilities complete with good gyms so that they do not suffer from stress and mix with common criminals.

This was suggested in the National Assembly by Norton legislator Temba Mliswa (Independent) while contributing to a debate on the supplementary budget.

“I am kindly asking you to supplement money for jails, especially in the VIP section. There is too much corruption, so we want a section done so that the VIP members do not mix with the general public,” Mliswa said.

“May you please increase money for rehabilitation of jails because I am foreseeing a lot of them (VIPs) going to those jails? May you please build VIP jails with good gyms and other facilities for them so that they do not mix and mingle with those who will have committed crimes like armed robberies and murder and they will not get stressed.”

Matabeleland South Proportional Representative MP Sipho Mokone said government should improve prison facilities in Gwanda.

“There is a Gwanda provincial correctional facility that has been on the cards for quite some time now. Every year, we are told that it is going to be built. May you kindly provide funds for that project so that it is done expeditiously,” Mokone said.

MDC Proportional Representative MP Yvonne Musarurwa said women in prisons should also be considered.

“May you please build more spacious jails so that they live comfortably. They are incapacitated in terms of accommodation, may you please help them so that we reduce overcrowding. May you please increase the budget to $20 billion,” Musarurwa said.

In response, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube proposed to increase the budget for the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs ministry by $1 billion.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has urged his supporters to lie low to protect themselves from violent attacks from Zanu-PF loyalists as tempers between the two major political party rivals continue to flare ahead of next year’s general elections.

Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Chamisa, whose campaign rally in Gokwe was blocked by rowdy Zanu-PF activists on Thursday, urged his supporters to adopt what he termed “Operation Mango — green outside and yellow inside”, where they pretend to be Zanu-PF supporters in public while remaining opposition at heart.

They have localised violence to make sure that they will stop me. I want to say to Zanu-PF, I will go anywhere, and everywhere, you will not stop me,” Chamisa said.

“I have been telling people that if they want to kill you for T-shirts, don’t worry about them. Let’s go Operation Mango — yellow outside, green inside. Why? To preserve yourselves. Be Zanu in their slogan, be Zanu-PF wherever you are going, but show and maintain your integrity to support the change.”

His statement came in the wake of violent clashes which erupted in Mashonaland East and Midlands provinces this week, where suspected armed Zanu-PF youths disrupted CCC rallies and attacked Chamisa’s campaign vehicles.

Several CCC supporters and journalists were injured in the skirmishes that occurred at illegal roadblocks reportedly mounted by Zanu-PF youth in Wedza and Gokwe to stop Chamisa’s campaign rallies.

But the youthful opposition leader declared that he would not be cowed into submission, adding that he would “fight peacefully” for his constitutional rights.

“You are not the owners of this land. Zimbabwe belongs to Zimbabweans. Mr (Emmerson) Mnangagwa, accept fair competition, don’t resort to your tactics that you have been using. They will not work. I can tell you that I am ready to fight peacefully,” he said.

“Just in the past six months alone, it’s shocking that we have had over 26 arrests of mainly opposition leaders. Just in Gokwe alone, 13 people were injured. I saw all of them.”

Analysts and human rights watchdogs have predicted a violent run-up to the 2023 polls.

The run-up to the March 26 by-elections were also marred by political violence.

A CCC activist, Mboneni Ncube, was speared to death by suspected Zanu-PF supporters at a rally addressed by Chamisa in Kwekwe in February ahead of the by-elections.

Chamisa also bemoaned the involvement of senior Zanu-PF officials in the violence that erupted in Gokwe and urged authorities to put in place measures that promote peace.

He was referring to Local Government minister July Moyo and the ruling party’s Midlands provincial chairperson provincial chairperson Larry Mavhima and former chairperson Mackenzie Ncube, who were witnessed by NewsDay Weekender directing the police to block Chamisa’s rally in Gokwe.

“Government ministers are behaving like thugs. They literally incite violence, sponsor violence and co-ordinate violence, which is very unfortunate. What we want is to insist on peace,” Chamisa said.

He added: “As I have said, rural areas have become centres of mass victimisation.  Intimidation and terror against citizens, particularly those that are in the alternative is on the rise. Our chiefs are in trouble. Village heads are in trouble. They are being subjected to incessant harassment.  Food and support from government is being weaponised.

Violence has also become a big issue. The human rights situation in the country has gotten to another level. What is clear is that the subject of the matter is human rights in the rural areas. People do not have access to basic services.”

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) yesterday red-flagged a rise in political tension in the country ahead of the 2023 polls.

In a statement, ZPP said: “ZPP is concerned about the violence that is meant to violate the right to freedom of assembly and association. Political parties should always rein in their supporters so that they respect the rights of all citizens even if they are their political rivals.”

Zanu-PF has often accused the opposition of stage-managing the violence to attract the attention of their “Western funders”.

On Wednesday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa described Chamisa as “a mad man”.

Addressing congregants at the Johane Masowe Vadzidzi VaJesu shrine in Madziva, Mashonaland Central province, Mnangagwa said: “We also have a mad man in our midst who thinks that Zimbabwe will be developed by the British or Americans. We cannot stop him but he will continue to bark without ruling.

-Newsday

Advocate Nelson Chamisa

CHURCH IS FOR WORSHIP NOT POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING ..Politicians must desist from defiling places of worship and prayer by bringing contaminating toxicity and politics…turning holy ground into hunting ground for votes and political advocacy & canvassing.

All politicians who visit church gatherings for political grandstanding should sincerely introspect and check if they are in their lane. Let’s go to church to worship and praise God Almighty and seek God’s blessings rather than turn Church gatherings into political rallies.

Happy Sabbath ZIMBABWE

 By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Mazowe District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) Tafadzwa Musarara has condemned corrupt council officials who are illegally dishing out stands in a partisan manner.

Speaking at a DCC rally in Glendale Musarara said every corrupt official should be arrested.

