By A Correspondent- MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa met with Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume and discussed strategies of defeating Zanu PF in the 2023 elections.

Ngarivhume described the meeting as crucial in terms of determining the way forward before the 2023 polls.

“We had a great progressive meeting with MDC Alliance President @nelsonchamisa this morning.

It’s time to build big for 2023 and act big. Zimbabwe desperately needs transformation.
Freedom is coming

By A Correspondent | The announced divorce of president Robert Mugabe’s nephew, Jason, caused a stir when the controversial preacher Walter Magaya’s name was dropped.

The married preacher, Magaya, who has several proven cases of sleeping with his church congregants, was exposed once again for his fornication dark arts in which he beds women, including teenagers.

As Zhuwao announced he is divorcing his wife of barely 2 years, Lorraine, Walter Magaya was publicly named as secretly bedding an Instagram socialite, only identified as Stacate (picture).

The woman (age not given) had moved to mock Zhuwao appearing as if she is an interested party in Zhuwao’s private life.

She said Zhuwao was “busy portraying a happy picture on social media deep down uchiziva uri kuzvichengeta. Muchazvirega henyu (you shall certainly stop what you’re doing.)

“ It was at that point that digi-mobs threw bricks at her saying she is dating Walter Magaya. Somewhat responding to this, her profile description was swiftly changed from ‘Mai Mufundisi…Pastor’s Wife,’ to something more generic, “Mother Of 3 Beautiful Girls.”

Magaya has a long history of cheating on his wife and his bodyguard raised a whistleblowing case to his wife detailing several proven cases.

Efforts to get a comment from Stacate hit a brick wall as she did not respond to questions sent her.

Magaya has been contacted on several accounts and on one occasion, attempted to bribe journalists from this news network.

By A Correspondent- A former top Zimbabwe National Army officer has been found dead at his home.

Retired Colonel Patrick Tawona Maponga was found dead at his home in Magunje on Tuesday morning. He was 60.

Maponga was a veteran of Zimbabwe’s war of independence. He lost his wife early this year.

According to a Hurungwe war veteran member, Don Nxele, the late Maponga was among freedom fighters who took the land reform seriously.

He said Maponga was first allocated a plot at the Nassau Farm near Karoi in 2001, but later moved to Mshowe Pools in Hurungwe East constituency in 2003. Said Nxele:

I remember that he was among the few freedom fighters who took farming as a business.

In 2004, he hosted African senior army officers who wanted to understand how the land reform was benefitting indigenous people at Mshowe Pools Farm.

Some came from Egypt, South Africa, Namibia and other Southern Africa countries. By then, he was into wheat and maize production.
Of late, Maponga had ventured into cattle rearing, horticulture, poultry and crocodile farming.

Maponga joined the liberation struggle at a tender age and was trained in Tanzania. He rose through the ranks to become an instructor in Mozambique before independence.

He was integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army soon after independence. He was among the soldiers deployed in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo as an instructor.

At one time, he was deployed at Magunje 2.3 Infantry Battalion before he voluntarily retired in 1997.
Burial arrangements are still yet to be announced.
He is survived by eight children

Tinashe Sambiri|Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume held a crucial meeting with President Nelson Chamisa in Harare on Wednesday and the two discussed the problems affecting citizens…

Ngarivhume described the meeting as crucial in terms of determining the way forward before the 2023 polls.

“We had a great progressive meeting with MDC Alliance President @nelsonchamisa this morning.

It’s time to build big for 2023 and act big. Zimbabwe desperately needs transformation.
Freedom is coming

By A Correspondent | The announced divorce of president Robert Mugabe’s nephew, Jason, caused a stir when the controversial preacher Walter Magaya’s name was dropped.

The married preacher, Magaya who has several proven cases of sleeping with his church congregants, was exposed once again for his fornication darkarts in which he beds women and teenagers.

As Zhuwao announced he is divorcing his wife of barely 2 years, Lorraine, last night, Walter Magaya was publicly named as secretly bedding an Instagram socialite, only identified as Stacate (picture). The woman (age not given) had moved to mock Zhuwao appearing as if she is an interested party in Zhuwao’s private life.

She lifted the heavy finger against Zhuwao saying he was “busy portraying a happy picture on social media deep down uchiziva uri kuzvichengeta. Muchazvirega henyu (you shall certainly stop what you’re doing.) “

It was at that point that digi-mobs on the social networking website, rose up to throw bricks at her saying she is dating Walter Magaya. Somewhat responding to this, her profile description was swiftly changed from ‘Mai Mufundisi…Pastor’s Wife,’ to something totally different, “Mother Of 3 Beautiful Girls.”

Magaya has a long history of cheating on his wife and his bodyguard raised a whistleblowing case to his (Magaya’s) wife detailing several proven cases (VIDEO).

https://youtu.be/kb4KpRfy7T8

Efforts to get a comment from Stacate hit a brickwall as she did not respond to questions sent her. Magaya has been contacted on several accounts and on one occasion attempted bribing journalists from this news network.

As citizens continue to motivate each other to register to vote, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) reminds the nation that for the people’s will to be reflected in the outcome of any election, there is a need to strengthen electoral processes which are accepted by all and sundry.

Zimbabwe’s elections have in the past suffered a credibility test which has resulted in the electorate losing confidence in the electoral system. For Zimbabwe to increase the credibility of elections, there needs to be an urgent need to address the following five (5) key areas:

1-Public Broadcaster and Media Coverage: All political parties must be granted equal media coverage by the public broadcasters and publishers. This ensures that citizens have access to information on all political parties and candidates contesting in elections as supported by the electoral laws.

The media plays an important role in helping citizens to hold elected officials accountable thus access to information by voters and equal access to the electorate by parties and candidates is important and must be objective.

2-The Conduct of Traditional Leaders: As per the dictates of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Traditional leaders must not further the interests of any political party or candidate or in any way participate in partisan politics. Compliance with the law is of paramount importance in order to ensure a balanced political and electoral environment.

Traditional leaders should, instead, facilitate equitable access to communities by all parties canvassing for support and ensure that the voter has access to information necessary to make an informed decision at the polls.

3- Independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC):- In administering its constitutional mandate to oversee elections, ZEC must be impartial and independent. ZEC’s activities, decisions and roles MUST not be influenced by anyone. More so, there ought to be transparency and accountability (responsibility to justify actions or decisions) to citizens, political parties and independent observers.

Ensuring verifiability (demonstration of accuracy beyond reasonable doubt) and inclusivity (providing equal access) of processes will enhance public confidence in the Commission. These processes extend to voter mobilisation and education, ballot printing, results transmission and political parties and civil society engagement.

4-Conduct of The Security Services: Security services must be professional, respect the rule of law and ensure that the electoral and political environment remains conducive for free and fair elections. The security services must respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons and be non-partisan, national in character, patriotic, professional and subordinate to the civilian authority as established by the Constitution, (Constitution 211 (3).

5-Election Dispute Resolution (Mechanisms): There is a need to create accessible and functional mechanisms that ensure that electoral disputes are resolved, strengthening confidence and ensuring the credibility of electoral processes.

ZEC, ZRP and ZHRC must ensure compliance with criminal and electoral justice systems including fair investigation and immediate redress of complaints and reports of violence.

The mechanism of Multi-Party Liaison Committees must be decentralised to lower levels from the current national and provincial tiers.

Conclusively, voter registration should be complemented with the implementation of electoral reforms

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1435863377969098752?s=19

August 2021 was a politically charged month in Zimbabwe.

The social media buzz over the opposition victory in neighbouring Zambia translated into more campaigns and increased political activity by the ruling Zanu PF and the MDC Alliance parties in Zimbabwe

Despite the COVID -19 lockdown in place, Zanu PF continued with its campaigns and restructuring like it was business as usual.
.

As a result of being politically active, Zanu PF contributed to over 21 percent of erpetrators of human rights violations in August 2021.

This was mostly due to the fact that party officials and activists coerced citizens to be part of the party’s activities, in the process infringing their freedom to associate .

The main opposition party, the MDC Alliance and its breakaway, the MDC -T, both contributed to just under 0. 2 percent of the perpetrators
.

All this happened as Zimbabweans experienced an increase in the cost of living and the worsening of the public transport crisis

The unavailability of safe and reliable public transportation has become a major human rights issue in Zimbabwe as government continues to maintain a ban on public transport operators at a time when the government owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) has not managed to build its capacity to cater for the huge demand for its services.

