By A Correspondent- A thirteen-year-old boy (name provided) has appeared before the courts after he allegedly impregnated his relative, a grade 7 girl in Jerera, Masvingo.

Sources said the uncle of the girl took her for holiday to Bulawayo. A few days later, they observed some suspicious behaviour – her stomach was swelling, she was sleepy, had difficulties walking, and she was refusing to eat some foods. 

They confronted her and she said she had stomachaches. They ran a pregnancy test and the result was positive. 

A close family member told this reporter that the uncle then approached elders in the family and notified them of the development. Another test was conducted and it came out positive, again.

They asked her who was responsible but she refused to speak. After some persuasion, she indicated that a 13-year-old relative (not a close one) who is her neighbour in Jerera had impregnated her.

They reported the matter to the police who then accompanied the girl’s uncle to Zvishavane where the boy was working at a mine and arrested him.

They brought him to Zaka where his parents are and informed them of the development. The source said the parents of the boy begged that the matter be concealed but some family members were adamant that the case take the legal route.

The matter was eventually reported at Zaka police station and was registered under case number RRR4748569. 

The accused has since appeared before the courts where he was asked to pay a ZW$5000 bail.

A police officer who is handling the case said in previous cases like this, the offender would be cautioned or ordered to do community service since they are both minors and also considering that their age difference is not that huge. 

The pregnancy is said to be 4 months old.

By A Correspondent- National Railways of Zimbabwe is taking stock of its properties across the country amid revelations that it could have lost more than $30 million from paying utility bills for assets it sold over 20 years ago in Hwange.

The development comes hard on the heels of allegations that the parastatal was losing close to $25 million annually to space barons who are paying minimal charges to the organisation, while sub-letting the spaces to desperate residents and making a killing.

The company is also in talks with local authorities, some of which have sold or illegally transferred land belonging to NRZ.

Newly appointed general manager Ms Respina Zinyanduko told the Sunday News that they were working on bringing sanity to the real estate side of the company to curb further abuse and financial losses which could change the fortunes of the organisation.

“We have had situations where compounds and some houses that were sold more than 20 years ago are still drawing water and electricity from NRZ without paying anything.

This has resulted in unsustainable utility bills, with some areas like Raylton and Ngumija in Hwange having bills in excess of $30 million since these are charged at commercial rates,” said Ms Zinyanduko.

She added that former and current employees were also caught in the web of corruption as they were collecting rentals for company properties.

This, she said, was bleeding the parastatal.

“We have had situations where employees, former employees and tenants lease part of their spaces to welders and get paid rentals inclusive of electricity usage and the bills are passed on to NRZ.

We have started the process of separating the NRZ meters from residential meters.

This we know will cause some outcry as these occupants never experienced the real cost of paying for water and electricity for the past 25 years plus.

This is however, necessary to avoid unnecessary leakage of our meagre resources.

This exercise will be undertaken as part of a system aimed at plugging the leakages,” she said.

Ms Zinyanduko said the parastatal also owns some run-down buildings that were in need of renovation and efforts were being made to ensure work was done on them.

“We also have very dilapidated buildings that are being leased out, both to external tenants and to employees.

A decision was taken to set aside 30 percent of all the money collected from real estate and channel it towards sprucing up the buildings,” she said.

The NRZ boss also highlighted that some of its land had been sold by local authorities around the country and they were in the process of verifying the land and facilitating that they get it back.

“In the same area of real estate, we are in the process of recovering our land that had been sold by some local authorities and some which had been illegally transferred.

“We are in the process of physically verifying all our land.

We also had situations where proceeds from utilisation of certain properties were being shared amongst committee members within NRZ.

For example, all the Raylton Clubs were being run by committees and nothing was being remitted to NRZ.

The committees also left some of the properties dilapidated as they were not investing back into the properties but rather pocketing the proceeds for personal benefit.

We are in the process of claiming back the properties so that all the revenue generated can be accounted for under NRZ,” she added.

Ms Zinyanduko noted that NRZ had vast tracts of land and properties nationwide, however, the revenue from the real estate side has been minimal with allegations of corruption and malpractice.

So far, revenue generated from cleaning some of the mess was more than 100 percent in USD terms.

“All the regions were given stretch targets in terms of revenue generation from real estate and I am happy with the progress our regional managers are making in this area.

We are in the process of zoning our land so that we can apply uniform lease fees for each area.

This will go a long way in addressing allegations of corruption.

“We have had situations in some instances where we had land barons who were paying peanuts to NRZ and subletting to other tenants, making huge profits.

A good example is two cases we had in Gweru where a tenant was paying NRZ US$120 at interbank rate and collecting US$4000  from sub-tenants.

We have since cancelled the leases as sub-leasing is illegal.

Some have reverted back to their businesses but we have given them notices of increase of rentals to market rates,” she added.

“We are in the process of physically verifying all our land. We also had situations where proceeds from utilisation of certain properties were being shared among committee members within NRZ. For example, all the Raylton Clubs were being run by committees and nothing was being remitted to NRZ.

The committees also left some of the properties dilapidated as they were not investing back into the properties but rather pocketing the proceeds for personal benefit.

We are in the process of claiming back the properties so that all the revenue generated can be accounted for under NRZ,” she added.

Ms Zinyanduko noted that NRZ had vast tracts of land and properties nationwide, however, the revenue from the real estate side has been minimal with allegations of corruption and malpractice.

So far, revenue generated from cleaning some of the mess was more than 100 percent in USD terms.

“All the regions were given stretch targets in terms of revenue generation from real estate and I am happy with the progress our regional managers are making in this area.

We are in the process of zoning our land so that we can apply uniform lease fees for each area.

This will go a long way in addressing allegations of corruption.

“We have had situations in some instances where we had land barons who were paying peanuts to NRZ and subletting to other tenants, making huge profits.

“A good example is two cases we had in Gweru where a tenant was paying NRZ US$120 at interbank rate and collecting US$4 000  from sub-tenants.

We have since cancelled the leases as sub-leasing is illegal.

Some have reverted back to their businesses but we have given them notices of increase of rentals to market rates,” she added.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- As another Covid-19 plagued year comes to an end, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has paid special homage to Zimbabwe’s health workers for their sterling efforts to minimise pandemic-related damage.

Despite its financial and human capital limitations, Zimbabwe has been able to manage the pandemic, through a highly impressive vaccination programme, a disciplined populace and a dedicated health workforce.

In light of this, President Mnangagwa commended the health workers for their efforts.

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank all our front-line workers, including physicians, nurses and other health personnel, for going the extra mile to ensure that our people remain safe from the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said in a New Year message to Zimbabweans.

“Special mention also goes to all the friendly nations who availed vaccines and consumables to complement our efforts. Together with your positive response to the health measures, we have been able to contain the pandemic and limit the loss of lives.”

President Mnangagwa also commended teachers and the country’s security services for ably discharging their various duties under the difficult Covid-19 period.

“Our education sector personnel and parents also did a splendid job, which made sure that school children continue getting the education they so desperately deserve. My Government is committed to guaranteeing access to reading materials and online learning platforms so that education is accessible to all,” he said.

“I commend the security services sector for their patriotism and bravery in tackling crime and ensuring that our communities remain safe.

“For those isolated incidences of crime, the perpetrators are being accounted for. In order to flush out bad apples, I exhort communities to increase their cooperation with our law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime.”

However, the President deplored the behaviour of a few bad apples.

“It is, however, disheartening to note that there are some amongst us who have now begun to lower their guard, especially during this festive season.

“I, therefore, urge you to continue abiding by the health measures instituted by my Government from time to time, masking up, sanitising and maintaining social distance.

“To those who have not yet been vaccinated, please go out in your numbers and get vaccinated. You can only be safe when we are all safe.”-zimlive

By A Correspondent- A total of 133 Covid-19 deaths and more than 10 000 Covid-19 infections were recorded in the seven days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve in Zimbabwe, a situation that has prompted a revision of national lockdown regulations in order to prevent the further spread of the virus and possible deaths.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care daily Covid-19 update, the seven-day period from 25 to 31 December 2021 saw 32, being the highest number of deaths reported in one day for that week, while the least deaths, six, were recorded on 26 December 2021.

The week before the holiday period which stretched from 18 to 24 December 2021 saw the country recording 90 deaths.

National Covid-19 Coordinator Dr Agnes Mahomva acknowledged the increase in deaths saying there was a correlation in the increase of infections and possible increase of deaths.

“It’s always possible, there are many possible contributing factors to the increases.

With Omicron (variant) itself which is really spreading like wildfire not just in Zimbabwe but all over the world, we see numbers increasing markedly in all countries reporting it.

So as soon as you see a large number of cases reported, it automatically translates to an increase in numbers of deaths.

So, it is really important to prevent that transmission and people not to be complacent so that we don’t have these numbers continue to grow,” she said.

She said infection numbers need to be kept at bay in order to prevent unnecessary deaths. In terms of vaccinations, Dr Mahomva said more must be done and communities should go out and get vaccinated.

Numbers were going up just before we closed for the holidays.

We introduced the 15 to 17 age group vaccination and the campaigns in schools were really gathering momentum but we then closed the schools.

So basically, the numbers went down a little but the provinces are working flat out to really bring those numbers up again.

It is really one of those measures that we think can really help us,” she emphasised.

The President on Friday  postponed the opening of schools for the first term to a later date owing to the spike in deaths and infections.

Schools were scheduled to reopen on 10 January 2022, but this was later reversed with only those sitting to complete their Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations expected in class.

National lockdown regulations have also been tightened with Level Two being extended by a further two weeks to allow health officials, backed by science, to analyse the patterns of the virus and allow for the situation to stabilise and allow for the review of the lockdown measures.

In his address to the nation on Friday, President Mnangagwa said businesses will operate from 7am to 7pm.

He emphasised the need for citizens to get vaccinated, wear face masks correctly in public spaces, gatherings and in public transport.

Other measures such as hand hygiene and sanitising are also being encouraged. As at 31 December 2021, 1 530 new infections were recorded and were all locally transmitted

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti has torn into Local Government Minister July Moyo following the fourth suspension of Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume.

Last week, Moyo suspended Mafume pending the finalisation of his corruption charges before the courts.

However, this has not gone down well with Biti who has accused Moyo of being the most corrupt and destructive Minister.

Below is Biti’s full statement:

If Kirsty Coventry is the worst Minister in this regime July Moyo ranks as most corrupt, most destructive, most deceptive.

For four years he has failed to enact a law actualizing the Devolution provisions in the constitution despite numerous High Court Orders.

Devolution funds allocated from the Budget have essentially become his private slush fund, distributed subjectively.

He has overseen the collapse of local authorities through acceptance of (Douglas) Mwonzora s wanton recalls.

His treatment of mayors is disdainful and unconstitutional.

Mayors are not employees.

But it is July Moyo’s corrupt relationship with land barons that has been most destructive.

He has relationships with crooks such Kenneth Roydon Sharpe and many others prejudicing millions of home seekers and causing environmental degradation through wetland and other illegal developments.

July Moyo has made Ignatius Chombo, the arch land looter look like a saint.

His indulgence in the world of the occult is also a cause for concern.

In Sept 2019 he gathered certain chiefs for some rituals in the Midlands under guise of revival of Rozvi-Moyo dynasty.

He is danger.

By A Correspondent- A family in Harare’s leafy northern suburb of Greystone Park was left counting losses after a stray firecracker landed on their thatched house, ignited and razed down a portion of their plush two-storey property.

The inferno incident happened around midnight when people started blasting firecrackers as they celebrated the crossover into the New Year.

 Sunday Mail reports that the fire consumed much of the house’s thatched roof while household property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed, although no fatalities were recorded.

Speaking on the incident, the owner of the property, Breit Spark, revealed the house caught fire just a couple of minutes after he heard a loud bang of a firecracker exploding.

“It happened at midnight, I was sleeping when I heard a loud bang of a firecracker exploding and moments later I found the house had caught fire — I am very certain it was a firecracker that ignited the house,” he said.

The City of Harare Fire Department responded swiftly to the incident and managed to douse the inferno just in time before all the property was destroyed by the fire.

“We got assistance from neighbours who came quickly to assist with getting some of the furniture out

Were it not for the kindness and assistance of neighbours and the dedicated hard work from the fire department, things could have been much worse,” he said.

This inferno incident comes just a couple of days after the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) issued a warning on people selling, buying or using firecrackers on New Year’s Eve and afterwards.

The Police prohibited the use of firecrackers after noting that they pose dangers to humans and animals.

By A Correspondent- A 24 year old Harare man who is accused of holding hostage a Westlea family before robbing them at gunpoint appeared in court.

Allegations are that on the 24th of December Changamire pounced on a Westlea home armed with a pistol.

The court heard that Changamire together with his accomplices who are still at large tied Wilson Mutongwizo and his wife using an electric cable.

It is also alleged that the gang then took the complainant’s five children; held them hostage and ransacked the house taking away cash and some valuables.

The accused person was arrested on December 30.

Meanwhile, statistics have indicated that 2021 witnessed a spike in the number of armed robbery cases with more than ten cases of armed robbers being reported nationwide in the past seven days alone.

The spike prompted Parliament to summon army chiefs to speak on the shootings happening countrywide.-zbc

By A Correspondent| Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) leader has called for the dismissal of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chief Elections Officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana saying his failure to register new voters in 2021 should be the final nail on his coffin.

Posting on Twitter, Ngarivhume said Silaigwana who is responsible for the day to day running of the commission hence should be measured on what he achieves in a calendar year, slamming the recently reported voter registration crisis.

“If one of Strive Masiyiwa’s regional managers reported that they had not grown the business in 12 months, in fact they had lost the company money. That manager’s employment will be terminated without question.

“Utloile Silaigwana is ZEC Chief elections officers responsible for the day to day running of the commission. The first step in rectifying the voter registration crisis is terminating his employment. Period!,” said Ngarivhume.

By A Correspondent- A white farmer has been killed in Zimbabwe, but police believe her death came during a botched robbery, and is not the latest incident of farm killings which peaked in the early 2000s during Zimbabwe’s oft-violent land reforms.

The victim has been named as Rene Mitchell, a 44-year-old who lived with her husband at Mantlavina Farm in Beatrice, a farming community 55km south-west of Harare.

Police said Mitchell woke up at around 2AM after hearing a disturbance outside. She armed herself with a Bruno 22 rifle and went outside to investigate.

“She was shot in the back and died on the spot,” national police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said.

Rene’s husband was being treated in hospital after suffering injuries during the attack.

In early 2000, Zimbabwe began a programme to seize land from about 4,000 white farmers. The land grabs sometimes turned violent, and over a dozen farmers died in the confrontations.

Attacks on farmers are not common in Zimbabwe, but a wave of armed robberies gripping the country suggest targets are carefully picked based on their perceived wealth and social status.

By-Chief Ephias Munodawafa Murinye has been unanimously voted by all Zimbabweans, including those in the diaspora, for the 2021 Man of the year award.

The candid and courageous Masvingo traditional leader challenged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to deal with corruption or risk losing the 2023 national elections.

Below is a letter from Masvingo Mirror explaining why Chief Murinye should be celebrated.

Chief Ephias Munodawafa Murinye is our man of the year for reasons which our readers may not have surmised. In a fit of anger, perhaps after some disrespect from fellow Philistines in the cabal to which he belongs, he burst out, spilling the beans.
Having lived a life of sin, he now finds himself seeking sympathy from the saints whom he persecuted while his fellow Philistines, like hunting dogs bay for his blood.

