Tinashe Sambiri| President Nelson Chamisa has said the MDC Alliance will not disclose its strategies on social media platforms as this will alert political opponents.

President Chamisa was responding to questions from potential voters on the way forward.

“We will not discuss and disclose our strategies on social media platforms.We are serious about our next steps.

If you want to understanding our value just check how our opponents are panicking and misbehaving,” said President Chamisa.

Zanu PF bigwigs are desperate to neutralize President Chamisa’s rising influence.The panicky regime is using all means at its disposal to dismantle the MDC Alliance.

FULL TEXT- @ZTNnews anchor @zimrobbie charge sheet pic.twitter.com/BNJQy6ckTQ

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 26, 2021

By A Correspondent- A ZTN journalist Robert Mukondiwa today appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing aggravated indecent assault charges following allegations that he sexually attacked an Upper Six student at Allan Wilson High School.

Robert Mukondiwa (left) arrives in court with his lawyer

Mukondiwa appeared before magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko who remanded him in custody to April 12.

Magistrate Mateko advised Mukondiwa to approach the High Court for bail application.

Mr Malvin Mapako prosecuted.

By A Correspondent- A  Zimpapers Television News (ZTN) anchor, Robert Mukondiwa has been remanded in custody to April 12 for allegedly sodomising a form six student who approached him seeking financial assistance.

Mukondiwa is facing aggravated indecent assault charges. His lawyer said the offense is a Third Schedule offense therefore, it warrants continued detention of the accused until there is proof that proves otherwise.

Watch the video below for more……

WATCH- @ZTNnews anchor @zimrobbie in #sodomy storm. Remanded in custody and told to apply for bail at the #HighCourt. pic.twitter.com/cCsQbLBRA8

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 26, 2021

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has asked oil firms to continue using petroleum importation licences issued in 2019, while the two sides negotiate new licensing requirements.

To be granted authority to operate, oil companies are required to pay retail and fuel importation licence fees.

Zera and indigenous fuel companies have been fighting over importation licences since last year when the regulator announced a new regime compelling operators to demonstrate that they had previously imported at least 10 million litres. They are also required to have at least 15 refuelling stations.

But petroleum firms, represented by the Direct Fuel Import (DFI) group and the Indigenous Players Association of Zimbabwe (Ipaz), last year rejected the “outrageous” conditions and accused the regulator of promoting big foreign players.

The standoff sparked a High Court showdown. The High Court ruled in the operators’ favour, forcing Zera to roll over 2019 licences into 2020.

Businessdigest understands that Zera has authorised firms to roll over the 2019 licences again into this year.

“All the petroleum companies which were issued with 2019 procurement licences are still allowed to use the same licences in 2021 for their fuel importation operations,” Zera chief executive officer Addington Mazambani said in a March 3 letter seen by businessdigest.

“This position shall remain up until such a time that the authority prescribes new procurement licensing terms and conditions after consulting with various stakeholders,” he said.

According to sources who attended a meeting called by Zera last week, there were proposals that retail licence fees be pegged at US$24 360. There were also proposals that operators pay for three service stations by the end of next month.

However, the DFI group appeared to have reconsidered these issues.

“We have received the summary of the meeting from some of our colleagues from a sister organisation. For the record our position is as follows: We accept the Procurement Licence fee of US$24 360 for the year 2021. We reject paying for 2020 licences because your negligence in administering the whole exercise resulted in your failure to announce acceptable conditions to this very day. You cannot be rewarded for negligence. We also highlighted to you at our meeting in December 2020 that our members had incurred losses when you illegally suspended their licences for about a month in May 2020,” DFI said.

“We reject any requirement for service stations to be attached to procurement licences. Such attachment is a violation of the Petroleum Act. This Act clearly recognises the separate nature of the different licence

categories. If sustained, this requirement will have the effect of amending/annulling an Act of Parliament.”

It said the mandate of Zera was to administer the laws of the country and not to amend them.

“We reject the requirement for past imports as this has the effect of inhibiting entry of competition into the sector. This is a naked violation of the Petroleum Act, which is self-explanatory. It is also a violation of other laws we have cited to you in previous correspondence,” the DFI group said.

“Our view is that any group of people that gets together to make agreements, while setting aside the pertinent laws of the country, is committing a grave act of corruption. We will not be party to this corruption. There is certainly nothing to ululate about and celebrate on this false agreement. Further, be advised that the laws regarding this issue have not changed since we secured a High Court judgment against yourselves over the same issue in May 2020.”

The DFI group condemned Zera for lack of proper consultation and planning.

“We write to register our grave concern regarding the (recent) meeting. Firstly the notice time for the meeting was too short, just 24 hours, although it was postponed by a day. We had requested you for this meeting in July 2020 and you were unable to respond until now. For this reason, we made all efforts to attend,” it said.

“At today’s meeting (March 17, 2021) all our members experienced connection problems of different kinds and upon reflection, it would seem this was a deliberate action to reduce our presence and effectiveness. We therefore refuse to be silenced by technical gremlins that seemed to be only interested in our members.”

Mazambani said the meeting was part of stakeholder consultations.

Tinashe Sambiri| President Nelson Chamisa has said the MDC Alliance will not disclose its strategies on social media platforms as this will alert political opponents.

President Chamisa was responding to questions from potential voters on the way forward.

“We will not discuss and disclose our strategies on social media platforms.We are serious about our next steps.

If you want to understanding our value just check how our opponents are panicking and misbehaving,” said President Chamisa.

Zanu PF bigwigs are desperate to neutralize President Chamisa’s rising influence.The panicky regime is using all means at its disposal to dismantle the MDC Alliance.

By A Correspondent- Two Bindura University of Science Education students died on Wednesday after a Mark X vehicle they were travelling in encroached into an oncoming lane and was hit by a Securico Nissan NP 300 at the 62-kilometer peg along Harare-Mukumbura highway.

Vimbai Mugonderi (23)died upon admission at Concession hospital while Simbarashe Gerald Mutambiranwa (21) died upon admission at Bindura hospital.  Six other passengers were seriously injured and are currently admitted at Bindura hospital.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the accident.

“Two people died and six others injured at 62-kilometer peg along Harare Mukumbura yesterday (Wednesday),” Mundembe said.

According to police, the accident was due to speeding and the Mark X driver Steven Eric Moyo (24) is being charged with culpable homicide.

“We are charging Moyo with culpable homicide and the accident was due to speeding.”

“The injured six are Moyo (24) Kudakwashe Nyandoro (28), Luxon Matangira(20), Langton  Chikwavava(52), Menard Chimucheka(44 and Albert Mpofu(44),” he added.

Police warned motorists to avoid speeding and exercise extreme caution on the road especially this rainy season.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bq7BDmwDaU

By A Correspondent- Government has awarded a multi-million dollar tender to a Chinese firm to replace a redundant aviation system following pressure exerted by the Joint Operations Command (JOC) to award the deal to a company drawn from a friendly nation.

In 2016, military, police and intelligence chiefs – who make up the JOC – covertly supported a Supreme Court challenge by Italian firm Selex ES to successfully overturn the US$33 million tender that was awarded to a Spanish firm – Indra Sistemas.

Among other reasons, the deal with Indra Sistemas was terminated on the grounds that the tender did not go through procedures as prescribed by law.

Indra Sistemas did not pass a critical security vetting process by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and the Air Force of Zimbabwe.

Hailing from the West, which has slapped Zimbabwe with sanctions, securocrats had reservations over the Spanish entity.

The vulnerability of Zimbabwe’s shambolic radar system was exposed when JOC hastily convened an urgent meeting in 2019 after the aviation system broke down, disrupting flights.

At the time when military and intelligence chiefs convened the meeting, the airspace was temporarily closed, thereby exposing the country to hostile elements that could potentially fly in and out without detection.

In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent this week, Transport and Infrastructure Development secretary Thedius Chinyanga said the deal had been awarded to one of China’s largest state-owned entities, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).

CHEC is a subsidiary and an overseas arm of the China Communications Construction Company (CCC).

Chinyanga said CHEC had been identified as the suitable company through a proper procurement process but negotiations over terms of the contract were underway.

“The procurement process on that project was done but the signing of the contract has not yet been done,” he said, without elaborating on the terms and conditions of the agreement.

