By-The Zimbabwe Republic Police have received the post-mortem report detailing the death of Deliwe Mutandiro’s 41-year-old man, Tawanda Bobo.

Tawanda was found hanging from a guava tree after a row with his wife Deliwe Mutandiro on Saturday.

ZimLive reports that Deliwe and her sister Debra recorded statements with the police Monday and were released.

Deliwe does make up for several high-profile bigwigs, Zodwa Mkandla, Mai Titi, Olinda Chapel, Emmanuel Makandiwa’s wife, Ruth, and many other prominent people.

By- The Zimbabwe Republic Police said they were investigating the death of two senior Zanu PF officials in the Nyatsime area of Chitungwiza.

The two were part of Zanu PF thugs who caused havoc at the funeral of CCC activist Moreblessing Ali.

One of the thugs died from alleged poisoning, while the other reportedly succumbed to a stress-related illness.

The two are former Manyame district chairperson Tina Gweshe, suspected by family to have been poisoned after she attended a party last week, and George Murambatsvina, the Zanu PF chairman for Nyatsime.

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi told the state media that they had begun the investigations over the deaths

“We are conducting investigations with a view to find out what exactly happened and we would like to urge the public to cooperate with the police,” he said. On the heavy police presence, Asst Comm Nyathi said, “There is need for police to maintain law and order especially considering what has happened and the investigations being conducted.”

By- President Mnangagwa has brought back the use of the United States Dollar.

Mnangagwa brought back the green buck by gazetting Statutory Instrument 118A of 2022, entrenching the multi-currency system.

Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday hinted at the coming of the law that regulates the use of the US dollar.

The SI is titled Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Amendment of Exchange Control Act) Regulations 2022.
The measures will run-up to December 2025).

Among other measures, the regulations empower registered lenders, banks or any financial institution that lend foreign currency to receive repayment of the loan or credit in that foreign currency.

Tinashe Sambiri|Bishop Ancelimo Magaya has pointed out that Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George, Charamba is not in a position to comment on spiritual matters.

The fearless cleric has also declared he is not afraid of dying for the truth.
Below is Bishop Magaya’s full statement:
Addressing Jamwanda’s Pathological Error:(Of clerics and the secular question)
2.You labor very much in your article to demonstrate how clerics are not good actors in
ecumenical harlotry because you do not appreciate their source of motivation. It does
corridors of power, you find it offending that clerics like myself are demanding
its glaring rot.
You find clerics’ involvement in your ‘sacred political space’ as
Prov 31:8-9 [NIV]Speak out for those who can not speak for themselves, for the rights
are possibly paid to defend.
to two.
mandate to be a voice for the voiceless and spine for the spineless as they speak out and
to the author of Jamwanda 2 on Saturday.
Reference is made to your Saturday the 25th of June
interceding for people to access eternity
1.You acknowledge limited understanding of ecclesiastical matters albeit sarcastically.
‘credentials’ like yourself cannot see the suffering of the masses.Why would the plight
social injustices. It does not affect you after all.
The clerics live with the vulnerable
challenge the ills that you are fighting hard to protect. I have a myriad of Scriptures to
broaden your vista regarding the church’s mandate. However, for today I will refer you
of the suffering masses concern you?You probablyhave access to good medical
ironic that with all the experience you claim to have and strategic positioning in the
because you deem them to be legitimate occupants of the political space.
I will discuss
why you will definitely hear more from me and many other church leaders whom God
by those who have subjected themselves to boththe venal and venial of this age just
rules the country.
It,however, concerns any sober and true church leader when the poor,
In the milieu of that limited understanding, you assign clerics’ a confined role of
myself was more than superfluous. I do not intend here to do a blow-by-blow responseto the
relate to the fundamental role of the church on matters of national governance.
This is just to acknowledge that I have read your article in which your attack on
of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and
about. Find out from authorities on the subject of Church and Politicsand learn better.
attention in the subject area that yourself believeto be a respectable authority.
How
tenders, foreign currency at ratesthatothers can’t access, and protection from
reverence of the clerics.
You neither know the scriptures nor the power of God as they
accountability yet you have not used your influence to transform or rid the system of
not concern the church that President Mugabe or Mnangagwa, Tsvangirai or Chamisa
attack.
I will certainly do so in my next installments, It would suffice for now to note the
the secular space, and how I, in particular,am not qualified to speak let alone get
this subject matter in greater detail in the near future and perhaps help you understand
vulnerable and voiceless suffer at the hands of those leaders.
Again, those with
facilities, educational facilities for your children, access to natural resources, dubious
following:
will embolden to speak out against socioeconomic and political injustice which you
masses, feel their pain and hear their cries day and night. It is therefore theirheavenly
prosecution when you commit overt corrupt activities among many other economic and
leaders must stick to preaching and praying for the distressed and leave politics to
politicians, you too speak with authority on a subject matter that you know very little
The church will not be pushed aside to watch while the nation is shredded into pieces.
Following after your role model, President Mugabe who once retorted that
Job 29v 14-17. I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my rob and my turban.
I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lamb. I was a father to the needy; I took up the
3.You insinuate death threatson meby referenc

By A Correspondent | A Harare make-up artist for top Zimbabwe celebrities Deliwe Mutandiro, has been questioned by the police over the death of her husband.

Mutandiro, who does make up for several high-profile bigwigs, Zodwa Mkandla, Mai Titi, Olinda Chapel, Emmanuel Makandiwa’s wife, Ruth, and many other prominent people, was arrested for the murder of her husband Tawanda Gregory Bobo (41).

The two had been married since 2013.

On Friday night, Deliwe, after going to a 90s party hosted by one Lydia and posting those pictures, Tawanda travelled to the party and asked her to leave the party, “that’s not a party that someone’s wife attends.”

When they got home, they saw Deliwe’s sister, and a fight began, upon which time the sister ganged up to assault Tawanda and killed him. 

After this, the accused hung his body onto a small guava tree.

The forensic team were assisted by a little dog which had allegedly witnessed the murder.

Deliwe Mutandiro, together with her sister, were arrested.

On Saturday, when Zodwa Mkandla discovered that Deliwe had been arrested, she rushed to hire lawyers for her.

While the identity of the lawyers was not disclosed at the time of writing, sources close to the developments described the solicitors as high profile practitioners in the trade.

The two arrested are currently in remand prison awaiting trial.

Information gathered by ZimEye suggests that the accused has a record of throwing tantrums. Said a source “When she was at Speciss college, she was dragged by the tarmac by a politician’s wife for being a home wrecker. She has a record of throwing tantrums against her boyfriends which always ended up in acrimonious break-ups.”