We have chosen him as our man of the year, not because he is a hero; God forbid. Murinye, by his own confession is a sinner of sinners, and in his moment of self-reflection, seeing a window of opportunity, seeks some redemption. We share his pathos (a quality that evokes pity or sadness), for even among the Philistines, a moment comes when self-reflection forces them to see the man in the mirror and images of past wrong doings pass by dimly as in Plato’s cave men story, the little conscience that is left is rekindled, peradventure angles may have mercy on his soul.
That is the story, and he is not alone.
We will go straight to the point. These Philistines, the evil genius Jonathan Moyo, the erudite Walter Mzembi and now our own Murinye have at moments of truth, met their maker and asked the eternal question.
What is man’s purpose on earth?
Before answering that question, let us lay down the issues that are not in dispute and which by his own mouth, Brother Murinye himself has attested.
During the period of 2008-2013 Murinye ran around like a madman, (aimhanya sebenzi) acting out and cutting up in a self-arrogated role of Commissar of Zanu PF in Masvingo province. Being Zanu PF to the core (his own words) he did some things which were beyond his calling as a chief. We know, and it has never been disputed, that in 2013, he removed protection from MDC tribesmen of his clan, harassing them and even persecuting them. We know from other human rights reports that between those years, 10 000 members of the MDC were murdered.

Thus, a chief who denies a resting place to members of his blood line, by rules enacted by our ancestors, abdicates his patrimonial role (fatherly role). To drive the matter home, it is unthinkable that no matter what transgressions I may make in the world, I have, as a last resort, the right to return to the patrimony of Chief Chashura of the Rainbird because I am of his chikuvhute (umbilical cord).
This is the sacred rule that keeps Africans from being homeless.
Are these rules not written in the chronicles of the Bantu, and in the hearts of the wisest among them?
Moved by greed and self-aggrandizement, his patrimony, being the smallest, wedged among the bigger paramountcy’s of Chief Charumbira and Chief Mugabe, he sought to gain a limelight by serving false gods and sacrificing the very people allocated to him by his ancestors to protect.
Fearing an electoral defeat of Zanu PF by the MDC Alliance group in 1913, he pre-emptied the possibility by “chucking out all known supporters from their homes” says a human rights report. In another report he harassed an MDC councillor A Busumani for building a clinic, helping fund a school building and doing good works for his community. Busumani ended up in a jailhouse on trumped up charges.

If I were to make a list of the sins of this Brother Chief, there would be no end to it. Suffice to say that Chief Murinye did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.
The question
Now our readers will say what my friend Fabian Mabaya has already told me. “Ken, thy much learning makes thee mad. Do you know that you are totally mad?”
The question must be asked. Why do these Philistines, from time to time burst out in total anguish, and utter words of regret, demanding a seat among the righteous?
Murinye says that he witnessed a Gonyenti (18-wheeler truck) carrying top-up fertilizer supplies back to Harare for disposal on the black market. He says that he warned the PROPO (Police Commander) and gave the details of the truck. Murinye did not get satisfaction.
In another case, his assistant, named Chiremba, observed fertiliser bags being off-loaded through classroom windows in the middle of the night, obviously purported for a clandestine destination.
He reported this incident but was not given satisfaction.
The reason he was not given satisfaction is that he came with dirty hands. He confesses that he was a beneficiary of a “grab farm” on the well water-shed slopes of the Great Zimbabwe escarpment. The geographical faults in that escarpment make room for perennial springs that were used by white farmers for wheat growing. His children also benefitted from “grab plots”.
In our research on the Life and Times of Robert Mugabe, we established the fact that there is a well-known hierarchy among the Philistines. A letter, written by former vice-president Joice Mujuru made it clear that among the Philistine the looting order was established according to levels occupied by the princes in relationship to Numero Uno (Mugabe). The letter revealed that Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri came third among the princes who shared the loot associated with Marange diamonds. Whether the loot was shared with subordinates depended on the generosity of the princely figure.

Murinye, in our reading, comes far short of a princely status among the looters. His cutting up and acting out is therefore aimed at raising his status among the looting princes. He feels that he has not been properly rewarded for his hard work and sacrifices as a “devil commissar in Masvingo Province” for Zanu PF.
We must also mention that those acolytes who are at the bottom of the ladder and far away from the princely personages are worked literally to death. They willingly take this position and do the most horrendous deeds, foul and deadly, in the hope of being noticed and raised in rank up the ladder to a princely status. Unfortunately, without renewable leadership, and geriatrics in their eighties holding their positions well into the twilight zone, their careers in the looting business become riskier by the day.
The punishment for rebellion, or for exposing their secrets are well known. Murinye has accepted that: “They may kill me if they want. I am already dead anyway.” The punishments for exposing the party are well known. Are these not written in the chronicles of Joost Fontein in his book: Political Accidents in Zimbabwe (2018).
Murinye will be lucky to depart this world at the hands of a stupid fire at the seat of his patrimony at Mabwe Maviri Farm near Great.

-Mirror

By A Correspondent- The rampant rigging and violence that characterised Zanu-PF’s provincial elections held on Tuesday has been admitted to at the party’s highest level, with national political commissar Mike Bimha saying the culprits will be disqualified.

Bimha said the politburo – its highest decision-making organ outside congress – will meet next week to deliberate on the concerns raised by some contestants and possibly annul victories earned by deception.

He also announced the preliminary results but said they were subject to verification by the politburo.

He admitted that the elections were marred by incidents of violence as some candidates were involved in fistfights.

The elections were heavily contested but reports of massive rigging were exposed in Harare, Mashonaland Central, and Manicaland and Mashonaland East provinces.

“There have been cases of violence. Reports of violent incidents were made and, in some cases, involving the candidates. We want these cases to be fully investigated and where we have candidates having been involved in violence, such candidates will be disqualified,” Bimha said.

“Furthermore, these candidates will be subjected to the party’s disciplinary procedure. So in terms of these preliminary results, it is not time to celebrate yet. Celebrations will be justified after the politburo’s deliberations,” he said.

“We are likely to have a politburo meeting this coming week which will look through the entire exercise, and after its deliberations, we will then confirm or otherwise give preliminary results. There are also preliminary in the sense that whenever you go through elections, there are others who feel aggrieved by the conduct of the elections, those who might feel that they have been treated unfairly and present their complaints. We do not throw away those complaints. We want those complaints to be considered, investigated and so that decisions are made on the basis of objectivity,” he added.

Bimha said his office was also waiting for reports from the teams that were supervising the elections in the various provinces.

Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka made history by becoming the first-ever female chairperson of the province after beating three other contestants, deputy minister of Information Kindness Paradza, who got 8 257 votes, Vengai Musengi who garnered 6 240 and former ZBC boss Happison Muchechetere, who got 346 votes. Mliswa-Chikoka got a staggering 16 931 votes.

In Harare, Godwills Masimirembwa retained the chairmanship and got 12 799 votes against Godwin Gomwe’s 9 429 votes.

Gomwe told Newzimbabwe.com that he had presented his complaints to the NPC and would wait for their deliberations and ruling on the outcome.

In Masvingo, former chairperson Ezra Chadzamira lost to Zaka North legislator Robson Mavenyengwa, who garnered 19 910 against his 17 233 votes.

The hotly contested Mashonaland Central province saw controversial Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe beating rival Tafadzwa Musarara. Kazembe got 20 896 votes while Musarara had 17 801 votes.

The result is however being disputed, with Kazembe being accused of employing several dirty tactics like violence, rigging and vote buying.

National Housing minister Daniel Garwe became Mashonaland East chairman with 9 786 votes while the firebrand former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda won in Bulawayo with 2 487. In Matabeleland South province cabinet minister Mangaliso Ndlovu got 2 587 votes with Richard Moyo retaining Matabeleland North with 8 035 votes.

Mike Madiro also won in Manicaland after beating Albert Nyakuedzwa.

Larry Mavima was uncontested in Midlands province and was declared the new chairman.

By A Correspondent- The Beta Bus driver who had fled the scene of a fatal road accident in which six people were killed when the bus burst into flames after colliding with a fuel tanker at the 242 km peg along the Harare-Mutare has been arrested.

Philip Tawanda Chirindo (34), is facing culpable homicide charges and is expected to appear in court soon. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest.

“The ZRP confirms the arrest of Philip Tawanda Chirindo aged 34, the driver of a Beta Bus who escaped after a fatal road traffic accident involving a Freightliner fuel tanker and a Yutong bus which occurred on December 24, 2021 at the 242 km peg along Harare- Mutare Road.

“The suspect who is being charged for Contravening Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 as read with Section 64 (3) of the Road Traffic Act Chapter 11: 13 ‘Culpable Homicide’, surrendered himself to the Police on December 29, 2021 and will appear in court soon,” he said.

Six people were killed when a Beta bus burst into flames after colliding with a fuel tanker at the 242km peg along the Harare-Mutare highway. Of the six, four died on the spot while the other two after being admitted to hospital.

The deceased included four passengers on the bus, the tanker driver and his passenger. The rest of the passengers kicked emergency exit panels and helped others to escape despite the injuries of many.

However, 54 of those escaping passengers were taken to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital with injuries described as serious. The bus, which was on its way from Harare, encroached onto the opposite lane resulting in the head-on collision with the tanker that was heading towards Harare.

There were reports that the bus driver had tried to avoid a drunk person who was along the road and thereby encroaching onto the opposite lane but investigations are in progress.

Meanwhile, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona visited both the accident victims and the scene yesterday.

“I visited some of the accident victims who are still admitted at Victoria Chitepo General Hospital (formerly Mutare General Hospital) and wished them a quick recovery.

“I visited the accident scene where a Beta bus was involved in an accident with a haulage truck near Christmas in Mutare. I implored drivers to observe and obey traffic rules and regulations to save lives especially during this festive season,” he said.

President Mnangagwa recently paid condolences to the families of the people who died in the accident and prayed for a quick recovery to those who have been hospitalised.

In a statement, President Mnangagwa paid tribute to Sirizani Butau who was burnt while trying to rescue people who were trapped in the wreckage.

“On behalf of our nation, Government and on my own behalf, I wish to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to families and relatives who lost their beloved ones in yesterday’s horrific traffic accident along the Harare-Mutare highway involving a passenger bus and fuel tanker.

“As we all grieve over the tragic loss of lives in that traffic incident, we again remind each other to exercise extreme caution as we travel to various destinations during the Christmas and New Year break,” said President Mnangagwa.

He cautioned motorists not to get carried away by the gradually improving road network in the country being spearheaded by the Second Republic under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme.-statemedia

By -A police constabulary was reportedly stoned to death by a suspected goat thief in Manicaland Province recently.

Mike Zinyemba of Chirengwa Village under Chief Chiduku’s area of Rusape allegedly struck a police special constabulary, Nicholas Chirengwa (34) on the head with two big stones weighing 1.6kg and 6.7kg, respectively and left him for dead.

Prosecutor Melissa Saide told the court that Zinyemba attacked Chirengwa while resisting arrest on 16 December.
He was accused of stealing Nyasha Shaibo’s goat and turned violent when the now-deceased Chirengwa and his workmate, Walter Kanjalo went to his homestead to arrest him. Said Saide:

On December 16, Zinyemba was at his homestead when he was approached by Chirengwa, Kanjalo and the complainant, Mr Shaibo. Chirengwa and Kanjalo were dressed in civilian attire.
Zinyemba ordered the trio to leave his homestead, but Chirengwa told him that they wanted to take him to Matsika Police Base for further questioning in connection with the theft of a goat he was being implicated in.

Saide said Zinyemba picked up a stone and hit Chirengwa on the right side of his head and he fell down.
This prompted Kanjalo and Shaibo to flee from Zinyemba’s homestead, leaving Chirengwa at his mercy. Added Saide:

Zinyemba took another bigger stone and charged at Chirengwa who was lying down and hit him on the left side of the head. The attack left the victim’s right ear perforated.
Chirengwa bled profusely and died instantly. A report was made to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused.
Two stones weighing 1.67kg and 6.715kg were recovered at the crime scene, while Zinyemba tried to resist arrest by arming himself with a machete.
Zinyemba recently appeared before Rusape magistrate, Gift Manyika facing one count of murder and was remanded in custody to 5 January 2022.

The magistrate advised Zinyemba to apply for bail at the High Court.

By A Correspondent- A man from Nyanga who allegedly killed a five-year-old girl for ritual purposes has confessed to murdering the minor.

The girl, Audrey Mufaro Murira disappeared for six days and her body was found dismembered in a mountain with missing body parts raising suspicions that she was murdered for ritual purposes.

The girl’s remains were discovered at three different locations on the mountain.

In his warned and cautioned statement recorded by the police, the alleged killer, Philemon Chikata, reportedly said he “harvested” blood from Audrey for ritual purposes. Police said in a statement:In a suspected ritual murder, on December 4, 2021, Audrey Mufaro Murira (5) was playing with her friends when the suspect, Philemon Chikata, a male adult at Messenger’s Camp, Nyanga passed by. Audrey followed the suspect calling him her friend.

The suspect took away the victim and disappeared. Searches for the child were fruitless, only for her remains to be found at the base of a mountain in an advanced state of decomposition.

The suspect has since been arrested and confessed to the brutal killing of the minor.

Chikata initially appeared before Nyanga magistrate, Notebulgah Muchineripi, facing kidnapping charges before they were changed to murder.

State prosecutor Tafara Chawatama withdrew the kidnapping charges before plea.

Chikata was not asked to plead for murder when he appeared in court last week on Thursday.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has been forced to publicly denounce its officers for their engagement in criminal activities following a spate of robberies and casual shootings by and involving soldiers.

In a statement on Friday, ZNA Brigadier-General Augustine Chipwere said the army does not condone criminal behaviour by its officers and urged the public to report any of them involved in such.

This comes after two soldiers were involved in an armed robbery incident in Chadcombe, Harare.

It also comes after a soldier, currently in custody, shot and killed four people in Chegutu last week.

“ZDF recognises and regrets the loss of innocent lives and deeply sympathises with bereaved families and communities. The ZDF will assist all bereaved families in accordance with the regulations relating to such incidents,” Chipwere said.

“The ZDF would like to call on members of the public to report any ZDF member who behaves in a criminal manner or displays behavior that does not comply with the ZDF code of conduct, to the nearest cantonment area or to call the following numbers 024 2792661 and 071 2808007 so that corrective action can be taken quickly,” he said.

In the first incident, a member of the ZDF who was patrolling on Christmas Eve in the cantonment area of ​​Josiah Tungamirai Air Base in Gweru shot and injured Painos Zihesvu Dzvetsvera who later succumbed to his injuries.

Chipwere said the death could have been avoided if Dzvetsvera had observed and obeyed the road signs around the cantonment area and the instructions of the patrol.

On the same day, sergeant Lameck Kabara and corporal Christopher Charuma were part of an armed robbery gang at 2345 Fern Road, Hatfield in Harare, which resulted in the death of Elvis Chijaka and serious injuries to Brian Chijaka. The two soldiers and their accomplices are already before the courts.

In the third incident on Christmas Day, a shooting took place in Wanganui stores in Mhondoro Ngezi at around 6 pm, resulting in the deaths of five people.

According to Brigadier General Chipwere, investigations indicate Lance Corporal Monga had a misunderstanding with a civilian, Brian Mutero, in the shops, which resulted in a mob attack on Lance Corporal Monga.

After being cornered and in the melee and confusion that followed, Lance Corporal Monga warned the crowd by firing three shots in the air.

“Despite the warning shots, the crowd continued to close in on him. He then fired his gun into the crowd, killing four instantly and injuring four others, one of whom later died at a local clinic. The other three who sustained minor injuries received medical attention and were released from hospital,” Chipwere said.

He said that after the incident Lance Corporal Monga then sought help from a nearby school where one of the teachers drove him to the nearest police station, but out of fear, the officers who attending the police station were unable to make an arrest.

The soldier then walked all night to his camp where he surrendered to the military authorities who in turn handed him over to the police.

By A Correspondent- A police constable stationed at Dumisa base in Chiredzi south of Masvingo province Monday allegedly shot and critically injured his girlfriend in Chipinge before vanishing.

A hunt for him is now underway

According to a memorandum to officer commanding Changadzi district Bridget Shingayi Magazi (30) was shot by his cop boyfriend Freeman Sithole at Panganayi village of Chipinge south district after a misunderstanding.

