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

Tinashe Sambiri|Police on Saturday arrested 13 Citizens’ Coalition For Change members- including a diabetic 68-year- old woman.

The CCC supporters were arrested for conducting a door- to door -campaign programme in Masvingo Urban Constituency.

In a statement, CCC condemned the persecution of its members by the Zanu PF regime.

“#ALERT Ward 3 candidate, Rocky Kamuzonda & 13 CCC members were unlawfully arrested .

No charge has been preferred against them. Among the detained are a 68 year old diabetic patient, Shingairai Chapura, whom the police won’t release. She hasn’t taken her meds since 2pm,” CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said in a statement on Saturday.

Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime has blocked President Nelson Chamisa’s rally scheduled for Binga on Tuesday.

Despite attempts to disrupt President Chamisa’s campaign programmes, the Yellow Revolution is spreading rapidly across the country.

President Chamisa wrote on Twitter:
“They cancelled our Tuesday BINGA RALLY. So they are quaking and shaking.We mean peace and love.

We’re peacemakers.2023 is fast approaching and we will WIN BIG,with a landslide.

We will build Our ZIMBABWE New and Great.Let’s together win ZIMBABWE for change! It’s a Citizen fight!”

By A Correspondent- Former Harare mayor Herbert Gomba has been found after reports that unknown men allegedly stormed into his house before seizing and driving off with him Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday CCC national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere  tweeted that: #ALERT former Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba has gone missing. Unknown men stormed his home in Glen Norah C at around 14.30 hrs. They used three unregistered white Isuzu vehicles. His whereabouts are unknown.

However, on Monday CCC said:

“We are advised that Herbert Gomba has been found and is in the custody of his family. We are advised he is safe.”

Gomba is contesting for a municipal ward in Glen Norah.after he was recalled by the Douglas Mwonzora-led MC-T for siding with Chamisa in 2020

By A Correspondent- Former Harare mayor Herbert Gomba has been found after reports that unknown men allegedly stormed into his house before seizing and driving off with him Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday CCC national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere  tweeted that: #ALERT former Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba has gone missing. Unknown men stormed his home in Glen Norah C at around 14.30 hrs. They used three unregistered white Isuzu vehicles. His whereabouts are unknown.

However, on Monday CCC said:

“We are advised that Herbert Gomba has been found and is in the custody of his family. We are advised he is safe.”

Gomba is contesting for a municipal ward in Glen Norah.after he was recalled by the Douglas Mwonzora-led MC-T for siding with Chamisa in 2020

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) February report says police and ZANU PF top the list of human rights violators, mainly targeted at opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) supporters and ordinary citizens.

The report comes as Zimbabwe’s electoral environment is increasingly turning violent, with CCC supporters being attacked by suspected State security agents and Zanu PF members. Reads the report in part:

Zanu PF takes a lead in human rights violations recorded this month at 41%, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police contributes 37% of human rights violations recorded in February 2022,” the report read in part.

This month (February), ZPP recorded a significant increase in the profile and scope of the human rights violations recorded. In January, ZPP recorded a total of 55 cases of human rights violations, the majority of them were of discrimination during food aid processes.

In the February report, ZPP recorded a total of 70 cases, with the majority of them being of political violence that left people injured or dead.

The majority of the victims, about 89%, are ordinary Zimbabweans, with nine per cent being CCC supporters.

Some cases:

1). Police last month used dogs, water cannons and tear gas to disperse a CCC rally in Gokwe despite a High Court ruling for the event to go ahead.

2). On February 27 in Kwekwe, one CCC supporter Mbongeni Ncube was assaulted to death by suspected ZANU PF supporters who stormed the CCC rally armed with spears, machetes and other sharp weapons. 

3). Police also arrested 13 CCC members, accusing them of holding a car rally and failing to obey police officers directing traffic. The supporters were allegedly severely assaulted by suspected state security agents during detention.

4). Another 80 CCC supporters were arrested in Masvingo while campaigning door to door.

5). In January, five CCC activists were assaulted by police following their arrest on charges of public nuisance in Harare’s central business district (CBD). But one of the victims, Erasmus Nyandoro told NewsDay that they were arrested for wearing CCC’s yellow regalia.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he could not comment on claims by the ZPP that police topped the list of human rights violators saying he has not received the report.

