By A Correspondent- | MDC Alliance Youth Assembly vice chairperson, Cecilia Chimbiri has said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration will never crush the spirit of revolution.

Cecilia was speaking to reporters in Harare after being released from prison on Tuesday.

Cecilia, Hon Joana Mamombe and Netsai Marova are victims of relentless State brutality.

Cecilia said:

” We have gone through harrowing moments but our spirits are not crushed.Our message is clear- the struggle goes on…

We are prepared to die fighting for freedom.This battle is not about Cecilia, it is not about Joana, rather it is about the suffering people of Zimbabwe.

The regime is afraid of young people.The whole thing is meant to intimidate young people in politics.

The conditions in the holding cells are pathetic.Inmates are exposed to COVID-19 and no tests are being conducted,” said Cecilia.

Tinashe Sambiri| Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is using his surrogates to destroy genuine opposition, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

In a strong article published by a leading African publication, President Chamisa accused Mr Mnangagwa of lying to the nation after assuming power in 2017.

Mr Mnangagwa’s new dispensation is killing and tormenting opposition members in spite of promising to uphold democratic principles.

Below is part of President Chamisa’s article:

Here in Zimbabwe, we know all about false and misleading promises. When the current regime took power from Robert Mugabe in November 2017, it made grand promises including a new democratic dispensation, respect for human rights and re-engagement with the international community.

But it went on to do the exact opposite – disputed elections, violating human rights, and subverting democracy. Lately, it has been using surrogates to undermine and shut down the opposition. It has taken money due to the opposition and diverted it to its surrogates. It has facilitated the removal of the opposition’s elected representatives from Parliament and local authorities.

Africa cannot afford further corrosions of democracy in this decade. Government should be by the meaningful consent of the people. That consent is transferred through a transparent, free and fair election process. Consent that is coerced is not legitimate consent because it is not free choice. Election results that are announced when there are serious and glaring irregularities lack legitimacy.

The global community should not keep rubber stamping these illegitimate outcomes in the name of maintaining peace. The consequences of such ratifications are the continuation of exclusionary systems of government in the face of a demographic wave.

We have seen four elections in Africa that were compromised by the behaviour of incumbents and institutions meant to uphold electoral integrity. Unfortunately, those elections were sanitized by the global community even in the face of massive irregularities and patently unfair conditions of campaigning.

The following elections should not have been sanitized in any shape or form by the global community. The Zimbabwe 2018 elections, Mozambique 2019 elections, Tanzania 2020 elections and now most recently the Uganda 2021 elections.

These normalisations from the international community perpetuate a culture of unfair competition and illiberal democracy which is anathema to progress.

Let’s consider the Uganda elections, what the world witnessed throughout 2020 and in the final weeks of the election race was the blatant use of power by Yoweri Museveni to derail his opponent for President Bobi Wine:

• The killing of 55 protestors in November 2020 who were protesting after yet another illegitimate arrest of Bobi Wine on spurious grounds;

• The denial of accreditation to international observers which prevented robust scrutiny of the election. The American delegation of observers withdrew from observing the election noting that the election lacked transparency and credibility while a coalition of hundreds of civil society organizations noted that only 10 out of their 1900 accreditation requests had been granted.

• The deliberate internet and social media blackout which was intended to prevent the free flow of information in monitoring the election.

These tactics are not new to me or my fellow Zimbabweans. We have a government legitimacy problem because of a deeply flawed election in 2018. I have seen the Mugabe regime and now Mnangagwa regime roll out the same tactics all of my adult life. When we began the MDC in 1999, it was to fight this culture of despotism. Two decades later, we are still in the trenches, fighting a vicious regime.

Mugabe is gone, but his successor is just a different face with the same methods. As most Zimbabweans have experienced, to their great disappointment, nothing has changed.

Now the dictators are callously exploiting the COVID pandemic to strengthen repression. They have been clamping down on dissent and criticism. In Uganda, Museveni used the pandemic to prevent his main rival from campaigning effectively. In Zimbabwe, the regime suspended by-elections under the guise of fighting the pandemic, but it carried on with its political activities.

The Mnangagwa regime has been arresting opponents and journalists and throwing them into crowded and squalid jails, exposing them to the novel corona virus.

When our spokesperson at the MDC Alliance, Fadzayi Mahere left prison recently, she tested positive for the virus. By arresting her on the most spurious charges alongside journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and our deputy Chairperson Job Sikhala, the regime had deliberately placed her in harm’s way.

The problem is there is no robust peer review among the old generation of African politicians. Dictators that rig elections and use violence against opponents are given a free pass.

That’s what happened in Zimbabwe in 2018. It happened recently in Tanzania and now in Uganda…

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has dismissed reports that her government doesn’t know which vaccines to buy.

Minister Mutsvangwa said in addition to 200 000 donations from the Chinese Government, Zimbabwe has purchased 600 000 jabs from the same country.

Zimbabwe was now expected to dispatch an aircraft to China on February 13 to collect the vaccines, which were expected in the country two days later.

“The Government of the People’s Republic of China has extended a donation of 200 000 Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine doses. This vaccine, which has 76 to 86 percent efficacy, has been endorsed by the World Health Organisation and is already being used in several countries,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“This donation and an initial batch of 600 000 doses which the Government has purchased, are expected in the country by February 15, 2021, and the first week of March 2021 respectively. An aircraft will be dispatched to China no later than February 13, 2021, to collect these vaccine doses.

“Russia has donated some of its Sputnik V vaccines, with negotiations ongoing for the procurement of more vaccines. India has also promised to provide vaccines and Zimbabwe is expecting some vaccines through the African Union vaccination programme.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government had noted with concern, efforts by some mischief-makers to cause confusion and panic over Zimbabwe’s vaccination programme.

“His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa, when he declared the Covid-19 pandemic a state of disaster, said that Government would be transparent in its response and action plan against the virus.

“Government continues to work with the World Health Organisation and other partners as part of Zimbabwe’s response to this pandemic,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the Government had placed an order for the vaccine adding that key to the response plan, was science-based evidence on fighting the pandemic.

“Government has already developed a deployment plan, mapping the priority groupings for roll out of the vaccines. No one will be left behind in this fight against Covid-19,” she said.

Meanwhile, the world’s largest diamond producer, Alrosa, has pledged to buy vaccines for Zimbabwe.

The Russian mining behemoth, which accounts for almost a third of the world’s rough diamond production, has a 70 percent stake in Alrosa Zimbabwe with the remaining 30 percent being owned by the Zimbabwean Government through the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company.

Alrosa chief executive officer Mr Sergey Ivanov yesterday told international media that they would buy and donate the Sputnik V vaccines to Zimbabwe and Angola.

“We intend to provide dozens of thousands of vaccines to each of these countries upon their availability for export. Allowing for time needed to produce the vaccine, we expect first shipments to start from the second half of March,” Mr Ivanov told Bloomberg. -Herald/additional reporting

A village head in Mpofu area of Lupane, his wife and domestic worker are battling for life in hospital with severe burns after his grandson allegedly doused a three-roomed house they were sleeping in with petrol before setting it alight in an attempt to kill them.