The police report noted that Sithole left Dumisa base armed with his service pistol Tokarev and went to his home in Chipinge.

Upon arrival, Sithole proceeded to his girlfriend’s homestead where he was told his girlfriend had gone to her tuckshop.

He later came back after having a beer and found her girlfriend sleeping at home with her daughter.

A fight erupted after Sithole accused Magazi of infidelity.

“A fight started which alerted Patrick Chimbo who was sleeping in another bedroom. He managed to stop the fight and they all went outside the house after cst Sithole said he wanted to go with  the victim to her boyfriend’s house where he was suspecting she slept during his absence,” reads part of the police memorandum.

“The girlfriend sustained four gunshot wounds, two on both shoulders, one on the left breast and another on the left leg above the knee. After being shot, the victim ran for about 10 meters with the accused in hot pursuit. She fell down and the accused ran away suspecting that the person is dead. The victim was rushed to Mutema clinic by her relatives where she was referred to Birchenough Bridge hospital and later to Mutare Provincial Hospital and she is in a critical condition. Two bullets are lodged in her body, one on the right shoulder and the other on the thigh,” the police memorandum reads.

After the mayhem Sithole ran towards his homestead where his wife and sister were standing outside in awe after hearing some gunshots.

Both the accused’s sister and wife wrestled with Sithole with an aim to disarm him.

“The wife also joined the scuffle but was hit on the head with the butt of the pistol and she sustained head injuries and a swollen face. They however managed to disarm him and he took a rope and ran towards the mountains. The relatives think he want to commit suicide.”

“A search was made at the scene and 0.39mm live rounds were found on the ground and 02 empty cartridges. Recovered also was a Tokarev pistol, serial number 103, and an empty cartridge which was handed to Middle Sabi police station. A search was also made at the nearby mountains for the accused but to no avail,” the report added.

Manicaland police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka referred questions to his boss Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.

However, Nyathi’s phone was not reachable.

By- A soldier who killed five people and injured three others on Christmas Day in Mhondoro has been arrested.

According to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF)’s Brigadier-General Augustine Chipwere, Lance Corporal Monga shot eight people at Wanganui Shops in Mhondoro Ngezi at around 6 pm resulting in the death of five.

Brig-Gen Chipwere said investigations indicate Lance Corporal Monga had a misunderstanding with a civilian, Brian Mutero, at the shops.

A mob got itself involved in the quarrel between the two and attacked Lance Corporal Monga.

According to Brig-Gen Chipwere, after being cornered by the mob and in the commotion that followed, Lance Corporal Monga warned the crowd by firing three rounds into the air. He added:

Despite the warning shots, the crowd continued to close in on him. He then fired his weapon into the crowd thereby killing four people on the spot and injuring four others, of whom one later died at a local clinic.

The other three who sustained minor injuries were medically attended to and discharged from the hospital.

Brig-Gen Chipwere said that after the shooting incident, Lance Corporal Monga sought assistance from a nearby school.

One of the teachers at the school drove him to the nearest police station but the police officers who were manning the police station were afraid of arresting him.

Monga is reported to have then walked throughout the night to his camp where he handed himself over to the military authorities.

He was eventually surrendered to the police.

In his statement issued on Saturday, Brig-Gen Chipwere said the Zimbabwe Defence Forces deeply regrets the recent shootings, including the other two that occurred on Christmas Eve in Gweru and Harare respectively. He said:

The ZDF acknowledges and regrets the loss of innocent lives and deeply commiserates with the bereaved families and communities. The ZDF will assist all the bereaved families in accordance with regulations pertaining to such incidents.

The ZDF wishes to appeal to members of the public to report any member of the ZDF who behaves in a criminal manner or displays behaviour, not in keeping with the ZDF code of conduct, to the nearest cantonment area or to phone the following numbers 024 2792661 and 071 2808007 so that corrective action is taken promptly.

More: The Herald

By A Correspondent- People must report any member of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) engaging in criminal activities or unbecoming behaviour, the ZDF said in a statement yesterday after seven people died in three recent shootings, one involving a robbery, one involving a soldier now in custody reacting to a mob attack and another involving a man who ignored warnings in a cantonment area.

Brigadier-General Augustine Chipwere, in a statement yesterday, expressed the ZDF’s regret at the deaths.

“The ZDF acknowledges and regrets the loss of innocent lives and deeply commiserates with the bereaved families and communities. The ZDF will assist all the bereaved families in accordance with regulations pertaining to such incidents.

“The ZDF wishes to appeal to members of the public to report any member of the ZDF who behaves in a criminal manner or displays behaviour not in keeping with the ZDF code of conduct, to the nearest cantonment area or to phone the following numbers 024 2792661 and 071 2808007 so that corrective action is taken promptly,” Brig-Gen Chipwere said.

In the first incident, a ZDF member who was on patrol on Christmas Eve within the cantonment area at Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base in Gweru shot and injured Painos Zihesvu Dzvetsvera who later succumbed to his injuries.

Brig-Gen Chipwere said the death could have been prevented had the late Mr Dzvetsvera observed and complied with sign posts around the cantonment area and instructions by the patrol.

On the same day Sergeant Lameck Kabara and Corporal Christopher Charuma were part of an armed robbery gang at 2345 Fern Road, Hatfield in Harare that resulted in the death of Elvis Chijaka and serious injury to Brian Chijaka. The two soldiers and their accomplices are already before the courts.

In the third incident on Christmas Day, there was a shooting at Wanganui Shops in Mhondoro Ngezi at around 6pm resulting in the death of five people.

According to Brig-Gen Chipwere, investigations indicate Lance Corporal Monga had a misunderstanding with a civilian, Brian Mutero, at the shops resulting in a mob attack on Lance Corporal Monga.

After bring cornered and in the melee and confusion that followed, Lance Corporal Monga warned the crowd by firing three rounds into the air.

“Despite the warning shots, the crowd continued to close in on him. He then fired his weapon into the crowd thereby killing four people on the spot and injuring four others, of whom one later died at a local clinic. The other three who sustained minor injuries were medically attended to and discharged from hospital,” Brig-Gen Chipwere said.

He said after the incident, Lance Corporal Monga then sought assistance from a nearby school where one of the teachers drove him to the nearest police station but out of fear, the police officers who were manning the police station could not effect an arrest.

The soldier then walked throughout the night to his camp where he handed himself over to the military authorities who in turn surrendered him to the police.

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF yesterday announced 10 provincial chairpersons who emerged victorious following successful polls held this week with new office bearers being elected in seven provinces.

Minister of State for Mashonaland West Province Mary Mliswa-Chikoka beat three contestants for the Mashonaland West provincial chairmanship.

She was battling it out with Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza, former provincial youth chairman Vengai Musengi and ex-Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation chief executive officer Happison Muchechetere.

Social Amenities and Housing Minister Daniel Garwe snatched the provincial chairmanship in Mashonaland East, while Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mangaliso Ndlovu is the new chairman for Matabeleland South.

Former vice chairman for Masvingo province Robson Mavhenyengwa landed the top post after defeating the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.

In Bulawayo, former Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZILWA) chairman, Jabulani Sibanda emerged victorious while in Midlands province, the  Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Larry Mavima was uncontested.

He is taking over from Daniel Mackenzie-Ncube who decided not to seek re-election.

Godwills Masimirembwa retained his post in Harare province after he beat his former vice chairman Godfrey Gomwe.

Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe won in Mashonaland Central while the Deputy Minister of Transport Mike Madiro landed the Manicaland post.

Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo also retained his post as leader of the party in the province.

There was meticulous verification of the results for accountability purposes and ensure a resounding victory in the 2023 harmonised elections

The new provincial leaders’ major task is to ensure unity among party members in their respective jurisdictions and to spearhead the mobilisation of more than five million votes in next year’s elections.

New brooms emerged in the Women’s League race, with Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Minister Aplonia Munzverengwi trouncing former provincial chair Lyn Gororo, while Rejoice Sibanda took over the reins in Bulawayo province.

In Harare province Ratidzo Mukarati bounced back at the helm of the league in a tightly contested race with Betty Kaseke, who was at the helm in an interim capacity.

Happiness Nyakuedzwa retained her post in Manicaland province, while Tsitsi Gezi emerged victorious in Mashonaland Central.

Constance Shamu won in Mashonaland West while Dora Msimanga won in Matabeleland North.

Sindisiwe Nleya is now the new chairperson for Matabeleland South, while Tsitsi Zhou from Midlands and Agnia Mhlanga from Masvingo complete the list.

Isaac Taskan is now the Mashonaland East provincial youth league chairman. Emmanuel Mahachi retained his position in Harare province, while John Paradza won in Masvingo province.

Tafadzwa  Gwinji is now the Mashonaland West youth chair taking over from Vengai Musengi, while in Matebeleland South, Moses  Langa is now the new Youth League boss.

In Mashonaland Central, Emerson Raradza is now in charge while Stanley Sakupwanya took over the reins in Manicaland. E Murechu will be the Youth League chairman for Bulawayo.

In Matabeleland North, the elections were not conducted because the candidates were over the required age.

The elections were deferred pending guidance and direction from the party leadership.

National Political Commissar Mike Bimha announced the preliminary results saying they will be deliberated at an upcoming Politburo meeting.

By A Correspondent- Minister of State for Masvingo and provincial chairperson candidate Ezra Chadzamira has appealed against ongoing provincial elections alleging rigging.

Chadzamira was Masvingo Zanu-PF provincial chairman until the structures were disbanded ahead of the elections.

The Mirror is reliably informed that the Minister of Information Monica Mutsvangwa and the Foreign Affairs Minister Frederick Shava who are overseeing elections in Masvingo have refused to accept the appeal letters.

Efforts to get a comment from Chadzamira were futile.

Mutsvangwa and Shava could not be immediately reached for comment.
Impeccable sources however, told The Mirror that Chadzamira appealed after seven districts in Masvingo West constituency were barred from voting.

The appeals come after Chadzamira was humiliated in Gutu where he got 508 votes while his opponent and Zaka North MP Robson Mavhenyengwa got 8 098 votes.

The districts were barred after it emerged that they do not have cells and branches and were doctored up during the recently held chaotic district elections.

Elections held in Masvingo Urban Ward 2 yesterday were nullified and started afresh today after it emerged that 18 of the 40 voters were not in party structures.

“The matter is arising from unverified district election results which believed to have been doctored . The structures that were allegedly doctored up in Masvingo West do not have cells and branches and were disqualified on that basis.

“The elections overseers refused to accept his letters because he has no grounds of appeal,” said the source.

A Government official has warned Harare residents to be careful when buying residential stands as some council officials are selling stands using fake papers.

Harare Province Secretary for Devolution, Tafadzwa Muguti, said there are some council officials who are corruptly issuing land offers. Said Muguti:

It must be understood by now that just because someone has papers from the council does not mean that everything is legally in good standing.

The majority of illegal developments in Harare and Chitungwiza have council papers which mostly were processed fraudulently.

The real mess is the council officials who are corruptly issuing land offers.

We will not tolerate such conduct as government.

Thousands of Harare residents have lost their entire savings after being duped by land barons with supposedly genuine council papers.

Most of the land barons allegedly work in cahoots with council officials to acquire fraudulent papers.

The City of Harare has some of its senior managers in court on allegations of selling land illegally.

Muguti added that both those who offer bribes and those who take them should be arrested for corruption.-OpenParly

By -A truck driver Mr Sirizani Butau was hailed by President Mnangagwa for heroically saving lives at an accident scene in Mutare.
Mr Butau was not involved in the accident, but hastily rushed to assist more than half a dozen people out of the bus that caught fire after colliding with a fuel tanker.
He even had tried to rescue his colleague, the tanker driver. He survived the inferno that pursued with serious burns.

-State media

By A Correspondent- The Midlands State University (MSU) has directed students not to return to the campus after the New Year.

In a notice, MSU Registrar Tinashe Zishiri said students will only come back for the semester examinations provisionally scheduled to take place between 31 January and 18 February.

Zishiri advised students to regularly check their portals and the website for updates. He said:

Students are being advised that they will not be expected back on campus after the New Year.

They will only come for the end of semester examinations tentatively scheduled for the period 31 January to 18 February 2022.

Kindly note that submission of coursework and assignments as well as revision will continue online.

The official examination timetable and any important information will be officially communicated through student portals and the University’s website.

Students are therefore encouraged to keep checking their portals and the website for any such communication.

By A Correspondent- A knife-wielding robber who was disguised as a woman robbed a 44-year-old woman of US$70, two cellphones and two satchels that had clothes in Rusape on Monday.

The robber, who had offered a lift to his victim, then abducted the woman’s three children and later dumped them near Magamba Turn-off in Rusape

Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman confirmed the incident. He said:

Ms Itai Mutungambera boarded a silver Honda Fit together with her three children. The driver, who was disguised as a woman and wearing a dress, diverted the route and proceeded to Tsanzaguru instead of Mabvazuva where the victims intended to go.

The suspect produced a knife and asked Ms Mutungambera to surrender all her belongings.

He shoved her out of the vehicle and sped off with the three children. Ms Mutungambera made a police report at Rusape Central Police Station.

The three children were later found near Magamba Turn-Off in Rusape where they were dumped. They did not sustain any injuries.

By A Correspondent- Three men who were burning bricks with charcoal in Mt Hampden were found dead under unclear circumstances yesterday.

Police said they are investigating circumstances surrounding the death of the three men whose ages range from 30 to 42. Police said in an update:

Police in Harare are investigating circumstances surrounding the death of three men aged 30, 36, and 42 who were found dead on 31/12/21 at Mt Hampden.

The victims who were burning bricks with charcoal were found between the burning oven and plastic which covered the oven where it is suspected that they were hiding from the rains.

Meanwhile, police have warned criminals who are attacking law enforcement agents who will be performing their constitutional duties.

On Friday, police in Mt Darwin arrested Tapiwa Masarirambi (38) for defeating the course of justice after he attacked and blocked a police officer from effecting an arrest on one Norest Tsungu.

Tsungu was being arrested for an unlawful entry and theft case in which he broke into a shop and stole cash and various groceries at Chakanza area, Chesa.

By-Woman Zimbabwean comedian and socialite Madam Boss, real name Tyra Chikocho, won the African Social Star of 2020 at the 2021 E! People’s Choice Awards.
In the race to be crowned the African Social Star of 2021 from South Africa was YouTube sensation Lasizwe Dambuza; actor, musician and entrepreneur Boity Thulo; make-up artist and beauty influencer Mihlali Ndamase and TikTok sensation Witney Ramabulana.

-State media

Zanu PF politburo member and former Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has chronicled the misfortunes that hit himself and his family in 2021 including being hospitalised after contracting COVID-19, house being gutted by fire and escaping death by a whisker after his car was involved in a near fatal accident near Rusape along Harare-Mutare highway.

Below is Chinamasa’s thread

As 2021 draws to an end my resolve is to give the year a back kick & forget the unpleasant events that occurred to me during the year. For me 2021 was Annus Horribilis, a horrible year. A year when disasters & misfortunes hugged me & side by side became my constant companions.

First Misfortune: In January 2021 I contracted COVID-19 & unable to breathe freely the oxygen in the atmosphere (which by the way we take for granted) was hospitalised for 10 days & was sustained by an oxygen machine …

After I was discharged from hospital I had 2 weeks of daily physiotherapy sessions under the care of a Physiotherapist to help restore the functionality of the lungs which Covid-19 had partially disabled.Through the grace of God bit by bit over a long period I recovered my health

Second Misfortune: On 10 July 2021 while driving on the Rusape to Harare road about 2km from the Tollgate around 6pm, I was involved in a near fatal accident. Driving behind an old lorry laden high with heavy, poorly secured scrap iron junk loose pieces and poles …

the scrap iron junk pieces & poles slipped from the lorry onto the tarmac onto to my vehicle. I was saved by the airbag which popped out & hit me hard in the chest & palm of my left hand.

