President Emmerson Mnangagwa is seeking re-election as Zanu-PF leader and party presidential candidate for elections next year amid signs of discomfort within the former liberation movement over his continued suitability for the top job at a time the economy is on a free fall.

Zanu-PF is set to hold its elective congress in Harare from 26-29 October this year.

Short of any super dramatic events towards congress, the Zimbabwe incumbent looks safe for now as there has not been any party official who has emerged in the past five years to challenge for his party job.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, viewed as potential successor to Mnangagwa within Zanu-PF, has never made his ambitions public.

However, former party firebrands Godfrey Tsenengamu and Jimu Kunaka have done the bidding for Chiwenga, insisting it was his time to take over following what they insist was an agreement between Mnangagwa and the former Zimbabwe military boss to pass him the baton after five years.

Zanu-PF activist Sybeth Musengezi in 2021 went to the courts to challenge Mnangagwa’s ascendency to power after a coup in 2017.

Mnangagwa, a long time suitor for his late predecessor Robert Mugabe’s job, was in 2017 endorsed as party leader after he had muscled his way to the top of both party and country in a soft coup against the ex-leader.

The wily politician is keen to suppress internal dissent in his party, first with the 2020 expulsion of Tsenengamu who openly challenged his failure to resolve the country’s myriad economic challenges.

Recently, Malcom Musarira, an activist in Mutare, exposed the growing despondency via a party WhatsApp group that Mnangagwa was plunging the country into the abyss.

He was arrested for that.

Unless Chiwenga stakes up a bid for Mnangagwa’s job, the VP could also be seeking to retain his current post.

The VP, whose health woes are a matter of public record, recently went overboard to deny he was consulting doctors over fresh health challenges.

Chiwenga is keen to present a healthy face fearing his woes could torpedo his ambitions for the country’s most coveted job in future.

Zanu-PF would also be keen to finally resolve the second state vice presidency post after Kembo Mohadi was forced to give up the job in the face of a murky sex scandal 2020.

Any continued vacancy in the former PF ZAPU side of Zanu-PF will be considered a violation of the unity accord signed between the former rivals – Zanu and PF Zapu – in 1987.

The Zanu-PF congress will also elect leaders for party organs which include the youth, women and war veterans leagues.

Congress will also elect central committee members.

Commenting on the upcoming congress, party director for information and publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi took aim at the party’s main rivals who are yet to hold their own elective process after a surprise break from MDC to reconstitute as CCC.

“Unlike other mushrooming, moribund political parties, Zanu-PF is a revolutionary party with established practices, positions, codified in the party’s constitution and one such tradition is the National People’s Congress,” he said.

-Newsday

ZIMBABWE
PRESS STATEMENT
REVIEW OF THE REMUNERATION FRAMEWORK AND SERVICE-WIDE CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

The Government of Zimbabwe recognises and appreciates the tireless work and unwavering commitment to duty of all Civil Servants across the three arms of the state, namely the Executive (Whole of Government), the Legislature (Parliament), and the Judiciary, including Grant Aided entities, Agencies and Independent Commissions.

To this end, Government has been closely monitoring developments in the macro economy, with a view of ensuring that exogenous shocks from adverse macro-economic developments do not seriously erode the purchasing power of Civil Servants’ salaries.

As such, Government has been reviewing the cash and non-cash benefits of Civil Servants as follows:

THE EXECUTIVE

Just recently, Government announced that Civil Servants basic salaries have been increased by 100% with effect from 1 September 2022, and that negotiations are continuing through the National Joint Negotiating Committee (NJNC) platform to come up with additional salary for and condition of service reviews.
In addition, serving members of the Civil Service have the following benefits: –
A housing loan guarantee scheme;
Civil service housing loan scheme; and
Access to the duty-free importation of a single motor vehicle for personal use by the civil servant.

Health Sector.
With particular regard to the Health Services Sector, Government has reviewed upwards the Health Sector Specific Allowances in the following areas: –
On Call Allowances, which apply to Doctors and Laboratory Scientists;
Night Duty, Stand By / Callout Allowances, which apply to Nurses, Nurse Aides and General Hands in theatre;
Nurse Managers Allowances;
Special Health equalisation factor which applies to all eligible staff;
Covid and Infectious Disease Risk Allowances.
In addition, Government has reviewed the non-monetary benefits for the Health Sector including the following: –
provision of institutional housing for health workers starting with Harare and Bulawayo;
provision of housing loan guarantees;
provision of efficient transport facilities, starting with Referral / Central Hospitals
addressing deficiencies in the cafeteria system and re-operationalising the system; and
Local production and sourcing of uniforms for health personnel.

Teachers.

Restoration of Advancement awards;
Payment of Performance awards which had been withheld due to financial constraints, have been restored and these will now be processed effective 1 September 2022. For this purpose, members will now be placed on their correct employment grades;

Payment of school fees for up to 3 biological children per teaching family;
This benefit applies to teachers and payment will be made directly to schools and will be up to a prescribed limit per biological child. Currently this limit is ZWL20,000 per child per term and Treasury is ready to disburse the required amounts for the first term.

Provision of 34 000 housing units as institutional accommodation for teachers
To cushion teachers from the rising cost of accommodation, Government has committed itself to provide 34 000 housing units within and outside school premises over a period of 5 years.

Provision of transport facilities to ferry teachers in both rural and urban areas has already commenced. This is facilitated by existing structures under the Civil Service Bus Fund and Rural and Urban Mass Transport System.

Security Sector.
Government values the critical role played by the security services in the economy. Substantial progress has been made in ensuring competitive remuneration and general improvement of the conditions of service for members in the security sector.
Government has introduced military salary concept and its equivalent, across the security cluster, covering various categories of benefits.
In addition, Government has accelerated the acquisition of operational vehicles for middle management.
Government is also instituting immediate measures to increase access to institutional housing and transportation for serving members of the security services.
The security services sector also has access to the Housing Loan Guarantee Scheme to enable members to purchase houses in the areas of their choice , under the frameworks being finalised by the service Commissions and the respective , participating Financial institutions.

Provision of Housing loan guarantee scheme for home ownership by Civil Servants
The Public Service Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities, Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and Treasury are working towards the resuscitation of the housing loan guarantee facility for Civil Servants under which the Government will be the guarantor of housing mortgages applied by members through the identified network banks. Consultations between relevant stakeholders have already been initiated by the Public Service Commission.

Payment of a USD 200.00 Covid 19 Allowance.

Recognising the significant risk factors faced by Civil Servants who are mostly frontline workers, government introduced an USD75.00 per month Covid-19 Risk Allowance. This amount is still payable in foreign currency and will continue to be paid for the foreseeable future.

Payment of a USD100.00 per month Cushioning Allowance

Recognising the hardships faced by public sector workers in the face of adverse macro-economic developments and the impact of dual currency pricing, Government introduced a USD100.00 per month cushioning allowance payable in foreign currency. This allowance also continues to be paid and will subsist for the foreseeable future.

