By A Correspondent- The production of vehicle number plates locally has started at selected colleges and universities, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Amon Murwira said that the production of plates would be coordinated through a national project being implemented by a consortium of universities and colleges at their innovation hubs.

Murwira told State media that universities and colleges will use local resources and skills to develop a system that will ease the shortage of vehicle number plates, create a new generation vehicle registration system that will improve driving standards and prevent fraud. Said Murwira:

Cabinet approved the Zimbabwe National Vehicle Number Plate Project and work has started to improve our national capability to produce registration plates locally.

Zimbabwe has the capability to produce new number plates and develop a modern vehicle registration system that will save us foreign currency, utilise local resources and skills.

The project has started and people are working on it.

Zimbabwe has a backlog of number plates, which are imported and require foreign currency.

The country reportedly spends more than US$800 000 annually in importing vehicle number plates.

According to the Central Vehicle Registry, Zimbabwe’s vehicle population stands around 1.3 million.

The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) says that about 170 000 vehicles on the country’s roads are not registered.

-statemedia

In a rather bizarre development, a Thai man was rushed to the hospital after he got his manhood stuck in a padlock for two weeks.

According to The DailyMail, the bachelor aged 38, clamped the metal device around the base of his genitalia in a bizarre sex act. However, things went south when he lost the key and his manhoodhood reportedly started swelling.

The man is said to have tried and failed to remove the small padlock and so he left it on his penis for more than 14 days until it became infected and the pain was so unbearable that he was rushed to hospital in Bangkok.

One of the rescue officers Thongchai Donson said they received the emergency call but the injury was ‘worse than they expected’ and had to rush the man to the nearest hospital.

 “We received the emergency call and did not know the full details, so we were surprised when we arrived. It was worse than we thought. If the padlock had stayed on for any longer, the infection could have been so bad that his penis would have started to rot and get gangrene,” Donson said.

Luckily the medics team managed to successfully remove the padlock from his manhood. They spent more than 30 minutes using an electric cutter to slice through the metal lock.

Despite the rescue, medics said there could be lasting damage because of the amount of time the padlock was stuck. His manhood was also  disfigured by the ordeal.

Speaking after the padlock was removed the man’s embarrassed mother – who tried to help him – told medics that her son ‘likes putting his penis through small holes’.

She revealed that her son did not have a girlfriend and was ‘bored’ because he had been staying at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“My son is a private person and he doesn’t have a girlfriend. He has been staying at home a lot during the pandemic because he is worried about going out.”

“He told me he did this because he was bored and he likes putting his ‘thing’ through small holes. I was angry at him for embarrassing me like this and I’ve told him not to do it again,” the mother said.

By A Correspondent- Commercial sex workers continue to face multiple risks including violence, poor health, loss of dignity and are discriminated against in the communities they live.

They are also vulnerable to a variety of human rights abuses perpetrated mostly by their clients as well as other violations such as refusal of clients to adhere to the agreed transaction fee or outright refusal to pay for services provided.

Notwithstanding all the disadvantages attached to the profession, the lure of making fast cash or circumstances, force scores of women to become sex workers.

However, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa who is also the country’s health ambassador, is working flat out taking these women off the streets.

The aim is to rehabilitate and economically empower them.

Through her Angel of Hope Foundation, the First Lady is rolling out empowerment initiatives to ensure the commercial sex workers earn a decent living.

On Friday last week, Amai Mnangagwa had a meeting with representatives of commercial sex workers drawn from around Harare where she urged them to shun prostitution and also safeguard their health.

She said:

“I looked for you my children so that we sit down and discuss about life particularly your health and well-being. As the health ambassador I am more concerned about your health vanangu. We want to put our heads together and see how we can preserve health,” she said.

She asked the women if they get tested for HIV and AIDS more often, to which they responded saying they were scared to do so considering some men sometimes force them to engage in sexual activities without protection.

“Vana vangu, it is important to know where you stand health wise to avoid the spread of diseases.

“Cancers are also there hence you must be screened for cancer, HIV and other ailments so that if need be, you commence on treatment early to ensure a higher survival rate.

“Ndinokudai mese vanangu uye ndinokudai muri vapenyu,” she said.

Amai Mnangagwa asked the women if they were willing to shun prostitution and engage in projects so that they may leave their ways and start on a clean page.

They all clapped hands and ululated saying they were also tired of being sex workers and were willing to start a new challenge.

“Ndirikuda kuti tifambe pamwechete tichishanda pamwechete. Therefore, I want us to discuss project ideas that you would want. I don’t want you to go back in the streets ndinoda kuti hupenyu hwenyu hushanduke,” she said.

-statemedia

A member of the Presidential Guard was recently shot by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officers and fled with a bullet lodged in his rib cage after robbing a Chitungwiza service station of cash, a firearm and other valuables.

The soldier, Arnold Matetepa (38), was arrested last week as he sought medical treatment at a health centre in Harare and was brought to court on Saturday facing armed robbery charges.

He was remanded on his hospital bed to 3 August by Harare Magistrate Judith Taruvinga.

Prosecutors said that on 24 June this year, Matetepa and his four accomplices, three of them still at large, robbed Velvet Service Station in Chitungwiza of valuables and US$2 500 cash after assaulting and disarming a security guard.

That same night, Matetepa and his gang, which included Tendai Mubatapasango, Lovemore Madondo, Jerry Bangu and Munyaradzi Hodzi, allegedly drove to Mutorashanga on another robbery mission but fell into a police trap on the way.

