POLICE have arrested a son of a late prominent elderly couple from Empandeni in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South, for allegedly killing his parents.

Lisani Nleya (45) was allegedly arrested at a prophet’s house in Bulawayo after sneaking into the country from South Africa.

He allegedly confessed to killing his parents during police interrogation.

Nleya did not attend his parents’ funeral and allegedly last communicated with his family before the brutal killings on September 1 last year at Mzaza Village in Empandeni.

Nicholas Kenny Nleya (83) and his wife, Margaret (76), were allegedly attacked by unknown assailants and workers at their homestead told police they fled when they heard Margaret begging for her life as the attackers assaulted the couple.

The Nleyas were both retired teachers at nearby Catholic-run Empandeni Primary School, and were staunch members of the Roman Catholic Church.

They were respected and looked up to by many people in the area. It is suspected the assailants beat the couple to death and set a hut with the bodies in it on fire.

The bodies were burnt beyond recognition.

Remnants of petrol bombs and dynamite were in the room where the charred remains were found.

At the time, a source close to investigations said four Molotov cocktails, three still intact, sticks of dynamite and an axe head were in the room, indicating a possible attempt to create an explosion that would destroy everything.

“There was also an axe head at the scene. It did not belong to the homestead. Their bodies were mutilated. This then might confirm the notion that the couple was murdered before being burnt,” said the source.

The source said forensic investigations picked that the couple bled a lot before death.

Family spokesperson Mr Patrick Nyathi yesterday confirmed the arrest.

“Police phoned to inform us that Lisani Nleya was arrested in connection with the murder case of our relatives. As a family we want the law to take its course so that we know the whole truth. We were not told of the details about his arrest, we are waiting but we hope he will appear in court. For now, that is what I can say,” said Mr Nyathi.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the suspect who was based in South Africa sneaked into the country and was arrested after a tip-off.

“The suspect came from South Africa and following a tip-off that he was at a certain prophet’s house to collect his belongings, police pounced on him and arrested him. He confessed to having killed his parents,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said investigations are in progress and he is expected to appear in court soon.

His arrest, a villager said yesterday, confirmed what was an open secret in the village that Lisani was behind the cold blooded killing of his parents.-Chronicle

The Zimbabwean Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) is reportedly investigating evidence that South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is reportedly sponsoring the opposition leader President Nelson Chamisa.

According to the publication, Ramaphosa is being accused of trying to destabilize Zimbabwe by sponsoring the opposition.

The development was reportedly revealed by ANC Chairperson Gwede Mantashe as he was accusing Zanu PF of blackmailing the ANC.

Mantashe also dared Mugwadi who threatened to leak a bombshell on the ANC’s visit to Harare, to drop the bombshell and said:

“You can’t always have a neighbour that is always blackmailing you. This relationship with Zimbabwe (ZANU PF) is always filled with threats and blackmail. I don’t like that. If ZANU PF wants to spill that beans on our meeting with them they just must. I am eager to hear what they want to spill.”

Meanwhile, Zanu PF is reportedly not happy with the ANC meeting G40 members in South Africa and wanted the party to silence President Mnangagwa’s critic Julius Malema. Both issues were negatively responded to as the ANC said it will meet with anyone who is legally in South Africa and said they cannot silence Malema in a democracy.
-Savanna News

The Council Of Student Teachers (COST), was alarmed by the reluctance of Hwange Teacher’s College on the issues affecting their students on Teaching Practice. An exploitative situation is being faced by the pioneer students of Hwange Teacher’s College who are on Teaching Practice in the hands of both Hwange Teacher’s College and United College of Education, which oversees the former’s affairs.

After successfully fighting for an increment in the Teaching Practice allowances from a mere 150rtgs a month to 5656rtgs a month, it has been noted that these students have not received their monthly allowances from September 2020 when they started till date. This is another cat and mouse game of a clueless if not lack of leadership in government offices.

