By A Correspondent- The price of flour has increased by 6.5% from $112 000 to $119 000 per metric tonne thereby triggering a rise in the price of bread by 15% from $175 to $210.

In a statement on Tuesday, Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairman Tafadzwa Musarara said the new flour prices were effective from 9 January 2022.

Musarara said the increase in the price of flour was caused by the depreciating local currency against the US dollar, increases in the price of fuel, unreliable power supplies, among other factors.

He said:

The price movement has been occasioned by the upward movement rate on the auction since our last review, increase in fuel, maintenance and running costs, increases in the use of substitute\alternative sources of power due to intermittent ZESA supplies, increases in costs of labour, and increases in the price of imported blending wheat.

Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) acting director Rosemary Mpofu lamented the recent hike in the price of bread, saying the 15% hike was unjustified. She said:

We are saying that the 15% increase in bread prices is too high. At the beginning of this year, people were complaining about increases in the price of stationery, uniforms and school fees.

The three major bakers in the country, Bakers Inn, Proton and Lobels all increased bread prices, but their overheads are not the same.

Prices should show that suppliers are competing. What it means is that they are not competing and they do not care about consumers.

… Why is it that their pricing is following the black market rate when they get United States dollars at a cheaper rate?

The price of USD$1 at the black market is $210, and therefore using the RBZ exchange rates, bread should cost at least $150, yet it has gone up to $210 per loaf.

By A Correspondent- A Seke man drowned on his way to Nyatsime, ZimEye has learnt.

A close relative said on facebook:

Mourn with us because we are failing to accept this. To Unit F residents, we have lost one of our own, a brother,, friend and colleague, Prosper Chinyoka Nhandi.

He drowned on his way to his field in Nyatsime. Is this the goodbye? He was very young to die. I am in pain.

By A Correspondent- Chief Chikwaka on Wednesday testified against rape-accused Harare-based pastor Tapiwa Freddy before Harare Magistrate Gloria Takundwa.

Chief Chikwaka, an uncle of the complainant, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) presenter Rutendo Makuti, said the preacher enjoyed oral sex with his niece and also when the DJ was having her periods.

The traditional leader also alleged that T Feddy had sexual intercourse with Rutendo without her consent.

He said:

She said Freddy had accompanied her to her rural home in Chiendambuya. When they came back, the accused said he was tired and wanted to rest after arriving at Rutendo’s residence. He was then given a place to rest.

Rutendo told me when she went to the kitchen and came back to where the accused was, that was when Freddy touched her, but she rejected his advances. However, she was overpowered until they had sexual intercourse without her consent.

She also said the accused enjoyed having oral sex and also liked intercourse with her whenever she was on her menstrual periods.

Chief Chikwaka said he was surprised when his niece said he had not reported the rape to the police. He said:

I then followed up and asked her after a long time if she had reported and said “No”.

I asked why she had not reported and she said the accused was spreading stories that indicated he was proposing to her and she would accept him.

T Freddy is alleged to have threatened Rutendo, saying she will either vanish or lose her job if she reported him to the police. Said Chief Chikwaka:

Freddy was allegedly threatening Rutendo that she would disappear or be fired from work, but when he met me, he denied these allegations

By A Correspondent- A British national, Nigel Paul Byrne is seeking US$3 000 monthly maintenance from his estranged Zimbabwean spouse, Sandra Byrne, saying that he has fallen on hard times.

Nigel alleges that it was Sandra’s duty to take care of him at law.

The couple legally married under British law, the Marriage Act 1949 in 2007, but relocated to Zimbabwe where they then wedded in 2011 under the Marriages Act (Chapter 5:11).

Nigel submitted that the two registered a company, Bio Express Labs (Pvt) Ltd under his wife’s name. He claimed his wife told him that as a foreigner, he could not register a company locally.

He said he used his income from engineering work to fund the company at its formation, and that he worked as its chief executive.

In his application for maintenance, which was filed at the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday, Nigel submitted that he could no longer afford the cost of living, and was being denied access to their matrimonial home and company records.

He is seeking US$1 300 for accommodation, US$500 in rates, electricity (US$100), food (US$200), maid (US$120), medical expenses (US$400), fuel (US$100), clothing (US$150) and US$130 for water bills.

“The profits from the company are handed over directly to the respondent, thus the applicant’s only recourse is to make an application for spousal maintenance of the other spouse and has the capacity to do so,” Nigel stated.

“The applicant’s reasonably anticipated monthly expenditure on a standard no higher than that maintained while the respondent and him were living together is the sum of US$3 000.”

He also submitted that he was currently unemployed, making it difficult for him to meet day-to-day costs as he was evicted from their matrimonial home and denied access to company profits.

He said his legal practitioners advised him that he had rights to seek maintenance from his spouse.

“I have been advised by my legal practitioners of record that spouses owe each other a reciprocal duty to support each other provided there is need and ability on the part of the claimant and the responsible person respectively,” Nigel deposed.

By A Correspondent- Transport challenges have re-emerged in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city after the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) launched an operation on Saturday targeting drivers of unregistered vehicles and those without number plates.

The Police said some of the unregistered and plate-less vehicles were being used by criminals in the commission of rapes, armed robberies, among other crimes.

Residents who have been boarding private vehicles due to the acute shortage of Zimbabwe United Passengers Company (ZUPCO) buses said since the ZRP operation commenced, the transport crisis has worsened.

A student at Zimbabwe College, Sithandiwe Ndebele (22), told Chronicle that the transport crisis is affecting students as they are failing to make it to school on time.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) chairperson, Ambrose Sibindi implored the Government to avail more ZUPCO buses and kombis to address the transport crisis. Said Sibindi:

Government policy states that only ZUPCO vehicles are allowed to transport people.

But these buses and kombis are not enough, they are failing to fully take care of the transport system.

The solution to these challenges can be allowing other legal transport organisations such as Tshova Mubayiwa, BUPTA, and City Transit to operate again as they used to.

This can help reduce pressure on ZUPCO, considering the fact that some of its buses are not in good condition.

There are those vehicles you board telling yourself that I’m kind of signing a death sentence.

ZUPCO Division Operations Manager Tineyi Rwasoka said he was not aware of reports claiming that people were failing to get transport at night. He said:

ZUPCO vehicles knock off when we are sure that there are no commuters waiting to be ferried to their homes, but we do take note of the curfew time.

We are not aware that commuters are facing the challenge, we will look into the issue as soon as we can.

Meanwhile, Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Marian Chombo said:

As we acquire new buses, we distribute to each province an equitable number of buses to enable continuous travel by our passengers.

In addition to the continuous enrolment of our private players into our franchise system to augment our fleet complement, we have also introduced rail services in the major cities during peak hours to provide passenger transportation.

In the urban areas, we also augment our available fleet by utilising buses that ply the intercity routes during the day, which assist with peak hour movement of our passengers.

We encourage all to use designated pickup points for the purpose of boarding our buses.

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF was yesterday forced to postpone its primary elections from today after violence broke out in several provinces as aspiring candidates for the March 26 polls canvassed for votes.

The primary elections will now be held tomorrow.

Zanu-PF also barred several candidates from contesting in the primaries after they were linked to the skirmishes and vote-buying to secure tickets to represent the party.

The party’s recently-held provincial elections were also marred by violence and allegations of vote-rigging.

Zanu-PF political commissar Mike Bimha confirmed the postponement of the primaries which he said would now be observed by the party’s politburo and central committee members.

Provinces will provide their own polling officers.

“The party has deployed the politburo, central committee, national elections commissioner and secretariat from party headquarters to take overall charge of the conduct of both the National Assembly and local authority primaries. Provincial leadership should take instruction and guidance from the politburo members deployed to their respective provinces,” Bimha said in a statement.

Party insiders said the elections were postponed to give the party time to vet its candidates following the violent skirmishes.

The party yesterday disqualified two Kwekwe Central constituency aspiring candidates, Bishop Kandros Mugabe and Energy Ncube, for violence and vote-buying.

Ncube is related to the former State Security minister Owen Ncube, who was booted from his government post for reportedly presiding over the ruling party’s violent Midlands provincial elections.

The former minister was accused of bussing machete-wielding youths to the The Winery, a Zanu-PF property on the outskirts of the Midlands capital, where they allegedly threatened everyone at the venue who opposed the ex-Cabinet minister.

Yesterday, violent skirmishes were also recorded in Chinhoyi, where a vehicle belonging to aspiring local government candidate, Zacharia Pumhayi, was damaged by youths aligned to his rivals.

In Mashonaland East, two aspiring candidates were disqualified from contesting.

Noah Mangondo was barred, for the second time, from contesting in the Murewa South constituency. Ex-soldier Richard Mavhunga was also barred from contesting in the Marondera Central constituency.

The two were disqualified on the basis that they contested as independent candidates in the 2018 harmonised elections.

Addressing a Mashonaland East provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Marondera yesterday, provincial chairperson Daniel Garwe said disqualified candidates should approach the national headquarters for redress.

The province has three parliamentary and 10 ward seats vacant.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa referred questions to the Bimha, who was not picking calls.

