Tinashe Sambiri|Addressing curious residents at Nhari Business Centre on Friday, Citizens’ Coalition For Change vice president Hon Tendai Biti blasted the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa for stealing State resources at a shocking rate.

Hon Biti also took a swipe at the Zanu PF regime for allowing Chinese investors to seize land belonging to hapless villagers.

Hon Biti accused Mr Mnangagwa and Kuda Tagwirei of running the country like a tuckshop.

 By A Correspondent- A Correspondent- CCC Harare ward 46 local council candidate, Denford ‘Madhuku” Ngadziore’ has named and shamed Zanu PF youths who are defacing his campaign posters.

Madhuku released the names of the Zanu PF thugs through his Facebook account:

It has come to my attention that your Youth leader Mhembere, together with other ZANU PF Youths, was instructed to remove all my campaign Posters. I would like to WARN you to stop this type of politics as it is against the law and the code of conduct signed by your candidate, which is before ZEC.

Any attempt to engage in violence or deface my posters will not benefit you & your candidate. You have more to benefit if you have a violent free campaign. Those ZANU PF Youths who are to be used to remove my campaign posters think of what will happen after your silly actions. This is not UMP or Muzarabani. This is Harare West Ward 16, where l Denford Ngadziore representing the New CCC Party, am the candidate. This is not a WARNING but it’s an insight.

#Notoviolence

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF officials in Bulawayo Province have expressed worry over the party’s failure to properly conduct the recent primary elections to select candidates for the March 26 by-elections.

The internal elections exposed deep-rooted factionalism in the province amid growing concerns the G40 faction might be taking control of the ruling party’s provincial structures.

Party insiders who spoke to The Zimbabwe Independent fear that the national leadership’s failure to address complaints raised soon after the primary elections might trigger a “bhora musango” scenario.

Bhora Musango was a clandestine campaign by some Zanu PF leaders in the run-up to the 2008 harmonised elections against voting for the party’s presidential candidate leader Robert Mugabe while voting for the party’s parliamentary and local council candidates. Said an unnamed official:

The primary elections were rigged and this will work against the President. For some wards, ballots were mixed so that people could not see their candidates.

Ballots never balanced with figures of up to 100 in some instances. That means people were smuggled even when they were not on the voting list.

Vote-buying was allowed with no questions asked. Complaints on the irregularities were not entertained while the provincial chair acknowledged there was something wrong with primaries.

The chairman must know that he is chairing a pure 70% G40 executive.

Zanu PF Bulawayo chairperson Jabulani Sibanda, who landed the post in December after years in the political wilderness, dismissed reports of factionalism and claims that complaints were swept under the carpet. He said:

That is nonsense, there is no factionalism here. I am aware of what you are asking.

All the complaints brought to the office were forwarded to Harare and that is where you can get your answers from. I don’t have answers to your questions.

However, the Zanu PF insider claimed Sibanda Sibanda was bypassed when candidates’ curriculum vitae were sent to the party’s head office. He said:

Sibanda is now just a shadow of his former self. It is known from way back that Sibanda and Mnangagwa are close, even during the late former president Robert Mugabe’s tenure.

We expected a change from him but many people are disappointed.

Hopefully, he will find a solution; on the issue of candidates, he was left out only to know when curriculum vitae had reached Harare. They bypassed him.

Reports suggest that Zanu PF members within provincial structures are divided between those allegedly backing Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and others belonging to a group aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

More: The Zimbabwe Independent

By A Correspondent- The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has shut down at least three pharmacies and revoked the licences of four managers for selling expired and unregistered medicines to patients.

MCAZ Acting Director-General Richard Rukwata said the cancellation of licences and closure of businesses will be in force until November this year

Rukwata revealed that MCAZ recently adopted a new policy of naming and shaming those guilty of selling expired drugs. He said:

Licensees need to know that the game has changed. Contraventions to the statutes now carry significant reputational risk.

With the new policy of publishing offenders names, business leaders need to prioritise compliance for the good of their customers who are the citizens of this country.

The new policy is to publish these issues for the public good. Progressive regulatory processes require MCAZ to be transparent about regulatory decisions taken which result in the closure of businesses and cancellations of licenses.

The pharmacies and managers affected by the MCAZ clampdown are:

• Skiborry Private Limited, which trades as Bright Pharmacy of Number 10 Highfield Road, Southerton was found guilty of purchasing medicines from unauthorised sources, selling unregistered and expired medicines. The cancellation order remains in force until November this year.
• Edmore Jeje of Bright Pharmacy.
• Mukoka & Chikuya Private Limited, which trades as Goodhope Pharmacy at Number 23 Jason Moyo was also shut for selling unregistered and expired medicines.
• The licence holder for Goodhope Phamarcy Batsirayi Mukoka had his licence cancelled. The cancellation of the licences is valid until November this year.
• Border Pharmacies Private Limited that trades as Border Pharmacy of Number 63 Living Waters, Beitbridge was shut down for selling unregistered and expired medicines.
• Border Pharmacies’ two licence holders Costertain Delangton and Gamuchirayi Matandirotya had their practice licences cancelled until October this year.

By A Correspondent- Obert Masaraure, the president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), on Friday, filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court, challenging the suspension of striking teachers by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Evelyn Ndlovu.

Masaraure argued that Ndlovu had no authority to suspend striking teachers as that was the mandate of the Public Service Commission (PSC). He said:

There is no provision giving the respondent such powers as she purports to exercise or suspend all officials within its ministry unilaterally.

The provision is clear as to what happens and who should give effect to a suspension notice.

For example, senior grade members, who are part of the applicant, are prejudiced in having to be suspended by an order of the minister when in fact; the law provides for them a different disciplinary authority.

The Press statement of the respondent is, therefore, manifestly illegal and ought to be set aside.

Masaraure, through his lawyer from the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, added:

Although section 65 of the regulations provide for a departure from the provisions above, it is only the commission that can so authorise such departure or undertake such departure and not the Respondent of her own volition.

Further, such departure is put to a test of whether or not it will result in a substantial miscarriage of justice for it to pass as a valid departure.

There is no doubt that there will be a serious miscarriage of justice when tens of thousands of teachers are suspended without following proper procedures with just one blanketed notice on such a wide scale.

Late on Thursday, Ndlovu said striking teachers have been suspended due to their refusal to resume work despite the government’s offer to give them a 20 per cent salary increase and other non-monetary benefits.

By A Correspondent- The UANC President Dr Gwinyai Mzorewa has blasted the Zimbabwean government for its stance on striking teachers adding that the current administration was not an exemplary employer.

We publish below the full text by President Muzorewa:

Government should be the model for all employers in Zimbabwe. However, for The Public Service Commission [PSC] Secretary Ambassador Wutawunashe to announce that civil servants [Teachers] would be paid only for the days they show up to work, is abdicating responsibility.

Since the PSC’s function is “to promote the constitutionally prescribed values and principles governing public administration in the public service; investigate, monitor and evaluate the organization and administration, and the personnel practices, of the public service”, this Commission should be solving the “equity salary issue” in a fair and just fashion. For example teachers do not work at school only [more so these Covid19 days].

Excellent teachers do their lesson preparations [Planning] at home, using their own
candles, paraffin, or Zesa. For that, they are entitled to fair salaries, not less than $520 US. Ambassador Wutawunashe’s announcement to cut teachers’ pay is both punitive and intimidating.

During this pandemic, the Government does not need the various Workers’ Unions to have to demand conditions conducive to work. It should be obvious. Government Ministers, MPs and Senators, are absent from their offices, yet they get their full pay? Where is justice? At least POLAD members are paid for advising the President to get us where we are.

THE UANC‘s economic and human rights policies, as well as integrity, are not consistent with the ruling party’s policies. Opposition parties that are serious about Change, stayed away from POLAD as well.

We will collaborate with such leadership because, by definition, opposition parties must oppose government failures, knowing that they can do better. When THEUANC was last in power[ 1979-80], civil servants’ salaries, paid in good hard currency, were actually raised, and bonuses were paid in November.

Now, the RBZ Governor will resign to fulfill his promise [ $1 US to $1 WZL] which has long
expired. This would save the economy from oozing through the top- – a strange phenomenon indeed.

Technocrats will close all the corruption holes, while THEUANC politicians meet the aspirations of the nations through insistence on accountability, transparency and integrity from top echelons to tea makers.