Four other members who include the couple’s 23-year-old daughter and three grandchildren aged between seven and 10 years escaped unhurt following the incident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.

All household property comprising two beds, three wardrobes, a tv set, sofas, a generator, kitchen unit, decoders, clothes, foodstuffs, cellphone handsets, identity documents and various other items as well as US$1 000 cash was burnt.

The suspect Kholwani Donga who is in police custody after being arrested on Tuesday, reportedly accused his grandfather Mr Robert Donga (75) and grandmother Ms Angela Mpala (52) of being responsible for his father’s death.

Donga claims his grandparents bewitched his father leading to his death last month. Sources close to the happenings told Chronicle that Donga started having problems with his grandparents last week after consulting a tsikamutanda who told him that they bewitched his father.

He allegedly attempted to kill them last week on Thursday when he torched a two-roomed house but there was no one inside.

Donga allegedly made a second attempt on Friday and burnt a kitchen hut. Seeing that his two attempts had missed the targets, Donga allegedly armed himself with petrol around 1AM on Tuesday and doused the three roomed house where Mr Donga, Ms Mpala, their daughter Ms Ayanda Donga and her daughter Bandile aged eight as well as two other grandchildren Buhle and Andile aged 10 and seven were sleeping.

A domestic worker Praymore Sibanda aged 19 who was seriously burnt, was also sleeping in the sitting room.

The family had shifted all the property into the three-roomed house following last week’s fire incidents, unbeknown to them that Donga was not yet done.

Ms Donga said her father and Praymore were severely burnt and were transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital from St Luke’s Hospital in Lupane.

“We were all asleep when I heard a loud bang and my mother screaming and I discovered that the house was on fire,” said Ms Donga in a telephone interview. She said she quickly jumped out through the window and started rescuing others.

“I think he poured petrol in all the rooms. The fire started from the main bedroom where my parents were sleeping. I pulled the three girls out and that is when I saw him (the suspect) and I called him by his name asking why he had chosen to kill his own grandfather. He charged at me and tried to strangle me and he let go when my child screamed.

I rushed inside to rescue my parents and when I tried to pull my father, his skin was peeling off because he had been seriously burnt. My father had sold three beasts and all the money was burnt, nothing was salvaged,” said Ms Donga.

Lupane District Development Coordinator Mrs Ennerty Sithole who chairs the local Civil Protection Unit (CPU) said an appeal for help has been made. “We visited the family as CPU and have made an appeal to various stakeholders and some have started sending donations. The family remained with nothing and desperately needs food, building material, clothes, blankets and assistance with medical bills,” she said. Chief Mabhikwa of Lupane said the community was shocked by the incident.

“There are some reports coming through that the suspect accused his grandparents of witchcraft. This is a painful incident and sad chapter in our community because the family has lost everything while some are battling for life.

“We encourage people to solve disputes amicably without resorting to violence. This is not the right time to be running around because of the Covid-19 pandemic and we are grateful to those that have assisted so far,” he said.

Police could not readily comment on the matter. Donga is expected to appear in court soon. -Chronicle

This was early November 2017, just after Emmerson Mnangagwa had fled Zimbabwe on the 7th Nov.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe has purchased 600 000 Covid-19 vaccine doses from China’s Sinopharm, in addition to 200 000 China has donated, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa has revealed.

China last week listed Zimbabwe among the first three African countries that will get free doses of the Chinese vaccine, along with 11 other developing nations.

Mutsvangwa told a post-cabinet media briefing that the country will also take delivery of the first batch of the vaccines it had purchased from China early next month.

“The donation and initial batch purchased are expected in Zimbabwe by 15 February 2021 and the first week of March 2021, respectively,” she said.

She said Zimbabwe had also purchased an unspecified amount of Russia’s Sputnik vaccine, while India, like China, has also offered a donation and an option to purchase commercially.

Zimbabwe has also submitted interest to participate in the African Union COVID-19 vaccines program, the minister added.

The private sector will also support the Zimbabwean government through a formula that allows them to keep 50 percent of what they procure for their employees.

“The administration of the COVID-19 vaccinations in Zimbabwe will be on a voluntary basis,” said the minister.

The Zimbabwean government has said it will prioritize frontline healthcare workers, the elderly and other vulnerable groups in the vaccination program and plans to vaccinate 60 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity.

Zimbabwe has recorded 34,781 COVID-19 cases, including 29,289 recoveries and 1,353 deaths since last March.

Tinashe Sambiri| Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is using his surrogates to destroy genuine opposition, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

In a strong article published by a leading African publication, President Chamisa accused Mr Mnangagwa of lying to the nation after assuming power in 2017.

Mr Mnangagwa’s new dispensation is killing and tormenting opposition members in spite of promising to uphold democratic principles.

Below is part of President Chamisa’s article:

Here in Zimbabwe, we know all about false and misleading promises. When the current regime took power from Robert Mugabe in November 2017, it made grand promises including a new democratic dispensation, respect for human rights and re-engagement with the international community.

But it went on to do the exact opposite – disputed elections, violating human rights, and subverting democracy. Lately, it has been using surrogates to undermine and shut down the opposition. It has taken money due to the opposition and diverted it to its surrogates. It has facilitated the removal of the opposition’s elected representatives from Parliament and local authorities.

Africa cannot afford further corrosions of democracy in this decade. Government should be by the meaningful consent of the people. That consent is transferred through a transparent, free and fair election process. Consent that is coerced is not legitimate consent because it is not free choice. Election results that are announced when there are serious and glaring irregularities lack legitimacy.

The global community should not keep rubber stamping these illegitimate outcomes in the name of maintaining peace. The consequences of such ratifications are the continuation of exclusionary systems of government in the face of a demographic wave.

We have seen four elections in Africa that were compromised by the behaviour of incumbents and institutions meant to uphold electoral integrity. Unfortunately, those elections were sanitized by the global community even in the face of massive irregularities and patently unfair conditions of campaigning.

The following elections should not have been sanitized in any shape or form by the global community. The Zimbabwe 2018 elections, Mozambique 2019 elections, Tanzania 2020 elections and now most recently the Uganda 2021 elections.

These normalisations from the international community perpetuate a culture of unfair competition and illiberal democracy which is anathema to progress.

Let’s consider the Uganda elections, what the world witnessed throughout 2020 and in the final weeks of the election race was the blatant use of power by Yoweri Museveni to derail his opponent for President Bobi Wine:

• The killing of 55 protestors in November 2020 who were protesting after yet another illegitimate arrest of Bobi Wine on spurious grounds;

• The denial of accreditation to international observers which prevented robust scrutiny of the election. The American delegation of observers withdrew from observing the election noting that the election lacked transparency and credibility while a coalition of hundreds of civil society organizations noted that only 10 out of their 1900 accreditation requests had been granted.

• The deliberate internet and social media blackout which was intended to prevent the free flow of information in monitoring the election.