Members of the public therefore end up resorting to using trucks and other vehicles, popularly known as mushikashika as public transport, or spend hours queuing for ZUPCO buses, exposing themselves to COVID -19 and losing productive time
.

We take a look at the issues affecting the public transport system
.
We also delve into the story behind the forcing of young girls into marriage scandal at the Johane Marange apostolic sect and focus on how the sect, which enjoys political protection, uses various means of suppressing the rights of children and women
.
Charged with the responsibility to enforce COVID -19 lockdown measures, the police contributed to just over 50 percent of the human rights violations
.

This is mainly because the officers used brute methods, or simply did not follow arrest procedures while enforcing measures such as the 6 .30 pm curfew
.

In one of the cases, some commercial sex workers who were found loitering after the curfew in Marondera alleged that police officers demanded sexual favours in return for freedom
.

The police were also responsible for the ten cases of unlawful detention.

We also look at the human rights issue around government’s failure to avail national registration documents considering that for one to write public exams, vote in national
elections, or access aid and some financial and government services, they need to either have national identity card or birth certificate

Teachers unions have demanded an apology from the government following remarks by Primary and Secondary Education secretary Tumisang Thabela that educators who could not afford to travel back to their workplaces should borrow money.

They said the government was mocking them for being broke when it was failing to pay reasonable salaries which have resulted in some of them failing to travel to their respective workplaces.

At a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Thabela admitted that not all teachers have been attending classes since schools reopened for the second term last week.

She said only 70% of teachers had turned up, adding that there were two unnamed provinces where attendance was even lower.

Prior to reopening of schools, the unions urged government to increase their salaries. They are demanding that government reverts to the pre-October 2018 salaries of between US$520 and US$550 or the equivalent in local currency.

But on Tuesday, Thabela asked the broke teachers to borrow money so that they could travel to their workplaces, a statement which sparked wide public criticism yesterday.

“From our daily check of attendance for the previous week, the number of teachers who were coming as compared to the number we are expecting was over 70%. There is one or two (provinces) which are still depressed but generally, we are over 70%. So those who are supposed to not have enough money or whatever (sic), we are hoping that by the end of next week, they would have borrowed enough money to go back to work,” Thabela said before she broke into laughter.

Teachers were outraged by Thabela’s statement, and dismissed her claims that 70% of teachers were attending classes, saying the true figure was under 35%.

“When a whole profession is reduced to this, how do we inspire our kids?” Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe retorted in response to Thabela.

“Why reduce us to beggars? We are a joke. The damage is colossal.”

Zimbabwe National Teachers Union chief executive Manuel Nyawo said teachers would not borrow on behalf of the employer, but would continue demanding improved working conditions and higher salaries.

“The unfortunate, damaging, insulting, provocative and misplaced remarks by the Permanent Secretary cannot go unchallenged,” Nyawo said.

“This behaviour smacks of an individual or individuals who have no feelings for the teachers as they care less about us. How can we borrow to be able to go to work? Is it not evidence that confirms our declared position of incapacitation? We are more than seriously incapacitated as confirmed by the Permanent Secretary who turned into a trade unionist before Cabinet.

“The Permanent Secretary must never forget that she is one of us and must always speak for us. Next time she appears before Cabinet, she must tell them that the bulk of the teachers countrywide are not teaching, but seated in disgruntlement. Teachers must be paid what they deserve.”

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) said Thabela’ remarks had exposed the government’s incompetence and lack of willingness to address their concerns.

“Artuz has noted with deep concern and utter shock the lies being peddled by a high ranking government official, the Permanent Secretary of Primary and Secondary Education, Madam Thabela, who blatantly lied through her teeth to the nation and indeed to herself by conjuring up fictitious figures on teacher attendance,” Artuz said in a statement.

The teacher union said Thabela’s 70% figure was utopian, claiming very few teachers were at their work stations.

Thabela refused to comment on the matter when NewsDay contacted her.

“All communications are directed to the ministry spokesperson,” she said.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- It is illegal for schools to turn away pupils due to non-payment of levies and tuition fees, Primary and Secondary Education secretary Tumisang Thabela has said.

Speaking during a tour of Westlea Council Primary School in Harare on Tuesday to assess interventions put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 following the reopening of schools, Thabela warned schools authorities against turning pupils away for non-payment of fees.

She said learners’ right to education was an inalienable right which could not be compromised.

“I would like to remind parents and our heads that no child will be sent away from school because they have not paid fees. That is what the Education Act says . . . The contract of fees is between the parent and the school. They have to agree on terms of payment, as they have to approach the school and make agreements on terms and not interfere with the child’s education journey.”

Several schools have reportedly been chasing away pupils who have not settled their fees, particularly those in boarding schools. School authorities were said to be demanding cash upfront before children could enter school premises.

Parents have been complaining over the rushed schools reopening, saying they needed to be given time to raise fees after their incomes were severely affected by the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Parents also say the situation has been worsened by the decision by the government to authorise a 33% fee hike after introducing a school term with 80 days.

Thabela urged parents to lodge complaints through the ministry’s toll-free line if they are faced with challenges relating to learners being turned away by school authorities.

“Parents who have queries about schools raising fees without approval from the permanent secretary or sending children away, we now have a toll-free line 317 where you can tell us your problem and will try to the best of our ability to assist.”

Thabela challenged schools to lead and initiate viable income-generating projects to supplement finances.

“We cannot continue to deal with schools as if they are at a position where we just have to be drawing money from parents for survival. COVID-19 showed us that fees are not there all the time, but schools need to survive to pay its employees. Through our ministry, we came up with a commercial projects policy where every school should be run as a commercial entity and be able to survive from other disruptions,” she added.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Stakeholders from the security sector have misgivings over provisions of the Police Amendment Bill which seeks to reform the force, according to findings of the joint parliamentary committee on Peace and Security and Defence, Home Affairs and Security.

The Police Amendment Bill seeks to align the Police Act with the Constitution, particularly section 219 which sets out the establishment and functions of the country’s police service and the Police Service Commission in line with regional practices such as in South Africa.

The commission is supposed to play an oversight role of the police service.

However, there is resistance to the Bill from sections of the security sector, according to findings from virtual public hearings on the Bill held on August 4 and attended by various stakeholders, including members of the public.

“While it is necessary to align the Police Act to the Constitution, there were mixed views on interpretation of some provisions of the proposed piece of legislation,” legislator Levi Mayihlome said at the Second Reading of the Bill on Tuesday in Parliament.

“Though acknowledging that this was a progressive and crucial stride, some stakeholders, particularly from the security sector, were of the view that certain provisions, if enacted had detrimental effects on effective policing and ultimately on national security.”

“Others, especially individual members of the public and civic society organisations, applauded the Bill for further responding to the call for the police service to uphold and respect human rights through working together effectively with constitutionally established commissions such as the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, among others.”

The joint committee received written submissions from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and civic society organisations such as legislative watchdog Veritas.

“On the contrary, stakeholders in the security sector, were of the view that the Bill assigned the making of Standing Orders to the PSC when in fact, it was supposed to be the prerogative of the Commissioner-General of Police,” Mayihlome said on submissions to the formulation of Standing Orders.

“They contended that the head of the police service, who is well versed with the day-to-day operations and administration of the organisation, was better placed to deal with issues relating to discipline and orderly conduct of members of the organisation. It was, therefore, proposed that the Commissioner-General of Police be reposed with the power to formulate Standing Orders.”

According to Mayihlome, the committee was in support of the Bill.

“The establishment of the Police Service Commission is in itself a great move in the right direction as it will go a long way in improving service delivery in the sector through its oversight role as well as collaborating and complementing the efforts of other constitutionally established commissions,” Mayihlome said.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Leaders for Africa Network (LAN) in partnership with renowned academic Ibbo Mandaza’s regional think-tank, the Southern African Political-Economy Series (Sapes) Trust, will today launch a book tracing the philosophical footpath and political grounding of the late former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe in Harare.

The book, Re/Membering Robert Gabriel Mugabe: Politics, Legacy, Philosophy, Life and Death by Leaders for Africa Network’s Research Unit, LAN Readers, will be launched at an extraordinary session of the Sapes policy dialogue.

Monday marked two years after the death of Mugabe, who died at a hospital in Singapore.

The former strongman died a bitter man after he was pushed out of power by his military chiefs in November2017.

LAN research and publication co-ordinator Pofela Ndzozi in a statement said the book highlights Mugabe’s statecraft milestones and pitfalls before and after independence in April 1980.

“The launch of the book, Re/Membering Robert Gabriel Mugabe: Politics, Legacy, Philosophy, Life and Death, is a befitting homage to (the late former) African leader.

