Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says those who think he has run out of political strategies are totally lost.

The regime has assigned social media characters to denigrate President Chamisa to no avail.

One such character is a DJ Towers who claims he has chased away President Chamisa from social media streets.

President Chamisa urged citizens to ignore negative comments about the people’s struggle.

“Dear Zimbabwe: When we appear muted we are pressing the buttons, ahead of the game, in charge and in control. Blessed day to you,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

By A Correspondent- Authorities from Zimbabwe and Kenya are working on paperwork to repatriate a seven-year-old boy from Nkayi who was kidnapped and taken to Kenya in 2016 in a case of human trafficking.

The boy, Awakhiwe Ackim Ncube was abducted while playing with other children in Nkayi’s area of Hompani and his parents only learnt that he was in Kenya through pictures circulating on social media.

He was last seen in his grandparents’ backyard.

Awakhiwe was found at Happy Children’s Home in Nairobi.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said a full statement will be issued today.

The mother Mrs Nobekezelo Maseko was recently quoted in the media saying, “One of the neighbours in Nkayi brought a picture which was sent by his son who is in South Africa. They went with it to show the grandfather of the child who saw without doubt that it was his grandson.”

She then reached out to the orphanage and a woman who runs it confirmed that her Awakhiwe was a resident at the home.

“I sent her a picture and Awakhiwe identified me. The mother, who keeps them, asked us which name are we using when we call him, we said Kim, which is short for Ackim. She then called him by that name and he answered back,” Mrs Maseko said.

Awakhiwe was kidnapped and drugged with two other children by the kidnappers who were headed to Kenya. The other two children were not Zimbabwean.

Upon reaching the border to Kenya, Awakhiwe is said to have started crying and demanding to be returned to his mother. Alert border officials became suspicious and detained the kidnappers as Awakhiwe was speaking in isiNdebele.

They thought the child was Zimbabwean or South African.

The suspected kidnappers, Margaret Juma Magero and David Ochieng Omentho, believed to married were arraigned before senior principal magistrate, Ms Diana Mochache in Shanzu Principal courts on December 13, 2016.

Ms Mochache directed that Awakhiwe and the two children be placed under the custody of Happy Children’s Home until their parents are found.

The other two children have since been identified, extradited to their home countries and reunited with their families.

However, the paperwork to bring back Awakhiwe is still being processed by the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Kenya.

In June last year, police managed to locate and bring back into the country from South Africa, a one-year-old baby boy who was kidnapped last December by a woman from Ushewokunze suburb in Harare.

The suspect who has been identified as Fortunate Tanyanyiwa has since gone into hiding in South Africa and police, working with Interpol are still looking for her.

Detectives from CID Homicide travelled to Polokwane, South Africa with the boy’s mother, Yvonne Machingo (21) and reunited the two following investigations.

Machingo, who also resides in Ushewokunze, approached Tanyanyiwa, alias Mai Tatenda, sometime in December last year saying she wanted to be led to a traditional healer who could attend to her then six-month-old baby who was not feeling well.

It is alleged that on December 12, 2020, the two went to Block 11, Shawasha Flats in Mbare where a traditional healer could assist Machingo.

Machingo was ordered to stay outside while Tanyanyiwa went with the child inside the healer’s house, but she never returned. After a few hours, Machingo tried to locate her, but to no avail.

She even tried calling, but her phone was switched off and a report was made to the police.

Police failed to locate Tanyanyiwa.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZ) CEO, Tafadzwa Chinamo, will leave the country’s capital market regulator at the end of this month after 10 years in the role.

Chinamo joined SECZ as CEO in 2011.

His departure is in line with the new Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Part 1V), which states that CEOs of public entities should serve for a maximum term of five years, renewable once only, to make it 10 years.

Chinamo confirmed the development. He Chinamo told Business Times on Thursday:

It’s true, my term comes to end this month.

I joined SECZ in August 2011  and my departure is in line with the new Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. I only performed the CEO’s duties in the last six months waiting for the conclusion of the process to select the new CEO of SECZ.

Chinamo, however, refused to reveal the identity of the new SECZ CEO.

He said:

The announcement will be published very soon on the new CEO taking over from me since the process is near complete.

Over the past 10 years, Chinamo said SECZ implemented several initiatives including the automation of the capital markets.

By A Correspondent- Eight people were injured and are currently admitted at Bindura hospital after speeding Mtenzi hashtag  bus they were traveling in overturned yesterday.

The driver Semu Paradzai (35) failed to control the bus registration number AEL 0982 at 75 kilometer peg along Bindura- Mukumbura highway.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the accident.

“I can confirm a serious road accident at 75 kilometer peg along Bindura-Mukumbura highway yesterday, seven people were seriously injured and 15 others escaped with minor injuries,” Mundembe said.

He said the driver is being charged for negligent driving.

Police warned drivers of public transport to be more vigilant on the road and safe precious life.

Government has gazetted has revised its earlier move to have passport application fees paid via CBZ Bank in a move that was unfairly benefitting the Kudakwashe Tagwirei linked financial institution.

This is contained in the newly gazetted Statutory Instrument 3 of 2022 which set the e-passport application fees at US$100 and US$200 for normal and urgent application fees respectively.

In a major change of approach the US$20 that had earlier been gazetted to be paid to CBZ Bank for processing the application forms has been removed in what spells of major victory for citizens who voiced out their disapproval of the move.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), which last year blew over US$33 million to probe graft cases and fund its other operations, has admitted that it only secured four convictions while four other cases were dismissed by the courts of law.

In a statement posted on its website yesterday, the anti-corruption body named the convicts as Taurai Murenga (fraud), Maxwell Mahota (impersonation), Josiah Magume (fraud) and Richard Arnold (contempt of court).

Those acquitted are Vutete Mazorodze Hapanyengwe, Simbarashe Chikore, Remigio Nenzou, Adam Zvandasara and Gilfern Moyo.

Civic society organisations criticised  Zacc for targeting “small fish” and failing to secure convictions for the “big fish” accused of bleeding the economy.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition spokesperson Obert Masaraure told NewsDay that the cases successfully prosecuted by Zacc were of “small fish”, which  showed that high-level corruption was yet to be seriously dealt with.

“This level of corruption emanates right within the corridors of Zacc because the moment an organisation built for the sole reason of stamping out corruption ignores high-level corruption and opts to root out small fish, this is a reflection of the corrupt nature of our State institutions,” Masaraure said.

“First of all, corruption is corruption whether low level or high level, but this idea of ignoring the bigger fish is a product of the catch-and-release system and considering the fact that Zacc on its own pronounced that it spent US$32 million in fighting corruption — that is when you see that the numbers do not add up vis-a-vis convictions.

“The nature of the Zimbabwean justice system has been exposed since time immemorial and now with Zacc, it seems it is a case of new wine and old bottles, and this is suffocating the country. The centre is corrupt to root out corruption.

“We have to reconfigure the centre. The ruling elite is running the corruption enterprise,” he said.

But Zacc spokesperson John Makamure rubbished the claims by CSOs that they were not effectively fighting graft.

“Such concerns do not hold water. Of the 180 dockets submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority for prosecution in 2021, 40% are high-profile. Our cases are thoroughly investigated and the dockets are of high quality. Of the Zacc cases that have been finalised in the courts, 70% are convictions and the remaining 30% are acquittals,” Makamure said.-NewsdayZimbabwe

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe has been granted a ZW$20 000 bail.

Among other conditions, Haruzivishe was ordered to report twice a week at the Police’s Law and Order offices, and to reside at his given address. Speaking on the development, MDC Alliance national spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere said:

Mako has been granted bail. To report twice a week at Law and Order, reside at his given address, pay $20,000. Thank you, Jesus.

We have confirmed with the clerk of court at Rotten Row that there are no outstanding cases or warrants of arrests against Mako. Subject to all formalities, @MakomboreroH will be going home today. Thank you to everyone who campaigned for his freedom. Mako is now free.

Haruzivishe has been facing a number of charges including inciting public violence and kidnapping.

He denies violating any law, and his party says “these are trumped-up charges” must be viewed as the government’s attempt to crack down on dissent.

The former students unionist has been in detention for the past ten months.

By A Correspondent- In an incident that has left villagers in Chinamhora shell-shocked, a 43-year-old man died after setting himself ablaze at his in-laws’ residence.

Abel Chivandire, of Ndoro village, under Chief Chinamhora, died at his in-laws’ residence after his wife deserted him over a domestic dispute.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii confirmed the incident.

He said in the event of misunderstandings, people should seek guidance and advice “from trusted elders, professional counsellors and even at nearest police stations”.

According to police, on January 2 at around 8am, Chivandire visited his in-laws where his wife Isabel Mabiza (38) had fled to her parents’ home following a domestic dispute.

Chivandire, who reportedly had petrol, is said to have barricaded himself inside a Blair toilet and set himself ablaze after failing to reconcile with his wife.

He died on the spot after villagers failed to douse the fire.

Chinamhora police attended the scene and took the body to Makumbe Hospital for post-mortem.

He left behind his wife and three children.

Tinashe Sambiri |Zimbabwe Electoral Commission( ZEC) credibility is under scrutiny after the release of false information about the voter registration exercise across the country.

In a statement, Team Pachedu accused ZEC deliberately misleading the nation in a bid to create voter apathy.

