By A Correspondent- Njube Lobengula MDC Alliance legislator Gift Banda on Thursday unveiled a scholarship programme for the academically gifted primary and secondary school students in his constituency who are from poor backgrounds.

Njube-Lobengula is one of the oldest suburbs in Bulawayo where the majority of the aged and poor are found. in 2020, Njube Secondary School students took to the streets to protest high tuition fees. Banda said a survey conducted by the Njube Constituency Development Committee showed that the situation was a lot worse for students in his constituency coming from poor backgrounds such as orphans who are now being forced to drop out of school.

“it is for this reason why we decided to come up with this revolving scholarship programme targeting the academically gifted from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“This programme targets all students notwithstanding the political affiliation of their elders at their homes,” Banda said.

Ten schools targeted under the educational scholarship fund Mawaba, Nkanyezi, Mtshede, Ngubo, Nyamande, Helem and Nsukamini primary schools and Lobengula Sikhulile and Njube secondary schools.

“We are working with the constituency development committee, social welfare and school heads in the constituency to identify the beneficiaries; taking them from primary school to tertiary education level,” Banda added.

The government also has a social welfare programme, the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam), where it pays tuition fees for the disadvantaged and orphans. The Beam has however been affected by underfunding from the Treasury.

Council reports show that the government Beam debt dates back to 2014, and has been struggling to clear it resulting in beneficiaries being chased away from school over non-payment.

At one time councillors said contract forms compelling parents and the government to pay up fees on or before schools open should be introduced to ensure that council schools get money due to them.-newsday

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decision to reassign key staff in former Vice-President Kembo Mohadi’s office could be an indication that the Zanu-PF leader was in no hurry to replace his embattled former deputy, analysts have said.

Mohadi (71) resigned last month over sexual allegations with a subordinate, aide and students to “save government’s image”.

Mnangagwa was expected to immediately appoint Mohadi’s replacement, but on Tuesday transferred senior staffers in his former deputy’s office to other portfolios in what observers said could be a sign that he was doing away with the office.

The former permanent secretary in Mohadi’s office, Paul Damasane was promoted to Deputy Chief Secretary for Social Services, Monitoring Programmes in the ministries of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation, National Housing and Social Amenities, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and their parastatals.

David Marapira, who was the Minister of State in Mohadi’s Office, has been elevated to Minister of State in the Office of the President and Cabinet in charge of Monitoring and Implementation of Special Agricultural and Related Programmes that include Command Agriculture and irrigation development.

The reshuffle has been widely viewed by the public as a plot by Mnangagwa to freeze the post until after the 2023 elections which he believes will give him another mandate to rule for a second term.

Other voices have also speculated that Mnangagwa was secretly diverting from the Unity Accord signed in 1987 between Zanu and PF Zapu because he was under pressure to appoint a person favourable to his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.

Under the Unity Accord, Zanu-PF would have two vice-presidents, one of them from Zapu. Mohadi was from the Zapu side and is expected to be replaced by another former senior Zapu official.

Political analysts said Mnangagwa was buying time and delays in filling vacant positions have always been common in Zanu-PF.

Bulawayo-based veteran journalist and political analyst Methuseli Moyo yesterday said the redeployment of the staff was “normal”.

He said Mnangagwa has no reason to depart from the Unity Accord and gamble with a political decision whose effect may suicidal.

“Zanu-PF is re-establishing itself in Matabeleland and, therefore, the president must consider that in his choice for Mohadi’s successor,” Moyo said.

“Freezing the post till 2023 will feed into speculation and create more jostling and more disunity.”

“The Unity Accord is a pillar of national unity. Throwing it away may give rise to all sorts of interpretations.”

Political analyst Austin Chakaodza said Zanu-PF had a tendency to procrastinate when filling up positions which arises in government.

“The freezing of the post should be regarded as temporary pending extensive consultation with the key stakeholders in the Zapu wing of Zanu-PF,” he said.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said Mnangagwa needed more time to make the appointment.

“The President needs to make several considerations before making that important appointment,” Charamba said.

“The Vice-President had been tasked with various crucial governance roles which needed to remain functional despite his office being vacant hence the need for such appointments,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI-Z) says workers are increasingly abandoning government health institutions for private practice, a move blamed for poor service delivery in hospitals.

In its latest report on corruption in the health sector, TI-Z said due to poor remuneration, doctors and nurses employed in the public service were prioritising private health service, where they earned better wages.

The move has increased cases of absenteeism in government-run hospitals and clinics, which cater for the majority of poor Zimbabweans.

About 86% of the respondents who participated in the TI-Z research said they had visited health institutions where health workers were absent, while more than half of the respondents said they had witnessed health workers showing favouritism to other patients.

“The key informants interviewed revealed that there is a mass migration of qualified health workers from government or local council clinics to private sector institutions or outside the country creating a vacuum in the sector,” said TI-Z.

“In some cases, public health sector workers are dividing their time between the public and private sectors.

“This inevitably leads to certain forms of corruption such as bribery, absenteeism, illegal referrals, moonlighting and selling of government posts. Similarly, the respondents reveal a long and growing catalogue of corrupt practices which highlights how badly the public health sector has been exposed to corruption.”

Due to lack of commitment by health workers to public health service delivery, the majority of the respondents said they had been ordered to undergo unnecessary medical procedures or false treatment.

“If the government continues to fail to provide adequate remuneration, welfare and improve the working conditions in hospitals and clinics, it will obviously affect us the end users of these facilities. People are not motivated to come to work and they are hungry,” a respondent told TI-Z.

TI-Z urged government to provide adequate and timely remuneration to public health workers in line with regional standards to curb incidents of theft of medicine, bribery and absenteeism.

Nurses and doctors have engaged in recurrent strikes, demanding improved working environments and better wages, while some have resigned from the civil service.-newsday

By A Correspondent- The two Mutasa Grade One pupils who were brutally murdered and their bodies dumped into a disused Blair toilet have been laid to rest.

Dilan and Melissa Benza (both seven-year-olds), who were cousins, were finally laid to rest yesterday (Friday), 11 days after their gruesome murder.

The two were murdered on their way home from Mbaza Primary School last week and the prime suspect is Solomon Manyama, Dilan’s maternal uncle.

Manyama and his co-accused, Passmore Kumbirai Sambaza have since appeared in court facing murder charges and were remanded in custody to 6 May.

The bodies were squeezed into the pit of a blair toilet at an abandoned homestead about four kilometres from their homes and they both had their throats slit open.

Lydia Manyama, Dilan’s mother, is yet to come to terms with her firstborn child’s death. She told Manica Post:

Dilan and Melissa were cousins. They were inseparable, even in death. They would walk to and from school together.

On the fateful day, there was a School Development Committee meeting at their school and I attended the meeting. However, I left a bit early.

I never harboured thoughts that I would never see my son again. I went back home to attend to other chores.

As Grade One pupils, I expected the two to arrive home earlier than other students. However, they delayed coming home.

Around 3 pm, I started feeling that something was amiss as they would usually arrive home around 1 pm.

I checked with Melissa’s parents and they said she was also yet to arrive.