“Through this book launch, LAN and Sapes Trust join Zimbabwe and the rest of the world in commemorating the second-anniversary of the passing on of Mugabe’s on September 6, 2019,”he said.

“The essays in the book also interrogate Mugabe’s statesmanship within the broad-based ideological benchmarks of African nationalism and pan-Africanism.”

The 14-chapter volume draws its contributions from a cohort of reputable and upcoming academics and practising politicians such as Zanu-PF’s secretary for administration and a long-serving cabinet minister in Mugabe’s government, Obert Mpofu.

Other notable figures, who contributed to the book include Professor Jairos Kangura, Enerst Jakaza, Isaac Mhute, Nelson Mlambo, Richard Muranda, Lenin Chisaira, and Avoid Masiraha, among others.

The book was edited by Namibian-based Zimbabwean scholar Collen Sabao, Richard Runyararo Mahomva, the executive co-ordinator of LAN, and Lawrence Mhandara, a senior lecturer with the University of Zimbabwe’s Department of Governance and Public Management.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Two police officers were seriously injured after they were attacked by a murder suspect whom they were attempting to arrest in Mudzi, Mashonaland East province.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the suspect, Steven Nyakarenda (37) of Mafuta village, went on the run after he had allegedly killed his two-year-old son, before striking and injuring two officers.

Nyathi said police received information that Nyakarenda had killed his son and a team attended the scene.

The police then ordered him to accompany them to Nyamapanda Police Station. But Nyakarenda struck one police officer, a Constable Shiri on the head with a stone and struck the other, an Assistant Inspector Kugotsi on the head with an axe.

“The ZRP is concerned with the conduct of some criminals who are resorting to attacking police officers while in the process of effecting arrests” Nyathi said. “In this regard, the police will brook no nonsense in dealing with such criminals.”

Police are appealing to the members of the public for information about Nyakarenda’s whereabouts.

By A Correspondent- Retired Colonel Patrick Tawona Maponga was found dead at his home in Magunje on Tuesday morning.

He was 60. The late Maponga lost his wife early this year.

A former freedom fighter, joined the liberation struggle at a tender age and was trained in Tanzania. He rose through the ranks to become an instructor in Mozambique before independence.

Maponga was integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army soon after independence.  He was among the soldiers deployed in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo as an instructor. At one time, he was deployed at Magunje 2.3 Infantry Battalion before he voluntarily retired in 1997.

He was a farmer who was first allocated a plot at the Nassau Farm near Karoi in 2001, but later moved to Mshowe Pools in Hurungwe East constituency in 2003. A Hurungwe war veteran member, Don Nxele said the late Maponga was among freedom fighters who took the land reform seriously.

‘I remember that he was among few freedom fighters who took farming as business. In 2004, he hosted African senior army officers who wanted to understand how the land reform was benefitting indigenous people at Mshowe Pools Farm. Some came from Egypt, South Africa, Namibia and other Southern Africa countries. By then, he was into wheat and maize production,” Nxele said.

‘‘Of late, Maponga had ventured into cattle rearing, horticulture, poultry and crocodile farming,” he said.

In a statement, the liberation war veterans said: “Cde Maponga, whose pseudonym was Cde Mazuva, lost his wife a few months ago and was still grieving, but death took him as well.”

Burial arrangements are still yet to be announced.

He is survived by eight children.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Chido Sanyatwe, the wife to Zimbabwe ambassador to Tanzania and former Presidential Guard commander, Anselem Sanyatwe, is reportedly leading the race to take over as the Manicaland ZANU PF provincial women’s league chairperson.

Sanyatwe, who is Nyanga North MP, is said to have the backing of several districts ahead of the elections expected to be held next month.

She is facing competition from the incumbent, Happiness Nyakuedzwa, who is determined to return her seat despite being dumped by her district, Makoni, last month.

A women’s league provincial member who spoke to NewsDay on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation said:

Cde Sanyatwe has done a lot for her constituency, she has been helping women with poultry projects, sewing machines among other projects, so people are appreciating what she has been doing and she is being supported by many districts in upcoming provincial elections.

What is interesting in the women’s league elections Cde Nyakuedzwa is not wanted in her own Makoni district; this is an advantage for Sanyatwe. Mutasa district is supporting Sanyatwe.

Sanyatwe was elected into the leadership of Manicaland province and was promoted to the secretary for administration in the women’s league in 2013.

After being elected into Parliament in 2018, Sanyatwe is a member of the portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts.

Meanwhile, ZANU PF acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa recently warned party members to desist from campaigning as this was disturbing the party’s restructuring process.

However, aspiring candidates who are eyeing provincial positions are allegedly holding secret campaigns.

By A Correspondent- A 25 year old Chinhoyi man will forever rue the day he proposed love to an underage girl from his neighbourhood, which led to a se_xual relationship.

Masimba Alfred Tachiona of Rusununguko suburb in Chinhoyi appeared for initial remand Wednesday before magistrate Melody Rwizi facing charges under Section 70 (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23, which pertain to “having se_xual intercourse with a young person.”

He was granted bail while a trial date is yet to be set.

The state case led by Odrah Chitoro is that sometime in July this year, Tachiona visited the 14-year-old complainant’s residence, which is a few houses away.

He found her alone as her mother had left for Mhangura and proposed love to the minor.

The court heard the girl accepted the proposal, a development which saw the accused person visiting the girl on numerous occasions as the two were now lovers.

On the day in question in the evening, Tachiona visited as usual and led the girl into an unfinished room at the property where he started f0ndling her breasts.

The accused person then had se_x with the girl.

Upon the girl’s mother return from Mhangura, she got suspicious and quizzed her daughter who confessed to bedding the dread-locked neighbour.

The matter was reported to the police before the complainant was taken to the hospital for medical examination.

Accused was later arrested for ‘statutory rap_e.’

By A Correspondent- It is illegal for schools to turn away pupils due to non-payment of levies and tuition fees, Primary and Secondary Education secretary Tumisang Thabela has said.

Speaking during a tour of Westlea Council Primary School in Harare on Tuesday to assess interventions put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 following the reopening of schools, Thabela warned schools authorities against turning pupils away for non-payment of fees.

She said learners’ right to education was an inalienable right which could not be compromised.

“I would like to remind parents and our heads that no child will be sent away from school because they have not paid fees. That is what the Education Act says . . . The contract of fees is between the parent and the school. They have to agree on terms of payment, as they have to approach the school and make agreements on terms and not interfere with the child’s education journey.”

Several schools have reportedly been chasing away pupils who have not settled their fees, particularly those in boarding schools. School authorities were said to be demanding cash upfront before children could enter school premises.

Parents have been complaining over the rushed schools reopening, saying they needed to be given time to raise fees after their incomes were severely affected by the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Parents also say the situation has been worsened by the decision by the government to authorise a 33% fee hike after introducing a school term with 80 days.

Thabela urged parents to lodge complaints through the ministry’s toll-free line if they are faced with challenges relating to learners being turned away by school authorities.

“Parents who have queries about schools raising fees without approval from the permanent secretary or sending children away, we now have a toll-free line 317 where you can tell us your problem and will try to the best of our ability to assist.”

Thabela challenged schools to lead and initiate viable income-generating projects to supplement finances.

“We cannot continue to deal with schools as if they are at a position where we just have to be drawing money from parents for survival. COVID-19 showed us that fees are not there all the time, but schools need to survive to pay its employees. Through our ministry, we came up with a commercial projects policy where every school should be run as a commercial entity and be able to survive from other disruptions,” she added.

-Newsday

This mess has been caused by the Zanupf Govt that recalled elected Councillors and handed over control of council affairs to the Mwonzora group. #RegisterToVote2023 . https://t.co/tH3XWWWFt7

— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) September 9, 2021

By A Correspondent- Retired Colonel Patrick Tawona Maponga was found dead at his home in Magunje on Tuesday morning.

He was 60. The late Maponga lost his wife early this year.

A former freedom fighter, joined the liberation struggle at a tender age and was trained in Tanzania. He rose through the ranks to become an instructor in Mozambique before independence.

Maponga was integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army soon after independence.  He was among the soldiers deployed in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo as an instructor. At one time, he was deployed at Magunje 2.3 Infantry Battalion before he voluntarily retired in 1997.

He was a farmer who was first allocated a plot at the Nassau Farm near Karoi in 2001, but later moved to Mshowe Pools in Hurungwe East constituency in 2003. A Hurungwe war veteran member, Don Nxele said the late Maponga was among freedom fighters who took the land reform seriously.

