By A Correspondent- Police in Chinhoyi have arrested a 44-year-old for dispensing s_ex enhancement medicines.

Prisca Misodzi of 5191 Chikonohono, Chinhoyi Monday appeared before magistrate, Melody Rwizi, facing two counts of contravening sections of the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act Chapter 15:03.

She pleaded guilty to both counts and was sentenced to a total fine of $20 000.

Failure to deposit the fine with the Clerk of Court Chinhoyi would see Misodzi spend a cumulative 120 days imprisonment.

The complainant in the matter was Emmanuel Makotore, an inspector with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ).

The state case, led by Odrah Chitoro, was that on 29 July 2021, police detectives and Makotore were on duty checking whether pharmacies were complying with MCAZ rules and regulations.

The team approached Misodzi at her workplace situated at Stand Number 42 Chikonohono, Chinhoyi township.

The premises were searched, leading to the discovery of banned pharmaceutical products, including sex enhancing pills, skin lightening creams, family planning tablets, among other banned products.

The compliance team also further established that the accused person was an unlicensed pharmacist, neither was she untrained personnel working under instruction and supervision of a licensed individual.

She was, in fact, practicing or carrying out the business of a pharmacist on unregistered premises.

By A Correspondent- Harare man has lost R41 000 cash and other valuables after being attacked by two robbers while entering the country from South Africa through an illegal entry point in Beitbridge.

Posting on their Twitter account, the Zimbabwe Republic (ZRP) said the incident occurred on August 31 at around 5 AM.

On August 31 at around 5 AM, a Harare man was robbed of cash amounting to R 41 500, various clothes and a J4 cellphone by two unknown suspects at a bush area near Limpopo View, Beitbridge.

The victim had entered the country from South Africa through an illegal entry point The ZRP reiterates that members of the public must comply with Covid-19 regulations and use authorised ports of entry and exit on the country’s borders.

By A Correspondent- Former Zanu PF Youth League political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu said his party would perform better than President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF.

He announced this Tuesday in Harare at the launch of a new political party that he said he will lead on an interim basis.

Tsenengamu said the Front for Economic Emancipation in Zimbabwe (FEEZ), with green as its main colour, will compete for political space with the ruling Zanu PF and the main opposition MDC Alliance.

“Knowing that the current condition we face today is not natural phenomena but a product of unjust economic practices by organised blood-sucking economic vampires, cannibalistic cartels, corrupt, selfish and heartless capitalists and monopolists, I have together with some here decided to take a stand giving up the comfort and luxuries of our past associations to fight with many others for the sake of generations of current and the future,” he said.
We have so much confidence in the revolutionary capabilities of ordinary human beings to accomplish this.

Tsenengamu vowed his party would campaign for a “successful execution of an economic revolution” adding that Zimbabweans had become “a sloganeering, politicking and voting populace paying less attention to the economic issues.”

He criticised the fast-track land reform programme which he said had merely taken land from a white minority and given it to “an indigenous minority, largely a clique that associates with Zanu PF.”
Tsenengamu said President Emmerson Mnangagwa had come up with “sweet-sounding promises and pledges” to deal with corruption, yet he and his party “have done the opposite by protecting and befriending the corrupt.”
He railed against the Zanu PF government’s dealings with Chinese investors, claiming “authorities seem to have committed to handover the ownership of our God-given natural resources to foreigners who are on a looting spree with the aid of the government and leadership.”

Tsenengamu said neither Zanu PF nor the MDC Alliance offered a viable alternative to get Zimbabwe out of its political and economic crisis.

By A Correspondent- Primary and secondary education minister Cain Mathema’s health has deteriorated, resulting in him being airlifted to Harre for urgent medical attention.

The 74-year-old has not been well for weeks now and was admitted to a private hospital in Bulawayo.

ZimLive was told that the minister was flown to Harare on August 28 and is now admitted at Arundel Mediclinic. One person briefed on the minister’s condition.

“He had excessive fluids in his lungs and was getting progressively worse. I understand some surgical procedure has been performed on him,” said the source.

By A Correspondent- Philip Chiyangwa’s Michelle is begging money to have her breasts reduced their size.

Her father has just been appointed to lead Zanu PF’s fundraising committee for the 2023 elections.

Michelle, who stays in the UK, launched a GoFundMe bid to raise £7 300 for the boobs operation.

She raised just £10 after 15 hours and stopped accepting donations.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF apologist Killer Zivhu has praised MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and said that he is the most favoured opposition politician in the country.

Zivhu said Chamisa should never be compared with MDC T leader Douglas Mwonzora.

“Guys kwanayi imwi munogarepi musingazivi kuti over 1 million people voted for Chamisa not Mwonzora 2018. Chamisa wakatokurira MDC-A yose pamavhoti , like it or don’t but you can’t compare Lionel Messi with Musona. Chamisa haangafananidziwi na Mwonzora ndiko kuda kurima nembudzi.”

By A Correspondent- One of the former First lady Grace Mugabe’s G-40 top allies and former Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Mandi Chimene has reached to Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa for forgiveness.

Now in self-exile after fleeing Zimbabwe in November 2017 after the coup that removed then-President, Robert Mugabe, from office, Chimene has not set foot in the country since then.

In July 2016, at a rally organised by a group of war veterans to show support to former First Lady Grace, the former minister insulted Mnangagwa, accusing him of leading a faction to replace the late Mugabe.

However, Tuesday, Chimene said: “To have spent my girlhood fighting to be free, only to find myself 37 years later stranded airborne on my way from China simply because another senior Cadre has taken over power was beyond my expectation.”

“Without disclosing my whereabouts, I must declare Zimbabwe to be my only home and no other. We rubbed shoulders during the war, shared the same plate of a small meal, and trained each other to win the fight. It is not too late to shake hands and embrace.

“President  @edmnangagwa, I am sorry for everything. All I want is to be back home to rest. Let bygones be. What’s sad in my life is that people have gathered to judge me on mistakes, real or imagined and make conclusions on my contributions to this nation based on what happened prior to 2017 and Nov 2017 itself.

“Let God be the judge but I remain a Cde. I miss stepping my feet in Zimbabwe.

Chimene said she has been on a long sabbatical following Nov 2017.

“I have been this silent to heal. I am now ready to reload. I love you all Yours Truly, Daughter of the Soil.” Chimene is also the former Makoni South MP ex-chairperson of the Zimbabwe-China Friendship Association.

She and other former ministers, including Saviour Kasukuwere, Jonathan Moyo, Ignatius Chombo, Walter Mzembi, and Patrick Zhuwao were expelled from the ruling party Zanu-PF in December 2017.

Kasukuwere Mzembi and Zhuwao fled in 2017 to neighbouring South Africa while Moyo is in self-exile in Kenya.

Mnangagwa has made repeated attempts to have the former ministers extradited to Zimbabwe on charges of abuse of office while in government, but the efforts have hit a brick wall.

By A Correspondent- Prosecutors at the Harare magistrates courts want to send Harare West MDC Alliance MP Joanna Mamombe for allegedly failing to report at Harare Central Police as ordered by the High Court as part of her bail conditions.

Mamombe faces several trumped up charges, including inciting the public to commit violence and breaching Covid-19 regulations among other charges.

She was supposed to report to the police last Friday but failed as she had traveled to her rural home.

Tuesday, Prosecutor Michael Reza sought her committal to prison for failing to report to the police as ordered by the High Court in a case in which she is accused of participating in anti-government demonstrations in 2020.

However, through her lawyer, Jeremiah Bamu, Mamombe explained that: “she failed to report on Friday after returning to Harare from her rural area after 6 pm could not make it during the stipulated time since the curfew was now in operation.”

Mamombe returns to court Thursday for the continuation of her hearing breaching her bail conditions.

