By A Correspondent- Veteran nationalist and former Zipra commander Abraham Dumezweni Nkiwane has died at the age of 93.
Zanu-PF Politburo member Tshinga Dube confirmed the death.
He said Cde Nkiwane died in the early hours of this morning at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where he was admitted.
Nkiwane was the first person to smuggle weapons into Southern Rhodesia in 1962.
He one of Zipra’s first commanders who operated under Special Affairs and Training.
More to follow…
By A Correspondent- A sombre atmosphere today engulfed the scene of the Masvingo horror road accident scene where 21 people died yesterday.
Police commanders in Masvingo province visited the site and vowed to ruthlessly clampdown on pirate taxis and road unworthy vehicles together with lockdown violators.
A Zvishavane-bound Toyota Granvia burst a tyre and veered into the opposite lane where it collided with a Toyota Wish that was heading towards Masvingo resulting in the death of 18 people on the spot and three in hospital.
Assistant Commissioners Florence Marume and Fredrick Mbengwa today visited the crash site as part of ongoing police investigations to establish the actual circumstances behind the carnage.
The two senior Masvingo police commanders who were accompanied by provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa also took time to talk to some of the eyewitnesses and relatives of the deceased who were at the scene trying to come to terms with the horror crash.
Speaking at the scene, Inspector Dhewa said police were on an all-out war against unregistered pirate taxis and lockdown violators.
He warned pirate taxis violating lockdown rules and circumventing police checkpoints by using bushy roads that their time was up.
Inspector Dhewa said investigations were still underway to establish the cause of the crash.
He disclosed that the death toll had risen to 21 with only one survivor battling for life at Zvishavane District Hospital.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) have confirmed that Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic was barred from entering South Africa for the Cosafa Cup.
The team arrived in South Africa for the regional showpiece but Logarusic was not allowed to enter because he did not have visa, a setback which has now been confirmed by the local football governing body.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) would like to inform the football fraternity and
the nation that the Zimbabwe Senior National Men’s team, the Warriors left this Monday
morning for Port Elizabeth, South Africa via Johannesburg for the upcoming Cosafa Cup.
The team arrived safely in Port Elizabeth, South Africa,” ZIFA said in a statement.
“The Association would however like to inform the nation that the head coach Zdravko
Logarusic has been denied entry upon arrival at Oliver Tambo international Airport on the
basis of him not holding a valid visa for the host country, South Africa.
This is despite the fact that we confirmed with visa and travel agencies in Zimbabwe prior to
departure and we were assured that as long he possessed a valid Zimbabwean workers permit,
he would be allowed entry in South Africa.”
“We were then dismayed upon arrival when we were told by Immigration officials that that
only service and diplomatic holders from Croatia were exempt from South African visa
requirements.
This was not been anticipated by the Association and the travel agent has availed a letter of
apology after this debacle.”
“The Agent has also agreed to reimburse expenses resulting from this anomaly.
Unfortunately, it is very clear that valuable training time has been lost as a result of this
gaffe.
The Association is now saddled with ensuring that the coach get a visa and proceed and join
the team in Port Elizabeth in the shortest time possible.”
“Meanwhile assistant Coach Tonderai Ndiraya will prepare the team in the absence of Coach
Lloyd Chitembwe who was never pencilled to travel to South Africa as a result of his non
authorisation to travel to South Africa.”
“We apologise to the nation for the inconvenience, however the team remains in high spirits
and ready to compete to everyone’s best abilities.
We would like to assure the nation that the Association is making frantic efforts to remedy
the situation.”- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
By Antony Taruvinga MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Executive Committee Member
I have been robbed earlier today at 3:30am…
Thieves went away with phones, sim cards, visa cards, airtime, sim cards and cigarettes.
The idiots were kicking the cash but never noticed the bag was almost full.
2 times the same night, I woke up to the noise of the banging door, only to find no one in the yard.
They were hiding somewhere and I thought the noise was of the wind. The third time, I was now fast asleep.
They banged and entered. I woke up to find 3 men with weapons had entered my room and were ready to attack.
This happened within a short space of time, most probably 5 minutes.
By Antony Taruvinga MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Executive Committee Member
I have been robbed earlier today at 3:30am…
Thieves went away with phones, sim cards, visa cards, airtime, sim cards and cigarettes.
The idiots were kicking the cash but never noticed the bag was almost full.
2 times the same night, I woke up to the noise of the banging door, only to find no one in the yard.
They were hiding somewhere and I thought the noise was of the wind. The third time, I was now fast asleep.
They banged and entered. I woke up to find 3 men with weapons had entered my room and were ready to attack.
This happened within a short space of time, most probably 5 minutes.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) have confirmed that Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic was barred from entering South Africa for the Cosafa Cup.
The team arrived in South Africa for the regional showpiece but Logarusic was not allowed to enter because he did not have visa, a setback which has now been confirmed by the local football governing body.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) would like to inform the football fraternity and
the nation that the Zimbabwe Senior National Men’s team, the Warriors left this Monday
morning for Port Elizabeth, South Africa via Johannesburg for the upcoming Cosafa Cup.
The team arrived safely in Port Elizabeth, South Africa,” ZIFA said in a statement.
“The Association would however like to inform the nation that the head coach Zdravko
Logarusic has been denied entry upon arrival at Oliver Tambo international Airport on the
basis of him not holding a valid visa for the host country, South Africa.
This is despite the fact that we confirmed with visa and travel agencies in Zimbabwe prior to
departure and we were assured that as long he possessed a valid Zimbabwean workers permit,
he would be allowed entry in South Africa.”
“We were then dismayed upon arrival when we were told by Immigration officials that that
only service and diplomatic holders from Croatia were exempt from South African visa
requirements.
This was not been anticipated by the Association and the travel agent has availed a letter of
apology after this debacle.”
“The Agent has also agreed to reimburse expenses resulting from this anomaly.
Unfortunately, it is very clear that valuable training time has been lost as a result of this
gaffe.
The Association is now saddled with ensuring that the coach get a visa and proceed and join
the team in Port Elizabeth in the shortest time possible.”
“Meanwhile assistant Coach Tonderai Ndiraya will prepare the team in the absence of Coach
Lloyd Chitembwe who was never pencilled to travel to South Africa as a result of his non
authorisation to travel to South Africa.”
“We apologise to the nation for the inconvenience, however the team remains in high spirits
and ready to compete to everyone’s best abilities.
We would like to assure the nation that the Association is making frantic efforts to remedy
the situation.”- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
COSAFA has changed the format of the 2021 COSAFA CUP after Madagascar became the latest country to pull out of the competition.
The withdrawal of the Indian Ocean Islanders follows Comoros’ and has left Group B with only Malawi and Zambia.
The pool has now been dissolved with the two remaining teams merged into into other groups.
COSAFA conducted a draw and placed defending champions Zambia in Group A along with hosts South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini. Malawi joined the ‘new’ Group B (old Group C), which contains west African guest nation Senegal, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique.
The top two nations in each group will advance to the semifinals and there will be no spot for best placed runners-up.
Matchday One fixtures inn Group A remain unchanged and will see Eswatini face Lesotho at 14h00 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, and South Africa play Botswana at the same venue at 17h00.
The opening matches in the Group B (old Group C) will now be played on Wednesday and will see Mozambique tackle Zimbabwe at the Wolfson Stadium at 12h00, and Senegal meet Namibia at the same venue at 15h00.
COSAFA has also announced that teams may use five substitutes in matches, though they must be brought on at only three separate points during the game.
Warriors Fixtures:
7.7.21 vs Mozambique 12Noon
9.7.21 vs Malawi 12Noon
11.7.21 vs Namibia 2PM
13.7.21 vs Senegal 12Noon- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Marvelous Nakamba is now back in England and started the 2021-22 pre-season with Aston Villa on Monday.
The Zimbabwean midfielder and other players, who are not on international duty, held a gym session on their first day of training at Bodymoor Heath and were monitored by fitness coaches Oli Stevenson, Paddy Moore and Jack Sharkey.
Nakamba was retained by the club for the upcoming campaign and will again form the core of the Villa midfield along with the likes of Douglas Luiz, John McGinn and Jack Grealish.
Meanwhile, the 27-year old spent part of his off-season break in Zimbabwe and managed to meet president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
During the State House visit on June , where he was accompanied by Ex-Nottingham Forest player Dexter Blackstock and Uebert Angel, the Villa star revealed plans to invest in the country.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to return Dr Joshua Nkomo’s properties as a way of honouring his legacy.
According to President Chamisa, returning Dr Nkomo’s properties is the only appropriate way of paying homage to the liberation war icon.
President Chamisa also described the late Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe as a true champion of the liberation struggle.
“July is a special month as we remember Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo for the heroic contribution to the liberation struggle.
The best way to honor Dr Nkomo’s legacy is for the government to immediately return all ZPRA properties and all such properties that belonged to Dr Nkomo,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) have confirmed that Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic was barred from entering South Africa for the Cosafa Cup.
The team arrived in South Africa for the regional showpiece but Logarusic was not allowed to enter because he did not have visa, a setback which has now been confirmed by the local football governing body.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) would like to inform the football fraternity and
the nation that the Zimbabwe Senior National Men’s team, the Warriors left this Monday
morning for Port Elizabeth, South Africa via Johannesburg for the upcoming Cosafa Cup.
The team arrived safely in Port Elizabeth, South Africa,” ZIFA said in a statement.
“The Association would however like to inform the nation that the head coach Zdravko
Logarusic has been denied entry upon arrival at Oliver Tambo international Airport on the
basis of him not holding a valid visa for the host country, South Africa.
This is despite the fact that we confirmed with visa and travel agencies in Zimbabwe prior to
departure and we were assured that as long he possessed a valid Zimbabwean workers permit,
he would be allowed entry in South Africa.”
“We were then dismayed upon arrival when we were told by Immigration officials that that
only service and diplomatic holders from Croatia were exempt from South African visa
requirements.
This was not been anticipated by the Association and the travel agent has availed a letter of
apology after this debacle.”
“The Agent has also agreed to reimburse expenses resulting from this anomaly.
Unfortunately, it is very clear that valuable training time has been lost as a result of this
gaffe.
The Association is now saddled with ensuring that the coach get a visa and proceed and join
the team in Port Elizabeth in the shortest time possible.”
“Meanwhile assistant Coach Tonderai Ndiraya will prepare the team in the absence of Coach
Lloyd Chitembwe who was never pencilled to travel to South Africa as a result of his non
authorisation to travel to South Africa.”
“We apologise to the nation for the inconvenience, however the team remains in high spirits
and ready to compete to everyone’s best abilities.
We would like to assure the nation that the Association is making frantic efforts to remedy
the situation.”- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has conveyed condolences to the families of the victims of a horrific accident that occurred along Masvingo- Mbalabala road on Monday.
Twenty (20) people died in the horrific head-on collision that occurred at around 3.45 pm.
In a statement the Zimbabwe Republic Police said:
“The ZRP confirms that 20 people have died when a Toyota Granvia which was travelling from Masvingo towards Zvishavane burst a tyre, veered onto the oncoming Toyota Wish’s lane which was coming from Zvishavane direction.
The vehicles had a head-on collision at the 61km peg along Masvingo-Mbalabala Road near Chitowa Business Centre, just after Mhandamabwe. The accident occurred at 1545 hours.
Three injured victims were taken to Zvishavane District Hospital while the bodies have been taken to Masvingo Provincial Hospital.”
However, the MDC Alliance has accused the police of allowing overloaded vehicles to pass through roadblocks after receiving bribes.
“How do overloaded vehicles pass through roadblocks? This means the police are being given bribes and at the end of the day, we lose lives,” an MDC Alliance official said.
See the MDC Alliance full statement below:
By Staff Reporter|The threats by the government of Zimbabwe to censor the activities of Non Governmental Organizations are totally unacceptable, a pressure group has said.
According to Citizens in Action Southern Africa, the attempt by the government to close civic space is a direct violation of United Nations position on freedom of association.
See Citizens in Action Southern Africa position paper below:
Shrinking Civic Space in Zimbabwe
Produced and Released by:
Citizens in Action in Southern Africa (CIASA)
05 July 2021
“A call for solidarity in strengthening of CSOs Operating Environment in Zimbabwe”
Since the threats to clamp down operations of CSOs by the President of Zimbabwe in his State of the Nation
Address link in which he announced that “…all NGOs who do not stick to their mandates shall risk being de-
registered or facing the wrath of the law”, the civic space for NGOs in Zimbabwe has evidently been shrinking.
This has since regressed democracy and independency of NGOs in performing its watchdog role especially in
providing checks and balances for the three arms of the government namely the Executive, the Judiciary and
the Legislature.
As a result, the country is lacking accountable democratic institutions and show little respect for
political rights, leaving the control of corruption completely up to the political will of the government which
undermines any improvements in anti-corruption efforts made so far.
The recent remarks by a political leader
of a political party in Zimbabwe link is signifying that NGOs in Zimbabwe are severely restricted in their ability
to operate in the current political situation, putting their safety at stake.
The efforts and trajectory to strengthening
civic space and championing in promoting rule of law, constitutionalism and anti-corruption in the country is now
becoming a fallacy due to the threats being amplified targeting such NGOs.
On the 21st of June 2021, the
Provincial Development Coordinator for Masvingo Province circulated a memorandum link, advising all CSOs
and CBOs that are programming around youth issues to be cleared and granted Memorandum of Understanding
with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture with immediate effect. Shockingly, this directive was given
a timeline of only 7 working days which in our view as CIASA is an attempt by the authorities and officials to
shrink CSOs operating space.
On the 30th of June 2021, Harare Metropolitan Provincial Development
Coordinator (PDC) issued a letter advising that all NGOs are now required to register with the Provincial
Development Coordinator, submit their workplans and project commissioned by 9 July 2021.
There is no legal
or policy provision within the current frameworks which oblige NGOs to register with the PDC offices. These
developments are also coming at a time when there is ongoing review of the PVO Act which is also motivated
by the intention to enact an NGO bill.
From CIASA’s contextual analysis, all these works together towards
constraining the civic space. The review of the PVO Act has been motivated by various reasons chief among
them being the need to include the Financial Anti-Terrorist Financing (FATF) recommendations to do with Anti-
Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism.
An independent and empowered civil society is an essential component and ingredient of a healthy country
conducive for growth, development and prosperity. Civil society Organizations (CSOs) help and support
citizens, ensuring their voices are heard. They can advise policy makers, assist in legislative drafting and in
general support authorities in decision making, thus ensuring that policies respond to citizens’ needs.
They also
have an important role to play in monitoring governments’ and parliaments’ activities, holding them accountable
for their actions, especially when these infringe on people’s rights. CSOs are vital vehicles for active citizenship;
legal, financial and policy frameworks need to be in place so that they can operate freely and sustainably.
If the space for civil society and youth organizations is shrinking, the consequences for democratic societies could be considered an impediment to the exercise of citizens’ rights to freedom of association and expression, and
therefore a serious threat to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)’s Article 13 requires that each government promotes
the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-
governmental organizations and community-based organizations, in the prevention of and the fight against
corruption. Civic space is therefore fundamental in upholding democracy and freedom of expressions as a key
human right. When civic space is safeguarded, citizens and CSOs can organize, participate and communicate
without hindrance, and without fear of retaliation.In doing so, they can exercise their rights and determine the
political, economic and social structures around them. However, this is only possible when the government
respect and facilitate the fundamental rights of its citizens to associate, assemble peacefully, and freely
express views and opinions, in the physical as well as the digital world.
Civic spaces thus become crucial in
fighting corruption and promoting transparent and accountable societies. The continuous lack of an enabling
environment is a cause for concern to CIASA and the entire CSOs fraternity hence the calls for strengthening
the space for civil society actions and contributions towards sustained, equitable and inclusive growth of the
country at large without leaving anyone behind. If the government continue to corrode civic spaces for citizen
and CSO engagement, this will result in opacity and a lack of accountability in governance. It is also a cause
for concern that criminal justice systems are being used as a tool of repression, with human rights defenders
facing charges of propaganda against the state whereas journalists reporting on impunity are harassed and
unjustifiably arrested.
CIASA is therefore calling the government of Zimbabwe to:
a) Allow citizens and non-state actors to monitor and hold the government accountable without fear of
retaliation.
b) Foster an enabling environment for active civil society and citizens’ participation in the development
discourse of the country at all levels.
c) Engage objectively and constructively with civil society on national planning processes, national dialogue
processes and CSOs operating space and parameters.
d) Ensure that the GoZ relations with CSOs are strengthened, regulated and safeguarded to enhance the
civic space for civil society across the country.
END://
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to return Dr Joshua Nkomo’s properties as a way of honouring his legacy.
According to President Chamisa, returning Dr Nkomo’s properties is the only appropriate way of paying homage to the liberation war icon.
President Chamisa also described the late Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe as a true champion of the liberation struggle.
“July is a special month as we remember Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo for the heroic contribution to the liberation struggle.
The best way to honor Dr Nkomo’s legacy is for the government to immediately return all ZPRA properties and all such properties that belonged to Dr Nkomo,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
The World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria signed a cooperation and financing agreement to implement 10 strategic initiatives to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics and strengthen systems for health. This new agreement, which will cover the 2021-2023 implementation period, aims to address some of the persistent challenges that impede progress against the three diseases and protect hard-won gains from new pandemics like COVID-19.
In 2019, a total of 1.4 million people died from tuberculosis and an estimated 409,000 people died from malaria. In 2020, 690,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Through the new agreement, the strategic initiatives seek to:
Expand TB preventive treatment for people living with HIV in 9 countries across Africa;
Strengthen efforts to provide differentiated HIV service delivery;
Accelerate efforts to find people with TB missed by health systems in 20 countries;
Accelerate introduction of innovation for multi-drug resistant TB treatment through regional operational research in Eastern and Central Europe;
Support 26 countries and territories to eliminate malaria by 2025;
Improve country data collection and use to develop evidence-informed policy;
Foster the rapid uptake of service delivery innovations with South to South Learning;
Improve quality of care;
Encourage rapid uptake of procurement and supply chain management innovation; and
Increase program sustainability, facilitate the transition to domestic financing and improve program efficiency.
WHO and the Global Fund have a long and successful partnership working together to scale up HIV, TB and malaria interventions and strengthen health systems in many countries. Through focused efforts and catalytic investments, this collaboration has contributed to significantly reduce the disease burdens of HIV, TB and malaria worldwide, saving millions of lives since 2002.
“The COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever, reinforces the need to strengthen our partnership to achieve our shared goals of ending the epidemics,” said Dr Mubashar Sheikh, Director, Deputy Director-General’s Office, WHO. “This agreement supports countries to develop more effective responses to the HIV, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics and build the resilient health systems they need to reach the most vulnerable.”
“Together, WHO and the Global Fund have proven to be a powerful force that builds on strong in-country support and regional presence, technical leadership and financial resources to strengthen systems for health and accelerate the end of AIDS, TB and malaria as epidemics,” said Michael Byrne, Head of Technical Advice and Partnerships at the Global Fund.
Source: World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
email :[email protected]
Twitter :zimonlinehealthcentre
@zimonlinehealt1
YouTube: zimbabwe online health centre
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Website:www.zimonlinehealthcentre.co.zw
By Antony Taruvinga MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Executive Committee Member
I have been robbed earlier today at 3:30am…
Thieves went away with phones, sim cards, visa cards, airtime, sim cards and cigarettes.