When we started looking for the missing children, a neighbour suggested that we communicate with Solomon as he was among the last people to leave the SDC meeting.

When we called him, he said he had last seen the children near the Kavhuru homestead. We combed the area but did not locate the children. We even searched the nearby Nhindiwa River, all to no avail.

We called Solomon again and this time he said he had last seen the children near the school grounds looking for wild fruits.

Solomon is my uncle. He was also close to the children as he was a regular visitor to our place.

I never suspected that he would ever be linked to the disappearance and murder of my son. His involvement, in this case, is a bitter pill for me to swallow.

I was there when their bodies were retrieved from the toilet. At that moment, my heart broke.

I just couldn’t accept what was unfolding before my eyes. The sight was just not fair for me and I fainted.

Melissa’s father, Douglas Benza, wants justice to prevail, even it means the banishment of the perpetrators from the area.

He said:

Even if the perpetrators are convicted and given lengthy jail terms, we will never be able to co-exist with their families. These people do not have a place in our society.

They should be relocated to another area because I cannot continue interacting with them. In fact, they should undergo the same pain that our children went through.

By A Correspondent- The father of an 18-month-old toddler who died when a military helicopter, an Agusta Bell 412 (AB 412) crashed onto a house she was sleeping in and exploded in a fireball in Goromonzi on Friday, said he was not at home when the mishap occurred.

Joseph Fenyere who owns Plot 2 of Gardner Road, Ward 16 in the Chinyika area of Goromonzi, Mashonaland East Province, lost her daughter Jade, while the baby’s twin sister Jada, and their mother escaped with burn injuries.

Fenyere’s other child, Dean, who was seated in the doorway when the chopper crashed, escaped unhurt.

Fenyere said:

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.

The mother and other people on the scene initially ran away when the plane plunged onto the house but later tried to retrieve the children from the burning house.

Dilon Fenyere (19) said they tried to help the mother’s trapped children, but Jade had already died.

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.

An eyewitness, Peter Katsago (22), said the chopper appeared to have lost control as it was flying close to the ground.

He said:

I was washing a car behind the house when the helicopter appeared from the western side in the direction of Harare.

Surprisingly, it seemed to be misfiring as it nosedived at a tree branch on a hillock behind the house and deflected to a boulder, before crashing into the house and bursting into flames on impact.

The deceased Air Force of Zimbabwe (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, a technician.

The cause of the crash will be established after an aircraft accident investigation, the AFZ said in a statement.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A third person has died following a shooting in Gweru on Thursday night over a suspected case of infidelity.

The suspect, Peter Dube (35), who is still at large, accused his wife of having an affair, and allegedly shot his wife, her sister, her suspected lover, and a friend.

According to a police memorandum, the deceased, one Shelton and Gamuchirai Mudungwe (30), who were lovers, accompanied their friend Nyasha Nharingo (31) and her sister Nyaradzo Nharingo (34) to Masvingo to collect the latter’s passport.

Nyasha, who is married to Dube as his second wife, did not inform her husband about the trip.

Around 8 pm, Dube went to Nyasha’s place at Bensam Flats in the central business district armed with an unidentified gun and accused her of having an affair with Shelton.

A fight broke out and Dube went outside where Shelton was parked and shot him in the head killing him instantly.

Dube then went back into the flat and shot Mudungwe, a popular socialite in Gweru, once in the chest. She died on the spot.

In the flat, Dube shot Nyasha once on the neck and her sister Nyaradzo once in the head.

The two sustained serious injuries and were taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital, where Nyaradzo passed on later in the day.

Midlands acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende told ZTN:

We are investigating the cases of murder that occurred along Main Street in Gweru on the 23rd of April 2021 in the early hours of the morning.

However, we do not yet have finer details and our officers are still gathering evidence and conducting investigations. We will update you as soon as we have more details.

More: ZTN, NewsDay

By A Correspondent-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged government assistance to all the victims of yesterday’s Goromonzi Chopper crash.

The accident claimed the lives of three Air-Force of Zimbabwe employees and the civilian.

Three members of the family of the deceased 18-months old toddler were injured in the crash.

In his condolence statement, Mnangagwa said his government was going to assist all the victims.
“Whilst 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 house 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.”

He 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

By Farai D Hove | The ZANU PF President Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa missed death by a few days, it has emerged, following the helicopter crash that killed four in Acturus yesterday.

Mr Mnangagwa’s own pilot Lt Anita Mapiye had just flown the presidential team, the week before, his spokesperson has said.

In a tweet, George Charamba said: “This AirForce Of Zimbabwe Lady Helicopter Pilot…flew us to Karanda yesterday. We celebrate this Officer who is the first Helicopter Pilot of AFZ…”

The development comes as the AirForce confirmed the development in a statement saying:

PRESS RELEASE ON THE AFZ HELICOPTER CRASH ON 23 APRIL 2021 An Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Agusta Bell 412 (AB 412) helicopter from Number 8 Sqn at Manyame Air Force Base (Manyame AFB) crashed in the Hukuru Area in Acturus on 23 April 2021. The helicopter crashed into a house and sadly claimed the lives of two pilots and a technician as well as a child on the ground while another young girl and the mother had burn injuries and were taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital. The helicopter took off from Manyame AFB with two pilots and one aircraft technician on board on a General Handling training sortie in the Seke-Domboshava Training Area.

When contact could not be established with the aircraft the Base activated a Search and Rescue operation. As a result of the Search and Rescue effort, the aircraft wreckage was identified. In his message after the accident, Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Air Marshal Elson Moyo, said a dark cloud had engulfed the AFZ after news of the helicopter accident that claimed the lives of three aircrew and a civilian on the ground. “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. The names of the deceased will be released after their next of keen have been informed. The cause of the accident will be established after an aircraft accident investigation and funeral arrangements for the deceased will be announced in due course.

By A Correspondent- 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 onto our 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 bang, the mother and other people at 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”, he said.

The 18-month-old Jade, was sleeping with her twin sister, Jada, when the chopper plunged into their house.
Jada escaped with burns 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.
There were three crew members on board, two pilots and a technician.
The three died on the spot.

By A Correspondent- People who saw the tragic Air-force of Zimbabwe chopper crashing said they suspected that the pilot lost control of the aircraft.

They said the chopper appeared to have lost control as it was flying close to the ground.

“I was washing a car behind the house when the helicopter appeared from the western side in the direction of Harare. Surprisingly, it seemed to be misfiring as it nosedived and hit a tree branch on a hillock behind the house and deflected to a boulder, before crashing onto the house and bursting into flames on impact,” said Mr Peter Katsago (22).

Mr Dilon Fenyere (19) said the crash left them shell-shocked as it happened in their eyes.

He said they tried to help the mother’s trapped children, but Jade had already died.

The accident claimed the life of an 81 months old Goromonzi toddler and left her family members injured.

The 18-month-old toddler identified as Jade Fenyere, was sleeping with her twin sister, Jada, when the chopper plunged into their house.

Jada escaped with burns 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.

There were three crew members on board, two pilots and a technician.

The three died on the spot.

By A Correspondent- An 18 month old Goromonzi toddler was yesterday killed in an Airforce of Zimbabwe horror chopper crush.