I was again hospitalised for a week to allow doctors to monitor my condition in particular whether I had suffered internal injuries as well as to administer medical drugs to mitigate the excruciating left palm & chest pains.The palm and chest pains have not gotten away.

Since the accident I have had to undergo weekly physiotherapy sessions to relieve the pain & at times have had to resort to Accupuncture treatment (i.e. Chinese traditional treatment through insertion of fine needles into the skin to relieve pain).

The battle to rid of the pain to the left palm & chest is not yet won. My left palm is still weak to lift anything & as a result I have had to abandon playing golf.

Third Misfortune: On 22 October 2021 between 3.30pm & 4pm the house I built in 1981 i n Borrowdale was gutted by a raging fire. The fire destroyed everything I have worked for the past 49 years of my life-literally everything…

I mourn & grieve the most the irreplaceable loss of my library, manuscripts, documents, records, memorabilia, family photos etc. Through the grace of God there was no loss of life or any injuries suffered.

I am grateful to friends & relatives who have sustained me thus far through generous gifts of suits, shirts, ties, shoes, sheets, blankets, accommodation etc. I shall forever remain perpetually indebted to them.

So to 2021 I say good bye. Fare thee well. I embrace 2022 with zeal & optimism with assured expectation of a ZanuPF Resounding Victory in the forthcoming Parliamentary & Local Authority By-Elections.Iŕ5ŕŕv wish Zimbabweans from all walks of life Compliments of the New Season.

By- The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) has admitted that its members were involved in robberies that characterised 2021.

ZDF confessed in a statement yesterday after seven people died in three recent shootings, one involving a robbery, one involving a soldier now in custody reacting to a mob attack and another involving a man who ignored warnings in a cantonment area.

Brigadier-General Augustine Chipwere, in a statement yesterday, expressed the ZDF’s regret at the deaths.

“The ZDF acknowledges and regrets the loss of innocent lives and deeply commiserates with the bereaved families and communities. The ZDF will assist all the bereaved families in accordance with regulations pertaining to such incidents.
“The ZDF wishes to appeal to members of the public to report any member of the ZDF who behaves in a criminal manner or displays behaviour not in keeping with the ZDF code of conduct, to the nearest cantonment area or to phone the following numbers 024 2792661 and 071 2808007 so that corrective action is taken promptly,” Brig-Gen Chipwere said.
In the first incident, a ZDF member who was on patrol on Christmas Eve within the cantonment area at Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base in Gweru shot and injured Painos Zihesvu Dzvetsvera who later succumbed to his injuries.
Brig-Gen Chipwere said the death could have been prevented had the late Mr Dzvetsvera observed and complied with sign posts around the cantonment area and instructions by the patrol.

On the same day Sergeant Lameck Kabara and Corporal Christopher Charuma were part of an armed robbery gang at 2345 Fern Road, Hatfield in Harare that resulted in the death of Elvis Chijaka and serious injury to Brian Chijaka. The two soldiers and their accomplices are already before the courts.
In the third incident on Christmas Day, there was a shooting at Wanganui Shops in Mhondoro Ngezi at around 6pm resulting in the death of five people.
According to Brig-Gen Chipwere, investigations indicate Lance Corporal Monga had a misunderstanding with a civilian, Brian Mutero, at the shops resulting in a mob attack on Lance Corporal Monga.
After bring cornered and in the melee and confusion that followed, Lance Corporal Monga warned the crowd by firing three rounds into the air.
“Despite the warning shots, the crowd continued to close in on him. He then fired his weapon into the crowd thereby killing four people on the spot and injuring four others, of whom one later died at a local clinic. The other three who sustained minor injuries were medically attended to and discharged from hospital,” Brig-Gen Chipwere said.
He said after the incident, Lance Corporal Monga then sought assistance from a nearby school where one of the teachers drove him to the nearest police station but out of fear, the police officers who were manning the police station could not effect an arrest.

The soldier then walked throughout the night to his camp where he handed himself over to the military authorities who in turn surrendered him to the police.

By – Solomon Mudede, son of the former Registrar-General Tobaiwa Mudede’s son, has been found guilty of stealing a tractor wheel and a car battery from his father and then trying to sell them for cash.

Magistrate Noticia Shenje ordered Solomon(36) to perform 70 hours of community service at Chitungwiza General Hospital.

Shenje initially sentenced him to four months before she suspended two months for three years if he doesn’t commit a similar offence and the other two months were commuted to 70 hours of community service.

Prosecutors said on 11 May 2021, Solomon went to his father’s residence where he stole a tractor wheel and a car battery and went away unnoticed.

Solomon reportedly left the two items for sale at Battery Centre (Pvt) Ltd at 172 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare.

However, officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) recovered the stolen items all worth US$1 600.

Solomon was then taken to court where he was convicted of theft.

More: The Herald

By- A self-proclaimed prophet who leads the Johane Masowe Chishanhu apostolic sect, Madzibaba Emmanuel Mutumwa, has come up with a concoction which he claims can cure COVID-19.

Madzibaba Mutumwa claimed that the Holy Spirit instructed him to make a boiled mixture of mubestrich tree leaves and honey to cure COVID-19 patients. He said:

The medicine was an instruction to me by the Holy Spirit so that the people could survive and live long.

People should practice COVID-19 precautions that are to sanitise, mask up and practice social distancing at the same time drinking the medicine so that they recover from COVID-19.

I produced the medicine by boiling the tree leaves (of mubestrich tree) then mixed the solution with honey and prayed for the mixture before I gave people.

He said he prepares the medicine every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and gives it to congregants who are willing to take it.

Madzibaba Mutumwa conducts church services at his shrine in Selborne Park suburb along Cecil Road in Bulawayo. He added:

From 30 December 2021 to 1 January 2022, I will be at the shrine preparing the medicine and giving it to those who are willing to take it.

Several congregants gave testimonies claiming that the Madzibaba Mutumwa’s brew has healing properties.

James Moyo (48) from Mahatshula suburb, Knowledge Hungwe (34), Munenyasha Takavimba (32) were among those who gave testimonies.

More: B-Metro

By- The City of Harare has announced wheel clamping charges, tow away charges, storage charges and rank disc fees for 2022 payable in both Zimbabwe dollars and United States dollars. The new fees are with effect from 1 January 2022.

In a notice, the City of Harare said the charges in Zimbabwe dollars are payable at the equivalent official exchange rate,

In the Central Business District (CBD), wheel clamping charges in Zimbabwe dollars are as follows:

a) light motor vehicles from $2 451 to $6 434

b) commuter omnibus (15 seater) from $268 to $8 413

c) commuter omnibus (over 18 seater) T35 from $4 085 to $10 393

d) conventional buses and lorries from $4 902 to $11 383

e) articulated heavy lorries $5 719 to $13 363

The wheel clamping fees in United States dollars have also been increased from the 2021 charges:

a) light motor vehicles from $30 to $65

b) commuter omnibus (15 seater) from $40 to $85

c) commuter omnibus (over 18 seater) T35 from $50 to $10 5

d) conventional buses and lorries from $60 to $115

e) articulated heavy lorries $70 to $135

Nyaradzo Group of Companies CEO and founder Philip Mataranyika has been named as the Person of the Year by CMG International Media Group on their end of year recognitions.

CMG said Mataranyika’s recognition is in acknowledgement of his inspirational business leadership and social input over the course of the year, along with other inspiring figures mentioned on the Person of the Year list.

“As CMG, we believe in visionary leadership and impacting people through our spheres of influence. The Person of the Year list is a celebration of some key figures who have inspired through their accomplishments over the course of the year,” said CMG Managing Director, Conrad Mwanza.

“We congratulate everyone on the list for their incredible work and keep urging people to step out boldly into their calling and push to better our communities.

Mataranyika oversaw the diversification of Nyaradzo’s operations, including opening offices in the United Kingdom, and supporting various initiatives of charity and the arts. He is also notably working on a book and shares personal stories and lessons on his large social media following.

Mutare bus fire hero Sirizani Butau was also given a special recognition and gratitude for his service following his heroic rescue of 8 people from a burning bus on 24 December, suffering severe burns himself in the process.

Musical man of the moment Nutty O was named the Musician of the Year following the success of his debut album Mustard Seed. Socialite Madam Boss was named Entertainer of the Year, crowning her hugely successful year as an actress, singer, and influencer.

Prominent arts journalist and media disruptor Plot Mhako was named influencer of the year for his authoritative curation and promotion of the arts through his various initiatives including earGROUND.com

Footballer Marvelous Nakamba was recognised as Sportsperson of the Year after his dramatic change of fortunes and rise to prominence in the English Premier League this year.

Advocate Fortune Chasi was named Politician of the Year with Skylake Boreholes founder Tatenda Samukange being named Businessperson of the Year.

The full publication of the Person of the Year booklet is available here

Person of the Year- Philip Mataranyika

Businessperson of the Year-Tatenda Samukange

Politician of the Year- Adv Fortune Chasi

Musician of the Year- Nutty O

Entertainer of the Year-Madam Boss

Influencer of the Year- Plot Mhako

Special Recognition- Sirizani Butau

Sportsperson of the Year- Marvelous Nakamba

ZEC intentionally gave fake voter's registration stats do you know why ? Zanu PF will run the same register to vote campaign and Zec will give stats of a huge turnaround so that Varakashi will say Zanu PF gt support. Come 2023 hsalsrrfhshs You gerit ? if you don't forget about it

— CHATUNGA (@bellagushaz) December 31, 2021

By – Armed robbers have pounced on Tongogara Refugee Camp and got away with US$60 000.

The two armed robbers disarmed six security guards manning the Chipinge based refugee camp.

The robbery happened on Tuesday.

Below is the statement by ZRP confirming the robbery:
The ZRP is investigating circumstances surrounding an armed robbery case that occurred on 28/12/21 at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Chipinge.
Six private security guards who were securing the refugees’ monthly allowances parked their cash-in-transit motor vehicle for the night on the entrance of a room which they were issued to use.

Two unknown suspects who were armed with an unidentified pistol pounced on the security guards and took from them the motor vehicle keys, keys for Chubb safe affixed to the vehicle and a cellphone at gun point.
The suspects went on to disarm the security guards of their Norinco pistol with a magazine of 8 rounds and a 303 rifle with a magazine of 8 rounds. The suspects then opened the safe and stole two trunk boxes loaded with USD60 360 cash.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended the current lock-down by another two weeks.

Below is his state of the address nation where he announced the lock-down extension.

My Fellow Zimbabweans,

The New Year, 2022, begins under the persistent shadow of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The week closing the year has seen us record a total of 10 384 cases of infections and 142 deaths.

These sombre statistics translate to an average 1 483 new cases of infections, and 20 deaths each day.

The last three days alone were especially dire, with some 2 000 new infection cases, and 30 deaths recorded daily.

Clearly, our Nation is in the grip of an OMICRON VARIANT-induced FOURTH WAVE, whose curve we continue to struggle to flatten before the curve begins to tend down.

In view of this gloomy picture, the Government has decided on the following measures which take immediate effect:

1. The current Level Two National Lockdown is extended by a further two weeks, after which an appropriate review will be announced, guided by a scientific appreciation of the obtaining situation;
2. With the exception of Examination Classes which resume classes as announced by the responsible Ministry, the general school calendar is hereby delayed until further notice. Examination Classes exempt from this delay are however expected to strictly comply with preventive public health measures;
3. While Business reopens and resumes as normal, employers are expected to put in train all the essential preventive public health measures, including encouraging part of their workforce to operate from home, and through virtual platforms as practicable;
4. As before and always, face masks must be worn by all our citizens in public places, spaces, gatherings and when patronising public transport;
5. Those of our citizens who are yet to get vaccinated, should, without delay, proceed to get vaccinated at designated vaccination centres. Provincial task-force teams should be on hand to motivate and intensify the vaccination process;
6. While Government finalises measures to introduce and roll out a nationwide booster vaccination programme, we are all expected to adhere fully to World Health Organisation, WHO, measures on public health, including and especially the washing of hands under running water; sanitising; social distancing; to the extent possible avoiding crowds and unnecessary gatherings and, wearing face masks at all times and in all public situations.

With strict adherence to these measures and precautions, our Nation should be able to ride through this Fourth Wave so we all return to, and resume, our normal, productive lives that we all yearn for. The call is to us all, the responsibility a shared, national one.

I wish you a happy but careful crossover into the New Year which must deliver better health prospects for us all.

Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2022 Zimbabwe.

I thank you.

ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT, DR. E. D MNANGAGWA, ON THE EXTENSION OF COVID-19 MEASURES, STATE HOUSE, 31st DECEMBER, 2021.

My Fellow Zimbabweans,

The New Year, 2022, begins under the persistent shadow of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The week closing the year has seen us record a total of 10 384 cases of infections and 142 deaths.

These sombre statistics translate to an average 1 483 new cases of infections, and 20 deaths each day.

The last three days alone were especially dire, with some 2 000 new infection cases, and 30 deaths recorded daily.

Clearly, our Nation is in the grip of an OMICRON VARIANT-induced FOURTH WAVE, whose curve we continue to struggle to flatten before the curve begins to tend down.

In view of this gloomy picture, the Government has decided on the following measures which take immediate effect:

1. The current Level Two National Lockdown is extended by a further two weeks, after which an appropriate review will be announced, guided by a scientific appreciation of the obtaining situation;
2. With the exception of Examination Classes which resume classes as announced by the responsible Ministry, the general school calendar is hereby delayed until further notice. Examination Classes exempt from this delay are however expected to strictly comply with preventive public health measures;
3. While Business reopens and resumes as normal, employers are expected to put in train all the essential preventive public health measures, including encouraging part of their workforce to operate from home, and through virtual platforms as practicable;
4. As before and always, face masks must be worn by all our citizens in public places, spaces, gatherings and when patronising public transport;
5. Those of our citizens who are yet to get vaccinated, should, without delay, proceed to get vaccinated at designated vaccination centres. Provincial task-force teams should be on hand to motivate and intensify the vaccination process;
6. While Government finalises measures to introduce and roll out a nationwide booster vaccination programme, we are all expected to adhere fully to World Health Organisation, WHO, measures on public health, including and especially the washing of hands under running water; sanitising; social distancing; to the extent possible avoiding crowds and unnecessary gatherings and, wearing face masks at all times and in all public situations.

With strict adherence to these measures and precautions, our Nation should be able to ride through this Fourth Wave so we all return to, and resume, our normal, productive lives that we all yearn for. The call is to us all, the responsibility a shared, national one.

I wish you a happy but careful crossover into the New Year which must deliver better health prospects for us all.

Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2022 Zimbabwe.

I thank you.

By- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has suspended the opening of schools.

He said this during his address to the nation on New Year’s eve.

He said only examination classes for the 2021 Ordinary Level and Advanced Level candidates were exempted from the directive and would sit for the remaining papers starting on Monday next week as previously communicated.

” With the exception of Examination Classes which resume classes as announced by the responsible Ministry, the general school calendar is hereby delayed until further notice.
Examination Classes exempt from this delay are however expected to strictly comply with preventive public health measures,” he said.

According to the calendar, schools were scheduled to resume on the 10th of January. The opening and closing dates for the three terms were announced as follows:
FIRST TERM Begins: Monday 10 January 2022 Ends: Thursday 7 April 2022
SECOND TERM Begins: Monday 9 May 2022 Ends: Thursday 4 August 2022
THIRD TERM Begins: Monday 5 September 2022 Ends: Thursday 1 December 2022.

Dear Mom,
It’s three years since rested. Your absence is heavily felt and we shall come and tend to your resting place soon. RIP Amai. pic.twitter.com/Z51pgcnmZf

— Saviour Kasukuwere (@Hon_Kasukuwere) December 31, 2021

By News24/Correspondent- The South African government Thursday dropped movement restrictions on citizens and allowed fully licenced bars to operate on full throttle.

