By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean businesswoman, Elizabeth Valerio, has launched an opposition party saying the local and international community should take a proactive role in ensuring that the 2023 harmonized elections are free, fair and credible.

Officially launching the party in Harare on Wednesday, Valerio, who is the interim president of the United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA), said she is confident of victory in the 2023 elections and the forthcoming council and parliamentary by-election in which her party has fielded four can

She said her party would set up 30 companies in various sectors of the economy before the next elections.

Some ordinary people have welcomed the party’s stance on rebuilding Zimbabwe before it is even elected into office.

But some analysts say there are too many political parties in Zimbabwe that normally split votes in critical national elections.

A large number of opposition parties participated in the 2018 general elections, which also featured 23 presidential candidates.-VOA

By A Correspondent- Former Masvingo Urban MP, Tongai Matutu, who defected to ZANU PF said he was the “best brains” during his time in opposition.

Matutu left the then MDC Alliance that was led by Nelson Chamisa after he was disqualified from contesting the provincial chairmanship post ahead of the 2019 Gweru Congress.

Matutu is among several former MDC officials who are being used by the ruling ZANU PF party to de-campaign their erstwhile colleagues ahead of the 26 March by-elections.

During a recent ZANU PF campaign rally at Pangolin shopping centre, Matutu was asked to address supporters by the provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa. Said Matutu:

There is nothing there, I have been there you know it and I am one of the few who had brains and now that we are no longer there, who else is there?

There are two types of votes, spoiled and counted votes, spoiled are those where you fail to put an X where it is required or voting for two or more candidates and also voting for the opposition is now spoiling a vote.

So I want to urge you to vote for Zanu PF to avoid spoiling your votes.

ZANU PF secretary for security and senator for Gutu District Lovemore Matuke said Matutu will be invaluable for the ruling party in its quest to win all wards previously held by the opposition. He said:

We are going to win the by-election here in Masvingo urban. We have Comrade Matutu here whom we are travelling with.

He knows the valves to open so that things work in our favour.

By A Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has left the country for Zambia barely two days after flying back from the United Arab Emirates where he was attending the DubaiExpo2020.

Mnangagwa has gone to attend the funeral of the later former Zambian President Rupiah Banda.

Posting on Twitter, Information Secretary Nick Mangwana said Mnangagwa left for Zambia this morning.

“HE @edmnangagwa has left for Zambia to attend the funeral of the the late Rupiah Bwezani Banda. President Banda is remembered for his unflinching call for removal of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe. He was born in Gwanda in 1937 in the then Southern Rhodesia,” said Mangwana.

By- Law-enforcement agents in Beitbridge have been accused of persecuting cross border buses for making some of them get arrested.

The police and soldier have impounded 15 buses and accused them of carrying smuggled goods worth millions in import duty.

The buses were intercepted at the Dulivhadzimu bus terminus and on the highways from Beitbridge to Bulawayo and Harare and other urban centres.

Bus crew members who spoke to Two Nations claimed that police officers and soldiers who intercepted the buses said that they were punishing the bus companies for getting their colleagues arrested.

Eighteen (18) uniformed officers were arrested by officers from the Anti-Corruption Unit at a roadblock outside Beitbridge on Saturday allegedly after receiving R2 000 bribe from a Sables Class Bus crew.

Mandeep Bus manager, John Marima, told Two Nations that the police officers who commandeered their busses to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) offices told them that the arrests were payback for getting their colleagues arrested. Said Marima:

They said they were arresting us because of Sable Class which reported their workmates and got them arrested for taking bribes.

We have passengers that are stranded with nothing to eat. This is bad for a professional police to be vindictive.

This move is to deter us from making negative reports against the police. After setting this example there is no bus that will report police again for bribe-taking.

The police will actually take bribes on a higher scale from now onwards.

The Chronicle reported that the buses were impounded by the National Security Taskforce.

The publication quoted Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi as saying the police will not hesitate to arrest those involved in smuggling. He said:

We will not hesitate to arrest anyone involved in crime, especially smuggling or corrupt activities.

Our targets are individuals, syndicates, security personnel, companies and transporters engaging in the illegal movement of goods across the borders.

We strongly advise anyone wishing to import or export goods through our borders to do so within the confines of the existing Customs and Excise laws.