The 18-month-old toddler identified as Jade Fenyere, was sleeping with her twin sister, Jada, when the chopper plunged into their house.

Jada escaped with burns 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.

There were three crew members on board, two pilots and a technician.

The three died on the spot.

By James Gwati-Home Affairs minister, Kazembe Kazembe has said that the man who is reported to be using Vice President’s name in several extortion cases is not a government official.

There is a video circulating where a certain lady is mentioning the name of the Vice President in extortion related cases.

In the video, the lady is also appealing to minister Kazembe to investigate the alleged extortion cases involving Chiwenga.

By James Gwati- Two Bulawayo lesbians have been involved in a messy divorce following an alleged abuse by the other partner.
.

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.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, has opened up on farm inversion allegations.

Sibanda was last week in the media on allegations that he invaded Goede Hoop Farm in Mazowe.

Responding to the allegations, this week ZDF director public relations Colonel Teddy Ndlovu, said the army Boss had never set his foot at the alleged farm.

“ The farm in question had not been allocated to General Sibanda, who had never visited the farm. However, one of the four sections of the farm had been divided into acquisition and had been allocated to the army and the police as corporate entities”, he said.

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 Correspondent| Local government minister July Moyo has dismissed as ‘frivolous and malicious’, a High Court challenge filed by former City of Harare councillor Warship Dumba seeking to reverse a joint venture agreement which saw City of Harare ‘fraudulently’ transferring vast tracts of land to Augur Invesments OU, a company owned by controversial land baron Kenneth Raydon Sharpe.

Dumba together with another Harare resident Knowledge Tinashe Kwambana and the Zimbabwe Homeless People Federation approached the High Court to have the joint venture agreement that culminated in the formation of Sunshine Development Private Limited company declared null and void.

To Dumba and his co-litigants, Sunshine Development was just a vehicle to corruptly extract land from the City of Harare as Sharpe did not deliver on any of the set projects yet land had already been transferred.

They also argue that the land provided by City of Harare as its contribution to the joint venture agreement is worth over US$45 Million yet Augur with its US$20 to US$30 Million contribution was allocated 70 percent shares in Sunshine Development Private Limited.

City of Harare was allocated 30 percent shares despite putting in 99 hectares of land.

Dumba and his co-litigants also claim that another 145 hectares of land was secretly transferred to Sunshine Development taking the cumulative total to 244 hectares.

Sharpe on the other hand did not put anything into the agreement, this made the litigants conclude that Sunshine Development was just a conduit for stealing land from City of Harare with the protection of the central government.

In his response, Moyo did not offer any explanation, choosing to question the locus standi of the applicants whom he said have no entitlement to the order they seek.

“The applicants has not shown beyond reasonable doubt that they are entitled to the order they seek. Their application is frivolous and malicious,” said Moyo.

He further refuted claims of fraud in the manner in which the agreement to form Sunshine Development Private Limited was reached, saying the commission which was running the affairs of the city at that material time, executed its duties efficiently.

“There was no fraud involved during the execution of the agreements. The applicants are put to strictest proof. The commission executed its duties efficiently,” said Moyo.

In what represents one of the biggest land frauds in the history of Harare, former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo appointed a commission to run the affairs of Harare led by Michael Mahachi.

The Mahachi Commission then entered into a Memorandum of Understanding and a Shareholder Agreement with Augur Investments on the 4th of September 2007 barely a day after it was registered in Estonia.

Dumba and his co-litigants argued that both Chombo and Mahachi who drove these agreements were motivated by self-interests.

In their High Court appeal, Dumba and his co-litigants sued Augur Investments, July Moyo, Kenneth Raydon sharpe, Tatiana Aleshina, Michael Van Blerk, Sunshine Development Private Limited, Registrar of Deeds and Registrar of Companies.

Aleshina and Van Blerk are Sharpe’s aides.

Tinashe Sambiri|Agents of the Zanu PF regime on Thursday night forcibly removed Hon Joana Mamombe from a private hospital where she was receiving treatment.

Hon Mamombe is critically ill and health experts say she requires urgent attention.

“There is nothing that this regime has not done to Hon Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe!!!

The victimisation and harassment is too much. What wrong really has she done against this government?? Exposed to degrading treatment for speaking out against injustice,” fumed MDC Alliance deputy Youth Assembly organising secretary, Netsai Marova.

“In the latest show of cruelty and degrading treatment, Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe was forcibly removed from hospital by prison officials last night against the orders of her doctor who says she needs specialist treatment. She remains gravely ill and was scheduled to see a specialist,” MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere said in a statement.

Zimbabwe’s first female combat helicopter pilot was killed in a fiery helicopter crash in Arcturus, 32km east of Harare, on Friday.

Thirty-year-old Flight Lieutenant Annita Mapiye, who has flown President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was killed with another pilot, a wing commander, and a technician when an Air Force of Zimbabwe Bell 412 crashed into a house in the Hukuru neighbourhood.

A child who was on the ground died after the helicopter caught fire, while a young girl and her mother are admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare after suffering burns.

Air Force of Zimbabwe commander Air Marshal Elson Moyo issued a statement offering his condolences, but did not name the crash victims.

But friends of Mapiye have been paying tribute to the history-making pilot on social media.

“She recently gave birth and this fact alone has devastated everyone who knew her and worked with her,” a friend said.

The Air Force said the crew, who took off from Manyame Air Force Base, was on a “general handling training sortie” over Seke and Domboshava when they lost contact, triggering a search and rescue effort.

Air Marshal Moyo said an air accident investigation would begin immediately to establish what caused the crash.

Mapiye joined the Air Force in 2012 at the age of 21.

In a 2019 interview, she said: “The road to where I am today was not a walk in the park. We were training with men, carrying out the same duties with them, and we were expected to perform equally.

“That’s when I told myself that I can do what men can do, and that became my everyday motto, and the motto kept me going.”

Mapiye came fifth in the basic military training out of 46 trainees, but would fly until 2015 when she sat in the cockpit of a Genet SF260 Fixed Wing.

She admitted being terrified on her first flight. “My first day flying was a nightmare. I was screaming and my instructor was very annoyed,” she recalled. “I went home scared.”

After finally conquering her fears and passing her flight training, Mapiye enlisted for combat helicopter training. Her dream was to fly the president and rescue missions – both of which she accomplished before her death.

“My word of advice to other women and girls is they should always think positively of themselves and be innovative for change. Build your lives, think smart and be confident,” she said back in 2019.

Tinashe Sambiri|Agents of the Zanu PF regime on Thursday night forcibly removed Hon Joana Mamombe from a private hospital where she was receiving treatment.

Hon Mamombe is critically ill and health experts say she requires urgent attention.

“There is nothing that this regime has not done to Hon Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe!!!

The victimisation and harassment is too much. What wrong really has she done against this government?? Exposed to degrading treatment for speaking out against injustice,” fumed MDC Alliance deputy Youth Assembly organising secretary, Netsai Marova.

“In the latest show of cruelty and degrading treatment, Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe was forcibly removed from hospital by prison officials last night against the orders of her doctor who says she needs specialist treatment. She remains gravely ill and was scheduled to see a specialist,” MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere said in a statement.

