Suspended Zapu organising secretary Derek Katsenga has been accused of being a mole and working with Zanu-PF to lure the party into joining the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) initiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Katsenga was suspended from the opposition party last month over allegations of fanning tribalism and factionalism in Mashonaland Central province.

His suspension comes at a time when the party is inching towards its watershed elective congress which has been moved from April 30 to August.

Party insiders told Southern Eye that Katsenga had allegedly struck a deal with Zanu-PF to ensure that the incoming Zapu leader joins Polad.

“The secret deal was well at an advanced stage and it sent the party leadership into action resulting in immediate suspension of the frontman of the deal (Katsenga),” said a Zapu source.

“Several officials from some provinces had been mobilised into supporting the secret deal with one of them, Edward Chodewa openly attacking the acting party president Isaac Mabuka for allowing the suspension of Katsenga,” the source said.

After Katsenga’s suspension by Zapu secretary-general Strike Mkandla, Chodewa wrote to Mabuka protesting the decision.

But internal sources said the party was well aware that the faction that Katsenga worked with was receiving huge funding from the State in order for it to aid the agenda of a one-party State that Mnangagwa is allegedly pushing for.

Zapu spokesman Iphithule Maphosa could neither confirm nor deny the allegations levelled against Katsenga.

He said the matter had since been referred to the party’s arbitration body.

“We still maintain that any dialogue that could take place must be outside the control and instigation of Zanu-PF or Mnangagwa.

“We have prescribed the national transitional authority as the only vehicle towards a sustainable transition to a truly democratic and developmental dispensation.

“We haven’t shifted and any party official or group that deviates from this will be in violation of the very beliefs and policy positions of Zapu. On the Polad issue, Zapu does not subscribe to that cosmetic process.

“We believe in real dialogue that will pluck our country from this dictatorship and maladministration ditch.”

Katsenga on Thursday said the allegations were part of a smear campaign against him.

“The problem is that these people, who claim to be national leaders, have not been visiting the provinces for many years and when they recently visited the provinces to campaign, people did not know them.

“The provincial chairpersons asked them who they were.

“In fact there are provinces that have not seen these leaders for more than 10 years and all of a sudden they saw them coming to campaign.

“The provinces where these leaders have not been visiting are Harare, Mashonaland East, West, Central, Masvingo and Manicaland.

“They are saying I am influencing the people in these provinces just because as an organiser I am always with the people in these provinces.”

He said he was not involved in the Polad issue, adding that as the Zapu organising secretary he was also using his resources to assist the party.

He said due to the attacks on his person, the party leadership in the northern provinces was planning to boycott the congress.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Police in Marondera on Saturday night intercepted three trucks transporting over 400 bales of second-hand clothes.

The three trucks are being held at Marondera Police Station while their drivers were detained pending investigations.

The arrested trio are Nommater Mutsanza (31), Godfrey Matimati (49) and Chengerai Gonzo (35), all of Mutare.

Officer-in-Charge (operations) in Mashonaland East province, Assistant Commissioner Amon Ndou yesterday said the suspects were arrested in Marondera along the Harare-Mutare Highway.

“Three trucks were intercepted at the 74km peg along the Harare-Mutare Highway carrying second-hand clothes, which are believed to have been smuggled. Three suspects have since been arrested,” Ndou said.

He said police in Marondera received a tip-off that there was a grey Toyota Hilux which was escorting the trucks from Mutare towards Harare.

Acting on the tip-off, the trucks were spotted by the team at Murewa turn-off before police officers alerted their colleagues who were at a checkpoint.

He said on arrival at the checkpoint, the leading truck was signalled to stop, but it did not comply, resulting in police officers firing shots and deflating its tyres.

“All the truck drivers were arrested and are currently assisting police with investigations at Marondera Central. The contraband comprising hundreds of bales is also at the same police station,” Ndou said.

Smuggling of second-hand clothes is a criminal offence in Zimbabwe.

Newsday

The job action by City of Harare employees has deepened a sewer burst crisis that has a potential of causing a serious waterborne disease outbreak in Harare as residents opt to open defecation.

According to the City of Harare “the impact of the lockdown and the crippling financial impasse took their toll on the City, employees responded by withdrawing their labour over Personal Protective Equipment and allowances resulting in accumulation of unattended sewer blockages particularly within the (CBD) Central Business District and high density residential areas.”

“The Acting Director of Harare Water further reported that with regards to water distribution was limited activity due to industrial action undertaken by the workforce at Council’s various sites”, reads part of the Environmental Committee minutes.

Residents of Harare are currently grappling with unattended sewer bursts and poor water supplies, a situation that has a potential of causing a serious waterborne disease outbreak.

In New Tafara residents have made makeshift septic tanks that are filled with raw sewerage as the City has failed to respond to sewer chokes. “We have made these pits for sewer to flow in since we have had no response from the local authority” said a dejected woman from Tafara.

Areas such as Glen View, Budiriro and Highfields yards of houses have been flooded by unattended raw sewerage. In Glen View people affected by the sewer chokes are defecating in plastic bags and then throw at illegal dumpsites which have sprouted within the location.

The situation in most high density areas requires a serious emergency humanitarian response as it is degenerating to the total collapse of service delivery likened to the 2008 era.

Despite the fact that Council communication indicates that there has been a job action in the local authority local plumbers are citing that there is lack of rods to attend to the sewer chokes and protective clothing.

CHRA is calling for an urgent humanitarian intervention to prevent a serious health time bomb currently brewing in most high density suburbs and the City of Harare to resolve labor disputes with its employees which is another contribution to the crisis.

By A Correspondent- Nurses at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (formerly Harare Central Hospital) say they are continually being harassed by the hospital’s management for participating in last year’s protests over the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Some nurses including some top executives and members of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) have resigned following the alleged victimisation.

ZINA president, Mr Enoch Dongo, has since resigned from Sally Mugabe Hospital and Mr Samson Gurupira, the organizing secretary at Sally Mugabe Hospital, have also resigned from the institution.

Speaking to Health Times, Gurupira said he resigned early this year after being subjected to harassment. He added that the resignation was a way of preventing the situation from deteriorating further.

He said:

The conditions that was created by my superiors had become so unbearable. I was arrested last year in June and spent a night in the police cells for allegedly leading a demonstration against poor salaries and wages, and lack of personal protective equipment. This arrest was caused by my employer.  I was served with three different charges and a suspension letter.

Gurupira said he tried to engage authorities hoping to find an amicable way to resolve the issue but “things only got worse.”

Sally Mugabe Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Christopher Pasi dismissed the alleged victimisation reports as untrue.

He said every profession has a code of ethics and the nurses defied theirs by speaking to the media when they were not authorised to do so.

Pasi added that their remarks were untrue and when they were asked to substantiate their claims, they could not do that.

He added:

There was one of them who came out in the press and it went viral all the world. She came out saying the National Reference Laboratory at the Sally Mugabe was falsifying COVID-19 results.

He said the claims were detrimental to the institution but the nurse failed to substantiate her claims.

He described the nurses’ actions as “just insubordination,” adding that they just don’t want to be asked to account for their actions.

More: Health Times

The ruling Zanu PF party has begun preparations for by-elections, although the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) recently announced that it had indefinitely postponed elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zanu PF has already rolled out campaigns in Manicaland province, where two candidates were chosen to represent the party in the impending elections to replace Dangamvura Chikanga MP Prosper Mutseyami and Mutasa South MP Regai Tsunga of the MDC Alliance, who were recently recalled by the rival MDC-T.

Last year, Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga published Statutory Instrument (SI) 225A of 2020, which indefinitely postponed all by-elections citing COVID-19 fears.

However, other countries have successfully conducted elections during the COVID-19 era.

Analysts have said SI 225A of 2020 is ultra vires section 68 of the Public Health Act or sections 158 and 159 of the Constitution, as well as the Electoral Act.

Despite the ban, the Zanu PF Manicaland province is already preparing for parliamentary and local authority by-elections.

