By A Correspondent- Some alleged Bakers Inn cash sale receipts exposing shocking parallel market rate have gone viral on social media.

The receipts from the food outlet’s Zvishavane branch show that the parallel rate is now at US$1 to RTGS200.

“This is a lesson to politicians that the economy is not run through propaganda, lies & threats. As the Ghanaian VP said, if you are in doubt of what’s happening, check the exchange rate,” read some comments on social media on the sad reality.

Case Alert

6 October 2021

LRF AND WCOZ MOUNT ANTI-CHILD MARRIAGES CAMPAIGN

A MASVINGO resident and two human rights organisations have asked the High Court to order Marange Apostolic Church of St Johanne and the Apostolic Churches Council to mount a campaign denouncing the pervasive practice of child marriages.

In an application filed recently at Harare High Court, Sharon Moffat, a resident of Masvingo, Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) and Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) want Marange Apostolic Church of St Johanne and the Apostolic Churches Council to be ordered to publish at every shrine or every place of worship, a message for 19 consecutive weeks, clarifying, for the benefit of their congregants and adherents, that the marrying or giving in marriage of girl children is not an aspect of their respective faiths and should not be committed in the name of their religion.

Moffat, LRF and WCoZ also want the High Court to order Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Hon. Kazembe Kazembe, Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Hon. Sithembiso Nyoni, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Gender Commission and Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, to take steps to bring to an end the practice of marrying and giving in marriage of girl children in Marange Apostolic Church of St Johanne and in Independent African Apostolic Churches represented by Apostolic Churches Council.

The trio want Zimbabwean authorities to conduct an identification of children married in terms of the practice, their removal, from such marriages and placement in places of safety established in terms of the Children’s Act for their rehabilitation.

They also want the activation of the criminal justice system against all men who have married or otherwise have had sexual intercourse with minor children in the name of religion post the decision of the Constitutional Court in Mudzuru and Another v Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Others in Case No. CCZ-12-15 and the publication of a summary of the declaraturs in all national newspapers and on all national radio stations in all vernacular languages.

Moffat, LRF, which is a law-based human rights organisation and WCoZ, a network of women’s organisations involved in the preservation and protection of women’s rights including the rights of children are represented by Paidamoyo Saurombe of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Advocate Thabani Mpofu, Advocate Regina Bwanali and Advocate Choice Damiso.

Marange Apostolic Church of St Johanne, Apostolic Churches Council, Chiwenga, Ziyambi, Kazembe, Nyoni, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Gender Commission and Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission are cited as respondents to the application.

The applicants argued that some members of the Marange Apostolic Church of St Johanne church have taken to marrying and marrying off girl children falsely claiming such practice to be part of their religious beliefs while such a breach has also taken root in most church organisations represented by Apostolic Churches Council.

Moffat, LRF and WCoZ accused Marange Apostolic Church of St Johanne and Apostolic Churches Council of not taking a position to affirm their true beliefs and faith and to disassociate themselves from their adherents who violate the law in their name.

Marange Apostolic Church of St Johanne and Apostolic Churches Council, Moffat, LRF and WCoZ argued, had accommodated the criminal practices and given the impression that they not only tolerate them, but that those practices constitute a fundamental component of their faith.

Moffat, LRF and WCoZ want the High Court to declare that the practice of marrying and marrying off girl children to be declared as not an essential element of the religious beliefs of Marange Apostolic Church of St Johanne and the organisations represented by Apostolic Churches Council and for such practice to be declared to be in breach of
sections 19(1), 19(2)(a), 19(2)(d), 19(3)(b)(iii), 26(a), 26(b), 27(2), 51, 53, 78(1), 78(2), 80(3), 81(1)(d), 81(1)(e) and 81(2) of the Constitution.

By A Correspondent- Makhadzi has announced that she will be performing in Harare, Zimbabwe for the first time today.

She shared the good news on her Instagram page as she was just about to leave the country at the OR Tambo Airport this morning.

Off to Zimbwambwe.. today I will be performing in harare for the first time … #africanqueen

Makhadzi’s performance in Harare comes at the backdrop of unpleasant developments during her Malawi tour.  A photographer shared pictures of her dark inner thighs on social media giving trolls an opportunity to body shame her.

She humbly apologised to her fans for the pictures.

By A Correspondent- Following reports that local DNA specialist, Tinashe Mugabe stole the DNA show idea from a Facebook user only identified as Tanaka Vibes Dube,  Madam Boss has come out to confirm the allegations.

The popular comedienne commented on Tanaka Vibes Dube’s Facebook post confirming that Tanaka and his team were working on a reality show titled  “Baba Ndiani” before Tinashe Mugabe stole their show idea.

Tanaka claims he and his colleagues approached Tinashe Mugabe and asked him to collaborate with them on their show titled “Baba Ndiani.”

He, however, alleges that after meeting up with him, Tinashe Mugabe went behind their back and did the show without them or communicating with them first.

Responding to Tanaka’s allegations, Madam Boss wrote;

“Tanaka Vibes Dube I remember kuti maive nemapurisa team yema therapist and also accommodation for vanenge vanzi chibva pano nemwana wako.

You had huge plans

But nevertheless ngatiitei jika majika”

Madam Boss praised Tanaka for being super talented. She also advised him to bury the hatchet and create another show and possibly try and collaborate with Tinashe Mugabe again.

“Hahahah it’s ok My brother I know you are super talented, create something else hamumbo pererwe nema ideas.

Talk to him mmuite mese if it’s ok with him… but pafeya ummm dai ndakazoita ndirini ndaitakwa nemabwe,”she added.

Madam Boss was supposed to be the host of  “Baba Ndiani” reality show before Tinashe Mugabe allegedly stole their idea.

At the time of publishing, Tinashe still hadn’t responded to the allegations levelled against him by Tanaka Vibes Dube and his colleagues.

By A Correspondent- Local educators yesterday said there was nothing to celebrate during this year’s World Teachers’ Day commemorations, but applauded plans by the Rwandan government to recruit qualified teachers from Zimbabwe.

They said Rwanda’s proposal would generate foreign currency through exporting knowledge.

Teachers lamented deteriorating working conditions and slave wages, calling on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to urgently look into their plight.

“It is sad to note that government continues to ignore teachers’ grievances,” Amalgamated Rural Teachers of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said.

