By A Correspondent | The High Court robbed the former Chief Justice Luke Malaba, of his last 24 hours in office, the Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi says.
Ziyambi makes this statement as he appeals the judgement passed last Saturday afternoon which retired Malaba.
The statement which comes 2 days after the man issued a threat against the three judges who passed the verdict, is a 3 page rendition.
It reads in part: The High Court further erred in finding that the 2. Respondent attained the age of 70 at 00.00hrs on the 15th of May 2021 when by virtue of section 336 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe the 2″ Respondent attained the age of 70 at the end of day on the 15th of May 2021, that is at 00.00hrs on the 16th of May 2021.
By A Correspondent-Zanu PF government, late yesterday filed a notice of appeal against the High Court decision to annul the extension of Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s service beyond the age of 70.
The appeal is against the entire judgment by three judges, Justices Happias Zhou, Edith Mushore and Justice Jester Charewa on Saturday blocking the extension by President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Chief Justice Malaba’s service by five years.
The trio ruled that Chief Justice ceased to be the Chief Justice upon reaching 70 years on May 15, 2021, and that the extension of the service does not apply to incumbent judges of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court.
By A Correspondent- A Chirundu is battling for his life after surviving a lion attack.
Isaiah Chitenje (48) from Chirundu town was last Thursday saved from the lion by people who made noise while throwing stones until the lion released him.
Kariba district police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Misheck Ngorima confirmed the incident.
“A male adult was attacked by a lion on May 13 at around 1822hrs in the Chirundu area. The victim was coming from Chirundu business centre and proceeding to Tiger Safaris where he works. While on the way, about 500 metres from Chirundu Border Post, lions appeared and one of them attacked him.
“He was assisted by locals who came to the scene and threw stones after hearing his screams. The lion ran away. The man was taken to Mutendere Hospital in Zambia where his condition is reported to be stable.
Human-wildlife conflicts are said to be on the increase despite efforts by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to curb them. A fortnight ago, a man from the Mahombekombe suburb in Kariba was lucky to survive after being attacked by an elephant.
A child was recently attacked by a hyena in Masvingo and left severely injured.
He is currently admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare where he is battling for life.
A 37 year-old jilted married man was struck dead with an iron bar in a row over who should spend the night with a lover.
Bernard Chiwanza met his fate at the hands of a tenant who sided with his lover Petronella Makuvatsine, 30, that he leaves as the latter was housing another man at her Stoneridge lodgings on Saturday night.
Chiwanza is reported to have paid an unwanted visit to his lover and the latter refused to open the door for him since another man was already in the house.
Irked by the development, Chiwanza was reported to have forced the door open and it hit Maxwell Tapera who pulled an iron bar and hit him on his head and he died instantly.
Tapera who is a co-tenant with Makuvatsine was arrested and is detained at Mbare police station where he is leading police with investigations.
Mourners are gathered at Chiwanza’s family house in the same suburb.
Makuvatsine told H-Metro that she had lost faith and love for Chiwanza as her new married lover was paying for her rentals and daily bread.
“I have been seeing Chiwanza for the past four years that at one time I eloped to his family house after falling pregnant,” said Makuvatsine.
“I spent a week sleeping outside his family house’s yard and I want to believe that it affected the baby and upon giving birth the baby later passed on.
The Elderly Petition BCC Over High Rentals “Chiwanza abandoned me and his family and went to his rural home in Mutoko and returned when he learnt of my return to my house.
“He lost affection for me and stopped paying my rentals leading me to accept love to a new married lover who is now looking after me.
“Chiwanza came to my house without notice after he heard that someone was paying for my rentals that is why I refused to open the door for him leading to this mishap.
“Hama dzake ndidzo dzichataurirana nevaridzi vepamba paaponderwa ini kana vachida kundipinza pazviri vanotanga vandiripa mwana wangu wandakaita naye akafa ndisina kudya pfuma yake.
“Tapera came and attacked Chiwanza with an iron bar when he was reasoning with my uncle for him to return to his family and that is how it ended.- H-Metro
By Patrick Guramatunhu | Ever since his University of Zimbabwe student days, Arthur Mutambara has earned a reputation of being very loud, bombastic and loves baffle; he even blasts his opponents out of the water from nowhere. The intervening years at Oxford University, five years as Deputy Prime Minister, etc. have made him even more arrogant and ravening!
“Consequently, the Zimbabwean junta is scared stiff of a second coup d’état. Hence, they are busy coup d’état-proofing their administration through the unconstitutional amendments, establishing a tribal hegemony, a clansman-based patronage system and systemic corruption,” argued our bombastic Professor in his SAPES Trust discussion.
Of course, this is just nonsense. It is true the regime is scared of another coup or civil uprising still it is nonsense to argue it will stop the coup by entrenching itself as a de facto one party state because that is what caused the November 2017 military coup.
If Robert Mugabe was alive today, he would have been the first one tell Mutambara that these are things Zanu PF has done ever since getting into power in 1980 resulting in the economic meltdown and tyrannical oppression of the last 41 years. By instituting the de facto one-party dictatorship Mugabe stifled debate and democratic competition and sacrificed quality. By rigging elections Zanu PF slammed the door shut to peaceful change and fostered violent change.
“We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice. As soon as we have accomplished our mission we expect that the situation will return to normalcy,” announced the November 2017 coup spokesperson Maj Gen S B Moyo.
“To both our people and the world beyond our borders: We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of Government. What the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is doing is to pacify a degenerating political, social and economic situation in our country which if not addressed may result in violent conflict.”
As we know Mnangagwa has all but failed to revive the Zimbabwe economy because he failed to stamp out corruption and the other evils that had turned Zimbabwe into a Banana Republic and pariah state. Of course, it is stupid to suggest the very things that turned Zimbabwe into a pariah state and a prime candidate for social unrest and coup under Mugabe will, somehow, “coup d’état-proof” Mnangagwa’s regime!
The November 2017 military coup changed nothing of substance and so Zimbabwe is still socially and politically unstable. And since the country is seemingly incapable of holding free, fair and credible elections; the stage is set for yet another military coup and/or violent civil unrest.
I say “seemingly incapable of holding free, fair and credible elections” because it is within our power as a nation to end this curse of rigged elections. We have endured rigged elections for the last 41 years and counting the three main stakeholders have lacked the intellect to know how to end the curse and/or lacked the will and vision to do it.
First and foremost, Zanu PF created the de facto one-party dictatorship that has ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist since the country’s independence in 1980. The Zanu PF thugs have enjoyed absolute power and all the benefits of influence and wealth it brought. They have become addicted to absolute power and the looted wealth and they are not going to risk losing it by implementing the democratic reforms and holding free and fair elections.
“The 2018 elections were a forgone conclusion. They had to be won by the junta, by any means necessary,” argued our bombastic Professor in his SAPES Trust discussion.
“The purpose of those polls was to cure and sanitise the coup d’état of November 2017. Otherwise, what would be the point of the military intervention? Why carry out a coup d’état, commit treason, and then hand over power to the opposition? It would not make sense.
“Now, today in 2021, we have a military-based regime, a product of a coup d’état. In 2023 we will still be within the context of a coup d’état!”
Mutambara was only stating the obvious and should have left it at that and not go off at a tangent about Mnangagwa pursuing all the tribal hegemony, a clansman-based patronage system and systemic corruption to coup d’état proof the regime. All these activities only show this is a regime that, either, has no clue what got the nation into this mess much less what to do to escape.
Or else Mnangagwa knows that corruption and mismanagement are the root causes of the economic meltdown, for example, but is powerless to stamp them out. The Godfathers of corruption and the Joint Operations Command, the Junta that booted Mugabe out of office when he threatened their power and licence to loot. Mnangagwa will too be booted out of office if he threatened to stamp out corruption.
The MDC leaders have their golden opportunity during the 2008 to 2013 GNU to implement the democratic reforms and end the curse of rigged elections. They failed to get even one reform implemented.
Mugabe bribed them with the trapping of high office and MDC leaders were bust enjoying themselves they forgot why they were in the GNU. Yes, even our Oxford University Professor, was himself bamboozled and outwitted by Mugabe!
Ever since the GNU debacle, MDC leaders have participated in flawed and illegal elections; knowing fully well Zanu PF was rigging the elections and worst of all knowing that by participating they were giving legitimacy to the vote rigging Zanu PF.
So, why have MDC leaders continued to participate in these flawed elections regardless, you might ask? Answer: they also know that Zanu PF is giving away a few of the gravy train seat to entice the opposition. The opposition have found the bait irresistible.
In the 2018 elections; there were 23 presidential candidates and 130 political parties plus thousands of independent candidates contested for the parliamentary seats! Mnangagwa has given this as proof Zimbabwean elections are free, fair and credible and has dismissed all calls for democratic reforms.
Both the Chamisa led MDC A and the Mwonzora led MDC-T are gearing for the 2023 elections, regardless of the fact not even one token reform was implemented and therefore Zanu PF will once again rig the process. The two parties are fighting over the few gravy train seats and bragging rights to coveted title of Zimbabwe’s main opposition party.
The only other political players who could put an end to this political circus of rigged elections are the Zimbabwe electorate by demanding that reforms must be implemented and refusing to participate in meaningless election. Sadly, this is easier said than done!
Zanu PF has used its dictatorial and coercive powers to turn many people especially rural voters into nothing short of medieval serfs beholden to the overbearing landlords, Zanu PF thugs. The party has already started mobilising and training the war veterans and youth militia, the green bombers, the party’s foot-soldiers. There are reports of teachers in rural Mutoko being forced to attend Zanu PF rallies and to register as Zanu PF voters. The rural voters, who constitute 60% of the electorate, will frog-marched to participate in the 2023 elections.
The next significant segment of the electorate is the opposition supporters; the MDC leaders have always come up with all manner of “Wining In Rigged Election (WIRE) strategies” to justify why they keep participating in these flawed elections. They have never admitted it is out of greed for the bait gravy train seats. What matters is the naïve, gullible and now increasingly desperate (for change) public have believed all this nonsense.
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The people of Zimbabwe have been dragged into these meaningless rigged elections for the last 41 years and counting. It is insane to keep participating expecting to win rigged elections which Zanu PF has carte blanche powers to rig. The challenge is not for us, the voters, to work hard to jump three metres because even if we do achieve that, Zanu PF will raise the bar to 3.5 metre to 4 m, etc. We will never ever win this rat race!
The sane thing to do is to demand the implementation of the democratic reforms and restore all the freedoms and rights of all Zimbabweans including the right to free and fair elections and the right to life itself. Only then can the elections go ahead. This is not rocket science, it is common sense or should be! – SOURCE: zimbabwelight.blogspot.com
TWO people died and four sustained severe injuries when a Toyota Dyna they were travelling in sideswiped with an Inter Africa bus and overturned at the 204km peg along Masvingo-Mbalabala Road.
Matabeleland South acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Thabani Mkhwananzi confirmed the accident which occurred last Thursday at around 1PM.
He said the Toyota Dyna was enroute to Mbalabala from Zvishavane with 10 passengers on board.
Asst Insp Mkhwananzi said the deceased are Fidelis Mpofu (30) of Dolo Village and Joshua Zhou (19) of Chingechuru Village both in Mberengwa district in the Midlands Province.
He said Mpofu died on the spot while Zhou died upon admission at Filabusi District Hospital.
“I can confirm that I received report of an accident which occurred on Thursday at around 1PM along Masvingo-Mbalabala road involving a Toyota Dyna and Inter Africa bus where one passenger from the private vehicle died on the spot and the other died upon admission at Filabusi District Hospital. Four passengers sustained severe injuries,” said Asst Insp Mkhwananzi.
He said the four injured passengers are still admitted at Filabusi District Hospital and are in a stable condition.
Asst Insp Mkhwananzi said Mr Oliver Makese from Gwanda was driving a Toyota Dyna with 10 passengers on board following a Toyota Camry. Upon approaching the 204km peg the driver of Toyota Camry applied emergency brakes after he saw livestock on the road.
He said Mr Makese was speeding and had not maintained a safe following distance. Mr Makese tried to overtake encroaching on the right lane where he avoided a head-on collision with an Inter Africa bus resulting in a sideswipe.
The Bodies of the deceased were ferried to Filabusi District Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
Asst Insp Mkhwananzi appealed to motorists to adhere to road traffic rules and regulations to avoid accidents.- State media
By Nomusa Garikai | “Top lawyer, Thabani Mpofu, said Ziyambi faces contempt of court charges and the lawyers have drafted a complaint to the Registrar of High Court, Judge President George Chiweshe, and all cited judges following Ziyambi’s weekend outburst,” reads the report.
It continues stating:
“After Saturday’s High Court ruling, the Justice Minister claimed the country’s judiciary was “captured” by unnamed hostile foreign powers and the government would not accept that.”
“Owing to the gravity of the matter we wish to advise that we have firm instructions from our consultant to take the necessary action, including the institution of proceedings for contempt of Court should the law not be faithfully and scrupulously adhered to,” said Mpofu.
The lawyers’ consultant is Musa Kika, the director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum.
“Whilst an appeal can, all things being equal, be lodged against a declaratur, the position in law is that an appeal does not suspend the operation of the declaratur,” said Mpofu.
I am persuaded to think we have too many lawyers in Zimbabwe and, worst of all, many of them are mediocre.
One of the favourite career paths of our lawyers is politics and so many of the leaders in both Zanu PF and MDC are lawyers. Each of the two parties have had their fair share of legal blunders. Many people questioned the rational of Nelson Chamisa’s claim that he won the July 2018 presidential race with 2.6 million votes and yet failed to produce the V11 forms, Polling station vote count summary sheet. Advocate Thabani Mpofu was Chamisa’s lawyer in this Constitutional Court challenge.
The Court challenge on the Constitution Amendment Bill No 2 has already shown that both the President and Minister of Justice have village idiots for legal advisors!
The Zanu PF regime has a narcissistic obsession with itself especially as regards its competence, the regime wants to portray an image it is infallible. To admit doing wrong would soil the infallible image and so must be resisted at all cost. Zanu PF has spent billions of dollars sprucing up its imagine many PR companies in USA and UK love the regime for it.
Mugabe was so fastidious about trivial matters he would ironed his socks and yet did nothing to arrest even one swindler he admitted “swindled the nation of US$15 billion in diamond revenue”! He was the swindler in chief and that is the point exactly! Still, all Zanu PF cronies are schooled claiming infallibility to hide their incompetence.
And so we should not be surprised that Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi did not admit his office had mishandled the Amendment Bill and instead accused the three High Court judges, in this matter, of being “captured”.
However, one has to question the wisdom of charging Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi of contempt of court for accusing the judges of being captured especially when the judiciary is indeed captured by the regime itself.
Many people have said Zimbabwe’s judiciary is captured by Zanu PF because of such foolish judgements as Justice George Chiweshe’s ruling that the November 2017 coup was “legal, justified and constitutional”!
When Didymus Mutasa, Joice Mujuru and many other Zanu PF bigwigs were booted out of the party in 2014, Didymus Mutasa threatened to sue Mugabe. “In whose Court!” the dictator replied dismissively!
If the Court was to censure Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi for saying the judges were captures; are we not throwing the door open to censure to all criticism of the Court for fear of contempt of court charges. Poor Didymus Mutasa would have faced the double jeopardy; punished by being denied the right to sue Mugabe and punished again for daring to repeat Mugabe’s own boastful words as his reason for dropping the case.
Zimbabwe is facing a serious economic meltdown that has resulted in mass unemployment, the collapse of basic services such as education and health care and 49% our people now live in abject poverty, according to the WB’s latest report. The root cause of the economic turmoil is the country’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections.
