During a hearing held by Parliament today over the non-delivery of refuse trucks and accepting a wrong consignment of skip trucks by the City of Harare, legislators were not satisfied with the responses from the City officials on the matter.

The City of Harare acknowledged that the City received a wrong consignment of 10 skip trucks and 15 refuse trucks were not delivered by Mass Breed Investments.

“The supplier failed to deliver what was in the contract and therefore breached the contract, City of Harare engaged FAW Zimbabwe on the delayed delivery as per contract”, Said Engineer Moyo.

Legislators were irked by lack of in action since 2017 by the local authority to address the issue in recovering the refuse compactors, claim the difference in value of the wrongly supplied skip trucks and disciplinary action over officials who received the wrong consignment of skip trucks.

According to the City of Harare, they commenced legal action in July 2020 but they could not avail the Court Case numbers as requested by the legislators.

 “Why was there no delivery inspection when these trucks were delivered so that there could establish whether correct equipment was supplied and the way this company is treated clearly indicates that the city of Harare is getting instruction from a powerful hand above them,” queried Honorable Gabuzza

Despite the fact that the City Officials responded to the questions asked during the hearing, legislators were not satisfied with the responses prompting the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee to recommend another physical hearing on the matter.

The Combined Harare Residents Association, Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development and Young Volunteers for Environment petitioned Parliament in 2020 after it failed to get answers through countless engagements with the local authority.

This comes against a background where the local authority is failing to collect refuse with the City having a depleted fleet of refuse trucks.
CHRAINFO

By A Correspondent| Kenneth Raydone Sharpe had his fraudulent game plan with the aid of former minister of Local Government and Public Works, Ignatius Chombo and his illegal three-men Caretaker Council, a fresh report shows.

Soon after getting awarded the Harare Airport road project without it going to tender, he proceeded to form 7 companies which immediately assumed ownership of properties that had been transferred to it by City of Harare for a job they hadn’t done and ultimately failed to execute.

Despite the fact that there were elected Councillors who awaited to be sworn in, Chombo appointed his own 3 men Caretaker Council, chaired by Michael Mahachi which lasted for 63 days.

In those 63 days, the 3 musketeers awarded an US$80 million project to Ken Sharpe without going to tender, employed 742 people without advertising for such posts, approved the sale of 2 properties in prime areas of Harare to Chombo without going to tender among other blunders which are still being felt by City of Harare and Zimbabwe at large to this day.

The frantic pace with which this Caretaker Council carried out its business suggested that there was a deliberate programme of action which was designed to achieve certain desired results before the swearing in of the newly elected Councillors.

A report done by City Council’s Special Lands Investigations Committee concluded that Mr Mahachi, who signed the MoA with Augur in his capacity as the chairman of the caretaker council, unilaterally approved the appointment of himself as the project manager, a move which guaranteed him of at least US$1 972 002.52.

“At the time of the signing of the MoU, the chairman of the caretaker council (Mr Mahachi) had not obtained the authority to do so from council as the matter had not been discussed in any meeting of the caretaker council,” reads part of the report.

“In the letter to the city council written by Mr (Michael) Van Blerk of Augur (Annexure S), Augur sets the cost of the utilisation of the project manager, Mr Mahachi, at 2,5 percent of the total cost of the project. This translates to US$1 972 002.52.”The Lands Committee then recommended that:

“Michael Mahachi’s conduct pertaining to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Augur and his being appointed as Augur project manager for the same Airport project should be referred to the police for investigations with the view to having him charged in terms of section 172 of the Criminal law (Reform and Codification) Act.”

The report also notes that the local authority paid Augur with 93 hectares of prime land which translates to 41 000 high-density stands measuring 200 square metres each, which, in turn, registered seven Zimbabwean companies to manage the land.

The City Council’s entanglement with Augur Investments has had far reaching financial implications in terms of the obligations placed on the Council and the size of the land that was transferred to Augur Investments.

Since 2007, the City of Harare signed 5 agreements with Augur Investments relating to infrastructural developments in various parts of the City of Harare.

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance Presidential spokesperson Dr Nkululeko Sibanda has described the inauguration of the seventh President of the republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, as a signal of the wave of change sweeping across the region.

Dr Sibanda has also declared that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is not wired to fit into the process of transformation.

Mr Mnangagwa, is insensitive and inconsiderate, according to Dr Sibanda.

Watch video below HE Hakainde Hichilema inauguration …

The President of Zimbabwe Centre for Equal opportunities “ZCEO” a Civic Society Organisation and MDCA National Executive Council Member Mr Paddington Japa Japa has called on Zimbabwe,s main Opposition Political Party, Movement for Democratic Change Alliance to learn some few lessons from Zambia,s Hakainde Hichilema UPND United Party for National Development Victory.

Hakainde’s (UPND) won the Zambian Election with a resounding 2,810 757 votes, against Lungu (PF) Patriotic Front’s 1,814 201 Votes. The just ended Zambian election has taught us as MDCA and other African countries a good lesson on how to win hotly contested elections peacefully and professionally.

