Two notorious Melfort land barons arrested for swindling people of their cash by illegally selling council land today appeared before Goromonzi magistrate Shelly Zvenyika.
Rodgers Pote, 40, and Arther Chidenhe, 28, were remanded out of custody after magistrate Zvenyika ordered them to deposit $20 000 bail.
Pote and Chidenhe were arrested at the instigation of Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu.
“The party during the meeting was informed that the developers for Melfort area were Rodgers Pote, Arthur Chideme and Life Machingura of Vintage Property and East Winds Association fraudulently acquired a development permit and this position was affirmed by the court on 24 December 2020.
“This nullified all the activities which were done under this developer. Meanwhile, the party supports the on-going regularisation programme of residential stands across the nation to mitigate housing shortages and is being undertaken by the ministry of housing,” Mpofu said recently.
Police sources confirmed that they are also looking for Zanu PF Mashonaland East chairperson Kelvin Mutsvairo and his political commissar Lincoln Matare who also abused their positions to illegally parcel land to desperate home seekers.
This comes after hundreds of residents of Diamond Park in Melfort were recently left stranded after the government demolished their houses.
Ironically, the residents in Melfort are linked to the ruling party as the project was being run by Zanu PF youths who were dropping names of senior party members to swindle people’s money.
This also comes as the outgoing youth leaders are trying to mudsling the late former Transport minister Biggie Matiza’s son, Batsirai, who is being pushed by the ruling party’s grassroots supporters to contest for the provincial youth chairperson position.
Some of the senior leaders in the province have been rattled by the coming in of Batsirai who has embarked on developmental projects which are set to empower many youths in the province.
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.
By Kennedy Mupomba | The recent death of a 14-year-old child In Zimbabwe while giving birth has been a topical matter globally. Quite rightfully, the world was shocked and horrified by the child’s death and several platforms lambasted the parents, the church practice and the police. Glaringly, it took the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare a long time to publicly condemn the religious practice.
It is from my professional opinion as a social worker in the UK that I critique social work practice in Zimbabwe towards safeguarding children. I conclude this paper by arguing that the laws, policies and the social work practice is not fit for purpose and need urgent revamp.
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare lauds it self as ‘promoting rights of children through the provision of social protection services for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups’. The Government of Zimbabwe enacted the Social Workers Act 27:21 in 2001 and adopted a contextual definition of social work. Section 4 (2) of the Act defines social work as a:
‘profession that promotes the welfare of human beings and the betterment of human society through the development and systematic application of scientific knowledge of human and societal activities and social services. Professional social workers aim to satisfy the needs and aspirations of individuals and groups at national and international level, while constantly bearing in mind the need for promoting social policy. Their techniques include psychotherapeutic case-work, social-dynamic group-work and planned community intervention’.
Further, the Act defines a social worker as:
‘a person who as his or her profession, assesses, diagnoses, treats and evaluates individual, interpersonal or societal problems through the use of social work knowledge, skills, psychotherapeutic case work, socio-dynamic group work, planned community interventions and strategies to assist individuals, families, groups of persons, organisations and communities to achieve optimum psychosocial and social functioning’.
I am indebted to Jacob Rugare Mugumbate and Phillip Manyanye Bohwasi who provided through their ‘Historical development of social services and social work in Zimbabwe’, a 2021 publication insight into the subject matter of this paper. They argued that social services and social work developed through five stages in the following order: customary indigenous phase, missionary phase (1500 to 1890), colonial phase (1890-1980), Independence phase (from 1980 to 2002) and indigenous-developmental phase (2002 to present day).
Without getting bogged into the theories they cited, it is perhaps best to highlight their view that ‘in the beginning, social services were governed by indigenous customs and they were offered in the community’ and pertinently ‘this ensured that everyone (my emphasis) had access to forms of helping’. They concluded that ‘it is safe to say that Zimbabwean social work is going back where it started, and where it should be’. It is important to point out that in the first customary phase, social services were provided according to custom and were indigenous with no foreign influence. Described as vabatsiri (helpers) the ‘social worker’, he /she would immerse himself/herself in the presenting problem and work largely as a community worker and by living with the people, he/she understood problems better.
Globally, there is a clarion call as did the authors rightfully point out for social workers to continuously update their knowledge and skills and to contribute to the production as well as dissemination of literature (Continuous Professional Development). They also suggested that it would ‘be important to have at least 75% local content in terms of the literature used by students, lecturers, practitioners, clients and researchers’. They concluded that it is time that ‘Zimbabwe leads in the expansion and strengthening of social work in Africa’. In short, the authors are arguing that Zimbabwe’ social services and social workers are doing very well. Further they are arguing that practitioners should partially close their eyes and ears to the developments in social work knowledge worldwide and rely on its 75% local content. I strongly disagree with such thoughts as explored below.
It is currently confusing as to who really died, the bottom line though is that it was a teenager who died while giving birth. It is not news to any Zimbabwean that the well -being of teenagers has largely been neglected before and after independence. Stories of street kids, of children abusing drugs and substances are very common in the media. In his thesis, Dr Ian Ndlovu also provided insight into the plight of teenagers with no effective social service support. Allegations have been made in the past of the government rounding up children from the streets and despatching them away from the sight of foreign dignitaries.
It is interesting to note that the definition of social work clearly state that vulnerable persons should be ‘helped’, yet the issues of child marriages within and outside churches has dragged on from the pre-independence era. This suggest to me that social services and social workers have been inept in safeguarding these children. So, for the authors to suggest that Zimbabwe should take lead and be emulated in Africa is rather, in my view laughable and mind stretching to the extreme. At most, social services merely reacts when a hue and cry emerge from the social media. For example, social workers rushed to pick up children in Mashonaland West from a woman who alleged she was after looking them as they were orphans. Is this not the ‘vabatsi’ of the olden days ‘helping’ out? In any event, when citizens take it upon themselves to support children, this suggests in my professional opinion that social services and the vabatsiri are tottering.
Turning to the issue that practice should be influenced by 75% of indigenous research, I will not however be drawn to engage in the debate about the 75% indigenous content policy in all sectors of Zimbabwe. Positively, the new government has since sought to distance itself from that failed idea. The idea of restricting practice to local research seem ill thought as outlined below.
The deceased was a teenager and considerable research has shown that young people are impacted by the different relationships they form away from home such as at school and parents and carers have little influence over these contexts. There has therefore arisen worldwide, contextual safeguarding in which for example, social services, social workers, child protection systems and wider safeguarding partnerships engage with persons and sectors who have influence over/within extra-familial contexts. For, example, it is perhaps common in Zimbabwe for some lodges to turn a blind eye to children who are brought onto their properties for sexual purposes.
Within the UK and particularly in London, services such taxis and hotels are involved in policies to stop children being sexually exploited. As I will point out further below, it seems there is a disjoined approach by policy makers towards ending child marriages.
While I am not suggesting that UK social services and social workers are on top of the game with regard to contextual safeguarding, we do learn from research from other countries to improve our practice. So, it is my professional opinion, regrettable for any academic to say Zimbabwean social workers should open their eyes and hear up to 25% of non-indigenous research and cling to ideas that have failed to protect children. While the authors do not give insight into how 25% will be measured, it is in my professional opinion laughable that by constraining its practice to 75% local research content, Zimbabwe will take lead in ‘the expansion and strengthening of social work in Africa’.
There are several institutions providing social work education and while it is commendable that many students are seeking to lean and gain knowledge towards supporting families, questions have to raised about the impact of them relying on the Zimbabwe’s 75% local knowledge. It is no secret that many social workers seek to practice abroad and the UK is one of the desired destinations. I have been involved in interviewing candidates from Zimbabwe who have several years of experience and strikingly those that failed struggled to articulate on the tools they use in finding the wishes, views and feelings of children. Obviously, they do use direct work tools when working with children but is it because they are not exposed to other worldwide direct work tools? Recent research has also shown that foreign social workers including Zimbabweans, often struggle with Uk practice. While they could several reasons for this, for the authors to suggest limiting practitioners’ knowledge to local research, is without merit.
I now turn to the issue of policy regarding child marriages. The Minister of Justice, Ziyambi Ziyambi recently said that:
‘what we want to do…is not only about criminalising but also engaging our communities so that our communities will appreciate that certain practices are now outdated which is why the Ministry of Woman’s Affairs is saying that they are going to do (my emphasis).
While this is commendable, it also raises questions about why this has not been happening and glaringly the very ministry in charge of safeguarding children has not publicly to my knowledge given a statement regarding how it will end child marriages. There seem to be no contextual safeguarding.
As an update of police investigations, the alleged deceased’s husband was brought before the Mutare magistrates courts. I read with interest that the prosecutors have preferred murder and having sexual intercourse with a minor charges against the man. As the matter is before the courts, I will not dwell on the charge of murder and I wish my former learned friends, good luck in proving their case. However, policy makers need to craft more legislation that strike at the very heart of this outdated behaviour of child marriages as the current legislation is not working.
In conclusion, the issue of child marriages within and outside churches has been ongoing for decades and the current laws, policies and social work practice are not fit for purpose and need urgent restructuring.
Kennedy Mupomba is a practicing social work in England and holds bachelor degrees in Applied Community Studies, Law and masters degrees in Social Policy and Social Work. He is reachable at [email protected].
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.
Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust would like to express its displeasure at Finance Minister Prof Mthuli 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 fanctional 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.
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.
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | Zimbabwe took a step in the good direction when a man who was responsible for the death of a fourteen year old girl who died while giving birth, was arrested. The story was so shocking and upsetting to say the least.
Many churches are in the business of abusing the name of Christ as a tool to quench their canal cravings. Historically churches have been known to be greatest abusers of the girls.
It is an abuse of a position of trust for a person over the age of 18 years a).to engage in sexual activity with a person under the age of 16.
‘Position of trust’ is a legal term that refers to certain roles and settings where an adult has regular and direct contact with children. Examples of positions of trust include: pastors, teachers. care workers and those spiritual leaders.
Commonly, pastors are understood to be spiritual overseers. Most pastors derive their positions from depending on the image, faith, or charisma of your own pastor.
There are some narcissistic men who lead a church or ministry and use the flock for their own gratification. Often, this will manifest in sexual relations with church attenders. This behavior by some destroys many decent images of healthy pastors and other church/ministry leaders.
Pastors can be roughly grouped in three categories:
1. Divinely called and faithful servants of God.
2. Divinely called servants, presently tempted, and struggling with personal sin. They deal with their own weaknesses but do not use others for their gratification.
3. Intentional usurpers of the pulpit and the congregation for the purposes of their own enjoyment and control.

This third category of pastor are those who most represent pastoral misconduct. In recent days, with the advent of the social media brave victims share their stories of pastors who practice abuse and mayhem. It will be impossible to ignore this third category of pastor with the growing body of reports of pastoral misconduct on the news and social media. To clearly understand the problem of sexual abuse by pastors, we must accept that some men seek the pulpit with the intention to serve themselves and not to serve God.
The church has always been a gathering of people seeking knowledge, community, promotion of faith and comfort in this difficult world.
To these “wolves in sheep’s clothing” the church represents an easy source of power, attention, adulation, financial gain, and sometimes sexual gratification.
Every New Testament book contains instruction about false prophets, false teachers, and the “one who enters the sheep pen not at the gate”.
Many girls may be emotionally triggered, but very few groups can provide the opportunity to recognize the pain, grieve the losses that come with abuse, and provide balm and recovery to the human wounds that left many susceptible to being abused. If these religious holy abusers go unchecked, they may truly unlock an emotional mess they cannot handle.
Zimbabwe is looking for victim’s advocates who will,seeing the list of grooming tactics used by these pastors who commit this type of abuse just fuel fire to find every offender and remove them from the pulpit – and lock them up when they have broken the laws of the land.The Church of Jesus Christ is better off if every victim is helped to recover and every offender is forced to deal with their crime.
We have seen many people from Bishops,Teachers,healthcare professionals and other individuals in a position of trust increasingly being prosecuted for sexual offences. This is a welcome position taken by the government since the story of the fourteen year old girl struck our hearts and floods of pain and revulsion gushed out of our hearts drowning the police into action.
A story which leapt out at me concerns a man of themApostolic faith church who impregnated a fourteen year old girl who died giving birth. The outrage reaches high in the skies and Commissioner General Matanga pushed his force to action. The man who was about to get another 9 year old as a replacement was arrested and arraigned to court facing offences involving culpable HOMICIDE. It remains to be seen if it is not another catch and release.
But the clear thing which comes out of this case is another diabolical and satanic expression called ‘religious grooming’. This expression, as far as I know, has no place in law but the fact of its use in a quasi-legal setting may be of importance for the future. The pre-sexual religious grooming included calling small girls as young as one day “Madzimai”. This makes girl child to grow up realising that she is a woman and not a child any more.
The church terrifies the congregation into cutting themselves off from any influences that might challenge the power of the religious leader under whose authority they have placed themselves.
This becomes fertile grounds for grooming children.
Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them. Children and young people who are groomed end up taken up by men ten times older than their fathers as wives. Every men in these churches is born a groomer.
Grooming can happen in churches as it is done in the Mapositori areas and spaces. It involves the offender building a relationship with a child, and sometimes with their wider family, gaining their trust and a position of power over the child, in preparation for abuse.
The process of grooming can take place in a matter of minutes, over one conversation, or over long periods of time, in some cases, years.
Sexual grooming refers to grooming where the offender aims to sexually abuse the child.
This is the time as humanity
to search our souls to see if we are not guilty of any of these behaviours.
People from these churches have come out with painful stories of victims of authoritarian abuse and assault. Their stories are hard to hear because many victims have been abused so badly.
It is painful to listen to every testimony from the vulnerable innocent children. Many waffle between anger, sadness for the victims, disgust, disbelief, and back to anger. And We hear all these types of stories we can just imagine what it is like for a person hearing these testimonies for the first time.
“Grooming” is what someone does if they want to be able to control another person in the future.
Grooming is an intentional behavior someone uses to manipulate another person over an extended period. The purpose is to wear away any defenses the victim has against being manipulated which then allows the abuser to control the victim’s behavior moving forward. Grooming behavior was first identified and characterized when studying sociopathic adults who sexually abused children. Grooming behavior is now recognized within other abusive relationship settings.
How does grooming work? Grooming involves creating and/or exploiting an imbalance of power between the abuser and the victim. In the context of adult abusers molesting children, there is a universal acceptance that adults are in a position of authority over children. Abusers, using grooming tactics, will misuse their position of authority in various ways to ensure that the victim’s defenses are lowered, and that the victim tolerates the initial manipulation. After establishing control of the victim, the abuser then repeats the cycles of abuse with greater intensity.
Wherever there is a defined imbalance of power or a drive to create an imbalance of power in a relationship, there is potential for this type of abuse to occur.
These wolves in sheep’s clothing, who abuse others within the vulnerable church environment, more likely than not have one of these diagnosable personality disorders: Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Anti-Social Personality Disorder or Borderline Personality Disorder.
The idea of pulpits being occupied by narcissists or other dark personalities may seem completely unbelievable.
Within the Apostolic white gowned clergy… there appears to be much higher levels of the most destructive expressions of narcissism than in the general population. The problem is real, and it seems that ministry attracts narcissists for the same reasons that elementary schools and playgrounds attract pedophiles: these institutions provide access to victims. And the victims are so gullible as to believe the words of God delivered by these self proclaimed prophets.
However, even if a person does not have one of the dark disorders, their grooming behavior is evil. Churches must not tolerate it. The government must look into the runnings of these churches.
Sexual abuse seems to differ from other forms of abuse in that it is never an inadequacy or excess of what could be considered normal behaviour. It is very clearly deviant, deliberate and often pre-meditated behaviour. As with most forms of abuse, sexual abuse is usually by an adult or older child known to the child. There is often a period of ‘grooming’ in which the abuser draws close to the child, subsequently involving her/him in progressively more direct sexual behaviour. Such involvement is always kept secret, often through threats that leave the child trapped and confused.
In these apostolic churches congregants are taught not to dispute the word of the prophets. So the prophets yield a lot of power and respect.
The church worship programs are arranged in a manner which gives the old men in the church a vantage position.
The old men who have senior positions in churches take the front roles. They sit as per their spiritual ranks with the small boys right at the back.
The old men I front will be facing women whose sitting positions give the small girls front row Then the unmarried but a bit older are given the back Tawa. In this way the prophets scan through the girls and select those they want to marry. They will then convince the parents of the small girls that God has spoken to them and has shown them which girls to take for wives.
The congregants are taught that God’s word can not be challenged. With great fear of the unspecified spiritual reprisals the parents will give their children to the prophets as wives. Most children will be as young as ten years old.
Most children are married off before they reach puberty.
One researcher on abuse of children by churches commented
“I have been involved in dealing with a number of cases involving sexual predation and exploitation by church leaders – in all kinds of churches (including “organic” or “simple” churches which naively think they are immune from this kind of abuse. “
If you learn of such behavior, don’t be naive just because it involves someone who is charming, gifted and personable (in fact, sexual predators in leadership are almost always the most charming, gifted and personable people you will ever know – which is how they get away with it).
Most of all, don’t hesitate to confront and expose such predators (of course, while protecting the victims and their identity).
You may be saving those who otherwise would be their next victims.
Never forget, silence is deadly – they thrive on it.
The churches have become predators and they have let God down.
God in his heavens will not smile at the abuse of the little children. In the Apostolic white gowned churches, women appear to be the majority of members in the Church. This is so, despite the fact that it accommodates and promotes polygamy. Johanne Marange as the founder of this religious movement, had thirteen wives. The church has been promoting polygamy, and polygamous marriage, in line with traditional African as well as ancient Jewish cultural traditions. For support and legitimation of polygamous marriage, the church draws on Biblical examples of the Israelite progenitors of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and Solomon, who are regarded as exemplary forebears of faith in God. Polygamy among the White gowned apostolic groups, simply fills the gap of the numerical difference of the women to men ratio, and that this is why it is encouraged. Furthermore, while marriage within the apostolic group is encouraged, marriages with non-members is discouraged. This, though, primarily applies to women. Men are allowed to marry women who do not belong to the Johann Marange group, provided the women are prepared to become a member of the group. This practice obviously disadvantages women more than men. Preventing women to marry outside the church, can be seen as a social impediment that exposes women to polygamy, especially since it appears that the number of women to men ratio exceeds that of men to women.
.The most painful thing of it all is the forceable marriage with a ten year old.
This grooming must be stopped. Calling small girls Madzimai is one of the grooming tactics and it must be banned. Children must be allowed to enjoy their childhood. They must not be made to believe that they are born to be married.
By A Correspondent- A 23 year old Victoria Falls man has gone missing and residents have formed a search party to look for him in the forests amid fears he could have been devoured by wild animals.
Nkosikhona Nyoni went missing on Thursday and residents started searching for him on Saturday after clothes, cellphone and face mask were picked on the edge of Chamabondo National Park near Masuwe River bridge.
No further details have been given about Nyoni. A police report of missing person was filed. Police spokesperson for Matabeleland North Inspector Glory Banda could not readily comment on the issue but police sources closer to the case said a report had been made and a search was ongoing.
Ward 11 councillor Edmore Zhou mobilized residents to go for a search.
“It is our duty to protect each other and we gathered residents to search for him and we will continue with the search until something positive comes out,” he said.
A senior resident, Jonson Ndlovu said: “He has been missing for three days and on Friday a council vehicle went around the whole town announcing that someone was missing. We thank Councillor Zhou who mobilized residents to form search party and we went into the bush today. We couldn’t locate him or find any leads so we will be continuing again tomorrow. We are grateful to residents who participated in the search and wish we continue like that.”
He said locals know each other while the coming in of strangers compromises security.
Over the years, a number of people have gone missing in Victoria Falls and found eaten or killed by wild animals.
On Thursday ZimParks rangers shot down a problem elephant that had been terrorizing residents destroying gardens and water taps
By A Correspondent- Social activist Marshall Shonhai has exposed the real reason why mai Titi whose real name is Felistas Murata visited two Bus Stop comedians Samantha Kureya and Sharon Maggie Chideu abducted and beaten by state security agents when they were hospitalised.
In a video that went viral, Mai Titi is heard pleading with the duo to stop making skits that have anything to do with the current administration but concentrate on being non political comedians.
Kureya was reported missing in August 2019 before she was found dumped a day later after being abducted and beaten by masked gunmen in the capital Harare.
Known by her stage name “Gonyeti”, Kureya has been critical of the police and government in her skits.
She was taken from her home, beaten and forced to drink sewage before being dumped, her colleague says.
We post below, Shonhai’s claims and analysis:
Marshall Shonhai
Posted Marshall Shonhai on his facebook page :
Better kuSuffer tichiita twumari twedu twatinoita twuya twuya. Tichiita maMC hedu tichisekesa vanhu kumuchato. We are not politicians, we are comedians, we are there to share humour” 23/08/19 Nhasi tiri papi? #BataiMazwi
watch Mai Titi shedding her “crocodile tears” below……
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | The enduring popularity of ZANU PF amid the pandemic does thus point to at least one secret of its success: the party’s ability to invest in the people. Rarely has a political party wielded so much power, for so long, with so much consistency and accountability.
One of the most respected academicians and a great patriot who saw Zimbabwe as a country not a political divide, Dr Dzapasi Tizora wrote in his book “ ZANU PF has continued to win elections because it is not only a political party but it is Zimbabwe’s history in itself.” Dr Tizora continued “One can not talk of Zimbabwean independence without talking about ZANU PF. It is part of the history and it carry’s with it the whole hope of the whole nation. There is no legacy to talk about without talking about ZANU PF.”
Dr Tizora had done so much for Zimbabwe and had so much to offer unfortunately those who disliked him did their best to put him down. The president was fed with lies and Dr Tizora was thrown in the political dust bin. But to those who read what he wrote will see the wisdom bestowed in this academician. He was not prepared to dance in the mud with some political pigs who enjoyed splashing mud at him. Of all the politicians surrounding the president there will be no such brains like Mhofu Dzapasi.
