A Zimbabwean court has criticised some Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers and ruled that foul play could have been committed which led to the death of Sharai Mukaro, a Chivhu woman.

Mukaro, a mother of two, died in September 2021 from injuries sustained as a result of the severe assault and torture inflicted upon her by Detective Steven Dondo and some police officers in a “Darkroom” at Chivhu Police Station, where she was detained after being accused of stealing US$1 000.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights report that on 30 March 2022, Chivhu Magistrate Henry Sande began presiding over an inquiry to establish the cause of death of Mukaro.

Detective Dondo testified and claimed that Mukaro’s husband Pastor Abinel Mukaro had told him that she had some heart problems.

However, three witnesses namely Pastor Mukaro, the deceased’s husband, her daughter Ivy Mukaro and Pastor Mukaro’s workmate Pastor Nelson Chirambadare, told the court that Sharai was assaulted under her feet by ZRP officers while in police custody.

According to a medical report, the cause of the death of Sharai was a result of blood clots and indicated that several blows were inflicted upon her.

The inquest was only instituted after Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights issued a notice of intention to sue Detective Dondo, ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Hon. Kazembe Kazembe.

In the notice of intention to sue, Chinopfukutwa stated that Dondo fatally assaulted Mukaro after having threatened to kill her.

Chinopfukutwa protested that the conduct of police officers who tortured Mukaro to death is a breach of the constitutional obligation of the Police Service to protect and secure the lives of Zimbabwean citizens as provided for under Section 219(1)(c) of the Constitution.

The human rights lawyer also formally requested that the criminal investigations on the death of the deceased which were being handled by police officers from Chivhu Police Station be conducted by law enforcement agents from another police station.

He said he does not reasonably expect police officers at Chivhu Police Station to investigate themselves and accord justice to his clients, who are Pastor Mukaro and Ivy.

On Friday 8 July 2022, Magistrate Sande found that there is a possibility of foul play having been committed by some ZRP officers which led to the death of Mukaro.

Magistrate Sande ruled that there is a likelihood that the late Mukaro was assaulted by some police officers based at the Criminal Investigations Department at ZRP Chivhu Police Station.

The Magistrate noted that investigations to ascertain the death of Mukaro were done unprocedurally as they had been conducted by the same ZRP officers stationed at Chivhu Police Station who are being implicated in causing the death of the late Chivhu woman and hence the probe must be done by police officers outside Mashonaland East province.

Magistrate Sande, who noted that according to the testimony of the medical doctor, assault under the soles of feet was done to conceal evidence of assault, said there is need to investigate if the offence of culpable homicide was not committed.-
Pindula News

Patricia Kadzire (not her real name) arrives at the local clinic carrying a small bag of grain millet on her head.
Kadzire, a mother of two, is accompanied by her sister and aunt lest she encounters danger on her way to Chiwenga Clinic, which is several kilometres from their village in Mudzimu.

She intends to barter trade her millet for healthcare services.

Resorting to the age-old barter trade is helping hundreds of villagers who cannot afford paying cash or are uninsured at local clinics in most parts of Muzarabani district.

While it is government policy to provide free maternal health services, most public health facilities across the country are charging a “nominal fee” to keep them going.

Given the country’s general poor economic performance coupled by the ailing agro-industry, healthcare facilities in Muzarabani have turned to barter trade as a stop-gap measure for the down-trodden villagers.

Although historically barter trade was common among villagers, it was unusual for government services to be paid with grain, chickens or goats, among others.

“Some of us don’t have the money that the clinic might require, so they ask us to bring grain in order to get medical assistance,” Kadzire said.

“I think that way, it makes medical services affordable for most of us because in these communities, the currencies in circulation are the United States dollars and the Mozambican metical.”

Chiwenga ward is on the fringes of Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique and the clinic also serves a number of patients from across Tete province in the neighbouring country.

According to a poster on the walls of the clinic, one can get medical assistance after parting away with a gallon of sorghum/millet or two gallons of maize.

The clinic’s sister-in-charge Vimbai Muguti confirmed to NewsDay that they were bartering because most villagers were struggling to get cash.

“We realised most of our patients have grain and do not have cash, so we ask them to bring grain,” she said.

“We collect the grain and resell it in bulk. The money is used for the day-to-day running of the clinic.”

Chiwenga health centre committee chairperson Israel Mutombo said the idea of bartering was meant to cushion both sides — the patient and the health centre.

“It was the idea of the committee after realising that things were not looking good and we wanted to keep our institution going,” Mutombo said.

“Our clinic faces a number of challenges ranging from furniture to resource constraints due to the big catchment area that it serves. Some people would die at home or they sold their livestock for a song to raise that nominal fee charged by the clinic and we decided to barter to cushion them.”

Many villagers are now seeking help at the clinic ever since the introduction of bartering.

However, the health centre, which caters for close to 7 795 people in Muzarabani’s wards 23 and 24, as well as parts of Tete province in Mozambique, faces a number of challenges.

“Our catchment area is too big for such a small health centre and this strains the resources we have. We also need an ambulance to ferry patients to the referral hospital at St Albert’s, a hundred kilometres away. We have received a lot of support on malaria programmes, but as a community, we should also act in curbing such diseases by properly using mosquito nets and also filling up gullies where mosquitoes breed,” Mutombo explained.

