By A Correspondent- Vehicle smugglers on Wednesday engaged in a shootout with South African soldiers at an illegal entry point in Beitbridge, forcing them to flee and leave behind three stolen vehicles which were destined for Zimbabwe.

According to a statement by the South African National Defence Forces (SANDF), the vehicle smugglers left behind a Toyota Hilux valued at
R400 000, Volvo XC60 (R800 000) and a Toyota Fortuner (R430 000) after fleeing to the Zimbabwe side of the border.

“The vehicles were handed over to the SA Police Service (SAPS),” read the statement by one Captain ME Semono of the SANDF Joint Tactical Headquarters, Limpopo.

“SANDF soldiers were busy with Standing Patrol in the Madimbo area when they spotted a Toyota Fortuner which was travelling at a very high speed towards the illegal crossing point along the Republic of South Africa/Zimbabwe border. Upon trying to intercept the vehicle, the occupants of the vehicle fired shots from what looked like pistols.

“The soldiers returned fire and the suspects escaped towards the Zimbabwean side of the border. While the soldiers were trying to retrieve the Fortuner, shots were fired from the side of the Zimbabwean border allegedly by the suspects.

“Our members called for back-up and eventually managed to retrieve the vehicle. The soldiers did the mop-up operations around the area and discovered that there were two other vehicles hidden in the bushes.”

By A Correspondent- A high-speed chase involving three suspected carjackers and the police from Vehicle Theft Squad resulted in the death of a woman and the injury of her daughter after they were hit by the “flying” vehicle.

The incident happened around 1130am at corner Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa near the Boggie tower in Gweru.

The woman died on the spot while her daughter was ferried to Gweru Provincial Hospital where her condition is said to be bad.

The woman was hit and flew for about four meters crushing her skull.

Two of the alleged carjackers were arrested while one fled from the scene.

By A Correspondent- A high-speed chase involving three suspected carjackers and the police from Vehicle Theft Squad resulted in the death of a woman and the injury of her daughter after they were hit by the “flying” vehicle.
The incident happened around 1130am at corner Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa near the Boggie tower in Gweru.

The woman died on the spot while her daughter was ferried to Gweru Provincial Hospital where her condition is said to be bad.

The woman was hit and flew for about four meters crushing her skull.
Two of the alleged carjackers were arrested while one fled from the scene.

By A Correspondent-The Registrar General’s Office, is battling with clearing a passport backlog.

According to the state media, the RG’s office is yet to clear a 200 000 backlog and has only managed to process less than half of the number.

This is causing corruption at the RG’s office as officials demand bribes from applicants.

By A Correspondent- A Budiriro man committed suicide on Tuesday afternoon after receiving positive HIV test results.

The 32-year-old man identified as Simbarashe and married to two wives was well-known money changer at Current Shopping Centre in Budiriro.

A local publication got a chance to speak to the wife of the deceased who said the man went into denial after receiving his results.

“Yesterday he came with the result slip of HIV test saying that he was positive.

“He was not settled and it seems like he was not accepting that he was now positive.

“He married another wife a few months ago where he was now staying and he was now spending more time there with his new love.

“Today around 1am he woke up and said he was going to kill himself.

“I tried stopping him but later he sneaked out of the house,”

”It was his first time to go out of the house that time,”

”Around 5am I was called that my husband Simba is dead,” said Mai Makanaka who is the first wife.

His friend identified as Tafadzwa said the deceased had said nothing of the results.

“I was with him last night but he told me nothing.

“I was surprised when I heard that he killed himself early in the morning (Tuesday).

“He never shared any information about what is going on in his private life.

“He had another girl friend who he was now staying with these days.”

In the pockets of the deceased was found a will showing on the distribution on his estate.

The man’s landlord said Simbarashe had used a well rope to hang himself.

“I last saw him yesterday night and I never knew that he had this type of thoughts because he greeted me and went to his room, without any long conversation,” said the landlord.

— HMetro

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given in to his vice Constantino Chiwenga’s pressure and declared Major General (Retired) Clever Shadreck Chiramba, a national hero.

Chiramba died of Covid-19 last Sunday.
.
Maj-Gen (Rtd) Chiramba, who was aged 66, died at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

By A Correspondent- The Trial of the three Mupamhanga family members who committed three robbery cases in Harare continued at the Harare Magistrate’s courts.

The three, Musafare, Liberty (29) and their sister Leona (33) are from Hwedza.

Some of the siblings who are a suspected criminal family, have been arrested on several occasions before being released on bail pending appeal and then absconding.

Three of them, Liberty, Musafare and Godfrey have since been rearrested and are currently in custody while Leona is out on bail.
Liberty and Godfrey are also involved with the suspected serial armed robber and gang leader Musa Taj Abdul (47), who was finally arrested by a police crack team in Beitbridge last year after a fierce gunfight. Taj Abdul and others suspected to be part of his gang were arrested in dramatic fashion, with dog teams playing a leading role.
Musafare Mupamhanga and his accomplices who include Spicer Takawira of Highfield and Conwell Junior Kasambarare (26) are alleged to be part of 11-member gang that raided Mashwede Holdings on April 5 last year and got away with over US$100 000, R42 000, $14 000 worth of fuel coupons, firearms and 20 live rounds of ammunition.
Investigations have so far revealed that in 2019, Musafare, Liberty and Leona were arrested in the city after committing three cases of unlawful entry and armed robbery targeting clothing, electrical gadgets and gas shops.
In one of the cases, the trio is suspected to have attacked a reaction team from a local security firm after they had broken into one of the shops in the city before disappearing.

Their luck ran out however, when a police crack team which was making a follow up of another armed robbery case arrested Musafare, Liberty and Leona at a house in Glen Norah B. Police then recovered some of the clothes and goods that had been stolen in some of the shops in the city.
However, before their trial commenced in March last year, Musafare and Liberty went into hiding.

Musafare and his other accomplices then raided Mashwede Holdings.

Musafare was later arrested in Murambinda, Buhera where he was staying with a girlfriend before he was transported back to the city. He has however been in and out of prison on several occasions after released on bail.

Tinashe Sambiri|Finance Minister Mr Mthuli shocked all and sundry after claiming the Zanu PF government is transparent.

Mthuli Ncube was responding to questions from Cable News Network(CNN) during a no -holds- barred interview on the crisis in Zimbabwe.

After being grilled by CNN, Mthuli Ncube attempted to paint a rosy picture of the situation in the country.

Mthuli spoke of economic recovery and stability…

Commenting on Mthuli Ncube’s remarks, MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere said:
Economic recovery ipi? Ityai Mwari veduwe. What a pack of lies.”

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson,
Clifford Hlatywayo said :
“No room for liars in the New Zimbabwe.
We need new leaders.”

Respected Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono also commented:

I am shocked by the LIES that Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister @MthuliNcube said to @richardquest on @cnni

He lies that he is paying poor citizens social welfare money through cash transfers, he lies about free schooling, he lies about robust vaccination, YET there is a shortage!”