‘I remember that he was among few freedom fighters who took farming as business. In 2004, he hosted African senior army officers who wanted to understand how the land reform was benefitting indigenous people at Mshowe Pools Farm. Some came from Egypt, South Africa, Namibia and other Southern Africa countries. By then, he was into wheat and maize production,” Nxele said.

‘‘Of late, Maponga had ventured into cattle rearing, horticulture, poultry and crocodile farming,” he said.

In a statement, the liberation war veterans said: “Cde Maponga, whose pseudonym was Cde Mazuva, lost his wife a few months ago and was still grieving, but death took him as well.”

Burial arrangements are still yet to be announced.

He is survived by eight children.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Chido Sanyatwe, the wife to Zimbabwe ambassador to Tanzania and former Presidential Guard commander, Anselem Sanyatwe, is reportedly leading the race to take over as the Manicaland ZANU PF provincial women’s league chairperson.

Sanyatwe, who is Nyanga North MP, is said to have the backing of several districts ahead of the elections expected to be held next month.

She is facing competition from the incumbent, Happiness Nyakuedzwa, who is determined to return her seat despite being dumped by her district, Makoni, last month.

A women’s league provincial member who spoke to NewsDay on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation said:

Cde Sanyatwe has done a lot for her constituency, she has been helping women with poultry projects, sewing machines among other projects, so people are appreciating what she has been doing and she is being supported by many districts in upcoming provincial elections.

What is interesting in the women’s league elections Cde Nyakuedzwa is not wanted in her own Makoni district; this is an advantage for Sanyatwe. Mutasa district is supporting Sanyatwe.

Sanyatwe was elected into the leadership of Manicaland province and was promoted to the secretary for administration in the women’s league in 2013.

After being elected into Parliament in 2018, Sanyatwe is a member of the portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts.

Meanwhile, ZANU PF acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa recently warned party members to desist from campaigning as this was disturbing the party’s restructuring process.

However, aspiring candidates who are eyeing provincial positions are allegedly holding secret campaigns.

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1435863377969098752?s=19

7 September 2021

His Excellency Elias Mpedi Magosi
SADC Executive Secretary
SADC House
Plot No. 54385, Central Business District
Gaborone
BOTSWANA

RE: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND OF THE MEDIA IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

The above matter refers.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), by virtue of this letter, proffers its sincere greetings and compliments to you on your elevation to the post of SADC Executive Secretary.

Your elevation to the position comes at a critical time for both the Southern African region and the African continent as a whole, particularly in terms of the media freedom environment and the safety and security of journalists.

SADC’s Vision for 2050 is for the region to remain peaceful and stable, thus enabling the further prioritisation, pursuit and achievement of its objectives of socio-economic development, poverty eradication and regional integration.

Your Excellency, we wish to reiterate that a free and secure media is needed to support SADC’s Vision for 2050.

However, the past 18 months have shown how the media in Southern Africa continues to be vulnerable to attacks through arbitrary arrests and detention, physical assaults, crippling fines, closure of media houses, enforced disappearances, use of, or introduction of laws that are inimical to freedom of expression.

Your Excellency, let me also take this opportunity to bring to your attention, key issues that we are grappling with as a region as far as freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom are concerned.

These issues, which are of great concern to us, pertaining to the disappearance of Azory Gwanda of Tanzania, and Ibraimo Mbaruco of Mozambique; the continued persecution of Hopewell Chin’ono in Zimbabwe, and persecution of Eswatini journalists Eugene Dube and Zweli Dlamini, and the general targeting of journalists in that country, and the state of insecurity in northern Mozambique.

Furthermore, we are worried by the propensity of Southern African countries to introduce purported cyber security laws that have a chilling effect on media freedom and freedom of expression. Lesotho, Tanzania and Zambia, have introduced such cyber security laws.

These laws fall far short of regional and international standards and instruments on human rights such as the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention), which sets the standards for cyber security and personal data protection laws as well as capacity building, knowledge exchanges and experience sharing, among signatories.

In addition, Zimbabwe is in the process of enacting such a law, which will have a grave impact on freedom of expression and of the media.

In February this year, Citizen Lab, a Toronto-based research organisation, conducted research on the use of spyware. It detected that there were seven African countries using the Circles spyware to snoop on citizens’ communications.

Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana, are among the seven African countries from SADC that were identified as using the Cycles spyware. This is in violation of both domestic laws and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) frameworks that protect the right to privacy.

Your Excellency, another cause for great concern is the propensity of Southern African governments to resort to fake news laws.

MISA is concerned with the seeming regional consensus on the need to snoop on the Internet without much attention and due regard to the enjoyment of fundamental human rights, particularly the protection of citizens’ right to privacy.

Your Excellency, equally worrying is the reflex by Southern African member states to internet shutdowns, disruption, and throttling, especially when citizens petition through demonstrations and during elections. This was the case in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Further,  the fake news regulations which started with South Africa, triggered similar laws in Botswana, Zambia, Eswatini and Namibia, among others.

With this in mind, and through your able leadership, MISA calls on regional governments to take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety and security of journalists. The media can only play its role in promoting sustainable development and regional integration if it is allowed to operate freely.

In addition, MISA urges SADC governments to ensure that the region’s cyber security regulations are informed and guided by the revised principles of the ACHPR Declaration of Principles on  Freedom of Expression and Access to Information which recognises the Internet as a fundamental right.

In cases where countries have developed repressive legislation and regulations against fake news following the COVID-19 outbreak, MISA requests for a roadmap on when these laws will be repealed.

SADC member states could emulate and take a cue from Namibia and Ghana, notwithstanding other challenges, which are ranked at number one and two on the continent;   and 24 and 30 respectively, on the global scale by the Reporters without Borders (RSF) 2021 World Press Freedom Index.

Your Excellency, MISA remains open to constructive engagement with the Governments of Southern Africa, through the SADC Secretariat, and is more than willing to share and offer its expertise on these issues that require immediate attention.

We look forward to hearing from you and engaging with you more on the work we are doing to promote media freedom,  freedom of expression and access to information in Southern Africa.

Yours Sincerely,

Golden Maunganidze
Regional Governing Council Chairperson

By A Correspondent- The MP for Headlands, Christopher Chingosho has vehemently refuted allegations that he called First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa a pr0stitute adding that this was a ploy by his enemies to get him fired from the party.

Chingosho also dismissed allegations that he pointed a gun at Chief Makoni’s wife Gwasira. He said these were stories cooked up by those who are eyeing his seat.

“Politics is repeating itself, they want me out the G40 way. It is a political game that is loading to eliminate some vocal politicians from the party especially as we move towards the 2023 election,” said Chingosho in an interview with Chipinge Times.

Chingosho was arrested on Saturday when he allegedly called the First lady a pr0stitute. He allegedly resorted to name calling after being snubbed at a function where the President’s wife was the guest of honour.

The function was held at the Chief Makoni’s homestead in Rusape.

He was released on Sunday.

Chief Makoni’s wife Gwasira is the complainant in the case which is yet to be placed before the courts.

Chingosho’s political life is certainly on the line after ZANU PF Secretary for Finance and Acting National Political Commissar Patrick Chinamasa wrote on his twitter handle that all those who undermine the First lady and traditional leaders must be condemned.

“If what we are picking from social media involving our ZANU PF Honourable Chingosho is what transpired, all ZANU PF members and supporters nationwide must rest assured the party will leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of the matter and taking action against such indiscipline” he further wrote.

Political analyst Ruvarashe Muyambo said the brave politician is being victimised because he has strong links with the G40, a ZANU PF faction that was booted from the party following the November 2017 military coup that disposed strongman Robert Mugabe from power.

-Mirror

By A Correspondent- Public transport continues to grow with the latest batch of 50 new Golden Dragon buses from China passing through Beitbridge at the weekend to join the Zupco fleet and the new train service linking central Harare with Mufakose and Budiriro at peak hours getting into its stride with a growing number of regular passengers.

Over the last 12 months, Government has imported more than 400 buses from China, not only boosting the Zupco fleet, but starting the process of standardising models easing maintenance and allowing good stocks of spares.

The new buses are shipped like the previous batches to Durban. They crossed the Limpopo on Sunday and Monday morning and were cleared through customs in batches of 10 to avoid congesting the border post.

The actual cost of each bus could not be readily verified, but Golden Dragons sell for just over the equivalent of US$50 000 each in China. The commercial deal for the buses was set up by President Mnangagwa on visits to China.

