Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Illegal administration has dismally failed to address the needs and concerns of citizens.

According to President Chamisa, the real problem in the country is the election rigging structure established by Zanu PF.

President Chamisa also said Mr Mnangagwa’s Illegal administration can’t demolish illegal structures.

“AN ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT CAN’T DEMOLISH ILLEGAL STRUCTURES…

It can’t be normal for a government to specialize in destruction and demolition.

And why always do a ‘murambatsvina’ during cold winters? Unless we deal with the illegal structure produced by rigged elections, illegalities will be difficult to stop.

Vatadza kupedza urombo hezvo vopaza varombo.

Let’s stop this. Break this cycle of pain and misery.
! #ResistDictatorship

RegisterToVoteZW,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page on Sunday.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Illegal administration has dismally failed to address the needs and concerns of citizens.

According to President Chamisa, the real problem in the country is the election rigging structure established by Zanu PF.

President Chamisa also said Mr Mnangagwa’s Illegal administration can’t demolish illegal structures.

“AN ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT CAN’T DEMOLISH ILLEGAL STRUCTURES…

It can’t be normal for a government to specialize in destruction and demolition.

And why always do a ‘murambatsvina’ during cold winters? Unless we deal with the illegal structure produced by rigged elections, illegalities will be difficult to stop.

Vatadza kupedza urombo hezvo vopaza varombo.

Let’s stop this. Break this cycle of pain and misery.
! #ResistDictatorship

RegisterToVoteZW,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page on Sunday.

By A Correspondent- Leader of the break away faction of the MDC Douglas Mwonzora is afraid of elections, the MDC Alliance has said.

In a tweet following revelations of Mwonzora’s demands after his secret visit to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’at the State House, the party described Mwonzora as an illegitimate leader scared of elections.

Said the MDC Alliance:

“Mwonzora is afraid of an election. He wants to prolong his illegitimate union with Zanu PF for as long as possible.

He fears the day of reckoning when the people will speak out against his anti-people agenda. #RegisterToVote #ResistDictatorship

https://twitter.com/MedOrange_/status/1406603042317815808?s=20

By A Correspondent- A 45 year old man in Zaka, Chief Nhema assaulted his 23-year-old stepson to death on allegations that he was disrespectful.

“On 9 June 2021 Tinashe Muube (45) around 11.30PM arrived at his home from Chiromo Business Centre where he was beer binging and went straight to the kitchen were his mother Enia Mabhiza (78), Abiort Chikwanda (23) and a 15-year-old boy were sitting shouting on top of his voice.

He started beating Chikwanda all over the body. Mabhiza and the juvenile tried to stop Muube from beating Chikwanda but were chased out of the hut.

“Muube continued beating Chikwanda until his wife Jenifer Wavarirai (45) heard the screaming of Chikwanda and came running trying to refrain his husband from beating the child but to no avail. She went and reported the incident to their uncle Tafadzwa Muube (55) who in turn alerted the neighbours,” he said.

When Muube saw the villagers he ran away and the villagers found Chikwanda already dead. The matter was reported on June 10 and the police found out that the body had deep cuts on the left side of the head, bruises and fractured right leg. The body was taken to Musiso Hospital mortuary.

FATHER RIBEIRO FUNERAL SERVICE AT DOVES https://t.co/wUg3bgMdG0

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 20, 2021

By A Correspondent- Hundreds of farmers in Chiredzi who delivered maize and sorghum to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) in 2018 are yet to be paid for their produce.

The farmers, from Chiredzi East and parts of Chiredzi North, told a local publication that they delivered their grain at Chizvirizvi GMB collection point located in ward 22.

The farmers said they visited the main depot at Nandi in Chiredzi on several occasions, but were told that their names were missing from the computer system.

This is in spite of the fact that the farmers have proforma invoices which they were issued after delivering the grain.

One of the farmers, Tonderai Bandama from Chizvirizvi, who supplied 14.5 tonnes of maize to the GMB said most people in his area, which is under Chief Tshovani, are now considering selling their grain to private buyers.

He said:

I am a farmer from Chizvirizvi and l supplied 14.5 tonnes of grain to GMB in 2018 and l was given proforma receipts for all deliveries, the receipts which l can give you.

Since that year, we are yet to be paid and officials from the main depot in Chiredzi are saying our information is missing from their system.

This has affected our farming programmes and we are now thinking of selling our grain to private players.

Chiredzi Rural District Council ward 22 councillor Wilfred Manyiyo said more than 200 farmers were not paid.

Responding to enquiries from The NewsHawks, GMB spokesperson Joel Katete said the grain utility is in the process of paying for deliveries made in 2020.

He said:

We are paying for grain delivered in 2020. I am not aware of anyone who delivered grain in 2018 who is yet to be paid. Submit your questions in writing so that l can enquire about the issue before giving you a full comment.

Katete had not yet responded to the questions by the time of going to print.

GMB Nandi depot manager Sharon Darikwa attributed the parastatal’s failure to locate the names of affected farmers to the change of system by the GMB’s information technology department.

-Newshawks

By A Correspondent- The South Africa Police Service (SAPS) has arrested two South African soldiers aged 27 and 38 along with a 30-year-old foreigner for using an army vehicle to transport smuggled goods.

The trio was intercepted near Baobab Truck-stop along the N1 highway on Friday evening with a consignment of 12 boxes of cigarettes worth R160 000 which had been smuggled from Zimbabwe.

The army men and the foreigner whose names are yet to be released by the neighbouring country’s police are expected to appear at the Musina Magistrate Court soon.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed the arrests on Saturday, saying the trio was intercepted while en-route to meeting a potential buyer.

Brig Mojapelo said the vehicle was searched and 12 boxes of Remmington Gold cigarettes valued at R160 000 were found packed in the back of the vehicle.

He said the civilian was immediately arrested but the armed soldiers reportedly became confrontational and refused to be arrested.

Said Brig Mojapelo:

The police confiscated the said vehicle. The soldiers were later brought to the police station by their Commander and were then detained.

They will be charged with possession of illicit cigarettes, defeating the ends of Justice and resisting arrest.

He said the undocumented foreigner will be charged with impersonating members of South Africa’s National Defence Forces (SANDF) and contravening a section of the Immigration Act.

FATHER’S DAY PRAYER

Lord, thank you for all fathers. For the new ones, who endure sleepless nights with infants in arms. For the busy ones, who juggle the pressures of home and family life.

For the steadfast ones, who nurture and care for our special vulnerable children. For the patient ones, who always seek to forgive and engage with their pre-teens.

For the persistent ones, who cleverly find new ways to connect with their mini-adults.

For the father uncles, who step in to cradle and care for nieces and nephews. For all granddads, who love and support their precious grandchildren. For the foster dads that are called to gather and cover the fragile ones.

For the Sunday dads who care for our children and lead them in faith. For the dads who give far beyond their own resources, who overcome disability to cherish and love.

Thank you Lord for all our beautiful fathers.

Help us to support them and keep them in our prayers.

May you bless them now on this their special day.

Amen.

Schools may not open soon. Trs are incapacitated and our schools are potential super spreaders for COVID19. We urge working class parents to embrace home schooling for their children.We repost tips for home schooling produced by a friend of ARTUZ who benefited from home schooling pic.twitter.com/oPYEeLyYn7

— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) June 20, 2021

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it is in the process of ensuring that there are braille ballot papers for the visually impaired for future elections.