By A Correspondent- Villagers at Magalani in Matopo have complained of several incidents of poisoned cattle, while some of them are reportedly being axed by illegal settlers occupying grazing land.

The illegal settlers are allegedly buying the land from “corrupt local leaders.”

Disgruntled villagers told Southern Eye that this started after the death of Chief Lenard Mathe seven years ago. One of the victims, Sibonokuhle Sibanda said her family lost several cattle after they were axed by the illegal settlers.

“Last year seven cows were poisoned. Others were axed a few months later by the invaders.

“This year again I found five cows bleeding in the bush after they were axed, and I suspect that they were attacked by the land invaders in the area.”

Sibanda said she reported the matter to the police last year who advised her to sit down with community members and leaders to resolve the issue.  She was told that people that committed the crime were minors who could not be charged.

“I applied for a peace order between me and the attackers but the court dismissed the application and insisted on a community peace meeting even though we told them that we do not have a chief in the area to facilitate and resolve such issues.

“The case then ended without resolution,” she said.

Ward 9 councillor Bekezela Moyo confirmed the matter.  Moyo blamed the criminal activities on corrupt traditional leaders.

“We have community leaders and members who sell grazing land to strangers. Now there is conflict between community members and the invaders, which has escalated making it hard for me as a councillor to solve it since we do not have a chief,” Moyo said.

“Many cows have been axed and killed. Homes have also been burnt by angry community members. Even though steps were taken to report these issues, no proper charges were laid on the criminals.”

He said several villagers lost cattle due to conflicts between illegally settlers and community members.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena said they had not received reports pertaining to livestock poisoning.

Mangena said anyone caught axing or poisoning other people’s livestock would be arrested.

“We urge the community to report such crimes to the police,” Mangena said.

By A Correspondent- In  yet another scandal the top management at Lupane State University is reportedly milking the higher learning institution through paying sick money in rentals for the properties they are using which range from ZWL$50 to ZWL$300 per month.

Indications by internal sources are that staff residing in the staff quarters are paying ZWL$75 per month, while those in the halls of residence are paying ZWL$50.

“The Vice-Chancellor ( Pardon Kuipa) who stays in a three-bedroomed air-conditioned house is paying ZWL$300 per month, including electricity and water. The Vice-Chancellor does the issuance of accommodation, and his close associates get issued ahead of more deserving individuals,” said an insider.

The Insiders concluded that proximity to the Vice-Chancellor or ceding to his demands is a weapon to unlock access to resources. They noted that procedures are applied to perceived enemies and those who deny the Vice-Chancellor, for example, women who refuse to entertain his sexual advances.

“Some staff members reside in University residences and have not paid any cent, nor electricity and water bills and they are protected by the Vice-chancellor. This is sad as the lowest-paid workers have to pay for rented accommodation almost equivalent to their salaries. It has emerged that when there were suggestions to have the rentals reviewed in 2020 through the Finance Committee, the Vice-Chancellor became furious and accused some committee members of insubordination and refused to have the rentals reviewed,” said insider.

“The meeting was adjourned as there was tension in the meeting since the Vice-Chancellor refused an upward review. He wanted to continue paying ZWL$300 in his allocated house, where some of his two lovers fought after a clash. Reliable sources revealed that after the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor wrote to the Chairman of Council and the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, citing that he wanted to set an example with the Finance member, who had tabled a paper on rental review. Disciplinary processes were set on 18 December 2020, which never yielded any results because it was procedural to review rentals.”

Insiders noted that one of the council member who was part of the hearing, was immediately removed from the LSU council unceremoniously as he was viewed as a threat by the Vice-Chancellor.

The insiders said this is after he had challenged the unprofessional behaviour of the Vice-Chancellor and brought the meeting to a halt.

“Some highlighted that this behaviour was not surprising as the Vice-Chancellor refused to have the sale price of his contractual reviewed and paid less than an equivalent of US$200 for an SUV, which the institution bought for over US$85 000. Since 2020 the rentals have not been reviewed in any committee as the issue resulted in the Finance member facing disciplinary for reviewing rentals and the removal of one member for setting the record straight,” said the insider.

