By A Correspondent- Freed MDC activist Tungamirai Madzokere carried a broken figure as he narrated how he only got to know his wife had abandoned their matrimonial home eight months ago.

Dejected and seemingly out of sorts, Madzokere who alongside colleague Last Maengahama spent eight years in prison, showed journalists pictures of happier moments with his wife including those taken during his time in prison.

The two were acquitted by the Supreme Court last Friday and were released from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison the same afternoon.

They were serving a 20-year prison term each, on charges of murdering a police officer Petros Mutedza in 2011.

Addressing journalists at Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) offices in Harare, Monday Madzokere said he was hurt as he had not committed any crime.

“When I was convicted, I was hurt because I knew I had not committed this crime, but I just told myself I was not the first one to be jailed especially considering the regime we are under,” Madzokere told the media.

“I accepted my fate and found solace in the solidarity I was given by party members, friends and family. However, my joy was short-lived when I got home after my release and found my wife had gone. She left home eight months ago. Those are some of the consequences of unlawful detention.

“She stood by me for a long time. We loved each other, we even considered having a white wedding while I was in prison, but we later suspended that. I do not blame her. She was a young wife, maybe she lost hope and probably wanted a happier marriage. When I got home she was not around, and she took all the household property. I do not even know where to start. As you can see I am very down.

“I am yet to get access to my children. I expected to get home and at least be happy again, but family members said they could not tell me while I was still incarcerated as they felt it could affect me,’ he added.

Meanwhile, Madzokere and Maengahama said they were yet to decide on their next move following their release from prison last Friday.

However, according to their lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, indications are that the duo is likely to sue the state, arresting and investigating police officers for lying under oath in court.

Added Madzokere:

“I was very happy to know we had been acquitted and I would like to express my gratitude to our lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa, Charles Kwaramba, Gift Mtisi, and Jeremiah Bamu. If they had been around during the First Chimurenga War, Mbuya Nehanda would not have been hanged.”

While in prison, Madzokere managed to further his studies and now holds a diploma in public relations, and is in his final semester, studying for an honors degree in development studies.

He is also set to publish three books he wrote while in unlawful detention, and during the time he served as a voluntary ‘O’ Level sociology teacher to prison inmates and was the Chikurubi Prison Football Association’s chairperson.

-ZimLive

By A Correspondent- A South African woman has given birth to 10 babies, breaking the Guinness World Record held by Malian Halima Cissé who gave birth to nine children in Morocco last month.

Gosiame Thamara Sithole (37) from Gauteng Province gave birth to her decuplets at a hospital in Pretoria on Monday night, her husband Teboho Tsotetsi confirmed.

The doctors had earlier detected 8 babies during the medical scans and were surprised when the woman delivered 10.

Tsotetsi said Sithole, who hails from Tembisa Township in Ekurhuleni, delivered her seven boys and three girls by Caesarean section.

Sithole, who has six-year-old twins, previously told the Pretoria News that her pregnancy was natural as she was not on fertility treatment.

Speaking to the Pretoria News last night, Tsotetsi said Sithole gave birth to their bundles of joy 29 weeks into her pregnancy.

In an interview at their family home in Tembisa last month, Sithole said doctors told her earlier this year that she was expecting six children (sextuplets).

Further scans showed that it was in fact octuplets as two others could not be detected initially because they were inside the wrong tube. Sithole said:

I am shocked by my pregnancy. It was tough at the beginning. I was sick. It was hard for me. It’s still tough but I am used to it now. I don’t feel the pain anymore, but it’s still a bit tough.

I just pray for God to help me deliver all my children in a healthy condition, and for me and my children to come out alive. I would be pleased about it.

… Initially, there were six children. Only to find that the other two were in the wrong tube. My legs were painful.

The doctors did further scans and they found the children were in the wrong tube. That was sorted and I have been okay since then.

I can’t wait for my children. We have already given them names.

Sithole is employed as a retail store manager while her husband Tsotetsi, is unemployed.

More: IOL

By A Correspondent- A 16-year-old boy died on the spot when he was hit by a car while pulling sugarcane from a moving haulage truck along Ngundu-Tanganda Road.

Vincent Pepukai, who suffered multiple head injuries and was declared dead on the spot was hit by a Toyota Dyna near the 104km-peg towards Chiredzi on May 29.

Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa has confirmed the incident and said the deceased was knocked down after pulling sugar cane from a moving haulage truck that was headed towards west.

“Pepukai was hit by a Toyota Dyna that was approaching 104km peg towards Chiredzi. The driver lost control and swerved to the left and stopped but the boy had already died on the spot due to continuous bleeding and multiple head injuries.

“Pedestrians should always be careful on the road and be cautious to avoid fatalities,”said Dhewa.

The deceased was taken to Chiredzi General Hospital for post mortem and the vehicle was taken to Chiredzi VID for inspection since it had damages and deformed on the right front.

-TellZim

By A Correspondent- Health and Child Care Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Monday officially reopened St Anne’s Hospital in Avondale, Harare.

St Anne’s Hospital was closed in February 2016 for repairs and maintenance and in 2020 it was converted into a COVID-19 treatment facility.

Speaking during the ceremony, VP Chiwenga said Zimbabwe’s health challenges require homegrown solutions. He said:

I am very much aware of the contribution of St Anne’s Hospital to the Health Care System in Zimbabwe.

I say this because it is our responsibility as a Ministry to ensure that our people: fathers, mothers, our sons and daughters have access to quality Health Care services.

I want to acknowledge the services that have been rendered by this Medical institution for the past eighty years, and most recently at the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, it was providential that repairs and maintenance at the hospital were near completion, and as Government was grappling with the global pandemic, St Anne’s joined in sharing the burden with other Health Care Institutions in the country.

VO Chiwenga added that the hospital has given birth to several hospitals which include Mt. St. Marys in Hwedza, St Peters Mission hospital at Checheche, Murambinda Mission Hospital in Buhera and Mashambanzou Care Trust in Waterfalls among others.

Meanwhile, Sister Mary Mugodzeri, Little Company of Mary representative said they were grateful for the Vice President’s immense contribution in the Health sector and in their institution.

-Health Times

Byy A Correspondent- Scores of prospective drivers in Marondera and other stations countrywide are stranded after the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) ran out stationery to produce the licences.

The crisis has reportedly gone for more than a month with a number of depots having stopped conducting provisional driver’s licence tests due to non-availability of the yellow paper.

VID director Joseph Pedzapasi yesterday confirmed the stationery challenges, but said the issue would be rectified next week.

“It is true that we have that challenge. Our printers, Printflow, did not deliver the stationery due to a payment issue. We have since paid them and the problem will be rectified this week and the stationery will be made available,” Pedzapasi said.

A visit by NewsDay to the VID Marondera depot revealed that there was no stationery for provisional driver’s licences, with driving school instructors advising their clients to travel to Harare for the service.

One of Marondera’s leading driving school owners, who refused to be named, said VID had not been issuing the provisional driver’s licences for more than a month.

“It is a crisis, there is no stationery, that yellow paper is not there. It is now one-and-a-half months without them issuing provisional driver’s licences. We are urging our students to go and book in Harare where there is a computerised system. However, most are yet to be acquainted with the new technology, which is a challenge,” the official said.

NewsDay gathered that other VID depots that have run out of paper included Mutare, Rusape and Chinhoyi and were not conducting provisional driver’s licence examinations.

The VID has adopted a computerised system for provisional driver’s licence tests in some of its depots to curb corruption.

Some of the depots are, however, still conducting the examinations manually.

-Newsday

By A Correpondent- Selmor Mtukudzi’s social media posts at the weekend about the hardships faced by artists have rattled the ruling ZANU PF party.

Selmor, the heiress to the Tuku Music legacy, expressed her displeasure with the government’s apparent lack of care for struggling artists during the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

Selmor took to Twitter to express concern over Zimbabwean authorities’ silence while artistes are languishing in poverty.

The post came after her live shows dubbed Remembering Tuku held on May 29 and 30 in Johannesburg, South Africa, in honour of her late father and national hero, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi.