By-elections will be held to fill 28 parliamentary and 105 local authority seats that fell vacant mostly after the MDC-T recalled MDC Alliance councillors and legislators, and as a result of deaths.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF Midlands Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) disqualified the nephew of under-fire former State Security Minister Owen ‘Mudha’ Ncube from contesting in the party primary election for Kwekwe Central.

The elections are slated for this Friday to select candidates who will contest in the March 26 primary elections.

The Kwekwe Central parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of Masango ‘Blackman’ Matambanadzo in 2020.

However, Wednesday, the Zanu-PF PCC met and disqualified Ncube’s nephew, Energy Ncube, and the party’s losing 2018 parliamentary candidate Kandros Mugabe.

“The provincial executive held a meeting today (Wednesday) and resolved to disqualify Kandros Mugabe and Dhala (Energy Ncube) from the race,” said a source.

He said the disqualifications were due to the violence that rocked Zanu-PF internal polls last year with both Energy Ncube and Mugabe accused of fanning the disturbances.

“The party resolved to disqualify them following episodes of violence in the run-up to the primary polls and also dividing the party,” the source said.

Energy Ncube confirmed the disqualification.

“I come to you with a very heavy heart. Asi chandoda mese muzive ndechekuti everything happens for a reason. It’s sad that I have been disqualified and so has Kandros Mugabe,” he said.

“Reasons for the disqualification will be disclosed, but let’s not lose focus.”

Mugabe was not immediately available for comment.

Zanu-PF PCC has resolved to field former Kwekwe deputy mayor, John Mapurazi, as its Kwekwe Central candidate in March.

Mapurazi is going to face off with the MDC Alliance candidate, Judy Tobaiwa, and MDC-T’s Mbekezeli Ndlovu.

Mudha was fired as minister early this month by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on charges he was behind the violence that occurred when the Midlands PCC held a meeting held in Gweru to fill up vacant executive posts in the province.

By A Correspondent- The Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM) led by Bishop Amon Madawo has been granted its application for services of the Sheriff of the High Court to evict the church’s former deputy president Cossam Chiangwa, who now leads a rival church, Apostolic Faith Mission of Zimbabwe (AFM), from a property in Westgate, Harare.

The AFM’s lawyers, Mtetwa and Nyambirai Legal Practitioners sought the services of the Sheriff of the High Court to implement the eviction of Chiangwa, and those claiming possession through him, from 696 New Ardlyn, Westgate.

On 10 November 2021, the High Court ordered Chiangwa to vacate the premises but he had stayed put, prompting AFM to seek the services of the Sheriff of the High Court. The order, dated 19 January 2022, read:

WHEREAS Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe obtained an order in the High Court of Zimbabwe on 10 November 2021 against Cossam Chiangwa of No. 6 Kremio Drive, Marlborough, Harare ordering him and those claiming possession through him to be ejected from and out of 696 New Ardlyn, Westgate, Harare at present occupied by the said Cossam Chiangwa and those claiming possession through him.

NOW therefore you are required and directed to eject the said Cossam Chiangwa and all persons claiming through him, his goods and possessions from and out of all occupation and possession whatsoever of the said ground and/ or premises, and to leave the same, to the end that the said may peacefully enter into and possess the same, and for so doing this shall be your warrant.

And return you this writ with what you have done thereupon.

By- Mavambo President and Former Finance minister Simba Makoni, has appeared before the courts facing charges of violating the Exchange Control Act.

Makoni, whose party contested in the first round of the 2008 disputed Presidential elections, was arrested for selling products, at his Power Speed Electrical Shop in Harare, above the official rate of $88.55.
The court set his trial date for February 17, and he is jointly charged with his company.
He appeared before Harare regional magistrate Stanford Mambanje.
The Exchange Control Act prohibits the selling, displaying and offering of goods or services for sale, above the official exchange rate in Zimbabwe.
It is said that on October 6 last year, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe received information that some companies were procuring foreign currency at the forex auction, and selling their products above the official exchange rate.
The Reserve Bank Exchange Control Department deployed its officers who approached a number of retail outlets.
The following day, John Mashal Chinembiri and Tanaka Lincoln Sanyamahwe, from the Reserve Bank Financial Intelligence Unit Department, visited Makoni’s shop.
Chinembiri bought 750ml of Benzine for $423,65 while Sanyamahwe purchased the same product for US$2,42.
The State alleged the two were issued with point of sale receipts reflecting a rate of $175 per US$1.
This was in contrast to the official exchange rate of $88,55 to the United States dollar, which was prevailing on October 5, 2021.
Meanwhile, Best Zone Pharmacy, represented by its director Isaac Chipako, appeared before the same court, facing the same allegations.
Chipako’s trial date was set for February 9. The court heard that Best Zone pharmacy sold Benylin cough syrup for $1260 or US$7, which was at a rate of $180 per United States dollar.
This was in contrast to the official $88.52 per United States dollar. Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.

• H Metro

By- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has refused to be involved in the fight over the MDC Alliance name between the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora and the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

This comes after Mwonzora last week wrote a letter to ZEC chairperson Priscilla Chigumba asking her to block Chamisa and his party from using the name and symbols.

Chamisa has insisted on using the MDC Alliance name in upcoming elections since it was the one his party used when he narrowly lost the presidential race to President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2018.

On Wednesday ZEC spokesperson Joyce Kazembe told NewsDay in an interview that ZEC would not interfere with disputes between political parties over names. She said:

We cannot block any party that would want to register with any name as long as the name brought is different from any other name that has already been registered with another political party.

If there are other individuals who want to block others from using certain names which are different from theirs, we won’t entertain them.

As long as the MDC acronym is used without making the name similar to the other names that have already been accepted as political party names, we can’t reject the registration.

Meanwhile, on Monday this week, a little known political party led by Thulani Gula Ndebele notified ZEC that it would also contest the by-elections as MDC Zimbabwe.

MDC Zimbabwe was registered as a political party in November 2019, according to documents that have been circulating online.

United Kingdom-based legal commentator, Alex Magaisa, warned Chamisa and his party that they could be barred from using the MDC Alliance name if Mwonzora decides to take the legal route. He said:

In the past, we have seen the nomination court accepting several names with the same acronym.

The electoral law requires a party to have a distinct symbol that does not resemble that of any other party.

What will, however, happen is, if ZEC cannot block the MDC Alliance from contesting using the MDC Alliance name, the electoral court may.

Mwonzora may challenge the use of the name at the nomination court and proceed to the electoral court, where the judgment cannot be contested.

There is no appeal and ZEC will abide by the court ruling and stop them from using the name.

More: NewsDay

By- A team of police forensic experts and fingerprint scientists have been roped in to assist in investigating the case in which four robbers recently raided a Mashwede Holdings food court and two other premises in Southlea Park, Harare.
Police yesterday said they are still hunting the gang of four armed robbers who got away with a vehicle, a Mitsubishi double cab and more than US$5 000.
The vehicle which had been parked at the premises for safe keeping was later found dumped in Nyatsime area and also near the scene was the safe containing the cash which had been robbed at Mashwede Holdings.

The scene was then attended by a team from the CID Scenes of Crime section which is responsible for evidence gathering by scientifically examining crime scenes, gathering fingerprint evidence and linking suspects to crimes that would have been committed.
According to police, the net will soon close in on the armed robbers as they have intensified investigations.
Police said the robbers, who were armed with a pistol and a rifle, first attacked a security guard who was sitting inside one of the vehicles parked at the premises before tying both his hands and legs with shoe laces before grabbing a second guard, and also tying him up with shoelaces.
The gang then went to Virtue Service Station where they used a hammer to break a metal screen to gain entry into the premises. They then ransacked a butchery and took away US$290 which was in one of the drawers inside an office before proceeding to a mini market at the premises where they stole electrical appliances.

Investigations revealed that the gang went to the third compartment which houses Chicken Mash owned by Mashwede Holdings and forcibly broke the aluminum doors with a hammer before attempting to break a safe which was containing cash, but failed.
So the gang then pushed the safe outside and loaded it on to a Mitsubishi double cab which had been parked at the premises for safe keeping. The vehicle was found dumped in Nyatsime area in Chitungwiza as investigations continue.
This was not the first time that Mashwede Holdings has been hit by armed robbers.
In 2020, armed robbers raided Mashwede Holdings and got away with over US$100 000, R42 000, $14 000 worth of fuel coupons, firearms and 20 live rounds of ammunition. The heist allegedly involved five Mashwede Holdings workers and nine robbers.
Among the five workers were two brothers related to the business owner, while two were security guards.
The five workers, Musafare Mupamhanga and Conwell Kasambarare (26), were then arrested and appeared in court where their case is still pending.
Spicer Takawira and Mupamhanga, who were wanted for committing a spate of armed robberies, housebreakings and thefts around the city, were last year arrested following a shootout with police in Glen View 7, Harare.

Police in November roped in Interpol to help in tracking down one of Zimbabwe’s most wanted armed robbery suspects, Kasambarare who is believed to be part of the famous Musa Taj Abdul gang.
He is facing a plethora of robbery and housebreaking charges. Kasambarare recently jumped bail and police have launched a massive manhunt for him.
He was re-arrested early last year on charges of committing a spate of heists countrywide, including the famous Mashwede Holdings robbery.
Kasambarare was granted bail last month but failed to turn up in court for his latest remand hearing, prompting the issuance of a warrant of arrest.