Zanu PF Manicaland chairperson Mike Madiro told a party provincial coordinating committee meeting yesterday that the party was preparing for the by-elections.

“I would like to say that we have by-elections that are coming and what is only left is for our President Emmerson Mnangagwa to declare the dates,” he said.

“In Mutasa South, people in the constituency agreed that Misheck Mugadza should represent the party as the candidate for MP in the by-elections, and in Dangamvura/Chikanga constituency, there is comrade Esau Mupfumi, who will represent the party. We gave people five months to submit their curriculum vitaes, but no one else did so.

“Unfortunately, after the five months, there are some individuals who have started giving us their CVs, but what we are saying is that we follow party direction first.”

Madiro said the ruling party was hoping to win seven wards in Mutare after seven MDC Alliance councillors were recalled by the MDC-T.

More than 40 MDC Alliance MPs and around 80 councillors lost their parliamentary and council seats after they were recalled by the MDC-T and the People’s Democratic Party led by Lucia Matibenga.

The MDC-T has since filled in more than 15 National Assembly and Senate seats that were occupied by proportional representation MPs.

Constituency seats will need to be filled in through by-elections.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- An opposition MDC-T senator last Thursday said teachers who were not reporting for work should leave employment and let unemployed qualified teachers take over.

Masvingo senator Tichinani Mavetera asked Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, who is also leader of the Senate, to explain government policy on striking teachers.

“Mr President, teachers are now striking or giving threats. My question is: if government is negotiating with the representatives of workers, are they open to each other because right now people are tired in the country?

“There are endless talks between government and the teachers. If they cannot accept what is being given by government, they must retire and leave an opportunity for qualified teachers who are not practising,” Mavetera said.

Mutsvangwa, who responded on behalf of the Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema, said government was committed to improving the working conditions of teachers and to ensure normal learning at schools.

“Government is trying its best to see that teachers are well-paid and is open to negotiate with its citizens. Children must be educated. Salaries continued to be paid during the COVID-19 lockdown, which shows the government’s commitment. Therefore, the teachers must also work together with the government. If our children fail to go to school, we have failed generations to come,” she said.

“Our country, Zimbabwe, is known for better education. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation rated Zimbabwe as number one in Africa. Therefore, as Zimbabweans, we must focus on this issue (education) so that we know what legacy we are trying to leave for this country.”

Mutsvangwa said 90% of the teaching staff was attending lessons.

Since last year, teachers have been on industrial action demanding to be paid between US$520 and US$550 which they used to get in 2018, or its equivalent.

Last week, civil servants rejected a 70% salary hike offered by their employer.

Civil servants have since pleaded incapacitation and resolved that they will only report to work twice per week.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF has escalated its bakery project throughout the rural areas in the country, with women in some districts, saying that they have started realising the benefits of the project.

The ruling party introduced the bakery project in 2019 in an effort to economically capacitate women.

However, at the inception of the bakery project, Zanu-PF was under fire for implementing Stone Age projects which use mud ovens powered by firewood.

Women interviewed by NewsDay in Mangwe district in Matabeleland South said their project at Vukuzenzele in Ward 1 had been successful.

But evidence on the ground shows that most of the bakery projects in urban areas around the country collapsed as the old-model ovens could not mass produce.

Women Affairs minister Sithembiso Nyoni said the bakery projects in rural areas had changed the lives of women.

She said the projects were using both old and modern baking methods to enable the women to make prompt returns.

“In Mangwe, the villagers used infrastructure that is made of metal, that is the old traditional way, but with improved technology, which is the modern way. They now use baking stoves,” Nyoni said.

“In a day, women bake two to three dozen loaves of bread. Bakery projects are quick and efficient and they have created employment for the women, thus bringing them income,” she said.-Newsday

Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts (ZNOART), an Apex body representing all associations and residents alleges that violent youths disrupted a residents association and Tongai Mnangagwa (Harare South Member of Parliament) tour in Southlea Park.

The was a barbaric scene yesterday in Southlea park when violent youths attacked residents who were waiting to be addressed by the Member of Parliament for Harare South Honourable Tongai Mnangagwa.

The lawmaker was set to meet and address Southlea Park residents at an event organized by ZIMBABWE NATIONAL ORGANISATION OF ASSOCIATIONS AND RESIDENTS TRUSTS(ZNOART).The program aimed to address the issues of service delivery and infrastructure development that have been a cause of concern in Southlea Park and Harare in general.

Last year the president H.E ED Mnangagwa declared war on land barons followed by a land commission that aimed to address the issue of land barons and several people have been arrested.

Land barons are distributing land set aside for schools, clinics and sometime doing double allocations of stands this is being done illegally, well-known land barons are using their political muscles to protect their illegal dealings.

ZNOART organised a tour accompanied by Hon Tongai Mnangagwa to Southlea park to get first-hand information on the issue of land barons and to address the issue of Regularisation of stands. Southlea Park residents were gathered near Candy shops waiting for the lawmaker and ZNOART executive, at around 9 in the morning violent youths led by a man only identified as Nhakiwa arrived at the venue holding empty bottles, sticks and stones. They displaced the gathering and assaulted local residents association leaders and reportedly told them that Southlea park is a no go area.

The youth are said to have been sent by Pfundukwa whom Southlea Park residence are accusing of selling stands on wetlands and on areas set aside for schools, clinics etc illegally. The residence are believing that the attack was meant to stop ZNOART and Hon Mnangagwa from exposing the situation on the ground.

Below is a statement issued in ZNOART WhatsApp group
……….
Good afternoon ZNOART Family and fellow residents Just a report back from the ZNOART family on yesterday’s programme and meeting. Because of disturbances which happened in Harare South, we couldn’t take the MP to the TOUR as anticipated. The ZNOART officials had to take cover at Mbudzi police station. However, we later caught up with the MP who has promised to address all the Harare South issues on our Saturday programme called ZNOART OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT NEXT SATURDAYs.

By A Correspondent- The ruling Zanu-PF party has begun preparations for by-elections, although the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) recently announced that it had indefinitely postponed elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zanu-PF has already rolled out campaigns in Manicaland province, where two candidates were chosen to represent the party in the impending elections to replace Dangamvura Chikanga MP Prosper Mutseyami and Mutasa South MP Regai Tsunga of the MDC Alliance, who were recently recalled by the rival MDC-T.

Last year, Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga published Statutory Instrument (SI) 225A of 2020, which indefinitely postponed all by-elections citing COVID-19 fears.

However, other countries have successfully conducted elections during the COVID-19 era.

Analysts have said SI 225A of 2020 is ultra vires section 68 of the Public Health Act or sections 158 and 159 of the Constitution, as well as the Electoral Act.

Despite the ban, the Zanu-PF Manicaland province is already preparing for parliamentary and local authority by-elections.

Zanu-PF Manicaland chairperson Mike Madiro told a party provincial coordinating committee meeting yesterday that the party was preparing for the by-elections.

“I would like to say that we have by-elections that are coming and what is only left is for our President Emmerson Mnangagwa to declare the dates,” he said.

“In Mutasa South, people in the constituency agreed that Misheck Mugadza should represent the party as the candidate for MP in the by-elections, and in Dangamvura/Chikanga constituency, there is comrade Esau Mupfumi, who will represent the party. We gave people five months to submit their curriculum vitaes, but no one else did so.

“Unfortunately, after the five months, there are some individuals who have started giving us their CVs, but what we are saying is that we follow party direction first.”

Madiro said the ruling party was hoping to win seven wards in Mutare after seven MDC Alliance councillors were recalled by the MDC-T.

More than 40 MDC Alliance MPs and around 80 councillors lost their parliamentary and council seats after they were recalled by the MDC-T and the People’s Democratic Party led by Lucia Matibenga.

The MDC-T has since filled in more than 15 National Assembly and Senate seats that were occupied by proportional representation MPs.

Constituency seats will need to be filled in through by-elections.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A Harare based British citizen on Saturday night came face-to-face with local police brutality when he was assaulted while in Warren Park to drop off his auto-electrician in the suburb.

