By A Correspondent- The public has expressed concern over the lighter sentence which was passed by a Harare magistrate on a local high school mathematics teacher who was filmed brutally assaulting a Lower Sixth student.
Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga yesterday ordered Talent Chingwaru (39), a teacher at Harare Einstein Tuition Centre, to perform 630 hours of unpaid work at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals starting today.
Chingwaru was initially jailed for 36 months, but 18 months were set aside for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining months were commuted to 630 hours of community service. Chingwaru was convicted on his own plea of guilt and immediately appealed for a lighter sentence from the court, saying he was emotionally stressed when he committed the offence. Shambadzeni Fungura, appearing for the State, had called for a custodial sentence that deters would-be offender.
People wanted the abusive teacher to be given a custodial sentence. -Herald
By A Correspondent-Female urban groove music pioneer, Betty Makaya, has resurfaced.
The Kurwizi hitmaker made announced her come back on her Facebook page Monday.
“I can’t wait to see you guys this 30th of October @recharge_braai_lounge alongside @djtira & my brother @noxguni,” she posted.
Betty, who has been silent for a while, is now based in South Africa. She is most known for her track Usipo, and a 2000 collaboration called Kurwizi which she did with late Urban Grooves singer, Jamal Mataure. Both songs were produced by Mutare based Tonderai Music Corporation (TMC).
By A Correspondent- One of the pioneer leaders of the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) of Southern and Central Africa, Elizabeth Sibanda has died, aged 79.
Sibanda succumbed to diabetes at a private clinic in Bulawayo on Thursday last week and will be buried on Wednesday at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo.
Reverend Morgan Sengwayo founded the AFM of Southern and Central Africa in 1955.
Sibanda’s daughter, Ordinance M’ckarm, described her late mother as a visionary church leader. She said:
She was a dedicated church elder and leader who played a crucial role both in church and in our family.
My mother was a pillar of strength, a humble person full compassionate and a defender of the faith, who showed selfless dedication to the old-time religion.
She was a visionary church leader who had a spiritual calling to assist vulnerable groups.
She also advocated for the inclusion of youths and women and in church decision making processes.
Sibanda together with her husband, Reverend Richard Sibanda were one of the pioneers who worked with Rev Sengwayo during the church’s formative years.
She was actively involved in the missionary trips dating back to the mid-1950s, which saw the church spreading its wings to the SADC region.
By A Correspondent- One of the pioneer leaders of the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) of Southern and Central Africa, Elizabeth Sibanda has died, aged 79.
Sibanda succumbed to diabetes at a private clinic in Bulawayo on Thursday last week and will be buried on Wednesday at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo.
Reverend Morgan Sengwayo founded the AFM of Southern and Central Africa in 1955, and MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is one of the pastors in the church.
Sibanda’s daughter, Ordinance M’ckarm, described her late mother as a visionary church leader. She said:
She was a dedicated church elder and leader who played a crucial role both in church and in our family.
My mother was a pillar of strength, a humble person full compassionate and a defender of the faith, who showed selfless dedication to the old-time religion.
She was a visionary church leader who had a spiritual calling to assist vulnerable groups.
She also advocated for the inclusion of youths and women and in church decision making processes.
Sibanda together with her husband, Reverend Richard Sibanda were one of the pioneers who worked with Rev Sengwayo during the church’s formative years.
She was actively involved in the missionary trips dating back to the mid-1950s, which saw the church spreading its wings to the SADC region.
POLICE in Chiweshe have launched a manhunt for three male villagers who allegedly bashed a suspected goat thief to death on Saturday.
Denmore Taruvinga, Henry Chaparadza and Aluwis Chigure are said to be on the run in connection with a murder case after they allegedly bashed Jokonia Makumbe to death, accusing him of stealing a goat.
Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the case.
“I can confirm a murder case in Chiweshe where three male adults assaulted the now-deceased, killing him on the spot,” Mundembe said.
“We are appealing for information which can lead to the arrest of the suspects.”
It is alleged that the trio teamed up after receiving a tip-off that Makumbe had stolen their goat.
They dragged him from a certain homestead where he was drinking to his home while beating him up.
Upon arrival, they searched his homestead and could not find any goat meat.
They took him away from his house and fatally assaulted him.
The body of the deceased was found by his brother Paradzai Magwede, who filed a police report after being advised by neighbours that he was killed by the trio.
Surprisingly, the goat was found in a bush hanging on a tree.
Police warned members of the public not to take the law into their own hands by meting instant justice.- NewsDay
State Media – Emmerson Mnangagwa has held a secret meeting with the visiting UN rapporteur on the illegality of sanctions. This is revealed in the below report which says he yesterday met the special rapporteur, Ms Alena Douhan, who is in the country to assess the impact of unilateral coercive measures imposed on the country by the United States (US) and its allies.
The full state media report reads:
She is on a 10-day fact-finding mission whose outcome is expected to give the world a clear picture of the debilitating effects of the illegal sanctions.
The high-profile visit by Ms Douhan, follows the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution 34/13 of 2017, which stresses that unilateral coercive measures and legislation were contrary to international law, international humanitarian law, the charter and norms and principles governing peaceful relations among states.
The resolution highlights the fact that these sanctions in the long-term result in social problems and raise humanitarian concerns in the states targeted.
Over the past two decades, Zimbabwe has been groaning under the weight of illegal economic sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union (EU) bloc as punishment for the land reform programme meant to address colonial land imbalances.
During her visit, Ms Douhan will engage Government ministries, opposition voices, civil society organisations, and the broader Zimbabwean community to gauge how the baneful sanctions have constricted Zimbabwe’s development and how they infringe on the enjoyment of human rights.
After her closed-door meeting with the President at State House, the UN special rapporteur, who will only produce a report at the end of her 10-day visit, had a meeting with Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
“We met the special rapporteur as the Ministry of Justice to give them an overview of the effects of sanctions. But we cannot at the moment give details of our deliberations with them as you are aware they are on a fact-finding mission to establish the extent of the effects of sanctions on the ordinary people.
“As a country, we are on a drive to ensure that the sanctions are removed and we presented to them what we have done in terms of our legislation and other measures to ensure that the effect of the sanctions is lessened.
“We cannot give you details because we want the process that the rapporteur is doing to take place first,” said Minister Ziyambi.
He said Zimbabwe remained steadfast in its call for the unconditional removal of the baneful sanctions which have cost the country billions.
“Our document that we are going to give them will clearly indicate the effects of sanctions on our society and that is what we want them to appreciate and understand and be able to capture so that we continue with our drive to ensure the sanctions are removed,” he said.
“If she requests to meet anyone, I think that can be facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said Minister Ziyambi.
Since the illegal sanctions were imposed in 2001, Zimbabwe has lost an estimated US$42 billion, losing an estimated US$4,5 billion in donor support annually for more than two decades.
The country lost US$2 billion in IMF, World Bank, and African Development Bank (AfDB) loans which could have helped in developing infrastructure, as well as losing commercial loans amounting to US$18 billion which could be extended to the private sector and other companies.
Zimbabwe experienced a US$21 billion reduction in GDP over the past two decades.
SADC member-states have since declared October 25 as Anti-Sanctions Day as the region exerts pressure on the US and its allies to remove the illegal sanctions that were choking Zimbabwe’s development.
According to her itinerary, the special rapporteur will also have private meetings with UN agencies present in Zimbabwe, as well as international organisations, regional organisations, international financial institutions, the national human rights institution, and representatives of the diplomatic community present in Harare.
She will also meet non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the business community, civil society organisations, and opposition, in particular those whose activities may be affected by unilateral coercive measures, as well as academics with specific expertise in the field.
The private meetings will be organised by the special rapporteur’s office.
By A Correspondent-The relationship between musician Jah Prayzah and Zanu PF has reportedly become sour after the ruling party allegedly decided to shut out the musician from its events, Standard Style can reveal.
Jah Prayzah was once a darling of the so called second republic and had his album Kutonga Kwaro used as the soundtrack to the military coup, which ousted the late former president Robert Mugabe, who was replaced by his former deputy Emerson Mnangagwa.
The relationship between the ruling party and Jah Prayzah is said to have been fading, having reached a boiling point when the lanky chanter headlined a lavish birthday party in Cape Town organised by Mugabe’s son-in-law, Adam Molai.
The event was attended by exiled politicians linked to G-40, including Saviour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwao, among other former Mugabe loyalists.
Upon arrival from the Cape Town gig, Jah Prayzah and Killer T were detained at the Robert Mugabe International Airport.
Security agents at the airport accused the two artistes and their band members of possessing fake Covid-19 certificates, despite their pleas that the documents were legitimate.
A source within the ruling party told Standard Style last week that the Kutonga Kwaro hit maker will not be featuring at events linked to the government or Zanu PF.
“A resolution was made after Jah Prayzah’s actions and his loyalty became questionable,” said the source.
Tinashe Sambiri|The freedom train led by President Nelson Chamisa is unstoppable, MDC Alliance Namibia has said.
On Sunday MDC Alliance Namibia members met in Walvis Bay to discuss recruitment and mobilization strategies.
President Chamisa is holding key meetings with stakeholders across the country.
See MDC Alliance Namibia statement:
Mdc Alliance Namibia District successfully converged in Walvis Bay today( Sunday) as part of the #Citizens Convergence for Change.
The whole district met to recruit and radicalise more social democrats so that they can join the freedom train led by President Advocate Nelson Chamisa. At the Bay social democrats concur kuty #NgaapindeHakeMukomana.
Thank you Namibia for tirelessly fighting for the change that delivers.
CAPS United coach Darlington Dodo believes his team should have been awarded one or two penalties in their 1-1 draw in the Harare Derby on Sunday.
The Green Machine needed a victory against Dynamos to keep their chances of progressing to the quarterfinal round of the Chibuku Super Cup but the result dumped them out of the competition.
Speaking to the press after the match, Dodo said: “I still feel we have one or two penalty appeals which probably could have changed the complexion of the game.
“Unfortunately, some decisions are not bound to come your way because you are not in control of the situation.”
The gaffer also explained how internal squabbles affected their preparations for the Derby as players refused to train in protest over salaries.
He added: “It’s really unfortunate because if you look at how these boys responded to the few days that we trained for this match, we dominated Dynamos in most parts of the game.
“The pressure is always there, but we sat down with the boys and agreed on what we wanted to do. We wanted to turn things around because, after whatever happened during the course of the week, we regrouped.”- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
POLICE in Chiweshe have launched a manhunt for three male villagers who allegedly bashed a suspected goat thief to death on Saturday.
Denmore Taruvinga, Henry Chaparadza and Aluwis Chigure are said to be on the run in connection with a murder case after they allegedly bashed Jokonia Makumbe to death, accusing him of stealing a goat.
Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the case.
“I can confirm a murder case in Chiweshe where three male adults assaulted the now-deceased, killing him on the spot,” Mundembe said.
“We are appealing for information which can lead to the arrest of the suspects.”
It is alleged that the trio teamed up after receiving a tip-off that Makumbe had stolen their goat.
They dragged him from a certain homestead where he was drinking to his home while beating him up.
Upon arrival, they searched his homestead and could not find any goat meat.
They took him away from his house and fatally assaulted him.
The body of the deceased was found by his brother Paradzai Magwede, who filed a police report after being advised by neighbours that he was killed by the trio.
Surprisingly, the goat was found in a bush hanging on a tree.
Police warned members of the public not to take the law into their own hands by meting instant justice.- NewsDay
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed the notion that Zanu PF has a strong support base in rural areas.
President Chamisa says he is now practically staying in the rural areas as the vibrant leader seeks to identify the needs and challenges of villagers across the country.
President Chamisa, quoted by NewsDay said: “I now stay in rural areas, I only visit Harare I will be in another area this week because the challenges are in the rural areas. We have problems with water, infrastructure and a whole lot of issues, and that’s why at one point, we had a whole ministry dedicated to that. It’s only that they did not understand its importance.
For one to understand rural problems, you have to stay with them (rural people), and I personally grew up in the village and that is where I am staying and am only visiting Harare so that I understand more of what needs to be done.”
He added: “Violence is an instrument of the weak and losing. Nobody deploys violence in their strongholds, never. It’s a lie that Zanu PF has a rural stronghold, I have seen it.
The relic (of Zanu PF) is terror, weaponisation of food aid and Zanu PF support programmes. That is their only life support. They have no organic connection with the masses, vakapiwa gupuro (they were divorced by the masses).”
Fifteen of the 16 Harare residents arrested on Saturday for engaging in a sex orgy at a private house in Kuwadzana 2 were yesterday released on free bail and remanded to today.
Magistrate Barbara Mateko, who presided over the matter, however, ordered the property owner, Reyn Mabva, to pay $3 000 bail.
They were charged with soliciting clients for the purpose of prostitution, while Mabva was also charged with turning his house into a brothel.
The group comprised of six ladies, namely Thokozani Tshuma, (24), Shylet Simba, Lucia Nyakutsikwa (36), Loveness Zindi (34), Sithatisiwe Kufa (21) and Moleen Mashingaidze (age not given).
Their male partners were identified as Luis Zvanhasi (24), Daniel Divala (23), Alexio Chibanda (41), Munashe Masawi (25), Praisemore Makuni (39), Samuel Makore (37), Paul Nhodza (35), Mabva (35), Mark Tatirenyika (32) and Edward Kanengoni (29).
The party was advertised from October 14, 2021 on a WhatsApp group, with each male member asked to pay $200 for acquisition of condoms and toiletries in addition to US$20 to get an opportunity to be intimate with all the ladies in attendance.