The country had the golden opportunity to implement the democratic reforms and to draft a democratic constitution during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. The MDC leaders failed to implement even one reform and sold the nation a febrile constitution which has failed to deliver the democratic freedoms and rights including the right to free and fair elections. The great irony is MDC has so many lawyers and legal advisors.
The nation would rather see all these MDC leaders, some lawyers in their own right, and their legal advisor focus their attention of delivering free, fair and credible elections, sue ZEC for failing to produce a verified voters’ roll, sue the Police for failing to arrest Zanu PF thugs forcing rural teachers to attend Zanu PF rallies, etc. Do something useful and relevant for a change!
Suing Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi for saying judges are captured is frivolous, to say the least, especially in the face of the very serious economic, social and political challenges the nation is facing! – SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.com
TWO men today appeared in court for allegedly attempting to kill another man following an altercation sparked by a soccer match between Chelsea Football Club and Leicester City played over the weekend.
Ezra Kanyawa and Blessing Farai Mhlanga appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court charged with attempted murder after they tried to kill Commerce Munamati over the match.
The trio were watching the match at bar in Harare’s city centre.
Kanyawa and Mhlanga, who were being represented by lawyer Mr Liberty Gono, were not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi, who remanded them in custody to May 31.
Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.- The Herald
By A Correspondent- Happison Muchechetere who was recently elected the Zanu PF Veterans of the Liberation Struggle League (ZVLSL) Mashonaland West provincial chairperson said they will fix factionalism in the party.
Muchechetere who is the former Chief Executive Officer of the State broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) made the remarks while addressing a Zanu PF Zvimba North inter-district weekend meeting held at Kamwaza Hall in Raffingora.
The meeting came after violent clashes between ZANU PF factions at the party’s DCC meeting in Chinhoyi recently with reports suggesting that some of the involved youths were in Kindness Paradza’s camp.
Kindness Paradza is the deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.
Speaking at the weekend, Muchechetere warned:
What is happening in some areas like Makonde cannot be tolerated. We as war veterans will come to fix it. If we hear of any youth who continues committing offences we will not hesitate to deal with them, we won’t let them do as they please._
_What we watch on social media pains us as war veterans, seeing youths, after being offered alcohol, dare point fingers at the chairman in public. A chairman of the party?
_Some break bottles saying ‘we want to fight’. Do you know war? If you have an appetite for violence we can take you to Mozambique where there is real war so that you appreciate real war._
_We implore youths to uphold the party ideology to respect elders, even the Bible and clergyman say ‘respect your father and mother so that your days on Earth are multiplied._
Violent clashes in Chinhoyi reportedly erupted after one youth officer confronted Paradza, pointed a finger accusing him of failing to lead the DCC.
Police in Chinhoyi last week arrested four Zanu PF activists Simbarashe Guvheya (40), Zivanai Busai (37), Ruth Chikukwa (40) and Mirriam Mudoti (42) popularly known as “Boko Haram”.
Simbarashe Guvheya and Zivanai Busai are said to be loyal to Paradza.
Police had to fire tear smoke to quell the riotous situation that unfolded at the ill-fated meeting of 45 Zanu PF DCC chairpersons from the Chinhoyi constituency.
The activists have since appeared in court for alleged involvement in intra-party violence and were released on a $10 000 bail each.
Opposition MDC Alliance has said attempts by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi to drag the Nelson Chamisa-led party into the legal proceedings that resulted in the ouster of former Chief Justice Luke Malaba was an act of desperation.
The party remarks after Ziyambi had issued a statement attacking the “captured” judiciary and MDC Alliance, whose members he accused of “being paid monthly allowances for causing turmoil in this country and for being arrested.” Ziyambi had said:
The situation now in this country is that there is a risk of judicial capture where the Judiciary has been captured by certain elements both within and outside Zimbabwe who want to destabilise the second Republic.
We are also aware of certain members of the opposition, the MDC Alliance, who are being paid monthly allowances for causing turmoil in this country and for being arrested.
The time may now have come to expose all these malcontents and economic saboteurs who are not sleeping until they bring down the second Republic.
We are now going to poke the enemy in the eye and confront it….
I want to make it clear today that we do not accept the decision of the High Court. We have a serious situation of a Judiciary that has been captured by foreign forces in this Country.
We are going to exercise our right in terms of the law and file an appeal against this baseless and meaningless decision of the High Court.
In response, MDC Alliance echoed Alex Magaisa’s sentiments that the constitutional crisis that resulted in the ouster of Malaba was due to a lack of interest in doing the right thing by the Ministry led by Ziyambi. Said the party:
The attempt by Minister Ziyambi to rope the MDC Alliance into its web of illegalities is an act of desperation. The Constitution must be respected. The failure to do so lies squarely at the hands of the Executive which has created this Constitutional crisis. #SaveOurConstitution- Pindula News
By Brian Mari | Myself, Hon Job Sikhala, Dr Masimba Mavaza and Mr Wilbert Mukori had a debate Sunday night on the Malaba Retirement Judgement. Unfortunately I lost connection for almost the entire interview only to return 5 minutes before the end.
https://youtu.be/7jNp72VF74k
Let me say this, I do not want to debate things where one mixes politics and legal things. Courts are not political forums. It is unfair to scandalise the courts on political cards while failing to bring in technicals.
Here is my comment which I could not share on air: Sorry to Dr Mavaza who is a PhD holder of law but pretends to be a grade R because of political allegiance.
1) The whole mistake in this issue is not only with Zanu as I noticed during interview but also the lawyers representing the case as well as my fellow colleagues on the panel.
2) Once you fail to present the case to Zanu they then take advantage.
3) The point is you do not discus section 186 of the new constitution without referring to section 340 of constitution.
4) It will be a big mistake if Judges also write a Judgement that miss section 340 of the constitution.
5) Section 186 (1) talks of Judges being appointed on a non renewable contract of 15 years and state that they must retire at reaching 70 years and so on. That is called tenure.
6) Talking of amendments or original 2013 constitution on section 186 tenure does not apply to Luke Malaba and the rest of the current bench.
7) The first word to interpret in section 186(1) is “appoint” as in relationship to Luke Malaba and the rest.
https://youtu.be/jZv30sDUyc0
8) This is were you first have to go to section 340 (1) (b)of the constitution.
9) You will see that Luke Malaba was appointed Chief Justice not “in terms of” section 180 of the current Constitution but in terms of section 340(1)(b) that is to say “appoint on promotion”.
10) A Judge is appointed “in accordance with section 180” and not “in terms of section 180.” Read section 180(1) it is clear that Judges are appointed “in accordance with section 180”.
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11) It looks very minor difference to say “appointed in terms of” and then another say “appoint in accordance with” but this is where the difference divide us.
12) Section 180 (1) say “appoint in accordance with this section”. That leaves “terms outside” which means terms are somewhere else. The section is just there for a procedure.
13) The procedure is, one has to first comply with qualifications in section 177.
14) If you read section 177 you will see that one qualify to be a Constitutional Court if “He or she has been a judge of a court with unlimited jurisdiction in civil or criminal matters in a country in which the common law is Roman-Dutch or English, and English is an officially recognised language; “
15) Now you can see that in interviews, people can come from different backgrounds. Some will have been Judges of other Country’s Courts or resigned in previous contracts but in this case, Malaba was a serving Deputy Chief Justice when he was interviewed on 12 December 2016. His qualification as a Judge were from his record of service. He already had a tenure of a Judge of Constitutional Court Judge in his record of service.
16) Malaba did not establish a new tenure by being promoted to be Chief Justice. He was appointed Chief Justice “in accordance with section 180” and not “in terms of section 180.”
17) He was appointed Chief Justice in terms of section 340(1)(b) which is “appointment on promotion”. That removes all the considerations of section 186(1) tenure from Malaba’s tenure.
18) We the go to section 13 of 6th schedule since Malaba’s tenure started from previous Constitution.
19) Section 13 of 6th schedule
20) 13.Any person who, immediately before the effective date, held or acted in a public office under the former Constitution continues to hold or act in that office, or the equivalent office under this Constitution, on the same conditions of service until the expiry of his or her term of office under those conditions of service or until he or she resigns, retires or is removed from office in terms of this Constitution or those conditions of service, as the case may be.
21) Now we know for a fact Malaba was a Deputy Chief Justice just before 2013. In the previous Constitution was also a tenure for Judges in section 86.
22) I am not interested in the obvious retirement conditions in section 86 of old constitution. That will fall into line.
23) I am concerned with section 86(3) of old constitution which is the one that causes the tenure of Judge of Supreme Court and High Court Judges to be carried over to new constitution.
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24) It says offices of Judges of Supreme Court and High Court shall not be abolished without the consent of the Judges. A similar provision is in section 186(6). We are however tracking Malaba’s tenure so his tenure cannot be abolished not because of section 186(6) of current constitution but because of s86(3) of old constitution.
25) This is were we as state in new constitution inherit a Judges tenure from previous constitution by way of 6th schedule. Including their pension savings in terms of section 20 of 6th schedule.
26) Section 2 of 6th schedule emphasise that 6th schedule “prevails, to the extent of any inconsistency, over all other provisions of this Constitution”.
27) This means section 13 Prevails over section 180(1) or section 186(1) or section 328(7).
28) That section 13 of 6th schedule will stay for the rest of the life of the constitution. You cannot amend it or repeal it because it is fulfilling a state obligation to keep the tenure of Judges to the last end of their contract.
29) That obligation can only be fulfilled by way of section 13 of 6th schedule as well as section 20 of same schedule. And it means Malaba “ continued to hold office Judge of Supreme Court/equivalent under new Constitution, on the same conditions of service until he retires”.
30) Since section 13 of 6th schedule is a provision that prevails over any other provision on tenure of all Judges including High Court Judges, that came from previous tenure, its text are final interpretation of what Malaba and his band, including Justice Zhou , should do.
31) In fact they retire at 65 and then elect to carry on for 5 years as in section 86 of previous constitution.
32) What the regime want to amend does not affect any Judge so far because no Judge has yet been purely appointed in terms of section 340(1)(a) under new constitution.
33) The regime went and amended section 180(4) and section 186(1). The fatal mistake they made in all their attempt was failure to interpret word “Appoint” and then fail to distinguish “appointing in terms of” as opposed to “appoint in accordance with”.
34) Tenure of a Judge is a continuation of service from the day you start to be a Judge to the last day you cease by retirement. Changing from High Court and promoted to Supreme Court or Constitutional Court Judge does not change tenure. Tenure is signed for the first time you join.
35) May be that is were I must stress why section 186(1)(b) was put in place.
36) It is known that a Judge of High Court or Supreme Court can apply to be Constitutional Court Judge. He or she must serve as Constitutional Court Judge for 15 years but because he or she is already a Judge with a tenure to serve until he or she turns 70.
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37) If a judge is not yet 70 years upon completion of 15 year term as Constitutional Court Judges, Section 186(1)(b) then says “after the completion of their term(as Constitutional Court Judge for 15yrs), they may be appointed as judges of the Supreme Court or the High Court, at their option, if they are eligible for such appointment”
38) This then stresses the point that 70 years of age in the Constitution is the tenure. Tenure is the right to be a Judge of the courts. It is not guided by changes that happen in between.
39) That is why the state also state that the post will not be abolished in the same tenure clause. If terms of appointment change, they only affect new appointments.
40) Those in office are appointed on promotion, which was always a package of tenure. They expected to be promoted right from day one. They got promoted. That does not bring new tenure.
41) Section 340 finishes it all. Malaba was appointed Chief Justice by promotion appointment. No need to talk about amendments because that amendment never changed the “tenure of existing Judges” . They are already Judges. They cannot be appointed as Judges again. They can only be promoted and that is section 340(1)(b).
42) Serving person’s tenure are normally changed by way of varying or modifying the conditions of service of each individual officer and section 340(1)(e) confirms.
43) However in our instances we have three sources of provisions that give conditions of service.
i) Section 86 of old constitution which is inherited by way of section 13 of 6th schedule
ii) Section 186 of 2013 constitution which is guided by appointments made in terms of section 340(1)(a) . Section 328(7) does not allow incumbent officer to benefit from any changes to conditions in section 186.
iii) It must be noted that section 180 is never a term of appointment. Its just a condition. It does not affect tenure.
iv) The last source is from amendment. That is if it passes the test of validity but still from reading the amendments it is clear that the amendments changed parts of s180 which are just conditions of appointment.
v) These conditions of appointment affect candidates from different backgrounds. Where upon succeeding in interview the appointment is done in terms of section 340.
44) It can be seen section 13 of 6th schedule, section 328(7) and section 340 are all not amended.
45) It means non of the Judges are affected by s186(1) or can benefit from it because no one has yet been appointed in terms of section 340(1)(a) on conditions of s186 of the original or the amended constitution.
A 37 year-old jilted married man was struck dead with an iron bar in a row over who should spend the night with a lover.
Bernard Chiwanza met his fate at the hands of a tenant who sided with his lover Petronella Makuvatsine, 30, that he leaves as the latter was housing another man at her Stoneridge lodgings on Saturday night.
Chiwanza is reported to have paid an unwanted visit to his lover and the latter refused to open the door for him since another man was already in the house.
Irked by the development, Chiwanza was reported to have forced the door open and it hit Maxwell Tapera who pulled an iron bar and hit him on his head and he died instantly.
Tapera who is a co-tenant with Makuvatsine was arrested and is detained at Mbare police station where he is leading police with investigations.
Mourners are gathered at Chiwanza’s family house in the same suburb.
Makuvatsine told H-Metro that she had lost faith and love for Chiwanza as her new married lover was paying for her rentals and daily bread.
“I have been seeing Chiwanza for the past four years that at one time I eloped to his family house after falling pregnant,” said Makuvatsine.
“I spent a week sleeping outside his family house’s yard and I want to believe that it affected the baby and upon giving birth the baby later passed on.
The Elderly Petition BCC Over High Rentals “Chiwanza abandoned me and his family and went to his rural home in Mutoko and returned when he learnt of my return to my house.
“He lost affection for me and stopped paying my rentals leading me to accept love to a new married lover who is now looking after me.
“Chiwanza came to my house without notice after he heard that someone was paying for my rentals that is why I refused to open the door for him leading to this mishap.
“Hama dzake ndidzo dzichataurirana nevaridzi vepamba paaponderwa ini kana vachida kundipinza pazviri vanotanga vandiripa mwana wangu wandakaita naye akafa ndisina kudya pfuma yake.
“Tapera came and attacked Chiwanza with an iron bar when he was reasoning with my uncle for him to return to his family and that is how it ended.- H-Metro
Tinashe Sambiri|Prominent lawyer Advocate Eric Matinenga’s son Takudzwa died in a horrific road accident at the weekend.
Advocate Matinenga rose to prominence when he successfully defended Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai during his treason trial in 2005.
In a statement, President Chamisa described Takudzwa as a budding professional.
“With heartache and sadness,I note the passing on of young Takudzwa Matinenga who died in a horrific traffic accident.
My sincere condolences to Advocate Matinenga,Amai & family. Taku was an energetic,loving and brilliant budding professional whose future was so promising. RIP,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi also described Takudzwa’s death as devastating.
“Yesterday, we woke up to the sad news that Takudzwa Matinenga had passed on. We’ve been robbed of a gifted chef, a talented actor & a young person who had so much creative genius to offer.
Deepest condolences to my friend & colleague, Adv Eric Matinenga & his wife, Mrs Miriam Matinenga.”
Tinashe Sambiri|Prominent lawyer Advocate Eric Matinenga’s son Takudzwa died in a horrific road accident at the weekend.
Advocate Matinenga rose to prominence when he successfully defended Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai during his treason trial in 2005.
In a statement, President Chamisa described Takudzwa as a budding professional.
“With heartache and sadness,I note the passing on of young Takudzwa Matinenga who died in a horrific traffic accident.