Selmor wrote:

This is the first time in the years I have been performing outside Zimbabwe that I have felt sad to be coming back home.

Please Mr President ED Mnangagwa, don’t let us artistes be destitute in our own land.

Let’s copy what South Africa is doing and allow us to work for our families.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the showbiz sector has remained closed, throwing most artists into abject poverty.

In a bid to stave off poverty, a number of local artistes have been flocking to South Africa for live performances.

ZANU PF director for information and publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi felt Selmor was being disrespectful to Mnangagwa.

He said:

We have taken note of concerns by music artistes who have registered their plea for a waiver in the arts sector to ensure they are cushioned in these COVID-19 measures. We will be engaging leaders about the issue of a waiver.

However, we opine that our colleagues in the arts sector must learn to engage with authorities and express themselves respectfully rather than through insults.

Football authorities set an example and signed themselves to strict conditions in light of this pandemic. Now they are on.

Hazvidi kutukana kusina maturo (we should not needlessly insult each other). This is a new dispensation.

The Music Associations and Arts Promoters in Zimbabwe recently met with Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister Tinomudaishe Machakaire and deliberated on issues affecting them and the sector at large in the COVID-19 environment.

After the meeting, Machakaire gave assurances that he would forward their proposals to the relevant authorities, but is yet to give feedback.

By A Correspondent- Chitungwiza Police Camp has reportedly been without power for two weeks after power utility ZESA switched it off over non-payment of bills.

Sources at the residential flats for police officers, most of whom work in Harare, saying residents have gone for days without water as the boreholes that supply water to households are not functioning.

The police officers said they were not happy with their superiors for failing to act and with ZESA for disconnecting them. A police officer is quoted as saying:

There are now political connotations to it. It is reportedly said that police are blocking demos and the people are saying they should also suffer and feel what everyone is going through.

This is the first time in all these years and we now wonder whether it is not to embarrass the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa).

Police have reportedly threatened to impound unroadworthy ZESA vehicles in retaliation.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he would check with the relevant authorities.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo based Zanu PF youth league member has filed a Constitutional Court application seeking an order nullifying a ruling by three High Court judges that sought to disqualify Chief Justice Luke Malaba from office.

Marx Mupungu (30) is the applicant and Professor Lovemore Madhuku’s Law firm is representing him.

He filed the application on Friday and in terms of Section 175(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013, as read with Rule 31(5) of Constitutional Court Rules, 20I6.

Mupungu listed Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Judicial Service Commission, Musa Kika, Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe, Fredrick Charles Moses Mutanda, Attorney General Mr Prince Machaya and President Mnangagwa as 1st to 7th respondents respectively.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Two mineworkers died after a 30-metre-deep shaft they were working in collapsed.

Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Thabani Mkhwananzi confirmed to the state media the incident which occurred on Friday at around 1 PM at Mix Note Mine in West Nicholson.

He said the now-deceased Alex Shumbayinwe and the other only identified as Talent were extracting gold from the shaft when the incident occurred.

“I can confirm that we recorded a mine accident which occurred at Mix Note Mine in West Nicholson. Two male adults Alex Shumbayinwe and another only identified as Alex were working in a shaft about 30 metres deep extracting gold when the shaft collapsed burying them underneath.

“The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and the bodies were retrieved from the shaft. The bodies were ferried to the Gwanda Provincial Hospital Mortuary. Investigations are underway,” he said.

Asst Insp Mkhwananzi urged mine owners to ensure that their workers operated from the same environments to avoid loss of life.
He said workers were also supposed to operate with protective clothing and proper equipment.

Asst Insp Mkhwananzi said the province continues to record several fatal mine accidents most of them as a result of negligence.

“Mine owners must ensure that their workers have proper mining equipment, protective clothing and work from safe environments. They shouldn’t only focus on getting income but they must also invest in the safety of their workers,” he said.

-State media

By A Correspondent-Malawi based Prophet Shephard Bushiri who is wanted by the South African authorities on fraud cases sad he would “live” the late TB Joshua’s mission.

TB Joshua died at the weekend of yet to be disclosed illness.
During his days, the Nigerian preacher was known for giving people hope through performing miracles for a fee.

“The general of God, Prophet TB Joshua, has gone home.
In your rest, General, I celebrate your mission: you came, you preached, you touched souls and you demonstrated to the world that God is still speaking today.
“Rest, great General for I shall, forever, live your mission,” said Bushiri through his social media platforms.

A Central Intelligence Officer (CIO) who exposed former head of the Roman Catholic Church in Bulawayo, Archbishop Pius Ncube’s sexual escapades in 2007, Earnest Tekere has died.

Tekere, allegedly committed suicide by hanging him at his offices situated at Josiah Tongogara and 13th Avenue in the city centre shortly before 3PM.

When a Chronicle news crew visited the scene shortly after the incident, relatives had gathered outside the Home Guard Security Services premises.

Police were also at the scene ready to collect the body.

-State media

By A Correspondent- An accident claimed one Sunday morning at Dombotombo turnoff in Marondera along Hre- Mutare highway.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver, who was speeding, lost control whilst trying to turn from the highway at the traffic light, veered off the road, turned several times and landed on its right side.

Five occupants were reportedly occupying the vehicle.

Tinashe Sambiri|Addressing a news conference in Harare on Monday morning, MDC activists Tungamirai Madzokere and Last Maengahama revealed how they were tormented by State Security agents.

According to Maengahama, the entire judiciary system is captured by the Zanu PF regime.

Madzokere lost his wife and property after spending eight years in jail for a crime he did not commit…

Watch video below:

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF government has started destroying houses and shopping malls in Harare Metropolitan Province, Chitungwiza and Epworth.

Last week the ruthless government issued a three-day ultimatum on all informal traders operating and encroaching on road servitudes to stop operations.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF government has embarked on demolishing houses and shopping malls in Harare Metropolitan Province, Chitungwiza and Epworth.

On Friday last week, the authorities issued a three-day ultimatum on all informal traders operating and encroaching on road servitudes to stop operations.

NEXT

• The ultimatum lapsed yesterday and today councils working with the police started to demolish all the illegal structures belonging to those who ignored the ultimatum.
• In Chitungwiza, scores of informal traders had already removed the structures while those who had not heeded the message had their illegal structures removed.
• The demolitions started in St Mary’s and spread to other parts of Chitungwiza.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has pulled its annual conference to October and maintained the previous Mashonaland Central provincial venue.

Zanu PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairman, Kazembe Kazembe, who has a history of failing to mobilise supporters for Mnangagwa to the state media that this time he will use chiefs to mobilise supporters.

“The province will be engaging different stakeholders such as chiefs, farmers and the business community on the way forward,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Mashonaland Central Provincial chairman, Kazembe Kazembe who has on several occasions failed to mobilise party supporters for his President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s aborted rallies in the province is having his last test this October when the party holds its conference in Bindura.

Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga abandoned several rallies in Bindura after Kazembe had failed to mobilise party supporters for the political meetings.

Zanu PF has shifted the hosting of its traditional Annual Conference from December to October.

By A Correspondent- POlice has nabbed two of the country’s serial armed robbers, Spicer Takawira and Musafare Mupamhanga who were wanted for committing a spate of armed robberies, housebreakings and theft in and around the city have been arrested following a shootout in Glen View 7, Harare.

Takawira (29), Musafare Mupanhanga (48) and Conwell Kasambarare are alleged to be part of the gang that raided Mashwede Holdings last year and got away with over US$100 000, R42 000, $14 000 worth of fuel coupons, firearms and 20 live rounds of ammunition.

They were recently released from jail on bail pending appeal at the High Court and had since gone into hiding.

Takawira and Mupamhanga were arrested together with their five other accomplices being James Nyakutsikwa (34) of 1540 Retreat Park, Waterfalls, Newman Watsikwa aged (34) of Southlea Park, Joseph Chinhemba (26) of 4 Tutbury Close Houghton Park, Leo Mandaza (40), of 12275 Kuwadzana Extension and Chamunorwa Takawira (29) of 16388 Sunningdale 2.

