By A Correspondent- South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the violence that led to the death of President Idriss Déby of Chad on Tuesday.

A Chadian army spokesperson announced on Tuesday that Deby succumbed to injuries that he sustained over the weekend while fighting insurgents in the north of the country.

A statement issued by the Presidency of South Africa read:

President Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, extended his deepest condolences to the fallen President’s family as well as the government and people of Chad.

President Ramaphosa has furthermore expressed the concern of the South African government at developments in the Republic of Chad involving armed groups.

President Ramaphosa says an immediate cessation of violence is necessary to bring peace and stability to the Republic of Chad as part of ending conflict on the continent.

In a statement read out on state television yesterday, Chadian army spokesman General Azem Bermandoa Agouna said Deby, 68, “has just breathed his last defending the sovereign nation on the battlefield” over the weekend.

General Mahamat Kaka, the son of the deceased Chadian leader, was named interim head of state pending fresh elections that will be held after 18 months.

The news of Deby’s death came after provisional election results released on Monday showed that Deby had won a sixth term. He had been in power since 1990 following an armed rebellion.

Deby won 79.3 per cent of the vote in the 11 April presidential election, the results showed.

He had postponed his victory speech to supporters and instead went to visit Chadian soldiers on the frontlines.

More: The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa

ByA Correspondent- A Chinese company, Beifa Investments (Pvt) Ltd, which recently clashed with villagers in Dinde, Hwange over its coal exploration activities in the area, has lodged a complaint with the ruling ZANU PF party against a local official, Never Tshuma.

In a letter addressed to the ZANU PF Hwange District Coordinating Committee and dated 15 April 2021, Beifa Investments project manager, Zhou Zheng Qiao, who gave the company’s address as 19 Breach Road, Borrowdale, Harare, appealed to the ruling party to intervene for an amicable resolution of the conflict.

Zhou accused Tshuma, the ZANU PF Dinde Chairman, of unlawfully disrupting the implementation of the coal exploration project in the area.

Never Tshuma (45), of Katambe Village, under Chief Nekatambe, also chairs the Dinde Development Association has since been arrested and brought before a magistrate for allegedly inciting fellow villagers to disrupt Beifa Investments’ activities.

Tshuma was, however, granted $10 000 bail by a Hwange court on Saturday. He will be back in court on 17 May for routine remand.

Below is Zhou’s letter to ZANU PF:

Attention: Chairman

15 April 2021

Dear Sir RE: COMPLAINT AGAINST ZANU PF HWANGE

We write to complain against the ZANU PF Hwange Central Constituency for sending the shadow MP to unlawfully disrupt the implementation of the coal exploration project in Dinde.

The shadow MP introduced himself as Reeds Dube and he was in the company of Never Chuma who introduced himself as ZANU PF Dinde chairman.

They came driving the ZANU PF Hwange Central Constituency vehicle (Reg Number: AEN 7737). He said he was sent by the speaker of Parliament who is also sending the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee to Dinde in the near future.

The two ZANU PF officials incited the community members to resist our site mobilisation.

He told the people to beat up the investors and burn the tent. The ZRP officers were there and they warned them against such unlawful activities.

We are surprised that while the government granted us the Special grant to carry out the project, the same ruling party sends its officials to resist its implementation.

We are a law-abiding company and we wish to lawfully implement the project without disturbing the host communities.

The project is a project of national importance as it will feed into our proposed 270 Mega Watts Power Plant which is one-third of the Hwange installed capacity.

The project will go a long way in alleviating the power crisis obtaining in the country.

We appeal to your office to address these issues amicably.

Your consideration of our complaint is greatly appreciated.

Yours Sincerely

Zhou Zheng Qiao (Project Manager)

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has resolved to build residential flats for its employees as part of its new housing policy. The issue was revealed in recent council minutes which indicated that 77 council staff members were on the waiting list for council accommodation.

The accommodation policy will come at a time when council is failing to meet the demand for houses, with the housing backlog now exceeding 100 000.

“The total of all flats was 56. Furthermore, there had been an increase of demand for the council accommodation by staff due to high rentals that were even pegged in the elusive US dollar. The current waiting list stood at 77 as at November 30, 2020,” the council report said.

“Under the proposed flats policy, the criteria for council employees to be considered for staff accommodation include, among others, that one has to be registered in the flats waiting list, essential category or those who work odd hours, critical areas shortage staff, staff affected by peculiar circumstances like divorce, those who did not own houses in the city, staff who had been in council for not less than 10 years …”

The local authority owns a number of residential flats at Parthhurst, Tregene, Howard and Coles courts, among others.

In July 2006, council resolved to turn the residential flats into council staff accommodation, with non-council workers given up to January 2007 to vacate the premises.

However, council documents show that a number of non-council employees are still residing at the premises at a time when the local authority is facing a high demand for staff accommodation.

Reports show that less than 30 000 housing stands have been availed in the past decade despite a growing number of people in need of houses.

Council once sought a partnership deal with the Local Government ministry for the construction of residential flats at the sprawling Cowdray Park and Emganwini high-density suburbs to ease the city’s housing backlog.

The BCC has also lifted the suspension on the sale of housing stands on pre-sell to prevent desperate home-seekers setting up illegal settlements.

Under the model, beneficiaries provide necessary funds for servicing of their stands after entering into a payment plan with the council in which an initial deposit of 25% to 35% is paid.

The balance is paid on final completion of servicing of the stands.-newsday

@DMwonzora says: it's more important to increase women in Parliament than to strip Emmerson Mnangagwa of powers to handpick judges @nelsonchamisa @namataik_ pic.twitter.com/iRiYv9QC9h

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) April 21, 2021

https://youtu.be/odJQ9sHyRqA

MWONZORA FACES JOURNALISTS https://t.co/DiiX4mw5Tb

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) April 21, 2021

Ruling Zanu PF party officials in Gokwe North district have accused local police officers of leading an illegal mining syndicate and blocking locals and traditional leaders from mining following a gold rush in the area.

Speaking during a Gokwe North district co-ordinating committee meeting on Monday, local legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena condemned the behaviour of the police officers.

Wadyajena, who is Gokwe-Nembudziya MP, said there were reports of elements within the police force engaging in illegal mining activities and harassing villagers.

“What is even worrying is that chiefs were also blocked by the police from investigating the matter,” he said.

“Our people are not benefiting. We took up the issue of community share ownership schemes and the people led by the chiefs should benefit and that is what we want.”

A report produced by the district development committee members who visited the area with officials from the President’s Department, the police and council stated that over 8 000 people had invaded the area, resulting in an increase in cases of violence, prostitution and other criminal activities.

“The place is a haven for criminal activities,” the report read in part.

The report recommended that all the illegal activities must stop forthwith.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commisioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the gold rush and warned police officers allegedly engaged in illegal activities to refrain from such activities.

“There was an alleged gold rush, police were called in to restore order and there are processes by the relevant ministry for people to get relevant papers. lf there are officers working outside the law, we will move in and take action,” Nyathi said.

-Newsday

Corruption in the health sector has stifled service delivery despite the existence of many organisations that fight corruption, a report by Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI-Z) revealed yesterday.

TI-Z said health sector corruption had resulted in the majority of citizens losing confidence in local health systems, while government officials sought treatment abroad.

The TIZ report launched yesterday also said illicit financial flows were rampant within the health sector as noted by corrupt procurement procedures, cross-border smuggling and theft of medical supplies resulting in severe shortcomings in health service provision.

“In the past year, there has been a surge in interest on the impact of corruption on the public health sector due to the novel coronavirus. Eighty-one percent of the respondents in the research agreed that they had witnessed, experienced or heard of corruption occurring in the public health sector. As a result of the low wages and poor working conditions, public health workers have resorted to moonlighting, absenteeism, illegal referrals and bribery,” the report said.

Zimbabwe last year scored 24% in the corruption perception index compiled by TI-Z and was ranked 157 out of 180 countries in terms of fighting corruption.

Respondents who participated in the TI-Z study said they had resorted to paying bribes in cash or kind, including sex transactions to solicit for healthcare services from health workers.

“Pharmaceutical companies are sometimes left out in the bidding process while briefcase companies with links to politically exposed persons are given preferential treatment. It is like what happened in the Covidgate scandal, where Drax International, a company which was only two weeks old, was awarded a US$60 million tender.”