My sincere condolences to Advocate Matinenga,Amai & family. Taku was an energetic,loving and brilliant budding professional whose future was so promising. RIP,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi also described Takudzwa’s death as devastating.
“Yesterday, we woke up to the sad news that Takudzwa Matinenga had passed on. We’ve been robbed of a gifted chef, a talented actor & a young person who had so much creative genius to offer.
Deepest condolences to my friend & colleague, Adv Eric Matinenga & his wife, Mrs Miriam Matinenga.”
…we can confirm is that he died from Covid-19. His niece who recently returned from India tested negative while some other family members tested positive. We are therefore not sure of the source of the virus that claimed Mr Kadenhe’s life…
Kwekwe Mayoress Councillor Angeline Kasipo has urged residents not to panic following social media reports that a corona virus case with similar features to the strain prevalent in India had been detected in the mining town.
Her sentiments follow reports on some social media platforms claiming that popular businessman and music promoter, Robson Kadenhe had returned from India days before his death.
Cllr Kasipo said the local authority through the health department carried out all necessary investigations including contact tracing. The late Kadenhe succumbed to Covid-19 on May 12.
Apparently his niece had returned from India sparking speculation that the family had contracted the Indian variant.
“Our health department went on the ground after the death of Mr Kadenhe and the only thing we can confirm is that he died from Covid-19. His niece who recently returned from India tested negative while some other family members tested positive. We are therefore not sure of the source of the virus that claimed Mr Kadenhe’s life,” she said.
Cllr Kasipo said the report that was leaked on social media had caused alarm and despondency.
“I am not sure how the report that was prepared by our health department and was directed to the Provincial Medical Director found its way onto social media platforms. We have since apologised to the family and other stakeholders that might have been inconvenienced, this was not supposed to have happened,” she said.
Clr Kasipo said all necessary steps were taken in tracing contacts and tests have been sent to Harare where results will help map a way forward. She also confirmed that there were three confirmed cases at Goldridge Primary School and the cases were handled well.
“We went to the school and screened all the pupils and they tested negative except for the three who are on isolation and are conducting their lessons online,” said clr Kasipo. She said there were eleven active cases in the mining town.
“We have been recording zero cases for the past two months but now we have 11 active cases and I want to urge the people to continue taking precautionary measures like masking up, sanitizing and getting vaccinated. All our council clinics are offering vaccination services free of charge, so I urge people to get vaccinated,” she said. Kwekwe has a total of 246 cumulative cases. Chronicle
Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF provincial chairperson, Ezra Chadzamira has threatened to deal with party councillors who are boycotting meetings over failure to get allowances.
Zanu PF councillors in Chiredzi are not attending council meetings citing failure to get sitting allowances.
Chadzamira accused the councillors of failing to abide by Zanu PF principles .
Chadzamira also challenged the councillors to be to be loyal to the party.Chadzamira is also the Minister of State for Masvingo Province.
“I have heard received complaints about your behaviour. You should be loyal to the party. If hear such reports again you will be in trouble,” fumed Chadzamira.
STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS BY JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS MINISTER HON. ZIYAMBI
ON 15 May 2021, the High Court of Zimbabwe in the urgent applications of Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe and Musa Kika issued an order to the effect of which was to inter alia confirm that the term of office of Honourable Justice Luke Malaba had expired and he had ceased to be the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe after attaining the age of 70 years.
In a statement issued on the same day, Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs although professing to respect the above decision proceeded to criticise and demean both the decision and the Honourable Judge, who on behalf of the High Court delivered the judgment.
The criticism is in our view intemperate, less than measured and not befitting of an Honourable Minister of the Government of Zimbabwe.
It also contained threats to judicial independence which are unacceptable in a democratic nation and are inconsistent with the doctrine of the separation of powers as enshrined in our Constitution.
We are further concerned and disturbed by the patently false narrative in the statement that Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), is using money to capture various state institutions and to destabilise the Government of Zimbabwe.
There is not an iota of truth in these reckless and defamatory allegations. The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs knows this only too well.
ZLHR is a law-based organisation of law-abiding legal practitioners whose sole objective is to promote and support observance of the rule of law and the promotion of constitutionalism.
In our efforts we have collaborated with both civil society and various arms of the Government of Zimbabwe; the Minster of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will attest to this. We have litigated extensively in order to defend the indigent and defenceless and to uphold the rule of law. In this respect, our work speaks for itself. We take strong exception to the false and defamatory statements of and about ZLHR and our rights in this respect are fully reserved.
While we do not wish to comment on a matter which may very well be the subject of an appeal we point out that in our law a litigant who is unhappy with a court decision has the option of an appeal, where this is available and is not entitled to demean the court that handed down the decision or threaten unlawful action against the successful litigant or vent their anger on third parties, regardless of how disappointed they may be with the outcome.
The statement by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs does enormous disservice to Zimbabwe and its citizens and sends the wrong message to all those who cherish justice and the rule of law.
It is our hope that on reflection, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will withdraw these gratuitously offensive, defamatory and false claims against ZLHR and his contemptuous utterances against the judiciary as they are unwarranted and harmful to the interests of Zimbabwe.
Countries around the world are rolling out COVID-19 vaccines, and a key topic of interest is their safety. Vaccine safety is one of WHO’s highest priorities, and we’re working closely with national authorities to develop and implement standards to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
Ensuring safety
Millions of people have safely received COVID-19 vaccines. All of the approved COVID-19 vaccines have been carefully tested and continue to be monitored.
Like all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines go through a rigorous, multi-stage testing process, including large clinical trials that involve tens of thousands of people. These trials are specifically designed to identify any safety concerns
An external panel of experts convened by WHO analyses the results from clinical trials and recommends whether and how the vaccines should be used. Officials in individual countries decide whether to approve the vaccines for national use and develop policies for how to use the vaccines based on WHO recommendations.
After a COVID-19 vaccine is introduced, WHO supports work with vaccine manufacturers, health officials in each country and other partners to monitor for any safety concerns on an ongoing basis.
New vaccine technology Some COVID-19 vaccines have been developed with an approach that uses messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA vaccine technology has been studied for over a decade, including in the development of vaccines for Zika, rabies and influenza.
These mRNA vaccines have been rigorously assessed for safety, and clinical trials have shown that they provide a long-lasting immune response. mRNA vaccines are not live virus vaccines and do not interfere with human DNA. For more information on mRNA vaccines, see WHO’s explainer on the different types of COVID-19 vaccines.
Safety of COVID-19 vaccines for different groups
COVID-19 vaccines have been tested in large, randomized controlled trials that include people of a broad age range, both sexes, different ethnicities, and those with known medical conditions. The vaccines have shown a high level of efficacy across all populations. Vaccines have been found to be safe and effective in people with various underlying medical conditions that are associated with increased risk of severe disease. These include high blood pressure; diabetes; asthma; pulmonary, liver or kidney disease; and chronic infections that are stable and controlled.
Those who should consult with a doctor before vaccination include people with a compromised immune system, older people with severe frailty, people with a history of severe allergic reaction to vaccines, people living with HIV, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Pregnancy
While pregnancy brings a higher risk of severe COVID-19, at present, very little data is available to assess vaccine safety in pregnancy. However, people at high risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus (such as health workers), or who have a history of underlying medical conditions that increase their risk of severe disease, may be vaccinated during pregnancy after consultation with their health care provider. There is no evidence that suggests vaccination would cause harm during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
The vaccine can be offered to those who are breastfeeding if they are part of a group recommended for vaccination (health workers, for example).
Safety of COVID-19 vaccines for children COVID-19 vaccine trials for children are currently under way, and when results become available, WHO will provide updated guidance for vaccination in children. Vaccine trials targeting adults were prioritized because COVID-19 has proven to be a more serious and dangerous disease among older populations.
Following proven health measures is still the best way to keep everyone, including children, safe from COVID-19. This includes keeping hands clean, practising sneezing and coughing into bent elbows, opening windows, wearing a mask if age-appropriate, and continuing physical distancing…
Source: World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
By A Correspondent- The Gweru City Council has unleashed debt collectors who are attaching properties of residents failing to settle their rates bills.
some residents who owe the council over $70 000 were last week visited the deputy sheriffs officials and had their properties attached.
The development has been condemned by resident’s associations in the city who feel that the local authority was insensitive.
In January, the council effected a 146percent tariff increase in the approved 2021 budget, which resulted in residents receiving ballooning bills as well as final demand letters to settle debts.
By A Correspondent- Songbird Sandra “Sandy” Ndebele-Sibindi has turned to motivational speaking where she is using her social media platforms to advise other artists.
Ndebele-Sibindi took last week through her social media platforms (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter) posted a motivational clip.
“I think it’s high time people start diversifying, let’s diversify, let’s open a lot of income streams, let’s not dwell more on our craft,” she said.
“All the doors are closed, especially with us …..I have got a suggestion if anyone is willing to teach us how to mine, how to do farming…. please educate us, we are here.”
In a follow-up interview with NewsDay Life & Style, Ndebele-Sibindi said she had to start selling chickens after she saw that singing alone does not pay her bills.
“I think it’s time for people to diversify, for me as a musician waiting for royalties can’t pay my bills,” she said.
“The messages we receive a day in day out from people asking for help, for a mealie meal are too much, but if we have different income streams, it becomes better because if one stream becomes dry, you will know that you can lean on the other side.”
She said there is no green light for the music industry which has remained closed since the outbreak of coronavirus in March last year reducing artistes into abject poverty.
“If you look at it, all other chambers have been opened, but our chamber is not open, all bars are not open, I am not talking about myself only, I am speaking of other people that benefit through music who are not working,” she said.
“So come to think of it, it’s so difficult for people who do catering in weddings, provide entertainment at weddings, us artistes and event planners, everyone is suffering so this is the reason why I am saying people should diversify.”
By A Correspondent- A Chitungwiza man has been sentenced to an effective 22 years in jail for taking turns to rape his daughter’s two friends aged nine and 11 years at knifepoint, in full view of a four-year-old girl he indecently assaulted later on.
Richman Coffee (47) of Unit M, Chitungwiza, gave the children US$1 and $15 to each and promised to buy them cell phones, and delivered one cell phone to the four-year-old to buy their silence.
He was initially sentenced to a total of 30 years when he appeared before Chitungwiza regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa, charged with two counts of rape and another charge of indecent assault, but eight years of the sentence were set aside for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence.
Ms Trinity Nyandebvu, appearing for the State, proved that on January 26, at around midday, the three girls visited Coffee’s house with intentions to see their friend, who is Coffee’s daughter.
Coffee told the three girls that his daughter was not at home since she had travelled to their rural areas in Chihota with his wife. But he asked the three girls to do the dishes and sweep the house on his behalf, before they went back home.
When the three entered his bedroom, Coffee followed them, locked the door, fetched a knife and threatened to kill them. He then took turns to rape the nine and 11-year old girls while the other watched and then indecently assaulted the four-year-old.
In a bid to have them conceal the sexual assaults, the court heard that Coffee gave US$1 and $15 to each of the girls and promised to buy them cellphones.
In fulfilling his promise, Coffee bought a cell phone and gave it to the four-year-old.
On January 27, the four-year-old was spotted by her mother using the cell phone and she quizzed her on where she had obtained it. That is when she revealed the indecent assault at the hands of Coffee, resulting in the matter being taken to the police, leading to his arrest.
By A Correspondent- Songbird Sandra “Sandy” Ndebele-Sibindi has turned to motivational speaking where she is using her social media platforms to advise other artists.
Ndebele-Sibindi took last week through her social media platforms (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter) posted a motivational clip.
“I think it’s high time people start diversifying, let’s diversify, let’s open a lot of income streams, let’s not dwell more on our craft,” she said.
“All the doors are closed, especially with us …..I have got a suggestion if anyone is willing to teach us how to mine, how to do farming…. please educate us, we are here.”
In a follow-up interview with NewsDay Life & Style, Ndebele-Sibindi said she had to start selling chickens after she saw that singing alone does not pay her bills.
“I think it’s time for people to diversify, for me as a musician waiting for royalties can’t pay my bills,” she said.
“The messages we receive a day in day out from people asking for help, for a mealie meal are too much, but if we have different income streams, it becomes better because if one stream becomes dry, you will know that you can lean on the other side.”
She said there is no green light for the music industry which has remained closed since the outbreak of coronavirus in March last year reducing artistes into abject poverty.
“If you look at it, all other chambers have been opened, but our chamber is not open, all bars are not open, I am not talking about myself only, I am speaking of other people that benefit through music who are not working,” she said.
“So come to think of it, it’s so difficult for people who do catering in weddings, provide entertainment at weddings, us artistes and event planners, everyone is suffering so this is the reason why I am saying people should diversify.”
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has launched terror campaigns in Midlands Province in the guise of mobilizing 2023 voters.
According to the party, the mobilization exercise is aimed at increasing the party’s membership in line with its goal to attract five million votes for the President in the 2023 election.
The party’s Midlands provincial chairperson, Daniel Mackenzie Ncube told the state media that teams made of District Coordinating Committee members, Politburo members were already on the ground, intimidating villagers.
“We have been to Gokwe; now we are in Zvishavane. Soon we are going to Mberengwa as we work on the recruitment of more members. We want the province to win all the seats come 2023 and this is laying the foundation by going out to the people,” he said.
By A Correspondent-Zanu PF government has pounced on the Judges who ruled against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s reappointment of Chief Justice, Luke Malaba.
The government did this today by filing a notice of appeal against Saturday’s High Court decision to annul the extension of Chief Justice Malaba’s service beyond the age of 70.
The appeal is against the entire judgment by three judges, Justices Happias Zhou, Edith Mushore and Justice Jester Charewa on Saturday blocking the extension by President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Chief Justice Malaba’s service by five years.
The trio ruled that Chief Justice ceased to be the Chief Justice upon reaching 70 years on May 15, 2021, and that the extension of the service does not apply to incumbent judges of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court.
By A Correspondent-Zanu PF government has filed a notice of appeal against the High Court decision to annul the extension of Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s service beyond the age of 70.
The appeal is against the entire judgment by three judges, Justices Happias Zhou, Edith Mushore and Justice Jester Charewa on Saturday blocking the extension by President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Chief Justice Malaba’s service by five years.
The trio ruled that Chief Justice ceased to be the Chief Justice upon reaching 70 years on May 15, 2021, and that the extension of the service does not apply to incumbent judges of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court.
By A Correspondent- Former Mines Minister, Walter Chidhakwa has called on Chief Zvimba to stop meddling in the alleged exhumation agenda of the remains of former President Robert Mugabe.
Chidhakwa who is related to the Mugabe family said Chief Zvimba and the plaintiff, Tinos Manongovere’s actions were driven by greed for money.
Chidhakwa said: The chief has lost respect by allowing himself to be dragged into this shameful drama because of the love of money. Where does the plaintiff fit in all this? Manongovere is a distant relative of the Mugabe family, as he doesn’t hail from the Chidziva chieftainship where Mugabe hails from. If it’s money he wants, he must work and get it instead of getting money by selling the body of the dead. We know who is behind this, Tinos is just a tool to get to Mugabe’s grave which we won’t allow by all means. If there is something which was not done right why not summon us? Mai Mugabe (Grace) is just a daughter-in-law in the Gushungo clan. She does not have any say in making decisions on behalf of our family. Moreover, the only people who can decide on Mugabe’s remains whether to exhume or not are his biological children, Bellarmine, Bona and Robert Junior and no one else. Where was this Tinos when Mugabe was buried and why didn’t he stop the burial then? There was ample time to make the right decisions before we buried him and why didn’t he speak out then? Chidakwa said he personally told President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Mugabe’s wish to be buried at his rural home and not at the National Heroes Acre as the State had wished. Manongovere, who is a cousin to the late former president confirmed approaching the courts but denied being persuaded by anyone to initiate the legal proceedings.