The State alleges that the “Sodom and Gomorah party” allegedly organised by Mashingaidze, started at 1030pm before police bust it at around midnight, leading to the suspects’ arrest.
During the raid, police allegedly recovered a plastic bag full of condoms and US$85 believed to have been paid by the party goers.-Newsday
Police in Bulawayo have been accused of shooting a 16-year-old girl and refusing to assist the family take her to hospital.
The alleged incident happened on October 4 in Mzilikazi high-density suburb.
Ayanda Tshuma, a Form 3 pupil at Sobukhazi High School, was admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital after she was allegedly shot on the cheek as law enforcement agents discharged a firearm to stop a street fight at G-Square.
She was just a bystander. The bullet went through one cheek and exited on the other.
The family claims that the police had not assisted her to get medication.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday told Southern Eye that they were yet to find out what exactly transpired on the day in question.
“We received the report about the case of a member of the ZRP, who allegedly shot a girl child in Mzilikazi.
“The case is still under investigation, and so we don’t have much information to disclose,” Nyathi said.
The juvenile said she was now living in fear after police officers threatened her.
“On Friday October 15, police came to our home to take statements. They threatened me saying I should speak the truth. They also said I was changing statements.
“This surprised me as I was speaking to them for the first time,” she said. -Newsday
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed the notion that Zanu PF has a strong support base in rural areas.
President Chamisa says he is now practically staying in the rural areas as the vibrant leader seeks to identify the needs and challenges of villagers across the country.
President Chamisa, quoted by NewsDay said: “I now stay in rural areas, I only visit Harare I will be in another area this week because the challenges are in the rural areas. We have problems with water, infrastructure and a whole lot of issues, and that’s why at one point, we had a whole ministry dedicated to that. It’s only that they did not understand its importance.
For one to understand rural problems, you have to stay with them (rural people), and I personally grew up in the village and that is where I am staying and am only visiting Harare so that I understand more of what needs to be done.”
He added: “Violence is an instrument of the weak and losing. Nobody deploys violence in their strongholds, never. It’s a lie that Zanu PF has a rural stronghold, I have seen it.
The relic (of Zanu PF) is terror, weaponisation of food aid and Zanu PF support programmes. That is their only life support. They have no organic connection with the masses, vakapiwa gupuro (they were divorced by the masses).”
Tinashe Sambiri|The freedom train led by President Nelson Chamisa is unstoppable, MDC Alliance Namibia has said.
On Sunday MDC Alliance Namibia members met in Walvis Bay to discuss recruitment and mobilization strategies.
President Chamisa is holding key meetings with stakeholders across the country.
See MDC Alliance Namibia statement:
Mdc Alliance Namibia District successfully converged in Walvis Bay today( Sunday) as part of the #Citizens Convergence for Change.
The whole district met to recruit and radicalise more social democrats so that they can join the freedom train led by President Advocate Nelson Chamisa. At the Bay social democrats concur kuty #NgaapindeHakeMukomana.
Thank you Namibia for tirelessly fighting for the change that delivers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of global progress in tackling tuberculosis and for the first time in over a decade, TB deaths have increased, according to the World Health Organization’s 2021 Global TB report.
In 2020, more people died from TB, with far fewer people being diagnosed and treated or provided with TB preventive treatment compared with 2019, and overall spending on essential TB services falling.
The first challenge is disruption in access to TB services and a reduction in resources. In many countries, human, financial and other resources have been reallocated from tackling TB to the COVID-19 response, limiting the availability of essential services.
The second is that people have struggled to seek care in the context of lockdowns.
“This report confirms our fears that the disruption of essential health services due to the pandemic could start to unravel years of progress against tuberculosis,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This is alarming news that must serve as a global wake-up call to the urgent need for investments and innovation to close the gaps in diagnosis, treatment and care for the millions of people affected by this ancient but preventable and treatable disease.”
TB services are among many others disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but the impact on TB has been particularly severe.
For example, approximately, 1.5 million people died from TB in 2020 (including 214 000 among HIV positive people).
The increase in the number of TB deaths occurred mainly in the 30 countries with the highest burden of TB[1]. WHO modelling projections suggest the number of people developing TB and dying from the disease could be much higher in 2021 and 2022.
Challenges with providing and accessing essential TB services have meant that many people with TB were not diagnosed in 2020. The number of people newly diagnosed with TB and those reported to national governments fell from 7.1 million in 2019 to 5.8 million in 2020.
WHO estimates that some 4.1 million people currently suffer from TB but have not been diagnosed with the disease or have not officially reported to national authorities. This figure is up from 2.9 million in 2019.
The countries that contributed most to the global reduction in TB notifications between 2019 and 2020 were India (41%), Indonesia (14%), the Philippines (12%) and China (8%). These and 12 other countries accounted for 93% of the total global drop in notifications.
There was also a reduction in provision of TB preventive treatment. Some 2.8 million people accessed this in 2020, a 21% reduction since 2019. In addition, the number of people treated for drug-resistant TB fell by 15%, from 177 000 in 2019 to 150 000 in 2020, equivalent to only about 1 in 3 of those in need.
Global investment for TB falls Funding in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that account for 98% of reported TB cases remains a challenge. Of the total funding available in 2020, 81% came from domestic sources, with the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa) accounting for 65% of total domestic funding.
The largest bilateral donor is the Government of the United States of America. The biggest international donor is the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The report notes a fall in global spending on TB diagnostic, treatment and prevention services, from US$ 5.8 billion to US$ 5.3 billion, which is less than half of the global target for fully funding the TB response of US$ 13 billion annually by 2022.
Meanwhile, although there is progress in the development of new TB diagnostics, drugs and vaccines, this is constrained by the overall level of R&D investment, which at US$ 0.9 billion in 2019 falls far short of the global target of US$ 2 billion per year.
Global TB targets off track Reversals in progress mean that the global TB targets are off track and appear increasingly out of reach, however there are some successes. Globally, the reduction in the number of TB deaths between 2015 and 2020 was only 9.2% – about one quarter of the way to the 2020 milestone of 35%.
Globally, the number of people falling ill with TB each year (relative to population) dropped 11% from 2015 to 2020, just over half-way to the 2020 milestone of 20%.
However, the WHO European Region exceeded the 2020 milestone, with a reduction of 25%. This was mostly driven by the decline in the Russian Federation, where incidence fell by 6% per year between 2010 to 2020. The WHO African Region came close to reaching the milestone, with a reduction of 19%, which reflects impressive reductions of 4–10% per year in South Africa and several other countries in southern Africa, following a peak in the HIV epidemic and the expansion of TB and HIV prevention and care.
“We have just one year left to reach the historic 2022 TB targets committed by Heads of State at the first UN High Level Meeting on TB. The report provides important information and a strong reminder to countries to urgently fast-track their TB responses and save lives,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme. “This will be crucial as preparations begin for the 2nd UN High Level Meeting on TB mandated for 2023.”
The report calls on countries to put in place urgent measures to restore access to essential TB services. It further calls for a doubling of investments in TB research and innovation as well as concerted action across the health sector and others to address the social, environmental and economic determinants of TB and its consequences.
The new report features data on disease trends and the response to the epidemic from 197 countries and areas, including 182 of the 194 World Health Organization (WHO) Member States.
Chivhu – A man has been arrested and is being charged with murder after he struck and killed his friend with an iron bar following a misunderstanding over a woman that they were both allegedly in love with. The incident happened at a bottle store in Beatrice last Monday.
Watmore Chikweye (22) of Chaitemura Street, Zengeza 1 Chitungwiza hit Daveen Chisepete (24) of 1917 Beatrice location with an iron bar several times on the chest and Chisepete died on the spot. Mash East Police spokesperson Inspector Felix Chazovachii confirmed the case to The Mirror.
Sources said that the two were having a beer drink at a bottle store in Beatrice when they had a misunderstanding over Sibongile Muzanga whom they both were in love with.
They started fighting and Chikweye picked up an iron bar and struck Chisepete several times on the chest. The accused tried to flee from the scene but was apprehended by members of the public who handed him over ZRP Beatrice. Chisepete’s body was taken to Chitungwiza Mortuary for postmortem.- The Mirror
By A Correspondent- Several gold dealers have lost thousands of dollars to armed robbers.
In a statement Monday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police said these separate robbery incidents happened over the weekend.
Below is the ZRP statement on the robbery
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has noted with concern the number of people being targeted by robbers while keeping large sums of cash in their homes, vehicles or business premises. In some cases, the cash will be proceeds from illegal activities such as illegal gold mining. On 16th October 2021 at around 0200 hours ten unidentified suspects pounced at a 70-year-old mine owner’s homestead at Colleen Bawn, Gwanda where they attacked two of his family members before stealing US$40 000-00 cash and a cell phone. On the same date, the suspects went to a nearby homestead where they stole ZAR 310 000-00 cash, two cellphones, as well as car keys of an unregistered Ford Ranger pickup vehicle from a couple, suspected to be involved in illegal gold dealings. The suspects cut the perimeter fence using an unknown object and broke into the house through the kitchen door before they demanded cash from the complainants. On 17th October 2021 at about 0000 hours, a 32-year-old man was robbed of US$5 000-00 after he was intercepted by four suspects who were in a Honda Fit vehicle registration number AEQ 7448 while driving a Mercedes Benz C180 along Leopold Takawira Road in Bulawayo. The suspects produced an unidentified pistol before they dragged the complainant out of the vehicle and took the money which was in a glove compartment in the dashboard. In a related case which occurred on 17th October 2021 at around 0915 hours, in Patchway, Kadoma, two unknown suspects, armed with an unidentified rifle attacked the two shop attendants before getting away with US$3 777-00 and ZWL 8 000-00 which was in an unlocked cashbox. The owner of the shop is an accredited gold buyer. The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects. Anyone with information should contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, Bulawayo Operations on 0292 273547 Harare Operations on (0242) 748836 or Police General Headquarters WhatsApp number 071 2 800 197 or report at any nearest Police Station.
By A Correspondent-Sakunda Holdings boss, Kuda Tagwirei has pledged to renovate the Highlanders’ offices.
Tagwirei pledged on Sunday and said that work to revamp the offices would start immediately.
Tagwirei visited the Bosso offices in Bulawayo on Sunday morning in the company of Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Tino Machakaire and Sakunda Holdings executives and held a meeting with the club’s executive committee and board.
During the meeting, Tagwirei promised to immediately renovate the club’s offices and pledged his continued support for the club. He said:
I would like to appreciate the work that has been done by Ndumiso Gumede and the team to have these offices.
I have looked at the offices and seen how dilapidated they are. We will be making arrangements such that the renovation of the offices starts on Monday.
He said when he recovered from sickness, he was informed about the dire financial situation at the former Premier League champions and decided to help. Said Tagwirei:
I was down with sickness for some months and when l came back, they told me about the situation at Highlanders and we decided to come in and help.
Primarily it was Highlanders that we wanted to assist and later on, Dynamos came into the picture.
I believe Highlanders should continue as a community team. This is the best model for the team and we will assist where we can.
Highlanders’ board chairman Luke Mnkandla thanked Sakunda for its timely support, which came when the club needed it most.
Sakunda recently announced a sponsorship package for both Dynamos and Highlanders, with US$420 000 towards payment of salaries for players and the technical team and each club receiving US$60 000 each year for signing-on fees.
There is US$200 000 for Bosso or DeMbare if they win the league title and a US$150 000 bonus for qualifying for the CAF Champions League.
By A Correspondent- A Gwanda based gold deal has lost US$40 000 to armed robbers.
In a statement Monday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police said the incident happened over the weekend.
Below is the ZRP statement on the robbery
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has noted with concern the number of people being targeted by robbers while keeping large sums of cash in their homes, vehicles or business premises. In some cases, the cash will be proceeds from illegal activities such as illegal gold mining. On 16th October 2021 at around 0200 hours ten unidentified suspects pounced at a 70-year-old mine owner’s homestead at Colleen Bawn, Gwanda where they attacked two of his family members before stealing US$40 000-00 cash and a cell phone. On the same date, the suspects went to a nearby homestead where they stole ZAR 310 000-00 cash, two cellphones, as well as car keys of an unregistered Ford Ranger pickup vehicle from a couple, suspected to be involved in illegal gold dealings. The suspects cut the perimeter fence using an unknown object and broke into the house through the kitchen door before they demanded cash from the complainants. On 17th October 2021 at about 0000 hours, a 32-year-old man was robbed of US$5 000-00 after he was intercepted by four suspects who were in a Honda Fit vehicle registration number AEQ 7448 while driving a Mercedes Benz C180 along Leopold Takawira Road in Bulawayo. The suspects produced an unidentified pistol before they dragged the complainant out of the vehicle and took the money which was in a glove compartment in the dashboard. In a related case which occurred on 17th October 2021 at around 0915 hours, in Patchway, Kadoma, two unknown suspects, armed with an unidentified rifle attacked the two shop attendants before getting away with US$3 777-00 and ZWL 8 000-00 which was in an unlocked cashbox. The owner of the shop is an accredited gold buyer. The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects. Anyone with information should contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, Bulawayo Operations on 0292 273547 Harare Operations on (0242) 748836 or Police General Headquarters WhatsApp number 071 2 800 197 or report at any nearest Police Station.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has resolved to set up more than 900 voter registration units countrywide ahead of the delimitation process set for next year.
This follows an outcry by members of the public who have been failing to access ZEC offices where voter registration is ongoing.
ZEC had also bemoaned the low uptake of voter registration that may affect the delimitation exercise which is expected next year.