Muzarabani North legislator Zhemu Soda (Zanu PF) said efforts were being made to decongest the health centres by setting up health posts across all wards.

“Our clinics are few and people have to walk long distances, so as government, we are building what we call health posts in the wards. For instance in Kairezi ward, we have a health post that is almost complete,” Soda said.

“The idea to decentralise health service is meant to ease pressure on the few clinics that we have in the constituency. The other problem is that Muzarabani does not have a district hospital and very sick patients are referred to St Albert’s, which is owned by missionaries. We are contemplating building a district hospital at Muzarabani centre to cater for referred patients from this part of the district,” he added.

Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said the policy of free public sector healthcare at rural clinics was still in force.

“Pregnant women, children under five years and adults over 65 years are also fee-exempt up to district level,” Rusike said.

“Poor people have, thus, faced a variety of de facto cost barriers such as transport costs, private purchases of medicines due to drug stock-outs and non-functioning exemption schemes. Barter trade for health care using grain will create serious logistical challenges to the health facilities and the communities in terms of costing, storage and accountability.

“The advent of the new Constitution means that the government of Zimbabwe, as the guarantor, must commit to health as a human right and mobilise domestic resources to fund a health benefit that is accessible to all.”

Rusike also pointed out that there has been a shift in the region towards abolition of user fees, with evidence that this was proving more successful when accompanied by increased investment in primary and district level services.

Defence and War Veterans Affairs minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri bemoaned the obsolete equipment and furniture at Chiwenga Clinic.

“Please Honourable MP [Soda], you need to mobilise resources, especially furniture and equipment for this clinic because what I saw in the maternity ward is not pleasing at all,” she said. -Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|President Hakainde Hichilema’s UNDP party has challenged Zanu PF to release political prisoners with immediate effect.

Zambia’s ruling party spokesperson, Joseph Kalimbwe described the presecution of Hon Job Sikhala and Hon Godfrey Sithole by the Harare regime as shocking.

“Job Sikhala, Godfrey Sithole, Dee Nauyoma, Michael Amushelelo must be home with those they love. We will never get tired of making these calls on all of our Joseph Kalimbwe social media accounts until these African comrades are home !!!

A country with the most literate population in the region should never have to see its citizens be humiliated, despised and called foreigners in other lands. It must rebuild itself up, give Mukomana a chance,” said Kalimbwe.

Tinashe Sambiri|President Hakainde Hichilema’s UNDP party has challenged Zanu PF to release political prisoners with immediate effect.

Zambia’s ruling party spokesperson, Joseph Kalimbwe described the presecution of Hon Job Sikhala and Hon Godfrey Sithole by the Harare regime as shocking.

“Job Sikhala, Godfrey Sithole, Dee Nauyoma, Michael Amushelelo must be home with those they love. We will never get tired of making these calls on all of our Joseph Kalimbwe social media accounts until these African comrades are home !!!

A country with the most literate population in the region should never have to see its citizens be humiliated, despised and called foreigners in other lands. It must rebuild itself up, give Mukomana a chance,” said Kalimbwe.

An abusive Tsholotsho man reportedly committed suicide by hanging after allegedly stabbing his estranged wife and her mother.
Qiniso Ndlovu (42) of Dzonsi Line, under Chief Matupula was married to Ms Simamele Moyo (34) Matemaganu line in neighbouring Chief Tategulu area for 14 years.

Ms Moyo reportedly endured an abusive marriage for 14 years, her family said.

Sadly, like a tragic movie script, the over a decade customary union ended with two people in hospital and another dead.

Ms Moyo and her mother Ms Rosemary Moyo (63) are battling for life at Tsholotsho District Hospital where they were rushed to after Ndlovu, who could not stomach the fact that she had left him, followed her to her parents’ place and stabbed the two.

Ndlovu fled from the scene after the assault and was found hanging from a tree on Sunday, as police hunted him for attempted murder.

The couple had two children and stayed with the eldest daughter aged 14, while the other one resides with a relative in Bulawayo.

Acting police spokesperson for Matabeleland North Assistant Inspector Namatirai Mashona confirmed the attack on the two survivors and death of Ndlovu.

Circumstances are that sometime in June the couple had a misunderstanding and Ms Moyo took their daughter and she went to stay with her parents.

On Friday, Ndlovu reportedly followed and upon arrival he found her in a bedroom hut with her mother.

“He confronted her over the custody of their daughter and a misunderstanding arose between the two. He drew an okapi knife from his pocket and stabbed his wife twice on the right shoulder and twice on the back,” said Assistant Inspector Mashona.

She said Ndlovu allegedly turned the heat on his mother-in-law when she tried to refrain him from further assaulting her daughter.

He allegedly stabbed her twice on the left hand, once on the head and she fell down.

Ms Moyo managed to escape and sought refuge at a neighbour’s homestead leaving her husband attacking her mother.

Ndlovu bolted out of the bedroom hut and fled from the scene when he heard people approaching.

Ms Moyo sustained a deep cut on the right shoulder and on the back and her condition is stable while her mother is in critical condition.

Assistant Inspector Mashona said Ndlovu was found dead, hanging from a tree branch with a synthetic rope around his neck on Sunday.