Watch Mthuli Ncube’s interview with CNN below:

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the late founding President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda as humble and selfless leader who spent his life fighting for the emancipation of the continent.

President Chamisa also described Dr Kaunda as a humble leader and devout Christian.

On Friday, President Chamisa released a video footage in which he paid tribute to Dr Kaunda.

“The history of the liberation struggle cannot be complete without mentioning the role played by Dr Kaunda.

Dr Kaunda was a leader par excellence.He was a man who worked tirelessly to unite the continent.We wish to follow his footsteps…”

Watch video below:

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent- Primrose Siziba seethed with anger and spewed the f-bomb at her mother and stabbed her in the stomach with a kitchen knife after she was asked why she came home late.

Tarisai Sipanda (47) of Cowdray Park suburb got worried after her daughter failed to come home by 6pm recently on a Sunday.

When she finally arrived at around 7pm, Sipanda who was anxiously waiting for her in the kitchen, asked her why she came home late.

The situation spiralled out of control as Primrose unleashed the f-word at her mum, reached for a kitchen knife and knifed her mother in the stomach.

“I don’t know what got into her head because she is a respectful child, but last week she acted strangely when I asked her why she arrived home late. She insulted me while telling me to go to hell and told me f*** off,” she said.

She added: “She picked a kitchen knife and charged at me while accusing me of ill-treating her. She then stabbed me in the stomach,” she said.

Sipanda cried for help and Primrose bolted out of the kitchen and summoned her athletic abilities to evade arrest.

However, an alert neighbour who was watching the incident while he was standing in his yard, gave chase and caught up with her.

They took her to a police station leading to her arrest, said a neighbour who requested not to be named.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident: “I can confirm that we arrested an 18-year-old woman who stabbed her mother with a kitchen knife for asking her why she came home late. We would like to advise community members not to resort to violence whenever they are involved in disagreements because at times such fights could lead to unnecessary loss of life.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- Jada Fenyere, an Arcturus toddler who was injured when an Airforce of Zimbabwe (AFZ) helicopter crashed on the Fenyere family home early this year has been discharged from hospital.

This was revealed on Thursday when AFZ donated an assortment of goods worth thousands of dollars to the families of victims of the helicopter crash that happened early this year.

The donation included basic commodities and clothes worth $140 000 from the Manyame Air Base community and Kutsaga Tobacco Research Board.

The accident claimed two AFZ pilots, Wing Commander Thomas Tinashe Manyowa and Flight Lieutenant Anita Mapiye, an aircraft technician Flight Sergeant Tinodiwanashe Chikamhi and the 18-month-old Jade Fenyere.

Speaking while handing over the groceries to the families, the deputy Commander of Manyame airbase, Group Captain Maxwell Sakupwanya said:

Yes, we know it takes time to heal from this painful experience, but we are also there to support and provide welfare to the families of our beloved ones.

… Through this donation we are also welcoming a baby, Jada who was in the hospital two months ago, she was discharged last week so we are here to welcome him with these assortments of groceries including diapers, cereals and other essential foodstuffs.

… We want also to see Anita’s child growing up similarly to other children so will continue to provide the necessary support to the families.

Elias Mapiye, Anita’s father appreciated the support offered by Kutsaga Tobacco Research saying it will go a long way in providing the welfare and support of the baby.

Joseph Fenyere, Jade’s father also welcomed the development saying AFZ is an organisation that shows a sense of responsibility.

Last month the AFZ also handed over property which included two double beds, a gas stove with a 9kg tank, a television set, blankets, cutlery and pots, a complete solar power unit, a kitchen unit, a wardrobe, food, a lounge suite and US$400 to the Fenyere family in Arcturus who lost their daughter Jade who was sleeping when the helicopter burst into flames.

Jade and Jada who are twins, were both sleeping in their parents’ house when it was damaged by the chopper which caught fire on impact.

By A correspondent- Pirate kombis were Thursday back in full force as some passengers shunned the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) buses which have increased fares by 100percent.

The doubled fares which came into effect today will now see commuters forking out $60 for the bus and $80 for the kombis for shorter routes.
The pirate kombis are still charging $50 per single trip.

The new development has seen mshikashika kombis being a preferred option as they are now cheaper.

There was a rare sight of buses canvassing for passengers in most western areas this morning.

One mshikashika driver told Chronicle that they were not planning to hike their fares.

Zupco has said the fare hike was necessary to maintain viability.
Zupco chief executive officer Mr Everisto Madangwa said the new fares were a cost-containment measure by the company.

“High operational costs and frequent price hikes taking place in the country has forced us to increase the fares to ensure the company improves service delivery as well as cushion its costs. What the public should however note is that we do not increase our prices all the time, instead we doit after a period of time,” said Mr Madangwa.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Doctors at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital have offered to reconstruct the face of a seven-year-old local boy who was recently attacked by three pit-bull dogs in the town’s suburb of Mapako which seriously injured his face and legs.

The attack saw Samuel Phineus receive a mini-facial reconstruction through 21 stitches at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where he is still being attended to.

While the boy is lucky to be alive, the attack has wiped the pockets of Tendai Phineus (39), his unemployed father.

“Since he was attacked on 17 June, we have parted ways with over US$270 for his medical bills and transportation,” said Mr Phineus.
“The owner of the dogs has only offered US$60 and $1 500 and has since started giving me cold shoulders because I reported the incident to the police.”

Mr Samuel Mugari, the dogs’ owner, could not be contacted as he was said to be at his Zvimba farm.

The young boy was attacked while coming from her grandmother’s house which is opposite Mr Mugari’s residence.

-State media

By A Correspondent-Five people died on the spot, while seven others were injured when a FAW truck and a Mitsubishi truck collided head-on at the 129km peg along the Masvingo-Mbalabala Road early this week.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

“The ZRP confirms that five people died in a road traffic accident which occurred at the 129Km peg along the Masvingo-Mbalabala Road on June 29, 2021 at 0730hrs when a Faw truck and a blue Mitsubishi pick-up had a collision,” he said.

“Seven other occupants were injured and taken to hospital.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said they were still gathering more details on the accident.

-State media

By A Correspondent- “It was love at first sight, I hope Chichi will understand..” A Waterfall girl Chichi (21) has regretted her decision to go home with her man Tafadzwa (23) as she lost her man to her mother Donna (43).

She only got to know she had lost when her mother mistakenly sent pictures she took with Tafadzwa at a Kariba safari lodge. Tafadzwa didn’t deny the relationship. “We didn’t mean for her to find out this way.

I have always been too mature for my age and I fell in love with Donna the first I met her on a visit with Chichi. We exchanged numbers and met for lunch and one thing led to another. I meant to break off with Chichi but her mom may have felt I was taking too much time.

She was not ready to share me with her daughter. I hope Chichi will understand and maybe accept me as her stepdad. ” Donna refused to entertain The Citizen and threatened to shoot us with something that looked like a toy gun. Chichi has moved out of her mother’s house. ” I felt like killing them”.

