By A Correspondent- 2074 frontline workers were yesterday vaccinated bringing the total number of vaccinations to 7872 people ever since the Chinese Vaccine Sinopharm arrived in Zimbabwe last week.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Health in an update that also sated that over 150 people are hospitalized due to the novel coronavirus.
According to the Ministry of Health, 154 people are hospitalized countrywide:
As of 23 February 2021 @1500hrs, there were 154 hospitalised cases, Assymptomatic 72, mild to moderate 46. severe 33 and 3 in Intensive Care Units.
The update also stated that the deaths were recorded in Harare (4), Bulawayo (3) and Mashonaland East(1). Zimbabwe has reportedly set aside $100 000 million to buy at least 10 million vaccines to achieve herd or population immunity.
In the open letter that was written by former MDC Alliance Senator, Lilian Timveos, she insinuated that Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi might have been frustrated out of the MDC Alliance and went on to join Thokozani Khupe in the court resurrected MDC T.
According to Timveos, Komichi was accused of visiting traditional healers trying to revive Morgan Tsvangirai’s spirit at some point and he was hurt by the accusations:
…You(Hwende) know the Standing Committee we had and we insulted Morgen Komichi after you told us kuti Komichi akaenda ku n’anga kunomutsa mweya waTsvangirai ( he visited a traditional healer to revive Tsvangirai’s spirit). Komichi refused to reply saying he need to heal first from the insults and accusations of witchcraft.
Timveos also claimed Mwonzora at one point cried like a baby as he was being undressed for reportedly holding an interview with the Daily News:
…Mwonzora cried like a baby at one of the Standing Committee meeting accused of why he talked to the Daily News and only responded by saying “Nhai vana Mwari inga makahwina ku Congress ko munondishungurudzirei.” (You won at the congress why are you troubling me). I am one of those who made Mwonzora cry after wandifurira kuti (you influenced me to) we must make sure that Mwonzora aenda.
Timveos also made claims that there might be a toxic environment at the MDC Alliance as she claimed some standing committee meetings were made just to undress other people:
Before Morgen Komichi and Douglas Mwonzora left we would hold meetings before every Standing Committee meeting to undress them after Hwende sold us lies. We would get into the meeting for insulting them and no serious business would be discussed except undressing them.
Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi when they rejoined the MDC T’s first people to recall from parliament included Chalton Hwende who Timveos referred to as an evil person who wants to destroy the party and he fights with everybody.
By A Correspondent- A village head was reportedly trampled to death by a herd of raging bulls from Moyo Ranch under Zibagwe Rural District.
According to the publication, the bulls are believed to be part of the herd that is aimlessly wandering in the area unattended and attacking villagers wearing bright red clothes.
The news of the village head’s death at the hands of the raging bulls was confirmed by the area’s councilor, Councillor Idirashe Dongo who said:
We lost a village head recently after the bulls gored him and trampled on him and smashing him against trees. It is so sad the way these animals are behaving, they are behaving like buffalos now and everyone is living in fear.
…Three herdsmen were saved by a tree after the cattle pounced on them as they were herding their cattle in the ranch
Everyone is living in fear of the cattle. Children who attend Bvumira Primary School are at risk as some of the cattle were spotted near the school in recent days. And we are afraid that once we open schools, we would have subjected our children to danger.
She further said no one was claiming ownership of the cattle:
I assumed office and found these cattle around still roaming around with no-one to claim ownership. You never know since no one is dipping them, they might have contracted rabis and turned wild. I have since reported the matter to police and they came and witnessed.
Kwekwe District Civil Protection Unit Chairperson, Mr. Fortune Mpungu confirmed the unnamed village head’s death and said:
We attended the scene with police, Zibagwe RDC officials and officers from the veterinary services among others. For sure there was a man who was killed by the cattle. Our vet team however dismissed the issue of rabies
-statemedia
By A Correspondent- MDC Vice President Welshman Ncube has dismissed rumours that he is planning to leave the MDC Alliance for an international job elsewhere.
Ncube used the microblogging site Twitter to dismiss the rumours and said they were probably being used to decampaign him.
Said the firebrand politician:
Woke up this morning to the old news (this being recycled decampaign news used in the run up to the Gweru Congress) that I am quitting the MDC Alliance to take up some international job somewhere. Someone somewhere is waging psychological warfare. I am not going anywhere.
When one Twimbos asked about the party deputy’s silence Ncube responded and said party building is often done with closed mouths before he agreed he will take the time to engage with supporters in the future while responding to one Nelson Mrewa.
Meanwhile in former MDC A Senator Lilian Timveos’ open letter to Chalton Hwende, Timveos said Hwende was saying Ncube did not come back to the MDC Alliance wholeheartedly.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabweans on Twitter have taken to the microblogging site to register their opinions after it emerged that 2 former MDC Officials Lilian Timveos and Blessing Chebundo have defected to the ruling party Zanu PF. Jonathan Moyo
The hullabaloo over the defection to ZanuPF of MDC turncoats & Mnangagwa’s clansmen: Masvingo’s Tongai Matutu last November; Blessing Chebundo & Lillian Timveos from the Midlands today, belies Emmerson’s nationalist claims. For Mnangagwa, it’s all about his homeboys & homegirls!
Pedzisai Ruhanya
Chebundo lost the primary election for Kwekwe Central to a young lady, Judith Tobaiwa this month. This follows his loss at the MDC Alliance Gweru Congress in 2019. He then defected to MDC-T and now he joins ZANU PF. Pathetic loser
Thandekile Moyo
Lilian Timveos?
Blessing Chebundo?
Am I the only one who doesn’t know these 2?
Who are they?
Name Chebundo sounds familiar but that’s just as far as it goes…Thinking face
Shuwa who in their right mind defects to Zanupf?Flushed face
Are you sure that’s not where they came from vele?Woman shrugging
#ZanupfMustGo
Boris
Thanks to Judith Tobaiwa for defeating (Blessing Chebundo). More young people should rise and challenge veterans in their respective constituencies.
SimbabrasheZW
Mwonzora is wrong. Mudzuri is wrong. Chebundo is wrong . Khupe is wrong. Mpariwa is wrong. Mashakada is wrong. Everyone is wrong.
I am only the right person in the world !
What’s my name ?
Thabi MwanaWaChihera
Who remembers #kwekwehim like Chebundo by Jonathan Moyo going towards 2018 election???! Now the same Chebundo has joined Zanu pfWoman shruggingRolling on the floor laughing Huh if I ever fight you on twitter on behalf of politicians please slap me
Walter Muzembi
Chebundo has no clue of his clout, he beats a President 2x in a Consituency who beats it to a gerrymandered rural Chirumanzi- Zibagwe , then next he joins him Winking face
CNhizwa
People of the MDC calm down. Who is Chebundo, he lost a primary election. The other one though not that shocked lost congress. The only thing that worries me is that Lily wanted to be our VP. Always remember it is us who give people power. I said something 2 weeks back
There is no MDC member and supporter who saw pain since 1999 who leaves MDC and join zanu of. Hakuna zvakadaro. Never!
Matigary
After spending Grace Mugabe’s money running his #Kwekwehim campaign, Mlevu
@ProfJNMoyo will be very disappointed with his poor return on investment as Blessing Chebundo & Lilian Timveos defected to Zanu PF today. Zanu PF ihomwe inokwana munhu weeese
Tendai Zinyama
A lot of comrades will follow MDC members Lilian Timvious and Blessing Chebundo who joined a sinking Zanu PF today, we are self prunning but we must also ask ourselves why did they go
Kudakwashe Musindo
How does chebundo add value to Zanu nhai sisi?? The same zanu we always say has captured all institutions?? Kune vakasiya mdc before vakatopiwa Mari here neZanu
Denzo
Sellouts are increasing but MDCA must remain focused on the goal, which is kicking dictator ED out of State House. Lilian Timevous & Chebundo are side shows by ED to take a breather, becoz economy yamu femesa. Yamubvisa chirikumeso. Basa kumamira nyika, kuba nekurara
Killer Zivhu
Blessing Chebundo is a very dangerous politician if he works with people like myself, and Chipanga 2023 ED will win better than 1980 pana Mugabe.But this days iam not interested in stupid politics I am after cash only.Asi kana ndikazvifunga ndikabatana ne boys iri its game over
Farai Mupfumi
Uchasara na Hwende, ndakambokuudza kuti @advocatemahere achakuuraira party muchipanana mabedroom appointment, varova pasi vana Chebundo.
The Grand Duke Of Buhera
They can defect and go with party intelligence but they can’t go with the people. They can buy Chebundo and Lilian but they will never buy the people even if they use KGB agents
Nicola Watson
Blessing Chebundo Stood against the man he now shakes hands with in KweKwe in 2000 and won resoundingly yes his journey has taken a turn no one can fathom
Machemedze
Chaora chinhu ichi muchingoti wese i ZANU PF project, Senior MDC-Alliance officials and former legislators, Lillian Timveos and Blessing Chebundo have defected to the ruling Zanu PF party citing lack of direction and violent tendencies by
@nelsonchamisa
‘s political outfit
Sir Brendon Sann
Blessing Chebundo and Lilian Timveos are from Midlands where ED comes from i am not surprised why they defected. Its politics of the stomach. No principles at all
Jacob Lawrence Sedze
My humble advice to my cdes in MDC-A, instead of attacking & labelling those leaving the party as CIOs to join other parties, sit dwn & reflect where the party is going wrong & correct from there. Something is wrong, pple can’t just leave. Above all, listen to public opinions
Micheck Chipanga
I feel bad that Chebundo has joined ZPF. Waded the mud and toiled the volcanoes with him. After being ignored and belittled he was left with no choice. His move to ZPF is very regrettable. All the same I wish him well in his new home!
Chabvongodza
Political suicide? You seem to be hallucinating. You will never hear about Lilian and Chebundo again in Zimbabwean politics. Joining Zanu pf is like signing out of politics. Did you ever hear about Tongai Matutu or Brian Meki from the moment they joined Zanu?
Jemedza Chimombe
People overrates themselves even if Mugabe contested in Kwekwe the time Chebundo good against ED he was going to lose .Iam a registered voter in kwekwe .The people just do not like zanu pf
Security officials working with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) anti-smuggling unit in Beitbridge have intercepted three commercial trucks which were transporting an assortment of groceries which had been declared as fertilizer.
The actual amount of import duty is yet to be ascertained although it is estimated to be in running into millions of dollars in local currency.
The police officer commanding Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo could not be reached for comment.
A source close to the case said two trucks were intercepted at the weekend along the Beitbridge Bulawayo road while another was busted at the border post exit area.
“The three by 30 tonnes South African registered trucks were being driven by Munyaradzi Magodi, Mahlahla Isheunesu and Mashiri Tafadzwa.
The importers were using fake customs documents and one was intercepted at the border while the other two we got them at Makhado some 100km along the Beitbridge Bulawayo road,” said a border official who preferred anonymity.
The three trucks have since been taken to the Zimra Container Depot (Condep) pending further investigations.
The first truck with registration numbers CR02XH GP, trailer JLl71HZ and JL 76LM was carrying 2200 boxes of Maq washing powder, 940 boxes Britelite soap, diapers 25 boxes.
The source said the second truck had been loaded with Maq washing powder 1030 boxes, Britelite (375), Waves pure joy (165), Ecllair pops (305), Stambo (20), Gentle magic (157), Gentle magic (77),Ellis brown (49), Nivea man (45), Hello snacks (400), Candles 100, Satiskin (154), Tomco (48), Lifebuoy (310), and Vaseline (19) boxes respectively.
The third truck with registration numbers FY70NT GP was transporting Maq washing powder 2kg by 1300 boxes, Maq 172 boxes by 1 kg, dragon 1800 boxes, britelite soap 400 boxes, candles 23 boxes, stambo 78 boxes, ingrams campor crean 190 boxes, cremora 20 boxes, jiggies 250 packets and baked beans 928 boxes,” sais the source.
The smuggling of goods being falsely declared as goods which attract less or no import duty is common at Beitbridge Border Post.
-State Media
By A Correspondent- The agriculture commodities exchange – the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX) – to be introduced soon, has courted three banks willing to extend credit to farmers as more progress is made towards the launch of the exchange.
Discussions are currently underway with a fourth bank that is also interested in bankrolling farmers.
The banks could not be disclosed as discussions are still ongoing. This comes as the ZMX paces up in time for its launch scheduled for March.
A progress update on the exchange also shows that one bank has been taken on-board to provide clearing and settlement services while discussions with four other banks are at various stages of completion.
Additionally, one custodian has been on-boarded with the second one in the final stages of the on-boarding process.
The ZMX initiative is a partnership between the Government and the private sector led by Financial and Securities Exchange Limited (Finsec), TSL Limited and CBZ Holdings.
Finsec are undertaking the technical implementation work in setting up the Commodities Exchange.
The technology used is developed and maintained by Escrow Systems, a company within the Escrow Group, which is Finsec’s parent company.
Indications are that warehouse operators, custodial and settlement bank services providers have been trained on their respective roles and responsibilities in ensuring seamless end-to-end automated processes in the issuance, listing, trading and settlement of warehouse receipts.
“Three banks have indicated willingness to extend credit facilities to farmers on the strength of warehouse receipts,” said Finsec general manager Garikayi Munema.
“The entire system on which the commodities exchange shall ride has been developed and tested.
“All stakeholders in the value from warehouses to final settlement at the bank have been connected and system tested and approved,” he said.
It is also understood the department of plant quarantine is in the process of approving identified TSL Limited and GMB warehouses.
In line with this, interviews for warehouse persons have been done, physical inspections of TSL warehouses finished and awaiting physical inspection of GMB warehouses is the only outstanding issue.
The exchange will be anchored on the warehouse receipt system (WRS), which helps in ensuring an efficient market with a fair price discovery system that gives access to both local and international commodity buyers and better margins for the farmers.
It provides an organised market of authorised formal players across the agricultural commodities value chain as well as encourage formalisation of small-scale farmers, which will ensure the sustainability of the farming activities, increase in access to credit facilities through collateralisation of agricultural produce and enhance the farmers’ contribution to employment creation, environmental conservation and economic development.
Mr Munema said the ZMX will soon embark on a nationwide publicity programme to promote the use of WRS and the commodities exchange.
“To date, awareness and sensitisation campaigns have been done around the 10 provinces. In attendance were farmers, farmer representatives, Ministry of Agriculture, GMB and Agritex personnel. The programme was positively received,” he said.
Farmers who do not have storage facilities have been short-changed as they have been forced to release their produce to buyers and the new system will be solution to this problem for players along the value chain.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Popular Musician Hosiah Chipanga has revived his bid to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa as he says he wants to deliver a special message to President Mnangagwa, Tell Zim reports.
Chipanga who claims his message could save Zimbabwe’s turmoils says the country is cursed and the curse began after the 2017 coup that toppled Robert Mugabe from power.
Speaking to the publication, the musician cum preacher cum politician said:
For the past 40 years I have tried all means known to me to meet the President of my country both the late and the current one to no avail.
It is true that those with access to tell the President of whoever would want to see him are, for some reason, or due to the evil spirit of the devil that wants to see suffer, not conveying the request.
In brief, I would tell President Mnangagwa of God’s spiritual advice on how Zimbabwe can change itself and the world at large for the better….
Hosiah Chipanga also said if Joshua Nkomo managed to unite with Robert Mugabe why cant President Mnangagwa meet with opposition leader Nelson Chamisa:
…From God’s point of view, whoever for whatever reason refuses to associate with others for the betterment of the people’s lives would upset the creator of mankind.
If men like baba Nkomo (Joshua) and Robert Mugabe would join hands, who are we not to be united.
President Mnangagwa has asked Nelson Chamisa to join the platform he created for dialoguing branded POLAD but Nelson Chamisa has refused to join the party.-TellZim
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has dispatched a team to Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South as well as Masvingo province to investigate concerns raised by some members in connection with District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) elections conducted in November last year.
The ruling party reintroduced the DCCs after disbanding them in 2012 when it was felt they had been hijacked by elements that wanted to manipulate the party structures to foment factionalism and disharmony.
Elections were held countrywide in all party administrative districts but there were complaints of alleged irregularities in some districts.
Some losing candidates and concerned party members raised complaints with the National Election Directorate challenging poll results and the voting process.
The party’s Commissariat department has written to the concerned districts in Bulawayo, Masvingo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces indicating that a team will be on the ground to investigate the concerns.
The letter dated February 18 shows the team started its work in Masvingo on Monday and will be in Bulawayo on Saturday before going to Matabeleland South for two meetings in Umzingwane and Gwanda districts next Monday and Tuesday respectively.
The team will then proceed to Matabeleland North on Wednesday for meetings between Thursday and Sunday next week.
“The Commissariat department will be visiting the following areas to follow up on outstanding concerns that require investigations,” read part of the letter seen by this publication.