“Insiders are concerned that institutional resources are being milked by external people who will leave the institution after the expiry of their contracts and leave the place ruined and desolate. Others noted the construction of sub-standard infrastructure like offices that were constructed from precast material whose costs were astronomical as a ploy to underdeveloped the region.

The insiders said since 2020, the Vice-Chancellor has snubbed recommendations to align rentals with the cost of services for deliberations by the Council. He will then remove all agenda items that expose him. Governance systems have since collapsed, and others lamented that he has no conscience.

“He even refused the audit report that was conducted concerning the nepotism of employing her daughter Florence as the sole candidate to be presented to the Council. Up-to-date, the report was never presented to Council. The University can not follow its own procedures, but corruption and scandals are swept under the carpet, and those who practice it are rewarded. Insiders commented that one staff member who once went into the University’s results system and changed his wife’s marks was promoted and now functions as a pseudo-Pro-Vice-Chancellor,” they said.  

Indications are that it has emerged that the Vice-Chancellor has power over the LSU Council as those that challenge him are removed from Council. Internal sources revealed that another Council member who was an Engineer was also removed from the Council as she demanded that the perpetual sexual harassment at LSU be investigated.

Workers Council has since written to the Chairman of Council requesting to know why senior management was paying rentals in ZWL$ yet staff members are paying rentals in US$ ranging from US$30 to US$50 where there is electricity while those that reside where there is no electricity are paying rentals ranging from US$15 to US$20.

“It’s shocking to note that top management, including the Vice-Chancellor’s Personal Assistant and the Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor who are given a housing allowance, which is a percentage of their basic salary which increases as and when there is a salary review, and they are graded under directly involved and are paying rentals ranging from ZWL$50 bond to ZWL$300,” the insider said.

 Insiders lamented how top management with housing allowances twice or thrice civil servants’ salaries would pay about a dollar per month while the least paid workers pay rentals equivalent to their monthly salaries. Some lamented that rentals that management pays cannot buy a sweet.

They said student accommodation is periodically adjusted while rentals of top management make no economic sense or logic. Others scoffed, saying such amounts cannot buy a loll pop sweet, that is syphoning potential income to the institution.

“This is of great concern to the staff welfare as no one cares about staff welfare. In some meetings with staff, the Vice-Chancellor was quoted saying he did not care where the staff stayed, even on a tree and under the bridge; all he wanted was to see staff at work. This has resulted in low staff morale, and some have questioned his leadership and professionalism,” said the insider.

 “One wonders who will be liable for paying penalties and interest towards rentals when ZIMRA get to know of such happenings at LSU.”

LSU spokesperson Zwelithini Dlamini said he was on the road to Lupane and promised to check with the registrar after the parliamentary portfolio on Higher and Tertiary meeting.

By A Correspondent- Acting President Constantino Chiwenga Sunday accused the police of blocking the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rallies around the country.

Addressing a rally in Dangamvura, Mutare, to drum up support for ZANU PF candidates in the March 26 by-elections, Chiwenga sought to absolve the government from the bans being imposed on opposition rallies. He said:

The opposition should not blame Zanu PF about the ban of its rallies.

It’s not our problem, anyone is allowed to campaign. Please, deal with the police, and don’t blame anything on the government or Zanu PF because Zanu PF is also applying to the Zimbabwe Republic Police to get clearance for its rallies.

On Saturday, police blocked a CCC rally that was supposed to be held at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera despite High Court judge Justice Lucy Mungwari’s ruling that the rally should go ahead.

This was after police also blocked a CCC rally in Gokwe.

Acting President Constantino Chiwenga yesterday accused the police of blocking the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rallies around the country.

Addressing a rally in Dangamvura, Mutare, to drum up support for Zanu-PF candidates in the March 26 by-elections, Chiwenga sought to absolve the government from the bans being imposed on opposition rallies.

“The opposition should not blame Zanu-PF about the ban of its rallies,” Chiwenga said.

