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

By A Correspondent- The MDC-Alliance has delivered its 2022 message and said that next year will be a year of encouraging citizens to register to vote in the 2023 national elections.

The massage highlighted their major 2021 events, including their disturbed rural meet the people tours.

The party said the movement was still alive.

The opposition also said they would be running with the #RegisterToVote campaign.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Professional Nurses’ Union (ZPNU) has warned members of the public against procuring pharmaceutical products from unregistered retailers and dealers to avoid being sold counterfeits that may pose serious health hazards.

Manica Post quotes ZPNU president, Mr Robert Chiduku as saying people must buy medical drugs from reputable outlets only to prevent acquiring fake or expired medication. Reports the state-run publication:

We have noted with concern the emergence and increase of unregistered institutions and individuals selling medical drugs. This is against the law as these are not regulated and may not be accountable.

We are urging the public to desist from dealing with such people and outlets as doing so jeopardises their own health as they may be sold fake or expired products.

He added that due to the high cost of some medication, peddling of pharmaceutical products has seen the proliferation of unregulated street vendors and backyard outlets that sell medical drugs.

Meanwhile, public health institutions that provide medical products at reasonable prices have not been stocked enough to satisfy demand. 

Zimbabwe’s health sector is recovering at a painstakingly slow pace following decades of rot that has been attributed to negligence and looting by political elites.

In 2019, antibiotics, painkillers, contraceptives, dermatological creams and body enhancement supplements were readily available on the streets after being smuggled into the country.

By A Correspondent- Exiled former Cabinet minister and Zanu-PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo has said he will not return to Zimbabwe anytime soon as he feared for his life after allegedly surviving an “assassination attempt” during the November 2017 coup.

Moyo is among key G40 members, such as Saviour Kasikuwere, Walter Mzembi and Patrick Zhuwao, who fled the country after a military coup that toppled the late former President Robert Mugabe.

The vanquished G40 was reportedly aligned to a camp linked to former First Lady Grace
Mugabe.

Zanu-PF-aligned cleric Trevor Manhanga on Sunday urged diasporans, including the exiled politicians, to return and help rebuild Zimbabwe.

He made the comments during a national thanksgiving and dedication service held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.

But Moyo said he would not risk his life returning to the country when President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other military leaders who fronted the coup are still in power.

Like compatriots elsewhere in the diaspora, I am ancestrally and, therefore, existentially Zimbabwean and Zimbabwe wherever I am, as such I did not and cannot flee Zimbabwe, but I fled murderous Gukurahundists that Bishop Manhanga was praying with and for,” Moyo said in an emailed response to the NewsDay.

Mnangagwa attended the thanksgiving ceremony in the second capital.

“… they were baying for my blood and they had put my family on harm’s way, falsely accusing me of treason, causing disaffection in the army and working for the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] through the then United States ambassador in Harare, Harry Thomas, whom I never met nor spoke to even for one second during his entire tenure in the country.

“Today, they are the illegitimate government. If I fled them when they were not in government, it is preposterous for anyone, let alone a whole bishop who ought to know better, to say I should go back to the murderous Gukurahundists today when they are the government. It’s like inviting me to a slaughterhouse. Hell no!”

But academic Alex Magaisa accused G40 members of “overestimating” their worth after they were dribbled out of their comfort zones by a faction linked to Mnangagwa in 2017.

This followed reports that the exiled politicians, Kasukuwere in particular, were plotting a comeback to grab power in Zanu-PF.-newsday

By A Correspondent- ZESA Holdings has announced that the prepaid electricity vending system will be unavailable from the 31st of December to the 1st of January 2022 as the authority will be conducting scheduled maintenance.

We present the statement:

NOTICE ON UNAVAILABILITY OF THE PREPAID ELECTRICITY VENDING SYSTEM DUE TO SCHEDULED ANNUAL MAINTENANCE

ZESA Holdings would like to advise its valued customers countrywide that the Prepaid Electricity Vending system will not be available on 31st December 2021 at 1700hrs to 1st January 2022 at 0600hrs to facilitate for scheduled annual maintenance.

The scheduled maintenance is meant to ensure the integrity and reliability of the prepaid electricity vending system for continued efficient service delivery.

The power utility advises customers to purchase adequate electricity to ensure that they do not run out of credit during the maintenance period.

The inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.

It is advised that consumers buy their electricity in time to avoid spending New Year’s Eve in the dark.

You can buy your ZESA Tokens via *405# before ZESA’s system undergoes its annual system maintenance.

Also, you can reach out to Techzim customer support staff via WhatsApp wa.me/263715068543 (+263 71 506 8543)].

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance Gweru urban legislator Brian Dube has spoken out against food politicisation in the province amid economic hardships facing many regardless of political affiliation.

Dube condemned politicians who politicise food aid when the majority of citizens had been condemned to abject poverty, with no income to meet their basic food requirements.

He made the remarks yesterday during the handover of groceries to about 100 people, including widows, orphans and the elderly, in Mtapa and Ascot suburbs.

“As much as almost everyone is feeling a pinch of hardships due to the economic challenges facing the country, we know there are people who are far less privileged compared to others,” Dube said.

“As community leaders, we must identify such people, particularly in high-density suburbs with low or no income at all. The most important thing to note is that we don’t consider anyone’s political affiliation when helping.”

In March, the Zimbabwe Peace Project and Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum called for legislation which criminalises food politicisation.

They made the recommendations in a report titled The Politics of Food: A Contextual Analysis of the Distribution of Food Aid in Zimbabwe.

The report noted that the right to food could not be viewed in isolation as the realisation of that right was dependent on a broad range of socioeconomic and political factors.-newsday

It's a no brainer that @ZECzim has 10 provincial & 63 district voter registration centres. Inadequate, everyone knows that. But if any civic group, church or political party got more people than 2,000 registered in these centres: publish the slips; add the numbers and expose ZEC! https://t.co/efXOQo7Swb

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

By A Correspondent- Professor Jonathan Moyo has rallied Zimbabweans to expose ZEC over its recent statement that only 2000 new voters presented themselves for voter registration in 2021.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) yesterday revealed that it registered only 2 000 new voters in 2021, a drop in the ocean in the face of various campaigns by political parties and civic groups to register first-time voters.

The ruling Zanu-PF and opposition parties rolled out voter registration campaigns during the course of the year to register millions of first-time voters ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.