The government is supposed to provide student teachers with much needed funds, though little, they may be able to acquire teaching and learning material necessary for the discharge of their duties as student teachers. The allowance is also a proof that the government is acknowledging their existence as teachers under training.

Hwange Teacher’s College authorities claim that the mishap is not their fault. According to them, they fowarded the relevant information to SSB on time and hence the fault should be with the paying services of the government.

This is not a new game, it has been practised in all government institutions. They try to clear their names and paint others black when they are the real snakes. HTC is supposed to recieve payslips every monthend from the Public Service’s SSB. When they didnot see those coming they decided to fold their hands and relax. Woe to you Hwange Teacher’s College staff, woe to you United College Of Education who are supposed to oversee the newly formed college against proponents of misery.

Students need their allowance, above all, the contract they got into with the government says thatvthey will be getting that monthly allowance.

COST, in this regard shall be uncompromising and myopic towards the resuscitation of the hardworking pioneer student teachers of Hwange Teachers College.
Woe betide anyone who gets in the way of student teachers.
#htcstudentsdeserverespect
#saveoureducationzw

For and on behalf of COST
Muzamani Walter
Council Of Student Teachers
President
+263775313277

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…..

PRESS STATEMENT RESTRICTIONS ON THE MOVEMENT OF COVID-19 DEAD BODIES FOR BURIAL IN THE COUNTRY

Harare, 11 January 2021, The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) would like to advise the public that it has now imposed restrictions regarding the movement of COVID-19 dead bodies ahead of burial in the country.

In order to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a body will now be buried in the town or city where the death would have occurred. This decision would ensure that the spread of COVID-19 is contained.

Below are the protocols to be observed during the burial process:

1.The Police will only clear body movements for burial straight from a funeral parlour or hospital mortuary to the burial site.

2. Nobody viewing will be allowed.
3. Bodies will not be taken home.
4. The public is urged to keep a distance of 4 metres as the body is lowered into the grave by either city health of funeral parlour officials.
5. The gravesite will be disinfected before and after the burial.
6. Gatherings at funerals have been reduced to strictly 30 people.
7. For those who want to transport the body for burial outside the city or town of death, they should ensure that the body is hermetically sealed in a triple coffin before collection of body from the funeral parlour or hospital mortuary.

Police Commanders in all provinces have been advised to ensure that the Government’s directive is complied with.

The public is accordingly informed of this important message

Tinashe Sambiri|The selective application of the law by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is calculated to suppress the voice of the opposition, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa also accused the Zanu PF regime of plotting to use the deadly Coronavirus to eliminate political foes.

Read full statement below:

The arbitrary arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Hon Job Sikhala represents dictatorial rule,severe abuse of power and an wanton attack on the rule of law.Persecution thru prosecution reflects the authoritarian tendencies of this dictatorship.

The regime is hell-bent on selective application of the law, with law being weaponised against political opponents and critics.These arrests on spurious charges during a severe pandemic are designed to expose political opponents to hazard.This is sadistic,heartless and abominable.

We know these are acts of provocation by the desperate who are taking citizens for granted.The regime mistakes citizens’ calmness for inability to defend themselves. Patience is not infinite.When you push an animal into a corner,with no respite it will have to come thorough you

We are a peace-loving people who are guided by the principles of peace and non-violent democratic expression.Young people are rightfully restless. It is become increasingly difficult to stand by while the regime picks and victimize citizens one by one like lambs to the slaughter.

We demand a stop to the scourge of arbitrary rule;to political persecution and weaponization of the law all of which are anathema to democratic practice &constitutionalism.We demand the release of all political prisoners. Restraint in the face of such provocation appears finite

The image of our country suffers with each arrest.The so-called ‘Second Republic’ has become a Banana Republic. The ill-treatment of opposition is such a disgrace.The regime likes to blame everyone for our country’s woes but it’s the principal author of our problems. No one can take us seriously with this behaviour.

Excellence, Brilliance, Difference

God bless you!