The party’s Matabeleland North provincial chairman Richard Moyo who is also Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister confirmed that the team will be in the province next week.
“They are coming and they will be in Hwange where they will have meetings. I think the team will be headed by the National Commissar ( Victor Matemadanda) and will be joined by a team from the province,” said Moyo.
In Hwange, losing candidate Reeds Dube told the party that there were some irregularities in the election after he lost to Mathew Muleya. Two other candidates Cdes Jonathan Mathe and John Dix Ncube contested in the four-man race for the Hwange DCC chairmanship.
In Gwanda, Politburo member Abedinico Ncube who is also Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister called for a rerun arguing that less than a quarter of members voted due to logistical challenges.
By A Correspondent- A car spares dealer lost R50 000 to an unknown man who claimed to be a Mpilo Central Hospital employee and lured him to the hospital so that they could engage in a business deal.
Mr Reuben Malunda (30) of West Nicholson in Gwanda District met the unknown suspect who was driving a BMW car at Mpilo Central Hospital parking lot on Saturday.
The two are said to have had a small chat in the suspect’s car before the suspect told Mr Malunda that they should complete their business deal in the office.
Mr Malunda who was carrying a bag with R50 000 was encouraged to leave his bag in the car as they moved to the office.
The suspect, who did not tell his victim which department he worked in at the referral hospital told Mr Malunda to wait for him at the hospital’s casualty department entrance for a moment while he dealt with a minor issue.
Mr Malunda waited while the unknown suspect made good his escape. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the case stating that Mr Malunda discovered that he had been duped after waiting in vain for the suspect to return.
“We are investigating a case where a 30-year-old man from West Nicholson in Gwanda was duped of R50 000 by an unknown suspect at Mpilo Central Hospital. The incident occurred on February 20, 2021 where the suspect was phoned by someone telling him to meet him at Mpilo Central Hospital as he wanted to be involved in his car parts selling business,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“This was after the victim had discussed about his car parts selling business in a public transport vehicle in mid-February as he was coming from Gwanda. One of the persons in the same vehicle expressed interest in joining the complainant in his business and took his number and advised that someone would get in touch with him.”
He said Mr Malunda was called by the person who told him they should meet at the hospital to discuss the way forward.
“So, they met at the hospital where the accused was found in a BMW parked at a parking area within the hospital’s premises. Surprisingly, the victim did not ask the person’s name, his particulars and which department he worked at the hospital. He did not take the vehicle’s registration number and was told to leave his bag in the car as they proceeded to the suspect’s office within the hospital premises,” he said.
“The bag had R50 000 so the suspect went to the hospital’s casualty department and at its entrance he asked the complainant to wait for him by the door. As he waited the suspect is said to have used the other entrance to escape. After waiting for a long time, he became suspicious and started searching for him at the hospital’s premises and could not find him. His car could not be found where it had been parked and his phone had been switched off. That is when he realised that he had been duped.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said police in their investigations are casting their net wider as they believe Mr Malunda could have been swindled by a group of people. He said it was worrying that members of the public continue to lose large sums of money recklessly.
“Members of the public should do due diligence before engaging in any business transactions. They should assess if the person they are dealing with is a genuine buyer, verify if the claimed workplace is real because some criminals are lying just to dupe unsuspecting members of the public as it happened with this case,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said anyone who might have information which may lead to the arrest of the suspect should report at the nearest police station as investigations are ongoing.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Salary negotiations between the government and the civil servants will commence soon according to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services.
Professor Paul Mavima Public Service, Labour and Social Services Minister Professor while speaking to the publication said they were either going to backdate civil servants’ salaries if resources permit or wait till they reach an agreement with the Apex Council.
Said Mavima:
We are waiting for a framework for negotiations to come from Treasury, Pending on availability of resources we may have to either backdate or continue from whatever time that we will achieve an agreement between the Apex Council and the Government team.
When contacted for comment, Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions deputy secretary-general Gibson Mushangu said they were supposed to have met before the end of January with the government to negotiate salaries:
We had come up with an agreement which stated that, before the end of January we would have convened a meeting and come up with a road map towards restoration of our eroded salaries.
Last year after salary negotiations between teachers and the government, the government promised teachers that by June 2021 they will have matched the salaries teachers were earning in 2018 before inflation eroded their salaries.
-ZTN
By A Correspondent- Presidential spokesperson George Charamba has rubbished a report in today’s local newspaper alleging that Zimbabwe could consider mandatory inoculation against COVID-19 following resistance from some sections of the population.
Charamba posted on his @Jamwanda2 Twitter handle that if persuasion failed on voluntary vaccination, then government, which has maintained that the programme would be voluntary, according to the Public Health Act, would force people to be vaccinated.
“Generally, government takes the view of persuasion as a weapon of first instance. Only when that fails does it ratchet up pressure through coercion, especially where minors are involved. You can’t condemn an age that can’t decide to die or take hazards of dying,” Charamba tweeted on Tuesday.
Charamba rubbished the article saying the media house sort to ‘recontextualise his tween for their own wish-narrative.’
https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1364828607709904898&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fbulawayo24.com%2Findex-id-news-sc-national-byo-199966.html&theme=light&widgetsVersion=889aa01%3A1612811843556&width=550px
Zimbabwe rolled out the voluntary vaccination programme throughout the country this week, with health workers and other frontline workers given the first priority.
Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga last Thursday became the first Zimbabwean to be inoculated with the Chinese-donated Sinopharm vaccine.
The southern African country last Monday received 200 000 doses of the vaccine and Charamba yesterday said the Asian giant had doubled its donation to 400 000 doses.
According to Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe expects to receive another 600 000 doses of the same vaccine early next month purchased by government.
Government said it had planned to buy up to 1,8 million doses of the Chinese vaccine.
However, there has been a low turnout by health workers at most health centres throughout the country, with some saying they were unsure of the efficacy of the donated vaccine.-0nline
Opposition MDC Alliance deputy president, Professor Welshman Ncube has trashed reports that he is on his way out of the party after growing frustrated, saying he is not going anywhere.
Posting on Twitter, Professor Ncube said he is not quitting his position to take up an international job somewhere saying the reports are untrue and a psychological warfare by someone somewhere.
“Woke up this morning to the old news (this being recycled de-campaign news used in the run up to the Gweru Congress) that I am quitting the MDC Alliance to take up some international job somewhere. Someone somewhere is waging psychological warfare. I am not going anywhere,” said Ncube.
By A Correspondent- A 19-year-old fisherman from Gwanda literally became a fisher of man when he cast his rod into Sengezane river hoping to reel in a good catch only to discover a dead body floating in the water.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident that occurred last week and identified the deceased as Albhasi Nyathi of Village 30 in Gwaranyemba, Guyu.
“The deceased left home on the 15th for his workplace at Collen Bawn,” Mangena told ZimLive.
“On Monday, the 19-year-old man was fishing at Sengezane river stumbled upon the body while fishing and reported the matter to elders.
“The father of the deceased identified the body as that of his son. It was retrieved and a report was made to police,” the provincial police spokesperson added.
The body was sent to Gwanda provincial hospital for postmortem.
The case is being treated as an accidental drowning, Mangena said, urging members of the public not to risk their lives by crossing flooded rivers.
Many people have drowned across the country this year after taking a chance on raging waters
Police in Bindura arrested four men for poaching a Zebra at Tsatse Game Park yesterday.
Police also recovered three rifles.
The suspects proceeded to the game-park in the night and slaughtered a zebra before loading the carcass in an Isuzu KB pick up.
Alert villagers at Wiseacre Farm, Bindura noticed a carcass in their vehicle after it got stuck in mud and they effected citizen arrest on the suspects. Investigations are in progress.
More to follow…
View pictures below ….
By A Correspondent- A magistrate from a court in Mutare was reportedly attacked by a hammer by an irate woman who was accusing her of having an affair with her husband, ZimLive reports.
According to the publication, Tamara Chibindi was attacked at her home by an angry Thelmor Mudhefi over prominent Mutare lawyer Chris Ndlovu and she had to be treated for head and arm injuries at the hospital.
A source spoke and revealed that the Mutare magistrate was attacked told the publication that:
She was badly injured on the head and one of her hands. She received some stitches in hospital.
Thelmor was reportedly arrested but she has already filed a complaint against Chibindi with Chief Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi. However, Judiciary Service Commission’s secretary Walter Chikwana said they were not aware of the said incident:
If a complaint was made, it would have gone to the Chief Magistrate who is yet to bring it to our attention
Meanwhile, in another incident that occurred in the country’s second-largest city Bulawayo, a woman who had gone home with Justice Thompson Mabhikwa sent his nude photos to a fellow judges group when she discovered that he was having an affair with another woman.
The woman who is believed to be the secretary of one of the fellow judges also sent his photos to some of his contacts.
Hi editor
Please share our sad story.
We are residents of Chitungwiza Rockview West under developer Benard Chivhanga.
Chivhanga is also the father of Zanu Pf youth league stalwart who was recently arrested and released after telling the court that their company was liquidated.
Daily here, they are demanding cash amounting between US$5000 to US$7000 on the pretext that its development fee.
He is boasting that he has political muscle and there is nothing that we can do except pay him.
For us, we have nowhere to run because the double allocation of stands has become the order of the day.
Please help by publishing our story. We are in a dilemna.
By A Correspondent| Masvingo freelance journalists Godfrey Mtimba and Tonderai Saharo were on 24 February 2021 reportedly barred by the police from covering the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme at Mushagashe Training Centre.
According to Mtimba, the police barred them from covering the event at the instigation of the sister-in-charge who was leading the medical team at the training centre, about 30km outside Zimbabwe’s southern town of Masvingo.
The sister-in-charge, who reportedly refused to identify herself, told the journalists that she had not received authorisation from her superiors to entertain or allow the presence of media practitioners.
By Wilbert Mukori- “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest (profit).
We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages.” Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature & Causes of the Wealth of Nations 1776.
What Adam Smith said about the butcher and the brewer can be said about politicians.
“It is not from the benevolence of the politician that we expect good roads, public security, justice, good governance and all the things society pays for through taxes and other forms of self-sacrifices. Left to their own devices, the politicians take full advantage of power and authority we have entrusted them and spent every last penny of our taxes securing their luxury and comfort. Politicians are public servants with a propensity to make the public their slaves. Watch out!”
Zimbabwe is in a serious economic and political mess and I lay the blame for it all on our political leaders and not the butcher and the brewer. The butcher, brewer, teachers, doctors, engineers, etc. are all feeling the consequences of the country’s economic meltdown and political paralysis just as much as the street vendors and the rural peasants.
There is no denying that in Zimbabwe we, the people, have left the politicians, from both sides of the political divide, to do as their pleased. And they did just that!
When Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies campaigned in the 1980 elections on the basis that if they lost the elections the bush war would continue, that should have set alarm bells ringing in every thinking Zimbabwean. Zanu PF was discarding the “One man! One vote!” clarion call at the very heart of the nation’s fight for independence.
Without “One man! One vote!” the ordinary Zimbabwean was powerless. Without a meaningful vote the people cannot hold the politician to account. Without a meaningful vote the politician is the master and the people the slaves!
In 1980, the people voted to end the bush war and once in power Zanu PF has worked to consolidate its strangle hold on power. The people lost their power over Zanu PF in 1980 and have never regained it as the party has rigged all the elections that followed to this day.
As for the politicians creaming off the nation’s wealth to feather their own nest nothing captures the epitome of politician greed at public expense than Mugabe’s Blue Roof mansion. Mugabe built his four-storey US$2 billion Blue Roof mansion whilst Parerenyatwa Hospital, the nation’s number one referral hospital, was left to rot and decay. The hospital has so starved of funds it is common to hear it has run out of something as basic as pain killers.
A collapse health service did not bother Mugabe and his fellow Zanu PF cronies, they had their health care needs in SA, India, Singapore, etc. In 2012 Mugabe made no fewer than 8 health care trips @ US$3 million!
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect the now late Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends into power on the understanding the party will deliver democratic changes necessary to restore the individual freedoms and rights Zanu PF had usurped from the people.
MDC leaders have been on the political stage for 20 years, 5 years of which they were in the GNU, and have failed to bring about even one democratic change, reform.
“Mazivanhu eMDC adzidza kudya anyerere!” (MDC leaders have learned to enjoy the spoils of power, they never rock the boat!) boasted Zanu PF cronies during the GNU when asked why MDC leaders were not implementing the democratic reforms.
Ever since their betrayal during the GNU, MDC leaders have really gone rogue, they have continued participating in the flawed and illegal elections giving the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy and thus perpetuate the dictatorship.
MDC leaders have given up the fight for free, fair and credible elections. They are now content with letting Zanu PF rig the elections and claim the presidency and 2/3 majority and get the remaining 1/3 of the gravy train seats plus the portion of the annual Political Party Finance Act payout.
Some people have argued that Zimbabweans did not appreciate the critical importance of “One man! One vote!” and their role as citizen in holding the country’s political leaders to democratic account. There is some truth in that; the people should have been taught all these things at the “Pungwe”, the regular all night rallies hosted by Zanu PF operatives held before independence. People in the rural areas were forced to attend the rallies.
President Mnangagwa promised to hold free, fair and credible elections when he took over the leadership of Zanu PF following the November 2017 military coup. He stubbornly reformed to implement any democratic reforms and blatantly rigged the July 2018 elections.
After 41 years of independence plus all the wealth of historic experience dated to the founding of democracy by the Greeks, 2 500 years ago, there is no excuse why Zimbabweans are failing to articulate what constitute free, fair and credible elections and to hold Zanu PF to account for denying them this basic right.
Free, fair and credible elections is more than a basic human right; it is the essence of good and accountable government.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been wittering about Zimbabwe’s economy rising from the ashes, like the phenix, to middle income status by 2030. This is rich coming from the regime that inherited a middle income economy and in 40 years reduced it to ruins.
The decades of misrule have forced many Zimbabweans to leave the country and quality of education has dropped through the floor. The country has 10% or less of the skilled manpower in such key sectors as engineering, agriculture, health and education.
He has failed to stamp out such chronic problems as corruption and mismanagement because he and his fellow Zanu PF cronies are the Godfathers of corruption and mismanagement.
So the President is expecting to reverse Zimbabwe’s economic fortunes from the ruins to back to middle income in 10 ten years with 10% of skilled manpower and regardless of the criminal waste of resource due to corruption. A tall order only the naive and gullible will be expected to believe!
50% of the Zimbabweans now live in abject poverty, i.e. they cannot afford one decent meal a day let alone other basic necessities such as education for their children and health care. The corona virus outbreak has make the health and economic situation much worse.
Zimbabweans must now think how they are going to get out of this economic and political mess with increased sense of urgency! Zanu PF and the present political system is not going to get the nation out of the hell-on-earth we are in.
It is certainly not from Mnangagwa’s empty promises economic prosperity and free and fair elections that Zimbabweans can expect their daily bread and a bright future from the grinding poverty and despair of the last 40 years. If we want that bright future then we must wrestle our from Mnangagwa and his fellow politician our freedoms and rights including the right to hold all politicians to account in free, fair and credible elections.
By A Correspondent- Police have rearrested a habitual car thief on allegations of breaking into a parked vehicle in Bulawayo and stealing a cellphone, just a few days after he was released from prison.
The latest incident follows an outcry over an increase in criminal activities by either habitual criminals released from prisons or those released on bail pending appeal.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of the suspect saying he had been released from Khami Prison on February 9, after being arrested on similar charges.
“Police confirm the arrest of a recently released prisoner on February 22, 2021 at about 0120 hours, for theft from a car at Nketa, Bulawayo. The suspect aged 28 allegedly opened the door of a parked Toyota Hilux vehicle, stole a Huawei cellphone from the dashboard before he was noticed and pursued,” he said.
The suspect is still assisting police with investigations. Apart from the ordinary crimes being perpetrated by criminals, there are a number of armed robberies being committed by suspected armed robbers that would have been released from remand on bail pending appeal.
Last week, one of the armed robbers arrested following a shootout with police on Friday night after robbing a Harare businessman of US$10 000, had just been released from jail on bail pending appeal.
Blessing Bheura (29) was one of the six armed robbers, including a serving ZRP member, who violently resisted arrest when police pounced after they had robbed a businessman. Police were forced to return fire.
Four of the armed robbers were killed while Bheura and Tichaona Kariwa (33) of Domboshava were arrested. Those that were killed are Constable Kudzai Kanjera (41) of ZRP Hatfield, Admire Nhetekwa (26), Brian Chibaya (37) and Tatenda Chari (35).
Police had received a tip-off that the robbers were planning to pounce on the businessman, and ambushed the robbers.
Bheura was involved in the armed robbery, barely three days after being granted bail for another armed robbery in Murehwa which was committed while using a pistol, which had allegedly been stolen from a Waterfalls, Harare, home. This was not the first time that criminals released on bail have committed crimes before being rearrested.
