SHURUGWI- A cheeky baboon in a troop marauding the mining town of Shurugwi lifted up a six-year old girl on Sunday, chewed up her buttocks before throwing her into the air.

Helen Chakauya has deep wounds and doctors had to cut out flesh from parts of her body to fill up the wounds.

Helen’s parents are now appealing for US$200 for the treatment of the child who is admitted at Makarima Hospital in Shurugwi.

Helen’s father, Lesson Chakauya of Ironsides, Shurugwi told The Mirror that his daughter was playing with other children outside the house when baboons came running their way.

The children panicked and ran towards the house but one baboon turned on Helen, lifted her up, chewed her buttocks and threw her into the air.
The baboon left her lying on the ground and ran away.

“Helen needs three injections and one is going for US$140 while the other two go for US$30 each. I don’t have the kind of money, I have approached the Social Welfare Department and I am appealing to anyone who can help.

Her wound is so deep that doctors had to cut flesh from some parts of her body to fill up the wound,” said Chakauya.
He said that it was the first time in the area that a baboon had bitten a human being.- Masvingo Mirror

By A Correspondent- A 6 year old girl from  Shurugwi was recently hospitalized after she was mauled by a baboon on the buttocks.

Helen Chakauya was reportedly attacked on Sunday by a cheeky baboon in a troop marauding the mining town.

Circumstances leading to the accident are that Helen was playing with other children outside the house when a troop of baboons came running their way. Helen and the other children panicked and ran towards the house but one baboon turned on Helen, lifted her up, chewed her buttocks before throwing her into the air.

The baboon ran away and left her lying on the ground.

Helen was immediately rushed to Makarima Hospital where she is currently admitted. She sustained deep wounds during the attack.

The doctors who attended to her had to cut out some flesh from parts of her body to fill up the wounds.

Speaking during an interview with The Mirror, Helen’s father, Lesson Chakauya said as a family, they are still perplexed by the whole incident as he revealed that this was the first time in the area that a baboon had bitten a human being. He appealed for US$200 so that his daughter can get the necessary treatment.

“Helen needs three injections and one is going for US$140 while the other two go for US$30 each. I don’t have the kind of money, I have approached the Social Welfare Department and I am appealing to anyone who can help. Her wound is so deep that doctors had to cut flesh from some parts of her body to fill up the wound,”  he said.

In an almost similar development, a couple of months ago an 8-year-old boy from Zaka was attacked by a Hyena during an all-night prayer meeting.

Rodwell Ngomazana was under the custody of his grandmother, Martha Sasikayi, 62, at an all-night prayer meeting when he was mauled on his face by a hyena.

He was severely disfigured during the hyena attack.

He recently received a new prosthetic nose following facial reconstruction surgery in South Africa.

By Jane Mlambo| The Zimbabwe Election Support Network has slammed the government’s failure to abide by the constitution by failing to hold by-elections to fill vacant parliamentary and local government seats.

In its Electoral Reform Tracking report from January to July 2021, ZESN described the failure to hold by-elections as the most serious failures by the government to respect the constitution and its legal framework.

The electoral pressure group urged government to abide by the country’s electoral laws.

“The failure to conduct by-elections represents one of the most serious failures to abide by the Constitution and its legal framework, under the guise of seeking to uphold the health of citizens.

“Many countries in Africa and beyond have successfully held by-elections and general elections under pandemic conditions with measures put in place to avoid the spread of the pandemic. Zimbabwe is advised to uphold its electoral laws,” ZESN said.

The organisation also raised concern over the non-implementation of recommendations made by various local and international observers in the 2018 harmonised elections.

“Many of the recommendations that were made by well-meaning international and local election observer missions remain unattended to. Yet Zimbabwe is barely two years away from another set of harmonized elections,” added ZESN.

“The tradition of rushed electoral law changes on the eve of elections is not in the best interest of a maturing democracy. Many of the issues raised in the ZESN petition to Parliament remain outstanding. And yet these issues, if addressed, would contribute to o more credible electoral process,” further noted ZESN.

Government has suspended the holding of by-elections citing health risks due to the threat of COVID-19 currently ravaging the world but other countries including the neighbouring Malawi and Zambia have successfully held their elections in the middle of the pandemic.

There is a general feeling that the suspension of by-elections is a political move by the government to thwart the opposition considering that it has been the most affected due to internal squabbles that saw one faction recalling more than 20 legislators since May 2020.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday pleaded with the restive civil servants to be more patriotic and drive government’s devolution and decentralisation programmes to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

The Zanu-PF leader made the call during the burial of former Public Service Commission (PSC) chairperson Mariyo Mariyawanda Nzuwah who died last week.

He also told mourners that government was committed to improving its workers’ conditions of service, capacities, and skills in tandem with the demands of the new normal driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I commend all public servants for their resilience, hard work and perseverance in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government and its workers have had frosty relations since the switch over from United States dollar-based salaries to the Zimbabwe dollar era, with the latter claiming erosion of their earnings.

“Our public service officials should change their mindset and be up to the task of delivering on their mandates, including delivery of services at every level in both rural and urban areas. They must be an embodiment of unity, and drivers of our devolution and decentralisation agenda,” Mnangagwa said.

“In this way, they will bring dignity to every citizen through ensuring uninterrupted delivery of basic services such as clean water, good roads, timeous availability of inputs, and access to renewable energy, and well-resourced schools, among other aspects.”

He said civil servants should identify with the communities in which they are deployed, and respect their cultures and languages.

“In light of this, it remains incumbent upon the entire civil service to continue upholding the unwavering, patriotic, humble, hardworking character, high degree of professionalism and sense of duty-consciousness, exhibited by the late national hero, Nzuwah,” Mnangagwa said.

He also urged present-day intellectuals, the youth and women to play their part in pursuing various studies locally and abroad in order to enrich themselves in cultural and ideological consciousness.

“As the African intelligentsia, you have the responsibility to engender and propel the political and economic development of our country and the continent as a whole.”

The President said Nzuwah would be remembered for developing a sound civil service in Zimbabwe.

Nzuwah was appointed the first black chairperson of the PSC, then Civil Service Commission, in 1992 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2018. He is survived by wife Janice Nzuwah (nee Stevenson), four children and eight grandchildren.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Intraparty violence has rocked the ongoing Zanu-PF district elections being held throughout the country as factions aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, seek to outwit each other and land key positions ahead of provincial elections which have been postponed to early next year.

In some instances, party members physically attacked each other amid allegations of voter manipulation and intimidation.

In some provinces, the elections had to be aborted and postponed to today after the provincial leaders observed that the cell registers were in shambles and there was massive rigging.

There were also reports that in some areas, the party was using registers meant for beneficiaries of the Presidential Input Scheme to account for voters.

The Zanu-PF politburo last week announced that it had suspended the divisive provincial elections to allow for the smooth running of its national conference set for end of this year.

The ruling party’s internal elections are being held at a time when opposition parties have been barred from holding campaign meetings to nominate candidates for the 40 parliamentary and over 80 council seats which fell vacant following the recall of MDC Alliance MPs and councillors.

In Harare, supporters of Godwills Masimirembwa and Godfrey Gomwe pelted each other with stones and bricks in Epworth on Saturday.

Both Masimirembwa and Gomwe are eyeing the provincial chairmanship.

The two party officials could not be reached for comment, but party insiders said Gomwe’s supporters provoked the violence.

Zanu-PF acting spokesperson Mike Bimha said he was unaware of the alleged clashes.

“I just arrived from Bulawayo today (yesterday) and from the briefings I have so far received, there is nothing about the alleged fights,” Bimha said.

In Manicaland province, disgruntled party members yesterday demonstrated against provincial chairperson Mike Madiro, accusing him of imposing candidates.

The members, including youths, demonstrated at Mutare Teachers College demanding an address by Madiro, who was at that time addressing a provincial electoral committee meeting.

Madiro had to be whisked away by the police after the protestors became more daring following his alleged refusal to address them.

The placard-waving protesters later demanded to be addressed by provincial political commissar, Gift Kagweda, and acting national commissar Patrick Chinamasa.

They were still camped at the provincial offices at the time of going to print last night.

Some of their placards read: “Madiro must go”, “No to imposition of candidates”, “With Madiro, we can’t achieve the five million votes”.

In the Midlands province, factional fights forced the postponement of the district elections to a later date.

Supporters are polarised between State Security minister Owen Ncube and incumbent chairman Daniel Mackenzie Ncube.

In Gokwe, Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Mayor Wadyajena had to seek police escort after Zanu-PF supporters threatened to attack his vehicle, accusing him of trying to impose candidates in polls supervised by a district co-ordinating committee team from Gweru.

On Friday, while addressing party supporters after touring a community garden benefiting hundreds of women in Gokwe-Nembudziya, Wadyajena said senior Zanu-PF officials should desist from abusing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s name to land influential positions in the ongoing restructuring exercise.

“No one should force you to vote for a person you don’t want (to vote for). No one should abuse the name of chefs to say the President has sent me. That is selling out and unacceptable,” he said.

In Mashonaland Central province, the district polls, which were scheduled for Friday, will now be held today after concerns were raised over chaotic voter registers.

The chaos was attributed to alleged attempts by incumbent provincial chairperson Kazembe Kazembe to impose his cronies as candidates.

“We aborted the elections because there was confusion in cell registers and ballot boxes (which) were supplied in threes, meaning rigging was already happening, hence we stopped them. This was orchestrated by Kazembe who is fighting to reclaim his seat,” a party insider claimed.

Insiders said Kazembe held a meeting to plot the rigging at his farm on September 18, which was attended by nine allies who hold influential positions in the province.

Kazembe, however, dismissed the allegations.

“People who are creating the confusion are known, that is nonsense as usual. Kazembe doesn’t vote in the more than 400 districts in the province. People are just scared of the elections. Let us allow people to choose their leaders without manipulation,” he said.

In Masvingo province, chaos was swirling following allegations that provincial chairperson Ezra Chadzamira had planned to bus in council workers to vote for candidates loyal
to him.

— Additional reporting by Kenneth Nyangani, Simba Sithole and Amos Batisayi.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Police have launched a manhunt for a group of seven robbers who stole US$600 and three cell phones.

In their twitter page, the police said the suspects attacked the complainants on September 24 at Annadale 17 Mine in Filabusi.

“Police in Filabusi are investigating circumstances surrounding a robbery case which occurred on 24 September at Annadale 17 Mine. Seven suspects attacked two complainants and stole US$600 cash as well as three cellphones.

“Meanwhile police in Masvingo are investigating circumstances surrounding a robbery case which occurred on 21 September Madamombe Business Centre. Two suspects robbed three shop attendants a total of US$1000 and R 1000 cash as well as cellphones at Jaka, Asani and Mhonde Shops,” said the police.

By A Correspondent- A 6 year old girl from  Shurugwi was recently hospitalized after she was mauled by a baboon on the buttocks.

Helen Chakauya was reportedly attacked on Sunday by a cheeky baboon in a troop marauding the mining town.

Circumstances leading to the accident are that Helen was playing with other children outside the house when a troop of baboons came running their way. Helen and the other children panicked and ran towards the house but one baboon turned on Helen, lifted her up, chewed her buttocks before throwing her into the air.

The baboon ran away and left her lying on the ground.

Helen was immediately rushed to Makarima Hospital where she is currently admitted. She sustained deep wounds during the attack.

The doctors who attended to her had to cut out some flesh from parts of her body to fill up the wounds.