There was an exchange of fire between the suspects and the detectives, before the armed robbers fled, resulting in a high-speed chase.

Cornered, the suspects abandoned their getaway car, and fled in different directions, with police firing randomly at them.

Hodzi was arrested after being shot in the leg as Matetepa fled with a bullet lodged in his rib cage.

Matetepa was later arrested after he and the other suspects still at large were implicated by Hodzi.

This comes as cases of armed robberies involving serving members of the military and the police have been rising.

Zimbabwe has been recording a surge in robbery cases of late, with most of them involving serving and former members of the security forces.

According to the latest statistics provided by police, the country is recording six robberies a day, with 876 cases recorded between January and May this year.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Prominent football legends, Dickson Choto, Justice Majabvi, and David Sengu have been dragged to courts over failure to settle rentals.

The trio allegedly failed tp pay rentals for a building leased to a company known as Four Prosper Investments (Private) Limited.

The three are alleged to have bound themselves as surety in the lease agreement between the company and ZIMRE.

Due to their failure to settle the rentals, ZIMRE Property Investments is now demanding payment of $32 000 including interest and cost of suit against the trio and the company.

Cited as respondents are Four Prosper Investments and the trio cited as second, third, and fourth respondents.

“The plaintiff’s claim against the defendants is an order confirming the cancellation of the lease agreement between the plaintiff and Four Prosper Investments, an order ejecting the company and all those claiming occupation of the property through it from the premises known as Suite 308 Third Floor, Old Shell House, 57 Nelson Mandela Avenue, within 48 hours of service of the order, “reads the summons now before the High court.

ZIMRE wants cancellation of the lease agreement. The complainant also wants the defendants and all those claiming occupation to remove structures that they have placed on the property.Another demand is that the defendants should pay $32 000 per month as holding over damages plus all operating costs from July 2021 being the first full month after the cancellation of the lease, to the day they vacate the building.

Choto, Sengu, and Majabvi are considered as some of the great football legends in Zimbabwe. Choto once played for Legia Warsaw until June 2013, Majabvi is best remembered for his exceptional performances for Dynamos between 2006- 2009 while Sengu captained CAPS United to memorable back-to-back titles in 2004/5.

By A Correspondent- A 35 year old Mwenezi man has been nabbed for stabbing his rival suitor.

Takudzwa Mamboma of Mutinhima Village under Chief Chirumanzi was arrested in Mwenezi for the murder of Hardlife Sibanda (34) of Village 5 Flora in Maranda, Mwenezi, whom he allegedly stabbed with a knife during a fight over a girl on July 4 this year.

Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident to a local publication.

It is alleged that on the night of July 4 at around 9pm, Mamboma was at a local tuck-shop in the company of a female friend warming themselves with fire when Sibanda and his friend approached them.

Sibanda then started accusing Mamboma of being in a romantic relationship with the female friend who was in his company, at which he started poking him in the face and beating him.

Sibanda only stopped assaulting Mamboma when the latter begged for forgiveness, and the four parted ways.

It is further alleged that around 2200hrs Mamboma went to Sibanda’s place to revenge for the beating and he allegedly dragged him by the waist claiming that he would kill him.

Sibanda is alleged to have managed to free himself and the duo vanished in the dark in pursuit of each other.

Mamboma reportedly caught up with Sibanda and stabbed him on the collar bone and the left shoulder with a knife he was carrying.

Sibanda allegedly bled to death on his way back home and the case was reported to the police leading to Mamboma’s arrest.

In other news, iHarare had reported that a Zaka man landed himself in the dock after he attacked his friend with an axe for having an affair with his daughter.

Initially, Mungozi was slapped with six years imprisonment by Chiredzi Magistrate Judith Zuyu, but one year was suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offense.

-TellZim

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man has been ordered to perform three months community service for assaulting his landlord he accused of making noise.

Dumisani Sibanda (45) of Mzilikazi suburb assaulted his landlord Mr Skhumbuzo Gwala (46) he accused of making noise.

Sibanda was convicted on his on plea by Bulawayo magistrate Ms Linear Khumalo who ordered him to perform three months community service.

The court heard that on 26 June this year, Mr Gwala came home at around 9pm and got inside the house with a radio that was playing loud music. Sibanda asked him to switch off the radio and he refused.

Sibanda then assaulted Mr Gwala.

The court heard that Sibanda kicked Mr Gwala several times and he sustained a swollen forehead.

Mr Gwala reported the asault to the police leading to Sibanda’s arrest.

Mr Milton Moyo proscuted.

-statemedia

By Farai D Hove | The Mayor of Harare Jacob Mafume has been vaccinated with the Russian Sputnik.

Mayor Mafume made the revelations on Sunday night indicating he encourages others to do the same.

The development comes as COVID rates spiked in the country.

Sputnik V or Gam-COVID-Vac is an adenovirus viral vector vaccine for COVID-19 developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute in Russia.

Announcing the development Mayor Mafume said

“As the Mayor of Harare, I have had my vaccination.

“At this point we need to get any and all the protection we can get. For us to see life returning to normal we have to be vaccinated. We call for gvt to get any and all the vaccines available.

“Our very life depends on it. We need to give our bodies a fighting chance. We are crying everyday. We need to stop the tears. We pray for the dearly departed.

“We ask for God’s protection in this difficult time. “

By A Correspondent- A well-known self-proclaimed prophet in Masvingo was arrested for allegedly committing a spate of burglaries from May to 17 July 2021 in Victoria Ranch and surrounding areas.

