By A Correspondent- Vegetarianism is gaining traction in Zimbabwe at a time the world celebrates World Vegan Day which comes every year on 1 November.

Veganism is a lifestyle that excludes all animal products and attempts to limit the exploitation of animals as much as possible.

According to local nutritionists and environmentalists, veganism is of immense benefit to humans and the natural environment.

Reported Anadolu Agency:

Tynos Muhalaphe, a Harare-based nutritionist told Anadolu Agency that vegans live longer, healthier lives and rarely contract diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

He said:

Vegans are the true practical example of what people should do when they want to lead healthier longer lives. They hardly contract diseases like cancer, diabetes and many others.

For Zimbabwean environmental experts like Doson Hamandishe, vegans are helping to save the environment.

Said Hamandishe:

They plant fruit trees for their fruits which is part of their diet, and this means trees are safe with vegans as they practice afforestation.

They also don’t eat meat or any animal products, meaning wildlife is safe in the hands of vegans, as they grow their own vegetables throughout the year.

As vegetarianism gains fame across Zimbabwe, vegan restaurants are emerging in major cities like Harare, Masvingo and Victoria Falls.

In Harare, there is the Chisipite vegan restaurant owned and run by Mikaela, who is vegan.

Business is booming for Mikaela, with many affluent clients coming to the restaurant and Harare’s high-profile residents eager to change their life around with a plant-based diet.

But for residents from the low-income suburbs of Harare, like 24-year-old Elina Chuma, nothing is fascinating about eating vegetables because she said vegetable-eating is a sign of poverty.

Said Chuma:

In my family, we rarely have meat, not because it’s by choice, but because we can’t afford it. Yet we also would love to eat meat every day if we could afford it.

… I battled high blood pressure as a teenager and after getting advice on diet from a close friend who is a vegan, I said let me give it a try and here I’m now with zero blood pressure.

Global Vegan celebrations are attributed to Louise Wallis, who proposed the idea in 1994 as Chairman of the Vegan Society in the UK and now Vegan Day is celebrated in different parts of the world to advocate veganism and its way of life.

By A Correspondent- A 34 year old Zimbabwean man was on Friday shot and killed by South African police in the Erasmia area.

The man is reported to have been part of a gang of suspects, aged between 26 and 51 years, who were caught red-handed by the police cutting steel pipes at a plot in Mooiplas.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson, Ms Grace Langa said the matter was now under investigation.

However, she could not readily reveal the now deceased’s identity.

“We are investigating a case of death as a result of pgunolice action and our team has already attended the crime scene,” said Ms Langa.

“It is alleged that two on-duty police officers reacted to a complaint about some suspects who were cutting steel pipes at the plot in Mooiplas. Upon arrival, they found the complainant who then pointed out the suspects.”

The four suspects were apprehended.

More suspects, driving an Isuzu pick-up truck, arrived at the scene and were also identified as being part of the crew by the complainant.

She said the two policemen stopped the car and ordered all the passengers to disembark and lie on the ground.

“They all went down except one suspect who is a 34-year-old Zimbabwean national. He walked towards the back of their bakkie (pick-up truck) and pulled a firearm.

“He was spotted by one of the policemen who immediately pulled out his service pistol and shot him (the suspect Zimbabwean national) on the head,” said Ms Langa.

She said while the two police officers were busy checking on the man who had been shot, his accomplices got into the vehicle and fled from the scene.

Paramedics, she added, were contacted and certified the man dead on the scene.

Ms Langa said investigators from IPID collected the Police officer’s state firearm as well as the deceased’s unlicensed firearm after being summoned to the scene.

“Further investigations into the matter are underway,” she said.-statemedia

Former Warriors striker Tendai Ndoro has lost ‘everything’ after he was kicked out of his home and taken to the cleaners by his South African wife, Thando Maseko. The former Chicken Inn and Orlando Pirates forward is reported to have registered all his properties in his wife’s name.

Following a massive fallout between the two, Maseko is said to have thrown Ndoro out of the couple’s home in the upscale Kyalami Estates in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is also reported to have taken full possession of all of the couple’s vehicles, as they were registered in her name.

The issue of Tendai Ndoro being taken to the cleaners by his South African wife was revealed to local weekly publication B-Metro by one of Ndoro’s confidantes. The source who spoke to the publication on condition of anonymity said,

“It appears Ndoro’s property in South Africa is not registered in his name, so when things were not going well with his wife, he was kicked out of their Kyalami Estate home. The biggest mistake he made was not registering the house and cars in his name, and that will be his downfall.

“Ndoro’s family in Bulawayo are distraught about the situation because it can’t be easy to watch their son lose everything he worked hard for in South Africa and Saudi Arabia to his estranged wife.”

Ndoro has been making headlines of late after images leaked online in which the footballer appeared to have lost a lot of weight. The photos suggested that Ndoro may be struggling with his health. According to the online publication Soccer24, the footballer had been recuperating in the mining town of Shamva, in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland Central province.

Following the circulation of the images and reports of Ndoro’s ill-health, some opined that the former Orlando Pirates striker is struggling.

This prompted South African businessman and former Mpumalanga Black Aces owner George Morfou to offer to help the footballer. George and his brother Mario were responsible for introducing the 36-year-old striker to the SA Premier Soccer League (PSL) when they signed him from Zimbabwean football club Chicken Inn in 2013.

However, last week, Ndoro denied reports that he was struggling financially. He also insisted that he was only in Zimbabwe briefly to visit his mother and that he would soon be returning to his family in South Africa.

“I don’t want to speak to the media. I’m in Bulawayo. I came back from South Africa to visit my mother. I’m actually in Bulawayo, and I will be going back to South Africa soon. My family is in South Africa, and why should I stay long in Zimbabwe,” claimed Ndoro.

On the other hand, the source insisted that Ndoro is struggling and had been given a cash bailout by his close football associates. The good Samaritans who came to Ndoro’s rescue include Aston Villa midfielder Marvellous Nakamba and Supersport midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi.

“Just last week, when the Warriors were in camp, several players that include Marvelous Nakamba and Kudakwashe Mahachi pampered Ndoro with cash. The players openly expressed their concern about Ndoro’s plight hence the gesture of giving him cash.”

By A Correspondent- Communities have called for improved security at waiting mothers’ shelters following reports of the rap_ing of a teenager at Manama Mission Hospital and other women that were robbed at Matobo District Hospital waiting mothers’ shelter in Matabeleland South Province.

A nine months preg_nant teenager was rap_ed by an unknown suspect at Manama Mission Hospital waiting mothers’ shelter in June.

The culprit was armed with a knife and gained access into the shelter through an unlocked door at night. The expectant mothers fled the scene, but the suspect caught up with the teenager, whom he dragged to a bushy area where he assaulted and rap_ed her several times overnight.

The teenager sustained a broken arm during the attack.

At Matobo District Hospital, a suspect broke into the waiting mothers’ shelter and tried to rap_e one woman before robbing several women of their belongings.

There have also been reports of rap_e and robberies at waiting mothers’ shelters and maternity wards in the past.

