Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, has revealed that the regime is deliberately exposing opposition members to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Mahere has been subjected to degrading treatment while in custody and potentially exposed to Covid-19.

“There were no temperature checks or sanitisers at the police entrance.

No social distancing is observed in the waiting area or holding cells. No masks are available in the cells and cellmates had old masks.

The toilet was a pit latrine surrounded by a puddle of urine. There is no separation between the beds and toilet walls as well as privacy during menstruation.

A pungent smell exists because of lack of aeration. The cell blocks are small and seven inmates were crowded in each room. You have to walk barefooted and women take off their undergarments,” Mahere complained through her lawyer, David Drury.

By A Correspondent- Harare South district youth leader, Gerald Rutizirira, (35), was this week arrested for his involvement in the infamous US$2.5 million cash-in-transit robbery that happened in Gwebi last week.

Rutizirira, a land baron famed for his political activism in Harare South, is part of the eight-member gang which allegedly worked in cahoots with three ZB Bank cash-in-transit security personnel namely Nomatter Jonga, Matthew Simango and Fanuel Musakwa.

Zim Morning Post reports that upon his arrest, Rutizirira was found in possession of USS$ 96 100 and he had also bought a recently imported Toyota Hiace Omnibus which costs a minimum of US$10 000 on the market. Speaking to Zim Morning Post, a source that emphasised anonymity said:

Gerald is one of the cool land barons here. He was quiet and sold his stands in Ushewekunze area.

He always had challenges with double allocating stands but he was decent and I am shocked with his arrest.

The only time I remember when he had a near-violent confrontation was when he tried to overlap his land deals into Southlands.

A chief baron there called Bigman came here and made noise.

According to the police investigation officer identified only as Inspector Chipwazo, Rutizirira’s red Toyota Hilux double cab was used as the getaway car to transport the loot. Chipwazo said:

They loaded the cash in a red Toyota Hilux double cab which drove off with some of the accomplices.

It is further alleged that Rutizirira tried to conceal the crime by changing the colour of the getaway car to white but upon his arrest, the paint was still wet.

State, led by Linda Gahadzikwa opposed bail for the accused on grounds that the accused posed a flight risk and were likely to interfere with investigations.

Five of the accused were remanded in custody to February 17, while the other three were sent back for further detention.

-ZimMorningPost

Four people escaped death by a whisker after the plane they were in crash-landed on Wednesday morning in the Luunga area in Binga.

The Herald reports that the single-engine Cessna plane, registration number ZSIZG a C210, which is believed to have left Kariba Airport on Wednesday morning ceased mid-air at Chibuyu in the Luunga area of Binga under chief Sinakatenge about 180km from Binga.

The plane was headed for Sijarira Forests on the South Western shores of Lake Kariba when it crash-landed.

Sijarira Forests are a hit with wilderness loving tourists as they offer game viewing, fishing and swimming opportunities.

The four were rescued and transported to a camp in Sengwa for first aid before they were ferried by a boat to Rhino Camp and later transferred to a health facility in Kariba.

–statemedia

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, has revealed that the regime is deliberately exposing opposition members to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Mahere has been subjected to degrading treatment while in custody and potentially exposed to Covid-19.

“There were no temperature checks or sanitisers at the police entrance.

No social distancing is observed in the waiting area or holding cells. No masks are available in the cells and cellmates had old masks.

The toilet was a pit latrine surrounded by a puddle of urine. There is no separation between the beds and toilet walls as well as privacy during menstruation.

A pungent smell exists because of lack of aeration. The cell blocks are small and seven inmates were crowded in each room. You have to walk barefooted and women take off their undergarments,” Mahere complained through her lawyer, David Drury.

Four people aboard a single-engine Cessna plane are lucky to be alive after it crash landed in the Luunga area of Binga yesterday morning.

The engine of the plane, registration number ZSIZG a C210, which is believed to have left Kariba Airport on Wednesday morning ceased mid-air at Chibuyu in the Luunga area of Binga under chief Sinakatenge about 180km from Binga.

The plane was headed for Sijarira Forests on the South Western shores of Lake Kariba. Sijarira Forests are a hit with wilderness loving tourists as they offer game viewing, fishing and swimming opportunities.

They were rescued and transported to a camp in Sengwa for first aid before they were ferried by a boat to Rhino Camp and later transferred to a health facility in Kariba.

-State Media

By A Correspondent| Harare regional magistrate Lazini Ncube has denied journalist Hopewell Chin’ono bail.

In his ruling, Ncube stated that there was overwhelming evidence against Chin’ono as the child he alleged to have died from a police baton stick attack is still alive.

Ncube also stated that Chin’ono committed the current offence while on bail for other pending matters before the courts.

He was remanded in custody to 18 February for routine remand.

WATCH- Prison guards threaten to beat up journalist at Harare Magistrates Court @FrankChikowore @nickmangwana @InfoMinZW @ZUJOfficial @nafjzim @yojaZW @RSF_inter pic.twitter.com/Ig8ZByCePZ

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 14, 2021

My statement on the arrest of Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, Hopewell Chin’ono and Job Sikhala ?? pic.twitter.com/9H4fNhc3mX

— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) January 14, 2021

JUST IN: Magistrate Ncube denies @daddyhope bail after ruling that state fears that he will commit other offences while on bail are well founded.

— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) January 14, 2021

Prison Officer corks, aims gun at Journalist @FrankChikowore for taking Sikhala, Chin'ono video at court_ pic.twitter.com/nRMJPt0QYy

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 14, 2021

By A Correspondent- The government will soon deploy doctors to join the security services at roadblocks to screen motorists for COVID-19 in a move meant to flatten the curve.

The healthcare workers will also be mandated to advise security personnel to prevent from entering the city centre, those suspected to be infected with the coronavirus.

This was said by the vice-chairman of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on COVID-19, Amon Murwira, at a media briefing in Harare yesterday.

Said Murwira:

We have agreed that law enforcement should be combined with awareness and also screening. There will be some points where we will actually send doctors to screen people in a car to find out if people are clean and clear in terms of the disease, not only papers.

The papers do not tell whether you have COVID-19 or not, so we are increasing and tightening up the functions of our blocks. This is all in the spirit of protecting Zimbabweans.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister, Mike Madiro bemoaned the tendency by some motorists to circumvent security checkpoints to access the central business district.

Madiro said the police have taken measures to ensure that the central business district is completely sealed so that those trying to use unorthodox means are taken care of.

By A Correspondent – Power cuts being experienced in some parts of the country are not a result of load shedding but by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority’s (ZESA) lack of capacity to deal with numerous faults induced by incessant rains.

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda on Wednesday said the country was generating enough power and blamed power cuts on the common rainy season faults.

Falling poles, trees falling on overhead cables, water seeping into underground cables and lightning striking critical equipment are some of the reasons behind current power blackouts.

The extra work needed for fixing these faults has caused delays in some repairs and some areas have gone for days without electricity.

In Harare, areas seeing faults in the last few days include Warren Park, Kuwadzana, Mufakose, Good Hope, Cold Comfort, Tynwald, parts of Greendale, Strathaven and Marlborough.

Some of the affected have gone for more than five days without power, although some faults were fixed within one or two days.

Outside Harare, falling pylons near Glendale have seen a chunk of that farming area go dark.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, in its own statement said that during rainy seasons, there was a higher prevalence of electrical faults.

By A Correspondent- Three Harare-based Zimbabwe Republic (ZRP) officers were on Wednesday hurled before a Harare magistrate on allegations of mounting an illegal roadblock in the city centre and demanding a bribe from a motorist.