Kokerai Jiri (37) popularly knows as Madzibaba Jiri in Victoria Ranch and Runyararo West and his two accomplices, Luckmore Chingovo (30) and Stephen Mupereki (30) were arrested on Saturday in Victoria Ranch following a tip-off.

The police recovered stolen property worth over US$15 000 following the arrest of the trio. Jiri, Chingovo and Mupereki are being held at Chikato Police Station.

The stolen goods include six solar panels, five Television sets, beds, a refrigerator, gas tanks, blankets, wheelbarrows and water tanks.

Officer Commanding Masvingo Commissioner Simangaliso Dube, Assistant Commissioner Florence Marume, Dhewa and several senior officers inspected the stolen wares at Chikato Police Station.

Insp Dhewa said the police is inviting people with recorded stolen property to come to Chikato Police Station to identify their belongings.

He said:

We have recovered household goods and stuff worth over US$10 000. Some of the stolen property is being recovered in Victoria Ranch. So far 15 cases of theft have been solved and we are expecting to solve more.

We will invite those with stolen property to come and identify their wares. We are still identifying some of the households that were robbed but had not reported the cases. The Police is vigilant against crime.

By A Correspondent- Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation Tinoda Machakarika, also known as Tinomudaishe Machakaire, has responded to media reports claiming he recently bought a Rolls Royce Phantom worth £330 000.

In a post on his Facebook page, Machakarika said he felt constrained to set the record straight after the issue was widely discussed on social media platforms, particularly Twitter.

The Wedza South MP challenged Zimbabweans with a huge social media following to use their presence on the platforms for the greater good instead of gossiping. Pindula News is publishing Machakarika’s post in full, below:

I have seen with concern several stories making rounds on various social media platforms particularly Twitter. Ideally, I would have kept quiet and let time reveal all truths. However, I feel I owe it to you my constituents to set some records straight.

First and foremost no respectful lawyer and or journalist conducts investigations or trials on social media. It solves and achieves nothing. I would have been impressed had they gone to the public with the results of a thoroughly researched investigation.

Secondly, it is true, I do have the capacity to buy the car in question and more. In my entire life I have never applied for a Government tender or wish to have one. My business covers the whole of Southern Africa with Regional Contracts.

Third, as I mentioned before no meaningful investigation was ever conducted on social media. If there are any queries or questions regarding my source of income, feel free to approach the relevant offices.

It is a matter of public record that I have declared all my wealth to the government thus I have nothing to hide. I do not appreciate people taking liberties with my name and reputation.

I have worked hard, day and night to get to where I am today. The possessions I have today we’re not acquired by waging keyboard wars and misleading the masses trying to gain a following.

They were acquired by hard work and dedication. Those that know me, know that I have an open-door policy. I am more than willing to share the story of my success.

In conclusion, let us not seek relevance by dragging others through the mud. Those in the justice system know that everyone is innocent until proven guilty by the courts of law.

Let us use our huge followings on social media for the greater good for example making people aware of the danger that is COVID-19 and the importance of being vaccinated. We will go far as a country once we do that.

By A Correspondent- One of Zimbabwe’s oldest pentecostal churches, the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (ZAOGA) Forward in Faith (FIF), is reported to be in the throes of a vicious power struggle as factions prepare for life after the 98-year-old founder Ezekiel Guti.

Zim Morning Post reported that one faction has technically held Guti hostage, pushing him to anoint a successor before he leaves.

A source was quoted as saying since January this year, Guti has been “taken hostage” at his Chitungwiza home on the pretext that “the man of God was instructed to go and work from Chitungwiza.”

Said the source:

That is the official reason being pushed out there but we know Guti has been held hostage by a faction that has coalesced around his wife.

He is under involuntary house arrest. He is being managed to his death. ‘Chinhu chatorwa ne G40 yemuchurch’ (power has been grabbed by the church’s younger generation).

G40 was a ZANU PF faction that coalesced around former President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace, before the military coup of November 2017.

Another church elder told Zim Morning Post that Guti has become inaccessible as those close to him have been booted out of their influential positions.

Said the elder:

They have already taken control of the church. The fight began when properties were transferred from his name without his knowledge and it took his daughter from his first marriage to reverse the move.

Meanwhile, Eunor Guti (Guti’s wife) is said to be aware of the power struggle and is said to be siding with a faction that is currently with the upper hand.

Long-serving members were reportedly fired without following due processes in order to clear the way for a preferred successor to take over.

A high profile casualty of the brewing “coup” is said to be long-serving secretary general Washington Rupapa.

A source said:

Rupapa was Guti’s right-hand man and they had to boot him out so that they isolate the founder.

The temperatures are simmering and if this is not properly handled the church is heading for a split.

People like Gracious Chikore, Dorcas Jaricha and Laverne Simango/ Simukai are playing crucial roles in purgings that are taking place in the church.

Baba Guti had said Joseph Guti was to remain at the headquarters, in a move many saw as the anointing of a successor but he is being slowly pushed out.

The publication’s efforts to get a comment from the current secretary-general Mishael Nyambo were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered and a message via WhatsApp sent to him was not responded to.

-ZimMorningPost

By A Correspondent- Police yesterday claimed that members of the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect that are said to have gathered in Manicaland for an annual festival were permanent residents at a shrine there.

Activists have been pushing the police to act against the thousands that allegedly congregated at Mafararikwa in Bocha as they were violating Covid-19 restrictions.

The church commands a huge following across the country and in the region and an estimated 20 000 congregants gather in Marange every year for their annual Passover feast.