Added another source:

She has a history of being violent against her husband. They said: “Last year, Deliwe akabaya Tawa nebanga akaiswa 15 stitches and his ex wife Shamiso paid for the treatment. It’s not the first time that they hanged up on him with her family members. The other time they locked him up in a room and beat him until the maid tipped off… Tawanda’s cousin who went to rescue him and took him to his mum.“

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has announced November 2022 examination fees for learners in Grade 6.

The learners will not be writing examinations but have to pay the fees to avoid paying at once when they are in Grade 7.

Below is the notice by the council:

GRADE 6 EXAMINATION FEES FOR NOVEMBER 2022

Please be advised that the examination fees for 2022 is USD65.00 for all subjects. The Government will contribute USD 36.00 of the examination fees for candidates in public schools while parents and guardians will pay USD 29.00.

All candidates from private schools and colleges will meet the full cost of USD 65.00 as examination fees for the year. Therefore, the termly fees for 2022 Grade 6 examination fees for candidates will be as follows:

• Candidates in public schools: USD 5.00

• Candidates in Private Schools and colleges: USD 11.00

• Extra-Territorial Candidates: USD 21.00

NB: Please be advised that candidates who prepaid for the current examination only pay the balance due from the 2022 approved fees by the closing date indicated below.

Centres are requested not to allow individual candidates to make their own deposits into the 2IMSEC Bank Account.

Proof of payment in the form of a deposit slip together with the Statement of Fees harm must be submitted to 2IMSEC Regional Offices.

2.0 Closing Date

Following the announcement of examination fees in USD and paid in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate please be advised that parents and guardians must pay examination fees to their centres during the period 22 July to 29 July 2022 for the First and Second Term. The closing date for payments and submission of proof of payments accompanied by entries is 29 July 2022. During this period, an interbank exchange rate prevailing as at 22 July 2022 which will be communicated by ZIMSEC to all centres will be applied. Payments received after the closing date Mil be considered at a rate prevailing at the date received.

By A Correspondent- In a development that is not so shocking, but typical with Zanu PF, the Minister of Justice, Ziyambi Ziyambi, reportedly scorned the diaspora vote call, saying that there were no external constituencies to justify the diaspora vote.

The same Ziyambi Ziyambi in 2019 revealed that an international study would be commissioned the following year to establish how other jurisdictions are implementing the diaspora vote, adding that they expected to complete the study by June of 2020. 

And it has not just been Ziyambi Ziyambi who has spoken about the need for diaspora vote. In 2018 while addressing Zimbabweans living in the United States on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, President Emmerson Mnangagwa told them that Government was working on implementing the diaspora vote in 2023.

The need for the diaspora vote can never be overemphasized. Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi certainly needs to have his head examined for making such a stupid statement that the diaspora Zimbabweans cannot vote because none of Zimbabwe’s 210 electoral constituencies are located outside the country’s physical boarders.

Ziyambi Ziyambi reportedly said this while responding to questions in Parliament by opposition legislator James Sithole who wanted to know what plans government was implementing to allow diaspora citizens to vote. In response to Honourable Sithole’s question, Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi should simply have explained that we need to amend the constitution and the electoral act in order to enable the diaspora Zimbabweans to vote. He should have given an update on the research he said should have been carried in 2019.

Zimbabwe has facilitated diaspora voting by Mozambique citizens who are based in Zimbabwe, so Ziyambi Ziyambi must know that it is possible for citizens of any country to vote outside the country.

Many SADC countries including Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa allow their citizens in the diaspora to vote. Zimbabwe should not been an exception. 

Temba Mliswa has of late been saying that President Mnangagwa is a good leader who is being let down by his cabinet. It is Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi who promised a study on diaspora voting patterns as far back as 2019, so his statement proves beyond reasonable double that he is incompetent.

If the President was at all sincere about the Diaspora vote when he addressed Zimbabweans in 2018, and has heard of Ziyambi Ziyambi’s plans of 2019, he should have long fired him for incompetence. 

Reports indicate that President Mnangagwa is merely posturing when he addresses audience outside Zimbabwe. President Mnangagwa is reported to have thrown the Speaker of Parliament under the bus during a recent Politburo meeting when he said “we are a party united by our shared ideology and common values.

All of us are subject to the collective wisdom of the party. The correct party line must be adhered to once a collective decision has been made. Personal views and opinions must never be smuggled to assume the status of being a party policy.

Does this mean that he alone has the freedom to talk about the diaspora vote when he addresses gatherings, as he did when he addressed Zimbabweans in New York in 2018? 

Zanu PF is said to be afraid of the diaspora vote because it is said the party thinks that the diaspora population is mostly opposition supporters. But what is wrong with a certain party enjoying majority support in some locations?

Why has Zanu PF not barred elections in the urban areas where the electorate votes for Zanu PF. Why have opposition parties not said we should not have elections in rural areas because Zanu PF has more support in the rural areas? Besides, Zanu PF also has supporters and in some cases structures in the Diaspora. 

Zanu PF has given the sanctions excuse for refusing the diaspora vote. Sanctions have been applied on some individuals in Zimbabwe. I understand that less than 100 people are on the sanctions list.

Zanu PF wants to make the world believe that they will not be able to campaign in the diaspora if the diaspora vote has to be granted, but with only less than 100 of its officials on the sanctions list, and with structures in the United States of America and in the United Kingdom, it has a lot of human resource to deploy for its campaign in the diaspora.

Secondly, the Zimbabweans in the diaspora are not the ones who have applied sanctions on Zimbabwe. They are, instead, contributing to the economy of Zimbabwe through the investments and remitences they make.

The Minister of Finance and many other government officials have acknowledged the contribution to the economy by the Zimbabweans in the diaspora. The diaspora elections are meant for Zimbabwean citizens living abroad, not the British or the Americans, so the excuse for sanctions for not implementing the diaspora vote is out of place.

If Zanu PF was really serious about linking sanctions to the diaspora vote, they would bar only the Zimbabweans living in countries which have applied sanctions on Zimbabwe not to vote.

The United Nations, the African Union and SADC must take note of the shenanigans by Zanu PF around the diaspora vote issue. They must persuade Zimbabwe not to sanction its citizens by denying them the diaspora vote.

Zimbabweans in the diaspora must also fight for their right to vote. A few have made efforts, but they should mobilise each other and speak with one voice. The fight for a diaspora vote has to be sustained.