In the same statement, Team Pachedu called for the immediate resignation of ZEC Commissioner Joyce Kazembe, turning 72 this year.

Below is Team Pachedu’s presentation:

ZEC Commissioner, Joyce Kazembe, turns 72 years old this year, being born on 31 May 1949.

Gogo, it’s time for you to enjoy your pension!

She has been with ZEC from as far back as 1999 and oversaw all the chaotic, shambolic and disputed elections in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2013 & 2018.

She is not fit for purpose and must resign!

ZEC lied that only 117 women from Manicaland Province registered to vote in 2021.

… samples of just 125 women; 113 of which were from Mutasa District ALONE and ONLY registered to vote between September and December.
Any comment?

By A Correspondent- Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga has reshuffled his deputies to new portfolios as part of efforts to strengthen the organisation’s performance “in line with government’s vision 2030”.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the reassignments in a statement yesterday.

Part of the statement read: “Deputy Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba from operations has been transferred to administration as the deputy Commissioner-General (administration). Deputy Commissioner-General Mind Elliot Ngirandi from crime has been reassigned to the human resources department as Deputy Commissioner-General (human resources).

Deputy Commissioner-General Learn Ncube from administrations has been reassigned to operations as Deputy Commissioner -General (operations) and Deputy Commissioner-General Lorraine Chipato from human resources has been reassigned to crime as Deputy Commissioner-General (crime).”-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A massive corruption scandal has erupted at the Zanu-PF national headquarters in Harare after it emerged that senior executives smuggled a private an inept company through the back door to land a lucrative contract for the printing of ballot papers used in the recently held provincial elections at the expense of a party owned company.

The ruling party has since launched an internal investigation to establish circumstances under which a company known as VGP Technologies ended up snapping the money-spinning company at the expense of Jongwe Printers which has always been used to do such tasks.

Jongwe Printers is wholly owned by Zanu-PF while some party officials are believed to have interests in VGP Technologies.

Sources said the issue has since resulted in Zanu-PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke requesting State Security minister Owen Ncube to deploy Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives to carry out investigations into the scandal, in which executives are suspected to have pocketed huge sums of money in kickbacks.

The CIO investigation, sources said, recommended further probes on Zanu-PF director of administration Dickson Dzora, whose head is now on the chopping block.

In fact, the sources said, the CIOs found out that Jongwe Printers had the contract taken away from them well after it had completed printing press the ballot papers and all necessary materials.

Ironically, there were reports of shortages of ballot papers in some areas.

A CIO report submitted to Matuke at the end of the investigation, sources further said, revealed that VGP Technologies, based at Engineering House in Harare’s CBD, did not even have the capacity to print the materials and had to sub-contract another company which NewZimbabwe.com was yet to know by the time of publication as it was not named in the report.

Interestingly, upon being questioned, Dzora reportedly said Jongwe Printers had the contract taken away from them on account of “unsustainably high costs”.

However, our investigation established that there were official negotiations over the prices which resulted in Jongwe Printers offering to reduced the cost to the same level as VGP Technologies, yet still the latter got the deal.

A source at the party headquarters confirmed the investigation and gave details on how the decision to revoke Jongwe Printers’ contract was explained.

“Jongwe Printers had initially, as per tradition, been granted the contract but it was surreptitiously taken away from them on the pretext that it was overpriced,” a highly placed Zanu-PF source said.

“Jongwe then offered lower prices to match that which was being offered by the other company but was still denied. Matuke then requested for a CIO investigation into the matter and that is when it was discovered that VGP Technologies did not have the capacity to do the job and had clandestinely subcontracted another company to do the job.

Another source said: “There is obviously a lot of deceit in this deal. Why did they do that to Jongwe Printers. Dzora and his colleagues have to be thoroughly investigated in this issue.”

Dzora declined to comment on the issue saying NewZimbabwe.com had no business in what happens at the Zanu-PF headquarters.

“What has that got to do with you, why would you want to know that? It is not newsworthy at all,” Dzora said.

“The people who are complaining about the matter have no right to be poking their noses into business contracts. It is a business issue, and it is entirely up to us,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Matuke were fruitless as calls on his mobile number went unanswered.

By A Correspondent- Some schools in Bulawayo have been demanding fees for candidates that are writing Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations, a practice that has been condemned by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

Normally, pupils finish writing public examinations by mid-December, but last year’s exam timetable spilled over into this year due to learning disruptions caused by Covid-19.

O and A Level exams took a two-week break on December 17 and resumed on January 3.

The exams are expected to end on January 31.

In light of this, some schools have written to parents demanding 33 percent of full-term fees so that they conduct examinations for the papers that spilled into year.

“You are expected to pay before or on the third of January 2022, being 33% of the fees of a normal 60-day term.

Please, pay timeously so that the examinations are run smoothly and efficiently,” read one message from Gifford High School.

At Milton High School the situation is the same as parents say they were told to pay $2 000. It is a different case at Eveline High School as pupils were supposed to pay $6 000 for the third term and because of the extension by 20 days of the term, they are now paying an extra $2 100.

According to the schools, this money covers utility bills, fuel- exams collected and delivered daily, purchase of sanitisers and disinfectants, cleaning materials and salaries of grounds staff.

Some schools are threatening to withhold results should parents not pay.

One parent said:

“We are hard pressed for money and I thought my child would finish their exams this month as normal. I paid examination fees but I was surprised as were other parents that we had to pay over $2 000 for the consumables. It’s impossible for me to do that because I have already paid rent and other things,” said the parent.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro said parents with day scholars are not expected to pay.

“As for day scholars they have a contract with Zimsec. They are just going to the centre; they write their exam and they’re dismissed. There’s no need for money for this and that, they just write and they are dismissed,” said Mr Ndoro.

“This is why they pay examination fees, which are supposed to cover all that and if they have any issues, it’ll be prudent to refer them (schools) to Zimsec.”

Mr Ndoro said it was understandable that parents with children writing at boarding schools pay for their children’s upkeep.

“The boarders pay for their upkeep because the school can’t keep them there without getting them something to eat.

They will probably use electricity in the evening to study. They’re certain schools that pro rata these fees on a daily basis, while others on a weekly basis,” he said.

“Other parents will say, look, my child is going to write only two papers so I will take my child to write the exam.

Then take them back home and then return them for the other exam. Which is actually cheaper (than the pupil staying in boarding).”

Mr Ndoro said if schools and parents agree on a fee, the figure should be nominal.

“If there’s a day school that’s actually charging, any utilities I can use are just a token, perhaps for cleaning the toilets, it’ll be very nominal. It’ll be a figure that you will also want to pay if you use a public toilet. Because you are at the school and you want to use the toilet and who is going to clean it,” said Mr Ndoro.

“The figure is very nominal, but this is where the problem is, what do they want the $2 500 for? Perhaps one learner is in in upper six and is writing one exam and you want them to pay $2 500.”

Mr Ndoro said schools should sympathise with parents who are already struggling.

“We don’t want our institutions to look like corrupt institutions. Because this starts to raise red flags and we should have discipline in terms of how these levies are to be collected. These learners already paid their examination fees which will cater for the overheads. Obviously, there is a conciliatory tone that we can have and say if you are waiting, pay at least $100 per day for the school to be able to clean the ablution facilities,” said Mr Ndoro.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa has extended her philanthropic work and empowerment initiatives to sex workers in Gweru where she donated farming inputs so that they could embark on farming projects.

Amai Mnangagwa donated the agricultural inputs through the Gweru Women’s Aids Prevention Association (GWAPA), an organisation that works with commercial sex workers in the city.

GWAPA has over two hectares of land to be used for farming activities to benefit its primary target; commercial sex workers.

Midlands Province has over 7 000 registered sex workers who are getting assistance from Government departments and other development partners like the Centre for Sexual Health HIV and Aids Research Zimbabwe.

The First Lady, who was represented by Midlands Provincial and Devolution Minister Larry Mavima, on Wednesday donated maize seed and fertiliser for this agricultural season.

The piece of land was provided to GWAPA by Gweru City Council, while Government will complement the efforts through provision of a tractor for tillage purposes through the District Development Fund (DDF).

The group expressed gratitude for the empowerment initiatives being facilitated by the First Lady in the face of adversities they face in their day to day lives.

Ms Miriam Nyathi who has been in the business for close to a decade commended the First Lady for the donation, which she said will uplift them.

“Most people fail to understand that for us to end up on the streets, it is not by choice. Circumstances differ. Some of us had children when we were still young. We need to feed these children. It’s not easy to come out in front of people and declare my profession as being a prostitute. I want to thank Amai Mnangagwa for this great initiative. We need more self-help projects,” she said.

Another sex worker, Ms Rita Mausengwe, said she was highly honoured to have Amai Mnangagwa taking time to think about their needs and sending her representatives with donations.

“This is a day to remember and hopefully we will have good rains so that we have a good yield. It’s not every day that we are remembered by powerful offices like this one of the First Lady. We want to thank you Amai and may you continue to assist us. We also want to take this opportunity to express our harassment at the hands of law enforcement agents. We are pleading with you to allow us space and arrest us if we violate the lockdown rules.

“We also face problems when we want to report our clients over abuse. The clients might be having money and end up walking scot free. We hope such challenges will be addressed,” she said.

Representing Amai Mnangagwa, Minister Mavima said Government has promised to empower sex workers through various initiatives such as the availing of farming inputs and a tractor by the First Lady to GWAPA.