A Chronicle news crew visited Manama Mission Hospital and spoke to some expectant mothers, who expressed concern at the absence of security at the shelter.

Ms Thandolwenkosi Ndlovu from Magaya Village said the rap_e incident has left her unsettled at the shelter.

“While I’m here at the waiting mothers’ shelter, I’m afraid that the culprit might strike again and attack us. I heard that someone invaded the shelter, chased the women who were there and went on to rap_e one of them. Maybe if the culprit had been arrested it could have been better, but the incident has shown that we are at risk as expectant mothers,” she said.

Ms Lydia Ncube said although there were now security guards at the shelter, they were not efficient.

“There are some security people who guard the shelter, but I don’t have faith in them because sometimes they arrive way after 10PM, which means that before that we will be exposed. They won’t be around during some nights as well. We once looked for the security guard when one of the ladies went into labour, but we couldn’t locate any,” Ms Ncube said.

Ms Tibelo Ngulube of Magaya Village said the rap_e incident was concerning to her and felt the safety of all female patients at the hospital was at stake, as the culprit could strike at any time due to lax security.

Ms Ngulube said as long as the culprit was still on the loose, the security of all women at the shelter and in the community remains highly compromised.

Makwati Village head Ms Adrina Moyo said her young sister is one of the women that managed to evade the rap_e attack.

“My young sister was at the waiting mothers’ shelter when the incident occurred. She said the rap_ist pushed open the door while they were sleeping and brandished a knife and threatened to stab them and they all fled from the room. He pursued them and from there my sister doesn’t know what happened. When they went back to the shelter, they noticed that one person was missing. Something needs to be done to ensure the safety of women because as it is, some people are afraid to sleep at the shelter,” she said.

Andrew Moyo, a neighbourhood watch committee member, said the suspected rap_ist is from a neighbouring ward and they had tried to track him down in vain.

Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director, Dr Rudo Chikodzore, recently told a meeting that each district had been tasked to identify security gaps in each health facilities and propose how best they can be addressed.

“Some facilities need a perimeter fence to secure the waiting mothers’ shelter, some need locks and other security features. We have asked the District Medical Officers to meet with their teams and identify security gaps and suggest how they can be addressed,” she said.

During a recent visit to Manama Mission Hospital, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro said there was a need for health facilities to improve their security as they were putting the lives of patients at risk.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police has announced that it has arrested 1, 2 million people for violating Covid-19 regulations since the start of the lockdown in March last year.

In their twitter page, police said 2 934 people were arrested on October 31 for breaching Covid-19 regulations.

“The ZRP reminds members of the public that Covid-19 safety regulations are still in force. As at 31 October a total of 1 225 225 people were arrested for various offences related to Covid-19 since 30 March 2020. On 31 October, 2934 people were arrested for breaching Covid-19 regulations,” said the police.

The country is currently under level 2 of the lockdown.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on September 7 relaxed the lockdown from Level 4 to Level 2.
Under the current regulations intercity travelling is now permitted under strict Covid-19 regulations. Public gatherings are permitted with maximum of 100 people. Workplaces have been decongested to 50 percent of the workforce.
Bottle stores are to sell take aways until 4PM. Beer outlets and nightclubs will remain closed during Level 2 lockdown.

Business time is now from 8AM to 7PM while curfew is now from 10PM to 5AM.

By A Correspondent-The South African Cabinet will soon announce a decision on the renewal of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) for nearly 180 000 Zimbabweans based in the neighbouring country.
Zimbabweans have benefitted from special permits since 2010 when the Dispensation of Zimbabweans Project (DZP) was introduced.
DZP was aimed at regularising Zimbabweans residing in the neighbouring country to reduce pressure on the asylum management system.
The permits expired in 2014 before South Africa introduced the Zimbabwe Special Permit (ZSP) which lapsed at the end of 2017.

It was followed by the ZEP, which will expire on December 31.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa David Hamadziripi said Government has been engaged in high-level meetings with South Africa over the permit issue.
“The matter of the ZEP is part of the agenda of the discussions held between Zimbabwe and South Africa in the context of the Bi-National Commission (BNC). Concerning the extension of the permits, the Embassy has had discussions with the relevant authorities in South Africa since the first quarter of the year,” said Ambassador Hamadziripi.
“In May 2021, there was further discussion of the issue when the two countries’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs met in Cape Town. In all these interactions, the government of South Africa informed us that the decision on the renewal of the permits would be taken by their Cabinet and that processes towards that end were in motion.”
Zimbabwe Community in South Africa chairperson Mr Ngqabutho Mabhena said most Zimbabweans were anxious as the year is coming to an end.

“We are waiting for the South African government to make an announcement. We were informed that a decision will be made in November so we are waiting. We do not know what is going to happen, but, of course, people are worried about what is likely to be announced by the Minister of Home Affairs when he decides to make an announcement,” said Mr Mabhena.
He said financial institutions and some employers have started demanding that permit holders renew their permits.
“We have been engaging with both the Zimbabwean and South African governments and made submissions that holders of the ZEP should be granted permanent residence status because they have been resident here for more than 10 years and continue to contribute to the South African economy,” said Mr Mabhena.
“The second option is that if they are not granted permanent residence, they should be granted a long-term visa which is about 10 years or a normal renewal be an option.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Health officials in Bulawayo have confirmed a flu outbreak in the city that has resulted in hundreds of children seeking medication, a development which experts say is a result of fluctuating weather conditions.

Bulawayo director of Health Services Dr Edwin Sibanda told Chronicle in an interview that the flu is a common viral infection that affects the nose, throat and airways.

The flu usually resolves within seven to 10 days but has COVID-19 like symptoms which put a lot of parents and guardians in panic mode.

Some children also vomit and lose appetite and parents are saying the symptoms cannot be cleared by over-the-counter medication.

Sibanda confirmed that the flu has affected a large number of children in Zimbabwe’s second-largest city but could not give the exact number of those who have been affected. He said:

There is an outbreak of the upper respiratory tract infection and it is affecting many children in Bulawayo but I do not have the exact numbers now. There were suspicious that the flu was in fact COVID-19.

Residents should take their children to health centres though under normal circumstances flu goes away without treatment. This flu due to weather changes has been spreading easily.

With the changes in weather, it is expected that these symptoms will increase. The prevention measures are the same as for COVID-19, it’s a matter of strengthening what we are doing for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory said influenza testing had been halted in Zimbabwe due to shortages of test kits. Chronicle

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched an operation targeting what they are calling errant and reckless motorists breaking road rules during peak hours.

ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said some of the these people will be driving parastatal and Government vehicles. He said:

There is an ongoing operation that has nabbed a number of motorists. They are being sent to court without an option of paying admission of guilt fines at police stations.
… We are disturbed by that behaviour and it’s now common in the Southerton area, Chiremba Road, Samora Machel Avenue, Arcturus Road and Seke Road in Harare.
…. We have arrested a number of motorists who drive against traffic in Government vehicles.
Some will be driving vehicles belonging to parastatals and we have since called some parastatals imploring them to reign in on their drivers.
That sets a bad example and we cannot have a Government vehicle being used to break the law.