The idiots were kicking the cash but never noticed the bag was almost full.
2 times the same night, I woke up to the noise of the banging door, only to find no one in the yard.
They were hiding somewhere and I thought the noise was of the wind. The third time, I was now fast asleep.
They banged and entered. I woke up to find 3 men with weapons had entered my room and were ready to attack.
This happened within a short space of time, most probably 5 minutes.
By Staff Reporter|The threats by the government of Zimbabwe to censor the activities of Non Governmental Organizations are totally unacceptable, a pressure group has said.
According to Citizens in Action Southern Africa, the attempt by the government to close civic space is a direct violation of the United Nations position on freedom of association.
See Citizens in Action Southern Africa position paper below:
Shrinking Civic Space in Zimbabwe
Produced and Released by:
Citizens in Action in Southern Africa (CIASA)
05 July 2021
“A call for solidarity in strengthening of CSOs Operating Environment in Zimbabwe”
Since the threats to clamp down operations of CSOs by the President of Zimbabwe in his State of the Nation
Address link in which he announced that “…all NGOs who do not stick to their mandates shall risk being de-
registered or facing the wrath of the law”, the civic space for NGOs in Zimbabwe has evidently been shrinking.
This has since regressed democracy and independency of NGOs in performing its watchdog role especially in
providing checks and balances for the three arms of the government namely the Executive, the Judiciary and
the Legislature.
As a result, the country is lacking accountable democratic institutions and show little respect for
political rights, leaving the control of corruption completely up to the political will of the government which
undermines any improvements in anti-corruption efforts made so far.
The recent remarks by a political leader
of a political party in Zimbabwe link is signifying that NGOs in Zimbabwe are severely restricted in their ability
to operate in the current political situation, putting their safety at stake.
The efforts and trajectory to strengthening
civic space and championing in promoting rule of law, constitutionalism and anti-corruption in the country is now
becoming a fallacy due to the threats being amplified targeting such NGOs.
On the 21st of June 2021, the
Provincial Development Coordinator for Masvingo Province circulated a memorandum link, advising all CSOs
and CBOs that are programming around youth issues to be cleared and granted Memorandum of Understanding
with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture with immediate effect. Shockingly, this directive was given
a timeline of only 7 working days which in our view as CIASA is an attempt by the authorities and officials to
shrink CSOs operating space.
On the 30th of June 2021, Harare Metropolitan Provincial Development
Coordinator (PDC) issued a letter advising that all NGOs are now required to register with the Provincial
Development Coordinator, submit their workplans and project commissioned by 9 July 2021.
There is no legal
or policy provision within the current frameworks which oblige NGOs to register with the PDC offices. These
developments are also coming at a time when there is ongoing review of the PVO Act which is also motivated
by the intention to enact an NGO bill.
From CIASA’s contextual analysis, all these works together towards
constraining the civic space. The review of the PVO Act has been motivated by various reasons chief among
them being the need to include the Financial Anti-Terrorist Financing (FATF) recommendations to do with Anti-
Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism.
An independent and empowered civil society is an essential component and ingredient of a healthy country
conducive for growth, development and prosperity. Civil society Organizations (CSOs) help and support
citizens, ensuring their voices are heard. They can advise policy makers, assist in legislative drafting and in
general support authorities in decision making, thus ensuring that policies respond to citizens’ needs.
They also
have an important role to play in monitoring governments’ and parliaments’ activities, holding them accountable
for their actions, especially when these infringe on people’s rights. CSOs are vital vehicles for active citizenship;
legal, financial and policy frameworks need to be in place so that they can operate freely and sustainably.
If the space for civil society and youth organizations is shrinking, the consequences for democratic societies could be considered an impediment to the exercise of citizens’ rights to freedom of association and expression, and
therefore a serious threat to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)’s Article 13 requires that each government promotes
the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-
governmental organizations and community-based organizations, in the prevention of and the fight against
corruption. Civic space is therefore fundamental in upholding democracy and freedom of expressions as a key
human right. When civic space is safeguarded, citizens and CSOs can organize, participate and communicate
without hindrance, and without fear of retaliation.In doing so, they can exercise their rights and determine the
political, economic and social structures around them. However, this is only possible when the government
respect and facilitate the fundamental rights of its citizens to associate, assemble peacefully, and freely
express views and opinions, in the physical as well as the digital world.
Civic spaces thus become crucial in
fighting corruption and promoting transparent and accountable societies. The continuous lack of an enabling
environment is a cause for concern to CIASA and the entire CSOs fraternity hence the calls for strengthening
the space for civil society actions and contributions towards sustained, equitable and inclusive growth of the
country at large without leaving anyone behind. If the government continue to corrode civic spaces for citizen
and CSO engagement, this will result in opacity and a lack of accountability in governance. It is also a cause
for concern that criminal justice systems are being used as a tool of repression, with human rights defenders
facing charges of propaganda against the state whereas journalists reporting on impunity are harassed and
unjustifiably arrested.
CIASA is therefore calling the government of Zimbabwe to:
a) Allow citizens and non-state actors to monitor and hold the government accountable without fear of
retaliation.
b) Foster an enabling environment for active civil society and citizens’ participation in the development
discourse of the country at all levels.
c) Engage objectively and constructively with civil society on national planning processes, national dialogue
processes and CSOs operating space and parameters.
d) Ensure that the GoZ relations with CSOs are strengthened, regulated and safeguarded to enhance the
civic space for civil society across the country.
END://
A Kwekwe landlord was stabbed to death by his 24-year-old tenant following a verbal clash over rent around 2 am on Monday.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the death of Prayer Banda (22) of Mbizo 18 in Kwekwe after he was stabbed by Victor Moyo (24). Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said:
We are investigating a case of murder of a 22-year-old man who died after being stabbed once with a knife by a tenant.
Circumstances are that the now deceased, Banda of Mbizo 18, Kwekwe arrived home in the early hours of the morning. He forced open a tenant’s bedroom door ordering him to vacate the room.
A misunderstanding ensued and the now deceased produced a knife in an attempt to stab the tenant.
The now deceased was overpowered and disarmed. Moyo used the same knife to stab the now deceased leading to him bleeding profusely.
Banda tried to seek assistance from his neighbours but collapsed and died before he could get any help.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Moyo’s arrest. Banda’s body was ferried to Kwekwe General Hospital Mortuary where it awaits a post-mortem.
Inspector Mahoko called on members of the public to solve disputes amicably without resorting to violence.- Chronicle
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has conveyed condolences to the families of the victims of a horrific accident that occurred along Masvingo- Mbalabala road on Monday.
Twenty (20) people died in the horrific head-on collision that occurred at around 3.45 pm.
In a statement the Zimbabwe Republic Police said:
“The ZRP confirms that 20 people have died when a Toyota Granvia which was travelling from Masvingo towards Zvishavane burst a tyre, veered onto the oncoming Toyota Wish’s lane which was coming from Zvishavane direction.
The vehicles had a head-on collision at the 61km peg along Masvingo-Mbalabala Road near Chitowa Business Centre, just after Mhandamabwe. The accident occurred at 1545 hours.
Three injured victims were taken to Zvishavane District Hospital while the bodies have been taken to Masvingo Provincial Hospital.”
However, the MDC Alliance has accused the police of allowing overloaded vehicles to pass through roadblocks after receiving bribes.
“How do overloaded vehicles pass through roadblocks? This means the police are being given bribes and at the end of the day, we lose lives,” an MDC Alliance official said.
See the MDC Alliance full statement below:
By A Correspondent- A Kwekwe landlord was stabbed to death by his 24-year-old tenant following a verbal clash over rent around 2 am on Monday.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the death of Prayer Banda (22) of Mbizo 18 in Kwekwe after he was stabbed by Victor Moyo (24).
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said:
We are investigating a case of murder of a 22-year-old man who died after being stabbed once with a knife by a tenant.
Circumstances are that the now deceased, Banda of Mbizo 18, Kwekwe arrived home in the early hours of the morning. He forced open a tenant’s bedroom door ordering him to vacate the room.
A misunderstanding ensued and the now deceased produced a knife in an attempt to stab the tenant.
The now deceased was overpowered and disarmed. Moyo used the same knife to stab the now deceased leading to him bleeding profusely.
Banda tried to seek assistance from his neighbours but collapsed and died before he could get any help.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Moyo’s arrest. Banda’s body was ferried to Kwekwe General Hospital Mortuary where it awaits a post-mortem.
Inspector Mahoko called on members of the public to solve disputes amicably without resorting to violence.
By A Correspondent- Government yesterday said it had given police the greenlight to shoot and kill suspected armed robbers who have become a menace in the past weeks, threatening to make the country ungovernable.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba announced the new measures yesterday as two more suspects involved in a shootout with law enforcement agents last week succumbed to the injuries, bringing the number of armed robbers shot dead during the weekend gunfire exchange to three.
One of the armed robbers who died yesterday was identified as Richard Mutanga.
“Guys, stop these armed robberies, you will die. I have warned you, the government will not hesitate. You are a dead man walking, trust me,” Charamba tweeted.
Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe also said government would, from now on, show no mercy on the armed robbers.
“The armed robbers are being accounted for. Seven notorious ones were accounted for on Sunday,”Kazembe said.
“Police will descend on them heavily and the long arm of the law will catch up with them,” he added.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi further said police had set up crack teams across the country to track down all suspected armed robbers and bring them to account.
“We are not going back and the crack teams that we set up are all over the country tracking the armed robbers, so to those who will try to hide, they will certainly be found and arrested,” he said.
“The public must rest in the comfort that the police currently are on top of the situation and we are tracking all known armed robbers as evidenced by what happened last weekend.
So far, from those we arrested, three people have died. Yesterday, we were talking of one robber who died, now they are three. One of them died this (yesterday) morning.”
Three of the armed robbers later appeared before the courts yesterday and one of them was remanded in custody on his hospital bed.
The trio that appeared in court were identified as Valentine Mutasa, Godfrey Josi and his wife Juliet Gavaza. They were remanded to July 14 pending trial.
Peter Mushipe was also remanded in hospital to July 14.
The courts heard that the gang was involved in several armed robberies around Harare.
Josi is facing more than eight counts of armed robbery, while his accomplices have various counts of the same crime.
Allegations were that Josi and his accomplices went to the University of Zimbabwe compound on June 15 and stormed one of the directors, Weng Dong’s house where they stole US$22 000 after exchanging gun fire with him. They also robbed Seedex Company on March 20 and went away with US$20 000.
During another robbery at Gateway School, the gang went away with US$250 000 after blowing the cash vaults at the school.
Last month, Home Affairs deputy minister Ruth Mavhungu-Maboyi told Parliament that the nation was now living in fear due to the armed robbers.
MPs said the police were ill-equipped in most cases to deal with the armed robbers and called on government to avail resources.
-newsday
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s largest Mobile Network Operator (MNO), Econet, on Tuesday announced a tariff review with effect from 8 July 2021.
Econet sent a message to subscribers notifying them of an impending data, voice, and SMS tariff review.
The short message read:
Dear Customer Kindly take note; Voice, Data, and SMS promotional bundle prices will be reviewed on 8 July 2021.
The increase in tariff was probably long overdue given that the last tariff hike was effected in March.
By A Correspondent- A passenger plane carrying 28 people has gone missing this Tuesday in Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.
According to Russia’s emergencies ministry, there were 22 passengers and six crew on board.
The plane, an Antonov An-26 twin-engined turboprop in operation since 1982, was en route from regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Palana, a town in northern Kamchatka when it lost contact with air traffic control.
Valentina Glazova, a spokeswoman for the local transport prosecutor’s office, told the AFP news agency that “search and rescue efforts” were ongoing.
She said:
All that is known at this time, what has been possible to establish, is that communication with the plane was interrupted and it did not land.
Anatoly Bannikov, deputy minister of transport and road construction, said:
The plane belongs to Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise whose director is Khrabrov Aleksey Vladimirovich.
The plane has been in operation since 1982 and has a valid certificate of airworthiness.
The crew has passed a pre-flight examination. Search and rescue operations are being carried out now.
Citing emergency ministry sources, Russian state news agency Tass reported that the search area was set within a radius of 15-25 kilometres (9-15 miles) around the Palana airport, with a focus on the Okhotsk Sea.
An emergency ministry source said:
The area has been roughly determined within 15-25 kilometres from the airport, along the coastline. A search is also underway at sea. The objective data shows that the aircraft crashed into the sea.
The weather in the area the plane was travelling through was cloudy at the time it went missing, the Interfax news agency reported, quoting the local meteorology centre.
Kamchatka’s government said that communication with the plane had been lost nine kilometres (5.5 miles) from Palana’s airport.
By A Correspondent | Temba Mliswa’s ex girlfriend has confirmed she has a child with a very senior and rich govt official by surname, Moyo.
This comes against the backdrop of Susan Mutami privately making boasts that she is the late Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo’s ‘baby mama.’
Last year Mutami had a series of affairs with top politicians who include the Judicial Services Commission Secretary, Walter Chikwana, two MPs anong others. She also announced two pregnancies to two different men in a single year, and last week threatened to bed a journalist’s 94 year old father.
Sources in Australia say Mutami receives tens of thousands of dollars via the Canberra embassy, and announcing the development, Mutami said:
By Nomusa Garikai- “The national army is a people’s army. Citizens have a duty to correct delinquent characters whose misconceived and misbegotten view seeks to reduce a people’s military into a militia of a political party,” Nelson Chamisa, leader of MDC Alliance, to New Zimbabwe.
“Those utterances are not only a source of national instability and threat to national security but also earn the country a banana republic and pariah status.”
Chamisa was responding to Patrick Chinamasa, Acting Zanu PF National Commissar, who was boasting that the bond Zanu PF and Zimbabwe Defence Force (ZDF) was “unbreakable”. We all know that the army has played a key role in the rigging of elections to keep Zanu PF in power notably in the 2008 elections and the 2017 military coup to topple the late dictator Robert Mugabe.
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect Chamisa and his MDC friends into power on the understanding they would implement the democratic reforms necessary to end Zanu PF’s strangle hold on ZDF, Police, ZEC, Judiciary and all the other state institutions. It was for you, Mr Chamisa, and your fellow MDC friends to propose the democratic reforms to break the unholy Zanu PF – ZDF, Zanu PF- Police, etc. bonds during the 2008 to 2013 GNU when you had the best chance ever to do so. MDC leaders failed to implement even one reform in five years of the GNU.
The tragic reality is not only did Nelson Chamisa and his fellow MDC friends waste the golden opportunity of the GNU to implement the democratic reforms but, worst of all, they will never ever get any reforms implemented in the future even if they were given another golden opportunity to do so because they have no clue what these reforms are, how they should be implemented and by whom!
Chamisa is expecting the people to “correct” Chinamasa and his fellow Zanu PF thugs and break the Zanu PF – ZDF bond. He does not say what it is exactly the people are expected to do or say much less how these action will end Zanu PF’s strangle hold on the Army and all the other corrupt state institutions under the regime’s spell.
The last 41 years of Zanu PF gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and rank lawlessness have left Zimbabwe in economic ruins and political paralysis – stuck with a vote rigging corrupt and tyrannical ruling party, on the one hand, and on the other, an equally corrupt and incompetent opposition that does not even have the common sense as how to end the dictatorship. The economic situation is now so bad basic services such as education and health care have completely collapsed and 49% of the population now live in abject poverty. The situation is socially, economically and politically unsustainable; we need to implement the democratic reforms, they are the prerequisite for meaningful political and economic change, as a matter of great urgency.
Just because Nelson Chamisa and his MDC friends have failed to implement even one reform in 21 years does not mean no one else can do it. We need to find the men and women who will implement the reforms a.s.a.p.
MDC leaders have failed to implement even one democratic reform these last 21 years because they have never understood what the reforms are much less who should implement them. This is a cold political reality many Zimbabweans have been slow to accept as shown by the number of people who continue to follow Chamisa et al and participate in these flawed and illegal elections. Like it or not, by participating Zimbabweans are giving legitimacy to the vote rigging Zanu PF; this is insane and we must stop the madness.
“Citizens have a duty to correct delinquent Zanu PF leaders!” So now it is the citizens’ “duty to correct” Zanu PF thugs, deliver the democratic changes and we will all live happily ever after! No wonder MDC leaders have failed to implement even one reform in 21 years; they have been waiting for povo to implement the reforms!
By A Correspondent- Police in Harare are investigating a case of suspected murder after the body of a Southlea Park man, Tawedzerwa Mumvuri (45), was found floating in a well on Saturday.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza yesterday confirmed the development.
“Police are investigating a case of suspected murder after the body of a male adult was discovered plunged and floating in a well in Southlea Park in Harare. The case is being treated as suspected murder and investigations are in progress,” Mwanza said.
“We urge the public to secure their wells with concrete slabs in order to avoid scenes of this nature.”
It is alleged that on July 2 at around 8am, the informant, Violet Mumvuri (21), who is the now-deceased’s daughter, left for work, leaving her father alone at home. At the end of the day, Violet came back home, but failed to locate her father.
The following day, she woke up and searched for her father around the yard and discovered that something was amiss at the well.
The iron sheets which they used to cover the well had caved in, which raised her suspicion.
When she drew closer, Violet discovered her father’s body floating in the water.
She informed neighbours before the case was reported at Southlea Park Police Station.
-newsday
By A Correspondent- A 65 year old man was injured after a python bit him while he was sitting inside the toilet at home.
He reportedly felt a touch on his geni_tal area before noticing a 1,6m snake beneath him in the toilet bowl.
The python, a constrictor native to Asia that can grow to nearly 9m, is thought to have found its way into the toilet via the network of drains.
According to Sky News, the victim needed treatment in hospital for minor injuries.
Although the snake’s suspected route into the toilet could not be confirmed, it is thought to have escaped from a neighbour’s apartment.
A reptile expert was called to remove it from the toilet, who then cleaned and returned it to its owner.
The 24-year-old neighbour, who owns 11 snakes, was reported to the prosecutor’s office on suspicion of carelessly causing bodily harm.
-dailysun
By A Correspondent- Godfrey Josi and Juliet Gavaza, a couple suspected to be part of a gang of armed robbers arrested over the weekend in connection with a spate of heists around Harare, allegedly bought two houses, a plot in Mhondoro, a residential stand in Murehwa, four vehicles, 10 cattle and household property from their share of money robbed from various people and institutions since last year.
The couple is understood to have bought a four-roomed house in Budiriro 4 Extension in Harare for US$20 000, a seven-roomed house in Zengeza 5 Chitungwiza valued at US$36 000, residential stand in Murehwa for US$2 600 and a 2,5 hectare plot at Kent Farm in Mhondoro.
They also bought an Isuzu KB300, a Mercedes Benz, two Honda CRVs and 10 cattle in Headlands.
Josi (43) and Gavaza (36), who reside in Damofalls, Harare, yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court along with Valentine Mutasa, charged with money laundering, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Their alleged accomplice, Peter Mushipe, was remanded from a hospital bed at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
The five suspected armed robbers are facing a combined 25 counts of armed robbery, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and money laundering.
They were all remanded in custody to July 15.
Another suspected armed robber Richard Mutanga died on Sunday at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, becoming the second suspect after Benjamin Musasa, to die from injuries sustained during a shoot-out with police at the weekend.
The State led by Mr Anesu Chirenje alleges that on June 6 this year, the suspected armed robbers went to the University of Zimbabwe’s farm compound in Marlborough, Harare, where they confronted Christopher Chizhanga, who was manning the place and assaulted him.