Zupco acting chief executive officer Mr Everisto Madangwa said he will give more details regarding the import later when the buses arrive in Harare.

It is understood that more than 1 000 buses have been acquired from China and Belarus and they are being delivered to the country in batches of between 50 and 100 buses.

The Government has since reaffirmed its commitment to ease transport challenges by availing reliable and affordable transport to the people in line with Vision 2030.

A few days ago Zupco entered into a deal with the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) to ease transport problems in major urban areas starting with Bulawayo and Harare.

The first service, that between the city centre and the main heavy industrial area and the huge suburbs of Mufakose and Budiriro, started on Tuesday afternoon as an integrated train and bus service. Using a single $60 ticket commuters use buses to get to the railway line then take the train to town and on the return trip use the train and the feeder buses, again on a single ticket.

It is expected that the integration of bus and train services on single tickets will avoid the many problems that earlier commuter trains saw.

The City-Ruwa and City-Tynwald services in Harare start soon and the scheme is being rolled out to Bulawayo.

The three Harare services will add the equivalent in passenger capacity of more than 50 long buses, helping to boost the public transport system as well as given commuters from the served suburbs a faster and more comfortable ride.

Yesterday afternoon the new service worked well with more passengers and more now knowing exactly how it operated. It took exactly 45 minutes for passengers to arrive in Mufakose from the city centre.

Most of the passengers aboard the train described it as affordable and reliable.

Among the passengers was Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana and other Government officials who also talked to the passengers.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana (right) was among the passengers on a ZUPCO/ National Railways of Zimbabwe train bound for Mufakose in Harare yesterday. — Picture: Kudakwashe Hunda.

The train left Harare station at 5.30pm, convenient for many now that business hours have been restored to normal, before arriving in Mufakose around 6.15pm, although some passengers were dropped off along the way.

The train stopped at Lever Brothers, Lonchivar and Kambuzuma dropping off passengers at the stations where Zupco buses were waiting to take them to their final destinations.

Before boarding the train the passengers had their hands sanitised with security staff making sure that they were wearing their masks in line with the Covid-19 regulations.

Each passenger was then made to pay $40 for the trip by Zupco conductors who were manning the platform access gates or on the door to gain access to the train. This is lower than the advertised $60 fare.

NRZ security staff then moved around the train urging people not to disembark while it was in motion as it was dangerous and could cost one’s life.

One of the passengers, Mrs Zvikomborero Nyanzira of Budiriro 5B said it was her first time to board the train and applauded Government for bringing back the commuter trains.

“This is a good move by the Government because these trains save time and they are cheap and reliable at the same time. During the journey you don’t experience any traffic congestion and harassment from the touts who have now resurfaced and are playing hide and seek with the police,” she said.

Another passenger, Mr Simbarashe Semba of Mufakose said Government had done so well as this would get rid of mushikashika.

“With these trains, all you need to do is just buy your ticket and then get a seat. You can sit anyway you want without any hustles. They are also no long winding queues that most people experience at some of the bus terminuses in the city waiting for transport,” he said.

Passengers are already suggesting improvements. One who identified herself as Mai Gamu from Budiriro urged the relevant authorities to ensure that they put adequate lighting inside

She said Government should avail more trains and reliable transport to other areas to cater for the people.

In an interview, Mr Mangwana said Government is concerned about the lives of the urban dwellers and it had done a lot to improve their lives besides alleviating transport problems, including improving lighting systems, traffic system, the water system and the rehabilitation of the road network, among others.

He said the new commuter trains would alleviate transport problems being faced by the people.

“I have used a number of metropolitan railway lines and trains in my very short life and this matches any that we have used in terms of comfort, keeping to the timetable and the lack of rowdiness on the train.

“Actually in some metropolitan cities you feel unsafe because there will be drunk people who will be very rowdy to make you feel uncomfortable but in this one we were seated decently with people having conversations. Women felt settled and nobody was being molested and even when it got a bit darker, it was still ok,” he said.

He added: “Yes the carriages are a bit older. There are some touch ups that are needed and there is no question about that. We will need lighting in there and as you can see it’s a little bit darker and people will be safer if there is lighting but it’s the safest mode of travel.

“We also got here on time. We didn’t run into traffic. We were not gridlocked somewhere, which you will get when you are driving. Yes Government has taken this country in the right direction on this one.”

He assured the public that the whole system was going to be modernised but at the same time urged people to help stop vandalism and help look after the assets so more money was spent on improvements and expansion and less on replacing damaged equipment and avoidable repairs.

The new Harare commuter train services started on Tuesday afternoon on the Mufakose route with those trying it out given a free test ride.

The Ruwa route is expected to start today and the third service, the Tynwald route, is expected to start Monday next week.

The trains have 10 coaches each and a carrying capacity of 100 passengers per coach. So each train can carry more than 15 bus loads of passengers.

-statemedia

PICTURES- Accident near Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare. What really happened? pic.twitter.com/EaqVkSJgU6

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 9, 2021

By A Correspondent-Residents of Tafara, Mabvuku and Caledonia in Harare have expressed concern over an influx of sex workers whom they are accusing of contributing to moral decay and fuelling criminal activities.

The prostitutes have allegedly turned these high-density suburbs into an extensive red-light district.

Women in Action (WA), a women’s group whose major task is to fight prostitution in Caledonia, says most of the sex workers come from as far as Goromonzi and Ruwa in Mashonaland East. Cecilia Mutenga, chairlady of WA said:

In our case, we have sex workers that are coming from such far-away places as Goromonzi and Ruwa, among others.

By dusk, these scantly dressed ladies will be lining our streets, making suggestive gestures to whoever passes by.

These ladies must be driven away since they are bringing with them vices and moral decadence.

Mutenga said her group, which falls under the Caledonia Residents Association Trust (CRAT), wants the buildings in which the sex workers use as their love nests to be destroyed.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF member of parliament for Headlands, Christopher Chingosho, has refuted allegations that he called First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa a prostitute.

In an interview with Chipinge Times, Chingosho also dismissed allegations that he pointed a gun at Chief Makoni’s wife, Gwasira. He said:

Politics is repeating itself; they want me out the G40 way. It is a political game that is loading to eliminate some vocal politicians from the party, especially as we move towards the 2023 election.

Chingosho was arrested last week when he allegedly called the First lady a prostitute after being snubbed at a function where the President’s wife was an honour guest. 

The function was held at the Chief Makoni’s homestead in Rusape, Manicaland Province.

Chief Makoni’s wife, Gwasira, is the complainant in the case, which is yet to be placed before the courts.

Political commentator Ruvarashe Muyambo said the brave politician is being victimised because he has strong links with the G40.

Generation 40 (G40) was a ZANU PF faction that was booted from the party following the November 2017 military coup that disposed the late former President Robert Mugabe from power.

By Kelvin Kasiwulaya- State Security Minister Owen Mudha Ncube and Local Government Minister July Moyo have been implicated in the Zanu PF Midlands Provincial coup.

Sources within the Zanu PF Midlands provincial structures said Ncube and Moyo had formed a cabal to illegitimately remove the Incumbent Provincial Chairman Mackenzie Ncube and his deputy Ronald Robson Nyathi.

The Moyo – Mudha cabal is said to have recruited footsoldiers in Shurugwi, Gweru and Kwekwe to destabilize the province and cause a commotion.

Sources withn Zanu PF’s Midlands provincila leadership said Shurugwi South member of parliament Edmund Mukarakigwa, party’s Shurugwi District Coordinating Committee Chairman Shepherd Mudhara, Shurugwi Assistant District Administrator Tavonga Mufarachisi, and secretary for information and publicity in the Midlands Province Cornelius Mupereri had been recruited by Mudha and Moyo to execute the coup.

The sources further said Ncube and Moyo were masquerading as the custodians of the second republic; they claim that if it was not for them and their strategies, President Emmerson Mnangagwa would have never tested power.

” The Two are fueling factionalism and confusion in the party hence derailing the 2023 5million Votes mantra.

” Party members here in the Midlands Province have sworn to stand with Cde McKenzie Ncube and Cde Ronald Robson Nyathi, and we have ignored what Mudha and July Moyo are telling people,” said one senior Zanu PF official who refused to be named for fear of victimisation by Mudha.

Mudha and Moyo are also bribing state media journalists to tarnish Cde Mackenzie and label him a G40 member.

” Zanu -PF is a democratic party which respects the will of it’s members , so Mudha and Moyo should not come and lie to us telling us that they have been sent by the President, we know our President when it comes to party issues he speaks through the Politi-buro,” said another Zanu PF member.

