By- A spirit medium died after he was stung by a swarm of bees at a shrine in Tsholotsho last week.

Milton Tshuma (80) of Mpucuko Village, Tshayile Line under Chief Matupula, and rain-makers, known as ihosana, gathered at the shrine to perform rainmaking rituals (umtolo) when they were stung by the bees.

Tshuma was rushed to hospital after being stung by the bees and died at Tsholotsho district hospital the following day. He was buried on Monday.

His young brother, Morgan Masaka Tshuma, who is headman for Tshayile Line confirmed the incident. He said:

This is something new and shocking. Spirit mediums are set to meet on Sunday to deliberate on the issue and select people who will visit the main Njelele Shrine to consult because this could be a sign that something bad has happened.

They were supposed to have an umtolo (ceremony) at the shrine when he was stung by inyosi zelinda. The shrine is a sacred place and only ihosana are allowed to enter.

When he entered the shrine intending to appease the spirits, he was also attacked by the bees and the other elders ran away instead of rescuing him.

Tsholotsho Rural District ward 6 Councillor Mthetho Sikhosana Tshuma said the now deceased was later rescued by his family members who rushed to the shrine after being told of the incident.

The shrine, located a short distance from Chief Matupula’s homestead, is referred to as little Njelele because it is believed to have a link with the main Njelele Shrine in Matopo, Matabeleland South province.

The significance of “Little Njelele”

The shrine has a small hut located at the centre and is surrounded by big trees.

Swarms of bees called inyosi zelinda, have stayed for many years within cavities of two trees at the shrine.

No unauthorised people are allowed in as the shrine is used for traditional ceremonies and rituals.

More: Chronicle

By- A driver transporting a corpse for burial in Checheche, Chipinge was on Sunday involved in a horror crash that killed the driver on the spot

.Mr Stephan Gwatidzo, who was on his way from Shamva, was driving the hearse when he was involved in an accident along Ngundu-Tanganda Road in the wee hours of Sunday.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the accident.
“The driver of the hearse, Mr Stephan Gwatidzo of Harare, was driving a Toyota Hilux truck along the Ngundu-Tanganda Road carrying a corpse. He was heading to Checheche for the burial of the deceased.
“Upon reaching the 245km peg, he lost control of the vehicle and it swerved to the right before overturning. Mr Gwatidzo was thrown out of the vehicle, sustained head injuries and died on the spot. The body that was being transported did not sustain any injuries and was later taken to Chanda Village for burial,” said Asst Insp Chinyoka.
“We continue to urge motorists to exercise extra caution on the roads by adhering to road traffic rules,” he added.
Witnesses who arrived at the scene a few minutes after the accident told The Manica Post that the funeral services company reacted swiftly after the incident which occurred near Nyautsa River in Middle Sabi.
Said Mr Reketayi Mahachi: “I was in a ZUPCO bus which was coming from Checheche and when we approached Nyautsa River in Middle Sabi around 3am only to realise that the hearse had overturned.
The driver of the hearse was already dead. Other passengers informed the police at Middle Sabi Police Station.
It did not take long for the police and another hearse to arrive and pick up the coffin from the accident scene. The coffin was partially damaged,” said Mr Mahachi.
The incident comes hardly three weeks after another hearse carrying a Honde Valley man, Mr Caleb Mapaya, was involved in a freaky accident that left his corpse defaced.
Mr Mapaya’s coffin was broken into pieces, leaving the corpse laying on the ground.
His widow, Mrs Cecilia Chingaya-Mapaya who was seated next to the driver of the hearse, was thrown out of the vehicle and trapped underneath.
She was rushed to Hauna District Hospital but later succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident.
The driver of the Harare-based funeral services vehicle, Mr Chatadza, is said to have lost control of the Mitsubishi Colt double cab, resulting in the vehicle veering off the road. Manica Post

By- The Douglas Mwonzora led MDC-T has spoken out on its position on the oncoming by-elections where the party failed to field candidates in several constituencies.

In a statement, the party’s Secretary-General, Paurina Mpariwa, admitted failing to field candidates in a number of constituencies.

Below is the statement:

As all of you are aware, Zimbabwe will be having by-elections on March 26, 2022. I am very pleased that we have managed to field candidates in almost all vacant positions. Where we failed to, it was due to matters beyond our control and we took notes as we prepare for the 2023 General Elections. I am also delighted that we have managed to field more women candidates than our rivals for these elections. This is a fitting tribute to our female candidates during this Women’s Month, whose theme is “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.”

We deliberately chose a grassroots centred campaign strategy for these by-elections. Our leaders led by President Douglas Mwonzora have been traversing across the country engaging directly with our party faithful. We are a labour backed and people-centred party and it is very important that each and every member, and those wishing to join us, are free to engage with our leaders in an intimate manner. This strategy has also given our leaders an opportunity to dispel rumours and innuendos peddled by our rivals on social media and other fora.

The feedback from the grassroot engagement is unanimously clear. Our people want change they can trust. Our people want a Zimbabwe where their savings and pensions are secure. Our people want quality and accessible education and health care. Our people yearn for dignified jobs and those working want incomes that can sustain them and their families. Our people want a fair justice system in Zimbabwe. Our people want unconditional justice and compensation for all victims of atrocities committed from Gukurahundi, 2008 election violence, Operation Murambatsvina, victims’ of 2018 election violence and many other tragedies brought upon our people because of their beliefs and yearning for a fully free Zimbabwe. Our people want full and unconditional implementation of the Mothlante Commission. Our people yearn for a day when they can vole and fully trust the outcome of the vote because the institutions will be fully independent. We are the only party that can deliver what our people yearn for.

Our message of hope, dialogue and unity of purpose has been positively received. I want to take this opportunity to invite you all to our MDC Alliance Star Rally on 13 March 2022 at Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare. President Mwonzora will be the keynote speaker and will be accompanied by other Alliance principals. This is going to be a festive event and I urge you all to restrain yourselves when provoked by misguided elements. We are a peaceful party and our history speaks for itself.

Aluta Continua

Tinashe Sambiri|2022 is a year of Citizens’ action for change, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

On Thursday night President Chamisa unveiled # Agenda 2022.

The Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader believes every citizen has a role to play in the struggle for freedom.

Watch video below President Chamisa’s Agenda 2022 address:

By A Correspondent- The ZRP reports a fire incident which occurred at ZESA sub-station along Khami Road, Bulawayo on 08/03/22 at about 0100 hours, where a man (40) was electrocuted while tampering with ZESA equipment.

An explosion was herd at the substation before the suspect cried for help while flames were engulfing the site. The Fire Brigade later extinguished the fire and the suspect was taken to Mpilo Hospital where he later died. – ZRP

By- There was drama in Harare’s central business district (CBD) on Tuesday when mourners sought to take the body of a regular patron into the bar for an emotional send off.

The body of Norman Murengwe was paraded outside City Sports Bar along Kaguvi Street which he frequented.

Murengwe, popularly known as Nomara, died on Saturday after being hit by a car in Ruwa.

When the hearse arrived in a convoy, some of the deceased’s friends paraded the coffin along Kaguvi Street. They later took it to the entrance of the bar.

Their intention was to take the coffin into the bar but one of the joint’s managers, Harpers Mapimhidze, intervened and blocked them.

“No guys, you can’t take the coffin inside the club,” he pleaded. “Please, I think this is enough.”

The men, who were carrying the coffin, pleaded with Harpers, who repeatedly turned down their request.

They continued with their parade, which blocked traffic, after the coffin was briefly put on the road.

According to one of the people who were part of the team which paraded the coffin, Murengwe was a mechanic, operating along Kaguvi Street.

He would, however, spend most of his spare time, drinking with his friends, in that pub.
“We know Nomara and he was one of our regular clients,” said Harpers.

He was one of the guys who worked along Kaguvi Street, but would spend most of his time with us here.

“We couldn’t allow the coffin into the bar. I turned down the request. He used to spend a lot of his time in the City Sports Bar. So, his friends requested to parade the coffin here, and we accepted.

“We also participated in the parade and we are sorry to family, and friends, for the loss.”

Nomara was laid to rest in Goromonzi yesterday. H Metro

By- Energy and Power Development Minister, Zhemu Soda, has set up a team of investigators to investigate the entire Petrotrade Board of Directors.