– Zimbolive

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has commended young people for speaking out against corruption.

President Chamisa was commenting on a video clip produced by Bustoptv.The clip lampoons rampant corruption in the country.

“When young people speak about corruption leaders should listen …
The future belongs to the young,” said President Chamisa.

He also denounced the persecution of Netsai Marova by government agents during the time of bereavement.

“Multiplying another’s pain and misery is diabolic and sadistic.This is just too cruel…”

By A Correspondent- Authorities have destroyed structures at Gazaland informal industrial area along Willowvale Road.

Vehicle wrecks that had encroached on the road servitudes were removed before being crushed. Even a dumped haulage truck on the roadside was removed. The traders managed to save almost half of the vehicle wrecks s by pushing them to safe places, including nearby houses.
Structures that had encroached onto the road verges from houses, some used by food shops and barbers, were also destroyed.

Thieves and looters, including children, were preying on the traders that were collecting their wares at the last minute with a handful that resisted notice to vacate having lost their valuables including broken-down bicycles.

One of the earth moving machines used for demolishing the structures developed a tyre puncture around lunchtime and was parked at a nearby council facility.

A traditional healer at the Gazaland shopping area partly hogged the limelight after resisting the demolition of his illegal shack alleging that his operations were aboveboard as he was registered with Zinatha. The shack was still intact.

City spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme on Tuesday said the demolitions are ongoing and those still operating illegally should vacate the public space they are illegally occupying.

“Where people have been given notices, they should do the honourable and move off on their own, he said. A trader, Mr Felix Chavengwa commonly known as “ngoma ngoma” in the Gazaland area who has been operating at the site for the past 15 years only complained of being given a short notice.

By A Correspondent- A prominent Zvimba farmer, Mr Samuel Mugari, is on the run after setting his on a seven-year-old Chinhoyi boy.

The innocent boy, Samuel phineus was recently attacked by three pit-bull dogs in the town’s suburb of Mapako which seriously injured his face and legs.

The attack saw him receive a mini-facial reconstruction through 21 stitches at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where he is still being attended to.

While the boy is lucky to be alive, the attack has wiped the pockets of Tendai Phineus (39), his unemployed father.

“Since he was attacked on 17 June, we have parted ways with over US$270 for his medical bills and transportation,” said Mr Phineus.

“The owner of the dogs has only offered US$60 and $1 500 and has since started giving me cold shoulders because I reported the incident to the police.”

Mr Samuel Mugari, the dogs’ owner, could not be contacted this morning as he was said to be at his Zvimba farm.

The young boy was attacked while coming from her grandmother’s house which is opposite Mr Mugari’s residence.

-State media

By A Correspondent- A man from Gokwe North died after he was stabbed to death for recklessly telling a newlywed husband, that he was the one who had impregnated his wife.

22-year-old Justice Chidhakwa seems to have been harbouring feelings for his former lover, despite the fact that she had recently married Joseph Muzenda.

Over the weekend Chidhakwa approached Muzenda and rashly told him that he had married a woman who was pregnant with another man’s baby. He claimed that he was actually the one who was responsible for Muzenda’s newly married wife’s pregnancy.

It is not yet clear what Chidhakwa hoped to achieve through this reckless course of action. Muzenda, on the other hand, did not take the news well and plotted with his friends to attack his love rival.

Muzenda is alleged to have teamed up with Simbarashe Zikoke and Wellington Zharare to ambush Chidhakwa. During the attack, the alleged father was stabbed twice and died on the spot.

The incident was confirmed by Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko. Inspector Mahoko told the state-owned daily The Herald: “The suspects waylaid Chidhakwa along a footpath near Manoti Business Centre in Gokwe North on Sunday at around 7pm before confronting him for claiming that their friend, Joseph Muzenda, had married his pregnant girlfriend.

“Simbarashe Zikoke then grabbed Chidhakwa from the back, while Zharare stabbed him once on the left side of the chest and once on the leg with a knife. He died on the spot.”

The police did not release more details on the status of the investigation into the killing.

By A Correspondent- The parents of a seven-year-old Chinhoyi boy who recently survived an attack by stray vicious dogs are appealing for support to have their child’s face worked on by surgeons.
.
Samuel Phineus was recently attacked by three pit-bull dogs in the town’s suburb of Mapako which seriously injured his face and legs.

The boy is at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where he is receiving treatment.

still being attended to.
While the boy is lucky to be alive, the attack has wiped the pockets of Tendai Phineus (39), his unemployed father.
“Since he was attacked on 17 June, we have parted ways with over US$270 for his medical bills and transportation,” said Mr Phineus.
“The owner of the dogs has only offered US$60 and $1 500 and has since started giving me cold shoulders because I reported the incident to the police.”

Mr Samuel Mugari, the dogs’ owner, could not be contacted as he was said to be at his Zvimba farm.

The young boy was attacked while coming from her grandmother’s house which is opposite Mr Mugari’s residence.

-State media

By A Correspondent- A seven-year-old Chinhoyi boy has survived an attack by stray vicious dogs.

Samuel Phineus was recently attacked by three pit-bull dogs in the town’s suburb of Mapako which seriously injured his face and legs.

The boy is at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where he is receiving treatment.

By A Correspondent- A 28-year-old man from Guruve has hanged himself after his wife cautioned him against attending nyau dance.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Ndliwayo confirmed the incident which happened on 21 June.

Adam Kanyandura came home drunk at around 7pm and had an argument with his wife Paidamoyo Jack (26) over why she had barred him from attending a nyau dance.

Asst Insp Ndliwayo said Kanyandura left home unnoticed and was later seen by a juvenile standing by the roadside some meters away from his home at around 11pm.

His mother-in-law Eunice Mairosi (43) discovered him at around 6am the following day hanging on a tree approximately 400 metres from his home.

A report was made to the police and no foul play was suspected.

“We are encouraging members of the public to share problems with other people and to value the sanctity,” said Asst Insp Ndliwayo.
“When people face social problems, they should seek help and counselling from third parties. Refrain from taking your own life.”

By A Correspondent- The ruling Zanu PF party has once again directed local authorities to go ahead with destroying structures in and around Harare.

Zanu PF on Monday said it had ordered Local Government and National Housing ministers July Moyo and Daniel Garwe, respectively, to stop the demolitions, describing them as “inhumane”.