In previous elections, the visually impaired would bring a person of their choice or get a ZEC official to assist them to cast their vote, which unfortunately made it impossible for their votes to remain a secret.

Speaking to Masvingo Mirror last week on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ZEC media workshop at Chinhoyi University of Technology Hotel, ZEC vice-chairman, Emmanuel Magade said the commission was working on making braille ballot papers available. He said:

Our desire and ambition is to make sure that everybody who is eligible to vote participates in the exercise freely and in an unimpeded way.

Those citizens with special needs such as those who are disabled, we will try to accommodate them as much as possible.

There is debate around the translation of ballot papers into braille and other literature which is election-related into braille.

Whether or not we will be able to do it in time for the 2023 elections is not the point, however, we are working towards the attainment of that objective.

We hope it will be realised sooner rather than later, after all the Constitution has an overarching clause that says that no one should be discriminated in the provision of goods and services on account of race or physical condition and we will try to abide by that spirit.

The workshop was meant to give an update on the resumption of some electoral activities such as voter registration, voter education and pre-delimitation exercises.

Frontline workers and teachers are embittered after the government last month paid COVID-19 allowances to soldiers who tested positive for the pandemic in their line of duty yet other government employees are yet to be paid.

At the beginning of the year, the Government promised that civil servants who contracted COVID-19 in the line of duty would receive health insurance cover ranging from US$650 to US$1 000 paid in local currency at the prevailing official exchange rate.

Information gathered by The NewsHawks shows that soldiers who tested positive for COVID-19 were paid allowances. An unnamed government official is quoted as saying:

Other frontline workers such as the police and health officials are unsure on whether or not they will be paid the allowances.

Soldiers who tested positive during the lockdowns were paid ZW$54 000 (US$633 at the official rate) in May.

The allowances were deposited into bank accounts of those who benefited and did not reflect on payslips.

The NewsHawks said questions sent to the ministry of Finance spokesperson Clive Mphambela were not replied to at the time of publication.

Early this year during his annual leave, President Emmerson Mnangagwa was forced to abandon a trip to his Sherwood farm in Kwekwe after several security personnel and his farm manager tested positive for the coronavirus.

The publication further reported sources as saying soldiers from 2 Presidential Guard, located in Harare’s Dzivaresekwa suburb, Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) personnel and police officers from the Police Protection Unit underwent COVID-19 tests ahead of Mnangagwa’s Kwekwe trip.

Mnangagwa’s security includes the CIO, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (VVIP Police Protection Unit) and the military which entails the Presidential Guard and the Special Air Services.

The President reportedly made drastic changes to his security team after nearly 20 soldiers from the Presidential Guard Brigade, including some that were deployed to his motorcade, tested COVID-19 positive a few days before the arrival of his visiting Malawian counterpart Lazarus Chakwera last October.

-newshawks

By A Correspondent- Some Beitbridge police officers believed to have shot and killed a local man, allegedly approached a traditional healer in the border seeking to be cleansed against avenging spirits, the deceased’s family has claimed.

Unbeknown to them, the person they approached is a relative of the deceased Abel Gumbo. He chased them away.

Wellington Moyo, who is the Gumbo family spokesman, said his grandmother told family members some men identifying themselves as men responsible for the shooting approached her.

“I can confirm my grandmother was approached by those men. She turned them away after telling them she was Abel’s relative and in mourning,” Moyo said yesterday.

Gumbo, who died on the spot, is now known to have been shot by a plain clothes policeman, who mistook him for a wanted man identified only as Elvis who was later arrested that day on May 27.

His relatives want a murder charge filed against the police officer.

It is understood that police claim Gumbo was an armed robber facing them and going to shoot at them but they opened fire first.

A relative, who saw Gumbo’s bullet marks says the police claims are inconsistent with where he was hit.

“He was shot just above the left shoulder and the bullet came out through a similar position on right shoulder suggesting he was hit from the side,” said the relative.

“If he was facing them he would have been shot on the front of his body.

The officer commanding Beitbridge police district Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo did not respond to questions as to when an inquest into the death of Gumbo would be held.

Moyo said he had made a report to Nyongo but was not supplied with any case reference number.

-standard

By A Correspondent- A Harare based armed robber who pounced on female residents in Bindura was yesterday jailed 10 years by Bindura regional magistrate Amos Mbobo.

Vincent Tinashe Mutasa was sentenced after a full trial.

The court heard that on October 12 last year Mutasa and his two accomplices who are still at large pounced at a  Clever hill house in Bindura purporting to be Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officers armed with an electric shocker and pistols.

They gained entry into the house and took the complainant to her bedroom where they tortured her while others were looking.

The mother of the complainant pleaded with the robbers to take everything they wanted and leave her daughter alive.

The robbers took her Samsung phone and went away.

The matter was reported at Bindura police station and the police acted swiftly and arrested Mutasa.

Ngoni Kaseke prosecuted.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa was asked by MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora to consider scrapping pending byelections when the two met under controversial circumstances at State House on June 11, The Standard has established.

Mnangagwa met Mwonzora while in the company of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.

The MDC-T leader revealed after the meeting, described by his lieutenants as secretive, that he had tabled a set of “damands” to the Zanu-PF leaders, but flatly refused to disclose them, saying he was waiting for the president’s written response.

This publication, however, has since obtained a copy of the four-page document Mwonzora gave Mnangangwa. The suspension of by-elections, which if done, would give Mwonzora an edge over nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance in the fight for recognition as the main opposition party in Zimbabwe.

The MDC-T leader justified the proposal to suspend by-elections, saying it would give Zimbabweans time to “find each other”.

“While Zimbabweans are talking and finding each other in this serious manner it seems unnecessary to introduce something divisive as by-elections,” he said in the statement.

“It is, therefore , suggested that while discussions are going on regarding aforementioned issues, by-elections be suspended.

“In order to avoid prejudice to the electorate, it is suggested that an arrangement be made for parties to make replacements of vacancies in their areas of control as guided by law.”

Following a controversial Supreme Court ruling last year, MDC-T has recalled dozens of MDC Alliance legislators and councillors amid accusations that it is aiding Mnangagwa’s ambitions to create a one-party state. Mwonzora denies allegations that he is a Zanu-PF puppet, but he has indicated his eagerness to work with the ruling party while pushing out Chamisa’s group.

In his submissions to Mnangagwa, he also proposed a new dialogue platform between MDC-T and Zanu-PF to be known as the Parliamentary Dialogue Forum (PDF).

He said PDF would be made up of five Zanu-PF legislators, five MDC-T legislators and two chiefs. The platform would have Zanu-PF and MDC-T principals while excluding MDC Alliance.

According to the document, the PDF would have its own secretariat where Zanu-PF and the MDC-T will second officials that would be on a full salary.

“The two political parties to select two salaried and specific coordinators each, who sit in the PDF,” reads the document.

Mwonzora assured Mnangagwa that there would be no further talk of the 2018 general elections as that was water under the bridge as concluded by the Constitutional Court.