Zambia has shown the World and other African States that elections can be held in a Free, Fair, Democratic environment, without resorting to, Violence, Intimidation, Rigging, Vote buying and unnecessarily Clinging on to Power after losing.

The Southern African Country has become the Beacon of Democracy in the entire African Continent, second from South Africa, in terms of respecting the rule of law and upholding Constitutional rights.

Notorious for their worst human rights record in the whole world, and on number one is Zimbabwe, which was ruled for 37 years by the late Dictator Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

The Country is still under another Oppressive Dictator, Mugabe’s Predecessor Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.

The two notorious Zanu Pf rulers are known for using Oppressive methods to remain in Power.They have formed a Dynasty that has ruled the Country for 41 uninterrupted years, their evil Party intends to be in power forever.

From 1963 up to the Present day, Zanu Pf has been in Politics for 57 years.

The first 16 years of a Protracted Armed Struggle for freedom from 90 year colonial rule and 41 years of self rule. The reason why Zanu Pf Party has been in Power for 41 years since Independence up to date, its not because the People of Zimbabwe likes them so much, no, not at all, it is due to the wicked ways the Party has learnt how to survive.

The regime has mastered the art of rigging elections using oppressive methods, to condition Society so as to become hopeless.

They instill fear into the hearts of individuals which causes a sense of hopelessness.

Millions of Zimbabweans have become hopeless as they see no prospects of any Political change in the Country.

Zimbabwe has always been an Outpost of Tyranny and Dictatorship since attainment of independence, to the extend that even international organisations like UN,EU,AU and SADC have failed to intervene so as to set up Democratic institutions and systems that allow for holding of free, and fair elections.

In 2008 we had one of the worst violent election ever since attainment of independence.

More than 300 Opposition MDC Members were abducted and killed cold blooded style, under Mugabe’s rulership.

Mnangagwa was part and parcel of the system.

Mugabe won the controversial 2008 election in a one Man rerun race, which lead to the formation of a SADC brokered power sharing Government in 2009.

In 2013 the General election was rigged again by the same evil system that Controls ZEC,the Country,s election Management Commission.

ZEC is manned by members of the dreaded CIO and MID who want to make sure that there can never be an Opposition Government in Zimbabwe.

The Chief Elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana is a retired Major from the ZNA, and most of the Staff members at ZEC are from the CIO. It is impossible for ZEC to do a professional job during any election because the institution is under the strong control of Zanu Pf, and heavily militarised.

Zimbabwe’s Democracy also faces the threat of the War Council body called JOC, Joint Operations Command. JOC is made up of 145 highly trained Security Personnel from the Army, Police, CIO, AirForce, Prison Correctional Services and the Presidium. Those War Council Members from the Security Sector always determine the Election outcome and the destiny of this Country. Zimbabwe is under Military rule owned by Zanu Pf and backed their vanguard the Veterans who fought the War of Liberation.

These War Veterans are earning Peanuts in Pensions earning $16 000 Zimbabwean Bond notes each per month, which is equivalent to USD$160.Why the Veterans of the war of liberation continue to support such an evil system like Zanu Pf, which does not care about their welfare, nobody knows.

Those in higher echelons of Power at Zanu Pf are enjoying life, living luxurious life styles, yet the War Veterans are wallowing in abject Poverty.

The 15 August 2021 Zambian election has taught us some good lessons as Zimbabweans. We have learnt that there is need to mobilize millions of youths to register to vote. The youths constitute 60 % of the Country’s Population, hence they have a big say in any electoral outcome.

Hichilema managed to convince and mobilize millions of youths in his country to register to vote and it worked in his favor. The Zambian Opposition leader had sufficient resources to meet the electoral needs for his Party which made it easy for him to win. Election agents and observers were properly catered for MDCA in Zimbabwe must look for sufficient resources to win future elections.

The Zambian youths ferociously defended their election Victory after voting, they stayed outside the Polling Centres until completion of the counting and announcement of the results. In Zimbabwe the voter goes straight home to rest, Gochie Gochie or sleep immediately after casting their vote leaving the vote unprotected. A Vote needs to be guarded and defended jealousy. The difference between Zambia and all other African Countries when it comes to Governance and Democratic systems is that, Zambian leaders respect their Constitution, yet in countries like Zimbabwe and Uganda the Constitution only exists on paper practically it is not respected.

Failure to respect our Constitution started when RG Mugabe was still in power. The same habit has been perpetuated by ED Mnangagwa and the Military Junta. The best way to deal with the Militarized Zimbabwean State System is by inviting United Nations, EU, AU and SADC Monitors, not observers only during Elections. SADC has proved to be a dishonest institution, they cannot be relied upon or trusted when Countries go for elections in Africa. The organization is biased towards former liberation war Movements, and sitting Governments.AU has proved to be much better when in observing and assessment of Elections in Member States.