Soda on Thursday suspended the Board and accused it of not following corporate governance.

Among the suspended board members is former MDC official Lilian Timveos, who joined Zanu PF last year.

The Board was appointed in 2021 after Petrotrae had operated for five years without the governing Board. Board members were:

1)Tinomudaiishe Chinyoka a lawyer, board chairperson 

2). Zanele Dube, deputy chair

3). Gladys Mumhure, 

4). Simbabrashe Eric Mhuriro, 

5). Ferida Matambo, 

6). Getrude Marabada, 

7). Godfrey Ncube, 

8). Dakarai Mukuku,

9). Lilian Timveous MDC Alliance defector.

In a statement, Soda said he will be appointing a team to initiate investigations. We present the statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE PETROTRADE BOARD

While the Board of Directors for Petrotrade was appointed in terms of Section 11 of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act, with the concurrence of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, I have today, 9 March 2022 suspended the entire Board, pending investigations into matters of corporate governance.

I will be appointing a team to look into the matter, whose findings will inform the way forward.

Petrol tradeis a private company, wholly owned by the government.

 It is a successor Company to the former National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (Noczim). 

By A Correspondent- The Marriages Bill was passed by the National Assembly this Wednesday following amendments to a clause on payment of lobola.

The legislation initially passed the National Assembly in 2020 but Senate objected to the clause on lobola.

Traditional leaders in Senate, led by the Chiefs Council president, Chief Fortune Charumbira, objected to a clause that said payment of lobola could not be regarded as a barrier in solemnising marriage between two consenting adults if they satisfy other requirements of the law.

The traditional leaders said lobola was a fundamental pillar in customary unions. 

They shot down the bill and was sent back to the National Assembly for amendments. 

There was a debate on social media when the Bill passed the National Assembly in 2020 with some saying lobola should be scrapped totally. 

Proponents of this reasoning argued that men were using lobola to abuse women in Marriages. 

Conservatives objected saying lobola was a necessity for uniting families. 

Others said while lobola was not a bad thing, families are now abusing it, taking their daughters as business commodities thereby defeating the essence of the process.

The new amendments allow marriage officers, who include traditional leaders solemnising customary unions in their own areas to ask parties to marriage whether or not lobola has been paid.

The amendments also provide that a marriage officer in a customary union cannot solemnise unions where couples had stayed together for less than five years.

Meanwhile, there is no law that compels Zimbabwean men to pay lobola (bride price) to their in-laws and the arrangement can only be done with the consent of both parties.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Teachers unions yesterday pleaded with the government not to bar some of their members from conducting census because they failed to report for duty on school opening day last month citing incapacitation.

Early this week, the Primary and Secondary Education ministry ordered the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) not to consider “striking” teachers for the 2022 census exercise scheduled for April 7 to 30.

Teachers will be drafted in for the exercise when schools close on April 7. The assignment comes with allowances, which for the poorly-paid teachers are a shot in the arm.

According to government, 54,6% of the country’s 150 000 teachers were at work by February 16 after schools opened on February 7, meaning around 82 000 educators are ineligible for census duties.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said the decision on who to employ should be made by ZimStats.

“As far as I am concerned, it is up to ZimStats to choose who it wants to employ because this responsibility should not be based on any precedence,” he said.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure said the move exposed “government’s disregard for teachers’ welfare”.

“The retribution will demoralise teachers and further cripple the education sector.  You cannot punish teachers who declared incapacitation by denying them other sources of income.

“Government is encouraged to sober up and act responsibly. If it escalates repression, we will be forced to escalate the fight for a living wage,” he said.

Around 50 school heads and 32 teachers were suspended after failing to report for duty, citing incapacitation.

The Artuz boss added: “We have gathered intelligence that the system has vowed to punish Artuz members. Given this context, it is clear that we have a responsibility to make the employer choose between concession and escalated repression. To date, we have made a concession that our teachers report for duty twice a week, we expect the employer to make one concession, just allowing our members to work for those two days without facing harassment,” he said.

Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro denied the harassment allegations.

“We have not harassed anyone, we have not victimised anyone. Let them implement a comprehensive response strategy in enhancing the provision of accessible, affordable, quality, relevant, inclusive and wholesome education for all Zimbabweans,” Ndoro said.

On the ZimStats issue, Ndoro said:  “Teachers can make their recommendations, but the ministry makes policies. Government maintains that teachers who were not reporting for duty will not take part in the census.”

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) on Wednesday filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking and interdict to render suspension of teachers null and void.

It cited Primary and Secondary Education minister Evelyn Ndlovu and the Public Service Commission as first and second respondents.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial chairpersonan Richard Moyo has blamed the opposition for derailing the development of Binga during the 20 years the area was under MDC MPs.

Addressing a rally in Sikalenge ward 6, Binga North on Thursday, Ndlovu said: “It is Zanu-PF which is the ruling party that can only bring development in Binga.

“Vote for the Zanu-PF candidate, Kudakwashe Munsaka, a person who talks action to bring development here.”

Moyo said Zanu-PF was “fully  aware of the problems in Binga and Munsaka clearly briefed us”.

“We are now rectifying this. Binga is 20 years behind  in terms of development because of the opposition. We have been voting for an opposition which does not govern. We have a chance to correct that due to the recall of Dubeko Sibanda (Citizens Coalition for Change candidate). Who has ever failed a correction? We should get this right on March 26,” Moyo added.

By-elections will be held on March 26 and candidates from different political parties are all promising to develop one of the country’s poorest districts.

The  Binga North seat fell vacant after the recall of Sibanda from Parliament in October 2020 by the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T.

In the past years, Binga has been one of the leading districts in receiving donor support in Matabeleland.

Most households in Binga survive on hand-outs from the donor community.

Speaking at the same meeting, Zanu-PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu also appealed for a change in voting trends.

Mpofu said the government was eager to work with the people of Binga.

“No opposition will ever rule Zimbabwe. Personally, I cannot be removed by an opposition party and what of a ruling party,” Mpofu said.-Newsday

Regime change machinations continue to be witnessed up to his day with events from the opposition front testifying to their connivance with the West, particularly those that imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will never be a colony again!

— Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (@OppaMuchinguri) March 11, 2022

By A Correspondent- MDC-T leader, Douglas Mwonzora was Wednesday forced to cancel his rally in Chinhoyi after it turned out to be a monumental flop with just a handful of people turned in attendance.

The Chinhoyi fiasco becomes another embarrassment for the opposition leader who has attracted small numbers at his rallies since campaigns for the March 26 by-elections started.

The few people who turned up for the Chinhoyi rally spent the better part of Wednesday afternoon milling at Chinhoyi Hall in Gadzema township, where they waited in vain for Mwonzora who was in no-show.

Some distributed campaign flyers to vendors and pedestrians at Gadzema bus terminus to kill time.

The supporters, numbering less than 30, were dismissed around 3pm by aspiring Chegutu West legislator, Gift Konjana following a brief address in the empty hall.

Later, a low-key meeting between Mwonzora and MDC Alliance candidates in the March 26 by-elections was held at former Chinhoyi deputy mayor and aspiring Ward 3 councillor, Willie Nyambe’s house.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mwonzora downplayed the aborted rally, saying the Chinhoyi Hall event was “only a logistics meeting in preparation of Sunday’s star rally at Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare,”

The meeting, he added, had to be moved to Nyambe’s house as provincial and district executives, who were supposed to attend failed to pitch up because of communication glitches.

He accused Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and Zanu-PF activists of threatening to disrupt the scheduled public meeting.

“We couldn’t hold our public meeting due to security issues as Zanu-PF and CCC members were milling around the venue. We don’t want to be drawn into violence, bloody, name-calling and hate politics, so we have had to cancel the meeting. We didn’t want our members victimised,” he claimed.

“I want to publicly appeal to our political opponents to desist from provoking MDC. We are urging people to campaign peacefully. Our strategy in these by-elections is to know the real voters, and we are not interested in crowds.”

He added: “The MDC is focused that’s why you will be shocked by the resounding victory in the coming by-elections. Other parties are like bullfrogs in the middle of the road that bulge to seem big when they see approaching objects.