Delimitation is the process of dividing the country into constituencies and wards for the purposes of elections of persons to Parliament and councils. The process is carried out in terms of sections 160 and 161 of the Constitution.
Delimitation involves coming up with a minimum threshold of registered voters to make the country’s 210 National Assembly constituencies and is conducted using the number of registered voters in an administrative jurisdiction.
Speaking during a virtual discussion on elections, ZEC spokesperson Commissioner Joyce Kazembe said lack of access was affecting voter registration of women who are a majority of voters.
“We have more than 90 districts in the country and people have been struggling to access identity cards needed before they can register. We have therefore decided to set up more than 900 biometric voter registration units so that we go to the people and give them a chance to register,” she said
By A Correspondent- Police at the weekend raided a house in Kuwadzana, which was hosting a s-x party, and arrested several people.
Below are the names of the people who were arrested at the sodom and Gomora bash: Luis Zvanhasi (24), Daniel Divala (23), Alexio Chibanda(41), Munashe Masawi(25), Praisemore Makuni(39), Samuel Makore(37), Paul Nhodza(35), Reyn Mabva(35), Mark Tafirenyika(32), Edward Kanengoni(29).
By A Correspondent- The Harare high school mathematics teacher who was filmed brutally assaulting a Lower Sixth student has been ordered to perform 630 hours of community service by a Harare magistrate.
Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga ordered Talent Chingwaru (39), a teacher at Harare Einstein Tuition Centre, to perform 630 hours of unpaid work at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals starting tomorrow morning.
Chingwaru was initially jailed for 36 months but 18 months were set aside for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining months were commuted to 630 hours of community service. Chingwaru was convicted on his own plea of guilt and immediately appealed for a lighter sentence from the court, saying he was emotionally stressed when he committed the offence. Shambadzeni Fungura, appearing for the State, had called for a custodial sentence that deters would-be offender. -Herald
The quarterfinal fixtures in the Chibuku Super Cup have been confirmed following the completion of the first round matches in Group 2, 3 and 4.
Group 1 fixtures are yet to be concluded but the two teams that have progressed to the next round have been confirmed.
Pool winners Dynamos will face Black Rhinos, who finished second in Group 3. Harare City will face winners in Group 3, Cranborne Bullets in the second quarterfinal match.
Group 4 winners FC Platinum will play as hosts against Group 2 runners-up Highlanders while Chicken Inn, winners in Group 2, face Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The dates and venues will be advised soon.
Here are the fixtures:
Dynamos FC vs Black Rhinos Cranborne Bullets vs Harare City Chicken Inn vs Ngezi Platinum Stars FC Platinum vs Highlanders- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
By Jane Mlambo| Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga has condemned the abusive teacher Michael Freeman Chingwaru to 630 hours of community service after suspending a 36 months prison sentence she had imposed on him.
Magistrate Taruvinga sentenced the maths teacher who was filmed butchering a student to 36 months in prison before suspending 18 months on condition of good behavior.
She also suspended the remaining 18 months on condition that Chingwaru performs 630 hours of community service.
630 hours is equal to 78 days of community service and will be done at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
Chingwaru shocked the court when he told the court that a painful toothache was behind his violent conduct.
Social media has however reacted differently to his conviction and sentencing with some expressing satisfaction that justice had indeed prevailed while some felt it was harsh saying students of nowadays are indisciplined and requiring of such a treatment.
CAPS United have crashed out of the Chibuku Super Cup after playing out a 1-1 stalemate with city rivals Dynamos at the Baobab Stadium on Sunday.
Darlington Dodo’s charges needed a win to save their campaign after setbacks in the previous matches but despite a dominant first half in which they were clearly the better side in all aspects, they just couldn’t find a way past Tymon Mvula in goal for DeMbare.
The first chance of the game fell to Makepekepe stand-in skipper Phineas Bamusi in the 15th minute- the speed merchant’s goal bound shot was well-collected by Mvula.
It was all CAPS in the early stages of the match, as an actively-involved Clive Agusto was closely caught offside moments later.
Darlington Dodo’s men came close again in the 22nd minute, Tatenda Makurumidze’s shot was well-collected by Mvula, who was clearly the busier of the two goalkeepers.
Just before the half time whistle, Newman Sianchali could have thrust DeMbare ahead against the run of play, but he fluffed his lines while face to face with CAPS goalkeeper Simbarashe Chinani.
Neither side could break the deadlock in the first and it was goalless at the half time interval.
DeMbare went ahead just after the restart, when 18-year old Bill Antonio found himself with acres of space in he box and blasted home from close range.
Antonio came to haunt CAPS again four minutes later- he went past his marker on the right and found Tino Chiunye, who could not get the ball over the line with Chinani beaten.
DeMbare came in search of the insurance again, Steven Appiah’s curling effort missed the target by inches.
They were punished for their failure to convert that chance, as CAPS restored parity a minute later.
The only goal DeMbare had conceded in the tournament so far heading into today’s clash was an Emmanuel Jalai own goal in the reverse fixture and history repeated itself.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly yesterday held a very successful mobilization and recruitment program at Kondo, Chipinge West in Manicaland.
Yesterday’s program was arranged by the Manicaland Provincial youth leadership as commanded by Chairman Kelvin Kambiro and Secretary Macmillan Rimbi.
The Assembly is mobilizing young people through sport and yesterday was yet another successful soccer tournament but this time organized in a different province.
From the data we collected yesterday, exactly 1124 new recruits joined the Assembly and the next step is to convert them into registered voters. We are sure to meet our 1 Million target of new voters and feed into the 6 million voter mark set by the party.
From what we witnessed yesterday at Kondo, there is certainly no confusion at the base about who is the country’s next President. There is a general consensus among the youths and the elderly that the People’s President, Advocate Nelson Chamisa is the country’s best foot forward.
From Mbire, Maungwe and Kondo young people are geared up for change in this country.
We are solidifying the base by building a rural youth that is conscious of the struggle at hand, the national democratic agenda.
A high powered Youth Assembly delegation led by Acting National Chairperson, Commander Cecillia ‘Chauya Chauya’ Chimbiri graced the event.
A special mention to Youth Assembly Acting Organizer Lovejoy ‘Dunga’ Chitengu and the entire Youth Assembly leadership from Manicaland Province who are tying all the loose ends as Manicaland awaits the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa for his tour of that province.
We are removing Emmerson Mnangagwa and his band of looters!
FreeMako
RegisterToVoteZw
NgaapindeHakeMukomana
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
The quarterfinal fixtures in the Chibuku Super Cup have been confirmed following the completion of the first round matches in Group 2, 3 and 4.
Group 1 fixtures are yet to be concluded but the two teams that have progressed to the next round have been confirmed.
Pool winners Dynamos will face Black Rhinos, who finished second in Group 3. Harare City will face winners in Group 3, Cranborne Bullets in the second quarterfinal match.
Group 4 winners FC Platinum will play as hosts against Group 2 runners-up Highlanders while Chicken Inn, winners in Group 2, face Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The dates and venues will be advised soon.
Here are the fixtures:
Dynamos FC vs Black Rhinos Cranborne Bullets vs Harare City Chicken Inn vs Ngezi Platinum Stars FC Platinum vs Highlanders- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
The quarterfinal fixtures in the Chibuku Super Cup have been confirmed following the completion of the first round matches in Group 2, 3 and 4.
Group 1 fixtures are yet to be concluded but the two teams that have progressed to the next round have been confirmed.
Pool winners Dynamos will face Black Rhinos, who finished second in Group 3. Harare City will face winners in Group 3, Cranborne Bullets in the second quarterfinal match.
Group 4 winners FC Platinum will play as hosts against Group 2 runners-up Highlanders while Chicken Inn, winners in Group 2, face Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The dates and venues will be advised soon.
Here are the fixtures:
Dynamos FC vs Black Rhinos Cranborne Bullets vs Harare City Chicken Inn vs Ngezi Platinum Stars FC Platinum vs Highlanders- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|Overzealous ZRP cops arrested MDC Alliance youths for conducting a peaceful voter registration campaign in Chitungwiza at the weekend.
In a statement on Sunday, MDC Alliance urged ZRP officers to perform their duties objectively…
“This is unacceptable, Police Zimbabwe must protect citizens, treat everyone equally and fairly, not act in a partisan manner working to the orders of the regime.
MDC Alliance youths were arrested for peacefully conducting a door-to-door register to vote campaign in Chitungwiza. It is their right to do so.
These targeted behaviours towards the MDCA must stop.”
While police details folded their arms and watched Zanu PF members terrorising MDC Alliance members in Masvingo, cops in Chitungwiza reacted with astonishing gusto to pounce on the hapless youths.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of global progress in tackling tuberculosis and for the first time in over a decade, TB deaths have increased, according to the World Health Organization’s 2021 Global TB report.
In 2020, more people died from TB, with far fewer people being diagnosed and treated or provided with TB preventive treatment compared with 2019, and overall spending on essential TB services falling.
The first challenge is disruption in access to TB services and a reduction in resources. In many countries, human, financial and other resources have been reallocated from tackling TB to the COVID-19 response, limiting the availability of essential services.
The second is that people have struggled to seek care in the context of lockdowns.
“This report confirms our fears that the disruption of essential health services due to the pandemic could start to unravel years of progress against tuberculosis,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This is alarming news that must serve as a global wake-up call to the urgent need for investments and innovation to close the gaps in diagnosis, treatment and care for the millions of people affected by this ancient but preventable and treatable disease.”
TB services are among many others disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but the impact on TB has been particularly severe.
For example, approximately, 1.5 million people died from TB in 2020 (including 214 000 among HIV positive people).
The increase in the number of TB deaths occurred mainly in the 30 countries with the highest burden of TB[1]. WHO modelling projections suggest the number of people developing TB and dying from the disease could be much higher in 2021 and 2022.
Challenges with providing and accessing essential TB services have meant that many people with TB were not diagnosed in 2020. The number of people newly diagnosed with TB and those reported to national governments fell from 7.1 million in 2019 to 5.8 million in 2020.
WHO estimates that some 4.1 million people currently suffer from TB but have not been diagnosed with the disease or have not officially reported to national authorities. This figure is up from 2.9 million in 2019.
The countries that contributed most to the global reduction in TB notifications between 2019 and 2020 were India (41%), Indonesia (14%), the Philippines (12%) and China (8%). These and 12 other countries accounted for 93% of the total global drop in notifications.
There was also a reduction in provision of TB preventive treatment. Some 2.8 million people accessed this in 2020, a 21% reduction since 2019. In addition, the number of people treated for drug-resistant TB fell by 15%, from 177 000 in 2019 to 150 000 in 2020, equivalent to only about 1 in 3 of those in need.
Global investment for TB falls Funding in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that account for 98% of reported TB cases remains a challenge. Of the total funding available in 2020, 81% came from domestic sources, with the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa) accounting for 65% of total domestic funding.
The largest bilateral donor is the Government of the United States of America. The biggest international donor is the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The report notes a fall in global spending on TB diagnostic, treatment and prevention services, from US$ 5.8 billion to US$ 5.3 billion, which is less than half of the global target for fully funding the TB response of US$ 13 billion annually by 2022.
Meanwhile, although there is progress in the development of new TB diagnostics, drugs and vaccines, this is constrained by the overall level of R&D investment, which at US$ 0.9 billion in 2019 falls far short of the global target of US$ 2 billion per year.
Global TB targets off track Reversals in progress mean that the global TB targets are off track and appear increasingly out of reach, however there are some successes. Globally, the reduction in the number of TB deaths between 2015 and 2020 was only 9.2% – about one quarter of the way to the 2020 milestone of 35%.
Globally, the number of people falling ill with TB each year (relative to population) dropped 11% from 2015 to 2020, just over half-way to the 2020 milestone of 20%.
However, the WHO European Region exceeded the 2020 milestone, with a reduction of 25%. This was mostly driven by the decline in the Russian Federation, where incidence fell by 6% per year between 2010 to 2020. The WHO African Region came close to reaching the milestone, with a reduction of 19%, which reflects impressive reductions of 4–10% per year in South Africa and several other countries in southern Africa, following a peak in the HIV epidemic and the expansion of TB and HIV prevention and care.
“We have just one year left to reach the historic 2022 TB targets committed by Heads of State at the first UN High Level Meeting on TB. The report provides important information and a strong reminder to countries to urgently fast-track their TB responses and save lives,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme. “This will be crucial as preparations begin for the 2nd UN High Level Meeting on TB mandated for 2023.”
The report calls on countries to put in place urgent measures to restore access to essential TB services. It further calls for a doubling of investments in TB research and innovation as well as concerted action across the health sector and others to address the social, environmental and economic determinants of TB and its consequences.
The new report features data on disease trends and the response to the epidemic from 197 countries and areas, including 182 of the 194 World Health Organization (WHO) Member States.
Tinashe Sambiri|Overzealous ZRP cops arrested MDC Alliance youths for conducting a peaceful voter registration campaign in Chitungwiza at the weekend.
In a statement on Sunday, MDC Alliance urged ZRP officers to perform their duties objectively…
“This is unacceptable, Police Zimbabwe must protect citizens, treat everyone equally and fairly, not act in a partisan manner working to the orders of the regime.
MDC Alliance youths were arrested for peacefully conducting a door-to-door register to vote campaign in Chitungwiza. It is their right to do so.
These targeted behaviours towards the MDCA must stop.”