Advocate Nelson Chamisa

Tinashe Sambiri|The selective application of the law by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is calculated to suppress the voice of the opposition, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa also accused the Zanu PF regime of plotting to use the deadly Coronavirus to eliminate political foes.

Read full statement below:

The arbitrary arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Hon Job Sikhala represents dictatorial rule,severe abuse of power and an wanton attack on the rule of law.Persecution thru prosecution reflects the authoritarian tendencies of this dictatorship.

The regime is hell-bent on selective application of the law, with law being weaponised against political opponents and critics.These arrests on spurious charges during a severe pandemic are designed to expose political opponents to hazard.This is sadistic,heartless and abominable.

We know these are acts of provocation by the desperate who are taking citizens for granted.The regime mistakes citizens’ calmness for inability to defend themselves. Patience is not infinite.When you push an animal into a corner,with no respite it will have to come thorough you

We are a peace-loving people who are guided by the principles of peace and non-violent democratic expression.Young people are rightfully restless. It is become increasingly difficult to stand by while the regime picks and victimize citizens one by one like lambs to the slaughter.

We demand a stop to the scourge of arbitrary rule;to political persecution and weaponization of the law all of which are anathema to democratic practice &constitutionalism.We demand the release of all political prisoners. Restraint in the face of such provocation appears finite

The image of our country suffers with each arrest.The so-called ‘Second Republic’ has become a Banana Republic. The ill-treatment of opposition is such a disgrace.The regime likes to blame everyone for our country’s woes but it’s the principal author of our problems. No one can take us seriously with this behaviour.

Excellence, Brilliance, Difference

God bless you!

Advocate Nelson Chamisa

Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime today stunned all and sundry after arresting MDC Alliance National Spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere.

Advocate Mahere was arrested for allegedly communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the State.

In a statement the MDC Alliance roundly condemned the shocking arrest of Advocate Mahere.

“MDC Alliance National Spokesperson Adv Mahere has been arrested on flimsy charges of communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the State.

We condemn the weaponization of the law against MDC Alliance leadership and all pro-democracy activists,” said the party.

The Secretary General of the MDC Alliance Students Council, Rujeko Hither Mpambwa called for the immediate release of Advocate Mahere and all jailed political and human rights activists.

“The Zanu PF regime has gone too far.The level of persecution is shocking.

Mr Mnangagwa’s administration is running scared.

We call for the immediate release of Advocate Mahere, Hopewell Chin’ono, Hon Sikhala and all political prisoners,” said Mpambwa.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leader, Tererai Obey Sithole, has described Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF bootlickers as ” unrepentant murderers and looters.”

Sithole condemned the persecution of MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala and journalist Hopewell Chin’ono by Mr Mnangagwa’s administration.

“Tipeiwo Jobho wedu, haasi muranda wenyu.

FreeJobSikala

Mnangagwa and his cabal of unrepentant murderers and looters must learn to prioritize things that matter.

It must sink in their heads that criminalizing the freedom of expression will not in any way alleviate the crisis we are faced with as a country. Fix the economy not the people asking you to fix it.
Free Hopewell Chin’ono now,” wrote Sithole on his official Facebook page.

MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Secretary General, Gift Ostallos Siziba also wrote:

“Harare metropolitan Mayor Jacob Mafume is in prison. We have it on authority that he is not feeling well. The regime won’t allow him his constitutional right to a health. He need urgent medical treatment.
Below is a petition that you can sign to add your voice in the call for Justice. “

In a statement MDC Alliance National Secretary for Welfare, Maureen Kademaunga denounced the harassment of party members and human rights activists.

“The list keeps growing. Fadzai Mahere, our party spokesperson has been taken in. Political repression under the guise of Law & Order is on the rise. No-one is safe anymore.

Mayor Jacob Mafume is a political prisoner who is being persecuted for his allegiance to the MDC Alliance. Bail is his constitutional right. His health is under serious threat as he shares a cell with 40 prisoners. He has severe Covid19 symptoms. #FreeJacobMafume.”