The below video has got voices inside alleging that the suspended secretary-general of the ANC party, Ace Magashule assaulted his president Cyril Ramaphosa. The video’s dating could not be verified at the time of writing and neither person’s had responded to questions for comments at the time of writing.
By A Correspondent- MDC-A vice president, Tendai Biti said, the President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration has no legal right to contest the High Court Judgement which reversed the reappointment of Chief Justice, Luke Malaba.
This came out at a press conference in Harare this morning, where the human rights lawyers represented by Advocate Thabani Mpofu who was flanked by Biti.
Responding through the state media, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, as usual, said the Government will not bow down to threats by the human rights lawyers, who are challenging the extension of Chief JusticeMalaba’s service.
Ziyambi said Government would lodge its appeal against a High Court decision blocking sitting judges from holding office after attaining 70 years of age at the Supreme Court before the end of business today.
Ziyambi said: “We are a litigant in this case and which rule says we can’t appeal?”
By A Correspondent- A Chirundu man is lucky to be alive after he was mauled by a lion in the border town last Thursday.
The victim, Isaiah Chitenje (48) from Chirundu town was saved from the lion by people who made noise while throwing stones until the lion released him.
Kariba district police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Misheck Ngorima confirmed the incident.
“A male adult was attacked by a lion on May 13 at around 1822hrs in the Chirundu area. The victim was coming from Chirundu business centre and proceeding to Tiger Safaris where he works. While on the way, about 500 metres from Chirundu Border Post, lions appeared and one of them attacked him.
“He was assisted by locals who came to the scene and threw stones after hearing his screams. The lion ran away. The man was taken to Mutendere Hospital in Zambia where his condition is reported to be stable.
Human-wildlife conflicts are said to be on the increase despite efforts by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to curb them. A fortnight ago, a man from the Mahombekombe suburb in Kariba was lucky to survive after being attacked by an elephant.
A child was recently attacked by a hyena in Masvingo and left severely injured.
He is currently admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare where he is battling for life.
By A Correspondent- Smart Mbonga (36), who bashed his wife Privilege Chiworiso(31) a police officer based in Shamva after accusing her of cheating has been convicted.
Bindura magistrate RuramaiChitumbura sentenced Mbonga to six months in prison for the offence
The magistrate however suspended the three months custodial sentence on condition of good behavior and payment of a $6000 fine.
In passing the sentence Chitumbura said both parties were not in good books hence there was room for lying hence she passed a lighter sentence.
Prosecutor Carson Kundiona alleged on February 10,Chiworeso was with her friend Grace Mhandu when herhusband started accusing her of having an extra marital affair.
He became violent and pushed Mhandu aside and attacked his wife with a pocket knife.
After the attack the accused stormed out leaving his wife in pain in the company of herfriend.
She reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of accused.
The government has filed a notice to appeal against a High Court ruling that nullified the extension of former Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s term of office.
The appeal is against the entire judgment by three judges, Justices Happias Zhou, Edith Mushore and Justice Jester Charewa on Saturday blocking the extension of Chief Justice Malaba’s service by five years.
The trio ruled that Malaba ceased to be the Chief Justice upon reaching 70 years on May 15, 2021, and that the extension of the service does not apply to incumbent judges of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court.
The appeal was filed by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi together with Attorney-General Advocate Prince Machaya on Monday.
The government makes the appeal after Ziyambi Sunday issued an attack on the judiciary saying it was captured by some foreign elements who were using money to bribe court officials.
The attack has attracted widespread criticism from stakeholders in the legal fraternity with the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) arguing that the minister’s remarks had the effect of diminishing public confidence in the judiciary.
The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi is reportedly facing the chop for alleged alignment to the Generation 40 (G40) cabal, a vanquished ZANU faction.
Anonymous sources say Ziyambi was working with the G40 to discredit President Emmerson Mnangagwa. It is further alleged that Ziyambi’s attack on the judiciary following a ruling by the High Court that resulted in the removal of former Chief Justice Luke Malaba was merely a desperate strategy to avoid the chop.
In the statement, Ziyambi accused the judiciary of being captured by the country’s “enemies.” He said in a statement issued Sunday:
The situation now in this country is that there is a risk of judicial capture where the Judiciary has been captured by certain elements both within and outside Zimbabwe who want to destabilise the second Republic._
Sources say the statement has done less to save Ziyambi from the chop since it has caused more damage to the name of the president.
Reports of factionalism in the ruling ZANU PF have increased in the recent past.
Some of the ruling party’s District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections that were scheduled to be held last year were suspended after alleged factional clashes.
The G40 is reportedly seeking an opportunity to bounce back and take control of the party.
There are also reports that suggest that apart from the G40, President Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga lead rival factions with the latter eager to dislodge his boss.
The alleged factionalism is reportedly the main reason why ZANU PF rejected the running mate clause fearing the incumbent leader can be toppled by his deputy.
By Chipiso Sihle Tarisai| Water crisis in Chipinge’s Shekwa area has delayed the opening of a new clinic built to improve access to health care for the community, in a move that has left villagers worried and disheartened.
In an interview with one of the affected villagers Bessie Magaa, she said due to the geographical set up of the area, a borehole for the clinic was drilled 2 kilometres away but needs pipes and water pump so that it can get to the health centre.
“Despite having worked tirelessly for the clinic, Shekwa residents have been disheartened by the delay in the opening of the clinic. It is a prerequisite that there should be running water at the clinic before it is opened to the public,” Magaa.
Another Shekwa villager, Tendai Mutanda they were ecstatic that the burden of walking long distances to get to a health care centre had been addressed but now have to content with continuing until the water situation is resolved.
“Clinic yakatikoshera semadzimai madoko tichiri kubara tinoda koohloiwa mimba nekubairisa vana. Mumango uripo koobude Chikore unorwadza une mimba kana wakabereka mwana kumushana zvekuti mimba zhinji tinotozondoonyoresa kuma30 weeks. (The clinic is of paramount importance to us as young women who are still in the child bearing age since there is a long distance to the nearby hospital such that we end up booking our pregnancies at 30 weeks which is risky.) said Mutanda.
Shekwa Village Health Worker, Meriah Hasha confirmed that the delays in the opening the clinic had greatly affected women since most of them often delay booking their pregnancies which is very risky especially if the mother is HIV positive or Blood Pressure.
“The opening of a clinic will be helpful especially to women and kids,” said Hasha.
Speaking to the area councilor Mrs Magaa, she said the opening of the clinic was taking longer than expected despite its importance to the community.
She appealed to well wishers to donate a water so that they can pump water to the clinic.
“The nearest clinic is 5km away so the elderly, the sick as well as pregnant mothers are really in a fix,” said Magaa.
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham’s girlfriend Leah Monroe, has slammed manager Thomas Tuchel after The Blues’ 0-1 FA Cup final defeat to Leicester City at Wembley, describing the German’s team selection as a joke.
Yourie Tielesmans’ brilliant solitary strike subjected Chelsea to their consecutive FA Cup final defeat and their third in the last five years.
Abraham, who has four goals to his name in three FA Cup matches this season, was not even in the match day squad for yesterday’s decider, a decision which irked his girlfriend Monroe.
“How on earth do you make the decision to leave your top goal scorer out of the squad for a final?” posted Monroe on her IG stories, before later deleting the message,” she said in a Instagram post she later deleted.
Continued the post: “The same person who even scored the goals to actually qualify for this competition? It’s not making any sense whatsoever.”
Continued the post: “Not even the bench?! This has to be a joke.”- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
BY A CORRESPONDENT| Harare land developer George Katsimberis has approached the Constitutional Court seeking relief over the refusal by the National Prosecuting Authority and Attorney General’s office to act on a potential breach of his rights to protection of the law.
Katsimberis reported his former business partner Kenneth Raydon Sharpe and his associates as well as City of Harare officials for malicious damage to property and perjury in a case which is still before the courts.
However Sharpe went and reported Katsimberis for fraud on the same set of facts which according to his Constitutional Court application is in breach of rights to protection by the law.
In his Constitutional Court application filed by firebrand lawyer Tendai Biti, Katsimberis said he entered into an agreement with a company known as Pokugara Properties represented by Sharpe where they intended to develop Pokugara Estate along Borrowdale road into high class residential settlements.
“Pursuant to this, I proceeded to attend to the servicing of the land, the procurement of architectural plans and the construction of a luxurious show house at the stand.
“It is this showroom that I am alleged to have constructed without architectural plans in terms of the charge against me,” he said.
Katsimberis added that he invested in excess of US$3 Million developing and servicing Pokugara Estate and has since instituted legal proceedings against Sharpe, Pokugara Properties and his associates for damages in the sum of US$20 Million after they unilaterally cancelled the agreement and destroyed the show house without a court order.
“Pursuant to this I commenced legal proceedings in the High Court of Zimbabwe in respect of which I sought an order interdicting Kenneth Raydon Sharpe and his associates from destroying the show house and from ejecting me from the project.
“In response to my court application…Kenneth Raydon Sharpe and his associates made a false allegation in their opposing affidavit that I had constructed the show house with valid architectural plans approved by the City of Harare and that in any event I has used inferior material in the construction of the show house.
“The allegation by Kenneth Raydon Sharpe and his associates was clearly false and was perjury,” said Katsimberis.
He further submitted to the Constitutional Court that he has since reported Sharpe’s associates including Michael John Van Blerk, the then City of Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango and others to the Zimbabwe Republic Police for perjury under case number CR2723/08/2019 and CR2722/08/2019, a case now before the Harare Magistrates Court.
Katsimberis said he was shocked to learn that he was being charged with fraud for misrepresenting to Pokugara Properties that he had approved architectural plans.
“This on the same set of facts, I now find myself in a position where I am a complainant on one hand and a witness in the case against Michael John Van Blerk.
“How does an individual become a witness and an accused person on the same set of facts?
“The above constitutes an infringement on my right to equal protection and benefit of the law as defined by Section 56 (1) of the Constitution as well as my right to a fair trial codified and protected by Section 69 (1) of the constitution of Zimbabwe,” further argued Katsimberis.
STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS BY JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS MINISTER HON. ZIYAMBI
ON 15 May 2021, the High Court of Zimbabwe in the urgent applications of Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe and Musa Kika issued an order to the effect of which was to inter alia confirm that the term of office of Honourable Justice Luke Malaba had expired and he had ceased to be the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe after attaining the age of 70 years.
In a statement issued on the same day, Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs although professing to respect the above decision proceeded to criticise and demean both the decision and the Honourable Judge, who on behalf of the High Court delivered the judgment.
The criticism is in our view intemperate, less than measured and not befitting of an Honourable Minister of the Government of Zimbabwe.
It also contained threats to judicial independence which are unacceptable in a democratic nation and are inconsistent with the doctrine of the separation of powers as enshrined in our Constitution.
We are further concerned and disturbed by the patently false narrative in the statement that Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), is using money to capture various state institutions and to destabilise the Government of Zimbabwe.
There is not an iota of truth in these reckless and defamatory allegations. The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs knows this only too well.
ZLHR is a law-based organisation of law-abiding legal practitioners whose sole objective is to promote and support observance of the rule of law and the promotion of constitutionalism.
In our efforts we have collaborated with both civil society and various arms of the Government of Zimbabwe; the Minster of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will attest to this. We have litigated extensively in order to defend the indigent and defenceless and to uphold the rule of law. In this respect, our work speaks for itself. We take strong exception to the false and defamatory statements of and about ZLHR and our rights in this respect are fully reserved.
While we do not wish to comment on a matter which may very well be the subject of an appeal we point out that in our law a litigant who is unhappy with a court decision has the option of an appeal, where this is available and is not entitled to demean the court that handed down the decision or threaten unlawful action against the successful litigant or vent their anger on third parties, regardless of how disappointed they may be with the outcome.
The statement by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs does enormous disservice to Zimbabwe and its citizens and sends the wrong message to all those who cherish justice and the rule of law.
It is our hope that on reflection, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will withdraw these gratuitously offensive, defamatory and false claims against ZLHR and his contemptuous utterances against the judiciary as they are unwarranted and harmful to the interests of Zimbabwe.
By Arts Correspondent| A Zimbabwean student who is studying in Vietnam is making waves in the Asian country with his latest offering.
The Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry ,Masters in Environmental Sciences student Joseph Dewa told ZimEye that he was elated that his upcoming 4th album ‘ Title Out of Africa’ has already been well received by his Vietnamese peers at the campus.
“I have been doing music ever since when I was in Zimbabwe where I did 3 albums .Being a student now in a foreign country I was skeptical that I would strike the right chord but the judging from how my 4th album has been received here at the school campus ,its destined to make waves,”said Dewa who hails from Mupandawana,Gutu.
The album is yet to be officially launched and follows Poshi which was released in 2012,Kure Kwazvakabva (2017) and Tichaona Tasvika(2019).
The 31-year-old musician says his music is Afrojazz which is fused with Rhumba and Passada elements.
“I would like to call my type of music Afrojazz fused with Rhumba and Passada”,said the former Tirizi Primary and Secondary School Student.
Having grown up as an orphan , the musician’s messages are social commentary issues premised on his life experiences and the happenings in the rural community which he lived.
“My music is inspired by my upbringing and also evolves on societal ills like domestic violence
“Through my music I also want to encourage those from humble beginnings that you can shine as long as you are focused.I started as a librarian at the Catholic University and now I am the first Zimbabwean student to pursue this program I am doing,”quipped Dewa.
The affable artiste draws his influence from music greats like Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour, Ringo Madhlingozi, Kassav and the late Jabu Khanyile.
STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS BY JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS MINISTER HON. ZIYAMBI
ON 15 May 2021, the High Court of Zimbabwe in the urgent applications of Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe and Musa Kika issued an order to the effect of which was to inter alia confirm that the term of office of Honourable Justice Luke Malaba had expired and he had ceased to be the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe after attaining the age of 70 years.
In a statement issued on the same day, Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs although professing to respect the above decision proceeded to criticise and demean both the decision and the Honourable Judge, who on behalf of the High Court delivered the judgment.
The criticism is in our view intemperate, less than measured and not befitting of an Honourable Minister of the Government of Zimbabwe.
It also contained threats to judicial independence which are unacceptable in a democratic nation and are inconsistent with the doctrine of the separation of powers as enshrined in our Constitution.
We are further concerned and disturbed by the patently false narrative in the statement that Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), is using money to capture various state institutions and to destabilise the Government of Zimbabwe.
There is not an iota of truth in these reckless and defamatory allegations. The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs knows this only too well.
ZLHR is a law-based organisation of law-abiding legal practitioners whose sole objective is to promote and support observance of the rule of law and the promotion of constitutionalism.
In our efforts we have collaborated with both civil society and various arms of the Government of Zimbabwe; the Minster of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will attest to this. We have litigated extensively in order to defend the indigent and defenceless and to uphold the rule of law. In this respect, our work speaks for itself. We take strong exception to the false and defamatory statements of and about ZLHR and our rights in this respect are fully reserved.
While we do not wish to comment on a matter which may very well be the subject of an appeal we point out that in our law a litigant who is unhappy with a court decision has the option of an appeal, where this is available and is not entitled to demean the court that handed down the decision or threaten unlawful action against the successful litigant or vent their anger on third parties, regardless of how disappointed they may be with the outcome.
The statement by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs does enormous disservice to Zimbabwe and its citizens and sends the wrong message to all those who cherish justice and the rule of law.
It is our hope that on reflection, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will withdraw these gratuitously offensive, defamatory and false claims against ZLHR and his contemptuous utterances against the judiciary as they are unwarranted and harmful to the interests of Zimbabwe.
CAPS United have signed ex-Dynamos keeper Simbarashe Chinani, coach Darlington Dodo has confirmed.