“We are challenging the bid to have her imprisoned as she reported at ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police) Saturday morning after missing the Friday time slot while travelling from her rural area and curfew time had kicked in,” said the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

Do you know that there are certain things that we could reveal today & will reveal when we get in power, but we don't want that…

Tell ED, that money must be deposited into the account today or tomorrow, war vets fire demands on @edmnangagwa. pic.twitter.com/fF6Nneb5mQ

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 1, 2021

WAR VETERANS EXPLODE AGAINST MNANGAGWA – LEAKED WHATSAPP MESSAGES https://t.co/dYHLj8XkjX

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 1, 2021

Tinashe Sambiri|Outspoken Norton MP, Hon Temba Mliswa says there is no difference at all between Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa, who worked with his mentor, Mugabe for 54 years, touted himself as the country’s political messiah after seizing power in 2017.

The so called new dispensation is presiding over rampant abuse of human rights, corruption and looting of State resources.

Hon Mliswa described the new dispensation as a farce.

“It’s very unfortunate that over 40 years after independence we still have unresolved issues over the welfare of War Veterans. I have kept on this issue because it’s a symptomatic reflection of deeper socio-economic failures by the post-independent government.

The new dispensation has criminally sought to court favour by disavowing the Mugabe regime and its failure to look after veterans, but it’s a fallacy to allege that they are different. They are one and the same thing, equally culpable and to blame.

More damning for them is that even after its own assumption of power it has still failed to do anything tangible and respectable for them. It has all been rhetorical and political. However the best propaganda is to actually act,” Mliswa argued.

Tinashe Sambiri| Enigmatic politician Killer Zivhu has mocked MDC T leader Douglas Mwonzora saying he cannot be compared to President Nelson Chamisa.

According to Zivhu, President Chamisa is miles ahead of Mwonzora…

“Guys kwanayi imwi munogarepi musingazivi kuti over 1 million people voted for Chamisa not Mwonzora 2018. Chamisa wakatokurira MDC-A yose pamavhoti , like it or don’t but you can’t compare Lionel Messi with Musona. Chamisa haangafananidziwi na Mwonzora ndiko kuda kurima nembudzi.”

Zivhu also said ghetto youths should not be used by the so called Zanu PF -aligned mbingas.

“They used more than 300000 rands and pay 21 000 rands for tips in a club in South Africa. Kuno kumusha imwi vana Dhongi monzi zadzayi ma streets mu Covid muno muchipiwa zvihwitsi nema 1 dollar achikandwa muma streets hanzi Youth empowerment , kushandiswa sezvimakava zva Solomon.”

ZLHR STOPS ARBITRARY EVICTION OF VILLAGERS

MUTARE High Court Judge Justice Isaac Muzenda has stopped the arbitrary eviction of families of five villagers including the demolition of their homesteads after prohibiting Makoni Rural District Council from interfering with their settlement.

The villagers, who are unemployed and are subsistence farmers, settled in Nemaire Village 24 in Makoni District in Manicaland province in 2011, where they built their homesteads and are all descendants of former farm workers having become homeless after Bingaguru Farm was compulsorily acquired by government.

The villagers namely Milton Juma, Joshua Msindo, Angeline Mariko, Markington Mupazi and Tinashe Mushamaenza sought land in Nemaire village and were given some plots and integrated into the village by Village Head Amandos Kariyo with the consent of Chief Makoni in terms of the Traditional Leaders Act.

But authorities at Makoni Rural District Council who entered into a partnership with Sports Leaders Institute of Zimbabwe sought to evict them from their homesteads as it intended to erect a boundary fence and a fireguard and accused them of illegally settling themselves in the area.

This compelled Juma, Msindo, Mariko, Mupazi and Mushamaenza, who were assisted by Peggy Tavagadza of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, to file an urgent chamber application at Mutare High Court where they protested against the actions of Makoni Rural District Council in seeking to deprive them of shelter.

In his ruling, Justice Muzenda, said Makoni Rural District Council should be a law abiding local authority and prohibited it from evicting the five villagers and not to demolish their homes without obtaining a valid court orde

Former Zanu Pf Youth League leader #GodfreyTsenengamu launched his political party #FEEZ and said the new party is a game changer. Share your thoughts through this poll… Is this FACT or its UTTER NONSENSE?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 1, 2021

GODFREY TSENENGAMU BRIEFLY EXPLAINS ABOUT THE NEW PARTY_

Comrades, I come to you to deliver a very important and special message, a message to signify the genesis of a new era politically, socially and most importantly economically in Zimbabwe.

I bring to you wherever you are, a message to mark the beginning of a critical journey for this generation and generations to come.

I am neither a messiah nor a prophet. My only aspiration was and is to genuinely represent and speak on behalf my own countrymen who have been systematically silenced, those disinherited people of my country Zimbabwe, those people economically excluded, exploited and marginalised, those with nothing to their names.

We do this knowing very well that the current condition of in our country is not “natural” phenomena but a product of unjust economic practices by organised blood sucking economic vampires, cannibalistic cartels, corrupt, selfish and heartless capitalists and monopolists and we have decided to take a stand giving up the comfort and luxuries of our past associations to fight with others for the sake of generations of current and the future.

We have committed to embark on this just struggle, a struggle to correct economic injustices condoned by the powerful of this society and their associates who have no shame at all.

We come here to mark the birth of a revolution for we have so much confidence in the revolutionary capabilities of ordinary human beings to accomplish this. We believe in the ordinary men and women, young and old so arrogantly dismissed, neglected and pushed to the peripheries of their own economy as second class citizens in their only country of birth.

We believe that Zimbabwe shall be built on a different economic and social foundation that will be created not by “technocrats”, “financial wizards” or “seasoned politicians” but by the indigenous masses of the toiling workers, miners, students, vendors, touts, farmers, craftsmen, artists, sportspersons and all, the youth and women whose labour and sweat, joined by the riches of nature, is the source of all wealth.

Given the abundance of natural resources in Zimbabwe coupled with a hardworking, educated and resilient people, there can’t be any justification why Zimbabwe and her people are poor and always begging.

We have all the confidence in fellow ordinary citizens who have the capacity to transform themselves as we come together to be an active, united, tactical and conscious force under the banner of our new political party whose agenda is against the common enemy i.e. man-made poverty, corruption, economic discrimination and manipulation by the greedy, selfish and heartless in our midst who care not about others but themselves and have taken everything for themselves.

Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends it is with great honor and humility that I announce to Zimbabwe, Africa and the rest of the world that a new political movement, a people-centered and mass-driven party, the Front for Economic Emancipation in Zimbabwe which shall hereinafter be referred to as FEEZ has been born.

We are the game changers.

By A Correspondent- South African television personality Khanyi Mbau has reportedly dumped her Zimbabwean boyfriend Kudzai Terrence Mushonga while on vacation in Dubai.

Mushonga, an alleged fugitive based in South Africa said he was left heartbroken and in shock last night after Mbau pulled a no show for one of his romantics. He had to go on Insta stories in search of her the whole night.

According to Kudzai Mushonga, Khanyi had left home for the saloon when the whole ruckus came to light.

After getting dropped off at a Saloon at 6 pm with a promise of calling her boyfriend 30 minutes before she was done, Khanyi decided to mizz Kudzi and join her friends at the Rooftop pool for a few drinks without her boyfriend’s knowledge.

Back home, Kudzi revealed he had been cooking and setting up their place for a romantic night.

But after several hours of silence from Khanyi, Kudzi is said to have gone back to the saloon only to realise it closes at 10 pm. It was 2 am the following day.

He started posting in his Insta stories alleging that his girlfriend was not treating her right. He said in one of his posts to Khanyi:

I have never cheated on you since the day I met you, I have taken care of you since day one. Why do I get treated like this?

My mind is struggling and I can’t work like this. I love you deeply, and you know this! And I will do anything for you, and you’ve seen me do such before.

According to him, he deserved to be treated better as he pays for her daughter’s school fees, takes care of her and works very hard to maintain their lavish lifestyle.

He said Khanyi wanted her time off from her boyfriend and decided to go clubbing alone without informing him.

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe government has been forced to issue an apology to a Kenyan tourist after she shot a video narrating her horrendous ordeal at the hands of immigration officials atthe Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage said investigations were already underway to get to the bottom of the matter with corrective measures to follow.