But barely 24 hours after Obert Mpofu’s statements, demolitions resumed in Glen View suburb, following on from the destruction which started at Mbare’s Mupedzanhamo market and spread to Chitungwiza and in Mashonaland East province, with the destruction of over 3000 stands at Melfort, under a housing development run by Roger Pote.
Pote is a director at Eastwinds Properties, which was developing the Melfort stands. He is also a Zanu PF youth league provincial executive member. Yesterday, the police demolished illegal tuckshops in Mutare.
The ruling party yesterday convened a stakeholders meeting which was attended by Garwe and Moyo as well as Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister Aplonia Munzverengi to try and resolve the Melfort demolitions.
Mpofu said those who had unlawfully allocated land to land seekers should be prosecuted to uphold the rule of law and address unscrupulous parcelling out of land, which he said was rampant throughout the country.
The party claimed Pote and his company disregarded the instructions from Goromonzi Rural District Council to halt construction in Melfort, which prompted the local authority to seek a court order to demolish the illegal houses.
Zanu PF shifted the blame to some unnamed party members, whom it said were using the party’s name to defraud land seekers.
“Let us all take cognisant of the fact that the rule of law should prevail as is continuously reiterated by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” Mpofu said.
“The issue of capture of State land and disenfranchisement of our people at the hands of unscrupulous individuals under the guise of the banner of the party has become pervasive and should be brought to an end.”
He said the ruling party could not risk losing votes of Mashonaland East residents in the 2023 harmonised elections due to the demolitions.
“The GDP of Mashonaland East, which has been increasing as a result of the projects undertaken there, must not be overshadowed by the unfortunate events which led to the demolition of houses in Melfort,” he said.
Zanu PF acting commissar Patrick Chinamasa said there was a frank discussion in the stakeholders’ meeting.
He said Moyo and Garwe were ordered to resolve the issue of land barons, while Zanu PF councillors were ordered to consult in future before land developments are undertaken.
He said a housing regulation committee was set up to include the Small and Medium Enterprise ministry, Justice, provincial ministers as well as Local Government and National Housing.
Chinamasa also said the party was going to take action against party members implicated in “selfish heinous activities”.
“Name-dropping does not award anyone authority and the law must take its course,” he said.
“Land barons must be brought to book. As the ruling party, we say that all those who were affected by the demolitions should be awarded another land. The demolitions were done in error. Consultations must have been made with all stakeholders before they were done.”
Zanu PF has been accusing the MDC Alliance of causing the demolitions, an allegation the opposition party has denied.

By A Correspondent-Zanu PF has made its first move in its clampdown on non-governmental organisations (NGOs), with the Harare metropolitan provincial development co-ordinator (PDC) Tafadzwa Muguti ordering civic organisations operating in the capital to report to him.

Muguti has summoned all directors of NGOs and private voluntary organisations (PVOs) to pay a courtesy call to his office, claiming that some of them were operating outside their mandates.

Government has on several occasions threatened to deregister civic society organisations (CSOs), accusing them of dabbling in politics and being hostile to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ruling Zanu PF party.

In a circular to NGOs, CSOs, PVOs and faith-based organisations yesterday, Muguti ordered them to submit work plans for the rest of this year. He demanded that they provide him with information on workshops and other operations they would be conducting within the province.

Muguti also ordered the organisations to provide monthly reports and other information on their operations by July 9, 2021.

“It has been noted with a high degree of concern that any organisations operating in Harare Metropolitan province, in particular NGOs, have been straying from mandates stated in their respective memoranda of understanding (MOUs),” Muguti said in a circular dated June 30 seen by NewsDay.

“Suffice to say that such behaviour represents a breach of memorandum of agreement and should not be manifested further.

“In view of the foregoing, all non-governmental organisations are hereby directed that operations and clearance of NGOs is now domiciled with the provincial development co-ordinator. All NGO country directors are also invited to a courtesy call with the provincial development co-ordinator and the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution (Oliver Chidawu) for formalities.”

He, however, did not state the constitutional provisions that give him the power to summon the NGOs.

In 2019, High Court judge Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo ruled that district administrators had no business in the operations of NGOs.

Several directors of local NGOs confirmed to NewsDay that they had received Muguti’s circular yesterday, but some said they were failing to comprehend his dictates.

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has posted a damning picture meals being fed to workers at Sunny Yi Feng.

In the picture, ZCTU said Sunny Yi Feng feeds its workers lunch and supper made up of beans and cabbages which they said has little or no cooking oil.

“This is the daily diet for workers who stay @SunnyYiFeng_Ltd. Lunch and supper of beans and cabbages with little or no cooking oil almost daily. Some prisons diet is better than this. All this because the company think it has political protection,” said ZCTU on Twitter.

By Jane Mlambo| A Parirenyatwa general hospital medical doctor Dr Ropafadzo Muzvidziwa has reported being threatened by some unknown men over an affidavit she deposed before the Harare Magistrate Esther Chivasa confirming Pokugara Properties Managing Director Michael Van Blerk’s fitness to stand trial for malicious damage to property.

Van Blerk was arrested together with City of Harare officials including the then Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, Engineer Isaiah Chawatama and others after they reportedly connived to destroy a show house built by Harare businessman George Katsimberis as part of a joint venture agreement with Pokugara Properties owner Kenneth Raydon Sharpe.

In her affidavit Dr Muzvidziwa recommended that Van Blerk attends psychotherapy for depression and anxiety but gave the court the greenlight to proceed with trial saying his current condition allowed him to follow through court proceedings.

This appeared to have angered some yet to be revealed male individuals visited her workplace and spoke a Sister in Charge wanting to know why she deposed the affidavit that cleared Van Blerk to stand trial.

Prosecutor in the Van Blerk’s case Zivanai Macharaga told Harare Regional Magistrate, Esther Chivasa requested for an investigation into threats made to Dr Muzvidziwa.

“After she compiled the affidavit on Monday in the afternoon she (Dr. Muzvidziwa) started communicating with me expressing that she was now being threatened by unknown people, as to why she had deposed an affidavit in the position we have.

“I had to reassure her that the law enforcement would assist. The male individuals who came I am told spoke to a Sister In Charge but she (Dr. Muzvidziwa) advised me that she declined to entertain the men. She was threatened to mind her career because of the way she deposed this affidavit. I then advised her that for her safety I will be informing the court and requesting that the police investigate those attempts to obstruct the course of justice,” said Macharaga.

This flies in the face of Zimbabwe and judiciary’s fight against gender based violence as the male individuals in question could have targeted Dr Muzvidziwa because of her sex.

The issue also raises questions on the judiciary’s administration of justice considering that the state witness Georgios Katsimberis’ lawyer in a related case, Tendai Biti is being charged with manhandling Pokugara Properties Chief Operations Officer Tatiana Aleshina.

A gender activist contacted by ZimEye, Rebecca Mawoyo said threats against a medical doctor who is just doing her work was unwarranted and smacks of gender based violence.

“I am sure they targeted her because they clearly knew she is a woman, the fight for protection of women will not be achieved as long as there are people who target women for harassment.

“She is just a professional and as far as we know, medical doctors are guided by a very strict code of ethics and there is no way she can get involved in fights between individuals, if there are any in this particular case,” said Mawoyo.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW..

1 Aug-Bloodshed-Parliament spends more than an hour praising Kenneth Kaunda for handing over State House to opposition pic.twitter.com/xVtPfdwVQE

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 1, 2021

By A Correspondent- Police in Gweru have arrested a 23 year old Bulawayo man who was found in possession of US$2 710 in fake notes after he tried to buy medicine from a pharmacy.

