By A Correspondent- A security guard employed by Guard Alert in Bindura yesterday shot and killed himself at a CBZ Bank branch in the farming town.

The guard, Leopard Kamuzondo, was allegedly facing financial problems, according to some of his friends.

“He was always complaining about lack of money, but I never thought he would kill himself in such a manner,” said one of his friends who declined to be named. When NewsDay arrived at the scene, Kamuzondo’s body was lying face down at the bank’s backyard.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe could neither confirm nor deny the incident yesterday.

Tinashe Sambiri|Unruly Zanu PF supporters disrupted the funeral of senior Citizens’ Coalition For Change member, Maria Chogugudza in Chiweshe at the weekend.

The rowdy Zanu PF members barred mourners from wearing yellow regalia.

Citizens’ Coalition For Change vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala strongly condemned Zanu PF hooliganism:

“This is at the funeral of the icon of the democratic struggle Maria Chogugudza. The funeral was highjacked by desperate ZANU PF pple who banned mourners from wearing our Yellow Revolution T-Shirts.

This led 2 the abandonment of going to her final resting place in Chiweshe.”

This is at the funeral of the icon of the democratic struggle Maria Chogugudza. The funeral was highjacked by desperate ZANU PF pple who banned mouners from wearing our Yellow Revolution T-Shirts.

This led 2 the abandonment of going to her final resting place in Chiweshe. pic.twitter.com/vFCvniC8d5

— HON Job Wiwa Sikhala (@JobSikhala1) February 5, 2022

By A Correspondent-The search for the missing body parts of a 23-year-old Silobela man who was mauled by a crocodile while attempting to cross a flooded Gweru River continues almost a week after the incident happened.

To date, only the bottom parts of the man’s body were discovered.

According to Silobela Legislator, Mthokozisi Manoki-Mpofu, the community is searching for the remains in order to give the man a decent burial.

“It is true there was a man who was attacked by a crocodile along the Gweru River sometime last week. I am not sure yet what he was doing but I am told he was trying to cross the river.

“So far I hear they have only found the bottom part of the body which has since been taken to the mortuary. The search continues as the people try to find the crocodile with the hope of finding more body parts,” said Hon Manoki-Mpofu.

Acting Kwekwe District Civil Protection Unit (CPU) chairperson, Mr Clemence Muduma said a taskforce had been put in place to try and find the remains.

“We have come up with a taskforce including the Zibagwe Rural District Council, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority, (ZimParks) and the police and we continue hunting for the crocodile so that we can retrieve the remaining body parts so that the person can get a decent burial.

“We continue urging the public to avoid crossing flooded rivers or to play near flooded rivers and dams given the heavy rains that we are receiving as a country. There are so many dangers associated with these heavy rains and we should avoid unnecessary loss of life,” said Mr Muduma.

By A Correspondent- Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side Bulawayo Chiefs Football Club has signed a kit-sponsored deal with Moors World of Sport (MWOS).

MWOS will be Chiefs’ kit principal kit sponsor, through the club’s Amakhosi Wear, for the next 12 months with the option to extend for the coming years. The club said in a statement:

We are pleased to announce that we have entered into an agreement with Moors World of Sport (MWOS) to receive various forms of assistance during the course of the year, with the option to extend for the coming years.

The first of that agreement is to get assistance for us to be able to kit the team for the season through our Amakhosi Wear brand.

Through this arrangement, we are guaranteed to be able to churn out new kits for each season.

Mwos comes in to help us drive forward a vision of professionalism and success in football management and existence as a football club.

This arrangement will see us gradually fully equip and or dress our teams from the development side to the senior team as well as making sure that with time our fans across the globe would be able to access our Replicas.

Through this understanding, we are pleased to reveal our 2022 kits which are our 2022 Home, Away and 3rd Kit.

This relationship goes beyond financial funding, as we believe this partnership can play a great role in helping the growth and development of Bulawayo Chiefs Fc and the football in general, Mwos will come in to ensure gradually growth of the team by picking out other areas of need in our day to day business including taking care of the kits and regalia.

By- Helicopters, boat cruises, expensive champagne, and endless parties have been the theme of their bash in Cape Town.

The cost of the mega party, which has been rocking the Mother City, is still being worked out but, not many will be surprised if more than US$200 000 was invested in the huge bash.

Harare businesswoman, and the late Ginus Kadungure’s girlfriend, Zodwa Mkandla, who is part of the capital’s social scene, has been celebrating her Golden Jubilee and chose Cape Town as the setting for the big bash.
They are the second group of Zimbabweans to invade the Mother City, in the past few weeks, for grand celebrations after a group of car dealers turned heads in Cape Town with the birthday party for one of them, known as “Boss Archie.”
This time, it was the ‘‘Rich Cousins’’ who were in town for the extravagant celebrations to mark the 50th birthday of Mkandla, who is also known as “Zozo.”
Zozo is the leader of the ‘‘Rich Cousins,’’ a group of individuals who include Thandie Makuyana, Mitchell Kawome, Belinda Murawo, Gina Duri, Lisa Maropafadzo, Danya Kabwebwe, Marvelous Gumise, Chipo’s Closet, Nobunkosi Ndlovu and Martha Mudzvova. They have pledged to build a school as their contribution to the ‘‘Zodwa’s 50 for 50 Foundation.’’
Mkandla and her friends painted the ‘‘Mother City’’ green with their strict dress code themed 50 shades of green for the ladies and black tuxedo for the gents.
The glamorous event was held at Cavalli Wine Estate and the birthday girl arrived in a chopper showing off the stunning Cape Town scenery with the Table Mountain in the background.
Mkandla launched her ‘‘Zodwa’s 50 for 50 Foundation’’ last Wednesday.
Two weeks ago, a group of Harare car dealers invaded Cape Town for a five-day birthday bash of booze, boat cruises and non-stop music.
The US$100 000 party saw the birthday boy being entertained by South African artist, DJ Tira, at a joint in the Mother City.
The guys who graced the birthday bash included local rapper Stunner. H Metro

By- The trial of Marry Mubaiwa on allegations of assaulting their former family maid has been postponed to 22 February 2022.

Marry’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa asked for the postponement of the trial as she was engaged at the High Court.

The State led by Mr George Manokore and Mrs Netsai Mushayabasa consented to the application for postponement.
Three State witnesses were today expected to testify in the matter.

By- A self-styled prophet was arrested recently in the Chief Musikavanhu area after he allegedly opened fire on a 46-year-old man as he accused him of stealing his goats.

The incident happened in Chidzvururwi Village in Chief Musikavanhu’s area. Villagers and members of the apostolic sect who were present were left in shock.

The self-proclaimed prophet, Bond Junior Gumira Machiya (28), who is from Harare, shot his victim once on the left shoulder.

It is alleged Machaya shot Phineas Muumbe shortly after he had given him (the complainant), US$100 for unknown reasons.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), acting spokesperson in Manicaland Province Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident. He said:

Machiya who is a Harare-based prophet of an apostolic sect and Muumbe are neighbours and every time Machiya visits his rural home, he would dish out groceries as well as money to his followers.

On this occasion, Machiya assaulted one of the congregants from Harare following a dispute over the church’s leadership.

Muumbe heard screams coming from Machiya’s house and went there to investigate what was happening.

He found Machiya armed with a pistol pointed to the ground. Machiya fired a single shot. He then gave Muumbe US$100 before accusing him of stealing his goats.

He then pointed the firearm at Muumbe and shot him once on the left shoulder.

Muumbe was assisted by Nonsima Mujere who went on to report the matter to the police.

He was rushed to St Peter’s Mission Hospital where he was admitted.

Machiya was arrested.

More: The Manica Post

By-A family in Nyanga had to forgo sadza for about two years as a mysterious invisible hand has been seizing cooking sticks from them whenever they try to prepare a meal that requires the utensil.

