MNANGAGWA MUST IMMEDIATELY RELEASE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS
The MDC Alliance is extremely concerned by the Mnangagwa regime’s penchant to commit crimes against citizens and violate human rights with impunity. We condemn the regime’s intensified clampdown on dissent and its abuse of the courts to punish innocent people. Given his bad record of human rights abuses. Mnangagwa has no capacity or willingness to preside over a competent system that can effectively deliver justice and protect rights hence the increase in:
Administrative and judicial practices where activists are subjected to lengthy, unjust and undue pre-trial detention which is a departure from international standards on arrest, investigation and trial procedures:
Unfair trial, conviction and imprisonment of activists and political leaders for their non-violent exercise of internationally recognised human rights;
The vague formulation of certain legal provisions which enables them to be applied selectively so as to penalise activists for the non-violent exercise of their human rights; and
A departure from the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (The Mandela Rules).
Our concern relates to widespread abuses. However, we highlight certain matters that have particularly brought this injustice to the fore and through which the regime has further entrenched these practices. These matters are those concerning Makomborero Haruzivishe, Cecelia Chimbiri and Joana Mamombe who are currently illegally imprisoned since March 2021 as well as Tinashe Bwanaisa, Rakeshi Marufu, Collin Faison, Tafara Mafunde, Farai Chidziva and Trust Nyamado who are serving five-year jail terms for participating in a protest in January 2019.
While we continue to challenge the court’s partial understanding of the facts, we are aware that the detention of Makomborero Haruzivishe and others is solely on the basis of their political beliefs as well as their non-violent exercise of freedom of thought and conscience and other rights and freedoms guaranteed by the ICCPR thereby making it criminal and undue.
We make an urgent call on
International Human Rights Organisations to recognise the status of political prisoner Makomborero Haruzivishe, Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe, Tinashe Bwanaisa, Rakeshi Marufu, Collin Parson, Tufuru Mufunde, Farai Chidziva and Trust Nyamado.
The Zimbabwean Government for the Immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience and the nullification of their charges which are clearly punitive measures against their peaceful exercise of their human rights.
The United Nations to launch a rather urgent, thorough, impartial and effective investigation into the abduction and torture of Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamomhe and Netsai Marova. An outstanding criminal act of injustice which has also become the source of the repeated arbitrary imprisonment and harassment of the three.
Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano while Manchester City beat Dortmund 2-1 at the Etihad.
Madrid got their goals from Vinícius Júnior 27′, 65′ and Marco Asensio 36′ while Liverpool got theirs from Mohammed Salah.
Real Madrid have progressed from 15 of their last 16 UEFA Champions League knockout matches after winning the opening leg, only failing to do so against Ajax in 2018-19 Last 16.
Only teams from Spain (14) have progressed from more UEFA Champions League knockout ties after losing the first leg than sides from England (12), with Liverpool the most recent English club to do so, against Barcelona in the 2018-19 semi-finals. In all European competition, no side has beaten Liverpool more often than Real Madrid (4, level with Benfica), with the Reds suffering defeat in each of the last four encounters with Los Blancos. Manchester City got goals from Kevin De Bruyne 19′ and Phil Foden 90′ while Dortmund got theirs from Marco Reus 84.
Since their first season in the UEFA Champions League in 2011-12, no side has scored more 90th-minute goals in the competition than Manchester City (17 – level with Real Madrid).
Meanwhile, Bayern clashes with PSG tomorrow while Porto will host Chelsea at 2100 hours tomorrow.- Source: Pindula News
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Secretary General, Hon Charlton Hwende has said the party will not change its name.
Hwende, quoted by NewsDay on Sunday said allowing MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora was equal to giving victory to the ruling ZANU PF on a silver platter.
“Why allow them to rig? We are fighting to reclaim everything, including the 2018 victory.
Our position is clear that we are the MDC that was founded in 1999 and participated in the last elections as MDC Alliance. That is our name, that is our history and it holds our values as a party.
If we surrender the name, the thief will come again and steal more from us and, therefore, we will have to continue fighting. It is our name, why should we abandon it?
Mwonzora is just an accessory to the theft and we are not even worried about him. We want to deal with the real thief,” said Hon Hwende.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Secretary General, Hon Charlton Hwende has said the party will not change its name.
Hwende, quoted by NewsDay on Sunday said allowing MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora was equal to giving victory to the ruling ZANU PF on a silver platter.
“Why allow them to rig? We are fighting to reclaim everything, including the 2018 victory.
Our position is clear that we are the MDC that was founded in 1999 and participated in the last elections as MDC Alliance. That is our name, that is our history and it holds our values as a party.
If we surrender the name, the thief will come again and steal more from us and, therefore, we will have to continue fighting. It is our name, why should we abandon it?
Mwonzora is just an accessory to the theft and we are not even worried about him. We want to deal with the real thief,” said Hon Hwende.
Tinashe Sambiri|Police have arrested a lady who was sexually assaulted by an overzealous cop in central Harare on Tuesday.
Hundreds of human rights activists and opposition members gathered outside Harare Magistrates Court to protest at the conviction amd and sentencing of Makomborero Haruvizishe.
The Truth About Hydration :Myths and Facts Find out how much water you really need to drink each day, whether you can overdose on H2O, and more.
Leslie Barrie By Leslie Barrie Medically Reviewed by Justin Laube, MD April 2, 2021 Medically Reviewed
Water-packed foods like watermelon can help you hit your hydration goals.
Hydration is one of those things you know you should be on top of, but you may not fully understand why.
“Hydration is important because our bodies really function [best with] adequate water balance,” says Shilpi Agarwal, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician in Washington, DC, and the author of The 10-Day Total Body Transformation. “Most organ functions require water in the right proportion to work — meaning your muscles, heart, and kidneys all need water and also need the body to be adequately hydrated in order to work properly.”
And what about dehydration, to some a scary word that may be associated with health issues big and small? “Mild dehydration can lead to dizziness, fatigue, flushed skin, headache, impaired physical performance, and confusion,” explains Malina Malkani, RDN, who lives in Rye, New York, and is the creator of Solve Picky Eating, a program for parents of finicky eaters. If unaddressed, more extreme dehydration can even cause problems like labored breathing, increased body temperature, poor blood circulation, and seizures, Malkani adds. And according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, dehydration can contribute to urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
To clear up confusion around hydration and dehydration, here are 10 things you must know to keep your health in tip-top shape.
Myth: If You’re Thirsty, You’re Already Dehydrated There is some truth to this widely repeated statement. “This can be a really helpful reminder to people, because many of us aren’t very in tune with our thirst, so once we realize we’re thirsty, our body really is calling out for water,” says Ginger Hultin, RDN, the Seattle-based owner of Champagne Nutrition and the author of Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep.
But it’s not a one-size-fits-all indicator. “Each person needs to assess if this is actually true for them, because there are a lot of reasons a person can be thirsty. It’s not 100 percent always because of dehydration,” says Hultin.
For example, something as simple as spicy food may make you thirstier than normal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A sharp increase in thirst may also be a sign of a health problem like diabetes. It could be a side effect of a medication you’re taking; certain drugs cause dry mouth without causing dehydration per se. Regardless, it’s worth talking to your doctor if you’re much thirstier than normal to determine the underlying reason.
Fact: Dark Yellow Urine May Signal That You’re Dehydrated If you’re concerned you’re not drinking enough water, try this quick trick: Check your urine color. “Urine color can be a pretty good indication of hydration status,” says Hultin.
An eight-level urine color chart lays out urine color from clear to dark yellow or brown — as posted by the U.S. Army Public Health Command. Though everyone is different, explains Hultin, the lightest four colors indicate that you’re hydrated, and the darkest four may mean that you’re dehydrated. If your pee falls in the brown range, you should seek medical attention, as Hultin advises this could mean severe dehydration.
Source: Everyday Health
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora is a man who has written his own political epitaph, political observers have said.
The US has said Mwonzora’s party is a beneficiary of court rulings that disenfranchised voters.
In a report on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, the US dismissed Mwonzora’s “surrogate” political party.
See part of the report below:
The High Court, in a series of decisions beginning in March, paved the way for a minor political party, the MDC-T, to challenge the leadership of the main opposition party, the MDC Alliance, ignoring earlier jurisprudence that ruled that political parties, as private and voluntary associations, should resolve their differences using internal remedies.
This decision disenfranchised voters by allowing the minor political party to recall and replace elected MDC Alliance parliamentarians and local councillors.
In June police and military arrested some and blocked other senior MDC Alliance officials from entering the party’s headquarters when MDC-T party members broke into the building…
According to respected political analyst, Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya, the US report has exposed Zanu PF’s secret plan to use Mwonzora to decimate the MDC Alliance.
See Dr Ruhanya’s argument below:
The chickens of competitive electoral authoritarianism are coming home to hound MDC-T big time to the point where its top officials could face international recriminations for subverting the will of voters in Zimbabwe
MDC Alliance @nelsonchamisa branch meetings across Zimbabwe. The masses s vow they will never associate with @DMwonzora ’s Zanu PF linked MDC-T. They accuse Dougie of working with Zanu PF to steal their votes, MPs, Councillors
The world has refused to be duped by authoritarian consolidation in Zimbabwe masquerading as new dispensation especially one that takes away people’s votes and give them to a loser in MDC-T under @DMwonzora hiding under rule of law when its capture of state institutions
The exposures of regime capture and complicit done to MDC-T @DMwonzora both at home and abroad this year have completely destroyed this out to the point of being a proper renegade tool in the hands of the oppressor in Zimbabwe politics never seen since Muzorewa…
A Bulawayo Shebeen queen has been arrested for allegedly scalding with hot water a customer who had come to collect his change.
Brilliant Hlomai (34) of Ntabazinduna flats in Mzilikazi suburb appeared before Tredgold magistrate Ms Learnear Khumalo facing charges of assaulting Mr Kgomotso Nkosi (27), from the same area.
“On Saturday around 7.20PM and at Ntabazinduna Flats, Hlomai had a misunderstanding with Nkosi who is her customer over US$2. The accused told the complainant that his change had been collected by his friend. This did not go down well with Mr Nkosi and resulted in a misunderstanding. The accused went inside her house and came out with a jug full of boiling water which she poured on the complainant’s upper left arm,” he said.
By James Gwati-A Warren Park man during the just ended Easter holidays struck his father with a hoe over a toilet dispute with tenants.
The state media reports that one Kean Maridze is alleged to have further tried to gouge his father’s eye with a knife after an argument over who should take the next toilet visit.
Queried by an angry mob on why he assaulted his father, Kean said;
“He was just holding a hoe and I really don’t know what I was doing.
His father who identified himself as Mr Maridze narrated the ordeal to H-Metro.
“He struck me with a hoe during this holiday and almost gouged my eye with a knife. “I can’t see clearly with my other eye.He was having issues with tenants and I told him off. “I said to him that his food and everything was coming from those tenants he was confronting.
“This is my house and I even got him a job where I used to work until he was fired after stealing 15 pairs of shoes”.
By James Gwati- Several married women in Harare are reportedly flocking some three dreadlocked men who are charging US$30 for an hour-long session.
The dreadlocked men are marketing their operations on social media mainly women WhatsApp groups inviting married women to visit or call for sexual satisfaction.
According to the state media, three dreadlocked men led by one only identified as Munya are behind the sex haven.
Braeside community, especially married men are reported to have warned their wives overstepping foot at the haven located along Malta Road. A visit by H-Metro yesterday saw two young ladies leaving the haven and they directed the crew to Munya.
“Do you want services or something else? If you are for the services see Munya first,” said one of the ladies. Munya and crew have been topical in the community with indications that the sex parlour is catering for the young and old.
Satisfied clients are paying as much as US$30 per session with the men whilst the girls are charging more inclusive of a massage. One social media post about the sex parlour reads; ‘Braeside men beware of rasta vemuna Malta mukatadza kugutsa vakadzi vakaziva zva rasta vemuna Malta machekera.
“Rasta ivavo vanorova round re one hour, parikugara pakapakwa maPrado hanzi vanobhadharisa $30US per round.” One social media post about the sex parlour reads; ‘Braeside men beware of rasta vemuna Malta mukatadza kugutsa vakadzi vakaziva zva rasta vemuna Malta machekera.
“Rasta ivavo vanorova round re one hour, parikugara pakapakwa maPrado hanzi vanobhadharisa $30US per round.”
By James Gwati-Zimbabwe men in 2020 used 85 million condoms, the National AIDS Council has said.
According to Mr Amon Mpofu, the NAC’s evaluation and monitoring director who was last week launching their 2021 Global AIDS Monitoring Report, they had projected a target for male condoms at 100 million and over 5 million for female condoms in 2020.
“Both targets for male (100m) and female (5.5m) condoms were missed attributed to service disruption due to Covid-19,” he said.
By A Corespondent-Love her or hate her, Zodwa Wabantu is all about collecting the bags and living her life. No matter what many might think of Zodwa, her influence is undeniable which is why brands want to work with the exotic dancer.
Zodwa’s fame was built on dancing provocatively and wearing skimpy clothing, and at first many were thrown off by her. Now, years later she is the brand that everyone wants to associate themselves with.