Recently, 12 suspected armed robbers including two ex-policemen, who were released on bail at the High Court last year, were on police’s most wanted list for committing a spate of robberies in and around Harare and skipping bail.
A manhunt for the 12 and other wanted suspects, has since been launched although some are believed to have skipped the country. They were once arrested, but disappeared after being granted bail by the courts, resulting in warrants of arrest being issued against them for violating the report conditions of bail or not turning up on their remand dates.
Those that were being hunted down include Alouis Nyamadzawo, Decide Rice, Godfrey Josi, Elijah Temai Vumbunu, Leonard Huni, Fanuel Chikadaya, Peter Mushipe, Conwell Kasambarare (28), Musafare Mupamhanga, Spicer Takawira and the two ex-cops Watson Magodhi (37) and Ayanda Gumbo (28).
Most of the suspects had previous criminal records.
Head of Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) Mr Thabani Mpofu recently said they were concerned about the release on bail of dangerous criminals, sometimes before their initial trial and sometimes after conviction and jail sentences while their cases went on appeal.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Police officer Chief Superintendent Joseph Josphat Matipforo has filed a report alleging that Zimbabwe Anti Corruption (ZACC) investigator Eric Chacha is obstructing the course of justice and criminally abusing his office in handling his matter.
Chief Supt Matipforo is under investigation for bribery and criminal abuse of office after he was allegedly allocated a residential stand corruptly by Harare City Council officers who are under investigation by CID Commercial Crimes Division (CCD).
In a letter dated February 12 to ZACC chair Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, copied to police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga, head of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) Mr Thabani Mpofu and Prosecutor General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi, Chief Supt Matipforo said the letter was not aimed at stopping investigations into his case, but to highlight irregularities in the manner Chacha was handling the matter.
“The purpose of this letter to your esteemed office is not to try to stop investigations or to explain my innocence as I will do that in a court of law but it is to expose malice, criminal abuse of office and defeating the course of justice as perpetrated by the ZACC investigating officer Eric Chacha,” he wrote.
He said in July 2020, he was placed under investigation for alleged bribery or criminal abuse of office over the stand allocation with the probe culminating in the arrest of four officers at CCD whose cases are pending.
“The matter was being investigated by Chacha and he dropped charges against me after he realised that I was not part of the investigating team as I was working for CID Asset Forfeiture Unit, an establishment different from CCD, hence I was not privy to the fraud investigation.
“He also realised that even though I had acquired a residential stand from Harare City Council, it was after following all relevant council procedures such as being on waiting list and attending interviews, and all my papers were in order. Chief Supt Matipforo said later in 2020 Chacha and his workmates plotted to destroy his professional career by continuing with the prosecution even though it was clear that he was innocent.
“In one of the routine meetings where he (Chacha) discussed my case at ZACC, he was advised by fellow workmates that there was no case against Mutipforo and he said he wasn’t worried about evidence or conviction but once he placed a person on remand and had him published in the media he was done with him. The arrest and negative publicity came to pass, the senior policeman said. Chief Supt Matipforo further wrote that on October 14, 2020, he was arrested by Chacha who was with one Sandra Kuziva at his office and was taken for interrogation.
“I submitted my warned and cautioned statement in writing whereby I denied the charges and offered to present documentary evidence if afforded the opportunity.
“He clearly told me that he was under pressure from undisclosed individuals to detain me and I pleaded with him to escort me to my office where I had documents which confirmed my innocence. “He initially declined but after warning him that I would not hesitate filing for unlawful arrest and detention he eventually released me on condition that I would bring my evidence the following day (15 October 2020),” wrote Chief Supt Matipforo.
He said on October 15, he presented to Eric Chacha and Sandra Kuziva, all documents on the stand acquisition which were confirmed to be authentic by Harare City Council.
“Chacha indeed confirmed I was innocent and he said “ko vanhu vanokuvengerei” (why do people hate you) and I told him to be objective and not to be used by my . Chief Supt Matipforo said he was released but on October 20, Chacha stormed his office intending to arrest him but he resisted saying he could not be arrested twice for the same offence. I pledged to attend court the following day even though he didn’t have any summons.
“On October 21, 2020 we attended vetting at the National Prosecuting Authority and to my surprise on his Request for Remand (Form 242) Chacha insisted that I had violated council procedure. “He withheld from prosecutors, crucial information (documents) which I had given him which proved my innocence.
“He was asked by Chief Law Officer Ulade why he had brought me on Forms 242 opposing bail yet he had initially arrested me on the 14th of October 2020 and released me,” he wrote.
Chief Supt Matipforo said Chacha was further asked why he couldn’t finalise his docket and submit when complete but he refused to respond to such questions in my presence and requested that I go out of the office. My lawyer, Mr Mugiya objected to our going out but I offered to go out for progress’ sake since I knew I was innocent and I believed justice would prevail.
“Chacha refused to respond in my presence because he knew he wanted to mislead the prosecutors and he wouldn’t achieve that in my presence. All he wanted was to have me placed on remand and published in the media to please his handlers.”
Chief Supt Matipforo added: “I have reasonable belief that Eric Chacha must be investigated and prosecuted for two criminal offences, obstructing or defeating the course of justice and alternatively, criminal abuse of office as a public officer.
By A Correspondent- Cain Mathema, the Primary and Secondary Education Minister has announced a new 14 member ZIMSEC board.
The new board which is headed by Professor Eddie Mwenje according to Mathema is made up of lawyers, academics, and people from different professions.
Said Mathema as he was announcing the new board members:
The board which superintends over ZIMSEC is made up of academics, lawyers, educationists, accountants and renowned administrators in whom we have faith that standards will be maintained and made better through their guidance. I hereby announce the appointment of the following members to serve in the ZIMSEC board from 2021-2024
The Minister on Tuesday blamed the low 2020 Zimsec Grade 7 pass rate on a number of things including sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western powers.
While announcing the new ZIMSEC Board, Mathema also said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is ready to reopen schools, they are just waiting for the government to let the learners go back to school.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Several housing co-operatives around the country reportedly deposited cash into former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo’s personal bank account instead of remitting the money to the State, a Harare magistrate heard yesterday when the ex-minister appeared in court.
Chombo, represented by Lovemore Madhuku, Tungamirai Muganhiri and Munyaradzi Bwanya, is facing six counts of fraud and criminal abuse of office relating to illegal parcelling out of State land.
Regional magistrate Stanford Mambanje is expected to deliver bail ruling today.
Madhuku told the court that his client would challenge his placement on remand on his next court appearance.
He further said Chombo would challenge his unlawful detention and that he was already on remand on other related counts.
But the State, represented by Charles Muchemwa and Ephraim Zinyandu, opposed bail, saying Chombo committed a serious offence and must not be released since they feared he would interfere with State witnesses.
Investigations officer Maxwell Gudoricharima further told the court that Chombo opened a personal bank account into which co-operatives around the country deposited various amounts of money, instead of directing the money into government coffers.
“The arrest emanated from the Commission of Inquiry (into sale of State land) by Justice (Tendai) Uchena. The accused opened a bank account with the name Ignatius Chombo Housing Co-operatives, where several housing co-operatives remitted money for his personal use,” Gudoricharima said.
The investigations officer said they were still investigating the matter as the Special Anti-Corruption Unit.
Allegations against Chombo are that between 2000 and 2015, he illegally caused desperate land seekers to deposit money into his Agribank bank account for land development purposes.
It is alleged Chombo misrepresented to beneficiaries that if they contributed the money, he would allocate them stands at several farms in and around Harare.
By A Correspondent- The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Ambassador Cain Mathema has said the ministry is ready to reopen schools they are just waiting for the government’s directive to open their doors and let learners start learning.
Mathema said this as he was announcing the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) Board in Bulawayo when he said:
Ministry officials and myself have been on a whirlwind assessing the situation in schools. We are confident and ready to open schools, but the safety of learners is important. When it’s safe to do so, the President will advise.
During Tuesday’s post-cabinet briefing the Minister of information, Monica Mutsvangwa simply said the government was preparing to reopen schools but did not shed more information if schools will be opened in the near future.
Leaners were last in class on 18 December and they were supposed to have been back in school on 4 January before the government announced a 30 days national lockdown due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Former MDC Alliance Senator and deputy treasurer Lilian Timveos who recently defected to the ruling party Zanu PF has claimed that MDC Alliance Secretary-General Chalton Hwende was lobbying for firebrand politician Job Sikhala to be expelled from the party.
This was contained in a letter she wrote to Hwende responding to stories that she joined Zanu PF to keep her senatorial car after getting into a pact with first lady Auxilia Mnangagwa.
In the response in which she asked Hwende to respect her Timveos said:
End of last year you lobbied us kuti Job Sikhala adzingwe mu party(be expelled from the party). You lobbied for a special Standing Committee meeting to just discuss why Job Sikhala participated in the 31st July demonstration without the authority of the party.
I did not attend the special Standing Committee meeting because ndakaona kuti (I saw that) Hwende is good at using people to fight vanhu vasina mhosva (innocent people). I did not attend the Special Standing Committee meeting to discuss about one person who did what he did because mu party no one is allowed to do anything or to say a word. We are only asked to listen to Nelson Chamisa and no one. I only heard kuti Job Sikhala makamutukirira from 2pm kusvika 8 usiku.(You shouted at him for a very long time)
Timvous said she joined the ruling party simply because she was tired of being used to fight people who never wronged her and not because she was going to keep her senatorial car. She said she is rich and she has been driving flashy cars for a decade now.
By A Correspondent- Police in Gweru have arrested two brothers on murder charges after turned violent during an exorcism session at a shrine, resulting in one of them fatally stabbing a son of a self-styled prophetess they were consulting.
According to witnesses, during the incident which occurred on Monday morning, the two had visited the prophetess only identified as Madzimai Nancy on the outskirts of Gweru city to consult about misfortunes they were encountering in their family.
They also wanted to know more about the fate of their artisanal mining activities.
“During the exorcism and prayer session at Madzimai Nancy’s shrine, the two brothers, Felix (25) and Emmanuel Matura (21) got into some trance and started fighting, throwing hard fists on each other,” said a witness, Mr Tynos Chirinda.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said as the two bothers exchanged blows, Pardon Guzhumura, son to Madzimai Nancy, tried to restrain them.
“The two brothers suddenly turned against Guzhumura and started beating him with clenched fists,” he said.
“One of the two brothers then drew a knife and stabed Guzhumura several times on both thighs.”
Insp Mahoko said Madzimai Nancy made some distress calls, resulting in the two brothers leaving the shrine in a huff.
“They left their victim at the scene, bleeding, and the matter was reported to the police,” he said.
“Guzhumura was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.”
Insp Mahoko said the two brothers were arrested on the same day and were now assisting with investigations.
Meanwhile, Insp Mahoko said police in Silobela arrested a 38-year-old woman from Matshaya Village, Lower Gweru, after she fataly beat her daughter she was accusing of leaving the homestead to play with other minors.
Said Insp Mahoko: “Police are also investigating a murder case in which an eightyear-old girl died after being assaulted by her mother on Monday. The now deceased girl, Nozithelo Nsingo, was assaulted by her mother Maria Ruhwizhi using a waiste leather belt until she passed on.
“Police attended to the scene and the mother was arrested. She is now in police custody.
By A Correspondent- Police in Mutoko, Mashonaland East province, have launched a manhunt for a heavily-armed six-member machete gang that has terrorised business owners at Karonga, before getting away with cash and cellphones among other valuables.
The gangsters were said to be armed with machetes and pistols.
Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed three separate incidents which occurred recently.
“Police is looking for a gang of six armed men who recently pounced on three unsuspecting victims stealing cash and other valuables at gunpoint,” Mwanza said.
“We urge businesses to have watertight security systems to avoid such incidences.
However, we are appealing to anyone with information on their identity and their whereabouts to report to the nearest police station.”
He said the six had been stealing from shops and vehicles, ransacking houses, and demanding cash and other expensive items.
On February 21, they raided Timothy Madimutsa (53) of Marere village, Joseph Kanyongo (57) of Kanyongo village under chief Charehwa and Beauty Kavhukatema of Mutoko and stole money, handsets and groceries.
They deflated their victims’ vehicle tyres before leaving in an unregistered car.-newsday
By A Correspondent- Teachers have challenged government to accept responsibility over the poor performance of Grade 7 pupils in the 2020 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council results released early this month, accusing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration of trying to use sanctions as a scapegoat.
Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema on Tuesday blamed sanctions imposed on the country by Western countries, COVID-19 and lack of dedication to duty by teachers for the poor pass rate.
But Obert Masaraure (pictured), president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said teachers did all they could to make sure that pupils get good results considering that they were working under difficult conditions.
Masaraure said sanctions had nothing to do with the low pass rate. He said teachers were incapacitated, while the working conditions were also bad. He blamed government for failing to put up proper infrastructure in schools to improve pass rates.
“I salute teachers for their hard work to produce these results considering the circumstances they are working under. The government has a way of shifting the blame on sanctions when things get bad, it does not want to be held responsible,” Masaraure said.
Masaraure also acknowledged that COVID-19 also contributed a lot to the low pass rate as learners did not spend much of their time in the classroom but rather, learning online which most of pupils were unable to do.
Goodwill Taderera, secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association, said: “The low pass rate was mainly contributed by the national lockdowns since pupils did not learn, especially those in rural areas where they could not afford smartphones, laptops and money for data and in other areas there was no internet connectivity.”
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said: “The failure rate must be blamed squarely on government that has failed to invest in quality public education.
“Whereas the Dakar framework of agreement calls for a budget for primary and secondary education of above 22% of the total budget, Zimbabwean budget is just at 12,7%. There is need for investment in quality public education than retention of political power.”
He said teachers’ poor salaries, infrastructural decay in schools and lack of equipment for online education during the COVID-19-induced school closures contributed to the horrible results.
“To, therefore, blame high failure rate on sanctions and lack of supervision by school heads for the high failure rate is just dishonesty of the greatest magnitude. Mathema lacks educational taxonomy, but we never expected him to sink so low.”-newsday
By A Correspondent- Heavy rains have spawned a humanitarian crisis in Shurugwi district destroying schools, homes, roads and other public infrastructure such as bridges over the past few weeks.
Shurugwi assistant district development co-ordinator Desmond Gumbochuma said: “We have had critical infrastructure like roads, schools, homes, clinics and bridges destroyed by rains.”
He added: “We have eight schools across the district which were destroyed.
“We also have three clinics which had their roofs blown off. In Shurugwi South, we have a bridge on a major road which connects Midlands and Masvingo provinces built across Musavezi River.”
The bridge was first destroyed in 2015.
Government repaired the bridge, but when the floods came this year, it was severely damaged.
“We suspect that much of the damage was a result of theft of mesh wire which helped reinforce the bridge,” he said, adding local legislator Edmond Mkaratigwa was spearheading the reconstruction process.
“The MP and government helped pool resources to repair the bridge because this road is a major trade corridor which provides an outlet to the entire region.
“We have recruited 40 locals, including 10 women, to work on the bridge.
“Five of them will be doing data capture while the rest are casual labourers. We also have Lebongo Bridge linking Shurugwi and Zvishavane which is being repaired,” Gumbochuma said.
“District wise, we have over 50 households whose homes were destroyed extensively by the rains. .
“We are proving them with food. The Tongogara District Council is spearheading the reconstruction of schools and clinics.”
In an interview with NewsDay at the weekend, Mkaratigwa said the bridge at Musavezi River would be complete in the next three months.-newsday
A PRESS STATEMENT TO THE NATION
BY THE HONOURABLE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE KEMBO C.D. MOHADI
Greetings to you the citizens of this Great Nation.
I begin by extending my great appreciation to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde ED Mnangagwa for entrusting me with the huge responsibility to deputise him under the new dispensation.
Fellow Zimbabweans, following the recent social media hype about my alleged illicit relationship with two married women, I have decided to come open and respond to the allegations being peddled by my detractors.
Despite growing impatient because of days of weird character assassination, I wish to categorically state that the allegations being levelled against me are not only false, but well-choreographed to demean, condescend, and soil my image as a national leader and patriot.
I am aware that my right to privacy has been trashed in terms of Section 57 (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20) Act 2013, which reads as follows, “every person has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have the privacy of their communications infringed…”.
Despite the noisy in digital media ecologies, I wish to clearly state that I am innocent and a victim of political machinations being peddled through hacking and voice cloning.
Fellow Zimbabweans, despite the density of the allegations being levelled against me, I salute the support from fellow citizens, colleagues and comrades who fully grasped the rigid complexities of concocted enemy attacks.
It is against this backdrop that I am categorically distancing myself from the imagined immoral unions.
The camaraderie and support given to me during this trying hour are greatly appreciated.
That these faceless netizens have blended well-networked digital architecture to reengineer the spaces for political demonization, will not dampen my spirit as a tried and tested cadre.
I remain a committed leader, father, cadre and servant of this Great Nation.
