https://twitter.com/NgarivhumeJacob/status/1422168977720045570?s=20

By A Correspondent- The government has set new fines for various offences ranging from $500 up to $500 000.

The new fines were gazetted by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and are contained in Statutory Instrument 209 of 2021. [CAP. 9:23 Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) (Standard Scale of Fines) Notice, 2021.

According to the schedule, for offences in level one, offenders will be fined $500 while the highest amount of $500 000 is for level 14 crimes.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A City of Masvingo municipal police vehicle allegedly ran over a vendor after a municipal police officer pushed her into the moving council  truck whilst they were raiding vendors along Chesvingo Drive in Mucheke high density suburb on Thursday (July 29).

Moreblessing Mandivanza (36) was displaying her goods along 2nd street in the Sisk area at around 9am when municipal police officers pounced and started to chase after vendors, collecting what they had left behind.

A police report dated July 29, 2021, Form 234 under CR07/21 recorded at ZRP Masvingo Traffic seen by TellZim News reports that Mandivanza was run over by a pick-up truck and sustained injuries on her right foot.

“The victim was run over on her right foot by a pick-up truck,” reads the report.

Mandivanza narrated her ordeal saying she was trying to recover her goods when one of the municipal police pushed her towards a council white pick-up truck which they were travelling in.

“A council vehicle was moving along Chesvingo Drive chasing after vendors and when they reached 2nd street where I was displaying my goods outside the gate whilst I was inside, they started loading my goods in their pick-up truck. When I tried to go and take the few things that was left, that is when one of them pushed me towards their moving vehicle and I was run over on the right foot,” said Mandivanza.

Contacted for comment, City of Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke said he was not aware of the matter but said the local authority has a duty to bring sanity to the city by confiscating and arresting those selling at undesignated markets.

“I am not aware of the incident you are mentioning where a person was injured. However, it is within the confines of council by-laws that when people are selling at undesignated points, we confiscate what they are selling and arrest them, but I cannot comment on the matter which you are talking about,” said Maboke.

Municipal police officers have for long been engaging in running battles with vendors who are plying their trade at undesignated selling points.

In 2014, an angry mob at Mucheke rank torched a municipal vehicle after it ran over and killed a three-month-old baby in an attempt to confiscate goods from its mother who was a vendor.

Council has also failed to cope up with the demand for vending stalls since informal trading is now the means of survival for many families across the country.

-TellZim

THERE has been a surge in demand for graves in the city of Gweru amid indications that
from January to date, 65 people have been buried at council cemeteries compared to 45
the whole of last year.

The figures are high considering that there is a private cemetery which has also become
popular with residents intending to bury their beloved ones.

The demand for burial space at Gweru City Council cemeteries is said to have increased
since the onset of the Covid- 19 pandemic last year.

According to the statistics, Ms Chingwaramusee said Covid -19 related deaths account for
the bulk of the burials.

“What it means is that during the entire year of 2020 we only used 45 graves but now in
2021 in just seven months we have used 65 graves.

This means that deaths have increased this year compared to last year. And looking at
Ministry of Health and Child Care statistics, Covid -19 related deaths are increasing
hence we have to brace for more deaths,” she said.

Ms Chingwaramusee said at the central cemetery a grave for a child costs Z$ 854, adult
Z$1 708.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Kumalo primary school headmistress, Stella Mhlanga is alive, contrary to social media reports that she had committed suicide after her nude picture leaked and went viral on social media.

Mhlanga accidentally posted a picture of her private parts on her WhatsApp status.

Upon realising her mistake she took it down not before some of her contacts had taken screenshots.

Disgraced by the incident Mhlanga went off the radar and social media went abuzz with some claiming she had taken her life.

Her employers, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education roped in the police to track her down.

In a brief comment to CITE, the ministry’s director of communications and advocacy, Taungana Ndoro confirmed that she had been found alive.

“Yes, police said she is alive,” said Ndoro.-Cite

By Precious Shumba| The criteria set by ED for political leaders to join POLAD was being a presidential candidate in 2018. Those who joined voluntarily joined. Others rejected POLAD as a fruitless venture. They were both right in their choices. POLAD has not benefited Zimbabwe. Those outside POLAD have not done anything tangible to show us that they made a better choice not to join the forum.

Now that POLAD is rewarding its participants with motor vehicles, every other critique is talking about health services delivery.

Where are these voices when elected Councillors and officials in local authorities hold workshops in resort towns in top shelf venues? Incompetent officials are not recalled by their respective political parties. Only those who express different views from their political party leadership are recalled.

Wetlands have disappeared under our watch with ruling and opposition political parties’ councillors being implicated. Why are democrats not calling for the arrest of all those implicated in these land scandals? We must not pretend to be saints when it comes to the use of public resources.

The only reason Prof Madhuku has irked some people is that he is a prominent democrat whose only crime is that he does not commend a lot of supporters. However, democracy allows for the minorities to be fully represented by leaders of their choice.

Prof Madhuku is mostly right on his political thoughts on Zimbabwe. During the 1999- 2000 Constitutional Commission movement until the referendum and the 2013 constitution-making exercise, he spoke boldly on key issues that needed to be addressed. One of the main issues I really agreed with him was the question of the presidential powers. The people who dismissed him were mainly driven by partisan considerations. At one point Madhuku was likely to assume senior positions in the Movement for Democratic Change after behind the scenes engagements, but he was sacrificed at the last minute, which might also explain his determination to prove his critics wrong.

He has said that the powers of the President in terms of the Zimbabwean Constitution are too much and they need to be whittled down. It is unfortunate that our arguments as Zimbabweans are based on partisan emotions and thoughts.

Zimbabweans are hypocrites.

We must be able to differ with dignity than to insult each other because we believe only our political leader deserves to have everything.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is set to embark on four-day mass vaccination of Bulawayo residents as part of the military’s community outreach programme.

The outreach programme will be held in Cowdray Park and Emganwini suburbs from tomorrow on Tuesday and will end on Friday.

Annually, the ZDF holds a community outreach programme in August as part of the ZDF Day commemoration where soldiers embark on transformational projects within the society.

The army has constructed schools, rehabilitated roads among other community needs as it works towards providing all-encompassing national security and development.

Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube confirmed the ZDF outreach programme urging all adults to get vaccinated.

“The City of Bulawayo in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces will be conducting a community outreach Covid-19 vaccination programme in the Cowdray Park Hlalani Kuhle Consortium office and Emganwini (Food for Less shopping Centre),” said Mr Dube.

“The exercise which is part of the ZDF’S community outreach programme will be from Tuesday, 3 August 2021 to Friday 6 August 2021.”

He urged adults to take advantage of this mass vaccination programme.

The ZDF outreach programme is set to benefit scores of Bulawayo residents- especially from the western suburbs- who have been struggling to get vaccinated as health centres are being overwhelmed.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Still reeling from the Tawanda Muchehiwa abduction scandal by state security agents with its connivance, subsequent desertion by spooked clients, the death of its chief executive Thompson Dondo in January and now boardroom squabbles, Impala Car Rental is teetering on the brink of collapse, informed sources say.

Information gathered this week shows the car hire company, which once dominated the market with lucrative contracts from government, business, humanitarian agencies, civil society and individuals, is now financially struggling and had difficulties in paying its workers in recent months.

In the aftermath of the abduction of Muchehiwa by state security before the 31 July protests last year, Impala was hit contracts cancellations when its role in the seizure and horrific torture of the student journalist was exposed.

Muchehiwa has since fled to South Africa, fearing for his life.

The situation was worsened by reports of its entanglement with the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) through dodgy ownership deals cut by the late Madondo. Impala is the CIO’s favourite car hire company.

Details obtained this week show that the situation has further deteriorated following bickering at the operation which has triggered a mass exodus of senior employees.

This has led to the formation of a splinter company known as Legacy Car Rental which has offices located at 6 Devine Road ,Milton Park, Harare, the sources said.

After Dondo’s death, his wife Matirasa Francisca, who is a director, ordered an audit to establish the financial state of the company as she was taking from where her husband had left and suspected misappropriation of funds, they added.

The witch-hunt, however, ruffled feathers of other directors of the family-owned business. According to the company’s CR14 documents, Matirasa and the late Dondo’s sister Clara are listed as directors.

“When Matirasa took over, she ordered a forensic audit to ascertain the financial state of the company. She also suspected that her co-director Clara and some senior members of management were siphoning funds,” a company source said.

“This did not go down well with some of Dondo’s relatives and the subsequent squabble resulted in the quitting by at least six employees and others. Clara led the defectors to form their own splinter company, Legacy Car Rental, and they have taken away with them their skills, experience and clients.”

Legacy is led by Clara and her brother Darlington Dondo, Thompson’s siblings.

“Darlington is Clara and Thompson’s brother. They were angered by their in-law’s boardroom coup and the audit that she ordered,” the source said.

“Thompson’s siblings also did not like the fact that they were being accused of misappropriating funds. So they mobilised other disgruntled employees, including a driver called Chivizhe, to quit and then started Legacy.”

This has left Impala in deeper operational and financial trouble. Its Zambia branch has already closed shop, while the South African operation was already struggling.