THE LEGISLATURE (PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE)

Parliamentarians and Staff of the Parliament of Zimbabwe have also had various reviews implemented across both salary and non-cash benefits as follows:-
Salaries have been increased by at least 100% with effect from 1 September 2022
Sitting allowances have been similarly increased.
Government has also introduced a contributory medical scheme where Government will contribute 80% to the Subscriptions, similar to the scheme which is in place for Civil Servants.
Government has introduced a duty-free importation of a second motor vehicle for use by parliamentarians in their public service work.
In order to ease transport challenges for employees, Government acquired buses for use by parliament staff.
Constituency Visit Allowance
In the spirit of “Leaving No-One and No Place Behind” in public engagement, Government has recently introduced a constituency visit allowance to improve close relations between elected officials and their constituents and electorate. Fuel is provided to members in all constituencies irrespective of the distance to their Constituencies from the Capital City.
Members of the Legislature are also being paid the combined USD175.00 per month Allowance comprised of the USD75.00 Covid-19 Allowance and the USD100.00 Cushioning Allowance

THE JUDICIARY

All members of the judiciary have received a salary increase of a minimum of 100% with effect from 1 September 2022. In addition, an allowance that recognizes and aligns remuneration with peers in the legal profession has also been put in place.
Members of the Judiciary are now also benefitting from the Housing Loan Guarantee Scheme and the Housing Loan scheme as well as the duty-free facility for the importation of one motor vehicle.
Members of the Judiciary are also being paid the combined USD175.00 per month Allowance comprised of the USD75.00 Covid-19 Allowance and the USD100.00 Cushioning Allowance

In conclusion, therefore, The Government of Zimbabwe reiterates its commitment to pay competitive remuneration to Civil Servants in order to retain critical skills and derive efficient public services.
Accordingly, Government will continue to analyse conditions of service for all Civil Servants in order to appropriately and timeously benchmark these in line with economic developments.

Hon. Prof. Mthuli Ncube
MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
22 AUGUST 2022

Organisers of the GoFundMe campaign to buy an armored vehicle for opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa have distanced him and the party from the initiative, saying it was a private project.

The project is being spearheaded by a group called Citizens Action for Change (CAC), which introduced the initiative last year in December before Chamisa launched the CCC party.

The aim of the initiative was to raise over US$120 000 to purchase an armoured vehicle for Chamisa after his convoy was attacked by suspected Zanu-PF supporters and State security agents during his meet-the-people tours in the country’s rural areas.

In Mutare, Chamisa’s convoy was shot at on October 19, 2021, jolting the GoFundMe initiative, led by Juma Ulete, into action.

Yesterday, Ulete told NewsDay that the project to purchase Chamisa’s bullet proof vehicle was still on and that CAC had recently met Chamisa to make arrangements to hand over the funds.

“The campaign was started by citizens who were concerned over Chamisa’s safety. It was introduced way before the CCC was formed and the opposition is a mere beneficiary. The funds were only released last week after we experienced administrative hitches, which were triggered by Zanu-PF which had complained to GoFundMe in California, the United States of America that Chamisa was organising funds politically to purchase an armoured vehicle,” Ulete said.

“We are citizens who raised this money, not for a political party. We raised this money for a citizen whose name is Nelson Chamisa. We started this fundraising on October 13, 2021 before CCC was formed, hence it does not have any ties to CCC. We, as citizens, noticed that there is no even playing field in Zimbabwean politics.

“GofFundMe was supposed to give us the money around December when we reached the target, but Zanu-PF was bombarding the campaign saying why are these people politically fundraising?”

Ulete said the funds were eventually released to CAC by GoFundMe last week, and they had already met Chamisa and his security team to decide on the type of vehicle they wanted.

Zanu-PF director for information Tafadzwa Mugwadi responded by alleging that CCC always uses the ruling party as scapegoats for its failures.

“In 2018, Chamisa who was leading the then MDC Alliance ahead of the elections, swindled his supporters through another GoFundMe initiative, where millions were embezzled and never reached their election agents for whom that GoFundMe initiative had been taken. It is in their DNA, and they are always using the excuse of being in opposition to dodge accountability and transparency,” Mugwadi said.

“One wonders what kind of an alternative they are when they steal in broad daylight from their supporters. When asked to account, they point fingers at Zanu-PF as if they share bank accounts with Zanu-PF. Now, if they can be easily possessed by stealing demons and reach orgasm at the sight of US$120 000, you can imagine when they are in charge of the national cash box.”

-NewZimbabwe

I’ve filed a report against CCC activist @brenda_mukoyi over her tweets which are in violation Section 164B of the Data Protection Act.

RRB5283693 ZRP Borrowdale

She’s prolific and bold in her abuse, even calling Auxillia Mnangagwa a prostitute. A thread of her antics below. /1 pic.twitter.com/DsciA5g9Yy

— Edmund Kudzayi (@EdmundKudzayi) August 22, 2022

A man, who grabbed headlines on various social media platforms after he hit and injured several people whilst attempting a skidding stunt with his Toyota Fun Cargo in Harare’s city centre admitted to charges of reckless driving when he appeared in court today.

Garish Tsamvi (28) of Domboshava admitted to reckless driving when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Yeukai Dzuda.

Tsamvi hit and injured the people on August 17 in a skidding stunt that went wrong at the corner of Rezende Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue.

He is expected back in court tomorrow for his plea recording.

Mr Anesu Chirenje prosecuted.

— Herald

DETAILS have emerged of how a Marondera millionaire farmer, Stanley Masaiti (65) committed suicide on August 20 at his brother’s gate.

The new details are contrary to social media reports that Masaiti first gunned down his younger brother, Daniel, before shooting himself.

Stanley and Daniel are siblings, with the former having been a famous tobacco farmer at Mhembwe Farm, outside Marondera.

Daniel owns some shops in Marondera and Macheke, among them the popular entertainment spot Chipiwa Gardens.

Daniel (56) operates his bussinesses under Danchip Enterprises.

NewsDay has it on good authority that there had been a long-running wrangle between the two brothers since 2017. The now deceased Stanley reportedly accused Daniel of stealing US$3 million from him.

Daniel once worked as the farm administrator before he left the business.

The deceased then approached the High Court to settle the matter under HC2640/17.

It is reported that on August 20, at around 5am, Stanley asked his brother Mutsa Masaiti (59) to accompany him to Chipiwa Gardens and he accepted.

Upon arrival, Stanley then ordered his brother to drive back while he remained by the gate.

Mutsa drove off.

At 6:25am, Stanley posted a notice that he had written in a Marondera WhatsApp crime group asking Daniel and his wife to return his money.

The WhatsApp group comprises police officers, businesspeople and journalists in Marondera.

It is reported that five minutes later, a security guard at Chipiwa Gardens, who was carrying out routine checks around the premises, noticed that Stanley was standing at the gate.

The security guard then heard a gunshot from where Stanley was standing and saw him falling down.

The security guard informed Daniel of the incident, who then alerted the police who arrived at the scene and observed that Stanley’s body had a gunshot wound on the forehead.

He was lying in a pool of blood. A pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition was found between the deceased’s legs.

In a statement, Danchip Enterprises said Daniel was not at the premises during the suicide incident.