MDC Alliance strongly condemns the continued abuse of national justice institutions through the arrests of Vice Chairman Hon. Job Sikhala, Party Spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, Harare Mayor His Worship Jacob Mafume, investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, student leader Allan Moyo and wrongly convicted prisoners: Last Maingehama and Tungamirirai Madzokere together with other political prisoners who are continuously being persecuted by the State.

The ZanuPf government is abusing state institutions by continuously persecuting opposition leaders and human rights defenders. We reiterate the people’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa’s sentiments that the arrest pertaining to non existing crimes represents dictatorial rule,severe abuse of power and an attack on the rule of law. Persecution through prosecution reflects authoritarian consolidation rather than democratization.

We have also noted with concern the denial of Constitutionally guranteed right to health for His Worship Mayor Mafume who is reportedly ill and is deliberately exposed to environments fertile for contracting the deadly corona virus. Mayor Jacob Mafume deserves both his right to bail and right to access proper medical assistance with immediate effect.

It must be highlighted that this recent spate of arrests targeting Hon. Job Sikhala, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere and Hopewell Chin’ono is illegal as is it premised on charges that were long declared unconstitutional by the highest court in Zimbabwe. It is pure law-fare targeted to terminally bleed the democratic contingent considered to be holding different views from ZANU PF.

Solidarity is a critical pillar of the MDC Alliance as a social democratic party and we shall pursue democratic and constitutional channels to show that people power is stronger than the people in power in demand for freedom for all prisoners of conscience.

ChangeThatDelivers

Clifford Hlatywayo
MDCA Deputy National Secretary for Communications

By A Correspondent- Lawyers have been separately listed among essential services and can travel to and attend any criminal or civil court hearing involving a client and can travel and meet clients and others when this is necessary to prepare for court appearances.

Lawyers had been relying on provisions listing all courts as essential services, with the exception of hearings for eviction, and their necessary involvement in court cases. This had caused confusion and the need for specific listing of lawyers.

However, Chief Justice Luke Malaba has ordered all courts to remain closed during the level four lockdown for non-essential purposes. They are open for remand and bail hearings, and for urgent applications.

Minister of Health and Child Care Vice President Constantino Chiwenga this week specifically listed lawyers in his 11th amendment to the consolidated lockdown regulations gazetted in August last year, as the 25th permitted essential service for the purpose of attending any court and “of travelling to or from any other place for purposes preparatory to or in connection with such attendance”.

Since public health regulations can only limit the constitutional rights of freedom of movement and freedom of assembly when necessary to combat the spread of a serious infectious disease, such as Covid-19, lawyers, like everyone else, are permitted to work from home and hold virtual or telephone meetings with whoever they wish.

Under level four lockdown, essential services, which include farming and coal mining, are permitted to operate and their staff to travel to and from work, along with all other mining and all manufacturing. Staff can also travel to and from work during the curfew if necessary, but not for any purpose.

However, entities and their staff in the essential services and permitted businesses still have to obey other lockdown rules and regulations such as wearing of masks, social distancing and temperature scanning when travelling and assembling, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza has stressed that manufacturers and the parts of commerce, basically supermarkets, food shops and markets, and pharmacies, permitted to operate had to obey all health restrictions, including restrictions on opening hours where these were set.

“We are encouraging industry and commerce to abide by the relevant statutory instruments reinforcing the responsibility on all essential sectors to ensure adequate protection of employees,” said Minister Nzenza.

On the general outlook on adherence to the lockdown, the Minister said she had been getting updates from all sectors and felt the lockdown was going smoothly.

“There is close collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and so far we have not registered companies not adhering. The spot checks being done by Home Affairs in collaboration with the Health Ministry are working well with very minor incidences of not maintaining social distances in shops.

“We are pleased with the effectiveness of the road blocks in controlling both motor vehicle and human traffic,” she said.