By A Correspondent -Zanu PF supporters based in Scotland Sunday welcomed President Emmerson Mnangagwa with expensive whiskeys.

Videos posted online showed Zanu PF supporters buying expensive whiskeys from a supermarket, eliciting a tweet from Zimbabwe’s government spokesman Nick Mangwana, who wrote: “Tonight there is a massive welcome party held in honour of HE President Mnangagwa.

“Glasgow is the place to be as Zimbabweans from all corners of the UK attend this shindig and welcome their president. The party will sill over to the streets tomorrow.”

One of the men seen pushing a trolley laden with alcohol from a COSCO supermarket has been identified as Kudzai Makuku, a construction manager with Network Rail, a company that manages most of Britain’s rail network.

“We are ready, viva Zanu PF! Welcoming our president ED Mnangagwa in Scotland UK!” Makuku says on the video clip while pushing a trolley full of whiskies, including at least six Glenfiddich 12 bottles worth ‎£40 each. They also carried other whiskies, cases of beers and cognacs.

By A Correspondent- Police at the weekend blocked a group of South African DJs, Major League, from performing in Harare.

Major League was also dumped at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport by their plane after forcing it to break Zimbabwe’s aviation and COVID-19 protocols.

The group’s had a show in Bulawayo on Sunday after its gig in Harare on Saturday was stopped by the police.

Business Times reported eyewitnesses and aviation sources at the Joshua Nkomo Airport as saying the Major League entourage had insisted on flying back to Harare at 10 PM after a gig in Bulawayo.

However, the pilot advised the crew of Zimbabwe’s strict aviation and COVID-19 lockdown regulations and prevailing weather conditions as reasons not to proceed with the flight.

Socialite Tazvi Mhaka who is part of the Major League entourage reportedly tried to convince the charter pilot to fly against the stipulated aviation regulations but to no avail. Said a source:

It was a scene at the airport in Bulawayo and the Major League entourage which also included Mike Chimombe who is the President of Affirmative Action Group was looking at flying back to Harare during the night against the country’s COVID-19 regulations as well as the prevailing unpredictable weather.

So the pilot refused to fly at that time which forced the entourage to try and entice the pilot with some money which was rejected in full view of airport staff and some passengers.

The pilot and the aviation firm, who could not be named for professional reasons, reportedly terminated the flight.

The pilot flew back to Robert Mugabe International Airport leaving the entourage stranded at the Joshua Nkomo Airport.

When contacted for comment by Business Times, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airports manager Passmore Dhewa said he was not at the airport since it was a Sunday. He said:

Who is the pilot and I was not at the airport it’s a Sunday but I heard that the pilot flew back to Harare.

Chimombe did not respond to messages sent to him through text and WhatsApp, Business Times reported.

By A Correspondent- A 49-year-old Nyazura man reportedly died from an overdose of sex-enhancing pills at her girlfriend’s house last week.

Shepherd Chiwara of Marowa Village in Nyazura died three hours after spending some time with his girlfriend, Stella Mafarachisi.

It was Mafarachisi who reported the matter to police in the wee hours of the following day and no foul play is suspected in Chiwara’s death.

Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the incident which happened in Maurendi Village last Saturday night.

He said:
We can confirm that Shepherd visited his girlfriend, Stella Mafarachisi and spent time together before they retired to bed around 11 PM.

He woke up around midnight complaining of chest pains. His condition deteriorated and died about an hour and a half later.

Mafarachisi rushed to Nyazura Police Station where she made a report. No injuries were found on the body, and no foul play is suspected.

By A Correspondent- Chief Justice Malaba last week made an appearance at Zanu PF’s annual conference in Bindura.

Below is the statement by Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust:

“We are shocked to note that Chief Justice Luke Malaba is part of the delegation at a ZANU PF conference currently underway in Bindura. His involvement in partisan political activities jeopardizes electoral processes and render the whole Judiciary system biased thereby denting it’s Integrity.

Furthermore, his conduct has bastardized the maxim and principle of separation of powers.

Section 165 sub section 4d of the Constitution prohibits members of the judiciary from attending political meetings.

This is a gross violation of the Constitution by a person who is entrusted as a doyen and custodian of the law. We, therefore, call for his immediate resignation and a quick return to order and sanity in the Judiciary system. ZEAT…. fostering democratic elections!

By A Correspondent- Police at the weekend blocked a group of South African DJs from performing in Harare.

The group, Major League, was also dumped at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport by their plane after forcing it to break Zimbabwe’s aviation and COVID-19 protocols.

The group’s had a show in Bulawayo on Sunday after its gig in Harare on Saturday was stopped by the police.

Business Times reported eyewitnesses and aviation sources at the Joshua Nkomo Airport as saying the Major League entourage had insisted on flying back to Harare at 10 PM after a gig in Bulawayo.

However, the pilot advised the crew of Zimbabwe’s strict aviation and COVID-19 lockdown regulations and prevailing weather conditions as reasons not to proceed with the flight.

Socialite Tazvi Mhaka who is part of the Major League entourage reportedly tried to convince the charter pilot to fly against the stipulated aviation regulations but to no avail. Said a source:

It was a scene at the airport in Bulawayo and the Major League entourage which also included Mike Chimombe who is the President of Affirmative Action Group was looking at flying back to Harare during the night against the country’s COVID-19 regulations as well as the prevailing unpredictable weather.

So the pilot refused to fly at that time which forced the entourage to try and entice the pilot with some money which was rejected in full view of airport staff and some passengers.

The pilot and the aviation firm, who could not be named for professional reasons, reportedly terminated the flight.

The pilot flew back to Robert Mugabe International Airport leaving the entourage stranded at the Joshua Nkomo Airport.

When contacted for comment by Business Times, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airports manager Passmore Dhewa said he was not at the airport since it was a Sunday. He said:

Who is the pilot and I was not at the airport it’s a Sunday but I heard that the pilot flew back to Harare.

Chimombe did not respond to messages sent to him through text and WhatsApp, Business Times reported.

By A Correspondent- South African police have shot dead a 34-year-old Zimbabwean man in the Erasmia area in South Africa.

The deceased, whose identity has not yet been revealed, is reported to have been part of a gang of suspects, aged between 26 and 51 years, who were caught red-handed by the police cutting steel pipes at a plot in Mooiplas.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson (IPID), Grace Langa said the matter was now under investigation. She said:
We are investigating a case of death as a result of police action and our team have already attended the crime scene.
It is alleged that two on-duty police officers reacted to a complaint about some suspects who were cutting steel pipes at the plot in Mooiplas.
Upon arrival, they found the complainant who then pointed out the suspects.

She said the four suspects were apprehended but more suspects, driving an Isuzu pick-up truck, arrived at the scene and were also identified as being part of the crew by the complainant.
Langa said the two policemen stopped the car and ordered all the passengers to disembark and lie on the ground. She added:
They all went down except one suspect who is a 34-year-old Zimbabwean national. He walked towards the back of their bakkie (pick-up truck) and pulled a firearm.
He was spotted by one of the policemen who immediately pulled out his service pistol and shot him (the suspect Zimbabwean national) on the head.