TI-Z urged government to improve remuneration and general welfare of health workers to curb corruption.

“The Health and Child Care ministry and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission should commission a comprehensive corruption assessment that analyses the perception of risks and vulnerabilities within the health sector,” the watchdog stated.

Commenting on the TI-Z report, Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said: “Our government’s poor record of public service delivery, alongside corruption, cronyism and mismanagement even in a pandemic and in emergency situations requires not just our oversight, but an active role in shaping and delivering an equitable national vaccination rollout programme”.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo yesterday blocked an anti-government demonstration organised by the secessionist Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP).

The MRP wanted to take to the streets to protest the persecution of its members by State security agents.

“Police did not only ban the march, but as per their culture of handling MRP matters, they also deployed heavily armed police officers in anti-riot gear … prompting the party’s security department to advise the defiant Bulawayo provincial leadership and members led by chairperson Bioz Makhalima to call off the march in order to ensure the security of members,” the MRP said in a statement.

“The people’s party leadership felt that it was not strategic and, therefore, unnecessary to let members of the party get arrested and brutalised at a time when others are already languishing in remand at Khami Prison for no apparent reason.”

Currently, nine MRP activists are caged at Khami Remand Prison following their arrest for participating in a flash demonstration outside the Bulawayo Central Police Station early last month.

A Bulawayo magistrate last Friday shot down the activists’ application for bail, insisting that the State had a strong case against them.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The National Assembly passed the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 2 on Tuesday, giving President Emmerson Mnangagwa new sweeping powers to appoint judges without public scrutiny and extend their term of office after reaching retirement age.

The vote, carried by a 191 to 22 majority, came after a judicial-approved purge of the main opposition MDC Alliance MPs, who continue to face rapid expulsions from Parliament and replacements by pliant members from the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T, a Zanu-PF surrogate.

There were, however, signs of a growing rebellion in the Mwonzora camp after four aligned MPs, including deputy leader Thokozani Khupe, Nomvula Mguni, Phelela Masuku, and Paurina Mpariwa joined Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance lawmakers and voted against the amendment which will also kill the “running mate” clause, and allow Mnangagwa to appoint his deputies, instead of elected vice presidents.

The Chamisa MPs who rejected the alterations include Livingstone Chimina, Patrick Dube, Joel Gabuza, Innocent Gonese, Shapespear Hamauswa, Norman Allan Markham, Phelela Masuku, Daniel Molokela, Edwin Mushoriwa, Stella Ndlovu, Jacob Nyokanhete, Tose Wesley Sansole, Trevor Saruwaka, Job Sikhala, Godfrey Sithole, Jane Nicola Watson, Jasmine Toffa, Illos Nyoni, and David Tekeshe.

The Bill now returns to the Senate, where Morgen Komichi, the chairman of MDC-T, previously voted against it – before heading to Mnangagwa’s desk for his assent.

Critics say the changes are a “dangerous” gambit by the ruling Zanu-PF party to concentrate and consolidate power for Mnangagwa, who toppled the late former president Robert Mugabe in a military coup in 2017.

The amended charter will allow Mnangagwa, with non-binding suggestions from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), to elevate sitting judges to higher courts without subjecting them to public interviews.

It also gives him the power to extend by up to 5 years contracts of judges serving in the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court who have reached the retirement age of 70 “subject to a favourable medical report.”

Tendai Biti, MDC Alliance vice president, took aim at “Zanu-PF [and its] MDC-T surrogates” for passing a “viciously mutilated Constitutional Amendment No. 2 that seeks to extend Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s term.”

Mabala’s retirement clock strikes on May 15 when he turns 70, and it is widely expected that, in line with the adjustments, Mnangagwa will cheerfully renew his term after the Chief Justice delivered a controversial electoral victory for him over Chamisa in 2018.

Biti said the Constitution, approved overwhelmingly by Zimbabweans across the political divide in a 2013 referendum, was “sacrosanct and should not be a tool for authoritarian consolidation.”

He vowed: “We will fight this abomination. Emmerson’s disrespect of the constitution and total violation of decency and the rule of law sets him apart as the greatest existential threat to the Zimbabwe State. In three years, Zimbabwe has descended into a little outpost of fascism and state failure, thanks to politics of greed, violence, and idiocy.”

Khupe’s refusal to join colleagues and vote with Zanu-PF despite a whipping system puts her on a renewed collision course with her boss after a bitter fallout last December when she lost the MDC-T presidency to Mwonzora in a congress marred by violence and ballot fraud.

A spokesman said Khupe voted “against the amendment because, in her view, it is a violation of the letter and spirit of the Constitution.”

“What’s wrong about a judge who is going to preside over our maters to be publicly interviewed for all to be convinced that indeed this person is fit to hold the position that they seek? asked MDC-T Senator Khaliphani Phugeni, a Khupe ally.

He said erasing the public interviews process for judges and putting the responsibility solely in the hands of Mnangagwa did not augur well for the independence of the judiciary.

“You look at the devolution deal, it’s completely watered down. That’s not the devolution that our people voted for. So Dr. Khupe said she could not be part of that,” Phugeni told ZimLive.

He added: “On the women side, the constitution says there should be 50-50 gender representation in Parliament or in all institutions of the State. Now look at what they are doing, we are going with a piecemeal approach, we are basically saying, no, we are just going to extend your quota, which does not go anywhere near 50 percent.”

-ZimLive

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

HARARE, ZIMBABWE, April 16, 2021 – The European Union (EU) funded Transforming Zimbabwe’s Dairy Value Chain for the Future (TranZDVC) project will on 23 April 2021 hand over 147 in-calf heifers to 121 dairy farmers (59 women) in 18 districts from 10 provinces. We Effect Zimbabwe, along with its co-implementing partners; Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF), Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) and Zimbabwe Dairy Industry Trust (ZDIT) imported the in-calf heifers from South Africa.

The in-calf heifers landed in Zimbabwe at a cost of US$1,358 per animal. The imported Jersey and Friesen-Jersey crosses passed animal diseases tests for Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL), Johne’s disease, Foot and Mouth, Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis.  

TranZDVC is part of an EU funded Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP), a response to tackle challenges within the country’s livestock sector through financial support from the EU amounting to €40 million.

ZAGP seeks to contribute to the development of a diversified and efficient agriculture sector that promotes inclusive green economic growth.

Covering Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces, the programme is addressing the weaknesses and gaps in livestock value chains that have hampered the sector from increasing productivity, production, and incomes to their potential. Focus is on increasing profitability, building the capacity of farmers, service institutions, and private sector through increased investment, institutional reforms and policy alignment.

“Started in 2019, TranZDVC is a four-year initiative targeting 4,000 small to medium-scale dairy farmers and larger anchor dairy farms and aims to address the root causes of the underperformance of the dairy value chain in Zimbabwe”, said Dr Edson Chifamba, the TranZDVC Project Coordinator.

Dr Chifamba added: “Through the importation of the in-calf heifers, TranZDVC will increase the production of milk in Zimbabwe from 75 million litres (in 2018) to 120 million litres (by 2022) per year and increasing the participation of small-scale farmers, especially women and youth, in the dairy value chain.’’

Zimbabwe’s dairy herd of 123,000 cows in 1990, at one point, produced more than 260 million litres of milk annually, but production declined over the years, with an estimated 39,000 dairy cows left. In 2020, the nation produced 76.7 million litres of milk against an annual demand of 130 million litres hence there is a deficit of more than 54 million litres.

To date, TranZDVC has assisted more than 33 smallholder farmers across 15 districts in 10 provinces to access 200 imported heifers on a 1:1 matching grant facility. The target is to procure 500 heifers with farmers matching with 500 heifers totalling 1,000 heifers during the life of the project. These additional 1000 heifers will contribute over 5.5 million litres of milk annually.

The first 200 heifers were distributed through processors who matched for their small-scale farmers – anyone producing less than 200 litres of milk per day. The 200 heifers were distributed to 33 beneficiaries (24 males and 9 females) through processors based on their 2018 milk intake and their work with small-scale farmers. These were Dairibord (70 heifers), Dendairy (50), Prodairy and Kelshemer (45), Kefalos (25) and Nestle, 10.

The last batch of 153 heifers will be distributed to 134 smallholder farmers (50 women) in May this year. The animals are being distributed directly to small-scale farmers as follows: 45% to existing small-scale farmers, 45% percent to new farmers aligned to processors and/integrators while 10 percent goes to green fields- new dairy farmers.

