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.
“Good people how are you, I ran away and I have something to tell you, let’s continue watching our WhatsApp inboxes, there’s a drama series called Home Coming, it will be coming out of our WhatsApp portals, and now those who used to see on their own on YouTube and Instagram while we struggle for data, this time we’re now able to watch drama series on WhatsApp.
“Keep on watching your portals don’t you dare come back to me and say I did not tell you this rumour: Jabu’s HomeComing, Coming, Coming Soon. I just spilt the beans, ssssh , Jabu’s HomeComing, Coming, on WhatsApp, yah!”
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.
By A Correspondent- The weekend High Court anti-Malaba judgement has exposed power struggles between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga.
High Court Judges, Justices Happius Zhou, Edith Mushore and Jesta Charehwa at the weekend ruled that incumbent judges of the senior courts could not benefit from an amendment to the Constitution extending their term limits.
The ruling had the effect of retiring Zimbabwe’s Chief Justice, Luke Malaba, who turned 70 — the legal retirement age — at midnight Saturday.
The court ruled that the amendment needs to be put to a public referendum and automatically reversed the reappointment last week of Chief Justice Luke Malaba by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In a statement last night, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said Government would exercise its right to appeal the ruling and at the same time questioning why lawyers who brought the action against Malaba’s appointment cited as respondents, all the judges except Judge President George Chiweshe who is believed to be an ally to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Chiwenga is seen as harbouring Presidential ambitions at a time Mnangagwa has pulled all the stops to try and consolidate his rule.“We have taken note of the decision made by the court, and as a country that respects the rule of law, we will respect that decision, but you must also know that as litigants, we have our rights which are protected by the law.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has blamed the MDC-Alliance for the weekend High Court anti-Malaba judgement which embarrassed has President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
High Court Judges, Justices Happius Zhou, Edith Mushore and Jesta Charehwa at the weekend ruled that incumbent judges of the senior courts could not benefit from an amendment to the Constitution extending their term limits.
The ruling had the effect of retiring Zimbabwe’s Chief Justice, Luke Malaba, who turned 70 — the legal retirement age — at midnight Saturday.
The court ruled that the amendment needs to be put to a public referendum and automatically reversed the reappointment last week of Chief Justice Luke Malaba by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In a statement last night, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said MDC-Alliance was behind Mnangagwa’s weekend embarrassment.
“We are 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,” said Ziyambi.
“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 going to poke the enemy in the eye and confront it,” he said.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has blamed the foreign governments and Non Governmental Organisations for the weekend High Court anti-Malaba judgement which embarrassed has President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
High Court Judges, Justices Happius Zhou, Edith Mushore and Jesta Charehwa at the weekend ruled that incumbent judges of the senior courts could not benefit from an amendment to the Constitution extending their term limits.
The ruling had the effect of retiring Zimbabwe’s Chief Justice, Luke Malaba, who turned 70 — the legal retirement age — at midnight Saturday.
The court ruled that the amendment needs to be put to a public referendum and automatically reversed the reappointment last week of Chief Justice Luke Malaba by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In a statement last night, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said foreign governments were funding the MDC-Alliance to effect regime change.
“We are 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,” said Ziyambi.
“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 going to poke the enemy in the eye and confront it,” he said.
By A Correspondent- The weekend High Court anti-Malaba judgement has exposed the fierce infighting happening within the ruling Zanu PF party.
High Court Judges, Justices Happias Zhou, Edith Mushore and Jesta Charehwa at the weekend ruled that incumbent judges of the senior courts could not benefit from an amendment to the Constitution extending their term limits.
The ruling had the effect of retiring Zimbabwe’s Chief Justice, Luke Malaba, who turned 70 — the legal retirement age — at midnight Saturday.
The court ruled that the amendment needs to be put to a public referendum and automatically reversed the reappointment last week of Chief Justice Luke Malaba by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
By Simba Chikanza | Perhaps the strongest sign that 2021 is truly the year of maSports (stuff that’s too good to be true) as poetically told- a total 8 Zimbabweans recorded so far, have made it to top political posts in United Kingdom in the last 12 months.
UK now has 2 mayors who are Zimbabwean, and an MP (Maggie Chapman) last week announced her oath in pure ChiShona. Their ages range from 22 with the oldest being 56 year old. The youngest, Nicolle Moyo last week told ZimEye she hadn’t even graduated when she discovered she has won the polls in the just ended elections.
The full list so far, comprising 6 women and 2 men, is as follows:
Amanda Tandi, 47 -. Councillor, District Of Knebworth.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has commended brave lawyers who challenged the reappointment of Luke Malaba by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The High Court reversed the reappointment of Luke Malaba on Saturday.
Commenting on the reversal of Malaba’s reappointment, President Chamisa said:
“THE FIGHT IS ON!!Well done for the World class lawyering @adv_fulcrum ,@BitiTendai and @YoungLawyersZW . History has a place for you.