Chinani has joined the club as a free agent after Dynamos refused to give him a new contract. This came after he had a fallout with the DeMbare executive, who accused him of sabotage, along with assistant coach Gift Muzadzi. The goalie was then told to find a new club before he could renew his deal.
Chinani underwent assessment at Makepekepe for two weeks and was signed together with veteran striker Allen Tavarwisa who was with Triangle United last year.
Coach Dodo confirmed the news to H-Metro, saying: “I can confirm that we have completed those two crucial signings to add balance on the team.
“Those who love football are fully aware of the value which these to will add”- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
West Bromwich coach Sam Allardyce has hit out at his Liverpool counterpart, Jurgen Klopp, describing him as someone who thinks he knows everything.
The two coaches clashed after their teams met on Sunday at The Hawthorns with the Reds emerging 2-1 winners after goalkeeper Alisson Becker scored a last-minute header to secure the victory.
However, Klopp suggested his side had a number of calls going against them during the first half.
He said: “I didn’t feel for a second as though anything was going in our direction.
“I saw one team playing football all the time, and one team getting free kicks so when we got one free kick which maybe wasn’t right, I’m absolutely fine with that.”
But Allardyce sarcastically responded: “Old Jurgen is always right, isn’t he?
“You know old Jurgen, he’s always right isn’t he? He always thinks he’s right. Perhaps I do the same, perhaps I think I’m right. He’s a lucky man tonight and he knows it.”
West Bromwich’s Kyle Bartley had his goal controversially ruled out after VAR intervention while earlier on in the build up to Mohamed Salah’s goal, referee Mike Dean had awarded the Reds a free kick after he himself collided with Fabinho.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham’s girlfriend Leah Monroe, has slammed manager Thomas Tuchel after The Blues’ 0-1 FA Cup final defeat to Leicester City at Wembley, describing the German’s team selection as a joke.
Yourie Tielesmans’ brilliant solitary strike subjected Chelsea to their consecutive FA Cup final defeat and their third in the last five years.
Abraham, who has four goals to his name in three FA Cup matches this season, was not even in the match day squad for yesterday’s decider, a decision which irked his girlfriend Monroe.
“How on earth do you make the decision to leave your top goal scorer out of the squad for a final?” posted Monroe on her IG stories, before later deleting the message,” she said in a Instagram post she later deleted.
Continued the post: “The same person who even scored the goals to actually qualify for this competition? It’s not making any sense whatsoever.”
Continued the post: “Not even the bench?! This has to be a joke.”- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|Prominent lawyer Advocate Eric Matinenga’s son Takudzwa died in a horrific road accident at the weekend.
Advocate Matinenga rose to prominence when he successfully defended Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai during his treason trial in 2005.
In a statement, President Chamisa described Takudzwa as a budding professional.
“With heartache and sadness,I note the passing on of young Takudzwa Matinenga who died in a horrific traffic accident.
My sincere condolences to Advocate Matinenga,Amai & family. Taku was an energetic,loving and brilliant budding professional whose future was so promising. RIP,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi also described Takudzwa’s death as devastating.
“Yesterday, we woke up to the sad news that Takudzwa Matinenga had passed on. We’ve been robbed of a gifted chef, a talented actor & a young person who had so much creative genius to offer.
Deepest condolences to my friend & colleague, Adv Eric Matinenga & his wife, Mrs Miriam Matinenga.”
Countries around the world are rolling out COVID-19 vaccines, and a key topic of interest is their safety. Vaccine safety is one of WHO’s highest priorities, and we’re working closely with national authorities to develop and implement standards to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
Ensuring safety
Millions of people have safely received COVID-19 vaccines. All of the approved COVID-19 vaccines have been carefully tested and continue to be monitored.
Like all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines go through a rigorous, multi-stage testing process, including large clinical trials that involve tens of thousands of people. These trials are specifically designed to identify any safety concerns
An external panel of experts convened by WHO analyses the results from clinical trials and recommends whether and how the vaccines should be used. Officials in individual countries decide whether to approve the vaccines for national use and develop policies for how to use the vaccines based on WHO recommendations.
After a COVID-19 vaccine is introduced, WHO supports work with vaccine manufacturers, health officials in each country and other partners to monitor for any safety concerns on an ongoing basis.
New vaccine technology Some COVID-19 vaccines have been developed with an approach that uses messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA vaccine technology has been studied for over a decade, including in the development of vaccines for Zika, rabies and influenza.
These mRNA vaccines have been rigorously assessed for safety, and clinical trials have shown that they provide a long-lasting immune response. mRNA vaccines are not live virus vaccines and do not interfere with human DNA. For more information on mRNA vaccines, see WHO’s explainer on the different types of COVID-19 vaccines.
Safety of COVID-19 vaccines for different groups
COVID-19 vaccines have been tested in large, randomized controlled trials that include people of a broad age range, both sexes, different ethnicities, and those with known medical conditions. The vaccines have shown a high level of efficacy across all populations. Vaccines have been found to be safe and effective in people with various underlying medical conditions that are associated with increased risk of severe disease. These include high blood pressure; diabetes; asthma; pulmonary, liver or kidney disease; and chronic infections that are stable and controlled.
Those who should consult with a doctor before vaccination include people with a compromised immune system, older people with severe frailty, people with a history of severe allergic reaction to vaccines, people living with HIV, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Pregnancy
While pregnancy brings a higher risk of severe COVID-19, at present, very little data is available to assess vaccine safety in pregnancy. However, people at high risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus (such as health workers), or who have a history of underlying medical conditions that increase their risk of severe disease, may be vaccinated during pregnancy after consultation with their health care provider. There is no evidence that suggests vaccination would cause harm during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
The vaccine can be offered to those who are breastfeeding if they are part of a group recommended for vaccination (health workers, for example).
Safety of COVID-19 vaccines for children COVID-19 vaccine trials for children are currently under way, and when results become available, WHO will provide updated guidance for vaccination in children. Vaccine trials targeting adults were prioritized because COVID-19 has proven to be a more serious and dangerous disease among older populations.
Following proven health measures is still the best way to keep everyone, including children, safe from COVID-19. This includes keeping hands clean, practising sneezing and coughing into bent elbows, opening windows, wearing a mask if age-appropriate, and continuing physical distancing…
Source: World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|Human rights have vowed to resist attempts by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi to throttle the judiciary.
In a statement the human rights lawyers urged Ziyambi to withdraw his defamatory remarks :
STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS BY JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS MINISTER HON. ZIYAMBI
ON 15 May 2021, the High Court of Zimbabwe in the urgent applications of Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe and Musa Kika issued an order to the effect of which was to inter alia confirm that the term of office of Honourable Justice Luke Malaba had expired and he had ceased to be the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe after attaining the age of 70 years.
In a statement issued on the same day, Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs although professing to respect the above decision proceeded to criticise and demean both the decision and the Honourable Judge, who on behalf of the High Court delivered the judgment.
The criticism is in our view intemperate, less than measured and not befitting of an Honourable Minister of the Government of Zimbabwe.
It also contained threats to judicial independence which are unacceptable in a democratic nation and are inconsistent with the doctrine of the separation of powers as enshrined in our Constitution.
We are further concerned and disturbed by the patently false narrative in the statement that Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), is using money to capture various state institutions and to destabilise the Government of Zimbabwe.
There is not an iota of truth in these reckless and defamatory allegations. The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs knows this only too well.
ZLHR is a law-based organisation of law-abiding legal practitioners whose sole objective is to promote and support observance of the rule of law and the promotion of constitutionalism.
In our efforts we have collaborated with both civil society and various arms of the Government of Zimbabwe; the Minster of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will attest to this. We have litigated extensively in order to defend the indigent and defenceless and to uphold the rule of law. In this respect, our work speaks for itself. We take strong exception to the false and defamatory statements of and about ZLHR and our rights in this respect are fully reserved.
While we do not wish to comment on a matter which may very well be the subject of an appeal we point out that in our law a litigant who is unhappy with a court decision has the option of an appeal, where this is available and is not entitled to demean the court that handed down the decision or threaten unlawful action against the successful litigant or vent their anger on third parties, regardless of how disappointed they may be with the outcome.
The statement by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs does enormous disservice to Zimbabwe and its citizens and sends the wrong message to all those who cherish justice and the rule of law.
It is our hope that on reflection, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will withdraw these gratuitously offensive, defamatory and false claims against ZLHR and his contemptuous utterances against the judiciary as they are unwarranted and harmful to the interests of Zimbabwe.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance provincial chaplain(Bulawayo), Pastor O. Manduna has implored party members to bury the hatchet and pull in one direction.
See statement below:
Provincial Unity Plea from MDC-Alliance Byo Chaplain.
Calvary & revolutionary greetings MDC-Alliance Byo Province leadership.
I hope, trust & pray I find you all in good spirits. It is my humble request that we exihibit a sense of togetherness, oneness & unity of purpose as we are one family under the banner of our brand, visionary & torch-bearer Advocate Pastor Nelson Chamisa.
I kindly request leaders bury the hatchet in what ever personal or political differences they might have & pull in the same direction as change-enablers.
Our common rival is ZanuPf not a fellow MDC-Alliance member regardless of differences in thinking. Can we find each other for the achievement of set goals & ensure our Joshua takes us to the promised land of honey & milk. United we stand. Our enemies ululate & rejoice in watching us fight.
Tinashe Sambiri|Prominent lawyer Advocate Eric Matinenga’s son Takudzwa died in a horrific road accident at the weekend.
Advocate Matinenga rose to prominence when he successfully defended Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai during his treason trial in 2005.
In a statement, President Chamisa described Takudzwa as a budding professional.
“With heartache and sadness,I note the passing on of young Takudzwa Matinenga who died in a horrific traffic accident.
My sincere condolences to Advocate Matinenga,Amai & family. Taku was an energetic,loving and brilliant budding professional whose future was so promising. RIP,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi also described Takudzwa’s death as devastating.
“Yesterday, we woke up to the sad news that Takudzwa Matinenga had passed on. We’ve been robbed of a gifted chef, a talented actor & a young person who had so much creative genius to offer.
Deepest condolences to my friend & colleague, Adv Eric Matinenga & his wife, Mrs Miriam Matinenga.”
Countries around the world are rolling out COVID-19 vaccines, and a key topic of interest is their safety. Vaccine safety is one of WHO’s highest priorities, and we’re working closely with national authorities to develop and implement standards to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
Ensuring safety
Millions of people have safely received COVID-19 vaccines. All of the approved COVID-19 vaccines have been carefully tested and continue to be monitored.
Like all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines go through a rigorous, multi-stage testing process, including large clinical trials that involve tens of thousands of people. These trials are specifically designed to identify any safety concerns
An external panel of experts convened by WHO analyses the results from clinical trials and recommends whether and how the vaccines should be used. Officials in individual countries decide whether to approve the vaccines for national use and develop policies for how to use the vaccines based on WHO recommendations.
After a COVID-19 vaccine is introduced, WHO supports work with vaccine manufacturers, health officials in each country and other partners to monitor for any safety concerns on an ongoing basis.
New vaccine technology Some COVID-19 vaccines have been developed with an approach that uses messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA vaccine technology has been studied for over a decade, including in the development of vaccines for Zika, rabies and influenza.
These mRNA vaccines have been rigorously assessed for safety, and clinical trials have shown that they provide a long-lasting immune response. mRNA vaccines are not live virus vaccines and do not interfere with human DNA. For more information on mRNA vaccines, see WHO’s explainer on the different types of COVID-19 vaccines.
Safety of COVID-19 vaccines for different groups
COVID-19 vaccines have been tested in large, randomized controlled trials that include people of a broad age range, both sexes, different ethnicities, and those with known medical conditions. The vaccines have shown a high level of efficacy across all populations. Vaccines have been found to be safe and effective in people with various underlying medical conditions that are associated with increased risk of severe disease. These include high blood pressure; diabetes; asthma; pulmonary, liver or kidney disease; and chronic infections that are stable and controlled.
Those who should consult with a doctor before vaccination include people with a compromised immune system, older people with severe frailty, people with a history of severe allergic reaction to vaccines, people living with HIV, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Pregnancy
While pregnancy brings a higher risk of severe COVID-19, at present, very little data is available to assess vaccine safety in pregnancy. However, people at high risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus (such as health workers), or who have a history of underlying medical conditions that increase their risk of severe disease, may be vaccinated during pregnancy after consultation with their health care provider. There is no evidence that suggests vaccination would cause harm during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
The vaccine can be offered to those who are breastfeeding if they are part of a group recommended for vaccination (health workers, for example).
Safety of COVID-19 vaccines for children COVID-19 vaccine trials for children are currently under way, and when results become available, WHO will provide updated guidance for vaccination in children. Vaccine trials targeting adults were prioritized because COVID-19 has proven to be a more serious and dangerous disease among older populations.
Following proven health measures is still the best way to keep everyone, including children, safe from COVID-19. This includes keeping hands clean, practising sneezing and coughing into bent elbows, opening windows, wearing a mask if age-appropriate, and continuing physical distancing…
Source: World Health Organization
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF provincial chairperson, Ezra Chadzamira has threatened to deal with party councillors who are boycotting meetings over failure to get allowances.
Zanu PF councillors in Chiredzi are not attending council meetings citing failure to get sitting allowances.
Chadzamira accused the councillors of failing to abide by Zanu PF principles .
Chadzamira also challenged the councillors to be to be loyal to the party.Chadzamira is also the Minister of State for Masvingo Province.
“I have heard received complaints about your behaviour. You should be loyal to the party. If hear such reports again you will be in trouble,” fumed Chadzamira.
STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS BY JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS MINISTER HON. ZIYAMBI
ON 15 May 2021, the High Court of Zimbabwe in the urgent applications of Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe and Musa Kika issued an order to the effect of which was to inter alia confirm that the term of office of Honourable Justice Luke Malaba had expired and he had ceased to be the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe after attaining the age of 70 years.
In a statement issued on the same day, Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs although professing to respect the above decision proceeded to criticise and demean both the decision and the Honourable Judge, who on behalf of the High Court delivered the judgment.
The criticism is in our view intemperate, less than measured and not befitting of an Honourable Minister of the Government of Zimbabwe.
It also contained threats to judicial independence which are unacceptable in a democratic nation and are inconsistent with the doctrine of the separation of powers as enshrined in our Constitution.
We are further concerned and disturbed by the patently false narrative in the statement that Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), is using money to capture various state institutions and to destabilise the Government of Zimbabwe.
There is not an iota of truth in these reckless and defamatory allegations. The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs knows this only too well.
ZLHR is a law-based organisation of law-abiding legal practitioners whose sole objective is to promote and support observance of the rule of law and the promotion of constitutionalism.
In our efforts we have collaborated with both civil society and various arms of the Government of Zimbabwe; the Minster of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will attest to this. We have litigated extensively in order to defend the indigent and defenceless and to uphold the rule of law. In this respect, our work speaks for itself. We take strong exception to the false and defamatory statements of and about ZLHR and our rights in this respect are fully reserved.
While we do not wish to comment on a matter which may very well be the subject of an appeal we point out that in our law a litigant who is unhappy with a court decision has the option of an appeal, where this is available and is not entitled to demean the court that handed down the decision or threaten unlawful action against the successful litigant or vent their anger on third parties, regardless of how disappointed they may be with the outcome.
The statement by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs does enormous disservice to Zimbabwe and its citizens and sends the wrong message to all those who cherish justice and the rule of law.
It is our hope that on reflection, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs will withdraw these gratuitously offensive, defamatory and false claims against ZLHR and his contemptuous utterances against the judiciary as they are unwarranted and harmful to the interests of Zimbabwe.
Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF provincial chairperson, Ezra Chadzamira has threatened to deal with party councillors who are boycotting meetings over failure to get allowances.