She said while the two police officers were busy checking on the man who had been shot, his accomplices got into the vehicle and fled from the scene.
Paramedics, she added, were contacted and certified the man dead on the scene.

-State media

By A Correspondent -Zanu PF supporters based in Scotland yesterday welcomed President Emmerson Mnangagwa with expensive whiskeys.

Videos posted online showed Zanu PF supporters buying expensive whiskeys from a supermarket, eliciting a tweet from Zimbabwe’s government spokesman Nick Mangwana, who wrote: “Tonight there is a massive welcome party held in honour of HE President Mnangagwa.

“Glasgow is the place to be as Zimbabweans from all corners of the UK attend this shindig and welcome their president. The party will sill over to the streets tomorrow.”

One of the men seen pushing a trolley laden with alcohol from a COSCO supermarket has been identified as Kudzai Makuku, a construction manager with Network Rail, a company that manages most of Britain’s rail network.

“We are ready, viva Zanu PF! Welcoming our president ED Mnangagwa in Scotland UK!” Makuku says on the video clip while pushing a trolley full of whiskies, including at least six Glenfiddich 12 bottles worth ‎£40 each. They also carried other whiskies, cases of beers and cognacs.

By A Correspondent- South African police have shot dead a 34-year-old Zimbabwean man in the Erasmia area in South Africa.

The deceased, whose identity has not yet been revealed, is reported to have been part of a gang of suspects, aged between 26 and 51 years, who were caught red-handed by the police cutting steel pipes at a plot in Mooiplas.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson (IPID), Grace Langa said the matter was now under investigation. She said:
We are investigating a case of death as a result of police action and our team have already attended the crime scene.
It is alleged that two on-duty police officers reacted to a complaint about some suspects who were cutting steel pipes at the plot in Mooiplas.
Upon arrival, they found the complainant who then pointed out the suspects.

She said the four suspects were apprehended but more suspects, driving an Isuzu pick-up truck, arrived at the scene and were also identified as being part of the crew by the complainant.
Langa said the two policemen stopped the car and ordered all the passengers to disembark and lie on the ground. She added:
They all went down except one suspect who is a 34-year-old Zimbabwean national. He walked towards the back of their bakkie (pick-up truck) and pulled a firearm.
He was spotted by one of the policemen who immediately pulled out his service pistol and shot him (the suspect Zimbabwean national) on the head.

She said while the two police officers were busy checking on the man who had been shot, his accomplices got into the vehicle and fled from the scene.
Paramedics, she added, were contacted and certified the man dead on the scene.

-State media

Tinashe Sambiri|Hundreds of Zimbabweans on Monday protested at the presence of Emmerson Mnangagwa in Glasgow.

Mr Mnangagwa is accused of violating human rights and brutalizing hapless citizens…

PICTURE- @edmnangagwa in #Glasgow @COP26 pic.twitter.com/eWCGvP1D6g

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 1, 2021

Live from Glasgow ?

Watch the #COP26 Opening Ceremony live ?#TogetherForOurPlanethttps://t.co/btmQk6qYrd

— COP26 (@COP26) November 1, 2021

By A Correspondent- Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has come out guns blazing accusing journalist Hopewell Chin’ono of being a credit card fraudster who is pushing the West’s agenda in exchange of his freedom against criminal charges.

We publish below the full text by Mliswa:

“@daddyhope I don’t need to be told anything about you. I know you and you know that. We were together in Slough in the UK with Supa and while some of us went for double shifts you never did. Why, because you made money fraudulently through credit card fraud

2/ Your narrative of being a correspondent for BBC is a fallacy because you were there on attachment. You are not a Christiane @camanpour or some such international journalists as you sell yourself to be as justification for the life you have

3/There was never anything special about your being a journalist as to have the kind of life you have. The reason is that you made money through credit card fraud and selling the country out to the West

4/ Resultantly, you have protected yourself against criminal charges by bootlicking the West whilst attacking your own country. Your bitterness with the government is also about how you lost out on the promised ZBC CEO position

5/ We were together in Operation Restore Legacy as you supported the new dispensation. You had been given assurances that you would take over at ZBC and had even struck some deals with foreign channels. However, that did not happen and you have become bitter

6/That has been inspiration for you to get on the payroll of foreign powers so as to hit back at the government. That’s why you are quiet on issues to do with whites whilst you are constantly ranting against the country. It’s your insurance against criminal charges from the West.

7/The issue of payments for legislators is about dignity, integrity and credibility of the office. The office cannot be compromised in its role of oversight. It’s not about the personalities that are occupying it.

8/Your lack of appreciation or acceptance of people occupying offices does not entail that you also lack respect for the office itself.

9/My argument about equipping and capacitation of Legislators has nothing to do with self-enrichment. It’s about the importance of the office, and shielding it from being compromised.

10/Some of us have been empowered through government programs& have no dependence on Parliament salary. In fact it’s the opposition MPs who are seriously compromised by the poor remuneration because for one to be effective as a legislator you have to fork out money

11/We spend more from our pockets than we are paid. We are paid around ZW$70 000 yet at some point in a year I spent over US$200 000, from my pocket, in the constituency because there is insufficient support of the MP’s office.

12/It’s short-sighted and anomalous to attack the office of the legislator just because you don’t like the personnel in it. Your preferred candidates will also find it hard to operate in it as long as it is not respected and capacitated as I’m advocating for

13/You are simply pulling things out of context to create a false proportion because that’s how you get paid. Some of us we do things out of principle and passion and are not on anyone’s payroll

14/When you were arrested I defended you as a matter of principle and not because I was being paid. Iwe unongoda zvevarungu manje nyangwe wakatsvuka hauyite murungu.

You can’t be a person who shoots everything about his country down. In Nigeria, @AlikoDangote has made millions but there is no talk of capturing the state which, at times, is an expression of inferiority complex, seeing a successful black person. Be patriotic

@daddyhope I don’t need to be told anything about you. I know you and you know that. We were together in Slough in the UK with Supa and while some of us went for double shifts you never did. Why, because you made money fraudulently through credit card fraud.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

2/ Your narrative of being a correspondent for BBC is a fallacy because you were there on attachment. You are not a Christiane @camanpour or some such international journalists as you sell yourself to be as justification for the life you have.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

3/There was never anything special about your being a journalist as to have the kind of life you have. The reason is that you made money through credit card fraud and selling the country out to the West.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

4/ Resultantly, you have protected yourself against criminal charges by bootlicking the West whilst attacking your own country. Your bitterness with the government is also about how you lost out on the promised ZBC CEO position.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

5/ We were together in Operation Restore Legacy as you supported the new dispensation. You had been given assurances that you would take over at ZBC and had even struck some deals with foreign channels. However, that did not happen and you have become bitter.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

6/That has been inspiration for you to get on the payroll of foreign powers so as to hit back at the government. That’s why you are quiet on issues to do with whites whilst you are constantly ranting against the country. It’s your insurance against criminal charges from the West.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

7/The issue of payments for legislators is about dignity, integrity and credibility of the office. The office cannot be compromised in its role of oversight. It’s not about the personalities that are occupying it.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