Finally, President Mnangagwa must realise that he is ruining his reputation and that of his party by not stamping his authority. Zimbabweans and the world are now seeing him as a hypocrite who preaches the diaspora vote to the world, but says something different in closed doors in Zanu PF politibro meetings.  

-newsday

By A Correspondent- A Harare motorist has appeared in court following his arrest for attempting to bribe a police officer at a checkpoint.

Jameson Manjokota (23) of Southview in Harare was dragged before Chinhoyi magistrate Batsirai Madzingira facing bribery charges as defined in Section 170 (l)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23.

Following his conviction, Manjokota was ordered to pay $100,000 fine, failure of which would result in spending seven months in prison.

He was given up to July 29, 2022 to pay the fine.

The state case was that on June 22 this year at the 114 kilometre peg along Harare-Chirundu highway, Manjokota, who is not an authorised public transport operator, was carrying three passengers aboard his Toyota Passo.

Upon being stopped at the police checkpoint and requested to produce documents permitting him to carry passengers, Manjokota offered a police officer, Tapiwanashe Chikava, US$2 so he could let him go scot-free.

The cop took the money before immediately arresting the motorist, who was found guilty of “offering a gift or consideration to an agent who is an employee of Zimbabwe Republic Police as an inducement or reward for not doing an act in relation to Principal’s affairs or business.”

In a related matter, Grashan Mandaza (33) of Coldstream, Chinhoyi appeared before the same court facing similar charges after offering the same cop US$10.

Mandaza was stopped at the said roadblock and asked to produce a permit authorising him to operate a public service vehicle and failed.

He was carrying four passengers in his Honda Fit.

Mandaza also has up to July month-end to pay ZW$100 000 or languish in prison for seven months.

Clever Nyapfani prosecuted both matters.

NEWS RELEASE                            

28 June 2022                          

What employees value most is respect, according to occupational psychologist Memory Nguwi. Also important are supportive leadership and leaders who live the organisation’s core values, he said.

He told participants in a two-day Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute in Zimbabwe Winter School in Harare last Thursday that this was the finding of a survey on the culture elements most important to employees.

Another study showed there were few differences between different generations in terms of work performance.

Psychological safety, by which was meant employees feeling free to voice their opinions in workplace meetings and question management decisions or practices, was important, he said.

Often employees did not feel safe enough to speak freely in meetings, feeling it was safer to keep quiet  or simply agree with their boss.

“When fear is at the core of your operations, your team members will give you their hands but never their hearts and minds.

“Good leaders create an environment where people can be themselves and where it is very safe to speak out and challenge issues,” he said.

“If you want people to follow you, you must respect them,” he added.

He said critical thinking was important but emphasised it should always be backed up with facts.

The winter school was well attended and stimulating, with presenters providing different perspectives on accounting and governance issues.

South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) executive Rashied Small, who made his presentation virtually, said he doubted that anyone realised what an important role accountants play in a country. It had been found that in the fastest growing economies it was accountants rather than the government that was driving the economy, he said.

Accountants not only had a responsibility to their client but had to be accountable to the public.

“If you have to choose between the client and the public interest, the public interest must take priority,” Mr Small said.

“If you are not happy about certain information, you have a responsibility to investigate whether there has been any fraud or corruption,” he said.

With technology taking over some of the accounting functions, digital proficiency was important. The accounting profession was moving towards an advisory function, he said. Qualitative and non-financial information required integrated thinking.

Medirite Healthcare managing director Mugove Chideme shared his own experience in building a business. His first failed business venture taught him the importance of not using working capital to purchase expensive cars and of making profits before purchasing such cars.

He learnt from this experience. His current business is one of the major suppliers of healthcare products in the health sector.

He attributed his eventual success to having a passion for his business and daring to dream.

“Transform problems into opportunities,” he said. “For example, if electricity is always unavailable, look at how you can import solar products for power.”

July28 managing director Jackie Hussein explained the Metaverse and Web 3.0 concepts to winter school participants on Friday.

The metaverse would take working from home and virtual participation in meetings a step further by allowing one to interact  with others, with an image of oneself and others interacting making it seem as if one was actually present with them in the office, a bar or anywhere else. 

“It sounds far-fetched. The technology for the metaverse is still evolving and in many cases is already here,” she said.

Web 3.0 would give users control over their own data, unlike the present situation where others access a people’s data and use it without their permission.

Sabi Mines finance executive Alec Jemwa gave an insight into how to go about a forensic audit. Such an audit was carried out where there were suspicions of fraud. Its purpose was to establish whether there was such fraud and, if there was, to obtain evidence of it that would enable those concerned to be prosecuted.

It was an investigative process, he said, requiring investigative skills that were not required for a standard audit.

He suggested that the reason many forensic audits do not end up in a prosecution is that some of those conducting forensic auditing lacked the necessary investigative skills.

Another problem was that the person responsible for the fraud might be the one the report had to be presented to.

“Your report may go to the person who engages you, who may be the perpetrator,” he said.

ENDS_____________________________________________________________________

Issued on behalf of the Chartered Governance and Accounting Institute in Zimbabwe by MHPR Public Relations Consultants, 59 Van Praagh Avenue, Milton Park, Harare.

By A Correspondent- Teachers at a school in Matabeleland North’s Bubi district have fled from the school after they were sexually attacked by mysterious things believed by locals to be goblins. 

Majiji Primary School’s development committee chairperson (DCC) John Sibanda told Southern Eye that a prophet from an Apostolic sect was invited to perform a cleansing ritual at the school which has virtually shut down.

Sibanda said:

Unfortunately, the results did not satisfy the community members after the situation got worse. A meeting was held and it was decided that those with spiritual powers should be called in to assist remove the goblins.

Madzibaba visited the school last week and performed his magic, unfortunately, the ceremony did not yield the desired results because the abuse by goblins has escalated even more.

Sibanda said another meeting was held last week with different stakeholders at the school, which included village heads, the councillor and parents.

He said parents of learners at the school were fuming saying Madzibaba failed to remove the goblins. Added Sibanda:

He only captured a small snake from a male teacher’s cottage. The community now claim that the captured snake is the same as other snakes that are usually found at Majiji and other surrounding communities in Mbembeswana.

The school is now empty because lessons have been disturbed for a full week after teachers left to flee the goblins. The female teachers who were terrorised by the goblins came back last Sunday, but complained that the situation has actually gotten worse. They did not sleep last night.

Sibanda said different prophets were asked to assist, but only Madzibaba turned up.

Ward 4 councillor Danisa Siwela said more spiritual healers are needed to assist the school.

Villagers told Southern Eye that the owners of the goblins must be exposed.