Over the two years, the project has reached more than 4000 smallholder farmers, 36 percent of whom are women. 

For additional information, please contact TranZDVC project coordinator, Dr Edson Chifamba, at [email protected]

Health experts yesterday warned that the third wave of COVID-19 had already hit the country as evidenced by the surge in new infections in the past few weeks, a situation which poses a huge challenge to the already ailing public healthcare system.

Stakeholders in the health sector told NewsDay that a new wave of COVID-19 has been spreading quietly in communities since the Easter holidays when schools recorded a spike in infections.

From an average of around 22 cases on March 30, the Health ministry’s daily updates have indicated that this has ballooned to 79 cases and with the cases continuing to rise.

To date, the country has recorded 37 859 cases and 1 553 deaths.

“The third wave is unfortunately here and is building up faster than we can imagine,” said Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive Solwayo Ngwenya.

“While it may seem like it is under control, the virus is spreading at an alarming rate in communities that have become complacent and no longer adhere to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines,” Ngwenya said.

He said the figures might even be more than what is being reported because of the country’s failure to test extensively.

“The situation in schools is difficult. If we wait for that month when schools close, the infection and viral spread will be out of control.  If indeed there are infections, they should close down the schools. However, the major worry is that the students will take the virus into the community,” he said.

The Primary and Secondary Education ministry on Monday demanded that students at learning institutions should undergo daily screening for the virus.

But Ngwenya insisted that this would be difficult to enforce.

“It is not achievable to try and contain the situation within schools. Schools are always going to be super spreaders, government was warned. They will contribute a lot to the third wave. We will not be able to cope with a massive health emergency of this pandemic,” he said.

Harare City Council’s health services director Prosper Chonzi in a video on posted on Facebook yesterday warned of a health emergency as winter approaches.

“We are anticipating a third wave as we are going into winter and we are anticipating that we get more and more cases coming. The situation might look as if everything is back to normal, but we are still having cases of COVID-19 at our units and in schools,”  he said.

“The vaccination programme rollout has started in earnest and we are happy that Harare is contributing more than 60% of the national figures as far as vaccination is confirmed, but the numbers are still not where we want them to be.

“The good thing about the vaccine is that if you get infected and you receive your two doses of the vaccine, the chances of you getting hospitalised are very few as you will also not develop severe diseases,” Chonzi added.

As a result of the looming new variants of the deadly virus, the United Nations (UN) yesterday urged nations to adopt preventive measures against COVID-19 as the pandemic was still far from over.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres in a tweet said countries worldwide had failed to effectively deal with the COVID-19 pandemic as evidenced by an increase in the number of new infections and deaths.

“So far, the global response to COVID-19 is a test we have failed. And the crisis is far from over. We need to heed the lessons now to prevent successive waves of infection, avoid a lengthy global recession and get back on track to fulfil the global goals,” he said.

Local health experts said global statistics indicated that the virus was still vicious.

Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association president Johannes Marisa said: “Even if they are vaccinated, people still need to adhere to WHO guidelines of wearing masks, sanitising and social distancing. Most importantly, we need to avoid gatherings. Gatherings risk new infection and development of new variants.”

Speaking from Beitbridge yesterday after a tour of vaccination centres in the country, principal director in the Health ministry, Maxwell Hove said his ministry would recommend the opening of border posts to President Emmerson Mnangagwa only if 23 000 or more residents in the border town get vaccinated.

Hove told journalists that only 2 000 people in Beitbridge had so far been vaccinated, with most frontline workers yet to get the jab.

“We will recommend that the border be opened when we are sure all workers have been vaccinated. We must all be aware of the spread of the disease, which is through travelling. The borders must be safe first,” Hove said.

Zimbabwe has kept its borders closed due to COVID-19, although its neighbours Botswana and South Africa have since opened theirs.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Ruling Zanu-PF party officials in Gokwe North district have accused local police officers of leading an illegal mining syndicate and blocking locals and traditional leaders from mining following a gold rush in the area.

Speaking during a Gokwe North district co-ordinating committee meeting on Monday, local legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena condemned the behaviour of the police officers.

Wadyajena, who is Gokwe-Nembudziya MP, said there were reports of elements within the police force engaging in illegal mining activities and harassing villagers.

“What is even worrying is that chiefs were also blocked by the police from investigating the matter,” he said.

“Our people are not benefiting. We took up the issue of community share ownership schemes and the people led by the chiefs should benefit and that is what we
want.”

A report produced by the district development committee members who visited the area with officials from the President’s Department, the police and council stated that over 8 000 people had invaded the area, resulting in an increase in cases of violence, prostitution and other criminal activities.

“The place is a haven for criminal activities,” the report read in part.

The report recommended that all the illegal activities must stop forthwith.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the gold rush and warned police officers allegedly engaged in illegal activities to refrain from such activities.

“There was an alleged gold rush, police were called in to restore order and there are processes by the relevant ministry for people to get relevant papers. If there are officers working outside the law, we will move in and take action,” Nyathi said.-Newsday

Eccentric Member of Parliament for Buhera South, Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu-PF) has called for more powers to be vested in the hands of President Emmerson Mnangagwa so that he can appoint whoever he wants to be the Cabinet.

Chinotimba told Parliament during a debate on the Constitution Amendment Bill that “as we are moving towards the next elections” set for 2023, more power was needed in the hands of the President so he could set up a team he felt comfortable working with as opposed to Parliament having a say in who gets to work with the President.

This, Chinotimba reasoned, could lead to more unity as even members of the opposition could be appointed Ministers on the benevolence of the President.

“The President should nominate those he wants to work with. When we went to war, we did not say we want people from America to come and assist us in Zimbabwe. There is no need for us to move in tandem with what other countries are doing,” said Chinotimba in his contribution to the debate in Parliament.

“The President must nominate the Ministers that he wants to work with. If he chooses Job Sikhala to be the Minister, no one should stop him from doing so. This is a law that must be passed as we are moving towards the next elections.

“No one should be elected by Parliament but only the President. Let us not copy what South Africa or America is doing because we should not copy laws. So, my point is the President must elect the people that he wants to work with.”

The debate in Parliament centered on whether the Constitution should be amended to allow the President to appoint top judges as opposed to the current setup where the judges go through public interviews.

Adding to the debate, MDC-T vice president Thokozani Khupe said the status quo was a better option than concentrating powers in the hands of the President.

“I would have preferred a situation where judges go through an interview where the majority of people will participate because normally, those interviews are publicised and televised.

“Every Zimbabwean will have an opportunity to listen to those interviews such that whoever gets to be the judge, they will say indeed, this person is qualified because we listened to their interviews,” she said.

-Online

By A Correspondent- The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) yesterday said teachers were still heavily incapacitated after they were paid between $13 300 and $17 000 this month after government effected a 25% increment, which is part of the 70% staggered increase which they were offered last month.

In a statement yesterday, PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said despite that 50% of their increment is still to be effected, teachers would continue to demand the pre-October 2018 salary levels of between US$520 and US$550, or their equivalent in local currency.

“At a time when salaries of MPs and ministers have increased tremendously, (Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain) Mathema does not see the effects of the erosion of teachers’ purchasing power parity. To assume that teachers earning as little as $13 300, after the latest 25% unilateral government toxic award, can survive, pay fees for their children, and report for work daily, is to ask for too much,” Zhou said.

“We want to remind Mathema that we do not eat infinite collective begging which he calls bargaining. Government has since October 2018 failed to restore the purchasing power parity of teachers’ salaries.”

On Monday, Mathema said government would implement a no-work, no-pay policy on truant teachers, adding that their names were being recorded for onward transmission to the Public Service Commission.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- An Independence Day illegal party in Hwange ended in tragedy after a villager who grabbed a married woman to dance with her allegedly stabbed her protesting husband to death.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda said Advance Sibanda (33) of Makwandara Village under Chief Nekatambe died in the early hours of Monday, five hours after being stabbed by Bongani Dube (31) of Sialwindi in neighbouring Chief Dingani-Nelukoba’s area.

Dube is also admitted to St Patrick’s Hospital in Hwange under police guard with a deep stab wound on the thigh, although his attacker is not yet known. Dube told police Sibanda stabbed him while some witnesses said he may have stabbed himself to appear as if he was attacked.  

Police are investigating the allegations.

