By A Correspondent- Traditional leaders have demanded that the Justice minister must not be given power to appoint them as marriages officers in the Marriages Bill as that would undermine their authority.

Clause 9 of the Marriages Bill, which is currently before Senate, proposes that the Justice minister “may” choose to designate a chief to become a marriage officer.

However, last Thursday in Senate, chiefs raised objections against the clause, saying it must be removed as they automatically qualified to be marriage officers and did not need to be appointed by the Justice minister.

Senator Chief Ngungumbane, born Zama Mkwananzi of Mberengwa, described the clause as discriminatory.

“The first one is, when I become a chief, I have to apply to you as the minister administering this Act. The word ‘may’ means that you can use your discretion to approve or disapprove that application of a chief. To me, that creates discrimination among the institution of chiefs,” Chief Ngungumbane said.

“I think by virtue of me being a chief, I automatically become a marriage officer. It should be automatic,” he said.

President of the Chiefs’ Council Chief Fortune Charumbira said: “When one is appointed a chief, all chiefs are equal. So, you cannot by operation of this Bill, start grading them and say this one is competent and that one in not.”

But Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi defended the clause, saying it was not discriminatory.

“What we are simply saying is we want chiefs to be made alive to what they would be doing in terms of solemnising the marriages of their people. I plead with chiefs that this is a very progressive clause that we cannot remove because if we remove it, it means that government will now accept marriages that may be void without any control or without any training of the very people that they would have allowed to be marriage officers,” Ziyambi said.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Former University of Zimbabwe Sociology department chairman during the former first lady Grace Ntombizodwa Mugabe’s controversial PhD, Doctor Watch Ruparanganda has made some stunning claims before the court when he said that Grace Mugabe was a ghost student who appeared from nowhere.

Dr Ruparanganda who is a third witness in the trial of suspended University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura said some of his duties when he was a senior lecturer at UZ was to ensure that the enrollment of the students was per the regulations but he claimed whilst he was working there, he never came across Grace. He said he doesn’t know Grace and he believes she doesn’t know him either.

“I don’t even know Grace Mugabe and even if she was here she wouldn’t have known me, she just appeared from nowhere, and it was through the grapevine that I heard that she was graduating with a PHD degree,” he said.

Dr. Ruparangada further stated that Mugabe was a ghost student as the board did not have any knowledge of her and the topic she was researching. They only came to know about her when she was about to graduate.

He said as the board, they were supposed to have known her qualifications to avoid enrolling standard six students.

“Mugabe was supposed to have seen me as the chairman like what other candidates like Thokozani Khupe did,” he added.

According to The Herald, Dr. Ruparangada told the court that, Professor Nyagura knew very well that for one to supervise a PhD candidate, he or she had to have the qualifications but instead he chose to select an unqualified friend of his to supervise the ghost student.

The former Vice-Chancellor is facing criminal abuse of office charges. The charges stem from the degree that was awarded to the former first lady Grace Mugabe by the UZ’s Faculty of Social Studies Department of Sociology in 2014.

The degree attracted intense criticism and speculation after claims that Grace did not defend her thesis, let alone write one, and that she did not take the required period to complete the doctorate.

His trial kicked off on Thursday last week.

By A Correspondent-MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora has lost 450 MDC-T senior executives to the original MDC-Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

These executives defected to MDC-T during the Thokozani Khupe era.

This came out last week in Gwanda when the former MDC Alliance Matabeleland South chairperson Watchy Sibanda, who had defected to the MDC-T then led by Thokozani Khupe, was re-admitted into the Nelson Chamisa party last week.

Sibanda resigned from the Mwonzora-led party.

At a meeting held in Gwanda, the Matabeleland South MDC Alliance provincial executive also welcomed back about 450 members, who had followed Sibanda to MDC-T.

Ntando Ndlela, MDC Alliance Matabeleland South spokesperson, told The Standard that Sibanda had brought with him the whole district leadership of MDC-T in Matobo North.

“Edmore Nkomo, a former leader of our party, who went with Khupe, has come back and almost all of those who went away with him in Insiza district are back.

“The Chamisa-led party is growing big here and we are so excited.”

Another bigwig who had gone with Khupe, Mbiyezwe Nare, has also re-joined MDC Alliance in Gwanda district, Ndlela said.

“We welcome home all these comrades. MDC Alliance is home for all who seriously want a better Zimbabwe,” he added.

“We are getting ready to take over power from the failed government of Zanu PF.”

He claimed that people in Matabeleland were “fast seeing that Mwonzora and Khupe are a Zanu PF project”.

Ndlela challenged Mwonzora to try and have a meeting or mini rally in Matabeleland if he wanted to see that he has no followers in the region.

“People want change here,” he said.

-The Standard

By A Correspondent- There was chaos at the burial of the Benza cousins in Mutasa’s Sambaza village in Nyanga last week with mourners demanding answers from the deceased’s family concerning the death of the two children.

It all started when Headman Sachirarwe asked the Benzas to tell the gathering what led them to name Solomon Manyama and Passmore Sambaza as the suspects who murdered Delan and Melissa Benza.

The Manica Post reports that a gathering hackled the family spokesperson, Johannes Benza, accusing him of not telling the truth.

Relatives also demanded to know the post-mortem results which the police said they were not in a position to share with the restive crowd.

The two seven-year-old cousins were killed last week on their way home from school. Search parties started searching for them but to no avail.

Their bodies with deep neck cuts and throats slit were only discovered the next day in a disused pit latrine toilet about 2km from the school. The bodies were discovered by students from Mbaza High School who had joined the search.

The Eastern Review had reported that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection with the horrific murder of two Grade 1 pupils which occurred in Nyanga last week.

48-year-old Solomon Munyama and Passmore Sambaza (age not given) were arrested for the murder of Dilan and Melissa Benza of Sambaza Village, in Nyanga. 

The two children were both aged 7.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi revealed that the police had recovered a blood-stained hoe from the home of one of the suspects.

By A Correspondent-At least 450 MDC-T senior executives have ditched the sinking party and rejoin the original MDC-Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

These executives defected to MDC-T during the Thokozani Khupe era.

This came out last week in Gwanda when the former MDC Alliance Matabeleland South chairperson Watchy Sibanda, who had defected to the MDC-T then led by Thokozani Khupe, was re-admitted into the Nelson Chamisa party last week.

Sibanda resigned from the Mwonzora-led party.

At a meeting held in Gwanda, the Matabeleland South MDC Alliance provincial executive also welcomed back about 450 members, who had followed Sibanda to MDC-T.

Ntando Ndlela, MDC Alliance Matabeleland South spokesperson, told The Standard that Sibanda had brought with him the whole district leadership of MDC-T in Matobo North.

“Edmore Nkomo, a former leader of our party, who went with Khupe, has come back and almost all of those who went away with him in Insiza district are back.

“The Chamisa-led party is growing big here and we are so excited.”

Another bigwig who had gone with Khupe, Mbiyezwe Nare, has also re-joined MDC Alliance in Gwanda district, Ndlela said.

“We welcome home all these comrades. MDC Alliance is home for all who seriously want a better Zimbabwe,” he added.

“We are getting ready to take over power from the failed government of Zanu PF.”

He claimed that people in Matabeleland were “fast seeing that Mwonzora and Khupe are a Zanu PF project”.

Ndlela challenged Mwonzora to try and have a meeting or mini rally in Matabeleland if he wanted to see that he has no followers in the region.

“People want change here,” he said.

-The Standard

By A Correspondent | There has been massive fraud in Kariba resulting in residents being short changed, ZimEye hears. A local elder, Mr Clever Jemwa speaks over the matter in the following video, saying in the Shona vernacular:

“Chokwadi vagari veKariba vanoda kubatsirwa varipanguva yakaoma panehurongwa wekuti dzimba idzidzirikunzi hadzichaita kugarwa nevanhu kune kwavarikunzi vaendeswe.

“Saka vashandi vekanzuru vakuru vacho varikutorera vanhu dzimba kuti kuende Hama dzavo. Nevanovapa Mari taedza masangano akawanda tashaya rubatsiro.” VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has paid tribute to victims of the Aiforce of Zimbabwe helicopter crash.

The helicopter crashed into a house outside the capital Harare, killing a child and all three crew members.

The accident took place on Friday in Acturus, around 30 kilometres east of Harare.

President Chamisa urged the nation to pray for the families of the crash victims.

“My deepest condolences to the families of WCMG Thomas Manyowa, Flt Lt Anita Mapiye, Flt Sgt Tinodiwanashe Chikamhi and young Jade Fenyere who tragically died after a horrific AFZ helicopter crash.