They allegedly demanded to be shown Zhang Wend Dong’s residence where they went and stole US$20 000 and other valuables.
On June 27 at around midnight, they went to Zimstrong located at corner Kirkman and Golden Quarry roads in Harare.
It is said they robbed a Chinese national of US$500.
The court heard that on September 7, 2020 they went to Ephynes Mhembere’s residence in Epworth where they forced open the doors, attacked and robbed her of US$910, R9 000 and other valuables.
Mr Chirenje further alleged that on March 10 this year they went to Seedex Company in Ruwa where they removed two panels from the pre-cast wall and gained entrance into the premises.
They allegedly manhandled Tapera Foya and his wife, tied them and fired shots into the air and force marched them into the office where they stole US$20 019.
On March 28, they went to Douglas Chitakunye’s residence where they robbed him of US$470, laptops and other valuables.
The court also heard that on the same day at around midnight, they went to Gateway High School where they pointed a gun at Kundishora Musikanzwa, who is a security guard.
It is said they tied him and ordered him to show them where the other security guards were, but they failed to locate them.
They then went to the administration block where they broke into the deputy headmaster’s office, but could not find anything worth stealing.
The court heard that they then blew a safe using explosives and stole US$250 000.
The armed robbers were arrested on July 3, 2021 after detectives tracked them to Damofalls where they were arrested and found in possession of firearms and explosives.
-state media
By A Correspondent- A Chiredzi based young prophet Kudakwashe Hlangana, popularly known as Apostle Joel in the prophetic sector or as Nasty Diego Rockstar in the social media streets has been caught up in a love dilemma dating many girls at the same time.
Apostole Joel who is also a son of a bishop belonging to the Holy Ministries church has a WhatsApp group chat circulating with the tittle, where all his girlfriends where added as he apologized to them for breaking their hearts.
In an interview with H-Metro, Apostle Joel revealed that he was looking for a girl to marry.
“I am 21 years old, I’m a grown up now so I was looking for a girl to marry.
“It is just unfortunate that one of the girls who i was with created a group and added all the other girls.
“It was nothing serious, I was just looking for a woman to settle with.
“We all have a choice before finally marrying,” he told H-Metro.
The young apostle also dismissed the claims that the girls where from his church.
“These girls are not from church.
“I think there was a mix up
“I was just having fun on WhatsApp, the girls took it serious.
“Otherwise it was not really something serious, ndezvekungotamba.
“They go to their own churches they are not from my church,” he said.
When asked about his reputation as a prophet altogether as a son of a Bishop, Apostle Joel later on dismissed the claims again.
“I’m not a prophet, I’m a music promoter.
“I can’t also really say I’m a son of a Bishop actually.
“You should be asking me about music.
”You should be asking me about how people in the entertainment industry are struggling during these hard times.
“This story of these girls should not really be an issue.
“They brought this story to you from their own angle because they are just hurt.
“Otherwise it was not supposed to be handled like this,” he added.
When a local publication tried to contact Shenel Zambasira one of Kuda’s girlfriends who had created the group titled “My girlfriends”, she could not be contacted for comment.
Shenel kept on dismissing the H-Metro calls.
In another interview with other of Kuda’s girlfriends who was also in the group she revealed most of the young prophet’s bad habits and traits.
“He has many girlfriends such that I’ve lost count of how many they are.
“He sleeps with them all, yet he is a prophet.
“He uses muteuro to date both classic girls and to take advantage of them.
“He manipulates them in the name of prophecy and that’s how he takes money from them.
“He breaks couple’s relationships in the name of prophecy and later takes over the girls.
“His behavior and post in the church go two different directions and I hope he does not go on breaking innocent people’s hearts and using prophecy as a tool to hold them hostage whist destroying them,” she told H-Metro.
By A Correspondent- Twenty people were killed yesterday afternoon when a Toyota Granvia burst a tyre and collided head-on with a Toyota Wish at the 61km peg along Masvingo-Zvishavane Road near Chitowa business centre just after Mhandamabwe.
Eighteen people died on the spot while two died on admission to Zvishavane District Hospital, where three seriously injured passengers are receiving treatment.
The Toyota Granvia, which was travelling from Masvingo, had a tyre burst and rammed into the Toyota Wish which was coming from Zvishavane.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident saying police were still to establish the number of people who were travelling in each vehicle.
This was the most fatal single road accident so far this year.
“The ZRP confirms that 20 people have died when a Toyota Granvia which was travelling from Masvingo towards Zvishavane burst a tyre and crashed into the oncoming Toyota Wish.
“The vehicles had a head-on collision at the 61km peg along Masvingo-Zvishavane near Chitowa Business Centre around 3:45pm.
“Three injured victims were taken to Zvishavane District Hospital while the bodies have been taken to Masvingo Provincial Hospital mortuary.”
Ass Comm Nyathi said police officers were still on the ground last night conducting further investigations.
“Our officers are on the ground and are trying to establish the number of people who were in each car. It is a very sad loss,” he said.
Toyota Granvia and Toyota Wish vehicles are notorious for illegally transporting passengers and are a common sight on the country’s highways.
The vehicles are usually overloaded, with Wish vehicles carrying up to 10 passengers while Granvia vans usually carry around 15 passengers.
Illegal transporters have been cashing in on the ban of inter-city buses under the enhanced Level Four Covid-19 control regulations and have been carrying passengers between cities.
On June 7 and 8, six people died while 15 others were injured in two separate incidents along the Harare-Mutare highway and the Harare-Chirundu highway.
In the first accident, two women and a boy died while nine other passengers were injured when their Toyota Hiace vehicle rolled several times before landing on its roof.
In the second accident, three people died while six were injured when a Honda Fit car side-swiped a haulage truck at the 94km peg along the Harare-Chirundu highway.
On March 5, 13 people were killed in two separate road accidents which occurred in Manicaland and Mashonaland Provinces.
In Manicaland Province, seven people — four Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officers, two civilians and an inmate — were killed when the pick-up truck in which they were travelling collided head-on with a fuel tanker at the 67km peg along the Mutare-Nyanga Road.
Two inmates survived the fatal accident and were rushed to Bonda Mission Hospital.
In a separate incident, six people died on the spot on the 135km peg along the Harare-Mukumbura Road when a motorist lost control of his vehicle and hit a pedestrian who had just disembarked from another vehicle and five others who were reportedly walking on the road verge.
-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Two thugs armed with AK-47s were killed during a failed cash-in-transit robbery.
They died after being run over by a cash-in-transit vehicle in Oakley Trust outside Mkhuhlu near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, on Sunday at about 9.50am.
Shocked taxi drivers and bystanders said the G4S truck was on its way to Thulamahashe after it had just collected cash from the nearby Build It hardware store in Mkhuhlu.
“But as the G4S truck drove passed the nearby Victor Driving School in Oakley, it came across the robbers who were waiting on the road. The robbers immediately started firing at the security back-up team with AK-47s. We had to duck and dive from flying bullets hailed by the gang. The blue Toyota Cressida they were using collided with the back-up van and a crossfire started between the guards and the gang. The taxi was shaking from the AK-47 shots,” said one of the taxi drivers.
“The cash truck made a sudden U-turn when it heard heavy gunshots. But it came across a silver Mercedes-Benz with another criminal gang inside. The cash van tried to hit the Mercedes with their truck but were unsuccessful. Two of the robbers tried to shoot at the guards. But the cash van driver ran over the two robbers and killed them on the spot. Realising they were in trouble, the other gang hijacked an Audi and fled the scene,” said a villager.
Colonel Brenda Muridili confirmed a security vehicle was travelling towards Thulamahashe when a bakkie and sedan appeared.
“The bakkie rammed the escort vehicle off the road, injuring the driver who was taken to hospital. A shoot-out between the suspects and the guards ensued which led to two suspects being killed on the scene. The police recovered an AK-47 rifle on the scene with several magazines. Cash was not taken. Other suspects fled the scene,” said Muridili.
Police are appealing to anyone with information to call CrimeStop number on 08600 10111 or send tip-offs on MySAPS App.
-DailySun
By A Correspondent- Norton member of parliament, Temba Mliswa has demanded the arrest of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General, Godwin Matanga for allegedly flouting tender procedures through buying service vehicles without going to tender.
On his Twitter handle, Monday Mliswa said he has the evidence that would incriminate Matanga.
“As you’re well aware, I previously exposed Commissioner-General Matanga’s (CGM) flouting of PRAZ regulations in the purchase of police vehicles,” he posted
By A Correspondent- Police in Mutare are investigating three separate robbery cases that recently took place between Sakubva and Chikanga high-density suburbs.
Residents interviewed expressed concern over a surge in robbery cases in their communities. Police said the Sakubva-Chikanga footpath has become a haven for robbers who are waylaying unsuspecting residents moving around the communities.
Manicaland police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda advised locals to remain vigilant and constantly aware of their surroundings and ensure that appropriate security precautions are in place.
“We urge members of the public to remain vigilant and constantly aware of their surroundings and ensure that appropriate security precautions are in place,” said the police spokesperson.
He said on June 2021 at around 7PM, Tonderai Rukuto, a student at Mutare Polytechnic College was coming from Sakubva going to Chikanga using a dust road which links Chikanga and Sakubva. He was allegedly robbed of his ItelA14 and Mobicel cellphones by two unknown persons.
“The complainant was crossing the railway line, from Sakubva when he came across two unknown male adults who emerged from the tall grass and produced knives.
“They demanded the cellphone and cash from Rukuto who subsequently handed over the two cellphones, an Itel A14 and a Mobicel. One of the suspects searched the complainant’s pockets but did not find anything,” said Insp Chananda.
He added that Rukuto was allegedly stabbed twice with a knife on his upper left shoulder and once on his lower thigh when he requested to be given his sim card by the robbers.
“He managed to escape and ran towards Chikanga Area 2 where he met a well-wisher who drove him to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital where he was admitted and treated,” said the police spokesperson.
On June 24, around 1930 hours, James Manaka (23) was walking alone from Sakubva to Chikanga using a dust road that links Chikanga and Sakubva and was allegedly robbed of his Itel cellphone and US$10 by four male robbers.
“When the complainant arrived between the footbridge at the railway line which links Sakubva and Chikanga suburbs, four robbers emerged from the front. One of the robbers stabbed the complainant once on his right shoulder while others took away his Itel cellphone and cash US$10-00 from his pockets,” said Insp Chananda.
The complainant managed to escape towards Chikanga Area 2 where he was assisted by well-wishers who took him to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital where he was treated and discharged.
On the same day, at around 745pm, Tendai Mushunje (39) of Federation Chikanga, employed by Guard Alert as a security guard was walking from Devonshire, Sakubva going to Federation Chikanga using a footpath that links Sakubva and Chikanga suburbs and was allegedly robbed by three unknown robbers.
He was stabbed on both shoulders and stomach and was robbed of his satchel with contained clothes and an Itel A14 cellphone.
“Mushunje escaped and ran towards Federation where he collapsed upon reaching Luke Mukungato`s residence. ukungato rushed Mushunje to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital where he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit,” said the police spokesperson.
“Investigations are in process and we appeal to members of the public who might have information that may lead to the arrest of the culprits to report any nearest police station.” – Pungwe News
By A Correspondent- Police at the weekend arrested seven dangerous robbers in separate incidents under a special operation during which one suspect was shot and killed in a shoot-out.
Some of the robbers are understood to have been behind the March 28 raid at Gateway High School in Harare where they made off with US$250 000.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of seven dangerous and notorious armed robbers and the death of one robber after a shoot-out with police detectives in Harare on 3 July, 2021.
“Police received information that one robbery gang leader, Godfrey Josi, was in Damafalls and a crack team raided the suspect who bolted out of a room armed with a revolver.
“He scuffled with the police officers and was shot on the left leg. A revolver loaded with two live rounds, three super power explosive dynamites and four fuse cables were recovered
Asst Comm Nyathi said Josi revealed that his accomplices were Richard Mutanga, Zvidozvashe Zuda, Peter Mushipe, Valentine Mutasa, Decide Rice and the now deceased Benjamin Craig Musasa.
He said Mutanga was raided in Unit ‘O’, Chitungwiza, leading to the recovery of a gateway vehicle, a Honda CRV while Zuda was arrested at Kuwadzana roundabout with a pistol and bullets.
“Police detectives followed Peter Mushipe in Stoneridge area, Harare, where the suspect tried to run away while armed with a 12 Bore shot gun loaded with one live round.
“He was subsequently shot on the right leg and live rounds of ammunition were recovered from his pockets. The fifth suspect, Valentine Mutasa had a confrontation with police officers at Glenwood Park, Epworth and was shot on the left hip leading to the recovery of a 303 rifle with three rounds of ammunition.”
Rice, said Ass Comm Nyathi, was lured to Harare Drive in Greendale where he arrived in the company of Benjamin Musasa.
“The two suspects suddenly fired some shots towards the police detectives. During the exchange of fire, Musasa was shot and arrested while the ring leader, Rice, escaped. A revolver with erased serial numbers was recovered.”
Ass Comm Nyathi said the injured suspects were taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital where Musasa died on admission.
He said they also arrested Juliet Gavaza (37) after investigations revealed that she was married Josi and had a house in Zengeza 5, Chitungwiza, belived to have been bought from the proceeds of armed robberies.
Police have secured all the transactional documents related to the house.
“The suspects are linked to seven armed robbery cases which include the one at Gateway High School on 28 March 2021 where US$250 000 was stolen and the robbery in Muzari Suburb, Chinhoyi, on 12 January 2021 where US$60 000 was taken,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.
“There is another robbery case at UZ farm compound on 10 May 2021 where US$20 000 was stolen and the recent robbery which occurred on 29 June 2021 when the suspects took US$19 800 from a Beatrice farmer.”
He said they had also established that Josi, Mushipe, Mutasa and the now deceased Musasa were linked to several cases of armed robbery and had arrest warrants against them.
Mutasa is alleged to have committed murder in Nembudziya, Gokwe and was involved in an armed robbery case in Kadoma.
“Police reiterate the position of His Excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa that armed robbers will be dealt with decisively.
“Police urge the public to continue supplying information on all robbers so that the law may take its course,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.
-State media
By A Correspondent- Norton member of parliament, Temba Mliswa said the Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General, Godwin Matanga should be arrested for flouting tender procedures through buying service vehicles without going to tender.
On his Twitter handle Monday Mliswa said he had the evidence that would incriminate Matanga.
“As you’re well aware, I previously exposed Commissioner-General Matanga’s (CGM) flouting of PRAZ regulations in the purchase of police vehicles,” he posted
VIDEO LOADING BELOW …
All artisanal miners will soon be required to be registered as part of efforts by Government to formalise their operations, curb illegal gold dealing and protect the environment, Reserve Bank of Zimbawbe Governor Dr John Mangudya told the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Tourism yesterday.
It is estimated that there are between 500 000 and 1,5 million artisanal and small-scale miners, including farmers who do a little gold panning in the off season, and only 16 percent are registered.
Dr Mangudya said a statutory instrument on the requirements for registration was being crafted and would be gazetted soon.
“We want to register for the sake of traceability and knowing who you are and where you are from,” Dr Mangudya said.
Under the envisaged registration system, the miners’ biometric details would be captured and the miner would be issued with a registration number.
Registered miners would also undergo training on environmentally friendly mining methods and land reclamation.
In 2020 gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refiners declined by 31 percent to 19,052 tonnes due to many reasons including smuggling and less production by miners.
In 2019 Fidelity took delivery of 27,66 tonnes, and that was a fall from the 33,2 tonnes delivered in 2018.
According to Fidelity, the small-scale and artisanal mining sector, which had in recent years been producing the bulk of the gold, last year delivered 9,347 tonnes compared to 9,738 tonnes by the primary producers.
In 2019, small-scale miners delivered 17,478 tonnes while large mining houses produced 10,181 tonnes.
Zimbabwe earns much of its foreign currency from mining, with gold being one of the major contributors.
However, the sector is facing a myriad of challenges including delays in payment for deliveries, power cuts, and smuggling with South Africa and the United Arab Emirates the main destinations.
Authorities estimate that between 30 and 35 tonnes of gold are being smuggled each year.
Under the Government’s US$12 billion mining industry roadmap, gold is expected to contribute US$4 billion a year by 2023. Herald
A MAHUSEKWA villager has been sentenced to an effective three years in jail for fatally assaulting his brother at the height of a domestic dispute, more than a decade after being charged with the offence.
Muranganwa Jokwi plead not guilty to the charge of murdering his 74-year-old brother but tendered a plea of guilty to a lesser charge of culpable homicide, when he appeared before High Court judge, Justice Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa. After Jokwi’s plea, the defence and prosecution counsel came up with a statement of agreed facts and the matter proceeded on that basis.
Jokwi, who had been away from home for a considerable period of time, arrived at the family homestead where his brother stayed.
While discussing family issues, a misunderstanding ensued, resulting in his brother assaulting him with a piece of firewood. Jokwi disarmed the frail old man and went away.
The two later met at a field and the fight ensued again. Jokwi overpowered his elderly brother and flogged him with a piece of firewood and later with a switch. The elderly man sustained severe injuries and died a few hours later.
The prosecution could not get witnesses who could testify on what actually happened during the assault. The only available witnesses were a woman who saw the elderly man lying injured in the field, police officers who received the death report and the doctor who carried the post mortem.
And given the plea tendered, both the defence and prosecution counsel agreed that Jokwi was negligent in his conduct when he severely battered his elderly brother failing to realise that death might result from such conduct.
Satisfied that the limited plea to culpable homicide was appropriate in the circumstances, Justice Munangati-Manongwa convicted Jokwi of culpable homicide.
She slapped him with five years’ imprisonment two of which were suspended for five years on usual conditions.
In passing sentence, Justice Munangati-Manongwa said the court could not impose a fine in such a case given the degree of negligence.
She, however, expressed concern over the delay of 12 years before the matter was tried. -Herald
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has implored SADC to stop the gruesome violence against unarmed civilians in Swaziland.
President Chamisa has described the violence against unarmed civilians as worrisome.
“Reports of gruesome violence against unarmed civilians by eSwatini authorities is worrisome.
The quest for democratic governance in eSwatini is legitimate and just.
SADC should urgently help to restore peace by bringing all stakeholders into dialogue. #SwaziLivesMatter,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti also wrote:
The situation in Swaziland is out of hand.The army must go back to the barracks .
Kings Mswati has crossed huge lines. He is now a bandit in international law.He must abdicate.
@AUC_DPA
must act to save lives #EswatiniLivesMatter #eSwatini #eSwatiniProtest #EswatiniProtests
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has implored SADC to stop the gruesome violence against unarmed civilians in Swaziland.
President Chamisa has described the violence against unarmed civilians as worrisome.
“Reports of gruesome violence against unarmed civilians by eSwatini authorities is worrisome.
The quest for democratic governance in eSwatini is legitimate and just.
SADC should urgently help to restore peace by bringing all stakeholders into dialogue. #SwaziLivesMatter,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti also wrote:
The situation in Swaziland is out of hand.The army must go back to the barracks .
Kings Mswati has crossed huge lines. He is now a bandit in international law.He must abdicate.
@AUC_DPA
must act to save lives #EswatiniLivesMatter #eSwatini #eSwatiniProtest #EswatiniProtests
Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s blue-eyed boy, Kuda Tagwirei is involved in several underhand deals that are siphoning State resources at an alarming pace.