These tactics are not new to me or my fellow Zimbabweans. We have a government legitimacy problem because of a deeply flawed election in 2018. I have seen the Mugabe regime and now Mnangagwa regime roll out the same tactics all of my adult life. When we began the MDC in 1999, it was to fight this culture of despotism. Two decades later, we are still in the trenches, fighting a vicious regime.

Mugabe is gone, but his successor is just a different face with the same methods. As most Zimbabweans have experienced, to their great disappointment, nothing has changed.

Now the dictators are callously exploiting the COVID pandemic to strengthen repression. They have been clamping down on dissent and criticism. In Uganda, Museveni used the pandemic to prevent his main rival from campaigning effectively. In Zimbabwe, the regime suspended by-elections under the guise of fighting the pandemic, but it carried on with its political activities.

The Mnangagwa regime has been arresting opponents and journalists and throwing them into crowded and squalid jails, exposing them to the novel corona virus.

When our spokesperson at the MDC Alliance, Fadzayi Mahere left prison recently, she tested positive for the virus. By arresting her on the most spurious charges alongside journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and our deputy Chairperson Job Sikhala, the regime had deliberately placed her in harm’s way.

The problem is there is no robust peer review among the old generation of African politicians. Dictators that rig elections and use violence against opponents are given a free pass.

That’s what happened in Zimbabwe in 2018. It happened recently in Tanzania and now in Uganda…

Tinashe Sambiri| Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is using his surrogates to destroy genuine opposition, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

In a strong article published by a leading African publication, President Chamisa accused Mr Mnangagwa of lying to the nation after assuming power in 2017.

Mr Mnangagwa’s new dispensation is killing and tormenting opposition members in spite of promising to uphold democratic principles.

Below is part of President Chamisa’s article:

Here in Zimbabwe, we know all about false and misleading promises. When the current regime took power from Robert Mugabe in November 2017, it made grand promises including a new democratic dispensation, respect for human rights and re-engagement with the international community.

But it went on to do the exact opposite – disputed elections, violating human rights, and subverting democracy. Lately, it has been using surrogates to undermine and shut down the opposition. It has taken money due to the opposition and diverted it to its surrogates. It has facilitated the removal of the opposition’s elected representatives from Parliament and local authorities.

Africa cannot afford further corrosions of democracy in this decade. Government should be by the meaningful consent of the people. That consent is transferred through a transparent, free and fair election process. Consent that is coerced is not legitimate consent because it is not free choice. Election results that are announced when there are serious and glaring irregularities lack legitimacy.

The global community should not keep rubber stamping these illegitimate outcomes in the name of maintaining peace. The consequences of such ratifications are the continuation of exclusionary systems of government in the face of a demographic wave.

We have seen four elections in Africa that were compromised by the behaviour of incumbents and institutions meant to uphold electoral integrity. Unfortunately, those elections were sanitized by the global community even in the face of massive irregularities and patently unfair conditions of campaigning.

The following elections should not have been sanitized in any shape or form by the global community. The Zimbabwe 2018 elections, Mozambique 2019 elections, Tanzania 2020 elections and now most recently the Uganda 2021 elections.

These normalisations from the international community perpetuate a culture of unfair competition and illiberal democracy which is anathema to progress.

Let’s consider the Uganda elections, what the world witnessed throughout 2020 and in the final weeks of the election race was the blatant use of power by Yoweri Museveni to derail his opponent for President Bobi Wine:

• The killing of 55 protestors in November 2020 who were protesting after yet another illegitimate arrest of Bobi Wine on spurious grounds;

• The denial of accreditation to international observers which prevented robust scrutiny of the election. The American delegation of observers withdrew from observing the election noting that the election lacked transparency and credibility while a coalition of hundreds of civil society organizations noted that only 10 out of their 1900 accreditation requests had been granted.

• The deliberate internet and social media blackout which was intended to prevent the free flow of information in monitoring the election.

These tactics are not new to me or my fellow Zimbabweans. We have a government legitimacy problem because of a deeply flawed election in 2018. I have seen the Mugabe regime and now Mnangagwa regime roll out the same tactics all of my adult life. When we began the MDC in 1999, it was to fight this culture of despotism. Two decades later, we are still in the trenches, fighting a vicious regime.

Mugabe is gone, but his successor is just a different face with the same methods. As most Zimbabweans have experienced, to their great disappointment, nothing has changed.

Now the dictators are callously exploiting the COVID pandemic to strengthen repression. They have been clamping down on dissent and criticism. In Uganda, Museveni used the pandemic to prevent his main rival from campaigning effectively. In Zimbabwe, the regime suspended by-elections under the guise of fighting the pandemic, but it carried on with its political activities.

The Mnangagwa regime has been arresting opponents and journalists and throwing them into crowded and squalid jails, exposing them to the novel corona virus.

When our spokesperson at the MDC Alliance, Fadzayi Mahere left prison recently, she tested positive for the virus. By arresting her on the most spurious charges alongside journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and our deputy Chairperson Job Sikhala, the regime had deliberately placed her in harm’s way.

The problem is there is no robust peer review among the old generation of African politicians. Dictators that rig elections and use violence against opponents are given a free pass.

That’s what happened in Zimbabwe in 2018. It happened recently in Tanzania and now in Uganda…

By A Correspondent- Some informal traders such as tuckshops, vendors and other similar businesses are no longer accepting ZWL$5.00 notes.

A survey conducted by a local publication at Harare’s Mbare Musika on Tuesday revealed that the notes have effectively been demonetised by the traders.

Only the major formal retailers such as OK Supermarkets, Colcom and Farmer’s shops were still accepting the notes.

While it is not clear why informal traders have “demonetised” the ZWL$5.00 notes, the recent spike in black market rates could have made their use inconvenient as one would need about 20 notes to buy US$1.00. ZIMPRICECHECK.COM hypothesises:

We are just speculating at this point. The truth is that most vendors use the money to buy foreign currency once they are done selling their wares.

Money changers are refusing these notes so the vendors cannot dispose of them. To prevent further loses they simply refuse to take them. That’s like the kiss of death.

If sellers won’t take them the public won’t take them either and just like that the note is demonetised.

So why are money changers refusing the note? Well, it could be because with rates having risen again and prices with them, small notes just become a burden.

They are harder to count and transact with leading to errors and time wasted counting and double-counting.

They are also bulky making you a police target as they are harder to hide. So as with coins they just refuse to take them and just like that it’s over for them.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has been slow to act as far as introducing higher denominations is concerned and this has made transacting in cash a cumbersome exercise as one would need to carry around “bricks’.

Early this year, RBZ Monetary Policy Committee member, Eddie Cross, said that $50, $100 and $200 banknotes will be introduced this year to complement the $2, $5, $10 and $20 notes already in circulation.

By A Correspondent- A Madziwa farmer was killed by lightning on Monday after she had sought shelter in a tobacco barn

Moreblessing Kaminga (23) was fatally struck by a bolt of lighting while in the golden leaf barn.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the case.