May Jada and her mother injured in the crash find quick & full recovery! May God, The Father comfort all the affected families during this difficult period,” said President Chamisa in a brief statement.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has paid tribute to victims of the Aiforce of Zimbabwe helicopter crash.

The helicopter crashed into a house outside the capital Harare, killing a child and all three crew members.

The accident took place on Friday in Acturus, around 30 kilometres east of Harare.

President Chamisa urged the nation to pray for the families of the crash victims.

“My deepest condolences to the families of WCMG Thomas Manyowa, Flt Lt Anita Mapiye, Flt Sgt Tinodiwanashe Chikamhi and young Jade Fenyere who tragically died after a horrific AFZ helicopter crash.

May Jada and her mother injured in the crash find quick & full recovery! May God, The Father comfort all the affected families during this difficult period,” said President Chamisa in a brief statement.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has paid tribute to victims of the Aiforce of Zimbabwe helicopter crash.

The helicopter crashed into a house outside the capital Harare, killing a child and all three crew members.

The accident took place on Friday in Acturus, around 30 kilometres east of Harare.

President Chamisa urged the nation to pray for the families of the crash victims.

“My deepest condolences to the families of WCMG Thomas Manyowa, Flt Lt Anita Mapiye, Flt Sgt Tinodiwanashe Chikamhi and young Jade Fenyere who tragically died after a horrific AFZ helicopter crash.

May Jada and her mother injured in the crash find quick & full recovery! May God, The Father comfort all the affected families during this difficult period,” said President Chamisa in a brief statement.

By A Correspondent- A 30 year old man from Chakaipa Village under Chief Gwesela in Zhombe hanged himself at his in-law’s homestead following a misunderstanding with his wife over infidelity.

Peter Mlauzi hanged himself after discovering that his wife Blessing Manokore was having an affair. Chief Gwesela confirmed the development to B-Metro saying the village was still shocked by the incident.

“Mlauzi’s actions shocked the whole village and we’re still trying to come to terms with this unusual incident.

“He was a very hard-working man and he worked tirelessly as a gold panner to provide for his family and his in-laws,” he said.

Chief Gwesela said on the fateful day, Mlauzi discovered that his wife was having an affair with another man from the village.

“Upon hearing the news of his wife’s illicit affair, he felt betrayed and he decided to end his life by hanging himself at his mother-in-law’s homestead,” said Chief Gwesela.

He said Mlauzi had since been buried. Chief Gwesela also said that he was yet to meet the Manokores so that a cleansing ceremony is conducted as the incident could be a bad omen to the village.

“I am meeting with the family next week so that we conduct a cleansing ceremony to help appease Mlauzi’s spirit because if that is not done, we might have problems,” he said.

He appealed to members of the public to always seek intervention from a third party in cases of disputes.-bmetro

By A Correspondent- In a dramatic incident, a Form Four pupil at Lobengula High School in Bulawayo stabbed his classmate on the shoulder with an okapi knife as punishment for poking fun at him while in class.

According to a source at the school, the mini-drama which lasted about 10 minutes happened on Monday outside the school premises.

The source said while Mike Siziba (16) and his classmate Simbarashe Manjokota were a few metres away from the school premises, heading home, their fellow classmate Keith Mlauzi (17) approached them while huffing in heavy anger.

“He started accusing Mike of being in the habit of poking fun at him when in class thereby belittling him. The situation became tense as the angry Keith started to push and shove Mike,” said a teacher who requested strict anonymity.

The situation spiralled out of control and Keith being on a mission to settle a score, fumbled in his pocket and took out a knife and stabbed Mike on the shoulder.

“He left the knife stuck on his shoulder and ran away. Mike writhed in agony. Luckily a senior teacher arrived at the scene and rendered first aid on him before he phoned an ambulance which came after about 30 minutes. He was ferried to Mpilo Central Hospital where he was treated,” said the teacher.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident: “We arrested a 17-year-old student who stabbed his classmate after he accused him of poking fun at him in class. We condemn school bullying and would like to warn such learners who engage in bullying, that the long arm of the law will catch up with them.”

By A Correspondent- A man from Nyanga, Manicaland Province, recently confessed before a traditional court that he was a wizard and had acquired the charms from a Malawian traditional healer based in Marondera.

Isaiah Munembe’s relatives are now baying for his blood and demanding that he releases them from his wizardry web.

Munembe’s relatives brought him to Chief Saunyama’s court, with his younger brother, Anthony Munembe, and his sister-in-law Maybe Saunyama accusing him of sending his snake to kill their child, Anthony Junior.

Anthony Junior died recently from a snake bite and two weeks after his burial, the snake was spotted at the Munembe homestead attempting to attack his two siblings. In his confession before Chief Saunyama’s court, Isaiah said:

I used to walk on a wire and I was famous because of the theatrics. I had a large following but little to show for it.

However, after getting some ‘anointment oil’, my financial fortunes changed

I did not know that by applying python oil every night, the snake was finding its way into my life and setting base at my family home in Nyanga.

Little did I also know that I was being initiated into wizardry. While everyone was fast asleep, I would be up and roaming the village

Isaiah also told the court that he did not know if he was the one responsible for the death of his nephew.

However, Anthony Junior’s mother told the court that after her son was bitten by the snake, Munembe came looking for it and told them where to bury the deceased and the disappeared.

A Nyanga traditional healer, Sekuru Shingirayi Mukotsanjera, removed a stone, a needle, marijuana, and a small mirror from Isaiah’s body.

During the session with Sekuru Mukotsanjera, Munembe shocked everyone when he allegedly removed a sewing needle from his relative only identified as Mai Ndlovu.

Mai Ndlovu had reportedly been complaining of pain in her knee for many years.-ManicaPost

By A Correspondent- Seven Zimbabweans, including a man from Gweru who brutally murdered his wife and left their six-month-old son suckling from the corpse, have been placed on the International Police Organisation (Interpol) most wanted list for evading arrest after allegedly committing serious offences.

Tanaka Rusike (33) from Gweru, who has been on the run since December 2017, is wanted for allegedly killing his spouse, Nozipho Tecla Mpofu, in cold blood and leaving their child suckling and cuddling his mother’s corpse for nearly 24 hours before the crime was discovered.

Alert neighbours discovered the child beside his mother’s lifeless body after he started crying the following morning.

The seven are among 7 600 criminals who have been placed on Interpol’s Red Notice and are wanted for committing offences ranging from terrorism, corruption, human trafficking and escaping lawful custody.

A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

The notice is issued for fugitives wanted either for prosecution or to serve a sentence after judicial proceedings in the country issuing the request.

Interpol has issued 34 Red Notices for fugitives wanted in 15 SADC countries, with Eswatini (14) accounting for the most wanted fugitives followed by South Africa (9).

However, Interpol does not publish the names of all wanted criminals, a deliberate tactic to avoid alerting fugitives who will likely limit travelling once they are aware of a Red Notice against their name.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told The Sunday Mail yesterday that Rusike has been on the run for more than three years.

“I can confirm that Tanaka Rusike of Gweru is on the Red Notice list,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“He is wanted in connection with a murder case involving his wife which took place in 2017.

“Being placed on the Red Notice indicates that he is wanted and can be arrested anywhere in the world where he is located.”

Interpol is also looking for Bornface Madunusa (34) of Gokwe, who is wanted by police to answer to charges of murder and has also been placed on the most wanted list.

In 2018, Madunusa, who was based at 5 Infantry, Battlefields in Kwekwe allegedly murdered his 28-year-old wife Eunice Marimbire by strangling her with a rope after accusing her of infidelity.

He fled from the scene leaving Marimbire’s body lying on the floor, covered by blankets before it was discovered by his landlord the following morning.

Moreblessing Mavuso (46) from Bulawayo, who is also on the Red Notice, is wanted by police in Eswatini for fraud and corruption.

According to Eswatini media reports, Mavuso, who was married to former parliamentarian Machawe Mavuso, disappeared soon after she was charged for making fraudulent payments while working for the country’s Finance Ministry as an assistant accountant.

Two of her accomplices who worked in the Ministry of Agriculture were arrested and appeared in court.

Mavuso is alleged to have taken a three-week leave from work after being summoned by the Eswatini civil service commission to answer to the fraud charges.

She, however, did not report back to work when her leave lapsed.

South African police, through Interpol, are looking for Andrew Ndlovu (31), who also uses the alias Andrea Druza, from Gweru to answer to allegations of house breaking and murder.