They are facing several counts of armed robberies that they committed in and around the city.

Some of the suspects are expected to appear in court this morning while Musafare Mupamhanga who was shot on the left leg is admitted at a local hospital under police guard.

In one of the cases, police said on June 2 at around 0130 hours, the suspects and others who are still at large hatched a plan to steal from a shop where they broke the doors to gain entry and stole several itel cellphones, Tecno, Samsung and cellphone accessories.

On June 3, detectives from CID Stores and Business made a follow up leading to the arrest of Spicer Takawira in Chikwanha Area, Chitungwiza.

He was interviewed and revealed that they were coming from Rusape where they had committed an armed robbery whilst in the company of his other six accomplices while armed with a pistol and iron bars.

A follow-up was made leading to the arrest of Nyakutsikwa along 7th Avenue in Mbare National. He was searched leading to the recovery of a Tecno cellphone inside his pocket.

Takawira led to the arrest of Watsikwa at Boka Auction Floors. He was interviewed in connection with the firearm and he revealed that the firearm was possessed by Chinhemba who was also arrested.

By A Correspondent- Walter Magaya one of Zimbabwe’s fake self-proclaimed prophets has said his wife Tendai wept when she heard about the news of the death of TB Joshua.

The Nigerian preacher died Saturday night.

“It’s a painful chapter to me since he was my spiritual father but Amai Magaya wept upon receiving news of TB Joshua death.
“She used to make calls to him whenever I offended her and his death has left her without a man to take her issues to.
“Vachema zvikuru vakati ndiyani wandichafonera panezvinondinetsa,” Magaya posted on his social media plaforms at the weekend.

By A Correspondent- Norton lawmaker, Temba Mliswa has sensationally claimed that Justice minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi’s is on a crusade of visiting Sangomas and prophets around the country where he is looking for magic to kill him (Mliswa) and his sister Mary.

Mary Mliswa Chikoka, is the Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister.

By A Correspondent- Norton house of assembly member, Temba Mliswa has exposed Justice minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi’s Domboshawa ritual visits.

Mliswa on his social media platforms claims that Ziyambi visited the pictured prophet in Domboshawa at the weekend and asked the prophet to spiritually assist kill him (Mliswa) and his sister Mary.

By A correspondent- Self Proclaimed prophet and fraudster, Uebert Angel has narrated his time with the late Nigerian preacher TB Joshua, when he visited him for their ritual anointing ceremonies.

Below is Angel’s word he posted on his social media platforms after receiving TB Joshua’s death message.

Last night, I received the rude and shocking news of the homegoing of someone deeply dear to me and my family. The homegoing of Senior Prophet TB Joshua is most painful because if there truly were good men, he was certainly one. However, we are so sure of where he is and know he ran an amazing race, amassed incomparable proofs with Christ and made a mark on this earth that can never be ignored or erased!
Now, To the man I have known since my tender years in ministry, TB Joshua:

Your sudden passage is hard to understand for many, yet we bow respectfully to the sovereignty of God while we remain thankful for the decades of impactful work along with the exemplary life you lived while you were with us. You are a General who set many things in place that generations will continue to copy.

As a dear senior Prophet, friend, a Christian brother, a father to many, a prophetic example to me, though senior in every way to me, every time we spoke you would be so humble and regarded not your seniority over me but allowed me time to hear your mind and your humble spirit. The thought that I will not see you again or hear from you again on this side of the divide, but only on videos, is unbelievable but as the Bible says “we should mourn not as though we are without knowledge”.

The only thing I have managed or believe I have managed to process this loss, is to immortalise your prophetic words you said yesterday after service as you indicated of your own home going, back to the father.
“(There is) …time for everything – time for prayer and time to RETURN HOME after the service.”

You definitely knew where you were going. While I wish I weren’t true that you are home with the father You were and still are the beginner of trends, the master at your craft. You made the prophetic, deliverance, healing and humility a hallmark and a masterpiece because God made you a master & It’s so important to remind the Christian community that we as a body should never forget our soldiers. Love you and miss you and see you at the rapture!

By A Correspondent- Prophet Walter Magaya has said his wife Tendai Magaya’s warrior has fallen saying she was used to report his wrong doing to Prophet TB Joshua.

“It’s a painful chapter to me since he was my spiritual father but Amai Magaya wept upon receiving news of TB Joshua death.

“She used to make calls to him whenever I offended her and his death has left her without a man to take her issues to.

“Vachema zvikuru vakati ndiyani wandichafonera panezvinondinetsa.”

Meanwhile, several celebrities took to social media to mourn the prophet who died a few hours after conducting a church service.

Uebert Angel 

Last night, I received the rude and shocking news of the home going of someone deeply dear to me and my family. The home going of Senior Prophet TB Joshua is most painful because if there truly were good men, he was certainly one. However, we are so sure of where he is and know he ran an amazing race, amassed incomparable proofs with Christ and made a mark on this earth that can never be ignored or erased!

Now, To the man I have known since my tender years in ministry, TB Joshua:

Your sudden passage is hard to understand for many, yet we bow respectfully to the sovereignty of God while we remain thankful for the decades of impactful work along with the exemplary life you lived while you were with us. You are a General who set many things in place that generations will continue to copy.

As a dear senior Prophet, friend, a Christian brother, a father to many, a prophetic example to me, though senior in every way to me, every time we spoke you would be so humble and regarded not your seniority over me but allowed me time to hear your mind and your humble spirit. The thought that I will not see you again or hear from you again on this side of the divide, but only on videos, is unbelievable but as the Bible says “we should mourn not as though we are without knowledge”.

The only thing I have managed or believe I have managed to process this loss, is to immortalise your prophetic words you said yesterday after service as you indicated of your own home going, back to the father.

“(There is) …time for everything – time for prayer and time to RETURN HOME after the service.”

You definitely knew where you were going. While I wish I weren’t true that you are home with the father You were and still are the beginner of trends, the master at your craft. You made the prophetic, deliverance, healing and humility a hallmark and a masterpiece because God made you a master & It’s so important to remind the Christian community that we as a body should never forget our soldiers. Love you and miss you and see you at the rapture!

Prophet Shepherd Bushiri

The general of God, Prophet TB Joshua, has gone home.

In your rest, General, I celebrate your mission: you came, you preached, you touched souls and you demonstrated to the world that God is still speaking today.

Rest, great General for I shall, forever, live your mission

By A Correspondent- A 14 year old boy detained at Gweru Rural police station for unlawful entry left the cops gobsmacked when he broke into the police armoury and walked out of the camp with two pistols.

The stolen pistols were a BSAP C2 pistol serial number 61 and a BSAP P1 serial number 1628.

The boy also stole a Samsung phone, Itel phone, handbag, Police ID and bank cards from the Police station.

He had been detained at Gweru Rural on a case of unlawful entry that occurred in Mhondoro-Ngezi when he stole the pistols.

After sneaking out of the station, the juvenile who cannot be named because of his age went into the nearby Kopje Suburb and pointed a pistol at Gugulethu Mpofu who had retired to bed in an attempted robbery.

Police also realised that the boy had successfully lied that his name was Tanaka Mugauri. His true name was only established by a Probation officer.

The suspect appeared at Gweru Magistrates Court last week facing theft and armed robbery charges.

It is the State case that on 28 March 2021, the minor was detained at Gweru Rural on unlawful entry charges.

At 6 am, while in the operations office at the Police Station the juvenile who was not handcuffed, sneaked into the records office.

From the records office, he climbed up the wall into the ceiling and crawled into the armoury department. He took a 2-meter long wire and fished out one rifle and two pistols.

He also fished out one riot overall suit, one plastic bag containing 26 live rounds, one empty 303 cartridges. He took one 303 rifles green pouch, Remington 2.2 rifle.

The minor loaded two pistols into a satchel and left the rest in the ceiling to collect later. He jumped from the ceiling unnoticed and left the Police Station.