“The First Lady said you also need to be empowered despite your profession. These things are coming from the President and presented to the First Lady to give to you. We want accountability in the distribution of these inputs and we want them to be properly utilised for farming not for you to resell. Show us somewhere where you are going to plant and we will give you the inputs,” he said.

Minister Mavima said they are going to provide land to GWAPA for them to embark on farming.

“It might be five to 10 hectares but if it’s worked on properly, you will harvest something that will uplift you. If you might come in groups, we will identify more land for you. I have heard your plight at the hands of the law enforcement agents. Prostitution is not a one-man band. It’s a two-way thing. The offence is not one sided. Why is it troubling only one part? Take them all. That way we get equality,” he said.

Midlands provincial chairperson for Young Women for Empowerment Development Mrs Farai Sipani said it was high time that young women came together and worked as a unit.

She said united, young women will develop in business and general livelihood.

“We are saying women, come let’s work together. Women don’t stay behind. The First Lady has passion for us. Let’s work and prove it’s worth it. All your concerns can be addressed through a collaboration with you to uplift your lives so you realise your dreams. We can provide training on various projects you might want to embark on. We can also collaborate and come up with good partnerships,” said Mrs Sipani.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC-T leadership, Douglas Mwonzora Thursday, had a closed-door meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House.

In the meeting, Mwonzora pushed for a national dialogue. 

MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube said this in a statement:

Pursuant to our call for genuine, inclusive and unconditional dialogue as a solution to solving Zimbabwe’s myriad of challenges, our President Douglas Mwonzora met State President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House today. He was accompanied by Secretary-General Paurina Mpariwa and Treasurer General Dr Tapiwa Mashakada. 

On the 11th of June last year the initial meeting took place at State House whereat our President presented concrete proposals for national dialogue to President Mnangagwa. On the 161h of September 2021, President Mnangagwa formally responded to the MDCT proposals. Some of the issues raised in President Mnangagwa’s letter led to our party embarking on a nationwide dialogue consultative program during which party structures were briefed on same. They were afforded an opportunity to make representations on how they wanted the dialogue process to take place and the timelines involved. They also contributed on the substantive issues to be covered by the dialogue. 

Following these consultations, the National Council of the Party met on the 26th of November, 2021 and adopted a final position on dialogue. The meeting then mandated President Mwonzora and the Party leadership to go and formally present the party’s response to President Mnangagwa at State House. 

President Mnangagwa, who was accompanied by ZANU PF Secretary for Finance, Mr. Patrick Chinamasa and Acting Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Mr. George Charamba, promised to respond to the MDCT’s final position as soon as possible after their own internal consultations within the government and their party. The meeting was a huge success and our leaders expressed that the dialogue that Zimbabweans have long waited for is slowly becoming a reality.

Witness Dube Secretary for Information and Publicity

By- A senior Zanu PF official in Harare province is threatening to evict vendors from vending stalls he used to lure votes from vendors.

The same official allegedly paid voters US$3 to vote for him in the chaotic party provincial elections held last week, which he lost.

Emmanuel Mahachi contested for the Harare provincial youth league chairperson post and reportedly paid US$3 to some party supporters to vote for him, and also threatened to take over vending stalls in the event that vendors refrained from voting for him.

Mahachi controls several stalls in Harare, mainly in the populous Mbare suburb. One of the party supporters told NewsDay:

We voted for the candidate who gave us money. Mahachi gave me US$3 and other people who promised to vote for him. The amount may seem little but it’s worthwhile considering that most youths are unemployed like me.

Apart from the money, I was also pushed to vote for Mahachi through fear to lose my vending stalls. We were warned prior to the elections that if we don’t go out to vote, we were going to lose the stalls. Thus, I participated in the elections to protect my vending area.

Mahachi however refuted the allegations professing ignorance about the reports. He added:

I don’t know anything about that. Such bad news is coming from my opponents who I defeated during elections. They are finding ways to tarnish me. I just asked people to vote for me and in return, I just promised to do some projects with youths in the province. As of now, no one has been officially endorsed as the winner.

ZANU PF held its provincial elections last week as the restructuring process continues.

While the party argues that the outcome of the polls signifies that internal democracy was enhanced, some cite chaotic scenes and reports of rigging to brush off the party’s claims.

More: NewsDay Zimbabwe

By – Madziwa villagers have resisted paying fines imposed on them by their local Chief, who convicted them of snubbing a funeral.

Chief Madziwa controversially fined 11 members for snubbing a funeral in his area.

The villagers have since said they would appeal to Chief Madziwa’s ruling.

The 11 From Zunde B Village were convicted of snubbing a funeral in the neighbouring Zunde A village and working their fields instead.

Chief Madziwa fined the villagers goats, a judgement they strongly oppose, arguing it was not mandatory to attend funerals.

The villagers also complained that the fine was not applied uniformly, with some of them asked to pay more goats than others for the same ‘crime.’

They have threatened to appeal against the judgement. – New Ziana

By A Correspondent-Norton MP Temba Mliswa (Independent) has accused Zanu PF bigwigs, including the party’s spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa of plotting against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In several leaked audio clips where the former Zanu Pf chairman for Mashonaland West was claiming to be closer to Mnangagwa he attacked CIO minister Owen Ncube , Mutsvangwa and Muchechetere for faking their support for Mnangagwa.

He accused Mutsvangwa of decampaigning Mnangagwa in Norton during the 2018 harmonised elections.
Mliswa claimed that he was responsible for mobilising voters for Mnangagwa in Norton.
He also accused Ncube of raising frivolous charges against him to settle personal scores over Susan Mutami, a woman who allegedly has links to both of them.
“I was arrested on baseless COVID-19 charges which were brought up by Mudha (Ncube), who said nothing at the helm of ED’s victimisation during the previous regime. What did they say in the Midlands province in defence of Ngwena (Mnangagwa) during his ? He used State apparatus to arrest me over the issue of Susan (Mutami) because he knows her.
Nobody should interfere between me and the President. I supplied confidential information to the President during the coup. You do not know what he did for me and what I did for him. If you don’t see me with the President it does not mean we are not in good books,” Mliswa said, claiming that in Parliament he defended Mnangagwa, including advocating for the removal of the late former President Robert Mugabe in 2017.
Mliswa also claimed that he had written to Mnangagwa informing him that the war veterans in Mashonaland West province were divisive.
Ncube refused to comment on the issue.
Muchechetere said: “I saw the messages from Temba attacking me, but I responded telling him I wondered why he was bothered when his sister had won in the polls.”
Said Mutsvangwa: “I don’t have time for fools. I have weighter responsibilities in the revolutionary party and have no time for vanity and self seekers. I will not build a personality by sparing with Mliswa. The President belongs to Zanu PF amd not to the independent.
As far as I am concerned, Mliswa doesn’t politically exist. If he can’t find a leader of his independent political party, he can’t appropriate my President.
“Someone for the past two decades has earned his daily keep by trolling Mutsvangwa, even all the way to Beijing during my ambassadorial posting. He strives to be my political alter ego with a ”

-NewsDay

By- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa Wednesday endorsed and authenticated endorsed the results of his party’s chaotic and rigged provincial elections.

Mnangagwa also forced those complaining against the election outcome to support those they accused of rigging the polls.

He said everyone should forget about the rigged election and to work together for the “good” of the party.

“As we deliberate on the report of the elections, I urge all members of the party to be mindful of the fact that in our party there are no winners and losers. It is the people and ultimately the party that wins.

“Party cadres, who did not make it in the recent elections, must avail themselves, their experiences, skills and competencies to build and grow our mass party. Just as iron sharpens iron, the spirit of camaraderie and collegiality must be harnessed as we all serve this great party, Zanu PF and the nation as a whole. An election lost must never dampens the revolutionary spirit of any cadre, but inspires them to learn, develop and mature in their political career,” he told his party’s politburo.

The Zanu PF elections were reportedly marred by violence and vote rigging, with several losing candidates petitioning party commissar Michael Bimha demanding a rerun.
After the politburo meeting, Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the party had resolved to endorse the results despite the rigging claims and investigate the allegations later.
Zanu PF spokesperson, Chris Mutsvangwa
He, however, said the outcome of the investigations would not alter the outcome of the polls.
Mutsvangwa said the party would suspend members who instigated violence during the party’s internal polls.
Zanu PF spokesperson, Chris Mutsvangwa
“The President chastised those who did not want to participate in the elections in a fair, transparent and accountable manner. Those who are prone to try to short-change the system and, or other indiscipline will be suspended if the evidence is brought before the disciplinary committee,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Those who lost — the party is big, it has the wings of the chicken — all the chicks will be able to be accommodated somehow. But the principle that it is an election and not an appointment is fundamental. Those who lost must accept defeat.”

By- Goodness and Mercy Ministries church leader Tapiwa Freddy has denied raping and physically abusing his ex-girlfriend Rutendo Makuti.

Rutendo Makuti is employed by ZBC as a radio DJ.

T Freddy denied the rape charges when his trial opened at Harare Magistrates Court, Thursday.

Tapiwa Freddy, popularly known as Prophet T Freddy, is charged with two counts of rape and physical abuse.

He told the court that he had consensual sexual intercourse with the the ZBC DJ and the accusations arose only after he wanted to terminate their love relationship.

Freddy told the court that the rape allegations were concocted to tarnish his good name and embarrass him in society.