Xolani Dube (26) and Tumelo Moyo (27) are wanted in Botswana to answer to charges of escaping from lawful custody.

Police are also looking for Travor Manata (42) from Hwedza who is wanted for allegedly committing murder.

Interpol is the world’s largest international police organisation, with 190 member countries, including Zimbabwe, whose work includes facilitating cross-border collaboration between law enforcement organisations.

Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Goodwin Matanga has pleaded with the government to urgently provide accommodation for 30 000 police officers who are reportedly renting private accommodation.

Matanga said the current set up is affecting the officers’ execution of their duties at the same time endangering their security.

Speaking during his visit to Masvingo police on Thursday last week, Matanga said:

I wish to place on record that, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has only 12 000 housing units that are accommodating 18 760 police officers. Of these, 10 945 are sharing. Resultantly, over 30 000 police officers are renting private accommodation, a situation that compromises the security of our members. It is, therefore, my fervent hope and prayer that Government urgently intervenes.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe also remarked that the shortage of accommodation among police officers was a major concern.

He said:

Certainly, resource constraints manifest through an array of challenges, key among them being the shortage of residential and office accommodation, transport and non-payment of travelling and subsistence allowances. The shortage of accommodation which has, unfortunately, resulted in some members seeking private rental accommodation has always been a cause of concern.

This position is unpleasant given that apart from compromising the security of members, it also has huge financial implications. To that end, efforts are being made to ensure police officers and members get decent accommodation.

Kazembe said the government was aware of the challenges the ZRP was facing adding that efforts are being made to improve police effectiveness through the procurement of more operational vehicles-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A Bindura woman has been convicted for assaulting her husband’s girlfriend after she found them being intimate at their matrimonial home.

Violet Chapfunya from Garikai suburb appeared before Bindura magistrate Samantha Dhlamini facing an assault charge. Chapfunya pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to a month behind bars.

The magistrate, however, wholly suspended the sentence on the condition that she does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

Prosecutor Shiella Kudzai Maribha said on April 21 Chapfunya caught her husband, whose name was not mentioned in court, being intimate with Portia Arifanari and the husband fled.

In a fit of rage, Chapfunya then assaulted Arifanari with open hands.

A Bindura woman has been convicted for assaulting her husband’s girlfriend after she found them being intimate at their matrimonial home.

Violet Chapfunya from Garikai suburb appeared before Bindura magistrate Samantha Dhlamini facing an assault charge. Chapfunya pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to a month behind bars.

The magistrate, however, wholly suspended the sentence on the condition that she does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

Prosecutor Shiella Kudzai Maribha said on April 21 Chapfunya caught her husband, whose name was not mentioned in court, being intimate with Portia Arifanari and the husband fled.

In a fit of rage, Chapfunya then assaulted Arifanari with open hands.-standard

The Harare City Council is threatening to unleash debt collectors, disconnect water supplies and take legal action on all ratepayers who are in arrears for rates with the local authority.

In some parts of Harare, the Local authority has dispatched letters of demand in a bid to coerce ratepayers to pay their dues.

“Before commencing legal proceedings in terms of the legislation, I am obliged to demand full payment of the amount stated above within 14 days of this notice, failing which, legal action will be effected without further warning to you, with costs charge to your account”, reads part of the letter from the Treasury Department.

A New Mabvuku resident who was in receipt of the letter of “final demand” from the local authority said, “It should be residents dragging the Council to court for non-provision of services, right now I live with raw sewerage which they can’t repair, no water we will also organize court action this is not fair.” 

The City is also threatening to disconnect water supplies to all its debtors and claims that it is now owed ZWL$5 Billion.

The demand for full payment of debts comes at a time when the local authority is not providing the services which it is claiming payment for which some areas have gone for more than 10 years without water, toilets flooded with sewer and piles of uncollected garbage have become permanent features in high density areas.

On its social media platform, the Harare City Council has warned “Will soon deploy debt collectors to collect all outstanding amounts. The best thing is to do a payment plan now.”

In 2018 the use of debt collectors was declared unlawful after Well Cash Debt Collectors were hired by the City of Harare were declared unlawful as  it violated section 9(2)(b) of the Legal Practitioners Act 27:07.

Residents are entitled to law and have a legal right to administrative action that is lawful, reasonable and fair in terms of Section 68 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

The recent astronomic increases of rates by more than 400% premised on a faulty software currently used for billing by the local authority have casted doubt over the authenticity of the Council bills.

Some residents who have been religiously paying rates received ballooned bills with payments they have made to the local authority not captured or deducted.

Ratepayers across the City have been flocking to CHRA offices seeking for assistance over their ballooned bills. “I have paid every month my rates in full but am surprised that I now owe council ZWL30 000”, said a dejected Highfields woman.

CHRA reiterates its position that the amounts which the City is claiming to be owed are founded on a chaotic, shambolic and non-functional billing system hence there is a need for a real debt audit for the City debt.

CHRA also warns ratepayers not to be coerced to enter into payment plans on amounts of debts they are not agreeable to with the local authority and they should pay for services rendered.

We further call upon the City of Harare to depart from the SAGE Pastel software it is using for billing and payments and find an effective software that has the ability to show the balance after payments are made in real time.

By A Correspondent- Owners whose cattle were stolen by the recently nabbed Bikiti syndicate are crying foul amid revelations that several dockets where they had reported that their cattle had been stolen have disappeared from the police.

According to a whistleblower, there is rampant corruption on the matter in a development which may see the affected farmers losing their recovered cattle.

Said the source:

“Please help to expose the corruption on the issue of stock theft in Bikita. The cattle have been found but for them to be returned to the owners, some dockets have suddenly gone missing.”

Last week, the police busted a cattle rustling syndicate which had terrorised Bikita.

Said the ZRP in a statement:

By A Correspondent- A furious Chinese national, who said he was frustrated by his fellow countrymen at work in Glendale, Mashonaland Central province, picked an axe and struck his colleague on the hand.

The matter came to light at Bindura magistrates’ courts on Friday where Chogwen Jia (49) appeared before magistrate Samantha Dhlamini facing an attempted murder charge.

Prosecutor Shiella Kudzai Maribha alleged that on November 30 last year and at Casterly investments in Glendale, Chogwen had a misunderstanding with his colleague Biliang Tan (55) over working conditions.

In the scuffle, Jia picked up an axe and struck Tan on the hand resulting in him sustaining a deep cut and was rushed to the hospital where he was treated and discharged. A police report was made leading to Chogwen’s arrest.

The case continues on May 7.-standard

Nashtv has issued a statement after an artiste contract with the company had leaked. There have been concerns that Nashtv is exploiting artistes who are very desperate for exposure. We present Nashtv’s statement in full below.

We have always considered ourselves a platform by the people, for the people and for that reason we value public views and feedback to the work we do. Due to the public outcry concerning some of our contracts with artists, we have taken it upon ourselves to realese all the copyrights to Color Vibes videos, Hotspot Videos and Live Shows that we have done. Any artiste who recorded with us and wants to claim the copyright to their song, should feel free to do that.

The leaked contract was designed to give the company maximum protection especially after paying the artist the agreed figure for the music or video In full. Our main thrust is to help turn Zimbabwean art sector into a self-funding industry and doing so in a sustainable way which safeguards our interests and investment over time.

Going forward we are working on a new contract and we will reach out to all arts stakeholders, critics included so that we come up with a contract which seeks to protect not only ourselves but the artist as well. We will have the contracts debates live on air until we come up with a solid win-win contract.

We are also opening our financials to public scrutiny and these will demonstrate that as Nash Group we have not made any profits from Nashtv. Financial gain was never the driving factor in this venture. We are solely driven by the desire to grow the arts industry and bring a feel-good experience to our country as proven over time.

Thank you for your continued support and feedback to our quest for a viable and rewarding arts industry. We have faith in the 10031 arts industry and we will continue learning as we go.

-nashpaints

By A Correspondent- It has emerged that a polygamous Gweru businessman who went berserk and allegedly shot four people and killed two instantly, initially allegedly held hostage his son and his cousin for two hours while waiting for their mothers whom he later shot.

He shot and killed his second wife’s alleged lover, Shelton Chinhango, a Kwekwe-based car dealer and her friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30).

Dube also shot and injured his second wife, Nyasha Nharingo (31) and her sister Nyaradzo (34).

Nyaradzo’s 16-year-old daughter, who witnessed the horrific incident said she and her cousin, a toddler, who is Dube’s son with Nyasha, narrowly escaped death after he attempted to fire the gun at them only to be refrained by Mudungwe.