Government has never treated civil servants, [specifically teachers, nurses and doctors] with the professional respect they deserve for the past decades. It is reported that 90% of Zimbabwe trained teachers are working outside the country. The ruling party should prohibit Government from letting it plunge the nation below the lowest socio-economic standards in the SADC region. Our neglected school children, who are our future, our supposed inheritance, belong to all, disregarding our politicalaffiliation.

President ED Mnangagwa who promises Middle Class society by 2030, should not be
entombing the same people in their premature economic graves. Over 380 teachers are reported to have committed suicide in the last few years due to hardships caused by such conditions.

THEUANC and parents whose children are taught under this imposed austerity, demand that government should NOT destroy Zimbabwean’s socio-economic values, including affordable Education, Housing and Health care systems, a sense of self-respect and a decent work ethic. In the ‘60s and ‘70s we went out of the country to fight for political freedom and independence; now people are leaving the country to fight for personal welfare, unless they are looting the nation’s wealth and in search of freedom.

In the meantime, the nation is crumbling to pieces. So we ask: was it worth it? Well, THEUANC has a reason to answer, yes, it was worth it as we bring back good governance, economic recovery and the rule of law, if we get the mandate to rule in 2023.

By A Correspondent- Telecommunications giant, Econet Wireless has been taken to court by an employee, Maxwell Kasema, over allegations of unfair treatment.

In a Labour Court application Kasema is raising concerns around his alleged omission from the company’s share scheme as well as a transfer which did not follow due process. Kasema was employed by Econet Wireless in February 2012 as a shop steward (Grade 3) and the job became permanent in February 2013.

In April 2013, Econet Wireless underwent a grading exercise and Kasema’s job title was changed to sales consultant.

He then raised an issue of remuneration alignment in accordance with his added duties and the matter culminated in an application for review being made to the Labour Court which failed on a preliminary point. A judgment was handed down on June 28, 2019.

Around the same period, Econet Wireless initiated an employee share scheme but despite a good record of performance, Kasema was excluded.

Kasema was aggrieved and after exhausting the internal grievance process he was advised by Econet Wireless management that the share scheme and the qualifying criteria for the same were confidential despite the fact that Econet’s remuneration policy advocates for transparency.

On June 27, 2019 and by letter, Kasema was advised that he was being unilaterally transferred from Harare to Manicaland province in Checheche.

Kasema mounted a grievance against the transfer on December 13, 2019 and he nevertheless complied with the company’s wishes.

“However, in the process of relocating to Checheche, Kasema was advised that he would now be working in Mutare and that is where he has been stationed despite being formally transferred to Checheche. The inconsistency and lack of certainty abides to this very date,” read part of the court application.

The application states that Kasema was not given an opportunity to make representations as to why the job transfer should be reconsidered. In all other previous transfers, Kasema was engaged prior to any decisions.

“Econet Wireless’s cumulative conduct which is proximate and pursuant to Kasema losing in court on a technicality makes it clear that Econet Wireless unjustifiably flexed its muscles at Kasema’s expense.”

Kasema then approached the National Employment Council for the Communications and Allied Services Industry for relief on the matter but Econet stated that it did not belong to the said employment council.

As a result of Econet’s unwillingness to recognise the jurisdiction of the National Employment Council for the Communications and Allied Services Industry, the employment council failed to make a determination regarding the relief sought by Kasema in terms of the aforementioned share scheme and unilateral transfer.

The court application is in terms of section 93(7)(b)(ii) of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] seeking an order allowing Kasema to participate in the share scheme together with payment of all loss of benefit by Econet Wireless to Kasema and reinstatement of Kasema to his post in Harare with immediate effect. Econet is yet to respond to the Kasema application.

By A Correspondent- ZESA executive chairman Sydney Gata is divorcing his wife of 35 years after telling a court their marriage has “irretrievably broken down.”

Gata married Ntombana Regina Mugabe, a sister to the late former president Robert Mugabe, in January 1987.

In summons filed at the Harare High Court, Gata said the couple had not lived together as husband and wife for 30 of those 35 years.

Gata says in court papers: “The marriage between us has irretrievably broken down… I have lost all love and affection towards the defendant. We have lived apart since 1992 which is inconsistent with a normal marriage relationship.

“We have reached an agreement with the defendant and the agreement has been reduced to a consent paper between us.”

In the settlement, biotechnologist Mugabe will keep a house in Grange, Harare, on a piece of land measuring 4,260 square meters.

Gata also agreed to pay Mugabe a lump sum of US$18,000 and US$800 in divorce costs.

The ZESA chief will also pay Mugabe US$500 monthly for her upkeep or the equivalent in Zimbabwean dollars backdated to January 1, 2022.

“Plaintiff’s obligation to pay spousal maintenance… shall terminate once the plaintiff’s employment contract with ZESA terminates on November 30, 2024, or is for any reason earlier terminated than November 30, 2024,” the couple’s agreement says.

Gata and Mugabe have a son together, who is now an adult.

The matter is pending.

By A Correspondent- As the long awaited March 26, 2022 by-elections draw near, Zanu-PF claims that there will be peace in the run up to the elections despite the party being ‘historically known to employ violence’ during polls.

Acting President Constantino Chiwenga who was guest of honor at this year’s World Wetlands Day celebrations at Njovo in Zezai village in Masvingo Central declared that peace will reign before the elections before accusing opposition parties of resorting to violence during campaigns.

“Those who think a country can be built by foreigners or opposition parties use violence thinking that outsiders will come and rescue them. We do not want to hear that. All campaigns in the country should be peaceful up until March 26, 2022, but we are going to win the elections in all the seats and build a Zimbabwe we all want,” said Chiwenga.

However, Chiwenga briefly turned the commemorations into a mini-rally before claiming victory for Zanu-PF ahead of by-elections.

“In all districts which are being contested by oppositions who calls themselves ‘Chete-chete’, we are going to do something which has never happened before.

“Unogoita chete-chete pakuitasei ndiwe wega urimunyika here? (How can it be only you as if you are the only person in this world)? There is no such thing. We want to build a Zimbabwe we all want,” said Chiwenga.

Masvingo province will have nine by-elections on March 26 this year, with seven local authority elections and two national assembly ones.

Masvingo Urban has four vacant wards, with two in Chivi and one in Bikita.

For national assembly, there is Chivi South and Mwenezi East.

By A Correspondent- A man from Bekezela township in Filabusi committed suicide after axing his wife, leaving her for dead on Monday morning.

“Innocent Chandakaona had a misunderstanding with his wife over an undisclosed matter and he took an axe and started axing his wife all over the body until she was unconscious. It is believed that he thought the wife had died and he took a wire and hanged himself in the same house,” said Ins Mangena.

She said the wife later regained consciousness and screamed which alerted neighbours who came to the scene and later reported the matter to police.

“The wife is admitted at Filabusi District Hospital where she is being treated. We continue urging members of the public to value life and avoid using violence to solve problems. Members of the public should also stop moving around carrying dangerous weapons. We urge communities to work together with police in preventing crime,” she said.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Police in Mutawata, Mashonaland East province, have arrested six businessmen in Pfungwe who fatally assaulted a man who went berserk destroying their shops.

The man, who police only identified as Jay Jay, died a few metres from the shopping centre.

The suspects are Tatenda Muswere, Fanuel Mutata, Eshwert Kagwambo, Nyepanai Nyauyanga, Elisha Hwenje and one Tinashe.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii confirmed the murder.

“Six suspects were arrested in connection with a murder case in Pfungwe. We urge the public to desist from taking the law into their hands,” he said.

It is reported that on February 5, at around 4am, at Mutata business centre, Muswere was awakened by a large bang on his shop door only to realise that Jay Jay was hitting it using a metal object.

Jay Jay told Muswere that he had been sent to destroy the shops.

The deceased also threatened to kill Muswere and his wife who then shouted for help.

Other shop owners woke up as Jay Jay moved from shop to shop breaking doors and window panes.

The six managed to overpower the now-deceased before tying his hands with a rope.

They assaulted him using switches for close to two hours. He staggered and collapsed a few metres away from the business centre.

Police attended the scene and conveyed the body to Mutawatawa Hospital for post-mortem. -Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Progressive Teachers Union Zimbabwe (PTUZ) says the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education does not have the power to effect a blanket suspension of teachers who have been on strike since schools opened for the 2022 first term on Monday.

On Thursday Education minister Evelyn Ndlovu announced that the striking had teachers had been suspended for three months without pay.

PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou called on the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to assist teachers to lobby both the Public Service Commission (PSC) and Finance Minister to capacitate teachers by paying them US$540.

Said Zhou:

The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education has no power to suspend Teachers. In October 2002, the then Minister of Education T.K. Tsodzo suspended 629 PTUZ aligned teachers in Harare due to a Union led strike.

The courts ruled that the Minister had no locus standi to suspend teachers. All the 629 teachers were reinstated, but of course after some inconvenience of going for some months on half salary and food hampers that the Union could afford then.

So the current Minister is walking along the defective path that already has a precedent ruling.

He added that even the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare cannot blanketly suspend teachers but has to do that by writing letters to individual teachers.

Zhou dismissed the notion that teachers are on strike, but are rather incapacitated, saying the only solution to the problem is to capacitate teachers. He added:

As PTUZ we are ready to take the legal route once any of our members receive a suspension letter.

It is sad that instead of adopting a more considerate approach permeable to reason and facts the Ministry officials and the Government have decided to use defective command and control tactics that have no traction.

That decision is tantamount to closing schools as more than 135 000 teachers out of 14 000 are incapacitated.

One wonders whether this is what she calls an open door policy when her door is closed.

Is it because she is surrounded by criminals, we wonder?

Zhou urged teachers to remain calm and to get in touch with the nearest PTUZ leaders once they receive suspension letters.

He also implored school heads not to be abused by the system which he said had incapacitated them but to bear in mind that the push for a living wage is for their benefit as well.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has voiced support for striking teachers after Primary and Secondary Education minister Evelyn Ndlovu on Thursday announced a blanket suspension of those involved in the industrial action since schools opened on Monday.

In a statement, ZINA threatened to join the strike by teachers if the Government doesn’t immediately revoke the “unlawful” suspensions. ZINA said:

… we confirm that we stand in solidarity with the teaching profession and echo the grievances they have made to Government.

Instead of using threatening tactics, the Government must engage in genuine dialogue and desist from making unilateral offers that do not address the grievances raised.

We further implore Government to immediately revoke the unlawful suspensions issued out to teachers and invite not only the teaching profession, but the Civil Service at large, to the negotiating table to find a lasting solution.

Should it become clear that the Government intends to proceed with its unlawful position, nurses in Zimbabwe will have to consider their position as we cannot watch our colleagues being punished for grievances that we all share.

The Government recently announced a 20% local currency salary increment and a conversion of part of civil servants’ salaries equivalent to US$100 to be paid in hard cash. This has, however, not pacified teachers.

By-A Policeman stationed at CID Headquarters was Thursday dragged to court after he allegedly received a US$5 bribe.

Detective Constable Moses Kainga (39) was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda who remanded him in custody to today for bail ruling.

The court heard that on Monday, Kainga was deployed at CID Headquarters main gate.

Chikarango Mandaza wanted to have his wife Precious Musariri’s fingerprints processed.
He was assisted by Kainga who then demanded US$5 to facilitate the process.
Mandaza reported the case to Transparency International, a non-governmental organisation.

He was accompanied by Tracy Mutiwokuziva to report the matter at CID Headquarters.
A trap was initiated and Mandaza went to CID Headquarters and joined the queue.
He handed over the US$5 and collected his wife’s fingerprints.

After the transaction was completed, the police approached Kainga and showed him the trap authority.

He was searched and found in possession of the US$5, leading to his arrest.
Ruvimbo Matyatya appeared for the State.

-H Metro

By A Correspondent- A police constable and a soldier are among suspects who were taken to court on allegations of stealing Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) cables around Odzi since 2019.

The vandalism of electricity infrastructure resulted in constant blackouts and affected agricultural production in the farming area.

The two were named as Jacob Mazungunye (29) who is stationed at ZRP Sakubva and Munyaradzi Nyamukungwa (37), a soldier with ZNA 3 Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Company.

Their alleged accomplices are Frank Nyahando (23) of Tenderere, Sakubva, and Peter Zuze (36) of Area 14 in Dangamvura. Detectives are looking for the fifth suspect who disappeared following the arrest of his accomplices.

The suspects were all charged with contravening Section 60A (3) (b) of the Electricity Amendment Act, Chapter 13:19 and brought to court separately on different dates.

They recently appeared before Mutare magistrates Langton Carter and Prisca Manhibi and were remanded in custody.-ManicaPost

By- A 24-year-old man from Mpopoma suburb in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly robbing and assaulting a key witness in his ongoing murder trial which is before the courts.

Leeroy Mafu, who had been granted bail pending trial, attacked the complainant on Sunday accusing him of tampering with his freedom.
The okapi wielding murder suspect used the same weapon to attack the State witness before snatching his phone and money.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident yesterday saying Mafu is facing additional charges.
“Police in Bulawayo have arrested Leeroy Mafu, a male adult aged 24 of Mpopoma, Bulawayo for a case of robbery which occurred on Sunday around 9AM. The complainant is a key witness to a case where Mafu is being tried for murder,” said Insp Ncube.
“Since Mafu was granted bail pending his trial, he searched for the complaint and finally met him on Sunday. Mafu grabbed him by the neck, dragged him inside his house and threatened to harm him as his testimony was putting his freedom on the line.
Mafu also produced an okapi knife and used its handle to assault the complainant on the right knee.

“He went on to search the complainant and took US$10-00 and his phone before chasing him away.
The complainant did not sustain any visible injuries and he made a police report that same day.”
Insp Ncube said police managed to track Mafu down and arrested him for robbery.
He encouraged members of the public to solve their issues amicably and not to take the law into their own hands.
Mafu is facing murder charges.
He is accused of stabbing to death Donovan Dlamini (26) who was trying to intervene in a fight.
Mafu and Dlamini were part of a group of patrons who were drinking beer at Makalanga Beer Garden located between Mabuthweni and Mpopoma suburbs when a misunderstanding arose before it degenerated into a fight.

The incident occurred on February 4, 2020.

-State media

By A Correspondent- A massive strike is looming in Zimbabwe’s banking sector after bank workers gave their respective managements a 21-day ultimatum to restore salaries to the pre-2018 scales or face industrial action.

Tawanda Mutemi, the Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union (ZIBAWU) national president, confirmed the development in an interview with a local publication. He said:

We had an emergency meeting at the Ministry of Labour (on February 3 2022) where we discussed our welfare and working conditions.

The officials from the ministry were there to broker the talks since we are not civil servants.

An agreement at the end of the day was then reached to the effect that in the next 21 days, our employers must have addressed our demands.

In October 2018, the Government reintroduced the Zimbabwean dollar and since then, the new currency has steadily lost value, effectively reducing wages.

The lowest-paid banking employee is currently getting a gross salary of ZW$26 000, which translates to US$224 on the official market but about US$130 on the parallel market.

Mutemi revealed that before 2018, the lowest employee in the banking sector earned US$900. He said:

That is the amount of money we are saying must be paid to the least earner in our sector. We are demanding that we be paid in forex.

The banks have the capacity to pay such salaries because they used to do so and can still afford to.

The ZIBAWU president said they gave their employers a grace period to give dialogue a chance but if that fails, they will resort to industrial action.

By- A key member of the Nelson Chamisa led CCC party said he was approached by MDC-T leader Daglous Mwonzora and offered him a senior position if he dumps Chamisa.

Former Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu said Mwonzora approached him several times, persuading him to betray Chamisa.

He said:

I was offered many positions in the MDC-T, but I said no I will not betray my president, Nelson Chamisa.

The car was taken away from me. I lost all the Parliament benefits and salaries but at the end of the day it’s not about me but the people of Marondera who need representation.

You have got (Emmerson) Mnangagwa and Mwonzora in bed together, they are working hand in glove.

I believe when I was recalled I was not in the standing committee, and I was not a provincial chairperson, but I found myself being recalled from Parliament yet the main people they were recalling were actually standing committee members.

So, I wondered why I was recalled but then I found out it was a ZANU PF project, and they didn’t want me by all means necessary in parliament so that I don’t talk or expose all the shenanigans that were happening in Parliament.

Matewu was recalled from Parliament by MDC-T for allegedly promoting the interests of the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance, now the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

More: OpenParly

By-Former Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu (MDC Alliance) claims the MDC-T which is led by Douglas Mwonzora offered him various top posts in the party to persuade him to betray Nelson Chamisa.