Zanu PF councillors in Chiredzi are not attending council meetings citing failure to get sitting allowances.
Chadzamira accused the councillors of failing to abide by Zanu PF principles .
Chadzamira also challenged the councillors to be to be loyal to the party.Chadzamira is also the Minister of State for Masvingo Province.
“I have heard received complaints about your behaviour. You should be loyal to the party. If hear such reports again you will be in trouble,” fumed Chadzamira.
Provincial Unity Plea from MDC-Alliance Byo Chaplain.
Calvary & revolutionary greetings MDC-Alliance Byo Province leadership.
I hope, trust & pray I find you all in good spirits. It is my humble request that we exihibit a sense of togetherness, oneness & unity of purpose as we are one family under the banner of our brand, visionary & torch-bearer Advocate Pastor Nelson Chamisa.
I kindly request leaders bury the hatchet in what ever personal or political differences they might have & pull in the same direction as change-enablers.
Our common rival is ZanuPf not a fellow MDC-Alliance member regardless of differences in thinking. Can we find each other for the achievement of set goals & ensure our Joshua takes us to the promised land of honey & milk. United we stand. Our enemies ululate & rejoice in watching us fight.
The recent appointment of controversial Delish Nguwaya at AAG is a very sad development in the history of fighting corruption. Even those who thought President Emmerson Mnangagwa was serious in fighting graft are burying their heads in sand.
By Leonard Koni- It looks like the Affirmative Action Group is a recently overhauled machine to fund, sponsor and oil the 2023 harmonised election. It is a vital cog meant to drive the mission of Zanu PF not the whole country.
The controversy is beyond imagination. Last year after being arrested for corruption charges involving Covid19 US$60 million PPE supply scandal, Nguwaya has miraculously landed a top post and escaping a jail term by a whisker.
One who has been implicated in a corrupt procurement is appointed an adviser.These are the type of people who are being elevated by this regime.
All the efforts of fighting corruption in the country are being thwarted and flashed in the drain by this kind of double standards behaviour of this new dispensation which rewards people of dubious and crooked character.
The captured courts have failed to prove the gross abuse of Covid19 funds by Drax International.
On another disappointing development Henrietta Rushwaya who was arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport last year in October with six kilograms of gold worth $US 400 000 which she wanted to smuggle to Dubai was caught red handed but instead of facing a jail term, she also managed to retain her post as the President of Zimbabwe Miners Federation. Henrietta Rushwaya had no supporting documents that allowed her to export gold.
Rushwaya is connected to Zanu PF and a very powerful cartel. They preach of shunning corruption during the day but embrace it during the day.
To add insult to an injury, we recently witnessed Minister of Home Affairs Kazembe Kazembe joining a queue at Harare passport offices to effect a citizen arrest of a man who was believed to be asking for bribes to jump a queue.
The man was attested and the story was quickly published in the state controlled mouthpiece saying they were fighting corruption and leaving organised looters plundering the country’s resources and smuggling our natural resources through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. Its unfortunate that the airport has become a sophisticated hub of smuggling precious minerals.
Another arrest of Tashinga Masinire who was nabbed by Hawks at OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa over smuggled contraband of 23 pieces of gold worth US$ 800 000 shows how corruption is being oiled by state agents. Masinire did not have any permit to possess such gold. He was former Zimbabwe Miners Federation President Henrieta Rushwaya’s driver. The corruption is well encrypted.
Ironically the CCTV cameras used to record Joana Mamombe and her colleagues were functioning very well and the clip was broadcasted on national TV for everyone to see but the same cameras were switched off during the time Henrietta Rushwaya and Tashinga Masinire were about to smuggle gold out the country.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has announced a planned interruption of the electricity vending system meant to give way for routine maintenance.
We present below the statement by the local power utility’s subsidiary, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company which is responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity from the power stations, as well as its retailing to end-users._
Interruption of the Electricity Vending System_
_The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) would like to advise its valued customers that there will be interruption of the Prepaid Electricity Vending system on Thursday, 20 May 2021 at 1030pm to Friday, 21 May 2021 at 0600hrs to facilitate routine maintenance of the system to ensure continued efficient service delivery._
_Customers on the prepaid channel are urged to ensure that they purchase enough power to avoid running out of credit during the maintenance period._
_The inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted._
By A Correspondent- Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe deputy governor Kuphukile Mlambo has called on the country to sort out its political problems, which he said played an important role in informing investment decisions.
Mlambo said this last Wednesday in Bulawayo during a lecture organised by the Women’s Institute for Leadership Development and the Lupane State University under the theme Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Zimbabwe.
“Political risks send a negative signal to potential investors into the country and discourage foreign direct investment (FDI),” Mlambo said.
“Low and stable inflation, exchange rate stability, sustained fiscal reforms and reduced debt overhang are characteristics of countries that have attracted significant FDI inflows and greater macroeconomic stability,” he said.
Mlambo said on a good note, inflation had significantly fallen from a peak level of 837,5% in July 2020 to 194% in April 2021, and was expected to fall below 55% by July 2021.
He said in order to improve the investment climate; Zimbabwe needed to further improve its ease of doing business and re-engagement with the international community.
In a dramatic turn of events, police officers from Eastern Cape fled and scurried for cover after a man threw boiling water at them in an attempt to evade arrest.
Zolani Xego, a former branch chairperson for the ANC in the Buffalo City Metro allegedly locked himself in the house and threw boiling water at the officers who had come to arrest him on Friday morning.
Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani confirmed the development to DailySun.
He said on the day of the incident, Xego was notified to report to the clerk of court at East London Magistrate Court by 10 May to begin serving an eight-year prison sentence. But he did not do so, prompting them to issue a warrant for his arrest.
Ngcakani revealed to the publication that Xego was sentenced by the court to 15 years’ imprisonment for faking his own death to claim a R3.6 million life policy in January 2015.
He said, in October 2018, the Grahamstown High Court dismissed Xego’s appeal to have his conviction and sentence overturned. It instead reduced his 15-year jail sentence to eight years.
He was granted R5 000 bail after he indicated he would submit a petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal, which he never did.
When the police arrived at his home in Southernwood, East London, around 7 am, Xego refused them entry. He allegedly threw boiling water at them when they eventually gained entry.
After the incident he ventually handed himself over to the police when his lawyer arrived at his home.
By A Correspondent- Bhekusizi Khulekani Moyo whose name literally means face the grief seems to be certainly facing trouble in his marriage because his wife Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya locks their children in the house and goes to sleep at her secret lover’s place.
Moyo and Ngwenya have been married for seven years and their marriage had been a sweet union until it took a sudden U-turn when Moyo discovered last month that his wife was in a secret sexual affair with another man.
When Moyo goes on night shift his wife would lock the children inside the house and go to sleep at her boyfriend’s place. Even during daytime Ngwenya would lock the children in the house and go to her lover.
Moyo received a tip-off from a neighbour who informed him about the doings of his wife.
Sometime in March, Moyo left for work and returned at around 10pm and got the shock of his life to find his children alone locked inside the house.
Ngwenya returned the following day in the morning. When her husband questioned her on why she left the children alone she fumed and hurled insults at him.
Moyo tried to sit her down but his efforts were in vain.
He then chucked her out of their matrimonial house, but she keeps coming back. Moyo had to apply for a protection order.
“I’m applying for a protection order against my wife Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya. We have been married for seven years. Our marriage was a blissful affair until my wife started cheating on me as she fell in love with another man and she would lock the children in the house and go to sleep at her lover’s place. A month ago I received a tip-off that she leaves our children alone during the night while I would be at work and I had to return from work during the night and found the children alone,” he said.
He added: “I have tried to reason with her, but she becomes violent and insults me saying I’m a useless man who is failing to adequately fend for the children. I therefore apply for a protection order against her and I no longer want her at our home.”
Ngwenya said: “Each time he came drunk he would beat me and that is why from time to time I would desert to seek refuge at my parent’s place because I wanted to avoid suffering from depression.”
The presiding magistrate Jeconia Prince Ncube granted both parties a reciprocal protection order which compels Moyo and Ngwenya to live in harmony with each other. Ngwenya was ordered to refrain from insulting her husband and never to leave their children alone. Moyo was ordered to stop beating his wife.
Former Mines and Mining Development Minister, Walter Chidhakwa has called on Chief Zvimba to stop meddling in the alleged exhumation agenda of the remains of former President Robert Mugabe.
Chidhakwa who is related to the Mugabe family said Chief Zvimba and the plaintiff, Tinos Manongovere’s actions were driven by greed for money.
Chidhakwa said:
_The chief has lost respect by allowing himself to be dragged into this shameful drama because of the love of money._
_Where does the plaintiff fit in all this? Manongovere is a distant relative of the Mugabe family, as he doesn’t hail from the Chidziva chieftainship where Mugabe hails from._
_If it’s money he wants, he must work and get it instead of getting money by selling the body of the dead. We know who is behind this, Tinos is just a tool to get to Mugabe’s grave which we won’t allow by all means._
_If there is something which was not done right why not summon us? Mai Mugabe (Grace) is just a daughter-in-law in the Gushungo clan. She does not have any say in making decisions on behalf of our family._
_Moreover, the only people who can decide on Mugabe’s remains whether to exhume or not are his biological children, Bellarmine, Bona and Robert Junior and no one else._
_Where was this Tinos when Mugabe was buried and why didn’t he stop the burial then? There was ample time to make the right decisions before we buried him and why didn’t he speak out then?_
Chidakwa said he personally told President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Mugabe’s wish to be buried at his rural home and not at the National Heroes Acre as the State had wished.
Manongovere, who is a cousin to the late former president confirmed approaching the courts but denied being persuaded by anyone to initiate the legal proceedings.
By A Correspondent- A cheating married man met his untimely and ignominious end after he died at his small house’s home in a heated row over who should spend the night with her. The incident happened in Harare’s Stoneridge Park surbub on Saturday.
The deceased man has been identified as 37-year-old Bernard Chiwanza.
Chiwanza paid a surprise visit to his small house, Petronella Makuvatsine, 30, on Saturday only to be told to go away because his lover was entertaining someone else.
This did not go down well with Chiwanza, who then tried to force the door open. Petronella’s co-tenant Maxwell Tapera tried to reason with Chiwanza advising him to leave.
However, Chiwanza was adamant. While trying to force his way through, he pushed the door and it hit Tapera who furiously lashed out. Tapera grabbed an iron bar and hit Chiwanza on the head. Unfortunately, Chiwanza died on the spot after the blow to the head.
Tapera has since been arrested and is currently detained at Mbare Police Station.
When reached for comment, Petronella unashamedly said that she had moved on with another married man, after Chiwanza treated her badly and failed to provide for her.
“I have been seeing Chiwanza for the past four years that at one time I eloped to his family house after falling pregnant.
“I spent a week sleeping outside his family house’s yard and I want to believe that it affected the baby and upon giving birth the baby later passed on.”
She said that she later returned to her own home after Chiwanza abandoned her and went to stay in the rural areas until he heard that she had left. Petronella said that after he stopped taking care of her needs, she accepted another lover, who is also married.
“He lost affection for me and stopped paying my rentals leading me to accept love to a new married lover who is now looking after me.”
Regarding Chiwanza’s death, Petronella said that her former lover only came to her house because he had learned that someone else was now in her life.
“Chiwanza came to my house without notice after he heard that someone was paying for my rentals that is why I refused to open the door for him leading to this mishap.
“Tapera akuvharirwa achisiya mukadzi nemwana mucheche iyewo Chiwanza asiya mhuri yake nekuda kwekuramba kurambwa.”
Chiwanza’s family said they were shocked to learn that he had died at his small house’s home because they thought the two had ended the affair.
“We were aware of the lover because his wife once clashed with her but we were not aware that he was still in touch and this has affected the family.
Chiwanza will be buried in Mutoko if all goes as planned.
A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for raping his 12-year-old girlfriend.
Tinomudaishe Macheza from Mawabeni area pleaded not guilty to rape when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate, Mrs Sibonginkosi Mkandla but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence. He was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment and three years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
In passing sentence, Mrs Mkandla said when Macheza committed the offence the complainant was underage and therefore had not reached the age of consent as stated by the law.
In his defence Macheza said he did not rape the complainant as she had consented to having sexual intercourse with him because she was his girlfriend.
Prosecuting, Mr Johannes Tlou said Macheza who is a herdsman at Stanton Farm raped the juvenile who cannot be named for ethical reasons sometime in January.
“Sometime in the month of January Macheza met the complainant at Stanton Farm where her father works. He proposed love to the complainant who accepted the proposal. On 29 January at around 9AM Macheza went to the complainant’s home and asked her to accompany him to his home.
“Macheza requested to have sexual intercourse with the complainant who agreed. He took her into his bedroom and had sexual intercourse with her. The matter came to light on the following day when the complainant’s mother noticed that her daughter wasn’t feeling well as she was experiencing stomach pains, back ache and was bleeding from her private parts,” he said.
Mr Tlou said the complainant’s mother questioned her daughter who revealed that she had sexual intercourse with Macheza. The matter was reported to the police resulting in Macheza’s arrest.
By A Correspondent | The Norton MP Temba Mliswa has announced saying Zimbabwe is facing many challenges because it is missing the late President Robert Mugabe’s sceptre.
Mliswa spoke at a time when a man sued Mugabe’s widow Grace Mugabe over his corpse as the court applicant demanded that he be reburied. It is understood that the applicant just wants to open the coffin and take away Mugabe’s staff.
The Mugabe family buried the late president at their rural home where it was subsequently compressed with hard concrete and a tamper proof seal.
Writing early Monday morning, Mliswa who has a long reputation for defending Mnangagwa since the days when the ZANU PF leader was dejected, said in full:
“In our culture the issue of tsvimbo& handing it down is very important. Much as there’s a lot of westernisation, our country is still very spiritual.
“So for as long as Spirit Mediums aren’t happy, as a country we’ll not get where we want to be. They feel they’ve been neglected.
“Spirit Mediums played a major role in the liberation of this country and yet lack the requisite recognition. We acknowledge the church during National prayer days, and thank them for occurrences like good rains, but not “masvikiro”, when will they too be thanked?
“As the 1st born boy in our family, when our father passed on, ndakapiwa tsvimbo; it’s an important aspect of our culture that can’t be ignored. .
“So if a father passes on and leaves their son tsvimbo, what’s more a country when a leader dies? Surely he should pass one on too?
“If we’re saying as a leader, tsvimbo hapana, then there’s something lacking and hence many of the challenges being faced today.”
By A Correspondent- Government has urged mobile operators to provide affordable internet services to schools to enhance access to e-learning.
“Government recently launched the national e-learning strategy for schools to complement traditional forms of learning, to mitigate disruptions to the education sector caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Information and Communication Technology (ICT) minister Jenfan Muswere said in a speech to commemorate World Telecommunications and Information Society Day.
“As we move along with implementation of the e-learning programme, we have noted that a number of schools are finding it difficult to fund their respective e-learning programmes on account of the unaffordable internet bandwidth.”
Muswere said a number of schools, mostly in the rural areas, were failing to fund e-learning programmes because internet services were unaffordable.
“I call upon the network service providers to look for a sustainable solution to the affordability challenge bedevilling our schools, in particular rural schools,” he said, adding that COVID-19 restrictions had resulted in a surge in the use of the internet among citizens due to the growing need for provision of services online.
However, Muswere said some schools with connectivity were not utilising the services because they could not afford internet costs.
The minister commended the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) for enhancing access to elearning to learners through providing internet data for 400 schools across the country in a programme which runs from May to December 2021.
Potraz is also providing computers to schools throughout the country to assist pupils in underprivileged communities to access education online.
“As evidenced in the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of ICTs in all aspects of life as they have kept societies and economies functional and to some extent sustainable.