“On Saturday, August 20, 2022, we woke up to the heart-breaking news of a fatal shooting at Chipiwa Gardens. The deceased, Mr Stanley Masaiti, shot himself, and the circumstances of the incident are being investigated by the respective authorities.

“The owners of the Chipiwa Gardens, Mr Daniel Masaiti and his wife Chipiwa Masaiti, were not present at the time of the incident, and reports that Mr Daniel Masaiti was shot by his brother, Mr Stanley Masaiti before turning the gun on himself are not true,” the statement read.

Chipiwa Gardens has been closed until further notice. -Newsday

DETAILS have emerged of how a Marondera millionaire farmer, Stanley Masaiti (65) committed suicide on August 20 at his brother’s gate.

The new details are contrary to social media reports that Masaiti first gunned down his younger brother, Daniel, before shooting himself.

Stanley and Daniel are siblings, with the former having been a famous tobacco farmer at Mhembwe Farm, outside Marondera.

Daniel owns some shops in Marondera and Macheke, among them the popular entertainment spot Chipiwa Gardens.

Daniel (56) operates his bussinesses under Danchip Enterprises.

NewsDay has it on good authority that there had been a long-running wrangle between the two brothers since 2017. The now deceased Stanley reportedly accused Daniel of stealing US$3 million from him.

Daniel once worked as the farm administrator before he left the business.

The deceased then approached the High Court to settle the matter under HC2640/17.

It is reported that on August 20, at around 5am, Stanley asked his brother Mutsa Masaiti (59) to accompany him to Chipiwa Gardens and he accepted.

Upon arrival, Stanley then ordered his brother to drive back while he remained by the gate.

Mutsa drove off.

At 6:25am, Stanley posted a notice that he had written in a Marondera WhatsApp crime group asking Daniel and his wife to return his money.

The WhatsApp group comprises police officers, businesspeople and journalists in Marondera.

It is reported that five minutes later, a security guard at Chipiwa Gardens, who was carrying out routine checks around the premises, noticed that Stanley was standing at the gate.

The security guard then heard a gunshot from where Stanley was standing and saw him falling down.

The security guard informed Daniel of the incident, who then alerted the police who arrived at the scene and observed that Stanley’s body had a gunshot wound on the forehead.

He was lying in a pool of blood. A pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition was found between the deceased’s legs.

In a statement, Danchip Enterprises said Daniel was not at the premises during the suicide incident.

“On Saturday, August 20, 2022, we woke up to the heart-breaking news of a fatal shooting at Chipiwa Gardens. The deceased, Mr Stanley Masaiti, shot himself, and the circumstances of the incident are being investigated by the respective authorities.

“The owners of the Chipiwa Gardens, Mr Daniel Masaiti and his wife Chipiwa Masaiti, were not present at the time of the incident, and reports that Mr Daniel Masaiti was shot by his brother, Mr Stanley Masaiti before turning the gun on himself are not true,” the statement read.

Chipiwa Gardens has been closed until further notice. -Newsday

Veteran sungura musician Somandla “Mafia” Ndebele, who fronts Denda Brothers, is disappointed because music piracy has left artistes poor.

Mafia, as he is popularly referred by his fans, bemoaned that while their profession was energy sapping, their sweats are being enjoyed by street vendors selling their music.

“Our biggest challenge as musicians is the issue of piracy,” Ndebele said.

“We have noted that almost 98% of our music is being sold in the street corners at giveaway prices making it hard for musicians to eke out a living from their sweat.

“One thing of great concern is that fake accounts of musicians are being created on social media, particularly on YouTube and Facebook without the musician’s knowledge.”

The 50-year-old musician added: “My wish is that government should intervene and put a stop to all those selling CDs in the street so that they can save the music industry which is slowly disintegrating due to the effect of the ravaging piracy. If this is done at least musicians can earn a living.”

As a way of showing his anger towards piracy, Ndebele released an album which he named Kurimira Hanga.

Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) executive director Polisile Ncube-Chimhini said selling CDs on the streets was illegal.

“Piracy is copyright infringement and it is not confined to the illegal reproduction and sale of pirated discs. It also includes broadcasting music, public performance of music without the authority of the copyright owner,” Ncube-Chimhini said.

“Zimura discourages its clients from using pirated music, we tell them what pirated music is and how they can play music publicly without committing piracy.

“Hence, you will find that most of our clients are no longer using pirated discs but playing via streaming channels.

“We educate our clients against such practices during our licensing activities and through workshops being conducted countrywide, artists are also taught about their rights, that way they can identify and claim ownership of their works where they are pirated and seek redress.”

The Denda Brothers frontman is set to release his 25th album in September that is yet to be named.

“I am planning to release a new six-track album in September, but I haven’t got the title as of now,” he said.

“The album is mainly about social life and I expect it to be a better project than my previous productions.”

The Kwekwe-born and now Dzivaresekwa-based musician started his musical career with Wiriranai Sounds in 1986 where he was the band leader.

He released seven-single such as Chido Chemoyo flip side Mandiomesera (1988), Baba Vevana flip side Nhamo Dzakasiyana (1989) and Phumzile flip side Vakawanda Vakarambana.

However, Ndebele decided to change the name of his band Wiriranai Sounds to Denda Brothers.

“In 1992 I changed my band to Denda Brothers meaning a long spell of illness, therefore, I took it upon myself that my love for music was like that of a sick person with a very long illness which has prolonged for too long, hence the name Denda came into mind,” he said.

“In that same year I released my first album Ndingazviite Sei and the video using the name Denda Brothers and the rest is now history.”

To date Mafia has channelled out 24 great albums such as Ngatifare, Marwadzo, Kuvaka Musha, Zvamauya Zvanaka and Mwoyo Wekurera that he did with Tongai Moyo just to mention a few.

Credit: The Standard

A man, who grabbed headlines on various social media platforms after he hit and injured several people whilst attempting a skidding stunt with his Toyota Fun Cargo in Harare’s city centre admitted to charges of reckless driving when he appeared in court today.

Garish Tsamvi (28) of Domboshava admitted to reckless driving when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Yeukai Dzuda.

Tsamvi hit and injured the people on August 17 in a skidding stunt that went wrong at the corner of Rezende Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue.

He is expected back in court tomorrow for his plea recording.

Mr Anesu Chirenje prosecuted.

— Herald

Tinashe Sambiri| CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba has challenged the Zanu PF regime to release jailed party members with immediate effect.

According to Siziba, Job Wiwa Sikhala, Godfrey Karakadzai Sithole and the Nyatsime activists are victims of the regime’s brutality.

Siziba argues the incarceration of Wiwa and the Nyatsime activists is a reflection of Zanu PF desperate measures to thwart the people’s struggle.

See Siziba’s statement:

Job Wiwa Sikhala is a political prisoner. He has been in jail together with other 15 prisoners.

The regime has weaponized the law against its opponent. The abuse of the courts and judiciary to settle political scores is the problem.

I was taken aback to all the arrests that we have endured under the system since 1999.

I was once abducted, tortured and arrested together with Promise Mkwananzi Makomborero Haruzivishe and others.
We stayed in illegal detention for more that 3 months.

The regime wanted us down and out!

That’s their modus operendi.