Even the United Nations, EU and US must learn from the Zambian Electoral and Constitutional System that is Democratic, transparent, free and fair. The Zambian Army, Police and Intelligence Services do not get involved in helping rigging or manipulation of election results, like what happens in Zimbabwe. Zanu Pf Regime must be ashamed for not respecting People’s Constitutional rights in Zimbabwe, the fact that the Party is composed of former liberation War Veterans who are the Party’s vanguard, that must not give the wicked and evil Party a tittle deeds to own the People of this Country. We want to congratulate the People of Zambia, Army, Police and intelligence Services for upholding their Constitution and respecting the rule of Law.

In Malawi it was not a smooth transfer of power as the election was beset with violence and rigging, had it not been for the resilience and bravery of the Malawian Citizens, the ruling Party’s intension was a massive rigging. African Leaders who most of them are dictators must learn to respect their countries Constitutions, which is the Supreme law of any Country. President Mnangagwa and his Spokesman George Charamba were heard openly declaring that Zanu Pf shall not relinquish Power even if the Party faces election defeat in 2023.It is a Shame on you President Mnangagwa and your Spokesman to be recorded and quoted uttering such reckless statements that promotes violence.

The time is coming when GOD Almighty shall say shut up and go, Zanu Pf you have caused too much suffering and looting of Zimbabwean economic resources through your corrupt activities and bad Governance. Good Lessons must be learnt from the Zambian electoral laws and Systems of Governance.

THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE PADDINGTON JAPA JAPA IS THE PRESIDENT OF A CIVIC SOCIETY ORGANISATION CALLED ZIMBABWE CENTRE FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES (ZCEO),AN MDCA NEC/MEMBER,SOCCER ADMINSTRATOR,EVANGELIST AND TEACHER OF GOD’S WORD,HOLDER OF A BSC HONOURS PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE!!!!?????????????

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance Presidential spokesperson Dr Nkululeko Sibanda has described the inauguration of the seventh President of the republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, as a signal of the wave of change sweeping across the region.

Dr Sibanda has also declared that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is not wired to fit into the process of transformation.

Mr Mnangagwa, is insensitive and inconsiderate, according to Dr Sibanda.

Watch video below HE Hakainde Hichilema inauguration …

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has urged young people to register to vote in numbers as “change is unavoidable in Zimbabwe.”

Speaking to ZimEye.com in an exclusive interview on Tuesday morning before attending President Hakainde Hichilema’s inauguration, President Chamisa said:

“The legitimacy crisis in Zimbabwe is deterring economic progress and the much needed transformation.
Zimbabwe is a disputed State.”

President Chamisa added:” I am appealing to young people to register to vote. My message to young people is simple, your country needs you.

President Hichilema’s victory is a sign of great things to come, Zimbabwe we are next, victory is certain.

We will not disappoint you. Our citizens general deserve better lives.”

Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust( ZEAT) has accused the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba of using bully-boy tactics on social media to cow disgruntled citizens into submission.

Last week Charamba, who calls himself Jamwanda on Twitter, claimed soldiers would not allow President Nelson Chamisa to assume power…

Jamwanda has literally conceded that his boss, Mr Mnangagwa, is unsellable.

In a statement, Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust described Charamba’s carefree remarks as unfortunate and dangerous.

“ZEAT finds Presidential spokesperson and cabinet’s deputy chief secretary George Charamba’s social media tirade about disregarding elections outcomes nauseating and uncouth.

Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy and such crass and unbecoming utterances from a government official of his calibre is perilous and immodest.

Mr Charamba has of late accustomed himself to be a cyber bully spewing vitriol and obscenities with impunity .

We call upon relevant authorities to reign on him and censor such behavior.ZEAT ….. fostering democratic elections,” ZEAT posted on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance Presidential spokesperson Dr Nkululeko Sibanda has described the inauguration of the seventh President of the republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, as a signal of the wave of change sweeping across the region.

Dr Sibanda has also declared that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is not wired to fit into the process of transformation.

Mr Mnangagwa, is insensitive and inconsiderate, according to Dr Sibanda.

Watch video below HE Hakainde Hichilema inauguration …

Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa will not win the war against disgruntled citizens of Zimbabwe, an MDC Alliance official has said.

Writing on Twitter, MDC Alliance MP for Binga North, Hon Prince Dubeko Sibanda, argued Mr Mnangagwa has achieved virtually nothing progressive since 2017:

“ED’s achievements since rigging the 2018 elections;

1. Taking away opposition HQ using the military
2. Taking away opposition MPs & councillors
3. Buying cars for Polad
   2023 he should go.”

Veteran journalist Hopewell Chin’ono also believes the pendulum is swinging against Mr Mnangagwa.

“The message is getting to the ghetto youths that jobs will only come if they vote!

No amount of Charamba’s fake stories will stop the youth Voter Registration.

The regime is terrified of a huge voter turn out so they will do anything possible to stop this.”

Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust( ZEAT) has accused the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba of using bully-boy tactics on social media to cow disgruntled citizens into submission.

Last week Charamba, who calls himself Jamwanda on Twitter, claimed soldiers would not allow President Nelson Chamisa to assume power…

Jamwanda has literally conceded that his boss, Mr Mnangagwa, is unsellable.

In a statement, Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust described Charamba’s carefree remarks as unfortunate and dangerous.