By A Correspondent- Two people were robbed of property valued at R14 300 and US$140 after they were offered a lift in a Toyota Wish from Beitbridge to Bulawayo.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), confirmed via Twitter, the incident which occurred on 13 October. ZRP said:Two people lost cash and property valued at R14 300 and US$140 after boarding an unmarked Toyota Wish vehicle in Beitbridge destined for Bulawayo.
The suspects parked the vehicle in the bush before they produced knives, tied the victims with shoelaces and stole their belongings.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, a 25-year-old Chivi man murdered his wife’s boyfriend after luring him to the bush. Police said:
The ZRP is investigating a case of murder that occurred in Madungwe Village, Chivi on 15/10/21, where Laurey Tafirei (25) stabbed his wife’s boyfriend (36) after seeing a love message on his spouse’s cellphone.
The suspect chatted using the wife’s cellphone inviting the unwary victim to a secluded place near a borehole and stabbed him in the back and chest.
Meanwhile, Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect who disappeared after committing the offence.
By A Correspondent- According to the men discussing in the picture, the yet to be identified man would sleep at the corner of Julius Nyerere and Jason Moyo and he sought refuge from the cold weather.
He would crawl daily and tuck himself behind these green benches, but he was sick.
Others alleged that it was his sickness that made him drink the illicit local brews in a bid to drown away his pain.
But this Monday morning, he had not waken up and had remained wrapped in his blankets without making any movement.
They suspected that he had died.
Today, these benches were deserted because the men in the picture warned anyone who sat on them that there was a corpse behind.
The police were yet to attend to the deceased man but it was not clear if any formal report had been made.
Tinashe Sambiri|The freedom train led by President Nelson Chamisa is unstoppable, MDC Alliance Namibia has said.
On Sunday MDC Alliance Namibia members met in Walvis Bay to discuss recruitment and mobilization strategies.
President Chamisa is holding key meetings with stakeholders across the country.
See MDC Alliance Namibia statement:
Mdc Alliance Namibia District successfully converged in Walvis Bay today( Sunday) as part of the #Citizens Convergence for Change.
The whole district met to recruit and radicalise more social democrats so that they can join the freedom train led by President Advocate Nelson Chamisa. At the Bay social democrats concur kuty #NgaapindeHakeMukomana.
Thank you Namibia for tirelessly fighting for the change that delivers.
By A Correspondent- In a shocking incident, a woman was raped on a train near Philadelphia in the US and fellow passengers failed to come to her aid. They did not even bother to dial 911 to call the police.
Some of the passengers are reported to have taken pictures and filmed the brutal attack while others callously preferred to mind their own business.
The assault lasted for about 8 minutes while other passengers did not bother to intervene to stop the attack. The hapless woman was only assisted later on after a female employee of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) raised alarm when she realised what was happening.
NBC Philadelphia reports that the alleged attacker, 35-year-old Fiston Ngoy, was apprehended and charged with several crimes which include rape and aggravated indecent assault. He is being held at the Delaware County jail on $180 000 bail.
The victim, whose identity is being protected, was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Upper Darby Township Police Department Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt, said that a review of surveillance footage shows Ngoy boarding shortly after the woman. He then sits next to her and attempts to chat her up. The footage shows that the exchange became animated and Ngoy gradually got aggressive before eventually ripping her clothes off and assaulting her.
“He sat next to her for a conversation. . . .” Bernhardt said.
“And then he just completely overpowered the woman and forcibly raped her.”
He added that the victim made a positive identification of her attacker and is now working on recovering from the traumatising ordeal.
“I spoke with the victim yesterday, and she is an unbelievably strong woman,” Bernhardt said Saturday.
“I can’t say enough about her, how she was able to identify her attacker, tell us what happened. Now she’s working . . . to get through this.”
SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch bemoaned how fellow passengers had failed to take any action to intervene or to call the authorities.
“If somebody who witnessed this had called 911, it’s possible that we would have been able to intervene even sooner,” Busch said. “Because this had apparently started before the employee who was on board noticed what was going on.”
Bernhardt also expressed shock at how fellow passengers had failed to intervene or to call the authorities and chosen to take pictures and videos instead.
“I’m just speechless. To be a victim of a crime like this and be victimized a second time is absolutely horrible.”
Bernhardt said there are different steps witnesses can take to intervene. People can call 911, alert the train conductor or scream to distract an attacker.
“I don’t know where we are in society that people can’t help other people out in a time of need,” he said. “If you see something horrendous like this horrible incident, you have to do something, you have to intervene. I think that it starts here when we have to definitely go back to some decency, where we help each other out and we look out for each other.”
By A Correspondent- The man who broke out of Harare Remand Prison was last week sentenced to a four-year effective jail term.
The now convict Sam Muropa pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody before Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko who sentenced him to five years in prison and suspended one year on condition that he doesn’t commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Muropa had been placed in custody to answer to 21 counts of rape and robbery when he escaped.
The court had that Muropa connived with two prison officers Ngonidzashe Munhuuripi and Simbarashe Machekere who facilitated his escape by hiding him in a bathroom in the yard and later took him into the reception where they fetched his clothes on the pretext that he had been granted bail.
Munhuuripi reportedly assisted Muropa to lay concrete pillars and a chair against the pre-cast wall which Muropa climbed and was a free man.
Muropa was picked up by a taxi in Enterprise Road and was re-arrested in Kuwadzana after stealing a car.
Meanwhile, the man who attempted to flee from court on Wednesday was sentenced to nine months in prison, three of which were suspended on condition that he doesn’t commit a similar offence in the next five years, six months are effective.
The now convict Cuthbert Chidemo fled from the police officers who brought him to court and hid in the basement where he was arrested after a manhunt.
Chidemo was being charged for unlawful entry when he was initially brought to court.-statemedia
By A Correspondent | ANALYSIS | The British government has begun opening visas for heavy truck drivers, as the industry salary threshold rose up to £60,000 per year. The ongoing crisis was caused by a number of factors which include the ongoing Brexit economic change over. Surveys ran by ZimEye showed that job salaries are ranging between GBP30,000 and GBP65,000. (video)
The development comes as the controversial prophet Talent Chiwenga continued his theme of saying truck drivers and builders are lazy people who will die before 40.
He said this is because of the nature of their work, while adding that the two are worthless professions.
He mocked the texture of truck drivers and builders’ hands likening them to the backside of a tortoise’s backside.
“Greeting the person and then you’ll see that their hands are in such a terrible shape, hardened like a tortoise’s backside, and you ask yourself: are these real human hands?
“And the person literally thinks that they have a career, handling bricks.
“They will not be able to reach 40 years, the bricks destroy your back; it is just the same thing as driving a truck from DRC to Zimbabwe.
“This is hard labour, when you see a person reaching 10 years while doing such a job as a truck driver; they are a lazy, nyope.
“They don’t want to think. That (truck driving) is not a profession, a person could confidently say that they are a truck driver.
“For a person to do this job for over 10 years, travelling 5000 km, 5000 km 5000 km, sitting behind a big steering wheel like this, driving a mere gonyimbi(haulage truck).
“People are lazy but that laziness manifests itself in three dimensions: there are some people who are lazy because they do not have energy to work, they are weak people. I personally saw such people while growing up.
“To hold a simple plough, they are hit by a plough like this, while failing to bring it down.
‘They end up nearly killing someone’s child and you tell them to stand up and go and sit somewhere else.
“If you tell them to lead the cows, the whip hits them from behind, it goes the other way.
“They do not have ability to see the thing; they don’t have the excellency that some of us have.
“We used to finish everything using one hand; The other hand doing the driving, while my father would be saying, hurry up there is more field work tomorrow.
“We used to do it better than the person who is pulling. So now, you can end up being lazy, you are at loss of physical power. Or you can have physical power and you are at loss of mental power; now that one (the latter) is a serious disaster.”
By Talent Rusere | Zimbabwe is one of the richest countries in the world, a heavenly blessed country with more than 38 precious stones nationwide yet still recorded the poorest with the most suffering population in the world. Below is the secret and clear explanation to how Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF cartels are looting everyday.
*1) Tobbacco*
Zimbabwe is Africa’s largest tobacco producer while, South Africa is one of the top tobacco consuming countries in Africa. Laws and policies aimed at preventing Zimbabwean cigarettes from supplying South Africa’s large demand for cheap cigarettes have largely failed. They have created a sprawling underground network of cigarette smuggling whose tentacles have reached the top offices in both countries.
Talent Rusere
Zimbabwe authorities were also accused of under-invoicing exports to China.
“China reported to the UN’s Comtrade system that it imported 55 million kilograms of tobacco from Zimbabwe in 2019 at an average price of US$9.06 per kg while South Africa reported imports of 85 million kilograms. However, Zimbabwe reported that it only exported 4.8 million kilograms to China at an average price of US$7.46 per kg in the same year and exported 141 million kilograms to South Africa at an average price of US$5.34 per kg.
“This points to under-pricing of exports, where tobacco, which is being directly exported to China at market price, is purported to be exported to a South African middleman who receives the payment from China, retains a significant amount in South Africa, and remits a smaller amount to Zimbabwe at the export price.”
*2) ZINARA*
The Zimbabwe National Road Authority (ZINARA) is the largest statutory fund in Zimbabwe – receiving revenues of approximately US$200 million annually. The management of ZINARA has been ironically described by former minister Obert Mpofu as “not accountable to anybody”.
“During the (now late President Robert) Mugabe administration, Mugabe appointed his clients to chair the ZINARA Board – Abdullah Kassim (2009-14), a lawyer who was Mugabe’s front man in a dairy business, and his nephew, Albert Mugabe (2014-18).
“With the departure of Mugabe, the Mnangagwa administration dismissed the Albert Mugabe-led board, but the whiff of corruption lingers. In the past three years, ZINARA has had two board chairs and three CEOs. The current board chair, Engineer Michael Madanha, is a Zanu PF Provincial Vice Chairperson who previously served as a Deputy Minister for Transport and Zanu PF MP for Vice President Chiwenga’s home constituency, Wedza South.
“Under both Mugabe and Mnangagwa, the Presidency has been deeply enmeshed in the corruption that takes place at ZINARA, the majority of which involves inflated state contracts.”
*3) Fuel*
The report notes there is a substantial amount of integration between the fuel retailing and fuel importing businesses.
“For example, Trafigura owns Puma, while Glencore has shareholding in Zuva. The key economic rent in the fuel industry is the cheap foreign currency the sector receives from the RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Fuel importing companies acquire forex from the RBZ at the official exchange rate by changing local currency (ZW$) for U.S. dollars.
“This official rate is substantially lower than the parallel market exchange rate. At the time of writing, the official exchange rate was 1:83.4 and the informal rate was around 1:100. To capture the economic rent, a fuel importing company will have to use the cheap foreign currency to acquire local currency on the parallel market. This allows the company to increase its local currency.
“For example, Fuel Company A can take ZW$83 million to RBZ and receive US$1 million, then exchange the US$1 million on the parallel market and receive ZW$100 million. Company A can then return to RBZ with ZW$83 million and exchange it for another US$1 million and keep ZW$17 million (equivalent to US$170,000) as profit. This is done without importing any fuel and leads to fuel shortages.”
Two former Cabinet ministers, Tendai Biti (MDC) and Walter Mzembi (Zanu PF), have alleged Mnangagwa has beneficial ownership in Zuva, a fuel company.
Command Agriculture Programme (CAP)
The CAP was driven by Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings, under which Sakunda provided farmers with farming inputs for the production of maize and wheat and recouped the financing from the government.
“What looked like a sensible plan on paper was described by Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, as a programme that “created opportunities for arbitrage, leakages and corruption”, while the government’s Debt Management Office (DMO) bemoaned that the agreement between government and Sakunda did not specify the prices of inputs, leaving room for overpricing.
“The RBZ issued non-tradeable Treasury Bills to Sakunda. Then, instead of buying farming inputs directly from suppliers, government contracted Sakunda to raise finance from banks, using the Bills, and then purchased inputs on behalf of the government. The CAP was initiated during the Mugabe-era, but was largely steered by the Mnangagwa faction and the military. The inputs were procured from SOEs and a network of companies, some of which are closely linked to Tagwirei, Mnangagwa and the military. These include: Fuel from Puma and Trek, companies in which Sakunda had shareholding, and from Zuva.
“Fertiliser from Fertiliser, Seed and Grain (Pvt) Ltd (FSG), a company run by Steve Morland, which was registered in 2010 and had negligible market share until it started supplying CAP inputs. Fertiliser from Sable Chemicals and ZFC Limited. Agrochemicals from Fossil Agro, a subsidiary of Sakunda, whose CEO Dr Obey Chimuka is a key Tagwirei proxy. A Parliamentary investigation on diamond mining in Marange found that Chimuka illegally traded in diamonds, pointing to possible involvement by Tagwirei in diamond looting.
Government has since shelved CAP
*4) Mining*
According to the report, lack of investment in Zimbabwe for the last two decades has created two key dynamics for the mining sector: (1) the country is under-explored, and it is one of the few frontiers left in the world, and (2) the informal sector has taken over the spaces left by the formal sector. Cartels have been formed to expropriate and hoard mineral deposits, which are then sold on for large profits. The informal mining activities have become a key source of gold and gemstones that cartels smuggle out of the country.
“Accounting for 60 percent of the country’s export revenue and a substantial share of foreign direct investment (FDI), the mining sector has long been attractive to economic rent seekers. A wide range of illicit activities occur in the sector. These range from trade misinvoicing to tax evasion; and smuggling of minerals to speculative hoarding of mineral concessions,” the Maverick Citizen report added.
