By A Correspondent- Zanu PF’S deputy provincial chairperson for Harare Godwin Gomwe has appeared in court facing a charge of assault.

He is alleged to have assaulted a man for not taking off his cap while talking to him.
Gomwe, who is jointly charged with Shelter Gomwe, Collins Gwatidzo and Fungai Rusinamhodzi, appeared before Harare magistrate Barbara Mateko on Wednesday.
The quartet was remanded on $1 000 bail each to December 9 for trial. The complainant is Gibson Labani.
Allegations are that on November 9, Labani and Gomwe had a misunderstanding over a cottage built by the former.
Gomwe assaulted Labani for not removing his cap while addressing him. It is alleged that Gwatidzo joined in the assault, accusing Labani of disrespect.
The State alleged that Gomwe and his co-accused also assaulted Emilia Mashavave.
Mashavave lost her cellphone valued at US$45. The complainants reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of Gomwe and his accomplices.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa Wednesday said by-elections would go ahead despite the calls for electoral reforms by the opposition.

Mnangagwa made the remarks while addressing about 6 000 party supporters in Dulivhadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge where he presided over the commissioning of 28 houses for civil servants. 

He claimed victory was certain for the ruling party. Mnangagwa boasted as the crowd cheered:

 We are going to have by-elections in 2022 and tinovasvasvanga (we will trounce them). In 2023, we will then have general elections tovarakasha (we will beat them).

The opposition has hinted that they will boycott the elections, but we will hold them all the same.

Mnangagwa has said the by-elections will be held during the first quarter of next year.

There are 133 vacant Parliamentary and local government seats following the recall of MDC Alliance legislators and councillors.

Mnangagwa said the central government expects both rural and urban local authorities to address housing issues, “but we have no local authorities, they are dead.”  

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said any proclamation for elections must be accompanied by a clear reform roadmap that paves the way for an undisputed election. She added:

The bad governance and legitimacy crisis that continues to plague Mr Mnangagwa’s regime is a direct result of the disputed election of 2018.

Mahere added that there was a need to disband the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) which is accused of being captured by the ruling ZANU PF.

MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube said ZANU PF’s claims that the opposition feared by-elections is a strategy meant to conceal the ruling party’s fear for electoral reforms.

More: NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Harare-based controversial preacher Tapiwa Freddy has been released.

Freddy was arrested Thursday morning on rape charges and appeared before Harare Magistrate Denis Mangosi, who released him on free bail.

The self-professed prophet was summoned from home, so the issue was not raised.

He is being represented by Everson Chatambudza and Malvin Mapako.

Freddy stands accused of raping a 33-year-old woman.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has endorsed President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the ruling Zanu PF’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.

The endorsement of Mnangagwa by Chiwenga comes when there is deep factionalism in Zanu PF involving the former military boss and Mnangagwa over who should lead the party and government.

Chiwenga went on to say that his party was even willing to amend the Constitution to enable Mnangagwa to be a life president because “he is the one we love.”

By A Correspondent- Norton member of parliament legislator, said President Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed to take full control of the Zanu PF party since the ouster of the late former President Robert Mugabe.

 In a series of Twitter messages titled Reflections on the Second Republic on its Anniversary, Mliswa said Mnangagwa should also have included him in his cabinet as Minister of Sports.

Reflections on the Second Republic on its Anniversary.

If anything exemplifies the hypocrisy in @ZANUPF_Official It’s the fact that today ED is running the country with most of the people who were there in 2004 when he was blocked from being VP& 2017 when he was fired.

What is striking about this is that no one has said anything about those episodes. The truth has never been said. A few people were singled out such as @ProfJNMoyo, @Hon_Kasukuwere, @DrGGandawa, @waltermzembi,the CIO etc. But only the army was clear in its support for ED.

In the run-up to November 2017, Mugabe had decided to remove all the service chiefs but they stood their ground. Chihuri was supposed to arrest Chiwenga who was in China but Sanyatwe and the Presidential Guard defended their Commander.

This led to the march against Mugabe when everybody went out. The army had to support this march because it was mobilised by the War Veterans& the people. Zimbabwe Grounds were full; opposition was there. Point being this was a Zimbabwe thing not a @ZANUPF_Official

event.

I, together with James Maridadi were supposed to move a motion for Mugabe’s impeachment but Monica Mutsvangwa moved it in the Senate& Maridadi seconded it in the Lower House. The Speaker of the House was under pressure because Bonyongwe as Leader of Gvt Business was blocking it.

Bonyongwe tried frantically to stop the process saying let’s wait for the Congress. However, the Speaker (Advocate Jacob Mudenda) stood his ground. The unanimous decision was that it would be too late. Oppah was called by some with the same ideas but she said we can’t stop now we will be killed.

It was a tense time such that even some Generals were becoming fearful. When it finally began it was an inclusive thing. Tsvangirai,@nelsonchamisa, @DrThoko_Khupe, @EngMudzuri all supported it. That is why I still ask why most of these people were later shunned out?

They could have been part of the new Gvt and things would have been different. Personally, I always wanted to be the Minister of Sports even during Mugabe’s time. I worked hard for this project and wouldn’t have been averse to a post in Sports Ministry to be honest.

I suffered during Mugabe’s time and was constantly arrested for being ED’s person. What did I get? More arrests. Today we have upstarts like Mudhatelling Matanga to arrest me. Nobody can doubt the role that I played but I have suffered even after.

