By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged rural dwellers to be watchful of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as some have secret motives that do not benefit the people.

He made the remarks while addressing the Gokwe community during the launch of the 2021/22 Pfumvudza farming programme. He said:

Report any new NGOs to your Minister of State so that it is established whether the NGO is for the good or not. If you just accept such NGOs you end up regretting because some have ulterior motives and you may lend yourselves in trouble.

The ruling ZANU PF has always been sceptical of NGOs accusing some of them of championing the regime change agenda.

The government has also been accusing some NGOs, including the USAID, of sponsoring the opposition MDC, something that is in violation of domestic laws. 

Last week Parliament gazetted the Private Voluntary Organisation Amendment Bill which that seeks to, among other things, penalise NGOs that interfere in politics; that have previously been used by the US and other Western nations to fund regime change.

The Bill comes amid reports that the US, through USAID, had set aside US$5 million to fund NGOs under the guise of promoting rule of law, constitutionalism, and democracy. 

The funding comes when Zimbabwe is preparing to hold the 2023 elections and ZANU PF believes the NGOs were being funded to campaign for the opposition MDC Alliance. 

Some analysts say there is bad blood between the government and NGOs because the latter castigate human rights violations by the former.

 The Chronicle

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has left Harare for Durban, South Africa, to attend an Intra African Trade Fair (IATF).

Mnangagwa travelled at a time he was supposed to be mourning the death of his party Zanu PF’s spokesman, Simon Khaya Moyo, who died on Sunday.

Before leaving for SA, Mnangagwa said he was shocked by the death of SK.
Moyo succumbed to cancer after a long battle with the disease.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ZACC) reporting platforms are inundated with reports of some community leaders across the country, who are sabotaging Government’s noble low input sustainable agricultural programme, Pfumvudza/Intwasa, through corruption in the distribution of inputs.

ZACC this week received a number of complaints in the manner in which the inputs were being distributed by some leaders in the farming communities before launching investigations.
Pfumvudza was initiated by Government to increase rural household incomes and boost national food security but some elements among the teams tasked with inputs distribution are derailing the noble programme.

ZACC has issued a warning to teams tasked with distribution of the inputs to desist from corrupt tendencies saying they will soon be arrested.
“It is extremely worrying to note that some unscrupulous leaders tasked with distributing the inputs are engaging in activities that are meant to derail the exercise.
“The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has received an overwhelming number of reports from farmers across Zimbabwe complaining about the unprofessional way community leaders are distributing inputs for the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme.
“During the week, ZACC received a very high number of reports on its various reporting platforms, including Twitter, Whatsapp and SMS, from people reporting that there are irregularities in the distribution of the inputs,” reads the statement.

ZACC warned the community leaders against corruption and hailed the informants for assisting with the information.
“It is against this background that ZACC is strongly warning perpetrators of this criminal conduct that the Commission will descend heavily on them, without fear, favour or prejudice. The Commission also wishes to thank the vigilant whistleblowers who made us aware of these nefarious activities.
“It is through such boldness that we can, together, end the cancer of corruption,” the statement reads.
ZACC encouraged people to utilise the social media and other platforms to report corruption.
“Citizens must continue to report these and other incidences of corruption, on Whatsapp number +263719529483 or +263242307065/6/7, +263242369602/5/8/14 or zacc.online/tipoffs.”
Alternatively, they can report to the nearest police station.

The Commission encouraged the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to formulate more watertight systems that encourage transparency in the manner the inputs are distributed to curb corruption.
Distribution of inputs under the Climate-Proofed Presidential Inputs Scheme, Pfumvudza/Intwasa, for the cropping season commenced recently with Government setting aside $152 million for the transportation of inputs from Grain Marketing Board depots to wards where farmers can easily access them.
There were reports that some councillors and transporters were demanding money from farmers for the transportation of the Pfumvudza inputs.
In Banket some village heads were accused of demanding US$4 from each farmer to be able to get the farming inputs.
Some reports from Murehwa accused village heads and their families of looting the inputs at the expense of the other villagers.
Where ordinary people are getting 2kg of seed each, a few selected relatives and friends of the committee members are getting 5kgs each.
Complaints from Mhangura are that the leaders are imposing additional conditions for one to benefit in the inputs scheme. Those who did not participate in the construction of a local school are being left out.
Those who do not have offer letters but are involved in farming are also not benefiting.

In Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, there are reports that the committee members are demanding US$4,50 transport from each farmer who gets a bag of fertiliser.
In Manicaland, some community leaders are reportedly allocating themselves scotch-carts full of inputs while others go back home empty-handed.
In Muswenhende area, Mvurwi, there are complaints that those who prepared land for the programme are being left out on inputs distribution when those who did not do anything are receiving inputs.
GMB chief executive Mr Rockie Mutenha advised farmers not to sell inputs they receive as stern measures will be taken against those who abuse the seed and fertilisers.
Government is intensifying efforts to boost agricultural production through Pfumvudza to guarantee food self-sufficiency and commercialise smallholder agriculture.
Pfumvudza is a concept aimed at climate-proofing agriculture by adopting conservation farming techniques and involves the utilisation of small pieces of land and applying the correct agronomic practices for higher returns. The concept, which will be applied to maize, traditional grains and soyabeans will also commercialise smallholder agriculture.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Harare slay-queen Luminitsa Kimberly Jemwa is back in court with her former landlord, Kundai Muradzikwa, who allegedly stole her US$152 cash and Jewellery.

Muradzikwa was arrested last month and is on free bail, for stealing cash and Jewellery worth US$152 000 from Lumi.

Last month, Muradzikwa appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi charged with unlawful entry and he was granted free bail after the court noted that he was coming from home instead of police custody.

According to the state case, Muradzikwa allegedly took door keys from Lumi’s domestic worker entered the home and stole the cash and goods.

Muradzikwa allegedly ordered the domestic worker to vacate the place accusing Lumi of delaying in paying rentals and related bills.

It is claimed that on entering Lumi’s lodgings along Quinnington Road in Borrowdale Brooke, Muradzikwa stole money amounting to US$32 000, two watches and Jewellery, all valued at US$152 000.

It is claimed Muradzikwa called Lumi telling her that the domestic worker had stolen from the house and left.

Lumi, who is based in South Africa, then lodged a report leading to the arrest of the domestic worker and Muradzikwa.

Meanwhile, the domestic worker also filed a complaint against Borrowdale Police Station officers who allegedly released Muradzikwa following alleged interference by his mother, Grace Muradzikwa.
According to the affidavit, Muradzikwa’s mother allegedly threatened to report the officers to Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga if they did not release him.
“The accused person, Kundai Muradzikwa, seized the keys from the maid and ordered the maid to vacate the premises because her boss had delayed paying rent by six days in the absence of the complainant. The accused person unlawfully entered the complainant’s home without her knowledge or approval and stole complainant’s money amounting to US$32 000 cash, two Rolex watches, gold and diamond jewellery, clothes and bags valued at US$152 000,” an investigating officer handling the case, wrote.
“Witness statement confirming that the accused person ordered the maid to vacate the place and handover the keys to him. Accused person was in possession of complainant’s household keys during the time in which the money was stolen…
“. . . the accused person entered the com- plaint’s bedroom where the money was and took photographs and sent to the complainant, saying you can check your maid might have stolen some items from you.
“The accused’s mother already interrupted the investigations by influencing the release of the accused person from the cells in the night well after the release time had passed. Since then, the accused’s mother prevented us from carrying searches at his place of residence and influenced by being released from police custody within 2 hours of detention.
“The accused persons are facing serious offences, which if convicted, will face a jail sentence and the state has a strong case against this accused person, since he is the only person who entered the complainant’s house and it is proved through investigation that the crime was carried out by the accused person, since there is no break-in which took place.”
Anesu Chirenje prosecuted for the State. H Metro

By A Correspondent- Gunshots were fired as violence erupted on Saturday at a Zanu PF district meeting in Kwekwe, with supporters of rival factions exchanging blows.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not immediately comment on the alleged violence.
“We are yet to get any report. Try tomorrow,” Nyathi said.
But witnesses said several gunshots were fired in the air at the meeting pitting supporters of aspiring Kwekwe Central MP Kandros Mugabe against those aligned to his biggest rival, Energy Ncube.
The clashes reportedly started just before the meeting, which officials said was meant to make inquiries into the recently completed party district elections.
Zanu PF Midlands provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri would neither confirm nor deny the clashes yesterday. He repeatedly promised to give NewsDay a report on what transpired.
Mupereri was yet to make good his promise by the time of going to print.
“I am in a meeting now. Can you call after an hour so that I can give you the full report,” he said.
Witnesses said the clashes began when one of the youths aligned to Mugabe allegedly harassed a rival activist who was holding a placard denouncing the aspiring Kwekwe MP, who was described as a G40 member.

“Mari yeG40 irikushanda muKwekwe naKandros muG40,” the placard read.
Reports from the Midlands city said police had to be called in to stop the clashes.
In another incident, Zanu PF officials in Mashonaland West province reportedly traded blows with acting chairperson Abhiya Mujeri reportedly beaten up as factionalism continues to divide the party.
Provincial secretary for security Tommy Mwanza and another official were reportedly questioned by the police on the matter before they were released.
Zanu PF has been rocked by infighting during its on-going restructuring exercise. Newsday

By A Correspondent- The case involving popular social media personality, Luminitsa Kimberly Jemwa and her former landlord, Kundai Muradzikwa, is back in court.

Muradzikwa, who is on free bail, is accused of stealing cash and jewellery worth US$152 000 from Lumi.

Last month, Muradzikwa appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi charged with unlawful entry and he was granted free bail after the court noted that he was coming from home instead of police custody.

According to the state case, Muradzikwa allegedly took door keys from Lumi’s domestic worker entered the home and stole the cash and goods.

Muradzikwa allegedly ordered the domestic worker to vacate the place accusing Lumi of delaying in paying rentals and related bills.

It is claimed that on entering Lumi’s lodgings along Quinnington Road in Borrowdale Brooke, Muradzikwa stole money amounting to US$32 000, two watches and jewellery, all valued at US$152 000.

It is claimed Muradzikwa called Lumi telling her that the domestic worker had stolen from the house and left.

Lumi, who is based in South Africa, then lodged a report leading to the arrest of the domestic worker and Muradzikwa.

Meanwhile, the domestic worker also filed a complaint against Borrowdale Police Station officers who allegedly released Muradzikwa following alleged interference by his mother, Grace Muradzikwa.
According to the affidavit, Muradzikwa’s mother allegedly threatened to report the officers to Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga if they did not release him.
“The accused person, Kundai Muradzikwa, seized the keys from the maid and ordered the maid to vacate the premises because her boss had delayed paying rent by six days in the absence of the complainant. The accused person unlawfully entered the complainant’s home without her knowledge or approval and stole complainant’s money amounting to US$32 000 cash, two Rolex watches, gold and diamond jewellery, clothes and bags valued at US$152 000,” an investigating officer handling the case, wrote.
“Witness statement confirming that the accused person ordered the maid to vacate the place and handover the keys to him. Accused person was in possession of complainant’s household keys during the time in which the money was stolen…
“. . . the accused person entered the com- plaint’s bedroom where the money was and took photographs and sent to the complainant, saying you can check your maid might have stolen some items from you.
“The accused’s mother already interrupted the investigations by influencing the release of the accused person from the cells in the night well after the release time had passed. Since then, the accused’s mother prevented us from carrying searches at his place of residence and influenced by being released from police custody within 2 hours of detention.
“The accused persons are facing serious offences, which if convicted, will face a jail sentence and the state has a strong case against this accused person, since he is the only person who entered the complainant’s house and it is proved through investigation that the crime was carried out by the accused person, since there is no break-in which took place.”
Anesu Chirenje prosecuted for the State. H Metro

By A Correspondent | Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was greeted with Paul Madzore’s song Handicheuke at a ZANU PF function, the war veterans children organisation, COZVWA reports. .

The incident happened in Chivhu, the short report states.