By A Correspondent | Zimbabwe’s first female military helicopter pilot, 30 year old Flight Lieutenant Annita Mapiye, was one of the pilots who perished today when their Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter crashed and burst into flames in Arcturus on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, respected Journos Hopewell Chin’ono comments saying.

Lt Mapiye together with two colleagues, were on a flight over the area when their chopper crashed onto a house, the Zimbabwe National Air Force announced in a statement in the afternoon. The announcement was as follows:

PRESS RELEASE ON THE AFZ HELICOPTER CRASH ON 23 APRIL 2021 An Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Agusta Bell 412 (AB 412) helicopter from Number 8 Sqn at Manyame Air Force Base (Manyame AFB) crashed in the Hukuru Area in Acturus on 23 April 2021. The helicopter crashed into a house and sadly claimed the lives of two pilots and a technician as well as a child on the ground while another young girl and the mother had burn injuries and were taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital. The helicopter took off from Manyame AFB with two pilots and one aircraft technician on board on a General Handling training sortie in the Seke-Domboshava Training Area.

When contact could not be established with the aircraft the Base activated a Search and Rescue operation. As a result of the Search and Rescue effort, the aircraft wreckage was identified. In his message after the accident, Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Air Marshal Elson Moyo, said a dark cloud had engulfed the AFZ after news of the helicopter accident that claimed the lives of three aircrew and a civilian on the ground. “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. The names of the deceased will be released after their next of keen have been informed. The cause of the accident will be established after an aircraft accident investigation and funeral arrangements for the deceased will be announced in due course.

By A Correspondent -A Gweru based businessman Thursday evening allegedly murdered his girlfriend a popular socialite in the city and her alleged boyfriend.

The incident allegedly took place at Bensam Flats that is located along Main Street heading into the city centre.

The businessman and his girlfriend allegedly have two children together.

-Herald

By A Correspondent- Unconfirmed reports coming from Bikita are saying that a suspected body of a ‌ Bikita child who recently went missing has been discovered dumped in a septic tank.

The child went missing last Saturday. She was last seen playing outside her parents’ shop at Nyika Growth Point in Bikita district, Masvingo province.

After failing to find her, the child’s parents launched a frantic search for her and even offered a reward of US$1 000 for any information that would help in finding their daughter.

They also highlighted their plight on social media, where they appealed for help in finding the child.

Zimeye.com is making frantic efforts to get an official comment from the Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi.

By A Correspondent-There was congestion Friday morning in the Central Business District of Gweru which was emanating from the road where a local businessman shot dead her girlfriend.

Police had blocked part of Main street leading where the deceased’s Kombi was parked.
The body of the woman was on the steps leading to Bensam Flats while that of the alleged boyfriend was on the driver’s seat in a Kombi he was shot in.

Residents at Bensam Flats were forced to use the back entrance as the girlfriend’s body lay on the front steps.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said he was still to get full details with regards to the matter.

By A Correspondent- Ngonidzashe, the eldest son of the founder of the African Apostolic Church (AAC), popularly known as Mwazha has dumped Johane Marange and returned to his father’s Christian denomination where he wants to take over the leadership of the church.

His return is however, expected to cause devisions in the troubled church.

The church already has two factions which are lead by Apostle Paul Mwazha’s second born son, Alfred Kushamisa and last born son, Tawanda Israel is likely to split agin following the return of Ngonidzashe to the church.

According to Manica Post, Ngonidzashe, who all along was a member of Johane Marange Apostolic Church, has since reverted to his father’s church and is now enjoying considerable support within the AAC.

His recent sermons such as the well-attended Eastview pilgrimage last Saturday in Harare are evidence of how some members of the church are warming up to him.

The elderly AAC leader, Apostle Mwazha, popularly referred to as Mudzidzisi, Mutumwa or Archbishop, turns 103 this year.

The Mwazha divisions, which are not only felt in Zimbabwe, but in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, have seen each of the formations appointing its own pastors and leaders while conducting services at different places of worship.

When contacted for comment, Chiseko Mwazha, who is also Apostle Mwazha’s son and is backing Tawanda Israel, said he was not aware of the splits.

“We do not know anything about the existence of another faction in the church. If someone is conducting their church services elsewhere, it is their business and we know nothing about that.

“We are only doing what we were told by Mutumwa (Apostle Mwazha). All the leaders and pastors in our church were appointed by Mutumwa. Whatever others are doing has nothing to do with us,” said Chiseko.

Speaking on Ngonidzashe’s moves, Chiseko said the elder Mwazha is not part of AAC.

“Ngonidzashe did not return to us. He is not part of our church as far as we are concerned,” said Chiseko.

However, in a video taken in Harare last Saturday, which this newspaper is in possession of, Ngonidzashe is seen leading one of the AAC sermons with hundreds of congregants in attendance.

Alfred Kushamisa and Tawanda Israel were not part of that congregation.

Sources in the church confided in this newspaper that Ngonidzashe has gained popularity in the church owing to his healing powers that are believed to be a blessing from Archbishop Mwazha.

One of the nagging points in Ngonidzashe’s return, however, is that he is a

polygamist, something that is not acceptable within AAC.

It is understood that a clause in the church’s standing rules stipulates that a polygamist can join the church, but will not be entrusted with a leadership role.

ACC secretary-general, Richard Juru, who is aligned to Alfred Kushamisa, refused to entertain questions from this publication.

“I cannot say anything about that issue. You can talk to Bishop AK himself,” he said.

Another Alfred Kushamisa sympathiser as well as the church’s publicity chairman, Patrick Tawanda Tafa’s mobile phone went unanswered.

Alfred Kushamisa, Tawanda Israel and Ngonidzashe were unreachable.

As the ACC drama continues to unfold, contrasting messages on who should be the Archbishop’s successor have been thrown around.

An audio clip purportedly recorded at a leadership meeting in the presence of Apostle Mwazhawas widely circulated among church members as a church leader – allegedly under the instruction from Apostle Mwazha – pronounced that Alfred Kushamisa is the rightful heir to the church’s throne.

In that clip, Tawanda Israel was given the role of administering the Holy Communion or annual last supper rites. In sharp contrast to that communiqué, in a video clip that was reportedly recorded in South Africa during a Passover gathering, Apostle Mwazha was captured saying Tawanda is his chosen successor.

“My son Tawanda is the one who was chosen by God to be my successor. God visited him in his house. He received my spiritual gift,” said Apostle Mwazha to wild applause.

But as more tension festers in the church, it has emerged that the fights go deeper than the leadership issue, amid stunning revelations that even prayer methods have been part of disharmony in one of the country’s leading indigenous churches.

Reliable sources within the church revealed that there have always been existing differences within the church, adding that the festering tension has only manifested through the succession wrangles.

Long and personal prayers, widely known within the church as “tsindondi”, have been a source of disharmony, with the church’s Board of Trustees insisting on pre-written and recited prayers.

By A Correspondent- A Zhombe man has hanged himself at his in-law’s homestead after catching his wife cheating.

Peter Mlauzi (30) from Chakaipa Village under Chief Gwesela in Zhombe hanged himself at his in-law’s homestead was so hurt by her wife’s infidelity, Blessing Manokore, that he took the extreme root of killing himself at his in-law’s place leaving the community in shock.