“Government should remunerate teachers and capacitate our institutions before entering into these bilateral agreements. This will create further teacher shortages in the country since the type of teachers that are needed in Rwanda are the same type of teachers that are in critical shortage here.”

Teachers have been demanding a pay rise, denominated in United States dollars from their employer, a demand government says will plunge the country into an economic crisis.

Last week, Rwanda President Paul Kagame announced during the Rwanda-Zimbabwe Trade and Investment Conference that he intended to recruit Zimbabwean teachers to revamp his country’s education sector.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said it was a welcome move as Rwanda had a shortage of Science and English teachers.

“This should be a government-to-government agreement and will generate foreign currency for the country. Teachers will also learn a lot from Rwanda since it is more advanced than us in terms of technology,” he said.

However, Ndlovu said Zimbabwe would experience brain drain and would need to come up with strategies to train more teachers.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Bulawayo provincial chairperson Vusumuzi Mahlangu said: “Government should officialise such programmes because if it does so, a lot of teachers would want to go to Rwanda. The government is ill-treating teachers. It does not treasure them. This is a situation where another country is seeing gold out of Zimbabwean teachers.”

Mahlangu said some qualified teachers were on the streets seeking to supplement their incomes, while others were unemployed.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Enerst Makwembe (21) was killed by a 32 year old man only identified as Gumede at Unit J shops in Chitungwiza around 9pm on Sunday.

Sources privy to the development said Makwembe was murdered for spilling Gumede’s beer in a glass bottle.

Said the source:

“The late Makwembe broke a glass belonging to Gumede and this did not go down with him. People tried to restrain Gumede and it looked like the two had found each other before Gumede just took the broken glass and charged at Makwembe and he sliced his throat using the broken glass. He collapsed and died instantly.”

Residents here were baying for Gumede’s blood when he was brought at the murder scene by the police Tuesday, ZimEye can reveal.

“Gumede must thank the police because the people here would have killed him because of what he did. Residents here are bitter,” added another source.

Gumede is set to appear at court facing murder charges.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust has declared that MDC T’s call for postponement of elections is unconstitutional.

MDC T said elections should be cancelled to create space for the implementation of reforms.

According to Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust, such utterances are dangerous and reckless.

Below is ZEAT’s statement:

MDC T’s proposal for the scrapping of both impending by-elections and 2023 general elections is despicably startling,mind boggling and reckless.

As ZEAT we condemn such wayward and malicious statements from a party that also aspires for higher politcal office.

Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy and has been religiously holding periodic democratic elections as espoused in the constitution since independence..Such crass and irresponsible comments have a propensity of causing panic and despodency among our peace loving population. ZEAT…. fostering democratic elections!

Register to vote Zim!

By A Correspondent-Harare City Council (City of Harare) says it has issued 48-hour notices to hundreds of people settled on the Mbudzi interchange road reserve.

In a statement this Tuesday, CoH urged the affected people to remove their structures within two days or the council will send bulldozers to “assist” them. 

The statement read:

Council has served 48-hour notices to over 320 people settled on the Mbudzi interchange road reserve.

The notices encourage the residents to remove their structures without council assistance which normally comes in the form of dozers.

The road interchange is a national project. Affected residents will be allocated space elsewhere. A committee to address the issue is working on the matter.

Last month the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Tedious Chinyanga, told The Herald that Mbudzi roundabout, located in southern Harare, needed to be converted into an interchange where traffic flows without interruption.

Chinyanga said the ministry had engaged the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe and Zimre Holdings in their quest to raise funding which would come as a bond. He said:

In terms of the Mbudzi roundabout, we are discussing with a financial institution that has expressed interest in putting forward a loan or funding to Treasury in order to quicken up the process of constructing that interchange because it would be bad planning on our part if we complete the road without having put up the interchange.

… We have IDBZ and Zimre Holdings leading the process. They made a presentation to Treasury.

As Ministry of Transport, we are happy with the progress but there are a few things which they have to deal with Treasury for final approval and concurrence but the pace we are moving at is good.

Mbudzi roundabout is at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze Road, Chitungwiza Road and High Glen Road and these are the feeder roads from western Chitungwiza and a swathe of old and new suburbs into the city centre as well as national and regional traffic on the Harare-Masvingo route.

-Pindula

By A Correspondent- Former Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo has been removed from remand after the State submitted that it had no sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

Chombo, who is facing several corruption charges emanating from the Justice Uchena Report, was freed by Harare Provincial magistrate Stanford Mambanje.

Mambanje removed Chombo from remand and advised the State to proceed by way of summons if they need Chombo back in court.

That was after prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti proposed to proceed by way of summons saying there was no sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

Chombo recently challenged remand on his latest allegations arguing there was no formal complaint against him in the matter.

He is accused of criminal abuse of office after he allegedly allocated himself more than 125 residential stands without authority during his time as a cabinet minister.

On the criminal abuse of office charges, it is alleged he created a bank account in his name where housing cooperatives deposited money.

He challenged the State to provide the quantum of prejudice for the allegedly committed crime some 15 years ago.

Chombo told the court that the bank account number cited by the State was in fact not his, adding that not a single housing cooperative was registered in his name.

He said he only had one property with title deeds in his name.

Last month, Chombo was acquitted in a case he was accused of unlawfully wearing Zanu PF party regalia.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Police in Bindura allegedly pounced on a number of Zanu PF supporters who were conducting a restructuring exercise in Bindura and heavily assaulted before arresting some of them in retaliation of their colleague who had been assaulted the previous day.

The police who were clad in riot gear used tear smoke before assaulting the ruling party officials who were led by Shamva based Chairwoman Phamhidzayi Chirimuuta who confirmed the incident.

Chirimuuta told NewsDay that the charged officers heavily assaulted them and picked some of their youths who are yet to be released.

“We were at the business centre conducting our restructuring exercise when charged police officers came and tear gassed us saying one of their colleague was assaulted at the same venue on Sunday so they assaulted us and picked some of our youths,” confirmed Chirimuuta.

“One of our former youth chairman Sydney Mashongeka was picked by the police and he is yet to be released.”

She further claimed that the police came loaded in three vehicles a Toyota Wish, Honda Fit and a Kombi.

Effort to contact police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi were fruitless.

Meanwhile, ZANU PF officials fought on Saturday in Bindura on factional grounds during district elections.- Bulawayo24

By Patrick Guramatunhu- There are many reasons why Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess. Many of those reasons will have something to do with the nation’s inability to focus on the important matters; we have a fixation with trivial matters. 