Zanu-PF has set a target to increase the number of its registered voters to five million to ensure a 65% election victory.

The main opposition MDC Alliance is targeting six million voters.

A number of voter registration awareness campaigns running under various hashtags were launched in November ahead of the suspended Zec mobile voter registration blitz which was supposed to kick off on December 6 and run for six days.

The electoral management body suspended the voter registration blitz following reports that the Registrar-General’s Office was incapacitated to issue identification documents.

A national ID or valid passport is a requirement for one to be eligible to register to vote.

In Bulawayo, civic groups launched EkhayaVote2023 campaign to mobilise virgin voters in Matabeleland after Zec warned that the region risked losing a number of constituencies in the next delimitation exercise — the redrawing of electoral boundaries.

Zimbabwe last carried a delimitation exercise in 2007 ahead of the 2008 harmonised election.

Zec will conduct a delimitation exercise in next year as provided for under section 161(1) of the Constitution on delimitation of electoral boundaries.

But Zec commissioner Jasper Mangwana yesterday dropped a bombshell during a virtual rally for the youth that the commission had so far only registered 2 000 first-time voters.

“We have activated our social media platforms to send out voter registration information and we are trying as a commission during these times of COVID-19,” he said.

“Imagine Zec offices have been open even though we have been in COVID-19 and had scaled down our numbers, but we only registered 2 000 new voters this year out of our 63 district and 10 provincial offices in the country.”

Zec had also announced plans to roll out a second voter registration blitz to run for 35 days, which started two days ago.

Voter registration is provided for in section 17A of the Electoral Act.

The revelations by Mangwana came at a time when the country is headed for by-elections to fill 133 parliamentary and local government seats, which fell vacant following the recall of MDC Alliance representatives by a rival faction led by Douglas
Mwonzora.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week said he would announce the by-election dates early next month.

Virgin voters, who register after the dates have been proclaimed, will not cast their votes in the by-elections.

Wilson Mbanga, a youth who participated in the virtual rally, said: “There is a greater need for education on the importance of voter registration.

“Why do I have to vote? Yes I know it’s part of my rights to vote, but why do I have to vote? I think that is what is making us youth and other people not to register and vote because that education is missing.”

Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba bemoaned the lack of adequate funding for the rollout of voter registration campaigns.

Election watchdogs such as the Zimbabwe Election Support Network have, on several occasions, called on Zec to decentralise voter registration to ward centres.

Mnangagwa and his main challenger, Nelson Chamisa of the MDC Alliance have in the past few months been conducting whirlwind tours across the country drumming up support ahead of next year’s do-or-die polls, with both politicians banking on the youth vote which they touted as the game changer.-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) yesterday revealed that it registered only 2 000 new voters in 2021, a drop in the ocean in the face of various campaigns by political parties and civic groups to register first-time voters.

The ruling Zanu-PF and opposition parties rolled out voter registration campaigns during the course of the year to register millions of first-time voters ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.

Zanu-PF has set a target to increase the number of its registered voters to five million to ensure a 65% election victory.

The main opposition MDC Alliance is targeting six million voters.

A number of voter registration awareness campaigns running under various hashtags were launched in November ahead of the suspended Zec mobile voter registration blitz which was supposed to kick off on December 6 and run for six days.

The electoral management body suspended the voter registration blitz following reports that the Registrar-General’s Office was incapacitated to issue identification documents.

A national ID or valid passport is a requirement for one to be eligible to register to vote.

In Bulawayo, civic groups launched EkhayaVote2023 campaign to mobilise virgin voters in Matabeleland after Zec warned that the region risked losing a number of constituencies in the next delimitation exercise — the redrawing of electoral boundaries.

Zimbabwe last carried a delimitation exercise in 2007 ahead of the 2008 harmonised election.

Zec will conduct a delimitation exercise in next year as provided for under section 161(1) of the Constitution on delimitation of electoral boundaries.

But Zec commissioner Jasper Mangwana yesterday dropped a bombshell during a virtual rally for the youth that the commission had so far only registered 2 000 first-time voters.

“We have activated our social media platforms to send out voter registration information and we are trying as a commission during these times of COVID-19,” he said.

“Imagine Zec offices have been open even though we have been in COVID-19 and had scaled down our numbers, but we only registered 2 000 new voters this year out of our 63 district and 10 provincial offices in the country.”

Zec had also announced plans to roll out a second voter registration blitz to run for 35 days, which started two days ago.

Voter registration is provided for in section 17A of the Electoral Act.

The revelations by Mangwana came at a time when the country is headed for by-elections to fill 133 parliamentary and local government seats, which fell vacant following the recall of MDC Alliance representatives by a rival faction led by Douglas
Mwonzora.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week said he would announce the by-election dates early next month.

Virgin voters, who register after the dates have been proclaimed, will not cast their votes in the by-elections.

Wilson Mbanga, a youth who participated in the virtual rally, said: “There is a greater need for education on the importance of voter registration.

“Why do I have to vote? Yes I know it’s part of my rights to vote, but why do I have to vote? I think that is what is making us youth and other people not to register and vote because that education is missing.”

Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba bemoaned the lack of adequate funding for the rollout of voter registration campaigns.

Election watchdogs such as the Zimbabwe Election Support Network have, on several occasions, called on Zec to decentralise voter registration to ward centres.

Mnangagwa and his main challenger, Nelson Chamisa of the MDC Alliance have in the past few months been conducting whirlwind tours across the country drumming up support ahead of next year’s do-or-die polls, with both politicians banking on the youth vote which they touted as the game changer.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Three Catholic Priests died in a road accident on Christmas Day while the fourth one had to be hospitalised after sustaining life-threatening injuries.

The Church announced that that the trio was buried on Wednesday 29 December 2021.

The Redemptorist Region of Zimbabwe said the three deceased priests are “brother novices” Bradburne Kamundiya, Edwin Chipangura, and Tariro Keith Thulani Samusodza.

Former Tourism Minister, Walter Mzembi sent his condolences.

He said:

As a practising Catholic am deeply pained by the loss of these three Brother novices no doubt our faith has been left impoverished by this irreplaceable loss. May their dear souls rest in peace.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) this week released a statement that shows that accidents that happened between 15 and 27 December rose from 1216 last year to 1295 this year.

This year, 77 people died in road accidents compared to 66 last year.

