By- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has proposed for the enactment of laws that punish individuals and organisations that seek to discredit the commission and electoral processes.

Some pressure groups including Team Pachedu accused ZEC of electoral malpractices over the past few years which they allege are meant to create an uneven electoral playing field to give an advantage to the ruling Zanu PF party.

Speaking on ZBC News Current Affairs programme, Face the Nation on Tuesday, ZEC spokesperson, Jasper Mangwana said those making false accusations about the commission and electoral processes must be punished. He said:

We have been asking to be able to register and regulate these political parties because of some of these unfounded allegations that ZEC didn’t do anything, but the moment you become like any other EMB South Africa.

If you raise false issues, for example, they will take like 5 000 votes before you get into an election, we would something like that. This is because if you raise such false allegations, you must prove them.

Meanwhile, Mangwana expressed satisfaction with how the 26 March by-elections were held, saying the absence of rains ensured that no logistical challenges were encountered.

More: ZBC News

By- President Emmerson Mnangagwa in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces has promoted nine lieutenant colonels to the ranks of colonels.

Below is the statement by the Zimbabwe National Army on the nine promotions:

The promotions were made in terms of Section 15 (1)(b) of the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02) and effective from 25 March 2022.
The promoted Colonels are Augustine Ruwambara, Chakaipa Mukuna, Job Mugazambi, Clemence Macheka, Nuna Bornaventure Ncube, Simbarashe Zhou, Clady Mapepa, Rita Mkandla and Kudzanai Mautsa.
They were conferred the new rank by the Chief of Staff Administration Staff, Major General Emmanuel Matatu at an investiture ceremony held at Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks on Wednesday, 30 March 2022.

Major General Matatu who was standing in for Commander Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant General David Sigauke commended the senior officers for diligently executing their duties in the ZNA, hence their promotion. Said Major General Emmanuel Matatu:
Your hard work has been rewarded. The Command Element has seen in you the fundamental qualities and attributes of military leadership at the senior level.
Recognition for such an esteemed rank and appointments does not come through ambitious individual lobbying, pitching and posturing but comes as a result of a thorough and exhaustive assessment.
Major General Matatu added that the onus is now upon the promoted colonels to diligently and professionally discharge their duties in the new capacities and enhanced status.
On behalf of the promoted colonels, Colonel Nuna Bornaventure Ncube thanked Commander ZNA for giving him and his colleagues well-deserved recognition.

He promised that they were going to remain loyal to both the organisation and the country

By- Former Gweru mayor, Josiah Makombe, has been re-elected councillor a few months after he was recalled by the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T.

Makombe was recalled in December last year for supporting Nelson Chamisa who was the leader of the then MDC Alliance.

The recall meant that Makombe lost his position as both councillor and mayor and the city council vehicle that he was using.

In the by-election for Gweru’s Ward 2 held on Saturday, Makombe, who contested on a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) ticket, garnered 940 votes against ZANU PF’s Tinarwo Elager who got 492 votes.

Mwonzora’s MDC Alliance candidate Patson Chingwaru received a meagre 20 votes.

Makombe was arrested early this year after he allegedly refused to surrender a luxurious US$170 000 council Prado that he was using as mayor before his recall.

Gweru District Development Coordinator (DDC) Ndeya Nyede said Makombe acted outside council regulations by clinging to the municipality vehicle.

More: The Mirror

By- Police in Beitbridge have gunned down the one-armed robber and left another injured as the two attempted to escape at a security check.

The two suspects are part of a six-man gang that robbed a Chiredzi businessman and his wife of US$1000, R8000, an assortment of cellphones, a Toyota Prado and a Nissan Caravan on Monday evening.

National police spokesman, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the shooting incident occurred at a roadblock 5km before Beitbridge town along the Masvingo road on Tuesday.
He said the suspects were believed to be operating between Beitbridge and Musina.
“The matter is now under investigation. We want to warn those who terrorise members of the community and businessmen that their days are numbered,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said after the shootout one, Zakaria Ncube (41) of Lower Gweru who also operates in Musina and Beitbridge was recovering from bullet wounds at Beitbridge Hospital under police guard.
The other unidentified suspect was found dead in the bullet riddled Honda Fit (AFL 9425), at Mdau Business Centre in Beitbridge on Tuesday evening.

• Chronicle

By- A South African political analyst, Moeletsi Mbeki, says South Africa’s ruling party, the ANC, cooperated with Zanu PF in destroying Zimbabwe’s economy resulting in millions of Zimbabweans crossing the Limpopo River in search of scarce jobs.

Mbeki claimed that the two former liberation movements did not want an opposition party founded by civil society to take power in Zimbabwe.

He was speaking during an interview on the television channel eNCA on Tuesday. That was after South African authorities revealed that the rate of unemployment in the neighbouring country had risen to 35.3%. Said, Mbeki:

The ANC collaborated with Zanu PF in effectively destroying the economy of Zimbabwe because they both did not want an opposition party founded by civil society to take power in Zimbabwe.

