By A Correspondent

Masvingo preacher and slayqueens godfather Isaac Makomichi has said God told him that Douglas Mwonzora is the worst sinner in the world.

Makomichi also said Mwonzora committed sins against humanity.

He said Mwonzora will not go to hell because the devil doesn’t need him…

“Murume mutadzi uyu,akasviba chose,kana Satan ava kumuramba nekuti wuyipi hwake hwadarika paitarisirwa nadhiyabhori

Kana kugehena haainde nekuti Rusifa haachatomude,ndiye mutadzi wechipiri pavanhu vese vakatadza kubva nyika ichisikwa,vanomutevera vachapomerwawo mweya wechivi naiye Mwonzora “
Makomichi’s said.

His audio clip is trending on social media.

“That man( Mwonzora) loves women,money and earthly things,”
Said one political observer.

Makomichi was not available for a comment on Friday.

Reports say he flew to Ghana on Monday.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

PART 1 – By A Correspondent | The late socialite, Genius Kadungure, leaked Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s secret plan to incriminate his wife, the nation’s estranged Second Lady has told ZimEye.

In the more than an hour long interview, Marry Chiwenga told ZimEye, her cousin Ginimbi as he was affectionately called, tried to warn her beforehand but she would not listen. This was during the few months before his sudden death in a car accident.

The development comes at a time when she is struggling to get medical treatment and has been deprived of her passport by the courts. She has among other allegations, been charged with attempted murder against her husband while nursing him in a South African hospital in July 2019, a year after the June 2018 White City bombing that got both her and her husband injured, though her health was the worst affected.

Marry Chiwenga also revealed a sequence of events that suggests the ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has either betrayed or neglected her, or both (more details coming out this weekend).

Mrs Chiwenga said allegations that she tried to kill her husband are not true and they are even dismissed by the South African Intelligence Agency.

She said: “He (Chiwenga) had security in South Africa. I had my own security in South Africa.

“We had South Africans, the equivalent of CIO in South Africa looking after us, and the security are in shock, vanotiti isusu taikuchengetai ,[they see to us but we used to look after both of you], why were we not questioned as witnesses on this story?

“Because they were there with us the whole time. When I would enter the toilet, they would wait for me at the very door; when I would enter the room where the VP is, they would follow me, so they are right now asking why is it that we will not questioned on what happened? Why did they fail to ask us?

Then he (Chiwenga) says the witnesses are my own boys, my bodyguards; what else can the soldiers tell you? Can the soldiers run on their boss? They can’t,” Marry Chiwenga argued with ZimEye.

She continued explaining:

“I need you to see this for yourself imagine yourself you are told you are plotting to kill your husband on the 8th of July, then from the 8th of July you are with your husband every single day, feeding him, then on the 21st of July you take him to the airport.

“Then from no where you are now being told from the blues you are now being accused of attempted murder against your husband, and of course you are troubled by it and you say hey that’s **it, there is nothing like that,” she said.

It was at this point that Mrs Chiwenga began speaking about Genius Kadungure. She said:

“My cousin even told me, the one who passed away, Genius.

“He said to me: mother, mother there is this report I am hearing, it is being said that there was a time when you tried to kill Mudhara, and I dismissed it saying that these are the things that people who are full of bitterness say; but he insisted saying I was told by *”*wa(name redacted), and she [the latter] was told by some boys in the CIO.

“I dismissed it saying there is nothing like that don’t you know that people can just talk anything anyhow?

“And he replied me saying: if you say so mother, but this is what I have been told, and as someone who loves you dearly I said let me tell you so that I do not retain this information. ”

FURTHER DETAILS COME OUT IN PART 2

An unidentified suspected intelligence officer is in the below footage, slapped with unprintable verbage after allegedly trying to violate the complainant’s human rights. VIDEO

Marry Chiwenga says her relationship with Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga collapsed during the time he was seeking treatment in China between July and November 2019 and their estrangement came like a bolt out of the blue.

Speaking to a local news organisation, Marry revealed that Chiwenga was airlifted to China from South Africa on 21 July where he underwent treatment at a top Beijing hospital.

Marry, who was with Chiwenga while he was hospitalised in South Africa, received a phone call from President Emmerson Mnangagwa informing her that she could not travel with the vice-president to China.

She said Mnangagwa told her that there was room for only six people, namely Chiwenga, his doctor John Mangwiro, a nurse assistant and his aides.

The former model said Chiwenga cut communication with her in August, without giving an explanation even though their relationship had been good until the time.

Marry revealed that before China, Chiwenga had been moved to the intensive care unit at a South African hospital after he had experienced a fit and his blood pressure shot up. She said:

The President called me a few hours before my husband was set to leave for China and said President Xi (Chinese President Xi Jinping) had suggested that my husband gets medical attention in China and that 12 professors were waiting to attend to him.

He however said only six people should come, including him, his doctor, the assistant nurse and the security team.

I even asked why I was not included, and the President said I would go at a later time as President Xi had suggested that my husband should come and get attended to before I can join him.

I insisted that I needed to go, but I was told the plane was already waiting and those that required visas had them already.

So I guess it had been planned for some time, but I had just not been told. I however did not require a visa because I had a diplomatic passport.

When my husband left for China, I came back the next day on 22 July, on my birthday.

The President sent a jet to get me from South Africa. When my husband was in China, we were talking but things suddenly changed in August. How? I do not know.

When I tried to talk to him, his doctor Mangwiro would answer the call and say he is sleeping or that I was stressing him.

I guess whatever had been planned had started working.

When Chiwenga returned from China in November 2019, Marry was arrested on allegations of attempting to murder him and money laundering. She is currently on remand.

The two had been married for 10 years and have three children.

-Newshawks

PART 2 – By A Correspondent | Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s case to incriminate his wife, has hit a snag when the man failed to get supporting evidence from the South African Intelligence Agency over the attempted murder he says happened in a hospital in the neighbouring country.

In a more than an hour long interview, Marry Chiwenga confirmed to ZimEye, how the VP has failed dismally to prove his police case at court.

Marry is struggling to get medical treatment and has been deprived of her passport by the courts. She has among other allegations, been charged with attempted murder against her husband while nursing him in a South African hospital in July 2019, a year after the June 2018 White City bombing that got both her and her husband injured, though her health was the worst affected.

Marry Chiwenga also revealed a sequence of events that suggests the ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has either betrayed or neglected her, or both (more details coming out this weekend).

Mrs Chiwenga said allegations that she tried to kill her husband are not true and they are even dismissed by the South African Intelligence Agency.