Police say most of the road traffic accidents occurred on highways as a result of speeding, inattention, misjudgement, following too close, complete disregard of road rules and regulations, and recklessness on the part of drivers.

By A Correspondent- Home Affairs Minister, Kazembe Kazembe, has won the ZANU PF Mashonaland Central Province chairmanship after defeating Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) president, Tafadzwa Musarara in this week’s polls.

Kazembe retains the chairmanship after garnering 20 968 votes against Musarara’s 17 709.

The polls were not without controversy amid reports that the former ICT minister manipulated the electoral process.

Reports say Collen Mharadzano, a senior elections officer, allegedly received US$25 000 from Kazembe to turn figures for him after his rival Musarara raced ahead of him.

Riot police had to fire warning shots to disperse Kazembe’s and Musarara’s supporters who violently clashed after the latter’s supporters prematurely celebrated victory in some constituencies attracting the wrath of their ‘opponents.’

By A Correspondent- Riot cops reportedly fired warning shots to disperse ZANU PF supporters after violent clashes erupted in Centenary, Mashonaland Central province Tuesday night.

The cops were called after camps belonging to bitter rivals, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe and businessman Tafadzwa Musarara, viciously attacked each other in the immediate aftermath of the election.

Sources from Mashonaland Central province confirmed that the violent clashes started after Musarara defeated Kazembe at the local district, prompting jubilant street celebrations by his supporters.

Sources said Musarara’s supporters, upon getting wind of the favourable result, broke into song and dance as they raced through streets in the farming town.

This did not go down well with Kazembe’s supporters, who – armed with logs and stones – descended on them.

Musarara’s supporters, however, stood their ground and fought back, briefly turning Dandamera suburb into a battlefield. An official from the province who witnessed the drama said:

Riot police fired shots yesterday to quell violence at Dandamera. Musarara’s supporters started to celebrate on the streets of the high-density suburb, and this incensed the Kazembe supporters who then pounced on them. 

Mashonaland Central Province is considered by the ruling party to be its stronghold of power.

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 City of Harare worker Wednesday committed suicide by jumping from the seventh floor of Cleveland building.

The deceased was working in the council’s traffic department.

A close workmate of the deceased said he was “a quiet person who rarely shared his personal issues.”

Those who were with him on the field said he was his usual quiet self and nothing looked suspicious.
“He jumped off the sixth floor and landed on the windscreen of an NP 200 company vehicle

“Some were saying he was holding a ticket that he had presumably issued to a driver on the field but we can’t find it. It must have flown off his hand when he jumped.”

Mr Mnangagwa Has Not Achieved Anything Positive In 2021 – True Or False?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 30, 2021

By -Reports coming from Masvingo suggest that the province’s Zanu PF chairman, also Masvingo Provincial Minister, Ezra Chadzamira, has lost the party’s Tuesday elections.

The reports said Chadzamira had since challenged the results alleging rigging.

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

The Mirror reports 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.
Sources say 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. Said one of the sources:
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.

Chadzamira’s aides were recently seen offering food hampers to the electorate, a gesture viewed as meant to buy votes.
The result is considered as a reflection of factionalism in the ruling party. 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- MDC-Alliance youth league senior officials Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri would soon approach the courts seeking acquittal on allegedly faking abduction charges.

Mamombe and Chimbiri, through their lawyer Mr Jeremiah Bamu, said that they would make an application for an exception when they return to court on January 14.

This is an objection to facing the charge in the first place, and the application must be made before the person facing trial has pleaded guilty or not guilty. The act of pleading recognises that the charge is valid and their defence can sink it, while an application for exception wants the charge declared invalid.

The two said they would proceed with that application when they appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Mrs Faith Mushure after she threw out their earlier application requesting for further particulars relating to their case from the State.
Mrs Mushure ruled that the documents, which Mamombe and Chimbiri were furnished by the State after an even earlier application were enough to prepare for their trial. They are charged with publishing falsehoods prejudicial to the State.
Mr Michael Reza appearing for the State had told the court that the two had been given all the particulars they had requested for in September.
Allegations facing Mamombe and Chimbiri are that on May 13 at around 12.30pm, in the company of Netsai Marova who is on the run, they gathered at Choppies Supermarket in Warren Park 1, Harare, with other MDC-Alliance youths.

It is alleged they then staged a demonstration against the recalling of their legislators from Parliament by the MDC-T and the alleged misuse of the Covid-19 pandemic funds. On the same day, they allegedly called their friends, families and lawyers, saying they had been arrested at a roadblock near the Exhibition Park in Harare and were taken to Harare Central Police Station.
Upon receiving the communication, their lawyer Mr Jeremiah Bamu reportedly went to the police CID Law and Order.

-Herald

By -President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top ally and Masvingo Provincial Minister, Ezra Chadzamira, has appealed against the outcome of the Tuesday party’s provincial elections alleging rigging.

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

The Mirror reports 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.
Sources say 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. Said one of the sources:
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.

Chadzamira’s aides were recently seen offering food hampers to the electorate, a gesture viewed as meant to buy votes.
The result is considered as a reflection of factionalism in the ruling party. 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.

By-MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has taken time off party activities and headed to his rural home in Masvingo to “re-energise” ahead of the by-elections scheduled for next year.

“I am in the villages, renewing and re-enegising,” Chamisa said in a short message.

The country will have by-elections for 133 local government and parliamentary seats in the first quarter of 2022.

Zanu-PF has said it will use the polls to test its popularity.

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba said the party would use the polls to “build its mass movement”.

“The by-elections will expose the pretenders and stooges of the oppressors,” Siziba said in an interview.

“We are building our mass movement from the ground, so be rest assured that it will be a season of new strategies, new tactics and new outlook as we brace for the watershed elections in 2023.”

While MDC Alliance leaders appear to have taken a festive break, Zanu-PF has been busy conducting mass mobilisation and provincial elections.

MDC-T’s Douglas Mwonzora said he would use the MDC Alliance tag in the polls, leaving Chamisa with no option, but to adopt a new name.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A 1 19-year-old man was kidnapped and robbed by people in a Honda Fit he boarded intending to go to Harare from Chinhoyi.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police announced in a statement Wednesday that After robbing the victim of his phone and cash, they held him captive the whole night and later dumped him along the Harare-Bulawayo road.