You serve with dignity and decorum. Your indefatigable stamina and passion for justice is outstandingly phenomenal !!The future is exciting!”
According to President Chamisa, there will be no meaningful progress in the country as longs clowns are running the show.
” Kazungula bridge is a huge income generating project for the 2 countries involved and Botswana is taking away traffic that used to pass through Beitbridge.
It’s a sad story for our beloved Zimbabwe. Its happening while power grabbers celebrate the same infrastructure as spectators and bystanders. It can’t be a country where clowns, fools and caricatures run the show.
By Dorrothy Moyo | If only my young brother Luke Malaba would just resign and leave power mongers fighting each other, elder and researcher Ibbo Mandaza has said.
Ibbo Mandaza
Mandaza was commenting over the gaffe which has left Emmerson Mnangagwa humiliated after being ill advised under the impression that he can ReAppoint the former Chief Justice in the face of clear dictates in the constitution.
On Saturday, a bench of High Court judges ruled that Malaba’s last day in office was last Friday despite being handed the job by the ZANU PF President, Mnangagwa. Soon after that, the Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi stooped low to the point of threatening the judges saying they are supposed to pass verdicts that do not oppose Mr. Mnangagwa. Ziyambi has since announced that he will appeal the judgement.
But, “one would have thought, or are we asking for too much here, that my younger brother Malaba would simply resign, walk away into retirement, and leave the power mongers in the Zimbabwean state to their internecine conflict?,” said the SAPES Trust’s Ibbo Mandaza.
Mandaza is 73 years old while Malaba has only just turned 70 on Saturday. Meanwhile, below is a LIVE discussion over the verdict, held on Sunday evening.
Zinedine Zidane has told Real Madrid players that he will leave the club at the end of this season.
According to Goal.com, the Frenchman announced his decision to the squad in the dressing room moments before last Sunday’s 2-2 draw away to Sevilla in La Liga.
Zidane then sent a cryptic message about his future in his press conference ahead of the Athletic Club match.
He said: “There are times when you need to be there and times when you have to leave for the good of all.”
It has now come out that the gaffer was referring to his imminent exit at Los Blancos.
Physical and mental fatigue have been mentioned as possible reasons for his stepping down.
He will walk away even if they win the LaLiga title amid a tussle with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona for the Spanish crown.
This will mark the Frenchman’s second time leaving the club after his surprise departure in 2018.
Zidane has won a total of eleven titles as Real Madrid head coach.
Meanwhile, other reports in Spain have suggested that Raul is the best placed to succeed his former teammate.
Massimiliano Allegri and Joachim Low are also options, but Raul – who is also wanted by Eintracht Frankfurt – is the top candidate.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly says Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi’s threats to the judiciary are unacceptable.
Ziyambi on Saturday threatened to reform the judiciary following the landmark ruling by the High Court that reversed Luke Malaba’s reappointment by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Below is MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma’s statement:
Ziyambi’s Threats To The Judiciary Totally Unacceptable
16-05-2021
ZANU PF through Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday threatened to reform the judiciary because they ruled against Emmerson Mnangagwa’s plan to extend former Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s term of office beyond constitutional provisions.
The cowardly threats confirm what the public has always known, that ZANU PF wants to control and capture all the institutions of the state including the judiciary.
The arrogance and bitter tone of Ziyambi is synonymous with full blown dictators that do not appreciate and understand the role of the judiciary in a constitutional democracy.
Ziyambi must be schooled that among the three arms of government, it is the judiciary which is the final arbiter of our constitution. That is why every citizen and institution within the state must respect the rulings of the judiciary, even when they are adverse to their interests.
Yesterday the High Court asserted its authority and independence in matters legal and the response of the regime is a threat to the judges.
Ziyambi must not treat our esteemed learned judges like children.
This is not acceptable!
ZANU PF has been interfering and abusing the judiciary particularly the Magistrate Courts to settle scores with political opponents, and resultantly human rights defenders and opposition leaders have been persecuted by prosecution through long pre-trial detentions.
The anger expressed by ZANU PF through Ziyambi also confirms that the extension of Malaba’s term of office has sinister motives.
Why him and him only? Could it be related to his ruling on the presidential petition of Adv Nelson Chamisa after 2018 elections dispute? Was it to say thank you for a hatchet job?
These questions will continue lingering in the minds of all right thinking people.
We are however pleased that citizens have answered the call by President Chamisa to converge for change. Kudos to the NGO Forum and the Young Lawyers Association who filed the court cases to defend the People’s Constitution.
Indeed we are stronger together!
DefyOrDie
People’sAgenda2021
CitizensConvergenceForChange
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly says Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi’s threats to the judiciary are unacceptable.