By- Zanu PF Midlands provincial chairman Larry Mavima has disqualified two Kwekwe Central constituency parliamentary by-elections aspiring candidates on violence and vote-buying allegations.

Bishop Kandros Mugabe and Energy ‘Dhala’ Ncube, who intended to stand in the impending parliamentary by-elections, were both disqualified for allegedly dragging the name of the party into disrepute.

Mugabe lost in the 2018 elections, and Ncube is the nephew of former State Security Minister Owen Ncube.

“I can confirm that the provincial executive has decided to disqualify both Energy Ncube and Kandros Mugabe for bringing the name of the party into disrepute through violence and vote buying,” said Mavima.

By- EFF President Julius Malema Wednesday approached white restaurants and demanded that the owners give South Africans employment preference ahead of foreigners.

Malema, however, said the employers should not stop employing Zimbabweans.

He made the remarks when he toured some restaurants to establish the employment ratio of South Africans versus that of foreign nationals. He told journalists after visiting restaurants in the Mall of Africa in Midrand:
We want to make an emphasis to the owners of restaurants that no-one should stop employing Zimbabweans and say the EFF said they don’t want them.
We want Zimbabweans to work in SA. It is their home. They should make no apologies about hiring Zimbabweans or any other African brother or sister. In doing so, they must be considerate that there are locals who must at all times be given preference.
Malema was initially barred from entering Kream restaurant with a manager handing a letter telling the politician that he would not be allowed inside.
He was eventually let in and commenting after the incident, he said Kream leadership apologised for their misbehaviour and blamed it on their legal department that had allegedly given the order.

Malema added that the EFF was pushing for the protection of the rights of South Africans and making sure local citizens are prioritised when it comes to employment.
He added that they are, however, not saying “our Zimbabwean, Lesotho, eSwatini and fellow African brothers and sisters should not be employed.”

Malema’s move has been condemned by political analysts who said it could incite xenophobia against foreigners.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has announced the postponement of its primary elections for the March 26 By-elections.

In a statement Wednesday, the party’s national commissar, Mike Bimha said the primaries are now on Friday.

He, however, did not state the reasons for the postponement of the elections, which were due today.

Below is Bimha’s statement:

Provinces are advised that primary elections for both House of National Assembly and Local Authorities have been postponed to take place on Friday January 21 2021.

The Party has deployed Politburo, Central Committee, National Elections Commissioners and Secretariat from Party Headquarters to take overall charge of the conduct of both the House of National Assembly and Local Authority primaries. Provincial Leadership should take instruction and guidance from the Politburo Members deployed to their respective Provinces.

Party Headquarters will assign Central Committee members to serve as Presiding Officers in the National House of Assembly primary elections. Provinces are requested to provide Polling Officers in both Parliamentary and Council elections as well as Presiding Officers in the Local Authority primaries.

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says he will never betray the late Movement for Democratic Change founding President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai’s vision.

President Chamisa also lashed out at “Lucifers” who betrayed the people’s struggle in a bid to please Zanu PF.

According to President Chamisa, fortune favours the principled.

“PRINCIPLE,HUMILITY & INTEGRITY. Fortune favours the principled.

The principled refuse to be comprised or bought to get it the easy way.Reason why I supported Dr MT to the hilt & up-to the end.

Sideshows and theatrics delay victory. It’s Luciferan to betray others!#LoyaltyisRoyalty,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|Representatives of former revolutionary party Zanu PF are unelectable due to rampant theft of State resources, corruption and violence against defenceless citizens.

This was said by MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala on Tuesday.

Zanu PF is afraid of the people’s struggle and it’s leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa has dismally dismally failed to revive the economy, according to Hon Sikhala.

He argued:
In fear of us, they are running around like headless chickens in total confusion. Lets keep them guessing and unleash the fatal blow when they are in Mars chasing wind.

We are the people and with the people. Faka pressure !!!

By elections are coming. We must teach the old people’s home party a big lesson.

Start mobilising yourselves everywhere.

House meetings street by street, village by village.

RegisterToVoteZW

Chi party chakarambwa na Robert Mugabe asati afa kuti hachivhoterwi uye chaora, iwe takarasima nezvakasvipiwa na founding member we party.

Ndokunonzi kurwara.

Endai munorutsiswa

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says he will never betray the late Movement for Democratic Change founding President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai’s vision.

President Chamisa also lashed out at “Lucifers” who betrayed the people’s struggle in a bid to please Zanu PF.

According to President Chamisa, fortune favours the principled.

“PRINCIPLE,HUMILITY & INTEGRITY. Fortune favours the principled.

The principled refuse to be comprised or bought to get it the easy way.Reason why I supported Dr MT to the hilt & up-to the end.

Sideshows and theatrics delay victory. It’s Luciferan to betray others!#LoyaltyisRoyalty,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

By-A 30-year-old Harare man has appeared in court on allegations of kidnapping a woman in the Harare Central Business District.
Jethro Mubaiwa was facing kidnapping charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Yeukai Dzuda.
He was remanded in custody to tomorrow for bail application.

The court heard that on January 11, the complainant proceeded at corner Baines Avenue and Eight Street where she then parked and sat on the passenger seat while waiting for someone.
It is alleged that Mubaiwa then arrived and found the complainant seated on the front passenger seat in the car with no one on the driver’s seat.
The court heard that Mubaiwa suddenly entered the car and took off at high speed along a road towards Avondale.
It is the State’s case that Mubaiwa then drove to Avondale Police after the complainant pleaded with him to drop her.

Upon arrival, the complainant reported the matter leading to Mubaiwa’s arrest.

-State media

By- Zanu PF Midlands provincial chairman Larry Mavima has disqualified two Kwekwe Central constituency parliamentary by-elections aspiring candidates on violence and vote-buying allegations.

Bishop Kandros Mugabe and Energy ‘Dhala’ Ncube, who intended to stand in the impending parliamentary by-elections, were both disqualified for allegedly dragging the name of the party into disrepute.

Mugabe lost in the 2018 elections, and Ncube is the nephew of former State Security Minister Owen Ncube.

“I can confirm that the provincial executive has decided to disqualify both Energy Ncube and Kandros Mugabe for bringing the name of the party into disrepute through violence and vote buying,” said Mavima.

By Court Correspondent  | Zimbabwea activist and poet, William Chinyanga has just come out court in the case in which he is charged for terrorism at the Old Bailey, London. Wed-the first day of trial and Prosecutors spent the morning into the afternoon reading and arguing the charges against him before a judge and to a 13 member jury.

From 10am, the Prosecutor elaborated on the 4 charges which border on incitement to commit and to encourage terrorism. The speeches are centered on live videos streamed between 1st and 2nd Dec 2019.

The Prosecutor said on the 1st to the 2nd Dec 2019, he live-streamed to over 7,900 followers in a mixture of Shona and English and went far beyond legitimate complaints.

At the beginning of the hearing, the Police Officer who arrested William Chinyanga walked out of court to acknowledge to Simba Chikanza that he has truly received phonecalls over the nearly 2 year period, and (while sounding out as if he has been interested in hearing further witness evidence) claimed saying he telephoned back in 2019 but there was no voice mail service to take in messages. There was confusion when he at the same time demanded that Chikanza should not be allowed to testify, saying the current interpreter is enough to give witness evidence.

Chikanza asked how possible that was for his official phone to fail to go into voicemail, something that can be proven with the network provider, and why the officer failed to send text messages.

The officer said he does not send text messages, to which Chikanza charged saying there is far more communication to the officer in the form of emails and physical visits to police stations, plus link ups with police, prosecutors, and even the Attorney General. The officer left to go back into court saying he will liaise with the Defence Barrister. An hour later, the court security said they would allow Chikanza into the court gallery to which the latter refused saying it could thereby jeopadize his ability to be a witness as stated earlier. Chikanza walked away.

The hearing is slated to run for several days.

By- Zanu PF secretary for security, Lovemore Matuke, has warned some rogue party members against disregarding the endorsement by the Politburo of the recently held provincial elections results, which elected new leadership.

“We expect party members to work in unionism in line with the party’s constitution. The constitution is our bible. Members should not defy the Politburo directive. Those newly provincial executive members were already endorsed,” said Matuke.
The call comes after reports emerged of heated disagreements at Provincial Coordinating Committees (PCCs) in some provinces.
However, Matuke said the Politburo’s decision is the supreme law of the party, so members who defy will face disciplinary action.
He urged members to adhere to President Mnangagwa’s call that regardless of the internal poll outcome, there were no losers in Zanu PF because ultimately, it is the masses who are victors.
“We want party members to cooperate with the Politburo decision, we should not create divisions within our ranks. Provincial elections were internal elections hence the party will not tolerate waywardness. Let us adhere to President Mnangagwa’s call”.
Matuke added that Zanu PF cadres are known for being disciplined and therefore are expected to toe the revolutionary party line.

By- Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko faces imprisonment after the court has said that he must now defend himself on charges that he wrongly ordered the release of two top Zinara officials from police custody.

This week, Harare regional magistrate Mr Trynos Utahwashe dismissed Mphoko’s application for discharge at the close of the state’s case.