Madzore’s handicheuke (in Shona- I won’t turn back) song is Nelson Chamisa’s election anthem and it denotes hatred of the gory fading past under ZANU PF rule.

According to the war vets NGO, the music was mistakenly played by a hired DJ at the function.

It could not be established at the time of writing what eventually happened afterwards.

ZimEye was at the time of writing, making a follow up on the report.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is investigating a robbery case in which a gang of robbers armed with iron bars disarmed a security guard at a mine on a shotgun before getting away with gold loaded wire wools worth over US$82 000.

We present the statement by the police:

The ZRP is investigating a robbery case that occurred at Eldorado Mine, Chinhoyi on 13/11/21 at about 0300 hours, where eight unknown suspects who were armed with iron rods pounced at the mine and disarmed the security guard, who was on duty, of a 12 Bore Mossberg shotgun.

The suspects tied the complainant with an electric wire and proceeded to the elution plant where they broke a key for one of the boilers and stole gold loaded wire wools valued at US$82 915.

Police recovered the stolen Mossberg shotgun dumped approximately 3Km from the scene of crime.

In a different case, police arrested a 35-year-old man for possession of nearly two tonnes of marijuana (mbanje). Read a police statement:

On 12/11/21, Police in Beitbridge arrested Tichaona Kamuna (35) for unlawful possession of drugs and recovered 1,992 kgs of dagga.

The suspect, who had illegally crossed the border from SA, was singled out by a sniffer dog while carrying a satchel covered with a black plastic, at the Limpopo River and Malindi shed.

By A Correspondent- Chaos rocked Beitbridge Border Post at the weekend after cross-border transporters blocked roads in protest over the continued closure of the Zimbabwean side.

Zimbabwe closed its borders in 2020 after the outbreak of COVID-19, allowing only trucks and buses transporting essential goods and returnees to operate.

Zimborders Consortium chief executive François Diedrechsen said the weekend border blockade by the transporters, commonly known as omalayitsha, caused “too much” revenue loss.

“All I can say at this moment in time is any form of stoppage or blockage is negative,” Diedrechsen said.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the blockade and weekend chaos, which only ended after the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) gave in to the demands of the cross-border transport operators.

They eventually managed to clear the border at around 1am yesterday.

“We are aware that omalayitsha were protesting at the Beitbridge border causing traffic jams. As of today (yesterday), we are yet to receive a full report on the matter,” Nyathi said.

As chaos ensued during the weekend, scores of South Africa-based engineers involved in the upgrading of the border post were caught in the traffic jam.

The transporters argued that they were an essential service provider as they carried food items from South Africa to Zimbabwe.

An internal police memo seen by NewsDay stated that about 65 operators were responsible for the blockade.

“On November 13, 2021 at around 12:30pm and at the new bridge, about 65 omalayitsha blocked movement of traffic at the bridge with their vehicles. The omalayitsha blocked movement to and from South Africa. This was triggered by the decision by Zimra management to turn down clearance of omalayitsha to enter the country stating that omalayitsha must return to South Africa,” read the police memo.

The police said Zimra staff had been instructed by their supervisors to turn back all omalayitsha to South Africa as the Zimbabwean border was still closed to the public, except for essential services such as buses ferrying expatriates.

In retaliation, omalayitsha then drove their vehicles towards South Africa as if in compliance, and abandoned them along the bridge, blocking all traffic lanes to and from South Africa.

“After the blockade, they asked Zimra to allow them to enter Zimbabwe since they are Zimbabweans. They also said they had already finished all the exit processes on the South African side so they would be refused re-entry into South Africa,” the police memo read.

Zimra acting commissioner-general Rameck Masaire did not respond to a request for comment.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) says its members will go on strike beginning today, a week before “O” and “A” Level students are due to sit for the November Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) examinations, to press government for a salary increase.

Zimsec examinations are scheduled to start on November 22 for “O” Level candidates, while “A” Level and Grade 7 examinations will commence on November 29.

Last week, government said it would pay its workers United States dollar bonuses up to US$700.

Information secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana told NewsDay that the strike would be retrogressive.

Artuz president Obert Masaraure said their withdrawal of services was a result of reluctance by government to listen to their concerns.

“Artuz has made a pledge for total withdrawal of labour starting on November 15, 2021 until November 27, 2021 after extensive consultation with our membership nationwide, and communication of such has been shared with the membership, public, relevant stakeholders and the government,” he said.

“The major thrust of this decision and the impending action is informed by the continued reluctance by the employer to engage with teachers to review our pathetic and meagre salaries. Teachers are suffering a lot and being continually ordered to sacrifice is an insult of the highest order. We will no longer be driven to the abyss of slavery and lack of recognition for the value of our
work.

“The momentum is on our side, the law is on our side and we should not be intimidated by an unfocused and uncaring parasitic employer who masquerades as a hero to everyone but in actual fact is just a sophisticated version of a slave regime.”

Masaraure said parents should not send their children to school in solidarity with the educators.

“Things are coming to a head tomorrow. Teachers in Zimbabwe are not demanding El Dorado, but are demanding a living wage in line with the agreement of the pre-2018 October salaries,” he said.

Yesterday, Mangwana said government was not aware of the strike action, but described it as retrogressive.

“We are not aware of the strike, but there are many teachers’ unions. If one group decides not to cover the examinations, I am sure some groups will cover it. I am simply saying this without saying names of unions, but I am sure some will not agree to it,” he said.

“Not all teachers will agree with leveraging school pupils. It’s like holding a knife on the throat of a child and threatening the government that you will kill the pupil. As government, we are not aware of this, but why would teachers go on strike at such a time.”

Last week, Public Service and Labour minister Paul Mavima told NewsDay that government was still negotiating with civil servants over their salary demands.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said his union would stand with Artuz.

“We are expecting the government to show seriousness. The newly-appointed Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Evelyn Ndlovu, was supposed to sit down and check for areas that need serious attention, for instance the welfare of teachers in the current situation.  Recruiting more teachers will not address the fundamental problems that teachers are facing,” he said.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu accused government of not engaging trade unions to hear their concerns.

“We do not have a listening government and all it ever does is sideline us whenever it makes decisions. It thinks we are not important at all,” he said

By A Correspondent- Police yesterday arrested a dozen of MDC Alliance supporters in Mabvuku, Harare, and blocked a rally to celebrate the party’s 22 years in existence.

MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende confirmed the arrests of at least 15 party supporters who attended the event which he was scheduled to address.

Hwende described it as “effectively banning the opposition” by the regime after the rally was stopped by the police despite having given them notice of the gathering.

The ban on MDC Alliance meetings comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been traversing the country’s provinces and holding bumper rallies, which also included schoolchildren.

I was supposed to address the meeting only to be told that the police have blocked the event and arrested our party supporters,” Hwende said.

“They insisted the meeting will not take place, despite the fact that we had booked and notified them.

“This regime has banned the MDC Alliance, first by working with some elements to recall our MPs and councillors, then taking over our headquarters.”

He said it was unfortunate that the MDC Alliance was being treated as a banned outfit in Zimbabwe, while its president Nelson Chamisa has also been accosted by suspected Zanu-PF supporters and suspected State security agents during his provincial tours.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he would check on the arrests.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Controversial ‘Prophet’ Tapiwa Freddy has not been engaging with his multitude of followers and church members following the much-publicised secret love affair he had with Radio Zimbabwe presenter Rutendo Makuti.

This comes as the messy love-affair between the Goodness and Mercy Ministries founder and ZBC presenter, Rutendo Makuti, has come to light after Makuti is said to have demanded US$20,000 and a luxurious Mercedes-Benz sedan to keep the extra-marital relationship a secret.

T Freddy, who in court documents confirmed handing over the car to Rutendo, has effectively placed his 258,000 followers on Facebook on the backburner and no longer replies to their comments, questions or queries. While the page remains active and has regular updates, it is the one-way communication that has riled some of his top followers who have now threatened to use other means to ensure he engages them.

“Chasara kutoita zvokukufonerai munhu waShe because pano hamuchapindure zve speed,” said one Joe Styles, threatening to voice call T Freddy after he “ignored” his earlier request.

Several of his followers complained that they were being “punished” by the church leader for crimes they didn’t do.

One other T Freddy faithful, Annah Mateka, pleaded with the self-proclaimed Prophet to respond to her WhatsApp messages as she was desperate for his “help”.

She and others said they had been used to him responding to their messages on various platforms but were now stuck with piles of unresponded enquiries.

T Freddy, in a terse response, simply said he will respond. Yet others of his many followes mobbed him on social media asking that he remains steadfast in the face of “trials and tribulations”, showing that his staunchest followers were unlikely to be moved by the unfolding sex scandal.

“Bhora mberi Prophet T. Freddy nyangwe vakakusvorai or kuseka or kutuka we support you Mwari akuwedzerei ma blessing even Jesu vaakapa chokudya vaine nzara nevaakaporesa ndivo vaive number 1 kuti ngaarovererwe.

“May God continue to protect you munhu waMwari rambai muchidzijisa gejo pakubatsira vanhu nyika ipone varwara vapore vasingatendi Mwari vagomutenda well done munhu washe vana Svorai hatinei navo tinokusapotai zvakadero,” said Dorothy Chamani.

But even as his sex scandal trended on social media, T Freddy continued publishing

T Freddy who is famed for ‘spiritual spectacles’, where he used spectacles to foretell the future was allegedly caught off guard after he was accused of raping Makuti and sleeping with her before a year had lapsed since the death of her husband, violating traditional norms.

It is alleged that sometime in 2020 Freddy had a relationship with Makuti and during the relationship, Makuti is said to have started threatening to expose their affair if he did not meet her financial and material demands.

Freddy, who is married, was then summoned by Chief Chikwaka in August 2021 and upon his arrival at the chief’s homestead he was tipped that there were some police officers who wanted to extort him.

He made a U-turn and sought to return to Harare but was stopped by some police officers who were manning a roadblock and was forced to get back to the chief’s homestead.

The chief allegedly accused him of raping Makuti and sleeping with her before a year had lapsed since the death of her husband, violating traditional norms.

Freddy promised to pay US$15 000. In addition, the chief ordered him to pay three goats and Freddy promised to return at a later date with the money and the goats.

It is alleged that the chief made the pastor sign an agreement which was authored by an Inspector Jaji.

Upon their return to Harare, Makuti told Freddy to hand over the US$15 000 to her personally since she is the one who was aggrieved.

He handed over a Mercedes Benz E250 valued at US$15 000. It is alleged after some days, Makuti started threatening Freddy again, saying his secretary Nollen Mundawaro had insulted her so she wanted a compensation of US$20 000.

On Thursday, Makuti’s brother demanded that he pays up the US$20 000 and that he signs an acknowledgement that he had raped her, failure which would result in him exposing their affair.

Freddy reported the matter to the police.

Makuti was arrested after she was lured to meet with Freddy to purportedly to discuss the payment of the US$20 000.

The US$ 15 000 was recovered.

Makuti was arrested last week on charges of extorting a popular Harare preacher.

She was arraigned before Harare Magistrate Court Magistrate Sheunesu Matova on Friday who remanded her to December 9 for routine remand.

The 33-year-old was released on $5 000 bail and ordered not to interfere with state witnesses.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo  resident who was accused of stealing Bulawayo City Council’s sewerage manhole lids valued at $17 200 was last week found not guilty of the crime and acquitted at the close of the State case.

Charles Chashamba (45) of Cowdray Park in Bulawayo was represented by Tinashe Dzipe when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Jeremiah Ncube last Friday.

He pleaded not guilty to vandalism and theft.

After submission by both the State and the accused’s defence lawyer, the magistrate found him not guilty due to lack of evidence linking him to the theft and acquitted him.

The court was told that on September 10 at 12 noon, Chashamba went to a bushy area in Cowdray Park where he allegedly took BCC’s manhole lids and cut them into pieces before packing them in sacks.

 He was allegedly caught while stealing by residents who heard him breaking the metals using a four pound hammer.

 They took him to the police with the stolen property. It is the State case that the total stolen property was worth $17 200 and the pieces of the manhole lids were recovered.