Speaking to The Sunday News on Saturday, she said:

One of the shooting victims, Nyaradzo Nharingo is my mother and Nyasha is her sister. On the day of the shooting, my mother, my aunt and their friends went to Masvingo to collect my mother’s passport. She wanted to fly to South Africa on Friday where she was supposed to assume duty on a new job she had got. Dube came home and locked the door. He then told me that we were going to Senga and he also fired the maid and gave her, her salary. I then informed my mother around 8 pm and they said they were in Mvuma on their way back.

When my mother and my aunt arrived in the company of their friends, they asked me to tell Dube to open the door but he refused. He told me to pack all our belongings and leave. My mother started shouting at him and demanded that he opens the door for me to get out.

My mother then told him that they were going to call the police. His first wife also arrived. She said Dube had lied to her saying that he was going to Kadoma to attend to a breakdown and took US$50 which he used to pay the maid.

When my mother went to the police station, he then chucked me out of the house. This was around 10 pm.

She said the police found the children outside the house and assumed the situation was now under control and left but Dube continued to refuse to open the door for the women to get their clothes.

She continued:

Dube refused to open the door. His first wife then called his brother Advance Dube informing him about the issue.

Advance managed to convince his brother to open the door. My aunt then started packing and went into the car which was waiting for us downstairs. My mother then went back to collect her bag as well.

Dube then came down the stairs running and went into his car and took a pistol. He then came to the Toyota Hiace that we were in and confronted the driver (Shelton) accusing him of snatching his wife. He cocked his gun and shot the driver in the head. I then opened the door and ran away. He then pointed the gun at me but my mother’s friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe restrained him. He then turned on her and shot her in the chest. He went upstairs and shot my mother and my aunt. After that I saw the maid coming downstairs screaming for help.

The Sunday News reports that the two sisters, Nyasha and Nyaradzo, who are battling for life at Gweru Provincial Hospital are said to have undergone a lifesaving surgery yesterday.

Acting Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said police were still looking for Dube who allegedly contacted his friend and police on Friday promising to hand himself over. He is on the run.

By A Correspondent- A child marriage survivor in Shamva, Samantha Chidodo, has performed well at her A’Levels scoring 12 points. 

Rozaria Memorial Trust chief executive, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, revealed the achievement narrating how the organization helped her get back into school to survive child marriage. Samantha is now looking forward to starting university.

A’Level results came out a few days ago.

Narrated Gumbonzvanda:

Samantha Chidodo, Nailed it! 12 points at A Level. I am over the moon with joy.

4 Years ago, Chief Bushu approached RMT requesting if we can support this girl who experienced child marriage and is passionate about going back to school.

We took Samantha in through our Education Assistance program. She passed her O levels and we immediately supported her to continue.

She went kwaJiti, a school in Shamva district just near pa Chakonda. As we paid her fees, she had to do vegetable vending to support herself and her child. She stays with parents, both are not working.

Last year she formed a community Nhanga which has over 60 other girls and they encourage each other to read, raise their income and to be responsible in relationships. The Chief promised to give them land for their agribusiness.

Now Samantha is a game changer. She has now been a speaker at many regional platforms. During CSW she was on a special global panel hosted by #OHCHR. Samantha wants to be a lawyer, and her road is now open.

As Rozaria Memorial Trust, we say congratulations to Sama, the sky is the limit. All we have to do now is to mobilise for funding so that she can enroll at the Uni, and wants she is in, the rest is doable. We are reaching out to those who provide scholarships to girls like Sama.

By A Correspondent- The former Sports Editor at Chronicle, Innocent Kurwa (63) died last night in a road accident after his car was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle in Bulawayo.

Chronicle reports that the other car encroached onto Kurwa’s lane along Leopold Takawira Avenue shortly after 11 PM near Ascot Shopping Centre, Bulawayo.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the death of the veteran journalist adding that they have opened a docket of culpable homicide charges against the driver of the offending car.

He said:

Two cars, a Nissan Almera and Jaguar were involved in a head on collision along Leopold Takawira Avenue near Ascot Shopping Centre on Saturday at around 11.30 PM. The driver of the Nissan Almera died on spot after he was trapped in the wreckage while the other motorists sustained injuries and was rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).

The deceased is Innocent Kurwa (63) of Sunninghill suburb in Bulawayo.

The driver of the Jaguar was speeding and failed to control his car resulting in him encroaching onto the lane of oncoming traffic resulting in a head on. He is being charged for culpable homicide.

Kurwa was coming from the city centre while the driver of the Jaguar, who was coming from the opposite direction encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic resulting in a head-on collision.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa is allegedly under pressure from Zanu-PF bigwigs to act on his trusted corruption buster Tabani Mpofu whom they accuse of extortion.

Mpofu is the head of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (Sacu), which is housed in the president’s office.

According to sources, Mnangagwa was last week given a dossier that contained allegations that Mpofu and his Sacu were extorting prominent businesspeople targeted for arrest on suspicion of committing various crimes.

One of them is Pedzai Sakupwanya, also known as Scott, who was allegedly made to pay an unknown sum of money to have his case swept under the carpet.

Sacu allegedly arrested a Chinese national only identified as Mr Foi who was working with Sakupwanya at Redwing Mine in Penhalonga.

The mine was at the centre of a dispute between Sakupwanya’s Betterbrands and Probadek Investment, whose directors include Patricia Mtombgwera and Grant Chitate.

Sukupwanya and Foi were being accused of fraud, but the case was allegedly “killed” by the Sacu team.

However, it is a case involving a tycoon from Manicaland where Sacu investigators allegedly demanded payment for cover-up, which incensed Zanu-PF bigwigs in the province.

Defence minister Oppah Kashiri is said to have blown the lid on the alleged extortion attempts by the Sacu investigators after she was informed by Chipinge South MP Enock Porusingazi.

Kashiri is said to have met Mnangagwa over the matter.

Initially Porusingazi was vague about his involvement in the matter.

“I have never met Tabani myself, but if your story glorifies that I exposed corruption, then I have no issue with that,” he said.

“At least it helps show the world that corruption can be fought.”

After two days, Porusingazi sent a text message saying: “I never dealt with the Sacu guys at all.”

Mpofu told The Standard that he was not aware of corruption allegations against him.

“I am not aware of the subject you are talking of,” he said.

Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba said reports that Mpofu had been reprimanded by the president were mere “fabrications”.

“Those are mere fabrications making rounds on social media,” Charamba told The Standard.

“Mpofu is still in charge.

“The Special Anti-Corruption Unit is an important institution on issues of accountability and transparency, hence the citizens would have been advised of any
changes in the unit.”

Sacu has been accused of only targeting Mnangagwa’s opponents while turning a blind eye to corruption by those close to the ruling party and government.

-standard

By A Correspondent- Government parastatal Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO) Zimbabwe has reduced its top managers to illegal Mshikashika car operators.

The quasi-government department is paying its managers a paltry ZWD5 000.00 leaving them with no option but to turn company cars into illegal Mshikashikas.

One of its managers who has turned his official car into a Mshikashika is the parastatal’s Bindura branch manager, identified as Mr Chando.

Mr Chando is now plying the Bindura-Matepatepa route using the company’s pick-up truck, before and after his official working hours.

Mr Chando is also said to be demanding fuel money from clients who would have applied for loans for him to visit their projects for his approval.

SEDCO policy does not allow clients to pay for site visits by the parastatal staff, but Chando is said to be doing this so that he augments his meagre salary.

SEDCO workers who spoke to this publication but refused to be named for fear of victimisation said, the parastatal had neglected them.

“ We are suffering while the top management in Harare where our head office is are enjoying. They are giving us money which is not even enough to pay for rentals. What do can you buy with 5000 RTGs, to be honest?”. Said the workers.

Efforts by Zimeye.com to get a comment from the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, Sithembiso Nyoni whose portfolio oversees and commands SEDCO’s operations were fruitless.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Mazowe District party coordinator Simon Stewart has been embroiled in a bribery storm and fanning factionalism.

Sources from Mazowe branch allege he is getting bribes and causing confusing for his selfish gains.

Said a source:

“The fights in Mazowe are being caused by the party coordinator, he is greedy hence he is taking bribes from senior guys and fanning factionalism by  disrupting some of the meetings from other members,” lamented a source who refused to be named.

Another reliable source accused Stewart of abusing the party vehicle and sleeping with married women.

“There is a big problem here in our district the coordinator is abusing the party vehicle going with it in different bars and using it to carry married women to different places where he is sleeping with them in the name of the party,” she added.

The disgruntled members also said action should be taken as that will divide votes in 2023.