By A Correspondent- The long-standing feud between Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira and newly installed Chief Nemamwa recently escalated at a funeral when representatives from the two chieftaincies nearly exchanged blows over legitimacy issues.

According to TellZim News, the near fist-fight incident occurred during Serina Mangoma’s funeral in Nyoka Village near Chief Charumbira’s homestead last weekend.

The Charumbira clansmen disrupted the funeral programme and threatened to bash the Nemamwa chieftaincy representative Munyaradzi Mureyi who had been asked to give a speech.

The director of ceremonies called Mureyi to give a speech on behalf of Chief Nemamwa since the deceased was from the Nemamwa clan, but this irked the Charumbira clansmen who insisted they did not recognize the Nemamwa chieftainship.

Speaking to TellZim News after the incident, Mureyi said the program had been progressing smoothly until Mureyi was called him to speak on behalf of Chief Nemamwa.

He said that was when Cephas Marashanye who is originally from Nemamwa but is a Charumbira sympathiser threatened to bash him if he spoke. Said Mureyi:

Marashanye stood up and told me not to speak, at first I thought he wanted to speak himself since he is originally from Nemamwa but is a Charumbira sympathiser. I told him to speak instead but he said there was no Chief Nemamwa.

He then came and pushed me around and other people from Chief Charumbira’s side rose and threatened to join in shouting that there was no Nemamwa. I was pushed from around and I think it was a pre planned thing.

I, later on, managed to escape and the Director of ceremonies had to skip the chief’s part. I have since reported the matter to the police.

Chief Charumbira confirmed the incident and said he was not there but saw videos of the clash and said the incident was not a new thing.

He rubbished the resuscitation of Nemamwa chieftainship saying it was a fraud which has no legal basis to support it.

Meanwhile, Masvingo Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC), Jefta Sakupwanya said he was not aware of the incident but said incidents of that nature are common between rival chiefs and revealed that the installation of Chief Nemamwa was imminent.

He said the installation of Nemamwa was stalled by the COVID-19 induced lockdown saying if the situation improves they will sit with the chief’s council and deliberate on the way forward.

By A Correspondent- A Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje has dismissed an application by the National Prosecuting Authority for the revocation of Harare West MP Joana Mamombe’s bail.

The NPA wanted Mamombe jailed for reporting to a police station a day late as part of her bail conditions.

In his ruling, Mambanje said that Mamombe had valid reasons to default.

By A Correspondent- The long-standing feud between Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira and newly installed Chief Nemamwa recently escalated at a funeral when representatives from the two chieftaincies nearly exchanged blows over legitimacy issues.

According to TellZim News, the near fist-fight incident occurred during Serina Mangoma’s funeral in Nyoka Village near Chief Charumbira’s homestead last weekend.

The Charumbira clansmen disrupted the funeral programme and threatened to bash the Nemamwa chieftaincy representative Munyaradzi Mureyi who had been asked to give a speech.

The director of ceremonies called Mureyi to give a speech on behalf of Chief Nemamwa since the deceased was from the Nemamwa clan, but this irked the Charumbira clansmen who insisted they did not recognize the Nemamwa chieftainship.

Speaking to TellZim News after the incident, Mureyi said the program had been progressing smoothly until Mureyi was called him to speak on behalf of Chief Nemamwa.

He said that was when Cephas Marashanye who is originally from Nemamwa but is a Charumbira sympathiser threatened to bash him if he spoke. Said Mureyi:

Marashanye stood up and told me not to speak, at first I thought he wanted to speak himself since he is originally from Nemamwa but is a Charumbira sympathiser. I told him to speak instead but he said there was no Chief Nemamwa.

He then came and pushed me around and other people from Chief Charumbira’s side rose and threatened to join in shouting that there was no Nemamwa. I was pushed from around and I think it was a pre planned thing.

I, later on, managed to escape and the Director of ceremonies had to skip the chief’s part. I have since reported the matter to the police.

Chief Charumbira confirmed the incident and said he was not there but saw videos of the clash and said the incident was not a new thing.

He rubbished the resuscitation of Nemamwa chieftainship saying it was a fraud which has no legal basis to support it.

Meanwhile, Masvingo Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC), Jefta Sakupwanya said he was not aware of the incident but said incidents of that nature are common between rival chiefs and revealed that the installation of Chief Nemamwa was imminent.

He said the installation of Nemamwa was stalled by the COVID-19 induced lockdown saying if the situation improves they will sit with the chief’s council and deliberate on the way forward.

By A Correspondent- A Mudzi man has killed his son, stones and axes police officers investigating the murder case.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Steven Nyakarenda (37) on 2 September struck Constable Shiri on the head with a rock and Assistant Inspector Kugotsi with an axe on the head and shoulder before fleeing from the scene.
The duo was part of a team of police officers who had gone to Nyakarenda’s homestead to investigate the murder case

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has assured the nation that Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF will be defeated in the 2023 harmonized elections.

President Chamisa made the remarks at the burial of staunch MDC Alliance supporter and member Gogo Jane Gwatidzo in Chitungwiza on Sunday.

” We know that some are sceptical of the outcome of the 2023 polls. Let me assure you that the wave of change is sweeping across the region.

We have learnt from our past mistakes.This time we will not allow Zanu PF to seize the will of the people.

We are working tirelessly to correct the mistakes that happened in 2023.

Don’t worry about what he( Mnangagwa) is saying. His utterances show that he is afraid of people power,” said President Chamisa.

He added : “Zanu PF cannot stop the wave of change. We have the capacity to transform the economy.”

By A Correspondent- Police have launched a manhunt for a man from Mafuta village, Mudzi, who killed his two-year-old son before attacking two police officers with an axe and stones who were investigating the murder incident

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Steven Nyakarenda (37) on 2 September struck Constable Shiri on the head with a rock and Assistant Inspector Kugotsi with an axe on the head and shoulder before fleeing from the scene.

The duo was part of a team of police officers who had gone to Nyakarenda’s homestead to investigate the murder case. A statement issued by Asst Comm Nyathi this Wednesday says:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned with the conduct of some criminals who are now resorting to attacking police officers while in the process of effecting arrests in the country. 

In this regard, the Police will brook no nonsense in dealing with such criminals who attack police officers. The public is reminded that according to the country’s laws attacking police officers whilst there are performing constitutional responsibilities is punishable with imprisonment once one is taken to court.

The recent attack on two police officers by a murder suspect, Steven Nyakarenda (37) on 2 September 2021 in Mudzi will be fully investigated.

Police in Nyamapanda received information that the suspect had killed his two-year-old son at Mafuta Village, Mudzi. 

A team of police officers reacted and went to Steven Nyakarenda’s homestead to investigate the matter. On arrival, the team informed the suspect of the allegations and told him to accompany them to Nyamapanda Police Station for further inquiries. 

The suspect then went inside his hut and came back armed with an axe. He picked a stone and struck Constable Shiri on the head. 

The suspect went on to strike Assistant Inspector Kugotsi with an axe on the head and shoulder before fleeing from the scene. He is currently on the run.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact any nearest Police Station or National Complaints Desk on (242) 70 36 31 or Police General Headquarters WhatsApp number 0712 800 107

By A Correspondent- The High Court has confirmed the provisional order granted on February 28 last year for stay of execution of a judgment allowing Tony Sarpo to attach former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s property over a US$226 000 debt.

Mujuru and her company, Ruzirun Investments, had in September 2019 approached the High Court seeking an order stopping Sabrina and Tony Sarpo from attaching her property.
The former Vice-President owes over US$226 000 to the Sarpos through their company Peppy Motors (Pvt) Ltd, which is demanding the money at the interbank rate.
Mujuru, in her application for stay of execution, said the company had issued a writ of execution and notice of attachment despite an application for rescission of judgment under HC6283/19. She then made an application for confirmation of the provisional order granted on February 28, 2020.
The relief, which was granted in that provisional order, was for stay of execution of the judgment granted in favour of the couple and their company in case No HC 2954/18 and for an order for the release of any property which might or could have been attached in execution of that judgment.
Mujuru also sought costs on the respondents on the attorney-client scale and the Sarpos had opposed her application.
High Court judge Justice Happias Zhou ruled in her favour.
Justice Zhou said Mujuru’s liabilities, expressed in United States dollar, falls under the ambit of the provisions of the Statutory Instrument.
“It does not matter that the parties continued to express the liabilities in US dollars even after the effective date,” Justice Zhou ruled.
“The deeming effect of the regulations means that the expression of those values must be read in light of the express provisions of the law. The deed of settlement and order by consent did not create any new liabilities but merely pronounced on the existing liabilities of the applicants.
“Any other reading of the law would defeat the very purpose of the law which was meant to convert assets and liabilities which existed at the time of the effective date and were expressed in US dollars to RTGS at the rate of 1;1.”
He said Mujuru’s obligation is to pay the debt in the local currency at the rate of 1:1 to the US dollar.
In 2012, Sabrina and Sarpo, who are in the business of selling farming equipment, obtained a loan from Steward Bank which they used to buy various farming machinery. They sold the equipment to Mujuru’s company and an agreement of sale was entered into on July 25, 2015.
Parties then entered into a deed of settlement on May 25 this year after Statutory Instrument 33 of 2019 had been gazetted and Mujuru paid $76 000 on June 5 this year.
Four days later, the Sarpos requested payment at interbank rate.