In compliance with World Health Organisation protocols of social distancing, the Government has also ordered most ministries to have just 30 percent of their staff on duty at any one time with the remainder staying and working from home, but remaining on standby should they need to be called in to be present at workstations.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Villagers from Zananda area under Chief Nhema are now living in fear after a huge crocodile was found stashed in the bedroom hut at one of the villager’s homestead.

The huge reptile was discovered by Ms Josphine Marandure at around 10pm last Sunday as she got into the bedroom hut intending to sleep.

The shell-shocked Ms Marandure said she alerted other family members who then went and made a report at Donga Police Post.

“We reported the matter to the police and they then alerted officials from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority who then came and captured the croc the following day,” she said.

Chief Nhema confirmed the incident which he said has left the whole village shell shocked.

He said the huge reptile which did not harm anyone could have crawled out of a nearby Zananda Dam which was now full following some heavy rains in the area.

“We are still in a state of shock because we have not had such incidents before but we have been given some explanations by officials from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority that such incidents happen especially when it is during the rainy season like this,” he said.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs forward Khama Billiat has rubbished weekend reports that he had married a South African singer as a second wife.

Billiat said he was happily married to Mai Kim (Esnath Munyedawo) and will never marry a second wife.

The weekly City Press of South Africa reported that Billiat married television star Nomcebo “Dot” Mthethwa.

The City Press reported that the Zimbabwean football star had secretly paid lobola for his new lover.

According to the report, Nomcebo’s mother, Smaniso Mthethwa, confirmed that Billiat was engaged to her daughter and the two were planning a future together.

Mthethwa is the hottest new Gqom artiste. Her career is thriving with her hit single “Makoti” getting a lot of air play on South African radio.

Mthethwa’s mother could not give more details, saying she needs permission from the couple.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport from his base in South Africa, Billiat said he had one wife, who is also the mother of his daughter.

“Khama has one wife, Mai Kim, I never married anyone. I don’t know why people are doing this. I  repeat I am happily married to Mai Kim,” said Billiat.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The government of Zimbabwe has made a U-turn on the previous directive it had published regarding the transportation of dead bodies. 

The Ministry of Health had stated that bodies will have to be buried in towns and or cities in which the deaths have occurred in order to curb spreading COVID-19.

Today the Ministry of Health released a statement that states that bodies have to be hermetically sealed in triple coffins for them to be moved from towns and cities or from the place of death to another area for burial.

Said the ministry in a statement:

For those who want to transport the body for burial outside the city or town of death, they should ensure that the body is hermetically sealed in a triple coffin before collection of body from the funeral parlour or hospital mortuary.

The move to bury bodies in cemeteries close to the place of death had been met with hostility as some Twimbos have begun to poke holes in the plan.

Source: Ministry Of Health And Child Care.

By A Correspondent| Police on Monday 11 January 2021 arrested lawyer and opposition Movement for Democratic (MDC) Alliance party spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere and charged her with inciting or promoting public disorder or public violence after she allegedly tweeted about the abuse of a minor by a police officer.

Advocate Mahere was detained at Harare Central Police Station, where Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members accused her of publishing or communicating a false statement with the intention of inciting or promoting public disorder or public violence or endangering public safety as defined in section 31(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

ZRP members also pressed an alternative charge against the MDC-Alliance party spokesperson of publishing or communicating a false statement with the intention of undermining public confidence in a law enforcement agency as defined in 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 assisted by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, is expected to appear at Harare Magistrates Court on Tuesday 12 January 2021.

Advocate Mahere becomes the third person to be arrested following the apprehension last week of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Zengeza West constituency legislator Hon. Job Sikhala, who were all charged with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State as defined in section 31(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors claim that Chin’ono and Hon. Sikhala shared some statements on social media platforms falsely alleging that a child had been beaten to death by a police officer after law enforcement agents assaulted the mother of the child in Harare.

The bail application case of Hopewell Chin’ono and Job Sikhala has been rolled over to tomorrow.

