By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s biggest psychiatric institution Ingutsheni Central Hospital in Bulawayo is reportedly overcrowded, a situation that exposes inmates to COVID-19 as they cannot practise social distancing.

Ingutsheni chief executive Nemache Mawere told Southern Eye that one ward had exceeded its carrying capacity.

“We are having a huge challenge of overcrowding in one of the wards called Khumalo ward which is located at the south-eastern tip of Ingutsheni Central Hospital .

“We do not have any other space to accommodate inmates. Its carrying capacity is supposed to be 95 but as of now it stands at 120 to 150 inmates,” Mawere said.

“Our current carrying capacity is 708 inmates altogether and we have a challenge of inadequate space,” he said.

Hospital authorities said Ingutsheni had become dumping ground for mentally-challenged patients.

Recently, Mawere told this paper that they were taking care of patients long abandoned by their relatives.

He said the biggest challenge faced by the hospital was that it had patients who were admitted long back, and their relatives never came back to collect them even after they were discharged.

Mawere said: “I want you to come to the Khumalo ward so that you can see for yourself and appreciate the reason why we are saying the male wards are overcrowded.

“It is not to do with the fact that the buildings are not enough.

“It is because people are deserting their relatives that are mentally ill.

“That is the biggest challenge that we are facing as a hospital despite other minor issues.”

Hospital spokesperson Vongai Chimbindi said the huge number of patients was straining the institution’s resources as they were receiving insufficient grants from government.=newsday

As the country battles to stop the spread of Covid-19, the prolonged closure of schools has dealt Manicaland a heavy blow as nearly 1 000 girls fell pregnant and were married off between March 2020 and January 2021.

Provincial development officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr Munyaradzi Rubaya said 907 girls fell victim to unintended teen pregnancy and child marriages, while another 805 girls and 215 boys suffered sexual, physical, economic and emotional violence. 

Chipinge, which is the hardest-hit district with abuse allegedly fuelled by harmful traditional norms, had 267 girls married off, while data on teen pregnancy cases were not readily available. 

Mutare is second in the province at 147 cases of child marriages and 83 teen pregnancies, with the vice reportedly ameliorated by harmful religious practices by some white garment churches. 

In January 2021, the district recorded seven cases. 

Buhera had 96 child marriages and 25 adolescent pregnancy cases during the period under review, while Nyanga had 61 child marriages and 11 teen pregnancy cases.

Mutasa had 44 child marriages and 16 teen pregnancy cases, Chimanimani had 42 child marriages and 31 teen pregnancy cases while Makoni had 17 child marriages and 28 adolescent pregnancy incidences.

Last month, Makoni and Nyanga recorded three cases each.

Mr Rubaya highlighted that the figures could actually be higher as most pregnant teenagers are not visiting clinics.

“This is only a tip of the iceberg. These cases are reported where there is conflict and the two families have failed to reconcile, otherwise they (cases) are often dealt with and swept under the carpet at family level. 

“It is unfortunate we do not have systems and institutions to pick these abuses at grassroots level. We rely much on the traditional leaders in identifying the cases, but in cases where they are the perpetrators, they won’t report. There is transmission of fear, leading to a conspiracy of silence at grassroots level. We have a very serious challenge,” said Mr Rubaya.

He cited a case in which a Chipinge chief married a school girl.

“If he can do that, what do think the ordinary villager will do? Who will restrain men from abusing girls then? We leverage on the local leaders’ power and influence in their communities, but if some of them are the culprits, how then can they stop what they are deeply involved in? It is very difficult because an ally has turned the perpetrator,” said Mr Rubaya.

He argued that the lockdown has seen children becoming idle, with some of them engaging in risky sexual behaviour.

Sexual exploitation and abuse, harmful religious and cultural norms, poverty, parental neglect, risky adolescent behaviours and lack of adolescent and reproductive health education have also been cited as major drivers of the vices.

“This is a highly institutionalised cultural and religious problem – and most of these institutions are closed and very difficult to penetrate,” said Mr Rubaya.

While the legal age of marriage is 18, a girl above 16 can consent to sex, and this loophole seems to be providing fertile ground for teen pregnancies.

Sadly, the young mothers are vulnerable to health complications, while some end up opting for unsafe abortions.

Various child rights advocates have also been pushing for the synchronisation of the legal age of marriage and the legal age of consent.

Provincial Education Director (PED), Mr Edward Shumba, said schools must prioritise guidance and counselling lessons to protect their students.

He said young mothers can still pursue their studies.

“Such statistics are scary but the victims should not be condemned. They can still come back to school and pursue their education,” said Mr Shumba.

Stimulus packages like the 18+ sponsored by Simukai and Plan International, Dreams (Fact), S4G (Care) were put in place to assist schoolgirl drop-outs to return to school.

-ManicaPost

By A Correspondent- Members of Parliament have demanded that they be allowed control over use of devolution funds in accordance with the Constitution in order to enhance accountability and transparency by local authorities.

The issue was raised in Parliament by Norton MP Temba Mliswa (Independent) last Thursday, where he said corruption was rampant within local authorities, hence the need for proper monitoring and evaluation of the devolution funds and resources allocated.

He said failure to properly implement devolution resulted in the former late President Robert Mugabe being forced out of power.

Mliswa said section 264 of the Constitution stipulated that there should be transfer of responsibilities and resources from central government to provincial councils, but the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 2) bill sought to exclude MPs from overseeing usage of the devolution funds.

“The biggest game changer in this country is devolution, but the monies are not being monitored according to the Constitution because the provincial councils are not in place,” he said.

“This is also one of the reasons that led Mugabe out of power. It was because of the issue of devolution and that he was not following the Constitution.

“Mr Speaker Sir, I do not know how best we can deal with this, but it has become a source of corruption in a big way. The local authorities as you would appreciate have been the talk of poor service delivery, yet money is going there through the very same tenets of the Constitution. Your guidance and ruling is critical because we cannot as Parliament sit and watch the law not being followed.”

Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda said Constitutional Amendment (No 2) bill would soon be tabled before the National Assembly to address the challenges raised by Mliswa.

Mudenda said Finance minister Mthuli Ncube had already acknowledged the need for a legal framework to be in place in order to ensure that devolved funds were accounted for in terms of the structures that would be in place.

“Indeed, there has been some conversation between the Minister of Local Government and Public Works (July Moyo), as well as the Minister of Finance and Economic Development (Mthuli Ncube) in consultation with the Attorney-General (Prince Machaya),” Mudenda said.-Newsday

By A Correspondent | The late slain 7 year old Tapiwa Makore is now to be buried on the 27th March, the family has announced.

The development comes in the same way predicted in a ZimEye investigation just after the murder last year, when ZimEye exposed the people behind the gruesome killing of the toddler.

“We have the torso, we have the palms, these are the only remains that we have of our child and which we will now burry,” the late’s Gogo Beulah told StarFM’s Tilda Moyo.

During the program Tuesday morning, she further narrated as follows:

“This is what is now happening we are paid that this is what will now happen this is paining us.

“We do not have answers as to where the head is. the person who confesses that he cut the child’s head is there.

“The people who killed our child is there but nothing is being done. We are now out of words.

“So what we have decided to do is to go ahead and bury our child.

“We do not have any answer we are clueless.”

Meanwhile, the family also added saying they had earlier arranged for burial on the 9th January.

By A Correspondent- Two gunshots were allegedly fired yesterday after Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) youth tried to regain control of the Ntabazinduna Lodge, which was forcibly taken away from the owner, Brian Davies, by Floyd Ambrose, a Zanu-PF member.

It is alleged that last Friday, Ambrose, who is Davies’ former worker, evicted his former employer from the lodge, defying three High Court orders barring him from doing so.

He reportedly threw Davies’ property outside the gate.

When Southern Eye visited the site yesterday, Davies’ belongings were still outside the gate.

In a bid to defend Davies, MRP president Mqondisi Moyo and party youths went to the area.

Ambrose and his two colleagues had to flee into the bush with the MRP youth in hot pursuit.

This resulted in Ambrose firing two warning shots in the air to scare them off.