“ZEAT finds Presidential spokesperson and cabinet’s deputy chief secretary George Charamba’s social media tirade about disregarding elections outcomes nauseating and uncouth.

Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy and such crass and unbecoming utterances from a government official of his calibre is perilous and immodest.

Mr Charamba has of late accustomed himself to be a cyber bully spewing vitriol and obscenities with impunity .

We call upon relevant authorities to reign on him and censor such behavior.ZEAT ….. fostering democratic elections,” ZEAT posted on Twitter.

By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance has accused legislators who became MPs on its ticket and dumped the party for the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora in order to retain their positions of being sellouts who sacrificed the electorate for selfish gains.

This followed the announcement by Mwonzora last week of an MDCT shadow Cabinet comprising legislators who used the MDC Alliance ticket to get into Parliament, including chairperson Morgen Komichi (Defence and War Veterans), Vincent Tsvangirai (Youth, Sports and Culture), Khalipani Phugeni (ICT), Tapiwa Mashakada (Finance and Economic Development), Yvonne Musarurwa (Environment) and Brian Dube (Foreign Affairs).

The MDC-T list also has Peter Moyo (State Security), Ruth Labode (Health), and Tichivanani Mavetera (Transport), among others.

MDC Alliance deputy national spokesperson Felix Magalela Sibanda said it was a waste of time for the Mwonzora faction to appoint a shadow Cabinet when it had no following.

“The so-called appointees are opportunists and Mwonzora is trying to cause confusion on the part of the electorate.

“Dube, who claims to be a legal mind, was elected into office on an MDC Alliance ticket in Gweru, where people are now labelling him a sell-out,” Sibanda said.

“They are all opportunists looking for power and we are not worried about them.

“We are not surprised by these opportunists. The MDC-T has no followers and Mwonzora’s legitimacy was only directed by the courts,” he said.

Sibanda said the so-called shadow Cabinet had exposed that Mwonzora had no qualified personnel to lead government departments and portfolios.

“Some of them are known opportunists trotting for high posts in any and every political formation, like Komichi and Mashakada.

“The majority of the so-called appointees suffer from the power hunger syndrome,” he said.

“It’s no longer a guess as to who still represents the people after some of our MPs emerged as shadow ministers for an anti-electorate Mwonzora group.”

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) says public interviews of candidates nominated to fill nine vacant positions of judges of the High Court will be conducted next week.

In a statement, the JSC said the interviews would be held from 30 August to 1 September at a city hotel and will be streamed live. The JSC said:

As previously advised and in the interests of public health, the Judicial Service Commission discourages members of the public from physically attending at the venue of the interviews.

To ensure compliance with the requirement to hold the interviews in public the proceedings will be streamed live on Judicial Service Commission 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.

Thirty-five candidates, among them regional magistrates and lawyers, will be interviewed to fill the nine vacant positions of judges of the High Court bench.

In terms of the law, the JSC conducts public interviews for the prospective judges after the nominations and then sends a list of recommended interviewees 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 he or she is at least 40 years old.

The person should also have, for at least 10 years, been qualified to practice as a legal practitioner in Zimbabwe or any country with the same common law as in Zimbabwe, or in a country in which the common law is Roman-Dutch or English.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent| Tynwald South residents have expressed concern over the continued construction of a service station and other buildings on a disputed piece of land designated for a primary school, and recently the subject of a provisional court order halting any developments on the stand.

There is a court order issued by Justice Tawanda Chitapi in May 2021 directing the City of Harare to stop any developments on stands 2164 and 2165 which were originally the sites of a primary school for the community of Tynwald South.

Despite this court order, the City of Harare has apparently ignored its contents and have allowed a developer to proceed with their construction of a service station, in contempt of court.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is representing the HRT in court over this disputed land for the primary school.

Zambians from all walks of life have gathered inside Levi Mwanawasa stadium to witness the inauguration of the seventh Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema whose electoral victory in the just ended elections has ushered Africa on a new democratic trajectory.

Hakainde’s inauguration has also seen SADC witnessing a new era of politics after he also extended the invitation to opposition parties from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Kenya.

WATCH THE INAUGURATION LIVE ON ZIMEYE….

By A Correspondent- Police officers and municipal cops are allegedly demanding sex from female illegal vendors to facilitate their release, it has emerged.

This was revealed at the virtual launch of the informal women’s hub hosted by Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (Viset) on Friday.

The women also bemoaned sexual exploitation by land barons when they want to access vending stalls they control.

The women’s hub seeks to develop an inclusive gender policy for the informal economy, which will include eradication of genderbased violence and corruption in the informal economy.

Representatives of several civic society organisations (CSOs), who attended the meeting, said although women constituted the majority of the informal traders, they were exposed to various forms of corruption more than men, which hindered their success.

The CSOs’ representatives said sexual exploitation was the most common form of abuse which was being faced by female vendors in their day-to-day dealing with law enforcement agents.

Economic Justice for Women Project executive director Margaret Mutsamvi said the COVID-19 pandemic had worsened economic problems, resulting in more people resorting to informal trading.