Matirasa is now Impala chief executive, deputised by founding member and general manager Viola Chirata who has been with the company since in formation in 2007.

The company started operations in 2007 when the late Dondo was still based in the United Kingdom. He started the operation with his late brother Alfred. Impala says it has a fleet of  over 200 top-of-the-range vehicles and won several awards during its heydays. It had a workforce of 70 employees, including 10 managers.

The sources said part of the problem is that the late Dondo operated Impala like a “briefcase company” – he got money from various other operations and underworld activities.

“Although the widow has always been a director, she was not aware of Thompson’s covet operations and underworld deals that made the company look highly profitable. So when he died, she was shocked by the financial status of the company and ordered an audit thinking the money was being stolen. When Thompson died the company faced problems; it couldn’t even pay employees in the first three months,” the source said.

“Thompson was a dealer, he got money not just from Impala, but other operations too. There was also Panacea 24, Swine Company and Fasfit. His major cash cow was the Swine Company which supplied the army with pork. So after his death, the widow couldn’t keep the companies together as shown by the Impala split already.”

Impala brand and projects manager Tracy Ngoma refused to comment on the issue, referring to Legacy. “I am not in a position to comment on the issue, why don’t you contact the directors you claim have defected,” she said.

Darlington was also evasive and referred questions back to Ngoma.

“Where did you get this story, please talk to Tracy (Ngoma),” he said. He promised to return call, but did not.

Matirasa:  “I’m sorry I cannot comment on that, I would need to consult my lawyer first. But does it matter what happened anyway?”

-Newshawks

Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema says 3 000 more schools are needed in the country to fully accommodate learners.

Mathema made the remarks last Thursday at the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa-run Tennyson Hlabangana High School in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe has 9 600 schools, a learner population of 4,5 million, and 140 000 teaching staff. He said schools should invite private investors to engage in build operate and transfer ventures to improve their infrastructure so that every district has at least one boarding school.

“Our population is increasing and, therefore, more schools are needed because some pupils are walking more than 5km to school,” Mathema said.

“Our research as a ministry showed that we need 3 000 more schools because government is saying no child should walk more than 5km to school.”

He said the country every year recorded about 300 000 candidates for Grade 7, and yet there were 24 000 boarding places for students to compete for Form 1 places. He said more boarding schools were needed.

“There is also need to do away with blair toilets at schools as they now belong to the past and are uncomfortable. Schools must be able to produce their own uniforms as we are teaching students clothing designing and fashion and fabrics,” he said.

-NEWSDAY

By A Correspondent- Vendors have said that they cannot afford to fund Zanu-PF’s 2023 election campaign as they were struggling to fend for their families due to an unstable economy and recurrent lockdowns.

This was after Zanu-PF acting national commissar Patrick Chinamasa last week announced that the party was targeting vendors, small-scale miners and farmers to raise $140 million to support its 2023 campaign.

A party resource mobilisation committee led by businessman Philip Chiyangwa was recently appointed.

But vendors’ representatives, who spoke to NewsDay, said their members were in financial distress due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent demolition of their stalls which disrupted their operations.

Zimbabwe Informal Sectors Organisation executive director Promise Mkwananzi said: “Vendors are free to join any political party of their choice and they can even choose to subscribe to financially support that party. But they must not be forced. I am not sure which vendors Zanu-PF wants the funding from. Barely a month ago, the Zanu-PF government ventured into a clean-up exercise and destroyed the livelihoods of people.”

He said this resulted in homelessness, starvation and failure of vendors to run businesses.

“Zanu-PF cannot win the vote of the people through demanding cash. Rather, it should formalise their (vendors) trade. With complete satisfaction of adequate service delivery, the vote of the vendors is guaranteed,” he said.

Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation executive director Samuel Wadzai said vendors should not be forced to contribute to Zanu-PF’s electoral campaign.

“A vendor cannot be stopped from funding political parties, but it must be voluntary compliance. However, the request for funding will be difficult especially during the pandemic. Vendors are not earning. They are struggling to put food on the table, let alone provide other basics for their families. Therefore, whichever political party is seeking financial assistance from the vendors should be at peace with their failure to meet their expectations. No force should be used.”

Political analyst Eldred Masunungure said Zanu-PF’s strategy to mobilise funds from low-income earners was aimed at instilling fear and coercing them to vote for it in the 2023 elections.

“It’s not the first time the ruling party has sought to raise funds from vulnerable economic groups. Its target is not to raise funds, but to coerce people to vote for them. The low-income earners know very well the consequences of failing to comply with the ruling party directive. Who wants to risk losing their farms, mining claims or vendors’ stalls as punishment for refusing to comply with the directive?” he asked.

Zanu-PF is targeting five million votes to win the upcoming elections.

–newsday

By A Correspondent- Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema says 3 000 more schools are needed in the country to fully accommodate learners.

Mathema made the remarks last Thursday at the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa-run Tennyson Hlabangana High School in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe has 9 600 schools, a learner population of 4,5 million, and 140 000 teaching staff. He said schools should invite private investors to engage in build operate and transfer ventures to improve their infrastructure so that every district has at least one boarding school.

“Our population is increasing and, therefore, more schools are needed because some pupils are walking more than 5km to school,” Mathema said.

“Our research as a ministry showed that we need 3 000 more schools because government is saying no child should walk more than 5km to school.”

He said the country every year recorded about 300 000 candidates for Grade 7, and yet there were 24 000 boarding places for students to compete for Form 1 places. He said more boarding schools were needed.

“There is also need to do away with blair toilets at schools as they now belong to the past and are uncomfortable. Schools must be able to produce their own uniforms as we are teaching students clothing designing and fashion and fabrics,” he said.

-Newsday

Still reeling from the Tawanda Muchehiwa abduction scandal by state security agents with its connivance, subsequent desertion by spooked clients, the death of its chief executive Thompson Dondo in January and now boardroom squabbles, Impala Car Rental is teetering on the brink of collapse, informed sources say.

Information gathered this week shows the car hire company, which once dominated the market with lucrative contracts from government, business, humanitarian agencies, civil society and individuals, is now financially struggling and had difficulties in paying its workers in recent months.

In the aftermath of the abduction of Muchehiwa by state security before the 31 July protests last year, Impala was hit contracts cancellations when its role in the seizure and horrific torture of the student journalist was exposed.

Muchehiwa has since fled to South Africa, fearing for his life.

The situation was worsened by reports of its entanglement with the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) through dodgy ownership deals cut by the late Madondo. Impala is the CIO’s favourite car hire company.

Details obtained this week show that the situation has further deteriorated following bickering at the operation which has triggered a mass exodus of senior employees.

This has led to the formation of a splinter company known as Legacy Car Rental which has offices located at 6 Devine Road ,Milton Park, Harare, the sources said.

After Dondo’s death, his wife Matirasa Francisca, who is a director, ordered an audit to establish the financial state of the company as she was taking from where her husband had left and suspected misappropriation of funds, they added.

The witch-hunt, however, ruffled feathers of other directors of the family-owned business. According to the company’s CR14 documents, Matirasa and the late Dondo’s sister Clara are listed as directors.

“When Matirasa took over, she ordered a forensic audit to ascertain the financial state of the company. She also suspected that her co-director Clara and some senior members of management were siphoning funds,” a company source said.

“This did not go down well with some of Dondo’s relatives and the subsequent squabble resulted in the quitting by at least six employees and others. Clara led the defectors to form their own splinter company, Legacy Car Rental, and they have taken away with them their skills, experience and clients.”

Legacy is led by Clara and her brother Darlington Dondo, Thompson’s siblings.

“Darlington is Clara and Thompson’s brother. They were angered by their in-law’s boardroom coup and the audit that she ordered,” the source said.

“Thompson’s siblings also did not like the fact that they were being accused of misappropriating funds. So they mobilised other disgruntled employees, including a driver called Chivizhe, to quit and then started Legacy.”

This has left Impala in deeper operational and financial trouble. Its Zambia branch has already closed shop, while the South African operation was already struggling.

Matirasa is now Impala chief executive, deputised by founding member and general manager Viola Chirata who has been with the company since in formation in 2007.

The company started operations in 2007 when the late Dondo was still based in the United Kingdom. He started the operation with his late brother Alfred. Impala says it has a fleet of  over 200 top-of-the-range vehicles and won several awards during its heydays. It had a workforce of 70 employees, including 10 managers.

The sources said part of the problem is that the late Dondo operated Impala like a “briefcase company” – he got money from various other operations and underworld activities.

“Although the widow has always been a director, she was not aware of Thompson’s covet operations and underworld deals that made the company look highly profitable. So when he died, she was shocked by the financial status of the company and ordered an audit thinking the money was being stolen. When Thompson died the company faced problems; it couldn’t even pay employees in the first three months,” the source said.

“Thompson was a dealer, he got money not just from Impala, but other operations too. There was also Panacea 24, Swine Company and Fasfit. His major cash cow was the Swine Company which supplied the army with pork. So after his death, the widow couldn’t keep the companies together as shown by the Impala split already.”

Impala brand and projects manager Tracy Ngoma refused to comment on the issue, referring to Legacy. “I am not in a position to comment on the issue, why don’t you contact the directors you claim have defected,” she said.

Darlington was also evasive and referred questions back to Ngoma.