We can’t have the same today. We shall see what the likes of Mudha will say during elections. You get people saying the President doesn’t know what is happening but as the leader, you have got to control your dogs. They have to bite on your instruction only.

Mugabe didn’t know about it when Tsvangirai was beaten but that still got him out of power. He lost power due to reckless subordinates too. You cannot be arresting people just because you are powerful. That is where we say denga rinoona [heavens see].

Corruption has not stopped, it’s even worse. The Motlanthe Commission report has not been responded to. The Welfare of War Veterans. Reforms. Democracy. Stable currency. Human rights violations have continued. The economy is in a mess.

Those things are critical in us saying we are a better nation. This is no matter what roads you are building. There is a need for reconciliation. Within the ruling party itself there is a need for reconciliation over past issues involving accusations against Mai Majuru & others.

Before we seek engagements with the West there is a need for reconciliation with the opposition so that we have a unified voice in the global stage. It’s not the monopoly of the ruling party to advance the cause of the country. Being gung-ho& ignoring the opposition won’t work.

There must be reflections all around and the truth must be said. We can’t accuse everyone who says the truth kuti apanduka [has sold out]. I suffered for the President during Mugabe’s time. He knows that.

But the same is happening now. We all respect the President’s office but we will always be critical of what is wrong in a professional and respectable manner. Someone has to say the truth.

Tinashe Sambiri|As has become the norm ZRP cops and Zanu PF hooligans attempted to block President Chamisa’s community engagement meetings in Matabeleland North.

President Chamisa is conducting community engagement programmes in Nkayi and selected parts of Matabeleland North Province.

On Wednesday President Chamisa wrote on Twitter:

“I’M IN NKAYI, MATNORTH..Just had fulfilling citizens and community interface meetings listening to citizens’ concerns, hopes and aspirations.

Great conversations at Nkayi Centre,Vova,Tohwe, Zwelabo and Gwelutshena.Nkayi is ready for change. A New Great Zimbabwe is loading..”

The MDC Alliance condemned organised acts of violence against the People’s President.

Today( Wednesday), as President
@nelsonchamisa
commenced his tour of Matabeleland North, hired Zanu PF things barricaded roads, co-opted police officers & disrupted the President’s meetings with community leaders at Nkayi Centre.

The primitive politics of violence & intolerance must stop,” said the party.

By A Correspondent | The below is a video of the former MDC Alliance Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora at Jotsholo last week.

The video (supplied) as given to reporters, was allegedly shot on the same day Thokozani Khupe’s spokesperson, Khalipeni Phugeni was arrested. In the below clip is Mwonzora speaking to a small crowd, some time before Phugeni was later arrested.

Mwonzora, who is currently engaged on a nationwide campaign trail, is heard alleging that he was about to be burnt inside a house at the funeral of the late leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Says Mwonzora: “At the funeral of Mr. Tsvangirai, the people who were about to be burnt inside the house, are Dr Khupe, Chief Ndlovu, Abednico Bhebhe, and I.”

By A Correspondent- Redcliff man Thubeihle Kheshow (26) who allegedly killed seven people in a knife and spear rampage was mentally unfit to stand trial the court yesterday.

Kheshow was examined by two psychiatrists and discovered that he had developed mental health problems.

Kwekwe District prosecutor Yeukai Mugumba said,” Two doctors examined him. under the Mental Health Act and discovered that he is not well”.

She further stated that “if he does not go on trial owing to his illness, a special verdict will be handed down by the High court. A special verdict can either find one guilty or not guilty depending on the gravity of the murder”.

Kheshow was charged with seven counts of murder, attempted murder and rape after an early morning attack on his victims in Redcliff Stone Clare suburb.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa Wednesday commissioned 28 houses for civil servants that took the government 15 years to construct under the Beitbridge Redevelopment Programme.

The housing project started in 2006 when Mnangagwa was then the Rural Housing Minister under Robert Mugabe’s administration.

The houses are 56  in total consisting of three-bedroom apartments.

However, 28 were recently completed and construction on the other 24 is yet to be finished.

Speaking at the launch in Beitbridge town, Mnangagwa said he was “proud” to have finished the project 15 years later and promised to construct more houses for civil servants.

“All our border towns have accommodation challenges. So, the government is seized with the project of constructing housing units in all these border towns so that civil servants and all agencies will have adequate and decent accommodation,” he said.

“I am happy that I began this project in 2006, and due to my resilience, I am completing it in 2021. The project stalled in 2008 but was restarted in 2019 under the second republic. So far, 52 units have been completed, and more are on the way.”

He added: “Guided by the zeal on our national vision of attaining a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society status by 2030, my government is committed to ensure that every citizen has access to sustainable, modern, liveable, and affordable shelter.”

The government is promising to construct 220 000 houses before 2025. On Tuesday, Cabinet also committed to the construction of 3 000 public primary and secondary schools, some with boarding facilities, by 2025.

-online

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said by-elections would go ahead even if the opposition boycotts them to protest his failure to implement reforms that would guarantee free and fair polls.

Mnangagwa made the remarks while addressing about 6 000 party supporters in Dulivhadzimo Stadium in Beitbridge.  Most of the supporters were bussed from different parts of the province.

Mnangagwa claimed victory was certain for the ruling party.

“We are going to have by-elections in 2022 and tinovasvasvanga (we will trounce them). In 2023, we will then have general elections tovarakasha (we will beat them),” Mnangagwa boasted as the crowd cheered.

“The opposition has hinted that they will boycott the elections, but we will hold them all the same.”

