Thank you @ParisHilton & Carter for visiting #Zimbabwe?? #AWorldOfWonders! We trust you enjoyed the Gorge Swing & both the tandem & solo zip line in #VictoriaFalls, the #AdrenalineCapital! #VisitVictoriaFalls#VisitZimbabwe#AWorldOfWonders
Credit: @WildHorizons pic.twitter.com/hscs6Z8kMm

— #VisitZimbabwe (@tourismzimbabwe) June 11, 2021

By A Correspondent- Outspoken Norton legislator Temba Mliswa (independent) has sensationally accused Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi of using voodoo to eliminate him and his sister, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka.

Mliswa-Chikoka, who is Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs for minister, is reportedly embroiled in a fight for the control of the province with Ziyambi who was Zanu-PF provincial chairperson, until his elevation to the politburo recently.

Ziyambi yesterday refused to comment on the accusations, say-ing Mliswa should elaborate. In an audio message circulating on social media, Mliswa accused Ziyambi of consulting spiritualists in Domboshava.

“Why would you be so desperate to go to a prophet in Domboshava? When you got there, you gave him my name that I should die. You also included Mary’s name and I cannot fathom where that is emanating from,” Mliswa said.

“You hate me to the extent of wishing me dead because I asked questions in Parliament? This has shown me this is the way you get your posts, you will be visiting prophets, but you have been exposed and you have been exposed because the people who accompany you looked for me and informed me.

“You ran to the provincial executive council (Pec) and when you are there, people give you the platform to do whatever you want and to appoint whomever you want. I personally don’t want to be involved in Pec, but my query is why you want to eliminate me,” the former Zanu-PF provincial chairman fumed.

“I am worried for my life. I will be writing to the director general of the Central Intelligence Organisation with all this information so that he investigates and the truth comes out.”

CASE ALERT

Dr Musa Kika, Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, yesterday, 11 June 2021, filed an urgent court application seeking an order for leave to execute the High Court judgment barring former Chief Justice, Luke Makaba, from exercising duties as the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe. 

The urgent court application follows a judgment delivered by Justices Tsanga and Chirawu-Mugomba who ruled that Luke Malaba was not in contempt of court because the President and Minister of Justice had lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court.

The latest court application seeks an order that pending finalisation of the appeal , the former CJ should immediately cease and desist from exercising the functions of the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe either in a judicial or administrative capacity unless allowed to do so pursuant to the outcome of the appeal. 

A third European Union-Zimbabwe Political Dialogue Meeting took place in Harare on 10 June 2021.

The meeting allowed for the continuation of discussions on topics that are of common interest and are priorities in EU-Zimbabwe relations: human rights, democratisation, rule of law and good governance; economic developments and reforms, the investment climate and implementation of our free trade agreement, the Economic Partnership Agreement; development cooperation, humanitarian assistance and global and regional partnerships. The discussions also included exchanges on Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 response as well as the EU’s support and assistance.

The EU and its Member States expressed concern over a curtailed democratic space in Zimbabwe over the last year, and reports of continued violations of human rights such as reported cases of enforced disappearances and lengthy unjustified detentions, arrests of journalists and other limitations to the freedom of expression and the media. The EU urged the Government to conduct impartial investigations of human rights violations and bring perpetrators to justice.

The EU acknowledged Government’s efforts to stabilise the economy and highlighted that economic reforms and the fight against corruption are paramount for Zimbabwe, in particular, to mitigate the humanitarian crisis, and improve the socio-economic situation.

The European Union reaffirmed that it stands ready to continue to support the Zimbabwean people in the current challenges and that entering an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable growth path requires structural reforms by Government.

Today’s discussion was conducted in an open, cordial and constructive atmosphere. We look forward to continuing the exchanges within the framework of the formal Political dialogue.

The EU-Zimbabwe Political Dialogue was co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable Ambassador Frederick Shava, and the EU Head of Delegation to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Timo Olkkonen, who was joined by the Heads of Mission, Ambassadors of France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal as well as the Chargés d’Affaires of Romania, Spain, and Sweden and the First Secretary of the Embassy of Belgium.

ACTUAL TRANSCRIPTS WERE NOT AVAILED

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) warned members of the public against illegal forex deals following reports that illegal foreign currency dealers have “invaded” supermarkets and wholesalers.

Forex dealers are reportedly offering higher rates to customers intending to use forex to pay for goods and services in supermarkets and wholesalers.

This comes after the government gazetted Statutory Instrument 127 of 2021 which, among other things, empowers the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to penalise traders that price their goods or services above the official exchange rate.

According to Manica Post, illegal forex dealers have been using their debit cards, mobile banking, internet banking and Zipit facilities to pay for goods and services on behalf of customers at higher rates.

Officially, US$1 is worth around $85, but black market dealers are offering anything between $120 and $130 for the same amount.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda, said more police officers have been deployed to bring the illegal forex dealers to book. He said:

We have seen an increase in the number of people doing illegal foreign currency transactions on the pavements and in the supermarkets.

We have deployed our officers, both in uniform and plainclothes, to arrest these people and bring them to book.

We urge members of the public to do their transactions in banks and registered bureau de changes.

Some of the people they are dealing with are criminals who will rob them of their hard-earned cash.

What the public must understand is that it takes two or more people to do a transaction and all the parties involved in any illegal money transfer deal will be arrested and charged accordingly.

-Manicapost

By A Correspondent- Police in Mutoko, Mashonaland East province, are currently investigating a case where a 19-year-old girl allegedly fatally assaulted a se_x-starved man after he attempted to rap_e her.

The teenager (name withheld), under Chief Chimukoko, reportedly overpowered the deceased, Shuwa Tsuro (43), who had accosted her several times demanding se_x.

The girl has since been arrested and charged with murder.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii confirmed the incident yesterday.

According to police, on June 7, at around 10am, Tsuro went to the accused’s place of residence and proposed love but was turned down.

On the same day, at around 9pm, the teenager was preparing supper alone when Tsuro arrived and proposed love again, this time demanding se_x.

He was turned down again.

Enraged, Tsuro charged towards the girl with his manhood exposed. But the girl hit him with a piece of firewood until he fell unconscious.

The girl then informed a neighbour Patricia Makwanya of the incident, who rushed to the scene and found Tsuro lying on the ground half nak_ed and complaining of pain on his legs.

Tsuro died during the night.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The European Union (EU) has told President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration that the bloc cannot fully engage with Harare unless it institutes far reaching political and economic reforms.

The EU early this year extended by a further year sanctions it imposed on Harare, initially in 2002, arguing that they would remain in place until government stops rampant human rights abuses and vicious clampdown on dissent.

The bloc said in a statement following a closed-door meeting between government and representatives of the delegation of the European Union to Zimbabwe it made clear to government that respect for human rights was a key pretext to a full-fledged restoration of relations, which soured at the turn of the millennium when the Zanu PF government embarked on a chaotic land reform programme, which resulted farmers of European origin being driven from farms across the country.