8/Your lack of appreciation or acceptance of people occupying offices does not entail that you also lack respect for the office itself.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

9/My argument about equipping and capacitation of Legislators has nothing to do with self-enrichment. It’s about the importance of the office, and shielding it from being compromised.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

10/Some of us have been empowered through government programs& have no dependence on Parliament salary. In fact it’s the opposition MPs who are seriously compromised by the poor remuneration because for one to be effective as a legislator you have to fork out money.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

11/We spend more from our pockets than we are paid. We are paid around ZW$70 000 yet at some point in a year I spent over US$200 000, from my pocket, in the constituency because there is insufficient support of the MP’s office.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

12/It’s short-sighted and anomalous to attack the office of the legislator just because you don’t like the personnel in it. Your preferred candidates will also find it hard to operate in it as long as it is not respected and capacitated as I’m advocating for.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

13/You are simply pulling things out of context to create a false proportion because that’s how you get paid. Some of us we do things out of principle and passion and are not on anyone’s payroll.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

14/When you were arrested I defended you as a matter of principle and not because I was being paid. Iwe unongoda zvevarungu manje nyangwe wakatsvuka hauyite murungu.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

You can't be a person who shoots everything about his country down. In Nigeria, @AlikoDangote has made millions but there is no talk of capturing the state which, at times, is an expression of inferiority complex, seeing a successful black person. Be patriotic.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

Our Zambian delegation is in Scotland with a clear mandate – to discuss global issues & being fully aware that #Cop26 is an International summit where global leaders meet to discuss 21st century challenges. Its not a rally where party T-shirts are offered to perfect strangers !!

— Joseph Kalimbwe (@joseph_kalimbwe) November 1, 2021

Tottenham have released a statement confirming the dismissal of Nuno as their manager:

‘The Club can today announce that Nuno Espírito Santo and his coaching staff Ian Cathro, Rui Barbosa and Antonio Dias have been relieved of their duties.’Fabio Paratici, Managing Director, Football, said: “I know how much Nuno and his coaching staff wanted to succeed and I regret that we have had to take this decision.’“Nuno is a true gentleman and will always be welcome here. We should like to thank him and his coaching staff and wish them well for the future.”’A further coaching update will follow in due course.’

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a Zanu-PF victory two years ahead of the general elections, telling party supporters at the just-ended annual conference in Bindura that his party will elbow out the opposition from all urban councils.

The opposition MDC Alliance has won in most towns and cities in recent previous elections, with Zanu-PF’s stay in power predicated on its rural strongholds.

However, Mnangagwa told the party faithful that he had already sealed the 2023 victory.

“The mantra musangano kumacell (the party is stronger in cells) will undoubtedly see us predetermine and realise our resounding 2023 harmonised general election victory. The organisational reach of our party must continue to widen, capturing the greater part of our nation. We are, indeed, winning our election before election date,” Mnangagwa said.

He then blasted urban councils led by the opposition, describing them as corrupt and incompetent.

“Residents in urban areas have been abused by corrupt and incompetent opposition elements, and it is time for them to go,” he said.

But MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere dismissed Mnangagwa’s 2023 electoral victory claims, saying tables will turn in favour of opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.

“The opposition party is going to win the 2023 elections, and it is going to do so resoundingly. We are currently carrying out an intensive voter registration campaign in villages, towns and cities to ensure we galvanise six million citizens to vote for change,” she said.

“We are mobilising the citizens to turn out to vote in their millions and defend that vote vigilantly.

“We are building a polling agent defence system to ensure the vote is protected from rigging through a polling station-based mobilisation and monitoring programme.”

Mahere said the opposition was not sitting on its laurels and would run the biggest electoral campaign that the country has never witnessed.

“We will run the biggest electoral campaign that’s never been seen in the region and ultimately win Zimbabwe for change. This is why our new candidate selection procedures will give communities the power to decide which leaders will represent them,” she
said.

The Zanu-PF camp feels that it is gaining traction on the diplomatic front after Mnangagwa was invited to COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, in the United Kingdom (UK).

Mnangagwa, who flew out to Scotland yesterday, told delegates at his party conference that he would likely meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in what he described as a diplomatic victory for his government.

“I travel to Glasgow in the United Kingdom after over two decades have passed without Zimbabwean leadership going to the UK. I have been invited by Boris Johnson and he has indicated he might meet me in Glasgow one-on-one as well as other leaders like Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi), and we will be meeting others on Monday or Tuesday,” he said.

Mnangagwa claimed Zanu-PF had been vindicated by the report released on Thursday by the United Nations special rapporteur Alena Douhan, who said targeted sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union were affecting Zimbabwe.

“We should congratulate ourselves that we have never been wrong and we shall continue always being right,” he said.

“And those who have been found outside the law should reckon and take their position.”-Newsday

By A Correspondent- An elections official in South Africa was reportedly caught committing electoral fraud on Sunday, a few hours before the country was due to hold municipal elections.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal said it had roped in the police to investigate allegations that one of its presiding officers was allegedly caught stuffing marked ballots into a ballot box.

It was not immediately clear which party the officer was trying to aid by committing the alleged offence and whether he has been relieved of his or her crucial role. The Commission said on Sunday:

In Ward 93, Kusakusa Primary School, in the Mbumbulu area in eThekwini Metro Municipality, a presiding officer was allegedly discovered by party agents, stuffing marked ballot papers into a ballot box.

This remains an allegation and SAPS are still investigating. Members of the media will be updated as soon as the full report is received from SAPS.

The first electoral official to be convicted (for five years) for electoral fraud post-1994 was Sindisiwe Ncube of Ulundi.

In the 2009 general elections, Ncube was allegedly caught stuffing marked ballots and the ballots were allegedly in favour of the IFP.-IOL

By A Correspondent- Teachers unions yesterday vowed to take legal action against government for withholding salaries of their members who were not reporting for work because of “incapacitation”.

Some teachers claim they have gone for 10 months without salary after headmasters forwarded their names to the Public Service and Labour ministry for not reporting for duty. The unions told NewsDay that the move was unconstitutional.

Educators Union in Zimbabwe president Tafadzwa Munodawafa said the union had started processes to seek legal recourse.

“We have two such cases as a union and we have forwarded them to our lawyers,” Munodawafa said.

In a statement yesterday, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said:

“(Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul) Mavima must be schooled to respect the law so that should he assume that teachers have absconded from work as he did, he must order the Primary and Secondary Education ministry to summon teachers for hearings rather than use the colonial Master and Servant Act to dock teachers’ salaries under a misplaced ruse of ‘no work, no pay’.

“We, therefore, want to overemphasise the point that the so-called absenteeism must be clearly taken in its proper perspective of incapacitation. We, therefore, urge teachers whose salaries have been docked to contact unions of their choice in order to embark on natural justice in defence of the teaching profession.”

Zhou also warned school heads deliberately frustrating teachers by submitting their names to government to have their salaries docked.

“A considerable number of some school heads are also Nicodemously sending names of teachers to education offices without the courtesy of informing teachers who are surprised to find themselves without pay on payday. The system is also used to settle old scores in schools.”