The couple’s 14-year-old daughter became suspicious when she saw her father leaving home walking towards a nearby bush wearing socks without shoes and alerted neighbours who quickly followed him and found him already dead.

The family said initially some neighbourhood watch committee members who had been sent to collect the girl from Ndlovu’s custody after the stabbing incident, failed to enter the homestead fearing that he would attack them as he was known to be violent the family feared for the safety of the girl.

The Chronicle was told that after stabbing the duo, Ndlovu bragged to his neighbours in his village that he had stabbed his wife.

Ms Moyo’s brother Mr Honest Moyo said both families would convene meetings to discuss marital problems between the couple and Ndlovu would promise to change his behaviour.

“He was our son-in-law but was abusive for a long time. We all believed he would change until she left him three weeks ago. He then followed and stabbed her and our mother,” said Mr Moyo.

Matemaganu village head Mr Reuben Mathe implored his subjects to report any form of abuse in time before tragedy falls.- Chronicle

ZANU PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu yesterday lost his Supreme Court bid to take over Esidakeni Farm in Nyamandlovu, which he allegedly grabbed from rights activist Siphosami Malunga.

This was after Malunga had won a High Court order to stop Mpofu from evicting him.

Mpofu then appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn the order, but lost the case yesterday.

Malunga, who is son of the late nationalist Sydney Malunga, co-owns Kershelmar Farm, popularly known as Esikadeni in Nyamandlovu, with his business associates Charles Moyo and Zephania Dhlamini.

The Supreme Court described Mpofu’s taking over of the farm as a “brazen invasion” which was done without following due process.

The court ordered Mpofu to vacate the farm and desist from disrupting operations.

In the Supreme Court appeal, Mpofu, his wife Sikhanyisiwe and their company Mswelangubo Farm Ltd claimed to have taken over Esikhadeni Farm on the basis that they had an offer letter.

But the court ruled that they had no right to resort to self-help in taking over possession without following due process of the law. -Newsday

By Gift Ostallos Siziba

Organizing and mobilizing from below.

The state has turned against its Citizens and the only solution is unity of All people.

To archive that we have to organize the vehicle of Change from below.

It has to be organic, smart and smooth!

It’s not an easy path as the journey involves death threats, arrests and even loss of life.

We understand that, that’s why we have to apply our mind use superior logic.

The intention and objective is to win the war despite loses we record in some battles.

Come what May- we keep moving
We keep the focus.

MorePressure

A UNIVERSITY of London professor of world politics, Stephen Chan, has taken a dig at self-exiled former Cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo saying the former Information minister at one point sought to join the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party.
Chan yesterday tweeted alleging that Moyo sought to join CCC, but was rejected due to his lack of loyalty.

“I understand Jonathan Moyo did, indeed, seek to join the CCC. Thankfully, that fell through as his record is hardly one of loyalty. But he has made astute comments on the need for party structures,” he tweeted.

“Certainly, the West needs to know who is in the front bench of what should be projected as a government-in-waiting, with whom in each specialist portfolio, e.g. health, education, justice, agriculture, industry, finance, foreign affairs and defence and who will the West be dealing? So is it a government-in-waiting, or simply a President-in-waiting.”

In the past few weeks, Moyo has been attacking the CCC party on social media for its failure to set up structures and hold a congress before the watershed 2023 elections.

CCC members have, in turn, accused him of attacking the opposition party after he lost a bid to join them.

Responding to Chan’s tweet, Moyo dismissed the claims and demanded that Chamisa should rectify the claims, although he admitted that he had an alliance with the opposition in 2017 during the November coup that removed the late former President Robert Mugabe from power.

“Stephen, this is very unprofessional and unacceptable. I categorically state that I never sought to join CCC and would not be so foolish to join a structure-less party without a joining mechanism. @nelsonchamisa has to correct this otherwise I’ll do so myself. We parted in November 21,” Moyo tweeted back.

CCC acting spokesperson Gift “Ostallos” Siziba refused to comment on the matter.

“These are social media issues. It’s a nonentity,” he said. Newsday

While continuing to participate in the Sakunda looting of billions of dollars annually, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga has ordered a thorough investigation into cases of alleged corruption and theft of drugs by nurses and doctors at public hospitals.

This follows a NewsDay report last Friday exposing under-paid health personnel who had devised well-knit methods to supplement their incomes by charging extra money on desperate patients to get preferential treatment.

The scam involves nurses, doctors, pharmacy and general hand staff at public hospitals.

Sources yesterday told NewsDay that Chiwenga, who doubles as Health minister was jolted by the report and immediately ordered investigations in order to save the reputation of the Health and Child Care ministry.

Health and Child Care spokesperson Donald Mujiri confirmed the investigations.

“The ministry has instigated a thorough investigation into the matter with a view to uphold professionalism, improve service delivery and at the same time protect patients from errant staffers,” Mujiri said, noting that the ministry was yet to confirm prevalence of such malpractices.

“If so, such unethical and criminal behaviour has no place in the public health sector.

“Investigations will be carried out into our public institutions to ensure we deal with these malcontents who are bringing the ministry and government into disrepute while defrauding innocent citizens who are our very important clients and the same taxpayers whom we serve.

“We encourage members of the public to quickly report any such behaviour to our head of institutions or to the police,” Mujiri added.