If you go through her Instagram page, you will see a few posts of Zodwa showing off her booty and doing some very questionable things. But, you will also see a great deal of business posts and posters advertising various businesses.
You would be surprised to know that Zodwa charges R10 000 for each of those posts! Amazing right?
The influencer has worked with a number of brands including the medical institution called Herwood Medical Centre which mainly deals with reconstruction surgeries. That is also where Zodwa keeps her beautiful body maintained.
Zodwa revealed her charging fee in an Instagram post where she advertised Afro Touch salon and said, “My Hair done by @afrotouch2020 thank you…Paid Post 10k.”
A few days ago, Zodwa shocked everybody when she revealed her level of pettiness when it comes to having guests around. The good sis says she does not have any chairs or furniture to sit on because she simply does not want visitors.
Zodwa says she has no interest in having people come over and she is happy with the way her home is set up. This was during her diary shoot for her reality show Zodwa Uncensored.
By A Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s name has appeared on a secret deal that could prejudice City of Harare of prime land valued at over US$200 Million after he reportedly accepted to a transfer of stand number 654 Pomona measuring 274 hectares to a controversial Ukrainian businessman Kenneth Raydon Sharpe as payment for the construction of only 4 kilometers Airport road.
Title deeds of the land in question are in the name of the President of Zimbabwe.
This leaves question marks as to how Mnangagwa got involved in an agreement entered between City of Harare and a private contractor, Augur Investments.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa reportedly met Sharpe and agreed to have 273 hectares of Harare’s prime land valued at over USD$200 Million transfered to controversial land baron Kenneth Raydon Sharpe
Responding to a High Court application filed by Harare North legislator and former Harare councilor Allan Norman Markham against the land transfer, Sharpe’s top aide, Tatiana Aleshina implicated Mnangagwa saying he agreed on an out of court settlement which culminated in the Ukrainian ‘fugitive’ getting 274 hectares as payment for the work done on Airport road.
“During the Supreme Court proceedings and in the spirit of trying to reach a settlement, I accompanied the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government to a meeting with the Head of State during which it was agreed that the parties should try and settle their differences as an out of court settlement,” reads part of Aleshina’s response to the High Court application.
“The permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government thereafter called a meeting of the City of Harare officials that is the Town Clerk Abraham Chisango and the Mayor Councilor Herbert Gomba. There were also other Ministry and City Officials. It was agreed that parties would try to negotiate a mutually Deed of Settlement,” added Aleshina.
According to an independent valuator, Mike Juru of Intergrated Properties, Stand Number 654 Pomona Township is valued at US$75 per square metre.
274 hectares is 2 740 000 square meters which translates to US$205 Million.
In his application, Markham together with Jacob Pikicha and Tavonga Savings Scheme wants the land deal between City of Harare and controversial ‘land baron’ Sharpe to be reversed on the grounds that it was not only illegal but a “grand theft” of land belonging to the people of Zimbabwe.
“The signatories to that agreement namely Herbert Gomba and Hosiah Chisango (COH), who purported to act on behalf of the City of Harare did not have any authority from the City of Harare. The honourable Minister July Moyo lacked authority from the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Deed of Settlement itself is against the public policy of Zimbabwe, it being founded on illegal and extremely corrupt set of facts.”
Markham and his co-litigants labelled the agreement a complete fraud and a massive land heist against the people of Zimbabwe.
“Further the agreement represented a complete fraud, a massive land heist against the people of Zimbabwe. The Deed of Settlement is also a nullity because the agreement contained provisions that purport to grant criminal immunity to Augur Investments and its associates. To that extent, it is an agreement that offends the laws of Zimbabwe and in any event it’s an agreement contra to public morality,” further reads the application.
The Deed of Settlement entered between Mnangagwa, City of Harare and Sharpe says the parties involved will will not take any legal action against each other with undertaking to facilitate the transfer of 654 Pomona Township to Augur Investments within 14 days.
“Upon signature of this Deed of Settlement, the Minister (July Moyo), City of Harare and Augur undertake to withdraw all and any legal actions and proceedings, both civil criminal, pending against each other before the courts.
“The minister undertakes to instruct the Coghlan, Welsh and Guest to release the title deeds to stand number 654 Pomona Township to Augur. Immediately thereafter, the Minister and/or the President shall sign all and any documents necessary to facilitate and effect the transfer of the said stand to Augur or its nominee, Doorex Properties within 14 days.
“The COH guarantees that it has the requisite authority to sign this Deed of Settlement. The minister (July Moyo) warrants that he has the requisite authority from the Government of Zimbabwe and the President to sign this Deed of Settlement as well as all the necessary documents involved in the transfer of Stand 654 Pomona Township to Augur.
“Further to the above the above, the ministry and COH, in the spirit of Zimbabwe being open for business and to support Augur in its continued investments, undertake, subject to statutory compliance, to expedite the issuance of all and any necessary licences and permits to Augur and its related companies for any of its developments which it is carrying out in Harare.”
By James Gwati- In a shocking development in Harare married women are said to be paying US$30 to some named Breaside based deadlocked men for a one-hour long session.
The dreadlocked men are marketing their operations on social media mainly women WhatsApp groups where they are inviting married women to visit or call for sexual satisfaction.
According to the state media, three dreadlocked men led by one only identified as Munya are behind the sex haven.
Braeside community, especially married men are reported to have warned their wives overstepping foot at the haven located along Malta Road. A visit by H-Metro yesterday saw two young ladies leaving the haven and they directed the crew to Munya.
“Do you want services or something else? If you are for the services see Munya first,” said one of the ladies. Munya and crew have been topical in the community with indications that the sex parlour is catering for the young and old.
Satisfied clients are paying as much as US$30 per session with the men whilst the girls are charging more inclusive of a massage. One social media post about the sex parlour reads; ‘Braeside men beware of rasta vemuna Malta mukatadza kugutsa vakadzi vakaziva zva rasta vemuna Malta machekera.
“Rasta ivavo vanorova round re one hour, parikugara pakapakwa maPrado hanzi vanobhadharisa $30US per round.” One social media post about the sex parlour reads; ‘Braeside men beware of rasta vemuna Malta mukatadza kugutsa vakadzi vakaziva zva rasta vemuna Malta machekera.
“Rasta ivavo vanorova round re one hour, parikugara pakapakwa maPrado hanzi vanobhadharisa $30US per round.”
The Smash ‘n Grab attacks on the MDC Alliance has focused on asset grab, theft of elected mandates and a handful of defections.
One thing the attackers should have seized is the war-cry, the party’s anthemic slogan CHINJA MAITIRO – GUQULA IZENZO.
It is such a credible creed, biblical indeed, for our failed State which has an arrogant record of doing wrong things at worst, or right things wrongly, at best.
We have a government that has spent 41 years battling with the “how part” – even when they try to do a few good things.
They are stealing the wrong ingredients for recovery.
Own Correspondent| A Zimbabwean slay queen based in Cape Town, Shantelle, was reportedly stabbed with a knife after she was caught on CCTV putting “love charm” in her blesser’s beer…
Shantelle is currently in hospital- after being reportedly stabbed by her blesser’s personal aide.
Some Zimbabwean ladies say Shantelle is a lazy girl because she doesn’t want to work.
Shantelle went to SA last year to look for greener pastures.
She was living large through selling her body but her dream turned to sour after she was caught on CCTV camer trying to charm her blesser in his office.
Sources say she is given charms for slay queens by her godfather Isaac Makomichi, the Masvingo controvesial preacher.
“Lazy ladies they rely on selling their bodies but real womem work hard to earn money,” said one Zimbabwean lady.
Makomborero Haruzivishe, our Youth Assembly National Executive Committee member and human rights activist was today sentenced to an effective 14 months in prison by a magistrate court is now being remote controlled from ZANU PF headquarters.
So outrageous was the outcome from Rotten Row Magistrate Courts that even village courts which are held under trees would have done better in carriage of justice.
The conviction of Mako and sentence does not only induce a sense of shock but confirms the capture of our courts by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s unpopular dictatorship.
Mako was convicted for blowing a whistle and for having resisted arrest by an officer who in court testified that he never attempted to arrest him.
How does a whistle incite violence? What language does that whistle speak which can only be understood by those who arrested and incarcerated Mako?
How on earth does one get convicted for being at a public place where a protest which he had nothing to do with was taking place. They say Mako is not a vendor so he should not have been anywhere near vendors?
How ironic! If this is the basis of arresting citizens then everyone should be in jail as ZANU PF has turned the whole country to an economy of vendors.
At this rate of Kangaroo justice, the regime will fill the prisons to bursting point.
It stinks with deception and capture that the same court that granted freedom to criminals like Obadiah Moyo who stole in excess of US50 million Covid-19 public funds had the audacity to jail Mako for whistle.
This is the same court that was ready to let airport gold smuggler Henrietta Rushwaya walk scot free without opposing bail only to pull an about turn following a public outcry.
We have every reason to question the probity and independence of a court that let free criminals like Priscah Mupfimira who stole millions of public funds.
True to Mnangagwa’s “we are everything” rants, we are now dealing with an extension of ZANU PF at Rotten Row Magistrate Courts.
Let it be known that the arrest and incarceration of Mako will not deter us but fuel our desire for change as young people.
We are Mako too and Mako is us!
A regime that disrespects rights of its citizens must know no peace.
The worst form of incitement of violence is jailing of a young activist for speaking to issues that appeal to masses.
We will not rest until justice for Mako is served!
DefyOrDie
Agenda2021
CitizensConvergenceForChange
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Own Correspondent| A Zimbabwean slay queen based in Cape Town, Shantelle, was reportedly stabbed with a knife after she was caught on CCTV putting “love charm” in her blesser’s beer…
Shantelle is currently in hospital- after being reportedly stabbed by her blesser’s personal aide.
Some Zimbabwean ladies say Shantelle is a lazy girl because she doesn’t want to work.
Shantelle went to SA last year to look for greener pastures.
She was living large through selling her body but her dream turned to sour after she was caught on CCTV camer trying to charm her blesser in his office.
Sources say she is given charms for slay queens by her godfather Isaac Makomichi, the Masvingo controvesial preacher.
“Lazy ladies they rely on selling their bodies but real womem work hard to earn money,” said one Zimbabwean lady.
Real Madrid will host Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal clash tonight.
The encounter is a repeat of the 2018 final which Madrid won.
Competition: UEFA Champions League, Quarterfinal – 1st Leg
Date, Kick-off times & Venue: 6 April, 9 pm CAT at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid. The match will be played at a different venue because the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is undergoing extensive renovations.
TV & Stream Info: SuperSport TV will show the game live. Streaming is available on Showmax and DSTV app.
Team news: Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos will miss the game after he suffered a calf muscle injury during the recent international break.
Dani Carvajal and Eden Hazard are also unavailable but Los Blancos are boosted by return of Federico Valverde after a hamstring injury.
Liverpool will miss the services of captain Jordan Henderson and defensive trio Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk through injuries.
What the coaches said: Zinédine Zidane: “It’s knockout football, a final, that’s going to be played over 180 minutes or more. We know what there is to come, but we’re just focused on tomorrow’s game – nothing else. It’s the most important game of the season because it’s the next one we have. We aren’t thinking about the past [2018’s final].”
Jürgen Klopp: “It’s exciting, exciting. It’s obviously a tough draw but I am fine with it because if you look at all the other teams you think ‘Oh my God’ because they are all strong and all have quality. I am really looking forward to the games. It’s only just over two years ago that we faced them and it was a tough night for us, so to get the chance to play them again is cool.”
Form Guide Real Madrid Form: WWWWDD Latest: Real Madrid 2-0 Eibar, 03/04 Where they stand: 3rd in Liga
Liverpool Form: WWWLLW Latest: Arsenal 0-3 Liverpool, 03/04 Where they stand: 7th in Premier League- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Zinedine Zidane has distanced himself from any talk linking Mohamed Salah with a transfer to Real Madrid.
Rumours suggest Los Blancos may be keen on Salah and the forward further raised eyebrows by recently admitting he would love to play for the Spanish giants later on in his career.
He revealed this during the March international break after he had echoed similar sentiments in December last year.
Despite Salah’s claims, Zidane is not interested in addressing the speculation.
“Since he’s not our player, I’m not going to get into that,” the gaffer told reporters ahead of the Champions League quarterfinal clash against the Reds on Tuesday.
He added: “Salah’s not our player either, all I’m interested in is [the game tonight].”- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe international Admiral Muskwe was on target in Wycombe Wanderers’ 3-0 win over Rotherham in the English Championship on Monday.
The Warriors striker opened the scoring with just two minutes on the clock as Wycombe showed their intentions from the onset; win the game and boost their chances of surviving relegation.
Gareth Ainsworth’s charges are rooted to the bottom of the table and need a miracle to escape the chop.
Muskwe, who is on loan from the Leicester City development side, is a key member of the Warriors squad and only travelling restrictions hindered him from taking part in the recent Botswana and Zambia AFCON qualifiers.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Secretary General, Hon Charlton Hwende has said the party will not change its name.
Hwende, quoted by NewsDay on Sunday said allowing MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora was equal to giving victory to the ruling ZANU PF on a silver platter.