Mnangagwa has said the by-elections will be held during the first quarter of next year.

There are 133 vacant Parliamentary and local government seats following the recall of MDC Alliance legislators and councillors.

Mnangagwa, who was in the border town to preside over the commissioning of 28 houses for civil servants, accused opposition-run councils of failure to provide efficient service.

“We expect local authorities to take the leading role in the provision of houses. We expect them to address housing, but we have no local authorities, they are dead.  They should be complementing government in the provision of houses, but both rural and urban local authorities fail,” he said.

While Mnangagwa was addressing the Beitbridge crowd, his spokesperson George Charamba went on Twitter, to claim that the announcement of by-elections by Mnangagwa caught the MDCs by surprise, and unprepared.

“Not only are they unprepared and broke; they mortally fear that a thorough thumping by the ruling Zanu PF will remove the benefit of the doubt on which they hoped to fundraise ahead of 2023,” Charamba said.

“By-election results, particularly margin of defeat and inability to rouse their apathetic supporters will make them un-bankable in the eyes of their Western sponsors. Further, I made the point that those pretending to agitate for the opposition by demanding by-elections, were not only out of touch with the thinking in the opposition; they were actually singing a hymn the opposition does not find melodious. At Kopa in Chimanimani, the President called the bluff and hinted by-elections will come in the first quarter of 2022,” he said.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said a clear roadmap of reforms was non-negotiable.

“The consistent position that’s been taken by the MDC Alliance is that any proclamation for elections must be accompanied by a clear reform roadmap that paves the way for an undisputed election. The bad governance and legitimacy crisis that continues to plague Mr Mnangagwa’s regime is a direct result of the disputed election of 2018,” Mahere said.

She said the MDC Alliance was unwavering in its call for the alignment of electoral laws with the Constitution, adding that there was need to disband the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube said: “It is regrettable that he (Charamba) chose to be verbose to mask Zanu PF’s fear for electoral reforms while totally misrepresenting our position on the same to mean that we are scared of by-elections.”

Mnangagwa was accompanied by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, former Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri and several senior government officials.-newsday

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa will on Wednesday afternoon visit the family of the late veteran nationalist and Zanu-PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo in Bulawayo to pass his condolences.

The President revealed this as he touched down at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airport in the city, enroute to Beitbridge where he is expected to commission staff houses for civil servants.

In an impromptu address to hundreds of party supporters that had gathered at the airport to welcome him, the President said the nation had lost a selfless leader.

“We are very sorry about our brother and colleague, SK Moyo who passed on. We lost a great Comrade in the struggle, in government and in the party, we are very sorry, we have declared him a National Hero.

“Just now we are going to Beitbridge for a meeting there, in the afternoon, when we come back, we will visit the family,” said President Mnangagwa.

Khaya Moyo (76) succumbed to cancer on Sunday at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo.

He was declared a national hero on Monday in recognition of his contribution to the liberation of Zimbabwe.-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- Residents at Lupane Centre are living in fear after stray elephants, one of them with a calf, were spotted in the area on Tuesday.

According to authorities in Lupane District, the presence of elephants is not new in Lupane as the area is adjacent to the Hwange National Park with vast conservancies around, but, the visit by the jumbos this time of the year is not common.

Rangers from Kusile Rural District Council (KRDC)’s Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) quickly mobilised and hunted down the elephants following reports that a herd of three including a calf had been spotted along the Victoria Falls highway near Mabhikwa High School while another with a calf had been spotted in Ndengwende village near Lupane Police Camp.

Rangers shot dead a bull at Madojwa village a few kilometres from Lupane centre Wednesday.

The ones that were spotted near Mabhikwa High School at the layby reportedly moved past the Grain Marketing Board Lupane depot and residential areas.

KRDC acting chief executive Mr Wellington Mthembo yesterday said one bull had been shot down. He added: 

People in Lupane have co-existed with elephants for a long time. There are indigenous forests that are habitat to elephants so they always come out. The only issue now is when they come closer to the community and the frequency which is getting higher. Usually, they come during the cropping season.

Incidents of wildlife especially elephants roaming around human settlements have become common in areas near national parks.

By A Correspondent- An estimated 30 buildings in Mashonaland Central were damaged by storm including classroom blocks at Bradley Primary school, high school and part of Nyagurungo clinic where 16 asbestos sheets were blown away on Tuesday.

Solar panels at the clinic were also destroyed leaving it with no backup of power supply.

Residents who spoke to Bulawayo24.com said they escaped unhurt.

“The house collapsed during the storm and damaged the furniture in the house.

Luckily no one was home otherwise they could have been hurt,” said Eunice Choto.

Bradley Primary School Development Committee Chairman Majaira Chimbiro said the damage was a huge blow for the school as the storm hit them unexpectedly.

“We are touched because the damaged block was the heart of the school.

We need roofing sheets mainly because there are some exam classes and learners cannot write exams outside,” he said.

Chief Mutumba said residents have little time to make repairs as end of year exams are fast approaching.

Affected villages in Ward 7 include Kufinya, Musiyiwa, Matanga and Chiwayo.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is investigating two cases of attempted murder in which two Matobo villagers were attacked by unknown assailants while on their way from Jabula Shops.

The assailants threw stones and stabbed the victims with a knife. Pindula News presents a police report on the case.

Police in Matobo are investigating two cases of attempted murder where two complainants aged 28 and 17 were stabbed with a knife at Gwangwazila Village Matobo on 15/11/21 at around 0030 hours.

