By A Correspondent- Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa says the harsh treatment that is being done to CCC leader Nelson Chamisa by the police during his rallies is the same treatment that he got when he was campaigning as an Independent MP for Norton.

Mliswa warned that if the ruling parties continues harassing the opposition leader instead of fixing its own house, it might get a rude awakening after CCC wins the by-elections.

Read his full statement below:

It is important that ZANU PF simply show its vibrancy in the youth because that is where the election will be determined. Both CCC and ZANU PF are generally equal in terms of women support. However, in terms of youth support CCC is ahead.

You can see this easily by how CCC controls tertiary institutions and the attendant activism which they have shown through their own initiative. The activism that led to the country’s liberation was cultivated through such institutions and age groups.

Thus ZANU PF should be worried by the political apathy which has been exhibited within its youth ranks. It’s a sign of a deeper rot, lack of actual political spine and conviction about what the party is about.

ZANU PF has to face this fact and not just be emotional, throwing punches at opponents. It needs to strategise & go back to basics and inspire the youths to believe in its ideals.

I have previously said the party needs to look at the last scenario where the President lost in areas won by the MPs. What was the problem? Where were the youth? How have they corrected those anomalies?

Tinashe Sambiri| The fact that young people across the world are assuming positions of power indicates change is coming to Zimbabwe, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa was commenting on Gabriel Boric’s victory in the Presidential Election in Chile.

The CCC leader also believes “Zimbabwe will be one of the fastest growing economies in the world.”

“We will run & deliver a clean,mean and lean government that places modernization of everything and the prosperity of all #citizens at the centre.Zimbabwe will be one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Zimbabweans in the diaspora will be flocking back home.#NewandGreat,” President wrote on Twitter.

“Young people around the world must stand up,lead and be counted to make the world a better place. The future is young! Well done #Chile.”

Seasoned journalist Peter Ndoro commented:

“G Boric 36 is the new #Chile President. B Obama (USA) was 48 taking office, D Cameron (UK) 44, J Trudeau (Canada) 44, J Ardern (N Zealand) 37, E Macron (France) 40. Should #Africa have younger leaders with citizens average age of 19.7 yrs? #SaturdayMotivation #SaturdayThoughts.”

Boric is the 36th President of Chile, serving since 11 March 2022.

Boric studied in the Faculty of Law at the University of Chile, and was the president of the University of Chile Student Federation from 2011 to 2012…

By A Correspondent- Six army recruits died during an eight-month training regime which started in July last year and ended on Tuesday, the army commander revealed.

Lieutenant General David Sigauke was speaking during a pass-out parade by 2,442 soldiers at the Imbizo Training Depot in Bulawayo.

“The training commenced on July 1, 2021, with a total of 2,501 recruits comprising of 2,242 males and 259 females drawn from all our provinces,” the army chief said.

“Today a total of 2,442 comprising 2,190 males and 252 females are graduating. On a sad note, we lost six recruits who passed on during the time of our training and we say may their souls rest in eternal peace.

A total of 59 recruits failed to make the grade due to various reasons and today they are not in this parade.”

Sigauke said the training “transformed and natured the graduates from a civilian life into distinct and illustrious servicemen and women who should from today onwards commit their life to serve their motherland Zimbabwe.”

He said the army was being called upon to defend the country’s territorial integrity, as he warned of threats posed by the Islamic insurgency in Mozambique to regional peace and stability.

He added: “In pursuit of defending our country, you should always remember that as a professional force there is zero tolerance to indiscipline and unprofessional conduct.”-zimlive

Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa today visited his staunch supporter Gogo Chihera at her Glen View house and delivered a present.

Posting on Twitter, Chamisa said;

“Today I visited Gogo Chihera at her house in Glen view. We delivered a yellow present to her. Oh she was so excited! Citizens at the centre!”

By A Correspondent- A man from Magadla village in Matobo District, has appeared in court facing rape charges after they gang raped a forty year old woman while on her way to her home after beer drinking with the suspects.

Indications in court are that the woman demanded a goat as payment from the man after she was raped.

David Ndlovu (21) pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before Bulawayo Regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga.

Prosecutor Naison Chivayo told the court that, sometime in July last year Ndlovu along with his colleagues Musawakhe Mthunzi (21) Lucky Ncube (21) and Ignetious Tshuma were drinking home brewed beer at Japhet Mthunzi’s homestead which is situated in Magadla village.

They drank until late into the night where they were joined by the woman aged (40) who arrived at 9pm and continued to drink beer and the victim and the three men ended up being offered a place to sleep at the homestead and were given blankets to sleep.

It is the state case that the woman was surprised to wake up naked and sensed that she had been abused after discovering that one of the suspects slept next to her naked as well.

It is the state case that one of the suspects implicated the other leading to their arrest after he was beaten to the pulp by the villagers.

It is alleged that the woman demanded payment of a goat for the sexuial abuse.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabweans teachers are reportedly undergoing Red Cross training in order to acquire healthcare certificates so that they can leave the country for greener pastures.

This was said by Magwegwe MP Anele Ndebele (MDC Alliance) in Parliament on Tuesday after he had raised a point of national interest. He said:

I express dismay and shock on behalf of teachers in the country for the way we as the State treat our teachers.

We are talking of people who have invested years and hard-earned money to get the best education available and acquire the requisite skills, yet they are denied a living wage.

I will tell you for a fact that our teachers are now going for Red Cross training to acquire healthcare certificates so that they can go overseas.

We must do something as Parliament to curb brain drain as we are losing teachers.

Ndebele also urged the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service to ensure that the Public Service Commission (PSC) and teachers’ unions resolve the salary impasse.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tsitsi Gezi said the points raised by Ndebele were valid. She said:

I am sure that the Public Service minister has taken note of that.

This comes after the PSC published names of teachers it recruited recently after suspending 1 500 teachers and 50 school heads for defying a directive to report for duty.

The majority of teachers and schools heads failed to report for duty between 7 and 22 February citing financial incapacitation and demanding to be paid their salaries in US dollars.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Nearly 30 percent of the maize crop across Midlands Province is now a write off with the total provincial yield already compromised due to the prolonged dry spell that has been experienced for over a month now.

In an interview Midlands provincial crop and livestock officer, Mrs Madeline Magwenzi said crops that are in bad state due to the prolonged dry spell across the province include cotton and soya beans.

“For now we have a 30 percent write off in terms of the maize crop situation across the province but if the dry spell continues beyond this week, we will have a 50 percent write off.

We are, however, still okay on crops which were planted early and those which were planted late and overall, we are still hopeful and if we get rains we will salvage something,” she said.

Mrs Magwenzi said the rains received on Monday in some areas across the province were not going to change anything since some crops were reaching permanent wilting stage.

“Some areas on Monday received less than 10mm and that is not enough and now the weather is very hot and all the water is evaporating.

The overnight rain was not enough to resuscitate but can actually destroy more,” she added.

Mrs Magwenzi said small grains were, however, still in good condition with 85 percent still unaffected by the dry spell.

Sunflower and tobacco, she said, were also still in a good state but cotton farmers were the hardest hit.

“The farmers who have been badly affected now are the cotton farmers because the flowers are now falling and there will be little to no yield under such circumstances,” she said.

Mrs Magwenzi said the province expected yield has been greatly affected with hopes however still high that it will manage to salvage something.

“We have not lost hope; we have some crops which are still doing well, especially the small grains.

The total write off is still at 30 percent and we are hopeful,” she said.

On the livestock side, Mrs Magwenzi said the pastures were still in abundance but urged farmers to start making hay.

She said water levels were still low in rivers.

“We still have grass and it is important that farmers should start harvesting hey for their livestock,” she said.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- ZANU Ndonga secretary general Farai Mudzingwa was left stranded after MDC-T leader, Douglas Mwonzora reneged on his earlier promise to surrender the party’s share of the political grant he received from the Treasury recently.

Mudzingwa had travelled to Harare from his Chimanimani base to collect the money, only to find himself aground with no accommodation, food and transport fees despite having been assured the money was ready for collection at the party’s Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House headquarters last weekend.

It has since emerged that Mudzingwa later contacted MDC-T national chairman Morgen Komichi, who only sent him ZW$1 500 via ecocash.

However, Komichi has refuted the claims stating that Zanu Ndonga is only trying to create unnecessary drama.

“The truth is that people tend to create drama when it is not even necessary,” Komichi said.