Taking up from his writings Tizora drew lines on the world’s political parties. So let’s follow his thought.
The Western world has not entirely liked any revolutionary party. I am more qualified about my own country and my own party ZANU PF. ZANU PF has won all elections since fair elections started in Zimbabwe. It has continued to win without interruption. ZANU PF has faced fierce opposition from the opposition and from the masters of regime change.
What has irked and provoked the wrath of the West about the historical success of the revolutionary party.
ZANU PF has been holding on to popularity for forty one years now. The most reason to this success despite the enemies was that ZANU PF has invested in people so it people and people are ZANU PF.
The people of Zimbabwe have moved step by step with ZANU PF such that where things get tough people do understand. The party has its own way of doing things which are peculiar to it and it’s people. It has tried and tested policies and any foreign motivated policies introduced by the foreign funded opposition do not appeal to ZANU PF.
It is not only ZANU PF which has won so much that winning becomes its name. America has accused ZANU PF for clinging to power because it has been the only party in government since 1980 making it 41 years in control. Unfortunately for America democracy does not mean changing political parties like panties. People have a right to be led by the party which has the majority. So majority is not determined by how much the party has been liked by its people.
Statistics on “History of U.S. presidential elections 1789-2020 shows that political parties can be voted in power for as long as they perform.
The United Kingdom the prime minister Margaret Thatcher gained power in 1979 and began 18 years of Conservative government. Her successes in Falkland Islands in 1982 and the government’s strong opposition to trade unions helped lead the Conservative Party to another three terms in government. Thatcher initially pursued monetarist policies and went on to privatise many of Britain’s nationalised companies such as British Telecom, British Gas Corporation, British Airways and British Steel Corporation. She kept the National Health Service.
Modern Britain.
Thatcher’s successor, John Major replaced the Poll Tax with the Council Tax and oversaw successful British involvement in the Gulf War. Despite a recession, Major led the Conservatives to a surprise victory in 1992. The events of Black Wednesday in 1992, party disunity over the European Union and several scandals involving Conservative politicians led to Labour under Tony Blair winning a landslide election victory in 1997.
Ironically the Conservative Party (also known as Tories) is the oldest political party in the United Kingdom and arguably the world.The current party was first organised in the 1830s and the name “Conservative” was officially adopted, but the party is still often referred to as the Tory party.
The Tory party once held on to power for over twenty nine years. It is hypocrisy for the West to accuse ZANU PF for democratically winning the elections. The Conservative Party was strengthened in 1886 when it allied with the Liberal Unionists, a faction of the Liberal Party that opposed the policy of Home Rule in Ireland put forward by the Liberal leader William Ewart Gladstone. Thus reinforced, the Conservatives held office for all but 3 of the next 20 years, first under the leadership of Lord Salisbury and then under Arthur Balfour. A split over tariff policy caused them to lose the election of 1906 in a disastrous landslide, and they did not regain power until they joined a wartime coalition with the Liberals in May 1915. In the election of 1918, most of the candidates elected to support the coalition were Conservatives.
Like ZANU PF, the Conservative party is Britain’s oldest and most successful political party. It has been the party of the land but also the party of the city; the party of little England and the party of empire; the party of protectionism and the party of the free market; the nasty party and the party of gay marriage; the party of Europe and the party of Brexit.
The list of its many mutations is a long one. IT IS the party which is currently in power. The question is why should we as Zimbabwe be told when to leave office.
It is a fact that ZANU PF is the most loved party and the most popular party and the party of people. As Tizora said ZANU PF is the legacy and has the legacy. It brought freedom and it is freedom. It has the people at heart and it is people and people are ZANU PF.
So in the UK in the 101 years since democracy was conceded the Conservatives have governed either alone or in coalition for two-thirds of them. To do that they have always had to draw much of their support from working-class voters.
Opponents have often wondered why ZANU PF has been so successful, in marked contrast to many other parties of the centre-right. How has this party of property and privilege won so many elections. Part of the answer lies in the ability of the party to reinvent itself, not to allow itself to get stuck in a ditch, always to be pragmatic and flexible. This has meant giving priority to statecraft and the pursuit of power rather than to ideology.
When taken in the refreshing waters of office any pill can be swallowed.
In July 2018, Zimbabwe’s newly elected President MNANGAGWA welcomed “a new dawn.” ZANU PF had secured its largest parliamentary majority since 2008 Almost 30 new seats had swung the ZANU PF way, including many in the urban constituencies.
In all the excitement, it was easy to forget that this was the Party’s eighth election win in a row—its first such sequence in the new dispensation MNANGAGWA simply did what the party always do: win elections. ZANU PF has a record of victory that has earned it the moniker of “the most successful political party in the world.”*
The main opposition, meanwhile, spends most of its time as just that: the opposition. Since the formation of the MDC in 1999 a source of existential anxiety for ZANU PF at the time only in the social media has MDC won elections.
Such single-party dominance might well alarm the citizenry of a proud, democracy.
It is often said that ZANU PF simply “know how to win elections.” As the opposition plan to protest ZANU PF is fulfilling its promises. Zimbabwe has seen a lot of development more than what was seen in the forty years. The new dispensation has made it difficult to lose. Come 2023. ED will win for the party. The trick is that we have invested in people and people trust their party. Rarely has a political party wielded so much power, for so long, with so much accountability.
Come 2023ZANU PF will win resoundingly and as usual MDC will cry foul.
ZANU PF is focused and the focus is for the best interest of the people.
Yes 2023 ED Will do what he knows best. Winning elections.
MASVINGO – Chief Mpakwa of Bikita (born Clemence Mpakwa) who is believed to be in his late fifties faces a lawsuit for adultery after it emerged that the woman who appeared in compromising positions with in pictures that went viral on social media on Wednesday is married. Investigations by The Mirror have established that the woman is Sekai Munzvovaniswa who stays with her husband (name supplied) in Duma Suburb at Nyika Growth Point in Bikita, a stone-throw away from Retired Army General Engelbert Rugeje’s house.
The pictures supposedly taken from Mpakwa’s car went viral four days ago sending social media into a frenzy with readers questioning local traditional leaders’ role as custodians of culture and the rampant abuse of power and cars provided to them by Government at the tax payers’ expense.
The Mirror also established that Munzvovaniswa goes to the same Johanne Masowe Church with Chief Mpakwa who is its local leader and a popular prophet in the Growth Point, reliable sources told The Mirror. At Church Chief Mpakwa is called by the name Madzibaba Clemence.
The husband declined to give a comment to the Mirror. Sources however, said he is so shattered he is making maneuvers to deal with the chief.
Munzvovaniswa and her husband are still staying together in spite of the storm.
Chief Mpakwa’s mobile remained unreachable since the pictures went public. A Mirror crew that pitched up at his rural home, 4km from Nyika was told by the wife that he was away in Chiredzi.
She declined to comment on the purpose of the trip.
“He is a chief; I wouldn’t know what his business is in in Chiredzi. I also don’t know when he is coming back, it is therefore not wise for you to wait for him,” said the woman who treated The Mirror crew with suspicion.
The Mirror sought a comment from Chief Chitanga (Feleni Chauke), the Masvingo Provincial Chiefs Council Chairman of the Chitanga Village in Mwenezi who fumed against Mpakwa’s alleged adulterous affair. He accused Mpakwa of abusing the title and wearing the badge of a chief when he was only a headman.
By A Correspondent- Limpopo police have opened a case of murder after the discovery of two bodies in a house that was set on fire in NwaXinyamani Village.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the incident occurred on Friday at about 12:20.
“It is alleged that the deceased female, identified as Thoko Rikhotso, 41, was at her parents’ homestead when her boyfriend, known only as Emmanuel from Waterval Location, arrived.
“The two were allegedly seen entering the house, and after a few minutes, a sound similar to that of a gun was reportedly heard, and smoke was seen coming out of the house,” Mojapelo added.
Members of the public went to assist but the fire was burning out of control.
According to the police, both of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition.
The motive for the incident is not known yet. However, the police said they were following up on information that suggested domestic violence might have been involved.
Mojapelo said a post-mortem would be conducted to determine the cause of death.
Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe said he had learnt with shock about the incident and ordered a full probe into the circumstances that led to the incident.
Hadebe added the province was currently experiencing sporadic incidents of violent deaths in which women were the primary victims.
“Just three days back, the partially burnt body of a still-to-be-identified woman in her twenties was found on the outskirts of Polokwane in the Westenburg policing area with her [limbs] tied.
“This should be concerning to all law-abiding citizens of this province. We urge everyone to resort to legal means, including making use of available platforms when confronted with domestic or relationship challenges.”
By A Correspondent- Three children died after they consumed rat poison in Bolata village in QwaQwa, Free State.
According to provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, the children’s mother told police she went to a nearby tuckshop and left the children, aged 4 to 16, in the care of their older sister.
“She further alleged that on her arrival, she found Nolwazi Selepe, aged 4, and Tebello Selepe, aged 11, already dead, and the eldest child, Katleho Selepe, was still alive but in pain and passed on when [emergency] personnel arrived,” Makhele added.
He said emergency services officials alerted the police.
The poison wasn’t found in the main room where the deceased were lying, but traces thereof were found in the outside room, occupied by the eldest son, Makhele said.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ), which is almost 118 years old (having celebrated its centenary in 2003), has remained a key player in spiritual and development work in the country.
Administratively, the Church is divided into three Dioceses. The Eastern Diocese, led by Bishop Rt Rev Vushebwashe Mhaka, geographically, covers Masvingo province stretching to Chiredzi and Malipati; Manicaland; Harare; Mashonaland Central and West and parts of the Midlands. The Central Diocese under Bishop Rt Rev Kenneth Sibanda (who is also the Presiding Bishop), covers mostly the Midlands and parts of Mwenezi in Masvingo province. It hosts most of the mission schools and hospitals as well as training centres which are Masase, Chegato, Msume, Mnene and Masvingo Mbuya Nehanda, all in Mberengwa and the Vashandiri Training Centre in Gweru. The Western Diocese, led by Bishop Rt Rev M.M. Dube, covers Matebeleland South and North as well as Bulawayo where Manama mission school and hospital are located (Matebeleland South) and the famous Njube Training Centre in Bulawayo.
The work of the ELCZ is hinged on its voluntary arms that are found in each congregation. These are Vashandiri (Women Fellowship); Zvapupu (Men’s Fellowship) (meaning The Witnesses) and the Luther League (Youths). However, evidence shows that it is the Vashandiri which has remained the pillar of the Church.
The Eastern Diocese Vashandiri led by Mrs Regai Mratu of the Mabvuku Congregation, Harare East Parish, presided over a successful 2021 Revival meeting which was held virtually (due to COVID-19 challenges) from 16 to 21 August 2021. A unique but successful methodology indeed!
TheHistoryofVashandiri
It is important to refresh our minds regarding the history of the Vashandiri , as a voluntary movement in the Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe. Söderström et_al , (2003), trace the history of Vashandiri to the 1930s (or even before), being associated with the early female missionaries, Miss Ida Granquist, Miss Ingegärd Ehn and Mrs Elisabeth Bernander. These women arranged Bible Knowledge sessions as well as practical lessons for issues such as cookery, child care, sewing, helping the sick and the needy, visiting non-Christians and other spiritual and social tasks for the women in the Church.
It is noted that Mrs Ester Ngwenya, wife of an Evangelist, Peter Ngwenya, became the pioneer leader of Vashandiri . The Vashandiri idea is reported to have originated from both Zululand and Zimbabwe. Mrs Bernander had met the Lutheran Prayer Women in Zululand and the Ruwadzano (The Peace Fellowship) in the Methodist churches in Zimbabwe (Söderström, etal , 2003:52). The Vashandiri concept was developed during very sensitive moments, hence the initially adopted name of The Mothers’ Union was withdrawn as it was thought to be associated with trade unionism. Thus, the name Vashandiri was formally adopted in 1937.
A Mushandiri was supposed to undergo some probation period (currently two years) before one could be a full member of the arm. One would commit herself to be a good Christian, wife and mother if she wanted to be accepted into the Vashandiri .
By 1962, the Vashandiri had become the pillar of the Church, hence the need to have a full time Secretary to coordinate the work of this arm, thus Mrs Anna Söderström occupied this position until 1971.
VisibilityofVashandiri
The Vashandiri are visible in the ELCZ because of their unique uniform, a grey skirt and purple top with grey belt and collar as well as a hat inscribed with ELCZ logo. The Vashandiri regard the colour of their uniform, loosely as “ Gatawa ” (Shona name for purple). Purple is a combination of red and blue while grey is a combination of black and white. These colours have their symbolic meanings to the Church. Blue represents everlasting life; red is for the blood of Jesus; black shows that we were formerly deep into sin while white symbolises cleanliness from sin.
It is a requirement for Mushandiri to be always in her Church uniform when fulfilling Church tasks including weddings, funerals and Church services.
The social and political challenges of the 1970s did not allow the Church to grow in terms of its membership. Yet, the Vashandiri component grew from about 2000 in 1970, 3000 in 1976 and 5000 by 2003 (Söderström et al , 2003: 54). These numbers could have been conservatively picked by the above authors as they could be lower than the reality. While current statistics could not be accessed for this piece, my experience in the ecumenical movement, where I work, shows that indeed, the numbers have grown steadily in the ELCZ and also in churches under the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), an ecumenical body made up of thirty Protestant Churches.
ELCZVashandiriintheEcumenicalChurch
The ELCZ fellowship arrangement is similar to that of the ZCC where the Women Local Ecumenical Fellowship (WLEFs) or MubatanidzwaWeMadzimai ( Umanyano ) is the backbone of the ecumenical work in Zimbabwe. The WLEFs bring together all the women from the ZCC member churches in a given locality. In the different member churches, the women fellowships are known by different names such as Mothers’ Unions, Vashandiri , and others.
Like other ZCC member churches, the ELCZ Eastern Diocese has continued to be visible and active in ZCC’s women fellowships. The current, Eastern Diocese Vashandiri Chairlady, Mrs Mratu is in the leadership of the ZCC women fellowship in Mabvuku-Tafara. In the ZCC, the women fellowships are responsible for coordination, organisation and mobilisation at local level for local urgency on critical processes.
In the same manner, the ELCZ Eastern Diocese Vashandiri has been instrumental in the implementation of various projects such as farming, education, sewing and entrepreneurship.
In terms of supporting education, the case of the Gurungweni Secondary School project, in Chikombedzi, remains the pride of the Vashandiri . The Vashandiri constructed 5 by 2 classroom blocks and furnished them as well as 2 semi-detached staff houses and they drilled a water borehole for the school. The school is yet to be officially opened.
TheConceptof “ Revival ” intheELCZ
The year 2020 was characterised by many challenges caused by COVID-19. Church gatherings were restricted as a way of preventing further spreading of the corona virus. Yet, the Church’s survival is hinged on gatherings (fellowships). Thus, the ELCZ was affected just like any other institution in Zimbabwe. The Church could not physically fulfill its annual routines such as annual Revival meetings. The challenges continued to rock the nation in 2021.
Innovatively, the ELCZ Eastern Diocese Vashandiri fulfilled this key process virtually. The online Revival meeting was consistently attended by about two hundred and fifty Vashandiri per each whatsapp platform created. Participants who are resident in different countries attended the meeting. I checked from my wife (Angela Zvipo Gumbo)’s phone and noted that some participants are resident in other ELCZ Dioceses, in Europe and in other African countries. My wife is an active and committed Mushandiri (together we have been members of the same Church since our days as Sunday school students at Mavorovondo Parish in Mberengwa in the early 1980s). Five whatsapp groups with approximately two hundred and fifty members each had been created. Thus, an estimated record number of around a thousand people participated.
For me, the hosting of a Revival meeting virtually, was an effective way of evangelising as the word timeously touched the hearts of more people than normally reached physically. The word went beyond the twenty four parishes that make up the Eastern Diocese.
Mrs Mratu had this to say, “We really needed to meet despite the pandemic that separated us physically from each other for more than a year. It is during such moments that we revive one another’s spirit especially in such times as these under COVID-19. The Vashandiri were particularly challenged by congregants to remain relevant, hence we decided to meet virtually…”
Britannica (2019: n.d.) has defined revivalism, generally, “as renewed religious fervour within a Christian group, Church, or community, but primarily a movement in some Protestant churches to revitalize the spiritual ardour of their members and to win new adherents”.
Clearly, Revival in the ELCZ context, is a moment for the congregants to meet, reflect on their Christian lives, renew their faith and together map their spiritual future. In the case of the Zimbabwean Church in general, in 2020/2021, such a moment, became a necessary and important calendar event as the congregants have not been meeting due to COVID-19 restrictions.
People’s faiths need to be “revived”, congregants need to engage and encourage each other, messengers of God need to reassure them that they are not supposed to fear as God is there to “fight” on their behalf.
As a Lutheran myself, I personally congratulate the Eastern Diocese Vashandiri leadership for successfully convening this year’s Revival meeting under very difficult conditions-but here we are, it worked!
The challenges faced, lessons learnt and recommendations shared by the leadership after the meeting, will surely inform the broader Ecumenical Church, that, congregants can still connect and fulfill their Christian obligations even in such difficult situations.
The main challenges noted included connectivity problems, high cost of communication data and some congregants did not have smart phones which are compatible. Moreover, according to Mrs Mratu, they could not fulfil some of the Revival routine sessions online such as exhibitions and music competitions.
However, opportunities also presented themselves: in relative terms, virtual meetings are cheaper; participants continue with their daily activities while attending the meeting and indeed, more people attended than could have been the case had the meeting been convened physically. Furthermore, congregants from other denominations had the opportunity to attend.
ExcellentSpeakers
The week-long meeting was graced by a team of great people in the Church. Bishop Mhaka and Amai were instrumental in shaping the whole process and content. They also presented on some key topics at the meeting. The Bishop’s powerful “singing voice” would be heard in between presentation sessions, motivating participants spiritually.
The presentations by the ELCZ Deans, S. Hove, M. Zano and T.V. Gambiza on various socio-spiritual topics, equipped the Vashandiri with critical and necessary knowledge that will be shared to all the congregants from the pulpit beyond the Revival moment.
I have already reflected on the presentation by Dean Hove on Women Empowerment and Development, where he touched on Sustainable Development Goals and the work of the Vashandiri . I was convinced that the Church is very rich in terms of human capital.
As I continue to reflect on the other presentations, I have also concluded that the organisers need to find ways of compiling them into a small booklet for sharing with the Ecumenical Church beyond the ELCZ. Mrs Mratu indicated that, indeed, her team has plans to compress all the presentations for sharing via various channels including radio, social media and others in translated languages to cater for every congregant in the Church.
The other presenters who are experts in their various capacities on development, gender, theology and administration also led different sessions. These are Rev E, Moyo, a gender specialist; Rev Mangena; Rev K. Gora (who spoke on ambassadorial role of a Christian); Mrs R. Hove; Rev N. Mazetese; Dr Chabaya; Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata; Rev P. Javedu; Rev J.S. Mashavira; Rev S. Maphosa; Rev S. Kanyekanye and the hosting Chair, Mrs Mratu and her team of Vashandiri leaders from the greater Eastern Diocese.
TheThemeExplained
The meeting ran under the theme (they call it Singwisingwi in the Lutheran circles) “ DonotbeafraidordiscouragedforthebattleisnotyoursbutGod’s …..” (2nd Chronicles 20:15-17.
The theme was excellently explained by Rev Mtata, who is a Lutheran Pastor and also the current General Secretary of the ZCC. With my wife, we had the opportunity to carefully and thoughtfully listen to Rev Mtata’s presentation. Thus, in this brief, I attempt to summarise the theological reflections done to elucidate the Revival Theme from my own understanding of the presentation.
Contextually, the audience was reminded of the fear and dismay that characterised Israel following the death of Moses, who had provided some unique form of leadership. Indeed, the Lord would quickly remind Joshua and the people to be strong for he was going to lead them in the fulfilment of the task ahead.
In Isaiah 43, the Lord promises restoration (a “Second Exodus”). The Lord had done it before through Moses, and the same is being promised in Isaiah 43 where God would restore his people from the Babylonian exile, thus, they were not supposed to fear.
The 2021 Revival meeting was directly hinged on 2nd Chronicles 20:15 as indicated above. Jehoshaphat is advised by God through Jahaziel that he should not fear and or discouraged for the “insurmountable” battle before him was going to be fought by God himself. The words pronounced by God remind of those made by Moses at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13).
Rev Mtata explained that indeed, in the three cases of Joshua, Isaiah (43) and Jehoshaphat, the people had strong reasons to fear and be dismayed. The passing on of Moses at a critical moment created a potential leadership crisis that almost broke the faith of the Israelites. In Isaiah 43, the Babylonian exile had also created moments of fear and discouragement. Yet, the seemingly insurmountable battle before Jehoshaphat and his subjects presented fertile ground for fear and loss of faith.
This could be the case with the current situation in Zimbabwe socially, economically and even politically in 2021. Things may not be well for individual Mushandiri , Vashandiri collectively, the Church at large and nationally. Fear and loss of faith in institutions and even in God himself have engulfed the people. They may generally be feeling powerless to face the realities on the ground.
Thus, the Revival meeting came at the right time to strengthen the women in our Church and the rest of the citizens who would follow the meeting proceedings virtually. In a similar moment, Isaiah reminds the people that they were his; in Joshua, God was there for his people and in 2nd Chronicle, God reminds of his past efforts to free his people from bondage. The same promises and reminders can still apply to our situation today hence we should not fear or feel discouraged. The battle itself is God’s but only if we are faithful in him. Losing faith at such challenging moments is not a show of being a true Christian. Furthermore, submission to God is the only weapon to a war. The Revival meeting was an opportune time to encourage each other spiritually and morally in a situation of challenges.
Congratulations Eastern Diocese Vashandiri for a job well done!
References
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2019, Revivalism, Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/revivalism-Christianity.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe, Eastern Diocese 2021 Vashandiri Presentations (with my own interpretations added).
Mratu, R, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe Eastern Diocese, Vashandiri Chairlady, Interview, 21 August 2021, Harare.
