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.

“We are all living under the impact of this pandemic, but I can assure you that Zimbabwe is doing all it can to deal with it.”

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube talks about Zimbabwe's plan to resolve its economic hardship. World Bank reports 49% of the population live in poverty. pic.twitter.com/Ro2CCYOP0A

— CNN Africa (@CNNAfrica) July 1, 2021

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.

We call on the South African government to isolate and close down the diplomatic offices of the king Mswati III in South Africa as form of protest and demonstration against his order to brutalise and maim the struggling people of eSwatini.

Victory is Certain ✊? pic.twitter.com/5kGd9tm4OX

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) June 30, 2021

https://twitter.com/VuyolwethuNhla1/status/1410398907734052870?s=20

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 .

https://twitter.com/mdcmashwest/status/1410477041816850432?s=20

Soldiers are going house to house to assault and arrest pro-Democracy supporters calling for an end to King Mswati's absolute powers in ESwatini. #eSwatiniProtest #eSwatini https://t.co/xk6hhIhkBt

— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) June 30, 2021

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

By A Correspondent- A Glen Lorne maid was yesterday dragged to court charged with armed robbery after she reportedly connived with armed robbers to rob her employer.

Catherine Kanyama, 30, was not asked to plead when she appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.

Allegations are that on April 3 Kanyama connived with her accomplices to rob her employer and showed them who their target was and briefed them of the complainant’s movements.

Armed with this information, it is reported that they confronted the complainant around 1am armed with handcuffs, knives and a gun while he was sleeping before they started demanding money and threatening to shoot him if he failed to give them the money.

He gave them US$3000 that was on his bedside drawer but they kept demanding more and ransacked the house and stole a 55-inch television set, various phones, a laptop, shoes, car keys, clothes and shoes which they loaded into the complainant’s Honda Fit which they got away with and later dumped it in Chitungwiza but went away with the registration book.

Kanyama reportedly them met with her accomplices and got her share of the property stolen in the robbery leading to her arrest.

Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.

By A Correspondent- A Glen Lorne maid was Tuesday dragged to court charged with armed robbery after she reportedly connived with armed robbers to rob her employer.

Catherine Kanyama, 30, was not asked to plead when she appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.

Allegations are that on April 3 Kanyama connived with her accomplices to rob her employer and showed them who their target was and briefed them of the complainant’s movements.

Armed with this information, it is reported that they confronted the complainant around 1am armed with handcuffs, knives and a gun while he was sleeping before they started demanding money and threatening to shoot him if he failed to give them the money.

He gave them US$3000 that was on his bedside drawer but they kept demanding more and ransacked the house and stole a 55-inch television set, various phones, a laptop, shoes, car keys, clothes and shoes which they loaded into the complainant’s Honda Fit which they got away with and later dumped it in Chitungwiza but went away with the registration book.

Kanyama reportedly them met with her accomplices and got her share of the property stolen in the robbery leading to her arrest.

Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.

By A Correspondent- An unidentified body of a male recovered in a disused mine shaft at Mukaradzi mining site in Mt Darwin on June 15 has been sent to Parirenyatwa Hospital for postmortem, with police appealing for people with missing relatives to come forward.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Ndliwayo said the man was wearing a blue work suit and the bottom had reflectors on the knees.

He was putting on a blue t-shirt and black gumboots with orange patches on the soles.

“On June 15 this year at around midday, Raymond Zongoro (21) of Chaora village smelt a stench while passing by the disused mine,” Asst Insp Ndliwayo said. “He informed others and they went to investigate. They found the body floating in water and retrieved it.”

Police attended the scene and the body was ferried to Bindura Hospital before being transferred to Parirenyatwa Hospital.

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 yesterday morning.

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- Business came to a standstill in Victoria Falls on Monday when a funeral cortège made up of scores of taxi drivers blocked roads as they mourned their colleague who died in car accident on Friday.

Commuters were stranded on Mondays when all taxis were withdrawn from the road as drivers attended Emmanuel Thunywa’s burial.

