By Tapiwanashe Isaac Chiriga ZINASU Secretary General
I cannot afford to celebrate anything about leaving Mnangagwa’s terror dungeons after an unjustified week long stay.
I however would like to express heartfelt gratitude to cdes, friends and family who stood with us in all ways imaginable. My heart sinks knowing the filthy, inhuman and degrading conditions I just left my brothers Takudzwa Ngadziore and Makomborero Haruzivishe in this evening when I left Harare Remand Prison.
We have a group of people who are so scared of unarmed young people that they will employ a ruthless system to fight them when they speak out, responding to words with terror My greatest support, gratitude and solidarity goes to Pritchard T Paradzayi, Allan Chipoyi, Glown Magaya and Falon Dunga who were arrested demanding our release yesterday.
The way the system enablers always get uneasy whenever ZINASU is mentioned seriously reflects how much of a pain we have become in the skin of the Zimbabwean Terrorist cartel calling itself a government We FIGHT ON!!!
ABANDON CHAMISA’S MDCA PARTY AND YOUR POLITICAL CAREER IS FINISHED, JAPA JAPA WARNS OPPOSITION MDCA MEMBERS!!!!
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS!!!!
The President of Zimbabwe Centre For Equal Opportunities (ZCEO) a Civic Society Organisation, Mr Paddington Japa Japa has warned Members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDCA) in Zimbabwe and those around the World, not to be infuenced by external factors into making the most foolish and wrong decision of abandoning the Movement of Democratic Change Alliance under Chamisa, for other Political Parties without a future.We all know that every Human Being is an active creature which is innately good and capable of choice,which strive for Survival,Growth and Development of their Potential,they seek change,Plan and restructure their lives to achieve optimal self fulfilment.Every individual has got Humanistic needs which are Basic needs and Meta needs (ABRAHAM MASLOW FAMOUS HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGIST (1908-1970).The Basic needs consist of Physiological needs eg Human Survival,food,drink water,accommodation,sex,and exercise.Then there are Psychological needs being Personal Security,Love,Self esteem etc.There are also Metaneeds being higher level needs which include Cognitive needs, Aesthetic needs and self fulfilment.In brief these two broad category of needs are called Deficiency needs and Growth needs.Basic Psychological needs are also called deficiency needs because when they are not satisfied individuals engage in behaviours designed to satisfy them.The Metaneeds are called Growth needs because Activities relating to them do not result from deficiencies but from the organism’s tendency torward growth.
Due to our desire as Human beings to satisfy the Basic Physiological and higher level Meta needs which culminates into Self Actualisation. according to Famous Russian Psychologist Abraham Maslow, failure by institutions like Governments to create enabling environments for Citizens to thrive and Participate meaningfully in Mainstream Economic Activities soas to Satisfy Basic Physiological needs and Higher Level Meta needs,mean there would be no Peace,Law and Order to observe in Societies we live,because individuals will be hungry,naked, homeless and angry.
Maslow,s Humanistic Model can best be used to describe the Zimbabwean Socio-Political-Economic Situation, where Basic Physiological and Higher Level Meta needs are failing to be satisfied, which leads to Societal Social fabric break down.In turn the Societal Social fabric breakdown leads to individuals engaging in nefarious,evil, undesirable behaviours like Corruption,Murder,Robberies,Rape,Stealing,Car Jacking Cattle rustling,Poaching, to mention a few.This will include the infamous Selling of souls to the Devil,we saw the Registration of the first Church of Satan in the USA and secondarily in South Africa.Same sex Marriages by Gays and Lesbians is now the order of the day mainly in European and some African Countries.
Politics has not been spared in these Societal Social ills, with Politicians resorting to “Selling Out” their Political allegiance to Political antagonists because of the love of Money.The Bible which is the Word of God in the Book of Timothy 6 vs 10 says,For the Love of the Money is the root of all evil and some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the truth, faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.
Let me speak from a Spiritual and Prophetic point of view where i want to warn MDCA Party Members not to Abandon Nelson Chamisa,s MDCA for any other Political Party, such action would be tantamount to committing Political suicide.In Zimbabwean Politics there are only two serious Political Parties which are serious contenders for taking over power after every five years of General Elections in Zimbabwe.The serious contenders are the Old fashioned and Archaic Zanu Pf Party and the sure to Govern MDCA Alliance Party!!!! What worries me most is when i see some few Polical Rejectes who are dumping Chamisa’s MDCA to join, of all the Parties, Zanu Pf or its extension in the form of MDCT.Any sound minded Politician will never do such a stupid thing only Sellouts can because of the Love of Money., Psychopaths and Sociopaths do that also.Any active Member of the MDCA who intend to abandon the Party and join either Zanu Pf or the Supreme Court Constructed MDCT will be destroying their Political careers.Others tried it in the past but it never materialised.Any serious Opposition Politician who abandons Chamisa’s Political Umbrella will not survive or make it out their.Hate him or Love him, the Young,God fearing eloquent,Visionary,energetic,Strategical,Vibrant Opposition Leader has already been anointed by God, to take over Governance of this country called Zimbabwe when the time is ripe.No matter how much they might denigrate Him,calling him all sorts of names like foolish,Childish, liar, uinexperienced,no liberation war background, it shall all be in vain, remember, That which the Lord God has anointed, no Man can push assunder!!!! Even if they try to Poison or Assassinate him they will not Succ iteede, King Saul tried it on the Anointed David, that did not work.Chamisa Nelson is Protected by Flames of fire,Devine Protection!!! Those who have got ears to hear let them hear, this Prophetic word from His Majesty, God Almighty!!!!
THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE PADDINGTON JAPA JAPA IS AN EVANGELIST AND A TEACHER OF GOD’S WORD,SOCCER ADMINSTRATOR,CIVIC SOCIETY LEADER,MDCA NC AND NEC MEMBER,HOLDER OF A BSC HONOURS PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE!!!
By Jane Mlambo| Theft accused LEAD President, Linda Masarira has responded to the reports of her appearance in court on theft charges, saying she is being wrongfully accused for the crimes committed by her son during a time he was battling drug addiction.
Posting on Twitter, Masarira said she advised the police about her son’s crime for them to change the docket but they refused to take heed.
She took a swipe at those she accused of smearing her over her son’s misdeeds.
“I am wrongfully accused in this matter. The person who stole some of the things on the docket is my son during the time he was battling with drug addiction. He even advised the police likewise who refused to change the docket. No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper,” said Masarira.
Masarira appeared in court facing allegations of selling her landlord’s property worth US$3 140 before converting the money to her own use.
The court heard that sometime in January 2018 Lawrence Madamombe, the landlord, left his property in Masarira’s custody at his place of residence in Marlborough.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance official Antony Taruvinga has said Zanu PF bigwigs are desperate to destroy the opposition because they are afraid of the 2023 polls.
Zanu PF is using State resources to dismantle the opposition.
Taruvinga wrote on Facebook: Using State resources to finance the destruction of a competitor is the worst form of corruption and cowardice.
They can’t face a fair competition because under normal circumstances, almost everyone votes Zanu pf out.
In their usual patronage that has now been extended to the opposition, Zanu pf thinks they are destroying the MDC Alliance, no ways, the weak and gullible shall fall by the wayside, leaving the party with strong dedicated incorruptible leaders.
A New Zimbabwe is within our reach. That filthy party only cares about rigging elections and punishing opponents, no single clue on the economy that is just on a free fall.
The country is facing a huge implosion that will leave Mnangagwa and Zanu pf unpopular even among cronies.
Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF leader, Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is directly involved in the eviction of Shangaan people because of his links to Dendairy, impeccable sources have revealed.
Mr Mnangagwa’s administration is planning to evict thousands of Shangaan people from their ancestral land to create space for a grass- growing project.
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Executive member, Antony Taruvinga condemned Mr Mnangagwa’s administration for preferring grass to villagers’ lives.
“We condemn the move by the milk company to choose grass over human life.
There are tracts of land that are unused in Zimbabwe, why can’t they grow their grass there other than evicting natives whose land is their only inheritance? It is gross disregard for human life and dignity. Yes, we must show by boycotting their products but if you choose Dairibord over Dendairy, you are still just supporting them.
Boycott both Dendairy and Dairibord as the latter is in the processing of legally engulfing Dendairy. Let’s try find any other alternatives, which are not Dairibord. PROmilk, YoMilk, Kefalos, Nestle or milk farms if worse comes to the worst,” argued Taruvinga.
The title for this week’s piece is borrowed from Barack Obama’s 2007 book published by Canongate Books Limited. The title speaks to a people’s avowed faith that all shall be well; that a day shall come when their aspirations and the toil of their endeavour, nay the labour of their sweat, shall all yield a positive change in their lived circumstance.
The audacity of hope is an aphorism that I feel encapsulates the mindset of every Zimbabwean at this political juncture; the faith that the dangling scarf shall throttle and choke its owner and that those repressing the people today will be washed away by the torrents of history. The audacity of hope denotes the unstinting faith that tomorrow can only be a better day and that a people’s desires and aspirations shall bear fruit well within their lifetime.
For Barack Obama, the audacity of hope is a phrase he says he borrowed from his pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr, who used it as a title for a sermon. Obama, who was to use this forceful dictum as a title for his book, had also used the powerful phrase as the main theme for his speech when he delivered the keynote address as a relatively unknown politician at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004.
The conventions of the Democratic Party are grand occasions of passion and people power, they are inspiring fiestas for avowed social democrats. I came face to face with the lively, exuberant spirit of the DNC when I accompanied President Tsvangirai, then the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, to the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina in September 2012. I was humbled by the mass-centric thrust of the occasion and the optic showcase of people power. We missed our plane back home, having been delayed and held rapt by the wonderful sight of a determined people’s unstinting faith that their chosen politics can make meaningful, positive change in their lives.
For Barack Obama, the audacity of hope is a phrase that best defined the American spirit; the audacity to believe, despite evidence to the contrary, that hope still held even for a people and a nation torn by conflict, repression and hate.
Hope is audacious. Hope keeps a people astride their aspirations, in the optimism that what they desire shall be fulfilled one day.
Hope charms and soothes the heart. Hope is a sweet chariot that ferries despondent souls from the hopelessness of their lived moment to the comfort of their fancied destination.
The audacity of hope.
Hope keeps people alive. For it is only the power of unfettered hope that can assuage weeping souls, just as a mother’s lullaby calms the crying baby on her sweaty back.
My sister born after me and who celebrated her birthday last Friday was named Edina Tariro. And Tariro, the Shona word for hope, is a popular name in our communities. It sums up a stubborn and arrogant faith in a better future. It denotes a yearning spirit for a better life–an unstinting faith that all shall be well and that as a people, we shall one day live our collective fantasy, our collective dream.
In Zimbabwe, it is the audacity of hope that still carries our spirit, that exhorts us to carry on with the struggle—-the sheer gall and stoic belief that our effort and toil for a better country will definitely not be in vain.
For us, the audacity of hope refers to our conviction that Zanu PF’s onslaught to perish the people’ s movement will come to nought. We know—and we are certain—that through our own tenacity, we shall break the Zanu PF leash tying our collective fate to the incompetent hand of this wicked, clueless and murderous lot in government. They may arrest us, brutalise us, strip us of what rightfully belongs to us but we shall prevail.
Every generation must leave the country a better place than they found it. Only then can they stare history in the face and say their stint on this earth was worthwhile and well-deserved.
Adespondentnationofahopingpeople
Without a job, with no safety nets in the wake of this pandemic and struggling to feed his eight children, John Tembo in Mvuma can only hope that this health disaster comes to an end so he can vend on the roadside once again. The audacity of hope.
For Esther Chihwa and Smart Taundi of Harare Central, the dip in the Covid-19 mortalities has ushered in a renewed sense of hope. It is the hope that by-elections will soon be held so they can reinstate their chosen representatives who were recalled by the colluding parties they defeated in the last election.
Across the country, the people had chosen their councillors and MPs and these have been needlessly recalled and a fresh set of representatives foisted upon them, in some cases the people imposed on them are the same people they had rejected at the polls.
It is the people’s hope that they will soon deliver a cardinal lesson to Zanu PF and its surrogates that the people are sovereign; that leaders come from the people and that no one can recall the people’s unfettered choice except the people themselves! The audacity of hope.
Voters are hoping and waiting for their day in the ballot box in by-elections that must now be held as a matter of urgency so that the people get their fresh chance to restate their position that Nelson Chamisa and the MDC Alliance remain the sole repository of their faith, trust and confidence. The people are itching to send out a sonorous message of who their true leaders are. The by-elections can’t be banned forever. They will clear this planted mist of confusion. We are well past the 90-day period in which by-elections should have been held and the people are hoping and waiting for their hour. The audacity of hope.
The people of Chilonga too are caught up in the throes of hope. They too are hoping that for once, their worth and value be seen as greater than that of lucerne grass. They are hoping that normalcy returns and a true leadership takes over that understands that their worth is taller than lucerne grass. The audacity of hope.
When you have a government that believes that people should be evicted from their ancestral land so that the illegitimate President’s friend can grow grass for his dairy cows, a people can only hope that sanity and decency returns to the corridors of government, even if that government imposed itself on them.
Since 2000, Zanu PF has peddled the propaganda mantra that the MDC is a party of puppets, a party that fronts the interests of whites, the interests of capital. Now that the Shangaani people of Chilonga, the indigenous people of this land, are being evicted so that Mnangagwa’s white friend can grow grass for his cattle, it is now clear who the puppets are.
The question of who is playing puppet politics has now been sufficiently settled!
The unemployed people of this country, the despondent citizenry in the villages, in the urban areas and in the mining towns are all hoping for a chance to express their outrage. You don’t steal a People’s source of livelihood, a people’s future, a people’s land and birthright then go further to pilfer their party, the party name and recall their elected representatives, grab their party headquarters and the money due to them and still hope things will be normal.
No, the people will certainly come for you!
Hope is audacious. Even negative hope exists too. And negative hope is equally audacious.
Negative hope is the hope that you can repress a people forever and they will do nothing about it.
It is that hope when you lie to yourself that you will be able to vanquish a people’s party and a people’s leadership and recreate a similar entity under the leadership of stooges and surrogates.
The negative hope that the criminal lot in government will deliver and change the country’s fortunes, including a Willowgare criminal sworn into office only 48 hours ago. Criminals can only run a government in a kleptocracy—a government of thieves. And Zimbabwe does not deserve to be a kleptocraacy.
While negative hope is audacious, history has shown that in the end, it is only well-meaning hope that endures and that will ultimately prevail.
Conclusion
The dip in Covid-19 – related deaths means we are slowly reuniting with our rights that had been put in abeyance in the wake of this global pandemic, most importantly the rights of assembly, movement and association.
The right to petition and protest remains sacred, especially in the political moment that engulfs us. Our society will grab the chance to express its full revulsion at this despicable lot in government that is mismanaging our affairs, arresting, brutalising and killing people and dimming their collective hope.
Hope alone is not enough. Hope alone is vacuous and grossly inadequate in solving the key questions of the day. A people must act to push through the fulfillment of their hopes. You don’t just hope to become a medical doctor and then believe that your hope is enough to make you one; without going to school, without attending medical school and without taking the requisite practical steps to actualise your hope.
Even little David did not just hope for the giant Goliath to disappear from his face. He acted to bring his hope to fruition. He took a stone, put it on his sling and practically acted against the gargantuan human edifice that stood before him.
In the 1970s, our brothers and sisters did not just hope for Rhodesian repression to desert their desolate lives. They acted on their convictions, took up arms and fought a liberation struggle.
Times have changed. I am not saying we must take up arms. The point is a repressed people must go beyond hoping and take practical action to change their situation by actualising their hope.
It is simply not enough to hope.
Sometimes history needs a push, a helping hand. And the time has come in this country for the people to give history a huge push. Perhaps the time has come to nudge history by seeking sanctuary in section 59 of our Constitution, itself a Constitution that we made ourselves and endorsed in a referendum.
Hope is audacious but the people themselves are certainly more audacious than their hope.
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has strongly condemned the plan by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to evict 12,500 villagers from their ancestral land.
Mr Mnangagwa’s administration wants to create space for a grass-growing project in the Lowveld.
Experts say the area is not suitable for a dairy project.
President Chamisa wrote on Twitter:
“STOP BEING HEARTLESS AND CRUEL..EVICTING 12 500 Chilonga villagers in Chiredzi for a grass dairy project is criminal and vile.
Chiyadzwa, Chingwizi, Chisumbanje greenfuel evictions show disdain of citizens. Capital &profits must not undermine citizens rights,heritage and dignity.”
By Patrick Guramatunhu- “What electoral reforms?” asked Francov.
“I have seen and read many articles on the need for Zimbabwe to reform/change its electoral laws. But I am yet to know or understand exactly what/which laws need to be changed and how they should change.”
You have raised some real important points and worthy our serious consideration.