However during trial, it emerged that Chashamba was found by residents crashing some stones and not the manhole lids as alleged.

In defence he said when he went to crush the stones; he had found the sacks with the metals and was not aware who owned them.

 Even the state witnesses Abednigo Sibanda and another witness identified as Agripa Njini admitted that they found him crashing the stones instead of the metals.

Chashamba said residents then confiscated his hammer, shovel, and trolley accusing him of stealing BCC property and quarrying stones without permit.

He said they later phoned a BCC security guard notifying him about the arrest they had made. The BCC security guard Peter Sibindi came and promised to release him upon payment of a US$50 bribe.

Chashamba said he requested to be given up to the next day to raise the money, but he failed to pay.

On September 13, Chashamba sought to get his confiscated property from Sibindi, and after some advice from his family, he went to Cowdray Park police base to file a report under case number 69/9/21 accusing Sibindi and Sibanda of extortion.

He said the following day Sibindi called him saying he wanted to give him back his tools, but when they met he took him to the police and filed a report of theft against him, causing his arrest.

He submitted that the charges were trumped up after he failed to pay them extortion money.

The magistrate then acquitted him.-newsday

 By A Correspondent- Harare couple has been nabbed by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission after they duped a diasporan of US$4 000 in a botched farm purchase deal.

The couple, Patience and Nicholas Makwindi appeared before Harare magistrate, Judith Taruvinga on Saturday who remanded them in custody to today for bail application.

The complainant is Chipo Margaret Chinamhora who resides in the United Kingdom.

Allegations are that on June 25 in 2020, the couple posted on their Facebook page that they represented CT Properties and wanted to sell a 20ha plot in Chegutu for US$8000.

Chinamora’s mother, Elisie Sekai Chatima also based in the UK, responded to the advert on behalf of her daughter.

Patience indicated to Chatima (mother) that the plot was available in Chegutu and they could send a relative in Zimbabwe to go and view it.

They sent Chatima’s mother in law, Margaret Mubariki to view the plot.

On June 9, the Makwindis were advised that Chatima was interested in the plot.

The Makwindis then promised that all the necessary documents for issuance of an offer letter would take up to three weeks to process after payment of US$4000 deposit.

Chatima then deposited US$4000 through World Remit to Nicholas, who collected it on July 15.

They issued a receipt for the payment, but it was written Forum Sia Marketing Agency instead of Harare CT Property.

When Chatima made follow-ups on the offer letter, the Makwindis became evasive.

After realizing that she had been duped, Chatima reported the matter.  Nothing was recovered.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Infrastructure in parts of Matebeleland North province was damaged by strong winds and heavy rains that pounded the province last Friday.

Villagers told Southern Eye that they now fear for their safety should the rains persist.

Chief Sikobokobo of Nkayi district said it rained heavily for about four hours, and that it was the first time they had experienced such heavy down pours, which destroyed several homesteads and roads.

“In ward 12, Nengu area at Tshuma’s homestead, the whole kitchen was burnt down by lightning, while the rains left serious damage at three other homesteads in the ward.

“In Madliwa village another kitchen hut was burnt. I also got a report that in Somlimu village another kitchen was struck by lightning. Children that were sleeping inside were thrown out of the hut by the lightning bolt. It was so terrible,” chief Sikobokobo said.

He said in addition to damaged roads, several bridges were swept away.

“We have since reported the issue to the Nkayi District administrator. He said he hopes that the affected families will be able to get assistance urgently.”

Nkayi district administrator Matilda Mlotshwa, who chairs the district Civil Protection Unit said they had received several reports of infrastructure that was damaged, adding that they were still compiling data on the total damage.

“We heard about the damage done, and we are still compiling data so that we can see what kind of assistance we can come up with for the affected people. We hope we will be done soon,” Mlotshwa said.

Meanwhile, two cattle were struck by lightning in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb on Thursday.

Robert Sinyoka Residents Association chairman Sam Maseko said the cattle belonged to one of the senior citizens in the area.

“They were struck in the afternoon while they were grazing. We have since identified the owner and we are waiting for the Bulawayo City Council to assist with transport so that they are quickly disposed of,” Maseko said.-newsday

By A Correspondent- A-student at the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) has dragged the learning institution to court after she was allegedly barred from participating in the student executive council elections for failure to speak in tongues, among other accusations.

Modester Zinhanga (21) has since filed an urgent chamber application seeking an interdict for the elections, accusing ZEGU for illegally barring her from taking part in the elections.

According to court papers filed on November 10, Zinhanga said she was disqualified for not being a member of the ZAOGA congregation, which runs the university.

“The applicant has been disqualified by respondents from participating in the upcoming elections for the students executive council, which is a body governing students. Reasons for the disqualification are such that the applicant is not a member of ZAOGA, and has not shown any evidence of speaking in tongues , is not a born again and spirit filled, and therefore does not qualify to run for elections in order to be part of the students executive council,” read the court papers.

ZEGU officials Innocent Chinyemba and Zacharia Zunguze are cited as second and third respondents respectively in the case being held under HC/6306/21.

The tertiary learning institution is owned by ZAOGA church.

In her founding affidavit, Zinhanga said the disqualification is a violation of her rights.

“Grounds for dismissal preferred by the respondents are a clear violation of my rights, and these cannot stand the constitutionality test, irrespective of any argument whatsoever. It is my view that everyone must be afforded an equal chance and benefit of the law as is set out under Section 56 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

“The decision taken by the third respondent is contrary to the purpose of the First Respondent, which as a doyen of intellectual excellence is to prepare young adults for all career paths. Clearly, getting a chance to participate in students and/or governance prepares me and exposes me to the main framework of national politics and governance which is my preferred career path,” she said.

The case is yet to be heard.-newsday

Goodness and Mercy ministries founder, Prophet T Freddy’s lawyer Jevous Mudimu has set the record straight on the alleged rape, extortion and relationship with ZBC Radio presenter Rutendo Makuti.

Mudimu dismissed rape allegations raised by Chief Chikwaka against Freddy saying it was only used to extort money from powerful cleric.

Watch video below….

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=577642890169559&id=150154425045764

By A Correspondent- Efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to get the Church of England’s Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to seek help for the removal of sanctions face headwinds after the cleric said there would be no mercy for “thieves” looting the country’s resources.

Welby met clergymen from Zimbabwe that formed part of Mnangagwa’s bloated delegation of about 100 officials who flew to Glasgow, Scotland, early this month to attend the COP26 climate summit.

But, in a video of the meeting, the archbishop’s response was clear that any form of sanctions relief would only benefit the poorest and not those “stealing” what was not theirs from the country.

The clerics were tasked to meet Welby to make a case against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United Kingdom (UK), which they claimed had been “stymying Zimbabwe’s normal, interactive development since 2000”.

“The present sanctions are crippling the poor,” Andrew Wutawunashe said during the meeting.

“Even now, we had the UN [United Nations] rapporteur who came and confirmed the same, investigated everything and discovered that the sanctions are actually doing the same, destroying infrastructure that is supposed to be for the poor and common people and destroying employment.

Now we are requesting your voices and we felt in particular that your voice, if you are able to make a request you would help us, you would help political powers that be to have a bit of conscience for the suffering of the poor.”

In a terse response, Welby said he would go through the document which the Zimbabwe delegation penned, titled Sanctions Relief Initiative, and discuss with relevant authorities, while insisting that the move would only be meant to protect the poor.

“Thank you very much. This is very, very important. I will obviously read this later today. I will discuss it with people here and see how we can advocate for the poorest while ensuring that those who steal from the country what is not theirs, be themselves not the beneficiaries (and) don’t benefit from the relief of the sanctions,” he said.

The Zimbabwean government described the meeting with Welby as a breakthrough.

The Zimbabwean clergymen that engaged Welby included Wutaunashe, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Churches’ Sanctions Relief Initiative, Roman Catholic priest Father Fidelis Mukonori, Zion Christian Church leader and patron of the Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches, bishop Nehimiah Mutendi, reverend Felix Mukonowengwe of Harvest Time Ministries and member of the Elders Forum, Elizabeth Karonga of the Roman Catholic Church and a member of the Zimbabwe Elders Forum, bishop Peter Zvanaka Mukwena of Worldwide Family of God Church, bishop Trevor Manhanga of Pentecostal Assemblies of God in Zimbabwe and Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, and bishop Farai Katsande of the Zimbabwe Council of Pentecostal Churches.

The UK has insisted that the targeted measures will only go after the Zanu-PF-led government ends human rights abuses and corruption, which it says were causing economic hardships.

Last year, the UK added onto its sanctions list members of the securocrats that include former Presidential Guard boss Anselem Sanyatwe, Central Intelligence Organisation director-general Isaac Moyo and Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga for their alleged involvement in human rights violations.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Two top Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial officials were arrested by police last week after threatening to assault acting provincial chairperson, Abia Mujeri as tensions in the fractured ruling party escalate.

Following their arrest, provincial secretary for security, Tommy Mwanza, and deputy secretary for the commissariat, Nigel Murambiwa were questioned at Chinhoyi Central Police Station’s Law and Order section, before they were released without charge.

The pair had confronted Mujeri to register their displeasure over his unilateral decision ordering poll re-runs in some districts in the ongoing party restructuring exercise.

Mujeri said: “The two threatened my life, insulted and pushed me. I sought refuge at the police station as it was the only escape route in the wake of marauding members who are supposed to provide security and discipline within the party. They both lacked that discipline and they now have to face disciplinary action.”

Mujeri conceded Zanu-PF Mashonaland West province was on fire.

“There is friction within the party,” he said.

Contacted by NewZimbabwe.com for comment Sunday, Mwanza also confirmed the fracas which occurred at the party’s provincial offices in Chinhoyi.

“We had a misunderstanding with the chairman. He (Mujeri) then reported us to the police in order to silence us. It is no longer a big issue since he didn’t follow up with the police where we wanted the matter resolved,” Mwanza said.

Mujeri is set to contest for chairmanship against Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, Deputy Information Minister Kindness Paradza, and Vengai Musengi, the party’s provincial youth league chairperson.

The Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson post fell vacant in June following the elevation of Justice minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi to the party’s Politburo, the highest decision-making body outside congress.

However, Ziyambi is reportedly keen to retain control over provincial politics through his proxy, Mujeri.

-NewZim

–

By A Correspondent- Gunshots were fired as violence erupted on Saturday at a Zanu-PF district meeting in Kwekwe, with supporters of rival factions exchanging blows.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not immediately comment on the alleged violence.

“We are yet to get any report. Try tomorrow,” Nyathi said.

But witnesses said several gunshots were fired in the air at the meeting pitting supporters of aspiring Kwekwe Central MP Kandros Mugabe against those aligned to his biggest rival, Energy Ncube.

The clashes reportedly started just before the meeting, which officials said was meant to make inquiries into the recently completed party district elections.

Zanu-PF Midlands provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri would neither confirm nor deny the clashes yesterday. He repeatedly promised to give NewsDay a report on what
transpired.

Mupereri was yet to make good his promise by the time of going to print.

“I am in a meeting now. Can you call after an hour so that I can give you the full report,” he said.

Witnesses said the clashes began when one of the youths aligned to Mugabe allegedly harassed a rival activist who was holding a placard denouncing the aspiring Kwekwe MP, who was described as a G40 member.

“Mari yeG40 irikushanda muKwekwe naKandros muG40,” the placard read.

Reports from the Midlands city said police had to be called in to stop the clashes.

In another incident, Zanu-PF officials in Mashonaland West province reportedly traded blows with acting chairperson Abhiya Mujeri reportedly beaten up as factionalism continues to divide the party.

Provincial secretary for security Tommy Mwanza and another official were reportedly questioned by the police on the matter before they were released.

Zanu-PF has been rocked by infighting during its on-going restructuring exercise.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Police yesterday arrested a dozen of MDC Alliance supporters in Mabvuku, Harare, and blocked a rally to celebrate the party’s 22 years in existence.

MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende confirmed the arrests of at least 15 party supporters who attended the event which he was scheduled to address.