“Where did you get this story, please talk to Tracy (Ngoma),” he said. He promised to return call, but did not.

Matirasa:  “I’m sorry I cannot comment on that, I would need to consult my lawyer first. But does it matter what happened anyway?”

Zimbabwe’s underfire construction industry has earned $10,7 billion through State-funded road rehabilitation and expansion projects since January, giving the sector respite after battling to forestall possible bankruptcy.

The construction drought had created corporate graveyards in the past decade as a result of capital flight precipitated by economic mismanagement and investor fatigue-inducing harsh policies.

These have turned Zimbabwe into a risky destination for international capital.

Giving an update on the state of Zimbabwe’s key projects during the presentation of the mid-term fiscal policy review on Thursday, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said about half of the $10,7 billion had been deployed to the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, the biggest of ongoing road rehabilitation projects.

Under the project, government is transforming the 600km trunk road into a world-class artery that will be key in helping the continent achieve its ambitious integration efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“In the transport sector, priority is on the roads development programme, mainly targeting rehabilitation and upgrading of the country’s road network,” the Finance minister said.

“Focus has been on ensuring continuation of ongoing works on the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Road and the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase II following the declaration of the state of disaster in view of the extensive damage to the road infrastructure by the heavy rains received in most parts of the country during the just-ended rainfall season.

“Consequently, resources amounting to $10,7 billion, including $500 million under devolution, were expended under the Roads Development Programme of which $6,9 billion went towards the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge road, $1,8 billion to Cyclone Idai restoration works and $2 billion to ongoing works under Phase 2 of the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme,” Ncube said.

However, the crisis with public sector mega infrastructure deals has always been delays in payment.

These have sometimes pushed contractors into near bankruptcy, while funding would be trapped in State coffers.

Ncube said 180,5km of the busy highway had been completed under the programme.

This is 19,5km shy of the 200km that government had planned to complete by December 2020.

He said downtime stemming from COVID-19-induced work stoppages as hard lockdowns set in had affected progress.

This was compounded by the work stoppages caused by high rainfall received during the 2020/21 agricultural season.

“Following the declaration of the state of disaster on the country’s road network in February 2021, government embarked on the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme Phase II to be implemented over three years at an estimated overall cost of US$400 million, with focus on the rehabilitation of major arteries and feeder roads in both urban and rural areas,” said Ncube.

“Already, resources amounting to $3,2 billion have been availed, with $2 billion being disbursed from the budget and $1,2 billion from the Road Fund managed through the Zimbabwe National Road Administration.”

-NEWSDAY

By A Correspondent- At least three security details assigned to Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga tested Covid-19 positive ahead of his trip to Beijing, China, while another was later struck by the virus in the far-flung Asian country, prompting the Chinese authorities to lockdown an upmarket hotel the Zimbabwean leader and his entourage visited.

Chiwenga – who has serious underlying conditions which make him vulnerable to Covid-19 – is in Beijing for medical and official business.

He is also Health minister.

Three cabinet ministers with various underlying conditions, Perrance Shiri (Agriculture), Sibusiso Moyo (Foreign Affairs) and Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza, succumbed to Covid-19-related complications early this year.

The disease also claimed the life of Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba.

Zimbabwe is battling a third wave of Covid-19 infections and deaths related to the respiratory ailment. Government has already put in place several restrictions to contain the spread of the disease as statistics show that more people have succumbed to the virus during the current wave compared to previous ones.

The month of July alone has been deadlier than the combined toll from March 2020 to June 2021.

For Chiwenga, any exposure to Covid-19 would be precarious, considering the underlying health conditions he has struggled with over the years.

Chiwenga, who did not attend this Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, flew to China for his routine medical check-up as well as some meetings with officials in that country.

Higher Education minister Amon Murwira is currently the acting Health minister. Information gathered by The NewsHawks shows that between Wednesday and Thursday, security details who were scheduled to accompany Chiwenga underwent Covid-19 laboratory tests at his Kaguvi Building offices in Harare, but were barred from
travelling after testing positive.

In China, his delegation underwent Covid-19 tests and later went to a luxury hotel on Tiananmen Square while awaiting the results.

Tiananmen Square is located in Beijing central business district.

“Someone from the Zimbabwean VP’s delegation tested positive for Covid, which left nearly 400 guests inside the hotel in quarantine,” a source said.

“The hotel, which is on Tiananmen Square, is close to government buildings. For China, which wants to take the lead in fighting Covid which was first reported in the country, the authorities there had to swiftly deal with the incident.”

At a time when Zimbabwe’s health sector has been exposed by the outbreak of the pandemic, Chiwenga, sources said, hired a private jet to China for a medical procedure.

“He was expected to return to Zimbabwe after 10 days, but now with this latest incident, his itinerary may be changed,” another source said.

In February, the Vice-President became the first public official to get the Covid-19 vaccine which was donated by the Chinese.

Chiwenga has also been at the centre of Zimbabwe’s vaccination programme. The southern African country has to date approved the use of Chinese, Russian, Indian and, most recently, the Johnson & Johnson vaccines, but most of its vaccines are from China.

Chiwenga, who requires medical attention on his oesophagus, fell seriously ill and was urgently airlifted to China for medical treatment in 2019.

Since then, he has been periodically flying to the Asian country for medical procedures.

Information secretary Nick Mangwana could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.

In January, the Zimbabwean cabinet stopped meeting physically at a time Mnangagwa was on his annual leave and when the country was experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths.

The last time cabinet had met was on 8 December 2020.

This is well before Mnangagwa went on his annual leave from 1 January 2021 to 1 February 2021.

Mnangagwa’s then co-deputies, Mohadi (who stepped down in March after a sex scandal) and Chiwenga alternated as acting president in-between.

Mohadi held fort from 1 January to 14 January, while Chiwenga came in from 15 January to 1 February, although he was hardly visible as he was said to have been “exhausted”.

-Newshawks

By A Correspondent- The Election Resource Centre (ERC), an electoral and democracy think-tank, says Zimbabwe cannot hold free and fair elections in 2023 if the polls are conducted under current electoral laws.

As a result, the civil society organisation says a contested outcome is likely if changes are not made.

Zimbabwe has a history of disputed elections particularly since 2000 when the opposition Movement for Democratic Change began contesting polls.

Ahead of the 2023 elections, a number of electoral processes are set to be undertaken in preparation including but not limited to the 2021 census and the 2022 delimitation process.

In its Electoral Barometer, ERC chairperson Trust Maanda said there was a need for the alignment of electoral laws with the constitution.

“The Zimbabwean government needs to fix all legislation affecting the electoral process and environment and bring it in line with both the Constitution and with Zimbabwe’s regional and international commitments,” Maanda said.

“The problems we face are precisely premised on the outstanding electoral reform issues that do not comply with either the constitution or our international law obligations.

“The responsible stakeholders must ensure that all legislation affecting the electoral environment be brought in line with both the constitution and Zimbabwe’s international commitments. The following five points focus on tangible steps the policymakers can take to make the electoral process and the environment more credible, fair, transparent, accountable and inclusive.”

Priority electoral reforms include the institutional reform of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), looking at the institutional and personnel levels as well as the organisational practices.

There is also need for the reform of the legal framework, that is the Electoral Act, all electoral regulations and procedures focusing on constitutionality and international best practice. The ERC also said there was a need to
reform the conduct of the state media in covering the electoral processes as well as the conduct of traditional leaders in political processes.

Reform of the role of the military in civilian affairs is also seen as critical.

The Electoral Barometer shows that, since the 1990s, election observation has become an important tool whereby the international community determines whether a country adheres to its obligations and commitments, as established in the framework of international political and civil rights norms and instruments.

The ERC report is based on recommendations made by 2018 election observer missions. The reforms must be urgently implemented, in view of the looming 2023 polls.

“Three years since the 2018 harmonised elections and two years to the next election, a promise of expedited reforms continues to lag behind and now seemingly beyond reach. While the Covid-19 pandemic has brought new
challenges associated with outstanding electoral reforms, reforms remain unaddressed,” the report reads.

“The post-2018 election environment has been dominated by the non-implementation of key reforms, most of which have been repeatedly raised by election observer groups in previous elections. It should be noted that Zec has taken a piecemeal approach in recommending proposals to the alignment of electoral laws, policies and practice with the constitution and international best practice.

“The failure to significantly revise key laws or to address the partisan conduct of the state security, traditional leaders and the media undercuts free elections.”

The objectives of the assessment include: assessing the state of electoral laws, policies and practices post the 2018 general elections in preparedness for the 2023 polls, to inform electoral stakeholders on outstanding electoral reforms as well as to establish gaps, build consensus and proffer recommendations for the improvement of the quality of elections.

-Newshawks

By A Correspondent- Three people died on the spot and two others sustained severe injuries when a Honda Fit they were travelling in collided head-on with a bus transporting Covid-19 patients along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road near the Esigodini tollgate.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the accident which occurred last Thursday.

The Honda Fit was travelling to Gwanda while the bus that had returnees from South Africa, was headed for Bulawayo. The three deceased and the two injured were in the Honda fit.

Insp Ncube urged drivers to adhere to road regulations saying most accidents were due to human error.