“First, I’m not the party treasurer, financial transactions are done by our treasurer, Tapiwa Mashakada. What you have seen was just a friendly transaction between me and Mudzingwa and was not done on behalf of the party, so it is not true that MDC-T gave him ZW$1 500.”

“The correct position also is that Mudzingwa did not come all the way from Chipinge for the rally. He was already in Harare, and we have been attending meetings together for the past three weeks and he was coming from a local base,” said Komichi.

Komichi also said all the officials who attended the Saturday rally in Harare were well catered for.

“The event was highly organised,” he said.

Zanu-PF and the opposition led by Mwonzora in January received half a billion dollars ahead of the March 26 local council and parliamentary by-elections.

The money was availed by the Treasury through the justice ministry.

Under the Political Parties (Finance) Act, parties with representation in parliament are entitled to funding proportionate to the size of that representation.

Zanu-PF got the bigger share of ZW$350 150 000 translating to 70,3%, while MDC-T pocketed ZW$149 850 000.

The MDC Alliance is a coalition of seven political parties including Zanu Ndonga, as such the members say they were set to benefit but were left in the open after trying to claim their share.

But Zanu Ndonga insisted that Mwonzora played the hard ball on them.

“The MDC-T’s leadership has made countless promises that they would make the payment since last week and till today our interim secretary general is now desperate and homeless in Harare,” the party’s Manicaland provincial youth secretary for information Stanley Mutambwa.

According to Mutambwa, on the March 2 this year, a resolution was made that all MDC Alliance partners would use their allocated grant to mobilise supporters and members for the Alliance National Peace Star Rally that was set for last Sunday at Zimbabwe Grounds.

He said Mashakada was now not answering their calls.

“Our S.G ended up approaching MDC T National Chairman Senator Morgen Komichi who gave him ZW$1500 via ecocash and told him to go back home to Chimanimani,” Mutambwa he wrote in a statement to NewZimbabwe.com.

“What an insult? $1500 is not enough to go to Chimanimani. Zanu-Ndonga is appealing to President Mwonzora to stop playing games with Alliance partners.

Mutambwa also said Mudzingwa was previously also asked to borrow money so that he could attend Mwonzora’s Bulawayo rally and would get a refund, but the promise was not fulfilled.

He said they are now questioning him on his legitimacy.

He also said Zanu Ndonga was weighing its options on whether to remain in the MDC Alliance or align with Mwonzora’s arch-rival Nelson Chamisa’s Citizens Coalition for Change outfit.

By A Corespondent- A retired top banker has disclosed violation of local government procedures by a leading local property developer, Alpha International Developers, following a dispute over payments.

In letters sent to Alpha seen by NewsDay Business, Austen Ratsauka, who is demanding about $1,8 million for consultancy work done over three months, says he was contracted by the firm to provide professional advice.

However, he discovered that Alpha was collecting money from clients at a housing development scheme in Hatcliffe, Harare, before the city council approved developments.

“(I) prepared and submitted framework proposals to financial institutions in an effort to raise funding for the company’s Beitbridge housing project,” Ratsauka said.

“(I) introduced measures to avoid double-allocation of stands on Alpha projects.

“The situation on the Hatcliffe project in particular posed a challenge as some ‘unallocated-stands beneficiaries’ had moved on to the land, making it difficult to identify genuine owners.

“The consultant was requested to engage the Ministry of Housing and seek assistance to regularise the development.

“This would not be possible because, as the Alpha general manager, (Zivanai) Vhimisai, had advised that, Alpha had not paid for the land yet continued to collect money for the project without meaningful progress on the ground,” said the banker, who is demanding US$4 500 for every month he served.

He said he prepared framework proposals to four financial institutions to raise US$2,4 million, which was earmarked for the firm’s Beitbridge project.

“Despite the absence of a contract of employment, not that I did not try to pursue one with yourselves, I requested that you pay me an executive remuneration for the three months, May to July 2021 that I worked for Alpha International.

“Executives of my level, calibre, experience and track record command a remuneration of at least US$4 500 per month. I am, therefore, requesting that you pay me the sum of US$13 500,” he said.

In an interview with NewsDay Business, Vhimisai acknowledged that Alpha collected funds from clients before local government processes were finalised.

However, he said the problem arose after politicians moved people on to the land before it was developed.

“We acknowledge that we hired him to do some consultancy work, some of which didn’t materialise, and we still owe him some money which we are still processing” Vhimisai said.

“We got the land and it was invaded before we regularised. So we are regularising,” he added.

By A Correspondent- The Government has increased application fees for nurses’ confirmation letters and certificates by 100 per cent, from US$150 to US$300.

The new fees were revealed in a letter by Nurses Council of Zimbabwe registrar Mercy Chaka dated 11 March 2022. She wrote:

The Nurses Council of Zimbabwe wishes to advise nurses that the approved fees for application for a certificate of good standing (CGS) and application for the confirmation letters for all the nurses residing in Zimbabwe and outside Zimbabwe is now US$300 and is with effect from January 1, 2022.

Association (ZINA) president Enock Dongo told NewsDay that the new fees were unfair and meant to block nurses from leaving the country for greener pastures. Said Dongo:

This is the most expensive verification.

In some of the countries, it is actually free to get a letter of good standing and now Zimbabwe charges US$300, which is not being given as salaries to the civil servants themselves.

Nurses will need three to four months without eating to raise such an amount.

That is really ridiculous, they are punishing health workers.

Health workers have left the country due to poor working conditions and salaries.

We now have a lot of practitioners who have left the country in search of greener pastures and we have shortages in our hospitals, so it’s a strategy that they have come up with to stop that.

This is totally wrong and unacceptable in a democratic country.

There is no way that you can force workers to work for you.

People have the right to work for the employer of their choice.

A CGS is a confirmation letter issued by a professional body to a sister body as clearance for a health worker.

It is given to a healthcare worker with no pending disciplinary issues regarding patient care and relations with colleagues and it also confirms that the holder is a qualified nurse.

Zimbabwe has been losing qualified and experienced workers in the health sector to other countries, with 2 200 health workers having left the country in 2021.

By A Correspondent- Madam Boss’ husband Ngonidzashe Munetsiwa who is popularly known as Ngoni is currently going through a rough patch after the woman whom he is accused of having an affair with and impregnating threatened to commit suicide.

The woman at the centre of the storm is identified as Evangelister Zhou and she is an assistant dentist at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

The matter came to light on Monday when Zhou disclosed her intention to terminate the pregnancy.

It is reported that Zhou posted a video of herself drinking a pesticide while threatening to take her life. She alleged that Mhofu abused her and she was fed up.

Following the incident, it is further alleged that Mhofu sent someone to take her to a doctor.

When H-Metro contacted Mhofu, he denied all the allegations levelled against him. He denied knowing Zhou even if he was shown her picture.

According to Zhou, Mhofu had been ignoring her since Friday leading her to confide in one Pastor Jairos Maphosa of the Church of Asaph.

Pastor Maphosa said Eva is willing to be Mhofu’s second wife but she is afraid of Madam Boss.

Pastor Maphosa said Zhou sent him some messages including videos of her taking a pesticide and threatening to kill herself because of Mhofu.

“She accused Ngoni of forcing her to terminate a pregnancy for the second time and this touched my heart.

This is not the first time Zhou has threatened to take her life. She did the same after she was forced to terminate the first pregnancy.

Hanzi zvikazivikanwa ndinorarama sei naMadam Boss uye iye Ngoni arikuti unozviona chete saka nyarara.”

It is further alleged that Mhofu has sent Zhou messages threatening and barring her from speaking to the publication.

Quotable Quotes From Shadaya’s Trending Interview 

Controversial Zimbabwe social media personality and self-proclaimed anti-feminist Shadaya Knight Tawona is trending on social media platforms following a feisty interview.  

The Twitter influencer was involved in a rather contentious and heated exchange with co-host Run G on the Denny J show with Boyz DzeTonaz. The interview has been trending on social media platforms and has divided people.  

Below are some surprising and controversial quotable quotes from Knight Shadaya’s interview on the Denny J show.

On Suicide: Fix The Women, Fix The Problem

“Why people are committing suicide. Let’s look at the statistics with regards to suicide. Which gender or sex has the largest number? Men. Right?

“And then when you look at men, what is stressing men? Women. so fix the women, fix the problem of mental illness.”

On Living With Women

“It takes a snake to know another snake…Being married to a woman is like living with a snake. You just have to know how to charm it. I am being honest with you. It takes a woman to know a woman and it takes a man to know another man.”