The victims were coming from Jabula Shops when they were attacked with stones and took a chase before the assailants stabbed both victims on the back and stomach. One of the victims sustained a deep cut and his intestines protruded.

By A Correspondent- Beverly “Bev” Sibanda says she has sacked, Harpers Mapimhidze, her manager of 11 years via a text message.

The 28-year-old raunchy dancer told H-Metro that she has even removed Harpers from their WhatsApp group, and has become her own manager.

Bev said she made the drastic move as Harpers became preoccupied with managing a pub since the relaxation of the COVID-19 restrictions. She said:

I have removed Harpers from my WhatsApp group after realising that he was no longer committed to her brand.

Harpers is now employed at City Sports Bar where he has been managing the pub and it seems he is enjoying his job there.

Ever since the relaxation of the COVID-19 restrictions, Harpers has not been looking for shows as he appears busy, which prompted me to organise my own shows for survival.

I sent him a text message informing him that I had fired him and it’s up to him to take the message or not.

Despite partying ways with Harpers, Bev said she was not in a hurry to find the replacement.

Meanwhile, Harpers, who also doubles as the Dancers Association of Zimbabwe president, confirmed that he has parted ways with Bev saying he was now committed to his new job. He said:

It’s true that I have parted company with Bev due to the new commitments that I have at City Sports Bar.

I have been working here for the greater part of the lockdown and I now have a demanding schedule so I don’t think I will be able to continue managing her.

I have been managing Bev since 2010 and you can see it has been 11 solid years that I have assisted her.

Harpers is credited for making Bev the brand she is today as he also handled the dancer’s domestic issues.

More: H-Metro

By A Correspondent- Police on Wednesday exhumed two bodies buried in one grave at Granville Mbudzi Cemetery in Harare hoping to get to the bottom of the Doves Funeral Services (DFS) “empty coffin” mystery.

DSF allegedly buried an empty coffin in Nyanga after the body of the late Maxwell Chimwamurombe was inexplicably left behind at its parlour in Harare.

The end of life industry company is accused of burying Chimwamurombe in the same coffin as a pauper in Harare, after realising its mistake.

Police detectives watched as Doves funeral undertakers carefully dug up a coffin at Granville Mbudzi Cemetery, which they opened to reveal two bodies.

One of those bodies is believed to be that of Chimwamurombe, who died in March in a drowning incident in Mutoko and was supposedly buried in Nyanga.

The coffin was loaded onto the back of a police Ford Ranger and driven to the Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary.

Forensic experts are expected to extract DNA samples from the body in the hope of identifying the individual buried alongside the pauper.

A Doves spokesman declined to comment, referring ZimLive to a statement issued in October, in which the company said it is “committed to a full investigation of the matter to bring it to completion.”

Sources told ZimLive that a driver who was supposed to be ferrying Chimwamurombe’s body became aware that the coffin was empty during burial at a village in Nyanga.

The driver reportedly informed one of the senior managers at Doves after the burial, but the manager did not take any action.

Instead, Doves is believed to have taken Chimwamurombe’s remains and placed them in the same coffin as a dead man whose body was given to Doves by the department of social welfare to conduct a pauper’s burial.

Chimwamurombe’s family has demanded compensation from Doves.

Police are expected to conduct the second exhumation in Nyanga, to confirm that a coffin was buried without a body.

-State media

By A Correspondent- A Chiredzi woman has died after she was stung by a black scorpion.

Flora Munorwei of Zunguza Village was confirmed dead on arrival at St Joseph Gudu Clinic, a few hours after a black scorpion had sneaked into her blankets and stung her.
Munorwei and her husband were sleeping outside their bedroom hut to relieve themselves from the prevailing high temperatures when the venomous scorpion sneaked into their blankets at around 9.30pm on Tuesday.

She was woken up after feeling pain on her left shoulder only to discover that a black scorpion had stung her.
According to Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, Munorwei’s condition deteriorated a few minutes after family members had woken up to kill the poisonous scorpion.
She was whisked away to the clinic in a wheelbarrow and passed on less than two hours later.
Police discovered a black mark on her left shoulder where she had been stung by the scorpion and her body was taken to Chiredzi General Hospital where it is awaiting post-mortem.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF’s Zvimba South legislator and businessman Philip Chiyangwa is challenging the compulsory acquisition of his land in Warren Park, Harare, where the State wants to set up a museum for African liberation.