Matewu said he realised that ZANU PF used MDC-T to recall him because, during Parliament sessions, he was exposing looting by cartels allegedly linked to the ruling party.

 He said:

I was offered many positions in the MDC-T, but I said no I will not betray my president, Nelson Chamisa.

The car was taken away from me. I lost all the Parliament benefits and salaries but at the end of the day it’s not about me but the people of Marondera who need representation.

You have got (Emmerson) Mnangagwa and Mwonzora in bed together, they are working hand in glove.

I believe when I was recalled I was not in the standing committee, and I was not a provincial chairperson, but I found myself being recalled from Parliament yet the main people they were recalling were actually standing committee members.

So, I wondered why I was recalled but then I found out it was a ZANU PF project, and they didn’t want me by all means necessary in parliament so that I don’t talk or expose all the shenanigans that were happening in Parliament.

Matewu was recalled from Parliament by MDC-T for allegedly promoting the interests of the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance, now the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

More: OpenParly

By-South Africa’s Home Affairs minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, has released the 2022 Critical Skills List that shows which skills are in high demand in the neighbouring country.

The list provides South African businesses with guidance on which foreigners qualify for critical skills work visas.

Foreign nationals can get such visas only if they possess skills or qualifications that have been determined to be critical for South Africa.
During his 2022 State of the Nation address on Thursday, 10 February, South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned in passing the most needed skills in the country.
He said:
The revised Critical Skills List has been published for the first time since 2014, following detailed technical work and extensive consultations with business and labour.
The updated list reflects the skills that are in shortage today, to ensure that our immigration policy matches the demands of our economy.
A summary of the critical tech skills list is provided in the table below.

 By- A Correspondent- CCC Harare ward 46 local council candidate, Denford ‘Madhuku” Ngadziore’ has named and shamed Zanu PF youths who are defacing his campaign posters.

Madhuku released the names of the Zanu PF thugs through his Facebook account:

It has come to my attention that your Youth leader Mhembere, together with other ZANU PF Youths, was instructed to remove all my campaign Posters. I would like to WARN you to stop this type of politics as it is against the law and the code of conduct signed by your candidate, which is before ZEC.

Any attempt to engage in violence or deface my posters will not benefit you & your candidate. You have more to benefit if you have a violent free campaign. Those ZANU PF Youths who are to be used to remove my campaign posters think of what will happen after your silly actions. This is not UMP or Muzarabani. This is Harare West Ward 16, where l Denford Ngadziore representing the New CCC Party, am the candidate. This is not a WARNING but it’s an insight.

#Notoviolence

By A Correspondent- Citizens Coalition For Change (CCC) local government candidate for Harare’s ward 41, Councilor Kudzai Kadzombe, is launching her 26 March by-election campaign in her constituency today.

Resilient Kadzombe is one of Nelson Chamisa’s loyal cadres recalled by Douglas Mwonzora of the MDC-T last year for her allegiance to the CCC leader.

Below is Kadzombe’s tomorrow massive campaign launch message to all Harare West ward 41 residents:

I would like to invite you to join our constituency leadership and me as we launch my campaign for the 26 March by-election. I will be honoured by your presence as we work towards reclaiming our stolen seat.

Date: Saturday 12 February 2022
Car rally Sanganai inn – 11am

Campaign launch Venue: Marlborough Civic Centre soccer ground – 1 pm

Kind regards
Councilor Kudzai Kadzombe
Ward 41 Marlborough

Police have been notified of this EVENT

All are invited

CCC Harare West Secretary Bongani Sibanda

By- Zanu PF officials in Bulawayo Province have expressed worry over the party’s failure to properly conduct the recent primary elections to select candidates for the March 26 by-elections.

The internal elections exposed deep-rooted factionalism in the province amid growing concerns the G40 faction might be taking control of the ruling party’s provincial structures.

Party insiders who spoke to The Zimbabwe Independent fear that the national leadership’s failure to address complaints raised soon after the primary elections might trigger a “bhora musango” scenario.

Bhora Musango was a clandestine campaign by some Zanu PF leaders in the run-up to the 2008 harmonised elections against voting for the party’s presidential candidate leader Robert Mugabe while voting for the party’s parliamentary and local council candidates. Said an unnamed official:

The primary elections were rigged and this will work against the President. For some wards, ballots were mixed so that people could not see their candidates.

Ballots never balanced with figures of up to 100 in some instances. That means people were smuggled even when they were not on the voting list.

Vote-buying was allowed with no questions asked. Complaints on the irregularities were not entertained while the provincial chair acknowledged there was something wrong with primaries.

The chairman must know that he is chairing a pure 70% G40 executive.

Zanu PF Bulawayo chairperson Jabulani Sibanda, who landed the post in December after years in the political wilderness, dismissed reports of factionalism and claims that complaints were swept under the carpet. He said:

That is nonsense, there is no factionalism here. I am aware of what you are asking.

All the complaints brought to the office were forwarded to Harare and that is where you can get your answers from. I don’t have answers to your questions.

However, the Zanu PF insider claimed Sibanda Sibanda was bypassed when candidates’ curriculum vitae were sent to the party’s head office. He said:

Sibanda is now just a shadow of his former self. It is known from way back that Sibanda and Mnangagwa are close, even during the late former president Robert Mugabe’s tenure.

We expected a change from him but many people are disappointed.

Hopefully, he will find a solution; on the issue of candidates, he was left out only to know when curriculum vitae had reached Harare. They bypassed him.

Reports suggest that Zanu PF members within provincial structures are divided between those allegedly backing Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and others belonging to a group aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

More: The Zimbabwe Independent

By-A Policeman stationed at CID Headquarters was Thursday dragged to court after he allegedly received a US$5 bribe.

Detective Constable Moses Kainga (39) was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda who remanded him in custody to today for bail ruling.

The court heard that on Monday, Kainga was deployed at CID Headquarters main gate.

Chikarango Mandaza wanted to have his wife Precious Musariri’s fingerprints processed.
He was assisted by Kainga who then demanded US$5 to facilitate the process.
Mandaza reported the case to Transparency International, a non-governmental organisation.
He was accompanied by Tracy Mutiwokuziva to report the matter at CID Headquarters.
A trap was initiated and Mandaza went to CID Headquarters and joined the queue.
He handed over the US$5 and collected his wife’s fingerprints.
After the transaction was completed, the police approached Kainga and showed him the trap authority.
He was searched and found in possession of the US$5, leading to his arrest.
Ruvimbo Matyatya appeared for the State.

-H Metro

Tinashe Sambiri|Hard-hitting Citizens’ Coalition For Change vice president Hon Tendai Biti has said the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is a thief who does not care at all about the plight of the socially disadvantaged citizens.

Hon Biti has accused Mr Mnangagwa of stealing billions of State cash.

Speaking at Kamfinsa Shopping Centre in Harare on Thursday night, Hon Biti said:” Emmerson Mnangagwa is terrorising teachers for protesting at poor salaries – that’s unheard of…

The regime is not concerned about the welfare of the poor.

Emmerson Mnangagwa himself is a thief. We know that he was rejected the people. He hates the people.”

Watch video below:

By- A Correspondent- Zanu PF thugs in Harare West are defacing CCC local council candidate, Denford ‘Madhuku” Ngadziore’s campaign posters.

Madhuku complained through his Facebook account:

It has come to my attention that your Youth leader Mhembere, together with other ZANU PF Youths, was instructed to remove all my campaign Posters. I would like to WARN you to stop this type of politics as it is against the law and the code of conduct signed by your candidate, which is before ZEC.

Any attempt to engage in violence or deface my posters will not benefit you & your candidate. You have more to benefit if you have a violent free campaign. Those ZANU PF Youths who are to be used to remove my campaign posters think of what will happen after your silly actions. This is not UMP or Muzarabani. This is Harare West Ward 16, where l Denford Ngadziore representing the New CCC Party, am the candidate. This is not a WARNING but it’s an insight.

#Notoviolence

By-A member of the Zimbabwe National Army, a police constable, and two civilians have been hauled before the courts on allegations of stealing Zesa cables around Odzi since 2019, causing incessant blackouts and affecting agricultural production in the farming area.

On countless occasions, the suspects allegedly cut electricity cables during the night and later sold the loot to the police officer who would then offload the cables on the black market at a higher price.

The implicated cop allegedly supplied his accomplices with the bolt cutters to increase stealing efficiency, which made it easy to cut the electricity cables from the main grid.