Josphat Matsidza of Tombo Village which falls under Chief Saunyama’s area said that his family members have left him, accusing him of causing all the problems.

It is alleged that the Matsidza’s woes started after he stole a black satchel from a fellow villager, Collins Choto, during one of Acting Chief Saunyama’s court sessions in 2018.

The bag reportedly contained two stones that Matsidza allegedly thought were pieces of gold.

It however emerged that the pebbles were ritual stones that were picked from where Choto’s father died during the war of independence.

It was alleged that Senior Choto’s remains were recovered on Mapako Mountain and that he had instructed his son (Collins) to collect the two stones and place them on his grave.

Matsidza recently confessed to taking Choto’s bag, which he returned to its rightful owner through Acting Chief Saunyama.

Narrating his ordeal at Acting Chief Saunyama’s court, where Choto was also present, Matsidza said he almost lost his sight. He said:

My wife deserted me after the mysterious hand started grabbing the cooking stick from her hand every time she tried to make a meal.

The mysterious hand does not want anyone to prepare a meal with a spoon or wooden cooking stick.

It just grabs the utensil from you and takes over the cooking. It is scary.

After cooking the food, the hand picks the lid and places it on the pot. No one has the guts to open that pot and dish up.

At first, we would go to our neighbours and extended family’s homesteads to eat, but it just got worse.

He pleaded with the court to help him in resolving the issue saying he is surviving on rice as he can prepare it without stirring the pot.

Matsidza said he did not steal the bag but took it thinking it was his since his bag was similar to Choto’s.

He said he regrets not returning the bag to the court after realising that it did not belong to him.

Choto said they were yet to rebury his father as they could not do so without the stones. He said:

Those stones were supposed to be placed on my father’s grave. We had not yet re-buried him then, and we later had to do so without those stones.

I do not know whether this mysterious hand belongs to my late father or not. All l can do is take the stones to my father’s grave and place them there as planned.

We will wait to see whether Matsidza’s problems will persist.

Acting Chief Saunyama advised the two families to seek spiritual help to ascertain whether the strange happenings were linked to the bag or not.

The matter was adjourned to 11 February.

More: The Manica Post

By- The dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) has produced a report that shows that Zanu PF had a 45% chance of winning the 2023 elections.

NewsHawks report that senior Zanu PF officials were now anxious after the report, suggesting that President Emmerson Mnangagwa would lose the presidential pols to CCC President Nelson Chamisa.

Zanu PF supporters are said to be unhappy over the outcome of internal elections held at the end of 2021 and the Government’s failure to deliver after the 2017 military coup.

Last year, the ruling party conducted a restructuring exercise that culminated in provincial elections in December. However, losing candidates complained of massive rigging during the polls.

The numbers that were reflected after the restructuring exercise could have been inflated by party officials, the report revealed.

Zanu PF has begun the verification of its structures again due to the threat posed by the Citizens’ Convergence for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa.

Harare provincial political commissar Kudakwashe Damson confirmed to The NewsHawks that they were verifying the structures again. He said:

The current executive verification is part of by-elections preparations; we are doing executive verification for all structures.

We know executive members from the cell to province can win us elections so we just want to know if the structures are genuine.

We also want to make sure that all the executive members are registered to vote because this will help us to win elections.

-NewsHawks

By- A report by the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) has revealed that Zanu PF was restructuring because of the recent emergency of Nelson Chamisa’s political grouping.

The report said Zanu PF had a 45% chance of winning the 2023 elections and needed restructuring if it wanted to regain ground.

NewsHawks report that senior Zanu PF officials were now anxious after the report, suggesting that President Emmerson Mnangagwa would lose the presidential pols to CCC President Nelson Chamisa.

Zanu PF supporters are said to be unhappy over the outcome of internal elections held at the end of 2021 and the Government’s failure to deliver after the 2017 military coup.

Last year, the ruling party conducted a restructuring exercise that culminated in provincial elections in December. However, losing candidates complained of massive rigging during the polls.

The numbers that were reflected after the restructuring exercise could have been inflated by party officials, the report revealed.

Zanu PF has begun the verification of its structures again due to the threat posed by the Citizens’ Convergence for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa.

Harare provincial political commissar Kudakwashe Damson confirmed to The NewsHawks that they were verifying the structures again. He said:

The current executive verification is part of by-elections preparations; we are doing executive verification for all structures.

We know executive members from the cell to province can win us elections so we just want to know if the structures are genuine.

We also want to make sure that all the executive members are registered to vote because this will help us to win elections.

-NewsHawks

By- A internal report by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) has predicted the defeat of Zanu PF in the next year’s elections.

NewsHawks report that senior Zanu PF officials were now anxious after the report, which said the ruling party had a 45% probability of winning the 2023 elections.

Zanu PF supporters are said to be unhappy over the outcome of internal elections held at the end of 2021 and the Government’s failure to deliver after the 2017 military coup.

Last year, the ruling party conducted a restructuring exercise that culminated in provincial elections in December. However, losing candidates complained of massive rigging during the polls.

The numbers that were reflected after the restructuring exercise could have been inflated by party officials, the report revealed.

Zanu PF has begun the verification of its structures again due to the threat posed by the Citizens’ Convergence for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa.

Harare provincial political commissar Kudakwashe Damson confirmed to The NewsHawks that they were verifying the structures again. He said:

The current executive verification is part of by-elections preparations; we are doing executive verification for all structures.

We know executive members from the cell to province can win us elections so we just want to know if the structures are genuine.

We also want to make sure that all the executive members are registered to vote because this will help us to win elections.

-NewsHawks

Tinashe Sambiri|The dreaded Central Intelligence Organization has released a report indicating that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s support is dwindling.

Top intelligence sources have revealed Mr Mnangagwa is losing sleep over the report.

The report reveals that Mr Mnangagwa will lose the 2023 Presidential Election to President Nelson Chamisa.

“Zimbabwe’s state security agency, Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) says in an internal secret report as things stand Zanu PF may lose the crucial 2023 general elections to Nelson Chamisa’s Citizens Coaliton for Change with its popularity rating down to 45% from above 60%,” said The NewsHawks in a report.

Citizens’ Coalition for Change – Montreal also wrote on Twitter:
“A top secret CIO report to JOC has it that if elections are held today
@nelsonchamisa
will defeat
@edmnangagwa
by over 64%.The report mentioned,ED has to find a quick fix to the economy & government workers salaries if he is to win back the voters_

Does ED have any solutions?”

Citizens’ Coalition for Change has condemned the persecution of its members by the Zanu PF regime in Kwekwe:
“ALERT Chairperson Makombe has been arrested for doing a road show in Gweru which brought the city to a halt. He is detained with 3 other CCC members.”

By A Correspondent– Finance minister Mthuli Ncube has ruled out a return to dollarisation, as he maintained that huge pockets of the market required the free falling domestic unit.

In an interview with Standardbusiness after attending an event to relist Tanganda Tea Company on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange last week, Ncube said companies required local dollars to buy foreign currency on the forex auction system.

He said significant pockets of the economy were still paying taxes in Zimbabwe dollars, making it important to maintain the local unit to trade along with the United States dollar.

The Finance minister spoke amid a groundswell of anger across markets that have seen unsettled by the pace of decimation of the local unit against the US dollar.

He said instead of decommissioning the currency for the second time in a decade, he was working around the clock to stabilise the exchange rate.

“We are dealing with issues about market design in terms of strengthening the auction, fine tuning it and getting rid of the backlog,” Ncube said.

“Also, Treasury, every week  puts into the market about US$15 million so all of that, in my view will go a long way in achieving a stable domestic currency.”

The Zimbabwe dollar has retreated significantly on the parallel market, depreciating from about US$1:$120 in January last year to about US$1:$230 currently.

The bloodbath has also been significant on the foreign currency auction system, where it is trading at US$1:$116,65 this week, from US$1:$108,66 on January 1, 2022.