Speaking during an interview with The Mirror, Helen’s father, Lesson Chakauya said as a family, they are still perplexed by the whole incident as he revealed that this was the first time in the area that a baboon had bitten a human being. He appealed for US$200 so that his daughter can get the necessary treatment.

“Helen needs three injections and one is going for US$140 while the other two go for US$30 each. I don’t have the kind of money, I have approached the Social Welfare Department and I am appealing to anyone who can help. Her wound is so deep that doctors had to cut flesh from some parts of her body to fill up the wound,”  he said.

In an almost similar development, a couple of months ago an 8-year-old boy from Zaka was attacked by a Hyena during an all-night prayer meeting.

Rodwell Ngomazana was under the custody of his grandmother, Martha Sasikayi, 62, at an all-night prayer meeting when he was mauled on his face by a hyena.

He was severely disfigured during the hyena attack.

He recently received a new prosthetic nose following facial reconstruction surgery in South Africa.

By A Correspondent- Two dangerous inmates escaped from WhaWha Medium Prison in Gweru last week after Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officers allegedly failed to secure doors to their holding cells.

Shepherd Mubaiwa (29) and Maxwell Vikwepi (20) facing robbery, unlawful entry and theft charges escaped from lawful custody on Friday while awaiting trial.

Two ZPCS officers who were tasked with securing the doors for the holding cells are allegedly in detention as investigations into the alleged escape take place.

ZPCS national deputy spokesperson Principal Correctional Officer (PCO) Peter Chaparanga said:

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service would like to inform members of the public that on 24 September, 2021, two inmates awaiting trial Shepherd Mubaiwa (29) facing robbery, unlawful entry and theft charges and Maxwell Vikwepi (20) facing charges of robbery escaped from lawful custody at Whawha Medium Prison,” he said.
PCO Chaparanga said circumstances surrounding their escape are still under investigation.

“We appeal to the members of the public to assist with any information that may lead to the recapture of the duo. Meanwhile, the public is encouraged to approach the escapees with caution,” he said.

Sources at the prison said two of their colleagues were in detention as investigations into the escape gather momentum.

They said once a prisoner escapes, the prison officers on duty are automatically brought to task to ascertain whether or not they were involved in the escape.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A Chinese mining company, Heijin, has reportedly told villagers in Kaseke, Uzumba district, that they have no capacity to stop their eviction to pave way for granite stone mining as they have no title deeds to the disputed communal land.

Chief Nyajina last Wednesday told a high-powered government delegation tasked to resolve the land dispute that the mining company’s representatives had told them to stop fighting for their ancestral land since they did not have rights to it.

The delegation comprised Local Government minister July Moyo, Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister Aplonia Munzverengwi, Mines deputy minister Polite Kambamura, Zanu-PF acting Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Michael Madanha, Uzumba legislator Simbaneuta Mudarikwa  and Maramba legislator Tichaona Karimazondo, among others.

Chief Nyajina said the company’s representatives were disrespectful and claimed to be connected to the highest offices on the land.

“What pained me the most is when this company told us villagers are not important as we do not have title deeds to our land. In other words, that means that those with mining certificates are now the custodians or owners of the land and we do not matter anymore,” he said.

The traditional leader, who is resisting the takeover of the entire village by the company without following necessary procedures, said the Asian miners told him to look for alternative land for his subjects.

“Here are the questions ministers: If we award 300 hectares to one person in the rural areas, where are our children going to stay? Where will I put all those people? A Heijin representative openly told me and my village heads to look for alternative land for our people — and I asked, where? Is this the correct procedure which they followed?

“There should be consultations with the community first. My word to Deputy minister Kambamura is that the way these blocks are being parcelled out is not proper. We only see people coming with letters from the Mines ministry stating that a certain piece of land is now theirs,” he said.

“We have other companies that have invested in our area. They engaged us before they started mining operations. We told them of sacred places that should not be disturbed and they listened. But this company (Heijin) is not like that. I do not know where their powers are coming from. I suggest that their powers be trimmed.”

Chief Nyajina further alleged that the Mines ministry had misrepresented facts to the effect that only 20 households would be affected after 300 hectares were pegged.

“We found out that more than 70 homesteads fall within the pegged area yet a government official claimed that only 20 households would be affected. Moreover, the mine representatives are saying only five households are affected. People should stop lying to the nation,” he said.

Government officials then promised to summon the mining company and Mashonaland East provincial mines officers to resolve the standoff.-newsday

By A Correspondent- National Patriotic Front (NPF) parliamentary candidate for Mhangura constituency in the 2018 elections, Mr Peter Kadambe has defected to the ruling Zanu-PF party, becoming the latest of many people to ditch opposition parties in recent months.

This comes as Zanu-PF has set a target of securing at least five million votes in the 2023 harmonised elections.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister and Makonde District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairperson, Kindness Paradza confirmed in Mhangura at the weekend that Mr Kadambe and Mr Tongai Nyamasunha had been welcomed into the party.

He said everyone was welcome to join the ruling party.

Mr Kadambe, who is also a former member of the Movement for Democratic Change, contested and against Zanu-PF’s Precious Chinhamo-Masango while Mr Nyamasunha was NPF’s candidate for council Ward 11 in Mhangura.

He lost the election to Ngonani Maseko.

Other political parties to be hit by defections include the MDC-A whose top members, including Mr Blessing Chebundo and Zvishavane Senator Lillian Timveos, crossed the floor to Zanu-PF.

Mr Tongai Matutu from Masvingo province also joined the ruling party last year.

Said Paradza: “The party is open to everyone and the two former NPF members decided to join us following the warm invitation by our President, Mnangagwa.

“Kadambe wrote a letter to be admitted into the party and the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) accepted his request.

Mhangura constituency is expected to contribute 25 000 towards Makonde’s 75 000 votes to feed into the five million target.

In their remarks, the two admitted members vowed to work for the party for a resounding 2023 election result.

Mr Kadambe pledged allegiance to President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic while Nyamasunha reiterated the need for unity and togetherness in the party as a basis for a good election result.

Deputy Minister Paradza also addressed members of the Mhangura Farmers Association (MFA) during a meeting aimed at fundraising for Zanu-PF’s upcoming 19th People’s conference and other party activities.

The farmers pledged money, grain and beasts with Paradza being one of the farmers to donate five beasts so far.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The controversy surrounding the late former president Robert Mugabe’s final resting place continues to haunt the country as the battle now shifts to the courts.

When Mugabe died, it took nearly three weeks before he was laid to rest at his Zvimba rural home amid accusations of witchcraft.

President emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zanu-PF party wanted his remains to be interred at the National heroes Acres like most of his colleagues in the liberation struggle, but the Mugabe family stood by his wife, former first lady Grace Mugabe who put her foot down, saying the late veteran politician wanted to be buried at his Kutama home.

That was his death bed wish, she said.

Two years later, those who thought Mugabe’s burial issue was now water under the bridge were shocked to hear that some little known villager of Mugabe’s Gushungo totem, headman Tinos Manongovere from the neighbouring village had approached Chief Zvimba, born Stanley Wurayayi Mhondoro claiming that Zimbabwe’s once longtime ruler was buried against the norms and customs of the area.

he said Mugabe’s remains needed to be dug up and reburied elsewhere.

This development stirred the anger of Kutama villagers in Zvimba who are furious about the proposed exhumation of Mugabe’s remains.

Mugabe’s neighbour who claims to be his aunt, Josephine Jaricha pointed an accusing finger at Mnangagwa whom she accused of trying to manipulate villagers allegedly to satisfy his wish to get access to Mugabe’s body.

Jaricha said the exhumation would not resurrect Mugabe or solve the current problems Zimbabwe was facing, including shortages of medicine in hospitals, inflation and the obtaining economic meltdown.

“even if they exhume his body and rebury him at the National heroes Acres that will not resurrect our child,” Jaricha said.

Jaricha said instead of solving problems being faced by the people in the country, Mnangagwa wanted to waste time and taxpayers’ money to exhume and rebury Mugabe.

“Besides, most people are suffering; (government) should be working towards solving people’s problems. This is a failed leadership.

“Things are worse off than during Mugabe’s time.

“Exhuming Mugabe will not put food on the table and those leading the country should preoccupy themselves with solving national problems rather than engaging in these frivolous things like exhuming Mugabe’s body,” Jaricha charged.

Mugabe’s headman, Camiro Kutama who appeared concerned about being sidelined by the Mugabe family during the burial ceremony said the villagers were shocked by the exhumation saga since it had never happened in his area of jurisdiction.

Kutama said if it was a case of violating customs and norms within Zvimba in general and Kutama in particular, he should have been the first person to be informed, but nothing like that happened.

“The chief erred by presiding over a case that I don’t even know about,” Kutama said.

“The case should have first come to me…besides people are buried at places of their choice and it’s not something out of this world.”

Another Kutama villager, elder Cephas Chioto who sits in headman Kutama’s court said the Mugabe issue was unique in so many ways.

Chioto said it was not new that someone was buried in the courtyard of their homestead.

It’s now “fashionable” in most parts of Zvimba, and interestingly, when Mugabe was buried, most Zvimba chiefs and Manongovere were present, but the issue was never raised.

“My son, go around this village and see for yourself graves at people’s homesteads, but nothing is being said about it,” Chioto said.

“Interestingly all those people involved (Chief Zvimba and Manongovere) were present when Mugabe was buried but none of them raised the issue.”

Chioto said it was very clear that some chiefs and villagers were being bribed to make ridiculous decisions.

“This can only point to people receiving money to make such ridiculous judgements because if they were genuine, they were supposed to raise the issue on the day Mugabe was buried ….but why waiting for two years?” Chioto queried.

Pressed further to reveal names of those involved, Chioto refused to name the people he suspected to be dishing out money to influence Mugabe’s exhumation and reburial.

“I will be required to bring evidence, which can be difficult to get, but these outrageous rulings by people who were part of the burial ceremony point to that direction” Chioto said.

Asked why he did not report the case first to Mugabe’s Kutama as required at law, Manongovere said Kutama was not of the Gushungo totem and did not know the norms and customs of the Zvimba people since he was from Masvingo and of Madyirapanze totem.

“I couldn’t report to Sabhuku Kutama because he doesn’t know our Gushungo way of doing cultural things since he is from Masvingo and of Madyirapanze totem,” he said.

Manongovere also said it was not true that Chief Zvimba and Chief Chidziva were present during Mugabe’s burial, insisting that they were chased away from Mugabe’s Blue Roof house by Grace Mugabe.

“According to our tradition Chief Chidziva and Chief Serima from Gutu representing Mugabe’s mother’s family identified Mugabe’s resting place at the heroes Acre and marked the site (kutema rukawo) in the presence of Mugabe’s children, but Grace Mugabe disregarded all that and chased some chiefs from her Blue Roof residence,” said Manongovere.

He said he was not foolish to arraign the former first lady, a Mugabe family in-law before Chief Zvimba instead of the head of the Mugabe family, but he did so because Grace Mugabe dictated everything to do with the Mugabe burial.

“Grace was bullying everyone at the funeral. That’s the reason I took her to Chief Zvimba instead of the Mugabes,” said Manongovere.

Mugabe’s nephew and family spokesperson Leo Mugabe said it was appropriate for the former Zanu-PF strongman’s to remain in Zvimba since they were in the process of renovating some rooms to be turned into a museum.

“We are constructing a museum befitting the Zimbabwean icon,” said Leo Mugabe.

“He deserved such because the country’s history will not be complete without his immense contribution before, during and after the liberation struggle.”

But some culturists say whether the courts ruled in favour of exhumation and reburial that could not be done without involving the family.

As of now, it is a stalemate.