By A Correspondent- Bail ruling for a divisional intelligence officer in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Leornard Mutandwa arrested last Thursday over extortion and fraud allegations has been deferred to today.

Mutandwa (48) was arrested together with Charles Benjamin Chari (57) and another Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative Godknows Ganyani, who is on the run.

The accused persons yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje. The complainant in the matter is co-director of Welli-Will Industries Wilbert Makonese.

It is alleged that sometime last year, the complainant supplied goods worthUS$392 000 to the Primary and Secondary Education ministry, but payment was delayed.

Makonese was in dire need of money to repay a loan that his company had taken from the Industrial Development Bank of Zimbabwe.

The accused then offered to assist in the processing of the payment from the ministry and introduced themselves as members of the CIO.

It is further alleged that Mutandwa, Ganyani and Chari misrepresented that Makonese should pay “something” so that his company could be assisted. They allegedly showed Makonese a text message on Ganyani’s phone, purportedly originating from higher offices.

Makonese succumbed to the pressure and gave the accused US$1 500.

On November 22, the trio duped him again after misrepresenting that the President’s Office had directed Makonese to donate US$10 000 to a certain charitable organisation which was not named in the court documents.

Makonese gave the accused US$4 000 as a donation.

The trio allegedly further demanded US$500, claiming that it was facilitation fee and hey shared all the money.

Makonese was also forced to pay for one of the accused, Ganyani’s travel expenses from Chiredzi, including hotel bills amounting to US$4 000 and clothes worth US$450.

It was further alleged that on June 21 this year, the trio demanded US$30 000 from Makonese, claiming that it was payment for having facilitated prompt payment of the money which Makonese was owed by the ministry.

However, Makonese had not received the payment from the ministry as claimed by the trio. They threatened unspecified action on him after he refused to cooperate.

Makonese, however, became suspicious of the authenticity of the trio’s claims and he reported the matter to the police.

Investigations were carried out and on June 22, Mutandwa went to Makonese’s business premises intending to collect the money and was arrested.

Mutandwa then led the police to the arrest of Chari.-NewZimbabwe

By A Correspondent- Former finance minister, Tendai Biti, has told off current treasury permanent secretary, George Guvamatanga, after he claimed civil servants are better paid now that they were during the government of national unity (GNU).

Guvamatanga, who was speaking to journalists at finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s press conference Monday, claimed civil servants never received US$540 in monthly wages during the coalition government when Biti was finance minister.

“I want to dispel another notion that has been shared widely, that previously, during the GNU, the minimum salary was US$540,” said Guvamatanga.

“That is not correct, because we know at that particular moment in time the exchange rate was US$1:ZW$2.50.

“If you want to work out the correct US dollar salary you have to take that US$540 and divide it by ZW$2.50.

“If you take the US$175, we are currently paying plus the ZW$60 000, as the minimum salary, we are paying we are not even far off from what civil servants were getting.

“The real value (of their salary) was around US$200.”

The Zimbabwe dollar was not in use during the GNU, which was in place from 2009 to 2013. It was only brought back in 2016 as a surrogate currency, bond notes, three years after the GNU.

Biti, who oversaw revival of the Zimbabwean economy in the GNU, after a decade in the doldrums, said Guvamatanga’s statement was ridiculous.

“The suggestion that there was an exchange rate in 2013 is so zany . It can’t be made by a senior civil servant. A parallel exchange rate only emerged fully in 2018 upon introduction of the surrogate currency we call the RTGS$ or the Bond Note, shame,” said Biti.

“When one has nothing to say one must shut up. Today’s presser was a tragic expression of the humongous levels of deceit, dishonesty, incompetence and hypocrisy of this regime. It is not news that the multi-currency system will continue. Fact is,  the economy self-dollarised a long time ago.”

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) vice president maintained government should adopt the US dollar as the main currency if it was not going to oversee another economic meltdown similar to the one witnessed around 2008.

Added Biti: “The Willing Buyer, Willing Seller (WBWS) exchange, like the auction rate, represents yet another rigged rate, hence the huge difference between same and the rate on 4th street. The RBZ should have no role in determination of exchange rate. Truth is the central bank long outlived its usefulness and should be abolished.

“Solution is simple, use the US dollar as a transitional mechanism. Float Zimbabwe dollar, eliminate export surrender requirements, pay civil servants US dollars, deal with debt burden, deal with corruption, pursue fiscal consolidation, fund the social sector and attend to gross capital formation.”

Ncube is battling to arrest a downward spiral of the economy that has seen Zimbabwe topping inflation rates across the globe, a steep rise in prices of basic goods and job action by civil servants who are demanding better wages in the favoured US dollar.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched investigations into the death of two senior ZANU PF officials in the Nyatsime area of Chitungwiza.

One of them is alleged to have been poisoned, while the other reportedly succumbed to a stress-related illness.

The two officials are former Manyame district chairperson Tina Gweshe, who is suspected by her family to have been poisoned after she attended a party last week, and George Murambatsvina, the ZANU PF chairman for Nyatsime.

In an interview with The Herald on Monday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police have begun the investigations. He said:

We are conducting investigations with a view to find out what exactly happened and we would like to urge the public to cooperate with the police. There is need for police to maintain law and order especially considering what has happened and the investigations being conducted.

Murambatsvina is expected to be buried in his rural home in Gutu while Gweshe will be buried at Zororo cemetery.

The duo was reportedly among ZANU PF officials who blocked supporters of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) from attending the memorial service of their slain colleague, Moreblessing Ali a fortnight ago.

CCC supporters reportedly burnt Murambatsvina’s house following the blockade prompting ZANU PF members to burn some 26 homes belonging to CCC activists in the area.

Meanwhile, Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala and Chitungwiza North legislator Godfrey Sithole, have since been arrested over the violence.

By- Inflation has humbled President Emerson Mnangagwa and his Finance minister, Mthuli Ncube and forced them to revert to the use of the United States dollar.

Mthuli admitted yesterday and said they will enact legislation to entrench the multicurrency system, which makes the US and Zimbabwe dollars legal tender for all local transactions.

He also indicated that the Government would craft legislation to support the use of the willing-buyer willing-seller exchange rate market price discovery in the setting of prices on the local market.