“Why allow them to rig? We are fighting to reclaim everything, including the 2018 victory.
Our position is clear that we are the MDC that was founded in 1999 and participated in the last elections as MDC Alliance. That is our name, that is our history and it holds our values as a party.
If we surrender the name, the thief will come again and steal more from us and, therefore, we will have to continue fighting. It is our name, why should we abandon it?
Mwonzora is just an accessory to the theft and we are not even worried about him. We want to deal with the real thief,” said Hon Hwende.
A very dark cloud hovers on the motherland sending a very sombre atmosphere to every progressive Zimbabwean who is crying for good governance.
By Leonard Koni- Instead of sentencing poverty, corruption, poor governance, nepotism and clansmanship to jail, the regime found it necessary to sentence a political activist who is asking for change.
Zimbabweans across the continent and greater part of the world have responded to this glaring injustice with a captured judiciary. This incident should define our future and generations to come.
Today goes down in history as Zimbabweans that the young people are used as canon fodder by an unrepentant regime and this outrageous system must be rejected. This desperate despot regime which is clutching onto usurped power by the straws has proved to be a clueless entity.
The future of young, vibrant and budding politicians is now hanging by a thread in Zimbabwe following the conviction and sentencing of a political activist Makomborero Haruzivishe
People have refused to be caged by a regime which has the insatiable appetite to pounce on innocent political activists who are fighting to see a changed Zimbabwe.
Harare Magistrate Judith Taruvinga shall be remembered in the books of history for sentencing Makomborero Haruzivishe to serve twenty- four months in prison.
I think during the time she was sentencing him, I believe there was an inner voice silently telling her something on passing yhe sentence. It is likely that today when she retires to bed and lay her head on the pillow this small, still voice will keep on ringing in her mind.
What an embarrassment to our judiciary system which has accepted to be used by a corrupt and inept government.
A brutal system is slowly gaining momentum on revisiting the Ian Smith era type of a government, where the citizen were afraid to interrogate the system and were threatened by arrests and jail.
We have jail candidates who are supposed to be serving their terms the likes of Nguwaya, Prisca Mupfumira, Henrieta Rushwaya and Obadiah Moyo but we are sentencing innocent people into incarceration.
The regime has no shame, it stole the future of the young and they want to continue stealing it. When harsh sentences are passed from our judiciary system it will send chilling feelings to the whole nation.
The late Joshua Nkomo aptly said the future belongs to the young people. Mnangagwa’s regime must stop persecuting , frustrating and inducing fear into these young people.
ZIFA has announced reduced prices for the Warriors’ new Umbro replica jerseys which were unveiled last month.
The national team premiered the new home and away kits during the AFCON qualifiers played in March.
Both jerseys have a unique design on the front with the green away shirt bearing interlocking yellow, white and black stripes while the yellow home kit has discontinued diagonal bands resembling the national flag.
The Warriors’ away shirt has interlocking yellow, white and black stripes.
The replicas, including the white alternative jersey, are going for US$20 and are only available at ZIFA House in Harare.
The price of the latest release is cheaper when compared with the previous editions of the Warriors’ Umbro kits which are available for $27 online on www.umbro.co.za.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance Secretary General, Hon Charlton Hwende has said the party will not change its name.
Hwende, quoted by NewsDay on Sunday said allowing MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora was equal to giving victory to the ruling ZANU PF on a silver platter.
“Why allow them to rig? We are fighting to reclaim everything, including the 2018 victory.
Our position is clear that we are the MDC that was founded in 1999 and participated in the last elections as MDC Alliance. That is our name, that is our history and it holds our values as a party.
If we surrender the name, the thief will come again and steal more from us and, therefore, we will have to continue fighting. It is our name, why should we abandon it?
Mwonzora is just an accessory to the theft and we are not even worried about him. We want to deal with the real thief,” said Hon Hwende.
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has challenged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to release jailed political political activists with immediate effect.
The MDC Alliance has also condemned the conviction and sentencing of human rights activist Makomborero Haruvizishe.
Makomborero was sentenced to an effective 14 months in prison by Harare Magistrate Judith Taruvinga.
“In a devastating turn of events, Mako has been sentenced to an effective 14 months in prison. This is a clear example of political persecution. #FreeMako,” MDC Alliance tweeted.
See also MDC Alliance Secretary for Welfare Maureen Kademaunga’s statement:
Tinashe Sambiri|Police have arrested a female MDC Alliance member who was sexually assaulted by an overzealous cop in central Harare on Tuesday.
Hundreds of human rights activists and opposition members gathered outside Harare Magistrates Court to protest at the conviction amd and sentencing of Makomborero Haruvizishe.
The Truth About Hydration :Myths and Facts Find out how much water you really need to drink each day, whether you can overdose on H2O, and more.
Leslie Barrie By Leslie Barrie Medically Reviewed by Justin Laube, MD April 2, 2021 Medically Reviewed
Water-packed foods like watermelon can help you hit your hydration goals.
Hydration is one of those things you know you should be on top of, but you may not fully understand why.
“Hydration is important because our bodies really function [best with] adequate water balance,” says Shilpi Agarwal, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician in Washington, DC, and the author of The 10-Day Total Body Transformation. “Most organ functions require water in the right proportion to work — meaning your muscles, heart, and kidneys all need water and also need the body to be adequately hydrated in order to work properly.”
And what about dehydration, to some a scary word that may be associated with health issues big and small? “Mild dehydration can lead to dizziness, fatigue, flushed skin, headache, impaired physical performance, and confusion,” explains Malina Malkani, RDN, who lives in Rye, New York, and is the creator of Solve Picky Eating, a program for parents of finicky eaters. If unaddressed, more extreme dehydration can even cause problems like labored breathing, increased body temperature, poor blood circulation, and seizures, Malkani adds. And according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, dehydration can contribute to urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
To clear up confusion around hydration and dehydration, here are 10 things you must know to keep your health in tip-top shape.
Myth: If You’re Thirsty, You’re Already Dehydrated There is some truth to this widely repeated statement. “This can be a really helpful reminder to people, because many of us aren’t very in tune with our thirst, so once we realize we’re thirsty, our body really is calling out for water,” says Ginger Hultin, RDN, the Seattle-based owner of Champagne Nutrition and the author of Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep.
But it’s not a one-size-fits-all indicator. “Each person needs to assess if this is actually true for them, because there are a lot of reasons a person can be thirsty. It’s not 100 percent always because of dehydration,” says Hultin.
For example, something as simple as spicy food may make you thirstier than normal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A sharp increase in thirst may also be a sign of a health problem like diabetes. It could be a side effect of a medication you’re taking; certain drugs cause dry mouth without causing dehydration per se. Regardless, it’s worth talking to your doctor if you’re much thirstier than normal to determine the underlying reason.
Fact: Dark Yellow Urine May Signal That You’re Dehydrated If you’re concerned you’re not drinking enough water, try this quick trick: Check your urine color. “Urine color can be a pretty good indication of hydration status,” says Hultin.
An eight-level urine color chart lays out urine color from clear to dark yellow or brown — as posted by the U.S. Army Public Health Command. Though everyone is different, explains Hultin, the lightest four colors indicate that you’re hydrated, and the darkest four may mean that you’re dehydrated. If your pee falls in the brown range, you should seek medical attention, as Hultin advises this could mean severe dehydration.
Source: Everyday Health
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
The Smash ‘n Grab attacks on the MDC Alliance has focused on asset grab, theft of elected mandates and a handful of defections.
One thing the attackers should have seized is the war-cry, the party’s anthemic slogan CHINJA MAITIRO – GUQULA IZENZO.
It is such a credible creed, biblical indeed, for our failed State which has an arrogant record of doing wrong things at worst, or right things wrongly, at best.
We have a government that has spent 41 years battling with the “how part” – even when they try to do a few good things.
They are stealing the wrong ingredients for recovery.
Own Correspondent| A Zimbabwean slay queen based in Cape Town, Shantelle, was reportedly stabbed with a knife after she was caught on CCTV putting “love charm” in her blesser’s beer…
Shantelle is currently in hospital- after being reportedly stabbed by her blesser’s personal aide.
Some Zimbabwean ladies say Shantelle is a lazy girl because she doesn’t want to work.
Shantelle went to SA last year to look for greener pastures.
She was living large through selling her body but her dream turned to sour after she was caught on CCTV camer trying to charm her blesser in his office.
Sources say she is given charms for slay queens by her godfather Isaac Makomichi, the Masvingo controvesial preacher.
“Lazy ladies they rely on selling their bodies but real womem work hard to earn money,” said one Zimbabwean lady.
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man lost his car on Saturday while it was parked outside his flat in the city’s Central Business District.
Mr Nyashazashe Rugube said his silver Toyota Premio registration number AED3428 was stolen between 4PM and 7PM on Saturday outside LouJoy Flats situated along Robert Mugabe Way between 1st and 2nd Avenue.
Mr Rugube, a Local Government and Public Works employee, is offering US$500 to anyone who provides information leading to the recovery of his car. He said he was still trying to get to terms with how his car was stolen.
“Where I stay there is a 24-hour security service. I parked the car at about 4PM and when I moved out of my house at about 7PM to park it at an overnight car park, the car was gone. I asked the security guard if he had seen who took my car and he professed ignorance,” he said
By A CorrespondentHarare City Council has fired its human capital and development director Cainos Chingombe following a resolution made over three years ago.
Acting mayor Stewart Mtizwa could neither confirm nor deny Chingombe’s dismissal, but sources said a decision was recently made to restore a resolution to dismiss him.
“I cannot comment on that for now,” Mtizwa said.
However, sources said Chingombe’s fate at Town House had since been sealed and officials would formally communicate the development to him.
“It is true that he has been fired. We have decided to send him home. In other words, the council has reinstated its earlier decision that we had agreed on,” the source said.
Chingombe was not immediately available for comment yesterday, but officials at Town House said official communication had been sent to him.
The council boss was reinstated controversially by a full council meeting last year after having been on suspension for three years on allegations of misconduct.
Chingombe was suspended in 2017 together with then acting town clerk Josephine Ncube and Tendai Kwenda (finance director) on allegations of financial abuse following a report by a tribunal set up to investigate council’s compliance with employment costs regulations.
According to minutes of the human resources and general purposes committee last year, council approved the reinstatement of Chingombe, but some councillors were against the move.
“Councillor Tichaona Mhetu noted that some pertinent issues concerning the case of the human capital director had not been considered when the decision to reinstate him was made. The councillor cited the subsequent Supreme Court judgment which had ruled that the suspension of the human capital director from council service was above board. He had then proposed that council considers rescinding its decision to reinstate the incumbent into council service,” the minutes read in part.
By A Correspondent- A man from Masvingo was on Thursday allegedly beaten to death by his neighbour after harbouring his wife whom he had assaulted her for not cooking food for him.
Asst Insp Ndhlovu confirmed the murder of a 53-year-old Gift Muchenga of plot 579 Clipsham, Masvingo. He died after allegedly being assaulted by Wellington Masikati (24) of 595 Clipsham plot after he had a misunderstanding with his wife Cecilia Mutodi (35).
“On March 25 at around 9pm at plot 595 Clipsham, Masikati had a misunderstanding with Mutodi because she had not prepared him food and assaulted her. Mutodi found refugee at Muchenga’s homestead. Masikati followed her to Muchenga’s house in the company of Takudzwa Chitumba (20) and Lovemore Mashiri (22) of Runashe Village, Chief Marozva, Bikita.
Masikati asked Muchenga why he was harbouring his wife and started assaulting him and struck him with an axe handle several times. He took him outside and struck him once on the head with a brick.”
Asst Insp Ndhlovu said Masikati struck Muchenga’s wife Perina Sireni Tshabangu once on the left foot and once on the head with a brick. The matter was reported to the police and Muchenga was found dead and his body was ferried to Masvingo General Hospital for post mortem.-statemedia
Recently, I was extremely agitated watching the viral video of the elderly lady who was being harassed by a bunch of bus touts in Beitbridge town (who have since been arrested and sentenced to six months in prison) – as the sight of such a vulnerable and weak person (due to her age) being pulled and pushed by those rabid rogues, severely troubled my heart.
As the infuriation and disquiet within me began to subside, typical to my nature, my mind embarked on a journey of imagination and intrigue – whereby, I could not help wondering why such people, as the elderly woman in the disturbing video, would understandably be considered no longer competent to run something like a school class, due to their advanced age, but would be entrusted to run an entire country.
My mind raced back to 8 January 1999 – when my late father was still a teacher at a school in Redcliff – and, I remember him going to work that morning (as it was term one opening day), and leaving me home, to be shocked seeing him return only an hour or so later.
When I asked him why he was already back, he explained that, as rotten luck would have it, since he had turned 65 years old that very day, his school head had summoned him to his (head’s) office, and informed him that, by virtue of his new age, he had effectively retired, and as such, could no longer continue teaching.
That was the end of my beloved father’s illustrious teaching career – a profession that he had lived for, and immensely cherished and loved.
As I was still wandering in “Dreamland”, my thoughts then asked, “If my dad was regarded too old, and possibly no longer capable, of running a class of about 35 students – why then, would someone who is, say, 78 years old, be given a thumbs up to run the affairs of an entire nation?”