It has been impossible to have a healthy and functioning democracy in Zimbabwe because most of the people out there do not even have a clue on what constitute free, fair and credible elections and so it has been easily for Mnangagwa to blatantly rig the elections and insist the elections were free, fair and credible.
For elections to be free, fair and credible the process must satisfy laid out laws and procedures in much the same way a game of football is governed by rules everyone must observe. For elections, we have rules saying who can and cannot vote, those eligible to vote must then register and be listed in a voters’ roll, the voters’ roll must be verified and produced at least a month before nomination day, etc., etc.
Not only did ZEC fail to produce a verified voters’ roll a month before nomination day; they never produced one even to this day.
“The electoral commission (ZEC) lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability,” stated the EU Zimbabwe 2018 Election Mission final report.
“As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”
Of course, if you do not have the verified voters’ roll you cannot verify who voted and who was denied the vote, how many voted more than once, etc., etc. The opportunity to rig the process is limitless and with no verified voters’ roll they know they will get away with murdered!
Many outsiders have been baffled as to why Nelson Chamisa and his friends in the opposition camp participated in the 2018 elections when ZEC had failed to produce something as basic as a voters’ roll? The answer is simple – greed!
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” admitted David Coltart in his book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
Coltart was an MDC-N Minister of Education in the 2008 to 2013 GNU that failed to implement even one democratic reform in five years.
Robert Mugabe bribed the two MDC faction leaders with the trappings of high office and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, they forgot about implementing the reforms.
SADC leaders, who had helped to hammer out the 2008 Global Political Agreement and got Mugabe and Zanu PF to agree to the raft of reforms, literally begged MDC leaders not to participate in the 2013 elections until the reforms were implemented. SADC leaders wanted the elections postponed until reforms were implemented.
Zanu PF was quick to point out that MDC leaders had never tabled any reform proposals in parliament, which was true. Patrick Chinamasa, who was Minister of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs throughout the GNU, called a press conference to confirm there were no outstanding reform proposals. None!
So, MDC leaders had failed to implement even one reform during the GNU because they were corrupt and were bribed to forget about the reforms using the trappings of high office. They could not boycott the 2013 (and future) elections to protest (pressure Zanu PF) the failure to implement reforms because it was none other than MDC leaders themselves who had sold-out on reforms. And so MDC have participated in the flawed and illegal elections since the GNU because they had no choice; they had the golden chance to implement reforms and they wasted it.
As Coltart readily admitted above, by participating in flawed and illegal elections MDC are giving “the process credibility” and by extension giving the result legitimacy. True enough, Mnangagwa has given the 23 presidential candidates in the July 2018 as proof Zimbabwe is a healthy democracy and the elections were free, fair and credible.
The reason why the opposition have participated in the flawed elections is greed, they knew Zanu PF was offering a 1/3 or so gravy train seats plus a corresponding share of the annual Political Party Finance Act pay out. The opposition have found this bait irresistible.
As can been seen from the details above many things must change, must be reformed. It is a legal requirement that ZEC must produce a verified voters’ roll, for example. So one must then look at what reforms are required to force ZEC to carry out this task?
It is common knowledge that state institutions like ZEC, Police, Judiciary, Public Media, are all but Zanu PF departments in all but name. The State President has the power to appoint and fire ZEC, Police, etc. The law must be changed force these public officials to appear before a parliamentary committee with the power have the official removed from office if their performance is unsatisfactory.
In some cases the open up of the democratic space would produce the desired change, for example a healthy and competent media will expose the corrupt and incompetent opposition politicians who have been participating in flawed elections out of greed.
Here is a list of five democratic reforms Zimbabweans should be demanding before the next elections in 2023;
a) a verified voters’ roll
b) Zimbabweans in the diaspora what have a vote
c) Zanu PF must stop politicising state assistance especially in the rural areas that has turned the people into medieval serfs beholden to Zanu PF leaders and their proxies
d) want a free public media, Police and other state bodies
e) corruption must be stamped out, this is the source of billions of dollars bankrolling the Zanu PF vote rigging juggernaut.
The link below will open many other articles on elections and other related issues.
It is no exaggeration than many Zimbabweans out there would say the 2018 elections were rigged. Ask them why and it’s light out!
If we want a democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe, then we must earn it. There really is no excuse why the majority of people do not know what constitute free, fair and credible elections in this day and age. If we cannot be bother to ensure we have free, fair and credible elections then we deserve the corrupt and vote rigging dictatorship. And we have certainly got our just deserve!
We need to implement the democratic reforms to restore the individual freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful vote. We will never secure free, fair and credible elections without securing all the other rights and freedoms.
By A Correspondent- Former Information Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi has filed a police report against an impostor accused of identity theft.
This report follows a Facebook post purported to be from Energy Mutodi in which ZBC news anchor Lee Ann Bernard was pictured with First Lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa. The picture carries a caption which reads First lady meets second lady.
Mutodi reported the matter at Borrowdale police.
Full statement below :
I am a male adult aged 42 residing at number **** ******** Brooke, Borrowdale, Harare and I am a Member of Parliament contactable on mobile numbers 07******
2. I do not know the accused person but I suspect the ministry of Information employees and those who run ZBC online accounts including internet bloggers who may be paid to do smear campaigns to be behind this.
3. I recall on the 3rd of March 2021 I was alerted by one of my friends on whatsup to the effect that there was a facebook account using my name and posted on Facebook a picture that is depicting the First Lady meeting an alleged Second Lady whose identity I do not know. The picture has a message “When First lady meets the Second lady #IfyouknowUknowl!”
4. The picture and message are surely defamatory and an attempt to cause a character assassination on me as I know nothing in connection with it and I have no account that has such information and neither have I sent such a post. The act to use my name and my picture on the fake facebook account is outrageous.
5. The accused has no right to act in such a manner
By A Correspondent- Norton legislator Temba Mliswa (Independent), who is accused of violating COVID-19 regulations after he held a Press conference which attracted several journalists at his Borrowdale home, had his trial moved to Monday by a Harare magistrate.
Mliswa, who was represented by Musindo Hungwe, appeared before magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro.
Hungwe challenged Mliswa’s placement on remand and warned the court that the trial could not take place before his application was responded to.
However, Muchuchuti-Guwuriro postponed the matter to Monday for ruling.
Mliswa is on $20 000 bail.
Allegations are that on February 11, Mliswa hosted 22 journalists at his house.
It is alleged the complainant, Joshua Tigere, received a tip-off that Mliswa was conducting a Press conference at his house.
He then rushed to Borrowdale Police Station where he picked up 12 police officers and led them to Mliswa’s house.
The State alleged that upon arrival, Mliswa was found taking questions from journalists, while videos were being taken without the maintenance of social distancing among journalists.
The complainant then introduced himself and Mliswa was arrested for contravening COVID-19 regulations.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe National Students Union leader Takudzwa Ngadziore, who is accused of holding a Press conference at the Harare Magistrates’ Court in solidarity with Makomborero Haruziviishe, in violation of COVID-19 regulations, has been denied bail by the same magistrate.
His co-accused Tapiwanashe Chiriga was, however, released on $5 000 bail.
By A Correspondent- The case in which Gweru businesswoman Smelly Dube is facing fraud charges involving the sale of urban state land failed to start at the Gweru magistrates courts this morning amid reports police were still gathering more evidence against her.
There were also reports that the prosecution team was set to come from Harare and by midday they were yet to arrive at the courts.
Dube, who was arrested while receiving treatment at a private hospital on Wednesday, remains admitted at the health institution under heavy police guard.
She is represented by three lawyers, Advocate Jushua Chirambwe, Mr MacPatrick Zinyakatira and Mr Nqobani Sithole.
Adv Chirambwe said the defence team has been at the Gweru Courts since morning and were still waiting for the case to kickstart.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on the verge of cancelling a US$600 million agreement, in which government had mortgaged 18 gold claims to a Malaysian company, ZimMal, which for 17 years failed to implement the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP).
The company recently sought audience with Mnangagwa to salvage the deal, which involved the construction of the dam and the two pipelines. The project, touted as a solution to Matabeleland region’s perennial water problems due to recurring droughts, has been on the cards since 1912.
It was mooted by the colonial mastermind Cecil John Rhodes’s British South Africa Company (BSAC).
The first phase of the project involves the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, while the second phase will involve the installation of a pipeline from the dam to Bulawayo. The third and final phase involves the construction of a pipeline from the dam to the Zambezi River.
ZimMal was granted a contract to implement the project in 2003, but has failed to fulfill the contract, forcing the government to look for alternatives. Government then engaged China International Water and Electric Corp in 2018 to construct the dam. Mnangagwa said last week the state had reserved the construction of the pipelines for locals.
The Zimbabwe Independent understands that ZimMal approached the Office of the President and Cabinet seeking to salvage the deal after Mnangagwa commissioned the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani-Bulawayo pipeline last week.
A confidential report presented to the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in Charge of Implementation and Monitoring Joram Gumbo, exclusively in our possession, reveals that the minister is sceptical about the sustainability of the arrangement with ZimMal.
ZimMal, according to the report, expressed interest in financing the project, and was invited to work on the project by the then Rural Resources and Water ministry in 1997 on a Build-Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. It was awarded the contract in 2003, but nothing was done until 2018.
The report further states that it was realised at the material time that the project, even on a BOT basis, would not be able to pay off the US$600 million by relying on water tariffs alone, resulting in ZimMal being given 18 gold concessions.
ZimMal was set to control 80% of the mining ventures, while the government, through a designated ministry, would have a 20% stake.
“It is argued that the mining concessions were meant to provide comfort in lieu of the losses to be incurred in the implementation of the project. Besides gold, the mining concessions cover a wide range of other minerals such as silver, copper, manganese, nickel, emeralds and platinum among others,” the report reads.
Gumbo also urged Mnangagwa to give audience to ZimMal, but advised him to cancel the deal.
“Given the facts enunciated above (in the report), I wish to advise that the request by ZimMal Holdings for an audience with Your Excellency be granted and a letter of invitation be extended in this regard. But given the recent developments on the project, the issue of the contracts signed in respect of the project must be openly and extensively discussed with representatives of ZimMal. If it is the decision of the government not to continue engaging ZimMal, the contracts should be terminated,” Gumbo advised.
“Your Excellency, in my view, the 18 gold concessions granted to ZimMal are not commensurate with the alleged losses to be incurred in the implementation of the project. In light of recent developments, it would be prudent for this issue to be discussed further with a view of cancelling the concessions granted to the company.”
Gumbo declined to comment on the report saying: “I cannot comment on matters concerning the OPC.” Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said the government had lost patience with a company which sat on a contract for 17 years, while the nation went thirsty.
“We spent 17 years waiting for the company to make a decision to undertake the project, while the city (Bulawayo) is dying from thirst. Here is a company which has been sitting on a contract for so long suddenly springing up once we held a ground-breaking ceremony. The President will have to be too generous to even grant them the audience,” Charamba said.
“We have got a target to meet and in December 2022, we should be turning on the taps.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will investigate the conduct of eNCA’s senior reporter Lindsay Dentlinger after her treatment of black and white politicians during interviews after last week’s national Budget speech in Parliament sparked allegations of racism.
“The SAHRC has opened an own accord investigation following various complaints, including from the leader of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) General Bantu Holomisa, against eNCA reporter Lindsay Dentlinger,” the entity said on Thursday.
“The grievances allege that Ms Dentlinger treated interviewees differently on the basis of their race, in interviews conducted outside Parliament during the Budget speech on February 24. The commission is in the process of investigating the matter, and has requested to meet with the eNCA and Ms Dentlinger on the allegations.”
The SAHRC is one of South Africa’s Chapter Nine institutions established in terms of Chapter 9 of the Constitution to safeguard democracy.
Last week, civil rights movement #NotInMyName descended on eNCA’s premises in Joburg, protesting against what it called the racism displayed by Dentlinger when she asked UDM’s black deputy president and member of Parliament to put on a face mask in line with Covid-19 rules prior to a live post-budget interview, minutes after having allowed a white politician from another party to go mask-less.
The rights group wanted accountability and action from eNCA management over Dentlinger’s behaviour, and felt that a statement issued by the channel in her defence was “basically a middle finger to black people and the black race,” #NotInMyName president Siyabulela Jentile told the African News Agency (ANA).
eNCA said there had been no “mal-intent” on Dentlinger’s part, adding that in an intense live broadcast environment like the budget speech coverage “our journalists are under pressure to remain compliant while delivering fair, accurate and balanced news”.
The ruling ANC this week also picketed at eNCA’s offices, and its deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte slammed the channel over its handling of the controversy.
“It’s a management response that says she didn’t mean it and they’re going to go through a disciplinary hearing. We saw what we saw, so is eNCA telling us they didn’t see what we saw and are they telling us they didn’t see not only that incident but many other incidents, which were then subsequently shown to viewers?” Duarte said.
“It’s not enough and really there’s no room for any racism, be it overt or subliminal or a mistake. No, they must teach their journalists how to treat people with respect.”
On Monday, Dentlinger apologised for the incident during an interview on the channel’s programme Power to Truth with JJ Tabane.
“I totally acknowledge the outrage and I apologise for the disrespect it has caused to the people who don’t deserve to be drawn into this,” she said.
“I felt awful from how this is perceived and what the country believes to be a true reflection of who I am as a journalist. I do acknowledge how it is portrayed. I am being portrayed as not speaking to any black unless he is wearing a mask.”
By A Correspondent- Gweru land developer Smelly Dube has been arrested by anti-corruption police accused of selling state land in Gweru.
The River Valley Properties CEO collapsed and was hospitalised on Tuesday after learning that police were closing in on her.
Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Dube faced fraud charges for allegedly selling urban state land.
Nqobani Sithole, a member of Dube’s legal team, on Thursday said she was still receiving treatment at a private hospital in Gweru.
“She has been charged. The charges are a joke and we look forward to demonstrating this in court,” said Sithole.
Dube’s company developed and sold stands in Hartfordshire Phase 1 and 2 as well as Subdivision 4 of Gwelo Small Holdings (Woodlands Phase 1 and 2) in Gweru.
By A Correspondent- Opposition politician Ms Linda Masarira appeared in court facing allegations of selling her landlord’s property worth US$3 140 before converting the money to her own use.
Masarira (38) was facing theft of trust property charges when she appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Richard Mangosi. She was remanded out of custody on free bail.
Mr Mangosi deferred the matter to April 7.
The court heard that sometime in January 2018 Lawrence Madamombe, the landlord, left his property in Masasrira’s custody at his place of residence in Marlborough.
It is alleged that when Madamombe went to collect his property from Masarira later that year he realised that the property was missing. The court heard that upon inquiring from Masarira, Madamombe discovered that she had sold his property and converted the money to her own use.
On the 9th of March 2021, President @nelsonchamisa will deliver the party's #Agenda2021 address which will be streamed live on all our channels. Tune in as we chart the course to win Zimbabwe for change!?? pic.twitter.com/QU8w5OxpJF
— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) March 5, 2021
By Jane Mlambo| Theft accused LEAD President, Linda Masarira has responded to the reports of her appearance in court on theft charges, saying she is being wrongfully accused for the crimes committed by her son during a time he was battling drug addiction.
Posting on Twitter, Masarira said she advised the police about her son’s crime for them to change the docket but they refused to take heed.
She took a swipe at those she accused of smearing her over her son’s misdeeds.
“I am wrongfully accused in this matter. The person who stole some of the things on the docket is my son during the time he was battling with drug addiction. He even advised the police likewise who refused to change the docket. No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper,” said Masarira.
Masarira appeared in court facing allegations of selling her landlord’s property worth US$3 140 before converting the money to her own use.
The court heard that sometime in January 2018 Lawrence Madamombe, the landlord, left his property in Masarira’s custody at his place of residence in Marlborough.
We have reminded gvt of the urgent need to capacitate trs ahead of schools opening. All relevant Ministries and departments have been notified. We pray gvt will play ball so that we dont disadvantage our valuable learners. #SaveOurEducationZw#FreeMako#FreeZinasuLeaderspic.twitter.com/ev3JNSBigB
— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) March 5, 2021
By A Correspondent- South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has appointed a five-member committee to review permits and visas issued to most immigrants who have been in that country since 2004.
Aaron Motsoaledi
Motsoaledi said the move was meant to eradicate corruption in the Department of Home Affairs with indications pointing to possible issuance of permits or visas to wrong people.
Addressing reporters in Pretoria on Wednesday, Minister Motsoaledi said the committee will review the Permanent Residence Permits (PRP), which are just a step away from citizenship, corporate visa, especially in the mining sector, business visa, (professional) critical skills visa, and retired persons’ visa, citizenship by naturalisation and study visa.
He said:
We chose 2004 as the cut-off date because that is the year the Immigration Act, Act number 13 of 2002, came into operation.
The committee members are Dr Cassuis Lubisi (Chairperson), with extensive experience in governance as a Director-General in Government, Advocate Sesi Baloyi –a Senior Counsel who is the Chairperson of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates and Mr Peter Bishop – a forensic investigations specialist with vast experience in both the public and private sector locally and internationally.