Hwende described it as “effectively banning the opposition” by the regime after the rally was stopped by the police despite having given them notice of the gathering.

The ban on MDC Alliance meetings comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been traversing the country’s provinces and holding bumper rallies, which also included schoolchildren.

I was supposed to address the meeting only to be told that the police have blocked the event and arrested our party supporters,” Hwende said.

“They insisted the meeting will not take place, despite the fact that we had booked and notified them.

“This regime has banned the MDC Alliance, first by working with some elements to recall our MPs and councillors, then taking over our headquarters.”

He said it was unfortunate that the MDC Alliance was being treated as a banned outfit in Zimbabwe, while its president Nelson Chamisa has also been accosted by suspected Zanu-PF supporters and suspected State security agents during his provincial tours.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he would check on the arrests.-newsday

TWO Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial executive members allegedly assaulted acting chairperson Abhiya Mujeri as factionalism and infighting for the control of the province tears the party apart.

Provincial secretary for security Tommy Mwanza and deputy provincial political commissariat Nigel Murambwi were questioned and released by Chinhoyi police after the violent incident.

Mwanza denied charges of assaulting Mujeri in an interview with Standard People.
“Actually I am surprised with such outrageous allegations that I was involved in a fist fight with my chairperson,” Mwanza said.
“I have better things to be doing than to fight people.”
Mwanza said they were supposed to appear in court yesterday, but Mujeri failed to bring witnesses.
Zanu PF insiders said the arrest of the two provincial members was linked to factionalism and infighting between opposing camps ahead of re-runs for the pending provincial elections.
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, Zanu PF youth leader Vengai Musengi, Mujeri, Makonde legislator Kindness Paradza and Happison Muchechetere are interested in the chairmanship.
Mwanza is believed to be in Mliswa-Chikoka’s camp that reportedly commands support.
Mujeri is backed by former chairperson and politburo member Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Mliswa-Chikoka refused to comment on the pending elections yesterday.
“I don’t want to comment on the issue of chairmanship because I might be misquoted, but my focus is on a bigger picture of helping the president achieve his 2030 vision. Any other benefits along the way will be a bonus,” said Mliswa-Chikoka
Zanu PF war veterans league Mashonaland West province is backing their provincial chairperson Muchechetere, a former ZBC boss.
A provincial member of ex-combatants body Antony Zunzanyika said: “We asked Cde Muchechetere to contest for the post of chairperson for the province.
“In line with party policy, Cde Muchechetere’s candidature will be launched when the central committee gives the green light for the elections.”
Zanu PF provincial and district elections were suspended after reports of violence and rigging emerged.

-Standard

By A Correspondent-Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is reportedly considering challenging President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the ZANU PF elective congress set for next year.

This is despite Chiwenga’s move last week to publicly state that Mnangagwa will be the uncontested ZANU PF candidate in the 2023 elections.

Meanwhile, Chiwenga’s top business executive ally Caleb Dengu, who has said Mnangagwa is illegitimate and must not run in 2023, last week slipped out of the country for the Netherlands, The NewsHawks reported.

Dengu was reportedly under fire from the President’s supporters who were threatening him with a fierce backlash and financial ruin.

The defeated yet still alive ZANU PF faction, the G-40, is reportedly supporting the move by Chiwenga to challenge Mnangagwa.

Chiwenga and G40 strategists are realigning forces within ZANU PF to challenge Mnangagwa head-on next year.

The NewsHawks reported sources within ZANU PF as saying that after Mnangagwa reneged on the deal with Chiwenga prior to the November 2017 military coup to serve only one term and allow his deputy to come in 2023, gloves are now off within the ruling party over unresolved leadership issues. Said the source:

The fallout within the party leadership is serious. We are heading for a battle royale between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga next year.

That is how politics within ZANU PF and state institutions is currently shaping up. The unresolved leadership question can no longer be managed and swept under the carpet; it has got to be settled politically, and that means through congress next year.

There is no question of another military coup; well, perhaps a palace coup might happen, but not a putsch.

When Mnangagwa took over, there was a clear understanding that he will not seek re-election in 2023.

However, Chiwenga and others were shocked to see him telling the world in an interview in September 2018 during the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York that he would seek re-election in 2023. That was never agreed.

During the December 2018 ZANU PF conference at Mzingwane High School in Esigodini, Mnangagwa and his allies moved a gear up and launched a campaign for him to serve two terms, a development that reportedly did not please Chiwenga. Said another source:

At that time, it became clear Mnangagwa had broken ranks and reneged on the deal.

That worsened internal strife and infighting fuelled by the White City grenade attack in June 2018 which most ZANU PF leaders know was an inside job.

The 1 August 2018 killings in Harare in broad daylight and January 2019 stay away and the bloodbath that left many dead exacerbated the situation.

The Mnangagwa group is mainly Midlands and Masvingo province-based, while the Chiwenga one has threads cutting across different regions, although its main base has roots in the three Mashonaland provinces — Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Harare.

More: The NewsHawks

By A Correspondent- The Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira left a Zanu PF Women’s League function held at the Caravan Park in Masvingo on Saturday in huff allegedly after getting wind that a section of the gathering was waiting to pass a vote of no confidence on him.

The women from all party districts in Masvingo had gathered for a function of the Young Women in Business for Economic Development popularly known with the moniker Women for ED, an initiative by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to support women with economic projects and loans.
Attending the function were party gurus like Euginia Samson, the Women’s League provincial chairperson, Deputy Minister Yeukai Simbanegavi, Rabson Mavhenyengwa the provincial vice chairperson, and Jevas Masosota the provincial political commissar.
A close source close told The Mirror that the purpose of the meeting was to elect an executive of the Young Women in Business for Economic Development and the elections were supposed to take place after an address by Chadzamira who is also Zanu PF chairman for Masvingo and the guest of honour.
The meeting however, ended abruptly as Chadzamira was allegedly tipped of the ambush.
Samson confirmed the meeting but declined to give a comment saying that she was in a meeting.
It is understood that factionalism with the party divided between Vice President Chiwengwa and his boss President Mnangagwa was the cause of the problems at the meeting.
“The women were supposed to elect a committee but everything was abandoned after it was discovered that women from a faction allegedly led by Vice President Constantine Chiwenga were warming up for a showdown with Chadzamira’s supporters. Chadzamira left the event hurriedly after he was tipped of the impending embarrassment,” said the source.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial spokesperson Ophias Murambiwa, said the meeting was held. When further quizzed on why the elections were not held, he said he is going to check with those on the ground.
“I thought everything went well. I will have to check with those on the ground and verify certain facts before I comment on the matter. I will definitely come back to you in a few minutes,” said Murambiwa. He however, did not call back as promised.
Chadzamira could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.
The event exposed the battle for supremacy between the two warring Zanu PF factions allegedly pitting the party’s first secretary Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy that has reach alarming levels. According to sources warring factions are between one led by Ezra Chadzamira and the other led by his deputy Rabison Mavhenyengwa.
-Masvingo Mirror

By A Correspondent- Gunshots were fired as violence erupted on Saturday at a Zanu PF district meeting in Kwekwe, with supporters of rival factions exchanging blows.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not immediately comment on the alleged violence.
“We are yet to get any report. Try tomorrow,” Nyathi said.
But witnesses said several gunshots were fired in the air at the meeting pitting supporters of aspiring Kwekwe Central MP Kandros Mugabe against those aligned to his biggest rival, Energy Ncube.
The clashes reportedly started just before the meeting, which officials said was meant to make inquiries into the recently completed party district elections.
Zanu PF Midlands provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri would neither confirm nor deny the clashes yesterday. He repeatedly promised to give NewsDay a report on what transpired.
Mupereri was yet to make good his promise by the time of going to print.
“I am in a meeting now. Can you call after an hour so that I can give you the full report,” he said.
Witnesses said the clashes began when one of the youths aligned to Mugabe allegedly harassed a rival activist who was holding a placard denouncing the aspiring Kwekwe MP, who was described as a G40 member.

“Mari yeG40 irikushanda muKwekwe naKandros muG40,” the placard read.
Reports from the Midlands city said police had to be called in to stop the clashes.
In another incident, Zanu PF officials in Mashonaland West province reportedly traded blows with acting chairperson Abhiya Mujeri reportedly beaten up as factionalism continues to divide the party.
Provincial secretary for security Tommy Mwanza and another official were reportedly questioned by the police on the matter before they were released.
Zanu PF has been rocked by infighting during its on-going restructuring exercise. Newsday

By A Correspondent-A 34-year-old Zimbabwean national living in South Africa illegally has been arrested for murder, rape, defeating the ends of justice and robbery in the neighbouring country.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the man is linked to the disappearance and killing of seven women between August and October this year.

The bodies were discovered in different locations in the bush in Seshego, Polokwane, Mankweng and Westernburg.

All the deceased have been positively identified by their next of kin. The suspect allegedly lured his victims by promising them jobs through social media.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the suspect had earlier been arrested for the alleged possession of a suspected stolen cellphone but further investigations revealed the murders. He said:

We have arrested a 34-year-old suspect whom we believe to be responsible for a series of murders whose victims were all women.
We can confirm that seven bodies have already been recovered from different locations under Seshego, Polokwane and western policing areas.
The suspect is being charged with murder, rape, defeating the ends of justice and robbery.
One of the man’s victims was identified as Sarah Mothiba (42) who was last seen leaving home for work in Polokwane on the 18th of last month.

The suspect reportedly demanded R2 500 ransom from the Mothiba family at Ga-Chuene, promising to release Sarah. Family spokesperson Violet Rakoma-Mothiba says:
We are unable to accept what happened, he tricked us and made us pay ransom money promising to release Sarah.
He stole cash that Sarah had, withdrew her money at the bank and made the family pay ransom money and ended up killing her.
We are hurt, justice must prevail. He must disclose the names of the people he was working with; I don’t believe he was alone in this crime.
I hope the police can also help to make him disclose the names.

The suspect, who is facing multiple charges, is expected to appear before the Seshego Magistrate’s court on Monday.

By A Correspondent-Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s top business executive ally Caleb Dengu, has slipped the country.

Dengu last week unceremoniously left Zimbabwe for the Netherlands, fearing for his life.

Degu recently said Mnangagwa was illegitimate and must not run in 2023, and had since then, the President’s supporters had been under fire who were threatening him with a fierce backlash and financial ruin.

-NewsHawks 

The ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has heaped up his calls for violence against non governmental organisations working in rural communities, to getting them prosecuted for their work.

Mnangagwa’s statements follow his previous demands that NGO workers must receive violence once spotted in the rural communities.

In 2019, Mnangagwa passed these orders to the Mwenezi and other communities. He said all doctors and lawyers attending to protesters must be violently attacked. He said (video):

RETWEET! – Mnangagwa in Mwenezi clearly threatened brutality against doctors and lawyers also threatening to shorten the lives of people who make noise. pic.twitter.com/fJx5dOemL5

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 17, 2019

Mnangagwa in Mwenezi threatening to shorten the lives of demonstrators.
"Hallelujah to those who choose peace and may their days be increased in the land ruled by black people. But those who chose to demonstrate their days will be shortened (shrunk)." @UNZimbabwe @IntlCrimCourt pic.twitter.com/zJple7WzQQ

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 30, 2019

“Hallelujah to those who choose peace and may their days be increased in the land ruled by black people. But those who chose to demonstrate their days will be shortened (shrunk).”

The below is a latest reprint of the state owned Herald newspaper article over the matter.

President Mnangagwa has called on the rural folk to be on the look-out against some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that set base in communities with ulterior motives which have no benefit for the people.
In his address at the launch of the 2021/22 Pfumvudza farming programme in Gokwe recently, the President said Government is committed to the improvement of lives of people especially in rural areas which have been mostly marginalised.

However, the once marginalised communities are being taken on board as President Mnangagwa lives his promise that no place or area should be left behind in terms of development.

But as communities develop, there is always need for vigilance against some NGOs that are bent on interfering in Zimbabwe’s internal matters under the guise of humanitarian aid.