The accident preceded another one that happened early Friday between Musina and Makhado (Louis Trichardt) towns in South Africa.

Four people died while 10 others were injured when a bus transporting Zimbabwean returnees collided head-on with a kombi.

The bus was travelling to Zimbabwe while the minibus was travelling towards Makhado town along the N1 highway.

By A Correspondent- There was joy at a Chinhoyi family at the weekend after their six months old baby girl Dadirai Semwere, was found in Mount Darwin after four months of missing.

The baby went missing from their Chinhoyi’s Ruvimbo home when she was only two months old.

The baby went missing after her mother, Ms Vicy Nyanhete had escorted a visitor from their home.

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed the recovery of the baby and said that she needed to undergo some medical checkups before she reunites with her family.

By A Correspondent-Police are hunting for a man who robbed two women and raped one of them after they had gone for an all-night prayer on Muchinjikwa Mountain in Chinamhora, Mashonaland East at the weekend.

Reports are the women aged 34 and 33 were robbed of cash and cellphones before the man, who was armed with a knife, asked one of the victims to choose between being raped or killed.

The man allegedly raped the 34-year-old woman before running away.

Police spokesperson for Mashonaland East Province Inspector Simon Chazovachiyi confirmed the incident saying the victims reported the matter at Chinamhora Police Station.

He said:

Police in Chinamhora are looking for a man who allegedly raped and robbed a 34-year-old woman who had gone for prayers.

It is reported that on July 23, around 6pm two women from Zimre Park in Harare were preparing to conduct an all night prayer at Muchinjikwa Mountain in Chinamhora when an unknown person emerged from the bush holding a knife and a stone in his hands.

He allegedly ordered the two complainants to comply with his instructions. It is further alleged that the suspect tied their hands before taking two cellphones, a black satchel and a combined US$36 from the victims.

He said the rape victim was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare for medical examination and investigations were underway.

He appealed to the public for information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Inspector Chazovachiyi also urged members of the public to respect lockdown protocols and conduct their prayers at home without public gatherings.

Public gatherings including churches were banned when the government imposed the level 4 lockdown to curb the transmission of the coronavirus.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has directed its recently appointed party fundraising team to get $140 million from farmers, vendors and gold panners for the 2023 election compaign activities.

Zanu PF acting national commissar Patrick Chinamasa last week said they were targeting vendors, small-scale miners and farmers to raise $140 million to support its 2023 campaign.

A party resource mobilisation committee led by businessman Philip Chiyangwa was recently appointed.

By A Correspondent- The government said schools were going to be reopened once President Emmerson Mnangagwa gives the directive.

This was said by Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Cain Mathema in Parliament last week.

Mathema said this after MPs had grilled him over measures that his ministry was taking to ensure the safety of schoolchildren and teachers before the opening of schools.

Last term, children at different schools throughout the country contracted COVID-19.

“We have had this pandemic since last year and within the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, we have done all we could, and we are doing all we can to make sure we protect the children,” Mathema said.
“The ministry will do whatever is required to make sure that children are protected and everybody is protected, and if, indeed, this House wants me to give details as to which route to be followed by which school, if that is what I’m expected to present here, then give us time and I will come back and give those details to the House. I am ready to give a ministerial statement,” he said.

Mathema added: “Once we are given the directive by His Excellency, we will open schools.”

By A Correspondent- Dadirai Semwere, a six-month-old baby who went missing in Chinhoyi four months ago has been found in Mount Darwin.

The baby went missing from their Chinhoyi’s Ruvimbo home when she was only two months old.

The baby went missing after her mother, Ms Vicy Nyanhete had escorted a visitor from their home.

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed the recovery of the baby and said that she needed to undergo some medical checkups before she reunites with her family.

By A Correspondent- The Zion Christian Church has barred its unvaccinated followers from attending worshipping ceremonies.

The church leader, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi last week told church members that no member will be allowed to attend church conferences if they were not vaccinated against the coronavirus once lockdown restrictions are relaxed.

The Zion Christian Church is one of the oldest indigenous Christian churches in Zimbabwe.

Speaking in a live broadcast he said that obligatory vaccination was being considered as every church member was a frontline worker with a duty to spread the word of God to the world.

This was Bishop Mutendi’s 247th broadcast since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Zimbabwe in March last year.

While vaccination is voluntary, Bishop Mutendi said anyone who wanted to attend conferences without being vaccinated was like a thief who was out to steal, kill and destroy as stated in John 10:10.

Bishop Mutendi was one of the first church leaders in the country to be vaccinated and insists that people must continue to take all protective measures even after being vaccinated.

By A Correspondent- Kumalo Primary School head, Mrs Stella Mhlanga is facing dismissal for allegedly sharing her “nude” pictures on social media.
Last week, Mrs Mhlanga allegedly shared her private parts on her WhatsApp status, but quickly deleted it, but not before it was picked up by some of her contacts and reshared. She later posted an apology.
“Good evening, sorry for what was posted on the status, someone had borrowed my phone. My sincere apologies people. It’s not my character and I don’t post such in my status. Please delete,” reads the apology attributed to her.
Director Advocacy and Communication in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Taungana Ndoro yesterday said his ministry was worried and has set up a team to investigate the matter.
“We have the due processes which we have to follow in such situations hence we have already established a committee to investigate her. She will also say her side of the story, after which the necessary intervention will be prescribed to her.
“However, I must say such behavior if true is inconsistent with such positions. Such people look after our children and must be exemplary to the community. We have had other cases where parents have even decided to take action but as a ministry, we have our own internal way of dealing with such matters. The findings will be made public.”
In Zimbabwe, it is also an offence to possess and share nude pictures. Mr Ndoro also dismissed reports that Mrs Mhlanga committed suicide, revealing that the police had since managed to locate her. Social media has been awash for the past two days with reports that Mrs Mhlanga had committed suicide after the incident.
Mr Ndoro said the ministry led by the District Schools Inspector dispatched a team to the head’s house as her mobile telephone was not going through, and the team dispelled rumours of suicide.
“As a ministry, we were naturally worried when we heard the rumours and attempts to raise her on her mobile phone drew a blank. We then engaged the police to help trace her and I can confirm that she has been located and is very much alive,” said Mr Ndoro.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’ was last week rushed to China for emergency medical checkups.

The Vice President’s visit sparked a health emergency at a luxury hotel after two members of his entourage tested positive for COVID-19.
Hundreds of hotel guests at the Legendale Hotel in Beijing were forced to quarantine on Thursday, although officials maintain that Chiwenga was not one of the positive cases.

Chiwenga (64), arrived in China aboard a private jet with four aides on 23 July to seek treatment for a “throat problem”, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Chiwenga – who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care – takes regular medical flights to China where he has been treated for an oesophageal health problem.

Tinashe Sambiri|While the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has placed POLAD under his armpits hoping to confine those who refused to join the platform to the peripheries, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa remains the hope of the nation.

According to political observers, President Chamisa’s refusal to be used by the regime to authenticate Mr Mnangagwa’s stolen mandate has unsettled the system.

President Chamisa and the MDC Alliance maintain POLAD does not serve national interests.

According to MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma, Zanu PF bigwigs are losing sleep over President Chamisa’s rising influence.

“When a man is more concerned about his neighbor’s family more than his own. This is the case with ZANU PF in its various forms. We in the MDC Alliance knows the end game. President
@nelsonchamisa
is in charge. We have a plan,” argued Sarkozy.

MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Ostallos Siziba echoed Sarkozy’s voice:

“President
@nelsonchamisa
has stayed true to the cause. He continues to lead despite attempts to scandalize him, give him money and privilege, intimidate him,coerce and even kill. He remains steadfast & clear on the task to prosecute the struggle to it’s logical conclusion.”

Multiple sources on Sunday afternoon announced that the CIO agent who nearly killed MDC Alliance Org Secretary Amos Chibaya, Norman Kujoka has died from COVID-19.
Kujoka was never tried over the accident and he enjoyed state media-no-mention-protectionhttps://t.co/2pgFHJz9hY pic.twitter.com/YRWIZVC3Zm

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 1, 2021

Tinashe Sambiri|While the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has placed POLAD under his armpits hoping to confine those who refused to join the platform to the peripheries, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa remains the hope of the nation.

According to political observers, President Chamisa’s refusal to be used by the regime to authenticate Mr Mnangagwa’s stolen mandate has unsettled the system.

President Chamisa and the MDC Alliance maintain POLAD does not serve national interests.

According to MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma, Zanu PF bigwigs are losing sleep over President Chamisa’s rising influence.

“When a man is more concerned about his neighbor’s family more than his own. This is the case with ZANU PF in its various forms. We in the MDC Alliance knows the end game. President
@nelsonchamisa
is in charge. We have a plan,” argued Sarkozy.

MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Ostallos Siziba echoed Sarkozy’s voice:

“President
@nelsonchamisa
has stayed true to the cause. He continues to lead despite attempts to scandalize him, give him money and privilege, intimidate him,coerce and even kill. He remains steadfast & clear on the task to prosecute the struggle to it’s logical conclusion.”

Tinashe Sambiri|While the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has placed POLAD under his armpits hoping to confine those who refused to join the platform to the peripheries, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa remains the hope of the nation.