Others are lawyer, Ms Kathleen Dlepu – the Chairperson of the Legal Services Council, formerly Law Society and Prof Somadoda Fikeni – an academic with extensive experience at the university level and a Commissioner at the Public Service Commission.
Minister Motsoaledi expects the committee to identify loopholes in the Home Affairs system and recommend improvements He said he expects an interim report in three months.
At least 300 000 Zimbabweans are in the neighbouring country under the three-year Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) which will expire at the end of December this year.-statemedia
The Ministry of Health and Child Care says pregnant people, the old and those with underlying conditions whose health condition were unstable are being discouraged from taking the vaccine.
Zimbabwe rolled out its vaccination program on 15 March using 200 000 Chinese-developed Sinopharm jabs donated by China.
An official in the Ministry of Health, Dr Raiva Simbi said the elderly can however take the vaccine as long as they are stable.
He said:
Naturally pregnant women are a special group. They are usually excluded from all the vaccination programmes.
Those with comorbidities, underlying chronic illnesses, can be vaccinated if they are stable, but if they are not we discourage them from getting vaccinated.
Then the elderly. These usually have some underlying conditions, but as long as they are stable they can take the vaccines.
Over 30 000 Zimbabweans have now been vaccinated against COVID-19 and only one person has reported possible side effects, a rash.
The ongoing coronavirus vaccination programme being undertaken by the Government is targeting frontline workers.
By A Correspondent- Daring armed robbers on Monday raided two service stations in Bulawayo, tied attendants’ hands before getting away with cash.
In the first incident which occurred on Monday at around 1.30 AM, four men armed with a pistol raided Trek Garage in Gwabalanda and got away with more than US$15 000 and R800 after attacking the fuel attendant and security guard.
Deputy police spokesperson for Bulawayo Assistant Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident. She said the petrol attendant, Herbert Mupezani (65) and a security guard, Muyambi Muimba (29) were on duty when four men armed with a pistol and an iron bar pounced on Trek Garage.
She said:
One of the suspects smashed the front and rear windscreens of Mr Mupezani’s car, which was parked near the offices where he was relaxing. The sound of the smashing of the glasses alerted Mr Muimba who then rushed to the scene.
The other two suspects tied the security guard and Mupezani’s hands behind their backs and force-marched them into the office where they ordered them to lie on the floor. Ass Insp Msebele added:
The other three suspects used the iron bar to open the supervisor’s office where the safe was kept. They blasted the safe using dynamite and opened it before they took US$15 395 and R800.
After committing the offence, the quartet fled leaving the two victims tied and lying on the floor.
In the second incident, three men armed with pistols raided Amakhosi Service Station along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road at around 11 PM.
A source told Chronicle:
Three men armed with pistols arrived at Amakhosi Service Station and pointed the firearms at the security guard and ordered him to comply with their instructions.
They force-marched him into the garage storeroom where there were two attendants.
They demanded that the attendant unlocks the pump and he complied before they started fueling customers’ vehicles while collecting the money.
They then ordered one of the attendants to lead them to the safe. They broke the door to the safe but failed to open it.
They disconnected the CCTV and took the digital video recorder. They demanded cash and went away with US$ 1 600.
Amakhosi Service Station manager Brian Zvikona, said while he had details on the robbery, he was not comfortable sharing them with the media while Insp Msebele confirmed the incident but said she was yet to receive detailed information.-statemedia
By Mari Matutu | I am advised by someone that there is a lot of excitement in the MDC T concerning the Political Parties Finances Act addendum that was Gazetted last week by the minister of Justice.
Douglas Mwonzora
The Mwonzora camp is saying they were part of the election in 2018. I am not lazy to explain this over and over again, especially when dealing with imposters.
I think Mwonzora lacks simple knowledge that right to stand for election ordinarily reside in the citizen and never ever in Political party. [s67 of Zimbabwe constitution, article 25 of Covenant on Civil and Political rights of UN, paragraph 3 of UN General Comment of 1996] . Once Mwonzora understand that right to stand for election is in a citizen and never in a political party then he will realise that MDC T never participated in 2018 election. Political parties have right to field or sponsor a candidate but never to stand for election. Now let MDC T show by way of proof of who it sponsored or who it fielded in 2018.
Let me remind Mwonzora of paragraph 17 of UN General Comment which by s46 of Zimbabwe constitution we are bound to it. It reads
17. The right of persons to stand for election should not be limited unreasonably by requiring candidates to be members of parties or of specific parties. If a candidate is required to have a minimum number of supporters for nomination this requirement should be reasonable and not act as a barrier to candidacy. Without prejudice to paragraph (1) of article 5 of the Covenant, political opinion may not be used as a ground to deprive any person of the right to stand for election.
By law the right to elect and stand for election is in citizen. Now if MDC T state as if the candidates who stood for election and sought to stand for MDC A by way of stating it on nomination paper, were bound to belong to MDC T and could not make choice of whom to stand for beside MDC T then they are in breach of GC 25 par 17.
If MDC T wanted to contest in 2018 election it could only do so by fielding candidates in its name or sponsor candidates in its name or logo. Period.
The electoral Act requires parties who wish to field candidates to do so by lodging papers from day for after Gazette of election date to two days from nomination date. If a
political party does not lodge such forms then it cannot field or sponsor candidates. If MDC T can prove it did so and the candidates sought its sponsorship with its name and symbol then it can claim right over such sponsored candidates.
In terms of Political Parties Finance Act any political party that get a minimum of 5% votes from total votes in General election stand a chance to get funding from government. The party then apply to minister of Justice for funding by furnishing details required for payment. This application must be lodged only before the end of financial year of the year General elections are held. The minister then respond by way of written responds.
Now MDC T must prove it got 5%and above of total vote and in particular it must state the actual figure MDC T got because every single vote counts for that purpose. It does not have legal binding and proof to say we were in Alliance agreement since GC25 par 17 has rubbished that idea of belonging to a party before nomination. Any attempt to talk of pre election agreements as formula for allocating funds is illegal.
MDC T must further prove if it ever applied for funding based on what ever % it says it got. Should it be found by bogus people that MDC T was 1/7 of what MDC A got then the question remains , “did MDC T applied in its name based on that calculation” ? If it applied , did the minister responded on their application and gave them a written response?
By Mari Matutu | I am advised by someone that there is a lot of excitement in the MDC T concerning the Political Parties Finances Act addendum that was Gazetted last week by the minister of Justice.
Douglas Mwonzora
The Mwonzora camp is saying there were part of the election in 2018. I am not lazy to explain this over and over again, especially when dealing with imposters.
I think Mwonzora lacks simple knowledge that right to stand for election ordinarily reside in the citizen and never ever in Political party. [s67 of Zimbabwe constitution, article 25 of Covenant on Civil and Political rights of UN, paragraph 3 of UN General Comment of 1996] . Once Mwonzora understand that right to stand for election is in a citizen and never in a political party then he will realise that MDC T never participated in 2018 election. Political parties have right to field or sponsor a candidate but never to stand for election. Now let MDC T show by way of proof of who it sponsored or who it fielded in 2018.
Let me remind Mwonzora of paragraph 17 of UN General Comment which by s46 of Zimbabwe constitution we are bound to it. It reads
17. The right of persons to stand for election should not be limited unreasonably by requiring candidates to be members of parties or of specific parties. If a candidate is required to have a minimum number of supporters for nomination this requirement should be reasonable and not act as a barrier to candidacy. Without prejudice to paragraph (1) of article 5 of the Covenant, political opinion may not be used as a ground to deprive any person of the right to stand for election.
By law the right to elect and stand for election is in citizen. Now if MDC T state as if the candidates who stood for election and sought to stand for MDC A by way of stating it on nomination paper, were bound to belong to MDC T and could not make choice of whom to stand for beside MDC T then they are in breach of GC 25 par 17.
If MDC T wanted to contest in 2018 election it could only do so by fielding candidates in its name or sponsor candidates in its name or logo. Period.
The electoral Act requires parties who wish to field candidates to do so by lodging papers from day for after Gazette of election date to two days from nomination date. If a
political party does not lodge such forms then it cannot field or sponsor candidates. If MDC T can prove it did so and the candidates sought its sponsorship with its name and symbol then it can claim right over such sponsored candidates.
In terms of Political Parties Finance Act any political party that get a minimum of 5% votes from total votes in General election stand a chance to get funding from government. The party then apply to minister of Justice for funding by furnishing details required for payment. This application must be lodged only before the end of financial year of the year General elections are held. The minister then respond by way of written responds.
Now MDC T must prove it got 5%and above of total vote and in particular it must state the actual figure MDC T got because every single vote counts for that purpose. It does not have legal binding and proof to say we were in Alliance agreement since GC25 par 17 has rubbished that idea of belonging to a party before nomination. Any attempt to talk of pre election agreements as formula for allocating funds is illegal.
MDC T must further prove if it ever applied for funding based on what ever % it says it got. Should it be found by bogus people that MDC T was 1/7 of what MDC A got then the question remains , “did MDC T applied in its name based on that calculation” ? If it applied , did the minister responded on their application and gave them a written response?
By Christian Religion Editor | There are records of events spanning over 100 years to date that strongly suggest that every ‘Christian’ leader who has flung the title “Prophet” before their name, or “Apostle” before their full name, has been a deceiver, no matter how many people they have assisted socially or spiritually. All of them were deceivers at different levels, who were found to be pursuing the human self, no matter how much mental energy they emitted. They failed to end their lives well.
Apostle Walter Masocha consulting a WitchDoctor
Among those from the 1940s, some scholars put two men as examples of those that might have tried to be selfless: these are Billy Graham, and Kenneth Hagin. We are not passing endorsement for these two, but it is a fact they are widely respected, especially Billy Graham.
The witch doctor power starts working? Women prostrate themselves before the man
The office of a prophet is one of the most misunderstood in our time. The office is completely different between the old and the New Testament (Hagin). In the Old Testament, when the blessed Holy Spirit hadn’t been poured, the Prophet back then was a dictator, because people were full and had no relationship with the Father, being outcasts and having no share in the Christ life we get from salvation.
During the Old Testament, people had to be controlled, and Moses ended up crying, “Oh, if all the Lord’s people were prophets that he would put his Spirit upon them.”
When Jesus died, things changed and His people are now his Sons and Daughters. They are now Christ beings, nothing less than Christ’s own standard height and perfection.
Much of what people is called prophecy these days is not at all that; it is divination and manipulation.
Much of what mordeners call anointing is not at all that, it is mere psychotic energy transmitted from the mouth of an orator. THIS ENERGY IS NOT SO EASY TO DETECT. This is Satan’s greatest power, the human energy people transmit.
No matter how human, this energy is not to be under estimated. It has worked to fool millions. Look at how for instance, with the help of some of these preachers, Donald Trump controlled masses to do worse than Emmerson Mnangagwa did on 1 August 2018 at the Capitol Hill in January this year. Also look at how Nigerian preacher TB Joshua’s church members assaulted rescuers and journalists at his building collapse in 2014 as victims were dying, leading to a total 117, including 2 Zimbabweans perishing. A person will even blaspheme Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, but the listeners will continue to be glued to that individual: because they have become totally electrocuted. The listener’s brain no longer works.
These Apostles and Prophets go to witch doctors to get powers and the powers they get are not at all supernatural, they are just supermental. They are powers dzekuvhara vanhu.
In the picture is Zimbabwean Apostle Walter Masocha(who ZimEye exposed and got him prosecuted in 2015) getting powers from a N’anga in Lesotho, South Africa, before managing to pull massive crowds.
When Talent Chiwenga was involved in the accident that killed his wife that he baselessly blames on Emmerson Mnangagwa, he was driving from South Africa, where he and his compatriot, Jay Israel, had each other. Chiwenga appeared on camera calling Israel, “my brother.” Several months later, Israel, whose real name is Jacob Dube, and was charged for among others, the crime of revenge porn on his own girlfriend, confessed that he obtained his powers to hypnotize people in West Africa where he personally witnessed human sacrifices being done.
The case of the latter two preachers is one that shows characteristics of building community trust while appearing to criticise certain ills of society, while yet hiding the worst corruption within. It also brings to light abilities of performing hypnotics on the masses through emotional statements, which only the analytic can decipher. Massive contradictions are uttered by the individual and yet the masses never see these. An example of these is seen in Talent Chiwenga whose sermons over a 5 year period are laid out below…
A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Patane village at Tuli in Gwanda is battling for life in hospital after he was stabbed several times in the chest and back while trying to stop a fight at a kitchen party.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena said:
“I can confirm that a man only identified as Mthokozisi and aged 23 is assisting police with investigations after he stabbed Allbright Molepo (22) at an illegal kitchen party held at Patane village on February 28 from around 7pm to 3am.
“The incident happened at around 3am and Molepo was ferried to Manama Hospital before he was transferred to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he is in a critical condition,” said Insp Mangena.
Witnesses say a kitchen party was held in defiance of national Covid-19 protocol that prohibits gatherings.
Mr Molepo reportedly tried to stop a fight between Mthokozisi and his cousin 20-year-old Uluketsi Nare.
“There was a kitchen top up party at the village and it started at around 7pm and ended after the stabbing incident.
“Mthokozisi had a misunderstanding with Molepo’s cousin Uluketsi Nare and they started to fight. Molepo tried to stop Mthokozisi who got angry and stabbed him in the back and in the chest,” said the witness.- Chronicle
BUSINESSES in Bulawayo are counting losses following a five-day blackout in parts of the city centre due to an electrical fault at a Zesa substation in Belmont industrial area.
The fault has also caused a blackout in residential areas such as Suburbs, Woodlands and some parts of Ilanda.
Zesa technicians have since Monday been battling to restore power to the affected sections. Some businesses have been forced to shut down, only days after they reopened when the Government relaxed the lockdown on Monday.
Others have resorted to diesel generators and gas as alternatives.
Retail shops, restaurant and informal business operators who spoke to Chronicle yesterday said they have been adversely affected by the power outage.
Mr Martin Ndlovu, a manager at Billy’s Fry and Braai Restaurant said they are now forced to use a generator which consumes 60 litres of diesel daily.
“The situation has forced us to resort to using a generator which requires about 60 litres of fuel every day, which is unsustainable. In some cases, we end up throwing away some perishable products such as meat, vegetables and dairy foods because our generator does not operate during the night,” he said.
“We used about US$100 daily to fuel the generator because we have to take a risk as we do not want to lose our customers.”
Mr Wayne Cooke who operates a veterinary company said the blackout has forced them to suspend procurement of new stock of animal vaccines, which require a cold chain.
“We sell vaccines for livestock and they are supposed be kept at a temperature of between 2 and 10 degrees Celsius and this has forced us to destock the vaccines to avoid incurring losses. We are forced to buy at least 8 litres of diesel every day to power our generator as well as ice to keep the vaccines under the low temperatures,” he said.
“Most farmers rely on vaccines for their livestock since we are in the rainy season and animals need to be vaccinated to control the spread of diseases. Due to the power blackout, we are failing to supply our customers with enough vaccines.- Chronicle
The Government has released the 2021 schools calendar signaling the return to the standard education interface after the prolonged Covid-19 furlough.
The first term opens on Monday, March 15 for the three examination classes, and the rest of the classes a week later on Monday March 22, the first term will end on Friday June 4.
The second term begins on Monday June 28, ending Friday September 10, while the last term will start on Monday October 4, ending on Friday December 17.
The Herald has seen the calendar signed by Mrs Tumisang Thabela the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
The resumption of face to face classes this month follows a thorough exercise by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary education and their Health and Child Care counterparts to ensure a safe return to the standard education interface.
ZIMBABWE EVENING WEATHER REPORT AND FORECAST ISSUED AT 1600 HRS ON THURSDAY 04 MARCH 2021 VALID UNTIL SATURDAY 06 MARCH 2021.
PREAMBLE
Mostly sunny and warm conditions were experienced over provinces such as Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland north with scattered clouds and thundershowers over Harare Metropolitan, Midlands as well as all Mashonaland provinces. The only significant rainfall recorded was 30mm ( Mvurwi).
FORECAST
FRIDAY 05 MARCH 2021: All Mashonaland Provinces and Harare Metropolitan Province should be mostly cloudy and warm with a chance of isolated afternoon thundershowers. The rest of the provinces should be mostly sunny and hot though mild in the morning.
IMPACTS
Day-time temperatures are expected to steadily rise as the week progresses. Crops might show signs of moisture stress Hot daytime conditions may lead to dehydration ACTIONS TO TAKE
Keep hydrated: ensure you drink lots of water from protected sources. Poultry producers should note that broilers are sensitive to temperature variations and therefore need to be checked regularly and adjustment made. Farmer with crops that still need significant amounts of water should plan with irrigation in mind. NB: Pfumvudza plots are easy to irrigate even by hand
EXECUTOR of the late socialite Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s estate Patricia Darangwa yesterday told the Kadungure family that they could not seek reversal of his unsigned will after they initially endorsed it.