As DCC we have noted you are calling for the arrest of corrupt council officials who are illegally parcelling out stands and make sure suitable candidates get stands.

Corrupt officials should be arrested and our President Emmerson Mnangagwa is clear on corruption so Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) should arrest the culprits.”

Millicent Kanyemba a representative of flea market operators in Glendale expressed displeasure citing that the promises initially made to them to have proper structures built for them were renenged on.

 Mashonaland Province Youth League Deputy Secretary for Economic Affairs Tendai Chinyani also decried the dubious allocation of stands in Glendale noting that these corrupt tendencies within the council can be an Anchilles Heel for the ruling party as it makes the inexorable march towards the attainment of the 5million votes set target for President Emmerson Munangagwa in next year’s elections if these alleged culprits are not brought to book.

Youths from Mazowe District recently wrote a letter to the Mashonaland Central Provincial leadership and District Co-ordinating Committe(DCC) alleging that Cllr Dominic Chimumba was allocating stands to some selected Youths a move that they perceive to be a voting buying gimmick.

-Source:EdsonMapani

By- Zanu PF MP for Bindura South, Remigious Matangira has accused the opposition of being homosexuals.

Matangira said this in parliament this week while defending some religious sects that shun vaccination.

Some Apostolic sects in the country do not allow their members to visit clinics or hospitals for treatment when they fall sick or receive vaccination against COVID-19 or child killer diseases.

As legislators debated the issue, Norton MP Temba Mliswa (Independent), suggested that the government uses different forms of media to urge the public to be vaccinated. He said:

Can there be a public announcement through the national radio, television, et cetera when such an exercise is being done to make people aware and help officers including departmental heads in various districts to disseminate the information that every child is supposed to be vaccinated?

It was the same again with COVID-19; other parents did not want to do that. We also talk about the very same constitutional provision of the right to life; that failure to do so, those parents will certainly face the full wrath of the law.

Mliswa’s remarks did not go down well with Matangira and Chinotimba who vehemently defended the churches that do not recognise conventional medicines.

Gesturing toward the opposition bench, Matangira then shouted, “ikoko ndiko kune ngochani (there are homosexuals on the opposition benches). People’s churches should be respected.”

This infuriated Mliswa who demanded that Matangira withdraws his remarks. Mliswa said:

Hon. Matangira should withdraw the statement that “uku ndiko kunogara ngochani” we can also retaliate but please withdraw that statement. Ngochani ndiyani? Do not be a coward Hon. Matangira, shame on you!

You say things that you cannot repeat even to your own children. You said it. Withdraw your words. Uri murume werudzii anorukwa musoro. Unoda kunyenga ani kuno? Hatikude nevhudzi rako iro isu. You lie to your family if you cannot withdraw that statement.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Tsitsi Gezi then intervened and ordered Matangira to sit down and for Mliswa to calm down.

Matangira then withdrew his statement. He said:

I said that people from that side support homosexuality. I did not say there are homosexuals in this House.

Honestly speaking, we have a lot of people who are in jail but who did not commit any offence. Anyway, I withdraw my words.

More: NewZimbabwe.com

By- Top government officials in Midlands, Thursday directed police to block a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rally set for Simchembo 1, Gokwe-Kabuyuni Constituency.

Zanu PF members also assaulted four journalists on their way to cover the rally.

Initially, the Zanu PF thugs blocked CCC leader Nelson Chamisa from addressing the rally.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Zanu PF legislator Leonard Chikomba.

Led by Local Government minister July Moyo, provincial party chairperson Larry Mavhima and Mackenzie Ncube, police besieged the venue where the CCC had already pitched its stage in preparation for the rally.

The ministers were seen by NewsDay directing the police to disperse opposition supporters.

Senior police officers then approached CCC interim organising secretary Amos Chibaya to disperse the crowd saying the environment was not conducive to hold their rally.

Chibaya, Josiah Makombe, Prince Dube and other senior CCC members confronted the Zanu PF senior members that included Ncube, Moyo and Mavhima, asking them to produce the clearance letter allowing Zanu PF to hold its rally at the same venue.

In an interview, Chibaya said: “We are surprised that the police are now trying to block our rally which they cleared. It is worrisome that they are taking orders from Zanu PF in our sight. They are afraid to tell Zanu PF leaders not to disturb our rally.”

Three journalists from the Technology Magazine (TechnoMag) and one from ZimDaily were attacked at Chitekete Growth Point on their way to cover the rally.

Toneo Rutsito, Tongai Mwenje, Pellagia Mpurwa, from TechnoMag and Chelsea Mashayamombe from ZimDaily lost their cameras and mobile phones to the Zanu PF supporters during the skirmishes.

Mpurwa briefly passed out during the assault.

Rutsito lost a tooth, Mwenje sustained a deep cut on his forehead and Mashayamombe complained of leg pain after being struck with various items on their backs as they lay on the ground.

“We were only saved after a Toyota V8 vehicle arrived and one of them said, the boss has said you can now free them,” Mwenje said.

They, however, failed to identify the said boss in the Toyota V8 vehicle.

The journalists made a police report at Chitekete Police Station.

Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said the Gokwe violence was evidence that the country was headed towards violent polls in 2023.

“The recent events of increased violent attacks on the opposition clearly indicate that 2023 is going to be the most violent election that Zimbabwe has ever seen,” Mukundu said.

“What is needed now is unified efforts from civic groups and the opposition in pushing back through advocacy and engaging the regional groups and the international community to mitigate the violence that we are currently seeing in the country.”

Another political commentator Vivid Gwede said: “The permissive attitude of the police and lack of concern by the nation’s leadership simply adds to this foreseeable tragedy now inevitably set to unveil next year.”

By- A Chegutu magistrate, Ms Beverly Madzikatire has freed Zanu PF Chegutu West Member of Parliament Dexter Nduna .

Nduna was arrested for occupying land for the expansion of Chegutu Municipality without lawful authority.

He was arrested Wednesday and spent the night in holding cells before appearing in court Thursday.