“It’s not our problem, anyone is allowed to campaign. Please, deal with the police, and don’t blame anything on the government or Zanu-PF because Zanu-PF is also applying to the Zimbabwe Republic Police to get clearance for its rallies.”

On Friday, police did not sanction a CCC rally which was supposed to be held at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera on Saturday. This was despite that High Court judge Justice Lucy Mungwari’s ruling that the rally should go ahead as long as the CCC addressed the internal remedies that the police had cited.

On Saturday morning, police barricaded Rudhaka and turned away thousands of CCC supporters coming for the event. Heavily armed riot police formed a human wall at the stadium, blocking all entrances.

A CCC rally in Binga, which is scheduled for tomorrow, is in limbo after police did not approve it, saying that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was due to visit Hwange on March 17, and they would not have enough manpower to handle the rally.

In February, police barred CCC from using buses and lorries to transport its supporters to rallies, despite Zanu-PF bussing in its supporters to such events.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi curtly said:  “Currently, I have not been briefed about the issue by the Officer Commanding Manicaland province. I am driving on the highway and I would want to be briefed first on the situation in Manicaland before I comment.”

Meanwhile, in his address to Zanu-PF supporters, Chiwenga aasured them that no one will die of hunger because of the drought.

“We have realised that most crops are wilting and, as government, we are going to make sure that no one suffers from hunger. We have started preparations so that we address those challenges,” he said.

“The government led by Zanu-PF has done enough to win by-elections by carrying out various projects, including road rehabilitation,” he said.

Zimbabwe goes to polls on March 26 in by-elections necessitated by recalls, deaths or diplomatic postings.

Tinashe Sambiri|Addressing thousands of Citizens’ Coalition For Change supporters in Marondera on Saturday, President Chamisa condemned the abuse of the police force by the Zanu PF regime.

President Chamisa urged CCC supporters to remain calm as the struggle for freedom continues.

Said President Chamisa: “We know that there are people behind the police. Police officers are doing their job – we have nothing against them.

We are the next government and we will not effect changes in the police and the army.”

President Chamisa’s rally was blocked by police details.

Watch video below:

Responding to revelations that the MDC T party has dumped rally-hirelings who are now stranded on Sunday night, Senator Morgen Komichi told ZimEye, “Inhema dzega dzega (these are all lies) brother.” But a hungry Gweru Driver stuck at Harvest House who brought 21 people tells Stanley Gama in the below footage: “we were promised the money is at Harvest House but up to now no one has come to attend to us.”

Tinashe Sambiri|Addressing thousands of Citizens’ Coalition For Change supporters in Marondera on Saturday, President Chamisa condemned the abuse of the police force by the Zanu PF regime.

President Chamisa urged CCC supporters to remain calm as the struggle for freedom continues.

Said President Chamisa: “We know that there are people behind the police. Police officers are doing their job – we have nothing against them.

We are the next government and we will not effect changes in the police and the army.”

President Chamisa’s rally was blocked by police details.

Watch video below:

Tinashe Sambiri|Addressing thousands of Citizens’ Coalition For Change supporters in Marondera on Saturday, President Chamisa condemned the abuse of the police force by the Zanu PF regime.

President Chamisa urged CCC supporters to remain calm as the struggle for freedom continues.

Said President Chamisa: “We know that there are people behind the police. Police officers are doing their job – we have nothing against them.

We are the next government and we will not effect changes in the police and the army.”

President Chamisa’s rally was blocked by police details.

Watch video below:

ZRP cops in Masvingo, taking instructions from Zanu PF officials, arrested 13 Citizens’ Coalition For Change members in Masvingo on Sunday.

The CCC members were arrested while conducting a campaign programme in ward 3 and ward 4, Masvingo Urban Constituency.

They were arrested for “criminal nuisance”

“13 Citizens’ Coalition for Change supporters have been arrested by armed riot police in ward 3 Masvingo Urban.

Their offence is that they are doing door- to -door campaigns.

Police have also impounded CCC supporters’ cars,” a CCC official said.

Zanu PF and MDC T are carrying out their campaigns without police disruption.

Former Harare mayor and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) council candidate for Glen Norah, Herbert Gomba, has reportedly gone missing.