Doctors and Nurses from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (Parirenyatwa) and Harare Hospital, who spoke to this publication last week said they were forced into immorality due to the low salaries that cannot cover their monthly expenses.

Several patients from areas such as Chivhu, Mutare, and Masvingo told NewsDay that they had to pay bribes at the public health institutions to access treatment and drugs.

In a statement yesterday, Parirenyatwa Hospital said it had not received any reports of bribery or corruption involving its health personnel.

“Notices have been put at strategic points within the hospital with details of where members of the public can report any corrupt activities.

“Currently, the loss control department, working together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police officers on site, have come up with a schedule of an anti-corruption awareness drive,” the hospital said. Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|A Rushinga man, Morgan Muchemwa, is facing a charge of undermining the Zanu PF leader Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s authority.

Muchemwa, who is being represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, denies the accusations.

“In Rushinga, Morgan Muchemwa denied accusations of undermining authority of/insulting President Mnangagwa after he allegedly questioned ruling ZANU PF party sympathisers’ support for their leader at a time when he stands accused of mismanaging Zim’s political & economic affairs.

As trial commenced, Muchemwa responded to the charge of undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa & argued that the charge is vague & lacks some particular elements to enable one to plead to it.

Muchemwa returns to court on 2 August, where Magistrate Dambaza will
hand down his ruling on the application for exception to the charges of undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa,” Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said in a statement.

Tinashe Sambiri| The late former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga, has mocked Zanu PF over “the wave of glaring confusion and errors in the former revolutionary party.”

Chatunga tore into his late dad’s former party on Twitter.

He also challenged the former revolutionary party to leave Baba Harare alone.

“The most interesting part is Zanu Pf people are running a #5Millionvotes campaign but when someone tries to encourage people to register they start calling that person an oposition.

So my question is 5 Million votes idzi dzichabva Kupi?”

Last week Zanu PF hardliners attacked Baba Harare after the lanky singer implored young people to register to vote.

A group of ZANU PF members are on video beating each other over an undisclosed matter in Mutare, as seen in an undated viral video that surfaced on Monday afternoon.

In the footage, as ZimEye reveals, the youths, three of whom are clad in ZANU PF regalia, one in a ZANU cap, are in a hall viciously and uncontrollably bashing each other. DO YOU KNOW WHERE THIS WAS? CONTACT ZIMEYE NOW

Unconfirmed report say ZANUPF youths belonging to different factions violently attacked each other in Mutare. @ZimEye and @zimlive confirm the news on ground.
Chiri kumwashuka. pic.twitter.com/XBtIPfqolt

— LI?️N (@FoxLion2028) July 11, 2022

By Simba Chikanza | ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu has scoffed at social media reports that suggest the newly elected Zimbabwe Electoral Commissioner, Catherine Mpofu is his daughter.

Speaking to ZimEye on Monday, the former cabinet minister said, “no I don’t even know the name, I don’t know the person, and how can she be my daughter?,” he asked while in a chuckle.

He continued saying, “you can even ask her if she knows me.”

He emphasised further saying, “look it’s not a sin to have a daughter, and this one is not my daughter… unless if they’re saying every Mpofu is my relative or my daughter, honestly, the poor girl, I wish her well and I am just happy for her but she’s not my daughter I don’t even know her, I doubt if she knows me,” he said.

Thousands of Zimbabweans circulated pictures of the commissioner while saying she is the politburo member’s daughter.

DO YOU KNOW CATHERINE MPOFU’S PARENTS? CONTACT ZIMEYE NOW

By A Correspondent

Madzibaba Maikoro from Harare says he was visited by Douglas Mwonzora team asking him to do a strong nguwo-tsvuku mhiko so that he will be appointed a CCC Secretary General.

Mwonzora has been spotted at different shrines of prophets , magicians and sangamos (the likes of Mbuya Ndunge from Chipinge, Sekuru Gora from Binga, Madzibaba Benjie from Harare and Isaac Makomichi from Masvingo) . Despite his efforts to use charms to revive his political career it is said that all of the mentioned spiritualists believe that Adv Nelson Chamisa is the one chosen by God and nobody can stop him.

Madzibaba Maikoro claimed that he was given two thousand dollars (US$2000) by team Mwonzora to initiate “nguwo-tsvuku mhiko” so that Mwonzora can be appointed a CCC Secretary General.

Some MDC-T officials once accused Mwonzora of trying to use juju to assume power.

At one point, his former lucky charms spiritual father, Isaac Makomichi, mocked him and said he (Mwonzora) must leave politics and become a vegetable farmer.

Tinashe Sambiri|A Rushinga man, Morgan Muchemwa, is facing a charge of undermining the Zanu PF leader Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s authority.

Muchemwa, who is being represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, denies the accusations.

“In Rushinga, Morgan Muchemwa denied accusations of undermining authority of/insulting President Mnangagwa after he allegedly questioned ruling ZANU PF party sympathisers’ support for their leader at a time when he stands accused of mismanaging Zim’s political & economic affairs.

As trial commenced, Muchemwa responded to the charge of undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa & argued that the charge is vague & lacks some particular elements to enable one to plead to it.

Muchemwa returns to court on 2 August, where Magistrate Dambaza will
hand down his ruling on the application for exception to the charges of undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa,” Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said in a statement.