Mphoko is charged with criminal abuse of office after he allegedly ordered the release of former acting chief executive of the Zimbabwe National Road Administration, Moses Juma, and former Zinara board member Davison Norupiri from Avondale Police Station after their arrest in 2016.

He had applied for discharge at the close of State case arguing that the State had failed to present evidence in court that warrants his conviction. The State opposed his application.

In his ruling, Mr Utahwashe ruled that Mphoko had a case to answer and must be put to his defence.
The matter is being held in camera although his immediate family members are allowed to attend the trial.
According to the State, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) received a case on May 6, 2016 in which Juma and Norupiri were being accused of fraud and criminal abuse of office.
Investigations resulted in the arrest of the two for criminal abuse of office. Warned and cautioned statements were recorded on July 12, 2016.

The two were detained at Avondale Police Station pending court appearance on July 14, 2016.
On the same day at around 6pm, Mphoko, who was then Acting President of Zimbabwe, went to Avondale Police Station where on arrival, he allegedly abused his office by ordering the immediate release of the two accused persons from police custody.
The officer-in-charge allegedly stood his ground, challenging the unlawful instruction, but eventually succumbed to pressure from the then acting President and released the two from police cells.
This was done without ZACC’s knowledge, according to the State.

On July 14, ZACC officers went to Avondale Police Station to pick up the two suspects for their court appearance, but discovered that Mphoko had ordered their release.
Mphoko is expected back in court on February 4.

The power struggles between Chief Chikwanda and the newly installed Chief Musara have erupted again.

Chief Musara, born Boniface Musara Tuesday, dragged Chief Chikwanda’s aide Moses Hwingiri for allegedly undermining his authority.

The Mirror heard that Hwingiri disrupted two funerals where he blocked Chief Musara’s representatives from delivering the latter’s speeches. Hwingwiri claimed that the area was not under Chief Musara hence Musara should not speak at the funerals.
The matter is before Masvingo Magistrate Patience Madondo and the State is represented by Ruvimbo Makoni.
The Mirror heard that villagers in the area are observing chisi (sacred day) on two different days on Wednesday or Thursday depending on which chief the villager pays allegiance to.
It is the State case that on May 23, 2021, Hwingwiri of Magaisa Village under Chief Musara caused havoc at Muchechesi Village where he attended a funeral.
The Mirror heard that Hwingwiri interrupted when it was the village head’s turn to deliver speech arguing that the area fell under Chikwanda and not Musara. He influenced mourners not to respect Musara’s jurisdiction.
In the second count Hwingwiri was at a funeral at Dzani village under Chief Musara. When it was Chief Musara’s turn to deliver his speech, he interrupted Musara’s aide, Makomo Chirume from reading the speech and ordered him to sit down.
Accused went to inform the mourners that the area falls under Chikwanda.
The speech was not read. The case was reported leading to the arrest of accused.

• Masvingo Mirror

By- Former Finance minister in the late President Robert Mugabe administration, Dr Simba Makoni, has appeared before the courts facing charges of violating the Exchange Control Act.
The court set Makoni’s trial date for February 17.
He is accused of selling products, at his Power Speed Electrical Shop in Harare, above the official rate of $88.55.
Makoni, who is jointly charged with his company, appeared before Harare regional magistrate, Stanford Mambanje.
The Exchange Control Act prohibits the selling, displaying and offering of goods or services for sale, above the official exchange rate in Zimbabwe.
It is said that on October 6 last year, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe received information that some companies were procuring foreign currency at the forex auction, and selling their products above the official exchange rate.
The Reserve Bank Exchange Control Department deployed its officers who approached a number of retail outlets.
The following day, John Mashal Chinembiri and Tanaka Lincoln Sanyamahwe, from the Reserve Bank Financial Intelligence Unit Department, visited Makoni’s shop.
Chinembiri bought 750ml of Benzine for $423,65 while Sanyamahwe purchased the same product for US$2,42.
The State alleged the two were issued with point of sale receipts reflecting a rate of $175 per US$1.
This was in contrast to the official exchange rate of $88,55 to the United States dollar, which was prevailing on October 5, 2021.
Meanwhile, Best Zone Pharmacy, represented by its director Isaac Chipako, appeared before the same court, facing the same allegations.
Chipako’s trial date was set for February 9. The court heard that Best Zone pharmacy sold Benylin cough syrup for $1260 or US$7, which was at a rate of $180 per United States dollar.
This was in contrast to the official $88.52 per United States dollar. Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.

• H Metro

By- Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), leader Julius Malema Wednesday visited restaurants in South Africa to assess the employment ratio of South Africans against that of foreign nationals.

This comes as local nationals are complaining that businesses are employing foreign nationals leaving them to languish in poverty.

Analysts view the move as a departure from Malema’s African brotherhood philosophy, which considered “fellow Africans” as equal to South African nationals.

The change in Malema’s approach to immigration issues and South African Immigration Politics follow the victory of Herman Mashaba, president of ActionSA, in some local government authorities.

Below is EFF’s statement on Malema’s tour of restaurants:

CIC Julius Malema will conduct a visit to restaurants to check the employment ratio between South African citizens and foreign nationals.
The visit will consist of an interaction between CIC Julius Malema and the management of these restaurants, to check their labour policies, staff compliment and ensure that our fellow Africans are not exploited and locals are employed to a satisfactory level.
The visit will be conducted under the following details:
Venue: Kreme Restaurant. Mall of Africa. Midrand
Time: 10:00 Date: Wednesday, 19 January 2022 (TODAY)

By- Chinese mining company Monaf Investments has given villagers in Muchesu ward 12, Binga, three months’ notice to vacate their ancestral land after it was granted a permit to extract coal in the area.

This is not the first group of Binga villagers to be ordered off their ancestral land to pave way for Chinese coal mining projects.

Last year, government flexed its muscles and ordered villagers in Dinde to relocate to allow for a similar project in their area after they had resisted.
Binga activist Mujopeni Mudimba confirmed the latest development yesterday.
“Due to economic challenges, they only did the exploration process, where sample holes were drilled in 2010 and they went back. Now under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision 2030, they were given the greenlight to carry on with their investment and they came last year in October and resumed the project. They started by drilling a four-square metre hole which measures almost 64 metres deep and this is called a shaft,” he said.
“Then the eviction starts here. There are 14 homesteads on top of the coal belt, but not under the same village head. Some are under Siamulamfu, others under Ncheme 1, some under Siabutale. The meeting was held last week on Thursday January 12, 2022 in the presence of the Monaf Investments, ZimParks [Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority], district development co-ordinator, council, the President’s Office, EMA [Environmental Management Authority] and Ministry of Health representatives.”
Mudimba said the main agenda was preparation for resettlement of those affected and they were given a three-month notice to leave the area.
“All this will be done under Phase 1, but Phase 2 will be in two to five years’ time, we will see almost half of the ward being evicted, mostly Zuka village, and this village has two schools. The purpose is to build a power plant and other projects on the site, according to Monaf,” he said.
Mudimba said villagers were not happy with the evictions although the company promised to create jobs for the youth in the area.
“Each village head in the affected area has been given a period to go and look for a good resettlement site where houses will be built for the affected people, boreholes will be drilled and installed. This was a promise from the company. Good sanitation will be a task of the health sector,” he said.
“There are divisions among the villagers. Some wanted to resist the project, but since unemployment is a major economic challenge, almost half are in support of the project.”
A villager from Muchesu said Monaf was just making empty promises so that they could leave the area.
“We have seen a lot of people suffering as a result of these resettlements. It is impossible that this company will build houses for us or create jobs here. We are just going to suffer. It’s hard to leave our land. Things are not being done according to our will. Government does what it desires with our land,” said Simoni Mudenda.
Local councillor Mathias Mwinde confirmed the development, adding that they were holding a meeting to discuss the issue.
“Some arrangements are being made to resettle villagers. We are expecting to hold a meeting and discuss the concerns of the villagers because they are not really happy about being moved,” he said.
-Newsday

By- The National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has announced the nationwide shortage of Blood Group O, saying that it is now operating with a day’s supply against growing demand as the majority of Zimbabweans are of that blood group.

More than 52 percent of Zimbabweans are in Blood Group O.
Those in that group can donate to people in blood groups A and B, but they can only be transfused with blood from those in their group.
School pupils account for more than 70 percent of blood donors and following the extended closure of schools as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, very little blood is being collected.

A pint of blood can save three lives and blood is usually needed by pregnant women during delivery, accident victims and patients requiring surgery.
A five days’ supply from a healthy blood bank is recommended at any given time and the NBSZ said it has more than seven days’ supply for Blood Group A, which is above the normal supply and could lead to expiries in the absence of increased demand.
For Blood Group B, the bank is running on about four days’ supply which is stable according to blood stocks standards and there is a shortage of Blood Group O.
NBSZ chief executive officer Ms Lucy Marowa said the institution had to adjust the frequency of donating to try and improve stocks.