He also took a Samsung phone, Itel phone, handbag, Police ID and bank cards before he left.

The same day at around 7 pm he went to number 1 Schools Avenue Kopje and broke into Mpofu’s bedroom. He pointed a pistol into the face of the complaint who was sleeping on his bed.

The complaint dispossessed the suspect and made a Police report.

The juvenile came to Gweru after he left his employer, one Mhlanga of Lower Gweru whom he claimed was not paying him.

He stole a bicycle from Mhlanga, rode it to the bus stop and dumped it there. He claimed he was stealing to raise money for the bus fare to go back home.

-MasvingoMirror

By A Correspondent- Eight (8) people tested positive for coronavirus in Hurungwe District, Mashonaland West Province over the weekend, raising fears that COVID-19 might have spread to rural areas which had hitherto remained largely virus-free.

Among some of the infected persons were expecting mothers admitted at Chidamoyo Mission Hospital.

This comes at a time when the country is on high alert amid fears of a third wave and the new Delta variant, previously known as the Indian variant, is affecting Zimbabwe. Mashonaland West provincial medical officer Gift Masocha told NewsDay:

I can confirm that we have had eight new cases in Hurungwe district. Among these were cases of five expecting mothers at Chidamoyo District Hospital.

Karoi Town Council spokesperson Precious Nharara confirmed that one council employee and two interns tested positive and were in self-isolation.

She said:

This serves to inform that a council employee and two students on attachment have tested positive for COVID-19. The three are stationed at council’s main offices.

Karoi Town Council on Friday afternoon facilitated the testing of their colleagues and it would seem at the moment it is the three who are positive for COVID-19.

In the meantime, the premises have been disinfected accordingly and contact tracing is currently underway.

The Delta variant of the coronavirus is estimated to be 40 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha variant that caused the previous wave of infections in the United Kingdom, the country’s health minister Matt Hancock said on Sunday.

 By A Correspondent- A married Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officer has been dragged to court for allegedly having s_xual intercourse with his 15-year-old lover on numerous occasions from a car.

Tavatangira Chiromunye (30) appeared before Mberengwa Magistrate Caroline Tafira on charges of having intercourse with a minor.

The alleged crime was committed in Zvishavane but it is being heard in Mberengwa because magistrates in Zvishavane recused themselves on the grounds that they work with the accused.

Prosecutor Ali Mutausi told the court that Chiromunye would pick up the minor using his Toyota Fun Cargo and park adjacent to Lambizi Lodge, Zvahavande and have consensual s_x with the girl from the car.

This happened at least three times and the matter came to light when the complainant’s father realised that his daughter was not at home.

Her aunt interviewed her and that is when she disclosed that she was in a relationship with Chiromunye since 2020.

The accused is being represented by Grace Nyabawa and was remanded to June 2021 on free bail.

It is the State case that sometime in 2020, Chiromunye proposed love to the complainant and she accepted.

Towards the end of April 2021, the accused person approached the complainant at her place of residence when she was alone, knocked on her window and advised her to meet at the main gate.

He picked her at the main gate and drove off Prince Street to a place adjacent to Lambizi Lodge, where he parked.

The accused continued having extramarital s_xual intercourse using the same vehicle at the same place.

More: Masvingo Mirror

By A Correspondent- The late Nigerian megachurch pastor and televangelist Temitope Joshua was conducting a church service when he suddenly felt uncomfortable and left the meeting for his apartment.

TB Joshua, the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), passed away around 2 am, hours after he walked to his apartment midway into the service, presumably to get some rest, The Nation cited sources as saying.

The cleric was born on 12 June 1963 and died six days to his 58th birthday.

Joshua reportedly had walked out of the church to his apartment when he felt uncomfortable during the service that commenced around 6 pm on Saturday.

His aides and members thought he was going for a quick break but became anxious when he didn’t return after a long time.

When he did not return, his aides went to check on him but found him in an uncomfortable/unusual position.

A former aide and close family friend of the late cleric told The Nation close relatives and friends were protecting and consoling his wife.

Although the cause of death was not disclosed, the source said the entire place is to be “sanitised”.

Joshua had reportedly had asked most of his aides to work from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The source was quoted as saying:

Those who were left with him were mostly some Britons, a few personal aides, who lived in the premises.

I got a call around 2 am that Senior Prophet was dead. I had to quickly get in touch with his family and it was confirmed.

We do not really have details now but I can tell you he was ministering when he suddenly took ill and left the church to rest.

Confirming Joshua’s death, Lagos Police Commissioner (CP) Hakeem Odumosu said he was officially pronounced dead by a hospital around 3 am.

Odomuso said:

It is true he is dead. I do not know the cause of his death yet. But the information we have is that he was conducting service, along the line, he felt uncomfortable, walked to his apartment himself and never came back.

His people thought he probably wanted to rest or refresh but when they didn’t see him after a long while, they went in search of him and found him in an unusual position.

The service started in the evening. But it was around 3 am that he was pronounced dead by a hospital.

The church said Joshua’s last words to his members were “watch and pray.” He was said to have also reminded them there was time for everything before he left the church hall.

-TheNation

By A Correspondent- Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has written to Acting Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza asking the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to investigate the actions of its secretary Walter Chikwana.

Chikwana allegedly attempted to influence a judge to rule in favour of Chief Justice Luke Malaba in the ongoing Contempt of Court case.

We publish Mtetwa’s letter, dated 4 June 2021, to Justice Gwaunza below:

Re: INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CONDUCT OF THE JSC SECRETARY MR WALTER CHIKWANA

I write to you as a concerned lawyer who runs a largely litigation practice. On the 3rd June 2021, it transpired that MR CHIKWANA had met one of the judges who was seized with a matter in which MR CHIKWANA had an interest as he had deposed to an affidavit in the proceedings with which the judge was seized. The judge admitted that he had indeed met with MR CHIKWANA and recused himself from the case.

Apart from this incident, it also appears that MR CHIKWANA has, in various other litigation, deposed to affidavits purportedly on behalf of the Judicial Service Commission when in fact the Commissioners would not have authorized him to do so.

If proved to be correct, these would be grave and serious allegations against the administrative head of the JSC and this would severely dent the integrity of the Commission as an institution designed to promote the “efficient, effective and transparent administration of justice in Zimbabwe” by an independent and accountable judiciary.

Given these grave allegations against MR CHIKWANA, and given the Commissioners’ constitutional obligations, and the Commission’s stated objectives of adhering to “best practice, to promote the maintenance of a transparent, accountable and independent judiciary” as stated in the Commission’s website, I request that these allegations against MR CHIKWANA be independently investigated and that such investigations be done whilst he is on leave of absence and provided for in the relevant JSC disciplinary legislation.

I emphasize that this would be in the best interests of not only the Commission but the entire justice delivery system which must have the confidence of the people of Zimbabwe.

I also advise that these are views shared by many legal practitioners that I have spoken to.

I, therefore, look forward to your early response to this request.

Yours faithfully

BEATRICE MTETWA
SENIOR PARTNER
MTETWA & NYAMBIRAI

cc. The President, Law Society of Zimbabwe
cc. The Chairperson, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission
cc. All Commissioners –
Honourable Mr Justice C.E. Bhunu, JA, Supreme Court, Harare Advocate P. Machaya – Attorney General’s Office

By A Correspondent- A Gukurahundi memorial plaque has reportedly been stolen in Silobela, Midlands Province, barely a fortnight after unknown people removed a similar structure in Bhalagwe, Matabeleland South Province.

The plaque was erected by Bulawayo-based pressure group Ibhetshu LikaZulu in memory of 12 villagers that were killed during the Gukurahundi massacres in 1985 in Silobela.

Speaking to NewsDay by phone on Sunday, Ibhetshu LikaZulu secretary-general Mbuso Fuzwayo blamed the State for the theft of the Silobela Gukurahundi memorial plaque. He said:

We hold the State solely responsible for the theft. We condemn in the strongest terms the theft of the memorial plaque.