Ziyambi on Saturday threatened to reform the judiciary following the landmark ruling by the High Court that reversed Luke Malaba’s reappointment by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Below is MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma’s statement:
Ziyambi’s Threats To The Judiciary Totally Unacceptable
16-05-2021
ZANU PF through Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday threatened to reform the judiciary because they ruled against Emmerson Mnangagwa’s plan to extend former Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s term of office beyond constitutional provisions.
The cowardly threats confirm what the public has always known, that ZANU PF wants to control and capture all the institutions of the state including the judiciary.
The arrogance and bitter tone of Ziyambi is synonymous with full blown dictators that do not appreciate and understand the role of the judiciary in a constitutional democracy.
Ziyambi must be schooled that among the three arms of government, it is the judiciary which is the final arbiter of our constitution. That is why every citizen and institution within the state must respect the rulings of the judiciary, even when they are adverse to their interests.
Yesterday the High Court asserted its authority and independence in matters legal and the response of the regime is a threat to the judges.
Ziyambi must not treat our esteemed learned judges like children.
This is not acceptable!
ZANU PF has been interfering and abusing the judiciary particularly the Magistrate Courts to settle scores with political opponents, and resultantly human rights defenders and opposition leaders have been persecuted by prosecution through long pre-trial detentions.
The anger expressed by ZANU PF through Ziyambi also confirms that the extension of Malaba’s term of office has sinister motives.
Why him and him only? Could it be related to his ruling on the presidential petition of Adv Nelson Chamisa after 2018 elections dispute? Was it to say thank you for a hatchet job?
These questions will continue lingering in the minds of all right thinking people.
We are however pleased that citizens have answered the call by President Chamisa to converge for change. Kudos to the NGO Forum and the Young Lawyers Association who filed the court cases to defend the People’s Constitution.
Indeed we are stronger together!
DefyOrDie
People’sAgenda2021
CitizensConvergenceForChange
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
THREE top Karoi Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) examiners, who were nabbed last Thursday by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Unit (ZACC) for issuing provisional drivers’ licence certificates to failed candidates, have been remanded in custody.
Vid inspectorate…FILE COPY
The trio issued 26 such provisional licences.
Senior vehicle inspector Mussa Enesi allegedly issued eight provisional drivers’ licences to failed candidates, while inspector Obvious Vheremu issued 12 and inspector Alois Togarepi issued six after having been deployed to Karoi VID depot to carry out an outreach programme to examine applicants seeking provisional and full drivers’ licences.
The examiners appeared before Karoi magistrate Mr Godswill Mavenge last Friday facing criminal abuse of office charges.
They were remanded in custody to tomorrow for continuation of bail application.
Mr Henry Chapwanya of ZACC objected to the granting of bail, arguing the three officials were a flight risk, as there was overwhelming evidence which includes candidates’ answer sheets, provisional licences issued and the answer sheet template or stencil, and money recovered on them.
Mr Chapwanya contended the trio might interfere with State witnesses once granted bail.
Prosecutor Mr Reginald Chavora said on May 13, Mussa, Togarepi and Vheremu examined 61 applicants who sat for provisional learner’s licences.
The court heard some of the candidates failed the written test, but they connived and recorded that the candidates had passed and proceeded to issue them with provisional learners’ certificates.
Issuance of learners’ certificates to candidates that would have failed examinations, as allegedly done by the trio, was contrary or inconsistent with their duties as public officers.
Kudzai Choga and Unite Saize represented the trio.- Herald
“I believe that under his (Malaba’s) leadership study and diligence will become the duty of all legal practitioners. This, so far, has been part of his legacy as Chief Justice,” said Adv Lewis Uriri
The appeal to the Supreme Court against a High Court decision blocking sitting judges from holding office after attaining 70 is expected to be lodged today.
The Government is moving fast as the decision directly affects Chief Justice Luke Malaba as the first judge to reach 70 since the recent constitutional amendment was passed by Parliament and gazetted as law.
Chief Justice Malaba attained the age of 70 on Saturday but as the now amended section of the Constitution allows, he exercised his option before his birthday to continue until 75 and submitted the required medical certificate that he was in good mental and physical health.
However, this was challenged as a matter of urgency in the High Court, where a three-judge panel comprising lead judge Justice Happias Zhou and Justices Edith Mushore and Helena Jester Charewa on Saturday ruled that the particular clause changing the retirement ages of sitting judges required a referendum after passing through Parliament.
The Judicial Service Commission has since announced that Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza is now the acting Chief Justice, pending the outcome of the appeal.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday confirmed the Government decision to file the appeal today.
“We want to file the appeal against the judgment,” he said in response to a question from The Herald.
Under the Constitution, most amendments can become part of the Constitution once they have received the approval of two thirds of the membership of the National Assembly and of the Senate sitting separately. But amendments to the Declaration of Rights and to the chapter on Agricultural Land do require approval in a referendum within three months of passing the parliamentary votes along with the section that details how the Constitution can be amended,
High Court judges said the amendment relating to the retirement age of judges also required a referendum although the full reasons for their judgment are yet to be given. They ruled the amendment could not apply to sitting judges until a referendum is held.