I thank you
Yours Comradely
Kembo C D Mohadi
A BAR in Victoria Falls has been selling beer to sit-in patrons in violation of lockdown regulations where sale of alcohol at public outlets is prohibited.
President Mnangagwa recently extended the Level 4 national lockdown by another two weeks, from February 14, following a spike in Covid-19 infections and deaths.
Under the lockdown, all public gatherings remain banned with funeral gatherings still restricted to 30 people.
Churches remain banned and so is any form of public gathering for social, sporting or any other purpose.
Sectors of the economy not specified as essential remain closed with those that want to resume operations expected to first test their employees in compliance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) protocols.
However, Hyper Superette located at Mukali Business Centre in Mkhosana seems to be “self-exempted” as the premises sell both groceries and beer.
A Chronicle news crew has been observing over time that at any given time there is an average of between 40 and 50 patrons gathered under tree sheds, with others playing snooker.
They will be drinking various kinds of beer including the illicit Broncleer, Zed and Tetankau usually smuggled from Zambia at the backyard spot, oblivious of the danger of contracting or spreading the corona virus.
While Hyper Superette is legally allowed to operate as an essential grocery services provider, the drinking spot is prohibited according to lockdown rules.
Some of the patrons said they were not breaking the law as they were drinking outside the shop.
“We buy and sit here to drink so we can’t be said to be breaking any regulation,” said one imbiber.- Chronicle
THE body of a 30-year-old man from Garanyemba village in Gwanda who drowned in a river about a week ago has been found more than 10 kilometres downstream.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that the body of Albhasi Nyathi a 30-year-old male of Garanyemba village in Gwanda district was discovered along Sengezane river at Guyu area on February 22 in a suspected drowning case.
“Invesigations are underway and we continue to urge people not to cross flooded rivers,” said Insp Mangena.
Villagers who spoke to this news crew said Mr Nyathi left home on February 15 from his village where he was going to Collen Bawn where he works.
“We never heard from him after that. His body was discovered trapped 10km away along Sengezane river at Guyu area by a 19-year-old boy who was fishing. The boy informed villagers who informed the police and his family was located,” said the villager.- Chronicle
Police are appealing for information that may lead to the identification of an artisanal miner who died when a mine shaft he was working under with a colleague collapsed at Vambeza C Mine in Gokwe last weekend.
Lazarus Mangena, one of the miners, sustained some injuries while his colleague, only identified as Foster, died in the mishap.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko revealed that the body of the now deceased was taken to Gokwe North District Hospital mortuary. He said:
Mangena doesn’t know the full names of the deceased, they were just working as partners and police are now appealing for the identification of the now-deceased who has since been taken to Gokwe North District Hospital mortuary.-The Herald
A CAR spares dealer lost R50 000 to an unknown man who claimed to be a Mpilo Central Hospital employee and lured him to the hospital so that they could engage in a business deal.
Mr Reuben Malunda (30) of West Nicholson in Gwanda District met the unknown suspect who was driving a BMW car at Mpilo Central Hospital parking lot on Saturday. The two are said to have had a small chat in the suspect’s car before the suspect told Mr Malunda that they should complete their business deal in the office.
Mr Malunda who was carrying a bag with R50 000 was encouraged to leave his bag in the car as they moved to the office.
The suspect, who did not tell his victim which department he worked in at the referral hospital told Mr Malunda to wait for him at the hospital’s casualty department entrance for a moment while he dealt with a minor issue.
Mr Malunda waited while the unknown suspect made good his escape. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the case stating that Mr Malunda discovered that he had been duped after waiting in vain for the suspect to return.
“We are investigating a case where a 30-year-old man from West Nicholson in Gwanda was duped of R50 000 by an unknown suspect at Mpilo Central Hospital. The incident occurred on February 20, 2021 where the suspect was phoned by someone telling him to meet him at Mpilo Central Hospital as he wanted to be involved in his car parts selling business,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“This was after the victim had discussed about his car parts selling business in a public transport vehicle in mid-February as he was coming from Gwanda. One of the persons in the same vehicle expressed interest in joining the complainant in his business and took his number and advised that someone would get in touch with him.”
He said Mr Malunda was called by the person who told him they should meet at the hospital to discuss the way forward.
“So, they met at the hospital where the accused was found in a BMW parked at a parking area within the hospital’s premises. Surprisingly, the victim did not ask the person’s name, his particulars and which department he worked at the hospital. He did not take the vehicle’s registration number and was told to leave his bag in the car as they proceeded to the suspect’s office within the hospital premises,” he said.
“The bag had R50 000 so the suspect went to the hospital’s casualty department and at its entrance he asked the complainant to wait for him by the door. As he waited the suspect is said to have used the other entrance to escape.
After waiting for a long time, he became suspicious and started searching for him at the hospital’s premises and could not find him. His car could not be found where it had been parked and his phone had been switched off. That is when he realised that he had been duped.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said police in their investigations are casting their net wider as they believe Mr Malunda could have been swindled by a group of people. He said it was worrying that members of the public continue to lose large sums of money recklessly.
“Members of the public should do due diligence before engaging in any business transactions. They should assess if the person they are dealing with is a genuine buyer, verify if the claimed workplace is real because some criminals are lying just to dupe unsuspecting members of the public as it happened with this case,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said anyone who might have information which may lead to the arrest of the suspect should report at the nearest police station as investigations are ongoing. – Chronicle
Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has no appetite to deal with corruption, MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa wrote on Twitter:
“The looting of covid-19 funds last year has not resulted in a single trial, let alone a conviction. That is open testimony that the supposed State authorities have no appetite to deal with corruption. Thanks to our African compatriots for this award which acts as such a reminder.”
President Chamisa also commended prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono for winning an award for exposing corruption:
“The ultimate prize is to give back where we came from, and not to take from the poor in what is known as looting. We hope that those who have caused so much suffering to our people will learn one or two things from this gesture. Well done brother Hopewell for remembering others.”
Below is Hopewell’s tweet:
I commit ALL the prize money from this important award to helping buy basic PPE for Murewa Hospital!
I would like to thank all the sources, journalists & citizens who helped me put together the exposures.
More importantly, I would like to thank @ZLHRLawyers for standing with me
Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has no appetite to deal with corruption, MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa wrote on Twitter:
“The looting of covid-19 funds last year has not resulted in a single trial, let alone a conviction. That is open testimony that the supposed State authorities have no appetite to deal with corruption. Thanks to our African compatriots for this award which acts as such a reminder.”
President Chamisa also commended prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono for winning an award for exposing corruption:
“The ultimate prize is to give back where we came from, and not to take from the poor in what is known as looting. We hope that those who have caused so much suffering to our people will learn one or two things from this gesture. Well done brother Hopewell for remembering others.”
Below is Hopewell’s tweet:
I commit ALL the prize money from this important award to helping buy basic PPE for Murewa Hospital!
I would like to thank all the sources, journalists & citizens who helped me put together the exposures.
More importantly, I would like to thank @ZLHRLawyers for standing with me
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance official, Ralph Magunje, who was arrested alongside 11 party members in Chinhoyi on Saturday, says he is determined to fight for change despite being intimidated by government agents.
The 12 MDC Alliance members were brutally assaulted by armed soldiers and police details.
Soldiers and cops raided the MDC Alliance offices while the 12 officials were making arrangements for the burial of a party member.
“Our arrest was a blessing in disguise. We managed to have a marathon of uninterrupted of Provincial Administration meetings in custody with binding resolutions. 2021 MDC Alliance Mash West we will get the ball rolling,” Magunje wrote on Twitter.
Tinashe Sambiri|A Non Governmental Organization based in Masvingo has released a position paper, citing concerns about the exclusion of minority groups from key electoral processes.
The Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration is accused of closing democratic space, relegating minority groups to the peripheries of decision making.
In its position paper, Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Development( MACRAD) notes that minority groups have the right to participate in key national processes.
See the MACRAD presentation:
Venda and Shangaan people
This paper is about the participation of indigenous minority groups in elections and various electoral processes in Zimbabwe.
The minority ethnic groups included herein are the Shangaan and the Venda. The Shangaan are the majority ethnic group scattered across four constituencies namely Chiredzi North, Chiredzi East, Chiredzi West and Chiredzi South of the Chiredzi district. Other Shangaan people are sparsely populated in Mwenezi West and Mwenezi East constituencies of Mwenezi district. Lastly, Venda ethnic group is concentrated in Beitbridge district located in Matabeleland South province. This paper focused on these two minority groups scrutinizing their participation in electoral processes in Zimbabwe.
The main aim is to interrogate how they exercise their rights in voting considering their minority status in the broader shrinking democratic space in Zimbabwe.
Understanding the indigenous/minority ethnic groups
Indigenous people are the first inhabitants or native social groups who have lived in particular geographical spaces over long period of time. They are referred to by various names such as, the Natives, the First people and the autochthonous people among others. The United Nations’ defines them as, ‘…..of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived. According to the IUCN, indigenous people are those who still practice their historical and unique traditions presented through well decorated tangible artefacts – dressing, musical instruments, jewellery and craft – and intangible cultural artefacts – language, dances, music and rituals. According to the UN, the indigenous people in modern days are considered as minority ethnic groups in national contexts. Their minority status emerged after being disoriented and dominated through physical conquest, settlement and occupation by bigger social groups.
Normative profiles of the Shangaan and the Venda
The Shangaan and the Venda are amongst the few indigenous minority groups found in Zimbabwe. Statistics showed that the Venda and Shangaan in conjunction with other minority groups constitute less than 10% of the Zimbabwean population. The country is dominated by the Shona speaking people who constitute 75% of the Zimbabwean population – the Shona speaking people appears in three tribal clusters namely Zezuru, Karanga and Manyika. Like other indigenous minority groups elsewhere, their participation in politics is not autonomous and in most cases they experience induced or directed participation.
(i) The Venda
The Venda people are a minority group found on the southern parts of Zimbabwe whilst the majority reside in South Africa. History tells that they originated from the Mapungubwe kingdom which was established by their ancestors in the 19th century. Furthermore, the Venda people belong to the Bantu language cluster which is common South Eastern Africa. Their primary language is Venda and their religion is in the domain of African Traditional Religion (ATR). The Venda’s ethnoreligion is their way of life which embraces close connection with their ethnic identity, cultural heritage and practice.
Interestingly, the Venda people have a very high esteem on their women. Ideally, the system of valuing women is quiet unusual when compared to other ethnic groups spread across Africa. In real practice, the Vendas encourage their women to occupy influential and senior positions in the society. In both the domestic and public spheres, aunties (known as Vhomakadzi) are very powerful in conflict resolution and management. In domestic spheres, they guarantee peace and serenity amongst family members – between and amongst siblings, in-laws and in marriages. Furthermore, they are the custodians of divine processes such as ritual performing and communication with the ancestors.
(a) Political economy
The Venda people domicile in the rural parts of Beitbridge town in Matabeleland South province. The district is bordered with Mozambique to the east, Botswana west and South Africa to the south. Ecologically, this district lies in region V. and is characterised by arid conditions and untenable topographic traits. Excessive temperature and low rainfall patterns makes it very difficult for rainfed farming. As a result, the Venda people are vulnerable to severe food insecurities. Alternatively, they rely much on animal husbandry – cattle are the common livestock produced. Others work in commercial farms in the district which produce oranges. The other dominant livelihood strategy amongst the Vendas is crossing to South either as petty traders or wage labor seekers. Their political economy is more South African than Zimbabwean.
(ii) The Shangaan
The Shangaan people (also referred to as Tsonga) are a minority group largely concentrated in Chiredzi district whilst others are scattered in some parts of Mwenezi district in Masvingo province. Broadly, the Shangaan people are also found in the Limpopo province of South Africa and Mozambique. Their main language is Xichangana or Shangaan which is directly related to Zulu and Ndebele. This language has five dialects which are as follows are, Hlanganu (Ihlanganu), Dzonga (Xidzonga), N’walangu (Xin’walungu), Bila (Xibila) and Hlengwe (Xihlengwe)
(a) The Shangaan’s political economy in Chiredzi and Mwenezi
Chiredzi Mwenezi
Chiredzi District is one of the seven administrative districts in Masvingo province and it’s found in the south eastern part of Zimbabwe which boarders Mozambique and South Africa.
It is also found amongst the least developed areas in Zimbabwe. This area receives less than 650mm of rain per annum hence making it more vulnerable to droughts. As a result, the Shangaan relies much on mixed farming of small grains and livestock production. Apart from farming, the youth and the able boded in Chiredzi relies much on working in commercial sugarcane plantations whilst majority migrate to South Africa for greener pastures. Mwenezi is one of the seven administrative districts in Masvingo province. People living there are a mixture of Karanga and Shangaan. It is amongst the least developed districts in Zimbabwe. Different parts of Mwenezi district are found agro-ecological region 4 and 5 respectively. Like Chiredzi, this district is prone to severe droughts especially on rainfed smallholder farming. They also depend on livestock production inclusive of cattle and goats. Other livelihood strategies include working in sugarcane plantations and migrating to South Africa for better life chances.
Legislatives whither indigenous minority groups’ democratic political participation
The American Centre for Peace and Diplomacy (ACPD) (2006) conceptualized participation as the inclusive – individuals and communities – process of making decisions in all ongoing political processes. This means that, all people, regardless of differences in ethnicity, age, gender, religion etc, should be accorded the same platform and capacity to meaningfully contribute in all political decisions without discrimination and prejudice. Calls for equality on political participation amongst individual and minority groups are all noted in both domestic, regional and international legal instruments.
In Zimbabwe the rights to political participation are granted by constitution, Electoral Act (EA) and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The constitutional chapter below and it subsequent sections in the Zimbabwean Constitution stipulates the following inclusive rights of individuals and minority groups in participating in electoral processes in Zimbabwe.
Don’t be fooled just because you stay away from obviously sweet foods like cake, cookies, doughnuts, and candy.
Added sugars hide in a number of foods you may not expect, like processed frozen foods, baby food, dried fruit, cereal, granola, instant oatmeal, salad dressings, ketchup, barbecue sauces, pasta sauces, flavored yogurt, protein bars, and more. They’re also found in organic foods and plenty of foods you’ll find at your local health food store.
The good news is that tallying up “added sugars” on packaged foods just got easier. The Nutrition Facts Label now includes “added sugars” underneath where it says “total sugars.”
How Sugar Appears on Ingredients Lists
Sugar goes by a lot of different names — more than 60, if we’re talking about what’s listed on nutrition labels. Here are a few of them.
Brown sugar
Corn sweetener
Corn syrup
Rice syrup
Dextrose
Maltose
Barley malt
Fructose sweetener
Fruit juice concentrates
Glucose
High-fructose corn syrup
Honey
Invert sugar
Lactose
Maltose
Malt syrup
Maple syrup
Molasses
Pancake syrup
Raw sugar
Sucrose
Trehalose
Turbinado sugar
To identify an added sugar, look for words that end with “-ose,” as well as phrases that contain “syrup” or “malt.”
Remember: Ingredients on a packaged food are listed in descending order in terms of weight, so when you see these names at the top of the ingredients list, the product contains a lot of sugar.
RELATED: 6 Expert Tips for Reducing Added Sugar in Your Diet
Can You Overdo It on Naturally Occurring Sugars?
Some celebrities and others credit weight-loss successes to eliminating all sugars (even the natural ones). But the sugars found in fruit and dairy are part of a healthy diet and shouldn’t be on the “naughty” foods list.
“Like any component of a diet, you can overdo it on sugar, even if it’s naturally occurring,” says Voltolina. But most people can stay in the healthy range when it comes to natural sugars if they focus on choosing whole foods over processed ones — try a few slices of fresh fruit on a peanut butter sandwich instead of a jelly or jam, which likely has extra added sugar — and focus on eating a well-balanced diet.
The USDA recommends 2 cups of fruit and at least 2.5 cups of vegetables daily for adults. And adults should get two to three servings of dairy per day — 1 cup of nonfat or low-fat milk, 1 cup of nonfat or low-fat yogurt, or 1.5 ounces of natural cheese all count as one serving. That said, dairy isn’t necessarily a required element for a healthy diet and could be one area where people reduce their intake to further reduce sugar. If you’re someone who drinks soy milk or nut milk, make sure you’re choosing unsweetened versions to keep the added sugars low. At the same time, keep in mind that dairy can be an important source of calcium — a mineral responsible for keeping your skeleton strong — in the American diet, as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes. If you’re avoiding dairy, opt for plant-based calcium sources, such as chia seeds, kale, and tofu. You can also get your fix via fortified foods such as orange juice and cereal, according to the NIH.
Source: Everyday Health
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested a 21-year-old domestic worker from Bradfield suburb for allegedly sexually abusing her employer’s 10-year-old son.