Norest Nyasha Chikore, Osivinda Maphosa and Prisca Nyadongo appeared before magistrate Judith Taruvinga on a charge of criminal abuse of duty.

The trio was not asked to plead and was, however, remanded on $2 000 bail each.

Prosecutors said the accused persons mounted an unsanctioned roadblock at corner Leopold Takawira Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue pretending to be enforcing traffic laws.

They then arrested a motorist, Anthony Hwingwiri, and demanded US$30 bribe.

The whole incident was being watched by officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) who promptly arrested the three police officers.

-newsday

Seven people, masquerading as Zimparks employees have been arrested while attempting to sell fake Rhino horns.

They were arrested yesterday (Wednesday) in Gokwe, a district in Zimbabwe’s Midlands province.

Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the arrest today on twitter.

Farawo could not immediately give the names of the suspects.

He said, “They are expected to appear in court soon. Zimparks managed to recover fake Zimparks ID cards.”

-State Media

Three Harare-based Zimbabwe Republic (ZRP) officers were on Wednesday hauled before a Harare magistrate on allegations of mounting an illegal roadblock in the city centre and demanding a bribe from a motorist.

Norest Nyasha Chikore, Osivinda Maphosa and Prisca Nyadongo appeared before magistrate Judith Taruvinga on a charge of criminal abuse of duty.

The trio was not asked to plead and was, however, remanded on $2 000 bail each.

Prosecutors said the accused persons mounted an unsanctioned roadblock at corner Leopold Takawira Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue pretending to be enforcing traffic laws.

They then arrested a motorist, Anthony Hwingwiri, and demanded US$30 bribe.

The whole incident was being watched by officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) who promptly arrested the three police officers.

-Newsday

After announcing that he was dumping MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa arguing that his party no longer exists, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has been accused of trying to trace his footsteps back to the ruling Zanu-PF party but the former Mwenezi East legislator has hit back at his critics saying he never resigned from Zanu-PF.

Bhasikiti was kicked out of Zanu-PF in 2014 on allegations of trying to remove the then President Robert Mugabe from power together with the Gamatox faction led by former vice president Joyce Mujuru.

Bhasikiti told TellZim News that people should understand that he never resigned from Zanu-PF but he did from the MDC Alliance.

“I was not kicked out of the MDC Alliance but I had to quit after realising that I could no longer belong to a party which does not exist. I supported Chamisa but since he no longer has a party, I decided to leave him.

“Now people are attacking my person saying I want to go back to Zanu-PF but I want to tell them that I never resigned from Zanu-PF.

“Everyone likes the old Zanu-PF which believed in the politics of gutsaruzhinji. Unfortunately, the current Zanu-PF has derailed from that principle and if they mend their ways I would support them.

“What I wanted was for MDC Alliance to become ideologically like Zanu-PF during its founding days but they have refused,” said Bhasikiti.

He said he was quitting politics and will focus on agriculture at his farm in Mwenezi where he says he is doing very well in maize seed and mango production.

“I am now doing politics of production. The people need to eat at the end of the day and I have decided to take it upon myself to feed the nation.

“We are now looking beyond politics and we want to utilize the land we were given. I am into maize seed and mango production. Our mangoes are being sold on the local market and we have exported some,” said Bhasikiti.

After the 2017 military coup of 2017 which downed Mugabe, Bhasikiti tried to find his way into Zanu-PF after pleading with the Zanu-PF Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) for readmission but he was turned down.

-TellZim

Partisian help of people who have been affected by Cyclone has started by Zanu pf members  in Mutare, dream house disaster.

Politics is now at play as Zanu members such as Moyo and Mrs Mpofu were given the task to write down the effected members.

Shockingly, they’re writing and giving Zanu Pf members leaving some MDC member s who were also affected.

From the begining, giving Zanu pf ward and Constitutional mandate to write down names of the affected victims is uncostitional and not accepted.

The truth is help is coming from Plan International and Welfare but Zanu pf is grabbing this opportunity to politicize the whole process.

Now they are distributing food to Zanu pf members only leaving MDC affiliated members. Plan International and welfare help is now said it’s from Esau Mupfumi, who is a Zanu pf candidate.

Through this, it’s clear that Zanu pf is stealing from the people.

It’s unfortunate that  Zanu pf government is taking the advantage of both lockdown and floods to manipulate and frog march people into bowing down to it.

If the government wanted to be fair enough, it was supposed to allow the recalled Ward Councillor and Constituency MP to also assess the situation and help the affected people.

The government must  not take advantages of  these disasters to put its candidates at limelight yet they have already failed.

Fanuel Chinowaita
Human Rights Defender and The Watchdog of the Community*

The #CIO's Counter Intelligence not only orchestrated the arrests of @advocatemahere, @JobSikhala1 and @daddyhope but also led the arresting teams. As such, the arrests have nothing to do with law and order. It's about political intrigue and #ZanuPF factionalism re: 31 July 2020! pic.twitter.com/QqELDjVfGw

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) January 14, 2021

81% of primary schools in Zimbabwe have no access to the internet while only 19% have, a status quo that is heavily stalling e-learning programmes in primary schools.

This was revealed by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) census of 2017.

The census methodology on access to the internet is defined as follows; access of an education institution to the Internet means the Internet is generally available for use by members of the institution at any time, regardless of actual use.

The census covered a total of 5 569 primary schools in Zimbabwe and of these 886 have internet access and 4 683 have no internet access.

According to the census, the following are the number of schools that have access to the internet by province; Harare 180, Bulawayo 101, Mash west 164, Masvingo 101, Midlands 77, Mat North 35, Mat South 43, Mash Central 33, Mash East 63 and Manicaland 83.

In an interview with Community Podium, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Hon Cain Mathema said Government seized with the matter and plans are in place to provide schools with internet and e-learning infrastructure.

 The minister acknowledged the herculean task of providing schools with e-learning facilities given the state of the economy.

“We are working to provide all our schools with e-learning facilities. It is not an easy task looking at the state of our economy but plans are in place” said Mathema.

Dr Themba Nyoni Director of Baobab Educational Assessment Centre said this is a serious worry that needs to be tackled by all sectors of society as a vast majority of learners (mostly in the rural areas) do not have internet access.

“Learners are encouraged to be active participants in their learning. Government has strongly advocated for Enquiry Learning – to develop a critical mind as opposed to development of robots through rote learning. The internet broadens the mind. It takes the learner to places where most of them would never physically reach.  It helps the learner to explore and be informed,” he added.

Nyoni further explained that the end game in education is to create an informed pool of workforce and entrepreneurs. He went on to challenge the private sector to chip in because it stands to ultimately benefit.

“ICT is the now and the future. It just makes sense that all learners should be conversant with this field so that we give them an equal footing and competition with their peers across the world. Government alone cannot tackle this issue. It should be compulsory for the private sector to put aside a certain percentage of their profits and contribute towards an education fund. They are the future beneficiaries and so they should invest right from the beginning at Primary school level” concluded Nyoni.

Former Minister of Education, Sports and Culture David Coltart said the insufficiencies in e-learning and in education in general have been exposed this year. It’s has been the worst educational year.

“The harsh reality is that the e-learning programme has not reached the vast majority of children in our country. The few private schools that have managed to implement e-learning programmes have been deficient in many respects. This is a crisis that has been exposed by COVID19. The government is not in a position to implement the e-learning programme which will benefit the vast majority of children. The investment in the physical infrastructure of schools is catastrophic, the fabric of our schools is falling apart”, said Coltart.

The National President of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Association of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) Obert Masaraure said the e-learning programme has become discriminatory and further divides the society into the ‘haves’ and have nots’.

 “We urge government to enhance the process of infrastructure development that allows for our primary schools to have access and availability of the internet to enhance e-learning”he added.