It is understood that the three judges who heard the urgent application brought by prominent businessman Mr Frederick Mutanda, Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe and Human Rights’ lawyer Mr Musa Kika, need to give their reasons promptly to allow Government lawyers to analyse these and to avoid any delay in the hearing of the appeal and the final judicial decision.
While the three judges ruled against the extension of retirement ages, and so against Chief Justice Malaba’s tenure of office, some legal experts have expressed their views in support of the constitutionality of the recent constitutional amendment that got the signature of President Mnangagwa since retirement ages are not in the two chapters where amendments require a referendum in addition to the super majority in Parliament.
Commenting on the High Court ruling yesterday, legal expert Mr Obert Gutu criticised Justices Zhou, Mushore and Charewa for allegedly failing to make a distinction between a term limit and an age limit.
He said the Constitution Amendment (No.2) Act did not extend the term limit of judges of the superior courts, but merely extended the age limit by allowing them to continue occupying judicial office for another five years after attaining the age of 70, subject to them providing medical proof that they are still in sound physical and mental health.
“This, to me, is the major weakness of the High Court judgment that was handed down on Saturday, May 15, 2021,” said Mr Gutu. “Because Constitution Amendment (No.2) Act does not extend the term limit of judges of the superior courts, there is, therefore, no need to go to a referendum.”
Judges of the Constitutional Court have a term limit of 15 years and cannot be reappointed and even then would have to retire at 70 or, if they exercised their option to continue, at 75. Chief Justice Malaba had not yet served 15 years as a Constitutional Court judge and thus, his age limit could lawfully be extended to enable him to serve for another five-year period, subject, of course, to the requirements of providing a medical certificate.
“I am absolutely convinced that the High Court judgment is challengeable in the Supreme Court with a significant degree of prospects of success of the appeal,” he said.
“Clearly, the High Court totally misdirected itself by failing to distinguish between a term limit and an age limit.”
Prominent lawyer, Advocate Lewis Uriri, said by accepting the extension of his term of office, Chief Justice Malaba had further demonstrated his commitment to serving the nation and the justice system.
“A law is a law because of the validity of its source from within the legal system. The learned Chief Justice has been appointed in terms of a law deriving from a valid source within the legal system,” he said.
Adv Uriri was convinced that all Zimbabweans would benefit from Chief Justice Malaba’s continued service in his post.
“The legal profession in particular, will no doubt be equipped to better serve the nation from his commitment to the teaching of Superior Court Practice and his immense passion for the study and logical application of legal principles.
“I believe that under his leadership study and diligence will become the duty of all legal practitioners. This, so far, has been part of his legacy as Chief Justice,” said Adv Uriri. – Herald
A Rusape-based police officer appeared in court on an attempted murder charge after he attacked a man with a machete inside a police station.
Constable Greenmore Rwambiwa (35) of ZRP Rusape Central attacked Tafadzwa Dzemunye with a machete at the Nyazura Police Station’s charge office in a bid to stop him from filing an assault complaint against him.
Rwambiwa appeared before Rusape magistrate, Rufaro Mangwiro last Wednesday. He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody until 19 May.
The State led by Orripah Sagandira said as Dzemunye was inside the charge office filing assault charges against Rwambiwa, the latter attacked Dzemunye some more. Said Sagandira:
On May 1 while at Mega Market Complex in Nyazura, Rwambiwa followed the complainant who was on his way home and slapped him once on the face, blaming him for filing a case against a Constable Makumbo.
Dzemunye proceeded to Nyazura Police Station to file an assault report against Rwambiwa.
While the complainant was reporting the case, Rwambiwa arrived armed with a scissors carjack and a machete.
Rwambiwa charged at Dzemunye and hit him once on the right hand with the scissors carjack.
It is alleged that Rwambiwa also hit Dzemunye’s face four times with the flat side of a machete.
He then used the weapon’s sharp edges to strike the complainant thrice. Rwambiwa was represented by Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Associates. : Manica Post
Ethiopia has postponed indefinitely the holding elections that were scheduled for 5 June this year.
The chairwoman of the country’s election board, Birtukan Mideksa said Saturday it would be impossible to hold parliamentary elections as planned due to mounting logistical issues, without giving a new date.
The elections had already been delayed from last August due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Since then, problems have mounted, with a conflict in the northern Tigray region and brutal ethnic violence in several areas. Said Mideksa:
The vote will not happen on June 5 … we can’t tell you the date as the board has to examine the inputs it received from parties.
… Practically, it became impossible to deliver all these at the originally slated dates.
Mideksa cited a number of logistical delays, such as finalising voter registration, training electoral staff, printing and distributing ballot papers.
She said the new date would take into account the rainy season – which runs from about June to September.