Tinashe Sambiri|President Hakainde Hichilema’s UNDP party has challenged Zanu PF to release political prisoners with immediate effect.

Zambia’s ruling party spokesperson, Joseph Kalimbwe described the presecution of Hon Job Sikhala and Hon Godfrey Sithole by the Harare regime as shocking.

“Job Sikhala, Godfrey Sithole, Dee Nauyoma, Michael Amushelelo must be home with those they love. We will never get tired of making these calls on all of our Joseph Kalimbwe social media accounts until these African comrades are home !!!

A country with the most literate population in the region should never have to see its citizens be humiliated, despised and called foreigners in other lands. It must rebuild itself up, give Mukomana a chance,” said Kalimbwe.

Tinashe Sambiri|Jailed CCC officials Hon Job Sikhala and Hon Godfrey Sithole are determined to fight for freedom despite being tormented by the regime.

This was said by Jacob Ngarivhume after visiting the two at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

Ngarivhume called for mass protests at the prolonged detention of Hon Sikhala and Hon Sikhala.

See statement below:

I spent my day at Chikurubi Max prison today(Saturday).

I visited my compatriots and partners Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole. I was emotional as I retraced the route back to Chikurubi where I was also incaserated for days without trial.

There is no change since we left the prison two years ago. It took time to get clearance to see the brave cadres. I was patient. It was even faster and easier for me because they know me.

I saw Mai Sikhala outside and she had been waiting for hours. Mai Sithole had just left after waiting for hours eventually seeing Godfrey.

We had our chance to see them. I first saw bro Job! He was in high spirits as usual, we went straight into business. The cde is strong I assure the nation. We need to stand with them.

They are deeply frustrated of course by this senseless detention without trial.

We discussed key things that we must focus to move the nation forward. Even in the fifteen minutes discussion, Zimbabwe topped the agenda. His commitment to the country is amazing.

I had to wait another 30 minutes to see Godfrey. He was elated to see me. His message to Zimbabwe, keep on fighting for justice and change. They are on the horizon.

We discussed and discussed till the guards said it was enough.

As a nation we owe these cadres our support. We can offer that by doing the following
First we should go into the streets and peacefully demonstrate to demand their release. It’s sad that they are in prison while real criminals who have plundered this country are walking scot free, some with them guards and motorcades.

Second we need to support their families while they are inside. I know this time, it’s not easy for the family. The best we can do is to support their families.

Third, let’s pray for the cadres’ safety during their stay in prison. The regime is ruthless and we can’t rule out anything. They need our prayers and support in all ways we can.

As I drove back, I had tears dropping, emotionally thinking about them and what we need to do to make this country right.

Fellow Zimbabweans, it’s time to act and not just tweet!

Jacob Ngarivhume

Tinashe Sambiri| The late former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga, has mocked Zanu PF over “the wave of glaring confusion and errors in the former revolutionary party.”

Chatunga tore into his late dad’s former party on Twitter.

He also challenged the former revolutionary party to leave Baba Harare alone.

“The most interesting part is Zanu Pf people are running a #5Millionvotes campaign but when someone tries to encourage people to register they start calling that person an oposition.

So my question is 5 Million votes idzi dzichabva Kupi?”

Last week Zanu PF hardliners attacked Baba Harare after the lanky singer implored young people to register to vote.

Tinashe Sambiri| The late former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga, has mocked Zanu PF over “the wave of glaring confusion and errors in the former revolutionary party.”

Chatunga tore into his late dad’s former party on Twitter.

He also challenged the former revolutionary party to leave Baba Harare alone.

“The most interesting part is Zanu Pf people are running a #5Millionvotes campaign but when someone tries to encourage people to register they start calling that person an oposition.

So my question is 5 Million votes idzi dzichabva Kupi?”

Last week Zanu PF hardliners attacked Baba Harare after the lanky singer implored young people to register to vote.

A former commissioner with Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Dr Petty Makoni, whose term of office expired six years ago, disappeared with the commission’s donated Toyota Prado and the Sheriff of the High Court charged with recovering the car is failing to locate her. 

Dr Makoni was appointed as a commissioner for ZEC in 2010 and served until 2016 when her term of office expired.

In 2011, the United Nations Development Programme provided 11 Toyota Prado vehicles to ZEC in preparation for the 2013 general election.

The vehicles were allocated to ZEC commissioners for use in the preperations but remained the property of UNDP. As a commissioner, Dr Makoni was issued with a Toyota Prado registration number ACH 2506.

At the end of that commission’ tenure in 2016, all other commissioners surrendered the vehicles but Dr Makoni refused and drove off in the car.

Efforts by ZEC to recover the vehicle failed so the commission had to resort to the High Court where its lawyer, Mr Tawanda Kanengoni of Nyika Kanengoni and Partners, filed a civil claim.

The High Court ordered Dr Makoni to return the vehicle but she appealed to the Supreme Court.

Justice Felistus Chatukuta last year threw out the challenge but Dr Makoni defied the court order and continued holding on to the vehicle.

Efforts by the Sheriff to seize the vehicle have hit a brick wall as Dr Makoni reportedly left the house she lived without publicising her new address.