By Kelvin Kasiwulaya- State Security Minister Owen Mudha Ncube and Local Government Minister July Moyo have been implicated in the Zanu PF Midlands Provincial coup.

Sources within the Zanu PF Midlands provincial structures said Ncube and Moyo had formed a cabal to illegitimately remove the Incumbent Provincial Chairman Mackenzie Ncube and his deputy Ronald Robson Nyathi.

The Moyo – Mudha cabal is said to have recruited footsoldiers in Shurugwi, Gweru and Kwekwe to destabilize the province and cause a commotion.

Sources within Zanu PF’s Midlands provincial leadership said Shurugwi South member of parliament Edmund Mukarakigwa, party’s Shurugwi District Coordinating Committee Chairman Shepherd Mudhara, Shurugwi Assistant District Administrator Tavonga Mufarachisi, and secretary for information and publicity in the Midlands Province Cornelius Mupereri had been recruited by Mudha and Moyo to execute the coup.

The sources further said Ncube and Moyo were masquerading as the custodians of the second republic; they claim that if it was not for them and their strategies, President Emmerson Mnangagwa would have never tested power.

” The Two are fueling factionalism and confusion in the party hence derailing the 2023 5million Votes mantra.

” Party members here in the Midlands Province have sworn to stand with Cde McKenzie Ncube and Cde Ronald Robson Nyathi, and we have ignored what Mudha and July Moyo are telling people,” said one senior Zanu PF official who refused to be named for fear of victimisation by Mudha.

Mudha and Moyo are also bribing state media journalists to tarnish Cde Mackenzie and label him a G40 member.

” Zanu -PF is a democratic party which respects the will of it’s members , so Mudha and Moyo should not come and lie to us telling us that they have been sent by the President, we know our President when it comes to party issues he speaks through the Politi-buro,” said another Zanu PF member.

By A Correspondent- A Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje has dismissed an application by the National Prosecuting Authority for the revocation of Harare West MP Joana Mamombe’s bail.

The NPA wanted Mamombe jailed for reporting to a police station a day late as part of her bail conditions.

In his ruling, Mambanje said that Mamombe had valid reasons to default.

By A Correspondent- The long-standing feud between Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira and newly installed Chief Nemamwa recently escalated at a funeral when representatives from the two chieftaincies nearly exchanged blows over legitimacy issues.

According to TellZim News, the near fist-fight incident occurred during Serina Mangoma’s funeral in Nyoka Village near Chief Charumbira’s homestead last weekend.

The Charumbira clansmen disrupted the funeral programme and threatened to bash the Nemamwa chieftaincy representative Munyaradzi Mureyi who had been asked to give a speech.

The director of ceremonies called Mureyi to give a speech on behalf of Chief Nemamwa since the deceased was from the Nemamwa clan, but this irked the Charumbira clansmen who insisted they did not recognize the Nemamwa chieftainship.

Speaking to TellZim News after the incident, Mureyi said the program had been progressing smoothly until Mureyi was called him to speak on behalf of Chief Nemamwa.

He said that was when Cephas Marashanye who is originally from Nemamwa but is a Charumbira sympathiser threatened to bash him if he spoke. Said Mureyi:

Marashanye stood up and told me not to speak, at first I thought he wanted to speak himself since he is originally from Nemamwa but is a Charumbira sympathiser. I told him to speak instead but he said there was no Chief Nemamwa.

He then came and pushed me around and other people from Chief Charumbira’s side rose and threatened to join in shouting that there was no Nemamwa. I was pushed from around and I think it was a pre planned thing.

I, later on, managed to escape and the Director of ceremonies had to skip the chief’s part. I have since reported the matter to the police.

Chief Charumbira confirmed the incident and said he was not there but saw videos of the clash and said the incident was not a new thing.

He rubbished the resuscitation of Nemamwa chieftainship saying it was a fraud which has no legal basis to support it.

Meanwhile, Masvingo Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC), Jefta Sakupwanya said he was not aware of the incident but said incidents of that nature are common between rival chiefs and revealed that the installation of Chief Nemamwa was imminent.

He said the installation of Nemamwa was stalled by the COVID-19 induced lockdown saying if the situation improves they will sit with the chief’s council and deliberate on the way forward.

-Tellzim

By Farai D Hove | The late President Robert Mugabe’s Nephew, Jason, has announced he is divorcing his young wife, Lorraine.

Jason Zhuwao revealed the development in a brief social media post in which he did not disclose reasons for the breakup.

He attributed the development to circumstances that have arisen due to differences between themselves.

Below was his full statement –

Statement of divorce

Thank you now for your love and understanding with the news that Lorraine and I have decided to go our separate ways.

After careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways ending our marriage.

In view of the circumstances that have arisen owing to differences between ourselves on a number of issues in recent times, we have mutually agreed that a separation would be best for each of us.

I wish her only the best as she ventures towards new horizons.

I part from my wife with no recriminations.

Ends.

By A Correspondent-Former Vice President Kembo Mohadi, has resurfaced.

Mohadi, since March this year when he was fired for bonking married subordinates, has not been seen in public places.

On Tuesday, the former vice president was seen at Zanu-PF provincial offices in Lupane, Matabeleland North.

He was there and held a private meeting with the party’s local leadership.

Mohadi was fired in March after several cases of sexual relationships with married female workmates.

Since then, he has been in hiding.

By A Correspondent- Residents of Tafara, Mabvuku and Caledonia in Harare have expressed concern over an influx of sex workers whom they are accusing of contributing to moral decay and fuelling criminal activities.

The prostitutes have allegedly turned these high-density suburbs into an extensive red-light district.

Women in Action (WA), a women’s group whose major task is to fight prostitution in Caledonia, says most of the sex workers come from as far as Goromonzi and Ruwa in Mashonaland East. Cecilia Mutenga, chairlady of WA said:

In our case, we are having sex workers that are coming from such far-away places as Goromonzi and Ruwa among others.

By dusk, these scantly dressed ladies will be lining our streets, making suggestive gestures to whoever passes by.

These ladies must be driven away since they are bringing with them vices and moral decadence.

Mutenga said her group, which falls under the Caledonia Residents Association Trust (CRAT), wants the buildings in which the sex workers use as their love nests to be destroyed.

By A Correspondent-A Gokwe man has been jailed for an effective 26 months after he was found in possession of 2,875kg of dagga without a permit.

Bigboy Munyanyi (34) was last Saturday arrested following a police stop and search roadblock and was found with the dagga.

Munyanyi was yesterday (Tuesday) hauled before Gokwe provincial magistrate Mr Musaiwona Shotgame charged with possession of dagga without a permit.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to an effective 26 months in jail after 10 months were set-aside on condition of good behaviour.

In passing sentence, Mr Shotgame hailed the police for intercepting the illegal dagga before it could find its way into the community.

He said cases of drug dealing were on the rise in the Midlands province.

“There is need to curtail the source as taking dagga fuels violent behaviour and crimes,” said Mr Shotgame.

Appearing for the State, Ms Getrude Shoko told the court that on September 4, police officers deployed on a stop and search roadblock along Gokwe-Kwekwe highway stopped a black Toyota Wish, registration number AFM2341, and searched the occupants.

Munyanyi was found in possession of dagga, which was in his black satchel wrapped in a plastic paper.

He failed to produce a permit when police asked for it, leading to his arrest.

-statemedia

Tinashe Sambiri|Hard-hitting MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has blasted Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa for “protecting thieves.”

Mnangagwa’s administration is accused of stealing State resources at an alarming pace.

Hon Biti argued:
“July Moyo is one of the most corrupt persons in the Mnangwagwa regime .