The ministry also apologized to the Kenyan tourist saying the traumatic experiences she went through at the RGM International Airport was deplorable and out of sync with expected ethical conduct of immigration officials manning ports of entry and exit.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has taken note of a viral video on social media, by a fellow African sister who goes by the name African tigress under the Twitter handle @kenyansista. The lady recounted her alleged traumatic experiences as she sought to enter Zimbabwe through the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport,” the ministry said.

“The alleged bribery attempts by Immigration officials are not only deplorable but out of sync with the expected ethical conduct of stuff manning our ports of entry and exit. The alleged unprofessional and criminal conduct by Immigration officials does not reflect our attitudes and decorum as a nation towards visitors.

“We take this opportunity to advise the nation that investigations are currently underway to ascertain the facts and anyone caught on the wrong side of the law will be dealt wiuth accordingly.

“We sincerely apologize for the ordeal that our fellow sister was subjected to,” the ministry added.

By A Correspondent- Kudakwashe Choga who escaped arrest last month following a shoot-out with a police crack team in Harare’s Highfield suburb has been arrested in Chitungwiza.

The wanted suspected armed robber is believed to have been part of a group of criminals operating from South Africa.

During last month’s shoot-out, Choga managed to flee after sustaining injuries but the police continued looking for him until his subsequent arrest in St Marys, Chitungwiza where he was hiding at his girlfriend’s house.

The girlfriend, Esther Kambande (24) and Choga’s nephew, Ashton Chikurune of Manyame Park, Chitungwiza have also been arrested for harbouring a criminal and assisting Choga with medication.

According to police Kambande had been treating the gunshot wounds on Choga who was shot on the thigh and scrotum during the shoot-out.

Chikurune was also alleged to have been harbouring Choga’s accomplices who have since been arrested and are currently in remand prison.

Sources close to the investigations told The Herald that investigations were still in progress.

Choga’s other accomplice, Abel Marufu Mukandawire (40) from Chitungwiza, recently appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera charged with robbery, rape and aggravated indecent assault.

Mukandawire allegedly raped one of the victims, forced her mother to perform oral sex on him, before defecating in a bucket of maize meal during a robbery in 2019.

Choga and Mukandawire are alleged to have been one of the seven people, other being Francis Hazangure, Blessing Gamanya, Edmore Marwizi Mapuranga and Roy Mutemagazi, who robbed the family of a Mercedes Benz into which they loaded property they had stolen.

They stole cellphones, US$4 110, $700 and other household property which they loaded into the family’s car and drove off.

-statemedia

Independent Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has accused the President Emmerson Mnangagwa of aping the late founding President Robert Mugabe.

Mliswa who has of late been siding with disgruntled war veterans who were recently arrested after they picketed at finance minister Professor Mthuli Ncube’s office demanding better pensions, said Mnangagwa had not done anything tangible and respectable since assuming power in 2017.

“The new dispensation has criminally sought to court favour by disavowing the Mugabe regime and its failure to look after veterans, but it’s a fallacy to allege that they are different. They are one and the same thing, equally culpable and to blame,” said Mliswa.

The motormouth politician further claimed that Mnangagwa’s administration has all been rhetorical and political without action.

“More damning for them is that even after its own assumption of power it has still failed to do anything tangible and respectable for them. It has all been rhetorical and political. However the best propaganda is to actually act,” added Mliswa

By A Correspondent| The self exiled former Manicaland Provincial Minister Mandi Chimene has pleaded with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to forgive her as she misses home.

Mandi is in Mozambique since November 2017 military coup.

Posting on Twitter, Mandi said “To have spent my girlhood fighting to be free, only to find myself 37 years later stranded airborne on my way from China simply because another senior Cadre has taken over power was beyond my expectation.”

“Without disclosing my whereabouts, I must declare Zimbabwe to be my only home and no other. We rubbed shoulders during the war, shared the same plate of a small meal, and trained each other to win the fight. It is not too late to shake hands and embrace.

“President  @edmnangagwa, I am sorry for everything. All I want is to be back home to rest. Let bygones be. What’s sad in my life is that people have gathered to judge me on mistakes, real or imagined and make conclusions on my contributions to this nation based on what happened prior to 2017 and Nov 2017 itself.

“Let God be the judge but I remain a Cde. I miss stepping my feet in Zimbabwe.

“I have been this silent to heal. I am now ready to reload. I love you all Yours Truly, Daughter of the Soil.” added Chimene.

The Zimbabwe government has made repeated attempts to have the former ministers extradited to Zimbabwe on charges of abuse of office while in government, but the efforts have hit a brick wall.

By A Correspondent- Harare City Council has failed to convene Full Council Meeting for the third time after Councilors failed to constitute a quorum, a move that will further cripple service provision.

According to the Urban Council Act 29:15(85)(1), “one third of the total membership of a council , together with one other Councilor shall form a quorum.”

Out of 23 Councilors only six of them were available for the meeting which was convened virtually via Zoom platform.

Full Council Meetings are responsible for making resolutions that will be implemented by the technocrats and failure to hold these meetings have a bearing on social service delivery.

Harare had 46 Councilors , however 23 of them were recalled by the MDC-T due to the bruising political fights between MDC-T and MDC Alliance

On the other hand  the failure by the Ministry of Local Government to resolve the suspension of Jacob Mafume the Mayor of Harare  has seen him  resurfacing at Town House with the Acting Mayor Stewart  Musarurwa Mutizwa still in office.

CHRA calls on the remaining Harare City Councilors to take Council business seriously by attending Full Council Meetings as this has implications on social service delivery and serious political costs ahead of  2023 elections.

The residents’ movement further called on the Ministry of Local Government to follow the law and resolve the suspension of Jacob Mafume in terms of the Local Government Amendment Laws Act of 2016.

By A Correspondent- About 50 000 people have been arrested since January for various cross-border crimes, particularly smuggling, a lucrative business that reportedly prejudices the country of hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue.

Despite increased patrols, arrests and confiscation of smuggled goods, smuggling syndicates seem undeterred as they continue smuggling goods to and from South Africa.

Even the closure of land borders as a COVID-19 preventive measure has done little to stop the smuggling syndicates.

In a statement, police said 45 146 people had been arrested since January for cross-border crimes.

“On August 28, police arrested 140 people for illegal crossing in Beitbridge, Mukumbura and Nyamapanda. Meanwhile, two people were arrested for smuggling on the same day at Plumtree Border Post,” police said in a statement.

“Zimbabwe Republic Police recovered assorted electrical gadgets, building materials and groceries approximately valued at BWP24 760. The police have arrested 45 146 people across the country since January for cross-border crimes.”

Smuggling syndicates often involve government officials.

Researchers in a report titled Smuggling through Fluid and Porous African Borderlands and the State’s Response: The Case of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Border, argue that policing authorities are fighting a losing battle in cross-border crimes.

“The smugglers and the smuggled, on the other hand, perceive smuggling as a noble activity and that the border is simply an “artificial” obstacle whose fluidity and porosity offers opportunities for survival,” the research findings read in part.

“As a result, smuggling has remained a common component of the Zimbabwe-South Africa borderland where the State and the smuggling rackets continue to play cat and mouse in an attempt to define their space of control and survival.”

The researchers were investigating how cross-border traders ingeniously exploit the fluid and porous borderland to conduct illicit trade across the crocodile-infested Limpopo River and through the barbed-wired Nabob electric fence bordering Zimbabwe and South Africa.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe government has been forced to issue an apology to a Kenyan tourist after she shot a video narrating her horrendous ordeal at the hands of immigration officials atthe Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage said investigations were already underway to get to the bottom of the matter with corrective measures to follow.

The ministry also apologized to the Kenyan tourist saying the traumatic experiences she went through at the RGM International Airport was deplorable and out of sync with expected ethical conduct of immigration officials manning ports of entry and exit.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has taken note of a viral video on social media, by a fellow African sister who goes by the name African tigress under the Twitter handle @kenyansista. The lady recounted her alleged traumatic experiences as she sought to enter Zimbabwe through the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport,” the ministry said.