“Zanu-PF and CCC are merely showing off. They are behaving like peacocks; we don’t do that. These are just by-elections and it’s naive to bus people from across Zimbabwe to a specific ward where there is a by-election. This is self-delusion.”

MDC, Mwonzora reiterated, had vast experience in electoral processes and would shock opponents with its people-centric strategies.

By A Correspondent- The five guns recovered following the arrest of one of the country’s notorious armed robbers, Clever Mununudzi Nengomasha, who was shot and seriously injured in a skirmish with police in Harare, have been taken to the CID Forensics and Ballistics Unit for testing.

Following his arrest, police recovered the five guns and ammunition hidden at a Waterfalls house belonging to journalist, Xolisani Ncube.

Investigations revealed that Nengomasha, alias Paul Simon Chitakura, is related to Ncube (35) who is a Zimbabwe correspondent for South African media organisation, NewzRoom Afrika.

The two, who have since appeared in court, are still in custody as investigations continue.

Nengomasha has various armed robbery cases dating back to early 2000. He is presently under police guard at a local hospital after he was shot and seriously injured on the thigh during the shootout in Waterfalls.

Following his arrest, police who were acting on a tip-off on Nengomasha’s whereabouts, then recovered two .22 Bruno rifles, a .357 Magnum revolver, a .38 Special Taurus Revolver, a 7.65mm Vzor pistol and 10 x 3,57mm rounds of ammunition, five x 9x19mm rounds of ammunition and 6×7,65mm rounds of ammunition hidden at Ncube’s house.

Sources close to the investigations said the guns were taken to the Forensics and Ballistics Unit for testing, to ascertain whether they had been used to commit other crimes or not.

The Forensics and Ballistics Unit is a highly specialised technical unit of the Zimbabwe Republic Police whose function is to aid police investigations through analysing exhibits and giving expert conclusive evidence on crime scenes.

Ncube was arrested  last Thursday after he failed to produce firearm certificates of the recovered firearms. Some of the guns had erased serial numbers. Police said some of the guns were stolen during an armed robbery in the city, in which a man lost various firearms and cash to criminals who had raided his house last year.

Two of the suspects were later arrested and then implicated Nengomasha.

Police then raided Ncube’s house and recovered the firearms.

Nengomasha has been on the police wanted list on several occasions and had been known mostly for hiding in South Africa.

In 2013, Nengomasha and his accomplices Peace Mutema alias Batista who is now late, and another one only identified as Mudzingwa, were once wanted for a spate of armed robberies in Harare and Bulawayo.

Ncube has been implicated in one of the armed robbery cases which occurred on February 2 this year at around 0730 hours in Sunridge, Harare where him, and his two accomplices who are already in remand and two others who are still at large, are alleged to have hatched a plan to rob a family.

They are reported to have armed themselves with an unidentified pistol and went to confront the complainant who had opened the kitchen door. Before force-marching him into his bedroom.

Police said they tied the complainant’s hands from behind using shoelaces and ordered him to lie on the floor before demanding cash.

The complainant surrendered US$3 050, a .22 Bruno rifle, another .22 Bruno rifle, a .357 Ubreti-Cadrone rifle, a smart watch before attempting to drive off the man’s car, a white Nissan Hardbody 2.7 they failed to start.

They then opened the vehicle’s bonnet and stole its battery before leaving the scene.

Police said following his arrest, Ncube led to the recovery of the stolen guns and all the suspects were captured on the closed circuit television (CCTV) during the commission of the crime.

Total value stolen is US$4 130 and value recovered is US$150.

JUST IN: @bamujm has on behalf of @CCCZimbabwe filed urgent application at High Court seeking to overturn @PoliceZimbabwe ban of their Marondera rally scheduled for Saturday. ZRP invoked provisions of MOPA by telling @CCCZimbabwe that its notification is invalid.

— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) March 11, 2022

They said we are party-less, done and dusted after they handed over everything we works for to their puppets. The birth of the new has shocked them, they have unleashed their last tool on the shelve. More pressure fellow Citizens. Abashwe! pic.twitter.com/k0souZ1xvv

— Gift Ostallos Siziba (@Cde_Ostallos) March 11, 2022

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has reported the death of a motorist who fell on the tarmac after being assaulted by passengers aboard a lorry after he had a misunderstanding with the driver of that lorry.

Police say the incident happened on the 7th of March 2022 around 1930 hours.

The deceased was driving a white Mercedes Benz, AFM 7476, along Bulawayo Road near National Sports Stadium, Harare.

PZRP said following the misunderstanding, some passengers in the lorry assaulted the victim with open hands and fists. The victim fell on the tarmac and was rushed to Sally Mugabe Hospital where he died upon admission.

By A Correspondent- MDC-T leader, Douglas Mwonzora was Wednesday forced to cancel his rally in Chinhoyi after it turned out to be a monumental flop with just a handful of people turned in attendance.

The Chinhoyi fiasco becomes another embarrassment for the opposition leader who has attracted small numbers at his rallies since campaigns for the March 26 by-elections started.

The few people who turned up for the Chinhoyi rally spent the better part of Wednesday afternoon milling at Chinhoyi Hall in Gadzema township, where they waited in vain for Mwonzora who was in no-show.

Some distributed campaign flyers to vendors and pedestrians at Gadzema bus terminus to kill time.

The supporters, numbering less than 30, were dismissed around 3pm by aspiring Chegutu West legislator, Gift Konjana following a brief address in the empty hall.

Later, a low-key meeting between Mwonzora and MDC Alliance candidates in the March 26 by-elections was held at former Chinhoyi deputy mayor and aspiring Ward 3 councillor, Willie Nyambe’s house.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mwonzora downplayed the aborted rally, saying the Chinhoyi Hall event was “only a logistics meeting in preparation of Sunday’s star rally at Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare,”

The meeting, he added, had to be moved to Nyambe’s house as provincial and district executives, who were supposed to attend failed to pitch up because of communication glitches.

He accused Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and Zanu-PF activists of threatening to disrupt the scheduled public meeting.

“We couldn’t hold our public meeting due to security issues as Zanu-PF and CCC members were milling around the venue. We don’t want to be drawn into violence, bloody, name-calling and hate politics, so we have had to cancel the meeting. We didn’t want our members victimised,” he claimed.

“I want to publicly appeal to our political opponents to desist from provoking MDC. We are urging people to campaign peacefully. Our strategy in these by-elections is to know the real voters, and we are not interested in crowds.”

He added: “The MDC is focused that’s why you will be shocked by the resounding victory in the coming by-elections. Other parties are like bullfrogs in the middle of the road that bulge to seem big when they see approaching objects.

“Zanu-PF and CCC are merely showing off. They are behaving like peacocks; we don’t do that. These are just by-elections and it’s naive to bus people from across Zimbabwe to a specific ward where there is a by-election. This is self-delusion.”

MDC, Mwonzora reiterated, had vast experience in electoral processes and would shock opponents with its people-centric strategies.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is investigating a suspected murder and rape case in which a 17-year-old girl was found dead in a maize field in Pomona with a packet of salt beside her body.

In a statement, police said her skirt was dropped to the toes when she was discovered.

Read the statement:

Police in Harare are investigating a murder case where a female juvenile (17) was found dead in a maize field at Kaseplan Farm, Pomona, Borrowdale on 09/03/22. The body was bleeding from the mouth and nose facing upwards with the skirt dropped to the toes.

A pair of shoes, handbag and a packet of salt were placed beside the body.

By- Energy and Power Development Minister, Zhemu Soda, has set up a team of investigators to investigate the entire Petrotrade Board of Directors.

Soda on Thursday suspended the Board and accused it of not following corporate governance.

Among the suspended board members is former MDC official Lilian Timveos, who joined Zanu PF last year.

The Board was appointed in 2021 after Petrotrae had operated for five years without the governing Board. Board members were:

1)Tinomudaiishe Chinyoka a lawyer, board chairperson 

2). Zanele Dube, deputy chair

3). Gladys Mumhure, 

4). Simbabrashe Eric Mhuriro, 

5). Ferida Matambo, 

6). Getrude Marabada, 

7). Godfrey Ncube, 

8). Dakarai Mukuku,

9). Lilian Timveous MDC Alliance defector.