The nation of 110 million people was due to choose national and regional parliamentarians via the ballot box.
The MPs elect the prime minister, who is head of government, as well as the president – a largely ceremonial role.- IOL
Dynamos have refused to compensate Caps United over the transfer of striker Newman Sianchali to DeMbare from Makepekepe.
The Green Machine are claiming that they should receive some form of compensation from Dynamos after Sianchali dumped the club for the Glamour Boys.
The former Highlanders striker’s contract with Caps expired last year in December, but because no football was played over the course of 2020, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) ruled that player’ contracts should roll over to this year.
Bulawayo Chiefs are also demanding compensation for Shadreck Nyahwa who is training with DeMbare.
Meanwhile, Dynamos chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa said the issue of compensation should be discussed between the clubs that are making such demands and the players. He told NewsDay:
At Dynamos, we are a responsible corporate citizen or an institutional citizen because we believe in developing soccer and we also believe in developing players and talent and if a player says they no longer want to be with Dynamos, we don’t see any need to be standing in their way.
So these issues that are there I think it’s a matter of time they will eventually be settled.
… I would like to believe that there is always a remedy to any dispute. I don’t see it necessary for a club to withhold clearance.
We are in a country that has got effective laws, so why not utilise that route.
Several players from other clubs saw their one-year contracts lapse without them kicking the ball for their respective clubs.- NewsDay
THERE is widespread alarm in the suburb of Sizinda in Bulawayo following the alleged killing of a 48-year-old mentally challenged man, Vasco Akamunwa, whose body was found near Maphisa Primary School with stab wounds.
The killing of Akamunwa early this month, who was described by residents as an easygoing man who shunned violence, led to fears that there were criminals targeting mentally challenged members of the community for ritual purposes, as two more have allegedly died in the area.
Speaking to Sunday News, the deceased’s sister, Ms Beauty Akamunwa said she was shocked when she was told that her brother had died after being hit by a car on the morning of 5 May.
“I was surprised just like everybody else when I was told that my brother’s body had been discovered. I was told that he had been hit by a car because he was discovered on the side of the road,” she said.
Ms Akamunwa said on arrival at the scene, they began to suspect that he had not been hit by a car but had been killed. A trail of blood seemed to suggest that he had been bleeding for a while before he eventually fell at the place where his body was found.
“There was a trail of blood and that indicated to us that he had been injured some distance away from where his body had been found. There was so much blood, we were convinced that there was no way he had been hit by a car,” she said.
Ms Akamunwa said an autopsy revealed that her brother had indeed been stabbed. “We were told at United Bulawayo Hospitals that he had been stabbed and that it was not a car accident.
We suspect this other man from the community because on the day we discovered my brother’s body, he could be heard arguing with his friends who were castigating him and shouting that he should never have stabbed Vasco.
“Since that time, he has not stayed where he used to live and there have been no arrests in connection with my brother’s murder,” she said. Although Ms Akamunwa said that there appeared to be no parts mutilated from her brother’s body, it did little to allay the fears of a community that believes it has ritual killers in its midst.
One resident who spoke to Sunday News on condition of anonymity, said this was the third murder of its nature in the community within the last two years.
“This has been happening for a while now. We have people that have been attacking people with mental challenges for the past two years. There was a boy who was mentally challenged and his body was found in Umguza with body parts missing.
“There was another guy who was also mentally challenged who was discovered, right before the Covid-19 pandemic started, with his tongue missing. So, Vasco was of a similar state and this is what is worrying people in the community,” he said.
Another resident who spoke to Sunday News said they did not understand why Akamunwa’s life would come to such a violent end for anything but ritual purposes.
“We have seen these things before here and it’s worrying. He was an easy going guy and for anyone to take his life like that again raises our suspicion.” When asked about the incident Bulawayo police could not immediately shed light on the suspected murder of Akamunwa, promising to look for further information on the case.- The Sunday News
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 A Correspondent- Residents in the suburb of Sizinda in Bulawayo are in shock following the alleged killing of a 48-year-old mentally challenged man, Vasco Akamunwa, whose body was found near Maphisa Primary School with stab wounds.
The killing of Akamunwa early this month, who was described by residents as an easygoing man who shunned violence, led to fears that there were criminals targeting mentally challenged members of the community for ritual purposes, as two more have allegedly died in the area.
Speaking to Sunday News, the deceased’s sister, Ms Beauty Akamunwa said she was shocked when she was told that her brother had died after being hit by a car on the morning of 5 May.
“I was surprised just like everybody else when I was told that my brother’s body had been discovered. I was told that he had been hit by a car because he was discovered on the side of the road,” she said.
Ms Akamunwa said on arrival at the scene, they began to suspect that he had not been hit by a car but had been killed. A trail of blood seemed to suggest that he had been bleeding for a while before he eventually fell at the place where his body was found.