“The alleged bribery attempts by Immigration officials are not only deplorable but out of sync with the expected ethical conduct of stuff manning our ports of entry and exit. The alleged unprofessional and criminal conduct by Immigration officials does not reflect our attitudes and decorum as a nation towards visitors.

“We take this opportunity to advise the nation that investigations are currently underway to ascertain the facts and anyone caught on the wrong side of the law will be dealt wiuth accordingly.

“We sincerely apologize for the ordeal that our fellow sister was subjected to,” the ministry added.

By A Correspondent- A court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo after he failed to appear in court.

Chombo who is facing charges of criminal nuisance had been due to appear before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje for routine remand but was absent when his name was called.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) asked Mambanje to issue the warrant.

Chombo is jointly charged with former Zanu PF youth league duo Innocent Hamandishe and Kudzanai Chipanga.

The trio is accused of wearing Zanu PF caps after their expulsion from the party when former President Robert Mugabe was ousted in a November 2017 military coup.

Zanu PF said they had no permission to wear the regalia, charges which their lawyers say amount to political persecution.

If convicted, the trio could face up to six-month imprisonment time or a fine.

Chipanga, who has since been readmitted into the ruling party, and Hamandishe were remanded to October 28.

Chombo was separately arrested on corruption charges, but his prosecution was stayed by the Constitutional Court which found he had been unlawfully detained by the military.

The NPA has since brought fresh corruption charges against him, but he is yet to stand trial.

-ZimLive

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday approved changes to the laws governing private voluntary organisations (PVOs) to give his government powers to suspend, penalise or sanction boards if it feels they are not operating within the confines of the law.

Mnangagwa’s administration has been under fire from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) critical of the country’s poor human rights record, with authorities constantly threatening to shut them down.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists during a post-Cabinet briefing that Cabinet had approved the POVA Amendment Bill which would monitor activities of the voluntary organisations.

“Whereas registration has all along been free, the registrar is now empowered to collect registration fees from all PVOs, the Bill prohibits PVOs from political involvement and requires them to discharge their mandate for the benefit of the most vulnerable societies,” she said.

“PVOs are, therefore, prohibited from undertaking political lobbying on behalf of any individual, organisations or political party and the Bill stipulates penalties for those PVOs that violate the Act.”

The Zanu-PF government has often accused Western countries, particularly the United States, of sponsoring NGOs to pursue a regime change agenda.

Mutsvangwa said the amendments gave the registrar power to deal with errant PVOs, including placing them under monitoring.

“The registrar can also impose penalties for those PVOs which break the law, with high risk PVOs being placed under monitoring. The executive committee of the PVOs can be suspended for either maladministration or failure to discharge the declared mandate.”

Although Zanu-PF has long been advocating for laws to cull the influence of NGOs, government said it had come up with the proposed law changes to curb money-laundering and financing of terrorism.

“Amendments seek to combat money-laundering and financing of terrorism by any individual or institution in Zimbabwe operating under the PVO banner. The amendments also seek to streamline the administrative procedures of PVOs in order to ensure their efficient registration, regulation and the combating of the financing of terrorism,” Mutsvangwa said.

“The registrar of PVOs is being accorded powers to penalise non-compliant organisations. It was necessitated by the growing regional and global concerns about money-laundering and the financing of terrorism activities. It’s now known that terrorism activities can be committed using seemingly authentic transactions either as humanitarian aid or development assistance.”

In another development, government has also relaxed COVID-19 lockdown restrictions by opening gymnasia and health spas for fully vaccinated patrons only.

Cinemas, art galleries and theatres can now operate at 50% sitting capacity.

Government also said travellers from countries afflicted with the Indian variant, such as India, could no longer need to be put on quarantine.

Mutsvangwa also encouraged all athletes aged 14 and above to get vaccinated.

By A Correspondent- A Harare woman demanding US$50 000 damages from a family friend for allegedly snatching her husband.

Marvelous Marufu is suing Ratidzo Nyamuchengwa, who works with her husband, for the loss of her spouse and love, “humiliation, pain and suffering.”

According to a High Court filing, Marufu and her husband Albert Mhondoro upgraded their customary law union into a monogamous civil marriage on March 19, 2018.

Mhondoro invited several workmates to the wedding, including Nyamuchengwa. Marufu’s lawyers said:

Defendant (Nyamuchengwa) even purchased a wedding gift for the plaintiff (Marufu). This notwithstanding defendant enticed and alienated plaintiff’s spouse’s affection from plaintiff and harboured him in adulterous relationship.

Marufu said she uncovered her husband’s infidelity when she overheard him on the phone with Nyamuchengwa, professing love for her.

Reads her summons:

At all material times the defendant was aware of the marital status of plaintiff’s husband and moreover she would visit plaintiff’s home, sometimes in the company of her husband Terrence Mawire, such that they eventually became family friends.

Marufu says as a result of Nyamuchengwa’s adultery with her husband, she has lost the love, affection and companionship of her husband after he moved out of their matrimonial home on December 26, 2020.

She claims Mhondoro is now cohabitating with Nyamuchengwa, who has also ditched her husband Mawire.

Say the lawsuit:

In the premises, plaintiff has suffered damages as follows: loss of consortium, comfort, companionship of her spouse in the sum of US$30 000 and contumelia in the sum of US$20 000.

The matter is pending.

-ZimLive

By A Correspondent- Police in the Midlands province are investigating a case of suspected murder after a 17-year-old boy allegedly stabbed a fellow juvenile, also aged 17, with an okapi knife following a misunderstanding.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko yesterday confirmed the incident, which occurred in Gokwe last Saturday.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating a case of murder, where a 17-year-old juvenile was found dead next to Dumezweni village near Nyaje Business Centre in Gokwe,” Mahoko said.

“The boy was found with a stab wound on his back.”

Mahoko said on August 28, the now-deceased, Meli Mlilo, was coming from a beer drink at Nyaje Business Centre in the company of his friends.

Mlilo had a misunderstanding with the suspect, Leon Moyo, over an undisclosed matter.

According to Mahoko, Moyo allegedly drew an okapi knife and stabbed Mlilo once on the back.

Mlilo, bleeding profusely, went back to Nyaje Business Centre to seek help, but collapsed along the way and died.

The deceased’s body was discovered by a passer-by the following morning before a police report was made.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The government has opened most of the country’s economic activities amid a significant decline in the cases of Covid-19.

These economic activities include sporting activities, cultural, leisure activities, cinemas, theatres, art galleries, gymnasiums, and fitness centres.

Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced the relaxations after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

Cabinet also removed the quarantine requirement for travellers coming from countries with high rates of the Covid-19 Delta variant since 98 percent of Zimbabwe’s cases were of the same variant, so there was no extra risk.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC-T Leader Douglas Mwonzora are plotting to connive and amend the constitution so that it disqualifies political parties with less than five years from partaking in the 2023 elections.

This is happening at a time the MDC-Alliance leader; Nelson Chamisa is planning to change the name of his political coalition.

Below is Simba Chikanza’s intelligence outlining how Mnangagwa and Mwonzora’s ploy to disqualify Chamisa would take place.

By Simba Chikanza- It’ll be extremely dangerous for Nelson Chamisa to change his party name, he’s in enough danger, already. Any change of name, is a metre closer to both endorsing and assuming military level crimes committed from 1 Aug ’18 onwards.