Moyo told Southern Eye that the MRP had intervened to fight the injustice perpetrated by the government.

He said the Davies family had been in the area since 1903.

“This agreement was further cemented by Chief Khayisa Ndiweni, who said this place has historical significance for the Ndebeles. Zanu-PF allowed a land reform programme which saw them willy-nilly invading other people’s property,” Moyo said.

“We have seen Zanu-PF doing whatever they want in Ntabazinduna, which falls under Umguza constituency. Two days ago, Ambrose came and removed Davies forcefully and in the process, he threatened him saying that since he belonged to Zanu-PF, he was untouchable.”

Davies is said to be in possession of three High Court rulings in his favour as the owner of the land.

“Last week, there was a court order which came from the sheriff ‘s office to remove Ambrose because he is not the rightful owner of this place. We came here to ensure that sanity prevails and Davies is given back his land,” Moyo added.

MRP Matabeleland North chairperson Thembisani Mpofu said a few weeks ago, Ambrose vowed that he would leave the lodge over his dead body.

Mpofu said the MRP would not leave the area until Davies has reclaimed his land.

The Davies family is among the largest pork producers in the country, with over 12 000 pigs, a large herd of cattle, a commercial crocodile farm and a well-established photographic safari operation.

With the permission of the late Paramount Chief Khayisa Ndiweni, they built Chief’s Lodge on top of Ntabazinduna Hill, a famous historical site that is important in the Ndebele culture.

Chief Ndiweni made the Davies family custodians of Ntabazinduna Hill, and the family promised to preserve it.

The family employed more than 350 workers, who together with their families, have been wholly dependent on income generated from the farming and photographic safari operations.

Last year, Chief Nhlanhla Felix Ndiweni lashed out at government over its plans to evict Davies and called on the West to tighten sanctions on the country to compel President Emmerson Mnangagwa to reverse the decision.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Police Commissioner Erasmus Makodza, who was recently arrested and charged with criminal abuse of office, has filed a complaint to his boss, Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, accusing a constable of corruptly engaging an interested party in a matter which is before the courts.

Makodza, who is in charge of Matabeleland North province, is out on $10 000 bail in a case he is accused of illegally crafting a deal for his alleged girlfriend, Mawonei Chapfudza, which enabled her to enter into a farming joint venture with the police at Lendy Farm, Marondera in 2019.

In a letter addressed to Matanga dated March 4, 2021, Makodza through his lawyers from Nyamayaro Makanza and Bakasa Legal Practice accused constable Fortunate Dube of Marondera District Headquarters of engaging in underhand dealings with land developer, Felix Munyaradzi, conduct which is likely to bring the reputation of the force into disrepute.

Makodza is embroiled in a botched US$40 000 land deal with Munyaradzi and the issue is before the courts.

“Our client is a complainant in a case of fraud where the accused is Felix Munyaradzi. Our instructions are that your officer Constable Fortunate Dube is engaged in a suspicious relationship with Felix Munyaradzi which amounts to corruption practices,” the letter read in part.

“Our client says so because it has been established that Constable Fortunate Dube is involved in financial transactions with Felix Munyaradzi, in that on January 15, 2021 they transacted for $1 000. On February 15, 2021, Felix Munyaradzi recharged Constable Fortunate Dube’s phone with $105 (worth of airtime). On February 22, 2021, Felix Munyardzi sent $500 to Constable Fortunate Dube.

“It has also been established that the house located on stand number 8224 Rusike Phase 3 in Marondera registered in Constable Fortunate Dube’s name was built using funds from Felix Munyaradzi,” read the letter.

The lawyers said it was also established that Dube was married to a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission official, Eric Chacha, who is the investigating officer in a case involving Makodza.

“Considering the above circumstances, we humbly request that your respected office cause investigations into conduct of Constable Fortunate Dube. We shall be grateful to know the outcome of your investigations,” the letter read in part.

On February 10, 2021, Makodza wrote to the Special Anti-Corruption Unit asking it to investigate Chacha for abuse of office after he allegedly got him arrested in a bid to rescue Munyaradzi over the botched land deal.

-newsday

• Public Policy Research Institute Of Zimbabwe
• Elusive Political, Electoral and Economic Reforms in Zimbabwe : ls National Dialogue The Solution?
• I start by pointing out that the Zimbabwean crisis is complex and can not be resolved by one solution. None has the simple solution to the crisis but through lots of engagements and triasl and errors will we find the elusive magic wand.
• It is therefore my position that yes, National Dialogue is one of the solutions but not the exclusive solution. There are other solutions that must be considered as solutions on their own or to be jointly used with national dialogue.
• National dialogue also has to be properly conceptualized and it be established what different classes, groups and interests perceive it to be. We may have different views of what it is and what we seek to achieve out of it.
• However before evaluating whether National Dialogue is the solution, there is need to understand what the problem is that requires a solution. We need to have a clear conception of the Zimbabwean problem as well as an understanding of its depth. A progressive solution is a product of an understanding of the problem through objective and inclusive analysis.
A FAILED STATE THAT HAS LOST LEGITIMACY
• The basis of my submissions is that Zimbabwe is now a Failed State and the government has lost legitimacy in the “eyes and hearts” of majority of the citizens
• There is bound to be a lot of debate and disagreements about this conclusion. Much of it will be driven by ideological, philosophical and academic definitional arguments.

• I am from a specific class that has peculiar needs and expectations from the state. The working class in its broadest sense forms the biggest social class and faces particular problems and unmet needs.
• The legitimacy of the state or it’s status as weak, failing ,failed or collapsed, is based on what the citizens see and experience daily. This is never neutral especially in a kleptocratic oligarchic state where some benefit at the expense of the suffering majority. The daily struggles therefore determines the legitimacy of the government and status of the state.
• Therefore, legitimacy of the state is not only based on the way it attained power. For the working class how it provides political goods is the most important measure. Both input and output legitimacy becomes important for assessing whether the state still has legitimacy in terms of its policies and programs. The question is whether it is a government for the people that listens to the people and meet the basic needs of the citizens.
• There is no doubt that in this regard, the Failed Zimbabwean State has lost legitimacy in the “eyes and hearts” of the majority and especially the working class.
• The state has failed in many regards and these examples indicates clearly how it has failed.
1) A State failing to promote, protect and guarantee security of persons.
• One of the most fundamental obligations of the state is to protect its citizens. The Zimbabwean State using its various state organs has actually provided the biggest danger to citizens. The abductions, torture, unlawful arrests and pre trial detentions, police and military brutalities and many other forms of abuses points to a state that has become a danger to its citizens.
• Although powerful, exercising monopoly of violence and controlling an effective state security machinery, the state has been operating outside the parameters permissible by law. In many instances some of its organs and agents have been behaving like militias and acting above the law thereby endangering citizens.
2) A state Failing To Provide Public Services
• For the working class, everything is not working well. We are failing to access medical care, education, adequate housing, proper transport etc. Public hospitals are in a sorry state lacking basic drugs and equipment. Some schools resemble pigsties and many kids are failing to access quality education as teachers are always incapacitated and schools have no books.
• Workers are facing serious problems going to and from work. There is no suitable and adequate public transport. Many are now using open trucks in the rains and cold. This is a serious regression

3) State Facing Social and Economic Implosion.
• High inflation and currency debauchery has led to serious erosion of wages and pensions. The majority of the workers are earning far below the PDL and many are literally enslaved working for nothing.
• Domestic workers earn only USD9 equivalent to 9 loaves of bread. Minimum wage can only buy 25 loaves of bread for a full month salary.
•
• Many are food insecure and facing starvation. Endemic poverty affecting 70% of the population
with 34% in extreme poverty.
• We are in a vicious cycle, with low incomes, low demand, low savings, and low productivity
• Many kids will drop out of schools as working parents fail to pay fees. Many families can barely afford a single meal a day.
• There is massive unfair transfer of wealth from the poor workers and peasants to the elites and their cronies through corruption, arbitrage, state and regulatory capture and its concomitant rents.
• In this regard, the state has failed as it safeguards the interests of a few while exploiting and exposing the majority to social and economic dangers
Reasons For Failure
• There a many reasons for the State Failure and these includes:
• 1) Dictatorship, Kleptocracy
• 2) Anti people and Anti Workers policies ( Neoliberalism- Austerity, currency debauchery)
• 3) Militarization of the State
• 4) Corruption
• 5) Cartels and State capture
• 6) Lack of Constitutionalism and Rule of Law
National Dialogue
• Whilst l believe that national dialogue is inevitable, the following must be noted
• (1) National Dialogue is not an event. It has been happening since 1980 even beyond that if we take the prior independence epoch into account.