This year church members have been gathered since July 3. They only started dispersing last night.

Police, who have been saying they were not aware of what was happening at the shrine, yesterday said there was never a gathering.

“As far as police is concerned, there are no people gathered in Marange except for those who are permanent residents at the shrine,” police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said.

“Police have deployed officers on the ground to monitor the situation.

“Police in Marange, Manicaland, in their findings said there are no people gathered in Marange.”

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights last week wrote to the police demanding action to disperse the church members, raising Covid-19 fears. The police did not respond to the July 12 letter.

Bocha Diamond Community Trust chairman Moses Mukwada also gave police 48 hours to act, but there was no action. Makwanda is based in Manicaland.

Villagers in Marange yesterday said they feared a Covid-19 outbreak as the shrine was overcrowded.

Mukwada said in previous years, even without Covid-19, there were outbreaks of diseases after the sect’s Passover gathering.

“The Johanne Marange apostolic members are dispersing tomorrow (today) after their annual Passover, so we are fearing the worst because these people are going back to their respective communities and many of them are from Marange,” he said.

“We think that Covid cases are going to rise sharply,” he said.

“These people don’t sanitise and they don’t even want to be vaccinated.

“In previous years even without Covid-19, whenever these people dispersed we encountered outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.”

Mukwada claimed that there were political bigwigs, who were in support of the gathering.

-standard

By A Correspondent- Chitungwiza residents and legislators have criticised the government decision to prohibit travel between Harare and the dormitory town except for essential services and huumanitarian reasons.

The government on Friday said Chitungwiza was considered a city, hence travel was banned to control the spread of Covid-19.

Residents said the decision would rob them of their livelihoods as an estimated third of the workforce in Harare resides in Chitungwiza while businesses in the sprawling town rely on supplies from the capital.

Chitungwiza South legislator Maxwell Mavhunga said the inconsistencies in policy implementation by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration are worrisome and “smack of political rather than logical reasoning”.

“For starters, Chitungwiza is part of Harare metropolitan province. Secondly, businesses in Harare have not been shut down,” Mavhunga said.

“It does not need a rocket scientist to discern that most of the workforce in Harare comes from the metropolitan province’s areas that include Chitungwiza.

“Government’s statement has the effect that all Chitungwiza residents can no longer go to work if they are not essential services.”

Mavhunga argued that government should just come out clean and introduce a level 5 lockdown.

Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala said: “From St Mary’s police to Harare Post Office, it’s exactly 20km. From Zimre Park to Harare it’s exactly 20km.

“People of Chitungwiza have been banned from getting into Harare (central business district). Aren’t we the people of Chitungwiza belonging to Harare metropolitan province?

Chitungwiza North MP Godfrey Sithole said radical measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 without social safety nets were bound to create criminal elements.

“In as much as we would want to support measures meant to curtail the spread of Covid-19, it is also very bad for the government to just announce such a radical measure without putting in place social safety nets for citizens,” Sithole said.

“This will create another pandemic of hunger and other social ills associated with unemployment such as prostitution and robberies.”

A businessman at Makoni shopping centre said many businesses that were into electrical goods and motor vehicle spares would be affected as they buy them from wholesalers in Harare.

“We will be affected in many ways because we travel to town almost every day since there are no wholesalers for electrical goods, motors spares and hardware in Chitungwiza.

“I think their main agenda is to make sure all Chitown and Norton residents get vaccinated first in order to go to town since we are the most populated town,” said the businessman.

Police yesterday were still to implement the measures announced by Information ministry spokesperson Nick Mangwana as people continued to travel freely between Harare and Chitungwiza and the other metropolitan areas under Harare.

-standard

By A Correspondent- Water metre thieves have wrecked havoc in Bulawayo with more than 200 households having lost the gadgets to thieves in the past month alone

Speaking during a Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) organized virtual meeting Friday, ward  17 councillor Sikhululekile Moyo expressed concern over the  increase of  crime cases in her ward.

“I am really worried about an upsurge in criminal activities in my ward which covers Pumula. The major    challenge which residents are facing in the ward is the theft of water meters. Last month alone, more than 200 houses in Pumula South were affected by the thefts,” said Moyo who is also the caretaker councillor for ward 19 whose councillor, Clayton Zana was recalled from council by the Douglas Mwonzora led MDC-T last year.

The councillor also bemoaned the theft of goal posts at neighbouring schools as well as the thefts of copper wire and public boreholes control boxes in the two wards.

“A lot of boreholes in the wards have been vandalized by these thieves. As councillor, I am appealing to the residents to work with the police to prevent these criminal activities,” said the councillor.

Speaking at the same meeting, participants proposed the resuscitation of neighbourhood communities in the wards.

The meeting was held under the theme “a conversation about crime rise in Bulawayo’s ward 17 and 19.

Following an upsurge of brass water meters thefts and vandalism in the city, the local authority early this year indicated that it is phasing out the brass water meters and replace them with plastic meters.

ZIFA board member Bryton Malandule has cast aside Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic’s insistence that the Cosafa Cup was an experimental tournament, saying the association expected the team to win the regional showpiece.

Zimbabwe were booted out of the tournament after a poor show in which they lost two games and drew two, including losing to a third string Senegal side in the last game.

In trying to justify the insipid display, Logarusic claimed that Cosafa was just an experimental tournament to access players in preparation for CHAN and the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, suggestions which have now been rubbished by Malandule, who is also the association’s head of the Technical and Development Committee.