By- Madam Boss’ husband, Ngonidzashe Munetsiwa, has torched a storm after a woman he allegedly impregnated threatened to take her life.

His shenanigans with Evangelister Zhou, an assistant dentist at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, came to light on Monday when the latter disclosed her intention to terminate the pregnancy.

Eva went on to post a video of herself downing a pesticide, threatening to take her life.

She said she was fed up of being abused by Ngonidzashe who reportedly sent someone to rush her to a doctor.

However, when contacted by H-Metro, Ngonidzashe denied knowledge of Eva, describing the allegations as one of many stories cooked up to tarnish his image.

Eva told H-Metro Ngonidzashe had been ignoring her calls and messages since Friday, prompting her to confide in Pastor Jairos Maphosa of the Church of Asaph.

“Ngonidzashe has been ignoring me since Friday,” said Eva.
“He is responsible for my pregnancy and when I sent him a video of myself downing a pesticide, he sent one of his friends to take me to a doctor.
“If you publish this story my fear is to be dumped forever.
“My relatives are not happy to see me marrying Ngoni.
“If you publish this story I will surely come to be your second wife,” said Eva.
Ngonidzashe vehemently denied any knowledge of Eva saying a number of people had been calling him enquiring about the matter.
“You are not the first person asking me about Eva, but truly speaking, I do not know her.
“If you may send me her photographs,” said Ngonidzashe.

After receiving the photograph, he refused to entertain H-Metro.
He then sent threatening messages to Eva and barred her from talking to H-Metro.
However, Pastor Maphosa realised Ngoni was abusing her and exposed Madam Boss husband.
Pastor Maphosa told H-Metro Ngoni threatened Eva with unspecified action if she continued talking to the media.
“Evangelister has been fellowshipping with us for some time from the time she was still living in Mberengwa,” said Pastor Maphosa.
“She relocated to Harare and is still under church custody since she is an orphan and I could not allow someone to continue abusing her.
Yesterday, (Monday) she sent some messages, including videos of herself taking a pesticide and threatening to take her life because of Ngonidzashe.
“She accused Ngoni of forcing her to terminate a pregnancy for the second time and this touched my heart.
“I am in South Africa, but I openly told Eva that Ngoni’s evil acts must be exposed because he was abusing her.
“This is not the first time Eva has threatened to take her life. She did the same after she was forced to terminate her first pregnancy.
“Hanzi zvikazivikanwa ndinorarama sei naMadam Boss uye iye Ngoni arikuti unozviona chete saka nyarara.
“I have all the WhatsApp conversations between me and Eva, including the video she sent me.
“I warned Eva over dating a married man, but I cannot allow Ngonidzashe to continue abusing this woman by taking advantage of her background, no.
“Eva is afraid of Madam Boss, but she wanted to be a second wife to Ngonidzashe.
“We are against that decision of dating a married man,” said Pastor Maphosa. H Metro

By-Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Marry, has denied assaulting her former maid.

She denied assaulting Delight Munyoro, when her trial on assault charges opened at the Harare Magistrates Court.

Through lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Marry told the court that her hands were swollen after being injured during the Bulawayo White City Stadium blast incident.

She said her hands were weak and could not afford to attack Munyoro.

Marry told the court that she only exchanged words with Munyoro on the day in question. Herald

By- The opposition MDC-T’s has withdrawn his Constitutional Court (ConCourt) challenge seeking to stop the March 26 by-elections.

Tapera Sengweni, Douglas Mwonzora party’s legal advisor, made the withdrawal.

A letter dated March 15, 2022 from the ConCourt addressed to Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners, who were representing Election Resource Centre, said Sengweni had withdrawn his application.
The election watchdog had applied for a joinder in the case.
“Please, be advised that the first and second applicant’s applications under CCZ13/22 were dismissed on March 11 2022.
This was precipitated by a notice of withdrawal filed by the parties on March 8, 2022.
As a result of the withdrawal and the dismissal of the application, there is no matter to which your client may apply for joinder.
Please be guided accordingly.”
Sengweni had argued that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission failed to proclaim the polls within the stipulated 90-day period after the seats became vacant.
Other applicants in the matter were Vinnah Mbele, Edify Kudzaishe Vushoma and Phanuel Tsvanu.
Zimbabwe is set to hold by-elections next Saturday.
The by-elections were triggered by recalls, deaths and diplomatic postings. Newsday

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-Two Insuza men drowned after they fell into a well while trying to rescue a goat that had fallen inside.