Late last month, a Gukurahundi memorial plaque unveiled by Chief Fuyane with the support of Ibhetshu Likazulu in Bhalagwe, Maphisa was stolen barely hours after its erection.

The unveiling of the Bhalagwe memorial plaque was done during a memorial service held in memory of the people who lost their lives during the 1980s Gukurahundi massacres.

Over 20 000 people, mainly of Ndebele ethnicity were killed by the Fifth Brigade, according to the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice, which compiled a book on the atrocities titled Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace: A Report on the Disturbances in Matabeleland and the Midlands, 1980 to 1988.

More: NewsDay

By A Correspondent- A chief of the Mambo dynasty, Bekezela Nyathi is embroiled in a bitter wrangle over mineral claims for gold in Fort Rixon with a miner Blessed Ndiweni.

The claims in question are at Car Rhom North 20 mine, which is located at Mount Royal Fort Farm, Fort Rixon in Matabelaland South.

Ndiweni (the miner) at the weekend told Southern Eye that Car Rhom North 20 mine was inside a plot owned by the South Africa-based Lozwi King.

He alleged that chief Nyathi invaded his mine on February 27 this year and extracted gold and which he sold on the black market.

“Mount Royal Farm is legally owned by Patrick Hove, while Mambo is a plot holder inside the farm where my mine is located,” Ndiweni said.

“Nyathi is exploiting minerals and selling them to the black market, while he has no mining permit. He is always collecting gold ore using a three-tonne truck and taking it to a stamping mill using South African registered vehicles. Who knows where he is taking the minerals? These are the people who might be involved in smuggling gold out of the country,” he said.

Ndiweni claimed that recently he approached the police over the matter. Contacted for comment Nyathi said he did not even know Ndiweni, adding that he only spoke to him on the phone.

“I was looking for people who were illegally mining in our farm and left open pits which killed our 10 cattle.”

Nyathi said when he inquired at the Mines office about who was mining at Car Rhom North 20 he discovered that it was a syndicate of four people.

“I found that their papers had expired and Ndiweni’s name was not even among the owners. If he says it is his mine then he must pay for our 10 cattle which were killed due to the illegal mining activities that are leaving open pits on our farm. The farm belongs to King Mike Moyo of the Mambo dynasty,” Nyathi said.

He also alleged that Ndiweni was sponsoring a machete gang in the area.

Matabeleland South provincial mining director Khumbulani Mlangeni said he had not received any official complaints about the mine wrangle from Ndiweni.

“I do not remember receiving any official complaint from Ndiweni. What I remember is that Nyathi once called us to report that there were people that are illegally mining in the farm,” Mlangeni said.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The trial of the MDC Alliance Midlands deputy treasurer, Knowledge Makiwa, who is being accused of insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been postponed to next month by Zvishavane magistrate Archie Wochiunga.

This was after State witnesses failed to turn up again in court.

The complainant, Clemence Veteran, a State security agent failed to bring a key witness whom he said was in Victoria Falls, forcing Wochiunga to postpone the matter to July 6.

This is the fourth time since 2017 that the case has been deferred following

previous postponements after failure by the State to avail witnesses.

Makiwa is being charged with undermining the authority of or insulting the President following an alleged altercation on December 25, 2017 between the MDC Alliance youth leader and a State security agent.

Makiwa is alleged to have said in Shona, “pfutseki nechiCIO (Central Intelligence Organisation) chako. Pfutseki naPresident vako Mnangagwa”, loosely translated to mean, to hell with your CIO, to hell with your President Mnangagwa. Veteran made a police report leading to the arrest of Makiwa.

By A Correspondent- Government is prepared to repossess land from farmers who are not fully utilising it and allocate it to deserving ones as it moves to strengthen the agricultural recovery plan ahead of Vision 2030.

Speaking during the tour of Mucherengi and Summerhills in Mhangura last week, Minister of State in the Office of the President and Cabinet (in-charge of Special Agriculture-related Programmes), Cde David Marapira said non-productive farmers should surrender their pieces of land or risk losing them to deserving farmers.

He toured the area in the company of Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka.

“If you have a farm with water bodies and not utilising it, know that we are coming for that piece of land. And if you are not productive, the government, is not going to backtrack on that.

“We have a statutory instrument which was passed and it is going to work for the benefit of Zimbabweans and not individuals.

“Zimbabwe should go back to be the regional and international food provider through productivity and those not producing, I am sorry, we are taking that land,” said Minister Mharapira.

He bemoaned how other farmers were averting paying taxes despite having been given the land by the Government for free.

In her opening remarks, Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said Government seeks to get rid of “cell phone farmers” who have contributed to low yield production despite the Second Republic’s drive to cut food import bill. Most urbanites who got pieces of land have been using electronic communications means in running their farms hence the term “cellphone farmers”.

“We are aware of many people with idle land. They are hiding.

“We are coming after you. We cannot afford it in this day and age. If you know that you cannot manage the land, you should surrender it.

“The President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa is speaking of productivity, sustainability and profitability. So we are, therefore, supposed to put our plough on the soil to produce and contribute to the provincial and national’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” she said.

Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said farmers should take farming as business and be on their farms always to save their land from repossession.

She lamented timber plantations on prime land which has taken a centre stage among most resettled farmers in Mashonaland West, thereby affecting food production.

“Some of you are putting gumtree plantations. Do we consume gum trees? Why are you having those gum trees? We will relocate you if you cannot use water bodies on your farms. Please tell others who are not here about this new development,” she said.

One of the host farmers, Ms Nomhle Mliswa urged struggling farmers to venture into private partnerships to fully utilise the land.

She entered into a five-year partnership with white commercial farmers that have fully transformed the farm into an economic and employment hub where maize, soya beans, wheat, potatoes and animal husbandry have been fully integrated.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Outspoken Norton MP, Temba Mliswa (Independent), has urged the government to deploy the army to assist the police in combating rampant armed robberies across the country.

Mliswa noted that the army assisted the police in enforcing the coronavirus-induced lockdowns and should therefore be unleashed on armed robbers who have become a terror in recent months.

Mliswa posted on Twitter:

The incidents of armed robbery have reached unprecedented levels, it’s worrying. We’ve seen the army being deployed to maintain regulations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, can’t the same be done to deal with these armed robbers who are wreaking havoc?

If [the police] do not have the capacity, can’t the army step in to ensure safety in the country before things degenerate even further?

Zimbabwe is generally a peaceful country, but this peace is being shattered by these criminals. Who will invest under such conditions?

Govt must come in with an operation involving the army to nip this criminality in the bud. The operation should not be limited to roadblocks but the army must be with the people to safeguard the people and these places being targeted.

Mliswa believes the head of the police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga doesn’t have what it takes to combat crime.

He said in spite of his obvious shortcomings, former Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri prised over an effective police force.

Added Mliswa:

The Police and Army should strategically monitor some of these service stations. Where are you Army when you are needed? You’re the last line of defence.

Unfortunately, the Police don’t have a leader in Matanga and are failing dismally to maintain order.

Chihuri with all his shortcomings and corruption nevertheless ran a tight ship and the police were a force to reckon with. Something clearly lacking with today’s crop.

Mliswa’s call follows a spate of armed robberies across the country in recent weeks, with businesses and individuals losing thousands of cash and other valuables. Several people have also been shot dead or seriously injured during the robberies.

By A Correspondent- Two girls from Queen Elizabeth High School, Nokutenda Saurombe (16) and Ruvarashe Moyo (15), are set to represent Zimbabwe at the international Science Internship Program (SIP) to be virtually hosted by the University of California Santa Cruz(UCSC), in America.

The two, who are in Form Three, become the first African pupils to make it into this program where 320 school children across the globe are expected to participate.

The internship starts today and will run until August 14. In an interview, the two students promised to use the opportunity to learn new things and make collaborations with others.

“I really feel excited to be working with renowned scientists and collaborate with them. I am going to popularise astronomy across our continent, Africa,” said Moyo.

Saurombe said: “I feel humbled to be representing my nation at this level. I believe this will create more opportunities for me and my vision is to come up with solutions and impact positively on people’s lives.”