“I can confirm that we received a report of murder where a man died following an attack at a party,” said Insp Banda.

“They were drinking beer at Makwandara grinding mill while celebrating Independence Day around 1am.

“Dube, who was dancing, grabbed Sibanda’s wife Ms Buhlebenkosi Ncube (18). Sibanda got angry and confronted Dube resulting in a misunderstanding.”  

A fight ensued between Sibanda and Dube, who allegedly drew a knife from a pocket and stabbed Sibanda on the right armpit. Insp Banda said people who were present saw Dube removing something from his pocket and stabbing Sibanda, although they did not clearly see the kind of weapon used.

Police later recovered a blood stained Okapi knife from Dube. After being stabbed, Sibanda attempted to flee from the scene, but ran for about 36 metres and collapsed. Police said some villagers carried Sibanda in a wheelbarrow to Makwandara Clinic at around 3am and on arrival they found Dube seated at the clinic with an injured thigh seeking medical assistance.

Sibanda died around 5am before he could be transferred to a hospital.  

A report was made to the police who attended the scene and found members of the public still drinking beer and playing loud music at the murder scene, while there were traces of blood near the grinding mill.

Insp Banda said Mercy Rwafa, a member of the community who hosted the party, was arrested for holding an illegal party during lockdown and is detained at Dete Police Station. He urged members of the public to desist from violence and violating lockdown rules.-statemedia

By A correspondent- A villager from Dinde, Hwange was arrested on last Friday for allegedly inciting fellow villagers to resist a coal exploration exercise by a Chinese company in the area.

Never Tshuma (45), of Katambe Village, under Chief Nekatambe chairs the Dinde Development Association.

He appeared before Hwange magistrate Aeline Munamati facing two counts of inciting violence.

Tshuma was, however, granted $10 000 bail by a Hwange court on Saturday. He will be back in court on 17 May for routine remand.

He was represented by Joylyn Change of Muvhiringi and Associates. Tshuma denies the charges.

The charges against Tshuma arose after he allegedly addressed villagers on 14 April saying the Chinese firm, Beifar Investment, should remove a tent that it had pitched in the area.

The villagers had gathered near the tent, saying they never consented to the investment programme in their area.

Police advised the community that Beifer investment had a special grant from the Ministry of Mines to explore coal in the area.

Tshuma allegedly told the community members to immediately remove the tent, which they did.

He was subsequently arrested and continued to order the community to accompany him to police.

By A correspondent- In a rather bizarre case, a member of the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect has blinded his wife of 50 years for betraying him by leaving the church.

An unrepentant Andrew Feshiti admitted to causing his wife’s blindness and bragged that she will only be healed if she comes back to the church.

The rather bizarre case came out after 80-year-old Gogo Farasia Feshiti approached Chief Saunyama’s traditional court seeking recourse.

Gogo Farasia who is now partially blind accused her husband of causing the blindness as a means of punishing her for leaving the church.

She said that she left the church last year when she discovered that her husband is into the occult and possesses goblins to enable him to be powerful and to be feared in the church and in the community.

The octagenarian further alleged that her husband had given over one of their daughters to the goblins. According to the anguished Gogo Farasia, as a result of this unholy covenant, the daughter had been married and widowed 3 times.

She said that since she left the church, she is being tormented by her husband’s goblins which are now sexually abusing her.

“I have since left my matrimonial home, I’m now staying with my daughter and the goblins have decided to punish me with blindness.

“The goblins tell me point blank that I belong to them and that if I keep resisting their advances, they will kill me.”

Feshiti who was at the court was unmoved by his wife’s anguish and freely confessed to causing the blindness. He accused his wife of betraying him and warned that there is a price to pay for such a betrayal.

In a chilling declaration, the elderly man said: “What makes her think that she can leave it and get away with such betrayal?

“There is a price to pay and in this case, it is her sight. What I have is mightier than what she has and she should not try stopping me, otherwise, she will lose,”

“I am a holy man and this curse will only be removed if she repents and reverts back to be our church member. God blessed my actions,” he said.

Feshiti then told the court officials not to summon him to court without seeking the approval of the leadership of the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect. He claimed that the church’s tenets do not allow him to attend court sessions.

True to his word, Feshiti did not attend the next court hearing. Chief Saunyama has since written to the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church leaders asking for Feshiti to be directed to appear before the court.

The matter is still ongoing.

– Manica Post

By Showbiz Reporter | There was drama when the socialite, Loveness Mahachi Mutandagayi, popularly known as Diva Malaika who was kidnapped shortly after her story of violent domestic abuse became public 2 months ago, resurfaced to challenge people who have been accusing her of drug addiction.

Some Mahachi family members, her own siblings connived with her abusive husband, allegedly to obtain favours from the ZB bank Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Ronald Mutandagayi who is out on bail, told ZimEye that he was reacting to an attack using hot water by her.

But his 15 year old daughter who filmed the flooring incident has told ZimEye, that it is not true her father was attacked using hot water; saying the abuse only happened after he was confronted over alleged cheating.

In the same interview with ZimEye early March, Mutandagayi indicated that the alleged water attack did not happen on the same day.

ZBBank CEO, Ronald Mutandagayi, assaulting his wife in front of daughter, 16. FULL INTERVIEW ON https://t.co/eY98GsdO0a pic.twitter.com/LPMtIOC0eg

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 8, 2021

Soon after the incident was made public, Malaika was visited on at her house by several men who kidnapped her and she says she positively identified one of them as Mutandagayi’s lawyer. The couple’s daughter told ZimEye her mother was taken away by police officers acting on orders of the dad who “pulled a fast one” on her.

Around that time several Mahachi family members bombarded ZimEye with abusive telephone calls demanding that the video of the attack must be taken down. One of them, who is based in South Africa, Jaweet Mahachi said he was the one behind the seizing of his sister because he was concerned over “drug addiction.”

Around that time, there were a few influential personalities who circulated the allegations of drug addiction to describe Loveness Mutandagayi’s character, inciting that she requires emergency Mental Health Act law enforcement. As a result she was seized in front of her daughter and the lass was forced to change statements during a live broadcast, just as the mother, Diva Malaika was abducted. Now after six weeks of solitary confinement, Malaika has come out to challenge everyone of those peddling the allegations. VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

By A Correspondent -A Mutare based lady of the night is thanking her lucky stars after she received a massive windfall of US$15 000 from an apparently satisfied client who had hired her for a single night.

The free-spending client is suspected to be an illegal gold panner, mukorokoza in local parlance, who had been shunned by the thigh vendor’s colleagues due to a distinct lack of hygiene.

The Eastern Review has learned from The Weekender that the incident in question happened to a Mutare based lady of the night who is professionally known as Joyie.

According to Joyie’s colleagues and other witnesses who spoke to the publication, when the client approached the ladies of their night seeking to hire them, a lot of them avoided him. They claimed that he was visibly shabby and was clad in a pair of dirty tattered black jeans, a black T-shirt and a rugged pair of shoes that had seen better days. He also said to have been emitting a strong body odour and seemed to be drunk.

As a result of this, he seemed unappealing and most of the girls avoided him. However, Joyie was brave enough to put up with the man for the night, despite his lack of charm. According to some of the girls who overheard the negotiations, Joyie agreed to spend the whole night with the man for US$15.

The next morning, Joyie was stunned when the client added a few more zeros to the amount they had agreed on.

One of the thigh vendors narrated the events of the morning to the publication as follows: “She screamed and we were all startled with the noise. We gathered in the corridor to hear the news. One of Joyie’s friends who had also shunned the client fainted. To be honest, we were all shocked. Joyie flaunted the money on her bed and asking us to take her pictures,”

Another girl added: “The man told Joyie that he was adding more zeros to his $15 offer and gave her a breakdown. He said US$5 000 was meant for her lobola, the other US$5 000 was for her upkeep, while the remaining US$5 000 was for her car.”

Joyie is reported to have left the place where she was staying fearing that she would be robbed. She also seems to have temporarily stopped using her known number as it has been unreachable since her US$15 000 windfall.

By A Correspondent -Police in Gutu, Masvingo province, are investigating the sudden death of four family members and their two dogs.

Police were called to Village 3A in Mushaviri, Gutu, last Saturday to “investigate a case of suspected food poisoning,” a police statement said.

Officers found four people, all members of the same family, and two dogs dead “with vomits coming out of their mouths and nostrils.”