Those advising the people’s president are misleading him as they make him underestimate the notoriety of the ED-Mwonzora coalition because Chamisa’s chances of ever running Zimbabwe will dwindle under a new name. Already Mnangagwa is preparing to amend the constitution so that only parties with 5 years of existence will be allowed to contest, so Chamisa will have to wait for 5 years to participate after changing his party name (effectively launched a new entity). He will spend the next 2 years campaigning, and come July 2023, will arrive at the polling station to be told he is does not qualify.
So, while the temptation is there, the best method is the middle of the road approach: confront. I have a lot to say here, but much which I have already demonstrated myself.
Mnangagwa’s life outside the borders can be put out easily and swiftly, and before it changes name, the MDC A needs to spend the next month using its last remaining powers to put out the criminals’ life outside the borders. This is how the criminal Ian Smith regime was put to an end, not by any bullet, bayonette or bomb, but using live legal ammunition. The MDC Alliance does have this strength, and I have proved it that this great party is simply too lazy, ignorant, or both, of the powers it has. On several occasions, I have deployed some of these powers, which are largely based on the 2018 election victory.
I am glad that I have also deployed some tools to help the Zambian people on 13 Aug. I am ready for questions and answers but for now to say, please stop pushing President Chamisa to betray the blood of the innocent 2018 victims.
You change the party name, then what, you think you’ll penetrate ZEC, and outwit the Chinese model terror machinery because you’re popular? Even if Chamisa wins with 99% of the vote, Mnangagwa will still do the counting, and Mnangagwa retains the power to announce the results after which there is no viable recourse of appeal because the judiciary is Mnangagwa himself. New methods are needed to deal with criminality and the type that’s in Zimbabwe cannot be cured by base ballotry. Having traveled in many countries and consulted some of the best legal brains around the world, I am ready to help this great party deal with this criminality. Source: Simba Chikanza

By A Correspondent- S-x video footage showing a member of an affluent Harare social media grouping, Rich Cousins, Mitchelle Kawome, has gone viral on the internet.

In the shameful video, Mitchelle appears in her bedroom, sharing good moments with a man she calls Thomas.

Kagome is a member of a social media group of Gold diggers who call themselves Rich Cousins.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has cancelled the mobile Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise in Victoria Falls.

The voter registration process was scheduled for yesterday, Tuesday and today.

In a statement, the electoral body said the mobile BVR exercise, which was meant to be conducted at Mosi-Oa-Tunya High School, was no longer going to take place.

“The ZEC registration that was scheduled for Mosi High has been rescheduled for another date to be advised. Sorry for the inconvenience caused,” Zec said without giving reasons.

Mosi –Oa-Tunya High School headmaster Roland Sibanda confirmed the development and said ZEC notified the school on Monday after citing transport challenges.

” They notified me yesterday because I had given them the venue at the school. They told me that they were not given the promised car to use as theirs has a breakdown and is supposed to be towed to Bulawayo anytime for fixing,” said Sibanda.

The mobile exercise was meant to target eligible voters who have not managed to travel to Hwange where the ZEC district office is located.
The exercise was triggered by concerns that Victoria Falls residents were travelling 100km to Hwange to register at the ZEC district office.

Registration is, however, continuous around the province where BVR kits are available at static sites at Zec’s district offices in Binga, Bubi, Hwange, Lupane, Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has cancelled the mobile Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise in Victoria Falls.

The voter registration process was scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

In a statement, the electoral body said the mobile BVR exercise, which was meant to be conducted at Mosi-Oa-Tunya High School was no longer going to take place.

“The ZEC registration that was scheduled for Mosi High has been rescheduled for another date to be advised. Sorry for the inconvenience caused,” Zec said without giving reasons.

Mosi –Oa-Tunya High School headmaster Roland Sibanda confirmed the development and said ZEC notified the school on Monday after citing transport challenges.

” They notified me yesterday because I had given them the venue at the school. They told me that they were not given the promised car to use as theirs has a breakdown and is supposed to be towed to Bulawayo anytime for fixing,” said Sibanda.

The mobile exercise was meant to target eligible voters who have not managed to travel to Hwange where the ZEC district office is located.
The exercise was triggered by concerns that Victoria Falls residents were travelling 100km to Hwange to register at the ZEC district office.

Registration is, however, continuous around the province where BVR kits are available at static sites at Zec’s district offices in Binga, Bubi, Hwange, Lupane, Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza

MDC Alliance national spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi speaks on way forward regarding the party’s name…

Advocate Mahere also says citizens know President Chamisa is the man who has the vision to lead the country to prosperity…

Which name will the MDC Alliance party use?#RegisterToVoteZW pic.twitter.com/hEe15yn0Qu

— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) August 30, 2021

By A Correspondent- Embarrassing video footage showing a Harare socialite and Ex- Uncle Roland’s wife Mitchelle Kawome, has gone viral on the internet.

Mitchelle appears in her bedroom in the disturbing video, sharing good moments with a man she calls Thomas.

Kagome was once in an abusive marriage with southern African blesser Uncle Roland.

She has two children with the famous and ex-convict Uncle Roland.

She also made headlines years ago when he attacked her at Pablos in Harare.

By A Correspondent- Police in Harare are looking for two men who kidnapped, drugged and gang-raped a 13-year-old Warren Park girl.

The girl was found by her siblings after six days on Saturday at a house in Kuwadzana 2.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the case.

“Police in Harare are looking for two male adults who allegedly drugged and raped a 13-year-old female juvenile after luring her.
“The accused persons are not related to the complainant.
“It is stated that on the 23rd of August 2021 at around 1500 hours, the complainant went to play with her friend and delayed to return home until around 1700 hours.
“It is believed that she didn’t go back home because she was afraid of her mother whom she stays with.

“She reportedly decided to walk to town along Harare-Bulawayo road until she got to Total Service station at corner Samora Machel road and Chinhoyi Street where she took a rest.
“The first accused person allegedly took her into his black Toyota Wish registration unknown and drove to Kuwadzana 2 Car Park where they entered into a container which is at the place of occurrence and the victim was forced to take unknown drugs together with the accused person.
“Later on the accused reportedly raped the complainant three times during that night.
“The following day at around 0700hours, it is believed that they went to Kuwadzana night club to drink beer and later went to Kuwadzana 3 at an unknown address where she was left in the custody of one Mai Lencia.
“After two days, the complainant left Mai Lencia’s place and walked along Bulawayo road where she met a male well-wisher only known as Marve who took her to his residence in Kuwadzana 3 and stayed for three days.
“Whilst at Marve’s place, the complainant escorted an unknown minor to collect a cellphone at a certain house in Kuwadzana when she met the second accused person.

“The said accused allegedly dragged the complainant into his room and raped her once.
“She then returned to Marve’s house and did not tell anyone.
“On the 28th of August 2021 at around 0800 hours, a certain lady located the complainant after she saw an advert for a missing person on social media.
“The accused persons are still at large. Complainant was referred to Family Support clinic for medical examination. It is very disturbing to report this sad event in which the juvenile went through such ordeal of drug abuse and rape. We are making frantic efforts to bring the culprits to book,” he said
Missing person images of the girl had spread throughout media platforms and her father, explained the circumstances to H-Metro.
“We found my daughter but she was injected with drugs and raped according to the doctor’s results from Parirenyatwa Hospital.
“She is now stable and able to recollect what had happened.
“My daughter says she just mysteriously wandered from home in Warren Park 1 into town on foot and ended up resting at a fuel station along Samora Machel.

“That is when two men offered her transport and she was injected with a drug along the way.
“For all the six days she was just being injected and gang raped and was isolated in a room,” said the father.
The girl told H-Metro the names of the two men who allegedly drugged and raped her. She identified them as Kuku and Emmanuel.
Her father further explained that he made frantic efforts in consulting a number of faith healers and claimed he was given some ritual liquid where he saw how his daughter went missing in a vision.
“In the vision, I saw my daughter being taken away in a car with South Africa number plates and the people in it where in disagreement over money, that’s why the whole ritual process didn’t go through.
“There are some people behind this and I can’t mention them but revenge is coming,” he said.

He further narrated to H-Metro how his other daughter and son ended up finding the girl.
“We received a call from a lady in Kuwadzana who alerted us that she had seen my daughter at her neighbour’s house.
“She had recognized my child from the missing person circulation on social media and our numbers had been attached to the circular.
“My other daughter and son then went to that house and pretended to ask for water to drink and were told to get inside the house.
“They were surprised to see my daughter in the house and she is the one who served them with water but did not recognize her siblings because of the drugs she was being injected.
“They then took her to Kuwadzana police station but the officer in charge was not being helpful enough to quickly open the docket.