He also denied assaulting her at Moja Shopping Centre saying they never visited the place during the time they were in a relationship.
Regional magistrate Mrs Gloria Takundwa is presiding.

By- Villagers from Chilonga Communal lands, Chiredzi, Masvingo, are facing fresh evictions after the High Court has dismissed their appeal against the formed displacement.

The villagers were challenging some sections of the Communal Lands Act, which vests rural land in the President. They argued it was a colonial relic premised on a racist concept that an African could not own land.

The villagers also argued that the Communal Lands Act is a racist and colonial creature that regards Africans as too uncivilised to own land.

The villagers queried how an African can own a house in Harare’s plush suburb of Borrowdale but cannot own his ancestral home in areas such as Chiredzi, Mwenezi, Dotito, Chendambuya, Nkayi or Tsholotsho.
About 12 000 villagers face displacement.

The evictions are meant to pave the way for a commercial irrigation venture.
Chilonga villagers were being represented by MDC Alliance Vice President, Tendai Biti who is a Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights member.

By – Madziwa villagers are up in arms with their local Chief after his court controversially fined 11 members for snubbing a funeral in his area.

The villagers have since said they would appeal to Chief Madziwa’s ruling.

The 11 From Zunde B Village were convicted of snubbing a funeral in the neighbouring Zunde A village and working their fields instead.

Chief Madziwa fined the villagers goats, a judgement they strongly oppose, arguing it was not mandatory to attend funerals.

The villagers also complained that the fine was not applied uniformly, with some of them asked to pay more goats than others for the same ‘crime.’

They have threatened to appeal against the judgement. – New Ziana

By- A man who is said to be a ‘pastor’ from the viral video where he was seen bathing female ‘congregants’ has said the video was an acting scene, not a real service.

The man named Aniefiok Udoabasi posted on Facebook saying he is actually an actor.

Nobelie.com reports that Udoabasi’s stage name is pastor Blinks and he usually makes skits and short films about churches and other things that generate clicks.
In the video which had taken over the internet, some young ladies can be seen taking turns to get bathed by the pastor in the full view of everyone.

The video and pictures left many baffled. Commenting on the video some social media users bemoaned some women’s desperation.
Some observers, however, came to the pastor’s defence arguing that the pastor did not force anyone as such the women in the video did so willingly.

The internet is awash with videos of clergymen doing all sorts of things on congregants in the name of casting bad luck or cleansing them.
Some congregants were fed with grass, while some preachers would stand or sit on congregants.

-Online

By- After defeating her three rivals in the party provincial chairmanship race, Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka became the first woman to lead a province in Zanu PF’s history. 

She defeated, former ZBC boss, Happison Muchechetere and Kindness Paradza the deputy Information Minister.

She joins other candidates, who won the chairmanship, include Robison Mavenyengwa (Masvingo), Kazembe Kazembe (Mashonaland Central), Jabulani Sibanda (Bulawayo), Mike Madiro (Manicaland), Daniel Garwe (Mashonaland East), Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu (Matabeleland South), Godwills Masimirembwa (Harare), Albert Nyakuedzwa (Manicaland), Richard Moyo (Matabeleland North), and Larry Mavhima who was elected unopposed in the Midlands province.

Zanu PF’s Politburo Wednesday endorsed the results of the party’s provincial elections held recently across the country.

Some of the contestants had complained about violence and rigging and were hoping that Politburo, the highest decision-making organ in the party, would nullify the election outcome.

Addressing a Zanu PF politburo session at the party headquarters in Harare yesterday following the contentious provincial elections held last week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged members to accept the outcome and work together for the “good” of the party.

After the politburo meeting, Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the party had resolved to endorse the results despite the rigging claims adding that the outcome of the investigations was insignificant to alter the outcome of the polls. Mutsvangwa said: 

Those who lost — the party is big, it has the wings of the chicken — all the chicks will be able to be accommodated somehow. But the principle that it is an election and not an appointment is fundamental. Those who lost must accept defeat.

Party commissar Bimha also confirmed that the politburo had endorsed the results, adding that the outcome of the proposed investigations would guide the party’s future elections.

Zanu PF will, however, organise provincial elections for the Matabeleland North provincial youth wing after all the candidates were disqualified because they were over 35 years.

Some party officials told NewsDay that unconfirmed results indicated that a faction linked to 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.

More: NewsDay Zimbabwe

Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe has been taken over by a gang of criminals, MDC Alliance deputy chairperson Hon Job Sikhala has declared.

The hard-hitting politician described the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa as a clown masquerading as a leader.

According to Hon Sikhala, the people’s struggle is unstoppable.

He argued:
“Our country was taken over by a criminal gang from 1980. Their business has been looting and looting to no end.

We need to stop it come 2023.

Zimbabwe needs new leaders.”

“The clueless party is saying they will suffocate us and make sure we don’t campaign.

You suffocate those who can be suffocated, not us.

We are the people.”

“A country that cannot issue a mere passport and allows its citizens to travel with documents has cursed leadership.

Zimbabwe has no leadership. It has clowns masquerading as leaders.

We are in the hearts and souls of the people of Zimbabwe,” added Hon Sikhala.

By A Correspondent- A police officer has been arrested accused of raping his 16-year-old biological daughter at a police station.

Police are investigating the New Year’s Day incident at Senga police camp in Gweru after the teenager claimed she had been raped inside a car whilst drunk.

Police say she previously reported being raped by two other relatives, including her stepfather who is based in South Africa.

The 37-year-old police constable, who cannot be named to protect the alleged victim’s identity, appeared before a Gweru magistrate and was held without bail.

Police said the alleged victim, her stepmother and stepfather were drinking whisky on New Year’s Eve waiting to celebrate the New Year.

The complainant, her stepmother and her siblings went outside just after midnight to celebrate the New Year but were allegedly ordered back into the house by the father.

“The complainant then went outside the house at around 1AM and entered into the accused person’s Toyota Porte vehicle which was parked outside the house. The complainant started vomiting and the accused person came and told her to stay inside the car until he comes back,” an internal police memo of the incident said.

“After about 10 minutes, the accused person entered into the vehicle, tried to communicate with the complainant but she could not respond since she was continuously vomiting.”

Police said the police officer then raped his daughter once without using protection.

Whilst inside the vehicle, the accused person removed complainant’s clothes, opened his trousers button, pulled the trousers down and lifted the complainant and made her sit on his erect penis.

The officer reportedly gave his daughter a cloth to cover her body and ordered her to go inside the house where she quickly fell asleep.

The victim allegedly woke up with a throbbing headache and was given painkillers by her father.

At around 8PM, police said she called her stepfather in South Africa and informed her that she had been raped by her father. Ironically, the ZRP has sought Interpol’s help in arresting the stepfather for allegedly raping his stepdaughter in March 2018.

On the morning of January 2, police said the teen’s mother sent her brother to assist her in filing a police report leading to her father’s arrest.

The teenager has another rape complaint filed with St Mary’s police in Chitungwiza.

Senga police said the complainant was “apparently prone to rape cases by close male relatives hence there is need for her to be placed in an environment where she is not taken advantage off” while committing to “thorough investigations to ensure that no miscarriage of justice occurs.”

By A Correspondent- Local civil society organisations (CSOs) have piled pressure on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to clear the air on the ongoing voter registration programme after it recently issued two different figures for first-time registrants captured on its database.

One of the CSOs, Project Vote 263, on Tuesday petitioned Zec demanding access to the consolidated national voters’ roll to enhance monitoring of the voter registration process ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.

Zec last week disclosed that it only registered 2 000 first-time voters last year, but later revised the figure to 2 971 new voters, with civic groups claiming that the numbers were understated.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on Tuesday wrote to Zec on behalf of Project Vote 263, demanding copies of the consolidated national voters’ roll.

In the letter dated January 4, 2022 ZLHR lawyer Godfrey Mupanga said Project Vote 263 wanted both the electronic and print copies of the voters’ roll.

He stated that in line with section 20(4)(a) and (c) of the Electoral Act, Zec was obliged to keep at least one copy of every voters’ roll at its head office in both print and electronic formats.

“It is only for the sake of convenience that I point to you the provisions of the Electoral Act under which my client wishes to exercise their right to be furnished with copies of the voters’ roll,” Mupanga wrote.

“As you may be aware, my client is a civic organisation that is currently involved in mobilisation of qualified Zimbabwean citizens and residents to register as voters. Therefore, in terms of section 21(7)(iii), my client wishes to use the voters’ roll for purposes associated with the Electoral Act and not for commercial or other  purposes.”

Opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume said he had also approached Zec officials, demanding justification for its disclosure that it had only registered less than 3 000 new voters despite several campaigns conducted by CSOs to encourage citizens to register.

“I went to the Zec offices yesterday (Tuesday) and I wanted to meet the chief elections officer (Utoile Silaigwana), but I failed,” Ngarivhume said.

“I met the public relations director Chinyuke. I quizzed Zec over why it had only registered 2 971 new voters when it had been allocated $11,6 billion from the national budget to run elections. If there are no electoral reforms, which include transparency, surely there is no need to go for the 2023 elections.”

In a statement on Tuesday, Zec commissioner Joyce Kazembe said by the end of November 2021, the electoral body had recorded 5 647 000 registered voters for the 2023 elections which consists of new and old registrants.

