By A Correspondent- Journalist Hoepwell Chin’ono has torn into MDC T leader Douglas Mwonzora describing him as the most dangerous pandemic to ever happen for Zimbabwe.

He was responding to Mwonzora’s tweet where he warned communities against the covid-19 pandemic saying:

“The covid-19 is really ravaging our communities and a lot more needs to be done. Our people must be vaccinated. We reiterate that this is an international pandemic that must never be politicised.”

Chin’ono however responded to Mwonzora and said:

“You are the most dangerous pandemic. Who voted for you puppet?”

By A Correspondent- Teachers here have called on government to shelve its ambitious continous students assessment arguing that the system will not work owing to the schools closure and teachers incapacitation.

Said the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe in a statement:

“With schools still closed until at least 26 July by government projections and at least 15 August by ours, we call on ZimSec and the ministry of primary and secondary education to suspend the ambitious continous assessment. It wont work. Learners need to cover the syllabuses and teachers are disgruntled.”

By A Correspondent- With pressure mounting from other football stakeholders, Zifa have expressed disappointment at the string of poor results by the national men’s team under Zdravko Logarušić and his assistants Lloyd Chitembwe and Tonderai Ndiraya.

The coaches’ future has been thrown into doubt after the football mother body said a meeting will be convened over the national team’s poor show at the Cosafa Cup where they mustered two points from a possible 12 and were thus booted out in the early stages of the competition.

Zifa vice-president Philemon Machana told NewsDay Sport that the association understands the emotions that have been poured by fans following the poor show.

Logarušić, meanwhile, has maintained that Cosafa was a success for the team where he identified three players who he will call up for the World Cup qualifiers in September.

The Croat has presided over the team in 12 matches where he managed just one win, but one that was important as it ensured that Zimbabwe qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals that are set for January in Cameroon.

However, the poor run in the African Nations Championships and Cosafa has thrust him and his lieutenants under the spotlight ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, with their ability to lead the team to success now being questioned.

Logarušić still has six months left on his contract, but his future is now up in the air as he has struggled to convince supporters.

As administrators, we can’t take any decision at this stage because we have a technical committee that looks into those issues. The technical committee will do an appraisal of the coaches, so a decision cannot be made without their input. The coaches will also have their input,” Machana said.

He, however, hinted that it’s not all gloom and doom for the coaches.

“As Zimbabweans, we are all pained by this performance and we understand the anger of the fans. They want the team to win and we all want it to win, but we should not be emotional. Let us be objective in our approach because we must remember we need to develop the players, we want future players.”

The Warriors displayed a lackluster show at the regional tournament where they failed to win a single match, managing just two points after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Senegal in their final Group B match.

They also lost to Namibia, having gained two points from draws against Malawi and Mozambique.

The shoddy performance has been met with a chorus of disapproval from the angry fans who have laid the blame on the expatriate coach.

Logarusic believes the Cosafa tournament is not about results, but rather a developmental tournament.

He said he had already observed a few players he would integrate into the first team ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in September.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo have launched a crackdown on pirate kombis and taxis commonly known as mshikashikas as the law enforcement agents continue to intensify the fight against violators of lockdown measures.

A number of pirate kombis and taxis have since been impounded and the crews and owners of the vehicles face prosecution.

Pedestrians violating lockdown regulations such as those not wearing masks, are also being targeted. The operation also involves members of the ZRP Mounted Unit who are patrolling on horse backs. Yesterday morning, scores of commuters had to walk to the city centre after they were dropped off just before roadblocks.

Statistics of the number of vehicles impounded yesterday were, however, not readily available. Police are out in full force on a crackdown on pirate kombis and other vehicles to enforce Covid-19 regulations and Level Four enhanced measures.

Most of the kombis and pirate taxis were impounded at several roadblocks mounted on the major roads leading to the city centre.

The latest operation comes in the wake of an increasing number of people violating lockdown measures, particularly transport operators who continue operating illegally and overloading passengers. Recently, rowdy pirate kombi drivers ganged up with some rogue elements and attacked traffic police officers before smashing the rear windscreen of their patrol vehicle.

They also stole a car battery which was in the boot. There has been a worrying trend in many towns and cities of violation of regulations, with vendors back on the streets and some bars and nightclubs illegally operating. Chronicle news crew yesterday moved around the city and observed scores of commuters walking to the city centre after they were dropped off by kombi and pirate taxi drivers as they avoided police.

Pirate taxis and kombis plying the Luveve route were dumping people in Makokoba while those using Khami Road were being dropped at the VID turn off.

Kombis and pirate taxis plying the Plumtree Road route were dropping off passengers at corner 15th Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street. For the better part of the day, police and pirate taxis were involved in a cat and mouse game, leaving commuters stranded as Zupco buses were failing to cope with demand. A police source said they had to fight off pirate taxis operators who were baying for their blood at a roadblock mounted before Mckeurtan Primary School.

Bulawayo police Inspector Abednico Ncube said they have intensified their routine operations in line with the Covid-19 lockdown regulations. Government decreed that all public transporters in urban centres should be registered under Zupco in order to bring sanity to the transport sector.