Zimbabwe dollarised in 2009 after the currency collapsed under 500 billion percent inflation in December 2008.

Ncube reintroduced the Zimbabwe dollar as the main medium of exchange in 2019, but it has had little respite since its return, triggering recent calls across markets for re-dollarisation.

But even if government delays official re-dollarisation, significant sections of the economy are already trading in United States dollars, and experts see the trend continuing in the coming months.

Last week, bank workers became the latest of a growing list of workers demanding United States dollar salaries.

“The current system is just right for Zimbabwe as we transition through this economic reform agenda,” Ncube told Standardbusiness.

“At the moment, we do need both currencies — the hard currency and the soft currency.

“We are acutely aware that some agents try to attract US dollars to themselves, but some also need Zimbabwe dollars.

“You need Zimbabwe dollars to go to the auction.

“There is also demand for Zimbabwe dollars.

“If you look at government taxes, for example, 70% of government taxes are largely in Zimbabwe dollars. Our expenditure follows a similar pattern,” the minister added.

He said most bank deposits were in Zimbabwe dollars, hence  the need to keep the local currency.

“The issue has just been the price discovery process and we have been definitely fine tuning our designing of the exchange rate system so that we can achieve stability,” Ncube said.

“But, we will continue with this system for the foreseeable future.”

However, uncertainty mounted over the effects of a volatile currency last week, with the United States Agency for International Development saying that the prices of goods and basic services had rocketed beyond the reach of many.

Unicef reported last week that 2,4 million people, mostly in urban areas, became food insecure at the end of last year owing to the currency depreciation and high inflation.

However, Ncube told Standardbusiness that the economy was growing.

“Treasury and the central bank are doing a lot to make sure we attain stability in our currency and general macroeconomic environment,” he said.

“First order of business is fiscal stability, just making sure that the government finances balance and that it does not contribute to instability by forcing the central bank to print money or indeed issue excessive Treasury Bills.

“That is the first order of business and we are doing everything to make sure that everything balances.

“On the monetary front, the central bank is instituting monetary targeting, targeting what we call reserve money at 10% and below in terms of growth per quarter, that is a good target.

“That target is consistent with us achieving lower double-digit inflation by year end.

“On the external side, because you need that front as well, we are promoting exports making sure that they are growing.

“We also have healthy remittances flowing through so if you look at it, the currency account is positive and is in surplus.

“So those are three fundamental pillars for a strong economy.

“The economy is growing,” he added.

In a statement released on Friday,  Ncube said privately held foreign currency reserves in Zimbabwean banks had grown to over US$2 billion from just US$300 million in 2018.

He said official reserves also increased to US$1,2 billion from less than US$100 million, which includes the US$960 million equivalent in special drawing rights availed by the International Monetary Fund to Zimbabwe.

“All mining royalties are now payable in Zimbabwe dollars up-to a limit of 50% of royalties due;

“b) All duties and taxes on the importation of designated motor vehicles are now payable in Zimbabwe dollars again up-to a limit of 50% of duties and taxes payable;

“c) All domestic taxes due from exporters on their export receipts are now payable in both foreign and local currency in direct proportion to the approved export retention levels.

“As an example, an exporter who receives foreign currency of say US$1 000 at a 40% surrender ration (60% retention) will pay taxes on the 40% in Zimbabwe dollars and the 60% in foreign currency,” the statement added.

By A Correspondent- A family in Nyanga had to forgo sadza for about two years as a mysterious invisible hand has been seizing cooking sticks from them whenever they try to prepare a meal that requires the utensil.

Josphat Matsidza of Tombo Village which falls under Chief Saunyama’s area said that his family members have left him, accusing him of causing all the problems.

It is alleged that the Matsidza’s woes started after he stole a black satchel from a fellow villager, Collins Choto, during one of Acting Chief Saunyama’s court sessions in 2018.

The bag reportedly contained two stones that Matsidza allegedly thought were pieces of gold.

It however emerged that the pebbles were ritual stones that were picked from where Choto’s father died during the war of independence.

It was alleged that Senior Choto’s remains were recovered on Mapako Mountain and that he had instructed his son (Collins) to collect the two stones and place them on his grave.

Matsidza recently confessed to taking Choto’s bag, which he returned to its rightful owner through Acting Chief Saunyama.

Narrating his ordeal at Acting Chief Saunyama’s court, where Choto was also present, Matsidza said he almost lost his sight. He said:

My wife deserted me after the mysterious hand started grabbing the cooking stick from her hand every time she tried to make a meal.

The mysterious hand does not want anyone to prepare a meal with a spoon or wooden cooking stick.

It just grabs the utensil from you and takes over the cooking. It is scary.

After cooking the food, the hand picks the lid and places it on the pot. No one has the guts to open that pot and dish up.

At first, we would go to our neighbours and extended family’s homesteads to eat, but it just got worse.

He pleaded with the court to help him in resolving the issue saying he is surviving on rice as he can prepare it without stirring the pot.

Matsidza said he did not steal the bag but took it thinking it was his since his bag was similar to Choto’s.

He said he regrets not returning the bag to the court after realising that it did not belong to him.

Choto said they were yet to rebury his father as they could not do so without the stones. He said:

Those stones were supposed to be placed on my father’s grave. We had not yet re-buried him then, and we later had to do so without those stones.

I do not know whether this mysterious hand belongs to my late father or not. All l can do is take the stones to my father’s grave and place them there as planned.

We will wait to see whether Matsidza’s problems will persist.

Acting Chief Saunyama advised the two families to seek spiritual help to ascertain whether the strange happenings were linked to the bag or not.

The matter was adjourned to 11 February.-manicapost

By A Correspondent- Senior ZANU PF officials are reportedly anxious after a recent security report showed that the ruling party had a 45% probability of winning the 2023 elections.

ZANU PF supporters are said to be unhappy over the outcome of internal elections held at the end of 2021 and the Government’s failure to deliver after the 2017 military coup.

Last year, the ruling party conducted a restructuring exercise that culminated in provincial elections in December. However, losing candidates complained of massive rigging during the polls.

The numbers that were reflected after the restructuring exercise could have been inflated by party officials, the report revealed.

ZANU PF has begun the verification of its structures again due to the threat posed by the Citizens’ Convergence for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa.

Harare provincial political commissar Kudakwashe Damson confirmed to The NewsHawks that they were verifying the structures again. He said:

The current executive verification is part of by-elections preparations; we are doing executive verification for all structures.

We know executive members from the cell to province can win us elections so we just want to know if the structures are genuine.

We also want to make sure that all the executive members are registered to vote because this will help us to win elections.

Sources said that ZANU PF bigwigs are worried after the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) report indicated that the ruling party is headed for defeat in next year’s general elections. Said a source:

The party is being advised to find ways to delay the 2023 elections because according to a recent security report, ZANU PF has a 45% chance of winning.

There is serious discord on the ground, especially in provinces such as Mashonaland East, West, Central and Masvingo because provincial elections there did not go well.

People have made it clear that they will vote with the opposition if the party does not address their grievances which include imposed leaders.

HRDs Alert
7 February 2022

THREE pupils at Gokomere High School are scheduled to stand trial on Monday 7 February 2022 at Masvingo Magistrates Court answering to charges of committing public violence for allegedly protesting against poor diet and learning conditions last year.

The three pupils were recently summoned to appear at Masvingo Magistrates Court to answer to charges of committing public violence as defined in Section 36(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The three pupils are part of 40 Gokomere High School students, who were left nursing some injuries when they were severely assaulted by some Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers who arrested them on Sunday 7 November 2021 and on Monday 8 November 2021 after they were accused of staging a demonstration at the school against unsuitable
learning conditions.