She said only successfully vetted new registrants were placed on the voters’ roll.

Meanwhile, pressure is also mounting for Zec to revamp its secretariat over inconsistencies in the voters’ roll and its failure to make it readily accessible.

Political analyst Kudakwashe Munemo said:  “Zec is one of the independent commissions supporting democracy established in terms of Chapter 12 of the country’s Constitution and charged with the mandate to manage the country’s electoral processes. It would be difficult to disband it.

“If Zec has staff who are employees of the military or other intelligence operatives, which are government-controlled entities, these must be discharged from their duties and it is the role of the commissioners to do so.”

Election Resource Centre director Barbra Nyangairi said: “Zec, which is composed of appointed members, has various functions which include voter registration and ensuring transparency in the commissions’ conduct. The principles that bind the commission and its members must be adhered to at all times.”-Newsday

By Jane Mlambo| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) commissioners are set to fly to the resport town of Victoria Falls splashing thousands of dollars for a retreat at a time President Emmerson Mnangagwa has proclaimed date for the impending by-elections.

The retreat will be held at Elephant hills hotel from 9 to 15 January.

The retreat comes at a time the national voters roll is in shambles with by-elections to fill 18 seats left vacant following the death or recall of legislators by both Zanu PF and the opposition MDC.

According to a memo leaked to ZimEye, ZEC secretariat will travel by road to Victoria Falls stopping over in Bulawayo in what has been described as a waste of state resources that could have gone towards mobilizing citizens to register to vote as per the mandate of the commission.

“ZEC will be conducting a workshop on the preparedness for the by-elections, voter registration and delimitation programmes. The workshop will be held in Victoria Falls at Elephant Hills hotel,” reads the memo.

“Chairperson, Commissioners, CEO, DCEO KMC/ Director ICT and secretary to the Commission will travel by air on 9 January 2022 and return on 16 January 2022,” reads the memo.

“Mt Darwin, Muzarabani, Guruve, Mbire, UMP, Mudzi, Mutoko will travel on the 8th of January 2022 from their stations to Harare and put up there. PEO Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Bulawayo, DEO Chitungwiza, Hwange, Matobo, Bindura,Kwekwe,Hurungwe , UMP, Bulawayo kindly make sure that you travel with the junior national workers committee representative in your respective provinces and districts.

“Manicaland Province to travel to Bulawayo on 8 January 2022 and put up in Bulawayo.
Masvingo, Manicaland South and Matabeleland North will travel 9 January 2022 in the morning to Bulawayo.”

By Patrick Guramatunhu- Zanu PF is blatantly rigging the 2023 elections!

“Zanu PF bigwigs, Chief Serima and members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organization have instructed the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to transfer a Gutu teacher for allegedly denouncing Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa,” reported Zimeye.

“Zanu PF MP for Gutu West Constituency, John Paradza also claims the teacher, Batsiranai Ngugama of Serima High School, is mobilizing the local community to vote against him.”

This is not only common occurrence, but worse things have happened to those considered a threat to Zanu PF’s strangle hold on power. Many opponents of the regime have been beaten, raped, had property destroyed and some have been murdered in cold blood.

In November last year, Nyasha Zhambe, a MDC activist was murdered by Zanu PF operatives for attending an MDC rally at Mupandawan Growth Point, less than 30 km from Serima High School. Nyasha named his assailants and yet to date no one has been arrested.

Rural areas are Zanu PF strongholds for no other reason than that the party has total control over the people’s lives, they are nothing short of medieval serfs beholden to the overbearing Zanu PF lords. The rural voters constitute 50% plus of the electorate.

How can the elections be free, fair and credible when 50% plus of the electorate are frog marched to vote one way?

The Police and CIO should not be turning a blind eye to Zanu PF thuggery much less be actively involved in the lawlessness. Zimbabwe’s elections should not be taking place without first implementing the democratic reforms to ensure the Police, CIO, etc. are free to carry out their duties of maintaining law and order and guarantee free and fair elections.  

Zimbabwe had the golden opportunity to implement the democratic reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Sadly, Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends who were tasked to implement the reforms turned out to be breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent. They failed to implement even one reform in five years. Not even one reform!

Worse still, MDC leaders are the ones who have insisted in participating in these flawed and illegal elections in which rural voters are frog marched to vote for Zanu PF, with no verified voters’ roll, when 3 million (in 2023) Zimbabweans in the diaspora are denied the vote, etc.

By participating in these flawed elections, MDC has given Zanu PF legitimacy.

What has made this situation totally intolerable is that MDC leaders have known all along the futility of participating in flawed elections and readily admitted it.

“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” admitted David Coltart in his book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe. Coltart was a MDC-N minister in the GNU.  

“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”

Four of the main MDC factions plus three other opposition parties did form a coalition, the MDC Alliance, and still participated in the 2018 elections. Proof it was greed not the failure to form a coalition that was forcing the MDC leaders participate in flawed elections.  

Indeed, it was greed that had stopped the MDC leaders implementing even one reform during the GNU.

“Mazivanhu eMDC adzidza kudya anyerere!” (MDC leaders have learned to enjoy the spoils of power and not rock the boat!) boasted Zanu PF cronies during the GNU when asked why MDC leaders were not implementing the reforms.

MDC leaders have repeatedly claimed that they have “winning in rigged elections strategies”; all hot air, of course. They said it to justify why they have been participating in the flawed and illegal elections and cover the real reason – greed.

With not even one token reform implemented since the 2018 elections; of course, Zanu PF is blatantly rigging the 2023 elections just readily as the party rigged the 2018 elections! The elections should be declared null and void and Zanu PF denied legitimacy.

However, there are some Zimbabweans who are hell bent on participating in these flawed elections; hell bent on giving Zanu PF legitimacy. Still, come the morning after the 2023 elections, no Zimbabwean with half a brain should ever be in any doubt about the following three things:

1. That Zanu PF blatantly rigged the 2023 elections, the whole election process was not free, fair and credible.

• That MDC leaders insisted in participating in these flawed elections out of greed; they knew their “winning in rigged elections strategies” were all hot air.

• That by participating in the flawed elections Zimbabweans gave vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy and thus extended the Zanu PF dictatorship’s rule – pretty dumb thing to do in this day and age, especially after four decades of rigged elections.

By A Correspondent- Police in Mashonaland Central are hunting for a Concession man Imigrame Malaki (40) who allegedly struck and killed his neighbour with a log during an unknown dispute.

Police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the case.

“We are looking for a murder suspect Malaki of Mashazhike compound, Concession who allegedly murdered his neighbour Jaison Dambakurimwa (38) in a misunderstanding,” Mundembe said.

According to police the suspect went to the now deceased  house  on Christmas day armed with a catapult and upon his arrival he met Dambakurimwa in his yard and started assaulting him without saying anything.

As the fight intensified Malaki pulled a wooden log and started assaulting Dambakurimwa on the head.

Dambakurimwa’s wife Helen Chundu fled to the nearby houses to seek for backup and when she came back with other villagers Malaki had already escaped.

The matter was reported at Concession police station and Dambakurimwa was sent to hospital where he succumbed to the injuries two days after his admission.

Police is appealing for information which can lead to the arrest of Malaki.

By A Correspondent- Three border jumpers believed to be Zimbabwean recently drowned in Limpopo River while attempting to cross into South Africa.

Zimbabwe and South African police have so far retrieved the body of a man believed to have drowned while illegally crossing into the neighbouring country through a crossing point near Maroy Farm some 40km west of Beitbridge town.

Efforts are underway to retrieve two more bodies that have been spotted on the South African side of the Limpopo River. It is reported that divers from the two countries failed to retrieve the two bodies on Tuesday due to the turbulent river current.

The police officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo said they were continuing with the efforts to retrieve the bodies today.

He said the search was initiated on Monday after two women reported that their husbands had drowned near a crossing point close to Nottingham Estate on Sunday.

“The divers came across the three bodies while searching for two men who were reported to have drowned on Sunday,” said Chief Supt Nyongo.

“However, the bodies we have spotted so far are not of those two men. As police, we are still treating them as missing persons.

“Searches are still on and during such searches and efforts are being made to retrieve two more bodies that were sighted at the same point at a deeper end”.

He said the police were suspecting there could be more cases of drowning along the Limpopo River, where the level of water has relatively risen.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) is inviting applications from suitably qualified persons to fill the following posts that have arisen within the Authority.

Below are the adverts:

(1.) COMMISSIONER: DOMESTIC TAXES – LEVEL 2 (1 POST)

Main Function:

To provide leadership and policy guidance in the collection of revenue, advising government on fiscal and economic matters and to promote and enforce compliance with tax laws.

Responsibilities:

 Overall administration of Income Taxes, VAT, PAYE, Capital Gains Tax and other ancillary Tax Legislation.
 Negotiate international tax treaties.
 Give expert advice to Commissioner General on tax legislation, policy and administration.
 Give advice and guidance on research and development of all tax legislation.
 Determination of objections and dealing with appeals on tax matters.
 Responsible for the overall management and giving strategic direction to the Tax Division.
 Participate in policy formulation and implementation for the Authority.
 Any other duties as may be assigned and directed from time to time.