Kireto Mushava (54), a holder of a British passport, said he came to Zimbabwe in January when his wife was ill, and she passed on a few days ago.

He said he had never left his Westlea home since January, and only went out on Saturday to get his car repaired at Zindoga shopping centre in Waterfalls.

At around 7pm when he was in Warren Park D near Mereki where he had gone to drop one of the people who had been fixing his car, Mushava said he was shocked when police officers in anti-riot gear blocked the road and pulled him out of the car.

“I asked what wrong I had done and one of them grabbed my face mask, tore it apart and accused me of not wearing a face mask. He bundled me into the back of their ZRP Scania truck and his colleagues pulled me in. I asked again what I had done wrong and another one accused me of being one of the people that was pelting the police truck with stones,” Mushava said.

“They demanded money from me and I refused to give them because I had not done any wrong. One of them put his hand into my pocket, pulled out my wallet and took the US$200 that was inside and gave me back my wallet.

“When I tried to resist, I was hit on my right ear with a baton, and now I can’t hear. I fear my eardrum was damaged. The truck moved a distance and the police officers told me to get down, which I refused to do, and one of them said I was being thick-headed. They beat me all over the body. There were two other civilians at the back of the truck, but the police officers vented their anger on me. I don’t remember how many times their batons landed on my body, but I’m in excruciating pain.”

Mushava said in the process, they damaged his spectacles and mobile phone, and now he could not work because he used it to connect with his bosses who are in the United Kingdom.

“When they pushed me off the truck, they told the driver to move fast fearing I would take down the registration plate. There was no registration at the back, but I followed them from a distance and finally managed to get to the front of the vehicle. Its registration was ZRP 494.”

Mushava said he reported the matter at Warren Park Police Station and it was recorded under RRB 4802324.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment.-Newsday

By A Correspondent | The late singer and church leader, Freedom Sengwayo’s brother, Mission Dom, has been found murdered at his house in Bulawayo.

Initial reports suggested that the suspects are robbers.

Gruesome pictures revealed to family members show Mr Sengwayo’s blugeoned body lying on the ground at his gate. He was wearing blue jeans before the attack.

Further details were still awaited at the time of writing.

Output at RioZim’s gem extraction associate Murowa Diamonds slipped to 579 000 carats during the year ended December 31, 2020 after Zimbabwe’s oldest operating diamond mining asset depleted high-grade gems in 2019, the listed giant said on Friday, spelling out an exploration strategy to sustain production.

RioZim, the multi-resource operation quoted on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, had produced 685 000 carats in 2019, according to chairman Saleem Rashid Beebeejaun.

But it was a tough year for RioZim, which saw gold output at its three mines tumble 27% after breakdowns at the flagship Cam & Motor operation and troubles at the ageing Dalny Mine pulled back operations.

Output at Dalny Mine plummeted by 46% to 198kg after its milling section was crippled by downtime. But Murowa’s huge influence within the RioZim empire was quite significant during the period, pushing its contribution to profits to $495 million, from $22 million previously.

Much of this push was underpinned by hyperinflation in Zimbabwe, where regulators have directed firms to apply hyperinflationary accounting standards to help investors make out what’s coming out of companies.

“The group’s associate, RZM Murowa Private Limited, produced 579 000 carats from 685 000 carats produced in the comparative period,” Beebeejaun said in a commentary to the financial statements.

“The lower production in the current year is attributable predominantly to the processing of the low grade K2 resources after the high grade K1 (kimberlite) resources had been depleted in the prior year.

“The associate continued to contribute positively to the group’s profitability with a share of profit of $494,8 million compared to $22,9 million in the prior year.

“The company will build on its exploration drive from the prior year in order to upgrade and increase confidence levels on all resources across all our mines in light of the declining grades at Renco, One Step and Dalny mines.”

RioZim bounced back to profit after overturning a $581,4 million loss in 2019 and made a profit after tax of $452,73 million, which was underpinned by firming gold prices on the international markets.

Gold prices averaged US$1 765 per once (oz) during the review period, which was 27% higher than 2019’s US$1 395/oz.

Revenues increased to $3,1 billion in 2020 from $577 million in 2019.

“The company’s gold production declined by 27% from 1,66 tonnes achieved in the prior year to 1,21 tonnes.

Throughout the current year, the group’s flagship operation Cam & Motor Mine carried out mining activities from the nearby One Step Mine hauling low grade ore to the Cam & Motor plant for processing,” Beebeejaun said.

“This resulted in a drastic fall in gold production compared to the prior year when the mine processed higher-grade ore from its Cam pits. The gold price maintained a growth trend throughout the year recording a 27% growth from the prior year’s average price of US$1 395/oz, to an average price of US$1 765/oz in the current year which counteracted the impact of lower production volumes.”-newsday

By Philemon Jambaya| Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities Daniel Garwe’s wife, Sharon Mugabe is allegedly struggling to pay a ZWL $1,4 million loan she demanded from the National Building Society (NBS) without even being a client of the bank.

According to an anonymous statement sent to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo by NBS Bank junior employees who refused to cite their names for fear of victimization, minister Garwe is accused of trying to force his way to have the bank fund an illegal housing development scheme taking place in Melfort, Goromonzi.

“This anonymous letter serves to inform you of the corruption Hon Minister Daniel Garwe and His Wife Sharon Mugabe perpetrated and are trying to forcibly pepertrate at the nation’s National Building Society Bank and NSSA.

“Honourable Garwe forced himself through his wife Sharon Mugabe into the NBS Bank where they demanded an urgent loan without even being clients of the bank but pressure was that Sharon Mugabe is the minister’s wife and the instruction is she has to get a loan that has to be converted into forex so she could take her father for hospitalisation out of the country.

“Sharon Mugabe was then made to submit a written application on the 18th of June 2020. Upon verification, to process the application, the Chief Finance Officer Ethel Chitanda rejected the loan application citing some irregularities.

“She highlighted that Sharon Mugabe was a new client who had just submitted her account opening forms and no traceable history, also her credit rating outside the bank was poor and the bank had no provision for such a loan at that time.

“However, when Minister Garwe asked who rejected his wife’s loan and found out it was Ethel, he influenced that she be fired and that was done immediately on the 19th of June 2020 for disapproving the minister’s wife loan. This forced those who remained to immediately approve the loan and, the value of the loan was 1,4 million Rtgs at that point in time.

“So imagine Sharon Mugabe Garwe was not even a client of NBS. Instead she applied to open a bank account and applied for a bank loan the same day. This type of behavior leaves many Zimbabweans with unanswered questions when gross abuse of office is being done with those who try to portray a good image to the nation yet they are actual criminals in action.

“Approving Z$1,4 million on the pensioners monies leaves a lot to be desired especially to Sharon Mugabe Garwe who the bank had rated unsuitable for the loan because of her creditworthiness. Pensioners are struggling with their small amounts of pension, but when Z$1,4 million is given to Sharon Mugabe Garwe just for being minister’s wife then thus a clear indication of the said corruption.” Highlighted the letter.

This publication is reliably informed that ZACC has since swooped on some NBS employees who were involved in the release of the loan for questioning.

Reliable sources told this publication that Muagabe has since paid ZWL500 000 and she is struggling to pay the remainder.

Contacted for comment Mugabe did not respond to questions send to her.

By A Correspondent- Younger brother to the late police outrider Sergeant Freddy Chipato, who died last week while on VIP traffic clearance duties for First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s convoy, has expressed dismay over the absence of the First Lady’s representatives at the funeral.

Chipato died when his bike rammed into a Toyota Altezza which had encroached into his lane between Lion’s Den and Chinhoyi on April 2.

His younger brother, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation, said there were many grey areas in relation to his brother’s death that needed to be clarified.

He said the family was irked by government’s denial that Chipato was not part of Mnangagwa’s motorcade.

“Whenever there is a death in a family, there is bound to be some things that people question. In this case, there are many questions than answers. For instance, why did the First Lady fail to send a representative at the burial, and why did government try to disassociate my brother’s duties on the day from the First Lady’s journey to Mhangura?” he queried.