The pupils spent time detained at Masvingo Rural Police Station and were only released on Monday 8 November 2021 following representations made by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who emphasised the need to engage the students’ parents or guardians to the Officer-In-Charge of Masvingo Rural Police Station rather than keeping them in detention.

Last year, Mureri protested against the conduct of police officers who arrested and assaulted the pupils and left them in bad shape.

Mureri asked ZRP officers to probe the brutal assault of the pupils and furnish him with the names of law enforcement agents who ill-treated the students.

But in response, the Officer Commanding Masvingo Province only identified as Assistant Commissioner Mbengwa, told Mureri that the pupils were injured because they were trying to evade arrest and that they were very violent.

Mbengwa stated that ZRP officers were deployed to quell a disturbance and said video evidence and pictures handed over to law enforcement agents by Mureri is inadmissible as they are from an uknown source and do not reveal the identity of any complainant.

HRDs Alert
4 February 2022

THIRTY-NINE veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation war on Friday 4 February 2022 pleaded not guilty to charges of promoting public violence as their trial for allegedly singing “Chimurenga” songs commenced before Harare Magistrate Barbra Mateko.

The liberation war veterans are on trial after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on 26 October 2021 in central Harare and charged with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry as defined in Section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors claim that the war veterans gathered at Africa Unity Square singing “Chimurenga songs” with the intention to promote pubic violence or breaches of peace or realising that there was a real risk or possibility of forcibly disturbing the peace, security or order of the public.

The war veterans, prosecutors charged, intended to handover a petition to Parliament and at Munhumutapa Building, which houses President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s offices outlining their grievances but were told to only allow five people to do so but reportedly refused and insisted that they all wanted to present as a group.

The prosecutors claimed that the war veterans refused to heed an order issued by ZRP officers to disperse and started singing “revolutionary songs” and thereby disturbing the peace and movement of pedestrians and some vehicles.

After pleading not guilty at the commencement of their trial, the war veterans filed an application excepting to the charges.

In the application, the war veterans’ lawyers Paidamoyo Saurombe, Idirashe Chikomba and Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, asked Magistrate Mateko to uphold their application for exception and acquit the former liberation war fighters.

Saurombe, Chikomba and Chinopfukutwa argued that the charge as set out in the charge sheet and State outline is defective as it does not disclose an offence and also lacks sufficient detail and particularity to inform the war veterans of the case they have to meet.

They also argued that it is not clear from the charge what is meant by the phrase “Chimurenga song” as to whether it refers to the music coined and played by the musician Thomas Mapfumo or to the songs layed during the war of liberation.

The human rights lawyers stated that whatever the phrase “Chimurenga songs” means does not suffice to disclose an offence in terms of Section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and that Chimurenga songs, in one form or another, are routinely sung and played at national events and during national holidays while people
are gathered hence that on its own does and cannot constitute an offence.

In addition, the lawyers stated that the charge and State outline did not specify the nature and particular lyrics of the Chimurenga songs which the war veterans were allegedly singing which would have created an intention on their part to forcibly disturb the peace, security or order of the public hence gathering and singing Chimurenga songs on its own does not constitute an offence.

The war veterans return to court on 28 February 2022 when Magistrate Mateko will hand down her ruling on the application for exception.

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF national political commissar, Mike Bimha, has been caught up in the deadly factional firestorm raging in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Midlands backyard amid reports he received a US$4 000 cash inducement from one of the rival camps to alter results of provincial elections held last December.

The bribery claim was immediately dismissed as “rubbish and nonsense” by Midlands provincial chairman Larry Mavhima who said Bimha would was a “reputable guy of means”.

“That is hogwash and bull sh*t. That is very ridiculous and weak,” Mavhima told NewZimbabwe.com

“I cannot even find a word to describe such kind of rubbish and nonsense. The NPC (national political commissar) is a reputable guy of means. We don’t need to buy anybody at all, except to get the truth and truth will set us free, the truth will make voters happy,” Mavima told NewZimbabwe.com in an interview.

However, Multiple sources from the province said Bimha was given the money during a meeting between him and a delegation led by Mavhima.

The meeting reportedly took place at the Zanu-PF national headquarters in Harare on January 27. Among the delegates were former cabinet minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Shurugwi North legislator Robsoin Nyathi.

It is said Mavhima and company want Bimha to expunge election results for Shurugwi districts because of anomalies that characterised the provincial polls on in December.

Rivals accuse Bimha of siding with a camp reportedly fronted by provincial heavyweight Joram Gumbo. Gumbo is allegedly diametrically opposed to rival group led by Local Government minister July Moyo.

The two are engaged in a bitter wrangle over who should be considered the provincial godfather and camps have ensembled around them.

Sources said Mavima on January 27 travelled to the Zanu-PF headquarters in Harare, where he met with Bimha and handed over the cash.

Mavima, who doubles up as Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, is reportedly working with former politburo member Mumbengegwi, former provincial chairman Daniel Mackenzie Ncube and Nyathi to alter the set-up of the newly installed provincial coordinating committee (PCC) which sources claim is dominated by July Moyo’s loyalists.

They are reportedly particularly targeting Shurugwi district.

Although efforts to get comment from Bimha were fruitless, Mavima confirmed getting wind of the alleged plot, before shooting down the bribery claims.

He confirmed they met with Bimha and that they are seeking to overturn election results but said this was being done in order to rectify a misnorma.

“Why would we buy people to fake figures? Maybe those that played dirty games are ones trying to soil our names. I have my own ways and means to survive, l work and have businesses, so does the NPC. What is US$4 000? Well, they say it’s a deposit, l saw that. But that is rubbish, absolute rubbish and it doesn’t deserve comment from me, neither does it deserve comment from NPC,” he said.

Disgruntled losing Zanu-PF candidates, Mavima said, must not “take losses to such levels of being mischievous”.

He said those that rigged their way to leadership positions will be kicked out of the party at his instigation.

“We as a party will do the right thing, if somebody cheated we will follow rules, proper ways and they will be chucked out, period! We don’t need to pay anybody money to set the record straight, or getting things done properly, no. It’s very upsetting, but that is politics and that’s how things are to smear people’s names, smear my name, the NPC’s name,” he said.

Contacted for comment, Nyathi also absolved himself from any bribery attempt.

“I wish that law (Data Protection Act) is applied to deter those bent on peddling malicious claims, without authenticity, about other individuals. Surely, the level of evil among man has reached Sodom and Gomorrah proportions. This is a smear campaign, l am a responsible person and l cannot tarnish my name because of money,” Nyathi told NewZimbabwe.com.

Efforts to get comment from Mumbengegwi were unsuccessful by the time of publishing.

But sources from the rival camp insisted money exchanged hands.

“The process started with attempts to distort provincial election results. This process involved trying to rope in Ms Gwazemba-Ushewokunze who was responsible for elections supervision in the Midlands. Ms Gwazemba has since been promoted to work in Bimha’s office at the HQ in order to allow easy consolidation of the plan to force her to doctor the results, a plan she may not know how sustainable it is,” a source close to proceedings said.

“On Thursday (January 27), the money was carried to Bimha by Mavima as part of the scheme that involves former Provincial Chairperson Daniel Mckenzie Ncube. Ncube is a politically wounded soul in the province and feels must be appointed to a ministerial position soon, hence they want Lary Mavima to reward him by appointing Nyathi’s loyalists and to prepare his rise to a ministerial position,” the source said.

“The challenge that is stunning most Zanu-PF supporters in the province is the disruptive nature of their politics and a clearly choreographed act that saw bussing of people to a meeting last weekend, to cause havoc at an inter-district meeting in Shurugwi. The disruptions are used by Bimha as justification for reconfiguring the election results so that a report is made to the province as the president’s directive.”

The Midlands province has lately been hit by deep-seated factional fights that led to the recent removal of Owen “Mudha” Ncube from his position as state security minister after he defied Mnangagwa’s directive to stop involving himself in the province’s affairs.