The bodies were taken to Gutu Hospital where post-mortems are being conducted

By A Correspondent -A 37 year old man from Vhengere township in Rusape, Manicaland province recently lost his vehicle and other valuables to two passengers who he had offered a lift from Murambinda, Masvingo province.

Manicaland deputy provincial spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said Benson Nyabango was robbed of his car, a cellphone and US$150.

“Nyabango was driving from Murambinda to Rusape and when he reached Chani turn-off, he picked the suspects who had asked for a lift to Rusape,” he said.

“One of the suspects sat on the front seat while the other sat at the back behind the driver,” he added.

When they reached the 136 km peg, Nyabango slowed down to negotiate a pothole and the suspect who was sitting behind him strangled him with a seat belt while the other one allegedly pulled the hand brake.

The suspects dragged Nyabango out of the car and started assaulting him all over the body with fists and booted feet.

“They overpowered him and drove off towards Nyazura leaving him behind. Inside the car there was also a Techno cellphone and US$150. Nyabango was later assisted by a friend and filed a report at Nyazura police station,” said Ass Insp Chinyoka.

He said so far nothing had been recovered and the suspects were still at large.

– Pungwe News

An article circulating during the week claiming an Islamic group has threatened Zimbabwe, is false and misleading, ZimEye can reveal.

The article in a year old and is based on cheap-propaganda doctored by a disgraced terrorist running by the pen name, Matigary. The man, Taurai Chinyamakobvu was subsequently exposed on ZimEye and banned on the Twitter website (watch the program below)

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

On the 8th May 2020, the famous whistleblower of the 2008 election rigging, Shepherd Yuda spoke concerning a leak he reported he received from military sources on alleged plans by ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

LEAKED – YUDA SPILLS THE BEANS ON MNANGAGWA'S ALLEGED MILITARY PLOT IN MOZAMBIQUE https://t.co/FG98hMkICP

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 8, 2020

If Mnangagwa created Fake Terrorist Gwesela and killed 22,000 people saying army's hunting for him (for a whole 4yrs 1983-87), and then created Fake Polling stations for Filipe Nyusi in Masvingo (in 2019), what stops him from creating Fake Terrorists in Mozambique for pleasure?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 5, 2020

– ORIGINAL ARTICLE DATED MAY 2020 –

Terrorists in Mozambique Investigated.

• Fake Pictures.
• Fake Mission.
• Strong Obsession On Zimbabwe, beginning to end
• Fake President.
• Fake SADC,
• Mozambican opposition says it’s the government soldiers killing civilians,

| ANALYSIS | There are some digital footprints from within as well as from outside Mozambique that suggest that the terrorists currently operating in that country were created by Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa so he can unleash military rule over the Beira corridor: it’s all about money and getting it by blood. He’s been doing this since 1983. He created Richard Gwesela (who was later killed by a newspaper article, literally), and up to as late as 2018 when we finally witnessed the Terrorist game played before our eyes on LIVE video. It’s a well known game by the politicians and innocent people die.

In recent weeks, we have been told of Christians being killed by so-called Islamic militants in Mozambique. Are they real terrorists and not mere political agents on a special assignment? Let’s hear from the Mozambicans themselves what they are both seeing and saying.

Of the 59 tweets published by ‘the Mozambican Islamic militant group,’ on a Twitter handle, 90% of them are attacking Zimbabwe; their very first one on the 29th April 2020, is a direct message to Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the last one, late Monday evening 9pm, refers to Zimbabwe. Why are these “terrorists” so obsessed with Zimbabwe beginning with their very first tweet?

Of the pictures published of the terrorists lately and on their Twitter account, FranceAlRasa, one is unmasked as a 2015 photo, and the second (used by a South African publication, Daily Maverick, which claims they got it via Telegram from the group last year, has its first citing way back in June 2018 over in Europe, Turkey, nowhere near Africa.

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The Twitter account FranceAlRasa, was created on the 29th April 2020, well in advance of Mnangagwa’s visit there (just a day before).

The correlation of timing as well as the desperation to rebuild the economy using military metal all point to one thing – a brute politician’s methods repeated for over 37 years since the 4th of May 1983.

One possibility – mere malicious intent

One possibility suggests that the Twitter account was created by a merely malicious person who is seeking to agitate war against Emmerson Mnangagwa. This is a very strong likely, and many citizens are known for doing these things in the past as they vent their anger against the government. If this is the case however how did the individual (s) know that Mnangagwa would fly over to Mozambique at the end of the week? The person who did this could thus only be an insider, or at least one possessing insider state-knowledge.

Furthermore if that is true, on Sunday, the nation witnessed ZANU PF’s most prolific pressure group, screaming on social networks that the Zimbabwe National Army must be deployed to Mozambique with immediate effect, today. They said they must do this in order to crush ISIS. They are confident that they will win this war. Very soon ZANU PF will throw a party telling the whole world that Emmerson Mnangagwa is the only politician who can crush ISIS. He has done it in Mozambique! Perfect. We will all believe them, because we did not care to investigate.

And why is ZANU PF suddenly agitated for war?

Does Mozambique have Islamic militants? Who is funding them?

Since Mnangagwa created fake polling stations in Masvingo for Phillip Nyusi 7 months ago, and someone printed fake IDs for scores of Zimbabweans who have never set foot in Mozambique to vote for Nyusi, what is his next move? The current Chairman of the SADC Politics, Defence And Security, is well known for creating terrorists who work for him and his story is documented for a long 37 year period. It brings up the question of what SADC is all about when it appoints someone who has killed more blacks than apartheid South Africa to head its defence and security, but well this is a very very long discussion for another day. A very long one.

Local agencies in Mozambique quote the opposition in that country complaining that the state is murdering civilians.

Mozambique’s interior minister, Amade Miquidade, last month attacked what he described as dis-information spread by independent journalists who are calling into question the credibility of Mozambique’s security forces.

He also blasted Jose Manteigas, a spokesman for Renamo, the main opposition party, who has accused the country’s security forces of “murdering” civilians.

Miquidade said the security forces “will not tolerate these acts of subversion.”

Zitimar news agency, quotes Manteigas alleging that Mozambique’s security forces killed 12 civilians — including two Renamo members — when they attacked boats at jetties on Ibo island in mid-April.

In another report, the interior minister has claimed that security forces have since put the situation in Cabo Delgado under control.

“The situation in Cabo Delgado, at this moment, is under control. What does that mean? We have identified where the enemy is, what are their bases, what are their camps and their movements; while, the defence and security forces are strategically preparing for yet another offensive,” said Miquidade.

Seeing that Mnangagwa is officially assisting Nyusi with political direction, what kind of mentorship is Emmerson Mnangagwa giving the Mozambican leader, a professional one? How is the story unfolding?

So far, the report begins on the 4th May 1983, when Mnangagwa created fake terrorists having abducted and killed 6 western tourists. The victims were: Brett Baldwin, 23, of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Kevin Ellis, 24, of Bellevue, Wash.; Britons James Greenwell and Martyn Hodgeson; and Australians Tony Bajzeli and William Butler.

The Gwesela sequel.

ZIFA’s spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela has in recent days responded to allegations by some quarters in Matebeleland who attack him saying that he is the son of the notorious so called dissident, Ranson or Richard Gwesela, a terrorist Mnangagwa created in the 1980s.

Gwesela is the infamous “immortal” character who the Zimbabwean military claimed they were after between 1983 and 1987 when they continued to kill civilians until more than 22,000 people were massacred. He was immortal for a whole 4 years and only “killed” when ZANU PF now wanted to sign a unity accord with Joshua Nkomo’s ZAPU party in 1987.

Thousands of people sensationally flocked to a police station in Gweru on the 18th November 1987 for a glimpse of the bullet-riddled corpse of Zimbabwe’s most wanted “fugitive.”

Zimbabwe Republic Police say Richard Gwesela, a former guerrilla fighter, was a gang leader who terrorized the people of two provinces for four years.

Gwesela was alleged to have murdered 20 people in the Midlands and neighbouring Matabeleland provinces. He also was said to have raped women and robbed villagers.

In silence, onlookers walked past his body sprawled beneath a wanted poster offering $30,000 for him, dead or alive.

The state media said Gwesela was the country’s most wanted man, and was killed in a gunbattle with Zimbabwean security forces near Gweru “on Sunday,” earlier.