Since the beginning of lockdown, only Zupco registered buses and kombis are allowed to transport commuters in terms of Covid-19 prevention regulations. Insp Ncube said transporters that were operating illegally were putting the lives of commuters at risk of contracting the pandemic by not adhering to Covid-19 health protocols hence must be removed from the roads.

“As police, our mandate is to enforce the laws and regulations, which is why we want to ensure that there is sanity on our roads. Kombis that are not registered with Zupco should not operate,” he said.

He said the commuting public should not board kombis operating illegally. Government directed that all public transport operators that want to provide urban transport should be registered with Zupco.

Commuters who spoke to Chronicle yesterday said they reported late for work. Mr Takesure Moyo of Cowdray Park urged Government to provide more buses.

“Zupco buses are failing to cope with pressure especially during peak hours. We are appealing to Government to bring more Zupco buses so that people don’t end up resorting to mshikashikas,” he said.

Another commuter, Mr Bruce Tshuma weighed in: “People resort to boarding mshikashikas because Zupco buses are failing to meet demand. If we get more buses, I don’t think these pirate taxis would continue operating.”

Ms Lisa Mdlongwa, a Sizinda resident said she had to walk all the way to North End suburb after she was dropped off at 15th Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street in the city centre.

“I stay in Sizinda and work as a maid in North End. Every morning I have a problem of transport to get to work. Today, I was dropped off at 15th Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street and had to walk all the way to my workplace.”

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Demand for burial space at Gweru council cemeteries has increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, mayor Josiah Makombe has revealed.

In his state of the city address, Makombe said the three local authority-run cemeteries were overwhelmed, mainly as a result of the manual grave-digging system.

“COVID-19 has really raised the demand for graves,” he said.

“Gweru has three cemeteries in the city, namely Senga, Central (Mtasa) and Mkoba.

“Our main challenge is that grave digging is being done manually. We meet challenges where surfaces are rocky, for example at Senga cemetery. We are still in the process of trying to automate grave digging if funds permit.”

Makombe said there had been an increase in deaths due to the coronavirus, which in turn had pushed upwards the need for burial space in the city.

The other council cemetery, Mtapa, closed a few years ago as there was no more space for burials.

The 12-hectare graveyard was declared to be full, with the only space left being that of people that paid for burial space in advance.

Meanwhile, Makombe said the city’s health department was strained as a result of the pandemic.

“The city’s health department is hard hit by the emerging COVID-19 pandemic, which has strained our workforce,” he said.

“Although we have so far managed to effectively respond to COVID-19 cases with almost 80% of all contacts (COVID-19 contacts) having been followed up, the emerging pandemic has seen our health facilities getting strained as our medical equipment is technologically not up to date.”

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Achievers Awards (ZAA) founder and chairman Conrad Mwanza has said he will be stepping down this year after serving as chief executive officer for a decade.

Mwanza disclosed his plans last week during a virtual event dubbed The Big Reveal that was meant to announce nominees for the ZAA United Kingdom 10th anniversary awards set for September 11.

In a follow-up interview with NewsDay Life & Style, Mwanza said it was not easy to be chief executive officer for a decade as one had to navigate various dynamics, especially for an apolitical organisation.

“It has been a good experience, it really opened my eyes in terms of how as a country we could do very well if we were to put our political views on one side and not be fragmented. The experience has been that of being proud of my country, what my fellow countrymen are achieving in the United States of America, Canada and Australia,” he said.

“You also have to navigate your way around relationships and our sometimes polarised community. It has been a very fulfilling task that also had its stormy times, but I would not swap it for anything else.”

Mwanza said he would pass the stick to a young person with fresh ideas.

“My hope is that the ZAA legacy will continue celebrating our people and their achievements. I have been on the hunt on who will become the chief executive officer and the announcement will be done in due course,” he said.

“I want to encourage women leadership and hope the next person to take over will be a lady, a much younger person.”

Meanwhile, Mwanza said voting for the ZAA UK 2021 awards’ nominees across the four categories namely business and professional, community and sports, lifestyle and entertainment would start on July 19 and close on August 15.

“This year we will be commemorating our 10th anniversary and reflecting on a decade that has been fruitful in changing the misconceptions about the abilities of our communities over the years. We started this vision with a view to highlight the stories of positive achievement and impact by Zimbabweans,” he said.

The nominee list includes musicians, business leaders, young sports personalities, community champions and innovators, among others. The list of nominees can be accessed online.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa has denied allegations that he withheld a full report containing the reasons why he dismissed former High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere.

Ndewere last week filed an urgent chamber application seeking to compel the tribunal which heard her case to release the reasons for her dismissal by Mnangagwa.

In the application, Ndewere cited Mnangagwa and the three-member tribunal led by retired judge Justice Simbi Mubako, lawyer Charles Warara and Yvonne Masvora, who made recommendations for her removal from the bench, as respondents.

Ndewere claimed she had not been furnished with a copy of the tribunal’s determination after only learning of its existence through social media.