“I can confirm a sudden death case in Madziwa where a female adult was fatally struck by a bolt of lightning while seeking shelter during rains in a tobacco barn,” Mundembe said.

Allegations are that the now deceased Kaminga was coming from the fields with her husband Staginet Nyamusara (30) when it started raining.

The couple sought shelter in a tobacco barn which was subsequently struck by lightning killing Kaminga on the spot.

Police warned people to avoid going to the fields during rains and avoid seeking shelter in unorthodox places including tobacco barns

By A Correspondent- MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora had been reminded that he should desist from discussing Party affairs with the media without authority from the Party.

Chalton Hwende reminded Mwonzora on Twitter.

Said Mwonzora:

“The Party @mdczimbabwe today wrote a letter to Senator Mwonzora reminding him of the need to desist from discussing Party affairs with the media without authority from the Party. Only the Party Spokesperson, the SG and the President are authorized to speak on behalf of MDC.”

By A Correspondent- The Anglican Church’s Diocese of Harare has appealed to congregants to help one of its bishops who lost five family members in a space of few weeks.

In a letter dated February 4, the Bishop of the Harare Diocese, Right Reverend Dr Farai Mutamiri, notified church members that Bishop Jonathan Siyachitema lost his wife Rosemary, the executive director of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe.

Mutamiri also revealed that Bishop Siyachitema’s daughters, Elizabeth and Rosemary, as well as brother, Reverend Fanuel Siyachitema, and sister, Mrs Judith Bindu, had all succumbed to COVID-19.

He wrote:

As your bishop I am, therefore, appealing to you that, we create a platform at the diocesan level, to pull our little resources together (chema) which we can handover to the family as the diocese of Harare.

This is to try and mitigate the financial challenges that go with the handling of funerals.

May you extend this appeal to guilds and individuals in our churches.

Mutamiri also consoled the Siyachitema family, assuring that they were in the church’s prayers and encouraged them to draw strength from the Word of God.

He said:

As a church, we pray for the Lord Almighty to give him the strength to hold on to his faith even in these dark hours of his life.

May God heal their broken hearts and bring that peace which passes all understanding throughout this sad and sorrowful phase in the family’s life.

May Bishop Jonathan also draw strength from the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 71.

By A Correspondent- A 62 year old man from Bulawayo lost US$11 000 and a pistol from a vehicle he had left parked while he did his shopping at Hillside shopping centre, police have confirmed.

Through their Twitter account, police said the man had left his female employee (28) in his vehicle whilst proceeding to a shop to buy food on 6 February.

Before the man returned to the vehicle, an unknown man approached the vehicle and told the employee that she was wanted in the shop by her employer.

Police said:

She then left the vehicle unlocked and went into the shop. The employer became suspicious on seeing his employee in the shop asking him why he had called her.

He rushed out to the vehicle and discovered that a laptop bag containing cash (USD11 000.00) and a pistol had been stolen.

By A Correspondent- City of Harare (CoH) has advised owners of illegal structures such at tuckshops to remove them before 18 February, or risk having them demolished by bulldozers.

In a notice posted on its social media channels this Wednesday, the Harare City Council (HCC) said it will soon embark on an operation to remove illegal structures, starting with Mbare high-density suburb and the move other areas. CoH said:

Council has noted with concern the re-emergence of illegal vending stalls and tuckshops on public spaces (road verges and open spaces) and on residential stands within Harare’s confines in contravention of section 24 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act.

For the avoidance of doubt, tuckshops remain prohibited and any person operating a tuckshop whether within their residential stand, on public open space or road verge is doing so illegally.

Those operating illegal tuckshops are advised to immediately cease the activity, remove the illegal structures being used for tuckshop purposes and restore the land to its intended and designated use.

Removal of illegal tuckshops and vending stalls begins in Mbare on Thursday 18 February 2021 and extend to other suburbs thereafter.

Residents are urged to get all their building stages approved and to commence construction work when their building plans have been approved.

Evidence on the ground shows there are residents taking advantage of the non-visibility of our Development Control and Building Inspectors due to COVID-19 lockdown, to engage in invasion of Council land and construction of illegal houses.

Those structures will be removed and offenders prosecuted.

By A Correspondent- Cabinet yesterday declared the country’s road network a state of disaster as most of the roads have become untrafficable following damage by heavy rains being received across the country.

The declaration would trigger mobilisation and the release of funds to attend to the damaged roads. In light of the heavy rains, Cabinet also warned citizens that the country is at high risk of being hit by floods among other natural disasters.

Presenting the first 2021 post-Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the poor state of the roads was affecting efficient service delivery countrywide.

“Following a presentation on the state of the country’s roads by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo, Cabinet noted that due to extensive damages to roads, some areas have been rendered inaccessible. This state of affairs had adversely affected socio-economic activities such as distribution of food, inputs and delivery of important services. Cabinet has resolved that all roads in the country be declared a state of disaster,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“The declaration would facilitate the release of resources for the repair and rehabilitation of all roads that require such works. The restorative works will cover all urban areas as well as the rural trunk roads. It will also pave way for the standardisation of quality roads under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development. The necessary legal procedures to give effect to the declaration is being worked on.”

She said due to the rains anticipated until the end of the rainy season next month, the public should be on high alert.

“People in malaria-prone areas should take necessary precautions, while those in flood-prone areas should relocate to high ground. Government will continue to institute measures to protect its citizens in the advent of natural hazards,” she said.

The minister said the rains have also exposed the irregular and dysfunctional settlements in local authorities which need immediate addressing.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government has set up a special taskforce to arrest land barons and officials who were involved in the illegal parcelling of state, municipal and private land to unsuspecting homeseekers.

Some of the homeseekers were allocated land where there are no services such as sewer, water and electricity which is expected with urban dwellers.

“Land barons were working in cahoots with corrupt State and municipal officers and fleecing unsuspecting home-seekers. Also evident is the widespread contamination of watercourses and water bodies, environmental degradation and the destruction of flora and habitats for fauna, and an emerging threat to public health,” said Minister.

She said Cabinet has created a team to correct the illegal settlement situation in urban centres while arresting culprits.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Some informal traders such as tuckshops, vendors and other similar businesses are no longer accepting ZWL$5.00 notes.

A survey conducted by a local publication at Harare’s Mbare Musika on Tuesday revealed that the notes have effectively been demonetised by the traders.

Only the major formal retailers such as OK Supermarkets, Colcom and Farmer’s shops were still accepting the notes.

While it is not clear why informal traders have “demonetised” the ZWL$5.00 notes, the recent spike in black market rates could have made their use inconvenient as one would need about 20 notes to buy US$1.00. ZIMPRICECHECK.COM hypothesises:

We are just speculating at this point. The truth is that most vendors use the money to buy foreign currency once they are done selling their wares.

Money changers are refusing these notes so the vendors cannot dispose of them. To prevent further loses they simply refuse to take them. That’s like the kiss of death.

If sellers won’t take them the public won’t take them either and just like that the note is demonetised.

So why are money changers refusing the note? Well, it could be because with rates having risen again and prices with them, small notes just become a burden.