According to journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, a group of men went to his home looking for him and two of the man told his security team that they were from the Criminal Investigations Department. Chin’ono tweeted:

The former mayor of Harare and @CCCZimbabwe council candidate for Glen Norah, Herbert Gomba, has gone missing after a group of men went to his home and his parents’ residence looking for him.

Two of the men identified themselves as CID detectives to the mayor’s security team.

CCC national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said Gomba was seized from his home on Saturday afternoon by unknown men who used three plateless white Isuzu vehicles. She said:

Former Harare Mayor, Herbert Gomba has gone missing. Unknown men stormed his home in Glen Norah C at around 14:30hrs. They used 3 unregistered white Isuzu vehicles. His whereabouts are unknown.

CCC Harare province also confirmed the development, saying Gomba’s whereabouts remain unknown. It said in a post on Twitter:

Former mayor of the City of Harare and CCC candidate for the Glen Norah Ward 27 by-election Herbert Gomba is missing after he was abducted by suspected state security agents in Glen Norah in Harare this afternoon. His whereabouts are unknown.

Gomba, and three City of Harare council officials are facing corruption charges and will be in court on 14 March for trial.

Gomba, suspended town clerk Hosea Chisango, finance director Stanley Ndemera and Charles Kandemiri, face criminal abuse of office charges for allegedly illegally selling a Golf Course in Mt Pleasant.

Pindula News

By A Correspondent- Khiama boys boss Nicholas Zacharia said youths must fear God because God is supreme.

Speaking on the sidelines of Mzansi bar show in Mvurwi yesterday the soft spokesperson Sungura musician said he was turning 66 years on April 9 and he is growing old through God’s grace.

“Youths should fear God because God is supreme, for them to grow old like me, l will be turnung 66 on April 9 and on that same date l will be launching my five track album titled usabvunde,” said Madzibaba Nicholas Zacharia.

Mzansi bar owner Prince Chipenda said he was grateful to host Madzibaba Nicholas Zacharia for the first time.

“As Mzansi we feel very hournered to host the senior lecturer, he started music when l was a toddler and that should be respected, l will continue supporting him,” Chipenda said.

A lot of fans gave Madzibaba Nicholas Zacharia money on stage chief among them Mvurwi businessman Max Mulembaz who wept on stage and gave Madzibaba US$50.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) has raised concern over the mushrooming of bogus institutions and agencies offering fake nurse aide and first aid certificates.

Lately, there has been a proliferation of agencies and institutions in the country purporting to offer nurse aide and first aid training due to the high demand of trained healthcare workers in Europe, Australia and the United States.

ZRCS is among a handful of organisations that have been offering internationally-recognised nurse aid and first aid certificates.

The organisation’s secretary general Elias Hwenga said there was need to tighten the noose on institutions and agencies that offer bogus nurse aide and first aid qualifications.

Hwenga said this while receiving a donation of 500 first aid kits from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday.

“Lately, we have witnessed an increase in the number of bogus agencies offering nurse aide or first aid training in the country,” Hwenga said.

“We want to warn those who are doing so that the law will soon catch up with them and will be brought to book.”

He said there were so many organisations purporting to be working with the ZRCS in the training of nurse aides.

“As an organisation we are looking into the matter and we are doing investigations to get to the bottom of the story with regards to these bogus agencies,” Hwenga said.

He said the donated first aid kits take the Red Cross back to its ethos of alleviating human suffering.

ICRC head of delegation for South Africa Mamadou Sow said his organisation will continue supporting the ZRCS in various ways.

“The first aid kits are meant to respond to emergencies and going forward, ICRC will keep on supporting the national society,” he said.

Sow said he was impressed by the work being done by volunteers, whom he described as the “mainstay of the Red Cross movement”.-standard

By A Correspondent- A robbery suspect recently denied 21 counts of robbery when he appeared in court last week claiming the victims gave false evidence about him.

Handsome Ncube who has been in custody since May 2021 in connection to 21 robbery cases appeared before Bulawayo Regional magistrate Elisha Singano.