But in his opposing affidavit filed by Justice ministry permanent secretary Virginia Mabiza yesterday, Mnangagwa dismissed Ndewere’s claims and insisted that the former judge had been notified of his decision to dismiss her through the proper channels.

Mnangwagwa said he was not obliged to communicate his decision directly to her.

In the affidavit, Mabiza stated that Mnangagwa’s decision to fire Ndewere was communicated through Chief Justice Luke Malaba, who is the head of the Judicial Service Commission, the body responsible for matters relating to employment.

“The manner of communication of the first responsible was in his view, both appropriate and permissible in the circumstances,” Mabiza said.

Ndewere was dismissed last month after the tribunal set up to investigate her found her guilty of misconduct, but she claims she was being victimised for defying Malaba’s “unlawful orders”.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A coalition of 10 youth civic society organisations (CSOs) has vowed that it will not take orders from Harare provincial development coordinator Tafadzwa Muguti and implored Local Government minister July Moyo to rein in his subordinates.

Muguti last month wrote to NGOs operating in the capital ordering them to report to him.

NGOs that include the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, ZimRights, among others, told Muguti that they would not report to him because his position was not provided for in the Constitution. Another grouping of NGOs has written to Moyo vowing to defy Muguti’s orders also claiming that his office was established outside the dictates of the Constitution.

The youth organisations, which include the African Regional Youth Initiative, African Youth Portal and the Youth Forum Zimbabwe, stated that Muguti’s office was non-existent under the Provincial Councils and Administrative Act.

“As the Youth Coalition, we write to you in response to letters which were widely circulated by bureaucrats in your ministry regarding the operations of NGOs across the country,” the coalition said in its letter to Moyo dated July 2.

“The undersigned organisations are deeply concerned by the contents of the letters in which it was insinuated that all NGOs fall under the direct supervision of provincial development coordinator (PDC).”

“It must be noted that going by the Provincial Councils and Administrative Act, the office is non-existent and even if we might want to equate the office to that of the provincial administrator provided at law in the Provincial Councils and Administrators Act, the powers will be then limited to activities relating to the operations of government.”

The CSOs threatened legal action against Muguti over his pronouncements.

“There is no legal backing that would make the PDC’s office control the operations and activities of NGOs as they are not part of and or agencies of government.

“Section 68 of our Constitution is very clear that every person has a right to lawful administrative conduct. We, therefore, call upon your office to rein in your bureaucrats before we take appropriate legal actions to protect ourselves,” part of the letter further read.

On Monday, Masvingo provincial development co-coordinator Jefter Sakupwanya summoned all NGOs operating in the province and accused them of meddling in politics.

-Newsday

Chinyamukwakwa Madness Must Stop!

15-07-2021

Imagine whole African families living peacefully in their communal lands and suddenly a crude European capitalist with a forged citizenship comes and push them away from their ancestral lands in the name of pursuing a ‘a Green Fuel project’.

This sounds like a story from the colonial era after the arrival of the Pioneer Column when blacks were forcibly stripped of their land by European colonialists.

No! This is not retelling of a colonial story. This is actually happening right in our times in Chinyamukwakwa communal lands in Chipinge.

A crude and ruthless capitalist by the name Billy Rautenbach is destroying crops of the villagers just before harvest to pursue his Green Fuel project whose interests have nothing to do with the locals.

This is not the first time that this white crook has clashed with locals over their land. Those in Joshua Nkomo Cooperative in Harare near Kambuzuma will testify how this white guy is pushing so hard to have their homes destroyed in order to pursue his parochial interests.

In Masvingo, in Mwenezi’s Naunetsi Range this fellow owns vast tracks of land, some which is lying idle.

Rautenbach’s thirst for acquiring land is just unquenchable. Just like his forefather Cecil Rhodes who wanted to own the whole of Africa through his private BSA Company, Rautenbach dreams to occupy the whole of this country through his private Green Fuel company.

The grave quietness of Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government on Chinyamukwakwa land saga is loud enough to confirm our fears.

It is clear Rautenbach is working in cahoots with ZANU PF top officials to drive black Africans off their land.

If this ZANU PF government is genuine about the land question, then the madness in Chinyamukwakwa must stop!

Indeed we are in a season of defiance.

DefyOrDie

RegisterToVoteZw

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- Former Education Minister Fay Chung has rejoined Zanu PF.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo announced Chung’s come back on Wednesday.

Chung was one of the early public supporters of an independent presidential candidate, Simba Makoni who announced his presidential candidacy in early February 2008.

She was Deputy Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Education from 1980 to 1988 and Minister of Education in the late former president Robert Mugabe’s cabinet from 1988 to 1993.

By A Correspondent- Two gold panners have appeared in court facing public violence and theft charges after vandalising shop buildings and stealing groceries at Lion’s Den in Chinhoyi.

The damaged property is valued at US$30 000 while US$7 000 groceries were stolen.