With CHEC now on the driver’s seat to install the aviation control system whose installation has been mired in a convoluted and protracted process sucking in the country’s security machinery, China, whose firms are already rolling out massive airport expansion projects in the country has emerged as the trusted partner by Zimbabwe’s leadership.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in 2018 in china, where the leaders agreed to elevate their countries’ relations to a more mutually beneficial strategic partnership.

Currently, Jiangsu International, a company from china is rolling out the US$153 million Robert Gabriel Mugabe International airport expansion project to increase the airport’s holding capacity to six million people per annum from 2,5 million.

The firm also undertook the US$150 million Victoria Falls expansion project.

The protracted process of replacing the antiquated aviation technology was amplified by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube in his 2021 National Budget last year when he underscored that Zimbabwe was losing potential revenue due to the obsolete infrastructure.

“Airspace management and air safety require immediate intervention through procurement and installation of the requisite equipment,” Ncube said.

Under its website, chEc is “prominent for technological advantages in the field of infrastructure construction and has completed many top-class and high-quality projects all over the world. “currently chEc has more than 90 subsidiaries serving clients in over 100 countries around the world.”

In Africa, the Chinese state enterprise has undertaken multimillion-dollar projects in countries such as Mozambique, South Sudan, Tanzania, Ghana and Uganda. Since 2017, the critical project, which has now been awarded to chEc (pending finalisation of the contract), has sparked a battle between the securocrats and the civil aviation authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) with competing interests ranging from security to self-aggrandisement coming to the fore.

at the time of publishing, acting Caaz director general Bertha Muzangaza had not responded to questions relating to the terms of the government’s agreement with chEc.
Tawanda Gusha, the acting chief executive of the Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ), had also not responded to the same questions.

The tussle to maintain control over the aviation project climaxed when the air Traffic controllers association of Zimbabwe wrote to the then late Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza highlighting the security and associated risks posed by the dilapidated aviation system.

“Our air safety letter issued in September 2017 and may 2019 refers. We note with concern the continued deterioration in air navigation communication performance. There have been several cases in which there was total loss of air Traffic Services (ATS) air ground communications in the upper airspace. Worst case scenarios include the 25th of September, 2019, 29th September 2019 and 16 October 2019, where there was communication blackout lasting a whole day,” the letter gleaned by this newspaper in 2019 read.

It was also copied to Caaz acting director general Margret Mantiziba and director of air navigation and technical services Blessing Ngwarai.

“This chaotic and dangerous situation persisted on October 18 and continues to be experienced now and then. The air Traffic controllers association of Zimbabwe (atcaz) has on several occasions called for the urgent replacement of the obsolete communication system. air Ground communications is a fundamental and mandatory requirement for a functional aTS unit without which air traffic controllers are incapacitated to actively prevent collisions.”

Other risks associated with running a shambolic aviation radar system include “losses of revenue as aircraft avoid the space and portrayal of the country in bad light”.

Running and maintaining the aviation radar technology has been a theatre of fierce contestation between Caaz and the country’s security apparatus.

as reported by the Independent on December 21, 2018, the country has struggled to find a new radar system after Matiza and Caaz general manager David Chawota allegedly facilitated the awarding of a US$33,3 million tender to Indra Sistemas of Spain for air traffic control equipment without following public procurement procedure.

Given Zimbabwe’s strategic central position in the Southern african Development community, the obsolete aTc system is viewed as a threat to the region’s security, in view of the number of flights in and out of the region which pass through Zimbabwe’s airspace.

On numerous occasions, Zimbabwe has relied on neighbouring South Africa for radar assistance information relating to gauging the altitude of planes flying over the local airspace.

Since china and Zimbabwe upgraded their bilateral relationship to comprehensive-Strategic Partnership status, the asian economic power house has snapped lucrative contracts to implement massive infrastructure projects.-Independent

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By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo woman was arrested for allegedly torturing her two stepsons aged 11 and 13 by pressing a hot electric iron on their left wrists as punishment after they were reportedly duped of an undisclosed amount of money and a laptop.

The incident which shocked residents happened on 16 March 2021 at Ntabazinduna Flats in Mzilikazi suburb.

It is reported that on the day in question, the woman aged 35 (name withheld) flew into rage when she got home from work to discover that her stepsons had been duped of cash and a laptop.

It is reported that she assaulted them all over their bodies.

When she reportedly discovered that they were not crying she then took it further by switching on an electric iron and pressing it on their wrists.

As a result of their stepmother’s dastardly act, the boys were reportedly left with wounds on their wrists.

The matter was reported to the police leading to the woman’s arrest and her subsequent appearance in court, charged with physical abuse as defined in Section 3 (1) (a) as read with Section 4 of the Domestic Violence Act, Chapter 5:16.

For her alleged evil act, the woman was not asked to plead and is languishing in remand prison.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Report of domestic violence only cause outrage when a female is the victim and a male the perpetrator.

But many a time, men just like their female counterparts, also bear the pain of abuse and suffer in silence due to this societal prejudice which socialised them into a feeling that a “real man” is expected to control his wife.

For many men “taking it like a man” means do not complain and do not show that you are vulnerable, but the controversial advice seems to have no meaning for a 40-year-old man who reported his 28-year-old wife to the police after she viciously battered him with a cooking stick all over the body.

The victim Clemence Nyathi from Sifungo Line under Chief Mahlathini received a thorough hiding from his wife Alice Ncube after he indicated to her that he was moving out of their matrimonial house because of her alleged adulterous behaviour.

As if the brutal assault was not enough, little did Nyathi know that his wife had another rude plan up her sleeve when she violently grabbed and twisted his manhood.

Circumstances are that on 21 March 2021, the couple had an argument after Nyathi accused his better half of indulging in extra marital affairs.

Nyathi is reported to have indicated to his wife that they should separate so that she can freely continue with her extra-marital affairs.

This, however, did not go down well with Ncube, who in a fit of rage allegedly assaulted Tshuma with a cooking stick all over the body.

She reportedly went on to pull his manhood before Nyathi gathered courage and pushed her away and headed to the police to report the matter.

As a result of the assault, he sustained injuries, but did not seek medical attention.

Ncube was saved from the humiliation of a trial when her husband decided to withdrew the matter before plea.

In his affidavit, Nyathi stated that his wife had asked for forgiveness while adding that he was also afraid that if she was convicted and sent to jail there would be no one to look after their three minor children since he was employed.

By A Correspondent- The National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) has been forced to reverse a decision to disqualify a Chinese firm from a Covid-19 test kits tender after it had been denied on the basis of excluding transport costs from Robert Mugabe International Airport to the parastatal’s stores.

An investigation by the Zimbabwe Independent, in collaboration with Information for Development Trust (IDT), a non-profit organisation helping the media to probe corruption and bad governance, showed that Natpharm had opted for companies which charged higher prices for three million Covid-19 test kits.

The parastatal, under tender details “NAT RBM 02/2021 for the supply and delivery of laboratory equipment and consumables for Covid-19 management to Natpharm Harare regional stores (manufacturers only)”, shortlisted companies to supply of Covid-19 materials.

Procurement of Covid-19 materials and consumables was done in line with Circular 1 of 2020, which was issued by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) in March 2020, to allow state-owned companies to expedite purchase of personal protective clothing, laboratory equipment, consumables and reagents.

According to a notice published on Tuesday 16 February, 2021, Natpharm procurement management unit (PMU) named three firms – Beijing Diagreat Biotechonologies, Abbott Rapid Diagnostics, Germany and SD Biosensor, South Korea.

Beijing Diagreat charged US$3 per Sars Cov-2 antigen RDT kit, giving a total of US$9 million for the three million kits.

Abbott Rapid Diagnostics pegged its price at US$5,50 per kit and US$16,5 million for the consignment, while SD Biosensor’s kits cost US$7,50 per test kit and US$22,5 million for the Covid-19 materials.

The contract to supply has not been awarded to any of the three shortlisted companies for the test kits. however, Beijing Diagreat Biotechnologies had initially been disqualified by NatPharm because it had allegedly not included transport costs from Robert Mugabe International airport to Natpharm. This effectively left abbott, Germany (US$16,5 million) and SD Biosensor (US$22,5 million) as shortlisted companies.