In a statement, Soda said he will be appointing a team to initiate investigations. We present the statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE PETROTRADE BOARD

While the Board of Directors for Petrotrade was appointed in terms of Section 11 of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act, with the concurrence of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, I have today, 9 March 2022 suspended the entire Board, pending investigations into matters of corporate governance.

I will be appointing a team to look into the matter, whose findings will inform the way forward.

Petrol tradeis a private company, wholly owned by the government.

 It is a successor Company to the former National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (Noczim). 

By a Correspondent- A Zanu PF faction that opposes Emmerson Mnangagwa, G40, says it would support the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change President Nelson Chamisa to take over power in 2023.

One of the G40 bosses, Walter Mzembi posted on his Twitter handle this week:

Zanu PF hates G40 to the extent it wouldn’t care less about handing over power to 

@CCC

 but on that we shall converge as G40 was never about partisanship but generational transfer of power , so sisonke!

By A Correspondent- Police in Bindura have been accused of refusing to take a criminal complaint by a Citizens Coalition for Change election candidate whose house was burnt down last Saturday, allegedly by a Zanu PF-linked vigilante group.

Oswell Shambare of Guwa Village returned to Rutope Police Base on Monday, now in the company of the party’s secretary general Charlton Hwende and other officials, but officers allegedly abandoned the station.

The CCC says Shambare lost three bicycles, food meant for his mother’s memorial, clothes and blankets in the arson attack on Saturday night. He was sleeping inside the bedroom hut at the time of the attack.

Shambare is the party’s Ward 18 candidate in a by-election scheduled for March 26.

Maureen Kademaunga, the CCC social welfare secretary, said: “The house was burnt after Zanu PF elements sent threats of unspecified punishment to Shambare for holding a CCC meeting at his homestead.

“The candidate who was sleeping in the house escaped death by a whisker after he woke up to flames with the roof on fire and voices outside threatening to burn him to death.

“Attempts to report a case of arson were unsuccessful after police at Rutope Police Base refused to take the case. Today again, the leadership led by secretary general Hwende, myself, our secretary for rural strategy Happymore Chidziva, Murwisi Zwizwai and Gilbert Kagodora attempted to make a report at the station but the police officers led by Constable Kamonere deserted the police station after refusing to entertain us.”

The CCC said it was concerned by the “inaction of institutions mandated to promote peace.”

“The CCC condemns the rise of election related violence propagated by groups linked to Zanu PF. We appeal to the police to uphold the violated person’s right to an effective remedy, and to investigate all cases of violence with impartiality and without undue political influence,” Kademaunga said.

Tinashe Sambiri| Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader President Nelson Chamisa says the Zanu PF regime is responsible for the death of journalist and human rights activist Itai Dzamara.

Dzamara was abducted in broad daylight by State security agents on March 9, 2015.

According to President Chamisa, citizens have the right to express themselves freely in a democratic society.

“9 MARCH 2015 is when Itai Dzamara was abducted. It’s now 7 years since he was abducted and has never been seen or accounted for.

We hold the state accountable and demand answers.Itai was killed for demanding freedom.

Our thoughts are with the Dzamara family.We the Citizens,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

By- Former police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri is expected to explain how he sold five properties that were part of the family’s large property portfolio.

The case is set to be heard on March 16.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) chief public prosecutor in charge of the asset forfeiture unit, Mr Chris Mutangadura, confirmed that the matter would be heard next week.

“The judge directed that it be postponed to the 16th because his schedule could not allow him to hear three consolidated matters today(yesterday) at once,” he said. “Remember it is a very bulky record of three matters and concerns very complex legal dispute.”
Chihuri is believed to be living in Malawi and unwilling to return home. He is accused of side-tracking up to US$32 million of public funds into family companies and buying properties during the 25 years he was at the helm of the police force.
He is alleged to have sold five properties in 2017 and 2018, following his unceremonious departure from the top police post.
Chihuri is contesting court orders allowing the State to forfeit his properties, a move which last month prompted Justice Kwenda to propose that all these matters be consolidated into a single case for the court hearing.
The State seeks to freeze Chihuri’s companies and the properties, which his family acquired during his 25 years at the helm of the police force, pending the final outcome of possible criminal investigations and civil suits that could lead to their forfeiture.
And in its fresh application that State wants Chihuri to explain how the five properties were sold.
In the application counteracting Chihuri’s bid to set aside two orders issued against him, the NPA argues that a check with the Deeds Office showed the rushed disposal of assets by the Chihuri family.
The order, which the NPA obtained at the High Court two years ago, put the properties of Chihuri and his family under the management of the Asset Management Unit, meaning that the properties cannot be sold without permission of the courts.
This followed an upgrade in anti-corruption law by amending the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act to allow courts to demand how people acquired wealth that is otherwise not explained.
The new Chapter III A in the Act now empowers the High Court to make orders to elicit explanations from persons who exhibit possession of great wealth without having apparent lawful means of obtaining such wealth, such as through their legal earnings or through their private business dealings. Herald

By- Three people have died on the spot after the driver of a small truck they were travelling in from Gokwe into Kwekwe City failed to give way upon approaching the Kwekwe-Harare Highway.

The driver hit the trailer of a haulage truck travelling along the highway.
Confirming the incident which occurred yesterday night, Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said Amon Bisket had five passengers in his truck when he failed to realise that the Gokwe Highway was giving into the Kwekwe-Harare Highway.

• Herald

By- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Zec, said about 3 600 voters in Matabeleland South Province were registered to vote during the just-ended Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) blitz.

According to statistics released by Zec, Bulawayo has the lowest number of registered voters with 254 630 followed by Matabeleland South with 259 689 registered voters and Matabeleland North standing at 335 851.
The region, which is least represented in Parliament, has 38 parliamentary seats out of 210 constituencies. Bulawayo has 12, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North each have 13.
The remainder of the seats are spread across the seven other provinces outside the Matabeleland region. Matabeleland South provincial elections officer Mr Rabson Nyoni said the low numbers presented a challenge for the province.
“About 3 600 voters were registered in Matabeleland South Province and that’s about what we registered last time. The numbers are really low and they don’t assist in addressing the kind of challenges we’re seeking to address at the moment in terms of the requirements of delimitation.
We would have expected to have more numbers from our people but unfortunately, we didn’t get the numbers,” said Mr Nyoni.
Turning to the next voter registration blitz in April, Mr Nyoni said efforts will be made to engage stakeholders so that more people are deployed on the ground to assist with voter registration.
“We need to motivate our people because the youths in particular don’t seem to understand how voter registration works to address some of their needs.
At times you get to a community and find a youth making a comment like ‘ngiyabakhawulisa’. They think there is someone they are fixing, but we’re trying to educate them so that they realise they’re also being disadvantaged by not registering to vote.
They think they’re disadvantageous to some other people yet they’re also disadvantageous to themselves. We’re getting into the second phase of the voter registration exercise aware of this and we’ll try to capacitate our voter educators to convince the constituents of the youth to come forward and register to vote,” said Mr Nyoni.
He said organisations that deal with the youths would also be roped in to help increase the numbers. “It’s mostly the youth who are not coming forward to register to vote and we need to change this,” said Mr Nyoni.
Commenting on voter apathy, political analyst Mr Tedious Ncube said the trend was reflective of a much bigger problem.
“Voter registration is not a regional project, it is a national project. However, voter registration in Matabeleland becomes key in that it will actively mobilise people to take part in decision making.
Of late we have witnessed apathy in terms of voter registration, which is reflective of a much bigger problem. The much bigger problem in this case is participation in politics, the economy and every facet of our political, social and economic system,” said Mr Ncube.
He said if people can be mobilised to register to vote, there’s a likelihood that they may be interested in participating in the economy and political processes.
“If we can succeed in getting people to register to vote, it may be the starting point of getting everyone to participate because once people are interested in voting, there’s a likelihood that they may be interested in participating in the economy and political processes.
Of late, we’ve seen that in terms of Zec figures, Matabeleland is lagging behind. That apathy may be true even in other instances,” said Mr Ncube. The mobile voter registration is being rolled out in two phases — February 1 to 28 and April 11 to 30.
The exercise is also expected to give members of the public an opportunity to inspect the voters’ roll. Chronicle

By- Energy and Power Development Minister, Zhemu Soda, has set up a team of investigators to investigate the entire Petrotrade Board of Directors.