Söderström, H., Bergman, S., and Bergman, T., (2003), The History of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe 1903-2003, Uppsala Stift, Uppsala.
A union representing teachers in Zimbabwe has highlighted another case in which one of its members allegedly received a pittance in terminal benefits.
According to the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), the teacher received Z $57,242.72 in terminal benefits following 26 years of service. This amount translates to US$673 using the official exchange rate.
However, using the widely accessible parallel market, this amount translates to US$380 using the black market rate.
The case of the teacher’s terminal benefits was shared by the PTUZ on social media platforms. The union shared the teacher’s letter which is dated 30 June 2021. In the post, PTUZ tagged the Public Service Commission, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and Raymond Majongwe, the secretary-general of the union.
Part of the letter advising the teacher of the terminal benefits after 26 years of service reads,
PAYMENTS OF TERMINAL BENEFITS
Please be advised that following the termination of your service on 5.12.19 from Education, you are entitled in terms of Pension Regulations 1992 as amended to the following benefits
Refund of Pension contributions paid…………………………………. 12,799.42 Add Interest 4% of 26 Complete Years Served (104%)…….…… 13,311.40 ……………………………………………………………………………….……….… 26,110.82
add gratuity………………………………………………………………….… 63,836.55 Total Benefits due…………………………………………………….… 89,947.37
less tax ………………………………………23,363.64 gvt debt ……………………………………… 934.01 32,704.65
Net Amount payable to you……………………………………………… 57,242.72
The above will be paid into your NMB account in July 2021.
F. Songore For: General Manager, Pensions Management
After noting the post from the Progressive Teachers Union of ZImbbawe, the Public Service Commission responded saying unions should not post official communications online. The PSC also insisted that it would not discuss such issues online.
The PSC wrote,
On another note, PSC would encourage members with queries to approach the PSC or their unions, where they feel comfortable and such unions can easily engage PSC on behalf of their members than to post official,confidential, personnel letters on social media platforms
— Public Service Commission – Zimbabwe (@psczimbabwe) August 22, 2021
We publish below citizens’ reactions to the revelation…
This is not the matter. The matter at hand is that the money that is paid after all these years of service is too little. While the person was working you were not paying him/ her enough. Teacher salaries are too little. Improve them so that they get more pension funds.
— Young Teachers of Zimbabwe (@teachers_young) August 22, 2021
This is too little. Pensioners are suffering. Please reconsider the peanuts you are giving loyal civil servants as pensions. No wonder some would rather die in office.
The pension is disheartening to say the least. PSC should strive to give its members, salaries that will translate better as pensions. That's the elephant in the room. Salaries that are below the PDL
By A Correspondent- The Fathers Against Abuse organisation has claimed that a lot of men are being abused sexually in their marriages. According to the organisation, many men are suffering in silence as they fear ridicule from society if they speak out.
Speaking to local publication, B-Metro, Alois Nyamazana, the co-founder of the Fathers Against Abuse said cases of men being abused are not taken seriously by society. Thus most abused men tend to remain quiet to avoid the stigma and ridicule from society.
Highlighting some of the cases he has encountered, Nyamazana said:
“There is a case I came across whereby a woman was hyper sexually active and so her husband ended up being sexually abused because she would follow him to work just to have sex. He had no choice but to end up sharing his predicament.
“There are also some women who use sexual enhancement drugs and that ends up putting pressure on the men to deliver sexually.”
Nyamazana compared how society responds to cases of men being abused against ow it responds when women are abused,
“…in our patriarchal society, if a boy child is sexually abused, it’s just normalised. There is also just shame and stigma attached to the boy child and men who are sexually abused.
“Also, sexual abuse against men and boys is normally just described as aggravated assault by the law but if a girl or woman has been abused it’s called rape…If a man is raped instead of saying indecent assault why don’t we just say it’s rape because the terms used to describe men who have been raped lessens the weight of the case,” said Nyamazana.
The co-founder of Fathers Against Abuse called on Parliament to standardize all laws to ensure equitable justice for all victims of abuse, “What we also want is standardisation of the law and we are continuously working with Parliament to make sure the law is standardised,” added Nyamazana.
A processing officer at the Registrar General’s Office allegedly stole 90 passport application forms and handed them to three other men, who would sell them to unsuspecting people applying for the travelling documents.
Annah Mangena is alleged to have stolen the application forms and handed them to Simon Matsika, Chikura Bisset and Antony Mubweza, who would then sell them to passport applicants.
Matsika, who is a clerk at City of Harare and stationed in Kuwadzana, appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court jointly charged with Chikura and Mubweza on charges of receiving stolen property.
The three, who were being represented by Harare lawyer Mr Tapson Dzetero, were remanded to September 9 on $5 000 bail each.
Ms Tarisai Chitanhi, a supervisor, represented the RG’s office in the matter.
Prosecutor Mr Anesu Chirenje told the court that on July 1 this year, the RG’s department received 10 boxes containing 20 000 passport application forms from Fidelity Printers and Refiners.
Mangena is alleged to have stolen 90 of them.
It is alleged that one of the stolen passport application forms with serial number 4175014 was then picked after being submitted for processing while in the name of Paul Mutotobi.
By Leonard Koni- Douglas Mwonzora has been left with an egg on his face and done another proverbial sucker punch blow by being dumped and not even getting attention from the Zambian President elect Hikainde Hichilema. It’s clear that he is not attending the inauguration.
Nelson Chamisa’s political leadership is growing not only in Zimbabwe but across the Sadc region. It has been boosted by an invitation to attend Zambian President -elect Hakainde Hichilema.
Nelson Chamisa’s politics has become so organic entrenched in genuine political discourse with pure intentions and no hidden agendas.
According to President Emmerson Mnangagwa he recognised Mr Mwonzora as the official opposition leader in Zimbabwe but apparently not recognised regionally.
If you see a politician fighting for a political position more that fighting for people’s struggle then one does not deserve to be in position of power.
Douglas Mwonzora has been spending his energy and resources fighting another opposition through recalls instead of directing his energy to fighting corruption and pushing for the arrest of Henrieta Rushwaya who was caught red handed smuggling gold at Robert Mugabe International Airport.
There are Zanu PF supporters who are supporting Mwonzora and advertising him to the people as the best opposition leader than Nelson Chamisa.
On the other side the government is using #Covid19 to stop MDC-ALLIANCE leader from interacting by so doing they don’t know that they are indirectly marketing and selling him to the electorate.
In history Zanu PF has never liked any kind of opposition nor embraced one. Everybody knows that Zanu PF hates opposition with a passion. Mwonzora cannot be recognized beyond borders.
This is a lesson which must be learnt by people like Lovemore Madhuku and his crew who received Polad cars from President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the pretext that they are doing a service to the nation.
By A Correspondent| Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care has revealed that COVID-19 jabs can be administered to people with underlying conditions like cancer, HIV, hypertension, diabetes and kidney problems.
Posting on Twitter, the health ministry said the COVID-19 vaccine helps to boost their immunity but insisted that they should continue taking their prescribed medication.
“COVID-19 vaccines may be administered to people with underlying conditions, like cancer, asthma, HIV, hypertension and diabetes, liver, and kidney problems and boost their immunity. They are encouraged to continue taking their medication as advised by their medical doctors,” government said.
By A Correspondent| Controversial Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has slammed Zanu PF’s move to capture popular musician and dancer Sandra Ndebele saying its pitiful and a show of low regard for Zimbabweans electoral mentality.
Posting on Twitter this morning, the motor-mouth legislator said the move is yet another dry cut and paste job by Zanu PF.
“Another dry, cut& paste job as @ZANUPF_Official has appointed Sandra Ndebele as their Bulawayo representative for Young Women in Economic Development. However, the abiding idea behind the move makes the whole thing pitiful. It’s a clear scramble for popularity& youth support,
“The move exhibits a low regard for the Zimbabwean electorate’s mentality. People can now see beyond these platitudinous actions which seek to harness and transfer popularity from a different sphere into the party’s community of politics,” said Mliswa.
He added that the strategy of using celebrities had lost steam with people now clearly knowing what they want which is answers to their everyday challenges.
“Beyond the few who are swayed by such dramas, people simply need answers to challenges in their lives. I was in Zambia two weeks before elections& the atmosphere on the ground was strange. They were very few posters of the then opposition @UPNDYouthLeague candidate, Hichilema,” added Mliswa.
By A Correspondent- Dominant mobile money service provider, EcoCash, has announced an upward review in transactional charges starting next month after obtaining the green light from regulatory authorities.
The company, which last reviewed its charges at the beginning of the year in January, said it will increase its charges effective September 19, 2021.
Tariffs for paying merchants
Transaction Value
Old tariff
New tariff
% Increase
$1.00 to $9.99
$0.89
$0.93
4.5%
$10.00 to $19.99
$1.45
$1.52
4.8%
$20.00 to $29.99
$2.06
$2.16
4.9%
$300.00 to $39.99
$3.17
$3.47
9.5%
$40.00 to $49.99
$4.19
$4.19
0.0%
$50.00 to $74.99
$5.69
$5.69
0.0%
$75.00 to $99.99
$7.53
$7.53
0.0%
$100.00 to $149.99
$7.61
$8.91
17.1%
$150.00 to $199.99
$9.21
$11.00
19.4%
$200.00 to $299.99
$10.41
$12.44
19.5%
$300.00 to $499.99
$10.86
$13.03
20.0%
$500.00 to $999.99
$33.79
$42.17
24.8%
$1 000.00 to $1 499.99
$49.41
$61.66
25.0%
$1 500.00 to $1 999.99
$70.72
$84.86
20.0%
$2 000.00 to $2 499.99
$87.30
$104.76
20.0%
$2 500.00 to $2 299.99
$103.43
$124.12
20.0%
$3 000.00 to $5 000.00
1.85%
1.85%
0.0%
These are just the EcoCash fees. From $300 onwards, consumers are taxed 2% of the transacted amount which adds to the overall cost of the transaction
Tariffs for sending money to other EcoCash users
Transaction Value
Old tariff
New tariff
% Increase
$1.00 to $9.99
$0.68
$0.72
5.9%
$10.00 to $19.99
$1.42
$1.49
4.9%
$20.00 to $29.99
$2.10
$2.20
4.8%
$300.00 to $39.99
$2.63
$2.88
9.5%
$40.00 to $49.99
$3.93
$3.93
0.0%
$50.00 to $74.99
$5.31
$5.31
0.0%
$75.00 to $99.99
$5.89
$5.89
15.0%
$100.00 to $149.99
$8.01
$9.38
17.1%
$150.00 to $199.99
$11.06
$13.22
19.5%
$200.00 to $299.99
$13.52
$16.16
19.5%
$300.00 to $499.99
$17.87
$21.44
20.0%
$500.00 to $999.99
$34.43
$42.96
24.8%
$1 000.00 to $1 499.99
$52.31
$65.29
24.8%
$1 500.00 to $1 999.99
$73.48
$88.18
20.0%
$2 000.00 to $2 499.99
$91.85
$110.22
20.0%
$2 500.00 to $2 299.99
$110.21
$132.25
20.0%
$3 000.00 to $5 000.00
1.91%
1.91%
0.0%
These are just the EcoCash fees. From $300 onwards, consumers are taxed 2% of the transacted amount which adds to the overall cost of the transaction
Tariffs for bill payments
Transaction Value
Old tariff
New tariff
% Increase
$1.00 to $9.99
$1.03
$1.08
4.9%
$10.00 to $19.99
$1.44
$1.51
4.9%
$20.00 to $29.99
$1.76
$1.85
5.1%
$300.00 to $39.99
$2.46
$2.69
9.3%
$40.00 to $49.99
$3.37
$3.37
0.0%
$50.00 to $74.99
$4.68
$4.68
0.0%
$75.00 to $99.99
$6.17
$6.17
0.0%
$100.00 to $149.99
$7.76
$9.00
16.0%
$150.00 to $199.99
$8.57
$10.25
19.6%
$200.00 to $299.99
$9.75
$11.65
19.5%
$300.00 to $499.99
$15.31
$18.37
20.0%
$500.00 to $999.99
$31.25
$39.00
24.8%
$1 000.00 to $1 499.99
$46.88
$58.50
24.8%
$1 500.00 to $1 999.99
$65.00
$78.00
20.0%
$2 000.00 to $2 499.99
$81.25
$97.50
20.0%
$2 500.00 to $2 299.99
$97.50
$117.00
20.0%
$3 000.00 to $5 000.00
1.85%
1.85%
0.0%
These are just the EcoCash fees. From $300 onwards, consumers are taxed 2% of the transacted amount which adds to the overall cost of the transaction.
There was no immediate comment from the company on the price adjustment. The increase comes at a time the prices of goods and services in the country have been escalating despite the stability in the official foreign currency exchange rate since the beginning of the year.
The EcoCash tariff schedule made no reference to the ZW$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 ZW$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.
By A Correspondent- As the daily number of new Covid-19 cases continues falling, the Government is considering reopening schools, especially as infections are concentrated in the 30 to 40 age group, so risks to school children are lower.
Schools closed on June 4 and were set to open for the second term on June 28. However, reopening was postponed because by then the third wave was continuing to gather steam.
The Government, through President Mnangagwa, is still to announce when schools will open but the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has been working to ensure that as soon as the go-ahead is given, it will be ready.
Community Working Group on Health director Mr Itai Rusike said in preparation for the reopening of schools, communities should follow guidelines and protocols on Covid-19 to lessen transmission.
“The situation in the schools should be certified safe by the Government with all the schools having met the required standards necessary to be deemed safe to reopen. Communities should continue to be encouraged to be vaccinated in order for us to achieve herd immunity in the shortest possible time,” he said.
Mr Rusike said despite the decrease in new infections, the nation should not lower its guard as it was not yet out of the woods.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care weekly Covid-19 report shows that there has been a decline in new infections this week.
“The proportion of (infections) children of school going age five to 19 years, mostly at the primary and secondary school, stood at 11,1 percent. The Government is considering opening schools if the current decline in the number of new cases continues,” read the report.
A total of 2 780 new confirmed cases and 147 deaths were reported from August 14 to 20.
“The 147 deaths reported in the last 7 days were from Harare 53, Bulawayo 28, Manicaland 17, Mashonaland West 11, Mashonaland Central 9, Midlands 8, Mashonaland East 6, Masvingo 6, Matabeleland North 5 and Matabeleland South 4.
Five provinces contributed to 66 percent of the cumulative cases: Harare 21,8, Mashonaland West 13,1, Mashonaland East 10,5, Bulawayo 10,3, and Manicaland 10,2, said the statement.
The weekly report also shows that trends have not changed much with men accounting for 56 percent of deaths.
“A total of 147 deaths were reported this week, the number of deaths decreased compared to 268 deaths reported during the previous week. Community deaths account for 31,2 percent of the Covid-19 related deaths, a slight increase from 31 percent reported the previous week,” read the report.
In the past week the country recorded zero imported cases. South Africa however accounts for 81,6 percent of all the imported cases that have been reported in Zimbabwe since the outbreak of Covid-19.
As of 20 August 2021, local cases constituted 98,5 percent of the total Covid-19 cases reported in the country. The number of countries contributing to the imported cases are 27, of which South Africa contributes 81,6 percent of the total cases. Matabeleland South accounts for the highest number 763 of imported cases.
Health expert Professor Solwayo Ngwenya said the community deaths were due to the fact that some people wait until it is too late to go to a clinic or hospital. So many of those at risk of dying at home are those with underlying conditions as the prevalent delta variant can worsen some conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
People tended to go to hospital after trying home remedies that were not working. Some are not aware that they have the virus especially those with underlying conditions like diabetes and hypertension because the delta variant can cause sugar levels to rise and then people die without knowing they are positive,” said Prof Ngwenya.
“Some have relatives that are asymptomatic and they still visit each other especially during funerals defying what we have been told by the Government. These community deaths are unfortunate and if we do not change, we will continue recording more of these.”
Confirming the rise in cases among younger people in the 30-to-40 age group, he said: “More and more young people are being infected. They were once strong and resistant; they were asymptomatic but now they are getting sicker and dying in other countries. This variant is affecting almost all ages, said Prof Ngwenya.
He said it was unfortunate that the variant is now infecting youngsters who usually do not adhere to Covid-19 health protocols thereby spreading the virus.
As the daily number of new Covid-19 cases continues falling, the Government is considering reopening schools, especially as infections are concentrated in the 30 to 40 age group, so risks to school children are lower.
Schools closed on June 4 and were set to open for the second term on June 28. However, reopening was postponed because by then the third wave was continuing to gather steam.
The Government, through President Mnangagwa, is still to announce when schools will open but the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has been working to ensure that as soon as the go-ahead is given, it will be ready.
Community Working Group on Health director Mr Itai Rusike said in preparation for the reopening of schools, communities should follow guidelines and protocols on Covid-19 to lessen transmission.
“The situation in the schools should be certified safe by the Government with all the schools having met the required standards necessary to be deemed safe to reopen. Communities should continue to be encouraged to be vaccinated in order for us to achieve herd immunity in the shortest possible time,” he said.
Mr Rusike said despite the decrease in new infections, the nation should not lower its guard as it was not yet out of the woods
The Ministry of Health and Child Care weekly Covid-19 report shows that there has been a decline in new infections this week.
By A Correspondent- Their se_x life was not like it used to be.
But mamfundisi did not have a problem with it as she believed they were old.
Little did she know her husband of 17 years did something about it behind her back.
And the muthi he took increased his se_x drive, but mamfundisi was tired of it. The 47-year-old from Ga-Makausu, Germiston told Daily Sun he even became aggressive as if he’s possessed.
However, she said she and her husband (57) have never been people who believe in izangoma, at least that’s what she believed.
She said her husband started slacking in the poking game two years ago. “I was okay with it because I believed we’re too old to be poking all the time. But hubby was not okay with it and told me he was thinking of visiting his sangoma brother. I refused because we’re Christians and don’t use muthi.”
Mamfundisi said her husband seemed like he was okay with it.
“In April last year, I noticed that my husband was demanding se_x all the time. The poking was good at first, but I got annoyed when he started making it an everyday thing.”
She said she asked him where all this energy was coming from, but he ignored her.
Mamfundisi was shocked when she found muthi in one of her husband’s old socks.
She said when she confronted him about it, he said this was the reason their bedroom had been spicy and she should stop complaining.
“I don’t know how SunReaders can help me, but I need this thing reversed. My punani is tired,” she said.
“I threw those little plastics away, but my husband is still a hungry poking pastor from hell. We need help,” she said.
However, the pastor said his wife should be grateful for the man he’s become. “A lot of ladies would be happy, but she doesn’t understand that I did this for us,” he said.
He said he grew up in a family of izangoma and even though he’s a pastor, he believes in the power of traditional healers.
The sister (49) of Mamfundisi said she called her a lot last year complaining about the poking, but she didn’t think it was this serious.
“I sometimes laughed at her and told her she needed to do her wifely duties. I don’t know what to say about this situation because at the end of day, it’s both their choice,” she said.
Daily Sun also spoke to the sangoma brother. He said his brother asked for help and he couldn’t say no.
“He told me his wife would have a problem with it, but he would talk to her. I didn’t know she hated the idea so much.”
He said he could reverse the effect of the muthi, but the pastor had to come to him, not the wife.
By A Correspondent- The president of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, has invited Dumelang Saleshando, the leader of the Opposition in Botswana to accompany him to the inauguration of the Zambian President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema.
The inauguration is scheduled for this Tuesday. Pindula News presents a statement by the Botswana government on the matter.
REBUTTAL TO UFM NEWS CAPTIONED “ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT INVITES SALESHANDO TO HIS INAUGURATION”
GABORONE, 23rd August 2021: The Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation wishes to refer to a recent post by the online UFM News circulating on social media platforms, entitled “Zambian President invites Saleshando”. The said post inaccurately states that His Excellency Mr. Hakainde S. Hichilema, President-Elect of the Republic of Zambia, extended an invitation to the Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Mr. Dumelang Saleshando to attend the President-Elect’s Inauguration Ceremony on 24th August 2021.
The Ministry wishes to underscore that the post by UFM News is misleading. Accordingly, the Ministry wishes to categorically correct this inaccuracy by setting the record straight that His Excellency President Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, has extended an invitation to the Leader of Opposition to accompany him to the inauguration of the Zambian President-Elect in the spirit of cordial relations that exist among political leadership of Botswana and inclusiveness. His Excellency the President has also invited Former President Mr. Festus Gontebanye Mogae.
Therefore, the post’s inaccuracy ignores the fundamental reality of His Excellency’s efforts to be all-inclusive. It instead, reinforces untruths that are polarizing.
Contact – Public Diplomacy, Research and Policy Analysis
By A Correspondent- A six year old girl was burnt to death in a deserted hut in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North.
The incident happened in Bubude Line under Chief Gampu on Saturday
Matabeleland North Police Spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed the incident.
“We received a report about a child who died when a hut she was playing in caught fire,” he said.
Insp Banda said the minor was left with two friends when her guardian was going to the clinic for vaccination.
He said the children went to a deserted homestead and started playing there.
Insp Banda said the six-year-old got into the deserted hut with a box of matches leaving her friends playing, she lit the dry grass which was on the ground and the whole kitchen caught fire. She got trapped as she could not escape.
“When her friends saw this, they shouted for help but no one came to her rescue. The two friends ran back home to look for help and they found that her guardian was back. They then returned to save her but she was already dead,” he said.
He urged parents and guardians to monitor minors all the time.
By A Correspondent- Police in Harare at the weekend raided bars and arrested 60 people for public drinking.
Posting on their Twitter handle Sunday, ZRP said the raids would continue until the public complies with the Covid-19 regulations of not gathering at public places.
“60 people were arrested in Hre at several bars and nightclubs last night while contravening COVID-19 regulations. Bar and nightclub operators should lead by example. Let us all comply with measures put in place by the Government for the benefit of everyone’s health and security,” posted ZRP.