This is contained in a High Court chamber application where Chiyangwa is challenging the seizure of the land, which measures about 5,5 hectares.
Chiyangwa, the executive chairman of Kilima Investments, the company that owns the property, is accusing the government of pulling out of talks to buy the land, opting instead to grab it and wants the court to issue an order declaring the attempt null and void, unconstitutional and having no justification in an “open and democratic society”.
The land in contention is Stand 9297 Warren Park Township of Warren Park where government is setting up a museum to chronicle Africa’s liberation.
In August, President Emmerson Mnangagwa invited 16 countries to participate in the construction of the museum during the official launch of the first phase of the project.
Chiyangwa said the government was trying to avoid paying for the land by resorting to compulsory acquisition despite making a move to negotiate payment terms earlier.
“It is apparent to the applicant that the respondent is set to forcibly proceed and arbitrarily appropriate applicants property. Applicant contends that the respondent’s conduct is manifestly unconstitutional, wrongful and prejudicial to the applicant’s rights and interests for the following reasons,” Chiyangwa said in his founding affidavit filed on November 12 through his lawyers Mutamangira and Associates.
“The respondents’ conduct is wholly arbitrary, unconstitutional and has no place for justification in an open and democratic society.”
Lands and Agriculture minister, Anxious Masuka, who is cited as the respondent, said in the Government Gazette that he was compulsorily acquiring the land on behalf of the President.
Ironically, Chiyangwa heads a campaign by Zanu PF to raise US$140 million for Mnangagwa’s 2023 re-election campaign. He heads a fundraising committee made up of late Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s ex-wife, Zodwa Mkandla, Everisto Mudhikwa, Codes Scott Sakupwanya,Tafadzwa Musarara and Antony Pote.
Chiyangwa said he was given the land by Harare City Council as restitution for properties the city had grabbed from him. The settlements were agreed and registered before the High Court in 2015.
In his affidavit, Chiyangwa said the head of the Institute of African Knowledge secretariat behind the construction of the museum, Kwame Muzawazi expressed interest in the property.
“The said ambassador Muzawazi advised the applicant’s managing director Brian Chiyangwa of an intention on the part of the Institute of African Knowledge to make an offer for the purchase of applicant’s entire property,” Chiyangwa said.
“Ambassador Muzawazi advised the applicant that the Institute of African Knowledge is a government department in the Office of the President and Cabinet with the responsibility of constructing a museum for the history of African liberation.”
However, nothing came out of the offer, but that did not stop government from “recently engaging the applicant in negotiations for the acquisition of the land”.
“The negotiations have not yet been finalised in producing an agreement, and the parties have agreed on an acceptable offer being tabled by the government. It is untenable that in an open, free, fair and democratic society the government now seeks to renege on negotiations and instead now seeks to emasculate the applicant to part with his property through forcible means by arbitrary application of the law.”
Chiyangwa said he was served with a notice to compulsorily acquire the property on November 3, 2021.
“On November 3, 2021, the applicant through its legal practitioners of record communicated its objection to proposed compulsory acquisition of the property. The respondent has not made any communication to the applicant indicating any change of position notwithstanding the details of objection to compulsory acquisition of the applicants property.”
The businessman planned to construct a world-class shopping complex at the site, which he says will include supermarkets, fuel service station, clothing shops and all types of complementary infrastructure.
“To date, the applicant has invested more than US$10 million and the applicant’s complex nears completion and would have been due for use and access to the public before the end of the year 2021,” he said.
The matter is yet to be heard while Masuka is still to file opposing papers.
-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF’S deputy provincial chairperson for Harare Godwin Gomwe has appeared in court facing a charge of assault.

He is alleged to have assaulted a man for not taking off his cap while talking to him.
Gomwe, who is jointly charged with Shelter Gomwe, Collins Gwatidzo and Fungai Rusinamhodzi, appeared before Harare magistrate Barbara Mateko.
The quartet was remanded on $1 000 bail each to December 9 for trial. The complainant is Gibson Labani.
Allegations are that on November 9, Labani and Gomwe had a misunderstanding over a cottage built by the former.
Gomwe assaulted Labani for not removing his cap while addressing him. It is alleged that Gwatidzo joined in the assault, accusing Labani of disrespect.
The State alleged that Gomwe and his co-accused also assaulted Emilia Mashavave.
Mashavave lost her cellphone valued at US$45. The complainants reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of Gomwe and his accomplices.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- MDC-Alliance is targeting half a million votes in Bulawayo, with the party having intensified its voter registration campaign in the second capital.

The campaign is being undertaken at a time when Zec warned that the city stands to lose two or three constituencies in the next delimitation exercise as the number of registered voters falls far short of the minimum threshold.
The opposition party’s provincial MDC Alliance spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza yesterday told Southern Eye that they were mobilising eligible people to register as voters during the by-elections and 2023 plebiscite.
“We are targeting to register 500 000 voters.
“We have registered big numbers and do not intend to intimidate our competitors by revealing exact details. We are offering transport to the registration offices,” Chirowodza said.
“The only time we will not be providing transport is when Zec sets up voter registration kiosks in Bulawayo’s districts.
“There are huge numbers of prospective registrants who will get an opportunity to register to vote once Zec sets up voter registration kiosks in Bulawayo’s districts.”
Recently, MDC Alliance youths launched a pilot door-to-door voter registration campaign targeting to register 90 000 new voters ahead of the delimitation exercise.
In June, government announced that a population census will be held in April next year with results expected in August.
It said the delimitation exercise and creation of new electoral boundaries would begin in October and end in December 2022.

• Newsday

By A Correspondent- Villagers in the late former MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s Buhera rural home have disagreed with Zanu PF’s rhetoric of blaming sanctions for the failing economy.

The Mirror reports that the villagers instead believe that the economic challenges bedevilling the country were exacerbated by corruption.

According to the Masvingo based publication, the sanctions disapproval came out during the Buhera anti-sanctions demonstrations held on 25 October.

Demonstrators during that day moved from Chain business centre to Murambinda Growth Point, led by ZANU PF district leadership.

Addressing the demonstrators, district Chairperson Causemore Chimombe said sanctions were hurting the economy and needed to be removed unconditionally.

But some villagers who participated in the demonstrations believe that Zimbabwe’s economic decline had little to do with sanctions.

They urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remove all senior Government officials implicated in corruption as a way of improving the economy.

The United States Government has maintained that sanctions are not against the country but individuals and institutions that rank high in human rights abuses.