Thunywa, a popular taxi driver in the resort town, died on the spot on his 30th birthday when he lost control of his vehicle which overturned in Chidobe.

He had just gotten married to Ms Tapiwa Hikwa.
His two cousins Prince Mlilo and Ivonn Dube survived with injuries.
It was an emotional send-off as friends, relatives and taxi drivers mourned Thunywa.
Burial service was held at a local parlour where hundreds of people turned up, disregarding Covid-19 regulations restricting funeral gatherings to 30 people.
Some followed proceedings from outside the funeral parlour’s chapel in observance of social distancing.

From the parlour, taxis lined up as they trickled into the main road, driving to Moringa in Mkhosana before driving back to Chinotimba past Victoria Falls Hospital, Chinotimba Rank and Emaplankeni, the places where Thunywa operated from.
People stood on the road sides and outside houses to witness the emotional procession accompanied by hooting of cars.
For some minutes even the Hwange-Victoria Falls highway was blocked at the Mkhosana turn-off to allow easy passage by the cortège.
Taxi drivers said Thunywa’s death came as a shock.
Victoria Falls Taxis Association chairperson Mr Admire Dube said it was a blow to the industry.
“We are pained by losing a brother especially dying on his birthday. We are here to show our support and love for him. He was a great man and it is a loss to us. As an association we have resolved that his wife will get free transport whenever she travels around Victoria Falls as a gesture of love and respect for the man we worked with,” he said.
A resident Mr Praymore Ncube of Mfelandawonye said: “We are touched by what happened. There was no transport in the morning but we understand because taxi drivers were mourning their colleague.”
Mrs Margaret Mutongola said she waited for 45 minutes at the bus stop before she was told that there were no taxis. She said she had to walk to the city centre

By A Correspondent- The parliament has invited members of the public to nominate knowledgeable people of integrity to serve in the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) as three commissioners are expected to retire from the institutions in the next three months.

The Zec commissioners whose terms are coming to an end are deputy chairperson Emmanuel Magade and Dr Qhubani Moyo.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Parliament’s Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO) said the public should have nominated individuals to replace the two commissioners by July 16.

By A Correspondent- The trial of Marry Chiwenga, the estranged wife of the Minister of Health and Child Care, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was Tuesday postponed further after the magistrate granted the State’s application for postponement due to her ill health.

Marry appeared before Harare magistrate Noel Mupeyiwa who remanded the matter to 6 September so that her health could be assessed to see whether she will be fit to stand trial.

Appearing for the State, Charles Muchemwa said on the previous hearing, Mubaiwa was remanded further while she was admitted to a hospital.

He said:

The last time when the matter came the witnesses were available and the accused was in the hospital and because of that trial could not kick off we had to de-warn the witnesses as they had been appearing previously for a while with the matter failing to kick off.

In response, Marry’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa said it is not in dispute that her client was unwell and cannot comprehend court proceedings as she has a drainage system attached to her arm draining some fluid from her wounds.

Marry is accused of assaulting Vice President Chiwenga’s family maid Delight Munyoro at Hellenic School following a heated argument over the custody of their three minor children.

Munyoro claims to have sustained a cut on her lips after being struck by Marry.

She is also claiming that some of her teeth are loose and are now shaking following the alleged assault.

-HMetro

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.

-ZLHR

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa is silent on the hero status of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga top ally Major-General (Retired) Clever Shadreck Chiramba.

Chiramba died of Covid-19 on Sunday and the government has said nothing about his hero status.

Major-General (Rtd) Chiramba was Chiwenga’s top ally pre and post-independence.

“It was with great shock and pain that I received the news of the untimely death on Sunday morning of Major-General (Rtd) Clever Shadreck Chiramba at Parirenyatwa Hospital after succumbing to Covid-19 related complications,” Chiwenga told state media Wednesday.

“His passing on leaves a deep void that will be difficult to bridge both within the Chiramba family and among those of his comrades he served with during the liberation struggle as well as among former colleagues in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

“I knew him well personally from the days of the liberation struggle and as a senior officer in the Zimbabwe National Army.”