She said State security agents were the major perpetrators of injustices and corruption in the informal sector.

“There is increased use of force and brutality by the State security officers towards traders in the informal sector as they regulate their operations,” Mutsamvi said.

“They use batons to beat vendors. They arrest vendors without clear charges and sometimes demand sex and bribes or even take away their wares without payment. Female vendors are also raped during the time they will be conducting their businesses. Apart from the city council and State security agents, customers also tend to take advantage of women by negotiating lower prices for their products,” she said.

Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development executive director Janet Zhou said women wanted to access equal opportunities with men, resulting in them being exposed to exploitation.

“Women suffer the greatest forms of corruption in the informal sector and this includes sexual exploitation,” Zhou said.

“The informal sector in Zimbabwe is heavily criminalised, hence women encounter law enforcement agents in the day-to-day running of their business. Most of the time, women in the informal sector are either forced or they offer sex voluntarily to space barons so as to survive under the circumstances they find themselves in while working in the informal sector. The laws against informal trading are archaic. They are not gender sensitive,” she added.

Viset deputy chairperson Rosemary Mudzamiri urged government to provide a safe working environment for women on the informal market.

-Newsday

A Harare man, who forged the signature of Lands and Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka on a fake offer letter and duped an unsuspecting farm seeker of US$2 000, was slapped with a two-year jail term yesterday.

Bright Murandamaoko (45) pleaded guilty when he appeared before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga.

The State proved that sometime in June this year, the complainant, Rudolf Jingo, was introduced to Murandamaoko by a neighbour, Ernest Muchenya.

Murandamaoko lied to Jingo that he was an official from the Lands ministry and that he could facilitate the allocation of a piece of land for his brother Epthon Jingo for a fee.

The complainant applied for land on behalf of his brother and Murandamaoko demanded US$2 000 which Jingo paid in instalments of US$500.

Murandamaoko originated a document with a fake government logo and forged Masuka’s signature. On August 19, upon receipt of the fake offer letter, Jingo approached National Land Inspectorate offices for verification.

A trap was set after Murandamaoko called Jingo to demand a balance of US$500.

When the police arrested Murandamaoko, they recovered date stamps, for Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West provinces.

Also recovered were two date stamps for the Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement ministry headquarters.

Of the US$1 500, US$1 260 was recovered.

-Newsday

The inauguration of former opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema as Zambia’s new president is an opportunity to turn the tide on the country’s worsening human rights situation, Amnesty International said today. The organization urged the president-elect to prioritize protecting freedom of expression and association, take decisive action to end abuses by police and place socio-economic rights on his agenda, including tackling inequality, poverty, unemployment, collapsing healthcare system and poor education funding. Hakainde Hichilema will be inaugurated on 24 August in Lusaka.

Under the outgoing president, Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s human rights record has deteriorated sharply. Opposition leaders and activists have been arrested and detained, prominent media houses have been shut down, and police crackdowns on peaceful protests have led to several deaths.

“The inauguration of Hakainde Hichilema must spell the end of a dark era of repression in Zambia,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa.

“We are calling on the new administration to place human rights at the centre of their agenda, including by removing restrictions on the peaceful exercise of human rights, and ensuring accountability for past violations in order to end the culture of impunity. Years of intensifying repression have pushed Zambia to the brink of a human rights crisis- now is the time for a decisive break with the past.”

Systematic crackdown on human rights

The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly had come under increasing attack in Zambia, particularly over the past five years, with opposition leaders and activists jailed and at least five people killed by police since 2016.

Under President’s Lungu’s administration, authorities weaponized the law to criminalize peaceful dissent, charging critics with a wide range of offences including criminal defamation, incitement of public disorder and sedition.

For example, on 9 March 2020, police arrested a 15-year-old boy in Kapiri Mposhi, and charged him with three counts of criminal libel after he allegedly criticized President Lungu on Facebook.

Media outlets came under attack during Lungu’s presidency. In June 2016, one of Zambia’s leading daily newspapers, The Post, was shut down and liquidated over a disputed tax debt. The closure of the newspaper, which was known for its critical investigative work against government, was preceded by state-sanctioned violence against staff, including the beating the owner of The Post newspaper, Fred M’membe, his wife Mutinta M’membe and the newspaper’s Deputy Managing Editor, Joseph Mwenda.

Police abuses

The crackdown also saw an escalation in excessive use of force by the police, which has been fatal in some cases. On 22 December 2020, police shot dead two unarmed people at a gathering of opposition supporters.

Several people had gathered to show their solidarity with Haikainde Hichilema, who is the leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), when he was summoned for questioning at police headquarters in Lusaka.

State prosecutor Nsama Nsama, who was not part of the gathering, was shot dead while buying a meal at a nearby restaurant, while Joseph Kaunda, a UNPD supporter, was shot by police as they dispersed the crowd. A day earlier, the government had publicly urged police to use ‘any means necessary to maintain law and order’ when dealing with opposition supporters.

An investigation by Zambia’s Human Rights Commission established that the order to shoot came from Lusaka Police Commissioner Nelson Phiri, who was removed from service but not charged with any offence.