Below is the police statement on the case:

The Police are investigating a case of Kidnapping, Plain Robbery and Aggravated Indecent Assault which occurred between 25/12/21 at 1700 hours and 26/12/21 at 0400 hours.
The complainant (19) boarded an unregistered Honda Fit motor vehicle which had three female passengers and a male driver in Chinhoyi travelling to Harare.

After passing the Harare-Chinhoyi tollgate, the four suspects robbed the complainant of his cellphone, other personal belongings and cash amounting to USD67. The suspects then drove to a certain house in Westgate, Harare where they held the victim captive for the whole night.
The victim was placed in a car boot and dumped along the Harare-Bulawayo Road in the morning. Anyone with information to contact any nearest Police Station.

By A Correspondent- Police in Norton is investigating a murder case involving a body of a female adult, which was Tuesday found along the railway line near Family 24 in Norton.

The body had a deep cut on the head and bloodstains.

“Anyone with information to contact any nearest Police station,” said ZRp Norton.
In a different case, the ZRP is investigating circumstances surrounding the death of Simani Nyathi (12) of Mkubo Village, Nkayi that occurred on the Boxing Day around 1400 hours. Pindula News presents a police report on the case:

The victim is said to have been playing a swing game with his cousin sister (9) when he was allegedly trapped and strangled to death by the swing rope. The body of the victim was found hanging from a tree in a kneeling position with a rope tied around his neck.
Some bruises were observed around the victim’s neck and froth coming from the mouth.

Responding to the report, Zimbabwenas on social media expressed concern and called upon the government to take necessary action to address the issue.

MORE FOOTAGE(including post mortem): Army honours the so called Chadcombe robber with hero gun salute | How do you explain all this evidence which you deny George Charamba ? pic.twitter.com/MdMfSeFPTK

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 29, 2021

By A Correspondent | ZimEye | The Zimbabwe National Army has honoured a soldier who was shot dead by former cop Joseph Nemaisa, granting the soldier turned robber, a gun salute and an official burial.

Charles Chirara was gunned down at Nemaisa’s home following a suspected robbery earlier in the month.

It was reported that Chirara is also one of the ZB bank robbery suspects. Following his burial, the below are 8 things which the Chadcombe condemned robber Chirara’s family disputes to ZimEye in an interview:

1. The ZB Bank robbery their loved one, Charles, the solder was charged for, pertains 2.7 million US dollars and that money belongs not to the bank but the oligarch, Kuda Tagwirei: it was money that was for gold buying from mines scattered around the country. The vehicle raided, was not headed for one destination, the vehicles were moving around the country doing gold buying. This suggests direct links with ex cop Joseph Nemaisa himself, because so far he has testified that he does legal work for a Tagwirei linked firm, Better Brands Jewellery.

2. Their loved one received a gun salute that means a hero burial, by the military, and the footage is available.
3. The number of Chadcombe robbers was previously reported to be 5 but now suddenly the police say that they are seven of them and two have already fled to Mozambique.
4. When he was alive, Charles Chirara told one of his brothers that he is in deals with an ex police officer. Quizzed by ZimEye on the identity of the ex cop, the brother says he does not have a name, but he believes this points to Nemaisa.
5. The family dresses that the Shoot to kill policy is not just because a person is condemned on-site without trial this means that people who are innocent are and will be killed. That cannot be justice.
6. The events leading to the shooting at the former police officers house as they are described by him and by his wife and children do not match, and this creates more doubts on the credibility of his allegation that he truly shot at real robbers.
7. During his last few years, Charles Chirara was described by my work colleagues and community friends as someone who had a heart for others. There is no taint to his character. The family believe that there is politics behind the killing.
8. The narration of events adopted by the police is that of Nemaisa alone. Why not other witnesses? Why the rush?

FULL INTERVIEW FOLLOWS….

By A Correspondent | INVESTIGATIVE | Just as ZimEye exclusively revealed in 2021, Zanu PF informer and socialite Susan Mutami has come out into the public with one only child, contrary to previous claims that she has twins with Norton Law-maker Temba Mliswa.

Last year, the controversial Australian-based Mutami went to town claiming that she was having torrid times with pregnancy carrying Mliswa’s twins.

ZimEye.com early 2021 exposed Mutami’s several bedroom scandals, which included  government ministers and top Army Generals.

The below is a trail of event twists that involved high profile ministers caught between two scandals, one on the sale of stands, and one of trappings using a self proclaimed anti-terrorism expert, Susan Mutami.

It was all triggered when earlier in the year, the Special Anti Corruption Unit head, Thabani Mpofu was close to arresting Local Govt Minister, July Moyo over the alleged sale of stands in Harare, Kwekwe and Gweru for his own benefit.

There were several beneficiaries listed on this reported scandal who are in the ministry of Justice; so to hide this, a quick plan was hatched to get Mpofu fired.

Mpofu, who leads the controversial taskforce, was swiftly accused of authoring letters for MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti advising the opposition icon on ways if navigating through the justice system.

Close sources allege that, when this was about to happen, the Norton MP Temba Mliswa went over to president, Emmerson Mnangagwa to advise him to ignore the calls to fire Mpofu, doing this in order to settle scores with the enemy of an enemy (Mliswa had heard that Thabani Mpofu had been set up by July Moyo, Owen Ncube, and Virginia Mabhiza). Mliswa has had several bones to chew with Thabani Mpofu. Mliswa reasoned with Mnangagwa saying: how could Thabani Mpofu author letters for MDC Deputy President Tendai Biti in this age and time when he could simply pick a phone call.

Parallel to all this, Temba Mliswa was the subject of an ongoing probe in which he was entangled with an ex girlfriend Susan Mutami.

Facts became clear mid February that, Susan Mutami, the centre of the axis, was used to incriminate Mliswa.

Mutami is an enigma. She claims she bedded the late SB Moyo, Killer Zivhu, Temba Mliswa. She is even openly  announces saying she has bedded the President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

She says she has Mliswa’s twins, while at the same time naming her son after his arch enemy, Owen Ncube.

5 LOVERS, 2 PREGNANCIES TO 2 DIFFERENT MEN, ALL IN ONE YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

–

Last year alone she dated at least four different men who include the Foreign Affairs Minister SB Moyo, one after the other:

Polite Kambamura, the Mining Deputy Minister (they were engaged). Walter Chikwana, Secretary for the Judicial Commission (they had a civil partnership in 2020), and ZANU PF MP, Hon Kenneth Musanhi (see pictures).