This was revealed by The Sentry, an investigative and policy team that follows the dirty money connected to African war criminals and transnational war profiteers.
See part of the The Sentry report on Tagwirei’s shadowy business deals.
Shadows and Shell Games
Uncovering an Offshore Business Empire in Zimbabwe
Set well back from the public road at the end of a long driveway lined with palm trees is an extravagant new mansion, being built by Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a Zimbabwean businessman and presidential advisor accused of corruption.
Much like this Harare residence, Tagwirei’s business empire of more than 40 companies has mostly been hidden from the public eye.
By analyzing hundreds of company documents, court filings, and communications, The Sentry’s investigation shows how Tagwirei used complex corporate structures to build and hide his wealth, potentially benefiting from preferential government treatment along the way.
Tagwirei has invested in gold, nickel, platinum, and chrome mines by hiding behind South African businesspeople and offshore structures in Mauritius and the Cayman Islands and by using lawyers and financiers who are seemingly happy to turn a blind eye to accusations of cronyism and corruption.
New documents uncovered by The Sentry also show how Tagwirei has used similar networks to hide his financial interests in Zimbabwe’s new public-private partnership mining company, Kuvimba Mining House, with Zimbabwe’s Finance Ministry reportedly collaborating to deflect public scrutiny from these arrangements.3
In 2019, Tagwirei paid millions of dollars to a Zimbabwean military-owned company so that Landela Mining Ventures, a company he controlled, could purchase 50% of Great Dyke Investments (GDI), a platinum mine worth hundreds of millions and run as a joint venture with a Russian firm. The payment raises fears about off-budget financing of Zimbabwe’s abusive and partisan military.
An examination of Tagwirei’s business track record reveals a pattern of accusations of privileged access and special treatment, some of which may warrant further investigation by regulators and law enforcement.4 On January 27, 2021, over a year after Landela Mining Ventures had bought half of the platinum mine, Zimbabwe granted GDI a five-year corporate income tax holiday and exempted its shareholders resident in Zimbabwe from resident shareholders’ taxes on GDI dividends—retroactively applied to January 1, 2020.5 6 Auditors investigating corruption red flags in a 2016 $630 million diesel generating plant contract found that the Office of the President had improperly interfered with the procurement process, ordering officials to evaluate Tagwirei’s sole bid outside the standard process.7 Other decisions worthy of further investigation include allegations of preferential access to hard currency and the appointment of Tagwirei’s oil trading company, without a tendering process, to run a $1 billion dollar agriculture project.8
In addition to alleged business dealings with the Zimbabwean military, Tagwirei appears to have the ability to contact senior civilian officials in Zimbabwe at short notice, particularly at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).
Such high-level access, together with the pattern of previous decisions, raises the possibility of state capture, when the public realm—particularly regulatory, legal, and public policy decision-making—has been influenced to benefit private interests. Senior officials at Tagwirei’s companies have denied state capture.9
The operations of Tagwirei’s network are emblematic of larger structural problems in Zimbabwe. A select group of politicians, the military, and businesspeople dominate government decision-making with little oversight or scrutiny. Key information about public finances remains shrouded in secrecy.
An environment of impunity prevails. Left unaddressed, these dynamics will likely become further entrenched
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has released a statement in solidarity with jailed political activist Makomborero Haruzivishe.
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has described Makomborero Haruzivishe as a hero of the struggle for democracy.
See full statement:
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Pays Tribute To Incarcerated Pro-democracy Hero, Haruzivishe
05-07-2021
Today, the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly pays tribute to incarcerated pro-democracy hero Makomborero Haruzivishe who was sentenced to 14 months in prison on trumped up charges of ‘resisting lawful arrest and inciting public violence.’
Running under the #MakoMonday banner, the Youth Assembly is seeking to raise awareness about the nervous conditions of young people in this country while at the same time demanding for the unconditional release of Haruzivishe.
Since usurping power through a coup in November 2017, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime has been on a warpath with young people.
Since stealing the ballot will of young people through the barrel of the gun on 01 August 2018, Emmerson Mnangagwa has embarked on a blood letting trail against young people committing all sorts crimes against humanity.
From abductions, torture, rape, murder, displacements, arbitrary arrests to imprisonment, the regime is using all sorts of fascist tricks to silence our voices.
The targeted attack on young people as evidenced by Makomborero Haruzivishe’s unjustified imprisonment is a generational attack by an old generation who stole and diverted the liberation agenda to pursue their petty parochial interests of self enrichment at the expense of the people.
Henceforth, the persecution by prosecution of Mako is a micro of the macro. The ultimate agenda is to silence the voices of all young people in this country!
It is against this background that we must all speak up and raise awareness against the continued caging of Cde Mako through this first step,- the #MakoMonday campaign.
This an ongoing campaign where we dedicate every Monday to our hero, Mako till he is freed.
We are all Mako, Mako is us!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
The World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria signed a cooperation and financing agreement to implement 10 strategic initiatives to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics and strengthen systems for health. This new agreement, which will cover the 2021-2023 implementation period, aims to address some of the persistent challenges that impede progress against the three diseases and protect hard-won gains from new pandemics like COVID-19.
In 2019, a total of 1.4 million people died from tuberculosis and an estimated 409,000 people died from malaria. In 2020, 690,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Through the new agreement, the strategic initiatives seek to:
Expand TB preventive treatment for people living with HIV in 9 countries across Africa;
Strengthen efforts to provide differentiated HIV service delivery;
Accelerate efforts to find people with TB missed by health systems in 20 countries;
Accelerate introduction of innovation for multi-drug resistant TB treatment through regional operational research in Eastern and Central Europe;
Support 26 countries and territories to eliminate malaria by 2025;
Improve country data collection and use to develop evidence-informed policy;
Foster the rapid uptake of service delivery innovations with South to South Learning;
Improve quality of care;
Encourage rapid uptake of procurement and supply chain management innovation; and
Increase program sustainability, facilitate the transition to domestic financing and improve program efficiency.
WHO and the Global Fund have a long and successful partnership working together to scale up HIV, TB and malaria interventions and strengthen health systems in many countries. Through focused efforts and catalytic investments, this collaboration has contributed to significantly reduce the disease burdens of HIV, TB and malaria worldwide, saving millions of lives since 2002.
“The COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever, reinforces the need to strengthen our partnership to achieve our shared goals of ending the epidemics,” said Dr Mubashar Sheikh, Director, Deputy Director-General’s Office, WHO. “This agreement supports countries to develop more effective responses to the HIV, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics and build the resilient health systems they need to reach the most vulnerable.”
“Together, WHO and the Global Fund have proven to be a powerful force that builds on strong in-country support and regional presence, technical leadership and financial resources to strengthen systems for health and accelerate the end of AIDS, TB and malaria as epidemics,” said Michael Byrne, Head of Technical Advice and Partnerships at the Global Fund.
Source: World Health Organization
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Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Presidential spokesperson, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda says the beleaguered former ruling party Zanu PF’s support base is shrinking with each passing day.
Dr Sibanda told Change Radio Zanu PF would not win the 2023 polls because of its rigidity and inability to resolve the deepening political crisis.
“Youths must lead the way as citizens coverge for change. Zanu PF cannot expand its political space.
The military industrial complex is in charge of the country and we are determined to fight for victory,” said Dr Sibanda.
By A Correspondent- Mysterious fires have razed down 15 houses Mashonaland Central’s Matapate area leaving several families in the cold.
The affected families said they were failing to trace the source of the fires.
By A Correspondent- Police are setting roadblocks at tollgates where they are demanded covid-19 certificates from citizens to pass through.
This was witnessed by travellers coming from Mutoko Monday evening, who faced some difficulties in passing the Mutoko-Harare toll gate after failing to produce covid vaccination cards to the police.
Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi, Monday afternoon, however, denied having sanctioned the police to embark on that exercise.
By A Correspondent- There’s chaos at the Mutoko road tollgate Monday evening after police officers barricaded the toll gate and demanded covid-19 certificates.
The affected travellers told ZimEye.com that the police were saying that unvaccinated people could not enter Harare.
But Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi Monday afternoon told the state media that they did not sanction such an operation.
By A Correspondent- 20 People have died in a head-on collision in Masvingo.
On its Twitter handle this evening, ZRP said the 20 died when a Toyota Granvia which was travelling from Masvingo towards Zvishavane burst a tyre, veered onto the oncoming Toyota Wish’s lane which was coming from Zvishavane.
The vehicles had a head-on collision at the 61km peg along Masvingo – Mbalabala Road near Chitowa Business Centre, just after Mhandamabwe. The accident occurred at 1545 hours.
ZRP said three injured victims were taken to Zvishavane District Hospital while the bodies have been taken to Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
By A Correspondent- The government has opened up on the controversial proposal by some lawmakers who wanted teenagers to be allowed to access contraceptives.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga told the National Assembly last week that girls under the age of 16 cannot be given contraceptives as they cannot legally consent to legal sexual activity.
He said if they required emergency contraceptive treatment this would require parental consent as would any medical treatment.
Speaking as Minister of Health and Child Care, he rejected a proposal in a report tabled by the portfolio committee on Health and Child Care that parental consent should no longer be sought when a child wanted to access medical treatment, including contraceptives.
The committee, chaired by Proportional Representative MP Dr Ruth Labode, had called for the removal of age restrictions on access to reproductive health services like the requirement of consent from a guardian for a child to receive medical treatment.
VP Chiwenga said while Zimbabwe did not have legislation specifying at what age parental consent was no longer required to receive medical treatment, the common practice was that parental consent was required to provide medical treatment to a child under 16 years.
“Since a child under the age of 16 years cannot consent to sexual intercourse in practice, it is presumed that a child under the age of 16 years does not need contraceptives.
“Emergency contraceptives would be considered a form of medical treatment and therefore, individuals aged under 16 would require parental consent to access them in practice,” said VP Chiwenga.
He also gave health implications of initiating young girls on contraceptives. “Anatomy of teenagers is not fully developed to be able to carry the pregnancy and its complications which include obstructed labour, obstetric fistulas, symphysis pubis diastasis and ultimately maternal death. Early sexual debut increases risk of these adolescents to cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections including HIV Chlamydia and gonorrhoea which have adverse effects on future fertility. Methods of contraception are not 100 percent effective therefore these adolescents remain at a higher risk of complications in case of unwanted pregnancies.”
VP Chiwenga said entrapping the girl-child in child bearing had the effect of creating a vicious cycle of poverty.
“If age restriction for accessing reproductive healthcare services is removed, the interpretation is that, a person who can decide when to use contraceptives also has power as to decide when they can indulge in sexual activity and also as when they want to have a baby. This will be a time bomb for immorality against the diverse cultural and religious communities in Zimbabwe and a high potential of increased burden on Government’s social security nets, where high numbers of children will be having children out of wedlock,” said VP Chiwenga.
He said there was need to align the statutory criminal law with the Constitution, and align any variations in the range of laws with the Constitution, which basically sets this age at 18 years when a Zimbabwean becomes a full legal adult.
VP Chiwenga said there were numerous challenges posed by the various statutory clauses regarding age of consent as they were at variance with the Constitution which set the age of 18 years when a Zimbabwean can marry. He said age of consent to sexual activity is set at 16 years for both boys and girls who are unmarried while the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act currently provides that the age of consent to sexual activity for married couples is 12 years.
“The Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act also limited the offence of “sexual intercourse with young persons” to where the perpetrator has “extra marital sexual intercourse” with a young person. This poses challenges as it linked sexual activity with marriage, said VP Chiwenga.
On HIV testing and accessing results, VP Chiwenga said children under 16 may consent to it if they are married, pregnant or a parent, or they can demonstrate that they are mature enough to make a decision on their own.
“In addition, if a parent or care-giver cannot or will not give consent for a child under 16 years, the attending health worker can seek approval from hospital authorities or the Minister to give treatment without parental consent if it is in the best interest of the child. The requirement to “demonstrate that they are mature enough to make the decision on their own” raises challenges as the term was vague,” said VP Chiwenga.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has said it has embarked on a campaign that would drive away foreign investors from operating businesses in the economic sub-sectors reserved for Zimbabwean citizens.
Zanu PF secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Mike Bimha told the state media that the issue of reserved sectors was outlined in its revised Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy.
He said the reserved sectors should benefit and be owned by Zimbabwean citizens only and those already owned by foreigners should partner and empower locals.
The reserved sectors include, transport (passenger buses, taxis and car hire services), retailing, wholesaling, hair salons, advertising agencies, estate agencies, grain milling, bakeries, tobacco grading and packaging and artisanal mining. He also said foreign entities in reserved sectors were only allowed where firms would fund local production adding that local authorities were supposed to ensure that this aspect of policy was enforced.
“The reserved sectors are only for Zimbabwean citizens and not for foreigners. Local authorities must stop issuing licenses to foreigners,” he said.
Bimha said the economic empowerment department was supposed to establish robust systems for policing compliance.
There was need for a facility that provided funding and capacity building for citizens to increase their participation in business.
“The facility which must be supported by Government and the private sector can be in the form of a trust which is auditable, transparent and accountable. This fund will scale up the number of entrepreneurs in communities throughout the different value chains and test innovative economic empowerment approaches in order to share lessons learnt and build the evidence for effective business models. There must be pilot innovative interventions for the communities’ economic empowerment in different sectors of the economy.
“Outside the Economic Empowerment Fund, assistance will also be sought from various vehicles and financial institutions such as Empower Bank, Women’s Bank, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO) and commercial banks among others. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will give guidance in this area,” said Bimba.
A unit within the Zanu PF party and Government would oversee the implementation and evaluation of the Economic Empowerment Policy.
“Government should consider incorporating the main aspects of this policy as it amends the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, ” he said.
By A Correspondent- 20 People have died in a head-on collision in Masvingo.
ZRP spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident to the state media.
More to come…
By A Correspondent- Police in the city of Kings and Queens have raided a beer party and arrested 37 people for violating COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
The last week’s arrests came after police received some tip-offs from neighbours.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube told reporters that they arrested 15 patrons in Nketa and another 22 in Nkulumane for disturbing the peace of their neighbours and also violating lockdown measures.
He noted that the parties were potential super-spreaders of the virus, adding that the accused would soon appear in court.
Nkulumane, Emakhandeni, the Bulawayo central business district, and the northern suburbs were recently declared COVID-19 hotspots, prompting authorities to put them localised lockdowns.
By A Correspondent-Over 450 healthcare workers in Mashonaland East have tested positive for Covid-19 to date, translating to 16.3% of the total number of cases in the province.
According to the state media as of Sunday, Mashonaland East had recorded 3 789 cases.
However, acting provincial medical director Dr Paul Matsvimbo said the infections have not affected health centres in the province as they remain operational.
He said 129 Covid-19 Infections were reported in the province on Sunday, the highest daily count since the pandemic began. Seven of the infected persons are healthcare workers. Among the infected persons are six fully-vaccinated persons.
“Most of the health workers isolated themselves at home. But as a measure to provide the staff with critical healthcare, the newly established isolation centre has a ward for staff which is also equipped with advanced machinery and this will boost the workers’ morale,” said Dr Matsvimbo.
He emphasised the need for vigilance.
“As of Wednesday, we have seen our biggest jump, cases are increasing at an alarming rate,” said Dr Matsvimbo.
“We have record 59 positive cases which were identified from 402 samples tested today.”
Marondera has been identified as a Covid-19 hotspot in the province as it accounted for 32 of the 59 cases recorded yesterday. Cumulatively, Marondera has accounted for 1 169 cases of the provincial total of 2 795, followed by Murehwa district with 360 cases and Mutoko with 299 cases.
Goromonzi has 257 cumulative cases, Chikomba 254, Seke 179, Hwedza 114, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe 100 and Mudzi 63.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has embarked on a campaign to ensure that foreign nationals do not operate businesses in the economic sub-sectors reserved for Zimbabwean citizens.
Zanu PF secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Mike Bimha told the state media that the issue of reserved sectors was outlined in its revised Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy.
He said the reserved sectors should benefit and be owned by Zimbabwean citizens only and those already owned by foreigners should partner and empower locals.
The reserved sectors include, transport (passenger buses, taxis and car hire services), retailing, wholesaling, hair salons, advertising agencies, estate agencies, grain milling, bakeries, tobacco grading and packaging and artisanal mining. He also said foreign entities in reserved sectors were only allowed where firms would fund local production adding that local authorities were supposed to ensure that this aspect of policy was enforced.
“The reserved sectors are only for Zimbabwean citizens and not for foreigners. Local authorities must stop issuing licenses to foreigners,” he said.
Bimha said the economic empowerment department was supposed to establish robust systems for policing compliance.
There was need for a facility that provided funding and capacity building for citizens to increase their participation in business.
“The facility which must be supported by Government and the private sector can be in the form of a trust which is auditable, transparent and accountable. This fund will scale up the number of entrepreneurs in communities throughout the different value chains and test innovative economic empowerment approaches in order to share lessons learnt and build the evidence for effective business models. There must be pilot innovative interventions for the communities’ economic empowerment in different sectors of the economy.
“Outside the Economic Empowerment Fund, assistance will also be sought from various vehicles and financial institutions such as Empower Bank, Women’s Bank, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO) and commercial banks among others. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will give guidance in this area,” said Bimba.
A unit within the Zanu PF party and Government would oversee the implementation and evaluation of the Economic Empowerment Policy.
“Government should consider incorporating the main aspects of this policy as it amends the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, ” he said.
Tinashe Sambiri|Prominent journalist Batsiranai Ngugama, who is also a teacher at Serima High School has described the persecution he was subjected to by overzealous police officers as sad and unfortunate.
Ngugama was arrested in Gutu on Sunday after challenging police brutality. A ZRP cop based at Stephen Business Centre insulted and assaulted Misheck Tavuya, a teacher at Serima High School prompting Ngugama to challenge police barbarism.
Below is Ngugama’s full statement:
It’s true. A police officer named Mirasi assaulted Mr Misheck Tavuya over a packet of chips on Saturday during the curfew.
When Tavuya approached another officer Murimi at Steven Base, he did not take action.
Tavuya approached me on Sunday morning and told me the story. I phoned the Officer Cst Murimi asking if he had assisted Tavuya. I told him I was a journalist and just wanted to here if he was going to arrested his fellow workmate who was in company of a girlfriend during the time of incident.
Cst Murimi then threatened me not to write or take anything he said. I told him I was professional and knew protocol.
“Handingakudzingisiyi basa. Kana ndichida comment I will phone Press at Province” I said.
The officer then changed my statement and said I had said ‘ndichamudzingisa basa’.
He boasted that he had framed a lot of cases and won then in court and was going to fix me heavily.
He handcuffed me. At the station, I was exposed to a litany of abuse and assault.
They were attempts to bribe the assaulted teacher, but I feared not.
My point was why breaking curfew and assaulting and failure to arrest another police officer.
Ngugama B.
By A Correspondent | The controversial UK licensed immigration-sponsor and CEO of Lorac, a company that’s collecting thousands of dollars from struggling Zimbabwean job seekers promising them work in Britain, Caroline Nyakudya has dodged the question on the recruitment cap she has on her allocation from the British government.
On Wednesday Nyakudya went to the extent of claiming friendship with a journalist while avoiding an interview over the matter. On Saturday, she promised she would answer the question during her Monday webcast.
But the situation completely changed on Monday afternoon, when she blatantly refused to answer to any other question other than those she has handpicked. She announced that she is only engaging those who have paid her fee.