Enock Ndaradzi (27) and Rodney Ndoro (24) were granted $3 000 bail each after they were Monday arraigned before Magistrate Melody Rwizi.
The matter was remanded to 29 August for routine remand.
The state alleges that on 3 July this year, the duo attacked seven shops at River Ranch, Lion’s Den in Chinhoyi belonging to Tapiwa Jowa, Jonasi Guvamombe, Shepherd Manyange, Learnmore Mwandidze, and three others.
In the process, they heavily assaulted the complainants causing bodily injuries, leaving one of them seriously injured and hospitalised at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital.
Ndaradzi and Ndoro allegedly destroyed window panes and doors of various shops before looting groceries.
Investigating officer, Sergeant Elijah Kasima based at Murereka Police Station had opposed bail arguing the nomadic pair was on the run since committing the offence a fortnight ago.
The police officer also averred in court that Ndaradzi and Ndoro were notorious for terrorising residents of the area and, therefore, not suitable bail candidates.

-Online

By A Correspondent- Former Sports Minister Makhosini Hlongwane and ex-labour deputy minister Tapiwa Matangaidze, have been readmitted into the Zanu PF party.

They were expelled when then-Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa seized control of both the state and the party in a 2017 military assisted coup.

At the time, the ex-party officials were loyal to Generation 40, a party faction that was keen on then First Lady Grace Mugabe to succeed her husband, Mugabe.

Simon Khaya Moyo announced the readmission of the two Wednesday.

By A Correspondent-Zanu PF has approved the re-admission into the party of its former youth leader Kudzanai Chipanga.

Chipanga was fired by Zanu PF in 2017 together with several other members aligned to the G40 cabal at the height of Zanu PF factional fights.

Announcing this development in Harare Wednesday after the party’s politburo meeting, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said Chipanga should not partake in any election for the next three years.

By A Correspondent-Zanu PF has re-admitted a number of the former late President Robert Mugabe allies into the party.

Former deputy Sports Minister, Makhosini Hlongwane and the party’s former youth leader Kudzanai Chipanga are some of the top Mugabe allies who have been readmitted into Zanu PF.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo made the announcement today after the party’s politburo meeting.

By A Correspondent- The government said that it will be deploying military personnel at Covid-19 vaccination centres nationwide amid reports of continued chaos characterising the exercise.

This was announced by Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa at a post-cabinet media briefing in Harare Tuesday.

The minister said the government has opened the inoculation exercise to all citizens above 18, adding that authorities have also stepped up efforts to ensure every willing citizen gets the jab.

“Out of the 2 million doses of vaccines that the Ministry of Health and Child Care received on the 8th of July 2021, every province has received 50 000 first doses except just for Harare metropolitan and Bulawayo metropolitan provinces which received 100 000 doses each.

“A total of 1,5 million vaccines will be distributed this coming week. The nation is informed that vaccination is now open to everybody with frontline personnel still being prioritised at vaccination centres,” she said.

Zimbabwe’s inoculation process, while envied by many countries far and beyond, has been marred by chaos and complaints by ordinary citizens that some unscrupulous health personnel distributing the jab at the centres were involved in acts of favouritism, something that continues to inconvenience those who come early for the crucial national health process.

Mutsvangwa said police and the army will now be roped in to bring order at the centres.

“In order to minimise the time spent in queues, extra personnel from security and defence forces has been harnessed so as to increase the numbers of personnel at the vaccination centres,” said the minister.

The involvement of police and the army in processes aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 is however not new in the country as they have, since outbreak March last year, been tasked to man roadblocks and also enforce other lockdown measures imposed by authorities.

The law enforcement agents’ conduct in executing the national duty has however not been as impeccable as they have often themselves been accused of rights abuses and taking bribes from persons found violating the measures.

-Online

By A Correspondent | A top suspect linked to the murder of seven-year-old Murehwa boy Tapiwa Makore (Junior) last September, Moud Hunidzarira, has been released from prison.

Hunidzarira was arrested last November and he release comes at a time when there is a media blackout over the investigation.

She was arrested in Budiriro following a tip-off by the public and is alleged that when the murder occurred, she was in Murehwa and a few days later was seen by some neighbours in Harare, cleaning an item that had blood.

Her release also comes at a time when several police officers were seen receiving beer and food in Damofalls, Harare, from another suspect Thanks Makore, an uncle to the late seven-year-old boy.

There are four suspects in the case: Thanks Makore, Tapiwa Makore Senior, Moud Hunidzarira and Tafadzwa Shamba.

Hunidzarira was imprisoned at Murehwa Prison, and has been released on RTGS 10,000 (USD70) bail, ZimEye reveals. – MORE FOLLOWS

By A Correspondent- Violent clashes erupted at a graveyard in Epworth after some squatters tried to block the burial of a local resident.

violent clashes recently ensued between those illegally settled at the graveyard and a bereaved family that was burying its loved one.

The local authority’s town secretary Dr Wilton Mhanda confirmed the clashes.

“There are squatters that clashed with council officials refusing them to allocate and dig graves at the site, but we have since engaged them and they are now cooperating,” he said.

Past MDC-Alliance Epworth Mayor Batanai Masunda said the graveyard settlers turned violent last weekend when some residents went to bury their late relative who died from Covid-19-related complications.
“The illegal settlers were accusing the Epworth Local Board of pegging graves on their land when in fact they were allocated those stands by land barons.