According to political observers, President Chamisa’s refusal to be used by the regime to authenticate Mr Mnangagwa’s stolen mandate has unsettled the system.

President Chamisa and the MDC Alliance maintain POLAD does not serve national interests.

According to MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma, Zanu PF bigwigs are losing sleep over President Chamisa’s rising influence.

“When a man is more concerned about his neighbor’s family more than his own. This is the case with ZANU PF in its various forms. We in the MDC Alliance knows the end game. President
@nelsonchamisa
is in charge. We have a plan,” argued Sarkozy.

MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Ostallos Siziba echoed Sarkozy’s voice:

“President
@nelsonchamisa
has stayed true to the cause. He continues to lead despite attempts to scandalize him, give him money and privilege, intimidate him,coerce and even kill. He remains steadfast & clear on the task to prosecute the struggle to it’s logical conclusion.”

Prof Lovemore Madhuku speaks on POLAD vehicle…

THE wife of the former President Canaan Banana, Janet, who died last week, will be laid to rest on Friday in Bembe, Esigodini, next to her husband as per her wish.

Mrs Banana (83) died at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo on Thursday last week where she had been admitted. She had suffered a stroke and was also undergoing dialysis sessions for a kidney problem. President Mnangagwa said she will receive a State assisted funeral.

In an interview yesterday, her sister, Mrs Sanele Ngwenya at their Luveve home, said tentatively, they had slated the burial for Friday.

“The tentative date is Friday and this is because we are waiting for her children from the United Kingdom and sisters too to come down. This is why we have pushed it to Friday. The burial is definitely in Bembe, Esigodini,” she said.

Mrs Ngwenya said she was pained that her sister died during a difficult time.

“Kubuhlungu because she passed on during such a time (Covid-19 era), umhlaba ujikile with this pandemic. We are all trying to ensure we survive and we are practising social distancing, proper masking and sanitising.

Had it not been for Covid-19, ngabe kubomvu lapha ekhaya because she was a staunch Methodist Church in Zimbabwe member. I know the Methodist family is mourning with us,” said Mrs Ngwenya.

She said she was grateful to the support that has been rendered by the Government.

“We are grateful for all those that are with us in mourning on all platforms as that is the new way, we are mourning, online. We know we cannot change it but that is the new normal.

We are grateful for the support we have received so far. We have received tremendous support from Government,” she added.- The Sunday News

By A Correspondent- Former ZBC manager, veteran journalist, Samuel Mkhithika has died from the COVID-19.

The state broadcaster announced the passing of Mkhithika who died at a local hospital on Friday. 

Said ZBC in a statement:

Former ZBC Radio Zimbabwe Station Manager Samuel Mkhithika also known as Sam Mkhithika has died. He died in Bulawayo on Friday after having spent a week in hospital with respiratory complications his son Vusumuzi Mkhithika has said.

Burial arrangements will be announced later. ZBC Radio Zimbabwe staff and listeners send their condolences to the Mkhithika family, relatives and friends.

---

Lala ngokuthula baba Mkhithika

Mkhithika started working as a journalist before independence and continued with the state broadcaster upon attaining independence in 1980.

He was the manager of Radio Zimbabwe before Albert Mirirayi Chekayi

He was popular for a number of shows including Kwaziso/Ukubingelelana.

He was described by his former workmates as one of the journalists that mentored the current crop of great reporters including Sibongumusa Dhlodhlo.

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has set up a committee to investigate the headmistress of Kumalo Primary School in Bulawayo, Mrs Stella Mhlanga, after she allegedly shared her “nud_e” pictures on social media.

Mrs Mhlanga allegedly shared a photograph of her private parts on her WhatsApp status and quickly deleted the racy image, but not before it was picked up by some of her contacts and reshared. She later posted an apology.

Director for Advocacy and Communication in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Taungana Ndoro yesterday said his Ministry had set up a team to investigate the matter.

“We have the due processes which we have to follow in such situations hence we have already established a committee to investigate her.

‘‘She will also say her side of the story, after which the necessary intervention will be prescribed to her.

“However, I must say such behaviour if true is inconsistent with such positions. Such people look after our children and must be exemplary to the community. We have had other cases where parents have even decided to take action but as a Ministry we have our own internal way of dealing with such matters. The findings will be made public.”

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- On July 23, 2021, the Associated Press tweeted what it called a “virus update”. One of the highlights read: “Canada has high vaccine rate; Zimbabwe lowest.”

That same day, the American news agency had run a story comparing the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccination in Canada and Zimbabwe.

Canada, like most developed countries, has managed to attain high levels of vaccination, while Zimbabwe, like its African peers, lags far behind.

However, AP’s assertion, in its tweet, that Zimbabwe has the lowest vaccination rate is incorrect. In fact, data shows that Zimbabwe has one of the highest vaccination rates in Africa, doing better than continental giants South Africa, nigeria and Kenya.

In its article, AP describes Zimbabwe as “a relative success” in Africa, where only about 2% of its 1,3 billion people have been vaccinated.

In Zimbabwe, 4,5% of its 15 million population had been fully vaccinated by July 23, according to official data, while 9% had received the first dose.

-ZimFact

By A Correspondent- An 80- year old Alaska man who died from Covid-19 complications was reburied yesterday following a mix-up of dead bodies at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital mortuary.

The mix-up happened after a funeral parlour was allowed to collect the body on its own in the absence of morgue attendants .

Samson Mazivisa, who died on July 25 in Alaska, was first buried in Mhangura on July 28 by strangers.

His family had made burial arrangements at Glane State farm in Alaska on Friday, but were forced to wait for another day until his body was exhumed in Mhangura.

A relative of Mazivisa only identified as Rashid confirmed that the family demanded to identify their relative even if his death was Covid-19-related.

This was when the drama started as the body could not be found in the mortuary.

The late Mazivisa left behind four children and 12 grandchildren.

“Our uncle passed on 25 July and doctors confirmed that it was Covid-19-related,” the relative explained.

“When we prepared for his burial in Alaska on Friday, his body could not be found in the mortuary.

“The body had been buried in Mhangura following a mix-up by the parlour. The grave had been dug in Alaska.”

The body was retrieved yesterday for proper burial in Alaska.

Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital spokesperson George Kapondo said an investigation was done over the mix-up at the morgue.

“Our mortuary attendant who knew the bodies with their tags allowed the funeral parlour officials to collect the different body without verification,” Kapondo said.

“An investigation was done and the attendants were reprimanded for negligence of duty.

“Officially, we allow relatives to identify their deceased even if it is a Covid-19related death.”

-standard

By A Correspondent- “MAYBE I was destined to live a life like Job in the Bible, to have nothing and suffer . . . I had to humble myself to my son as if I was his child.”

These are the heartrending words of Mrs Molly Nyamakawo of Queens Park East suburb in Bulawayo after her only son, the first-born Trevor burnt down the family home in a fit of rage that she is yet to comprehend. Trevor (29) was about to spend his second day at the home after having arrived from South Africa aboard omalayitsha (cross-border transporters) who demanded payment as he had come as a “pay forward” when he burnt down the house.

“My son came from South Africa two days ago, because of the Covid-19-induced lockdowns he was struggling and I was sending him money almost every month for rentals and food. He had spent two years there. He just decided to come back and I told him to hold on a bit and wait for the situation to improve because things were equally tough this side.

He insisted on coming back to stay in his father’s home. Their father died in 2012 and I had been raising them single handedly. We then had an argument and my other daughter told him not to stress me as I was struggling all along to take care of them. She also encouraged him to wait a little and he refused,” said Mrs Nyamakawo.

She said she refused to sponsor his return home as she said he was a problem child.

“He had been a nuisance all along, I have been living a miserable life because of him. So, he got an omalayitsha to come back to Zimbabwe, they called me and said they were bringing him and I needed to pay for the journey and I refused arguing that I had not agreed with them. I also had no money too after having sent him some recently.”

She went on:

“I told the transporters that they could not do their business that way without any agreements. They then dropped him off in Pretoria as I had refused to pay. He got hold of certain pastors from the Bushiri Church and they paid some money to a different omalayitsha and when he arrived at the gate, he was short of R200 which he demanded I pay and I had to borrow US$10 from my tenant and I added the only R20 that I had although it was not enough. The man understood and he was dropped off.”

Mrs Nyamakawo said all seemed well on the first day.

“We had our supper. He was narrating how things were in South Africa and the challenges he encountered there. The following morning, he started behaving strangely, smoking dagga in the house and I reprimanded him as we have a baby in the house. He started chasing us away saying it was his father’s home and had all rights to stay there. I told him we must live in harmony as we are family and address all challenges we have,” she said.

Mrs Nyamakawo said she decided to end the conversation as he is a person of violent nature. In the evening he started banging things in the home destroying property and she went and made a police report.

“I was told to go back home as it was now in the curfew hours and told to come the following day. We locked ourselves in our rooms together with the tenants for our safety. We only slept at 3am as he was destroying property. I returned to the police the next morning,” she said.

She said she went home in the company of a police officer and he rendered no assistance and two more policemen were dispatched.