Stewart was not picking his calls up to the time of this writing.

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance says leaders of the rival MDC-T in Matabeleland South are tracing their footsteps back to the party after initially joining the Douglas Mwonzora-led outfit.

Former MDC Alliance Matabeleland South chairperson Watchy Sibanda, who had defected to the MDC-T then led by Thokozani Khupe, was re-admitted into the Nelson Chamisa party last week.

Sibanda resigned from the Mwonzoraled party.

At a meeting held in Gwanda, the Matabeleland South MDC Alliance provincial executive also welcomed back about 450 members, who had followed Sibanda to MDC-T.

Ntando Ndlela, MDC Alliance Matabeleland South spokesperson, told The Standard that Sibanda had brought with him the whole district leadership of MDC-T in Matobo North.

“Edmore Nkomo, a former leader of our party, who went with Khupe, has come back and almost all of those who went away with him in Insiza district are back.

“The Chamisa-led party is growing big here and we are so excited.”

Another bigwig who had gone with Khupe, Mbiyezwe Nare, has also rejoined MDC Alliance in Gwanda district, Ndlela said.

“We welcome home all these comrades. MDC Alliance is home for all who seriously want a better Zimbabwe,” he added.

“We are getting ready to take over power from the failed government of Zanu-PF.”

He claimed that people in Matabeleland were “fast seeing that Mwonzora and Khupe are a Zanu-PF project”.

Ndlela challenged Mwonzora to try and have a meeting or mini rally in Matabeleland if he wanted to see that he has no followers in the region.

“People want change here,” he said.

“They want closure to the unresolved Gukurahundi conflict and cannot stomach all those who support perpetrators of the genocide,” he said.

“The people are clear the best foot forward in that regard is president Chamisa.” Mwonzora left the MDC Alliance last year after the Supreme Court ruled that Chamisa’s succession of MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai was illegal.

The Manicaland senator beat Khupe for the presidency of the party at an extraordinary congress in December last year.

By A Correspondent-The people of Matabeleland South have endorsed MDC-Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa and rejected Douglas Mwonzor’s sinking MDC-T small faction.

Chamisa received the endorsement last week in Gwanda when the former MDC Alliance Matabeleland South chairperson Watchy Sibanda, who had defected to the MDC-T then led by Thokozani Khupe, was re-admitted into the MDC-Alliance party last week.

Sibanda resigned from the Mwonzora-led party.

At a meeting held in Gwanda, the Matabeleland South MDC Alliance provincial executive also welcomed back about 450 members, who had followed Sibanda to MDC-T.

Ntando Ndlela, MDC Alliance Matabeleland South spokesperson, told The Standard that Sibanda had brought with him the whole district leadership of MDC-T in Matobo North.

“Edmore Nkomo, a former leader of our party, who went with Khupe, has come back and almost all of those who went away with him in Insiza district are back.

“The Chamisa-led party is growing big here and we are so excited.”

Another bigwig who had gone with Khupe, Mbiyezwe Nare, has also re-joined MDC Alliance in Gwanda district, Ndlela said.

“We welcome home all these comrades. MDC Alliance is home for all who seriously want a better Zimbabwe,” he added.

“We are getting ready to take over power from the failed government of Zanu PF.”

He claimed that people in Matabeleland were “fast seeing that Mwonzora and Khupe are a Zanu PF project”.

Ndlela challenged Mwonzora to try and have a meeting or mini rally in Matabeleland if he wanted to see that he has no followers in the region.

“People want change here,” he said.

-The Standard

By A Correspondent-The Gweru businessman who went berserk and allegedly shot four people and killed two instantly, has hinted on handing over himself to the police.

On Friday morning Gweru woke up to the news of a frenzied gun attack, in which prominent car dealer Peter Dube (35) shot and killed his second wife’s alleged lover, Shelton Chinhango, also a car dealer based in Kwekwe and her friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30).

He also shot and injured his second wife, Nyasha Nharingo (31) and her sister Nyaradzo (34). Nyaradzo’s 16-year-old daughter, who witnessed the horrific incident said she and her cousin, a toddler, who is Dube’s son with Nyasha, survived death by a whisker after he attempted to fire the gun at them only to be refrained by Mudungwe. She narrated the ordeal to Sunday News yesterday.

“One of the shooting victims, Nyaradzo Nharingo is my mother and Nyasha is her sister. On the day of the shooting, my mother, my aunt and their friends went to Masvingo to collect my mother’s passport. She wanted to fly to South Africa on Friday where she was supposed to assume duty on a new job she had got. Dube came home and locked the door. He then told me that we were going to Senga and he also fired the maid and gave her, her salary. I then informed my mother around 8pm and they said they were in Mvuma on their way back,” she said.

“When my mother and my aunt arrived in the company of their friends, they asked me to tell Dube to open the door but he refused. He told me to pack all our belongings and leave. My mother started shouting at him and demanded that he opens the door for me to get out.

“My mother then told him that they were going to call the police. His first wife also arrived. She said Dube had lied to her saying that he was going to Kadoma to attend to a breakdown and took US$50 which he used to pay the maid.

When my mother went to the police station, he then chucked me out of the house. This was around 10pm,” she said.

She said when the police arrived and found the children outside, they assumed that the situation was under control and left. However, Dube continued to refuse to open the door for the women to get their clothes.

“Dube refused to open the door. His first wife then called his brother Advance Dube informing him about the issue.

Advance managed to convince his brother to open the door. My aunt then started packing and went into the car which was waiting for us downstairs. My mother then went back to collect her bag as well,” she said.

The 16-year old said Dube suddenly went berserk and shot the alleged boyfriend Chinhango, Mudungwe, Nyasha and Nyaradzo.

“Dube then came down the stairs running and went into his car and took a pistol. He then came to the Toyota Haice that we were in and confronted the driver (Shelton) accusing him of snatching his wife. He cocked his gun and shot the driver on the head. I then opened the door and ran away. He then pointed the gun at me but my mother’s friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe restrained him. He then turned on her and shot her on the chest. He went upstairs and shot my mother and my aunt. After that I saw the maid coming downstairs screaming for help,” she said.

By A Correspondent-The Gweru businessman who went berserk and allegedly shot four people and killed two instantly, it has emerged that he initially allegedly held hostage his son and his cousin for two hours while waiting for their mothers whom he later shot.

In addition, he also pointed the firearm at the two children but was refrained by one of the women whom he later shot and is battling for life at Gweru Provincial Hospital. On Friday morning Gweru woke up to the news of a frenzied gun attack, in which prominent car dealer Peter Dube (35) shot and killed his second wife’s alleged lover, Shelton Chinhango, also a car dealer based in Kwekwe and her friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30).

He also shot and injured his second wife, Nyasha Nharingo (31) and her sister Nyaradzo (34). Nyaradzo’s 16-year-old daughter, who witnessed the horrific incident said she and her cousin, a toddler, who is Dube’s son with Nyasha, survived death by a whisker after he attempted to fire the gun at them only to be refrained by Mudungwe. She narrated the ordeal to Sunday News yesterday.

“One of the shooting victims, Nyaradzo Nharingo is my mother and Nyasha is her sister. On the day of the shooting, my mother, my aunt and their friends went to Masvingo to collect my mother’s passport. She wanted to fly to South Africa on Friday where she was supposed to assume duty on a new job she had got. Dube came home and locked the door. He then told me that we were going to Senga and he also fired the maid and gave her, her salary. I then informed my mother around 8pm and they said they were in Mvuma on their way back,” she said.

“When my mother and my aunt arrived in the company of their friends, they asked me to tell Dube to open the door but he refused. He told me to pack all our belongings and leave. My mother started shouting at him and demanded that he opens the door for me to get out.

“My mother then told him that they were going to call the police. His first wife also arrived. She said Dube had lied to her saying that he was going to Kadoma to attend to a breakdown and took US$50 which he used to pay the maid.

When my mother went to the police station, he then chucked me out of the house. This was around 10pm,” she said.

She said when the police arrived and found the children outside, they assumed that the situation was under control and left. However, Dube continued to refuse to open the door for the women to get their clothes.

“Dube refused to open the door. His first wife then called his brother Advance Dube informing him about the issue.

Advance managed to convince his brother to open the door. My aunt then started packing and went into the car which was waiting for us downstairs. My mother then went back to collect her bag as well,” she said.

The 16-year old said Dube suddenly went berserk and shot the alleged boyfriend Chinhango, Mudungwe, Nyasha and Nyaradzo.