Is there not something extremely skewed and lopsided with such a scenario?
Are we then to say that, it is fundamentally more demanding (intellectually, physically, emotionally, and even socially) to teach a class of, for instance, Grade Sevens, than it is to preside over the affairs of a country?
If that is to be the case, then no wonder we are in such a deep mess as the nation of Zimbabwe.
What is it that a whole president does on a day-to-day basis, which a 78-year-old can manage pretty well, but would be unable to achieve had he been a primary school teacher?
If a 65-year-old is regarded incapable of sitting through a school staff meeting, and contributing meaningfully to the discussions – then, what are we to expect from a 78-year-old sitting through a Cabinet meeting?
Maybe, there is nothing much to being a president, after all.
Let us not forget that, Zimbabwe once had a 93-year-old president – who would sleep through everything, including important global heads of state meetings – yet, our local pseudo-currency was at par with the USD (United States Dollar), a loaf of bread was 90 cents, kombis (commuter omnibuses) were 50 cents, and the lowest paid teacher earned USD520 per month.
My question then is, “If being a president is such a dud, what type of person would dismally fail in that capacity, to the extent that a loaf bread gets to be ZW$100 from 90 cents, kombis move from 50 cents to ZW$50, and an average teacher’s salary plummets from USD520 to about USD150 per month?”
If a sleeping 93-year-old president could do a better job, then what is going on here?
Anyway, I can never get my mind around what a president does every day, and why it is possible for him or her to accomplish it at an advanced age, yet he or she would be quite incapable of running a grade seven class – meaning that, had my father still been alive today (two decades after being told that he was now too old to teach), he would still have been eligible to run for president.
Tinashe Sambiri|Police have arrested a female MDC Alliance member who was sexually assaulted by an overzealous cop in central Harare on Tuesday.
Hundreds of human rights activists and opposition members gathered outside Harare Magistrates Court to protest at the conviction amd and sentencing of Makomborero Haruvizishe.
This is heartwrenching! It's devastating to say the least! @MakomboreroH only deserved to be heard, just like many Zimbabweans crying out for help under everincreasing repression using CAPTURED state institutions. Mako is simply crying & fighting for a just & equitable #Zimbabwehttps://t.co/kO5Bk3HU04
Stupid Mnangangwa stinks to the core! Since when did incarceration stopped the winds of change? You only delaying the inevitable!!! pic.twitter.com/yrfthjCHPn
Harare Magistrate Judith Taruvinga sentences @MakomboreroH to serve 24 months in prison on count 1 of which 10 months suspended. On second count Mako will serve 12 months of which 6 months are suspended.
In a devastating turn of events, Mako has been sentenced to an effective 14 months in prison. This is a clear example of political persecution. #FreeMakopic.twitter.com/Ct2NWbFq06
— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) April 6, 2021
Real criminals are walking free on the streets in Zimbabwe but the courts choose to persecute an innocent young person who is demanding his freedom and his rights as enshrined in the constitution of Zim. Mako is not a criminal. #FreeMako#FreeAllPoliticalPrisonershttps://t.co/oakE21m1Gw
Sincerest apologies from me, for error in @BritishVogue My name ‘Thandiwe’ is Zulu, my Mother’s tribe is Shona. That’s what happens when you’re separated from your identity for so long, that you forget who you are #ZimbabweanLivesMatter??
By A Correspondent- A former independent councillor from Insiza district in Matabeleland South province has been accused of forcing villagers to join the ruling Zanu-PF party or face eviction.
Sikhanyisiwe Nkomo of ward 23, Shangani, who recently defected to Zanu-PF, now wants villagers in her ward to follow her.
Opposition Zapu Matabeleland South provincial secretary for administration Ernest Ndlovu told NewsDay yesterday that villagers were given until last week to join Zanu-PF.
“Nkomo made an announcement that she had defected to Zanu-PF and threatened villagers with eviction or loss of their properties that include plots, residential and commercial stands,” Ndlovu said.
“She told them that the properties belonged to the ruling party,” he added.
Ndlovu said villagers were living in fear of losing their properties, adding that they voted for her thinking that she was a “new creature” after defecting from Zanu-PF, but they were surprised that she had gone back to her roots.
“As villagers, we will write to Insiza Rural District Council and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) notifying them about the issue and ask them to declare the ward vacant,” Ndlovu said.
Although Nkomo confirmed that she had found refuge in Zanu-PF, she denied allegations that she was coercing her supporters to join the ruling party.
“Why should I do that? After all, I am an elder in my church. I stood as an independent councillor after I was frustrated by the ruling party and people voted for me, but I immediately went back to Zanu-PF soon after the elections in 2018 since I was always Zanu-PF fulltime. This follows a letter that I wrote to Zec,” Nkomo said.
She said she contested the July 2018 elections as an independent after realising that the MDC Alliance stood better chances of winning against Zanu-PF.
By A Correspondent- Freelance journalist Samuel Takawira was Tuesday morning assaulted by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police while filming the indiscriminate assault of people at Harare Magistrates Court soon after the sentencing of MDC Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe.
Samuel Takawira
The incident happened just outside the Harare Magistrates Court.
Makomborero Haruzivishe was jailed an effective 14 months.
Civil servants’ representatives have challenged the government to show commitment to the roadmap to restoring their pre-October 2018 salaries.
Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) secretary-general David Dzatsunga also chided government representatives for the “megaphone” negotiating tactics.
Dzatsunga said most civil servants were getting at least US$520 a month before October 2018 and they preferred that figure and not the 25 per cent of their current earnings offered by the government. He said:
They have not shown any commitment to the roadmap to restore our value to pre-October 2018.
They have not shown any commitment to that roadmap or to that resolution of the NJNC.
We can’t sit and agree amicably and sign then people just decide not to look at that and start a new conversation ignoring that.
You don’t negotiate like that. You don’t publish an offer then come to us with the same offer and refuse to move from there.
It means you are putting us in a position to come here and rubber stamp your decision.
The National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) met last week but civil servants were not happy with the salary offer that was tabled by the government.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima on Monday said the government initially offered its employees a 25% salary hike which was later revised to 70% after the initial offer was rejected.
The saddest thing about Zimbabwe is that it eats it’s young. The unjust conviction of & soon to come sentencing of @MakomboreroH is the tip of the iceberg in the gross abuse by prosecution of our nation’s future. We must stand with him because it’s not just about him #FreeMakopic.twitter.com/gqqPc5uyOr
More than 38 000 children in the country are facing acute starvation as guardians fail to access food due to the COVID19-induced economic hardships.
This was revealed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in its latest 2021 Humanitarian Action for Children report for Zimbabwe.
Unicef Zimbabwe also reported that due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, amid a deteriorating economy, almost eight million people, including children, were in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
“In Zimbabwe, an estimated 7,9 million people, including 4,1 million children, will be in urgent need of life-saving health services and humanitarian assistance in 2021 due to multiple hazards, including the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the economic crisis.
“More than 38 000 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) need treatment. Unicef and partners are working in collaboration with the government to respond to the complex multi-hazard situation in Zimbabwe,” the report read in part.
The humanitarian organisation noted that there was an increase in the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance, hence it would require more funds to curb starvation and enhance access to adequate healthcare during the pandemic.
Statistics revealed by Unicef early last month showed that over 39 000 children under the age of five were screened for acute malnutrition at health facilities at community level, while at least 2 000 children aged between six and 59 months were admitted and treated for severe acute malnutrition in January and February 2021.
“Acute malnutrition has increased from 3,6% in 2019 to 4,5% in 2020. In 2021, Unicef will scale up its support to government-led national and district co-ordination structures to enable the provision of multi-sectoral life-saving services and efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak,” the report further read.
“Unicef requires US$74,7 million to meet humanitarian needs in Zimbabwe in 2021, including US$18,9 million for emergency social cash transfers and US$16 million for the health response.”
The humanitarian agency said although the country received normal to above normal rainfall in the 2020-21 farming season, the COVID-19 pandemic had reduced food sources for more than half of the population, with nearly 25% of the citizens failing to access basic commodities.
Government predicted that the 2020-21 maize harvest would triple to 2,8 million tonnes from 908 thousand tonnes of the previous farming season, hence the number of people facing starvation in the country was likely to decrease.
Rural dwellers are most affected by food shortages, according to the Unicef report.
Transport minister Felix Mhona has told Senate that government is working with the Higher and Tertiary Education ministry to come up with locally-made vehicle registration plates in order to cut down on the import bill.
Currently, there is a backlog in the production of vehicle plates as the materials used for their manufacture are imported from Germany.
“Firstly, number plates are not accessible to many people because they are paid for in foreign currency, which becomes a difficulty for many Zimbabweans,” the Transport minister said.
“I want to inform this august Senate that there are plans to ensure that number plates are accessible in the country. Security measures should be put in place so that some people will not get the number plates using corrupt ways. Therefore, we are trying to ensure that the number plates that are manufactured have security features.
“Our university students are also working with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education to see if they can make the number plates which can raise our flag so that we stop importing and they will be accessible in this country. I believe that we are going to announce the stage we have reached with tertiary institutions on the issue of making number plates,” he said.
Chiefs Council president Fortune Charumbira then suggested that if birth certificates and identity cards were locally produced with all the requisite security features, the same should apply to vehicle registration plates.
Last year, Central Vehicle Registry registrar George Makoni told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport that due to lack of foreign currency in the country, there was a huge backlog of plus or minus 57 000 vehicles that needed new plates.
Makoni said more than US$1 million was needed to manufacture a set of new plates at a cost of US$80 each to clear the backlog.
Vehicle plates have five security features, making them very difficult for thieves to produce counterfeit copies.
Government has threatened to revoke salaries for civil servants who are not reporting for work in protest over poor salaries as the impasse between the State and its employees continues to escalate.
Public Service minister Paul Mavima said government would not hesitate to implement a “no-work-no-salary” principle, but at the moment it was still committed to negotiations with civil servants for an amicable solution.
Government last week dangled a 70% pay rise offer, which was rejected by civil servants who argued that government was negotiating in bad faith.
Civil servants want to be paid between US$520 and US$550, which they received in 2018 before the government reintroduced the local currency.
The National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting last week was described by civil servants as a “damp squib” for failing to resolve the contentious salaries issue.
“We can’t have that (no work) prior to a declaration of a disagreement and even if there was a declaration of a disagreement, there will be an arbitration process and that arbitration process will be given an opportunity to go forward prior to the engagement in industrial action. So there is no basis whatsoever that while we are negotiating, civil servants will not go to work,” Mavima said.
“This is where the government is saying if that happens then we will implement the no-work-no- pay principle because we still have an opportunity to continue with the discussions until we reach an agreement.
“Like I said, any variation in the government offer which comes from the negotiations will be then effective at an appropriate time and if backdated, with the necessary backdating,” he said.
Mavima said at the moment, there was one last opportunity to meet with the restive civil servants and the engagements were being taken seriously by the government.
“We go back to consultations within the government to see if there is any variation which can be done on the offer and then we convene another NJNC meeting based on that,” he said.
Mavima denied that the government was negotiating in bad faith adding: “How does the government negotiate in bad faith when it has offered a certain percentage payable now and then in June? What is bad faith there?
A Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) employee (23) was gang-raped by four men at her home in Emthunzini suburb on the outskirts of Bulawayo in the presence of her male cousin (22).
The unknown rapists attacked the woman, whose name has been withheld, on Monday last week at about 2.30AM while she was going to work .
The suspects are said to have approached her while she was just about five houses away from hers and demanded to know where she was going at night.
She is said to have innocently told them that she was going to her bus stop where she would be picked up by a Zupco staff bus.
The suspects are said to have produced a knife and threatened to kill her if she made any noise before robbing her of R200.
It is said the quartet force-marched her back to her home where they took turns to sexually violate her.
A Chronicle news crew caught up with the victim’s sister at their Emthunzini residence who wept as she narrated her sister’s ordeal at the hands of the rapist robbers.
“I was at work when this happened. So at about 3.08AM she called me narrating that she had been raped. She told me that four men approached her just as she was passing the fifth house from home on her way to work. She said at first she assumed the men were part of the neighbourhood watch committee as they asked where she was going at night.
JUST IN- Heavy police presence in the city of Masvingo this morning. Armed anti-riot police officers at the Civic Centre, Masvingo High Court and Chicken Inn( opp High Court). #freemakomboreropic.twitter.com/mI2WWr6LBc
Picture- Anti riot police deployed at Harare magistrates court as pro democracy campaigner @MakomboreroH will be sentenced following his conviction last week for inciting violence and resisting arrest. pic.twitter.com/RAYpO3to7a
River Valley chief executive officer Smelly Dube, who is facing charges of fraud and alternatively conspiracy to criminal abuse of duty by a public officer, breathed a sigh of relief after the High Court granted her $100 000 bail coupled with stiff conditions.
Dube had appealed to the High Court against the decision of the remand court denying her bail on the grounds that she was a flight risk.
Last week, Justice Tawanda Chitapi allowed Dube’s appeal finding no compelling reasons to deny her bail in view of the circumstances of the case.
The court granted Dube bail pending trial on condition that she deposits $100 000 with the Clerk of Court at Gweru Magistrates Court.