“For example, Company A can acquire a platinum deposit worth US$1 billion from the state by obtaining a licence to explore and/or mine the deposit for a relatively small amount of money. The beneficial owners of Company A can then sell the deposit for US$100 million to a larger multinational mining company and make an astronomical profit.
“It is this larger company that will then go on to produce the platinum and realise the full value of US$1 billion over a long period of time, while paying royalties, fees and taxes to the government.
“The looting of Marange diamonds is a well-studied case that does not need repeating. Mugabe, Obert Mpofu and elites in the military, police, Zimbabwe Prison Service (ZPS) and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) enriched themselves through diamond mining ventures in which local entities formed joint ventures with Chinese, Russian, South African and Lebanese investors. Following substantial depletion of the alluvial diamonds in Marange, cartels have shifted their attention to the gold, nickel and platinum deposits.”
In the report several politically exposed persons (PEPs) and companies are mentioned. They include Tagwirei through his mining company Landela, Great Dyke Investments (GDI), a joint venture between Afromet JSC, a subsidiary of the Russian company Vi Holding, and Pen East Mining Company, (a company owned by ZMDC and the military), and Karo Resources, owned by Loucas Pouroulis, whose links to Mnangagwa date back to the second DRC War.
Landela’s chief executive is David Brown, a former CEO of Implats, which owns Zimplats and half of Mimosa.
“Brown is therefore the former boss Winston Chitando, the Minister of Mines, since Chitando was employed at Mimosa before becoming Minister.
“A substantial amount of gold is smuggled out of Zimbabwe. Due to the secrecy under which smuggling is done, it is difficult to ascertain how much gold is smuggled out. The Minister of Home Affairs, Kazembe Kazembe, has stated that close to US$ 1.2 billion worth of gold is smuggled annually; while Finance Minister Ncube has suggested that between 30 and 34 tonnes of gold were being smuggled to South Africa each year, valued at around US$1.8 to 2 billion at current global gold prices.
“Zimbabwe reports exporting US$611 million worth of gold to the UAE in 2018. However, the UAE reports that US$ 821 million worth of gold was imported from Zimbabwe. Therefore, US$210 million worth of gold was taken out of Zimbabwe with no official reports of the exports made to government. Zimbabwe has an abundance of gold and has some of the highest presence of gold per square kilometre in the world.
“While illegal gold trading and smuggling is diffused and involves a large number of actors, the smuggling of significant amounts of gold usually involves cartels. PEPs are widely reported to control the production and trading of gold in many parts of Zimbabwe. President Mnangagwa is widely reported to control violent gangs of miners and have vested interests in ASGM (artisanal and small-scale gold miners). PEPs also collude with money men in gold smuggling, and PEPs ensure that the smugglers evade border controls.”
*5) ZUPCO*
Under the Mnangagwa administration, reports suggest PEPs also continue to abuse their offices (without collusion with the private sector) in the hiring of buses by ZUPCO, a joint venture company in which government has a controlling stake.
“After years of inactivity, ZUPCO has been resuscitated through acquisition and the hiring of buses. ZUPCO is alleged to have hired buses from companies owned by PEPs. This abuse by PEPs has been compounded by collusion between PEPs and the private sector. A total of 162 buses have been bought by Landela Investments at an alleged price of US$58 900 each and sold to CMED at US$212 962 each on a hire-purchase agreement.”
The report also noted political power shifts barely affected cartels.
The findings show that when a patron loses control of the state, most cartels that emerged from collusion between PEPs and the private sector tend to survive the patron’s fall. However, most runners lose their privilege and access to economic rents. Several cartels and money men survived the contentious power shifts in 1980 and 2017 “because they were quickly able to switch allegiance when things happened”.
“John Bredenkamp is a good example. He ran a smuggling cartel in Rhodesia, which played a key role in evading UN sanctions on the Smith administration, exporting tobacco and importing arms on behalf of the state. Bredenkamp went on to partner with the Zimbabwean military in diamond mining and arms deals during the second DRC War, help Mugabe equip his farms, and contribute to the construction of the Zanu PF Headquarters.
“He also actively pushed for Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to the presidency and was seen as an ally of the military. Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Billy Rautenbach, Univern and the Rudland brothers have, in similar fashion, been able to not only survive Mugabe’s fall, but also entrench their cartels under the new administration.
“There is a strong probability that some cartels have already made in-roads in forging relationships with former and current leaders of the opposition as a means of ensuring their survival beyond Zanu PF’s fall”.
By A Correspondent- National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) board chairman Martin Dinha said that a new fleet of locomotives, wagons and coaches should be equipping the parastatal’s fleet by year-end, with ZUPCO trains to be soon rolled out to all other cities where there was a railway network.
Dinha made the remarks at the commemorations of the Southern African Railway Association safety week in Gweru on Sunday. He said:
Recently, we witnessed the introduction of ZUPCO trains to cushion commuters and the response has been overwhelming from members of the public.
We launched the ZUPCO trains in Harare and soon we will be introducing this in Bulawayo and here in Gweru as we look to revamp our railway transport system.
He also said NRZ has now managed to clear its salary arrears backdated to 2009. Said Dinha:
We have cleared all the salary areas and restructured the top management as well. We had salary arrears backdated to 2009 but we managed to clear.
Our appeal, however, is for the Government to waiver the requirement for the parastatal paying some statutory remittances like the ZIMRA for it to grow and get back on its feet.
For now, we are still to get to our feet but the significant strides being made to turn around the parastatal are being noted.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Mike Madiro, who was the guest of honour at the function, said the Government was committed to turning around the fortunes at NRZ.
He, however, was unhappy over high levels of vandalism on railway infrastructure by thieves and even artisanal miners burrowing under the lines.
The railway transport safety week which is commemorated annually in Southern Africa was run under the theme: “Zero Compromise, Zero accident, Zero harm”.
A Harare school teacher who last week caused a social media stir after he was filmed brutally bashing a Lower Sixth student pleaded guilty to assault charges when he appeared in court on Saturday.
Michael Freeman Chingwaru (39), a teacher at Harare Einstein Tuition Centre, was represented by Advocate Joshua Chirambwe instructed by Mukudzei Moyo.
Chingwaru told Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga that although he pleaded guilty to the charges, he had committed the offence while he was overwhelmed by anger due to the student’s misbehaviour.
He said when he brutally beat up the student, he was suffering from a toothache, which was stressing him and as a result, he failed to control his anger.
Taruvinga postponed the matter for sentencing to today as there was need for the complainant’s medical affidavit to be availed to the State.
Allegations are that on October 14, Chingwaru assaulted an 18-year-old student, who later made a report at Harare Central Police Station.
State papers allege that the Lower Sixth student was found in an “O” Level classroom watching movies during lesson time and he ordered him to go back to his class.
Instead, the student allegedly went to a biology classroom where he coincidentally met the same teacher. A harsh exchange of words ensued, resulting in the teacher assaulting the learner.
By A Correspondent- Crazed private school teacher who made headlines after he was filmed brutally assaulting a student as other learners pleaded with him to stop has blamed his actions on emotional stress caused by a toothache.
Talent Chingwaru, a Maths teacher at Harare Einstein Tuition Centre in Harare, pleaded guilty to assault charges when he appeared before Magistrate Judith Taruvinga. He pleaded for a lighter sentence.
Chingwaru told Magistrate Taruvinga that he was emotionally stressed by a toothache when he committed the offense.
It is in the State’s case that on the 14th of October at around 10:30 am, Chingwaru assaulted an 18-year-old student who later made a report at Harare Central Police Station.
This comes after the Lower Six student was allegedly found in an “O” Level classroom watching movies during lesson time.
The court heard that Chingwaru ordered the student to go back to his class but the student allegedly went to a biology classroom where he coincidentally met the same teacher.
It is further alleged that a harsh exchange of words ensued resulting in the teacher assaulting the learner.
In the viral video, Chingwaru can be seen punching, slapping, and using a belt to beat up the student while other students are heard pleading with Chingwaru to stop saying: “You will hurt him, Sir.”
The video sparked public outrage.
Meanwhile, Chingwaru who spent the weekend behind bars is set to appear in court this Monday (today) for sentencing.
The state is currently waiting for a medical affidavit to ascertain the level of injuries sustained by the student when he was assaulted.
Shes correction distorted history that @edmnangagwa went to school in Zimbabwe and is a lawyer, listen carefully sis varikuti this guy akaita course yekuvaka kuCopperbelt in Zambia kwete nhema dzatinoudzwa nana @nickmangwana
By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said he would now head to Manicaland province after his tour of Masvingo province last week turned violent and he was allegedly teargassed by the police and had his convoy attacked by suspected Zanu-PF activists.
Chamisa told NewsDay that his party was putting more energy into interactions with rural people as there was a lot of developmental work which needed to be done in the villages after years of neglect by the Zanu-PF government.
“I now stay in rural areas, I only visit Harare,” Chamisa said.
“I will be in another area this week because the challenges are in the rural areas. We have problems with water, infrastructure and a whole lot of issues, and that’s why at one point, we had a whole ministry dedicated to that. It’s only that they did not understand its importance.
“For one to understand rural problems, you have to stay with them (rural people), and I personally grew up in the village and that is where I am staying and am only visiting Harare so that I understand more of what needs to be done.”
Chamisa said there was need for rural areas to be developed so that they do not become centres of abuse by the “unpopular” to coerce the marginalised communities into supporting them.
He condemned the use of violence in rural areas, saying those engaging in such acts were aware that they were unwanted and unpopular.
“Violence is an instrument of the weak and losing. Nobody deploys violence in their strongholds, never. It’s a lie that Zanu-PF has a rural stronghold, I have seen it,” Chamisa said.
“The relic (of Zanu-PF) is terror, weaponisation of food aid and Zanu-PF support programmes. That is their only life support. They have no organic connection with the masses, vakapiwa gupuro (they were divorced by the masses).”
Zanu-PF boasts a strong rural support that has seen the party winning with huge margins, while the MDC Alliance has a strong visibility in urban areas.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been campaigning vigorously to win the urban vote accusing the MDC Alliance of failing to provide service delivery to the people.
Zanu-PF director for information Tafadzwa Mugwadi yesterday described Chamisa’s village trips as “provocative” and as “theatrics” that are only meant to get the attention of the United Nations special rapporteur on sanctions, Alena Douhan, who is expected to jet in today.
A woman who looks like a Zvishavane lass features on video saying everything between heaven and earth about Emmerson Mnangagwa. Who is she?
The young man threw me infront and said to me, eat this medicine for snakes, she begins. Towards the of this clip it turns out she is talking about her brother, Emmerson. Her name is Dianah Mnangagwa Mwale. The clip is part of a documentary released by the ZANU PF controlled ZBC. How does what she says help Zimbabweans? Utilise the comment section below.
By A Correspondent- An armed robber was last week gunned down by police officers during a robbery at Jerera Growth Point in Gutu District, Masvingo Province.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident which took place just after 2 AM on Friday.
He said four unknown suspects armed with an unidentified pistol, pick, wooden broom and a log stormed a home at Jerera and demanded cash at around 1.59 AM.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the robbers were given US$1 000, 400 rands, four cellphones and two inverters.
He added:
The complainant made a quick report to Police and as the scene was being attended to, another report was received. Police swiftly attended the scene and met the quartet at the doorstep.
A shootout ensued before the suspects scaled over the pre-cast wall and one suspect who was carrying the loot in a satchel bag was shot on the armpit and died while others escaped.
Police recovered all the stolen property except the two inverters.
Tyson, everywhere, let's talk about Tyson, the whole Zim family has wailed. Every minute every second let's talk about Tyson @Hon_Kasukuwere, they're saying come and deliver us, we have suffered, says Jim Kunaka pic.twitter.com/4pAivY479p
By A Correspondent- In a tragic turn of events, a Form One student from Chitungizwa decided to take his own life after he was busted by his own mother bedding a minor.
15-year old Godfrey Chipare committed suicide yesterday at his cousin’s house in Unit A. He was found hanging on a roofing beam by the toilet side.
The now-deceased is alleged to have had a misunderstanding with his mother after he was found bedding a 14-year-old girl at their house in Unit G.
Godfrey’s cousin, Samantha Chipare, who is baffled by Godfrey’s decision to take his life revealed that she was the last person to talk to him before he was found hanging.
Narrating the events leading up to when Godfrey committed suicide, Samantha told a local tabloid that after Godfrey had an altercation with his mother, he came to their place of residence on Saturday.
Samantha revealed that the next day he informed them that he was returning to his mother’s house but he never pitched up.
She said they have no idea where he spent the day. They only saw him later in the evening when he returned.
Samantha said they did not question him about his return or whereabouts since he had informed them about his intention to go to his mother’s place.
Samantha revealed that the last time she saw him alive was when she woke him up to prepare for school, but she could not monitor him whilst he was preparing. Godfrey was later found by her mother hanging near the toilet.
She said she had no idea Godfrey was planning to commit suicide. She claims that she discovered through neighbours that he had been looking for vegetable pesticides after his death
By A Correspondent | The British government has begun opening visas for heavy truck drivers, as the industry salary threshold rose up to £60,000 per year. The ongoing crisis was caused by a number of factors which include the ongoing Brexit economic change over. Surveys ran by ZimEye showed that job salaries are ranging between GBP30,000 and GBP65,000. (video)
The development comes as the controversial prophet Talent Chiwenga continued his theme of saying truck drivers and builders are lazy people who will die before 40.
He said this is because of the nature of their work, while adding that the two are worthless professions.
He mocked the texture of truck drivers and builders’ hands likening them to the backside of a tortoise’s backside.