“The Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe made a definitive judgement, which in the party’s view settled the legitimacy question. To the MDC-T party the legitimacy is a settled issue,” he wrote.

The MDC-T leader also proposed timelines in which negotiations should have been completed.

The parliamentary dialogue forum shall be set up by June 30, the thematic committee shall be set up by July 15 while considerations of the PDF report by principals be by October,” the document added.

“Under the new approach in all political, economic and social strategies, what is paramount are the best national interests of the Zimbabwean people.

Zanu-PF factions, however, are reportedly not happy with Mwonzora’s proposal to suspend by-elections as they feel the party is well placed to win the polls, believing that the MDC Alliance is at its weakest.

The MDC Alliance is pushing for byelections in order to prove that it is the party that enjoys grassroots support.

Mwonzora’s spokesperson Lloyd Damba yesterday insisted that the MDC-T leader was acting in the best interests of all Zimbabweans.

“I do not know the source of your document, so for you to say that this person or that person is a liar is neither here nor there,” Damba said.

“All I am saying is that the document you were given has clearly sent you far away from the scent and the prey.

“What we are doing is in the best interest of all Zimbabweans, so the misleading you allege falls off.

“We cannot give you the document now because it will be tantamount to negotiating in public.”

Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba said he could not comment on a private meeting.

“The interaction between President Emmerson Mnangagwa (and Mwonzora) was done behind closed doors,” Charamba said.

“Whatever documents transacted and commitments made in the meeting are between the two parties.

“I can’t stand in as the president’s spokesperson to comment on a document, which I am not aware of its authenticity.”

Zanu-PF and Mnangagwa have vowed that they will not hold any talks outside the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad), which Mwonzora is hesitant to join, saying he does not qualify.

“Polad is limited in scope, it was defined as a platform where those who contested for presidency can have dialogue, which excludes me,” Mwonzora said.

“Therefore, as a lawyer I would not want to sit in a platform where my contribution does not carry legal weight.”

Mwonzora’s predecessor Thokozani Khupe represented MDC-T in Polad before her ouster last December.

-standard

By A Correspondent- The fight for the Zanu PF Mashonaland Central chairmanship has turned nasty, amid reports that the incumbent Kazembe Kazembe’s supporters have embarked on a smear campaign against James Makamba who is also eyeing the top post.

So dire is the tussle that provincial leaders allegedly almost traded blows during a recent meeting in Bindura over the matter.

Kazembe has been accused of teaming up with politburo member Kenneth Musanhi to block Makamba from contesting for the provincial top post, labelling him a G40 member.

But Kazembe yesterday dismissed the allegations, saying those raising dust were afraid of losing elections.

“The people who are behind all the stories are the people who are scared of elections because they know the real situation on the ground,” he said.
“There is no individual who has the power to block anyone when the time comes. When elections are due, whenever they will be due, the commissariat will announce the dates and the criteria. Whoever meets the criteria will contest.

“The national elections directorate will have the final say on who qualifies. People who rush to the media are scared of reality. What’s also interesting is that those who are confusing the province are the ones who rush to the media to drive a certain narrative.”

Kazembe said the people would have a final say on who would lead them when the time comes.

“In any case, we are not in any election at the moment. We are seized with the restructuring of cells and villages which we are finalising,” he said.

“Most importantly, we are busy preparing for the conference and all our committees are meeting regularly working towards a successful conference.”

Makamba said he had no problems with the executive as alleged and he was yet to submit his curriculum vitae.

“I am just hearing that I was barred from contesting, but surprisingly, I have not yet submitted my CV and I have no problem with the executive,” he said curtly.

Last week, Rushinga MP Tendai Nyabani accused his Shamva North counterpart Oscar Gorerino of trying to mobilise MPs in support of Kazembe and fighting one of the contestants interested for the chairmanship post.

In another incident, former Education minister Lazarus Dokora is also under fire from a youth official, Nickross Kajengo, reportedly aligned to the provincial chairman alleging he was promised a parliamentary seat if he campaigned against the incumbent.

Provincial leaders last week accused Kanjengo of using Kazembe’s name to insult his rivals.

The provincial elections are scheduled for August and Mashonaland Central is set to host the party’s national conference in October.

-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- The fight for the Zanu PF Mashonaland Central chairmanship has turned nasty, amid reports that the incumbent Kazembe Kazembe’s supporters have embarked on a smear campaign against James Makamba who is also eyeing the top post.

So dire is the tussle that provincial leaders allegedly almost traded blows during a recent meeting in Bindura over the matter.

Kazembe has been accused of teaming up with politburo member Kenneth Musanhi to block Makamba from contesting for the provincial top post, labelling him a G40 member.

But Kazembe yesterday dismissed the allegations, saying those raising dust were afraid of losing elections.

“The people who are behind all the stories are the people who are scared of elections because they know the real situation on the ground,” he said.
“There is no individual who has the power to block anyone when the time comes. When elections are due, whenever they will be due, the commissariat will announce the dates and the criteria. Whoever meets the criteria will contest.

“The national elections directorate will have the final say on who qualifies. People who rush to the media are scared of reality. What’s also interesting is that those who are confusing the province are the ones who rush to the media to drive a certain narrative.”

Kazembe said the people would have a final say on who would lead them when the time comes.

“In any case, we are not in any election at the moment. We are seized with the restructuring of cells and villages which we are finalising,” he said.

“Most importantly, we are busy preparing for the conference and all our committees are meeting regularly working towards a successful conference.”

Makamba said he had no problems with the executive as alleged and he was yet to submit his curriculum vitae.

“I am just hearing that I was barred from contesting, but surprisingly, I have not yet submitted my CV and I have no problem with the executive,” he said curtly.

Last week, Rushinga MP Tendai Nyabani accused his Shamva North counterpart Oscar Gorerino of trying to mobilise MPs in support of Kazembe and fighting one of the contestants interested for the chairmanship post.

In another incident, former Education minister Lazarus Dokora is also under fire from a youth official, Nickross Kajengo, reportedly aligned to the provincial chairman alleging he was promised a parliamentary seat if he campaigned against the incumbent.

Provincial leaders last week accused Kanjengo of using Kazembe’s name to insult his rivals.

The provincial elections are scheduled for August and Mashonaland Central is set to host the party’s national conference in October.

-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- The fight for the Zanu PF Mashonaland Central chairmanship has turned nasty, amid reports that the incumbent Kazembe Kazembe’s supporters have embarked on a smear campaign against James Makamba who is also eyeing the top post.

So dire is the tussle that provincial leaders allegedly almost traded blows during a recent meeting in Bindura over the matter.

Kazembe has been accused of teaming up with politburo member Kenneth Musanhi to block Makamba from contesting for the provincial top post, labelling him a G40 member.

But Kazembe yesterday dismissed the allegations, saying those raising dust were afraid of losing elections.

“The people who are behind all the stories are the people who are scared of elections because they know the real situation on the ground,” he said.
“There is no individual who has the power to block anyone when the time comes. When elections are due, whenever they will be due, the commissariat will announce the dates and the criteria. Whoever meets the criteria will contest.

“The national elections directorate will have the final say on who qualifies. People who rush to the media are scared of reality. What’s also interesting is that those who are confusing the province are the ones who rush to the media to drive a certain narrative.”