“People were chased and stoned with bricks and sustained injuries and had to postpone the burial. The body had to be taken back to the funeral parlour. The deceased is an elderly woman from Ward 6,” he said

By A correspondent- Health experts in Hwange have attributed the sprouting of shebeens as the major cause of increasing cases of Covid-19 cases.

According to the state media, there are several shebeens that have sprouted in Hwange, especially in Empumalanga suburb.

Sources said most of them are operated by high profile people in the coal mining town which explains why they are not being closed.

People reportedly drink all night at the various shebeens despite the existence of a 6.30pm to 6am curfew.

Greater Hwange Residents Association Trust co-ordinator Mr Fidelis Chima said shebeens are all over Hwange.

“Shebeens are all over Hwange and we have approached authorities about the issue. Our wish is for the Covid-19 task force to work closely with residents’ association’s structures so as to come up with a lasting solution to this. We can work together to conscientise residents of the risks of running shebeens and also disseminating information on Covid-19,” he said.

Hwange District medical officer Dr Fungai Musinami-Mvura said shebeens, just like funeral wakes that residents continue to attend while not following laid down protocol, are high-risk gatherings.

“The problem with shebeens is that once people get drunk, they become a high risk gathering because no one will be following regulations.
We plead with people to follow regulations and if they want to drink alcohol, they should rather buy and drink from home. We once visited Hwange and we were told about the shebeens. These shebeens could be one of the contributors of the high rates of Covid we are having in the district particularly in Hwange town,” said Dr Musinami-Mvura.

By A Correspondent- The government has reduced the Zimbabwe United Passengers Company (Zupco) fares, which it hiked a fortnight ago after the counting public had shunned the state-controlled buses.

July Moyo’s Local Government and Public Works Ministry announced the decision last night on its social media platform.

“Government has today reduced the fares of Zupco buses to guarantee affordability for commuters.

“Also a raft of measures has been put in place to make sure that the mass transit system under the Zupco franchise is Covid-19 sensitive,” he said.
For bus fares, a distance between 0 to 20 kilometres which was $60 has been reduced to $40, while 21 to 30km is now $60 down from $90 and 31 to 40km is now $80 from $110.

Commuter omnibuses will now charge $60, down from $80 for a distance of 0 to 20km and $80, for a distance of 21 to 30km, it will now charge $80 from $120.

By A Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has rallied Zanu PF party structures to report for de-registration Non Governmental organisations diverting from their operational mandate to interfere in internal affairs of Zimbabwe in what reinforces earlier threats by Harare and Masvingo provincial cordinators against the work of NGOs.

In his opening remarks at the Zanu PF politburo meeting today, Mnangagwa said a notable number of NGOs were guilty of moving away from their mandate.

“As the election season unfolds, we are observing a notable number of NGOs diverting from their operational mandate to delve into political matters that amounts to interference in the internal affairs of our sovereign country. My government will not broker any such disregard of our laws and will proceed to de-register all organisations found in the wrong. Party structures must be vigilant and expose such elements,” said Mnangagwa.

Last week, Muguti wrote a letter to NGOs and civil society groups working in Harare to submit their plans of actions to his office.

Civic groups have since told Muguti off saying his office does not superintendent over their work.

In Masvingo, Provincial coordinator also invited NGOs to a meeting at GZU.

Pro democracy and constitutional campaigner, Makomborero Haruzivishe has been granted bail.

We have ended the 3 month detention of pro-democracy campaigner Makomborero Haruzivishe who has been granted RTGS$10 000 bail by Justice Webster Chinamora, announced the Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights.

• more to follow

By A Correspondent- A huge snake was retrieved from a parked Toyota Wish car in Kwekwe city centre and business temporarily came to standstill, The Chronicle reports.

Rangers from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) had to break into the car to retrieve the snake after its owner disappeared from the scene.

Reports suggest that the vehicle, which did not have number plates, was being driven by an unknown male who was accompanied by a female friend.

The driver reportedly vanished into thin air upon realizing the snake had been discovered at a car wash in the city.

One of the car washers who saw the snake is alleged to have alerted the driver about the presence of the snake in the car and the driver and his friend simply walked off and abandoned the car as people came to catch a glimpse of the snake.

The spectacle attracted a sizeable gathering and as a result, the police had to be called in to disperse the crowd which had gathered around the vehicle.

According to New Zimbabwe, a local businessman called in the National Parks personnel to attend to the snake which was gliding around inside the vehicle.

Since the owner of the car locked his vehicle before he fled from the scene, rangers from ZimParks had to break into the Toyota Wish to retrieve the snake.

One of the witnesses who saw the whole drama unfold said that he believes the snake is for ritual purposes. Said the witness:

_We suspect that this python is being used for ritual purposes. There is no way such a big snake if it was an ordinary snake will find its way into a locked vehicle worse still the driver just disappeared leaving his vehicle._

Snakes are locally associated with witchcraft, wizardry, and evil spirits.

Illegal possession of snakes is in violation of the Parks and Wildlife Act.