Qualifications and Experience:

 A degree in Accountancy, Business Administration, Economics or an equivalent accounting qualification.
 A relevant Master’s degree would be an added advantage.
 At least ten (10) years practical experience, five (5) of which were at senior management level.
 Strong leadership qualities and analytical skills required.
 Should have strong people management skills.
 Exposure on taxation of international businesses.
 Strong practical experience in working with revenue administration systems.
 Experience in a computerised environment is necessary.
 Clean Class 4 driver’s licence is a prerequisite.

Other Attributes:

 Drive for results.
 Ability to work under pressure.
 Ability to communicate at all levels.
 Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
 Unquestionable integrity.

Interested candidates should submit applications, accompanied by a detailed Curriculum Vitae and certified copies of academic and professional qualifications, by not later than 27 January 2022, in envelopes clearly indicating the position being applied for.

All applications should be emailed to ZimraRecruitment@zimra.co.zw clearly indicating the position you are applying for as your E-mail Subject Reference and addressed to:

The Commissioner-General
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority
6th Floor ZB Centre
Corner First Street / Kwame Nkrumah Avenue
P. O. Box 4360
HARARE
Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be responded to.

(2.) COMMISSIONER GENERAL

The ZIMRA Board invites qualified and experienced Zimbabwean citizens to fill the position of Commissioner General.

Reporting Structure

The position reports to the ZIMRA Board of Directors.

Key Responsibilities

The Commissioner General shall be responsible for the following;

 Provide strategic, proactive and effective leadership for the authority’s operations.
 Supervising and managing the Authority’s staff, activities, funds and property.
 Advising the Government of Zimbabwe on fiscal policy matters, laws and regulations including amendments.
 Overseeing the interpretation and implementation of Zimbabwe’s policies relating to taxation and customs duties.
 Building and leading a modern and efficient revenue administration that ensures all taxes and duties due to the Government of Zimbabwe are collected.
 Broadening the revenue base and automation of ZIMRA business processes.
 Put mechanisms in place to reduce revenue leakages.
 Analyzing performance trends, setting operational targets and reviewing revenue collection strategies.
 Preparing strategic and development plans for the Authority.

 Providing policy analysis and advice in revenue collection and trade facilitation.
 Establishing, developing and maintaining strategic relationships, knowledge sharing, partnerships and collaboration between ZIMRA and multi-lateral organizations such as AfDB, ATAF, IMF, WCO, World Bank and WTO, and with regional organizations such as SADC, COMESA, ESAMI and bi-lateral relations with major trading partners.
 Performing such other functions as may be assigned by the Board.

Job Specifications

 Applicant must have demonstrable leadership capabilities to lead a large, complex diversified institution.
 The applicant is required to have a comprehensive knowledge of Zimbabwe’s tax and customs systems and familiarity with the revenue laws, regulations, treaties and protocols administered by the Authority.
 Excellent planning and organizing skills required in managing assigned projects to accomplish work objectives in compliance with procedural, administrative and technical requirements prescribed by the various laws and regulations administered by ZIMRA.
 Provides the Authority with effective leadership anchored on high ethical standards.
 Good interpersonal skills.
 Good communication and engagement skills.
 Excellent stakeholder engagement and management skills.
 Ability to lead large scale change management projects.

Qualifications:

 Degree in Economics, Accounts, Business Studies, Fiscal Studies, Banking, Finance, Auditing or equivalent.
 A Masters’ degree or equivalent postgraduate commercial qualification in areas such as Taxation, Business Administration, Economics, Information Technology, Accounting, Fiscal Studies or Law.

Related Experience:

 A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in Tax and/or Customs.
 At least 5 years’ experience at the executive management level.
 Experience in organizational management or other aspects of public administration would be an added advantage.
 Regional or international exposure will be an added advantage.
Interested candidates should submit applications, accompanied by a detailed Curriculum Vitae and certified copies of academic and professional qualifications, by 27 January 2022. All applications should be emailed to ZimraRecruitment@zimra.co.zw indicating your E-mail Subject Reference as Commissioner General Position and addressed to:

The Board Chairperson
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority
6th Floor ZB Centre
Corner First Street / Kwame Nkrumah Avenue
P. O. Box 4360
HARARE

By A Correspondent- Norton legislator Temba Mliswa (Independent) has mocked former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation chief executive Happison Muchechetere, who lost the Mashonaland West ZANU PF provincial chairmanship elections recently.

He also took a dig at other Zanu PF bigwigs and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s perceived right hand men State Security minister Owen “Mudha” Ncube and party spokesman Christopher Mutsvangwa.

Mliswa chastised Muchechetere and one Zunzanyika for claiming the independent MP was plotting to form an opposition party, with his sister, Mashonaland West Provincial minister, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka. Mliswa-Chikoka won the Zanu PF provincial elections which were endorsed yesterday.

In several leaked audio clips, Mliswa explained his deep-rooted links to Zanu PF and aligned himself with a faction of disgruntled war veterans within the ruling party, exposing his links to the ruling party.

Party insiders have described Mliswa’s attacks as a ploy to worm his way back into the ruling party ahead of the 2023 elections.

Mliswa, a former Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman, was expelled from Zanu PF in 2015 allegedly for undermining the party.  Then he was also the ruling party’s Hurungwe West legislator.
In the audio clips, he attacked Ncube , Mutsvangwa and Muchechetere for faking their support for Mnangagwa, before claiming that he was the President’s relative and close ally.

He accused Mutsvangwa of decampaigning Mnangagwa in Norton during the 2018 harmonised elections.
Mliswa claimed that he was responsible for mobilising voters for Mnangagwa in Norton.

He also accused Ncube of raising frivolous charges against him to settle personal scores over Susan Mutami, a woman who allegedly has links to both of them.

“I was arrested on baseless COVID-19 charges which were brought up by Mudha (Ncube), who said nothing at the helm of ED’s victimisation during the previous regime. What did they say in the Midlands province in defence of Ngwena (Mnangagwa) during his ? He used State apparatus to arrest me over the issue of Susan (Mutami) because he knows her.

Nobody should interfere between me and the President. I supplied confidential information to the President during the coup. You do not know what he did for me and what I did for him. If you don’t see me with the President it does not mean we are not in good books,” Mliswa said, claiming that in Parliament he defended Mnangagwa, including advocating for the removal of the late former President Robert Mugabe in 2017.

Mliswa also claimed that he had written to Mnangagwa informing him that the war veterans in Mashonaland West province were divisive.

Ncube refused to comment on the issue.

Muchechetere said: “I saw the messages from Temba attacking me, but I responded telling him I wondered why he was bothered when his sister had won in the polls.”

Said Mutsvangwa: “I don’t have time for fools. I have weighter responsibilities in the revolutionary party and have no time for vanity and self seekers. I will not build a personality by sparing with Mliswa. The President belongs to Zanu PF amd not to the independent.

As far as I am concerned, Mliswa doesn’t politically exist. If he can’t find a leader of his independent political party, he can’t appropriate my President.

“Someone for the past two decades has earned his daily keep by trolling Mutsvangwa, even all the way to Beijing during my ambassadorial posting. He strives to be my political alter ego with a “

By-The Zimbabwe Republic Police has announced that only three bodies have been so far recovered from the 11 people who drowned while crossing the Limpopo River on Sunday.

The police said one of the bodies was retrieved at a crossing point near Maroy Farm some 40km west of Beitbridge town.

Efforts were by end of the day yesterday underway to retrieve two more bodies spotted on the deeper end of the South African side of the Limpopo River.
It is reported that divers from the two countries failed to retrieve the two bodies on Tuesday due to the high-water current in the river.

The police officer commanding Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo said they were continuing with the efforts to retrieve the bodies.
He said the search was initiated on Monday after two women reported that their husbands had drowned near a crossing point closer to Nottingham Estate on Sunday.
“The divers came across the three bodies on Tuesday while searching for two men who were reported to have drowned on Sunday,” said Chief Supt Nyongo.
“However, the bodies we have spotted so far are not of those two men. As police, we are still treating them as missing persons. Searches are still on and efforts are being made to retrieve two more bodies that were seen at the same point at a deeper end”.

He said police suspect there could be more cases of drowning along the Limpopo River, where the level of water has relatively risen.
Police warned people against using illegal crossing points as they risk prosecution or drowning in the Limpopo River.
The latest drowning incidents come a few days after Zimbabwean security rescued six people who got stranded at a crossing point near Dulivhadzimu Gorge, after a wooden makeshift boat they were using capsized.

The group was part of 15 people who were dumped in the middle of the river by some criminals who were assisting them to cross.
The men ran away upon spotting some security officials who were patrolling near the crossing point.

By -Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa Wednesday endorsed the party’s chaotic Provincial elections and ignored rigging claims by several officials who partook in the party’s internal polls.

A handful of Zanu members who contested in the 28 December Zanu PF provincial elections complained that the elections were rigged and demanded a re-run.

But Mnangagwa on Wednesday said everyone should accept the disputed outcome and work together for the good of the party.

Mnangagwa made the remarks while addressing a Zanu PF politburo session at the party headquarters in Harare on Wednesday. He said:
As we deliberate on the report of the elections, I urge all members of the Party to be mindful of the fact that, in our Party, there are no winners and losers. It is the people and ultimately the Party that wins.
Party cadres who did not make it in the recent elections must avail themselves, their experiences, skills and competencies to build and grow our mass Party.
Just as iron sharpens iron, the spirit of camaraderie and collegiality must be harnessed as we all serve this great Party, Zanu PF and the nation as a whole.
An election lost must never dampen the revolutionary spirit of any cadre, but inspire them to learn, develop and mature in their political career.
The Zanu PF elections were reportedly marred by violence and vote-rigging and the party is yet to announce the final results of the polls, more than a week after the votes were cast. Said Mnangagwa:

Irregularities and political chicanery across Party structures must be decisively dealt with and expunged from the Party.
I urge the Party leadership to always listen to the aspirations of the people at every level.