The cop, Jacob Mazungunye (29) who is stationed at ZRP Sakubva; Munyaradzi Nyamukungwa (37), a soldier with ZNA 3 Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Company; Frank Nyahando (23) of Tenderere, Sakubva, and Peter Zuze (36) of Area 14 in Dangamvura were charged with contravening Section 60A (3) (b) of the Electricity Amendment Act, Chapter 13:19. Detectives are looking for the fifth suspect who disappeared following the arrest of his accomplices.
The arrested suspects were brought to court separately on different dates.
They appeared before Mutare magistrates, Mr Langton Carter and Ms Prisca Manhibi and were remanded in custody.
Allegations were that on December 22, Nyahando and his accomplices Zuze and Nyamukungwa hatched a plan to vandalise and steal ZETDC transformer windings at Bingaguru Farm in Penhalonga.
They were using a vehicle that was being driven by Nyamukungwa.
Armed with various spanners, mattock, a bolt cutter and a shovel, the suspects went to the farm and cut two cables which were connecting the transformer to the meter box and the supply line.
They hid the cables in the bush. Thereafter, they went on to vandalise the transformer. However, this alerted a security guard who raised alarm.
The accused persons ran away with the loot.
The court heard that after some searches around the crime scene, the security guard discovered that one of the suspects had left behind a pair of black sandals.
A report was made to the police who swiftly reacted and made follow ups before arresting Nyahando who was now walking on foot.
Upon interrogation, he confessed stealing the cables together with his accomplices who had ran away.
He told the cops that at times they would carry out the heists with Mazungunye and a ZETDC employee who drives a company lorry.
As investigations intensified, the suspect led the cops to Kondozi Farm where he voluntarily made positive indications confirming the theft of armoured copper cables at the farm in 2019.
He also led detectives to Greencroft Farm in Chigodora and confessed that he stole copper cables there in 2020.
Upon further interrogation, he told the cops that he always supplied the loot to Mazungunye.
On December 28, Zuze was arrested at his house.
A search was conducted and the cops recovered a bolt cutter, catapult, rubber gloves, two spanners, a hacksaw and a machete which were allegedly used to commit the crimes.
He told the cops that sometime in June 2019, he met Mazungunye at Green Market and they agreed to work together to steal copper cables.
In October 2019, Zuze teamed up with Nyahando and went to Gumbo Farm in Odzi where they cut and stole copper cables.
They phoned Mazungunye and met him at Makoni Turn-off in Riverside. He bought the copper cables for US$60.
The suspects continued doing this and the cop would always turn up and buy the loot.
Cables valued at $500 000 were stolen by the suspects.
-Manica Post

By- Goodness and Mercy Ministries leader Prophet Tapiwa Freddy has been cleared of the rape and physical abuse charges.

Harare regional magistrate Mrs Gloria Takundwa discharged Freddy after noting that the truth was not told in the whole matter.

Mrs Takundwa said the State had failed to prove a prima facie against the clergyman.

Freddy was facing charges of raping a ZBC DJ, Rutendo Makuti.

By A Correspondent- Citizens Coalition For Change (CCC) local government candidate for Harare’s ward 41, Councilor Kudzai Kadzombe, is launching her 26 March by-election campaign in her constituency tomorrow, Saturday.

Resilient Kadzombe is one of Nelson Chamisa’s loyal cadres recalled by Douglas Mwonzora of the MDC-T last year for her allegiance to the CCC leader.

Below is Kadzombe’s tomorrow massive campaign launch message to all Harare West ward 41 residents:

Good day, my Esteemed colleague I hope you are well. I would like to invite you to join our constituency leadership and me as we launch my campaign for the 26 March by-election. I will be honoured by your presence as we work towards reclaiming our stolen seat.

Date: Saturday 12 February 2022
Car rally Sanganai inn – 11am

Campaign launch Venue: Marlborough Civic Centre soccer ground – 1 pm

Kind regards
Councilor Kudzai Kadzombe
Ward 41 Marlborough

Police have been notified of this EVENT

All are invited

CCC Harare West Secretary Bongani Sibanda

B-A 22-year-old man from Esigodini in Matabeleland South Province died after being hit by an axe after accusing his attacker of having love affairs with underage girls.
Matabeleland South Police provincial spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident which happened on Sunday at around 7 pm
Insp Mangena named the deceased as Clifford Ncube while the alleged accused is Loveson Ndlovu (33) both under chief Mathe .

“The accused was walking from his place of residency when he met Clifford who was walking with his unnamed friend. The two who were carrying a chain and a knobkerrie accused Loveson of having love affairs with underage girls in the village and started beating him. Loveson managed to run away to a nearby homestead where upon entrance he saw an axe which he picked and went back whereupon he threw the axe which hit Clifford in the forehead and he died on the spot,” she said.
Insp Mangena said the accused was apprehended by villagers who handed him over to the police.
In an unrelated matter, a Bekezela township man in Filabusi committed suicide after axing his wife, leaving her for dead on Monday morning.
“Innocent Chandakaona had a misunderstanding with his wife over an undisclosed matter and he took an axe and started axing his wife all over the body until she was unconscious. It is believed that he thought the wife had died and he took a wire and hanged himself in the same house,” said Ins Mangena.

She said the wife later regained consciousness and screamed which alerted neighbours who came to the scene and later reported the matter to police.
“The wife is admitted at Filabusi District Hospital where she is being treated. We continue urging members of the public to value life and avoid using violence to solve problems. Members of the public should also stop moving around carrying dangerous weapons. We urge communities to work together with police in preventing crime,” she said.

By-A Policeman stationed at CID Headquarters was Thursday dragged to court after he allegedly received a US$5 bribe.

Detective Constable Moses Kainga (39) was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda who remanded him in custody to today for bail ruling.

The court heard that on Monday, Kainga was deployed at CID Headquarters main gate.

Chikarango Mandaza wanted to have his wife Precious Musariri’s fingerprints processed.
He was assisted by Kainga who then demanded US$5 to facilitate the process.
Mandaza reported the case to Transparency International, a non-governmental organisation.
He was accompanied by Tracy Mutiwokuziva to report the matter at CID Headquarters.
A trap was initiated and Mandaza went to CID Headquarters and joined the queue.
He handed over the US$5 and collected his wife’s fingerprints.
After the transaction was completed, the police approached Kainga and showed him the trap authority.
He was searched and found in possession of the US$5, leading to his arrest.
Ruvimbo Matyatya appeared for the State.

-H Metro

By-A Beitbridge businessman, Jonathan Madhuku (29), was arrested for assaulting his wife after he found a pregnancy test kit on their matrimonial bed.

Madhuku appeared before Magistrate Vavariro Gabi for assaulting his wife Vivian Rwasunda.

He was sentenced to 20 months in jail, but he will serve an effective 16 months after the magistrate suspended four months of the sentence if he doesn’t commit a similar offence within the next five years.

Madhuku has since engaged the services of Patrick Tererai of Tereral Legal Practice to appeal against the sentence.

The State represented by Tawanda Chigavazira said on 5 November at around 9:35 pm, the complainant had a misunderstanding with the accused over the issue of marrying a second wife.

The State further alleged that Madhuku got angry and assaulted his wife with open hands on the face and she sustained injuries.

Rwasunda was reportedly severely injured and left with shaking teeth and eating disorders.

In his defence, Madhuku told the court that he reacted the way he did because he was provoked by his wife.

He said when he asked about the test kit, Rwasunda responded by saying he was “lucky” that he did not find a used condom in the home. Said Madhuku:

I found a pregnancy test kit on the bed and when I tried to ask my wife, she warned me not to be shocked as I can even find a used condom in the room.

More: The Mirror

By- Energy Mutodi’s appeal to remain in Zanu PF Masvingo Province Coordinating Committee (PCC) in line with the December 2021 provincial elections results have been thrown out.

Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology principal, Munyaradzi Machacha dismissed Mutodi’s appeal on the grounds that he still sits on the Mash East (PCC).

Mutodi is an MP for Goromonzi West in Mash East. The appeal was dismissed during a party a PCC meeting in Masvingo on Sunday.
The Mirror also attended the PCC.
It is understood that the controversial Mutodi who has been in the courts on many occasions over corruption scandals now wants to shift to Masvingo his home area where he is eyeing Bikita South constituency.