Said Chiwenga:
“Greeting the person and then you’ll see that their hands are in such a terrible shape, hardened like a tortoise’s backside, and you ask yourself: are these real human hands?
“And the person literally thinks that they have a career, handling bricks.
“They will not be able to reach 40 years, the bricks destroy your back; it is just the same thing as driving a truck from DRC to Zimbabwe.
“This is hard labour, when you see a person reaching 10 years while doing such a job as a truck driver; they are a lazy, nyope.
“They don’t want to think. That (truck driving) is not a profession, a person could confidently say that they are a truck driver.
“For a person to do this job for over 10 years, travelling 5000 km, 5000 km 5000 km, sitting behind a big steering wheel like this, driving a mere gonyimbi(haulage truck).
“People are lazy but that laziness manifests itself in three dimensions: there are some people who are lazy because they do not have energy to work, they are weak people. I personally saw such people while growing up.
“To hold a simple plough, they are hit by a plough like this, while failing to bring it down.
‘They end up nearly killing someone’s child and you tell them to stand up and go and sit somewhere else.
“If you tell them to lead the cows, the whip hits them from behind, it goes the other way.
“They do not have ability to see the thing; they don’t have the excellency that some of us have.
“We used to finish everything using one hand; The other hand doing the driving, while my father would be saying, hurry up there is more field work tomorrow.
“We used to do it better than the person who is pulling. So now, you can end up being lazy, you are at loss of physical power. Or you can have physical power and you are at loss of mental power; now that one (the latter) is a serious disaster.”
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti has called on South Africa President and leader of the governing ANC party, Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene and caution his fellow liberation struggle colleagues in Zanu-PF.
This follows last week’s attack on MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s convoy in Masvingo rural, some 300km from the capital Harare last week.
MDC alliance convoy vehicles were smashed, stoned while were roads barricaded and some members of Chamisa’s delegation were injured.
Chamisa was on a party mobilisation campaign ahead of the 2023 national elections and possible by-elections scheduled for parliamentary and local council vacant seats.
The seats became vacant after over 60 MPs and 80 councillors were recalled from holding public office after the rival MDC-T-led by Douglas Mwonzora said they were no members of that faction.
However, speaking to the media during the weekend, Biti said it was time for Ramaphosa and the regional bloc Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene in the worsening political crisis in Zimbabwe.
“The attack on, our president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa is irrevocable proof beyond any reasonable doubt that Zanu-PF is a bloody, violent, fascist, illegitimate, tired and exhausted liberation movement,” Biti said.
“This is the message we have been trying to make to President Ramaphosa and to SADC that Zimbabwe is a lawless country run by a tired, exhausted liberation movement that has no respect to constitutionalism, the rule of law, and the rights of citizens.”
However, Zanu-PF has accused Chamisa of fanning the violence that took place in Masvingo last week. The ruling party claims Chamisa’s security details fired gunshots into the air to force villagers to attend his meeting.
In September last year, the ANC sent a delegation of high-ranking party leaders to Zimbabwe for talks with Zanu-PF leaders, amid tensions in Zimbabwe.
Biti’s calls, for South Africa and SADC’s intervention, come when the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe deteriorates ahead of the make-or-break 2023 national elections
By A Correspondent- Francis Mawaya (67) of Kamera Village under Chief Chipindu in Chivi committed suicide on Friday and it is said that he faced allegations of raping his Grade 2 granddaughter.
Masvingo Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the suicide.
The deceased left home at Chivi Growth Point on Friday but did not return. He called his wife, Anna Mawaya (61) and asked her to come and fetch him as he was failing to find his way home.
Anna followed but failed to find him. He was only found the next day by a search party.
The deceased’s son, Fidelis Mawaya confirmed the case but told The Mirror that the suicide took everyone by surprise as his father did not leave any message on why he decided to take his own life.
Sources however, said that Mawaya was being accused of raping his granddaughter.
“I’m shot of words by my father’s action. I received a call that my father had hanged himself for no given reason. He called our mother and told her that he could not make it home. The next thing he was dead,” said Fidelis.
By A Correspondent-MDC-Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa is planning to take his political meetings tour to Binga in Matabeleland North.
Last week Chamisa was in Masvingo province, where he was welcomed by Zanu PF violence.
In his home province, the charismatic youthful opposition leader held several meetings with villagers and traditional leaders.
Chamisa got an overwhelming endorsement in the province.
Posting on his Twitter page Sunday, MDC-Alliance deputy spokesperson Gift Siziba said Binga was their next port of call.
“Cobuyala Chico chotebula” As compatriots in Binga Mat North prepare for change. Our rural mobilization program continues until victory. It’s time for citizens to unite and win Zimbabwe for change. #NgaapindeHakeMukomana
“Cobuyala Chico chotebula” As compatriots in Binga Mat North prepare for change. Our rural mobilization program continues until victory. It’s time for citizens to unite and win Zimbabwe for change. #NgaapindeHakeMukomanapic.twitter.com/L0LAMxUTx3
By A Correspondent- The MDC-T chairperson Morgen Komichi said legislators and councillors who were elected to office on an MDC Alliance ticket in the 2018 elections must submit to party president Douglas Mwonzora or else they will face the chop.
Komichi made the remarks while speaking in an interview on OpenParly Twitter Grill recently.
He said that his party was serious about issues of recalls arguing that people cannot use his party to build another party.
Komichi asserted that while he was aware that some people have no representatives due to recalls, he does not regret it because he wants people to be represented by genuine people.
He said:
We cannot allow a person to steal because they want to feed their family or because they are poor.
The party constitution is clear if you cease to be a member of the party you have expelled yourself.
Those that were recalled had ceased to be members of the MDC-T. They said they are members of Nelson Chamisa whose party name is yet to be known.
Even the country’s constitution is clear and provides for recall. In fact, this is not the first time that people have been recalled.
You will remember that president Morgan Tsvangirai recalled Tendai Biti and other MPs from Parliament.
Chamisa himself recalled Dr Khupe from Parliament. In 2020 he wanted to recall Morgen Komichi, Elias Mudzuri and Douglas Mwonzora from Parliament but he failed. So this is not a new thing.
ZANU PF also recalled some of its MPs from Parliament. I don’t know why it has become an issue when Mwonzora and Komichi also want to recall people. -OpenParly
By A Correspondent-MDC-Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa is planning to take his political meetings tour to Binga in Matabeleland North province.
Last week Chamisa was in Masvingo province, where he was welcomed by Zanu PF violence.
In his home province, the charismatic youthful opposition leader held several meetings with villagers and traditional leaders.
Chamisa got an overwhelming endorsement in the province.
Posting on his Twitter page Sunday, MDC-Alliance deputy spokesperson Gift Siziba said Binga was their next port of call.
“Cobuyala Chico chotebula” As compatriots in Binga Mat North prepare for change. Our rural mobilization program continues until victory. It’s time for citizens to unite and win Zimbabwe for change. #NgaapindeHakeMukomana
“Cobuyala Chico chotebula” As compatriots in Binga Mat North prepare for change. Our rural mobilization program continues until victory. It’s time for citizens to unite and win Zimbabwe for change. #NgaapindeHakeMukomanapic.twitter.com/L0LAMxUTx3
By A Correspondent- The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Alena Douhan is expected in the country today for a ten-day visit to assess the human rights situation.
Douhan is expected to engage various stakeholders from the government to civil society, focusing on the impact of the sanctions.
The Special Rapporteur will present a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council during its 51st Session in September next year.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana confirmed Douhan’s expected visit to Zimbabwe on his Twitter page. He wrote: Ms Elena Dohan, the UN Special Envoy for Human Rights will be in the country from tomorrow to assess the impact of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe. There is no question on the deleterious impact of Sanctions on this country. Let’s all speak with one voice on #ZimSanctionsMustGo.
The sanctions were imposed on the country nearly two decades ago and are renewed annually. The Western countries accused the Zimbabwean government of egregious human rights violations and a breakdown in the rule of law.
By A Correspondent- Zambia’s new President Hakainde Hichilema has hinted at embarking on land reform.
Land reform is understood as taking farms from white commercial farmers and giving it to black indigenous locals.
The same happened at Zambia’s neighbour, Zimbabwe, at the turn of the millennium.
Most of the white farmers chased away by the former Robert Mugabe administration during that time went to settle in Zambia.
Since then, Zimbabwe has been begging for food from Zambia, South Africa and other neighbouring countries.
Hichilema announced his planned land reform through his Twitter account at the weekend.
The fresh Zambian President said land reform would be the only answer to black economic empowerment.
“We cannot think of joint ventures if we don’t give Zambians land to use as leverage for negotiations with foreign capital. Land reforms is on my priority list,” he posted.
We cannot think of joint ventures if we don't give Zambians land to use as leverage for negotiations with foreign capital. Land reforms is on my priority list.
Sungura gangstar Alick Macheso staged a marathon series in South Africa last week and below is his feature in Germistone, attended by stars such as Zuva Habane. VIDEO
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is sponsoring violence and acts of hooliganism.
President Chamisa’s vehicles were attacked by Zanu PF thugs while there was an attempt to assassinate him in Chiredzi on Tuesday.
The MDC Alliance leader described the attack on party members as stone age hooliganism.
He wrote on Twitter: THE RISE OF VIGILANTISM IN ZIMBABWE..Zpf vigilante groups have immunity & impunity.They’re state assisted & protected in their acts of terrorism & unlawful operations.The stoning of cars,violence &barricading of roads is criminal,stone-age& primitive hooliganism.Peace is fragile!
How is this possible in an ‘independent country’ with a ‘liberated people?
Below an MDC Alliance official relates how Zanu PF hooligans attacked him…
How is this possible in an ‘independent country’ with a ‘liberated people’? https://t.co/Ox66tRINke
Senator Douglas Mwonzora faces removal as his MDC-T party begins its restructuring exercise in preparation for an elective congress this year.
Party spokesperson Witness Dube yesterday confirmed the restructuring exercise across provinces to fill vacant posts and ensure solid structures are in place ahead of the congress.
The congress is likely to result in a new-look party leadership following the December 2020 extraordinary congress that saw the election of Mwonzora as party president.
It was not immediately established whether Mwonzora will be challenged for the party leadership, which he won in controversial circumstances last year, characterised by violence and alleged vote rigging.
“We are doing gap fillings and we were in Matabeleland South yesterday (Saturday). Today, we are in Lupane. We are revamping our structures in readiness for the congress,” Dube said.
“We are filling gaps in the provincial structures after the Supreme Court judgment. There are people who have been working, but have not been confirmed by the organising department. We are formalising the interim structures now.”
Dube said the Bulawayo restructuring exercise was oversubscribed on Friday and could not take place as the numbers exceeded those required by the COVID-19 lockdown protocols and regulations.
“We had a challenge in Bulawayo as over 300 people showed up at the venue and that instantly gave us problems in terms of the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines. We had to call the meeting off,” he said.
Mwonzora emerged victorious in the party’s chaotic December congress that saw him contesting against Thokozani Khupe, Elias Mudzuri and Morgen Komichi. Most leaders in the party’s standing committee were not elected. They were co-opted by the party leadership after last year’s extraordinary congress.- Newsday
Tinashe Sambiri|The sun has set for legendary preacher and former Radio 2 presenter, Gift “The Praying Mantis” Mabhaudi.
Mabhaudhi was 68.
According to family sources, Mabhaudhi died on Friday morning.
His son, Rowdy, posted on Twitter:
My father Mufundisi Mabaudhi, most of you know him from radio programmes, Zvidzidzo Zvebhaiberi, ChiKritsu neTsika, Sunday Morning Service. He is no more. I’m not okay!”
ZCC secretary-general Kenneth Mtata described Mabhaudhi as a highly celebrated indigenous clergyman whose messages inspired thousands.
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala says the Zanu PF regime has brought sanctions to the country through flagrant violation of human rights.
The fearless politician accused Zanu PF of killing innocent citizens.
“It must be known to the pple of Zim that sanctions were brought in our country by ZANU PF, thru it’s human rights abuses, torture and murdering of its pple.
Oppah Muchunguri, Chris Mutsvangwa were very clear. It is ZANU PF that hs failed to stop them. They must go 4 sanctions to go,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.
He added: “When we say that ZANU PF is a terrorist organisation,this is what we mean. They are gathered at Maungwa Business Centre to attack and disrupt the legitimate campaigns of our President.
No matter what, ZANU PF will fall. The time for pple 2 revenge thru ballot is fast approaching.”
Hon Sikhala also scoffed at attempts by the regime to cause disharmony in the MDC Alliance by claiming he is harbouring presidential ambitions.
“ZANU PF dogs in their desperation force marched pple to carry placards reading Job Wiwa Sikhala for MDC President so as to build the narrative that their disruption of our President Adv Nelson Chamisa’s legitimate blitz selling our policies appears as internal conflict. Stupid!!!”
ZANU PF dogs in their desperation force marched pple to carry placards reading Job Wiwa Sikhala for MDC President so as to build the narrative that their disruption of our President Adv Nelson Chamisa's legitimate blitz selling our policies appears as internal conflict. Stupid!!! pic.twitter.com/wkD3mRFOfw
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala says the Zanu PF regime has brought sanctions to the country through flagrant violation of human rights.
The fearless politician accused Zanu PF of killing innocent citizens.
“It must be known to the pple of Zim that sanctions were brought in our country by ZANU PF, thru it’s human rights abuses, torture and murdering of its pple.
Oppah Muchunguri, Chris Mutsvangwa were very clear. It is ZANU PF that hs failed to stop them. They must go 4 sanctions to go,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.