“In the interim, for rural schools we propose offline remote learning that ensures that rural children do not get left out as emergencies such as COVID19 pandemic have worsen education processes. Government should develop an education emergency response strategy in preparation for other foreseeable emergencies. Both parents and teachers must not only have internet access but also be capacitated to the internet resources” concluded Masaraure.

Mr Muziwandile Dube, a parent in Tsholotsho said that the absence or inadequacy of e-learning infrastructure does not augur well for learners in Zimbabwe and government must prioritise e-learning in primary schools in its budgetary allocations.

“Government should prioritise budgetary allocations for primary schools.”

Dube also made an impassioned plea to service providers to ensure that their services are affordable to primary schools

“Most primary schools in Zimbabwe rely on school fees which is paid in local currency which many ICT providers do not usually accept as they prefer foreign currency. Service providers such as Telone should review their prices downwards to make their services affordable for primary schools,” said Dube.

-community podium

By A Correspondent- A Bindura man was arraigned before a Bindura Magistrate Samantha Dhlamini facing a robbery case after he allegedly  assaulted, and stole from a man he suspected to be having an affair with his girlfriends. 

The magistrate Dlamini remanded Jezenga Mubaira (22) to 17 February 2021 on ZW$1 000 bail. 

Prosecutor Edward Katsvairo told the court that on 10 January 2021 at around 1600hrs at Gombamusa village, the accused met the complainant, Rufaro Chinyanga (20) and started accusing him of falling in love with his girlfriends.

Rufaro tried to explain but, in a fit of rage, the accused grabbed him by his t-shirt and started assaulting him with open hands and fists. 

The complainant’s hat, which contained US$53 fell down in the process resulting in the money falling too. 

The accused then took the complainant’s money and fled from the scene. 

Rufaro sustained a swollen face and was not medically examined. Of the robbed money, no amount has been recovered.

By A Correspondent- After announcing that he was dumping MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa arguing that his party no longer exists, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has been accused of trying to trace his footsteps back to the ruling Zanu-PF party but the former Mwenezi East legislator has hit back at his critics saying he never resigned from Zanu-PF.

Bhasikiti was kicked out of Zanu-PF in 2014 on allegations of trying to remove the then President Robert Mugabe from power together with the Gamatox faction led by former vice president Joyce Mujuru.

Bhasikiti told TellZim News that people should understand that he never resigned from Zanu-PF but he did from the MDC Alliance.

“I was not kicked out of the MDC Alliance but I had to quit after realising that I could no longer belong to a party which does not exist. I supported Chamisa but since he no longer has a party, I decided to leave him.

“Now people are attacking my person saying I want to go back to Zanu-PF but I want to tell them that I never resigned from Zanu-PF.

“Everyone likes the old Zanu-PF which believed in the politics of gutsaruzhinji. Unfortunately, the current Zanu-PF has derailed from that principle and if they mend their ways I would support them.

“What I wanted was for MDC Alliance to become ideologically like Zanu-PF during its founding days but they have refused,” said Bhasikiti.

He said he was quitting politics and will focus on agriculture at his farm in Mwenezi where he says he is doing very well in maize seed and mango production.

“I am now doing politics of production. The people need to eat at the end of the day and I have decided to take it upon myself to feed the nation.

“We are now looking beyond politics and we want to utilize the land we were given. I am into maize seed and mango production. Our mangoes are being sold on the local market and we have exported some,” said Bhasikiti.

After the 2017 military coup of 2017 which downed Mugabe, Bhasikiti tried to find his way into Zanu-PF after pleading with the Zanu-PF Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) for readmission but he was turned down.

-TellZim

FREELANCE journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Zengeza West constituency legislator Hon. Job Sikhala have protested against ill-treatment by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officers, who are discriminating them against other prisoners by bringing them to court while handcuffed and shackled in leg irons and defying court orders.

Although Harare Magistrate Lazini Ncube had ordered ZPCS officers to transport Chin’ono to and from prison separately from other prisoners to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus as the freelance journalist is a recent contact of some people who tested positive to coronavirus, the prison guards defied the court order and continued to ferry him together with other inmates.

Chin’ono’s lawyers Harrison Nkomo, Paidamoyo Saurombe and Gift Mtisi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) told Magistrate Ncube that ZPCS officers were defying a court order issued by Ncube ordering the prison guards not to handcuff or shackle the freelance journalist in leg irons.

Hon. Sikhala’s lawyers Jeremiah Bamu, Nkomo and Saurombe, who appeared before Magistrate Ngoni Nduna, also protested against the ill-treatment of their client, who was brought to court while handcuffed and in leg irons.

The lawyers protested that ZPCS officers were discriminating against Chin’ono and Hon. Sikhala as they were the only ones being shacked while other prisoners including those facing serious offences such as rape were not being subjected to such ill-treatment.

Assistant Commissioner Gapare from ZPCS will appear in court on Friday 15 January 2021 and respond to allegations of ill-treatment raised by Hon. Sikhala.

Chin’ono, whose application for refusal of remand was dismissed on Wednesday 13 January 2021 by Magistrate Ncube, will return to court on Thursday 14 January 2021, where a ruling on his bail application will be handed down.

Hon. Sikhala, who also had his application for refusal of remand dismissed by Magistrate Nduna, will return to court too on Thursday 14 January 2021 for continuation of his bail application before Magistrate Nduna.

Meanwhile, opposition MDC-Alliance party spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere will return to court on Friday 15 January 2021, where Magistrate Trynos Utahwashe will hand down his ruling on her application challenging the State’s bid to place her on remand on
charges of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act alternatively section 31(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Advocate Mahere, who is represented by David Drury and Andria Dracos of Honey and Blanckenberg Legal Practitioners and is assisted by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of ZLHR, was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members on Sunday 10 January 2021.

On Tuesday 12 January 2021 when she appeared before Magistrate Utahwashe, she raised several complaints against ZRP members, whom she accused of detaining her in squalid cells at Harare Central Police Station, which are not fit for habitation.

Advocate Mahere told Magistrate Utahwashe that suspects were not being subjected to temperature checks and were not provided with face masks while in detention cells.

The MDC-Alliance party spokesperson disclosed that detained women were not being provided with sanitary ware and there was no toilet paper in the detention cells which were reeking of stale urine.

Magistrate Utahwashe ordered the State to probe the complaints filed by Advocate Mahere and provide him with a report by Friday 15 January 2021.

By Wilbert Mukori- Zimbabwe has handled the corona virus pandemic like it has everything else the characteristic blundering incompetence. 

“Masvingo marked a record single-day increase in the number of Covid-19 cases on Tuesday (11 January 2021) as it emerged that the Province is operating with only a single isolation centre for the public,” reported the Masvingo Mirror.

“Health officials confirmed 98 new cases of the novel coronavirus out of 123 tests done on Tuesday. They also confirmed that four people died during the same day. 

“The cumulative cases in the province stood at 872 most of which are health officials. The national death toll is 446 as of yesterday.”

Zimbabwe has had very, very low corona virus cases and deaths up to now and we all know why – the country has not been testing anywhere near the level recommended by WHO and common sense would dictate. On many, many occasions Masvingo has reported zero cases and deaths only for one to notice the Province has not carried out even one single test that day. 

So there were 123 test and 98 came out positive. Of the 872 cumulative cases in the province we are being told “most of which are health officials”. These facts point to one thing – the Province’s test regime has been wilfully inadequate. 

By failing to test diligently many of the people with the virus were missed out and they continue to mix in society spreading the virus. And now the Province is paying dearly for it; the corona virus cases and deaths are soaring. 