The development comes at a time when she has failed to explain discrepancies on company documentation she has been advertising, and failing to disclose her limitations. Analysts say she is unfairly milking tens of thousands from job seekers who Kay never get even past an English Test, let alone a British Visa.
Announcing on Monday, Nyakudya said:
I will pick out some questions shortly…so the rest of the team, if you can look out for any questions that might be there, from candidates, okay, so from existing candidates who are going through the process…those candidates who are going through the process, who have decided Lorac International is the model that they are going with. Those to us are our priority and those to us are the people that we really need to ensure understand the system, and understand how it runs. And understand how to contact and to communicate. So we want to make sure that when you are trying to contact us you are contacting us, A: on the correct numbers…You’re also contacting us, in terms of the correct pathways. So we are not really, we will not be responding to information that is not passed through our correct channels. That is not information that we are paying out any attention to at all; we will be responding to any information that is directed to us with regards to our official channels. And that is where we stand.
Tinashe Sambiri|Prominent journalist Batsiranai Ngugama, who is also a teacher at Serima High School has described the persecution he was subjected to by overzealous police officers as sad and unfortunate.
Ngugama was arrested in Gutu on Sunday after challenging police brutality. A ZRP cop based at Stephen Business Centre insulted and assaulted Misheck Tavuya, a teacher at Serima High School prompting Ngugama to challenge police barbarism.
Below is Ngugama’s full statement:
It’s true. A police officer named Mirasi assaulted Mr Misheck Tavuya over a packet of chips on Saturday during the curfew.
When Tavuya approached another officer Murimi at Steven Base, he did not take action.
Tavuya approached me on Sunday morning and told me the story. I phoned the Officer Cst Murimi asking if he had assisted Tavuya. I told him I was a journalist and just wanted to here if he was going to arrested his fellow workmate who was in company of a girlfriend during the time of incident.
Cst Murimi then threatened me not to write or take anything he said. I told him I was professional and knew protocol.
“Handingakudzingisiyi basa. Kana ndichida comment I will phone Press at Province” I said.
The officer then changed my statement and said I had said ‘ndichamudzingisa basa’.
He boasted that he had framed a lot of cases and won then in court and was going to fix me heavily.
He handcuffed me. At the station, I was exposed to a litany of abuse and assault.
They were attempts to bribe the assaulted teacher, but I feared not.
My point was why breaking curfew and assaulting and failure to arrest another police officer.
Ngugama B.
Zimbabwe national team coach Zdravko Logarusic has picked his captain to lead a group of fringe players at the 2021 Cosafa Cup.
Ovidy Karuru, who is the vice-captain of the first tier squad, will wear the arm band at the tournament. He was the captain when Zimbabwe last lifted the trophy in 2017.
Other senior players in the squad are Washington Arubi, Qadr Amini and Jimmy Dzingai.
The team, meanwhile, is expected to depart for South Africa today.
The tournament is expected to start on Tuesday in Nelson Mandela Bay.
So far twenty players are currently in camp afte a couple of changes in the team.
Striker Evans Rusike will no longer travel after he sustained a torn Achilles tendon during training on Sunday. Also pulling out due to injury and fitness issues are Perfect Chikwende and Godknows Murwira.
The trio joins Knox Mutizwa, Kevin Moyo and Germany-based midfielder Jonah Fabisch who were dropped from the selection earlier on.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Stand-in Bafana Bafana coach Helman Mkhalele has named the captain that will lead the squad at the 2021 COSAFA Cup.
AmaZulu goalkeeper Veli Mothwa has been named the national team captain for the tournament. He will be assisted by club teammate Siyethemba Sithebe, and Mamelodi Sundowns defender Rushine de Reuck.
The COSAFA Cup will get underway on Tuesday with Bafana Bafana taking on Botswana in their opening match before facing Eswatini on Friday, 9 July.
Meanwhile, Mkhalele is standing in for Belgian coach Hugo Broos, who will not be in charge of the team.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Argentina beat Ecuador 3-0 to reach the semifinals of the COPA America semifinals on Sunday morning.
Captain Lionel Messi scored one goal and created two others for Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez in the victory.
They will play Colombia, who beat Uruguay on penalties earlier in the day.
In the other semifinal, Brazil beat Chile to set up a date against Peru who defeated Paraguay 4-3 on penalties after an eventful 3-3 draw that saw both sides finish with 10 men.
The games will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Copa America semifinal fixtures:
Tuesday 6 July
Brazil vs Peru (1 am CAT).
Wednesday 7 July
Argentina vs Colombia (3 am CAT.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has implored SADC to stop the gruesome violence against unarmed civilians in Swaziland.
President Chamisa has described the violence against unarmed civilians as worrisome.
“Reports of gruesome violence against unarmed civilians by eSwatini authorities is worrisome.
The quest for democratic governance in eSwatini is legitimate and just.
SADC should urgently help to restore peace by bringing all stakeholders into dialogue. #SwaziLivesMatter,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti also wrote:
The situation in Swaziland is out of hand.The army must go back to the barracks .
Kings Mswati has crossed huge lines. He is now a bandit in international law.He must abdicate.
@AUC_DPA
must act to save lives #EswatiniLivesMatter #eSwatini #eSwatiniProtest #EswatiniProtests
Crystal Palace have confirmed the appointment of Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira as their new manager on a three-year contract.
The 45-year-old Frenchman is replacing Roy Hodgson who departed Selhurst Park by mutual consent at the end of last season.
Speaking after his appointment, Vieira said on the club’s website: “I am really excited to have this opportunity to return to the Premier League, and manage this great football club, as we begin a new chapter together.’
“It is a project that is really appealing to me, having spoken a lot with the Chairman and Sporting Director about their ambition and plans for the whole club, including the Academy.
“The club has fantastic foundations in place after many years in the Premier League, and I hope we can make further improvements and continue to drive the club forward.”
He continued: “I am also very excited to experience the atmosphere the club’s supporters make at Selhurst Park and away from home too, and I know just how important that can be for the team.”
Vierra has previously managed OGC Nice in French Ligue 1 and New York City FC in the American MLS.
He also oversaw Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad at one point in his career.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
The World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria signed a cooperation and financing agreement to implement 10 strategic initiatives to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics and strengthen systems for health. This new agreement, which will cover the 2021-2023 implementation period, aims to address some of the persistent challenges that impede progress against the three diseases and protect hard-won gains from new pandemics like COVID-19.
In 2019, a total of 1.4 million people died from tuberculosis and an estimated 409,000 people died from malaria. In 2020, 690,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Through the new agreement, the strategic initiatives seek to:
Expand TB preventive treatment for people living with HIV in 9 countries across Africa;
Strengthen efforts to provide differentiated HIV service delivery;
Accelerate efforts to find people with TB missed by health systems in 20 countries;
Accelerate introduction of innovation for multi-drug resistant TB treatment through regional operational research in Eastern and Central Europe;
Support 26 countries and territories to eliminate malaria by 2025;
Improve country data collection and use to develop evidence-informed policy;
Foster the rapid uptake of service delivery innovations with South to South Learning;
Improve quality of care;
Encourage rapid uptake of procurement and supply chain management innovation; and
Increase program sustainability, facilitate the transition to domestic financing and improve program efficiency.
WHO and the Global Fund have a long and successful partnership working together to scale up HIV, TB and malaria interventions and strengthen health systems in many countries. Through focused efforts and catalytic investments, this collaboration has contributed to significantly reduce the disease burdens of HIV, TB and malaria worldwide, saving millions of lives since 2002.
“The COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever, reinforces the need to strengthen our partnership to achieve our shared goals of ending the epidemics,” said Dr Mubashar Sheikh, Director, Deputy Director-General’s Office, WHO. “This agreement supports countries to develop more effective responses to the HIV, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics and build the resilient health systems they need to reach the most vulnerable.”
“Together, WHO and the Global Fund have proven to be a powerful force that builds on strong in-country support and regional presence, technical leadership and financial resources to strengthen systems for health and accelerate the end of AIDS, TB and malaria as epidemics,” said Michael Byrne, Head of Technical Advice and Partnerships at the Global Fund.
Source: World Health Organization
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Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s blue-eyed boy, Kuda Tagwirei is involved in several underhand deals that are siphoning State resources at an alarming pace.
This was revealed by The Sentry, an investigative and policy team that follows the dirty money connected to African war criminals and transnational war profiteers.
See part of the The Sentry report on Tagwirei’s shadowy business deals.
Shadows and Shell Games
Uncovering an Offshore Business Empire in Zimbabwe
Set well back from the public road at the end of a long driveway lined with palm trees is an extravagant new mansion, being built by Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a Zimbabwean businessman and presidential advisor accused of corruption.
Much like this Harare residence, Tagwirei’s business empire of more than 40 companies has mostly been hidden from the public eye.
By analyzing hundreds of company documents, court filings, and communications, The Sentry’s investigation shows how Tagwirei used complex corporate structures to build and hide his wealth, potentially benefiting from preferential government treatment along the way.
Tagwirei has invested in gold, nickel, platinum, and chrome mines by hiding behind South African businesspeople and offshore structures in Mauritius and the Cayman Islands and by using lawyers and financiers who are seemingly happy to turn a blind eye to accusations of cronyism and corruption.
New documents uncovered by The Sentry also show how Tagwirei has used similar networks to hide his financial interests in Zimbabwe’s new public-private partnership mining company, Kuvimba Mining House, with Zimbabwe’s Finance Ministry reportedly collaborating to deflect public scrutiny from these arrangements.3
In 2019, Tagwirei paid millions of dollars to a Zimbabwean military-owned company so that Landela Mining Ventures, a company he controlled, could purchase 50% of Great Dyke Investments (GDI), a platinum mine worth hundreds of millions and run as a joint venture with a Russian firm. The payment raises fears about off-budget financing of Zimbabwe’s abusive and partisan military.
An examination of Tagwirei’s business track record reveals a pattern of accusations of privileged access and special treatment, some of which may warrant further investigation by regulators and law enforcement.4 On January 27, 2021, over a year after Landela Mining Ventures had bought half of the platinum mine, Zimbabwe granted GDI a five-year corporate income tax holiday and exempted its shareholders resident in Zimbabwe from resident shareholders’ taxes on GDI dividends—retroactively applied to January 1, 2020.5 6 Auditors investigating corruption red flags in a 2016 $630 million diesel generating plant contract found that the Office of the President had improperly interfered with the procurement process, ordering officials to evaluate Tagwirei’s sole bid outside the standard process.7 Other decisions worthy of further investigation include allegations of preferential access to hard currency and the appointment of Tagwirei’s oil trading company, without a tendering process, to run a $1 billion dollar agriculture project.8
In addition to alleged business dealings with the Zimbabwean military, Tagwirei appears to have the ability to contact senior civilian officials in Zimbabwe at short notice, particularly at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).
Such high-level access, together with the pattern of previous decisions, raises the possibility of state capture, when the public realm—particularly regulatory, legal, and public policy decision-making—has been influenced to benefit private interests. Senior officials at Tagwirei’s companies have denied state capture.9
The operations of Tagwirei’s network are emblematic of larger structural problems in Zimbabwe. A select group of politicians, the military, and businesspeople dominate government decision-making with little oversight or scrutiny. Key information about public finances remains shrouded in secrecy.
An environment of impunity prevails. Left unaddressed, these dynamics will likely become further entrenched
Tinashe Sambiri|Prominent journalist Batsiranai Ngugama, who is also a teacher at Serima High School has described the persecution he was subjected to by overzealous police officers as sad and unfortunate.
Ngugama was arrested in Gutu on Sunday after challenging police brutality. A ZRP cop based at Stephen Business Centre insulted and assaulted Misheck Tavuya, a teacher at Serima High School prompting Ngugama to challenge police barbarism.
Below is Ngugama’s full statement:
It’s true. A police officer named Mirasi assaulted Mr Misheck Tavuya over a packet of chips on Saturday during the curfew.
When Tavuya approached another officer Murimi at Steven Base, he did not take action.
Tavuya approached me on Sunday morning and told me the story. I phoned the Officer Cst Murimi asking if he had assisted Tavuya. I told him I was a journalist and just wanted to here if he was going to arrested his fellow workmate who was in company of a girlfriend during the time of incident.
Cst Murimi then threatened me not to write or take anything he said. I told him I was professional and knew protocol.
“Handingakudzingisiyi basa. Kana ndichida comment I will phone Press at Province” I said.
The officer then changed my statement and said I had said ‘ndichamudzingisa basa’.
He boasted that he had framed a lot of cases and won then in court and was going to fix me heavily.
He handcuffed me. At the station, I was exposed to a litany of abuse and assault.
They were attempts to bribe the assaulted teacher, but I feared not.
My point was why breaking curfew and assaulting and failure to arrest another police officer.
Ngugama B.
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has released a statement in solidarity with jailed political activist Makomborero Haruzivishe.
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has described Makomborero Haruzivishe as a hero of the struggle for democracy.
See full statement:
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Pays Tribute To Incarcerated Pro-democracy Hero, Haruzivishe
05-07-2021
Today, the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly pays tribute to incarcerated pro-democracy hero Makomborero Haruzivishe who was sentenced to 14 months in prison on trumped up charges of ‘resisting lawful arrest and inciting public violence.’
Running under the #MakoMonday banner, the Youth Assembly is seeking to raise awareness about the nervous conditions of young people in this country while at the same time demanding for the unconditional release of Haruzivishe.
Since usurping power through a coup in November 2017, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime has been on a warpath with young people.
Since stealing the ballot will of young people through the barrel of the gun on 01 August 2018, Emmerson Mnangagwa has embarked on a blood letting trail against young people committing all sorts crimes against humanity.
From abductions, torture, rape, murder, displacements, arbitrary arrests to imprisonment, the regime is using all sorts of fascist tricks to silence our voices.
The targeted attack on young people as evidenced by Makomborero Haruzivishe’s unjustified imprisonment is a generational attack by an old generation who stole and diverted the liberation agenda to pursue their petty parochial interests of self enrichment at the expense of the people.
Henceforth, the persecution by prosecution of Mako is a micro of the macro. The ultimate agenda is to silence the voices of all young people in this country!
It is against this background that we must all speak up and raise awareness against the continued caging of Cde Mako through this first step,- the #MakoMonday campaign.
This an ongoing campaign where we dedicate every Monday to our hero, Mako till he is freed.
We are all Mako, Mako is us!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
The World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria signed a cooperation and financing agreement to implement 10 strategic initiatives to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics and strengthen systems for health. This new agreement, which will cover the 2021-2023 implementation period, aims to address some of the persistent challenges that impede progress against the three diseases and protect hard-won gains from new pandemics like COVID-19.
In 2019, a total of 1.4 million people died from tuberculosis and an estimated 409,000 people died from malaria. In 2020, 690,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Through the new agreement, the strategic initiatives seek to:
Expand TB preventive treatment for people living with HIV in 9 countries across Africa;
Strengthen efforts to provide differentiated HIV service delivery;
Accelerate efforts to find people with TB missed by health systems in 20 countries;
Accelerate introduction of innovation for multi-drug resistant TB treatment through regional operational research in Eastern and Central Europe;
Support 26 countries and territories to eliminate malaria by 2025;
Improve country data collection and use to develop evidence-informed policy;
Foster the rapid uptake of service delivery innovations with South to South Learning;
Improve quality of care;
Encourage rapid uptake of procurement and supply chain management innovation; and
Increase program sustainability, facilitate the transition to domestic financing and improve program efficiency.
WHO and the Global Fund have a long and successful partnership working together to scale up HIV, TB and malaria interventions and strengthen health systems in many countries. Through focused efforts and catalytic investments, this collaboration has contributed to significantly reduce the disease burdens of HIV, TB and malaria worldwide, saving millions of lives since 2002.
“The COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever, reinforces the need to strengthen our partnership to achieve our shared goals of ending the epidemics,” said Dr Mubashar Sheikh, Director, Deputy Director-General’s Office, WHO. “This agreement supports countries to develop more effective responses to the HIV, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics and build the resilient health systems they need to reach the most vulnerable.”
“Together, WHO and the Global Fund have proven to be a powerful force that builds on strong in-country support and regional presence, technical leadership and financial resources to strengthen systems for health and accelerate the end of AIDS, TB and malaria as epidemics,” said Michael Byrne, Head of Technical Advice and Partnerships at the Global Fund.
Source: World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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email :[email protected]
Twitter :zimonlinehealthcentre
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Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has implored SADC to stop the gruesome violence against unarmed civilians in Swaziland.
President Chamisa has described the violence against unarmed civilians as worrisome.
“Reports of gruesome violence against unarmed civilians by eSwatini authorities is worrisome.
The quest for democratic governance in eSwatini is legitimate and just.
SADC should urgently help to restore peace by bringing all stakeholders into dialogue. #SwaziLivesMatter,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti also wrote:
The situation in Swaziland is out of hand.The army must go back to the barracks .
Kings Mswati has crossed huge lines. He is now a bandit in international law.He must abdicate.
@AUC_DPA
must act to save lives #EswatiniLivesMatter #eSwatini #eSwatiniProtest #EswatiniProtests
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has released a statement in solidarity with jailed political activist Makomborero Haruzivishe.
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has described Makomborero Haruzivishe as a hero of the struggle for democracy.
See full statement:
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Pays Tribute To Incarcerated Pro-democracy Hero, Haruzivishe
05-07-2021
Today, the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly pays tribute to incarcerated pro-democracy hero Makomborero Haruzivishe who was sentenced to 14 months in prison on trumped up charges of ‘resisting lawful arrest and inciting public violence.’
Running under the #MakoMonday banner, the Youth Assembly is seeking to raise awareness about the nervous conditions of young people in this country while at the same time demanding for the unconditional release of Haruzivishe.
Since usurping power through a coup in November 2017, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime has been on a warpath with young people.
Since stealing the ballot will of young people through the barrel of the gun on 01 August 2018, Emmerson Mnangagwa has embarked on a blood letting trail against young people committing all sorts crimes against humanity.
From abductions, torture, rape, murder, displacements, arbitrary arrests to imprisonment, the regime is using all sorts of fascist tricks to silence our voices.
The targeted attack on young people as evidenced by Makomborero Haruzivishe’s unjustified imprisonment is a generational attack by an old generation who stole and diverted the liberation agenda to pursue their petty parochial interests of self enrichment at the expense of the people.
Henceforth, the persecution by prosecution of Mako is a micro of the macro. The ultimate agenda is to silence the voices of all young people in this country!
It is against this background that we must all speak up and raise awareness against the continued caging of Cde Mako through this first step,- the #MakoMonday campaign.
This an ongoing campaign where we dedicate every Monday to our hero, Mako till he is freed.
We are all Mako, Mako is us!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Tinashe Sambiri|Prominent journalist Batsiranai Ngugama, who is also a teacher at Serima High School has described the persecution he was subjected to by overzealous police officers as sad and unfortunate.
Ngugama was arrested in Gutu on Sunday after challenging police brutality. A ZRP cop based at Stephen Business Centre insulted and assaulted Misheck Tavuya, a teacher at Serima High School prompting Ngugama to challenge police barbarism.
Below is Ngugama’s full statement:
It’s true. A police officer named Mirasi assaulted Mr Misheck Tavuya over a packet of chips on Saturday during the curfew.
When Tavuya approached another officer Murimi at Steven Base, he did not take action.