A letter dated march 5, gleaned by the Independent, written by Natpharm acting managing director Evans Dumba to Beijing Diagreat, stated that the company failed to meet the tender requirements. The Chinese company wrote to NatPharm on February 26, 2021, inquiring about the tender.

In response, Dumba clarified that Beijing Diagreat had not won the tender, but was only shortlisted as one of approved suppliers of covid-19 tests kits.

“Kindly be advised that shortlisting does not translate to winning a tender as evaluation takes into consideration other factors as stated in the tender document,” wrote Dumba.

“It must be further noted that in your bid submission, prices were quoted as cost Insurance Freight (CIF) Incoterm instead of the Delivered at Price (DaP) Incoterms required in the tender document under Section 1.4.1. The cIF Incoterm would mean that there are hidden freight and insurance charges for delivery to NatPharm Harare that were not declared by your firm.

“Accordingly, this would mean your quoted prices did not reflect the full cost of delivering the product to Natpharm Harare.

“In view of the background given above, your organisation did not meet the requirements for the supply of SarS coV-2 antigen rDT kits.”

However, Beijing Diagreat wrote back to Natpharm explaining that it had no hidden costs. The parastatal then backtracked on its decision and wrote to the Chinese firm stating that it was shortlisted for consideration.

Dumba wrote that: “It must be noted that Natpharm’s assessment had been based on CIF Incoterm, as stipulated in your bid document and the resultant interpretation was that the destination of the goods procured would be the port of entry being Robert Mugabe International airport, Harare.

“On further scrutiny of your bid document, supported by your letter dated 10 march 2021 written in response to your letter dated 5 march 2021, it is clear that your quoted price covers delivery to Natpharm Harare regional stores (DaP) as stipulated in our tender document.”

Based in China since 2013, Beijing Diagreat is a high-tech enterprise specialising in developing, manufacturing and distributing of IVD (In Vitro Diagnosis) reagents, analysers and raw materials.

Abbott, Germany, is a company whose line of business includes the wholesale distribution of surgical, medical instruments, apparatus, and equipment. another potential Covid-19 test kits supplier is SD Biosenser – a South Korean global bio-diagnostic company that provides technologies and know-how, “aiming to contribute to the health and happiness of the human race”.

A check on Covid-19 test kits procurement history revealed that in a government gazette published on October 12, 2020, Natpharm shortlisted three companies for supply of 300 000 antigen rapid test kits and these include abbott, Germany, under bidder name Medsure Diagnostics, which charged US$3,1 million for the consignment.

Assure Tech (Hangzhou) Limited, china, under bidder name Platinum resources, at US$1,8 million. The other manufacturer was Xiamen Bioteme Biotechnology which charged US$1,5 million for 300 000 Sars cov antigen rapid diagnostic test kit. abbott, Germany has been shortlisted in the new February 2021 tender together with Beijing Diagreat and SD Biosensor.

Zimbabwe has been sourcing tests kits through procurement and donations from international health partners such as the United Nations International children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef).

Contacted for comment Dumba asked for question in writing, but had not responded by the time of publishing. “For me to give a detailed response I need questions in writing,” he said.

Procurement regulations

The NatPharm covid-19 test kits tender was done in line with circular 1 of 2020 issued by Praz, which allows public entities to acquire covid-19 materials for a quick response to deal with the novel coronavirus.

Praz published circular 1 of 2020 on march 27, 2020, titled Procurement of Requirements to Manage Covid-19 Disease Outbreak, for quick purchase of personal protective clothing, laboratory equipment, consumables and reagents.

Praz was established after the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public assets act (chapter 22:23) came into effect on January 1, 2018. It replaced the State Procurement Board, which conducted procurement on behalf of public entities. The authority is responsible for overseeing and regulating procurement by government ministries, parastatals and local authorities.

Public procurement regulations provides for public entities to buy from the lowest bidder who meet tender specifications for cost-effectiveness. Immediate past chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio committee on Public accounts Tendai Biti said all public entities must follow the law that govern public procurement.

he said: “and where public companies don’t follow the law, that’s unconstitutional, and illegal. We had asked for an audit of all Covid-19 procurement and that was coming because we are aware that huge amounts of money are being expended.”

Natpharm polluted history

NatPharm has hogged the limelight for alleged tenders mishandling. The parastatal is a successor to the Government medical Stores, and has a responsibility on behalf of government to purchase, sell and store medicines for hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.

NatPharm has in recent years become a feeding trough for executives, including those under an old management led by former managing director Florah Nancy Sifeku, finance manager Charles Mwaramba and operations manager Rolland Mlalazi, who were arrested in 2020, for flouting procurement regulations.

Others who were fired include human resources manager Walter Nhau, regional manager Raguel Mthombeni, stores pharmacist Rumbidzai Kanhema and Bridget Kumapenda.

Some NatPharm ex-bosses were accused of mishandling a US$5,6 million Vovid-19 consumables tender which was given to Young healthcare Limited. however, the tender was cancelled.-Independent

By A Correspondent- Mpilo Central Hospital yesterday received state-of-the-art machines from the Higher Life Foundation to help the hospital improve maternal and neo-natal health services.

The equipment includes three cardio tachographs, one ultrasound, three portable multi-parameter monitors, three vacuum extraction kits, 10 suction machines, two neonate resuscitation kits, three CPAP machines, three multi-parameter monitors, four infusion pumps and four syringe pumps.

Part of the package includes servicing the donated machines whenever they break down which the foundation will finance in partnership with the ELMA Group of Foundations. Mpilo recorded 7 167 births, 44 home births and 10 deaths last year which translate to a 140 MMR.

A total of 378 women died while giving birth in Zimbabwe in 2020 which translates to a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of about 127 per 100 000 births. Of these women, 66 died at home while 312 lost their lives at health institutions.

In the Trends in Maternal Mortality Study, the United Nations considers an MMR of less than 100 as low, between 100 and 299 as moderately low and high when it is 300 to 499.

In his speech, Higher Life Foundation chief executive officer Dr Kennedy Mubaiwa said the placement and use of this critical equipment in maternity wards will improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

“These will also facilitate the correct risk assessments, diagnosis, and treatment of mothers and neonates. The maternal health project is part of our work towards strengthening the healthcare system in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Dr Mubaiwa said Covid-19 continues to disrupt the provision of essential maternal and neonatal health services.

“We remain truly grateful to The ELMA Group of Foundations for their continued investment and support to this project which builds capacity of our maternity wards and healthcare staff within our hospitals,” said Dr Mubaiwa.

The equipment was also distributed to maternity departments at Sally Mugabe Hospital, Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital, Chitungwiza Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), Manicaland Provincial Hospital and Midlands Provincial Hospital.

“This is the second round of equipment deliveries to the seven hospitals after the first handover in December. Furthermore, to build technical capacity and improve service delivery, we recently commenced Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care Training and Human Factors, Leadership, and Ethics Training which will reach 3 768 doctors, nurses, midwives, and auxiliary staff,” he said.

Dr Mubaiwa added: “Our hope, through the provision of this equipment and delivery of much-needed training, is to create a safe working environment in our maternity wards and to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes across the institutions we have targeted.”

Mpilo acting chief executive officer Professor Solwayo Ngwenya said the machines will help Mpilo to continue saving the lives of pregnant women and unborn babies.

“We are very grateful because this equipment will improve maternal and neo-natal health. The ultimate aim is making sure we deliver safe babies as women are a backbone of the nation and we should do everything to save their lives as they bear the future of Zimbabwe,” said Prof Ngwenya.

Mpilo has been doing well in providing maternal services as shown by a sharp decline in maternal deaths says Prof Ngwenya.

“Our challenge has been to reduce neo-natal mortality which remains high. Covid has also affected us in a way as some of our deaths were recorded from positive women,” said Prof Ngwenya.-chronicle

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Central Committee member Esau Mupfumi is suing three party members for more than US$200 000 for allegedly humiliating him during a party meeting in Mutare and sending malicious messages on their WhatsApp group platform.

Mupfumi, through his lawyers Dube-Tachiona and Tsvangirai Legal Practitioners, filed three separate summonses at the Bulawayo High Court citing Zanu-PF national youth league treasurer Cdes Gertrude Mutandi, Pamela Razemba and Taurai Anesu Mvokwe as defendants.