Mutodi who got 583 votes during the December elections thrashed the incumbent Bikita South legislator, Josiah Sithole by almost 200 votes.
The new PCC chairman for Masvingo is Rabison Mavhenyengwa.
“Your appeal cannot be accepted because by virtue of being a Goromonzi West legislator you automatically sit in the Mash East PCC. So until you renounce you position in Mash East; the party constitution does not allow you to sit in two PCCs. At the moment your case does not hold water and is automatically dismissed on that technicality,” said Machacha.

-Masvingo Mirror

By- Goodness and Mercy Ministries leader Prophet Tapiwa Freddy has been cleared of the rape and physical abuse charges.

Harare regional magistrate Mrs Gloria Takundwa discharged Freddy after noting that the truth was not told in the whole matter.

Mrs Takundwa said the State had failed to prove a prima facie against the clergyman.

Freddy was facing charges of raping a ZBC DJ, Rutendo Makuti.

Tinashe Sambiri|Hard-hitting Citizens’ Coalition For Change vice president Hon Tendai Biti has said the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is a thief who does not care at all about the plight of the socially disadvantaged citizens.

Hon Biti has accused Mr Mnangagwa of stealing billions of State cash.

Speaking at Kamfinsa Shopping Centre in Harare on Thursday night, Hon Biti said:” Emmerson Mnangagwa is terrorising teachers for protesting at poor salaries – that’s unheard of…

The regime is not concerned about the welfare of the poor.

Emmerson Mnangagwa himself is a thief. We know that he was rejected the people. He hates the people.”

Watch video below:

By A Correspondent- Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has told the government to stop promising houses and cars to teachers and pay them decent United States dollar-based salaries.

Teachers have been on a strike citing incapacitation since the reopening of schools for the first term on Monday, demanding at a monthly salary of at least US$540.

Biti said the ruling party cannot fool anyone and it must stop making fake promises.

Government announced a salary increase of 20% backdated to January 2022 and a US$100 Covid-19 allowance effective March.

“Effectively it is US$20,” Biti said in the exclusive interview beamed live on NewZim TV Thursday afternoon, sponsored by the Diaspora Insurance Company.

“This is smokescreen economics, and they are hoping that we have a good agricultural season where they can monetise this and they are hoping that they can pull through because they need a year to the next election,” he said.

“They cannot fool anyone, every civil servant knows this is not a salary increase, the effective increase is 5 000 bond which is US$20, so they are not fooling anyone, not even their own wives,” Biti said.

He added: “They need to be given a minimum of US$500 per months, it is that simple, do not promise them houses, do not promise them cars, give them the basic wage, give them a strong functional economy, give them tools to work with, if they are teachers give them classrooms, chalks and proper blackboards.

“If they are doctors give them their frontline workers tools to work with, give them a decent salary, it is a crime that you go to a public hospital like Parirenyatwa and the government is now delegating to patients and their relatives to look after people that are inside.”

By A Correspondent- Former Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi’s appeal to remain in the ZANU PF Masvingo Province Coordinating Committee (PCC) in line with the December 2021 provincial elections results has been rejected.

Mutodi’s appeal was dismissed on the grounds that he still sits on the Mashonaland East PCC. Mutodi is the MP for Goromonzi West in Mash East.

The appeal was dismissed during a PCC meeting in Masvingo on Sunday. In dismissing the appeal, Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology principal, Munyaradzi Machacha said:

Your appeal cannot be accepted because by virtue of being a Goromonzi West legislator you automatically sit in the Mash East PCC.

So until you renounce your position in Mash East; the party constitution does not allow you to sit in two PCCs.

At the moment your case does not hold water and is automatically dismissed on that technicality.

Mutodi is reportedly planning to move from Mash East to Masvingo his home area where he is eyeing Bikita South constituency.

Mutodi got 583 votes during the December elections beating the incumbent Bikita South legislator, Josiah Sithole, by almost 200 votes.

The new ZANU PF provincial chairperson for Masvingo Province is Rabison Mavhenyengwa.

 By A Correspondent- A 22 year old man from Chief Mathe area Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province, was axed to death after accusing a fellow villager of having love affairs with underage girls.

According to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Matabeleland South Police, Inspector Loveness Mangena, the incident occurred on Sunday at around 7 pm.

She said the deceased, Clifford Ncube, was murdered by Loveson Ndlovu (33), also under Chief Mathe. Said Insp Mangena:

The accused was walking from his place of residency when he met Clifford who was walking with his unnamed friend.

The two who were carrying a chain and a knobkerrie accused Loveson of having love affairs with underage girls in the village and started beating him.

Loveson managed to run away to a nearby homestead where upon entrance he saw an axe which he picked and went back whereupon he threw the axe which hit Clifford in the forehead and he died on the spot

By A Correspondent- A 55 year old Hwange man has been arrested on allegations of murdering his girlfriend.

According to Zimbabwe Republic Police Matabeleland North Spokesperson, Inspector Glory Banda, members of the CID in Hwange have arrested Jonathan Mabhena in connection with the murder of his girlfriend, Gertrude Ngwenya (50).

“On the 9th of February 2022, ZRP members stationed at CID Hwange in Matabeleland North province arrested a 55-year-old man for killing his ex-girlfriend in Hwange at the Lower Colliery section.

The man used a knife in the commission of his crime. He alleges that a misunderstanding ensued between them after he had accused her of mysteriously causing him to suffer an erectile dysfunction,” said Inspector Banda.

Meanwhile, as investigations continue, police have encouraged feuding parties to find amicable ways of resolving disputes.

-State Media

Zanu-PF central committee member Philip Chiyangwa has been taken to court for failing to pay maintenance and school fees for the two children he had with ex-wife Pamela Rusere.

The couple’s children have, according to court papers, been barred from entering school premises in South Africa over fees arrears.

In her application for correction and variation of the maintenance order under case number HC7099, Rusere said Chiyangwa had ignored messages informing him that the children’s fees were due after schools in the neighbouring country opened on January 12.

“The minor children have now been dismissed from school as the grace period has lapsed and, therefore, are not attending school and this is taking a toll on them and affecting them psychologically as the dismissal is embarrassing for them and interfering with their right to education which is a constitutionally entrenched right,” Rusere submitted.

“The children are suffering irreparable harm and prejudice, each day that they are not in school as they will not have a chance to catch up on any class that they have missed.”

Chiyangwa asked the court for variation of his $40 000 maintenance to $8 000, which was granted in default.

Rusere said Chiyangwa was refusing to pay maintenance and school fees for the minor children.

Rusere is challenging the variation saying Chiyangwa’s lawyer, Itayi Ndudzo, misled the clerk of court into believing that the payment of maintenance was stayed by the High Court.

“Chiyangwa is now using the new order for stay as a basis of his defence that he cannot be asked to pay maintenance because such an order has been stayed, thus absolving him of any responsibilities pending the determination of his application for rescission, which I must add, he is not interested to pursue as at the date of this application he has not filed an answering affidavit to a notice of opposition served on him on December 15, 2021 to allow the matter to be finalised,” she
submitted.

She is seeking an order compelling Chiyangwa to continue paying the $40 000 monthly maintenance pending the variation appeal.

“An order for maintenance may not be stayed completely as the interests of minor children are paramount and must not be prejudiced,” Rusere said.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF central committee member Philip Chiyangwa has been taken to court for failing to pay maintenance and school fees for the two children he had with ex-wife Pamela Rusere.

The couple’s children have, according to court papers, been barred from entering school premises in South Africa over fees arrears.

In her application for correction and variation of the maintenance order under case number HC7099, Rusere said Chiyangwa had ignored messages informing him that the children’s fees were due after schools in the neighbouring country opened on January 12.

“The minor children have now been dismissed from school as the grace period has lapsed and, therefore, are not attending school and this is taking a toll on them and affecting them psychologically as the dismissal is embarrassing for them and interfering with their right to education which is a constitutionally entrenched right,” Rusere submitted.

“The children are suffering irreparable harm and prejudice, each day that they are not in school as they will not have a chance to catch up on any class that they have missed.”

Chiyangwa asked the court for variation of his $40 000 maintenance to $8 000, which was granted in default.

Rusere said Chiyangwa was refusing to pay maintenance and school fees for the minor children.

Rusere is challenging the variation saying Chiyangwa’s lawyer, Itayi Ndudzo, misled the clerk of court into believing that the payment of maintenance was stayed by the High Court.