Tavuya approached me on Sunday morning and told me the story. I phoned the Officer Cst Murimi asking if he had assisted Tavuya. I told him I was a journalist and just wanted to here if he was going to arrested his fellow workmate who was in company of a girlfriend during the time of incident.
Cst Murimi then threatened me not to write or take anything he said. I told him I was professional and knew protocol.
“Handingakudzingisiyi basa. Kana ndichida comment I will phone Press at Province” I said.
The officer then changed my statement and said I had said ‘ndichamudzingisa basa’.
He boasted that he had framed a lot of cases and won then in court and was going to fix me heavily.
He handcuffed me. At the station, I was exposed to a litany of abuse and assault.
They were attempts to bribe the assaulted teacher, but I feared not.
My point was why breaking curfew and assaulting and failure to arrest another police officer.
Ngugama B.
Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s blue-eyed boy, Kuda Tagwirei is involved in several underhand deals that are siphoning State resources at an alarming pace.
This was revealed by The Sentry, an investigative and policy team that follows the dirty money connected to African war criminals and transnational war profiteers.
See part of the The Sentry report on Tagwirei’s shadowy business deals.
Shadows and Shell Games
Uncovering an Offshore Business Empire in Zimbabwe
Set well back from the public road at the end of a long driveway lined with palm trees is an extravagant new mansion, being built by Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a Zimbabwean businessman and presidential advisor accused of corruption.
Much like this Harare residence, Tagwirei’s business empire of more than 40 companies has mostly been hidden from the public eye.
By analyzing hundreds of company documents, court filings, and communications, The Sentry’s investigation shows how Tagwirei used complex corporate structures to build and hide his wealth, potentially benefiting from preferential government treatment along the way.
Tagwirei has invested in gold, nickel, platinum, and chrome mines by hiding behind South African businesspeople and offshore structures in Mauritius and the Cayman Islands and by using lawyers and financiers who are seemingly happy to turn a blind eye to accusations of cronyism and corruption.
New documents uncovered by The Sentry also show how Tagwirei has used similar networks to hide his financial interests in Zimbabwe’s new public-private partnership mining company, Kuvimba Mining House, with Zimbabwe’s Finance Ministry reportedly collaborating to deflect public scrutiny from these arrangements.3
In 2019, Tagwirei paid millions of dollars to a Zimbabwean military-owned company so that Landela Mining Ventures, a company he controlled, could purchase 50% of Great Dyke Investments (GDI), a platinum mine worth hundreds of millions and run as a joint venture with a Russian firm. The payment raises fears about off-budget financing of Zimbabwe’s abusive and partisan military.
An examination of Tagwirei’s business track record reveals a pattern of accusations of privileged access and special treatment, some of which may warrant further investigation by regulators and law enforcement.4 On January 27, 2021, over a year after Landela Mining Ventures had bought half of the platinum mine, Zimbabwe granted GDI a five-year corporate income tax holiday and exempted its shareholders resident in Zimbabwe from resident shareholders’ taxes on GDI dividends—retroactively applied to January 1, 2020.5 6 Auditors investigating corruption red flags in a 2016 $630 million diesel generating plant contract found that the Office of the President had improperly interfered with the procurement process, ordering officials to evaluate Tagwirei’s sole bid outside the standard process.7 Other decisions worthy of further investigation include allegations of preferential access to hard currency and the appointment of Tagwirei’s oil trading company, without a tendering process, to run a $1 billion dollar agriculture project.8
In addition to alleged business dealings with the Zimbabwean military, Tagwirei appears to have the ability to contact senior civilian officials in Zimbabwe at short notice, particularly at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).
Such high-level access, together with the pattern of previous decisions, raises the possibility of state capture, when the public realm—particularly regulatory, legal, and public policy decision-making—has been influenced to benefit private interests. Senior officials at Tagwirei’s companies have denied state capture.9
The operations of Tagwirei’s network are emblematic of larger structural problems in Zimbabwe. A select group of politicians, the military, and businesspeople dominate government decision-making with little oversight or scrutiny. Key information about public finances remains shrouded in secrecy.
An environment of impunity prevails. Left unaddressed, these dynamics will likely become further entrenched
By A Correspondent- Six armed robbers were on Saturday nabbed by the police during a shootout in Harare, which killed one of them.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the incident.
The robbers were arrested after one of them, Godfrey Josi (41), was caught in Damafalls.
He then revealed the whereabouts of his accomplices identified as Richard Mutanga (40), Zvidozvashe Zuda (35), Peter Mushipe (40), Valentine Mutasa (30), the deceased Benjamin Craig Musasa (39) and Decide Rice.
Nyathi said the robbers were arrested in Chitungwiza, Stoneridge, Kuwadzana, Epworth and Glendale.
He said they were all in possession of guns and live rounds of ammunition.
“The police urge the public to continue supplying information on all robbers so that the law may take its course,” Nyathi said.
By A Correspondent- Three trapped gold panners are yet to be rescued after the tunnel they were working in collapsed in Shurugwi over a week ago.
The three panners, who were part of a 7-member group, have been trapped underground since last Sunday.
The Shurugwi District Civil Protection Unit on Friday stopped the search for the panners due to unstable ground.
Chief engineer in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Engineer Michael Munodawafa said they have to find other means to reach the trapped miners.
He said:
The rescue operation had been going on from Sunday to Friday before they reached an unstable ground level.
It became dangerous for the rescue team to continue digging. So they are now attempting other ways or channels of reaching them.
According to Eng Munodawafa, the chances of finding the trio alive were now very slim.
He said the three entered the mine at around 7 pm last week while their four colleagues remained outside.
Said Munodawafa:
At around 4 am there was a huge sound as the ground collapsed. Entrance into the tunnel was closed and there hasn’t been any form of communication with the three since Sunday. The other four then looked for assistance.
Munodawafa also said that from January to date, 22 illegal miners have lost their lives when shafts and tunnels caved in countrywide.
By A Correspondent- Two men from Bulawayo have been arrested for allegedly robbing and killing another man.
Kholisani Nyathi (28) of Mabutweni and Nkosikhona Sibanda (24) of Lobengula West stabbed Elvis Dube with an unknown sharp object on the head and thighs a number of times and he died on the spot.
Nyathi and Sibanda were not asked to plead when they appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Ms Linear Khumalo, charged with murder.
They were remanded in custody to 16 July.
Prosecuting, Mr Denmark Chihombe said the duo committed the murder on 22 April this year.
“On April 22 around 6PM at an open space connecting Luveve and Cowdray Park Bulawayo. Nyathi and Sibanda stabbed Dube with an unknown sharp object on the head and thighs several times and died on the spot. They then searched him and stole his cellphone and went away unnoticed,’’ he said.
The cellphone which was stolen was recovered.
A witness reported the matter, leading to the arrest of Nyathi and Sibanda. – @Boity104
-statemedia
LABOUR ECONOMISTS AND AFRIKAN DEMOCRATS (LEAD) acknowledges the noble step taken by Government to procure sanitary wear for underpriviledged girls in Zimbabwe.
In as much as we celebrate this move we need clarity on how the program will be rolled out to ensure that no under privileged girl is left behind.
We implore Government to bear in mind that this process will also require the government to be consistent in the process. Will the government be consistent with what it has started or its one of their election scam targeting public sympathy from locals as we are slowly approaching the 2023 elections.
As much as LEAD rallies behind the idea, we would like to have clarity that this programme will not come to an end or deemed unnecessary any time soon because every girls dignity is our dignity. LEAD feels that the government isn’t doing enough for the underpriviledged girls.
It does not only have to come around to donations rather the government should scrap tax on these sanitary wear and undergarments so that they are cheap and affordable to an extent that there will reduction in the demand for donations.
Furthermore they should target girls in Rural Areas and Peri Urban areas as some girls will end up being school drop outs due to menstrual unhygiene. One cannot go to school on her monthly periods without decent sanitary wear.
Failure for the girl child to attend school because they can’t access sanitary wear is tantamount to girl child abuse and we will all be responsible for wasting the girl childs future.
LEAD calls for the government to donate sanitary wear without any partisan lenses. Moreso its the government’s duty to take care of the underpriviledged.
We also encourage the government to engage the underpriviledged in societies and people living with disability in projects so as to ensure that girls will be able to afford their needs, sanitary wear in particular.
Government should also be aware that sanitary wear only will not be enough as the menstruation is accompanied with pain.
Thus they ought to donate tablets such as pain killers and paracetamol to ease the underprivileged girls pain.
#TogetherWeCanSaveTheGirlChild
Rosline Ncube
LEAD Secretary for Information and Publicity
By Patrick Guramatunhu- In the Movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” there is a scene where Jack Sparrow tells the young Will Turner “Stay here! And please don’t do anything stupid!” Pretty damn good advice one should give to our Dr Masimba Mavaza for his stupidity, as expressed in his articles, knows no bonds!
“The problem of judges playing to the gallery is that they will expose the law to ridicule. The situation in South Africa has pitted the judicial system against the democracy and political system,” charged Dr Mavaza.
“It is indeed a shame on the South African Constitutional Court judges for failure to understand their own supreme law. They ignored their own constitution just because they want to fix and not to help. It is a wonder that when the constitutional court set they forgot to be guided by the law and by their own constitution.”
He was commenting on the sentencing of Former President Jacob Zuma to 15 months in jail for contempt of court by SA Constitutional Court. The former president has not been cooperating with the court’s investigation into his corrupt charges and abuse of office.
Jacob Zuma was forced to step down as president in February 2014 when his own party ANC threatened to have him impeached. It is right and proper that the courts have since pursued the corruption charges against with due diligence and thus reaffirming the fundament principle that no one, not even a former state president is above the law.
One has to plough through a lot of rubbish before finally arriving at it is Mavaza’s found objectionable about the court judgement in this case.
“But in this case the constitutional judges have acted to settle scores,” he argued.
“In this case one would ask how can a Constitutional Court convict and sentence an individual to prison as a court of first instance and leave the accused person without a right to appeal? This question is the reason of all the uproar in South Africa today.”
Of course, this is just Mavaza making a mountain out of a mole hill! The Constitutional Court is the supreme court in the land and, per se, there is no other court to appealing its judgement. Mavaza and the overzealous Zuma supporters who have been holding public demonstrations and even threatening to “shut down South Africa” would not be pacified even if Zuma was allowed to appeal against the court’s judgement; it is the very idea of Zuma being held to accountable in a court of law that they find unpalatable!
“What we see in South Africa now are lessons to be learnt and a stark warning to Zimbabwe. What happens there will happen to our revolutionary stalwarts once they leave office. The judiciary is behaving as the avengers sent by the disgruntled colonialists cum Westerners. This is legal system at war with the executive,” wrote Mavaza. The title of the article was “When The Judiciary Abuses The Liberators: Revolution Under Attack The Zuma Debacle”.
Thank God South Africans have never allowed themselves to be swayed by the foolish notion revolutionary stalwarts are special and therefore above the law. The country’s democratic constitution has delivered on its promise to protect the freedoms and rights of the citizens; keeping the checks and balance between the three arms of government, the executive, judiciary and legislature; etc.; and long may this continue. The same cannot be said about Zimbabwe.
Mavaza should know Zanu PF ruling elite will never ever being brought before a court of law to account for their amassed wealth, rigging elections, staging military coups, Gukurahundi massacre, etc., etc. At least, not in any of Zimbabwe’s courts as the judiciary, like all the other state institutions in the country are Zanu PF departments in all but name. High Court Justice George Chiweshe ruled the 2017 military coup was “legal, justified and constitutional”; just to underline how utterly useless and “capture” the courts are.
The root cause of Zimbabwe economic meltdown and political paralysis is the 41 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and rank lawlessness earning the country the Banana Republic and pariah state status. The country is in economic ruins, 49% of the population now live in abject poverty, basic services such as education and health care have collapsed, etc. The economic and social situation is simple unbearable and the demand for meaningful change, for a competent and accountable government, is now political reality that Zanu PF cannot ignore.
Change is coming and the day Zanu PF’s ruling elite will be brought before the court of law to account for their past is nigh upon us. Like it or not Zanu PF’s ruling elite will be asked to account for their past.
“Judiciary abuse liberator, Zuma; stark warning for Zanu PF!” A warning indeed, for ultimately, no one is above the law, not even in lawless Zimbabwe! The suggestion that liberation war heroes are above the law is foolish and the reason why Zimbabwe is in a mess!
By A Correspondent- A suspected robber’s luck ran out after he fell off a getaway vehicle leading to his arrest.
He was arrested during a high speed chase with the police after a robbery at an Econet booster, a Harare court heard on Wednesday.
Tawanda Chinderera, 23, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi who remanded him in custody to tomorrow for bail consideration.
Allegations are that on June 29 and at Girls’ High School, Chinderera and his accomplices hatched a plan to steal diesel from an Econet booster located inside the school.
They reportedly scaled over the wall and entered the premises and went straight to the booster where they met Moses Mazvombe, a security guard who was on guard at the booster and produced an unknown weapon to him.
They held him in captivity while they drained diesel from the booster tank and as they were loading their loot in their car, police on patrol arrived and they chased the robbers and during the high-speed chase, Chinderera fell from the speeding car leading to his arrest.
The diesel was recovered at the scene and the other accomplices were not apprehended.
Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.
-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Covid-19 cases have risen to 54 474 in Zimbabwe with reports that 19 people succumbed to the pandemic in the last 24 hours.
Statics from the Ministry of health and Child Care show that as of yesterday, the seven-day rolling average for new cases had risen to 1 147 from 1092.
“As at 04 July 2021, Zimbabwe had 54 474 confirmed cases, including 40 239 recoveries and 1 878 deaths. To date, a total of 793 077 people has been vaccinated against Covid-19,” said the Ministry.
“The 809 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours bring active cases to 12 357 and of those 292 are hospitalized in different health institutions in the country. In term of vaccination update, 1 176 people received their 1st dose today bringing cumulative for 1st dose to 793 077 while 447 people received their 2nd dose bringing cumulative for 2nd dose to 568 133.”
The Ministry said the national recovery rate stands at 74 percent.
-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF supporters in Manicaland have blasted Esau Mupfumi linking him to G40 cabal that does not want to see President Emmerson Mnangagwa prosper.
In leaked WhatsApp chats seen by a local publication, the supporters said Mupfumi is part of those who did not want Mnangagwa to be president including ex-Manicaland provincial Minister Mandiitawepi Chimene.
“Mupfumi is part of those vaisada kuti ED apinde.I know ane vanhu vanomusapota but kumuisa pachigaro futi you are simply denying ED’s effort of transforming Zimbabwe,” wrote one supporter.
Some accused Mupfumi of abusing the police to threaten supporters for his political mileage.
“Be prepared he is in conjunction nepolice you maybe victimised ndobasa rake kutyisa vana vemusangano,”reads another message.
“Ukaona munhu anotyisa vana veZanu of, haadi kuti Zanu pf ihwine,” added another supporter.
“G40 typical,” seconded another supporter.
Efforts to contact Mupfumi were fruitless.
Meanwhile, factionalism in Manicaland is brewing with the party’s provincial chairperson Mike Madiro and the national party’s chairperson Oppah Muchinguri’s camps fighting for control of the province.
Today, the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly pays tribute to incarcerated pro-democracy hero Makomborero Haruzivishe who was sentenced to 14 months in prison on trumped up charges of ‘resisting lawful arrest and inciting public violence.’
Running under the #MakoMonday banner, the Youth Assembly is seeking to raise awareness about the nervous conditions of young people in this country while at the same time demanding for the unconditional release of Haruzivishe.
Since usurping power through a coup in November 2017, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime has been on a warpath with young people.
Since stealing the ballot will of young people through the barrel of the gun on 01 August 2018, Emmerson Mnangagwa has embarked on a blood letting trail against young people committing all sorts crimes against humanity.
From abductions, torture, rape, murder, displacements, arbitrary arrests to imprisonment, the regime is using all sorts of fascist tricks to silence our voices.
The targeted attack on young people as evidenced by Makomborero Haruzivishe’s unjustified imprisonment is a generational attack by an old generation who stole and diverted the liberation agenda to pursue their petty parochial interests of self enrichment at the expense of the people.
Henceforth, the persecution by prosecution of Mako is a micro of the macro. The ultimate agenda is to silence the voices of all young people in this country!
It is against this background that we must all speak up and raise awareness against the continued caging of Cde Mako through this first step,- the #MakoMonday campaign.
This an ongoing campaign where we dedicate every Monday to our hero, Mako till he is freed.
We are all Mako, Mako is us!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
By A Correspondent- The ruling ZANU PF party has moved to ensure that foreign nationals are barred from operating businesses in the economic sub-sectors reserved for Zimbabwean citizens.
ZANU PF secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Mike Bimha said that the issue of reserved sectors was outlined in its revised Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy.
He said the reserved sectors should benefit and be owned by Zimbabwean citizens only and those already owned by foreigners should partner and empower locals.
Said Bimha:
The reserved sectors are only for Zimbabwean citizens and not for foreigners. Local authorities must stop issuing licenses to foreigners.
The reserved sectors include transport (passenger buses, taxis and car hire services), retailing, wholesaling, hair salons, advertising agencies, estate agencies, grain milling, bakeries, tobacco grading and packaging and artisanal mining.
Bimha also said foreign-owned businesses in reserved sectors were only allowed where firms would fund local production.
Local authorities were supposed to ensure that this aspect of the policy was enforced, Bimha asserted.
-statemedia
By A Correspondent- An organisation representing Chinese businesses operating in Zimbabwe, the Chamber of Enterprises in Zimbabwe (CCEZ), has condemned what it calls unfounded claims and falsehoods against the Chinese government and its people by locals.
In a statement, CCEZ said its members adhere to the laws and regulations of Zimbabwe and also respect the Zimbabwean people.
This comes after the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) last month publicised images and details exposing appaling working conditions at a Norton-based ceramic tiles manufacturer, Sunny Yi Feng.
ZCTU said the workers at the Chinese-owned factory were poorly paid and live in overcrowded accommodation and were exposed to chemicals that cause serious respiratory complications among abuses.
But CEEZ said the accusations are from people with a hidden agenda whose mission is to sour the excellent relationship between China and Zimbabwe.
We publish the statement by the Chamber of Enterprises in Zimbabwe in full below:
The CCEZ is committed to facilitating social and economic cooperation between Zimbabwe and China.
Our member companies’ conduct and policies are premised on the principles of respect for Human Rights, Justice, and Equality for all our employees.
We operate according to the Laws and Regulations of Zimbabwe and with full respect for the Zimbabwean people.
The various projects undertaken by our member companies that contribute to the Development of Zimbabwe speak for themselves.
We strongly condemn the baseless claims and falsehoods against the Chinese government and its people.
Attacks with hidden agendas will not affect our resolve to foster a good relationship between our two beautiful countries.
By A Correspondent- 40% to 50% of learners in Matabeleland North Province that are supposed to sit for the 2021 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examinations are failing to register, it has emerged.
Matabeleland North provincial education director Jabulani Mpofu told Southern Eye that there had been very low registration turnout by learners in the province for the November “O” Level examinations, even as the deadline was drawing nearer.
Said Mpofu:
In Matabeleland North, only 40% to 50% of students have managed to register, which is way too low compared to the total number of students that are expected to actually sit for the examination.
The deadline for registration is July 9. There is nothing that we can do to help those who can’t afford to pay for their exam registration because it’s something that needs to be looked at by the government.
The government recently increased examination fees for both “O” and “A” levels to $5 194 for seven “O” level subjects and $3 240 for three “A” subjects and the fees are beyond the reach of the majority of villagers.