“There was a trail of blood and that indicated to us that he had been injured some distance away from where his body had been found. There was so much blood, we were convinced that there was no way he had been hit by a car,” she said.
Ms Akamunwa said an autopsy revealed that her brother had indeed been stabbed. “We were told at United Bulawayo Hospitals that he had been stabbed and that it was not a car accident.
We suspect this other man from the community because on the day we discovered my brother’s body, he could be heard arguing with his friends who were castigating him and shouting that he should never have stabbed Vasco.
“Since that time, he has not stayed where he used to live and there have been no arrests in connection with my brother’s murder,” she said. Although Ms Akamunwa said that there appeared to be no parts mutilated from her brother’s body, it did little to allay the fears of a community that believes it has ritual killers in its midst.
One resident who spoke to Sunday News on condition of anonymity, said this was the third murder of its nature in the community within the last two years.
“This has been happening for a while now. We have people that have been attacking people with mental challenges for the past two years. There was a boy who was mentally challenged and his body was found in Umguza with body parts missing.
“There was another guy who was also mentally challenged who was discovered, right before the Covid-19 pandemic started, with his tongue missing. So, Vasco was of a similar state and this is what is worrying people in the community,” he said.
Another resident who spoke to Sunday News said they did not understand why Akamunwa’s life would come to such a violent end for anything but ritual purposes.
“We have seen these things before here and it’s worrying. He was an easy going guy and for anyone to take his life like that again raises our suspicion.” When asked about the incident Bulawayo police could not immediately shed light on the suspected murder of Akamunwa, promising to look for further information on the case.- The Sunday News
By A Correspondent- A Rusape-based police officer appeared in court on an attempted murder charge after he attacked a man with a machete inside a police station.
Constable Greenmore Rwambiwa (35) of ZRP Rusape Central attacked Tafadzwa Dzemunye with a machete at the Nyazura Police Station’s charge office in a bid to stop him from filing an assault complaint against him.
Rwambiwa appeared before Rusape magistrate, Rufaro Mangwiro last Wednesday. He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody until 19 May.
The State led by Orripah Sagandira said as Dzemunye was inside the charge office filing assault charges against Rwambiwa, the latter attacked Dzemunye some more. Said Sagandira:
On May 1 while at Mega Market Complex in Nyazura, Rwambiwa followed the complainant who was on his way home and slapped him once on the face, blaming him for filing a case against a Constable Makumbo.
Dzemunye proceeded to Nyazura Police Station to file an assault report against Rwambiwa.
While the complainant was reporting the case, Rwambiwa arrived armed with a scissors carjack and a machete.
Rwambiwa charged at Dzemunye and hit him once on the right hand with the scissors carjack.
It is alleged that Rwambiwa also hit Dzemunye’s face four times with the flat side of a machete.
He then used the weapon’s sharp edges to strike the complainant thrice. Rwambiwa was represented by Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Associates. : Manica Post
By A Correspondent- Ethiopia has postponed indefinitely the holding elections that were scheduled for 5 June this year.
The chairwoman of the country’s election board, Birtukan Mideksa said Saturday it would be impossible to hold parliamentary elections as planned due to mounting logistical issues, without giving a new date.
The elections had already been delayed from last August due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Since then, problems have mounted, with a conflict in the northern Tigray region and brutal ethnic violence in several areas. Said Mideksa:
The vote will not happen on June 5 … we can’t tell you the date as the board has to examine the inputs it received from parties.
… Practically, it became impossible to deliver all these at the originally slated dates.
Mideksa cited a number of logistical delays, such as finalising voter registration, training electoral staff, printing and distributing ballot papers.
She said the new date would take into account the rainy season – which runs from about June to September.
The nation of 110 million people was due to choose national and regional parliamentarians via the ballot box.
The MPs elect the prime minister, who is head of government, as well as the president – a largely ceremonial role.- IOL
By A Correspondent- Beitbridge resident magistrate Mr Toyindepi Zhou has ordered the deportation of 25 Malawian border jumpers who were intercepted by the Department of Immigration’s compliance and enforcement unit on Thursday.
The group was travelling from Harare to South Africa in an Intercity bus after sneaking into the country near an illegal crossing point at Nyamapanda Border Post.
Among the group, 16 immigrants had unstamped passports while the rest of the group was undocumented.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has blamed the MDC-Alliance for the weekend High Court anti-Malaba judgement which embarrassed has President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
High Court Judges, Justices Happius Zhou, Edith Mushore and Jesta Charehwa at the weekend ruled that incumbent judges of the senior courts could not benefit from an amendment to the Constitution extending their term limits.
The ruling had the effect of retiring Zimbabwe’s Chief Justice, Luke Malaba, who turned 70 — the legal retirement age — at midnight Saturday.