In a Twitter statement, the police urged parents and guardians to be wary of people they are leaving their children with as some of them are abusive.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) encourages parents to always monitor their children whilst playing and avoid leaving them with irresponsible persons as they might end up being abused. This follows a case of aggravated indecent assault which occurred on Saturday in Bradfield, Bulawayo where a male juvenile (10) was sexually abused by a housemaid (21),” read the statement.
Meanwhile, a teenager from Harare was raped by a 33-year-old after being told by a self-proclaimed prophet that the rapist would be her husband.
“Harare woman (19) was raped on several occasions between January and February 2021 by a suspect (33) after receiving a prophetic message from an alleged prophet who indicated to her that the man will be her future husband. The spiritualist concealed the offence when it was reported to him by the victim,” read the police statement.
“The ZRP encourages members of the public to report all cases of sexual abuse promptly and avoid trusting strange prophetic utterances from pastors and prophets.”- Chronicle
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By A Correspondent- Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema yesterday blamed sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries and lack of staff supervision by headmasters for the poor pass rate recorded in the last public examinations.
Mathema said this in a ministerial statement which he issued in the National Assembly following a public outcry over poor Grade 7 results released early this month.
Teachers’ unions and civic groups recently accused government of neglecting the education sector, hence the poor results.
But Mathema said the high failure rate in the Grade 7 examinations was expected as the COVID-19 pandemic had also severely affected the smooth flow of the education calendar.
Buhera Central MP Matthew Nyashanu (Zanu-PF) had asked him to explain the high failure rate by Grade 7 pupils in the 2020 examinations after pupils registered a 37,11% pass rate, with some schools at 0%.
Nyashanu also alleged that there was laxity at schools by teachers to properly instruct the students, adding that the teachers were abandoning pupils.
“Clearly, this is an element of indiscipline on the part of the schools administrators if they are not making sure that teachers and other school employees do what they are supposed to do. We are very clear on that one, and we will do the best we can to make sure that this indiscipline does not prevail in our schools,” Mathema said.
“Having said that, we also need support from the international community in education as well, but as long as there are sanctions, we will have a big problem. We already have a challenge because of the economic sanctions that were imposed on our country.
“As for the teachers being paid in US dollars, well, that decision is made by the relevant authority, that is, the Ministry of Finance. It is definitely not feasible at the moment. We cannot pay them as we just said the economy is not performing.”
Early this month, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba torched a storm after he blamed teachers for the below par performance by Grade 7 pupils.
He said better results could have been achieved if the majority of teachers were dedicated to duty.
Charamba also labelled some union leaders as “criminals” bent on tarnishing government’s image instead of promoting development of the education sector.
His accusations came after the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe accused government of neglecting basic school infrastructure and denying rural schools access to e-learning facilities.
Asked whether it made sense for Grade 7 pupils who failed to proceed to Form 1, Mathema said they would continue as it was not a terminal examination.
“Zimbabweans need to know that the Grade 7 examination is not the old Standard Six certification, which was a terminal examination that could give candidates or students avenues to professions.
“The Grade 7 examination marks the end of primary school by measuring what candidates know and are able to do. After this examination, all students are absorbed in the secondary education system because the Grade 7 examination is not a terminal examination, but a formative one which gives information to receiving teachers in the secondary school system,” he said.
But Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education chairperson Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said normally when a child failed Grade 7, they were also likely to fail their “O” Level examinations.
Mathema said the country needed at least 3 000 more schools and more teachers, adding that recently 3 000 teachers were employed into the system.
On boarding school places, Mathema said the country only had 24 600 places at boarding schools throughout the country both at public, private and mission schools.
“We had over 300 000 learners who sat for Grade 7 examinations, and there is need for more investment, both in the public and private sector so that those parents who want their children to go to boarding schools will let them go,” he said.
Government yesterday indicated that it was looking at ways to open schools in a safe environment following a drop in COVID-19 infections and deaths.
This was revealed by Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa during her post-Cabinet media briefing. “Regarding primary and secondary education, the responsible ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to prepare for the inevitable reopening of schools,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Meanwhile, the training of school health co-ordinators and the assessment of the schools preparations for the resumption of learning is ongoing. Government is doing its best to ensure that adequate precautionary measures are taken before schools are reopened.”
Pertaining to the COVID-19 rollout programme which was launched last Thursday, and commenced on February 22, Mutsvangwa said government would guarantee that there was a steady flow of vaccine doses to ensure that all the targeted groups received the jabs.
“The Republics of India and the Russian Federation have donated COVID-19 vaccines to the tune of 75 000 and 12 000 doses to Zimbabwe, respectively. The vaccines come on the backdrop of another 200 000 doses donated by the People’s Republic of China.”
She said the Information ministry had also included journalists in phase one of the inoculation exercise, where they will be considered as essential services as they played a crucial role in providing information that saved lives.
“Similarly, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has requested the Minister of Health to designate the roads sector as an essential service under the lockdown regulations,” she said.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- The Police in Harare has arrested a woman after catching her having sex with a 13-year-old boy at the latter’s parents’ home in Houghton Park.
The unidentified thigh vendor defended herself from being arrested by showing the police officers some condoms, saying they had had protected sex.
By Correspondent- 17 people were seriously injured yesterday when an illegal commuter omnibus they were travelling in overturned while fleeing from the Zimbabwe Republic Police, near Penhalonga in Manicaland.
Witnesses told a local publication that the illegal kombi was speeding, trying to get away from the police when it lost control, and rammed into a vehicle that was near BP service station.
Said a witness:
The kombi lost control while fleeing from the police vehicle which was following it at high speed.
“There were 17 passengers on board when the kombi driver lost control and collided with another vehicle which was stationary at a service station. All the passengers were injured and rushed to the hospital.”
The injured are admitted at Victoria Chitepo Provincial hospital in Mutare.-Byo24
By A Correspondent- Two Mvurwi men are in hot soup after they allegedly took turns to rape a 15-year-old girl at a local dam.
Joshua Magomo (22) and Ephraim Makatowa (21) were not asked to plead to rape charges by magistrate Moreblessing Makati today and were remanded in custody to April 26.
Prosecutor Shiella Kudzai Maribha told the court that on February 20 the duo saw a group of young girls fishing and hatched a plan to rape them.
Upon approaching them some managed to flee leaving the victim behind.
The suspects then took turns to rape the girl.
She cried for help but no one came to her rescue.
After the rape, the girl went to a nearby homestead and told villagers who were present.
They teamed up and tracked the suspects to their homestead where they effected citizen arrest on them before handing them over to the police.–Byo24
By A Correspondent – Season Urban Groover, Trevor Dongo’s Facebook account has been hacked cyber-attackers and his team is frantically trying to retrieve it.
The hackers are said to be posting jokes, clips of movies, videos of music that have nothing to do with the musician.
Trevor Dongo joins Selmor Mtukudzi whose Facebook fan page account was deleted last year.
-Chronicle
By A Correspondent- A Bindura man was assaulted using a braai stand and a stone when he had gone to collect his debt.
The matter came to light when Blessing Chabowoka (41) stood before Bindura Magistrate Moreblessing Makati facing assault charges.
Prosecutor Sheilla Maribha told the court that Gilbert Ngiriyawo (31) of 444 Nyathi street Chipadze went to Ernest Sumbe’s house who owed him some money.
Chabowoka was at Sumbe’s house.
Ngiriyawo knocked on the door and the accused came out.
The accused asked Ngiriyawo why he was knocking on the door and he replied saying he wanted to see Sumbe.
Ngiriyawo asked the accused why he was asking him such questions yet he was not the owner of the place.
This did not go down well with the accused who then charged towards Ngiriyawo.
In a fit of rage, the accused picked two stones and threw them to Ngiriyawo one after the other, but fortunately, he was not hit.
The accused picked another stone and hit Ngiriyawo on the head and he fell to the ground.
Chabowoka went on to lift a braai with which he hit Ngiriyawo on the thigh before bypassers restrained him. Ngiriyawo sustained a cut on the head and on the thigh.
The accused was remanded to April 26.
By James Gwati- President Mnangagwa arrived in Bulawayo and is expected to commission the Epping Forest project and groundbreaking ceremony of the Gwayi-Shangani pipeline.
The Gwayi-Shangani pipeline is expected to end the perennial water challenges Bulawayo faces.
The government said it needs an estimated US$3,5 billion to link Bulawayo to the Zambezi River which another long-running project touted as a panacea to the second-largest city’s perennial water shortages.
The Zambezi Water Project was mooted in 1912 during the colonial era and was inherited by the Zimbabwe government in 1980 but no progress has been registered this far.
Bulawayo is battling continuous water problems due to increased population growth versus few dams and recurring droughts.
The residents are subjected to a strict water rationing regime with those in the high-density suburbs receiving potable water only once a week.
By James Gwati- Gukurahundi memories have engulfed the Matebeleland province as President Mnangagwa on Wednesday arrived in Bulawayo ahead of tomorrow’s commissioning of the Epping Forest project and groundbreaking ceremony of the Gwayi-Shangani pipeline.
Mnangagwa is hated in Matebeleland and Midlands provinces for engineering mass killings of more than 20 000 civilians by soldiers in the 1980s when he was the CIO minister.
The President has never apologised for the atrocities he caused.
By James Gwati- Masvingo Province has been once again hit by a new wave of cattle deaths that have left many farmers with empty pens.
According to a local NGO, Community Tolerance and Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) lack of commitment by the Government’s Veterinary Services Department -towards the prevention of the persisting theileriosis, has caused the outbreak.
Theileriosis which is caused by uncontrolled ticks killed hundreds of cattle in Chatsworth and other parts of Gutu last year.
The disease hit many districts of Masvingo Province in January 2021. The farmers say the government’s veterinary service department, which is responsible for the provision of animal and zoonotic diseases surveillance, animal health risk management, and animal health and protection has failed its mandate.
By Simba Chikanza | Joining Emmerson Mnangagwa or his proxy Douglas Mwonzora is the worst decision even dogs would not do. Dogs have an instinct to protect their own against anything that seeks to end the life of one of their kind. How does one call themselves a human being while joining the worst person in the universe, Mnangagwa who announces that he will continue running the country on terrorism?
What type of Zimbabwe do the likes of Lilian Timveous, and Douglas Mwonzora seek to create, one run by terrorists? They are serious about running a country?
Running a country is not about controlling an army, a police and Prison force. It is about leading people, for their good and their welfare alone, selflessly. Timveous and Mwonzora have chosen to serve their belly.
But on another note it seems the better of the two is Timveous, as she unlike Dougy, has come out in the open to declare that she is ZANU PF without hiding behind an MDC cover.
Timveous, who was Nelson Chamisa’s most trusted female leader, made the below announcement on Thursday afternoon:
By way of this note, I would like to inform the MDC-A Party President, Nelson CHAMISA and the entire MDC-A family that I am not backtracking on my decision to quit the MDC-A, instead, I have decided to join the ruling Zanu PF Party.
I would like to thank my sisters and brothers in the MDC family for the political journey traversed since the party’s formation in 1999. However, after careful consideration and retrospection, particularly on how the MDC party has been conducting its business, I have sadly come to the conclusion that nothing constructive with regards to Democracy, Good Governance and the well-being of Zimbabweans in general would ever come out of the MDC- A. Over the years, I have observed the following among other issues that;
The party has been at the forefront of criticizing ZANU (PF) and ZEC for allegedly failing to conduct credible elections, yet MDC internal elections have always been marred with a lot of irregularities, Vote Rigging and buying as well as the imposition of candidates have become synonymous with MDC internal elections. The chaotic MDC-A and MDC-T elective Congresses quickly comes to mind.
The MDC Senior leadership’s intolerance to divergent views and power-hungry tendencies have caused serious divisions and disintegration of the party.
Similarly, the party’s retrogressive confrontational approach and violent tendencies have led to the unnecessary destruction of property, injury to innocent civilians and destabilization of the economy.
The party is good at criticising the ZANU (PF) Government, particularly on social media without coming up with tangible or practical solutions to the country’s challenges. President E.D MNANGAGWA soon after the 2018 Harmonised elections created a platform where all the country’s political players converge and contribute towards bringing the people of Zimbabwe together and share ideas on how to rebuild the country, yet the MDC-A keeps on excluding itself from this noble platform. Self exclusion from Polad vindicates the party’s self centered approach.
The MDC-A party has always held Western Governments in high esteem, welcoming advice from them with open arms irrespective of same’s hypocrisy, double standards and questionable track records with regards to Human Rights and the implementation of Democratic principles. The party shuns engaging local stakeholders and fellow Zimbabweans in general, yet these have the interests of the country at heart. It is sad to note that the MDC-A has not observed that political players in the Western countries to whom they very much like to draw lessons from find one another and engage whenever national interests are at stake.
I have decided to join the ruling Zanu Pf Party because of the party’s impeccable track record. The party has the interests of the people at heart as evidenced by community driven projects it has been implementing over the years. Furthermore, the party has over the years been successfully holding its internal elections and the party has always been open to dialogue whenever the country’s peace and stability is threatened.
I am also happy to announce that the Zanu Pf President and First Secretary Cde ED MNANGAGWA has welcomed me into the Zanu Pf family without any conditions to which I am very grateful.
In conclusion, the MDC-A need self introspection and a paradigm shift in ways it conducts business if it is to remain relevant in the Zimbabwean political arena.
Yours
L. TIMVEOS
By way of this note, I would like to inform the MDC-A Party President, Nelson CHAMISA and the entire MDC-A family that I am not backtracking on my decision to quit the MDC-A, instead, I have decided to join the ruling Zanu PF Party.
I would like to thank my sisters and brothers in the MDC family for the political journey traversed since the party’s formation in 1999. However, after careful consideration and retrospection, particularly on how the MDC party has been conducting its business, I have sadly come to the conclusion that nothing constructive with regards to Democracy, Good Governance and the well-being of Zimbabweans in general would ever come out of the MDC- A. Over the years, I have observed the following among other issues that;
The party has been at the forefront of criticizing ZANU (PF) and ZEC for allegedly failing to conduct credible elections, yet MDC internal elections have always been marred with a lot of irregularities, Vote Rigging and buying as well as the imposition of candidates have become synonymous with MDC internal elections. The chaotic MDC-A and MDC-T elective Congresses quickly comes to mind.
The MDC Senior leadership’s intolerance to divergent views and power-hungry tendencies have caused serious divisions and disintegration of the party.
Similarly, the party’s retrogressive confrontational approach and violent tendencies have led to the unnecessary destruction of property, injury to innocent civilians and destabilization of the economy.
The party is good at criticising the ZANU (PF) Government, particularly on social media without coming up with tangible or practical solutions to the country’s challenges. President E.D MNANGAGWA soon after the 2018 Harmonised elections created a platform where all the country’s political players converge and contribute towards bringing the people of Zimbabwe together and share ideas on how to rebuild the country, yet the MDC-A keeps on excluding itself from this noble platform. Self exclusion from Polad vindicates the party’s self centered approach.
The MDC-A party has always held Western Governments in high esteem, welcoming advice from them with open arms irrespective of same’s hypocrisy, double standards and questionable track records with regards to Human Rights and the implementation of Democratic principles. The party shuns engaging local stakeholders and fellow Zimbabweans in general, yet these have the interests of the country at heart. It is sad to note that the MDC-A has not observed that political players in the Western countries to whom they very much like to draw lessons from find one another and engage whenever national interests are at stake.
I have decided to join the ruling Zanu Pf Party because of the party’s impeccable track record. The party has the interests of the people at heart as evidenced by community driven projects it has been implementing over the years. Furthermore, the party has over the years been successfully holding its internal elections and the party has always been open to dialogue whenever the country’s peace and stability is threatened.
I am also happy to announce that the Zanu Pf President and First Secretary Cde ED MNANGAGWA has welcomed me into the Zanu Pf family without any conditions to which I am very grateful.
In conclusion, the MDC-A need self introspection and a paradigm shift in ways it conducts business if it is to remain relevant in the Zimbabwean political arena.
Yours
L. TIMVEOS
OPEN LETTER BY FORMER MDC-NATIONAL DEPUTY TREASURER, LILIAN TIMVEOS TO MDC A PRESIDENT, NELSON CHAMISA ON HER RESIGNATION FROM THE MDC-A AND DECISION TO JOIN THE RULING ZANU( PF) PARTY
By way of this note, I would like to inform the MDC-A Party President, Nelson CHAMISA and the entire MDC-A family that I am not backtracking on my decision to quit the MDC-A, instead, I have decided to join the ruling Zanu PF Party.
I would like to thank my sisters and brothers in the MDC family for the political journey traversed since the party’s formation in 1999. However, after careful consideration and retrospection, particularly on how the MDC party has been conducting its business, I have sadly come to the conclusion that nothing constructive with regards to Democracy, Good Governance and the well-being of Zimbabweans in general would ever come out of the MDC- A.Over the years, I have observed the following among other issues that;
The party has been at the forefront of criticizing ZANU (PF) and ZEC for allegedly failing to conduct credible elections, yet MDC internal elections have always been marred with a lot of irregularities.Vote Rigging and buying as well as the imposition of candidates have become synonymous with MDC internal elections. The chaotic MDC-A and MDC-T elective Congresses quickly comes to mind.