Prosecutor Patience Sibanda told the court that Ncube together with Joshua Honest Maseko and Innocent Ncube were driving along Intemba road Hyde Park in Pumula North, Bulawayo offering lifts to residents with the intention to rob them of their property.

The trio was in the company of their accomplice Sonnyboy Sibanda who is still at large.

It is the state case that after they offered the lifts to various people, they would produce Okapi knives before robbing them of their property and money.

Indications were that they continued to do the same to other passengers until they committed 21 counts of robbery and the reports made to the police led to their arrest.

By A Correspondent- Former Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) chairperson Phillip Bvumbe has warned that consumers will continue to be affected by price increases due to hikes in fuel prices triggered by conflict between Russia and Ukraine. 

Experts expect the decline in fuel output to continue until the war in Eastern Europe ends.

However, as reported by the central bank last month, the average income is below $50 000 per month.

Experts say apart from high rates of unemployment, even those formally employed continue to earn below the poverty line. Bvumbe told Standardbusiness:

If you look at the CCZ breadbasket for the end of January it stands $75 000, up from December 2021 which was $72 000.

Now, when you look at the majority of minimum wages, they are below $50 000 and yet the family basket now stands at $75 000. So, that nature would incline that most of these people are living below the consumer council basket, which means they cannot afford to access basic commodities, which are in the basket for a family of six.

The problem worsened when the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority last week raised the price of fuel per litre by 10% to US$1.67 and US$1.68 for petrol and diesel, respectively, within one week.

Bvumbe said workers in the top-notch sectors including the banking sector were also earning below the PDL (poverty datum line).

His remarks echoed reports first made by ZIMSTAT which in a recent report found that 80% of the employed persons from both formal and informal sectors were earning a monthly income of $20 000 in October 2021, against a cost of living of $42 708, for a family of six.-standard

By A Correspondent- ZAPU has rejected an offer by Nelson Chamisa, leader of opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) to join the newly-formed political outfit in a bid to dislodge the ruling ZANU PF from power.

ZANU PF which has been in power since 1980 when Zimbabwe got independence from Britain is accused of running down the Southern African country.

Addressing his supporters at White City Stadium in Bulawayo last weekend, Chamisa said his party was open for coalitions with any political outfit with the objective of removing the ruling party.

He specifically mentioned ZAPU.

ZAPU however, turned down the offer saying it believes the 2018 coalition with the MDC Alliance did not yield anything for the party. Mthulisi Hanana, the ZAPU secretary-general, said:

We are not joining Chamisa.

We never said we are joining CCC.

In the party we first get consciousness with grassroots before we take such decisions.

We have never done that and Chamisa has not approached us.

So we have not made any commitment with CCC and Chamisa cannot invite us at a rally.

This has caused a rift between the leadership and grassroots.

Remember in 2018 we had an alliance with Chamisa, but Zapu got nothing out of it.

In as much as we accept that Zapu cannot be as big as CCC at the moment, we want to occupy our democratic space and we are still gaining support.

We stand for an alternative voice in the country.

ZAPU spokesperson Msongelwa Ndlovu said Chamisa’s call is a confirmation that the work being undertaken by ZAPU after the elective congress which ushered in the leadership of Sibangilizwe Nkomo is bearing fruit. Nkomo is the son of the late former Vice President Joshua Nkomo.

Ndlovu reiterated that any forms of cooperation and unity of Zimbabweans against the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa is welcome and must be encouraged by all well-meaning countrymen.

By A Correspondent- Boreholes being sunk under the Presidential Borehole Scheme spearhead by Prevail International in partnership with the ruling ZANU PF party are expected to address perennial water challenges in Chitungwiza.

Residents of St Mary’s in Chitungwiza have been recycling and reusing water from dishwashing and laundry for a prolonged period of time. 

Beatrice Shenje, a young mother in St Mary’s suburb said the absence of running water exposed them to unhealthy living conditions. She said:

We don’t even have a tap here because running water is not available, so we fetch water a distance away and store it in buckets.

Mr Paul Tungwarara, Prevail International CEO, said solar-powered boreholes are being sunk under the Presidential Scheme to restore the provision of safe tap water in the suburb. He said:

The programme is progressing well so far we have sunk 15 holes and they should be 20 by Tuesday. From then, we expect to have tanked and solarised. From St Mary’s we are moving to Harare East and expect to sink 60.