Chin’ono speaking to journalists at the court said the reason why he is fighting for reforms is to do away with laws like the one ZRP is using to “persecute” voices like him, Mahere, and Sikhala.

The case will resume in the morning.

More details to follow.

By A Correspondent- The burial of Tapiwa Makore from Chief Mangwende area in Murehwa which was scheduled for Saturday 9 January 2021 was postponed indefinitely because of the lockdown.

This was communicated by the family spokesperson Beaula Musupayi who told ZTN that:

The recently pronounced lockdown has forced us to postpone the burial. Some of our relatives could not travel due to Covid-19 so we have decided to put the burial on hold. They want to pay their last respects and we cannot deny them a chance to do so.

Musupayi said the families of the twin Makore brothers believed to be behind the murder Thanks and Tapiwa Makore Senior are not welcome to the burial:

Thanks and Tapiwa’s families are not welcome. The situation is not as we all wanted as such these people must stay away from the proceedings, we don’t want to see them.

However, Thanks Makore’s son said he will attend the burial to pay his last respects:

By nature l should attend the funeral to pay my last respects and had it not been for the bail conditions set for my father, he would have loved to attend the burial also

Tapiwa was murdered by his namesake and his herdsman in September 2020 for suspected ritual purposes.

-ZTN

The burial of slain 7-year-old Murehwa boy Tapiwa Makore did not take place as scheduled over the weekend and has since been postponed indefinitely.

Tapiwa, a victim of a suspected ritual murder, was killed in September last year and was set to be buried on Saturday 9 January.

However, family spokesperson Beaula Musupayi told ZTN that the coming in of stiffened lockdown measures informed their decision to postpone the burial.

“The recently pronounced lockdown has forced us to postpone the burial,” she said.

“Some of our relatives could not travel due to Covid-19 so we have decided to put the burial on hold. They want to pay their last respects and we cannot deny them a chance to do so.”

But a storm is brewing in the Makore household with some family members having been declared persona non gratae.

Tapiwa was allegedly murdered by his uncle and namesakes’ Tapiwa Makore Senior, herd boy Tafadzwa Shamba after they had allegedly been promised USD$1500 by Tapiwa senior’s twin brother, Thanks Makore. And Musupayi declared: “Thanks and Tapiwa’s families are not welcome.

The situation is not as we all wanted as such these people must stay away from the proceedings, we don’t want to see them.”

-State Media

Zimbabwean police on Monday 11 January 2021 arrested lawyer and opposition Movement for Democratic (MDC) Alliance party spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere and charged her with inciting or promoting public disorder or public violence after she allegedly tweeted about the abuse of a minor by a police officer.

Advocate Mahere was detained at Harare Central Police Station, where Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members accused her of publishing or communicating a false statement with the intention of inciting or promoting public disorder or public violence or endangering public safety as defined in section 31(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

ZRP members also pressed an alternative charge against the MDC-Alliance party spokesperson of publishing or communicating a false statement with the intention of undermining public confidence in a law enforcement agency as defined in 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 assisted by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, is expected to appear at Harare Magistrates Court on Tuesday 12 January 2021.

Advocate Mahere becomes the third person to be arrested following the apprehension last week of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Zengeza West constituency legislator Hon. Job Sikhala, who were all charged with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State as defined in section 31(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors claim that Chin’ono and Hon. Sikhala shared some statements on social media platforms falsely alleging that a child had been beaten to death by a police officer after law enforcement agents assaulted the mother of the child in Harare.

By A Correspondent- KEYONA TV chairperson, Cont Mhlanga who last year threatened to sue all those who made claims on social media that their television station was awarded a licence because of his affiliation to Zanu-PF, says he has since forgiven them after some apologised.

Last year, when the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) announced that KeYona TV was among six entities that had been awarded free to air national television licences, there was jubilation in some quarters. However, social media was awash with reports and conspiracy theories with some claiming that those who had been given the green light to operate had links to the ruling party.