Ginimbi died in a fatal accident on November 8, 2020, leaving behind a fleet of top-of-the-range vehicles and a multi-million-dollar mansion in Domboshawa.
Darangwa made the remarks in response to an urgent chamber application filed by Ginimbi’s sisters, Juliet and Nelia, and his father Anderson to reverse the unsigned will.
The family had sought an interdict to stop Ginimbi’s best friend Nomatter “Kit-Kat” Zinyengere from inheriting one of the deceased’s top-of-the-range vehicles.
The row started when Ginimbi’s family refused to surrender the top-of-the range Lamborghini vehicle bequeathed to his friend, Kit-Kat.
The Kadungure family wanted Kit-Kat to produce a birth certificate to prove that he was, indeed, the one mentioned in the will.
Darangwa said the family had made a lot of misrepresentations in the urgent application and, as such, the matter should be struck off the roll of urgent cases.
“It is respectfully submitted that this matter is not urgent. The master’s decision accepting the unsigned will was arrived at on November 25, 2020. The applicants were present when the decision was made. It was made with and based on their consent,” she said.
She said the fact that the family took three months to file an urgent chamber application showed that there was no urgency.
Darangwa also said section 8(6) of the Wills Act (Chapter 6:06) gave the applicants the right to appeal against the decision of the master within 30 days, but they chose to do so three months later.
“The applicants have exhibited no urgency whatsoever in their handling of the present matter. They have carelessly abstained from action. The applicants cannot seek an interdict against the first respondent, barring her from carrying out her duties as an executor. The letters of administration that empower her remain valid and extant,” Darangwa said.
She said the applicants had failed to disclose material facts that had a bearing on their application, for instance, disclosing to the court that they signed affidavits confirming that they had no objections to the unsigned will.
“So they cannot turn around and claim belatedly that the second respondent erred in accepting it or that they were unduly influenced to accept it,” she said.
Darangwa complained that the Kadungure family members were paying no regard to the fact that the executor had already made significant. -Newsday
Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has appointed the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board led by Major-General Gibson Mashingaidze (Retired).
Other board members are Cde Irene Zindi, Major-General Evaristo Dzihwema (Rtd), Lieutenant-Colonel Getrude Moyo, Brigadier-General Alex Mazinyane (Rtd) and Mr Lameck Jackson.
Other members are Remigio Makoni, Rido Mpofu, Tinaye Chigudu, Archibald Kufa, Susan Madzivadondo, Lifneth Moyo and Batsirai Musona.
Accepting the appointment, Major-General Mashingaidze (Rtd) promised to hit the ground running.
The board was appointed following consultations with President Mnangagwa and his deputies during the process of enacting the War Veterans Act.
Announcing the new board yesterday, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri, who was accompanied by her deputy Victor Matemadanda, said the appointment marked the first practical step of operationalising the VLS (Veterans of the Liberation Struggle) Act.
“In coming up with the members of the board whose composition has already been outlined by the Secretary for Defence and War Veterans Affairs, issues of gender balance and fair regional representation were considered in line with sections 17 and 18 of the Constitution.
“Equally, due prominence was given to the appointment of Veterans with critical qualifications that are essential in driving various processes and assignments that the board will be expected to accomplish,” she said.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri tasked the board to immediately create an empowerment vehicle for veterans of the liberation struggle.
She said the envisaged empowerment vehicle would be 100 percent owned by a fund controlled by veterans of the liberation struggle.
“Your appointment coincides with the implementation of National Development Strategy 1 (2021-2025) whose thrust is anchored on a transformative and inclusive development agenda.
“It is critical for veterans of the liberation struggle to play a key role, both as actors and beneficiaries in the new development trajectory.
“To this end, your activities should be informed by and feed into the milestones of NDS 1,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
She said among other functions, the board was expected to advise the Minister on the establishment of any scheme in terms of this act or on any matter relating to any scheme and to administer through the Chief Director, the veterans of the liberation struggle fund.
The other functions included addressing issues relating to rights, benefits and the general welfare of veterans of the liberation struggle. – Herald
Despite delays in getting a new passport, South Africa-based heavyweight boxer Elvis Moyo is stepping up preparations for his March 26 non-title bout in Tanzania. Moyo has less than two weeks to get a new passport for him to travel for the fight dubbed “#RUMBLEINDA2” against Romanian Bogdan Marius Dinu.
The fight against Dinu will mark the end of a two-year hiatus for the Bulawayo Bomber, whose previous scheduled flights were all cancelled at the 11th hour.
“I’m waiting for a new passport, which was supposed to take seven days when I applied, but seems to be taking long.
I sent through the application last month and I’m hopeful I’ll get it. The thing is because of Covid-19, the Zimbabwe consulate had closed and the appointment I had was rescheduled.
“However, despite this passport issue, I remain committed and focused on my training. My trainer is emphasising on the need to vent all frustrations in the gym. I stayed long without fighting so, I intend to do at least 100 rounds of which four sessions will be 10 rounders.
That way, I’ll get myself in the shape I want. That’s why I started early to idle as a way of getting this rust off. So, I’ll at least have more than 15 sparring sessions. I’ve since engaged the Congolese (heavyweight) pair of Yousef and Papi to help me with sparring,” said Moyo.
He has been itching for a fight to improve his rankings and victory in Tanzania over the Romanian, who is ranked 90th in the world rankings, will just be the beginning.
Last December, Moyo, a former World Boxing Federation (WBF) Africa heavyweight champion, turned down a proposed title fight with Belgium-based DR Congo boxer Jack Mulowayi Nsendula because he felt that he wasn’t ready.
A non-title fight with Ukraine-born heavyweight Oleksandr Zakhozhyi was cancelled in March last year following outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Bulawayo Bomber has nine career wins, five losses and two draws. – Chronicle
Aston Villa have conceded a goal, with Marvelous Nakamba in the starting XI, for the first time this season.
The Zimbabwean made his second successive start in the game against Sheffield United on Wednesday but saw his impressive record coming to an end after David McGoldrick opened the scoring in the 31st minute.
Despite his team trailing 1-0 for thr majority of the tie, Nakamba put a decent defensive display in the central midfield during his 68 minutes on the field. The midfielder won 3/4 duels and completed two tackles and seven recoveries.
His passing improved in this game, registering 35/40 successful passes which translated to 88% success rate.
In the previous outing, he struggled with his passing and coach Dean Smith had to highlight that issue in his post-match presser.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance deputy chairperson and Zengeza West MP, Hon Job Sikhala has said the so called Patriotic Bill is meant to close all democratic avenues.
Hon Sikhala questioned the logic behind the introduction of the bill at a time the nation is battling to contain the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Hon Sikhala Sikhala believes the introduction of the bill is a case of misguided priorities.
“The motion pushing for the immediate introduction of the so called Patriotic Bill being discussed in Parliament today shows how misguided we are as a people in terms of our priorities.
The county is burning you spend time pushing the law criminalizing meeting anyone from USA or EU,” argued Hon Sikhala.
Some teachers’ unions on Wednesday said that teachers are financially incapacitated and would not be able to report for duty until their salaries and working conditions are improved.
Speaking to NewsDay, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure said the government risks a repeat of what happened in late 2020 when schools were reopened in the absence of teachers. Said Masaraure:
It is very unfortunate and tragic that the government of Zimbabwe is opening up schools without capacitating the teachers who ordinarily teach there.
The teachers will neither be able to show up for duty nor pay the school fees for their own children.
Government is acting like the proverbial fool who repeats the same mistake and expects different results. The crisis of September 28 will haunt us.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou echoed Masaraure’s sentiments, saying the opening of schools this month will be “mission impossible” for teachers as they are financially incapacitated. He said:
As teachers who are nearer the schools and classrooms, we want to tell Mnangagwa that teachers will not be able to report for work on March 15, 2021, as they are grossly incapacitated.
There is no need for the State to be inconsiderate by giving teachers an impossible mission of opening schools on March 15.
Teachers are demanding a basic salary of US$520 or its equivalent in the local currency, roughly ZWL$43 160.00.
However, the government insists that it has no capacity to pay in foreign currency or the equivalent in local currency.
Schools will re-open for the 2021 calendar on a phased approach with examination classes commencing on March 15 while the rest of the learners will resume classes on March 22.- NewsDay
Zimbabwe is the only country, where I have witnessed Mps going to Parliament to collect fuel coupons, allowances, good ventilation in Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza, Sheraton Hotel ( Rainbow Towers), and that’s all , off they go to their respective constituencies, or perhaps sell the few copouns, or convert them into USD. Today we have outstanding projects that we seek closure such as
Kunzvi dam
Beitbridge road construction. How much was the cost? Who is doing the Monitoring & Evaluation systems? Who is the main contractor?
We have the Great Dyke project or rather discoveries. Any report about these discoveries to the nation? Do we have a national report on the entire mineral discoveries countrywide?
NB : All we have witnessed, is the new discovery series vehicle heading to Mutorashanga ( Great Dyke), no feedback nothing else
The Monetary Policy Committee ( MPC), resigned, nothing formal was reported, except the appointment of a new Committee. Any evaluation of the previous Committee
We have Mps from Alliance MDC who were expelled from Parliament, or rather recalled, what is the status about their vehicles which they were allocated?
NB : These are national resources, which require feedback, monitoring appraisal and strong Institutional capacity framework
NB : The Parliamentary role is to play an oversight role and monitor resources and implementation.
Mbuya Nehanda project along Samora Machel Ave. How much cost was the Mbuya Nehanda project ? Who is the main contractor?
What is the state of NRZ and other State Companies which are now in state of collapse?
How much gold do we have as a nation?
We need proper Strategic reporting to the nation through systems such as Parliament
We were told that ZAAC managed to recovery over 500 million from those who were externalizing foreign currency. Who are those people who externalized Foreign Currency? What happened to them?
We need a strong Research and Development plan for our country
The implications of Covid-19 pandemic. Both positives and negatives. A proper Economic Recovery framework to address the fundamentals hoovering around the Covid-19 pandemic
Where is the National Development plan?
Fiscal imbalances. Where is the surplus, Prof Muthuli talked about? Was it in RTGs? What have they done with the surplus budget?
We have allocations for Devolution funds for all provinces. Where is the money? Any feedback, proposals and implementation evaluation processes
We need proper Strategic Thinking around the current trajectory
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking – ZIST, and he can be contacted at [email protected]
By A Correspondent- One of the country’s most reliable and leading internet service providers, TelOne has signed a service agreement pact with a Franch satellite company, Eutelsat Communications’ (Euronext Paris: ETL).
Under the terms of the multi-year agreement with Eutelsat’s broadband division, Konnect Africa, beginning in March 2021, TelOne (Pvt) Limited will leverage the operational flexibility and power of the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite to bring connectivity to households and businesses located in remote and rural locations across Zimbabwe.
TelOne Managing Director, Mrs Chipo Mtasa, said the parastatal is ever striving to give the best services to their customers.
“By securing this premium capacity and service we will be able to pursue our mission of offering fast, reliable broadband services at an affordable price to homes, businesses, educational institutions and Government departments all over Zimbabwe. We are passionate about making long-lasting and meaningful connections through our services, and this will now become a reality for customers in even the remotest regions, in line with our vision for a digitally enabled society by 2023,” she said.
By James Gwati- The eviction of 12 500 families from their Chilongo village in Chiredzi by the government is a donation of votes to the Nelson Chamisa’s opposition MDC-Alliance.
The villagers who are about to be evicted are in Chiredzi West Constituency which was won by Farai Musikavanhu.
The Zanu PF lawmaker who is enjoying seating in parliament got his house of assembly tick from these villagers whom he has since disowned. Musikavanhu, said that the government has the right to displace his voters and replaces them with the cattle project, the administration has since identified.
MDC-Alliance Vice President who is also the opposition party’s MP for Harare East, Tendai Biti, yesterday warned Zanu PF against evicting these villagers.
By James Gwati-Professor Johnathan Moyo, said the arrest of Gweru businesswoman, Smelly Dube by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission was politically motivated.
ZAAC arrested Smelly yesterday on her hospital bed after she had fainted, collapsed and hospitalized after receiving a phone call informing her of her impending arrest.
“What’s happening to Smelly Dube who collapsed upon getting a call about her impending arrest yesterday on unclear allegations over a land deal and had to be hospitalized? Is it prosecution or persecution over her alleged links with the former first lady, Grace? Something smelly!”, Said Professor Moyo on his Twitter handle this evening.
The Gweru based property mogul, was very active in Grace Mugabe’s anti-Mnangagwa crusades before the November 2017 military coupe when she was working with the G40 team, led by Tapiwa Matangaidze to denounce Mnangagwa in Midlands.
Together with Matangaidze, the Gweru businesswoman influenced votes of no-confidence which were passed on provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, John Holder and Clarisa Mutambisi.
Former Sports minister Makhosini Hlongwane, Anastancia Ndlovu, former Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya, and the late former Kwekwe MP Masango Matambanadzo completed the Grace Mugabe team in Midlands during that time.
The British Government is reviewing whether COVID-status certificates could play a role in reopening parts of our economy, reducing restrictions on social contact and improving safety.
As set out in the roadmap by the Prime Minister, this review will include assessing to what extent certification would be effective in reducing risk, and the potential uses to enable access to settings or a relaxation of COVID-Secure mitigations. The Government will also consider the ethical, equalities, privacy, legal and operational aspects of this approach and what limits, if any, should be placed on organisations using certification. It will draw on external advice to develop recommendations that take into account any social and economic impacts, and implications for disproportionately impacted groups and individuals’ privacy and security. The Government will set out its conclusions in advance of Step 4 in order to inform the safe reopening of society and the economy.
As the Prime Minister has said, there are complex ethical issues – and we can’t discriminate against people who, for whatever reason, haven’t had a vaccine.
By James Gwati- Sungura Maestro and the country’s most happening musician, Alick Macheso says he misses live musical shows.
Cheso Power as he is affectionately known in the music cycles celebrateed his wife Nyaradzai’s half a century birthday at their Waterfalls home in Harare on Wednesday.
The musician used to celebrate his wife’s birthday during one of his family shows that were held during the first week of March.
He bemoaned the Covid-19 pandemic saying time will come to return to normalcy.
“We could have celebrated with fans, but you know there is this pandemic. We would have loved to make it a big one,” said Macheso.
The Madhau hitmaker presented a birthday cake to his ‘friend’ at a mini-party and described her as his pillar of strength.
“She is my pillar and we thank God for adding another year. I see her as a friend because we have been together for a long time now.
“We couldn’t do something big, we just wished her a happy birthday with children and grandchildren,” Macheso said.
By James Gwati- A Gweru businesswoman and Grace Mugabe top ally, Smelly Dube, has collapsed and hospitalised after receiving a phone call from President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
The G-40 Queen was arrested while on her hospital bed by ZAAC on allegations of illegally selling state land.
The Gweru based property mogul, was very active in Grace Mugabe’s anti-Mnangagwa crusades before the November 2017 military coupe when she was working with the G40 team, led by Tapiwa Matangaidze to denounce Mnangagwa in Midlands.
Together with Matangaidze, the Gweru businesswoman influenced votes of no-confidence which were passed on provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, John Holder and Clarisa Mutambisi.
Former Sports minister Makhosini Hlongwane, Anastancia Ndlovu, former Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya, and the late former Kwekwe MP Masango Matambanadzo completed the Grace Mugabe team in Midlands during that time.
By James Gwati- A Zanu PF Chiredzi West Member of Parliament, Farai Musikavanhu said the eviction of 12 000 villagers from his constituency fulfils his party’s vision 2030.
Musikavanhu, who is supposed to defend the forced eviction of his people said the government has the right to displace them and replaces them with the cattle project.
“ The people of Chiredzi West (where Chilonga is located) elected a representative to promote and protect their interests. Their legislator is, Hon Farai Musikavanhu who in this clip weighs in to give his support to the Lucerne Project which he says is good for his community,” said Nick Mangwana, the ministry of information permanent secretary in a tweet bearing a video clip he recorded Musikavanhu.
The government is moving 12 500 villagers from their Chilonga ancestral village for a grass growing project.
The move has been heavily denounced by the opposition and civil society.
The people of Chiredzi West (where Chilonga is located) elected a representative to promote and protect their interests. Their legislator is, Hon Farai Musikavanhu who in this clip weighs in to give his support to the Lucerne Project which he says is good for his Community. pic.twitter.com/hWnzCETANK
An assortment of brain-boosting, blood-sugar-leveling foods may help relieve the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
By Jessica Migala Medically Reviewed by Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES
Seasonal depression, more formally known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a common mood disorder characterized by low energy, hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, and sleep problems that coincide with the change in seasons, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
The cause of SAD is likely multifactorial, and may include imbalances in mood-regulating brain chemicals, as well as a lack of vitamin D (from less sunlight), and an overproduction of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin.