The Mutare-based former Dangamvura-Chikanga legislator is demanding a total of US$220 000 from the three defendants in defamation damages: US$100 000 from Mvokwe, US$70 000 from Mutandi and US$50 000 from Razemba. Mupfumi is accusing Mvokwe of sending malicious and false messages on the Zanu-PF Ward 9 (Mutare) WhatsApp group defaming him. The message was allegedly sent on February 17 this year.

In the message, Mvokwe allegedly said Mupfumi was treating the people of Mutare like his kids and was dividing people using money. Mvokwe also allegedly said Mupfumi was a G40 member, “a mongrel” and was playing dirty politics.

“The message by the defendant (Mvokwe) is malicious, wrongful and defamatory of me. The statements were made with the intention to defame me and to injure my reputation as a respectable member of the Central Committee of Zanu-PF in Mutare,” he said.

“The statement was understood by the group members and was intended to portray me as a corrupt and violent person who causes chaos and despondency in the party. I am a Central Committee member of Zanu-PF with a good standing and therefore such utterances injured my name and reputation.”

Mupfumi said the statements by Mvokwe were false and hurtful and diminished his dignity. He wants Mr Mvokwe to pay US$100 000 in defamation damages. Mupfumi is demanding US$70 000 from Mutandi and US$50 000 from Razemba whom he accuse of humiliating him while he was addressing party members at Mutare Queens Hall on March 7.

“The defendants shouted and uttered false and malicious statements. They also banged the table while shouting at me before they stormed out of the meeting,” he said.

Mupfumi said Cdes Mutandi and Razemba together with their colleagues, hurled insults at him during the meeting, which was attended by the Zanu-PF Mutare district leadership and other Central Committee members.

“The statement was understood by the members who were present in the meeting as portraying me as a dishonest and disreputable person. As a result of the defamation, my image was tarnished and I suffered damages in the sum of US$120 000,” he said.

Mupfumi said despite demand, the defendants have failed, neglected and refused to pay the monies. The three defendants have filed notices of appearance to defend the summonses.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has cleared the controversy surrounding the Chinese Covid-19 vaccine, Sinopharm, saying countries were free to import the drug and administer it.

Sinopharm has not yet been certified by the global health agency, as it is currently undergoing the evaluation process.

There have been general reservations about the Covid-19 vaccines globally with Zimbabweans being among those reluctant to take the Chinese vaccine due to widespread speculation and unfounded conspiracy theories against it.

As at this week, less than 40 000 people had been vaccinated out of the 400 000 Sinopharm jabs donated by China. Zimbabwe is targeting to inoculate 10 million people to achieve herd immunity.

Only four vaccines have so far been approved by WHO, namely AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-Biotech and Modena.

Sinopharm is one of the 27 vaccines that are undergoing the emergency use and evaluation process under the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts.

WHO country representative to Zimbabwe, Dr Alex Gasasira said this week there was nothing amiss with the process in which the Chinese government handled its vaccine distribution.

The global health body explained that the Chinese government had the right to distribute the drug within its borders since it was approved by its national regulatory
authority.

“Vaccines are taken to the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts after they have been registered in their countries of origin. So, you are taking these documents to WHO for you to have a global approval or registration of your vaccine,” Gasasira said during a question and answer session at a training programme on Covid-19 reporting in Gweru organised by the Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zimbabwe Chapter.

“But you are perfectly free to use it in your own country because you developed it and your own regulatory authority has approved it. And if there is person A or B who wishes to buy from you, they can buy and use it.”

He said while it was good to have WHO approval, it did not hamper use of a vaccine or medicine.

“There are many examples of medicines that are registered by the Food and Drug Administration of the USA that are not registered by WHO. They are being used because the Food and Drug Administration is registered. There are many of these examples,” Gasasira said.

He said people should understand the process that leads to certification of drugs.

“WHO insists that one brings dossiers after a national regulatory authority has registered you. When your national regulatory authority is happy with the work that you have done in developing that vaccine or developing that medicine or in developing that medical device, then you bring your papers to us. We then look at the documents,” Gasasira said.

He said chances were high for discordance between WHO and member countries or manufacturers over the certification of vaccines.

“So at the end of the day you might have discordance where WHO might say, maybe we need more evidence here, we need more evidence there, do this and that while the national regulatory authority is happy. And for as long as the national authority is happy that medicine can be on the market,” Gasasira said.

He said Sinopharm is fairly advanced in the process of WHO evaluation though its recommendation depends on when the manufacturers submitted their documents.

By A Correspondent- The Easter holidays are celebrated widely in Christendom with mass gatherings, and health experts are concerned there could be an explosion of coronavirus cases immediately after the holidays.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa on Thursday told Senators that Cabinet was aware of the risks of a rise in infections during the holidays.

She said:

All the security agents would be out in full force to ensure there is compliance with regulations because we have noticed that compliance is becoming a problem following the easing of some of the restrictions.

Mutsvangwa also said church gatherings should not be more than 50 as required by the regulations.

The country’s borders have not yet been re-opened, and only returning residents would be allowed to enter the country, Mutsvangwa added.

She said the government has put in place mechanisms to ensure people do not use fake COVID-19 test certificates to travel.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Bakers have said a recent spike in the prices of bread is attributed to the recent increase in utility charges and fuel prices which have a direct impact on production and distribution costs.

Chronicle conducted a snap survey which observed that retailers in Bulawayo have increased the price of a standard loaf from $88 to $94.

National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe (NBAZ) president Mr. Dennis Wallah told Chronicle that there was a direct relationship between production and distribution costs and utility charges and fuel price.

Wallah said:

Its not a hidden fact that if you look at the price of fuel it went up, so obviously distribution cost goes up.

And also utilities have moved astronomically high obviously all these factors result in the cost of product spiraling upwards.

Of late, utility charges have risen significantly and in some instances by margins above 300 percent in cases such as water bills.

In addition, since the beginning of the year, the price of fuel has been increased twice with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) attributing the upward review of fuel price to a general rise in prices of fuel on the International market.

In a separate interview, the National Consumer Rights Association spokesperson Mr. Effie Ncube said from a consumer perspective there is no justification in increasing the price of bread.

He said:

From a consumer standpoint, there is absolutely no justification whatsoever for the rise on the price of bread.

Fuel and other utilities dominate the price of services and goods downstream, but there is no justification to the mark-ups that they did even taking that into account.

They need to develop to a business model that allows them as businesses to function and prosper without constantly rising prices like what they are doing.

There still has no justification for the mark-up rates that they are putting in order to respond to changes in the supply chain.

Ncube’s remarks echo those of the government that has often accused some businesses of profiteering at the expense of the general populace.

In response, businesses have been arguing that their prices are reasonable considering the environment they are operating in adding that they risk closure if they fail to adjust their prices accordingly.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance deputy national spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo said that his party was ready for by-elections.

Speaking during an interview with Nehanda Radio, Hlatywayo said comprehensive electoral reforms have to be implemented first before Zimbabwe can hold credible elections. He said:

MDC Alliance has presented minimum conditions for the holding of credible elections in Zimbabwe in our document called PRICE- Principles for Credible Elections.

There is a need for serious electoral, political and economic reforms in Zimbabwe. Zanu PF does not like that because it enjoys the suffering of ordinary people.

MDC Alliance is ready for any election at any time as long as the process is fair, free, peaceful and the security of the voters and vote is guaranteed.

Hlatywayo claimed that Zanu PF knows that it is an illegitimate regime occupying the positions of authority.

He further charged that the ruling party employs “diabolic” means to stay in power such as arbitrary arrests and illegal detentions of dissidents.

The former youth assembly spokesperson said the recalls of MDC Alliance councillors and legislators has impacted negatively on service delivery in local authorities and crippled the parliamentary oversight role.

-NehandaRadio

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF has been hit by fresh chaos, with the party’s highly divisive and recently restored District Co-ordinating Committees (DCCs) at the centre of the latest commotion.

The DCCs – which were scrapped in 2012 at the height of Zanu-PF’s factional, tribal and succession wars, in the twilight of the late former president Robert Mugabe’s rule – are accused of usurping the powers of other organs of the ruling party.

Insiders confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that the DCCs had become “a major headache” in the party – prompting Zanu-PF’s national political commissar, Victor Matemadanda, pictured, to issue a stern warning recently against the abuse of the structures.