“Trevor started chasing people away from the house saying he wanted to live with me alone, he had indicated that he wanted to kill me. After we came from the police we got home to find a red flag at the gate symbolising a bereavement. He had locked himself in the house.

The cops then started exchanging words with him and they dared him to do what he wished and Trevor said he wanted to burn the house and they said he must burn it. We were outside the gate. I think he opened the gas cylinder and lit a match. He climbed on top of the roof and was exchanging words with the police. They barred anyone from entering the yard to try and catch him and to also save some of the property, at that time only the kitchen was burning,” she said.

Mrs Nyamakawo claimed the police refused to arrest him saying he had a knife and they were scared.

“They did not do anything and the whole house burnt while we were watching. Trevor jumped into the neighbour’s yard and ran away.

He returned at night and slept in the fowl run. So, I have been trying to contact the police officers assigned to the case but they have turned a blind eye to the matter, they have stopped answering my calls too. So, I don’t know who will protect us if they cannot speak to us, Trevor comes here at night but no effort is being made to catch him and we are scared for our lives because he is dangerous and can come back for us,” she said.

In 2018, Trevor attacked his mother severely and was arrested and taken to Bulawayo Prison but was released a week later.

Mrs Nyamakawo said she does not know what became of the case.

“I have had problems with him since his father died. I had to humble myself as if I am his child, unfortunately many people never believed my stories when I told them as he was a nice guy to other people. However, our neighbours witnessed many of his shenanigans and they are aware of his behaviour.”

This made all his friends distance themselves from him because he was a problem, she said. Neighbours who assisted to clean the house instructed Mrs Nyamakawo to leave as soon as they had finished fearing that Trevor would return and harm her in their absence.

The family which is composed of the mother, two daughters and a two-year-old girl child is currently in need of food, clothing, blankets, sanitary ware, toiletries and any other help as all their belongings were burnt. Contact details for Mrs Nyamakawo are 0773675588.

By A Correspondent- The mysterious happenings of Musogwezi River of July 16, 2021 will forever remain etched in the memories of the people of Jongwe Village, Machiti area under Chief Mapanzure in Masvingo Rural District.

Self-styled Prophet Amos Chituri (49) of Agness Access Apostolic Church (AAAC) stood there uneasy, hands shaking uncontrollably as he tried to come to terms with the events of the past seven days.

Three people drowned and disappeared under his watch as he tried to conduct baptism at a rocky pool at the foot of Mavara hills. The three were not seen again until on the seventh day when their bodies resurfaced one after another.

The mystery got deeper!

There were trembling sounds that tore through Mavara Hills and down into the pool as the three drowned. These sounds were heard many kilometers away and they continued intermittently for the next week.

“I am shaken. I am beside myself. This has never happened in my life and I do not know how to tell people about this including my own relatives,” said Chituri in an interview with The Mirror.

It all started at around 6am on July 16, 2021, when Chituri, a prophet from Manyangadze Village under Chief Mutasa in Manicaland visited the Chivi family in Tazvigwira to attend to a child who is mentally ill. He was met by the village head Victor Tazvigwira for purposes of village protocols.

Chituri however, took Tazvigwira aside and made a prophesy on him. He prophesied that Tazvigwira once came across human bones while walking in the hills. The spirit of that deceased person was haunting him and needed to be cleansed.

The two agreed to go to Musogwezi River for exorcism and baptism. They were accompanied by Tazvigwira’s wife, Chivi, his wife and two children and some youth members of AAAC from Silas and Ratisai village under Chief Shumba making it a group of about nine people.

At the river, the group stood about 10 metres away and removed their shoes as they prepared to get closer to the pool for the baptism. The pool is less than 3m wide and locals say it’s not deep as kids always play and swim there. That pool is also used for baptisms by many other indigenous churches.

Chituri paced close to the pool where the group was preparing for the ceremony. The nine or so started speaking in tongues and like the biblical possessed pigs in the new testament they ran and plunged into the pool. There was a huge trembling noise from the pool and the hills above. Forces they could not understand shoved and pushed them under the water.

“We could see each other as we struggled to escape from the bottom of the pool. Surprisingly we never bumped against one another and we never gulped any water. I raised my hands to try and alert those outside of our predicament. After a while I mysteriously found myself thrown out of the pool and lying on the ground. I still don’t know how I came out,” said Tazvigwira.

Five others also mysteriously found themselves out of the pool, lying on the ground. Chituri attended to them and in particular Tazvigwira who seemed to be almost dying.

As they got back to their senses, they realised that some members of the group were missing.

Missing was Cosmas Mvicha, Witness Chirombo of Silas Village and Fungai Berevedzai a 14-year-old Form 2 girl at Mapakomhere High School who according to some relatives was taken by mermaids on two occasions before.

The stunned group spent the whole day from around 8am praying for the three who had disappeared hoping that they would come out alive. They believed that they had been snatched by mermaids.

At around 4pm they lost hope and alerted the rest of the villages.

Tactics were changed. They agreed to dump the Christian approach to the rescue operation and village heads, chiefs and spirit mediums of the area were called in. For the next week, vigils were maintained near the pool but to no avail.

A spirit medium only identified as Mbuya Juliana performed rituals and as she completed them, the trembling noise was heard once again and it repeated itself three times.

On the seventh day, on July, 22 the first body belonging to Witness Chirombo was spotted at around 9am floating on the surface. Fear-struck villagers could not go anywhere near the pool. At around 2pm on the same day, The Mirror crew arrived at the pool and an adventurous photographer Tony Phiri was the first to see the second body of Cosmo Mvicha emerging out of the water almost in a sitting position.

The following day on Friday July 23, the body of Fungai Berevedzai finally emerged out of the water.

The question that has gripped Mapanzure people is, what went wrong with the baptism process? Why would the gods not allow baptism to take place this time? Why would the pool which is a playing ground for young boys suddenly become a death trap for devout Christians?

The speculation was that Village head Tazvigwira had goblins. The Mirror confronted him with the question. He was stunned and all he could say was please help me.

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has set up a committee to investigate the headmistress of Kumalo Primary School in Bulawayo, Mrs Stella Mhlanga, after she allegedly shared her “nud_e” pictures on social media.

Mrs Mhlanga allegedly shared a photograph of her private parts on her WhatsApp status and quickly deleted the racy image, but not before it was picked up by some of her contacts and reshared. She later posted an apology.

Director for Advocacy and Communication in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Taungana Ndoro yesterday said his Ministry had set up a team to investigate the matter.

“We have the due processes which we have to follow in such situations hence we have already established a committee to investigate her.

‘‘She will also say her side of the story, after which the necessary intervention will be prescribed to her.

“However, I must say such behaviour if true is inconsistent with such positions. Such people look after our children and must be exemplary to the community. We have had other cases where parents have even decided to take action but as a Ministry we have our own internal way of dealing with such matters. The findings will be made public.”

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s entourage caused a scene at a Chinese hotel after two of his crew tested positive for Covid.

Hundreds of hotel guests at the Legendale Hotel in Beijing were forced to quarantine on Thursday, although officials maintain that Chiwenga was not one of the positive cases.

Chiwenga (64), arrived in China aboard a private jet with four aides on 23 July to seek treatment for a “throat problem”, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Chiwenga – who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care – takes regular medical flights to China where he has been treated for an oesophageal health problem.

By A Correspondent- Kumalo Primary School head, Mrs Stella Mhlanga is under fire from the government for allegedly sharing her “nude” pictures on social media.
Last week, Mrs Mhlanga allegedly shared her private parts on her WhatsApp status, but quickly deleted it, but not before it was picked up by some of her contacts and reshared. She later posted an apology.
“Good evening, sorry for what was posted on the status, someone had borrowed my phone. My sincere apologies people. It’s not my character and I don’t post such in my status. Please delete,” reads the apology attributed to her.
Director Advocacy and Communication in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Taungana Ndoro yesterday said his ministry was worried and has set up a team to investigate the matter.
“We have the due processes which we have to follow in such situations hence we have already established a committee to investigate her. She will also say her side of the story, after which the necessary intervention will be prescribed to her.
“However, I must say such behavior if true is inconsistent with such positions. Such people look after our children and must be exemplary to the community. We have had other cases where parents have even decided to take action but as a ministry, we have our own internal way of dealing with such matters. The findings will be made public.”
In Zimbabwe, it is also an offence to possess and share nude pictures. Mr Ndoro also dismissed reports that Mrs Mhlanga committed suicide, revealing that the police had since managed to locate her. Social media has been awash for the past two days with reports that Mrs Mhlanga had committed suicide after the incident.
Mr Ndoro said the ministry led by the District Schools Inspector dispatched a team to the head’s house as her mobile telephone was not going through, and the team dispelled rumours of suicide.
“As a ministry, we were naturally worried when we heard the rumours and attempts to raise her on her mobile phone drew a blank. We then engaged the police to help trace her and I can confirm that she has been located and is very much alive,” said Mr Ndoro.

-State media

By A Correspondent-Selfish cross border, bus operators are placing the lives of many at risk as they continue to smuggle travellers to and from South Africa.

One of these buses is Enno Coaches, which continues to dump passengers in Musina after robbing them of their money.