• (2) Dialogue takes many forms including formal set up that appears to be the focus currently. It however can also take different forms like mass actions, protests, petitions, legal challenges, boycotts, open letters, and many other forms of expressions. The state’s responses to these must also be regarded as part of the broad national dialogue process
• Dialogue mustn’t be narrowly conceived to be a formal and pleasant process always based on good faith. In the labour market we have come to realise that dialogues have different processes and dynamics. So as weird as it may sound, there is already a national dialogue going on albeit between the powerful elites and submissive citizens under a hostile environment. Just like we have an unfair social contract contrary to common belief that we have no social contract.
• (3) There has been different forms of national dialogues processes in Zimbabwe and various outcomes. We need not lose these historical developments if we are to find a sustainable solution.
• For example the most notable outcome of the national dialogue processes is the Zimbabwean Constitution. This is a progressive outcome in many regards which if sincerely implemented will resurrect the failed state.
The important questions in light of the above therefore are
• (i ) Those seeking dialogue, what is the desired outcome?
• ( ii) What will be the contents of the expected outcome and how different will that be to the
Constitution?
• ( III) lf the Constitution is being ignored and not complied to, why would the same people comply with the expected dialogue outcomes?
• These are difficult questions that also shows that perhaps this dialogue call maybe a result of ephemeral consciousness that is not rooted on clear understanding of the problem and reasons for the failed state. It may also be based on hoping against hope that the ruling elites may genuinely embrace reforms. Based on experience that is highly unlikely.
• These questions give credence to the need for widening our search for the elusive national solution
Alternative View
• For any dialogue to be meaningful, respected and to produce sustainable outcomes relative power of the parties is an important factor.
• From my background and experience in labour market dialogues, all forms of negotiations are influenced in a big way by the perceived or actual power of the parties.

• This calls for shifting the focus from begging for a particular form of dialogue to building power for those suffering under the burden of an unfair social contract.
• The ruling kleptocrats are powerful and are using the whole armour of the state. This class is also benefiting a lot through patronage, corruption, state capture and cartels and rents. It has no reason for it to lose these massive benefits through a dialogue with people that are battered and already submissive. That is only logical and from experience the ruling classes have never voluntarily reformed themselves out of power and risk everything just to please the exploited classes.
• It goes without saying that any dialogue with the ruling elites , the oligarchs and their cronies will not be sincere unless the citizens possesses and use collective countervailing power.
• If the ruling elites accept this call for dialogue or as appears to be happening now, if they call for it and shape it, they will be seeking to achieve a PR coup against the increasingly conscious exploited classes.
• Worse still any top – down dialogue approach will inevitably cement the ruling elites stranglehold on the state and economy. It is also clear that, such a dialogue will be on their terms, produce their desired outcomes and those terms undesirable to them will not be accepted or implemented.
• State Of The Citizens, Labour , Political And Social Movements
• All are weakened, fragmented, infiltrated, some co-opted and others being coerced into
submission.
• Successive years of state attacks and brutalities against any form of dissent has to an extent decimated the once robust mobilised collective movements and communities.
• The militarization of the state, push for one party state agenda and weaponisation of covid19 has led to suspension of all important constitutional rights. Freedom of association, assembly and speech to mention a few have been suspended. There is a powerful invisible and unpronounced martial law in operation.

• These and other rights are extremely important for any fair , effective and inclusive national dialogue. Without these civic and political rights, any dialogue will be elitist and in the main a farce.
Practical Means Of Attaining Genuine Dialogue
• There must be a bottom up approach that respects the affected people and that is sensitive to their needs, fears, aspirations and grievances.
• It must take into account historical developments and outcomes of all forms of dialogues
• It must be based on solidarity within classes and between classes. No one is spared except the ruling elites and their cronies. So the people must unite. Only a United Front grants citizens power which is necessary to engage the state actors with some ability to sanction non committal.
• It must be based on clear ideological foundation. Only when we realise that power retention by the elites is not an end in itself but a means to accumulation of wealth will the people be empowered. Many are fighting for political power and not progressive revamp of the social and economic structure which is in actual fact what the oligarchs are defending.
• Thus, for the working class the struggle is against both repression and neoliberalism induced poverty or misery. We can not accept or afford a dialogue for sharing power in order to continue exploiting the masses.
• The focus of the Labour movement, churches, students, peasants, civic society , political formations and all citizens must not be a rushed formal political dialogue but building a critical mass. This critical mass must be able to engage in many forms with whoever wields political power to atleast comply with the progressive dialogue outcome we already have, the 2013 Constitution.
• If this dialogue outcome is implemented fully or even partially, the failed state will be transformed and common good attained.
• The 2013 Constitution has provisions for most of the issues that l speculate to be what those begging for dialogue desire to attain.
Conclusion

• It is my submission that what the progressive forces and all other sectors outside the state sphere need to urgent do is build an active citizenry that effectively exercise its agency. We need to :
• 1) Organise and come together despite sectorial interests. Class collaboration is unavoidable.
• 2) Clarify the most important agenda. One that cuts across all interests. Without being prescriptive because there is no room for that, two issues stick out, repression and neoliberalism induced misery.
• 3) Mobilise for the agenda. The agenda must be known and believed by the majority across the country. This is the first signal to the elites that the people can not bear the repression and neoliberalism induced misery any longer. Civic education that is properly planned and rolled out is part of this mobilisation.
• 4) Take action. Please note that only non violent actions especially those provided in the constitution are effective. There must never be any illusion about use of violent means, this will not work. The state has monopoly of violence and citizens can not seek a progressive outcome through violent means against the state. Again the 2013 Constitution is the most important tool. Citizens must ensure that the rights guaranteed in the Constitution are exercised
• 5) All must be anchored on solidarity between classes, communities and person to person. Solidarity must be the glue that unites the citizens as well as the buffer against continued state brutalities.
• It is this United Front that has legitimacy to initiate and engage in many forms of national dialogue with the state (or government). It is again this mass that can with some level of equal power bargain effectively with the mighty state.
• This is just another view to the current focus on the national dialogue as it has been propagated so far.
• Thank you for inviting me to share my views, which mainly reflect the interactions and debates within working class platforms. I acknowledge that some may hold different views and that there are some practical limitations to my suggestions. This is why such a platforms you created and invited us is extremely important for the citizens to critically discuss and analyse the problem in search of the elusive national solution.

By A Correspondent- Twenty people cheated death when a house in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb caught fire following a petrol explosion.

One of the victims, Lenxious Sibanda (27) of New Lobengula, sustained life-threatening burns and was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where he is admitted.

The victim is alleged to have stolen 20 litres of petrol belonging to his parents who are based in Botswana and intended to sell it on the black market. After stealing the fuel, he took it to Mpopoma where he hid it at a friend’s family house.

The victim’s sister, Ms Leterevy Sibanda said her brother is in a critical condition at Mpilo Central Hospital following the explosion that occurred on Sunday at about 9AM.

A news crew yesterday visited the house in Mpopoma where the explosion occurred. The window panes were shattered following the explosion while blankets, a mattress and a headboard were burnt. The walls of the room were still black due to the fumes. The owner of the house, Ms Margret Mangwiro said she was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen when the house caught fire.

She said there were 20 people in the house when the incident occurred.

“I was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when I sensed a strange smell in the house and the next thing, I saw a cloud of flames. I screamed for help as I directed my grandchildren who were in the lounge to vacate the house, which was already on fire,” she said.