On Stunner:

Soul Jah Love died in his 30s and he called himself chibaba because when a man has reached a certain level of maturity he calls himself baba, a father chimudhara but here is a man in his 40s and he parades himself on social media calling himself Vapfanha vechidiki vanezvinhu zvavo.

There is nothing i can learn from that guy. i dont have a problem with him.

Defending himself on what he calls the “truth and logic”.

“When it comes to the truth, the truth doesn’t care about your feelings… How you take the truth is up to you

On single mothers:

“Women need to factor in what is called logic…. men are polygamus by nature, if a man has failed to commit with other women what makes you think he will settle with you.”

His views on women in general.

Women are like children. One drunk man is more intelligent than 3 women with PhDs.

Watch the interview below:

By A Correspondent- A Mwenezi mentally challenged man allegedly killed his elder brother who was also a mental patient before hanging himself adjacent to the murder scene.

Zvondai Murove, 32, of Mukahamari village under Chief Neshuro in Mwenezi murdered his brother Tawedzerwa Murove, 35, on the night of March 4.

After killing his brother, Zvondai left the dead body inside a local Zion Christian Church (ZCC) and later on hanged himself on a tree about 300 meters from the murder scene, TellZim reports.

Masvingo provincial Police Spokesperson confirmed and urged caregivers to exercise extreme care on the patients .

“We encourage care-givers of mental patients to ensure they always monitor their patients.”

Chief Neshuro’s secretary Pinias Shoko confirmed the incident saying the two had been known to be mentally challenged.

For years, the murdered elder brother was staying in South Africa but after he came back a number of altercations between the two were reported..

The dispute led to the younger brother to kill his sibling and left the corpse inside a ZCC church before he proceeded to hang himself at a tree adjacent to the scene of murder.”

The incident took place during the night and the two corpses were discovered by a passersby the following morning.

Chenjerai Muzamani, brother to the two deceased said the two have been experiencing some interval mental problems since the 1990s.

No one witnessed the alleged incident.

The two corpses were taken to Neshuro District Hospital mortuary

Controversial prophet Passion Java has warned business mogul Sir Wicknell Chivayo for signing a petition to deport him from the United States.

Earlier this week social media was left abuzz after Zimcelebs took to their Instagram alleging that Sir Wicknel had signed the petition.

Responding, the self-styled prophet and staunch Zanu PF supporter wrote: “But Sir Wickenel ka …”

The self-proclaimed prophet, through his spokesperson Boss Lashan, said there was very little on the case to worry him.

“This is a petty issue that we would not want to dwell on. I would rather not comment about it,” said Boss Lashan, speaking on behalf of Java.

However, statements on social media, which have been widely distributed, appear to suggest Chivayo has distanced himself from the plot.

“The US will never deport a millionaire because random people signed a petition, I am a strong Zanu PF supporter and I side with all ED (President Emmerson Mnangagwa) loyalists,” Chivayo is said to have clarified.

The petition, which was raised by Kurauone, has received mixed reactions on social media.

A political activist, Godfrey Kurauone, set the petition on change.com, triggering people to sign it in favour of Java’s deportation.

The petition has since garnered over 11 000 signatures from the people who are in favour of his deportation.

The petition reads: “Panganai Passion Java, a self-proclaimed prophet, enjoys permanent resident status in the USA while he goes back to Zimbabwe to actively support a regime that is killing citizens, violating fundamental rights and stealing national resources.

He uses state resources to move around the country buying votes for Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“The State Department of the United States has, through its Secretary of State, the power to begin the process of revoking Mr Passion Java’s permanent resident status.

The USA policy is to support freedom, democracy and prosperity for the people of Zimbabwe and to this end has imposed restrictive measures on individuals who aide human rights violations and undermine democracy in Zimbabwe.

Mr Java is one such culprit and should be sanctioned and barred from coming to the USA and his accounts frozen.

-Zim Independent

By- MDC Alliance treasurer-general Tapiwa Mashakada says he is worried over the division within opposition ranks as this will split their vote and allow the ruling Zanu PF party to win elections easily.

The MDC Alliance staged a rally at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfields, Harare on Sunday and attracted a sizeable crowd though some critics claimed that the opposition party paid people from across the country and then bussed them to attend the rally.
Posting on his Facebook account on Sunday Mashakada implicitly implored opposition political parties to unite in order to unseat ZANU PF. He said:
The bumper crowd at the MDC Alliance Star Rally at Zimbabwe grounds is a testimony of hard work and dexterity. Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy lives on. What lesson should this huge crowd teach us?
For me, it’s a statement that a divided opposition pulling large numbers at their rallies yet divided will split their votes and hand over victory to [ZANU PF]. This really worries me.
The country’s main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa, which was formed early this year, has been attracting huge crowds at its rallies even though it has been frustrated by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on several occasions.
The ZRP has banned CCC rallies in Gokwe, Marondera and Binga in recent weeks while the MDC Alliance has conducted all its rallies unmolested, with some commentators saying it shows that the Douglas Mwonzora-led party’s a ZANU PF “puppet”.

The MDC Alliance has denied allegations that it is serving ZANU PF interests at the expense of citizens who have supported the original MDC since its formation in 1999.

By-Three people have died in a car crash along Chivhu-Roy Road.

The accident happened on Sunday.

The vehicle burst a tyre and veered off the road and overturned several times before landing on its side.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Masvingo Province Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said the accident occurred at the 68-kilometre peg. He said:
At around 6 pm on Sunday, a Toyota Hiace that was being driven by Innocent Damba (37) of Waterfalls burst the left rear tyre at the 68-kilometre peg along the Chivhu-Roy Road. The car had 13 passengers on board.
Damba lost control of the vehicle and it veered off the road and overturned several times landing on its right side.

Three people died upon admission at Gutu Hospital while 11 others were injured. Of the 11 four were seriously injured.
The deceased have been identified as Florence Ndlovu, (38), Charles Nyamuba, (26) and Giliston Baloyi. All deceased sustained head and neck injuries.
Inspector Dhewa said that the vehicle sustained extensive body damage and will be examined by the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID).
The driver of the vehicle faces charges of culpable homicide.

By- Botswana police have arrested four Batswana and two Zimbabweans for allegedly robbing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) of property worth R625 000 in January this year.

According to the Botswana Police Service (BPS), the six were arrested in Gaborone on Friday in connection with a robbery in which 18 laptops, six cellphones and a camera were stolen from SADC offices.

BPS public relations officer Dipheko Motube identified the suspects as Mpho Rasetena, 28, Lesego Masilo, 33, Maitapiso Thuso Kgakgamatso, 34, and Otsile Semandi, 40, from Botswana, and Innocent Bushri Shaggy, 31, and Tongai Tsikirayi, 38, from Zimbabwe. Said Motube:

Four Batswana nationals and two Zimbabwean male citizens appeared before Village Magistrate’s Court in Gaborone today (Monday).

… At the time of arrest, the suspects were found in possession of a firearm suspected to have been used in the commission of the offence, and foreign currencies.

The men will appear in court again on 28 March.

There has been an upsurge in armed robbery cases in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana, with nationals from the three countries implicated in transnational armed robberies.

Last month, in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, the South African Police Service (SAPS) was involved in a shootout with 25 suspected armed robbers believed to have been involved in a spate of cash-in-transit heists.

Eight of the suspects were shot dead and 11 arrested while others escaped.

A fortnight ago, Botswana police killed nine people, including a South African man, in a shootout following a cash-in-transit robbery in the capital Gaborone.

Meanwhile, Norton MP, Temba Mliswa (Independent), has urged the SADC organ on security, to deal with armed robberies, which have become a danger in the region. He said:

We cannot continue to keep quiet about the crime rate in South Africa, where Zimbabweans are being implicated.

The rate has gone up and it doesn’t do us any good with those governments. Regionally, the crime rate involving armed robbers has also increased and now requires a holistic approach.

The SADC organ on security should deal with these armed robbers. Expert teams should be organised to deal with these robbers across borders.

More: News24

By- A South African woman was arrested on Sunday after she allegedly stabbed her boyfriend to death following the discovery of messages on his cellphone between him and another woman.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane confirmed the murder incident, saying officers received a domestic violence complaint at Lusaka Square in Batho, Bloemfontein, Free State on Sunday.