Soda on Thursday suspended the Board and accused it of not following corporate governance.

Among the suspended board members is former MDC official Lilian Timveos, who joined Zanu PF last year.

The Board was appointed in 2021 after Petrotrae had operated for five years without the governing Board. Board members were:

1)Tinomudaiishe Chinyoka a lawyer, board chairperson 

2). Zanele Dube, deputy chair

3). Gladys Mumhure, 

4). Simbabrashe Eric Mhuriro, 

5). Ferida Matambo, 

6). Getrude Marabada, 

7). Godfrey Ncube, 

8). Dakarai Mukuku,

9). Lilian Timveous MDC Alliance defector.

In a statement, Soda said he will be appointing a team to initiate investigations. We present the statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE PETROTRADE BOARD

While the Board of Directors for Petrotrade was appointed in terms of Section 11 of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act, with the concurrence of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, I have today, 9 March 2022 suspended the entire Board, pending investigations into matters of corporate governance.

I will be appointing a team to look into the matter, whose findings will inform the way forward.

Petrol tradeis a private company, wholly owned by the government.

 It is a successor Company to the former National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (Noczim). 

By- Former police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri is expected to explain how he sold five properties that were part of the family’s large property portfolio.

The case is set to be heard on March 16.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) chief public prosecutor in charge of the asset forfeiture unit, Mr Chris Mutangadura, confirmed that the matter would be heard next week.

“The judge directed that it be postponed to the 16th because his schedule could not allow him to hear three consolidated matters today(yesterday) at once,” he said. “Remember it is a very bulky record of three matters and concerns very complex legal dispute.”
Chihuri is believed to be living in Malawi and unwilling to return home. He is accused of side-tracking up to US$32 million of public funds into family companies and buying properties during the 25 years he was at the helm of the police force.
He is alleged to have sold five properties in 2017 and 2018, following his unceremonious departure from the top police post.
Chihuri is contesting court orders allowing the State to forfeit his properties, a move which last month prompted Justice Kwenda to propose that all these matters be consolidated into a single case for the court hearing.
The State seeks to freeze Chihuri’s companies and the properties, which his family acquired during his 25 years at the helm of the police force, pending the final outcome of possible criminal investigations and civil suits that could lead to their forfeiture.
And in its fresh application that State wants Chihuri to explain how the five properties were sold.
In the application counteracting Chihuri’s bid to set aside two orders issued against him, the NPA argues that a check with the Deeds Office showed the rushed disposal of assets by the Chihuri family.
The order, which the NPA obtained at the High Court two years ago, put the properties of Chihuri and his family under the management of the Asset Management Unit, meaning that the properties cannot be sold without permission of the courts.
This followed an upgrade in anti-corruption law by amending the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act to allow courts to demand how people acquired wealth that is otherwise not explained.
The new Chapter III A in the Act now empowers the High Court to make orders to elicit explanations from persons who exhibit possession of great wealth without having apparent lawful means of obtaining such wealth, such as through their legal earnings or through their private business dealings. Herald

By-The Zimbabwe National Army has sentenced three of its members to each 15 years imprisonment after they were convicted of armed robbery, theft and unlawful entry.

The trio, Lance Corporal Ndlovu Fortune and Privates Manyanga Ratiel and Masase Kainos who were all serving with 4 Infantry Brigade in Masvingo, committed armed robbery, unlawful entry and theft cases in and around Masvingo between January and July 2021.

The three pleaded guilty to the charges at the General Court Marshal sitting in Bulawayo last week.

In a statement yesterday, ZNA director Public Relations Colonel Alphios Makotore said the organisation will not be deter from bringing rogue elements to book.

“As the military justice and deterrent sentences against rogue elements of the force continue to be dispensed, Lance Corporal Ndlovu Fortune and privates Manyanga Ratiel and Masase Kainos were on 5 March 2022, sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Court Martial,” reads part of the statement.
“The Zimbabwe National Army has warned that any of its members caught on the wrong side of the law will face the full wrath of the law.”

He said Ndlovu was reduced in rank to private before all three were discharged from the ZNA with ignomity.
Early this year, the ZNA again sentenced Corporal Dzimbanhete Tatenda and Trooper Munesi Wilfred to 40 years after they pleaded guilty to the charges of armed robbery which they committed on November 15, 2021 at Surrey Farm near Marondera.

-Herald

By- Energy and Power Development Minister, Zhemu Soda, has suspended the entire Petrotrade Board of Directors pending investigations into matters of corporate governance.

Among the board members was former MDC official Lilian Timveos, who joined Zanu PF last year.

The board was appointed in 2021 after Petrotrae had operated for five years without the governing board. Board members were:

1)Tinomudaiishe Chinyoka a lawyer, board chairperson 

2). Zanele Dube, deputy chair

3). Gladys Mumhure, 

4). Simbabrashe Eric Mhuriro, 

5). Ferida Matambo, 

6). Getrude Marabada, 

7). Godfrey Ncube, 

8). Dakarai Mukuku,

9). Lilian Timveous MDC Alliance defector.

In a statement, Soda said he will be appointing a team to initiate investigations. We present the statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE PETROTRADE BOARD

While the Board of Directors for Petrotrade was appointed in terms of Section 11 of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act, with the concurrence of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, I have today, 9 March 2022 suspended the entire Board, pending investigations into matters of corporate governance.

I will be appointing a team to look into the matter, whose findings will inform the way forward.

Petrol tradeis a private company, wholly owned by the government.

 It is a successor Company to the former National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (Noczim). 

Tinashe Sambiri| Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader President Nelson Chamisa says the Zanu PF regime is responsible for the death of journalist and human rights activist Itai Dzamara.

Dzamara was abducted in broad daylight by State security agents on March 9, 2015.

According to President Chamisa, citizens have the right to express themselves freely in a democratic society.

“9 MARCH 2015 is when Itai Dzamara was abducted. It’s now 7 years since he was abducted and has never been seen or accounted for.

We hold the state accountable and demand answers.Itai was killed for demanding freedom.

Our thoughts are with the Dzamara family.We the Citizens,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

"Thank God our CClr Max for Highfield West vabuda ??????" The CCC Councillor who was left for dead, has been released, Hon Matsunga tells ZimEye pic.twitter.com/PY8uRYFkiM

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 10, 2022

Dear Editor

Dangamvura Chikanga Constituency Zanu pf candidate Isau Mupfumi is allegedly having affairs with very young girls in Mutare.

One of the whistleblowers in Mutare Dangamvura wrote an anonymous report to sister Vee alleging that Isau Mupfumi is a sugar daddy.

“Hello sisi Vee, look at this Zanu pf thug and sugar daddy. Kudanana nemwana wrmuraini medu (he is having an affair with a little girl in our area) in Mutare Dangamvura. His name is Isau Mupfumi”, alerted a whistleblower.

Isau Mupfumi is contesting in Dangamvura Chikanga Constituency against Citizens Coalition for Change candidate Prosper Mutseyami who was recalled after a controversial judgement in favour of Douglas Mwonzora.

Hosia Chipanga is also in the race with some little known candidate for MDC Alliance.

8 March 2022

The International Women Day being celebrated under the theme “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” comes at a time when there is a growing discrepancy between policy and practice in terms of tangible actions aimed at promoting gender equality in Zimbabwe.

While section 17 of the Constitution provides for gender balance to ensure that all genders are equally represented for both elected and non-elected positions in all tiers of government, the under-representation of women in councils is worrying and retrogressive.

We bemoan that women comprise just 14% of councilors in Zimbabwe and this figure has declined by two percentage points in each election since 2013.In the 2018 local government elections, women occupied only 6 seats out of 46 wards in Harare.

We anticipated that the local governance reform agenda provided an opportunity to come up with laws that will address gender equality in terms of representation in local governance structures including councils.

However, we are gravely concerned that the proposed framework of having 30% seats reserved for women and distributed on a proportional representation (PR) basis fall short from the gender equality provided in Section 17 of the constitution and will not address the gender inequalities in our local authorities.