Police confirmed the death of 48-year-old Themba Nyathi and Mabutho Sibanda (36) of Dundubala, Insuza in Matabeleland North.

“Police confirm the death of Themba Nyathi (48) of Dundubala, Insuza and Mabutho Sibanda (36) of Makhondo village Nyamandlovu who drowned in a well at Lucky Khumalo’s homestead, Dundubala, Insuza on the 14th day of March 2022. On the fateful day, Themba Nyathi arrived home from the fields and found a piece of zinc sheet which was used to close the well missing. He suspected that there might be a goat which fell inside the well. Together with the help of his son, they prepared some ropes and hooks to fish out the zinc and the goat,” said Matebeleland North provincial police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda.
He said as they were preparing to go down the well two other villagers joined in and assisted in lowering them down.
“During the process, two other villagers arrived at the well and found the two trying to rescue the goat. With the help of these two villagers, Nyathi was lowered down the well using a rope. After a while, he complained of breathing difficulties. Other villagers were advised of the developments and they came to rescue him.”
It is said that after suspecting that Nyathi could still be alive one of the villagers, Sibanda volunteered to go on a rescue mission of Nyathi.
“Villagers suspected that Themba Nyathi was still alive and one Mabutho Sibanda volunteered to get down the well so that he could rescue him. He was also lowered down by way of ropes. Whilst inside the well, he got off the rope and there was no communication from him.”
A report was made to police who attended the scene before the Sub Aqua unit retrieved the two bodies from the well the following day.
Insp. Banda appealed to members of the public to avoid entering water bodies without expertise on rescue missions but instead report all cases of drowning to police to activate experts such as the Sub Aqua unit.
-CITE

By- Law-enforcement agents have impounded 15 buses carrying suspected smuggled goods worth millions of dollars in import duty in Beitbridge.

The buses were intercepted at the Dulivhadzimu bus terminus and on the highways from Beitbridge to Bulawayo and Harare and other urban centres.

Bus crew members who spoke to Two Nations claimed that police officers and soldiers who intercepted the buses said that they were punishing the bus companies for getting their colleagues arrested.

Eighteen (18) uniformed officers were arrested by officers from the Anti-Corruption Unit at a roadblock outside Beitbridge on Saturday allegedly after receiving R2 000 bribe from a Sables Class Bus crew.

Mandeep Bus manager, John Marima, told Two Nations that the police officers who commandeered their busses to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) offices told them that the arrests were payback for getting their colleagues arrested. Said Marima:

They said they were arresting us because of Sable Class which reported their workmates and got them arrested for taking bribes.

We have passengers that are stranded with nothing to eat. This is bad for a professional police to be vindictive.

This move is to deter us from making negative reports against the police. After setting this example there is no bus that will report police again for bribe-taking.

The police will actually take bribes on a higher scale from now onwards.

The Chronicle reported that the buses were impounded by the National Security Taskforce.

The publication quoted Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi as saying the police will not hesitate to arrest those involved in smuggling. He said:

We will not hesitate to arrest anyone involved in crime, especially smuggling or corrupt activities.

Our targets are individuals, syndicates, security personnel, companies and transporters engaging in the illegal movement of goods across the borders.

We strongly advise anyone wishing to import or export goods through our borders to do so within the confines of the existing Customs and Excise laws.

By- The opposition MDC-T has made a U-turn on its decision to have the March 26 by-elections nullified.

The party’s legal advisor Tapera Sengweni Tuesday withdrew his Constitutional Court (ConCourt) challenge seeking to stop the by-elections.

A letter dated March 15, 2022 from the ConCourt addressed to Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners, who were representing Election Resource Centre, said Sengweni had withdrawn his application.
The election watchdog had applied for a joinder in the case.
“Please, be advised that the first and second applicant’s applications under CCZ13/22 were dismissed on March 11 2022.
This was precipitated by a notice of withdrawal filed by the parties on March 8, 2022.
As a result of the withdrawal and the dismissal of the application, there is no matter to which your client may apply for joinder.
Please be guided accordingly.”
Sengweni had argued that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission failed to proclaim the polls within the stipulated 90-day period after the seats became vacant.
Other applicants in the matter were Vinnah Mbele, Edify Kudzaishe Vushoma and Phanuel Tsvanu.
Zimbabwe is set to hold by-elections next Saturday.
The by-elections were triggered by recalls, deaths and diplomatic postings. Newsday

By- A 22-year-old pregnant woman died at the hands of her violent and abusive husband.