Ncube was accused of fanning violence at Zanu-PF meetings, commandeering and intimidating senior party officials, among other charges

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has warned ratepayers that it will disconnect water supplies to defaulting residents, adding that it is owed $1,3 billion.

Last month, BCC introduced credit control measures to recover amounts owed by residents, industries, government departments and ministries.

In a notice over the weekend, Bulawayo town clerk Christopher Dube said: “The City of Bulawayo would like to advise its valued customers, ratepayers and stakeholders that we will be intensifying debt collection from the month of February 2022 through service restrictions and other measures to all residential and commercial properties whose accounts are in arrears.”

He said residents could make payment arrangements to avoid penalties.

Last year in November council revealed that its credit control policy was reaping positive results as rate payments had improved from 13% to 71% after a number of ratepayers settled their bills.

The council’s finance and development committee chairperson, councillor Tawanda Ruzive said the new measures had seen an uptick in rates payment.

Ruzive urged ratepayers to make payments every month to avoid penalties.

Bulawayo mayor, councillor Solomon Mguni last year said only 13% of the residents paid their bills in full in 2020.

By A Correspondent- Twelve Mashonaland West Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) officials arrested last year at the party’s Chinhoyi offices while holding a meeting have been acquitted.

Authorities claimed the meeting contravened Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

The 12 are part of the party’s Mashonaland West provincial administrative committee (PAC).

The officials are; provincial chairman Ralph Magunje (50), Tawanda Bvumo (47), Emmanuel Chinanzvavana (48), Edward Dzeka (45), Kuda Mandishona (45), Kudakwashe Chigumo (50), Richard Vitirinyu (40), Wilson Makanyaire (38), Abigail Usai (47), Collen Mapfumo (35), provincial spokesperson Blessing Mandava (43) and Pauline Sibanda (27).

Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki freed the dozen CCC activists following full trial.

During the lengthy trial, the 12 through their lawyer Fortune Murisi, argued they did not commit any offence and described their arrests as unlawful.

Defence argued they were attending a funeral meeting to make burial arrangements for a deceased member, and that their number was within the prescribed 30 people.

The group was facing charges of contravening the national lockdown restrictions by holding an illegal meeting, knowing that such gathering was prohibited.

The state case, led by Review Nikisi, was that on February 20, 2021 at around 1pm, the accused persons, acting in common purpose with others who are still at large, gathered at the then MDC Alliance party offices at 11048 Fairview, Mzari, Chinhoyi, to hold an illegal meeting.

The accused persons were not exempted to attend such a gathering under the Covid-19 regulations.

Police were tipped off on the gathering, leading to their arrest.

Contacted by NewZimbabwe.com over the acquittal, an ecstatic CCC provincial chairman Magunje welcomed the court’s verdict, describing it as “victory for democracy”.

He added the state’s allegations that there were more than 35 people gathered at the party office buttressed the fact that the arrests of 12 top officials was dramatised persecution.

“Assuming there were more than 30 people as alleged, did the police use black magic to arrest only the 12 provincial administrative committee members in their order of seniority,” Magunje said rhetorically.

He added: “As CCC provincial management committee we are extremely happy with the court outcome. This just goes to confirm that allegations against us were meant to stifle our political performance as the biggest opposition and government-in-waiting.

“Zanu-PF tried to stick charges under the guise of Covid-19 inorder to slow our political activism in the province, but we have been exonerated on the basis of our clear and accurate heads of arguments. The courts found no merit in our arrests, but this was just persecution.”

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) says ZANU PF has been forcing villagers to attend its meetings ahead of by-elections set to be held on 26 March this year.

In its January monthly monitoring report released on Sunday, ZPP said ZANU PF perpetrated 27% of cases of political violence that were recorded in January.

The MDC-T/MDC Alliance led by Douglas Mwonzora is said to be responsible for 1.03 % of the cases recorded. Part of the ZPP report read:

In January, ZANU PF local leaders forced villagers to attend the party’s meetings ahead of primary elections to select ZANU PF candidates to contest in the March 26 by-elections.

ZANU PF ward and district leaders used the same methods of harassment, intimidation and assault.

The party has for long abused its influence in government to manipulate aid distribution processes to deny aid to deserving beneficiaries who do not support it.

As the party drew towards the primary elections, it held several meetings in the respective wards and constituencies to mobilise those who were to choose the party’s candidates for the March 26 by-elections.

ZANU PF is also accused of using government farming inputs to buy votes, while opposition supporters were being denied the inputs.

In one of the incidents reported by ZPP, on 16 January 2021, at Siyawamwaya business centre in Murehwa North constituency, Munyaradzi Munetsi, a ZANU PF activist allegedly threatened villagers with violence if the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) won the Ward 8 council seat. The ZPP report reads:

ZANU PF once again used its coercive methods to mobilise people, and during the meetings, officials threatened attendees, especially in rural areas, that if they failed to vote for ZANU PF, they would be removed from social welfare and agricultural input lists of beneficiaries.

This happened under circumstances where those who chose not to support ZANU PF in the past had been denied agricultural input support under the government’s Pfumvudza agricultural inputs scheme.

However, ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa dismissed the ZPP report as misleading. He said:The police are there. ZPP should go and report to the police. ZPP is just pining to be in the news as persecutors of ZANU PF.

By A Correspondent- A self-styled prophet was arrested recently in the Chief Musikavanhu area after he allegedly opened fire on a 46-year-old man as he accused him of stealing his goats.

The incident happened in Chidzvururwi Village in Chief Musikavanhu’s area. Villagers and members of the apostolic sect who were present were left in shock.

The self-proclaimed prophet, Bond Junior Gumira Machiya (28), who is from Harare, shot his victim once on the left shoulder.

It is alleged Machaya shot Phineas Muumbe shortly after he had given him (the complainant), US$100 for unknown reasons.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) acting spokesperson in Manicaland Province Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident. He said:

Machiya who is a Harare-based prophet of an apostolic sect and Muumbe are neighbours and every time Machiya visits his rural home, he would dish out groceries as well as money to his followers.

On this occasion, Machiya assaulted one of the congregants from Harare following a dispute over the church’s leadership.

Muumbe heard screams coming from Machiya’s house and went there to investigate what was happening.

He found Machiya armed with a pistol pointed to the ground. Machiya fired a single shot. He then gave Muumbe US$100 before accusing him of stealing his goats.

He then pointed the firearm at Muumbe and shot him once on the left shoulder.

Muumbe was assisted by Nonsima Mujere who went on to report the matter to the police.

He was rushed to St Peter’s Mission Hospital where he was admitted.

Machiya was arrested.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has announced Liquid Petroleum Gas (LP Gas) prices for February 2022.

In a public notice this Monday, ZERA set the price of LP gas at US$2.03 and ZWL$234.15 per kilogramme.

This means that the price of gas in US dollars has fallen by US$0.02 from the January price which was pegged at US$2.05, while in Zimbabwe dollars, the price has increased from ZWL$222.32 set in January. ZERA said in the latest notice:

Operators are advised to display the prices at their retail outlets at a prominent place in clearly legible letters.

Please note that it is permissible to sell LPG at prices below the prescribed prices depending on one’s trading advantages.

The January price was a decrease from the retail price for LPG of US$2.14 per kilogramme or alternatively, ZWL$222.95 per kilogramme announced in December 2021.

This was a significant increase from the November 2021 prices which were pegged at US$2.05 per kilogramme and ZWL$$202.78 per kilogramme respectively

By A Correspondent- Three pupils at Gokomere High School are set to stand trial at Masvingo Magistrates’ Court this Monday on charges of committing public violence.

They were arrested last November for allegedly protesting against poor diet and learning conditions.

According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the three pupils were recently summoned to appear at Masvingo Magistrates Court to answer to charges of committing public violence as defined in Section 36(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The trio was part of 40 Gokomere High School students who were left nursing some injuries when they were severely assaulted by some Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers following their arrest on 7 and 8 November last year.