Furthermore, an affidavit seen by ZimEye states in addition that she was already pregnant way before bedding Mliswa last year.

–

The affidavit, certified by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), shows that as at around March 2020, she was still engaged to another man, who works inside the JSC, Mr Walter Chikwana.

–

The man was reached for a comment but wouldn’t speak or respond to questions.

Meanwhile, the affidavit states that Mutami was carrying a pregnancy to another man at the end of March 2020. In the affidavit, her boyfriend, Mr Chikwana says:

+

‘ I am Susan Vivian Mutami’s partner and in case of emergency I can be contacted on the above mentioned address or on my mobile number, +263772***********”

–

He then goes on to say he is the legal guardian of SB Moyo’s Child (full name redacted-in accordance with the Children’s Act on the paper).

–

” I am also the legal guardian of (name withheld), and our unborn child as of date. Attached hereto is a copy of my identification.”

–

The affidavit was signed on the 24th March 2020.

The development puts burden on Mutami to explain the timing drama surrounding her two pregnancies (to different men) which are within months of each other.

–

She also says that she is the holder of two Australian degrees of which she has none, and also makes false claims that she is the winner of Australia’s CEO awards. During interviews with Mutami, ZimEye reveals how that her claims to university courses are baseless.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

Asked to state which universities issued her 2 degrees, Susan Mutami says: the @AusEmbZim performed all verification checks. She says: "There is no way a whole embassy would just leave and accompany me to go and donate, and hand out donations without doing proper checks on me…" pic.twitter.com/deBmXUv4St

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 27, 2021

Susan Mutami Says Australian Embassy Verified Her 2 Fake Degrees | IS SHE TELLING THE TRUTH?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 27, 2021

She is also put to task on her CEO Awards claim, and it is revealed that she was only a passerby at the function who posed in front of a camera holding someone else’s award. (SEE RGM INTERVIEW BELOW)

Her ex lover, Mliswa has maintained his allegations that he was set up by the Central Intelligence Organisation in order to incriminate him using Susan Mutami.

After all this she is lawfully stopped while trying to leave the country, and then she is put under the custody of the Central Intelligence Organisation.
Mutami is held for possessing details on the attempted assassination of the president and killing of three aides at the White City Stadium, then she is whisked out by two powerful ministers who have close links to the president, July Moyo (local governments), Owen Mudha Ncube, minister of state security. After being whisked out without knowledge of the mother body of the CIO, she then starts to attack to the Director General of the CIO, who she claims she once dated, then threatening to release secret information on the cabinet, Politburo and a number of other official secrets, while on the same tweet, absolving the two ministers, July Moyo and Owen Mudha Ncube.

At this time, July Moyo is under investigations for parceling out land, a case being probed by Thabani Mpofu’s SACU organisation.

July Moyo is very close to permanent Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza and Kumbirai Hodzi, the prosecutor General. At the same time, Thabani Mpofu’s SACU is having clashes with the Prosecutor General. There was a collusion between the Prosecutor Gen and July Moyo to get Thabani Mpofu fired. The PG and July Moyo then approached the president Emmerson Mnangagwa to pass allegations that Thabani Mpofu has advised Biti.

The event trail is as follows:

Thabani Mpofu is accused of writing WhatsApp letters to MDC Alliance MP Tendai Biti giving him advice on how to return to parliament, and this makes the president very angry. At this time, Mnangagwa has also been told by Perm Sec Virginia Mabhiza, and Prosecutor Gen Kumbirai Hodzi, to ignore the request to arrest Minister July Moyo on land fraud.

Mnangagwa then summons Thabani Mpofu to State House where he is dressed down. It is reported that Mpofu has been fired. ZimEye contacts Mpofu who tells this news network, it’s not true at all. Are you my employer?, Mpofu fires a question while answering to the report.

Soon afterwards, Temba Mliswa who is naturally against Mpofu, comes to the rescue of Mpofu to tell the President that Mpofu has been set up. Thabani Mpofu also gets support of the CIO DG Isaac Moyo. This angers July Moyo who together with Owen Ncube sponsor Susan Mutami to tweet ‘some dirt’ on Isaac Moyo while absolving July Moyo and Owen Ncube publicly, on the Twitter website.

State security sources report saying Mutami was whisked out of Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge Border post. ZimEye requests paperwork to confirm that the escape was truly through that border post. No date is provided, but by end of April 2021, she is now safely in Australia.

Both Owen Ncube and July Moyo are contacted for a comment, and their phones are put down soon after hearing the interview questions.

Responding to the state security reports, Mliswa denies ever approaching Mnangagwa to assist Mpofu. He tells ZimEye: “Mpofu, Matanga, Mudha, July Moto, and Ziyambi Ziyambi are all one and the same, working hand-in-hand.”

It surfaces that Mutami is an agent of July Moyo and his team to settle their matters with Director General, Isaac Moyo. Thabani Mpofu then suddenly comes out the victim of the two warning camps.

The development has raised questions on how safe Zimbabweans are when ministers and two officials are using a woman to settle their personal scores. Is Zimbabwe is being run by people controlled by bottom power, or is it that Susan Mutami has some ability to capture all these people, or she is so dazzling to control the nation’s top government officials?

By A Correspondent- Police has announced the death of three infants who perished after inhaling pesticides.

In a statement posted on their Twitter handle, Wednesday ZRP said the infants’ parents survived the catastrophe.

” 1/3 Members of the public are urged to be cautious when using pesticides. On 25/12/21, three female infants aged seven, one and five years died in their sleep whilst their parents, aged 42 and 27 escaped death by a whisker at Jowa Village, Inyati,” said the ZRP.

By-MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has taken time off party activities and headed to his rural home in Masvingo to “re-energise” ahead of the by-elections scheduled for next year.

“I am in the villages, renewing and re-enegising,” Chamisa said in a short message.

The country will have by-elections for 133 local government and parliamentary seats in the first quarter of 2022.

Zanu-PF has said it will use the polls to test its popularity.

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba said the party would use the polls to “build its mass movement”.

“The by-elections will expose the pretenders and stooges of the oppressors,” Siziba said in an interview.

“We are building our mass movement from the ground, so be rest assured that it will be a season of new strategies, new tactics and new outlook as we brace for the watershed elections in 2023.”

While MDC Alliance leaders appear to have taken a festive break, Zanu-PF has been busy conducting mass mobilisation and provincial elections.