“This has, however, resulted in an unparalleled surge in the use of the internet in providing e-services, which include learning, shopping, worshipping and acquiring health services, among others,” Muswere said.
By A Correspondent- In a disturbing case, a group of five armed thugs robbed and raped three sisters in Bulawayo after tying up their brother.
The thugs who are yet to be identified pounced on the hapless family in Bulawayo’s Rangemore suburb last Wednesday.
The five bandits who were armed with a small axe and three knives entered the house through a door that was unlocked and caught the victims who were watching television unawares.
They targeted the male victim first. They searched him and robbed him of three mobile phones before tying him up using shoelaces. They then tied up the three women’s hands and feet using more shoelaces.
During this process, they searched the women and robbed one of them of US$10.
Unsatisfied with merely robbing and inflicting terror on the victims, the thugs then untied the three women and took them to the kitchen, where they gang-raped them without using any protection.
After the brutal violation of the sisters, the gang then stole some clothes which were in one of the bedrooms before vanishing into the night.
The horrific incident was confirmed by Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele.
She said:
“The four complainants are two female adults aged 21 and 19, a female juvenile aged 15 and a male aged 28, all of Upper Rangemore in Bulawayo. The accused persons are five unknown male adults.”
“…the accused persons tied all the complainants’ hands and feet using shoelaces. They searched the first female complainant and took US$10. They untied the three females and force-marched them to the kitchen where they took turns to rape them without protection.”
The women were referred to Mpilo Central Hospital for tests and treatment after they reported their ordeal to the police the following day.
Assistant Inspector Msebele also warned residents to be cautious and to make sure that their doors and gates are secured at night.
Emmerson Mnangagwa sternly looking into his late former Boss’ coffin
– “Spirit Mediums aren’t happy, as a country we’ll not get where we want to be…
– “If we’re saying as a leader, tsvimbo hapana, then there’s something lacking and hence many of the challenges being faced today… “
By A Correspondent | The Norton MP Temba Mliswa has announced saying Zimbabwe is facing many challenges because it is missing the late President Robert Mugabe’s sceptre.
Mliswa spoke at a time when a man sued Mugabe’s widow Grace Mugabe over his corpse as the court applicant demanded that he be reburied. It is understood that the applicant just wants to open the coffin and take away Mugabe’s staff.
The Mugabe family buried the late president at their rural home where it was subsequently compressed with hard concrete and a tamper proof seal.
Writing early Monday morning, Mliswa who has a long reputation for defending Mnangagwa since the days when the ZANU PF leader was dejected, said in full:
“In our culture the issue of tsvimbo& handing it down is very important. Much as there’s a lot of westernisation, our country is still very spiritual.
“So for as long as Spirit Mediums aren’t happy, as a country we’ll not get where we want to be. They feel they’ve been neglected.
“Spirit Mediums played a major role in the liberation of this country and yet lack the requisite recognition. We acknowledge the church during National prayer days, and thank them for occurrences like good rains, but not “masvikiro”, when will they too be thanked?
“As the 1st born boy in our family, when our father passed on, ndakapiwa tsvimbo; it’s an important aspect of our culture that can’t be ignored. .
“So if a father passes on and leaves their son tsvimbo, what’s more a country when a leader dies? Surely he should pass one on too?
“If we’re saying as a leader, tsvimbo hapana, then there’s something lacking and hence many of the challenges being faced today.”
By A Correspondent- A gang of robbers wielding machetes and axes is terrorising Bulawayo residents at their homes and shopping centres.
Some of the affected suburbs are Njube, Rangemore and Mabuthweni where women have been raped or others left injured.
Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said police were hunting machete gang members that terrorised residents at Njube and Mabuthweni shopping centres. She said one of the gang members had been arrested after he axed people at a shopping centre last Thursday.
“The police attended the scene and one of the accused Sherpard Nhliziyo was arrested. Four others are still at large. The four accused persons are said to be gold panners who were being sheltered by Nhliziyo at his place of residence. No weapon was recovered and investigations are in progress,” Msebele said.
She said Nhliziyo axed four people at a shopping centre after a woman failed to pay him the US$3 balance that she owed after she bought two cellphones from him for US$14.
All victims sustained severe injuries on their heads and are battling for life at Mpilo and United Bulawayo hospitals.
In an unrelated incident, five robbers armed with axes and machetes pounced on a Rangemore family last week and raped two women and a juvenile before stealing their belongings.
Msebele said the criminals gained entry into the house through an unlocked door and demanded phones and money before raping the women and a juvenile.
“The accused persons are five unknown male adults. On 12 May at around 7pm, the women were in the sitting room watching television when five men armed with machetes, small axes and three knives entered the house through an unlocked door and demanded valuables.
“There were four occupants, two female adults aged 21 and 19, a female juvenile aged 15 and a male adult aged 28 years,” she said.
Msebele said the accused persons tied the complainants’ hands and feet with shoelaces.
“The accused persons untied and force-marched the three female complainants to the kitchen where they took turns to rape them without protection. They got into the spare bedroom, took a blue jersey, a traveller’s bag and left.”
“The three female victims were taken to Mpilo Hospital for medical examination and treatment and the accused are still at large”.
She appealed to everyone with information on their whereabouts to assist the police.
By A Correspondent- There was chaos in Chitungwiza on Friday morning after a jackal was spotted in Seke, Unit A. A team from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) eventually shot the wild animal dead, after they failed to capture the jackal which was hiding under a bed in a house.
The jackal was spotted in the early hours of the morning by residents who were going about their business. The shocked residents attacked the jackal and started throwing stones at it.
While trying to flee from the mob, the jackal went into a nearby house after one of the occupants had left the door open.
The owner of the house in question Alfonce Mutengi then called ZimParks to come deal with the animal.
“The timid animal then sought refuge in one of our rooms after one of our tenants left the door to his bedroom open. It hid under a bed and I went to investigate only to establish it was an unusual animal. It was quite timid obviously because of the noise and the attack it had been subjected to by members of the public,”
Mutengi said that he locked the door of the room to ensure that the animal would not escape before the wildlife officials arrived.
“They asked me to verify if indeed it was a jackal and told them it was. They then advised me to lock the door and wait for them. When they came here they tried to capture it but could not do so because they did not have a cage. One other problem was that they could not open fire given the crowd that had swelled and they decided to call the police so that they could control people while they deal with it,” said Mr Mutengi.
“They then went to get some police officers who managed to contain the crowd while they captured it. They shot it rather than attempting to capture it.”
Many residents of the area expressed shock and concern at the presence of the jackal in the residential area. Residents claimed that the incident was unnatural because the nearest bushy area and habitat for wild animals is more than 5 kilometres away.
The house owner was also concerned about this freak incident. He was spotted administering some traditional concoctions to cleanse his house in order to remove any bad spells associated with the animal.
“I was advised by neighbours that it could be a bad spell and am now using coarse salt and water as part of efforts to cast the bad spell that could be associated with the jackal,” he said
By A Correspondent | The Norton MP Temba Mliswa has announced saying Zimbabwe is facing many challenges because it is missing the late President Robert Mugabe’s sceptre.
Mliswa spoke at a time when a man sued Mugabe’s widow Grace Mugabe over his corpse as the court applicant demanded that he be reburied. It is understood that the applicant just wants to open the coffin and take away Mugabe’s staff.
The Mugabe family buried the late president at their rural home where it was subsequently compressed with hard concrete and a tamper proof seal.
Writing early Monday morning, Mliswa who has a long reputation for defending Mnangagwa since the days when the ZANU PF leader was dejected, said in full:
“In our culture the issue of tsvimbo& handing it down is very important. Much as there’s a lot of westernisation, our country is still very spiritual.
“So for as long as Spirit Mediums aren’t happy, as a country we’ll not get where we want to be. They feel they’ve been neglected.
“Spirit Mediums played a major role in the liberation of this country and yet lack the requisite recognition. We acknowledge the church during National prayer days, and thank them for occurrences like good rains, but not “masvikiro”, when will they too be thanked?
“As the 1st born boy in our family, when our father passed on, ndakapiwa tsvimbo; it’s an important aspect of our culture that can’t be ignored. .
“So if a father passes on and leaves their son tsvimbo, what’s more a country when a leader dies? Surely he should pass one on too?
“If we’re saying as a leader, tsvimbo hapana, then there’s something lacking and hence many of the challenges being faced today.”
An earthquake was felt in Chipinge, Chimanimani and surrounding areas today 16 May 2021 at 0545hrs local time.
Preliminary location shows that the earthquake occurred at Latitude -19.729S and Longitude 33.060E and the magnitude was determined to be 3.9.
The epicentre is in Mozambique but it was widely felt in Chikore, Mt Selinda and the surrounding areas.
The Zimbabwe-Mozambique eastern border area shows high earthquake activity.
Most of the earthquakes that occur in this region are due to natural plate tectonics and this is attributed to the East African Rift System (EARS) which extends into Mozambique.
Manicaland is a seismically active region, evidenced by the many moderate to large earthquakes occurring each year.
Bulawayo City Council has been petitioned by more than 600 elderly residents of Pelandaba suburb over rentals which they say are unaffordable.
Earlier this year BCC hiked rates by 400%, prompting an outcry from residents.
In a petition last week, Pelandaba residents said the increase was “selfish”.
“We call upon BCC to suspend the 400% rates increase introduced in the month of January. We felt that this increment did not take into consideration the devastating effects of COVID-19 which has left a number of people without salaries, let alone without employment,” the residents said.
“The increment selfishly overlooked the elderly pensioners whose monthly allowance is way below what BCC is asking for as average monthly rate payment. We plead with the council to listen to residents’ plight before any increment.”
Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson Winos Dube said they received the petition from the residents and sent it to the town clerk Christopher Dube.
“We received a petition from Pelandaba residents and the majority of those residents are pensioners and the elderly. They cannot pay the amount required by the council which has been worsened by the pandemic,” Dube said.
“Many people lost their jobs in this pandemic, hence they are calling on the council to revisit its rates. Truth be told, many of the residents are failing to pay these rates. These elders, who are pensioners have been complaining because their pension payouts do not match BCC rates.”
Dube said the local authority should take into consideration the financial challenges faced by residents.
“We sent the petition to the office of the town clerk and our hope is that they will intervene in this issue. So far we have received from Phelandaba, but there are many other residents from other areas who are also complaining over the same issue,” Dube said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Bulawayo town clerk were fruitless as he was not picking up calls.
By A Correspondent- The Zanu-PF party in Mashonaland East is already preparing for by-elections to replace recalled MDC-Alliance MPs and councillors and is inviting curriculum vitaes from its members eyeing to contest primary elections ahead of the by elections.
A number of wards especially in Goromonzi and Marondera were left vacant following the recall of MDC Alliance councillors by the Douglas Mwonzora -led MDC T. The province also has three vacant Parliamentary positions namely Marondera Central, Marondera East and Murewa South.
Murewa South was left vacant following the death of former transport minister Joel Matiza while Marondera East lost its legislator Patrick Chidhakwa last year who succumbed to a heart problem in South Africa.
Marondera Central seat was left vacant following the recalling of the Nelson Chamisa-alligned MDC Alliance MP Caston Matewu. A top provincial official, who refused to be named, told NewsDay that Zanu-PF will start accepting CVs next week from those interested in contesting in the primary elections.
“The word is that CVs will be accepted from Saturday going forward. The date for the primary elections will be set next week but for now those who are interested are to submit their CVs this coming weekend,” said the official.
Acting provincial chairperson Michael Madanha yeterday said he would be in a position to comment on the matter next week.
“Currently I am in Murewa monitoring the DCC member’s induction process. On the issue of CVs or elections, I will have information on that next week,” Madanha said.
In Murewa South, the battle to succeed Matiza pits businessman Nyasha Masoka against Independent candidate Noah Mangondo in the by-election while in Marondera Central educationist Cleopas Kundiona is set to get a second chance to wrest the seat from the MDC Alliance.
In Marondera East, a total of 10 candidates submitted their CVs for the primary elections.
MDC Alliance vice-president Tendai Biti has rubbished claims by the government that lawyers in the party crafted laws used by western countries to impose sanctions on the country.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba on Friday appeared to be justifying the move by the ruling Zanu-PF to introduce the Patriotic Bill by saying there is need to rein in locals that actively pushed for sanctions.
Charamba said Zimbabwean laws must not protect those that campaigned against the country, but Biti shot back saying Mnangagwa’s spokesperson did not make sense.
“Charamba is one of the people who have overstayed in government and now serves no value. He should retire and go and do farming,” Biti said.
“Which country on earth has its laws written by another country, more so, for America?
“He is disrespecting the US congressmen.
“He thinks America is a banana republic whose laws can be written by a poor country in Southern Africa.”
Critics have described the proposed Patriotic Bill as an attack on Zimbabwe’s democracy.
Charamba said those who cheer foreign interests did not deserve protection from Zimbabwe’s laws.
He charged: “You want the law, the army, the police, the president, the judges to protect you yet you are lobbying against that which makes you Zimbabwean?
“We know ZIDERA [Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act] was crafted here. A cabal of lawyers in the opposition did that.
“They drafted those pieces of those obnoxious regulations, which wreaked havoc in this country by way of social lives, political lives, economic and own integrity as a nation.
“You can’t have a foreign power going against the United Nations framework saying it is time Zimbabwe is punished because your own interests are under threat.
“You are opposing the bill because you want to cheer foreign interests. Who are you protecting? All we are saying is love your people, love your country.”
Meanwhile, former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo told a Southern Africa Political Economy Series Trust-organised webinar on the 2023 elections that the Patriotic Bill was part of a broader strategy to influence the outcome of the polls.
“Everyone must now be a good citizen and the idea of a good citizen is what you find being prescribed in the impending and soon-to-be-gazetted Patriotic Bill,” Moyo said.
Mnangagwa is accused of abusing the law to close down the democratic space and push for a one-party state in Zimbabwe.
By A Correspondent- City Council has been petitioned by more than 600 elderly residents of Pelandaba suburb over rentals which they say are unaffordable.
Earlier this year BCC hiked rates by 400%, prompting an outcry from residents.
In a petition last week, Pelandaba residents said the increase was “selfish”.
“We call upon BCC to suspend the 400% rates increase introduced in the month of January. We felt that this increment did not take into consideration the devastating effects of COVID-19 which has left a number of people without salaries, let alone without employment,” the residents said.
“The increment selfishly overlooked the elderly pensioners whose monthly allowance is way below what BCC is asking for as average monthly rate payment. We plead with the council to listen to residents’ plight before any increment.”
Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson Winos Dube said they received the petition from the residents and sent it to the town clerk Christopher Dube.
“We received a petition from Pelandaba residents and the majority of those residents are pensioners and the elderly. They cannot pay the amount required by the council which has been worsened by the pandemic,” Dube said.
“Many people lost their jobs in this pandemic, hence they are calling on the council to revisit its rates. Truth be told, many of the residents are failing to pay these rates. These elders, who are pensioners have been complaining because their pension payouts do not match BCC rates.”
Dube said the local authority should take into consideration the financial challenges faced by residents.
“We sent the petition to the office of the town clerk and our hope is that they will intervene in this issue. So far we have received from Phelandaba, but there are many other residents from other areas who are also complaining over the same issue,” Dube said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Bulawayo town clerk were fruitless as he was not picking up calls.
By A Correspondent- The Zanu-PF party in Mashonaland East is already preparing for by-elections to replace recalled MDC-Alliance MPs and councillors and is inviting curriculum vitaes from its members eyeing to contest primary elections ahead of the by elections.
A number of wards especially in Goromonzi and Marondera were left vacant following the recall of MDC Alliance councillors by the Douglas Mwonzora -led MDC T. The province also has three vacant Parliamentary positions namely Marondera Central, Marondera East and Murewa South.