The ZRP accused the 40 pupils of staging a demonstration at the school against unsuitable learning conditions.

The pupils spent time detained at Masvingo Rural Police Station and were only released on 8 November 2021 after the intervention of human rights lawyers.

Last year, ZLHR lawyer Martin Mureri asked the ZRP to investigate the brutal assault of the pupils and give him the names of the police officers who ill-treated the students.

According to ZLHR, the Officer Commanding Masvingo Province only identified as Assistant Commissioner Mbengwa, told Mureri that the pupils were injured because they were trying to evade arrest and that they were very violent.

Mbengwa rejected video evidence and pictures handed over to law enforcement agents by Mureri as inadmissible.

He said the evidence was obtained from an unknown source and do not reveal the identity of any complainant

By A Correspondent- A Harare woman was so humiliated that she collapsed several times after her white wedding was stopped by the groom’s first wife in Harare on Saturday.

The groom, Everisto Mukura, who has four wives, intended to wed Anne Ntini Dube.

However, Everisto’s first wife, Sheron Chitowa, stopped the wedding after coming with her two children to the ceremony, and had their birth certificates, to prove her marriage.

Pastor Mathias Madzivanyika and his wife Mildred, who were among the guests, tried to console the bride and spoke to Sheron first before meeting Anne and Everisto.

Some of the invited guests wanted Everisto to hand a token of divorce (gupuro in Shona) to Sheron, so as to continue with the wedding ceremony.

Other guests blamed Everisto for preparing a wedding fully aware that he was attached to four other women. Said a guest:

Everisto deserves to be treated that way because he knew that he has four wives.

We have different types of marriage Acts in our country and he should have chosen one that goes with his beliefs or preferences.

A white wedding is for men who are comfortable with one wife, kwete vebarika (not polygamists).

As for Anne, she wasted our time in preparing two bridal showers when she was aware that Everisto had four wives.

The two have shamed us. They invited us to a shameful wedding.

Reverend Shirichena who was the presiding marriage officer said Everisto and Anne were not his congregants. He said:

The two are not my congregants but engaged me to officiate at their wedding.

They never said anything close to the issues that is why I asked with confidence if there was anyone among guests who had queries about the two.

By A Correspondent- Civic society organisations (CSOs) want government to withdraw the Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Bill and allow them to self-regulate to avoid external interference in their work.

Government gazetted the PVO Bill on November 5, 2021, which has been widely criticised by CSOs that say it was targeted at government critics and criminalises some of their work in defending human rights.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) January report titled The Great Gift of Active Citizens – How the PVO Bill Threatens Active Citizenship in Zimbabwe, which was released on Friday said many CSOs believed in self-regulation.

“They believe in self-regulation in order to maintain independence. The government should not have absolute power to control the operations of CSOs because this compromises independence and accountability,” ZimRights said.

“Civic engagement is not about regime change. It is about inclusive governance and economic growth. Citizen engagement can help governments to achieve improved development results in creating links between citizen engagement and improved public service delivery, public financial management, governance, social inclusion and empowerment. Communities are not passive. They are active and creative with the capacity to defend their interests.”

By A Correspondent- Two transformer thieves were shot and killed near Murombedzi Growth Point in a shoot-out with police after they failed to stop at a police checkpoint.

The incident happened on Saturday morning.

The six-member gang had vandalised a 200 kilovolt transformer at 162 Marevanani Zowa Farm in Zvimba, plunging the area into darkness.

According to a police memo, the six were spotted by the farm manager, Mr Brian Mariwa, in the early hours of Saturday while he was assessing the fields.

He noticed a gang of four in a thick bush stashing coils of copper windings in plastic sacks while a white Toyota Axio (AEP 3237) getaway vehicle with two occupants was later loaded with the sacks of copper windings.

Mr Mariwa then contacted Zvimba Police Station and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) Chegutu’s loss control department.

Mr Mariwa also mobilised villagers who confronted the gang before apprehending Lovemore Murimira of Glen View 1, Harare, while five escaped.

“On the same date at around 0900hours, Chegutu Loss Control and detectives attended the scene where they discovered that a 200 kVA had been vandalised and three coils of copper windings stolen,” reads part of the police report.

The trio of Farai Chigudu, Takudzwa Masese and Fungai Muzhuzha, all from Highfield, Harare, were shot by police at the roadblock after violently attacking the police who had stopped their car.

A digital scale, bolt cutter, pliers and seven plastic sacks with coils of copper windings were recovered from the boot of their getaway car. Mike Tatenda Chigodora of Farm 48 Zowa, Lovemore Murimira of Glen View, Fungai Muzhuzha of Highfield and Jackson Chirindira of Kambuzuma – all from Harare – were taken into custody.

They are held at Zvimba Police Station. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

In another incident Takundwa Mutize, Munyaradzi Matongo, Tawanda Magomeri – all from Logan Farm – and Forget Mashonga of Glen Norah B in Harare, were arrested on February 1 at Nyamwanga Farm in Shamva after vandalising a 200kVA transformer at Hope Dale Farm in the area.

Police recovered 136,5kg transformer windings from the bush where they had been hidden awaiting transportation.

The suspects were later interviewed, and admitted to vandalising the transformer.

 A Correspondent- A report by Farm Orphans Support Trust (Fost) has revealed that boys also suffer sexual abuse, yet it was going unreported.

The study was done in collaboration with the department of Social Development, the Zimbabwe National Council on the Welfare of Children, Family Support Trust and Simukai Child Protection programme. It was launched in December last year with the aim of understanding the nature, causes and drivers of sexual abuse and exploitation of boys.

Fost executive director Blessing Mutama told NewsDay that gender norms and masculinity prevented men and boys from reporting sexual violations against them because of the stigma associated with it.

Conducted in Bindura, Harare and Mutare districts, where Fost is working with orphans and vulnerable children, the study provided in-depth insights into social, cultural and gender-related factors influencing sexual abuse of boys.

“It also included how social norms around gender shape and influence the sexual abuse of boys; and the nature and adequacy of support available for boys who are victims of sexual violence, including what is already being done to ensure that these boys grow up in a permanent, safe and caring family, or in quality alternative care where needed,” Mutama said.

He said during the research, they found that most boys were reluctant to report sexual abuse due to stigma, while friends were likely to turn them into a laughing stock.

“Given the high unemployment rate in the country, societal pressure leads some of these boys to venture into livelihood activities where they are vulnerable to sexual exploitation,” the study noted.

For example, the study said in Bindura some boys ventured into artisanal mining, dealing in drugs and engaging in sex work in order to fend for their families.

In Mutare, some boys were said to have reported that some women took them to their homes for sex.

“They ask you to thoroughly bath, and sometimes they give you new clothes and you sleep with them.

“After that, they give you money, so what is wrong with that? We know that they are as old as our mothers but if you are a man and you are offered sex and you refuse, others will laugh at you because you will be a coward,” the study revealed.

Padare programmes officer Melisa Nyoni said COVID-19 negatively affected boys due to family discords.

“We have challenges of poverty, redundancy, peer pressure as most drivers of abuse on boys during the pandemic era,” Nyoni said.

Child Protection advocate Chinga Govhati said: “Boys are being affected by sexual violence over the years and are victims of sexual abuse.”

Young Women Christian secretary general Muchanyara Mukamuri said: “While it is widely believed that women are abused physically and sexually more than men, men often suffer emotionally silently and do not report such abuses.

“This is because societal norms play a part against crying out loud when men are being abused.”

Mukamuri said some male victims of GBV (gender-based violence) end up having mental health problems. In its recommendations, the report urged more research into sexual abuse of boys, as well as community awareness campaigns on the issue

By A Correspondent- Failure to change ownership of vehicles and smuggling of cars is proving costly for some motorists as top-of-the range vehicles recently impounded by police are now gathering dust at Harare City Council’s central stores as owners are desperately trying to provide paperwork.