Covane revealed that the man’s body was found with a stab wound to the neck. He said:

A patrol vehicle was dispatched to [the scene], and on arrival at the address, they met an African female, who led them to the back where the incident occurred.

Inside the backroom, the police found the lifeless body of an African male lying on the floor beside the bed with a stab wound on the left side of his neck.

Covane said a witness who later discovered the 25-year-old man’s lifeless body, said the now-deceased had had an argument with his girlfriend over WhatsApp messages between him and another woman. Said Covane:

The suspect became violent, and the victim [removed her from] the room and locked the door.

The suspect is alleged to have gotten hold of a knife and gained entrance into the room through the back window and attacked the victim.

The witness forced the door open and discovered that the victim was lying motionless on the floor with a stab wound.

The woman was arrested and was expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a murder charge.

More: News24

By- A South African woman was arrested on Sunday after she allegedly stabbed her boyfriend to death following the discovery of messages on his cellphone between him and another woman.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane confirmed the murder incident, saying officers received a domestic violence complaint at Lusaka Square in Batho, Bloemfontein, Free State on Sunday.

Covane revealed that the man’s body was found with a stab wound to the neck. He said:

A patrol vehicle was dispatched to [the scene], and on arrival at the address, they met an African female, who led them to the back where the incident occurred.

Inside the backroom, the police found the lifeless body of an African male lying on the floor beside the bed with a stab wound on the left side of his neck.

Covane said a witness who later discovered the 25-year-old man’s lifeless body, said the now-deceased had had an argument with his girlfriend over WhatsApp messages between him and another woman. Said Covane:

The suspect became violent, and the victim [removed her from] the room and locked the door.

The suspect is alleged to have gotten hold of a knife and gained entrance into the room through the back window and attacked the victim.

The witness forced the door open and discovered that the victim was lying motionless on the floor with a stab wound.

The woman was arrested and was expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a murder charge.

More: News24

Tinashe Sambiri|The Gukurahundi issue has to be resolved effectively to enable national reconciliation to yield results, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa made the remarks in Tsholotsho on Monday.

According to President Chamisa, nothing at all has changed under Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new dispensation.

“You think Zanu PF can transform the lives of citizens? It’s impossible. The party has been in power for 42 years and failed to uphold the fundamental values of the liberation struggle.

The Gukurahundi issue has to be resolved effectively. We cannot just sweep Gukurahundi under the carpet,” said President Chamisa.

By- Namibia has dropped the mandatory wearing of masks in public places as the number of COVID-19 positive cases is declining.

Speaking during the 41st COVID-19 briefing on the national response measures on Tuesday, Namibia President, Hage Geingob, also increased the size of public gatherings from 500 to 1 000. He said:

Wearing masks in public places is no longer mandatory. However, people who are in close settings, such as public transport, indoor public meetings are encouraged to wear masks.

A physical distance of no less than 1 meter must be maintained between persons at all times.

The size of public gatherings will be adjusted from 500 to 1 000 people. This will be applicable to all social gatherings as defined in the Regulations, including weddings, funerals, church services and sporting events.

Fully vaccinated travellers are no longer required to produce a negative PCR test result upon arrival at Namibian Points of Entry.

They are instead required to present an authentic, valid vaccination card at Points of Entry.

Namibia’s coronavirus recovery rate stands at 97 per cent, with a case fatality rate of 2.5 per cent. Active cases stood at 222 on Monday.

The new regulations come into force from midnight for a period of 30 days until April 15.

More: Xinhua

By-Norton MP, Temba Mliswa (Independent), says the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)’s habit of blocking the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) from conducting campaign rallies poses a danger to the ruling Zanu PF.

Mliswa argues that citizens will view the banning of CCC rallies as unjust and the opposition party will gain sympathy and pity which may eventually translate into votes. Tweeted Mliswa:

What [ZRP] has been doing in blocking opposition rallies creates a danger for the ruling party.
While they may see it as a strategy to strangle [Nelson Chamisa], they have created an impression of the opposition as a victim to be pitied and supported.
The opposition has become, not another equal player to be judged on merit and ability but a victim of state power to be judged differently.

CCC has actually gained mileage through the abuse they have suffered and resultantly as we are going towards elections there are three issues to be wary of. The sympathy vote, protest vote and generational vote.
The abuse they have suffered has created sympathy for them within the political body as the electorate begins to empathise with what they have and are going through. That can translate into sympathy votes for them.
The protest vote is simply about the electorate expressing their discontent over the prevailing socio-economic situation through the ballot.

It’s about people seeking to try something new, disconsolate over a status quo that they feel is no longer responding to their needs.
The protest vote could also be from within the ruling party itself and those who feel they have not benefitted after the entrance of the 2nd dispensation.
The generational gap relates to the demographics of the country’s huge young population both within and outside political parties.
The party that is able to accommodate and provide for the young people has an advantage. Already, ZANU PF has a problem in that area.
ZRP has so far blocked CCC from holding rallies in Gokwe, Marondera, and Binga, while a CCC supporter was stabbed to death at a rally in Mbizo Kwekwe.
On Monday ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police banned the CCC’s Marondera rally because the opposition party had not complied with relevant provisions of MOPA.
Nyathi accused CCC of not observing the law and are acting as a law unto themselves.

Meanwhile, ZRP has not banned any ZANU PF or MDC Alliance rally. MDC Alliance leader Douglas Mwonzora met President Emmerson Mnangagwa twice at State House in the past few months.

By-Norton Member of parliament, Temba Mliswa, said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)’s habit of blocking the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) from conducting campaign rallies posed a danger to the ruling Zanu PF.

Mliswa argues that citizens will view the banning of CCC rallies as unjust and the opposition party will gain sympathy and pity which may eventually translate into votes.

Mliswa said this through his tweeter handle:

What [ZRP] has been doing in blocking opposition rallies creates a danger for the ruling party.
While they may see it as a strategy to strangle [Nelson Chamisa], they have created an impression of the opposition as a victim to be pitied and supported.
The opposition has become, not another equal player to be judged on merit and ability but a victim of state power to be judged differently.

CCC has actually gained mileage through the abuse they have suffered and resultantly as we are going towards elections there are three issues to be wary of. The sympathy vote, protest vote and generational vote.
The abuse they have suffered has created sympathy for them within the political body as the electorate begins to empathise with what they have and are going through. That can translate into sympathy votes for them.
The protest vote is simply about the electorate expressing their discontent over the prevailing socio-economic situation through the ballot.

It’s about people seeking to try something new, disconsolate over a status quo that they feel is no longer responding to their needs.
The protest vote could also be from within the ruling party itself and those who feel they have not benefitted after the entrance of the 2nd dispensation.
The generational gap relates to the demographics of the country’s huge young population both within and outside political parties.
The party that is able to accommodate and provide for the young people has an advantage. Already, ZANU PF has a problem in that area.
ZRP has so far blocked CCC from holding rallies in Gokwe, Marondera, and Binga, while a CCC supporter was stabbed to death at a rally in Mbizo Kwekwe.
On Monday ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police banned the CCC’s Marondera rally because the opposition party had not complied with relevant provisions of MOPA.
Nyathi accused CCC of not observing the law and are acting as a law unto themselves.

Meanwhile, ZRP has not banned any ZANU PF or MDC Alliance rally. MDC Alliance leader Douglas Mwonzora met President Emmerson Mnangagwa twice at State House in the past few months.

By- Botswana police have arrested four Batswana and two Zimbabweans for allegedly robbing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) of property worth R625 000 in January this year.

According to the Botswana Police Service (BPS), the six were arrested in Gaborone on Friday in connection with a robbery in which 18 laptops, six cellphones and a camera were stolen from SADC offices.

BPS public relations officer Dipheko Motube identified the suspects as Mpho Rasetena, 28, Lesego Masilo, 33, Maitapiso Thuso Kgakgamatso, 34, and Otsile Semandi, 40, from Botswana, and Innocent Bushri Shaggy, 31, and Tongai Tsikirayi, 38, from Zimbabwe. Said Motube:

Four Batswana nationals and two Zimbabwean male citizens appeared before Village Magistrate’s Court in Gaborone today (Monday).

… At the time of arrest, the suspects were found in possession of a firearm suspected to have been used in the commission of the offence, and foreign currencies.

The men will appear in court again on 28 March.

There has been an upsurge in armed robbery cases in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana, with nationals from the three countries implicated in transnational armed robberies.