Murewa South was left vacant following the death of former transport minister Joel Matiza while Marondera East lost its legislator Patrick Chidhakwa last year who succumbed to a heart problem in South Africa.
Marondera Central seat was left vacant following the recalling of the Nelson Chamisa-alligned MDC Alliance MP Caston Matewu. A top provincial official, who refused to be named, told NewsDay that Zanu-PF will start accepting CVs next week from those interested in contesting in the primary elections.
“The word is that CVs will be accepted from Saturday going forward. The date for the primary elections will be set next week but for now those who are interested are to submit their CVs this coming weekend,” said the official.
Acting provincial chairperson Michael Madanha yeterday said he would be in a position to comment on the matter next week.
“Currently I am in Murewa monitoring the DCC member’s induction process. On the issue of CVs or elections, I will have information on that next week,” Madanha said.
In Murewa South, the battle to succeed Matiza pits businessman Nyasha Masoka against Independent candidate Noah Mangondo in the by-election while in Marondera Central educationist Cleopas Kundiona is set to get a second chance to wrest the seat from the MDC Alliance.
In Marondera East, a total of 10 candidates submitted their CVs for the primary elections.
By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance has said attempts by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi to drag the Nelson Chamisa-led party into the legal proceedings that resulted in the ouster of former Chief Justice Luke Malaba was an act of desperation.
The party remarks after Ziyambi had issued a statement attacking the “captured” judiciary and MDC Alliance, whose members he accused of “being paid monthly allowances for causing turmoil in this country and for being arrested.” Ziyambi had said:
The situation now in this country is that there is a risk of judicial capture where the Judiciary has been captured by certain elements both within and outside Zimbabwe who want to destabilise the second Republic.
We are also aware of certain members of the opposition, the MDC Alliance, who are being paid monthly allowances for causing turmoil in this country and for being arrested.
The time may now have come to expose all these malcontents and economic saboteurs who are not sleeping until they bring down the second Republic.
We are now going to poke the enemy in the eye and confront it….
I want to make it clear today that we do not accept the decision of the High Court. We have a serious situation of a Judiciary that has been captured by foreign forces in this Country.
We are going to exercise our right in terms of the law and file an appeal against this baseless and meaningless decision of the High Court.
In response, MDC Alliance echoed Alex Magaisa’s sentiments that the constitutional crisis that resulted in the ouster of Malaba was due to a lack of interest in doing the right thing by the Ministry led by Ziyambi.
Said the party:
The attempt by Minister Ziyambi to rope the MDC Alliance into its web of illegalities is an act of desperation. The Constitution must be respected. The failure to do so lies squarely at the hands of the Executive which has created this Constitutional crisis. #SaveOurConstitution
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) has launched a “wear my Zinasu T-shirt” campaign in retaliation to the arrest of two of its senior female leaders Nancy Ngenje and Paidamoyo Masaraure last week for wearing union regalia.
Zinasu secretary-general Tapiwanashe Chiriga yesterday told NewsDay that the campaign was meant to show the students’ resistance to tyranny and government persecution of student activists.
“The campaign has been launched and it is meant to encourage all youths to wear their Zinasu T-shirts as a way of resisting dictatorship by the Zanu-PF government,” Chiriga said.
“The campaign has been well received and so far, many prominent people like journalist Hopewell Chin’ono have supported it on their social media accounts and many more students are joining the campaign,” he said.
Last week, several students affiliated to Zinasu said they could not be silenced, adding that criminalisation of wearing of their union regalia was illegal and oppressive.
The T-shirts in question have a message which reads: “Be part of the solution which builds the student welfare, not part of the pollution which destroys it.”
“For far too long Zimbabweans have been living in fear of Zanu-PF tyranny, enduring torture and human rights violations, they are abducted and abused when they try to stand against their oppressors. As Zinasu, we are saying that’s enough, wearing a Zinasu T-shirt is not a crime,” Chiriga said.
He said every student in the country should enjoy the freedom to choose a student body which they wanted to be affiliated to.
“Zinasu is a student body which represents alternative youth voices in tertiary institutions and criminalising wearing of its regalia by the government is a direct threat to freedom of expression,” he said.
By A Correspondent- Central Intelligence Organisation officer Chamakandiona Nyahunda has also been implicated in the gold smuggling saga where a Zimbabwean gold smuggler Tashinga Masinire was busted with 23 prices of gold worth R11m (US$783 000) at OR Tambo International Airport,
Nyahunda was arrested for smuggling the gold at Robert Mugabe International Airport terminal. He used a route that avoided all security checks, thus abusing his position, and then handed the gold, in the final waiting area, to Masinire who was taking it South Africa.
It is alleged that Masinire walked through all required security checks at the RGM International without gold in his bags, and only loaded the gold in the smoking room in the final boarding area after meeting Nyahunda.
Nyahunda, also known as Vincent Moyo, appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court last week charged with smuggling and criminal abuse of office.
He was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared before Regional Magistrate Stanford Mambanje.
It is the State’s case that on Saturday last week, Nyahunda, who is attached to Aviation Ground Services at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, was on duty and was expected to inspect and clear goods for export.
That day, at around 9.46 am, Nyahunda was spotted entering the Departure Terminal wearing a jacket and a pair of trousers whose pockets were laden with heavy objects.
The allegations are that Nyahunda avoided the authorized entry route where there are scanners and metal detectors fixed at the strategic points and proceeded to the Arrivals Terminal.
The route he used is not allowed when getting into the terminal.
The court heard that on the same day just over an hour later at around 11 am, Masinire arrived at the airport driving a Ford Ranger (AEK3911) vehicle. He got out and the car was driven off by someone else who remained in the car.
Masinire then went through the clearing procedures with a light bag and later went to the duty-free shops waiting to board a South Africa bound flight which was due to depart at 1 pm.
Masinire allegedly went to the smoking-room at the waiting area holding a light bag where he was joined by Nyahunda, who was holding a black satchel which, according to the State, looked heavy on the CCTV footage.
After about two minutes, Nyahunda left the smoking room with his bag now looking lighter while Masinire’s appeared heavier
The State led by Netsai Mushayabasa opposed bail at Nyahunda’s hearing.
He is expected back in court on Monday (today) for continuation of his bail application.
By A Correspondent- A Chirundu man is lucky to be alive after he was mauled by a lion in the border town last Thursday.
The victim, Isaiah Chitenje (48) from Chirundu town was saved from the lion by people who made noise while throwing stones until the lion released him.
Kariba district police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Misheck Ngorima confirmed the incident.
“A male adult was attacked by a lion on May 13 at around 1822hrs in the Chirundu area. The victim was coming from Chirundu business centre and proceeding to Tiger Safaris where he works. While on the way, about 500 metres from Chirundu Border Post, lions appeared and one of them attacked him.
“He was assisted by locals who came to the scene and threw stones after hearing his screams. The lion ran away. The man was taken to Mutendere Hospital in Zambia where his condition is reported to be stable.
Human-wildlife conflicts are said to be on the increase despite efforts by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to curb them.
A fortnight ago, a man from Mahombekombe suburb in Kariba was lucky to survive after being attacked by an elephant.
A child was recently attacked by a hyena in Masvingo and left severely injured.
He is currently admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare where he is battling for life.
By A Correspondent- Former Deputy Prime Minister in the inclusive government, Arthur Mutambara has claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “coup-based government” was not yet ready to surrender power to civilians.
“They committed treason in 2017, are they ready now to give up power? This is our dilemma in Zimbabwe,” Mutambara said during a virtual public discussion hosted by the Southern Africa Political Economy Series (Sapes) Trust last Thursday which discussed the topic The Stampede towards 2023 Elections: is history about to repeat itself again in Zimbabwe.
“They are now coup-proofing and consolidating power, hence the constitutional amendments. 2018 had to be won by any means necessary by the regime because it couldn’t institute a coup and hand over power to the opposition. 2023, what’s new? We are still in the context of a coup. Why would you think the junta is ready now to surrender power to civilians? That is our dilemma in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Former Zanu-PF politburo member and ex-Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo said the ruling party was in panic mode ahead of the 2023 elections and will use every trick in the book to win the polls.
Moyo said the 2023 elections would be won by cartels controlling fuel, foreign currency and food and who would come in handy for Zanu-PF.
He said cartels who were holding all the key economic fundamentals were linked to Zanu-PF.
“Now these are controlled by cartels which have emerged since the coup and all the cartels are very much connected with the State and Zanu-PF,” Moyo, who is in exile after allegedly fleeing from attempted assassination by the military during the 2017 coup, said.
He said Zanu-PF and the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T were afraid of elections and this was evident by the immobilisation of the opposition.
“The judiciary has gone deeper into that crisis by its involvement in the party politics, the politics of major parties – the MDC Alliance and Zanu-PF – notably through the controversial and dubious March 30 2020 Supreme Court judgment which had two implications that affect whether or not the next election will be history repeating itself,” he said.
According to a report published by South African publication Daily Maverick in February, Zimbabwe is under the control of cartels across various economic sectors, including mining, energy, transport and agriculture.
Moyo said the ramifications of the Supreme Court in Parliament where Zanu-PF, previously without a twothirds majority, now had an upper hand courtesy of its alliance with Mwonzora’s MDC-T.
“You cannot rationally project a free and fair election against the background of a demobilised and immobilised opposition and this is not being done by Zanu-PF – it is the securocrats, in particular the CIOs,” he said.
But Zanu-PF immediately rubbished Moyo’s claims, with party national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo saying the former government spin doctor was “hallucinating”.
Moyo said the former Higher Education minister should not be taken seriously, adding that the ruling party was preoccupied with nation-building and defeating the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have no appetite to respond to Jonathan Moyo’s hallucinations. He can continue whistling in a graveyard wherever he is,” Moyo said.-Newsday
United Kingdom-based law lecturer, Alex Tawanda Magaisa has said things might get a little messy if former Chief Justice Luke Malaba appeals his ouster at either the Supreme Court or the Constitutional Court.
Magaisa explains that all the judges who should preside over the case at the Supreme Court and or the Constitutional Court were cited in the proceedings and they would be violating the principle of nemo judex in sua causa if they seat for the appeal.
Nemo judex in sua causa is a Latin phrase that means, literally, no person can judge a case in which he or she is a party or in which he/she has an interest. It is a principle of natural justice. Magaisa said:
All the judges of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court are cited in these proceedings, which means they have a direct role and interest in the case. T
he implication is that all the judges who must constitute a hearing panel either at the Supreme Court or the Constitutional Court are conflicted: they cannot sit in judgment of a case in which they are parties.Therefore, while there will be an appeal and while the order requires confirmation of the Constitutional Court, none of the current judges are eligible to sit on the judicial panels at the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.
Remember a constitutional crisis might occur when existing constitutional mechanisms are no longer capable of providing a solution to a dispute. Without a valid judicial panel at either superior court among the crop of current judges, another way must be found otherwise it is a cul-de-sac.
One approach would be to hire a current or retired judge to fill the gap. However, the legality of an entire judicial panel consisting of acting judges might be in question. Both section 166(2) and 168(2) provide that where there is a need for an additional judge for a limited period, the Chief Justice may appoint a judge or former judge to act as a judge for that period.
However, the problem with this is that following the High Court ruling, there is currently no substantive Chief Justice.But even if an Acting Chief Justice can appoint, the problem with the current one is that she is also conflicted because she is a litigant in the relevant legal proceedings.
A player in the match cannot choose the referee because that would lead to bias, whether real or perceived. Therefore, as things stand, it is arguable that no one can properly and lawfully appoint members of a judicial panel, both at the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.
They all have an interest in the matter.In any event, section 166(1) which defines the Constitutional Court makes it mandatory that it must have a Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice.
With Malaba’s retirement, there is no Chief Justice and, as we have already observed, both Acting Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza and Deputy Chief Justice Paddington Garwe are conflicted because they are cited as parties in the proceedings…
We can see the difficulty that I have referred to in recent weeks: there is a constitutional crisis when prevailing constitutional mechanisms are not able to successfully resolve a dispute. In this case, the chain of illegality is long and impossible to break.
The former Chief of Staff in the office of a former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, the late Morgan Tsvangirai added that the validity of an appeal is in serious doubt because of the complications surrounding the constitution of judicial panels both at the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.
This is because all the judges of those courts are conflicted as they have a direct interest not only in the proceedings but also in Amendment No. 2 which makes them potential beneficiaries of the increase in the retirement age.
By A Correspondent- The president of the opposition MDC Alliance, Nelson Chamisa has consoled the Matinenga family following the passing of Takudzwa one of the three children of Eric and Mirriam Matinenga.
Chamisa indicated that Takudzwa died in a road accident.
In a brief eulogy, Chamisa described the late Takudzwa Matinenga as a person who had great potential.
He said:
With heartache and sadness, I note the passing on of young Takudzwa Matinenga who died in a horrific traffic accident. My sincere condolences to Advocate Matinenga, Amai & family. Taku was an energetic, loving and brilliant budding professional whose future was so promising. RIP_
Meanwhile, some took the opportunity to reiterate that there should be a deliberate effort to rehabilitate the country’s roads that have become death traps.
Many roads across the country are in bad shape and several road accin=dents are attributed to road conditions.
By A Correspondent- A Mutare-based self-proclaimed prophet, Madzibaba Maxwell Muguta, who was arrested for the possession of a snake has been convicted and fined for contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.
The self-proclaimed prophet said he had bought the snake from a traditional healer.
He was intercepted by the police who were acting on a tipoff. Muguta intended to transport the live snake to Mutare.
During his cross-examination in court, Madzibaba Muguta admitted that he had bought the snake from an unnamed traditional healer in Seke for US$70.
He was subsequently convicted and fined ZWL$30 thousand or four months in prison should he fail to pay the fine.
In addition, he was given a five months sentence, which was wholly suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence involving hunting or removing any animal from any land without a permit or licence.
BY A CORRESPONDENT| The perjury case involving controversial land developer Kenneth Raydon Sharpe’s aide Michael John Van Blerk and suspended City of Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango has continued to drag after both accused persons avoided appearing in court last on flimsy charges.
First to appear in court was suspended City of Harare Town Clerk, Hosiah Chisango who early last week sought his recusal from the case saying he is no-longer the representative of the local authority hence could not stand trial on behalf of the entity.
On Friday, Van Blerk who is Pokugara Properties Managing Director, through his lawyer Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara said he was too sick to navigate stairs at the court premises.
This forced Harare Magistrate, Stanford Mambanje and state prosecutors to go outside and inspect Van Blerk who was said to be suffering from nervous breakdown.
Both Chisango and Van Blerk stands accused of lying under oath when they submitted affidavits to the High Court swearing that Harare businessman and land developer George Katsimberis did not have approved plans to build a show house on stand 9 of 21 corner Teviotdale and Whitwell Borrowdale.
“For today’s proceedings we have a difficulty in that the first accused (Van Blerk) is not feeling well it has necessitated that for the purposes of today’s proceedings Pokugara Properties be represented by an official merely to be a body in the dock. Mr Michael John Van Blerk is in the parking lot of this court, he is present in the court premise. He is unable to move and navigate the stairs and appear before you,” said Advocate Zhuwarara.
The state represented by Zivanai Macharaga requested that the accused be examined by a State medical officer from two of Harare’s health institutions (Parirenyatwa or Harare Central Hospital) since Doctor Campbell was a personal medical doctor for Van Blerk.
Magistrate Mambanje remanded Van Blerk to June 17, 2021 for trial pending reports from the medical team.
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It could not be established at the time of writing how the series is going to be broadcast on the network, if it will be in full program length, they will be short chip chops, offloaded for circulation. In recent days, the internet has provided an array of different unique ways of making business, and this appears to be one of them.