By A Correspondent- A Glen Lorne maid was yesterday dragged to court charged with armed robbery after she reportedly connived with armed robbers to rob her employer.

Catherine Kanyama, 30, was not asked to plead when she appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.

Allegations are that on April 3 Kanyama connived with her accomplices to rob her employer and showed them who their target was and briefed them of the complainant’s movements.

Armed with this information, it is reported that they confronted the complainant around 1am armed with handcuffs, knives and a gun while he was sleeping before they started demanding money and threatening to shoot him if he failed to give them the money.

He gave them US$3000 that was on his bedside drawer but they kept demanding more and ransacked the house and stole a 55-inch television set, various phones, a laptop, shoes, car keys, clothes and shoes which they loaded into the complainant’s Honda Fit which they got away with and later dumped it in Chitungwiza but went away with the registration book.

Kanyama reportedly them met with her accomplices and got her share of the property stolen in the robbery leading to her arrest.

Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has spoken on the life of the late military commander Major-General (Retired) Clever Shadreck Chiramba who died of Covid-19 on Sunday.

Chiwenga, said Major-General (Rtd) Chiramba played a key role pre and post-independence.

“It was with great shock and pain that I received the news of the untimely death on Sunday morning of Major-General (Rtd) Clever Shadreck Chiramba at Parirenyatwa Hospital after succumbing to Covid-19 related complications,” said VP Chiwenga.

“His passing on leaves a deep void that will be difficult to bridge both within the Chiramba family and among those of his comrades he served with during the liberation struggle as well as among former colleagues in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

“I knew him well personally from the days of the liberation struggle and as a senior officer in the Zimbabwe National Army.”

Burial arrangements for the military stalwart are yet to be announced.

By A Correspondent- A Chipinge based commercial farmer and businessman, Billy Rautenbach has given villagers from Chinyamukwakwa Village in Chipinge two months to harvest their crops and leave their forefathers’ land.

The multi-millionaire ethanol company, Greenfuel owner, was leased the land that was once used by ARDA in Middle Sabi and Chisumbanje and it’s now expanding its boundaries into areas settled by the villagers. Currently, the company has over 40 000 hectares of land.

Headman Chinyamukwakwa and his community are blaming their MP Enock Porusingasi who they accuse of supporting Greenfuel against the people who elected him into office. They also blamed District development Coordinator (DDC) William Mashava and chief Garahwa.

Prof Madhuku said Greenfuel has since given the villagers up until they finish their harvest and the company will then bring everything down.

Greenfuel spokesperson Merit Rumema told Chipinge Times to send questions via email but she did not respond.

“The company accepted that it can not plough down unharvested crops owned by the villagers and has given up until possibly August for them to finish harvesting. We are preparing court papers against this.

“The company is just greedy, if they admire good land, they will just grab it. They are taking law into their own hands,” said Professor Madhuku.

“Who will fight for us when all these people are involved. The MP and the DDC are on Greenfuel’s side. The MP is giving away our land to Mr Rautenbach. We were born and bred here and this is our land,” said Chinyamukwakwa.

Professor Lovemore Madhuku is representing the villagers.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has bluntly challenged the disjointed Zanu PF regime to implement reforms before crying for international aid.

Hon Biti argues that the regime must stop ” gross violation of human rights, persecution of citizens and looting” before thinking of seeking help from the international community.

According to Hon Biti, the Zanu PF regime is cruel, vindictive and irrational.

See below Hon Biti’s argument:

The continued incarceration and persecution of
@MakomboreroH
graphically captures everything wrong about the Mnangagwa regime .Extractive ,cruel , incompetent, vindictive , irrational , petty ,captured mendacious,predatory, sick& fascist #FreeMako”

“It is criminal & irresponsible for #IFIs to continue propping up autocrats & in the process aid & abet the suffering&exploitation of ordinary citizens.Where a country steals elections, has no respect for human rights&rule of law, vandalizes institutions,it can’t be supported.