Three weeks ago, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) launched a blitz that resulted in thousands of vehicles being impounded over registration, tax and licensing issues.

The impounded vehicles were not just the Honda Fit cars used to shuttle passengers in and around the city, but included luxury cars like the Toyota Land Cruiser V8, Toyota Hilux (Revo) double cab, Mercedes Benz and Ford Ranger double cabs.

Now they are gathering dust in the council yard as the owners are struggling to produce the requisite documentation.

For a vehicle to be released, relevant documentation must be provided, one has to pay about US$279, which should not be too much for someone driving the latest Toyota Land Cruiser.

But it is not that easy for some. Most of these vehicles are registered in the names of previous owners because there was no change of registered ownership as required by the law.

This is a simple process that requires taxes to be paid, and the fancier the car, the higher the taxes. So some skip.

Some vehicles were smuggled into the country and there is no paperwork to prove their legitimacy, hence they cannot be released from the yard.

On entry, customs duties have to be paid, but some people circumvent the formal entry and drive through using undesignated dust roads or sneak over a shallow river.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, warned that driving vehicles registered in the name of a previous owner hinders investigations and should end.

“The owners of most of the cars, especially top of the range, that have overstayed at central stores and other police stations countrywide, cannot be released because they are registered in the names of some people who are not available to produce some important documents.

“People are buying vehicles in Zimbabwe and the vehicles change hands several times without effecting change of ownership.

“Such cases are hindering investigations and the vehicles end up overstaying at police stations or other yards like council’s central stores in Harare.

“Even when family members die, others inherit without changing ownership and this becomes a problem in facilitating the release of vehicles impounded under operations of this nature.

“We therefore urge people to ensure vehicle ownership change is effected whenever there is a sale,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Asst Comm Nyathi said some vehicles were smuggled into the country and there is no documentation to show how they entered the country’s borders.

In some cases, Asst Comm Nyathi said, motorists are failing to raise the money required to effect the processes leading to the release of the vehicles.

In Chitungwiza, police yards are full and all the impounded cars are now being parked at Chibuku Stadium in Seke after police struck a deal with Chitungwiza Municipality.

So far police have arrested over 24 000 motorists countrywide in the on-going operation.

Last month, Harare City Council hiked tow away and storage fees, with motorists expected to pay $9 898 from $2 451 or an equivalent of US$100 at the official exchange rate of a few weeks ago to have an impounded car released and $4 949 (US$50), up from $980 (US$10), for storage per day.

The new fees were contained in a circular released by the council’s corporate and communications department.

Towing a 15-seater commuter omnibus will cost $11 878 (US$120), up from $3 268 (US$50), and an 18-seater $13 857 (US$140) up from $4 085 (US$50).

Fees outside the city centre will attract an additional charge of $990 equivalent to US$10 at official exchange rate per kilometre.

Conventional buses, lorries and articulated heavy lorries will pay a private contractor charge plus 50 percent penalty, storage and VAT.

On storage charges, commuter omnibuses will now pay $5 939 (US$50) up from $1 470 (US$15), conventional buses and lorries will now have to fork out $6 929 (70), up from $2 450 (US$25), and articulated heavy lorries $8 908 (US$90), up from $2 940 (US$30).

The city council said the fees were meant to deter people from committing parking offences, rather than generate revenue. They are set high so no one can easily afford them and so refrains from messing around. The charges in Zimbabwe dollars are payable at the equivalent official exchange rate.

Police, however, said they don’t charge storage fees on all unregistered cars that are being impounded during this on-going operation and taken to any police station countrywide.-statemedia

By-Police in Mashonaland West has gunned down two suspected Zesa cable thieves.

Farai Chigudu and Takudzwa Masese both of Highfield, Harare, were part of a six-member gang that vandalised the 200kva transformer at farm 162 Marevanani, Zowa in Mashonaland West.

They were shot dead while attempting to evade after vandalising a transformer.

The other suspects Tatenda Chigodora of Farm 48 Zowa, Lovemore Murimira, Fungai Muzhuzha and Jackson Chirindira, all from Harare were arrested and taken to ZRP Zvimba Police Station in Murombedzi.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment, but the case was recorded under RRB 4648736 at Zvimba Police Station.
According to a police internal memorandum dated February 5, 2022, which was seen by NewsDay, the thieves were spotted by Brian Mariwa, the farm manager in the early hours of Friday morning while stashing copper coils in plastic sacks.
Mariwa notified the police and mobilised the villagers to confront the gang.
The villagers apprehend Murimira, but his accomplices escaped.
When they got to a roadblock along Marevanani-Zowa Road, the suspects attacked a police officer who had stopped their car, resulting in police shooting dead the two suspects.
Police recovered a digital scale, bolt cutter, pliers and seven plastic sacks with coils of copper windings.
-Newsday

By- Australian-based Zimbabwean healthcare professional Susan Mutami has claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa abused her but did not specify how she was abused.

She said the late Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, the late Major General Retired Sibusiso Moyo with whom she was in a relationship, offered to protect her from further abuse.

Mutami who is a former lover of Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa posted on Twitter claiming that even former President, the late Robert Mugabe knew about the issue. Pindula News presents Mutami’s messages:
When I met SB Moyo I had been abused by @edmnangagwa and SB Moyo said i will protect u from today onwards. President Mugabe knew about my issue and before he passed on he even wanted me to come out in the open bt SB Moyo advised me not to as it was not safe.
When we started dating SB Moyo explained to me that he was HIV positive and I loved him regardless of his status. In 2012 SB Moyo had an operation-TB of the spine and I stood by him through it all.
He was not happy in his marriage and couldn’t divorce @matandamoyoZACC Chair) because that wld have bn his 3rd marriage and the divorce wld be costly he said. I agreed w the arrangement and wld fly to Zim every 2-3 months to be w him. I even had trouble w border security because they were wondering why my boyfriend couldn’t visit me here in Australia bt zvimwe zvanga zvisingataurike.

She added that President Mugabe even offered her counselling at the time but she declined the offer as she could not trust anyone adding “but I’m ready to talk now.”

By- Dear colleagues, fellow journalist Mary Taruvinga requires urgent surgery to remove some growth that has developed in her sinuses and drain some fluids that are building up in her left ear.

She has been battling unending headaches and earaches and has been in and out of hospital since last November.

Recently, scans showed that she has some fluids and swelling inside her head.

Doctors have recommended urgent surgery. Kindly find it in your heart to stretch the little you have.

It will go a long way to get her surgery done.

For USD contribution, get in touch with Vivian Mugarisi +263779215530
Ecocash send to ….. Mary Taruvinga +263773459043
@mariah Taruvinga

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

A Gutu family remained stuck with a devouring python for over 3 days last week as the National Parks And Wildlife failed to come remove the animal, Masvingo Mirror reports with video below…

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader President Nelson Chamisa has described Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “hotchpotch” economic policies as desperate measures calculated to confuse citizens.

President Chamisa also exposed Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s policy naivety.

“This policy hotchpotch is a disaster! We advised them to dollarise but they didn’t listen.

Trying to reinforce dedollarization by allowing some taxes & fees to be paid in ZWL using threshold defined here whilst myopically & stubbornly holding on to the USD is policy naivety.

Civil servants must be paid in USD. If government has faith in ZWL it must allow all govt fees & taxes which include toll fees and passport fees and taxes to be in ZWL simple,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader President Nelson Chamisa has described Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “hotchpotch” economic policies as desperate measures calculated to confuse citizens.

President Chamisa also exposed Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s policy naivety.

“This policy hotchpotch is a disaster! We advised them to dollarise but they didn’t listen.