This comes amid reports that the demons of factionalism that gutted the ruling party during Mugabe’s last few years in power had returned to the ranks of the former liberation movement with a vengeance. In a March 15 circular to Zanu-PF’s provincial and DCC chairpersons, Matemadanda ordered the divisive structures to stop convening all unconstitutional meetings forthwith.

“The commissariat department has noted with great concern the abuse of office by the DCCs through the exercise of power and authority that is not granted to them by the party’s constitution. “This circular is designed and issued to correct and bring to an end all activities and decisions that DCCs mistakenly believe are within their limits of discretion and directs all members of the DCCs to note that with immediate effect no such decisions and activities shall be permitted unless as directed by the commissariat headquarters through the auspices of the provincial political commissar,” he wrote.

Matemadanda also reminded the DCCs that they did not have disciplinary powers and, therefore, “at no time should they undertake disciplinary action against members of the district councils or any lower organs”. “DCCs have no power of co-option and as such, any co-options that were made under the direction or supervision of the DCCs remain unauthorised and invalid.

“DCCs have no power to organise and cause elections of district executive councils. Any elections conducted at the instigation and supervision of the DCCs is null and void. “Removal of district executives through a process of no confidence votes engineered by the DCCs is invalid,” Matemadanda warned.

“DCCs have no power to create own programmes without consultation with, and obtaining prior approval of the provincial political commissar. “All purported campaigns for positions currently held by a sitting MP or local authority councillor or a rural district councillor and or shadow MP are not permitted. “Violations of instructions issued under this circular will not be tolerated and may attract disciplinary action as appropriate,” Matemadanda thundered further.

The DCC structures elect Zanu-PF’s 10 provincial executives – from where the party and President Emmerson Mnangagwa draw members of the central committee and the politburo. The party’s DCCs were disbanded in 2012 after they were deemed to be fanning factionalism during Mnangagwa and former vice president Joice Mujuru’s battles to succeed Mugabe.

The run-up to last year’s DCC polls was also marred by allegations of bribery, factionalism and tribalism – with party wars coming to a head in October when violent youths disrupted the former liberation movement’s primary elections for the Kwekwe Central Parliamentary by-election.

Meanwhile, apart from having to contend with DCC chaos, Zanu-PF sources said the party was also facing fresh problems over “the long overdue” elections for provincial chairmanships. The party’s regional chairpersons lead the provincial co-ordinating committees (PCCs).

Divisions were particularly said to be ravaging five provinces – Harare, Bulawayo, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central – which are under interim chairpersons, who stand accused of being sources of factional fights. With some PCCs having had interim executives for more than five years, Zanu-PF national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the party’s restructuring exercise had been stalled by Covid-19.

“You may be aware that even the DCCs have not been inaugurated yet and once we have contained the Covid-19 pandemic the process will continue. “After that, the party will do the provinces. You cannot wake up in the middle of a pandemic and start thinking about restructuring party structures. “All that needs to be done will be concluded once the environment becomes conducive,” Khaya Moyo told the Daily News.

In Mashonaland Central, current provincial chairperson Kazembe Kazembe was said to be under pressure from several party officials – including telecommunications mogul James Makamba, who is back in the country after spending years in self-imposed exile in neighbouring South Africa. Kazembe took over from Dickson Mafios in 2017. Kazembe told the Daily News yesterday that elections would be held soon in the increasingly fractious province.

“Provincial elections for the entire party throughout the 10 provinces, and not just Mashonaland Central, will be held anytime from now and as directed by the national leadership.

“The provincial executive in Mashonaland Central is as old as any other provincial executive in the entire Zanu-PF. So, I don’t understand why some people believe Mash Central is any different. “In any case all the structures in the party except for the DCCs were voted into office around about the same time,” Kazembe told the Daily News.

“Our cells … branches … districts, all the way up are due for elections and the national commissariat will direct us as and when the elections will be held. “All provincial members in Mash Central and all the other provinces were either elected or co-opted in accordance with the constitution,” he added. Other Zanu-PF sources also told the Daily News that in Mashonaland West, incumbent chairperson Ziyambi Ziyambi was also facing a stiff challenge ahead of elections to choose the new provincial executive.

Ziyambi, who is also Justice minister, is said to be facing competition from Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka. In Harare and Bulawayo, on the other hand, Godwills Masimirembwa and Obert Msindo were appointed interim chairpersons respectively, after the dissolution of structures for the two metropolitans in 2019 for allegedly being havens of factionalism.

Masimirembwa is set to be challenged by former Mount Pleasant MP Jason Pasade, Harare South MP Tongai Mnangagwa and land developer Justin Zvandasara. Mashonaland East province, on the other hand, is chaired on an interim basis by Michael Madanha – who replaced the late former Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza, who succumbed to Covid-19 early this year.

In the twilight of Mugabe’s rule, Generation 40 (G40) kingpins coalesced around the nonagenarian’s erratic wife Grace, resulting in the group being involved in a hammer and tongs tussle with Mnangagwa’s Team Lacoste over Zanu-PF’s still then unresolved succession question. Mugabe subsequently fired Mnangagwa in early November 2017, before he came back to be the country’s new leader following a stunning and widely-supported military coup.

-DailyNews

Nkayi South Member of Parliament (MP), Stars Mathe, refused to use the English language during a question and answer session between legislators and ministers in Parliament Wednesday, maintaining she preferred to speak in her native language isiNdebele instead.

The Constitution of Zimbabwe recognises a total of 16 official languages of the country.

Mathe refused to repeat her question after Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa indicated had not fully understood the former’s question which had been asked in Ndebele.

The Nkayi South lawmaker had asked why post-mortem results are required before the burial of the deceased whose death causes would be known, adding the requirement resulted in the bereaved families incurring unnecessary costs.

“I was trying very hard to understand her question,” said Mutsvangwa.

“I thought it applies to the police when there is a death and somebody is well known for the disease they have been suffering from and whether there is any need to take that person for post-mortem.  I would need your help Madam Speaker.  That is how I got to the question.”

Before Bulawayo proportional representation MP, Thokozani Khupe who had been asked by National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Tsitsi Gezi, to interpret had done so, Mathe she would ask the question again next week.

“Madam Speaker my question was not answered, anyway I will rephrase my question next week,” she said in the august House.

“Please go ahead with other questions. I did get that my sister did not get my question very well. I do not want to ask in English, I want to ask my question in the Ndebele language.”

However, Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa immediately came in saying it was regrettable that despite the country’s constitution recognising 16 languages the Parliament still does not have translators.

“Madam Speaker it exposes this Parliament in that we have got 16 languages in the Constitution and up to now we do not have people translating this,” he decried.

“It is a shame, to be honest with you.  It is a disgrace.  She (Mathe) has a right to speak in whatever language she wants to speak.  There are people out there on television who listen to Ndebele, so do not force her to speak any other language.  We must make sure that in this Parliament there is a translator for the 16 languages which are mentioned in the Constitution.  We cannot be skirting around the issues all the time.  She has a right to speak even in Tonga.”

-Cite.org

Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe is not Zanu PF’s private property, MDC Alliance has said.

In a statement on Wednesday, the MDC Alliance Namibia described Zanu PF Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda as a hopeless daydreamer.

Matemadanda said war veterans would not surrender the country to MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa.

Below is the MDC Alliance Namibia statement:

ZIMBABWEANS ARE NOT YET LIBERATED! MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA RESPONDS TO ZANUPF POLITICAL COMMISSAR.

24 MARCH 2021

Zanupf political commissar old man Victor Matemadanda has sensationally pronounced they (war veterans) did not liberate this country to donate or surrender it to Chamisa. It must be clear to the overambitious former taxi driver that President Advocate Nelson Chamisa Wamba Dia Wamba is the rightful alternative with the full potential to put the economy on a sounder footing. Matemadanda must also be reminded that Zimbabwe is not Zanupf’s private property, we are all Zimbabweans therefore trying to personalise our beloved country by these morons should be resisted with equal measure. He will finally realise that his dream of a dead Mdc Alliance is just a fallacy once they allow by-elections on the illegally recalled legislators and councillors.