In 2018, student Vesper Shimuzhila died when police threw a tear gas canister into her room, during their violent dispersal of a student protest. Her family were given $25,000USD in compensation but no officer has been charged.

“President-elect Hichilema must adopt a bold and decisive human rights strategy to ensure respect for the human rights of all Zambians, including by tackling impunity and bringing perpetrators of past violations to justice,” said Deprose Muchena.

“Hakainde Hichilema has an opportunity to pull Zambia back from the brink. Tackling the injustices of the past is a crucial step towards building a better future for the country.”

EcoCash, Zimbabwe’s largest mobile money platform, will adjust its transactional charges by an average 10 percent next month after obtaining the greenlight from regulatory authorities.

The company, which last reviewed its charges at the beginning of the year – January – will marginally increase its charges effective September 19, 2021.

According to a price schedule published on the company’s website and social media pages at the weekend, EcoCash subscribers will soon be paying an extra $1.37 when sending $100 to a registered user, up from the previous charge $8.01.

Consumers buying ZESA electricity tokens using EcoCash, or paying for goods valued at $100, will pay an additional $1.24 and $1.20, up from $7.76 and $7.71 respectively from September 19 onwards.

The schedule reveals that there will, however, be no additional changes on all transactions above $3 000, with users continuing to pay 1.91 percent for sending money and 1.85 percent for making bill and merchant payments. But subscribers will now be required to part with $18.37 more when transferring amounts between $2 000 and $2 499.00.

Transactions above $500, as in previous tariffs reviews, will continue to attract the statutory two percent Intermediated Money Transfer Tax.

There was no immediate comment from the company on the price adjustment, coming at a time the prices of goods and services in the country have more than doubled in the nine months since EcoCash’s last tariff review.

The EcoCash tariff schedule made no reference to the $5 000 daily transaction limit imposed on mobile money transactions in May 2020.

Although the monetary authorities last year promised to review the EcoCash weekly limit of $35 000 “continuously, in line with the requirements and convenience of the transacting public”, there has so far not been any changes made to the transaction limits.- The Herald

Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust has challenged government to fund voting processes in the country.

The trust also accused government of deliberately cutting funding to key institutions that run elections.

See statement below:
Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust would like to express its displeasure at Finance Minister Prof Mtuli Ncube for deliberately paralyzing state institutions by inadequately funding them.

As an election watchdog, we would also want to take a swipe at the National Assembly for its sterile and inept attitude.

The National Assembly plays a key role in both formulation
and passing of the budget.By approving an inadequate budget it proved to be careless and useless.

As elections draw close, it is imperative for the treasury to avail funds to critical institutions like Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Registrar General’s Office so that they smoothly run and implement their operations.

Elections are the lifeblood of any democracy and underfunding them is akin to denying citizens of their fundamental rights.

ZEAT calls upon the treasury to release funds for by elections in both national and local authority.

There are over 100 vacancies that emanated from either recalls and deaths and these need to be replaced through by elections.

This negligence by the treasury is unconstitutional and morally bankrupt.

ZEAT has of late seen the government purchasing vehicles and financing less important institutions and this amounts to misplaced priorities are mischief.

We call the ministry of finance to order and
abide and uphold the constitution.

Ignatious G Sadziwa

Executive Director

Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust (ZEAT)

Director for Bulawayo City Health Services Dr Edwin Sibanda has advised members of the public to ensure that they have not contracted Covid-19 before getting the vaccine.

Dr Sibanda made these remarks on “Surviving Covid-19 “, an Asakhe online show, where he was giving a general update on the vaccination program being undertaken in the city.

He said getting vaccinated when you are not feeling well makes it difficult to tell whether the vaccine is responsible for the health condition or not.

He explained that in the case where someone gets sick after getting vaccinated, health experts write a report explaining what would have caused the reaction.

He said this is the protocol with all vaccination programs done in the country.

Dr Sibanda further advised that those who would have contracted the virus should wait for 30 days after recovery before getting the vaccine.

Dr Sibanda noted that the response from the people for the vaccine has improved as more people are now turning up for the dose.

He said health workers are now overwhelmed with work as they get up to at least 500 people needing the vaccine per day.

According to the latest Ministry of Health and Child Care Covid-19 report, 2 312 417 people have received their first dose while 1 460 162 have been fully vaccinated.

Other things to consider By World Health Organisation (WHO):
The COVID-19 vaccines are safe for most people 18 years and older, including those with pre-existing conditions of any kind, including auto-immune disorders. These conditions include hypertension, diabetes, asthma, pulmonary, liver and kidney disease, as well as chronic infections that are stable and controlled.

If you are pregnant and you are already breastfeeding, you should continue after vaccination.- CITE

POLICE in Marondera have launched a manhunt for a man who allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl he had lured with the promise of a job.

Lincoln Ngonidzashe (21) of Finvara Farm, in rural Marondera, is on the police wanted list after allegedly raping the juvenile after claiming that he could secure her a job as a housemaid in Harare.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Simon Chazovachii confirmed the case. “Police is currently looking for the suspect in connection with rape allegations. The suspect is still at large.