Zimbabwe Science Fair director Mr Knowledge Chikundi described the development as a milestone for Zimbabwe.

“This development impresses us because our vision is to equip young Zimbabweans with skills and opportunities in science and technology.

“Seeing these two making it at such a highly competitive international programme, it says a lot about the passion in our young people for science and astrology,” he said.

USSC professor and chair of the department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and founder of the SIP program Mr Raja Guha Tharkuta told The Herald that they were excited to host students from Africa for the first time.

“The University of California Santa Cruz (USCS) Science Internship Programme (SIP) team is very excited that Ruvarashe and Nokutenda will be among this summer’s cohort of 320 interns from all over the world,” he said.

“They will be the first students from Zimbabwe to take part in SIP. In fact this will be the first time in its 13 years of operation that this program has participants from Africa.”

Tharkuta said the two will work on a research project called “We Are Stardust” which is at the intercession of science, culture and art as it brings together western science and indigenous knowledge about the universe in a beautiful way.

Among their previous projects Moyo made a project in which she experimented to see if one can generate electricity from bacteria in mud and she was able to generate 1,2 volts from that.

Last month she was a Genius Olympiad finalist and was awarded a scholarship worth US$12 000 to study at a university in United States.

Currently she is working on a project to turn bricks into electrical storage units.

Saurombe has previously done a project of turning plastic waste into fuel and won a silver medal at the Africa’s Science Buskers Festival this year among other achievements.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Lack of maintenance has seen the iconic Birchenough Bridge being turned into a one-way passage for vehicles weighing less than 25 tonnes as assessments of the structure revealed that it could pose danger to motorists if weight restrictions were not enforced.

A boom gate at each end of the bridge prevents more than one large vehicle from driving across at any given time.

There are cracks on both ends of the bridge’s tarmac entry points while the structure shakes each time heavy vehicles drive past.

The ageing Birchenough Bridge — a key tourist attraction — is evidently crying out for attention.

Locals who use the bridge daily as they walk or drive to and from the business centre, work and school are therefore now living in fear of having the 377-metre long structure crumble underneath them.

In fact, pedestrians now fear for their safety to the extent that they run past the bridge to avoid being on the structure concurrently with heavy trucks.

The bridge connects the road between Mutare and Masvingo as well as Buhera and Chipinge districts.

Birchenough Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the country.

Foundations were commenced in April 1934 and were ready for steelwork in November.

The arch span was completed on June 17th, 1935, and the concrete roadway was practically complete at the end of September, 1935.

The iconic arch bridge was designed by Engineer Ralph Freeman and was built by Dorman Long.

The structure was named in honour of businessman, Sir John Henry Birchenough, who served as chairman of the Beit Trust.

However, lack of maintenance over the years has seen the structure weakening with the passage of time.

The bridge’s structures have also suffered battering from Cylones Eline and Idai-induced floods.

Around March 2019 when Cyclone Idai hit the country, Save River threatened to flood the bridge.

Locals and an employee at the bridge’s boom gate told The Manica Post that they have never witnessed any maintenance work being carried out on the bridge.

“We have not seen any maintenance works being carried out on this bridge. Misplaced or not, there is genuine fear among locals that the bridge might collapse anytime,” said the boom gate worker who declined to be named citing protocol.

When contacted for comment, Manicaland Provincial Road Engineer, Atherton Zindoga said it was safe to continue using the existing structure under the current load restrictions.

“It is safe to use the existing structure under current load restrictions.

“We are watching the structure. An assessment was carried out and we are enforcing weight restrictions.

“We have two options. The first one is to renovate the existing structure so that it can carry loads as required.

“The second one is to build a new structure next to the existing one. Both options require funding and unfortunately the funds are not available at the moment. We have applied for a grant from the Government of Japan,” said Eng Zindoga.

The debate on whether to construct a new structure or refurbish the existing is not new.

In 2018, the then Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Jorum Gumbo, ruled out the rehabilitation of Birchenough Bridge as he highlighted that it would be more economical to erect a new structure with a bigger carrying capacity.

Minister Gumbo told road authorities in Manicaland back then that while repairing the bridge would cost US$35 million, a new bridge would cost US$40 million.

He said the Government would rather construct a new bridge that is broader to allow the smooth flow of traffic.

In 2018, the Emerged Railways Properties who manage the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge introduced a toll fee for all vehicles crossing the bridge as a means of raising funds for the maintenance of the historic structure.

-manicapost

By A Correspondent- The Copper Control Act is being amended to make it illegal for one to be in possession of copper cables without a valid licence.

Those who will be found in possession of copper cables without a certificate of origin will face a mandatory 10-year prison sentence without the option of a fine, in a move meant to deter vandalism of key utilities.

The Copper Control Amendment Bill, which was gazetted on Friday, reads in part:

The vandalism of utilities through theft of copper cables has been exacerbated by the non-provision of specific offences in relation to these acts and non-deterrent penalties in the Copper Control Act.

In order to address the foregoing, the Copper Control Act should be amended to make it mandatory for all copper dealers to have certificates of origin for all the copper in their possession and impose minimum mandatory penalties for offenders.

The proposed amendments also provide for the forfeiture to the State of any vehicle or devices used to transport illegal copper upon conviction.

It says:

Clause 4 inserts a new section that makes it mandatory for all copper dealers to have a certificate of origin for all copper in their possession.

This certificate of origin will include the names and addresses of both the seller and the purchaser, the description of copper, quantity, reasons for disposal.

This section will further set a minimum mandatory sentence of ten (10) years without the option of a fine for failure to produce a certificate of origin.

For security reasons, the certificate must be endorsed by the police in the prescribed form and manner to be provided by the police.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Evelyn Temitope Joshua, late prophet TB Joshua’s wife to the late Prophet TB Joshua; the founder and leader of ”Synagogue Church of all Nation (SCOAN) has issued an emotional message, following the death of her husband.

Speaking through her official Twitter account, @mama_evelyn, the late popular televangelist’s wife said losing a loved one is never easy.

She wrote:

“Losing a loved one is never easy; whether sudden or foreseen it’s always heartbreaking.

“Grief can wreak havoc on our overall well being.

“That’s why it’s important to stay rooted to the Almighty.

“Only He can lessen our heartache and comfort us in these times. Seek refuge in Him.”

Joshua, the founder of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), died in Lagos on Saturday evening shortly after concluding a programme at his church.

Meanwhile, following his death, The Synagogue in Nigeria has been sealed off with hundreds of residents and church members gathered at the church premises to mourn the death of Joshua, many still in shock and disbelief.

Tributes from celebrities, politicians and other clergymen have been pouring in from mainly Nigeria and South Africa where he has a huge number of followers.

Who was TB Joshua?

Temitope Balogun Joshua was the founder of the Synagogue, Church of All Nations. He was one of Nigeria’s most popular televangelists but was perhaps the least flamboyant of his peers.

Tens of thousands of people have attended his weekly services in Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos.

His rise to prominence in the late 1990s coincided with the explosion of “miracle” programmes performed on national TV by various pastors.

TB Joshua was often mocked for lacking the finesse of his colleagues during “deliverance” sessions – an intense prayer that resembles exorcism.

His ministry professed to heal all manner of illnesses including HIV/Aids and attracted people from all over the world.

Known as the “Prophet” by his followers, he ran the Christian television station Emmanuel TV and often toured Africa, the US, the UK and South America.

In 2014, one of his churches collapsed, killing at least 116 people, including many South Africans.

— ZW/BBC

By A Correspondent- Mkoba Teachers’ College (MTC) in Gweru has barred third-year students who were on teaching practice from attending lectures until they pay $20 000 in fees. The sum is just for college fees excluding accommodation and meals.

On Tuesday MTC security personnel, working under the instruction of the principal Florence Dube locked the gates on the over 100 third-year students.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said police were called in to maintain law and order at the college.

Emmanuel Masuku (not his real name), told Chronicle that he was supposed to start his final year of training as a primary school teacher this month after he did teaching practice at a school in Gokwe, enduring a year earning a small salary.