Laiton Marambanyika from Marambanyika village under Chief Nyashanu said while sanctions affect individual strategic institutions that are key in economic development, it was corruption by well-connected politicians that have destroyed the economy. He told The Mirror:

Connected people in government and outside have formed cartels that are stealing from government and this will take time to break.

Edwin Gamanya who stays at Murambinda Growth Point said mismanagement of the country’s resources and political patronage are contributing to economic decay.

Winmore Mafuruse, a sex worker at the growth point said they were forced to demonstrate but they believed the issue of sanctions was mere rhetoric. She said:

It’s a rhetoric mantra. It is corruption that has taken us to this point and clients are no longer paying as they used to do.

Economist Andrew Muchingami told The Mirror that the sanctions mantra is a scapegoat to hide misgovernance, corruption and incompetency by individuals in government.

However, ZANU PF activist, Tandirai Mugadza said sanctions were real and hurting the economy and therefore should be removed unconditionally.

More: The Mirror

By A Correspondent- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday said it was precluded from providing financial support to Zimbabwe due to its “unsustainable debt and external arrears,” and any lending arrangement would require a clear path to a comprehensive restructuring of the African country’s external debt.

Zimbabwe, which has suffered from bouts of hyperinflation in the last 15 years, has not received funding from lenders like the IMF and World bank for more than two decades due to arrears.

Its external debt is more than US$10 billion and most of it is in arrears.

“A Fund financial arrangement would require a clear path to comprehensive restructuring of Zimbabwe’s external debt, including the clearance of arrears and obtaining financing assurances from creditors,” the IMF said.

Creditors owed by Zimbabwe include the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Investment Bank and the Paris Club. The national treasury says it is working on a plan to clear the arrears.

The IMF said its staff completed a virtual mission to Zimbabwe from October 16 to November 16, and noted “significant” efforts by authorities to stem inflation, contain budget deficits and reserve money growth.

However, decisive actions were needed to accelerate reforms, improve the business climate and reduce governance vulnerabilities, the fund said in a statement.

“Decisive actions are needed to lock-in economic stabilisation gains and accelerate reforms. The near-term macroeconomic imperative is to continue with the close coordination among fiscal, exchange rate, and monetary policies,” the IMF said.

Among the key reforms that the IMF wants to see is “greater official exchange rate flexibility and tackling forex market distortions”.

This is a reference to the foreign currency auction, widely criticised by leading businesses for overvaluing the Zimdollar and delaying allocations.

Zimbabwe is spending a larger proportion of its budget on infrastructure, but the IMF says there must be a balance between “critical spending” and “containing fiscal deficits”.

The IMF says there is some economic recovery, underpinned by good harvests and economic activity.

“Economic activity is recovering in 2021, with real GDP expected to grow by about 6 percent, reflecting a bumper agricultural output, increased mining and energy production, buoyant construction and manufacturing activity, and increased infrastructure investment,” the IMF said. –Reuters

By A Correspondent- A Zupco bus has collided with a tanker at around noon Wednesday and killed eight people on the spot.

Under the current lock-down regulations, travelling is restricted between 10 PM and 4 AM.

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the accident happened near Kadoma.

” The ZRP reports the death of 8 people in a fatal RTA which occurred at the 168km peg along Harare-Bulawayo Road between 12 midnight and 1 AM when a ZUPCO bus had a collision with a tanker,” ZRP posted on their tweeter account Wednesday morning.

Tinashe Sambiri|The chaos rocking ZIFA is a direct result of the Zanu PF regime’s gross incompetence, an MDC Alliance official has said.

Writing on Twitter, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration of neglecting matters related to football development in the country.

Chuma argued:
It’s turmoil everywhere! The rot in ZIFA is just a micro of the macro.

This stinking rottenness is a pure reflection of the country under @edmnangagwa. What has the govt done to support football development? Busy hiring million dollar jets for ED to address empty chairs. #NHM (https://twitter.com/chumasteve/status/1460658317177589762?s=20)

By A Correspondent- A 58-year-old Samuel Hove from Magwegwe in Bulawayo has been sentenced to 15 days in jail with an option to pay a fine of ZWL$5 000 after he insulted and threatened a chief.

Hove pleaded guilty when he appeared before Mberengwa Resident Magistrate Caroline Tafira Nyoni on Thursday for contravening Section 48 of the Traditional Leaders Act after he sent an offensive message to Andrew Bvute (67) who is Chief Bvute.

Hove and Chief Bvute are related as the former is a son to the latter’s brother.

The State led by Matidaishe Pavazhira alleged that on 2 July 2021 Hove obstructed, hindered or interfered with a chief in the discharge of his duties.

On the day in question at 11.36 AM, Bvute received a text message from Hove which was abusive and threatening. The message read:

Ndini ndakakuita ishe kana une nharo hariperi gore rino uri chief Bvute, Hatibhejerane kana uchida (I’m the one who made you a Chief. You will lose your chieftaincy before the end of the year if you are headstrong).

Bvute reported the matter at ZRP Mberengwa. He said that he was now feared for his life.

More: The Mirror

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has admitted that some party officials and supporters were abusing the party’s logos for their personal gains.

The party’s director of information, Tafadzwa Mugwadi, made the admission to a local online publication.

This follows reports of low-ranking Zanu PF officials and members of the public taking advantage of Zanu PF VVIP stickers and other party insignia to avoid paying tollgate fees and evading police roadblocks.

Some motorists are even inserting dummy number plates inscribed; “Zanu PF” or “ED-PFEE” and party scarves on vehicle dashboards to intimidate law enforcement agents.