The meeting, which was held in Harare on Thursday, allowed for the continuation of discussions on topics that are of common interest and are priorities in EU-Zimbabwe relations: human rights, democratisation, rule of law and good governance, economic development, investment climate, free trade, the economic partnership agreement, development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and regional and global partnerships, the bloc said in its statement.

“The EU and its membership expressed concern over a curtailed democratic space in Zimbabwe over the last year and reports of continued violations of human rights such as reported cases of enforced disappearances, and lengthy unjustified detentions, arrests of journalists and other limitations to the freedom of expression and the media. The EU urged government conduct impartial investigations of human rights violations and bring perpetrators to justice,” the EU said.

It added that although it acknowledged government’s efforts in stabilising the economy and improve the socio-economic situation in the country, it was worried by lack of commitment to structural reforms by the government.

Government was represented by Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Frederick Shava while EU head of delegation to Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen was joined by ambassadors of EU member States, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, The Netherlands, Spain and Romania.

Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said the EU had demonstrated its sincerity on dialoguing with Harare, but as long as the Zanu PF regime does not reform, there would be no smiles for Mnangagwa.

“The EU is setting a foundation for continued dialogue with Zimbabwe, but I don’t see the EU reneging on its position that government must respect human rights and adhere to constitutional provisions and reform some of its undemocratic policies. There is no change of the EU looking aside when government is committing abuses in the interest of promoting dialogue,” he said.

“It is only giving government an opportunity and showing they are sincere in their call for dialogue, but there has to be tangible action from the Zimbabwean authorities in terms of respecting human rights.

“It’s not only a matter of talking but acting on the part of the Zimbabwean government on concerns the EU has been raised. The issue is there a match on the ground in what the Zimbabwe government is saying and doing.”

-newsday

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) expresses concern over the new dates that have been set by the government for the conducting of the population census and delimitation exercise.

The new dates were announced in the latest post Cabinet press briefing, in which the government indicated that the country remains on course to conduct the Census within the prescribed time frame for the 2023 Elections.

The actual population census is commencing in April 2022, and the results expected in August 2022, paving way for the Constituencies Delimitation in October 2022 with 31 December 2022 being the last day allowed for delimitation.

This comes at a time when CSOs are pushing for electoral reforms before the next election, and delimitation being one of the key reforms in the electoral cycle with a bearing on the credibility of electoral outcomes. The Delimitation Exercise is prescribed under section 161 (1) of the Constitution on Delimitation of Electoral Boundaries; which provides that; “Once every ten years, on a date or within a period fixed by the Commission so as to fall as soon as possible after a population census, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission must conduct a delimitation of the electoral boundaries into which Zimbabwe is to be divided.”

The Network believes that the census provides a useful resultant dataset in the delimitation exercise which could help in improving the integrity of the delimitation exercise. However, mindful of the provisions of  section 161 (2) which postulates that: “If a delimitation of electoral boundaries is completed less than six months before polling day in a general election, the boundaries so delimited do not apply to that election, and instead the boundaries that existed immediately before the delimitation are applicable.”, ZESN is worried that the result of the delimitation may become academic if the exercise is completed six months before the elections, making it impossible for  ZEC to use the drawn boundaries for the harmonised elections scheduled in July 2023.  

Assuming that the next general election is held as provided for in the Constitution under section 143 on Duration and Dissolution of Parliament, the Network is concerned that the timelines proposed by Cabinet are likely to compromise the delimitation process in terms of the quality. (Parliament is elected for a five-year term which runs from the date on which the President elect is sworn in and assumes office in terms of Section 94 (1) (a), and parliament stands dissolved at midnight on the day before the first polling day in the next general election called in terms of Section 144.)

Taking into account that the current electoral boundaries are arguably no longer representative of the voters with the last delimitation exercise conducted in 2008, ZESN urges the government to give ZEC ample time to conduct a thorough and quality process so that new electoral boundaries can be used in the next election.  The Network therefore calls upon the government of Zimbabwe to bring forward the date of commencement of the Census so that the delimitation exercise is completed before December 2022.

Boundary delimitation must be open, transparent and inclusive. Citizens and electoral stakeholders must be consulted and involved. However, the three-month window from October to December 2022 during which delimitation will be taking place is too short and too tight and the opportunity to build confidence, trust and ownership of the process, through engagement of citizens and key electoral stakeholders will be lost. Compounding the situation is the absence of clarity on the process, what could be possibly be done simultaneously with the census, if any, and a predictable boundary delimitation calendar, making it difficult for stakeholders to plan accordingly and contribute meaningfully to the process.

ZESN therefore urges the Government and ZEC to take the impending delimitation exercise seriously in order to avoid contested election boundaries, which may yet again result in contested elections.

By A Correspondent- Police are hunting for a self-styled Harare prophet who allegedly rap_ed an Old Highfield woman after he claimed that she was possessed with an evil spirit and he had been sent by the Holy Spirit to cleanse her.

The prophet identified as Madzibaba Ray of Johane Masowe YeChishanu Nyeredzi-Nomwe went on to rap_e the 30-year-old woman.

Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the incident.

“He reportedly told the complaint that she was possessed with evil spirit which needed spiritual cleansing,” said Insp Mwanza.

“The suspect reportedly told the complainant that he had been sent by the Holy Spirit to cleanse her. In the process, the accused had unprotected se_xual intercourse once without the complainant’s consent. After the act, the suspect went away leaving the complainant alone.”

By A Correspondent- MDC-T vice president Elias Mudzuri faces arrest for murder, ZimLive reported.

The former Harare mayor was named by a dying man as the one of the people who brutally assaulted him at a bar in Harare on June 7.

Police are ready to swoop on Mudzuri over the murder of 23-year-old Ronald Mukumbira, of Epworth.

An internal police memo seen by ZimLive says Mukumbira was drinking beer at Duriro Pub & Grill in the Wokington industrial area when he was assaulted “with unknown weapons” by Mudzuri and others, including a Leonard Mudzuri thought to be related to the politician.

Mudzuri reportedly owns Duriro.

Left for dead, police say Mukumbira was rushed to Sally Mugabe Hospital at around 3.30AM with a deep cut on the head and injuries on the ribs and knees.

Mukumbira was treated and discharged, arriving home in Epworth at about 3PM the same day.

“Upon arrival at his place of residence, Mukumbira told his mother Netsai Mukumbira that he was assaulted by Elias Mudzuri, Leonard Mudzuri and other unknown accused persons at Duriro bar,” the police memo dated June 11, 2021, said.

Moments after recounting his ordeal, according to police, Mukumbira stopped talking and he died at 7PM on June 10.

The reasons for the assault are not stated in the police document.

Mukumbira’s body was taken to Tayedzwa Funeral Service but is expected to be ferried to a government hospital for a post-mortem.

A police source said on Saturday: “We’re very keen to question Elias Mudzuri. We should make an arrest this weekend.”

Mudzuri was not answering calls on Saturday. MDC-T spokesman Witness Dube said: “The matter is under investigation by the police and we won’t comment as a party.”