Kazembe said the people would have a final say on who would lead them when the time comes.

“In any case, we are not in any election at the moment. We are seized with the restructuring of cells and villages which we are finalising,” he said.

“Most importantly, we are busy preparing for the conference and all our committees are meeting regularly working towards a successful conference.”

Makamba said he had no problems with the executive as alleged and he was yet to submit his curriculum vitae.

“I am just hearing that I was barred from contesting, but surprisingly, I have not yet submitted my CV and I have no problem with the executive,” he said curtly.

Last week, Rushinga MP Tendai Nyabani accused his Shamva North counterpart Oscar Gorerino of trying to mobilise MPs in support of Kazembe and fighting one of the contestants interested for the chairmanship post.

In another incident, former Education minister Lazarus Dokora is also under fire from a youth official, Nickross Kajengo, reportedly aligned to the provincial chairman alleging he was promised a parliamentary seat if he campaigned against the incumbent.

Provincial leaders last week accused Kanjengo of using Kazembe’s name to insult his rivals.

The provincial elections are scheduled for August and Mashonaland Central is set to host the party’s national conference in October.

-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Former Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Lazarus Dokora has been dragged in the Zanu PF Mashonaland Central factional fights.

Dokora is under fire from a Zanu PF Mash Central provincial youth official, Nickross Kajengo, who is accusing him of denouncing Kazembe.

Sources in the province said Dokora was promised a parliamentary seat if he campaigned against the incumbent.

Provincial leaders last week accused Kanjengo of using Kazembe’s name to insult his rivals.

The provincial elections are scheduled for August and Mashonaland Central is set to host the party’s national conference in October.

By A Correspondent- Former Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Lazarus Dokora has been dragged in the Zanu PF Mashonaland Central factional fights.

Dokora is under fire from a Zanu PF Mash Central provincial youth official, Nickross Kajengo, who is accusing him of denouncing Kazembe.

Sources in the province said Dokora was promised a parliamentary seat if he campaigned against the incumbent.

Provincial leaders last week accused Kanjengo of using Kazembe’s name to insult his rivals.

The provincial elections are scheduled for August and Mashonaland Central is set to host the party’s national conference in October.

By A Correspondent- The National Chiefs Council has been caught in a vehicle scam after inflating prices for four Isuzu twin-cab trucks, with each vehicle gobbling about US$125 000 against a market value of between US$38 000 and US$70 000.

The country has over 225 chiefs, with each of them entitled to a State-funded all-terrain vehicle in addition to monthly cash allowances.

The Zanu PF government has also in the past rewarded most of the chiefs with tractors, with the cost passed onto the taxpayers through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (Debt Resumption) Act of 2015.

According to Auditor-General Mildred Chiri’s 2018 report, there was no paperwork to explain the excessive expenditure on the vehicles when government had budgeted US$50 000 for each.

The report exposed massive rot in government that resulted in $7 billion unexplained expenditure.

The report added that the Fortune Charumbira-led Council of Chiefs bought four Isuzu KB250 D-Teq 4×4 double-cab vehicles on October 28, 2018 through the paynet facility at a total cost of US$499 999.

“The exchange rate that was used was not specified. However, at the time of procuring the vehicles, the official exchange rate of ZWL to USD was one to one (US$1:ZWL$1),” part of the report read.

“Therefore, the vehicles were purchased for a total value of
US$499 999 with each vehicle costing US$125 000 and the supplier’s invoice dated October 29, 2018 quoted in US$, showed the total of US$499 999.”

Chiri added: “The procurement was based on resolutions made on June 26, 2017 by the State Procurement Board (ref SPB/C/5) and an amount of US$50 500 was approved for each vehicle, giving a total of US$202 000 for the four
vehicles.

“The council, therefore, procured the vehicles at a cost that exceeded the authorised amount by US$297 000. No documentation was availed as authority to acquire the vehicles at a price higher than originally approved.”

The report also says market analysis revealed that the price for the same vehicles ranged from
US$38 000 to US$70 000 as at January 19, 2021.
“Therefore, I was not satisfied that the entity got value for money out of this purchase,” Chiri added.

“This was against the provisions of section 22 of Public Finance Management (Treasury Instructions), 2019, which provides that it is the duty of every person responsible for the expenditure of public funds to safeguard the funds and ensure that they are spent only on legally authorised purposes.”

In its response, the Council of Chiefs said: “The procuring unit was not fully operational and we used the running tender at CMED to urgently procure four vehicles for the outstanding chiefs who had been appointed.
“All procurement is now done through the PMU [Procurement Management Unit]. Please note that the price on the tender is US$50 025 on June 22, 2017, but the quoted price per vehicle on October 29, 2018 was RTGS$125 000, so the two cannot be compared.”
In the report, the Finance ministry blamed the Presidential Input Scheme and inflation for the government’s $7 billion unauthorised expenditure in 2019.
In its response to the unexplained expenditure, Treasury said the expenditures were “inescapable”.
“Treasury takes note of the observation wherein an excess of $6,8 billion transfers were made from the unallocated reserve,” Treasury
said.
“Please note, the additional expenditures accommodated were inescapable and these included additional salaries to most line ministries which proved inadequate due to cost of living adjustments and cushioning allowances awarded to civil servants and pensioners, subsidies that were introduced that had not been budgeted for eg, roller meal, support towards presidential input support schemes and the importation of grain.
“Additionally, the spike in inflation and changes in the exchange rate led to the increase in the costs of general government operations. Treasury is in the process of seeking condonation of the excess expenditure which will be submitted to Parliament within the set time frame as indicated in terms of Section 307(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013.”
Treasury said it was, going forward, putting in place mechanisms which would ensure adherence to budgetary allocations.
“… and a circular is to be issued indicating to all accounting officers that there is no room for additional resources outside the already approved resource envelope by Parliament.

-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Senior Zanu PF Harare provincial members are extorting desperate home seekers and corruptly parcelling out land using the party’s name.

This was confirmed by the party’s Chairman for Harare Province at a recent meeting at the Zanu PF Harare Provincial headquarters, Godwills Masimirembwa.

“We as a province have dissociated ourselves from illegal activities such as land and space barons. We are appealing to the ordinary persons that if they need any assistance from the party, we are here for them but otherwise they should report anyone including if there is any perceived party member who is involved in these illegal activities to law enforcement agents.

“We are appealing to the hearts and minds of the people that the New Dispensation wants order in Harare. It wants to serve the people of Harare. Service delivery is going to be improved, more jobs are being created and so forth so the recruitment exercise is based on the achievements of the New Dispensation in terms of improving the livelihoods of the people of Harare.”

By A Correspondent- Members of Zanu PF in Harare are extorting desperate home seekers and corruptly parcelling out land using the party’s name.

This was confirmed by the party’s Chairman for Harare Province at a recent meeting at the Zanu PF Harare Provincial headquarters, Godwills Masimirembwa.

“We as a province have dissociated ourselves from illegal activities such as land and space barons. We are appealing to the ordinary persons that if they need any assistance from the party, we are here for them but otherwise they should report anyone including if there is any perceived party member who is involved in these illegal activities to law enforcement agents.