He is at the center of the illegal parcelling out of land to land baron&crook Ken Sharpe.The Deed of Settlement he signed in May 2019 for Auger& Sharpe is criminal
@ZACConline
must investigate him&Ken Sharpe.”

He also retweeted Pachedu Team’s message below:

“Ian Smith is turning in his grave that we are still using his 50-year-old trains and that we can’t even repaint them.

Youths, let’s all register to vote!

By A Correspondent- The World Vision in Zimbabwe has partnered  various NGOs and government departments to spear head various community centered projects in Zimbabwe under a 2,7 million euro (US$3,2 million) fund.

In a statement, the NGO announced that it has join hands with the  Christian, child-focused humanitarian aid agency, while also   collaborating with Welthungerhilfe,

The  project is meant to strengthen community-led actions on education and disaster preparedness in five districts across Zimbabwe.

The districts are namely Chipinge, Chimanimani, Buhera, Tsholotsho and Nkayi which  have over the years been affected by a combination of disasters, including droughts, floods, cyclones, and hailstorms that affect access to education services and erode disaster preparedness capacities.

The statement added that the project which began its operations on the 1st of June, 2021 will run for two years.  

The project which has been titled SCALE-DP’s Programme manager, Dr Tapiwa Muzerengi said the interventions will use existing community structures to ensure the sustainability and participation of vulnerable groups.

“Among others, the programme will enhance disaster preparedness of 250 schools in five districts of operations. This programme is unique because it is inclusive, for example it will incorporate disaster preparedness and response for people with disabilities. This will include the procurement of assistive devices for children with varying disabilities. For example, braille material for the visually impaired, retro-fitting such as building ramps to ensure that those with physical impairments can access classrooms for learning. Disaster proofing for schools will also be part of the activities under the programme,” said Dr Muzerengi.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has for the past six months been waiting for the Registrar of the High Court to set down for hearing an application challenging the state-run Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) monopoly and some restrictions on informal traders as directed by the Supreme Court.

On 12 March 2021, Supreme Court Judges faulted Justice Mary Zimba-Dube for misdirecting herself when she dismissed an application challenging the ZUPCO monopoly and some restrictions on informal traders and ordered that the matter be remitted to the High Court to be heard by a different Judge.

In their application, which was filed in 2020, Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association (ZCIEA), Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) and Constantine Chaza, represented by Tendai Biti of ZLHR, argued that the imposition of national lockdown regulations and the ban on informal sector trading imposed by government which
included a ban on private commuter omnibuses was discriminatory and unconstitutional.

They also argued that the ban created an unlawful monopoly for ZUPCO.

ZCIEA, PAZ and Chaza want some registered transport operators and other operators to be allowed to ferry passengers on their licenced routes subject to compliance with relevant national lockdown conditions such as social distancing, temperature testing and the use
of hand sanitisers.

ZICEA, PAZ and Chaza also argued that the national lockdown regulations violated their members’’ constitutional rights to freedom of profession, trade or occupation enshrined in section 64 of the Constitution.

In her judgment issued on 26 May 2020, Justice Zimba-Dube dismissed ZCIEA, PAZ and Chaza’s application after ruling that there was no discrimination against private commuter omnibus as they could operate under ZUPCO and that opening the informal sector could fuel the spread of coronavirus.

However, for six months, ZCIEA, PAZ and Chaza have been keenly waiting for the Registrar of the High Court to set down the matter for hearing and determination before a different Judge as directed by the Supreme Court on 12 March 2021.

By A Correspondent- Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (formerly Harare Children’s Hospital) will be offering free cleft lift (craniofacial) surgeries starting from the 4th of October until the 8th of October 2021.

The program is being offered in partnership with LEAD Global Missions (USA), University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences Department of Surgery and Dentistry, along with Celebration Health.

Patients screening will be done at the hospital on Sunday, 3 October 2021 from 8 AM to 5 PM. Parents are urged to bring all relevant medical records.

By A Correspondent- The second batch of seven Zimbabwean nationals who were deported from the United Kingdom last month have reunited with their families and relatives after completing a mandatory 10-day quarantine.

The deportees were quarantined at the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management (ZIPAM) in Darwendale.

ZIPAM acting director-general Edgar Makande on Tuesday said the Government took care of the deportees and helped integrate them back into communities.

Makande said:

Yes, the seven have all re-integrated with their families and there were no complaints from them while staying here.

They were offered free meals, while also enjoying basics like free wi-fi connectivity and television during their stay at ZIPAM at taxpayers’ expense.

While residents returning to Zimbabwe voluntarily are required to undergo mandatory quarantine, they have to do so at their own expense.

The British government deports foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans, who would have been released from detention after serving jail terms for various offences.

Most among both the first and second batch of returnees arrived in England between 1999 and 2007 and were being deported since they had been convicted of serious offences.

These crimes do not count against them on their return as the offences were not committed in Zimbabwe

By A Correspondent- Willard Katsande’s chase for justice is on with the man accused of assaulting him during a road rage incident having now been brought to book.

According to the City Press the accused, Jacobus Koekemoer, briefly appeared at the Randburg Magistrates Court last week on charges of common assault and malicious damage to property.

He was then granted R1000 bail with the case postponed to September 29 for further investigation.

The veteran midfielder was involved in the ugly road rage incident on the day two weeks ago leaving his luxury motor vehicle damaged.

Katsande was travelling home after making his debut for new club Sekhukhune United against Chippa United at Makhulong Stadium when he found himself involved in the fracas in Roodepoort with the suspect allegedly damaging his German sedan.

The 35-year-old immediately opened a case of common assault and malicious to property at the Honeydew Police Station.

According to the police report, the white male driving a Ford EcoSport assaulted Katsande on the corner of Hendrick Potgieter and Peter Road and broke the driver’s window and mirror causing damage estimated at R50 000.

The scene was left with blood stains just like the car.

Despite the incident, Katsande was still able to feature for Sekhukhune in their next game which was a 2-0 away win at Maritzburg coming on just after half-time.

Katsande recently joined Sekhukhune after spending a decade at Kaizer Chiefs where he earned legendary status.

By A Correspondent- The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe has appealed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to defer signing the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill into law following its passage in the House of Assembly and Senate saying the Bill still requires further scrutiny.

In a letter to Mnangagwa, Misa Zimbabwe chairperson Golden Maunganidze said the Bill had been subjected to significant changes which varied from the gazetted Bill that was subjected to public hearings.

This comes after the Bill was recommitted in the Senate to address errors noted for correction and amendments before it is signed into law.

Maunganidze said:

“In light of the amendments that were effected, there is a need for an extensive review of the Bill with further input from the general public as well.

“A law that addresses issues relating to cyber security, data protection and data privacy, affects every citizen, hence the need for a multi-stakeholder approach in its framing.”

He said this development was of national significance and interest and deserved the President’s due attention and consideration.

“Your Excellency, a strong cyber security and data protection framework is critical for the exercise and enjoyment of human rights, trade, increased investments and Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development,” Maunganidze said.

GOVERNMENT has said the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) November examinations will go ahead as scheduled with a possibility of a spillover to 2022 despite the COVID-19-induced disruptions to the education calendar.

Addressing journalists during a post-Cabinet briefing, Primary and Secondary Education secretary Tumisang Thabela said not much learning time had been lost to warrant cancelling of public examinations.

“The long and short of it is we have consulted our system, especially the heads of our schools who run our shop floor level,” Thabela said.

“They have convinced us that given all the efforts we have made, it is possible to run examinations starting in 2021. We might spill over for some of the examinations to beginning of 2022.”

Teachers have been calling for postponement of examinations, claiming pupils were not prepared because they had limited learning time.

Apart from COVID-19-induced school closures, most teachers refused to report for duty when schools reopened in March for the first term, demanding better salaries and working conditions.

Schools introduced online lessons, but the new learning model disadvantaged most pupils, especially those from rural areas who have no internet connectivity. But government yesterday insisted not much time was lost because the current term would be long enough to cover the basics.

“This year, we have had two sessions, the first session was a whole term, which is about 60 days, this second session has 80 days instead of 60 days, which is your ordinary term, plus a third of that ordinary term.

“If you use simple arithmetic, the children have lost about two thirds of a term in terms of physical presence at school,” Thabela said.

“We believe our learners will be ready, by the way, Zimbabwean learners are hungry for education and the Zimbabwean teacher is always amazing when it comes to trying to get their child ready for their future,” she said.

Meanwhile, government said that a total of 14 schoolchildren and 19 teachers had tested positive to COVID-19 since schools reopened last week.

-newsday