By destroying the economy of Zimbabwe, a huge influx of people flooded into South Africa looking for jobs and by not controlling the border and effectively allowing the border not to be controlled, it was then very easy for this flood.

And now the consequence of this is that poor people from Zimbabwe flooded into poor areas in South Africa which are the townships and informal settlements and this is the outcome.

Mbeki also accused the FRELIMO-led Mozambique Government of importing heroin from south Asia and re-selling it to South Africa.

He said the South African Government has done nothing to stop the illicit trade which unfortunately is fuelling drug abuse in the country’s townships.

By- Police in Beitbridge have gunned down the one-armed robber and left another injured as the two attempted to escape at a security check.

The two suspects are part of a six-man gang that robbed a Chiredzi businessman and his wife of US$1000, R8000, an assortment of cellphones, a Toyota Prado and a Nissan Caravan on Monday evening.

National police spokesman, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the shooting incident occurred at a roadblock 5km before Beitbridge town along the Masvingo road on Tuesday.
He said the suspects were believed to be operating between Beitbridge and Musina.
“The matter is now under investigation. We want to warn those who terrorise members of the community and businessmen that their days are numbered,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said after the shootout one, Zakaria Ncube (41) of Lower Gweru who also operates in Musina and Beitbridge was recovering from bullet wounds at Beitbridge Hospital under police guard.
The other unidentified suspect was found dead in the bullet riddled Honda Fit (AFL 9425), at Mdau Business Centre in Beitbridge on Tuesday evening.

• Chronicle

By- The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has recalled suspended Harare mayor Jacob Mafume after he ceased being a member of the opposition party.
Mafume’s PDP membership was automatically terminated after he joined the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
This was revealed in a letter written by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo, addressed to the Harare City Council Town Clerk and dated 28 March 2022. The letter reads:
I wish to inform you that I am in receipt of a letter from the People’s Democratic Party stating that the following Councillor has ceased to be a member of the Party through automatic termination of their membership as they have since joined Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC): –

1. Jacob Mafume Ward 17
   In terms of Section 278 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with Section (1) (k), ward 17 is now vacant.
   In terms of Section 121 of the Electoral Act, please proceed to inform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of this vacancy.
   In March last year, PDP recalled its six MPs, namely Tendai Biti (Harare East), William Madzimure (Kambuzuma), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Sichelesile Mahlangu (Pumula), Regai Tsunga (Mutasa South Constituency) and Kucaca Phulu (Nkulumane).

By- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has proposed for the enactment of laws that punish individuals and organisations that seek to discredit the commission and electoral processes.

Some pressure groups including Team Pachedu accused ZEC of electoral malpractices over the past few years which they allege are meant to create an uneven electoral playing field to give an advantage to the ruling Zanu PF party.

Speaking on ZBC News Current Affairs programme, Face the Nation on Tuesday, ZEC spokesperson, Jasper Mangwana said those making false accusations about the commission and electoral processes must be punished. He said:

We have been asking to be able to register and regulate these political parties because of some of these unfounded allegations that ZEC didn’t do anything, but the moment you become like any other EMB South Africa.

If you raise false issues, for example, they will take like 5 000 votes before you get into an election, we would something like that. This is because if you raise such false allegations, you must prove them.

Meanwhile, Mangwana expressed satisfaction with how the 26 March by-elections were held, saying the absence of rains ensured that no logistical challenges were encountered.

More: ZBC News

By -A Zanu PF candidate for Chinhoyi Ward 3, Precious Dadirai Makiwa, lost the Saturday despite killing a cow and donating the meat to residents luring them to vote for her.

Makiwa bought the cow which she slaughtered and invited residents to get free meat, with each resident getting a 2kgs packet of beef.

Residents who spoke to New Zimbabwe confirmed the development, saying there was a stampede as mostly women flocked Makiwa’s family home to get the free meat.

In spite of her “generosity”, Makiwa polled 330 votes against her rival Richard Vhitirinyu, who got 513 standing as a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate.

Vhitirinyu, who was recalled by the MDC-T on 4 November 2020, was declared the duly elected councillor for Chinhoyi Ward 3.

Speaking to New Zimbabwe on Tuesday, Vhitirinyu said the ruling ZANU PF party should understand that people want tangible development rather than freebies. He said:

The electorate is no longer as gullible as before. Yes, Makiwa slaughtered a whole cow whose meat she distributed to many households in the hope they would vote for her.

Through her party, she also donated textbooks, but all this counted for nothing after she lost. People don’t want freebies, they need real transformational change in their lives.

Meanwhile, CCC won five out of the six Local Authority by-elections in Chinhoyi.

In Ward 4, ZANU PF’s Ignatius Zvigadza obtained 718 votes to beat CCC interim district chairman Brighton Mhizha who garnered 569 votes.

NewZimbabwe

By- A South African political analyst, Moeletsi Mbeki, says South Africa’s ruling party, the ANC, cooperated with Zanu PF in destroying Zimbabwe’s economy resulting in millions of Zimbabweans crossing the Limpopo River in search of scarce jobs.