“We are appealing to the hearts and minds of the people that the New Dispensation wants order in Harare. It wants to serve the people of Harare. Service delivery is going to be improved, more jobs are being created and so forth so the recruitment exercise is based on the achievements of the New Dispensation in terms of improving the livelihoods of the people of Harare.”

The National Taskforce on Covid-19 will meet tomorrow to deliberate on the opening of schools before making recommendations to Cabinet which will sit on Tuesday, where a decision will be taken.

The schools second term is supposed to start next week but a resurgence in cases of Covid-19 has resulted in Government announcing lockdown measures while other districts are already under localised hard lockdown.

Kwekwe, Karoi and Makonde have already been placed under localised lockdown following a spike in cases.

Bulawayo has been named as a hotspot with suburbs like Emakhandeni and Entumbane being the prime areas including northern suburbs.

National Covid-19 taskforce coordinator Dr Agnes Mahomva yesterday said that the issue of the opening of schools was on the agenda and a final decision will be taken this week.

“We are looking into it. You are aware there is a taskforce that is always guided by science. We look at data on the ground and we make decisions based on that data. This taskforce meets every Monday and Cabinet sits every Tuesday. You will definitely hear from that process,” said Dr Mahomva.

Schools are supposed to open on Monday next week but concerns have been raised by several sectors over the safety of re-opening them amid an increase of Covid-19 infections with fears of a strain from India spreading within the population. Teachers’ trade unions have called for mass testing in educational institutions ahead of the re-opening of schools while calling for the Government to expedite the payment of health insurance cover to teachers that have contracted Covid-19 while on duty.

A third wave of Covid-19 is threatening to engulf the country and unions have expressed reservations about the prospect of re-opening without any cover for their members. At the beginning of the year, the Government promised that civil servants who contracted Covid-19 in the line of duty would receive health insurance cover ranging from US$650 to US$1 000 paid in local currency at the prevailing official exchange rate.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president, Mr Takavafira Zhou said that teachers across the country were still waiting for the payment of the health insurance cover as promised.

Mr Zhou called for mass testing of teachers and pupils ahead of the opening of the second term, while also encouraging authorities to provide schools with the requisite Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

“We also call upon the Government to seriously interrogate lucid options over the opening of second term learning.

Either Government must adopt a broad-based strategy of testing all teachers and pupils in order to combat the spread of Covid-19 in schools, in light of the recent quantum leap of cases. It would also be prudent to provide Covid-19 abatement equipment to schools such as masks, sanitizers, thermometers, testing kits, as well as decongesting classes and hostels,” he said.

Mr Zhou said, should the postponement of the opening of schools become reality, the Government and its development partners should come together to ensure that pupils in remote areas were also equipped to continue learning while at home.

“Such postponement must be accompanied by a robust practical e-learning regime where teachers should utilise class and subject WhatsApp groups to promote learning. Government must intervene in providing data to teachers and appeal to Unicef to assist in sourcing and providing learning gadgets like smartphones to pupils who do not have the learning tools, mostly in rural areas. There is a need to act with urgency if the 2021 academic year has to be credible, otherwise our results may be worse than the 2020 results that were disastrous,” he said.

Primary and Secondary Education Ministry director of communication and advocacy Mr Taungana Ndoro said the issue of reimbursement of health insurance funds did not fall under the ministry. He said when schools re-opened, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs prescribed by the ministry before would still abide.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is not responsible for that. It falls under the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. When schools re-open, we will be maintaining strict adherence to our SOPs,” he said.

-State Media

A man from Matobo District died in a suspected hit-and-run accident, police have confirmed.

Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Thabani Mkhwananzi said the incident happened at around 6am on 12 June at the 59km peg along the Bulawayo-Kezi Road.

He identified the deceased as Brendon Dube (25) of Silungudzi Village. He said it is suspected that a motorist hit Dube and drove off without making a report.

“Other motorists who got to the scene after the incident notified the villagers about the issue. The case was reported immediately at the nearby police station and the body of the deceased was taken to the mortuary. The case is still under investigation,” said the provincial police spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Ward 17 Councillor Max Majahana said the community suspects that the man could have been killed before his body was dumped on the road to look like it was a hit and run accident. He, however, urged motorists to be cautious when driving and report all accidents to police as per the law.

-State Media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was asked by MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora to consider scrapping pending by-elections when the two met under controversial circumstances at State House on June 11, The Standard has established.

Mnangagwa met Mwonzora while in the company of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.

The MDC-T leader revealed after the meeting, described by his lieutenants as secretive, that he had tabled a set of “demands” to the Zanu PF leaders, but flatly refused to disclose them, saying he was waiting for the president’s written response.

The Standard, however, has since obtained a copy of the four-page document Mwonzora gave Mnangangwa. The suspension of by-elections, which if done, would give Mwonzora an edge over Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance in the fight for recognition as the main opposition party in Zimbabwe.

The MDC-T leader justified the proposal to suspend by-elections, saying it would give Zimbabweans time to “find each other”.

“While Zimbabweans are talking and finding each other in this serious manner it seems unnecessary to introduce something divisive as by-elections,” he said in the statement.

“It is, therefore , suggested that while discussions are going on regarding aforementioned issues, by-elections be suspended.

“In order to avoid prejudice to the electorate, it is suggested that an arrangement be made for parties to make replacements of vacancies in their areas of control as guided by law.”

Following a controversial Supreme Court ruling last year, MDC-T has recalled dozens of MDC Alliance legislators and councillors amid accusations that it is aiding Mnangagwa’s ambitions to create a one-party state.

Mwonzora denies allegations that he is a Zanu PF puppet, but he has indicated his eagerness to work with the ruling party while pushing out Chamisa’s group.

In his submissions to Mnangagwa, he also proposed a new dialogue platform between MDC-T and Zanu PF to be known as the Parliamentary Dialogue Forum (PDF).

He said PDF would be made up of five Zanu PF legislators, five MDC-T legislators and two chiefs. The platform would have Zanu PF and MDC-T principals while excluding MDC Alliance.

According to the document, the PDF would have its own secretariat where Zanu PF and the MDC-T will second officials that would be on a full salary.

“The two political parties to select two salaried and specific coordinators each, who sit in the PDF,” reads the document.

Mwonzora assured Mnangagwa that there would be no further talk of the 2018 general elections as that was water under the bridge as concluded by the Constitutional Court.

“The Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe made a definitive judgement, which in the party’s view settled the legitimacy question. To the MDC-T party the legitimacy is a settled issue,” he wrote.

The MDC-T leader also proposed timelines in which negotiations should have been completed.

“The parliamentary dialogue forum shall be set up by June 30, the thematic committee shall be set up by July 15 while considerations of the PDF report by principals be by October,” the document added.

“Under the new approach in all political, economic and social strategies, what is paramount are the best national interests of the Zimbabwean people.

Zanu PF factions, however, are reportedly not happy with Mwonzora’s proposal to suspend by-elections as they feel the party is well placed to win the polls, believing that the MDC Alliance is at its weakest.

The MDC Alliance is pushing for by-elections in order to prove that it is the party that enjoys grassroots support.

Mwonzora’s spokesperson Lloyd Damba yesterday insisted that the MDC-T leader was acting in the best interests of all Zimbabweans.

“I do not know the source of your document, so for you to say that this person or that person is a liar is neither here nor there,” Damba said.