He added: “When we say that ZANU PF is a terrorist organisation,this is what we mean. They are gathered at Maungwa Business Centre to attack and disrupt the legitimate campaigns of our President.
No matter what, ZANU PF will fall. The time for pple 2 revenge thru ballot is fast approaching.”
Hon Sikhala also scoffed at attempts by the regime to cause disharmony in the MDC Alliance by claiming he is harbouring presidential ambitions.
“ZANU PF dogs in their desperation force marched pple to carry placards reading Job Wiwa Sikhala for MDC President so as to build the narrative that their disruption of our President Adv Nelson Chamisa’s legitimate blitz selling our policies appears as internal conflict. Stupid!!!”
ZANU PF dogs in their desperation force marched pple to carry placards reading Job Wiwa Sikhala for MDC President so as to build the narrative that their disruption of our President Adv Nelson Chamisa's legitimate blitz selling our policies appears as internal conflict. Stupid!!! pic.twitter.com/wkD3mRFOfw
Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said he would now head to Manicaland province after his tour of Masvingo province last week turned violent and he was allegedly teargassed by the police and had his convoy attacked by suspected Zanu PF activists.
Chamisa told NewsDay that his party was putting more energy into interactions with rural people as there was a lot of developmental work which needed to be done in the villages after years of neglect by the Zanu PF government.
“I now stay in rural areas, I only visit Harare,” Chamisa said.
“I will be in another area this week because the challenges are in the rural areas. We have problems with water, infrastructure and a whole lot of issues, and that’s why at one point, we had a whole ministry dedicated to that. It’s only that they did not understand its importance.
“For one to understand rural problems, you have to stay with them (rural people), and I personally grew up in the village and that is where I am staying and am only visiting Harare so that I understand more of what needs to be done.”
Chamisa said there was need for rural areas to be developed so that they do not become centres of abuse by the “unpopular” to coerce the marginalised communities into supporting them.
He condemned the use of violence in rural areas, saying those engaging in such acts were aware that they were unwanted and unpopular.
“Violence is an instrument of the weak and losing. Nobody deploys violence in their strongholds, never. It’s a lie that Zanu PF has a rural stronghold, I have seen it,” Chamisa said.
“The relic (of Zanu PF) is terror, weaponisation of food aid and Zanu PF support programmes. That is their only life support. They have no organic connection with the masses, vakapiwa gupuro (they were divorced by the masses).”
Zanu PF boasts a strong rural support that has seen the party winning with huge margins, while the MDC Alliance has a strong visibility in urban areas.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been campaigning vigorously to win the urban vote accusing the MDC Alliance of failing to provide service delivery to the people.
Zanu PF director for information Tafadzwa Mugwadi yesterday described Chamisa’s village trips as “provocative” and as “theatrics” that are only meant to get the attention of the United Nations special rapporteur on sanctions, Alena Douhan, who is expected to jet in today. –Newsday
Chivhu – A man has been arrested and is being charged with murder after he struck and killed his friend with an iron bar following a misunderstanding over a woman that they were both allegedly in love with. The incident happened at a bottle store in Beatrice last Monday.
Watmore Chikweye (22) of Chaitemura Street, Zengeza 1 Chitungwiza hit Daveen Chisepete (24) of 1917 Beatrice location with an iron bar several times on the chest and Chisepete died on the spot. Mash East Police spokesperson Inspector Felix Chazovachii confirmed the case to The Mirror.
Sources said that the two were having a beer drink at a bottle store in Beatrice when they had a misunderstanding over Sibongile Muzanga whom they both were in love with.
They started fighting and Chikweye picked up an iron bar and struck Chisepete several times on the chest. The accused tried to flee from the scene but was apprehended by members of the public who handed him over ZRP Beatrice. Chisepete’s body was taken to Chitungwiza Mortuary for postmortem.- The Mirror
ZIMBABWE Teachers Association (Zimta) members in Bulawayo have urged its leadership to call for strike action over poor salaries.
In a position paper dated October 14, 2021, addressed to the Zimta national leadership, the teachers said they had run out of patience with the government over false promises to improve their working conditions.
They demanded that, at least half of their salaries be paid in United States dollars.
Their complaints come as prices of basic goods and services have been on a sharp rise in recent weeks as the local currency continues to tank against major currencies.
Government has reacted by naming, shaming and arresting alleged currency fixers.
However, this has done little to stop price hikes.
Zimta Bulawayo provincial secretary Promise Keti called on the union leadership to provide a clear direction in response to their grievances related to “slave wages.”
“For the record, it is a fact that educators are incapacitated due to the current slave salaries being paid by the employer, and have run out of patience with the empty promises we have been getting. Educators can no longer afford a decent professional dress code as expected,” Keti said.
“Given the above concerns, we recommend to the national executive that Zimta must immediately declare a total withdrawal of labour by all its members until the government has addressed these grievances.
“As a condition for the resumption of duty, payment of salaries must be at least 50% US$ and the remainder in RTGS.
“No more pegging salaries on the interbank rate. Educators will not invigilate the coming examinations unless all these concerns have been addressed.”
Zimta chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu yesterday confirmed receipt of the position paper from the Bulawayo branch, but said the union was yet to meet to deliberate on the way forward.
“We will look at that position as a national leadership and subject it to a national consensus because we are representing members who are all over the country and we represent a diversity of interests and opinions in their own right.
“Once it’s deliberated on, then we will issue a co-ordinated response,” Ndlovu said. – Newsday
…. asDembofamilyinvitesthenationforatombstoneunveilingon23 October 2021
ByDrTinasheGumbo
The 9th of April 2021 marked 25 years after the demise of one of Zimbabwe’s finest and most influential music artists, Leonard Tazvivinga a.k.a Leonard Musorowenyoka Dembomavara who was called to be with our Lord on the same day in 1996. Leonard Dembo has remained a household name in Zimbabwe and beyond because of his music. His music continues to entertain, comfort, encourage and influence the people of all ages on economic, social and cultural issues.
For me, Dembo is in the rare class of the likes of Karl Marx, Karl Polanyi, Martin Luther King, Malcom X, Steve Biko, James Kone and other philosophers whose philosophies and ideologies have continued to influence our economic, political, and social lives. You will underrate Dembo’s message at your own peril! Dembo music speaks to the heart, spirit, mind and flesh!
He was 37 years old when he died in 1996. To his multitude of fans, Dembo remains a source of inspiration for them. In my previous pieces on Leonard Dembo, I have already argued that music is a fundamental channel of communication: it provides a means by which people can share emotions, intentions, and meanings. Thus, Leonard’s music has continued to communicate key messages to people of all ages beyond his fans. His message was deep but full of advice to the audience. I continue to be in deep conversation with Dembo through his music. At times my wife Angela does not understand me when I enter my room, play a single Dembo song for the whole day, trying to make sense of what he is communicating. I have deep passion for Dembo music and I will not rest until I fully understand his history and philosophy. Let me not divert you reader from the focus of this piece, which is about remembering our hero, on 23 October 2021.
The Dembo family has planned to formally remember one of its greatest members. Indeed, Leonard put the family name on the international forum. This noble idea has received maximum support from the entire Barura Express family. Leonard’s children and the entire Dembo family have done so well as this event will consolidate all the Dembo networks. We should all emerge from Chaka more coordinated and motivated to do more to cultivate the Dembo legacy.
I have been following with keen interest the preparations for the tombstone unveiling for our music hero and have been motivated further to remain focused on Dembo legacy. The death of Mbuya Dembo and Leonard’s mother in law (Eunice’s Mother) within a month was a major setback to the preparations for this great event. Surely, it would have been good to have these two ladies present during this upcoming moment of remembrance of our hero-their son and son in law respectively (May their souls rest in peace).
Here we are Reader-on 23 October 2021, the Dembo fans will join the late musician’s family in remembering Leonard’s life formally. The event will be held at his rural home at Chaka Centre in Chirumanzu in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. This is a great moment for the Barura and Dembo families.
While Leonard belonged to the Dembo family as a husband to Eunice and a father to Morgen, Tendai and Fenny, he became a national and international figure in the music industry. One cannot attempt to monopolise Leonard and succeed. His influence lives on in the unending consequences that flow from his life and character. The Barura Express family members now feel strongly attached to this figure and this explains their continued call to authorities to consider awarding him some official hero status. Of course, that will just be an official move, as the Dembo fans themselves have already awarded him such because of his heroic life in the music industry.
The Chaka event will be punctuated with the official unveiling of Leonard’s tombstone, songs and dance as well as reflection sessions on the life, philosophy and message of the man who has been described by his fans as their hero. Indeed, for me personally, Dembo is my hero hence, I will do all in my capacity to support his philosophy and ideology which he expressed through his music.
When Leonard passed on, we surely felt that his death was premature. He left us when we thought he was at his best. As the Barura Express family, we were shocked and we felt exposed then. We struggled to accept this reality that he had gone but there was nothing we could do. Thus, 25 years later, we gather at Chaka, not to mourn, but to celebrate our Hero’s well lived life. This calls for everyone who has an attachment with Dembo, to join us as we commemorate 25 years of the passing on of our Music Icon.
Supporting this event comes in various ways. Physical attendance will be a strong message that one is part and parcel of the Barura Express family. However, I know that we cannot all be there in person due to other commitments of life beyond our control. Thus, a single cent will make a difference-I will share the official contacts of the Event Organisers (Nicolas and January) who will advise on how we can channel our support towards the event. Kindly note that ONLY these two are the official organisers of our event.
The Dembo fans will be reminded of the Barura Express hits during the event. The list here only applies to the Barura Express projects where earlier songs with the Outsiders are not accounted for here: “Amai Nevana Vavo “ (1984) (this can only be confirmed once the birth day of the group Barura Express itself is ascertained),“Nhamo Moto” (1986), “Kuziva Mbuya Huudzwa” (1987), “Sharai” (1987), “Kukura Kwedu” (1988), “Ruva Rashe” (1989), “Kukura Hakutani” (1990, which was a 12-inch disc-we called it an LP for long play), “Chitekete” (1991), “Tinokumbira Kurarama/Madhiri” (1992), “Mazano” (1993), “Kutinya Marimba” (1993), “Nzungu Ndamenya” (1994),“Pawpaw” (1994), “Shiri Yakangwara” (1995) and “Babamunini” (1996).
23October2021KWACHAKA !
DemboOurHero !
For more information about the Tombstone Unveiling event kindly contact our Organisers on Nicolas : +263 773424685 or January : +263 732492942
For any feedback about this article ( NOT about the unveiling of the tommstone) and any other information about Dembo, contact me on Email: [email protected] or WhatsApp or Call: +263773 218 860 or follow me on @DrTinasheGumbo1
By Showbiz Reporter | The comedian, Madam Boss has endorsed MDC leader Nelson Chamisa for presidency.
Tarisai Chikoko later deleted the post in which she printed out Chamisa’s, ‘Ngaapinde Hake Mukomana’ screamer, as she was complaining about the ongoing problem with rubbish bin trucks.
Madam Boss
Nhaimi mota dzema Dhodhabhini dzakaendepiko? she asked.
She continued by asking if others are getting visited, saying “kwedu rangova dhizasta, dzirikuuyawo here kwenyu?”
It was upon that point that she quickly penned out, Ngaapinde Hake Mukomana. She said, (Ngaa……….. e ……….m………. a!!!!)
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is looking for Laurey Tafirei from Chivi who stabbed his wife’s lover to death over a love message on his wife’s phone.
The police said Tafirei used his wife’s phone to lure the deceased to a secluded place where he stabbed him.
“The ZRP is investigating a case of murder which occurred in Madungwe Village, Chivi on 15/10/21, where a Laurey Tafirei (25) stabbed his wife’s boyfriend (36) after seeing a love message on his spouse’s cellphone.
The suspect chatted using the wife’s cellphone inviting the unwary victim to a secluded place near a borehole and stabbed him on the back and chest.
Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect who is said to have disappeared after committing the offence.” – Pindula News
Liverpool winger, Mohammed Salah Saturday scored his 104th Premier League goal to equal Didier Drogba’s long-standing record of many Premier League goals by an African player.
Mohamed Salah said that Didier Drogba implored him to break his Premier League goalscoring record.
Salah netted his 104th goal as Liverpool won 5-0 against Watford. Sadio Mané scored first in the 9th minute before Roberto Firmino doubled the lead in the 37th minute.
Firmino extended the lead to 3-0 in the 52nd minute before Salah scored his two minutes later. Bobby sealed the victory with another goal at stoppage time.
Salah netted 32 goals in his first season at Liverpool after his move from Roma.
The Egyptian set a new benchmark for goals in a 38-game season, but also passed the 29-goal mark Drogba set for most goals by an African player in one campaign.
Speaking to the media in 2018, Salah said Drogba cheered him on as he set the new record. He told L’Equipe Magazine back then: When I reached 20 goals, I spoke with Didier Drogba. He told me: ‘Please, break the record!’ to which I responded laughing: ‘No worries, I will!’
And I managed [it]. So I thought to myself, I have quite a few games to play before the end of the season, I can break the all-time record! It’s a great source of joy for me.
With 7 goals in the 2021/2022 season, Salah tops the scorers’ log.- Pindula News
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed the notion that Zanu PF has a strong support base in rural areas.
President Chamisa says he is now practically staying in the rural areas as the vibrant leader seeks to identify the needs and challenges of villagers across the country.