“WE’RE READY!” announced Nelson Chamisa on his Twitter account.

“In 1980, Mugabe was 56, Banana 44, Mnangagwa 37, Rex 31, Tongo would’ve been 42, Joyce 25, Zvinavashe 36, Oppah 22 and Sekuru Chiwenga 23. They were ready to serve and so are we. 

“Why do some people think that OUR GENERATION is not ready? We’re ready! And it’s now our turn! Theirs was liberating. Ours is transforming and democratizing.”

For the umpteenth time Chamisa; leadership is not about age, race, gender, who did what during the liberation war, etc., etc. None of these things matter not at all!

Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies were young, they had fought in the war of liberation, etc., etc.; ticking all the boxes according to your criterions, they were ready. And yet that did not stop the onset of the gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and the murderous tyrannical oppression that have been the hallmark of the Zanu PF dictatorship. 

The economic and political rot we see today started with the Zanu PF decision to deny the people of Zimbabwe a meaningful rig the 1980 elections  by threatening the bush war will continue if the party lost the elections.

Once in power they consolidated the iron grip on power by systematically undermining and corrupting every state institution and sector of society to impose the de facto one-party, Zanu PF, dictatorship that has ruled the nation with an iron fist and ruined it. 

The suggestion that Nelson Chamisa and his MDC friends should be allowed to govern because they are young is plan foolish. Zimbabwe’s rot started way back in 1980 when the nation gained her independence and Mugabe and company were young.

So if the youth Mugabe and company failed to deliver economic prosperity what is so different with Chamisa and company to guarantee they are not as corrupt and incompetent as Mugabe and company?

The nation must be reminded at this point that Chamisa and company have been on the national political stage for 22 years, 5 of which in the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Chamisa and his MDC friends were elected into office for a very specific purpose – to implement the democratic reforms to dismantle the de facto one-party dictatorship. 

Zanu PF is still in power today because MDC leaders have failed to implement even one token democratic change in 22 years. 

Worse still, MDC leaders have now abandon the cause of implementing the reforms to ensure free, fair and credible elections. 

SADC leaders’ warned the MDC leaders not to participate in 2013 elections without first implementing the reforms to stop Zanu PF rigging. “If you go into the elections next month, you will lose. The elections are done!” SADC leaders told Tsvangirai and company to their faces.

MDC leaders ignored the warning and Zanu PF went on to blatantly rig the 2013 elections. Tsvangirai and company should have learned the lesson and demand the reforms before elections; they did not because the repeated the same mistake in 2018. 

Zanu PF has been in power for 41 years and counting because Zanu PF rigged the elections and not because some mythical individuals decided Chamisa and his generation were not ready.

One Twitter user quizzed Nelson Chamisa on this very important point, asking him if he has, “considered the “rigging” in 2023? Surely you or any other can’t win as all elections in Zimbabwe (are) rigged.”

“Once cheated twice wiser!” replied Chamisa, with his usual dismissive arrogance.

The problem was not just one of Zanu PF rigging elections and getting back into power but, worst of all, by participating in the flawed and illegal elections, MDC was giving credibility to the flawed process and, by extension, legitimacy to the vote rigging Zanu PF.

The people of Zimbabwe are desperate for meaningful democratic change that will restore the people’s basic freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful vote and even the right to life itself. Stopping the curse of rigged elections and bad governance is the number one priority because other changes such as economic recovery will only follow if there is good governance. 

So the people of Zimbabwe are looking for the leaders; it does not matter their age (after all the government is elected for a fixed five year term), gender, etc.; who will implement the democratic reforms and end the curse of rigged elections. 

“Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people,” said the Greek Philosopher Socrates.

Nelson Chamisa and his MDC friends are obsessed about trivial matters so obsessed they are incapable of thinking of anything else; even when it is brought to their attention repeatedly!

“Once cheated twice wiser!” How many times did Robert Mugabe “cheat”Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his two Deputy PM, 30 MDC ministers and deputy ministers,160 MDC MPs and Senators into forgetting to implement even one token reform in the five long GNU years? And this was the primary purpose of the GNU for Pete’s sake!

By A Correspondent- Schools have remained COVID-19 hotspots despite a downward trend in new infections recorded throughout the country in the past week, government has said.

Government yesterday extended the level two lockdown by a further two weeks, but opened licensed bars for vaccinated patrons only.

New cases reported in schools fell to 815 last week compared to 1 267 in the previous week after the Health and Child Care ministry recently cordoned off boarding schools.

In a post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said government would continue to strengthen all public health institutions ahead of a possible fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The number of new infections decreased during the week under review, despite the slight increase in new cases in learning institutions,” she said.

The daily average of new cases dropped to 238 per day from 246, the previous week.

Regarding case management, infection, prevention and control, the number of people in need of hospitalisation for COVID-19 continues to fall, with the country’s bed occupancy rate decreasing from 4,62% the previous week to 4,3% during the week under review.

Last week, 94 new admissions were recorded, with six patients placed under intensive care.

On bars, Mutsvangwa said owners who violated the COVID-19 health protocols risked losing licences.

“Cabinet notes, with concern, that the continued closure of licensed bars and nightclubs has caused not only a loss of income and unemployment, but also resulted in the mushrooming of illegal outlets,” she said.

“Cabinet, therefore, directed that all licensed bars be opened to fully vaccinated clients. Bar owners are also required to ensure that the World Health Organisation and national protocols and guidelines are enforced, failure of which their licences will be withdrawn. The bars are also required to adhere to curfew hours.”-newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF has been accused of interfering in Mutare City Council operations after the ruling party youths forcibly allocated themselves vending stalls at Chidzere flea market in the city last Thursday.

This was after youths led by outspoken Zanu-PF Mutare district co-ordinating committee secretary for youths affairs Danmore Mambondiyani stormed the flea market and allocated themselves stands.

Mambondiyani was armed with a letter from Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Nokuthula Matsikenyere addressed to Mutare City Council saying the youths should be allocated space at the flea market.

The letter, dated September 14, addressed to acting town clerk Tinashe Mtetwa stated: “The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Nokuthula Matsikenyere is kindly requesting the allocation of flea markets for the under-listed youths, your usual assistance will be greatly appreciated.”

Mambondiyani yesterday defended their action saying they did not interfere with council operations.

He said Matsikenyere met Mutare City Council and the Joint Operations Command and it was decided that 160 spaces should be allocated to them.