He urged teachers whose salaries were docked to check the reasons that were cited by their school heads.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said:

“There is Matsine Secondary School in Wedza where teachers’ salaries were docked and Zimta is encouraging other unions to come on board to defend the rights of teachers because it’s what we exist to do.”

Amalgamated rural teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure  said:

“It is true that government has docked salaries of our members who are ordinarily incapacitated and failing to report for duty. It is not because they don’t want to, but it is because they are not capacitated. We don’t want to rely on the courts of law because we know the law has never favoured the working class.”

He said his union would mobilise forces to resist exploitation of teachers through protests targeting examination time.

Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro recently told NewsDay that minister Evelyn Ndlovu promised to improve the conditions of service of teachers.

By A Correspondent- Chiefs’ Council president Fortune Charumbira has claimed that traditional leaders were not bound by the Constitution because the chieftainship institution was in existence before the country’s charter was crafted.

After telling delegates at the Zanu-PF annual conference that chiefs would not leave the ruling party, he told NewsDay yesterday that he was openly violating the Constitution because chiefs could not be bound by any law as their institution was there before laws were made.

“What Constitution? What came first, the Constitution or the chiefs? We came first as chiefs before the Constitution,” he said.

“I exhausted that in my speech and all those criticising me do not know anything,” he added while insisting there was nothing amiss about his declaration of support for Zanu-PF.

On Friday last week, Charumbira told delegates at the Zanu-PF conference in Bindura that the traditional leaders were the owners of the party.

“We come as owners of the party. The reason for the existence of Zanu-PF is all about traditional leadership and it is about injustice,” Chief Charumbira said.

Chapter 15.2 of the Constitution stipulates that traditional leaders are not allowed to bear allegiance to any political party or to participate in partisan politics.

Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana claimed that although chiefs were not allowed to dabble in politics, they had a right to express their views.

“They are saying they associate themselves with the philosophies which underpin Zanu-PF. Every political party can also articulate its philosophies in line with what the traditional leaders want,” he said.

“They are not supposed to interfere in the political space, but they have a right to participate and associate themselves with a political party of their choice. You have to balance between the right to interfere in the political space and express a view which is in line with a particular political part.”-newsday

Eight “prophets” from Vadzidzi VaJeso apostolic sect drowned yesterday in Mazowe River in Rushinga while competing to retrieve a “holy stick” in deep water during a ritual to select a Baptist.

The provincial development coordinator Mr Timothy Maregere confirmed the incident and said the deceased are all male and the bodies have been retrieved.

The group consisted of 10 “prophets” and only two survived.

By A Correspondent- Over half a million young people have left the country for greener pastures in 2020 alone, a recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report has established.

The report, titled Labour Market Diagnostic Analysis (LMDA), states that the number does not consider net migration, which has been negative, with numerous workers leaving the country in search of better work opportunities in neighbouring countries and further afield. The report says:

It is estimated that in 2020, net migration the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants was close to 580 000 people. Although there is no accurate data on the number of the working-age population, leaving the country to work abroad.

The most recent study suggests that 72% of outgoing migrants fall in the 20 to 34 years age group. In addition, 40% were women and 73% completed secondary education.

The majority of emigrants cited a lack of employment opportunities as the major reason for leaving the country. Most worked in the agricultural sector before their departure. South Africa was the leading destination chosen by emigrants, followed by Botswana.

Unfortunately, due to their irregular status, most Zimbabwean emigrants appear to occupy low-quality jobs characterised by the absence of employment contracts and social protection.

The report observes that other things being equal, women and young workers are four times more likely to be inactive than men and adult workers respectively.

Youth who enter the labour market may also face additional barriers to finding a job, partly due to a lack of work experience, difficulties signalling their skills to employers, fewer opportunities to access capital and lower levels of social capital.

More: The NewsHawks

By A Correspondent- Sibangilizwe Michael Nkomo, son of the late national hero and vice president of Zimbabwe Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, has won the Zapu presidential election replacing the late Dumiso Dabengwa, who died in 2019.

Nkomo, who is from Matabeleland South Province, won the presidency in a drama-filled elective congress on Saturday after he garnered 793 votes, against former party Secretary-General Strike Mkandla who only received 22 votes while the youngest candidate, Bernard Magugu managed 52 votes.

The three-day ZAPU elective congress comes after a series of postponements due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Derek Katsenga from Mashonaland East was elected vice president after winning 309 votes, against Isabel Murambiwa with 284 votes and Buster Magwizi with 152 votes.

For the post of National Chairperson, former Treasurer General, Mark Mbayiwa emerged the winner with 431 votes, defeating Magwizi (54 votes), the party’s national organising secretary – Zolani Dlamini (47 votes), Patron Nketha (44 votes) and Richard Chitiyo with (23 votes).

The Secretary-General post was won by Mthulisi Hanana with 590 votes, against Vuyani Hlazo who polled 54 votes.

Former Deputy Secretary for International Relations, Future Msebele grabbed the Treasurer General post with 152 votes against Grace Noko with 90 votes, Bongani Halimane with 79 votes and Khethiwe Silundika with 79 votes as well.

More: CITE

By A Correspondent- Nearly 580 000 Zimbabwean youths left the country for greener pastures in 2020 alone, a recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report has established.

The report, titled Labour Market Diagnostic Analysis (LMDA), states that the number does not consider net migration, which has been negative, with numerous workers leaving the country in search of better work opportunities in neighbouring countries and further afield. The report says:

It is estimated that in 2020, net migration the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants was close to 580 000 people. Although there is no accurate data on the number of the working-age population, leaving the country to work abroad.

The most recent study suggests that 72% of outgoing migrants fall in the 20 to 34 years age group. In addition, 40% were women and 73% completed secondary education.

The majority of emigrants cited a lack of employment opportunities as the major reason for leaving the country. Most worked in the agricultural sector before their departure. South Africa was the leading destination chosen by emigrants, followed by Botswana.

Unfortunately, due to their irregular status, most Zimbabwean emigrants appear to occupy low-quality jobs characterised by the absence of employment contracts and social protection.

The report observes that other things being equal, women and young workers are four times more likely to be inactive than men and adult workers respectively.

Youth who enter the labour market may also face additional barriers to finding a job, partly due to a lack of work experience, difficulties signalling their skills to employers, fewer opportunities to access capital and lower levels of social capital.

More: The NewsHawks

By A Correspondent- A 49-year-old Nyazura man reportedly died from an overdose of sex-enhancing pills at her girlfriend’s house last week.

Shepherd Chiwara of Marowa Village in Nyazura died three hours after spending some time with his girlfriend, Stella Mafarachisi.

It was Mafarachisi who reported the matter to police in the wee hours of the following day and no foul play is suspected in Chiwara’s death.

Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the incident which happened in Maurendi Village last Saturday night.

He said:
We can confirm that Shepherd visited his girlfriend, Stella Mafarachisi and spent time together before they retired to bed around 11 PM.

He woke up around midnight complaining of chest pains. His condition deteriorated and died about an hour and a half later.