“All I am saying is that the document you were given has clearly sent you far away from the scent and the prey.

“What we are doing is in the best interest of all Zimbabweans, so the misleading you allege falls off.

“We cannot give you the document now because it will be tantamount to negotiating in public.”

Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba said he could not comment on a private meeting.

“The interaction between President Emmerson Mnangagwa (and Mwonzora) was done behind closed doors,” Charamba said.

“Whatever documents transacted and commitments made in the meeting are between the two parties.

“I can’t stand in as the president’s spokesperson to comment on a document, which I am not aware of its authenticity.”

Zanu PF and Mnangagwa have vowed that they will not hold any talks outside the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad), which Mwonzora is hesitant to join, saying he does not qualify.

“Polad is limited in scope, it was defined as a platform where those who contested for presidency can have dialogue, which excludes me,” Mwonzora said.

“Therefore, as a lawyer I would not want to sit in a platform where my contribution does not carry legal weight.”

Mwonzora’s predecessor Thokozani Khupe represented MDC-T in Polad before her ouster last December.

-The Standard

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has bemoaned the suffering of citizens due to Zanu PF negligence and corruption.

President Chamisa also described Zanu PF leaders as unethical.

The Zanu PF administration is not working for the people, according to President Chamisa.

“WE will make things right just soon after forming a New Zimbabwe government.

The kind of suffering that I see out there is a huge cause for concern. Zanu PF leaders are totally unethical.

They don’t feel. Right now, there is no government that works for the people. This government is their vehicle for wealth accumulation, corruption and plunder.

They do not care whether the people have food or health care, its a only about themselves and no one else.

Our unity is key if ever we want to get rid of them. BE THE CHANGE. REGISTER TO VOTE,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.

By A Correspondent -Police in Matabeleland South Province has issued a ban against possession of dangerous weapons.

In a statement Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Thabani Mkhwananzi said the ban which stretches from June to September is aimed at curbing crime in the province.

He warned members of the public against defying this directive. Any person who will fail to comply with this order will be liable to a fine not exceeding level five or six months imprisonment or both.

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has bemoaned the suffering of citizens due to Zanu PF negligence and corruption.

President Chamisa also described Zanu PF leaders as unethical.

The Zanu PF administration is not working for the people, according to President Chamisa.

“WE will make things right just soon after forming a New Zimbabwe government.

The kind of suffering that I see out there is a huge cause for concern. Zanu PF leaders are totally unethical.

They don’t feel. Right now, there is no government that works for the people. This government is their vehicle for wealth accumulation, corruption and plunder.

They do not care whether the people have food or health care, its a only about themselves and no one else.

Our unity is key if ever we want to get rid of them. BE THE CHANGE. REGISTER TO VOTE,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has bemoaned the suffering of citizens due to Zanu PF negligence and corruption.

President Chamisa also described Zanu PF leaders as unethical.

The Zanu PF administration is not working for the people, according to President Chamisa.

“WE will make things right just soon after forming a New Zimbabwe government.

The kind of suffering that I see out there is a huge cause for concern. Zanu PF leaders are totally unethical.

They don’t feel. Right now, there is no government that works for the people. This government is their vehicle for wealth accumulation, corruption and plunder.

They do not care whether the people have food or health care, its a only about themselves and no one else.

Our unity is key if ever we want to get rid of them. BE THE CHANGE. REGISTER TO VOTE,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.

THE Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) has failed to account for  the use of money exceeding US$400 million, while also failing to properly account for 352 583.11 carats of diamonds worth about US$146.3 million which were in stock, raising the possibility that they could have been stolen.

In her 2019 report on state enterprises, Auditor-General Mildred Chiri said she doubted the company’s ability to continue operating due to losses while questioning some of the investments of the company.

The Auditor-General is worried that ZCDC may not be able to recover money it invested in companies which have since folded.

Diamond revenue has been a contentious issue with the late former president Robert Mugabe once claiming that revenue of up to US$15 billion had been stolen. Although the figure was largely doubted, it was seen as confirmation that indeed there was looting in the diamond mining sector.

Chiri said ZCDC was failing to conduct a stock count of the diamonds at the sort house, risking possible pilferage of inventories, which may go undetected.

“There was no evidence of a documented formal process of reconciling physical stock counted to theoretical stock. For instance, the following anomalies were noted in respect of diamond stocks which then necessitated post year-end adjustments to the financial statements which had been presented for audit,” Chiri said.

“In 2019, 297 660.41 carats of diamond stock held at MMCZ (Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe) was not counted at the time of the stock count. These parcels were packed for customers and held at MMCZ. However, at year-end, during the stock count, these stocks were not included in closing inventories; and in 2018, 41 699.85 carats of diamond stocks held at MMCZ were excluded from the stock count. It was assumed at the time that these stocks had been sold to customers.

“An additional 13 222.85 carats were excluded from the final stock sheet in error.”

The Auditor-General also noted that at the time of the audit in April 2020, there had been a sale of diamonds to a local customer in September 2019, which has not been paid for or collected, eight months after the sale. She said this was in breach of tender rules which state that a customer should pay for their parcels within three days of winning a tender.

Chiri expressed concern that “possible pilferage of inventories may occur and go undetected.”

She also said material variances between physical stock and theoretical stock may go undetected. The audit was not able to verify the valuation (recoverability) of amounts owed by related parties with a balance exceeding US$300 million on the company’s statement of financial position.

“I was not able to verify the valuation (recoverability) of amounts owed by related parties with a balance of $304 258 953 on the company’s statement of financial position. Some of the amounts are owed by companies that have since closed down whilst ZMDC have not acknowledged the amount due. Management failed to provide persuasive audit evidence on how and when these amounts would be recovered. Consequently, I was unable to determine whether any adjustments to the above stated amounts were necessary,” she said.

“I was not able to verify the valuation (recoverability) of amounts owed by related parties with a balance of $24 347 454 on the Company’s statement of financial position. The amounts are owed by companies that have since closed down. Management have failed to provide us with persuasive audit evidence on how and when these amounts would be recovered.”

Chiri said she could also not verify the valuation of the investment of US$20 295 856 and US$178 799 841 into DTZOZGEO Limited as the company failed to enable the office of the Auditor-General to asses the fair valuation.

In addition, the ZCDC management also failed to provide the Auditor-General with an impairment assessment for the investment in the subsidiary.

“Consequently, I was unable to determine whether any adjustments to the above-stated amounts were necessary,” Chiri said.

“I was not able to verify the valuation of accruals with a balance of $51 613 628  (US$51.6 million) and trade creditors with a debit balance of $82 686 279 (US$82.7 million) and the rights and obligations of the company thereon. Delays in recording of invoices into individual supplier accounts meant that as at the time of our report, management had not provided me with sufficient and appropriate evidence to support these amounts.”

On the governance issues, Chiri noted that the mining company did not have independent directors as all board members in the interim had interests in other related parties.

The company also had some goods worth US$352 068 which were long paid for but not yet received, indicating possible deficiencies in the company’s supplier selection or capacity of selected suppliers to fulfil contractual obligations, according to Chiri.

Five carats of diamonds worth US$2 075 belonging to a producer also went missing at the MMCZ during a weight verification exercise.