They are harder to count and transact with leading to errors and time wasted counting and double-counting.

They are also bulky making you a police target as they are harder to hide. So as with coins they just refuse to take them and just like that it’s over for them.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has been slow to act as far as introducing higher denominations is concerned and this has made transacting in cash a cumbersome exercise as one would need to carry around “bricks’.

Early this year, RBZ Monetary Policy Committee member, Eddie Cross, said that $50, $100 and $200 banknotes will be introduced this year to complement the $2, $5, $10 and $20 notes already in circulation.

AN imbiber at a shebeen in Bulawayo allegedly ganged up with a friend and fatally stabbed their drinking mate for allegedly having an adulterous affair with his wife.

Peter Moyo (37) of Cowdray Park suburb had a misunderstanding with Ben Sibanda whom he accused of having an affair with his wife. The dispute degenerated into a fight resulting in Moyo ganging up with Robson Ndlovu who is still at large, and stabbing Sibanda on the head and right collar bone.

Sibanda died on the spot.

Moyo is facing a murder charge in connection with Sibanda’s death.

This emerged when Moyo filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.

Moyo, who is a self-actor, said it is Sibanda who confronted him during a beer drink at a shebeen in Cowdray Park and accused him of having an affair with his wife.

“The deceased was intoxicated and started accusing me of having an affair with his wife before he kicked my container of beer. Robson Ndlovu then struck the deceased on the head with a brick and he sustained injuries leading to his death,” he said.

Moyo said he left the scene and travelled to his rural home in Lupane.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube-Banda dismissed Moyo’s application, saying the State has a strong prima facie case against the applicant.

“The allegations against the applicant are very serious. There seems to be evidence linking him to the commission of this offence and in view of that, I find that the State has a strong prima facie against applicant,” ruled the judge.

“I am satisfied that it is not in the interests of justice to admit Peter Moyo to bail pending trial. Wherefore, the application must fail and accordingly, it is dismissed.”

In his bail statement, Moyo said he is not a flight risk, arguing that there was no evidence linking him to the offence which would induce him to abscond trial.

He is denying the charge, saying there were no compelling reasons warranting his continued detention.

For the State, Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza opposed the application, saying Moyo was likely to abscond given the seriousness of the offence coupled with the fact that his accomplice is still at large.

“After the commission of the offence, the applicant fled from the scene and was arrested the following day at Mbembesi Village in Lupane. Having skipped and jumped before the charges were put to him, there is real risk that upon admission to bail, he will abscond,” he said.

According to court papers, it was stated that on October 29 last year, Moyo, Ndlovu and Sibanda were drinking beer at a shebeen in Cowdray Park when an altercation ensued.

Moyo accused Sibanda of having an affair with his wife and the allegation did not go down well with the deceased resulting in a dispute. The misunderstanding degenerated into a fight during which Ndlovu beat up Sibanda. Moyo pulled out a knife and allegedly stabbed Sibanda on the head and right collar bone and he died on the spot.

Soon after committing the offence, Moyo and Ndlovu fled from the scene leaving the deceased lying dead in a pool of blood.

Moyo was arrested the following day at his rural home in Mbembesi Village in Lupane following a tip off.- Chronicle

By A Correspondent- Cabinet yesterday declared the country’s road network a state of disaster as most of the roads have become untrafficable following damage by heavy rains being received across the country.

The declaration would trigger mobilisation and the release of funds to attend to the damaged roads. In light of the heavy rains, Cabinet also warned citizens that the country is at high risk of being hit by floods among other natural disasters.

Presenting the first 2021 post-Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the poor state of the roads was affecting efficient service delivery countrywide.

“Following a presentation on the state of the country’s roads by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo, Cabinet noted that due to extensive damages to roads, some areas have been rendered inaccessible. This state of affairs had adversely affected socio-economic activities such as distribution of food, inputs and delivery of important services. Cabinet has resolved that all roads in the country be declared a state of disaster,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“The declaration would facilitate the release of resources for the repair and rehabilitation of all roads that require such works. The restorative works will cover all urban areas as well as the rural trunk roads. It will also pave way for the standardisation of quality roads under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development. The necessary legal procedures to give effect to the declaration is being worked on.”

She said due to the rains anticipated until the end of the rainy season next month, the public should be on high alert.

“People in malaria-prone areas should take necessary precautions, while those in flood-prone areas should relocate to high ground. Government will continue to institute measures to protect its citizens in the advent of natural hazards,” she said.

The minister said the rains have also exposed the irregular and dysfunctional settlements in local authorities which need immediate addressing.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government has set up a special taskforce to arrest land barons and officials who were involved in the illegal parcelling of state, municipal and private land to unsuspecting homeseekers.

Some of the homeseekers were allocated land where there are no services such as sewer, water and electricity which is expected with urban dwellers.

“Land barons were working in cahoots with corrupt State and municipal officers and fleecing unsuspecting home-seekers. Also evident is the widespread contamination of watercourses and water bodies, environmental degradation and the destruction of flora and habitats for fauna, and an emerging threat to public health,” said Minister.

She said Cabinet has created a team to correct the illegal settlement situation in urban centres while arresting culprits.-statemedia

HIGH Court Judge Justice Webster Chinamora on Tuesday 9 February 2021 ended the eight-day detention of Harare West constituency legislator Hon. Joana Mamombe and opposition MDC Alliance party youth leader Cecelia Chimbiri, who had been incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police
(ZRP) members and charged with undermining police authority.

Hon. Mamombe aged 28 years and Chimbiri aged 32 years, had spent more than one week detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after Harare Magistrate Stanford Mambanje on 4 February 2021 denied them bail when they appeared at Harare Magistrates Court.

In denying the duo bail, Magistrate Mambanje ruled that it is not in the interests of justice to release them from prison and that there is little reason to trust that they will not commit offences while on bail.

But on Tuesday 9 February 2021, Justice Chinamora set aside Magistrate Mambanje’s decision after ruling that he had erred and misdirected himself in denying bail to Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri.

Justice Chinamora ordered the duo to pay RTGS$10 000 each as bail money and to report once in a fortnight at Harare Central Police Station until their matter is finalised.

Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri were arrested by ZRP members on Monday 1 February 2021 in Harare’s central building district and charged with undermining police authority as defined in section 177(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act alternatively with hindering or obstructing a police officer to perform duties during a national lockdown as defined in section 11 of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020.

Prosecutors alleged that Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri undermined police authority by shouting and criticising law enforcement agents who were ferrying some police officers together with accused persons, who had been arrested for yet to be established charges. Prosecutors claim that Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri questioned the wisdom of police
officers in arresting people and putting them in a truck without observing safe distancing at a time when there is a risk of contracting coronavirus.

According to prosecutors, the conduct of the legislator and the MDC-Alliance party youth leader had the effect of engendering feelings of hostility towards police officers and exposing them to contempt and ridicule.

AN imbiber at a shebeen in Bulawayo allegedly ganged up with a friend and fatally stabbed their drinking mate for allegedly having an adulterous affair with his wife.