His death was reported for the first time three days later, on the Wednesday. There were no independent investigations to confirm the state media report.

His mother and an uncle identified the corpse as Gwesela, and police fingerprints confirmed the identity, according to the state media report.

″Gwesela had killed more than 20 people since he started operating in the area,″ Enos Nkala, home affairs minister in charge of police, told reporters. ″Now he is going to join them, whether in heaven or hell, we don’t know,” he said.

NEW TWIST.

33 years later, some Mthwakazi activists have begun claiming ZIFA’s Gwesela was rewarded the sports job for a sterling role the supposed father played as an insider who staged for Emmerson Mnangagwa during Gukurahundi in order to kill civilians, pursuing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s terror operation to kill people under the guise of flushing out dissidents.

One activist makes the above chilling allegations (pic).

Responding however, ZIFA’s Mr Xolisani Gwesa told ZimEye, the so called Gwesela was not even a real Gwesela.

He said: “This writer is waffling. I am shocked by these ghastly falsehoods.

“I am the son of the late Chief Gwesela whose real name was Cornelius Nobody Gwesela Ndebele who died in 1996.He was never a dissident. The so called “dissident Gwesela” was never a Gwesela and his real name was Zedious Mangena.

“I am holder of a Masters Degree in Media and Society studies, Post grad Diploma in Media , Bsc Honours degree , Diploma in Management and Diploma in Sport Management.

“I have over 15 years experience in media management and sport management and events coordination. I joined Zifa purely on merit.

“The Gweselas are also from Zhombe and not Lower Gweru. The Gweselas are also from Zhombe and not Lower Gweru.”

ZIMBABWE, THE WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING CROP ECONOMY SUDDENLY CRASHED FOLLOWING MNANGAGWA’S PRONOUNCEMENTS

Rhodesia, was once the worst hit African economy by both United Nations sanctions and a debilitating 14 year running civil war from within, and yet by 1976, it had been hailed as the world’s fastest growing crop economy. So what really went wrong? Soon after 1980, it was handed over to Robert Mugabe and his state security minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, who less than 3 years later launched a military crackdown against civilians who he personally described as cockroaches who must be wiped out using DDT. That operation destroyed the economy in ways exactly similar to the recent 1 Aug 2018 military crackdown (which the Finance Ministry has told The Motlanthe Commission has cost the nation USD16 billion.) Zimbabwe’s economy began crumbling following Mnangagwa’s words on the 4th April 1983:

“Blessed are they who will follow the path of the Government laws, for their days on earth will be increased. But woe unto those who will choose the path of collaboration with dissidents for we will certainly shorten their stay on earth.”

As Minister of State Security, Mnangagwa was in charge of the brutal massacre of more than 22 000 Ndebele. He labeled dissidents ‘cockroaches’ and the killers of the Fifth Brigade army unit as ‘DDT,’ an insecticide.

Economy data shows how the country’s GDP crashed down following the operation, and effects were immediately felt from 1983 all the way to 1985.

Fast forward to the period 2004 – 2018 more evidence shows the correlation between economic performance and the rule of law, specifically human rights adherence.

MNANGAGWA’S METHOD.

But Mnangagwa’s method is different. He operates on the belief that an economy is only built by killing people, and his appetite for shedding blood is evident for 40 years to date during which he has killed more blacks than apartheid South Africa. On the 2nd January, 2020, he told residents of Kuwadzana, Harare that he will send the army after them once he suspects them to have stopped the rain. This came barely 2 years after he deployed the military to change election results and citizens for the first time witnessed soldiers opening fire against shoppers going about the day-to-day business.

What kind of mentorship is Emmerson Mnangagwa giving the Mozambican leader, a professional one?

There is no doubt that Mnangagwa will deny all this evidence even to the Mozambicans. But his file is now full and fat, a whole 37 years full.

If Mnangagwa created Fake Terrorist Gwesela and killed 22,000 people saying army's hunting for him (for a whole 4yrs 1983-87), and then created Fake Polling stations for Filipe Nyusi in Masvingo (in 2019), what stops him from creating Fake Terrorists in Mozambique for pleasure?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 5, 2020

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By A Correspondent -A Mutare based lady of the night is thanking her lucky stars after she received a massive windfall of US$15 000 from an apparently satisfied client who had hired her for a single night.

The free-spending client is suspected to be an illegal gold panner, mukorokoza in local parlance, who had been shunned by the thigh vendor’s colleagues due to a distinct lack of hygiene.

The Eastern Review has learned from The Weekender that the incident in question happened to a Mutare based lady of the night who is professionally known as Joyie.

According to Joyie’s colleagues and other witnesses who spoke to the publication, when the client approached the ladies of their night seeking to hire them, a lot of them avoided him. They claimed that he was visibly shabby and was clad in a pair of dirty tattered black jeans, a black T-shirt and a rugged pair of shoes that had seen better days. He also said to have been emitting a strong body odour and seemed to be drunk.

As a result of this, he seemed unappealing and most of the girls avoided him. However, Joyie was brave enough to put up with the man for the night, despite his lack of charm. According to some of the girls who overheard the negotiations, Joyie agreed to spend the whole night with the man for US$15.

The next morning, Joyie was stunned when the client added a few more zeros to the amount they had agreed on.

One of the thigh vendors narrated the events of the morning to the publication as follows: “She screamed and we were all startled with the noise. We gathered in the corridor to hear the news. One of Joyie’s friends who had also shunned the client fainted. To be honest, we were all shocked. Joyie flaunted the money on her bed and asking us to take her pictures,”

Another girl added: “The man told Joyie that he was adding more zeros to his $15 offer and gave her a breakdown. He said US$5 000 was meant for her lobola, the other US$5 000 was for her upkeep, while the remaining US$5 000 was for her car.”

Joyie is reported to have left the place where she was staying fearing that she would be robbed. She also seems to have temporarily stopped using her known number as it has been unreachable since her US$15 000 windfall.

By A Correspondent- A Buhera traditional healer (sangoma) has been arrested for providing shelter to a robber wanted in connection with a US$2,7 million heist.

The sangoma, Shadreck Tadira (58), his wife Margaret Mutaka (49) of Chief Nyashanu, and two accomplices Vongai Majoro (42) and Nyarai Murapa (43) appeared separately before Harare magistrates Judith Taruvinga and Dennis Mangosi.

The four were granted $5 000 bail each and the matter was remanded to May 5.

Allegations were that in January this year, police were on a manhunt for Patrick Matengambiri, who had committed a US$2,7 million robbery.

Detectives went to look for him at the accused persons’ residence, where he was hiding, only to discover that he had escaped.

The money had been hidden in the garden and in February this year, Matengambiri asked Mutaka to dig it out and give it to his wife, Ester Mutesvu, who gave the accused persons US$1 600 as a token of appreciation for giving her husband refuge.

It is alleged that Matengambiri, who is still at large, gave Murapa and Majoro US$65 000 which they used to buy him a house in Aspindale, Harare.

The duo also bought a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, which they registered in the name of Majoko.

They were arrested in Avondale, Harare, in a high-speed chase by the police.

Murapa and Majoro were represented by Tungamirai Chakurira.

— NewsDay

By James Gwati- Members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) are vying for the blood of Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) Mqondisi Moyo.

The CIO operatives were at the weekend seen moving near the politicians Bulawayo house and at the same time asking his neighbours about his whereabouts.

The CIOs are accusing Moyo of mobilising his party members to clash with police at Tabas Induna Farm in Ntabazinduna over a land dispute last month.

Nine MRP members were arrested after they stormed the farm demanding the eviction of former Vice-President Kembo Mohadi’s son-in-law Floyd Ambrose.

By A Correspondent- The High Court has granted permission to a second wife to be part of divorce proceedings between her husband and his first wife.

High Court judge Justice Esther Muremba accepted a joinder application by Sylvia Mupombwa to be part of the proceedings between her husband Tawainga Arnold Katsvairo and his first wife Matirasa Katsvairo.

Justice Muremba observed that Mupombwa had clearly established that she has a direct interest in the matter and should be included in the proceedings to defend her interests.

“The applicant’s (Mupombwa) non-joinder to the divorce action will have consequences to the respondents since she can still sue the second respondent (Tawainga) at any time for distribution of the same property the first respondent (Matirasa) is suing for in the divorce action.