Speaking to NewZimbabwe.com on Tuesday, Mugwadi warned motorists against the practice. Said Mugwadi:

As a matter of policy, putting on party regalia or use of it is not a license to intimidate or escape policy issues.

However, the use of regalia demonstrates their love for the party, but we warn them from abusing such because it is against the party policy.

Mugwadi explained that VVIP stickers were not above board since they were only valid during party events. He said:

Stickers written VVIP are not above board and they are not for ordinary members of the party or members of the public.

They are specifically used for Politburo members and people take advantage of them when they are produced during the conference. Those illicitly producing those stickers must stop that forthwith.

The stickers are mostly plastered on top-of-the-range vehicles to intimidate law enforcement agencies, evade police searches.

The MDC Alliance has, however, condemned the abuse of the stickers and vehicle number plates, describing it as an abuse of power by the ruling party.

MDC Alliance deputy national spokesperson Ostallos Siziba told NewZimbabwe.com ZANU PF supporters were abusing power and using state institutions to break the law.

By A Correspondent- The majority of villagers in Buhera believe that the economic challenges bedevilling the country are not because of sanctions but corruption, The Mirror has established.

Buhera is the home to the late opposition MDC founder, Morgan Tsvangirai.

In Buhera anti-sanctions demonstrations were held on 25 October and demonstrators moved from Chain business centre to Murambinda Growth Point where they were led by ZANU PF district leadership.

Addressing the demonstrators, district Chairperson Causemore Chimombe said sanctions were hurting the economy and needed to be removed unconditionally.

But some villagers who participated in the demonstrations believe that Zimbabwe’s economic decline had little to do with sanctions.

They urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remove all senior Government officials implicated in corruption as a way of improving the economy.

The United States Government has maintained that sanctions are not against the country but individuals and institutions that rank high in human rights abuses.

Laiton Marambanyika from Marambanyika village under Chief Nyashanu said while sanctions affect individual strategic institutions that are key in economic development, it was corruption by well-connected politicians that have destroyed the economy. He told The Mirror:

Connected people in government and outside have formed cartels that are stealing from government and this will take time to break.

Edwin Gamanya who stays at Murambinda Growth Point said mismanagement of the country’s resources and political patronage are contributing to economic decay.

Winmore Mafuruse, a sex worker at the growth point said they were forced to demonstrate but they believed the issue of sanctions was mere rhetoric. She said:

It’s a rhetoric mantra. It is corruption that has taken us to this point and clients are no longer paying as they used to do.

Economist Andrew Muchingami told The Mirror that the sanctions mantra is a scapegoat to hide misgovernance, corruption and incompetency by individuals in government.

However, ZANU PF activist, Tandirai Mugadza said sanctions were real and hurting the economy and therefore should be removed unconditionally.

More: The Mirror

By A Correspondent- MDC-Alliance is targeting half a million votes in Bulawayo, with the party having intensified its voter registration campaign in the second capital.

The campaign is being undertaken at a time when Zec warned that the city stands to lose two or three constituencies in the next delimitation exercise as the number of registered voters falls far short of the minimum threshold.
The opposition party’s provincial MDC Alliance spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza yesterday told Southern Eye that they were mobilising eligible people to register as voters during the by-elections and 2023 plebiscite.
“We are targeting to register 500 000 voters.
“We have registered big numbers and do not intend to intimidate our competitors by revealing exact details. We are offering transport to the registration offices,” Chirowodza said.
“The only time we will not be providing transport is when Zec sets up voter registration kiosks in Bulawayo’s districts.
“There are huge numbers of prospective registrants who will get an opportunity to register to vote once Zec sets up voter registration kiosks in Bulawayo’s districts.”
Recently, MDC Alliance youths launched a pilot door-to-door voter registration campaign targeting to register 90 000 new voters ahead of the delimitation exercise.
In June, government announced that a population census will be held in April next year with results expected in August.
It said the delimitation exercise and creation of new electoral boundaries would begin in October and end in December 2022.

• Newsday

Police on Wednesday exhumed two bodies buried in one grave at Granville Mbudzi Cemetery in Harare hoping to get to the bottom of the Doves Funeral Services (DFS) “empty coffin” mystery.

DSF allegedly buried an empty coffin in Nyanga after the body of the late Maxwell Chimwamurombe was inexplicably left behind at its parlour in Harare.

The end of life industry company is accused of burying Chimwamurombe in the same coffin as a pauper in Harare, after realising its mistake.

Police detectives watched as Doves funeral undertakers carefully dug up a coffin at Granville Mbudzi Cemetery, which they opened to reveal two bodies.

One of those bodies is believed to be that of Chimwamurombe, who died in March in a drowning incident in Mutoko and was supposedly buried in Nyanga.

The coffin was loaded onto the back of a police Ford Ranger and driven to the Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary.

Forensic experts are expected to extract DNA samples from the body in the hope of identifying the individual buried alongside the pauper.

A Doves spokesman declined to comment, referring ZimLive to a statement issued in October, in which the company said it is “committed to a full investigation of the matter to bring it to completion.”

Sources told ZimLive that a driver who was supposed to be ferrying Chimwamurombe’s body became aware that the coffin was empty during burial at a village in Nyanga.

The driver reportedly informed one of the senior managers at Doves after the burial, but the manager did not take any action.

Instead, Doves is believed to have taken Chimwamurombe’s remains and placed them in the same coffin as a dead man whose body was given to Doves by the department of social welfare to conduct a pauper’s burial.