The incident occurred on Saturday at about 6pm at Sante-Plus Pharmacy at Chirandu Shopping Centre in Senga, Gweru.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident and urged members of the public to scrutinise the United States dollar bills they get from clients in case they are handed counterfeit notes.

“Circumstances are that on the June 26, the accused Tinashe Kanengoni of Nketa 7, Bulawayo disembarked from a Toyota Mark X motor vehicle at the Business center and bought Solphyllex Syrup from Sante-Plus pharmacy. He used a US$100 note and was given US$90 change,” said Insp Mahoko.

He said Kanengoni allegedly rushed back to the vehicle which had two other occupants.

Insp Mahoko said the till operator Mr Kumbirai Brian Chereti immediately realised that the note was fake before running after Kanengoni.

“The till operator realised that the vehicle was about to take off before he jumped onto the bonnet of the motor vehicle. Upon taking off, the driver realising that Mr Kumbirai Brian Chereti was clinging on to the bonnet swerved to the left and right in an effort to throw him off the bonnet. In the process the driver lost control of the vehicle which fell into a ditch,” he said.

Two occupants including the driver, Insp Mahoko said, disembarked the motor vehicle and fled.

“One suspect, Tinashe Kanengoni was apprehended by members of the public who reported the matter to ZRP Senga Police. Police attended the scene and upon searching the vehicle, four different vehicle number plates, $2 710 fake US dollars comprising of 25xUS$100, 3xUS$50, 2xUS$20 and 2xUS$10 were recovered,” he said.

Insp Mahoko said investigations are in progress.

“The other two suspects are at large while Kanengoni is in police custody. He will be taken to court soon to answer charges of fraud,” he said.

Insp Mahoko appealed to members of the public who might have information on the whereabouts of the other suspects to inform any nearest police station.

“Also, members of the public who have fallen victim to criminals using counterfeit money are invited to approach Senga Police and assist in this investigation. We would also like to urge business people to closely check the bills they are given before processing transactions,” he said.

BY A CORRESPONDENT| Recent remarks by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo praising whistle-blowers for their role in the fight against corruption could prove to be mere rhetoric following the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to proceed with the trial of Harare businessman George Katsimberis who is a witness and an accused on the same set of facts.

Matanda-Moyo in a recent statement said whistle-blowers played a big part in the arrest of 103 corruption accused persons in the past six months.

Katsimberis reported the then City of Harare Town Clerk Hosia Chisango, Engineer Isaiah Chawatama as well as Augur Investments owner Kenneth Raydon Sharpe and his ally Michael John Van Blerk among others for malicious damage to property.

He is now in trouble as the accused persons in his case turned around and reported him for fraud using the same set of facts.

In his letter to NPA, Head of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) in the office of the President, Tabani Mpofu expressed concern that a witness lined up to testify on behalf of the state was being charged on the same facts.

“SACU is deeply concerned that a witness who is lined up to testify on behalf of the state, that is George Katsimberis is now being charged on the same facts and the accused persons in his case are now witnesses in a case against him.

“In these two cases that are referred herein above the state appears to allege a particular fact on one hand and also alleging the opposite and charge its own witness. The efforts of combating corruption can be put in jeopardy if cases are handled in this way,” SACU said.

Katsimberis reported Chisango and his accomplices after, without a court order they destroyed a show house he built at the corner of Teviotdale and Whitwell Road, Borrowdale as part of a botched joint venture agreement with Sharpe.

Now he has to content standing in the dock as an accused person after Sharpe reported him back for fraud claiming that he used substandard material to construct the show house.

BY A CORRESPONDENT| Pokugara Properties Managing Director Michael John Van Blerk whose trial for charges of malicious damage to property had stalled due to alleged ill health has been declared fit and able to follow through court proceedings, according to an affidavit submitted to the Harare Magistrates Court by a medical doctor from Parirenyatwa General Hospital.

Van Blerk allegedly connived with his ‘at large’ boss Kenneth Raydon Sharpe and City of Harare officials to destroy a show house built by a Harare businessman George Katsimberis at the corner of Teviotdale and Whitwell road, Borrowdale.

The show house was built as part of a joint venture agreement between Sharpe and Katsimberis to develop Pokugara Estate into a low density residential area.

According to Dr Ropafadzo Muzvidziwa from Parirenyatwa general hospital, Van Blerk who was earlier reported to be suffering from depression and Catatonic epilepsy had applied to have his trial postponed to allow him to heal.

“I examined Michael John Van Blerk and noted he feels anxious and sad but no suicidal ideations. Michael John Van Blerk’s thoughts were organised with no hallucinations (hearing voices inside his head not seeing visions). Michael John Van Blerk blood tests were normal, his computer tomography scan of the brain was normal and the electroencephalogram was normal,” said Dr Muzvidziwa.

She recommended that Van Blerk attends psychotherapy for depression and anxiety but insisted that his current condition allowed him to follow through court proceedings.

“My opinion is that Michael John Van Blerk at the time of the alleged offence had no mental disorder but suffers from mild depression and anxiety. Michael John Van Blerk experienced an acute confessional state as a result of the stress of the trial. I recommend Michael John Van Blerk attends psychotherapy (talk treatment) for depression and anxiety. Michael John Van Blerk is now fit to stand trial and can follow through court proceedings,” she added.

Meanwhile, Harare magistrates’ court has separated Van Blerk him from his accomplices including former City of Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango and City Director of Works Engineer Isaiah Chawatama.

He will now stand on his own.

Meanwhile, social media has reacted to the news of Star FM Presenter KVG real name Kudzai Violet Gwara buying a house at Pokugara Estate.

One user Dr Controlla Gabi said he has previously raised the issue of leaseholds where the property buyer does not own the land their property is on.

“Congratulations KVG. I hope they gave you a fair contract for the property. I have raised the issue of leaseholds @WestPropZim have introduced in Zim whereby the property buyer doesn’t own the land their property is on. Haven’t responded. Star FM hasn’t commented either,” said Controlla Gabi.

Controlla Gabi added that West Property was introducing a failed concept which he said does not guarantee sufficient buyer legal protection.

“I’m concerned that you’re introducing failed concepts that deprive aspiring homeowners of this birthright. I don’t believe there is sufficient buyer legal protection,” added Controlla Gabi.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who doubles as the Minister of Health and Child Care Wednesday told the Parliament that the government is in the process of taking over all health facilities run by councils.

Chiwenga said the move was part of a grand plan to ensure standardised service delivery as envisaged by the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

The former military boss said his Ministry was in the process of recruiting provincial medical directors for Harare and Bulawayo.