 A special Cabinet meeting held yesterday, 30 December 2021, approved several changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 Covid-19 regulations.

This follows meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) and the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC), which received updates on the management of the current 4th wave of Covid-19 in South Africa, which is mainly driven by the Omicron variant.

The information gathered through the system used by the Department of Health has reported a 29.7% decrease in the number of new cases detected in the week ending 25 December 2021 (89,781), compared to the number of new cases detected in the previous week (127,753).

All indicators suggest the country may have passed the peak of the fourth wave at a national level.

Cases declined in all provinces except the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, which recorded increases of 14% and 18%, respectively. There has been a decline in hospital admissions in all provinces except the Western Cape.

While the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, there has been lower rates of hospitalisation than in previous waves. This means that the country has a spare capacity for admission of patients even for routine health services. There is a marginal increase in the number of deaths in all the provinces.

Changes to Covid-19 regulations 

Based on the trajectory of the pandemic, the levels of vaccination in the country and the available capacity within the health sector, Cabinet has decided to make the following changes to Adjusted Alert Level 1 with immediate effect:

– The curfew will be lifted. There will therefore be no restrictions on the hours of movement of people.

– Gatherings are restricted to no more than 1 000 people indoors and no more than 2 000 people outdoors. Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue may be used. All other restrictions remain in place.

The risk of increase in infections is still high given the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant. Government therefore calls on all organisers of these gatherings to ensure that all health protocols are observed at all times and that all attendees are encouraged to be vaccinated.- Alcohol establishments that have licences to operate beyond 23h00 will revert back to full licence conditions.

The NCCC will continue to closely monitor the situation and will make further adjustments as necessary, particularly if pressure on health facilities increases.

The wearing of masks in public places is still mandatory, and failure to wear a mask when required remains a criminal offence.

South Africans are urged to continue observing basic health protocols to prevent the transmission of the virus.

Vaccination remains the best defence against severe illness, hospitalisation and death from Covid-19. All people in South Africa who have not yet done so are encouraged to vaccinated as soon as possible. 

This includes people who are eligible for booster shots.

Parents are reminded to support their children aged 12 years and older to use this opportunity to vaccinate before schools open. 

This will avoid learners losing school time as a result of testing positive or as a result of contact with people infected with Covid-19.Government wishes to commend all South Africans who have observed the health regulations and protocols over the festive season. Government urges everyone to continue to act cautiously and responsibly over the new year and for the remainder of the holiday season.

-News24

By A Correspondent- The Government has decentralised the issuance of vehicle number plates throughout the country to decongest the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), a cabinet minister has said.

Speaking during the appointment of additional board members to ZINARA and the Airports Company of Zimbabwe, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, said:

We are decongesting the Central Vehicle Registry in order to clamp down on corruption.

We’ve heard of corrupt tendencies where some could go on to charge US$250 when the fees stand at US$80.

Motorists now have to go to their provinces and access number plates for their vehicles without having to go through inconveniences.

Last week the Transport Ministry announced that vehicle number plates are now available and easily accessible at the following Zimpost offices Chitungwiza, Causeway, Southerton and Bulawayo Main.

It said more sites will be availed in due course until the whole country has been catered for

By A Correspondent- The Government has delayed the implementation of the 2022 general school calendar indefinitely as the country battles the Omicron coronavirus variant that is characterised by high infection rates.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) announced that it had retained the initially announced academic calendar for the year 2022.

According to the calendar, schools were scheduled to resume on the 10th of January. The opening and closing dates for the three terms were announced as follows:

FIRST TERM Begins: Monday 10 January 2022 Ends: Thursday 7 April 2022

SECOND TERM Begins: Monday 9 May 2022 Ends: Thursday 4 August 2022

THIRD TERM Begins: Monday 5 September 2022 Ends: Thursday 1 December 2022.

However, in his address to the nation on New Year’s eve, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the reopening of schools has been delayed until further notice.

He said only examination classes, that is the 2021 Ordinary Level and Advanced Level candidates, are exempted from the directive and will sit for the remaining papers starting on Monday next week as previously communicated. He said:

With the exception of Examination Classes which resume classes as announced by the responsible Ministry, the general school calendar is hereby delayed until further notice.

Examination Classes exempt from this delay are however expected to strictly comply with preventive public health measures

By- Chitungwiza Town Council has threatened to destroy houses which it said were illegally constructed in Seke’s Unit D shopping centre.

The local authority has since given a 48-hour ultimatum to residents to remove them or risk demolitions.

Acting Town Clerk Evangelist Machona said that residents who are building or have already built any structures at the shopping centre have to produce authentic documentation to prove that everything was done above board or risk losing the properties. Wrote Machona:
Notice is hereby given that it has come to the attention of Council that at Town Centre Unit D Shopping Centre, illegal structures (buildings and durawalls) are in the process of being put up or have already been put up without Council approval.
Therefore, take note that in terms of Section 35 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29: 12) you are ordered to Demolish any structures erected and remove any rubble from the land and restore the land to its original state.

This order comes into operation within 48hrs and the demolitions and actions outlined herein should be completed by January the 2nd, 2022.
All those buildings without adequate council papers and inspections will risk having their structures demolished.

-NewZimbabwe

Font miss Chief Ndiweni today on the Final Countdown pic.twitter.com/LCN0LnwRUX

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 31, 2021

By Daniel Molokele| In his now anthemic song, ‘Badlala njani’, that he sung in praise of Highlanders football club; the iconic and legendary Lovemore Majaivana mentions several names outside those actively playing soccer on the pitch.

However, the very first of all the names that he chose to highlight and appreciate is that of the late Ndumiso Emmanuel Gumede.

“Ndumiso Gumede kalamathambo. Ubaphethe njani engelamathambo!”
Such was the successful impact of Gumede on the oldest premier league club in Zimbabwe; Highlanders FC Bosso, which was founded in 1926.

Indeed, few will argue when it is asserted that Gumede is by far the most influential leader that Bosso has ever had in its entire 95-year history.

Gumede devoted most of his adult life into selfless service towards the iconic and legendary soccer club.

He was first asked to serve his beloved Bosso as its representative at Harare in 1974.

Later on, in 1978, at a rather tender age of 33, Gumede was elected as the club’s Executive Chairman.

This was his first stint at the help of the Bosso ship.

His first term only lasted for two years until 1980, when he was called to serve at a national level.
However, Gumede later returned to Bosso when he was elected once again as its Chairperson in 1983.

It was during his second stint that he managed to establish himself as a visionary and innovative leader. Under his impressive leadership, Bosso managed to buy its Robert Mugabe avenue offices, camping house in Luveve known as “Hotel California” and also to take over Queens Bowling Club, which is now famously known as the Highlanders clubhouse.

I first became fully conscious of Bosso during Gumede’s second stint as the Chairperson of Bosso.

I come from a very soccer loving family. Both my parents were passionate soccer personalities.

My late father, Godfrey Mguni was a well-known soccer personality in my hometown of Whange.

During the 1970s, he initially built his reputation as a footballer and later on in the 1980s, he firmly established himself as an administrator.

My late father was the leader and inspirational force behind one of the most successful soccer teams in the early 1980s that played under the local Wankie Football Association (WAFA)

His team was known as the Zulu Royals football club.
Some soccer players used to stay at our home.

Added to that, the team players used to have some of their meals at our home.
Their jerseys or kits used to be washed at our home.

I also used to accompany the team when it was playing its matches.
In fact, I recall that I used to be part of the half-time team talks by the time I was five years old.

I also remember looking forward to eating some oranges during the same half time pep talk. During those days, it was normal for the soccer players to be given oranges at halftime as organic energizers.

It was because of both my parents heavily involvement with the Zulu Royals that my early childhood is replete with vivid memories of these unique soccer experiences. Those memories go back to the time I was barely three years old.

I think I first caught a glimpse of the iconic Gumede in person around 1983. I was only 8 years old at that time. This was the time I attended a Bosso match that I fully recall in my memory. Bosso travelled over to the Colliery. Unfortunately, on that day, they were totally outclassed by the coalminers, popularly known as Chipangano.

I do remember myself weeping inconsolably after Bosso was defeated on that day.

One of my late father’s friends tried to console me but it was in vain. I remember him remarking loudly about my passionate love for Bosso.

Throughout my primary school years, I keenly followed the meteoric rise of Gumede as a soccer administrator. I was able to share the joy of one of his most successful years in 1986, when Bosso did well and won all the domestic cups except the league title.

The 1986 team that was led by the late Willard Khumalo is one of the most talented squads that Bosso has ever assembled. It boasted some of the club’s most famous players such as Madinda ‘Khathazile’ Ndlovu, Peter ‘Captain Oxo’ Nkomo, Fanuel ‘Ncane’ Ncube, Douglas ‘British’ Mloyi, Alexander ‘The Cool Ruler’ Maseko. Mercedes ‘Rambo’ Sibanda, Titus ‘Zee, the Yellowman’ Majola, Richard Ndlovu, Nhamo Shambira, Dumisani Ngulube, among others.

Gumede went on to hold several administrative posts in the national soccer stage. He is a former ZIFA Vice President, CEO and Committee.

In the later part of his life, Gumede returned to his first love, Bosso. It was during this time that I managed to have a personal experience with him.

In particular it was between 2015 and 2017m when I served as the Chairperson of the Highlanders FC South Africa Supporters branch that I had the privilege to work closely with him.

At that time, he was now serving as the club’s CEO.

In February 2016, I worked closely with Gumede when he organized a trip for a special delegation that travelled to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. In particular, I was so privileged to personally host the entire delegation from Bulawayo at my home in Johannesburg, during their brief stopover while they were on their way to Grahamstown.

The delegation consisted of the club’s administrators, executives and also the royal traditional leaders that included Chief Nyangazonke of Kezi and Prince Peter Zwidekalanga Khumalo, among others. The delegation visited the grave of one of the iconic club’s co-founders, Prince Njube Khumalo. The special visit was part of the club’s commemoration of its 90th birthday.

Gumede used to tell me that he was hugely inspired by some of the ideas that I had shared with him that I had hipped would help to transform Bosso into a modern club. In particular, Gumede used to encourage me to fully pursue my passionate idea to help commercialize Bosso as a brand.

I do vividly remember that in my last personal conversation with him during one of my regular visits to the Bosso offices along Robert Mugabe avenue in 2017; he challenged me to seriously consider running for the post of CEO since had decided to retire.

I briefly considered the idea but it was soon overtaken by another opportunity that arose for me to return to my hometown of Whange and serve as its next Member of Parliament.

I do remember how Gumede responded to me, when I informed him of my decision to retrain to active party politics. He had mixed feelings. On one hand he was so sad that Bosso was going to lose one of its most promising administrative leaders. At that time, I was also serving as the Secretary of the club’s institutional reforms Committee. In particular, I had volunteered to take the lead in the process of coming up with extensive changes to the Bosso Constitution.

On the other hand, Gumede was also happy for me that I had decided to return to Zimbabwe and help to build a new future for our beautiful motherland. He encouraged me to pursue my political career in the same selfless and passionate manner I had served Bosso.

Gumede eventually retired as the CEO and later on agreed to serve as his beloved club’s President. This was the position he was still having when he passed away
It is also fitting that Bosso hosted a special event to honour his legacy on the 22nd of December 2021. This was a few days before he passed away. It was indeed a fitting tribute and send off for one of the club’s most famous personalities.

Rest in peace Ndumiso Emmanuel Gumede. We will forever appreciate and cherish your life-long contribution towards soccer in Zimbabwe especially towards your beloved Highlanders football club.

Bayethe! Lala ngokuthula qhawe la maqhawe ethu!

By A Correspondent- Armed robbers pounced on a white farmer in Beatrice killing one.

The robbers, allegedly attacked the Mitchell family at 2am last night and shot dead a lady only identified as Rene.

Said a notice issued in a Beatrice whatsapp group:

Hi Beatrice Community

There’s been an armed robbery at Mantlavina.

Our friend Warren is in a critical condition and is enroute via ambulance to Harare

I so terribly regret to advise that Rene is no longer with us. Please lets all keep Warren and Helena in our prayers. Helena praise God is fine, but understandbly traumatised.

It seems a group came to the farm at 2am this morning. They disarmed the guards and put their uniforms on. They then went to the house and called Rene pretending to be the guards.

She went out and they shot her twice from behind. They then beat Warren badly and he is now at Health Point in a critical condition.

Helena is traumatised but ok. This looks like a ht not a robbery as Rene was pretty cheeky and was involved in a conflict with poachers recently. They threatened to return.”

The Mitchell family are dairy farmers.

Warren and Rene moved back from South Africa a couple of years ago

THE PROVINCIAL ELECTORAL DIRECTORATE MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE
BINDURA

30/12/2021

RE: GROSS IRREGULARITIES IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS HELD ON 28/12/2021: RECOMMANDATION FOR A RE-RUN

We write to you in connection with the recently held ZANU PF Provincial Elections in
Mashonaland Central Province.

There is a serious outcry over the way the elections were conducted and the clear evidence of rigging which renders the results not a reflection of the wishes of the people of Mash Central.

This will most likely pose serious challenges for the new administration to effectively unite the and run the province most effectively, a challenge the outgoing administration has perennially encountered. More so as we edge towards 2023 with our 5-million vote vision.

Amongst issues of grave concern are the following.
Election Officers were seriously compromised resulting in many of them disregarding the rules of conduct set by the party. For example, campaign agents of candidates were allowed to distribute voting material on their own resulting in ballot papers missing especially in Mt Darwin, Muzarabani, Mbire and Guruve.

Some candidates, especially those in the DCC’s, were allowed to run elections in direct
violation of the election rules and regulations. This was more rampant in Mbire and Guruve
where these interested candidates influenced the direction of elections in favour of their
preferred outcomes. Some candidates’ names were not appearing at some polling stations
suggesting a deliberate strategy to exclude them from contesting.

These unruly and conflicted ‘officials’ barred other candidates’ election agents from entering the polling stations. The clear intention was to ensure they could not witness what was taking place inside the stations where processes were being manipulated.

The barring of agents from accessing the polling stations resulting in many results sheets not being signed as required by the regulations.

Vote-buying and intimidation was rife at some polling stations especially in Mbire and Guruve and this contributed to eligible voters not being able to cast their votes. Despite most eligible voters failing to vote, the results sheets reflected a massive turnout which is clear evidence that the election process was seriously manipulated.

There is irrefutable evidence that some ballot papers in Muzarabani and Mbire, were taken
home overnight and only brought to the centres the following morning. These papers were
being worked on overnight to ensure a preferred outcome.

In Mbire, ballot papers were only delivered at midnight on the election day long after the voting period had expired. Most voters had already gone home without voting but the manipulated papers reflected a massive turnout.

Voting also continued on 29/12/2021 up to around 1000hrs without polling agents or police as required. No voters’ roll was used as these rogue officials sought assistance from their rigging teams to fill-in voting slips.

The deliberate lack of the presence of the police in most districts, particularly Mt Darwin,
Muzarabani, Mbire and Guruve opened the whole process to manipulation by uncouth and
abusive officials resulting in wrong results being sent to the command centre.

There is evidence of connivance between district centre officials and counterparts at the
Provincial Centre. Reports already abound, implicating senior members of the Provincial
Centre in manipulation of the voting process for the benefit of ‘partners in crime’.

The Provincial Director in particular, behaved very suspiciously when results started trickling in and started chasing away people from the centre including barring security officers (CIO, MID and PISI) from entering the centre.

This is clear proof that this official had issues to hide from the system which by nature should be very transparent. He barred security officials from accessing data on the election results. It later turned out that data submitted from the district centres was completely different from that inputted at the Provincial Command Centre.

This triggered an outcry and serious claims of corruption and rigging from all corners against these district and provincial officials.

Observations

It is our observation that the election results from this heavily compromised and manipulated process does not reflect the wishes of the electorate. This is the kind of behaviour that causes endless intractable conflicts in the party which unavoidably ends up affecting national elections.