-standard

By A Correspondent- Former High Court judge Erica Ndewere, who was fired after a tribunal found her guilty of gross incompetence, has failed in her bid to compel President Mnangagwa to pay punitive costs for her suit, in the case she was demanding a copy of the adverse findings.

Ndewere was discharged from the bench in June this year after a three-member tribunal led by retired judge Justice Simbi Mubako — set up to probe her suitability to hold judicial office — recommended her dismissal.

In her urgent application, Ndewere had sued President Mnangagwa, the tribunal bench, Judicial Service Commission and the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister — under the Administrative Justice Act as read with Section 68 of the Constitution.

She applied for a mandamus to compel the President to issue her with the Tribunal findings and costs on a punitive measure.

She claimed that she was entitled to be given promptly and in writing the reasons why the Tribunal came to the conclusion that it did, arguing that she wanted be able to exercise her right to have the Tribunal’s decision either reviewed or appealed against.

When the matter was brought for hearing before Justice Pisirayi Kwenda in July, the dispute on the merits was resolved without order of court after six days of protracted argument.

The resolution came about as a result of Ndewere’s legal counsel withdrawing her application against the JSC and minister, where upon the legal practitioners acting for them were excused.

Subsequent to that, Ndewere’s lawyer Mrs Beatrice Mtetwa abandoned the application against the Tribunal bench and their lawyer was also excused at Ndewere’s insistence.

During further deliberations Ms Mtetwa conceded that it was not yet the applicant’s case that the President did anything wrong when he removed her from office on the recommendation of the Tribunal.

All she wanted was to be able to peruse the detailed report from which the executive summary had been extracted so that she could consider the options available to her.

The matter was therefore settled on July 22, when Ndewere received the detailed report from President Mnangagwa’s lawyer out of court.

At this stage, it was expected that the resolution of the dispute out of court would bring relief to all concerned after heated deliberations and lobbying in chambers.

That, however, was not to be because Ndewere persisted with the application for a mandamus and costs on a punitive scale as originally sought.

But Justice Kwenda declined to grant the order because there was no outstanding dispute which needed to be resolved by order of court.

Further, at this stage, only Ndewere, her lawyer and President Mnangagwa’s counsel remained since the other parties had been excused by consent.

In his ruling, the judge found that the application for a mandamus was not necessary because Ndewere had already been served with the notice of her removal from office at the time that she launched her application.

“She ought not to have invoked the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act. The claim for costs against the 1st respondent (President Mnangagwa) was therefore not justified,” he said.

“She unreasonably clung to the joinder of the 1st to 4th respondents (Tribunal bench members, JSC and Justice Minister) thereby causing all concerned to incur unnecessary costs.

“I do not accept the argument that the applicant succeeded on any issue before me.”

Justice Kwenda said Ndewere’s prayer for costs necessitated that he schemed through the merits to demonstrate that Ndewere did not succeed on any of the issues that arose at the hearing.

The judge also found that Ndewere could not and did not pursue the mandamus based on common law because she had not specifically pleaded it.

Ndewere, said the judge, abandoned the mandamus under the Administrative Justice Act which is the reason why she abandoned her claim against all the respondents except the President.

“With respect to the 1st (President) respondent she abandoned the mandamus as a constitutional remedy when she conceded that she was no longer impugning the 1st respondent’s conduct in removing her from office,” he said.

“After the concessions she was left with no claim against any among the respondents. That way the dispute on the merits was disposed of.”

In addition, Justice Kwenda noted that Ndewere’s application was convoluted because it adopted the omnibus approach which has already been disapproved by the Supreme Court.

“The inescapable conclusion is that the prayer for costs lacks merit,” said Justice Kwenda adding, “In the circumstances I order as follows . . . There shall be no order as to costs.”

During the hearing, which ensued Ndewere’s lawyer accepted that a court order on the merits was no longer necessary but she immediately moved for costs against all the respondents on a punitive scale in terms of the draft order.

She persisted with the prayer for costs on the punitive scale on the basis that she had succeeded in this matter and costs should follow that result.

She further argued that the respondents had played hide and seek with her and that this caused her to institute litigation which otherwise would have been unnecessary.

She moved Justice Kwenda to exercise his discretion in her favour and award her costs against the respondents as claimed in the application.

She submitted that she had been put out of pocket by the respondents’ intransigence.

But the judge declined the request also sought against the JSC and the Justice Minister saying this was not only inappropriate but incompetent since those respondents were no longer before the court.

“Indeed, could not hear them on the issue of costs. This state of affairs was occasioned by the applicant herself,” he said.

“The audi alteram partem rule enjoins a court to hear the other side before rendering a decision. Resultantly, I could not order costs, worse still, on a punitive scale when it was no longer possible for the particular respondents to address me on that issue. The applicant’s prayer for costs against the 2nd to 6th (Tribunal bench, JSC and Justice Minister) respondents must fail on that basis.”

Ndewere was accused of “conduct inconsistent with being a judicial officer”, including failure to clear her workload in stipulated time and failing to apply due diligence when she reversed a custodial sentence of a repeat offender saying she was a first-time offender.

But she denied the charges saying she was being victimised for releasing Sikhala and defying unlawful orders from Chief Justice Luke Malaba.

Justice Ndewere became the second judge to be fired by the President after Supreme Court Judge Justice Francis Bere, who was given the same marching orders last October.

ByA Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police has reported that five people died in a horrific road accident that happened early Sunday morning along the Harare – Bulawayo Highway.

Police said there was a head-on collision between a Mitsubishi minibus and a Nissan UD truck and all who were in the minibus died. Reads a police statement:

The ZRP reports a fatal road traffic accident that occurred at the 366 km peg along Hre-Byo road near Kombo area, Fort Rixon where a Mitsubishi minibus had a head-on collision with a Nissan UD truck on 26/09/21 at 0300 hours.

All the five occupants in the minibus, who include two ZRP members, a ZNA member and yet to be identified male adult died in the unfortunate road accident. More details to follow.

Reports of road accidents have been on the surge in recent years with the sorry state of the roads cited as one of the factors contributing.

This year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared all roads a state of emergency saying it pains to see so many potholes on once-great highways.

The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA), a government department under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, has been failing to maintain roads amid reports of grand corruption at the department

By A Correspondent- Two members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and a Soldier have died in a head-on collision along Harare Bulawayo road.

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the accident happened Sunday morning and also claimed the lives of two civilians.

The ZRP reports a fatal road traffic accident at the 366 km peg along Hre-Byo road near Kombo area, Fort Rixon where a Mitsubishi minibus had a head-on collision with a Nissan UD truck on 26/09/21 at 0300 hours.
All the five occupants in the minibus, who include two ZRP members, a ZNA member and yet to be identified male adult died in the unfortunate road accident. More details to follow.

Reports of road accidents have been on the surge in recent years with the sorry state of the roads cited as one of the factors contributing.
This year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared all roads a state of emergency saying it pains to see so many potholes on once-great highways.

The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA), a government department under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, has been failing to maintain roads amid reports of grand corruption at the department.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday pleaded with the restive civil servants to be more patriotic and drive government’s devolution and decentralisation programmes to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

The Zanu-PF leader made the call during the burial of former Public Service Commission (PSC) chairperson Mariyo Mariyawanda Nzuwah who died last week.

He also told mourners that government was committed to improving its workers’ conditions of service, capacities, and skills in tandem with the demands of the new normal driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I commend all public servants for their resilience, hard work and perseverance in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government and its workers have had frosty relations since the switch over from United States dollar-based salaries to the Zimbabwe dollar era, with the latter claiming erosion of their earnings.

“Our public service officials should change their mindset and be up to the task of delivering on their mandates, including delivery of services at every level in both rural and urban areas. They must be an embodiment of unity, and drivers of our devolution and decentralisation agenda,” Mnangagwa said.

“In this way, they will bring dignity to every citizen through ensuring uninterrupted delivery of basic services such as clean water, good roads, timeous availability of inputs, and access to renewable energy, and well-resourced schools, among other aspects.”

He said civil servants should identify with the communities in which they are deployed, and respect their cultures and languages.

“In light of this, it remains incumbent upon the entire civil service to continue upholding the unwavering, patriotic, humble, hardworking character, high degree of professionalism and sense of duty-consciousness, exhibited by the late national hero, Nzuwah,” Mnangagwa said.

He also urged present-day intellectuals, the youth and women to play their part in pursuing various studies locally and abroad in order to enrich themselves in cultural and ideological consciousness.

“As the African intelligentsia, you have the responsibility to engender and propel the political and economic development of our country and the continent as a whole.”

The President said Nzuwah would be remembered for developing a sound civil service in Zimbabwe.

Nzuwah was appointed the first black chairperson of the PSC, then Civil Service Commission, in 1992 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2018. He is survived by wife Janice Nzuwah (nee Stevenson), four children and eight grandchildren.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Police have launched a manhunt for a group of seven robbers who stole US$600 and three cell phones.

In their twitter page, the police said the suspects attacked the complainants on September 24 at Annadale 17 Mine in Filabusi.

“Police in Filabusi are investigating circumstances surrounding a robbery case which occurred on 24 September at Annadale 17 Mine. Seven suspects attacked two complainants and stole US$600 cash as well as three cellphones.

“Meanwhile police in Masvingo are investigating circumstances surrounding a robbery case which occurred on 21 September Madamombe Business Centre. Two suspects robbed three shop attendants a total of US$1000 and R 1000 cash as well as cellphones at Jaka, Asani and Mhonde Shops,” said the police.

By A Correspondent- Intraparty violence has rocked the ongoing Zanu-PF district elections being held throughout the country as factions aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, seek to outwit each other and land key positions ahead of provincial elections which have been postponed to early next year.

In some instances, party members physically attacked each other amid allegations of voter manipulation and intimidation.

In some provinces, the elections had to be aborted and postponed to today after the provincial leaders observed that the cell registers were in shambles and there was massive rigging.

There were also reports that in some areas, the party was using registers meant for beneficiaries of the Presidential Input Scheme to account for voters.

The Zanu-PF politburo last week announced that it had suspended the divisive provincial elections to allow for the smooth running of its national conference set for end of this year.

The ruling party’s internal elections are being held at a time when opposition parties have been barred from holding campaign meetings to nominate candidates for the 40 parliamentary and over 80 council seats which fell vacant following the recall of MDC Alliance MPs and councillors.

In Harare, supporters of Godwills Masimirembwa and Godfrey Gomwe pelted each other with stones and bricks in Epworth on Saturday.

Both Masimirembwa and Gomwe are eyeing the provincial chairmanship.

The two party officials could not be reached for comment, but party insiders said Gomwe’s supporters provoked the violence.

Zanu-PF acting spokesperson Mike Bimha said he was unaware of the alleged clashes.

“I just arrived from Bulawayo today (yesterday) and from the briefings I have so far received, there is nothing about the alleged fights,” Bimha said.

In Manicaland province, disgruntled party members yesterday demonstrated against provincial chairperson Mike Madiro, accusing him of imposing candidates.

The members, including youths, demonstrated at Mutare Teachers College demanding an address by Madiro, who was at that time addressing a provincial electoral committee meeting.

Madiro had to be whisked away by the police after the protestors became more daring following his alleged refusal to address them.

The placard-waving protesters later demanded to be addressed by provincial political commissar, Gift Kagweda, and acting national commissar Patrick Chinamasa.

They were still camped at the provincial offices at the time of going to print last night.

Some of their placards read: “Madiro must go”, “No to imposition of candidates”, “With Madiro, we can’t achieve the five million votes”.