Mhlanga, who said he was pained by such unfounded claims last month, came out fuming and threatened to sue. He said if those claims made by people were not substantiated, all those who made them would owe him 13 heifers each.

He went on to challenge those peddling the messages to come up with concrete evidence within 30 days or he would sue them, calling on people to help identify those who made the claims on social media. The 30 days lapsed on January 5.

In an interview at the weekend, Mhlanga said he is now focused on setting up the newly licensed television station. Mhlanga said there were three people who apologised to him and with that, he has forgiven all.

“What happened is that people came forward with feedback of the names of those who were caught in that web of lies. I met three of them and they apologised saying they were caught in the web of gossip and they didn’t have any concrete evidence.

“I had asked people to come forward with evidence. Not even one came with that said evidence. Since there’s no one who has come forward with that evidence, it means that it’s not there. Just because of these three people who came to apologise, I’m no longer angry so let’s forget about this. My main concern is building the television station because KeYona is the most important thing now,” said Mhlanga.

Putting the threats to sue behind, Mhlanga said he now wants people to come together and help build the television station.

“What I’d like to do from now is to invite everyone to come together to work for the television station. It’s not the time to be asking who owns the station, what it is doing and what should or shouldn’t be put on it. “This is the time for everyone to put their ideas together for this television station as it’s for the region and Matabeleland,” said Mhlanga.

He said a successful television station will spur development and economic growth in the region.

“Let’s use the television station to turn around the economy of our region as a whole. We should create jobs for our children, give them opportunities and bring about success using the television station,” said Mhlanga.

Other stations that were given TV licences are Zimpapers Television Network, Rusununguko Media (Pvt) Ltd trading as NRTV, Jester Media trading as 3K TV, Acacia Media Group trading as Kumba TV and Channel Dzimbahwe trading as Channel D.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Stanbic Bank has appointed its Chief Financial Officer, Solomon Nyanhongo as Chief Executive (CE) with effect from 1 January 2021.

Nyanhongo takes over from Joshua Tapambgwa who leaves after 18 illustrious years with the leading financial services institution.

The Board Chairman of the Standard Bank Group subsidiary, Gregory Sebborn welcomed Nyanhongo to the helm of the institution and was looking forward to his astute management skills to carry the organisation forward.

“Please join us in congratulating Solomon as he assumes his challenging new position and we look forward to him continuing to drive growth and innovation in the Bank for the benefit of its many and varied customers.” said Sebborn.

Nyanhongo joined the bank in 2003 as a Senior Manager, Finance. He was then appointed Head of Finance in 2009 and subsequently Chief Financial Officer in the same year, a position he has held till his recent appointment.

Nyanhongo is a Chartered Accountant who also holds various qualifications, amongst which is a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Nottingham Trent University (UK) Bachelor of Accounting Science (Honours) from University of South Africa (UNISA) and an Honours Accounting degree from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).

Sebborn had kind words for Tapambgwa who he described as an astute, dedicated team player.

“Tapambgwa will forever leave an indelible mark on Stanbic Bank as he helped steer the ship during turbulent times for the economy at large but in particular the banking sector,” said Sebborn.

Nyanhongo said he was looking forward to his new challenge with excitement and was raring to go.

“Stanbic Bank is a big institution and being appointed to take it forward is a challenge I welcome with both hands. Having worked closely with Josh (Tapambgwa) and observing how he rode all challenges we faced will hold me in good stead going forward. Tapambgwa leaves the institution in fine fettle and I am committed to taking it even further as we move into the era of the “new normal” which calls for innovation as the world embraces digitization and the menacing COVID 19,” said Nyanhongo.

-Agencies

A number of families in Harare’s Budiriro 5 high density suburb were left marooned, while their houses and property were destroyed following flash floods early this morning.

The families woke up to rising water levels resulting from hours of rainfall in the early this morning which saw some water bodies including Marimba River bursting their seams.

The floods moved across this residential area destroying houses and property as many desperately sought high ground to escape the ferocity of the waters.