Typical treatment involves light therapy, talk therapy, antidepressant medications, and supplements of vitamin D (which we normally get from sunlight, which is scarce during the winter).
Many clinicians also suggest another way to alleviate symptoms: diet.
“Nutrition habits can definitely have an impact on your mood,” says Nicole Avena, PhD, a research neuroscientist and nutrition and diet expert in New York City. “Variety and balance is important. If your eating pattern is unbalanced, it can upset other aspects of your health, including mood,” she says.
While research definitively linking a specific diet and relief of SAD symptoms is lacking, there’s good evidence to suggest that the following 10 foods support mood and brain function.
1 Salmon and Rainbow Trout Sardines and lemons in oil Offset Foods that include omega-3 fatty acids, which support brain health, and vitamin D, are a one-two punch. Salmon and rainbow trout are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and rich in vitamin D, says the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
2 Berries blueberries in cartons Veeterzy/Unsplash Many people are drawn to high carb junk food for a feel-good fix. But the payoff is short-lived. “Eating high amounts of added sugar, which can cause highs followed by lows, can cause swings in mood or irritability,” says Ginger Hultin, RDN, the owner of Champagne Nutrition in Seattle and author of Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep, Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries offer a sweet taste without a ton of added sugar.
3 Whole Grain Bread + Protein poached egg avocado toast Darren Muir/Stocksy Adding some fresh chicken or hummus, cheese, and vegetables to whole grain bread may be the perfect mood-supporting lunch. “Combining healthy carbs and protein can be a good way to support your mood in the winter because the protein will keep you full longer and the carbs will give your body the proper sugar it needs without the crash,” says Dr. Avena.
4 Green, Black, or White Tea pouring green tea Marti Sans/Stocksy People suffering from SAD sometimes over-consume coffee in search of a mood lift. Tea provides a dose of caffeine, but a milder one, and it has other brain benefits. Tea consumption is associated with a 31 percent lower risk of depression, according to a review published in Nutrients in June 2019. That may be because of the brew’s unique compounds, including teasaponin, L-theanine, and EGCG (in green tea), all of which affect the neurotransmitter dopamine, reduce bodily inflammation, and lessen the body’s stress response, say researchers.
5 Green Leafy Vegetables fresh kale in basket Thinkstock We’re talking spinach, bok choy, kale, collards, and other greens. These are packed with B vitamins that are also critical for brain function, says Hultin. In fact, some research in Nutrients in September 2019 suggests that an overall deficiency in this group of vitamins is associated with mood disorders in some people. Restoring those levels, therefore, may help improve mood. While the study did not find that supplementing with B vitamins decreased depression or anxiety, it was found to make a difference in lowering stress levels, which can contribute to winter angst.
6 Protein
In a study from Finland, published in Neuropsychobiology in July 2017, the percentage of people affected by seasonal affective disorder was four times higher in vegetarians compared with omnivores.
Researchers suggest that it might be the lack of certain nutrients, like B12, from animal products, as well as a greater focus on carbohydrate-rich foods (which vegetarians tend to prioritize) that led to lagging energy. If you are someone who eats animal-based proteins, make sure that you’re eating these types of foods during the winter season to keep your vigor up…
Source: Everyday Health
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Aston Villa have conceded a goal, with Marvelous Nakamba in the starting XI, for the first time this season.
The Zimbabwean made his second successive start in the game against Sheffield United on Wednesday but saw his impressive record coming to an end after David McGoldrick opened the scoring in the 31st minute.
Despite his team trailing 1-0 for thr majority of the tie, Nakamba put a decent defensive display in the central midfield during his 68 minutes on the field. The midfielder won 3/4 duels and completed two tackles and seven recoveries.
His passing improved in this game, registering 35/40 successful passes which translated to 88% success rate.
In the previous outing, he struggled with his passing and coach Dean Smith had to highlight that issue in his post-match presser.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent | A man who has been searching for his wife since she disappeared while on her way to South Africa on the 2nd March, updates ZimEye saying she has been found. VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has approved the resumption of ‘low risk’ sporting disciplines, with football still banned.
The country’s top-flight has been on hold since March last year due to the Covid-19 crisis but despite calls by football stakeholders, who are working hand-in-glove to crank pressure on the authorities to usher-in it’s resumption, the sports regulatory board insists the game is a high risk one.
A letter from the SRC in our position, dated March 3 2020, approved the resumption of ‘low risk’ disciplines such as cricket, swimming, cycling, chess and tennis to mention but just a few.
Weirdly, the new lockdown measures recently announced by governments allows social gatherings of up to 50 people, even churches, but local clubs, who will mostly like have way less than that number in training, are forbidden to prepare for matches.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance deputy chairperson and Zengeza West MP, Hon Job Sikhala has said the so called Patriotic Bill is meant to close all democratic avenues.
Hon Sikhala questioned the logic behind the introduction of the bill at a time the nation is battling to contain the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Hon Sikhala Sikhala believes the introduction of the bill is a case of misguided priorities.
“The motion pushing the immediate introduction of the so called Patriotic Bill being discussed in Parliament today shows how misguided we are as a people in terms of our priorities.
The county is burning you spend time pushing the law criminalizing meeting anyone from USA or EU,” argued Hon Sikhala.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance deputy chairperson and Zengeza West MP, Hon Job Sikhala has said the so called Patriotic Bill is meant to close all democratic avenues.
Hon Sikhala questioned the logic behind the introduction of the bill at a time the nation is battling to contain the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Hon Sikhala Sikhala believes the introduction of the bill is a case of misguided priorities.
“The motion pushing the immediate introduction of the so called Patriotic Bill being discussed in Parliament today shows how misguided we are as a people in terms of our priorities.
The county is burning you spend time pushing the law criminalizing meeting anyone from USA or EU,” argued Hon Sikhala.
Some teachers’ unions on Wednesday said that teachers are financially incapacitated and would not be able to report for duty until their salaries and working conditions are improved.
Speaking to NewsDay, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure said the government risks a repeat of what happened in late 2020 when schools were reopened in the absence of teachers. Said Masaraure:
It is very unfortunate and tragic that the government of Zimbabwe is opening up schools without capacitating the teachers who ordinarily teach there.
The teachers will neither be able to show up for duty nor pay the school fees for their own children.
Government is acting like the proverbial fool who repeats the same mistake and expects different results. The crisis of September 28 will haunt us.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou echoed Masaraure’s sentiments, saying the opening of schools this month will be “mission impossible” for teachers as they are financially incapacitated. He said:
As teachers who are nearer the schools and classrooms, we want to tell Mnangagwa that teachers will not be able to report for work on March 15, 2021, as they are grossly incapacitated.
There is no need for the State to be inconsiderate by giving teachers an impossible mission of opening schools on March 15.
Teachers are demanding a basic salary of US$520 or its equivalent in the local currency, roughly ZWL$43 160.00.
However, the government insists that it has no capacity to pay in foreign currency or the equivalent in local currency.
Schools will re-open for the 2021 calendar on a phased approach with examination classes commencing on March 15 while the rest of the learners will resume classes on March 22.- NewsDay
Zimdancehall chanter Killer T has been blasted by his fans on his Facebook page yesterday after he posted his picture with First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa wishing her a happy birthday.
The picture was captioned, “l just wanna say Happy Birthday Kuna Amai Mwari akuwedzerei makore akawandisa ekurarama muchengetwe naIshe nhasi izuva renyu enjoy your birthday Momz??.”
The post attracted more than 8k comments with most people reacting negatively.
Bindura mayor Brian Kembo (MDC) said Killer T is seeking hero status which he will not get.
“I know zvawazviitira manje hauiitwe hero,” he said.
Another fan Priscillar Mtungwazi said, “Izvo ita wega hako.”
Tendai Valentine Ruomba blasted the musician for dining with Mnangagwa.
“Ah makuda kupera mukuru siyana nechembere idzo we listen to your music to escape the pain caused by these same people saka respect our feelings don’t fine navo avo.”
Meanwhile, some fans believed there was nothing wrong in him wishing the First Lady a happy birthday.
“Atadzei Chairman veduwe..Wishing someone good health and many more years imhosva here..Magara hamuuye kumaliveshows ake Chairman vazhinji hamuna help yamunomupa mulife make so don’t control him itai yamunoita imimi,” wrote Tinofara Shango Mushangwe.
Caroline Tafadzwa Mudadi said people should leave Killer T alone since if invited for an event by the first family is money to him unlike the majority who do not buy his music but share it.
“Imi siyai munhu arumbidze mai vake.Akadanwa kuma events ekufirst family hanty imari yaanenge awana.imi munomupei basa kupanana masong ake neshare it.Ndosaka maartist edu achitambura..mungoda kuvajaja sepane zvamomupa…tsengerwai mudzi wemubanana.”
By A Correspondent- Outspoken Independent Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa (Norton) says there was no point in liberating the country from the yoke of white minority rule if 41 years after independence black people are forced off their ancestral land for whites.
This follows the recent gazetting of Statutory Instrument 50 of 2021 by the Ministry of Local Government for the removal of the Chilonga people in Chiredzi from their ancestral land to pave way for a dairy company, Dendairy owned by Darren Coetzee, to run a lucerne grass farming project.
Mliswa claimed that white people are doing as they please under the so-called New Dispensation and this is a reversal of the gains achieved by the nation through the armed struggle. He said:
No one wants to support a system that persecutes people. The whites are having a party in Zimbabwe with the Second Republic.
They’re making more money than everybody, we’re witnessing the reversal of policies and empowerment in their favour.
12 000 people are being removed for what? For one white man? Dendairy what national project are we talking of here?
Mliswa challenged the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to intervene and ensure that the Chilonga people retain their heritage.
The former ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa that on a spiritual level, Zimbabwe will become difficult to govern as local people are “crying” because of government policies.
Said Mliswa:
Where’s our culture and heritage [Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage]?
Spiritually it becomes difficult to govern the country when such prevails. People’s tears aren’t good.
What was the point of liberating this country when we’re still oppressed?
By A Correspondent- Health experts have warned that it’s just a matter of time before Zimbabwe experiences a deadly coronavirus third wave following Monday’s relaxation of lockdown restrictions.
The approaching winter, the emergence of new variants of the disease, and the improper wearing of face masks and zero social distancing in public spaces by members of the public are perfect conditions for another devastating COVID-19 wave.
Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive Solwayo Ngwenya warned in a tweet that the third wave is brewing.
He wrote:
The third wave is loading, all the ingredients needed for it are being made, new variants, relaxing populations and the winter is approaching.
My predictions are that the third wave will appear suddenly, in a massive form and kill many people, especially in Africa.
In response to those who argue that people need to be out and about in order to fend for their families, Ngwenya said it is better to be hungry alive than to die on a full stomach. He said: It will be like adding fuel to a raging fire. Zupco buses will be overcrowded. That is a recipe for disaster.
I saw many informal traders not practising social distancing and others were not wearing masks properly. That is a bad brew and the third wave of COVID-19 is loading. We are brewing it.
With winter approaching, this will escalate. Vaccines do not stop the infection; they just boost your immunity. The virus is going to find you and infect people. Some will die.
So you are better off being poor and hungry and alive, than being buried with a full stomach six feet under, permanently and prematurely.
Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said members of the public should voluntarily comply with appropriate public health measures such as the mandatory wearing of face masks, sanitisation, handwashing, avoiding crowds and social distancing.
Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association president Johannes Marisa called for more vigilance, saying the coronavirus still poses a present danger to the nation.
By Nomusa Garikai- “I would like to be a friend of all and an enemy of none,” announced Zimbabwe’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Fredrick Shava, after taking his oath of office.
“We are going to try our best to reaffirm our friendship with our all-weather friends and we will also bring countries that have been disgruntled by our land reform programme and imposed sanctions on us so that we talk to them (West).”
Minister Shava has just started on the wrong foot!
Zimbabwe is facing a serious and existential threat from the economic and political crisis that has dragged the nation deeper and deeper into the abyss. And the root cause of the crisis is the 41 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and rank lawless that has turned the country into a Banana Republic.
Last week the Governor of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), Dr John Mangudya, said Zimbabwe has the resources to bankroll not only its economic recovery but economic prosperity.
“We don’t need anyone’s money as we can do it on our own. Sometimes it’s just the mindset and belief to achieve that,” Dr John Mangudya told Business last week.
“Like what oil is to Nigeria, gold is to Zimbabwe. The precious mineral alone has the potential to turn around the country’s fortunes.”
And yet for the last 41 years Zimbabwe has continued down this path of economic ruins because of corruption. The RBZ has said the country is losing an estimated US$1.2 billion every year to gold smugglers.
It is as clear as day that Zimbabwe much now do something address the scourge of corruption and mismanagement and that something is implementing democratic reforms designed to end the curse of rigged elections and bad governance.
The Zanu PF ruling elite have done nothing to end corruption and endemic misrule because they have remained unaccountable to the people. By rigging elections, they placed themselves above the people who, without a meaningful vote, are utterly powerless.
Many ordinary Zimbabwe have long realised the need for democratic reforms leading to the holding of free, fair and credible elections as the only way out of this hell-on-earth the nation finds itself stuck in.
It is therefore most disheartening that Zimbabwe’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs is dismissing the West’s call for democratic reforms on the same feeble grounds that the West is “disgruntled by our land reform programme”. And has once again completely ignore the ordinary Zimbabweans demand the same reforms; not only do we have no democratic vote, we have no voice either!
Unemployment has soared to 90%, basic services such as education and health care have completely collapsed and 50% of our people now live in abject poverty. This economic and political situation is unbearable, unsustainable and socially and economically reprehensible because it is wholly a man-made crisis.
It is incumbent on every Zimbabweans to now demand the implementation of the democratic reforms and restore the people’s freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful vote and the right to life!
For 41 years Zanu PF has rod roughshod over us, denying us our freedoms and rights. The regime has completely ignored our suffering and has murdered over 30 000 to establish and retain the de facto one-party dictatorship we lived under all these years.
Zimbabwe is standing on the very edge of the precipitous abyss and must urgently implement meaningful democratic changes to stop going over. Dr Fredrick Shava, cannot conduct the nation’s affairs on the same basis as his predecessors, denying the need for change and ignore the tragic reality on the ground, crying for change.
Zimbabwe cannot continue resist democratic change on the false grounds that it is the West who are asking for change; it is not the westerners who are living in abject poverty and hopelessness and despair. It is ordinary Zimbabweans and they have been crying for change, a voice and a meaningful vote. Zanu PF must embrace change, the days of the dictatorship are over!
By A Correspondent- Schools will not break for the traditional first school holidays incorporating the Easter and Independence Day holidays.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on Wednesday, however, said there would be no classes on these public holidays which run from Friday, 2 April (Good Friday) to Monday, 5 April (Easter Monday) 2021.
The school calendar for this year has not yet been announced but it is likely that there will be three normal-length terms each of 60 teaching days.
This entails that there will be very short school holidays once weekends and public holidays have been taken into account.
Traditionally schools open for the first term early in January, with the first term ending shortly before the late March and April public holidays and the second term ending just before the Heroes and Defence Forces.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the normal school calendar has been set aside and a new calendar is expected to be finalised before the 15th of March.
On Tuesday, the government announced a phased reopening of schools, with examination classes commencing on 15 March while the rest of the learners will resume classes on 15 March.
In her post-Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said:
Cabinet agreed that the school calendar for 2021 starts on a slightly phased approach, with the examination classes opening on 15th March and the rest on 22nd March 2021.
Teachers for examination classes should therefore report for duty on the 10th of March, and the rest on 17th March, 2021.
By A Correspondent- Former Vice President Kembo Mohadi, who resigned recently over allegations of improper romantic relationships with married subordinates, will retain his portfolio as Zanu PF’s second secretary, the party has said.
Addressing journalists after the 349th ordinary session of the Politburo at the party’s headquarters in Harare on Wednesday, Zanu Pf national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the party had received and accepted Mohadi’s resignation but this will not affect his position in the ruling party.
He said:
The resignation of the former vice president from the government will not affect Cde Mohadi’s position in the party. He will remain the second secretary and vice president of the party.
In his address to the politburo, President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is also the Zanu PF First Secretary thanked Mohadi for the service he rendered while in Government.
He said:
We convene today following the resignation of Col (Rtd) Cde KCD Mohadi from the post of Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. His resignation from the governance architecture of the Republic was unexpected.
On behalf of the Government, the Party Zanu-PF and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to thank former Vice President Col (Rtd) Cde KCD Mohadi for his service to our country.
I commend him for the role he played under the Second Republic in advancing our Government’s national development agenda as enunciated in Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1).
Mohadi announced his resignation from Government on Monday following media reports alleging that he had turned his office into a love nest with his married aides.
A few days before his resignation, Mohadi had rejected the claims, insisting that his voice had been cloned and he was being targeted by his enemies.