An election is a sacrosanct process that is supposed to culminate in the voice of the
majority. That a few power-hungry people with narrow interests are allowed to replace the true wishes of the electorate is a very dangerous proposition that threatens the credibility of the whole electoral system and reflects badly on party leadership. ZANU PF is the only true custodian of the people’s democracy in this country and therefore we must be seen to be living the values that we espouse. T

his kind of vote manipulation should never be tolerated if we are to retain credibility as the true custodians of democracy and progressive values. The level of manipulation, intimidation, corruption, system abuse and lack of transparency destroys the
credibility of these elections and obviously deprives the electorate of free expression of theirwill.

RECOMMENDATION.
Considering the foregoing, and in the interest of protecting the people’s voice, we hereby
strongly recommend that these elections be re-run especially in the most affected districts like Guruve and Mbire.

Ignoring this level of system abuse will have a negative impact on future elections. Our people will obviously shun elections as they perceive the processes to be worthless. We will suffer voter apathy that can impact even on national elections and obviously hamper our efforts to garner a minimum of 5 million votes for 2023.

Already this is coming on top of perennial disgruntlements over the way the current administration has been doing business that resulted in failure to unite our people and rally them behind the party leadership.

In any case, how do we hope to successfully run this province under these circumstances? Its always much easier to lead people who respect us than to force people to respect us.

We pray that our observations and recommendation will be given due consideration.

Signed
A G MUTASA (077286383) S PARERENYATWA (0772949094)
PSG MASH CENTRAL CHAIRMAN MASH CENTRAL
CC War Veterans National Chairman

1/3 THEY TOO WERE IN GOVT, some as the PM's advisors, for over 4 years; and they had a majority in Parliament to make all the reforms they wanted; they nominated commissioners to @ZECzim, setup under their watch in 2013; what did they do? Alas, some had fun snatching girlfriends!

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) December 30, 2021

2/3 So, yes, the current @ZECzim was setup in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013), when they were in Cabinet and Govt with a majority in Parliament. They say elections are stolen but don't know how; yet the last deputy @ZECzim chairperson, a nice guy, was their deployee!

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) December 30, 2021

3/3 So if it's not the system but individuals, like "G40", what do the self-proclaimed do gooders have to show for their individual input in the 4 years they were key govt advisors?

Meanwhile, their deployees at @ZECzim, as commissioners, should reveal how elections are stolen!

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) December 30, 2021

THE PROVINCIAL ELECTORAL DIRECTORATE MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE
BINDURA

30/12/2021

RE: GROSS IRREGULARITIES IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS HELD ON 28/12/2021: RECOMMANDATION FOR A RE-RUN

We write to you in connection with the recently held ZANU PF Provincial Elections in
Mashonaland Central Province.

There is a serious outcry over the way the elections were conducted and the clear evidence of rigging which renders the results not a reflection of the wishes of the people of Mash Central.

This will most likely pose serious challenges for the new administration to effectively unite the and run the province most effectively, a challenge the outgoing administration has perennially encountered. More so as we edge towards 2023 with our 5-million vote vision.

Amongst issues of grave concern are the following.
Election Officers were seriously compromised resulting in many of them disregarding the rules of conduct set by the party. For example, campaign agents of candidates were allowed to distribute voting material on their own resulting in ballot papers missing especially in Mt Darwin, Muzarabani, Mbire and Guruve.

Some candidates, especially those in the DCC’s, were allowed to run elections in direct
violation of the election rules and regulations. This was more rampant in Mbire and Guruve
where these interested candidates influenced the direction of elections in favour of their
preferred outcomes. Some candidates’ names were not appearing at some polling stations
suggesting a deliberate strategy to exclude them from contesting.

These unruly and conflicted ‘officials’ barred other candidates’ election agents from entering the polling stations. The clear intention was to ensure they could not witness what was taking place inside the stations where processes were being manipulated.

The barring of agents from accessing the polling stations resulting in many results sheets not being signed as required by the regulations.

Vote-buying and intimidation was rife at some polling stations especially in Mbire and Guruve and this contributed to eligible voters not being able to cast their votes. Despite most eligible voters failing to vote, the results sheets reflected a massive turnout which is clear evidence that the election process was seriously manipulated.

There is irrefutable evidence that some ballot papers in Muzarabani and Mbire, were taken
home overnight and only brought to the centres the following morning. These papers were
being worked on overnight to ensure a preferred outcome.

In Mbire, ballot papers were only delivered at midnight on the election day long after the voting period had expired. Most voters had already gone home without voting but the manipulated papers reflected a massive turnout.

Voting also continued on 29/12/2021 up to around 1000hrs without polling agents or police as required. No voters’ roll was used as these rogue officials sought assistance from their rigging teams to fill-in voting slips.

The deliberate lack of the presence of the police in most districts, particularly Mt Darwin,
Muzarabani, Mbire and Guruve opened the whole process to manipulation by uncouth and
abusive officials resulting in wrong results being sent to the command centre.

There is evidence of connivance between district centre officials and counterparts at the
Provincial Centre. Reports already abound, implicating senior members of the Provincial
Centre in manipulation of the voting process for the benefit of ‘partners in crime’.

The Provincial Director in particular, behaved very suspiciously when results started trickling in and started chasing away people from the centre including barring security officers (CIO, MID and PISI) from entering the centre.

This is clear proof that this official had issues to hide from the system which by nature should be very transparent. He barred security officials from accessing data on the election results. It later turned out that data submitted from the district centres was completely different from that inputted at the Provincial Command Centre.

This triggered an outcry and serious claims of corruption and rigging from all corners against these district and provincial officials.

Observations

It is our observation that the election results from this heavily compromised and manipulated process does not reflect the wishes of the electorate. This is the kind of behaviour that causes endless intractable conflicts in the party which unavoidably ends up affecting national elections.

An election is a sacrosanct process that is supposed to culminate in the voice of the
majority. That a few power-hungry people with narrow interests are allowed to replace the true wishes of the electorate is a very dangerous proposition that threatens the credibility of the whole electoral system and reflects badly on party leadership. ZANU PF is the only true custodian of the people’s democracy in this country and therefore we must be seen to be living the values that we espouse. T

his kind of vote manipulation should never be tolerated if we are to retain credibility as the true custodians of democracy and progressive values. The level of manipulation, intimidation, corruption, system abuse and lack of transparency destroys the
credibility of these elections and obviously deprives the electorate of free expression of theirwill.

RECOMMENDATION.
Considering the foregoing, and in the interest of protecting the people’s voice, we hereby
strongly recommend that these elections be re-run especially in the most affected districts like Guruve and Mbire.

Ignoring this level of system abuse will have a negative impact on future elections. Our people will obviously shun elections as they perceive the processes to be worthless. We will suffer voter apathy that can impact even on national elections and obviously hamper our efforts to garner a minimum of 5 million votes for 2023.

Already this is coming on top of perennial disgruntlements over the way the current administration has been doing business that resulted in failure to unite our people and rally them behind the party leadership.

In any case, how do we hope to successfully run this province under these circumstances? Its always much easier to lead people who respect us than to force people to respect us.

We pray that our observations and recommendation will be given due consideration.

Signed
A G MUTASA (077286383) S PARERENYATWA (0772949094)
PSG MASH CENTRAL CHAIRMAN MASH CENTRAL
CC War Veterans National Chairman

By A Correspondent- The Government has postponed the First Term opening day for Form One classes as the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Grade Seven results have not been released.

Form One classes were expected to start school on Monday 10 January with the rest of the learners but this will not be possible.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said the opening date for the 2022 Form 1 classes will be announced in due course.

Read the statement:

Due to the still pending processing and finalisation of the 2021 Grade 7 examination process, the 2022 Form One cohort of learners will have their opening date deferred until the Grade 7 national results are released.

… Parents and guardians who wish to send their children to boarding schools are advised to apply on the ministry’s electronic platform www.emap.co.zw.

The selection of learners for both boarding and day schools will be done by school heads as soon as Grade 7 results are out.

The Ministry also said that only 2021 Ordinary Level and Advanced Level candidates who still have examination papers to write will return to school on 3 January while the rest of the learners will be back on 10 January.

The statement read:

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to inform the nation and its stakeholders that only 2021 O and A-level candidates with outstanding examination components will be going back with effect from Monday 3 January 2022 for the purposes of continuing with the examination process.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Kadoma businessman Kudakwashe Taruberekera is set to represent Zimbabwe in a series of global meetings under the United Nations Global Compact banner early next year.

The UN Global Compact is a non-binding UN pact to encourage businesses and firms worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation.

It is headquartered in New York, United States.

“In 2021, the UN Global Compact launched an array of successful programmes, strategies and events that helped spread our message and encourage companies around the world to sign on and align their priorities toward sustainability,” a UN Global Compact statement reads in part.

The mini-summit brings business representatives from across the globe including government, civil society, academia and the United Nations officials to tackle the world’s greatest challenges.

“This year I attended a number of such global meetings and represented the country. I also made presentations on a number of issues, including gender equality,” Taruberekera said

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of a Beta bus driver who disappeared when the bus he was driving was involved in a head-on collision with a fuel tanker and killed five (5) people.

Police say Philip Tawanda Chirindo surrendered himself to the police on Wednesday. Pindula News presents a police statement on the development:

The ZRP confirms the arrest of Philip Tawanda Chirindo (34), the driver of a Beta Bus who escaped after a fatal road traffic accident involving a Freightliner fuel tanker and a Yutong bus which occurred on 24/12/21 at the 242 km peg along Harare- Mutare Rd.

The suspect who is being charged for Contravening Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 a.r.w section 64 (3) of the Rd Traffic Act Chapter 11: 13 ‘Culpable Homicide’, surrendered himself to the Police on 29/12/21 and will appear in court soon.

Witnesses said Chirindo encroached on the oncoming traffic lane in a bid to avoid a drunken pedestrian and in the process the bus collided with the tanker.

The tanker burst into flames torching the bus that was also reduced to wrecks.

By A Correspondent- Exiled former minister Saviour Kasukuwere says President Emmerson Mnangagwa has no option but to return Zanu-PF to constitutionalism to douse factional flames in the ruling party.

Mnangagwa admitted at an extra-ordinary session of the Zanu-PF  politburo on 20 October that factionalism was tearing the party apart.

Infighting, which has sometimes resulted in violent running battles, has been laid bare during campaigning for the district and provincial elections. Zanu-PF now has two main factions, one supporting Mnangagwa and the other behind Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.

Mnangagwa is also having headaches after party member Sybeth Musengezi dragged him to the High Court challenging the constitutionality of processes that saw him assuming the leadership of the party after the November 2017 coup.

But Kasukuwere, who is also Zanu-PF’s former political commissar, said all this was expected.

“The party must return to constitutionalism. It’s simple. If any leader wants to prevail and work for the party, with the support of everyone, he has to respect the law. It is very simple. He has to follow the law. The party has a constitution and that constitution requires adherence to constitutionalism,” Kasukuwere said in an interview.

“There are processes that have to be carried out every year, two years, three years, four years and five years. Every year, cells must be renewed, every two years branches must be renewed, every three years districts must be renewed, and every four years it’s the provinces and every five years a congress must be held.

You cannot postpone that which is constitutional (district and provincial elections). You have to respect and uphold the law as it is. The rank and file are very disillusioned because of this illegality. Just get back the party to its legal foundation; otherwise everything else remains an illegality, hence the chaos in Zanu-PF.”

Kasukuwere is now based in neighbouring South Africa. “That is what and how the party must function so that there is clarity, and that is how it functioned from 1980. It’s only now that there has been a departure from the legal framework to a completely individual-driven process where there is no respect for party structures, processes,” he added.

“Individuals are just running riot. It destroys the party because the party is run on certain fundamentals. It is not run on the whims of individuals. That is not how the party is run. The leadership must provide, and should provide direction at national level.

“If we can’t respect the law, at party level, how do we respect the law at national level? Charity begins at home. I am not criticising anybody, or looking for favours. The law is the law.”

War veterans have also been dragged into the Zanu-PF fights with a faction reportedly linked to Mnangagwa now pushing for the removal of his deputy Chiwenga.

Chiwenga allegedly has his camp of war veterans pushing for Mnangagwa’s ouster.-newshawks

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) holders in South Africa reportedly suffered a major blow on Tuesday when the High Court in Pretoria struck their two applications off the roll of urgent matters.

Desperate ZEP holders made the urgent court applications to overturn the decision taken by the neighbouring country’s Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi not to renew the permits which expire today.

The South African cabinet last month resolved not to renew the permits, asking the ZEP holders to apply for a special visa regime or face deportation at the expiry of the 12-month grace period in December next year in the event that their applications are rejected.

Various human rights and civic groups have been lobbying President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to reverse its decision, describing the cabinet resolution as a human rights abuse.

Pretoria gave the permit holders until December 31, 2022 to regularise their immigration status or face deportation.

In both applications, the permit holders wanted the court to order the Department of Home Affairs to stop implementing the decision until the matter has been finalised by the courts.

In a statement, government said: “The minister and department rigorously defended both applications and argued that the applicants in both matters failed to comply with the practice manual and directives and lack of urgency.

“The court ruled in favour of the minister and removed the African Amity’s matter from the roll. Costs were reserved. The minister and department intend to insist on punitive costs against African Amity.

“In the matter of Bongani Nyathi, Gaston Ngulube and Njabulo Ncube, the court ordered the applicants to pay the minister and department’s costs.”

Said Motsoaledi: “We are determined to defend any spurious court actions aimed at undermining the lawful and reasonable decision which I took in my capacity as the minister of the department. We are doing this while we acknowledge the rights of individuals and groups to approach the courts to seek remedies if they feel aggrieved.

It is common cause that there are many other groupings who are poised to take on review the decision on ZEP in the courts of law in the New Year. And as a result, the department will defend the lawful, rational and reasonable decision taken in my capacity as the minister of the department.”

But the ZEP holders’ lawyer Simba Chitando dismissed the government statement as “false news”.

“Firstly, the High Court did not dismiss any urgent application regarding the ZEP. That is false news. The application was not even heard by the court because of various reasons including the fact that the minister’s lawyers said that they were not served,” he said.

“The case before the court had nothing to do with the reversal of the ZEP. It was to assert the rights of ZEP holders during the 12-month grace period.”

Chitando said the main case about the ZEP rights to residency shall not be heard on the urgent roll, but would be on the ordinary roll in the fullness of time.

“All that happened was that the case was not considered because of various technical reasons, including the allegation that the minister was not properly served during the festive season,” he said.

At the beginning of the programme 12 years ago, 300 000 people applied for the Dispensation of Zimbabwean Permit, which provided for the documentation of qualifying Zimbabweans for a five-year period.

Pretoria then renewed them under the Zimbabwean Special Dispensation permit in 2014.

The number of applicants shrunk to 182 000 under the ZEP in 2017.

Over three million Zimbabweans are believed to be in South Africa, a huge number being undocumented.

Most of those in the neighbouring country are believed to have fled economic collapse and political persecution in Zimbabwe in the past two decades.-newsday

THE PROVINCIAL ELECTORAL DIRECTORATE MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE
BINDURA

30/12/2021

RE: GROSS IRREGULARITIES IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS HELD ON 28/12/2021: RECOMMANDATION FOR A RE-RUN

We write to you in connection with the recently held ZANU PF Provincial Elections in
Mashonaland Central Province.

There is a serious outcry over the way the elections were conducted and the clear evidence of rigging which renders the results not a reflection of the wishes of the people of Mash Central.

This will most likely pose serious challenges for the new administration to effectively unite the and run the province most effectively, a challenge the outgoing administration has perennially encountered. More so as we edge towards 2023 with our 5-million vote vision.