She said: “He (Chiwenga) had security in South Africa. I had my own security in South Africa.

“We had South Africans, the equivalent of CIO in South Africa looking after us, and the security are in shock, vanotiti isusu taikuchengetai ,[they see to us but we used to look after both of you], why were we not questioned as witnesses on this story?

“Because they were there with us the whole time. When I would enter the toilet, they would wait for me at the very door; when I would enter the room where the VP is, they would follow me, so they are right now asking why is it that we will not questioned on what happened? Why did they fail to ask us?

Then he (Chiwenga) says the witnesses are my own boys, my bodyguards; what else can the soldiers tell you? Can the soldiers run on their boss? They can’t,” Marry Chiwenga argued with ZimEye.

She continued explaining:

“I need you to see this for yourself imagine yourself you are told you are plotting to kill your husband on the 8th of July, then from the 8th of July you are with your husband every single day, feeding him, then on the 21st of July you take him to the airport.

“Then from no where you are now being told from the blues you are now being accused of attempted murder against your husband, and of course you are troubled by it and you say hey that’s **it, there is nothing like that,” she said.

It was at this point that Mrs Chiwenga began speaking about Genius Kadungure. She said:

“My cousin even told me, the one who passed away, Genius.

“He said to me: mother, mother there is this report I am hearing, it is being said that there was a time when you tried to kill Mudhara, and I dismissed it saying that these are the things that people who are full of bitterness say; but he insisted saying I was told by *”*wa(name redacted), and she [the latter] was told by some boys in the CIO.

“I dismissed it saying there is nothing like that don’t you know that people can just talk anything anyhow?

“And he replied me saying: if you say so mother, but this is what I have been told, and as someone who loves you dearly I said let me tell you so that I do not retain this information. ”

A direct comment from the South African Intelligence Agency was not possible at the time of writing.

FURTHER DETAILS COME OUT IN PART 3

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

A Rusape pastor Kindness Tashu stand accused of molesting a member of his flock- who is a minor after late night prayers in his office.

A report was lodged at Rusape Police Station referenced CR25/04/21. Pastor Tashu, who leads an AFM assembly, denied the allegations stating that he did not molest the girl although he conducted the prayer sessions.

He claimed the story was a gimmick to tarnish him because of factional fights within the church.

“This thing is a plot. A lot of church politics is at play. The accusations are influenced by factions. They want to tarnish my name in the community and they are simply fighting me.

“On the mentioned day, I just took her for prayer sessions. These people are not real members of the church. They are fuelling church factions and nothing else. All these are fabrications and I will prove myself in court,” Pastor Tashu said.

Speaking to H-Metro, the brother of the alleged victim said: “The pastor molested the girl during a prayer session.

“He is in our neighbourhood and he took advantage of the fact that all other family members were away except my sister.

“My mom had left the pastor’s wife as the guardian of the girl during the family’s absence. The pastor tricked the girl into late prayers in an attempt to sleep with her after cell groups. On the day, the pastor called her to his office and prayed for her more than five times. He then told the girl he wanted to teach her how to handle a man in bed.

“It is then that he pushed the girl towards the walls and started fondling her. This happened after 10:30pm when other family members were already asleep at the pastor’s house.

“We have lodged a report at Rusape Police Station for indecent assault. We tried to discuss the issue with him to hear his side of the story and he was so defensive claiming that we don’t understand how the spiritual realm works.

“After that we then reported to the police station,” the brother said. Pastor Tashu who leads an AFM assembly denied the allegations stating that he only made prayer sessions with the girl and did not molest the girl.

He claimed the story was a gimmick made to tarnish him and due to factional fights within the church.

“This thing is a plotted thing, a lot of church politics is at play. The accusations are influenced by factions. They want to tarnish my name in the community and they are simply fighting me.

“On the mentioned day I just took her for praying sessions. These people are not real members of the church. They are fuelling church factions and nothing else.

“All are fabrications and will prove myself in the court,” Pastor Tashu -said. -H Metro

By A Correspondent- Zesa has applied for a new tariff in what it said was a bid to boost its operations

This was revealed by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) chief executive officer Mr Eddington Mazambani at a breakfast meeting organised this morning in Harare which was meant to introduce journalists to the new board announced by Government early this year.

The exact tariff being sought by Zesa will be confirmed soon.

While industrialists are concerned that a new tariff would affect their operations, it is felt that Zesa urgently requires a tariff review given that it is presently “incapacitated”.

Zera board chair Dr David Madzikanda told journalists during the same event that Zesa does not have vehicles and required personnel as it cannot afford to pay decent salaries to competent staff due to a low tariff.

-Herald

CONSTRUCTION work at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s multi-million-dollar, yet unsightly, house at the corner of Crowhill and Wheeldon roads in Borrowdale suburb has stalled, three years after it commenced, The NewsHawks has reported.

This means taxpayers’ funds have been wasted on a property that Mnangagwa may no longer be keen on living in. The hideous property was being built as part of his state package. Usually the President and vice-presidents are given state properties to live.

A big house is being built for Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga at Carrick Creagh Estate in Borrowdale. Former Vice-President Kembo Mohadi now lives on Folyjon Crescent in Glen Lorne suburb, Harare.

Mnangagwa moved out of his house in Helensvale, Borrowdale, in Harare after security concerns were raised as it was felt that the residence was not well protected. This prompted government to speed up renovations at the President’s spacious residence.

However, Mnangagwa later relocated from 355 El Shaddai Road in Helensvale to Zimbabwe House, opposite State House.

Meanwhile, renovations were being done at his property opposite to flamboyant local tycoon Philip Chiyangwa’s sprawling house, dubbed the White House after the United States’ official presidential workplace and residence, the White House, at 1 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, DC.

A visit to the property showed that construction has virtually stopped. This has raised questions on whether the president is happy at Zimbabwe House, abandoned the project or has identified a bigger piece of land to construct another home.

The issue has also raised concerns about the waste of taxpayers’ money building a massive house – that looks nondescript from outside  – which is later abandoned.

After the 2017 military coup, government bought houses for all members of the presidium with Chiwenga settling for a property located along Manombe Close in Carrick Creagh Estate, Borrowdale.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

A 16-year-old boy from Beitbridge East who allegedly attacked his 53-year-old aunt with a log and then raped her while she bled badly from the head before stealing R1 700, has been remanded in custody to May 13.

The boy, who cannot be named for professional reasons, was not asked to plead to rape and murder charges when he appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate Mr Toyindepi Zhou on Wednesday.