-ZimLive

By A Correspondent- South Africa has expelled diplomats from Lesotho and Malawi for their involvement in the sale of duty-free alcohol to bars and restaurants.

The diplomats were declared persona non grata (unwelcome person) for engaging in the illegal sale of illicit duty-free alcohol and were given 72 hours to leave the country, failing which will lead to arrests.

The government of Lesotho has expressed shock and disappointment in learning of the diplomats who have been thrown out of South Africa.

There are reports that short of cash Lesotho diplomats and their spouses have been bringing alcohol into the country without paying duty and then reselling it in bars and restaurants.

Lesotho foreign affairs minister Matsepo Ramakoae said they saw media reports that some diplomats were involved in this. She said:

This means that this has been going on for quite some time. We are going to take the report from South Africa, look at it and take action.

The Malawian government has also issued a statement promising to take appropriate action against the diplomats.

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), spokesperson Clayson Monyela announced the development. He said:

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation wishes to confirm that it has, on behalf of South Africa, declared several diplomats persona non-grata following an intensive investigation into their flouting of diplomatic privileges. The said diplomats were found guilty of engaging in illicit trade in duty-free alcohol.

… The government of South Africa has given the affected diplomatic staff members and their families 72 hours within which they should leave South Africa.

They are also expected to relinquish their diplomatic status by returning all the necessary diplomatic tools to Dirco.

Monyela said investigations of similar transgressions by other missions accredited to South Africa are at an advanced stage and similar action will be taken should they be found guilty.

He urged diplomatic missions accredited to South Africa to respect, uphold and comply with all the laws of the land, including adherence with the prescripts of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961

By A Correspondent- Informal traders arrested in Chitungwiza breathed a sigh of relief after a Chitungwiza magistrate quashed their charges arguing that the charges were defective, embarassing and did not warrant that any offence was committed.

Said the vendors’ lawyer Job Sikhala:

“After an application to quash the charges, it is true that the above informal traders who were in police cells since Thursday were freed after the Court upheld our application that the charge is defective, embarrassing and does not disclose any offenses.

There is happiness galore by the informal traders who were in police cells since Thursday up to today.

The Court refused to put them on remand instead freeing them.”

The vendors were represented by Sikhala after the intervention of Dewa Mavhinga of Human Rights Watch, who pleaded with Sikhala to represent the poor vendors who were under siege.

By A Correspondent- A section of Zimbabweans in South Africa is celebrating following the daylight murder of 25-year-old Ronnie Macmillan who was shot dead in Midrand on Monday afternoon.

Ronnie, a lover of finer brands, died in a hail of bullets while driving.

According to sources close to him, he had seven bullets pumped into his body and died on the spot. Midrand Police Station officers attended the crime scene. Macmillan was staying in Pretoria suburb of Sunnyside where mourners are gathered.

There have been mixed emotions on social media as some celebrated his demise branding him a “notorious thug”.

Some messages on Facebook were too explicit to be published in respectable media as the outpouring of anger reached a crescendo.

“Dai kudenga kune TV ndaigara ndakabata remote ndichiona urikupisiwa kusvika papi 7 bullets mashoma dai vakamuisa 100 chaiwo don’t rest in peace musat***** du*** burn in hell Satan mwana waLucifa imbwa muko**,” wrote one user going by the name Melody Kamwe.

Literally translated: “If heaven had a television set I would permanently keep the remote in my hand checking how much you are burning in hell. The seven bullets they pumped into you were too few they should have used 100. Don’t rest in peace, burn in hell Lucifer’s son.”

In an ominous post made on his Facebook page Macmillan seems to have foreseen his death coming.

“No amount of money can help u wen it is ur time to leave this world. Only God can save you thru his blessings,” he wrote in March this year.

“Dhemeti saka imimi muchema mhondi ko vaakauraya makavachema here imi zvimahure zvepano mudzikame. Asi paaiba nekuuraya vanhu ndimi maipihwa mari dzaaibira vanhu dzacho mutidzikamire maZimba why muchi supporter nonsense regai mhondi dzife mhani. (Sies, why are you mourning a murderer? When he used to rob and kill people where you the ones who were given the proceeds? Why do you support nonsense? Let murderers die,” wrote another seemingly thrilled user Solo Joymaster Makwevera.

Some of his ‘friends’ we spoke to indicated the flamboyant socialite was never a permanent friend and could turn against you in a split second.

“This guy was a thug and got a lot of people behind bars for the very same crimes he was committing. This time I think he played with a wrong gang. He would set you up against cops and a number of people know about this yet he wanted to live his life freely,” said one who, like many, would only talk anonymously for fear of reprisals.

“If you live by the sword you die by the sword. He had created so many enemies vamwe vaaitengesa ku police. I think this time he played with mafias and they have eliminated him. He had become real terror to many no wonder so many are celebrating,” added the friend who strangely was not sure whether “Macmillan” was his real surname or a “street name”.

In other Whatsapp groups they list Ronnie’s trail of criminality from assaulting a pregn_ant woman who ended up miscarrying twins as well as hijacking a truck on the N1 freeway, shooting the driver in the legs crippling him in the process. Some added he was a “wholesaler” of the fast-moving codeine cough syrup Broncleer.

Efforts to get comments from the “victims”  and those who posted the vitriol were fruitless as they did not respond to messages. Funeral arrangements are yet to be advised but early indications are that his remains will be repatriated to Zimbabwe.

-HMetro

By A Correspondent- The face of a Zimbabwean man that had deformed after being severely assaulted by Botswana police in 2015 now looks normal.

Tinashe Bande’s face was so severely deformed that he was repeatedly turned back at the Ramokgwebana border gate when he tried to cross into Zimbabwe.

Immigration officers could not believe it was him on the passport. Bande, a 39-year-old from Gweru said some people were now afraid of him because of his facial appearance. He said back then:

_Some people, especially children, run away when they encounter me in the street while others laugh at me._

His wife divorced him on grounds that she could not live with a “cripple.”

Bande went back to Maun where he had been assaulted, stayed there as an illegal immigrant and in the process, became a sitting target for periodic police operations to round up and deport illegal immigrants.

Two years after the beating, Bande was referred to Bokamoso Private Hospital in Gaborone for a surgical operation that cost P13 000 (money he didn’t have) to remove the orbit tumour in his eye.

He ditched Western Medicine for traditional medicine from Zimbabwe which he applied directly into the eye and six years later, he is now able to clear immigration at any border gate with absolutely no hassle.

The protrusion retracted, the eye cleared up and today he believes that he is fully healed. See the most recent photo Tinashe sent to Pindula News.

Officially, Bande was an illegal immigrant because his passport expired on December 23, 2012, but his case immunised him against detention and deportation

By A Correspondent- After giving birth to her bouncing baby boy on June 5, the late comedian Lazarus “Gringo” Boora’s widow Netsai Meki described the child as  “heaven sent, a comforter”.

Gringo died on November 9 last year, after being bedridden since August of the same year.