We refused! We fought and we are still fighting!
There’s no struggle without bruises, there’s no struggle without pain.

They use pre-trial detention to break the spirit of Activists, saw division in the trenches and sponsor cynicism.

Now we have become more clever and ahead in our programming and think-tanking.

It this struggle we forge ahead no matter what.

Never dither, never waiver, never surrender!

Our task is to

1. Increase the cost of authoritarian rule
2. Resist any attempts to be co-opted
3. Guard our zones of autonomy
4. Continue to create a credible Alternative.

Until then we fight on!

FreeWiwa

FreeSithole

FreeNyatsime16

The father of one of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commissioners, Kembo Mohadi, who is on a countrywide tour to meet chiefs, headmen and village heads, has pleaded with them to support the ruling party.

On Sunday, the ZANU PF second secretary visited Gokwe South, where he addressed chiefs, headmen and village heads, telling them that the country only has one party called Zanu PF.

Several Gokwe Zanu PF legislators attended the event which was snubbed by Gokwe-Kana legislator and former State Security minister Owen “Mudha” Ncube. Public Service minister Paul Mavhima arrived late when the master of ceremony Tawanda Karikoga, who is the Zanu PF district chairperson, had already acknowledged his absence.

Mohadi, who resigned after messy sex scandals, said: “Please we are asking you our chiefs, headmen and village heads to develop your organisation (Zanu PF). Zanu PF is your party, did you know that? Know it from today that Zanu PF is your party. We want to fight this war against the West fronted opposition.

“Zanu PF liberated this country. Did you know that this party is yours? We want you to increase the number of people to vote Zanu PF. Did you hear we want five million votes next year? We want them to vote for Zanu PF and through you, we know we will achieve that.”

While claiming that some chiefs, headmen and village heads were afraid to express their allegiance to Zanu PF, Mohadi told the traditional leaders that some unnamed people would be coming to the villages to work with them registering all villagers in Zanu PF books.

“This is your party and we want you to forgive those who come back to Zanu PF. We are asking you forgiveness again that our children will come to work with you in your areas to organise you in your areas, so please accept them,” the former Vice-President said.

“We want every village head to give us people we will check according to your register … If we are organised, we will rule until the donkeys have horns. Some opposition said we had done a coup and that we are a military government, but we don’t care.”

He warned village heads against registering the identity documents of people who were dead and those in the diaspora to hoodwink the party that it had supporters.

Turning to factional fights in the ruling party, he declared: “VaMavhima siyanai nenyaya ye (Cde Mavhima, stop fomenting) factionalism. I said Mavhima because he is the leader of the district.”

The previous day, Mohadi had addressed chiefs, village heads and headmen in Gokwe North. Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa is expected to address thousands of party supporters in Gokwe on Thursday.

CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba said in a brief statement on Saturday:

“Going rural!
Fellow Citizens in Gokwe.
This coming Thursday we will present the Alternative.
Be there!!!”

A CCC official said at the weekend:

” We are the alternative, nobody can stop the wave of change.

Guns and tankers cannot stop the wave of change.”

As the fraud accused ZANU PF MP Justice Wadyajena was granted bail, CCC members Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole, who are charged with obstructing the course of justice, yesterday lost their latest bail bid.

This was based on what they argued were changed circumstances, after a Harare magistrate dismissed their application saying nothing essential had changed since their initial court appearance.
Harare regional magistrate Mrs Feresi Chakanyuka dismissed the application after noting that there were no changed circumstances from June 17 when they first made a bail application which was turned down.

Sikhala and Sithole, through their lawyers Mr Jeremiah Bamu and Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, had mounted a fresh bail bid based on the passage of time and the fact that Sikhala had not been posting videos. ZimLive, an online news portal, had written a letter confirming that Sikhala had not posted a video on the online platform.

The two had also told the court that there were other people who were arrested for causing the violence that occurred in Nyatsime following the killing of Moreblessing Ali, whom they said supported their party.

The area was flooded with rumours that she went missing in a political attack, but it was found later that she had been grabbed and killed by a former boyfriend.

In their application, they had argued that some owners of the trucks that the State alleges were hired by Sithole were also arrested in connection with the violence.

The State led by Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti had opposed the application saying there was nothing that was placed before the court that warrants them to be released on bail.

In her ruling, Mrs Chakanyuka dismissed the application and the letter which Sikhala and Sithole said was written by ZimLive.

Mrs Chakanyuka said it was impossible for the court to make a finding on a document that was not placed before it.

“The court cannot make a finding on a document that is in the air,” she said.

Mrs Chakanyuka said the fact that there are other suspects arrested in connection with the same incident was not ample ground that warrants Sikhala and Sithole to be granted bail.

“It is the court’s view that those arguments do not amount to an exceptional circumstance because it does not work in favour of the applicants,” she said.

Mr Mutsokoti then applied that the two return to court on August 29 while waiting for their trial scheduled for November 15.

Mr Bamu opposed the application demanding that they be remanded straight to the trial date, which should be within 14 days.

He argued that the November 15 date was too far, claiming that it was in violation of their constitutional right to be tried within the shortest possible time.

In reply, Mr Mutsokoti said the trial date does not violate the two’s constitutional rights.

The court ordered Sikhala and Sithole to return to court today for ruling on Mr Bamu’s opposing submissions. —Herald

Helga Mubaiwa, mother to VP Constantino Chiwenga’s former wife, Marry Mubaiwa, has opened up on her daughter’s ordeal saying she is surviving through God’s grace as she goes through a very rough patch.
Marry, who is bed-ridden, has been dragged to court on allegations of forging her marriage to Chiwenga, plotting to kill the VP while he was sick and admitted at a hospital in South Africa, money laundering and assaulting her maid, among several other allegations.

She was issued with a warrant of arrest for failing to climb the court stairs to attend a hearing after she came to court in an ambulance. She was later wheeled into court on a stretcher.

She is suffering from cancer, which has severely affected her arms and legs.

Helga told Alpha Media Holdings’ Heart & Soul Television (HStv) last Thursday during the Freetalk programme that her daughter was being victimised as evidenced by the selective application of the law.

She said Marry, who is visibly sick was receiving harsh treatment from the courts.

“Currently, she is not feeling well. I can say she is critically ill; and she is not speaking. Even yesterday (last Wednesday) at court, she was in a wheelchair, she was drowsy and she didn’t even know where she was. But because we had to take her to court, we had to find means to do so,” Helga said.

“My daughter’s predicament is a difficult one; and seeing her in this helpless state breaks my heart. Her hand is, indeed, lifeless, but we couldn’t consent on her behalf. We are trying to talk to her to get it removed. She is not in the right state of mind. It is difficult even to persuade her to do so,” she said.

Marry’s mother said she felt let down by the country’s justice system as her daughter was being deprived of basic human rights.

“Every human being deserves the same treatment, rich or poor. For Marry, I don’t think she is getting enough fairness in everything,” she said.

Helga said they were unable to voice their plight because they were powerless, voiceless and helpless.

Before she lost favour with Chiwenga, and soon after he became VP, Marry was in the headlines for referring to her office as the office of the Second Lady of Zimbabwe.