“Clearly this will result in two separate matters or legal proceedings against the second respondent for the distribution of the same property in terms of the Matrimonial Causes Act.  

“The end result is multiple litigation which can be circumvented by joining the applicant to the divorce action between the respondents,” Justice Muremba ruled.

In her application, Mupombwa claimed that she had a direct interest in the proceedings as she contributed in acquiring the property that was going to be distributed between the two.

Mupombwa and Tawainga entered into an unregistered customary marriage 14 years after the latter had been married to Matirasa.

She claims that the couple registered a customary law marriage on November 8, 1989 under the African Marriages Act which was later declared null and void by the courts on September 8, 2020.

Mupombwa insisted that she had no prior knowledge that the respondents had a civil marriage but instead she had believed the marriage between them to be customary.

“In support of her application for joinder in the divorce matter the applicant made the following averments.  

“At all material times, based on the information of the respondents, the applicant believed that the marriage was a customary marriage which was potentially polygamous.

“She only became aware that they had a civil marriage when she received summons for a claim for adultery charges from the first respondent (Matirasa)…in 2019,” reads Mupombwa’s application.

She argued that if the application for joinder was denied, she would suffer irreparable damage as the respondents would unfairly profit from the efforts she had contributed during her marriage to Tawainga.

“The applicant averred that she had also laboured and contributed immensely for more than 40 years towards the marriage and accumulation of the matrimonial property which is subject to the divorce matter.  

“The applicant has rights over the matrimonial assets listed in the divorce action and is therefore entitled to an equitable share of those assets.

“The applicant’s rights will certainly and seriously be affected by the judgement that will be made in the divorce matter. If the assets are distributed only between the respondents without her being heard she will suffer irreparable harm whilst the respondents will be unjustly enriched at her expense,” Mupombwa averred.

Matirasa challenged the application, alleging that Mupombwa had known of their civil marriage as she had stayed in their home in Mutoko for two months in 1979 where she had access to their wedding photographs.-dailynews

By A Correspondent- A self-proclaimed prophet and son of a prominent church pastor was on Saturday humiliated during his wedding in Budiriro.
The wedding, however, proceeded after the drama.
Ezekiel Chivasa was humbled by his estranged wife Jacqueline Mbangami (25) when he was set to exchange wedding vows with his sweetheart, Tafadzwa Mukanganga.
His parents were forced into a crisis meeting where some of the wedding gifts were diverted to appease the “gatecrashers”.
The wedding was held at Chivasa’s in-laws’ residence.
Mbangami showed up at the wedding venue with her relatives just when Bishop Jerdan Paradise was about to facilitate the wedding vows and presented her issues to the marriage officer.
“DJ, can you increase music volume to allow me to attend to this issue before we move on with our wedding vows,” Bishop Paradise said, as the conflict resolution process got underway.
Bishop Paradise, after meeting with the Mbangani and Chivasa families, announced the resumption of the ceremony.
Among the Chivasa family members who attended the meeting with the Mbangani family was musician Jonah Chivasa, who revealed that there had been attempts to move the wedding.
“To be honest, I only learnt of Ezekiel’s child with Jacqueline at the last minute and we had agreed as a family to move the wedding date, but preparation costs carried the day,” said Jonah.
He added:
“We nearly cancelled the wedding and his unresolved issues have left us with egg on the face, especially for my father who is a pastor and myself as a musician.
“I would like to thank the Mbangani family for allowing the marriage officer to go ahead with the ceremony after we assured the family of our support for the child’s welfare.
“The incident has affected our mother more, considering that she has not been well for the past months.
“Tichatopedzisira takumbira iye Ezekiel abve pa high table ambopindawo nesu meeting kuti vekwa Mbangani vamuudze zvichemo zvavo.”
Sources close to the Chivasa family told H-Metro that they paid US$500 as fine to the Mbangani family for the wedding to proceed while they find a common ground to address the two-year-old child’s welfare.
The bride, Tafadzwa was in tears as she looked in disbelief when the wedding was temporarily stopped for almost 20 minutes.
Amid the 20-minute chaos, the bride’s mother Gladys Makufa was blamed for forcing Ezekiel to tie the knot with Tafadzwa, who is believed to be pregnant in a way to protect her image as an elder with a leading Pentecostal church.
Some of the guests had no kind words for Gladys, accusing her of tarnishing the two families’ images.
“Mai vemusikana ndivo vakamanikidzira muchato vakatoti ngauitirwe pamba pavo zvekunzi ane mwana hazvina basa zvino tazovanyarira zvikuru nezvaitwa izvi.
“It is not good for church elders to conceal issues pertaining their children when they do wrong and become tough when solving other families’ issues.
“She refused to move the wedding date since she is the one who met most of the wedding costs and she was yet to meet Tafadzwa’s in-laws,” said a guest.
Gladys told H-Metro that she was not moved by the disruption of the wedding by the Mbangani family.
“Everything went well and nothing official pointing to the wedding stoppage was announced so I can say it went according to plan.” She refused further questions.
Jacqueline said she wanted her voice heard at the wedding since Ezekiel and his parents were turning a deaf ear to issues pertaining to her two-year-old child with Ezekiel.
“We did not come with the intention to stop the wedding, but took the opportunity to seek attention from the family because Ezekiel has not been supporting the child for the past two years,” said Jacqueline.
“Ezekiel only facilitated the child’s birth certificate and that was that; kwavakutozonzwa kuti akaitisa Tafadzwa mimba saka mai vake varikuda muchato nekukasira.
“Church elders must not look down on other families to that extent as if we are not human beings who are also loved by the same God they worship,” she said in tears while holding the child.
Ezekiel and Tafadzwa were not available to comment on the incident. — HMetro

By A Correspondent- More than 200 000 Zimbabweans have returned home over the past year due to the economic fallout from COVID-19 in countries where they had been working.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is providing nurses to help Zimbabwean officials conduct COVID-19 tests.

Other services include critical risk communications and disease surveillance activities, infection prevention and control, protection, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Reintegration Assistance.

IOM Zimbabwe Chief of Mission Mario Lito Malanca noted the number of returns exceeded expectations, highlighting the massive socio-economic impact the virus has had across the regions requiring a refocus on long-term solutions.

Said Malanca:

Without these measures, we will see many returnees falling deeper into crisis, resorting to negative coping mechanisms, and possibly being forced to migrate once again through irregular means.

More than 1.9 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Southern Africa since March 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and over 60,000 lives were lost.

Worst hit were the three main destination countries for Zimbabwean migrant workers: South Africa, Malawi and Botswana.

An IOM survey of the returnees found that, in most cases, the decision to return was linked to the impacts of the pandemic, including financial challenges, hunger and loss of accommodation, lack of access to medical assistance, mental health support, identity document issues and the risk of assault in the country where they were working.

The survey also found that the returnees have professional skills ranging from construction to trading, agriculture, catering, painting, and domestic work.

The Zimbabwean Government’s guidelines require returnees to have valid COVID-19 certificates prior to entering the country.

Without a valid test certificate, they are sent to provincial quarantine centres in Beitbridge, Plumtree and Chirundu to await testing.

-IOM

By A Correspondent- Police in Harare have arrested a notorious robber who was part of a gang that robbed people at a bushy area between Coca-cola and One Commando Barracks in Harare.

The arrested robber, Tafadzwa Chamahwinya (26), and his two accomplices who are on the run robbed a man of his an Itel P33 cell phone, wallet and US$30 cash on Sunday at around 6 PM. Police said in a statement:

The ZRP confirms the arrest of Tafadzwa Chamahwinya (26) in connection with a case of robbery which occurred at a bushy area between Coca-cola and One Commando Barracks, Harare on 18/04/21 at about 1800 hrs.

The suspect together with his two accomplices who are still on the run, grabbed the complainant by the neck and stole an Itel P33 cell phone, wallet and US$30 cash all valued at US$195.

Meanwhile, Police have recovered the stolen cell phone and launched a manhunt on the remaining suspects.

In another development, police in Bulawayo arrested four suspects in connection with a robbery case that occurred in Mzilikazi Suburb also on Sunday at about 7 PM.

According to a police statement, the suspects attacked the complaint using bottles, fists and a belt before robbing him of US$56 and ZWL$100.

Police said:

Meanwhile, the ZRP reiterates that members of the public must report all criminal activities taking place in their communities at any Police Station

By James Gwati- Dancer and musician Sandra Ndebele said she has enrolled for a university degree so that she gets respect from her fans.