Peter Moyo (37) of Cowdray Park suburb had a misunderstanding with Ben Sibanda whom he accused of having an affair with his wife. The dispute degenerated into a fight resulting in Moyo ganging up with Robson Ndlovu who is still at large, and stabbing Sibanda on the head and right collar bone.

Sibanda died on the spot.

Moyo is facing a murder charge in connection with Sibanda’s death.

This emerged when Moyo filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.

Moyo, who is a self-actor, said it is Sibanda who confronted him during a beer drink at a shebeen in Cowdray Park and accused him of having an affair with his wife.

“The deceased was intoxicated and started accusing me of having an affair with his wife before he kicked my container of beer. Robson Ndlovu then struck the deceased on the head with a brick and he sustained injuries leading to his death,” he said.

Moyo said he left the scene and travelled to his rural home in Lupane.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube-Banda dismissed Moyo’s application, saying the State has a strong prima facie case against the applicant.

“The allegations against the applicant are very serious. There seems to be evidence linking him to the commission of this offence and in view of that, I find that the State has a strong prima facie against applicant,” ruled the judge.

“I am satisfied that it is not in the interests of justice to admit Peter Moyo to bail pending trial. Wherefore, the application must fail and accordingly, it is dismissed.”

In his bail statement, Moyo said he is not a flight risk, arguing that there was no evidence linking him to the offence which would induce him to abscond trial.

He is denying the charge, saying there were no compelling reasons warranting his continued detention.

For the State, Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza opposed the application, saying Moyo was likely to abscond given the seriousness of the offence coupled with the fact that his accomplice is still at large.

“After the commission of the offence, the applicant fled from the scene and was arrested the following day at Mbembesi Village in Lupane. Having skipped and jumped before the charges were put to him, there is real risk that upon admission to bail, he will abscond,” he said.

According to court papers, it was stated that on October 29 last year, Moyo, Ndlovu and Sibanda were drinking beer at a shebeen in Cowdray Park when an altercation ensued.

Moyo accused Sibanda of having an affair with his wife and the allegation did not go down well with the deceased resulting in a dispute. The misunderstanding degenerated into a fight during which Ndlovu beat up Sibanda. Moyo pulled out a knife and allegedly stabbed Sibanda on the head and right collar bone and he died on the spot.

Soon after committing the offence, Moyo and Ndlovu fled from the scene leaving the deceased lying dead in a pool of blood.

Moyo was arrested the following day at his rural home in Mbembesi Village in Lupane following a tip off.- Chronicle

By A Correspondent- Some informal traders such as tuckshops, vendors and other similar businesses are no longer accepting ZWL$5.00 notes.

A survey conducted by a local publication at Harare’s Mbare Musika on Tuesday revealed that the notes have effectively been demonetised by the traders.

Only the major formal retailers such as OK Supermarkets, Colcom and Farmer’s shops were still accepting the notes.

While it is not clear why informal traders have “demonetised” the ZWL$5.00 notes, the recent spike in black market rates could have made their use inconvenient as one would need about 20 notes to buy US$1.00. ZIMPRICECHECK.COM hypothesises:

We are just speculating at this point. The truth is that most vendors use the money to buy foreign currency once they are done selling their wares.

Money changers are refusing these notes so the vendors cannot dispose of them. To prevent further loses they simply refuse to take them. That’s like the kiss of death.

If sellers won’t take them the public won’t take them either and just like that the note is demonetised.

So why are money changers refusing the note? Well, it could be because with rates having risen again and prices with them, small notes just become a burden.

They are harder to count and transact with leading to errors and time wasted counting and double-counting.

They are also bulky making you a police target as they are harder to hide. So as with coins they just refuse to take them and just like that it’s over for them.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has been slow to act as far as introducing higher denominations is concerned and this has made transacting in cash a cumbersome exercise as one would need to carry around “bricks’.

Early this year, RBZ Monetary Policy Committee member, Eddie Cross, said that $50, $100 and $200 banknotes will be introduced this year to complement the $2, $5, $10 and $20 notes already in circulation.

By A Correspondent- Cabinet yesterday declared the country’s road network a state of disaster as most of the roads have become untrafficable following damage by heavy rains being received across the country.

The declaration would trigger mobilisation and the release of funds to attend to the damaged roads. In light of the heavy rains, Cabinet also warned citizens that the country is at high risk of being hit by floods among other natural disasters.

Presenting the first 2021 post-Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the poor state of the roads was affecting efficient service delivery countrywide.

“Following a presentation on the state of the country’s roads by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo, Cabinet noted that due to extensive damages to roads, some areas have been rendered inaccessible. This state of affairs had adversely affected socio-economic activities such as distribution of food, inputs and delivery of important services. Cabinet has resolved that all roads in the country be declared a state of disaster,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“The declaration would facilitate the release of resources for the repair and rehabilitation of all roads that require such works. The restorative works will cover all urban areas as well as the rural trunk roads. It will also pave way for the standardisation of quality roads under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development. The necessary legal procedures to give effect to the declaration is being worked on.”

She said due to the rains anticipated until the end of the rainy season next month, the public should be on high alert.

“People in malaria-prone areas should take necessary precautions, while those in flood-prone areas should relocate to high ground. Government will continue to institute measures to protect its citizens in the advent of natural hazards,” she said.

The minister said the rains have also exposed the irregular and dysfunctional settlements in local authorities which need immediate addressing.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government has set up a special taskforce to arrest land barons and officials who were involved in the illegal parcelling of state, municipal and private land to unsuspecting homeseekers.

Some of the homeseekers were allocated land where there are no services such as sewer, water and electricity which is expected with urban dwellers.

“Land barons were working in cahoots with corrupt State and municipal officers and fleecing unsuspecting home-seekers. Also evident is the widespread contamination of watercourses and water bodies, environmental degradation and the destruction of flora and habitats for fauna, and an emerging threat to public health,” said Minister.

She said Cabinet has created a team to correct the illegal settlement situation in urban centres while arresting culprits.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance youth leader Joana Mamombe has undergone a Covid-19 test following her release from Chikurubi Maximum prison.

Mamombe who was incarcerated for ten days together with another party activist Cecelia Chimbiri, was released from prison Tuesday.

She said:

“I’m humbled and emboldened by the level of support that I received from ALL of you cdes, friends & family during our time in illegal detention. From Chikurubi Prison, we went straight for a Covid-19 test, results were negative for both myself & cde Cecillia R Chimbiri. Thank you so much Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights for the legal support. Struggle continues unabatedWe are not free until Alan Moyo is free, we will not tire! #FreeAlanMoyo“

Said the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights:

HIGH Court Judge Justice Webster Chinamora on Tuesday 9 February 2021 ended the eight-day detention of Harare West constituency legislator Hon. Joana Mamombe and opposition MDC Alliance party youth leader Cecelia Chimbiri, who had been incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police
(ZRP) members and charged with undermining police authority.

Hon. Mamombe aged 28 years and Chimbiri aged 32 years, had spent more than one week detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after Harare Magistrate Stanford Mambanje on 4 February 2021 denied them bail when they appeared at Harare Magistrates Court.