“In addition, the CCTV video footages could not be retrieved as there was an internal control system failure,” the Auditor-General said.

The ZCDC paid board fees and allowances that were above the approved rates during the year under review, according to Chiri.

By A Correspondent- Police has declared war on Harare residents and is now using tear gas in the name of enforcing the new measures of covid-19 lockdown.

The spate of skirmishes between the is happening in the CBD, Epworth and Harare South suburbs.

Police in these said areas is rounding up innocent citizens and beat them up before firing tears gas at them.

This happening around 7 pm well before the 10 pm curfew time.

By A Correspondent- Police in Harare’s Epworth suburb Friday evening rounded up innocent citizens and beat them up before throwing tears gas at them.

This happened at Epwoth’s Domoramwari shopping centre at around 7 pm.

The police had clashed with citizens whom they were accusing of contravening covid-19 lockdown regulations after they (residents) had challenged them that lockdown curfew starts at 10 pm.

Citizens were roaming around the shopping centre when the skirmishes happened.

By A Correspondent-More than three million people in Harare Metropolitan province spent two days with dry taps as Zesa Holdings switched off power to Harare’s major supplying water treatment, Morton Jaffray over a debt of more than $1 billion.

Morton Jaffray water treatment plant feeds Harare, Chitungwiza, Norton, Ruwa and Epworth local authorities and stopped operating on Thursday midday when Zesa pulled the plug, exposing residents to risk of diseases, such as cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid and dysentery as they resorted to unsafe water sources.

Harare City Council said it had engaged Zesa which agreed to switch on power by lunchtime yesterday following a payment plan and water was expected to be flowing by end of day.

The debt is said to be as high as $1,3 billion, although since Zesa has not paid a cent towards the agreed royalties for the council buildings, power station and other assets since 1996 it should be significantly offset by what Zesa owes the council.

Harare’s electricity undertaking was absorbed into Zesa when a unified electricity authority was set up soon after independence but Zesa is supposed to be paying a royalty on the assets it acquired.

Zesa spokesperson Prisca Utete yesterday refused to comment, referring all questions to the local authority.

Acting Harare town clerk Engineer Mabhena Moyo yesterday said the council had proposed a weekly payment plan.

“The debt is about $1 billion and we have paid $50 million so far while committing ourselves to make a weekly payment plan. Electricity was switched on by lunchtime after negotiations and we were expecting that water should be running by now (close of business yesterday),” he said.
The shutting down of Morton Jaffray has once again exposed the vulnerability of city finances as it is the umpteenth time the plant has been closed over numerous issues including lack of the essential treatment chemicals.

Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba said while it was Harare’s obligation to pay its bills, Zesa as another public entity should avoid endangering people’s lives through its rushed moves.

“The national power utility and council are of strategic importance to the nation serving the taxpayers. If by any chance they can avoid cutting power they should do so.

“Zesa should not assume superiority over another State entity as both serve the same purpose. We urge them to be sincere because they know the danger posed by the shortage of water,” he said.

Mr Shumba said the decision to cut off electricity supplies showed that there is lack of leadership on both ends.

“This actually now requires the intervention of the central Government. At present, where people are battling Covid-19, we cannot take chances to permit queues at boreholes,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Police in Chinhoyi has arrested two men in connection with the murder of a man who was on Wednesday killed dumped in a disused house.

John Fundo, 25, of Destiny was found dead in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

Two of the suspects have since been arrested for murder while the other two are on the run.

Mashonaland West Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Magret Chitove told H-Metro that residents from Ruvimbo Phase 2, discovered the body of Fundo in an unfinished house.

Inspector Chitove said Fundo was found having difficulties in breathing and an informer made a report at ZRP Chemagamba.
ZRP Chemagamba and CID quickly reacted to the report and found Fundo dead.
Police made investigations and got information that Fundo was assaulted by four men.

The arrested suspects are MacDonald Mushove, 28, and Denford Matore, 27.

Fundo was found with a deep cut in his head and bruises all over his body.

Insp Chitove urged members of the public to preserve the sanctity of life.
“Whenever people have misunderstandings, they must resolve them amicably or invite the police so that the law follows its due course,” said Insp Chitove.

She underscored the need for the members of the general populace not to take the law into their own hands.

Insp Chitove said the suspects will appear in court soon.
“Fundo’s body was taken to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital awaiting a post mortem.
“The police are still hunting for the two suspects who are still at large. Fundo’s next of kin has been advised,” said Insp Chitove.

By A Correspondent- Police in Chinhoyi has arrested two men in connection with the murder of a man who was on Wednesday killed dumped in a disused house.

John Fundo, 25, of Destiny was found dead in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

Two of the suspects have since been arrested for murder while the other two are on the run.

Mashonaland West Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Magret Chitove told H-Metro that residents from Ruvimbo Phase 2, discovered the body of Fundo in an unfinished house.

Inspector Chitove said Fundo was found having difficulties in breathing and an informer made a report at ZRP Chemagamba.
ZRP Chemagamba and CID quickly reacted to the report and found Fundo dead.
Police made investigations and got information that Fundo was assaulted by four men.

The arrested suspects are MacDonald Mushove, 28, and Denford Matore, 27.

Fundo was found with a deep cut in his head and bruises all over his body.

Insp Chitove urged members of the public to preserve the sanctity of life.
“Whenever people have misunderstandings, they must resolve them amicably or invite the police so that the law follows its due course,” said Insp Chitove.

She underscored the need for the members of the general populace not to take the law into their own hands.

Insp Chitove said the suspects will appear in court soon.
“Fundo’s body was taken to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital awaiting a post mortem.
“The police are still hunting for the two suspects who are still at large. Fundo’s next of kin has been advised,” said Insp Chitove.

Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST) Director Alice Kuvheya on Wednesday 16 June 2021 appeared at Chitungwiza Magistrates Court after she was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and charged with incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence.

The 36 year-old Kuvheya was arrested on Monday 14 June 2021 and charged with incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence as defined in section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as read with section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The CHITREST Director was also charged with incitement to commit violence as defined in section 187(1)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as read with section 36(1)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors claim that Kuvheya, who is represented by Freddy Masarirevhu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, communicated, persuaded and induced people to wage war between authorities at Chitungwiza Municipality and some Chitungwiza residents and some informal traders.

The prosecutors charged that Kuvheya recorded a video which she shared on social media platforms in a bid to incite residents and informal traders to resist a government backed exercise to demolish trading and vending stalls and structures.

Kuvheya’s alleged actions, prosecutors argued, would result in public disturbances and disorder.

Kuvheya returns to court on Thursday 17 June 2021, where her application for refusal of remand will be heard before Magistrate Isheanesu Matova. Through his lawyer, Kuvheya is arguing that the facts of the charge of incitement does not constitute or disclose an offence.

On Wednesday 16 June 2021, Magistrate Matova ordered the state to carry out investigations into complaints made by Kuvheya against ZRP wherein she protested against the conduct of police officers who did not advise her about the charge she was facing upon arrest on Monday 14 June 2021 and who also took her from one police station to another and amended the charge several times.