“Report any new NGOs to your Minister of State so that it is established whether the NGO is for the good or not. If you just accept such NGOs you end up regretting because some have ulterior motives and you may lend yourselves in trouble,” the President said.

The call by the President comes at a time when meddlesome NGOs, working closely with the opposition and some Western embassies have been abusing their status to interfere in the country’s domestic affairs to push for regime change.

This has prompted Parliament to come up with the Private Voluntary Organisation Amendment Bill which was gazetted last week.

The Bill seeks to, among other things, penalise NGOs that dabble in politics and which have previously been used by the US and other Western nations to fund regime change.

Already, and ahead of the 2023 polls, the US through USAID, had set aside US$5 million to fund NGOs under the guise of promoting rule of law, constitutionalism, and democracy.

The Bill that was gazetted last week seeks to amend section 10 of the principal by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (e) as follows — “(e1) when any private voluntary organisation that supports or opposes any political party or candidate in a presidential, parliamentary or local government election or is a party to any breach of section 7 under Part III of the Political Parties (Finance) Act (Chapter 2:12) as a contributor of funds to a political party or candidate or otherwise shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both such fine or such imprisonment.”

Government has in the past accused NGOs of abandoning their mandates by pursuing a political agenda in support of regime change.

Apart from barring NGOs from pursuing political lobbying the Bill’s Memorandum says the amendments are also being made, to comply with the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) recommendations made to Zimbabwe.

Further to this, it has also become necessary to streamline administrative procedures for private voluntary organisations to allow for efficient regulation and registration.

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says POLAD does not have the capacity to resolve the country’s political impasse.

President Chamisa, quoted by The Standard, ruled out joining POLAD.

Genuine dialogue is the only solution to the country’s deepening political turmoil, according to the MDC Alliance leder.

“That (Polad) is part of the problem.

You cannot try to score cheap political points like that.

The only solution is dialogue and you cannot run away from it.

We can run away from it now, in five years or in 10 years but it is the solution that can build our country. It is time to take back our beloved country.

Nobody is in charge. We only have poverty in charge and suffering.

We can’t allow that. There is hurt and violence all over and we need a humane government,” President Chamisa told the publication.

On Saturday he tweeted:
TOTAL CHANGE..We must turn things around. We just don’t have the luxury to be general. We can’t just be ordinary. To whom much is given much is expected. Good to go and Ready. I will not disappoint! Happy sabbath

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says POLAD does not have the capacity to resolve the country’s political impasse.

President Chamisa, quoted by The Standard, ruled out joining POLAD.

Genuine dialogue is the only solution to the country’s deepening political turmoil, according to the MDC Alliance leder.

“That (Polad) is part of the problem.

You cannot try to score cheap political points like that.

The only solution is dialogue and you cannot run away from it.

We can run away from it now, in five years or in 10 years but it is the solution that can build our country. It is time to take back our beloved country.

Nobody is in charge. We only have poverty in charge and suffering.

We can’t allow that. There is hurt and violence all over and we need a humane government,” President Chamisa told the publication.

On Saturday he tweeted:
TOTAL CHANGE..We must turn things around. We just don’t have the luxury to be general. We can’t just be ordinary. To whom much is given much is expected. Good to go and Ready. I will not disappoint! Happy sabbath

Former Chivi West legislator Killer Zivhu has continued to sing for his supper by declaring his allegiance to Zanu-PF, despite numerous failed efforts to bounce back in the ruling party.

Zivhu was expelled in June last year for trying to forge talks between Zanu-PF and Nelson Chamisa using the first lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and Chamisa’s wife.

However, he has vowed not to contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming by-elections and pledged to support President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030.

“For this coming by-election, I can’t stand against the party that looked after me from 1994. I am very sorry to disappoint so many people but as of development, we will continue complimenting the President’s Vision 2030,” Zivhu said.

He added that he will wait for his readmission into the party citing that he is a loyal son to the ruling party.

“I am a son to Zanu-PF, you can’t change your surname just because the father has chased you away. You must wait and see why he did that then come back at the right time. I am still young, and I hope to bounce back and contest in the same party,” Zivhu said.

He however promised to help the party’s preferred candidate to campaign ahead of the by-elections.

Zivhu was Chivi Rural District Council (RDC) council chairperson before he contested and won the Chivi South constituency.

The former legislator fell out of favour after factional fights with Zanu-PF provincial chairperson Ezra Chadzamira’s camp that also recommended his expulsion.

Profile

Simon Khaya Moyo is a politician and spokesperson of Zanu-PF and the former Minister of Energy and Power Development. He is a former ambassador of Zimbabwe to South Africa from 2007 to 2011. He was Former Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister.

Born on the 1st of October 1945, Khaya Moyo was enrolled at Fletcher Secondary School up to 1965.

Moyo was married to Sibonokhuhle and the couple divorced in 2013. They have two sons Khanyisa and Mandlenkosi. He then married a Bulawayo businesswoman Margaret Mhambi in 2013.

Political career

Khaya-Moyo joined the nationalist movement in 1968 as a member of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union(ZAPU). He left the country in 1968 heading to Zambia. Whilst in Zambia, senior officials of ZAPU agreed to send Khaya-Moyo to school.

He was enrolled at the University of Zambia and in 1969 he graduated with a diploma in Social Sciences.^[2] He received military training in Russia and Cuba and he attended the Malt, Geneva and Lancaster Conference which resulted in the Lancaster House Agreement together with Joshua Nkomo.

After 1980, he became an assistant secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and in 1983, he was appointed to be an undersecretary in the Ministry of Justice. In 1989, he was elected to be a member of the ZANU PF’s Central Committee.

In March 1990, he became the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bulilima Mangwe South constituency. Two years later, he became the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce.

In September 1994, he was appointed to be the Deputy Secretary for Administration in ZANU PF. Between July 1997 and July 2000, Khaya-Moyo was the Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs in ZANU PF.

In 2007 he was appointed Zimbabwe‘s ambassador to South Africa, a post he held until 2011. He was in 2013 tipped to assume the role of the second Vice-President after the death of John Nkomo in that year.

He was appointed to be the Senior Minister in the President’s Office without a specific portfolio in 2013. This triggered political analysts to conclude that he was not going to be the next vice president.

He became one of the first ZANU PF officials to openly declare that there were factions in the party.^[4] Moyo’s utterances and stance were neccessiated by the fact that the media revealed that there were two factions within the party.

One of the two factions was headed by Vice President Joice Mujuru who was sucked after the ZANU PF 6th National Conference that was held in December 2014 and the other byEmmerson Mnangagwa who was by then the Minister of Defence, who was appointed to replace Mujuru after the party’s congress..

Controversy

He divorced his wife Sibonokhuhle Getrude Ngwenya in 2013 accusing her of infidelity. The couple had been married for more than 30 years. He openly stated that there was no longer sexual intimacy between them because his wife was bedding another man. The couple had been married since 1980.

Major Successes

He adopted a 12-year old boy, Prime Ndlovu in Matobo village in 2013. He promised to cater his educational needs up to university level.

Bidding for the Vice Presidency

Khaya-Moyo’s bid for the presidency began as early as 2011 after the death of John Nkomo who was the then country’s vice president. According the the Unity Accord of 1987, the second vice president post in the ZANU PF government should be reserved for an senior ex-ZAPU cadre.

This has always been the tradition that was never broken as people like Joshua Nkomo, Joseph Msika and John Nkomo followed the hierarchy to be part of the presidium as vice presidents of the country.

Furthermore, Khaya-Moyo was also appointed to the position of national chairman of the ZANU PF party which seemed to be a step closer to the vice presidency post. This elevation raised hopes that Moyo was destined for the presidium. However, Khaya Moyo was smart enough not to publicly register his interest for the post

Bid Hits Brick wall

Moyo’s bid for a post in the presidium was resisted by some senior members of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU). 

Retired General Ambrose Mutinhiri and Naison Kutshwekaya distanced themselves from a meeting held on 22 September in 2013 which is believed to have endorsed Moyo for the vice presidency post.^[7] These two later on revealed that they did not support the move although they actually attended the meeting.

Factionalism Allegations

In a party infested with factionalism and divisive politics, Khaya Moyo was not left out in the accusations. He was accused of being one of the senior party members behind the Mujuru faction which was fronting for the elevation of vice president Joice Mujuru to become the country’s president. He was believed to be working together with the likes of Rugare Gumbo, Didymus Mutasa and Amos Midzi campaigning for Mujuru.

In relation to this, some members of the Matebeleland South Provincial Co-coordinating Committee (PCC) saved Khaya-Moyo from losing his seat in the Central Committee. These members blocked a motion to veto Khaya-Moyo’s nomination in the committee.^[8] Some disgruntled war veterans from Matebeleland South wanted Khaya-Moyo to be purged as they argued that he was dining with the enemy (Mujuru).

An unidentified executive member from Khaya-Moyo’s province stated that:

The cleansing of the party is on going. Ambassador Simon Khaya-Moyo is one of the most serious pretenders. He is one of the architects of factionalism. He also lies that he is the most senior surviving ex-member of ZAPU, yet he is not.

Notwithstanding this, in November 2014, Khaya-Moyo was appointed to be the ZANU PF party’s acting spokesperson at a politburo meeting held at the party headquarters in Harare. This was after the dismissal of Rugare Gumbo who was given a five year suspension on allegations of fanning factionalism in the party.

After the ZANU PF 6th National People’s Conference which was held in December which buttressed the demise of those who were perceived to be supporting Mujuru, Khaya-Moyo was amongst the few Mujuru allies who survived the chop.

It was allegedly reported that Khaya-Moyo together with Sydney Sekeramayi apologised to Mugabe who is believed to have pardoned them.^[9] Khaya-Moyo was however demoted as he was appointed to be the party’s Secretary of Information and Publicity from his position of as National Chairman which was never filled. Khaya-Moyo’s demotion has been regarded as a form of punishment that was meted on him by the party, especially by Mugabe.

As the party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity

As the party’s new Secretary for Information and Publicity, Khaya-Moyo was criticised for not speaking out about the party’s stance after Mutasa issued out a press statement which was entitled Members of Zanu PF statement to the citizens of Zimbabwe. Khaya-Moyo revealed that he was to break the silence when he resumes his duty.

Appointment as Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services

On 9 October 2017 the Predident of the ruling party Robert Mugabe reshuffled his cabinet and Simon Khaya Moyo was appointed as the Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting services.

source: Pindula

ZANU PF spokesperson and politburo member Simon Khaya Moyo has died aged 76, multiple sources have confirmed.

He was battling cancer for quite some time.

More to follow….

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has engaged the Higher and Tertiary Education ministry over allegations that female staffers at Lupane State University are being sexually harassed by some top executives at the institution.

ZGC chief executive officer Virginia Muwanigwa said the commission was seized with the matter after receiving a report from one female staffer.

“We indeed received the complaint,” Muwanigwa said.

“We made contact with the LSU and they responded to us.

“We are currently engaging the ministry of Higher Education.

“The Commission is seized with the issue of sexual harassment in the world of work.

“We are currently monitoring the legislative processes aimed at combating sexual harassment, the anti-sexual harassment law, the gender equality law and the domestication of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment in the Workplace.

“The legislative processes were by and large triggered by our investigations on sexual harassment in other institutions.”

Last week, some women stormed the university campus protesting against the alleged abuses.

A top LSU official is accused of routinely abusing a string of women at the institution who included students and staff.

Sexual harassment is said to be rife at Zimbabwe’s tertiary institutions with lecturers accused of taking advantage of desperate students.

In most cases female students are reportedly forced to have sexual relationships with the lecturers in return for favourable marks for their assignments.

A 2015 baseline study by the Female Students Network Trust, a non-profit, membership-based organisation working with young women at tertiary institutions revealed that 97% of female students said they had experienced sexual harassment.

The survey was conducted at universities, polytechnics and teachers’ colleges where an overwhelming majority of students said they had experienced some sort of sexual harassment from lecturers and non-teaching staff.-standard

By A Correspondent- A 29 year old Tsholotsho man committed suicide after his mother told him that her husband was not his biological father.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Gloria Banda said: “On November 11 at 12pm, a report of sudden death was received at Tsholotsho –Tshefunye Police base to the effect that Nkosilathi Ndebele had hanged himself,” Banda said.