Madzikatire granted Nduna free bail when he appeared before the courts for contravening Section 3 (1) (4) of the Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act.
He will be back in court on September 21.
Nduna is accused of influencing thousands of people to invade and occupy Risboro Farm and illegally allocating stands. The Government has earmarked the farm for urban development under the Smart City project.
Prosecuting, Ms Abigail Fana, told the court that Nduna led a group of people and tried to occupy the gazetted Risboro Farm from 18 to 25 June this year where unlawful parcelling out of stands was also done.
Nduna’s lawyer, Mr Ignatius Murambatsvina, denied the allegations levelled against his client. He added that there was no substance to the issue, claiming it was politically engineered.
In his warned and caution statement dated August 24 signed at Kadoma CID, Nduna denied the allegations.
The complaint in the matter is Risboro Joint Committee made up of Chegutu Municipality and Chegutu RDC.
-Herald

By- Zanu PF Zanu PF Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena is said to have bribed some Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission officials so that they kill evidence in his fraud case.

Wadyajena faces fraud and money-laundering charges involving US$5,8 million.

He is charged alongside his accomplices, Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) managing director Pious Manamike, marketing manager Maxmore Njanji, Fortunate Molai, and Cottco and Chiedza Danha, director for Pierpont Moncroix Mauritius.

They were granted $200 000 bail each last week and remanded to September 8, 2022.

Sources within Zacc said they were attempts to tamper with evidence implicating Wadyajena.

This reportedly forced the anti-corruption entity to make a U-turn in its earlier public alert that was posted on its Twitter handle, where it was claiming that evidence against Wadyajena was overwhelming.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Zacc had implored the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe to do “justice” to the case.

The tweet was immediately deleted and reposted several times since being initially posted on Thursday afternoon, before it was permanently deleted yesterday.

Zacc insiders told NewsDay Weekender that there were divided opinions on how to deal with Wadyajena’s case amid claims that some “outsiders within government” were plotting to tamper with the evidence against the youthful legislator.

“Some senior government officials gave a directive for Zacc to alert the public on the need for Wadyajena to face the wrath of the law, a decision challenged by others,” a source within Zacc said on condition of anonymity.

Zacc spokesperson John Makamure unwittingly confirmed the infighting on Thursday night saying an individual within the organisation had posted the statement without authorisation from superiors.

“This is an internal matter which needs not to be publicised. Whoever uploaded the statement on our Twitter handle did so without authority from the superiors. The statement does not represent the position of Zacc as an institution,” Makamure said then.

Efforts to get a comment from him yesterday were in vain as he was not picking calls.

Zacc chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said she was at a funeral when NewsDay Weekender contacted her for comment.

“I am at a funeral,” she said. “You can call me later.” NewsDay

By-Zanu PF said that Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena’s US$5,8 million fraud case will cost the ruling party in the Gokwe-Kabuyuni by-election today.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Zanu PF legislator Leonard Chikomba in a car accident.

Zanu PF and the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) have emerged as frontrunners in the by-election.

Addressing a Press conference in the capital yesterday, Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa indirectly threw Wadyajena under the bus and said the fraud case had a bearing on the vote outcome.

Wadyajena faces fraud and money-laundering charges involving US$5,8 million.

He is charged alongside his accomplices, Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) managing director Pious Manamike, marketing manager Maxmore Njanji, Fortunate Molai also of Cottco and Chiedza Danha, director for Pierpont Moncroix Mauritius.

They were granted $200 000 bail each last week and remanded to September 8, 2022.

“… always accepting some of the shortcomings and correcting them like what’s happening now in Cottco is what the government is working on and it has a bearing on voters, especially in that area. We need Cottco to be properly run as a business entity so that people who farm are paid in time and their money doesn’t depreciate,” Mutsvangwa said.

“Our teams are busy on the ground. The politburo appealed to the people in Gokwe to campaign and vote quietly. We want the people of Kabuyuni to vote peacefully and decide who they want to represent them.”

By Farai D Hove | Nelson Chamisa is set to be blocked in the upcoming 2023 elections, it has emerged.

Announcing the development, the controversial ZANU PF Secretary Of Information, Christopher Mutsvangwa indicated saying before 2023, parliament is to create a law that will invalidate political parties that do not have structures.

Nelson Chamisa has to date kept his party structures a secret, which thing has made his opponents grind into endless guess work. CONTINUE READING…

Fadzayi Mahere :

BREAKING: Violence perpetrated by Zanu PF thugs has broken out at the venue of the Gokwe Kabuyuni Rally. Zanu PF thugs are assaulting citizens who had come to attend the rally. Change Champion in Chief
@nelsonchamisa
’s convoy has also been attacked. #NoToViolence

At least 15 Zanu PF cars have barricaded raids & attacked President
@nelsonchamisa
’s motorcade as he approached the Gokwe Kabuyuni Rally. The thugs are armed with machetes. The rally will proceed despite this security emergency

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to stop abusing holy places.

Mr Mnangagwa has a penchant for speaking at church gatherings.

On Thursday he seized an apostolic sect gathering.

Addressing a media briefing in Harare on Friday, President Chamisa accused Mr Mnangagwa of blasphemy.

He also challenged the regime to stop abusing traditional leaders.

” Our chiefs are in trouble, our kraal heads are in trouble…

The level of violence is shocking.On Thursday we were attacked by men with guns .

All the same change is unstoppable. We salute the people of Gokwe for refusing to be intimidated by the regime.

To our surprise, July Moyo and Larry Mavhima were directing police operations,” said President Chamisa.

By A Correspondent- Vice president Constantino Chiwenga yesterday threatened to deregister errant medical aid societies, accusing them of gross malpractices, failure to abide by the rule book, including abuse of funds and breach of corporate governance guidelines.

Chiwenga, who doubles as Health and Child Care minister, made the threats in a speech read on his behalf by Minister of State in his office, Sibangumuzi Khumalo, at the ongoing 2022 Zimbabwe Medical Association annual conference in Victoria Falls.