We are appealing to anyone who might have information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect to alert the nearest police station,” he said.

According to police, on August 10, the suspect went to the girl’s house and told her mother that he had relatives who needed a housemaid in Harare.

On the same day, at around 630pm, the suspect then took the girl to his house on the pretext that they were to travel early the next day. He, however, raped her once during the night.

The girl then told her mother the following day about the rape and she filed a police report. Police attended the scene, but failed to locate the suspect.

The girl was taken to Marondera Provincial Hospital for medical examination. -Newsday

A Harare man, who forged the signature of Lands and Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka on a fake offer letter and duped an unsuspecting farm seeker of US$2 000, was slapped with a two-year jail term yesterday.
Bright Murandamaoko (45) pleaded guilty when he appeared before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga.

The State proved that sometime in June this year, the complainant, Rudolf Jingo, was introduced to Murandamaoko by a neighbour, Ernest Muchenya.

Murandamaoko lied to Jingo that he was an official from the Lands ministry and that he could facilitate the allocation of a piece of land for his brother Epthon Jingo for a fee.

The complainant applied for land on behalf of his brother and Murandamaoko demanded US$2 000 which Jingo paid in instalments of US$500.

Murandamaoko originated a document with a fake government logo and forged Masuka’s signature. On August 19, upon receipt of the fake offer letter, Jingo approached National Land Inspectorate offices for verification.

A trap was set after Murandamaoko called Jingo to demand a balance of US$500. When the police arrested Murandamaoko, they recovered date stamps, for Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West provinces.

Also recovered were two date stamps for the Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement ministry headquarters. Of the US$1 500, US$1 260 was recovered. -Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has challenged SADC to stop the rigging of elections in the region.

Speaking during a discussion programme on SABC on Sunday, President Chamisa expressed concern at the failure by SADC to resolve disputes emanating from electoral fraud.

According to President Chamisa, State institutions are expected to play a neutral role in electoral processes.

“The Zambian election has reminded us that institutions matter.

Democracy is not about individuals but recognising and acknowledging the choice of citizens.

The key is institutions accepting and supporting those choices.

If they work, good. If they don’t, the people will say no, let’s give others a chance,” said President Chamisa.

He added:” Our duty is to work towards uniting the continent. We salute the pioneers of the liberation struggle across the continent.

Our task is to fulfil the promises and objective of the struggle for freedom from colonial rule.

The bullet should not suppress the ballot.We are proud of what happened in Zambia. We view the victory as a major breakthrough for democracy.”

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Youth Assembly official, Arnold Batirai-Dube has blasted the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa for speaking as if Zimbabwe is his personal property.

Speaking in Mutare last week, Mr Mnangagwa said those who dream of removing him from power through elections should wake up and brew beer to cleanse themselves.

Batirai-Dube, who is also a Councillor in Bulawayo has described Mnangagwa as a desperate man seeking to discourage young people from voting.

“Mr Mnangagwa needs to be reminded bluntly that he does not own Zimbabwe.

His remarks are meant to discourage citizens from voting in numbers.

Mr Mnangagwa cannot personalize State institutions at will.While he can take full of control of his wife Auxillia, he cannot dream of ruling Zimbabwe forever.

Our message to Mr Mnangagwa is clear, he does not possess the country’s title deeds,” said Batirai-Dube.

“Mr Mnangagwa cannot stop the people’s struggle.The man’s dearth of wisdom is shocking,” added Batirai-Dube.

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Namibia’s
Diaspora Rural Mobilization Initiative will focus on Zanu PF strongholds.

The mobilization initiative will stretch to Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe areas respectively.

Read statement below:

Mdc Alliance Namibia District successfully launched its Diaspora Rural Mobilisation initiative- twinned Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe ahead of 2023 elections!

22 August 2021

Yesterday, social democrats in Namibia converged in Windhoek, to deliberate on the way forward ahead of 2023 elections.

The Mdc Alliance Namibia led by the dynamic and religious leader President Advocate Nelson Chamisa gathered to embrace the #CitizensConvergenceForChange.

The pragmatic Secretary General Hon Charlton Hwende addressed the elated crowd at Katutura Youth Centre. He emphasised the need to employ participatory democracy as the panacea to socio-economic transformation.

Hon Hwende reiterated that although, social media cannot be underestimated, the leadership must be able to bring real figures of registered voters for 2023.

The District jubilated and gyrated hysterically in uncontrollable gusto appreciating the colourful gesture from our diligent Secretary General who could not stammer when responding to the burning questions from the membership.

Hon Charlton Hwende addressed change seekers and encouraged each of us to actively take part in the national democratic revolution through mobilising and recruiting only ten (10) close family members who will register and vote for change in Zimbabwe. The leadership made it clear that it is the duty of the diasporas to monitor and remind their relatives to play the self-emancipation role.

It was great to hear from the energetic Secretary General that the diaspora has a very fundamental role to play.

It did not appear difficult for the open-minded and objective Secretary General to admit that family members listen to each other more than what they do when politicians approach them. The political idea immediately became the darling of social democrats in Namibia.