No one appears to know where she now stays and the vehicle cannot be located.

“The Sherrif reported on February 8 this year that Dr Makoni had left 611 Worplestone Way in Glen Lorne, Harare, and the new tenants had no forwarding address. The Toyota Prado was not at the address.

The Sheriff is still struggling to locate her. After six years no one knows what sort of condition the vehicle is in.

When the other commissioners left ZEC, their vehicles were allocated to their successors for official use.

And when she refused to surrender the vehicle, Dr Makoni argued that she was not aware that the vehicle had been donated by UNDP for a specific activity and neither was she aware that the donor required it to be used by others after she left ZEC.

She argued unsuccessfully that ZEC was obliged to issue her with a vehicle as a condition of service during her tenure but it failed, hence she was now holding on to the Prado pending delivery of her vehicle by the commission.

Dr Makoni also argued that the then ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau and the chief elections officer Mrs Constance Chigwamba orally allowed her to continue using the vehicle after expiry of her tenure but she failed to prove that in court.

When Dr Makoni left ZEC, she worked as a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe’s School of Nursing Sciences.

However, the Sheriff has failed to locate her at UZ and her present whereabouts are still unknown. -Herald

Exporting unprocessed granite is now banned unless authorised by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development as part of the process to add value to Zimbabwean mineral exports.
Granite, usually black granite, has been exported for many years, but until very recently was exported as large blocks, almost cubical in shape, for cutting and polishing elsewhere. 

Zimbabwe now, following investment into the industry, has the capacity to cut and polish slabs and tiles before export.

Statutory Instrument 127 of 2022, the Mines and Minerals (Prohibition Order of Exportations of Unprocessed Granite) Notice, 2022, was gazetted by Mines and Mining Development Minister, Winston Chitando on Saturday in terms of section 3 of the Base Minerals Export Control Act.

However, pre-existing valid contracts for the export of unprocessed granite will be allowed to continue until they expire, which will give many in the business time to set up their cutting and polishing operations within Zimbabwe or hire others to do this.

The ban is backed by fines and even jail terms for offenders, although considering that unprocessed granite comes in multi-tonne blocks smuggling will probably be exceptionally difficult.

The fine will be level 9 or twice the value of granite involved, whichever is larger, with the possibility of a jail term of up to two years.

President Mnangagwa has been pushing for local processing before export to triple the value of the exports.

He said Zimbabwe was earning US$4,5 million from the export of an unprocessed block of granite when it could earn up to US$12,9 million if cut, polished and packed.

Granite earns about US$100 million a year in total exports but with more extraction and more processing that could reach US$500 million.

Granite is mainly extracted in Mutoko and Mt Darwin districts and is exported to countries that include South Africa, Italy, Australia and Belgium where buyers cut and polish to order.

Part of the Government strategy to push mining to a US$12 billion target by 2023 is not just mining more but adding value through local processing.

Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines chief executive officer Mr Isaac Kwesu said the businesses in the granite sector were willing to implement Government’s policy, but might require more time.

“We fully understand Government’s position on value addition and beneficiation and even our members in that sector are also willing to implement that.

“However, their position is that they need more time and an agreed roadmap to harness resources towards that,” Mr Kwesu said.

Any further time required after existing contracts have been concluded would probably require Minister Chitando to be convinced there was serious movement in processing before he used his authority in the new regulations to give ad hoc permission for export orders of unprocessed granite.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, Mr Takunda Mugaga said the SI was justified.

“The recent move to criminalise the export of unprocessed granite on the surface of it is welcome, is justifiable and its economic but also it could also expose the lack of passage of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill,” he said.

He said the promulgation of the new Mines and Minerals Act would deal decisively with the issue of value addition while the criminalisation of exporting raw granite could result in smuggling of the mineral.

Indigenisation activist, Ms Thandiwe Ndlovu welcomed the stance taken by Government.

“We are losing millions as a country through exporting unprocessed granite. Apart from the monetary losses, exporting unprocessed granite is also tantamount to exporting jobs to other countries,” he said.

Economic analyst Donald Muyengwa echoed similar sentiments saying it was important that the country benefits more from its minerals.-Herald

The leader of the Zimbabwe Transformative Party (ZTP), Parere Kunyenzura, has been arrested.

Kunyenzura and the majority of the party’s leadership were arrested in Harare’s central business district on Saturday afternoon during what a party official said was a prayer walk.

Said the official:

The newly formed party Zimbabwe Transformative Party praesidium has been arrested today in Harare.

Parere Kunyenzura, Simon Goshomi, Prince Mukozho and some other party members are being held at Harare Central Police station. They’re expected to appear in court on Monday.

The charges the ZTP officials are facing are yet to be ascertained but police generally invoke the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act to clamp down on unsanctioned political activities.

Kunyenzura, a self-styled prophet, claimed God ordained him as the next President of Zimbabwe when he launched the party in May this year.

Kunyezura, who is the leader of an apostolic sect, warned state security agencies not to try to thwart what “God” has ordained.- Pindula News

An 18-year-old man from Bubi District, Matabeleland North, escaped death by a whisker after he was attacked by “angry” elephants.

Tinashe Ncube was saved from being trampled by the jumbos after a relative distracted the charging animals with a wrapping cloth she was wearing.