Charges are that the accused killed Maria Gumbo on Friday last week between 7am and 2pm in Fula Village.

The State led by Mr Cloudios Karinga said the teen attacked the woman some 500 metres away from her homestead, after which he raped her and stole R1 700 before disappearing.

The court further heard that Gumbo’s remains were discovered lying in a pool of blood by her elder sister around 2pm.
She then informed other villagers and the matter was reported to police.

Mr Karinga said Gumbo had four deep cuts on the head and her body was found lying face down.

Police recovered two blood-stained logs next to the corpse and there was evidence of some struggle, 50 metres away from where the body was found.

Mr Karinga said police also recovered the woman’s undergarments 30 metres from where she had been killed.

The accused, who went into hiding after the alleged offence, was apprehended by members of the community who handed him to the police on Sunday.-Chronicle

MUTARE Boys’ High School has been rocked by a bullying scandal involving some prefects who allegedly forced junior pupils to conduct dehumanising acts.

The incident which was captured on video by one of the bullies has since gone viral on social media and authorities in the education sector have promised to get to the bottom of the issue and bring the culprits to book.

Parents have also come out guns blazing accusing the school authorities, particularly the school head, Mr Tendai Zachariah Gwashu, of trying to conceal the issue to protect the school’s image.

Repeated efforts to get a comment from Mr Gwashu were fruitless as he was reported to be out of office.

Manicaland Provincial Education Director (PED), Mr Edward Shumba, confirmed the incident and urged school authorities to be on the lookout for such incidents.

“The deplorable incident is under investigations and appropriate legal recourse will be taken. This is disturbing and headmasters should be on the lookout for such cases,” he said.

Parents interviewed said the incident is sad and unacceptable.

“I have a son at that school and I learnt about the case with great concern. This is unacceptable and I strongly believe that if it wasn’t for the video leak we were never going to know of what has been going on there,” said a disgruntled parent who requested anonymity.

“Instead of leading by example, the prefects are chief perpetrators of abuse and this is very sad. The relevant authorities should do something to make sure that our children are not subjected to any kind of abuse.”

Another parent said: “We are deeply saddened. It is traumatising and unbelievable. Imagine how these children will be psychologically affected.

“This is an eye-opener. It is highly likely that there are more issues of this nature happening in various schools. Action must be taken as soon as possible. Already a WhatsApp group of parents who are deliberating on what can be done over the issue has been created.” – Manica Post

IN a suspected case of ritual murder, the body of a 57-year-old tractor driver who had been missing for five days was found with a deep cut on the head.

His eyes were also missing.

The remains of Grey Chirimo, who was employed by Allied Timbers, were recovered in Nyangani Dam after he had disappeared with the tractor he was driving when he was last seen.

The tractor was found by members of the police sub-aqua unit two days before his body was discovered in Nyangani Dam. Allied Timbers had to hire a crane to retrieve the tractor from the dam.

Police confirmed the gory murder and said investigations were in progress.

It is alleged that Chirimo knocked off duty at an Allied Timbers Estate in Mutasa on April 14 and went to the workshop to park the tractor.

“The following day, Justin William Matanga saw a trailer which was stuck on a tree. There were tractor tyre marks leading to Nyangani Dam.

“A spirited search by the sub-aqua unit failed to recover Chirimo’s body. It was later found floating in Nyangani Dam on April 21. There was a deep cut on his head, with his eyes missing,” said Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda.

In a separate incident, a dispute over pieces of gold ended tragically after a 27-year-old Nyanga man gruesomely murdered his brother following a beer binge.

The siblings — Samuel and Simudzai Sokiri (31) — could not agree on how to share the two grammes of gold they had panned in Nyamutongere, Mozambique.

The murder occurred in Chimusasa Village under Chief Katerere.

Samuel vanished soon after committing the heinous crime and is still at large.

“Samuel, Simudzai and their friends — Aloise Nyamatanga and Freddy Mukonowamwere — were drinking beer at Chimusasa Business Centre when an altercation ensued between the two brothers. They started fighting and Samuel hit Simudzai.

“The latter fell to the ground and lost consciousness. The other three men left him there and proceeded home.

“Kembo Chimusasa later saw Simudzai and took him home. Unfortunately, he died the same night.

“We are appealing to members of the public with information leading to Samuel’s arrest to contact their nearest police station,” said Insp Chananda.- Manica Post

IN a suspected case of ritual murder, the body of a 57-year-old tractor driver who had been missing for five days was found with a deep cut on the head.

His eyes were also missing.

The remains of Grey Chirimo, who was employed by Allied Timbers, were recovered in Nyangani Dam after he had disappeared with the tractor he was driving when he was last seen.

The tractor was found by members of the police sub-aqua unit two days before his body was discovered in Nyangani Dam. Allied Timbers had to hire a crane to retrieve the tractor from the dam.

Police confirmed the gory murder and said investigations were in progress.

It is alleged that Chirimo knocked off duty at an Allied Timbers Estate in Mutasa on April 14 and went to the workshop to park the tractor.

“The following day, Justin William Matanga saw a trailer which was stuck on a tree. There were tractor tyre marks leading to Nyangani Dam.

“A spirited search by the sub-aqua unit failed to recover Chirimo’s body. It was later found floating in Nyangani Dam on April 21. There was a deep cut on his head, with his eyes missing,” said Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda.

In a separate incident, a dispute over pieces of gold ended tragically after a 27-year-old Nyanga man gruesomely murdered his brother following a beer binge.

The siblings — Samuel and Simudzai Sokiri (31) — could not agree on how to share the two grammes of gold they had panned in Nyamutongere, Mozambique.

The murder occurred in Chimusasa Village under Chief Katerere.

Samuel vanished soon after committing the heinous crime and is still at large.

“Samuel, Simudzai and their friends — Aloise Nyamatanga and Freddy Mukonowamwere — were drinking beer at Chimusasa Business Centre when an altercation ensued between the two brothers. They started fighting and Samuel hit Simudzai.

“The latter fell to the ground and lost consciousness. The other three men left him there and proceeded home.

“Kembo Chimusasa later saw Simudzai and took him home. Unfortunately, he died the same night.

“We are appealing to members of the public with information leading to Samuel’s arrest to contact their nearest police station,” said Insp Chananda.- Manica Post

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) senior executives allegedly helped themselves to 3 000 litres of diesel originally allocated for refuse collection, road maintenance and other crucial services, it has emerged.
Ironically, the local authority repeatedly claims its service delivery efficacy is hampered by fuel shortages.