Further asked about her daughter’s constitutional rights, Helga said: “I don’t know about that, and I don’t know whether there is anything of that sort. Marry is being treated differently and it’s difficult in her situation. There is some acknowledgement because they do not put her in the dock as usual; they just do the court proceedings while she is in the wheelchair, which means they know and acknowledge that she is not well.”

She said Marry currently had no source of income as her bank accounts were frozen and has no access to her businesses.

Helga feels that if Marry receives treatment outside the country, she may recover.

“I am sure going to South Africa would help. Doctors attending to her here have tried their best, but it is not enough,” she said.

Last week, opposition MPs grilled acting leader of the House in the National Assembly, Monica Mutsvangwa over Marry’s continued arraignment before the courts when she is visibly ill.

Mutsvangwa could not give a satisfactory answer.

Human rights groups and women pressure groups have been criticised for their silence on her ordeal. –Newsday

Finance and Economic Development ministry secretary George Guvamatanga yesterday failed to appear before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to explain government’s US$9,6 billion over-expenditure incurred between 2015 and 2018.
PAC requested Guvamatanga to explain the over-expenditure by government after the Finance ministry acting accountant general Edwin Zvandasara failed to answer questions raised in Parliament on August 14.

Yesterday, Guvamatanga failed again to appear before the committee, saying he needed more time to prepare responses.

He said he had been disturbed by the Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference, an event hosted by his ministry.

Yesterday, MPs in PAC requested that Guvamatanga be issued with summons to appear before them or face a charge of contempt of Parliament.

“The committee requested Guvamatanga to be here together with his team, but he has sent one official, which is an insult,” Marondera Central MP Caston Mateu charged.

“The information I got this morning is that he is away on business, which is why I then came,” Zvandasara said in response.

PAC chairperson Brian Dube then shot back at Zvandasara, saying: “That is the greatest insult ever. What business could be more important than coming before Parliament? The issue now is that we have to issue Guvamatanga with summons. We have told him before that he will be charged with contempt of Parliament. Summon him to appear before PAC next Monday.”

On July 25, Guvamatanga failed again to appear before PAC to explain the government over-expenditure.

“His last excuse was a fake one and he is not taking us seriously. Last time (July), he lied that he had been in contact with someone with COVID-19, but two days later, we saw him at a public function,” Kuwadzana East MP Chalton Hwende said.

In 2019, government brought before Parliament a Financial Adjustment Bill, which sought condonation for unapproved expenditure between 2015 and 2018, totalling US$9,6 billion.

According to the Bill, in 2015, Treasury exceeded the national budget by US$25 305 741, which surged to US$1 490 888 789 in 2016 and tripled to US$4 562 064 124 in 2017.

Government overshot the budget by US$3 560 343 130 in 2018.

The Bill was introduced in the National Assembly, but it never progressed to the Second Reading Stage.

It then lapsed in October 2020 when the 2019-20 parliamentary sessions ended.

The Finance ministry has also failed to provide the Auditor-General Mildred Chiri with the documents in relation to how the funds were used despite several requests.

Parliamentarians believe this is an attempt to sweep under the carpet. -Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa is expected to address thousands of party supporters in Gokwe on Thursday.

CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba said in a brief statement on Saturday:

“Going rural!
Fellow Citizens in Gokwe.
This coming Thursday we will present the Alternative.
Be there!!!”

A CCC official said at the weekend:

” We are the alternative, nobody can stop the wave of change.

Guns and tankers cannot stop the wave of change.”

Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime has confined CCC officials Hon Job Sikhala and Hon Godfrey Karakadzai Sithole to the ‘D’ Class Section at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

The ‘D’ class section is for dangerous criminals and lawyers argue the two do not deserve to be in the category.

According to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Hon Sikhala and Hon Sithole are being treated in a cruel and denigrating manner.

See ZHLR statement:

We have protested to ZPCS against the inhuman, cruel & degrading treatment of Hon. Job Sikhala & Hon. Godfrey Sithole who are constantly shackled in leg irons in prison & are sustaining bruises.

Some visitors are also being turned away when they bring food for Hon. Sikhala.

Our lawyers Rose Hanzi & Idirashe registered concern that Hon. Sikhala & Hon. Sithole are being detained in the “D” class section which is the detention section for dangerous & convicted criminals & yet the 2 legislators have not been convicted of any crime.

We want ZPCS to take corrective measures & detain the 2 in conditions that do not amount to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Several human rights defenders have been shackled & detained at the D Class section. D Class section is supposed to house Dangerous inmates (convicted of crimes) those facing serious charges like murder.

Detaining HRDs or political leaders at this section is tantamount to persecution.

lawyers @rose_hanzi & @IdirasheC registered concern that Hon.

Sikhala & Hon. Sithole are being detained in the “D” class section which is the detention section for dangerous & convicted criminals & yet the 2 legislators have not been convicted of any crime. We want @ZPCS_PR to

take corrective measures & detain the 2 in conditions that do not amount to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Tinashe Sambiri| The people of Zimbabwe have suffered for four decades under Zanu PF oppression.

The scenario can be compared to the biblical dispensation when the Israelites were oppressed by the Egyptians.

Making reference to the biblical situation, CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa assured the nation of the anticipated freedom from Zanu PF repression.

“THE CRIES HAVE BEEN HEARD…

And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me,and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them. Therefore, go!

I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.Exodus 3:9-10.

Blessed sabbath beloved! #Godisinit,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime has confined CCC officials Hon Job Sikhala and Hon Godfrey Karakadzai Sithole to the ‘D’ Class Section at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

The ‘D’ class section is for dangerous criminals and lawyers argue the two do not deserve to be in the category.

According to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Hon Sikhala and Hon Sithole are being treated in a cruel and denigrating manner.

See ZHLR statement:

We have protested to ZPCS against the inhuman, cruel & degrading treatment of Hon. Job Sikhala & Hon. Godfrey Sithole who are constantly shackled in leg irons in prison & are sustaining bruises.

Some visitors are also being turned away when they bring food for Hon. Sikhala.

Our lawyers Rose Hanzi & Idirashe registered concern that Hon. Sikhala & Hon. Sithole are being detained in the “D” class section which is the detention section for dangerous & convicted criminals & yet the 2 legislators have not been convicted of any crime.

We want ZPCS to take corrective measures & detain the 2 in conditions that do not amount to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Several human rights defenders have been shackled & detained at the D Class section. D Class section is supposed to house Dangerous inmates (convicted of crimes) those facing serious charges like murder.

Detaining HRDs or political leaders at this section is tantamount to persecution.

lawyers @rose_hanzi & @IdirasheC registered concern that Hon.

Sikhala & Hon. Sithole are being detained in the “D” class section which is the detention section for dangerous & convicted criminals & yet the 2 legislators have not been convicted of any crime. We want @ZPCS_PR to

take corrective measures & detain the 2 in conditions that do not amount to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Veteran sungura musician Somandla “Mafia” Ndebele, who fronts Denda Brothers, is disappointed because music piracy has left artistes poor.

Mafia, as he is popularly referred by his fans, bemoaned that while their profession was energy sapping, their sweats are being enjoyed by street vendors selling their music.