“We do have a countrywide shortage of Blood Group O because it’s the most common blood group in Zimbabwe. At least 52 percent of people are Blood Group O meaning that even when we collect, the group is likely to dominate and at the same time it’s likely to run out faster compared to the others,” said Ms Marowa.
“Groups A and B can receive O blood but Group O cannot receive from any group other than O and this means we have a crisis if the situation does not improve. This means those in Group O cannot receive blood or undergo medical procedures that require blood urgently, they cannot be saved which may lead to an unnecessary loss of life.
We keep encouraging blood donors to come through and donate as often as possible and we look forward to recruiting more donors to improve our stocks.”
She added that in emergencies requiring blood, usually there is not enough time to do the matching and because group O is a universal blood type, doctors end up transfusing blood O and that gives a strain on blood group O because it moves out very quickly.
“We will also be allowing females to donate four times a year unlike in the olden days when they could donate after four months. Men on the other hand can now donate up to five times a year so that we improve.
This has been proven scientifically to be safe and we hope members of the public will come through and save lives,” said Ms Marowa.

-State media

By- Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko faces imprisonment after the court has said that he must now defend himself on charges that he wrongly ordered the release of two top Zinara officials from police custody.

This week, Harare regional magistrate Mr Trynos Utahwashe dismissed Mphoko’s application for discharge at the close of the state’s case.

Mphoko is charged with criminal abuse of office after he allegedly ordered the release of former acting chief executive of the Zimbabwe National Road Administration, Moses Juma, and former Zinara board member Davison Norupiri from Avondale Police Station after their arrest in 2016.

He had applied for discharge at the close of State case arguing that the State had failed to present evidence in court that warrants his conviction. The State opposed his application.

In his ruling, Mr Utahwashe ruled that Mphoko had a case to answer and must be put to his defence.
The matter is being held in camera although his immediate family members are allowed to attend the trial.
According to the State, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) received a case on May 6, 2016 in which Juma and Norupiri were being accused of fraud and criminal abuse of office.

-State media

By- The are fears of xenophobia in Soweto following the launch by South Africans of an operation targeting vending stalls owned by foreigners.

The destruction of vending stalls happened at the Bara Taxi Rank in Soweto on Sunday.

The hawkers have complained that a resident-driven operation put in place to evict vendors who were in the country illegally wrongfully targeted them, resulting in them losing their stock.
The operation has also affected some local citizens. One trader said her ID book was thrown away when she provided it as proof of being a South African citizen, and that she was also accused of having obtained it illegally.
On Sunday, scores of residents, under the banner of Operation Dudula, descended on the rank to remove illegal immigrants hawking there. Watch the video below for more.
While some have criticised the South African citizens for the “xenophobic” attacks, some say blame the ANC government for failing to provide basic services to the general populace.
They say the public is expressing its anger at the wrong people, “the so-called foreigners from the other parts of Africa who are the soft targets of the frustrated communities.”

-Agencies

By- Acting Chief Magistrate Mrs Faith Mushure has dismissed MDC-Alliance members Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri’s application for the quashing of charges of faking their abductions, saying she had no jurisdiction to entertain their application.

Mamombe and Chimbiri, through their lawyers Mr Alec Muchadehama and Mr Jeremiah Bamu, had applied for exception and quashing of their charges saying the State allegations did not warrant criminal charges.
After Mrs Mushure dismissed their application, the duo through their lawyer, indicated that they wanted to make an application for referral of the matter to the Constitutional Court.
They had indicated that they would file a written application on January 24, but the State led by Mr Michael Reza opposed.
Mr Reza told the court that the matter had taken too long before completion and suggested that the application be made orally on an earlier date.
“They can make oral submissions because they knew that they had intention to make this application. This case has grown old,” he said.
Mr Bamu told the court that they wanted time to allow them to get a transcript of the record.
He also told the court that there was a documentary they wanted to acquire from Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) to include in their application.
Mrs Mushure ruled that Mamombe and Chimbiri make oral submissions on January 20.
On May 13 last year at around 12.30pm, Mamombe, Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, who is on the run, went to Choppies Supermarket in Warren Park 1, Harare, where they gathered with other MDC Alliance youths.
It is said they then staged a demonstration against the recalling of their MPs from Parliament and the alleged misuse of the Covid-19 pandemic funds.
On the same day, they allegedly called their friends, family and lawyers, saying they had been arrested at a roadblock near the Exhibition Park in the capital and were taken to Harare Central Police Station.
Upon receiving the communication, their lawyer Mr Jeremiah Bamu reportedly went to the police CID Law and Order.
Mr Bamu is alleged to have approached a senior officer, saying Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova had been arrested and taken to Harare Central Police Station.
According to the State, checks were made and it was established that they were not arrested.
Social media platforms and local newspapers were awash with news that the three had been arrested, it is alleged.

By-There were tense moments last Friday when tears ran down Chief Musarurwa’s cheeks and he rubbed them off using his hands as his attempted rape trial against a girl (14) entered its second day on Friday.
Chief Musarurwa born Enos Masakwa continuously shook his head as he sat in the dock and broke down as a young brother to the complainant, a little boy gave evidence in court.
The case was postponed to January 31, 2022.
The boy said he saw the chief’s official vehicle parked at a secluded place near his parents’ home on the day that his sister was nearly raped by the traditional leader. The marathon trial also attended by The Mirror ran from 9am to around 4pm.
None of the court officials including the Provincial Magistrate Batanai Madzingira raised any issue with the incident but it became the talking point after adjournment as people hotly debated the incident.

Chief Musarurwa is facing two cases of attempted rape after he allegedly fondled the complainant’s breasts and private parts. The first case allegedly happened inside the chief’s car and the other in his rural home.
Chief Musarurwa’s lawyer Norman Mugiya pointed out during cross examination of the complainant and her witnesses that the complainant’s evidence varied and was inconsistent. He said that the statement given to the Police was different from the one given to the Probation Officer Darlington Chigweshe and the court respectively.
Chigweshe however, said that such was normal with children and in particular when they give evidence in the presence of the accused as happened in the Friday trial. He said intimidation and fear can see children changing their statements.
The complainant’s father told the court that Chief Musarurwa gave him US$10 as an apology for fondling his daughter. That evidence was dismissed by the court.
Chief Musarurwa’s secretary also gave their evidence in court.

The state was represented by Prosecutor Corence Chimbadzwa.
It took a long time for the chief to be brought to court after the case was reported.

-Masvingo Mirror

By-There were tense moments on Friday when tears ran down Chief Musarurwa’s cheeks and he rubbed them off using his hands as his attempted rape trial against a girl (14) entered its second day on Friday.
Chief Musarurwa born Enos Masakwa continuously shook his head as he sat in the dock and broke down as a young brother to the complainant, a little boy gave evidence in court.
The case was postponed to January 31, 2022.
The boy said he saw the chief’s official vehicle parked at a secluded place near his parents’ home on the day that his sister was nearly raped by the traditional leader. The marathon trial also attended by The Mirror ran from 9am to around 4pm.
None of the court officials including the Provincial Magistrate Batanai Madzingira raised any issue with the incident but it became the talking point after adjournment as people hotly debated the incident.

Chief Musarurwa is facing two cases of attempted rape after he allegedly fondled the complainant’s breasts and private parts. The first case allegedly happened inside the chief’s car and the other in his rural home.
Chief Musarurwa’s lawyer Norman Mugiya pointed out during cross examination of the complainant and her witnesses that the complainant’s evidence varied and was inconsistent. He said that the statement given to the Police was different from the one given to the Probation Officer Darlington Chigweshe and the court respectively.
Chigweshe however, said that such was normal with children and in particular when they give evidence in the presence of the accused as happened in the Friday trial. He said intimidation and fear can see children changing their statements.
The complainant’s father told the court that Chief Musarurwa gave him US$10 as an apology for fondling his daughter. That evidence was dismissed by the court.
Chief Musarurwa’s secretary also gave their evidence in court.

The state was represented by Prosecutor Corence Chimbadzwa.
It took a long time for the chief to be brought to court after the case was reported.

-Masvingo Mirror

By- Officer commanding Masvingo Province David Mahoya was Tuesday forced to descend on the venue of a Zanu PF PCC meeting at the Great Zimbabwe Univesity School of Education to stop escalating violence.

The Masvingo Provincial Co-ordinating Committee meeting chaired by a new chairman Robson Mavhenyengwa for the first time after Ezra Chadzamira was ousted just after Christmas had to be abandoned Monday as machete wielding thugs from Mashava caused havoc.

Efforts to get a comment from Mavhenyengwa were futile but The Mirror understands that the two factions, one led by Chadzamira and the other by Mavenyengwa were fighting to bring their delegates into the venue.
Chadzamira who is accused of using violence at the venue could not be reached for comment.
The meeting is supposed to elect and announce the new PCC executive following last December elections today. Each faction is fighting for a majority in the province’s most powerful structure.
Assistant Commissioner Mahoya using a large contingent of riot Police had to drag some party members out of the meeting.
Police had by 11am today removed kombis which brought machete wielding thugs into the venue.
Masvingo Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa could also not comment on the matter.
Masvingo Urban Ward 10 councillor Sengerai Manyanga stormed out of the meeting alleging that the numbers do not constitute a quorum.
-Masvingo Mirror

By-Former Zanu Pf Masvingo provincial chairman, the area’s Minister of State Ezra Chadzamira, has allegedly hired thugs and disrupted his party’s Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting.