Information secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana last week dissociated Chipato from the First Lady’s convoy, but tweeted that the late traffic officer was clearing traffic ahead of the motorcade.

Mangwana yesterday said the First Lady’s motorcade issue was of a security nature than a constitutional one.

“Issues of security are issues of safety rather than constitutional. They are not constitutional matters in the sense that the Constitution doesn’t prescribe who gets what security arrangements,” he said.

“In any country you go to, members of the First Family are protected, and the answer is yes.”

Police also issued a statement denying that the First Lady’s convoy was involved in an accident in Chinhoyi.

This is not the first time the First Lady’s convoy has been involved in an accident. Last April, her convoy was involved in a fatal accident at Mavhuradona Mountain Range in Mashonaland Central province.

The incident killed one of her trusted top aides, Albert Vunganai, on the spot, while four other secret service operatives were seriously injured in the crash.

Government was accused of abandoning the injured aides, with some spending months in hospital, forcing family members to sell their belongings to pay medical bills.

In May last year, one of the cars in her convoy reportedly hit and injured a seven-year-old boy near Simunye Gardens in Kwekwe.

The number of accidents involving her motorcade have set tongues wagging amid questions as to why she is accorded such high-profile protection which is not stipulated in the Constitution.

Human Rights NGO Forum director and constitutional lawyer Musa Kika said the Constitution did not mention the First Lady’s office since it is not a government office.

“The First Lady is not a constitutional office,” Kika said.

He said first ladies were not mentioned in the Presidential Pension and Retirement Benefits Act Chapter 205, which only envisages that they receive pensions in the event that the husband dies.

“This is about former Presidents,” he said.

Kika said Statutory Instrument 261 of 2020 also mentioned spouses of former presidents.

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo also accused the First Lady of wasting State resources crisscrossing the country on personal and Zanu-PF business.

Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana rubbished the assertions that first ladies should not enjoy certain privileges because it was not mentioned in the Constitution.

“That exhibits narrow thinking. The Presidency is an institution, meaning that his family can enjoy certain benefits if the office sees it fit,” Mangwana said.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sensationally claimed that Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 vaccination programme has become a success so much that some world leaders are begging him to come to the country and get inoculated locally.

Mnangagwa told state media journalists at the State House in Harare on Saturday that Zimbabwe was open to vaccinating people from other countries but they will pay for the jab, unlike locals who are vaccinated free of charge.

The President said:

I have been approached by several countries as well as organisations and individuals wanting to send their leaders to Zimbabwe to be vaccinated here because they think that we are doing well.

But I am saying that for all Zimbabweans whoever they are, local or in the diaspora if they come here they will receive the vaccine for free but anybody else if they come here they will receive the vaccine at a cost.

This is a human element where we cannot deny anybody but if you are not Zimbabwean we will give you the vaccine at a cost but if you are Zimbabwean the Government of Zimbabwe is giving you for free.

So far more than 150 000 people have been vaccinated mainly with vaccinations developed by Chinese pharmaceutical companies.

However, it has emerged that the Chinese-made vaccines have low effectiveness and the Chinese government is considering mixing them to give them a boost.

The director of the China Centers for Disease Control, Gao Fu on Saturday told a conference in the southwestern city of Chengdu that Chinese vaccines “don’t have very high protection rates”.

-statemedia

By James Gwati-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has intensified his 2023 election campaign in Matebeleland by increasing his visibility in the region.

At the weekend Mnangagwa sent his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga to Lupane where the former army general ordered the Lupane provincial hospital bosses to complete the construction of Lupane hospital with immediate effect

Chiwenga, who is also Health and Child Care Minister, visited the hospital’s construction site at the weekend and said the project should be completed by next year.

“The purpose of my visit was to accelerate the construction of the Lupane Provincial Hospital. This project as you are aware started way back in the First Republic in 2004. It had stalled to an unacceptable level. When the President visited Matabeleland North Province, this matter was also highlighted. We have been looking at ways of resuscitating all legacy projects which had stalled during the First Republic and we want to finish them.”

VP Chiwenga said the completion of the hospital should be done expeditiously.

“The length and breadth of this hospital demand that this institution be completed as a matter of urgency. And so, we wanted to see what the plan was at that time, what is it that can be done now and how can we quickly complete this project.

“Government has already put in some resources. By last week we had already put resources to kick start this place. We want to see how we can utilise those resources and go full throttle and have this project completed by next year.”

By James Gwati- Zanu PF has targeted Binga votes in the next 2023 election and at the weekend visited the marginalised Tonga tribe community and commissioned some network connectivity base stations.

Zanu PF Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at the commissioning of Nachulwe base station in Siansundu Village, Binga at the weekend forced the country’s mobile network providers to work together to achieve all-round connectivity countrywide.

The base station which Chiwenga commissioned was constructed by NetOne in partnership with Huawei international.

“NetOne and other operators are critical in the provision of network connectivity. This will bring inclusivity to previously marginalised communities,” Chiwenga said.
“Our joy comes from the fact that nearby schools, hospitals and community at large can now benefit from this enhanced connectivity brought about by NetOne Cellular. As the Government of Zimbabwe, we urge other players to do the same until we achieve all-round connectivity across the country.”

By James Gwati-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government said it will by end of this year repair more than 26 000km of Zimbabwe’s road network before the end of this year.

According to the state media, Mnangagwa would achieve this using what they called the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme.

It remains to be seen if the government could even achieve half of the said target because of corruption involved in the awarding of tenders of this nature.

History has it that Mnangagwa awards multimillion tenders to his close allies who run briefcase companies.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the late Zimbabwean medical doctor, Dr Sindi Van Zyl as a true patriot.

Dr Van Zyl was based in South Africa.She made a significant contribution to the lives of thousands.

“I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Dr Sindi Van Zyl, a popular Zimbabwean doctor based in South Africa.

She carried the African flag high and made an unforgettable contribution to the lives of many.

She made us proud and will be sadly missed. RIP,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

A Harare motorist who hit a 7-year-old girl recently at the intersection of Borrowdale Road and Harare Drive has appeared in court for negligent driving.

Herbert Chakanyuka (57), was remanded out of custody pending the availing of the medical affidavit of the victim.

He was tracked down by police after a video of the hit and run incident went viral.

Chakanyuka told the court that he did not run away from the scene but parked his car at a distance before he realised that the child had been removed from the accident scene.

He added he did not notice the child as he focused on the traffic lights which had just turned green.

According to a police statement, the victim was identified as Mitchelle Kamupfumo, who is said to be alive, but was seriously injured.

• ZBC News

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the late Zimbabwean medical doctor, Dr Sindi Van Zyl as a true patriot.

Dr Van Zyl was based in South Africa.She made a significant contribution to the lives of thousands.

“I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Dr Sindi Van Zyl, a popular Zimbabwean doctor based in South Africa.

She carried the African flag high and made an unforgettable contribution to the lives of many.

She made us proud and will be sadly missed. RIP,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the late Zimbabwean medical doctor, Dr Sindi Van Zyl as a true patriot.

Dr Van Zyl was based in South Africa.She made a significant contribution to the lives of thousands.

“I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Dr Sindi Van Zyl, a popular Zimbabwean doctor based in South Africa.

She carried the African flag high and made an unforgettable contribution to the lives of many.

She made us proud and will be sadly missed. RIP,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Bulawayo City Council is seeking authority from the Local Government ministry to borrow $4 billion arguing it has no capacity to fund its 2021 $10 billion capital budget to oil its operations.

Government is yet to approve the council’s 2021 budget of $17 billion with $10 billion set aside for capital expenditure and the remainder for salaries and other administrative costs.

Bulawayo residents last year opposed the council’s proposed $21 billion budget arguing the consultative process was flawed.

A latest council report, however, shows city fathers are crying that the local authority is financially incapacitated to fund the $10 billion capital budget, hence the need to apply for borrowing powers.

“Currently council has a capital budget of $10, 697,798,003.52 for the 2021 financial year.