Mbeki claimed that the two former liberation movements did not want an opposition party founded by civil society to take power in Zimbabwe.

He was speaking during an interview on the television channel eNCA on Tuesday. That was after South African authorities revealed that the rate of unemployment in the neighbouring country had risen to 35.3%. Said, Mbeki:

The ANC collaborated with Zanu PF in effectively destroying the economy of Zimbabwe because they both did not want an opposition party founded by civil society to take power in Zimbabwe.

By destroying the economy of Zimbabwe, a huge influx of people flooded into South Africa looking for jobs and by not controlling the border and effectively allowing the border not to be controlled, it was then very easy for this flood.

And now the consequence of this is that poor people from Zimbabwe flooded into poor areas in South Africa which are the townships and informal settlements and this is the outcome.

Mbeki also accused the FRELIMO-led Mozambique Government of importing heroin from south Asia and re-selling it to South Africa.

He said the South African Government has done nothing to stop the illicit trade which unfortunately is fuelling drug abuse in the country’s townships.

By- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has furiously responded to the allegations that the Saturday by-elections were rigged.

The electoral management body said that the country should enact laws that punish individuals and organisations that seek to discredit the commission and electoral processes by making unproven allegations.

Some pressure groups including Team Pachedu accused ZEC of electoral malpractices over the past few years which they allege are meant to create an uneven electoral playing field to give an advantage to the ruling Zanu PF party.

Speaking on ZBC News Current Affairs programme, Face the Nation on Tuesday, ZEC spokesperson, Jasper Mangwana said those making false accusations about the commission and electoral processes must be punished. He said:

We have been asking to be able to register and regulate these political parties because of some of these unfounded allegations that ZEC didn’t do anything, but the moment you become like any other EMB South Africa.

If you raise false issues, for example, they will take like 5 000 votes before you get into an election, we would something like that. This is because if you raise such false allegations, you must prove them.

Meanwhile, Mangwana expressed satisfaction with how the 26 March by-elections were held, saying the absence of rains ensured that no logistical challenges were encountered.

More: ZBC News

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the moments he shared with the late iconic founder of the Movement for Democratic Change and former Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Morgan Richard Tsvangirai as special and joyous.

President Chamisa described the Right Honourable Tsvangirai as a great mentor.

“This picture was taken in 2000 at the International Union of Socialist Youth Festival in Stockholm, Sweden.

I miss the fun,love & joyous moments. I deeply miss my old man ‘Mdara Milo’.

The Citizens won’t disappoint! We will complete the journey and deliver real change! THIS TIME,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Political analysts say MDC Alliance leader Douglas Mwonzora should consider joining ZANU PF if he is to save his political career.

This comes after MDC Alliance lost all the vacant seats it had won in 2018 to the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and ZANU PF in Saturday’s by-elections

There were 28 parliamentary and over 100 local authority vacant seats that were contested in the 26 March by-elections, with the majority won by CCC.

Political analyst Mkhululi Tshuma told CITE that the MDC built by Morgan Tsvangirai is no more and its current leader, Mwonzora, should join ZANU PF to prolong his political career. Said Tshuma:

There is no hope at all for Mwonzora and his MDC as far as politics is concerned. The man is done.

It’s unfortunate that the iconic MDC with all its derivatives, the party which Morgan Tsvangirai laboured so hard to build, is finished.

The guy played with the hearts and minds of the people hiding behind a dubious Supreme Court ruling.

However, the Supreme Court of public opinion has issued its verdict and it’s not good for Mwonzora.

He is finished and along with him will die the political lives of those who followed him to the grave.

Mwonzora has one choice, to join ZANU PF and be part of the gravy train. From what I have seen with the Khupe U-turn, people are not going to easily forgive him.

He is totally done for now. He just has a small chance in ZANU PF. Let him grab it.

Another political analyst, Vusumuzi Chirwa, also told CITE that the MDC and all its derivatives are now history.

He advised Mwonzora to join ZANU PF and beg to be appointed as Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Afghanistan. Said Chirwa:

Douglas Mwonzora’s political career was intertwined with that of MDC-T when he pressed the MDC-T cum MDC Alliance auto-destruction button, sadly he wasn’t aware of that.

It’s being naive to talk about his political career, instead, we should be reading his political epitaph.

March 26 was the burial day of the politically decomposed stinking bodies of both Mwonzora and his MDC party’s acronyms.

On March 26 the electorate became Douglas Mwonzora’s political undertakers lowering his coffin 600 feet. May his political soul rest in peace.

Now the best option available for the politically dead Douglas Mwonzora is to become a political ghost so he can be appointed a commissioner like Obert Gutu or plead to be appointed an ambassador in Afghanistan.

Speaking during a press conference in Harare on Monday, Mwonzora said he will make a comeback from the electoral loss, saying they got their strategy wrong in the by-elect

OPPOSITION politician Tendai Biti will know his fate this Thursday in a case where the Harare lawyer is accused of assaulting a Russian national.