“Circumstances are that Ndebele was at home together with his mother (Precious Ndebele) when she revealed to him that Fisher Ndebele is not his biological father.

“This did not go down well with him and he then told his mother that he would commit suicide.”

Banda said on Thursday, Ndebele sent a message to his 20-year-old girlfriend informing her that he wanted to commit suicide after the revelation.

By A Correspondent-Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s top business executive ally Caleb Dengu, has skipped the country.

Dengu last week unceremoniously left Zimbabwe for the Netherlands, fearing for his life.

Degu recently said Mnangagwa was illegitimate and must not run in 2023, and had since then, the President’s supporters had been under fire who were threatening him with a fierce backlash and financial ruin.

-NewsHawks 

The ZANU PF activist, Tinashe Jonas was Thursday night engaged in a debate in which he went face to face with the television whistleblower and Forensic Scientist, Shepherd Yuda.

Free 3 years of numerous requests, Jonas (TJ) was finally welcomed into a news review session for the first time following scores of notorieties, including voice and picture morphings defaming journalists, and key national leaders.

The introduction by ZimEye’s Simba Chikanza (SC) went as follows-

SC: We’ve got a guest who comes on ZimEye for the first time in history, Tinashe Jonasi. Finally Sir you’re here.

TJ: Yes, I am here… I am excited, I’m breaking my ZimEye virginity.

SC: Okay, I was checking today, on my phone in my inbox, looking for your number and noticed you first contacted me in Feb 2018, I didn’t reply, didn’t pick up your calls. But then today I decided, let me just speak and let’s just let Mr Tinashe Jonasi understand that I am not an enemy of the state as you have painted me.

TJ: LAUGH

SC: You have painted me as an enemy of the country, you have called me that, you have called me every name under heaven.

TJ: Yeah, that’s true, so it came as shocker when you called me. I just thought it is one of your gimmicks because you’re good also, Hollywood stunts…

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

After studying law, he was also recruited by Robert Mugabe, to replace those who were fighting the war…

By A Correspondent | A fearless female war vet announces in a 2019 press conference video that has gone viral saying:

Emmerson Mnangagwa didn’t fight in the liberation struggle, he was only handpicked by the late president Robert Mugabe to displace real fighters.

The development comes against the backdrop of claims by Mnangagwa that he was a crocodile gang member in the 1960s led by the late Cde William Ndangana, being found to be totally false and misleading.

Cde Karen Kazingizi speaks saying:

So I want to know these comrades who go around cutting voters’ hands, to find out: are they real comrades, or they are Mugabe’s people he took from Ian Smith’s mercenaries? ….

The same people he now gives the war vet badge, which soils our image..

So that’s one other thing we are working on our identity. We are not trying to be these ugly people that the whole nation now thinks we are. Did you ever see us? They put this type of a picture in front of you, of a personality cult who you must worship. The Phillip Chiyangwa type we did not have them at all during the war, the Chiyangwas, they are the richest of them. Can you show me one comrade that you know who went into government in 1980, who was trained like us? Even those who were the seniors, like Muzenda where are they?

Emmerson Mnangagwa is one of them (a male journalist vet asks).

Comrade Emmerson came out of prison, according to the history I know; after coming out of prison, he went over to study law, isn’t it?

After studying law, he was also recruited by Robert Mugabe, to replace those who were fighting the war.

When the war finished, when Mugabe had ended the war, the people who had elected him to lead them from the Mgagao Declaration, he had chopped them all off, all of them the Gamatox and other factions without number. He kicked all of them out accusing them of betraying the struggle. You know, we don’t want to end up telling the truth, but I think the youth deserve to know the truth.

– ARTICLE REPUBLISHED –

By A Correspondent- Legislators are pushing for full support to be given to informal traders in the country through flexible banking terms.

Zimbabwe’s informal sector has grown tremendously due to de-industrialisation and job losses that ravaged the economy over the past decades.

The informal sector is now estimated to be constituting about 60% to gross domestic product, raising the need for authorities to come up with deliberate policies to formalise it to achieve economic development.

Legislator Mathias Tongofa, the chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on youth told an informal sector workshop last week that government and the private sector must remove barriers and formalise the sector by providing market access.

“We cannot go outside the country to look for a market. It is more difficult to build a market in Mozambique when you cannot build a market here.

“Charity should begin at home.

“We can make sure there is a law that compels the private sector and government to buy from those small companies,” Tongofa said.

“If they have a problem of quality, there should be a deliberate effort to make sure the quality goes to the desired levels.

“That alone will make sure they formalise and will also make sure that they get money from banks and after that they can sell products to private companies and to government.

“Otherwise without connecting them to financial support and the local markets for a start (they will struggle to grow).”

Another legislator Elia Musakwa took a swipe at the country’s banking system that discourages informal traders from banking.

“We hear a lot of stories that informal traders have lost money at Mbare Musika and they would be carrying US$2 000.

“How do you explain to an informal trader to bank money where every month they are supposed to be charged a US$50 management fee?

“Already that US$50 is a livelihood to them,” Musakwa said.

“On top of that when they bank it as cash, 20% is already converted to RTGS at a ruling exchange rate and they are given Zimbabwe dollars. May be their profit was only 10%.

“When you take the 20% you are already taking the profit and part of the capital. So, they are broke before they go anywhere.

“I think the Ministry of Finance must explain how they expect people to bring money from their pillows to the bank.”

Legislator Edwin Mushoriwa highlighted that Zimbabwe needed to take a leaf from Rwanda where motor cycles used for public transport, commonly known as Boda Boda in that country, were formalised to contribute taxes to the economy.

The legislators’ contributions came at a time when the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations has been pushing for an Informal Economy Bill to be adopted by Parliament.

The Informal Economy Bill seeks to create awareness among legislators and all government agencies about the role and importance of the informal economy in Zimbabwe and provide a proposed legal framework to the sector.

The draft Bill will lay the groundwork for creating an environment that respects and supports those in the informal economy, enabling them to have a livelihood and grow their businesses.-standard

By A Correspondent- There was an exchange of fire at the Apostolic Faith Mission church in Marlborough on Thursday night after security guards hired by a group led by Reverend Cossam Chiangwa attempted to forcibly take control of the premises from the Reverend Amon Madawo-led group.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying investigations are underway.

He said representatives of both church factions later made counter-reports to the police.

The Supreme Court recently upheld a High Court judgement which ruled against Chiangwa, in favour of Madawo, whom the courts recognise as the legitimate leader of the church.
Giving his church’s side of the story, board member in charge of security for Reverend Madawo’s camp, Reggies Nyandoro said:

I received a call from one of the security details at church advising me that there were armed men outside the gate.

They wanted him to open the gate so they could guard the church because Pastor Chiangwa had engaged them to do so.

I advised the guard to alert his Control Office and to call ZRP Marlborough.

He said after about 10 minutes the guard called him, advising that the armed men were now agitated and threatening to shoot him. Said Nyandoro:

I asked him to put me on speakerphone and spoke to one of the gun-wielding men. I asked him his name and he refused to divulge it.

He shouted that they had been engaged by Reverend Chiangwa to guard his church and that I should ask the guard to open the gate.

He continued to insist on getting the gate opened and I asked our guard to terminate the call. I later heard that they fired gunshots.

Contacted to give his side of the story on Saturday, Chiangwa referred questions to his deacon Thomas Gwatidzo who was at the scene of the incident. Gwatidzo said:

The matter is currently under police investigation, so I do not want to give too much information that could jeopardise investigations or give ammunition to the other party (Reverend Madawo’s group).

I think it is best to leave the matter in the hands of the police for now. All I can say is that this is a small matter.

No one was harmed. I think you also understand that it is legal to fire warning shots if one is under attack.

By A Correspondent-Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is reportedly considering challenging President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the ZANU PF elective congress set for next year.

This is despite Chiwenga’s move last week to publicly state that Mnangagwa will be the uncontested ZANU PF candidate in the 2023 elections.

Meanwhile, Chiwenga’s top business executive ally Caleb Dengu, who has said Mnangagwa is illegitimate and must not run in 2023, last week slipped out of the country for the Netherlands, The NewsHawks reported.

Dengu was reportedly under fire from the President’s supporters who were threatening him with a fierce backlash and financial ruin.

The defeated yet still alive ZANU PF faction, the G-40, is reportedly supporting the move by Chiwenga to challenge Mnangagwa.

Chiwenga and G40 strategists are realigning forces within ZANU PF to challenge Mnangagwa head-on next year.

The NewsHawks reported sources within ZANU PF as saying that after Mnangagwa reneged on the deal with Chiwenga prior to the November 2017 military coup to serve only one term and allow his deputy to come in 2023, gloves are now off within the ruling party over unresolved leadership issues.

Said the source:

The fallout within the party leadership is serious. We are heading for a battle royale between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga next year.

That is how politics within ZANU PF and state institutions is currently shaping up. The unresolved leadership question can no longer be managed and swept under the carpet; it has got to be settled politically, and that means through congress next year.

There is no question of another military coup; well, perhaps a palace coup might happen, but not a putsch.

When Mnangagwa took over, there was a clear understanding that he will not seek re-election in 2023.

However, Chiwenga and others were shocked to see him telling the world in an interview in September 2018 during the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York that he would seek re-election in 2023. That was never agreed.

During the December 2018 ZANU PF conference at Mzingwane High School in Esigodini, Mnangagwa and his allies moved a gear up and launched a campaign for him to serve two terms, a development that reportedly did not please Chiwenga. Said another source:

At that time, it became clear Mnangagwa had broken ranks and reneged on the deal.

That worsened internal strife and infighting fuelled by the White City grenade attack in June 2018 which most ZANU PF leaders know was an inside job.

The 1 August 2018 killings in Harare in broad daylight and January 2019 stay away and the bloodbath that left many dead exacerbated the situation.

The Mnangagwa group is mainly Midlands and Masvingo province-based, while the Chiwenga one has threads cutting across different regions, although its main base has roots in the three Mashonaland provinces — Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Harare.

More: The NewsHawks

MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says POLAD does not have the capacity to resolve the country’s political impasse.

President Chamisa, quoted by The Standard, ruled out joining POLAD.

Genuine dialogue is the only solution to the country’s deepening political turmoil, according to the MDC Alliance leder.

“That (Polad) is part of the problem.

You cannot try to score cheap political points like that.

The only solution is dialogue and you cannot run away from it.

We can run away from it now, in five years or in 10 years but it is the solution that can build our country. It is time to take back our beloved country.

Nobody is in charge. We only have poverty in charge and suffering.

We can’t allow that. There is hurt and violence all over and we need a humane government,” President Chamisa told the publication.

On Saturday he tweeted:
TOTAL CHANGE..We must turn things around. We just don’t have the luxury to be general. We can’t just be ordinary. To whom much is given much is expected. Good to go and Ready. I will not disappoint! Happy sabbath

Zanu PF man Sybeth Musengezi has described Emmerson Mnangagwa as a blundering politician who does not care at all about the welfare of Zimbabweans.

According to Musengezi, Mnangagwa is a typical political hypocrite.

Musengezi is challenging Mnangagwa’s controversial appointment as party president by the Zanu PF Central Committee.

See his argument :

If a leader is chosen by the people, he/she will surely serve the interests of the povo.. BUT an imposed leader will only serve the interests of his/her appointing masters & friends. Mufudzi akakokwa anodyisa makwai nemapere pakumanikidzwa ASI mufudzi akanaka anofira makwai ake.

After removing Cde Mugabe in 2017, if @edmnangagwa had sound advisors he wouldn’t have missed a clear penalty to become Zim’s biblical Joshua. Hunger for power took over and he became associated with political and business thugs, something Zimbabweans who ‘marched’ never expected.