Amongst issues of grave concern are the following.
Election Officers were seriously compromised resulting in many of them disregarding the rules of conduct set by the party. For example, campaign agents of candidates were allowed to distribute voting material on their own resulting in ballot papers missing especially in Mt Darwin, Muzarabani, Mbire and Guruve.

Some candidates, especially those in the DCC’s, were allowed to run elections in direct
violation of the election rules and regulations. This was more rampant in Mbire and Guruve
where these interested candidates influenced the direction of elections in favour of their
preferred outcomes. Some candidates’ names were not appearing at some polling stations
suggesting a deliberate strategy to exclude them from contesting.

These unruly and conflicted ‘officials’ barred other candidates’ election agents from entering the polling stations. The clear intention was to ensure they could not witness what was taking place inside the stations where processes were being manipulated.

The barring of agents from accessing the polling stations resulting in many results sheets not being signed as required by the regulations.

Vote-buying and intimidation was rife at some polling stations especially in Mbire and Guruve and this contributed to eligible voters not being able to cast their votes. Despite most eligible voters failing to vote, the results sheets reflected a massive turnout which is clear evidence that the election process was seriously manipulated.

There is irrefutable evidence that some ballot papers in Muzarabani and Mbire, were taken
home overnight and only brought to the centres the following morning. These papers were
being worked on overnight to ensure a preferred outcome.

In Mbire, ballot papers were only delivered at midnight on the election day long after the voting period had expired. Most voters had already gone home without voting but the manipulated papers reflected a massive turnout.

Voting also continued on 29/12/2021 up to around 1000hrs without polling agents or police as required. No voters’ roll was used as these rogue officials sought assistance from their rigging teams to fill-in voting slips.

The deliberate lack of the presence of the police in most districts, particularly Mt Darwin,
Muzarabani, Mbire and Guruve opened the whole process to manipulation by uncouth and
abusive officials resulting in wrong results being sent to the command centre.

There is evidence of connivance between district centre officials and counterparts at the
Provincial Centre. Reports already abound, implicating senior members of the Provincial
Centre in manipulation of the voting process for the benefit of ‘partners in crime’.

The Provincial Director in particular, behaved very suspiciously when results started trickling in and started chasing away people from the centre including barring security officers (CIO, MID and PISI) from entering the centre.

This is clear proof that this official had issues to hide from the system which by nature should be very transparent. He barred security officials from accessing data on the election results. It later turned out that data submitted from the district centres was completely different from that inputted at the Provincial Command Centre.

This triggered an outcry and serious claims of corruption and rigging from all corners against these district and provincial officials.

Observations

It is our observation that the election results from this heavily compromised and manipulated process does not reflect the wishes of the electorate. This is the kind of behaviour that causes endless intractable conflicts in the party which unavoidably ends up affecting national elections.

An election is a sacrosanct process that is supposed to culminate in the voice of the
majority. That a few power-hungry people with narrow interests are allowed to replace the true wishes of the electorate is a very dangerous proposition that threatens the credibility of the whole electoral system and reflects badly on party leadership. ZANU PF is the only true custodian of the people’s democracy in this country and therefore we must be seen to be living the values that we espouse. T

his kind of vote manipulation should never be tolerated if we are to retain credibility as the true custodians of democracy and progressive values. The level of manipulation, intimidation, corruption, system abuse and lack of transparency destroys the
credibility of these elections and obviously deprives the electorate of free expression of theirwill.

RECOMMENDATION.
Considering the foregoing, and in the interest of protecting the people’s voice, we hereby
strongly recommend that these elections be re-run especially in the most affected districts like Guruve and Mbire.

Ignoring this level of system abuse will have a negative impact on future elections. Our people will obviously shun elections as they perceive the processes to be worthless. We will suffer voter apathy that can impact even on national elections and obviously hamper our efforts to garner a minimum of 5 million votes for 2023.

Already this is coming on top of perennial disgruntlements over the way the current administration has been doing business that resulted in failure to unite our people and rally them behind the party leadership.

In any case, how do we hope to successfully run this province under these circumstances? Its always much easier to lead people who respect us than to force people to respect us.

We pray that our observations and recommendation will be given due consideration.

Signed
A G MUTASA (077286383) S PARERENYATWA (0772949094)
PSG MASH CENTRAL CHAIRMAN MASH CENTRAL
CC War Veterans National Chairman

By- Out-spoken entertainment promoter-cum- politician and president of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Paddington Japajapa has challenged service chiefs to urgently find effective ways to combat the rampant armed robberies and other criminal activities involving uniformed forces.

In a statement, Japajapa, who is a former liberation war detainee and war collaborator, implored Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander Phillip Valerio Sibanda, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander Lieutenant General David Sigauke, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga to implement security sector reforms as a matter of urgency. Said Japajapa:

CSOs are calling upon the government of Zimbabwe to urgently make security service sector reforms, otherwise, Zimbabwe shall continue to be one of the most dangerous places to live in.

Reorient and reintroduce strict disciplinary measures to all serving soldiers and police officers.

Many officers in the ZNA and ZRP have become a security risk to the nation’s citizenry.

Instead of citizens feeling confident and comfortable to co-exist with ex and serving members of the security forces, the opposite is now happening.

Japajapa’s comments come after several serving members of the ZNA have been implicated in a number of armed robbers across the country.

Earlier this month, retired police detective Joseph Nemaisa was engaged in a fierce shootout with five armed robbers at his home in Chadcombe, Harare.

Three of the robbers were serving members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, including one who was on duty.

Nemaisa shot and killed three of the robbers, while the two who escaped were eventually arrested.

More: NewZimbabwe.com

By A Correspondent- Parents and guardians are urged to always ensure the safety of their children. This follows three recent sudden death cases involving children in Binga, Harare and Gwanda.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) reports that on the 29th of this month, an infant was killed in a fatal Road Traffic Accident when an animal-drawn vehicle ran over the child along Georgia-Garanyemba Road, Guyu, while her mother, who had left the child lying by the roadside, was harvesting Mopani worms.

In a related case, a one-year-old infant who had followed her mother to the garden, drowned in a well whilst her mother (18) was fetching some vegetables on Tuesday 28 December 2021 at Manjolo, Binga.

Meanwhile, an 8-month-old baby drowned in a dish full of water placed beside a bed on which the baby was lying in Dzivarasekwa, Harare yesterday whilst her mother (24) was doing her laundry outside the house.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said they have opened an investigation into the case of a Harare City employee who allegedly jumped from the 7th floor of the Cleveland House building in Harare CBD and died.

Below is the police’s statement:

We are investigating circumstances surrounding the death of an unknown male adult who fell from the 6th floor of the Cleveland Building in Harare on 29/12/21 at around 1200 hours.
The now-deceased who was witnessed seating on the balcony dropped to the ground and died instantly with serious injuries. Relatives with missing persons to visit ZRP Harare Central for identification and anyone with information to contact any nearest Police Station.

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo bound South African-registered haulage truck overturned near Esigodini business centre along the Bulawayo-Gwanda Road on Monday and spilled tonnes of hydrogen peroxide gas.

Fog fumes caused by the spillage resulted in another accident involving a Toyota Hilux truck that crashed into the overturned haulage truck due to poor visibility.

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) acting chief fire officer Jabulani Ndlovu confirmed the accident yesterday.

Ndlovu said plastic tanks filled with the hydrogen peroxide were damaged, resulting in the release of dangerous fumes that pose a danger to the environment.

“On December 27 a Red cargo haulage truck coming from South Africa destined for Bulawayo overturned near Esigodini business centre and blocked one traffic lane after it landed on some of the tanks it was carrying, while others were thrown on the roadside,’’ Ndlovu said.

The containers later caught fire.

“The driver of the haulage truck was rushed to Esigodini Hospital to seek medical attention.”

The cause of the accident had not been established yet.

Environmental Management Agency (EMA) spokesperson Amkela Sidange said the agency activated its systems to prevent the contamination of the environment around the affected area.

“A clean-up has been conducted and we are investigating the case to find out if the transportation of the chemical was done within a specific time,” Sidange said.

“We have witnessed several accidents involving spillages during this festive season and we suspect that transporters were taking advantage of the festive season to transport their chemicals disregarding the specific times.”

Accidents along the Bulawayo-Gwanda Road are often blamed on the poor state of the road which links Bulawayo with South Africa and Zambia.-newsday

By -Zanu PF senior officials who were monitoring the party’s Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee, elections have rubbished the party’s defeated former Chairman for the area and Masvingo Provincial Minister, Ezra Chadzamira’s election rigging claims.

The Mirror reports that the Minister of Information Monica Mutsvangwa and the Foreign Affairs Minister Frederick Shava who were overseeing elections in Masvingo, refused to accept the appeal letters forwarded by Chadzamira.

The appeals come after Chadzamira was humiliated in Gutu where he got 508 votes while his opponent and Zaka North MP Robson Mavhenyengwa got 8 098 votes.

Mavhenyengwa has since been declared the winner of the Zanu PF’s Masvingo Chairman elections.

Chadzamira is believed to be an ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa while Mavhenyengwa is said to belong to the other faction that supports Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

-Mirror

By A Correspondent- Armed robbers pounced on a white farmer in Beatrice killing one.

The robbers, allegedly attacked the Mitchell family at 2am last night and shot dead a lady only identified as Rene.

Said a notice issued in a Beatrice whatsapp group:

Hi Beatrice Community

There’s been an armed robbery at Mantlavina.

Our friend Warren is in a critical condition and is enroute via ambulance to Harare

I so terribly regret to advise that Rene is no longer with us. Please lets all keep Warren and Helena in our prayers. Helena praise God is fine, but understandbly traumatised.

It seems a group came to the farm at 2am this morning. They disarmed the guards and put their uniforms on. They then went to the house and called Rene pretending to be the guards.

She went out and they shot her twice from behind. They then beat Warren badly and he is now at Health Point in a critical condition.

Helena is traumatised but ok. This looks like a ht not a robbery as Rene was pretty cheeky and was involved in a conflict with poachers recently. They threatened to return.”

The Mitchell family are dairy farmers.

Warren and Rene moved back from South Africa a couple of years ago

By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo said they are deploying heavily armed police in the street that would arrest anyone found loitering after 9PM.

This is happening after just next door in South Africa yesterday dropped curfew and opened bars.

Police in Bulawayo said they want the streets to be clear during curfew hours and those found on the wrong side of the law will be arrested and prosecuted.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Abednico Ncube said:
“On 31 December all roads will be closed to the public from 9pm to 6am so no crossover celebrations are allowed. Anyone who will be seen driving during curfew hours will not just be arrested but his or her vehicle will be impounded. Pedestrians who will be seen walking on the streets will also be arrested,” said Ncube.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has failed to release official results for the provincial elections held on Tuesday amid fears the announcement would further destabilise the already fractured party ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.

Party sources yesterday said the unconfirmed results were indicating that a faction linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sharing control of the 10 provinces with one aligned to Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, some of whose candidates were controversially disqualified from the race.

Party commissar Mike Bimha yesterday said the results would be announced when they are ready.

“It (releasing of results) will depend on whether we have received all the results. We are still waiting for some results which are still outstanding,” he said.

“Definitely tomorrow morning (today), we are hopeful that we would have received all of them because some of the results were collated today (yesterday).

“There were challenges because of the rains and some areas were not accessible, so we have to wait for everything to be in position. We cannot announce any results when they are not all available,” he said.

However, party supporters said delays in announcing the election results had caused unnecessary anxiety.

“The delays have caused unnecessary anxiety because so many groups and social media platforms are releasing results while we are anxiously waiting for word from headquarters in Harare,” said a senior party executive who declined to be named.

Bimha on Tuesday released a statement indicating that all results would be released from the Zanu PF national headquarters in Harare after collation and verification.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that Mary Mliswa-Chikoka had trounced her three rivals for the Mashonaland West provincial chairmanship to become the first woman to lead the ruling party in a province.

She was battling it out with Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services deputy minister Kindness Paradza, former provincial youth chairman Vengai Musengi and ex-Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation chief executive officer Happison
Muchechetere.

Acting chairperson Abia Mujeri reportedly withdrew from the race after facing resource challenges, with sources indicating that he lost the vehicle allocated to him as acting provincial leader on the eve of the polls.

Other candidates who were reported to have won the chairmanship include Robison Mavhenyengwa (Masvingo), Kazembe Kazembe (Mashonaland Central), Jabulani Sibanda (Bulawayo), Mangaliso Ndhlovu (Matabeleland South), Godwills Masimirembwa (Harare), Albert Nyakuedzwa (Manicaland) and Richard Moyo (Matabeleland North).

Mnangagwa’s alleged preferred candidate Larry Mavhima was elected unopposed in the Midlands province amid allegations that he was imposed by the President to avoid widening divisions and possible heavy loss in his home province.

In Mashonaland East, party sources claimed that Ozias Bvute, who had covered ground in the province, was removed from the list of candidates a day before the polls because he belonged to a faction linked to Chiwenga.

Housing and Social Amenities minister Daniel Garwe is reported to have snatched the provincial chairmanship in Mashonaland East.

Other party heavyweights who fell by the wayside in the polls include Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Ezra Chadzamira, Home Affairs deputy minister Mike Madiro (Manicaland) and Local Government deputy minister Marian Chombo (Mashonaland West) who contested in the basket system while angling for the provincial vice-chairperson’s post.-Newsday

By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said they have arrested the driver of Beta bus who disappeared after involving in a head-on collision with a fuel tanker.

The accident happened last week near Mutare and claimed five lives.

The driver, Philip Tawanda Chirindo, the police said, surrendered himself on Wednesday.

Below is the statement by ZRP on the Beta bus driver’s arrest:

The ZRP confirms the arrest of Philip Tawanda Chirindo (34), the driver of a Beta Bus who escaped after a fatal road traffic accident involving a Freightliner fuel tanker and a Yutong bus which occurred on 24/12/21 at the 242 km peg along Harare- Mutare Rd.
The suspect who is being charged for Contravening Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 a.r.w section 64 (3) of the Rd Traffic Act Chapter 11: 13 ‘Culpable Homicide’, surrendered himself to the Police on 29/12/21 and will appear in court soon.
Witnesses said Chirindo encroached on the oncoming traffic lane in a bid to avoid a drunken pedestrian and in the process the bus collided with the tanker.

The tanker burst into flames torching the bus that was also reduced to wrecks.

1/2 The ZRP confirms the arrest of Philip Tawanda Chirindo (34), the driver of a Beta Bus who escaped after a fatal road traffic accident involving a Freightliner fuel tanker and a Yutong bus which occurred on 24/12/21 at the 242 km peg along Harare- Mutare Rd.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) December 30, 2021

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo City engineering director Simela Dube died on Wednesday and the cause of his death was not disclosed.

He was 56.

Dube’s death came shortly after the city lost another luminary — soccer administrator Ndumiso Gumede, who succumbed to kidney failure at Mpilo Hospital on Wednesday.

Mayor Solomon Mguni confirmed Dube’s death, describing it as a huge blow to the city’s turnaround strategy.

Mguni said:

The City of Bulawayo would like to advise the public, residents of Bulawayo stakeholders and fellow local authorities of the untimely death of our director of engineering services on the morning of Thursday, December 30 in Bulawayo.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association chairperson Ambrose Sibindi described Dube’s death as shocking news. Sibindi said:

We are shocked after hearing about the sad news. I met him last week and we spoke. He was fit and strong. I never heard about anything wrong with his health.

Mourners are gathered at number 11 McCollough Road, Matsheumhlope in Bulawayo. Burial arrangements are yet to be advised.

More: NewsDay Zimbabwe

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has admitted that the available voter registration centres are not adequate and inaccessible to aspiring first-time voters.

The admission comes after Zec commissioner Jasper Mangwana on Tuesday disclosed that the commission only registered a paltry 2 000 first-time voters the whole of this year.

Zec commissioner Joyce Kazembe told NewsDay in an emailed response that the electoral body plans to add 73 new voter registration centres and embark on a countrywide voter registration blitz early next year targeting mainly the youth.