Harare magistrate Vongai Guuriro Muchuchuti confirmed the development.

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Vice President has been on trial over the matter since 2020.

He denies assaulting Russian national Tatiana Aleshina.

Magistrate Muchuchuti has been accused of bias by Biti who even approached the High Court seeking to have her and prosecutor Michael Reza removed from the case.

High Court judge, Justice Tawanda Chitapi, ruled that there was no evidence that the magistrate and prosecutor were biased.

Justice Chitapi added that higher courts were also “very reluctant” to intervene in matters that were pending before the lower courts.

“If every decision by a presiding officer that one party disagreed with could go to a higher court on review or appeal while the matter was still in progress, then delays would be intolerable.

“In rare cases where someone’s rights could be seriously infringed otherwise, a higher court could intervene, but this is very rare,” Chitapi ruled.

Meanwhile, the row between Biti and Aleshina continues on other fronts with the two currently suing each other at the High Court.

Aleshina sued Biti for defamation while the CCC vice president in turn sued her for causing his “wrongful arrest and detention”.

Both cases are still pending.

Top Government officials will on Thursday sign Performance Contracts at Harare International Conference Centre at the Rainbow Towers.

In a statement, Secretary to Service Commissions, Jonathan Wutawunashe, said 84 Chief Directors and Directors will sign the contracts.

The statement read:

Government continues to raise the bar on performance management in Ministries and Departments by requiring senior officials to sign Performance Contracts in order to strengthen service delivery to citizens.

In a ceremony to be held on Thursday 31 March 2022, Chief Directors and Directors in all 21 Government ministries will publicly sign Performance Contracts at Harare International Conference Centre at the Rainbow Towers.

At the ceremony, 84 Chief Directors and Directors are scheduled to sign contracts as a representative sample on behalf of a total population of 463 Chief Directors and Directors, the rest of whom will sign their contracts in their Ministries and Departments.

This event signals the cascading to all levels of the high-performance Work Culture which Government in the Second Republic is championing, and which was demonstrated in February at a ceremony graced by the presence of His Excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa, where Ministers, Permanent Secretaries of Government as well as CEOs of parastatals and leaders of Local Government Authorities signed their own Performance Contracts.

In the true spirit of the principle, ‘What Gets Measured Gets Done’, the contracts will outline specific strategic objectives, outputs and outcomes targeted for the year 2022 for Chief Directors and Directors.

The performance of Chief Directors and Directors will be assessed on a quarterly basis, together with that of Permanent Secretaries with the final evaluation conducted annually.

Members of the media are hereby invited to cover the event, which starts at 9:30 am on Thursday 31 March 2022 at the HICC in the main auditorium.

By A Correspondent- In an interesting development, a Zanu-PF candidate for Chinhoyi Ward Three bought a cow which she slaughtered and treated residents to free meat but still lost the election held last Saturday.

The candidate, Precious Dadirai Makiwa has since become a subject for radicle in the town.

The ward fall vacant after Richard Vhitirinyu was recalled by the MDC-T on November 4, 2020.

In a bid to enhance her chances of winning the perennially opposition-held ward, Makiwa bought a cow which she slaughtered and invited residents to get free meat. And they came in their numbers, with each walking away with a 2kgs packet of beef.

Residents who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com, confirmed there was a stampede as mostly women flocked Makiwa’s family home from where they emerged with wide smiles.

They all pledged to return the favour with their vote, but once alone in the polling booths, very few honoured their promise as evidenced by the election outcome.

Makiwa was confident she would win the ward elections after dishing out large chunks of meat. The people promised their vote in return for beef allocations,” a resident, Raymond Dangirwa, told NewZimbabwe.com.

The outcome of the poll shocked Makiwa after she managed to 330 votes against her rival Vhitirinyu, who amassed 513 standing as a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate.

An ecstatic Vhitirinyu told NewZimbabwe.com this Tuesday Zanu-PF must start to appreciate that dishing out freebies was a thing of the past.

“The electorate is nolonger as gullible as before. Yes, Makiwa slaughtered a whole cow whose meat she distributed to many households in the hope they would vote for her. Through her party, she also donated textbooks, but all this counted for nothing after she lost. People don’t want freebies, they need real transformational change to their lives,” Vhitirinyu said

Makiwa was unreachable by the time of publishing.

Meanwhile, CCC bagged five out of the six Local Authority by elections in Chinhoyi.

The only upset was in Ward 4 where the CCC interim district chairman Brighton Mhizha lost to Zanu-PF’s Ignatius Zvigadza after polling 569 to 718.-NewZim

By A Correspondent- At least 100 Zimbabweans are stranded in Oman after being trafficked to the Middle East country on false job promises, a top government official has said.

Secretary for Home Affairs, Aaron Nhepera told a media briefing in Harare yesterday that 18 cases had been reported so far.

This followed reports that several Zimbabwean women were trapped in the Middle East after going there in search of jobs as domestic workers under the Kafala visa sponsorship in Oman and other countries.