“Council had no capacity to fund this capital budget from its own resources,” reads the council report.

“It was, therefore, imperative for the council to apply for borrowing powers of $4, 223,548,498.00 equivalent to US$51, 886,345.00 to fund various capital projects…”

In terms of Section 290 of the Urban Councils Act and Section 65 of the Public Finance Management Act, councils can apply for borrowing powers from the ministry of Local government for the acquisition or construction of permanent works or undertakings, the acquisition of immovable property, the making of advances authorised by this or any other Act, the payment of compensation, the liquidation of the principal moneys owing on account of any previous loan, the relief of general distress occasioned by some calamity in the council area and the acquisition of plant, equipment and vehicles.

Of the $4 billion, council said it will channel the largest chunk of $1,450,714,698 to water infrastructure rehabilitation and the remainder $332,910,000 (sewerage infrastructure), $863,450,000 (acquisition and development of land), $894,748,800 (roads construction and rehabilitation),$407,000,000 (landfill site new cell development) and $274,725,000 for the acquisition of plant, equipment and vehicles.

The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), however, questioned the council’s wisdom in choosing the route of seeking a $4 billion loan.

“Borrowing in an economy that perhaps was functional and with a positive growth trajectory would have been fine particularly for funding expenditure. However, with the council’s poor project management performance as exhibited by past and current projects, a lot of questions really may need to be asked,” said BPRA budget consultant Ntokozo Tshuma.

“The general norm would have been to quantify the total debt (from funds borrowed) as percentage of local Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the generaL standard of a safer amount normally should range between 2-3% of local GDP so if the funds to be borrowed become higher than this it creates challenges to the local authority in trying to liquidate the debt.”

The council minutes revealed that city fathers also turned down private funders, who wanted to lend the council US$100 million before settling for the easy route of applying for borrowing powers.

“As council they had been approached by a funder who was willing to lend council US$100m,” the council report added.

“The amount was too much and the council did not have the capacity to borrow and service the US$100m.

“The borrowing powers were a journey and as council there was need to show capacity to the ministry to pay.

“The motivation was the 3% and 3 years grace period.”

In June 2018, the council also applied for borrowing powers of US$100 million and US$26 million payable over 10 years pending improvement of the capacity to repay to cover various projects.-Standard

A gang of five armed robbers raided a family in Montgomery Bulawayo, ransacked their house and got away with cash, cellphones and other valuables.

Bulawayo police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube, confirmed the robbery, that occurred last Friday at around 1.30 AM.

Insp Ncube said:

We are investigating an armed robbery case where five suspects armed with a pistol and knife broke into a house at plot 66 King fair road, Montgomery on Friday at around 1.30 AM.

The armed robbers used an iron bar to force open the front French main door to enter the house.

The gang entered the main bedroom which was not locked and threatened the complainant (61) with a pistol and demanded cash.

Said Insp Ncube:Two accused persons grabbed the complainant and tied his hands from the back using a necktie, then the other accused person pointed a gun at his head.

They demanded money and ransacked the room and took away a brown wallet which had us$550-00 and a Samsung Note 4 cellphone.

Insp Ncube said four of the suspects went to the spare bedroom and woke up a 21-year-old man and demanded cash but did not find anything in his room.

One other accused person was left guarding the man while the other three proceeded to the other spare bedroom where the complainant’s two daughters were sleeping.

They forced open the spare bedroom door, gained entry into the room and woke up, 2 female adults aged 20 years and 25 years.

They demanded valuables from them and took away an iPhone 4s cellphone, iPhone 5s cellphone, Samsung s9 cellphone, 2 hp laptops serial numbers not known and their chargers.

The accused persons took away an open view decoder, 4-way electrical adaptor and car keys of a government Nissan NP300 registration number AAE 8142 owned by Umguza Rural District Council.

No one was injured. The total value stolen is US$3 655 and $100 and nothing was recovered.

At around 3.55 AM on the same day, the complainant called Queens Park Police Station and made a report, said Insp Ncube.

Police attended the scene and no arrest was made.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Rape cases of minor girls have risen alarmingly in Mashonaland Central province with between two and three rape cases reported on a daily basis for the past 12 months.

This was revealed by the Mashonaland Central Provincial Information Communication Technology Officer, Superintendent Sheila Tungadza during an International Women’s Day commemorations event in Bindura.

Superintendent Tungadza was representing the Officer Commanding Police Mashonaland Central at the event. She said:

The issue that has been worrying us as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is the rise in incidences where minors are being raped.

I don’t have statistics for Bindura off hand at the moment but for the whole of Mashonaland Central in general, we record two or three rape cases on a daily basis of minors and perpetrators who are in most cases relatives or neighbours.

At times, mothers leave their daughters in the hands of trusted male relatives going to church or going to buy wares for sale in neighbouring countries. The relatives end up abusing the little ones sexually.

I urge all here to leave our children in the care of trusted female relatives more than male relatives because what we are witnessing here is not a good picture.

Tungadza urged parents to establish relationships with their children so that it becomes easier for them to notice a behavioural change in case of sexual abuse. She said:

Fathers are raping their daughters to an extent whereby the girls are falling pregnant.

The mothers at times take time to witness these changes in their daughters and the abuse goes on for long.

Mothers and fathers, let us establish relationships with our children.

Let’s take time to listen to them every day after work and listen to their stories.

By creating an environment whereby children feel free to share with us anything, we stand a chance of noticing early if they would have been abused.

The children will also be free to tell us if anyone touches them and does anything inappropriate to them.

At times what makes children hide things from parents is that they fear getting beaten or scolded.

Let’s not create an environment whereby children fear us.-HealthTimes

By A Correspondent- Teachers who are reporting for work only three days out of five per week will be asked to give reasons for their absenteeism, a government official has said.

This follows reports that for the past week teachers at schools among them St Christopher’s and Jahunda Primary Schools in Gwanda town have been coming to work only three days per week.

As a result, parents are not sure whether to allow their children to go to school every day as there hasn’t been official communication from authorities.

But speaking in an interview with State media on Saturday, director of communications and advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Taungana Ndoro said teachers should report for duty every weekday.

Said Ndoro:

We have instituted attendance registers on this one (absenteeism of teachers) meaning we have attendance registers in place and obviously one who does not report for duty will in future be asked to show cause as to why they did not report for duty.

Teachers must attend school daily as there is no Government directive to the contrary.

While some grades attend classes on certain days to ensure social distancing in schools, examination writing classes are required to attend school daily.

This is being done so that they catch up on lost time due to the closure of schools for the better part of the first term.

By A Correspondent- An MDC-T activist on Friday lodged a complaint with the Zimbabwe AntiCorruption Commission (Zacc) accusing the party’s leader Douglas Mwonzora of stealing over $6 million from the opposition party’s coffers.

Patson Murimoga, a former Mwonzora ally, accuses the MDC-T leader of conniving with the party’s finance director Toddy Mapingire to loot the money, which they allegedly used to buy foreign currency on the parallel market.

In December last year, Murimoga made an initial police report t under RRB /2236/12/2020 on the eve of the discredited Supreme Court-ordered party extraordinary congress, which propelled Mwonzora to the helm of the party.

However, police are still to charge Mwonzora over the matter.

In his Zacc complaint seen by this publication, Murimoga said police appeared reluctant to act on the matter despite him writing to the Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, where he raised concern over lack of action by the law enforcement agency.

“The case was reported on December 26, 2020, CASERB# 2236/12/2020,” Murimoga wrote.”Several members of the MDC-T standing committee have deposed affidavits with the ZRP attesting to the theft and laundering of funds.

“The ZRP has conducted its own investigations and evidence exists in support of both theft and illegal exchange of foreign currency on the black market.

“The persons, who participated in the illegal exchange of foreign currency are known to the police.

“There are recorded statements from some members of the MDC-T standing committee attesting to the theft and money laundering.

“That the laundering was in total contravention of the country’s Foreign Exchange Act and the prevailing official exchange rate, which was US$1:83RTGS as established by the auction market.”