Mdc Alliance Namibia would like to send its message to Victor Matemadanda about liberation. By definition: Liberation is defined as being set free , or obtaining equal rights ; it is a process of striving to achieve equal rights and status of citizens; it can also be the action of setting someone free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression, release. Under Zanupf governance nothing mentioned above is attainable, what we see is a serious clamp down on the voices of dissent when citizens demonstrate against profound social, political and economic inequalities. It is from this pathetic background that we wake up to hear that Matemadanda is saying” Chamisa’s party is melting like a candle and they are not yet done”. As a district , we urge Zanupf to concentrate on the economy that has struggled for decades now due senseless looting and barefaced corruption practised through cartels.

Furthermore, we reiterate that with this prolonged cruel , inhuman and unjust treatment of opposition activists demonstrate that Zimbabweans are not yet liberated! Right now we have Hon Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri in Chikurubi maximum prison residing with a satanic snake and many other political prisoners. This is more than colonial persecution and torture of citizens just for holding a press conference demanding justice to Cde Makomborero Haruzivishe who is incarcerated for expressing his political opinions. This Matemadanda can simply be described as an uneducated clan-tribal village thug perennially in support of a monocratic, thugocratic regime with a clear record of unprecedented human butchery, gross human rights abuses, abductions, disappearances , tribalism , racism led by a clueless and unapologetic clan-tribal minded Karanga -Chinhu chedu massacre of Matebeleland and Midlands , who called his own peoples cockroaches and barking dogs.

Moreover, the presence of the social act of placing severe restrictions on individuals, individual groups or institutions does not reflect any liberation in Zimbabwe. Zanupf must note that citizens are quite aware that Victor Matemadanda and his boss Mr Mnangagwa are using the liberation struggle to loot and squander the fortunes of the Zimbabwean people. The shocking selective application of the law in the country is a clear testimony pointing to the perpetual tyranny where dissenting voices are muted through prosecution. One-Man-One-Vote is being reversed day and night by Zanupf autocrats and their surrogates who were busy since March 2020 with parliamentary manoeuvres that saw Mdc Alliance illegally losing 39 or more MPs and 81 of councillors. This is a clear reversal of the supposed gains of the so-called liberation struggle which was anticipated to deliver constitutional democracy.

Moreso, Mdc Alliance Namibia orders Matemadanda to desist from commenting on the liberation war because he is a war deserter and coward. He hibernated in Zambia where he was a taxi driver when the liberation struggle and its iconic luminaries diligently fought for independence , said Rundu Branch Spokesperson. The corrupt practices in Zanupf government are the actions that are subverting the dreams and aspirations of the genuine liberators and further undermine democracy and deny millions of Zimbabwean citizens their national cake.

In a nutshell, Zanupf must concentrate on trying to fulfill its 2018 manifesto before thinking about the next elections. President Advocate Nelson Chamisa will bounce back with #CitizensCovergenceForChange where a broader Alliance of progressive citizens will be put in place to demand for comprehensive political and electoral reforms to promote credible, free and fair elections in 2023. Matemadanda and his desperate cronies must be ready to accept defeat because this time the citizens will defend their vote. Mdc Alliance Namibia says , “Not yet Uhuru!” We shall converge as citizens and confront Zanupf Satanists for complete change.

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

By James Gwati- Outspoken former Zanu PF MP for Chivi South, Killer Zivhu, said President Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed the people of Zimbabwe and suggested that only changing the name of the country could help end the suffering Zimbabweans are enduring.

“Guys does our constitution allow us to change the name of our country, zita rokuti Zimbabwe rinotipa munyama, kutukwa, kuvengwa kune dzimwe nyika (the name Zimbabwe gives us bad luck. We are ridiculed and hated when we travel to other countries)

“We have changed leadership from all political parties but still, nothing changed people are still suffering. Lets change the name,” said Zivhu.

Zivhu was fired from the ruling party last year after he had suggested that both Mnangagwa and MDC-Alliance president Nelson Chamisa’s wives should engage and influence their husbands to form a unity government.

By A Correspondent -MDC- Alliance president Nelson Chamisa will tomorrow Friday, 26 March sign the condolence book at the Embassy of Tanzania following the death of one of the continent’s finest leaders, John Magufuli last week.

The Tanzanian Embassy is situated at Ujamaa House, 23 Baines Avenue, Harare.

Chamisa will visit the embassy tomorrow at 10 am

By James Gwati- Zanu PF wants MDC-Alliance Chairman, and Zengeza West lawmaker Job Sikhala fined $1.2 million for disrespecting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Sikhala and former Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya, who are part of a parliament portfolio committee chaired by Zanu PF MP for Mudzi South, Jonathan Samkange challenged a motion which was raised by the same during one of its sessions which wanted all the Nelson Chamisa led MDC MPs be sanctioned for ignoring President Emmerson Mnangagwa address.

MDC-Alliance legislators led by Sikhala sang, boycotted the sitting, with some remained seated or walked out of the chamber on five occasions when President Mnangagwa delivered his State of the Nation addresses or was present on other formal occasions.

By James Gwati-Zanu PF is pushing for the withdrawal of diplomatic passports from the Nelson Chamisa led MDC parliamentarians who ignored President Mnangagwa’s address in parliament.

The push is coming from a parliament portfolio committee chaired by Zanu PF MP for Mudzi South, Jonathan Samkange.

Samukange wants the 118 sitting and former MDC Members of Parliament and senators’ diplomatic passports to be withdrawn because they either sand remained seated or walked out when President Mnangagwa came to Parliament on five formal occasions.

MDC-Alliance legislators sang, boycotted the sitting, remained seated or walked out of the chamber on five occasions when President Mnangagwa delivered his State of the Nation addresses or was present on other formal occasions.

By James-Gwati- Zanu PF has targeted the remaining MDC-Alliance lawmakers for mocking President Emmerson Mnangagwa in parliament.

According to the state media, a committee, chaired by lawyer and Mudzi South National Assembly member Jonathan Samkange (Zanu PF) has recommended that all the 118 sitting and former MDC Members of Parliament and senators who sang, remained seated or walked out when President Mnangagwa came to Parliament on five formal occasions should be found in contempt of Parliament, be fined $400 000 each and lose their diplomatic passports.

The report said two MPs, Zengeza West MP Mr Job Sikhala and former Mbizo MP Mr Settlement Chikwinya, should pay additional second fines of $800 000 for disrespecting the committee when it was carrying out its work as well as disrespecting the President.

According to the Zanu Pf report, if approved that would bring their fines to $1,2 million.

The state media said Parliament had the right to investigate charges of contempt of Parliament and can withdraw privileges, impose fines and, in the case of its members, suspend these members.

By James Gwati-The President Emmerson Mnangagwa government has assigned Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni to deal with touts who are harassing travellers in Harare, raising questions about his seriousness in wanting to eradicate these thugs.

The controversial reaction by Mnangagwa follows the circulation on social media recently of a video in which a woman was filmed crying while being harassed by touts at an unidentified bus terminus.

The circulating video on social media platforms shows a woman being forcefully dragged by touts as she fights and cries while another is also seen pulling away from her luggage.

Nyoni confirmed to the state media that she had been tasked to deal with touting.

“Eventually, we want to witness the removal of touts from all bus termini. Public spaces must be safe for all and may it be known that the law enforcing agents shall not deal with this lightly.

“My ministry has engaged relevant Government departments and local authorities to nip these inhumane acts of gender-based violence in the bud,” she said.

Latest on Afcon Match Between Zimbabwe and Botswana- All the Zimbabwean players have tested Covid-19 negative. Only the match commissioner from Namibia tested positive but he has been replaced. pic.twitter.com/T5wcO7scOq

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 25, 2021

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance members Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri accused of breaching Covid-19 regulations after holding a press conference at the Harare Magistrates’ Court have been denied bail.

They had appealed to the High Court for bail pending trial.

However, Justice Chitapi threw out the appeal.

Officer-in-charge Mashonaland West Police provincial armory, inspector Clive Kadambure has been arrested in connection with a case in which two men were arrested at Sango Border Post trying to smuggle firearms.

The duo were arrested by police details at Gonarezhou. It is alleged that they were trying 2 smuggle firearms to Mozambique on 15 March 2021.

Kadambure, who was arrested last Tuesday, is in custody after being denied bail. He is jointly charged with his wife, Shyness Kadambure, a teacher at Alaska Primary School in Chinhoyi.