Ms Mangwiro said her neighbours swiftly reacted and helped put out the fire while her grandson, Mr George Mangwiro and his friend Mr Wellington Mukonza battled to rescue Lenxious who was trapped in the inferno.

“It was a terrible sight as my neighbours joined us in putting out the fire using sand and water. My grandson and his friend took the risk and got inside the room where the fire had started to rescue Lenxious who was trapped inside,” she said.

Ms Mangwiro said she suspects that Lenxious could have been smoking in the room.

“It seems Lenxious was smoking a cigarette in the room, which had a container of fuel resulting in the explosion that nearly cost our lives. There were 20 people in the house including my grandchildren who had visited us for the weekend,” she said.

Ms Mangwiro said her grandchildren are still traumatised following the incident.

“My grandchildren are still traumatised and they are even afraid of using the room, which caught fire. They lost some of the blankets, but we managed to salvage their clothes although their mattress and headboard where damaged by the fire,” she said.

Mr Mukonza said they risked their lives to save Lenxious who was trapped in the room.

“It was a matter of taking chances to save Lenxious who was trapped in the room which was on fire. When the fire started, he failed to come out and we had to rescue him from the burning flames,” he said.

“He sustained severe burns and we had to arrange for an ambulance, which took him to hospital.”

Lenxious’ sister, Ms Sibanda said her brother stole 20 litres of petrol which was meant to be used by their parents to fuel their car for a trip to their rural home in Nyamandlovu during the Easter holiday.

“He took the fuel without the permission from our parents and the intention was to sell it on the black market. We were shocked when his friends came to inform us that he had been rushed to hospital after he was burnt in a petrol explosion at a house in Mpopoma,” she said.

Bulawayo acting chief fire officer Mr Linos Phiri said when the fire fighters arrived at the scene, residents had already put out the fire using buckets of water and sand. Property worth $10 000 was lost in the inferno.

“The victim experienced second degree burns and was rushed to Mpilo hospital to seek medical attention. Police were called to the scene and investigation are still in progress,” said Mr Phiri.

“We also wish to advise members of the public to desist from selling illegal fuel and neighbours should always report such cases to the police.”

-statemedia

By Jane Mlambo| Following two days of harsh exchanges between Professor Lovemore Madhuku and Dr Alex Magaisa over Section 96(2) which tackles the resignation of Vice Presidents and whether the President is obliged to publicly announce within 24 hours, the former has chickened out while insisting his viewpoint remains sound at law.

A heated argument ensued following the resignation of vice President Kembo Mohadi and revelations by Presidential spokesperson George Charamba that his letter had been delivered to President Emmerson Mnangagwa a week earlier, self exiled former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo pointed to a breach of the constitution saying a public announcement had not been made within 24 hours.

Madhuku appeared in the media saying that Section 96(2) did not apply to the current vice presidents but running mates who are elected together with the President.

Magaisa instantly shot back, accusing Madhuku of using a pedestrian interpretation of the constitution.

Madhuku followed up with a full article where he explained his points in detail while shooting back at Magaisa for seeking to thrill Twitter audience.

Magaisa responded to Madhuku’s analysis while his colleagues Advocate Tabani Mpofu and Professor Jonathan Moyo also shared their own interpretations.

When many expected the debate to go on, Madhuku only said he noted the three replies by Magaisa, Moyo and Mpofu while insisting that he remain unconvinced that they are sound alternatives to his viewpoint before chickening out of the hot topic by using latin term Cadit quaestio which literally means dispute is over.

“I have read and noted the three replies from @ProfJNMoyo , @Wamagaisa and @adv_fulcrum. With respect, I remain unconvinced that there can be a sound alternative to the view I hold and have expressed-that sect 96(2) does not apply to current VPs. Cadit quaestio.”

By A Correspondent- The High Court has issued an order barring the executor of Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s estate from processing the late socialite’s property following an urgent application by his sisters and father.

The late Ginimbi’s sisters; Juliet and Nelia, and his father Anderson Kadungure, approached the High Court questioning the legitimacy of an unsigned will presented by lawyer Patricia Darangwa.

On Monday Justice Sylvia Chirawu-Mugomba granted the application by the Kadungure family.

Justice Chirawu-Mugomba found Darangwa at fault in authorising the release of a Lamborghini in the absence of a proper liquidation and distribution account.

She said:

In my view, there are prima facie red flags in the document itself, processes and manner leading to the acceptance of the document as a will… Darangwa be and hereby interdicted from administering the estate of the late Genius Kadungure.

She also interdicted the Master of High Court “from accepting any process in relation to the administration of the estate of the late Genius Kadungure under DR No. 1771/20 filed by or on behalf of Darangwa.”

Justice Chirawu-Mugomba also noted that Ginimbi’s estate spans three countries, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana.

The three countries obviously have different laws and processes in relation to the administration of estates of deceased foreigners.

The judge said:

That in itself may entail external conflict of laws.

Ginimbi died in a car crash in November last year when his Rolls Royce veered off the road in Harare and rammed into a tree.

The car exploded into a fireball a few moments after the collision, killing him on the spot and three friends.

Ginimbi had several expensive supercars, including a Bentley, Ferrari, and a Lamborghini.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said that it is expecting all teachers to report for duty on 15 March when schools open for the first term.

Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro told a local publication on Monday that schools have already been provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) for both learners and teachers.

He said:

Government is expecting a 100% upward trajectory of teachers returning to work on March 15.

Schools have already been provided with proper personal protective equipment for students and teachers to use as the 2021 learning calendar commences.

Meanwhile, teachers’ unions are divided over whether their members would report for duty when schools open next week.

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) have both said their members are financially incapacitated to report for duty.

However, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZTA) chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu yesterday urged teachers to report for duty saying they should not mix the issue of salaries and that of safety from the coronavirus at schools.

Ndlovu said:

We are saying let us get support from every corner to ensure that the opening of schools is a success and we should not mix COVID-19 issues with the perennial issue of teachers’ welfare and salaries because the closure of schools was due to COVID-19 challenges.

The issue of salaries is a permanent feature that can never be exhausted even in developed countries, and right now, the issue at hand is about addressing the safety of teachers and students when schools open during COVID-19.

Ndlovu added that teachers’ unions risk losing public sympathy is they continued to hold leaners at ransom over salaries.

He said:

I do not think that the other unions will get public support by continuing to advance the issue of salaries at the expense of the learners.

I would encourage my colleagues to desist from marrying the issue of COVID-19 with the issue of salaries.

Our position is clear, that we should ensure that students get back to school in a safe environment.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri have slapped Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe and police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga with a Z$15 million lawsuit for circulating their nude pictures last year.

Mamombe, the Harare West MP (MDC-A) and Cecilia Chimbiri, an MDC-A youth leader, said they endured embarrassment after their nude pictures went viral on social media platforms.

Mamombe said she suffered damages in the sum of $10 million, comprising $3 million contumelia, and $7 million injuria while Chimbiri is claiming $5 million.

The pictures were reportedly captured by State security agents at Park Town Hospital in Harare, where Mamombe, Chimbiri and another MDC-A youth leader Netsai Marova were admitted.

The trio was receiving treatment following an alleged abduction and torture by suspected State agents.

In their separate applications filed by their lawyers, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on Monday, Mamombe and Chimbiri said Chief Superintendent Philip had assured them that the pictures would not be circulated but were shocked to see the photos splashed all over social media.

Part of the summons by the ZLHR read:

As such, on the evening of May 15, 2020, the first defendant in the company of Dr Nyamakure arrived in the ward where the plaintiff was receiving medical assistance.

The first defendant identified herself as being from the ZRP Forensic Department and proceeded to take photographs of the plaintiff’s body purportedly as part of the evidence.

Further, she captured pictures of the plaintiff and her colleagues who were hospitalised together with her, namely Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri.

… This exercise was carried out solely by the first defendant and no other person was granted permission by the plaintiff to do so.

The case is yet to be heard.