He said the MDC-T standing committee violated the government policy on the use of foreign currency in local transaction.

“That the funds from the Political Parties Finance Act are public funds that should not and can’t be laundered on the black market in total contravention of the country’s monetary and fiscal policies,” he said.

Murimoga wants Zacc to investigate why police have not arrested Mwonzora for the theft of funds despite overwhelming evidence.

“Arrest and depose all MDC-T standing committee members for their complicity in money laundering stemming from inability to report the theft and laundering of party funds,” he added.

“Take up the issue as a matter of urgency in light of police inaction and the soon-to-be-disbursed $29 million as gazetted by the government”.

In his letter to Nyathi dated February 3 this year, the MDC-T activist said there was enough evidence for the police to arrest Mwonzora.

“I strongly believe it is in the best interest of justice that Douglas Mwonzora, Todd Mapingire and others be arrested just like any other citizens will if they are accused of a similar crime,” Murimoga wrote.

“Justice is blind and should be dispensed without fear or favour.’

Mwonzora’s stranglehold on the opposition party has come under constant test after his protagonists including his deputy, Thokozani Khupe put pressure on him over the missing funds.

Last month, Khupe made a statement to the police on the alleged raiding of the from party’s coffers ahead of its disputed extraordinary congress.-standard

By A Correspondent- Opposition party Zapu says it will this week write to Parliament seeking to recall its former members, who are now part of the ruling Zanu-PF.

Iphuthile Maphosa, the Zapu spokesperson, said the decision was taken at a special meeting of the party’s National People’s Council held in Bulawayo yesterday.

Former Zapu members in the current Parliament include education minister Cain Mathema and his Small and medium enterprises counterpart Sithembiso Nyoni.

“Our letter of recalls will be delivered to Parliament as soon as it re-opens after the holidays,” Maphosa said.

“We are doing so because we have moved out of the Unity accord, which is a pact that had brought together Zanu-PF and PF Zapu together following the genocide on Zapu supporters perpetrated by Zanu-PF in order to institute a one-party state.”

Zapu broke away from Zanu-PF in 2008 after the parties merged in 1987 to end the Gukurahundi killings in the midlands and Matabeleland provinces.

Although the “recalls” may largely be symbolic, they will bring another dimension to the debate over the recalling of MDC alliance legislators and councillors by the rival MDC-T.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has been accused of aiding the MDC-T’s push to decimate the MDC alliance by controversially facilitating the recalls.-standard

By A Correspondent- A Harare man, who seriously injured a seven-year-old girl in a hit-and-run accident has been arrested after a recording of the incident went viral on social media.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Herbert Chakanyuka was arrested after the accident was captured on a closed circuit television camera.

The incident occurred at the traffic lights-controlled intersection at Borrowdale road and Harare Drive.

“The Zimbabwe republic Police confirms that the suspect has been arrested and the victim has since been identified as Mitchelle Kapfumo,” Nyathi said.

“The suspect is being charged with negligent driving and failure to stop after an accident, failure to report an accident and failure to render assistance after an accident. The case is now pending before the courts.”-standard

By James Gwati-Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has ordered the Lupane provincial hospital bosses to complete the construction of Lupane hospital with immediate effect

The government said it had injected $47 million for the completion of the 250-bed medical centre.

Chiwenga, who is also Health and Child Care Minister, visited the hospital’s construction site at the weekend and said the project should be completed by next year.

“The purpose of my visit was to accelerate the construction of the Lupane Provincial Hospital. This project as you are aware started way back in the First Republic in 2004. It had stalled to an unacceptable level. When the President visited Matabeleland North Province, this matter was also highlighted. We have been looking at ways of resuscitating all legacy projects which had stalled during the First Republic and we want to finish them.”

By A Correspondent- A Rusape magistrate Rufaro Mangwiro has ordered the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to pay $150 000 compensation to a man who sustained injuries after being mauled by a police dog last year.

Unity Saunyama’s initial request was for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to award him $248 755 as compensation for the costs he incurred and the pain he went through during and after the attack.

According to state media, the dog was released by Constable Zwelibanzi Masuko in Rusape’s central business district and it went on to bite Saunyama’s leg as he was passing by.

In her ruling, magistrate Mangwiro said the respondents did not dispute that Saunyama faced harm, which entitled him to some compensation.

However, the respondents were of the view that the $248 755 claim made by Sunyama was too high and they proposed compensation of $10 000.
Magistrate Mangwiro said:

“A claim for compensation is not only awarded for physical pain. It is also awarded for shock, discomfort, mental suffering, loss of life’s amenities and disability. Saunyama’s claim is therefore justifiable.

Taking note of the evidence brought before the court, Magistrate Mangwiro said it was clear that various factors had to be taken into account for a proper assessment of damages to be made.
The magistrate also said the context of the injury suffered has not been clearly noted, however, what is noted is that undue harm was suffered by Saunyama as a result of the negligence.

“Therefore an equitable amount of the damages granted will be $150 000. Each party will pay its own costs and interest at the prescribed rate of 10 percent per annum from December 31, 2020 to the date of payment,” she ruled.

-Manica Post

By A Correspondent-Police in Bulawayo are hunting for four men who gang-raped a woman at the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes Acre and robbed a man from Cowdray Park suburb.

The gang — pirating in a silver Honda CRV vehicle — attacked the residents on Monday night.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube told the state media that a manhunt had been launched for the suspects.

“Police in Bulawayo are investigating a case of robbery and rape which occurred on April 5 around 8 PM. The two complainants boarded a Silver Honda CRV registration number unknown at corner 6th avenue and Lobengula Street, Bulawayo intending to go to Cowdray Park.
-Chronicle

By James Gwati-Zanu PF leadership in Masvingo’s Zaka district are writing down names of their party supporters whom they are giving access to food aid.

This came out during a recent Conflict Analysis and Resilient Analysis meetings organised by communities working Heal Zimbabwe.

The participants said no suspected opposition party supporter was given access to the donated food aid.

“We do not get food aid from the government in this ward as party chairperson and political activists cherry-pick beneficiaries. This has created a lot of tensions in the ward and if this issue is not addressed, distribution meeting will turn violent”, said one participant.

Participants also reported that party chairpersons also give directives to Village heads to compile names of beneficiaries and this has greatly weakened the Traditional leadership institution.

Other issues raised during the meeting include the interference of Legislators in the smooth running of Provincial Councils. 

Participants noted that this was an attempt to retain central government control over the key role played by Rural District Councils in the implementation of devolution that is explicitly provided for in Section 264 of the constitution.

By James Gwati-Zanu PF activists have hijacked the distribution of food aid in Zaka and are only favoring their supporters.

The affected communities have,however, said this was causing conflicts in the district.

Speaking during Conflict Analysis and Resilient Analysis meetings organised by communities working Heal Zimbabwe, recently participants said known Zanu PF activists and their local leadership had on several occasions hijacked food aid distribution meetings.

More recently, a Zaka Ward 19 Councillor, Peter Imbayarwo and Agriculture Extension Officers had a food aid and agricultural input distribution exercise hijacked by the ward chairperson who was working in cahoots with other party activists.

“We do not get food aid from government in this ward as party chairperson and political activists cherry pick beneficiaries .This has created a lot of tensions in the ward and if this issue is not addressed, distribution meeting will turn violent”, said one participant.

Participants also reported that party chairpersons also give directives to Village heads to compile names of beneficiaries and this has greatly weakened the Traditional leadership institution.

Other issues raised during the meeting include the interference of Legislators in the smooth running of Provincial Councils. 

Participants noted that this was an attempt to retain central government control over the key role played by Rural District Councils in the implementation of devolution that is explicitly provided for in Section 264 of the constitution.

A gang of armed robbers yesterday stormed wholesale outlet, Bulk Cash and Carry, located on Basch Street and Khami Road in Bulawayo, and viciously assaulted staff and customers before getting away with more than US$2 000 in cash, a wallet and till with an unspecified amount of money.