Mnangagwa urged party members to work towards securing “a resounding victory” in the 2023 general elections.

-ZBC

By-Zimbabwe and South Africa police are collaborating to search for people who are reported to have drowned while crossing the Limpopo River on Sunday.
So far one body has been retrieved at a crossing point near Maroy Farm some 40km west of Beitbridge town.
Efforts were by end of the day yesterday underway to retrieve two more bodies spotted on the deeper end of the South African side of the Limpopo River.
It is reported that divers from the two countries failed to retrieve the two bodies on Tuesday due to the high-water current in the river.

The police officer commanding Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo said they were continuing with the efforts to retrieve the bodies.
He said the search was initiated on Monday after two women reported that their husbands had drowned near a crossing point closer to Nottingham Estate on Sunday.
“The divers came across the three bodies on Tuesday while searching for two men who were reported to have drowned on Sunday,” said Chief Supt Nyongo.
“However, the bodies we have spotted so far are not of those two men. As police, we are still treating them as missing persons. Searches are still on and efforts are being made to retrieve two more bodies that were seen at the same point at a deeper end”.

He said police suspect there could be more cases of drowning along the Limpopo River, where the level of water has relatively risen.
Police warned people against using illegal crossing points as they risk prosecution or drowning in the Limpopo River.
The latest drowning incidents come a few days after Zimbabwean security rescued six people who got stranded at a crossing point near Dulivhadzimu Gorge, after a wooden makeshift boat they were using capsized.

The group was part of 15 people who were dumped in the middle of the river by some criminals who were assisting them to cross.
The men ran away upon spotting some security officials who were patrolling near the crossing point.

By- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa Wednesday rubbished an appeal by war veterans from Mashonaland Central Province who approached the party complaining about Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe’s re-election as the party’s provincial chairperson.

The war veterans and several senior party officials said Kazembe rigged the elections and vowed not to recognise him.

Kazembe defeated businessman Tafadzwa Musarara amid reports of violence and massive rigging.

Some party officials described the election as a sham after widespread reports of poll anomalies were noted in Mbire and Muzarabani, two of the constituencies that gave Kazembe victory.

Mnangagwa addressed his party’s politburo meeting Wednesday and said that everyone must accept the outcome of the December 28 provincial elections.

By- Zanu PF Politburo Wednesday posthumously declared the late former High Court Judge Advocate Siwanda Kennedy Mbuso Sibanda a national hero.

Adv Sibanda, a legal icon of the liberation struggle, died on December 22 at Morningside MediClinic in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the age of 89.
He was one of the few lawyers that dedicated their lives to defending political prisoners during the days of the liberation war.

Adv Sibanda participated in the formation of a special committee for the defence of political prisoners in Zimbabwe and in apartheid South Africa.
During that time, he was instrumental in tracing and finding arrested political “offenders” and guerrillas and providing them with legal services.
His hero status was announced yesterday by Zanu PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa after a Politburo meeting.
“We have a new national hero, Advocate Sibanda. He died in South where his family is based. He was a nationalist. He was part of the Lancaster House Agreement in United Kingdom in 1979,” said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.

The national hero, Ambassador Mutsvangwa said, was a legal advisor to the ZAPU delegation and was involved in nationalist politics with the late National Hero Cde Edson Sithole.
“His pedigree is sterling and the President knew him because he was part of the legal advisors of the Patriotic Front,” said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.
He was unanimously declared a national hero at the request of Bulawayo province.
At a time when the white minority regime was using the law as a tool to oppress African people, Adv Sibanda was instrumental in helping the people to access and relate to the prescripts of the law and at the same time translated the grievances of the people into the law, thus, using the law as a tool and a weapon against injustice and oppression.
He was instrumental in changing the post-independence legal landscape continuing to grow his legal practice while opening doors for many other lawyers who would go on to establish their own careers and firms
Adv Sibanda’s practice survives him and continues to be the mainstay of Bulawayo’s legal fraternity. He was one of the first black advocates of the High Court of Rhodesia in the early 1970s and went on to set up his own legal practice in Bulawayo.

Adv SKM Sibanda as he was affectionately known was a highly skilled legal practitioner with vast experience in the practice of law, having completed his studies at the University of Natal in the 1960s.
Widely regarded as an outstanding defence counsel, Adv Sibanda used his legal skills and acumen to actively contribute to the liberation of Zimbabwe, defending freedom fighters captured by the regime, saving many from the gallows.
Further, his commitment to liberation and specialised knowledge in constitutional law saw him contributing to the nation’s liberation as one of the drafters of the Lancaster House Constitution in 1979, paving the way to the country’s independence from white minority rule in 1980.
Post-independence, Adv Sibanda continued to build his legal practice, while continuing to dedicate his life and energy to the development of the country.
He did this through his involvement in politics, business, sport and various Government commissions.
In 1997, Adv Sibanda was called to the bench, serving as a judge of the High Court in Bulawayo where he significantly contributed to the shaping of the country’s laws.
Upon retirement in 2002, he returned to private practice where he continued to mentor young lawyers in his firm.
Born on 19 April 1932, he grew up in Somnene, Bulilima District in Matabeleland South. Adv Sibanda was the son of successful farmers, Jack Mbuso Sibanda and Volo Sibanda (nee Gumbo)

As the eldest of six children, he was raised to be responsible not just for himself but for his siblings as well.
Adv Sibanda attended Tshabanda School in the then Nata Territorial Tribal Lands, now Bulilima, in 1945.
In 1948 he went to study at Solusi Mission where he completed his Junior Certificate in 1955 and the following year, he went to South Africa intending to sit his Matric at Adam’s College.
In 1957 he entered Kilnerton Institute in Pretoria and matriculated in 1958 and that same year, he met friends that made him aim higher than Matric.
He enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Natal in 1958 but lost the whole year due to illness and was enrolled again in 1960 and finished his studies in 1962 after which he enrolled for a law degree.
His law studies were interrupted by a series of illnesses in 1963, 66 and 68.

Against the advice of his doctor, Adv Sibanda finished his studies. His determination paid off and when his health improved, he transferred his registration to Maritzburg where he finished his law studies in 1970.
In order to raise his university fees, he had to study during the day and work at night. After finishing his law degree in South Africa, he worked with a firm of attorneys to complete his articles.
He returned to then Rhodesia in March 1971 and was successful in Rhodesian examinations to be an advocate. Adv Sibanda abhorred injustice and inequality.
He joined the Pan African Congress of Azania and worked alongside Steve Biko and Griffiths Mxenge in the student movement that would resist the racist policies of the South African government.
His political involvement continued after his return home, fighting against the Rhodesian white minority government.
Adv Sibanda joined Zapu and rose to the position of being one of the legal advisers of the party. It was in this capacity that he served as one of the drafters of the Lancaster House Constitution, which paved the way to Zimbabwe’s independence from white minority rule in 1980.

-State media

By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police has announced that they had arrested over 89 000 people for committing a cross-border related crime.

The police said the arrests were made under the operation Code-named “No to Cross Border Crimes/Fhasi Ngamilandu Yamukanoni/Mhosva Pamiganhu Ngadzipere/Amacala Kawaphele Emingceleni Yelizwe”.

They said some of the suspects were fined while others are expected to appear in court after being vetted.

“The ZRP reports that on January 2, 2022, 781 people were arrested on operation ‘No to Cross Border Crimes/ Fhasi Ngamilandu Yamukanoni Yamashango/Mhosva Pamiganhu Ngadzipere/ Amacala Kawaphele Emingceleni Yelizwe’.
“The cumulative number of arrests on the operation now stands at 89 277, since the inception of operation,” National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told the state media Wednesday.

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said the late Movement for Democratic Change founding father, Gibson Sibanda was a dedicated trade unionist and national leader.

Sibanda was the first MDC vice president at its inception in 1999.

Sibanda and the late MDC president Morgan Richard Tsvangirai led a formidable force that challenged Zanu PF hegemony.

President Chamisa wrote on Twitter:

THE PEOPLE’S STRUGGLE…

This week, in memory, we honour the founding leader of the People’s Movement, the late veteran trade unionist, Gibson Sibanda.

Was born on the 1st of January 1944.

This week he would have turned 78 yrs old. Rest in peace Qhawe, Lala ngokuthula Qhawe.

By A Correspondent | A War veteran commander, Dzingai Nevhunjere, who troubled commercial farmers in Mazowe district during the late President Robert Mugabe’s commandeered 2002 land reform program, has been slapped with a six-year jail term for stealing a herd of cattle.

Nevhunjere, 64, was caged after a full trial by Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba.

He escaped the nine year mandatory sentence for stock theft after the magistrate considered that when be committed the offence, common law was still in place.

The war veteran will also serve five years effective after one year of his sentence was set aside on conditions of good behavior.

Nevhunjere was found guilty of stealing a herd of 16 cattle from farmer Thomas Charles Bayley back in 2002.

Bayley was the owner of Danburry Park Farm in Marlborough, Harare.