In the Midlands province, factional fights forced the postponement of the district elections to a later date.

Supporters are polarised between State Security minister Owen Ncube and incumbent chairman Daniel Mackenzie Ncube.

In Gokwe, Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Mayor Wadyajena had to seek police escort after Zanu-PF supporters threatened to attack his vehicle, accusing him of trying to impose candidates in polls supervised by a district co-ordinating committee team from Gweru.

On Friday, while addressing party supporters after touring a community garden benefiting hundreds of women in Gokwe-Nembudziya, Wadyajena said senior Zanu-PF officials should desist from abusing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s name to land influential positions in the ongoing restructuring exercise.

“No one should force you to vote for a person you don’t want (to vote for). No one should abuse the name of chefs to say the President has sent me. That is selling out and unacceptable,” he said.

In Mashonaland Central province, the district polls, which were scheduled for Friday, will now be held today after concerns were raised over chaotic voter registers.

The chaos was attributed to alleged attempts by incumbent provincial chairperson Kazembe Kazembe to impose his cronies as candidates.

“We aborted the elections because there was confusion in cell registers and ballot boxes (which) were supplied in threes, meaning rigging was already happening, hence we stopped them. This was orchestrated by Kazembe who is fighting to reclaim his seat,” a party insider claimed.

Insiders said Kazembe held a meeting to plot the rigging at his farm on September 18, which was attended by nine allies who hold influential positions in the province.

Kazembe, however, dismissed the allegations.

“People who are creating the confusion are known, that is nonsense as usual. Kazembe doesn’t vote in the more than 400 districts in the province. People are just scared of the elections. Let us allow people to choose their leaders without manipulation,” he said.

In Masvingo province, chaos was swirling following allegations that provincial chairperson Ezra Chadzamira had planned to bus in council workers to vote for candidates loyal
to him.

— Additional reporting by Kenneth Nyangani, Simba Sithole and Amos Batisayi.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa will tonight be on Zimeye Twitter Spaces, where he will talk about his private love affairs and political career.

Mliswa will be hosted by journalists, Garikai Chaunza and Lynette Manzini.

The programme starts at 7PM.

By A Correspondent- A taxi driver from Masvingo has lost his Toyota Sienta car to a passenger who had hired him for a beer-drinking escapade.

Masvingo, acting police provincial spokesman Sergeant Lloyd Musundire confirmed the incident.

He said Shepherd Dzapasi (29), a taxi driver from Mucheke A, Masvingo fell prey to the antics of a man only identified as Ronald at Nemamwa Business Centre.

“On 15 September Dzapasi around 5pm was in Jerera when he was approached by a man only identified as Ronald and was hired to drive him to Masvingo for US$4. Dzapasi agreed and they came to Masvingo but when they arrived in town Ronald told Dzapasi that he had to take care of some business at Nemamwa. Dzapasi agreed to a US$25 deal to ferry him to the Business Centre. The two arrived at Nemamwa Business Centre around 10pm and they got into a night club and started drinking beer. After some time Ronald told Dzapasi that he was tired and wanted to rest in the car. Dzapasi gave Ronald the keys while he remained behind in the club,” he said.

Sgt Musundire said when the driver later went outside the club, he found Ronald and his car missing.
“He waited for some time hoping he would come but to no avail. Dzapasi later called Ronald and told him that he was going to report him to the police and he hung up. When he tried to call him the phone was no longer reachable.”
He said Dzapasi reported the matter at Masvingo Rural Police Station.
“We are appealing to those who might have information that might help to the recovery of the vehicle or information leading to the arrest of the accused to report to the nearest police station,” he said.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Zipra Veterans Association member Jethro Mkwananzi has accused late former President Robert Mugabe and late former Vice President Joshua Nkomo of misleading the nation in signing the unity accord in 1987.

He said it was sad that Nkomo, despite being ZAPU’s number one, chose to be number three in Zanu PF.

He said this has continued to be a template for all the leaders in Matabeleland to shy away from being Presidents and opt for either second or third vice presidents.

“The fact that after the unity accord the symbol of a cock embedded at the Zanu PF headquarters and the name of the party remained the same are signs that Zapu which was purported to be a partner is nonexistent in the matrix,” he said.

He said this is despite its immense contribution to the liberation war which forced the Rhodesian government to the Lancaster House negotiations in 1979.

He questioned why Nkomo signed the Unity Accord when he was a national leader and opted to be number three in Zanu PF?

“This is now affecting us in that no one from this side should aspire to be the first person,” Mkwananzi said.

“The unity accord stipulated that number three, National Chairman, secretary for women’s affairs, a position then held by Thenjiwe Lesabre and the Home Affairs ministry, were given to Zapu,” he said.

“But to date, all this appears to be dissolving, and there is no one from Zapu holding those positions which were entitlement to Zapu at the unity accord signing.”

He lamented that there is no longer a Zapu Vice President, a Zapu national Chair, a Zapu secretary for women’s affairs and a Zapu Home affairs minister. This shows that the unity accord is not what people were told it is.

Zanu PF has one Vice President from Zanu PF side, Constantino Chiwenga after the Zapu side VP Kembo Mohadi was forced to resign from government following a spate of sexual scandals.

The secretary for women’s affairs post is held by Zanu PF cadre Mabel Chinomona, while the Chairpersonship is Oppah Muchinguri also from Zanu PF side.

The Home Affairs ministry is under Zanu PF member Kazembe Kazembe, a development which has disbanded the Unity accord’s significance between the two liberation political movements.

-Bulawayo24

By A Correspondent- On Thursday, police in Bulawayo recovered beds, refrigerators, vehicle engines, washing machines, doors, door frames, and other groceries from a bus along Khami Road.

The bus was coming from South Africa.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the recovery of the goods whose worth is yet to be determined. Said Inspector Ncube:

The Bulawayo Central traffic motorised patrol team was patrolling in the city on Thursday at around 4 PM when they spotted a bus pulling a large trailer with goods loaded on top of it. The police officers drove towards the bus and then asked the driver to stop so that they could check if everything was in order, and the bus driver ignored and continued driving along Khami Road.

He said police had to block the bus driver’s way at the Khami flyover forcing him to stop.
Inspector said the bus was then driven to Zimra depot where they discovered that the driver was in possession of smuggled goods.
He said the smuggled goods that were taken by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) include a Ford Ranger engine, four new Samsung fridges, two bales of clothes weighing 90kgs each, four Defy fridges.

They also recovered 11 radios, beds, six doors and six window frames, 10 new landline headsets, paint and groceries.

Ncube added that investigations were underway and that Zimra had impounded the bus.

Tinashe Sambiri|The people of Zimbabwe shall enter the “promised land” in 2023, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

Citing the biblical concept of the Israelites entering God’s promised land, the vibrant leader assured citizens that the Zanu PF regime would be defeated in 2023.

“POSSESSING THE PROMISED LAND…
We have stayed long enough at this mountain.

We must now turn, break camp, advance, take our journey and go to Canaan.See, now our God has set the promised land before us and we must possess it.

Deut 1:5-8 Canaan here we come!#Ngatipindei #Asingeneni,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

By A Correspondent | The below video is of the Defence Ministry giving support to Senator Douglas Mwonzora saying he must be made the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s successor.

In the footage is the then Deputy Defence Minister Victor Matemadanda announcing that MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa: is treacherous

-mustn’t get support from real MDC people

-is violent

-is power hungry -is megalomaniac

-is autocratic

-is clueless

Dep Defence Minister, Victor Matemadanda (June 2020):
Mwonzora is Tsvangirai's real successor.
Chamisa: is treacherous
-mustn't get support from real MDC people
-is violent
-is power hungry
-is megalomaniac
-is autocratic
-is clueless pic.twitter.com/2deeTudJn8

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 27, 2021

Tinashe Sambiri|The people of Zimbabwe shall enter the “promised land” in 2023, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

Citing the biblical concept of the Israelites entering God’s promised land, the vibrant leader assured citizens that the Zanu PF regime would be defeated in 2023.

“POSSESSING THE PROMISED LAND…
We have stayed long enough at this mountain.

We must now turn, break camp, advance, take our journey and go to Canaan.See, now our God has set the promised land before us and we must possess it.

Deut 1:5-8 Canaan here we come!#Ngatipindei #Asingeneni,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

By A Correspondent- A taxi driver from Masvingo last week lost his Toyota Sienta car to a passenger who had hired him for a beer drinking escapade.

Masvingo acting police provincial spokesman Sergeant Lloyd Musundire confirmed the incident.

He said Shepherd Dzapasi (29) a taxi driver from Mucheke A, Masvingo fell prey to the antics of a man only identified as Ronald at Nemamwa Business Centre.

“On 15 September Dzapasi around 5pm was in Jerera when he was approached by a man only identified as Ronald and was hired to drive him to Masvingo for US$4. Dzapasi agreed and they came to Masvingo but when they arrived in town Ronald told Dzapasi that he had to take care of some business at Nemamwa. Dzapasi agreed to a US$25 deal to ferry him to the Business Centre. The two arrived at Nemamwa Business Centre around 10pm and they got into a night club and started drinking beer. After some time Ronald told Dzapasi that he was tired and wanted to rest in the car. Dzapasi gave Ronald the keys while he remained behind in the club,” he said.

Sgt Musundire said when the driver later went outside the club, he found Ronald and his car missing.

“He waited for some time hoping he would come but to no avail. Dzapasi later called Ronald and told him that he was going to report him to the police and he hung up. When he tried to call him the phone was no longer reachable.”

He said Dzapasi reported the matter at Masvingo Rural Police Station.

“We are appealing to those who might have information that might help to the recovery of the vehicle or information leading to the arrest of the accused to report to the nearest police station,” he said.

Chivhu – A 77-year-old man caught fire while relieving himself in a bush in Nhema Village under Chief Mutekedza on Sunday and he was burnt beyond recognition.

Julius Takaendesa Gwapedza’s body was discovered after a search, Mash East Provincial Police Spokesperson Misheck Denhere said.

Sources said that Gwapedza had visited Nhema Village in Sadza to attend the memorial service of his mother. At around 7am he went into a near-by bush to relieve himself.

He was suddenly engulfed by a bush fire and a young girl saw him as he fought hard to put out the fire that was already on his clothes. The girl sent a mobile text message to the village head Canaan Makone (55).

At around 1pm relatives who had started looking for Gwapedza met Makone and he told them about the text message. They went to the bush and found Gwapedza’s dead. They also found his National Identity Card on him.

The fire was started by Elias Mukono (50) who was clearing a graveside at his homestead. He has since been arrested.- Masvingo Mirror

“When a mad person takes their clothes off, they will get followers…”

By Showbiz Reporter | The Zanu PF socialite, Mai Titi went on live insta video to spit shocking vulgarities against comedian Kuda Chamisa.

The incident is exposed in a 4 minute extract of the altercation at the end of which Chamisa came out to liken Felistas Murata to a mad person who has stripped in public and now gets follower for it. The footage below contains some unprintable strong language.

“When a mad person takes their clothes off, they will get followers; This is how different I am from you,” said Chamisa.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa Saturday travelled by road the 352 kilometres stretch from Bulawayo to Lupane to officiate at the commisioning of the Lupane water supply station and Bubi- Lupane irrigation scheme acceleration model.

He is usually flown in the presidential helicopter and the airforce’s choppers which of late have been giving him problems.

In August, the presidential helicopter was forced into an emergency landing over 60 kilometres southwest of Harare due to a technical failure.

Addressing delegates at the commissioning, President Mnangagwa said the name change to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement to include rural development in its portfolio was after a special request from the responsible Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka.