Reports showed that the Kafala system of employment ties domestic workers to employers who facilitate their travel to Oman and ensure that they do not move to other jobs before the end of their contracts.

The female domestic workers are also allegedly sexually abused and treated as slaves,
while their passports are withheld to stop them from escaping.

“Our prosecution pillar which involves the police and the courts were handling 18 cases. But we do know that there could be more people that have not reported, but by way of estimation, we think we could be having as many as 100 people in Oman currently,” Nhepera said.

He said government was in the process of engaging the Oman government over the issue.

He, however, could not disclose the exact date when the 18 victims, whose cases were reported, would be repatriated to Zimbabwe.

“We are just starting our engagement with the government of Oman. We are doing that through the Foreign Affairs ministry which happens to be part of our committee. The other resolution we have made is to dispatch an investigation committee to Oman as soon as possible so that they can talk to the 18 victims.

“As soon as we have engaged the Oman government to deliberate on these issues, we will start repatriating our people home. I cannot give you a date. It depends on the progress we make through the engagements.”

Nhepera said the 18 victims were still stranded at their workplaces despite reporting their ordeals.

“They are in their respective workplaces. What they have done is to communicate with their relatives here about their situation and through their relatives, we have come to know that there are such people who are there and need our assistance.

Nhepera admitted that government was to blame for the trafficking of its citizens.

“The reason why our people are in this situation is because of poverty, not having good jobs and not being well settled in their houses…others are going there because they would have heard of good job opportunities without necessarily scrutinising these places. We urge Zimbabweans to scrutinise job offers from abroad so that they cannot fall victim to human trafficking. We also urge citizens to consult our law enforcement agents with regards to information about foreign countries that would have offered jobs to them,” he said.-Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader President Nelson Chamisa says he is satisfied with the results of the March 26 by-elections although there is a lot of work to do in terms of pushing for reforms.

Addressing a media briefing in Harare on Monday, President Chamisa called for wholesale reforms within the electoral system.

President Chamisa’s CCC clinched the majority of local government and house of assembly seats in the Saturday by-elections.

President Chamisa said: ” We know that Zanu PF is abusing traditional leaders across the country. Intimidation of voters is rampant in rural areas.

However, I am happy with our performance despite the setbacks.

Zanu PF is violating the principles of the liberation struggle.”

President Chamisa also wrote on Twitter:

“THANK YOU CITIZENS for a RESOUNDING & LANDSLIDE victory against all odds.

You did it! You voted, You volunteered,You funded & supported Your movement & change.Everything we have achieved is because of
@Godisinit
and You the Citizens are the centre of it.

THIS TIME victory speaks
DAWN IS HERE! Proudly Zimbabwean. Proudly a Citizen. A genuine patriot. I love our beautiful ZIMBABWE and it’s great people!Love you!”

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader President Nelson Chamisa says he is satisfied with the results of the March 26 by-elections although there is a lot of work to do in terms of pushing for reforms.

Addressing a media briefing in Harare on Monday, President Chamisa called for wholesale reforms within the electoral system.

President Chamisa’s CCC clinched the majority of local government and house of assembly seats in the Saturday by-elections.

President Chamisa said: ” We know that Zanu PF is abusing traditional leaders across the country. Intimidation of voters is rampant in rural areas.

However, I am happy with our performance despite the setbacks.

Zanu PF is violating the principles of the liberation struggle.”

President Chamisa also wrote on Twitter:

“THANK YOU CITIZENS for a RESOUNDING & LANDSLIDE victory against all odds.

You did it! You voted, You volunteered,You funded & supported Your movement & change.Everything we have achieved is because of
@Godisinit
and You the Citizens are the centre of it.

THIS TIME victory speaks
DAWN IS HERE! Proudly Zimbabwean. Proudly a Citizen. A genuine patriot. I love our beautiful ZIMBABWE and it’s great people!Love you!”

By Jane Mlambo| Former South Africa opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane has urged regional leaders to confront the problems in Zimbabwe which he said had become a cancer that needs cure.

Maimane who now leads One Africa movement said he is ready to cure adding the that cancer does not require pain killers but removing the tumor.

“Zanu PF is the regional cancer draining South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. It’s costing us. We cure a cancer by removing the tumor. By going through chemotherapy. Panado does not cure cancer. Some people are chasing cosmetic solutions. I am going directly for the cancer,” said Maimane.

He added that the problems in Zimbabwe were a result of Zanu PF which he said should be removed from power in order to address the challenges facing the once bread-basket of Africa.

“The oppression in Zimbabwe directly affects SA. We pay the cost in health facilities being strained, in labour disputes and it has sown seeds of animosity. That is why it must fall,” said Maimane.

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF activists in Bulawayo have accused some party members of voting for the Nelson Chamisa’s Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) which won in all the eight local authority wards and two parliamentary seats that were up for grabs in Saturday’s by-elections.

The accusations came after it emerged that votes polled did not match the party members who turned up for voting.