“Masvingo is operating with Rujeko Clinic as the only working isolation centre for Covid-19 patients, forcing health officials to release most patients home for self-isolation,” continue the Mirror report.

“The province does not have capacity to deal with cases since it lacks ventilators as well as qualified personnel to operate the machines, putting patients at risk of dying,”

The problem of failing to test adequately and keep track of the virus is not only a Masvingo Province problem alone but is one replicated country wide. 

Some day, one of these fine days, Zimbabwe must carryout a through, no holds barred, investigation into why Zimbabwe had one of the lowest corona virus tests per capita in the world. And how much this single blunder contributed to the corona virus cases and deaths – many of which were missed from the official record – in the country. 

“Seri kweguva hakuna muteuro!” (We cannot bring back the dead!) so goes the Shona adage. Still, if we can learn the lesson why so many people have had to suffer and many have dead when by testing widely the suffering and deaths could have been easily avoided!

Zimbabwe was weak and feeble; socially, economically, politically and which way; at the outbreak of the corona virus and the nation has paid dearly for it. If we are to emerge out of this nightmare at all then we must learn the lessons that landed us in this mess. 

Zimbabwe must emerged out of corona virus pandemic a stronger nation than we were before the outbreak! 

By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo-

Context – In 1999, the then MDC leader and former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, whilst he was addressing more than 20 000 supporters in Rufaro stadium, called for the removal of the democratically elected Head of State, Robert Mugabe, so they say, and he said in his own words I quote ” What we want to tell Mugabe today, is that please go peacefully, if you don’t want we will remove you violently”.

This was regarded as treason charges, and immediately Tsvangirai flew to South Africa, where he addressed journalists, and called for the later to step down from office. We witnessed a number of episodes, where George Bizos flew in to assist Tsvangirai, after her was charged with treason, death penalty, if found guilty. 

Application
Politics was applied, and Tsvangirai was acquitted after a number of Heads of States, diplomats and other strategic people engaged the former Zanu PF leader. Tsvangirai went further to contest more than four elections, losing to Mugabe. 

Mutual understanding

In 2008, despite a run-off which saw dozens of opposition members being killed, the then MDC leader, and former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe signed a Global Political Agreement, which gave birth to an inclusive arrangement. Who thought Mugabe would share the same table with Tsvangirai?

Narrative :
1. Forgiveness2. Reconciliation3. Way forward4. Working arrangement

Context 

In August 16, 2017, Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema was dragged before the courts of Law, after being accused of wanting to overthrow a democratically elected Head of State, Edgar Lungu, after his motorcade failed to pave way for the Head of State.

The allegation attracted a death penalty, and he spent more than 90 days in prison. It took former Nigerian President , Obasanjo, Yoweri Museveni, Jacob Zuma, and many others to plead with Lungu to release the main opposition leader. 

Application

Hakainde Hichilema was acquitted, and the Judge made it clear that he had terminated the proceedings but their discharge was conditional. 

Narrative
1. Edgar Lungu and Hakainde Hichilema met at a church function and greeted each other
2. Lungu paved way for dialogue between his party, and main opposition party
3. Peace and tranquility was restored in the Southern Africa country

What is opposition?
1. A contrast or antithesis
2. Alternative
3. Designated Government
4. Check the excesses of the ruling party

Current Trajectory

We have the leading Journalist and filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono, St Mary’s Mp , Job Wiwa Sikhala, MDC Alliance national Spokeswoman, Fadzai Mahere, and Mayor of Harare, Advocate Jacob Mafume.

The non of our business concept :

Fun part of it, Jacob Mafume is number 2 in office, if it was in the Western world, Mafume would be moving around in an escort or motorcade. Do you know what number 2 means? Someone regarded with high calling, higher Office, and he is the second in command in Harare, he is the eye of potential investors. 

In the best interest

I’m not saying they are not guilty, my simple advice is you can use your Political influence to come up with a strategic plan to waiver this and peace must prevail in our country. The current picture and image of our country is not looking good

Thank You Shumba, thank You Murambwi, and once again thank You Mr President “

My two cents advice :
1. Get rid of toxic politics
2. You have a legacy to protect
3. You need to be remembered for something that is of importance
4. You need a neutral, Strategic Political advisor 
5. You need to engage Nelson Chamisa, despite your political differences

6. Bury the hatchet, and bring everyone to the table
7. We have a Political crisis, which must be resolved by all Political leaders
8. You need a sound Development Policy to give a proper direction of our country
9. Those giving you advice won’t be there, when something bad happens, they will throw Spanners on you

10. Exhaust on Strategic engagements with your political opponents
11. Accept constructive criticism
12. Remove bad apples around you
13. Erode bootlickers around you
14. You cabinet is not inspiring. 

15. Change within your cabinet is imminent. 

16. You have a lot of deadwoods in the current cabinet 

17. There must be a proper Economic Recovery framework to address the implications of Covid-19 pandemic
18. Set up a taskforce which is Inclusive of Corporate World, Business Community, church, Researchers, Development Practitioners, academics etc

19. Redirect expenditure towards Critical sectors of the economy

20. You are not being felt on the ground. 

Please take note of number 20 

21. Those around you or closer to you are feeding you with information you want to hear, and later discard you, make use of this opportunity to creat a LEGACY which will be carried in future generations

22. Last but not least, you will loose nothing by engaging Nelson Chamisa, and others on a properly constituted , structured dialogue process
23. Livelihood of people matters most especially during this Covid-19 pandemic era. 
24. You need an inspiring team around you. 

25. Looting in the public sector has gone to the extreme, and develop a Strategic Thinking Approach on Governance & Leadership to save your name 

Kindly be felt on the ground !!!

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking – ZIST, and he can be contacted at [email protected]

No to demolitions

The MDC Alliance is strongly opposed to the oncoming houses demolitions in Chitungwiza by the Zanu PF led central government, through the office of the Provincial Development coordinator, (PDC). He has used council officials to carry out such a heinous act in the midst of the rain season and the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly this has been done without the authority or a resolution of the council. A clear act of interference with the work of the council which is against the spirit and letter of devolution agreed upon by Zimbabweans in chapter 14 and section 274 of the constitution.

We consider this move in the same lenses as we viewed operation Murambatsvina and all the house demolitions inclusive of the most recent ones that happened in Budiriro, Ruwa et al; as inhumane, inconsiderate and evil.

Judging by the constitution of Zimbabwe and the numerous political manifestos in the run up to the last election, it is the government’s duty to provide shelter for Zimbabweans and nevet to destroy it. Citizens pay taxes only for purposes of development and not otherwise.

It is with utmost disgust that the ministry of local government is abusing state institutions and overriding MDC Alliance run councils to impose destruction of people’s homes. Sadly the illegitimate Zanu PF government is abusing the law to victimize all MDC Alliance Mayors and Councillors for standing with the people.

We are aware that land barons are Zanu PF offshoots and people are conscious that the technical wings of councils are controlled by the Zanu PF led central government and these two entities cooperated to fleece citizens of their hard earned money and allowed them to erect housing structures in full glare of the authorities only for them to declare these completely built houses illegal.

Many of our councillors have been arrested for standing with and for the people and is the reason why Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume is unjustifiably imprisoned and the same reasons behing the illegal recalls of our councillors.

We reiterate that the MDC Alliance is a party of the people, by the people, for the people and will always stand by the people in accordance with our social democratic ideology and the Smart Cities Agenda launched in March 2020 at the Smart Councils Festival by the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.

We stand with the people against housing demolitions.

Clifford Hlatywayo
MDC Alliance Deputy National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- A fisherman died on Thursday morning after being attacked by a crocodile while fishing at Lomagundi Lakeside in Lake Kariba.