Tinashe Sambiri|Women are the society’s backbone, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

According to President Chamisa, women’s capacity to lead is incredible:

Below is President Chamisa’s statement on International Women’s Day:

Thankful to all women who strive and fight to make a difference and make our nation great.

Women’s capacity to organize,lead and achieve is incredible.

Women are society’s backbone,nation builders who carry and sustain societies to create an equal future..#InternationalWomensDay…

Tinashe Sambiri|Women are the society’s backbone, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

According to President Chamisa, women’s capacity to lead is incredible:

Below is President Chamisa’s statement on International Women’s Day:

Thankful to all women who strive and fight to make a difference and make our nation great.

Women’s capacity to organize,lead and achieve is incredible.

Women are society’s backbone,nation builders who carry and sustain societies to create an equal future..#InternationalWomensDay…

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF leader Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa personally instructed Dendairy to seize land belonging to Chilonga villagers, it has emerged.

Addressing a news conference in Harare on Monday, MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti said Chilonga villagers revealed Dendairy bosses declared Mr Mnangagwa blessed the seizure of their land.

An MDC Alliance delegation led by Hon Tendai Biti was in Chilonga area on a fact-finding mission at the weekend.

Watch video below for more information:

By James Gwati-The visit today by the former Vice President, Joyce Mujuru, to the state house has raised a lot of questions to Zimbabweans who now think that President Emmerson Mnanagwa, wants her to become his deputy.

The country was shocked Monday after Mujuru appeared on the state controlled ZBC TV meeting with the President Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia at the state house..

Her appearance from nowhere, comes at time there is a vacancy in the Presidium which was left last week by the former Vice President Kembo Mohadi, who was forced by his open zip to resign from the high office.

Mujuru was defeated by Mnangagwa in a fierce factional fight the two were running to succeed the late former President Robert Mugabe.

By A Correspondent | The ZB Financial Holdings group chief executive, Ronald Mutandagayi has issued a statement concerning the incident caught on video which shows him brutally assaulting and flooring his estranged wife, the same footage that he in an interview with ZimEye Sunday night, said is 2 seconds long. It is 13 seconds of full HD video.

He also said: “it is surprising that only two months later is when such footage is issued.” The footage as ZimEye reveals, and per his own admissions on Sunday night, was issued in January leading to his arrest.

He is currently in bail pending trial for wife battery.

ZimEye has conducted extensive investigations over the matter and we stand by our story.

Below was his full statement:

I have noted with regret that there is video footage circulating on social media suggesting that I assaulted my estranged wife. Whilst the circumstances of the event cannot be attributed to me alone, it is important in that regard to put the record straight.

The unfortunate circumstances surrounding the incident occurred on 2 January 2021 after three consecutive days of severe assault and harassment on my person. It is surprising that only two months later is when such footage is issued. The bona fides of such action is questionable.

Further, it is regrettable that the video footage only shows a certain portion of the incident obviously meant to sell a certain narrative. Nonetheless, I am mindful of my right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Since the matter is currently pending before the Courts, I shall let the law take its course.

By James Gwati-Former Vice President, Joyce Mujuru has bounced back and today visited President Emerson Mnangagwa’s wife Auxillia at state house.

The two appeared on a the state-controlled ZBC TV.

Mujuru was defeated by Mnangagwa in a fierce factional fight the two were battling to succeed the late former President Robert Mugabe.

She (Mujuru) was fired by Mugabe in 2014 on allegations of fanning factionalism within the ruling Zanu PF party.

Her ouster from Zanu PF came after the mysterious death of her husband Solomon Mujuru in 2011 who died in an inferno.

Zanu PF sources said Mujuru was murdered by Mnangagwa so that the former could weaken Joyce in the factional fight to replace Mugabe.

By James Gwati-Former Cabinet minister Ignatius Chombo is facing another fresh charge of grabbing land worth over US$10 million.

Chombo in the case is being investigated together with the former First lady, Grace Mugabe by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

ZACC also said Chombo faces another case in which he is alleged to have grabbed land worth almost US$1 million with three stands totalling 2,2ha allocated to three firms including Comverol Enterprises and Cavford Trading.

By James Gwati- The former President Robert Mugabe’s daughter Bona and son, Robert (Jnr) have been implicated in their Mother Grace Mugabe’s, US$10 million corruption charges.

The former first lady is being investigated by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission for allegedly grabbing state land.

According to ZAAC the former First Lady transferred to companies under the directorship of two of her children, Bona and Robert Mugabe Jnr, seven stands totalling just under 10,2ha which are part of the US$10 million worth of land.

The Mugabe family according to ZAAC committed the alleged offence during the hight of the Zanu PF’s G-40 and Lacoste power struggles.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission which is investigating Grace said, Arosume Property Development (Pvt) Limited were appointed as developers for the land on Carrick Creagh Estate allocated to Sally Mugabe Housing Cooperative in 2005 and have now lodged complaints with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the President’s Office.

By James Gwati- The former First Lady Grace Mugabe, is being investigated in a case in which she is being accused of grabbing land worth US$10 million.

According to the state media, the late Robert Mugabe’s wife committed the alleged offence during the hight of the Zanu PF’s G-40 and Lacoste power struggles.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission which is investigating Grace said, Arosume Property Development (Pvt) Limited were appointed as developers for the land on Carrick Creagh Estate allocated to Sally Mugabe Housing Cooperative in 2005 and have now lodged complaints with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the President’s Office.

Tinashe Sambiri|Women are the society’s backbone, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

According to President Chamisa, women’s capacity to lead is incredible:

Below is President Chamisa’s statement on International Women’s Day:

Thankful to all women who strive and fight to make a difference and make our nation great.

Women’s capacity to organize,lead and achieve is incredible.

Women are society’s backbone,nation builders who carry and sustain societies to create an equal future..#InternationalWomensDay…

Last Friday, I attended a high-level meeting on the Chilonga Irrigation Project in Chiredzi following the hue and cry on this terribly misunderstood and much maligned community irrigation project which is one of several planned by the government this year.

The Chilonga project runs contemporaneously with Bulawayo Kraal, already quietly underway; Kanyemba which is at land clearance stage; Gwaai/Shangani which is still on the drawing board as dam construction resumes for completion by year-end, and Marovanyati where land clearance continues with targeted establishment of maiden crop this coming winter.

The primary law, the Communal Lands Act, does not permit displacement of communities for purposes of establishing a crop. What it provides for is reorganisation and re-planning of communal human settlements to allow for irrigated land use. This is central to understanding what is set to happen in all the projects itemised above. And reorganisation and/or replanning is not the same as eviction or displacement which, quite apart from not being provided for under the relevant law, is not in accord with government policy.

Apart from sugar cane growing, Chiredzi does livestock mainly. The planned massive communal irrigation programme for Chiredzi, which augments the already revived and thriving Chilonga Irrigation Project, is founded on twin objectives of introducing an irrigated cropping programme which is climate-proofed; and transforming livestock farming all-round. Both objectives entail reorganisation and replanning of affected areas to ensure blocks are arranged for cropping, livestock, feedstock growing and human settlement.

Facts on the ground show very few households stand to be affected by this new thrust, huge swathes of which land fall within unutilised zones. The few households which may be affected only get so affected in the sense of being resited as already indicated, all at government expense and for improved rural housing. The lucerne project about which there has been so much noise, supports the new, expanded land use by and for those communal residents. Should the programme generate excess fodder, or decide to embark on commercial lucerne production as an outgrowers initiative, those options need not undermine title or security of tenure for our communal land citizens.

The above is the policy position which President Emmerson Mnangagwa has directed. Different teams and disciplines have been directed to look at all plans and instruments – the relevant Statutory Instrument included – to determine compliance with, and fulfilment of this iron-clad policy position. Should any aspect be seen not to cohere with that strict policy position, the aspect concerned will be changed or, if of a legal nature, amended, to fall in line with both policy and primary statute.

For the avoidance of doubt, the relevant Act does not allow designation of communal land for purposes of growing a specific crop or grass. I hope this clarifies the position and allays fears, while creating sound climate for execution of this much needed programme covering at least three provinces for a start, and likely to be rolled out in all drylands including those in Mashonaland East.