Dube was also ordered to reside at her house in Gweru until the matter is finalised. She is also required not set foot at her business premises for seven days unless the investigating officer has granted her clearance to do so.
Further, the court ordered Dube not to interfere with witnesses and investigations and has to report once a week at the nearest police station. It was the court’s view that the remand magistrate exercised their discretion to deny Dube bail on the grounds of abscondment based on a reasoning which could not reasonably be supported and even failed to consider strict imposition of tough conditions on the accused to secure her attendance to court.
Justice Chitapi said it was not intended by law that a person on bail should lead the life of a convicted person by being denied his or her livelihood.
“This is why the imposition of restrictive conditions is provided,” he said. The judge also noted that the magistrate made positive findings of fact which clearly showed the absence of likelihood that Dube was likely to evade trial if granted bail but went on to refuse bail.
Regarding the State’s fears of interference with witnesses and evidence, Justice Chitapi found that the reasons given for such a finding were speculative.
“The magistrate did not also relate to the impact of imposing conditions to allay fears of interference,” he said, adding, “In my view, bail ought not to have been denied in this case.”
Through her lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri, Dube appealed for bail at the High Court after Gokwe regional magistrate Mr Taurai Manuweri denied her bail on the basis that she was a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses. She was detained at a private hospital where she was admitted for an illness since her arrest on March 3 by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit.
Charges against Dube arose when she allegedly connived with Matilda Manhambo, a former housing officer in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Jaison Machaya the former Governor and Resident Midlands Minister and Shepherd Marweyi, the former District Administrator, to be allocated 2 169 stands where beneficiaries were prejudiced of more than US$9,4 million.
By A Correspondent- A 40 year old Mutoko man committed suicide at his in-laws’ homestead on April 2 following a domestic dispute.
Mike Diki of Hoyuyu village was found hanging from a tree by his mother-in-law Alice Mhike two days after he had an altercation with his wife Afrasia Bhadha.
Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the incident.
“The deceased was spotted some metres from his in-laws’ homestead. We urge the public to respect the sanctity of life and at least engage others in solving marital disputes to avoid loss of life,” he said.
According to police, on March 31, Diki had a misunderstanding with Bhadha whom he accused of having an extramarital affair.
The deceased reportedly threatened to axe his wife who then fled to her parents’ home in Marava village.
On April 2, Diki made a followup and later hung himself about 200 metres away from his in-laws’ homestead.
By A Correspondent- Princess Nomqhele Ncube, a 23 year old Zimbabwean female pilot who hails from eMhlabeni in Tsholotsho under Chief Tategulu, recently graduated with an Integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence (IATPL) Program from 43 Air School in South Africa.
Princess is reportedly the first female pilot from the Matebeleland region.
A Shebeen queen from Bulawayo was arrested for allegedly scalding with hot water a customer who had come to collect his change.
Brilliant Hlomai (34) of Ntabazinduna flats in Mzilikazi suburb appeared before Tredgold magistrate Ms Learnear Khumalo facing charges of assaulting Mr Kgomotso Nkosi (27), from the same area.
Hlomai was not asked to plead but was remanded in custody to 12 April as the court awaits a medical report on the extent of Mr Nkosi’s injuries.
Appearing for the State, Mr Terrence Chakabuda told the court that Nkosi and Hlomai had a misunderstanding over US$2.
“On Saturday around 7.20PM and at Ntabazinduna Flats, Hlomai had a misunderstanding with Nkosi who is her customer over US$2. The accused told the complainant that his change had been collected by his friend. This did not go down well with Mr Nkosi and resulted in a misunderstanding. The accused went inside her house and came out with a jug full of boiling water which she poured on the complainant’s upper left arm,” he said.
By A Correspondent- The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDSC) meets on Thursday this week in Maputo, Mozambique to find ways to tackle an Islamist insurgency that threatens to spiral out of control in that country.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, OPDSC chair, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are expected to attend the key meeting.
As the outgoing chair, Zimbabwe is part of the Troika together with the incoming chair, South Africa.
Islamic extremists have been carrying out terrorist attacks in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province since 2017 resulting in the deaths and displacement of thousands of people.
Last week the Islamic State terrorists overran a town called Palma, in Cabo Delgado province and killed several people while thousands fled into the bush.
French energy giant Total has shut down operations at its liquefied natural gas plant after withdrawing all staff from the region.
Total intends to invest US$20 billion in the project located on the Afungi peninsula near Palma.
By A Correspondent- Former police officer and three co-workers employed at Eric Mine in Matabeleland South province have been charged with theft of unspecified quantities of gold ore and concentrate from their employer.
The mine is owned by Insiza South MP Spare Sithole (Zanu-PF).
The quartet was betrayed by its flashy lifestyles which did not match its earnings.
Valentine Mahachi (36) of Gutu in Masvingo province, Tedious Bhurusa (23) of Chirumanzu and Marxwell Ncube (54), a former police officer of Bekezela township in Filabusi, initially appeared before resident magistrate Abednico Ndebele on March 28 following their arrest on March 26.
They were back in court last week, where they applied for bail pending trial and Ndebele remanded them to April 29 on $10 000 bail each.
They were ordered to report to police every last Friday of the month.
Their alleged accomplice Shelton Dines was also arrested and brought to court separately.
He was granted $10 000 bail on similar conditions. He will appear together with others for trial.
Prosecutor Shepherd Moyo told the court that the alleged theft took place between January and March 28 this year.
The court was told that on several occasions during the period in question, the four, with their other accomplices, who are still at large, would steal gold ore or concentrate, sell it and share the proceeds.
It is alleged that the theft came to light after one of the employees at the mine blew the whistle to management after noticing a change in the lifestyle of his colleagues, which was not commensurate with their earnings.
A report was made to the police, leading to their arrest.
On their arrest, Mahachi, who is a tractor driver at the mine, was found in possession of US$2 000, big radio speakers, an amplifier and a new vehicle worth US$3 900.
Bhurusa was found in possession of US$260 and $40, while nothing was recovered from Ncube and Dines.
By A Correspondent- Several local human rights activists and civic society groups have threatened to storm the Harare Magistrates Courts today in protest against pro-democracy campaigner Makomborero Haruzivishe’s conviction.
Haruzivishe (29), an executive member of the MDC Alliance, will be sentenced today after he was convicted on charges of inciting public violence and resisting police arrest by Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga on Wednesday last week.
But rights activists yesterday said Haruzivishe would be the first person to be convicted for public violence.
Rights defenders also took to different social media platforms where they argued that the pro-democracy campaigner was a victim of weaponisation of the law by the President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led government which is aimed at silencing critics and thwarting dissent.
“Tomorrow (today) the regime has to free @MakomboreroH or face something it has never faced or imagined facing before. The choice is the regime’s,” political activist Promise Mkwananzi tweeted.
The Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYF), a co-ordinating platform for young people in the Southern African Development Committee region, urged the government to abide by the Constitution and respect the views of the youth, in a message posted on its Twitter handle.
“We are very concerned and worried over the conviction of a 29-year-old youth leader @MakomboreroH. We are reliably informed he was just expressing himself as provided in the Zimbabwe Constitution. We call for the government to work together and listen to young people’s views,” SAYF said.
It is the State’s case that Haruzivishe, on February 5, 2020 at the corner of First Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue in Harare, whistled to incite vendors to revolt against police brutality.
Haruzivishe, who was represented by Kossam Ncube of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, however, denied the allegations.
Lawyer Munyaradzi Gwisai yesterday described Haruzivishe’s conviction as “the beginning of a worrying trend of persecution of anti-government critics which gives rise to authoritarianism”.
“The possible sentence is a fine of up to level 12 or 10 years imprisonment is serious and severe. However, what is surprising is that there was no damage to property or to the police, but the court, however, decided to convict him under those circumstances,” Gwisai said.
“Under section 59 of the Constitution, citizens have the right to demonstrate peacefully and in this case, there is no evidence that the gathering which Haruziviishe participated in was not going to be peaceful. The criminal law should be consistent with constitutional provision on freedom of gathering and association,” he said.
Activist Namatai Kwekweza said failure to protest against Haruziviishe’s possible incarceration would mean that other activists would suffer the same fate in future, hence the need to speak against persecution of activists and harassment of protestors.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he would not comment on the issue as he was travelling.
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi referred questions to Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe who was not reachable on his mobile phone.-newsday
A Redcliff woman allegedly strangled her six-year-old stepson to death and locked his eight-year-old sister in a bedroom that she tried to set on fire so that she could inherit her husband’s house.
Alice Chikono (24) of T.C 1 in Torwood Redcliff reportedly killed Dean Dube with her bare hands on Easter Friday and hid his body in the house.
She allegedly locked his sister in the bedroom after switching on a stove and covering it with a blanket, apparently hoping the blanket would catch fire and set the room on fire.
Chikono allegedly fled to Harare after making a false report to the police claiming the boy was missing.
There was a power cut soon after she left the house thereby putting her plans off rail.
Chikono had allegedly been planning to kill the children for more than one year.
She was arrested in Harare on Saturday where she had fled to and she was arraigned before Kwekwe magistrate Mrs Florence Nago facing a murder charge.
Mrs Nago did not ask her to plead and remanded her in custody to 17 April.
According to court papers, Chikono strangled the boy to death “so that she would inherit the house belonging to his father, Mr Tonywell Dube since he was the only son.”
The visibly shaken Mr Dube gave a horrendous account of how his son was murdered.
Dube (49) said he was away in Chakari when the cold blooded killing occurred.
“I was away at work when I was called that the boy was missing so I was constantly checking whether he had been found. I was only called by relatives and advised to rush home but they did not tell me what had happened,” said Mr Dube fighting back tears.
“When I arrived, that is when I was told about the incident. It broke my heart and I am still in pain,” he said.
After Chikono’s arrest in the capital, Mr Dube managed to talk to her on what led her to commit the crime.
“She told me that the plan had been in the pipeline for over a year. Her aunt (name withheld) who is based in Gokwe, was the one who was nagging her to kill Dean since he was the only son and if I die, it was going to be hard for her to inherit my house,” said Mr Dube.
He said Chikono narrated how she committed the gruesome killing.
“She told me that she throttled the boy with her hands until he died while outside the house. She dragged the body inside the house before locking the elder sister who is about eight years old in the other room before attempting to burn down the house,” said Dube.
A neighbour, on condition of anonymity, said a power cut saved the life of the girl, whose name was not given.
“The girl is very lucky to be alive because Chikono switched on the stove and put a blanket on the stove so that it catches fire which was supposed to then spread to the rest of the room. She then fled to Harare. But soon after she did that, there was a power outage. That is what saved the girl,” said the neighbour.
He said after Chikono made a false police report that the boy was missing, the community organised a search party as they were unaware that he was already dead.
“We became suspicious when we found the doors locked as we came to check on progress. That is when we forcibly broke the door and entered inside only to find a lifeless body and the girl crying in the bedroom which was also locked. That is how we found out that she had killed the boy,” said the neighbour.
The toddler’s body has since been ferried to Bulawayo where it awaits post-mortem.
By Benjamin Anyagre-The KNII calls on all African States to offer free education to students from the first, second and tertiary institutions and demand justice on the murder of NTUMBA.
Indeed, we still remember in clear and sharp agony, the Sharpville massacre, and that should remind the Police of excessively brutal use of force against innocent children and future leaders of South Africa and other parts of Africa, who simply demanded their basic and inalienable rights.
The innocent blood of these children murdered in cold blood by the apartheid Police forces cannot easily be written off, nor forgotten, for the blood of the victims of the Sharpville and Kassinger massacres weren’t shed in vain but spoke to victory against the forces of apartheid armed to the teeth.
Marcus Garvey asserted that the people who will concentrate on science and education will be the people to succeed.
Almost every aspect of man’s existence emanates from education and its related outlets. Quality education helps in various ways to boost the GDP of Nations.
It is in this regard that money ought to be invested into the educational sector to birth creativity, invention and development models suitable for Africa’s societal advancement.
Africa is the only place where free access to education is lacking, suppressed for fear of its positive outcomes against the continuous exploitation of the naturally endowed resources of Africa.
It is an unnegotiable fundamental right to free and quality education for the children of Africa and so the spirit of Africanism should not be killed by denying the children of Africa the necessary education to fight the odds of the future.
The potency of education eradicates illiteracy and gross ignorance, an off-shoot of poverty, hunger and diseases and forestall a more confident society.
The future of Africa must be secured with the appropriate opportunities offered to the future leaders of the continent.
Long live the student struggle for free and quality education in Africa.
By A Correspondent- A Redcliff woman allegedly strangled her six-year-old stepson to death and locked his eight-year-old sister in a bedroom that she tried to set on fire so that she could inherit her husband’s house.
Alice Chikono (24) of T.C 1 in Torwood Redcliff reportedly killed Dean Dube with her bare hands on Easter Friday and hid his body in the house. She allegedly locked his sister in the bedroom after switching on a stove and covering it with a blanket, apparently hoping the blanket would catch fire and set the room on fire. Chikono allegedly fled to Harare after making a false report to the police claiming the boy was missing.