Last month, in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, the South African Police Service (SAPS) was involved in a shootout with 25 suspected armed robbers believed to have been involved in a spate of cash-in-transit heists.

Eight of the suspects were shot dead and 11 arrested while others escaped.

A fortnight ago, Botswana police killed nine people, including a South African man, in a shootout following a cash-in-transit robbery in the capital Gaborone.

Meanwhile, Norton MP, Temba Mliswa (Independent), has urged the SADC organ on security, to deal with armed robberies, which have become a danger in the region. He said:

We cannot continue to keep quiet about the crime rate in South Africa, where Zimbabweans are being implicated.

The rate has gone up and it doesn’t do us any good with those governments. Regionally, the crime rate involving armed robbers has also increased and now requires a holistic approach.

The SADC organ on security should deal with these armed robbers. Expert teams should be organised to deal with these robbers across borders.

More: News24

By- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)’s has shocked the country by saying that they were banning the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) from conducting campaign rallies because of the lawlessness showed by the opposition party.

ZRP has so far blocked CCC from holding rallies in Gokwe, Marondera, and Binga, while a CCC supporter was stabbed to death at a rally in Mbizo Kwekwe.

On Monday ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police banned the CCC’s Marondera rally because the opposition party had not complied with relevant provisions of MOPA.
Nyathi accused CCC of not observing the law and are acting as a law unto themselves.

ZRP has not banned any ZANU PF or MDC Alliance rally.

By- MDC Alliance treasurer-general Tapiwa Mashakada says he is worried over the division within opposition ranks as this will split their vote and allow the ruling Zanu PF party to win elections easily.

The MDC Alliance staged a rally at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfields, Harare on Sunday and attracted a sizeable crowd though some critics claimed that the opposition party paid people from across the country and then bussed them to attend the rally.
Posting on his Facebook account on Sunday Mashakada implicitly implored opposition political parties to unite in order to unseat ZANU PF. He said:
The bumper crowd at the MDC Alliance Star Rally at Zimbabwe grounds is a testimony of hard work and dexterity. Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy lives on. What lesson should this huge crowd teach us?
For me, it’s a statement that a divided opposition pulling large numbers at their rallies yet divided will split their votes and hand over victory to [ZANU PF]. This really worries me.
The country’s main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa, which was formed early this year, has been attracting huge crowds at its rallies even though it has been frustrated by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on several occasions.
The ZRP has banned CCC rallies in Gokwe, Marondera and Binga in recent weeks while the MDC Alliance has conducted all its rallies unmolested, with some commentators saying it shows that the Douglas Mwonzora-led party’s a ZANU PF “puppet”.

The MDC Alliance has denied allegations that it is serving ZANU PF interests at the expense of citizens who have supported the original MDC since its formation in 1999.

By-Three people have died in a car crash along Chivhu-Roy Road.

The accident happened on Sunday.

The vehicle burst a tyre and veered off the road and overturned several times before landing on its side.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Masvingo Province Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said the accident occurred at the 68-kilometre peg. He said:
At around 6 pm on Sunday, a Toyota Hiace that was being driven by Innocent Damba (37) of Waterfalls burst the left rear tyre at the 68-kilometre peg along the Chivhu-Roy Road. The car had 13 passengers on board.
Damba lost control of the vehicle and it veered off the road and overturned several times landing on its right side.

Three people died upon admission at Gutu Hospital while 11 others were injured. Of the 11 four were seriously injured.
The deceased have been identified as Florence Ndlovu, (38), Charles Nyamuba, (26) and Giliston Baloyi. All deceased sustained head and neck injuries.
Inspector Dhewa said that the vehicle sustained extensive body damage and will be examined by the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID).
The driver of the vehicle faces charges of culpable homicide.

By A Correspondent- Aspiring legislator for Epworth Zarera Makare, and a group of Zanu PF youths allegedly “abducted” a teenage boy aged 17 in Overspill, Epworth.

According to a source, the group visited the home where the minor and his family reside today, Tuesday afternoon accusing them of supporting the opposition party led by President Nelson Chamisa.

Said the source to ZimEye:

“The group is moving around conducting their door to door campaigns in Epworth and they are intimidating and threatening anyone suspected to support the CCC.

They went to the victim’s home and started chanting party songs and slogans but unfortunately for them, no-one was home.

This boy was not aware that there are Zanu PF thugs at his home and when he got there, one dreadlocked Zanu Pf stalwart only identified as Ottoman started dragging the boy and they went away with him and no-one knows where they have taken him.”

The group was also allegedly moving around destroyed campaign posters belonding to CCC candidates.

Efforts to get a comment from Makare was work in progress by the time of writing.

This is a developing story.

Refresh this page for more.

By A Correspondent- A Dubai-based Zimbabwean businesswoman, Hanna Mutsenhu, has asked President Emmerson Mnangagwa to make it mandatory for all Zimbabwean citizens living abroad to pay a US$50 fee when they visit Zimbabwe.

Mutsenhu said that she has been in the United Arab Emirates for six years and runs a nursery in Dubai.

She said the US$50 contribution by every diasporan whenever they visit Zimbabwe will be used to develop the country.

Mutsenhu made the remarks during an interface with Mnangagwa on the sidelines of the World Expo being held in Dubai. She said:

Why can we not engage all diasporans when they are coming back home to contribute a certain amount on entry, for example, US$50.

Some countries are doing that; that will mean when I come back home I should leave US$50. It needs accountability towards the development of Zimbabwe.

You can take into consideration countries like the Philippines. When one goes back home they have to contribute something.

Mutsenhu’s comments sparked debate on social media with critics arguing that she was offside as the Government has refused to recognise diasporans’ right to vote in national elections even though they contribute to the country’s economy through remittances.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said in 2021, diaspora remittances were more than US$1 billion.

Tinashe Sambiri|The Gukurahundi issue has to be resolved effectively to enable national reconciliation to yield results, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa made the remarks in Tsholotsho on Monday.

According to President Chamisa, nothing at all has changed under Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new dispensation.

“You think Zanu PF can transform the lives of citizens? It’s impossible. The party has been in power for 42 years and failed to uphold the fundamental values of the liberation struggle.

The Gukurahundi issue has to be resolved effectively. We cannot just sweep Gukurahundi under the carpet,” said President Chamisa.

By A Correspondent- A manager of a local company, Delatfin Engineering was arraigned before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda yesterday on allegations of defrauding his employer of US$3 million.

Jacob Muyambo (47) was remanded in custody to tomorrow for continuation of bail application.

Muyambo was employed as the finance and administration manager and part of his duties included allocation of stands and preparing agreements of sale.

It is alleged that from August 2015 to March 2018, Muyambo defrauded Delatfin Engineering in connivance with five accomplices who are still at large.

He made double allocation of stands and would conceal information pertaining to the illicit transactions.

His accomplices allegedly assisted him to process sale agreements without the company getting paid for them.

Muyambo would take the fake agreements of sale and authenticate them for verification.

In 2021, an internal investigation and verification was done by the company which unearthed fraudulent agreements of sale, which bore Muyambo’s signature. The accused prejudiced the company of US$3 350 865,41 and nothing was recovered. Caroline Mutimusakwa represented the State.

By A Correspondent- Botswana police have arrested four Batswana and two Zimbabweans for allegedly robbing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) of property worth R625 000 in January this year.

According to the Botswana Police Service (BPS), the six were arrested in Gaborone on Friday in connection with a robbery in which 18 laptops, six cellphones and a camera were stolen from SADC offices.

BPS public relations officer Dipheko Motube identified the suspects as Mpho Rasetena, 28, Lesego Masilo, 33, Maitapiso Thuso Kgakgamatso, 34, and Otsile Semandi, 40, from Botswana, and Innocent Bushri Shaggy, 31, and Tongai Tsikirayi, 38, from Zimbabwe. Said Motube:

Four Batswana nationals and two Zimbabwean male citizens appeared before Village Magistrate’s Court in Gaborone today (Monday).

… At the time of arrest, the suspects were found in possession of a firearm suspected to have been used in the commission of the offence, and foreign currencies.

The men will appear in court again on 28 March.

There has been an upsurge in armed robbery cases in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana, with nationals from the three countries implicated in transnational armed robberies.

Last month, in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, the South African Police Service (SAPS) was involved in a shootout with 25 suspected armed robbers believed to have been involved in a spate of cash-in-transit heists.

Eight of the suspects were shot dead and 11 arrested while others escaped.