Reports suggest that hippopotamuses tried to save the man from the reptile attack after he was snapped by a huge crocodile while fishing knee-deep in the waters of Lake Kariba.

The man, however, died several minutes after being retrieved. He had sustained a deep gush on the hand which was nearly severed from the body and a wound to the rib cage.

His body was taken to Kariba District Hospital mortuary.-statemedia

MDC Alliance legislator for Marondera Central, Caston Matewu, has urged the general populace to boycott Proton Bread after it emerged that more than 40 workers contracted the Coronavirus.

Earlier, we reported that authorities at the company were not taking serious measures to protect workers from the virus.

We present Matewu’s statement below.

BOYCOTT BUYING PROTON PRODUCTS UNTIL THEY SANITIZE THE BAKERY AND GET ALL EMPLOYEES TESTED FOR COVID BUY AT YOUR OWN RISK

*Proton Bakeries* – Do the right thing!!!!

It is disheartening to note that over 40 wokers at Proton Bakeries have contracted Covid 19 and yet the bakery still operates like nothing has happened.

I have been talking to various employees who say that they are still told to come to shifts and do thier jobs despite the spread of the pandemic at the workplace. Worse still most of these workers have not been tested. The senior managers are given risk allowance whilst the rest of the workers suffer. This is an indictment of corporate greed.

When a company puts profits over saving lives then you know there is something fundamentally wrong with their Directors.

Proton must immediately shut down thier plant for a week and allow ALL workers to be tested and disinfect all work stations. I will be promptly writing to the Ministry of Health and the local Provincial Medical Director PMD about the situation at one of our biggest companies.

By allowing Proton Bakeries to remain open they are now the biggest Covid 19 super spreader in our Town. The hundreds of people employed at the bakeries interact with thier families and the rest of the Marondera community therefore they have the propensity to diffuse this disease to the rest of the town.

I humbly plead with Proton Bakeries to do the right thing before the residents take it upon themselves to act.

Stay safe Covid kills

Hon Caston Matewu
Marondera Central
The People’s MP

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has abandoned the search for the bodies of four passengers still missing after an Isuzu double cab was swept off the low-level Gweru River Bridge on Sunday.

The vehicle and two bodies – the driver and a passenger – were pulled out of the river by the police sub-aqua unit and members of the Gweru Fire Brigade earlier this week.

The driver has since been identified as Tinashe Chiwawa, who was employed by Gweru City Council in the engineering department.

Chiwawa was buried yesterday in Gweru while the body of the passenger is still to be identified.

The vehicle was towing a mining compressor when it was swept off the bridge.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko yesterday told State media that an eyewitness told the police that he saw six people including the driver in the vehicle.

The eyewitness further claimed that three men got out to assess the bridge and one passenger said they carry on as the water was not deeper than the day before.

THE Civil Protection Unit (CPU) is on standby for evacuations in flood prone areas of the country after the Meteorological Service Department (MSD) warned that tropical cyclones and serious floods remain a real danger in the second half of the 2020/21 rainy season.

The weather forecaster predicted extremely heavy rains exceeding 30 millimetres (mm) in 24 hours to sweep across most parts of the country this week.

“Heavy storms, flash floods, flooding and tropical cyclones cannot be ruled out as the season progresses,” read an MSD statement yesterday.

Already, some dams in the country are spilling and rain continues to fall in abundance in a rainy season expected to end in March.

The ground is already supersaturated with water in most areas, so all rain water immediately becomes run-off and increases the chances of dangerous flash flooding countrywide.

The MSD had predicted normal to above normal rainfall in the 2020/21 rainy season owing to the La Nina climate pattern in Pacific Ocean, with improved rains expected across the Sadc region.

The weather forecaster said the country has recorded more than 300mm of rains so far across most parts the country, pointing to significant rainfall.

Normally from October to December the country receives subdued rainfall compared to the January to March second-half of the rainy season.- Chronicle

A KARIBA fisherman died on Wednesday morning after being attacked by a crocodile while fishing at Lomagundi Lakeside in Lake Kariba.

The man had seemingly been saved from the jaws of death by unlikely saviours, hippos, after being snapped by a huge crocodile while fishing knee-deep in the waters of Lake Kariba.

However, he died several minutes after being retrieved. He had sustained a deep gush on the hand which was nearly severed from the body and a wound to the rib cage.

His body was taken to Kariba District Hospital mortuary.-The Herald

ON 8 January 2021, Zimbabwean police arrested award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono at his home in Harare for allegedly publishing a falsehood or communicating false information which is prejudicial to the state.

After that police also arrested opposition leaders Job Sikhala and Fadzayi Mahere on the same charges.

This emanated from a widely circulated video on social media in which a police officer is seen quarrelling amid pushing and shoving with a group of people accusing him of striking and killing a baby with a baton.

The mother of the baby is also seen grabbing the policeman, with people saying the police officer had killed the child.

However, police say they later investigated and found out that the scuffle had indeed happened after the police officer had shattered a windscreen of a Kombi with the baton, resulting in the baby being hit by debris, but eventually the child did not die as initially feared by the mother and the crowd, and as later widely circulated by Chin’ono and others.

As a result, Chin’ono was arrested and is being charged under Section 31 (a)(iii) of the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act. This part of the law has since been repealed; it no longer exists.

A Constitutional Court judgment exists in the case of Constantine Chimakure and others (CCZ6 of 2014), ruling that the offence Chin’ono is currently facing is non-existent as it was struck off in 2014 as unconstitutional anyway.

This clearly means Chin’ono’s arrest is arbitrary and has no foundation at law.
Constitutionally and legally, he cannot be convicted on a law that does not exist and on something which is not an offence at law.

This means the police’s case against Chin’ono has no legal basis at all, not just because the law was repealed as it was unconstitutional, but also because the state – as the Constitutional Court ruled – cannot appoint itself and arrogate itself powers of being a monitor of truth.

That is not the function of the state. A state cannot and should not behave like an unruly class monitor – or bully-harassing journalists and citizens, prescribing to them what is true out there and what is not.

While freedom of expression and media freedom are not absolute – in other words they have limits – those fetters are clearly defined and articulated in the constitution and the law.

The grounds upon which freedom of expression and media freedom are legally restricted are spelt out clearly and unambiguously in the constitution.

This is because freedom of expression and media freedom are fundamental and critical, hence entrenched rights, and a cornerstone to the building of a free and democratic society, which Zimbabwe aspires to be.

Strong constitutional protection of freedom of expression and press freedom cannot tolerate the imposition of self-censorship on free speech and press through fear of arrests or lengthy sentences of imprisonment for offences of publishing or communicating false news, as the court ruled.

In 2000 the UN Special Rapporteur commented on false news arrests and issues saying: “In the case of offences such as publishing or broadcasting ‘false’ or ‘alarmist’ information, arrests and prison terms are both reprehensible and out of proportion to the harm suffered by the victim.” This is simply because a free press is the lifeblood of any democracy.

Journalists, of course, must always verify their stories first – in other words, uphold the ethics, values and principles of the profession- and check information before publishing, but this cannot be a pretext for police to arrest journalists arbitrarily and outside the law.

Journalism is basically a science of verification, yet arbitrary arrests are not the solution if and when journalists fail in their responsibilities and duties.

We urge law enforcement agents to do their job professionally and within the limits of the law, not to act arbitrarily, in as much as we urge journalists to be professional.

By arresting Chin’ono and other journalists arbitrarily, the Zimbabwean state will be contravening not just its own constitution, but also the African Charter for Human Rights, in particular Article 6 and Article 14, which Zimbabwe signed and ratified.