The MDC Senior leadership’s intolerance to divergent views and power-hungry tendencies have caused serious divisions and disintegration of the party.
Similarly, the party’s retrogressive confrontational approach and violent tendencies have led to the unnecessary destruction of property, injury to innocent civilians and destabilization of the economy.
The party is good at criticising the ZANU (PF) Government, particularly on social media without coming up with tangible or practical solutions to the country’s challenges. President E.D MNANGAGWA soon after the 2018 Harmonised elections created a platform where all the country’s political players converge and contribute towards bringing the people of Zimbabwe together and share ideas on how to rebuild the country, yet the MDC-A keeps on excluding itself from this noble platform. Self exclusion from Polad vindicates the party’s self centered approach.
The MDC-A party has always held Western Governments in high esteem, welcoming advice from them with open arms irrespective of same’s hypocrisy, double standards and questionable track records with regards to Human Rights and the implementation of Democratic principles. The party shuns engaging local stakeholders and fellow Zimbabweans in general, yet these have the interests of the country at heart. It is sad to note that the MDC-A has not observed that political players in the Western countries to whom they very much like to draw lessons from find one another and engage whenever national interests are at stake.
I have decided to join the ruling Zanu Pf Party because of the party’s impeccable track record. The party has the interests of the people at heart as evidenced by community driven projects it has been implementing over the years. Furthermore, the party has over the years been successfully holding its internal elections and the party has always been open to dialogue whenever the country’s peace and stability is threatened.
I am also happy to announce that the Zanu Pf President and First Secretary Cde ED MNANGAGWA has welcomed me into the Zanu Pf family without any conditions to which I am very grateful.
In conclusion, the MDC-A need self introspection and a paradigm shift in ways it conducts business if it is to remain relevant in the Zimbabwean political arena.
Yours
L. TIMVEOS
Watch Kembo Mohadi presser:
By A Correspondent- Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema yesterday blamed sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries and lack of staff supervision by headmasters for the poor pass rate recorded in the last public examinations.
Mathema said this in a ministerial statement which he issued in the National Assembly following a public outcry over poor Grade 7 results released early this month.
Teachers’ unions and civic groups recently accused government of neglecting the education sector, hence the poor results.
But Mathema said the high failure rate in the Grade 7 examinations was expected as the COVID-19 pandemic had also severely affected the smooth flow of the education calendar.
Buhera Central MP Matthew Nyashanu (Zanu-PF) had asked him to explain the high failure rate by Grade 7 pupils in the 2020 examinations after pupils registered a 37,11% pass rate, with some schools at 0%.
Nyashanu also alleged that there was laxity at schools by teachers to properly instruct the students, adding that the teachers were abandoning pupils.
“Clearly, this is an element of indiscipline on the part of the schools administrators if they are not making sure that teachers and other school employees do what they are supposed to do. We are very clear on that one, and we will do the best we can to make sure that this indiscipline does not prevail in our schools,” Mathema said.
“Having said that, we also need support from the international community in education as well, but as long as there are sanctions, we will have a big problem. We already have a challenge because of the economic sanctions that were imposed on our country.
“As for the teachers being paid in US dollars, well, that decision is made by the relevant authority, that is, the Ministry of Finance. It is definitely not feasible at the moment. We cannot pay them as we just said the economy is not performing.”
Early this month, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba torched a storm after he blamed teachers for the below par performance by Grade 7 pupils.
He said better results could have been achieved if the majority of teachers were dedicated to duty.
Charamba also labelled some union leaders as “criminals” bent on tarnishing government’s image instead of promoting development of the education sector.
His accusations came after the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe accused government of neglecting basic school infrastructure and denying rural schools access to e-learning facilities.
Asked whether it made sense for Grade 7 pupils who failed to proceed to Form 1, Mathema said they would continue as it was not a terminal examination.
“Zimbabweans need to know that the Grade 7 examination is not the old Standard Six certification, which was a terminal examination that could give candidates or students avenues to professions.
“The Grade 7 examination marks the end of primary school by measuring what candidates know and are able to do. After this examination, all students are absorbed in the secondary education system because the Grade 7 examination is not a terminal examination, but a formative one which gives information to receiving teachers in the secondary school system,” he said.
But Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education chairperson Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said normally when a child failed Grade 7, they were also likely to fail their “O” Level examinations.
Mathema said the country needed at least 3 000 more schools and more teachers, adding that recently 3 000 teachers were employed into the system.
On boarding school places, Mathema said the country only had 24 600 places at boarding schools throughout the country both at public, private and mission schools.
“We had over 300 000 learners who sat for Grade 7 examinations, and there is need for more investment, both in the public and private sector so that those parents who want their children to go to boarding schools will let them go,” he said.
Government yesterday indicated that it was looking at ways to open schools in a safe environment following a drop in COVID-19 infections and deaths.
This was revealed by Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa during her post-Cabinet media briefing. “Regarding primary and secondary education, the responsible ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to prepare for the inevitable reopening of schools,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Meanwhile, the training of school health co-ordinators and the assessment of the schools preparations for the resumption of learning is ongoing. Government is doing its best to ensure that adequate precautionary measures are taken before schools are reopened.”
Pertaining to the COVID-19 rollout programme which was launched last Thursday, and commenced on February 22, Mutsvangwa said government would guarantee that there was a steady flow of vaccine doses to ensure that all the targeted groups received the jabs.
“The Republics of India and the Russian Federation have donated COVID-19 vaccines to the tune of 75 000 and 12 000 doses to Zimbabwe, respectively. The vaccines come on the backdrop of another 200 000 doses donated by the People’s Republic of China.”
She said the Information ministry had also included journalists in phase one of the inoculation exercise, where they will be considered as essential services as they played a crucial role in providing information that saved lives.
“Similarly, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has requested the Minister of Health to designate the roads sector as an essential service under the lockdown regulations,” she said.-Newsday
Watch Kembo Mohadi presser:
By Mandla KumaloI | normally do not want to respond to the social media neither do I want to be vilifying people.
But after reading the article by Nomazulu Thata I was pushed to pen this response. I wish Mr Editor you will find space to publish my article.
It is shocking and disturbing that Nomazulu accuses Mavaza as a Tribalistic simply because he told the truth about Mohadi. Mohadi’s behaviour is not political bu criminal.
He abused his office. We must all remember that the office of the Vice President is the next powerful office after that of the president. Whatever people think Mohadi wields a lot of power.
Now using this power against women is horrible and disgusting.
We need to bear in mind that out of nine women Mohadi abused for are married to CCIO officers who work for Mohadi.
His behaviour was neither Ndebele or Shona. His behaviour is not and must never be viewed in tribal lines. People must remove the tribal jacket and look at the misconduct of KEMBO Mohadi. It is pathetic and clearly inhuman to accuse Mavaza of tribalism because he was brave enough to rebuke the evil actions of Ubaba Mohadi.
Yes Mavaza is not a likeable character because we all know he a CIO operative planted in the UK to destabilise opposition. He did his job well and MDC in the UK is now none existent thanks to Mavaza.
Mavaza writes extensively for ZANU PF and he defended it with his blood. That I admire of him. Not because I agree with him. I find him mentally disturbed. Any person of his age who supports ZANU PF has mental issues. To an Nomazulu Thata seems right. Mavaza’s bias towards ED and Genarari is obvious. I think he has gone all out to blast Kembo as if he is the only one soiling the presidium yet all the three are putting on dirty linen. There was a lot to write about EDs romance with a student on attachment at his farm, the guy who was made to jump through the window and about the Generari can think of the Marondera girl, the nasty always familiar divorces that the Generari always go through and uses the army.
But being fair to Mavaza he attacked Chiwenga viciously about Mary. His article was published and this Ndebele protector Thata was silent. I think a person who screams tribalism when one person has clearly exposed his bad side is a more tribalist than anyone.
I am a pure Ndebele myself being a Khumalo I am a real Ndebele. Historically people who have animal names as surnames and body parts as surnames are Shona who were capture by us the real Ndebele. Yet the most tribalist of all the people are the as Hina’s who think that they are now Ndebele. All people with names like Moyo, Nyoni, Sibanda, Ncube, Ndlovu and any other names you can think are pure Shonas but they have become Ndebele This is a topic for another day.
I don’t want to say I agree with the Nomazulu above but she makes mo sense
Nomazulu Thata is a member of Mtwakazi and she advocates for division of Zimbabwe and the supremacy of the Ndebele. This thinking is idiotic and it is the reason why Thata is always against Mavaza.
Truth be said Mavaza does not hide his love for ZANU OF and ED and Mugabe. Dr MASIMBA Mavaza was the only ZANU PF who was writing criticising Grace Mugabe when she was the First Lady. Mavaza was the only ZANU PF boot kicker who could praise Mnangagwa when he was under attack. I listened to his interview in Harare on Radio the day Mnangagwa was fired. Mavaza said on Star Fm interviewed by George Musumba “ Mnangagwa’s expulsion was wrong unlawful and motivated by a grudge and power” he went on to say. “The First Lady is being ill advised by a clique and it is not good for Zimbabwe”. This was courage many senior ZANU OF members had put their tails in between their legs. But this CIO operative was vocal. It is because of this that I respect him.
Despite him being CIO Mavaza had told off many senior ZANU PF members. He wrote an article against Mutodi nobody called Mavaza a tribalist. He wrote an article criticising Chris Mutsvangwa. Nobody not even Thata accused Dr Mavaza of being a tribalist.
Dr Mavaza is an annoying pig but he is not a tribalist. He writes his opinion and he does not discriminate. Check your achieve Dr Mavaza had no nice words about the treatment of Mary Chiwenga. Why is That defending Mohadi with a card of Tribalism.
If there is anyone against Mohadi is his colleagues ex ZIPRA. Ex ZANLA will never benefit from the demotion of KEMBO.
I’m all fairness KEMBO must grow up. Surely your wife is safe until she meets Mohadi.
Forget the tribal ticket Mavaza can be anything but not a tribalist. He is low on brains he does not see that ZANU PF is now more Karanga than Zezuru. Mavaza will never be promoted in Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF. This ZANU PF only rewards Makaranga eku Zvishavane. This Mavaza must open his eyes and smell the coffee.
He will remain a CIO planted away from home. He thinks it’s a favour. The way he stands for ED he should be somewhere now. But no he is blind he can not see. Mnangagwa is only using him.
Mandla Khumalo
Aston Villa have banned their players from playing Fantasy Football after Jack Grealish’s injury was leaked online.
The skipper missed Sunday’s defeat by Leicester City through a shin injury and is expected to be out for around two to four weeks.
According to The Times, the ban follows after concerns from the Villa Park hierarchy that Grealish’s absence was leaked online by a Fantasy Football account.
The account, called ‘FPL Insider’, revealed the news before the injury was confirmed.
An investigation has since been launched and it has pointed out that Matt Targett, Conor Hourihane [on loan at Swansea City] and Neil Taylor all transferred the 25-year-old out of their team.
However, the club does not believe this was the source of the leak.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Former Everton defender Brendan Galloway has been included in the Warriors provisional squad for the Afcon qualifiers against Botswana and Zambia in March.
The 24-year old Luton Town left-back has represented England at junior levels and is eligible to feature for Zimbabwe as he was born in Harare. He was first approached in 2016 ahead of the 2017 African Cup of Nations but chose to remain part of England’s development set-up.
But after hopes of representing the Three Lions at senior level became slim, Galloway has agreed to switch his allegiance to Zimbabwe.
However, his availability for next month’s games will depend if his club agrees to release him considering the COVID-19 restrictions and his fitness.
Luton boss Nathan Jones recently confirmed the player is under rehabilitation after picking another injury last month.
Jones said: “He’s still injured at the minute so it’s been very, very frustrating for Brendan.
“It’s been a frustrating process and I don’t want to comment too much because I don’t understand what’s happened at times.”
The boss also said that Galloway will pursue his career elsewhere after struggling at the Championship side:
“Brendan will continue to do his rehab with us and then will find a new club in the summer,” Jones added.
Galloway’s Performance Guide
Brendan Galloway is yet to play a Championship game at Luton this season. He missed the opening three months of the campaign because of a fractured knee cap.
He returned to action in December but has only been confined to the bench or failing to make it into the matchday squad.
In other competitions this season, the Harare-born defender has only played a total of 74 minutes, attained in the third round of the FA Cup in January.
He is back on the sidelines again with another fitness issue.
Galloway also went through the same fate in the previous term as injuries hampered his progress.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has no appetite to deal with corruption, MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa wrote on Twitter:
“The looting of covid-19 funds last year has not resulted in a single trial, let alone a conviction. That is open testimony that the supposed State authorities have no appetite to deal with corruption. Thanks to our African compatriots for this award which acts as such a reminder.”
President Chamisa also commended prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono for winning an award for exposing corruption:
“The ultimate prize is to give back where we came from, and not to take from the poor in what is known as looting. We hope that those who have caused so much suffering to our people will learn one or two things from this gesture. Well done brother Hopewell for remembering others.”
Below is Hopewell’s tweet:
I commit ALL the prize money from this important award to helping buy basic PPE for Murewa Hospital!
I would like to thank all the sources, journalists & citizens who helped me put together the exposures.
More importantly, I would like to thank @ZLHRLawyers for standing with me
Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic was on Tuesday expected to name his provisional squad for next month’s Afcon Qualifiers against Botswana and Zambia but delayed the announcement.
According to team manager, Wellington Mpandare, they are still to get feedback on the availability of England-based players, owing to the new Covid-19 related laws enforced by the British government.
The affected players include the likes of Tendayi Darikwa (Wigan), Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa), Admiral Muskwe (Wycombe Wanderers) and Jordan Zemura (Bournemouth).
“The coach will have to wait a little bit because we are yet to get responses from some clubs,” Mpandare was quoted as saying by the H-Metro.
“It’s either we announce it (the squad) without the guys based in England.
“As it stands, it is uncertain the guys will make, but we’re still waiting for other players to get clearances.”
Captain Knowledge Musona, who is based in Belgium, and Kaizer Chiefs winger Khama Billiat haven’t been cleared yet after picking an injuries last month.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has reacted to his stunner against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 against Atletico Madrid last night.
The Frenchman’s brilliant overhead kick just after the hourmark was the difference between the two sides as Thomas Tuchel’s charges got themselves a massive away goal to take to Stamford Bridge.
Asked about the goal after the game, the former Arsenal striker said: ” I don’t know what to think about the goal, I just try and focus on hitting the ball. I love hitting the ball well and I was pleased to see it hit the back of the net.”
“To be honest I had no clue about being offside or not. Mase (Mason Mount) told me he didn’t touch the ball, it came from a defender so apparently I was not offside so it’s good for the team and good for me,” he added.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
By Bishop Ancelimo Magaya
The placement of man in the garden of Eden,his pleasures and responsibilities clearly come with set boundaries.
The law of boundaries thus has always been there from time immemorial.
Our freedom can never be absolute even the freedom regarding what men and women can do with their bodies,yet if we do well in managing all facets of our make up we will enjoy the freedom not to go beyond set boundaries.Adam was clearly instructed to enjoy every tree for food except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Going beyond boundaries to eat what has been expressly forbidden is going off the mark and therefore is called sin.
When a man and woman who are not married sleep together,that is called fornication.When both are separately married or one of them is married and they sleep together,it simply means that they have defiled the bed of the married and its called adultery.It does not matter whether the woman is an adult and wilfully consent to sex out of her volution or In exchange of money.Moreso, when the other ,like VP Mohadi who occupies a position of authority sleeps around with ladies fit to be his daughters, daughters in law or grand daughters in exchange of money or protection,that becomes more than adultery. It’s debauchery. It is sexual orgy.
It is reducing the powerless women to sexual plastic objects and it’s an abomination before God.
For Linda Masarira therefore to conclude that what women do with their bodies is entirely up to them is not only an oversimplistic approach to issues of rights and moral uprightness,but dangerously over permissive,pervesive and a sure way to hell
Repent !!
God save Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has no appetite to deal with corruption, MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said.
President Chamisa wrote on Twitter:
“The looting of covid-19 funds last year has not resulted in a single trial, let alone a conviction. That is open testimony that the supposed State authorities have no appetite to deal with corruption. Thanks to our African compatriots for this award which acts as such a reminder.”
He also commended prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono for winning an award for exposing corruption:
“The ultimate prize is to give back where we came from, and not to take from the poor in what is known as looting. We hope that those who have caused so much suffering to our people will learn one or two things from this gesture. Well done brother Hopewell for remembering others.”
Below is Hopewell’s tweet:
I commit ALL the prize money from this important award to helping buy basic PPE for Murewa Hospital!
I would like to thank all the sources, journalists & citizens who helped me put together the exposures.