The IMF Executive Board has approved a US$1 billion financing package for Uganda to support the COVID-19 response and recovery.

The program includes reforms to strengthen governance and transparency. #IMFAfrica”

By A Correspondent- Between 3 000 and 10 000 housing units and a building technology plant are set to be constructed under a partnership between the Zimbabwean Government and Shelter Afrique, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Shelter Afrique is a pan-African finance institution that exclusively supports the development of affordable housing and real estate sector development in Africa.

Speaking during the 21st post-Cabinet briefing in Harare Tuesday evening, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa also revealed that Zimbabwe was elected as the 1st vice-chairperson of the Shelter Afrique Bureau.

Said Mutsvangwa:

The Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Hon. D. Garwe reported that the 40th Annual General Meeting and Symposium of Shelter Afrique was held from 20 to 25 June 2021 in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Zimbabwe was elected as the first vice-chairperson of the Shelter Afrique Bureau and will host the 41st AGM and symposium.

Cabinet approved Shelter Afrique’s pledged to invest in Zimbabwe through funding mixed housing construction ranging from 3 000 to 10 000 units; establishing a building technology plant with a proposed shareholding of 51/49 for Shelter Afrique and Government of Zimbabwe respectively and establishing a regional office for the SADC region in Harare. Government will provide the requisite land.

Shelter Afrique is a partnership of 44 African governments, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Africa Reinsurance Corporation (Africa-Re).

It builds strategic partnerships and offers a host of products and related services to support the efficient delivery of affordable housing and commercial real estate.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe faces prolonged power outages after a surge from South African electricity imports overloaded its network and caused generating plants to fail, Energy minister Zhemu Soda said.

The surge caused a nationwide blackout in the early hours of Monday, as it affected output at the Kariba hydropower plant and the coal-fired Hwange facility, Soda said.

Generation has since been restored at Kariba and it’s the only one of the nation’s five plants that is working, while engineers are trying to restore output at the Hwange units, he said.

“Demand is outweighing internal power-generation capacity,” Soda said.

Kariba was producing 1 014megawatts (MW) of electricity as of Monday, according to the Zimbabwe Power Company’s website.

Current demand is at least 1 400MW.

Zimbabwe doesn’t produce enough of its own power and has to import extra electricity from South Africa and Mozambique to meet demand.

Zesa’s debt to Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa rose to US$97 million last year, up from just over US$45 million in 2019, according to data from the Mozambican power utility.

Eskom of South Africa resumed power supplies to Zimbabwe in 2019 after Zesa cleared its debts.

However, Eskom only guarantees 50MW to Zimbabwe, and can only provide more when there is no load shedding in South Africa.

While power supply had improved last year from the major crisis of 2019, frequent breakdowns at Hwange have caused repeated outages.

The Hwange thermal power plant is currently made up of six units which were commissioned in phases between 1983 and 1987, with capacity to generate 920MW (four units of 120MW each and two units generating 220MW each).

Before the Kariba power station upgrade added 300MW to the 750MW hydro-electrical plant in March 2018, the Hwange thermal station was the country’s biggest.

Mainly due to ageing equipment, the Hwange plant has not fired from all its installed plants for a while.

Currently, only four units are in service, generating less than a quarter of capacity.

To fix this diminishing capacity due to frequent breakdowns of its antiquated plants, the government is adding two new units, 7 and 8, at a cost of US$1,1 billion.

Dubbed the Hwange 7 and 8 project, the expansion will add 600MW to the plant’s existing capacity.

This year, Zimbabwe expects 100MW to be added to the grid from renewable energy projects. The country tendered for 500MW of solar power in 2020.

However, investment in renewables remains low because Zimbabwe’s investment climate makes it hard to secure capital for large projects.

A new independent producer, Zimbabwe Zhongxin Electrical Energy, is expected to add an additional 50MW in thermal power by October.

By A Correspondent- Vice President General (Retd) Dr. Constantino Chiwenga has described the late Major-General (Retd) Clever Shadreck Chiramba as a loyal servant of Zimbabwe who dedicated his life to protecting national interests and territorial integrity.