“Our biggest challenge as musicians is the issue of piracy,” Ndebele said.

“We have noted that almost 98% of our music is being sold in the street corners at giveaway prices making it hard for musicians to eke out a living from their sweat.

“One thing of great concern is that fake accounts of musicians are being created on social media, particularly on YouTube and Facebook without the musician’s knowledge.”

The 50-year-old musician added: “My wish is that government should intervene and put a stop to all those selling CDs in the street so that they can save the music industry which is slowly disintegrating due to the effect of the ravaging piracy. If this is done at least musicians can earn a living.”

As a way of showing his anger towards piracy, Ndebele released an album which he named Kurimira Hanga.

Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) executive director Polisile Ncube-Chimhini said selling CDs on the streets was illegal.

“Piracy is copyright infringement and it is not confined to the illegal reproduction and sale of pirated discs. It also includes broadcasting music, public performance of music without the authority of the copyright owner,” Ncube-Chimhini said.

“Zimura discourages its clients from using pirated music, we tell them what pirated music is and how they can play music publicly without committing piracy.

“Hence, you will find that most of our clients are no longer using pirated discs but playing via streaming channels.

“We educate our clients against such practices during our licensing activities and through workshops being conducted countrywide, artists are also taught about their rights, that way they can identify and claim ownership of their works where they are pirated and seek redress.”

The Denda Brothers frontman is set to release his 25th album in September that is yet to be named.

“I am planning to release a new six-track album in September, but I haven’t got the title as of now,” he said.

“The album is mainly about social life and I expect it to be a better project than my previous productions.”

The Kwekwe-born and now Dzivaresekwa-based musician started his musical career with Wiriranai Sounds in 1986 where he was the band leader.

He released seven-single such as Chido Chemoyo flip side Mandiomesera (1988), Baba Vevana flip side Nhamo Dzakasiyana (1989) and Phumzile flip side Vakawanda Vakarambana.

However, Ndebele decided to change the name of his band Wiriranai Sounds to Denda Brothers.

“In 1992 I changed my band to Denda Brothers meaning a long spell of illness, therefore, I took it upon myself that my love for music was like that of a sick person with a very long illness which has prolonged for too long, hence the name Denda came into mind,” he said.

“In that same year I released my first album Ndingazviite Sei and the video using the name Denda Brothers and the rest is now history.”

To date Mafia has channelled out 24 great albums such as Ngatifare, Marwadzo, Kuvaka Musha, Zvamauya Zvanaka and Mwoyo Wekurera that he did with Tongai Moyo just to mention a few.

Credit: The Standard

Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime has confined CCC officials Hon Job Sikhala and Hon Godfrey Karakadzai Sithole to the ‘D’ Class Section at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

The ‘D’ class section is for dangerous criminals and lawyers argue the two do not deserve to be in the category.

According to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Hon Sikhala and Hon Sithole are being treated in a cruel and denigrating manner.

See ZHLR statement:

We have protested to ZPCS against the inhuman, cruel & degrading treatment of Hon. Job Sikhala & Hon. Godfrey Sithole who are constantly shackled in leg irons in prison & are sustaining bruises.

Some visitors are also being turned away when they bring food for Hon. Sikhala.

Our lawyers Rose Hanzi & Idirashe registered concern that Hon. Sikhala & Hon. Sithole are being detained in the “D” class section which is the detention section for dangerous & convicted criminals & yet the 2 legislators have not been convicted of any crime.

We want ZPCS to take corrective measures & detain the 2 in conditions that do not amount to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Several human rights defenders have been shackled & detained at the D Class section. D Class section is supposed to house Dangerous inmates (convicted of crimes) those facing serious charges like murder.

Detaining HRDs or political leaders at this section is tantamount to persecution.

lawyers @rose_hanzi & @IdirasheC registered concern that Hon.

Sikhala & Hon. Sithole are being detained in the “D” class section which is the detention section for dangerous & convicted criminals & yet the 2 legislators have not been convicted of any crime. We want @ZPCS_PR to

take corrective measures & detain the 2 in conditions that do not amount to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Bulawayo residents and CBD shop owners have gathered at City Hall to protest over the US$1/hour parking charges which they say are throttling businesses operating in the CBD and are unaffordable for many

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

ZEC has no powers to make such fundamental decisions on who participates in elections, says Madhuku pic.twitter.com/7wZTWeaDkk

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 22, 2022

MDC president, Douglas Mwonzora, has sprang to defend underfire Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for pegging exorbitant candidates fees for the crunch 2023 harmonised elections, describing the move as “justified.”

Gazetted last week, Statutory Instrument (SI) 144 of 2022, prescribes those aspiring to hold office of president to fork out US$20 000 payable in cash or at the prevailing official rate equivalent.

Members of Parliament (MP) contestants will now be asked to pay US$1,000, Senate and Local Authorities US$100 with the same figure paid for election observation.

In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com in Kwekwe at the weekend, Mwonzora said the new fees structure was necessary to decongest the ballot paper with “pretenders.”

“Our ballot paper must be short considering that in 2018 we had 23 presidential candidates, and that’s a challenge. In Kenya they dealt with this issue by creating coalitions,” Mwonzora said.

The exorbitant fees, he added, would bar opportunists from contesting in future polls.

“In Zimbabwe some people think that being a candidate is a way to fundraise. Therefore, by raising aspirants fees is a way of trimming (number of) candidates.

“If you have support enough that you can be a president, party members will be able to fundraise and even raise donations and those monies for parliamentary candidates must be enough. If not it means you are wasting people’s time. This is, indeed, a good development.

“Others have said this will shut out poor candidates, but the money is not coming from individual pockets, its coming from the party. If you do not have 20 000 supporters and you want to be President for which country?” he said rhetorically.

ZEC has also moved to charge US$10 for an electronic copy of the voters’ roll with data on one polling station voters, US$15 for the ward level voters’ roll, US$50 for the constituency voters’ roll, US$150 for the provincial voters’ roll and US$200 for the national voters’ roll.

-NewZimbabwe.com

Tinashe Sambiri| The people of Zimbabwe have suffered for four decades under Zanu PF oppression.

The scenario can be compared to the biblical dispensation when the Israelites were oppressed by the Egyptians.

Making reference to the biblical situation, CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa assured the nation of the anticipated freedom from Zanu PF repression.

“THE CRIES HAVE BEEN HEARD…

And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me,and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them. Therefore, go!

I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.Exodus 3:9-10.

Blessed sabbath beloved! #Godisinit,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri| CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba has challenged the Zanu PF regime to release jailed party members with immediate effect.

According to Siziba, Job Wiwa Sikhala, Godfrey Karakadzai Sithole and the Nyatsime activists are victims of the regime’s brutality.

Siziba argues the incarceration of Wiwa and the Nyatsime activists is a reflection of Zanu PF desperate measures to thwart the people’s struggle.

See Siziba’s statement:

Job Wiwa Sikhala is a political prisoner. He has been in jail together with other 15 prisoners.

The regime has weaponized the law against its opponent. The abuse of the courts and judiciary to settle political scores is the problem.

I was taken aback to all the arrests that we have endured under the system since 1999.