Chimwamurombe’s family has demanded compensation from Doves.

Police are expected to conduct the second exhumation in Nyanga, to confirm that a coffin was buried without a body.

More: ZimLive

By A Correspondent| Businessman Farai Matsika tried to use fraudulent means to wrestle Croco Motors from its rightful owner Moses Chingwena, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Supreme Court judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu in his judgment said High Court judge, Justice Owen Tagu cannot be faulted for coming up with that ruling since Matsika had put nothing before the courts to support his ownership claims.

Justice Bhunu ruled it was Matsika’s obligation to convince the court, but it was clear he submitted doctored documents which made it difficult for both courts to believe him.

He has been fighting with his former partner and cousin Chingwena over the control of Croco Holdings which the latter spent over two decades building.

In an earlier ruling, High Court judge Justice Owen Tagu had accused him of trying to grab the company through the back door, an argument upheld by Justice Chinembiri Bhunu with costs.Justice Bhunu also blasted Matsika and his lawyers for incompetency.

“In the final analysis no-fault or misdirection can be laid at the learned judge a quo’s door in his treatment of the substantive issues and verdict,” Justice Bhunu said.

“In view of Matsika’s deplorable unbecoming behaviour in manufacturing fraudulent documents to deceive the court, costs at the punitive scale were eminently deserved in the court a quo.

In the current proceedings before me, there is no reason for departure from the general rule that costs follow the result.“In the final analysis I hold that the appellants have no reasonable prospects of success on appeal.

It is accordingly ordered that the application for condonation of late noting of appeal and extension of time within which to make an appeal be and is hereby dismissed with costs,” he ruled.

“This is, therefore, a proper case where the naivety of the applicants’ lawyers was properly visited on their clients as the applicants were not entirely free from blame.”

Matsika, had in his Supreme Court appeal, complained Justice Tagu had made some errors in concluding he had sought to grab the company through the back door.

Matsika sought the setting aside of the High Court ruling and demanded a forensic audit and valuation of Croco Holdings and 39 other entities.

Matsika claimed he had built the Croco business empire for 26 years while his cousin Chingwena was working at LCZ, Century Bank, and Discount House, which he added are failed companies.

However, Chingwena argued that Matsika failed to place before the court evidence showing how he secured the 30% stake in the vehicle sale company.

While Matsika had claimed that Phibeon Gwatidzo of Baker Tilly Gwatidzo Chartered Accountants was the shares transferring secretary in 2006, it emerged through Gwatidzo’s secretary that the accounting firm was not yet in existence at the time.

By A Correspondent- Police have appealed to members of the public for information that may lead to the arrest of three notorious robbers, Patson Matengambiri, Shadreck Njowa and Nyasha Chitera.

The trio, who were in the company of 11 other robbers who have since been arrested, robbed the complainants of cash amounting to nearly US$3 million which belonged to ZB Bank.

The robbery incident occurred at Gwebi Bridge along Harare-Chirundu Road on 6th January 2021.

ZB Bank is offering a US$5 000 reward to anyone who supplies credible information leading to the arrest of three suspects.

A statement issued by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi reads:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of Patson Matengambiri, Shadreck Njowa and Nyasha Chitera, in connection with a robbery case that occurred at Gwebi Bridge along Harare-Chirundu Road on 6th January 2021.

The suspects who were in the company of 11 other gang members robbed the complainants of cash amounting to US$2 775 000 and ZWL$43 090 which belonged to a local financial institution, ZB Bank.

The 11 suspects were arrested and the matter is pending before the court. A reward of US$5000 is being offered by ZB Bank to anyone who supplies credible information leading to the arrest of three suspects who are still on the run.

Meanwhile, Police in Murewa are appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of Tichatonga Nyamukondiwa and Derick, no further particulars known, whose last known address is Murisa Village, Seke.

The two are wanted for a case of robbery which occurred on 31 March 2021 at Katsande Business Centre, Mudzi, in which the suspects robbed the complainant US$20 000 cash, 700 grams of processed gold and a Nissan Caravan vehicle.

Anyone with information should contact CID Homicide Harare on, (0242) 758031 or Zimbabwe Republic Police National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or Police General Headquarters WhatsApp on 0712 800197 or any nearest Police Station.

By A Correspondent- Police detectives watched as Doves funeral undertakers carefully dug up a coffin at Granville Mbudzi Cemetery, which they opened to reveal two bodies.

One of those bodies is believed to be that of Chimwamurombe, who died in March in a drowning incident in Mutoko and was supposedly buried in Nyanga.

The coffin was loaded onto the back of a police Ford Ranger and driven to the Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary.

Forensic experts are expected to extract DNA samples from the body in the hope of identifying the individual buried alongside the pauper.

A Doves spokesman declined to comment, referring ZimLive to a statement issued in October, in which the company said it is “committed to a full investigation of the matter to bring it to completion.”

Sources told ZimLive that a driver who was supposed to be ferrying Chimwamurombe’s body became aware that the coffin was empty during burial at a village in Nyanga.

The driver reportedly informed one of the senior managers at Doves after the burial, but the manager did not take any action.

Instead, Doves is believed to have taken Chimwamurombe’s remains and placed them in the same coffin as a dead man whose body was given to Doves by the department of social welfare to conduct a pauper’s burial.

Chimwamurombe’s family has demanded compensation from Doves.

Police are expected to conduct the second exhumation in Nyanga, to confirm that a coffin was buried without a body.