After the disputed & controversial 2018 elections, instead of
@edmnangagwa creating a gathering of snakes (Polad), he should have brotherly and genuinely sat down with @nelsonchamisa . If these two had found common ground, Zim would by now be somewhere up there. 2nd Penalty missed

Now we hear the same Sanctions rhetoric as the cause of our problems when we openly have a clique of thugs who’re busy milking the country and looting our resources. We choose to ignore that corruption, policy inconsistency, abuse of property & human rights also cause suffering.

MEANWHILE, as the young people of Zimbabwe and other progressive minds; we are DEMANDING that Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa @edmnangagwa and your crew immediately fix this nosediving economy so that you can leave offices with dignity.

We want a stable economy, functional healthcare & educational institutions, jobs, decent pensions for our elders, decent salaries for our civil servants among other constitutional rights…. Not this monkey business! We want an END to corruption and abuse of state institutions.

By A Correspondent- The High Court has released on bail the nine members of a Zhombe machete gang who were involved in running battles with rival gangs in Empress Mine over gold claims.

Kudakwashe Mapholisa, Chrispen Nyoni, Patson Nguvaya, Sifelani Sibanda, John Malamula, Silent Magura, Stephen Takawira, Vitalis Godho and Misheck Moyo were released on $5, 000 bail each.

In releasing them on bail, the High Court ordered the accused to desist from interfering with witnesses and to report once a fortnight at their nearest police station.

Last week in Empress Mine, and on 19 October at Mutongerwa Bar at Empress Business Centre in Zhombe, the gang was involved in a public fight with another over a gold claim.

The State represented by prosecutor Michelle Daraja said that during the fight, Kudakwashe Mapholisa and Misheck Moyo stabbed one Newton Ncube with a spear in the abdomen and struck him with a machete in the head.

A video then went viral on social media in which Newton was seen yelling for help with a spear sticking out of his abdomen while being attended to at a local hospital.

The gang also destroyed motor vehicles belonging to the rival gang. Nine of the gang members were later arrested by police detectives while four others are still at large.

Ncube, who is wanted by police for other crimes, then reportedly checked himself out of hospital before doctors had discharged him and while his wounds were still fresh.

Four other members of the gang that stabbed Newton Ncube’s gang are still at large. The gang had initially appeared before Kwekwe magistrate Samukelisiwe Dube facing attempted murder and public violence charges.

Dube had initially denied them bail but the decision was overturned by the High Court.

A sex worker has been arrested in Bulawayo after stealing and crashing her client’s car into a pre-cast wall in Hillside.

The Chronicle reports that Mr Trust Ndlovu allegedly picked up a 23-year-old Cwebisile Hlengiwe Moyo in the city centre on Tuesday last week and the two agreed to spend the night together at a city lodge.

They booked a room at a lodge along Lobengula Street between Connaught and Masotsha Ndlovu avenues.

Ndlovu said he parked his car outside the lodge and the two retired for the night only to wake up around 5 am to find Moyo gone with his car.

He tried phoning Moyo but her number was unreachable. Ndlovu made a report to the police at around midday and they tracked Moyo to her flat in town.

She told police that the car had crashed into a pre-cast wall in the Hillside suburb.

Contacted for comment, Ndlovu said he did not hire Moyo but he knows her.

He said:

The issue has gone out of hand. I don’t know what to do. I know Cwebesile, I did not hire her, but she indeed took my car. She has been arrested and this whole thing is a mess.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed that Moyo was arrested.

He said Moyo sold Ndlovu’s goods worth about US$7 500 that were in the car.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe

By A Correspondent- A “stranded” Bulawayo woman last week Friday vanished with a car of a man who offered her transport and accommodation.

Police sources say Mr Elliot Mukaro was driving his Toyota Mark 2 around Bulawayo at night on Thursday last week and he went to Queens Sports Club to drink at Boundary Nightclub.

At around 3 AM on Friday, Mukaro reportedly met a woman by the name of Thuba, who was in the company of three unidentified men.

After some drinks, the woman approached Mukaro and asked him to take her to Nkulumane where she lives.

However, Mukaro pointed out that his car was low on fuel and would not make it to Nkulumane.

Thuba offered Mukaro US$5 for fuel and he then agreed and the three men she was with disappeared as the couple drove around the city centre looking for fuel.

They could not find the fuel, and Mukaro is said to have suggested that he could take Thuba to his house in the Emakhandeni suburb to sleep till it was safe to travel.

When they got to Mukaro’s house at around 5 AM, it is alleged that he left his car keys on a table in the living room and Thuba sat on a chair there.

Mukaro retired to his bedroom and slept and woke up at around 11 AM only to discover that Thuba had vanished with his car.

He then made a report at Entumbane Police Station and his car has not been recovered.

Earlier reports had suggested that he is the one who had hired a 23-year-old sex worker – Cwebisile Hlengiwe Moyo – who stole and crashed his car. He refutes the claims. Mukaro visited the Chronicle offices on Tuesday and narrated his story. He said:

My car was stolen on Friday morning. I reported it at around 11 at Entumbane Police Station. I was called to VTS and up to now they haven’t found the car. I was not with a hooker, I was not with anyone and my car is still missing.

I arrived home at around 5AM and I just left the keys in the ignition.

When I woke up late I found the car gone. I thought one of my friends had taken the car. After about 30 minutes when nobody showed up, I went to the police to report my case. I live in Emakhandeni and police are still investigating.

He added that the only other item that was in the car is his jacket that had US$30.- Chronicle

By A Correspondent- Harare-based SAHTC – The Hospitality School, on Thursday held a send-off lunch for 24 trainee chefs, who are travelling to the United States for a one-year internship at two luxury properties.

Of the 24 trainees, 13 will be at the Montage Deer Valley Resort in Salt Lake City while 11 are going to the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado.

This group of trainees includes four from Mozambique and Namibia, who are also studying International Hospitality Management Diploma with the school.

“Today we are sending off 24 trainees who will be doing two luxury properties in the USA,” director of the school Michael Farrell said.

“Eleven of the 24 trainees are joining The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado. These are Food and Beverage Service trainees, who are joining the other 23 Commis chefs who are already at The Broadmoor Resort.

“The other 13 trainees are off to the luxurious Montage Deer Valley Resort in Salt Lake City, Utah. This group comprises seven Commis chefs and six food and beverage service trainees. This is the maiden group joining this prestigious resort.

“We are pleased to have the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority [ZTA] present to send off our trainees who are going to represent brand Zimbabwe in the USA.”

Angella Mahureva (marketing executive America) and her colleague Ronald Kutukwa represented ZTA at the send-off ceremony.

“Over the years, SAHTC –  The Hospitality School has enrolled scores of trainees and has also established very strong liaisons with some of the tourism and hospitality industry players both local and abroad,” Farrell said.

“We have also established ties with several embassies in Harare particularly The embassy of Italy in Zimbabwe, which we have worked with in enhancing the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Education in Zimbabwe.”

This year alone the institution has sent 64 trainees to the US while another batch of 13 students are also set to go in December.

The hospitality school offers several programmes including International Hospitality Management, Chefs on Stage Food Preparation and Culinary Arts Programme and Professional Cookery.-standard

By A Correspondent- Revelations that former Zanu-PF commissar Saviour Kasukuwere is plotting a political comeback to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa has triggered a witch-hunt in the ruling party with some officials now being targeted for allegedly backing the plot.

Kasukuwere, who was known as Tyson during his heydays in Zanu-PF, was singled out by the ruling party in an opposing affidavit in the case where a party member Sybeth Musengezi wants Mnangagwa’s ascendancy after the 2017 coup declared illegal.

Zanu-PF said Musengezi was planted by Kasukuwere as part of factional wars in the party.

The former Local Government minister was hounded out of the country during the coup alongside several top Zanu-PF officials that belonged to the G40 faction, which was loyal to late former president Robert Mugabe.

G40 is said to be re-grouping amid claims that the faction is making a comeback in the ruling party structures.

Zanu-PF is already battling a serious internal rift with two factions said to be loyal to Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.

Kasukuwere has added a new dimension to the infighting with two top Zanu-PF officials acknowledging that there were indications that the ruling party has been  infiltrated by the exiled politician’s backers.

Zanu-PF director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi claimed some party officials are pretending to be loyal to Mnangagwa yet they are working with Kasukuwere.

“I exposed that and I wouldn’t want to speak much, but what should be known is that the hallmark of Zanu-PF when going for elections, it sheds off the jetsam and flotsam and anything that is meant to cause commotion and confusion and works on the basis of the willing and devout patriots,” Mugwadi said.

“Zanu-PF has a way of exposing such in dealing with errant elements.

“What we know is they have been up to attacking government officials, government departments, and senior leadership and of course there was suspicion and that suspicion has been confirmed by what they are doing.

“This will not derail our plans ahead of 2023 and if you look at the numbers, there are just three or four elements causing confusion.”

Zanu-PF acting spokesperson Mike Bimha said those supporting Kasukuwere were not genuine party members.

“Anyone can post anything on social media and cannot be stopped but I doubt if the people you refer to are genuine party cadres,” Bimha told The Standard.

“If one goes to social media I have doubts if they are really genuine party members.

“If people have issues in the party there are channels to do that.

” We have channels for raising concerns or any contributions. The commissariat is open and people bring all the issues every day.”

One of the many former Mnangagwa loyalists and now a staunch supporter of Kasukuwere, Never Maswerasei recently apologised for supporting the president, a development observers said was a clear vote of no confidence against the Zanu-PF leader.

Maswerasei is now campaigning for Kasukuwere on social media.

The former Zanu-PF commissar has remained mum about his presidential ambitions, but his backers say his campaign is taking shape behind the scenes.

Mnangagwa was chosen as a Zanu-PF presidential candidate during the party’s annual conference.

Last week, Chiwenga said Mnangagwa’s position as Zanu-PF’s candidate for the 2023 elections was guaranteed.-standard

By A Correspondent- War veterans secretary in the ZANU PF Politburo Douglas Mahiya yesterday embarrassed Mazowe District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) Tafadzwa Musarara at ZANU PF inter district meeting in Mazowe.

Mahiya who was head of delegation to monitor progress in restructuring exercise in Mashonaland Central province demonized supporters by embarrassing Musarara and endorsing chairperson Kazembe Kazembe a move which was allegedly not on the agenda of the party programme.

Addressing party supporters the boastful Mahiya called Musarara and reminded him that he was the most senior man on the event and had to be obeyed.

“Where is Musarara!” bellowed the angry Mahiya.

Musarara lifted his hand while in the tent and was ordered to stand up before being told to sit down.

“Ndini mukuru pano simuka!” 

Musarara  stood up.

Chigara pasi!” he sat down.

There was total silence as supporters wondered where his anger was coming from.

Mahiya who was previously assisted to launch his war veterans league by Kazembe in Mashonaland Central had to pay back Kazembe by endorsing him as the chairperson of the province.

Musarara has shown   interest in the chairmanship race and that irked Mahiya.

War veterans Association chairperson for Mashonaland Central Sam Parirenyatwa who is being fought hard by Mahiya and Kazembe had to take Mahiya head on during their Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting in Bindura on Friday.

Parirenyatwa alleged Mahiya was endorsing the war veterans  league which was stopped by the executive hence he was in defiance with the executive order.

By A Correspondent-The police have said that they are investigating a gunshot rang that occurred at the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church in Marlborough on Thursday night.

The fire exchange happened after security guards hired by a group led by Reverend Cossam Chiangwa attempted to forcibly take control of the premises from the Reverend Amon Madawo-led group.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying investigations are underway.

He said representatives of both church factions later made counter-reports to the police.

The Supreme Court recently upheld a High Court judgement which ruled against Chiangwa, in favour of Madawo, whom the courts recognise as the legitimate leader of the church.

Giving his church’s side of the story, board member in charge of security for Reverend Madawo’s camp, Reggies Nyandoro said:

I received a call from one of the security details at church advising me that there were armed men outside the gate.

They wanted him to open the gate so they could guard the church because Pastor Chiangwa had engaged them to do so.

I advised the guard to alert his Control Office and to call ZRP Marlborough.