The incident, which occurred yesterday at around 12:30pm, is the latest in a spate of high-profile armed robberies targeting businesses around the city. Last month, six armed robbers raided a Bureau de Change in Bulawayo and made off with an undisclosed amount of money in foreign currency. When Sunday News got to the scene yesterday, the wholesale outlet’s owners were still counselling and consoling staff members who were attacked by the gun-wielding robbers.

Narrating the incident, the outlet’s visibly shaken supervisor, Mr Solomon Mtandabari, said they were taken by surprise when the robbers made a surprise assault on the shop just after midday.

“I just heard some commotion and someone yelled and said Solo what is happening outside and that’s when I replied and said I didn’t know what was going on. From then on one of the robbers, I think they were four or five, cocked his gun and shouted that everyone should lie down. One of them then came to me and asked where the money was. I told them that there was no money here today. He asked me what the side room near the tills is for and I told him that it’s where ladies change and he asked to go into that room,” said Mr Mtandabari.

Once inside the changing room, the robber, he said demanded cash but when he found out there was none, he put a gun to the shaken supervisor’s head and told him to walk back inside the shop.

“He had the gun on me and then he asked the till operator where the money was. Meanwhile, they were still assaulting our boss Mr Shahazad. He asked the till operator where the money was and she said there was a communication breakdown with our boss because his English is not good and that’s when they also slapped her.

They took the box with the cash and started hitting it with a hammer trying to open it,” he said.

Mr Mtandabari said they were not sure how much money was in the till that the gang later fled with.

The robbers also took a phone and a wallet from the shop-owner before assaulting a customer and taking away over US$2 000 in cash. On their way out, the marauding robbers also used their hammer to smash a door on the administration block. Bulawayo police spokesman Inspector Abednico Ncube said he could not comment on the incident as he was yet to be briefed.

-State Media

In an incident that has shocked villagers, a teen mother from Nyevedzanai Village in Chivi District, Masvingo Province allegedly threw her two-year-old baby into the crocodile-infested Tugwi River following a dispute with her brother over her alleged promiscuous behaviour.

The baby, which was thrown into one of the biggest rivers in the province which also feeds into the giant Tugwi-Mukosi Dam, has not been found since the incident happened on 1 April. Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and said the teen mother has been arrested while officials are still searching for the baby.

“On 1 April the 17-year-old female juvenile was coming from fetching water at a nearby stream when her 16-year-old brother saw her from a distance talking to a local boy, which did not go down well with the brother. When they went back home, they had an argument and the juvenile mother got angry and told him that she was going to commit suicide,” he said.

Insp Dhewa said later that day the teen mother took her two-year-old daughter to the river which is two kilometres away from their homestead and allegedly threw her into the water. She later came back and told her brother that she had thrown the baby into the river. Insp Dhewa said the brother told their grandmother who reported the matter to police leading to the teen being arrested. Villagers told Sunday News that the teen mother’s brother was not happy with the way his sister had been behaving for some time.

“Remember the girl had a kid when she was 15, so when the brother saw her flirting with another boy, we understand he got angry and told her to stop being promiscuous and bear more ‘fatherless’ kids,” said a villager from the area.

She added that the teen mother was also angry and she threatened to commit suicide.

“I think when she made the threats they never thought she was serious until she came back and told them that she had thrown the kid into the river.”

Meanwhile, in another incident a 44-year-old man from Chivi last month allegedly assaulted his 43-year-old wife with a whip made from a tyre leading to her death after he had accused her daughter of exhibiting promiscuous behaviour. Insp Dhewa said on 31 March at around 11pm, Elias Tokoda (44) from Romo Village, headman Makonese, assaulted Josephine Gutsa (43) after she tried to restrain him from beating his step-daughter, a 17-year-old, for having an affair with a married man.

“Tokoda arrived from Takavarasha Business Centre and went to the bedroom where he found Gutsa together with her 17-year-old daughter and asked her why she was in a relationship with a married man. He started beating up the juvenile with a rubber whip and proceeded to beat up the mother. After realising that Gutsa was unconscious, he poured water on her in a bid to revive her. At midnight he discovered that she was dead,” he said.

Insp Dhewa said Tokoda handed himself to the police at 4pm the following day and his wife’s body was taken to Chivi District Hospital mortuary.

-State Media

100 more coronavirus cases have been detected at Sacred Heart Girls High School, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said on Saturday. It said:

100 more new cases from some boarding school in Mat South (Sacred High): the outbreak is localised at the school.

This comes after the headmistress at the Roman Catholic Church-run girls school, Sister Ludo Ncube last informed parents and guardians that five coronavirus cases had been recorded at the school. She said in a statement:

“On behalf of the school family, I would like to confirm five cases of COVID-19 all being pupils at our school.

“Tests for COVID-19 were administered at Esigodini Hospital after realizing that nine of our students had flu symptoms.

“We sent nine of them to the hospital, five of them tested positive and four negative. The tests were conducted this morning 7 April.

“All necessary precautions have been taken in line with COVID-19 protocols.”

On Friday it was reported that that 51 new coronavirus cases had been detected at Sacred Heart primary and secondary schools.

45 of the pupils that tested positive are boarders while four are day-scholars and the other two cases are staff members.
The latest development brings to close to 200 COVID-19 cases reported at the two schools.

Schools opened for the first term of the year late last month after a COVID-19 precautionary delay of three months following warnings of a potential third wave.

Since the re-opening, one other school, Prince Edward High School in Harare, reported that at least seven of its students had tested positive for the coronavirus.

-Pindula

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has called for the immediate arrest of the rogue police officer who sexually assaulted Vongai Tome in central Harare on Tuesday.

Tome is a member of the MDC Alliance Assembly Of Women national executive.

She was sexually assaulted by the overzealous cop while showing solidarity with Makomborero Haruvizishe.

Read full statement below:

MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA CONDEMNS THE CAPTURED POLICE FOR PUBLICLY MOLESTING ITS ORGANIC LEADER VONGAI TOME.

09 APRIL 2021

The Zanupf-Sponsored police must stop their incessant sexual harassment and arbitrary arrests of our vulnerable women membership and leadership in the national democratic revolution. Vongai Tome, our leader was molested infront of the camera by an overzealous police officer during the trial of Cde Mako at Rotten Row Court on the 6th of April 2021. Her crime was just offering solidarity to a fellow social democrat who was incarcerated for for expressing his zeal for equality and justice before the law.

What becomes more frustrating is that our vibrant leader was arrested yet she was sexually assaulted by the police officer. Instead of bringing the culprit to account, they decided to illegally arrested her for raising her complaint now together with Ngoni Mupfumba , a member of the national youth assembly who had also come in solidarity with Cde Makomborero Haruzivishe.

We demand the immediate release of our organic social democrats who are ready to confront Zanupf Satanists. The rogue Zanupf regime must halt their perpetuation of war against its the desperate young women and men in the motherland.

Ngoni’s crime was to attend court in solidarity with Mako. Mdc Alliance Namibia is Cognisant of the fact that Vongai and Ngoni are not criminals but prisoners of conscience who are fighting for better livelihoods.

In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia still demands the immediate release of Makomborero Haruzivishe, our symbol of a serious fighting against Zanupf shenanigans and their surrogates. We continue to demand an abrupt end to Joana , Cecilia and Netsai’s continued incarceration. Justice anywhere is justice everywhere and injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. Lets converge as citizens to win Zimbabwe for complete change.

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has called for the immediate arrest of the rogue police officer who sexually assaulted Vongai Tome in central Harare on Tuesday.

Tome is a member of the MDC Alliance Assembly Of Women national executive.

She was sexually assaulted by the overzealous cop while showing solidarity with Makomborero Haruvizishe.

Read full statement below:

MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA CONDEMNS THE CAPTURED POLICE FOR PUBLICLY MOLESTING ITS ORGANIC LEADER VONGAI TOME.