It is the second time this year after Fisheries were also included in January. Mnangagwa said:

As I recognise Minister Masuka, I must say that he has requested that we add rural development to his portfolio of which I have agreed. I must point out that this is the first time in all my years in Government that a minister has actually come to me and requested a name change.

He said rural development would remain at the core of the Second Republic’s thrust noting that it was now up to everyone to play a role in that regard.

Mnangagwa added that true empowerment and sustainable development will only be realised through the greater participation of communities, especially women and youth in national development projects and programmes.

Speaking on the journey by road, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said Mnangagwa intended to assess issues affecting people in Matebeleland North. He said:

Today, the guest of honour having travelled by road all the way from Bulawayo, he did not fly, he said; ‘I want to see the problems affecting people in Matabeleland North from their roads right up to their projects’. So he travelled here by road, trying to pick up all the issues and so he has now arrived to launch the Agriculture Rural Authority Vision 2030 accelerator model programme.

In his address, Minister Masuka said his ministry was now preoccupied with rural development and would ensure that most projects that they embark on will have a bearing on the country’s endeavour of Vision 2030.-statemedia

Case Alert

25 September 2021

HIGH Court Judge Justice Joseph Mafusire has ordered Parliament to reinstate six opposition legislators as Members of Parliament after their illegal recalls early this year.

Kucaca Phulu, Settlement Chikwinya, Willias Madzimure, Regai Tsunga, Sichelesile Mahlangu and Tendai Biti, were recalled from serving as legislators for their constituencies on 17 March 2021 at the instance of Benjamin Rukanda, who claimed that he had done so on behalf of the main People’s Democratic Party (PDP) party and purportedly acting in
terms of section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution, which provides for the termination of the seat for a Member of Parliament.

Phulu, Chikwinya, Madzimure, Tsunga, Mahlangu, Biti and PDP filed an application at High Court early this year seeking an order to set aside the termination of their membership of Parliament and also sought the restoration of their seats and the restoration of themselves to such of the committees of Parliament as they had been members of before that termination.

Before the recall instituted by Rukanda, who purported to be the Secretary-General of PDP, the six legislators’ membership to Parliament followed their success in parliamentary elections held on 31 July 2018 and had sat in Parliament on the ticket of a coalition of
political parties known as Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)-Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

Rukanda and Lucia Matibenga also contested during the July 2018 elections under the ticket of a coalition of political parties called the Rainbow Coalition, which was led by former Vice-President Joyce Mujuru but lost.

Rukanda, who identified himself as the Secretary-General of the breakaway PDP political party, on 14 September 2020 submitted a letter to Jacob Mudenda, the Speaker of Parliament, purportedly recalling the six legislators from Parliament on the basis that they had crossed the floor from the PDP party to MDC-Alliance.

In their application, Phulu, Chikwinya, Madzimure, Tsunga, Mahlangu, Biti and PDP, who were represented by Advocate Sylvester Hashiti argued that Rukanda’s so-called letter of recall was fraudulent and therefore illegal since not only was he not a member of PDP, their
party, let alone its Secretary-General, but also that he was not even the Secretary-General of Matibenga’s breakaway splinter party. The legislators also argued that it was wrongful for Mudenda to have recognised Rukanda’s letter and to have purported to act in terms of
it.

In his judgment, written on 22 September 2021, Justice Mafusire took a swipe at Rukanda’s lawyers for abdicating their responsibilities as officers of the court and opting to act like “hired guns”. The Judge stated that Rukanda’s lawyers should have had the courage and
responsibility to advise their client that his cause is a dead one.

The Judge accused Rukanda of being driven by malice or spite in recalling Phulu, Chikwinya, Madzimure, Tsunga, Mahlangu and Biti and of seemingly abusing the parliamentary legal processes and privileges.

Justice Mafusire berated Rukanda, Matibenga and the breakaway PDP splinter party for seeking to “usurp other people’s beds” and for behaving like cuckoos, which are birds that do not build their own nests but simply invade the nests of other beds and push out any eggs or nestlings in them so that they themselves can lay their own eggs in those nests.

Rukanda, Matibenga and the breakaway PDP splinter party, Justice Mafusire said, had “made their bed of roses” and “they must lie on it”.

The Judge said MDC-A and Rainbow Coalition were recognised and accepted by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission as two different political formations for the purposes of the 2018 general elections, which ushered Phulu, Chikwinya, Madzimure, Tsunga, Mahlangu and Biti into Parliament and Rukanda and Matibenga out.

Rukanda and Matibenga, Justice Mafusire ruled, had no power to recall the legislators as the power of recall provided under Section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution is reposed in the political party the Member of Parliament was a member at the time of the election. The
Judge stated that Rukanda and Matibenga were not members of PDP at the time of the 2018 general elections or at anytime thereafter.

Consequently, Justice Mafusire ordered that the termination of membership to Parliament of Phulu, Chikwinya, Madzimure, Tsunga, Mahlangu and Biti on 17 March 2021 be set aside and for Mudenda and Parliament to restore or cause to be restored the legislators to their
positions as Members of Parliament and to any such of the committees of Parliament as they were members of before the termination, without any loss of status or diminution of their positions.

NEWS RELEASE                              25 September 2021                      

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called upon the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders to join government in the fight against corruption. He has urged them to set up integrity committees within their organisations.

“The anti-corruption fight is a collective responsibility. Government cannot go it alone,” he told delegates at the annual conference and 50^th anniversary celebrations of the Chartered Governance Institute Zimbabwe on Friday in Victoria Falls.

“I therefore call upon the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders to also prioritise transparency and accountability through in-house anti-corruption efforts such as the setting up of similar integrity committees,” he said.

He said the Integrity Committees being set up at public institutions as an effective tool to prevent corruption and promote good governance in government ministries and agencies, parastatals, state enterprises and local authorities underscored the importance government attached to improving governance frameworks and strengthening actions to improve the prevention, detection and sanctioning of corruption.

He congratulated CGIZ on its golden jubilee, rebranding from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe (ICSAZ) to the Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute in Zimbabwe and associate membership of the International Federation of Accountants.

The rebranding of the institute is in line with the rebranding of the international institute, now known as the Chartered Governance Institute Global.

The President challenged members of the institute to partner government and help the boards of public entities adopt and implement good corporate governance principles.

“You should demonstrate your role as trusted advisors by also playing your part in ensuring the success of our National Development Strategy-1 and the Devolution and Decentralisation Agenda,” he said.

“Your unique position enables you to make a positive contribution to our economic development at all levels of our governance strata,” he added.

The theme of the institute’s conference was ‘Reset – Re-ignite – Refocus. Towards Vision 2030: Governance and Accountancy Professionals Challenged’.

Throughout the conference, officials of the Institute challenged members of the institute to contribute to the nation’s vision of making Zimbabwe an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

President Mnangagwa highlighted the fact that the institute’s mandate encompassed both corporate governance and accountancy.

“I therefore challenge you to effectively play your professional role and provide strategic oversight within your sector, respective organisations and the nation as a whole as we all accelerate national economic development in our beloved country,” he said.

He said the institute’s conference came at a time when Zimbabwe is enjoying brighter socio-economic prospects.

“These are  a result of the positive and far-reaching impacts of my government’s multi-pronged reforms across all sectors, leading to the stabilisation of the economy with budget surpluses over the past two years, notwithstanding the domestic and global challenges due to the Covid‑19 pandemic.

“This has culminated in the reorganisation of supply chains, setting up of remote operations and implementation of bold financial decisions among other actions,” he said.

He acknowledged that some actions might be painful even if they were the right thing to do. He said the Covid-19 pandemic had presented a window to reset collective organisational and national culture, ethics and expectations.

“It also gives us an opportunity to institutionalise heritage-based norms and values that are more balanced, just and equitable as encapsulated in the ubuntu philosophy.

“Through such a paradigm shift and re-focus, the governance and accounting professionals are urged to ensure sustainable development, increased production and productivity, efficient use of resources and ultimately durable economic growth and prosperity,” he said.

The culture and work ethic of the Second Republic should give impetus to governance and accounting professionals to build better, more resilient companies and institutions, he said.

“Our national determination and culture of adaptability to date is a demonstration that in unity, peace and harmony we can achieve seemingly impossible development targets.

“Going forward as a profession, you are challenged to expand your horizons and take up the weighty responsibility of consolidating the gains we are making, always informed by the national interest,” he said.

He said that through focusing on efficiency, flexibility, agility and building resilience, corporate governance and accountancy professionals could play their part in ensuring Zimbabwe does not experience “Covid-19 induced economic growth slippages”.

“Let us all play our part in maintaining the upward economic growth trajectory,” he said.

He added that emphasis should be placed on capacity building, improving infrastructure, strengthening the “innovation ecosystem” and facilitating access to digital connectivity in order to increase production and productivity.

He commended the institute for embarking on public sector accountancy and capacity building programmes.

“The new normal demands that we refocus. Let us always be prepared, capitalise on our core strengths, digitalise, embrace sustainable clean energy and technology and also innovate,” he said.

Good governance, accountability and transparency were fundamental prerequisites for sustainable socio-economic growth, he pointed out.

“Sadly, however, we have in the past witnessed corporate governance failings in both the public and private sectors, which border on fraud and criminality,” he said.

Following the President’s address, Reserve Bank Governor John Mangudya and Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson Justice Loice Mutanda-Moyo briefed the President and delegates on what their institutions were doing to maintain economic stability in the case of the central bank and to curb corruption in the case of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

ENDS_____________________________________________________________________

Issued on behalf of the  Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute in Zimbabwe by MHPR Public Relations Consultants, 59 Van Praagh Avenue, Milton Park, Harare.

Tel. +263-24-2251538-40, 2798761. E-mail: [email protected]

Contact Person: Mike Hamilton (Mobile: 0772-469 801)

"..look at the turn of events & tone of our politics, you can't doubt who the Leader is. We are the Leadership, that's why Zanu even responds & behaves like an Opp. But we have responsibility without authority, which has been our problem in local authority." President Chamisa pic.twitter.com/hPF8BUW0Ek

— Citizen Nkululeko Sibanda zw (@DrNkuSibanda) September 26, 2021

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating the brutal murder of an elderly couple from Mugovera Village under Chief Murinye in Masvingo.

Acting Masvingo Provincial Spokesperson, Sergeant Lloyd Musundire confirmed the incident saying the deceased were identified as Manson Chibonda aged 79 and Mascline Chibonda aged 73. Said Sergeant Musundire:

Yes, I can confirm that we are investigating a sad incident where a couple was brutally killed in Mugovera village of Masvingo.

So far we have gathered that on 23 September at around 2 pm Peter Tsuro aged 41 who was a domestic worker to the now-deceased proceeded to the garden and left the deceased in the company of his wife Brenda Kapanga aged 21.

At around 7 pm the deceased couple went to sleep in their bedroom while Brenda Kapanga proceeded to her bedroom in a different house which was a bit distant.

Peter Tsuro is said to have returned home at around 2 AM whilst drunk and noticed that his employer’s main door was open. He is said to have preceded to check on them, that’s when he found bodies of the two deceased lying lifeless on the floor.

Police discovered the bodies had severe head and facial injuries while a blood-stained axe was found stuck on the wife’s body.

Bodies of the deceased were taken to Masvingo general hospital for postmortem.

No arrests have been made so far and investigations are underway.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance for Zengeza West, Job Sikhala has claimed the central government and Chitungwiza council officials are sabotaging community development projects in the town.

Sikhala said the government had failed to construct a dam for the country’s third most populous urban area and vowed to lobby Parliament to ensure the project is implemented.