A fortnight ago, Botswana police killed nine people, including a South African man, in a shootout following a cash-in-transit robbery in the capital Gaborone.

Meanwhile, Norton MP, Temba Mliswa (Independent), has urged the SADC organ on security, to deal with armed robberies, which have become a danger in the region. He said:

We cannot continue to keep quiet about the crime rate in South Africa, where Zimbabweans are being implicated.

The rate has gone up and it doesn’t do us any good with those governments. Regionally, the crime rate involving armed robbers has also increased and now requires a holistic approach.

The SADC organ on security should deal with these armed robbers. Expert teams should be organised to deal with these robbers across borders.

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance treasurer-general Tapiwa Mashakada says he is worried over the division within opposition ranks as this will split their vote and allow the ruling ZANU PF party to win elections easily.

The MDC Alliance staged a rally at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfields, Harare on Sunday and attracted a sizeable crowd though some critics claimed that the opposition party paid people from across the country and then bussed them to attend the rally.

Posting on Facebook on Sunday, Mashakada implicitly implored opposition political parties to unite in order to unseat ZANU PF.

He said:

The bumper crowd at the MDC Alliance Star Rally at Zimbabwe grounds is a testimony of hard work and dexterity. Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy lives on. What lesson should this huge crowd teach us?

For me, it’s a statement that a divided opposition pulling large numbers at their rallies yet divided will split their votes and hand over victory to [ZANU PF]. This really worries me.

The country’s main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa, which was formed early this year, has been attracting huge crowds at its rallies even though it has been frustrated by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on several occasions.

The ZRP has banned CCC rallies in Gokwe, Marondera and Binga in recent weeks while the MDC Alliance has conducted all its rallies unmolested, with some commentators saying it shows that the Douglas Mwonzora-led party’s a ZANU PF “puppet”.

The MDC Alliance has denied allegations that it is serving ZANU PF interests at the expense of citizens who have supported the original MDC since its formation in 1999. 

By A Correspondent- A Murewa man who strangled his daughter to death before throwing the body into a pond has been sentenced to death.

Charles Kavhumbura was convicted by High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi after a full trial. He had denied the charge.

Kavhumbura was charged with unlawfully, and with an intent to kill, strangling the deceased, Lydia Kavhumbura.

Prosecutors alleged that on 14 October 2017, Lydia and her brother visited their father at his grinding mill at Susman Farm, Juru, Murewa.

The duo had been sent by their mother (Charles’ ex-wife) Pedzisai Kachepa, to get money for their upkeep.

Charles strangled Lydia until she became unconscious and later dumped the about 750 metres away from the grinding mill.

The deceased’s body was later discovered by a student, Joseph Mutisi, who wanted to draw water from the pond.

In his ruling, Justice Chitapi said Charles had murdered his own child for no just cause and did not show any remorse. The judge ruled:

He knew right from wrong. In fact, his motive to kill the deceased was to save himself from the obligation to outlay more money as maintenance.

He decimated part of his family by selfishly murdering the deceased for no just cause.

He remained unrepentant and thus remorseless by not even owning up to his misdeed, electing to deny his culpability, in the light of overwhelming evidence.

… To devour one’s own child, in order to avert a lawful obligation to pay maintenance as ordered by the courts, cannot be countenanced in an informed society governed through the rule of law.

The accused is sentenced to death.

He shall be returned to custody and the sentence of death shall be executed according to law.

By A Correspondent- A woman was arrested on Sunday after she allegedly stabbed her boyfriend to death following the discovery of messages on his cellphone between him and another woman.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane confirmed the murder incident, saying officers received a domestic violence complaint at Lusaka Square in Batho, Bloemfontein, Free State on Sunday.

Covane revealed that the man’s body was found with a stab wound to the neck. He said:

A patrol vehicle was dispatched to [the scene], and on arrival at the address, they met an African female, who led them to the back where the incident occurred.

Inside the backroom, the police found the lifeless body of an African male lying on the floor beside the bed with a stab wound on the left side of his neck.

Covane said a witness who later discovered the 25-year-old man’s lifeless body, said the now-deceased had had an argument with his girlfriend over WhatsApp messages between him and another woman. Said Covane:

The suspect became violent, and the victim [removed her from] the room and locked the door.

The suspect is alleged to have gotten hold of a knife and gained entrance into the room through the back window and attacked the victim.

The witness forced the door open and discovered that the victim was lying motionless on the floor with a stab wound.

The woman was arrested and was expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a murder charge.

Former Harare Mayor Hebert Gomba has reported that he was tortured and forced to drink his urine following his abduction by suspected state security agents on Saturday afternoon.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, Gomba said he was severely tortured and survived death through ‘divine intervention.’

He said he was only located at 2 Brigade by an internet based advocacy group Team Pachedu and another former Zanu PF linked organisation called Children of Zimbabwe War Veterans Association (COZWVA).

“I was severely tortured, brutalized and only escaped being killed through divine intervention.

“Thanks to TEAM PACHEDU and COZWA for locating me at 2 brigade where l was taken being blind folded.

“All my phones, tablets wallet were collected and I was forced me to drink my urine . Family and friends, my life today is a living testimony of Jehovah’s undeserved kindness to mankind,” said Gomba.

The former Harare Mayor was reported missing on Saturday after unknown men bundled him into an unmarked car in full sight of his father at his Glen Norah C home.

Hours later Gomba was then said to have been taken by the police on charges of arson but his party spokesperson Fadzai Mahere said their lawyers could not find him at any police station in the city.

The CCC party Monday morning posted on Twitter that Gomba had been found and was in the custody of his family.

“We are advised that Herbert Gomba has been found and is in the custody of his family. We are advised he is safe,” his party the Citizen Coalition for Change said earlier on Monday.

Gomba said he is currently being attended to by doctors after sustaining serious injuries during his period of abduction.

“I was dumped to die this morning but Jehovah saved me. Thanks to the the doctors who are currently treating my fatal injuries,” the former Harare Mayor said.

Cases of abduction targeted at opposition activists have soared recently with three CCC members Joana Mamombe, Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova reporting being taken from Harare Central Police Station, tortured for days before they were dumped near Bindura.

They were later arrested and charged with faking abduction.

Many other government critics including Comedienne Samantha Kureya better known as Gonyeti recounting how she was forced to drink her urine when she was abducted a few years ago.

By A Correspondent- Remains of a 50 year old man believed to be a copper cable thief were recovered in Chegutu after he was electrocuted about three weeks ago while vandalising Zesa Holdings equipment with his accomplices.

Norman Ngarande’s remains were found at Exwick Farm Plot 43 in Chegutu with some of the body parts which include a skull and some bones missing.

The body parts are suspected to have been eaten by dogs.

Two of his accomplices, Prince Amidu of house number P71 Pfupajena in Chegutu and Sunny Mupande (32) of Exwick Farm Plot 7 in Chegutu who were last seen with him have since been arrested.

When he went missing, Ngarande’s relatives are reported to have not searched for him since he was also involved in illegal gold mining activities.

Police said they thought he had gone to search for gold ore at some mine shafts at Gadzema Mine.

Investigations revealed that on March 12, officials from Zesa Loss Control Unit received a report that there were some human bones scattered at the plot and they informed the police.

The following day, police went to the scene with the officials and discovered that a 50Kva Zesa cable had once been vandalized on October 6, 2019 and a report was made Chegutu Police (CR 96/10/19).

It was discovered that some cable thieves had dug around the poles and cut 12 metres of 25mm of copper earth wire.

They went on to cut a wooden pole and a stay wire slacked and got into contact with live a conductor and Ngarande was electrocuted.-statemedia

 By A Correspondent- Bid by Chitungwiza councillors to hold mayoral elections to replace recalled mayor Lovemore Maiko hit a brickwall last Wednesday after Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution secretary Tafadzwa Muguti blocked the move.

On Tuesday, 10 councillors wrote to acting mayor Kiven Mutimbanyoka advising him to call for elections to fill the vacant post following the recall of Maiko by the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora.

Muguti wrote to the Chitungwiza Municipality blocking the polls.

“We are also aware that a group of councillors challenged the Local Government minister (July Moyo) following the appointment of Mutimbanyoka as deputy mayor. Until there is a judgment on the matter, he will continue to discharge his duties as acting mayor,” Muguti said in his letter.

“However, section 103(4) of the Urban Council Act mandates that councillors present at a meeting of the councillors held not later than 30 days after such a vacancy elect a successor who shall serve for the unexpired term of office of his or her predecessor.