“The background of the matter is that we had clashes with Mutare City Council over the allocation of stands and this led Matsikenyere, the Joint Operation Command, and Mutare City Council to have a meeting where it was agreed that we were going to allocate 20% of the flea market space,” he said, adding that the youths had been ordered to pay registration fees.

However, council has remained adamant saying out of 624 spaces at the flea market, 234 of them had already been reserved for people who were previously occupying the spaces.

“Zanu-PF is interfering in the operations of our council by allocating themselves stands. The party is now doing council business and all the people who were allocated stalls are not on the council’s waiting list,” a source said.

According to latest council minutes, mayor Blessing Tandi directed the heads of department that: “I refer to the 1 289th ordinary full council meeting held on September 29, 2021, that council set aside 200 flea market stands at Chidzere flea market which will be allocated through the mayor’s office to special interest groups such as the youths, people living with disability and women, and that the remaining flea market stands will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.”

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Former Bulawayo deputy mayor Alderman Amen Mpofu, who succumbed to a kidney ailment on Friday, was laid to rest at the Lady Stanley Cemetery in the city yesterday.

Mpofu died at Mpilo Central Hospital at the age of 67.

Before his burial, the Bulawayo City Council held a special meeting in his honour, where mayor Solomon Mguni said Mpofu first became councillor in 2003.

Mguni said Mpofu was re-elected in 2008 to 2013, and during those years, he served as deputy mayor.

“He was elevated to the dignity of alderman in May 2018,” he said.

“His death comes as a shock and has left a vacuum which the city will not be able to fill for many years to come. The city has lost a gallant son and dedicated leader,” Mguni said.

Mpofu is survived by four children and several grandchildren.

Other former councillors and aldermen described Mpofu as a fearless man who was honest and shunned corruption at all costs.

Former mayor Thaba Moyo said he worked with Mpofu as his deputy and knew him as a no-nonsense man who always stood his ground.

“One day when we were in an inauguration meeting with former Minister of Local Government, Ignatius Chombo, he challenged him for being insensitive about Bulawayo issues after he (Chombo) delayed approval of the Bulawayo budget,” Moyo said.

A funeral service was also held at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre to allow residents to pay their last respects to their late leader.

The service was attended by several MDC Alliance members, among them Thabitha Khumalo.

By A Correspondent- The European Union (EU) has maintained a tough stance on Zimbabwe saying that the southern African country must fully implement the 2018 election observer mission recommendations (EOM) before the 2023 polls.

This was after Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs minister Frederick Shava on Monday met the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen for the first time in Brussels where the EU reiterated calls for electoral and economic reforms.

In a tweet yesterday, Urpilainen said:  “First meeting with FM Zimbabwe @ShavaHon. A comprehensive discussion covering bilateral relations, COVID-19 response, future co-operation and complex regional situations.  I reiterated the need to fully implement political and economic reforms, including EOM recommendations.”

In a preliminary statement after the disputed 2018 polls, the EU observer mission noted electoral malpractices such as “bias in State media” in favour of Zanu-PF, adding this meant “that a truly level playing field was not achieved.”

Urpilainen, a former Finland Deputy Prime Minister and Finance minister respectively, oversees the EU Commission’s work on international c-operation and sustainable development.

Human rights groups and the opposition have accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government of being reluctant to implement reforms despite promises to do so.

Some of the reforms include the need to implement recommendations by the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry which investigated the post-election violence of August 1, 2018, including ensuring that those responsible for abuses are held accountable.

Last week, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network which has been tracking progress on the implementation of the EOM recommendations, expressed concern that “most remain unattended at a time when Zimbabwe is barely two years away from yet another set of harmonised elections in 2023.”

Opposition MDC Alliance’s secretary for international relations Gladys Hlatshwayo yesterday welcomed Urpilainen’s demands for electoral reforms

“The authoritarian consolidation in Zimbabwe is extremely worrying, shrinking democratic space, weaponising the law against opponents and human rights defenders, attempts to destroy the opposition, and undemocratic amendments of the Constitution,” Hlatshwayo said.

But Zanu-PF acting spokesperson Mike Bimha said electoral reforms did not happen overnight.

Bimha said the reform agenda was already in place, adding that critics were not aware of the procedures and processes that government had to follow in implementing the reforms.

“The issue is that when you are not in government, it is very easy to criticise. When you are in government, you also realise that things don’t just happen. There are procedures and processes that have to be followed, and those things take time; they don’t happen overnight,” Bimha said.

“What we are happy about is that the government is keen on re-engagement and reforms. We are seeing reforms; the reform agenda is there to stay and we are happy with the pace.”-newsday

By A Correspondent- A woman dumped a two-week-old baby at Mbare Musika Long-distance Bus Terminus around 3 PM on Monday afternoon, police have confirmed.

The woman, whose identity could not be ascertained, had boarded an Inter Africa Bus that was loading passengers at the bustling terminus when she left the baby with a fellow passenger.

According to a police statement, the woman asked a fellow passenger aged 33 to keep a baby while she did a few errands.

She, however, left for good and did not return to the bus leading to a police report being lodged.

The police subsequently took the baby to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital for further management.

Police said in the statement:

The ZRP is investigating a case of baby dumping which occurred at Mbare Musika, Hre on 04/10/21 at 1500 hours, where an unknown woman boarded an Inter Africa bus before asking a fellow passenger (33) to keep a baby (approximately two weeks old).

The woman did not return to take the baby leading to a Police report being lodged. Meanwhile, Police took the baby to Sally Mugabe Hospital for further management.

In an unrelated development, police arrested Michael Mazenge (25) in connection with a case of attempted murder that occurred at Western Triangle, Highfield, Harare on Monday.

Mazenge was badly attacked by a mob after he struck an unnamed individual with a stone on the head in an attempt to rob him of his belongings

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance member Gift Konjana yesterday again lost his bid to reclaim the Chegutu West parliamentary seat after the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) dismissed his appeal challenging the legitimacy of Zanu-PF’s Dexter Nduna as the legislator of the constituency.

Konjana had appealed to the ConCourt after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) erroneously announced Nduna as the duly elected MP after he lost to Konjana in the 2018 harmonised elections.

ConCourt judges Justices Paddington Garwe, Anne-Mary Gowora and Ben Hlatswayo ruled that Konjana failed to provide evidence to persuade the court to rule in his favour.