By A Correspondent- ALPHA Media Holdings (AMH) chairman Trevor Ncube has lost two close relatives – his father and niece – within a space of two days who both succumbed to COVID-19.

AMH publishes NewsDay, Zimbabwe Independent, The Standard and Weekly Digest and also runs an online radio and television station, Heart & Soul TV.

Ncube’s father, Shadreck Kanyemba Ncube, passed on on Saturday morning aged 86 and was buried in Bulawayo the next day, while his niece, Lorraine (32), who died on Monday is set to be buried in Harare today.

“My 86-year-old father, friend and hero succumbed to COVID-19 in Bulawayo early this morning (Saturday). A sweet, compassionate and witty man, he will be sorely missed,” Ncube tweeted.

Yesterday, he also confirmed the death of his niece who also succumbed to the virulent virus.

“Zimbabwe has lost a bright talented and courageous woman,” he said.

“COVID-19 has robbed us of two precious people in our family in just one week. My mother is still in a COVID-19 high dependence unity, oblivious to the fact that her partner of 62 years is no more.

“Now her granddaughter is no more. How are we going to break this shocking news to her? There are no words to describe the pain we are going through.”

In May, Ncube lost his younger brother, David, to kidney failure.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A 39 year old man from Zaka will spend the next 15 years in prison after he was found guilty of raping his mentally challenged teenage niece.

The accused, whose name cannot be published to protect the victim, was initially slapped with a 17 year jail term by Chiredzi Magistrate Judith Zuyu but two years were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.

In passing judgement Magistrate Zuyu said that the accused crafted a defense to deceive the court into believing that he was not aware of the complainant’s mental status when he actually knew the complainant since she was a child because he would constantly visit as they were related.

In his defense the accused had told the court that he was unaware of the victim’s mental status because they were in love for more than a year and he was even promising to marry her.

The state case as presented by Prosecutor Rutendo Ndimbu was that on November 13 2020 the accused approached the victim who was playing with his four-year-old daughter.

The accused then lured the victim promising to give her some mangoes at his homestead which she agreed to.

Upon arrival, the accused asked the complainant to escort him with some empty sacks to the bush and she followed him.

The accused then ordered the girl to lie on the empty sack, undressed her and rap_ed her once.

After rap_ing her, the accused filled the sack with firewood, gave the victim some mangoes and ordered her to go home.

About a week later, the victim then told her aunt about the ordeal, who reported the matter to the police leading to the accused’s arrest.

-TellZim

By A Correspondent- A robbery suspect sold himself and of his co-accused after he mistakenly left his mobile phone on the complainant’s vehicle passenger’s seat after robbing her.

Lincoln Nyakutira (32) and Godfrey Mudzengerere (21) appeared before magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure yesterday charged with armed robbery.

The two were remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

It is alleged that on July 10 this year, the accused persons phoned the complainant pretending to be Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials and promised to help her to buy boxes of cooking oil at a discount at Zimra Manica depot.

The accused persons allegedly asked the complainant to meet them at Zimra Manica depot in Rugare, Harare.

Upon arrival, one of the accused persons entered the complainant’s vehicle pretending to wait for the papers for the cooking oil.

Suddenly, some of the co-accused arrived and tied the complainant with wire, demanding money.

They stole US$6 000 which was under her seat and a Techno mobile
phone.

The accused fled using an unmarked Honda Fit. They were sold out by the mobile phone that was left in the car and US$3 210 was recovered.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A 22 year old Gokwe man has been arrested after he jumped into a car of one of the mourners at a funeral wake and sped off before being involved in an accident about a kilometre away.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, said the suspect, Tashinga Mutengarenga, was arrested following a speed chase with the police who swiftly reacted following the incident which occurred yesterday around 4pm in Mapfungautsi surbub, Gokwe.

“Circumstances are that the owner of the vehicle, Mr Desire Pendekwa of Chief Njelele went to Mapfungautsi to attend a funeral,” said Insp Mahoko.

“He parked his vehicle, a Honda CRV and went to attend the funeral and forgot to lock his car, the suspect, who was also part of the mourners then sneaked and jumped into the car and drove off.”

Insp Mahoko said police swiftly reacted to calls and gave chase.

“On realising that he was being pursued, Mutengarenga, who was speeding, then failed to negotiate a curve and the car plunged into a culvert,” he said.

“He was immediately arrested at the accident scene.”

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo have declared war on private cars which are asisting workers to get to from work in the absence of public transport.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said the police were impounding these cars.

“We have many mshikashika kombis that have been impounded, although we cannot round them up all at once. However, those who haven’t been arrested but are still operating are doing it illegally and we are still arresting them,” he said.

By A Correspondent- The government has extended the re-opening of schools by another two weeks.

The authorities said they have extended the re-opening of schools to contain the spread of Covid-19.

-State media

By A Correspondent Business Tuesday afternoon, came to standstill in the Kwekwe city centre after a huge snake was found in a parked vehicle.

Rangers from ZimParks had to break into the Toyota Wish vehicle to retrieve the snake after its owner disappeared.