“From a board point of view, we expected these guys to go and win the tournament, that was the mandate. That is why we sacrificed our little resources, we cannot send people, when we don’t have money to on holiday, to go and make experiments,” he told The Sunday News.

“We sent them to go and win. Someone came all way from the USA, we had Mapisa (Mapisa) from Spain, those are serious players so we expected better performances, so let’s wait and see the explanation from the coach as to why did perform dismally like this,’’ added Malandule.

The association is expected to review the team’s performance based on the technical team’s report and a decision will be made thereafter.

-Soccer24

THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has become one of the first companies in the country to ban workers who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 from work as the parastatal moves to protect its workforce and customers.

In an internal memorandum seen by Sunday News, the company has directed that all workers must be vaccinated by end of this month, failure of which they would be barred from accessing the company facilities.

GMB said more than 150 of its workers have already tested positive for Covid-19. At one point, the GMB was forced to shut down one of its depots because of the high numbers of Covid-19 infections that had been reported at that depot.

GMB has 3 569 employees countywide including contract workers but only 1 289 have been vaccinated against Covid-19. In the memo signed by chief executive officer Mr Rockie Mutenha, he said all workers not vaccinated must stay at home as from 1 August.

“GMB provides essential services to the public, as such, we are considered front line employees. In view of that, All GMB employees must be vaccinated in order to protect the public that we serve. All GMB employees must be vaccinated by 31 July 2021. Those not vaccinated by that day should stop coming to work as from 1 August 2021 as they will remain a threat to other employees and other stakeholders that visit GMB depots,” he said.

Mr Mutenha said more than 2 280 workers have not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

“Most GMB depots are in hot spot areas which is catastrophic as the unvaccinated 2 280 employees are coming to work every day and mixing with the other employees and farmers thus potentially endangering their own lives and the lives of other people,” he said.

Mr Mutenha advised workers that the Government has acquired huge quantities of vaccines which are being administered for free at various health facilities across the country. The Government has made it clear that the country needs to reach herd immunity in order to ensure the population is safe. The target is to vaccinate 70 percent of the population which equates to about 10 million of the people in Zimbabwe.

-State Media

By A Correspondent| The Harare Magistrates Court is caught in a dilemma where it expected to adjudicate on a case where a senior state prosecutor who once labelled a resident Magistrate ‘very stupid’ and got away with it, now wants opposition politician and lawyer Tendai Biti convicted for calling a Russian woman ‘stupid’.

State Prosecutor Michael Reza dominated headlines in 2019 after he mistakenly send a text message to the popular Advocate Thabani Mpofu of the ‘Fulcrum and Pith’ fame instead of Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) head Tabani Mpofu while calling a female magistrate ‘very stupid’ for ruling in favour of an application by top lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa to have Biti’s trial for treason livestreamed.

Now the same Reza wants Biti convicted for calling Pokugara Properties Chief Operations Officer Tatiana Aleshina ‘stupid’ following an altercation at the Harare Magistrates Court.

Biti is representing Harare businessman George Katsimberis in a case where he is being charged of fraud, a counter case filed to neutralise a serious matter where the Harare businessman reported Pokugara Properties Managing Director Michael John Van Blerk and City of Harare officials for malicious damage to property.

Just yesterday, Reza was at it again calling Biti’s lawyer Alec Muchadehama an idiot after he had called him to order for trying to force the arrest of the powerful MDC Alliance vice President who could not attend his trial after coming into contact with a Covid-19 positive person at his workplace.

Biti’s lawyer Muchadehama told Harare Magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti that his client was isolating in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which did not go down well with Reza who refused a postponement of the trial.

Muchadehama then said Reza was being malicious in failing to understand a simple issue adding that he was pushing a personal vendetta against the Harare East legislator.

Reza then lost his temper and hit back saying Muchadehama’s insistence that he is malicious was forcing him to also call him an idiot.

“Your worship, if my learned colleague continues to call me malicious, I will also call him an idiot,” snapped Reza.

Muchadehama has previously tried to have Reza removed from prosecuting Biti.

Infact it raises questions of personal interests why a senior prosecutor would want to handle a case where Biti is being accused of calling the Russian woman ‘stupid’ a matter that would ordinarily be reserved for a junior prosecutor.

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) is seeking a declaratory order in the High Court that the National Peace and Reconciliation (NPRC) Commissioner, Advocate Obert Gutu has ceased being a commissioner.

Represented by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, ZimRights argues that in terms of section 236 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, any politician appointed to an independent commission, they must renounce their political party membership within 30 days of the appointment or they immediately cease to be a commissioner.

Using social media, Gutu publicly announced that he was joining Zanu PF before being appointed commissioner and he has not said anything about resignation as required by law
“Gutu’s comments on Gukurahundi reflect that his political activism in Zanu PF makes it impossible for him to have the compassion and empathy required for a commissioner of the NPRC. He cannot win the confidence of the victims and survivors. It is good for such activists to be removed from the commission. They are a danger to the mission of NPRC, “ZimRights Director, Dzikamai Bere said.

A member of the ZimRights Right to Peace Action Zone, Maria Nkomo, “Obert Gutu can not be commissioner. He is a political activist and his sentiments on Gukurahundi makes us doubt his capabilities to represent the interest of the people.”

The NPRC is one of independent commissions established by Chapter 12 of the Constitution. The commission since it inception has struggled to deal with the deepening confidence deficit and the case of Obert Gutu makes this situation even worse.