In a statement, Dr Chiwenga said Major-General (Retd) Chiramba leaves a deep void that will be difficult to bridge both within the Chiramba family and among those of his comrades he served with during the Liberation Struggle as well as among former colleagues in the Zimbabwe Defence Force.

“I knew him well personally from the days of the liberation struggle, and as a senior officer in the Zimbabwe National Army.

“The late Major-General Chiramba whose nom de guerre was Simangaliso Gumede, was a tried and tested product of the second Chimurenga who rose through the ZANLA ranks to General Staff level,” he said.

The Vice President said,

“ He had an illustrious military career in the Zimbabwe National Army where he served his country with utmost loyalty, dedication and commitment. Titles, honours and decorations were bestowed on him in recognition of his invaluable contribution towards promoting and safeguarding the country’s national interests and territorial integrity.”

Major-General (Retd) Chiramba died on Sunday morning at Parirenyatwa Hospital after succumbing to Covid-19-related complications.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Farmers can only sell their wheat or barley to either the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) or companies they have standing agreements with, as side marketing the crops is illegal, Government has said.

Statutory Instrument (SI) 188 of 2021 (Grain Marketing Control of Sale) gazetted Tuesday makes it illegal to sell wheat to unauthorised dealers.

“No person or statutory body or company or entity under a contractual obligation to sell to a contractor or to the Grain Marketing Board or any authorised agency shall sell or otherwise dispose of any wheat or barley except to such contractor or to the Grain Marketing Board or any authorised agency,” reads the SI.

It is now illegal for anyone to buy wheat or barley from farmers who have a contractual agreement with another company.

Selling inputs on the black market has also been outlawed.

“No person shall use or dispose of wheat or barley seed acquired through the Government otherwise than for such purpose except with the written permission of the Government,” the SI adds.

The law empowers law enforcement agencies and authorised GMB officials to seize grain they believe would be transported for purposes of side marketing.

Exports of the said grains are now prohibited until further communication by way of a Government gazette notice.

By A Correspondent- The doctor broke the news to the family a day after their pregnant 14 year old’s hospitalisation.

It was going to be impossible to terminate the pregnancy because the foetus was now 24 weeks old.

A victim of rape, the minor’s father *Amos Butama* was dejected.

“I was hoping that the pregnancy could be terminated and my daughter would get on with her life. But now I fear for her life, I fear for her health.”

The 45 year old father of 6 including the victim of rape told ZimEye:

“The doctor said my daughter is too young to deliver and she may face complications while giving birth which may also cost her life or that of the baby. She needs specialist care but I cannot afford it.”

 ZimEye ran a story on how the family was divided on how to treat the rape case after the minor revealed that the perpetrator was a very close relative.

The matter is still at the courts.

While it is clearly evident that the perpetrator will face justice, it is the minor whose life is at stake.

Said her father:

“I do not know what to say to her. She is withdrawn and because she is still a child, I do not know whether she will be able to fit into her new role as a mother. It is a child bearing another child. It is not her fault that she is a victim of rape and I think more should be done to help such children in her circumstances.

She was raped but could not disclose this to anyone until it was too late. I also blame myself because I should have done more to be close to my baby but I relegated everything to my mother while I focused on looking for money.”

The minor is one of the many rural children whose rights are violated but they do not have access to services that their counterparts in the city have.

The rape occurred in Hwedza, Manicaland.

Added a social worker only identified herself as Rutendo:

“Rural children should have equal access to services. Maybe if the minor had a mobile phone or there was a nearest call centre, she would have sought help. Remember, the perpetrators threaten the minors not to disclose this to anyone and as children, they comply. More needs to be done to guarantee their safety and access to services.”

The UNCRC identifies four core principles that grant children equal value and guarantee them the necessary protection.

These are non discrimination, best interests of the child, the right to survival and development and the views of the child.

States principle 4 of the convention formulated in Article 12:1 which states that:

“States parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the rights to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the view of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.”