"Perhaps Mnangagwa's lesson as he faces Nelson Chamisa in Lusaka tomorrow is: power isn't the army, the CIO or police; it isn't at all Brutality, it's Reality" – @schikanzapic.twitter.com/y3qyDX1EVU
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba has gone against clear state media footage that exposes how his boss planned and operationalised the 1 August 2018 brutality.
Charamba’s verbage, comes ahead of a Zambian parliamentary probe of Mnangagwa’s role as he worked together with outgoing President Edgar Lungu, to destroy evidence of his own brutalities since August 2018.
Mnangagwa’s proxy, Lungu was defeated in the just ended elections.
Writing on Twitter, Charamba accused journalist Hopewell Chin’ono of having sold out opposition “hideouts” and their operation methods after the 2018 harmonised elections.
“Both the doctors for human rights and Counselling Services Unit (CSU), as with many other regime change outfits, got funding from the US embassy, whether directly through USAid and its agencies, or indirectly and with support from many Western governments including the United Kingdom government, through accounts ran by some Nordic countries,” he said.
He added saying “in rare yet notable cases, funds would be routed through United Nations agencies.”
He also claimed all the reported cases of brutality were sponsored and dramatised to “overwhelm the nascent Second Republic”.
“The strategy was a simple one from a propaganda point of view: engage several make-up artists who manufacture horror images in brisk succession to a point where a narrative of gory brutality sticks, and with such rapidity that the police — then still under reconstruction in the wake of events of 2017 — would simply get overwhelmed and too paralysed to investigate any alleged case. ME
By A Correspondent- The late vice president Joshua Nkomo’s son, Sibangalizwe Nkomo, has exposed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s lies on Gukurahundi.
Nkomo has said he is convinced that the government is not sincere about solving the Gukurahundi issue.
Below is Sibangalizwe’s statement.
Following the meeting between the Head of State Mr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and Traditional Leaders on the 21st of August 2021, I am convinced more than ever that the Government of Zimbabwe is not sincere about solving the issue of Gukurahundl. This Is because I strongly feel the process is fundamentally flawed for the following reasons: Mr Mnangagwa Is said to have met with Matabeleland based Civic Society Organizations under the banner of the Matabeleland Collective. The public must know the exact identity of the so-called CSOs and what their interest is In Gukurahundi. There is also need to clarify where this group gets its mandate from. On the 7th of February 2020, the grouping of these CSOs split with those that have a track record of working with our people leaving the Matabeleland Collective. The government must then let the public know who exactly is Matabeleland Collective. Those who left, amongst many reasons cited state control of those negotiating with Mr Mnangagwa. As such, the Impartiality of these people is now heavily compromised. We cannot have a situation where the perpetrator has monologues with himself and then makes resolutions for the people. Our people must reject Matabeleland Collective with the contempt It deserves.
By A Correspondent- The late vice president Joshua Nkomo’s son, Sibangalizwe Nkomo, said people of Matabeleland would not recognize President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Gukurahundi meeting he held at the weekend.
Nkomo has said Mnangagwa held the meeting with bogus people who are not victims of the 1980s’ genocide.
Below is Sibangalizwe’s statement.
Following the meeting between the Head of State Mr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and Traditional Leaders on the 21st of August 2021, I am convinced more than ever that the Government of Zimbabwe is not sincere about solving the issue of Gukurahundl. This Is because I strongly feel the process is fundamentally flawed for the following reasons:
Mr Mnangagwa Is said to have met with Matabeleland based Civic Society Organizations under the banner of the Matabeleland Collective. The public must know the exact identity of the so-called CSOs and what their interest is In Gukurahundi. There is also need to clarify where this group gets its mandate from. On the 7th of February 2020, the grouping of these CSOs split with those that have a track record of working with our people leaving the Matabeleland Collective. The government must then let the public know who exactly is Matabeleland Collective. Those who left, amongst many reasons cited state control of those negotiating with Mr Mnangagwa. As such, the Impartiality of these people is now heavily compromised. We cannot have a situation where the perpetrator has monologues with himself and then makes resolutions for the people. Our people must reject Matabeleland Collective with the contempt It deserves.
By A Correspondent- Police in Harare at the weekend raided bars and arrested 60 people for public drinking.
Posting on their Twitter handle Sunday, ZRP said the raids would continue until the public complies with the Covid-19 regulations of not gathering at public places.
“60 people were arrested in Hre at several bars and nightclubs last night while contravening COVID-19 regulations. Bar and nightclub operators should lead by example. Let us all comply with measures put in place by the Government for the benefit of everyone’s health and security,” posted ZRP.
By A Correspondent-MDC-Alliance President Nelson Chamisa has been invited to attend the new Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema’s swearing-in ceremony.
Hichilema will take an oath of office tomorrow, Tuesday.
Chamisa’s invitation to Hichilema’s swearing-in ceremony is the first in post-colonial Southern Africa, where an opposition party leader attends the inauguration of a head of state.
It should not be used just to score points but to build an alliance of Democratic progressives.
Join Simba Chikanza as he goes through some of the top and trending stories early morning Monday.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
https://youtu.be/hpjf_bJ_5S8
Meanwhile, the video below, is a LIVE clip of Zambia’s outgoing President Edgar Lungu revealing his view that the winner of the just ended elections Hakainde Hichilema will not go beyond 5 years in power. What is he standing on to confidently declare such? ZimEye investigates.
By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police has once again been exposed for failing to print the correct spelling for a Bulawayo based police station signpost.
This follows last week’s embarrassing spelling mistakes on their new cars, which President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned at Morris Depot.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the late founding leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, Dr Morgan Tsvangirai as a great companion.
According to President Chamisa, Dr Tsvangirai was a father to many people.
In a brief statement released on Saturday, President Chamisa implored citizens to register to vote.
“This great man( Dr Morgan Tsvangirai) was just more than a leader and father and to many.
To me, Dr MT was a great companion and confidant. I miss his naughty smile and our happy moments..
VP Welshman Ncube Busy On The Ground Spearheading Programmes, Hwende Exposes Zanu PF Lies…
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.
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.
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.
In the video below, is a LIVE clip of Zambia’s outgoing President Edgar Lungu revealing his view that the winner of the just ended elections Hakainde Hichilema will not go beyond 5 years in power. What is he standing on to confidently declare such? ZimEye investigates.
This afternoon, 21st August, 2021, we held a meeting at our residence in Lusaka with some of the Ambassadors and High Commissioners from African countries, accredited to Zambia.
During our meeting, we emphasised that democracy is key for development in Africa and that before looking elsewhere for social, political and economic solutions, we must first look within our continent. And under this score, we stated that there is no need of our people to be shedding blood in order to have their desired leadership and that going forward, Zambia will begin to experience freedoms which will allow diplomats and even citizens to enjoy their rights.
We also stated to the Ambassadors that the African continent is capable of creating jobs, skills and business opportunities before looking to the outside world and that this will be one of our key thematic areas during our tenure of office.
On the bilateral and multilateral front, we stated that we will remain open and available because our central focus is economic growth not only for our Country but Africa as a whole.
We are confident that when a clear road map is set, Zambia will begin to witness less imports but more exports in the areas of human resource and other areas.
The Ambassadors and High Commissioners we met are from: Malawi, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Congo, Namibia, Somalia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Morocco.
This afternoon, 21st August, 2021, we held a meeting at our residence in Lusaka with some of the Ambassadors and High Commissioners from African countries, accredited to Zambia.
During our meeting, we emphasised that democracy is key for development in Africa and that before looking elsewhere for social, political and economic solutions, we must first look within our continent. And under this score, we stated that there is no need of our people to be shedding blood in order to have their desired leadership and that going forward, Zambia will begin to experience freedoms which will allow diplomats and even citizens to enjoy their rights.
We also stated to the Ambassadors that the African continent is capable of creating jobs, skills and business opportunities before looking to the outside world and that this will be one of our key thematic areas during our tenure of office.
On the bilateral and multilateral front, we stated that we will remain open and available because our central focus is economic growth not only for our Country but Africa as a whole.
We are confident that when a clear road map is set, Zambia will begin to witness less imports but more exports in the areas of human resource and other areas.
The Ambassadors and High Commissioners we met are from: Malawi, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Congo, Namibia, Somalia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Morocco.
State Media -Anti-sanctions activist Mr Gregory C Turner, who in 2015 was sentenced to 15 months in prison in the United States for lobbying for the unconditional removal of sanctions has died.
After his imprisonment, Mr Turner, an American citizen, relocated to Zimbabwe and remained a strident critic of the illegal and amoral sanctions that have over the last two decades bled the country of billions of dollars.
He passed away yesterday at St Anne’s Hospital in Harare due to Covid-19-related complications. He was 81.
In her condolence message, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said the death of Mr Turner is a painful loss to the people of Zimbabwe.
“Greg Turner loved Zimbabwe most dearly. He was vehemently opposed to the ZIDERA (Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act) sanctions against Zimbabwe. He viewed them as a bloat and assault at the core of existence and well-being of Zimbabwe, Africa and its Diaspora.
“He took his fight against ZIDERA right into the American Black Congressional ranks. He actually organised a delegation of Chicago-based Civil Rights luminaries to Zimbabwe in the early 1990s,” she said.
Because of his efforts in fighting for the removal of sanctions, Mr Turner , who hailed from Chicago, was found guilty by a federal jury of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
In addition his co-defendant, Prince Asiel Ben Israel, also of Chicago, who was sentenced to seven months in prison after pleading guilty to violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
“For his efforts he incurred the wrath of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation. They shadowed him in cahoots with G40 cohorts.
“They snooped on him leading to his arrest, trial and sentencing in an Illinois Federal Court for lobbying activities that broke the ZIDERA statute. He was subsequently incarcerated for two years.
“On release he relocated to Zimbabwe, where the Zanu-PF party and the Zimbabwe Government welcomed him with open arms.
Until his death Mr Turner tapped into his lifelong Pan-African activism and extensive continental reach to build bridges between Africa and its Diaspora.
Mr Turner, working with Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and her deputy Kindness Paradza, recently invited the Grammy Award winning musician, Robert “Kool” Bell to Zimbabwe to help market Victoria Falls as a tourist resort.
The invitation was also meant to promote young Zimbabwean music talent. He was also actively working with Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi of the Institute of African Knowledge and Museum of African Liberation.
He secured a section in the museum for the story of TransAtlantic slave trade and the 1960s civil rights movement. -Herald
At least 85 bales of cotton seed, weighing over 25 tonnes were on Saturday morning burnt in transit along the Chinhoyi-Chegutu Road.
The cotton had been ferried from a buying point in Rafingora and the truck was destined for a Cottco Zimbabwe ginnery in Chinhoyi. The bales were reduced to ashes, about a kilometre before reaching the ginnery at Christos Shops.
When The Herald visited the scene, Cottco personnel and touts were busy trying to salvage the bales as Chinhoyi Municipality fire tender failed to make it to the site.
The desperate efforts by the team failed to yield any positive results as the raging fire gutted the fully loaded trailer. Witnesses said the driver was alerted of the fire by other drivers before he pulled off the road.
“When he pulled off the road to investigate, he realised that the whole load was up in smoke. We helped him remove the tank and unhook the trailer from the horse,” said Archim James. The fire is suspected to have been caused by fumes from the exhaust pipe which is mounted facing the loaded trailer.
The driver of the truck, who was in shock and requested anonymity, said he had travelled at least 110 kilometres from Rafingora.
“I suspect the fire was caused by exhaust fumes. I was only alerted by fellow drivers who sensed danger,” said the driver.
Chinhoyi Municipality spokesperson, Mr Tichaona Mlauzi said the local council’s fire tender was out of service while plans were afoot for a brand new truck.
Efforts to get comments from Cottco public relations officer, Ms Victoria Mutomba, to ascertain the value of the burnt bales were futile yesterday although some officials at the scene said about 25 000 kilogrammes that were destroyed cost at least $2,1 million. Herald
England-based Zimbabwe Warriors prospect Macauley Bonne scored both goals for Ipswich Town in their entertaining 2-2 stalemate with MK Dons in League One on Saturday.
The 26-year old former Charlton Athletic striker has been impressive for Paul Cook’s charges since the 2021/22 season began, having rescued them with a last minute equaliser in the season-opener against Morecambe.
Bonne opened the scoring in the 16th minute, when he was found by a pass from Rekeem Harper and went past Dons goalkeeper Andrew Fisher, before blasting the ball into the roof of the net.
That brilliant effort was the difference between the two sides at the break.
Just before the hour-mark, MK Dons levelled matters through a well-taken Scott Twine free-kick, but the parity did not last long, as Bonne restored Ispwich’s advantage shortly after, to make it 2-1.
Matt O’Riley would make sure the points are shared, with an equaliser 15 minutes before the end.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has been invited to attend the inauguration of Zambia’s elect president Hakainde Hichilema scheduled for Tuesday 24 August 2021.
Hichilema defeated President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in the 12 August presidential election that was his sixth attempt at landing the top post.
Zambian Information and Broadcasting Services ministry permanent secretary, Amos Malupenga, said the inauguration ceremony would be strictly by invitation because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hichilema’s United Party for National Development (UNDP) has close ties with the MDC Alliance and he has met Chamisa on several occasions before.
Joseph Kalimbwe, one of the key members in Hichilema’s campaign team said MDC Alliance was the only political party in the region that supported UNDP ahead of Zambia’s August 12 elections. He added that UNDP must never forget its allies when it attains power. He said:
My support for the struggles of friends and comrades across our continent (Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania – Africa) is unwavering – it will never stop.
They chose the hard path of supporting our UNDP struggles when others refused to associate with us in the opposition.
Hichilema’s victory gave hope to other opposition parties on the continent that they can also topple the ruling parties in their respective countries.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has, however, since poured cold water on such hopes saying whoever dreams of change happening in Zimbabwe should wake up and brew beer for cleansing.
Political analysts observe that the Zimbabwean political arena is different from others on the continent mainly because power-broking institutions including the military are not abiding by the constitution.
They say political reforms including revision of the voters’ roll, demilitarising the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, and media reforms are essential for free and fair elections.- The Standard
Staff of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) who leak names or identify whistle-blowers will face jail terms of up to six months, along with ordinary disciplinary action under legal amendments proposed by ZACC itself.
At the same time, ZACC will not protect those who maliciously make false reports against others, pretending to be whistle-blowers.
ZACC differentiates between reports made in good faith, even if they are found to be wrong after investigation, but does not wish to be used as a tool in personal vendettas or disputes.
The proposed draft amendment to the Act under which ZACC operates, which has since been sent to the Office of the President and Cabinet, seeks to promote a culture of reporting all corrupt activities without fear of victimisation and with full protection for whistle-blowers.
The confidentiality of the whistle-blower identities should stop the problem faced by whistle-blowers and State witnesses in high profile graft cases at parastatals under ZACC investigation being harassed through suspension, transfer, at times being charged on frivolous allegations to cripple ZACC investigations.
At a recent ZACC annual general meeting, the commission’s executive secretary Ms Sukai Tongogara said victimisation of whistle-blowers and witnesses was a cause for concern and there was need for a law that protects them.
“Our main challenge, in terms of investigation is victimisation of witnesses. We have had our witnesses in several cases victimised for testifying in corruption cases or for coming to ZACC offices to have their statements recorded.
“We have made arrests in terms of the Prevention of Corruption Act for victimisation of witnesses, but Zimbabwe has no harmonised law for the protection of whistle-blowers and witnesses.
“This is where we are appealing to the powers be, that we have referred a draft lay Bill to the Office of the President and Cabinet for whistleblower protection and we hope the powers be will deal with this issue as a matter of urgency because this is the biggest challenge we are facing,” said Ms Tongogara.
Highlights of the whistle-blower provisions in the draft Bill prepared by ZACC define a whistle-blower as any person who makes a report to the Anti-Corruption Commission about the commission, attempted commission or suspected commission of an illegal corrupt practice by a person in a public or private organisation.
Whistleblower provisions in the draft lay Bill, according to ZACC encourages informants to reports all corrupt activities in line with President Mnangagwa’s anti-graft stance.
The purpose of the whistleblower provisions is to encourage persons who have knowledge of the commission of illegal corrupt practices to report such practices to ZACC and to provide protection to persons against any reprisals, prejudicial action or penalisation of such persons for having reported the commission of an illegal corrupt practice in a public or private organisation.
The draft Bill provides that where any person has evidence of the commission or attempted commission of an illegal corrupt practice or believes on reasonable grounds that an illegal corrupt practice has being or is being committed, that person may make a report about the illegal corrupt practice to the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission must ensure that the identity of that person is kept confidential and is not disclosed without the consent of the person making the report, except where a person has committed the crime of maliciously making a false report.
The provisions of the draft lay Bill make it an offence for any commissioner, officer or employee of ZACC who discloses the identity of a whistleblower to any other person within the commission who is not authorised to receive this information or to anyone outside Commission without the consent of the whistleblower.
An offender found guilty will be liable to a fine of level 3 or 6 months’ imprisonment or both, reads a summary of the draft Bill. While those making malicious false reports will not be protected, those who act in good faith, even if wrong, will be.
Any person who makes a report of a suspected illegal corrupt practice to the ZACC in good faith and on reasonable grounds, according to the draft, will have immunities from criminal or civil liability.
The draft lay Bill provides that ZACC may establish a system of rewards for the supply of information about corruption provided that information leads to the conviction of the corrupt person or recovery of the proceeds of corruption.
The commission, according to the draft, must take all necessary steps to protect a whistleblower against being subjected to prejudicial action for having reported corruption with the protection given before and after the trial.
The draft Bill also provides that any person who suffers loss as a result of reporting a corrupt practice is entitled to recover such losses by way of an action for damages or by way of compensation from a compensation fund set up for this purpose.
The Herald understands ZACC has complained over actions which seem to at least verge on victimisation of employees who had passed on information about where they worked and who were key witnesses in cases under investigations.
Some witnesses were arrested on questionable grounds by other investigating arms engaged by the top management, which affected corruption cases being investigated by ZACC.
Others were moved from the head office to faraway stations, making it difficult to provide ZACC with the most wanted information to prosecute the corrupt.
Some were made to work night shifts only while others were suspended from work after their identities were disclosed to the employer as whistleblowers.
President Mnangagwa, the champion of the anti-graft fight, personally intervened in a case of Zesa staff by ordering their reinstatement after they were dismissed for being whistleblowers on corruption that was threatening to ground the power utility.
He made the call at a launch of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Act to pave way for the establishment of a platform of social partners — the Government, labour and business — to discuss pertinent issues affecting the economy.
The eight Zesa workers were victimised for exposing a corruption saga during the time of former Zesa chief executive Engineer Joshua Chifamba.
The workers in question are Florence Taruvinga, Gibson Mushunje, Admire Mudzonga, Ackim Mzilikazi, Given Dingwiza, Tariro Shumba, Stephen Moyoweshumba and Joanes Chingoriwo.
The whistleblowers had given information that allegedly linked the management and former Minister of Energy and Power Development Samuel Undenge to a public relations project involving Oscar Pambuka and Psychology Maziwisa.
Other issues raised by the workers included the awarding of the Gwanda solar project without allegedly where they suggested that Zesa had not followed laid-down procurement procedures and that a payment of the US$5 million was given to the proposer without bank guarantees.
ZACC investigations were also reportedly hampered at the Red Cross Society where some bosses were being accused of corruption. Some whistleblowers were identified and fired, which affected ZACC investigations.
At the Registrar General’s office, ZACC also cried foul after some witnesses were demoted while others were transferred upon disclosure of their identities. -Herald
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has said it has since corrected the spelling errors on some of its vehicles…
The police posted on Twitter to announce the development:
“The ZRP appreciates and notes the concerns raised by members of the public on spelling errors by the contractor on vehicles. The ZRP Transport Section has since corrected the anomalies. We thank the public for the observation.”
The spelling errors had prompted some to say the tender was given to an incompetent contractor.
Commenting on the corrections, some highlighted the significance of social media as it was in this case used to alert authorities of an issue they were not aware of.- Pindula News
Three unemployed Harare men on Saturday appeared before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga facing allegations of stealing passport forms.
Simon Matsika (37), Bisset Chikura (39) and Antony Mubweza (49) were remanded on $5 000 bail each. They were all represented by Tapson Dzvetero.
The complainant is the State represented by Tarisai Chitanhi, who is employed by the Registrar-General’s Office as a cashier supervisor.
Allegations are that on July 1, the Registrar-General’s Office received 10 boxes with a total of 20 000 passport application forms from Fidelity Printers and Refiners (Private) Limited with serial numbers ranging from 4159001 to 4179000.
However, a total of 90 passport application forms with serial numbers 417001 to 4175090 were stolen by one of the employees in the Registrar-General’s Office passport section.
The State alleges that one of the stolen passport application formswas submitted for processing in the name of Paul Mutatobi.
Detectives then carried out investigations, which resulted in the arrest of Mubweza, who in turn implicated Chikura. Chikura then led detectives to Matsika.
Matsika confessed that the forms had been stolen by an unnamed employee at the Registrar-General’s Office. -Newsday
By Dorrothy Moyo | Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to clash with the man he usurped power from using both the Zim army and Zambian state security against, Nelson Chamisa, in that same neighbouring country tomorrow.
Both politicians have been invited by the incoming Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema for his inauguration.
While Chamisa’s itinerary was not clear, Mnangagwa leaves Zimbabwe today to join other Heads of State at the inauguration of new Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka tomorrow.
President-elect Hichilema won the recent Zambian presidential election, beating former President Edgar Lungu by almost one million votes. He garnered 2 810 757 votes, while Mr Lungu trailed with 1 814 201 and conceded defeat, committing to hand over power peacefully.
Last week in his congratulatory message Mnangagwa wished the new Zambian leader well during his presidential term and pledged to work with him closely in strengthening ties between the two countries.
Mnangagwa assured President-elect Hichilema that Zimbabwe would, in its relations with Zambia, build on the deep historical ties forged between our two nations during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, as well on the partnership maintained by outgoing President Edgar Lungu.