In 2020, more than 15 000 examination candidates failed to register, and the situation is expected to be worse this year.
Meanwhile, last week, teachers’ unions urged Treasury to release $2,9 billion and allocate it towards ZIMSEC examination fees saying that parents could not afford the new charges due to the effects of COVID-19.
-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Girls under the age of 16 cannot be given contraceptives as they cannot legally consent to sexual activity, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga told that National Assembly last week.
Speaking as Minister of Health and Child Care he rejected a proposal in a report tabled by the portfolio committee on Health and Child Care that parental consent should no longer be sought when a child wanted to access medical treatment including contraceptives.
The committee, chaired by Proportional Representative MP Dr Ruth Labode, had called for the removal of age restrictions on access to reproductive health services like the requirement of consent from a guardian for a child to receive medical treatment.
VP Chiwenga said while Zimbabwe did not have legislation specifying at what age parental consent was no longer required to receive medical treatment, the common practice was that parental consent was required to provide medical treatment to a child under 16 years.
“Since a child under the age of 16 years cannot consent to sexual intercourse in practice, it is presumed that a child under the age of 16 years does not need contraceptives. Emergency contraceptives would be considered a form of medical treatment and therefore, individuals aged under 16 would require parental consent to access them in practice,” said VP Chiwenga.
He also gave health implications of initiating young girls on contraceptives.
“Anatomy of teenagers is not fully developed to be able to carry the pregnancy and its complications which include obstructed labour, obstetric fistulas, symphysis pubis diastasis and ultimately maternal death. Early sexual debut increases risk of these adolescents to cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea which have adverse effects on future fertility. Methods of contraception are not 100 percent effective therefore these adolescents remain at a higher risk of complications in case of unwanted pregnancies.”
VP Chiwenga said entrapping the girl-child in child bearing had the effect of creating a vicious cycle of poverty.
“If age restriction for accessing reproductive healthcare services is removed, the interpretation is that, a person who can decide when to use contraceptives also has power as to decide when they can indulge in sexual activity and also as to when they want to have a baby. This will be a time bomb for immorality against the diverse cultural and religious communities in Zimbabwe and a high potential of increased burden on Government’s social security nets where high numbers of children will be having children out of wedlock,” said VP Chiwenga.
He said there was need to align the statutory criminal law with the Constitution, and align any variations in the range of laws with the Constitution, which basically sets this age at 18 years when a Zimbabwean becomes a full legal adult.
VP Chiwenga said there were numerous challenges posed by the various statutory clauses regarding age of consent as they were at variance with the Constitution which set the age of 18 years when a Zimbabwean can marry.
He said age of consent to sexual activity is set at 16 years for both boys and girls who are unmarried while the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act provides that the age of consent to sexual activity for married couples is 18 years.
On HIV testing and accessing results, VP Chiwenga said children under 16 may consent to it if they are married, pregnant or a parent, or they can demonstrate that they are mature enough to make a decision on their own.
“In addition, if a parent or care-giver cannot or will not give consent for a child under 16 years, the attending health worker can seek approval from hospital authorities or the Minister to give treatment without parental consent if it is in the best interest of the child. The requirement to “demonstrate that they are mature enough to make the decision on their own” raises challenges as the term was vague,” said VP Chiwenga.-
statemedia
By A Correspondent- Police in Mutare have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of a popular local disc jockey, Blessing Manhado (21) who was stabbed 15 times to death last week on Saturday night
The suspects, who move around with machetes and knives, are thought to be behind the robberies near Beta Shopping Centre, including Manhando’s murder case.
Three of the suspects were arrested on Tuesday on a different case in which they allegedly robbed a person around the same area and stabbed him using broken bottles and knives.
Washinton Farai (21) of Area 16, Brighton Munyebvu (18) of Area 13 and Takana Siziba (22) of Home Ownership, all in Dangamvura, are expected to appear in court soon on robbery charges. Although detectives said the robbery was executed in similar fashion around the area in which the disc jockey was brutally murdered, the trio is denying any involvement in Manhando’s case.
“They have confessed to committing the robbery, but are denying taking part in the murder of the DJ. Information at hand suggests that their accomplice who cannot be named for now as this will compromise investigations disappeared soon after the murder case.
“This fugitive suspect was staying with a commercial sex worker in Area 12 which is near Beta Shopping Centre and reports are that on the night the DJ was murdered, he came home with blood stained clothes. We are interviewing all witnesses in order to get to the bottom of these allegations,” said a detective who is privy to the investigations.
The detective said the fugitive chief suspect is also wanted by the police in connection with a murder case that happened in Odzi in which he allegedly stabbed another illegal gold panner.
He is also said to have committed a litany of robberies in Chiadzwa, Marange.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda could not shed more light on the ongoing investigations.
“We cannot reveal to the public the investigations that are being done as this will jeopardise the whole process. What I can tell you is that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with the perpetrators,” he said.
Inspector Chananda said during the early hours of June 27, an informant, Dereck Baradza, arrived at Beta Shopping Centre intending to light his cigarette as he was on his way to work.
“There were other people at the shopping centre. While there, a passerby advised them that someone was laying along a footpath between Beta Shopping Centre and Nyamauru High School.
“Baradza and other people went to the said place and discovered the late Manhando. His clothes were soaked in blood. A report was made at ZRP Dangamvura,” said Inspector Chananda.
Police detectives who attended the scene established that the late DJ had one deep cut on the neck, one on the right buttock, one on the left side collarbone, one on the right thigh just above knee level, six on the back between his shoulders, three on the right limb, one on the left limb and one on his forehead.
The owner of Dhunza Nite Club at Boka Shopping Centre revealed that he spent the day with the now-deceased at his workplace.
He said every day after work, he would drop the DJ at his residence.
However, on June 26 at around 8pm, Manhando opted to be dropped at Beta Shopping Centre.
He said he would later proceed home on his own.
Manhando was buried on Tuesday afternoon at Dangamvura Cemetery.-
-Manica Post
PRESS STATEMENT.
04 JULY 2021
SUBJECT; PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA’S ZANU PF REGIME DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THE ALREADY SUFFERING ZIMBABWEAN CITIZENS,NEVER VOTE FOR HIS PARTY AGAIN’ JAPA JAPA SAYS!!!!!
MDCA National Executive and National Council Member,Civic Society Leader, Soccer Adminstrator, Evangelist and Teacher of GOD,s Word Paddington Japa Japa has condemned President Mnangagwa,s Zanu Pf regime for neglecting the Country,s Citizens,only requiring their vote come Election time.The regime does not care about the Physiological needs of its citizens, who have been suffering and struggling ever since attainment of Independence in 1980.Japa Japa said that millions of Zimbabweans are wallowing in abject Poverty whilst the regime leadership has always been swimming in Gravy train of ill-gotten wealth.
It is there for everyone to see that this evil regime does not care about the welfare of its poor citizens, who Struggle to make a decent living on a daily basis.Mnangagwa is seen on a daily Nation wide Campaign which is disguised as follow up to completion of Government projects,yet we all know that its 2023 Election Campaign, under the cover of Covid 19 restrictions and regulations.The first lady Madam Auxillia Mnangagwa has also been on a Nation wide Grassroot Cultural Promotion Campaign, as a way of strengthening Social Societal fabric,yet we know that it is a disguised Campaign for a Zanu Pf Victory come 2023 Elections.
As MDCA we are very alert to these Shenanigans emanating from our antagonist,nothing good can come from this evil Regime.The Regime is using the Cover of Covid 19 regulations and restrictions to deny our Party equal opportunities to Campaign and strategise, in the same way they are doing.The first lady Madam Auxillia Mnangagwa has covered the length and breath of the country with her Nhanga and Gota Grassroot Cultural Campaign, at the same time dishing out thousands of hampers with basic commodities like Mealie Meal, Coocking Oil,Soaps,Salt,Sugar,Rice etc.We are well aware that the blitz by the first lady is not only meant to promote and strengthen culture and social fabric,but it is actually a Campaign for Zanu Pf for the 2023 Elections.Alternatively President Mnangagwa is on a daily country wide blitz conducting stage managed official opening ceremonies for companies that have already been in existence, cutting ribbons for small projects like small fish ponds,patching up roads,repair of small bridges etc, it is all in the name of Campaigning for Zanu Pf for the 2023 Election.The Ministry of Health under Vice President Rtd General CGN Chiwenga is using the Covid 19 restrictions as a weapon to contain MDCA Political Party Activities, whilst allowing Zanu Pf to do whatever they want to do.MDCA Members are being prohibited and disrupted from gathering even for funerals, yet the same is not applying for Zanu Pf. Recently MDCA Deputy Organising Secretary for youth, Netsai Marowa Father,s funeral was disrupted by the ZRP and Netsai was arrested for trespassing at the Zimbabwe International Airport.
There is an English idiom that says what is good for the Geese must be the same for the Gander,but in Zimbabwean Politics, it is do as we order you to do as Government and not as we do ourselves at Zanu Pf.Whilst everyone appreciates the World Health Organisation Covid 19 regulations and restrictions, to contain the Spread of the deadly Covid 19 Diesease,at the same time agreeing with some of the Ministry of Health,s handling and containment measures of the Contagious and infectious virus,we do not totally agree with weaponisation of the disease as a way to disadvantage others for Political gain by Zanu Pf.Three weeks ago Zanu Pf leadership in Masvingo Organised a Campaign Meeting in the City Centre that was addressed by Christopher Mutsvangwa and Resident Minister Chadzamira, and more than 100 people attended in violation of Covid 19 regulations which stipulates that social gatherings are prohibited except for 30 people at funerals.
Coming to the issue of the welfare of Zimbabweans by the ruling Party as Government, the regime has dismally failed to take care of the needs of millions of Zimbabweans,who are living below the Poverty datumn line and many in Squalid conditions.There is no clean portable water for urban citizens,Hospitals have got no drugs for treating the sick,Schools have got no learning materials at all.Learning has become very expensive,no sufficient energy and power to run industries, and for domestic use, everything is in critical shortage.Zimbabweans are surviving on hand to mouth,the country has become the poorest in the world, with the smallest Gross Domestic Annual Product,yet the Country owns 65 of the World,s most Precious Metals and Minerals.ZUPCO a poorly perfoming State owned Enterprise, suddenly increased its fares three weeks ago from Z$60 to Z$80 for the Kombis,and Z$30 to Z$60 for the 76 seater buses yet fuel prices have not changed.These increases are not justified at all considering that fuel prices have not increased and Salaries for the working class remain the same.The Ministry of Transport and infrustructure Development has concurred to this unjustified transport fare increase, yet the majority are already Suffering due to the harsh Economic environment.Last month the motor mouth Finance Minister Mtuli Ncube, who suffers from delusions of Granduer,and Continously peddling falsehoods that the Zimbabwean Economy is the fastest growing in the SADC Region and that his budget is recording surpluses, yet the Country,s GDP is lower than that of smaller poor countries like Malawi,Lesotho, Swaziland,Eritrea etc is a shame.Minister Ncube announced two moths ago that duty on rice has been removed yet the retail price of the commodity remain the same in retail Shops.Many retail shops have queitly increased the price of bread from Z$80 to $100 but surprisingly the Finance Minister is quoted on ZBCTV News saying, the economy is the fastest growing in the region.
Zimbabweans have got the best opportunity to vote out of power this ever lying none perfoming regime, from power come 2023 Election.This regime which is worse than the Smith Regime is well known for unfulfilled Empty Promises, Corruption, Brutality,Rigging of Elections, Unwarranted arrests of Opposition Political Activists,illegal detentions, imprisonment of innocent MDCA Political Activists for no Crimes Committed, Judicial Capture, etc.It is now time to say enough is enough ED Pfee and your Cabal, its time to say good bye through the 2023 Plebiscite.
THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE PADDINGTON JAPA JAPA IS MDCA NEC/NC MEMBER,CIVIC SOCIETY LEADER,SOCCER ADMINSTRATOR, POLITICAL ACTIVIST,EVANGELIST AND TEACHER OF GOD’S WORD,HOLDER OF A BSC HONS PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE.??????????????????
By A Correspondent- The police said they have arrested 10 000 people in the past three days for contravening the enhanced Level Four national lockdown regulations introduced last week to curb the rising tide of Covid-19 infections.
Figures obtained from the Zimbabwe Republic Police show that 10 252 people were arrested in the three days to July 1 countrywide.
The data shows that police are arresting an average of 3 000 people daily for offences ranging from failure to observe social distancing, wearing face masks, and participating in unsanctioned gatherings among others.
National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told The Sunday Mail yesterday that police will arrest those who contravene the regulations.
“We urge Zimbabweans to follow the lockdown measures and wear their masks properly, if they don’t, we are going to arrest them,” he said.
“For those who are opening beer halls and nightclubs, we are not going to show any mercy to them.
“Like for instance, last night police officers on patrol in the Harare CBD arrested scores of people who were drinking at beer halls and nightclubs.
“People must follow and respect the curfew.
“Lately, we have been having problems with people who are giving us unnecessary excuses. For example, some say they are coming from work at around 10pm.
“We will not listen to such petty excuses but we will understand if they are providing essential services or transporting commercial cargo.”
Last week, President Mnangagwa announced enhanced national lockdown measures that include a ban on all public gatherings and inter-city travel, a stricter 6.30pm to 6am night curfew and reduced operating hours for businesses.
By A Correspondent- A Chimanimani woman who forced her grandchild to breastfeed a snake in a suspected case of witchcraft was found guilty of the offense and ordered to pay a fine of three cattle.
Dalice Dzemura recently appeared before Chief Saurombe as her granddaughter, Portia Dzemura, accused her of witchcraft.
In a rather bizarre development, an elderly woman from Chimanimani is alleged to have been forcing her granddaughter to breastfeed a snake.
The matter only came to light after Portia Dzemura, who is in her 20s approached Chief Saurombe’s courts revealing that she was being forced by her grandmother Gogo Dalice Dzemura to breastfeed a snake that appears and disappears.
She revealed that milk oozes out of her breasts every time the snake is about to breastfeed.
Gogo Dzemura confessed to practising witchcraft, causing misfortunes in the village and forcing her grandchild to breastfeed a snake when she was summoned to appear before Chief Saurombe to answer to witchcraft allegations.
She, however, did not reveal why she was forcing Portia to breastfeed the snake.
Portia’s mother revealed that due to circumstances that she has been subjected to her child is a troubled woman as society now views her as an outcast.
She said: It is a strange and sad development. We have heard of witchcraft cases before, but this one is extraordinary. We hope that this matter will be put to rest so that my daughter can be freed from this bondage.
She is a young woman who looks forward to getting married and having a family of her own. Most men are now shunning her because of this. Those who were close to her are now distancing themselves from her.
The traditional court found Gogo Dzemura guilty and ordered her to pay a fine of three goats on Sunday last week, Manica Post reports.
Chief Saurombe has since directed three traditional healers and exorcists to conduct cleansing ceremonies for both Gogo Dzemura and Portia.
In an almost similar incident reported by iHarare, a Chimanimani woman sent tongues wagging after she was spotted at her friend’s house breastfeeding a giant snake.
Gogo Nenohwe was spotted by a 12-year-old girl as she breastfed the snake while uttering names of fellow villagers whom she wanted her pet to deal with.
Chief Mutambara referred the two women to consult a white garment prophetess, Madzimai Loice Mukono.
Madzimai Mukono then revealed that a snake that resides at Gogo Sithole’s homestead is used by the ladies for witchcraft.
By A Correspondent- Dangamvura residents are struggling to come to terms with the brutal murder of a local disc jockey who was stabbed 15 times by suspected robbers last week on Saturday night in unclear circumstances.
As investigations into the murder of Blessing Manhando (21) widen, with witnesses and informers supplying homicide detectives with leads, indications are that the youthful entertainer could have been attacked by suspected illegal gold panners who recently settled in the suburb a few months ago.
The suspects, who move around with machetes and knives, are thought to be behind the robberies near Beta Shopping Centre, including Manhando’s murder case.
Three of the suspects were arrested on Tuesday on a different case in which they allegedly robbed a person around the same area and stabbed him using broken bottles and knives.
Washinton Farai (21) of Area 16, Brighton Munyebvu (18) of Area 13 and Takana Siziba (22) of Home Ownership, all in Dangamvura, are expected to appear in court soon on robbery charges. Although detectives said the robbery was executed in similar fashion around the area in which the disc jockey was brutally murdered, the trio is denying any involvement in Manhando’s case.
“They have confessed to committing the robbery, but are denying taking part in the murder of the DJ. Information at hand suggests that their accomplice who cannot be named for now as this will compromise investigations disappeared soon after the murder case.
“This fugitive suspect was staying with a commercial sex worker in Area 12 which is near Beta Shopping Centre and reports are that on the night the DJ was murdered, he came home with blood stained clothes. We are interviewing all witnesses in order to get to the bottom of these allegations,” said a detective who is privy to the investigations.
The detective said the fugitive chief suspect is also wanted by the police in connection with a murder case that happened in Odzi in which he allegedly stabbed another illegal gold panner.
He is also said to have committed a litany of robberies in Chiadzwa, Marange.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda could not shed more light on the ongoing investigations.
“We cannot reveal to the public the investigations that are being done as this will jeopardise the whole process. What I can tell you is that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with the perpetrators,” he said.
Inspector Chananda said during the early hours of June 27, an informant, Dereck Baradza, arrived at Beta Shopping Centre intending to light his cigarette as he was on his way to work.
“There were other people at the shopping centre. While there, a passerby advised them that someone was laying along a footpath between Beta Shopping Centre and Nyamauru High School.
“Baradza and other people went to the said place and discovered the late Manhando. His clothes were soaked in blood. A report was made at ZRP Dangamvura,” said Inspector Chananda.
Police detectives who attended the scene established that the late DJ had one deep cut on the neck, one on the right buttock, one on the left side collarbone, one on the right thigh just above knee level, six on the back between his shoulders, three on the right limb, one on the left limb and one on his forehead.
The owner of Dhunza Nite Club at Boka Shopping Centre revealed that he spent the day with the now-deceased at his workplace.
He said every day after work, he would drop the DJ at his residence.
However, on June 26 at around 8pm, Manhando opted to be dropped at Beta Shopping Centre.
He said he would later proceed home on his own.
Manhando was buried on Tuesday afternoon at Dangamvura Cemetery.-
-Manica Post
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | When I was a prosecutor in the 1990’s in Zimbabwe we had some prosecutors and lawyers who would come into court and make submissions which will be aimed at the people sitting in the gallery. They were very entertaining. We had a lawyer the late George Chikumbirike he would start his submissions by making the gallery excited and making sure once in a while the gallery is thrown into a laughter. The problem of playing to the gallery was that the gallery does not make the decisions. But if the decisions are against George the gallery will blame the judge. Playing to the gallery is to do things that one thinks will be popular among many people instead of doing what one thinks is right a governor who refuses to play to the gallery In other words it is to behave in a way intended to make people admire or support you: Politicians these days are more interested in playing to the gallery than exercising real influence on world events. So this time it was the judges who have become Attention-seeking, distracting and showing off outfits.
The problem of judges playing to the gallery is that they will expose the law to ridicule. The situation in South Africa has pitted the judicial system against the democracy and political system.
What we see in South Africa now are lessons to be learnt and a stark warning to Zimbabwe. What happens there will happen to our revolutionary stalwarts once they leave office. The judiciary is behaving as the avengers sent by the disgruntled colonialists cum Westerners. This is legal system at war with the executive.