“Given the foregoing by-elections, it is advisable that elections of the mayor be held after by-elections, but within 30 days to also accommodate the democratic rights of the in-coming councillors who would have been elected. Any councillor who undermines the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) by acts of omission or commission will be charged with abuse of office.”

Muguti told NewsDay that he was not opposed to the elections, adding that he wrote to the municipality advising the city fathers “what needs to be done” before polls are held.

“We have not blocked the elections, but actually asked them (councillors) to go ahead. The election needs to be done within 30 days, but it is advisable that they incorporate incoming councillors. So it is within 30 days, but the discretion is to the acting mayor. Unfortunately, the councillors are not recognising Mutimbanyoka,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Three police officers based in Harare were recently arrested, and charged with extortion and trying to block the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) from arresting their colleague.

Lameck Matsa (37), from Warren Park yesterday appeared before magistrate Yeukai Dzuda to answer to an extortion charge. Bail ruling is expected today.

His two workmates, Tendai Blessing Joniso (34) and John Mapurisa (31) also appeared before the same magistrate charged with defeating the course of justice after they tried to stop Zacc officials from arresting Matsa.

Zaac officials were injured during the melee.

Allegations are that on March 8 this year, the complainant Rodney Makwena had his Toyota Hiace vehicle impounded for pirating by two Warren Park police officers who were in civilian clothes and in a civilian white Mercedes Benz vehicle along Lyton Road.

The accused persons then demanded US$220 from the complainant so that they could release his vehicle.

The impounded vehicle was not recorded in the station exhibit book as per requirement and the battery of the vehicle was removed and placed in the Mercedes Benz vehicle belonging to the accused.

On March 9 at around 9am, the complainant called Matsa and negotiated to pay US$60 from US$220, but he refused. They later agreed on US$100.

The complainant then reported the matter to Zacc.

Matsa invited the complainant to his office at Warren Park Police Station to make the payment.

On March 10, the complainant went to the police station with a team of Zacc officials who executed a trap.

The accused came out to get the US$100 which had been marked to trap him.

The complainant was ordered to pay $1 000 at the police station so that he can be allowed to get his vehicle.When the accused placed the money inside his pocket, the Zacc officials pounced on him and identified themselves.

They searched him, recovered the money and arrested him.

While they were handcuffing him, Joniso and Mapurisa tried to stop the Zacc officials from arresting him.The pair was also arrested.

On March 11, Matsa visited the Zacc offices with his lawyer and he was detained.

By A Correspondent- Acting Masvingo Provincial Education Director (PED), Shylatte Mhike, has been asked to expel two teachers in Bikita district who are also Zanu-PF officials.

The law does not permit civil servants to simultaneously hold political office.

Chipo Munyoro and Benjamin Masakadze are teachers at Madzivire and Zindove Primary Schools respectively while at the same time they are Zanu-PF councillors.

Munyoro is a councillor for Ward 24 in Bikita East while Masakadze is a councillor for Ward 2, Bikita South.

One Simon Ziki from Bikita District, through his lawyer, Martin Mureri wrote to the PED on March 8, demanding that she removes the two teachers from the profession since civil servants are not allowed to occupy political positions by law.

The two work under your supervision and you know the position of the law with regards to civil servants being office bearers of any political party. In terms of Section 200 (4) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe they are not allowed to occupy these positions while they are still civil servants,” reads the letter.

He further demanded that the teachers be relieved of their duties within seven days, failing which the PED would be dragged to court.

“Our client has instructed us to demand as we hereby do that you relieve your subordinates of their duties as teachers within seven days of this letter if they choose to continue as councillors.

“You are aware of the provisions and if you fail to comply within the stipulated time we will be left with no option but to take legal action against you without further notice and your employees will pay cost of legal costs.”

Contacted by NewZimbabwe.com, Mhike declined to comment on the matter referring all questions to Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Taungana Ndoro.

Ndoro had not answered calls on his mobile phone by the time of publishing.

By A Correspondent- The Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial leadership has reinstated party stalwart Cleopas Kundiona less than a week after he was purged.

Kundiona, who is the provincial deputy secretary for legal affairs, was on March 4 suspended from carrying out party activities after being accused of a litany of allegations, one of them being failure to attend party events organised by his rival and Zanu-PF Marondera Central candidate for the March 26 by-elections Ignatius Mateveke.

He was also ordered to appear before a disciplinary committee on March 25.

The move to suspend him caused a backlash after some Zanu-PF supporters threatened a protest vote.

Kundiona yesterday confirmed that he had been reinstated.

I am back at the party. We are focusing on winning the Marondera Central seat, hence we are mobilising support for the party candidate,” he said.

Kundiona has been appearing at Zanu-PF events for the past week where he was being introduced as a provincial member.

A letter dated March 4 signed by Zanu-PF provincial vice-chairperson Kudzai Majuru suspended the educationist from the party.

Both Majuru and the provincial party spokesperson were not answering their mobile phones yesterday.

Kundiona, who is the owner of UMAA Group of Colleges, lost the Zanu-PF primaries to Mateveke for the Marondera Central constituency by-election.

The Marondera Central seat fell vacant following the recall of  Caston Matewu (MDC Alliance) by the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora.

By A Correspondent- Eighteen border control security officers, who were part of a joint operation code-named No to Cross-border Crime, on Monday appeared at the Beitbridge Magistrates Court facing abuse of office charges after they allegedly accepted a R2 000 bribe from a bus crew driving through the border town.

They were represented by Muchihwande Sithole of Sithole, Chauke and Associates.

Allegations are that on March 12, the 18 drawn from various government departments across the country were deployed to Chicago roadblock near the border town.

They allegedly accepted the bribe not knowing that a trap had been
set.

The Police Anti-Corruption Unit agents aboard a Sable Bus arrested the officers after they received the alleged bribe.

In court, their lawyer argued that the arresting police officers failed to film the alleged acceptance of the bribe.

But prosecutor Tinayeishe Matenga said the suspects had knowledge of the law yet they acted in common purpose to commit the offence.

Gwazemba will make a ruling on the matter today.

By A Correspondent- A MT Darwin man (40), who executed a prison break at Harare Central Prison last year with the help of a prison officer has been re-arrested and arraigned before the court facing a charge of escaping from lawful custody.

Richard Sasumba pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda yesterday.

The State opposed bail, saying there was overwhelming evidence against the accused. He was remanded in custody to March 28 for trial date.

Allegations are that Sasumba was convicted for armed robbery at the Bindura Magistrate Court and was committed to Harare Central Prison to serve his sentence.

However, while serving his sentence, Sasumba escaped with the assistance of a prison guard on October 7, 2021.

Court papers state that a manhunt was conducted, but Sasumba could not  be found.

On March 9, prison officials got wind that Sasumba was in Epworth.

Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services officials managed to locate him at a house in Epworth and re-arrested him.

Zvikomborero Mupasa represented the State.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A public hearing on the Health Services Amendment Bill flopped in Chinhoyi after only four residents attended the meeting.

Of the four attendees, only two of them made contributions before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health chaired by Ruth Labode.

Responding to questions from the media on why the meeting flopped, Labode said there was no problem with the venue as it was central.

That was after people suggested that Parliament could have chosen a more central venue.

“Even if we find one person at a venue we will talk to that one person and the person’s views will carry the day,” Labode said.

One of the attendees, Godknows Rupara, said it was unfortunate that MPs were behaving like members of the Executive.

“You can see the big problem that we have in the country; that MPs are now joining members of the Executive in disregarding the views of the people,” Rupapa said.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association Mashonaland West chairperson Kudakwashe Kokanai said his organisation rejected the provisions of the Bill as they sought to curtail health workers’ rights to strike.

“The proposals to arrest and prosecute health workers, who would have gone on strike for more than 72 hours, are madness.  Unfortunately, the Bill has more negatives than positives,” Kokanai said.

He said the Bill was oppressive as it criminalised being an executive member of a trade union.

The Health Services Amendment Bill is viewed as oppressive by health workers as it contains provisions that bar them from engaging in industrial action.

It also has provisions that will slap a three-year jail sentence for health workers in public health institutions for engaging in a strike for more than three consecutive days.

By A Correspondent- Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe allegedly instructed Zanu-PF youths to block an investigation into allegations of child labour at white-owned farms in Mazowe district, Mashonaland Central province, it has emerged.