ZANU PF St Mary’s aspiring Legislator Nobert Jinjika said his constituency has never seen tap water therefore borehole water is a relief.

He said they will finish installing the boreholes and President Emmerson Mnangagwa will launch them all at once. 

ZBC News reports that fifteen boreholes have been sunk during the past week in St Mary’s, with the programme targeting to complete 40 in Chitungwiza.

Most urban areas have struggled to access portable water regularly with local authorities citing the inadequacy of resources as the main challenge.

DON’T bother me with petty issues.”

This is the message of defiance from Prophet Passion Java in the wake of a petition by a Zimbabwean political activist to try and get him deported from the United States.

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

Godfrey Kurauone, a political activist, has been leading the campaign with an online petition.

This is a petty issue that we would not want to dwell on. I would rather not comment about it,” said

Businessman Wicknell Chivayo was also reported to have signed the petition.

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 loyalists,” Chivayo is said to have clarified.

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

Wrote Faith Simango: I would like to name and shame TV Sales & Home in junction with @Unifur.We bought a leather sofa begining of december from TV sales Market Square branch.Exactly one week later we reported the sofa was peeling off .

It was collected and returned after a week with nothing improved .

They claimed we used a chemical that tarnished the leather but suprisingly its just one side of the 2 seater.

As if that was not enough they received 3 more complains of the same nature.Yet nothing has been cone to date ,(4 months later).

With the economic conditions in Zimbabwe u dont want to be dissapointed after parting with thousands of US dollars.@TV sales you are slowly loosing it .

Value for money yacho iripi.Is a customer not a king anymore in your context.# dissapointed customer.

Wrote Al Charangwa Mutangabende: Sofas from TV sales @ home are rubbish. I bought a “ very nice set” from them in mid 2018 and by end of 2019 they were already rubbish, they changed color from black to grey-brown. And mind you they were hardly used because I was staying alone and hardly hosted people.Utter rubbish!!

Said Precious Hamadziripi: TV Sales must be boycotted.My sister was paying for a fridge and when she finished the installments she was told that the fridge was no longer available in stock and the only option was to take a smaller one.

Posted Carol DuPlessis: I bought a suite from them and one day, about four months later when I sat on the two seater the whole backrest fell off!! They collected it a few days later and fixed it and returned it. It’s is however quite poor quality considering the cost….

Said GaynorZie Nyathi: Tv sales buys their furniture from.the guys outside or.thise.that have furniture shops ,for instance kuma “light industries” ,when they buy from them they then resell at exorbitant prices,,they then decorate the same tables with flowers and price tags and then you think you buying quality made stuff,,,SMH!!

Complained Rumbie Chiunda: Encountered the same problem, went to complain and was told exactly the same excuse. This is a clear rip off chaiyo.Its not the same TV sales yataiziva kare.

By A Correspondent- Mrs Fikile Patricia Faith Masunda, wife of former Harare Mayor Mr Muchadeyi Ashton Masunda, has died.

This was revealed by the City of Harare Sunday in a notice.

We publish below the notice by the city fathers:

Mrs Fikile Patricia Faith Masunda, wife of former Harare Mayor Mr Muchadeyi Ashton Masunda, has passed on.

She died at Milton Park Medical Centre.

Arrangements are underway for her burial on Tuesday, 15 March, at Warren Hills Cemetery.

MHSRIEP

By A Correspondent- Prominent preacher and director of Isaiah 61 Ministries International Church, Elizabeth Mabhugu Chademana died as she was praying at Mangwandi Hills on the outskirts of Masvingo at 12pm yesterday.

She was 62.

She was at the mountain with a Kenyan woman, Maureen Oboge, her spiritual daughter when she died. Oboge told The Mirror that Chademana died peacefully.

“She asked me to open the Bible and read her Psalms 124. As I opened the Bible ready to read, I realised that she was now sleeping on her back. I tried to wake her up but failed and I called people back home.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s special envoy to Europe and the Americas Uebert Angel Snr has two identity documents while his British passport has a different date of birth raising serious questions about his integrity.