“It is true that the current registration centres located at the 63 Zec districts and 10 provincial offices centres are inadequate and, for some, are located quite far from their residential locations,” Kazembe said.

Civic society groups have been lobbying the electoral body to decentralise its services to the wards for easy access.

Kazembe added: “Zec is planning to conduct a voter registration blitz during the first quarter of 2022 across the whole country whereby 900 voter registration units will be deployed close to where people actually reside, thus lessening drastically the distances people have to get to the mobile registration centres. These will be additional to the 73 centres already mentioned above.”

Kazembe said the commission was aware that the majority of eligible first-time voters did not have identity documents needed for registration. Zec suspended a planned voter registration blitz because of the Registrar-General’s incapacitation to produce IDs.

However MDC Alliance secretary for elections Ian Makone said the opposition party was not amused by Zec’s admission that available voter registration centres were inaccessible.

“Zec has been fully aware of the call by stakeholders, including MDC Alliance, that they should facilitate voter registration by establishing registration points within reach of target voters,” Makone said.

“Zec is aware that the target registrants are mostly young unemployed youths. It is irresponsible to blame low registration statistics on voter apathy by persons who are eager to exercise their democratic right to vote.”

MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube chipped in: “Zec needed to have worked with the Registrar-General’s office in order to facilitate an accelerated national identity card registration process. It is usually new voters who spike the voter registration exercise and they need IDs in order to become first-time voters”

Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) chairperson Andrew Makoni said Zec’s revelations of having registered only 2 000 voters this year were worrying, and disconcerting after 22 656 deceased voters were removed from the voters’ roll this year.

“It points to either apathy or the absence of continuous voter education on the importance of registering as a voter, targeting especially those who turn 18 years every day and become eligible to vote.

“Given that elections are due in about 17 months, it has become even more urgent to intensify voter education followed by an extensive voter registration exercise across the country. This must start now,” Makoni said.

More- Newsday

By News24- The South African government has dropped movement restrictions ahead of the new year’s eve and said bars with full licences could operate on full throttle.

 A special Cabinet meeting held earlier today, 30 December 2021, has approved several changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 Covid-19 regulations.

This follows meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) and the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC), which received updates on the management of the current 4th wave of Covid-19 in South Africa, which is mainly driven by the Omicron variant.

The information gathered through the system used by the Department of Health has reported a 29.7% decrease in the number of new cases detected in the week ending 25 December 2021 (89,781), compared to the number of new cases detected in the previous week (127,753).

All indicators suggest the country may have passed the peak of the fourth wave at a national level.

Cases declined in all provinces except the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, which recorded increases of 14% and 18%, respectively. There has been a decline in hospital admissions in all provinces except the Western Cape.

While the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, there has been lower rates of hospitalisation than in previous waves. This means that the country has a spare capacity for admission of patients even for routine health services. There is a marginal increase in the number of deaths in all the provinces.

Changes to Covid-19 regulations 

Based on the trajectory of the pandemic, the levels of vaccination in the country and the available capacity within the health sector, Cabinet has decided to make the following changes to Adjusted Alert Level 1 with immediate effect:

– The curfew will be lifted. There will therefore be no restrictions on the hours of movement of people.

– Gatherings are restricted to no more than 1 000 people indoors and no more than 2 000 people outdoors. Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue may be used. All other restrictions remain in place.

The risk of increase in infections is still high given the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant. Government therefore calls on all organisers of these gatherings to ensure that all health protocols are observed at all times and that all attendees are encouraged to be vaccinated.- Alcohol establishments that have licences to operate beyond 23h00 will revert back to full licence conditions.

The NCCC will continue to closely monitor the situation and will make further adjustments as necessary, particularly if pressure on health facilities increases.

The wearing of masks in public places is still mandatory, and failure to wear a mask when required remains a criminal offence.

South Africans are urged to continue observing basic health protocols to prevent the transmission of the virus.

Vaccination remains the best defence against severe illness, hospitalisation and death from Covid-19. All people in South Africa who have not yet done so are encouraged to vaccinated as soon as possible. 

This includes people who are eligible for booster shots.

Parents are reminded to support their children aged 12 years and older to use this opportunity to vaccinate before schools open. 

This will avoid learners losing school time as a result of testing positive or as a result of contact with people infected with Covid-19.Government wishes to commend all South Africans who have observed the health regulations and protocols over the festive season. Government urges everyone to continue to act cautiously and responsibly over the new year and for the remainder of the holiday season.

-News24

Tinashe Sambiri|The People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa has donated basic items to the socially disdvantaged people in Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza.

People from the said areas have been neglected for decades by Zanu PF.

In a statement MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson, Gift Ostallos Siziba said:

From President Advocate Nelson Chamisa with love and solidarity.

Fellow Africans in Nkayi, Tsholotsho & Umguza we hand over Christmas hampers to the elderly & the disabled, this is part of our tradition.

The President fulfills part of his moral and ideological responsibility to stand shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed.

We thank everyone, the leadership, party supporters and well wishers for the support and contributions to make this a success.

It’s a month of giving and the President is showing some love.

Let’s give, let’s show love and embrace change.
Happy holidays

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent his condolences to the Sibanda family following the passing on of liberation war hero Siwanda Kennedy Mbuso Sibanda.

Sibanda, a veteran of the liberation struggle and lawyer, died in South Africa.

Below is Mnangagwa’s condolence message:

The demise on 22nd December 2021 in South Africa of Advocate Siwanda Kennedy Mbuso Sibanda, robbed our Nation of a leading lawyer, professional mentor and veteran of our Liberation Struggle. Ranking among an early crop of black legal practitioners in the then Rhodesia, Advocate SKM Sibanda will forever be remembered for saving the lives of many captured guerrillas who, except for his legal skills, would have met their death at the hands of the cruel Rhodesian regime. He would make it his mission to locate these condemned cadres and nationalists from secretive Rhodesian dungeons in order to avail legal defense, often pro bono.
I had the privilege of working closely with late Advocate Sibanda who was part of the Patriotic Front legal team as we put together the framework for the Lancaster House Agreement which enabled political settlement and delivered our Independence in 1980 after a protracted War for our National Independence. He was a fine legal mind who knew how to use his legal skills towards the defense of captured cadres and detained nationalists, thus furthering the ideals of our National Liberation Struggle. After Independence and as then Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, I would again work closely with him as a member of our Bench which he served with characteristic integrity and honour. Both before and after his stint on the Bench and on a number of Com tow Sibanda mentored many young lawyers into professional adulthood.
May his dear soul rest In eternal peace.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF is working flat out to block former Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Peter Mutasa from chairing the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, ZimEye has learnt.

Sources privy to the development confirmed that the ruling party has since recruited some members of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition to derail Mutasa’s ascendancy to the post of chairing the CiZC.

Confirmed the sources:

“Zanu PF activists with the help of the rowdy Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition members were behind the disruption of the CiZC AGM after it became clear that Mutasa was headed for victory.”

Mutasa became a thorn in the flesh for Zanu PF during his days as the President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) where he openly endorsed the opposition movement MDC.

“The state worked hard to ensure he loses the Presidency during the trade unions congress held in October 2021.”

The new ZCTU President Florence Taruvinga romped to victory after polling 73 votes against Mutasa’s 59.

Added another source:

“Zanu PF invested huge amounts of money to ensure Mutasa loses the ZCTU Presidency. The same modus operandi was employed during the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition AGM held in Bulawayo on December 15, 2021.”

The source alleged that a group of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition members led by Pride Mkono and Leo Chamahwinya (ZimRights) employed violent tactics to disrupt the voting process at the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition AGM. This was after it had became clear that their preferred candidate, Samuel Wadzai was headed for defeat.

“They had to regroup during break time and that is when the strategy to use violence was mooted. There is a group of the Crisis Coalition members who had been given money by State security agents to ensure Mutasa does not clinch the post of Chairperson. It is true that money exchanged hands and that same money was used to hire thugs to disrupt the voting process.

“Zanu PF fears a strong Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition under the leadership of Mutasa hence they are working hard to derail his ascendancy to the post of Crisis Chairperson,”

The source added that Wadzai was viewed as a weak candidate by Zanu PF but this remains largely unknown to him.

Controversial activist, Pride Mkono who fell out of favour with the US Embassy after embezzling Young Africa Leaders Initiative (YALI) funds is widely believed to have links with state security agents and who was at the centre of wars that rocked Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition some years back is believed to be at the centre of the Zanu PF ploy.

His task is mainly to mobilise and cause divisions that would lead to a weak leadership of the Coalition.

Mkono is part of the smear campaign against outgoing Crisis Chair Rashid Mahiya and the Coalition at large.

“The plot is to ensure that Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition members are divided and this is being fronted by Mkono and Chamahwinya. So there are members pushing the Zanu PF agenda quite aware of what is going on while others are in the dark but pushing the same agenda.

Zanu PF is keen to weaken civil society ahead of the 2023 elections hence their concerted efforta to weaken Crisis Coalition which has been instrumental in the fight for democracy in Zimbabwe, ” said the source.

It has also emerged that Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance leader Anoziva Muguti is also part of the ploy and is reportedly trying to manipulate his Information Officer, Godfrey Mtimba, who is also a Journalist to write stories decampaigning Mutasa.

It could however not be immediately established if Mtimba was engaged. ZimEye is however in possession of a whatsapp chat suggesting that Mtimba must be engaged to counter and decampaign Mutasa. (see attached screenshot).

Said Wadzai Mangoma:

“Godie ngaanyore tomuona meaning Godie must write and we will appreciate him.”

Sources alleged that a member of the donor community, identified as Jack Zaba is also part of the Wadzai camp and is believed to be the Kingmaker in the camp and was in Bulawayo on December 15 canvassing votes for Wadzai.

It is alleged that Zaba has been calling some organisations promising them funding from NDI should they vote for Wadzai.

Senior government officials including George Charamba and Nick Mangwana are working hard to derail Mutasa’s campaign.

At one time ahead of the Crisis AGM, there was an attempt to arrest Mutasa ahead of the Crisis AGM and sources said that after this strategy failed, Zanu PF resorted to infiltration. ”

“This is a call for Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition members to resist infiltration and manipulation. The Coalition needs bold leadership and members should not fall into the trap of Zanu PF working in cahoots with rowdy members.

Generally Crisis Coalition members are agreed that they need a leader of the calibre of Mutasa and despite efforts to convince them, the Wadzai camp remains resolute with their plot and this could be because of the reason that they have to account for the money from Zanu PF and also the fact that there are Zanu PF proxies that have been recruited to ensure the Coalition is weakened ,” added another source.

Efforts to get a comment from Mkono and Wadzai was work in progress by the time of writing.

ENDS//

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent his condolence message to the Gumede family following the passing of yesterday respected football administrator Ndumiso Gumede.

Gumede, whom Mnangagwa in his message titled Cde, died at Mpilo Hospital after a short illness.

Below is Mnangagwa’s condolence message he sent to the Gumede family:

I received with grief and sadness news of the tragic and unexpected demise yesterday of Cde Ndumiso Gumede after a short illness. A sports administrator of distinction and a veteran teacher, the late Cde Gumede will be remembered by many for transforming the popular game of football through his competent leadership and professional administration of the iconic Highlanders Club, and when he served on the ZIFA Board soon after our Independence. As its chairman and president, Highlanders Football Club scaled to higher heights, transforming into a household name it is to this day. Above all, his strong African roots turned professional sporting into a cultural carnival for which football fans will miss him sorely.

Always genial and full of jokes, the late Cde Gumede ensured integrity and professionalism in a game which is often mired in controversies of corrupt match-fixing and related ills. Those of us wedded to the game will miss him, keenly feeling the yawning gap he leaves behind. 

Always genial and full of jokes, the late Cde Gumede ensured integrity and professionalism in a game which is often mired in controversies of corrupt match-fixing and related ills. Those of us wedded to the game will miss him, keenly feeling the yawning gap he leaves behind.

On behalf of Government, the football fraternity and on my own behalf, I wish to express my deepest condolences to the Gumede Family on this saddest, unexpected loss. May they continue to draw inspiration from the late departed’s meritorious service to his country, his people, and to the sporting discipline of football.

May his dear soul rest In eternal peace

By- Bulawayo City Council (BCC) director of engineering services, Mr Simela Dube has died.
He was 56.

In a statement, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni confirmed Eng Dube’s death.
“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the public, residents of Bulawayo, stakeholders and fellow local authorities of the untimely death of our director of engineering services Engineer Simela Dube on the morning of Thursday, 30 December 2021,” he said.
“The City of Bulawayo joins the Dube family and the entire Bulawayo community in mourning the sad loss of Eng Dube.”
Clr Mguni said further details will be announced in due course.

-Chronicle

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent his condolences to the Sibanda family following the passing on of liberation war hero Siwanda Kennedy Mbuso Sibanda.

Sibanda, a veteran of the liberation struggle and lawyer, died in South Africa.

Below is Mnangagwa’s condolence message:

The demise on 22nd December 2021 in South Africa of Advocate Siwanda Kennedy Mbuso Sibanda, robbed our Nation of a leading lawyer, professional mentor and veteran of our Liberation Struggle. Ranking among an early crop of black legal practitioners in the then Rhodesia, Advocate SKM Sibanda will forever be remembered for saving the lives of many captured guerrillas who, except for his legal skills, would have met their death at the hands of the cruel Rhodesian regime. He would make it his mission to locate these condemned cadres and nationalists from secretive Rhodesian dungeons in order to avail legal defense, often pro bono.
I had the privilege of working closely with late Advocate Sibanda who was part of the Patriotic Front legal team as we put together the framework for the Lancaster House Agreement which enabled political settlement and delivered our Independence in 1980 after a protracted War for our National Independence. He was a fine legal mind who knew how to use his legal skills towards the defense of captured cadres and detained nationalists, thus furthering the ideals of our National Liberation Struggle. After Independence and as then Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, I would again work closely with him as a member of our Bench which he served with characteristic integrity and honour. Both before and after his stint on the Bench and on a number of Com tow Sibanda mentored many young lawyers into professional adulthood.
May his dear soul rest In eternal peace.

By A Correspondent- MDC-Alliance President Nelson Chamisa has sent his team to deliver Christmas presents to the elderly and disabled homes in Matebeleland Provinces.

The party’s deputy spokesperson, Gift Ostallos Siziba said the food hampers were delivered in Mat South and Bulawayo metropolitan.

” As part of the democratic culture and tradition, we close the year in extraordinary acts of love and solidarity with the oppressed.

‘ Under President Chamisa, the alternative government is envisioned to creating a welfare state, a social democratic developmental state anchored in the values of Justice, freedom and solidarity,” he said.

So what's ZEC doing with the budget being allocated year in ,year out?Alllowances for themselves?Auditor General Chiri and ZACC should visit ZEC .These social media enthusiasts campaigning for voter registration for free should be encouraged as noone should be left behind.

— UpToDate (@PETERDATE2) December 30, 2021

@zanupf_patriots is targeting 5million votes in favor of @edmnangagwa and we're targeting 6 million votes in favor President @nelsonchamisa but @ZECzim is registering a maximum of 2000 people per year and we only left with 12 months to go for national election @ZimEye pic.twitter.com/nIi8rEfBTH

— Innocent Nhira (@NhiraInnocent) December 30, 2021

1. Electoral institutions like @ZECzim did not become inefficient & corrupt after the coup. They were always like that. They were enabled by the ZANU PF regime & its enablers. Efforts to reform them were strongly resisted by the same characters that now moan re: ZEC’s failings.

— Alex T Magaisa ?? (@Wamagaisa) December 30, 2021

2. They had opportunities to make these institutions fair & efficient. But when you are in a position of power & benefiting from politically corrupt institutions you forget that one day you might end up in opposition. And that the system you enabled will be there to bite you!

— Alex T Magaisa ?? (@Wamagaisa) December 30, 2021