“Dube then came down the stairs running and went into his car and took a pistol. He then came to the Toyota Haice that we were in and confronted the driver (Shelton) accusing him of snatching his wife. He cocked his gun and shot the driver on the head. I then opened the door and ran away. He then pointed the gun at me but my mother’s friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe restrained him. He then turned on her and shot her on the chest. He went upstairs and shot my mother and my aunt. After that I saw the maid coming downstairs screaming for help,” she said.

By A Correspondent-As the country continues to digest the news of a polygamous Gweru businessman who went berserk and allegedly shot four people and killed two instantly, it has emerged that he initially allegedly held hostage his son and his cousin for two hours while waiting for their mothers whom he later shot.

In addition, he also pointed the firearm at the two children but was refrained by one of the women whom he later shot and is battling for life at Gweru Provincial Hospital. On Friday morning Gweru woke up to the news of a frenzied gun attack, in which prominent car dealer Peter Dube (35) shot and killed his second wife’s alleged lover, Shelton Chinhango, also a car dealer based in Kwekwe and her friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30).

He also shot and injured his second wife, Nyasha Nharingo (31) and her sister Nyaradzo (34). Nyaradzo’s 16-year-old daughter, who witnessed the horrific incident said she and her cousin, a toddler, who is Dube’s son with Nyasha, survived death by a whisker after he attempted to fire the gun at them only to be refrained by Mudungwe. She narrated the ordeal to Sunday News yesterday.

“One of the shooting victims, Nyaradzo Nharingo is my mother and Nyasha is her sister. On the day of the shooting, my mother, my aunt and their friends went to Masvingo to collect my mother’s passport. She wanted to fly to South Africa on Friday where she was supposed to assume duty on a new job she had got. Dube came home and locked the door. He then told me that we were going to Senga and he also fired the maid and gave her, her salary. I then informed my mother around 8pm and they said they were in Mvuma on their way back,” she said.

“When my mother and my aunt arrived in the company of their friends, they asked me to tell Dube to open the door but he refused. He told me to pack all our belongings and leave. My mother started shouting at him and demanded that he opens the door for me to get out.

“My mother then told him that they were going to call the police. His first wife also arrived. She said Dube had lied to her saying that he was going to Kadoma to attend to a breakdown and took US$50 which he used to pay the maid.

When my mother went to the police station, he then chucked me out of the house. This was around 10pm,” she said.

She said when the police arrived and found the children outside, they assumed that the situation was under control and left. However, Dube continued to refuse to open the door for the women to get their clothes.

“Dube refused to open the door. His first wife then called his brother Advance Dube informing him about the issue.

Advance managed to convince his brother to open the door. My aunt then started packing and went into the car which was waiting for us downstairs. My mother then went back to collect her bag as well,” she said.

The 16-year old said Dube suddenly went berserk and shot the alleged boyfriend Chinhango, Mudungwe, Nyasha and Nyaradzo.

“Dube then came down the stairs running and went into his car and took a pistol. He then came to the Toyota Haice that we were in and confronted the driver (Shelton) accusing him of snatching his wife. He cocked his gun and shot the driver on the head. I then opened the door and ran away. He then pointed the gun at me but my mother’s friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe restrained him. He then turned on her and shot her on the chest. He went upstairs and shot my mother and my aunt. After that I saw the maid coming downstairs screaming for help,” she said.

The two sisters who are battling for life at Gweru Provincial Hospital are said to have undergone a lifesaving surgery yesterday. Dube is still on the run but sources said he contacted his friend and police later on Friday and promised to hand himself over. Acting Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said police were still looking for him.

-State media 

By A Correspondent-At least 450 MDC-T senior executives have deserted the Douglas Mwonzora and rejoined the original MDC-Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

These executives defected to MDC-T during the Thokozani Khupe era.

This came out last week in Gwanda when the former MDC Alliance Matabeleland South chairperson Watchy Sibanda, who had defected to the MDC-T then led by Thokozani Khupe, was re-admitted into the Nelson Chamisa party last week.

Sibanda resigned from the Mwonzora-led party.

At a meeting held in Gwanda, the Matabeleland South MDC Alliance provincial executive also welcomed back about 450 members, who had followed Sibanda to MDC-T.

Ntando Ndlela, MDC Alliance Matabeleland South spokesperson, told The Standard that Sibanda had brought with him the whole district leadership of MDC-T in Matobo North.

“Edmore Nkomo, a former leader of our party, who went with Khupe, has come back and almost all of those who went away with him in Insiza district are back.

“The Chamisa-led party is growing big here and we are so excited.”

Another bigwig who had gone with Khupe, Mbiyezwe Nare, has also re-joined MDC Alliance in Gwanda district, Ndlela said.

“We welcome home all these comrades. MDC Alliance is home for all who seriously want a better Zimbabwe,” he added.

“We are getting ready to take over power from the failed government of Zanu PF.”

He claimed that people in Matabeleland were “fast seeing that Mwonzora and Khupe are a Zanu PF project”.

Ndlela challenged Mwonzora to try and have a meeting or mini rally in Matabeleland if he wanted to see that he has no followers in the region.

“People want change here,” he said.

-The Standard

By A Correspondent-As the country continues to digest the news of a polygamous Gweru businessman who went berserk and allegedly shot four people and killed two instantly, it has emerged that he initially allegedly held hostage his son and his cousin for two hours while waiting for their mothers whom he later shot.

In addition, he also pointed the firearm at the two children but was refrained by one of the women whom he later shot and is battling for life at Gweru Provincial Hospital. On Friday morning Gweru woke up to the news of a frenzied gun attack, in which prominent car dealer Peter Dube (35) shot and killed his second wife’s alleged lover, Shelton Chinhango, also a car dealer based in Kwekwe and her friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30).

He also shot and injured his second wife, Nyasha Nharingo (31) and her sister Nyaradzo (34). Nyaradzo’s 16-year-old daughter, who witnessed the horrific incident said she and her cousin, a toddler, who is Dube’s son with Nyasha, survived death by a whisker after he attempted to fire the gun at them only to be refrained by Mudungwe. She narrated the ordeal to Sunday News yesterday.

“One of the shooting victims, Nyaradzo Nharingo is my mother and Nyasha is her sister. On the day of the shooting, my mother, my aunt and their friends went to Masvingo to collect my mother’s passport. She wanted to fly to South Africa on Friday where she was supposed to assume duty on a new job she had got. Dube came home and locked the door. He then told me that we were going to Senga and he also fired the maid and gave her, her salary. I then informed my mother around 8pm and they said they were in Mvuma on their way back,” she said.

“When my mother and my aunt arrived in the company of their friends, they asked me to tell Dube to open the door but he refused. He told me to pack all our belongings and leave. My mother started shouting at him and demanded that he opens the door for me to get out.

“My mother then told him that they were going to call the police. His first wife also arrived. She said Dube had lied to her saying that he was going to Kadoma to attend to a breakdown and took US$50 which he used to pay the maid.

When my mother went to the police station, he then chucked me out of the house. This was around 10pm,” she said.

She said when the police arrived and found the children outside, they assumed that the situation was under control and left. However, Dube continued to refuse to open the door for the women to get their clothes.

“Dube refused to open the door. His first wife then called his brother Advance Dube informing him about the issue.

Advance managed to convince his brother to open the door. My aunt then started packing and went into the car which was waiting for us downstairs. My mother then went back to collect her bag as well,” she said.

The 16-year old said Dube suddenly went berserk and shot the alleged boyfriend Chinhango, Mudungwe, Nyasha and Nyaradzo.

“Dube then came down the stairs running and went into his car and took a pistol. He then came to the Toyota Haice that we were in and confronted the driver (Shelton) accusing him of snatching his wife. He cocked his gun and shot the driver on the head. I then opened the door and ran away. He then pointed the gun at me but my mother’s friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe restrained him. He then turned on her and shot her on the chest. He went upstairs and shot my mother and my aunt. After that I saw the maid coming downstairs screaming for help,” she said.

The two sisters who are battling for life at Gweru Provincial Hospital are said to have undergone a lifesaving surgery yesterday. Dube is still on the run but sources said he contacted his friend and police later on Friday and promised to hand himself over. Acting Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said police were still looking for him.

-State media 

By A Correspondent-MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora has been deserted by hundreds of members who had defected to his faction during the Thokozani Khupe era.

This came out last week in Gwanda when the former MDC Alliance Matabeleland South chairperson Watchy Sibanda, who had defected to the MDC-T then led by Thokozani Khupe, was re-admitted into the Nelson Chamisa party last week.

Sibanda resigned from the Mwonzora-led party.