“We were told to come back after seeing a doctor of which we did and it was confirmed that she had been abused, drugged and raped,” he explained.

By A Correspondent- A s_x video clip with footage of Zodwa Mkandla’s friend, Mitchelle Kawome, has gone viral on social media.

In the video clip, the nude Mitchelle is seen enjoying herself with a man she is calling Thomas.

By A Correspondent- Video images of the wife of the late socialite Genius Kadungure are circulating on social media.

More details are coming…..

By A Correspondent- A Zaka man has been stoned to death by his colleagues after denying them to sip his beer.

Innocent and Enock Chari, who are twin brothers, allegedly bludgeoned Owen Munengwa to death at Baramanza Business Centre in Zaka recently.

The twins allegedly attacked Munengwa for refusing them permission to take a sip of his alcohol.

Police said the twins, Munengwa and two other unnamed people were drinking beer at the business centre when the now-deceased turned down requests by the twins to take sips of his beer.

The twins then became violent and started hitting Munengwa with stones forcing him to flee into a nearby liquor outlet at the same business centre where he locked himself inside for safety.

As if that was not enough, police said, the twins followed and damaged the shop windows before leaving for their homestead about a kilometre away from the business centre.

After a while Munengwa followed them to their homestead for a fight. When he got there, they started fighting and when Munengwa realised that he was being overpowered, he took to his heels.

However, the twins gave chase and caught up with Munengwa and continued to pelt the deceased with stones on the head and he became unconscious.

Munengwa’s family rushed him to Morgenster Mission Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body was  then taken to Musiso Mission Hospital mortuary for a post mortem and the matter was then reported to the Zaka Police and the Chari twins were arrested.

“We are encouraging members of the public to value the sanctity of life at all times, and try to avoid unnecessary altercations,” Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said

By A Correspondent- Nkayi Community Parliament has crafted resolutions on Duties and Roles of Chiefs with the aim of advocating for these to be the hallmarks of how the traditional leaders operate.

The resolutions came after a recent virtual discussion in which a human rights activist Effie Ncube was the guest speaker. 

Ncube chronicled the history of the traditional leaders from before the colonial era where they worked under the King to the time when the colonial government  took over and corrupted some of them and disbanded those who were resistant to its detects.

He also said during the Zanu PF rule the Chiefs have been co opted as the commissars of the ruling party a development which has been evident when they were invited to the Chitepo School of Theology last year where they were trained to mobilise support for the ruling party ahead o the 2023 elections.

After the meeting the Nkayi community joined hands to draft resolutions which they want to use to lobby government and authorities to allow the independence of the Chiefs in accordance with the constitution which forbids them from being artisan.

“Chiefs should not be used as political commissars by political parties. Chiefs should be in the forefront in the advocacy for development in their areas of jurisdiction.  The current colonial-oriented role of chiefs should be reformed,” reads the resolutions.

“Chiefs should maintain peace all times amongst their subjects, especially during political contestations. Chiefs to be empowered on land redistribution, management, and settlement of their subjects to their ancestral lands. Educating their subjects (communities) on their  rights to land and other constitutional rights”

The community also resolved to preserve people’s language and their culture (Demand deployment of civil servants who will not undermine their way of life).

“Chiefs should meet their subjects regularly, and must have time tabled agendas/programs for their areas of jurisdiction. Chiefs and all other traditional Leaders should stand with their people, not against them. Chiefs should change from the colonial mentality of standing with the oppressors, but to stand with their subjects. Chiefs should maintain a high standard of respect among their subjects,” reads the resolutions.

“Chiefs should embrace development programs from government and other stakeholders ( not to follow politics of the ruling party against opposition politics). They must be neutral at all times. Chiefs must view their remuneration, and their benefits as their constitutional rights, not as a special favour from politicians. Chiefs should advocate for the revival of their kingdoms and installation of kings.”

By A Correspondent- Outspoken Norton MP, Temba Mliswa (Independent) says he does not date women below 35 but rather prefers single mothers.

He said this while responding to an accusation on social media that he impregnated a 24-year-old university student who claims to be pregnant with his four-week-old baby.

A ZANU PF supporter, over the weekend accused Mliswa of impregnating a 24-year-old student by the name of Ngoni Munene. In response,

Mliswa said:

I don’t even date anyone that young. I only deal with and prefer those between 35-40 years. Even more, I prefer M1, M2, and so on.

Unless it was someone with a face mask that wouldn’t be me. The girl is outside my preferred modus operandi.

I would not be averse to having a 20th child and if she wants me to assist by adopting the baby, she can bring it.

I once had a public HIV test after another lie of me infecting another young girl and the story, like this one, was hogwash.

The controversial parliamentarian also claimed that out of his 19 children, only six are boys and the rest are girls and his dignity requires him to date adult women, not young girls. He said:

As a father, I have my own set principles and they dictate that I don’t date anyone the age of my own daughters.

I’m a father of 19 with only six boys and the rest are girls. My dignity requires that I date mature adult women, not young girls

By A Correspondent- Former ZBC TV news anchor Lee Ann Bernard clashed with late President Robert Mugabe’s son Bellarmine Chatunga over the latter’s post defending Mudiwa’s ‘poverty is a choice’ post.

This comes after the rapper Mudiwa Hood stirred up controversy with his ‘poverty is a choice’ remarks which spilled over to a political debate on bad governance.

“Being broke is a mindset” statement iri is bullshit. I’ve seen some hustlers who tries very hard but zvichitoramba if you are privileged enough to get connections you don’t have to mock varikuedza or put unnecessary pressure,” said Chatunga.

Bernard responded insisting that poverty is a choice since everyone has 24 hours to work.

“Poverty is a choice, we All have 24 hours in a day, it’s what you choose to do with it that differs,” said Bernard.

After making the remarks that sparked a controversy for days, Mudiwa defended himself saying he was misunderstood and all he was saying was ‘people should change their mentality.’

The prolific former ZANU PF youth leader Godfrey Tsenengamu is today announcing a new political party.

Tsenengamu, famous for his role in the 2017 coup, will make the announcement at 1130.

More follows

Godfrey Tsenengamu announcing a NEW political party today!@NewsDayZimbabwe @DailyNewsZim @HeraldZimbabwe @263Chat @ZimEye @HStvZim @SABCNews @AJEnglish @Mathuthu @zenzele pic.twitter.com/Mh7rcRtdr8

— FEEZ (@GreenFEEZ) August 31, 2021

By A Correspondent- A 13 year old girl from Harare’s Warren Park suburb who went missing last week was found drugged and gang-raped by two men in Kuwadzana.

The girl was found by her brother and sister after six days on Saturday at a house in Kuwadzana 2 where she was allegedly being injected with a drug and raped on several occasions.

Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the case.

He said the girl left home on the 23rd of August 2021 at around 3 PM to play with her friend and delayed to return home until around 5 PM.

Inspector Mwanza said it is believed that she didn’t go back home because she was afraid of her mother whom she stays with.

He said:

She reportedly decided to walk to town along Harare-Bulawayo road until she got to Total Service station at corner Samora Machel road and Chinhoyi Street where she took a rest.

That was when a man allegedly took her into his black Toyota Wish registration unknown and drove to Kuwadzana 2 Car Park where her ordeal started.

Speaking to H-Metro, the girl’s father said her daughter was now stable and able to recollect what had happened.

He said:

My daughter says she just mysteriously wandered from home in Warren Park 1 into town on foot and ended up resting at a fuel station along Samora Machel.

That is when two men offered her transport and she was injected with a drug along the way.

For all the six days she was just being injected and gang-raped and was isolated in a room.

The girl told H-Metro the names of the two men who allegedly drugged and raped her. She identified them as Kuku and Emmanuel.

Her father further narrated to H-Metro how his other daughter and son ended up finding the girl.

He said:

We received a call from a lady in Kuwadzana who alerted us that she had seen my daughter at her neighbour’s house.

She had recognised my child from the missing person circulation on social media and our numbers had been attached to the circular.

My other daughter and son then went to that house and pretended to ask for water to drink and were told to get inside the house.