But the bundle of joy has not brought the much-needed happiness into Meki’s life, it seems some family members and social media “police” are simply refusing to give up on her.

Unnecessary questions are being put across, questioning why the baby was born now, despite that the dates tally in that she got pregnant when Gringo was still alive.

Meki says those who question the baby’s paternity should just back off and concentrate on what concerns their lives.

She says she is not concerned by the poking of noses in her life by “unreasonable” people.

“My husband died when I was three months preg_nant,” said Meki.

“I was taking care of him while preg_nant and sometimes he would say take it easy as he knew about my condition.

“I didn’t share with anyone as I was in grief and as you know according to our Shona culture, when one is three or less pregnant you can’t share the news with anyone.

“I was in the village for the past months and it was very stressful, thinking on how to survive. Those who had made their promises never fulfilled them. I did not have time to trace or check on that, remember they were promises, but what I can say now is nothing has materialised.

Meki, who still resides at the Hatfield house where they were lodging with Gringo, said not many of the family members knew about the baby.

“Actually, some are shocked that I now have a baby,” she said.

“I came out of hospital on a Monday and then called our aunt and (sarapavana) the person who was left to look after the children Mai Musakwa who said she was happy about the news.

“She promised to come and see the baby on Saturday (today). When I called other relatives, they said they were embarrassed to hear the news as they did not know or neither saw me preg_nant. I went through pain of losing the husband and the family squabbles that were taking place. I had no energy for all that.”

A family member who refused anonymity, said it remained a mystery why Meki kept quiet about the preg_nancy.

“I think what she was supposed to do was to announce to the family, especially close family members about the preg_nancy so that we were not to be shocked,” said the family member.

“But anyway, we don’t have that time to judge or challenge for DNA tests, let us just say congratulations. She knows the father.

“We are no longer interested in the drama. Let Gringo lie in peace.”

Meki already has three children with Gringo.

But why did Meki keep it a secret to the family that she was preg_nant?

“I delivered my baby boy last Saturday (June 5) at Sally Mugabe Hospital which is popularly known as Harare Hospital,” said Meki.

“It was around 21.14hrs and the baby was 3kgs.

“The nurses told me the baby was huge, I was unconscious for a while and it was a normal birth. With my late husband this is the fourth child I have with him. All in all, there are now eight Gringo’s children. I now have four while the first wife had one, the second wife had two and the third wife had one.”

All of Gringo’s children’s names start with the letter “T” — Takudzwa, Tanaka, Taurai, Tanyaradzwa, Tabeth and Terrence.

Well, the new baby is not yet named.

“I am still looking for the right name,” said Meki.

“Yes, we have the junior Gringos’, but I can’t name this one junior, I will have to name him T-something.

The story about the baby aside, Meki said many of those who made promises to help Gringo’s family did not turn up after burial.

“The last story you had about someone pledging to build a house for us, paying school fees and donating food stuff was after the burial and that was that,” she said.

When Gringo died on November 9, 2020 at the age of 47 at Westview Hospital, his close friends, some family members and well-wishers who had been assisting him with hospital bills and everything had promised Meki to help her in taking care of the children.

Well, it seems Gringo died with those promises as soon after the burial that was the last time Meki had the well-wishers speaking about the issues.

“I came back to Harare on 22 March and was busy with the children, preparing them for school,” she said.

“Then in April I started the preparations for the baby and I had to hustle for the funds. Maybe, the Covid-19 situation affected a lot of people, including those who wanted to assist me.”

Meki is still a strong apostolic sect member and said that the church was very supportive up to now.

“For now, according to our religion, I will have to attend my first church service from giving birth after three weeks,” she said.

“I am a staunch Johanne Masowe church member at Chiedza. They are the ones who buried my husband, so I have respect for them.”

Asked if she was going to remarry, Meki said will never go that route again.

“I think I have done my part,” she said.

“I will never remarry. Imagine having another man taking care of my children. What if he doesn’t like them? For now, it is me and my children, what the people are saying is something else and after what I went through I have developed thick skin.

“I wasn’t happy with some of the stories that were written by other media houses, without contacting me. I was the last wife and was looking after Gringo, hence I should deserve the respect.”

Meki said the so-called Isuzu KB car which Gringo’s eldest son Taurai was fighting for was still at the Hatfield premises.

“I don’t know what will happen next on the issue of the Isuzu KB as you can see it’s still parked outside,” she said.

“It has never moved since the death of my husband.

“Remember, I told you that it was a company car and the owner has the papers, so maybe he is waiting or should I say is giving us time to mourn Gringo, then on the right time he will come and announce the next move.”

-statemedia

By A Correspondent-A photo of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Panganai Java in the President’s house has gone viral.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQAjTzXJm4A/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

By A Correspondent- Several passengers travelling in a Toyota Wish are feared dead after their vehicle collided head-on with an Inter-Africa Bus near Matizha Business Centre in Gutu this morning.

A motorist who arrived soon after the accident alleged that out of the estimated eight people from the Toyota Wish, only one person survived the accident and he (the motorist) took the survivor to Matizha Clinic.

However, the police are yet to confirm details of the tragic incident.

A ZimEye source however revealed that an eyewitness claimed that the accident occured when an Inter-Africa bus was trying to overtake another bus before it encroached into the lane of the oncoming Toyota Wish.

The Toyota Wish reportedly swerved off the road but the bus did the same resulting in the head on collision.

During the covid-19 induced Lockdown, government banned private kombis allowing only those registered under ZUPCO to operate resulting in little non-commercial vehicles overloading passengers.

Last month, government announced a waiver and gave the greenlight to buses plying rurla routes to commence operations.

However, the transport sector is also now dominated by “mushikashika” vehicles some of which include Toyota Wish and Honda fit vehicles. Although these vehicles have capacity to carry 4 passengers, some end up carrying as many as nine passengers.

Gutu Police is attending the scene.

This is a developing story.

Refresh this page for more details.

By A Correspondent- Cabinet ministers have lost confidence in their local banking sector and are now crossing the border and open banking accounts in South Africa.

One such government minister is the deputy minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Tinoda Machakaire who recently lost R600 000 after his South African bank account was hacked.

According to the state media, the thieves also took control of his mobile line and blocked him and gave instructions to companies using the hacked mobile line.

It is alleged that at different intervals, the hackers used the minister’s mobile number to send instructions to his company, Tinmac Motors, to make payments to accounts in South Africa and also instructed some drivers of his fleet of trucks to take up commercial loads to various destinations around the country.

Machakaire yesterday confirmed the development and told Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) that a team from his company had made a police report and they had some leads on the suspects
“Yes I indeed lost R600 000 to criminals after they hacked my mobile line and used it to send instructions to my company instructing them to make payments to companies and accounts in South Africa,” said Machakaire.

He said that he had leads on who received the money and some more pertinent information

“I have the names and account numbers that were used to receive the money in South Africa.”

Machakaire is also the Member of Parliament for Wedza South with business interests in farming and logistics.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was yet to get full details on the matter.