He said the ministry was strengthening the regulation of private health insurance and medical aid societies.

“We want them to stick to their mandate, that is, to ensure that the wage earners’ medical bills are fully paid and timeously. In that regard, the ministry will not hesitate to deregister any errant medical aid society,” Chiwenga said.

In 2018, Chiwenga fired thousands of striking nurses in his capacity as the superintendent of the government’s social services cluster, but the decision was later reversed.

Last year, Cabinet announced plans to regulate medical aid societies following plans to establish a medical aid societies regulatory authority.

In May this year, the Medical Services Amendment Bill was published in the Gazette to regulate operations of medical aid societies

The new regulatory body will fall under the purview of the Health and Child Care ministry.

“We have instituted a forensic audit on some and we are still waiting for the audit observations. This way, the providers of care, the funders and members will be satisfied,” Chiwenga added.

Results of an audit instituted at Premier Service Medical Aid Society are yet to be known, while workers at Premier Service Medical Investments called for the government to fire the board and its directors for gross mismanagement.

“A number of policies and strategies have been developed and more are still being worked on,” Chiwenga said, adding that public health surveillance and disaster preparedness and response would also be improved going forward.

Meanwhile, Chiwenga is set to open this year’s Association of Health Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) annual all-stakeholders’ conference on health scheduled for September 14 to 17.

 Alpha Media Holdings, the publishers of NewsDay, Southern Eye, The Standard, Zimbabwe Independent and Weekly Digest as well as proprietors of online radio and television station Heart & Soul, are media partners of the event.

AHFoZ chief executive Shylet Sanyanga said last year’s event was also officially opened by Chiwenga.

Economist Persistence Gwanyanya will give an economic outlook and likely impact on the health sector.

Other speakers include World Health Organisation country representative Alex Gasasira and outspoken Kenyan motivational speaker, Patrick Lumumba, among several others.

AHFoZ was formerly the National Association of Medical Aid Societies (NAMAS).

By- Senior Zanu PF members in Midlands, Thursday directed police to block a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rally set for Simchembo 1, Gokwe-Kabuyuni Constituency.

Zanu PF members also assaulted four journalists on their way to cover the rally.

Initially, the Zanu PF thugs blocked CCC leader Nelson Chamisa from addressing the rally.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Zanu PF legislator Leonard Chikomba.

Led by Local Government minister July Moyo, provincial party chairperson Larry Mavhima and Mackenzie Ncube, police besieged the venue where the CCC had already pitched its stage in preparation for the rally.

The ministers were seen by NewsDay directing the police to disperse opposition supporters.

Senior police officers then approached CCC interim organising secretary Amos Chibaya to disperse the crowd saying the environment was not conducive to hold their rally.

Chibaya, Josiah Makombe, Prince Dube and other senior CCC members confronted the Zanu PF senior members that included Ncube, Moyo and Mavhima, asking them to produce the clearance letter allowing Zanu PF to hold its rally at the same venue.

In an interview, Chibaya said: “We are surprised that the police are now trying to block our rally which they cleared. It is worrisome that they are taking orders from Zanu PF in our sight. They are afraid to tell Zanu PF leaders not to disturb our rally.”

Three journalists from the Technology Magazine (TechnoMag) and one from ZimDaily were attacked at Chitekete Growth Point on their way to cover the rally.

Toneo Rutsito, Tongai Mwenje, Pellagia Mpurwa, from TechnoMag and Chelsea Mashayamombe from ZimDaily lost their cameras and mobile phones to the Zanu PF supporters during the skirmishes.

Mpurwa briefly passed out during the assault.

Rutsito lost a tooth, Mwenje sustained a deep cut on his forehead and Mashayamombe complained of leg pain after being struck with various items on their backs as they lay on the ground.

“We were only saved after a Toyota V8 vehicle arrived and one of them said, the boss has said you can now free them,” Mwenje said.

They, however, failed to identify the said boss in the Toyota V8 vehicle.

The journalists made a police report at Chitekete Police Station.

Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said the Gokwe violence was evidence that the country was headed towards violent polls in 2023.

“The recent events of increased violent attacks on the opposition clearly indicate that 2023 is going to be the most violent election that Zimbabwe has ever seen,” Mukundu said.

“What is needed now is unified efforts from civic groups and the opposition in pushing back through advocacy and engaging the regional groups and the international community to mitigate the violence that we are currently seeing in the country.”

Another political commentator Vivid Gwede said: “The permissive attitude of the police and lack of concern by the nation’s leadership simply adds to this foreseeable tragedy now inevitably set to unveil next year.”

By James Gwati- The police have again ignored to arrest Zanu PF thugs who attacked a CCC Gokwe-Kabuyuni rally.

Chamisa was on Thursday in Gokwe for a rally to drum up support for his party candidate ahead of the Gokwe-Kabuyunu constituency seat by-election this weekend.

The opposition leader was whisked away from the scene by his security after violence intensified.

By- A Chegutu magistrate, Ms Beverly Madzikatire has freed Zanu PF Chegutu West Member of Parliament Dexter Nduna .

Nduna was this week arrested for occupying land for the expansion of Chegutu Municipality without lawful authority.

He was arrested Wednesday and spent the night in holding cells before appearing in court Thursday.

Madzikatire granted Nduna free bail when he appeared before the courts for contravening Section 3 (1) (4) of the Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act.
He will be back in court on September 21.
Nduna is accused of influencing thousands of people to invade and occupy Risboro Farm and illegally allocating stands. The Government has earmarked the farm for urban development under the Smart City project.
Prosecuting, Ms Abigail Fana, told the court that Nduna led a group of people and tried to occupy the gazetted Risboro Farm from 18 to 25 June this year where unlawful parcelling out of stands was also done.
Nduna’s lawyer, Mr Ignatius Murambatsvina, denied the allegations levelled against his client. He added that there was no substance to the issue, claiming it was politically engineered.
In his warned and caution statement dated August 24 signed at Kadoma CID, Nduna denied the allegations.
The complaint in the matter is Risboro Joint Committee made up of Chegutu Municipality and Chegutu RDC. Herald

By- A pro-President Emmerson Mnangagwa march planned for this weekend has flopped.