He said:

I am coming in for the third and final year. I was doing my teaching practice at a school in Gokwe and we were getting less than US$10 as salary.

We had to soldier on because we wanted to complete our teaching practice.

Today we thought we would be allowed into the college only to be met with closed gates and later the police came and we dispersed.

We are aware of the need to settle our debts and we thought we were going to be allowed into the college so that we make payment plans. That’s all.

We are coming from different backgrounds but one common denominator is we were not paid well to save money for college fees. We are not blaming anyone but we just need time to pay.

The publication could not get a comment from the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Amon Murwira whose mobile phone went unanswered.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has dismissed claims by exiled former cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo that the 2018 presidential election was rigged in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s favour.

Moyo in his book titled Excelgate: How Zimbabwe’s 2018 Presidential Election was Stolen, which was published in December 2019 claimed that ZEC had worked with security apparatus to deny MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa clear victory.

ZEC declared Mnangagwa the winner with 50,7% of the votes, narrowly avoiding a run-off with Chamisa who officially received 44,3%.

But in his book, Moyo claimed that Mnangagwa polled 33% to Chamisa’s 66% and that the Joint Operations Command, tampered with ballot figures in a “brazen” and “audacious” fraud.

Responding to the allegations over the weekend via its Twitter channel, ZEC said Moyo’s allegations were ‘damaging’ and ‘unfounded.’

It said:

We have seen some damaging allegations against the Commission in a book called Excelgate by Prof. J. Moyo.

Take note that the election was conducted in 2018 and aggrieved parties followed the constitutionally laid down procedures to challenge the election.

The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) made a definitive ruling which concluded the matter.

The commission will not be drawn into any brawls on issues that have been concluded by the country’s highest court.

The commission is busy with important work of stakeholder consultations on how to map 2023 election delimitation and will not be distracted from its constitutional mandate by unfounded allegations.

Moyo hit back, claiming that ZEC chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba had received an advance copy of the book in December 2019.

Meanwhile, ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana, a former army officer, who is mentioned by Moyo as having been aware of the rigging, refused to discuss why the commission was revisiting the issue.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Chitungwiza North legislator Godfrey Sithole (MDC Alliance), has dragged MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora together with 67 other senators to the Constitutional Court seeking the revocation of the Constitution Amendment (No 1) Act whose passage they voted for in Senate.

He also cited Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda, Senate president Mabel Chinomona and Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi as respondents in the matter.

Constitution of Zimbabwe (No 1) Act amended the Constitution to allow the President to appoint judges without public input.

According to the papers he filed on Wednesday through his lawyers Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys, Sithole argued that the senators failed to exercise their legislative role as provided for in the Constitution by passing a law that lapsed in July 2018.

He further contended that the Constitution of Zimbabwe No 1 Bill ceased to exist as part of the agenda of the Eighth Parliament on July 29, 2018, after a dispute over the piece of legislation in the Senate spilt to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt).

In March 2020, the ConCourt ordered a fresh voting process for the proposed constitutional amendments which required two-thirds of Senate votes for it to be signed into law.

However, the voting process was contested by MDC Alliance legislators Jessie Majome and Innocent Gonese.

The ConCourt ruling, under case CCZ4/20, upheld the legislators’ argument that the Senate failed to achieve the two-thirds majority votes required to pass the Bill into law.

Sithole is now seeking the suspension of the judgment which ordered the Senate to conduct a fresh vote in respect of the Bill in accordance with the procedure for amending the Constitution within 180 days of the granting of the order.

He argued that the order was in violation of section 147 of the Constitution as the Senate resuscitated a Bill that had lapsed in July 2018.

Sithole also argued that senators, who were not members of the Eighth Parliament, voted for the purported reading for a Bill for which they did not participate at the Reading or Committee Stage or public hearings.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Buffaloes are causing sleepless nights to villagers in Chibuwe area of Musikavanhu constituency in Chipinge.

The buffaloes, which are straying from Save Conservancy, have so far killed a villager – Peyisai Manzini of Mutorwa Village – who was doing laundry along Save River and also injured a village head on Thursday.
Manzini was buried on May 31.

On Thursday, Mutape Chironzwi Mapondo of Mapondo Village survived death by a whisker after he was attacked by a stray buffalo along Save River.

He was rushed to Chibuwe Clinic where he was treated and discharged.
Chipinge Rural District Council Ward 20 councillor, Councillor Charles Mugidho confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm that Village Head Chironzwi Mapondo of Mapondo Village was attacked by a buffalo in his area on Thursday night. He sustained injuries on the head and leg.

“He was rushed to Chibuwe Clinic where he was treated and discharged. The incident occurred barely a few days after we buried a woman who was killed by another buffalo,” said Cllr Mugidho.

He urged villagers to be vigilant as they risk losing their lives to the marauding buffaloes.

Cllr Mugidho said reports were made to the Department of Parks and Wildlife and they are now waiting for the deployment of rangers to the area.

• Manica Post

By A Correspondent- A little known Zanu PF youth league member on Friday filed a Constitutional Court (ConCourt) application seeking to nullify a judgement that ended Luke Malaba’s term as chief justice.

Three High Court judges Justices Happias Zhou, Edith Mushore and Jester Charehwa last month ruled that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s move to extend Malaba’s tenure by five years was illegal.

Marx Mapungu, who is being represented by lawyer Lovemore Madhuku, argued in the ConCourt application that Mnangagwa acted within the law in renewing the chief justice’s term.

“I am making this application in terms of section 175 (3) of the constitution of Zimbabwe,” reads part of the application.
“I am seeking an order varying or not confirming an order of constitutional invalidity made by the High Court of Zimbabwe in Judgement no HH264/21 handed down on May 15, 2021 by a three-member panel.”

Mapungu added: “I believe the president of Zimbabwe acted constitutionally when he accepted the medical report on the mental and physical fitness of the Honourable Justice Luke Malaba.

“In so doing, the president was approving the honourable justice’s election to continue in office as chief justice for an additional five years
“As a citizen, I believe the chief justice is in office in accordance with the constitution following the aforesaid acceptance by the president of the aforesaid medical report.”

Mapungu described Malaba’s case as an “undesirable” state of affairs that had arisen in the country and in the judiciary characterised by confusion, uncertainty and anxiety.”

“The High Court orders in question have far-reaching consequences that may undermine the administration of justice,” he argued.
“There must be no paralysis, either we have a chief justice or the office is vacant.

“This court has jurisdiction and there is no point in delaying the exercise of that jurisdiction.
“He (Malaba) cannot be said to have ceased being chief justice on 15 May 2021 without at the same time also saying the president’s conduct of accepting the medical report was constitutionally invalid.

“I am advised that when the president receives a medical report and decides whether or not to accept it, he would be performing a constitutional act.

“His/her conduct in that regard is constitutional conduct. It is either constitutionally valid or constitutionally invalid.”

Mapungu said he decided to make an urgent application because the matter was of immense public importance and required an authoritative determination by the highest court.

He also argued that on the second order relating to the deputy chief justice and other judges of the constitutional and Supreme Court, section 186(4) of the constitution was clear that the judges have the option to elect to retire at 75 years.

“A retirement age is not the same thing as a “term limit” and so section 328(7) of the constitution does not arise,” Mapungu stated.
“By determining that the deputy chief justice and all persons, who were judges of the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court as at 7 May 2021 are not entitled to elect to retire at the age of 75 years, the High Court, for all intents and purposes, is saying that section 186(4) of the constitution is constitutionally invalid.”

He cited Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum executive director Musa Kika, and the Young Lawyers’ Association of Zimbabwe, who challenged the extension of Malaba’s term, as respondents in the matter.

Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, the Judiciary Service Commission and Mnangagwa are also respondents in the matter.

Initially, the government reacted angrily to the judgement with Ziyambi accusing judges of being captured by foreign forces.

Mnangagwa had to step in after the minister’s comments caused an uproar and he gave an assurance that the government would respect the independence of the courts.