This means SADC and the African Union should always speak out against such violations of freedom of expression and press freedom.

We, therefore, note with dismay SADC and the AU’s silence at this gross violation of freedom of expression, press freedom and indeed human rights.

We further note that this is not the first time this has happened in Zimbabwe. Journalists have routinely been arrested and intimidated in Zimbabwe – for years.

It is not the first time Chin’ono himself has been arrested. It’s the third time in as many months.

By arresting and harassing journalists, the government is not only inflicting pain on the media practitioner concerned and sending a chilling effect across the media landscape but also damaging its own image irreparably in the process.

There is nothing to be achieved and gained by arresting journalists and indeed citizens in general, except damaging government’s reputation and making Zimbabwe appear like an authoritarian, rogue state.

Together, we can make Zimbabwe a safe place for journalists to work in and a better nation for all to live in.

ZINEF chairperson,

Dumisani Muleya.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

https://youtu.be/nGy0sfyvyoE

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance activist, Prosper ‘Kedha’ Mandaza has died.

MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has described ‘Kedha’ as the party’s unsung hero.

“An Unsung hero Prosper ‘Kedha’ Mandaza…

It has been a tough and rough start to the year.I have just received the sad news about the sudden passing on of a great believer and fighter for Change.

A young entrepreneur in the Car industry.

His close friend told me the brother was from Budiriro.

I’m also told he was muChinja wemhando. We salute such heroes of the struggle for a New Zimbabwe. Rest in Power Kedha,” President Chamisa said in a statement.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance activist, Prosper ‘Kedha’ Mandaza has died.

MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has described ‘Kedha’ as the party’s unsung hero.

“An Unsung hero Prosper ‘Kedha’ Mandaza…

It has been a tough and rough start to the year.I have just received the sad news about the sudden passing on of a great believer and fighter for Change.

A young entrepreneur in the Car industry.

His close friend told me the brother was from Budiriro.

I’m also told he was muChinja wemhando. We salute such heroes of the struggle for a New Zimbabwe. Rest in Power Kedha,” President Chamisa said in a statement.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has condemned the coordinated persecution of party members and perceived Zanu PF foes.

The persecution of perceived Zanu PF opponents is a reflection of desperate measures, according to Hon Biti.

Hon Biti also accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cornered regime of taking advantage of the lockdown to torment political rivals.

“It’s a sign of the times when a regime turns into a mass business the sorry exercise of human rights abuse .
The ongoing prosecution and persecution of Fadzai , Hopewell, Allan , Jacob and Job are desperate calculated actions of a doomed regime- hakuna Nyika yakadai,” said Hon Biti.

Tinashe Sambiri|The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe( MCZ) family has been plunged into mourning following the death of Senior Minister, Reverend Allen Matsikiti on Tuesday.

Reverend Matsikiti was stationed in New Highfield Circuit in Harare.

In a statement, MCZ
General Secretary, Reverend Dr Mujinga described Rev Matsikiti’s death as a terrible blow to the church.

Read statement below:

Sisters and brothers in Christ, it is with heavy heart that I announce the passing on of REVD ALLEN MATSIKITI who was stationed in New Highfield Circuit.

Rev Matsikiti died this evening(last night).

We are still waiting for the Clinical report and we will give you more details in due course.

MHSRIP

Revd.Dr Mujinga
GENERAL SECRETARY

Tinashe Sambiri|The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe( MCZ) family has been plunged into mourning following the death of Senior Minister, Reverend Allen Matsikiti on Tuesday.

Reverend Matsikiti was stationed in New Highfield Circuit in Harare.

In a statement, MCZ
General Secretary, Reverend Dr Mujinga described Rev Matsikiti’s death as a terrible blow to the church.

Read statement below:

Sisters and brothers in Christ, it is with heavy heart that I announce the passing on of REVD ALLEN MATSIKITI who was stationed in New Highfield Circuit.

Rev Matsikiti died this evening(last night).

We are still waiting for the Clinical report and we will give you more details in due course.

MHSRIP

Revd.Dr Mujinga
GENERAL SECRETARY

PROMINENT businessman and arts promoter Kudzanai Kangara was buried in Bindura on Monday. He died on Sunday after showing signs of Covid-19.

Kangara was 46 years old. His son Darlington could not shed more light since he was busy with funeral arrangements.

“It’s hard to swallow, I have no much time on the phone.

“I can confirm Mudhara will be laid to rest in Bindura on Monday (yesterday).

“Yes, it’s true he had Covid-19 symptoms. He had shortness of breath,” he said.

According to a reliable source, Kangara (late) was rushed to a private hospital in Chitungwiza after showing signs of deterioration.

“On Thursday, Boss Kangara was rushed to the hospital in Chitungwiza in an ambulance. “From that time he kept on deteriorating and he took his last breath on Sunday morning,” said the source. Kangara was not only a businessman in Bindura, but a father figure to the community.

Orphans, widows and other less privileged people benefited from him. An employee of Kangara Gold Buyers said his death was a loss to the family, community, Bindura and Zimbabwe.

“We have lost a caring boss and a father figure. He was not difficult to approach and he could listen to us anytime.

“He had an open door policy where every worker was able to approach and associate with him. “Takarasikirwa zvikuru and the gap will be difficult to fill. “We are still in shock, the year started on a bad note.”

Meanwhile, the arts industry has once again been plunged into mourning following the death of music promoter Kangara. Musicians who benefited from his generosity expressed sorrow. Gospel musician, Mathias Mhere said it was sad to lose someone like Kangara- H- Metro

By A Correspondent- A 43 year old Mashonaland East man is battling for life at Marondera Provincial Hospital after petrol was poured on him before being set ablaze by his ex-girlfriend following a misunderstanding over the contents of a peace order.

Paddington Chinyoka of Chibanda village sustained serious burns and is in a critical condition while his ex-girlfriend Margaret Muranduri (29) was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza yesterday confirmed the incident and urged the public to desist from violence.

“Violence is unacceptable and never should it be used as a tool to settle disputes. People should learn to find amicable ways to solve any misunderstandings,” he said.

On December 29, Muranduri reportedly called Chinyoka to come to her place and collect a copy of a peace order. Upon arrival, at around 11pm, Chinyoka allegedly turned violent accusing his ex-girlfriend of being harsh towards him because of seeking a peace order against him.

He allegedly threatened to burn the accused person using a gas cylinder which was in her room. The two reportedly fought after the complainant attempted to open the gas cylinder with the intention to burn the accused person.

During the scuffle, the accused person allegedly picked up a container with petrol, splashed the contents on Chinyoka and set the complainant on fire. Chinyoka was rescued by a neighbour who put out the fire before rushing him to Marondera Provincial Hospital. The matter was reported to police, leading to Muranduri’s arrest.

By A Correspondent- Four Chiredzi villagers, including a woman and her 11-month-old daughter, who were swept away last Thursday while crossing a flooded Mutirikwi River are still missing amid fears they were devoured by crocodiles.

Mutirikwi is ranked among crocodile-infested rivers in the Lowveld.

A search and rescue team combing the river in search of Kundai Chikwava (18), her daughter Shantell Hungwe and the Gambinya sisters — Tryphine (14) and Tamuka (7) — has failed to find the bodies, but some human body parts, including thighs and ribs, have been recovered and identified as the remains of Tryphine Gambinya.

The Chiredzi Civil Protection Unit (CPU) handed over the recovered body parts to Tryphine’s relatives and they interred them at her parents’ homestead in Village 8, Chiredzi North.

CPU Chiredzi chair and district development coordinator Mr Lovemore Chisema said besides these body parts, nothing else had been found in the search that has so far extended 7km along the Mutirikwi River and its banks.