In denying the duo bail, Magistrate Mambanje ruled that it is not in the interests of justice to release them from prison and that there is little reason to trust that they will not commit offences while on bail.

But on Tuesday 9 February 2021, Justice Chinamora set aside Magistrate Mambanje’s decision after ruling that he had erred and misdirected himself in denying bail to Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri.

Justice Chinamora ordered the duo to pay RTGS$10 000 each as bail money and to report once in a fortnight at Harare Central Police Station until their matter is finalised.

Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri were arrested by ZRP members on Monday 1 February 2021 in Harare’s central building district and charged with undermining police authority as defined in section 177(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act alternatively with hindering or obstructing a police officer to perform duties during a national lockdown as defined in section 11 of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020.

Prosecutors alleged that Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri undermined police authority by shouting and criticising law enforcement agents who were ferrying some police officers together with accused persons, who had been arrested for yet to be established charges. Prosecutors claim that Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri questioned the wisdom of police
officers in arresting people and putting them in a truck without observing safe distancing at a time when there is a risk of contracting coronavirus.

According to prosecutors, the conduct of the legislator and the MDC-Alliance party youth leader had the effect of engendering feelings of hostility towards police officers and exposing them to contempt and ridicule.

HIGH Court Judge Justice Webster Chinamora on Tuesday 9 February 2021 ended the eight-day detention of Harare West constituency legislator Hon. Joana Mamombe and opposition MDC Alliance party youth leader Cecelia Chimbiri, who had been incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police
(ZRP) members and charged with undermining police authority.

Hon. Mamombe aged 28 years and Chimbiri aged 32 years, had spent more than one week detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after Harare Magistrate Stanford Mambanje on 4 February 2021 denied them bail when they appeared at Harare Magistrates Court.

In denying the duo bail, Magistrate Mambanje ruled that it is not in the interests of justice to release them from prison and that there is little reason to trust that they will not commit offences while on bail.

But on Tuesday 9 February 2021, Justice Chinamora set aside Magistrate Mambanje’s decision after ruling that he had erred and misdirected himself in denying bail to Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri.

Justice Chinamora ordered the duo to pay RTGS$10 000 each as bail money and to report once in a fortnight at Harare Central Police Station until their matter is finalised.

Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri were arrested by ZRP members on Monday 1
February 2021 in Harare’s central building district and charged with
undermining police authority as defined in section 177(b) of the
Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act alternatively with
hindering or obstructing a police officer to perform duties during a
national lockdown as defined in section 11 of Statutory Instrument 83
of 2020.

Prosecutors alleged that Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri undermined police
authority by shouting and criticising law enforcement agents who were
ferrying some police officers together with accused persons, who had
been arrested for yet to be established charges. Prosecutors claim
that Hon. Mamombe and Chimbiri questioned the wisdom of police
officers in arresting people and putting them in a truck without
observing safe distancing at a time when there is a risk of
contracting coronavirus.

According to prosecutors, the conduct of the legislator and the
MDC-Alliance party youth leader had the effect of engendering feelings
of hostility towards police officers and exposing them to contempt and
ridicule.

Tinashe Sambiri| Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is using his surrogates to destroy genuine opposition, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

In a strong article published by a leading African publication, President Chamisa accused Mr Mnangagwa of lying to the nation after assuming power in 2017.

Mr Mnangagwa’s new dispensation is killing and tormenting opposition members in spite of promising to uphold democratic principles.

Below is part of President Chamisa’s article:

Here in Zimbabwe, we know all about false and misleading promises. When the current regime took power from Robert Mugabe in November 2017, it made grand promises including a new democratic dispensation, respect for human rights and re-engagement with the international community.

But it went on to do the exact opposite – disputed elections, violating human rights, and subverting democracy. Lately, it has been using surrogates to undermine and shut down the opposition. It has taken money due to the opposition and diverted it to its surrogates. It has facilitated the removal of the opposition’s elected representatives from Parliament and local authorities.

Africa cannot afford further corrosions of democracy in this decade. Government should be by the meaningful consent of the people. That consent is transferred through a transparent, free and fair election process. Consent that is coerced is not legitimate consent because it is not free choice. Election results that are announced when there are serious and glaring irregularities lack legitimacy.

The global community should not keep rubber stamping these illegitimate outcomes in the name of maintaining peace. The consequences of such ratifications are the continuation of exclusionary systems of government in the face of a demographic wave.

We have seen four elections in Africa that were compromised by the behaviour of incumbents and institutions meant to uphold electoral integrity. Unfortunately, those elections were sanitized by the global community even in the face of massive irregularities and patently unfair conditions of campaigning.

The following elections should not have been sanitized in any shape or form by the global community. The Zimbabwe 2018 elections, Mozambique 2019 elections, Tanzania 2020 elections and now most recently the Uganda 2021 elections.

These normalisations from the international community perpetuate a culture of unfair competition and illiberal democracy which is anathema to progress.

Let’s consider the Uganda elections, what the world witnessed throughout 2020 and in the final weeks of the election race was the blatant use of power by Yoweri Museveni to derail his opponent for President Bobi Wine:

• The killing of 55 protestors in November 2020 who were protesting after yet another illegitimate arrest of Bobi Wine on spurious grounds;

• The denial of accreditation to international observers which prevented robust scrutiny of the election. The American delegation of observers withdrew from observing the election noting that the election lacked transparency and credibility while a coalition of hundreds of civil society organizations noted that only 10 out of their 1900 accreditation requests had been granted.

• The deliberate internet and social media blackout which was intended to prevent the free flow of information in monitoring the election.

These tactics are not new to me or my fellow Zimbabweans. We have a government legitimacy problem because of a deeply flawed election in 2018. I have seen the Mugabe regime and now Mnangagwa regime roll out the same tactics all of my adult life. When we began the MDC in 1999, it was to fight this culture of despotism. Two decades later, we are still in the trenches, fighting a vicious regime.

Mugabe is gone, but his successor is just a different face with the same methods. As most Zimbabweans have experienced, to their great disappointment, nothing has changed.

Now the dictators are callously exploiting the COVID pandemic to strengthen repression. They have been clamping down on dissent and criticism. In Uganda, Museveni used the pandemic to prevent his main rival from campaigning effectively. In Zimbabwe, the regime suspended by-elections under the guise of fighting the pandemic, but it carried on with its political activities.

The Mnangagwa regime has been arresting opponents and journalists and throwing them into crowded and squalid jails, exposing them to the novel corona virus.

When our spokesperson at the MDC Alliance, Fadzayi Mahere left prison recently, she tested positive for the virus. By arresting her on the most spurious charges alongside journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and our deputy Chairperson Job Sikhala, the regime had deliberately placed her in harm’s way.

The problem is there is no robust peer review among the old generation of African politicians. Dictators that rig elections and use violence against opponents are given a free pass.