I was once abducted, tortured and arrested together with Promise Mkwananzi Makomborero Haruzivishe and others.
We stayed in illegal detention for more that 3 months.

The regime wanted us down and out!

That’s their modus operendi.

We refused! We fought and we are still fighting!
There’s no struggle without bruises, there’s no struggle without pain.

They use pre-trial detention to break the spirit of Activists, saw division in the trenches and sponsor cynicism.

Now we have become more clever and ahead in our programming and think-tanking.

It this struggle we forge ahead no matter what.

Never dither, never waiver, never surrender!

Our task is to

1. Increase the cost of authoritarian rule
2. Resist any attempts to be co-opted
3. Guard our zones of autonomy
4. Continue to create a credible Alternative.

Until then we fight on!

FreeWiwa

FreeSithole

FreeNyatsime16

FULL TEXT: It is part of the law for ZEC to charge and receive fees for nomination court to support the electoral processes and candidates to show commitment to the offices they are contesting for.

S.I 144 of 2022

The @ZECzim was previously issuing voters rolls for local authority for free to council candidates , support MPLCs , Conduct Nomination etc. Surely USD100 is fair for the public office for councilors and Senate.

How will one administer the budgets/allocated devolution funds at council if their only qualification & commitment is that they are 18 years old and a Zimbabwean citizen?
It’s important for @ZECzim to promote integrity of the electoral processes which includes the candidates.

To be a councilor the law is clear that you must not be financially insolvent.

Those vying for public office must show commitment as the integrity of our electoral processes are not independent of the integrity of the candidates. This is best practice not only in Zimbabwe.

Surely if you want everyone to be a candidate including chancers that does not enhance democracy and good governance. Check other countries on requirements to run for public office.-Jasper Mangwana, ZEC Spokesperson

A KNIFE-wielding man reportedly tracked his estranged wife who had fled their matrimonial home and stabbed her all over the body in broad daylight on Sunday on the streets of Rusape while their four-year-old son watched helplessly.

Police confirmed the death of Ms Tariro Mutumbami (22) of Mutumbami Village under Chief Marange at the hands of her husband, Taurai Nyanga (27).

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Nobert Muzondo said Ms Mutumbami secretly left her matrimonial home at Claire Compound in Odzi last week.

“She went to Rusape to look for employment at Chitowa Farm. Last week on Saturday, Nyanga phoned Ms Mutumbami and asked her whereabouts. Ms Mutumbami then directed Nyanga to Chitowa Farm,” said Insp Muzondo.

He added: “On Sunday, Nyanga travelled to Rusape and found Ms Mutumbami seated with another man whom he suspected to be her boyfriend at the corner of Silverbow Road and Mbuya Nehanda Street.

“The suspected boyfriend fled from the scene. Nyanga then dragged Ms Mutumbami for about five metres. He tripped her to the ground and sat on her back. He stabbed her several times with an Okapi knife while their minor child watched. She died on the spot,” said Insp Muzondo.

After realising that he had committed murder, Nyanga sought to run away, but onlookers gave chase and effected a citizen’s arrest. The public disarmed him before handing him over to the police.

Ms Mutumbami’s body was conveyed to Rusape General Hospital for post-mortem. Nyanga has since appeared in court facing murder charges and was not asked to plead. He appeared before Rusape magistrate, Mr Obedience Matare who remanded him in custody to August 30.

Mr Matare advised him to apply for bail at the High Court. Prosecutor, Mr Justice Masanganise said Nyanga stabbed Ms Mutumbami several times on the head, twice on the neck, once on the left jaw, once on the right ear, once on the left arm pit and once on the forearm.

— Manica Post

A fleet of haulage trucks belonging to the Member of Parliament for Gokwe-Nembudziya, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, through his company Mayor Logistics, can now be seized by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and held pending the outcome of a fraud trial of Wadyajena and four top Cotton Company of Zimbabwe managers or an associated civil action.
In addition to the 22 trucks listed in the court order permitting the seizure, the same order allows ZACC to hold two luxury cars, a Lamborghini and BMW X6, temporarily held by Beitbridge authorities on Friday while they were on their way to South Africa.

The five are accused of diverting Cottco money meant to buy bale ties to buying the trucks now allegedly being used by Wadyajena. But the trucks and other assets now being sought and seized are more likely to be forfeited to the State in a separate civil application under a law meant to reclaim assets acquired through unlawful activity.

While criminal charges have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt, civil proceedings are decided on the balance of probabilities and the difference has seen assets forfeited even when there is no successful criminal prosecution.

The assets facing seizure are 22 haulage trucks and the two luxury cars allegedly bought with funds diverted from Cottco. At the weekend, ZACC obtained a warrant of search and seizure of these assets belonging to Mayor Logistics from Harare magistrate Ms Barbara Mateko.

Wadyajena was arrested last week along with four Cottco top executives: Pious Manamike (54), Maxmore Njanji (47), Fortunate Maloi (34) and Chiedza Danha (39). The five were arrested on charges of fraud and money laundering involving US$5 million of Cottco money.

According to the warrant granted to ZACC, the managing director of Mayor Logistics (Pvt) Ltd and Wadyajena or any other person in authority or control of the vehicles are ordered to release them to Victor Masimba, an investigating officer from ZACC.

National Prosecuting Authority prosecutor Ms Audrey Chogumaira, in her ex parte application, told the magistrate that there is likelihood of dissipation of the trucks considering the fact that Wadyajena has now appeared in court and might abscond from Zimbabwe, despite his bail conditions that include $200 000 bail and the surrender of his title deeds and his passport.

She said the haulage trucks which allegedly constitute proceeds of crime are now used on transborder business hence they were likely to be shipped out of Zimbabwe to foreign countries especially South Africa where they will be difficult to repatriate to Zimbabwe.

“The criminal investigations underway revolve around fraud and laundering of the specified movable property hence the need for seizure of the same by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission pending further processes in terms of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crimes Act, and most specifically the civil confiscation to be sought within that period by the applicant,” she stated in her papers.

“The purpose of this property seizure order is to preserve the said property from dissipation or alienation pending investigations into allegations of fraud and money laundering.”

This order will remain in force until the criminal proceedings and civil confiscation proceedings by the National Prosecuting Authority against Wadyajena and his company are terminated unless varied or revoked by a court order.

Last week, Wadyajena and his accomplices were granted $200 000 bail each by a Harare regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambaje who ordered them to surrender the title deeds to their personal properties as surety.

Wadyajena and the Cottco bosses are alleged to have converted money which was meant for the importation of bale ties and bought the trucks through Mayor Logistics, where Wadyajena is believed to be a director, and allegedly diverted a second order for ties to energy companies.

In his bail ruling, Mr Mambanje said the State, through ZACC investigating officer Mr Arthur Murambiza, failed to place before the court a compelling reason that warrants continued detention of Wadyajena and the Cottco bosses, who are all expected back in court on September 8.

In another case involving assets, the NPA has obtained unexplained wealth orders at the High Court against former Finance and Economic Development Ministry official Marcos Nyaruwanga and traditional healer Ester Mutesvu to explain how they have acquired their assets, which are suspected to have been bought through ill-gotten proceeds.