We are of the view that the poor service provision in particular water, waste management and maternal health care service can only improve when the main service users who are women are equally represented within our local authorities and other local government structures.

The current poor electricity and water supply, and the continued deterioration of maternal health care services are fueling inequalities between men and women, with women shouldering the burden of poor service provision from our local authorities and other public institutions.

The maternal mortality rate of 614 deaths per 100 000 live births (UNFPA 2021) is worrying as it has serious implications on women and calls for urgent action in improving maternal health care services.

We are of the view that unbridled corrupt practices in public institutions is catalysing inequalities and human rights abuses among women. We warn that any effort to combat corruption in our local authorities without adequate and equal representation of women will fail.

In view of the above we recommend the following;

·       The need for equal representation of women, young women, youth, people with disabilities and any other special needs groups in the composition of auxiliary structures of the provincial council and all elected and non-elected local authorities’ structures.

·       Increase fiscal commitment (budgetary allocation and disbursements) toward maternal health care services in both local and national budgets

·       The government of Zimbabwe must scale up efforts to eradicate all forms of corruption and all local authorities must put in place mechanisms and systems that are aimed at fighting corruption.

·       Improvement of service provision in terms of water and electricity by local the City of Harare and Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority will relieve the burden of unpaid care work for women such as fetching water and firewood which further put women at risk of all forms of violence on women

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development has dismissed allegations by Hopewell Chi’ono, a freelance journalist that the government intends to use the construction of Mbudzi interchange to loot public funds.

The government plans to construct an interchange at the Mbudzi roundabout to address traffic congestion in the area. Chin’ono said:

I have just spoken to the South African engineers who designed the Mbudzi roundabout. They told me that its real cost is US$42 million max, not the US$85 million being paid to Tagwirei. Below is the real plan which they sent to me. They said US$85 million was grand THEFT!

In response, the Transport ministry said everything was done transparently according to Zimbabwean laws. Reads a statement issued this Wednesday:

The Mbudzi Interchange design Engineers were procured in accordance with the Procurement Act. The winning design consultancy firm has both South African and Zimbabwean registered engineers as per the laws governing engineering practice. 

As standard practice, on completion of design, the Engineers provided the estimate of construction cost USD65 million for the Interchange only and the Engineers stand by that figure. 

The total cost of the Interchange includes diversion roads from Stoneridge, Hopley, Forbes and Malvern in Waterfalls back to Beatrice road which are currently under construction. These diversion roads are a total of 8km.

This includes the missing link of Harare Drive from Masotsha Ndhlovu into Houghton Park traffic circle and the bridge across Mukuvisi which brings the total cost of the Interchange to USD88 million exclusive VAT charges.

"Thank God our CClr Max for Highfield West vabuda ??????" The CCC Councillor who was left for dead, has been released, Hon Matsunga tells ZimEye pic.twitter.com/PY8uRYFkiM

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 10, 2022

By A Correspondent- Goromonzi West Member of Parliament Energy Mutodi says CCC leader Nelson Chamisa is gaining popularity over ZANU PF because the ruling party is refusing to embrace young people.

Posting on Twitter, Mutodi said:

“Nelson Chamisa is gaining popularity because the ZANU PF old guard is fighting its own young men & women. My passionate plea is for ZANU PF to embrace its young people, take in new ideas and remain in power beyond 2023.”

His tweet irked ZANU PF Patriots who said Mutodi was speaking on his own behalf.

It’s a lie that Chamisa is gaining popularity.Vanhu ngavarege kuti zvavari ku feeler ndizvo zviri kuitika out there. Elections are coming in a few days time, that will be a better measure.” ZANU PF Patriots responded.

Award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono said Mutodi’s statements represented the views of young people in ZANU PF.

“It is important to understand that Energy is not speaking for himself. He is speaking on behalf of a young constituency in ZANU-PF that knows the reality on the ground. The top 8 in ZANU-PF represent the past, and they up against Chamisa whose group represents the future.” Said Chin’ono.

By A Correspondent- About 18 000 jobs will be lost if the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill, which seeks to regulate operations of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), is passed into law in its current form.

The PVO Amendment Bill was gazetted in 2021 and will amend the Private Voluntary Organisations Act.

Civic society organisations (CSOs), human rights groups and critics have condemned the Bill as an attack on democracy, with the clergy warning that it would disrupt charity and humanitarian services offered by churches.

Government has argued that with recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – a global watchdog against money-laundering and terrorist financing.

But the latest report commissioned by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum in collaboration with the Southern Defenders and Accountability Lab titled: Punching Holes Into a Fragile Economy – The Possible Economic Impact of the Private Organisations Amendment Bill gazetted in November 2021, warned that about 18 000 jobs in the NGO sector would be lost if the Bill is passed into law.

This would also likely affect hundreds thousands of people who survive through salaries of people employed in the NGO sector.

“The 2019 Labour Force and Child Labour Survey (LFCLS) by Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) revealed that the NGO sector in the country employed 1,2% of the total workforce, translating to an aggregate figure of 17 643 formal jobs. Any disruptions of the activities of NGOs could threaten these jobs as well as thousands of livelihoods,” the NGO Forum warned.

The proposed law would have the effect of criminalising the work of CSOs in the country by proposing harsh penalties, including jail time of up to one year for NGO registration framework-related perceived offences.

It would also give the Public Service minister power to interfere with operations of CSOs, demand their sources of foreign funding, and the right to oversee choices of trustees to run the affairs of PVOs.

“This is quite significant considering the huge employment related challenges the country has been facing for a long time. NGOs have also played an important role in developing the country’s human resource base through carrying out a number of capacity-building activities and programmes,” the NGO Forum added.

“Disruptions of activities of NGOs could threaten these jobs as well as thousands of livelihoods. NGOs also contribute significantly towards foreign currency receipts in the country. According to the 2022 Monetary Policy Statement, NGOs are the third biggest earners of foreign currency after export proceeds and diaspora remittances. Total foreign currency receipts from NGOs rose by 50,5% from US$647,8 million in 2020 to US$975,16 million in 2021.”

The human rights activists said the country was also heavily reliant on the NGO sector for financial support to the health, education, social protection, and water and sanitation sectors, as well as food aid.

“Owing to the huge financing gap in productivity-enhancing and poverty-reducing sectors of the economy, strong partnerships with NGOs and other not-for-profit organisations such as trade unions will strengthen the implementation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) as well as the attainment of the country’s vision 2030.”

A survey carried out by NGOs revealed that their contribution to tax revenues ranged from US$4 000 to US$35 000 per month depending on the size of the NGO.

Parliament is currently gathering public views on the Bill and members of the public throughout the country have been rejecting the proposed law.

Yesterday, Bulawayo residents warned that if operations of NGOs are disrupted, citizens in need of food aid and surviving on humanitarian support would starve.

Bulawayo resident Helen Ndlovu said at a public hearing in the city: “NGOs have been assisting everyone in need of food aid, but the government has been distributing food favouring members of the ruling party. NGOs must operate freely. Government agricultural inputs are also given to Zanu-PF card-carrying members only.”

Yield Trust representative Antony Chiwota said: “If the government assumes control of NGOs, people in the rural areas will starve. The government must let PVOs do their job.  The PVO Amendment Bill also has a clause that prevents NGOs from political lobbying; however, it fails to clarify what political lobbying is. People cannot stay away from political lobbying because politics affects everyone.”

The Bill has already been rebuked by the United Nations, whose special rapporteur on the rights to freedom and peaceful assembly and of association Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, recently said it would gravely affect civic
space.

Last month, the European Union renewed sanctions on Zimbabwe citing the PVO Amendment Bill as one of the oppressive pieces of legislation which exposed that the country was not improving its democratic principles.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Two people died on the spot in a road accident which occurred just outside Bulawayo, along the Beitbridge Highway this Wednesday evening.

The accident occurred after the driver of a Toyota Fortuner who escaped unhurt, lost control of the vehicle before encroaching onto the opposite lane resulting in a head-on collision with a Honda Fit.

Police details who attended the scene confirmed the accident, saying names of the deceased will be released after their next of kin have been informed.-ZBC

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has printed 594 300 ballots for the forthcoming National Assembly and local authorities’ by-elections scheduled for March 26.