The court ruled that the amendment needs to be put to a public referendum and automatically reversed the reappointment last week of Chief Justice Luke Malaba by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In a statement last night, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said MDC-Alliance was behind Mnangagwa’s weekend embarrassment.
“We are 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,” said Ziyambi.
“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 going to poke the enemy in the eye and confront it,” he said.
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | In every democratic space the Judiciary sits at the centre and live wire of the democratic experiment. The Judiciary have a constitutional function of execution of laws respectively. It is the backbone of the government because whenever there is a dispute between the Centre and State, between State and the citizens judiciary is the only organ which controls the disputes and passes judgment.
Dr Masimba Mavaza
It is natural that wide powers should be given to the Courts so that they will maintain harmony and attain the objective set out in the constitution without bias. If the judges become partial or if they work under the influence of politicians, the whole system will paralyze. Role of Judiciary as the guardian-protector of the constitution and the fundamental rights of the people makes it more respectable than the other two organs.
There are various levels of judiciary in Zimbabwe– different types of courts, each with varying powers depending on the tier and jurisdiction bestowed upon them. They form a strict hierarchy of importance, in line with the order of the courts in which they sit, with the Constitutional court being the highest in the land. It is the highest, with the power of constitutional review. One of the major functions of the judiciary is to interpret (explain or clarify)and apply laws to specific cases. In the course of deciding the disputes that come before it, the judges interpret and apply laws.
Every law needs a proper interpretation for getting applied to every specific case. This function is performed by the judges. We can safely say the judiciary is a strong and an important pillar of our democracy and proper governance. Among the three arms of government the judiciary is the most active and mostly undermined in its power of removing governments. On this basis every person or any government must respect the rulings even if they are not in our favour.
Many Zimbabweans have been disappointed by the High Court Ruling of Musa Kika vs the Justice Ministry. Being that as it may our comments is not directed to the persons of the judges who sat in the hearing but to the judgement. At the moment the ruling is now out and commenting on it is not contemptuous. We disagree with the court but we respect their wrong decision.
The three High Court judges, failed to make a distinction between a TERM LIMIT and an AGE LIMIT. Constitution Amendment (No.2) Act does not extend the TERM LIMIT of judges of the superior courts. It merely extends the AGE LIMIT by allowing them to continue occupying judicial office for another 5 years after attaining the age of 70 subject to them providing medical proof that they are still in sound physical and mental health.
This, is the major weakness of the High Court judgment that was handed down on Saturday, May 15, 2021. A celebrated lawyer Mr Obert Gutu commented. “Because Constitution Amendment (No.2) Act does not extend the TERM LIMIT of judges of the superior courts, there is, therefore, no need to go to a referendum.
The term limit of Constitutional Court judges is limited to 15 years. CJ Luke Malaba had not yet served his 15 year term limit as a Constitutional Court judge and thus, his age limit could lawfully be extended to enable him to serve for another 5 year period, subject, of course, to the requirements of providing a medical certificate.” I do agree with Mr Gutu’s view point which he went on to say “I’m absolutely convinced that the High Court judgment is challengeable in the Supreme Court with a significant degree of prospects of success of the appeal. Clearly, the High Court totally misdirected itself by failing to distinguish between a TERM LIMIT and an AGE LIMIT.”
We all must know that the government has a right to appeal this offending judgement. The government will definitely appeal against this judgement with dignity and honour and utmost respect of our judges where they deserve the respect.
It must be understood by the opposition and the activists that Zimbabwe aims to strengthen our judiciary and not to destroy it. Democracy is about peaceful and respectful contestation even if we have no common ground. Zimbabwe needs to be a country of strong institutions different in nature but together in purpose.
The case before the High court was where the applicants were challenging a part of the Constitutional Ammendment No 2 which sought to raise the retirement age of judges of the supreme court and the Constitutional Court from 70 to 75. The crux of their case was that the Change was unlawful as it did not comply with the requirements of section 328 of the Constitution. The major issue on 328 is that if you are changing the term limit provision, it should not benefit those who are already in office.. The lawyers argued that there should be a referendum in order to change the term.
The main question was whether the change amounts to the age limit. The High Court ruled that it was a change and it indeed infringed the rights. The court ruled that Amendment number 2 breaches the right to protection and benefit of the law. The court then forces the original term back on the constitution. It should be understood that this decision by the High court can be appealed in law and will be appealed. Decisions of the High Court are subject to appeal to the Supreme Court. Furthermore the Constitutional court has the final say on matters which touch on the constitutionality of legislation and is required to confirm orders of constitutional invalidity that are made by a lower court. This means that nothing has changed by the judgement of the High Court.
The constitutional court will need to confirm this order. The biggest problem we have is at best the Judicial Crisis. How can a government operate with a Judiciary in opposition? How does a state function with opposition judges? Judges must be independent and not in opposition. The trend our judges are taking is dangerous and will render our country ungovernable. The government must stand up and defend our country. The judges have no power whatsoever to shoot down what the Parliament has voted for, let alone the High Court.