Organisers of the march under the banner MenBelieveED fronted by one Justice Matsatsira, said they have moved the march to an unspecified date.

Matsatsira told NewsDay that they postponed the march to pave the way for the weekend by-elections set for the Gokwe-Kabuyani constituency on Saturday. 

The seat fell vacant following the death of Zanu PF legislator Leonard Chikomba.

 Matsatsira said:

Those people who think that this march will not succeed are daydreaming. I have been supporting Mnangagwa since way back. We are a big thing, we have been encouraging our members to register to vote and our database is growing.

We have the numbers and we also have the support of the Zanu PF party. We have the resources. We will never fail because we have the resources. We were empowered by the new dispensation.

He said they plan to bus an estimated 10 000 people per province to Harare for the march.

In 2016, the Zanu PF youth league organised a “One Million Men March” in solidarity with the late President Robert Mugabe in a bid to extend his rule despite calls for him to step down.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to stop abusing holy places.

Mr Mnangagwa has a penchant for speaking at church gatherings.

On Thursday he seized an apostolic sect gathering.

Addressing a media briefing in Harare on Friday, President Chamisa accused Mr Mnangagwa of blasphemy.

He also challenged the regime to stop abusing traditional leaders.

” Our chiefs are in trouble, our kraal heads are in trouble…

The level of violence is shocking.On Thursday we were attacked by men with guns .

All the same change is unstoppable. We salute the people of Gokwe for refusing to be intimidated by the regime.

To our surprise, July Moyo and Larry Mavhima were directing police operations,” said President Chamisa.

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to stop abusing holy places.

Mr Mnangagwa has a penchant for speaking at church gatherings.

On Thursday he seized an apostolic sect gathering.

Addressing a media briefing in Harare on Friday, President Chamisa accused Mr Mnangagwa of blasphemy.

He also challenged the regime to stop abusing traditional leaders.

” Our chiefs are in trouble, our kraal heads are in trouble…

The level of violence is shocking.On Thursday we were attacked by men with guns .

All the same change is unstoppable. We salute the people of Gokwe for refusing to be intimidated by the regime.

To our surprise, July Moyo and Larry Mavhima were directing police operations,” said President Chamisa.

By James Gwati- Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in South Africa said they were worried about the ongoing xenophobic protests outside Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital by Operation Dudula members who are preventing patients, including migrants, from accessing the facility.

MSF said these actions must be rejected and should trigger urgent action by health authorities and leaders to protect access to healthcare for all.

 Operation Dudula supporters have been protesting outside the hospital for three weeks, chanting threatening statements through loud hailers and preventing many from entering the facility. 

“Just this morning, several people were turned away by the protestors based on their appearance and accent,” says Sibusiso Ndlovu, health promotion supervisor for MSF in Tshwane, adding that the protestors are putting the hospital staff under immense pressure with demands that all foreigners be removed. 

“They have even demanded that critically ill patients who are migrants must be ‘unplugged’ and taken out,” she says. 

Hostility to serving migrants in South Africa’s health facilities has been intensifying, fuelled by inflammatory and political statements from government officials, including Limpopo Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, who was recently recorded berating a Zimbabwean patient in a health facility, claiming that migrants are overburdening the health system. 

If migrants are fearful for their safety in entering or leaving health facilities, and if health workers are placed under pressure to behave as immigration officers, the consequences will be felt across the population. 

“One major concern as the politicisation of healthcare expands is that serious notifiable diseases could go unrecorded and untreated, which will inhibit the public healthcare system’s overall capacity and ability to contain infectious disease outbreaks,” says Dr Tasanya Chinsamy, medical activity manager for MSF in Tshwane. 

One of the patients denied care in Kalafong Hospital today was a 37-weeks pregnant migrant woman with high blood pressure, who instead had to seek help from a local clinic. “Clinics are not equipped to provide tertiary care for complex cases such as these which require access to a specialist and certain medications that are only available at hospital level,” Chinsamy says. 

“When patients are denied the appropriate level of care initially their conditions often worsen and they return as emergency patients. Their risk of becoming more ill or dying is thus greatly increased, as is the cost to the government. Nobody benefits and the most vulnerable suffer disproportionately regardless of their nationality or legal status,” says Chinsamy. 

By James Gwati- CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has escaped homicidal attacks by Zanu PF thugs in Gokwe-Kabuyuni.

Chamisa was on Thursday in Gokwe for a rally to drum up support for his party candidate ahead of the Gokwe-Kabuyunu constituency seat by-election this weekend.

The opposition leader was whisked away from the scene by his security after violence intensified.

By James Gwati- President Emerson Mnangagwa’s god-father and Local Government Minister July Moyo has been named in the Thursday Gokwe Zanu PF violence at the CCC rally.

Zanu PF thugs armed with AK47s also chased CCC leader Nelson Chamisa and prevented him from addressing the rally.

Chamisa was in Gokwe-Kabuyuni for a weekend by-election campaign rally.

His party reported on its social media platforms that Zanu PF senior members, including Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Lary Mavhima, orchestrated the Thursday violence.

The party posted on Twitter:

GOKWE VIOLENCE: We’ve received reports that Larry Mavhima & July Moyo were co-ordinating the orgy of violence in Gokwe today. Zanu thugs using over 29 cars & armed with AK47s & other weapons were involved in a high speed chase against President 

@nelsonchamisa

’s convoy.

By Farai D Hove | Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bodyguards have been reported for hiding the corpse of a Harare man they killed last week.

A suspected cover up has been reported after Mr Levi Musenda was killed by Presidential Guard officers who accused him of trying to break into the State House premises.