Ncube said the Government had recently taken significant steps to stabilise the Zimbabwe dollar exchange rate as announced by President Mnangagwa and other fiscal and monetary policy measures.
He said the confidence deficit among economic agents as a result of the past hyperinflation experiences had resulted in increased demand for US dollars as a store of value.
Ncube said lack of confidence and high inflation expectations had incentivised economic agents to engage in parallel market bench-marking of prices and skewed preference of US dollar for commercial transactions and forward exchange rate pricing.
By so doing they were creating a vicious cycle of increasing prices, which is self-fulfilling, and is generating higher month-to-month levels of inflation as well as fuelling adverse inflation expectations.

“Based on the above economic facts, the Government is putting in place the following additional measures to build further confidence in the economy. One, entrenching the multicurrency system into law.
“Government has clearly stated its intention of maintaining a multicurrency system based on the dual use of the US dollar and the Zimbabwe dollar in the main.
“However, the market’s lack of confidence in the multicurrency system is causing us challenges and I want to assure you that this multicurrency system is here to stay into the foreseeable future,” he said.
“And to eliminate any speculation and arbitrage-based activities, Government has decided to embed the multicurrency system and continue to use it or to make sure that the US dollar is used as a transaction currency in law for a period that includes the five years that covers the NDS 1 (National Development Strategy 1) period, so this will be in place for the entire NDS1 period.”
Ncube said the interbank market exchange rate is now going to be determined by banks on a willing-buyer willing-seller basis and the utilisation in all economic transactions of this formal rate is now made mandatory by law.
While economic agents are free to price their goods in US or Zimbabwe dollars, he said the equivalence of the US dollar prices and Zimbabwe dollar prices of commodities should be strictly based on the current exchange rate as determined by the willing-buyer willing-seller rate.

By- Lawyers representing the detained CCC deputy chairman Job Sikhala and his counterpart, Godfrey Sithole, have approached the High Court seeking their release. 

In a Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) statement, the duo argued that Deputy Chief Magistrate Mandaza erred in denying bail to their clients.

Jeremiah Bamu and Alec Muchadehama are representing the two senior CCC members.

 Below is the statement:

INCARCERATED SIKHALA, SITHOLE TAKES FREEDOM BID TO HIGH COURT

THE High Court will on Wednesday 29 June 2022 hear an appeal filed by two opposition legislators, who are seeking their release from prison on bail.

In an appeal filed on Monday 27 June 2022, Zengeza West constituency legislator Hon. Job Sikhala and Chitungwiza North constituency legislator Hon. Godfrey Sithole, asked the High Court to overturn Deputy Chief Magistrate Godfrey Mandaza’s decision denying them bail.

On Wednesday 22 June 2022, Deputy Chief Magistrate Mandaza denied bail to Hon. Sikhala and Hon. Sithole after ruling that the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) parliamentarians were not suitable to be released from prison pending commencement of their trial as they were repeat offenders, had breached previous bail conditions, were persons of means and had supplied transport to persons who had perpetrated acts of violence.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Mandaza further stated that the two legislators were a danger to society hence their release on bail would undermine or jeopardise the bail system.

But through their lawyers Jeremiah Bamu and Alec Muchadehama of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Hon. Sikhala and Hon. Sithole, argued that Deputy Chief Magistrate Mandaza mistook the facts by denying them bail on the basis that they were people of means when this reason does not constitute a compelling ground for the denial of bail.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Mandaza, Hon. Sikhala and Hon. Sithole argued, acted on a wrong principle in denying them bail in circumstances where no fears of absconding trial had been established, it being the primary purpose of the bail system.

The two opposition party parliamentarians were arrested on 14 June 2022 by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers, who charged them with incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187(1)(a) as read with section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors argued that Hon. Sikhala recorded and circulated a video urging people to commit acts of public violence in seeking revenge for the death of Moreblessing Ali who was murdered in Nyatsime area in Beatrice.

Hon. Sithole and Hon. Sikhala, prosecutors charged, supplied some vehicles which allegedly ferried some CCC party supporters from Chitungwiza and Epworth to Nyatsime, where they attacked some ruling ZANU PF party supporters and also destroyed property at shops and beer halls and looted groceries and electrical gadgets including burning a one-roomed house belonging to George Murambatsvina, the ZANU PF party Councillor for Nyatsime.

The two parliamentarians want the High Court to set aside Deputy Chief Magistrate Mandaza’s decision denying them bail and to be admitted to bail on conditions which include paying a bail deposit of ZWL15 000 and to be ordered to report once a fortnight on Fridays at Harare Central Police Station until their matter is finalised.

By- Zanu PF has mourned the death of two of its officials in Nyatsime who took part in the disruption of CCC activist Moreblessing Ali’s funeral.

Two Zanu PF officials mysteriously died last week, barely a week after they caused chaos at Moreblessing Ali’s funeral.

Posted Zanu PF on Twitter:

Dark cloud engulfs Nyatsime area A dark cloud has engulfed the Nyatsime following the death of 2 senior Zanu PF officials, with one of them alleged to have been poisoned while the other succumbed to a stress-related illness after his house was recently burnt down by CCC goons

By- Zanu PF has celebrated the political violence it unleashed on opposition activists in June 2008.

Zanu PF maimed more than 200 opposition activists in June 2008 after the ruling party’s President Robert Mugabe had lost to MDC Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.

Zanu PF posted on Twitter, celebrating the violence:

On this day 14 years ago takachigwinha A rerun of the Presidential Elections was done on this very day, 27 June 2008. The revolutionary party pulled all stops in an onslaught to regain our independence and sovereignty. Cde Mugabe won the rerun resoundingly.

By-A popular Harare celebrity make-up artist is to be interviewed as a suspect by police after her husband was found dead at their rented Greendale home early Saturday.

Tawanda Gregory Bobo, 41, was found hanging from a guava tree with two neckties at the Greengroove Drive house. Police believe the scene was staged after Bobo was found in a sitting position, with the jeans he was wearing disposed of in the dump 15 meters away.

ZimLive reports that police have now identified Bobo’s wife Deliwe Chipo Mutandiro, 30, as a suspect, and her sister Debra Fungai Mutandiro as an accomplice to murder for allegedly assisting in the attempted cover-up.

Tawanda, Deliwe and Debra had attended a party in Borrowdale on Friday night and only returned home at around 2 AM on Saturday, according to family sources.

A row ensued between Tawanda and Deliwe, she said after she refused to have sex with him because she was tired and had work the following day.

Reports of a fight were corroborated by the couple’s maid, Chipo Maguta, who revealed that at one point Deliwe “sought refuge” in her room and Tawanda followed her and their argument continued until Debra helped restrain him.

Maguta said Deliwe left her room and she did not know where she slept, although sometime after 3 AM she heard what she thought were footsteps in the passage and the two sisters apparently whispering to each other.