Trying to reinforce dedollarization by allowing some taxes & fees to be paid in ZWL using threshold defined here whilst myopically & stubbornly holding on to the USD is policy naivety.

Civil servants must be paid in USD. If government has faith in ZWL it must allow all govt fees & taxes which include toll fees and passport fees and taxes to be in ZWL simple,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

By A Correspondent- A 23-year-old Harare woman, Esther Mugurapfuwa has been charged for her role in the rape of another woman.

It is alleged that Mugurapfuwa took the complainant to her house in Kuwadzana where her male friend was waiting for them, locked the complainant and her accomplice in a room where she was raped.

The accused was allegedly paid 10 United States dollars by her alleged accomplice after the act.

The complainant reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused but the suspected rapist is still at large.

More: ZBC News

By A Correspondent- CCCT Secretary-General Chalton Hwende has opened up on his alleged abduction.

There were reports that Hwende was on Saturday abducted by state agents in Chitungwiza.

Responding to the message, Hwende said it was a fake distress call.

“My daughter has just informed me that there is a message circulating alleging that I have been abducted. This is false l have been freely moving around constituencies in Harare monitoring voter registration. The focus is on getting 6 million votes for Nelson Chamisa,” he said.

By A Correspondent- A Harare man has appeared before the courts facing attempted murder charges after allegedly assaulting his seven-year-old son before melting plastic residue all over his body.

Austin Kapulula aged 30 was not asked to plead when he appeared in court and was remanded in custody to the 15th of this month.

The court heard that Kapulula locked his son in the house before he was forced to open the door by the police after neighbours called law enforcement agents.

The motivation behind the assault is not clear. 

The boy is currently in the Intensive Care Unit at Sally Mugabe Hospital in Harare.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Former Deputy Prime Minister, Thokozani Khupe, has announced a new slogan in which she urges members of the public not to vote for the ruling ZANU PF and opposition MDC-T led by Senator Douglas Mwonzora.

Announcing the slogan for the MDC-T faction she leads, Khupe said:

Our slogan going forward is going to be #Beat The Pot: Stop Discrimination Against Women Because Women Can’t Breathe; Don’t vote for ZANU PF, Don’t vote for Mwonzora.

By A Correspondent- A 32-year-old man from Ntabazinduna died after being assaulted after he had proposed love to a 12-year-old girl.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), which is already seized with the matter, said they have since arrested Busani Ncube (40) and Hloniphani Ndlovu (37) in connection with the murder case that occurred on the 2nd of February 2022 at Mavolontiya Village, Ntabazinduna.

The suspects tied the victim, Marvelous Nzima (32) with a rope, before taking turns to assault him with a sjambok after the victim had proposed love to Busani Ncube’s granddaughter (12).

The victim died whilst admitted at Ntabazinduna Clinic on 03/02/22.

In a different case, police in Gokwe are investigating circumstances surrounding a case of murder that occurred on 2 February 2022 at Nyandoro Village, Nembudziya.

It is reported that a 43-year-old man is suspected to have struck dead his daughter (14) and son (07) with an axe over an unknown reason.- ZRP/ Pindula News

When I passed by Bastian Mafio's place in Gutu on my way to the funeral of Nyasha Zhambe Mawere, he ran away. Nyasha was his murder victim.

I shouted at him that he will die nengozi. He thought it was a joke. Where is he nw. Dead.

U don't kill & expect pple to fold their arms.

— HON Job Wiwa Sikhala (@JobSikhala1) February 6, 2022

By A Correspondent- The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has condemned alleged politically motivated violence by ZANU PF activists targeting opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporters in Kwekwe on Friday.

Reports suggest that ZANU PF supporters assaulted the driver of the CCC candidate for Kwekwe Central, Judith Tobaiwa, and removed campaign posters from Tobaiwa’s vehicle. CiZC said in a statement:

As the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, we are concerned that this interparty violence, ahead of the March 26 by-elections, points to bloody elections in 2023.

We are disturbed that despite assurances of a new dispensation, ZANU PF has continued to use violence and coercion during elections.

CiZC has called for peace and tolerance among political parties to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

The civic organisation also urged ZANU PF to desist from terror and shock tactics during elections. It added:

We implore the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to work with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to investigate this case of political violence without fear or favour and bring the perpetrators to book.

It is disturbing that ZANU PF militia continues to act with impunity and this has been fuelling violence against opposition supporters over the years.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission ZHRC) must investigate all cases of politically motivated violence ahead of the March 26 by-elections and proffer recommendations that would lead to peace during election time.

CiZC said it is worried by ZANU PF’s penchant for violence, saying the former liberation movement is now behaving worse than the apartheid supremacist Rhodesian government.- Pindula News

President you won Presidential vote by 73.8% in 2008 but you chose to save peoples lives. You settled for National Dialogue to Confrontation and formed a GNU. Zimbabweans shall always remember YOU!!! pic.twitter.com/804usMTUPc

— Morgen Komichi-MDCt (@MKomichi) February 6, 2022

By A Correspondent- Retired army boss Lt. Gen Engelbert Rugeje sank into political oblivion following his dismissal from the position of national political commissar soon after the 2018 general elections regained clout following the taking over Masvingo province by a faction allegedly aligned to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga recently.

Rugeje has been passive and hardly given chance to address members of the party during Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meetings in Masvingo.

However, the recently held PCC at Victoria Junior School saw a rejuvenated Rugeje speaking authoritatively and stamping authority on various issues that were raised during the meeting.

The new provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa also publicly showed unwavering allegiance to Rugeje, addressing him as ‘Sir’ all the time.

Rugeje overshadowed even Lovemore Matuke, the most senior politburo member in the province, during the meeting.

“The politburo said they have endorsed Masvingo results. This means the new leadership is the one recognised now. I hear, see, receive phone calls and messages from other people suggesting there will be changes but that will never happen.

“Let us not waste time thinking the chairperson and his team will be removed and get another one. There is nothing like that,” said Rugeje, authoritatively.

The former army boss however, gave a hint that Mavhenyengwa should consider not seeking re-election after his term as he might also want to be the next chair.

“Chairman, I have congratulated you. You will lead us for the next four years. I am a very honest person so let me tell you: yours are only four years. If you want to continue then that’s another issue because I may also want to contest for the position,” Rugeje said.

“A person is given his time, have to work within the stipulated time and give others a chance. Let me reiterate that, no one is given a position for a lifetime like a Chief,” he emphasised.

Sources within Zanu PF said Rugeje had been a spent force politically but bounced back and is now powerful owing to his ties with Chiwenga.

“Rugeje is now powerful. He has been silent since he was dismissed but now has bounced back. The way Mavhenyengwa continuously addressed him as ‘Sir’ shows that he is now a power to reckon with,” said the source.

Chiwenga has lately been a regular visitor to Masvingo province. Last year he came for the national clean-up, a week before the provincial elections that were held on December 28, 2021 and on February 2, 2022 for the World Wetlands Day commemorations, a development which has been interpreted by many as a way of strengthening his grip on the province which has remained the ‘boiling pot’ of Zimbabwean politics.

Rugeje went on to warn former Provincial Political Commissar Jeppy Jaboon whom the PCC recommended for his welcome in the party against contesting for any post before the stipulated time (five years) lapsed.

“There are others who have been welcomed back into the party, we would want to follow the regulations and they cannot hold any post ahead of those who have been loyal to the party,” said Rugeje.

“The Chiwenga faction wants to consolidate its grip on the province through incorporating militant characters like Jaboon who would make the task easier. They also want to use him to fight Energy Mutodi who is eyeing Bikita South seat, threatening the incumbent Josiah Sithole,” said a party source. TellZimNews

Africa needs leaders who stand up for their people. Only when Africa stands united will our continent prosper.

Thank you Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli for todays discussion. Ethiopia has a true friend in Zimbabwe ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/35NkiNlUJr

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) February 6, 2022