The ZRP late Wednesday night confirmed receiving a complaint from the Masenda family following their loved one’s sudden death.

Part of the report states:

Reference in made to the above matter wherein we are favoured with instructions ta act for and on behalf of Mr Job Musenda the biological father of The late Levi Musenda and the Musenda family at large at whose specific instance and request, we currently address you. Kindly nide cur interest. Our client advises as follows: Background. On or about the 19th of August 2022, the now deceased Levy Musenda who was mentally challenged person but stable and on medication left home and got into town to carry out some errand of his own…

Reference in made to the above matter wherein we are favoured with instructions ta act for and on behalf of Mr Job Musenda the biological father of The late Levi Musenda and the Musenda family at large at whose specific instance and request, we currently address you. Kindly nide cur interest. Our client advises as follows: Background. On or about the 19th of August 2022, the now deceased Levy Musenda who was mentally challenged person but stable and on medication left home and got into town to carry out some errand of his own…

By The South African- Limpopo Health Provincial Minister, Dr Pophi Ramathuba, has fuelled xenophobia against Zimbabwean patients seeking treatment in South Africa.

In the video circulating on social media, Dr Ramathuba is confronting a Zimbabwean patient at a Bela-Bela hospital about their immigration status, telling them her department does not have the budget to accommodate foreign nationals.

“How do you find yourself in Bela-Bela when you are supposed to be with Mnangagwa (Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa) there? You know he doesn’t give me money to operate you guys and I’m operating you with my limited budget,” Ramathuba tells the woman.

The patient responds by saying she appreciates it, but that doesn’t stop the MEC from going on about her department’s budget constraints, which are further exacerbated by the fact that Zimbabwean nationals in the country also depend on government services/faclities.

“When you guys are sick, I’m hearing these days you just say, ‘let’s cross Limpopo river, there is an MEC there who is running a charity department. It’s not,” Ramathuba said.

Earlier this year, Ramathuba sparked outrage when she told Limpopo female learners to “open their books and close their legs” in an attempt to address teenage pregnancy. Many accused the MEC of only targeting girls during her speech, but she hit back, saying boys were also called out.

The health MEC explained that the children she was talking to do not have anyone to explain things like protected sex and menstruation to them, which is why she felt her words are justified.

“Teenage pregnancy is rife among the poor and working class. The affluent do not understand. My children and their children [the Twitter parents] know everything about reproduction because we sit with our children and explain things like menstruation, menopause, protective sex… we even teach them what is an orgasm,” she told Tshisa Live.

Limpopo Health MEC and provincial ANC official Dr Phophi Ramathuba to Zimbabwean patient admitted at a hospital in Bela-BelaP:
'You're supposed to be with Mnangagwa, he doesn't give me money to operate you guys. Now I must operate you with my limited budget…' #SadReality pic.twitter.com/rmC1iuOoR5

— Thohoyandou ?? ?? (@AlbaMokopane) August 23, 2022

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens in Uzumba have never experienced independence.

This was said by CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa on Wednesday.

President Chamisa was in the area for community engagement meetings and he came face to face with rampant intimidation of citizens.

The CCC leader has strongly condemned violence, intimidation and presecution of suspected opposition supporters by the Zanu PF regime.

“I’m in Hwedza today.
I hear that all the major roads have been blocked by Zpf youths on instruction from their bosses. #fakapressure
They are just criminal and archaic,” said President Chamisa in a brief statement.

President Chamisa also wrote on Twitter:

“UPDATES FROM UZUMBA..
Massive victimization, intimidation and terror against citizens esp opposition
-Citizens in Uzumba have not known independence, freedoms, rights and peace.

-Abuse of Chiefs and Village heads to force villagers to support the hugely unpopular Zpf party.

Food & Government support only available to Zpf party members
-Horror stories of violence in 2008
-Most violence perpetrators especially ZPf militia now dead in mysterious deaths -Assisted voters and command voting -Citizens in villages under 24/7 surveillance by zpf.

Command voting and assisted voters -The roads are bad, no schools and clinics , no jobs & disposable income, -Citizens in Uzumba are very courageous and determined. They need our support. Change must happen. Uzumba must be free, independent and in peace.”

By- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has flown to Togo on a private jet linked to Libyan renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Haftar controls the eastern and some southern parts of Lybia.

Haftar was a former senior military commander under Muammar Gaddafi before defecting to the United States where he sought asylum. 

It remains unclear what link Chiwenga, a former army general, has with Haftar if any.

The San Marino-registered Gulfstream G450 (T7-LJA) flew into Harare from Dubai on August 22, according to flight data from FlightRadar24.

Chiwenga, who doubles up as health minister, was onboard when it took off to the Togolese capital Lome for a United Nations health summit for African countries a day later.

Why is this important?

The 14-seater aircraft costs around US$20 000 per flying hour, although the terms of Chiwenga’s charter for the five-hour, one-way trip to Lome are unknown.

The Zimbabwe government refuses to say how the private jets are hired. 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa previously claimed his travel was financed by the government of the United Arab Emirates.

Since ascending to power in 2017, Mnangagwa, 79, has regularly used Dubai-registered private jets for most of his foreign and domestic trips – including summoning an Airbus A318-112 (CJ) Elite from Dubai to fly him the 275km trip to Gweru from Harare in July 2019.

At what cost?

Responding to a ZimLive story in 2019, Mnangagwa insisted that “we do not pay anything for that plane.”

He claimed that during a meeting with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed, “I told him we had a problem with availability of planes and he said whenever I want to travel, all I need to do is call.”

As he publicly claims, the Zimbabwe leader’s willingness to accept gifts from foreign governments has raised fears he is involved in some opaque transactions benefitting his benefactors.

Critics claim that the Dubai-registered jets flying into Harare will deliver scarce United States dollars to the regime and then smuggle gold out.

In 2016, the UAE reported gold imports from Africa topping US$16 billion. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) noted that the UAE, which is not a gold producer, ranked 3rd globally in terms of gold exports, with a total value of US$25.4 billion, or 7.8 per cent of total world exports.