Masvingo Mirror reports that Chamira hired machete-wielding thugs who assaulted newly elected provincial committee members forcing the postponement of the meeting.

The meeting was scheduled to start at 11 am but failed to kick off because of violence and closure of the gate to the venue by the thugs who claimed that Mavhenyengwa was trying to rig the provincial executive election.

Police officers deployed at the PCC stood with arms akimbo as the thugs ran amok.

Chadzamira did not come to venue.
Incoming secretary for science and technology Tavara Mudukuti and John Chikomo had to seek medical attention after reporting the cases at Masvingo Central.
Zanu PF Masvingo Province chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa confirmed the violence to The Mirror and said it was architected by Chadzamira’s brothers who coordinated the thugs.
The meeting had to be postponed because the thugs denied all provincial members entry into Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) school of education in the industrial area where the meeting was supposed to take place. Some elderly women sustained various degrees of injuries after they were pushed and shoved by the drunk thugs.
“It is true that machete wielding gangs from Mashava disrupted our PCC meeting. They attacked Tavara Mudukuti, John Chikomo and Kunaka. I am yet to do a follow up and check how they are doing and whether they have filed Police reports. The thugs are not party members and we do not know them.
“Three of Chadzamira’s brothers were leading the violence acts including Dennis,” said Mavhenyengwa.
Masvingo province Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa referred questions to national Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who could not be immediately reached for a comment.
Chadzamira’s close allies including his younger brother Dennis who has a pending assault case, Ron Muvenga, Energy Mutodi, Korona Manyama and Chivi RDC chairman Godfrey Mukungunugwa most of whom were ousted from the provincial committee were seen hovering with the thugs by The Mirror.
Mudukuti was attacked at around 1 pm by Bizilias Mhisha who is a younger brother to Chadzamira’s driver Julius, as he tried to enter the venue. Sources close to the matter told The Mirror that Mudukuti filed a Police report.
The thugs who were sitting in a grey kombi with registration plates AEK 2352 near the gate into venue blocked every elected member aligned to Mavhenyengwa from entering the premises.

“The thugs began drinking in the morning and Police officers watched from a distance as the thugs harassed and blocked PCC members from entering the meeting venue, sources said.
Efforts to get a comment from Chadzamira were futile as his mobile phone rang unanswered.
The Mirror also witnessed the thugs pushing an elderly woman to the concrete pavement for saying they should let elected members into the venue. She suffered bruised elbows.
Sources also said that Police did not make any arrests at the instruction of Chadzamira who is also shielding his younger brother Dennis from being arrested after severely assaulting a political opponent in Zanu PF elections on December 28, 2021 at King Mine Hall in Mashava.
Dennis’ matter was reported to Masvingo CID Law and Order under CR 96/12/21 and Police is yet to arrest him and other involved suspects. Sources told The Mirror that Chadzamira barred the officers from arresting his brother.

-Masvingo Mirror

By-There was violence Tuesday at an aborted Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting after the party’s defeated provincial and the area’s Minister of State Ezra Chadzamira had allegedly hired thugs and disrupted a meeting.

Masvingo Mirror reports that Chamira hired machete-wielding thugs who assaulted newly elected provincial committee members forcing the postponement of the meeting.

The meeting was scheduled to start at 11 am but failed to kick off because of violence and closure of the gate to the venue by the thugs who claimed that Mavhenyengwa was trying to rig the provincial executive election.

Police officers deployed at the PCC stood with arms akimbo as the thugs ran amok.

Chadzamira did not come to venue.
Incoming secretary for science and technology Tavara Mudukuti and John Chikomo had to seek medical attention after reporting the cases at Masvingo Central.
Zanu PF Masvingo Province chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa confirmed the violence to The Mirror and said it was architected by Chadzamira’s brothers who coordinated the thugs.
The meeting had to be postponed because the thugs denied all provincial members entry into Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) school of education in the industrial area where the meeting was supposed to take place. Some elderly women sustained various degrees of injuries after they were pushed and shoved by the drunk thugs.
“It is true that machete wielding gangs from Mashava disrupted our PCC meeting. They attacked Tavara Mudukuti, John Chikomo and Kunaka. I am yet to do a follow up and check how they are doing and whether they have filed Police reports. The thugs are not party members and we do not know them.
“Three of Chadzamira’s brothers were leading the violence acts including Dennis,” said Mavhenyengwa.
Masvingo province Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa referred questions to national Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who could not be immediately reached for a comment.
Chadzamira’s close allies including his younger brother Dennis who has a pending assault case, Ron Muvenga, Energy Mutodi, Korona Manyama and Chivi RDC chairman Godfrey Mukungunugwa most of whom were ousted from the provincial committee were seen hovering with the thugs by The Mirror.
Mudukuti was attacked at around 1 pm by Bizilias Mhisha who is a younger brother to Chadzamira’s driver Julius, as he tried to enter the venue. Sources close to the matter told The Mirror that Mudukuti filed a Police report.
The thugs who were sitting in a grey kombi with registration plates AEK 2352 near the gate into venue blocked every elected member aligned to Mavhenyengwa from entering the premises.

“The thugs began drinking in the morning and Police officers watched from a distance as the thugs harassed and blocked PCC members from entering the meeting venue, sources said.
Efforts to get a comment from Chadzamira were futile as his mobile phone rang unanswered.
The Mirror also witnessed the thugs pushing an elderly woman to the concrete pavement for saying they should let elected members into the venue. She suffered bruised elbows.
Sources also said that Police did not make any arrests at the instruction of Chadzamira who is also shielding his younger brother Dennis from being arrested after severely assaulting a political opponent in Zanu PF elections on December 28, 2021 at King Mine Hall in Mashava.
Dennis’ matter was reported to Masvingo CID Law and Order under CR 96/12/21 and Police is yet to arrest him and other involved suspects. Sources told The Mirror that Chadzamira barred the officers from arresting his brother.

-Masvingo Mirror

By-Defeated Zanu PF chairman for Masvingo province, and the area’s Minister of State Ezra Chadzamira allegedly hired thugs and disrupted a Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting.

Masvingo Mirror reports that Chamira hired machete-wielding thugs who assaulted newly elected provincial committee members forcing the postponement of the meeting.

The meeting was scheduled to start at 11 am but failed to kick off because of violence and closure of the gate to the venue by the thugs who claimed that Mavhenyengwa was trying to rig the provincial executive election.

Police officers deployed at the PCC stood with arms akimbo as the thugs ran amok.

Chadzamira did not come to venue.
Incoming secretary for science and technology Tavara Mudukuti and John Chikomo had to seek medical attention after reporting the cases at Masvingo Central.
Zanu PF Masvingo Province chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa confirmed the violence to The Mirror and said it was architected by Chadzamira’s brothers who coordinated the thugs.
The meeting had to be postponed because the thugs denied all provincial members entry into Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) school of education in the industrial area where the meeting was supposed to take place. Some elderly women sustained various degrees of injuries after they were pushed and shoved by the drunk thugs.
“It is true that machete wielding gangs from Mashava disrupted our PCC meeting. They attacked Tavara Mudukuti, John Chikomo and Kunaka. I am yet to do a follow up and check how they are doing and whether they have filed Police reports. The thugs are not party members and we do not know them.
“Three of Chadzamira’s brothers were leading the violence acts including Dennis,” said Mavhenyengwa.
Masvingo province Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa referred questions to national Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who could not be immediately reached for a comment.
Chadzamira’s close allies including his younger brother Dennis who has a pending assault case, Ron Muvenga, Energy Mutodi, Korona Manyama and Chivi RDC chairman Godfrey Mukungunugwa most of whom were ousted from the provincial committee were seen hovering with the thugs by The Mirror.
Mudukuti was attacked at around 1 pm by Bizilias Mhisha who is a younger brother to Chadzamira’s driver Julius, as he tried to enter the venue. Sources close to the matter told The Mirror that Mudukuti filed a Police report.
The thugs who were sitting in a grey kombi with registration plates AEK 2352 near the gate into venue blocked every elected member aligned to Mavhenyengwa from entering the premises.

“The thugs began drinking in the morning and Police officers watched from a distance as the thugs harassed and blocked PCC members from entering the meeting venue, sources said.
Efforts to get a comment from Chadzamira were futile as his mobile phone rang unanswered.
The Mirror also witnessed the thugs pushing an elderly woman to the concrete pavement for saying they should let elected members into the venue. She suffered bruised elbows.
Sources also said that Police did not make any arrests at the instruction of Chadzamira who is also shielding his younger brother Dennis from being arrested after severely assaulting a political opponent in Zanu PF elections on December 28, 2021 at King Mine Hall in Mashava.
Dennis’ matter was reported to Masvingo CID Law and Order under CR 96/12/21 and Police is yet to arrest him and other involved suspects. Sources told The Mirror that Chadzamira barred the officers from arresting his brother.

-Masvingo Mirror

By- A Bulawayo man killed his wife after she had refused to go home and wanted to continue drinking beer at a local bar.