By Dr Philan Zamchiya| Critical reflections on the Zimbabwe Government’s order to force out the people of Chilonga in Chiredzi for grass farming: Three Big IDEAS why a national moratorium for all rural evictions is necessary.
Dear Reader, I argue for a moratorium on the continued rise of large-scale acquisitions of customary land for private ‘investments’ in the marginalised rural areas of Zimbabwe to allow for a post-colonial democratic national resolution of the three issues articulated below. The latest such unchallenged trend is epitomised by the recently gazetted Statutory Instrument 50 of 2021. This Communal Land (Setting aside of Land) (Chiredzi,) Notice, 2021) by Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development orders about 12 000 people occupying or using 12 940 hectares of customary land in Chilonga communal area in Chiredzi to depart immediately and permanently. This is meant to pave way for lucerne grass farming by Dendairy Private Limited. This is a local company in Zimbabwe which produces dairy products like ice-cream and yoghurt. For emphasis, this is not an isolated case, as land rights holders-vulnerable women and men- living on marginal customary land face similar types of evictions in marginal places like Hwange and Chipinge districts. Now to the reasons.
First, the government is partly basing its decision on a narrow belief that private big estates are the only vehicle for economic transformation despite widespread evidence to their detrimental effects on the vulnerable people’s diverse livelihoods on the African continent. In line with this narrow pathway, the Minister of Local Government, July Moyo, romanticised such land acquisition in Chilonga as a way to ensure big livestock production and generate foreign currency for the nation. Conversely, the government portrays modes of production by the Shangaan people in Chilonga as pristine and unable to drive economic rural development. This approach is problematic because it is premised on a narrow development transition pathway that envisions big companies (like Dendairy PVT LTD) led farming in the countryside as the only viable model or the real deal. The logic also reflects some of the flawed modernisation narratives of the colonial era, 40 years after gaining independence from British colonial rule. However, from the rich empirical data on livelihoods gathered by Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Development (MACRAD, p3) the people of Chilonga are already involved in diverse crop farming and livestock production. They are producing sorghum ( xibedlani , xitishi and mutode), millet (mahuvu and mpowo), some maize, sweet potatoes, cotton, pumpkins (mandunghu) and groundnuts(timanga). They also own cattle, sheep and close to 100% of the households own goats. Why then would the Government choose to destroy and disrupt the local livelihoods?
One alternative pathway to rural development would also require an emphasis on development projects that ensure that men and women living in rural areas do not lose their customary land. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not an argument to maintain the status quo, or to preserve low productivity in Zimbabwe’s marginalised rural areas. For those who intend to create a strawman, I am not saying private investments in agriculture in the countryside should be eschewed. Rather, I am envisioning an alternative pathway where investments will be directed towards ends that lead to people centred and people driven rural development in line with their developmental needs. It is a scenario in which the Ministry of Agriculture, for example, channel massive agricultural investment into the support of diverse livelihoods , crop and livestock farming activities by the people of Chilonga. I am inclined to apply de Schutter (2011, p. 262)’s logic in this case. That the people of Chilonga can better be helped by private investments upstream and downstream of their production process of small grains and livestock, focusing on the provision of public goods that can improve productivity and access to markets, and on institutional innovations that can strengthen their position and allow them to obtain better earnings in ways that enable them to reinvest for expanded reproduction and therefore contributing to wider economic development. A moratorium would allow the nation space to envision such alternative rural development models as viable options.
Second, Zimbabwe’s land laws do not explicitly mention the right to CONSENT in line with the universal principle of Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and the national 2013 constitution. A moratorium would allow the Government to entrench the universal right to self-determination in order to protect vulnerable communities such as the people of Chilonga. The current land laws give power to the President, local authorities and traditional leaders and responsible Ministers to act on behalf of men and women who live on customary land. This limits the power of the actual land rights holders to say YES or NO to development projects. The outdated Communal Lands Act does not explicitly mention the need to seek consent from the communities. FPIC is an international principle that gives people the right to say YES or NO to developmental projects therefore upholding the universal right to self-determination (FAO 2014, p.12). FPIC at a policy implementation level, entails that the rights-holders-men and women- must make decisions free from undue influence, coercion, bribe and fear. Prior means that consent must be sought before the project starts and that there should be sufficient time to make a decision before the commencement of the investment project. In addition, the rights-bearers must be informed before making a decision. That means having accurate, understandable, accessible and complete information about the investment on an on-going basis. Finally, consent refers to the collective decision made by the rights-holders (including women, youths and people with disabilities) which can be a Yes or a No or a conditional Yes and can be revisited during the different stages of the investment project. None of those principles were applied to the vulnerable land rights holders -men and women-of Chilonga.
On comparative basis, South Africa has an explicit (albeit temporary) law that entrenches the FPIC principle that govern the acquisition of customary land. The Interim Protection of Informal Land Rights Act (IPILRA) of 1996 is meant to protect informal rights to land such as the right to use, gain access to or to occupy land under customary law in the former homeland areas. Consequently, IPILRA requires that the holder of informal land rights must consent to dispose of such a right. Section 4 notes that the land right, ‘… can only be disposed by a majority of the holders of such rights present or represented at a meeting convened for the purpose of considering such disposal and of which they have been given sufficient notice, and in which they have had a reasonable opportunity to participate’. South Africa’s jurisprudence has strengthened the right to give consent. In 2018, the North Gauteng High Court ruled that the Xolobeni community in Eastern cape, has a right to say no to a mining project, in line with IPLRA and the international principle of FPIC.
Third, even in the context of the Zimbabwean state using its expropriation powers, as happens elsewhere, the current compensation model for customary land reinforces a pervasive neo-colonial policy line that casts land under customary tenure as being of little or no economic value. Or what De Soto (2002) infamously termed ‘dead capital’. A moratorium would allow the nation to revisit the compensation model. Where rural inhabitants have lost land held under customary tenure such as in Chisumbanje for biofuel production or for Tokwe-Mukosi dam in Masvingo, state officials have routinely contended that investors are only obliged to pay for improvements on the land, rather than the land itself. This practice prevails despite the 2013 constitutional recognition of customary land rights. Policymakers mistakenly fail to fully recognize customary land rights because such rights are not formally registered, ultimately depriving affected communities of fair and adequate compensation. However, not only is land undervalued, so too is the value of agricultural and other productive activities such as hunting and gathering by the affected people of Chilonga, in a context where neither the market value nor cost of restoring diverse rural livelihoods is clear. The current trend is one of underplaying losses in the wider ecosystem. Equally important is the understating of non-monetary losses in contemporary compensation models. Non-material losses are central to human development such as cultural rights, identity and citizenship, belonging, history and memory. In Chilonga, there are a number of sacred hills and scared areas such as Chigwejiva Sala for rainmaking ceremonies and cultural activities. All that is not explicitly modelled in Zimbabwe’s current compensation models.
I therefore emphasise the need for the Zimbabwe Government to put a moratorium on rural evictions until the nation can collectively revisit this narrow pathway to rural development based on an envisioned teleological transition to big private investors acquiring huge tracts of customary land in the marginal areas as in the colonial era. A moratorium would: (a) allow the nation to debate and promote an alternative rural development model that protects customary land rights for vulnerable men and women without taking away their land; (b)allow for the entrenchment of the right to self-determination in line with the universal principle of FPIC and (c) provide space for an evaluation of the current compensation models for loss of customary land, land rights and wider livelihoods and cultural rights. The three ideas suggested here are not exhaustive but are big propositions that can lead to securing customary land rights for vulnerable women and men in the marginal areas (like the people of Chilonga) and foster inclusive rural development, particularly in the context of a renewed rush for ‘cheap’ customary land in Zimbabwe by local and foreign investors.
By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry, has warned him that power does not last forever, alleging that he is using his political muscle to persecute her since their marriage became strained in 2019.
Posting on Twitter, Marry accused Chiwenga of hypocrisy for taking part in Roman Catholic “Mass” while he denies her access to their children.
Marry also accused her husband of having her thrown into prison and further claimed that Zimbabwe’s judiciary is being compromised.
She wrote:
When you receive holy communion and lie to God about your intentions and you abuse the children you say you love by denying them access to their mother for 17months, who are you fooling, is God silent to HYPOCRITES. The Beast and the Abused.
I miss my children so much, 17months I have been shut out completely, subjected to imprisonment by my husband to keep me away, the judiciary is compromised…these are young children…power is not permanent.
In 2020, the High Court dismissed Marry’s application to have her bail conditions relaxed so that she could go to South Africa to seek medical treatment.
She is suffering from an ailment that causes swelling of her hands and legs.
The former model has since filed an application at the Supreme Court against Justice Chikowero dismissing her appeal last year.
By A Correspondent- An insatiable appetite for a “flashy” lifestyle by a Bulawayo maid attracted the attention of the police, leading to her arrest on allegations of stealing US$23 000 from her employer.
Bulawayo police yesterday confirmed the arrest of Senzeni Ngwenya, 60, and her son Welcome (32) for theft.
The two had bought a Nissan caravan omnibus, building material, and went on a spending spree.
Their lifestyle attracted the attention of law enforcement agents. Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said the accused resided in Matshobana suburb.
“On February 21, police received information to the effect that the two were living beyond their means. This led to suspicion that they could have been spending stolen money. Investigations were made and it was discovered that the two had indeed stolen,” Ncube said.
He said police acting on the information, proceeded to house number 402 Matshobana and picked Senzeni and her son for questioning.
Senzeni indicated that she picked a plastic bag containing US$23 000 at her employer’s Entumbane house.
Ncube said police recovered the Nissan Caravan omnibus, a mountain bicycle, shovel, wheelbarrow, 10 bags of cement and other goods allegedly bought with the stolen money.
By A Correspondent| Wife to Zimbabwe’s vice president Constantino Chiwenga, Marry has accused the country’s judiciary of being compromised saying she has been subjected to imprisonment just to shut her out of their children’s life.
Posting on Twitter yesterday, Marry Chiwenga said she missed her children while warning the powerful vice president that power is not permanent.
“I miss my children so much, 17months I have been shut out completely, subjected to imprisonment by my husband to keep me away, the judiciary is compromised…these are young children…power is not permanent,” said Marry.
Marry and her estranged husband have been embroiled in a bitter divorce case that has spilled in the courts.
By A Correspondent- The warrant of arrest for former Cabinet Minister Prisca Mupfumira was cancelled yesterday when she attended court and explained she did not deliberately abscond, but was being guided by the date spelt out in the Practice Direction 4 issued by Chief Justice Luke Malaba during the lockdown period.
Mupfumira, who was being represented by lawyer Mr Admire Rubaya, was then remanded out of custody to May 5 by Harare senior regional magistrate Mr Trainos Utahwashe after he cancelled her warrant.
She is jointly charged with Barnabas Matongera, who was National Social Security Authority (NSSA) ex-director contribution and collections officer. His warrant of arrest was also cancelled.
Mupfumira and Matongera were set to stand trial on allegations of paying US$3,5 million to a local land developing company towards the construction of low-housing units in Gweru without the NSSA board’s approval and following due tender processes.
The money was allegedly paid to Drawcard Enterprises out of the US$6,5 million that NSSA had committed towards construction of 1 000 low-cost houses in Gweru city. It is the State’s case that in 2017, Mupfumira, being Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, mooted the idea of having a flagship project in Gweru where 1 000 low-cost houses were to be built as quickly as possible.
In pursuance of her plan, Mupfumira then allegedly summoned NSSA chief property investment officer Mr Kurauone Chihota and influenced him to sign the Gweru off-take project for 200 stands with Metbank. The State said the decision was made knowing NSSA had no land in Gweru and that there was no board approval, and that tender procedures had not been followed.
Because of Mupfumira’s actions, Draw card Private Limited, which is into land development, and also happens to be Metbank’s client, was awarded the contract to construct the houses.
Drawcard Enterprises, according to the State, had no land in Gweru city council area despite having been awarded the contract to develop the 200 housing units but did have land nearby in Vungu Rural District Council.
Matongera, who was the then acting NSSA general manager and accounting officer signed the housing off-take for Muzenya Gweru housing project on August 3, 2017. He was said to be fully aware that there was no board resolution on the matter.
Drawcard Enterprises is said to have entered into an agreement with NSSA for development of residential stands in Vungu without the city council boundary being moved to incorporate the land.
As a result of Mupfumira and Matongera’s actions, NSSA committed to pay US$6,5 million and $3,5 million had already been paid towards the deal, according to the State.
Meanwhile, Harare City Council officials, Edgar Dzehonye, Tineyi Kurewa, Wellington Tauya and Samantha Museera, who are facing allegations of illegally parcelling residential stands in Harare were also issued with warrants of arrest after they failed to appear in court yesterday.
By Nomusa Garikai- The trouble with people who are shallow, thick and slow is they have the propensity to make mountains out of mole-hills and thus waste not only their time and energy but that of everyone else involved.
MDC has been on the political stage for 20 years, 5 of which in the GNU, they have failed to bring about even one democratic change in all these years. Not even one!
The party had the golden chance to implement the reforms during the GNU. SADC leaders had got Mugabe and Zanu PF to agree to the democratic reforms by signing the 2008 Global Political Agreement. Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends’ primary task in the 2008 to 2013 GNU was to implement the reforms. They failed to get even one reform implemented and the golden opportunity was lost.
Having failed to implement the reforms the party has changed tactic; it has been participating in elections knowing fully well that Zanu PF was rigging the elections. The narrative was if the opposition was better organised and united, it will win rigged elections.
“MDC has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections!” boasted Chamisa before the July 2018 elections. Ever since the elections he has insisted on calling Mnangagwa illegitimate because he “stole the July 2018 elections!” Chamisa has conveniently forgotten that he is the one who boasted MDC would stop Zanu PF stealing the elections.
Nelson Chamisa and his MDC A, Douglas Mwonzora and his MDC-T and the rest of the opposition entourage are preparing to participate in the 2023 elections. They all know that since the July 2018 election not even one meaningful reform was implemented and therefore Zanu PF is going to once again rig those elections; guaranteed! No doubt, Chamisa, Mwonzora, etc. will all come out with their own Winning In Rigged Election (WIRE) strategies.
The real reason why MDC leaders have been participating in flawed and illegal elections, especially after the watershed 2008 elections when Zanu PF showed that its power to rig elections was infinite, is to win the few gravy train seats Zanu PF offered as bait. Zanu PF needs the opposition to participate to give the flawed election process so credibility and to give the result legitimacy. The opposition have found the bait irresistible.
After 41 years and counting of rigged elections it is criminal and insane to drag the nation into yet another flawed and meaningless elections.
Every Zimbabwean with half a brain should be spending all their time and energy on making sure that democratic reforms are implemented before the 2023 elections. If the elections go ahead with no reforms then the plebiscite must be declared null and void.
Every Zimbabwean with half a brain should be spending all their time and energy reminding the corrupt, incompetent and sell-out opposition that the nation is sick and tired of their deceitful WIRE strategies.
“It has come to our attention that former MDC Alliance national executive committee members Lilian Timveous and Blessing Chebundo have resigned from the party and joined the ruling party Zanu-PF,” call the statement from MDC A Harare.
“While we wish our former colleagues well at their new political home, we take umbrage at their mischievous attempts to justify their shameful actions by casting aspersions on the MDC Alliance leadership in general and the secretary-general of the party in particular.
“Allegations by former deputy national treasurer-general Timveous against secretary-general Chalton Hwende cannot pass the veracity test as the claims are outright falsehoods concocted to justify her treacherous and selfish decision to abandon the people’s struggle in order to join the Zanu-PF gravy train.”
How tragic that Morgan Tsvangirai and the rest of the MDC leadership sold out big time during the 2008 to 2013 GNU and have continued to sell-out by participating in flawed elections with tragic consequences to the whole nation. And yet, ever to this day, the majority of the MDC A members have continued to sheepish follow these corrupt and incompetent leaders oblivious of the consequences of their own folly.
The MDC members have always come to life, agitated as bees whose hive is under attack; because, this time, two-party leaders resigned! The consequences of their going, to the party worse the nation, is manicure but you would think so from the commotion in the party. This is just another MDC storm in a tea cup!
The tragedy here is the nation will be dragged into yet another flawed and meaningless election in 2023 and MDC leaders will participate and give the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy! And all because the nation cannot get MDC leaders and their members to stop wasting time on trivial matters and focus on the real important issues – implementing the reforms and ending the curse of rigged elections and bad governance.
It is not only Zanu PF that is holding the nation to ransom; the party now has junior partners in MDC!
By A Correspondent- Newly appointed Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Nokuthula Matsikenyere has pledged to work with Mutare City councillors despite their political party differences.
Matsikenyere, who is also Chimanimani West legislator (Zanu-PF), addressed MDC councillors and management on Tuesday where she pledged to co-operate with them to improve service delivery in the city.
“Let’s work as a team regardless of political affiliation. We are going to work as a team so that we make our city and province great,” Matsikenyere said.