-State media

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa last night extended the Covid19 induced level 4 lockdown by another two weeks citing an increase in infections and deaths.

In an address to the nation on Tuesday evening, Mnangagwa said the country will use the extended lockdown to vaccinate a targeted one million people.

He said mechanisms to enforce the lockdown were being strengthened after the realisation that some members of the public were violating regulations, most of them taking advantage of the night to embark on the banned intercity travel.

By A Correspondent- The trial of Wicknell Chivayo and his company Intratrek Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited on allegations of bribing former Zimbabwe Power Company chairman Stanely Kazhanje US$10 000, was yesterday deferred to August 9 for trial continuation.

Chivayo and his company, who are jointly charged, denied the charges when the trial opened saying the money was payment for consultancy services rendered to his firm before Kazhanje joined the ZPC board.

They agreed that Intratrek Zimbabwe transferred US$10 000 into Kazhanje’s bank account for professional services rendered prior to his appointment as ZPC board chairman.

“The said Stanley Kazhanje did not do anything to show favour to Intratrek Zimbabwe nor was he induced in any manner whatsoever whether as alleged or at all,” said Chivayo and his company in denying the charges.

Veteran Zimbabwean journalist Sandra Nyaira has died. Nyaira died in Harare today reportedly of Covid-19 related complications.

Nyaira (46) had a distinguished career as a journalist in and outside of the country and worked for the Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News Agency (Ziana) and The Daily News before she moved to the United States to pursue other career interests.

At the time of her death, she was working as a public information officer at the United Nations station in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

She had more than 20 years journalism experience in Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States and was known to be a prolific writer and editor for print, broadcast and website communications.

Funeral arrangements are still to be announced.- State media

By A Correspondent- The troubled South African government has intensified a crackdown on Zimbabweans living in that country without proper documentation.

On Tuesday the South African police vans offloaded 70 Zimbabwean deportees at the Beitbridge Quarantine Center.

The deportees were rounded up in the Limpopo Province as the neighbouring country moves to decongest its prisons and migrants holding facilities to minimize Covid-19 infections.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to review frontline workers’ salaries as a matter of urgency.

Writing on his official Facebook page, President Chamisa said the dignity of frontline workers should be restored.

Frontline workers are risking their lives in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic…

President Chamisa also accused the Zanu PF regime of being insensitive to the plight of civil servants.

See statement below :

REVIEW FRONTLINE WORKERS’ SALARIES URGENTLY!!These patriots are putting their lives at risk during this pandemic only to receive peanuts as a salary.

Please use the surplus to restore the dignity of our frontline workers & civil service as a whole
@MthuliNcube
@GGuvamatanga

A junior doctor earns approx $28,000 ZWL a month which is $207 @ real market rate.

This is inclusive of a COVID allowance of $70 USD risk allowance at paid bank rate = $6000ZWL.

This merits urgent fixing! Pay attention to what matters. #DECENTSALARIES

The catastrophic extent of it dawned on me last week when a young doctor who is my relative fell ill. It struck me as to what would have become of this young life.

My heart was taken to all the frontline workers who have families that look up to them for survival. #DECENTSALARIES!

By A Correspondent- Police in Kadoma are looking for a man who allegedly axed to death his father and aunt before raping a woman.

Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were looking for the accused person, Evan Chikore.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of Evans Chikore, a male adult aged 29 of Village 1 Luwana Farm, Kadoma. The suspect is being sought for two counts of murder, rape, robbery and malicious damage to property which occurred on 9 July 2021 in Kadoma.

“On the said date, Evans Chikore who was armed with an axe went to his parents’ homestead in Marimari South where he attacked his father aged 61 with stones before he fatally struck him several times on the head and left shoulder with an axe for unknown reasons. The suspect threatened to kill his mother and set on fire four round huts and a shade at the homestead,” said Asst Comm Nyathi in a statement released on twitter.

Chikore was not done, as he went to his parents’ neighbours’ house, axed another man there, who had reported him for assault before and set ablaze two huts.
“After the incident, the suspect went to a neighbouring plot where he threatened to kill his parents’ neighbour, accusing him of previously reporting him to the police and causing his incarceration for an assault case in which he assaulted the complainant’s son. The complainant managed to escape and the suspect struck the complainant’s son once on the forehead with an axe before setting ablaze two thatched huts at the homestead,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

The enraged Chikore then went to his aunt’s house where he axed her several times on the head.
“The suspect then proceeded to his aunt’s homestead, where he met his aunt and fatally struck her several times on the head with an axe before setting ablaze the kitchen hut and a Ford Ranger vehicle,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Chikore headed to another neighbouring plot where he robbed and raped a woman.
“He robbed the complainants of US$10 before dragging one of the complainants to a nearby maize field where he raped her once after threatening to strike her with an axe if she resisted.
After raping her, the suspect went to her house where he stole US$40 and a blanket. He set ablaze a hut which was used as a granary and subsequently burning property inside which include, five tonnes maize, 20 buckets of sorghum and 10 bags of cement,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

By A Correspondent- A 29-year-old Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer has been arrested for possessing 143,95 kgs of loose dagga.