According to State papers, Shyness buried Kadambure’s CZ service pistol and 58 x .375 Honardy Ruger ammunition rounds at the couple’s Hunyani Infil house garden.

“Accused persons’ possession of ammunition on its own should be treated as serious considering the circumstances leading to the recovery of the ammunition,” read the State papers.

“Accused one is being linked to the recovered six automatic rifles at Sango Border Post in Mwenezi, Masvingo, where an investigation is in progress under ZRP Mwenezi CR 57 l/03/21 and CID Mwenezi DR 18/03/21.”

Being in possession of firearm it’s a high criminal offence considering the circumstances leading the recovery.

https://youtu.be/X0ofHbQFNsk

By A Correspondent- The minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Dr. Sithembiso Nyoni Friday said the government would want to see the removal of touts from all bus termini.

D r Nyoni added that the government was concerned over the increasing incidents of harassment by touts towards women at bus termini and other public spaces across the country.

Addressing the media this morning, the minister said:

Eventually, we want to witness the removal of touts from all bus termini. Public spaces must be safe for all and may it be known that the law enforcing agents shall not deal with this lightly.

My ministry has engaged relevant Government departments and local authorities to nip these inhumane acts of gender-based violence in the bud.

Her remarks come after a video circulated on social media platforms showing a woman being forcefully dragged by touts as she fights and cries while another tout was also seen pulling her luggage away.

Reports suggest the video was shot in Dhulivhadzimu, a suburb in Beitbridge.

By Farai D Hove | Emmerson Mnangagwa faces a total collapse and has been hit by serious worries over what could easily happen if the coup criminal drops dead today.

The below discussion was raised by Mnangagwa’s inlaw relative Terrence Mukupe last year and has continued to dominate indoor discussions into 2021. In the audio recording, Mukupe advises the party to copy the ANC model, a democratic setup which ensures that the entity survives through leadership changes.

A very substantial meeting with Vice President Hon Chiwenga @MoHCCZim covering a wide agenda but especially EU past and future support to the health sector and the Government response to the COVID-pandemic @euinzim pic.twitter.com/LKNizjV2M8

— Timo Olkkonen_EU ???? (@TimoOlkkonen) March 25, 2021

Just In- Anti riot police details chase away students from Masvingo polytechnic college. The Commerce and applied Science students were at the college gate after being denied entry over failure to pay over $21k fees. pic.twitter.com/SNunrsMSjB

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 25, 2021

PICTURES- Chaos as Masvingo polytechnic College as authorities demand all students to be paid up. The tertiary institution hiked its fees to over $21k for this semester. pic.twitter.com/gyKrGwTu6S

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 25, 2021

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) rebuff the claims by ZINARA that  it has not received correspondence from CHRA requesting release of  figures of the disbursed funds to the City of Harare and Chitungwiza Municipality .

The deceitful response by ZINARA Spokesperson Tendai Mugabe to Newsday “that they had not received a letter from CHRA” is reflective of how the institution conducts its business and further exposes the government of Zimbabwe on the nature of parastatals we have in the country.

CHRA has a stamped copy indicating that the parastatal received the letter and the silence on the part of ZINARA indicates that they are not willing to release the figures for reasons better known to the institution.

Failure by ZINARA to respond to the 8th of February 2021 CHRA and PAZ letter is a clear and blatant violation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

Public administration for state controlled entities is governed by democratic values and section 194(1) (k) states “that transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accessible and accurate information” and the response by ZINARA falls far short in compliance to this provision.

We reiterate that our request for the information of the figures of disbursed funds to the City of Harare and Chitungwiza municipality by ZINARA is protected and guaranteed by Section 62 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe on the right to access information.

To this end CHRA has engaged its legal representatives to commence legal action on the failure by ZINARA to release the public information.

We are aware that any form of centralized governance system in the management of vehicle licensing fees is not responsive to local needs and open room for grand corruption as witnessed at ZINARA since its inception.

Local government is the closest government to the people hence we call upon the government of Zimbabwe to reconsider its decision by  retaining the vehicle licensing mandate to local authorities in line with Chapter 14 of the Constitution on devolution.

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri are today appearing at Harare Magistrates and High courts for their routine remand hearing and bail ruling.

The duo, whose bail ruling was on Monday deferred to today are set to appear at court for their 127th time.

Said a source privy to latest developments:

“The duo will be appearing at two courts today that is the High Court at 10 am -Justice T Chitapi and Harare Regional Magistrate’s court 9 at 09.30hrs -Magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti Guwuriro.

The experience is dehumanising. The double appearance in two separate courts is horrendous and traumatising for the girls.

It is their 127th appearance in court without TRIAL. In short 20 months being in and out of prison while being STALKED by Ferret / police and unconstitutionally being denied bail in a matter where the victim is being wrongfully accused of being the perpetrator.

The police are supposed to arrest those who kidnapped the girls instead of continously torturing the girls.”

More details follow……..

By A Correspondent- Former First lady Grace Mugabe reportedly grabbed 50 000 square meters of land in Borrowdale and gifted it to her relatives and children before fraudulently acquiring title deeds from the land without following due process, ZimMorning Post reports.

According to the publication, Grace and other unnamed government officials grabbed prime land in Borrodale from a land developer and then acquired title deeds without following due procedure.

Grace after grabbing the land reportedly parcelled it out to the following people:

1. Bona Chikoore stand number 306 measuring 18034m2 and stand number 307 measuring (25133m2),
2. Robert Jnr Mugabe stand number 308 measuring (13733m2) and stand number 309  measuring (16774m2).
3.  Documents also revealed that Grace assisted Junior Shuvai Gumbochuma, her sister, to acquire stand number 228 (12086m2) which she has also not paid for and is registered under title deed number 6228/11.

Court papers seen by the publication suggest that the title deeds were reportedly prepared by conveyancers or lawyers who have appeared before the Registrar of Deeds reads in part:

The matter has been reported and Zacc is carrying out its own investigations. The people who bought the stands were supposed to pay the developer and then be allowed to apply for title deeds.

The procedure is that the land developer provides a certificate to residential stands owners as acknowledgement that they can now acquire title deeds. Local government then endorses the application of title deeds but in this case the bigwigs bypassed all these processes.

ZACC is said to be probing the issue and it is still not clear what will happen to the properties if ZACC concludes that their situation needs redress

HRDs Alert
24 March 2021

ZIMBABWE Republic Police (ZRP) members on Wednesday 24 March 2021 arrested two pro-democracy campaigners and charged them with causing malicious damage to property and criminal nuisance after they allegedly spray-painted walls on some buildings in Masvingo with messages protesting against poor service delivery and the continued
detention of some activists.

ZRP members arrested Prosper Tiringindi and Leeroy Tailor, who are represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and charged them with causing malicious damage to property and criminal nuisance as defined in section 140 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and as defined in section 46 as read with paragraph 2 (v) of the Third Schedule of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act respectively.

According to ZRP members, Tiringindi and Tailor on 18 March 2021 spray painted several walls and perimeter walls in Masvingo’s central business district and some residential areas with messages which reads; “Free Mako, Taku, Johana and Cecelia.”

The other messages read; “Rates Must Fall” and “We Want Water.”

ZRP members also obtained search warrants authorising them to conduct searches to seize spray guns, paint, fliers or any other articles for criminal use at the residences of Tiringindi and Tailor.

By A Correspondent- There is no legal ambiguity whatsoever on the expulsion status of six MDC Alliance legislators, including party vice president Tendai Biti, following their recall last week, constitutional lawyer Professor Lovemore has said.

Biti and colleagues Settlement Chikwinya, William Madzimire, Sichelesile Mahlangu, Regai Tsunga, and Kucaca Phulu, were removed from Parliament by an obscure splinter of their former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) saying they had ceased to represent its interests.

Their recall raised legal questions after House Speaker Jacob Mudenda simply read out a letter from the PDP seeking the lawmakers’ expulsion without announcing outright that their seats had fallen vacant.

Legal watchdog Veritas opined on Monday that the recalls remained an open question due to “confused and hotly disputed” facts, “hence it is too early to say that the members have lost their seats.”

But Madhuku said the law was clear and that Biti and his colleagues were no longer lawmakers.