Zec announced Nduna as the winner with 10 932 votes against Konjana with 10 828 votes in the 2018 polls, but later admitted to having made an error.

Konjana then appealed to the Supreme Court, but Justices Antonia Guvava, Bharat Patel and Francis Bere ruled that his petition to challenge Nduna’s victory in the July 2018 elections was filed after the prescribed three-month period had lapsed.

By A Correspondent- Enerst Makwembe (21) was killed by a 32 year old man only identified as Gumede at Unit J shops in Chitungwiza around 9pm on Sunday.

Sources privy to the development said Makwembe was murdered for spilling Gumede’s beer in a glass bottle.

Said the source:

“The late Makwembe broke a glass belonging to Gumede and this did not go down with him. People tried to restrain Gumede and it looked like the two had found each other before Gumede just took the broken glass and charged at Makwembe and he sliced his throat using the broken glass. He collapsed and died instantly.”

Residents here were baying for Gumede’s blood when he was brought at the murder scene by the police Tuesday, ZimEye can reveal.

“Gumede must thank the police because the people here would have killed him because of what he did. Residents here are bitter,” added another source.

Gumede is set to appear at court facing murder charges.

By A Correspondent- Four people were killed in South Africa’s Limpopo Province on Saturday when a wall collapsed on guests during a lobola ceremony in GaChuene Thokgwaneng.

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said the police in Lebowakgomo have opened an inquest docket and had identified the deceased as Tiisetso Bushy Macheka, 36, Lesego Ribisi of Hwelereng village, 18, Phinias Maripane Kganyago of Gamashashane and Samson Sambo, who died at Lebowakgomo hospital.

Family spokesperson and brother to the bride, Phinias Yika said they were still in shock following the incident. He said:

As the Yika family, we are still in shock about what happened on Saturday. It was supposed to be a celebration day as they were paying a bride price for my sister … it was a lobola negotiation ceremony.

Reports indicate that people attending the ceremony were seated in a tent that was positioned next to an unroofed building when strong winds blew.

The wall collapsed, killing three instantly and injuring several others. One of the injured later died in hospital.

Yika said the incident happened quickly. It was at about 5 pm when the wind started picking up. He said the tent was not hinged to the wall.

Said Yika:

It was 1.5m or 2m away from the wall. The wind was so strong and collapsed the wall. It fell on top of the tent while people were inside. It happened so fast.

After a few minutes, there was dust and we couldn’t see what happened, but we knew that there were people inside [the tent].

After getting a clear view of what happened, that is when we saw that there were people trapped inside and we tried to remove them.

Yika said the bride and her in-laws had already left when the incident occurred. He added:

For the lobola negotiations, we finished early, from about 12 pm to 1 pm. The in-laws said they were going to fetch their bride at about 5 pm.

Immediately after they left, the disaster started. They had already left with their bride and most of the people had left to accompany the bride.

The few who were remaining and were involved in the incident were the ones who were left behind.

Yika said it was not uncommon for roads in the area to be damaged and roofs to be blown away during windy and rainy weather.

Limpopo social development MEC Nkakareng Rakgoale sent her condolences to the families of the victims.

Department spokesperson Witness Tiva said a team of social workers had been deployed to provide psychosocial support to the families and other affected parties.-Timeslive

By A Correspondent- Another 47 people were blacklisted yesterday by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for operating on the foreign currency black market, taking to 77 the number of people whose bank and mobile money accounts have now been frozen and who are barred from operating any others for two years.

The freezing of bank accounts and mobile money accounts and the blacklisting for two years are part of the RBZ’s efforts to clamp down on the black market by removing the middlemen.

The black market is seen as subject to manipulation and profiteering by those who operate it with the rates generated each day having very little to do with actual market forces.

The first group of 30 were listed two weeks earlier on September 28.

In his statement announcing the new additions Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya thanked the public “who are coming forward with information that is helping the Financial Intelligence Unit to identify and take action against more culprits”.

The Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe has been asked to bar all those listed from operating mobile lines.

Dr Mangudya reminded the public that the Financial Intelligence Unit can be contacted on WhatsApp numbers 0714039897 or 0780434475.

As with the first list, there were no details of the people blacklisted except for their name, ID and telephone number.

The latest list of names, with IDs, is:

Fabiola Gonye 84-005045-F-19,
Cosmas Zishiri 08-803147-M-27,
Amon Innocent Dumba 08-050710-Q-80,
Macvenon Mutumbami 75-2009188-Q-75,
Fungai Chikonyora 63-592653-Y-32,
Betserai Munosunama 63-964786-Q-27,
Patrick Tsungai Manyepa 63-965840-L-71,
Tadiwanashe Mubaiwa 63-2297013-L-27,
Fungai Luwizhi 63-769984-Z-63,
Lovemore Muromowenyoka 63-1400713-X-34,
Astried Sigauke 75-313162-G-44,
Tawanda Stanley Chikwaira 43-047279-V-43,
Ishmael Munashe Sakondo 63-2022468-S-70,
Farai Gabriel Munemo 25-096872-H-59,
Tatenda Muchenje 63-1445775-C-47,
Tatenda Edwin Muswere 83-183494-Q-83,
Richard Zvinzveku 08-2115554-L-42,
Andy Makombore 75-2028257-S-75,
Cephas Manyepa 63-2298466-Q-38,
Delight Benge 42-182909-M-26,
Michael Kuhudzai 75-350326-C-75,
David Madhabha 66-062181-S-66,
Jonathan Nunurayi Kwapwanya 63-1431907-D-63,
Misheck Handreck 47-0145132-H-42,
Ranga Brian Muchemwa 63-2310265-Q-04,
Kudakwashe Kugura 63-1355165-N-34,
Nyasha Gundani 59-154712-Z-77,
Tinashe Chiza 63-1595105-S-42,
Melusi Mabhena 61-047532-M-73,
Henry Rwizi 44-046641-H-44,
Fannuel Nyamukondiwa 48-011983-M-48,
John Chikochi 63-932804-C-43,
Henry Tafadzwa Chaitezvi 63-2160934-Z-25,
Norman Chekufa Matsineyi 34-071099-C-34,
Beauty Sankulani 38-091086-D-38,
Alois Chikadza 63-2085499-E-71,
Gift Mabaudhi 63-108967-L-42,
Shupikai Glen Mudavanhu 58-195927-R-83,
Shingai Munashe 80-086071-B-80,
Shamhu Guni 83-126484-Y-83,
Kudzai Joy Chifamba 43-168233-R-80,
Militant Tendai Chikanya 63-1482774-T-18,
Archbald Takawira 58-268764-M-58,
White White 71-085510-H-71,
Yvonne Chipangura 42-230100-G-38,
Velinya Anusha Velinya 38-092456-S-38,
Christine Ngoshi 59-0067222-B-59.