“Chiyangwa is now using the new order for stay as a basis of his defence that he cannot be asked to pay maintenance because such an order has been stayed, thus absolving him of any responsibilities pending the determination of his application for rescission, which I must add, he is not interested to pursue as at the date of this application he has not filed an answering affidavit to a notice of opposition served on him on December 15, 2021 to allow the matter to be finalised,” she
submitted.

She is seeking an order compelling Chiyangwa to continue paying the $40 000 monthly maintenance pending the variation appeal.

“An order for maintenance may not be stayed completely as the interests of minor children are paramount and must not be prejudiced,” Rusere said.-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has disconnected water to a residential area in Binga, Matabeleland North province, commonly known as Emasotsheni/ Soldiers section over a $4,8 million debt.

Last year, Zinwa cut off supplies to the same camp over a $1,55 million debt, leaving the residents without water for more than four months.

Emasotsheni/Soldiers section deputy chairperson Richard Muleya said water supplies were cut on January 28. The area is called the Emasotsheni/Soldiers section because of the many former and serving members of the army staying there.

“Zinwa has closed water again for the residents. They closed the bulk water meter supply, but initially we had agreed that Zinwa would close the meters only for those who were owing, not everyone,” Muleya said.

“We were advised that we owe Zinwa $4,8 million and we asked them where this amount was coming from. They could not tell us exactly where that amount came from.”

Muleya said they were yet to have a meeting with Zinwa over the issue.

Zinwa spokesperson Marjorie Munyonga said she would respond when she got full information.

Zinwa last year refused to restore water supplies to Binga Rural District Council until the local authority paid at least $300 000 of its $1,5 million debt.

Recently the residents accused the council of failing to provide water, and appealed to Zinwa to take over water provision in the town.

Residents are now forced to fetch the precious liquid from the banks of Lake Kariba, risking crocodile attacks.

Binga centre is about three kilometres east of Lake Kariba and boasts a number of tourist attractions, including the hotsprings, wildlife and the magnificent Binga beach.

By A Correspondent- Opposition politician and top Harare lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, has dismissed as illegal, the decision by government to suspend striking teachers.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Evelyn Ndlovu announced the suspension  in a statement Thursday.

“The ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to inform the Nation and its valued stakeholders that all officials within the Ministry who absented themselves from duty since the official opening of schools on 7 February 2022 have been suspended without pay forthwith, for a period of three months.

“During this period of suspension, members are not to hinder or interfere with any investigation or evidence relating to the alleged misconduct,” Ndlovu wrote.

However, Professor Madhuku, a labour law specialist, said the Minister did not have the power to suspend teachers because they are employed by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

“Teachers cannot be suspended from work by a Govt Minister: they are employed by the PSC,” he said on Twitter.

“Even the PSC itself has no power whatsoever to effect a blanket and mass suspension. The purported suspensions are unacceptable. Govt must dialogue with teachers’ unions and address issues.”

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Secretary General Raymond Majongwe added, “In 2002, 629 members of PTUZ were unilaterally suspended by TK Tsodzo ( then Perm Sec) Sheila Jarvis represented us and they were all reinstated.

“This is nothing new. The law is very clear. There is something called due process. What happened to dialogue Cde Moyo promised?”

Some teachers decided to stay at home as schools opened to protest salaries of about $100 a month. Unions are demanding that their pay be increased to about $500 per month.

In 2018, teachers earned the equivalent of about $540 a month but that amount has been eroded by years of inflation, currently estimated at 60%, and the devaluation of Zimbabwe’s currency.

In response, the government has offered a 20% pay increase, payment of part of the teachers’ salaries in U.S. dollars, and subsidies on the purchases of cars and houses. The government also threatened to cut the salaries of those not reporting for duty.

The offer has however been rejected by two of the three teachers’ unions.

By A Correspondent- A woman from Bulawayo’s Magwegwe West suburb has applied for a peace order against a man who allegedly impregnated her 27 years ago but denied responsibility.

Liliyosa Dlamini said she gave birth to twins 27 years ago after a relationship with Calvin Chimuka.

She said after the birth of the twins, Chimuka forsook her and refused to support the children, claiming he was not their father.

Chimuka, however, has re-appeared, 27 years later, now that one of the children is getting married. He said he wants a share of the bride price.

Dlamini is against that and doesn’t want him to be part of the lobola negotiations. In her affidavit she said:

I’m applying for a peace order against my former lover Calvin Chimuka. 27 years ago I had two children with him.

And he denied being the father of the children and refused to pay for their upkeep. My father ended up staying with them at his rural home.

Now he wants to benefit from the bride price. I refused but he comes to my house and hurls insults at me and my family members.

He even branded my child and me whores.

Presiding magistrate Ulukile Ndlovu granted Dhlamini a peace order against Chimuka who did not attend the court session.

Chimuka was ordered not to verbally abuse Dhlamini and not to go to her home.-BMetro

By A Correspondent- Police officers were on Thursday reportedly blocked from exhuming the body of child bride Anna Machaya, who died whilst giving birth at a Johanne Marange Apostolic sect shrine in Marange in July last year.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers were barred from accessing the shrine at Mafararikwa village.

Anna, who was 14, was illegally buried at the shrine in an apparent bid to conceal her death as the “marriage” and nature of her death had legal consequences for those involved.

The police officers were armed with an exhumation order to recover Anna’s remains as part of their investigations into her death.

Her husband, Hatirarami Momberume alias Evans Michael Momberume, who is in his late twenties, has been charged with her murder.

When contacted for a comment by ZimLive, ZRP national spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was out of office and did not have details of the incident. But an unnamed police officer told the publication:

The church’s leader Noah Taguta sent his devotees to tell the officers that they should bring authorisation from the president [Emmerson Mnangagwa].

He did not recognise the exhumation order signed by the district administrator. He runs the shrine as if it’s an embassy, he’s the law.

Taguta, who styles himself as a “high priest” of his church, receives senior government officials at his shrine from time to time.

Even President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been a visitor to the shrine and Taguta has spoken publicly of his support for the ZANU PF party.

Anna died on 16 July last year from excessive bleeding, hours after she gave birth at the shrine near Mutare.

Congregants buried her at the shrine without a burial order.

In January this year, Anna’s parents Edmore Machaya, 45, and his wife Shy Mabika, 36, were jailed for nine months each after being convicted on charges of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

They were charged after they lied to police investigators that Anna’s name was Memory Machaya, to conceal the fact that she was a minor.

They also claimed that Anna was born on 2 January 1999, which would have made her 22 when she died.

Police however established that the deceased teenager’s name was Anna Machaya, and she was born on 5 July 2006.

That was after the police obtained a copy of the dead girl’s birth certificate from Wanganui High School where she was a student before she got married to Momberume.

Anna had been forced to drop out of school whilst doing Form 2 after falling pregnant and her parents married her off to Momberume.

By A Correspondent- The founder and leader of Goodness and Mercy Ministries, Tapiwa Freddy, has been acquitted of rape charges by a Harare Court at the close of the State case.

Freddy had been facing charges of raping a radio presenter who is physically challenged.

More to follow…

By- A Bulawayo regional magistrate Sikhumbuzo Nyathi had an adulterous affair with a married woman, resulting in her husband divorcing her, a court in Bulawayo has heard.

After the divorce, Sikhumbuzo married the woman.
The bitter ex-husband, Nathan Nyathi, was forced to share the property with his ex-wife.
Sikhumbuzo is said to have driven to Nathan’s place, accompanied by two of his relatives and the police, to collect his new wife’s share of the property. Sikhumbuzo did not enter Nathan’s yard but he remained in the car while his relatives and the police entered, it was further heard.
This did not go down well with Nathan who is said to have threatened to harm Sikhumbuzo.
Nathan said: “Ngizamdingela abafana bamtshaye nxa be ngehluleka ngizambulala mina (I will assign my guys to assault him, if they fail, I will take it upon myself to kill him).”
Sikhumbuzo reported the threats to the police.
Nathan pleaded not guilty before Western Commonage magistrate Jeconia Prince Ncube.
A bitter Nathan Nyathi revealed during a trial that Sikhumbuzo Nyathi had an adulterous affair with his wife and that caused them to divorce. After the divorce his (Nathan’s) wife was then married by Sikhumbuzo.
After divorce they obtained a court order which guided them on how to share property.
The threats by Nathan induced fear in Sikhumbuzo and he pressed charges of threats of violence against Nathan.

• B Metro

By -The State Thursday refused a ZBC video obtained by Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiris’ lawyers as part of the evidence in their ongoing application for referral of their matter to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt).