“We have been doing an intensive search for the missing four persons who were swept away in Mutirikwi River and save for some human remains that were matched to Tryphine Gambinya, nothing was recovered by the search team that comprised the police and villagers,” said Mr Chisema.

“The search operation has been going on since Friday and we have since informed the national CPU about our progress to date after covering 7km along the river and there is unanimity that we have done our best.”

Mr Chisema said while the search had not yet been officially terminated, indications were that the missing persons would not be found and on the evidence of the recovered remains have probably been eated by crocodiles.

“We will still continue to undertake some isolated searches for the missing persons but we suspect that their remains might have been eaten by crocodiles because the river is heavily infested with the reptiles.”

Besides crocodiles, Mr Chisema said the search effort was also being hampered by the river’s width, and the extreme braiding of the water channels, making the search more complicated and cumbersome.

He paid tribute to villagers for joining the search party while reserving special tribute to companies such as Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe for lending a hand.

The four were swept away on Thursday morning after water levels in Mutirikwi River started rising rapidly while they were trying to cross from Ward 28 in Chiredzi West to Ward 16 in Chiredzi North constituency.

Four others Sarah Mhloro (33) of Village 8 in Marapira and her three other children Tracy (15), Belinda (12) and Talent (3) Gambinya were rescued by an Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter from an island where they were marooned on Friday afternoon.

Mhloro, who is also mother to Tryphine and Tamuka, spent more than 24 hours stuck on the island while waiting for help.

River levels rose rapidly when a weir along Mutirikwi filled and spilled following heavy rains, allowing the full flow of the river to flow downstream. That saw four people swept away while Ms Mhloro and her children were marooned.

The same AFZ helicopter airlifted three Chivi villagers from the Shindi area where they had been marooned on a huge rock along the Runde River.

Every year, several villagers lose their lives in the Lowveld while crossing fast flowing and rising rivers. Authorities and experts have begged people not to take a chance when rivers rise in flood, and find an alternative route or wait on the bank for flood waters to subside.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo woman was exposed as a paternity cheat after results of a DNA test showed that her child was not fathered by the man who she claimed was her daughter’s dad.

The bombshell came to light when Nkosilathi Ndlovu, a lecturer at Gwanda State University, who was disputing having a love-child with his ex-lover, Breater Gertrude Tayengwa Muvirimi, went for paternity tests at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Applied Genetics Testing Centre.

The Nust DNA lab has been operational since 2015 and it previously said 70 percent of paternity tests conducted at the lab had exposed some women as cheats.

Muvirimi from Entumbane suburb was demanding $6 680 from Ndlovu as monthly upkeep for her one-year and 11 months old daughter.

“In terms of the Maintenance Act (Chapter 5:09) I’m seeking to claim maintenance from the respondent Nkosilathi Ndlovu. I’m applying for maintenance in the sum of $6 680 for a child aged one-year and 11 months. I need money for rent, clothing and food. He is the father of the child and is legally liable to maintain as he is employed as a lecturer at Gwanda State University and earns $40 000 per month,” said Muvirimi.

Muvirimi claimed she was unable to cope with the financial demands associated with looking after the child since she was not employed.

“I am not working and I do part time jobs and getting 100 rand per day,” she claimed.
In response Ndlovu dismissed Muvirimi’s application saying he was not legally liable to maintain the child who was not his.

“We did DNA tests and I discovered that the child was not biologically mine,” said Ndlovu while tendering the DNA results.

The results read in part: “The alleged father Mr Nkosilathi Ndlovu is excluded as the biological father of the child.

“The conclusion is based on the non-matching alleles observed at the loci listed above with likelihood ration equal to zero. The alleged father lacks the genetic markers that must be contributed to the child by the biological father. The probability of paternity is 0%”.

Muvirimi however, disputed the results saying she was not present when they were released.

“I was not there when the results were out, so I don’t think they were done properly. I was surprised when police served me with the copy of the DNA results,” she sobbed.

In her ruling presiding magistrate Nomsa Ncube dismissed her claims saying the respondent has produced a paternity test result which showed that the probability of his paternity was zero percent.

Meanwhile, this claim around paternity discrepancy/fraud is not a new one in Zimbabwe. It has been reported before that more than 70 percent of Zimbabwean men may be taking care of children who are not theirs as cases of paternity fraud continue to soar in the country where mothers deliberately misidentify the biological father of the child.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A cheetah which had wrecked havoc in Beitbridge killing several goats and sheep was finally captured and translocated to Hwange national park.

This was revealed by Tinashe Farawo, the public relations officer for ZimParks.

He said:

“@Zimparks captured a cheetah which had killed 12 goats & 5 sheep in B/Bridge. It will be translocated either to Hwange or Gonarezhou. Officers still on the ground tracking the other cheetah which escaped.”

By A Correspondent- Former MDC MP for Chikomba Central and businessman, Moses Jiri has died.

Jiri died at Parirenyatwa Hospital last night.

Mash East MDC A provincial spokesperson Chengetai Murova confirmed the death to The Mirror. It is understood that Jiri has been ill for some time.

Jiri was MP from 2008 to 2013.

“We have lost a leader who was there when the situation was very difficult for the MDC. Go well great fighter, a true and committed cadre who never looked back. Mash East will never be the same without you, go well Gushungo,” said Murova.

— Mirror

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance activist, Prosper ‘Kedha’ Mandaza has died.

MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has described ‘Kedha’ as the party’s unsung hero.

“An Unsung hero Prosper ‘Kedha’ Mandaza…

It has been a tough and rough start to the year.I have just received the sad news about the sudden passing on of a great believer and fighter for Change.

A young entrepreneur in the Car industry.

His close friend told me the brother was from Budiriro.

I’m also told he was muChinja wemhando. We salute such heroes of the struggle for a New Zimbabwe. Rest in Power Kedha,” President Chamisa said in a statement.

By A Correspondent| 15 Prison officers tested positive to COVID-19 at Chikurubi Maximum security Prison and Chikurubi training depot while a senior officer reportedly died this morning from the pandemic in what raises safety questions of incarcerated MDC Alliance leaders Job Sikhala, Jacob Mafume and Fadzai Mahere as well as journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.

According to a prison source, Superintendent Nefasi in charge of Zimbabwe Prison Services (ZPS) police Harare province passed away this morning from COVID-19 and another Correctional Officer in charge of ZPS police is reportedly in self isolation at the prison barracks.

Harare Mayor, Jacob Mafume has been languishing in remand prison at Chikurubi maximum prison after the magistrates denied him bail, while Chin’ono, Sikhala and Mahere who were arrested on charges of publishing falsehoods are detained while their matter is being heard at the Harare Magistrates Court.

Mafume is reportedly ill with earlier reports indicating that he had COVID-19 symptoms.

Chin’ono is being kept in isolation but complained this morning that he was transported in a prison truck with over 60 inmates.

More to follow…

BREAKING: Miners Federation President, Henrietta Rushwaya granted $100,000 bail by Harare magistrate Ngoni Nduna, in the case she is accused of attempting to smuggle out 6kg of gold to Dubai through the RGM International Airport around the 26th October

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 13, 2021

Bail conditions imposed on Rushwaya allow her to roam around Zimbabwe anywhere in the country up to an 80km radius to any of the nation's borders.

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 13, 2021

VIDEO- "We are in chains. They are embarrassed that the world will see that": Job Sikhala reveals @JobSikhala1 #FreeFadzayiMahere #FreeHopewell #FreeJobSikhala pic.twitter.com/40Cgji3FyV

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 13, 2021

Some officials at Gokwe North District Hospital (GNDH) are in the habit of extorting large sums of cash from the patients who require their services.