On 10 June 2021, Kuvheya, CHITREST and Harare Residents Trust, who were represented by Rudo Bere of ZLHR, obtained a High Court order granted by Justice Edith Mushore stopping local and central government from carrying out unprocedural demolitions of homes, perimeter walls and informal traders’ structures as the exercise is not in compliance with the law in particular section 32 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act and section 3 of the Administrative Justice Act.

President Mnangagwa has heaped praise on Zimbabwe international and Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, describing him as a hard-working Zimbabwean whose love for the country was unwavering.

Nakamba visited the President at State House on Thursday in the company of former Nottingham Forest, and Queens Park Rangers striker, Dexter Blackstock.

The duo are part of the drive to bring investors into the country, with the help of Presidential envoy and Ambassador-At-Large to the Americas and Europe, Uebert Angel.

Writing on his verified Facebook page, President Mnangagwa implored all youngsters to look up to the former Bantu Rovers player who cut his football teeth at Bulawayo giants Highlanders.

“A pleasure and a privilege to speak to one of Zimbabwe’s brightest young talents. Hard working, empathetic and with an unwavering love for his country – all of Zimbabwe’s children should look up to Marvelous Nakamba,” wrote President Mnangagwa who has to date met three different sports personalities at his official residence.

On June 5, he met Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) champion Temba Gorimbo while in December last year Olympique Lyon striker and Zimbabwe national soccer team player Tino Kadewere was a Presidential guest.

Nakamba said he was honored to have met the country’s first citizen.

“I am very happy and honoured to meet the President of the country,’’ he told reporters.

Nakamba also runs a charitable organization, Marvelous Nakamba Foundation (MNF) which through one of the renowned legal firms, T Hara and Partners, was officially registered with authorities and has so far helped many underprivileged children throughout the country, paying school fees for 1 000 pupils. MNF was founded in 2019.

“It’s really a great thing for me to help the less privileged, and support the youth, and give motivation that it’s possible to become anything you want to become in life,” said Nakamba.

ROMAN Catholic cleric, Father Emmanuel Ribeiro, has been declared a national hero.

A man of many talents, Fr Ribeiro died at St Anne’s Hospital in Harare on Thursday morning after a short illness.

He was 86.

The national hero status declaration was announced by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri yesterday.

She was accompanied by Zanu PF acting national Political Commissar Cde Patrick Chinamasa, when she delivered the message to the Ribeiro, Mashonganyika and Makaka families in Harare.

She described Fr Ribeiro as a friend, a gallant son of the soil, a freedom fighter, great researcher and theologist par excellence.

“We came as Zanu PF family and Government of Zimbabwe sent by President Mnangagwa to pay our condolences and inform you of the honour bestowed on our friend, Fr Ribeiro after considering his role in the liberation of this country,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.

“Fr Ribeiro fought for the independence of this country despite being a cleric and he even continued to serve after independence. He had unpleasant experiences during the war as he prayed for prisoners before hanging.

“He was a friend to the prisoners and had a great influence. He also assisted former President Mugabe and national hero Edgar Tekere to cross to Mozambique. He represented President Mnangagwa when he was arrested during the war.”

Cde Chinamasa said he last saw Father Ribeiro on Monday when he came to his office to present some papers.

“He told me about some prison officers who died in prison and what should be done to them. I did not know this was my last day with him,” he said.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri then took the opportunity to teach mourners about the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for every citizen to protect him or herself and others through following the World Health Organisations guidelines that include washing hands, maintaining social distance and sanitising hands regularly.

Relatives and friends described the late national hero as friendly, unifier, generous, a novelist, a music composer and great historian of the liberation struggle history.

On Thursday, President Mnangagwa described the death of Fr Ribeiro as a great loss to the nation as he served Zimbabwe with distinction.

From serving in many rural parishes during the colonial era, Fr Ribeiro later on dedicated his life to catering to the spiritual needs of many freedom fighters, both those who were serving long prison terms and those who were unjustly condemned to death by the country’s erstwhile colonisers.

President Mnangagwa was among the condemned and only escaped the hangman’s noose because he was under-age.

“In the case of condemned former prisoners like myself, his figure became one of the only contacts we had with the outside world or the only and last human being one would see before meeting his cruel fate at the hands of colonial authorities,” said President Mnangagwa.

“His religious chores as a prison chaplain thus brought him in direct contact with souls in acute distress. Indeed, it exposed him to horrid scenes of settler penal cruelty, scenes which haunted him to his last day in this life.

“I mourn his passing on as one of the few lucky ones he was able to rescue from the gallows, a development which makes his demise particularly poignant and quite painful to me personally.”

Fr Ribeiro who reconstructed the last moments of the famous Chinhoyi 7, including tracing their family trees across the country, was at the time of his death tracing final steps of numerous freedom fighters who fell prey to the cruel colonial penal system before independence.

Apart from contributing to the reconstruction of the national struggle narratives, Fr Ribeiro also put his life, along with other missionaries, on the line as he fought for the liberation of Zimbabwe

Together with the late Sister Aquina, late Moven Mahachi and Sekuru Tangwena, Fr Ribeiro played a critical role which ensured the late Cdes Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Edgar Zivanai Tekere absconded to Mozambique for purposes of leading the struggle after the assassination of Zanu Chairman, Cde Herbert Chitepo, then in exile.

Until the achievement of independence, Fr Ribeiro’s commitment to the liberation struggle was unquestionable.

Fr Ribeiro was also a music composer of repute.

He composed church hymns, which are part of sermons in the Roman Catholic Church to this day.

Critically, Fr Ribeiro assisted in the composition of the national anthem and as an artist was part of the team that designed the national flag.

Added President Mnangagwa: “He did a lot more than singing; he was an accomplished novelist who wrote in one of our local languages under the then Rhodesia Literature Bureau.

“Alongside late Archbishop Patrick Chakaipa and late Solomon Mutsvairo, Fr Ribeiro blazed the trail employing national languages for creative writing.

“It spoke highly of him as an author that his flagship novel ‘Muchadura’, became an abiding set-book in schools.

“Today we mourn the passing of this man of many talents.

“On behalf of the party Zanu PF, Government, that of my family and on my behalf, I wish to express my deepest condolences to the Ribeiro family.

“Above all, I tender my sincere condolences to the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Harare, His Grace Archbishop Robert Ndlovu and the entire membership of the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe.

“We keenly feel and share your pain and grief, praying that the Good Lord rests Fr Emmanuel Ribeiro’s soul eternally.”

Fr Ribeiro was born in 1935 in Chivhu and attended Kutama Mission, Gokomere, and Gweru Teachers’ College.

He studied Theology at Chishawasha Mission before enrolling for a Master’s Degree at Bloomington College of Music in the US.

-State Media

Another earthquake rattled Kariba this morning with the epicentre estimated to be in Lake Kariba, several kilometres away from the one felt on Tuesday night.

This morning’s earthquake slightly increased in intensity to record 3,9 Magnitude on the Richter Scale. Tuesday’s quake was minor at Magnitude 3,6.

“An earthquake was felt in Kariba this morning the 18th June 2021 at 0735 local time,” said the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) in an update.

“Preliminary location shows that the earthquake occurred at Latitude -17.045 S and Longitude 27.941E and the magnitude was determined to be 3.9. The epicentre is in Lake Kariba.”

The last earthquake was inland. There were no reports of damage.