He spoke at an event to commission two borehole projects he funded in Zengeza 2 and Zengeza 5.

He said:

Chitungwiza relies on Harare for its water supplies, that is why potable water is so dear in our town.

When (Ignatius) Chombo was still the Local Government minister, a private investor approached council to build a dam on a build-operate-and-transfer basis but the project was shot down.

I have seen the documents and nothing changed when Saviour Kasukuwere took over from Chombo.

Now some doctor called Kasu, a council official, has sabotaged my project to provide vendors with suitable vending stalls.

He added that the project was going to be handed over to council, which was hoping to benefit from the rates paid by vendors.

A council official from the engineering department, Joseph Zenda, who officiated at the event also appealed to the government to provide a long-term solution to the water crisis in Chitungwiza by the constructing a dam.

This comes when Harare is reportedly planning to reduce its supply of water to Chitungwiza as water levels at the Prince Edward Dam were dwindling.-standard

By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo are investigating the death of a mental health patient who was found dead in his bedroom at Hope Fountain on Friday.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said Nhlalo Moyo (37) was found dead in his bedroom with his head severely fragmented. Insp Ncube said 20 minutes after he went into his room his parents heard a sound like a bomb blast coming from the room.

When his father checked what could have happened through the window, he saw smoke coming out through the window.

Insp Ncube said his parents then opened the window and saw his body on the bed with a skull fracture, while the walls were stained with blood.

“When the police arrived at the scene, they found the body lying on the bed facing upwards with his head destroyed into fragments and a box of matches was found on the left side of the bed next to his body. Pieces of exploded dynamites were found under the bed attached to a fuse.

We urge members of the public to continuously monitor their mentally-challenged relatives and supervise them to make sure they do not abscond on medication as doing so is dangerous to the patients and other members of the community,” he said.

By A Correspondent- MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora’s position has come under renewed threat after a founding MDC member approached the High Court challenging the legitimacy of the party’s extraordinary congress and recall of MDC Alliance legislators from Parliament.

Amos Kaliati, the current MDC-T secretary of mines and mineral resources in Chitungwiza, is also challenging Mwonzora’s appointment of Elias Mudzuri and Morgan Komichi as deputy president and national chairperson respectively, arguing the appointments were in violation of the party’s constitution.

Mwonzora was elected leader of the MDC during an extraordinary congress held in December in Harare, taking over from his deputy Thokozani Khupe who had been acting-president of the splinter MDC group after the death of founding party leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The Supreme Court confirmed Khupe as acting-president in March 2020 after seizing control of the party from MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.

The Court directed Khupe to hold an extraordinary congress within three months from March, but it was delayed till December. In court papers filed at the High Court on Friday, Kaliati through his lawyers Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni legal practitioners argued that Mwonzora’s presidency is null and void as all proceedings leading to the holding of the extraordinary congress were in violation of the party’s constitution.

“Following the decision of the Supreme Court on 31 March 2020, the lawful organs of the party did not meet.

“In this regard, whatever decisions that are purported to have been made on behalf of the first respondent after 30 March 2020 cannot be valid as the national council did not meet to discharge its constitutional mandate,” Kaliati argued.

The MDC, Khupe, Komichi, Mwonzora and Mudzuri are cited as the first to fifth respondent respectively.

“As a result of the above, I hold the view, and seek this court’s determination to the effect that 2nd and 4th respondents refused, neglected and/or failed to act in terms of the party constitution with respect to convening the national council for the purposes of the effective, transparent and accountable running of the affairs of the first respondent,” the application says.

“Consequently, any decision made and/ or not ratified by the national council as shown in Annexure AK-4 and 5 above is invalid and not binding on the First Respondent.” Kaliati also argued that the extraordinary congress did not constitute a quorum as required by “section 6.2.7 as read with section 6.2 of the party constitution,” adding an ordinary congress has also not been held to ratify decisions of the extraordinary congress, rendering it a legal nullity.

“Further, despite the lapse of six months from the date of the extra-ordinary congress, ordinary congress was not held to approve the decisions of the extraordinary congress as required by section 6.2.6 of the party constitution in the event of the extra-ordinary congress proceeding without a quorum,” Kaliati argued.

“The six month period lapsed on 30 June 2021. No ordinary congress was held as at that date.

“Consequently, by operation of the party constitution, that extra-ordinary congress ceases to have any force and is rendered invalid.” With regards to recalls, Kaliati argues “that the appropriate structures and organs of the MDC were never seized” with the matter and, therefore, did not represent the party position.

“Those communications are not, therefore, from the first respondent and ought not be given any consideration, force or ef- fect by any person,” he added.

The country awaits by-elections after Khupe recalled a number of MDC Alliance legislators and councillors across the country for not showing allegiance to her. “After the extraordinary congress of 27 December 2020, fourth respondent, who claimed victory in the election held for the party presidency, appointed 2nd respondent as one of his deputy presidents together with one Elias Mudzuri.

“This has the effect of negating the party constitution as found in the Supreme Court decision relied upon in this matter.

“This is on account of neither of them having been elected as deputy presidents of the party at the extra-ordinary congress in question.” Kaliati argued as a way forward and in line with the party’s constitution, the national council “as it stood on 31 March 2020, must sit and determine how best to steer the party moving forward in a manner that is consistent with the dictates of the party constitution.” Mwonzora and other respondents have 10 days to file opposing papers.

Happymore Chidziva, the national youth assembly chairperson of the party and also a member of the national standing committee, national executive committee and national council filed a supporting affidavit in favour of Kaliati.

Chidziva said the congress was a nullity because bona fide members of the party’s 2014 structures were not invited.

-standard

By A Correspondent- Two inmates, who escaped from Guruve prison have been re-arrested after they stole a motorbike from a local resident.

Acting Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Dhliwayo confirmed that Lyton Musengu and Jealous Gweshe (28) were back in custody.

“We are investigating a robbery case in Guruve where two convicts, who escaped from Guruve Prison robbed Ruzvidzo Bekiwa of Nyakapupu Village of his motorbike,” Dhliwayo said.

It is alleged that the duo purported to be asking for directions from Bekiwa, who was riding his bike.

“They pulled a sharp metal object which they used to strike him before robbing him of his bike.

Police arrested them days after the robbery.

By A Correspondent- Private aircraft have been sneaking in and out of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe (RGM) International Airport and other Zimbabwean flight ports without detection due to poor air traffic control, investigations have revealed.

An association of local air traffic controllers is worried that the repeated breaches pose a “national security threat”, investigations by The Standard — working in partnership with Information for Development Trust (IDT) and Zimstar News, an online publication — have revealed.

The IDT is a non-profit organisation helping promote the capacity of local and southern African journalists to investigate corruption and bad governance.

The shocking breaches were exposed in a high-level meeting held on May 10 this year between the Air Traffic Controllers Association of Zimbabwe (ATCAZ) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) board of directors.

The meeting, which was held at the third level boardroom at the RGM International Airport, was the first of its kind and came after ATCAZ repeatedly requested engagement with the board so that it could air its grievances relating to the handling of air traffic control over the years, minutes show.

The main meeting, it was established, excluded the CAAZ management so as to “allow for the (board) members to fully hear the ATC (air traffic control) issues”.

The ATCAZ team was led by Learnmore Maranda, the association’s president who came with Anderson Shonhiwa, Gift Munyaradzi Shoko, Ashlove Kudakwashe Chihota — an executive board member representing Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport — and Francisca Demawatema, who stood in for the RGM International Airport.

Bertha Muzangaza, the company secretary, took down the minutes.

Zimbabwe’s aviation system had, since 2010, operated without a surveillance system, the air traffic controllers told the CAAZ board.

“Air traffic controllers’ representatives advised that, because of the absence of a surveillance system since 2010 … aircraft come into our airspace and leave without the ATCs (air traffic controllers) knowing,” the minutes read.

“They (ATCs) further highlighted that such occurrences are a threat to Zimbabwe’s national security and that they are also a loss of revenue to CAAZ,” the minutes continued.

Two weeks before the meeting, the air traffic controllers told the CAAZ board that a helicopter from Zambia sneaked into the RGM port.

Mysterious copter

“They (ATCs) further highlighted that just two weeks back, a helicopter from Zambia landed at RGM International Airport without the ATCs seeing it nor knowing about it,” the minutes further read.

“They had no communication with it and they were actually surprised to see it already landed at the international landing area.

“As a result, their biggest fear is with the VVIP aircraft.”

The ATCs then quizzed the helicopter crew, which reportedly claimed that it had tried to communicate with the control tower attendants, but did not get a response.

This revelation, according to the minutes, shocked the board members who wondered why CAAZ was, in the first place, taking air navigation fees and failing to fulfil its mandate.

Poor air traffic surveillance was promoting smuggling too as private planes came and went unnoticed.

“They (ATCs) highlighted further that these private aircraft engage in smuggling activities daily, as they can fly in and out of the country without being detected due to the absence of a primary radar,” the meeting record noted.

The ATCAZ recommended that the Defence ministry should help with surveillance of all planes as CAAZ did not have the capacity to cover aircraft flying at low levels and added that it was also possible for commercial flights to land without detection.

Poor air traffic control has raised the risk of collisions and reduced the capacity to prevent accidents, said the ATCs.

They blamed the recent horror crash of an Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) helicopter in Goromonzi district just outside Harare on poor communication.

Helicopter crash

The helicopter, which was on a training mission, crashed into a house in Goromonzi in late April, killing an 18-month old toddler.

The crew, comprising Thomas Manyowa, a wing commander, Anita Mapiye, a female flight lieutenant, and Tinodiwanashe Chikamhi, a flight sergeant and technician, also died in the crash.

The real cause of the crash has not been publicly communicated by either AFZ, CAAZ or the Defence ministry.

The ATCs felt that the accident could have been avoided if their controllers at the RGM port had managed to communicate with the helicopter crew on time.

It is also not clear if the Manyame Airbase operators were aware of the technical problems that the helicopter was facing.

Ironically, the RGM ATC learnt of the crash from the small Charles Prince Airport in Mt Hampden, which is facing severe operational challenges, as established by our investigations.

The respective airports throughout Zimbabwe, notably at RGM, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, Hwange, Buffalo Range and Charles Prince, have been operating with depleted ATCs.

The Masvingo port has been closed for some time because of lack of ATCs, according to the meeting minutes.

A CAAZ board delegation visited the Hwange airport last year and was taken aback by the fact that the facility only had one ATC. To make matters worse, the lone ATC recently married and went on a honeymoon for two weeks, leaving the port unmanned.

International air traffic control regulations stipulate that an airport should have at least one ATC at any given time and prohibits its operation without an air traffic controller.

At the Buffalo Range airport in Masvingo, “aircraft are landing and departing with no ATC services during weekends” and, “in the event of a collision happening in such circumstances, the repercussions on a country are dire”, read the minutes.

Investigations also established that the South African aviation authority has, at times, picked potential collisions in Zimbabwean air space and alerted local ATCs.

“They (ATCs) highlighted that … CAAZ and ACZ (Airport Company of Zimbabwe) are allowing airports to operate without the presence of ATCs and that there is a disaster in the making,” the minutes noted.

Un-princely airport

The Charles Prince Airport is in “a state of shambles and should not continue to operate”, according to the Directorate of Flight Safety and Standards, a regulatory arm of CAAZ.

However, this advice has been ignored and the airport is still running.

The pavements, runways and taxi-ways at the airport are in a state of disrepair, the board was told.