MDC-T’s Douglas Mwonzora said he would use the MDC Alliance tag in the polls, leaving Chamisa with no option, but to adopt a new name.

-Online

By- Zanu PF Insiza North member of parliament, Farai Taruvinga has failed to pay his mine workers their salaries for several months.

Last week his 600 workers at Progress gold mine in Filabusi, Matabeleland South province, protested against the Zanu PF lawmaker, demanding their dues.

The mineworkers also complained about poor working conditions and other unfair labour practices.

“The situation was tense at the mine last week. We have not been paid for two months and just imagine going for Christmas holiday without being paid for two months.

This is absurd,” a mine worker said.

“The workers are owed salaries for November and December and went on holiday without pay.

“There was chaos at the mine as workers wanted to burn offices because of non-payment of salaries.

“We were then told to come back in January to collect our salaries.”

Indications are that the workers earn anything between US$200 and US$400 and an additional $18 000.

A finance department employee at the mine, Patience Tshuma, declined to comment.

Taruvinga was not picking calls despite repeated efforts.

This is not the first time that Taruvinga has been accused of not paying his workers on time,

In December 2018, his workers clashed with management over unfair labour practices, including three months’ failure to clear salary arrears.

Taruvinga was elected MP for the constituency in 2018 and is a popular miner in Filabusi.

-Bulawayo24

By- The Ministry of Home Affairs had that current Zimbabwean passports would remain valid until they expire.

The ministry said the online application for passports was open for both normal and electronic passports.

“The normal passport application procedure is going on and non-biometric passports will work until they expire.

“In line with the COVID-19 restrictions and your convenience, issuance of biometric or e-passports is only done online. Anyone can apply for a biometric passport whether your passport has expired or you have it or you have applied before as long as you are a Zimbabwean citizen.”
Current passports will expire in December 2023.
The e-passport US$20 or $2 400 application fees have to be deposited with CBZ Holdings or First Capital Bank.
This was after the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights challenged a decision by the government to grant CBZ Holdings monopoly to collect the application fees.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the e-passport on December 14. An ordinary e-passport costs US$100 and an emergency one costs US$200.

By A Correspondent- Former Foreign Affairs Minister and G-40 Kingpin Walter Mzembi said it’s possible to vote out President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2023.

Mzembi, who is exiled in South Africa after running away from the November coup that ousted the late former President Robert Mugabe, said political persuasion is needed.

“2023 is still very significant; let’s all prepare for it; the heart is won naturally by seduction. If forced to surrender, then there is no consent. , political rap is non-orgasmic, its ritualistic non-enjoyable and criminal,” posted Mzembi on his social media platforms.

2023 is still very significant ,lets all prepare for it , the heart is won naturally by seduction , if forced to surrender then there is no consent, political rape is non orgasmic, its ritualistic non enjoyable and criminal.

— Dr Walter Mzembi (@waltermzembi) December 27, 2021

By-Constitutional law expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku has secured bail for the opposition MDC-Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe.

Wednesday, Professor Madhuku and his partner Simon Chabuka successfully convinced the High Court and secured Haruzivishe’s freedom.

Haruzivishe was arrested on 17 February 2021.

On 31 March he was convicted of “inciting public violence and resisting a peace officer”. The State’s case against him was that on 5 February 2020 Haruzivishe “blew a whistle to alert protesters to pounce on police during a protest”.

On 6 April 2021, magistrate Judith Taruvinga sentenced him to 24 months in prison with 10 months suspended. The prosecutor, Moses Mapanga, had argued for this unjustifiable custodial sentence.
Haruzivishe’s then lawyers, Kossam Ncube and Obey Shava, of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, appealed against the conviction. On 3 May, Justice Webster Chinamora heard submissions from both the State and defence, and reserved judgment. Then Justice Chinamora held on to the judgment for more than two months.

Only on 15 July did he rule to grant Haruzivishe Z$10,000 bail as he said his appeal had prospects of success. He was then transferred from Chikurubi maximum security prison to Harare remand prison, but instead of going home, because he has other cases pending for which he was denied bail.

By A Correspondent- Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema has announced that parents with children attending public schools would not pay fees in January 2022.

HH posted this announcement on his Twitter handle on Wednesday.

“Ever imagined that you’d be entering January without worrying about school fees? Jan 2022, if you have a child in public school, you won’t pay anything. This is what we promised & have delivered. When we removed fuel subsidies, this is what we intended for our people. #Zambia“.

Ever imagined that you’d be entering January without worrying about school fees? Jan 2022, if you have a child in public school, you won't pay anything.
This is what we promised & have delivered. When we removed fuel subsidies, this is what we intended for our people. #Zambia pic.twitter.com/b49D9CTigV

— Hakainde Hichilema (@HHichilema) December 29, 2021

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Football Association board has accused the Sports and Recreation Commission of misleading President Emmerson Mnangagwa over their stand-off that could see local football being frozen internationally and want him to intervene.

The SRC, led by Gerald Mlotshwa, suspended the Zifa board in November and Felton Kamambo and crew have been fighting to be reinstated.

Fifa gave SRC until January 3 to reinstate the Zifa executive committee or Zimbabwe face a ban.

The ban would see the Warriors kicked out of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finals starting in a few days.

Zifa banked on Fifa intervention but so far SRC has remained unfazed by the threat of the ban, with Mlothswa saying, they will only respond to direct communication from the world soccer governing body.

Yesterday, Zifa board members launched a scathing attack on SRC, calling on government to investigate the supreme sports body for abuse of office.

Zifa argued that SRC had failed to provide evidence of allegations of abuse of public funds and sexual abuse of female referees among other transgressions.

“Zifa has been asking for evidence from SRC and still got nothing. Up to this day, nothing close to evidence has been publicly shared by the SRC except defamatory allegations against the Zifa executive committee, council and members,” Zifa wrote in a statement.

Zifa has threatened to release a dossier on SRC “shenanigans” before the end of the week.

“There is no progress that can come out of the current onslaught on football by the SRC backed by some compromised and soiled stakeholders who believe football must only be supported with them at the helm. Further, the board has resolved to now publish a dossier titled the ‘untold story Zifa and SRC’ where all behind the scenes shenanigans by SRC and its advisors shall be exposed and evidence with regards to SRC allegations shall be shared to prove the board’s innocence.