 By A Correspondent- A `star witness in the corruption trial of CAPS United boss and businessman Farai Jere stunned a court on Friday after disowning police evidence which saw two employees of the power utility ZESA being charged.

Francis Masawi, a consultant hired by ZESA to review a US$3.5 million tender for the supply of smart meters – won by Jere’s Helcraw company – said he did not understand why Leonard Chisina, a ZESA engineer, and Freeman Kuziva Chikonzo, a senior IT manager at the state-owned company, ended up in the dock as Jere’s co-accused.

Masawi, the state’s star witness. disowned a report used by police to arrest the trio, purportedly written by him. He told magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa that he saw the report for the first time at the police station.

Masawi said if the police had used his report he prepared as team leader of ZESA’s internal review of the tender, Chisina and Chikonzo would not have been arrested because they performed their duties professionally.

“The documents I saw at the police station were not signed, and had no dates. Now I’m seeing documents that were not done by me. If they used my report, Chisina and Chikonzo could not have been arrested,” Masawi said.

Helcraw was awarded a contract to supply 1,151 smart meters to ZESA unit, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC). The tender required that the factory acceptance test (FAT) be done at the factory where the meters were to be manufactured.

Prosecutors say Jere misrepresented to ZETDC that his supplier, Secure Meters (Pvt) Ltd, had a manufacturing plant for smart meters in the United Kingdom, resulting in four of the power utility’s employees travelling to the United Kingdom in November 2018 to carry out the FAT.

Jere allegedly took the four ZESA employees, including engineers, to a warehouse with smart meters and not a factory. The meters in the warehouse had a base of 10 amps and maximum current of 120 amps. Tests on the head end system allegedly failed.

Jere, the court heard, produced a fake FAT report to the effect that the meters met the required standards by ZETDC and he asked the four ZESA employees to sign it.

Chisina and Chikonzo signed the FAT report, while engineers Julius Mapipi and Munyaradzi Tshuma expressed reservations and refused to sign.

After returning to Zimbabwe, it is alleged Chisina removed Mapipi and Tshuma from the project before Jere went ahead with the shipment of 1,151 meters for which he was paid US$3,566,878 by the power utility.

ZESA was forced to remove the meters from its network.

Masawi said he was shocked to read an article in the media that Chisina and Chikonzo were suspended over a matter involving the electrical company Helcraw.

“I totally disagreed with that conclusion. I requested that Chisina and Chikonzo should could call me as a witness to their disciplinary hearings since I’m the real author of that report, as team leader of the assignment, which was clearly taken out of context,” Masawi testified.

Masawi said he could not speak for Jere and Helcraw, because his mandate had only been to review the actions of Chisina and Chikonzo.

Jere and his co-accused deny corruption, arguing that the FAT was conducted in accordance with what was agreed in the contract with ZESA.

Through his lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri, the CAPS United president maintains that there were no specific terms of reference and the FAT was undertaken on the basis of best practice and international standards.

“The FAT was for the purpose of ensuring that what was manufactured was the same as the sample that was provided at adjudication, subject to any agreed changes. The factory test results were machine-generated and could thus not be fake,” Uriri argued in the joint defence outline.

“The results were known to all and what is now complained of was recorded.”

The three men argue that adjudicators passed the samples supplied by Helcraw Electrical by 93 percent.

The prosecution argues that the trio lied that FAT tests were conducted at a factory and thus defrauded ZESA.

Magistrate Gofa postponed the trial to July 19.

-zimlive

By A Correspondent- A woman found out that her husband had been having an affair with their neighbour for seven months and even got her pre_gnant.

Instead of going crazy, she cut holes in every pair of underwear, shorts, and trousers he owned to make a point about his struggle to “keep it in his trousers” and then divorced him.

In the TikTok video, the woman said she discovered her husband had been having an affair.

“In 2006, I found out my husband had been having a seven-month-long affair with our neighbour and got her preg_nant. So, I took a pair of scissors and cut a hole in every pair of underwear, shorts, and pants he owned.”

According to The Mirror, she did this before ditching him for good.

She reportedly left a note that told him exactly why she wasn’t going to be sticking around.

When the SunTeam asked readers on social media how they would react if they were in this situation, Mosneck Motsilanyane said: “We marry you and you start misbehaving, hence neighbours come and take over.”

Quality Mfoka Mbanga: “If you’re cheating and never get caught, they are cheating too ain’t nobody that dumb.”

Moja Letsuma: “The neighbour is very wicked and heartless. . . looking at you and having conversations with you, while knowing that her and your husband are an item. Cruelty at its best xem.”

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man from Hope Fountain who could not stomach being denied se_x by his wife chose a bizarre way to show his displeasure — he resorted to uri_nating and defecating on his marital bed.

A seemingly fed-up Memory Ncube shamed her husband Isaac Mpofu in her application for a protection order at the Bulawayo Civil Court.

In her papers she said his reason for the gross behaviour was because she was denying him his c0njugal rights. She said as a way of spiting her for denying him his matrimonial rights, Mpofu wets and poos in the blankets after every night of drinking.

In her suit she said she was now tired of cleaning up her husband’s mess.

“I am customarily married to Isaac Mpofu and he is emotionally and psychologically abusing me. Whenever he comes home drunk he uri_nates and worse, of all, defecates in the blankets. When I ask him, he says he was fixing me because I was denying him se_x.

“It’s not like I’m denying him his c0njugal rights but I’m against his violent behaviour which he exhibits whenever he gets drunk. I am tired of cleaning up his mess.