More importantly, I would like to thank @ZLHRLawyers for standing with me
By way of this note, I would like to inform the MDC-A Party President, Nelson CHAMISA and the entire MDC-A family that I am not backtracking on my decision to quit the MDC-A, instead, I have decided to join the ruling Zanu PF Party.
I would like to thank my sisters and brothers in the MDC family for the political journey traversed since the party’s formation in 1999. However, after careful consideration and retrospection, particularly on how the MDC party has been conducting its business, I have sadly come to the conclusion that nothing constructive with regards to Democracy, Good Governance and the well-being of Zimbabweans in general would ever come out of the MDC- A. Over the years, I have observed the following among other issues that;
The party has been at the forefront of criticizing ZANU (PF) and ZEC for allegedly failing to conduct credible elections, yet MDC internal elections have always been marred with a lot of irregularities, Vote Rigging and buying as well as the imposition of candidates have become synonymous with MDC internal elections. The chaotic MDC-A and MDC-T elective Congresses quickly comes to mind.
The MDC Senior leadership’s intolerance to divergent views and power-hungry tendencies have caused serious divisions and disintegration of the party.
Similarly, the party’s retrogressive confrontational approach and violent tendencies have led to the unnecessary destruction of property, injury to innocent civilians and destabilization of the economy.
The party is good at criticising the ZANU (PF) Government, particularly on social media without coming up with tangible or practical solutions to the country’s challenges. President E.D MNANGAGWA soon after the 2018 Harmonised elections created a platform where all the country’s political players converge and contribute towards bringing the people of Zimbabwe together and share ideas on how to rebuild the country, yet the MDC-A keeps on excluding itself from this noble platform. Self exclusion from Polad vindicates the party’s self centered approach.
The MDC-A party has always held Western Governments in high esteem, welcoming advice from them with open arms irrespective of same’s hypocrisy, double standards and questionable track records with regards to Human Rights and the implementation of Democratic principles. The party shuns engaging local stakeholders and fellow Zimbabweans in general, yet these have the interests of the country at heart. It is sad to note that the MDC-A has not observed that political players in the Western countries to whom they very much like to draw lessons from find one another and engage whenever national interests are at stake.
I have decided to join the ruling Zanu Pf Party because of the party’s impeccable track record. The party has the interests of the people at heart as evidenced by community driven projects it has been implementing over the years. Furthermore, the party has over the years been successfully holding its internal elections and the party has always been open to dialogue whenever the country’s peace and stability is threatened.
I am also happy to announce that the Zanu Pf President and First Secretary Cde ED MNANGAGWA has welcomed me into the Zanu Pf family without any conditions to which I am very grateful.
In conclusion, the MDC-A need self introspection and a paradigm shift in ways it conducts business if it is to remain relevant in the Zimbabwean political arena.
Yours
L. TIMVEOS
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance official, Ralph Magunje, who was arrested alongside 11 party members in Chinhoyi on Saturday, says he is determined to fight for change despite being intimidated by government agents.
The 12 MDC Alliance members were brutally assaulted by armed soldiers and police details.
Soldiers and cops raided the MDC Alliance offices while the 12 officials were making arrangements for the burial of a party member.
“Our arrest was a blessing in disguise. We managed to have a marathon of uninterrupted of Provincial Administration meetings in custody with binding resolutions. 2021 MDC Alliance Mash West we will get the ball rolling,” Magunje wrote on Twitter.
By A Correspondent- Ministry of Health and Child Care official Dr. Portia Manangazira was yesterday denied bail by Harare Magistrate yesterday, ZBC News reports.
Manangazira a Director of Epidemiology and Diesel Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care is facing charges of abuse of office after she reportedly facilitated the employment of 28 of her relatives and authorizing payments without following due process.
According to the publication, she was denied bail for fear that she can influence witnesses: Dr Manangazire who appeared in court this Tuesday was denied bail on the basis that she could temper with evidence and interfere with state witnesses.
The court further noted that the accused is closely related to the 28 people whom she allegedly recruited and is therefore likely to influence them.
The court also noted that there is no bail condition that can stop the accused from influencing state witnesses because they are her relatives.
Manangazira will be back in court on 9 March 2021.-
By A Correspondent- Ministry of Health and Child Care official Dr. Portia Manangazira was yesterday denied bail by Harare Magistrate yesterday, ZBC News reports.
Manangazira a Director of Epidemiology and Diesel Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care is facing charges of abuse of office after she reportedly facilitated the employment of 28 of her relatives and authorizing payments without following due process.
According to the publication, she was denied bail for fear that she can influence witnesses: Dr Manangazire who appeared in court this Tuesday was denied bail on the basis that she could temper with evidence and interfere with state witnesses.
The court further noted that the accused is closely related to the 28 people whom she allegedly recruited and is therefore likely to influence them.
The court also noted that there is no bail condition that can stop the accused from influencing state witnesses because they are her relatives.
Manangazira will be back in court on 9 March 2021.-statemedia
ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE HONOURABLE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE KEMBO C.D. MOHADI
Greetings to you the citizens of this Great Nation. I begin by extending my great appreciation to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde ED Mnangangwa for entrusting me with the huge responsibility to deputise him under the new dispensation Fellow Zimbabweans, following the recent social media hype about my alleged illicit relationship with two married women.
I have decided to come open and respond to the allegations being peddled by my detractors. Despite growing impatient because of days of weird character assassination, I wish to categorically state that the allegations being levelled against me are not only false, but well-choreographed to demean, condescend, and soil my image as a national leader and patriot.
I am aware that my right to privacy has been trashed in terms of Section 57 (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013, which reads as follows, “every person has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have the privacy of their communications infringed.
“Despite the noisy in digital media ecologies, I wish to clearly state that I am innocent and a victim of political machinations being peddled through hacking and voice cloning.
Fellow Zimbabweans, despite the density of the allegations being levelled against me, I salute the support from fellow citizens, colleagues and comrades who fülly grasped the rigid complexities of concocted enemy attacks.
It is against this backdrop that I am categorically distancing myself from the imagined immoral unions. The camaraderie and support given to me during this trying hour is greatly appreciated.
That these faceless netizens have blended well networked digital architecture to reengineer the spaces for political demonization, will not dampen my spirit as a tried and tested cadre.
I remain a committed leader, father, cadre and servant of this Great Nation.
I thank you
Yours Comradely Kembo C. D Mohadi
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance official, Ralph Magunje, who was arrested alongside 11 party members in Chinhoyi on Saturday, says he is determined to fight for change despite being intimidated by government agents.
The 12 MDC Alliance members were brutally assaulted by armed soldiers and police details.
Soldiers and cops raided the MDC Alliance offices while the 12 officials were making arrangements for the burial of a party member.
“Our arrest was a blessing in disguise. We managed to have a marathon of uninterrupted of Provincial Administration meetings in custody with binding resolutions. 2021 MDC Alliance Mash West we will get the ball rolling,” Magunje wrote on Twitter.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi has responded to media reports of his bed-hopping escapades saying his right to privacy was infringed while insisting that he is innocent of the allegations levelled against him.
Addressing the press at Munhumutapa government offices, Mohadi said the allegations levelled against him are well choreographed to demean, condescend and soil his image as a national leader.
“I have decided to come open and respond to the allegations being peddled by my detractors.
“Despite growing impatient because of days of weird character assassinations, I wish to categorically state that the allegations levelled against me are not only false, but well choreographed to demean, condescend and soil my image as a national leader and patriot,” said Mohadi.
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance national spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has said the popular movement will not be part of talks meant to please Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa- without resolving problems affecting the nation.
Mr Douglas Mwonzora is crying for dialogue with Zanu PF.
Advocate Mahere maintains the MDC Alliance stance on dialogue has not changed:
“The MDC Alliance will not participate in sham “dialogue” engineered by a Zanu PF proxy who usurped the will of the people.
No amount of crude propaganda will change our position as a matter of principle. Yes to reforms. No to elite pacts. Political power lies in the people.
Any political dialogue must be sincere and have as its main agenda the implementation of deep reforms.
This is the only way to return the country to legitimacy and democracy.
How can those with no mandate and a sinister agenda lead the way? How’s this different from POLAD?
What “new” dialogue push is being referred to? The citizens deserve sincere root & branch reform. We can’t have a repeat of the “Muzorewa-style” sham talks,” argued Advocate Mahere.
By A Correspondent- A Glendale woman was on Tuesday arrested after she was caught having sex with a 13 year old boy at the latter’s parents’ home in Houghton Park.
The unidentified woman was quick to defend herself to arresting police officers by showing them condoms, saying they had had protected sex.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest, saying investigations had since begun.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to confirm the arrest of a woman alleged to have been caught having sex with a minor in Houghton Park,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.
“Investigations with a view to get to the bottom of the case have since begun and details will be released in due course,” he said.
In an interview, the yet to-be-identified woman told H-Metro that the minor was the one who phoned her for sex at his parents’ house.
“Chandatadza chii inini ndaita zvekudaidzwa ndazoziva sei pamba pake dai asina kundifonera,” said the woman in tears.
“We had protected sex and I do not see any reason why I can be treated like a thief or robber,” she said while being led to a police vehicle.
The minor’s mother was reported to have returned home and caught the boy being sexually abused by the woman believed to be a sex worker.
The woman was taken to Waterfalls Police Station where she was detained.-HMetro
Tinashe Sambiri|A Non Governmental Organization based in Masvingo has released a position paper, citing concerns about the exclusion of minority groups from key electoral processes.
The Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration is accused of closing democratic space, relegating minority groups to the peripheries of decision making.
In its position paper, Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Development( MACRAD) notes that minority groups have the right to participate in key national processes.
See the MACRAD presentation:
Venda and Shangaan people
This paper is about the participation of indigenous minority groups in elections and various electoral processes in Zimbabwe.
The minority ethnic groups included herein are the Shangaan and the Venda. The Shangaan are the majority ethnic group scattered across four constituencies namely Chiredzi North, Chiredzi East, Chiredzi West and Chiredzi South of the Chiredzi district. Other Shangaan people are sparsely populated in Mwenezi West and Mwenezi East constituencies of Mwenezi district. Lastly, Venda ethnic group is concentrated in Beitbridge district located in Matabeleland South province. This paper focused on these two minority groups scrutinizing their participation in electoral processes in Zimbabwe.
The main aim is to interrogate how they exercise their rights in voting considering their minority status in the broader shrinking democratic space in Zimbabwe.
Understanding the indigenous/minority ethnic groups
Indigenous people are the first inhabitants or native social groups who have lived in particular geographical spaces over long period of time. They are referred to by various names such as, the Natives, the First people and the autochthonous people among others. The United Nations’ defines them as, ‘…..of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived. According to the IUCN, indigenous people are those who still practice their historical and unique traditions presented through well decorated tangible artefacts – dressing, musical instruments, jewellery and craft – and intangible cultural artefacts – language, dances, music and rituals. According to the UN, the indigenous people in modern days are considered as minority ethnic groups in national contexts. Their minority status emerged after being disoriented and dominated through physical conquest, settlement and occupation by bigger social groups.
Normative profiles of the Shangaan and the Venda
The Shangaan and the Venda are amongst the few indigenous minority groups found in Zimbabwe. Statistics showed that the Venda and Shangaan in conjunction with other minority groups constitute less than 10% of the Zimbabwean population. The country is dominated by the Shona speaking people who constitute 75% of the Zimbabwean population – the Shona speaking people appears in three tribal clusters namely Zezuru, Karanga and Manyika. Like other indigenous minority groups elsewhere, their participation in politics is not autonomous and in most cases they experience induced or directed participation.
(i) The Venda
The Venda people are a minority group found on the southern parts of Zimbabwe whilst the majority reside in South Africa. History tells that they originated from the Mapungubwe kingdom which was established by their ancestors in the 19th century. Furthermore, the Venda people belong to the Bantu language cluster which is common South Eastern Africa. Their primary language is Venda and their religion is in the domain of African Traditional Religion (ATR). The Venda’s ethnoreligion is their way of life which embraces close connection with their ethnic identity, cultural heritage and practice.
Interestingly, the Venda people have a very high esteem on their women. Ideally, the system of valuing women is quiet unusual when compared to other ethnic groups spread across Africa. In real practice, the Vendas encourage their women to occupy influential and senior positions in the society. In both the domestic and public spheres, aunties (known as Vhomakadzi) are very powerful in conflict resolution and management. In domestic spheres, they guarantee peace and serenity amongst family members – between and amongst siblings, in-laws and in marriages. Furthermore, they are the custodians of divine processes such as ritual performing and communication with the ancestors.
(a) Political economy
The Venda people domicile in the rural parts of Beitbridge town in Matabeleland South province. The district is bordered with Mozambique to the east, Botswana west and South Africa to the south. Ecologically, this district lies in region V. and is characterised by arid conditions and untenable topographic traits. Excessive temperature and low rainfall patterns makes it very difficult for rainfed farming. As a result, the Venda people are vulnerable to severe food insecurities. Alternatively, they rely much on animal husbandry – cattle are the common livestock produced. Others work in commercial farms in the district which produce oranges. The other dominant livelihood strategy amongst the Vendas is crossing to South either as petty traders or wage labor seekers. Their political economy is more South African than Zimbabwean.
(ii) The Shangaan
The Shangaan people (also referred to as Tsonga) are a minority group largely concentrated in Chiredzi district whilst others are scattered in some parts of Mwenezi district in Masvingo province. Broadly, the Shangaan people are also found in the Limpopo province of South Africa and Mozambique. Their main language is Xichangana or Shangaan which is directly related to Zulu and Ndebele. This language has five dialects which are as follows are, Hlanganu (Ihlanganu), Dzonga (Xidzonga), N’walangu (Xin’walungu), Bila (Xibila) and Hlengwe (Xihlengwe)
(a) The Shangaan’s political economy in Chiredzi and Mwenezi
Chiredzi Mwenezi
Chiredzi District is one of the seven administrative districts in Masvingo province and it’s found in the south eastern part of Zimbabwe which boarders Mozambique and South Africa.
It is also found amongst the least developed areas in Zimbabwe. This area receives less than 650mm of rain per annum hence making it more vulnerable to droughts. As a result, the Shangaan relies much on mixed farming of small grains and livestock production. Apart from farming, the youth and the able boded in Chiredzi relies much on working in commercial sugarcane plantations whilst majority migrate to South Africa for greener pastures. Mwenezi is one of the seven administrative districts in Masvingo province. People living there are a mixture of Karanga and Shangaan. It is amongst the least developed districts in Zimbabwe. Different parts of Mwenezi district are found agro-ecological region 4 and 5 respectively. Like Chiredzi, this district is prone to severe droughts especially on rainfed smallholder farming. They also depend on livestock production inclusive of cattle and goats. Other livelihood strategies include working in sugarcane plantations and migrating to South Africa for better life chances.
Legislatives whither indigenous minority groups’ democratic political participation
The American Centre for Peace and Diplomacy (ACPD) (2006) conceptualized participation as the inclusive – individuals and communities – process of making decisions in all ongoing political processes. This means that, all people, regardless of differences in ethnicity, age, gender, religion etc, should be accorded the same platform and capacity to meaningfully contribute in all political decisions without discrimination and prejudice. Calls for equality on political participation amongst individual and minority groups are all noted in both domestic, regional and international legal instruments.
In Zimbabwe the rights to political participation are granted by constitution, Electoral Act (EA) and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The constitutional chapter below and it subsequent sections in the Zimbabwean Constitution stipulates the following inclusive rights of individuals and minority groups in participating in electoral processes in Zimbabwe.
By A Correspondent- The family of the late tycoon John Bredenkamp is reportedly engaged in a nasty fight over the millions that were left by the businessman, Business Times reports.
The fight has turned so ugly the family has reportedly hired lawyers and the matter might spill into the courts soon. The nasty fight reportedly started when one of Bredenkamp’s sons evicted family members from the late tycoon’s Mazowe farm including John Bredenkamp’s mother Jenny Bredenkamp.
Speaking to the publication, a well-placed source told the publication that:
Following the death of John, his son Gavin just came at the Mazowe farm and residence and evicted everyone there including the mother. This prompted endless meetings which failed to culminate in an amicable agreement. The lawyers representing Jenny and Gavin’s siblings will be filing an urgent chamber application at the High Court most probably this week.
A lawyer Chris Mhike of Atherstone and Cook hired by the family refused to comment on the issue and said:
Thanks for your follow-up. I have not received further instructions from my clients regarding your request, and am therefore unable, due to ethical reasons, to comment on the matter.
Bredenkamp died mid last year due to a suspected kidney failure.
By A Correspondent-. Two former MDC Alliance members Senators Lillian Timveous and Blessing Chebundo have joined Zanu Pf.
The duo met with the party leadership at State House Wednesday afternoon.