They were surprised to see my daughter in the house and she is the one who served them with water but did not recognize her siblings because of the drugs she was being injected.

Dear Comrades, Zimbabwe’s Freedom Fighters,

Comradely greetings to you all.

Today I woke up fixated with one matter, and that was the fact that our nation, our beloved Zimbabwe, has its custodians, custodians of which are not being duly recognised and looked after. This is a matter which prompts feelings of anger and frustration within me.

After listening to the statements by both Cde Shorai and Cde Khumalo, I am, explicitly convinced you have finally reached the end of your tether. After you selflessly liberated the country, your sacrifices were sadly not duly recognised and no one economically liberated you. It is only now, when you have decided to liberate yourselves and even though it may have been sooner, there is no better time like the present.

Previously, you innocently entrusted leadership tasks to those individuals who did not form
part of the frontline personnel. You did this in order to enable you to concentrate on the job at hand. Your expectation of these individuals was that they would ensure your welfare and basic needs would be adequately catered for and that the country would acknowledge your contributions. However, and most unfortunately, some of the politicians you trusted deceived you.

Ignorant reference is often to mischievously made which insinuates that the $50,000.00 previously disbursed to you as Freedom Fighters’ compensation in the 1990’s was allocated from the fiscus. This fallacy is a misconception, cunningly crafted by some to cause those who you liberated to feel undue discontent and aggression towards you. Fortunately, there are those amongst us, myself included, who are aware that the money meant as compensation was not from Government coffers, but was secured from donor organisations. However, it is also on record that a great portion of this funding was misappropriated by some errant government agents.

Possibly, due to your innocence as youths during the time of the liberation struggle, you may not have been aware of or able to understand some of these conjectures. However, time has moved on, you have matured and are now able to take stock of and critically analyse the devious actions of some of the people you trusted and what benefit, or lack thereof, that misplaced trust has been to you.

I am fortunate to have worked closely with the late Cde Perence Shiri. He fondly call me his “mujibha” and would request for me to accompany him each time he travelled. It was during such trips where I would take the opportunity to enquire after issues regarding Freedom Fighters. As a senior Freedom Fighter himself, and a simple and humble man, he was able to impeccably articulate and give me elucidation as to the issues and challenges you encountered.

Cde Shiri was the major force behind the election of Cde Jabulani Sibanda as your Chairman during the Congress of that time. Being someone who acutely understood Freedom Fighters at grassroots level, whilst the late Shiri could be found in his high command offices from Monday to Friday, he would, without fail, ensure not to neglect interactions with his fellow Freedom Fighters at grassroots level.

As a youth, I would often lunch with Cdes Perence Shiri, Paradzai Zimondi and Menard Muzariri. Onlookers would frequently question why such senior Freedom Fighters and Security Service Commanders accommodated one so young during these engagements and the senior rankers would laughingly brush off the curiosity. It was during such priceless times, I would be watching, listening and learning.

The reason I digress and highlight these formative insightful occasions, is because it was during such informative encounters where I began to acutely understand and derive much interest on Freedom Fighters’ issues.

The issue of Freedom Fighters’ welfare is no longer solely a ZANU(PF) issue, or particular to any political party for that matter. The resolution of Freedom Fighters’ welfare is a constitutional issue which must be aligned in accordance to sections 23 and 84 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The preamble of our Constitution highlights the liberation war, a war that as Freedom Fighters, you participated in; a fight that you fought. How we handle the treatment of Freedom Fighters’ welfare greatly impacts and has implications on the level of respect we have for our own Constitution of Zimbabwe.

In Parliament, I have reiterated that since 1980, our Government has been comprised of individuals who are not strangers to you and who know you well. A major question therefore is, why have these Comrades, Brothers and Sisters-in-arms, Compatriots and familiar, fellow Freedom Fighters, not conclusively addressed the welfare concerns of Freedom Fighters?

In a shocking and surprising development, Government instead opted to compensate white farmers ahead of Freedom Fighters’ compensation. This ill advised decision to focus on compensating white farmers whilst turning a blind eye to issues like Freedom Fighters’ welfare and the peace and reconciliation of Gukurahundi, smacks of the highest level of hypocrisy; it is senseless. One would have expected the First Republic to have decisively resolved Freedom Fighters’ issues; they did not. We now look to the Second Republic for relief and if this generation of leaders does nothing to right this wrong, we cannot expect any other generation to do so.

During the former President Cde R. G. Mugabe’s tenure, we watched with dismay and disbelief as Freedom Fighters were teargassed for simply, after decades of neglect, airing their grievances. They were heartlessly labelled rogue elements. Now, under the new dispensation, we once again see this disregard for Freedom Fighters resurface as we see them being indiscriminately arrested for airing their grievances and demanding that their welfare be addressed.

Do not be fooled, just as before, I can bet my bottom dollar that reports reaching the President on this issue have labelled these hapless Freedom Fighters as “rogue elements”.

But, are these teargassed and arrested “rogue elements” not the same ones who laid the foundation for the march that forced the late Cde R. G. Mugabe out of office? Are they not the self, same ones who cleared the path for His Excellency, Cde E. D. Mnangagwa to ascend to presidency? The instruction for the Freedom Fighters to be teargassed was issued by one of your very own, a Freedom Fighter, the Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). Yet again, they were arrested by the same office’s instruction.

The President must be very wary of some of the advice he gets from those entrusted with the task of advising him. He should take time to reflect upon the events leading to November 2017 and recall exactly who was behind the drive to have Cde R. G. Mugabe resign and why such a move was instigated. He must question himself if those recently arrested are not the ones who were at the forefront of the march. He must ask himself where the likes of Commission-General T. G. Matanga were during the 2017 March.

Simply put, Cdes, take stock of each other. Take stock of your fellow Commanders. Take stock of the President’s Cabinet and understand who is sincerely acting in your interests and who is not. Do not blame the opposition for your plight, this is a notion which is as far removed as it is absurd. Your neglect emanates from within, you are being hard on each other on your own.

It is only now the majority of the nation understands that the bad publicity attributed to you was committed and fabricated by the very people incorrectly advising the then President. You were only used, as pawns in a selfish game of politics, machinations of which you were and are not a part of. You are the liberators of our country, all of you, no matter where your political home is. Whether you were active in the trenches or those who catered for the fighters’ ancillary services. You must resolutely refuse and refrain from being divided by trivial distractions such as the formation of a War Veterans Association versus a War Veterans League. Where are the ZANLA and ZIPRA Commanders? You have allowed yourselves to be divided for selfish interest, which is disappointing. You are above petty politics. You are the custodians of our great Nation.

My humble advice to you, as Freedom Fighters, would be that you seek audience with His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa to air your concerns and grievances. Your selected representative for such meeting must be those who genuinely have your interests at heart, not such people who are quiet when one of your own are unjustly treated and arrested and/or teargassed. You will not fail to find such stalwart representatives amongst yourselves. Those who are able to boldly articulate your issues in a frank, face-to-face meeting with the President. His Excellency is your Patron, one of you, and no one has the power to deny you access to him.

Another issue which needs to be raised during this meeting, is the truth about the President’s appointment of the Minister of State in the President’s Office for National Security. In what capacity the current Minister was chosen to represent this role should be explained. It should further be pointed out that it is difficult to respect a person in this role who is oblivious to matters regarding State Security. The question as to where the likes of Owen Mudha Ncube and July Moyo were during Operation Restore Legacy should too be raised amongst others. It is the likes of such people who make it difficult for a Head of State to conclude issues like Gukurahundi. Yes, the President has the prerogative to appoint those who may be loyal to him, but he needs such critical input from you, the Freedom Fighters. Zimbabwe is a spiritual and religious country. When you, as its liberators and custodians are quiet, evil prevails. When Chiefs are silenced with trinkets such as cars, the country’s ancestors shed tears, and those tears bring suffering to us as a country. A meeting like this, between yourselves and the President, whilst long overdue, has the propensity to be very enlightening, a positive step forward and a concerted effort towards positive resolution.