“As you are aware, Mutare City is the provincial capital so development starts from here and moves to other areas.”
Mutare City Council is dominated by MDC-T and MDC Alliance councillors.
Matsikenyere said she was happy that the local authority was now up to date with its workers’ salaries.
Under the leadership of former town clerk Obert Muzawazi, Mutare council workers had gone for over 20 months without receiving salaries.
Muzawazi resigned in 2016 amid allegations of corruption involving double allocation of stands, a charge he denied.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Three brothers from Odzi on Tuesday appeared before a Mutare magistrate facing a murder charge after they allegedly killed their brother-in-law following a domestic dispute.
Lovemore (27), Norest (22) and Eria Musharu (24), who are denying the charges, appeared before Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe, who denied them bail.
It is the State’s case that the accused persons went to the son-in-law’s homestead to resolve a misunderstanding between the now-deceased and his wife, Susan Musharu.
They failed to resolve the dispute amicably, resulting in a fight between the accused persons and the now-deceased.
During the fight, the now-deceased was allegedly struck with a log on the head by Richard Musharu, who is still at large, resulting in his death.
By A Correspondent- A new political party formed by Zimbabweans in the diaspora, the Patriotic Zimbabweans (PZ), has proposed a financing strategy to revive the country’s deteriorating road, rail, aviation and health and sanitation infrastructure.
The party has developed, as part of its economic policy, a Zimbabwe diaspora bond for infrastructure restoration programme to offer an indigenous solution to capital projects in the country.
Party interim president Charles Muchineripi Mutama (46), who is based in the United States, said his party was development-oriented, hence the establishment of the Zimbabwe diaspora bond to economically empower citizens.
“Currently, the country’s public infrastructure such as highways, railways, aviation, dams, water supply and sanitation and medical facilities, among others, are in a state of disrepair or have collapsed,” Mutama said.
“The country’s infrastructure is in urgent need of rehabilitation in some cases and in others, a major overhaul. The party, will be administered in a fiduciary role by an internationally certified African financial institution,” he added.
“The Zimbabwe diaspora bond for infrastructural restoration and development will ameliorate the historical proclivity to depend on foreign aid resulting in generational debt as well as a tragic continuation of an extractive and exploitative role of our traditional creditors,” Mutama said.
“By their very nature, bonds are financial loans to a company or a government, and most bonds pay fixed interest overtime meaning that every Zimbabwean lender will benefit in this proposed mutually-beneficial process.”
“In Western nations, most capital projects and operations are financed in this way so the party is simply following precedence while giving Zimbabweans an opportunity to invest in their country of heritage,” Mutama said.
“In this mutually beneficial solution to Zimbabweans and the nation State, PZ proposes that this economic blue print needs to be tied with fundamental political reforms such as the enfranchisement of the diaspora among other key areas.”
Zimbabwe has an estimated four billion people working in the diaspora. In 2020, diaspora remittances helped drive foreign currency inflows to US$4,76 billion up from US$4,22 billion.
PZ was formed in January this year, drawing its membership from Zimbabweans living in South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Australia and New Zealand.-newsday
By A Correspondent- Hwange Central legislator Daniel Molokele (MDC Alliance) has waded into a land dispute between a Chinese coal-mining firm and Dinde villagers who face eviction to pave way for the former to kick-start mining operations.
Hundreds of Dinde villagers face eviction from their ancestral land to pave way for a planned coal-mining project by Chinese Beifa Investment Company.
The dispute has attracted the interest of the Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG), a civil society advocacy group, as well as the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) who are now instituting legal action to stop the eviction of the villagers.
Dinde is home to thousands of people from the Nambya and Tonga tribes.
Molokele, in a statement yesterday said he would support the community’s fight against eviction following a consultative meeting held in the area.
The MP’s spokesperson, Thulani Moyo confirmed that Molokele was fighting to stop the evictions.
“The consultative meeting discussed at length the issue of proposed mining exploration by an investment company from China.
“The Office of the MP appreciated and supported the stance taken by the local community representatives who are demanding that no exploration process should start until a more comprehensive local consultation process is conducted.
“Some of the key outcomes of the consultative meeting included that the office of the MP will conduct some follow-up meetings with relevant local authorities who have a direct interest in the matter,” Moyo said.
Matabeleland North Environmental Management Agency official, Chipo Zuze, recently told Southern Eye that the Chinese miners had submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to the agency.
“The EIA certificate for prospecting was granted on the basis that there were no settlements and sensitive ecosystems that were going to be affected,” Zuze said.
The land dispute arose a few months after the government was forced to reverse a decision to let Chinese firms explore for coal in the Hwange National Park.
Environmentalists took government to court in September 2020 to prevent ecological degradation after two Chinese firms, Zhongxin Coal Mining Group and Afrochine Smelting were given exploration rights in the country’s biggest national park.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Some teachers’ unions on Wednesday said that teachers are financially incapacitated and would not be able to report for duty until their salaries and working conditions are improved.
Speaking to NewsDay, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure said the government risks a repeat of what happened in late 2020 when schools were reopened in the absence of teachers. Said Masaraure:
It is very unfortunate and tragic that the government of Zimbabwe is opening up schools without capacitating the teachers who ordinarily teach there.
The teachers will neither be able to show up for duty nor pay the school fees for their own children.
Government is acting like the proverbial fool who repeats the same mistake and expects different results. The crisis of September 28 will haunt us.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou echoed Masaraure’s sentiments, saying the opening of schools this month will be “mission impossible” for teachers as they are financially incapacitated.
He said:
As teachers who are nearer the schools and classrooms, we want to tell Mnangagwa that teachers will not be able to report for work on March 15, 2021, as they are grossly incapacitated.
There is no need for the State to be inconsiderate by giving teachers an impossible mission of opening schools on March 15.
Teachers are demanding a basic salary of US$520 or its equivalent in the local currency, roughly ZWL$43 160.00.
However, the government insists that it has no capacity to pay in foreign currency or the equivalent in local currency.
Schools will re-open for the 2021 calendar on a phased approach with examination classes commencing on March 15 while the rest of the learners will resume classes on March 22.
By Problem Masau| Zimbabwe’s cultural icon, Luckson Chikutu who is known by his moniker Manluckerz is billed to perform at a Science Festival by Uppsala University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences tomorrow.
Manluckerz’s show which is going to be virtual is scheduled at 11:40am Swedish time and the performance can accessed at www.scifest.se.
“Manluckerz based in Uppsala, Sweden will perform with traditional music and dance from Zimambwe. A film, Chezhira: Where is Home? will be shown where Professor Michael Jones from SLU shares his experiences regarding research from Zimbabwe,” said events communication and project manager at Uppsala University Gisella Bengtsson.
SciFest is a science festival held March 4 to March 10, and it covers all disciplines; from natural science, technology, medicine, pharmacy to humanities and social sciences.
“We also provide an inspiring program in the intersection of science and culture. The festival is organized by Uppsala University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,” said Bengtsson.
Researchers, teachers and students come together with other exhibitors such as high schools and companies, to provide educational experience including interactive demonstrations, and scientific lectures.
SciFest invites pupils, teachers and the general public to experience science. Due to Covid 19, everything will be on-line this year.
By A Correspondent| MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende has criticised the white owned Dendairy company for evicting 12,500 blacks in Chiredzi.
MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende
His comments come as Norton MP Temba Mliswa and Harare East MP Tendai Biti were in parliament yesterday blocked from grilling Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa on authorising a White Farmer to evict 12500 Shangaan blacks for a grass growing project.
The Dendairy company is displacing the blacks at a time when barely a few kilometers away the ZANU PF businessman Billy Rautenbach’s ethanol project, has failed dismally 11 years after displacing thousands of blacks from their ancestral properties. Below is the transcript:
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, my supplementary question is that Government is seized with removing illegal settlers. These are not illegal settlers but legal settlers; they have been there for a very long time – nine years. They are 12 000 of them and not only that but those who live off them it will be 50 000 and over one person…
They are anti people. They are enabled by a Mnangagwa regime that： ⚠️is unelected & stole the election ⚠️is corrupt ⚠️is violent & murderous ⚠️does not respect human rights ⚠️ran down the country ⚠️plunder our natural resources#ZanupfMustGo#SaveChilongapic.twitter.com/LCRdKkc6PT
HON. T. MLISWA: The question is, have we now gotten to a point of reversing the Land Reform Programme where we now have to vacate our ancestral lands? I might as well go and inform saSabhuku inini, kuti chiendai zvenyu nekuti Hurumende ichakubvisai pano apa. What is the cost of 12 000 people vis-à-vis one farmer?
The Government has enough farms to be able to give. The Hon. Minister is embarking on an underutilisation programme that can identify farms. So why do we not wait for that process to happen? Identify and give to him but we cannot afford to reverse the Land Reform Programme, the gains of the struggle. The Indigenisation Empowerment Act, he repealed it again. What are the people of Zimbabwe going to be left with when the little that they have in land they do not have? My question is very clear, they are not illegal; they are legal. Is it now going to be a standard measure for the whole country? Can we now go as Members of Parliament to say kumaruwa kwamuri uku, Hurumende kana yakusvika pano, musavake inotora.
*HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I thank Hon. Mliswa but he had misdirected himself in the sense that these people are being relocated to another place. He has misdirected himself as if this is a new way of doing things but the law that I cited allows the President to possess the land that you occupy if there is a project of national importance and the law has been in practice for a long time. This is part of our law and if he was unaware of it, this is the law and this is a fact.
It is not just a decision that was done overnight that such hay could be grown in that area. People are being relocated and are being advised of the reasons why they are to be resettled and if houses are going to be constructed, that will be done. They have been informed of the reasons behind their relocation. – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection.] – The Hon. Member does not want a response but simply wants an argument but this is what the law states and that is the position at law. I thank you. – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Mliswa, please may you approach the Chair?
HON. BITI: On a point of clarification Madam Speaker! Thank you. My point of clarification to the esteemed Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Leader of the House is …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Biti please, may you be connected?
HON. BITI: Yes, I am trying to do that. Madam Speaker Ma’am, my point of clarification is to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and esteemed Leader of the House. On what basis do we now call a grass making project a national project?
Secondly, on what criteria are we giving this land and ejecting 12 500 people to one Dendairy farmer, the Coetzee brothers? On what criteria is grass growing a national project that justifies the disbursement of people from their cultural land? It is not justified Hon. Speaker Ma’am.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. Madam Speaker, I am actually surprised that the Hon. Member who knows the laws very well can actually attest to what I was saying that it is within the confines of the law is speaking, the way he is speaking. He is now pretending to be an agriculturalist to question the type of grass and how we should move forward in terms of cattle rearing. I am actually surprised that he is saying that. I think there is insincerity in the way the Hon. Member is asking because he knows the law very well and he knows that the President is empowered to do that. As to the criteria of which farmer has been given that particular land surely, it is not relevant to me. What I am here to answer is that the policy framework, if we have a project of national importance which the agriculturalist will say that we will ensure that our heard is improved, all the experts have said this is the route to go. I am sure if he wants to go and join the agricultural college and argue with them, I think so be it but what I have said is what is obtaining and is within the confines of the law. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I just want to follow up on his question. The first question is very simple who is going to resettle 12500 people, the Dendairy or the State? Secondly, the State has failed to resettle a lot of people including Cyclone Idai and Tokwe-Mukorsi victims. My issue with this is there is an exercise being run very adequately by the Ministry of Agriculture on identifying land that is not being used. Why are we displacing 12500 people, which can be equated to another Land Reform Programme, for one company which we do not know how it was selected. I do not care if it was the biggest dairy company in the country; it does not have to go to one place other than for easy of management.
The issue with this is this is obviously going to require a statement from the Minister of Local Government. He must make sure that everything is covered clearly because it has major ramifications on the Land Reform Programme because we have got issues like the Global Deed Settlement, we have got Statutory Instrument 62 and now we are getting 12500 people displaced. We want all this wrapped into one banner and brought to this Parliament so that we can discuss it and see where we stand because there are now 12500 people, we are playing with their lives – [HON. BITI: Inaudible interjection.)
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. M. KHUMALO): Order Hon. Biti.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Hon. Speaker the Hon Member simply repeated what Hon. Biti was saying, I think I have exhausted – [HON. BITI: Inaudible interjection.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Biti, order please.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Secondly, Mr. Speaker, I think we may belabour ourselves with nothing. The SI was recently gazetted and this Parliament is going to consider it and once it considers it, I think the esteemed Hon. Members, if they feel that there is something amiss with it, they discuss with the Parliamentary Legal Committee and then it can be tabled here if they so feel that there is something that is not within the confines of our laws, that is contained in that particular Statutory Instrument.
HON. T. MLISWA: I have a question Mr. Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, please sit down.
HON. T. MLISWA: I am invited by Parliament and I have the right to speak. Last week, I was not here I have only came today but you do not want me to speak. This Parliament is for the ZANU PF and MDC, you do not allow independent members to speak – [HON. BITI: Allow him to speak, allow the independent to speak.] – I do not come for virtual meetings.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. T. Mliswa, I have not asked you to speak, you must follow procedure.
Hi, my name is Brain Matsilele. I come from Masvingo in Mwenezi district. May you help me locate my wife whom I lost contact with on the 2nd of March 2021.
Difinite Mandimo with husband Brian Matsilele
She was intending to visit me and I last talked to her when she was about to cross the border. I never heard from her from about 11 o’clock in the morning of the said day. I don’t know what actually happened to her not to arrive to where I live. I’m very perplexed and in the middle of taking my life. The stress am facing is way above my consumption. My wife’s name is Difinite Mandimo. She is my first girlfriend and consequently became my wife. I never in my life dated any other woman. And I feel like losing this woman is equivalent to loose my life.
There is no way that she could not communicate with me when all things are equal with her. I don’t even know where to start to search her whereabout. I’m stressed to the point that I’ve stopped working. My heart is pumping increased at a geometric progression. I’m a useless man. I don’t know where to start. I don’t know how to search. I’m very shocked and willing to take my life away. I’ve no reason to live in the absence of my wife. She only told me that she boarded a bakkie and that was the last i heard from her.
I don’t even know how you should search but am putting my last hope in your search. If she was arrested i would like to know the place in which she is being kept. If she is dead i want to see her body and peacefully end my life…
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A 61-year-old businesswoman from Johnsly area under West Nicholson policing area lost R200 000 to four unknown gunmen who raided her homestead on Tuesday evening.
Egneter Dhlamini, who is co-owner of Nthabeni Store and Cophital Mine 22 in the area, was raided at around 10 pm.
The gunmen, who are still at large, are alleged to have arrived at the homestead dressed in blue work suits with yellow reflectors and armed with one firearm.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena said investigations were in progress.
She said the police were appealing to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the robbers to contact the nearest police station.
“The suspects found the complainant asleep in her bedroom. Her four relatives were sleeping in separate rooms.
They broke the door to the house and forced everyone out demanding to be given some money by Dhlamini,” said Inspector Mangena.
She said the quartet threatened to kill the five people if they resisted taking orders or attempted to alert neighbours.
During the fracas, Dhlamini tried to resist prompting the suspects to fire two shots in the air.
Inspector Mangena said the woman collected R200 000 from her bedroom and handed the money to the four men who fired another two shots before disappearing into the darkness.
“We advise members of the public not to keep large sums of money at their houses to avoid the unnecessary loss of valuables to criminals,” said Inspector Mangena. -@tupeyo – Chronicle
A report circulated since the 27th of February of a supposed female ghost walking on the railway line. The incident reportedly happened near Zimphos Country Club.
Preliminary checks performed by ZimEye however established the said ghost to be a mere human being walking with a fire torch. A video conparator is presented below….
A report circulated since the 27th of February of a supposed female ghost walking on the railway line. The incident reportedly happened near Zimphos Country Club.
Preliminary checks performed by ZimEye however established the said ghost to be a mere human being walking with a fire torch. A video conparator is presented below….
A report circulated yesterday of a supposed ghost walking on the railway line. The incident reportedly happened near Zimphos Country Club.
Preliminary checks performed by ZimEye however established the said ghost to be a mere human being walking with a fire torch. A video conparator is presented below….
While the school calendar for this year is still being finalised it is likely that there will be three normal-length terms each of 60 teaching days, meaning exceptionally short school holidays once weekends and public holidays have been taken into account.
Already yesterday, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said schools would not break for the traditional first school holidays incorporating the Easter and Independence Day holidays, but there would be no classes on these public holidays.
Normally when schools can open for the first term early in January the first term ends shortly before the big batch of late March and April public holidays with the second term ending just before the Heroes and Defence Forces long weekend.
The school calendar is likely to be finalised this week.
With almost 12 weeks of the year taken up before most classes resume on March 22, a week after the three examination years return on March 15, and with each term being over 12 weeks once public holidays are counted in, there appears to be only around a total of three to four weeks for the three school holidays this year.