Chief Gwasela confirmed the development to B Metro.

“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.

By A Correspondent- The African Apostolic Church (AAC), is poised for yet another split following the return to the church of the founder of the christian denomination’s eldest son Ngonidzashe.

The church already has two factions which are lead by Apostle Paul Mwazha’s second born son, Alfred Kushamisa and last born son, Tawanda Israel,

According to Manica Post, Ngonidzashe, who all along was a member of Johane Marange Apostolic Church, has since reverted to his father’s church and is now enjoying considerable support within the AAC.

His recent sermons such as the well-attended Eastview pilgrimage last Saturday in Harare are evidence of how some members of the church are warming up to him.

The elderly AAC leader, Apostle Mwazha, popularly referred to as Mudzidzisi, Mutumwa or Archbishop, turns 103 this year.

The Mwazha divisions, which are not only felt in Zimbabwe, but in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, have seen each of the formations appointing its own pastors and leaders while conducting services at different places of worship.

When contacted for comment, Chiseko Mwazha, who is also Apostle Mwazha’s son and is backing Tawanda Israel, said he was not aware of the splits.

“We do not know anything about the existence of another faction in the church. If someone is conducting their church services elsewhere, it is their business and we know nothing about that.

“We are only doing what we were told by Mutumwa (Apostle Mwazha). All the leaders and pastors in our church were appointed by Mutumwa. Whatever others are doing has nothing to do with us,” said Chiseko.

Speaking on Ngonidzashe’s moves, Chiseko said the elder Mwazha is not part of AAC.

“Ngonidzashe did not return to us. He is not part of our church as far as we are concerned,” said Chiseko.

However, in a video taken in Harare last Saturday, which this newspaper is in possession of, Ngonidzashe is seen leading one of the AAC sermons with hundreds of congregants in attendance.

Alfred Kushamisa and Tawanda Israel were not part of that congregation.

Sources in the church confided in this newspaper that Ngonidzashe has gained popularity in the church owing to his healing powers that are believed to be a blessing from Archbishop Mwazha.

One of the nagging points in Ngonidzashe’s return, however, is that he is a

polygamist, something that is not acceptable within AAC.

It is understood that a clause in the church’s standing rules stipulates that a polygamist can join the church, but will not be entrusted with a leadership role.

ACC secretary-general, Richard Juru, who is aligned to Alfred Kushamisa, refused to entertain questions from this publication.

“I cannot say anything about that issue. You can talk to Bishop AK himself,” he said.

Another Alfred Kushamisa sympathiser as well as the church’s publicity chairman, Patrick Tawanda Tafa’s mobile phone went unanswered.

Alfred Kushamisa, Tawanda Israel and Ngonidzashe were unreachable.

As the ACC drama continues to unfold, contrasting messages on who should be the Archbishop’s successor have been thrown around.

An audio clip purportedly recorded at a leadership meeting in the presence of Apostle Mwazhawas widely circulated among church members as a church leader – allegedly under the instruction from Apostle Mwazha – pronounced that Alfred Kushamisa is the rightful heir to the church’s throne.

In that clip, Tawanda Israel was given the role of administering the Holy Communion or annual last supper rites. In sharp contrast to that communiqué, in a video clip that was reportedly recorded in South Africa during a Passover gathering, Apostle Mwazha was captured saying Tawanda is his chosen successor.

“My son Tawanda is the one who was chosen by God to be my successor. God visited him in his house. He received my spiritual gift,” said Apostle Mwazha to wild applause.

But as more tension festers in the church, it has emerged that the fights go deeper than the leadership issue, amid stunning revelations that even prayer methods have been part of disharmony in one of the country’s leading indigenous churches.

Reliable sources within the church revealed that there have always been existing differences within the church, adding that the festering tension has only manifested through the succession wrangles.

Long and personal prayers, widely known within the church as “tsindondi”, have been a source of disharmony, with the church’s Board of Trustees insisting on pre-written and recited prayers.

By A Correspondent -A Gweru based businessman allegedly shot dead his girlfriend a popular socialite in the city and her alleged boyfriend yesterday night.

The incident allegedly took place at Bensam Flats that is located along Main Street heading into the city centre.

The businessman and his girlfriend allegedly have two children together.

-Herald

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga is feeling the heat over payment of damages awarded to people who fall victim to police brutality.

Matanga recently disclosed this in his response to an application seeking his imprisonment for contempt of court filed by Loveness Chiriseri, a Chitungwiza resident after the ZRP Commissioner-General failed to pay compensation to her as ordered by High Court Judge
Justice Edith Mushore in July 2020.

Matanga argued that there is no just cause for Chiriseri to take him to court seeking his imprisonment for contempt of court for defying a court order as he had taken legal steps necessary to trigger her payment in compliance with Justice Mushore’s order.

Matanga attached some “telling” letters accompanying his notice of opposition to Chiriseri’s application where he disclosed that he had instructed his lawyers to request treasury authority from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, which is ZRP’s parent ministry to pay Chiriseri.

The Commissioner-General said he was not wilfully disobeying or neglecting to comply with the court order as he had sought for authority to pay and the authority had not been granted and is still waiting for it to be approved. He said the delay to pay Chiriseri was
due to official procedures within government and once he gets the Treasury Concurrence from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, she will be paid.

Chiriseri was awarded US$16 788 in damages after she was assisted by Fiona Iliff of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to sue when she shot by police officers in August 2018.

She was injured when a police officer manning a police checkpoint at the intersection of Seke road and Delport road shot twice at a private vehicle she was travelling in as a passenger.

Chiriseri sued Matanga, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Chief Inspector Modwick Musonza, the Officer in Charge of St Mary’s Police Station in Chitungwiza and Finance Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube for damages for injuries sustained as a result of the shooting, medical expenses, pain and suffering, nervous shock and loss of amenities to life.

In court, Iliff argued that the police officer who shot Chiriseri applied excessive force and that the officer’s constitutional right was exercised in an overzealous and questionable manner.

In her extensive ruling, Justice Mushore noted that Chiriseri posed no danger to the public or to the internal security of the country or to law and order and that she was an unarmed non-threatening passenger in a vehicle.

The police officer, Justice Mushore said, had no basis to fire a weapon at a civilian target and if it was his intention to stop the driver of the vehicle in which Chiriseri was travelling in from proceeding through a checkpoint, he ought to have fired a warning shot into the air.

By James Gwati- A love affair between two Bulawayo women has ended in a nasty way with one of the partners approaching the courts for protection.

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.”
‌

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.

PRESS RELEASE ON THE AFZ HELICOPTER CRASH ON 23 APRIL 2021 An Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Agusta Bell 412 (AB 412) helicopter from Number 8 Sqn at Manyame Air Force Base (Manyame AFB) crashed in the Hukuru Area in Acturus on 23 April 2021. The helicopter crashed into a house and sadly claimed the lives of two pilots and a technician as well as a child on the ground while another young girl and the mother had burn injuries and were taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital. The helicopter took off from Manyame AFB with two pilots and one aircraft technician on board on a General Handling training sortie in the Seke-Domboshava Training Area.