According to the order against Nyaruwanga, he is asked to give a sworn statement to the head of ZACC’s Asset Forfeiture Recovery Unit, explaining how he acquired his Hatfield property plus five top-of-the range Mercedes Benz vehicles, five Toyota vehicles, a Honda Accord, a BMW320i and a Nissan Murano.

In the order, Nyaruwanga is required to give details of the costs incurred in obtaining the listed assets and produce all the supporting documents and receipts showing proof of legitimate business and source of income for their acquisition.

In the case of Mutesvu, the NPA have sought an order barring her from disposing her assets comprising a house at Aspindale Park in Harare bought for US$58 000, a Toyota Hiace bought for US$10 200 and a Toyota Axio bought for US$4 600, plus all her household property until the criminal matter in which she is being prosecuted for money laundering has been finally disposed of.

According to the order, in the event that the criminal trial of Mutesvu is concluded, the terms of the order will remain in force until the application for confiscation of the listed property has been disposed of or until the terms of the order have been varied by a court order.

Mutesvu is also required to give a sworn statement setting out the commercial use and such income derived from the property or dealings with the property by her from the day of acquisition of such property to date. -Herald

A KNIFE-wielding man reportedly tracked his estranged wife who had fled their matrimonial home and stabbed her all over the body in broad daylight on Sunday on the streets of Rusape while their four-year-old son watched helplessly.

Police confirmed the death of Ms Tariro Mutumbami (22) of Mutumbami Village under Chief Marange at the hands of her husband, Taurai Nyanga (27).

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Nobert Muzondo said Ms Mutumbami secretly left her matrimonial home at Claire Compound in Odzi last week.

“She went to Rusape to look for employment at Chitowa Farm. Last week on Saturday, Nyanga phoned Ms Mutumbami and asked her whereabouts. Ms Mutumbami then directed Nyanga to Chitowa Farm,” said Insp Muzondo.

He added: “On Sunday, Nyanga travelled to Rusape and found Ms Mutumbami seated with another man whom he suspected to be her boyfriend at the corner of Silverbow Road and Mbuya Nehanda Street.

“The suspected boyfriend fled from the scene. Nyanga then dragged Ms Mutumbami for about five metres. He tripped her to the ground and sat on her back. He stabbed her several times with an Okapi knife while their minor child watched. She died on the spot,” said Insp Muzondo.

After realising that he had committed murder, Nyanga sought to run away, but onlookers gave chase and effected a citizen’s arrest. The public disarmed him before handing him over to the police.

Ms Mutumbami’s body was conveyed to Rusape General Hospital for post-mortem. Nyanga has since appeared in court facing murder charges and was not asked to plead. He appeared before Rusape magistrate, Mr Obedience Matare who remanded him in custody to August 30.

Mr Matare advised him to apply for bail at the High Court. Prosecutor, Mr Justice Masanganise said Nyanga stabbed Ms Mutumbami several times on the head, twice on the neck, once on the left jaw, once on the right ear, once on the left arm pit and once on the forearm.

— Manica Post

Former Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) captain and chaplain at Mbalabala Barracks, who was wrongly jailed for six years for theft of a vehicle belonging to businessman Osfael Mazibuko says his business crumbled when he was rotting in jail.
Solomon Ndlovu (52) was in January 2018 convicted of theft of a motor vehicle by Beitbridge regional magistrate Mark Dzira after a full trial.

He was sentenced to six years in jail, with two months suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. A further five months were suspended on condition he restituted Mazibuko US$2 500, leaving him with an effective 65 months to serve.

Ndlovu, through his lawyer Abel Ndlovu of Dube and Associates, filed an appeal at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as respondent.

The lawyers submitted that Dzira erred and misdirected himself by attaching a criminal liability to the former army captain arguing that the agreement was a civil matter. The State did not oppose the application that both the conviction and sentence were improper.

Two High Court judges, Justices Maxwell Takuva and Thompson Mabhikwa, on September 16, 2019, set aside both conviction and sentence, and acquitted Ndlovu after serving one year and eight months at Khami Maximum Security Prison in Bulawayo.

Last week, Ndlovu said his prison tenure was a nightmare which resulted in multiple losses.

“If it was not for this false criminal case, I could have gone very far with life. But this case grounded and destroyed all my plans. Everyone thought I was out and done with, including my wife who even refused to take me back when I was released thinking that this matter will come back again.

“People looted my farm — Mjinge Conservancy in Mwenezi, Masvingo which Mazibuko had also snatched and I repossessed it through the courts. My farm house was vandalised and I lost cattle,” Ndlovu said.

He said despite the High Court application which was granted on farm possession, Mazibuko appealed to the Supreme Court, a development stalling his farming projects.- Newsday

CIASA STATEMENT ON ILLICIT MINING ACTIVITIES IN PROTECTED AREAS

The issue of focus for this communique is the recent explosion in illicit mining activities within protected areas which has led to the escalation in Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in the Chipinge District of Manicaland, Zimbabwe. This is home to the Ndau Indigenous people who represent a small minority in the country. There has been an upsurge in Human Wildlife Conflict due to illegal diamond mining activities in and around wildlife conservancies, degrading and destroying the natural habitat for large mammals like elephants and driving out of the reserves, animals which serve as food to carnivores like lions. The degradation is a direct result of the unsafe mining methods used by the illegal miners. Cyclone Idai and the following El Nino induced cyclones in the district have been responsible for the destruction and sweeping away of the perimeter fences of the wildlife conservancies allowing seamless migration of wildlife from their conservancies to human settlements. Both large mammals and carnivores have preyed upon human settlements and affected household economic activity with women being the hardest hit. It is worth noting that Chipinge is surrounded by several game reserves including Chipinge Safari area, Devuli Ranch, Save Conservancy amongst other smaller and/or private game reserves.

Chief amongst the effects of the proliferation of illicit mining in conservancies is the disturbance of the natural habitat for large mammals and predatory animals. Secondly, unregulated human settlement has also attributed to the destruction of animal habitats within protected areas and thus making them vulnerable to the elements, hunger and starvation. This then pushes the animals out of the conservancies and into human settlement and farming areas destroying life and crops with a disproportionate inclination of victims being women.

As such, we call upon the relevant stakeholders to work with the local communities to create social fencing interventions. Without community participation in environmental protection activities, there is no community benefit and as such, adjacent communities ought to play a bigger role in monitoring illegal mining activities and reporting whilst equally raising early warning systems in case of wildlife straying towards human settlement.

In the same vein, the Environmental Management Agency, Parks and Wildlife, Forestry Commission and all key stakeholders in the environment sector be capacited by central government to effectively execute the their mandate in the protection and promotion of their target Protected areas for effective environmental management.

Tadiwanashe Jude Temba
Chairperson: Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Committe
Citizens In Action Southern Africa

This is President Emmerson Mnangagwa's biological brother Steven. He is the 3rd born in his family and the one born after ED. He stays in Bikita "Forgotten and neglected in Bikita. Ko iwewewo zvako murakashi" – @GodieTsenengamu pic.twitter.com/18BjoQoq6i

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 20, 2022