The National Prosecuting Authority proved that Nevhunjere and some youths invaded the farm on April 13, 2002 and prevented Bayley from entering it.

They barricaded the entrance using poles and drums, and then forced Baylely’s family out of the farm, which had 977 cattle and 210 calves. Nevhunjere took custody of all the cattle.

On April 5 and 7, 2002, Nevhunjere then drove 20 cattle to his Omeath Farm in Mvurwi.

Sixteen beasts were recovered from him on November 13, 2003 after the complainant identified them.

The court also heard that on several occasions, the war veteran would order his youths to slaughter cows for meat.

When Bayley was finally allowed to enter his farm on July 13, 2002, he collected 1 042 cattle, and discovered that 145 beasts were missing.

On February 5, 2005 police recovered six beasts from Nevhunjere.

In passing sentence the magistrate said she will also consider that Nevhunjere is now an old family man.

She also considered the circumstances circumstances around the commission of the offence.

She said the Nevhunjere was a first offender as such deserved liniency.

“When the accused committed the offence, it was because he wanted to implement what he fought for (as a war veteran). But this did not go well because you end up taking someone’s cattle, ” said the magistrate.

She added, Moral blameworthiness is high because he was a commander and took advantage of your authority by stealing and distorting the agrarian reform.”

“You planned to steal because you sent the cattle to your farm in Mvurwi. You did not assist in recovery of the cattle. You tried to fight against the offence. You are luck that at the time it was not 9 years mandatory as this time. The court shall not impose that 9 years mandatory but will use the common law,” Mashamba ruled.

By- Police officers yesterday intercepted 400 by 100mls bottles of BronCleer cough syrup with an estimated street value of ZAR40 000.
The contraband was being transported in a Honda Fit vehicle along the Limpopo River.

One person, Custom Savanhu (40) has since been arrested for unlawful possession of prohibited, controlled and restricted medicines.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed.

“On January 4, 2022 a team of police officers who were on patrol, along the Limpopo River enforcing operation ‘No to cross border crimes’, arrested Custom Savanhu aged 40 for unlawful possession of prohibited, controlled and restricted medicines.
“Police recovered 400 x 100ml of Broncleer cough syrup with a street value of ZAR 40 000 which was in a Honda Fit vehicle,” he said.
The arrest comes after three women were intercepted in Harare and Mutare in separate incidents after they were found in possession of 281kg of mbanje and 50 bottles of BronCleer cough syrup.

Another 75 people have been arrested countrywide for dealing in crystal methamphetamine drugs, commonly known as “Mutoriro.”
The three women are Patricia Munyengeri (38), Jennifer Mahachi (28) who were both arrested in the capital while Chenal Mukungatu (34) was arrested in Mutare.
Munyengeri was arrested in Epworth and found with 20kg x 13 bags mbanje weighing 260kg while Mahachi was found in possession of 50 x 100mls of BronCleer cough syrup.
In Mutare, Mukungatu was intercepted with 21kg mbanje along the Mutare–Chimanimani Road.
From December 27, 2021, to January 2, 2022, 75 people were arrested countrywide for dealing in crystal methamphetamine drug under the ongoing operation ‘No to Crystal Meth.’
Most of the suspects are still assisting police with investigations and will appear in court soon.

The arrests came reports that abuse of the dangerous drug called crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as “mutoriro”, “dombo” or “guka”, by youths has reached alarming levels with at least 100 young men and women appearing at the Harare Magistrates Court.
The rise in cases where people are dealing in dangerous drugs is blamed for the surge in cases of drug-induced mental illnesses.

-Herald

A stray elephant has killed a mother and her six-month-old baby in Kushinga B village under Chief Musikavanhu, Chipinge.

The sad incident happened on New Year’s Day.

Shylet Muyambo (22) died on the spot with her female infant baby when a jumbo trampled them to death close to her matrimonial home.

Police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident on 1 January.

Circumstances indicate Muyambo was coming from her sister’s Charity Muyambo (25) homestead in the same village, at around 1800hrs when the elephant charged towards them.

Chinyoka said the deceased’s relatives were alerted by loud cries for help that a stray elephant was on the loose attacking the duo.

“Charity and her husband Simbarashe Kumbula heard Shylet’s cries for help, but only found her and the child lying lifeless on the ground when they approached the scene. After the matter was reported to Chisumbanje Police Station the two bodies were taken to St Peter’s Hospital where they were pronounced dead,” Chinyoka said.

Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo also confirmed the fateful incident.

He said the victims had travelled to a neighbouring community visiting relatives when they met a herd of elephants.

“It is unfortunate that a Chipinge woman and her three months old child were trampled to death by an elephant on New Year,” Farawo said.

“The woman had visited her relatives in the neighbouring community and she was on her way back when she met the herd of elephants and was attacked by one, which killed her on the spot together with her baby.”

Farawo said the marauding elephant had since been killed.

BY- Eleven (11) Zimbabwean border jumpers are feared to have drowned in separate incidents attempting to cross the Limpopo River into South Africa.

A boat carrying eight (8) Zimbabweans who were attempting to cross the crocodile-infested Limpopo River into South Africa reportedly capsized near Gate 7 east of the border post on Sunday.

The other three were reportedly swept away in different incidents also on Sunday.

Beitbridge Police District Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo confirmed to News24 that only one body had been recovered so far. Said Nyongo:

So far a body has been recovered, but has yet to be identified. Two more bodies are in the river, but on the SA side and to retrieve them, there’s [the] need [for the] services of a helicopter because the water current is strong.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)’s Aub-Aqua Unit had been trying to get the bodies since Sunday when they were reported to authorities, without success.

Superintendent Nyongo said they had informed the South African Police Services (SAPS) who were expected to dispatch a helicopter to the area.

News24 reported sources in Beitbridge as saying that the eight believed to have drowned were seen in an inflated boat near Dite Village, 40 kilometres east and downstream from the bridge.

However, Superintendent Nyongo said ZRP had not received the report about the boat.

More: News24

By- The fight between the MDC-T President Douglas Mwonzora and Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe (MDC Alliance) has turned nasty, with the former refusing to had recalled the latter.

Mwonzora and his party’s secretary-general Paurina Mpariwa, according to the Gweru Mayor lied to the police that they did not recall him from representing MDC in the local authority.

Through his lawyer Nqobani Sithole, Makombe alleged Mwonzora and Mpariwa jointly lied under oath in a case before the Bulawayo High Court where the two leaders claimed they had not recalled him from office.
Makombe, MDC-T vice-president Thokozani Khupe and Chitungwiza mayor Lovemore Maikorecently filed a joint urgent application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking an interdict to stop their impending recalls from Parliament and council by the MDC-T.

Responding to the report, MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube insisted that the party’s leaders did not discuss the issue of recalling members during a meeting held on 26 November 2021. Wrote Dube:
We learnt with utter dismay from social media and some newspaper articles that President Douglas Mwonzora and some of our leaders committed perjury in case number CR27/01/22 with the police in Bulawayo.
We also have noted that perennial haters led by Professor Jonathan Moyo have been inciting the arrest of our leaders using social media posts that are devoid of truth.
We maintain that there is absolutely no perjury and our leaders never lied under oath.
Our President Douglas Mwonzora, Chairman Morgen Komichi and Secretary-General Paurina Mpariwa were called upon to answer specific accusations.
It was accused that they presided over a National Council meeting on 26 November 2021 in Harare and the meeting resolved to expel the applicants from the party.
It can be clearly seen that the allegations were specific to the date, venue and forum of the alleged violations.
Our leaders’ response was therefore that there was no resolution to recall any of the applicants, our leaders attached video evidence as well as official resolutions of the meeting in question.
We, therefore, maintain that what they said in their response was the absolute truth.
Our leaders were never asked whether or not there had been recall discussions BEFORE the meeting and therefore didn’t answer that question.
Our leaders never made an undertaking that there will be no recalls in the future.
It is the applicants themselves, and the sheer incompetence of whoever drafted their papers, that tied them to a specific date.
Our records show the decision to recall mayors was made in mid-2020 when Dr Thokozani Khupe was acting President.
Furthermore, our records show that the decision to proceed with recalls was made by relevant party organs.
The official recall letter was then written and signed on the 5th of November 2021 weeks before the National Council Meeting of 26 November 2021. The decision to press criminal charges is despicable and malicious.
We maintain the truth of what our leaders stated in court papers that there was no discussion to recall the applicants on 26 November 2021.
We, therefore, challenge people like Prof Moyo and others to openly share the letter of recall with the date clearly showing.
We insist that they deliberately withheld publishing the letter because it would disapprove of the perjury allegations.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF President Mnangagwa has read a riot act to his senior party members during a crunch politburo held this morning.

The riot act comes after his party chaotic provincial elections last week.

Mnangagwa was reading the riot act ahead of discussing the disputed outcome of the chaotic PCC elections.

Mnangagwa said the party would not hesitate to ‘expunge’ errant members.

“Let me further hasten to say that constitutionalism, unity, peace, harmony and development remain our absolute compass, now and going into the future.
“Irregularities and political chicanery across party structures must be decisively dealt with and expunged from the party.

I urge the party leadership to always listen to the aspirations of the people at every level. It is equally important that the party leadership and membership in general work concretely to achieve a better quality of life for our people. It is after all the people who have entrusted us with the mandate to govern over our great country,” he said.