Prior to the by-elections, some party members had expressed concern that there was a ibhola egangani/bhora musango (protest vote) plot not to vote for most of the Bulawayo Zanu-PF candidates whom members accused of rigging primary elections in order to represent the party.

The leaders were irked by the low voter turnout at the weekend by-elections and equated it to bhora musango.

In a WhatsApp discussion, Zanu-PF activists expressed disappointment over poor results in the city, whereby at one polling station 15 people voted for the ruling party when more than 200 party members were seen in voting queues.

“This group is composed of sellouts, it must be disbanded. They are not Zanu-PF members. You are all sellouts, just get out of here,” said one infuriated Zanu-PF member.

Another one said: “Comrades, we were walloped. How can Zanu-PF have 15 out of 125 votes? How can Zanu-PF have 75 votes out of a hundred something? How many people did you see who came to that place? The statistics of those that voted for Zanu-PF were less than 200, but the predominant number of people who were voting was known as Zanu-PF members. What are you trying to tell me? I was there until the close of voting. You people who voted know what you did.”

The party members demanded that all WhatsApp groups be dissolved because they had people who do not  belong to Zanu-PF.

Zanu-PF Bulawayo spokesperson Achirbold Chiponda, however, said they were pleased that countrywide, Zanu-PF managed to snatch some local authority and National Assembly seats from the opposition.

“The character of Zanu-PF as a party is such that whether we are in or out of these few seats we will still work tirelessly to improve the lives of the masses that we represent as the ruling party,” Chiponda said.

He expressed dismay over the high voter apathy in Bulawayo.

“We appeal to the residents of Bulawayo to continue to work with us as Zanu-PF for a better Bulawayo,” he said.

By A Correspondent- A 47 year old Chitungwiza man is on the run after he assaulted Global media and project scribe Bright Chibvuri (49) over a novel dispute.

A warrant of arrest was issued by Chitungwiza magistrate Shamaine Manase yesterday after Simon Mangura failed to turn up for court. The accused had been granted free bail at his initial appearance 

The state alleged on December 22 Chibvuri met Mangura on his way to work and they spoke before Mangura borrowed a novel from Chibvuri.

Weeks later Mangure failed to return the novel and an altercation  ensured.

Mangure assaulted Chibvure with open hands and he rushed to the police station to file a police report leading to the arrest of Mangure.

The state alleged on December 22 Chibvuri met Mangura on his way to work and they spoke before Mangura borrowed a novel from Chibvuri.

Weeks later Mangure failed to return the novel and an altercation  ensured.

Mangure assaulted Chibvure with open hands and he rushed to the police station to file a police report leading to the arrest of Mangure.

The Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF), in partnership with Goethe-Institute, is inviting organisations operating in cultural industries in Southern African countries to apply for grants from the Sound Connects Fund (SCF).

The second call for grant applications is now open and will close on the 15th of April 2022.

SCF is an initiative aimed at promoting development and increasing the capacity of the cultural and creative sectors in Southern Africa by offering financial support in the form of different sized grants to creative and cultural industry organisations.

The fund is available to artists based in Angola, Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Those operating in the performing arts, animation, film, gaming, photography, videography and visual arts sectors are eligible to apply for the funds.

Similar to the first call in 2021, applicants will be expected to speak to the theme of Sound Connects Us.

Interested organisations are urged to visit the Sound Connects Fund website for more information about the fund and the application process.

By A Correspondent- Former MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe believes the outcome of the 26 March by-elections is an indication that the newly-formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party led by Nelson Chamisa will win in the upcoming 2023 general elections and form the next government.

CCC won 19 out of the 28 National Assembly seats and the majority of council seats in the recently-held by-elections.

However, almost all of the parliamentary seats are in urban areas, the opposition’s strongholds and ZANU PF reclaimed two seats that were won by the opposition in 2018.

Khupe’s spokesperson Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu on Monday told NewsDay that the by-elections will lay a firm foundation for an opposition victory in 2023. Ndlovu said:

[H]er supporters turned out in their numbers to vote for CCC and the citizens rejected ZANU PF and Mwonzora.

As Khupe said last week, the outcome of these by-elections will lay a firm foundation for an overwhelming victory in 2023.

It is clear that CCC will form the next government of Zimbabwe and Chamisa will be the next president of the country.

Just before the by-elections, Khupe announced that she was supporting CCC candidates but the party’s Bulawayo structures have refused to work with her.

CCC party members in Bulawayo say Khupe’s previous association with ZANU PF leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa has made it difficult for them to trust her.

When Khupe was sacked by the MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora, she launched the “#beat the pot campaign, No vote for Mwonzora, No vote for ZANU PF”.

By- Zanu PF affiliated economic empowerment lobby grouping, the Affirmative Action Group (AAG) has dumped controversial preacher Panganayi Java, also known as Passion Java.

The group’s President, Mike Chimombe has also been replaced by Scott Sakupwanya.
AAG founding President and appointing authority, Philip Chiyangwa, has announced a new AAG leadership.