He said after about 10 minutes the guard called him, advising that the armed men were now agitated and threatening to shoot him. Said Nyandoro:

I asked him to put me on speakerphone and spoke to one of the gun-wielding men. I asked him his name and he refused to divulge it.

He shouted that they had been engaged by Reverend Chiangwa to guard his church and that I should ask the guard to open the gate.

He continued to insist on getting the gate opened and I asked our guard to terminate the call. I later heard that they fired gunshots.

Contacted to give his side of the story on Saturday, Chiangwa referred questions to his deacon Thomas Gwatidzo who was at the scene of the incident. Gwatidzo said:

The matter is currently under police investigation, so I do not want to give too much information that could jeopardise investigations or give ammunition to the other party (Reverend Madawo’s group).

I think it is best to leave the matter in the hands of the police for now. All I can say is that this is a small matter.

No one was harmed. I think you also understand that it is legal to fire warning shots if one is under attack.

By A Correspondent-There was an exchange of fire at the Apostolic Faith Mission church in Marlborough on Thursday night after security guards hired by a group led by Reverend Cossam Chiangwa attempted to forcibly take control of the premises from the Reverend Amon Madawo-led group.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying investigations are underway.
He said representatives of both church factions later made counter-reports to the police.

The Supreme Court recently upheld a High Court judgement which ruled against Chiangwa, in favour of Madawo, whom the courts recognise as the legitimate leader of the church.
Giving his church’s side of the story, board member in charge of security for Reverend Madawo’s camp, Reggies Nyandoro said:
I received a call from one of the security details at church advising me that there were armed men outside the gate.
They wanted him to open the gate so they could guard the church because Pastor Chiangwa had engaged them to do so.
I advised the guard to alert his Control Office and to call ZRP Marlborough.

He said after about 10 minutes the guard called him, advising that the armed men were now agitated and threatening to shoot him. Said Nyandoro:
I asked him to put me on speakerphone and spoke to one of the gun-wielding men. I asked him his name and he refused to divulge it.
He shouted that they had been engaged by Reverend Chiangwa to guard his church and that I should ask the guard to open the gate.
He continued to insist on getting the gate opened and I asked our guard to terminate the call. I later heard that they fired gunshots.

Contacted to give his side of the story on Saturday, Chiangwa referred questions to his deacon Thomas Gwatidzo who was at the scene of the incident. Gwatidzo said:
The matter is currently under police investigation, so I do not want to give too much information that could jeopardise investigations or give ammunition to the other party (Reverend Madawo’s group).
I think it is best to leave the matter in the hands of the police for now. All I can say is that this is a small matter.
No one was harmed. I think you also understand that it is legal to fire warning shots if one is under attack.

By A Correspondent- The Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira left a Zanu PF Women’s League function held at the Caravan Park in Masvingo on Saturday in huff allegedly after getting wind that a section of the gathering was waiting to pass a vote of no confidence on him.

The women from all party districts in Masvingo had gathered for a function of the Young Women in Business for Economic Development popularly known with the moniker Women for ED, an initiative by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to support women with economic projects and loans.
Attending the function were party gurus like Euginia Samson, the Women’s League provincial chairperson, Deputy Minister Yeukai Simbanegavi, Rabson Mavhenyengwa the provincial vice chairperson, and Jevas Masosota the provincial political commissar.
A close source close told The Mirror that the purpose of the meeting was to elect an executive of the Young Women in Business for Economic Development and the elections were supposed to take place after an address by Chadzamira who is also Zanu PF chairman for Masvingo and the guest of honour.
The meeting however, ended abruptly as Chadzamira was allegedly tipped of the ambush.
Samson confirmed the meeting but declined to give a comment saying that she was in a meeting.
It is understood that factionalism with the party divided between Vice President Chiwengwa and his boss President Mnangagwa was the cause of the problems at the meeting.
“The women were supposed to elect a committee but everything was abandoned after it was discovered that women from a faction allegedly led by Vice President Constantine Chiwenga were warming up for a showdown with Chadzamira’s supporters. Chadzamira left the event hurriedly after he was tipped of the impending embarrassment,” said the source.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial spokesperson Ophias Murambiwa, said the meeting was held. When further quizzed on why the elections were not held, he said he is going to check with those on the ground.
“I thought everything went well. I will have to check with those on the ground and verify certain facts before I comment on the matter. I will definitely come back to you in a few minutes,” said Murambiwa. He however, did not call back as promised.
Chadzamira could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.
The event exposed the battle for supremacy between the two warring Zanu PF factions allegedly pitting the party’s first secretary Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy that has reach alarming levels. According to sources warring factions are between one led by Ezra Chadzamira and the other led by his deputy Rabison Mavhenyengwa.
-Masvingo Mirror

By A Correspondent- Controversial Harare preacher T Freddy has been embroiled in a love scandal with a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) presenter, Rutendo Makuti.

This came out Thursday after Makuti appeared before the courts in Harare on charges of extorting the preacher.

Makuti (33) is alleged to have been in a relationship with Freddy, founder and leader of Goodness and Mercy Ministries.
She appeared at the Harare Magistrate Sheunesu Matova who remanded her to 9 December for routine remand.

Makuti, who was represented by Tinashe Mbala, was released on $5 000 bail and ordered not to interfere with state witnesses.

Allegations are that sometime in 2020 Freddy (38) had a relationship with Makuti.
During the relationship, it is alleged that she started threatening to expose their affair if he does not meet her financial and material demands.
Prosecutors told the court that sometime in August 2021, Freddy was summoned by Chief Chikwaka and proceeded to the traditional leader’s place.
It is alleged that upon his arrival at the chief’s homestead he was tipped that there were some police officers who wanted to extort him.

Freddy then made a U-turn and sought to return to Harare but was stopped by some police officers who were manning a roadblock.
He was forced to get back to the chief’s homestead where Chief Chikwaka allegedly accused him of raping Makuti.
The chief also accused Freddy of sleeping with the woman before a year had elapsed since the death of her husband, violating traditional norms.
Freddy promised to pay US$15 000. In addition, the chief ordered him to pay three goats and Freddy promised to return at a later date with the money and the goats.
It is alleged that the chief made the pastor sign an agreement which was authored by an Inspector Jaji.

It is further alleged that upon their return to Harare, Makuti told Freddy to hand over the US$15 000 to her personally since she is the one who was aggrieved.
He handed over a Mercedes Benz E250 valued at US$15 000.
t is alleged after some days, Makuti started threatening Freddy again, saying his secretary Nollen Mundawaro had insulted her so she wanted compensation of US$20 000.
On Thursday (yesterday), Makuti’s brother demanded that he pays up the US$20 000 and that he signs an acknowledgement that he had raped her.
He threatened Freddy that he would expose the affair if he failed to pay the money.
Freddy reported the matter to the police leading to Makuti’s arrest.
She was lured to meet with Freddy purportedly to discuss the payment of the US$20 000 and was nabbed at the rendezvous.
The US$15 000 was recovered.

By A Correspondent-Gunshots rang at the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church in Marlborough on Thursday night as security guards hired by a group led by Reverend Cossam Chiangwa attempted to forcibly take control of the premises from the Reverend Amon Madawo-led group.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying investigations are underway.

He said representatives of both church factions later made counter-reports to the police.

The Supreme Court recently upheld a High Court judgement which ruled against Chiangwa, in favour of Madawo, whom the courts recognise as the legitimate leader of the church.

Giving his church’s side of the story, board member in charge of security for Reverend Madawo’s camp, Reggies Nyandoro said:

I received a call from one of the security details at church advising me that there were armed men outside the gate.

They wanted him to open the gate so they could guard the church because Pastor Chiangwa had engaged them to do so.

I advised the guard to alert his Control Office and to call ZRP Marlborough.

He said after about 10 minutes the guard called him, advising that the armed men were now agitated and threatening to shoot him. Said Nyandoro:

I asked him to put me on speakerphone and spoke to one of the gun-wielding men. I asked him his name and he refused to divulge it.

He shouted that they had been engaged by Reverend Chiangwa to guard his church and that I should ask the guard to open the gate.

He continued to insist on getting the gate opened and I asked our guard to terminate the call. I later heard that they fired gunshots.

Contacted to give his side of the story on Saturday, Chiangwa referred questions to his deacon Thomas Gwatidzo who was at the scene of the incident. Gwatidzo said:

The matter is currently under police investigation, so I do not want to give too much information that could jeopardise investigations or give ammunition to the other party (Reverend Madawo’s group).

I think it is best to leave the matter in the hands of the police for now. All I can say is that this is a small matter.

No one was harmed. I think you also understand that it is legal to fire warning shots if one is under attack.

-State media

By A Correspondent-A Beitbridge businessman who lost R1.2 million and US$3 500 to armed robbers on 9 October allegedly consulted a local apostolic faith leader for divine intervention to recover his stolen money.

After the “consultation”, one of the suspected armed robbers, 32-year-old Freeman Ndudzo of Dulivhadzimo, who is also linked to a number of robbery cases in Beitbridge, was arrested by police.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of Ndudzo on 5 November. He said:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Freeman Ndudzo (32) on November 5, 2021, by detectives who were pursuing a case of unlawful entry and theft.

… The suspect is linked to several robbery cases that occurred in Beitbridge including the purported theft case of R1.2 million reported recently.

Ndudzo and his accomplices pounced on the businessman’s Beitbridge home and reportedly threatened to shoot him and his family while demanding cash.

Before Ndudzo’s arrest, the businessman allegedly consulted apostolic faith leader Madzibaba Emmanuel Mutumwa of the Johane Masowe eChishanu at his shrine in Bulawayo’s Selborne Park suburb on 17 October.

Pictures and videos in possession of B-Metro show the businessman in white robes kneeling before Madzibaba Mutumwa receiving prayers.

When reached for comment the businessman confirmed that he consulted Madzibaba Mutumwa for divine intervention so that he could recover his money. He said:

It’s true that I consulted him (Madzibaba Mutumwa) and that is when he told me that the suspects would be arrested. One of them has since been arrested and appeared in court. I had no doubts that his prayers worked.

People should also know that when having such problems, it’s all about believing when one consults any man of God.

By A Correspondent- The Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira left a Zanu PF Women’s League function held at the Caravan Park in Masvingo on Saturday in huff allegedly after getting wind that a section of the gathering was waiting to pass a vote of no confidence on him.

The women from all party districts in Masvingo had gathered for a function of the Young Women in Business for Economic Development popularly known with the moniker Women for ED, an initiative by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to support women with economic projects and loans.
Attending the function were party gurus like Euginia Samson, the Women’s League provincial chairperson, Deputy Minister Yeukai Simbanegavi, Rabson Mavhenyengwa the provincial vice chairperson, and Jevas Masosota the provincial political commissar.
A close source close told The Mirror that the purpose of the meeting was to elect an executive of the Young Women in Business for Economic Development and the elections were supposed to take place after an address by Chadzamira who is also Zanu PF chairman for Masvingo and the guest of honour.
The meeting however, ended abruptly as Chadzamira was allegedly tipped of the ambush.
Samson confirmed the meeting but declined to give a comment saying that she was in a meeting.
It is understood that factionalism with the party divided between Vice President Chiwengwa and his boss President Mnangagwa was the cause of the problems at the meeting.
“The women were supposed to elect a committee but everything was abandoned after it was discovered that women from a faction allegedly led by Vice President Constantine Chiwenga were warming up for a showdown with Chadzamira’s supporters. Chadzamira left the event hurriedly after he was tipped of the impending embarrassment,” said the source.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial spokesperson Ophias Murambiwa, said the meeting was held. When further quizzed on why the elections were not held, he said he is going to check with those on the ground.
“I thought everything went well. I will have to check with those on the ground and verify certain facts before I comment on the matter. I will definitely come back to you in a few minutes,” said Murambiwa. He however, did not call back as promised.
Chadzamira could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.
The event exposed the battle for supremacy between the two warring Zanu PF factions allegedly pitting the party’s first secretary Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy that has reach alarming levels. According to sources warring factions are between one led by Ezra Chadzamira and the other led by his deputy Rabison Mavhenyengwa.
-Masvingo Mirror