The alleged diversion of the fuel came to light after BCC acting director of road workshops Dalithemba Sibanda appeared before an internal disciplinary board instituted by Makhosi Tshalebwa, the BCC human capital director last week.

The diverted diesel was part of the 20 000 litres specially procured for service delivery between December last year and February this year. The fuel was delivered and stored at the Khami Rd Main Stores.

“Between January 11 and February 26 this year, the accused person issued several requisitions to Stores instructing the Stores Controller to issue fuel to fuel tankers that were purportedly said to belong to Asphalt Products (Pvt) Ltd, a contractor that had won the contract to undertake road works in the city,” a BCC source said.

“In February this year, the contractor ran out of fuel before completion of the project and was asked why he could not complete the works as per the contract after having been paid in advance and he explained that he had not received fuel and was expecting 10 000 litres,” the source said.

The source further said an internal audit was carried out, which recommended that Sibanda should explain the discrepancy.

“He failed to give a satisfactory answer, resulting in his suspension pending disciplinary hearing. In the hearing Sibanda apologised and explained that when he did this, he was under the direct instructions from his superiors (Town clerk Christopher Dube and Engineering Services director Simela Dube) and as such believed what he was doing was above board.”

BCC town clerk Dube declined to comment on the matter for fear it could jeopardise investigations.

“The matter is still under investigation. I cannot comment before due processes are conducted and concluded. We have to allow due processes to take place,” Dube said.

However, the Affirmative Action Group (AAG) hit out at the council for not reporting the matter to the police as the black empowerment lobby group accused city fathers of aiding corruption.

“What is surprising in this case is that no police report was made and Sibanda despite being found guilty got away with a written warning,” AAG chief executive officer Denzel Sita said.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission last year launched an investigation into council operations from reports of graft involving councillors and management.

The probe led to the arrest of a council director. -Zimbabwe Independent

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF has ordered school heads and civil servants in Masvingo Province to attend lessons at Herbert Chitepo School Of Ideology.

Below is a report compiled by former Masvingo Central MP, Jeffryson Chitando:

Chitepo School Of Ideology In Gutu!

“Reports coming in point out that all School Heads government department heads in Gutu District are absent from their workplaces attending indoctrination lessons at Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.

Zanu PF is more concerned about oiling its election machine disregarding all COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

COVID-19 superspreader in this country is the reckless ZanuPF leadership.

It must be put to Mnangagwa and Zanu PF Politiburo that COVID-19 does not know political affiliation.

The school heads are likely to endanger the lives of school teachers and parents.

It seems Zanu PF is so afraid of MDC Alliance People’s President Nelson Nehemiah Chamisa that it is prepared to sacrifice people’s lives.

It’s for every Zimbabwean to see that Zanu PF has entered a new level of ” NEW DESPERATION” not the once preached New Dispensation.

Last year when high ranking ZanuPF members succumbed to COVID-19 people took social media to express their joy.

This was unAfrican , inhumane and below our Christian values. The sole reason which pushed Zimbabweans to do such was that ZanuPF held rallies, DCC elections and many meetings against lockdown regulations.

Patriotic Papa JC speaks when things are not good !!!

A Rusape pastor Kindness Tashu stand accused of molesting a member of his flock- who is a minor after late night prayers in his office.

A report was lodged at Rusape Police Station referenced CR25/04/21. Pastor Tashu, who leads an AFM assembly, denied the allegations stating that he did not molest the girl although he conducted the prayer sessions.

He claimed the story was a gimmick to tarnish him because of factional fights within the church.

“This thing is a plot. A lot of church politics is at play. The accusations are influenced by factions. They want to tarnish my name in the community and they are simply fighting me.

“On the mentioned day, I just took her for prayer sessions. These people are not real members of the church. They are fuelling church factions and nothing else. All these are fabrications and I will prove myself in court,” Pastor Tashu said.

Speaking to H-Metro, the brother of the alleged victim said: “The pastor molested the girl during a prayer session.

“He is in our neighbourhood and he took advantage of the fact that all other family members were away except my sister.

“My mom had left the pastor’s wife as the guardian of the girl during the family’s absence. The pastor tricked the girl into late prayers in an attempt to sleep with her after cell groups. On the day, the pastor called her to his office and prayed for her more than five times. He then told the girl he wanted to teach her how to handle a man in bed.

“It is then that he pushed the girl towards the walls and started fondling her. This happened after 10:30pm when other family members were already asleep at the pastor’s house.

“We have lodged a report at Rusape Police Station for indecent assault. We tried to discuss the issue with him to hear his side of the story and he was so defensive claiming that we don’t understand how the spiritual realm works.

“After that we then reported to the police station,” the brother said. Pastor Tashu who leads an AFM assembly denied the allegations stating that he only made prayer sessions with the girl and did not molest the girl.

He claimed the story was a gimmick made to tarnish him and due to factional fights within the church.

“This thing is a plotted thing, a lot of church politics is at play. The accusations are influenced by factions. They want to tarnish my name in the community and they are simply fighting me.

“On the mentioned day I just took her for praying sessions. These people are not real members of the church. They are fuelling church factions and nothing else.

“All are fabrications and will prove myself in the court,” Pastor Tashu -said. -H Metro

A 45-year-old Beitbridge man has been jailed for an effective 30 years for raping three juveniles aged between seven and nine years, among them, his two daughters.
The assailant of Dulivhadzimu Suburb denied four charges of rape but Beitbridge Regional Magistrate Ms Sithembiso Ndebele convicted him on the strength of the State evidence.

She slapped him with 15 years imprisonment for the first two counts, and another 15 years for count three and four.

The man was left with an effective 30 years to serve after the court ruled that the 15 years in the first two counts will run concurrently.

Prosecutor, Ms Tsitsi Mtukwa said the man abused his daughters aged eight and nine years in January last year. The court heard that the third minor was sexually abused on Christmas Day last year.

The matter came to light when he was arrested on a different charge on January 15 this year and his children were taken to a local children’s home where they later narrated their ordeal to social workers there. The other case was separately reported by the victim’s mother after he had raped her for the second time on January 6. -Chronicle

Her face is cheerless as she struggles to hold back tears in her glinting bloodshot eyes.

Ms Lousinonh Siziba is among 244 mental health patients detained at Mlondolozi Mental Health Prison for almost a decade awaiting competence evaluation by a mental tribunal board.

Over 400 inmates with mental illness have for the past 10 years been stuck at the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) centres across the country following delays by the mental health board to review their condition for possible release.