When contact could not be established with the aircraft the Base activated a Search and Rescue operation. As a result of the Search and Rescue effort, the aircraft wreckage was identified. In his message after the accident, Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Air Marshal Elson Moyo, said a dark cloud had engulfed the AFZ after news of the helicopter accident that claimed the lives of three aircrew and a civilian on the ground. “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. The names of the deceased will be released after their next of keen have been informed. The cause of the accident will be established after an aircraft accident investigation and funeral arrangements for the deceased will be announced in due course.

An army helicopter crashed in Arcturus killing 4 people including a minor.

In a statement issued by the Air Force of Zimbabwe, the helicopter crashed in Hukuru area, Arcturus and critically injured 2 more people who were rushed to Parirenyatwa group of hospitals,

We publish below the full statement by the Air Force of Zimbabwe…..

Watch the video loading below……

Tinashe Sambiri|Agents of the Zanu PF regime on Thursday night forcibly removed Hon Joana Mamombe from a private hospital where she was receiving treatment.

Hon Mamombe is critically ill and health experts say she requires urgent attention.

“There is nothing that this regime has not done to Hon Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe!!!

The victimisation and harassment is too much. What wrong really has she done against this government?? Exposed to degrading treatment for speaking out against injustice,” fumed MDC Alliance deputy Youth Assembly organising secretary, Netsai Marova.

“In the latest show of cruelty and degrading treatment, Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe was forcibly removed from hospital by prison officials last night against the orders of her doctor who says she needs specialist treatment. She remains gravely ill and was scheduled to see a specialist,” MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere said in a statement.

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF is re-admitting without conditions and burying the hatchet with all its members who were turfed out of the party on accusations of belonging to the former liberation movement’s Generation 40 (G40) faction.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, the party’s secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu, pictured, said the unconditional re-admission of the vanquished G40s and other former members had the full backing of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The G40s, many of whom had sought to be re-admitted to the ruling party, were purged in the aftermath of the spectacular fall from power of the late former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017, following a widely supported military coup.

At the height of the ruling party’s factional, tribal and succession fights, G40 members had aligned themselves to Mugabe and his erratic wife Grace – while the Lacoste faction backed Mnangagwa, who was then vice president.

Although Zanu-PF had recently appeared to extend an olive branch to remnants of the G40 faction, the ruling party’s commissariat and security departments had insisted on vetting these former members first, before their re-admission.

However, Mpofu has since moved to instruct party organs to speed up the process of re-integrating the G40 members.

All this comes as Zanu-PF bids to garner a party membership of at least five million ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.

It also comes as there have been allegations that some party bigwigs are rabidly opposed to having the G40s back in the fold.

“We welcome all who want to join the party. How do you vet someone who wants to join the party?

“Party structures must welcome people who want to re-join in a manner that will not discourage them. We have communicated this to party structures.

“Even the president has said there is a need for the party to welcome those who want to come back and some of our former members who are re-joining the party,” Mpofu told the Daily News.

“It’s about growing the membership of the party and we will welcome all people who want to join Zanu-PF,” he added.

Mpofu also warned those in party structures against blocking the amnesty to the G40s and other former party members.

“We have seen in some cases where colleagues are trying to create difficult conditions for new members to come to the party.

“We are saying coming to the party is really something that is appreciated by the party and they must receive them in a friendly manner.

“The president himself has gone out of his way to receive new members. Why should an individual block others?

“Because you have a position in the branch, district, central committee or you are an MP you have to work for your position and not create an environment that will frighten others from joining the party,” Mpofu added.

Earlier, the Zanu-PF administration head had also told the information department that he had “piles of letters of applications from members who had left the party and wanted to rejoin”.

“I have told all the systems, all departments to receive them without referring them to other departments.

“Let’s receive all members who want to join the party without creating unnecessary obstacles which will not make us achieve the five million membership target.

“We welcome all those who want to work with us. We are appealing to all our structures throughout the country to receive those comrades who want to come back to the party without making it difficult for them to do so,” Mpofu said.

This comes as some former senior Zanu-PF officials – among them ex-ministers and former G40 kingpins – have been pushing to re-join the former liberation movement ahead of the 2023 polls.

Zanu-PF insiders told the Daily News yesterday that some provincial structures were taking “a cautious approach” to these former members who wanted to come back, and were thus engaging in “strict security checks” for all of them.

“Some leaders in provinces fear for their positions because they know that the G40 have the capacity to dislodge them.

“So, they are trying very hard and using all means to block these members from coming back,” one well-placed source said.

Among the bigwigs believed to have recently applied for re-admission into Zanu-PF are former Sports minister Makhosini Hlongwane, ex-Labour deputy minister Tapiwa Matangaidze, former Masvingo provincial political commissar Jeppy Jaboon, former Chiredzi West MP Darlington Chiwa and ex-Rushinga legislator Wonder Mashange.

This comes as Zanu-PF has also previously said that it wants to lure back many of its former big shots who were hounded out of the party in the twilight of Mugabe’s tenure in power.

Recently, Zanu-PF also appointed Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to lead a team to draft a broader mandate of its recently established elders’ advisory committee – whose job, among other things, is to lure back party bigwigs who had left since the ructions of 2014.

According to party insiders, some of the notable names being courted include former Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, as well as ex-ministers Dzikamai Mavhaire – who is now with the MDC Alliance – and Francis Nhema and Flora Bhuka.

They added that also on the party’s radar was former Mashonaland East Zanu-PF provincial chairperson Ray Kaukonde.

Some of these bigwigs were booted out of both the government and Zanu-PF in the run-up to the sham December 2014 congress which sealed the fate of former vice president Joice Mujuru – who was sacked on false allegations of wanting to topple Mugabe from power.

Already, Zanu-PF has succeeded in luring back former National Patriotic Front (NPF) interim leader Ambrose Mutinhiri and its ex-secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa.

This also comes as Zanu-PF has also extended an olive branch to Mujuru and other former bigwigs such as Nicholas Goche – in a bid to heal growing rifts within the ruling party.

Mujuru was fired from Zanu-PF and the government in December 2014 by Mugabe, amid cruel claims of witchcraft, corruption and treasonous behaviour directed at the widow by the nonagenarian and Grace.

The brutal party wars were temporarily ended in dramatic fashion by the military, which rolled its tanks into Harare on November 15, 2017 – after deciding that it had had enough of Mugabe and Grace.

By then, the G40 faction had succeeded in having Mnangagwa sacked from both the government and Zanu-PF – just as they had done with Mujuru in 2014, when she, together with other bigwigs such as Mutasa and Gumbo, were jettisoned.

The vicious brawling took a nasty turn when Mnangagwa was allegedly poisoned by his rivals during one of Grace’s high-octane youth interface rallies in Gwanda in 2017.