He made the remarks while responding to a motion moved by Bulawayo Proportional Representation legislator Dr Thokozani Khupe who bemoaned the continued charging of user fees by health centres despite a Government policy against that. Chiwenga said:

_To ensure implementation of National Development Strategy 1 on health and well-being, the Ministry of Health and Child Care is in the process of absorbing into the mainstream, all local authorities health delivery platforms which include clinics, polyclinics, rural hospitals and infectious disease hospitals._

_In this regard, the Ministry is in the process of filling the gaps of provincial medical directors for Harare and Bulawayo Metropolitan provinces reporting directly to the Ministry._

_This will standardise the provision of health service delivery among other things addressing both the welfare of health workers and Government user fee position._

Chiwenga added that MoHCC had just crafted the Health Development Strategy for 2021 to 2025 which would ensure equitable health delivery to everyone

He said the charging of user fees was in contravention of the exemption policy and has resulted in decreased use of services by most members of the community who are not able to afford the user-related fees.

Chiwenga added that the current setup had created a risk for patients purchasing unregistered and unapproved medicines from the black market.

The health system in the country has been collapsed for decades now with the haves getting medication beyond the country’s borders.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent| Sakunda Holdings has retrenched tens of workers as economic sanctions imposed on the firm and its chief executive officer Kudakwashe Tagwirei take toll on the once shining company in Zimbabwe.

The exercise, which claimed the sculps of long serving executives and middle managers, has seen chief operating officer Mr Mberikwazvo Chitambo and head of special projects Mr Clement Kahiya being sent home.

The US slapped sanctions on Mr Tagwirei and his business acting on recommendations by some opposition parties and NGOs for “supporting the Zanu‐PF government.”
According to sources privy to the developments, only 16 workers were spared.

“Sakunda has hit hard times and it’s a sign that the sanctions are biting everyone,” said the source.
“The signs were always there as the company once closed its logistics section sometime back. Sakunda was once a shining company but sanctions have taken away the glitter of the company with a massive retrenchment exercise. The company has even laid off some its most trusted lieutenants like Chitambo and Kahiya, leaving a skeleton staff of 16 workers.”

United States of America placed businessman Kuda Tagwirei and his firm Sakunda Holdings under sanctions over his support for the Zimbabwe government.

The step had long been expected after Tagwirei received repeated public criticism from American diplomats, leading to his long-time partners Trafigura buying him out in 2020.

In imposing sanctions on Tagwirei and Sakunda Holdings, the US Treasury Department said Tagwirei has been sanctioned “for providing support to the leadership of the Government of Zimbabwe”.

The US also believes Sakunda was involved in what it says is an unaccounted for US$3 billion allocated under the Command Agriculture program.

Appearing before Parliament in March 2020, Sakunda Chief Operating officer Mr Mberikwazvo Chitambo showed documents that he said proved that his company had received around US$1 billion between June 2016 and May 2019 for Command Agriculture.

Contacted for comment on the recent developments, Sakunda Chief Executive officer Mr Kudakwashe Tagwirei did not respond to questions sent to his mobile number.

By A Correspondent- Quelea flocks have appeared in Matabeleland North and are hitting sorghum and peal millet fields, warns the Plant Quarantine and Plant Protection Research Services Institute.

Shingirai Nyamutukwa, head of the institute, said yesterday that his organisation and the National Parks and Wildlife Authority had teams on the ground working to control and manage the birds, a tiny species that flocks in huge numbers and so becomes a pest.

“We have teams from our institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Authority that are now involved in quelea bird management in roosting or breeding sites especially in reeds and acacia trees in the Pandamatenga area of Matabeleland North. The birds mostly prefer annual grass seeds but when not available, small grain cereal crops become the target.”

Nyamutukwa urged farmers and the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious flocks.

“Chemical control using Queletox is in progress in areas like Pandamatenga which are known to be breeding and roosting sites for quelea birds. Prospects to use falcon birds as biological control are being explored for use in Africa including Zimbabwe. The outbreak of quelea birds is particularly worrying after most farmers got a bumper millet and sorghum crop.

“Quelea birds also pose a big threat to the country’s winter wheat crop particularly in the Middle Sabi area of Chipinge South where marauding quelea birds have been a problem in the past.”

The country’s winter wheat crop is already established and farmers need to be vigilant.

“Farmers must remain alert to quelea birds as well as other pests that include caterpillars (bollworms Helicoverpa armigera), wheat stem borers (Sesamia inferens), rodents and fungal diseases,” Nyamutukwa said. While all these pests contribute to yield losses, more than 95 percent of any wheat damage is due to quelea birds. Small grain farmers also face challenges with quelea birds with experts saying each bird feeds on average 4g of grain a day but when that tiny number is multiplied by the flock sizes, the extent of the damage can be seen.

“A million birds can result in losses exceeding 40 000 tonnes. Damage is excessive when it’s due to large flocks. Management of quelea birds is therefore critical if intended yields are to be realised,” Nyamutukwa said.

Quelea birds were reported to be wreaking havoc in Nyamandlovu and Bubi farming areas in Matabeleland North where they are devouring small grains. Farmers were reported to be having a torrid time clanging metal objects and chasing away the tiny but heavy feasting birds.

The red-billed quelea is a small weaver bird native to sub-Saharan Africa and renowned for its attacks on small-grain crops within Africa. It is the most numerous bird species in the world, with a peak post-breeding population estimated at 1,8 billion. Nomadic super-colonies can grow to millions of birds, making quelea not only the most abundant bird in the world but also the most destructive to cereal grains, especially sorghum and millets as well as wheat, rice and barley.

-statemedia

A Zimbabwean court has ordered Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Hon. Kazembe Kazembe to pay more than US$10 000 to a couple that was roughed up by some law enforcement agents while claiming to be suppressing an anti-government protest in 2019.

Harare Magistrate Winfilda Tiyatara on Friday 25 June 2021 ordered Matanga and Hon. Kazembe to pay US$5 000 each or its equivalent of RTGS$450 000 each to Canaan Machando and his wife Sipetangani Machando as compensation for violation of their fundamental rights and their property.

In addition, Magistrate Tiyatara ordered Matanga and Hon. Kazembe to pay RTGS$56 800 to Canaan and RTGS$24 000 to Sipetangani as compensation for damages to their mobile phone handsets.

During trial, Canaan and Sipetangani, who were assisted by Fiona Iliff of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to sue Matanga and Hon. Kazembe, told Magistrate Tiyatara that on 14 January 2019 some ZRP officers together with some soldiers who had been deployed to quell anti-government protests held over a unilateral fuel price hike slapped Sipetangani several times and kicked her in the presence of her two minor children. The police officers and soldiers ordered Canaan to lie flat on his stomach, stepped on him before assaulting
him and also directed him to sit in a bucket full of cold water.

The soldiers and police officers also took Canaan to Mharapara Road, the main road in Unit F high-density suburb in Chitungwiza, where the protests had been taking place and directed him to remove burning tyres from the streets and in the process he sustained some burns on his hands.

As a result of the assault and ill-treatment, Canaan sustained injuries to his back, thighs, eardrum and had to seek medical attention and he was unable to work as a result of his medical condition and suffered loss of income.

The ZRP officers broke Sipetangani’s Samsung mobile phone handset valued at RTGS$24 000 while one of the police officers threw teargas canisters inside their house in Unit F high-density suburb in Chitungwiza and damaged a window pane and the floor valued at the cost of RTGS$56 800.