Enno Coaches charge US$200 to smuggle passengers to Johannesburg a destination the bus never reaches. Besides robing desperate travellers of their hard-earned cash, the bus is also putting the same at a higher risk of contracting Covid-19 through not observing social distancing in their packed buses.

What Enno Coaches and other unethical bus operators are doing is in direct violation of Covid-19 lockdown regulations which prohibit inter-city and cross border travel.
The sad development is threatening to derail the country’s efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus. The third wave of the pandemic has seen soaring deaths and infections.
On Thursday, Zimbabwe had 105 656 confirmed cases and 3 421 deaths.
There were 81 fatalities on that particular day.

By A Correspondent | The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) reports that it has unearthed evidence of the possible obstruction of justice by the Zimbabwe Republic Police in the murder of Tatenda Pasinyore.

Tatenda Pasinyore, who was only 29 years old, died at Gweru’s Mutapa Police Station on 28 February 2021 after he was brutally assaulted by police officers who had arrested him for purportedly being a public nuisance.

A post-mortem report showed that Pasinyore succumbed to hypovolemic shock, pulmonary laceration, and thoracic trauma, all signs of a brutal assault. The Forum is representing the Pasinyore family.

In response to the Forum’s request for the names of the police officers responsible, the Officer in Charge, Criminal Investigations Department Gweru, highlighted that “investigations carried out could not establish clues that could lead to the arrest of the accused (police officers) persons.” This is a precarious statement, given that Tatenda Pasinyore was arrested and assaulted by known police officers.
Impunity has remained one of the biggest drivers in State-sponsored violence in Zimbabwe. Civil society organisations have continuously provided evidence of brutality by law enforcement officers, such as in the case of Pasinyore, without any traction from authorities.

The State has been slow in operationalising Section 210 of the Constitution, which calls for establishing an Independent Complaints Commission to investigate acts of violence by law enforcement officers against civilians, the report says.

A Bill to operationalise the Independent Complaints Commission was only gazetted this year, seven years after the adoption of the Constitution, it continues.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is chewing millions of dollars from the taxpayers on funding his foreign trip and medical bills.

Chiwenga is regularly in China for medical checkups.

His entourage recently caused chaos at a Chinese hotel after two of his members tested positive for COVID-19.

Officials, however, maintained that Chiwenga was not one of the people who tested positive for Covid-19.

Chiwenga (64), arrived in China aboard a private jet with four aides on 23 July to seek treatment for a “throat problem”, according to the Wall Street Journal.

-Online

By A Correspondent- Hundreds of hotel guests at the Legendale Hotel in Beijing China, were forced to quarantine recently after two members of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s entourage tested positive for COVID-19 in the Asian country.

Officials, however, maintained that Chiwenga was not one of the people who tested positive for Covid-19.

Chiwenga (64), arrived in China aboard a private jet with four aides on 23 July to seek treatment for a “throat problem”, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Reports say questions are being raised in China about whether authorities kept the infection from the public.

Chiwenga – who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care – takes regular medical flights to China where he has been treated for an oesophageal health problem.

-Online

By A Correspondent- Two members of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s entourage have tested positive for COVID-19 in China.

Hundreds of hotel guests at the Legendale Hotel in Beijing were forced to quarantine on Thursday, although officials maintain that Chiwenga was not one of the positive cases.
Chiwenga (64), arrived in China aboard a private jet with four aides on 23 July to seek treatment for a “throat problem”, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Reports say questions are being raised in China about whether authorities kept the infection from the public.
Chiwenga – who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care – takes regular medical flights to China where he has been treated for an oesophageal health problem.

-Online

By A Correspondent- MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora has said that he will not join ‘ the government-controlled coalition of opposition parties.

Mnangagwa at the weekend said he secretly met with Mwonzora at the statehouse and offered him to join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).

Polad is a dialogue platform that was launched by Mnangagwa in May 2019 following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.

Mnangagwa said since Mwonzora is now the official leader of the opposition in Parliament, he could join the dialogue platform.

However, speaking in an interview with Studio 7’s Thomas Chiripasi on Saturday, Mwonzora’s spokesperson Llyod Damba said the POLAD constitutive document does not allow the MDC-T leader to be part of the forum as he did not participate in the 2018 presidential elections.
Said Damba:
We are not going to POLAD because the POLAD constitutive document defines a political actor as a contestant in the 2018 presidential elections.
So the document disqualifies Mwonzora from participating in POLAD as he is not a political actor as defined by the constitutive document.
The second issue is that even if Mnangagwa resigns today and [Vice President Constantino] Chiwenga or another ZANU PF official takes over, they are also disqualified from participating in POLAD meetings because they did not contest in the 2018 presidential elections.
Damba said former MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe cannot be part of POLAD anymore even though she contested in the 2018 presidential elections saying the party’s Standing Committee has the final say on whether she returns to POLAD.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF director for Information and Publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi told Studio 7 that Mwonzora is free not to join if he so wishes. Said Mugwadi:
Joining POLAD is not compulsory.
Yesterday Mnangagwa handed over 19 Isuzu D-Max vehicles to POLAD principals at State House that he had promised them. The vehicles are branded with POLAD stickers.
Said Mnangagwa:
The vehicles have been made identifiable and make sure it carries the dignity of POLAD. The cars you, are not going to use as you see it fit, except that it must be for political work or developmental work.
… In terms of regulations in the public sector, after three years we will then review and make sure that they can belong to you

“MAYBE I was destined to live a life like Job in the Bible, to have nothing and suffer . . . I had to humble myself to my son as if I was his child.”

These are the heartrending words of Mrs Molly Nyamakawo of Queens Park East suburb in Bulawayo after her only son, the first-born Trevor burnt down the family home in a fit of rage that she is yet to comprehend. Trevor (29) was about to spend his second day at the home after having arrived from South Africa aboard omalayitsha (cross-border transporters) who demanded payment as he had come as a “pay forward” when he burnt down the house.

“My son came from South Africa two days ago, because of the Covid-19-induced lockdowns he was struggling and I was sending him money almost every month for rentals and food. He had spent two years there. He just decided to come back and I told him to hold on a bit and wait for the situation to improve because things were equally tough this side.

He insisted on coming back to stay in his father’s home. Their father died in 2012 and I had been raising them single handedly. We then had an argument and my other daughter told him not to stress me as I was struggling all along to take care of them. She also encouraged him to wait a little and he refused,” said Mrs Nyamakawo.

She said she refused to sponsor his return home as she said he was a problem child.

“He had been a nuisance all along, I have been living a miserable life because of him. So, he got an omalayitsha to come back to Zimbabwe, they called me and said they were bringing him and I needed to pay for the journey and I refused arguing that I had not agreed with them. I also had no money too after having sent him some recently.”
She went on:

“I told the transporters that they could not do their business that way without any agreements. They then dropped him off in Pretoria as I had refused to pay. He got hold of certain pastors from the Bushiri Church and they paid some money to a different omalayitsha and when he arrived at the gate, he was short of R200 which he demanded I pay and I had to borrow US$10 from my tenant and I added the only R20 that I had although it was not enough. The man understood and he was dropped off.”

Mrs Nyamakawo said all seemed well on the first day.

“We had our supper. He was narrating how things were in South Africa and the challenges he encountered there. The following morning, he started behaving strangely, smoking dagga in the house and I reprimanded him as we have a baby in the house. He started chasing us away saying it was his father’s home and had all rights to stay there. I told him we must live in harmony as we are family and address all challenges we have,” she said.

Mrs Nyamakawo said she decided to end the conversation as he is a person of violent nature. In the evening he started banging things in the home destroying property and she went and made a police report.

“I was told to go back home as it was now in the curfew hours and told to come the following day. We locked ourselves in our rooms together with the tenants for our safety. We only slept at 3am as he was destroying property. I returned to the police the next morning,” she said.

She said she went home in the company of a police officer and he rendered no assistance and two more policemen were dispatched.

“Trevor started chasing people away from the house saying he wanted to live with me alone, he had indicated that he wanted to kill me. After we came from the police we got home to find a red flag at the gate symbolising a bereavement. He had locked himself in the house.

The cops then started exchanging words with him and they dared him to do what he wished and Trevor said he wanted to burn the house and they said he must burn it. We were outside the gate. I think he opened the gas cylinder and lit a match. He climbed on top of the roof and was exchanging words with the police. They barred anyone from entering the yard to try and catch him and to also save some of the property, at that time only the kitchen was burning,” she said.

Mrs Nyamakawo claimed the police refused to arrest him saying he had a knife and they were scared.
“They did not do anything and the whole house burnt while we were watching. Trevor jumped into the neighbour’s yard and ran away.

He returned at night and slept in the fowl run. So, I have been trying to contact the police officers assigned to the case but they have turned a blind eye to the matter, they have stopped answering my calls too. So, I don’t know who will protect us if they cannot speak to us, Trevor comes here at night but no effort is being made to catch him and we are scared for our lives because he is dangerous and can come back for us,” she said.

In 2018, Trevor attacked his mother severely and was arrested and taken to Bulawayo Prison but was released a week later.

Mrs Nyamakawo said she does not know what became of the case.

“I have had problems with him since his father died. I had to humble myself as if I am his child, unfortunately many people never believed my stories when I told them as he was a nice guy to other people. However, our neighbours witnessed many of his shenanigans and they are aware of his behaviour.”