ZEC chief elections officer, Mr Utloile Silaigwana, made the announcement on Wednesday.

The ballots for the National Assembly were printed by Fidelity Printers and Refiners while those for local authorities were printed by Printflow. Mr Silaigwana said:

A total of 870 550 National Assembly ballot paper and fifty 723 750 local authority ballot papers have been printed for the conduct of the by-elections.

He added that a contingency of 6.99 per cent had been added to the ballots printed for the National Assembly by-elections while a 6.71 per cent contingency had been added to the ballots printed for local authority by-elections.

A total of 813 659 people were registered to vote for National Assembly elections while 678 260 were registered for local authorities’ by-elections.

The ballot papers were printed in books of 50 each.

There are 28 vacant National Assembly seats and 122 for local authorities.

The bulk of vacancies resulted from recalls of opposition MDC Alliance members by MDC-T and some who died or redeployed.

At least 16 political parties will contest the by-elections.

The ruling ZANU PF, Citizen Coalition for Change and MDC-Alliance, All People’s Party, Democratic Opposition Party, Federation of African State, Free Zimbabwe Congress, Labour, Economists and African Democrats, MA’AT Zimbabwe, Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, New Patriotic Front, Patriotic Zimbabweans, Republican Party of Zimbabwe, United Democratic Alliance, United Zimbabwe Alliance, Zimbabwe African People’s Union and Zimbabwe Labour Party, will contest in the elections.

By A Correspondent- Police in Bindura have been accused of refusing to take a criminal complaint by a Citizens Coalition for Change election candidate whose house was burnt down last Saturday, allegedly by a Zanu PF-linked vigilante group.

Oswell Shambare of Guwa Village returned to Rutope Police Base on Monday, now in the company of the party’s secretary general Charlton Hwende and other officials, but officers allegedly abandoned the station.

The CCC says Shambare lost three bicycles, food meant for his mother’s memorial, clothes and blankets in the arson attack on Saturday night. He was sleeping inside the bedroom hut at the time of the attack.

Shambare is the party’s Ward 18 candidate in a by-election scheduled for March 26.

Maureen Kademaunga, the CCC social welfare secretary, said: “The house was burnt after Zanu PF elements sent threats of unspecified punishment to Shambare for holding a CCC meeting at his homestead.

“The candidate who was sleeping in the house escaped death by a whisker after he woke up to flames with the roof on fire and voices outside threatening to burn him to death.

“Attempts to report a case of arson were unsuccessful after police at Rutope Police Base refused to take the case. Today again, the leadership led by secretary general Hwende, myself, our secretary for rural strategy Happymore Chidziva, Murwisi Zwizwai and Gilbert Kagodora attempted to make a report at the station but the police officers led by Constable Kamonere deserted the police station after refusing to entertain us.”

The CCC said it was concerned by the “inaction of institutions mandated to promote peace.”

“The CCC condemns the rise of election related violence propagated by groups linked to Zanu PF. We appeal to the police to uphold the violated person’s right to an effective remedy, and to investigate all cases of violence with impartiality and without undue political influence,” Kademaunga said.

By A Correspondent- Freedom Of Rights Under Sovereign (FORUS) President Manyara Irene Muyenziwa spent the whole of yesterday, Inernational Women’s Day at the courts in Bulawayo fighting the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill (MOPA) which many Zimbabweans describe as oppressive.

Said the FORUS in a statement:

“President Muyenziwa, who has always been on the side of the majority, is fighting to advance the right to personal security, freedom to demonstrate and petition, freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, or other pertinent rights and freedoms that are outlined in Chapter 4 of our Constitution which the MOPA curtails.

The MOPA curtails freedom in the vicinity of Parliament and courts of law, the introduction of civil liability in respect of convenors which is not favorable to the people of Zimbabwe.

The Government of Zimbabwe gazetted the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill (MOPB) on 19 April 2019. The bill seeks to repeal and replace the Public Order and Security Act [Chapter 11:17].

There has been a public outcry over the MOPA’s provisions, with several legal experts and opposition politicians saying the proposed legislation is a regurgitation of the oppressive Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

This has prompted President Manyara to stand with the people of Zimbabwe in fighting MOPA.

President Muyenziwa will continue fighting until the people of Zimbabwe get the much needed freedom.”

By A Correspondent- The government yesterday said Zimbabweans must use public transporter, Zupco to escape high fuel prices after announcing another hike and warning of weekly increases.

Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) increased fuel prices for the second time in five days, with petrol going up from US$1,51 per litre to US$1,67 and diesel from US$1,44 per litre to US$1,68.

Addressing the media, Energy minister Soda Zhemu said people should use Zupco buses to travel to work.

“We are all affected, but if we can have the (fuel) those that can afford can always continue to be (driving), but this is a time to make critical decisions, not to be travelling unnecessarily, and we can also maybe use Zupco buses that the government has provided,” Zhemu said.

“Let’s park our vehicles for now, that is an encouragement, yes, because the government has already gone ahead of this situation that we are into currently by providing these buses. Let us make use of the Zupco buses to and from our work stations in the interim while we watch what is happening on the international arena.”

However, Zupco yesterday issued a statement, saying it was unable to provide transport services due to delays in fuel deliveries to its depots.

The estimated vehicle population in the country was 1,4 million as at the first quarter of 2018, according to the latest available statistics.

Zhemu said the Russian invasion of Ukraine was causing global oil prices to rise.

Russia contributes about 12% to global oil supplies.

“The objective is to ensure that oil companies remain viable, which would in turn
ensure that the local market continues to receive adequate fuel supply,” Zhemu said.

“To that end, petroleum process reviews shall be done on a weekly basis to preserve the process of the products in line with the situation obtaining on the international markets.”

“Zimbabwe currently prices fuel on the basis of the M-1 methodology that was adopted in 2019. The methodology uses the average free on board (FOB) price in the preceding month to set the price for the following month, which according to the law mandates a review to be done by the 5th day of the month.

“With the sharp increases in fuel prices on the international market, the use of the M-1 is no longer sustainable, as the resulting FOB prices would lag too much behind and fail to reflect the actual market performance. This would threaten security of fuel supply on the market, with oil companies withholding release of product and suspending fuel imports, as they would not replace traded stocks,” Zhemu said.

Following announcement of fuel price increases yesterday, the parallel market exchange rate reportedly jumped to US$1:$270 from $250, with dealers warning of further fall of the Zimdollar in the coming days.

An increase in the parallel exchange will likely force businesses to raise prices of goods and services, in addition to increases forced by fuel price spikes.

While the price of oil is causing fuel prices to spike globally, in Zimbabwe, they are determined mostly by taxes impose by government.

These include FOB charges, freight, duty, the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration road levy, carbon tax, debt redemption, strategic reserve levy, and storage.

Other charges are handling, clearing agency fees, financing cost, inland bridging cost, storage and handling costs and secondary transport costs.

After all these charges are taken into account, Zera allows fuel operators to put a maximum of six to 10 US cents per litre of fuel.

Energy deputy minister Magna Mudyiwa was grilled in Parliament over the fuel price increases by MPs.

“As a ministry, we are ensuring that the country has enough fuel and we are monitoring the situation,” she said.

Finance deputy minister Clemence Chiduwa said: “We will use a whole government approach to look at all the issues that are part of the pricing models for fuel. The easiest approach is to come up with a raft of subsidies.”

“Right now the budget has no room to manoeuvre we cannot subsidise and it’s something that we have to relook and say  given  the situation that is on the ground what is it that we can do to cushion our  people.”-newsday

By A Correspondent- Police yesterday appealed for information in connection with an armed robbery and murder case in which a 31-year-old woman was shot dead by an unknown male suspect in Waterfalls, Harare, in the early hours of yesterday.

In a statement, police said: “The suspect, who was armed with an unidentified pistol while covering his face with a balaclava mask, stormed into a house in Uplands, Waterfalls, through an unlocked door and attacked the three occupants while demanding cash.”

“The complaints surrendered US$60, Itel and Huawei cellphones.”

It is alleged that the suspect kept on demanding cash while assaulting a woman aged 31, whom he later shot in the head, killing her instantly

Police recovered two 9mm cartridges at the house.