The persecution by ZRP officers forced Sipetengani and her minor children including a visitor out of the house as it was inhabitable for three days because of the teargas and this meant Sipetengani and Canaan were unable to work for several days.

In her ruling, Magistrate Tiyatara said Sipetengani and Canaan and their children suffered emotional pain and suffering, trauma and shock from the incident and the couple was humiliated and embarrassed by the indignity of being forced out of their home owing to misconduct by police officers.

Magistrate Tiyatara said the conduct of ZRP officers complained of by Canaan and Sipetengani was unlawful and there was no legal justification whatsoever for them to have conducted themselves in such a wayward manner.

The Magistrate also ruled that the actions of the ZRP officers was so indiscriminate, unwarranted and unnecessary and their conduct falls short of the duty of care that the police service has towards civilians.

ENDS

By A Correspondent- Three illegal gold miners are feared dead following the collapse of a tunnel they were working in at a disused mine in Shurugwi.

The three gold panners have been trapped since Sunday when the ground caved in at Camperdown Mine.

The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development said there are 22 illegal gold miners who have died in similar incidents at disused mines across the country this year.

Shurugwi District Development Coordinator (DDC) Mr Romeo Shangwa who visited the site together with the Midlands Provincial Mining Director Engineer Tariro Ndlovu confirmed the incident.

He said the three illegal miners are trapped underground at Camperdown mine which belongs to Zimasco.

Mr Shangwa said the mine was now disused but illegal miners have been finding their way into it and stealing gold ore.

He said mining experts were working flat out to reach the miners.

“Rescue teams are working flat out to reach the trapped miners,” said Mr Shangwa.

— Herald

By A Correspondent- The 15 year old girl went to the prophet because she had a headache, but he saw her as a wife.

The girl found herself trapped in a strange house being traded by her gogo into ukuthwala.

She’s been saved but it is not known to what extent she has already suffered!

Child activist Petros Majola is calling for a harsh sentence for a prophet (50) accused of attempting to marry a 15-year-old girl through ukuthwala and allegedly forcing the underage girl to have se_x with him.

“We rescued the girl from the prophet after we were tipped off by the community of Coza in Nyandeni about this forced marriage,” Petros of Khula Community Development told Daily Sun.

The girl was rescued on Tuesday morning by Petros and cops in Libode a day before the lobola negotiations.

“According to the girl who was doing grade 7 she went to the prophet when she had a headache, instead he abducted her. She has been staying for days with the prophet performing housewife duties, allegedly including se_x.

Petros said the prophet and the girl’s gogo were arranging the forced marriage.

“This coming weekend the girl’s family was going to enter into lobola negotiations with the prophet,” said Petros.

“Apparently the prophet said he had dreams that he should marry this girl. Gogo agreed as the girl’s mum lives in Joburg.”

Petros rejected the prophet’s dream.

“We’ve learnt that this was his third victim using the same trick.”

Petros said arranged or forced marriages are a threat to young girls.

“Parents make the arrangements and find in-laws for their children,” he said

A relative of the child who alerted the cops said: “The gogo of the girl was pushed by her younger sister to arrange this marriage to get money.” She said the girl has mental health problems.

“Her sister recruited her into this church claiming that she would be healed by the prophet. The lobola negotiations were supposed to start on Wednesday and gogo was told to ask for six cows.”

Brigadier Kinana confirmed that a girl (15) was abducted about two weeks ago.

“It’s alleged that the marriage was arranged by the suspect believed to be a church leader aged 50 and the grandmother, aged 66,” said Kinana.

“A case of abduction and rap_e were opened for further investigation. Two suspects have been bust, and one of them is believed to be the grandmother to the child.”

He said the victim has been kept in a place of safety.

The suspects are expected to appear in court once they’re charged.

By A Correspondent- An Odzi man in Arda Transau, Manicaland province, is in trouble after killing his workmate at a gold mine for allegedly having an extra-marital affair with his wife.

Hamabungu Nherere (37), from village 6 in Odzi, yesterday appeared before High Court judge Justice Isaac Muzenda facing a murder charge.

Nherere, who is being represented by Brian Majamanda, was this week granted $50 000 bail.

He will be back in court on July 18.

It is the State’s case that the accused and the now-deceased, who is not named in the court papers, were workmates at Chikanga Gold Mine in Odzi.

The State alleges that the accused on May 30, 2021 went to the now-deceased’s residence at the mine where he accused him of having an extra-marital affair with his wife.

He assaulted him using fists and open hands.

The accused allegedly went on to pick a wooden log and hit the complainant on the left rib.

The now-deceased suffered severe injuries and was rushed to Victoria Chitepo Hospital, where he died on admission.

By Own Correspondent| The Harare Municipality Chief Security Officer Collen Tongowona is in the eye of a storm after his son was found in a possession of the municipality’s service   firearms but the case was trivialized.

A letter addressed to Head Public Safety  from the Chief Traffic Officer one M Chimombe  states that on  10^th June at Warren Park  Police  Station  a complaint was lodged that Collen Tongowona (Junior ) pointed a firearm at the yet to be identified complainant.

Investigation carried out by ZRP Homicide found out the firearm which was used belonged to the Harare Municipality security boss.

“The ZRP Homicide section  investigated  the matter and proved that Mr C Tongowona(senior)was in possession of 2 pistols namely SM Pistol Serial  No 31337 which was used by the son to commit the offence which was heard at the Magistrate Court CRB 5819/21.

“Detective Sergeant Chindove of ZRP  Homicide Section  confirmed the findings,” states the letter.

It has since been established that the Harare   security boss violated the provisions of the law by illegally possessing the firearms without relevant specific firearm certificate.

The Chief Traffic Officer further   says the case shows negligence on the part of Tongowona.

“It is cause of concern that the head of security does not take the Firearms Act precepts seriously including compliance with Standard Operational Procedures for storage of such  a deadly weapon .

“Mr C Tongowona’s residence is not a designated   council premise  to secure the organizational ammunition,” wrote Chimombe.

The Chief Traffic Officer is now being harassed to change his position on the report, sources allege .

 This publication found that the   Collen  Tongowona Junior was given community service for the death threats he made.

A prominent Harare lawyer who spoke to this publication  , said it was suspicious that such a case got such a lesser sentence.

“This is just another case of trivializing serious crimes pointing a firearm at someone is a huge crime which warrants a custodial sentence and I think money could have changed hands there,

“The father should have also answered for his gross negligence and it should be established whether both  firearms were  licensed and does his son’s   name appear on who should legally possess the firearms.

“Cases like this need thorough investigation to avoid them recurring again and again,”” said the lawyer who requested anonymity .

Government is in the process of taking over all health facilities owned by local authorities as part of a grand plan to ensure  standardised service delivery as envisaged by the National Development Strategy 1, Parliament heard yesterday.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga told legislators that most health facilities owned by local authorities were charging pregnant women and juveniles under five user fees in defiance of a standing health policy.