“As you assume your term of office, I wish to assure you of my availability to work closely with you to solidify and deepen the cordial relations that exist between our two sister republics for the mutual benefit of our two peoples.
“I also wish to assure you of my readiness to work closely with you at the regional, continental and international levels as we seek advance the ideals of development peace and stability,” he said.
Deputy Chief Secretary-Presidential Communications in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr George Charamba, said Mnangagwa had warmly accepted President-elect Hichilema’s invitation to his inauguration tomorrow in Lusaka in the spirit of Sadc collegiality.
He said this was also a recognition of the role Mnangagwa played in stabilising the potential volatile post-election in Zambia last week.
“The president-elect reached out to President Mnangagwa and he was able to communicate his fears over the smooth transition to the President, as the outgoing member of the organ troika.
“President Mnangagwa then reached out to the outgoing President Lungu to respect the wishes of the Zambian people. That way both the victor and loser opened channels of communication, thereby securing the peace that is prevailing in Zambia post-election.
Mr Charamba also said Sadc Heads of State are all behind President-elect Hichilema as he had won the election.
“When the President was in Malawi last week, All Sadc heads in attendance agreed that they must attend the inauguration ceremony as part of their support for the political and election process in Zambia, which after all is the cradle of liberation movements in Southern Africa,” he said.
Mr Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambian businessman and politician.
After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016, he won the 2021 presidential election with over 59 percent of the vote. He has led the United Party for National Development.
After he was announced as the winner last week, President-elect Hichilema pledged that his government would deliver on the promise of change.
Rebuffing political smear campaigns based on tribe and ethnicity, he urged the public to mark his scorecard after he names his first cabinet in just over a week’s time after his inauguration.
“We want to send a signal to reunite this country under the One Zambia, One Nation motto. Jobs shall be given on equal merit without looking at one’s surname,” appointing them with an eye on the public interest, he stated.
He extended an olive branch to every political opponent and citizen that did not vote for him, saying he will be a President for all Zambians and promised not to gag media and civil society.
Mnangagwa describes Zimbabwe and Zambia as Siamese twins due to the deep relations among the two countries.
The development comes as Mnangagwa used the Lungu-presidency Zambian state security to abuse the Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance party, what is now set to be impossible in the future. In August 2018, when Mnangagwa used the army to change the election results (an event filmed on ZBC TV), he used the Zambian state security to abduct MDC Alliance Deputy President Tendai Biti and forcibly drive him back to Zimbabwe and face false charges. As a result of this abuse, the killing of 6 innocent civilians has remained unresolved and a further 19 have been murdered by Mnangagwa’s state security since then; and commenting on this the Human Rights Watch Southern Africa Director, Dewa Mavhinga said the two Lungu and Mnangagwa used enjoyed impunity during Lungu’s presidency. (Watch video)
Zambia also played a pivotal role in the liberation of Zimbabwe.
SOME members of the history-making Warriors team that clinched Zimbabwe’s maiden ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in 2004 believe the team can progress beyond group stages at next year’s competition if ZIFA puts its house in order.
They emphasised the need for transparency in player selection.
The Warriors were on Tuesday handed a fair draw when they were pooled with Group B seeds — Senegal, Malawi and Guinea.
Having been postponed due to Covid-19, the tournament has now been set for Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
Since making their debut in Tunisia in 2004, the Warriors have failed to progress beyond the group stage.
However, there is growing belief skipper Knowledge Musona and his Class of 2021 can finally clear that hurdle in Cameroon.
The Warriors have a talented cast of players who include Aston Villa’s Marvelous Nakamba, Tino Kadewere (Olympic Lyon), Marshal Munetsi (Reims), Teenage Hadebe (Houston Dynamo), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Prince Dube (Azam) and Musona, who is now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia.
Most local fans view 2019 finalists Senegal as the biggest threat to Zimbabwe’s Group B quest.
Guinea have been inconsistent over the years, while COSAFA rivals Malawi are considered fair game.
Former Warriors defender George Mbwando feels the national team has another big challenge.
“The only difficult opponent in our group is ZIFA,” quipped the Germany-based Mbwando.
ZIFA have notoriously come short each time they prepare national teams for major events.
Three years ago, their bungling at AFCON finals in Egypt forced the Warriors to go on strike on the eve of the African football showpiece.
The team eventually bowed out with just a point. Next year, they will open their campaign with a date against Senegal on January 10.
They will then play Malawi on January 14 before facing Guinea four days later.
Transparency in player selection has also come under the spotlight, as there were allegations that some players paid their way into the team.
“The rumours that have been doing rounds about players paying money to be in the team may be true because we have been hearing that for a long time now.
“If the coaches are not the ones picking the team (as alleged), so what’s the use of the coaches . . .
“The problem is there is no transparency in anything, so nothing will come out if there is no order,” said Mbwando, who was part of the historic Warriors squad that made a maiden appearance in 2004 under Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa.
Some believe coach Zdravko “Loga” Logarusic is still being influenced to select certain players.- The Sunday Mail
By Deborah Harry | 2023 is around the corner and if we do not start organising in wards, towns and cities in Zimbabwe, we will heard into a shocking election just like what happened in 2013. Let’s not be overconfident that people will vote for us. Not only that but the votes need to be protected. Which is why we need to organise ourselves with the goal of having our own electoral monitors watching over everything.
As we all know, many of our people in Zimbabwe who all cannot wait to see Zanu of gone, are not in a position to fund the party to the extent required because of the poverty Zanu continues to hit them with. As such, all of us in the diaspora who are fed up with Zanu and can’t wait to see them out, should come in and raise funds for the election.
Elections need money, everyone knows that. The problem is that a lot of people take this fact for granted. Even in America, Obama, Trump, Biden all of them carried out fundraisers. These are people in peaceful countries, imagine us who are being ruled by a military . We need to raise funds. Many of the activists in Zimbabwe are willing and able to campaign for the party, but they need support with travel and food. Fundraisers can be done, we just need to organise and ensure that we involve the women. In the UK, in my experience, the most successful fundraisers have been the ones that were led by women organisations. In the diaspora, several women organisations including those from within the MDC Alliance have a king tradition of raising funds for various causes in Zimbabwe. We need this spirit on a larger scale going into this election if we are to have any chance of winning the 2023 election.
By Deborah Harry
MDC Alliance Reading Branch Organising Secretary
A Chipinge man has been sentenced to 36 months in jail for having sexual intercourse with a minor as defined in Section 70 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Msindo Makuyana (48), of New Year’s Gift, had been living with a 14-year-old juvenile (name withheld because of her age) as husband and wife since 8 August when the two met at Samhutsa Business Centre.
Makuyana appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Elizabeth Hanzi on Tuesday, who convicted him on his own guilty plea and sentenced him to 36 months in jail.
Six months were suspended on condition that he will not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Asked why he committed the offence, Makuyana said he was misled by the girl’s physical appearance. He said:
I was not aware of the girl’s age. I thought she was an adult since she has a big body. I am begging for lenience because I am in good books with my wife (the minor). I also did not force her to be my wife.
Prosecutor Chipo Matanga told the court that Makuyana’s marriage to the minor came to light after the two visited the complainant’s aunt, Susan Sigauke where she (the complainant) intended to introduce Makuyana as her husband.
Sigauke told Makuyana that he cannot marry the complainant because of her age.
She (Sigauke) made a police report on Monday leading to Makuyana’s arrest.
The complainant was taken to Chipinge District Hospital for medical examination.- Manica Post
MTHWAKAZI Republic Party (MRP) leader Mqondisi Moyo has said any government initiative towards resolving Gukurahundi will not work as they dismissed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s meeting with traditional leaders in Bulawayo today as meaningless.
Mnangagwa met members of the National Chiefs Council (NCC) at the State House in the country’s second city where it was resolved to allow a victim-centred process and case by case exhumations and reburials.
The meeting came after chiefs conducted a two-week consultative process with unnamed Matabeleland civic society organisations and the clergy on issues affecting Matabeleland, particularly the unresolved 1980’s massacres.
However, in reaction, the MRP said there will never be any closure on Gukurahundi without a truth-telling commission and Mnangagwa stepping aside.
“Let me reiterate that as MRP and Mthwakazi in general, meaningful Gukurahundi related talks should begin with the establishment of a truth-telling commission that will operate independent of Zanu-PF and government,” Moyo said.
“It is the people of Mthwakazi who should truly lead the process, not Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF, not Mnangagwa aligned chiefs but chiefs who are known for integrity and serving with distinction.
“Mnangagwa led negotiations are unacceptable. How can the perpetrator be a referee? It has been said that other people have been invited to the planned meeting.”
Mnangagwa has been mentioned as having been one of the key players in Gukurahundi as he was a State Security minister at the time of the massacres.
According to the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice (CCJP) over 20 000 people were killed in Matabeleland and Midlands when the late Robert Mugabe sent a North Korean trained force to ostensibly silence dissent and any attempts aimed at toppling his government.
This followed the discovery of arms caches at Zapu properties.- cite.org.zw
England-based Zimbabwe Warriors prospect Macauley Bonne scored both goals for Ipswich Town in their entertaining 2-2 stalemate with MK Dons in League One on Saturday.
The 26-year old former Charlton Athletic striker has been impressive for Paul Cook’s charges since the 2021/22 season began, having rescued them with a last minute equaliser in the season-opener against Morecambe.
Bonne opened the scoring in the 16th minute, when he was found by a pass from Rekeem Harper and went past Dons goalkeeper Andrew Fisher, before blasting the ball into the roof of the net.
That brilliant effort was the difference between the two sides at the break.
Just before the hour-mark, MK Dons levelled matters through a well-taken Scott Twine free-kick, but the parity did not last long, as Bonne restored Ispwich’s advantage shortly after, to make it 2-1.
Matt O’Riley would make sure the points are shared, with an equaliser 15 minutes before the end.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the late founding leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, Dr Morgan Tsvangirai as a great companion.
According to President Chamisa, Dr Tsvangirai was a father to many people.
In a brief statement released on Saturday, President Chamisa implored citizens to register to vote.
“This great man( Dr Morgan Tsvangirai) was just more than a leader and father and to many.
To me, Dr MT was a great companion and confidant. I miss his naughty smile and our happy moments..
WANGU, go and register to vote!
Right Honourable Tsvangirai with Advocate Nelson Chamisa
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.
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.
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.
New guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) sets essential standards to inform future research and development on genetically modified mosquitoes, particularly in addressing issues relating to ethics, safety, affordability and effectiveness.
Malaria and other vector-borne diseases, including dengue and Zika, affect millions globally. More than 400 000 people a year die from malaria alone. If proven safe, effective and affordable, genetically modified vector mosquitoes could be a valuable new tool to fight these diseases and eliminate their enormous health, social and economic burden.
The guidance framework for testing genetically modified mosquitoes, developed in partnership with TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, and the GeneConvene Global Collaborative, an initiative of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, describes best practices to ensure that the study and evaluation of genetically modified mosquitoes as public health tools is safe, ethical and rigorous.
Current strategies for limiting transmission of mosquito-borne diseases are only partially effective. New, complementary approaches are needed to close the gaps in current vector control interventions, such as effective control of outdoor biting, and to provide alternatives to manage the increasing threat of insecticide resistance. Research suggests genetically modified mosquitoes could be a powerful and cost-effective tool to supplement existing interventions.
“We urgently need innovative approaches to help control mosquito-borne diseases, which have a devastating impact around the world,” said Dr John Reeder, TDR Director. “Genetically modified mosquitoes is one such approach, but we want to be sure it’s fully and responsibly evaluated, as outlined in a recent WHO position statement.”
“Like any new public health intervention, genetically modified mosquitoes raise new questions for researchers, affected communities and other stakeholders,” said Dr Michael Santos, Director of the GeneConvene Global Collaborative.
“The updated guidance framework aims to answer these questions and help ensure that testing of genetically modified mosquitoes is as rigorous as it is for other public health products – and that it generates quality results to guide decisions about if and how these technologies are used.”
“Over the last 2 decades, we have achieved remarkable results with existing malaria control tools, averting more than 7 million deaths and 1.5 billion cases of the disease,” said Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme.
“However, progress towards key targets of our global malaria strategy remains off course. Genetically modified mosquitoes are one of a number of promising new tools that could help speed the pace of progress against malaria and other vector-borne diseases.”
“The incidence of dengue continues to increase and affect people in over 129 countries, so we need more sustainable vector control tools to stem the tide of dengue and other arboviral diseases and a few novel tools offer the potential to control these diseases,” said Dr Mwele Malecela, Director of the WHO Department for the Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
“We welcome this new guidance from WHO which will help countries suffering from mosquito-borne diseases to evaluate a promising new intervention,” said Professor Aggrey Ambali, Senior Advisor at the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), the development agency of the African Union.
The new guidance addresses specific questions and challenges associated with research and development on genetically modified mosquitoes, including standards for decision-making about how and when testing should proceed.
By establishing a common set of expectations that is specific to genetically modified mosquitoes, the new resource will enable more informed and rigorous evaluation by researchers, developers, those responsible for regulatory and policy decisions and the people to whom these stakeholders are accountable.
The guidance builds on an earlier document published by TDR and FNIH in 2014, incorporating the latest scientific advancements related to genetic modification of mosquitoes, as well as other key updates and learnings related to safety and ethics, including:
methods for understanding the implications of genetically modified mosquitoes for human health, animal health and the environment; increased understanding of the most effective strategies for risk assessment and stakeholder engagement; clearer criteria for projects to proceed from one testing phase to the next, incorporating descriptions of the steps needed to safely and responsibly take genetically modified mosquito technologies – including those incorporating gene drive – into the field; and a concrete set of safety and efficacy considerations that should be evaluated at each phase of testing, to inform decisions about further testing and implementation…
Source: World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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This afternoon, 21st August, 2021, we held a meeting at our residence in Lusaka with some of the Ambassadors and High Commissioners from African countries, accredited to Zambia.
During our meeting, we emphasised that democracy is key for development in Africa and that before looking elsewhere for social, political and economic solutions, we must first look within our continent. And under this score, we stated that there is no need of our people to be shedding blood in order to have their desired leadership and that going forward, Zambia will begin to experience freedoms which will allow diplomats and even citizens to enjoy their rights.
We also stated to the Ambassadors that the African continent is capable of creating jobs, skills and business opportunities before looking to the outside world and that this will be one of our key thematic areas during our tenure of office.
On the bilateral and multilateral front, we stated that we will remain open and available because our central focus is economic growth not only for our Country but Africa as a whole.
We are confident that when a clear road map is set, Zambia will begin to witness less imports but more exports in the areas of human resource and other areas.
The Ambassadors and High Commissioners we met are from: Malawi, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Congo, Namibia, Somalia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Morocco.
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.
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.
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.
▪️The NCA party has noted with disgust, a false story being circulated under the heading ” Retire from politics- Madhuku scoffs at Chamisa’s fresh bid to join the national dialogue (VIDEO).
▪️The NCA party wishes to advise all concerned person/s that everything in the article is false.
▪️ The article refers its readers to a non-existent ZBC news video. The link purportedly given for the video leads to information on ZBC licenses.
▪️The NCA President, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, never had any interview with the ZBC in which he made the alleged statements.
▪️As a matter of principle, NCA party President would never issue such statements and the NCA party does not have such an approach to the politics of our country.
▪️For the record, Professor Madhuku, as a person, is very close to Advocate Nelson Chamisa, as a person.
▪️ The NCA President does not, and will not, engage in politics of personal insults.
▪️On the contrary, the NCA party believes that every citizen has a right to participate in politics at whatever level of their choice.
▪️ The NCA party is a separate and independent political party building itself into a formidable political organisation ready to compete in our country’s political terrain in all future elections.
▪️Further, POLAD remains open and there is no way the NCA party can block entry into POLAD by key political players like the political party being led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
▪️The NCA party strongly condemns political actors who drag its President into their creation of fake news to satisfy their selfish and narrow minded political agendas.
▪️ In this case, why put into the mouth of the NCA party President their own preferred words against Advocate Nelson Chamisa?
▪️We condemn the political individual/s behind this fake story because it is not only politically unacceptable but is also distorting the NCA party message to all stakeholders.
▪️The fake story is meant to attack both Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the NCA party.
▪️Let the NCA party and its President speak for themselves: to be sure, the NCA party will always speak out against some of the positions of its political competitors, but it must be allowed to do so on its own terms and in its own words.
▪️As NCA party we call upon all Zimbabweans and any interested person/s to ignore the fake article that is as fake as its non existent authors.
Issued By Madock Chivasa NCA Party National Spokesperson Phone +263 772 904 492 +263 775 614 471 Email [email protected] Facebook National Constitutional Assembly.
By A Correspondent- Some unemployed youths have said they are unmoved by threats of sanctions on unvaccinated people saying they have no access to formal spaces even before the imposition of sanctions.
In recent weeks, government officials and some companies have been threatening sanctions on the unvaccinated.
In February, during the commissioning of the Gwayi-Shangani dam pipeline, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said no one will be forced to be vaccinated adding “but there will come a time, if you are not vaccinated you will not be able to get a job.”
He added:
If you are not vaccinated you will not be able to board a Zupco bus. Eventually, you will have to decide for yourself.
In July, the government-sanctioned unvaccinated civil servants from work, denying them special COVID-19 allowances while denying them access to subsidised Zupco transport to state employees.
The government has been moving towards mandatory COVID-19 vaccination as panic sets in over soaring COVID-19 cases and fatalities.
However, unemployed 29-year-old Arthur Chimombe of Bulawayo is unmoved. Chimombe said:In any case, the sanctions on the unvaccinated civil servants do not affect me. I am unemployed, and have not received any support from the government; financial or otherwise.
Chimombe says his decision to vaccinate or not is not going to be influenced by what seemingly looks like mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, but by his desire to save himself from infection.
Bulawayo City Council (BCC) health services director, Edwin Sibanda, says the council has no ready aggregated statistics on the number of youth, employed and unemployed who have been vaccinated.
Sibanda, however, indicated that “the uptake is not as good as we expected.”
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)has sued companies, including government parastatals, that ordered workers to take the Covid-19 vaccines – or risk losing their jobs.
By A Correspondent- United States pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna last Wednesday started trials of its experimental mRNA HIV vaccine.
Moderna has enrolled 56 healthy adults without HIV to test the safety of the vaccine mRNA-1644 and basic immune response.
The vaccine is a collaboration between Moderna, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
The candidate, mRNA-1644, is based on the same mRNA platform as Moderna’s highly effective Covid-19 jab, which is one of two of the only mRNA vaccines to be authorised anywhere in the world. The other is Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine.
“The uniquely challenging year of 2020 for all of society proved to be an extraordinary proof-of-concept period for Moderna,” said Moderna’s CEO Stéphane Bancel in a January 2021 update about the firm’s vaccine programmes.
“Even as we have shown that our mRNA-based vaccine can prevent Covid-19, this has encouraged us to pursue more-ambitious development programmes within our prophylactic vaccines modality. Today we are announcing three new vaccine programmes addressing seasonal flu, HIV and the Nipah virus, some of which have eluded traditional vaccine efforts, and all of which we believe can be addressed with our mRNA technology.”
mRNA-1644 is the first HIV mRNA vaccine to be trialled in humans. Moderna will also be trialling another version of the candidate called mRNA-1644v2-Core. Both have been tested for safety in non-human subjects.
Targeting B-cell responses
mRNA-1644 is designed to stimulate B cells of the immune system to generate broadly neutralising antibodies (bnAbs) against the virus.
In 2009 previously undescribed potent bnAbs from large groups of HIV-infected individuals were first identified. It was the isolation of these antibodies that renewed activity in HIV vaccine development.
By investigating how these antibodies interact with the virus and neutralise it in lab tests, scientists were able to underpin numerous spots of vulnerability on the HIV virus, which they used to design vaccine immunogens.
The first of these engineered immunogens is eOD-GT8 60mer, developed by IAVI and partners. In a Phase I trial scientists tested whether this approach would stimulate the human immune system to initiate the generation of bnAbs.
An additional development that ignited interest in the design of immunogens to induce bnAbs was the gaining of a clearer understanding of HIV’s outermost protein – the HIV Envelope glycoprotein, which is the target of all bnAbs
“For decades scientists were hindered by their inability to capture the precise structure of this notoriously unstable trimeric protein,” IAVI has noted. “But recent advances have allowed them to both stabilise and understand HIV Envelope in unprecedented detail.”
Now, the Moderna trial will explore how to deliver the eOD-GT8 60mer immunogen with Moderna’s mRNA technology and investigate how to use mRNA to direct cells to make proteins that will elicit immune responses against HIV.
The holy grail for HIV on the horizon?
A highly stigmatised virus, HIV is no longer a death sentence but it is responsible for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a lifelong, progressive disease with no effective cure.
According to Moderna, approximately 38 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV with 1.2 million in the United States. Approximately two million new infections of HIV are acquired worldwide every year and around 690,000 people die annually due to complications from HIV/AIDS.
The most common routes of transmission are sexual intercourse and IV drug use, meaning that younger people are at the highest risk of infection.
HIV represents a significant economic burden – from 2000 to 2015, a total of US$562.6 billion globally was spent on care, treatment and prevention of HIV.
The first vaccine for this devastating disease is considered a holy grail in pharma.
There have been multiple attempts before now but many were found to be unsafe and most failed to demonstrate a hint of effectiveness – two studies evaluating adenovirus type-5 vectored vaccines for HIV (Ad5) in the 2000s were found to actually increase the risk of HIV infection.
Other vaccines for various infectious diseases including Covid use an inactive form of the virus they aim to generate an immune response for – in some cases “live” viruses are used.
mRNA vaccines however don’t contain any parts of a virus meaning that they should be safer.
With this type of vaccine, a piece of messenger RNA that codes for a part of the virus, in this case HIV, is enfolded into a vector. Once injected, the mRNA travels inside cells, where the cells’ genetic machinery produces the virus protein. Based on that protein, the immune system is then trained to recognise the virus so that when it encounters it, it rallies to attack it.