“The police have intensified investigations onto this matter with a view of arresting the suspect and ensure the law takes its course.”

Godfrey Kanyenze has dismissed claims that sanctions are the biggest albatross to Zimbabwe’s economy, opting to put the blame on government mismanagement.

The remarks, premiered in the academic’s new book released last week titled, “Leaving so many behind-The Link between Politics and the Economy of Zimbabwe”, come shortly after the renewal of the economic sanctions by the European Union and the United States.

Reacting to the sanctions renewal, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube slammed the development, arguing that sanctions have cost Zimbabwe US$42 billion since their inception, a blame which the book criticises.

“Blaming everything on sanctions is a step too far in that it fails to take into account other critical factors that may simultaneously impact the economy and the various groups affected,” Kanyenze said.

“When the various measures and sanctions were imposed since December 2001, the economy was already in crisis, with the government having defaulted on its arrears repayment in 1999 resulting in the International Financial Inflows (IFIs) withdrawing their financial support,” he said.

In fact, he said in the book, by the time the sanctions were imposed, Zimbabwe was already in a serious and economic crisis, which began in the late 1990s.

The book underscores that the unprecedented economic rebound during the GNU period, even in the midst of continued existence of sanctions and restrictive measures contradicts the sanctions blame game.

“Post GNU era marked the return of fiscal indiscipline and fratricidal factional fights put paid to the recovery and returned the economy to a performance below the average Sub-Saharan  Africa and world economy, suggesting the importance of non-sanctions factors in explaining the poor performance,” argues Kanyenze.

The book points out that even though ZIDERA mandates US officials on the boards of the IFIs to block any support to Zimbabwe, they have not been called upon to do so.

He said while Zimbabwe had a negative trade balance with the rest of the world between 2006 and 2018, it enjoyed a positive trade balance with the EU during the period. Zimbabwe enjoyed a trade surplus with the USA during the period 2000-2008 with the exception of 2007.

From a chronological sequencing of events, the book said the sanction measures at best, exacerbated a crisis that was already rapidly unravelling, and were in response to the deteriorating governance, rule of law, human rights and economic management scenario.

“However, denialism on the part of the Zimbabwean state on the existence of a crisis imposes a hurdle on the way forward.

“There is therefore a need for more analysis on the different   understandings of the Zimbabwean crisis and the political and institutional constraints at national, regional and international levels,” the book added.

By A Correspondent- Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa will this weekend take his campaign to Beitbridge as he drums up support ahead of the March 26 by-elections.

CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere yesterday confirmed that Chamisa will address a rally at Dulivhadzimo Stadium.

“It is confirmed,” Mahere told a local publication yesterday.

Although there are no parliamentary candidates in Beitbridge, CCC will canvass for support for its local government candidates for urban wards 4 and 5.

Beitbridge’s inaugural mayor Morgan Ncube and former finance committee chairperson Granger Nyoni will contest on behalf of the party.

They will lock horns with Ncube and Nyoni were recalled by the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T. Chamisa last visited Beitbridge prior to 2018 elections.

At the weekend, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is expected to address a rally in Mutare, while Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri will address a rally in Karoi on Sunday.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A child (8) who was knocked down by akombi in Magwegwe while trying to cross the road died at Mpilo hospital.  

Bulawayo Police Spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube  said  the  juvenile was run over by a commuter omnibus. 

“A driver of a Nissan Caravan knocked down a juvenile at Magwegwe that had disembarked from an unknown motor vehicle and was intending to cross the road,” he said.

As a result of the accident she sustained various injuries, including head injuries and was ferried to Mpilo hospital where she died on admission.”

Ncube added that the driver is facing charges of culpable homicide. 

The ZRP is concerned as most accidents that happen in the western suburbs  are attributed to human error. 

Speeding and inattention have been noted as the prevalent  cause of road accidents

By a Correspondent- A Zanu PF faction that opposes Emmerson Mnangagwa, G40, says it would support the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change President Nelson Chamisa to take over power in 2023.

One of the G40 bosses, Walter Mzembi posted on his Twitter handle this week:

Zanu PF hates G40 to the extent it wouldn’t care less about handing over power to 

@CCC

 but on that we shall converge as G40 was never about partisanship but generational transfer of power , so sisonke!

Statement on the victimization of Mrs Mutsikira by ZANUPF member Mrs Mazanhi for supporting LEAD.

According to the law of Zimbabwe no citizen has got the right to evict another citizen without three months notice and also without a valid reason.

We are disgruntled and publicly complaining against ZEC which has failed previously to resolve issues of politically motivated violence, intimidation and harrassment by Zanupf supporters in Epworth Constituency. Mrs Mazanhi and colleagues have spent the past week intimidating and insulting Mrs Mutsikira a LEAD member and forcing her to vacate the rented accommodation for have a different political affiliation by supporting LEAD.

We are in women’s month where we are supposed to recognize our worth as women and help each other fight violence, harassment and abuse against each other yet other women are at the forefront of abusing fellow women.

It is sad that women choose to fight other women to settle political scores which they do not even understand.

LEAD is a party that is advances a non violent and tolerance agenda. We stand for no violence and in this case we have a citizen whose rights are being violated because of her political preferances and affiliation.

This is a democratic state hence that is the last thing that we expect in a democratic country.

We hereby ask ZRP to protect vulnerable members of the society who fear going to report the harrassment cases because of polarization.

We condemn any form of violence and continue to preach a message of peace, love and hope.

EVERJOY CHIDINDI

LEAD PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON

Heads have been instructed to list all @ARTUZ_teachers members for having been absent. At Mtoko gvt the Head was asked by our members to explain why only ARTUZ members were on his list, he rushed to report kidnapping to @PoliceZimbabwe The discrimination will be challenged. pic.twitter.com/mdpmOZi7XG

— Obert (@OMasaraure) March 10, 2022

By-The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has appealed to members of the public who might have information on the armed robbery and murder that happened in Waterfalls this Wednesday in which a 31-year-old woman was shot dead. 

In a statement, police said the victim was shot in the head:

ARMED ROBBERY AND MURDER CASES: WATERFALLS, HARARE

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing to the public to assist with information in connection with an Armed Robbery and Murder cases in which a 31-year-old woman was shot dead by an unknown male suspect in Waterfalls, Harare on 9th March 2022 at around 0100 hours.

The suspect, who was armed with an unidentified pistol while covering his face with a balaclava mask, stormed a house in Uplands, Waterfalls through an unlocked door and attacked the three occupants while demanding cash.

The complainants surrendered US$60-00, Itel 16 and Huawei cellphones, however, the suspect kept on demanding for more cash while assaulting one of the complainants, a woman aged 78, all over the body with a stick. The victim tried to stop the suspect resulting in the suspect drawing a pistol before shooting her once on the head and she died instantly.

Police recovered two 9mm cartridges in the passage of the complainants’ house.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has intensified investigations on this matter with a view of arresting the suspect and ensure that the law will take its course.

(NYATHI. P) Assistant Commissioner 

Senior Staff Officer (Press, Public and Int. Relations)

to the Commissioner-General of Police 

Police General Headquarters

By- The Central Vehicle Registry (CRV) is in the process of changing the driver’s license metal disc to a plastic disc by the end of June 2022.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development announced the intended move this Wednesday.

In a statement, the ministry of transport the old metal disc technology is now outdated:
@MinistryofTID CVR is in the process of moving from the old metal disc to a new plastic disc. The old metal disc technology and equipment is now obsolete.
The proposed new disc is compliant with the COMESA, EAC and SADC Tripartite region. We urge our valued citizens to bear with us in our transition from the old to the new SADC compliant driver’s license disc. This process is expected to be completed by end of June 2022.
This is happening when accessing a metal disc is still a problem at CVR as those who passed their test in 2018 are yet to get their metal driver’s license discs.

The department is currently in the process of producing discs for learners who passed their tests in August 2018.
Most of the raw materials, which include metal photo plates, a special dye, a fixer and a developer, are all purchased in the United States.
The old manual machine that is used in the production process can only produce 48 driver’s licence discs at one go and frequently breaks down.
The government also has a huge backlog of number plates.