By A Correspondent -Harare regional magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro Muchuchuti, has dismissed MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti’s application to have senior prosecutor Mr Micheal Reza recused from his trial.

Mrs Guwuriro Muchuchuti said as a prosecutor had no say in deciding the innocence or guilt of a person on trial, it was difficult to see how retaining Mr Reza could affect the fairness of the trial.

The trial will now open on June 18.

Biti, through lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama, had applied for the recusal of Mr Reza saying that he was compromised

It is the State’s case that Ms Tatiana Aleshina was allegedly insulted and assaulted by Biti outside the Harare Magistrates Court building, but still within the precincts of the courts.

Mrs Aleshina filed a report with the police and has also lodged two further complaints with the Law Society of Zimbabwe.

In her complaint, Ms Aleshina wants Biti investigated for alleged gross unprofessional conduct and alleges she and her workmates were intimidated and verbally abused outside the court each time they came.

Ms Aleshina is one of the witnesses in the Katsimberis criminal case involving alleged fraud with regards to a joint venture with Pokugara Properties to build cluster houses in Harare’s Borrowdale suburb.

In that case, Katsimberis is being accused of using plans that were not approved by Harare City Council which led to the show house being demolished.

By A Correspondent- The deputy minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Tinoda Machakaire has lost R600 000 after his South African bank account was hacked.

Machakaire hails from Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s Wedza rural home.

According to the state media, the thieves also took control of his mobile line and blocked him and gave instructions to companies using the hacked mobile line.

It is alleged that at different intervals, the hackers used the minister’s mobile number to send instructions to his company, Tinmac Motors, to make payments to accounts in South Africa and also instructed some drivers of his fleet of trucks to take up commercial loads to various destinations around the country.

Machakaire yesterday confirmed the development and told Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) that a team from his company had made a police report and they had some leads on the suspects
“Yes I indeed lost R600 000 to criminals after they hacked my mobile line and used it to send instructions to my company instructing them to make payments to companies and accounts in South Africa” said Deputy Minister Machakaire.

He said that he had leads on who received the money and some more pertinent information

“I have the names and account numbers that were used to receive the money in South Africa.”

Deputy Minister Machakaire is also the Member of Parliament for Wedza South with business interests in farming and logistics.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was yet to get full details on the matter.

By A Correspondent- The deputy minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Tinoda Machakaire has lost R600 000 after his bank account was hacked.

According to the state media, the thieves also took control of his mobile line and blocked him and gave instructions to companies using the hacked mobile line.

It is alleged that at different intervals, the hackers used the minister’s mobile number to send instructions to his company, Tinmac Motors, to make payments to accounts in South Africa and also instructed some drivers of his fleet of trucks to take up commercial loads to various destinations around the country.

Deputy Minister Machakaire yesterday confirmed the development and told Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) that a team from his company had made a police report and they had some leads on the suspects
“Yes I indeed lost R600 000 to criminals after they hacked my mobile line and used it to send instructions to my company instructing them to make payments to companies and accounts in South Africa” said Deputy Minister Machakaire.

He said that he had leads on who received the money and some more pertinent information

“I have the names and account numbers that were used to receive the money in South Africa.”

Deputy Minister Machakaire is also the Member of Parliament for Wedza South with business interests in farming and logistics.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was yet to get full details on the matter.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF national chair Oppah Muchinguri and the acting national political commissar Patrick Chinamasa, have launched a forced Zanu PF 2023 vote election campaign

“Once you belong to the cell or village, then the party can look forward to the formation of branches, districts, provinces and then the highest organ of the party,” party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo announced Thursday.

“All cells must be in place by 18 June and thereafter there must be a verification exercise then we move on with the formation of branches.”

“Our aim is to register five million voters for the coming harmonised elections,” he said. “We cannot afford to allow in treachery in the process.”

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF national chair Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and the party’s acting national political commissar Patrick Chinamasa on Thursday addressed the party’s chairpersons and commissars from all the 10 provinces and advised them to embark on terror campaigns.

Speaking after the meeting, Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said Muchinguri-Kashiri held a meeting with the provincial chairpersons, the commissars from provinces, Ministers of State and Devolution, as well as some Politburo members who were in attendance.

“We are also focusing on the harmonised elections earmarked for 2023,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

“The recently appointed acting national political commissar Chinamasa also addressed the meeting on various issues.”

By A Correspondent-Zanu PF national chair Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and the party’s acting national political commissar Patrick Chinamasa have met with the chairpersons and commissars from all the 10 provinces and advised them to embark on terror campaigns.

Speaking after the meeting, Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said Muchinguri-Kashiri held a meeting with the provincial chairpersons, the commissars from provinces, Ministers of State and Devolution, as well as some Politburo members who were in attendance.

“We are also focusing on the harmonised elections earmarked for 2023,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

“The recently appointed acting national political commissar Chinamasa also addressed the meeting on various issues.”

THE European Union (EU) has told President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration that the bloc cannot fully engage with Harare unless it institutes far reaching political and economic reforms.

The EU early this year extended by a further year sanctions it imposed on Harare, initially in 2002, arguing that they would remain in place until government stops rampant human rights abuses and vicious clampdown on dissent.

The bloc said in a statement following a closed-door meeting between government and representatives of the delegation of the European Union to Zimbabwe it made clear to government that respect for human rights was a key pretext to a full-fledged restoration of relations, which soured at the turn of the millennium when the Zanu PF government embarked on a chaotic land reform programme, which resulted farmers of European origin being driven from farms across the country.

The meeting, which was held in Harare on Thursday, allowed for the continuation of discussions on topics that are of common interest and are priorities in EU-Zimbabwe relations: human rights, democratisation, rule of law and good governance, economic development, investment climate, free trade, the economic partnership agreement, development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and regional and global partnerships, the bloc said in its statement.

“The EU and its membership expressed concern over a curtailed democratic space in Zimbabwe over the last year and reports of continued violations of human rights such as reported cases of enforced disappearances, and lengthy unjustified detentions, arrests of journalists and other limitations to the freedom of expression and the media. The EU urged government conduct impartial investigations of human rights violations and bring perpetrators to justice,” the EU said.

– Newsday

United States of America singer and actress, Paris Hilton was spotted in Victoria Falls on what appears to be a leisure tour of the country.

The New York It Girl was spotted in the resort city this week enjoying the sublime view of the majestic falls.

Hilton shared a video with her 14.8million Instagram followers from her hotel room captioned, “beautiful day in Zimbabwe”.

The last prominent person to go public after visiting Victoria Falls was Steve Harvey whose tweet showing the majestic water fall caused so much noise among Zimbabweans with some demonising the country over its human rights abuse record.

By A Correspondent- In a bizarre incident a 30 year old Madziwa man died on top of his girlfriend after having sex around 2am on Wednesday.

Clifford Karutsva of Denda village under chief Nyamaropa, Madziwa left villagers shell-shocked after he died of too much sweetness after doing it for the second time during the same night with his girlfriend Sarudzai Mirishoni (29) of the same village.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the sudden death case.