When Blessing Ngwarai — the CAAZ Air Navigation and Technical Services director who earlier this year briefly held the acting director-general’s position — was called for a question-and-answer segment after the main meeting, he professed ignorance on who had blocked the closure of Charles Prince, but sources later alleged that the directive came from the Office of the President and Cabinet.

Ngwarai, the meeting minutes reveal, professed ignorance over the Zambian helicopter incident which took place when he was the acting director-general in April this year.

The RGM International Airport has not had distance measuring equipment (DME) for years, “yet this is equipment which an air traffic controller cannot do without”, the minutes indicated.

Investigations discovered, however, that the airport recently managed to secure one after Ngwarai made passionate pleas for its procurement.

A DME is a navigation beacon that enables aircraft to calculate their distance relative to that device using the speed of light. It is essential for landing facility location and timing.-standard

By A Correspondent- A married upper six student has been married twice and is about to separate with his second wife.

He has been denying his second wife c0njugal rights for the past seven months because she is disturbing his studies.

He also accuses her of having a spiritual husband.

Michael Dzora, 20, told H-Metro on Wednesday that both women eloped to him and he broke up with the first one after a miscarriage while the present wife returned after he sent her back.

Now he denies his second wife Charmaine Dzapata (18) c0njugal rights as a protest against the marriage.

“To be honest with you, one of Charmaine’s sisters forced her to elope so as to gain a good living,” said Michael.

“Akandinyepera kuti anepamuviri senzira yekugara neni semudzimai wangu.

“Her sister fooled her to make that decision but I retaliated by denying her se_x.

“This woman admired my life since I met her when I was behind my Toyota Wish vehicle and she saw herself as my wife.

“Pandakazomubvunza nezvepamuviri akazonditi dai ndakamirira kuita mimba waizotorwa nevamwe vasikana.

“I am the only student who drives a car to that school and that alone is giving me pressure and affecting my concentration during lessons.

Michael sensationally claimed that he has been seeing a spiritual husband warning him over taking Charmaine.

“At one time I saw, in a vision, another man claiming to be husband to my wife when I was about to enjoy my c0njugal rights,” said Michael.

“I informed my mother about seeing a spiritual man disturbing me from having time with Charmaine,” said Miekle.

“At one time my body became weak while I was r0mancing my wife and I ended up ordering her to go and retire to bed with my mother.

“My mother was also affected and we agreed to take her back to her parents.

“Takamudzosera tikati imbodzokera unobatsirwa kumusha kwako akadzokera.

“Her sister returned her within some days claiming that they had consulted a faith healer for help.

“I had se_xual intercourse with her twice upon her return but I later decided not to continue having se_x with her until now.

“Ndakazotenga jira ndikaendesa netsvakirai kuno last week saka iyezvino handichadi kusangana naye pabonde.

“People around us are not happy to see me driving my car to school hence the attacks,” said Michael.

Michael’s mother Tracy Dzora, 61, told H-Metro that Michael’s marriage to Charmaine has been under attack from spiritual forces.

“The marriage has been under attack and that forced us to take the wife back to her parents.

“Michael was given a vehicle by his father before he passed on and that car is the one being eyed by many people.

“He drives the car to and from school and that attracts a number of lovers,” said Dzora.

“I was also affected by the evil spirits that haunted my daughter in-law and had to use coarse salt.

“My daughter is yet to conceive and has been here for some months.

“Their problem is that they do not want to fully join church but only visit Johanne Masowe yeChishanu for prayers,” said Dzora.

Charmaine dismissed suggestions that she was being haunted by spirits saying the move is meant to force her to quit the marriage.

“Ndigere zvangu zvakanaka asi murume wangu tirikurara setisina kuwanana.

“I was once forced to return to my parents and I came back.

“Issues of Spiritism is clear scheming to frustrate me but I have no choice other than waiting until my husband feels for me.

“Izvezvi ayenda kuchikoro; anodzoka hake time time,” said Chamaine.

Michael separated with his first wife after two months when she had a miscarriage before taking Charmaine as his wife.

Reports circulating in Pasipanodya village where they live were that an evil spirit has been haunting the family for some time before Michael’s father died

By A Correspondent- Two men have been nabbed on allegations of threatening a local businessman with death by sending him messages on social media messaging site WhatsApp.

Lourens Botha and Matthew Mullaji were not asked to plead to allegations of threats to commit murder when they appeared before a Harare magistrate this Saturday. They will spend the weekend in remand prison awaiting bail ruling on Monday

Allegations are that sometime this month, the two together with one Dov Morgan who is still at large sent threatening messages to end the life of the complainant businessman using South African and local numbers.

“I will deal with you thoroughly. If I fail to deal with you on earth, I will f* you in mars, sh,” the message allegedly said.

The State further alleges that these words shook the complainant who now believes that the suspects and their accomplice will commit the crime threatened.

The State says the complainant fingered the suspects as the ones behind the threatening messages and that they are in possession of the messages.

Currently, there is an ongoing legal battle for the control of a company involving the complainant and his other business partners.

By The Standard-The High Court has described a shadowy politician who tried to recall MDC Alliance deputy president Tendai Biti and five other opposition legislators behaving like a hired gun.

Justice Joseph Mafusire’s ruling has added impetus into the arguments by the under siege MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa that the mass recalls of its legislators and local government representatives are being spearheaded by a third force.

The MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora began purging legislators and councillors loyal to Chamisa after the Supreme Court ruled last year that the MDC Alliance’s 2018 presidential election candidate’s takeover from the party’s founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai was null and void.
Last week’s High Court ruling re-ignited debate on the recalls that left dozens of constituencies and wards without elected representatives in what has been described as a sustained attack on Zimbabwe’s nascent democracy.
In his judgement, Mafusire said only a party that sponsored an MP has the power to recall them from Parliament as he tore into Benjamin Rukanda, the politician who purported to be recalling Biti and five others.
“The application can only succeed,” the judge said.
“The power of recall from Parliament in s 129 (1) (k) of the constitution is reposed in the political party the Member of Parliament was a member of at the time of the election.
“The first (Rukanda) and second respondents were not members of the seventh applicant at the time of the 2018 general election, or at any time thereafter.
“They had no power to recall the applicants.”
Rukanda, who claimed to be secretary general of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had written to speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda saying Biti and others had stopped representing the organisation’s interests.
Mudenda used the letter to force the recalls.
Mafusire said the MDC Alliance and Rainbow Coalition, which Rukanda belonged to, were two distinct parties as acknowledged by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZCC).
“The first respondent’s other argument that he could properly pen the so-called letter of recall purportedly on behalf of the PDP faction led by Biti and which had gone into a coalition under the MDC-Alliance, offends against reason,” the judgement says.
“Respondents first, second (Lucia Matibenga) and third (PDP) were quite happy to contest the 2018 general election, not only under an umbrella different from that which the seventh applicant had gone into, but actually in direct competition with it and its members.
“Respondents 1, 2 and 3 made their bed of roses. They must lie on it.
“They cannot seek to usurp other people’s beds.
“They should not behave like cuckoos. These are birds that do not build their own nests.
“They simply invade the nests of other birds and push out any eggs or nestlings in them so that they themselves can lay their own eggs in those nests. We are not birds.”
The judge added: “The simple point is that despite the continued use by the two factions of the name PDP, the situation on the ground was that the seventh applicant and the third respondent were totally two different political formations.
“Among other things, through the MDC-A and Rainbow Coalition, they were recognised and accepted as such by the sixth respondent, ZEC, for the purposes of the 2018 general elections.
“It was that election that ushered applicants 1 to 6 into Parliament and left respondents 1 and 2 out.”
Chamisa’s group has always argued that MDC-T has no legal right to recall MDC Alliance members since they contested the 2018 elections as a separate entity.

-The Standard

By A Correspondent- The Government is planning to amend Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) to criminalise NGOs that fund political parties or election candidates.

Sunday Mail reports that the Amendments to the Private Voluntary Organisation Act set to be tabled before Parliament soon will provide for the suspension and penalisation of NGOs that stray from their mandate.
The PVO Amendment Bill seeks to establish an Office of the Registrar of PVOs to regulate their operations.

Currently, PVOs operate under the purview of the director of social welfare in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

In addition, operating an unregistered PVO will attract a 10-year prison sentence.
Reads Section 5 of the Bill: “When any private voluntary organisation that supports or opposes any political party or candidate in a presidential, parliamentary or local government election or is a party to any breach of Section 7 under Part III of the Political Parties (Finance) Act (Chapter 2:12) as a contributor of funds to a political party or candidate or otherwise shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of Level Twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both such fine or such imprisonment.”
Section 7 of the Political Parties (Finance) Act criminalises foreign funding of political parties.

By A Correspondent- The Zvimba community and the late former president Robert Mugabe’s close relatives are debating over the final resting place of the late ruler at a time the fate is in the courts.

Mugabe’s neighbour who claims to be his aunt, Josephine Jaricha pointed an accusing finger at Mnangagwa whom she accused of trying to manipulate villagers allegedly to satisfy his wish to get access to Mugabe’s body.

Jaricha said the exhumation would not resurrect Mugabe or solve the current problems Zimbabwe was facing, including shortages of medicine in hospitals, inflation and the obtaining economic meltdown.

“Even if they exhume his body and rebury him at the National Heroes Acres that will not resurrect our child,” Jaricha said.

Jaricha said instead of solving problems being faced by the people in the country, Mnangagwa wanted to waste time and taxpayers’ money to exhume and rebury Mugabe.

“Besides, most people are suffering; (government) should be working towards solving people’s problems. This is a failed leadership.

“Things are worse off than during Mugabe’s time.

“Exhuming Mugabe will not put food on the table and those leading the country should preoccupy themselves with solving national problems rather than engaging in these frivolous things like exhuming Mugabe’s body,” Jaricha charged.

Mugabe’s headman, Camiro Kutama who appeared concerned about being sidelined by the Mugabe family during the burial ceremony said the villagers were shocked by the exhumation saga since it had never happened in his area of jurisdiction.

Kutama said if it was a case of violating customs and norms within Zvimba in general and Kutama in particular, he should have been the first person to be informed, but nothing like that happened.

“The chief erred by presiding over a case that I don’t even know about,” Kutama said.

“The case should have first come to me…besides people are buried at places of their choice and it’s not something out of this world.”

Another Kutama villager, elder Cephas Chioto who sits in headman Kutama’s court said the Mugabe issue was unique in so many ways.

Chioto said it was not new that someone was buried in the courtyard of their homestead.

It’s now “fashionable” in most parts of Zvimba, and interestingly, when Mugabe was buried, most Zvimba chiefs and Manongovere were present, but the issue was never raised.

“My son, go around this village and see for yourself graves at people’s homesteads, but nothing is being said about it,” Chioto said.

“Interestingly all those people involved (Chief Zvimba and Manongovere) were present when Mugabe was buried but none of them raised the issue.”

Chioto said it was very clear that some chiefs and villagers were being bribed to make ridiculous decisions.

“This can only point to people receiving money to make such ridiculous judgements because if they were genuine, they were supposed to raise the issue on the day Mugabe was buried ….but why waiting for two years?” Chioto queried.

Pressed further to reveal names of those involved, Chioto refused to name the people he suspected to be dishing out money to influence Mugabe’s exhumation and reburial.

“I will be required to bring evidence, which can be difficult to get, but these outrageous rulings by people who were part of the burial ceremony point to that direction” Chioto said.

Asked why he did not report the case first to Mugabe’s Kutama as required at law, Manongovere said Kutama was not of the Gushungo totem and did not know the norms and customs of the Zvimba people since he was from Masvingo and of Madyirapanze totem.