The incident occurred on Saturday, and the suspect s since been arrested.
In Bulawayo, police said Stewart Munyapwa (32) fatally assaulted his wife Khethiwe Moyo (61) with a sjambok while on their way home in a bushy area.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed.
“Police in Bulawayo arrested Stewart Munyapwa aged 32 in connection with a case of murder which occurred at a bushy area at Trenance Suburb on January 15, 2022. The suspect fatally assaulted the victim, Khethiwe Moyo aged 61 with open hands and a sjambok while on their way home from a local bar after a drinking binge.
“An argument arose between the couple after the victim refused to go home as she wanted to go back to the bar to continue drinking,” he said.

By-One person was killed while two others were injured after a Zupco bus in Bulawayo ploughed into a crowd at TM Hyper on Monday.

The state media reports that the accident occurred just outside the government Dental Clinic, along Herbert Chitepo Street, between 10th and 11th avenues at around 5PM.

Witnesses said, the driver was speeding and tried to avoid another bus before hitting a pole. He then ran over a bus conductor and two women; one dressed in the uniform of a local chain of supermarkets and a female security guard. The female security guard died on the spot.
She was allegedly in the company of, according to witnesses, her husband, who is apparently in the same trade.
He was said to have been standing next to her on the pavement when the bus ran over her.
When a Chronicle news crew arrived at the scene, paramedics were administering first aid to the injured, while manoeuvring around the blood-stained pavement.
A red blanket covered the body of the deceased. Scores of people gathered at the scene, with many baying for the bus driver’s blood. This was after police details had taken a statement from the security guard whose wife was reportedly lying dead on the road, and he started sobbing, as reality set in that his better half was no more.
It seemed that the driver slipped away in the commotion, as he was in the bus that had ploughed into the crowd.
“This isn’t the first time that Zupco has run over people in this area. There was an old man who was run over by a bus last month. Last time it was a woman at the flyover along Luveve Road and a police woman along Khami road. Something has to be done,” said Mrs Karen Dube.
Another person who refused to be named said it was high time Government’s relevant departments thoroughly inspected all Zupco buses for safety.
Last year, a traffic police officer was crushed to death by a Zupco bus in Bulawayo along Khami Road near the flyover where the cops were manning a roadblock. The bus dragged the female cop for about 30 metres, breaking her into pieces.
-Chronicle

By A Correspondent | As the trial of the ZB Bank accused ‘gang’ some who were named in the shooting at former Detective Joseph Nemaisa’s home in December 2021, is underway, some of the loot from the ZB Bank robbery has gone missing from the strongroom, it has emerged.

The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has discovered that of the USD100,000 found inside one of the lories purchased from loot money, USD70,000 has gone missing while in police hands.

A cop surnamed, Jachi has been accused of theft.

ZACC was on Wednesday caught up in the matter investigating what is happening, which comes days after one of the dead suspects in the Nemaisa house robbery (Charles Chirara) case received military 21 gun salute honour during burial in Hurungwe.

Chirara’s family who produce bullet evidence that contradicts ex cop Nemaisa, have continued to allege that their loved one was unfairly accused. They say that Nemaisa’s claim that he shot Charles Chirara at the chest is not credible because the post mortem says he was shot at the thigh.

They also say Nemaisa’s account to the ZBC that he exchanged fire with the accused before gunning down 3 of them at his house in December, is inconsistent with his other interview with ZimEye where he said he outsmarted the gang and aimed at them unawares because it was totally dark outside, giving him perfect view of the inside of the house.

Nemaisa says the stribog-firearm he used to kill the 3 accused belongs to the gold oligarch ‘Scott’ Pedzisai Sakupwanya.

The trial continues at the Harare Magistrates Court. – MORE TO FOLLOW

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra)’s new manager at Beitbridge Border Post, Kenneth Mungati, has reportedly ordered the transfer of over 300 staff members from the border town after accusing them of corruption.

Mungati took over from Innocent Chikuni, who was transferred to Harare last year.

Sources told a local publication that Mungati had refused to work with the staff at Beitbridge accusing them of being corrupt.

NewsDay gathered that the first batch of targeted officials left on December 31, 2021 for their new workstations.

Others are expected to have left by the end of next month with their replacements arriving in corresponding batches.

“All the affected officers have been given letters of transfer and informed of their new destinations. The transfers were almost indiscriminate and some, who had just arrived at Beitbridge, had spent less than six months,” an affected Zimra official told NewsDay.

“The new manager refused to work with us because he alleged that we were corrupt. He was here recently as the assistant regional manager to Chikuni,” said a disgruntled junior officer.

Ironically, most of the officers coming to replace those leaving Beitbridge were here and they also unceremoniously left in 2016 when Mungati allegedly refused to work with them because they were also “corrupt”.

Each officer leaving Beitbridge is entitled to slightly more than a month’s salary as “disturbance” allowance to cushion them during the relocation exercise.

The salaries for customs and excise officers range from $70 000 to $80 000.

This means that government has to fork out around $48 million to fund the transfers.

Zimra spokesperson Gladman Njanji said all transfers were above board.

“The authority has been meeting its set target over the years due to the commitment and dedication of our staff, as well as an effective system of collecting revenue and facilitating trade and travel. The authority has the prerogative to make a business decision that may result in movement of staff anytime,” he said, adding that the revenue collector conducted staff transfers each year whenever it sees it fit to do so.

“Every year, the authority sets aside funds to meet the cost of the members of staff who will be transferring or rotating from one station to another in keeping up with the relevant policies, procedures, business decisions and as part of best practice of revenue administration.”

Njanji said at no time were the transferred officers labelled “corrupt”, adding that the authority had procedures to eliminate corruption.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Marry Mubaiwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife collapsed when she arrived at the Harare Magistrates Court on Monday.

The former model is on trial for using forged documents in a bid to upgrade her marriage with Chiwenga.

Chiwenga last year gave his testimony against Mubaiwa in a closed court.

The state is left with two more witnesses before it closes it’s case.

On Monday prosecutors Tendai Shonhayi, Tafara Chirambira and Michael Reza intended to tender a statement by a deceased witness Michael Louzidis but Mtetwa challenged that.

Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube will deliver his ruling this afternoon.

By A Correspondent- A 23 year old man on Monday appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda facing murder charges and one count of attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed his father, who is a Diplomat to death.

Daniel Niyata Fissum is also said to have stabbed his mother several times.

He was remanded in custody to January 31 for trial.

Dzuda denied him bail saying he has no alternative place to stay.

If given bail, Fissum might flee the country and may interfere with witnesses, who include the maid and gardener, the State said.

It is alleged that on January 15, 2022 at around 0940 hours, the accused had an altercation with his parents who are diplomats.

During the altercation, the accused allegedly stabbed his father, Daniel Fussum with a kitchen knife twice on the chest and once on the stomach, and he died instantly.

The accused then allegedly stabbed his mother Jordanos Zerom (a Netherlands national).  Zerom sustained 13 stab wounds on the back, three stab wounds on the chest and another stab wound on the stomach, the court heard.

Zerom said to be in critical condition and has been hospitalised at the Trauma Centre in Borrowdale, Harare.

Ruvimbo Matyatya prosecuted for the State.

By A Correspondent- Some village heads in Goromonzi reportedly sold a piece of land valued at US$45K for just US$15K to a local businessman attracting the wrath of local residents who have vowed to block the move.

Masimba Manyanya, coordinator of Simukai Residents Trust said the land was allocated to the community in the 1980s. Manyanya said:Three villages namely Yafela, Gwaze and Muchatota were allocated a piece of land by the government.

It was to be administered by the Village Development Committee (VIDECO).

So for over 40 years this land was all grass.

However, because of encroaching urbanization the place has become a possible commercial centre because of its proximity to the road.

Recently some village heads sold the land to a local businessman triggering a huge stand-off with the community.

This past month, our village headmen and their proxies allegedly sold the land which has a commercial value of US$45 000 to a local businessman who is reported to have acquired it for a paltry US$15 000.

The businessman wants to put a supermarket at the place from the information we gathered.

The SRT Coordinator revealed that there was a physical confrontation at the site with residents vowing to stop construction.

He said he personally chased some of the workers at the site with sticks.

Manyanya added that the local councillor has intervened to calm the situation but the tensions are high warning that violence can break out any time.

While the matter is said to have been reported to the anti-corruption body, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Corruption (ZACC) the commission’s spokesperson John Makamure said he is yet to receive the report.-open council

By A Correspondent- Four Zimbabwean prisoners being transported to a South African court escaped after armed men ambushed a police van and sprung them free on Friday.

Augustine Nqobani Moyo, Nkululeko Nkomo, Mbongiseni Mkandla, Thulani Dube and South African national Robert Hlatshwayo were due to appear in court on charges of armed robbery, attempted murder and possession of an unlicenced firearm.

South African police said Hlatshwayo and Nkomo were re-arrested on Friday night, and the search continued for the three other escapees.

The prisoners were being transported to Vosloorus Magistrate’s Court on Friday morning, when a silver Audi allegedly cut off the police van at the corner of Barry Marais Road and Rondebult Road in Brakpan.

Three armed suspects exited the Audi and allegedly released the awaiting trial prisoners before fleeing the scene.

The police were outnumbered. It was two vehicles that were involved in this incident. One blocked the police vehicle from the front and a number of armed suspects, with rifles, then indicated to the police officers that they must stop the vehicle,” Muridili said.