Flanked by former AAG President, Chamu Chiwanza at a media briefing held in Harare this Monday, Chiyangwa announced the appointment of Mr Scott Pedzisaai Sakupwanya as the new President of the empowerment group.
I am happy to announce that Scott Sakupwanya is new President of AAG. He will be deputised by Honourable Elizabeth Masuku, while Tawanda Dzore will be the chief spokesperson and other appointments will follow. As an affiliate of the ruling Zanu PF party, there is a certain edge that we are mandated to deliver towards empowering the people. So, we believe Scott has that deep understanding and strength to deliver. Other structures of the empowerment vehicle in Zimbabwe and abroad will remain intact.
Without mentioning any particular reason for replacing the Chimombe-led executive, Chiyangwa said Sakupwanya will lead from the front in ensuring the empowerment of Zimbabweans in strategic sectors of the economy.
-ZBC

By A Correspondent- Africa University (AU) has appointed its first non-Zimbabwean Vice-Chancellor in its history.

Professor Peter Mageto, a Kenyan national, was appointed the AU’s fifth Vice-Chancellor recently. In a statement, AU said:

The appointment reflects the international thrust of the university and is in keeping with its Pan-African spirit.

… Led by the university board chairman, Bishop Mande Muyombo, the search committee over the past nine months served with dedication and divine conviction to shortlist over 3 000 applications for the position, that were received from Africa, North America and Europe to identify the next leader of Africa University.

Mageto’s appointment comes as the United Methodist Church-affiliated institution is celebrating 30 years of existence.

He had been the acting Vice-Chancellor from January 2021 until the recent appointment. Added the statement:

An accomplished academic grounded in the study of ethics and leadership, Professor Peter Mageto’s vision and grounding philosophy are best captured in four words – our people, our values.

The charting of the university’s next glorious decade is to be built upon a foundation of academic excellence, innovation, accountability and institutional advancement.

The journey ahead is one filled with immense promise and guided by unwavering faith.

By- Mutare Gold dealer and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Gold frontman, Scott Sakupwanya has taken over the leadership of the Affirmative Action Group.

Sakupwanya replaced Mike Chimombe, who was the group’s President.

AAG founding President and appointing authority, Philip Chiyangwa, has announced a new AAG leadership.

Flanked by former AAG President, Chamu Chiwanza at a media briefing held in Harare this Monday, Chiyangwa announced the appointment of Mr Scott Pedzisaai Sakupwanya as the new President of the empowerment group.
I am happy to announce that Scott Sakupwanya is new President of AAG. He will be deputised by Honourable Elizabeth Masuku, while Tawanda Dzore will be the chief spokesperson and other appointments will follow. As an affiliate of the ruling Zanu PF party, there is a certain edge that we are mandated to deliver towards empowering the people. So, we believe Scott has that deep understanding and strength to deliver. Other structures of the empowerment vehicle in Zimbabwe and abroad will remain intact.
Without mentioning any particular reason for replacing the Chimombe-led executive, Chiyangwa said Sakupwanya will lead from the front in ensuring the empowerment of Zimbabweans in strategic sectors of the economy.

-ZBC

By- Zanu PF has spoken out on the Saturday by-election, which it lost to the newly-formed Citizens Coalition for Change.

CCC won 19 out of the 28 National Assembly seats that were contested in the by-elections.

Speaking during a press conference at the party headquarters on Monday, Zanu PF Spokesman Christopher Mutsvangwa said the ruling party was happy with the by-election results after it won two seats that had been won by the MDC Alliance in 2018.
Said Mutsvangwa:
We did very well, the party did very well, candidates who wrestled seats from the opposition, I can’t say the same on the opposition.
Most of the seats belonged to the opposition, but with their fractured nature, Zanu PF managed to snatch two seats.

We thank ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) for providing a fair hunting ground and unfair criticism of ZEC chairperson Priscilla Chigumba can now die down.
We see 2023 as an opportunity when the fortunes of Zanu PF will be sustained as the message resonates well with the people.
The Saturday by-elections was a warning that their days of urban electorate supremacy are over.
Zanu PF won Epworth and Mutasa South, two seats that had been won by the MDC Alliance in the 2018 harmonised elections.
The ruling party also retained its seats in Gokwe Central, Chivi South, Mberengwa South, Murehwa South, Marondera East, Mwenezi East and Tsholotsho North.

The MDC Alliance, now under the leadership of Douglas Mwonzora, failed to win a single seat.

BY- Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa, has said his party won in the just ended by-elections despite rigging by the ruling Zanu PF.

Chamisa claims that the ruling party works in connivance with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to manipulate election results.

CCC won the majority of National Assembly and local government seats that fell vacant after the death or recalls of members.

Out of the 28 Parliamentary seats, CCC won 19 and 77 council seats out of the 121 seats available, while the ruling party won the rest.

Chamisa made the remarks at a press conference held in Harare this Monday. He said the election outcome was a “strong signal” from the citizenry. He said the electorate knows what it wants. Watch the video below for more.