Deliwe and Chipo have told investigators they left for Goromonzi at around 5 AM. Deliwe, who said she slept with their three children in another room, said she observed that her husband did not sleep in their bedroom and assumed he slept in the lounge.

It was not until 8 AM that Maguta stumbled on Tawanda’s body. She called Deliwe and an ambulance was summoned but he was confirmed dead at the scene.

Police said they responded to reports of suicide on Saturday morning. They have now opened a murder investigation.

–ZimLive 

By- The opposition CCC party has remembered its activists who lost their lives in June 2008 to Zanu PF political violence.

Zanu PF maimed more than 200 opposition activists in June 2008 after the ruling party’s President Robert Mugabe had lost to MDC Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.

CCC posted on Twitter, remembering these activists:

17/ On June 27 2008, Zanu PF ran a solo election after the late Dr RM Tsvangirai had pulled out of the rerun due to continued violence and torture targeted against his supporters by suspected Zanu PF thugs. #Remembering27JuneVictims

By-Three people have died in a horror crash on Sunday along the Harare-Bulawayo road.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said the accident involved a commuter omnibus (Kombi) and a Mazda 323.

Below is the police statement on the accident:

The ZRP confirms the death of three people and injury of 18 others in a road traffic accident that occurred at the 133 km peg along Harare- Bulawayo Road on 26/06/22 at about 1500 hours.
A motorist, who was driving a Nissan Caravan vehicle with 18 passengers on board, collided head-on with a Mazda 323 with one passenger on board. The driver of the Nissan Caravan and the two occupants of the Mazda 323 vehicle died on the spot.

By- Zanu PF has mourned the death of two of its officials in Nyatsime who took part in the disruption of CCC activist Moreblessing Ali’s funeral.

Two Zanu PF officials mysteriously died last week, barely a week after they caused chaos at Moreblessing Ali’s funeral.

Posted Zanu PF on Twitter:

Dark cloud engulfs Nyatsime area A dark cloud has engulfed the Nyatsime following the death of 2 senior Zanu PF officials, with one of them alleged to have been poisoned while the other succumbed to a stress-related illness after his house was recently burnt down by CCC goons

By- Zanu PF has celebrated the political violence it unleashed on opposition activists in June 2008.

Zanu PF maimed more than 200 opposition activists in June 2008 after the ruling party’s President Robert Mugabe had lost to MDC Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.

Zanu PF posted on Twitter, celebrating the violence:

On this day 14 years ago takachigwinha A rerun of the Presidential Elections was done on this very day, 27 June 2008. The revolutionary party pulled all stops in an onslaught to regain our independence and sovereignty. Cde Mugabe won the rerun resoundingly.

By-One schoolchildren died on the spot, while four others escaped with injuries after being hit by a car while waiting for transport at the Zhombe East turnoff.

According to the Chronicle, the incident happened at a bus stop on Friday at the 50km peg, along the Kwekwe-Gokwe road around 4 PM.

The pupils, who were coming from school, were waiting at the bus stop for transport to take them home when the tragic incident happened.
Midlands Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident. He said:
One juvenile, who was on his way from school, died on the spot while four others were injured when they were hit by a motor vehicle while they were waiting for transport at a bus stop. The accident occurred at 50km peg on June 24 at around 4PM.
Insp Mahoko said Irvine Phiri (45) was driving a Mazda Familia motor vehicle along Gokwe – Kwekwe road with four passengers on board.
Upon approaching the 50km peg, he lost control resulting in the vehicle, veering off the road and hitting the five children.

All five children fell on the tarred road and Tinotenda Siphelani died on the spot while the other four sustained multiple injuries.
The matter was reported to the police while Siphelani’s body was conveyed to Zhombe Mission Hospital awaiting post-mortem.
The four injured were also rushed to the same hospital for treatment and were further referred to Kwekwe General Hospital for further management.
Police are appealing to drivers to exercise maximum caution and adhere to all road traffic regulations including reducing speed when approaching pedestrians and school children.

By-A popular Harare celebrity make-up artist is to be interviewed as a suspect by police after her husband was found dead at their rented Greendale home early Saturday.

Tawanda Gregory Bobo, 41, was found hanging from a guava tree with two neckties at the Greengroove Drive house. Police believe the scene was staged after Bobo was found in a sitting position, with the jeans he was wearing disposed of in the dump 15 meters away.

ZimLive reports that police have now identified Bobo’s wife Deliwe Chipo Mutandiro, 30, as a suspect, and her sister Debra Fungai Mutandiro as an accomplice to murder for allegedly assisting in the attempted cover-up.

Tawanda, Deliwe and Debra had attended a party in Borrowdale on Friday night and only returned home at around 2 AM on Saturday, according to family sources.

A row ensued between Tawanda and Deliwe, she said after she refused to have s*x with him because she was tired and had work the following day.

Reports of a fight were corroborated by the couple’s maid, Chipo Maguta, who revealed that at one point Deliwe “sought refuge” in her room and Tawanda followed her and their argument continued until Debra helped restrain him.

Maguta said Deliwe left her room and she did not know where she slept, although sometime after 3 AM she heard what she thought were footsteps in the passage and the two sisters apparently whispering to each other.

Deliwe and Chipo have told investigators they left for Goromonzi at around 5 AM. Deliwe, who said she slept with their three children in another room, said she observed that her husband did not sleep in their bedroom and assumed he slept in the lounge.

It was not until 8 AM that Maguta stumbled on Tawanda’s body. She called Deliwe and an ambulance was summoned but he was confirmed dead at the scene.

Police said they responded to reports of suicide on Saturday morning. They have now opened a murder investigation.

–ZimLive 

By- The opposition CCC party has remembered its activists who lost their lives in June 2008 to Zanu PF political violence.

Zanu PF maimed more than 200 opposition activists in June 2008 after the ruling party’s President Robert Mugabe had lost to MDC Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.

CCC posted on Twitter, remembering these activists:

17/ On the 27th of June 2008, Zanu PF ran a solo election after the late Dr RM Tsvangirai had pulled out of the rerun due to continued violence and torture targeted against his supporters by suspected Zanu PF thugs. #Remembering27JuneVictims

AT DR MAGAISA’s memorial… With Dr Simba Makoni, Dr Ibbo Mandaza, Prof Lovemore Madhuku and Prof Arthur Mutambara. One Zimbabwe…One People, One Nation, One Vision. RIP WaMagaisa.- Advocate Nelson Chamisa

Tinashe Sambiri| A traditional leader in Bikita is tormenting known CCC supporters.