Mafarachisi rushed to Nyazura Police Station where she made a report. No injuries were found on the body, and no foul play is suspected.

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa is the nation’s hope for a better future…

In Mashonaland West Province, villagers and local residents rejected Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF and expressed overwhelming support for President Chamisa.

MDC Alliance has pointed out people in rural parts of the country are ready for change.

“Compatriots in deep rural parts of Mashonaland West province are ready for change. Citizens are unshakeable despite the regime’s continued use of violence. President
@nelsonchamisa
is the hope for a better Zimbabwe.”

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba also said:
“Our central objective is to attain political power, govern differently and transform the concrete realities of the suffering masses of Zimbabwe. We here to tell that story, fellow countrymen we press on.”

ECHOES OF CHANGE EVERYWHERE…Settings in the rural areas of Mash West. Happy Sabbath Zimbabwe!! pic.twitter.com/ANH4xK8DZa

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) October 30, 2021

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa is the nation’s hope for a better future…

In Mashonaland West Province, villagers and local residents rejected Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF and expressed overwhelming support for President Chamisa.

MDC Alliance has pointed out people in rural parts of the country are ready for change.

“Compatriots in deep rural parts of Mashonaland West province are ready for change. Citizens are unshakeable despite the regime’s continued use of violence. President
@nelsonchamisa
is the hope for a better Zimbabwe.”

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba also said:
“Our central objective is to attain political power, govern differently and transform the concrete realities of the suffering masses of Zimbabwe. We here to tell that story, fellow countrymen we press on.”

ECHOES OF CHANGE EVERYWHERE…Settings in the rural areas of Mash West. Happy Sabbath Zimbabwe!! pic.twitter.com/ANH4xK8DZa

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) October 30, 2021

How old is this officer who is at ZRP Kadoma @PoliceZimbabwe ? pic.twitter.com/mmlfcD1Eug

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 31, 2021

By A Correspondent- The situation on the Zimbabwean side of the Beitbridge Border Post is back to normal after days of chaos caused by upgrades at the country’s busiest port of entry.

Truck drivers were spending up to 10 days in snaking queues at the border after Zimbabwe introduced new toll fees pegged in foreign currency.

Traffic was also slowed down by construction works amid fears the chaos would see transporters opting for more convenient routes, prejudicing Beitbridge.

ZimBorders spokesman François Diedrechsen said insignificant short-term movement in commercial from Beitbridge to Kazungula and other routes was observed during the crisis.

“While there may be some short-term movement from one border crossing to another, we believe our improved processes and crossing speed resulted in time and money savings to our clients,” Diedrechsen said in an interview.

“We have received comments from various transporter groups where they made comparisons pointing out that some had sent trucks in both directions at the same time.

“Those going through Beitbridge had fast turnaround time than the alternative routes.”

ZimBorders Consortium is undertaking the US$300 million Beitbridge’s modernisation project that will see new terminal buildings being constructed.

A fortnight ago, South Africa expressed frustration at the congestion and delays at the Beitbridge Border post with that country’s Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi piling blame on Zimbabwean authorities.

Truckers were spending several days at the border owing to attendant delays resulting from recently introduced processing procedures by Zimbabwean authorities, Motsoaledi said.

He described the new measures by Zimbabwean authorities such as demanding United States dollar toll fees in cash without engaging their South African counterparts as a mockery to African Union agreements on free trade.

The toll fees are pegged at US$200 and $340 for small trucks and abnormal trucks respectively.-standard

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has threatened to descend heavily on party members engaged in violence as Zanu-PF continues to burn amid reports that the party’s restructuring exercise has divided membership.

The restructuring exercise has led to violence erupting with elections for new district structures failing to take off due to infighting.

Addressing a Zanu-PF Central Committee meeting ahead of the 19th National People’s Conference in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the restructuring exercise should serve as a springboard for strengthening party structures.

“I want to reiterate that we are a united, disciplined and peaceful party. Violence, political chicanery and divisive elements have no place in our colossal party.

“Under the Second Republic, we will scale up programmes that enhance dialogue, social cohesion and national unity. We are indeed diverse but one people,” he said.

Battles to control Zanu-PF structures have been raging across Zimbabwe with the ruling party leadership struggling to complete the formation of district structures ahead of the conference.

Several district elections failed to take off while violence has erupted in some provinces in the weeks ahead of the ruling party’s first-ever hybrid conference in the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The party itself has not been spared from the pandemic, which has claimed lives of its leaders including Cabinet ministers. The annual gathering will also be held at 10 different venues across Zimbabwe.

Politburo members will be at the main venue in Bindura with other members following proceedings virtually, between October 25 and 31, with all delegates expected to produce Covid-19 vaccination cards.

However, it is the raging battles that have engulfed Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF amid reports that besides the scuffles reported in provinces, the fissures go straight up to the Presidium.

Mnangagwa acknowledged the chaotic situation in the revolutionary party threatening to descend heavily on unruly members violating the constitution.

The party has recorded turmoil in the host province, Mashonaland Central. Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Manicaland, Harare, Masvingo and the Midlands provinces have also been rocked by the factional fighting.

Party sources told the Zimbabwe Independent early this week that while the house was burning those battling to control the structures have also aligned themselves to, either, Mnangagwa or his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga.

According to sources, battles in Zanu-PF start at the district committee level where leaders fight for control of the districts whose members make up the provincial committee and structures.

Zanu-PF structures start with a cell of 50 members with 10 cells making a branch and this would now have 500 people or members.

“The district will coordinate all these structures. The district will have 40 members from the Main Wing, 40 from the Women’s League and 40 from the Youth League, meaning it has 120 members. The district structure has a direct link to the members in the cells and branches,” the sources revealed.

However, the restructuring exercise has divided the party with President Mnangagwa acknowledging the challenges facing his party.

-TheIndependent

By A Correspondent- Eight prophets have drowned in bid to retrieve a “Holy Stick” in Mazowe River.

The, eight “prophets” from Vadzidzi VaJeso apostolic sect drowned yesterday ( Saturday) in in Rushinga while competing to retrieve a “holy stick” in deep water during a ritual to select a Baptist.

More details follow.

CHIEFS’ Council president Fortune Charumbira yesterday openly defied the national Constitution which forbids traditional leaders from dabbling in partisan party politics after he publicly declared that chiefs were the owners of the ruling Zanu PF party.

Addressing delegates at the party’s annual conference in Bindura, Charumbira, who was once taken to court for urging chiefs to support Zanu PF, said “we come as owners of the party”.

“On behalf of all chiefs and headmen, I want to say, we are together with Zanu PF,” Charmubira said.

“We got invited through a letter and that letter showed who we are. We were invited as delegates, but if you go to the start, we are the owners of Zanu PF.”

Chapter 15.2 of the Constitution forbids traditional leaders from being members of any political party or in any way participate in partisan politics, act in a partisan manner, further the interests of any political party or cause or violate the fundamental rights and freedoms of any person.

“We come as owners of the party, the reason for the existence of Zanu PF is all about traditional leadership, and it is about injustice,” Charumbira said.