By- Newly-elected Kwekwe Central Member of Parliament, Judith Tobaiwa (35), has vowed to push for changes required to ensure that the majority poor benefit from the city’s gold instead of ruling Zanu PF elites.

Tobaiwa polled got 6 639 votes in weekend by-elections to win the seat for the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), defeating Zanu PF’s local gold mining magnate John Mapurazi (2 883) and two others.

Speaking to journalists after the elections, Tobaiwa said gone are the days when Zanu PF elites controlled the often deadly gold mining sector in the Midland’s second-largest city. She said:

Mining is the backbone of Kwekwe Central and most of our youths are engaged in artisanal mining which is often dangerous due to its associated risks and also violence in the same pits. 

As a legislator, I want to make sure that everyone benefits from the mineral resources in Kwekwe.

What we are currently seeing in Kwekwe is very saddening; only those who are benefitting from the mineral resource are aligned to Zanu PF.

Looking back at the election campaign, Tobaiwa said the road to victory was rough adding that she was exposed to violence as the ruling party sensed that she was going to defeat Mapurazi.

She, however, said the experience was water under the bridge as she is now focused on improving people’s livelihoods in the constituency.

Kwekwe Central fell vacant following the death in July 2020 of opposition National Patriotic Front (NPF) parliamentarian Masango Matambanadzo. 

More: NewZimbabwe.com

By- Controversial preacher Panganayi Java, also known as Passion Java has been kicked out of Zanu PF Affiliated black empowerment body, the Affirmative Action Group, AAG.
The group’s President, Mike Chimombe has also been replaced by Scott Sakupwanya.

AAG founding President and appointing authority, Philip Chiyangwa, has announced a new AAG leadership.

Flanked by former AAG President, Chamu Chiwanza at a media briefing held in Harare this Monday, Chiyangwa announced the appointment of Mr Scott Pedzisaai Sakupwanya as the new President of the empowerment group.
I am happy to announce that Scott Sakupwanya is new President of AAG. He will be deputised by Honourable Elizabeth Masuku, while Tawanda Dzore will be the chief spokesperson and other appointments will follow. As an affiliate of the ruling Zanu PF party, there is a certain edge that we are mandated to deliver towards empowering the people. So, we believe Scott has that deep understanding and strength to deliver. Other structures of the empowerment vehicle in Zimbabwe and abroad will remain intact.
Without mentioning any particular reason for replacing the Chimombe-led executive, Chiyangwa said Sakupwanya will lead from the front in ensuring the empowerment of Zimbabweans in strategic sectors of the economy.

-ZBC

By A Correspondent | Fundraising programs for the nation’s newly born yellow-kid, the Citizens Coalition For Change party are now too uncoordinated that they need to be brought back into order, a debate on the Twitter Spaces portal, has concluded.

The CCC has proven ability to rise from anywhere, at any time, and quickly become a force not just for a reckoning, but one to take over a nation. The just ended bi elections have proven this capacity. But one major weakness set to slow down progress- is spinelessness when it comes to long term decision making in for instance, the entity’s treasury department.

It all started 2 years ago in 2020 when a UK based scammer, who was making false claims that she is Nelson Chamisa’s sister, Yeukai Mamoyo, had teamed up with MP Custon Matewu’s father, Jaison to publicly disrupt a Harare online fund raising session for the CCC Trio, that Coltart ended up passing orders that Matewu’s diversion of party funds to his private accounts must be stopped. At that time Matewu working with the fake-Chamisa sister, had instructed diasporans to deposit party funds into his personal company project, promising he would after that transfer the money to Harare.

Jaison Matewu, like in his earlier years when he was once removed by Tsvangirai in 2008 over the same reasons, continued to cause chaos in Chamisa party, working with the fake Chamisa sister, whose boyfriend is a top Mwonzora aide.

The fake Chamisa sister has since joined a cluster of counter intelligence agents who daily study and manipulate organisational weaknesses in the CCC.

Fast forward to 2022, the party launched Spaces discussions but was beaten in speed by a group of state agents who just last year March attempted to get three of Chamisa’s aides slapped with false charges of sexual assault. The group is also the one that in 2021 was supporting and sponsoring the ferret who planned to kill Human Rights Watch Director, Dewa Mavhinga, Mr Elvis Mugari.

The spaces platforms gave the ferrets a good opportunity to regroup and appear sympathetic to Chamisa. But more chaos has since emerged over accountability as money raised cannot be fully traced. To this issue, citizen Jessica Geraldine said:

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader President Nelson Chamisa says he is satisfied with the results of the March 26 by-elections although there is a lot of work to do in terms of pushing for reforms.

Addressing a media briefing in Harare on Monday, President Chamisa called for wholesale reforms within the electoral system.

President Chamisa’s CCC clinched the majority of local government and house of assembly seats in the Saturday by-elections.

President Chamisa said: ” We know that Zanu PF is abusing traditional leaders across the country. Intimidation of voters is rampant in rural areas.

However, I am happy with our performance despite the setbacks.

Zanu PF is violating the principles of the liberation struggle.”