Mnangagwa last year appointed Angel Snr, aka Uebert Mudzanire, to the new position of special envoy to the president and ambassador at large to the Americas and Europe “to promote investment for the country.”

An investigation by The Standard established that the man of the cloth has two different Zimbabwe national identity cards.

His first ID, with registration number 83-099297X83, was issued at the Zaka registry offices in Masvingo in 1996 while the second one, with the registration number 29-195587H83, was obtained in Gweru in the Midlands a year later.

The two identity documents show that Angel Snr was born on September 6, 1978, but the ID numbers are different.

1). A check at the registry showed that Angel Snr has more than one national identity registration.

2). He used the 1997 ID to secure a passport in Zimbabwe, passport no ZE 306043.

3). His British passport, number 464932598 issued on November 6, 2009, showed that he was born on March 4, 1972.

4). On March 9, 2021, Angel Snr appeared before a Harare lawyer, Tichavona Mutebere, where he made an application to change his name from Uebert Mudzanire to Uebert Angel Snr claiming he was born on September 6, 1978, a birth date inconsistent with his British one but consistent with his two Zimbabwean national IDs.

5). Angel Snr has a biological brother, Samson Mudzanire, ID number 83-066977R83, who was born on April 14, 1972, which means that if he sticks to the 1972 date, then his mother, Rose Mudzanire, gave birth to two sons in 1972 within 40 days of each other.

There are also questions around Angel Snr’s academic qualifications with evidence suggesting that some of his degrees are fake.

The United States Department of Justice through Operation Gold Seal flagged Angel Snr’s Bachelor of Business Administration degree obtained from Saint Regis University as fake.

Angel Snr denies buying a fake online business degree with a “diploma-mill scheme” that was eventually shut down by the US.

By A Correspondent- A 19-year old s_x starved Shamva man has been arrested after he was caught ra_ping a goat in a maize field.

The matter came to light at Bindura magistrates courts on Friday where Kelvin Bhobho was convicted of bestality by magistrate Samantha Dhlamini.

He was sentenced to four months in jail which were converted to four months of community service.

Prosecutors said on March 6 Aida Tauzeni heard the bleating of her goat in her maize field and rushed to check what was happening.

To her surprise she found Bhobho ra_ping her goat and quizzed on his actions he said he was __x starved.

A police report was filed leading to his arrest

By A Correspondent- A Form one pupil at Parkinson Secondary School has appeared at Shurugwi Magistrates Court facing assault charges after he allegedly stabbed a primary school pupil thrice with a knife over snooker.

The pupil who cannot be named because of age appeared before Magistrate Sithabile Zungula on March 1, 2022.

Prosecutor Tafadzwa Guzete said on January 28, 2022 at 1pm at Railway Block Shops the complainant who goes to Railway Block Primary was playing snooker with friends. The accused approached him and asked to play one game but did not have a token.

Complainant told the accused to buy a token and this did not go well with the accused that went home and brought back a knife. He stabbed the complainant thrice in the back and the latter was admitted at Shurugwi District Hospital.

Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is now a threat to rural communities, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

The Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader made the remarks during his Agenda 2022 address on Thursday.

The clueless regime is running ineffective currency cycles, according to President Chamisa.

Below is part of the CCC leader’s speech:

Gvt is running a “currency cycles”, hip hopping from ZW to USD
Savings, pensions & cash flows have been eroded
Education Institutions only producing additions to the battalion of the unemployed
The “Zim dream” is now to leave the country.

Gvt now a threat to rural communities, displacing citizens from their ancestral land (eg Dinde, Chiredzi, Mutoko, Uzumba) to the benefit of the politically connected, emptying the liberation essence

Gvt has perfected the “blame game”
Zim is loosing over US $1.8 billion annually, to elicit financial flows

Human rights situation continues to worsen- no perpetrator has ever been held to account and government hasn’t offered leadership.

Every citizen has the capacity to change. Let’s change our situation and form a Citizens Govt.

Allow the seed of change to germinate and grow in you- a commitment to make our country a better place

The 24 of Jan was a special day- now its Yellow everywhere .