The government has since appealed against the judgement.
Kika recently filed an urgent chamber application seeking Malaba’s arrest for contempt of court charges, after he reportedly turned up for work despite a court order which terminated his contract as chief justice.

On Friday, High court judges, Justices Amy Tsanga and Slyvia Chirawu-Mugombe reserved their judgement on the matter.

Malaba was a beneficiary of controversial constitutional amendments that gave Mnangagwa power to appoint the country’s top judges.

-The Standard

By A Correspondent- A little known Zanu PF youth league member on Friday filed a Constitutional Court (ConCourt) application seeking to nullify a judgement that ended Luke Malaba’s term as chief justice.

Three High Court judges Justices Happias Zhou, Edith Mushore and Jester Charehwa last month ruled that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s move to extend Malaba’s tenure by five years was illegal.

Marx Mapungu, who is being represented by lawyer Lovemore Madhuku, argued in the ConCourt application that Mnangagwa acted within the law in renewing the chief justice’s term.

“I am making this application in terms of section 175 (3) of the constitution of Zimbabwe,” reads part of the application.
“I am seeking an order varying or not confirming an order of constitutional invalidity made by the High Court of Zimbabwe in Judgement no HH264/21 handed down on May 15, 2021 by a three-member panel.”

Mapungu added: “I believe the president of Zimbabwe acted constitutionally when he accepted the medical report on the mental and physical fitness of the Honourable Justice Luke Malaba.

“In so doing, the president was approving the honourable justice’s election to continue in office as chief justice for an additional five years
“As a citizen, I believe the chief justice is in office in accordance with the constitution following the aforesaid acceptance by the president of the aforesaid medical report.”

Mapungu described Malaba’s case as an “undesirable” state of affairs that had arisen in the country and in the judiciary characterised by confusion, uncertainty and anxiety.”

“The High Court orders in question have far-reaching consequences that may undermine the administration of justice,” he argued.
“There must be no paralysis, either we have a chief justice or the office is vacant.

“This court has jurisdiction and there is no point in delaying the exercise of that jurisdiction.
“He (Malaba) cannot be said to have ceased being chief justice on 15 May 2021 without at the same time also saying the president’s conduct of accepting the medical report was constitutionally invalid.

“I am advised that when the president receives a medical report and decides whether or not to accept it, he would be performing a constitutional act.

“His/her conduct in that regard is constitutional conduct. It is either constitutionally valid or constitutionally invalid.”

Mapungu said he decided to make an urgent application because the matter was of immense public importance and required an authoritative determination by the highest court.

He also argued that on the second order relating to the deputy chief justice and other judges of the constitutional and Supreme Court, section 186(4) of the constitution was clear that the judges have the option to elect to retire at 75 years.

“A retirement age is not the same thing as a “term limit” and so section 328(7) of the constitution does not arise,” Mapungu stated.
“By determining that the deputy chief justice and all persons, who were judges of the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court as at 7 May 2021 are not entitled to elect to retire at the age of 75 years, the High Court, for all intents and purposes, is saying that section 186(4) of the constitution is constitutionally invalid.”

He cited Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum executive director Musa Kika, and the Young Lawyers’ Association of Zimbabwe, who challenged the extension of Malaba’s term, as respondents in the matter.

Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, the Judiciary Service Commission and Mnangagwa are also respondents in the matter.

Initially, the government reacted angrily to the judgement with Ziyambi accusing judges of being captured by foreign forces.

Mnangagwa had to step in after the minister’s comments caused an uproar and he gave an assurance that the government would respect the independence of the courts.

The government has since appealed against the judgement.
Kika recently filed an urgent chamber application seeking Malaba’s arrest for contempt of court charges, after he reportedly turned up for work despite a court order which terminated his contract as chief justice.

On Friday, High court judges, Justices Amy Tsanga and Slyvia Chirawu-Mugombe reserved their judgement on the matter.

Malaba was a beneficiary of controversial constitutional amendments that gave Mnangagwa power to appoint the country’s top judges.

-The Standard

By A Correspondent- The witch-hunting Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) said it is still investigating MDC-A vice president Tendai Biti over allegations he instructed the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to deposit over US$30 million into two banks which later collapsed.

During his time as Finance Minister (2009-13), Biti reportedly directed NSSA to deposit the funds, which were secured from continental lender Afreximbank (African Export-Import Bank), into Interfin Merchant Bank and Renaissance Bank on separate occasions and under unclear circumstances.

At the time, Renaissance Bank was understood to be in distress.

He is also accused of instructing the banks to give the money to specific clients who were linked to members of a certain political party.

ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure told The Sunday Mail that investigators are pursuing the case.

“The matter is under investigation and we will make details available once we have completed the investigations,” he said briefly.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) placed Renaissance Bank under curatorship in 2011 after a probe revealed serious failings, including inadequate capitalisation, inappropriate structure and poor corporate governance.

In 2014, NSSA general manager Mr James Matiza told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts that Mr Biti directed the pension fund to sink US$20 million into the troubled Renaissance Bank despite indications the project was not viable.

He said NSSA turned down two requests by Renaissance Financial Holdings Limited’s majority shareholder, Mr Patterson Timba — brother to former MDC-T secretary for external relations Mr Jameson Timba — to get the authority to invest in his bank.

Mr Matiza was responding to findings by the Auditor-General Mildred Chiri in her 2012 report, which unearthed several irregularities in NSSA’s financial affairs.

NSSA, he said, eventually invested in the bank after Mr Biti directed the authority to bail out the troubled institution

By A Correspondent- The witch-hunting Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) said it is still investigating MDC-A vice president Tendai Biti over allegations he instructed the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to deposit over US$30 million into two banks which later collapsed.

During his time as Finance Minister (2009-13), Biti reportedly directed NSSA to deposit the funds, which were secured from continental lender Afreximbank (African Export-Import Bank), into Interfin Merchant Bank and Renaissance Bank on separate occasions and under unclear circumstances.

At the time, Renaissance Bank was understood to be in distress.

He is also accused of instructing the banks to give the money to specific clients who were linked to members of a certain political party.

ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure told The Sunday Mail that investigators are pursuing the case.

“The matter is under investigation and we will make details available once we have completed the investigations,” he said briefly.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) placed Renaissance Bank under curatorship in 2011 after a probe revealed serious failings, including inadequate capitalisation, inappropriate structure and poor corporate governance.

In 2014, NSSA general manager Mr James Matiza told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts that Mr Biti directed the pension fund to sink US$20 million into the troubled Renaissance Bank despite indications the project was not viable.

He said NSSA turned down two requests by Renaissance Financial Holdings Limited’s majority shareholder, Mr Patterson Timba — brother to former MDC-T secretary for external relations Mr Jameson Timba — to get the authority to invest in his bank.

Mr Matiza was responding to findings by the Auditor-General Mildred Chiri in her 2012 report, which unearthed several irregularities in NSSA’s financial affairs.

NSSA, he said, eventually invested in the bank after Mr Biti directed the authority to bail out the troubled institution.

-State media

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala has accused the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa of “playing with the name of The Lord.”

Mnangagwa, who recently erected Mbuya Nehanda’s statue in central Harare, attended a prayer meeting in Bulawayo last week, leaving observers speculating on his religious principles.

Hon Sikhala accused Mnangagwa of attempting to hoodwink believers…

“Kana mazogara musatamba nezita raMwari. Haazvidi izvozvo uye zvinomupa hasha zhinji.

Vanhu vake vasina mhaka varikungourawa, vanoshungurudzwa vachikandwa mumatirongo vamwe vachirwadziswa nyama dzavo.

Munhu otogwadama wena kuti ndiri kunamata Mwari.

Please Mwari variko kudenga
People without shame behave the way Emmerson Mnangagwa does.”

“How of all people would go and pretend to pay homage to the late Father Zimbabwe, Joshua Nkomo’s statue, a hero of our struggle whom he mocked to have escaped from Zimbabwe wearing a dress,” added Hon Sikhala.