The procedures taken in this matter suggests a very heavy hand in the judiciary system. This shows that the JSC is working with enemies in gowns. The CJ Malaba was working with enemies all along and total problems.
Nobody can explain why there were three judges in the panel. This was a simple application which needed one judge. Did the High Court sit as a Constitutional Court? This is in itself an appealable way. The High court breached the due process. Why did Justice Zhou refuse to recuse himself in a case he had never had prior involvement in? There are so many Judges who would have stepped up in his place. After refusing to recuse himself he went on to chair the panel of three judges of the High Court. The High court made an error by even sitting in a matter which was dealing with the office of the chief justice. Despite that the three Judges were conflicted and had an axe to grind against the Chief Justice. One wonders why the court was in such a hurry in dealing with this matter. There was need for a serious consideration of the recusal application, there was interest on Zhou who refused to give the case to someone even though his background was the cause of the application.
Furthermore the whole case ressembled a dog’s breakfast, who appointed Malaba, Why did they cite Malaba and the minister? Why not cite the president, the senate the parliament. The whole case stinks of total under hand and a serious mechinisation by those who are bent to see the president and his government removed.
Can someone explain why do these three judges have a view that they had a jurisdiction over this case? The declaration by these judges is not binding until confirmed by the constitutional court. To heal this case in the absence of an appeal, the president has discretion of appointing retired judges to sit as judges. Malaba was re-appointed by the president and he should sit as a Chief Justice. His mandated ended on the 15th and his appointment starts on the 15th by the presidential discretion as allowed by the law and by the amendment the president has a constitutional power to re appoint a retired judge. Judges of the High Court cannot give a constitutional decision sitting as a High court. There was misdirection by the High Court; the court is shifting to a trend of Judicial Activism. This trend is going to haunt Zimbabwe if it is not corrected at this point.
The President has a way forward; He has to hire a retired judge to fill the gap. The Chief Justice legally is not dethroned; the declaration is not effective as it has not been confirmed by the Constitutional court. The judgement by these judges shows how hated Chief Justice Malaba is by the judges of the High Court. Their decision was a blow in the face of the CJ and an insult to the president of Zimbabwe. The High Court judges felt confident and bold to point a middle finger to the president and his government because they are supported by anger against CJ. This is enough to show that they are too conflicted.
The appeal will put Mlaba back into office pending the outcome of the case. So by noting the appeal tomorrow the game is on. The vindictiveness of the judges who sat is made clear by a judge who kept insisting on remaining in office especially after a recusal application has been lodged is obnoxious. It should be noted that the judgement does not affect Amendment number 2, it is still valid as enacted law and the ruling of the high court does not debunked a constitutional amendment. it should be further noted that the high court was manifestly in error in rejecting the legality of the extension of the chief justice’s tenure of office. The act of parliament cannot be taken away in this manner. Since the case before the high court arose out of an act of parliament the high court ought to have referred the matter to a constitutional court which will have followed the due process of the law to constitute and un conflicted bench of the constitutional court to deal with this matter.
the honourable Justice Zhou compromised his dignity by clinging on to the case for the purpose of settling a score and this is abominable. There is a heavy underhand which made the claimants be the ones who control which judges are to be cited and which judges are to be left untouched. This was not by a mere coincident. The plan was to create judges who will sit against the amendment number 2 and disqualify other judges by conflicting them through a joinder. Surprising when the plan was found out and Zhou was requested to leave he refused to leave and he became the chair of the panel without any reason why?
The judges sat overnight which are a sign of a speed meant to reach their dark decision at night. These became night judges who brought a dark judgement from the dark corners. in order to obstruct the course of justice the judges have held on to the reasons of decision but rushing to give a summary which will not be enough to appeal against. This is only pointing to the broad belief that the judges are captured by the dark forces hence throwing a decision from the darkest hours of the night.
Zimbabwe is now descending in a situation where the judges have become political activists. The judges are breaching the doctrine of the separation of powers. It should be noted that section 328 of the constitution did not benefit anyone in o0ffice as it only amnded the extension of age . it did not change the retirement age. the extension will be done on given conditions thus there was never a change to the age and it did not need a referendum. It is through that the noise is from the opposition assisted by those in the judiciary.
When you see a judge you are seeing a history and a result of over a thousand years of legal evaluation. Zimbabwe system is based on its former colonisers and it is high time that it be changed. Judiciary must change and evolve to meet the needs of the society. and despite the oddities it is widely regarded as one of the best and yet it is still foreign.
Zimbabwe can never be said to be more democratic than America. Yet America changes the judiciary each time there is a new president. How can a country work without a conforming judiciary? In England the AG is changed when a new government comes into power. The Chief Justice is retired at the coming in of a new government. Why would Zimbabwe be afraid to change its laws? [email protected]