Ms Siziba’s narrative is consistently engaging and filled with sorrow as it evokes memories from the past.

Ms Siziba (29) suffered from a mental illness called postpartum psychosis soon after giving birth in September 2013. Postpartum psychosis (or puerperal psychosis) is a rare and severe form of postnatal depression (PND).

With a rare mixture of honesty and compassion, Ms Siziba shares her own experiences with postpartum psychosis.

She reveals her painful experience, lack of emotional support from her boyfriend and complications f new motherhood, which led to her killing her seven-month-old baby.

Her encounter with PND, which she explores fearlessly, is harrowing. Ms Siziba’s story clearly illuminates the pain and shame she suffered upon giving birth.

“I got pregnant and gave birth in November soon after finishing writing my O-level examinations at Tennyson Hlabangana High School. I suffered from puerperal psychosis and got bitter because of what was happening in my life, including the complications with my boyfriend,” she said.

“He didn’t give me adequate emotional and material support during pregnancy and after giving birth and it really affected me psychologically, particularly knowing that I would not be proceeding to A-level.”

Ms Siziba said after seven months of giving birth, she killed her baby daughter. She was arrested and later taken to court on murder charges.

“On November 4, 2014, I was brought to the High Court, which was on circuit in Hwange and the judge found me not guilty and acquitted me. He retained a special verdict by reason of insanity and I was committed to Mlondolozi Mental Health Prison for treatment and rehabilitation.” she said.

Ms Siziba said it took her 12 months to fully recover from PND.

“It took me about a year to be stable because nurses and psychologists gave us counselling and occupational therapy. Rehabilitation officers also gave us tasks such as hairdressing, making mats and that really helped us a lot and I am perfectly fine now and ready for release,” she said.

“My family also played a significant role as they stood by me. I don’t think, I would have completely recovered without their support.

“My major concern is that despite my recovery, I have been stuck at Mlondolozi for about nine years now waiting for the board to sit and determine my case. Human rights lawyers, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi) and prison bosses visited us on several occasions and we told them about our plight, but nothing has happened to address our issue,” said Ms Siziba.

“At one time I thought of writing a petition to the President, but being someone perceived as mentally ill, I had second thoughts knowing that I wouldn’t be taken seriously. As mental patients, we feel we are treated like criminals and being discriminated yet this is not out of choice.”

Growing up in Jambezi, Matabeleland North, Ms Siziba said she had never suffered from mental health issues until she fell pregnant and gave birth.

“We are in this mental health institution and living with people convicted for various crimes, yet we are classified as mental patients. This is a painful experience considering that whenever there is amnesty, we are left out while others serving for similar offences, are released,” she said. Ms Siziba said her prolonged stay at Mlondlolozi while waiting for a tribunal to sit is likely to cause a relapse.

“Since I came here, I noticed that the board hasn’t sat. The Minister of Justice came here and we told him about our plight and he assured us that he would look into the issue, but nothing has been done to date. People always stigmatise mental patients,” said Ms Siziba.

She hopes that in the event that she gets released, she will either go back to school or utilise the skills she acquired at Mlondolozi to sustain herself.

ZPCS Commissioner-General Moses Chihobvu said the inmates’ fate lies in the hands of the mental tribunal board, as they are not eligible for amnesty in the absence of intensive assessment. He said the swelling number of the inmates is now straining the facilities and creating congestion.

Section 68 of the Mental Health Act provides for the establishment of mental health hospital boards.

The board of the institution is the first port of call where one’s case is reviewed for possible release. If satisfied that the patient can be released, it makes the necessary recommendations to the tribunal.

When the tribunal sits, it considers a patient’s case and then makes a final decision on whether to release the patient or order further detention.

Ingutsheni Hospital clinical director Dr Wellington Ranga said postpartum psychosis symptoms are similar to those of a bipolar, manic episode.

“Giving birth to a baby brings about many changes, and these can include changes in a new mom’s mood and emotions. Some women experience more than the normal ups and downs of the postpartum time period,” he said.

“Many factors play a role in postpartum mental health. During this time, the most severe end of the change spectrum is a condition known as postpartum psychosis, or puerperal psychosis.”

Dr Ranga said the condition causes a woman to experience symptoms that can be scary for her.

“She may hear voices, see things that aren’t reality, and experience extreme feelings of sadness and anxiety, violent thoughts, such as telling a mother to hurt her baby. These symptoms warrant emergency medical treatment,” he said.

Dr Ranga said symptoms vary, and can change rapidly. They can include high mood (mania), depression, confusion, hallucinations and delusions. “When you are thrown into the deep end you should have defence mechanisms to help you cope with situations likely to cause depression,” he said. “As a community we need to know how to defend ourselves mentally in the event of a traumatic situations without resorting to anything that is self-destructive.”

In terms of treatment, Dr Ranga said PND has two modalities where medication tablets and psychologist help are required.

“In the case of Siziba even when she gets better from PND, in the long run she will need a psychologist. Even when you get normal, but when you are later told that you killed your own son or daughter, you will be affected somehow psychologically,” he said.

Ms Jacqueline Nkomo, a local psychologist, said after delivery there are many things that take place, which affect a woman in terms of mental health.

“PND is caused by fluctuating hormone levels from the time you give birth up to day 10, but if you see it going beyond that period, it becomes an issue of concern. “What happens with PND is that each time you look at the child, you feel this anger or the person is always crying and they no longer take care of themselves,” she said.

According to the World Health Organisation it is estimated that one to two out of every 1 000 women experience postpartum psychosis after giving birth. The condition is rare and usually occurs within two to three days of delivery. -Chronicle

Tinashe Sambiri|Veteran Movement for Democratic Change Change activist, Dick Ishemunyoro has died.

This was announced by former MDC Youth Assembly chairperson, Happymore Chidziva.Chidziva is the current MDC Alliance secretary for rural strategies and mobilization.

Ishemunyoro was based in Redcliff.

“My dear Brother leader Dick ishemunyoro

A pioneer of the Movement for Democratic change in the Redcliff High Density Surbub of Torwood popularly known as ku karaga has died.

Ishemunyoro is said to have fallen into a mine pit and died Wednesday night.

I salute this dear cde for standing with the people in time of the fight against dictatorship
It is such a big loss to the MDC family but most importantly to our nation.

Dick was a strong, firm and assertive leader who took a clear stand against the dictatorship. I salute his devotion to a cause so noble. Her untimely and incomprehensible death has left a very big gap.To the ishemunyoro and makhulumo families ndinoti nyaradzwai munashe

Rest in peace comrade. May God help us to finish this mission which you worked very hard for,” Chidziva wrote on Facebook.