Over the years, HIV has mutated into numerous variants. Another possible benefit of the mRNA approach is that it is viewed as easily modifiable, meaning it could have an edge over other vaccine techniques.
Moderna noted the Phase I trial, to be conducted with US academic partners including the University of Texas at San Antonio, George Washington University, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Emory University, is expected to be completed by May 2023.
If the vaccine is found to be safe and shows signs of generating an immune response, it will progress to more advanced trials and spur hopes that a comprehensive solution to one of the world’s most devastating pandemics is on the way.
As IAVI president Mark Feinberg wrote in June at the 40th anniversary of the HIV epidemic: “The only real hope we have of ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic is through the deployment of an effective HIV vaccine, one that is achieved through the work of partners, advocates, and community members joining hands to do together what no one individual or group can do on its own.”
(This article was originally published by Clinical Trials Arena)
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police has said it has since corrected the spelling errors on some of its vehicles…
The police posted on Twitter to announce the development:
“The ZRP appreciates and notes the concerns raised by members of the public on spelling errors by the contractor on vehicles. The ZRP Transport Section has since corrected the anomalies. We thank the public for the observation.”
The spelling errors had prompted some to say the tender was given to an incompetent contractor.
Commenting on the corrections, some highlighted the significance of social media as it was in this case used to alert authorities of an issue they were not aware of.- Pindula News
By Prince Njagu- If Zambian youths did it so can Zimbabwean youths, they went in their numbers to vote for change and reshape the future of their beloved country in the recently ended Presidential elections. Opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema the incoming president won with more than a million votes, defeating outgoing Edgar Lungu.
The young people of Zimbabwe can see to the change they want in the next coming election.
The people have lived in fear for far too long, but victory of the opposition in Zambia has rekindled hopes for every Zimbabwean. “As a matter of fact ZANU PF has been unsettled and has sleepless nights and is working 27/7 in light of Zambia, Malawi electoral outcomes and the general winds of change in the region.
We have a responsibility to publicly chide on record the opposition to be on the pedal,” said political analyst Pedzisayi Ruhanya. The soldiers and all the uniformed forces should join hands in protecting the citizen vote in the next election.
They should refuse to be used to intimidate civilians. Zambian youth activist Joseph Kalimbwe said,
“My support for the struggles of friends and comrades across our continent, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania is unwavering, it will not stop.
They chose the hard path of supporting our UPND struggles when others refused to associate with us in the opposition. 2023 is about reshaping Zimbabwe through the ballot box. Everyone who is eligible to vote should go and do so. They can never be a right time to chase away the dictator.
ZANU PF has for far too long oppressed and used the uniformed forces to silence the people. Kalimbwe said, “Vote out oppressive ruling parties.”
Everyone in the country is suffering under the Emmerson Mnangagwa regime. Only a few elite benefit from the corrupt system.
Hospitals and roads are in dilapidated. Zimbabwe used to be one of the biggest economies in Africa, but now it is ranked as one of the worst.
MDC-A National spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said,
“If you want jobs, food on the table, functioning hospitals, good roads, quality education, modern infrastructure and lives of dignity,
By Nomusa Garikai- The primary purpose of the 2008 to 2013 GNU was to implement the democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF rigging elections and repeat the blatant rigging of the 2008 elections.
Not even one reform was implemented and neither Zanu PF nor MDC, the partners in the GNU, have ever bother to explain why this golden opportunity was wasted.
In 2013 SADC leaders advised Morgan Tsvangirai and his fellow MDC leaders not to participate in the election without first implementing the reforms because Zanu PF was set to rig those elections. As we all know MDC leaders paid no heed and participated and, as predicted, Zanu PF blatantly rigged those elections.
Tsvangirai and company were up in arms complaining that Zanu PF rigged the elections. The whole world ignored the MDC leaders’ complains since they are the ones who had ignored the warning the elections will be rigged.
It must be said here that by participating MDC gave the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy.
Chamisa asked the nation to participate in the 2018 elections, again with no reforms in place because “MDC A has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections,” he argued.
Whatever those “stringent measures” were they clearly did not work because Zanu PF blatantly rigged the 2018 elections and, once again by participating the nation gave Zanu PF legitimacy. Chamisa and company complained of Zanu PF stealing the elections, conveniently forgetting that they are the ones who had insisted on participating with no reforms in place.
Right now, Chamisa and company are gearing to participate in the 2023 elections; there is not even one meaningful reform implemented and therefore Zanu PF is set to blatantly rig those elections. When Chamisa was pressure to justify why the 2023 elections will not be rigged just as happened in the 2013 and 2018 elections. Instead of offering “stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging elections” Chamisa is now offering “a SOLID PLAN (Chamisa’s emphasis, not mine) to deliver meaningful change in 2023 elections!”
Many Zimbabweans have expressed their concern that Zimbabwe’s heed SADC leaders’ June 2013 advice and postpone elections until democratic reforms to guarantee free, fair and credible elections are implemented. And the nation has been waiting for Nelson Chamisa and his MDC A friends to give more details of the solid plan and solid assurance this is not going to be a repeat of the 2013 and 2018 rigged elections.
“This great man was just more than a leader and father to many. To me, Dr MT was a great companion and confidant. I miss his naughty smile and our happy moments. WANGU (Mine) go and register to vote! Happy Saturday.” Was the latest Tweet from Nelson Chamisa.
He has completely ignored the many voices asking for solid assurance Zimbabwe is not being dragged into yet another flawed and illegal elections to try out the opposition’s kaleidoscopic Win In Rigged Elections (WIRE for short) strategies. He is hammering in his flagship WIRE strategy of registering to vote on mass and then, when the time comes, voting on mass.
Mass voting has clearly not worked in the past for many reasons, and it is naïve to expect things to be any different. In any case, Zanu PF has just announced that the party would once again deny the 3 million plus Zimbabweans in the diaspora the vote; although it was none other than President Mnangagwa himself who had promised in September 2018 that this quirk would be put right.
Zimbabwe is in a serious economic mess with the economy in total meltdown, unemployment an nauseating 90% plus, basic services such as education and health care have all but collapsed and 49% of our people now live in abject poverty. The root cause of the economic mess is the failure to hold free, fair and credible elections; the nation has been stuck with this corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship for 41 years. Zanu PF has rigged elections since the country attained her independence in 1980.
The human suffering from the economic meltdown is simply intolerable and unsustainable socially and politically. To address the causes of economic meltdown we must first cure ourselves of the curse of bad governance resulting from the rigged elections.
It is infuriating that the nation had the golden opportunity to implement the raft of democratic reforms designed to end the chronic vote rigging during the 2008 to 2013 GNU and the opportunity was wasted. Worse still, since 2013 the nation has been participating in flawed elections giving the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy whilst trying out MDC’s many mystical WIRE strategies.
The pressing need to address Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown and the tragic human suffering it has brought means the country cannot afford yet another rigged 2023 elections. The nation has two choices:
The nation must demand proof Chamisa’s “SOLID PLAN” will indeed deliver the promised “real change” (and that this real change is nothing short of regime change). The only sure way to deliver regime change is by stopping Zanu PF rigging elections; it is hard to see how Chamisa’s plan can achieve this given there is only two years to go before 2023 elections. It is almost certain the so-called “solid plan” is just a jumble of tried and failed MDC WIRE strategies. The nation must not participate in these elections, including taking part in the ongoing voter registration, on the basis of another “mumbo jumbo” Chamisa plan, as Tsitsi Dangarembga. We must not repeat the mistake of participating and thus give the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy ever again.
The nation must go ahead and make its second choice, demand the implementing of the democratic reforms before elections; SADC leaders proposed this back in June 2013 and both Zanu PF and MDC paid no heed, it was the right decision back then and is even more so now.
Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown is a man-made crisis; a consequence of 41 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and rank lawlessness earning the nation the pariah state status. All the nation must do to end its pariah state status is implement a raft of democratic reforms designed to restore the individual freedoms and rights including the right to free, fair and credible elections. The nation has had many opportunities to implement the reforms and wasted them all. The 2023 elections are a chance to get the reforms finally implemented and there must be no slip-up this time!
By A Correspondent- The multi-million-dollar government-funded Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) in Chiredzi is now mired in controversy after it emerged that tenders were allegedly awarded without due diligence.
One of the companies that clinched the tender to fix the drainage system has a questionable background, it has emerged.
Trade Code Investments is accused of doing substandard work after clinching the tender.
Work on 110 metres of the 150-metre project is said to be of poor quality in both the materials used and workmanship.
Trade Code and Ablixon Investment are working on the drainage system.
Ablixon only delivered a small pile of concrete stones before allegedly disappearing. It could not be established where it is operating from or its directors.
Trade Code Investment has not finished constructing a laboratory at Chiredzi Government High School after it won a US$300 000 tender to construct the building six years ago.
The science laboratory has been a white elephant since then.
District schools inspector (DSI) Petronella Nyangwe, confirmed that the building was lying idle but referred further questions to the provincial education director (PED), Shylette Mhike.
“I can confirm that there is an impasse between the school and the contractor; but you can talk to the PED. She will give the ministry’s position,” Nyangwe said.
“I am not allowed to talk to the press.”
However, the PED could not be reached for comment as her mobile phone went unanswered.
Investigations revealed that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is constructing a new court building next to another existing one which was commissioned in 2016, and is hardly five years old.
The project, which was funded by Plan International was led by Trade Code Investments.
JSC secretary Walter Chikwana could neither deny nor confirm that the building was sub-standard, but only said it was a temporary court.
Chikwana said Tongaat Hulett partnered the JSC this time around and undertook to sponsor the rehabilitation of the court premises.
He said construction would be supervised by the district chief architect from the Local Government and Public Works ministry.
“All I can say is that (building) was a temporary court because it has prefabricated walls. Plan International just offered to construct the court for us,” Chikwana said.
“The refurbishment of the court is in line with the JSC’s quest to ensure access to justice for all.”
“The Triangle circuit court will then be converted into a fully-fledged resident magistrates court to ensure the expeditious completion of cases in the Lowveld.”
Plan International spokesperson Sibusisiwe Ndhlovu requested for time to check if the building they funded was a temporary structure.
Trade Code was also blacklisted from doing business with Tongaat Hulett after it was contracted to ferry manure given for free to Tongaat by a reputable Chiredzi based abattoir.
The company allegedly connived with Tongaat employees to bill the company for both transport and the free manure.
Venancio Kurauone who is Trade Code Investments director and chairperson of the controversial Zanu-PF-linked Lowveld Business Development Association confirmed that the laboratory remained unfinished six years later.
“I did not get much from constructing that laboratory,” Kurauone said.
“In fact, I ran a loss.
“They failed to calculate that I have to remit 25% of their payment to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority as tax.
“So when they added other jobs that we didn’t agree on in the first place; that’s where we encountered a problem.
“As for the Tongaat issue it was blown out of proportion.
“The matter was resolved that’s why the workers involved were not dismissed.
“I will soon be back at Tongaat because it needs me more than I do.”
United Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers’ Association (UCHIRRA) has since written to Chiredzi town council expressing their displeasure at the tender process.
Part of the letter dated August 13, 2021 signed by the association’s advocacy officer, Constance Chikumbo read: “Some of the contractors, who were hired have a history of corruption and doing shoddy jobs.
“We expect council to tender respectable companies with clean history.
“As a result, residents fear continued corrupt activities.
“Lack of trust by residents may result in them dodging to pay their rates. As the representative of the people, UCHIRRA would like transparency, accountability and improved citizen participation to enhance better service delivery.”
Chiredzi town secretary Charles Muchatukwa was not reachable for comment.
By A Correspondent- Robert Martin Gumbura heavily divided opinion in life and continues doing so in death.
He died of Covid-19-relatied complications at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison aged 65 while serving time for rap_ing several women.
He was jailed in 2014 and was initially sentenced to 50 years in prison, 10 of which were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Part of his sentence also included a conviction of being found in possession of porn0graphic material.
However, while some people couldn’t care less about his demise, family, friends and congregants still maintained he was wrongly convicted.
They all claim he was an upright man.
Up until his untimely death, they still hoped his bid for freedom would be granted, as he was appealing against both conviction and sentence.
To them, the clergyman was a “victim of some complicated conspiracy”.
Last year, Gumbura’s sentence was slashed to 20 years after a series of appeals made through the High Court.
And by the time of his death, the RGM Independent End Time Messages Church founder had served nearly half of his reviewed sentence.
Shocked
“His death came as a shock. We were never told that he was sick and up to now we are still trying to come to terms with the fact that he is no more.
“We are grieving, a lot is happening and I will be able to give you more details in due course when things hopefully settle,” the late Gumbura’s second wife and family spokesperson, Queen Bunga, told The Sunday Mail Society.
His brother, Innocent Gumbura, was equally distraught.
“We got a call from prison officials the night before his (Gumbura) death, asking us to bring some medication for him. Unfortunately, when we delivered the items the following morning, he was already dead.
“I am still confused to say the least. They should have told us in time that he was not well or at least allowed us to conduct a postmortem to ascertain the cause of death,” he said.
Gumbura’s death has naturally led to growing questions on the fate of his 11 wives, 33 children, church and various businesses and properties he left behind.
His first born is 38-years-old, while the last is aged eight.
The total number of assets is yet to be ascertained but includes 11 houses, several church buildings, a mine, farm and a fleet of more than 20 vehicles.
Nothing has been distributed yet.
“The family is still collecting all his personal belongings from his various homes around the country, bringing them to his Harare residence. Likewise, we have asked all the wives to temporarily move to Harare so that we do things as a family at once.
“It is hectic, we are conducting a lot of meetings to set up a Trust then we go on to register his estate,” said Innocent.
Gumbura’s wives, he added, are still united despite their husband’s death.
“Everyone is at the 25-bedroomed Marlborough home where we are mapping the way forward.”
According to Gumbura’s brother, all the wives have vowed not to marry again.
“It is us the siblings who seem worried, but the wives are fine, they are united and they stand together as they have always done. They have vowed that they are not going anywhere.”
However, before passing on, Gumbura told The Sunday Mail Society that he did not mind if his wives decided to move on.
“By the time I leave this place, I will be very old, so I cannot be selfish to force them to wait for me; they are free to remarry if they wish,” he said then.
The family survives largely on their farm produce and proceeds from the mine and church.
The farm is presently being run by the second wife.
There are indications, however, that his church did not have a succession plan.
Uncertainty
Apart from the late businessman-cum clergyman’s wives and children, there are at least 50 people, including poor church members, the homeless and orphans, living at the Harare house.
Their fate and future is now uncertain.
“In total, there are about 92 people living there (Marlborough) and we are not related to them, so we have told them to leave because we do not have the capacity to take care of them.
“My brother had a big heart; even in prison, he continued to care for these people, so he would simply give us instructions and we followed. We even paid bail for some people he would have met in prison; that is the type of person he was.
“He paid school fees for many kids whom we are not related to and even provided for a lot of families . . . but if indeed he was a rap_ist, why would those people want to stay with him? Who wants to be associated with a rap_ist?” he queried.
But Gumbura’s brother believes he was a “problem child” before he converted.
Born second in a family of seven, the late clergyman was said to have been the naughtiest child in the family.
He was into all sorts of drugs.
“He was infamous for doing drugs. It was not a secret. But he was not into girlfriends. I do not remember him having any girlfriends, except for Tafadzwa, who later became his first wife. Up to now I do not believe he rap_ed anyone,” said Innocent.
Gumbura spent his early childhood in Gweru before moving to Highfield in Harare, where his parents had bought a house.
However, around 1980, after completing his Advanced Level at Highfield High School, he converted to Christianity, much to the surprise of his family and those who knew him.
He joined the Baptist Church before moving to End Time Messages.
During that time, he enrolled at a local teachers’ college where he studied towards a Diploma in Education.
After graduating, he went on to teach at Regina Mundi, Ascot and Mambo High Schools.
“(Regina) Mundi was a girls’ school but we never got any reports or accusations about girls or women . . . He was, in fact, a good history teacher with a brilliant photographic memory. Once he met someone, he would never forget them,” reminisces the brother.
Phillip, who was Gumbura’s friend, described the late as a jovial and witty character who always left the congregation in stitches during his sermons.
He recalls the several visits in prison when they would talk and laugh endlessly.
“He was always bubbly. It was as if he was not in prison or that he had accepted his predicament,” he said.
Breaking ranks
During the late 1980s, Gumbura, who was still under End Time Messages as a senior member, began preaching about polygamy.
This created a lot of enemies for him.
As a result, he formed a breakaway church in the early 90s and named it RMG Independent End Time Messages Church.
Within three years, the church had more than four branches around the country and over 2000 congregants.
Despite his family trying to talk to him out of it, he remained adamant and went on to establish more branches beyond borders.
But around 1994, he found himself in trouble with the law.
“There were three guys in his church who worked for a local bank and they got involved in some scandal at their workplace,” revealed the brother.
“They got away with large sums of money and used part of it to pay tithes of about US$60 000.”
During investigations at the bank, it was discovered that some of the money had been paid to RMG Independent End Time Messages Church, leading to Gumbura’s arrest.
He appeared in court but was later acquitted after it was discovered that he was not connected to the theft.
But, as if fate wanted him to spend the last part of his life in prison, a few years later he found himself in the dock again.
A man (name withheld) dragged him to court for allegedly having an extramarital affair with his wife.
Due to lack of evidence, the case was dismissed.
In 2014, he hogged the limelight again charged with more than five counts of rap_e.
“There were a lot of enemies in his life, so when he was arrested, this time we did not panic, thinking it was a setup and he would soon be acquitted.”
The family believes Gumbura was a victim of an elaborate plot by his enemies.
“At some point they also arrested me on accusations that I was interfering with witnesses… I had no knowledge about it. Further, I was not even part of his church, so I would not know any of them.
“I also went through the documents on charges of porn0graphy and could not pair any one of the said ladies with him; it was photoshop,” he argued.
According to Innocent, three ladies who implicated him later approached the family, confessing that they had been paid to incriminate him.
“The ladies confirmed to us that this issue involved some high-profile people who were within former president Mugabe’s Government and they were using some members from his previous and new church.
“My brother was simply hated for his work and they wanted to take his wealth, but I believe he is in a better place now because he went through a lot.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has sued a number of companies that ordered workers to take the Covid-19 vaccines – or risk losing their jobs.
In an urgent High Court filing on Friday, the ZCTU said the actions by companies such as Zimnat Insurance, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA), TelOne, Windmill Limited, Seed Co Zimbabwe and the Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences violated workers’ constitutional rights.
Public service minister Paul Mavhima and Attorney-General Prince Machaya are also joined in the court action.
The ZCTU argues in the court application:
There is no law in Zimbabwe making vaccination compulsory. Each person, having fully considered the implications and effects of vaccination, is expected to make a personal decision on whether or not to get vaccinated and where a person decides to get vaccinated, he or she is expected to make a decision relating to the timing of the vaccination…
In the process, the aforesaid employers are infringing the fundamental rights of the affected employees protected by section 51, 52 (c), 65 (1) and 65 (4) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Thousands of workers in Zimbabwe have been affected and thousands are more likely to be affected if this court application is not heard urgently.
The ZCTU said minister Mavhima, through its lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku, was not taking appropriate action to protect the workers as section 17 of the Labour Act (chap 28:01) requires.”
Many companies have been ordering their workers to be vaccinated or lose their jobs while some learning institutions including the University of Zimbabwe are also reportedly threatening to block unvaccinated learners from entering their premises.
Vaccination remains voluntary but members of the public feel the conditions set by many service providers are an indirect way of making vaccination compulsory.
By A Correspondent- About 200 families that were evicted from a farm on the outskirts of Marondera in June are still living in the open as the government is yet to fulfil its promise to resettle them.
The families, mostly Zanu-PF supporters, were kicked out of Maganga Estates, which is owned by Hunyani timberlands.
They are camped on the outskirts of the farm while waiting for alternative land to settle.
“We are still living at this holding camp waiting for the government to fulfil its promises,” one of the settlers said on condition of anonymity.
“We were told that there are 210 hectares to be shared amongst us.
“Our fear is that we are approaching the rain season with nothing tangible on the ground.
“We engaged the Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister Apollonia Munzverengwi and she promised to make sure that we get the alternative land the government promised us.”
An official privy to the developments at Maganga Estates said the government was willing to allocate land to only 46 settlers, who were officially allocated plots at the property.
The evicted farmers occupied the Maganga Estates at the height of the land reform programme despite protests by the legal owners of the land.
Hunyani took the case to the courts and won, but the settlers refused to budge as they enjoyed backing from Zanu-PF.
Munzverengwi was not reachable for comment.
Zanu-PF Marondera district secretary for lands Richmond Chikore said the government was yet to approve plans for a new settlement for the evicted villagers.
“The proposed settlement and irrigation models have been submitted to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Climate Change, Water and Fisheries and Rural Settlements headquarters awaiting approval of the layouts,” Chikore said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has been evicting people that illegally occupied farms during the land reforming programme that was spearheaded by his predecessor, the late Robert Mugabe.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe is among countries that owe international airlines millions of United States dollars from ticket sales, cargo space and other activities.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), about $963 million in airline funds are being blocked from repatriation in nearly 20 countries including Zimbabwe, which owes the airlines $142 million.
Other countries that owe substantial amounts were Bangladesh ($146.1 million), Lebanon ($175.5 million) and Nigeria ($143.8 million). Their debt alone accounts for more than 60% of the total of the total amount owed. However, there has been recent positive progress in reducing blocked funds in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, said IATA.
In Zimbabwe, the introduction of the foreign currency auction system where economic players can bid for foreign currency has also helped in making foreign payments as well as repatriate funds.
“Governments are preventing nearly $1 billion of airline revenues from being repatriated,” according to IATA director general Willie Walsh.
Walsh said failure to repatriate funds contravenes international conventions and could slow the recovery of travel and tourism in affected markets as the airline industry struggles to recover from the Covid-19 crisis.
“Airlines will not be able to provide reliable connectivity if they cannot rely on local revenues to support operations. That is why it is critical for all governments to prioritise ensuring that funds can be repatriated efficiently. Now is not the time to score an ‘own goal’ by putting vital air connectivity at risk.