According to a witness Takudzwa Ndongwe (29, he was called by her neighbour Mirishoni after the now deceased Karutsva started having difficulties in breathing while in the act.

“I am a neighbour to Marishoni she called me after her boyfriend started having difficulties while on top of her as they were having sex,” explained Ndongwe.

“Surprisingly they had their first act around 9pm and it ended well but the morning glory ended fatally.”

Karutsva’s body was conveyed to Mount Darwin mortuary.

-Byo24

Tinashe Sambiri|Rare pictures of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa strumming a guitar and beating drums are trending on social media, giving the impression that the Zanu PF leader is preparing to set up his own jazz band after losing the 2023 Presidential Election.

On Thursday Mr Mnangagwa handed over music instruments to artists Andy Muridzo and Chief Hwenje at State House.

Government sources claim the two artists were finding it hard to perfom without own instruments.

However, political analysts say Mr Mnangagwa wants to use the same artists to spruce up his Presidential Election campaign.

“These guys are coming in to beef up Mnangagwa’s 2023 Presidential Election campaign,” observed one political analyst.

By A Correspondent- A 28 year old woman who had turned down her ex-lover’s sexual advances flexed her muscles and pummelled him for allegedly suggesting that he could pay her US$10 for sex.

Chida Mamvura (28) invited her ex-lover Sifelani Jama (38) who is a nurse stationed at Mpilo Central Hospital to her birthday party at her family home in Entumbane suburb.

They took wise waters until they got drunk, the court heard. While drunk, Jama asked for sex, but she turned him down.

It is said Jama persisted saying he would pay her US$10 and that seemed to have rubbed Chida the wrong way, causing her to boil with anger.

In a fit of rage, Chida grabbed Jama and hit him with fists all over the body, a court heard.

Jama sustained wounds on the head and mouth. He reported the matter at Entumbane police station leading to the arrest of Chida.

Chida appeared for trial before Western Commonage resident magistrate Shepherd Mnjanja facing a physical abuse charge.

She said: “He asked for sex, I refused, but he persisted saying he would pay US$10, I maintained my stance. I think that angered him because he slapped me in the face and I had to retaliate because he was getting violent.”

After a full trial Chida was found guilty and was sentenced to serve five months imprisonment of which three months were suspended for three years on condition that she does not within that period commit any offence of which violence is an element for upon conviction, she would be sentenced to imprisonment without an option of a fine.

The remaining two months imprisonment were further suspended on condition that she performs 70 hours of community service at Zulukandaba primary school in Entumbane suburb.

By A Correspondent- Every family has its secrets. Some are well-known truths, and others are so difficult to prove that they’ve been written off as urban conspiracy theories and hearsay.

A prominent Kwekwe businessman with 15 wives and 69 children is entangled in an ugly fight with one of his sons following chilling suspicions that he was allegedly using juju to catapult himself to a prosperous life and that he also wanted to kill his father as punishment for “ill-treating” his mother.

The super dad Peter Gore (69) is at loggerheads with his son Tyson Gore whom he claimed was in possession of a gun which he is threatening to use to shoot him or send people to kill him within seven days.

So nasty is the fight that the Kwekwe property mogul popularly known as PG has since approached a court to have his son banned from coming to his house.

In his application for an interim protection order Peter said he was now living in perpetual fear of his son.

“Tyson Gore is my son. This is an urgent application for a protection order. The respondent is my son and he is threatening to kill me. He has physically told me that he wants to kill me or to send people to come and kill me. He accuses me of insulting his mother.

“The respondent has a gun and he thus threatened to shoot me. I have reported him to the police under CR03-04-2021 and also CR22-05-21. The application is urgent in that on the 30th of May 2021, the respondent phoned me and informed me that within seven days he would have killed me or sent people to kill me,” reads part of Peter’s affidavit.

Peter said he was now living in fear that his son may live true to his chilling threats of trying to kill him.

“I have therefore approached this honourable court on an urgent basis so that the respondent is interdicted from his illegal actions and be ordered to maintain peace towards me. He thus has to be interdicted from being violent towards me.

“I am also seeking an order that he be interdicted from coming to house number 550/4 Mbizo Kwekwe being my place of residence where he regularly comes to see his mother. This is so particularly in that he may attack me when he visits. I also seek an order that he be interdicted from coming to PG Complex, Kwekwe for the purpose of disturbing my peace,” begged Peter.

In his opposing papers Tyson dismissed his father’s allegations saying he was the one who was always harassing and insulting him in public and in front of other family members.

“Though it is not disputed that I am applicant’s son, it is disputed that I threatened to kill applicant nor told him I have an intention to kill applicant who is my father and put him to strict proof thereof. These are false allegations coined as a self-serving endeavour.

“The truth of the matter is that it is vice versa as it is the applicant who does not respect most of his children who are majors and always harasses and insults us in front of other family members and in public. He even insulted my elder brother in front of other family members saying his mother is a b****,” argued Tyson.
He said his father was also accusing him of using juju to prosper in his business.

“Whenever applicant insults me, he will be in the company of Melinda my former employee. To prove that applicant behaves in an unfatherly manner he didn’t even attend my elder brother’s daughter Lynnet Gore’s funeral. She passed away in February 2021.

“Applicant even provoked me when he said I use juju to prosper in my life and business. However, if the court decides to grant a protection order I pray for a reciprocal order whereof I pray for a dismissal of the applicant’s claim,” he stated.

Meanwhile, in some of the recorded voice calls of some irate family members in possession of B-Metro it is confirmed that the fall-out started when one of Peter’s sons, Malvin’s 21-year- daughter died mysteriously and Peter reportedly refused to attend the funeral wake.

In the same voice notes, the family is also accusing one of Peter’s young wives, Melinda, believed to be 17 years old, and who was also Tyson’s former maid, of dividing the family by ill-influencing Peter to neglect other wives and children.

Melinda is also being accused of using a love potion that makes her irresistibly attractive to her husband despite the fact that he allegedly caught her on several occasions cheating on him.

In May last year, the bsuinessman’s four top-of-the-range vehicles, which include a Chrysler, Rolls Royce, Toyota Prado and an open truck were burnt in a mysterious inferno at his residence in the leafy Newtown suburb.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- A woman was robbed by five unknown men who were driving a Honda Fit car before she was force-marched into a bushy area where she was ordered to strip naked and raped at knife point.

The incident happened on Tuesday at a bushy area near Nkulumane Complex.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident:

“I can confirm that we are investigating a case of rape and robbery that happened near Nkulumane Complex where a 37-year-old woman was raped and robbed at knife point by five unknown men who are on the run. We are appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of the five suspects.”

A source close to the investigations said while the 37-year-old woman, who stays at Kelvin North industrial area, was walking to the shops at around 6pm, a Honda fit vehicle carrying five men abruptly stopped in front of her.