TODAY he is a respected man of God and he makes no secret of his chequered past.

Ex-convict Edmose Hadebe (54), who was sentenced in 1991 to face the hangman’s noose before his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment for murdering a fellow imbiber during a beer drink at Big Bhawa in Makokoba suburb in Bulawayo, became a pastor when he was set free in 2014.

Pastor Hadebe, who was arrested when he was 25 years, openly shared his stories and struggles with B-Metro, saying following his release after spending 26 years in prison, he left everything behind in prison and took with him a burning faith in God.

He said while in prison one day he got on his knees and asked Jesus to forgive him for his sins and fix his life. And that is when he decided to enroll for a Diploma in Theology as he knew God was already preparing him to spread His Word to both inmates and people outside prison. He is now a pastor at Praise and Worship Centre’s Mthombothemba branch, which covers Waterford suburb and How Mine area on the outskirts of Bulawayo.

A B-Metro news crew visited him at his home in Riverside suburb, where he exclusively narrated how God transformed his life during his 26-year stint in prison. He said he spent most of that time reading the Bible and studying the Bible with as many as 50 inmates, many of whom became Christians.

It came to light that before he served time for murder, Pastor Hadebe was a member of the Zimbabwe National Army and with his accomplices, during their drinking sprees, they abused the name of the armed forces by beating up people at Big Bhawa in Makokoba.

“Before I got arrested and served time for murder, I was a member of the Zimbabwe National Army and I was stationed at One Brigade (now Khumalo Barracks). With my friends, we loved to spend most of our time drinking beer at Big Bhawa in Makokoba.

“We abused our authority when we formed a group called ‘The Famous Three’ and it was notorious for assaulting people at this drinking spot,” he said.

He said it was rare for them to leave the drinking spot in question without picking a fight as they believed they were superior and stronger than their civilian counterparts.

“It was, however, unfortunate that one day we had a misunderstanding with another imbiber, who was also a friend of ours and at the height of the altercation we stabbed him several times before he fell on the ground.

When we realised that he was seriously injured we disappeared from the scene,” he reflects soberly. Pastor Hadebe said when news filtered the following day that that the person they had stabbed had died, it affected him since the fight had been triggered by a minor issue that they could have resolved amicably.

“The police hunted us down and I was the last person to be picked up. The matter was later referred to court. I languished in remand prison for more than a year before my imprisonment in 1991.

“I never thought the judge was going to be very hard on me as the murder was not an intentional killing. After a short stint in jail and while waiting for my turn to be hanged that is when I decided to repent and accept Jesus as my personal Saviour. For the three years I had been on death row I was praying to God everyday asking for mercy and protection. My prayers were answered when the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment,” he said.

He said that is when he realised that God had bigger plans for him.

The Damascus moment
Pastor Hadebe said when he was transferred from Chikurubi Maximum Prison in Harare to Khami Remand Prison in Bulawayo, he met Dr Trust Sinjoki, general overseer of Praise and Worship Centre in Bulawayo and also the patron of Prison to Praise.

“While I was in prison, it was like Dr Sinjoki had adopted me to be his son as he started supplying me with stationery and books as I was now doing my Ordinary Level. With his support I managed to pass seven subjects and these are Ndebele, English, and Commerce, Accounts, Bible studies, History and Business Studies.”

He added: “That is when I decided to pursue a diploma in Theology. This idea was pushed by the life I was experiencing in prison. I have always kept positive and that’s how I keep going.”

Pastor Hadebe said with the support of Dr Sinjoki they managed to launch Prison to Praise, a programme to educate and enlighten inmates on the goodness of accepting Jesus as their Saviour.

“Under Prison to Praise we reached out to ex-inmates and those who are still serving and as we speak more than 10 pastors were ordained under this programme,” he said.

Hadebe said in 2014 he was part of prisoners who benefited under the Presidential Amnesty and this gave him an opportunity to re-unite with his family and preach the word of God.

“It was one of my prayers to find my parents still alive and as per my requests I found them still living. Upon my release from prison, I was given an exceptional reception by my church and it also supported my wedding. With the confidence they invested in me I was given a branch that I am currently leading.”

He appreciated the support he got from his family for nearly three decades while in prison cells. He said he got through all of these years behind bars by keeping the faith he’d be free one day. As advice to other ex-convicts, Pastor Hadebe said they should pray and work hard to ward off the possibility of them going back to jail.- B- Metro

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF has ordered school heads and civil servants in Masvingo Province to attend lessons at Herbert Chitepo School Of Ideology.

Below is a report compiled by former Masvingo Central MP, Jeffryson Chitando:

Chitepo School Of Ideology In Gutu!

“Reports coming in point out that all School Heads government department heads in Gutu District are absent from their workplaces attending indoctrination lessons at Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.

Zanu PF is more concerned about oiling its election machine disregarding all COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

COVID-19 superspreader in this country is the reckless ZanuPF leadership.

It must be put to Mnangagwa and Zanu PF Politiburo that COVID-19 does not know political affiliation.

The school heads are likely to endanger the lives of school teachers and parents.

It seems Zanu PF is so afraid of MDC Alliance People’s President Nelson Nehemiah Chamisa that it is prepared to sacrifice people’s lives.

It’s for every Zimbabwean to see that Zanu PF has entered a new level of ” NEW DESPERATION” not the once preached New Dispensation.

Last year when high ranking ZanuPF members succumbed to COVID-19 people took social media to express their joy.

This was unAfrican , inhumane and below our Christian values. The sole reason which pushed Zimbabweans to do such was that ZanuPF held rallies, DCC elections and many meetings against lockdown regulations.

Patriotic Papa JC speaks when things are not good !!!

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has described the appointment of the Local Government Board by July Moyo as illegal.

The popular movement challenged the Zanu PF regime to respect specific constitutional provisions.

According to the MDC Alliance, the move is calculated to create space for the appointment of incompetent Zanu PF functionaries…

See statement below:

Tinashe Sambiri|Veteran Movement for Democratic Change Change activist, Dick Ishemunyoro has died.

This was announced by former MDC Youth Assembly chairperson, Happymore Chidziva.Chidziva is the current MDC Alliance secretary for rural strategies and mobilization.

Ishemunyoro was based in Redcliff.

“My dear Brother leader Dick ishemunyoro

A pioneer of the Movement for Democratic change in the Redcliff High Density Surbub of Torwood popularly known as ku karaga has died.