“We encourage governments to work with industry to resolve the issues that are preventing airlines from repatriating funds. This will enable aviation to provide the connectivity needed to sustain jobs and energise economies as they recover from Covid-19,” said Walsh
By A Correspondent- Health caregivers at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, formerly Harare Hospital and commonly know as Gomo have been accused of being unprofessional
Veteran journalist and health rights defender Caiphas Chimhete said he witnessed unprofessional conduct at the institution during his three-week stay. He narrates:
It would appear as if the health workers in this particular ward (Ward 7) have never read the Patients’ Charter, which emphasises patients’ rights, privacy and confidentiality.
For most of the time during my three-week stay in the ward, they would call patients by the nature of their ailment – the most inhumane thing anyone can do to a sick person.
A very sick patient would be referred to as ‘chigulani’ or the one hospitalised for issues to do with dysfunctional reproductive organs spoken to as ‘uyo we siki anofunga Kuti anopona asingadyi [that one suffering from a sexually transmitted disease thinks he can survive without eating] and they would also talk loudly about those who had multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis who were housed temporarily but “conveniently” at the back of the ward.
As a person that works for an organisation that advocates for people’s health rights, I tried to reason with them, but I was told to mind my business or else transfer to a private hospital…
A number of patients died during the time of my admission and I believe some of the deaths could have been avoided if patients were given professional health care.
Another patient, whom I had just spoken to, called for help as he wanted to be put back on oxygen, but no one came to assist.
He was gone in less than 15 minutes and was wheeled away to the mortuary with the nurses showing no remorse whatsoever.
He added that nurses would neglect patients and spend the good part of the afternoon surfing the internet searching for nursing vacancies outside the country.
Chimhete also witnessed nurses stealing drugs from patients, presumably for resale to supplement their salaries.
He said the issue happened to him and when he complained to the doctors, a senior nurse in the ward who had been absent when the incident transpired, defended the accused nurse.
He added that patients who complained would be given little food or blood-stained and torn hospital clothes.
Chimhete said one doctor advised him to “keep it low and concentrate on getting my health restored.”
He also said there were inadequate doctors at the institution and that affects service delivery.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabweans residing in rural areas have said they feel neglected by the government in the vaccination programme despite the rise of COVID-19 infections and deaths countrywide.
Villagers in Plumtree, Matabeleland South, told The Citizen Bulletin that even information dissemination was lacking. Said Meissa Khupe:
I have never seen health workers moving around in my ward disseminating information about the vaccine.
I only get to hear about vaccination on foreign radio stations and it would be about shortages of vaccines in urban areas.
I feel we are neglected in rural areas. Maybe it’s because we are viewed as not contributing much to the economy of this country.
It hurts to hear on the radio that vaccine doses are being delivered in Harare and other parts of the country. Why are vaccines not available at my nearest clinic?
The Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) conducted a survey and observed that in “all 20 communities of Insiza, Gwanda, Mangwe, and Matobo Districts that were sampled and surveyed,” there was no COVID-19 vaccine in local clinics for over a month now.
In some clinics, they had the second dose and not the first one.
This comes as Zimbabwe is aiming to vaccinate 60 per cent of the population to achieve herd immunity for things to return to normality.
Itai Rusike, Community Working Group on Health’s executive director said vaccine equity is very important in fighting the coronavirus.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean preacher, Obadiah Msindo, has said church leaders are the ones who proposed to the government to allow churches to resume services for vaccinated congregants only.
He speaks amid reports of divisions amongst churches over the directive.
The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) said the government’s position on the resumption of physical services was not well thought out as some are unvaccinated because they have had no opportunity to do so.
ZHOCD is made up of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the Union for Development of Apostolic and Zionist Churches in Zimbabwe Africa.
Msindo claimed President Emmerson Mnangagwa made the decision in response to a request by some churches.
Said the Destiny for Africa Network founder:
Some of the church leaders, from different denominations about 20 of them, wrote to the president asking to be given permission to worship with only vaccinated members of their churches.
So the truth of the matter is their request was granted.
But some of the sections of churches got it wrongly; some think that it is the government now imposing vaccination on them.
This is a misrepresentation. The truth is that the churches are divided, and that is the problem we have.
The churches should sort out their differences first and not take their differences to the government or blame Mnangagwa.
I want all other denominations, whether traditional, Pentecostal or whatever, to know that it was never Mnangagwa as they want to project or portray him as the one who imposed the order.
While the ban on gatherings is still in place, the government allowed churches to conduct in-person services provided that congregants are fully vaccinated.
Some viewed the directive as a ploy to compel churchgoers to get vaccinated.
Zimbabwe is a Christian community and it could likely achieve herd immunity if all Christians were to be vaccinated.
By A Correspondent- UPND and MDC Alliance officials confirmed that Zimbabwe’s mainstream opposition leader was expected in Lusaka for the historic occasion, but they could not give further details.
Chamisa was not reachable to confirm whether he was travelling to Zambia following the invitation.
MDC Alliance secretary for international relations Gladys Hlatywayo, who last week met with Hichilema soon after his victory, was also not available for comment.
Joseph Kalimbwe, one of the key members of Hichilema’s campaign, said on Twitter MDC Alliance was the only political party in the region that supported UPND ahead of Zambia’s hotly-contested August 12 elections.
Hichilema defeated President Edgar Lungu by over a million votes. Kalimbwe said the UPND must never forget its allies when it assumes power in Zambia.
“My support for the struggles of friends and comrades across our continent (Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania — Africa) is unwavering — it will never stop,” he tweeted yesterday.
“They chose the hard path of supporting our UPND struggles when others refused to associate with us in the opposition.”
Senior government officials were last week forced to react to social media debate about what UPND’s victory meant for Zimbabwe given its relationship with the MDC Alliance.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa said those who thought that the Zambian story would repeat itself in Zimbabwe were dreaming in statements that were seen as directed to Chamisa.
Mnangagwa is also travelling to Zambia for the inauguration.
Zambian Information and Broadcasting Services ministry permanent secretary Amos Malupenga said Hichilema’s inauguration ceremony would be strictly by invitation because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2017, Chamisa and the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai were invited to attend the inauguration of Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and they held private talks with him after the ceremony.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has thrown back the Gukurahundi massacres discussion to the Matabeleland traditional leadership.
Mnangagwa met with the Matabeleland traditional leadership on Saturday and provided no solution to the issue.
“The process will be victim centred and will also involve key stakeholders engagement. It was reiterated that the Gukurahundi issue should not be tribalized in order to foster national building and national healing,” read part of Mnangagwa’s press statement posted on social media by the Ministry of Information after his Bulawayo meeting.
MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has been invited to attend the inauguration of Zambia’s elect president Hakainde Hichilema scheduled for Tuesday 24 August 2021.
Hichilema defeated President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in the 12 August presidential election that was his sixth attempt at landing the top post.
Zambian Information and Broadcasting Services ministry permanent secretary, Amos Malupenga, said the inauguration ceremony would be strictly by invitation because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hichilema’s United Party for National Development (UNDP) has close ties with the MDC Alliance and he has met Chamisa on several occasions before.
Joseph Kalimbwe, one of the key members in Hichilema’s campaign team said MDC Alliance was the only political party in the region that supported UNDP ahead of Zambia’s August 12 elections. He added that UNDP must never forget its allies when it attains power. He said:
My support for the struggles of friends and comrades across our continent (Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania – Africa) is unwavering – it will never stop.
They chose the hard path of supporting our UNDP struggles when others refused to associate with us in the opposition.
Hichilema’s victory gave hope to other opposition parties on the continent that they can also topple the ruling parties in their respective countries.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has, however, since poured cold water on such hopes saying whoever dreams of change happening in Zimbabwe should wake up and brew beer for cleansing.
Political analysts observe that the Zimbabwean political arena is different from others on the continent mainly because power-broking institutions including the military are not abiding by the constitution.
They say political reforms including revision of the voters’ roll, demilitarising the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, and media reforms are essential for free and fair elections.- The Standard
President Chamisa with Zambia’s President Elect Hakainde Hichilema
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has thrown back the Gukurahundi massacres discussion to the Matabeleland traditional leadership.
Mnangagwa met with the Matabeleland traditional leadership on Saturday and provided no solution to the issue.
Below is a summary of Mnangagwa’s engagement meeting press statement:
It has to be emphasised that this process will be led by Chiefs and their affected communities. The President made it clear that a one size fits all approach would be inappropriate for this program. As a way forward, Chiefs are to go back to their respective areas to consult on the issues raised. So whichever Chief is ready, the President will deploy resources to their area to support the resolution of issues in that area.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean business tycoon Roger Boka’s son, Mathew Boka, said he is the owner of the Rolls-Royce that was said to have been imported by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son Sean.
Sean Mnangagwa was photographed in the fancy car prompting observers to say it belonged to the president’s son.
The NewsHawks was told Mathew, the Boka Tobacco Floors executive chairperson, imported the car for personal use from the United Kingdom.
Sources, however, say he later entered into an arrangement with gold dealer Pedzai Sakupwanya, commonly known as Scott Sakupwanya who was eager to buy the car, showing his commitment by paying US$140 000.
The sources say Sean, a captain in the Zimbabwe National Army, also expressed his interest in buying the car, went on to view it and then took pictures which went viral.
The sources say the pictures had compromised Sean’s interest in the car after a public outcry. However, quizzed about the car on Friday, Mathew said:
I can categorically state that it’s my car. It’s my vehicle, I imported it, but it’s in a bonded warehouse… It’s my car. It’s not on sale. Sean came the other day to the auction floors on other business which had nothing to do with the car, but he saw the car and liked it. He asked if he could view it and take pictures, just like any person who would have seen something nice. It’s not his and I don’t want to talk too much about this issue because I am a private person. I don’t talk much to the media and this is not even a big issue.
There has been a public outcry over the importation of fancy cars by political elites who are allegedly abusing state resources and are likely not paying duty.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has stammered on the issue of compensation for victims of the Gukurahundi massacres.
Mnangagwa met with the Matabeleland traditional leadership on Saturday and provided no solution to the issue.
Below is a summary of Mnangagwa’s engagement meeting press statement:
It has to be emphasised that this process will be led by Chiefs and their affected communities. The President made it clear that a one size fits all approach would be inappropriate for this program. As a way forward, Chiefs are to go back to their respective areas to consult on the issues raised. So whichever Chief is ready, the President will deploy resources to their area to support the resolution of issues in that area.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating a case in which two bodies of newborn babes were found in Harare’s First Street.
Posting on their Twitter handle at the weekend, ZRP said: On 20/08/21 at about 1140 hours, two newly born babies were found wrapped in a black plastic bag at Corner First Street and Jason Moyo, Harare. The bodies were found by a recycle plastic worker in a bin. Investigations are underway.
By A Correspondent-A United States country travel advisory has listed Zimbabwe as a “high-threat” destination affecting the interests of the world’s superpower.
This comes shortly after the British government described Zimbabwe as a risky business destination.The US also noted human rights violations and high prevalence of anti-Western sentiment in the country.
Already, there is a standing US Department of State Travel Advisory warning its citizens against travelling to Zimbabwe citing COVID-19. The advisory also warns US residents in the country to exercise caution, citing crime and civil unrest.
A latest Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) country report released on Tuesday also notes that Harare remains a high-threat destination for crime and potential political violence and civil unrest over the harsh economic climate.
The OSAC was created in 1985 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to promote security co-operation between American private sector interests worldwide and the US Department of State.
“Harare as being a high-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official US government interests,” the report read.
“The US Department of State has included a Crime ‘C’ indicator on the travel advisory for Zimbabwe, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organised crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.” Of late, the country has witnessed a spate of violent armed robberies.Police have been tough in responding to the armed robberies, fatally shooting some suspects in the process in a bid to tame the vice.
Government often projects a Zimbabwe-issafe destination in the “Zimbabwe is open for business” drive, but the OSAC travel advisory argues otherwise.
“The US Department of State has assessed Harare as being a high-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official US government interests,” the report adds.
“There is considerable risk of political violence in Harare, particularly considering Zimbabwe’s deteriorating economic conditions. Peaceful demonstrations have repeatedly been violently dispersed by the police and or the military.”
The OSAC notes that Zimbabwe is a lowthreat destination for terrorism directed at or affecting US government interests.
“The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, although other sections of the law effectively weaken these prohibitions. The government enforces laws in conflict with the constitution. Security forces arbitrarily arrest and detain persons, particularly political and civil society activists…,” the report added.
ELECTRICITY supply is set to improve countrywide starting this week following the full restoration of power generation at Hwange Power Station, a Cabinet minister has said.
This follows erratic power supply and load-shedding of up to seven hours daily that had been witnessed in different parts of the country over the past few weeks.
Since August 10, engineers have been hard at work at Hwange Power Station to repair a technical fault that resulted in the loss of 440MW at Zimbabwe’s largest thermal power plant.
The fault at Hwange had resulted in a significant deficit of power supply to the national grid, triggering outrage from domestic consumers and the business sector, which said the shortages were encumbering production.
However, Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda on Friday told The Sunday Mail that power generation at Hwange had been restored to about 450MW capacity daily, taking national generation capacity per day to over 1 500MW.
“We did not have such a critical shortage as some are saying because despite having challenges at Hwange, our other stations, coupled with imports, have been performing very well,” he said.
“But we are set to witness a significant improvement in power supply from next (this) week going forward because we have recovered from the faults at Hwange.”
Minister Soda said the Government was ready to source more imports whenever there were major faults that affected the national grid. Zimbabwe’s mainly imports power from South Africa and Mozambique.
Said Minister Soda: “Following the repairs, Hwange now has the capacity to generate 450 MW, Kariba is generating over 1000 MW while small thermal stations and imports are complementing these figures to take us past 1500 MW which is more or less what we need per day. If there are areas that are still being affected by severe shortages, then it may be faults or maintenance exercises going on. I would also want to invite those affected by faults to make reports to the power utility.”
According to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), the country was generating a combined total of 1269 MW as at Friday.
Kariba had the highest output at 890 MW followed by Hwange at 337 MW. Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare power stations weighed in with 18 MW, 13 MW and 11 MW respectively.
Independent Power Producers also continue to contribute varying amounts of electricity to the national grid.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president, Mr Kurai Matsheza, appealed to the Government to address the power situation saying outages were affecting business at a time when the economy is gaining momentum.
“Electricity shortages are affecting business in a major way because power is a major component in production,” he said.
“We have members who operate on a 24-hour basis and electricity shortages mean low production or high costs of production. So we would like our Government to look into this because it’s affecting business at a time when our economy is on the rebound.”
Despite intermittent power shortages, the future is bright for Zimbabwe’s power sector with the country poised to be self-sufficient in terms of its power requirements as a number of new projects are taking shape.
China’s Sinohydro is currently constructing the Hwange Power Station 7 and 8 units, which are expected to be complete next year and will add 600MW to the grid.
Another 2 400MW project — Batoka — is being jointly pursued with Zambia and is expected to take off in the next few years.
Furthermore, a number of coal and coal-bed methane projects, predominantly in Hwange, will add up to 2000 megawatts into the national grid in the next few years. Sunday Mail
By Achilles Machingauta| There is no doubt that the Zanu Pf party in Mashonaland Central province is facing one of its most trying times after the emergency of a complicated web of factions that is posing a very perilous threat to the stability of the party with a choreographed sponsored character assassination in the media agenda.
It is not a secret that the province is witnessing a widening political rift between the incumbent provincial chairman Kazembe Kazembe and the new Mazowe District Co-ordinating Commitee (DCC) business mogul Tafadzwa Musarara.
Feet are running swift in an attempt to plot Kazembe’s downfall whilst shadow dollar notes are exchanging hands as the war levelled against KK rises with every tick of the clock.
Whilst the plotters are busy, no-one is giving a damn about the ripple effect these wars are producing against the dignity and reputable images of the revolutionary party.
It cannot be denied that Musarara has emerged with his political faction which is burning the midnight candle to dislodge Kazembe from the chair seat.
The faction is employing all dirty tricks and unconventional methods to demean the personality and character of Kazembe including the capture of some mini sections of the private media on a payroll to defame Kazembe.
Furthermore, it is a fact that Musarara has gone on to capture members of the Mazowe DCC, the province leadership as well as some senior politicians, creating a vicious cabal of political pitbulls whose efficiency is being oiled by dirty money.
It is the desire for a peaceful province that has seen an exodus of former Musarara foot-soldiers defecting to other camps as they now realize and detest the extent to which the businessman-cum-politician is employing rogue politics against a seating candidate.
The most detestable immoral thing in this war is that it is denigrating the image of Zanu Pf, the party is suffering, the image of the New Dispensation leadership is being dragged in the mud, which is taboo, its daylight debauchery by unrepentant political heathens.
The truth about the so called Mash Central war which is being screened on the media landscape has nothing whatsoever to do with the health and fitness of the party but rather a satisfaction of selfishness by some individual, self-aggrandizement and personal ambitions of a few cabals. All this is being done at the cost of the ruling party image.
This is explicitly true if one is to search through the petty accusations levelled against Kazembe, all are meaningless, baseless and so shameful worth of all the political energy.
For instance, there is this archaic belief that only and only those who are of the organic origins from the province’s dominant Zezuru and Korekore tribes must be holding the local political offices, the major reason why Kazembe is being torn left, right and centre, yet when one looks at the yardstick used to measure if one is whether or not a Mash Centralist, it remains a diabolic system.
Tribalism has never been allowed to find a place in the heart of the revolutionary party. Tribalism must be thwarted, nipped from the bud, tribalism is a demon.
It defies logic that despite Kazembe’s political prowess as evidenced by how he pontificated over the 2018 harmonised elections which saw the ruling party retaining all 18 parliament seats in the province as well as highest presidential votes, haters still accuse him of ineptness.
We should seriously fear God!!! Put simply, the point here is that the unconventional and immoral styles of attack on the person of Kazembe translates to demeaning the decision and anointing hand behind his servitude to the highest office in the land.
Several cracks are forming in the political structure of Mazowe district in which Musarara the DCC chair is unleashing his dogs attacking fellow party members aligned to KK.
In the end it must be noted that the province is in critical need of exorcism of the diabolic ghastly powers that are permeating the heart, soul and mind of this beloved province of Mashonaland Central.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has said it has since corrected the spelling errors on some of its vehicles…
The police posted on Twitter to announce the development:
“The ZRP appreciates and notes the concerns raised by members of the public on spelling errors by the contractor on vehicles. The ZRP Transport Section has since corrected the anomalies. We thank the public for the observation.”
The spelling errors had prompted some to say the tender was given to an incompetent contractor.
Commenting on the corrections, some highlighted the significance of social media as it was in this case used to alert authorities of an issue they were not aware of.- Pindula News
A Chipinge man has been sentenced to 36 months in jail for having sexual intercourse with a minor as defined in Section 70 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Msindo Makuyana (48), of New Year’s Gift, had been living with a 14-year-old juvenile (name withheld because of her age) as husband and wife since 8 August when the two met at Samhutsa Business Centre.
Makuyana appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Elizabeth Hanzi on Tuesday, who convicted him on his own guilty plea and sentenced him to 36 months in jail.
Six months were suspended on condition that he will not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Asked why he committed the offence, Makuyana said he was misled by the girl’s physical appearance. He said:
I was not aware of the girl’s age. I thought she was an adult since she has a big body. I am begging for lenience because I am in good books with my wife (the minor). I also did not force her to be my wife.
Prosecutor Chipo Matanga told the court that Makuyana’s marriage to the minor came to light after the two visited the complainant’s aunt, Susan Sigauke where she (the complainant) intended to introduce Makuyana as her husband.
Sigauke told Makuyana that he cannot marry the complainant because of her age.
She (Sigauke) made a police report on Monday leading to Makuyana’s arrest.
The complainant was taken to Chipinge District Hospital for medical examination.- Manica Post
MTHWAKAZI Republic Party (MRP) leader Mqondisi Moyo has said any government initiative towards resolving Gukurahundi will not work as they dismissed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s meeting with traditional leaders in Bulawayo today as meaningless.
Mnangagwa met members of the National Chiefs Council (NCC) at the State House in the country’s second city where it was resolved to allow a victim-centred process and case by case exhumations and reburials.
The meeting came after chiefs conducted a two-week consultative process with unnamed Matabeleland civic society organisations and the clergy on issues affecting Matabeleland, particularly the unresolved 1980’s massacres.
However, in reaction, the MRP said there will never be any closure on Gukurahundi without a truth-telling commission and Mnangagwa stepping aside.
“Let me reiterate that as MRP and Mthwakazi in general, meaningful Gukurahundi related talks should begin with the establishment of a truth-telling commission that will operate independent of Zanu-PF and government,” Moyo said.
“It is the people of Mthwakazi who should truly lead the process, not Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF, not Mnangagwa aligned chiefs but chiefs who are known for integrity and serving with distinction.
“Mnangagwa led negotiations are unacceptable. How can the perpetrator be a referee? It has been said that other people have been invited to the planned meeting.”
Mnangagwa has been mentioned as having been one of the key players in Gukurahundi as he was a State Security minister at the time of the massacres.
According to the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice (CCJP) over 20 000 people were killed in Matabeleland and Midlands when the late Robert Mugabe sent a North Korean trained force to ostensibly silence dissent and any attempts aimed at toppling his government.
This followed the discovery of arms caches at Zapu properties.- cite.org.zw
SOME members of the history-making Warriors team that clinched Zimbabwe’s maiden ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in 2004 believe the team can progress beyond group stages at next year’s competition if ZIFA puts its house in order.
They emphasised the need for transparency in player selection.
The Warriors were on Tuesday handed a fair draw when they were pooled with Group B seeds — Senegal, Malawi and Guinea.
Having been postponed due to Covid-19, the tournament has now been set for Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
Since making their debut in Tunisia in 2004, the Warriors have failed to progress beyond the group stage.
However, there is growing belief skipper Knowledge Musona and his Class of 2021 can finally clear that hurdle in Cameroon.