By A Correspondent- About 30 residents of Old Citrus Farm in Mazowe say they are living in nearby mountains in fear of flamboyant businessman Phillip Chiyangwa, whom they claim has hired police officers to harass them.

The villagers have approached the High Court seeking an order to bar Chiyangwa, a Zanu-PF legislator for Zvimba South, from evicting them.

The residents claim that they are the rightful occupants of the land. They cited Chiyangwa, the Officer-In-Charge, Chinhoyi Rural Police Station, the Officer-In-Charge Chinhoyi Criminal Investigations Department and Lands minister Anxious Masuka as respondents in the application.

John Mabonde, who deposed the affidavit on behalf of the residents, stated that the attacks started nearly two weeks ago when Chiyangwa allegedly sent his manager, Tafadzwa Kwaramba, in the company of police officers to harass villagers.

“On September 24, around 0800hours, the first respondent (Chiyangwa)’s manager Tafadzwa Kwaramba in the company of police constables Mazviwanza, Sergeant Asami and others visited our homestead and started taking people into their truck indiscriminately,” Mabonde said.

He said they moved door-to-door, intimidated people, and searched and confiscated their cash and valuables, while others were arrested, taken to Chinhoyi Magistrates Court and charged with contravening section 3 of the Lands Act. They were released on $2 000 bail each.

Mabonde said the police visited them again on September 27 and evicted them without a court order.

He said in fear, some villagers ran away, while others have since camped in the mountains.

Mabonde also alleged that during the commotion, some residents were injured, but they failed to get treatment at clinics or hospitals because of the requirement to produce police reports.

The villagers want the High Court to declare Chiyangwa and the police’s action unlawful.

The matter is yet to be heard.-newsday

By A Correspondent- MDC-T founding member Amos Kaliati has written to Justice secretary Virginia Mabhiza, who is the head of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad), seeking to block MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora from joining the grouping before determination of a High Court application challenging the legitimacy of the party’s 2021 congress.

Kaliati, who is the party secretary for mines and mineral resources, last month filed papers at the High Court seeking to nullify the MDC-T’s extraordinary congress held on December 27, 2020 that elected Mwonzora as the party leader.

Mwonzora has declared interest in joining Polad, but on Tuesday, Kaliati wrote to Mabhiza arguing that Mwonzora had no legitimacy and authority to join Polad when the High Court application was still pending.

In the letter dated October 4, 2021 addressed to Mabhiza and to the Polad principals, Kaliati recognised 17 Polad principals, including the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe, who was ousted by Mwonzora in the December congress.

“I refer to the High Court application made in terms of Rule 59(1) in the matter between Amos Kaliati vs Movement for Democratic Change and others, Case No HC5074/21.

“This is a court application for a determination in terms of section 14 of the High Court Act [Chapter 7:06]. I have petitioned the honourable court to exercise its discretion in terms of [section 14] of the High Court Act [Chapter 7:06]. In particular, I am asking the court to inquire into and determine my existing, future or contingent rights as well as the obligations of the respondents in this matter,” Kaliati said.

In the letter, Kaliati stated that MDC-T party officials’ terms of office had lapsed and they had no legitimacy to deliberate on the possibility of Mwonzora joining Polad.

“The application seeks to determine the validity and the lawfulness of the extraordinary congress that elected senator Douglas Mwonzora as the leader of MDC-T and the legitimacy of other office holders in the MDC-T, especially noting that their terms of office have lapsed. It follows, therefore, that until the High Court determines this matter, Senator Mwonzora lacks legitimacy and authority to join Polad. Kindly, therefore, ignore any correspondence from senator Douglas Mwonzora regarding the above.”

But Mwonzora’s spokesperson Lloyd Damba said Kaliati was no longer part of the MDC party, hence he had no locus standi to take MDC-T members to court over party affairs.

“It is quite unfortunate that some people who have left the party and joined other political outfits for dirty silver coins think that they can distract us from our political programmes,” Damba said.

“However, it will not succeed. The strategy is to destabilise our party which he left when he held the position of district organising secretary to be appointed secretary for mines in another political outfit. The results of the extraordinary congress, which was conducted by an independent electoral management body, still stand and they have not been nullified. Until that changes, then it’s a different ball game altogether.”

-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has announced new fuel prices effective Tuesday, 5 October 2021.

According to a notice issued by the energy regulator on Tuesday night, the maximum pump price of diesel has been set at ZWL$122.13 or US$1.38 per litre while that of petrol has been capped at ZWL$123.71 or US$1.40 per litre.

This is a significant increase from the fuel prices for September. Last month ZERA set the cap for the price of diesel at ZWL$115.15 or US$1.34 per litre and petrol at ZWL$118.42 or US$1.38 per litre.

In its latest fuel price adjustment, ZERA said operators may sell at prices below the cap depending on their trading advantages.

By A Correspondent- The Constitutional Court has dismissed an appeal by Gift Konjana, a Douglas Mwonzora led MDC parliamentary candidate for Chegutu West in the 2018 elections, who was denied victory by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) due to a ballot counting error.

Konjana stood as an MDC Alliance candidate in Chegutu West in 2018 and won, but ZEC proceeded to pronounce ZANU PF’s Dexter Nduna as the winner wrongly.

Nduna was declared the winner in the contentious race, setting off a protracted court battle that would go through all relevant jurisdictions all the way to the top of the appeals process.

Soon after the results, Konjana demanded a recount which found that some of the votes cast for him had been allocated to Nduna.
While admitting its error, ZEC said it was powerless to reverse the outcome, which prompted Konjana to approach the Electoral Court.

However, in October 2018, Justice Mary Zimba-Dube dismissed his petition saying it was defective.
Konjana then took up the matter with the Supreme Court but was again turned down by Justices Bharat Patel and Chinembiri Bhunu.
Justice Patel admitted though that the appeal had merit, but said the case could not be heard because the appeal timeframe stipulated under the Electoral Act had elapsed.
Konjana then approached the Constitutional Court, arguing that the Supreme Court had violated his rights by not hearing him out.
The case was heard by Justices Garwe, Anne Mary Gowora, and Ben Hlatswayo.