Sabhuku Stephan Makufa is confiscating CCC regalia and threatening to assault supporters of President Nelson Chamisa’s party.

“In Bikita South, ward 8 , Zengeya area Sabhuku Stephan Makufa aka Chiponda is confiscating CCC regalia.

He is also threatening CCC supporters.

He says Zanu PF has given him the right to assault CCC supporters.

The kraal head is also abusing women,” CCC Bikita South said in a statement.

By A Correspondent- The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has remembered victims of the violence that preceded the 2008 presidential re-run election which the Nelson Chamisa-led party blames on the ruling ZANU PF.

Many people were tortured and or killed while some lost their homes as the ruling ZANU PF’s campaign dubbed “27 June VaMugabe muOffice” was implemented by ZANU PF’s Border Gezi-trained Greenbombers, state security forces and war veterans. 

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, the late Morgan Tsvangirai, pulled out of the presidential race following violence against his supporters. Pindula News presents the CCC’s Twitter thread – #Remembering27JuneVictims:

Today, the 27th of June, we remember the opposition members who were murdered, tortured and maimed in 2008 on account of politics

The violent attacks on the opposition members by suspected Zanu PF thugs took place after the late Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai had resoundingly won the March 2008 presidential elections against the late Robert Mugabe. 

This electoral outcome threatened to bring Robert Mugabe’s grip on power since independence to an abrupt end. The opposition, for the first time since independence, also took control of parliament.

The regime through the abuse of the state institutions particularly ZEC released a tampered election result outcome after a very long time, and subsequently resulted in a rerun.

In a callous effort to reverse the presidential election result, suspected Zanu PF unleashed terror and violence against opposition members.

According to the ZEC results which took more than a month to be released, Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDCT garnered 47.9 % of the total vote to upstage Robert Mugabe of ZANU-PF who allegedly garnered 43.7 % of the total vote.

A re-run was ordered to take place on the 27th of June 2008 to determine a winner. The 27th of June 2008 would become the rerun date. 

Before the re-run could take place, politically motivated violence broke out across the country which left more than 200 opposition supporters dead, over 200 reported cases of  rape, destruction of property and livestock and over 20000 people displaced.

The election was widely contested and rejected by the international community. After several talks mediated by South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, ZANU PF and two MDC formations formed a Government of National Unity (GNU).

By A Correspondent- The government has announced the introduction of a new Statutory Instrument that will compel debtors to repay in the currency they would have borrowed, for instance, those who borrow USD will repay in USD.

The announcement was made by Finance and Economic Development Secretary, George Guvamatanga at a press conference held in Harare this Monday.

He said the Statutory Instrument will be issued today (27 June 2022).

He said the legislation is introduced after financial institutions including banks have been complaining that people are borrowing USD and would repay in Zimbabwe dollars.

This would put them at a disadvantage considering that the local currency is shedding value against the United States dollar and other currencies.

By A Correspondent- Four million children are failing to pay fees and are now clamouring for government’s Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) programme, the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) has said.

In its latest report released last week, Zimcodd also said 30 000 students failed to register for their final examinations last year after failing to afford Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) fees.

“Although government’s efforts are commendable, it is sad to note that approximately four million children are in need of Beam, but only 160 782 managed to receive government assistance, pointing to the meagre spending towards HCD [human capital development],” Zimcodd said.

“Parents across the country failed to pay for their children’s school fees leading to a mass dropout in 2021. A 2,03% decrease was witnessed with 49 128 candidates as compared to 50 287 in 2020. The reduction in numbers of students who registered with Zimsec for Advanced Level did not come as a surprise to Zimcodd, as one of its weekly reviews in 2021 lamented how 30 000 students had failed to register. This points to weak social protection policies with respect to education.”

Zimcodd said as of August 2021, government had only paid for 160 782 children fees, amounting to $432 834 468.

Zimcodd said it had carried out the rapid survey to determine if government had increased Beam uptake and if it was releasing the Beam funds on time.

The survey established that while government was paying Beam, many schools had not received Beam fees for the first term, although a few had received and the last payments having been made in March.

The survey also determined that the low number of Beam beneficiaries indicated that government was either unwilling or failing to support the vulnerable children.

Zimcodd implored the Primary and Secondary Education as well as the Finance and Economic Development ministries to prioritise education by adequately funding Beam to ensure that every vulnerable child gets an equal opportunity to learn.

Public Service minister Paul Mavima said: “Government is only giving assistance to one and a half million children this year. President Emmerson Mnangagwa said by next year, the government will start State-funded basic education, so all the children will be taken care of next year.”-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s worsening economic situation has reportedly ratcheted pressure on President Emmerson Mnangagwa from within his ruling Zanu-PF party to find quick solutions as the country heads into the election season.

The spectre of the grim 2008 era defined by hyperinflation is looming large in the southern African country after the year-on-year inflation shot up to 191,7% in June from 131,7% in May according to the latest official figures.

Price increases have become a daily occurrence, leaving desperate workers unable to cope as wages and salaries fail to keep pace.

A panicked Mnangagwa promised on Friday to announce fresh “concrete measures to tame inflation, and unwarranted increases towards securing the incomes and savings of our people, especially women”.

He said this while officially opening Zanu-PF’s 7th national women’s league congress in Harare.

Mnangagwa appears stumped, unable to deal with the rampaging inflation or halt the slide of the local currency against the United States dollar.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube is likely to announce the measures at a Press conference this morning.

On the parallel market, the rate was US$1:$650 at the weekend, compared to $360 on the official market.

Party organs are reportedly increasingly becoming restless, worried that the economic meltdown could cost the ruling party dearly in elections expected next year.

There are also strong indications that the Cabinet is sharply divided over how to deal with the situation, with some ministers calling for dollarisation, while others are advocating for the status quo to stay.

Big wigs in the party are also reportedly piling pressure on Mnangagwa to reshuffle the Cabinet and fire some ministers they accuse of sabotaging his vision of a middle class population by 2030, insiders said.

The Zanu-PF women’s league on Friday implored Mnangagwa to put in place stringent measures to stem corruption that now infests his cronies, which has emerged as the major force bleeding the economy.

“My President, we want you to introduce stiffer penalties against perpetrators of corruption by even cutting one finger, if not two,” women’s league secretary Mabel Chinomona said at the conference.

At a Press conference recently, Zanu-PF youth national secretary for administration Tendai Chiwetu said he was aware of ministers and legislators who were working against Mnangagwa.

“We have people who seem to like President Mnangagwa, but they don’t like him. We are going to make sure that they don’t retain as central committee members as we approach the elections,” Chiwetu said.