To add insult to injury, the recent article as carried by The Herald where Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, who is purportedly your Chairperson, asserts that you have been infiltrated by G40 elements and the opposition makes for very comical reading at best. Whilst him making such sensational headlines is not surprising, it is disconcerting as such declarations are made under the supervision of his wife, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa, the Minister of Information and herself one of you. It is obvious that such statements shows that the Mutsvangwas are still labouring under the illusion that the Freedom Fighters’ welfare issue is still a ZANU-PF party matter when in fact it is a national, constitutional issue. Chris Mutsvangwa appears to believe he can deflect attention from his shenanigans by waving the political card against Freedom Fighters. Sadly for him however, this does not work and him and his statements should not be taken seriously. Here when we talk of Cde Chris Mutsvangwa, we must not lose sight of the fact that we are talking about a War Veterans’ Chairperson who hobnobs with the likes of Eddie Cross in a pipeline deal, he does not deserve your respect.

Yes, the MDC is a Zimbabwean political party, but in his bid for self aggrandisement, Mutsvangwa has made a weird bed fellow of Eddie Cross in this abstract arrangement that leans more to self enrichment than any particular benefit to the country or its priorities. As a former Special Advisor to the President, one must ask themselves why Mutsvangwa has not been appointed or elevated to any other position of influence ever since. Well the simple explanation to that is that he was caught flat-footed and his real intentions were exposed. He is a divisive element not only in the War Veterans Association but in ZANU-PF too. He has been exposed as the one exerting unnecessary effort in an attempt to pit the President against his deputy Vice President Cde C. G. Chiwenga. Unbeknown to him however, Mutsvangwa was recorded by an Army General uttering detrimental assertions against Cde. Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri. Nothing new to him though as this has proven to be his modus operandi as he has done the same against the likes of Mai Mujuru, Cdes Rugare Gumbo, Didymus Mutasa etc. Such trivialities are unbecoming of the stature of a Chairperson of the War Veterans Association.

Lest we forget, Mutsvangwa is the very one who usurped Chairmanship from Cde Jabulani Sibanda, the one who you duly elected. Mutsvangwa has failed to effective and efficiently represent Freedom Fighters’ issues, he has not once aired or lobbied for your welfare. He has however, found his voice in trying to implicate the opposition and G40 as having instigated your arrest. We all, yourselves especially, really deserve seriousness and not to bear the brunt of the rantings of one who has imbibed one too many Blue Label Whiskies as he is commonly known to do. His statement regarding the opposition and G40 is reckless!

I might be young of age compared to you Comrades, but my understanding of your issues comes from a mature and protracted insight. I was moved to tears when I received news of the arrest of those in your rank and file. As a legislator, I have Parliament as a platform to air my concerns to Government and the President. You on the other hand have your own ways and means of communicating with the President, a fellow Freedom Fighter who you historically have ties with, someone who you assisted in elevating to his current office in 2017.

Part of my pain stems from the fact that Commissioner-General Matanga does not represent his office in good faith. He has been implicated in many corrupt transactions and dealings but in a move which is hypocritical, wants to appear hard working to the President by arresting Freedom Fighters; diabolical. Whilst I do not blame the Home Affairs Minister for this action as he is a young entrant to this debacle and Matanga reports directly to the President, I am forced to put him on the spot.

So Comrades, whilst these thoughts have been simmering in me over the years, I was finally prompted to air my views to you by my disappointment at the recent arrest of Freedom Fighters who tried to air your grievances. I can assure you that I will never remain silent when Freedom Fighters are ill treated, neglected and treated with disdain and/or disrespected. If such support for you motivates my arrest, then so be it, but the bottom line is that a sustainable, final solution regarding your welfare and concerns must be reached.

So Comrades, when I talk about Freedom Fighters’ issues, I am not advocating for you as individuals. I am simply and duly exercising my constitutionally mandated role of oversight in defence of the country’s constitution on a matter of national interest.

Yours comradely,

Hon. Temba P. Mliswa (MP)
Norton Constituency

By A Correspondent- The Judicial Service Commission has started interviews of Judges to fill nine vacant positions of High Court judges.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa could have promoted magistrates he wanted to fill in the nine judges’ positions but is restricted by the constitution, which demands that the judges go through public interviews.

At least 35 candidates have been shortlisted for the interviews, which were supposed to be held last month, but were deferred as a Covid-19 containment measure.

While a recent amendment to the constitution allows the promotion of judges from the High Court to the Supreme and Constitutional Courts without further public interviews, these are still required for entry to the bench.

After the interviews and other checks, the JSC submits its recommended list to the President, who may assent to the names or ask the JSC to submit a fresh set of names.

Under the constitution, a person is qualified for appointment as a judge of the High Court if they are at least 40 years old and been qualified for a minimum of 10 years as a legal practitioner in Zimbabwe.

In a statement last week, the JSC said the interviews would be held in strict Covid-19 control regulations.

“To ensure compliance with the requirement to hold the interviews in public the proceedings will be streamed live on Judicial Service Commission social media platforms (Twitter and Facebook). The Judicial Service Commission has engaged the national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, to have the interview proceedings beamed live.”
Last month, the commission sought nominations from the public and President in terms of the constitution.
The 35 nominees are regional magistrates, the top end of the magistrates’ courts, or experienced lawyers.

A Correspondent- A group of disgruntled war veterans have accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of neglecting them and promoting divisions in Zanu PF.

The ex-combatants also accused the ruling party of abusing them to carry out violent terror campaigns on its behalf and then abandoning them after elections.

This follows the police arrest of nine war veterans last week for picketing at Finance and Economic Development Mthuli Ncube’s offices in protest over paltry allowances. The nine were later released without a charge.

Addressing reporters in Harare yesterday, chairperson of the War Veterans’ Welfare Pressure Group, Amos Sigauke, accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of “grandstanding” for reportedly calling for a meeting with the ex-combatants as if he was not aware of the challenges that they are facing.

“We hear from the media that His Excellency the President wishes to meet us to hear our grievances.
We hope this is not another grandstanding sideshow because we have submitted our grievances to his office many times.
There is nothing new to tell him unless of course, he will be coming to tell us the answers to our grievances.
This grandstanding has to be stopped. They talk of shares in mining and a lot of other projects.
They speak from affluent hotels, yet a war veteran on the ground is suffering,” said Sigauke.

Sigauke, who was flanked over 20 war veterans, added that it was surprising that Mnangagwa’s so-called new dispensation had offered them nothing.
He also criticised the government for being insincere by establishing an exclusive VVIP hospital at Manyame Air Base for top government and Zanu PF officials while the rest of the medical facilities in the county were in a sorry state.

NewsDay

A Correspondent- A group of disgruntled war veterans have accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of neglecting them and promoting divisions in Zanu PF.

The ex-combatants also accused the ruling party of abusing them to carry out violent terror campaigns on its behalf and then abandoning them after elections.

This follows the police arrest of nine war veterans last week for picketing at Finance and Economic Development Mthuli Ncube’s offices in protest over paltry allowances. The nine were later released without a charge.

Addressing reporters in Harare yesterday, chairperson of the War Veterans’ Welfare Pressure Group, Amos Sigauke, accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of “grandstanding” for reportedly calling for a meeting with the ex-combatants as if he was not aware of the challenges that they are facing.

“We hear from the media that His Excellency the President wishes to meet us to hear our grievances.
We hope this is not another grandstanding sideshow because we have submitted our grievances to his office many times.
There is nothing new to tell him unless of course, he will be coming to tell us the answers to our grievances.
This grandstanding has to be stopped. They talk of shares in mining and a lot of other projects.
They speak from affluent hotels, yet a war veteran on the ground is suffering,” said Sigauke.

Sigauke, who was flanked over 20 war veterans, added that it was surprising that Mnangagwa’s so-called new dispensation had offered them nothing.
He also criticised the government for being insincere by establishing an exclusive VVIP hospital at Manyame Air Base for top government and Zanu PF officials while the rest of the medical facilities in the county were in a sorry state.

NewsDay