Lucerne growing is a small part of the development plan of the affected area. The plan is far-reaching and involves irrigation of over 200,000 hectares under thousands of centre pivots, all for crop, fruit and beef production. Those wishing to criticise the project do so by presenting it as a one-item affair which it is not. They also predicate it on the coming in of an outsider as a fodder grower, forgetting the bulk of the plan is state-involved and funded for the development of community and country.

In the coming days, there will be complete communication from the government, both by a comprehensive statement and a refashioned Statutory Instrument. The Statutory Instrument on paper is being re-examined with all sorts of possibilities. All those with throbbing veins on Chilonga will realise it’s all much ado about nothing!

Chilonga has become such a contested terrain, with indigenes who own and must profit from it getting mobilised and paid in order to defend interests they have not known or understood. Independence in 1980 scuttled a massive masterplan involving powerful global interests who to this day feel angry that our existence as an independent and sovereign state got their multi-billion-dollar enterprise up in smoke when it was still on the drawing board. Sanctions against Zimbabwe are largely coming from upset interests active in this area. From as far back as the 1950s, the Master Plan for Chiredzi had been drawn, not as a Rhodesian-only proposition, but as a global proposition on which key global interests converged. Often, we are very, very superficial in our grasp of what we are up against.

I call it grievance shopping. Chiredzi will be transformed. We will not retreat. Never again will this land beg for food. Never!

George Charamba is the spokesman for the Zimbabwe presidency

ZimEye will be livestreaming the press conference.

watch the live video loading below…….

Refresh this page for latest details.

By A Correspondent- The Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) joins the world in celebrating International Women’s Day. This year’s theme, “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World” recognises women’s achievements in the political, economic, and social spheres while calling for gender equality.

Women are at the front line of the crisis as health care workers, primary caregivers in the home, community organisers, and some as leaders in organisations and institutions fighting the pandemic.

Women are playing a significant role at national and community levels in promoting equality in the field of human rights and access to justice.

The role that women are playing demonstrates their ability to lead in all sectors of the economy. However, women continue to be excluded from key leadership positions due to social norms and practices that discriminate against them.

The COVID 19 pandemic has reversed the gains made in the fight against gender inequality following the economic disruptions which have resulted in job losses with women disproportionately affected.

Reports indicate that women who constitute two-fifths of the labour force globally have suffered more than half of the total job losses.

Women have had to carry the burden of unpaid work arising from the closure of schools and daycare services.

The pandemic has also seen girls dropping out of school due to pregnancies. Dropping out of school creates a permanent loss in human capital and reduces the chances of girls improving their living standards and making it into leadership positions.

While women are making significant contributions, they are also being disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Statistics show that there has been an increase in the number of reported gender-based violence cases by women since March 2020.

Restrictions on movement arising from the lockdowns have made it harder for victims to get the much-needed help.

The LRF draws attention to the need for the government and the private sector to put in places policies and programmes that will address gender inequality which has been worsened by the COVID 19 pandemic.

Programmes should focus on addressing the loss of employment by women as well as ensuring that girls who dropped out of school are given an opportunity to enrol and further their studies.

The LRF calls for a gendered response to the pandemic by the Government of Zimbabwe as it is evident that pandemics affect women and men differently.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said it has not resumed electoral activities despite relaxation of lockdown measures by the government.

Posting on Twitter, ZEC said they will deliberate on the appropriate time to resume the electoral activities while adding that they are busy conducting preliminary delimitation desk work.

“Contrary to some reports, the Commission has not resumed any electoral activities. As you may be aware, the current relaxed lockdown measures were announced on 01 March 2021 hence the Commission will deliberate on the appropriate time to resume the electoral activities.

“The commission is only conducting preliminary delimitation desk work. Some pilot ground work was conducted last year when lockdown measures were relaxed,” ZEC said.

ZEC has come under increasing criticism for not conducting by-elections to replace legislators and councilors recalled by a rival MDC faction led by Douglas Mwonzora.

Aspiring young Zimbabwean female politicians continue to face sexual harassment among several impediments in their quest to enter the political arena.

Zanu-PF Seke-Chikomba women’s quota Member of Parliament, Tatenda Mavetera says due to the patriarchal nature of society, men tend to exploit women before granting them political  favours.

“A big challenge (for us female politicians) is sexual harassment from the gatekeepers (men). I have heard a lot of women talk about this, this is one of the biggest challenges where you get men wanting to sleep with you and they think that is how they can give you a favour, or that they can manage you.

“Resources are also another challenge but we need women to occupy these positions so that we are not victimised,” she said.

Mavetera, one of the few young women in the National Assembly, applauded President Emmerson Mnangagwa for allocating seats to young politicians, saying the move was a positive step in ensuring participation of young people in politics.

She, however, said she hoped for a constitutional provision that allowed certain constituencies to be allocated to young women or young people to facilitate their participation in politics.

“We need to demystify the myth that politics is a dirty game or that for women to occupy certain positions it’s because they slept with someone.

“That is a very wrong myth and a very negative one which stops people from getting into politics.

“It then stops even a husband from allowing his wife to get into politics as they think their marriage will break.

“That is a very wrong perception which needs to change. I think we need more workshops, more women being encouraged, and more publicity when it comes to issues to do with women getting into politics.”

“They need to know, and get motivation that they can actually get into politics through meritocracy, you can actually go there through merit and that is what I have done.

“I never got to where I am because I slept with someone. I think as women, we need to take up these positions and not sit on the periphery and watch things happening.

“We need to be involved in these things because the moment we start participating, that is when we can economically emancipate ourselves out of poverty as women.

“As young women we can only be able to achieve this if we become focused. There is no change for us without us,” she said.

Mavetera, however, said acceptance and resources also hinder political participation of young women.

“We live in a highly patriarchal society and there are gatekeepers in politics that make sure you don’t penetrate.

“One other challenge that we have faced is acceptance, people are now used to having MPs that are a bit more mature than my age.

“For me, I have tried to occupy that space with dignity, integrity and also even making sure that people are able to respect you because of the way you carry yourself around being a female politician,” she said.

Womendeliver.org, in a 2018 assessment, said “over the last two decades, the rate of women’s representation in national Parliaments globally had incrementally increased from 11,8% in 1998 to 17,8% in 2008 to 23,5% in 2018.”

Zimbabwe, during the 2018 elections saw many young women taking up positions in the country’s political space.

A 2015 UNWOMEN report, detailing the 2013 elections said: “Women’s representation in the Parliament of Zimbabwe remains low at 35% following the last elections in July 2013. Female representation in the country’s 92 urban and rural councils still remains below 20% and the country’s new 26-member Cabinet has only three female ministers.”

Esteri Magaisa, a programmes officer for the Women’s Academy in Leadership Excellence said female youth participation in politics was low in Zimbabwe.

“While a high number of women in general participate as voters, the number of women in elected leadership positions continues to dwindle. In the 2013 constituency-based elections, women won 29 (13,8% of total) of the 210 directly elected seats; the figure dropped to 26 (12,3%) after the July 2018 elections.

“In the local government elections, the percentage of female councillors dropped from 16% in 2013 to 13,3% in 2018. In all this, there is no significant seat being held by a female youth,” she said.

Magaisa added: “On the other hand there is a quota system provision in the 2013 Constitution which allows for 60 free seats for women in Parliament.

“However, there is no clear provision on how to include young women in mainstream politics.

“Notable, are young women who are in leadership roles at party level, however, none of them has competed for and won political office at the national level.”

She, however, said there was need for legal reforms, which speak to the introduction of a gender equality quota at political party level with sanctions for non-compliance.

“The government should engage political players, especially political parties, to ensure that they actively involve and appoint more women in their political structures. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission could be mandated not to allow a political party which does not confirm to the quota system to register for any electoral competition.

“There is also need to legally protect women and girls active in political life against all forms of violence, abuse and sexism,” she said.

According to a UN report on Zimbabwe, “the participation of women in politics and in decision-making positions has continued to be a challenge for government.