The men were arrested in connection with a robbery at a business in Dawn Park, police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said.

Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela commended the swift apprehension of the two fugitives.

“We thank the public for all the tip-offs that the police have been receiving on the whereabouts of the fugitives. The public is our eyes and ears in the communities and plays a vital role in the fight against crime,” said Mawela.

He added the tip-offs were all assessed and followed up to ensure the police “do not leave any stone unturned in the quest to bring all the escapees back to prison”.

By A Correspondent- ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba on Monday shed light on the expected confusion when the nomination court sits on January 26. She told ZimLive: 

ZEC does not adjudicate who has the right to the name of a political party because there is no legal framework that mandates the commission to regulate, deregulate and register political parties.

On January 26 the nomination court will operate on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. ZEC will not respond to letters for clout from political parties over party names.

If politicians want to stop a political party from using a party name or symbol, they must approach the electoral court which determines political parties.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere on Monday maintained that their party would remain MDC Alliance, at least for now, as pressure mounts from supporters for Chamisa to rebrand. she told ZimLive:

We remain MDC Alliance until otherwise advised. We have safeguards in place to ensure there is no confusion come election day. The people know who their leaders are.

Chigumba said politicians were in the habit of blaming ZEC over political name disputes when the commission does not register political parties but only recognises them as prescribed by the electoral law.

Elections will take place in 28 parliamentary races and 105 municipal seats on March 26.

Most of the seats fell vacant when the MDC-T recalled elected MDC Alliance officials, armed with a March 2020 Supreme Court ruling which nullified Chamisa’s elevation to lead the MDC-T following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai a year earlier.

By- A 23-year-old Eritrean man at the weekend in Harare ran amok, stabbing his parents and killing his father on the spot.

His father, an Eritrean diplomat, died instantly while his mother is now battling for her life at Trauma Centre in Borrowdale.

Daniel Niyata Fussum, a student at a university in the Netherlands, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda, who remanded him in custody to January 27.

He is facing murder and attempted murder charges.

Allegations are that on Saturday, Fussum was involved in a row with his parents.

He is alleged to have stabbed his father, Daniel Fussum, with a kitchen knife twice on the chest, once on the stomach and once on his left hand.
The diplomat died instantly.

He also allegedly stabbed his mother, Jordanian Zerom, who is from the Netherlands, 13 times on the chest, and once on the stomach, resulting in her suffering some serious injuries.

Zerom is currently admitted at Trauma Centre in Borrowdale.

Ruvimbo Matyatya appeared for the State.

-State media

By A Correspondent – Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has fired another party director over internal party election rigging.

Mnangagwa fired the head of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mr Munyaradzi Katsande; a few days he did so to the suspended party’s director for administration Dickson Dzora.

Katsande was fired for tampering with registers for the voters in the recently held provincial elections.

Zanu PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Christopher Mutsvangwa, confirmed the development at a press conference held at the party headquarters in Harare yesterday afternoon, saying that there was a major shake-up at the party headquarters.

“We have our director general Cde Dickson Dzora, he is on suspension. He was suspended on the instruction and directive of President ED Mnangagwa. He has been unhappy about many wayward activities, which have been going on at the party. But the last straw was the gross incompetence and perhaps they were connived by Dickson Dzora and his team to run the last elections and just generate chaos all over the 10 provinces. That was really enough for the President,” said Mutsvangwa.
During the just-ended provincial elections, there were reports of delays in the disbursement of ballot papers at most voting centres across the country
“There was also an investigation which was carried out by the party’s security department on the abuse of tender procedures to favour ghost companies, which may have been related to him. So he has gone. He is under suspension. It has been confirmed this morning (yesterday) by Cde Obert Mpofu who is the Secretary General of the party,” said Mutsvangwa.
On the expulsion of Cde Katsande, Ambassador Mutsvangwa said he was found tempering with the provincial registers for voters.

“President Mnangagwa himself fired another official in the ICT department, Cde Katsande. He was fired because he was found tampering with registers for the voters for the past provincial elections in the party”.
Mutsvangwa said, Mnangagwa was determined to run a clean show at the party headquarters so that the membership can be confident on the administration of all the affairs of the party including the all-important elections.
“You can now all see that we take our elections seriously. We want them to be clean as can be. It doesn’t matter that you are a big fish, if you fall foul, President Mnangagwa will move against you. He is not the only one. It has happened at the Government level. Somebody else has just left his job in the Cabinet. So the signal is out there,” said Mutsvangwa.

By A Correspondent- Norton member of parliament (independent) Temba Mlisawa said he was planning to meet with the MDC-Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa.

Mliswa said this to NewDay when the private daily asked him why he was with the former Zanu PF political commissar Savior Kasukuwere.

Mliswa’s pictures with Kasukuwere and expelled former Zanu PF MP for Chivi South, Killer Zivhu went viral on social media at the weekend.

Mliswa said there was nothing wrong with his meeting with Kasukuwere and Zivhu. He said:

People are coming up with all sorts of conspiracies just because we were together.

I was expelled from Zanu PF by a faction involving Kasukuwere — and if anything, I should not be with him, but there is more to life than politics.

We were not plotting anything, and I will continue meeting whoever I need to. Soon I will post pictures with Chamisa too; he is my sekuru (uncle) just like Kasukuwere or Jonathan Moyo (former Higher Education minister).

The intricate web of totems links us. Now, should I shun that because of politics? No.

Mliswa and Zivhu are both Zanu PF critics but claim they are fully behind Mnangagwa’s “vision”. Added Mliswa:

As for Zanu PF, as a party, it’s clear that it has lost itself and in its current state, it is a rogue entity that is going against the principles of the liberation struggle.

It has been hijacked by a lot of mafikizolos who have no DNA of the party. The Zanu PF I belonged to stuck to the founding principles of the struggle.

Thus on the basis of those principles I have never been out of Zanu PF. The current power holders in the party have kicked out people with the real DNA of Zanu PF.

By A Correspondent- Fire former Zanu PF MP for Chivi South, Killer Zivhu has likened Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa to a public toilet and a bus terminus.

Zivhu was responding to a press statement issued by Mutsvangwa after his (Zivhu) meeting with former Zanu Pf political commissar Savior Kasukuwere and Norton MP Temba Mliswa in South Africa.

The images of the trio meeting went viral on social media and shook Zanu PF resulting in Mutsvangwa issuing a two-page lengthy and verbose press statement attacking the three.

Zivhu, Mliswa and Kasukuwere were are all expelled Zanu PF cadres.

Responding to Mutsvangwa’s statement, Zivhu had no kind words for former Zimbabwe’s envoy to China.

“Chris Mutsvangwa tinyarewo hauna kana munhu anokuda iwe, you can’t win an election saka dzungu ndereyi, you are more dangerous to ED than Kasukuwere , hautengeseki kuvanhu se nyama yechidembo , just shut up, Chirungu haasi mavhotsi vanhu vanokusema iwe kunge toilet mu Norton,” said Zivhu.

By- Chitungwiza Municipality has started demolishing what it called illegal vending stalls across the town.

The municipality said they are doing this to clean up Harare Metropolitan province.

The local authority is accusing MDC-led councils, whose officials have over the years, for what it said was turning a blind eye on the mess.

Municipal police were at the weekend leading the demolitions while armed Zimbabwe Republic Police officers were on standby in case of violent clashes.
The demolished structures were in Makoni Shopping Centre, Zengeza 2 along Hombarume Road, Unit L and C-Junction.
While some had heeded a council ultimatum issued last Friday and removed their wares and illegal structures, others remained defiant and lost valuables.
At Makoni Shopping Centre, among the demolished structures was a container situated opposite Chicken Inn which had been divided into shops.
A few metres from the container, some traders whose structures were demolished, could be seen removing valuables such as metal sheets for reuse.
Chitungwiza acting town clerk Mrs Evangelista Machona at the weekend said the demolitions were targeting all illegal structures especially along road servitudes. Herald

By- A government worker in the ministry of sports in the Chikomba district office, Edgar Zidya (42), has been arrested on allegations that he stole seven bags of compound D fertilizer.

He was brought to court on a warrant of arrest yesterday after he failed to appear in court as scheduled last week. Magistrate Sam Chitumwa remanded Zidya out of custody to January 25, 2021.

Zidya is facing charges of contraverning section 113 2(d) of the Crimminal Law Codification and Form Act Chapter 9:23; theft of trust property after he allegedly put fertilizer belonging to Nyahoni Vocational Training Centre to his own.
It is the State case that on September 9, 2021 Eric Mashonganyika (56) who is the accountant at Nyahoni purchased 7 × 50kgs of compound D fertlizer, 3× 25 kgs of maize seed, two bottles of insecticide, 3 packets of garden seed from Farm and City Chivhu for Nyahoni.
The inputs were ferried to Nyahoni with the exception of 7 bags of fertilizer which were left at Zidya’s office for safe keeping.
On October 4, 2021, Nyahoni principal went to the accused’s office to collect the bags but there was nothing.
On enquiry, records kept by security guards showed that the fertlizer was collected by Zidya. The value of the stolen goods is RTGS$$23 100 and nothing was recovered.
The state is represented by Melody Marozhe.

-Masvingo Mirror