Berlin Dombodzvuku, a ZRP officer of Support Unit Zulu Troop, was last Thursday in Marondera arrested and charged with unlawful possession or use of dangerous drugs charges.

He appeared before Marondera magistrate Ms Rumbidzayi Munemo, yesterday who denied him bail and remanded him to July 26.

Dombodzvuku was arrested after police detectives received a tip-off that he was carrying the dangerous drug in a Toyota Sienta vehicle he was driving along the Harare-Mutare Highway.

He failed to stop at a mounted roadblock along the same road, prompting fellow officers to give chase.

By A Correspondent- The state yesterday tried to force the trial of three MDC Alliance activists arrested for allegedly faking their abduction by suspected State security agents in April last year.

Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe, party activists Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova are accused of lying to the police that they were abducted.

The MDC Alliance activists were found dumped by suspected State security agents in rural Bindura at a time when human rights organisations and the international community were searching for them.

Prosecutor Michael Reza told magistrate Noel Mupeiwa that the State was commencing trial after agreeing to the concerns of the defence despite a pending High Court application by the trio seeking stay of their trial pending a determination on the recusal of presiding magistrate Bianca Makwande and Reza himself.

The trio’s lawyer Alec Muchadehama then told Mupeiwa that they were not in for a trial, but would make his submission to the rightful magistrate.
The matter was then stood down and it was placed before magistrate, Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro.

But Muchadehama again told the court that they were not in court for trial as there was a High Court order barring the trial.

“I want to indicate that today is not a trial date. I am shocked by my learned friend’s submissions. My friend is throwing a snake on you,” Muchadehama told the magistrate.

Muchadehama said the State was in contempt of court by starting a trial where there was a High Court order barring it.

Muchuchuti-Guwiriro remanded the matter to tomorrow to make a ruling on whether the trial should proceed or not.

The MDC Alliance trio is being accused of publishing falsehoods concerning their abduction, which took place on April 28, 2020.

-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa has mourned his top ally and Zanu PF Central Committee member and former Muzvezve Member of Parliament, Peter Haritatos, describing him as a ‘reliable, loyal and committed patriot.’

The Kadoma based Haritatos popularly, known as “Baba George” for his conversance in the Shona language, succumbed to Covid-19-related complications at a local hospital in Harare last Saturday at the age of 77.

In a statement this morning, Mnangagwa said the death of Haritatos due to Covid-19 related complications further highlighted how dangerous and widespread the disease had become in the country.

“No one is safe from it until everyone is safe,” he said. “A senior member of the Central Committee of our party Zanu PF and former legislator for Muzvezve, the death of Cde Haritatos has robbed our nation of a reliable, loyal and committed patriot with a warm and generous heart towards his fellow compatriots.”

Haritatos was father to Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos.

By A Correspondent- Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police today lockdown Chitungwiza and delayed hundreds who were coming from the dormitory city to Harare for work.

The police held the few who were patient enough to wait at Manyame bridge where they had mounted a roadblock.

“Chitungwiza police are causing meyhem with their block at manyame Bridge. Today it was chaos with vehicles spending over an hour on the bridge. Is that safe engineers, why would you delay vehicles by over an hr when operating hrs are now limited. You are costing the economy,” posted one of the frustrated residents.

By A Correspondent- There is an outcry from the motoring public after the high court had legalised the use of spikes by the police to stop vehicles in the Central Business District.

The High Court yesteday ruled that strips of spikes used by police to stop vehicles refusing to obey orders to halt are fully legal and any court trying to ban them would be tantamount to legalising crime and disempowering police from maintaining law and order.

The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe had sued police, seeking an interdict prohibiting officers from using the strips of spikes and smashing windscreens of private taxis to halt pirate taxis and kombis, saying that this conduct endangered the lives of the public and causes blatant unlawful and malicious damage to private property police are supposed to protect.

Justice Owen Tagu refused to grant the application by PAZ, finding that for the court to do so would be to sanitise crime and disempower the police from enforcing law and order.

“To grant the application would be tantamount to legalising the actions of these errant motorists as the police would be incapacitated to deal with them,” he said.

The court accepted the police argument that operators of pirate taxis, commonly known as mushikashika, were not just committing traffic offences but other crimes that could be classified as more dangerous.
Some of the crimes include drug abuse, harassment of commuters especially women, and theft and robberies committed by people in unregistered vehicles, which are mostly driven by immature and unlicensed drivers.

Police also argued that the conduct of the pirate taxis had resulted in a spike of pedestrian deaths, as they are run over by vehicles fleeing police officers.

Police further argued that touts employed by errant drivers, assault and kill police officers when they try to impound their vehicles and arrest the violators.

Through its legal counsel, PAZ argued that police should be barred from practising this “rudimentary” and “barbaric” way of enforcing traffic offence law.

The organisation further criticised the police conduct which they said had caused harm to passengers of the public and private vehicles and in some cases, the death of victims.

To this end, it is their submission that PAZ had reasonable apprehension that the security of more passengers was endangered, private property would be damaged and there was no effective alternative remedy in the circumstances except approaching the court for relief.