The woman reportedly waved the cloth in the air and threw it to the ground thereby causing the elephants to leave the injured teen and trample on the fabric.

According to Advent Nkomo, a teacher at Lukala Secondary School, Tinashe was with a female relative on Wednesday when they encountered the elephants.

The two elephants had been provoked by students at Lukala Secondary School as they were passing by.

Nkomo said the elephants had gone their way after the provocation but then met Ncube and his relative who didn’t know the elephants were angry. Said Nkomo:

Tinashe was with a woman who is his relative and when the elephant started to attack him, the woman took off her wrapping cloth (intsaro) and threw it on the ground.

The two elephants left him and went to attack that cloth.

There are a lot of elephants in this area and now we are fearing that they will harm the students since they don’t know how dangerous these elephants are.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) Head Of Corporate Communications, Tinashe Farawo said:

It happened yesterday. I can confirm that a young man was injured by two elephants, the investigations are still in progress.

The information we have right now is from the witnesses, our team is working on it.

• B-Metro

The leader of the Zimbabwe Transformative Party (ZTP), Parere Kunyenzura, has been arrested.

Kunyenzura and the majority of the party’s leadership were arrested in Harare’s central business district on Saturday afternoon during what a party official said was a prayer walk.

Said the official:

The newly formed party Zimbabwe Transformative Party praesidium has been arrested today in Harare.

Parere Kunyenzura, Simon Goshomi, Prince Mukozho and some other party members are being held at Harare Central Police station. They’re expected to appear in court on Monday.

The charges the ZTP officials are facing are yet to be ascertained but police generally invoke the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act to clamp down on unsanctioned political activities.

Kunyenzura, a self-styled prophet, claimed God ordained him as the next President of Zimbabwe when he launched the party in May this year.

Kunyezura, who is the leader of an apostolic sect, warned state security agencies not to try to thwart what “God” has ordained.- Pindula News

An 18-year-old man from Bubi District, Matabeleland North, escaped death by a whisker after he was attacked by “angry” elephants.

Tinashe Ncube was saved from being trampled by the jumbos after a relative distracted the charging animals with a wrapping cloth she was wearing.

The woman reportedly waved the cloth in the air and threw it to the ground thereby causing the elephants to leave the injured teen and trample on the fabric.

According to Advent Nkomo, a teacher at Lukala Secondary School, Tinashe was with a female relative on Wednesday when they encountered the elephants.

The two elephants had been provoked by students at Lukala Secondary School as they were passing by.

Nkomo said the elephants had gone their way after the provocation but then met Ncube and his relative who didn’t know the elephants were angry. Said Nkomo:

Tinashe was with a woman who is his relative and when the elephant started to attack him, the woman took off her wrapping cloth (intsaro) and threw it on the ground.

The two elephants left him and went to attack that cloth.

There are a lot of elephants in this area and now we are fearing that they will harm the students since they don’t know how dangerous these elephants are.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) Head Of Corporate Communications, Tinashe Farawo said:

It happened yesterday. I can confirm that a young man was injured by two elephants, the investigations are still in progress.

The information we have right now is from the witnesses, our team is working on it.

• B-Metro

Tinashe Sambiri| The late former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga, has mocked Zanu PF over “the wave of glaring confusion and errors in the former revolutionary party.”

Chatunga tore into his late dad’s former party on Twitter.

He also challenged the former revolutionary party to leave Baba Harare alone.

“The most interesting part is Zanu Pf people are running a #5Millionvotes campaign but when someone tries to encourage people to register they start calling that person an oposition.

So my question is 5 Million votes idzi dzichabva Kupi?”

Last week Zanu PF hardliners attacked Baba Harare after the lanky singer implored young people to register to vote.

Tinashe Sambiri|Jailed CCC officials Hon Job Sikhala and Hon Godfrey Sithole are determined to fight for freedom despite being tormented by the regime.

This was said by Jacob Ngarivhume after visiting the two at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

Ngarivhume called for mass protests at the prolonged detention of Hon Sikhala and Hon Sikhala.

See statement below:

I spent my day at Chikurubi Max prison today(Saturday).

I visited my compatriots and partners Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole. I was emotional as I retraced the route back to Chikurubi where I was also incaserated for days without trial.

There is no change since we left the prison two years ago. It took time to get clearance to see the brave cadres. I was patient. It was even faster and easier for me because they know me.

I saw Mai Sikhala outside and she had been waiting for hours. Mai Sithole had just left after waiting for hours eventually seeing Godfrey.

We had our chance to see them. I first saw bro Job! He was in high spirits as usual, we went straight into business. The cde is strong I assure the nation. We need to stand with them.

They are deeply frustrated of course by this senseless detention without trial.

We discussed key things that we must focus to move the nation forward. Even in the fifteen minutes discussion, Zimbabwe topped the agenda. His commitment to the country is amazing.

I had to wait another 30 minutes to see Godfrey. He was elated to see me. His message to Zimbabwe, keep on fighting for justice and change. They are on the horizon.

We discussed and discussed till the guards said it was enough.

As a nation we owe these cadres our support. We can offer that by doing the following
First we should go into the streets and peacefully demonstrate to demand their release. It’s sad that they are in prison while real criminals who have plundered this country are walking scot free, some with them guards and motorcades.