Childline Zimbabwe, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) provides a free telephone helpline to report cases of child abuse where several volunteers sit in front of phones answering the emergency calls to the number ‘116’ from vulnerable children.

Children who may be experiencing violence, are assisted and case information is captured while they are provided with the psycho-social support among a host of other services.

The organisation also provides face-to-face counselling for affected children and caregivers in their Drop-in Centres: child-friendly, confidential spaces for children to share their experiences and express their emotions.

Nationally, there are four Call Centres, 33 Drop-in Centres, and over 400 volunteer counsellors working for free to give children support.

The Family Support Trust (FST), is another NGO located at Harare Central Hospital, whose aim is to provide free access to medical and psychological service to the child survivors of sexual violence, healing them in a safe and child-friendly space.

Childline 116 works closely with FST, by referring call-in survivors who need treatment to them.

The Butamas however, were not even aware of the existence of these organisations. Was this sheer ignorance on their part or there were other reasons?

“I have heard about Childline, but I never thought that this could happen to my daughter. I should have told her,” said Butama with regret evident on his face.

A report titled “Violence Against Women and Girls During the Covid-19 Crisis in Zimbabwe”, gathered data from five non-governmental organisations working with survivors of gender-based violence, including the Musasa Project, the Adult Rape Clinic and the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association noted that cases of physical violence went up by 38,5 percent during April and May 2020.

Another report by the Stopping Abuse and Female Exploitation Zimbabwe (SAFE) authored by Rebekah Martin and Veronica Ahlenback titled “Evidence Synthesis: Secondary impacts of COVID-19 on gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls in Zimbabwe”, also confirmed that gender based violence (GBV) service providers in Zimbabwe recorded an increase in reported GBV cases compared to trends prior to the lockdown.

Revealed the report:

“Increases in psychological, physical, economic and sexual violence, and increases in the severity of this violence, have been reported in Zimbabwe (OCHA, 2020a).

Emerging evidence in Zimbabwe indicates that poor women, rural women, women and girls with disabilities, adolescent girls and young women, older women, LBTQI+ women, women and girls with HIV, migrant women and women in quarantine facilities, and refugee women are disproportionately affected.”

The UN Women (2020b) in that same report is quoted confirming that “regional evidence highlights that women in rural areas are particularly vulnerable to the effects of GBV due to less access to response services in rural areas.”

However, the evidence synthesis did not identified any data from Zimbabwe or the region specifically on violence against women in rural areas during COVID-19.

“This is because many service providers have been forced to switch to remote or phone-based ways of working, but there is a risk that poorer women who are less likely to have access to a phone and/or pay for phone credit or data are excluded from GBV reporting channels and support services,” reported the SAFE.

SAFE’s analysis of GBV cases showed that most of the reports of GBV are from women and girls residing in urban areas.

“As this appears to be the main GBV data analysis study in Zimbabwe during COVID-19, less is known about the situation of GBV against women in rural areas during lockdown to date. Similarly, another assessment of national hotlines and organisations that receive GBV reports through online presence and messaging platforms found that the majority of calls (62.5%) during lockdown were made by women in urban areas, while only 12.5% of the calls came from women in rural areas (UNFPA, 2020a).”

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- Disgruntled nurses working at public hospitals have joined hands with teachers to register their displeasure over poor working conditions in a campaign dubbed “Burn The Fraud”.

The virtual “Burn The Fraud” campaign was launched by the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) last week, where teachers burnt their payslips in protest over low salaries against a high cost of living.

This is one of my favourite #BurnTheFraud vids https://t.co/oLVHbQK7Bf

— Gandanga (@GandangaJena) June 26, 2021

The protest comes at a time when the poverty datum line has been pegged at $40 000, almost double what most civil servants, including teachers and nurses, are earning per month.

#BurnTheFraud #FireUponSlavery to #SaveOurEducationZw @MthuliNcube & @ProfPMavima your useless payslips are burning. Restore our pre October 2018 salaries. pic.twitter.com/nvYcw4V3NN

— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) June 24, 2021

Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enock Dongo yesterday told NewsDay that nurses had joined the protest.