Mnangagwa’s fate was eventually sealed on November 6, 2017 when Mugabe fired his long-time lieutenant a few days after his allies had booed the irascible Grace during a tense rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.-DailyNews

Here is Zimbabwe’s coronavirus or COVID-19 update or situation report by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) as of 22 April 2021:

• New cases: 38
• Local Cases: 38
• Returnees: 0
• Deaths: 0
• Tests: 1 945 (Positivity 2%)
• Vaccinations: 12 440 (first dose); 6 363 (second dose)
• Total Cumulative Vaccinations: 308 071 (first dose); 43 728 (second dose)
• Recoveries: 8
• National Recovery Rate: 92.9%
• Active Cases: 1 390
• Total Cumulative Cases: 38 073
• Total Recoveries: 35 073
• Total Deaths: 1 555

By A Correspondent- Norton independent legislator Temba Mliswa’s bid to have his case referred to the Constitutional Court has hit a brick wall after a Harare magistrate threw out the request, saying it lacks merit and is meant to delay his trial.

Mliswa was arrested in February on allegations of violating Covid-19 regulations while addressing a press conference at his Borrowdale house.

The legislator’s lawyer Musindo Hungwe argued that the law was being selectively applied against his client as he was the only one who was arrested at the press conference which was also attended by 23 journalists and two police officers.

He said the application for referral to the Constitutional Court was premised on the need to determine, “whether singling out for arrest and prosecution of the applicant from amongst 23 persons allegedly gathered on the day in question amounts to discrimination and offends Section 56 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe”.

Hungwe said the gathering did not take place at a public place, but at Mliswa’s private residence.

“The accused’s residence is not covered in the statutory instrument which explains areas defined as public places. Gathering at home is not criminal,” Hungwe argued.

The State opposed the application, saying there were no constitutional issues, an argument Harare magistrate Tafadzwa Miti upheld.

By A Correspondent- Two Bindura suspected robbers  cheated death through mob justice after they  allegedly  broke into  a couple’s  village hut, robbed before force marching the wife  to a mountain where they  took turns to rape her .

Blessing Sande (38) and Hupenyu Chitsaka (30) appeared before Bindura magistrate Samantha Dhlamini facing  robbery and rape charges yesterday.

The state led by Shiella Maribha alleged on April 13 the duo stormed at the complainant’s house and struck her husband with an iron bar on the  back before he  fled.

The suspects got in the house and stole money, cell phones before force marching her to a mountain.

The complainant complied and was forced to lie down for the suspects to take turns to rape her.

After the rape the complainant went back home and upon arrival she met her husband and narrated her ordeal.

The husband teamed up with other villagers armed with axes,machetes and iron bars.

They tracked the suspects and meted instant justice on the two.

After realizing that they had injured the suspects they went with them to the police station.

By A Correspondent- Four men have been arrested for allegedly assaulting and demanding money from a passerby accusing him of damaging their car’s rear windscreen in Mzilikazi suburb.

Khumalo Mabutho (36), Themba Mpofu (29), Nkanyiso Moyo (18) and Mayibongwe Ncube (25) of Mzilikazi allegedly attacked the complainant when he was coming from work on Sunday.

The incident occurred on at around 7PM near house number G216 Mzilikazi where one of the accused persons, Ncube resides.Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Abedinico Ncube confirmed the incident yesterday.

He said the complainant, whom police did not identify, was walking along a street in Mzilikazi when he heard a sound. When he checked he noticed that the windscreen of a Silver Spacio Toyota registration number ADB 1687 parked at Ncube’s residence had been shattered.

“The complainant walked towards the car to see what was transpiring and he was approached by the quartet who accused him of smashing their car’ rear windscreen,” said Insp Ncube.

He said the quartet took turns to assault the complainant using bottles, fists and a belt. They searched and took a wallet from the complainant’s trouser pocket which had   US$16 and $100.

“The quartet ordered the complainant to get into their car and drove to the complainant’s place of residence and demanded US$150 from the complainant which they claimed it was for replacing the damaged rear windscreen of the car,” said Insp Ncube. He said the complainant’s wife, whom they did not identify gave the quartet US$40 and they drove away.

Insp Ncube said on Monday at around 10AM a report was made at Barbourfields Police station. He said the police arrested the quartet. The quartet has been detained at Barbourfields police station and investigations are still in progress.-online

By A Correspondent- MDC president Douglas Mwonzora claims that he is in direct talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa as he pushes for the much-needed all-inclusive dialogue to address the country’s decades-long political and economic challenges.

Mwonzora made the remarks on Tuesday while responding to Parliament’s Privileges Committee’s report which has recommended harsh and stiff penalties for opposition legislators who denigrate Mnangagwa by heckling, remaining seated or walking out whenever he enters or exits the august House.

The opposition leader believes there is no need to pursue punitive measures since the MDC is now engaging with Mnangagwa in the hope there can be talks to end Zimbabwe’s political and economic challenges.

“Three weeks ago, the same president (Mnangagwa) invited me to accompany him to Victoria Falls for a vaccination programme and I did.   

“So, there is movement, there is convergence, there is a meeting place between myself as a leader of my group and the president as a leader of his party.   

“The two are talking together and the effect of this report is to drive us apart. So, in my respectful view, there is no longer any need for this,” Mwonzora told the National Assembly.

“This new leadership has now said we must get rid of the politics of hate, politics of hunger, politics of acrimony, politics of polarisation and replace it with the politics of rational disputation and tolerance. These MPs have been exemplary in their debates.  

“They have now said what matters to us is not whether this issue came through Zanu-PF or through MDC but what is important is what is in the best interest of the Zimbabwean people.   

“They have done that. They have opposed where it is supposed to be opposed and supported where in their estimation, they were supposed to support.”

Mwonzora blasted MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, saying he forced opposition members to disrespect Mnangagwa.

“This country, and especially this Parliament, has been subjected to some of the worst behaviours ever. The reason was we had a leadership that did not listen to us and had its own orientation.”-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa called for unity as the country marked 41 years of independence on Sunday.

But the president also accused the opposition leader of being destructive, and the opposition fired right back, saying the president and his party are violent against the people.

In a wide-ranging interview aired on national television to mark the country’s independence, Mnangagwa called on Zimbabweans to unite so that the country can prosper.

Asked about Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, the 78-year-old leader said, “Well, you have mentioned this one Zimbabwean, you forget that him and his vice president [Tendai Biti] went to America to ask for sanctions to continue to be imposed on Zimbabwe.

“So, before they cut that cord with the Americans it is difficult to be proper Zimbabweans! I still believe that Mr. Chamisa is a young Zimbabwean, he still has that opportunity to positively contribute to his country if he puts aside the vision for violent demonstrations against his country, being destructive.”

Independence celebrations were muted this year with most of the usual festivities canceled due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Clifford Hlatshwayo, the spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, dismissed the remarks by Mnangagwa saying his party was more peaceful than the ruling Zanu-PF.

“MDC Alliance has been the victims of violence. The people of Zimbabwe are victims of violence perpetrated by Zanu-PF! Orchestrated, organised and sponsored by Zanu-PF government! It is an open secret that Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF are the archbishops of violence, they’re archbishops of causing harm within the Zimbabwean communities,” Hlatshwayo said.

For the past two decades, Zimbabwe’s government has often used force to shut down opposition rallies and protests and intimidate MDC supporters ahead of elections. The violence triggered Western sanctions against Zimbabwean officials and their allies that have yet to be lifted.