Second we need to support their families while they are inside. I know this time, it’s not easy for the family. The best we can do is to support their families.

Third, let’s pray for the cadres’ safety during their stay in prison. The regime is ruthless and we can’t rule out anything. They need our prayers and support in all ways we can.

As I drove back, I had tears dropping, emotionally thinking about them and what we need to do to make this country right.

Fellow Zimbabweans, it’s time to act and not just tweet!

Jacob Ngarivhume

Tinashe Sambiri| The late former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga, has mocked Zanu PF over “the wave of glaring confusion and errors in the former revolutionary party.”

Chatunga tore into his late dad’s former party on Twitter.

He also challenged the former revolutionary party to leave Baba Harare alone.

“The most interesting part is Zanu Pf people are running a #5Millionvotes campaign but when someone tries to encourage people to register they start calling that person an oposition.

So my question is 5 Million votes idzi dzichabva Kupi?”

Last week Zanu PF hardliners attacked Baba Harare after the lanky singer implored young people to register to vote.

Learners from underprivileged communities will be the first beneficiaries of free education beginning next year under a State-funded basic education programme.

This follows an extensive nationwide study to establish the costs involved, it has been learnt.

The three-year study covering 20 schools — two in each province — sought to classify public schools by location and learners’ level of need, among other things.

The Sunday Mail has gathered that the programme will be funded through State grants to learning institutions that schools will receive in lieu of tuition and school development levies from parents and guardians.

In categorising schools for the purposes of the programme, institutions currently classified as “Group A” schools have now been reclassified as P1 (for primary schools) and S1 (for secondary schools).

Missionary schools, currently classified as “Group B” institutions, are now classified P2 and S2 schools.

Learning institutions in rural areas and poor communities (formerly Group C) have been classified as P3 and S3 schools.

Under the phased roll out of the programme, P3 and S3 schools will start receiving grants First Term next year.

The number of schools that are set to benefit from the first phase could not be immediately established as consultations with stakeholders in the education sector are ongoing.

The Government has, however, firmly committed to rolling out the programme next year.

Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo said a policy framework to guide implementation was being crafted.

“Our schools have been categorised in three distinct groupings for the purposes of giving them grants,” he said.

“The categorisation takes into account the location of schools. What we have done is looking at the unit cost of educating a child.

“I will not disclose that but we have already come up with a figure, which is still at the consultative stage.

“Primary learners have their own figure; the same as secondary school learners.”

Critically, learners at these schools will also be equipped with Information Communication Technology gadgets to facilitate remote learning.

The gadgets are already being assembled by State-owned tech enterprise Zimbabwe Information Technology Company (ZITCO).
Pp
Roll-out of State-funded education, he said, was informed by provisions of Section 27 of the Constitution, which enjoins the State to “take all practical measures to promote free compulsory basic education for children”.

Authorities are now exploring different funding models for the grants.

Consideration is being given to three distinct models that include direct budgetary allocations, resources from the devolution fund and the constituency development funds.

A hybrid financing model involving all three is also under consideration.

Added Deputy Minister Moyo: “We did a pilot project for three years which we called grant-in-aid-of-tuition.”

During the pilot study, authorities selected two schools per province and asked them to forgo tuition and levies during the three-year pilot period.

Government then directly funded schools for the duration of the pilot.

“It is from the pilot project that we deduced the unit cost of educating a child and, from this, the model of financing of the schools.”

There are about 4,6 million learners in close to 10 000 public schools countrywide.

“So the number of students who will receive State-funded education next year will only be known once we have completed drafting the policy.

“However, next year we are rolling out State-funded education and we are hoping it will start during the first term.”

Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services Dr Jenfan Muswere said Government had already begun connecting schools to the internet ahead of the roll-out.

“We are also working with Zimbabwe Information Technology Company (ZITCO) to manufacture gadgets needed for the programme,” he said.

Educationist Dr Caiphus Nziramasanga commended the programme.

“Enrolment of learners is likely going to double once the programme starts,” said Dr Nziramasanga.

“So it is important for Government to start planning now in terms of infrastructure, textbooks and teacher recruitment.

“There is also a need for laws and policies to enforce this position going forward.”

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) secretary-general Mr Goodwill Taderera said the programme will guarantee universal access to education.

“However, there is a need for Government to timeously disburse the funds so that there is smooth running of schools,” he added.

“Success of the programme will be determined by timeous disbursement of funds, so there is need for extensive planning.”

Last year, Government used $2 billion to provide educational assistance to 1,2 million vulnerable children through the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).

This year, about 1,5 million learners are receiving support through a package that covers tuition fees, uniforms and stationery under BEAM. Sunday Mail

Tinashe Sambiri| CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba says every Zimbabwean citizen is a prisoner as a result of Zanu PF misrule and gross violation of human rights.

Siziba challenged the regime to release political prisoners.

The regime arrested CCC senior officials Hon Job Sikhala, Hon Godfrey Sithole and Nyatsime party members.

“Every Zimbabwean is a prisoner, some are arrested by the police some are arrested by hunger, poverty and fear.

We have all been reduced to prisoners of conscience and slaves of fear.

Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.

We must speak out! We must record our displeasure with the current status core.

Phakama Zimbabwe phakama,” Siziba argued.