“I couldn’t report to Sabhuku Kutama because he doesn’t know our Gushungo way of doing cultural things since he is from Masvingo and of Madyirapanze totem,” he said.

Manongovere also said it was not true that Chief Zvimba and Chief Chidziva were present during Mugabe’s burial, insisting that they were chased away from Mugabe’s Blue Roof house by Grace Mugabe.

“According to our tradition Chief Chidziva and Chief Serima from Gutu representing Mugabe’s mother’s family identified Mugabe’s resting place at the Heroes Acre and marked the site (kutema rukawo) in the presence of Mugabe’s children, but Grace Mugabe disregarded all that and chased some chiefs from her Blue Roof residence,” said Manongovere.

He said he was not foolish to arraign the former first lady, a Mugabe family in-law before Chief Zvimba instead of the head of the Mugabe family, but he did so because Grace Mugabe dictated everything to do with the Mugabe burial.

“Grace was bullying everyone at the funeral. That’s the reason I took her to Chief Zvimba instead of the Mugabes,” said Manongovere.

Mugabe’s nephew and family spokesperson Leo Mugabe said it was appropriate for the former Zanu PF strongman’s to remain in Zvimba since they were in the process of renovating some rooms to be turned into a museum.

“We are constructing a museum befitting the Zimbabwean icon,” said Leo Mugabe.

“He deserved such because the country’s history will not be complete without his immense contribution before, during and after the liberation struggle.”

But some culturists say whether the courts ruled in favour of

exhumation and reburial that could not be done without involving the family.

As of now, it is a stalemate.

By The Standard-The High Court has described a shadowy politician who tried to recall MDC Alliance deputy president Tendai Biti and five other opposition legislators behaving like a hired gun.

Justice Joseph Mafusire’s ruling has added impetus into the arguments by the under siege MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa that the mass recalls of its legislators and local government representatives are being spearheaded by a third force.

The MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora began purging legislators and councillors loyal to Chamisa after the Supreme Court ruled last year that the MDC Alliance’s 2018 presidential election candidate’s takeover from the party’s founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai was null and void.
Last week’s High Court ruling re-ignited debate on the recalls that left dozens of constituencies and wards without elected representatives in what has been described as a sustained attack on Zimbabwe’s nascent democracy.
In his judgement, Mafusire said only a party that sponsored an MP has the power to recall them from Parliament as he tore into Benjamin Rukanda, the politician who purported to be recalling Biti and five others.
“The application can only succeed,” the judge said.
“The power of recall from Parliament in s 129 (1) (k) of the constitution is reposed in the political party the Member of Parliament was a member of at the time of the election.
“The first (Rukanda) and second respondents were not members of the seventh applicant at the time of the 2018 general election, or at any time thereafter.
“They had no power to recall the applicants.”
Rukanda, who claimed to be secretary general of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had written to speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda saying Biti and others had stopped representing the organisation’s interests.
Mudenda used the letter to force the recalls.
Mafusire said the MDC Alliance and Rainbow Coalition, which Rukanda belonged to, were two distinct parties as acknowledged by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZCC).
“The first respondent’s other argument that he could properly pen the so-called letter of recall purportedly on behalf of the PDP faction led by Biti and which had gone into a coalition under the MDC-Alliance, offends against reason,” the judgement says.
“Respondents first, second (Lucia Matibenga) and third (PDP) were quite happy to contest the 2018 general election, not only under an umbrella different from that which the seventh applicant had gone into, but actually in direct competition with it and its members.
“Respondents 1, 2 and 3 made their bed of roses. They must lie on it.
“They cannot seek to usurp other people’s beds.
“They should not behave like cuckoos. These are birds that do not build their own nests.
“They simply invade the nests of other birds and push out any eggs or nestlings in them so that they themselves can lay their own eggs in those nests. We are not birds.”
The judge added: “The simple point is that despite the continued use by the two factions of the name PDP, the situation on the ground was that the seventh applicant and the third respondent were totally two different political formations.
“Among other things, through the MDC-A and Rainbow Coalition, they were recognised and accepted as such by the sixth respondent, ZEC, for the purposes of the 2018 general elections.
“It was that election that ushered applicants 1 to 6 into Parliament and left respondents 1 and 2 out.”
Chamisa’s group has always argued that MDC-T has no legal right to recall MDC Alliance members since they contested the 2018 elections as a separate entity.

-The Standard

By A Correspondent- Member of Parliament for Zengeza West constituency, Job Sikhala has accused the government and Chitungwiza council officials of sabotaging community development projects in the dormitory town.

Sikhala said the government had failed to construct a dam for the country’s third most populous urban area and vowed to lobby Parliament to implement the project.

He spoke at an event to commission two borehole projects he funded in Zengeza 2 and Zengeza 5.

“Chitungwiza relies on Harare for its water supplies; that is why potable water is so dear in our town,” Sikhala said.
“When (Ignatius) Chombo was still the Local Government minister, a private investor approached the council to build a dam on a build-operate-and-transfer basis, but the project was shot down,” Sikhala said.

“I have seen the documents, and nothing changed when Saviour Kasukuwere took over from Chombo.”

Sikhala said Parliament was going to descend on Chitungwiza to investigate complaints he raised on the unprofessional conduct of certain council officials, who were derailing his projects in the constituency.

“Now some doctor called Kasu, a council official, has sabotaged my project to provide vendors with suitable vending stalls,” he said.
“This project is for residents, it is for the community, and after its completion, it was going to be handed over to the council, which was hoping to benefit from the rates paid by vendors.”

A council official from the engineering department, Joseph Zenda, who officiated at the event, also appealed to the government to provide a long-term solution to the water crisis in Chitungwiza by constructing a dam.

A circular from Chitungwiza council acting town clerk to all acting works managers said Harare was cutting down its water supply to the town as water levels at the Prince Edward Dam were dwindling.

By A Correspondent- Late former President Robert Mugabe’s son Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe has waded into contemporary musician Jah Prayzah for allegedly ignoring to endorse Nutty O’s new album, which the dancehall star released hours earlier Friday.

Nutty O, real name Carrington Simbarashe Chiwadzwa, released his long-awaited Mustard Seed, a 13-track compilation and his first album in his promising music career.

RELATED: NUTTY O FINALLY RELEASES FIRST ALBUM

The album has been widely described as a masterpiece as the young, talented artiste took time to flaunt his lyrical prowess.

Using his Twitter handle Friday, Chatunga said, “It’s now more than 5 hrs since Nutty O released his album still no sign of Jah Prayzah’s endorsement or congratulatory message have some shame JP.”

But the 24-year-old’s message was received differently among some Twitter users who felt Jah Prayzah was under no obligation to be endorsing other musician’s albums.

Entertainment journalist Robert Mukondiwa felt Jay Prayzah had no obligation to comment on his one-time protégé’s works.

“Should he, though? Does @jahprayzah owe him that congratulatory message?” he said in the Twitter thread.

However, others felt like a big name in the industry, it would be courteous of Jah Prayzah to commend another musician for a good production.

Both Nutty O and Jah Prayzah were once under the Military Touch Movement, a vibrant ensemble that once housed music talents in the form of Andy Muridzo, ExQ, Tahle Wedzinza, Nutty O and producers DJ Tamuka and Daniel Chiweda before they decided to pursue solo careers.

.

It’s now more than 5 hrs since Nutty O released his album, still no sign of Jah Prayzah’s endorsement or congratulatory message have some shame JP

— CHATUNGA (@bellagushaz) September 24, 2021

By A Correspondent- Home Affairs Minister and Zanu PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Kazembe Kazembe is allegedly demanding cash from illegal gold miners in Mazowe.

According to a local online news portal, Kazembe recently received US$50 000 from gold dealers operating in the province to fund his campaign to retain the chairmanship.

He is being challenged by the former Primary education minister Lazarus Dokora, in the impending Zanu PF PCC elections.

“There was a DCC meeting in Bindura last week where party members confronted him over the issue. He was accused of becoming a gold lord in the province and also of receiving US$50 000 from gold dealers to fund his campaign. Remember, these are miners and dealers operating without proper approvals, and they benefit a lot from him in terms of protection. These are the issues that Bindura DCC members wanted him to answer to,” said the source quoted by the online newspaper.

THE Health and Child Care ministry has resolved to cordon off boarding schools to curb the surge in COVID-19 cases within the learning institutions across the country.

Situational reports released by the Health ministry show that schools currently account for the majority of the COVID-19 cases recorded daily.

On Thursday, of the 330 new cases reported, 65% were recorded in schools.

As of Thursday, there were 1 281 schoolchildren and 131 teachers who had tested positive for COVID-19 across the country, according to the Health ministry.

In a statement yesterday, the Health ministry, however, said the situation was under control, adding that it had strengthened control measures, including intensifying vaccination of the eligible population in schools.

Under the new measures, parents will not be allowed to visit their children in boarding facilities.

“These bulks of the cases are being reported mainly from boarding secondary schools across the country through the enhanced surveillance mounted by the ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education using the joint operational plan for the coordinated prevention and management of the COVID-19 pandemic at all learning institutions in the country,” the Health ministry said.

“The ministry wishes to assure the nation and the affected parents that measures are being taken to safeguard the safety and health of the affected learners. The following mitigation measures have been put in place. Most of the reported cases have been mild and not requiring hospitalisation and no fatalities have been reported.”

Government said it would increase COVID-19 testing facilities of all suspected cases on-site, enhance isolation and management of all positive cases at the affected schools, and also quarantine all learners that would have been exposed to the virus at their schools.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday that the cases being recorded in schools were insignificant to warrant schools closure.

However, findings of investigations conducted by the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) on adherence of schools to government set standard operating procedures during the pandemic show that schools were incapacitated to adhere to the guidelines.

In the report, which was released yesterday, Artuz said there was a 10% drop in safety of school environments since the reopening of schools on August 23, 2021 in comparison with the previous terms.

“The outcome of the Artuz investigation reflected that all sampled schools remain COVID-19 danger zones because of shortages of required resources to reduce the spread of the pandemic disease, unavailability of COVID-19 test kits in schools and inadequate supply of vaccines in communities surrounding schools,” Artuz said in the report.

“The investigation observations reflected that there is a 10% drop in the percentage safety of school environments since the reopening of schools on August 23, and September 6, 2021 in comparison with the state of safety in the previous terms across the nation.”

Teachers unions said schools had limited testing capacities, which raised fears that the figures of the actual pupils and learners who were infected by the virus were higher than those reported.

They warned that the situation could get worse and possibly drive a fourth COVID-19 wave in the country.

“Government has a problem of providing immediate and  temporary solutions to problems,” Artuz president Orbet Masaraure said.

“The problem of COVID-19 in schools should be addressed holistically. Banning movement in boarding schools is a temporary measure. It appears like the government is shooting itself in the foot.

How are the pupils going to carry out the Continuous Assessment Learning Activities if they have been locked in schools? Schools were never prepared to reopen, which is evidenced by the inconsistencies in policies on the problem at hand.”

Zimbabwe National Teachers Union chief executive officer Manuel Nyawo said banning movements at boarding schools would not resolve the crisis because a majority of them were recording COVID-19 cases.

“The government should develop a culture of consulting stakeholders before imposing decisions,” he said.

“It must have consulted school authorities, parents and other relevant stakeholders on the best way to deal with the crisis in school. Even if it bans movement at boarding schools, the day schools, which have the majority of the scholars, will still be exposed to the risk of contracting COVID-19. Government  must not keep the boarding pupils hostage to address the problem.”