“Nurses are not well remunerated. Salaries are far below our expectations. As we speak, we are in poverty, and struggling to report for work and make a good living as a working class. It is unfortunate that government has made its workers paupers,” he said.

This tr spent a day panning gold in Mash West. After a day's work he looks at his payslip and angrily burns it with no remorse. @MthuliNcube & @ProfPMavima have destroyed public services and teaching profession in particular. Trs continue to #BurnTheFraud to #SaveOurEducationZw pic.twitter.com/zRv1rkGTOn

— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) June 25, 2021

By Jane Mlambo| Local hip hop star Stunner has assumed the big brother role to reprimand fellow singer Ti-Gonzi over his strong words against comedian Comic Pastor.

Comic Pastor released a hip hop song dissing a number of people including Mudiwa.

This followed an ongoing beef between Zimdancehall singer Enzo Ishall and Holy Ten after the former released a hip hop song titled Hillary Makhaya before going on to declare himself king of the genre.

Holy 10 responded with a diss song that got social media talking as he ripped into Enzo Ishall while dismissing his love proposal for socialite Hillary Makhaya as unbefitting.

Ti-Gonzi has also found himself sucked in the ongoing feud between Zimdancehall and Hip hop but Stunner has told him to relax and not take it to the heart.

Below is Stunner’s message to Ti-Gonzi….

Well it was fun when @enzoishall was doing his “hip hop” thing and @holytenmusic replying and all but when strong words start coming from respected members like @tigonzi towards comic pastor @r.peels on the other end…… we have to remind ourselves to draw the line somewhere and say “hey this is not the kind of people we are” . Yes hip hop has its culture and anyone can decide they want to start rapping just as dancehall. This is a decision that comes from the heart you can’t stop anyone from expressing his self but let’s remember to keep it musical . Haisi America ino and most of you rappers I’m sorry to say this but muchaionera pa tv chete and what comes on TV is just acting and selling products. Our fans believe the words we say and one day umwe achasimudza dombo akatema umwe (hamuna pfuti) Muri Vapfanha Vechidiki Vane Twunhu Twavo so please act like it. Times are hard , let’s make money , friends and shine on the haters (that is the hip hop I know) . Comic pastor is a comedian and he can sing a sungura song next week and he will lose nothing so let’s laugh / enjoy the song and move on from it (wait for his next joke) . That’s all. THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT, let’s not forget that. In any case , ever since ya’ll decided to call yourselves kings……ndopatave apa. Tipei mangoma tinakirwe chete . *side note* @maskiri ndakanakirwa ne mbinga from bhinga. #vVvtt As always when all has been said and done…..Kuna Stunner Ndokwatinoenda.

By A Correspondent- 54 Midlands State University (MSU) students at Zvishavane Campus tested positive for coronavirus, Acting Midlands provincial medical director Dr Reginald Mhene has confirmed.

University authorities have since suspended face to face lectures at both the Main Campus in Gweru and the Zvishavane Campus.

A number of students at the Main Campus are reported to have also tested positive to COVID-19 but Mhene could not say how many were affected

In a notice, MSU registrar Mr Tinashe Zishiri said face to face lectures at the campuses have been suspended with effect from 30 June until the situation improves.

The university will now conduct online classes until the situation improves.

Said Zishiri:

Midlands State University wishes to advise all its valued stakeholders that the University has resolved to suspend face to face lectures at the Gweru Main Campus and Zvishavane Campus from Wednesday, June 30, 2021, until further notice.

This is part of preventive measures and coordinated efforts being taken to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

Zishiri said online classes will continue as scheduled adding that the university will also continue to offer electronic library services.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo family lost over US$12 200, R4 500 and a pistol belonging to a burial society to three robbers who raided their home on Sunday evening as police continue to urge the public to desist from keeping large amounts of cash in their homes and business premises.

The incident occurred between 5:30pm and 6pm.

The robbers reportedly gained entry through a gate which was not locked before they attacked the family, demanding US$23 000 cash they alleged was inside the house.