There was a power cut soon after she left the house thereby putting her plans off rail.
Chikono had allegedly been planning to kill the children for more than one year. She was arrested in Harare on Saturday where she had fled to and she was arraigned before Kwekwe magistrate Mrs Florence Nago facing a murder charge. Mrs Nago did not ask her to plead and remanded her in custody to 17 April.
According to court papers, Chikono strangled the boy to death “so that she would inherit the house belonging to his father, Mr Tonywell Dube since he was the only son.”
The visibly shaken Mr Dube gave a horrendous account of how his son was murdered. Dube (49) said he was away in Chakari when the cold blooded killing occurred.
“I was away at work when I was called that the boy was missing so I was constantly checking whether he had been found. I was only called by relatives and advised to rush home but they did not tell me what had happened,” said Mr Dube fighting back tears.
“When I arrived, that is when I was told about the incident. It broke my heart and I am still in pain,” he said. After Chikono’s arrest in the capital, Mr Dube managed to talk to her on what led her to commit the crime.
“She told me that the plan had been in the pipeline for over a year. Her aunt (name withheld) who is based in Gokwe, was the one who was nagging her to kill Dean since he was the only son and if I die, it was going to be hard for her to inherit my house,” said Mr Dube.
He said Chikono narrated how she committed the gruesome killing.
“She told me that she throttled the boy with her hands until he died while outside the house. She dragged the body inside the house before locking the elder sister who is about eight years old in the other room before attempting to burn down the house,” said Dube.
A neighbour, on condition of anonymity, said a power cut saved the life of the girl, whose name was not given.
“The girl is very lucky to be alive because Chikono switched on the stove and put a blanket on the stove so that it catches fire which was supposed to then spread to the rest of the room. She then fled to Harare. But soon after she did that, there was a power outage. That is what saved the girl,” said the neighbour.
He said after Chikono made a false police report that the boy was missing, the community organised a search party as they were unaware that he was already dead.
“We became suspicious when we found the doors locked as we came to check on progress. That is when we forcibly broke the door and entered inside only to find a lifeless body and the girl crying in the bedroom which was also locked. That is how we found out that she had killed the boy,” said the neighbour.
The toddler’s body has since been ferried to Bulawayo where it awaits post-mortem.-statemedia
Today MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Executive Committee member and a hero of our struggle Makomborero Haruzivishe will appear at Rotten Row Magistrate Courts for sentencing following his conviction last Wednesday on trumped charges of ‘inciting violence’.
Cde Mako as Haruzivishe is popularly referred to faces up to 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
As per our norm we call upon all progressive young people to make way to the courts today in solidarity with our fellow comrade.
Silence or fence sitting at this juncture is by de facto supporting the regime in persecuting young people.
The persecution by prosecution of Makomborero Haruzivishe by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s corrupt dictatorship is a clear declaration of war on all young people.
This is no longer a Makomborero Haruzivishe affair as the regime wants to silence all of us from speaking to issues affecting our lives.
The persecution of Cde Mako is a clear test on our resolve to resist suppression by the regime.
Today is Cde Mako but if we do not collectively resist to this persecution by showing solidarity to one of our own, the regime will pick us one by one like chickens ready for slaughter.
Cde Mako represents our aspirations as young people hence we are duty bound to stand in solidarity with him and the first port of call is attending today’s court in full force in our numbers.
Giving insight on our nervous conditions must never be treated as inciting violence.
The greatest form of violence is denying us a voice which is exactly what this regime is bent on.
They want us to see no evil and hear no evil when they loot the national cake.
We can not nod our heads in agreement when they abduct and torture young people.
We can not be in complicit when at every turn this regime is sending young people to jail pre-trial.
These are Cde Mako’s genuine concerns and the very reasons he is being sentenced today.
Indeed they ring sense to all of us hence it is not Mako on trial but all progressive young people.
Failure to act or silence is betrayal!
Resistance and resilience is a must as we pursue the #People’s Agenda 2021.
DefyOrDie
Agenda2021
CitizensConvergenceForChange
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
By A Correspondent- The Community Water Alliance (CWA) has called on local authorities to address the issue of sewer bursts in order to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases.
In a statement yesterday, CWA spokesperson Chris Gohori said the organisation was receiving several complaints from residents across the country about sewer bursts and the failure by local authorities to attend to them.
Gohori said, in some instances, the sewer bursts went for over two weeks without being attended to, thus exposing residents to diseases.
“After visits to some of the affected households in Harare’s Mabvuku suburb in ward 19, we noted that there were cases of diarrhoea recorded due to the sewer bursts,” CWA said in a statement.
“Some residents said they cannot use toilets and have resorted to open defecation.”
The CWA said many residents were relying on public water points like boreholes and unprotected wells as alternative water sources.
By A Correspondent-Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial youth league executive member and Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu has hijacked Highlanders Football Club.
Ndlovu recently bought a Highlanders membership card and said that he was charmed by newly elected club committee member Mgcini Mafu, who visited Plumtree on Saturday to thank members for voting him into office.
According to the state media, Ndlovu was one of seven supporters that were recruited by Mafu and his campaign manager Noah Mpofu in the border town that has a vibrant supporters club chaired by the late former chairman James Mangwana Tshuma’s son Jabulani.
“We are privileged to have such a high ranking government official joining our club. We had fruitful discussions with him. He said he will do everything in his power to assist the club in its programmes and this might even open avenues for corporates to come in and sponsor into yabantu,” said Mafu.
By Farai D Hove | In the strongest sign that the ruling party does not care a thing about its supporters, the author of the notorious Patriotic Act, the late Alum Mpofu was given a humiliating send off, the first ever burial with the coffin wrapped in a woman’s Zambia dress instead of the flag, whose patriotism he campaigned for. PICTURES:
THE HUMILIATING BURIAL OF PATRIOTIC ACT FOUNDER ALUM MPOFU SHOWS ZANU PF IS –
By Farai D Hove | In the strongest sign that the ruling party does not care a thing about its supporters, the author of the notorious Patriotic Act, the late Alum Mpofu was given a humiliating send off, the first ever burial with the coffin wrapped in a woman’s Zambia dress instead of the flag, whose patriotism he campaigned for. PICTURES:
THE HUMILIATING BURIAL OF PATRIOTIC ACT FOUNDER ALUM MPOFU SHOWS ZANU PF IS –
Several local human rights activists and civic society groups have threatened to storm the Harare Magistrates Courts today in protest against pro-democracy campaigner Makomborero Haruziviishe’s conviction.
Haruziviishe (29), an executive member of the MDC Alliance, will be sentenced today after he was convicted on charges of inciting public violence and resisting police arrest by Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga on Wednesday last week.
But rights activists yesterday said Haruziviishe would be the first person to be convicted for public violence.
Rights defenders also took to different social media platforms where they argued that the pro-democracy campaigner was a victim of weaponisation of the law by the President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led government which is aimed at silencing critics and thwarting dissent.
“Tomorrow (today) the regime has to free @MakomboreroH or face something it has never faced or imagined facing before. The choice is the regime’s,” political activist Promise Mkwananzi tweeted.
The Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYF), a co-ordinating platform for young people in the Southern African Development Committee region, urged the government to abide by the Constitution and respect the views of the youth, in a message posted on its Twitter handle.
“We are very concerned and worried over the conviction of a 29-year-old youth leader @MakomboreroH. We are reliably informed he was just expressing himself as provided in the Zimbabwe Constitution. We call for the government to work together and listen to young people’s views,” SAYF said.
It is the State’s case that Haruziviishe, on February 5, 2020 at the corner of First Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue in Harare, whistled to incite vendors to revolt against police brutality.
Haruziviishe, who was represented by Kossam Ncube of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, however, denied the allegations.
Lawyer Munyaradzi Gwisai yesterday described Haruziviishe’s conviction as “the beginning of a worrying trend of persecution of anti-government critics which gives rise to authoritarianism”.
“The possible sentence is a fine of up to level 12 or 10 years imprisonment is serious and severe. However, what is surprising is that there was no damage to property or to the police, but the court, however, decided to convict him under those circumstances,” Gwisai said.
“Under section 59 of the Constitution, citizens have the right to demonstrate peacefully and in this case, there is no evidence that the gathering which Haruziviishe participated in was not going to be peaceful. The criminal law should be consistent with constitutional provision on freedom of gathering and association,” he said.
Activist Namatai Kwekweza said failure to protest against Haruziviishe’s possible incarceration would mean that other activists would suffer the same fate in future, hence the need to speak against persecution of activists and harassment of protestors.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he would not comment on the issue as he was travelling.
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi referred questions to Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe who was not reachable on his mobile phone.
By James Gwati-Home Affairs minister, Kazembe Kazembe said the government was moving fast with the enactment of an anti-social media “abuse” law.
Kazembe said this recently in Mazowe where he was addressing officers at the Zimbabwe National Defence University in Mazowe.
“In the Zimbabwe context, social media has also been used as a tool for disturbing the internal security. As you may all be aware, the country has in the recent past witnessed the spreading of fake news as well as attacks on several Government officials via social media,” he said.
Kazembe said there was a need for the regulation of social media through the enactment of laws aimed at giving law enforcement agencies the requisite regulatory framework to monitor social media activities.
“Cognisant of the dangers posed to internal security by social media, the Government of Zimbabwe is in the process of promulgating the Cyber Security and Cyber Crime law. It is our hope that this piece of legislation will go a long way in addressing issues affecting Zimbabwe’s cyberspace and related crimes,” he said.
The jailed Harare West MP Joana Mamombe and her colleague Cecilia Chimbiri write from prison connecting with the ANC veteran Solomon Mahlangu. Below is their handwritten letter
A Redcliff woman allegedly strangled her six-year-old stepson to death and locked his eight-year-old sister in a bedroom that she tried to set on fire so that she could inherit her husband’s house.
Alice Chikono (24) of T.C 1 in Torwood Redcliff reportedly killed Dean Dube with her bare hands on Easter Friday and hid his body in the house.
She allegedly locked his sister in the bedroom after switching on a stove and covering it with a blanket, apparently hoping the blanket would catch fire and set the room on fire.
Chikono allegedly fled to Harare after making a false report to the police claiming the boy was missing.
There was a power cut soon after she left the house thereby putting her plans off rail.
Chikono had allegedly been planning to kill the children for more than one year.
She was arrested in Harare on Saturday where she had fled to and she was arraigned before Kwekwe magistrate Mrs Florence Nago facing a murder charge.
Mrs Nago did not ask her to plead and remanded her in custody to 17 April.
According to court papers, Chikono strangled the boy to death “so that she would inherit the house belonging to his father, Mr Tonywell Dube since he was the only son.”
The visibly shaken Mr Dube gave a horrendous account of how his son was murdered.
Dube (49) said he was away in Chakari when the cold blooded killing occurred.
“I was away at work when I was called that the boy was missing so I was constantly checking whether he had been found. I was only called by relatives and advised to rush home but they did not tell me what had happened,” said Mr Dube fighting back tears.
“When I arrived, that is when I was told about the incident. It broke my heart and I am still in pain,” he said.
After Chikono’s arrest in the capital, Mr Dube managed to talk to her on what led her to commit the crime.
“She told me that the plan had been in the pipeline for over a year. Her aunt (name withheld) who is based in Gokwe, was the one who was nagging her to kill Dean since he was the only son and if I die, it was going to be hard for her to inherit my house,” said Mr Dube.
He said Chikono narrated how she committed the gruesome killing.
“She told me that she throttled the boy with her hands until he died while outside the house. She dragged the body inside the house before locking the elder sister who is about eight years old in the other room before attempting to burn down the house,” said Dube.
A neighbour, on condition of anonymity, said a power cut saved the life of the girl, whose name was not given.- Chronicle
SERGEANT Freddy Chipato of ZRP Chinhoyi who died last Friday on VIP Traffic clearance duties riding a police motorbike while Auxillia Mnangagwa’s convoy was on its way from Mhangura, has been laid to rest.
Auxillia Mnangagwa had gone to Mhangura rural on Friday to hand over donations to one-month-old twin girls who were orphaned at birth when their mother died due to excessive bleeding.
Sergeant Chipato was laid to rest on Sunday in Chief Chireya’s area in Gokwe where he was described by his colleagues as a hard working officer who shunned corruption.
He died from serious injuries sustained from the accident when his motorbike collided with a car.
ZRP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police were treating the incident as unfortunate.
Sergeant Chipato collided with a Toyota Altezza at the 131 km peg along Harare-Chirundu highway.
The driver of the Toyota Altezza, Tinotenda Esau Mutandiro who is a police officer swerved to the right resulting in a collision.
Mutandiro is facing culpable homicide charges.- State media
SERGEANT Freddy Chipato of ZRP Chinhoyi who died last Friday on VIP Traffic clearance duties riding a police motorbike while Auxillia Mnangagwa’s convoy was on its way from Mhangura, has been laid to rest.
Auxillia Mnangagwa had gone to Mhangura rural on Friday to hand over donations to one-month-old twin girls who were orphaned at birth when their mother died due to excessive bleeding.
Sergeant Chipato was laid to rest on Sunday in Chief Chireya’s area in Gokwe where he was described by his colleagues as a hard working officer who shunned corruption.