Ishemunyoro is said to have fallen into a mine pit and died Wednesday night.

I salute this dear cde for standing with the people in time of the fight against dictatorship
It is such a big loss to the MDC family but most importantly to our nation.

Dick was a strong, firm and assertive leader who took a clear stand against the dictatorship. I salute his devotion to a cause so noble. Her untimely and incomprehensible death has left a very big gap.To the ishemunyoro and makhulumo families ndinoti nyaradzwai munashe

Rest in peace comrade. May God help us to finish this mission which you worked very hard for,” Chidziva wrote on Facebook.

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF has ordered school heads and civil servants in Masvingo Province to attend lessons at Herbert Chitepo School Of Ideology.

Below is a report compiled by former Masvingo Central MP, Jeffryson Chitando:

Chitepo School Of Ideology In Gutu!

“Reports coming in point out that all School Heads government department heads in Gutu District are absent from their workplaces attending indoctrination lessons at Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.

Zanu PF is more concerned about oiling its election machine disregarding all COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

COVID-19 superspreader in this country is the reckless ZanuPF leadership.

It must be put to Mnangagwa and Zanu PF Politiburo that COVID-19 does not know political affiliation.

The school heads are likely to endanger the lives of school teachers and parents.

It seems Zanu PF is so afraid of MDC Alliance People’s President Nelson Nehemiah Chamisa that it is prepared to sacrifice people’s lives.

It’s for every Zimbabwean to see that Zanu PF has entered a new level of ” NEW DESPERATION” not the once preached New Dispensation.

Last year when high ranking ZanuPF members succumbed to COVID-19 people took social media to express their joy.

This was unAfrican , inhumane and below our Christian values. The sole reason which pushed Zimbabweans to do such was that ZanuPF held rallies, DCC elections and many meetings against lockdown regulations.

Patriotic Papa JC speaks when things are not good !!!

Three people lost their lives after drowning in separate incidents which occurred in the Midlands province this week.

Two of the incidents occurred in Mberengwa, while in the other case, a woman’s body was found floating in a swimming pool in Kwekwe.

The body of Patricia Mbinga aged 36 who was an employee at a Kwekwe Primary School was found floating in a swimming pool at the school premises on Wednesday after she had gone missing on Monday.

In Mberengwa, a 19-year-old man’s body was found floating in Ndove river on Tuesday while the body of a 78-year-old man was found in Madzivire dam on Wednesday.

Reports indicate that in the Ndove river incident, Innocent Tadzembwa who was epileptic left his homestead early in the morning only for his body to be discovered floating in the river later that day.

In the Madzivire dam incident, Wilson Dube left for beer drinking at Chingechuru business centre on Tuesday only for his body to be found floating in the dam the following day.

Zimbabwe Republic Police Midlands provincial spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incidents.

-State Media

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has described the appointment of the Local Government Board by July Moyo as illegal.

The popular movement challenged the Zanu PF regime to respect specific constitutional provisions.

According to the MDC Alliance, the move is calculated to create space for the appointment of incompetent Zanu PF functionaries…

See statement below:

Opposition MDC Alliance vice-president Tendai Biti and five other legislators are set to bounce back to Parliament after the High Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by Benjamin Rukanda, who last month recalled them under the guise that he was the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) secretary-general.

Rukanda last month recalled Biti (Harare East), Willias Madzimure (Kambuzuma), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Kucaca Phulu (Nkulumane), Sichelesile Mahlangu (Pumula) and Regai Tsunga (Mutasa South).

The High Court ruled that Rukanda was not the bona fide PDP secretary general, but he challenged Justice Amy Tsaga’s ruling. However, Justice Tawanda Chitapi on Wednesday dismissed the appeal on the basis that it failed to comply with the rules.

United Kingdom-based law expert Alex Magaisa said Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda had no choice, but to reinstate the six MPs.

“I don’t understand why the MPs are waiting for Mudenda to call them to Parliament,” Magaisa said.

“Mudenda has no choice in the matter. The High Court quashed the illegal expulsion. It means it was null and void. It’s as if it never happened. They should return to Parliament and take their seats.”

-Newsday

Bulawayo lawyer Nqobani Sithole has taken President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda, Senate President Marble Chinomona and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi to court contesting the legality of the restoration of Constitutional Amendment No 1 (HB 1A. 2017) which lapsed in July 2018.

Sithole filed the application at the Bulawayo High Court on April 22 citing Mnangagwa, Mudenda, Ziyambi and Chinomona as respondents.

In his founding affidavit, Sithole submitted that he was filing the application in terms of Section 167 (2) (d) of the Constitution as read with Rule 27 of the Constitutional Court Rule 2016 for declaratory orders and consequential relief for the court to declare that parliament through Senate failed to exercise its legislative authority under section 131 (2) of the constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 20 Act 2013 in accordance with the Constitution by passing a motion to restore the constitution amendment No.1) H.B 1A, 2017 to the order paper on March 24 2021 when the said Constitutional Bill had lapsed on July 29 2018 by operation of section 147 of the Constitution.

He said it must be declared that parliament through the senate failed to exercise legislative authority under section 131 (2) of the Constitution.

Sithole further said it must be declared that all processes from the restoration and passage of Constitution Amendment No.1 (H.B 1A, 2017 by the senate on March 24 2021 and on April 6 2021 are of no force or effect.

He said the law requires the respondents not to violate any provision of the Constitution as section 119 of the same imposes an obligation on parliament to protect the Constitution and promote democratic governance.

His application arose in that during the eighth parliament, Ziyambi tabled a Bill Amendment No.1 (H.B. 1A, 2017) the provision of which sought to amend several sections of the constitution including the manner in which the appointment of judicial officers was to be done.

“On July 25, 2017 the Bill was debated and passed in the House of Assembly of the eighth parliament as required by section. He said the law requires the respondents not to violate any provision of the Constitution as section 119 of the same imposes an obligation on parliament to protect the Constitution and promote democratic governance 328 of the constitution. The bill received the required affirmation two thirds vote,” Sithole submitted.

“In terms of the Constitution, the same affirmation was required in the senate of the Eighth parliament to pass the same Bill and apparently on August 1, 2017 the senate purported to have achieved this threshold.”

He said the vote in the senate ended before the court when the validity of the vote was challenged on the basis that the two thirds threshold had not been attained.

He added that two court applications were filed by legislators Innocent Gonese and Jessie Majome and were subsequently consolidated.