Nduna, through his lawyers, countered in the Constitutional Court that Konjana’s electoral challenge had been legitimately rejected by the lower courts.
Justice Paddington Garwe led the Constitutional Court bench.

-Pindula

By A Correspondent- Former President Robert Mugabe’s top ally and former Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo has been spared from prison.

Chombo got the reprieve Tuesday after the State submitted that it had no sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

Chombo, who is facing several corruption charges emanating from the Justice Uchena Report, was freed by Harare Provincial magistrate Stanford Mambanje.

Mambanje removed Chombo from remand and advised the State to proceed by way of summons if they need Chombo back in court.
That was after prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti proposed to proceed by way of summons saying there was no sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
Chombo recently challenged remand on his latest allegations arguing there was no formal complaint against him in the matter.

He is accused of criminal abuse of office after he allegedly allocated himself more than 125 residential stands without authority during his time as a cabinet minister.

On the criminal abuse of office charges, it is alleged he created a bank account in his name where housing cooperatives deposited money.

He challenged the State to provide the quantum of prejudice for the allegedly committed crime some 15 years ago.

Chombo told the court that the bank account number cited by the State was in fact not his, adding that not a single housing cooperative was registered in his name.

He said he only had one property with title deeds in his name.

Last month, Chombo was acquitted in a case he was accused of unlawfully wearing Zanu PF party regalia.

-State media

By A Correspondent- The Constitutional Court has dismissed an appeal by Gift Konjana, an MDC Alliance parliamentary candidate for Chegutu West in the 2018 elections, who was denied victory by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) due to a ballot counting error.

Konjana stood as an MDC Alliance candidate in Chegutu West in 2018 and won, but ZEC proceeded to pronounce ZANU PF’s Dexter Nduna as the winner wrongly.

Nduna was declared the winner in the contentious race, setting off a protracted court battle that would go through all relevant jurisdictions all the way to the top of the appeals process.

Soon after the results, Konjana demanded a recount which found that some of the votes cast for him had been allocated to Nduna.
While admitting its error, ZEC said it was powerless to reverse the outcome, which prompted Konjana to approach the Electoral Court.

However, in October 2018, Justice Mary Zimba-Dube dismissed his petition saying it was defective.
Konjana then took up the matter with the Supreme Court but was again turned down by Justices Bharat Patel and Chinembiri Bhunu.
Justice Patel admitted though that the appeal had merit, but said the case could not be heard because the appeal timeframe stipulated under the Electoral Act had elapsed.
Konjana then approached the Constitutional Court, arguing that the Supreme Court had violated his rights by not hearing him out.
The case was heard by Justices Garwe, Anne Mary Gowora, and Ben Hlatswayo.

Nduna, through his lawyers, countered in the Constitutional Court that Konjana’s electoral challenge had been legitimately rejected by the lower courts.
Justice Paddington Garwe led the Constitutional Court bench.

-Pindula

By A Correspondent-Harare City Council (City of Harare) says it has issued 48-hour notices to hundreds of people settled on the Mbudzi interchange road reserve.

In a statement this Tuesday, CoH urged the affected people to remove their structures within two days or the council will send bulldozers to “assist” them. 

The statement read:

Council has served 48-hour notices to over 320 people settled on the Mbudzi interchange road reserve.

The notices encourage the residents to remove their structures without council assistance which normally comes in the form of dozers.

The road interchange is a national project. Affected residents will be allocated space elsewhere. A committee to address the issue is working on the matter.

Last month the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Tedious Chinyanga, told The Herald that Mbudzi roundabout, located in southern Harare, needed to be converted into an interchange where traffic flows without interruption.

Chinyanga said the ministry had engaged the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe and Zimre Holdings in their quest to raise funding which would come as a bond. He said:

In terms of the Mbudzi roundabout, we are discussing with a financial institution that has expressed interest in putting forward a loan or funding to Treasury in order to quicken up the process of constructing that interchange because it would be bad planning on our part if we complete the road without having put up the interchange.

… We have IDBZ and Zimre Holdings leading the process. They made a presentation to Treasury.

As Ministry of Transport, we are happy with the progress but there are a few things which they have to deal with Treasury for final approval and concurrence but the pace we are moving at is good.

Mbudzi roundabout is at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze Road, Chitungwiza Road and High Glen Road and these are the feeder roads from western Chitungwiza and a swathe of old and new suburbs into the city centre as well as national and regional traffic on the Harare-Masvingo route.

-Pindula

By A Correspondent- Former Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo has been removed from remand after the State submitted that it had no sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

Chombo, who is facing several corruption charges emanating from the Justice Uchena Report, was freed by Harare Provincial magistrate Stanford Mambanje.

Mambanje removed Chombo from remand and advised the State to proceed by way of summons if they need Chombo back in court.
That was after prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti proposed to proceed by way of summons saying there was no sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
Chombo recently challenged remand on his latest allegations arguing there was no formal complaint against him in the matter.

He is accused of criminal abuse of office after he allegedly allocated himself more than 125 residential stands without authority during his time as a cabinet minister.

On the criminal abuse of office charges, it is alleged he created a bank account in his name where housing cooperatives deposited money.

He challenged the State to provide the quantum of prejudice for the allegedly committed crime some 15 years ago.

Chombo told the court that the bank account number cited by the State was in fact not his, adding that not a single housing cooperative was registered in his name.

He said he only had one property with title deeds in his name.

Last month, Chombo was acquitted in a case he was accused of unlawfully wearing Zanu PF party regalia.

-State media

By A Correspondent- South Africa’s Public Health Department’s Directorate has started rejecting applications by health workers from Zimbabwe on grounds that its neighbour is currently facing a staff crisis due to migration.

This was revealed in a letter to some Zimbabwean applicants last week, which was signed by the South Africa public health director of workplace management, Sindile Sodladla.

“The government of South Africa is obliged to adhere to all the relevant protocols between member States of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), the African Union (AU) as well as World Health Organisation as it pertains to recruitment of health professionals from developing countries,” Sodladla wrote.

“These agreements, protocols and recruitment codes were designed to prevent the uncontrolled recruitment of health professionals from countries where the public health system is faced with huge staff shortages, particularly with regard to health professional occupations.”