Representatives of school heads yesterday welcomed the phased re-opening later this month, but said that some cash-strapped schools were still short of personal protective equipment.
Government wants to ensure a safe re-opening of schools in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and recently completed a monitoring exercise on the preparedness of schools to conduct classes without risking a spike in infections.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said it was encouraged by the innovations of some schools to use other spaces like halls and common rooms for classes in compliance with social distancing regulations.
Under the guidelines, classes need to be split or otherwise rearranged to have smaller numbers to allow more space between pupils.
The ministry also allayed fears of possible rent-seeking behaviour by schools increasing fees and gave assurance that social distancing protocols would not result in learners losing their places.
“Some schools have been innovative in utilising other spaces within the schools for classes, spaces like common rooms and halls to ensure adherence to social distancing regulations,” said the Ministry’s spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro.
“School fees have to be approved by Government. The state of preparedness in most schools is encouraging save for a very few and we are working on that to ensure everyone will be ready possibly by the end of this week,” he said.
National Association of Secondary Heads president Mr Arthur Maposa and his National Association of Primary Heads counterpart Mrs Cynthia Khumalo both welcomed the decision saying the re-opening of schools was long overdue.
“We have been waiting for a long-time to return to normal classes and it’s a relief that classes are now resuming,” said Mr Maposa.
“Our appeal is for Government to sort out the outstanding issues with teachers’ unions before the resumption of classes so that there won’t be disruptions when we finally start.
“There are issues of personal protective equipment and the vaccinations for stakeholders which must be clearly explained as well to ensure an incident-free resumption.”
Mrs Khumalo hailed the decision to resume classes, but highlighted a few areas of concern which she said needed to be addressed.
“We are happy schools are re-opening because children have suffered for so long. They are used to going to school and they want to return. We still have challenges of PPE and some schools cannot afford to provide them because of the huge utility bills accrued during the lockdown period.
“Some parents might find it difficult to get these PPE so we appeal to Government to provide them,” said Mrs Khumalo.
Child President Mukudzeiishe Madzivire also welcomed the move to re-open schools.
He said despite the threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, pupils wanted the re-opening of schools.
“Online learning has been helpful for some but it has not been as effective for those living in areas where network connectivity is a challenge.
“Re-opening schools solves this problem. Our only plea is that children are kept as safe as possible throughout the coming school days,” said Madzivire.
Most parents commended the decision to resume classes despite the threat of the pandemic saying they were determined to play a part in the protection of children.
They said their worry was that some private schools would try and raise fees beyond their reach and appealed to Government to take action against errant schools.- Herald
Killer T: I just wanna say Happy Birthday kuna Amai Mwari akuwedzereyi makore akawandisa ekurarama muchengetwe na Ishe nhasi izuva renyu enjoy your birthday Momz?
I just wanna say Happy Birthday kuna Amai Mwari akuwedzereyi makore akawandisa ekurarama muchengetwe na Ishe nhasi izuva renyu enjoy your birthday Momz
By A Correspondent| Norton MP Temba Mliswa and Harare East MP Tendai Biti were in parliament yesterday blocked from grilling Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa on authorising a White Farmer to evict 12500 Shangaan blacks for a grass growing project.
The Dendairy company is displacing the blacks at a time when barely a few kilometers away the ZANU PF businessman Billy Rautenbach’s ethanol project, has failed dismally 11 years after displacing thousands of blacks from their ancestral properties. Below is the transcript:
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, my supplementary question is that Government is seized with removing illegal settlers. These are not illegal settlers but legal settlers; they have been there for a very long time – nine years. They are 12 000 of them and not only that but those who live off them it will be 50 000 and over one person…
They are anti people. They are enabled by a Mnangagwa regime that： ⚠️is unelected & stole the election ⚠️is corrupt ⚠️is violent & murderous ⚠️does not respect human rights ⚠️ran down the country ⚠️plunder our natural resources#ZanupfMustGo#SaveChilongapic.twitter.com/LCRdKkc6PT
HON. T. MLISWA: The question is, have we now gotten to a point of reversing the Land Reform Programme where we now have to vacate our ancestral lands? I might as well go and inform saSabhuku inini, kuti chiendai zvenyu nekuti Hurumende ichakubvisai pano apa. What is the cost of 12 000 people vis-à-vis one farmer?
The Government has enough farms to be able to give. The Hon. Minister is embarking on an underutilisation programme that can identify farms. So why do we not wait for that process to happen? Identify and give to him but we cannot afford to reverse the Land Reform Programme, the gains of the struggle. The Indigenisation Empowerment Act, he repealed it again. What are the people of Zimbabwe going to be left with when the little that they have in land they do not have? My question is very clear, they are not illegal; they are legal. Is it now going to be a standard measure for the whole country? Can we now go as Members of Parliament to say kumaruwa kwamuri uku, Hurumende kana yakusvika pano, musavake inotora.
*HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker. I thank Hon. Mliswa but he had misdirected himself in the sense that these people are being relocated to another place. He has misdirected himself as if this is a new way of doing things but the law that I cited allows the President to possess the land that you occupy if there is a project of national importance and the law has been in practice for a long time. This is part of our law and if he was unaware of it, this is the law and this is a fact.
It is not just a decision that was done overnight that such hay could be grown in that area. People are being relocated and are being advised of the reasons why they are to be resettled and if houses are going to be constructed, that will be done. They have been informed of the reasons behind their relocation. – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection.] – The Hon. Member does not want a response but simply wants an argument but this is what the law states and that is the position at law. I thank you. – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection.] –
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Hon. Mliswa, please may you approach the Chair?
HON. BITI: On a point of clarification Madam Speaker! Thank you. My point of clarification to the esteemed Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Leader of the House is …
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Biti please, may you be connected?
HON. BITI: Yes, I am trying to do that. Madam Speaker Ma’am, my point of clarification is to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and esteemed Leader of the House. On what basis do we now call a grass making project a national project?
Secondly, on what criteria are we giving this land and ejecting 12 500 people to one Dendairy farmer, the Coetzee brothers? On what criteria is grass growing a national project that justifies the disbursement of people from their cultural land? It is not justified Hon. Speaker Ma’am.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Thank you Madam Speaker Ma’am. Madam Speaker, I am actually surprised that the Hon. Member who knows the laws very well can actually attest to what I was saying that it is within the confines of the law is speaking, the way he is speaking. He is now pretending to be an agriculturalist to question the type of grass and how we should move forward in terms of cattle rearing. I am actually surprised that he is saying that. I think there is insincerity in the way the Hon. Member is asking because he knows the law very well and he knows that the President is empowered to do that. As to the criteria of which farmer has been given that particular land surely, it is not relevant to me. What I am here to answer is that the policy framework, if we have a project of national importance which the agriculturalist will say that we will ensure that our heard is improved, all the experts have said this is the route to go. I am sure if he wants to go and join the agricultural college and argue with them, I think so be it but what I have said is what is obtaining and is within the confines of the law. I thank you.
HON. MARKHAM: Thank you Hon. Speaker Sir. I just want to follow up on his question. The first question is very simple who is going to resettle 12500 people, the Dendairy or the State? Secondly, the State has failed to resettle a lot of people including Cyclone Idai and Tokwe-Mukorsi victims. My issue with this is there is an exercise being run very adequately by the Ministry of Agriculture on identifying land that is not being used. Why are we displacing 12500 people, which can be equated to another Land Reform Programme, for one company which we do not know how it was selected. I do not care if it was the biggest dairy company in the country; it does not have to go to one place other than for easy of management.
The issue with this is this is obviously going to require a statement from the Minister of Local Government. He must make sure that everything is covered clearly because it has major ramifications on the Land Reform Programme because we have got issues like the Global Deed Settlement, we have got Statutory Instrument 62 and now we are getting 12500 people displaced. We want all this wrapped into one banner and brought to this Parliament so that we can discuss it and see where we stand because there are now 12500 people, we are playing with their lives – [HON. BITI: Inaudible interjection.)
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER (HON. M. KHUMALO): Order Hon. Biti.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Hon. Speaker the Hon Member simply repeated what Hon. Biti was saying, I think I have exhausted – [HON. BITI: Inaudible interjection.] –
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Biti, order please.
HON. ZIYAMBI: Secondly, Mr. Speaker, I think we may belabour ourselves with nothing. The SI was recently gazetted and this Parliament is going to consider it and once it considers it, I think the esteemed Hon. Members, if they feel that there is something amiss with it, they discuss with the Parliamentary Legal Committee and then it can be tabled here if they so feel that there is something that is not within the confines of our laws, that is contained in that particular Statutory Instrument.
HON. T. MLISWA: I have a question Mr. Speaker.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, please sit down.
HON. T. MLISWA: I am invited by Parliament and I have the right to speak. Last week, I was not here I have only came today but you do not want me to speak. This Parliament is for the ZANU PF and MDC, you do not allow independent members to speak – [HON. BITI: Allow him to speak, allow the independent to speak.] – I do not come for virtual meetings.
THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. T. Mliswa, I have not asked you to speak, you must follow procedure.
By Cecilia R Chimbiri | The Zanu Pf led government has criminalized solidarity .
Can you imagine ? The Panic mode is sickening as they continue to persecute by Prosecution every voice that speaks.How is this Inciting Public Violence ?
The harassment of Human Rights Defenders , Activists , Politicians , Student leaders , Journalists and citizens speaking out to the Zimbabwean Problem has to be called out nometta what simply because it is not a crime to speak out and voice your concerns as a Zimbabwean .
You tell me Is it a crime to be in Solidarity ? Is it a crime to mourn with those who mourn ? Is it a crime to stand for something ? Definitely Not!!
A Petty Government a dictatorship in Panic is doing this right here in Zimbabwe .
How long my fellow citizens ? How long shall this be done unto us my fellow young people ?
THREE brothers from Zhombe are on the run after allegedly brutally killing a father and his son with knobkerries over three stolen donkeys.
The incident occurred at Bhaparara business centre in Zhombe on Friday at around 5pm.
Midlands Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident.
“Zimbabwe republic police is investigating a case of murder where two men died after being assaulted with knobkerries all over their bodies over stolen donkeys by three male adults. The incident occurred at Bhaparara business centre, Zhombe on February 28 at about 5pm,” he said.
Insp Mahoko said Mr Helken Ncube (54) and his son Khulekani (27), both of Mudzingwa village under Chief Malisa in Zhombe, died in hospital following the attack by Lee, Mpilo and Moffat Moyo.
The Moyo brothers, Insp Mahoko, said alleged that Mr Ncube and his son had stolen their three donkeys sometime in December last year.
“A misunderstanding arose between them resulting in accused persons assaulting Mr Ncube and Khulekani. The three accused persons went away leaving Mr Ncube and Khulekani lying on the ground,” he said.
Insp Mahoko said the matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and no arrest was made.
“The father and son were referred to Kwekwe General Hospital where they both died upon admission,” he said.
Insp Mahoko appealed to members of the public who might have information about the assailants to inform any nearest police station.
He urged members of the public to desist from using violence to solve misunderstandings.- Chronicle
While the school calendar for this year is still being finalised it is likely that there will be three normal-length terms each of 60 teaching days, meaning exceptionally short school holidays once weekends and public holidays have been taken into account.
Already yesterday, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said schools would not break for the traditional first school holidays incorporating the Easter and Independence Day holidays, but there would be no classes on these public holidays.
Normally when schools can open for the first term early in January the first term ends shortly before the big batch of late March and April public holidays with the second term ending just before the Heroes and Defence Forces long weekend.
The school calendar is likely to be finalised this week.
With almost 12 weeks of the year taken up before most classes resume on March 22, a week after the three examination years return on March 15, and with each term being over 12 weeks once public holidays are counted in, there appears to be only around a total of three to four weeks for the three school holidays this year.
Representatives of school heads yesterday welcomed the phased re-opening later this month, but said that some cash-strapped schools were still short of personal protective equipment.
Government wants to ensure a safe re-opening of schools in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and recently completed a monitoring exercise on the preparedness of schools to conduct classes without risking a spike in infections.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said it was encouraged by the innovations of some schools to use other spaces like halls and common rooms for classes in compliance with social distancing regulations.
Under the guidelines, classes need to be split or otherwise rearranged to have smaller numbers to allow more space between pupils.
The ministry also allayed fears of possible rent-seeking behaviour by schools increasing fees and gave assurance that social distancing protocols would not result in learners losing their places.
“Some schools have been innovative in utilising other spaces within the schools for classes, spaces like common rooms and halls to ensure adherence to social distancing regulations,” said the Ministry’s spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro.- The Herald
The incessant rains that have rendered some communities in Nyaminyami including Mola and Mayovhe inaccessible except through boats have left one person dead and damaged 16 homesteads.
With communication cut off, modalities for the transfer of serious health cases from Mayovhe, Mola and Chalala clinics by boat to Kariba District Hospital instead of the nearby Siakobvu Hospital are being worked out.
The area received a staggering 262mm of rain on February 27, 113mm a day earlier, and 63mm on February 28.
Rains have persisted in recent days, registering a rainfall average for the week 265,5mm for some areas including Siakobvu.
Engineers from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development visited the affected areas yesterday amid indications that a contractor would be engaged to temporarily restore connectivity while a long-term solution is being worked out.
There are fears that food distribution for the drought-prone region, where little agricultural activity is undertaken owing to inclement weather conditions and wild animals would be affected.
As of yesterday, the washed away section of the Siakobvu-Bumi Hills road, especially at the notorious Ndepa Escarpment, remained characterised by gullies and debris, including boulders and mud.
Ndepa, whether in fair weather or not, is a steep descent which only customised vehicles can tame.
Kariba District assistant district development coordinator, Ms Patience Mubango, said stakeholders including Bumi Hills and Padenga who have boats and ferries, have been engaged to assist in the transfer of serious cases.-The Herald
Harare magistrate Mr Richard Mangosi has revoked bail in the matter of MDC-Alliance youth activist and former Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) secretary-general Makomborero Haruzivishe after ruling that he was in wilful default when he absconded court proceedings.
Mako
Haruzivishe was in court for default enquiry after being issued with a warrant of arrest for failing to attend court since last year. He was arrested last year for participating in illegal demonstrations in Harare.
He was on bail pending trial for participating in a public gathering with intent to cause public violence and violating the Covid-19 national lockdown regulations.
In his defence Haruzivishe had told the court that he was in isolation as he was living with a person who had tested positive to Covid-19. He was remanded in custody to March 19. -Herald
Government’s plans to reopen schools in two weeks might hit a snag after teachers’ unions yesterday declared that their members would not report for duty until their salaries and working conditions are improved.
Cabinet on Tuesday announced a phased reopening of schools after a lengthy COVID-19-induced break, with examination classes supposed to report for lessons on March 15, while the rest of the classes will open a week later.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure told NewsDay that as long as government failed to meet teachers’ grievances, there would be massive failure by teachers to return to work due to incapacitation.
Teachers are demanding a basic salary of US$520 or its equivalent in local currency, but government insists that it has no capacity to pay in foreign currency or the equivalent in local currency.
“It is very unfortunate and tragic that the government of Zimbabwe is opening up schools without capacitating the teachers who ordinarily teach there. The teachers will neither be able to show up for duty nor pay the school fees for their own children. Government is acting like the proverbial fool who repeats the same mistake and expects different results. The crisis of September 28 will haunt us,” Masaraure said.
He said government should ensure voluntary vaccination of teachers and mandatory testing of all participants in the physical school ecosystem to ensure adherence to COVID-19 standard operating procedures.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said currently, teachers’ salaries ranged from $14 000 to $19 000, a situation which rendered them incapacitated.
Zhou accused government of reneging on its November 2020 promise to pay them US$520 or its equivalent by July 2021.
“The message from President Mnangagwa was clear and loud that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education must prepare to open schools in line with WHO [World Health Organisation] regulations. Indeed, the timelines would have been sound if government was preoccupied with the urgent resolution of the welfare of teachers and prioritisation of health and safety of teachers and pupils,” he said.
“As teachers who are nearer the schools and classrooms, we want to tell Mnangagwa that teachers will not be able to report for work on March 15, 2021 as they are grossly incapacitated. There is no need for the State to be inconsiderate by giving teachers an impossible mission of opening schools on March 15.”
Zhou accused the civil servants’ negotiating body, Apex Council, of failing to represent government workers.
He said the National Joint Negotiating Forum and Apex Council could not serve the interests of civil servants and teachers as they did not have the interests of civil servants at heart.
But Apex Council president Cecilia Alexander dismissed the claims, saying teachers were the most represented in the Apex Council. “The few individuals who criticise the Apex Council are those betraying the workers’ struggle. They are not giving any service,” Alexander said.
Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said schools would open as planned.
“The ministry has come up with catch-up strategies that will see all continuing classes starting with 2020 work. Syllabi have been compressed to enable accelerated coverage. Both primary and secondary levels have three levels of accelerated compressed syllabus each. This will result in work being covered in much shorter time,” he said. Newsday