“This party is ours, which is the truth. War veterans, you fought the war, you are shareholders, but we are the owners, and others are members, which is the truth.”

Traditional leaders have often been accused of forcing their subjects to support Zanu PF during elections to the extent of threatening to take away their land for supporting the opposition, or denying them government-sourced food aid.

A fortnight ago, Zanu PF supporters in Charumbira’s village in Masvingo attacked MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s convoy during the opposition leader’s tour of the province.

Charumbira yesterday pleaded with delegates at the Zanu PF conference to uphold peace, saying the ongoing internecine fights in the ruling party were a sad reminder of the late former President Robert Mugabe’s era of violence and intolerance.

He played down the alleged power struggle between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga, saying the alleged fallout was a creation of ambitious party members angling to land key positions leveraging on their proximity to the two leaders. – NewsDay

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested Maxwell Guvava, a police officer, for telling ZANU PF supporters that “Nyika Yaora” [the country is now rotten].

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) who are representing Guvava said their client was released from custody after paying a ZWL$5 000 bail. Said ZLHR in an update on the matter:

In Zim, authorities step up onslaught against dissent as they arrest detain& charge Maxwell Guvava, a police officer with insulting or undermining authority of President Mnangagwa by telling some ZANU PF party supporters that “nyika yaora” (Zim is a rotten country) & questioning his capability to solve the country’s economic crisis. Guvava is represented by Godfrey Mupanga of @ZLHRLawyers

Our lawyer Dr Godfrey Mupanga got Maxwell Guvava, a police officer, released from custody on ZWL5 000 bail after he was arrested Thursday for allegedly insulting/undermining authority of President Mnangagwa by telling some ZANU PF party supporters that he is incapable of solving

Zimbabwe’s economic crisis. Guvava has been ordered to report at a police station once every week as part of his bail conditions.

Guvava’s arrest comes barely weeks after another police officer was arrested for singing along to Blessing Shumba’s song “Munyu Hauchavava” [The salt is no longer tasty/sour].- Pindula News

By A Correspondent- A self-proclaimed prophetess has been arrested after he allegedly gave a teenage girl muti to terminate her pregnancy causing her to bleed excessively from her private parts.

The 17-year-old pregnant teenage girl from Magombo compound in umguza district approached the self-proclaimed prophetess, Caroline Ndlela (25), who gave her a concoction which she drank.

After taking the concoction, the teenager suffered stomach complications and bled excessively, said a source. The teenager felt intense pain in her stomach and private parts as blood oozed out. She had to frequent the toilet and left blood stains and that sold her out.

A family member reported the matter to the village head of the area, Enita Ngwenya.
Ngwenya confirmed the incident : “I received such a report and the matter is being handled by the police.”

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident and urged such offenders to seek help from health institutions rather than to seek help from bogus prophets or traditional healers.

By A Correspondent- The Zanu-PF juggernaut rolled into the small mining town of Bindura as the party’s politburo and senior government officials arrived in their chauffeur-driven luxury cars to attend the 19th annual conference.

President  Emmerson Mnangagwa and his two lieutenants, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi flew in on two helicopters.

It was the top of the range SUVs and other all-terrain vehicles that caught the eyes of the people of Bindura.

Politburo members, cabinet ministers and other senior party and government officials chose to attend the conference from Harare, hence the influx of the wide variety of vehicles that rolled into the mining town.

However, with proceedings going on at the Bindura University of Science Education, the ordinary people chose to go on with their business as usual, indicating that the sideshow was an unnecessary distraction as they decided to seek the elusive money with poverty levels quite high in the province.

Mashonaland Central remains one of the poorest provinces in Zimbabwe despite being home to large deposits of gold, nickel and chrome, among other minerals.

In interviews around the town, residents said the Zanu-PF conference was for the top officials who were not worried about looking for money while the people were struggling to make ends meet.

“We have to earn a living and the good thing is that they have limited the numbers because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but all the same that is a meeting for the rich and famous so we would rather be working as usual,” a vendor Anesu Chanetsa said.

A foreign currency dealer at one leading retail shop expressed ignorance of the proceedings at the annual conference, adding that the roadshow had nothing to do with the ordinary people.

“We do not gain anything from that meeting and all the same these chefs are not even staying here and have chosen to drive themselves in their luxury cars from Harare,” he said.

Cecilia Kudzwayi, an informal trader, said the levels of poverty in the province was very high, calling on the leaders, both in government and the ruling party to consider the plight of the ordinary folks.

“People are struggling even to afford a single decent meal on a day and our leaders should meet the people to understand their plight before they hold these conferences while enjoying themselves,” she said.

Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga highlighted the challenges faced by people in the province.

The province does not have even a provincial hospital.

Two of the districts in Mashonaland Central, Mbire and Muzarabani, do not have government hospitals, according to Mavhunga.

Provincial chairman, Kazembe Kazembe also highlighted challenges associated with unequal distribution of resources, saying there were fights among youths on the various mines in the province.-standard

By A Correspondent- Precabe farm in Sherwood, Kwekwe was struck by fire which emerged from lightning   resulting in 13 hectares of wheat burnt to ashes, yesterday.

Issabelo Jamupamanda (45) who was at the farm witnessed the incident. He said:

“I was doing my routine duties when it started raining. There was a strong wind and lightning struck electricity lines before the fire started.”

Jamupamanda mobilised a team to put off the fire. They however failed to contain it.

The matter was reported under RRB 4903658.

By A Correspondent- Cabinet this week announced that the number of new Covid-19 infections among learners in schools continues to decrease.

The travel of boarders during the term exeat, as well as general non-compliance with standard operating procedures for the prevention and management of Covid-19 and other influenza-like illnesses, has contributed to outbreaks in schools.

“It has been observed that some private schools are not fully observing the provisions of the Education Act as evidenced by the continued practice of allowing parents to withdraw boarders from school for exeat weekend or for half-term school breaks during the pandemic, and that enforcement of the Public Health Act on such unsanctioned movement of learners during the pandemic will be evoked and strengthened,” the post-cabinet briefing reads.

As at 25 October 2021, the country’s cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 132 688 with 127 433 recoveries and 4673 deaths.

The recovery rate was 96% with 582 active cases reported. A total of 303 cases were reported as compared to the 572 the previous week, showing a 47% decrease in cases.

“This is an indication that the national response efforts continue to bear positive results in containing the pandemic,” the briefing reads.

Regarding the national vaccination programme, as at 22 October 2021, a total of 3 275 033 first doses had been administered, while 2 545 717 people had received their second dose.

“Cabinet also noted the need to ramp up vaccination to attain the national herd immunity by year-end as targeted.

“To this end, a programme of activities and schedule is being compiled in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

“The government urges all citizens and urges all citizens who are yet to be inoculated to present themselves for vaccination,” the briefing reads.

Previously, schools in the Midlands battled Covid-19 infections after an outbreak in Mberengwa district, which sent students and parents into panic mode.

The government intervened and carried out Covid-19 tests at the affected schools, including Masase, Mnene, Chegato and Musume, before isolating pupils who tested positive.

-Independent