He died from serious injuries sustained from the accident when his motorbike collided with a car.
ZRP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police were treating the incident as unfortunate.
Sergeant Chipato collided with a Toyota Altezza at the 131 km peg along Harare-Chirundu highway.
The driver of the Toyota Altezza, Tinotenda Esau Mutandiro who is a police officer swerved to the right resulting in a collision.
Mutandiro is facing culpable homicide charges.- State media
Two people were reportedly killed in bar-related disputes in Gweru exposing bar operators’ violation of COVID-19 regulations that order them to remain closed.
Five people have since been arrested in Midlands province over the alleged two separate murder cases that happened over the Easter holidays.
In the first incident, two men and a woman were arrested on allegations of fatally stabbing 20-year-old Edwin Masango, following a dispute over a woman at Sponono Bar in Gweru.
In another incident, 40-year old Tapiwa Manjonjo from Hukuimwe village in Buhera died after allegedly being assaulted and thrown into a dam over theft of a cellphone at Amapongogwe bar in Shurugwi.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Midlands Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the two incidents. Speaking to ZBC News Mahoko said:
It is noted that the two cases occurred at beer halls in a situation where a national lockdown put in place by the government as a strategy to fight the spread of COVID 19 requires beer halls to remain closed. We call upon all citizens and business operators to be responsible and heed the call by the government. Police cannot be everywhere at all times. We call upon members of the public who witness any illegalities to alert the nearest police station so that action is taken.
Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko identified the suspects of the Sponono bar incident as McDonald Mpanda (31), Innocent Msipa (44) and Tendai Faith (26).
Suspects in the Amapongogwe bar incident include Elvis Mthombeni aged 36 and the 30-year-old Progress Mushaya.- ZBC
The Secretary-General of opposition MDC Alliance, Chalton Hwende has said his party will not abandon their name despite warnings by rival MDC-T that they will use MDC Alliance in the upcoming by-elections.
Hwende told NewsDay on Sunday that allowing MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora was equal to giving victory to the ruling ZANU PF on a silver platter. He said:
Why allow them to rig? We are fighting to reclaim everything, including the 2018 victory.
Our position is clear that we are the MDC that was founded in 1999 and participated in the last elections as MDC Alliance. That is our name, that is our history and it holds our values as a party.
If we surrender the name, the thief will come again and steal more from us and, therefore, we will have to continue fighting. It is our name, why should we abandon it? Mwonzora is just an accessory to the theft and we are not even worried about him. We want to deal with the real thief.
His statement comes after Mwonzora’s MDC-T last month claimed that it would contest the yet-to-be-announced by-elections as MDC Alliance, a move likely to confuse opposition voters and advantage the ruling Zanu PF party.
Hwende yesterday insisted that Mwonzora’s MDC-T was working in cahoots with Zanu PF to destroy their movement.
He said the Nelson Chamisa-led party would not participate in any by-election if it was forced to abandon its name, but would keep fighting for electoral reforms to ensure a level playing field.
Meanwhile, Alex Tawanda Magaisa, the former Chief of Staff in the office of the late former Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai has advised MDC Alliance not to boycott the by-elections saying that will be to the advantage of the ruling party.- NewsDay
Tinashe Sambiri|Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora is a man who has written his own political epitaph, political observers have said.
The US has said Mwonzora’s party is a beneficiary of court rulings that disenfranchised voters.
In a report on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, the US dismissed Mwonzora’s “surrogate” political party.
See part of the report below:
The High Court, in a series of decisions beginning in March, paved the way for a minor political party, the MDC-T, to challenge the leadership of the main opposition party, the MDC Alliance, ignoring earlier jurisprudence that ruled that political parties, as private and voluntary associations, should resolve their differences using internal remedies.
This decision disenfranchised voters by allowing the minor political party to recall and replace elected MDC Alliance parliamentarians and local councillors.
In June police and military arrested some and blocked other senior MDC Alliance officials from entering the party’s headquarters when MDC-T party members broke into the building…
According to respected political analyst, Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya, the US report has exposed Zanu PF’s secret plan to use Mwonzora to decimate the MDC Alliance.
See Dr Ruhanya’s argument below:
The chickens of competitive electoral authoritarianism are coming home to hound MDC-T big time to the point where its top officials could face international recriminations for subverting the will of voters in Zimbabwe
MDC Alliance @nelsonchamisa branch meetings across Zimbabwe. The masses s vow they will never associate with @DMwonzora ’s Zanu PF linked MDC-T. They accuse Dougie of working with Zanu PF to steal their votes, MPs, Councillors
The world has refused to be duped by authoritarian consolidation in Zimbabwe masquerading as new dispensation especially one that takes away people’s votes and give them to a loser in MDC-T under @DMwonzora hiding under rule of law when its capture of state institutions
The exposures of regime capture and complicit done to MDC-T @DMwonzora both at home and abroad this year have completely destroyed this out to the point of being a proper renegade tool in the hands of the oppressor in Zimbabwe politics never seen since Muzorewa…
Tinashe Sambiri|Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora is a man who has written his own political epitaph, political observers have said.
The US has said Mwonzora’s party is a beneficiary of court rulings that disenfranchised voters.
In a report on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, the US dismissed Mwonzora’s “surrogate” political party.
See part of the report below:
The High Court, in a series of decisions beginning in March, paved the way for a minor political party, the MDC-T, to challenge the leadership of the main opposition party, the MDC Alliance, ignoring earlier jurisprudence that ruled that political parties, as private and voluntary associations, should resolve their differences using internal remedies.
This decision disenfranchised voters by allowing the minor political party to recall and replace elected MDC Alliance parliamentarians and local councillors.
In June police and military arrested some and blocked other senior MDC Alliance officials from entering the party’s headquarters when MDC-T party members broke into the building…
According to respected political analyst, Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya, the US report has exposed Zanu PF’s secret plan to use Mwonzora to decimate the MDC Alliance.
See Dr Ruhanya’s argument below:
The chickens of competitive electoral authoritarianism are coming home to hound MDC-T big time to the point where its top officials could face international recriminations for subverting the will of voters in Zimbabwe
MDC Alliance @nelsonchamisa branch meetings across Zimbabwe. The masses s vow they will never associate with @DMwonzora ’s Zanu PF linked MDC-T. They accuse Dougie of working with Zanu PF to steal their votes, MPs, Councillors
The world has refused to be duped by authoritarian consolidation in Zimbabwe masquerading as new dispensation especially one that takes away people’s votes and give them to a loser in MDC-T under @DMwonzora hiding under rule of law when its capture of state institutions
The exposures of regime capture and complicit done to MDC-T @DMwonzora both at home and abroad this year have completely destroyed this out to the point of being a proper renegade tool in the hands of the oppressor in Zimbabwe politics never seen since Muzorewa…
Tinashe Sambiri|Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora is a man who has written his own political epitaph, political observers have said.
The US has said Mwonzora’s party is a beneficiary of court rulings that disenfranchised voters.
In a report on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, the US dismissed Mwonzora’s “surrogate” political party.
See part of the report below:
The High Court, in a series of decisions beginning in March, paved the way for a minor political party, the MDC-T, to challenge the leadership of the main opposition party, the MDC Alliance, ignoring earlier jurisprudence that ruled that political parties, as private and voluntary associations, should resolve their differences using internal remedies.
This decision disenfranchised voters by allowing the minor political party to recall and replace elected MDC Alliance parliamentarians and local councillors.
In June police and military arrested some and blocked other senior MDC Alliance officials from entering the party’s headquarters when MDC-T party members broke into the building…
According to respected political analyst, Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya, the US report has exposed Zanu PF’s secret plan to use Mwonzora to decimate the MDC Alliance.
See Dr Ruhanya’s argument below:
The chickens of competitive electoral authoritarianism are coming home to hound MDC-T big time to the point where its top officials could face international recriminations for subverting the will of voters in Zimbabwe
MDC Alliance @nelsonchamisa branch meetings across Zimbabwe. The masses s vow they will never associate with @DMwonzora ’s Zanu PF linked MDC-T. They accuse Dougie of working with Zanu PF to steal their votes, MPs, Councillors
The world has refused to be duped by authoritarian consolidation in Zimbabwe masquerading as new dispensation especially one that takes away people’s votes and give them to a loser in MDC-T under @DMwonzora hiding under rule of law when its capture of state institutions
The exposures of regime capture and complicit done to MDC-T @DMwonzora both at home and abroad this year have completely destroyed this out to the point of being a proper renegade tool in the hands of the oppressor in Zimbabwe politics never seen since Muzorewa…
Own Correspondent | A young Dande-bred entrepreneur by the name Noel Mavura is making waves in the investment world through Africa Investors Hub- which assists innovative businesspeople with consultancy services.
Additionally, he connects the entrepreneurs with the venture capitalists and angel investors for scalability and sustainability purposes in terms of the capital injection.
Mr Mavura’s brand equity around the world is rising on daily basis.
Prominent business founders in the United Kingdom, United States,Germany,Italy,Portugal,Spain,Singapore,Vietnam,India,China and many other countries are engaging his services in raising millions of dollars on behalf of their ventures.
Last month Africa Investors Hub successfully managed to raise the pre-seed of £ 500 000 for a UK fintech company which has a realistic valuation of 200 million United States dollars.
The global Investors Hub which he manages has many accredited angel investors and venture capitalists.
Most of them invest in health care services,transport,renewable energy,agriculture,mining ,infrastructure, transport and other viable business models with excellent traction.
“We are creating generational wealth instead of instant riches hence this is not the time to celebrate and this goal of sustainable future oriented investment proposition can be attained by charging 20% on exit.
Investors have different exit strategies and some of them take a number of years if not decades.The people who are going to enjoy the fruits of our hard labor are our children.
It is our obligation to make Africa a better place by leaving a legacy behind.Furthermore, we govern the investors’ funds by being a hands on partner.It is our major role to clout against funds mismanagement and dishonest founders,” said the soft-spoken Mavura.
Mr Mavura has been selected as a startup panel judge for SFIA Startups Challenge which has raised over $150,000,000 for the finalists since the inaugural Start-Up Challenge in 2016.
He is the only African judge among other esteemed 100 panel judges made up of executives, venture capitalists and leaders from Private equity around the world to grace the final event on the 4th of May 2021.
He grew up in a remote rural area of Mbire district popularly known as Dande and has attained his education at Mushumbi Pools as well as St Philips Magwenya in Guruve.He undertook some courses with United Kingdom colleges and recently he studied Southern Africa Disaster Risk Reduction course with Stellenbonch University sponsored by the United Nations in partnership with world Bank.
He is entrepreneurial by nature and utilizes skills from an extensive background in well-known companies within management positions. He has immense experience in business and marketing from Air Zimbabwe and Coolsplash Zimbabwe where he worked for more than 5 years at each company.
At Coolsplash he worked as the Head of Marketing in Zimbabwe from 2014-2018.During his time he won 4 prestigious local awards and 1 international award for being the best brand marketer.
The entrepreneur is being celebrated throughout the country for changing the face of Zimbabwean brands through the implementation of innovative marketing skills and supporting entrepreneurs for fundraising opportunities under Africa Investors Hub.
Mr Mavura has a high success rate in turning businesses around from poor advertising, public relations and poor strategies by rebranding, offering unique marketing, effective advertising, the design and introduction of better product and service solutions.
He is the current regional Director in SADC of a UK and US company called Child Registry Limited and his main obligation is to oversee the company’s operations in 16 countries around Southern Africa.
Child Registry is supporting the education system in Zimbabwe by giving 10 000 laptops to the teachers on hire purchase agreement for a period of 1 to 5 years as well as renovating dilapidated schools free of charge.
The Truth About Hydration :Myths and Facts Find out how much water you really need to drink each day, whether you can overdose on H2O, and more.
Leslie Barrie By Leslie Barrie Medically Reviewed by Justin Laube, MD April 2, 2021 Medically Reviewed
Water-packed foods like watermelon can help you hit your hydration goals.
Hydration is one of those things you know you should be on top of, but you may not fully understand why.
“Hydration is important because our bodies really function [best with] adequate water balance,” says Shilpi Agarwal, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician in Washington, DC, and the author of The 10-Day Total Body Transformation. “Most organ functions require water in the right proportion to work — meaning your muscles, heart, and kidneys all need water and also need the body to be adequately hydrated in order to work properly.”
And what about dehydration, to some a scary word that may be associated with health issues big and small? “Mild dehydration can lead to dizziness, fatigue, flushed skin, headache, impaired physical performance, and confusion,” explains Malina Malkani, RDN, who lives in Rye, New York, and is the creator of Solve Picky Eating, a program for parents of finicky eaters. If unaddressed, more extreme dehydration can even cause problems like labored breathing, increased body temperature, poor blood circulation, and seizures, Malkani adds. And according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, dehydration can contribute to urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
To clear up confusion around hydration and dehydration, here are 10 things you must know to keep your health in tip-top shape.
Myth: If You’re Thirsty, You’re Already Dehydrated There is some truth to this widely repeated statement. “This can be a really helpful reminder to people, because many of us aren’t very in tune with our thirst, so once we realize we’re thirsty, our body really is calling out for water,” says Ginger Hultin, RDN, the Seattle-based owner of Champagne Nutrition and the author of Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep.