Zimbabwe has a gender empowerment measure of 0,359 and it is ranked five out of nine selected Sadc countries according to the Sadc human development report.

Although there are no legal barriers prohibiting women from participating in public and political life, the number of women in politics and decision-making positions has continued to decline over the years.”

A gender analysis carried out by the Harare Residents’ Trust after the 2018 elections showed that out of the 86 women who contested in the 46 wards in Harare, only 12 won.

There are plenty of international conventions that are backed by domestic policies aimed at improving the representation of women in key positions to which Zimbabwe is a signatory.

These include the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw), the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Gender and Development Declaration which stipulates that countries must ensure that at least 30% women are in political decision-making by 2005, and 50% by 2015, the Convention on Civil and Political Rights (Ccpr) and the Beijing Declaration on the Platform for Action (1995), to mention a few.

The political landscape in Zimbabwe is still far from achieving what these conventions call for.-Newsday

FULL VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

By A Correspondent- A report by the Zimbabwe Peace Project  (ZPP) has exposed State security agents in the country as the worst violators of human rights in the month of February.

The report released on Saturday highlighted two incidents of brutality by uniformed forces and also stated that the incidents were downplayed by authorities.

One of the incidents reportedly  occurred in Chipinge where a civilian was killed by soldiers after they accused him of being a Renamo bandit from neighbouring Mozambique.

“On February 27 2021, two soldiers, who were part of the troops operating in Chipinge, near the Zimbabwean border with Mozambique, allegedly assaulted a civilian to death. The details of the killing were kept under wraps and even as the body was taken to Chako Police Station in the area, police kept a tight lid on what transpired, in what was clearly meant to protect the assailants,” the ZPP report said.

“According to the information gathered by ZPP, the now-deceased allegedly got into a misunderstanding with one of the soldiers. The soldier then teamed up with a colleague accusing the now-deceased of being a member of the Renamo movement of Mozambique, took turns to assault him until he died.”

The report said the other incident which was exposed by NewsDay, pertained to the assault of two Beitbridge-based police officers who sustained injuries after they were allegedly assaulted on February 1, by army commandos deployed in the area.

The two police officers are Detective Sergeant Albert Gonye and Detective Constable Kurai Marongere of the Criminal Investigations Department. They were assaulted by soldiers while pursuing suspects believed to be stealing from haulage trucks.

“These two incidents, although appearing to be isolated, speak to the pattern observed in February, where some soldiers deployed across the country committed various human rights abuses targeting mostly civilians,” the ZPP added.

“The incidents also show the impunity with which the abuses were carried out as the perpetrators were not held to account and in both cases, the authorities denied that the incidents happened,” it said.

The ZPP attributed the violence on citizens by members of the uniformed forces to the lengthy lockdown period where the officers harassed citizens as they solicited for bribes.

“For the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the majority of violations occurred during the enforcement of lockdown measures, which the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) extended to the end of the month.

“Since people were required to have exemption letters in order to travel, and were supposed to wear masks, police officers took advantage of the fines, which were raised to as high as $5 000 of a level one offence, to abuse citizens caught on the wrong side of the law.”

ZPP last month recorded 221 human rights violations, 83 of which were harassment and intimidation of citizens, mostly by the police deployed to enforce the lockdown.

ZPP said there were two killings, two attempted murders, one abduction, 21 cases of unlawful detention and 35 others of assault, most of which were attributed to State security agents.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Four Murewa men have been arrested on allegations of killing a teenager who accused one of them of dating his girlfriend.

Leonard Jambwa (28), Jacob Maunde (28), Spencer Dube (21) and Adren Kugara (23) are assisting police with investigations following the death of Clever Muuduri (18), who they allegedly assaulted to death on February 28, 2021.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the incident.

“People should respect the sanctity of life and when faced with disputes, they must resort to peaceful means to resolve them,” Mwanza said.

It is alleged that on February 28, at around 3pm, the deceased and his father, Nhamo Muuduri (51) were drinking beer at a homestead in Zhakata village, Chief Mangwende area in Murewa.

The four suspects were also partaking of beer at the same homestead. The now-deceased reportedly picked a quarrel with Jambwa, accusing him of having an affair with his girlfriend.

A fist-fight broke out before the two were restrained by other patrons.  Jambwa reportedly left the homestead.

The now-deceased and his father allegedly followed and caught up with him at Dube’s residence.

The fist-fight resumed and Jambwa was overpowered by the now-deceased and his father.

Jambwa called for help from his colleagues who assaulted the duo with bricks. The four fled from the scene after realising that Muuduri had fallen unconscious.

A local teacher reportedly ferried Muuduri to Murewa District Hospital together with his father who had also been seriously injured.

Muuduri was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, leading to the suspects’ arrest for murder.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Former First Lady Grace Mugabe and a group of her associates are coming under investigation from anti-corruption authorities following complaints that they grabbed residential stands worth US$10 million without paying from an upmarket development on State land in Borrowdale.

Arosume Property Development (Pvt) Limited were appointed as developers for the land on Carrick Creagh Estate allocated to Sally Mugabe Housing Cooperative in 2005 and have now lodged complaints with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the President’s Office.

They allege that the former First Lady Grace Mugabe and then Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development Minister Ignatious Chombo used their political clout to transfer stands from the development to companies they controlled without paying for that land.

Zacc spokesperson, Commissioner John Makamure said the commission would investigate all reported cases of corruption without fear or favour, including the Carrick Creagh Estate.

“We are dealing with all suspected cases of corruption that have either been reported to us, that have appeared in the media or even on social media. We are determined to allow the law to take its course,” he said. According to a letter filed with Zacc, Grace Mugabe and Dr Chombo are accused of using undue influence.

“A tripartite agreement was thus entered into between the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Arosume Property Development (Pvt) Ltd and the Sally Mugabe Housing Cooperative. The object of the tripartite agreement is the development of upmarket residential stands of varying sizes at Carrick Creagh Estate, Borrowdale, Harare. To this end the ministry contributed land owned by the state whilst Arosume Property Development was tasked with the development of the area,” read the papers.

The agreement came with some regulatory and policy arrangements, such as the standard 20 percent of the land to be reserved as Government commonage as required on all developments where State land is privately developed.  

The developer negotiated that 50 undeveloped stands be transferred to Arosume before work started, due the risks involved in the scheme. But the bulk of development costs and profits would come when the stands were sold. But Arosume now alleges that some with political clout unprocedurally grabbed land from original beneficiaries and transferred the properties into companies and individual names without paying for them, reads the complaint, naming former First Lady Grace Mugabe and former Minister Ignatius Chombo. It is alleged that former First Lady Grace Mugabe transferred to companies under the directorship of two of her children, Bona and Robert Mugabe Jnr, seven stands totalling just under 10,2ha.

Companies and individuals associated with the First family that benefited include Farai Olivia Mushonganyika who obtained land worth US$364 000 without paying, Junior Gumbochuma for land worth US$544 000 (1,2ha), Penking Investment for land of US$812 000 and Montshow Investments for land of US$1,9 million.

One of the names appearing on the list is former MDC legislator Timothy Mubhawu, who is alleged to have received land worth US$432 000. Former Cabinet minister Chombo is alleged to have grabbed land worth almost US$1 million with three stands totalling 2,2ha allocated to three firms including Comverol Enterprises and Cavford Trading.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Rural female teachers under the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) and two other civic society organisations have launched a platform to pressure President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to guarantee them freedom of association and assembly.

This comes amid reports of an increase in government clampdown on female teachers after some of them were arrested and abused over illegal gatherings.

Last year, a female teacher from Masvingo, Sheila Chisirimunhu was arrested and brought to court for participating in a peaceful demonstration demanding a living wage.

Karen Mukwasi, director of Pada Platform, an organisation partnering Artuz and the Economic Justice for Women Project in the campaign, told NewsDay that their initiative would coincide with the International Women’s Day that is being commemorated today.

“We are commemorating International Women’s Day under the theme #ChooseToChallenge. It is impossible for women to challenge repressive systems if they are not free to associate and assemble. Women require safe spaces where they can advocate for their causes and fully participate in all democratic processes,” she said.