Kazembe is the Zanu-PF provincial chairman for Mashonaland West.

Documents indicate that Zanu-PF provincial youth chairman John Nhamburo and Kazembe’s personal assistant Shadreck Muwandi tried to block the investigators at Kazembe’s behest.

The pair recently caused drama at Blackforby and Tavydale farms owned by Nick and Peep Mattison, where they allegedly threatened to harm a delegation that had visited the farms on a fact-finding mission to establish reports on child labour.

The delegation included provincial labour officer, Andrew Nyekete, National Employment Council (NEC) and unionists from Progressive Agriculture and Allied Industries Workers Union of Zimbabwe (PAAWUZ).

The union, in a letter seen by NewZimbabwe.com addressed to Kazembe, said the two Zanu-PF officials’ conduct was tarnishing his name, and violating workers’ rights to representation by labour unions of their choice.

“It has become imperative that we write to you with concern over the riotous activities of two ruling party-political members, namely John Nhamburo who was recently elected provincial youth chair for Mashonaland Central province, and Shadreck Muwandi who claims to be Personal Assistant (PA) to Hon Minister Kazembe Kazembe (MP),” the letter, signed by PAAWUZ secretary-general, Phillip Mafundu and dated March 8, 2022, reads.

“The two have been disturbing and/or interfering in purely labour matters, trade union, National Employment Council for the Agriculture Sector, Ministry of Labour and workers committee as enshrined in the supreme law, the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which advocate for freedom of association as the workers have taken upon themselves to join a trade union of their choice and furthermore their fundamental labour employment rights as enshrined in the Labour Act Chapter 28:01,” the letter reads.

Documents further show that Nhamburo and Muwandi, accompanied by marauding youths wearing Zanu-PF regalia, stormed a meeting held on February 9, 2022 at Blackforby farm involving workers committee, management, NEC Agriculture and Labour ministry officials trying to find common ground between employer and employees.

They were chanting political slogans denouncing and castigating the legitimacy of the union and other visitors.

“They disrupted the meeting in a riotous behaviour, victimised, harassed and threatened everyone, except the farm management. They name-dropped senior government officials and senior politicians’ names (for example your name Kazembe Kazembe). John Nhamburo bragged that he was a boss to everyone since he is a Zanu-PF Central Committee member, he was above everyone and the process that was happening should stop immediately and the white farmer to continue with what he was doing,” the letter to Kazembe reads.

“Shadreck Muwandi said he was the one who travels everywhere with you and had a right to stop the negotiations between the employer and employees since all the employer was doing was above board and had your blessings. Our union officials were threatened with death, and they even tried to stop them from talking to the farm workers who are our members of which the workers stood their ground that they wanted our representation,” it further reads.

Again on March 4, 2022, the two Zanu-PF members went to Tavydale farm where they unleashed violence and disrupted a scheduled meeting between management and workers’ committee.

They allegedly harassed, intimidated and threatened the workers committee.

The union accuses the Mattison family of imperialism and hiring Zanu-PF activists in order to intimidate unionists from unearthing gross labour violations, including child labour and slave wages, at the farms.

It was not immediately clear if the letter was responded to as Kazembe was not answering calls on his mobile phone.

Efforts to get comment from the Mattisons proved fruitless by the time of publishing.

By A Correspondent- The construction of Kunzvi Dam is going according to the plan, Mashonaland East Provincial Secretary for Devolution Tavabarira Kutamahufa has said.

The water reservoir is being constructed by China’s Nancheng Engineering which was awarded the tender in 2021.

The US$109 million project will supply water to Harare and Chitungwiza and surrounding areas when completed.

In an interview with The Herald after the Mashonaland East provincial executive visited the dam site on Monday, Kutamahufa said the construction is on course. He said:

The purpose of the tour was for monitoring and evaluation, inspecting the progress. The contractor is on site and the equipment is also on site.

Progress has also been made in terms of construction. There is also evidence of stakeholder engagement and acceptance.

So the contractor is on course and we are happy with the timelines. They are on target. So as a province we are happy with the progress so far.

The contractor, Nancheng Engineering, has completed the pipeline linking Mtshabezi and Umzingwane dams and also constructed Muchekeranwa Dam in Marondera which was commissioned last year.

Nancheng Engineering is currently working on Sengwa Dam in Mount Darwin and the Silverstroom Dam in Centenary.

By A Correspondent- The City of Harare says it will allocate 5 000 residential stands in 2022 and residents on the waiting list will be invited for interviews.

In a notice, the local authority said when the allocations begin, residents will be notified. Reads the notice:

No allocations took place last year. When the allocations begin residents will be notified. Residents on the housing waiting list will be invited for interviews.

Council (HCC) suspended the allocation of residential stands in 2020 after most of its top housing officials, including a housing director and two acting housing directors, were arrested and charged over alleged corruption.

HCC said it decided to suspend allocation in 2020 after it discovered irregularities in the management of housing land.

Housing director Addmore Nhekairo and former acting housing director Matthew Marara and principal housing allocation officer Edgar Dzehonye were some of the top council officials arrested on allegations of corruption over the allocation of land.

Fani Machipisa who took over as housing director was also suspended on the same allegations.-statemedia

By A Correspondent| Ideas Party of Democracy (IPD) is set to launch its maiden rally in Gweru on April 16.

Speaking from his base in South Africa, charismatic opposition leader Herbert Chamuka who is the leader of the fast growing party said it was all systems go for the rally.

“We are urging every peace loving Zimbabwe from all walks of life to attend our inaugural rally.

“We are going to launch our 2023 election roadmap because we are the government in waiting.

“We are sure that we are going to form the next government. Everyone is invited,” said Chamuka.

Chamuka who was recently on a whirlwind tour of different provinces setting structures said that the response he was given was humbling.

“Zimbabwe has been in jaws of dictatorship for long. People are hungry for change and IDP is ready to usher in Zimbabwe into a new political dawn where every citizen is protected by the constitution

“The population want a country where prosperity is guaranteed. Right now; people are struggling to get basic documents such as passport and national identification cards.

“It’s a pity and we want to make Zimbabwe great again,” he said.

Zimbabwe has been struggling for years under the leadership of Zanu PF and IDP promises to be an alternative.

The Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial leadership has reinstated party stalwart Cleopas Kundiona less than a week after he was purged.

Kundiona, who is the provincial deputy secretary for legal affairs, was on March 4 suspended from carrying out party activities after being accused of a litany of allegations, one of them being failure to attend party events organised by his rival and Zanu PF Marondera Central candidate for the March 26 by-elections Ignatius Mateveke.

He was also ordered to appear before a disciplinary committee on March 25.

The move to suspend him caused a backlash after some Zanu PF supporters threatened a protest vote.

Kundiona yesterday confirmed that he had been reinstated.

“I am back at the party. We are focusing on winning the Marondera Central seat, hence we are mobilising support for the party candidate,” he said.

Kundiona has been appearing at Zanu PF events for the past week where he was being introduced as a provincial member.

A letter dated March 4 signed by Zanu PF provincial vice-chairperson Kudzai Majuru suspended the educationist from the party.

Both Majuru and the provincial party spokesperson were not answering their mobile phones yesterday.

Kundiona, who is the owner of UMAA Group of Colleges, lost the Zanu PF primaries to Mateveke for the Marondera Central constituency by-election.

-Newsday

Johannes Chiwaya, brother to the late MDC Alliance chairperson for Hurungwe Central district, Lavender Chiwaya has joined Zanu PF, declaring that he had not “sold out”.

The late Lavender passed on under mysterious circumstances on August 22, 2020 amid allegations that he was murdered.

He was a popular ward 4 councillor under the opposition who had been in office for 13 consecutive years.

At the weekend, his brother Johannes joined the ruling party, claiming it was his constitutional right to do so.

Johannes was among eight opposition members paraded at a rally addressed by the Zanu PF national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri at Chikangwe Stadium in Karoi at the weekend under operation Tadzoka Kumusha.

Attendees at the rally were given bags of maize meal.

Chiwaya said he endured public scorn over abandoning the opposition for the ruling party.

“Everyone has his or her constitutional right. In our Constitution, there is a Bill of Rights that says everyone has a right to freedom of association that must be respected. I am not a sellout. This is my personal consideration and conviction to be part of Zanu PF. I am warning those that have labelled me a sellout that I will not accept it any longer. I will take legal action,” he said.

Ironically, Johannes was among the top youth leaders under the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

-Newsday