That’s what happened in Zimbabwe in 2018. It happened recently in Tanzania and now in Uganda…

By A Correspondent- A retired lawyer, Sheila Frances Jarvis and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) have taken Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi to court over publication of Statutory Instrument (SI) 25 of 2021, which approved increases in deposit fines which police officers at roadblocks have already begun to implement.

Jarvis and ZimRights also cited Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe and the Parliament of Zimbabwe as respondents.

In a chamber application filed at the High Court, Jarvis and ZimRights are seeking an interdict and declaratory relief in terms of order 32, rule 241 as read with section 85 of Constitution.

SI 25 of 2021, which was gazetted on January 25, published the fine increases.

Jarvis, through her lawyer Tonderai Bhatasara, said: “The standard scale of fines for levels four to 14 was doubled from the amounts specified for these levels in the preceding standard scale of fines, but was increased many-fold for levels one to three.

“Level one increased from $200 to $1 000, level two went up from $300 to $2 000 and level three was massively made 10 times what it had been, up from $500 to $5 000. Increases had been gazetted twice in 2020, as prescribed by section 141 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23]. Granting the police power to levy fines instead of referring a case to court applies only to levels one, two, and three the three levels which are most severely affected by SI 25 of 2021.”

They said police at roadblocks were not always satisfied with documentation produced by travellers and they demanded payment of spot fines instead.

“Consequently, the average citizen like me must pay in cash or risk arrest. Police have been ordered not to take any United States dollars or EcoCash or similar payment. Zimbabwean (dollar) notes are scarce. Even when a bank has these, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe limits it to issuing us with just $1 000 in cash each week,” she said.

Jarvis said SI 25 of 2021 was not issued in accordance with the law, hence it must be declared a legal nullity.

ZimRights executive director Dzikamai Bere also said since SI 25 of 2021 was not made in accordance with the law, it is a legal nullity, and violates section 56 of the Constitution.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Tempers flared this week over the poor 2020 Grade 7 results with teachers’ unions and Presidential spokesperson George Charamba blaming each other for the below par performance.

Charamba said better results would have been achieved if the majority of teachers were dedicated to duty.

He labelled some teachers’ union leaders “criminals” bent on tarnishing government’s image instead of promoting development of the education sector.

His remarks came after the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) and the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) heaped the blame on government, accusing it of neglecting basic school infrastructure and denying rural schools access to e-learning facilities.

They posted pictures of classroom blocks made of poll and dagga and said government should not expect pupils to produce good results under such an environment.

A total of 88 schools, mostly in the rural areas recorded a 0% pass rate, which resulted in some teachers’ unions attributing the high failure rate to government’s neglect of rural schools.

Most of the schools that registered a 0% pass rate are in the Matabeleland region.

Their metropolitan counterparts resorted to online lessons during the lockdown period, and fared better.

Charamba dismissed claims that the absence of proper infrastructure contributed to the poor pass rate.

“One lie which errant unions in the education sector are selling to us is a causal link between schools infrastructure and pupil performance. This is a blue lie. Some rural schools with good infrastructure delivered very bad results, thanks to their desultory teachers,” he tweeted.

“Others with modest infrastructure delivered some of the best results, thanks to their dedicated staff. Tell no lies Artuz, PTUZ. You are criminals!”

PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe could not take it lying down, challenging government to prove its allegations.

“If representing teachers and defending the interests of the poor is a crime, then surely we are criminals ready to be tried in a competent court of law. We are waiting for the trial date,” Majongwe sarcastically said in an interview with NewsDay.

In 2015, the Grade 7 pass rate was 38,3%, 2016 (42%), 2017 (44%), and in 2019, the pass rate dropped to 36,9% and it rose slightly to 37,11% in 2020.

Contacted for comment over the poor Grade 7 results, Primary and Secondary Education ministry secretary Tumisang Thabela referred questions to the ministry’s communications department, which, however, had not responded to questions from NewsDay by the time of going to print last night.

Meanwhile, opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa attributed the poor pass rate to what he termed “a bad and irresponsible government”.

Said Chamisa:

“It’s impossible to have good results from a bad and irresponsible government. Results are a reflection of input and support. We must address teachers’ conditions of service, have ‘SMART’ planning and funding. It’s a governance and leadership problem. We must fix it!

“The Grade 7 results reflect a lack of support and investment to the education sector over time. It shows skewed priorities by the government which is robbing our future generations.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Newly-appointed foreign affairs minister Frederick Shava has won the praise of exiled G40 kingpins Walter Mzembi and Saviour Kasukuwere despite being dragged online by critics, citing his role in the notorious Willowgate corruption scandal for which he earned a nine months’ jail sentence.

Shava was plucked from his posting as United Nations (UN) ambassador by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday and put in charge of the daunting portfolio following the death of Sibusiso Moyo from Covid-19 last month.

Mnangagwa made a handful other changes to his cabinet.

Critics objected to Shava’s new posting, raising his fraudulent history after being implicated in the Willowgate graft scandal in 1988 where he and other cabinet ministers were accused of buying cars and reselling them at overblown prices, raking in enormous profits and lining their pockets.

He was found guilty of lying under oath about the “feeding frenzy” and sentenced to nine months in jail but was saved by President Robert Mugabe with a pardon.

Still, former tourism minister Mzembi congratulated Shava on Twitter saying he possessed the requisite acumen and credentials for his new assignment.

“This is an appropriate appointment, he is an experienced diplomat with multilateral UN station and Sino geopolitical experience,” Mzembi gushed.

“Cabinet is not new to him, and he should hit the ground running. Congratulations to ambassador Shava.”

The former UN ambassador also earned praise from Kasukuwere who called him “a balanced and experienced diplomat.”

“He has the appropriate credentials to go with his new assignment and a matured approach to issues. All the best Dr. Shava, all eyes on you,” Kasukuwere tweeted.

But another G40 principal Professor Jonathan Moyo, who skipped the country and sought refuge in Kenya in the middle of the 2017 military coup, had a different take.

The political scientist viewed the appointment as a tribal-driven gambit by Mnangagwa to consolidate power while isolating his deputy Constantino Chiwenga and the military, which has a huge stake in the governance of the country.

“With this appointment and that of Felix Mhona as transport minister, General Chiwenga is now the only coup soldier remaining in Cabinet, which is now full of Mnangagwa homies!” Moyo observed.

Echoing a sea of critics, political analyst Dr. Pedzisai Ruhanya took issue with Mzembi and Kasukuwere for extolling a “fraudulent character.”

“Including his fraudulent history in the Willowgate scandal and the famous Justice Sandura Commission. Let’s not celebrate fraudulent characters convicted by the courts of law. We need a government of laws, not fraudsters,” critiqued Ruhanya.

But Kasukuwere defended Shava saying he was a rehabilitated cadre with a better ‘moral’ standing compared to some current cabinet ministers.

“No chief. Knowing what I know about the cabinet, he is better! He was punished and pardoned. He spent quite a long time as a backbencher and I will not judge him harshly seeing that he did show remorse and exercised extreme discipline over the years. He made a mistake and acknowledged his failings,” Kasukuwere added.-ZimLive