“One of the guys greeted the lady, but she didn’t respond. Another guy got out of the car and grabbed her by her hand and bundled her into their car, one of the men pointed a knife at her while threatening to stab her if she screamed. She kept quiet and they drove along Khami Road to a bushy area which is near Nkulumane Complex,” said the privy source.

They parked the car and force-marched her into the bushy area.

“They walked for about 50 metres into the bush. When they got to a thicket one of the guys ordered her to strip naked and three of the five suspects took turns to rape her,” said a source.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- A 74 year old elderly man was yesterday hit by a speeding motorist while trying to cross the road near Masara Business Centre in Marange.

Onias Gowero died instantly after sustaining serious injuries that included a fractured skull, broken hand and leg.

Police confirmed the incident, saying the motorist, Lazarus Shundure (37), who had three passengers on board, was assisting police with investigations.

“Shundure was driving along Marange Road with three passengers on board when he hit Gowero who was crossing the road. Gowero, who sustained serious injuries, died on the spot. Shundure stopped the vehicle and realised that Gowero was already dead.

“Gowero’s body was taken to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem,” said Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda.-ManicaPost

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo couple is apparently in a marriage that is actually super open following sensational revelations by the husband that they are allegedly taking turns to bring their intimate lovers to their matrimonial home for se_x when one of them is away.

Yes, you read it right; they are taking turns to bring their extra-marital affair partners to their matrimonial home for se_x when one of them is not around. The stranger than fiction arrangement was heard when Rose Mahlupeka, from Cowdray Park suburb, and a teacher at a local high school, traded accusations of infidelity with her husband Privilege Mathe, a soldier based in Plumtree.

A seemingly fed up Mahlupeka told Nkosinomusa Ncube sitting at the Bulawayo Civil Court that whenever her husband brings his girlfriends home, she always finds used cond0ms in the house.

Mahlupeka claimed her husband with whom she has two children, was also verbally and physically abusing her.

“I am customarily married to Privilege Mathe. We got married in 2010 and we have two minor children together. We started having misunderstandings in 2019 and that’s when he started being verbally and physically abusive towards me. When I’m not at home, he brings his girlfriends to our house and I always find used cond0ms in the house. When I confront him and complain he laughs. At times he gives our car to one of his girlfriends to use,” complained Mahlupeka.

She said her husband was also threatening to evict her from the matrimonial house.

“He is also threatening to evict me from our matrimonial house. I now fear that he may sell the house without my consent since it is in his name. I also contributed towards the purchase of the stand and building of the house. I want a protection order against him so that he stops abusing me,” she said.

In response Mathe, who initially disputed his wife’s accusations, later opened up saying she also had a boyfriend that she brings home when he is not there.

“Yes, I have girlfriends and she also has a boyfriend. It’s true that I bring my girlfriends home during her absence because she also brings her boyfriend when I’m not there. It’s, however, not true that I am threatening to evict her from the house,” he responded.

A teary Mahlupeka, however, refuted her husband’s accusations that she has a boyfriend.

“I don’t have a boyfriend at all. He is just lying to cover up his abuse,” she said.

In her ruling the magistrate ordered Mathe not to bring his girlfriends home and not to verbally abuse his wife.

-BMetro

Tinashe Sambiri|Rare pictures of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa strumming a guitar and beating drums are trending on social media, giving the impression that the Zanu PF leader is preparing to set up his own jazz band after losing the 2023 Presidential Election.

On Thursday Mr Mnangagwa handed over music instruments to artists Andy Muridzo and Chief Hwenje at State House.

Government sources claim the two artists were finding it hard to perfom without own instruments.

However, political analysts say Mr Mnangagwa wants to use the same artists to spruce up his Presidential Election campaign.

“These guys are coming in to beef up Mnangagwa’s 2023 Presidential Election campaign,” observed one political analyst.

By A Correspondent- A woman, who was accused by her mother-in-law of not paying water bills, lost her cool and stabbed her in the left butt0ck and left arm.

Jacklin Moyo (35) said she and her sister received a report from their tenant Sibonginkosi Hadebe that their daughter-in-law Yvonne Ncube (29), who stays at the family house in Lobengula West, was not paying water bills. And the water bill was ballooning.

Disturbed by such bitter to swallow news, Moyo and her sister confronted their daughter-in-law in Lobengula West.

They questioned her about why she was not paying water bills and that sparked an argument and tempers flared.

“Ncube ran into the kitchen and a picked a kitchen knife and charged towards us. I tried to seize the knife from her, but she stabbed me in the left arm and in the left butt0ck while I was trying to run for my dear life,” said Moyo.

Ncube said:

“I stay at the family house with my husband and a tenant Sibonginkosi. Sibonginkosi lied to my mother-in-law that I was not paying water bills. They came here and accused me without even asking for the receipts. We were trying to clear the water bill arrears because when we came to stay here the arrears were high and we have been making sure we religiously pay to clear the bill,” she said.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident:

“We urge family members to solve their differences amicably, or they could engage third parties like pastors, police in the Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) or elderly people in the community. Some assaults may appear minor but at times may result in the unnecessary loss of life.”

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- Desperate to become husband and wife, a Chipinge couple reportedly connived to murder the woman’s daughter (4) from her previous marriage.

Langton Sithole (30) of Charurwa Village and Violet Chabvukwa (36) of Chikwanda Village under Chief Mutema were recently arrested for the murder of Blessing Mabhejo.

The love-birds reportedly sought to conceal evidence by faking a drowning accident.

Last week they appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi facing murder charges.

They were not asked to plead, remanded in custody to June 17 and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

It is alleged that Sithole’s family could not bless his union with Chabvukwa due to the four-year-old girl.

Prosecuting, Mr Thulani Zondwayo said: “Sithole and Chabvukwa were about to settle down as a couple, but the former’s family refused to bless their union due to the child Chabvukwa had from her previous marriage.”

Mr Zondwayo said on May 30, the lovers took the girl to a nearby dam and murdered her.

“Sithole said while at the dam wall, he pinned the girl to the ground and suffocated her to death with a plastic container.

“After accomplishing their mission, Sithole removed the girl’s top garment and placed her body on the banks of the dam before going away,” said Mr Zondwayo.

However, police detectives led by Detective Assistant Inspector Emmerson Ziki, Detective Sergeant Kasora and Detective Sergeant Antonio received a tip-off and attended the crime scene.

They discovered that only half of Blessing’s body was submerged in water, an indication that there was foul play.

Investigations led to Sithole and Chabvukwa’s arrest.

According to the State papers gleaned by The Manica Post, Sithole admitted that he killed the young girl.

“I admit to the charges levelled against me. I was in love with Violet (Chabukwa) who is the mother of the now deceased. I told Violet that we could not marry each other as my parents would not allow me to marry a woman with a child from a previous marriage.

“On May 30, I connived to kill Blessing. I went to the dam first and sat on the dam wall. Violet then came with the deceased and sat close to me while holding the baby closely.

“I took an empty peanut butter container and covered both the nose and the mouth of the now deceased until she suffocated and passed away. I then took a towel which was in my possession and gave it to Violet so that she could wipe the blood that was coming from Blessing’s nose.