The deceased left behind a three-year-old minor child and her pregnancy status was revealed through a postmortem.

Her husband, Macdonald Chivero (31), has since been sentenced to four years in prison, without the option of a fine, by High Court Judge Justice Lucie-Anne Mungwari.

The row between the couple was based on accusations of infidelity.

The State alleged the couple’s relationship was characterised by domestic disputes, with Chivero in the habit of assaulting his late wife.

Allegations are that on February 14, 2021, Chivero struck his wife on the head with an iron bar.

Two weeks later, he attacked her again, all over her body, using fists and hands.
The matter was reported to the police.
Despite the police report, on March 14, 2021, Chivero again assaulted his wife with a pot and, two days later, she started vomiting blood. Five days later, the deceased was taken by her aunt to her parent’s house for spiritual cleansing but later died.
In her ruling, Justice Mungwari noted that Chivero had displayed shocking behaviour.
“The callousness displayed by the accused towards his own pregnant wife is more than shocking, it is also alarming,” ruled the judge.
“The persistent prolonged and intermittent assaults upon her dictate that she could not have survived. The very act of using violence at all, let alone on a pregnant woman, is an act of gross negligence.”
The judge added; “It should be made clear to the society that disputes, of whatever kind and manner, cannot and should not be resolved by violence as this, in most instances, results in the loss of life as occurred here.
“The factual circumstances suggest that the accused is a character that has a lot of anger issues and requires a lot of maturing.
“His personal circumstances are those where the accused needs to consciously rehabilitate himself towards non-violence.”
Justice Mungwari said a deterrent sentence would scare perpetrators.
“There is, therefore, a need for a deterrent sentence that will send word to men in the society that courts do not condone the battering of their wives.
Four years imprisonment, of which one year is suspended for five years on condition that the accused does not, within that period, commit any offence involving the use of violence on another person.”

• H Metro

By-Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Marry, has denied assaulting her former maid.

She denied assaulting Delight Munyoro, when her trial on assault charges opened at the Harare Magistrates Court.

Through lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Marry told the court that her hands were swollen after being injured during the Bulawayo White City Stadium blast incident.

She said her hands were weak and could not afford to attack Munyoro.

Marry told the court that she only exchanged words with Munyoro on the day in question.

Marry got injured at a Zanu PF rally in June 2018 after a grenade exploded at the ruling party’s campaign rally.

-Herald

By-Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Marry, has denied assaulting her former maid.

She denied assaulting Delight Munyoro, when her trial on assault charges opened at the Harare Magistrates Court.

Through lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Marry told the court that her hands were swollen after being injured during the Bulawayo White City Stadium blast incident.

She said her hands were weak and could not afford to attack Munyoro.

Marry told the court that she only exchanged words with Munyoro on the day in question.
-Herald

By- MDC-T’s legal adviser Tapera Sengweni has withdrawn his Constitutional Court (ConCourt) challenge seeking to stop the March 26 by-elections.

A letter dated March 15, 2022 from the ConCourt addressed to Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners, who were representing Election Resource Centre, said Sengweni had withdrawn his application.
The election watchdog had applied for a joinder in the case.
“Please, be advised that the first and second applicant’s applications under CCZ13/22 were dismissed on the 11th of March 2022.
This was precipitated by a notice of withdrawal filed by the parties on March 8, 2022.
As a result of the withdrawal and the dismissal of the application, there is no matter to which your client may apply for joinder.
Please be guided accordingly.”
Sengweni had argued that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission failed to proclaim the polls within the stipulated 90-day period after the seats became vacant.
Other applicants in the matter were Vinnah Mbele, Edify Kudzaishe Vushoma and Phanuel Tsvanu.
Zimbabwe is set to hold by-elections next Saturday.
The by-elections were triggered by recalls, deaths and diplomatic postings. Newsday

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.