It is indeed a shame on the South African Constitutional Court judges for failure to understand their own supreme law. They ignored their own constitution just because they want to fix and not to help. It is a wonder that when the constitutional court set they forgot to be guided by the law and by their own constitution.
The South African Constitution especially section 35 subsection 3 gives the pertinent guidelines.
Section 35(3) “The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.”
The 1993 Constitution for the first time in South African history accorded constitutional recognition to constitutional law and emphasis on fairness. The South African law post apartheid was crafted to embrace due process. This brought to an end the debate on the status of fairness in South African domestic law. This step was a symbolic break from the apartheid legal system, which was closely associated with the violation of individual rights and indicated to the international community that South Africa was willing to abide by the rule of law and accepted rules. More important, however, for South African lawyers are the fundamental changes the constitutional regulation of justice system and law introduced into South African law.
But in a fit of political change the Full bench of the Constitutional Court embarrassed the profession of Law by failing to interpret SECTIONS, 35 (3) (f), 35 (3) h, 35 (3) (1),35 (3) 0, 7(2), 9(1), 9(2) of the South African Constitution. Their schoolboy errors has given Zuma a chance to freedom and buoyed the Zumarists to act in defence of ZUMA. Laws exist to protect people and there’s often a “spirit” behind the “letter” of the law.
Often, people are in violation of the letter, but not the spirit (the reason the law exists).
When people don’t enforce the “letter” of the law, people tend to obey common sense and self-correct. Just human decency and kindness to make sure everyone was ok to get on with it. So the decency of the MKZ veterans was to cause a turmoil and confusion in the application of law.
A closer look at miscarriages of justice, however, reveals that such errors are not aberrations but deeply revealing, common features of our legal system.
The constitutional court ruling was not not a random mistake but an organic outcome of a misshaped larger system that is rife with faulty eyewitness identifications, false confessions, biased judges, judicial activists and racial discrimination. The court has defied the Constructive relationships between the three arms of government—the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The ruling has removed are the importance to the effective maintenance of the constitution and the rule of law. In recent years, the character of these relationships has changed significantly, both because of changes in governance and because of wider societal change.
The behaviour of the constitutional court
demonstrates that there are still disagreements and uncertainties about the relationships between the three arms of government.
Moreover, the news media played an increasingly important role in reporting and commenting on the judiciary, and—as in other contexts—there has been a decline in the culture of deference. Individual judges and the judiciary as a whole are seen as “fair game” by columnists and headline writers in the tabloid press. Broadsheet journalists also chart closely the intrigues of discussions and disagreements between the senior judiciary and executive. But in this case the constitutional judges have acted to settle scores.
The conflict between the executive and judiciary is a long time back existing since the Constitution came into force. The political establishment of function sharing between both wings is depicted in the Constitution. The thrust of power acquiring sometimes creates tensions when the executive starts assuming the power of the judiciary then the government becomes autocratic. The executive is that wing of the government which makes policies and implements it. The judiciary has been bestowed with the power to check such actions. The separation of power exists between all the wings of the Government which is exercised by the method of Check and Balance. So the courts should not in anyway engage in political issues as to please one section.
So in this case one would ask how can a Constitutional Court Convict and sentence an individual to prison as a court of first instance and leave the accused person without a right to appeal? This question is the reason of all the uproar in South Africa today. The South African Constitution derives its powers from. Section 2 of South Africa Constitution which reads “Supremacy of Constitution 2. This Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic; law or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid, and the obligations imposed by it must be fulfilled.”
We must therefore remember that doctrine of Supremacy of the constitution is based on consistency with existing provisions of the constitution and the courts enforce the law along the constitutional guidance.
So any conduct that is inconsistent with the constitution is invalid no matter who does it. Often people miss the value on Supremacy of the constitution. The constitution is obeyed on the round. The law works in an inter connected way meaning breaking part of stops the currency to flow. The very breaching of one part the whole constitution is breached then the whole process which led to the breach of that provision is invalid no matter who does it, in this case no matter it is the constitutional court.
The constitutional court did the unthinkable it became seized with emotions yet the court is incapable to work on emotions. There is no doubt that President Jacob Zumba refused to appear before a Commission of inquiry. This angered the judges of the constitutional court who ruled on emotions and not on law. They become blinded by their personal feelings and were set to punish and show Zuma one thing or two. That was the most fatal mistake they made. The court must never have emotions.
The Commission of inquiry approached the Constitutional Court with an application to order Zuma to appear before the commission of inquiry. This was an error which the constitutional court was supposed to correct by referring them back to a proper court. The case was improperly before the courts hence it was supposed to be struck off. So the ruling of the constitutional court was made on a sand foundation which taints the whole process.
The bench forgot to read the Constitution of South Africa in section 167 which states that “Constitutional Court 167. (1) The Constitutional Court consists of the Chief Justice of South Africa, the Deputy Chief Justice and nine other judges. [Sub-s. (1) substituted by s. 11 of the Constitution Sixth Amendment Act of 2001.] (2) A matter before the Constitutional Court must be heard by at least eight judges. (3)The Constitutional Court— (a) is the highest court of the Republic; and (b) may decide— (i) constitutional matters; and (ii) any other matter, if the Constitutional Court grants leave to appeal on the grounds that the matter raises an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by that Court, and (c) makes the final decision whether a matter is within its jurisdiction. [Sub-s (3) substituted by s. 3 of the Constitution Seventeenth Amendment Act of 2012.] (4) Only the Constitutional Court may— (a) decide disputes between organs of state in the national or provincial sphere concerning the constitutional status, powers or functions of any of those organs of state; (b)decide on the constitutionality of any parliamentary or provincial Bill, but may do so only in the circumstances anticipated in section 79 or 121; (c) decide applications envisaged in section 80 or 122; (d) decide on the constitutionality of any amendment to the Constitution; (e) decide that Parliament or the President has failed to fulfil a constitutional obligation; or (f) certify a provincial constitution in terms of section 144. (5) The Constitutional Court makes the final decision whether an Act of Parliament, a provincial Act or conduct of the President is constitutional, and must confirm any order of invalidity made by the Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court of South Africa, or a court of similar status, before that order has any force. [Sub-s (5) substituted by s. 3 of the Constitution Seventeenth Amendment Act of 2012.] (6) National legislation or the rules of the Constitutional Court must allow a person, when it is in the interests of justice and with leave of the Constitutional Court—(a) to bring a matter directly to the Constitutional Court; or (b) to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court from any other court. (7)A constitutional matter includes any issue involving the interpretation, protection or enforcement of the Constitution. “ the construction is the heartbeat of the law. It must be followed to in letter and spirit. No where in this provision does it give the Constitutional Court the jurisdiction to try and convict an accused person as court of first and final instance without giving opportunity to appeal. This is the miscarriage of Justice at its most.
One wonders how the highest court in the land presided and manned by the greatest jurists in the land failed to realise that contempt of court is a common law offence that is criminal in nature and not a constitutional matter, neither was this case an appeal. It was simply a glory searching adventure by the Constitutional court judges. A move which backfires big time. Section 167 makes it very clear that Constitutional court cannot hear a matter of contempt of Court and convict a person as the court of first and final court for following reasons.
Zuma’s constitutional rights were breached by the custodians of the very law. Section 35(3)(c) provides that Every accused person has a right to a fair trial, which includes the right— (c) to a public trial before an ordinary court. While Zuma could have refused to appear before a Commission of inquiry and the Commission sought the Constitutional Court to order him to appear before the Commission, which he refused, is an accusation which should have been taken to a appropriate court and follow due process.
The moment someone accuse Zuma of contempt of Court, which is criminal, the court should have been automatically blinded to his social status. Zuma deserved a fair hearing despite his status.
It is automatic. The moment you accuse someone of a criminal offence it is the duty of the law enforcers to follow the due process.
Section 35(3) (e) gives right to any accused person to be present when being tried. This is a fundamental right. If Zuma was refusing to appear before a Commission or a Court, the first application was a warrant of arrest. He appears before a court which then indict him to where ever he must stand before trial. The system should have ordered for his arrest and bring before a public court of law. The Judges should get evidence from his own mouth as to why he could not comply with the order. This is so because he was now an accused and not a mere witness to Commission of inquiry. Section 35(3) (f) . An accused has a right to choose, and be represented by, a legal practitioner, and to be informed of this right promptly. While Zuma could have had lawyers representing him on all the civil application relating to his non appearance before a commission of inquiry or not complying with Constitutional Court order, the moment he was accused of contempt of court, it was the duty of a court to inform him directly that he had a right to be represented by a legal practitioner of his choice in relation to the Contempt of Court Charges. This right cannot be assumed by court that who so ever is appearing before the court as his lawyer can answer the contempt of court charges on behalf of the accused. Section 35(3) (h) gives right to any accused person to be presumed innocent, to remain silent, and not to testify during the proceedings. The moment the court found out that Zuma was in default of a court order he became an accused and not a convict. It was not his duty to convict himself of contempt of court. Those who accused him of contempt of court should have followed the procedures that lead to a trial and at all cost assumed him to be innocent.
Section 35(3) (i) every accused person has right to adduce and challenge evidence. Evidence presented in your absence cannot be adduced for one to be challenged. The Learned judges should have known that any accused, that includes Zuma, has a right be present in his trial for purpose of adducing evidence against him. What ever was given to court in his absence remain allegation. It has to be presented before the accused and be given opportunity to hear or see it in a public court being presented in court.
(vi) More importantly to the jurisdiction of Constitutional Court, is the fact that every accused has an inherent right in terms of section 35(3) (o) to appeal to, or review by, a higher court. No doubt that the Constitutional Court is the highest Court. A person cannot appeal anywhere else or have the decision reviewed by someone else. This should have been known from onset by the Judges that “every accused person, without exception, has an inherent right to appeal. More particular to the fact that they sentenced him in absentia, it was clear that the accused could want to challenge such decision. This right remains intact and has to be accorded to him as it is accorded to any other person.After raising the fundamental rights of any accused person as mention in the constitution,
(i) Section 7(2) of South African Constitution demands that the state must respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights. This include respecting, protecting and promoting Jacob Zuma’s right to be tried in a public Court, be present during trial, assumed innocent until proven guilty, apply for lesser sentence in mitigation and right to appeal or review of a decision taken by a court. These rights cannot be violated only on Zuma.
The bill of rights binds everyone including the Constitutional Court in terms of section 8(1). The Constitutional Court, despite being the Highest Court, it has an obligation to protect and promote the rights of every accused, including Zuma.
If section 35(3) protects the rights of “every accused person” then section 9(1) stipulates that every person accused of contempt of court, no matter which court, is given the same treatment as in section 35(3), more particular to the right to appeal.
Section 9(2) stresses that equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedom. It is clear, crystal clear that some of the rights of Zuma as an accused person were violated. When section 9(2) uses the words “full and equal enjoyment of right” it puts across a point that full cannot leave some and still remain full or equal cannot exclude Jacob Zuma.
Reading from section 36 on limitations of rights it states that “Limitation of rights 36. (1)The rights in the Bill of Rights may be limited only in terms of law of general application to the extent that the limitation is reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom, taking into account all relevant factors, including— (a) the nature of the right; (b) the importance of the purpose of the limitation; (c) the nature and extent of the limitation; (d) the relation between the limitation and its purpose; and (e) less restrictive means to achieve the purpose. Except as provided in subsection (1) or in any other provision of the Constitution, no law may limit any right entrenched in the Bill of Right”. The Constitutional Court cannot give itself power to limit the accused’s person’s right.
The whole concept of supremacy of the constitution is in section 2. “Any conduct that is inconsistent with existing provisions of constitution is invalid to the extend of its in consistency.
No doubt the constitutional court violated enshrined bill of rights given to every accused without exception. There is no doubt the Constitutional court’s sentence imposed is custodial sentence which in turn affect other rights and freedoms. The Court could not impose a sentence without option to appeal or review.
The conduct is therefore against the very law they purport to protect. If Zuma wishes he could approach the constitutional court challenging the constitutionality of the sitting which convicted him.
This could be or must be an urgent application which should have an effect of suspending the order which has been reached and tainted with illegality. Zuma’s legal team should apply that the judgement, conviction and sentence be declared unconstitutional and invalid.
That the Judges who heard the case and failed to uphold his right recuse themselves. This reminds us of the crisis created in Zimbabwe by the judicial activists.
The constitutional court betrayed the proper scope of the judicial power within the constitution. Judicial overreach increasingly threatens the rule of law and effective, democratic government. South Africa must work to address this problem – restoring balance to the constitution – by articulating the good sense of separating judicial and political authority.
South Africa as a whole now struggles to understand and correct the undue rise in judicial power by restating, for modern times and in relation to modern problems, the nature and limits of the judicial power within our tradition and the related scope of sound legislative and executive authority.
The judicial power has a central, strategic place in any well-ordered constitutional arrangement: no state is well-governed without an independent judiciary, exercising legal and constitutional authority to adjudicate disputes, including disputes between citizens and officials, fairly and in accordance with settled positive law. Our constitutional tradition has long recognised this truth, making provision since the collapse of apartheid.
The ZUMA judgement has seen a departure from the rule of law or a failure to recognise the importance of human rights.
But the good sense of this separation of powers is now increasingly doubted, after the constitutional court’s ruling. Many in the legal profession now share an expansive, adventurous understanding of judicial power and the willingness and authority of the courts to oversee Political day to day runnings lawmaking actions or to engage into factional wars.- [email protected].
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police said they will not listen to any excuses from people they would have met after 6 PM.
National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi announced this to The Sunday Mail.
“We urge Zimbabweans to follow the lockdown measures and wear their masks properly, if they don’t, we are going to arrest them,” he said.
“For those who are opening beer halls and nightclubs, we are not going to show any mercy to them.
“Like for instance, last night police officers on patrol in the Harare CBD arrested scores of people who were drinking at beer halls and nightclubs.
“People must follow and respect the curfew.
“Lately, we have been having problems with people who are giving us unnecessary excuses. For example, some say they are coming from work at around 10pm.
“We will not listen to such petty excuses but we will understand if they are providing essential services or transporting commercial cargo.”
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Presidential spokesperson, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda says the beleaguered former ruling party Zanu PF’s support base is shrinking with each passing day.
Dr Sibanda told Change Radio Zanu PF would not win the 2023 polls because of its rigidity and inability to resolve the deepening political crisis.
“Youths must lead the way as citizens coverge for change. Zanu PF cannot expand its political space.
The military industrial complex is in charge of the country and we are determined to fight for victory,” said Dr Sibanda.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Presidential spokesperson, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda says the beleaguered former ruling party Zanu PF’s support base is shrinking with each passing day.
Dr Sibanda told Change Radio Zanu PF would not win the 2023 polls because of its rigidity and inability to resolve the deepening political crisis.
“Youths must lead the way as citizens coverge for change. Zanu PF cannot expand its political space.
The military industrial complex is in charge of the country and we are determined to fight for victory,” said Dr Sibanda.
Tinashe Sambiri|Overzealous police officers assaulted and arrested two Serima High School teachers in Gutu District on Saturday.
According to sources in Gutu, Misheck Tavuya a teacher at Serima High School was at Stephen Business Centre intending to purchase some items for his family.
While at Stephen Business Centre, he had a misunderstanding with a police officer who insulted him and proceeded to assault him.
“The police officer approached Tavuya and hurled insults at him.He then severely assaulted him.”
Tavuya’s colleague, Batsiranai Ngugama, who is also a freelance journalist then asked the police officer why he had assulted his workmate and the cop threatened him.
On Sunday morning, the cops assaulted and arrested Ngungama for challenging their actions.
“This is a clear case of abuse of office. I confronted the cops over abuse of authority and their superior threatened to deal with me.
They are now taking me to Chatsworth Police Station but I am not afraid of speaking the truth,” said Ngugama.
Tinashe Sambiri|Overzealous police officers assaulted and arrested two Serima High School teachers in Gutu District on Saturday.
According to sources in Gutu, Misheck Tavuya a teacher at Serima High School was at Stephen Business Centre intending to purchase some items for his family.
While at Stephen Business Centre, he had a misunderstanding with a police officer who insulted him and proceeded to assault him.
“The police officer approached Tavuya and hurled insults at him.He then severely assaulted him.”
Tavuya’s colleague, Batsiranai Ngugama, who is also a freelance journalist then asked the police officer why he had assulted his workmate and the cop threatened him.
On Sunday morning, the cops assaulted and arrested Ngungama for challenging their actions.
“This is a clear case of abuse of office. I confronted the cops over abuse of authority and their superior threatened to deal with me.
They are now taking me to Chatsworth Police Station but I am not afraid of speaking the truth,” said Ngugama.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has announced saying under 18s should be denied contraceptives.
Chiwenga went against UN advice saying parents should be involved in any access procedure.
A recent UNICEF paper states in part:
As the new Marriages Bill is adopted, this is a time for society to face this issue and the sometimes uncomfortable truths about the sexual activity of adolescents. We must discuss whether or not prohibiting it by law is the most effective way to protect them.
We must also involve them in decision making and policy processes to hear their views and ensure they participate in the creation of policies that affect them. Many of us would agree that ultimately, our responsibility as parents and as society, is to arm our adolescents with information that empowers them to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies, STIs and sexual violence.
This is particularly true in light of the multiple challenges the country is currently facing.
Adolescents under the age of 18 should also be allowed to access sexual and reproductive health services and contraceptives without the consent of their parents or guardians..
But VP Chiwenga said parental consent is required to provide medical treatment to a child under 16 years. He said:
“Since a child under the age of 16 years cannot consent to sexual intercourse in practice, it is presumed that a child under the age of 16 years does not need contraceptives.
“Emergency contraceptives would be considered a form of medical treatment and therefore, individuals aged under 16 would require parental consent to access them in practice,” he added.
Chiwenga continued saying entrapping the girl-child in child bearing has the effect of creating a vicious cycle of poverty.
“If age restriction for accessing reproductive healthcare services is removed, the interpretation is that, a person who can decide when to use contraceptives also has power as to decide when they can indulge in sexual activity and also as when they want to have a baby. This will be a time bomb for immorality against the diverse cultural and religious communities in Zimbabwe and a high potential of increased burden on Government’s social security nets, where high numbers of children will be having children out of wedlock,” said VP Chiwenga – Herald/ Agencies
MORE than 10 000 people have been arrested for contravening the enhanced Level Four national lockdown regulations introduced last week to curb the rising tide of Covid-19 infections.
Figures obtained from the Zimbabwe Republic Police show that 10 252 people were arrested in the three days to July 1 countrywide.
The data shows that police are arresting an average of 3 000 people daily for offences ranging from failure to observe social distancing, wearing face masks, and participating in unsanctioned gatherings among others.
National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told The Sunday Mail yesterday that police will arrest those who contravene the regulations.
“We urge Zimbabweans to follow the lockdown measures and wear their masks properly, if they don’t, we are going to arrest them,” he said.
“For those who are opening beer halls and nightclubs, we are not going to show any mercy to them.
“Like for instance, last night police officers on patrol in the Harare CBD arrested scores of people who were drinking at beer halls and nightclubs.
“People must follow and respect the curfew.
“Lately, we have been having problems with people who are giving us unnecessary excuses. For example, some say they are coming from work at around 10pm.
“We will not listen to such petty excuses but we will understand if they are providing essential services or transporting commercial cargo.”- The Sunday Mail