Said presidential spokesperson George Charamba:
BREAKING NEWS: Two former MDC Alliance key members, Senator Lilian Timvious and Cde Blessing Chebundo have crossed the floor to join the ruling Zanu-PF Party. They have just met with the President and First Secretary, Cde ED Mnangagwa, at State House.
The President received the newest members in the company of Vice President Chiwenga and Chairman Muchinguri-Kashiri. Chairman of Midlands Province, Cde Mackenzie Ncube, and Minister of State for Midlands Province, Cde Larry Mavhima, accompanied the ex-MDC-A members. Cde Blessing
A Chiredzi-based police officer has been arrested after he was allegedly found in possession of 190 kilogrammes of dagga.
Sergeant Luckson Munhukwaye (43) is expected to appear at the Chiredzi Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to answer to a charge of illegal possession of dangerous drugs.
Munhukwaye was arrested together with his suspected accomplice, Phyllis Mufandaedza (36), a Chiredzi resident.
It is the State’s case that on February 1, 2021 at around 3pm, Assistant Inspector Etwell Ngara received a tip-off that there was contraband of dagga at certain premises at Masekesa Business Centre.
On the same day at around 11pm, the police stormed the house, leading to the recovery of a packet of loose dagga which was on top of the wardrobe in one of the rooms.
They interrogated Cynthia Mhuriro after finding her inside the house, and she implicated Mufandaedza.
She told the police that Mufandaedza had been taken by some men who identified themselves as detectives from Chiredzi, who were driving a Toyota Hilux GD-6 Revo, who then seized the recovered dagga.
The police left the house and on their way to Chiredzi to check for the said vehicle, they spotted a silver Toyota Noah Voxy along the Ngundu-Tanganda Highway which was being driven by Munhukwaye, with Mufandaedza on the passenger seat.
It had some bags inside.
The police became suspicious and followed it, but Munhukwaye sped off after noticing that he was being followed, leading to a high-speed chase.
On approaching Ndali turn-off at Rupangwana, he turned into Ndali Road, drove for about 200 metres before making a U-turn and driving back to the Ngundu-Tanganda Highway with the police in hot pursuit.
He allegedly sped past a police roadblock, but was eventually cornered and arrested together with Mufandaedza.
-Newsday
| On behalf of Zimbabwe, we extend congratulations to our esteemed partner Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, on her recent appointment and recognition |
| HARARE, Zimbabwe, February 24, 2021/ — Through an official letter, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) was congratulated by the long-time partner H.E. Mrs. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of The Republic of Zimbabwe and Ambassador of Merck More Than a Mother, on her appointment as a Member of the Egyptian Senate (2020-2025) by the President of Egypt, H.E. Mr. ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISI to play an important role to advise with regards to African Health, Economic and Social Sustainable Development and collaboration opportunities. The Zimbabwe First Lady also congratulated Rasha Kelej for her nomination as ‘The African Woman of the Year 2020’ by New African Woman, UK. The First Lady of Zimbabwe, H.E. Mrs. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, emphasized, “On behalf of Zimbabwe, we extend congratulations to our esteemed partner Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, on her recent appointment and recognition. The commitment and leadership she has shown over many years, as CEO of Merck Foundation, health campaigner and a prolific woman in progressively senior roles, has undoubtedly served Merck Foundation’s and our efforts in building healthcare capacity in Zimbabwe and across Africa. I am proud of our valuable partnership, and I look forward to working with her and continue our joint efforts to progress the landscape of the healthcare sector in my country and the rest of Africa and improve access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions.” Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother, with sincere gratitude, happiness, and pride in receiving this recognition, expressed, “I am humbled to receive this recognition from my dear sister H.E. Mrs. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of Zimbabwe. Through our partnership, we have been able to demonstrate our commitment towards improving access to innovative healthcare solutions in Zimbabwe and across Africa. Thank you very much and I look forward to using my recognition to further push the agenda to break infertility stigma, advocate for girls education and contribute to healthcare capacity building in Zimbabwe.” The First Lady of Zimbabwe, in her congratulatory letter, appreciated the impactful joint programs undertaken to build healthcare capacity, breaking the stigma of infertility and also strengthening the response to COVID-19, executed under the leadership of Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej through Merck foundation. Through their partnership, Merck Foundation has been building healthcare capacity in the country, by providing specialty training to more than 78 Young Zimbabwean doctors in various specialties like Fertility & Embryology, Oncology, Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Endocrinology, Sexual & Reproductive Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, and Acute Medicines. Merck Foundation will continue to provide scholarships of training to more doctors over the next 10 years to continue their mission of transforming healthcare sector and advance its professional capacity in Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation |
THE daring thieves, who allegedly stole a copy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Independence Day speech and a laptop last year were on Monday granted bail by Kwekwe magistrate Cheryl Tembo despite the police having valid warrants of arrest in Harare and Masvingo.
Trymore Jakarasi (35) of Pumula North, Bulawayo, and Shepherd Madaka (29) Budiriro 3, Harare, were granted $5 000 bail each when they appeared before Tembo, while Tinashe Matete Dube (27) of Glen View 3, Harare, was remanded to his hospital bed at Kwekwe General Hospital.
Dube is also facing attempted murder charges after he tried to run over a police sergeant, Misheck Mubika, after they were cornered and arrested at Cooler Box Bottlestore in Kwekwe last Wednesday.
The three were members of a four-member gang that was on the “wanted list” for stealing a laptop and Mnangagwa’s speech from a car driven by one of his security aides.
The same gang was on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Masvingo’s “most wanted list” for theft from cars under case number CR17/06/2020.
The notorious gang was reported in Dzivaresekwa, Harare, under case number CR155/04/20, after breaking into a vehicle belonging to Mnangagwa’s unnamed aide last year, where they stole various goods including a laptop and the President’s prepared speech.
-Newsday
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By A Correspondent- Independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa has revealed that scandalous ridden Vice President Kembo Mohadi may have resigned following a series of expose on his s_ex life with married women including a Form 6 student.
A program last night revealed the Woman No.5 from Mohadi’s list of ladies abused by him.
The latest development on Mohadi’s resignation was first revealed by Norton MP Temba Mliswa who wrote on the Twitter website that a precedent could have been set.
He said:
“If what I’m hearing is true and VP Mohadi has resigned, what precedence does this set?
“If alleged immorality affects a single man so drastically, what’s going to happen to the married Govt Ministers and MPs engaged in such illicit affairs? Will they resign too?”
Watch the live video loading below…..
Jane Mlambo| Controversial Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa has suggested that Vice Preside Kembo Mohadi may have resigned from his post following damaging reports of his sexual scandals leaked to the public by local publication including ZimEye.
Postig o Twitter this morning, Mliswa said he is hearing reports of Mohadi resigning while questioning precedence that would set to other top Government officials whom he said were equally guilty of the same offences.
“If what I’m hearing is true and VP Mohadi has resigned, what precedence does this set? If alleged immorality affects a single man so drastically, what’s going to happen to the married Govt Ministers and MPs engaged in such illicit affairs? Will they resign too?,” said Mliswa.
Mohadi has dominated headlines after his phone calls to a number of women including his office assistants leaked to the media where he was soliciting for sexual favors.
By Farai D Hove | Reports coming out of ZANU PF suggest Vice President Kembo Mohadi has resigned a few hours after he was exposed by ZimEye.com for impregnating an A Level pupil and infecting her with an STI.
A program last night revealed the Woman No.5 from Mohadi’s list of ladies abused by him.
The latest development was first revealed by Norton MP Temba Mliswa who wrote on the Twitter website that a precedent could have been set. He said:
“If what I’m hearing is true and VP Mohadi has resigned, what precedence does this set?
“If alleged immorality affects a single man so drastically, what’s going to happen to the married Govt Ministers and MPs engaged in such illicit affairs? Will they resign too?”
Watch the live video loading below…..
By A Correspondent- A political analyst has urged the ruling party to hand over the task of conferring hero status to an independent organization to ensure that the ruling party does not monopolize the process and deny deserving heroes a befitting sendoff, Newsday reports.
Political analyst Okay Machisa said the task should be done by neutral and apolitical people so that it is not biased towards members of a certain political party only:
There should be a consensus, with an independent institution or independent body set up to make the decisions so that we divorce from the political lens of doing the job.
We need a very neutral and very apolitical body because if decisions are made by people in power, they would only consider persons using a political lens.
During the late President Robert Mugabe’s era there were some people that were denied hero status, probably because the regime at that point didn’t like that person.
The then Zanu PF strongman even declared that the National Heroes Acre was “a Zanu PF shrine.
Over the years the ruling party has been conferring hero status to departed individuals in a manner that has been criticized by a lot of people as it seemingly favours party members only.-Newsday
By Leonard Koni| Zimbabwe’s ruling party Zanu PF has been for time immemorial leading in hijacking funerals especially of celebrities.
The party was shamelessly at it again this time around when they declared Saul Musaka popularly known as Soul Jah Love in the Zimbabwean dancehall music. The party has gained notoriety for fighting over celebrities’ corpses!
They also did the same at the late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi’s funeral. The same happened when former President Cde Robert Mugabe. Mugabe of course was their own person but before he died, he broadly refused to be entered at the National Shrine.
Last week Zanu PF were on steroids printing banners for Soul Jah Love’s image declaring him a provincial hero. That was done to lure the ghetto youths who ended up chanting slogans at his burial praising President Emmerson Mnangwa.
The question that immediately comes into mind is, if he did not sing about Zanu PF was he going to be declared a provincial hero? Another question is , will they declare Winky D like they did to Soul Jah Love?
Who should decide to declare an individual who would have served the country with colours a hero status?
Should that be left to be decided by a certain clique of people from the ruling party like what we are witnessing from Zanu PF?
Imagine upon death, the ZANU-PF politburo decides who should be declared a hero. Three options exist namely, district, provincial and national hero.
I think the method is a bit flawed and needs some touch ups and a little bit of panel beating in order for it to sound more national than being partisan.
Mugabe deliberately sidelined Zimbabwean nationalist leader, Ndabaningi Sithole, as the president became increasingly dictatorial.
Heroes and heroines are naturally born and not accorded by man but by the Almighty. Unfortunately we have seen those outside the revolutionary party not being declared heroes simply because they don’t tow along the lines.
George Shaya, Leonard Dembo real name Kwangwari Gwaendepi and Mukudzei Mudzi just to mention a few may not be heroes by declaration but citizens see them as such.
Declaring someone a hero status must not be limited and decided by a political party or politburo only but there must be a national consensus. It must be a collective national issue where all stakeholders are involved and should sound national.
The declaration of national heroes must be handled by an independent body not by this ZANU PF politburo which declares their supporters heroes.
Email – [email protected]Twitter – @LeokoniWhatsApp- +27616868508
By A Correspondent- The government is yet to announce the date for reopening schools, The Herald reports. The government through the Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa during a post-cabinet briefing simply said they are preparing to reopen schools and did not shed more information on the matter.
Said Mutsvangwa:
Regarding primary and secondary education, the responsible ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to prepare for the inevitable re-opening of schools.
Meanwhile, the training of school health coordinators and the assessment of the schools’ preparations for the resumption of learning is ongoing. Government is doing its best to ensure that adequate precautionary measures are taken before schools are opened.
Mutsvangwa did not share further details on whether schools will open in a phased approach like last time or anything except the fact that the government is preparing to reopen schools. Schools closed for the holidays on 18 December 2020 and they were supposed to reopen on 4 January but the government imposed a 30 days lockdown on 2 January due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases after the festive season.
Source: The Herald
By A Correspondent- Over 2700 frontline workers were vaccinated yesterday according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care bringing the total of people who have been vaccinated to 4041. The news was contained in an update that was published by the ministry that also indicated that COVID-19 hospitalized cases continue to surge.
In the update, the ministry stated that:
2727 frontline workers were vaccinated today(yesterday) bringing cumulative vaccinations to 4041
The update also noted that hospitalized cases increased to 156 from 147 the previous day:
As of 22 February 2021 @15hrs hours, there were 156 hospitalised cases, Assymptomatic 64, Mild to moderate 52, severe 36 and 4 in Intensive care units.
Meanwhile, the government will next week announce new COVID-19 restrictions when the 14 days lockdown extension announced by President Mnangagwa lapses.-statemedia
Pictures of military positionings of the Presidium suggest that something sinister is happening before the nation’s eyes. This could be a coincidence, but the sudden repetition in 2021 is just too glaring to ignore.
For the first time since the removal of Robert Mugabe in 2017, a new sitting arrangement has emerged in 2021.
According to military codes, the standing arrangement among soldiers is that the leader stands in the middle; the three presidium members are well known ex soldiers who are educated on formations, especially for the purpose of official state photographs. The below official photoshoots, taken at different times, suggest Constantino Chiwenga to be the new country’s Commander In Chief and the other two his deputies. To people in the security sector, the standing positioning is a loud message suggesting a translation of power to a new leader. Where is George Charamba? Where is Nick Mangwana?Where is CDF Valerie Sibanda? Are they all happy with this?
Why is this posture happening after the death of former Air force Commander-turned minister, Perrance Shiri, and Foreign Affairs Minister SB Moyo? Is a coup happening or what? Watch the following video showing pictures of the three between 2017 and 2020.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- Zimbabwe is a Banana Republic but when it comes to find individuals to fill its window dressing positions both Mnangagwa and before him Mugabe have been spoilt for choice!
“Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, on Sunday, appointed five new members to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Monetary Policy Committee (MPC),” reported Bulawayo 24.
“The new members, whose appointment is with immediate effect, are Professor Albert Makochekanwa, Persistence Gwanyanya, Dr Daniel Makina, Dr Charity Jinya and Matilda Dzumbunu.
“The head of state and Government, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, approved the selection, Minister Ncube said.”
There is no deny that Zimbabwe is a Banana Republic governed by corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous tyrants who believe they and they alone have the divine right to govern the country as they see fit. The regime has seen the need to appoint people outside the Zanu PF hard core to fill some positions to give a human face to the ugly Zanu PF regime, the velvet glove hiding the iron fist.
Both Mnangagwa and Mugabe have never had any problems finding, seemingly honest, outstanding and professional, Zimbabweans to be the window dressing manikins! Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube was one such manikin although he pretended to be anything but!
As Zimbabwe’s knight in shining armour Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube was cocky, loud and was convinced he would administer the right doses of the latest monetary and fiscal policies to kick start Zimbabwe’s comatose economy.
In October 2018, two months since his appointment, Minister Ncube presented the IMF, WB and other international institutions with his over 600 page long Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) blue print. He was cocksure they will all be bowled over and would give Zimbabwe all the financial assistance the nation asked for.
The IMF, WB, etc. all kept their purse strings drawn. They asked, instead, for proof of how Minister Ncube would keep the many TSP promises.
The Minister promised to reduce Zimbabwe’s bloated public sector wage bill, for example; an issue the IMF and WB were all too familiar with. The Minister has all but failed to the hundreds of super numeral Zanu PF youths from the public service payroll!
Corruption is the greatest criminal waste of resources in Zimbabwe; the IMF, WB and even Mnangagwa himself admitted it and hence his “zero tolerance on corruption!” promise. As Minister of Finance, corruption would have been Professor Ncube’s number one target too. And yet he has not done nothing to stamp out this scourge.
Indeed, the generous mining concession, the licence to loot, granted to the looters in Chiadzwa and Marange diamond field have now been extended to other areas such as gold, platinum and lithium mining, to fuel procurement and even to procurement of corona virus requirements as the Drax Scandal has shown.
Minister Ncube was told, in no uncertain term, that the bloated public sector, corruption and many, many other areas were ring-fenced and no-go areas for him, even in his capacity as Minister of Finance.
And so to raise revenue earnings to meet his TSP targets of reducing public deficit the Minister end up charging street vendors a 2% transaction tax. The Nutty Professor was taxing the people he should be welfare benefits and looting millions of dollars are not even paying a penny in tax!
Of course people like Professor Mthuli Ncube know Zanu PF rigged the 2018 elections and has retain power all these decades by rigging elections. They conveniently ignore the reality the country is in this economic and political crisis precisely because the country is dictatorship and a pariah state.
They agree to work for the regime under the pretext they will make the dictatorship work for the good of the nation.
The old MPC was supposed to ensure inflation will never rise above 10%; it soared to 848%. The new committee will do no better.
Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown is because the country is a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging thugs and the RBZ’s policies will not change the pariah state status.
The bottom line is people like Professor Mthuli Ncube work for Zanu PF for r selfish reasons. By accepting his appointment Pressor Mthuli Ncube will be known from henceforth as Zimbabwe’s (or former) Minister of Finance. Professor Albert Makochekanwa and his fellow appointees will from henceforth be known as members of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Monetary Policy Committee. Who knows what other financial benefits and opened doors the appointment will bring!
These manikin window dressing appointments are but a curse to the nation because they help sanitise the dictatorship and thus perpetuate it. Those pretending Zimbabwe is a health and functioning democracy are not doing the nation any favours!