But it’s not a one-size-fits-all indicator. “Each person needs to assess if this is actually true for them, because there are a lot of reasons a person can be thirsty. It’s not 100 percent always because of dehydration,” says Hultin.
For example, something as simple as spicy food may make you thirstier than normal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A sharp increase in thirst may also be a sign of a health problem like diabetes. It could be a side effect of a medication you’re taking; certain drugs cause dry mouth without causing dehydration per se. Regardless, it’s worth talking to your doctor if you’re much thirstier than normal to determine the underlying reason.
Fact: Dark Yellow Urine May Signal That You’re Dehydrated If you’re concerned you’re not drinking enough water, try this quick trick: Check your urine color. “Urine color can be a pretty good indication of hydration status,” says Hultin.
An eight-level urine color chart lays out urine color from clear to dark yellow or brown — as posted by the U.S. Army Public Health Command. Though everyone is different, explains Hultin, the lightest four colors indicate that you’re hydrated, and the darkest four may mean that you’re dehydrated. If your pee falls in the brown range, you should seek medical attention, as Hultin advises this could mean severe dehydration.
Source: Everyday Health
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance Midlands Province has said fake defections will not disrupt the activities of the popular movement.
In a statement, MDC Alliance Midlands described the so called defections as insignificant:
3 April 2021
We the MDCA Midlands province want to make it categorically clear without any ambiguity that the party led by Adv Nelson Chamisa is safe and sound.
We acknowledge the departure of Blessing Chebundo and Lillian Timveous and wish them well.
We certainly respect their decision to join Zanu pf for whatever spurious reasons, but do not agree with their trajectory of blaming MDCA for the parlous state of the country that must be laid squarely on Zanu pf thuggery, thievery, patronage, cronyism and lackeyism.
Sadly, the two’s theatrics are not yet over. A meeting of 400 Zanu pf people in Kwekwe last week was falsely dramatised as some meeting with MDCA defectors and former MDCA national member, Blessing Chebundo, addressed the meeting with his colleagues in Zanu pf.
On the 1st of April, the herald reported that more than 150 MDCA activists had defected to Zanu pf in Gweru.
We urge MDCA supporters to take this as nothing more than a fools day message.
We are indeed aware of several touts (mahwindi) and artisanal miners who were commandeered to meetings and forced to wear MDCA regalia provided by Zanu pf in return for possible emoluments be it unfettered operations at ranks and in mines, but this narrative of facade of lies has no traction.
Tsvangirai’s legacy of a credible opposition party, democracy, pluralism, good governance, service and self sacrifice, justice, courage, indefatigable resistance in the face of brutal repression, and winning elections through the ballot box continues to water our spirit of liberty under MDCA presidium of Nelson Chamisa, Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti and Lynette Kore. No amount of ghost MDCA defectors will worry us. The MDCA is here to stay and those who wish us away are in for a rude awakening. Indeed, we are reaching another level of effective rural strategy from Gokwe to Mberengwa and will give our best shot come 2023. As MDCA, we are also pre-occupied with plans for a 2021 People’s Convergence in order to chat an appropriate way forward guided by the generality of people of Zimbabwe.
Chisa Nelson Chamisa Chisa! Chisa Midlands Province Chisa.
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | The late hon. Alum Mpofu made the last everlasting words the last thing before he died. The last thing he did before he died was to propose a bill that it is called the Zimbabwe Patriot Bill, which amongst other things, aims to criminalise and prescribe stiff punishment for citizens who “campaign against” national interests. According to the late hon. Mpofu , the Bill will also criminalise the peddling of “falsehoods” which undermine Zimbabwe’s national interests. The proposed law will permit government to prohibit any private communications between citizens and officials of foreign governments.
Govt has said that the proposed law is necessary to “deal” with citizens who propagate negative information to foreign governments, which undermine the Government of Zimbabwe’s efforts to attract foreign direct investment..
Comrade Alum Mpofu believed that patriotism is love for and loyalty to one’s own country, which is expressed in various ways. In certain circumstances, to be patriotic means that one has to be critical of their own government or even campaign against the government, especially when the government’s policies undermine national interests. In terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, democracy, peace and respect for human rights and the rule of law are amongst Zimbabwe’s national interests. If the government becomes itself a problem patriots must confront it and use the systems available.
On the 2nd March 2021 the honourable Alum Mhofu Mpofu was moved by the love of his country. The last thing he did in parliament was an act of a hero. His death will Resonate with his motion. after the opening preliminaries, the House adopted a motion by the Leader of Government Business and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Ziyambi Ziyambi, for a substantial departure from the Order Paper.
This effectively superseded urgent Bills and other important Government business, to allow Hon Alum Mpofu, ZANU PF MP for Mberengwa South, seconded by Hon Togarepi [ZANU PF Chief Whip], to present a motion:
Hon Mpofu moved the motion: “That this House: COGNISANT that Zimbabwe’s image and national reputation are critical factors in attracting foreign investment; CONCERNED that the negative portrayal of the country’s image and reputation has an adjverse and crippling impact on the country’s economic prospects especially on tourism, investment, and the welfare of the vulnerable such as youths, women and the disabled;
ENCOURAGED that other jurisdictions, recognising the need to preserve their image and soft power in a competitive global village, have enacted laws that bar their citizens from engaging in unpatriotic activities and communication intended to denigrate the integrity of their homeland; BUOYED by the fact that the overwhelming majority of Zimbabweans are focused on building the positive image of the country as a reforming, open, peaceful, and democratic country that is attractive to investment; NOW THEREFORE, call upon this august House to enact a law that:
a) recognises and celebrates efforts made by Zimbabwean citizens at home and abroad to promote the country’s positive image and brand; and b) prohibits any Zimbabwean citizen from wilfully communicating messages intended to harm the image and reputation of the country on international platforms or engaging with foreign countries with the intention of communicating messages intended to harm the country’s positive image and/or to under its integrity and reputation.”
PROMOTION OF THE COUNTRY’S POSITIVE IMAGE AND BRAND” The ensuing debate on this motion lasted most of the sitting, which only ended at 6.45 pm. In his lengthy presentation Hon Mpofu emphasised why Zimbabwe needs a good reputation in order to re-engage with the rest of the world,
In concluding Hon Mpofu summoned his delivering learning skills and posed hypothetical but thought provoking questions.
” …what do we do when your members of the team, when they score goals, when Knowledge Musona scores goals and Nakamba scores goals, it behooves all of us to stand up and celebrate. What should we do when team players or those people who are supposed to be team players stand up and score own goals, what in that circumstance should we do? I rest my case.”
This was a serious insight and reflection of the love Mpofu had fo his country. It was the day of the holy people the Mhofus of the parliament. Another Mhofu cde Togarepi seconded the motion and clarified the issues.
” … the imposition of sanctions by the United States, European Union, Canada, Australia et cetera was at the behest of our people. The imposition of sanctions by these countries was as a result of lobbying by certain individuals. Some deliberately went to these countries to ask for the people of Zimbabwe to be killed by way of denying us access to health, in other words you are saying we should die. These are citizens of Zimbabwe, what are we doing as a country to ensure that such people pay for exposing the people of Zimbabwe, we need to do something and it should be done now.” He went on to refer to:
” …civic organisations that in their activities deviate from their core business and start advancing activities that destabilise the people of Zimbabwe … people come to this country, they tell us that they are social welfare organisations yet they have political agendas … if you have campaigned against Zimbabwe, the law should actually bar you from getting into any public office because you will have killed the people that you want to look after.”
…… “If you attack the leader of this country that has an effect when that leader goes out there to source business for this country. Nobody wants to do business with a person who from his country is called so many names. So it is very important that the media, politicians, business people and all citizens of this country understand that they are people of Zimbabwe first before their political and business interests. We are one and it is a law that we can put down today in this House on this land that will defend the interest of Zimbabwe.
The debate went through a vibrant discussion with opposition MPs opposing it as usual. Nobody ever imagined that on that day when Honourable Alum Mpofu stepped out of the Honourable house that was his last. Nobody ever imagined that the light the honourable Mpofu had ignited in that house will become a raging flame which will give light and warmth to the patriots of the wonderful nation of Zimbabwe.
When cde Mpofu breathed his last he was very sure that the nation will be protected if the Patriotic Bill is to sail through. This is fast forwarded bill originally revealed by Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa on 4 August, 2020 in her 27th Post Cabinet Press Briefing. At that point, it was reported that the proposed Patriot Bill was recommended to Cabinet by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), in its 2018 and 2019 annual reports. It was highlighted that the NPRC had recommended that “campaigning against one’s country” should be legislated at law and “criminalised”.
This understanding is in line with several countries who have their own laws to protect the image of their countries. The rationale is that you must not create a hole in the boat you are a passenger.
The Patriot bill does not seek people to respect the government but not to demonise your country.
Contrary to what the opposition is saying the bill is not to protect the ruling party but it is meant to protect the country. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to destroy. Zimbabwe is fragile and it must be handled with care. It is strange that the opposition goes on to mislead people about this bill. As they have.
The bill is not created as a political tool between two opposing political ideologies,it is a nationalistic considerations which are meant to protect the whole nation. In this light, the “Patriot bill is the pride of the nation. Cde Alum Mpofu passed on but he left us a task a job to do. In any way you can protect your country.
Zimbabwe needs you the question you need to ask yourself is What can I do for my country not what my country can do for me. You can not celebrate when your neighbour buys your house. It is a foolish man who destroys his house to please the neighbours. If the opposition has nothing to hide why are they worried about the Patriot bill. As Alum Mpofu rests with his forefathers he trusted the future of this country in your hands.
This bill was his last and this is you chance to defend your country.
Many heroes died for this country and the best you can do is to protect their legacy. Protect the legacy of your country. Zimbabwe is the only country we can call ours.
Tinashe Sambiri|The cornered Zanu PF regime arrested an MDC Alliance official in Harare on Sunday.
MDC Alliance Youth Secretary for Harare Province, Denford Ngadziore was arrested at a party meeting in Harare West Constituency.
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has condemned the recurring persecution of political activists in the country:
04-04-2021
The cornered Emmerson Mnangagwa’s military dictatorship is increasingly running scared and today the police disrupted a People’s Agenda meeting in Harare West Constituency.
Harare West Constituency is represented in Parliament by Hon Joana Mamombe who is currently serving a pre-trial imprisonment together with Cecilia Chimbiri at Chikurubi Maximum Prison for no apparent crime.
Since the senseless conviction of Makomborero Haruzivishe last week, the regime is running paranoid fearing a backlash from angry youths ahead of his impending sentencing on Tuesday.
Today, MDC Alliance Youth Secretary for Harare Province, Denford Ngadziore was picked up by police from the meeting and was briefly detained at Malbereign Police Station where he was handed a warned and cautioned statement before release.
Having grossly failed to meet his employment electoral promise, Emmerson Mnangagwa is running scared of an impending implosion and a popular protest fronted by angry and discontented youths.
As a result, Mnangagwa’s unpopular regime has resorted to harassment, abductions, pre-trial detentions and convictions to silence the ever growing number of politically conscious youths.
This explains the continued detention and conviction of our youth leaders for no crime at all.
We believe that only a people centred government led President Nelson Chamisa is best placed to solve challenges facing young people.
A government that respects aspirations and rights of young people is a must in the year of People’s Agenda, 2021.
DefyOrDie
People’sAgenda2021
CitizensConvergenceForChange
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
MWENEZI- Four Mwenezi men who allegedly teamed up and assaulted a suspected stock thief have appeared in court facing murder charges.
Simon Matongo (18), Morerest Chivasa (21), Tinashe Machesa (20) and Ricardo Moyo (18) from Peter Perengwe village in Chenjerai Hunzvi Farm under Chief Mazetese appeared before Mwenezi Resident Magistrate Honest Musiiwa on Tuesday.
It is the State case that on September 18, 2020 the four teamed up with other villagers who are still on the run and severely assaulted Kudakwashe Hlangani whom they suspected of committing stock theft cases in the area. The State further alleges that the accused persons assaulted Hlangani with sticks, fists and booted feet all over his body until he could not breathe. People who witnessed the incident reported the matter to Mlelezi police who attended the scene. A blood stained hat belonging to Hlangani and sticks which were used to assault him were found on the scene leading to the arrest of the accused persons.
People who witnessed the incident reported the matter to Mlelezi police base and police attended the scene. The body was ferried to Masvingo Provincial Hospital for postmortem.
A blood stained hat that belonged to the now deceased and sticks which were used in torturing Hlangani was found at the crime scene and the four were later arrested.
agistrate Musiiwa remanded the four in custody to October 6, 2020. Laiton Katsidzira prosecuted.- The Mirror
By Tererai Obey Sithole MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Chairperson
The Zimbabwean government led by Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa convicted a 29 year old youth leader, they intend to sentence him on Tuesday.
His only crime is to love his country more than the people who claim to be leaders of the country.
He chose bravery over cowardice, he always speaks against bad governance and stands with the downtrodden.
Kindly assist us in sharing the word and telling the government to stop the jailing of people for exercising their rights. Makomborero Haruzivishe is not a guilty!