09 APRIL 2021

The Zanupf-Sponsored police must stop their incessant sexual harassment and arbitrary arrests of our vulnerable women membership and leadership in the national democratic revolution. Vongai Tome, our leader was molested infront of the camera by an overzealous police officer during the trial of Cde Mako at Rotten Row Court on the 6th of April 2021. Her crime was just offering solidarity to a fellow social democrat who was incarcerated for for expressing his zeal for equality and justice before the law.

What becomes more frustrating is that our vibrant leader was arrested yet she was sexually assaulted by the police officer. Instead of bringing the culprit to account, they decided to illegally arrested her for raising her complaint now together with Ngoni Mupfumba , a member of the national youth assembly who had also come in solidarity with Cde Makomborero Haruzivishe.

We demand the immediate release of our organic social democrats who are ready to confront Zanupf Satanists. The rogue Zanupf regime must halt their perpetuation of war against its the desperate young women and men in the motherland.

Ngoni’s crime was to attend court in solidarity with Mako. Mdc Alliance Namibia is Cognisant of the fact that Vongai and Ngoni are not criminals but prisoners of conscience who are fighting for better livelihoods.

In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia still demands the immediate release of Makomborero Haruzivishe, our symbol of a serious fighting against Zanupf shenanigans and their surrogates. We continue to demand an abrupt end to Joana , Cecilia and Netsai’s continued incarceration. Justice anywhere is justice everywhere and injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. Lets converge as citizens to win Zimbabwe for complete change.

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala on Friday visited jailed party officials Hon Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

The two are being persecuted for challenging Emmerson Mnangagwa’s malice.

“Today (Friday), Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala visited Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

Despite the traumatic experience the two brave and fearless female leaders spoke words of strength and resilience to the general populace,” Friends Of Job Sikhala Trust posted on Facebook.

“We are in severe trauma pliz stand with us. Pliz tell mom & pple of Zim that we are prepared to die for Zim.”

By A Correspondent- A police officer, Constable Washington Mukanganyama (38), has been jailed for nine years for raping a form four pupil.

Mukanganyama, of ZRP Residential Camp in Banket, appeared before Chinhoyi provincial magistrate Ignatius Mugova charged with one count of rape.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was found guilty after a full trial.

Mugova sentenced Mukanganyama to 12 years’ imprisonment but suspended three years were suspended on the condition he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

According to prosecutor Nyasha Sibesha, Mukanganyama raped the juvenile once on December 30 2020 at around 10 PM.

The complainant had been left in the custody of the police by her mother for a theft case that was reported against the juvenile by her mother.

Mukanganyama committed the offence in the radio room after he took a wooden board and placed it on top of a pile of clothes.

It is the State case that Mukanganyama removed the juvenile’s clothes after he had closed the doors and wore a condom and raped the girl once.

After changing of shifts the complainant then narrated her ordeal to one Constable Kavhumo who then informed his superiors.

The juvenile was referred to Banket district hospital for examination.

More: H-Metro

By A Correspondent- President Nelson Chamisa has urged Zimbabweans to remain strong and unwavering despite incessant persecution.

Said Chamisa:

“THE POWER OF FOCUS-People that inspire and encourage in the leadership journey are a rarity. To many of you who encourage and energize when the oppressor is attacking us,THANK YOU! All oppression is temporary.Keep organizing,never agonize.Repression is a signal 4 Action & change.”

He also paid tribute to Amai Chiweshe:

I note with sadness the death of a mighty woman of God, Amai T Chiweshe who passed on this(Thursday) morning.

Amai Chiweshe was pastoring in Chitungwiza.She was wife to the powerful late Evangelist PD Chiweshe.May we all be consoled in Lord during this sad moment.Rev 14:13 RIP Mupositori!

By A Correspondent- A man from Nyanga, Manicaland Province, who had been presumed dead by his family reappeared almost a week later.

Lovemore Chatindo was last seen on Christmas Day last year and everyone was convinced that he had been murdered for ritual purposes.

A search party failed to find Chatindo and his friend and traditional healer, Manyanga Sanyanga, claimed that he had seen Chatindo in his dreams.

Sanyanga said Chatindo had pleaded to be rescued as he was in pain, with four litres of blood having been drawn from his body.

The traditional healer claimed that Chatindo had died at the hands of a local businessman, Cossy Samanyika, who had reportedly used his blood for ritual purposes.

However, Chatindo resurfaced after New Year looking pale and hardly recalling what transpired on the day of his disappearance.

He was taken to hospital after he was picked up by Good Samaritans in Mutoko, about 300km from his home.

Doctors diagnosed that Chatindo had lost a lot of blood and that he needed an urgent blood transfusion.

Chatindo said he does not remember what happened during the six days he was missing. He said:

I do not remember those six days. I only remember falling asleep at Samanyika’s tuck-shop.

When I woke up, a donkey was neighing at me in Mutoko. I was in a gulley and I do not know what happened for me to get there.

Samanyika has denied involvement in Chatindo’s disappearance and he has since approached Chief Saunyama’s court for redress.

Meanwhile, the traditional healer made a U-turn to exonerate Samanyika, saying he never dreamt of Chatindo’s death.

Chief Saunyama ordered the parties to consult a traditional healer to unravel the mystery.-ManicaPost

By A Correspondent- Former Zanu-PF youth leader, Godfrey Tsenengamu, has exhorted the country’s political leaders to ditch politics of hate and unite for their own good and that of the nation.

“We need to change the way we do our politics. We may differ, but there is a need to find a common ground and move forward.

“I do not condone lawlessness, but politics of hate is not good. Let us open a new chapter so that we can end toxic politics.

“Let us unite as Zimbabweans and solve our differences peacefully. Political problems can be solved politically without violence,” Tsenengamu said.

Reacting to several arrests of opposition figures, Tsenengamu also called on Zanu-PF supporters to condemn arbitrary arrests of activists — the same way they condemned the persecution of Mnangagwa’s supporters during the reign of the late former president Robert Mugabe.

“During Mugabe’s time many people who are in the current Zanu-PF were not happy with the move to arrest Mnangagwa and (vice president Constantino) Chiwenga, and now they are happy with the current arrests.

“This is not good for the country. We must learn to sit down and solve our issues without attracting the attention of outsiders.

“It’s high time we end the politics of bitterness. Let’s find ways to solve our issues together as Zimbabweans,” Tsenengamu also said.

This comes as political tension is rising again in the country, amid fresh fears of violence as a reeling MDC Alliance feels the pressure on new fronts, including the threat of the coalition losing its name.

On Tuesday, police had to be called in to disperse agitated alliance supporters in Harare, after Haruzivishe was sentenced to an effective 14 months in prison for inciting public violence.

The sentencing witnessed rowdy scenes involving MDC Alliance supporters who had thronged Harare Magistrates’ Court in solidarity with the youthful activist — leading to clashes that left one freelance photojournalist, Sam Takawira, injured after he was caught up in the melee as he was filming proceedings.-DailyNews

Makomborero was imprisoned for calling out the Zanu PF-led government for the looting, corruption, murder and arbitrary arrests of opposition members.

He has been thrown behind bars for 14 months for telling the truth known by every Zimbabwean.

Mako represents millions of youths in Zimbabwe who feel their democratic rights have been snatched away by the use of teargas, bullets, partisan judiciary and inhumane prisons. The youth hold the key to the freedom of the whole country and the tone set by Mako unsettled a regime out of touch with the masses.

Freedom is always a long walk, Makomborero is one of those who have set the first step.

Lynette Karenyi-Kore
Vice President
MDC Alliance
8 April 2021

By A Correspondent A National University of Science and Technology (Nust) student, Nobhekimpilo Mbovora fondly known as Vivica has set the Internet ablaze as she posted her nude pictures on her Facebook wall.

In the pictures, she is seen bending on her bed in a sexually suggestive pose.

The Facebook post set tongues wagging and one social media user who goes by the name Phemia Tembo suggested that the second-year Computer Science student should just be an X-rated actress.

Vivica says her main objective of posting such nudes on social media is to change the perception and belief of society that a nude woman is of loose morals.

-B-Metro