The Bulawayo based dancer who has been in the entertainment industry for two decades now, said getting a university degree would earn her more respect.

“As their role model, I am now studying towards a degree programme to ensure that I enhance my knowledge and wisdom as their mentor.

“To fellow artistes, I would like to urge them that it is never too late to follow suit and be counted among powerful women,” she said.

Ndebele made these revelations on the 41^stIndependence gala held in the City of Kings and Queens .

By James Gwati-The detained nine Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) officials are battling for thier freedom after their arrest last month.

The nine were arrested after they stormed Tabas Induna Farm in Ntabazinduna demanding the eviction of former Vice-President Kembo Mohadi’s son-in-law Floyd Ambrose.

Their lawyers said that they have applied for bail at the High Court following several unsuccessful bids to secure their release at the lower courts.

The MRP activists are facing charges of public violence and participating in an unlawful demonstration.

Nqobani Sithole from Abammeli Lawyers for Human Rights Monday confirmed that he had applied for bail at the High Court on behalf of the nine MRP activists.

“We applied for bail last week at the High Court. We are still waiting for a set-down date for the bail application hearing,” Sithole said.

By A Correspondent- A Shamva’s Vibranium Mine has gunned down two of his colleagues in a suspected case of mistaken identity.

The victims are battling for their lives at Shamva Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

Garikai Chakaipa (55), allegedly shot his colleagues while on duty, recently appeared at Bindura Magistrate Courts on charges of attempted murder.

Prosecutor Edward Katsvairo submitted that on the 17th of this month, the two were on patrol at the other end of the mine when the incident occurred.

Allegations are that Chakaipa, who was armed with a shotgun and operating at a different site, randomly fired at his colleagues, suspecting that they were intruders.

The injured were taken to Shamva Hospital for treatment where they are recovering, while Chakaipa has been remanded in custody to the 30th of this month for trial.

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo junior soldier has wedded in full military uniform and used a bayonet fixed on a rifle to cut the wedding cake.

The wedding came as an early Independence Day celebration for the Nkomo and Ncube families on Saturday.

A soldier, Artwell Nkomo (27) the first son of the late Mr Nephat Nkomo and the late Mrs Sibusiso Ncube of Matshetsheni Village in Gwanda and his sweetheart Ntombizile Ncube (24) the first daughter of the late Mr Patrick Ncube and Mrs Helen Sibanda of Mleja Village, Filabusi tied the note in style at White Rose Gardens in Luveve Four suburb with full military honour.

It was a military wedding and the bride and the groom’s vehicles were escorted from Cowdray Park suburb where the couple lives, to the venue in Luveve by 13 soldiers as well as 14 civilians.

The procession ended up inviting uninvited guests as soldiers marched, showcasing their military way of conducting weddings.

The military band which provided music and entertainment did not disappoint.

The best man was from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Shingai Zishiri.

The cake cutting, exchanging of vows and the signing ceremony were all conducted under an arc of rifles.

By James Gwati-Amnesty International says Zanu PF has failed the people of Zimbabwe through maintaining colonial repressive laws.

was yesterday blasted for inheriting and maintaining colonial civic suppression tactics 41 years after independence.

East and Southern Africa Amnesty International regional director Deprose Muchena who was part of a panelduring a virtual meeting conducted by SIVIO Institute to discuss the state of affairs  in the country 41 years after independence said the present government had failed to uphold its pledge to transform the lives of citizens, and instead closed the little available democratic space in the country.

“The new nationalist leaders promised to dismantle the colonial State, that is its laws, policies and its institutional framework, including weaponisation of the law, racism and discrimination,” he said.

“The leaders also promised to offer a sense of belonging to the citizens. Government also promised to respect human rights. However, at 41, the human rights question is still one of the biggest questions that human right defenders are still dealing with.”

By JJames Gwati-Police in Manicaland have have arrested two suspects, in connection with the gruesome murder of Dilan and Melissa Benza of Sambaza Village, in Nyanga last Tuesday

Solomon Munyama (48) and Passmore Kumbirai Sambaza (age not given) were arrested in Nyanga at the weekend.

The two grade one pupils were allegedly killed in cold blood on their way home from Mbaza Primary School and their bodies were found the following day dumped in a disused toilet at an abandoned homestead after searchers followed a trail of blood.

Melissa and Daniel Benza, both aged seven from Sambaza Village in Nyanga, were killed on the 4km walk from their school.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the arrested suspects are now assisting with investigations.

“The suspects are now assisting police with investigations.” Herald

https://youtu.be/zk2GvMAae54

But they go & buy helicopters at the stroke of a pen & tell us that they cannot equip hospitals due to sanctions. Zanu PF led government is a cult that’s so evil & until we work up to that fact we will all suffer unless you join the CULT.

— Tafadzwa Bvupajena (@BvupajenaT) April 19, 2021

By A Correspondent- Nurses have described the government as “very cruel” and its decision to scrap health workers’ non-claimable night-duty allowances as a “provocation”.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) president Enock Dongo on Monday said nurses would not tolerate the removal of the allowances. Said Dongo:

There is no way that we expect the government to remove what it had given to its workers. It’s tantamount to victimisation and provocation.

We feel that the government wants to provoke workers so that they take the matter into their own hands. It’s the trend globally that workers who work overtime are paid.

It shows that the employer is very cruel, instead of thanking their workers by giving them remuneration; they want to thank them by removing the peanuts which we were being given since 2018.

That is bad and we are not going to tolerate that.

Last year the government unilaterally scrapped its flexitime arrangement with nurses whereby they reported for duty on a certain number of days per week due to a shortage of personal protective equipment and poor remuneration.-Newsday

The City of Harare (CoH) says it has set aside land for informal sector traders at various strategic and nodal points across town so that they eventually move away from pavements, shop and office fronts.

Some of the sites under development will be provided with banking facilities, bus termini and anchor shops to attract traffic to the informal sector traders.

CoH said it has realised that the informal sector spaces cannot operate in isolation hence the bold and pragmatic decision to locate new vending spaces at busy places that have other business activities.

In a statement, Council also condemned the activities of space barons who are in the habit of renting space to traders and pocketing the proceeds. It said:

Council is aware of individuals abusing the system to set shop on undesignated spaces. The individuals are collecting money from desperate vendors and pocketing the ‘LOOT’ for personal use.

The law will soon catch up with such individuals. There is only one planning authority – which is Council.

Individuals cannot usurp the power of the council and do arbitrary space allocations.

Members of the informal sector are urged to verify the authenticity and lawfulness of any space allocations in the city. Doing so protects the informal sector and their investments.

The years’ long cry for decent trading spaces cannot be achieved when the informal sector is pumping money into the pockets of individuals who have no obligation to re-invest in the development of decent trading spaces.

Saying NO to corruption should be a collective responsibility by all stakeholders.

CoH added that is it one of the biggest beneficiaries of a properly functioning informal sector industry.

When the informal sector trades from designated sites – council collects revenue and reinvests that money in the development and maintenance of the infrastructure.

However, when the informal sector chooses to pay to third parties – that investment goes down the drain and council will not have resources to use to develop trading spaces, CoH said.

Recalled MDC Alliance Mufakose Member of Parliament, Susan Matsunga’s vehicle, a Land Cruiser Prado reportedly rammed into a precast wall before the driver sped off from the scene.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning at the corner of Mutufu and Mukumba road in Mufakose and a son to Matsunga’s sister is believed to have been behind the wheel.

According to H-Metro, the vehicle is now being used for Mushikashika (pirate taxi).

A man from the affected houses who spoke to the publication on condition of anonymity said:

I heard a loud disturbing sound around 4 am on Sunday morning. I quickly peeped through the window and saw the car trying to leave the scene without even assessing the damage. The car left before I alerted everyone else in our house.

When we got outside a few women on their way to Mbare Musika alerted us that they had recognised the vehicle since it had become popular for picking and dropping commuters.

We reported the incident to the police leading to the tracking of both the driver and the vehicle.

Matsunga is believed to have undertaken to pay the damages and was quick to accept blame on behalf of her sister’s son.

The former legislator acquired the Land Cruiser Prado after entering into a Vehicle Loan Facility Agreement with the Parliament of Zimbabwe and the vehicle was to be used during her tenure.

-HMetro