By James Gwati- Local Government Minister July Moyo has been implicated in the Thursday Gokwe Zanu Pf violence at the CCC rally.

Zanu PF thugs armed with AK47s also chased CCC leader Nelson Chamisa and prevented him from addressing the rally.

Chamisa was in Gokwe-Kabuyunu for a weekend by-election campaign rally.

His party reported on its social media platforms that Zanu PF senior members, including Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Lary Mavhima, orchestrated the Thursday violence.

The party posted on Twitter:

GOKWE VIOLENCE: We’ve received reports that Larry Mavhima & July Moyo were co-ordinating the orgy of violence in Gokwe today. Zanu thugs using over 29 cars & armed with AK47s & other weapons were involved in a high speed chase against President 

@nelsonchamisa

’s convoy.

By James Gwati- CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has escaped homicidal attacks by Zanu PF thugs in Gokwe-Kabuyunu.

Chamisa was on Thursday in Gokwe for a rally to drum up support for his party candidate ahead of the Gokwe-Kabuyunu constituency seat by-election this weekend.

The opposition leader was whisked away from the scene by his security after violence intensified.

By James Gwati- Zanu PF thugs armed with AK47s have chased CCC leader Nelson Chamisa and prevented him from addressing a rally in Gokwe.

Chamisa, Thursday, was in Gokwe-Kabuyunu for a weekend by-election campaign rally.

His party reported on its social media platforms that Zanu PF senior members, including Local government minister July Moyo, orchestrated the Thursday violence.

The party posted on Twitter:

GOKWE VIOLENCE: We’ve received reports that Larry Mavhima & July Moyo were co-ordinating the orgy of violence in Gokwe today. Zanu thugs using over 29 cars & armed with AK47s & other weapons were involved in a high speed chase against President 

@nelsonchamisa

’s convoy.

By James Gwati- CCC leader Nelson Chamisa abandoned the Gokwe-Kabuyunu rally after homicidal violence against his supporters by Zanu PF erupted.

Chamisa was in Gokwe for a rally to drum up support for his party candidate ahead of the Gokwe-Kabuyunu constituency seat by-election this weekend.

The opposition leader was whisked away from the scene by his security as violence intensified.

Tinashe Sambiri| CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has appealed to South Africans to stop harassing Zimbabweans in Mzansi.

Millions of Zimbabweans have fled to South Africa as a result of political persecution and relentless economic problems in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, President Chamisa urged South Africans to be patient as the citizens’ government will fix the economic abyss.

President Chamisa posted on Facebook:

“Fellow Africans in South Africa, we note your frustrations and economic constraints.

I kindly ask for your support to Zimbabweans in these trying times. Help us as we do our best to fix Zimbabwe for a prosperous future. In less than 400 days our pains, agonies and fights will be a thing of the past.We will win Zimbabwe for change.

Help us to hold credible elections. We need free and fair elections to permanently resolve our politics and the economy. Many are not in your country out of mischief but on account of poor leadership,bad governance and deadening poverty.

Zimbabweans mean no harm to you. After all, we are decent and great neighbors.

One Africa, One people, One future!”

Tinashe Sambiri|A Zanu PF official assaulted people with disability and the elderly for attending CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa in Uzumba at the weekend.

Zanu PF councillor for ward 14, Uzumba, Fagio Zondayi Marowa, brutally assaulted elderly villagers and those with disability for supporting President Chamisa.

In a statement CCC said:

Zanu PF councillor for Ward 14 Uzumba, Fagio Zondayi Marowa has badly beaten old people and those living with disability who had attended a meeting conducted by CCC President Advocate Nelson Chamisa on Tuesday at Nhakiwa

Their crime was to attend a meeting conducted by Advocate Nelson Chamisa.

His wife is alleged to have threatened to beat up some journalists who were in the same area on a different assignment. His number is 0774229804.

Let’s expose this Zanu PF thug through sharing far and wide.

Chegutu West Legislator Dexter Nduna has been arrested for allegedly parcelling out land at Risboro Farm which has been designated for urban development. Nduna who was arrested on Wednesday is expected to appear before Chegutu Magistrate Court today.- ZBC

Fadzayi Mahere :

BREAKING: Violence perpetrated by Zanu PF thugs has broken out at the venue of the Gokwe Kabuyuni Rally. Zanu PF thugs are assaulting citizens who had come to attend the rally. Change Champion in Chief
@nelsonchamisa
’s convoy has also been attacked. #NoToViolence

At least 15 Zanu PF cars have barricaded raids & attacked President
@nelsonchamisa
’s motorcade as he approached the Gokwe Kabuyuni Rally. The thugs are armed with machetes. The rally will proceed despite this security emergency…

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens in Uzumba have never experienced independence.

This was said by CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa on Wednesday.

President Chamisa was in the area for community engagement meetings and he came face to face with rampant intimidation of citizens.

The CCC leader has strongly condemned violence, intimidation and presecution of suspected opposition supporters by the Zanu PF regime.

“I’m in Hwedza today.
I hear that all the major roads have been blocked by Zpf youths on instruction from their bosses. #fakapressure
They are just criminal and archaic,” said President Chamisa in a brief statement.

President Chamisa also wrote on Twitter:

“UPDATES FROM UZUMBA..
Massive victimization, intimidation and terror against citizens esp opposition
-Citizens in Uzumba have not known independence, freedoms, rights and peace.

-Abuse of Chiefs and Village heads to force villagers to support the hugely unpopular Zpf party.

Food & Government support only available to Zpf party members
-Horror stories of violence in 2008
-Most violence perpetrators especially ZPf militia now dead in mysterious deaths -Assisted voters and command voting -Citizens in villages under 24/7 surveillance by zpf.

Command voting and assisted voters -The roads are bad, no schools and clinics , no jobs & disposable income, -Citizens in Uzumba are very courageous and determined. They need our support. Change must happen. Uzumba must be free, independent and in peace.”