Investigations indicated that corruption is mainly in GNDH’s rehab department which caters for physiotherapy.

The department which is manned by three rehab technicians, namely Simende, Mutede and Josephine reports directly to the district medical officer (DMO), Mr Chikara.

Our sources said, “this is where all the extortion takes place.”

Sources told Pindula News that at GNDH’s pharmacy rehab, sundries including Plaster of Paris (POP) and crepe bandages are always out of stock creating a conducive environment for extortion.

The source added:

For an adult patient with a fracture of lower limbs, it should cost them anything less than USD15 and for upper limbs, it should cost them less than USD10. Upper limbs should cost them less than USD10 while a fracture of upper or lower limbs should cost them anything less than USD10 for children.

Surprisingly, the rehab staff are charging adult patients more than USD40. For children, they are demanding more than USD30 and are pocketing the money.

The source said these underhand dealings have been going on for a long time now adding that the DMO, as well as others in positions of authority, were aware of the rot but were “silenced by the brown bottle.”

We got in touch with, Mr Emmanuel Mate of Nzungucherwa, Gokwe Nembudziya, one of the victims of the corruption at the health institution and he confirmed the allegations.

Mate said he went to GNDH on the 5th of Oct with a knee injury, had an Xray which revealed that he had a fractured knee.

He said Mr Mutede, whom he was dealing with said the patient needed a plaster and since his leg was swollen, a half plaster was the most appropriate.

Mate said:

They charged me USD20 for the plaster and sent me home saying I should come back 2 weeks later for review.

Two weeks later, I went back and they demanded another USD20 for the full plaster. The total was USD40, excluding costs for bandages and other small things. I was never given any receipt.

I went there a 3rd time and was told the full plaster was shaking so I had to pay an additional USD30 for the restoration of the plaster. I told them I don’t have the money.

Mr Mutede lowered the fee to USD20 but I insisted I didn’t have any money except for a little for transport.

Mate, who said his leg was swollen and could not walk, said he was sent away without being treated. He added that he spoke to some hospital officials, Nyakura, Mr Chikara who pledged to assist him but nothing has been done since then.

Mate estimated that during the time he was being treated, a total of 10 people could have undergone the same process as himself.

We also got in touch with another patient who only wanted to be identified as Luzani who went to Gokwe North District Hospital with a fractured arm.

He said he was given a half plaster which cost US10 and ZWL$300 bond for bandages and Cotton wool.

Luzani said he went back for a full plaster for US$20. He said the officials who attended to him explained to him that the money was for sundries which were not available at the institution.

He added:

The officials bought the sundries on my behalf and I got treatment.

We also got in touch with Mr Mutede, one of the officials in the rehab department who confirmed that the hospital does not have sundries adding that patients buy from the pharmacy which is nearby.

Mutede revealed that he has personal plasters which go for USD5 each adding that one might need about 4 plasters which would translate to USD20.

He said he sometimes sells plasters which would have been left by patients who no longer need them. Mutede said he would put some interest to “make a profit.”

Mutede said:

He (Emmanuel Mate) was bitter because he did not get treated. Yes, it’s not lawful, pamutemo hazvibvumidzwi kuti titengese. Vanhu vanozvitengera vega (We’re not allowed to be selling personal sundries to patients.)

But the procedure is that patients pay a consultation fee of ZWL$80, an Xray fee which is less than ZWL$120, the cost for sundries differ depending on the extent of the injury but they are charged paWindow (Accounts/reception).

I told him (Mate) to go and buy but failed and he opted to buy from me. It’s actually the first time that someone comes back complaining. I have assisted many people so far.

Dr Chikara – District Medical Officer (DMO) – confirmed Mr Mutede’s claim that the hospital did not have the sundries, resultantly, patients buy from sources of their choice.

He also said that it was not allowed for officials to be selling personal sundries at the institution but there have been reports that some officials were actually selling their own sundries taking advantage of shortages at the health institution.

Chikara added:

We do have pending cases, investigations are ongoing and we expect a hearing process to begin by end of the month (December).

If one is caught violating the law, they are likely to be given a verbal warning and or dismissal depending on the gravity of the case.

He added that he met one patient (Mate) who had paid USD and told the patient to come back to get his leg sorted and officially file a complaint.

A nurse who works in Bulawayo said corruption at Gokwe North District Hospital mirrors corruption at almost all public health institutions nationwide.

She added:

This kind of manipulation doesn’t end there we see it everywhere and unfortunately, almost everyone does it.

It’s a creation of a false shortage to make you desperate. Even some senior doctors do it at central hospitals by telling you that an operation can only be done privately.

The rot is deep, you need like months to investigate it.

This is happening when the public is struggling to make ends meet. Sadly, the majority of the general populace cannot afford prices at private health institutions.

-source-pindula

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC MDC Alliance has dismissed as cheap political talk claims by Zanu PF that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is funding the opposition party.

The popular movement gets its funding from dedicated members, according to Hon Charlton Hwende, the MDC Alliance Secretary General.

Read statement below:

We are only Funded by our Membership

We are obviously shocked by these baseless allegations that we are being Funded by the South African President. Zanu pf is out to destroy our party. They have done everything humanly possible to do so including diverting our lawfully guranteed public money from the Political Parties Finances Act, seizing our party headquarters via the assistance of the military, recalling our Members of Parliament and Councillors and therefore effectively overturning the will of the people as expressed in 2018 elections and arresting our leaders. As we speak, our Vice Chairman Job Sikhala and Party Spokesperson were arrested on a non- existing law of communicating falsehoods. Our Harare Mayor is in prison on trumped up charges and has been denied his rights to bail and health.

All these shenanigans are meant to destroy the only authentic opposition in Zimbabwe. And yet such efforts are not bearing fruits and that is why they continue to make baseless accusations including that MDC Alliance is funded by the ANC. This allegation is also meant to silence the South African government and the ANC on speaking on the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance activist, Prosper ‘Kedha’ Mandaza has died.

MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has described ‘Kedha’ as the party’s unsung hero.

“An Unsung hero Prosper ‘Kedha’ Mandaza…

It has been a tough and rough start to the year.I have just received the sad news about the sudden passing on of a great believer and fighter for Change.

A young entrepreneur in the Car industry.

His close friend told me the brother was from Budiriro.

I’m also told he was muChinja wemhando. We salute such heroes of the struggle for a New Zimbabwe. Rest in Power Kedha,” President Chamisa said in a statement.

VIDEO- "We are in chains. They are embarrassed that the world will see that": Job Sikhala reveals @JobSikhala1 #FreeFadzayiMahere #FreeHopewell #FreeJobSikhala pic.twitter.com/40Cgji3FyV

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 13, 2021

Tinashe Sambiri|The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe( MCZ) family has been plunged into mourning following the death of Senior Minister, Reverend Allen Matsikiti on Tuesday.

Reverend Matsikiti was stationed in New Highfield Circuit in Harare.

In a statement, MCZ
General Secretary, Reverend Dr Mujinga described Rev Matsikiti’s death as a terrible blow to the church.

Read statement below:

Sisters and brothers in Christ, it is with heavy heart that I announce the passing on of REVD ALLEN MATSIKITI who was stationed in New Highfield Circuit.

Rev Matsikiti died this evening(last night).

We are still waiting for the Clinical report and we will give you more details in due course.

MHSRIP

Revd.Dr Mujinga
GENERAL SECRETARY

https://twitter.com/stolenbridge/status/1349313002026266624?s=20

TOUCHING PICTURE- Mom hugs Fadzayi Mahere at court pic.twitter.com/hFtdCjGDr3

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 13, 2021