This made all his friends distance themselves from him because he was a problem, she said. Neighbours who assisted to clean the house instructed Mrs Nyamakawo to leave as soon as they had finished fearing that Trevor would return and harm her in their absence.

The family which is composed of the mother, two daughters and a two-year-old girl child is currently in need of food, clothing, blankets, sanitary ware, toiletries and any other help as all their belongings were burnt. Contact details for Mrs Nyamakawo are 0773675588 —

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has exposed the MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora’s political prostitution and invited him to join the government-controlled coalition of opposition parties.

Mnangagwa at the weekend said he secretly met with Mwonzora at the state house and offered him to join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).

Polad is P, a dialogue platform that was launched by Mnangagwa in May 2019 following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.

Mnangagwa said since Mwonzora is now the official leader of the opposition in Parliament, he could join the dialogue platform.

However, speaking in an interview with Studio 7’s Thomas Chiripasi on Saturday, Mwonzora’s spokesperson Llyod Damba said the POLAD constitutive document does not allow the MDC-T leader to be part of the forum as he did not participate in the 2018 presidential elections.
Said Damba:
We are not going to POLAD because the POLAD constitutive document defines a political actor as a contestant in the 2018 presidential elections.
So the document disqualifies Mwonzora from participating in POLAD as he is not a political actor as defined by the constitutive document.
The second issue is that even if Mnangagwa resigns today and [Vice President Constantino] Chiwenga or another ZANU PF official takes over, they are also disqualified from participating in POLAD meetings because they did not contest in the 2018 presidential elections.
Damba said former MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe cannot be part of POLAD anymore even though she contested in the 2018 presidential elections saying the party’s Standing Committee has the final say on whether she returns to POLAD.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF director for Information and Publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi told Studio 7 that Mwonzora is free not to join if he so wishes. Said Mugwadi:
Joining POLAD is not compulsory.
Yesterday Mnangagwa handed over 19 Isuzu D-Max vehicles to POLAD principals at State House that he had promised them. The vehicles are branded with POLAD stickers.
Said Mnangagwa:
The vehicles have been made identifiable and make sure it carries the dignity of POLAD. The cars you, are not going to use as you see it fit, except that it must be for political work or developmental work.
… In terms of regulations in the public sector, after three years we will then review and make sure that they can belong to you

MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora says he will not join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), a dialogue platform that was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in May 2019  following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.

This comes after Mnangagwa on Friday said Mwonzora is free to join POLAD although POLAD is for principals who participated in the 2018 Presidential elections. 

Mnangagwa said since Mwonzora is now the official leader of the opposition in Parliament, he could join the dialogue platform.

However, speaking in an interview with Studio 7’s Thomas Chiripasi on Saturday, Mwonzora’s spokesperson Llyod Damba said the POLAD constitutive document does not allow the MDC-T leader to be part of the forum as he did not participate in the 2018 presidential elections.

Said Damba:

We are not going to POLAD because the POLAD constitutive document defines a political actor as a contestant in the 2018 presidential elections.

So the document disqualifies Mwonzora from participating in POLAD as he is not a political actor as defined by the constitutive document.

The second issue is that even if Mnangagwa resigns today and [Vice President Constantino] Chiwenga or another ZANU PF official takes over, they are also disqualified from participating in POLAD meetings because they did not contest in the 2018 presidential elections.

Damba said former MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe cannot be part of POLAD anymore even though she contested in the 2018 presidential elections saying the party’s Standing Committee has the final say on whether she returns to POLAD.

Meanwhile, ZANU PF director for Information and Publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi told Studio 7 that Mwonzora is free not to join if he so wishes. Said Mugwadi:

Joining POLAD is not compulsory.

Yesterday Mnangagwa handed over 19 Isuzu D-Max vehicles to POLAD principals at State House that he had promised them. The vehicles are branded with POLAD stickers.

Said Mnangagwa:

The vehicles have been made identifiable and make sure it carries the dignity of POLAD. The cars you, are not going to use as you see it fit, except that it must be for political work or developmental work.

… In terms of regulations in the public sector, after three years we will then review and make sure that they can belong to you

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has dismissed Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s Midterm Budget Review calling it a case of vain glory.

Hon Biti, who is also a former Finance Minister, has pointed out that as long Kuda Tagwirei is controlling State resources, the economy will remain grounded.

Below is Hon Biti’s argument:

The Mid Term Review Statement presented was a terrible exercise in self absorbency ,vain glory and narcissism.

A mid term statement is not mandatory and where there is no message or policy direction sometimes silence is golden.

The country faces humongous challenges …

It is common cause that that the Refinery has been parceled out to interests controlled by Kuda Tagwireyi and his associates in high offices. At this rate just like Banyailand became Rhodesia after Cecil Rhodes, Zimbabwe will become Kudasville after Tagwireyi. What a shame !!

Disclosures in the Mid Term Review that Regime has disposed 60% of State’s shareholding in country’s sole gold refinery Fidelity Printers& Refiners to undisclosed elements is shocking&nauseating.The cannibilization&asset stripping taking place under Mnangwagwa is primitive ..

… approve and sanction any disposal of State Assets held in entities created by Parliament itself. At a time when there is a commodity boom it is foolish and naked corruption to dispose of any commodities let alone a refinery. Such disposal is an act of treason and sabotage.

By A Correspondent- Four brothers reportedly attacked their sister’s married boyfriend and seriously injured him.

The incident occurred at Avoca Farm recently.

Provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Ndliwayo confirmed the incident.

It is alleged that the attack followed a tip off by the victim Munyaradzi Njanji’s wife.

Njanji was having an extra marital affair with Fungai Shereni and his wife informed Tafadzwa, Smart, Munyaradzi and Lloyd Shereni on July 27 this year, The Herald reports.

The quartet proceeded to their sister’s house where they found her getting intimate with Njanji.

A misunderstanding ensued before Smart assaulted Njanji with a wooden stick then his brothers also joined in the attack.

The victim’s mother Sarah Njanji came to his rescue and reportedly restrained the brothers.

Njanji was rushed to hospital for treatment and a report was made to the police leading to Tafadzwa’s arrested.

The other three brothers are on the run.

In other nnews, iHarare had reported that a beer brawl ended in tragedy after a 32-year-old man from Bikita was stabbed to death by his drinking partner over a US$1 change.

Wilson Mudurirwa (32)of Dambo Village under Chief Budzi went on the run after he killed his friend Maxwell Vengai.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident.

According to the police report, the duo arrived at Chikuku Business Centre around 2 pm and Mudurirwa gave Vengai US$1 so that he can purchase one Chibuku Super.

The two allegedly consumed the Chibuku beer together and spent the whole afternoon drinking and roaming around.

It is further alleged that the duo departed for Mushafamba Business Centre and at around 5 pm, Mudurirwa demanded his change from Vengai who then told him that the Chibuku Super actually cost US$1.

A heated exchange of words between the two erupted and Mudurirwa in the heat of the argument drew a knife from his pocket and stabbed Vengai once in the stomach.

By A Correspondent- They have been dubbed “the new Fichani twins”, and have already set social media platforms agog after walking the streets nak_ed.

Psychologists are already questioning their sanity, and rightly so, especially given the way they broke into prayer after being led into a police van.

The prayer is a common one, it is the Lord’s prayer found in the Christian Bible.

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”

That is the part of prayer they continuously chanted, even as they were being arrested by the police.

The twins were defiant. They continued chanting.

In a stunt that has reminded many of the Fichani twins, the latest twins were walking .

The Fichani twins caused a stir in 2006 after walking in central Harare, Mount Pleasant and other places, wearing goatskins kilts (nhembe) that covered the essentials only but left the buttocks exposed.

Police are investigating the matter in which the Highfield twin boys (21) were seen in a video circulating on social media walking nak_ed along Seke Road in near Sunningdale.

In the video clip, the two boys were reciting the Lord’s prayer while people were heard shouting that the boys deserved to be mob justice.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident saying investigations are still in progress to find out if the boys were under the influence of alcohol, drugs or they were mentally challenged.

“Yes we can confirm that we received a report of two boys who were walking nak_ed along Seke Road without even face masks, so we are waiting for medical experts to examine them and see their mental status before the matter is taken to court,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said the boys were taken to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa.

A mental health nurse at Sally Mugabe Central hospital who refused to be named said the guys suffer from mental illnesses, saying they were each admitted to the psychiatric units at these two hospitals.

“The guys suffer from mental illness, common sense should tell people that these guys are mentally challenged, there is no issues of ritual acts as alleged by other people,” he said.

The nurse also said there is a need to raise awareness about mental health in the country and to play a pivotal role in getting the country’s key stakeholders such as the Government, community and media, to put strengthen the fight against mental health.

The majority of Zimbabweans cannot afford mental help therapy, and in some instances the institutions that offer therapy are not accessible to the ordinary people.

Mental health is marked annually in May and Africa this year celebrates mental health through awareness to curb the problem in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic which has wreaked havoc globally.

Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also determines how one handles stress, relates to others, and makes choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood, adolescence and throughout adulthood.

Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry, life experiences, such as trauma or abuse and family history of mental problems- statemedia