“According to our constitutional law as now spelled out authoritatively by the Constitutional Court, the vacancy of a Member of Parliament who is being recalled arises at the moment the Speaker or the President of the Senate receives the letter that is contemplated in Section 129 (1) (k),” Madhuku argued.

“So the vacancy arises at the moment of receipt of the letter. The vacancy does not arise at the moment the Speaker makes the announcement in the National Assembly or the President of the Senate making an announcement in the Senate.”

He added that Mudenda did not have to pronounce the removals verbatim.

“It is not relevant what the speaker says in parliament or how he words his announcement is not relevant.

“What is only relevant is the notification by him to say that I did receive, is just but public information to say that the vacancy did arise earlier on,” the law professor said.

“So legally if you want to check at what point the vacancy rose you would have to check at what point the letter was officially received by the Speaker or the President of the Senate.”

The MDC Alliance has since last year lost about 40 MPs and 81 councilors through recalls, mainly by the rival MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora, seen by critics as a Zanu-PF puppet.-ZimLive

AUDIO LOADING BELOW…..

https://youtu.be/6YOy-WEWoUA

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora, in an apparent show of allegiance to the ruling Zanu-PF party, yesterday pledged to co-operate with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to solve the problems afflicting the country, adding that it was no longer time for opposing for the sake of opposition.

Mwonzora said this when he was giving a vote of thanks during the launch of the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Victoria Falls.

The event, led by Mnangagwa, was also attended by members of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad), a loose coalition of party leaders who contested the 2018 presidential election.

“We have changed the way to do things. We now want politics of tolerance and to work together putting the people of Zimbabwe first,” he said.

“We don’t want politics of hunger, hate and intolerance. As leaders of the opposition we should work for the betterment of the economy to save our people and also support the vaccination programme.”

Mwonzora added that it was out of order for opposition political leaders to encourage the public not to participate in the vaccination programme since the vaccines were safe.

Earlier on, Mnangagwa had called for entrenchment of patriotism and unity of purpose.

Mwonzora’s move has been viewed as affirmation of allegations that the MDC-T, which has recalled about 40 legislators and 80 councillors affiliated to the MDC Alliance, has all along been working with the ruling party to decimate the main opposition party led by Nelson Chamisa.

Just last week, Mwonzora ordered his party MPs to stop heckling or walking out on Mnangagwa.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the Chamisa-led party would continue to hold the ruling Zanu-PF party to account, champion the cause of the people and be the voice of the suffering masses.

“We will take all necessary steps to stop the attempt by Zanu-PF and its surrogates who usurped the will of the people to create a one-party State. The regime must respect the democratic and constitutional rights of the citizens to challenge its policies and offer alternatives for the betterment of the nation,” Mahere said.

Mahere dismissed Mwonzora’s claims that the MDC Alliance was against the COVID-19 inoculation programme.

“Fighting the pandemic is a collective effort that offers no room for politicking. We support the roll out of a widespread vaccination drive in the fight against COVID-19.”
She said there was need for transparency in the procurement of vaccines, adding that the inoculation programme should prioritise frontline workers and the vulnerable.

Meanwhile, a statement by the MDCT revealed that Mwonzora was actually invited to the Victoria Falls event by Justice permanent secretary Virginia Mabhiza, who is also Polad secretary.

In a letter addressed to Mwonzora in his capacity as MDC-T president and dated March 23, 2021, Mabhiza revealed that government had already arranged transport and other logistics for him.

Mwonzora was also said to have been invited in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, a position he took over from Thokozani Khupe (proportional representation MP)

His spokesperson Penias Damba told NewsDay yesterday at the party headquarters that: “When President ED (Mnangagwa) invited all leaders of political parties to participate in the vaccination programme through Twitter, we said we can’t go there over a tweet message. We said we want an invitation. Mwonzora went on to be invited officially to attend the national event. We don’t want to be politicising COVID-19.

“It’s a national event where people unite to fight the pandemic. We have nothing to do with Polad. This is not a Polad event.”

Mwonzora rose to the helm of MDCT party in December last year after polling 883 votes out of the total 1 027 votes case to dislodge Khupe, although the latter has disputed the election results

The below 2020 video is how the ZimEye news network exposed a plot by a terrorist Taurai Chinyamakobvu to get the MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa arrested on fake charges. Chinyamakobvu’s account, Matigary, has since been suspended after getting over 25 innocent civilians killed in Zimbabwe.

https://youtu.be/zmEuIWwuaB0

By A Correspondent- Three Bulawayo residents were on Saturday robbed at knife point by two men and two women at West Park Cemetery.

The robbers, who are still at large, went away with US$90, cellphones and a laptop.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said they were still investigating the matter.

He said the victims were from Mahatshula and Nketa 9 suburbs.

“On March 20 at 4:20pm, the complainants visited the West Park Cemetery to check on the state of their three relatives’ graves. They parked their cars opposite Green Spar Beer Hall near West Park Cemetery and walked to the gravesite,” police said.

“While still searching for the grave numbers of their relatives, two men appeared from the west side and ordered them to lie down on their stomachs. They tried to resist, but one of the accused persons produced a silver kitchen knife and they complied. The accused person, who was also holding a knife, demanded to be given all their valuables.”

Ncube said the three surrendered their belongings which comprised a purse containing US$90 and cellphones.

“One of the suspects force-marched one of the complainants to their vehicle, leaving the other guarding the other two. On their way to the car, the accused was joined by two female accomplices who suddenly emerged from the bush. They went to where the vehicle was parked and searched the car and took a laptop.

“The three accused persons and the complainants returned to the cemetery where they had left their counterpart with the other two complainants. The accused ordered the complainants to remain on the ground as they fled into the bush.”

The victims filed a report at Mzilikazi Police Station.

-Newsday

WATCH VIDEO- Masvingo municipal police assault & arrest a member of Masvingo Residents Forum submitting a petition. Said the organisation: "We demand @CityofMasvingo to account for #road & sewer levies before introducing lighting, fire & emergence response levies." pic.twitter.com/0qK5SsUkSM

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 25, 2021

By A Correspondent- Vice President and Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga on Tuesday said he missed his military allies who succumbed to COVID-19.

Speaking during an interview with broadcaster Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa at his offices in Harare, Chiwenga recounted how he received the news of the death of his “great friends”, who include cabinet ministers.

Perrance Shiri (Lands and Agriculture), Sibusiso Moyo (Foreign Affairs) and former Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services boss Paradzai Zimondi, all succumbed to COVID-19.

Chiwenga said:

They give me courage. The fortunate or unfortunate part is that I had spoken to all of them prior to their deaths. With (Retired) Air Marshal Shiri, we had talked for almost an hour and we ended up talking about our days at school, late into the night. In the early hours of the morning, I received the shattering news that he was no more. He was the last person I had spoken to that day.

It gives us the courage that everybody has his or her own time. But I had not expected to lose such great friends to this pandemic. We grieve, but we understand that this has happened, and ask strength from God to accept reality. This is the reality and I can’t change it.

Chiwenga also warned that the government could soon be forced to make the COVID-19 vaccination certificate a prerequisite for public services if citizens continue resisting the jab.

He said:

Remember the COVID-19 certificates, eventually, they are going to become our passports.

-newsday

PICTURES- Chaos as Masvingo polytechnic College as authorities demand all students to be paid up. The tertiary institution hiked its fees to over $21k for this semester. pic.twitter.com/gyKrGwTu6S

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 25, 2021

By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo metropolitan province have confirmed the discovery of a dead body in a maize field in Matshobana suburb.

The body of Eddy Dube (28) was found dumped in a maize field behind Petro Trade by residents who had gone to the fields to harvest maize.

The residents then notified their chairperson Baricos Tavarwisa who reported the matter to the police.

The body was found with a deep stab wound under the armpit and there was a trail of blood stretching for about 200 meters from where it lay.

Dube had most of his belongings including a satchel containing clothes, his wallet containing US$20, ZW$10 and bank cards as well as his mobile phone.

Chronicle reported sources saying Dube was employed as a machine operator at a local company and had been told to report for duty by his bosses but never made it to work.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube appealed to members of the public who might have information that may lead to the location and arrest of the murderer or murderers to report to their nearest police station.-statemedia