Mukwasi bemoaned the recent arrest of Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe and MDC Alliance activists Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, saying such arrests formed the basis of their demand for their rights to be respected.

“If women’s rights of association and assembly were to be guaranteed, Zimbabwe would have a better democratic space and improvement of social services as well as gender equality,” Mukwasi said.

Artuz vice-president Gaudencia Mandiwopera said female teachers were being victimised for associating with her organisation.

“Attempts to fight for labour justice, including the right to fully paid maternity leave and a decent wage are met with brutal repression from the State. Our intention is to open the democratic space so that female teachers can freely associate and assemble in pursuit of labour justice,” Mandiwopera said.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Former MDC Alliance deputy treasurer-general Lillian Timveos, who recently defected to Zanu-PF, has confirmed long-held fears that the ruling party was plotting to decimate the opposition party ahead of the 2023 elections after she claimed at the weekend that President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who she described as “my father”, had given her a “special task”.

The former MDC Alliance top executive was unveiled together with former MDC-T secretary for local government, Blessing Chebundo at State House in Harare recently.

“I saw it fit to come to Zanu-PF. It doesn’t make sense that the President (Mnangagwa) is from here (Zvishavane) and yet he has never won in this area,” said Timveos, a former member of the late MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai’s infamous “kitchen Cabinet”.

“That must change in 2023. Don’t be afraid that I am here for positions. My father, the President, gave me a task to do, so don’t be afraid that I am here for positions. I am here to work for the party, don’t worry,” she told Zanu-PF supporters in Zvishavane on Saturday.

Timveos, however, could not disclose the nature of the task given to her, but Zanu-PF sources said she had been tasked to divulge opposition party secrets and lure more top MDC Alliance officials to the ruling party ahead of the 2023 elections.

The former MDC Alliance Zvishavane senator, who until recently was part of Nelson Chamisa’s inner circle, added: “I say he (Mnangagwa) is the people’s President because of the way I was welcomed in Zanu-PF. You all know me and I am one of the people who thought Zanu-PF was bad and I was very afraid, but it only took phone call, phone call after phone call for me to be where I am today. I can’t say much, but there are people I came with from the MDC Alliance.”

Her remarks came shortly after former MDC Alliance Masvingo Central MP Jeffreyson Chitando last week claimed that Zanu-PF was planning to launch Operation Armageddon that would see it taking over service delivery tasks in all urban areas from the MDC Alliance councils as part of efforts to lure votes.

Zanu-PF national commissar Victor Matemadanda last week disclosed that they were targeting over five million votes for Mnangagwa in 2023.

This, he said, would be achieved by fishing from the MDC Alliance pond, whose leader Chamisa got over 2,1 million votes against the Zanu-PF leader’s 2,4 million in the 2018 presidential poll.

Matemadanda said they were expecting more defections from MDC Alliance in the coming few days.

“At that rate, we will reach 2023 with only five people or no one from the MDC Alliance. We are mobilising people even from MDC Alliance and all their formations, Mthwakazi and other parties,” Matemadanda told NewsDay.

Zanu-PF’s Operation Armageddon, according to Chitando, would see line ministries superintend over key services such as waste collection and water distribution in urban centres to portray the opposition as failures.

“Zanu-PF is in panic mode as the urban voter population is rapidly increasing, while the rural population is drastically decreasing,” Chitando told NewsDay.

“Operation Armageddon will see Zanu-PF taking over the service delivery of urban areas from the MDC Alliance councillors. The President (Mnangagwa) has instructed every ministry to identify areas of intervention in line with their ministries’ line of operation.

“Roads, housing, sewage, refuse collections, education and health will be taken from city councils and placed under line ministries,” he said.

Chitando further alleged that to ensure that the operation succeeded, the Zanu-PF plan was that Mnangagwa and various high-ranking officials would literally camp in urban areas where they would officially commission various projects in a bid to lure urban voters.

“Zanu-PF is coming to cities armed with Zinara (Zimbabwe National Road Administration)’s millions of dollars to repair roads and then they will blame MDC Alliance councillors for failing to maintain the roads,” Chitando said.

But Zanu-PF provincial political commissar for Masvingo Jevas Masosota rubbished Chitando’s assertions saying: “He is just hallucinating. It’s not Zanu-PF that neglected service delivery for decades.  Since the MDC took over councils in 2000 they proved that they were only good in talking.  They only got into councils for self-aggrandisement – nothing else,” Masosota said.

MDC Alliance officials said they were aware of the ruling party’s machinations to destabilise the opposition party through blackmail and “sponsored defections”.

“Zanu-PF is desperate and is using all sorts of tactics to derail the people’s project, but this will not work. They have tried everything they can to destroy us, but our power rests in the people not in those renegades they are parading as defectors. Zanu-PF has nothing to offer the people, hence they are engaging in these archaic tactics,” MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo said.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Baboons are terrorising businesses, residents and villagers in Victoria Falls by breaking into shops to steal foodstuffs and ambushing people and snatching food from them as well as “cleaning” maize fields.

A few days ago a baboon caused a commotion when it entered OK Supermarket and stole a packet of chips.

Despite frantic efforts to scare it away, the baboon tried to go in through the front door and later returned to enter through the roof and jumped into the shop through the ceiling.

The animals’ belligerent attitude has been attributed to hunger as they cannot find fast-food leftovers in rubbish bins.

Trash cans are always empty because of a lack of tourism activity and restricted operation of restaurants due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Speaking to Chronicle on condition of anonymity, some residents said the baboons had turned Victoria Falls into a “war zone”. An employee at one of the shops said:

We clean baboon poo in the office almost every day. I think they had mastered the lockdown business hours and would enter the shops once people knock off.

Lately, they have been breaking into shops even in the presence of people. They broke two window panes into our shop and have been sneaking inside and mess around before entering the ceiling.

Sometimes we see them peeping inside wanting to come in.

The Chronicle reported a source saying it is now risky to move around carrying food as the baboons can differentiate plastic bags from food outlets from those from other shops. Said the source:

Some now camp in front of Chicken Inn or OK shops and snatch whatever they see people carrying. One baboon recently caused a stir when it entered the OK shop, went on top of a butchery fridge before jumping onto a nearby shelf where it snatched a packet of chips and fled.

On another day they charged at a man who had just bought two pies and he threw them down as he fled.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has been urged to deal with the baboon menace as there are fears that the primates will disrupt tourism in the city.

Chief Whange said some villagers in Kasibo are staring hunger after their maize crops were eaten by marauding baboons.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- 76 Gweru’s Mtapa suburb residents who were arrested on Saturday during the funeral of an alleged victim of police brutality have been released after the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum offered them legal assistance.

The mourners were part of a group that was teargassed by police after dumping Tatenda Pasinyore’s corpse near the Monomutapa Police Station entrance where he was detained before being taken to a local hospital where he died. The Forum said in a statement:

The Forum offered legal assistance to the 76 mourners arrested during the burial of Tatenda Pasinyore who died after an alleged assault by police on 28 February.

The mourners were charged with breaking COVID-19 lockdown regulations and participating in an illegal gathering.

The Forum lawyers, on instruction from the arrested, engaged police officials and the charge was lessened to violating COVID-19 lockdown regulation. All the mourners were released after paying a $500 fine each.

Pasinyore passed away at Gweru’s Mutapa Police Station after he was brutally assaulted by police who had arrested him for violating COVID-19 regulations.

The family is receiving legal assistance from the Forum and is awaiting the results of a post mortem carried out on 4 March 2021.

Police arrested the mourners who had gathered outside the police station which is located along Gweru-Matobo Road.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police were forced to intervene as residents were violating COVID-19 lockdown regulations. He said:

According to the COVID-19 regulations, funeral gatherings are limited to 30 people. So we discovered that the people who had gathered for the funeral were exceeding 30 and police had to disperse people.

On the other hand, we realised that there were some civil organisations and purported human rights activists who had taken advantage of the situation so, police had to maintain law and order.

FULL VIDEO LOADING BELOW….