Sodladla said all public health sector employment authorities subscribed to relevant agreements, protocols and recruitment codes.

“In view of the above, the department regrets to inform you that your application for endorsement towards registration and employment in South Africa was not successful. Your country, Zimbabwe, is not listed in the category of countries the RSA department of Health should recruit from,” Sodladla said.

He indicated that the copy of the letter would be submitted to the South Africa Immigration authorities, Department of Home Affairs as well as the South Africa Nursing Council.

“You are in your interest, advised to familiarise yourself with the relevant immigration legislation and not to depart to South Africa to promote your application for support. The department will not be in a position to reconsider your application, once you have arrived in the country,” Sodladla further stated.

Migrant Workers’ Association-South Africa (MWA-SA) chairman Butholezwe Nyathi confirmed that some of the health professionals from Zimbabwe received such letters after they applied to be registered in that country.

“We are further appalled by the re-introduction of this regulation that was adopted by the apartheid regime. This seeks to limit the international freedom of movement by the people. We wonder whether the leadership of the South African government and Sadc is pleased with the movement of the healthcare staff to the Western countries whereas they could be remaining in Africa to serve African people,” Nyathi said.

He said MWA-SA would continue engaging labour federations like the South African Federation of Trade Unions, and Congress of South African Trade Unions, among many others within the Sadc region, to create migrants’ desks in their affiliates.

Nyathi said this would ensure that they facilitate the organisation of migrants, including their movements within the Sadc region for better socio-economic activities.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enoch Dongo professed ignorance over the new development in South Africa.

He said if true, then it was against the Sadc and AU protocols on free movement and employment of Africans across the region.

“If it is true, I think it will be an issue of a department taking matters into its own hands, because we do not have any agreement to that effect in the Sadc and AU,” Dongo said.

“That is not in line with the protocol that we know (Sadc Protocol on Employment and Labour). We expect a protocol that allows people to move around and get jobs around the region. This has to be explained.”

Health deputy minister John Mangwiro said he was unable to immediately comment on the issue as he was locked in a meeting.

The Sadc Protocol on Employment and Labour (2014) enjoins member States to co-operate in all areas necessary to foster regional development and integration on the basis of balance, equity and mutual benefit, including labour, with reference to among others, social and human development, and social welfare.

By A Correspondent- Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Anxious Masuka has been fingered in a land scam after it emerged that he recently signed a land offer letter for Bornface Naison, a fugitive from the law who fled to South Africa 14 years ago.

Naison was arraigned before the courts in 2007 on allegations of stealing TelOne copper cables, a crime that attracts a 10-year jail term.

He was released on bail and immediately skipped the country and has never been in Zimbabwe since then.

Nhaka Yavatema, a co-operative of disabled people, has since approached the courts over the issue of the offer letter granted to Naison as it holds title to the same piece of land.

The case was heard at Chiredzi Magistrates Court in May where it emerged that despite being a suspect in a serious case and running away from the law, Naison was actually offered what is supposed to be free land by the State.

The 99-year lease signed by Masuka on 11 December 2020 is for 60 hectares at Sub Division 27 of the Hippo Valley North dry land.

Naison and a Chiredzi lawyer Dyson Chirima had filed papers in court to evict Nhaka Yavatema Co-operative members who are using the same land that the two were offered.

Naison is being represented in court by his wife Lorhinda Ingwani whom he gave the power of attorney.

Nhaka Yavatema produced a letter in court which shows that the co-operative was given the same land by Chiredzi Town Council.

The letter was signed by Edson Nyadenga, the council’s Environmental Health Officer.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has been investigating a number of cases where senior Government officials including politicians were fingered in illegal land sales.

The Government officials are accused of selling State land on a massive scale.

By A Correspondent | MDC-T leader, Douglas Mwonzora is no longer the party leader, a High Court applicant announced claiming yesterday.

An MDC T official, Mr Amos Kaliati told ZimEye yesterday, Mwonzora should no longer be called party leader. (Audio below).

He also added in a letter dated October 4, 2021 addressed to Polad secretary, Virginia Mabhiza and to the Polad principals. He addressed it to 17 Polad principals, including the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe, who was ousted by Mwonzora in the December congress.

“I refer to the High Court application made in terms of Rule 59(1) in the matter between Amos Kaliati vs Movement for Democratic Change and others, Case No HC5074/21.

“This is a court application for a determination in terms of section 14 of the High Court Act [Chapter 7:06]. I have petitioned the honourable court to exercise its discretion in terms of [section 14] of the High Court Act [Chapter 7:06]. In particular, I am asking the court to inquire into and determine my existing, future or contingent rights as well as the obligations of the respondents in this matter,” Kaliati said.

In the letter, Kaliati stated that MDC-T party officials’ terms of office had lapsed and they had no legitimacy to deliberate on the possibility of Mwonzora joining Polad.

“The application seeks to determine the validity and the lawfulness of the extraordinary congress that elected senator Douglas Mwonzora as the leader of MDC-T and the legitimacy of other office holders in the MDC-T, especially noting that their terms of office have lapsed. It follows, therefore, that until the High Court determines this matter, Senator Mwonzora lacks legitimacy and authority to join Polad. Kindly, therefore, ignore any correspondence from senator Douglas Mwonzora regarding the above.”

But Mwonzora’s spokesperson Lloyd Damba said Kaliati was no longer part of the MDC party, hence he had no locus standi to take MDC-T members to court over party affairs.

“It is quite unfortunate that some people who have left the party and joined other political outfits for dirty silver coins think that they can distract us from our political programmes,” Damba said.

“However, it will not succeed. The strategy is to destabilise our party which he left when he held the position of district organising secretary to be appointed secretary for mines in another political outfit. The results of the extraordinary congress, which was conducted by an independent electoral management body, still stand and they have not been nullified. Until that changes, then it’s a different ball game altogether.”

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that he is not yet mature to lead the nation.

The vibrant leader pointed out that Canaan Banana became President at 44 while Robert Mugabe assumed power as Prime Minister at 56.

President Chamisa wrote on Twitter:

WE’RE READY…In 1980,Mugabe was 56, Banana 44, Mnangagwa 37, Rex 31, Tongo would’ve been 42, Joyce 25,Zvinavashe 36, Oppah 22 and Sekuru Chiwenga 23.They were ready to serve and so are we.

Why do some people think that OUR GENERATION is not ready?We’re ready!And it’s now our turn!