There were varying reactions to Mnangagwa’s accusation of the opposition as a violent party. Twenty-seven-year-old Stallos Sithole dismissed the call for unity.

“So, for Emmerson in my view to say that we want unity he has been the center of violence. For the past 41 years Zimbabwe has never seen peaceful elections, has never had an uninterrupted decade without violence, so we have always been engaged in these vicious cycles of violence. For Emmerson to operate as a peace builder and someone who can unify aggressive forces is utter dross and hogwash for me as a young person,” Sithole said.

Lameck Shiri is a vegetable vendor in Harare.

Shiri said, “So, the president’s interview, the independence interview to me it shows that Zimbabweans are a diverse people because there are some issues, he discussed which are generally full of loopholes but at the same time, there are other issues which he addressed which show that there have been some strides that have been made by the Zanu-PF government under Mnangagwa though on the little political freedom and expression of free speech has been curtailed.”

Mnangagwa, who took over from the late Robert Mugabe in 2017, says Zimbabweans are now enjoying more rights and freedoms than under his predecessor. In his Independence Day address, Mnangagwa promised a brighter and more prosperous Zimbabwe.-VOA

Millionaire businessman Frank Buyanga has been placed on Interpol’s Red Notice at the request of Zimbabwean police, freshly-leaked documents show.

The 41-year-old gold coins trader – who has squared off with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his family – is accused of abducting his six-year-old son in March last year before skipping the country.

According to a 21-page file of police documents, there is frenetic communications between police investigators, their bosses, Interpol and even the foreign ministry as authorities seek his extradition from South Africa.

Contained in the documents is a June 2020 letter from Interpol which confirms that Buyanga was placed on Interpol’s Red Notice following a written request from Zimbabwean police sent on May 4, 2020. The letter to the officer commanding Law and Order in Harare was signed by an Assistant Commissioner S.G. Ndou, the deputy director of Interpol Harare.

An Interpol Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and apprehend a person of interest. Typically, this happens when the suspect presents at an airport of a participating country.

Buyanga’s listing had until now been unknown outside the small circle of investigators and prosecutors because Interpol did not publish his name on its website – a deliberate tactic to avoid spooking a target who is less likely to travel if they become aware of a Red Notice against their name.

Last weekend, a US$3 million Bugatti Chiron owned by Buyanga was seen being driven on the streets of Cape Town, tailed by two top-of-the-range BMWs. It was not clear if he was in any of the vehicles, as videos and pictures posted on Twitter did not show the drivers.

It was speculated last week that Buyanga, who was claimed in court papers that his companies conduct business worth 2 percent of South Africa’s GDP every year, had fallen on hard times after he put up one of his houses in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, up for sale for R18 million (US$1.2 million).

Buyanga has a long-running custody battle for their son with his ex-girlfriend Chantelle Muteswa, which has been to every court in Zimbabwe.

Last year, the British-born tycoon showed reporters an entry into a visitors’ book at State House, claiming Muteswa went to meet Auxillia Mnangagwa, the president’s wife.

Buyanga subsequently accused Muteswa of being in a romantic affair with the first family’s twin son, Collins. This was followed by further allegations – denied by the Mnangagwas – that they were interfering with law enforcement and judges to frustrate his efforts to gain custody of his son.

The drama took a shock turn on March 26 last year when the couple’s son, who was a passenger in a Honda Fit parked outside a supermarket in Harare, was grabbed movie-style and driven away at high speed.

Muteswa filed a police complaint, accusing Buyanga of being behind the abduction. Hours later, Buyanga wrote to police stating that he had, days earlier, filed his own complaint that his son had been abducted from a school by Muteswa, and no action had been taken.

He said in his letter to Highlands police: “I filed a police report for contempt of court with you on March 11, 2020, after the mother of my son, Chantelle Muteswa, failed to comply with a court order which states that my access was extended to allow me to give accommodation to the minor child and sped off with the child.

“I hereby write this letter to notify you that I have recovered my son at Parktown shops in Harare.”

The police documents obtained by ZimLive show that if Buyanga is successfully extradited, he will face three charges of kidnapping, robbery and contempt of court.

The robbery charge relates to a claim by Muteswa that she lost a handbag containing US$2,000 when Buyanga allegedly snatched their son. The contempt of court charge, police say, relates to an April 17, 2020, ruling of the High Court ordering Buyanga to return the child to Muteswa, which he has failed to comply with.

Buyanga’s lawyers have written to Interpol insisting that the Zimbabwean authorities’ pursuit of him is driven by Mnangagwa and his family, and he would not get justice if extradited.

Buyanga also faces legal troubles in South Africa after the South African Revenue Service (SARS) seized gold coins weighing over 565kg, personal jewellery, watches and other property during a raid at the Hyde Park home of his girlfriend, which he has now put up for sale.

The Kruger coins are worth over R600 million (US$40 million), Buyanga said in a Pretoria High Court filing where he is demanding their return.

That matter is pending.

-ZimLive

A recent study has indicated that pregnant women infected with COVID-19 face much higher risks of severe, death and deadly complications during childbirth.

Researchers found that ill mothers-to-be had a 76 percent higher risk of developing preeclampsia – a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure – and 59 percent more likely to give birth prematurely, requiring their infants to spend more time in neonatal intensive care units.

Moreover, the study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, also indicates that infected pregnant women were 22.3 times more likely to die during pregnancy than women without the illness.The international team, led by the University of Oxford in the UK, says the findings affirm previous research on the effects of the virus on pregnant women and show the importance of making sure this high-risk group gets vaccinated.

The team looked at more than 2 100 pregnant women who were treated between March 2020 and October 2020 from 18 countries including France, India, Italy, Japan, the UK and the U.S.

Dr Aris Papageorghiou, a professor of fetal medicine at the University of Oxford in England and the co-author, told UPI that pregnant women with COVID-19 face a number of risks including:

• Direct risks of the virus itself – needing to go to intensive care and have respiratory support,
• Higher risks of hypertension and pre-eclampsia and effects of medical interventions such as preterm birth.

Co-author Dr Michael Gravett, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, highly recommended that all pregnant women receive the COVID-19 vaccines.

A CDC study that looked at 35 000 pregnant women who have received either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna coronavirus vaccines showed rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, complications, birth defects and premature birth were all comparable between women who had the shots and those who had not. Results showed:

• Expecting mothers with COVID-19 were 3.3 times more likely to develop severe illness and five times more likely to be admitted to intensive care units.
• Fever and shortness of breath – common coronavirus symptoms –  were linked to 2.56 greater risk of maternal complications and 4.97 times higher risk of complications for newborns.
• Those diagnosed with coronavirus were 76 percent more likely to develop preeclampsia and 59 percent more likely to give birth prematurely.-DailyMail

There was drama as MDC Alliance legislator for Harare West, Joana Mamombe refused to leave the hospital where she was admitted to return to prison.

Mamombe had been taken to the hospital after she had fallen ill in prison. When prison officers came to the hospital to take her back to prison, she was adamant that she was not going anywhere since she was still in pain.

Reports suggested that the prison officers stormed Mambombe’s hospital bed and forcibly removed her before she had completed medical treatment prescribed by her doctors and without following the hospital’s discharge protocols!