At a meeting held in Gwanda, the Matabeleland South MDC Alliance provincial executive also welcomed back about 450 members, who had followed Sibanda to MDC-T.

Ntando Ndlela, MDC Alliance Matabeleland South spokesperson, told The Standard that Sibanda had brought with him the whole district leadership of MDC-T in Matobo North.

“Edmore Nkomo, a former leader of our party, who went with Khupe, has come back and almost all of those who went away with him in Insiza district are back.

“The Chamisa-led party is growing big here and we are so excited.”

Another bigwig who had gone with Khupe, Mbiyezwe Nare, has also re-joined MDC Alliance in Gwanda district, Ndlela said.

“We welcome home all these comrades. MDC Alliance is home for all who seriously want a better Zimbabwe,” he added.

“We are getting ready to take over power from the failed government of Zanu PF.”

He claimed that people in Matabeleland were “fast seeing that Mwonzora and Khupe are a Zanu PF project”.

Ndlela challenged Mwonzora to try and have a meeting or mini rally in Matabeleland if he wanted to see that he has no followers in the region.

“People want change here,” he said.

-The Standard

By James Gwati-The bankrupt Grain Marketing Board has deployed its security officers at all police roadblocks throughout the country where they are looking for trucks carrying maize bought from farmers.

GMB, through statutory instrument 145/2019 is the sole buyer of maize grain from farmers.

The repressive regulations make it an offence for anyone to be found with more than five 50kg bags of maize grain.

GMB pays farmers in local currency which never comes fears that farmers could bypass them and sell their produce to millers who pay in instant foreign currency.

GMB claims that it has so far bought than 6 000 tonnes of maize from farmers this year.

Harare, Zimbabwe(CNN)Zimbabwe will “soon” start selling rights to shoot as many as 500 elephants this year, the country announced this week.

Tinashe Farawo, a spokesman for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, told CNN Thursday that declining tourism revenue owing to the coronavirus pandemic was among the main reasons for the move.

Suspected poacher trampled to death by elephants in South Africa
Suspected poacher trampled to death by elephants in South Africa
“We eat what we kill,” Farawo said. “We have a budget of about $25 million for our operations which is raised — partly — through sports hunting, but you know tourism is as good as dead at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic.”

The announcement comes just weeks after the African forest elephant was declared critically endangered and the African savanna elephant was declared endangered.

Simiso Mlevu, a spokeswoman for the Center for Natural Resource Governance, a Zimbabwe environmental and human rights advocacy group, said the decision to allow elephant hunting was “appalling.”

“We strongly condemn trophy hunting — a practice that agitates wild animals and escalates human-wild life conflicts,” Mlevu said.

“It is almost certain that surviving families of wildlife families that witness the senseless gunning down of their family members mete out vengeance on the hapless local villagers,” Mlevu said.

“Contrary to government arguments that trophy hunting is meant to assist with conservation, the practice is motivated by greed and often the money is not even accounted for. There is a need for more innovative and eco-friendly measures to improve revenue generation from photo safaris and tourism in general,” added Mlevu.

Zimbabwe is not alone in the region in allowing elephant hunting for a fee, in December, Namibia put 170 “high value” wild elephants up for sale due to drought and an increase in elephant numbers.

-CNN

By A Correspondent- overnment has set up a board of inquiry to probe the cause of the horrific helicopter crash that claimed four lives on Friday.

This was revealed by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Honourable Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri when she consoled families of the crash victims this Saturday.

An emotional moment filled the Senyere family homestead hours after an Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter crash in the Hukuru Area in Acturus that claimed the life of their young daughter along with two pilots and a technician.

In these painful moments, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Honourable Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri extended a consoling shoulder to the family following their loss.

Allow me to pass my heartfelt condolences following the passing on of your child.We are with you during this very difficult time as it is not easy to lose a child as young as 1 1/2 years old.Please do not lose hope,said Min Muchinguri as she consoled the family.

The delegation, which included Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Air Marshal Elson Moyo, toured the crash site which is now the mirror of a fatal moment that robbed the nation.

Government will bear all the burial costs, according to a statement issued by the Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister.

Minister Muchinguri- Kashiri also consoled the Manyowa family following the death of Group Captain Tinashe Manyowa, one of the pilots who perished in the crash.

She also consoled the Mapiye family following the death of Anita Mapiye, the co-pilot on the fateful day.

The Minister also extended her condolences to the Chikamhi family following the death of Tinodaishe Chikamhi who worked as a technician in the Air Force of Zimbabwe.

The bereaved families thanked government for standing with them in their hour of need.

Government says investigations are currently underway to establish the cause of the helicopter crash.-staemedia

Chipinge District this evening experienced a mild tremor. The District Meteorological Services confirmed that the tremor had a magnitude of 4.2 ,Latitude 20.316 south and longitude 33.086 East.

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By A Correspondent- A little girl from Bikita who went missing on Saturday last week has been found dead.

Mitchel Musharu (6) was last seen alive on Saturday last week at around 6 pm while playing outside her parents’ shop at Nyika Growth Point.

Her body was discovered in a sack that was thrown into a septic tank behind her parents’ shop.

Masvingo Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the matter but could not provide more details as he was out of office.

Masvingo Mirror reported a source as saying Mitchel’s remains were expected to be buried this Saturday in Bikita. The source was quoted as saying:

Mitchel’s body was found tied up in a sack that was thrown into a septic tank behind her parents’ shop. Her remains are being interned today in Bikita

By A Correspondent- A speeding motorist Kasimogau Onisimo died after a Toyota Runex he was driving veered off the road, hit a telephone pole before overturning  twice at the 34 kilometer peg along Mvurwi Kanyemba highway.

The incident left five passengers seriously injured.

The 28-year-old driver from Katsiru village Guruve died upon admission at Guruve hospital after he broke his neck.

Mashonaland Central police deputy police spokesperson Naison Dhliwayo confirmed the accident.

“I can confirm a fatal accident in Guruve where the driver died and five others were seriously injured and are admitted at Guruve hospital,” Dhliwayo said.

Onisimo who was driving his Toyota Runex registration number AEQ 1173 failed to negotiate a curve and hit a telephone pole before his car overturned twice.

Police warned motorists to avoid speeding.

-Byo24

By A Correspondent- Simbarashe Dehwah (26), an employee with Population Services International (PSI) in Gweru has been slapped with a 12 months’ jail term after he allegedly grabbed a security guard’s private parts.

Dehwa tried to entice Partson Mazo, a security guard at Cabs to have sex when he found him guarding the property at around 10pm on March 27, 2021.

He asked the complaint to remove his mask, jacket and hat. The accused also dropped his mask. Dehwah then asked to spend the night with the complainant.

As he was asking for a night together, Dehwah then grabbed the complaint’s private parts twice and pleaded for sex. The complaint tricked Dehwah into going to the other side of the Bank where he knew he would find his workmates.

The complainant together with the workmates apprehended Dhewa and handed him over to the police.

Magistrate Progress Murandu found Dehwah guilty of indecent assault and sentenced him to 12 months. Three months were suspended for five years on condition that he would not commit a similar offence and 9 months were set aside on condition that he performs community service.

He pleaded guilty and said that he was drunk.

By A Correspondent- A four year old boy drowned in an unprotected well in Fula compound, Bindura yesterday.

Trust Sanco (4) was left home alone by her mother Abigail Peyiyo (33) who had gone to the tuckshop when tragedy struck.

The deceased fell into the well while following his eleven-year-old brother who was herding goats close to their home.

Witnesses told Bulawayo24.com that the boy was found floating in the well by his elder brother.

Mashonaland central deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Dhliwayo confirmed the case and urged parents to ensure the safety of their children.

“Children must be always under the care and guidance of mature people at all time.” ,he said.

The body was taken to Bindura Hospital mortuary.

Tinashe Sambiri|Villagers in Chilonga, Chiredzi say they are tired of being used by the Zanu PF regime.

Expressing their views at a meeting facilitated by a Non Governmental Organization based in Masvingo, the villagers denounced the Zanu PF “gluttons” for misleading the electorate.

“These people (Zanu PF bigwigs) are not at all concerned about our welfare. They just want our votes, nothing else,” fumed one villager.

“MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa is the real deal. He is the vision bearer who can take us to the promised land,” said another villager.

“To those in power, let me say it out clearly, we are not your doormats.You think we are doormats that you can use to clean up their dirty feet at will.

A doormat is always on the ground you step on it as you enter and leave the house.We are tired of being used by these(Zanu PF) people.They want to seize our ancestral land to create space for a grass project, it’s not fair,” said a 70- year- old villager.