President Chamisa, quoted by NewsDay said: “I now stay in rural areas, I only visit Harare I will be in another area this week because the challenges are in the rural areas. We have problems with water, infrastructure and a whole lot of issues, and that’s why at one point, we had a whole ministry dedicated to that. It’s only that they did not understand its importance.
For one to understand rural problems, you have to stay with them (rural people), and I personally grew up in the village and that is where I am staying and am only visiting Harare so that I understand more of what needs to be done.”
He added: “Violence is an instrument of the weak and losing. Nobody deploys violence in their strongholds, never. It’s a lie that Zanu PF has a rural stronghold, I have seen it.
The relic (of Zanu PF) is terror, weaponisation of food aid and Zanu PF support programmes. That is their only life support. They have no organic connection with the masses, vakapiwa gupuro (they were divorced by the masses).”
HEALTH professionals yesterday scoffed at government’s offer to stop mass resignations through the provision of non-monetary incentives such as WiFi and loans, saying their employer was focusing on trivialities which will not solve the brain drain problem dedevilling the health sector.
On Tuesday, during a post-Cabinet briefing, government said the country was experiencing massive brain drain in the health sector and would offer non-monetary incentives to abate the situation.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said an inter-ministerial committee identified measures to accelerate provision of non-monetary incentives such as staff accommodation, transport, vehicle loans, provision of meals and WiFi facilities.
Zimbabwe Senior Doctors Association president Shingai Nyaguse accused government of ignoring the salary issue, which he said was the real problem which was causing the brain drain.
“We remain concerned with suggestions that WiFi and canteens are incentives that will resolve the ongoing challenges,” Nyaguse tweeted on Thursday.
“The employer has been ignoring the elephants in the room, which includes issues of fair and commensurate remuneration, an enabling, conducive working environment and medical insurance for healthcare workers. The lack of consultative dialogue is glaring.”
Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enoch Dongo said: “It’s the employer’s responsibility to give Wi-Fi and canteen at workplaces as a courtesy, not allowance or incentive.
“The government offer was not supposed to be publicised since it’s their responsibly to do that. It is obvious the so-called incentive will not stop nurses from going outside the country whatsoever.”
Dongo said what health professionals want is a living wage and improvement of the working environment.
“Nurses do not take their children to school through WiFi or getting sadza at work,” Dongo said.
Doctors and nurses have gone on strike on several occasions since 2017 to pressure government to review their salaries, but their employer has been employing military tactics to force them back to work.- NewsDay
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is sponsoring violence and acts of hooliganism.
President Chamisa’s vehicles were attacked by Zanu PF thugs while there was an attempt to assassinate him in Chiredzi on Tuesday.
The MDC Alliance leader described the attack on party members as stone age hooliganism.
He wrote on Twitter: THE RISE OF VIGILANTISM IN ZIMBABWE..Zpf vigilante groups have immunity & impunity.They’re state assisted & protected in their acts of terrorism & unlawful operations.The stoning of cars,violence &barricading of roads is criminal,stone-age& primitive hooliganism.Peace is fragile!
How is this possible in an ‘independent country’ with a ‘liberated people?
Below an MDC Alliance official relates how Zanu PF hooligans attacked him…
How is this possible in an ‘independent country’ with a ‘liberated people’? https://t.co/Ox66tRINke
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala says the Zanu PF regime has brought sanctions to the country through flagrant violation of human rights.
The fearless politician accused Zanu PF of killing innocent citizens.
“It must be known to the pple of Zim that sanctions were brought in our country by ZANU PF, thru it’s human rights abuses, torture and murdering of its pple.
Oppah Muchunguri, Chris Mutsvangwa were very clear. It is ZANU PF that hs failed to stop them. They must go 4 sanctions to go,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.
He added: “When we say that ZANU PF is a terrorist organisation,this is what we mean. They are gathered at Maungwa Business Centre to attack and disrupt the legitimate campaigns of our President.
No matter what, ZANU PF will fall. The time for pple 2 revenge thru ballot is fast approaching.”
Hon Sikhala also scoffed at attempts by the regime to cause disharmony in the MDC Alliance by claiming he is harbouring presidential ambitions.
“ZANU PF dogs in their desperation force marched pple to carry placards reading Job Wiwa Sikhala for MDC President so as to build the narrative that their disruption of our President Adv Nelson Chamisa’s legitimate blitz selling our policies appears as internal conflict. Stupid!!!”
ZANU PF dogs in their desperation force marched pple to carry placards reading Job Wiwa Sikhala for MDC President so as to build the narrative that their disruption of our President Adv Nelson Chamisa's legitimate blitz selling our policies appears as internal conflict. Stupid!!! pic.twitter.com/wkD3mRFOfw
Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners launched the first ever global strategy to defeat meningitis – a debilitating disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year.
By 2030, the goals are to eliminate epidemics of bacterial meningitis – the most deadly form of the disease – and to reduce deaths by 70% and halve the number of cases. The organizations estimate that in total, the strategy could save more than 200,000 lives annually and significantly reduce disability caused by the disease.
This strategy, the Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030, was launched by a broad coalition of partners involved in meningitis prevention and control at a virtual event, hosted by WHO in Geneva. Its focus is on preventing infections and improving care and diagnosis for those affected.
“Wherever it occurs, meningitis can be deadly and debilitating; it strikes quickly, has serious health, economic and social consequences, and causes devastating outbreaks,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “It is time to tackle meningitis globally once and for all –by urgently expanding access to existing tools like vaccines, spearheading new research and innovation to prevent, detecting and treating the various causes of the disease, and improving rehabilitation for those affected.”
Meningitis is a dangerous inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, predominantly caused by infection with bacteria and viruses.
Meningitis that is caused by bacterial infection tends to be the most serious – leading to around 250,000 deaths a year – and can cause fast-spreading epidemics. It kills 1 in 10 of those infected – mostly children and young people – and leaves 1 in 5 with long-lasting disability, such as seizures, hearing and vision loss, neurological damage, and cognitive impairment.
Over the last ten years, meningitis epidemics have occurred in all regions of the world, though most commonly in the ‘Meningitis Belt,’ which spans 26 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. These epidemics are unpredictable, can severely disrupt health systems, and create poverty – generating catastrophic expenditures for households and communities.
“More than half a billion Africans are at risk of seasonal meningitis outbreaks but the disease has been off the radar for too long,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
“This shift away from firefighting outbreaks to strategic response can’t come soon enough. This roadmap will help protect the health and lives of hundreds of thousands of families who every year fear this disease.”
Several vaccines protect against meningitis, including meningococcal, Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal vaccines. However, not all communities have access to these lifesaving vaccines, and many countries are yet to introduce them into their national programmes.
While research is underway to develop vaccines for other causes of meningitis, such as Group B Strep bacteria, there remains an urgent need for innovation, funding and research to develop more meningitis-preventive vaccines. Efforts are also needed to strengthen early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for all those who need it after contracting the disease.
“This roadmap is the embodiment of the ambition of people and families affected around the world who have called for its creation.
It’s their experience and passion that has driven a whole community of interest to get this far,” said Vinny Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Meningitis Research Foundation and the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO), an international membership organization of patient advocacy groups for meningitis. “We celebrate together the common goal of defeating meningitis and will be led by their inspiration to make it happen.”
The new Roadmap details the following priorities for meningitis response and prevention:
Achievement of high immunization coverage, development of new affordable vaccines, and improved prevention strategies and outbreak response; Speedy diagnosis and optimal treatment for patients; Good data to guide prevention and control efforts; Care and support for those affected, focusing on early recognition and improved access to care and support for after-effects, and Advocacy and engagement, to ensure high awareness of meningitis, accountability for national plans, and affirmation of the right to prevention, care and after-care services. WHO and partners are providing support to countries to implement the Roadmap, including through the development of regional and national frameworks that will help countries achieve its ambitious goals.
Partner quotes
“The Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis demonstrates what can be accomplished when a global need is met with global action,” said Nikolaj Gilbert, President and CEO of PATH. “Progress against meningitis has lagged for too long; by working together, we can overcome the disease that has cost so many lives in countries around the world. PATH is proud to have been a part of the roadmap’s development and is committed to advancing affordable and equitable vaccine solutions to defeat meningitis.”
“We must be united in our efforts to end all preventable childhood diseases, including bacterial meningitis,” said Dr. Aboubacar Kampo, Director of Health Programmes at UNICEF. “UNICEF has been supporting governments for decades, facilitating the delivery of life-saving meningitis vaccines. Still, far too many children are succumbing to this and other preventable diseases – and the situation is only worsening as a result of the pandemic.
We need to act decisively to strengthen primary health care and get routine immunization back on track, before more children face adverse health outcomes – or loss of life – inflicted by meningitis and other preventable infectious diseases.”
“Although the main burden of meningitis is in poor countries, acute bacterial meningitis is a global problem with no country being spared its devastating impact,” said Professor Sir Brian Greenwood, Professor of Clinical Tropical Medicine at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and co-chair of the Task Force supporting the implementation of the roadmap. “Thus, containing this serious group of infections needs a global response. This is what the roadmap sets out to achieve, bringing together – under the umbrella of WHO – health professionals from across the world to bring this condition under control by 2030.”
“The Meningitis Roadmap provides a clear blueprint for defeating this devastating disease,” said Professor Robert Heyderman, Head of the Research Department of Infection at University College London. “Crucially it identifies the gaps in our knowledge and the tools required. To achieve the Road Map’s ambitious goals, a team approach will bring together countries, global policymakers, civil society, funders, researchers, public health specialists, healthcare workers and industry to generate and implement innovative new strategies.
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala says the Zanu PF regime has brought sanctions to the country through flagrant violation of human rights.
The fearless politician accused Zanu PF of killing innocent citizens.
“It must be known to the pple of Zim that sanctions were brought in our country by ZANU PF, thru it’s human rights abuses, torture and murdering of its pple.
Oppah Muchunguri, Chris Mutsvangwa were very clear. It is ZANU PF that hs failed to stop them. They must go 4 sanctions to go,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.
He added: “When we say that ZANU PF is a terrorist organisation,this is what we mean. They are gathered at Maungwa Business Centre to attack and disrupt the legitimate campaigns of our President.
No matter what, ZANU PF will fall. The time for pple 2 revenge thru ballot is fast approaching.”
Hon Sikhala also scoffed at attempts by the regime to cause disharmony in the MDC Alliance by claiming he is harbouring presidential ambitions.
“ZANU PF dogs in their desperation force marched pple to carry placards reading Job Wiwa Sikhala for MDC President so as to build the narrative that their disruption of our President Adv Nelson Chamisa’s legitimate blitz selling our policies appears as internal conflict. Stupid!!!”
ZANU PF dogs in their desperation force marched pple to carry placards reading Job Wiwa Sikhala for MDC President so as to build the narrative that their disruption of our President Adv Nelson Chamisa's legitimate blitz selling our policies appears as internal conflict. Stupid!!! pic.twitter.com/wkD3mRFOfw
Chivhu – A man has been arrested and is being charged with murder after he struck and killed his friend with an iron bar following a misunderstanding over a woman that they were both allegedly in love with. The incident happened at a bottle store in Beatrice last Monday.
Watmore Chikweye (22) of Chaitemura Street, Zengeza 1 Chitungwiza hit Daveen Chisepete (24) of 1917 Beatrice location with an iron bar several times on the chest and Chisepete died on the spot. Mash East Police spokesperson Inspector Felix Chazovachii confirmed the case to The Mirror.
Sources said that the two were having a beer drink at a bottle store in Beatrice when they had a misunderstanding over Sibongile Muzanga whom they both were in love with.
They started fighting and Chikweye picked up an iron bar and struck Chisepete several times on the chest. The accused tried to flee from the scene but was apprehended by members of the public who handed him over ZRP Beatrice. Chisepete’s body was taken to Chitungwiza Mortuary for postmortem.- The Mirror
By A Correspondent- The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has advised teachers who are yet to be vaccinated against the coronavirus to report for duty on Monday (tomorrow), as usual.
In a statement, PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said teachers should not listen to “unsubstantiated utterances” by some government officials that those who have not received COVID-19 vaccines will be barred from their workplaces on Monday.
Said Zhou
We have read in the press and from unsubstantiated utterances by government officials that non vaccinated civil servants must stop reporting for work forthwith.
As PTUZ we encourage teachers to be vaccinated but by no means should such encouragement be misconstrued for mandatory vaccination, but voluntary vaccination.
The quandary over the issue of vaccination is that there was never an engagement between government as employer and civil servants representatives (employees), particularly teacher unions. The order is therefore a unilateral declaration by the government.
He said according to standard operational procedures, education officials should communicate directly with the unvaccinated teachers and order them to stop coming to work. Added Zhou:
In terms of standard operational procedures, unvaccinated teachers must continue to report for work until they receive communiques specifically in their names informing them to stop coming for work. Verbal instructions from school heads are invalid.
Zhou, who is also a senior MDC Alliance official, said school heads should compile lists of all unvaccinated teachers at their respective schools, capture the reasons for non-vaccination and send them to districts for onward conveyance to province, Head Office and the Public Service Commission (PSC) and wait for formal instructions from these respectable offices.
The deadline for civil servants to get vaccinated lapsed last Friday with indications that the government would terminate contracts of those that have not been fully vaccinated.
Public Service Minister Paul Mavima said civil servants with genuine reasons for not being vaccinated will be given time to get jabbed.
Health Ministry Secretary, Jasper Chimedza, said that unvaccinated civil servants would be sacked as per some provisions of Statutory Instrument 234 of 2021.-statemedia
Police in Bulawayo have been accused of shooting a 16-year-old girl and refusing to assist the family take her to hospital.