By A Correspondent- Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa’s convoy was reportedly attacked by suspected Zanu PF supporters in Mashonaland East province on Tuesday and yesterday.

On Tuesday, his convoy was attacked when he made a surprise visit to Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP).

UMP is traditionally known as a Zanu PF stronghold, with the ruling party garnering thousands of votes during elections.

Chamisa, who had a small entourage, visited political hotspots such as Mutawatawa, Chitsungo and Mazowe Bridge, where he held meetings with stakeholders.

CCC organising secretary Amos Chibaya and CCC Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Anthony Mutodza were accompanying Chamisa.

CCC members were reportedly assaulted at Nhakiwa Growth Point for entertaining Chamisa.

Yesterday, CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Siziba said Chamisa’s convoy was also attacked by suspected Zanu PF supporters in Hwedza district.

“Zanu is petrified by our programme and has resultantly unleashed terror in the entire Hwedza area. Violence broke out leading to the abduction of one of our members, Tonderai Bhuka. We have engaged the police and we are in the process of locating him,” Siziba said.

“It was clear these are Zanu PF people. This is something that we cannot accept because we are a legitimate political party. We encountered over 11 roadblocks on our way from Harare. However, we remain focused on the central objectives, which are continuing to mobilise Zimbabweans and create a credible alternative.”

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment.

In October 2021, Chamisa survived alleged assassination attempts when his convoy was attacked in Masvingo and Mutare.

Chamisa had embarked on whirlwind “meet-the-people” tours across the country to drum up support for his party.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Two police officers were badly bitten and one escaped unhurt when a suspected drug peddler in Dangamvura, Mutare, set four vicious dogs on them as he tried to evade arrest during a raid on his house.

The suspect and two alleged accomplices from Harare were eventually arrested after the attacked cops called for reinforcements from Dangamvura Police Station.

Armed with FN rifles, the back-up party arrived at the scene and shot the dogs, resulting in one of them dying.

Sensing defeat, the suspect quickly locked up his dogs in the kennels and surrendered.

Police then searched the house and reportedly recovered sachets of dagga, crystal meth (commonly known as mutoriro) and several other drugs.

Manicaland police spokesman Inspector Nobert Muzondo said Gibson Chitsengamhanje (28) of Area 3, Dangamvura, Takudzwa Chinhoyi (24) and Share Takadairwa Mwachitamba (29), both from Harare, were under arrest.

On Friday last week at around 9am, police received a tip-off from an anonymous caller that Chitsengamhanje was dealing in drugs at his residence in Dangamvura.

A police team went round disguised as buyers. The three-member team found out that the house was secured by a precast wall and a big metal gate, but when they knocked Chitsengamhanje advised them to come in using the small gate.

Two officers entered the yard and one bought a sachet of dagga. While this was being bought, the other officer identified himself to the suspect.

Realising that he had been caught red-handed, Chitsengamhanje left the room from where he was selling the drugs and rushed to the kennels in an attempt to unleash his dogs on the cops. But the officers quickly intercepted him so he called Chinhoyi, who then came out of the main house and opened up the kennels as instructed by Chitsengamhanje, who was being held by the two police officers.

“There were four dogs in the kennels which were let loose and they attacked the police officers,” said Insp Muzondo.

One of the cops was bitten on both legs by the vicious dogs while the other one was bitten on the right leg and sustained deep cuts. After the cops sprinted out of the yard for safety, the suspect locked his gate and started burning some of the dagga to conceal evidence. Some of the suspected drugs were also thrown on top of the roof.

Reinforcements then came from Dangamvura Police Station and Chitsengamhanje was ordered to open the gate, but he refused resulting in the police officers forcing their way into the yard.

“Upon realising that the cops had opened the gate, he rushed to the kennels and set loose his dogs again. “In the face of the dog attack, the cops shot the animals with an FN rifle and killed one of them. The suspect quickly surrendered and locked up his dogs.”

A search followed and 125 sachets of dagga were recovered plus 130 sachets of crystal meth weighing 50 grammes and 50ml of Ledocaine.

As the cops were about to escort the two accused persons to the police camp, a third suspect, Mwachitamba, emerged and tried to attack the police officers in a bid to cause the unlawful release of his accomplices, without realising that the cops were armed.

When he was shown the rifle he quickly surrendered, was searched and three sachets of dagga and two of crystal meth were recovered from his pockets.

Insp Muzondo thanked the public for supplying information that led to the arrest of the three suspects.

“We will win this war against drug peddlers. Some of the houses in Mutare are being used as bases where people congregate to consume these dangerous drugs especially Mutotiro.

“We are determined to bring these notorious peddlers to book.

“The bravery which was shown by our officers shows our commitment to be on top of this situation,” he said.

-Herald

By A Correspondent- Vendors trading at Mbare Musika have clashed with long-distance bus crews over space.

Clothing and food vendors have invaded the bus rank, sparking fights with irate bus crews.

Bus crews also accused the vendors of blocking the entrance, and exit points, at the rank, disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.

One bus driver pleaded with the authorities and police to evict vendors from the bus rank.

Our passengers are being harassed by these vendors since they assume they want to buy from them,” he said.

“Some passengers are even being manhandled, resulting in fewer travellers coming to board buses at the rank.

“At one point, I almost ran over a woman selling tomatoes while reversing the bus.

“These vendors have actually created an illegal market at the entrance and exit points of the rank.

“This makes it difficult for us to drive in and out of the rank smoothly,” he said

One of the vendors, only identified as Mai Chipo, told H-Metro they cannot leave the rank because they have established a market there.

“Selling my clothes and shoes here has enabled me to pay my children’s tuition fees for the past five years.

“The rank is a busy place, as most people come here to board buses.

“There is huge business here.

“Hakuna mabasa kunze uko so if we don’t sell here, we will die of hunger,” Mai Chipo said.

-HMetro