Through their lawyers, Mr Alec Muchadehama and Mr Jeremiah Bamu, the duo wanted the video aired on ZBCTv on September 9, 2020, to be part of their application.

The video was played on the national broadcaster with the intention to create the impression that the fearless female activists faked their abduction in May of the same year.

The two wanted their matter, in which they are accused of faking their abduction, to be referred to the ConCourt, arguing that several of their rights were violated by their arrest.

In their application, they said there was incessant and adverse media publicity aimed at swaying the court to convict them, and the video from ZBC would show the negative publicity they were subjected to.
The State objected to the production of the video because of want of procedure and doubts regarding the authenticity of the video.
It said it will not allow the production of the video unless Mamombe and Chimbiri take the person who produced it to testify in court and be subjected to cross-examination.
“We are strongly opposed to the tendering of the video whose creator is unknown.
“The State is opposed to its production for want of procedure,” said Mr Michael Reza, who appeared for the State.
Mr Reza argued that documents had to be certified to qualify for their production in court records and questioned how a flash disc (memory stick), which the opposition party members wanted to tender, could be certified.
“He brought a flash disc and say it is a certified copy. How can this be certified? Everyone knows processes of certification.
“How does this flash (disc) purportedly containing evidence of abduction be termed trade or business record.”
“He is inviting a procedure which is alien to this jurisdiction,” he said.
Mr Reza rubbished Mamombe and Chimbiri’s assertions that their rights were violated by “incessant and adverse” publicity aimed at swaying the court into convicting them saying the court deals with law not public opinion.
“In the magistracy, this is the highest court (Chief Magistrate) and I do not believe that the court would say because of what was aired on ZTV, I find you guilty.
“It deals with proper evidence adduced in the court, not statements by friends to each other. It is a court of record. The State is very strongly opposed to this piece of irrelevant and inadmissible content contaminating the court record. On all fronts, this application ought to fail,” he said.
Mr Tafara Chirambira, who appeared together with Mr Reza, buttressed the latter’s submissions saying the State disagreed with the video’s authenticity.
He said authenticity was one of the requirements before a document was admitted into the court’s record.
“There is procedural irregularities that my colleagues are asking the court to partake.
“We are not agreeing on authenticity. We do not know of the flash and its contents,” he said.
Mr Muchadehama said the production of the video related to the application and one of the reliefs sought was that accused were not likely to receive a fair trial because there had been incessant and adverse publicity “to influence the outcome of these proceedings”.
“The reason for the production of the video is to show that it was aired on ZTV. The video was aired on September 9, 2020,” he said.
Mr Muchadehama said the video was authentic since it was downloaded from the national broadcaster and by its corporate legal secretary.
“ZBC downloaded the video and put it on flash, it then qualifies to be produced,” he said.
Chief Magistrate Mrs Faith Mushure is expected to decide on whether the flash disc will be admitted into the record or not on February 16. Herald

By-Zanu PF 2023 elections fundraising committee chairman and the party’s central committee member Philip Chiyangwa has failed to pay school fees for his two children in South Africa.

The once flamboyant Harare businessman has also been taken to court for failing to pay maintenance and school fees for the two children he had with ex-wife Pamela Rusere.

The couple’s children have, according to court papers, been barred from entering school premises in South Africa over fees arrears.

In her application for correction and variation of the maintenance order under case number HC7099, Rusere said Chiyangwa had ignored messages informing him that the children’s fees were due after schools in the neighbouring country opened on January 12.
“The minor children have now been dismissed from school as the grace period has lapsed and, therefore, are not attending school and this is taking a toll on them and affecting them psychologically as the dismissal is embarrassing for them and interfering with their right to education which is a constitutionally entrenched right,” Rusere submitted.
“The children are suffering irreparable harm and prejudice, each day that they are not in school as they will not have a chance to catch up on any class that they have missed.”
Chiyangwa asked the court for variation of his $40 000 maintenance to $8 000, which was granted in default.
Rusere said Chiyangwa was refusing to pay maintenance and school fees for the minor children.
Rusere is challenging the variation saying Chiyangwa’s lawyer, Itayi Ndudzo, misled the clerk of court into believing that the payment of maintenance was stayed by the High Court.
“Chiyangwa is now using the new order for stay as a basis of his defence that he cannot be asked to pay maintenance because such an order has been stayed, thus absolving him of any responsibilities pending the determination of his application for rescission, which I must add, he is not interested to pursue as at the date of this application he has not filed an answering affidavit to a notice of opposition served on him on December 15, 2021 to allow the matter to be finalised,” she submitted.
She is seeking an order compelling Chiyangwa to continue paying the $40 000 monthly maintenance pending the variation appeal.
“An order for maintenance may not be stayed completely as the interests of minor children are paramount and must not be prejudiced,” Rusere said.
-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Secretary-General of the country’s teachers union, the Progressive Teachers’Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) Raymond Majongwe, said 135 000 teachers, out of a total of 150 000, have been suspended by the government.

Posting on his Twitter handle Thursday soon after a statement by the government of the suspension of teachers who had not reported for duty when schools opened this week, Majongwe schools had effectively closed:

135 000 of the 150 000 teachers have been suspended by govt. We know only 10 % of the teaching force were turning up for duty. Effectively schools have closed again. Sad parents had paid enormous amounts for fees.

Teachers have been on strike for a long time. They are demanding that the government restore their 2018 salaries which were around US$540.
Teachers are earning an equivalent of US$100 per month.

By- Harare Regional Magistrate Gloria Takundwa is expected to deliver her ruling on rape-accused pastor Tapiwa Freddy’s application for discharge at the close of the State’s case.

This week, Takundwa postponed her ruling to today, saying that she was still compiling it.

The Harare-based clergyman, the founder and leader of Goodness and Mercy Ministries, faces two counts of rape and one count of assault.

The complainant is a 33-year-old ZBC DJ who has physical disabilities.

During cross-examination in January, the complainant revealed that her life was now in danger after she reported the alleged rape and assault against T Freddy as he is a famous preacher with a huge following.

By- Energy Mutodi’s appeal to remain in Zanu PF Masvingo Province Coordinating Committee (PCC) in line with the December 2021 provincial elections results have been thrown out.

Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology principal, Munyaradzi Machacha dismissed Mutodi’s appeal on the grounds that he still sits on the Mash East (PCC).

Mutodi is an MP for Goromonzi West in Mash East. The appeal was dismissed during a party a PCC meeting in Masvingo on Sunday.
The Mirror also attended the PCC.
It is understood that the controversial Mutodi who has been in the courts on many occasions over corruption scandals now wants to shift to Masvingo his home area where he is eyeing Bikita South constituency.

Mutodi who got 583 votes during the December elections thrashed the incumbent Bikita South legislator, Josiah Sithole by almost 200 votes.
The new PCC chairman for Masvingo is Rabison Mavhenyengwa.
“Your appeal cannot be accepted because by virtue of being a Goromonzi West legislator you automatically sit in the Mash East PCC. So until you renounce you position in Mash East; the party constitution does not allow you to sit in two PCCs. At the moment your case does not hold water and is automatically dismissed on that technicality,” said Machacha.

-Masvingo Mirror

By- A Zanu PF top official in Manicaland has been threatened to be killed by his girlfriend.

Albert Nyakuedzwa, the Zanu PF Makoni district committee chairperson, recently approached Rusape Magistrates Court seeking a peace order against his girlfriend, Tariro Faith Mhondiwa.

Nyakuedzwa is the husband to the provincial women’s boss Happiness Nyakuedzwa.

In his founding affidavit dated February 7, Nyakuedzwa cited Mhondiwa as the respondent. Reads the affidavit:

I am a married man with children residing at Forkington Farm, Headlands. I was involved in an extramarital affair with the respondent and I would constantly visit her place of residence.

As time went on, the respondent and I started having problems and I tried to end the relationship. Sometime last year when I went to her house, she (Mhondiwa) locked me inside for four hours against my will while she went away.

When I stopped going to her home, she was incessantly calling me and texting threatening to shoot me and send people to kill me. On another occasion, the respondent threw a water glass at me and I was hit on the head.

He said he is now in fear for his life and is constantly under stress as she calls me and texts to harass him. 

Nyakuedzwa confirmed the matter when contacted for comment.

Nyakuendzwa told NewsDay Zimbabwe that the matter is no longer going to court.

More: NewsDay Zimbabwe