He said the life of the eighth parliament lasted until July 29, 2018 and all proceedings pending at the time of dissolution of the eighth parliament were terminated and every Bill, motion, petition and other business of that parliament lapsed on dissolution.

He said it was illegal that on March 24, 2021 parliament through the senate passed the same motion restoring the constitutional Amendment No. 1 (Bill H.B 1A, 2017) and the same as done on April 6, 2021.

Respondents are yet to file opposition papers in the matter.

Zimbabwe Independent

Scores of pupils were yesterday left stranded at roadsides as police in Bulawayo impounded vehicles that were pirating in defiance of the Government’s travel regulations meant to curb the spread of Covid-19.

A total of 13 touts have been arrested and 209 vehicles operating illegally seized in the city this week.

Police impounded staff buses, vehicles hired to ferry school children but are not registered under the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) and taxis operating illegally.

Before being released to their owners after paying relevant fines, vehicles taken by the police have to be cleared for outstanding tickets by Bulawayo City Council (BCC), while Zimra checks whether the vehicles were properly imported, not under-declared and did not evade taxes. Zinara also checks for the validity of licence plates.

Government in March last year banned private ‘public’ service operators as part of measures to contain the pandemic.

All commuter omnibus operators have to register under the Zupco franchise to be allowed to ferry passengers.

However, parents have raised concern over privately hired taxis that are being impounded by the police which ferry pupils to and from school.

Yesterday school children – most of them at ECD level – were left stranded and some did not attend school at all.

At a press conference at Ross Camp yesterday, Bulawayo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said the Road Motor Transport Act states that only Zupco-contracted commuter omnibuses are allowed to be hired as staff buses or to ferry school children.

“As police we say there is no selective application of law hence staff buses and vehicles ferrying school children not contracted under Zupco are not allowed to operate. Some of these commuter omnibuses are not even contracted by the companies or schools that they claim to be serving. This kind of operation is illegal as only those commuter omnibuses that are contracted to Zupco are allowed to operate,” he said.

Insp Ncube said schools should make arrangements with Zupco to avail kombis to transport pupils.

He warned members of the public against boarding non-Zupco kombis or buses at undesignated points as they face arrest.

He said commuters should shun vehicles without number plates as most of them are used in cases of armed robberies, mugging, rape and hit-and-run incidents.

“Police in Bulawayo have arrested 13 touts and 209 public service vehicles of which 121 are commuter omnibuses (kombis) and the remaining being Mshikashika operating motor vehicles and also defying the Road Traffic Act and Covid 19 regulations,’’ said Inspector Ncube.

In an interview, Mr Bekezela Ngoma, a parent, said children were stuck in the city centre, while others were stuck at roadblocks as vehicles were impounded and they had no means to get home.

‘‘My child dismissed from school at 1pm and he arrived home at 5pm, while some children were stuck in town after 7pm. We are at risk, even those that do not have kids at school. I have witnessed the police doing high speed chases with those so-called illegal taxis putting the lives of people in danger. We need to be protected by the police but they are endangering our lives,’’ he said.

Another parent said while they understand that some kombis are illegal, Zupco does not take children to and from school.

‘‘Zupco does not transport schoolchildren to school they only drop them at bus stops while these private hire school-run kombis drop them safely at school gates.

“Our children were left stranded in some places when the police impounded kombis exposing our children to kidnapping,’’ said Mrs Nothando Nkomo.

Mr Patrick Sande appealed to the Government to avail legal transport that will take children directly to school, collect them when they knock off and leave them at their homes.

Rethabile Mangena, a student at the National University of Science and Technology, said she arrived at 11AM for an 8AM lecture.

“Transport was a challenge in the morning, I waited at the bus stop for two hours until I arrived on campus at 11am when my lecture was through,” she said.

The Chronicle news crew yesterday observed commuters walking home together with schoolchildren to the western suburbs along 6th Avenue Extension as there were transport challenges following the police blitz.

Commuters raised concerns that they are facing transport challenges as Zupco is sometimes overwhelmed by the number of people.

-State Media

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says opposition MDC-T legislators who last week voted in support of Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 2 were sell-outs.

The proposed law seeks to, among other things, strike off the presidential running mate clause in the constitution as well as empower the President to promote sitting judges of the High Court and Supreme Court without going through any public interviews as is currently the case.

The law also seeks to provide judges of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts an option of extended tenure beyond the retirement age of 70 while also broadening the president’s scope to appoint non-parliamentary ministers.

The attempt to patch up the 2013 national constitution has also been widely criticised as an attempt by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to safeguard his political interests beyond the 2023 elections.

Critics are angered government was investing a lot of energy and resources towards a law which had no positive bearing on the lives of ordinary interests while there was no equal display of zeal to align existing laws with the national charter.

But while Zanu-PF could be excused for pushing a law tailored at tightening its stranglehold on national politics, it is the opposition that has come under fire for being willing supporters of the controversial legislation.

Said ZCTU president Peter Mutasa at a Thursday press conference, “The 2013 constitution came through a long process that include consultation of the citizens.

“So, anyone who has been appointed or elected by the citizens and who sits in the Senate or House of Assembly and does not realise the need for consultation before the Constitution is amended, there is no other characterisation of that person; they are sell-outs.

“They are the Morrison Nyathi of the liberation struggle and they are everywhere.

“So, we must be very clear as citizens that we are not going to side with those that are not siding with us. That has to be open.

“And I am sure you have seen some of them trying to come out after citizens raised voices.

“So, we need also to raise our voices against those who are mutilating the people’s Constitution.

“It is expected, they have never been any struggle without its turncoats, without its sell-outs but what we can pronounce openly that those people are selling out.”

Mwonzora, a day after the Bill passed through the Parliament with his MPs voting yes, hurriedly converged a press conference to explain why his legislators voted in support of the Bill in what stakeholders say was meant to manage public perception.

There are claims the politician was secretly whipping his Senators to vote in support of the Bill but publicly criticise it.

Added Mutasa, “There is another point we need to urgently deal with. Many people across the country are not aware of what is happening in the citadel of dictatorship in Harare, in the Parliament which is no longer honourable.

“We need to spread this message in languages that people understand and it is a collective responsibility.

“It is only when people are informed, empowered and understand what is happening and when we get everyone standing up fighting for their rights.

“So, we need to fight against this amendment and use all our organisations, all our resources that we have.

“In fighting, you are going to get many reprisals, we are going to face many challenges, what is going to make sure that this amendment, what is going to make sure that we succeed is the solidarity which must be the goal that unites us.”

-state media