“The detailed document on SRC shenanigans will be shared with senior government officers, media and public together with annexures before the 31st of December 2021.”

Zifa wants government to make its own inquiry into the standoff.

“The committee believes higher well-meaning offices were misled by the SRC into believing that Zifa is guilty of allegations raised by the SRC.

“The executive committee now calls upon those offices to check for themselves and even directly from Zifa if at all any of those allegations can pass any objective test.”

According to Zifa, SRC acted against national interests and sabotaged the country.

“The Zifa board, therefore, calls for an open inquiry into the conduct, motive and decisions of this current SRC board which it believes is anti-development and has acted against national interest. Its actions are tantamount to deliberate sabotage of the sport, persecution of individuals within Zifa by some individuals within SRC, confusion creation and a display of ineptitude in the regulation of sport in our country.”

Zifa begged the government to avert a situation  where the Warriors would be kicked out of Afcon.

“The Zifa board, therefore, calls on government not to be misled by the SRC board and urges it to help the nation evade these potential but unnecessary and avoidable sanctions on our beloved game which are being invited by the SRC.

“We call for urgent intervention by government to stop this SRC sojourn to destruction on a premise which under any circumstances cannot be factually, objectively and legally justified.”

SRC was accused of setting the government against Zifa by misleading it on the conduct of the soccer mother body.

“Further, the Zifa executive committee is well aware of the false gospel being peddled that the suspensions have blessings of the highest office in the land and, therefore, contesting same is fighting the highest office in the land.

“The Zifa executive committee would, however, like to set the record straight, that it is in no way fighting government. Neither is it fighting the highest office in the land.

“The Zifa board respects the government and the country’s leadership and has never acted in ways that suggest otherwise.

“The latest attempt to set the Zifa board against the powers that be are, therefore, only desperate efforts by the SRC and its band of ‘advisors’ to solicit support from the government on their indefensible acts.

“The board is also willing to present itself any day to any government office to show evidence of its innocence and hope the SRC can avail its own proof too including that it has been the best Zifa board so far in more than 30 years of our football.

“The board is very clear that Mlothswa and his fellow board members are not the government, and that opposing their faulty decisions is, therefore, not fighting the government, but legally defending its reputation that is being shattered.

“The Zifa board believes that if allowed to continue, SRC’s actions have an effect of soiling the country and its leadership’s image.”

Following Fifa’s letter to Zifa where the world governing body gave January 3 reinstatement ultimatum, SRC declined to respond saying the letter was not addressed to it.

SRC does not want to engage in any discussion with the suspended Zifa board members.

“We don’t have any official correspondence from Fifa giving us any deadline for re-reinstatement.

“What we have seen in the media is a letter purportedly from Fifa addressed to a suspended member of Zifa,” said Mhlotswa.

Alex Tawanda Magaisa, a former Chief of staff in the office of a late former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai has said “the politically homeless must not overestimate their worth.

Without naming any character, Magaisa, a Law lecturer at Kent University in the United Kingdom, makes the remarks at the backdrop of verbal warfare with Professor Jonathan Moyo who is currently in exile after the latter suggested how MDC should use the money donated to buy an armoured vehicle for Nelson Chamisa.

In a series of messages posted on Twitter, Magaisa rebuked those defending “the politically homeless”  urging them to “stop it.”

Moyo is allegedly a member of the defunct G40, a ZANU PF faction that fought with Lacoste that was aligned to then Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The members of the G40 faction were scattered in 2017 following the ouster in 2017 of the late founding leader of Zimbabwe, the late Robert Mugabe. Some are now in exile.

Below are Magaisa’s messages:

We have always stood by the movement. From 1999 we don’t have to tag leaders for approval. We don’t owe them anything & we don’t require their approval. If they lose track we will tell them in a convivial way. We have never hurt them & they know they are dispensable.

The party is the people. That’s why Nelson succeeded Morgan & people approved of him despite the challenges. Those who want to come in & hang on to the leadership are gravely mistaken if they think they can mock the people just because they can blackmail the leadership.

The politically homeless must not overestimate their worth. They must be humble & appreciate the hurt they caused. The system is what it is because of their actions. The human factor. Haikonai kutiudzira zvekuita. You think elite pacts will buy tickets to glory. They won’t.

And you comrades who never stood up to condemn lies, only to stand up to defend known tormentors, please stop it. We work hard to support the cause. They lie & malign & you pretend you don’t see it. Whatever kompromat they have against you, ignore. It doesn’t matter.

In one of his previous Big Saturday Read (BSR) Magaisa defined Kompromat as blackmailing opponents by threatening to or actually exposing private lives they would not have otherwise wished to be in the public domain.

The United Kingdom-based law expert said this is done for bargaining in business and political deals.

By A Correspondent- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has authorised Ecocash, Zimbabwe’s largest mobile phone-based money transfer, financing and microfinancing service, to exempt Mr Sirizani Butau from Ecocash limits till the end of March next year.

Mr Butau was burnt while trying to rescue people from a Beta bus that was in flames after a head-on collision with a fuel tanker about 20 km outside Mutare on Christmas Eve.

He has been receiving donations from well-wishers and his Ecocash account had reached the limits set by the central bank.

Ecocash then approached RBZ seeking permission to exempt Butai from the limits.

Fungai Mandiveyi, EcoCash Holdings Zimbabwe Spokesperson confirmed the development and said:

I can confirm that we obtained authority from the RBZ to review Mr Sitizani Butau’s weekly EcoCash limit to allow him to pay for urgent treatment, among other things. 

His limit was reviewed from ZWL$35,000 to ZWL$100,000 per week, with effect from Dec 26 2021 until March 31, 2022.  

Mr Butau’s Ecocash account is +263773024849. 

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF held elections across the country to choose members of its provincial executives, but the polls were marred by chaos amid claims of rampant rigging and vote-buying.

Voting started much later than advertised at most polling stations as ballot papers were delivered late.

In some provinces, riot police had to be called in as tempers boiled over rigging fears.

In some parts of Harare and Mashonaland Central, voting had not begun by midday. Zanu-PF had said voting would take place between 8am and 5pm.

Tensions were high in Harare as party supporters haggled over the validity of ballot papers for over two hours amid allegations of attempted rigging.

In Mashonaland Central, where Kazembe Kazembe is tipped to retain his post as chairperson, ballot papers were delivered late. At Blue Ridge voting centre, ballot papers were yet to be delivered by 5pm.