Zimbabwe is in the hands of cruel people, MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa was commenting on the arrest, torture and persecution of political activists by the Zanu PF regime.

Last week two Harare political activists were tortured by government agents after being arrested for attending MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala’s court session.

On Thursday State Security agents forcibly removed Hon Joana Mamombe from a private hospital where she was receiving treatment.

” Our country is in the hands of the cruel… This must end! Together we must fix our broken politics,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter

“The freedom promise has been deferred. The ‘crocodile’ liberators have betrayed the liberation promise. We need a new brand of politics,” added President Chamisa.

Tinashe Sambiri|Villagers in Chilonga, Chiredzi say they are tired of being used by the Zanu PF regime.

Expressing their views at a meeting facilitated by a Non Governmental Organization based in Masvingo, the villagers denounced the Zanu PF “gluttons” for misleading the electorate.

“These people (Zanu PF bigwigs) are not at all concerned about our welfare. They just want our votes, nothing else,” fumed one villager.

“MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa is the real deal. He is the vision bearer who can take us to the promised land,” said another villager.

“To those in power, let me say it out clearly, we are not your doormats.You think we are doormats that you can use to clean up their dirty feet at will.

A doormat is always on the ground you step on it as you enter and leave the house.We are tired of being used by these(Zanu PF) people.They want to seize our ancestral land to create space for a grass project, it’s not fair,” said a 70- year- old villager.

By A Correspondent- Teachers have threatened to go on strike to force government to re-verse its no-work no-salary policy against its workers who are claiming incapacitation.

Labour unions representing teachers said the stayaway would force government to concede to their salary demands of a living wage of be-tween US$520 and US$550 or the equivalent in local currency.

The decision by teachers comes after government this week said it would start implementing a no-work no-pay policy for absentee workers in response to a decision by the labour unions to report to work two days a week.

Government effected a 25% salary hike on teachers’ salaries this month, which saw the highest paid teacher earning $22 000, but unions have rejected the increment, demanding that government revert to the pre-October 2018 salaries of between US$520 and US$550 or equivalent in local currency.

In an interview yesterday, Zimbabwe National Teachers Union president Manuel Nyawo said teachers would escalate their fight for a salary review until government addressed the issue.

“We have decided to escalate our incapacitation fight. There’s no way we are going to rescind that deci-sion until the employer addresses our grievances. We don’t care what they will do. If they want to kill us, they can kill, but we will continue to press on with our demands and our adopt-ed decision of no pay, no work,” he said.

“It’s known that teachers are suffering, but the employer decides to entertain legislators who are earning up to $72 000, but teachers who are earning between $18 000 to $22 000 have to go through such a punishment of no work, no salary. What do they want to achieve with that?”

He said as teachers, they were not going to take the threats by the employer lightly, since the employer decided to punish them when they expected further negotiations.

We haven’t been given the opportunity to meet the Head of State (President Emmerson Mnangagwa) who has the final say in the matter before they take the punitive measure. We are so much disappointed that government seems to be unwilling to really appreciate the good work by teachers for long. The reasoning to punish us for incapacitation is synonymous with cruelty on us workers,” Nyawo said.

His sentiments were echoed by Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, president Takavafira Zhou, who said they had two major options of mobilising to stay away or take government to court under section 165 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“If government sticks to its no-work, no-pay policy, we are going to mobilise teachers so that there will be little activity in the schools and stay-away. We also have another option to file a court application under the dispute of rights in terms of Section 165 of ILO after government unilaterally reduced teachers’ salaries,” Zhou said.

“That will be only an urgent chamber application for it to be heard. So we are busy mobilising other teachers unions and our colleagues in the Apex Council to declare a deadlock and then file the chamber application. If we are discorded we will achieve nothing so we have to speak with one voice.”

However, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said they were still to consult with their membership on the direction to take.

“Zimta will continue to consult with its wide structures from grassroots level up to leadership. Zimta always holds meetings at all those levels that will feed into the national executive to give direction,” he said.

“So I wouldn’t know what Zimta will do because Zimta is the membership.”

On Wednesday during a meeting held in Harare attended by seven un-ions that represent teachers to deliberate on issues affecting the educators, the leaders agreed to seek legal counsel to ensure that they are not victimised for not reporting for duty due to incapacitation.-newsday

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has mourned the two Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) pilots and a technician, who perished after a helicopter crashed in the Chinyika area of Goromonzi, Mashonaland East Province yesterday.

The crash also killed an 18-month-old toddler identified as Jade Fenyere, who was sleeping in the house with her twin sister Jada, who escaped with burn injuries together with the mother who later tried to rescue them.

The mother and Jada were taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and later transferred to Trauma Centre in Borrowdale for treatment, and were reportedly in a stable condition last night.

The deceased AFZ members are Flight- Lieutenant Annita Mapiye who is Zimbabwe’s first female helicopter fighter pilot, Wing Commander Tinashe Thomas Mapiye and Flight Sergeant Chikamhi.

Flight-Lt Mapiye is said to have joined the AFZ in 2012 and had recently given birth.

The cause of the crash will be established after an aircraft accident investigation.

In a statement yesterday, President Mnangagwa said he learnt with great sorrow and grief the fatal air crash involving one of the AFZ helicopters, which was on routine training in the Goromonzi area.

“While investigations are still underway, it has come to my attention that all three members of the crew perished in the crash,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Even more heart-wrenching is the information that the helicopter crashed on a rondavel, claiming one other life and injuring a mother and a child.

“As we await details concerning this tragic incident, may I, on behalf of the party Zanu-PF, Government, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, and on my behalf, express my deepest condolences to relatives of the airmen and the child who perished in this rare incident.”

The President wished a speedy recovery to the injured, adding that Government will do its utmost to ensure they receive urgent medical attention while the deceased are laid to rest with befitting dignity and honour.

The helicopter, an Agusta Bell 412 (AB 412), crashed into a house at Plot 2 of Gardner Road, Ward 16 in Goromonzi.

The AFZ, in a statement, said the helicopter was from Number 8 Sqn at Manyame Air Force Base (Manyame AFB), which was on a general handling training sortie in the Seke-Domboshava Training Area.

The AFZ said when contact could not be established with the aircraft, the Manyame Air Base activated a search and rescue operation, which resulted in the aircraft wreckage being identified.

Commander AFZ, Air Marshal Elson Moyo, said a dark cloud had engulfed the AFZ after news of the helicopter accident.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives after the unfortunate accident. Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and those injured after the accident,” he said.

Father to the deceased girl, Mr Joseph Fenyere who owns Plot 2, said he was not at home when the mishap occurred.

“I was informed that a helicopter had crashed into the house after deflecting from a tree branch at a hilly platform a few metres away and burst into flames.

“When the house caught fire, my three children; twin girls, Jade and Jada were asleep inside, while their four-year-old sibling, Dean, was seated in the doorway,” said Mr Fenyere.

Upon hearing the ear-piercing burst, the mother and other people on the scene took flight but she later tried to retrieve her children from the burning house.

By then, Jade had already died while Dean was out of danger.

By A Correspondenti- Two Bulawayo lesbians have been involved in a messy divorce following an alleged abuse by the other partner.
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Linda Sphiwe Mpofu from Bulawayo’s Barbourfields suburb begged the court to protect her from her marauding ex-lover Brenda Mugabazi.

Linda told the Bulawayo Civil Court that she is now living in fear for her life as Brenda did not take the break-up well. She alleged that her ex-lover is violent and abusive and is now stalking her and threatening her for daring to end the relationship.

“On 25 December 2020, she beat me up and I sustained a swollen left knee and foot and I am still limping up to now. Whenever she meets me, she harasses me and declares that I can’t leave her,” reports B-Metro

According to a clearly distraught Linda, Brenda has an insatiable sexual appetite and is always demanding sex from her despite the fact that they are no longer together. In fact, Brenda is alleged to be demanding sex as a way of punishing Linda for leaving her.

‌Linda also claimed that she now wants to live “a normal life” and accused Brenda of having forced her into being a lesbian.

“I have been living a lesbian life with Brenda (Mugabazi) who forced me into it and I have realised that I cannot continue with it… I am begging the honourable court to grant me a protection order against her…This is because I want to live a normal life again.”
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Following the assault that occurred on Christmas Day, Linda was granted an interim protection order in January after she told the court that she was terrified of Brenda’s abuse and sex demands.

She revealed that her situation had worsened as Brenda has been constantly threatening her saying that she will never let her go because she (Linda) is her wife.