“We removed the Blessing’s top garment and placed her body at the edge of the dam while her legs were submerged in the water,” said Sithole.

-ManicaPost

By A Correspondent- MPs have raised alarm over delays in foreign currency payments to companies under the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe auction facility saying it was taking up to two months for them to get their dues.

The central bank last year introduced the foreign currency auction system which was hailed as a gamechanger in alleviating shortages of forex and boosting transparency and efficiency in the foreign currency market.

During Wednesday’s National Assembly question-and-answer session, MPs accused government of lying that it had disbursed money to the affected companies, adding that some of them had gone for a month without getting their dues.

Harare North MP Rusty Markham (MDC Alliance) said: “Last week, we were told by the Deputy Minister of Finance (Clemence Chiduwa) that all the money due from the auction system had been paid. Has this, indeed, happened, and have the banks paid their customers? What is government policy to ensure that customers are given the allocations they applied for?”

Markham said in his research with big banks, he discovered that they were eight weeks behind in the allocation of foreign currency through the facility.

“As a policy, could the Minister of Finance (Mthuli Ncube) please check as to what is happening with the system, because in trading, if you wait for eight weeks and your money is taken a week before, that is nine weeks, which is two months that your money has been taken out of your cashflow before you receive the foreign currency. I am not blaming anyone, but all I am asking is, as a policy, could government check what the issue is behind these delays by nine weeks?”

Leader of government business in the National Assembly, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi in response said government policy was that those accessing the funds through the facility would be notified by their banks.

“It is the bank that then proceeds to ensure that you get your allocation. Should the member be experiencing problems with that process of ensuring that the allocated foreign currency is accessed, I think it is a matter that can be taken up through the relevant banking channels to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe,” he said

But Dzivarasekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa (MDC Alliance) said government had given the impression that all was in order in the foreign currency auction system.

“The Minister of Finance had indicated that everything is in order, but we have just confirmed with the bank that the larger banks are eight weeks late and the smaller banks are four weeks in arrears in terms of receiving the allocated money from the auction system. Can the minister explain why those delays are there?”

Ziyambi responded: “Again, my response is that the bankers are the ones that are in communication with the RBZ, which releases the funds. They are best placed to explain what will be happening.”

Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda ruled that the Finance minister should investigate the problems and ensure corrective action is taken to deal with the delays.

-newsday

Zimbabwe has recorded 20 coronavirus deaths in the past 96 hours ushering some citizens into panic mode although the rate is still lower than of other states.

The deaths were recorded as follows:

• 7 June – 5 deaths;
• 8 June – 6 deaths
• 9 June – 5 deaths;
• 10 June – 4 deaths;

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Child Care on 10 June, 74 cases were hospitalised 20 of which were asymptomatic, 45 were in a mild and moderate state, 7 were severe while 2 were in the intensive care unit.

The cases could probably have been higher than the reported figure if Masvingo, Mashonaland West and Central, and Matebeleland South provinces had reported what transpired within the last 24 hours.

The recent spike in new coronavirus infections has given instilled fear into some who now believe the third wave is now upon the Southern African country.

As of 10 June 2021, Zimbabwe had recorded a total of 39496 coronavirus cases, 36940 recoveries, and 1626 deaths while 930 cases were still active.

By A Correspondent- Dendera musician Sulumani Chimbetu has declared his patronage to the repressive Zanu PF party.

Sulu was early this week pictured with MDC-Alliance youth leaders after he had endorsed the opposition party’s youth empowerment agenda.

Popular Dendera musician Sulumani Chimbetu, son to the legendary Provincial War Hero, Simon Chimbetu reaffirms his revolutionary commitment and affection to the revolutionary party ZANU PF. Sulumani is a member of the ZANU PF Youth league from Zone 1 in Harare.#2023EDPfee✊??? pic.twitter.com/HuAjpHpwTM

— ZANU PF (@ZANUPF_Official) June 10, 2021

By A Correspondent- ex-Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo on Wednesday appeared before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje complaining over his lengthy placement on remand.

Chombo is facing allegations of criminal abuse of office during his tenure as Local Government minister during the late former President Robert Mugabe’s rule.

He has been on remand since April 19.

Allegations are that he fraudulently allocated himself more than 125 hectares of land.

Chombo is being represented by lawyers Lovemore Madhuku and Tungamirai Muganhiri.

However, the court ruled that Chombo should continue on remand until June 30 as he was facing serious charges. His lawyers challenged the State to name the complainants he allegedly duped.

Chombo was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission in 2019 after the alleged scam was exposed by the Justice Tendai Uchena Land Commission report.

By A Correspondent- Dendera musician Sulumani Chimbetu has been embroiled in a dual political parties association storm.

Sulu was early this week pictured with MDC-Alliance youth leaders after he had endorsed the opposition party’s youth empowerment agenda.

Popular Dendera musician Sulumani Chimbetu, son to the legendary Provincial War Hero, Simon Chimbetu reaffirms his revolutionary commitment and affection to the revolutionary party ZANU PF. Sulumani is a member of the ZANU PF Youth league from Zone 1 in Harare.#2023EDPfee✊??? pic.twitter.com/HuAjpHpwTM

— ZANU PF (@ZANUPF_Official) June 10, 2021

By A correspondent- Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police were bashed yesterday by angry Bulawayo residents after they had burnt down three commuter omnibuses whic the had accused of operating illegally.

The drama started when police chased after a commuter omnibus, which was then involved in an accident at the corner of Herbert Chitepo Street and Five Avenue.

Fungai Maphosa, a vendor who witnessed the skirmishes, said during the melee, police beat up anyone near the accident scene.

“That is when a mob of people intervened to rescue the kombi driver, and they assaulted the police officers in anger as to why they were beating up the driver instead of attending to the accident victims,” Maphosa said.

“The police officers ran away and returned some minutes later armed with teargas and they started throwing it into the kombis. During the melee, three kombis were burnt.”

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident but declined to give details.

“Yes, we are still attending to the case, but you will have to talk to Assistant Commissioner (Paul) Nyathi too since police officers were injured and their vehicle was also damaged,” Ncube said.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association chairperson Ambrose Sibindi castigated the police for putting people’s lives at risk while ignoring serious robbery cases in the city.

-NewsDay

Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is only concerned about power retention in spite of the deepening crisis, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.

Mr Mnangagwa recently pampered traditional leaders with brand new Isuzu vehicles and wasted thousands of dollars on the Mbuya Nehanda statue, ignoring the the dire situation in the country’s hospitals.

According to President Chamisa, Mr Mnangagwa is only worried about power at a time the nation is grappling with deepening economic and health problems.

“Brand New Isuzu vehicles were recently given to the Chiefs and Mbuya Nehanda gobbled a whopping R2.8 million in cash at a time when our health infrastructure is in rotten state.

They never think about anything other than power retention.

Cars to chiefs because chiefs will be used to frog-march voters to vote for them.

The people and the country are Zanu pf’s last worries,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.