Worse still, he and his relatives want me to desert our matrimonial home,” Ncube protested in her affidavit.

She said she once tried to engage family members to solve the matter to no avail adding that her husband was also not financially supporting the family.

The parties, however, didn’t come to court and the matter could not be heard in their absence leading it to be struck off the roll.

By A Correspondent- The country recorded 102 deaths this Friday from Covid-19 breaking the record and taking the total Covid-19 death toll to 2 520.

However, the new case figure fell to 2 296 with the first hint of a possible plateauing of infection coming from the first fall in the seven-day rolling average, which measures trends, since early June.

The rolling average fell from 2 355 to 2300. If the rolling average remains stable or continues falling for several days it will be a sign that the peak of the third wave has been reached, although there will still be many more cases and deaths before the wave finally recedes.

However, there was a giant jump in vaccination rates with Thursday’s record being dramatically exceeded to 59 750 first doses and 5 128 to give a total of 64 878 jabs in one day, only the second time the 50 000 total has been exceeded.

The total number of jabs are now 1 096 002 first jabs, 635 738 second jabs to give a grand total of 1 731 740 doses administered.

If Zimbabwe averages 50 000 doses a day it will be delivering 1,5 million doses a month and higher totals mean that even that figure will be exceeded.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation Tinoda Machakarika, (ZANU PF), has splashed US$770 000 – including shipping and import duty – on a Rolls Royce Phantom, ZimLive reported.

Machakarika, also referred to as Tinomudaishe Machakaire (39), reportedly paid GVE London £330,000 for the luxury car and £30 000 for shipping – about US$495 800 in total.

GVE London posted videos on social media confirming that it had shipped the car to a Zimbabwean minister, but the company did not name Machakaire.

However,  ZimLive reported multiple sources as having identified Machakaire as the owner of the expensive car.

Another source at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) estimated duty on the vehicle would be in the region of U$275 000, pushing Machakaire’s total bill to just over US$770 000.

Machakaire’s transport and logistics company, TinMac Motors also reportedly acquired a new fleet of haulage trucks recently.

Machakaire, who represents Wedza South in the National Assembly, is related to Kudakwashe Tagwirei, the millionaire petroleum oligarch who owns Sakunda Holdings.

His company TinMac Motors won huge tenders to move farming equipment and other implements under the US$3 billion Command Agriculture scheme.

Meanwhile, Sakunda Holdings carried out all procurement under Command Agriculture, a scheme which a parliamentary committee concluded was carried out without any accountability.

Britain’s Liberal Democrats party has demanded an inquiry into how ZANU PF elites are moving large sums of money through the United Kingdom’s financial system to fund their lavish lifestyles.

Lord Oates, the Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Zimbabwe, wrote on Twitter:

I am horrified by this and will be asking what the due diligence rules are to prevent this from happening.

It is appalling to see Zimbabwean ministers behave like this when there is so much need in Zimbabwe and equally appalling that it seems like it is being facilitated here.

Back home, opposition MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said:

We continue to demand radical transparency and a far-reaching international audit of the offshore networks that enable looting by Zimbabwean ministers and political elites.

They launder the loot by buying supercars while the masses starve. Corruption is killing us.

Machakaire however, expressed ignorance over the Rolls Royce Phantom deal, saying: “I don’t know anything about this story.”

By A Correspondent- Three burglars recently broke into two senior police officers’ houses in Rusape in broad daylight while they were at work.

The trio of George Makwela(35), Collen Rukweza (30) and Peter Angelino (42) — all from Rusape — stole goods and cash worth thousands of dollars from the police officers’ homes.

The three, who had no legal representation, appeared before magistrate Gift Manyika, who denied them bail and remanded them in custody.

The affected cops are the Officer Commanding Rusape and Nyanga District (CID), Detective Superintendent Shepard Tachiona and Rusape District’s Superintendent Collence Nyamukuta.

Public prosecutor, Tawanda Munjanja said the trio took advantage of the police officers’ absence to break into their houses in different locations of Rusape. He said:

On May 31, Superintendent Nyamukuta left home for work and the accused persons took advantage of his absence to break into his house and steal a laptop and US$200.

The complainant discovered the theft around 5 pm when he returned home from work.

On June 17, Detective Superintendent Tachiona left for work. One of the windowpanes was covered by chipboard and supported by a wooden shelf that was inside.

The trio removed the chipboard and wooden shelf and gained entry. They stole blankets, a gas tank and a 20-litre jerry can.

Investigations done led to the arrest of Makwela, Rukweza and Angelino on 30 June.

The value of the stolen property is $54 400 and property worth $40 375 has been recovered so far, some of it from buyers.

-Manicapost

Batsiranayi Ngugama

Zaka High School head Richard Chinganda has succumbed to COVID-19 19 at a time the nation is struggling to contain the deadly virus.

Chingamba was born on 20/02/1967.

He is survived by wife,
Eldest son (Pride) and daughter (Praise).

Confirming the passing on of Chinganda, his eldest son Pride said the family had been robbed of a friend, father, uncle and benefactor.

“As a family, we have been caught unaware. A hole has been dug in the family difficult to fill.

“We can’t believe he has gone too soon to nurture us. His remains will be interred at Mashiri Village, Chief Nhema, Zaka” said the aggrieved son.

Meanwhile, scores of people have described Chinganda as a level headed man pro develoment and unity.

“Chinganda was down to earth and a unifier. He achieved a lot wherever he was.
“He was a team player even when he achieved great as an individual, to him it was for the team” they said.