VP Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care said his Ministry was in the process of recruiting provincial medical directors for Harare and Bulawayo.

He said this in the National Assembly while responding to a motion moved by Bulawayo Proportional Representation legislator Dr Thokozani Khupe who bemoaned the continued charging of user fees by health centres despite a Government policy against that.

The Vice President said health facilities were supposed to help pregnant women deliver for free before submitting their claims to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development for reimbursement.

“To ensure implementation of National Development Strategy 1 on health and well-being, the Ministry of Health and Child Care is in the process of absorbing into the mainstream, all local authorities health delivery platforms which include clinics, polyclinics, rural hospitals and infectious disease hospitals. 

“In this regard, the Ministry is in the process of filling the gaps of provincial medical directors for Harare and Bulawayo Metropolitan provinces reporting directly to the Ministry. 

“This will standardise the provision of health service delivery among other things addressing both the welfare of health workers and Government user fee position,” said VP Chiwenga.

He said PMDs would be focal persons working with Ministers of State for Provinces and the Provincial Development Coordinator to push the devolution agenda.

He said the Ministry had just crafted the Health Development Strategy for 2021 to 2025 which would ensure equitable health delivery to everyone

VP Chiwenga chronicled the historical background regarding the policy on no user fee and noted that while Government had directed that there should be no user fees in district rural clinics, they were charging card, consultation, drug, security and development fees among others.

It was also noted that some health facilities were also demanding non monetary charges in the form of commodities such as maize, chicken and goats for services given to pregnant women.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe’s founding president, Enos Manyika has lost his legal battle in which he sought an order barring the current president Reverend Amon Madawo from using the church’s registered name.

Manyika, through his lawyers Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, recently filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking an order interdicting the Rev Madawo faction from using the registered name of the church.

Manyika argued that it has caused the creation of a parallel constitution, which is separate from the one registered and filed with the Registrar of Deeds.

However, Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Christopher Dube-Banda dismissed Manyika’s application, saying it was not urgent.

He ruled:

In the result, the point in limine on urgency is upheld. This application is not urgent and is removed from the roll of urgent matters.

Justice Dube-Banda ordered Manyika to pay the legal costs incurred by the respondents. He said:

The applicant is the person behind the litigation. This is one of the cases where this court will not hesitate to exercise its discretion in awarding costs on a legal practitioner and client scale.

The costs of this application to be borne by the applicant in his personal capacity on a legal practitioner and client scale.

The judge ruled that Manyika was merely trying to hoodwink the court and challenge the decision of the Supreme Court hiding under the name of the church. Said Justice Dube-Banda

In casu, it is clear that the applicant (Dr Manyika) is conducting his own litigation masquerading as the church. He has no authority from the church to institute these proceedings.

In fact, he is aware of the High Court and Supreme Court judgments in respect of this dispute, which has since been resolved by the courts.

A litigant cannot be permitted to recycle the same dispute before the court. This court cannot countenance such conduct because once the Supreme Court has spoken, a litigant cannot be permitted to bring the same issue, in whatever name, before this court.

The battle to control AFM started in 2018, resulting in the emergence of two rival camps.

One faction was led by Rev Madawo, the church’s former secretary and the other by Rev Cossam Chiangwa who was the church’s former deputy president.

The dispute between the two camps spilled into the Supreme Court after a group led by Rev Chiangwa filed an appeal against a High Court order which gave Rev Madawo’s faction blessings to lead the church.

The Supreme Court handed Rev Madawo’s camp victory recently after it upheld a previous High Court decision and agreed that a 2018 meeting that purported to change the leadership was void.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A police officer died in the early hours of Thursday after he was run over by a CAG bus which is operating under the Zupco franchise.

The police officer was manning a roadblock along the Khami Road flyover in Bulawayo.

This is a developing story.

More details to follow.

By A Correspondent- A 22 year old man from Gokwe North was murdered after he allegedly approached one of the suspects claiming his newly married wife was preg_nant by him.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said Justice Chidhakwa had initially told one of the suspects, Joseph Muzenda, that he had just married a woman who was preg_nant with his baby.

Muzenda later teamed up with two other suspècts, Simbarashe Zikoke and Wellington Zharare, before stabbing Chidhakwa to death.

“The suspects waylaid Chidhakwa along a footpath near Manoti Business Centre in Gokwe North on Sunday at around 7pm before confronting him for claiming that their friend, Joseph Muzenda, had married his preg_nant girlfriend,” said Insp Mahoko.

“Simbarashe Zikoke then grabbed Chidhakwa from the back, while Zharare stabbed him once on the left side of the chest and once on the leg with a knife. He died on the spot.”-statemedia

Harare Magistrate Barbra Mateko has ordered the Officer In Charge of Marimba Police Station to investigate and provide her with information in relation to how freelance journalist Edgar Gweshe was compelled to pay RTGS$500 fine for allegedly contravening curfew regulations and yet he was arrested before 10:PM, which was the scheduled curfew time when people were restricted from moving around unnecessarily.

Gweshe was arrested on 12 June 2021 and detained overnight at Marimba Police Station and was released on 13 June 2021 after paying RTGS$500 fine.

Through his lawyer Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Gweshe wrote a letter to the Provincial Magistrate at Harare Magistrates Court protesting and arguing that he was arrested at 8:PM way before 10:PM, which was the scheduled curfew early in June.

The freelance journalist says he had refused to pay the fine after explaining his circumstances before his arrest to some ZRP officers but he ended up paying the RTGS$500 fine under protest and desperation to regain his freedom and dignity which had been violated for several hours by ZRP officers who did not allow him access to food and water and to call his lawyers while in detention.

Gweshe was only allowed access to water around 3:PM on 13 June 2021.Mateko said judicial officers at Harare Magistrate Court are conducting investigations into Gweshe’s complaint for them to assess whether they can proceed in terms of section 356 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, which provides for the setting aside of Gweshe’s conviction and to be refunded once a judicial officer is satisfied that the freelance journalist should not have been convicted.

By A Correspondent- A 73 year old Binga gogo who could not come to terms with losing her son who drowned in the Zambezi River, allegedly committed suicide by hanging.

Makomwe Muchimba of Sinampande Village allegedly hanged herself in a makeshift bathroom on Saturday evening soon after receiving news that her epileptic son had drowned.

The 42-year-old son whose full details were not given, had gone fishing when disaster struck.

Police confirmed the death of the woman and her son.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda said a neighbour who heard about Muchimba’s son’s death proceeded to the family to pass his condolences when he found the now deceased’s visually impaired husband Mr Mpolokoso Muchimba alone at home.

“Mr Patrick Ncube only found Mr Mpolokoso Muchimba (76) who is blind and is Muchimba’s husband. At around 8PM, villagers searched for the woman and at around 9PM, her body was found hanging from a beam in a bathroom hut about 60 meters from the homestead,” said Insp Banda.

He encouraged members of the public to monitor people with chronic diseases or those under great stress to avoid tragedies.

-statemedia