The trio later forced some of the occupants into a bedroom where they opened doors to the wardrobe and took the money and a gun before disappearing.

A report was made to the police who are still investigating the case.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said, “The ZRP reiterates that members of the public must make use of banking institutions and avoid keeping large sums of cash in their homes or business premises.

“This follows a case of armed robbery which occurred in North End, Bulawayo, on June 27, 2021, where a family lost US$12 242 and R4 500, belonging to a burial society, to robbers.”

This year several people have lost cash and valuables to armed robbers who are raiding their homes and premises looking for cash.

Investigations have so far revealed that most of these criminals would be acting on information or a tip off provided to them on individuals and businesspeople with large amounts of cash.

Some of the criminals were arrested while others are still on the run.

During the past few months, police have also been discouraging individuals and the business community from keeping large sums of money at home or in offices.

Recently police have also expressed concern over the increase in armed robberies targeting people either walking on the streets or businesspeople keeping large amounts of cash.

Many criminals masterminding these armed robberies countrywide are suspected to be those recently released from jail on bail pending appeal and have been evading arrest when they break bail conditions by failing to make their scheduled reports to a police station or do not turn up in court.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- An elderly Marondera man died after he was savagely assaulted by two teenagers over the results of a football match.

Anyway Pondo (18) and Keith Matanewa (19) of Southlawn Farm were arrested by police recently and are being charged with murder following the death of Langton Mandibvira (73).

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachiyi Tuesday confirmed the arrest of the duo.

He said:

This is a painful incident. It is serious criminal conduct to assault any other person and, therefore, youths are being urged to be law-abiding and practise self-control as well as respect the elderly.

According to police, on 13 June 2021, at around 6 pm, Mandibvira was on his way from Karimba School, where he had gone to watch a Euro 2020 soccer match when he met the suspects.

The two teenagers confronted him demanding to know the results of the soccer match, but he kept quiet and proceeded with his journey.

This angered the suspects, who then allegedly assaulted him with fists, booted feet and an unknown object.

On realising that Mandibvira was unconscious, the duo fled from the scene.

However, a fellow villager who had witnessed the incident went and informed fellow villagers, resulting in a police report being made.

Mandibvira was initially taken to Marondera Provincial Hospital but when his condition later deteriorated, he was transferred to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, where he died.

The suspects were remanded in custody and are expected to appear in court Thursday.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Armed robbers in Bulawayo struck at a house in North End suburb, robbing a family of over US$12 000 and R4 500 that belonged to a burial society.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the incident and urged members of the public to bank large sums of money instead of keeping it at home and workplaces.

“The ZRP reiterates that members of the public must make use of banking institutions and avoid keeping large sums of cash in their homes or business premises This follows a case of armed robbery which occurred in Northend, Bulawayo, on 27/06/21, where a family lost US$12 242 and ZAR 4 500, belonging to a burial society, to robbers,” tweeted the police.
Bulawayo has had a spate of armed robberies and some have ended in tragedy.

Last month, robbers shot dead a female cashier at a liquor store at Ascot Shopping Centre. She was shot twice in the head.

By The Correspondent-A team of members of the Zimbabwe Republic, Police and the Harare City Council have razed down structures at Glenview 8 complex despite a directive by Zanu PF yesterday to stop the demolition of people’s houses.

The authorities Tuesday pounced on Glenview 8 complex and destroyed all structures that encroached road servitudes.

A visit at the site showed that all structures were demolished along Willowvale Road starting from the Willowvale and Highglen traffic intersection.

By A Correspondent- Armed robbers got away with seven boxes full of cash after robbing a cash-in-transit van at a Choppies Supermarket in Parklands suburb.

The same armed robbery style happened in March when a gang armed with a pistol struck at a Trek fuel station in Gwabalanda suburb and got away with US$15,300 and R800.

Three days later, three men armed with a pistol held up petrol attendants at Amakhosi Service Station along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road. They tied up a security guard and two petrol attendants. The robbers spent three hours fuelling cars of unsuspecting motorists and bagging the cash.