Chinganda transformed Zaka High school from a mere secondary to a force to reckon in Zaka, if not in the whole of Masvingo Province.

His teaching profession saw him pass through the corridors of Zivavose High School 1991-2010 , Deputy Head during the period 2002-2004 and then Head 2005-2010.

He became Zaka High School
Head – 2011 to the time of his death.

At Zaka High School, Chinganda helped in the construction of a State of the art computer lab and library 2014; Construction of Senior Science lab 2016; Palisade Fencing; the school became a power house (winners continuously) in Zaka Soccer Schools Soccer Tournament 2012-2016; Installation of Internet at school in 2015; Construction of Geography Information Centre, the first in the Province and obtained best A’ level results in the District in 2016.

Regardless of becoming visually impaired in 2014, he proved that disability does not mean inability as more successes and achievements were obtained as the state of the art computer lab was officially commissioned by then Minister of ICT Hon W Shamhu.

He held leadership posts such as Zaka District NASH district secretary (2004- 2014) and then District Vice Secretary
2017 – July 2021.

He was also
Board Director Zimbabwe Chapter for World Big Family Incorporated a non governmental organisation.

Chinganda was a holder of Diploma in Education (Maths, 1988) from Gweru Teachers College; IPMZ 1994 and Bsc (hons) Maths BUSE (2002)

He was a staunch Liverpool supporter and a practising Roman Catholic member.

He has left behind a legally of unparalleled achievements from humble beginnings.

Tinashe Sambiri|Members of the feared Central Intelligence Organization abducted and assaulted Nyika Growth Point resident, Chrispen Mukonyo for wearing a mask inscribed Chamisa Chete Chete.

Mukonyo, who works at a carpentry shop at the growth point, was bundled into a motor vehicle that was being driven by one Mr Mutimurefu, a CIO agent.

Mukonyo was taken to Masvingo Cooperate Complex were he was severely assaulted.

MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala condemned the incident:

“This form of violence against our people can not be allowed to continue in our country.

I am receiving reports that this incident truly happened.

We will never forget that our country needs to be free. No matter how much we may be preoccupied with our professions, the call to change will never ever disappear from our daily thoughts.

The dead regime thinks we are cowed, let them live in hallucinations,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.

By A Correspondent- Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation Tinoda Machakarika, (ZANU PF), has splashed US$770 000 – including shipping and import duty – on a Rolls Royce Phantom, ZimLive reported.

Machakarika, also referred to as Tinomudaishe Machakaire (39), reportedly paid GVE London £330,000 for the luxury car and £30 000 for shipping – about US$495 800 in total.

GVE London posted videos on social media confirming that it had shipped the car to a Zimbabwean minister, but the company did not name Machakaire.

However,  ZimLive reported multiple sources as having identified Machakaire as the owner of the expensive car.

Another source at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) estimated duty on the vehicle would be in the region of U$275 000, pushing Machakaire’s total bill to just over US$770 000.

Machakaire’s transport and logistics company, TinMac Motors also reportedly acquired a new fleet of haulage trucks recently.

Machakaire, who represents Wedza South in the National Assembly, is related to Kudakwashe Tagwirei, the millionaire petroleum oligarch who owns Sakunda Holdings.

His company TinMac Motors won huge tenders to move farming equipment and other implements under the US$3 billion Command Agriculture scheme.

Meanwhile, Sakunda Holdings carried out all procurement under Command Agriculture, a scheme which a parliamentary committee concluded was carried out without any accountability.

Britain’s Liberal Democrats party has demanded an inquiry into how ZANU PF elites are moving large sums of money through the United Kingdom’s financial system to fund their lavish lifestyles.

Lord Oates, the Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Zimbabwe, wrote on Twitter:

I am horrified by this and will be asking what the due diligence rules are to prevent this from happening.

It is appalling to see Zimbabwean ministers behave like this when there is so much need in Zimbabwe and equally appalling that it seems like it is being facilitated here.

Back home, opposition MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said:

We continue to demand radical transparency and a far-reaching international audit of the offshore networks that enable looting by Zimbabwean ministers and political elites.

They launder the loot by buying supercars while the masses starve. Corruption is killing us.

Machakaire however, expressed ignorance over the Rolls Royce Phantom deal, saying: “I don’t know anything about this story.”

By A Correspondent- A man from Rushinga District, Mashonaland Central Province, has been fined five beasts by a traditional court for incest after he was caught red-handed between the sheets with his son’s wife.

Munashe Kahonde was caught by his son Peter Mafuta in the latter’s house in bed with his daughter-in-law.

Kahonde was brought to Headman Chipara’s Community Court after being caught committing adultery with his daughter-in-law in her matrimonial home.

Reports suggest that Kahonde was trapped after there was a suspicion about his marital affair with his daughter-in-law.

H-Metro was told that Kahonde, a nurse aid at Chimandau Clinic, hid under Mafuta’s bed for the night when Mafuta came back home.

Said Mafuta:

The day Kahonde fell into a snare, he was betrayed by his shoes that were found at the corner inside the bedroom.

My wife refused to admit but I rummaged the bedroom until I found him in stealth under the bed.

Kahonde received a tongue-lashing from Headman Chipara who said the man’s conduct was against social customs, values and ethos.

This was actually Kahonde’s second time to be dragged to his Court with such type of cases, the headman revealed.

Kahonde had already lost more than seven beasts within a year paying victims of his adultery cases.

Headman Chipara ordered him to pay five beasts – three for Mafuta and two for traditional authority for the incest case.