Moreover, inspired by the enticing revolutionary message from Mambo Hwende, Mdc Alliance Namibia members under the impressive leadership of Elisha Chambara who chairs the district swiftly adopted Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe as their partner/twin towards 2023 harmonised elections.

We pledged to work towards a Presidential Fund to turn the tables in the supposed Zanupf stronghold. The District targets R900 000 for the remaining 18 months before elections in Zimbabwe.

Social democrats committed and dedicated themselves to contributing R50 per month until 2023. The District realised its potential to recruit at least 1000 members who will assist them to achieve their objective to avert rigging in this constituency.

The donated loot will finance our election agents in 2023; buy food for our polling agents; make banners; fliers,sponsor projects and other things that can motivate and convince our people in Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe to realise our full potential to put the economy on sounder footing.

Social democrats in Namibia who subscribe to the #ReformAgenda are confident that Zanupf looters’ claimed influence in this area has come an abrupt end. Rundu Branch Spokesperson Robson Ruhanya added that all external assemblies in the diaspora should also locate their election twins especially in worst performing provinces such as Masvingo: Chiredzi, Zaka East, Mwenezi etc.

The diaspora must present their financial and material support to these constituencies. I urge the Mdc Alliance USA , Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, South Africa, Zambia , Botswana only to mention but a few to smell the coffee and commence to identify their partners to twin.

Furthermore, the ardent Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu Branch Secretary General, Simbarashe Ndoda echoed that our party leadership in Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe should be more visible on the ground. He stressed that the party should religiously consider leaders who come from the branches to represent them as election candidates to ensure openness and transparency in the democratic establishment . It was fascinating to hear the call for unity and strength of purpose in our leaders. The membership grinned from ear to ear when the articulate Hwende Mambo made it categorically clear that Zanupf has employed its ghost accounts on Facebook to generate confusion. Members resolved to adopt a pro-active approach by also setting agendas than to be easily swayed by Zanupf and their surrogates.

In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia District salutes the Secretary General, Hon Charlton Hwende for the solidarity and courtesy visit. The Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu Branch WA Secretary General , Tarisai Nhira stressed the dire need for the organic International Secretary General and other leaders to visit branches in Namibia as part of mobilisation, recruitment and radicalisation of the base.

Uzumba,Maramba,Pfungwe

RegisterToVote

DefendTheVote

RecruitAndMobilizeOnly10FamilyMembers

CitizensCovergenceForChange

ReformAgenda

R900 000In18Months

DiasporaVote

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance vice president Professor Welshman Ncube has said he will never abandon the people’s struggle.

According to Professor Ncube, the Zanu PF regime is desperate to dismantle the popular movement.

“The agents of the regime deployed everywhere including among us are on a roll with FAKE & UTTERLY FALSE stories & Facebook & Twitter accounts.
” I am going nowhere. I stand with Nelson Chamisa, Tendai Biti and Lynette Kore in the fight 4 the people. The MDC Alliance is my home,” Professor Ncube wrote on Twitter.

Last week Zanu PF agents claimed Professor Ncube was no longer part of the MDC Alliance.

MDC Alliance Secretary General Hon Charlton Hwende also took a swipe at Zanu PF moles for seeking to disrupt the people’s struggle.

Below is Hon Hwende’s statement:

Constructive criticism makes us better leaders. I always read everycriticism and insult directed at me as a person and the Office of the Secretary General which I lead.

I also don’t respond because I understand the frustration but of late some stories being peddled on Twitter are outright lies created to cause disunity, suspicion and division.

A case in point is the story that VP Welshman Ncube has left the MDC Alliance. The VP is busy on the ground directing and supervising party programs. I speak to him daily because he is my immediate supervisor as he is charged with supervising Party Administration.

Another one is the lie that some people want to expel the Youth Secretary Cde Gift Ostallos Siziba . We are busy recruiting and registering people to vote and such stories help in promoting apathy which benefits Zanupf.

We are a United team focused on removing Zanupf and it’s corrupt leadership. My appeal to the people is that if you have any suggestion or strategy to help the party and the struggle please inbox me or call me on my number 0777772275.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Youth Assembly official, Arnold Batirai-Dube has blasted the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa for speaking as if Zimbabwe is his personal property.

Speaking in Mutare last week, Mr Mnangagwa said those who dream of removing him from power through elections should wake up and brew beer to cleanse themselves.

Batirai-Dube, who is also a Councillor in Bulawayo has described Mnangagwa as a desperate man seeking to discourage young people from voting.

“Mr Mnangagwa needs to be reminded bluntly that he does not own Zimbabwe.

His remarks are meant to discourage citizens from voting in numbers.

Mr Mnangagwa cannot personalize State institutions at will.While he can take full of control of his wife Auxillia, he cannot dream of ruling Zimbabwe forever.

Our message to Mr Mnangagwa is clear, he does not possess the country’s title deeds,” said Batirai-Dube.

“Mr Mnangagwa cannot stop the people’s struggle.The man’s dearth of wisdom is shocking,” added Batirai-Dube.