Zanu-PF political commissar Mike Bimha on Monday promised a flawless election but chaos was the order of the day.

In Masvingo, indications were that Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chair Ezra Chadzamira would retain his position against his main challenger, Robson Mavhenyengwa.

Masvingo is among the areas where factional fights pitting supporters of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and those of his deputy Constantino Chiwenga are playing out. Chadzimra is said to be fighting in Mnagwagwa’s corner while Mavhenyengwa is linked to the Chiwenga camp.

Several attempts were made to bar party members linked to Chadzamira from voting because of lack of national identification documents.

Concerns were raised by some members over delayed disbursement of ballot boxes and voting material. By 2pm, voting material was still being deployed for Masvingo urban.

Bulawayo, voting also started late. When the NewsDay crew visited Davis Hall command centre at around 11:30am presiding officers were still taking the ballot boxes to various polling stations in the city.

The ruling party set up 61 polling stations for Bulawayo. Former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda, former Mpopoma Pelandaba legislator Joseph Tshuma, Bulawayo war veterans chairman Cephas Ncube and incumbent Obert Msindo were contesting for the chairmanship of the province.

Bulawayo provincial elections overseer, Kenneth Musanhi told party members at Davis Hall that Zanu-PF was seeking candidates that would lead the party to an election victory in 2023.

Zanu-PF has been losing elections to the opposition in Bulawayo since the turn of the millennium.

In Midlands, there were reports at Chana Primary School that some aspiring candidates dished out maize meal and US$10 to voters ahead of polls. In Gweru, there were reports of vote-buying and bussing of supporters to polling stations.

In Mashonaland West, there were reports that election results would be delayed due to “logistical” problems.

“We are expecting results around 8pm because we had logistical challenges especially in reaching some areas. We will be expecting communication from the head office on when polling will be concluded,” Zanu-PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke told NewsDay.

Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, Kindness Paradza and Vengai Musengi are vying for the post of Mashonaland West provincial chairperson. The other candidate, Abia Mujeri withdrew his candidature last night. Mliswa-Chikoka was said to be headed for victory.

In Mashonaland Central, chairperson Kazembe looked set to retain his post.  But in Muzarabani ballot boxes were allegedly stolen by one commissariat director identified as Mharadzano, who was spotted disembarking from Kazembe’s car.

Nzvimbo John Nhamburo, a central committee member who is alleged to be one of Kazembe’s lieutenants was allegedly spotted trying to steal a ballot box, prompting, politburo members to secure them at the Bindura command centre.

In Mutare, voters in several wards left polling stations before ballot papers had arrived after waiting in vain for several hours. Provincial elections overseer Martin Dinha pleaded with supporters at ward 12A poling station not to leave without voting. Riot police were called in at ward 11  polling station where some party members, who were not allowed to vote, threatened violence.

In Gwanda, there was reportedly less chaos at Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial offices. But in Beitbridge, voting only started after midday. Tourism minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu was one of the candidates.-newsday

By A Correspondent- A family from Zhombe in Midlands province under Chief Ntabeni last week dumped the corpse of their relative at a house in Emganwini in Bulawayo where the alleged murderer stays.

The family was demanding compensation of 30 cattle in an incident that attracted the intervention of the police and the local leadership.

Kwanele Moyo was accused by the Midlands family of killing their relative in a fight over a woman  at Dundubali in Umguza district, Matabeleland North province last week.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednicho Ncube confirmed the incident yesterday.

“Investigations are in progress. Police have launched a manhunt for five people who are still at large and we are hoping to enlist the services of Chief Ntabeni to assist in the location of these people so that we can interview them before we can prefer charges,” Ncube said.

According to preliminary investigations by the police, five family members were seen dropping the coffin at the house before leaving.

Nketa Emganwini legislator Phelela Masuku also confirmed the incident: “People should not persecute the spirit of the dead, but should resolve their differences amicably.”

Emganwini Residents Association chairperson Janana Ngwenya said it was barbaric for someone to dump a corpse at another person’s house

By A Correspondent | ZimEye | Outspoken activist Makomborero Haruzivishe has finally been granted bail by the High Court after spending nine months behind bars.

Haruzivishe landed in jail after his bail was revoked for skipping court in March this year.

His freedom follows a successful appeal filed through his lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku.

In revoking his bail, Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi had ruled that he was in wilful default before he took his appeal up to the High Court.

He is expected to be released this Wednesday.

“I can confirm that bail has been granted by Justice Catherine Muzavazi. We expect that he will be released today,” said Madhuku.

Haruzivishe had several criminal charges pending before the courts but was out on bail up until he defaulted early this year.

He had been in contact with a person who tested Covid-19 positive forcing him to self quarantine.

His argument however did not find favour with magistrate Mangosi.

Bail was revoked in a case he is accused of holding hostage Impala Car Rental employees in protest that the company was involved in the abduction of journalism student and activist, Tawanda Muchehiwa.

Following bail revocation he was convicted in a case he was accused of incitement and resisting law officers before he was granted bail pending appeal by the High Court.- ZimEye

Tinashe Sambiri| Political observers postulate that if citizens vote in large numbers, Zanu PF will not be able to steal elections.

What really needs to be done to stop Zanu PF from stealing elections?

However, Mr Wilbert Mukori asserts that the MDC Alliance should not participate in the coming elections but is this the solution the nation needs ?

Tinashe Sambiri|Popular MDC Alliance activist, Terence Dondo was found dead at Huruyadzo Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza on December 26.

Dondo was popularly known as Chimumu because he had speech impairment.

Read statement below:

28 December 2021

St Mary’s has since Boxing Day been mourning Terence Dondo popularly known as “Chimumu” as he was dump and deaf.

He was found dead at Huruyadzo shopping center.

He was a loyal, consistent, dedicated cadre.

Last week this illustrious son of ours was among other people living with disabilities receiving Christmas humpers from non other than President Adv Nelson Chamisa in Harare.

What a loss!!! Mwari ndovanoziva.

Further we are appealing for donations in cash or kind while we await burial arrangements from the family by mid morning tomorrow.

Finally, CCC members and branch chairs are working tirelessly so that all members are geared up to give this Cadre a befitting send-off.

Munhu wese kwachimumu kusvika avigwa pamakuva aripa KC ayo.

By St Mary’s District Chairman Hon Unganai Dickson Tarusenga