The Warriors have a talented cast of players who include Aston Villa’s Marvelous Nakamba, Tino Kadewere (Olympic Lyon), Marshal Munetsi (Reims), Teenage Hadebe (Houston Dynamo), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Prince Dube (Azam) and Musona, who is now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia.
Most local fans view 2019 finalists Senegal as the biggest threat to Zimbabwe’s Group B quest.
Guinea have been inconsistent over the years, while COSAFA rivals Malawi are considered fair game.
Former Warriors defender George Mbwando feels the national team has another big challenge.
“The only difficult opponent in our group is ZIFA,” quipped the Germany-based Mbwando.
ZIFA have notoriously come short each time they prepare national teams for major events.
Three years ago, their bungling at AFCON finals in Egypt forced the Warriors to go on strike on the eve of the African football showpiece.
The team eventually bowed out with just a point. Next year, they will open their campaign with a date against Senegal on January 10.
They will then play Malawi on January 14 before facing Guinea four days later.
Transparency in player selection has also come under the spotlight, as there were allegations that some players paid their way into the team.
“The rumours that have been doing rounds about players paying money to be in the team may be true because we have been hearing that for a long time now.
“If the coaches are not the ones picking the team (as alleged), so what’s the use of the coaches . . .
“The problem is there is no transparency in anything, so nothing will come out if there is no order,” said Mbwando, who was part of the historic Warriors squad that made a maiden appearance in 2004 under Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa.
Some believe coach Zdravko “Loga” Logarusic is still being influenced to select certain players.- The Sunday Mail
A couple was burnt to death on Friday night after a hut they were sleeping in caught fire in Bhafodi, Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland North province.
The deceased were identified as Adelaide Tshuma (48) and her husband, only identified as Sibanda, whose first name and age could not be immediately obtained.
Sources who spoke to Sunday News feared that the couple was heavily intoxicated and could therefore not escape from the fire after they had spent the afternoon consuming alcoholic beverages.
Police could not immediately comment on the matter, but Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo described the incident as tragic and called for communities to be vigilant and careful with fires.
“This is a very unfortunate incident. It is a very painful way to die and also very painful to those left behind as they will have some horrendous memories left with them behind.
“I have called the District Coordinating Committee (DCC) to ensure that word reaches police swiftly and the bodies are collected because this is very traumatic for the community that has witnessed it,” said the Minister in a telephone interview.
Zanu-PF Umguza DCC chairman Cde Paul Mthimkhulu said he had been in communication with police and said the family had been granted permission to bury the deceased. “Police came to attend the scene and have since given the family clearance to bury their loved ones.
“There was no need for a post mortem as the bodies were burnt beyond recognition so the families are busy with burial preparations as I speak,” he said.
He said there were signs that the victims attempted to flee but may have choked from the smoke as their bodies were found crouched near the door of their bedroom hut. “We hear that these people had been to a drinking spot where they spent the day.
“However, this comes at a time when we are under lockdown and such activities are illegal. We call upon communities to adhere to lockdown restrictions and ensure that we fight Covid-19 together,” he said.
Some community members said they had earlier during the day shared drinks with the late Sibanda.
Mr Thembani Ndlovu, a local villager said, “We were drinking with Sibanda heavily and his wife drinks too. I think they may have both passed out and could therefore not rush out of their hut when the fire started.”
Other villagers said when they saw the fire and rushed to the scene, it was too late to save the victims or their property.
A neighbour to the deceased who identified himself as Mr Mbiseleni Ndlovu said the hut was up in flames when he and other neighbours attempted to save the deceased.
“I had to rush there with my son at night after we heard screams and shouts from my neighbour’s homestead calling us to go to Mdawini’s (Sibanda) homestead.
“I quickly dressed up and woke my son up and we headed there but the flames were just too much and unfortunately, we discovered that they had already consumed Mdawini and his wife and only charred remains of their bodies could be salvaged from the fire,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Another villager, Mrs Siphiwe Nkomo said she was worried about the welfare of the children left behind.
“I have never seen such a tragedy in my life. It is not a sight you may want to behold, I wish I could unsee it but unfortunately it is impossible. What will become of these children who have been orphaned so painfully?” lamented Mrs Nkomo.
The couple is survived by four children. -Sunday News
The Zanu PF Government is on course to fulfil its 2018 election promises through implementing people-centred and high-impact developmental programmes, a Cabinet Minister has said.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail recently, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Zimbabweans were beginning to see and feel the impact of Government programmes.
She said her ministry had come up with a National Development Communication Strategy, which would ensure that all Zimbabweans were kept abreast of ongoing projects.
“The strategy will ensure that our people understand the benefits of what the Government is doing and what they need to do to see to it that we progress as a nation,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“We will not leave anybody behind. Our strategy takes into account everyone and all age groups, be they in the rural or urban areas, to ensure that they all understand where we are heading to with Vision 2030.”
Government, she said, has recorded significant milestones. “We have a lot of success stories that we need to talk about — the road network, food security, Pfumvudza and how the Government has succeeded in making sure that Zimbabwe is self-sufficient as far as cereals are concerned.
“Harare-Chirundu, Bulawayo-Mutare (highways) . . . the roads have all been repaired despite the fact that not much foreign investment has come. Bridges have been built and as a Senator from Chimanimani, I can confirm that the Second Republic did wonders in ensuring that they bring back the livelihoods of those who were affected by Cyclone Idai.
“Bridges, roads, homes and other facilities that were destroyed by the cyclone have been restored, while some of the projects are already advanced.”
More than 200 kilometres of Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway have been reconstructed over the past year in line with the 2018 promise to rehabilitate trunk roads.
Government has been mobilising domestic resources to fund its projects, most of which are being undertaken by local companies.
A successful vaccination campaign, which has seen Zimbabwe being one of the countries with the best vaccination rates in Africa, is also underway.
“For a country which is under sanctions, we thank our President for the engagement and re-engagement efforts and also being able to talk to other progressive nations who have come on board to prioritise Zimbabwe’s vaccination efforts.
“We have seen our country in the top seven of countries that have done their best in terms of response and containment of the pandemic,” she said.
“We are also grateful of what the Government has done in terms of upgrading our hospitals, whether in towns, districts and at ward level.” Government, she added, was investing heavily in power generation to stimulate economic growth.
“To ensure uninterrupted service delivery, there also has been improvements in hydro and solar power generation.
“Electricity has been a challenge in the country and this will go a long way in helping us industrialise and develop even in agriculture.
“So there is a lot happening across ministries to ensure we progress to be a better Zimbabwe.- Sunday Mail
Robert Martin Gumbura heavily divided opinion in life and continues doing so in death.
Gumbura’s wives
He died of Covid-19-relatied complications at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison aged 65 while serving time for raping several women.
He was jailed in 2014 and was initially sentenced to 50 years in prison, 10 of which were suspended on condition of good behaviour. Part of his sentence also included a conviction of being found in possession of pornographic material.
However, while some people couldn’t care less about his demise, family, friends and congregants still maintained he was wrongly convicted. They all claim he was an upright man.
Up until his untimely death, they still hoped his bid for freedom would be granted, as he was appealing against both conviction and sentence. To them, the clergyman was a “victim of some complicated conspiracy”.
Last year, Gumbura’s sentence was slashed to 20 years after a series of appeals made through the High Court.
And by the time of his death, the RGM Independent End Time Messages Church founder had served nearly half of his reviewed sentence.
“His death came as a shock. We were never told that he was sick and up to now we are still trying to come to terms with the fact that he is no more.
“We are grieving, a lot is happening and I will be able to give you more details in due course when things hopefully settle,” the late Gumbura’s second wife and family spokesperson, Queen Bunga, told The Sunday Mail Society.
His brother, Innocent Gumbura, was equally distraught. “We got a call from prison officials the night before his (Gumbura) death, asking us to bring some medication for him. Unfortunately, when we delivered the items the following morning, he was already dead.
“I am still confused to say the least. They should have told us in time that he was not well or at least allowed us to conduct a postmortem to ascertain the cause of death,” he said.
Gumbura’s death has naturally led to growing questions on the fate of his 11 wives, 33 children, church and various businesses and properties he left behind. His first born is 38-years-old, while the last is aged eight.
The total number of assets is yet to be ascertained but includes 11 houses, several church buildings, a mine, farm and a fleet of more than 20 vehicles. Nothing has been distributed yet.
“The family is still collecting all his personal belongings from his various homes around the country, bringing them to his Harare residence. Likewise, we have asked all the wives to temporarily move to Harare so that we do things as a family at once.
“It is hectic, we are conducting a lot of meetings to set up a Trust then we go on to register his estate,” said Innocent.
Gumbura’s wives, he added, are still united despite their husband’s death. “Everyone is at the 25-bedroomed Marlborough home where we are mapping the way forward.” According to Gumbura’s brother, all the wives have vowed not to marry again.
“It is us the siblings who seem worried, but the wives are fine, they are united and they stand together as they have always done. They have vowed that they are not going anywhere.”
However, before passing on, Gumbura told The Sunday Mail Society that he did not mind if his wives decided to move on.
“By the time I leave this place, I will be very old, so I cannot be selfish to force them to wait for me; they are free to remarry if they wish,” he said then. The family survives largely on their farm produce and proceeds from the mine and church.
The farm is presently being run by the second wife. There are indications, however, that his church did not have a succession plan.
Apart from the late businessman-cum clergyman’s wives and children, there are at least 50 people, including poor church members, the homeless and orphans, living at the Harare house.
Their fate and future is now uncertain. “In total, there are about 92 people living there (Marlborough) and we are not related to them, so we have told them to leave because we do not have the capacity to take care of them.
“My brother had a big heart; even in prison, he continued to care for these people, so he would simply give us instructions and we followed. We even paid bail for some people he would have met in prison; that is the type of person he was.
“He paid school fees for many kids whom we are not related to and even provided for a lot of families . . . but if indeed he was a rapist, why would those people want to stay with him? Who wants to be associated with a rapist?” he queried.
But Gumbura’s brother believes he was a “problem child” before he converted.
Born second in a family of seven, the late clergyman was said to have been the naughtiest child in the family. He was into all sorts of drugs.
“He was infamous for doing drugs. It was not a secret. But he was not into girlfriends. I do not remember him having any girlfriends, except for Tafadzwa, who later became his first wife. Up to now I do not believe he raped anyone,” said Innocent.
Gumbura spent his early childhood in Gweru before moving to Highfield in Harare, where his parents had bought a house.
However, around 1980, after completing his Advanced Level at Highfield High School, he converted to Christianity, much to the surprise of his family and those who knew him. He joined the Baptist Church before moving to End Time Messages.
During that time, he enrolled at a local teachers’ college where he studied towards a Diploma in Education. After graduating, he went on to teach at Regina Mundi, Ascot and Mambo High Schools.
“(Regina) Mundi was a girls’ school but we never got any reports or accusations about girls or women . . . He was, in fact, a good history teacher with a brilliant photographic memory. Once he met someone, he would never forget them,” reminisces the brother.
Phillip, who was Gumbura’s friend, described the late as a jovial and witty character who always left the congregation in stitches during his sermons. He recalls the several visits in prison when they would talk and laugh endlessly.
“He was always bubbly. It was as if he was not in prison or that he had accepted his predicament,” he said.
During the late 1980s, Gumbura, who was still under End Time Messages as a senior member, began preaching about polygamy. This created a lot of enemies for him. As a result, he formed a breakaway church in the early 90s and named it RMG Independent End Time Messages Church.
Within three years, the church had more than four branches around the country and over 2000 congregants.
Despite his family trying to talk to him out of it, he remained adamant and went on to establish more branches beyond borders. But around 1994, he found himself in trouble with the law.
“There were three guys in his church who worked for a local bank and they got involved in some scandal at their workplace,” revealed the brother. “They got away with large sums of money and used part of it to pay tithes of about US$60 000.”
During investigations at the bank, it was discovered that some of the money had been paid to RMG Independent End Time Messages Church, leading to Gumbura’s arrest.
He appeared in court but was later acquitted after it was discovered that he was not connected to the theft. But, as if fate wanted him to spend the last part of his life in prison, a few years later he found himself in the dock again.
A man (name withheld) dragged him to court for allegedly having an extramarital affair with his wife. Due to lack of evidence, the case was dismissed. In 2014, he hogged the limelight again charged with more than five counts of rape.
“There were a lot of enemies in his life, so when he was arrested, this time we did not panic, thinking it was a setup and he would soon be acquitted.”
The family believes Gumbura was a victim of an elaborate plot by his enemies. “At some point they also arrested me on accusations that I was interfering with witnesses… I had no knowledge about it. Further, I was not even part of his church, so I would not know any of them.
“I also went through the documents on charges of pornography and could not pair any one of the said ladies with him; it was photoshop,” he argued.
According to Innocent, three ladies who implicated him later approached the family, confessing that they had been paid to incriminate him.
“The ladies confirmed to us that this issue involved some high-profile people who were within former president Mugabe’s Government and they were using some members from his previous and new church.
“My brother was simply hated for his work and they wanted to take his wealth, but I believe he is in a better place now because he went through a lot.” – Sunday Mail
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to stop abusing national institutions to advance political interests.
President Chamisa also dismissed Mr Mnangagwa’s ‘Muka Ubike Doro Mantra.’
See President Chamisa’s brief statement below:
THE PEOPLE SHALL GOVERN…
In our own traditional wisdom, there is an idiom that says “Ubukhosi ngamazolo” or “Ushe madzoro hunotambidzaniwa” literally meaning that leadership is best that occurs in turns.
The era of “strong men” or “vana HANDIENDE” who abuse state institutions is OVER. No abuse of electoral bodies,police,military and intelligence services shall be accepted or tolerated.
Our liberation struggle was about ‘one man one vote’ and “We the People”…meaning “Power to the People”or “Amandla Ebantwini” or “Masimba Kuvanhu”..We are next.
We are the new leaders! #GodIsInIt #thenewiscoming #JoinTheNew #RegisterToVoteZW
ELECTRICITY supply is set to improve countrywide starting this week following the full restoration of power generation at Hwange Power Station, a Cabinet minister has said.
This follows erratic power supply and load-shedding of up to seven hours daily that had been witnessed in different parts of the country over the past few weeks.
Since August 10, engineers have been hard at work at Hwange Power Station to repair a technical fault that resulted in the loss of 440MW at Zimbabwe’s largest thermal power plant.
The fault at Hwange had resulted in a significant deficit of power supply to the national grid, triggering outrage from domestic consumers and the business sector, which said the shortages were encumbering production.
However, Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda on Friday told The Sunday Mail that power generation at Hwange had been restored to about 450MW capacity daily, taking national generation capacity per day to over 1 500MW.
“We did not have such a critical shortage as some are saying because despite having challenges at Hwange, our other stations, coupled with imports, have been performing very well,” he said.
“But we are set to witness a significant improvement in power supply from next (this) week going forward because we have recovered from the faults at Hwange.”
Minister Soda said the Government was ready to source more imports whenever there were major faults that affected the national grid. Zimbabwe’s mainly imports power from South Africa and Mozambique.
Said Minister Soda: “Following the repairs, Hwange now has the capacity to generate 450 MW, Kariba is generating over 1000 MW while small thermal stations and imports are complementing these figures to take us past 1500 MW which is more or less what we need per day. If there are areas that are still being affected by severe shortages, then it may be faults or maintenance exercises going on. I would also want to invite those affected by faults to make reports to the power utility.”
According to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), the country was generating a combined total of 1269 MW as at Friday.
Kariba had the highest output at 890 MW followed by Hwange at 337 MW. Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare power stations weighed in with 18 MW, 13 MW and 11 MW respectively.
Independent Power Producers also continue to contribute varying amounts of electricity to the national grid.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president, Mr Kurai Matsheza, appealed to the Government to address the power situation saying outages were affecting business at a time when the economy is gaining momentum.
“Electricity shortages are affecting business in a major way because power is a major component in production,” he said.
“We have members who operate on a 24-hour basis and electricity shortages mean low production or high costs of production. So we would like our Government to look into this because it’s affecting business at a time when our economy is on the rebound.”
Despite intermittent power shortages, the future is bright for Zimbabwe’s power sector with the country poised to be self-sufficient in terms of its power requirements as a number of new projects are taking shape.
China’s Sinohydro is currently constructing the Hwange Power Station 7 and 8 units, which are expected to be complete next year and will add 600MW to the grid.
Another 2 400MW project — Batoka — is being jointly pursued with Zambia and is expected to take off in the next few years.
Furthermore, a number of coal and coal-bed methane projects, predominantly in Hwange, will add up to 2000 megawatts into the national grid in the next few years. Sunday Mail
Tinashe Sambiri|Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe national coordinator, Harrison Mudzuri has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime of denigrating the teaching profession.
While Mnangagwa is boasting of what he calls Vision 2030, teachers are stuggling to fend for their families.
The former Zaka Central Constituency MP described teachers’ working conditions under the Zanu PF regime as pathetic.
“Dear President ED: Does your vision 2030 mean having good roads, good cities ,and good dams BUT poor teachers?
Our teachers’ living conditions are in reverse gear while we are all looking ahead to 2030.
Do you want your child to be a teacher in Zimbabwe? Why?
Using their meagre salaries, Zim teachers cannot buy a house, cannot afford a decent meal, cannot buy new clothes, cannot buy bath soap, and cannot buy pants,” Mudzuri argued.
Tinashe Sambiri|Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe national coordinator, Harrison Mudzuri has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime of denigrating the teaching profession.
While Mnangagwa is boasting of what he calls Vision 2030, teachers are stuggling to fend for their families.
The former Zaka Central Constituency MP described teachers’ working conditions under the Zanu PF regime as pathetic.
“Dear President ED: Does your vision 2030 mean having good roads, good cities ,and good dams BUT poor teachers?
Our teachers’ living conditions are in reverse gear while we are all looking ahead to 2030.
Do you want your child to be a teacher in Zimbabwe? Why?
Using their meagre salaries, Zim teachers cannot buy a house, cannot afford a decent meal, cannot buy new clothes, cannot buy bath soap, and cannot buy pants,” Mudzuri argued.
Africa Investors Hub is bridging a gap that is marred by barriers to entry in the developing countries particularly in Zimbabwe through the formalization of the informal sector for financial inclusion. Our vision is to benefit future generations for long after we left in order to transform Africa socioeconomically and it resonates with the Africa Union Agenda of 2063 and the United Nations sustainable development goals of 2030. The informal economy thrives in the context of high unemployment, underemployment, poverty, gender inequality, and precarious work, the very circumstances we have in Africa.
We are merging all informal productive businesses into the formal economy by implementing desirable methods which include business registration, opening bank accounts in the trading names, tax clearance registration with Zimra, and many more ways. We have partnered with the Ministry of Women Affair, Community, Small to Medium Enterprises to orchestrate this milestone in a positive trajectory. Mr. Noel Mavura is the Founding Director of Africa Investors Hub and is also the brains behind the innovative formalization strategy. The move aims to facilitate these businesses’ access to funding, training, and marketing opportunities offered by the government, and enable them to participate in local as well as international exhibitions, and take their products to foreign markets. Additionally, Africa Investors Hub seeks to create an investment-friendly environment to increase the volume of investments and create more jobs for young people.
Currently, we have formalized 5640 informal traders and our utmost goal rush is to transition about half a million informal traders in Zimbabwe before year-end. Therefore we are calling all the financial institutions, embassies, private companies, nonprofit making organizations, etc which disburse lifeblood for businesses to consider our formalized companies since we are carrying out this for financial inclusion. We keep a close eye on their business operations and keep on mentoring as well as educating them. In any case, if they get funding, we check if the loan is being used for sustainable development purposes. We don’t want a situation where people can buy cars and getting married using the business funds. Africa investors Hub is here to create generational wealth by solving African problems. In addition, some foreign embassies and nongovernmental organizations are fostering human capital development by offering training and supporting mentorship programs for the informal sector through us. At the same time, they are leveraging our business network.
The government of Zimbabwe is losing a lot of revenues through the informal sector as individuals and firms avoid taxes, social contributions, or compliance with standards and licensing requirements. This relates to the common but misconceived view that informality is caused mainly by firms and individuals “cheating” to avoid paying taxes. The banking system is also being eliminated in the business cycle when dealing with the informal sector. Informal firms do not contribute to the tax base and tend to remain small, with low productivity and limited access to finance. As a result, economic growth in regions or African countries with large informal sectors remains below potential. This is the problem we are solving as Africa Investors Hub hence formalizing this fundamental economy catalyst.
It is our ethical obligation to educate and raise awareness on formalization issues while calling the government to streamline business registration and regulations for the informal sector. Tax reform is also essential. If informal traders expect taxes to impose an excessively heavy burden, they are unlikely to formalize their operations. Thus, tax reporting should be simplified, online payment options should be introduced, and tax rates should not be too high.
Formalization contributes to the establishment of better (decent) jobs, creates a broader tax base that may allow lower rates, possibly increases investment. Formalization also leads to access to finance and market information, thereby enabling improvements in productivity. It is therefore imperative to resolve the challenges this sector faces and develop strategies for its formalization. In mapping out the way forward, it is important to build on some of the emerging good practices. The first important lesson emerging from the interventions through our company on the ground is that formalizing the informal economy should be comprehensive and multi-pronged.
Informality critical looking affects how fast Zimbabwe’s economy can grow, develop, and provide decent economic opportunities for the Zimbabweans. Sustainable development requires a retardant in informality over time, be that as it may, this process will inevitably be gradual. Informality is also tackled by steady reforms such as investment in education and policies that address its underlying causes. Attacks on the sector motivated by the view that it is generally operating illegally and evading taxes are not the fundamental solutions to the problematic factor.
This article was prepared by Mr. Noel Mavura, the Managing Director of Africa Investor Hub and he can be contacted using the following details. Phone number:0773839985 Email:[email protected] Website:www.africainvestorshub.com
At least 85 bales of cotton seed, weighing over 25 tonnes were on Saturday morning burnt in transit along the Chinhoyi-Chegutu Road.