Mnangagwa has previously attacked “saboteurs” for the economic malaise.

Last month, he announced a raft of measures aimed at controlling the spiralling inflation, which included a ban on bank lending, but the measures boomeranged and forced government to backtrack.

Economists attributed the current economic mess to poor monetary policies and fiscal policy failure, insisting that dollarisation was the only way to forward.

“There is no room for other economic measures to rescue the economy other than dollarisation. Owing to this ever rising inflation, the minister (Ncube) may need a supplementary budget, but with what currency? Is he prepared to use the local currency, we will have a $2 trillion dollar budget because naturally, if you look at what has been happening, the official exchange rate has tripled from December last year yet the budget did not take into account of that,” economist Gift Mugano said.

“Expectation was that by the end of the year, the official exchange rate would be around 200, but now it’s already 350. As we get to December, the rate would be above 500.

“So government is in no capacity to put any measure to tame inflation other than dollarising. It’s a raging fire. Economic agents are restless. Whatever is happening in the economy is self-fulfilling.”

Political analyst Sydicks Muradzikwa described Mnangagwa’s efforts to resolve the economic crisis as “political rhetoric”.

“The economic fundamentals that are prevailing cannot be addressed by political gimmicks. He has to make sure that he implements genuine political reforms. There are outstanding key political issues that are threatening to tear this economy apart,” he said.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF councillor Masimbi Masimbi, who torched a heated controversy after declaring the Nyatsime area in Chitungwiza a ruling party territory, has ordered all residents in the area to attend a rally set to be addressed by President Mnangagwa on Wednesday.

Masimbi made headlines two weeks ago when he banned Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists from mourning their murdered colleague Moreblessing Ali while wearing CCC party regalia claiming that the Nyatsime area was a Zanu-PF territory.

The area was later turned into a battle field as CCC and Zanu-PF supporters clashed.

In a Saturday evening audio sent on WhatsApp group “Regularise Nyatsime Trust 2”, Masimbi, who is ward 9 (Nyatsime) councillor, said he was targeting an attendance of 20 000 people.

“I have come back again Nyatsime residents. I want to speak firmly on this issue. We are expecting the President on June 29.  We want to shock the nation by a high turnout as we welcome our President. We want to show him that we are behind him, we will vote for him. Five million votes will come from this area,” Masimbi said.

“We need to show him that we are his children and everyone needs title deeds. His visit and that of the whole province is a big blessing to the ward. That day, schools should close for people to go and welcome our President and prove that five million votes can come out of Nyatsime.”

This did not go down well with some residents in the group who said this kind of communication should have been done in a Zanu-PF WhatsApp group.

“Comrade, why don’t you go to your party’s group. Respect that people in this group have different political affiliations,” said one of the group members.

Masimbi replied: “I did not speak politics, I said let’s go and welcome the country’s President and tell him our concerns which made this group to be created such as the issue of title deeds. That’s the main purpose of the group. Know that comrade.”

-Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe ( ARTUZ) has vowed to confront the Zanu PF regime over the arrest and detention of its president Obert Masaraure.

In a statement on Sunday, ARTUZ secretary general, Robson Chere, accused the Zanu PF regime of using the persecution by prosecution gimmick to silence dissenting voices.

“He is not with his family right now , he is in prison for the simple reason of Fighting for labour rights.

Lets join hands and demand justice for him. As a Union we are also not going to fold hands and allow our President being persecuted .

FreeObert #justiceforobert,” Chere posted on Facebook.

CCC welfare officer Maureen Kademaunga on Saturday denounced the incessant persecution of political activists by Zanu PF.

Kademaunga said:
“Was at Chikurubi to visit Hon Job WiwaSikhala, Hon G. Sithole , Masaraure Obert , Jeche, Guzha and Makoma. I am sore.

The regime can’t abuse us like this and we carry on with life as usual.
Our lack of active solidarity is trechorous and may corner us into breaches of culpability.”

By A Correspondent- Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Saturday claimed Zanu PF thugs in police uniforms were terrorising their legislators in Nyatsime, with one of them being robbed of a vehicle.

Nyatsime has been a no-go-area since the body of late CCC activist Moreblessing Ali was discovered dismembered, stuffed in sacks and thrown in a well.

Ali was killed by a suspected Zanu PF supporter for her anti-regime stance according to the opposition.

“Violence Alert: Suspected Zanu PF thugs in @PoliceZimbawe uniforms are terrorizing CCC legislators, councilors and other members in Chitungwiza and Nyatsime. The thugs robbed Hon Chimbaira of his car. They’re being persecuted for demanding justice for Moreblessing Ali,” said the CCC on Twitter.

A senior Central Intelligence Organisation officer Leonard Mutandwa appeared in court on Friday charged with fraud and extortion.

Mutandwa (48), the Divisional Intelligence Officer, was arrested alongside Charles Benjamin Chari (57) while another operative, Godknows Ganyani is allegedly on the run.

The complainant is a co-director of Welli-Will Industries Wilbert Makonese.

According to the police investigations, sometime in 2021, the complainant supplied goods worth US$392 000 to the Primary and Secondary Education ministry and received no payment.

Makonese was in dire need of the payment to enable him to repay a loan his company took from the Industrial Development Bank of Zimbabwe.

It is alleged that Mutandwa got wind of Makonese’s predicament, and hatched a plan to defraud and extort money from him.

Mutandwa  and his co-accused offered to assist in the processing of the payment from the relevant ministry, but demanded kickbacks for their efforts.

Makonese succumbed to the pressure and gave the accused US$1 500.

On November 22, the trio duped Makonese again after misrepresenting that the Office of the President wanted him to donate US$10 000 to an unnamed charity organisation.

The complainant gave the trio US$4 000 towards the donation.

The trio further demanded another US$500 claiming it was a facilitation fee.

Makonese was also forced to pay for Ganyani’s travel expenses from Chiredzi, including hotel bills totalling US$4 000 and US$450 to buy new clothes.

It was also alleged that on June 21 this year, the trio demanded US$30 000 from Makonese, claiming that it was a payment for having facilitated prompt payment of the money which he was owed by the ministry.

But Makonese had not received payment from the ministry.

The trio started threatening Makonese, saying he would face unspecified action if he failed to pay them the money.

Makonese became suspicious of the the trio’s claims and threats and realised that he had been duped.

He filed a police report and a trap was set, leading to the arrest of Mutandwa on June 22 at Makonese’s business premises where he had gone to collect some money.

Mutandwa then implicated Chari.-standard