At a distance this news crew captured some families trying to recover the last of their property, while some hopelessly looked at the situation hoping that the rains will not continue.

Access is now the major hindrance as most roads that lead to this area are all soaked and impassable.

Indications are that this residential area sits on a wetland and some houses have been built on the water course.

Residents, who refused to speak on camera have questioned the legality of this residential area.

While these questions remain, the affected residents will pin their hopes that the water levels will subside so as to enable them to make their way to safe ground.

State Media

Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF regime today stunned all and sundry after arresting MDC Alliance National Spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere.

Advocate Mahere was arrested for allegedly communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the State.

In a statement the MDC Alliance roundly condemned the shocking arrest of Advocate Mahere.

“MDC Alliance National Spokesperson Adv Mahere has been arrested on flimsy charges of communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the State.

We condemn the weaponization of the law against MDC Alliance leadership and all pro-democracy activists,” said the party.

The Secretary General of the MDC Alliance Students Council, Rujeko Hither Mpambwa called for the immediate release of Advocate Mahere and all jailed political and human rights activists.

“The Zanu PF regime has gone too far.The level of persecution is shocking.

Mr Mnangagwa’s administration is running scared.

We call for the immediate release of Advocate Mahere, Hopewell Chin’ono, Hon Sikhala and all political prisoners,” said Mpambwa.

Masvingo has lost yet another veteran educationist, Shadreck Sacrement who succumbed to Covid19 at Parirenyatwa Hospital on Saturday.

Sacrement was a Schools’ Inspector for Masvingo and he also ran a number of businesses around and near the City.

Masvingo District Schools’ Inspector Ishmael Chigaba confirmed the death to The Mirror although he would not disclose the cause.

Source: Masvingo Mirror

By A Correspondent- Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs forward Khama Billiat has rubbished weekend reports that he had married a South African singer as a second wife.

Billiat said he was happily married to Mai Kim (Esnath Munyedawo) and will never marry a second wife.

The weekly City Press of South Africa reported that Billiat married television star Nomcebo “Dot” Mthethwa.

The City Press reported that the Zimbabwean football star had secretly paid lobola for his new lover.

According to the report, Nomcebo’s mother, Smaniso Mthethwa, confirmed that Billiat was engaged to her daughter and the two were planning a future together.

Mthethwa is the hottest new Gqom artiste. Her career is thriving with her hit single “Makoti” getting a lot of air play on South African radio.

Mthethwa’s mother could not give more details, saying she needs permission from the couple.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport from his base in South Africa, Billiat said he had one wife, who is also the mother of his daughter.

“Khama has one wife, Mai Kim, I never married anyone. I don’t know why people are doing this. I  repeat I am happily married to Mai Kim,” said Billiat.-statemedia

Watch the live video loading below…. (please be patient as it uploads)

Tinashe Sambiri|The selective application of the law by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is calculated to suppress the voice of the opposition, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa also accused the Zanu PF regime of plotting to use the deadly Coronavirus to eliminate political foes.

Read full statement below:

The arbitrary arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Hon Job Sikhala represents dictatorial rule,severe abuse of power and an wanton attack on the rule of law.Persecution thru prosecution reflects the authoritarian tendencies of this dictatorship.

The regime is hell-bent on selective application of the law, with law being weaponised against political opponents and critics.These arrests on spurious charges during a severe pandemic are designed to expose political opponents to hazard.This is sadistic,heartless and abominable.

We know these are acts of provocation by the desperate who are taking citizens for granted.The regime mistakes citizens’ calmness for inability to defend themselves. Patience is not infinite.When you push an animal into a corner,with no respite it will have to come thorough you

We are a peace-loving people who are guided by the principles of peace and non-violent democratic expression.Young people are rightfully restless. It is become increasingly difficult to stand by while the regime picks and victimize citizens one by one like lambs to the slaughter.

We demand a stop to the scourge of arbitrary rule;to political persecution and weaponization of the law all of which are anathema to democratic practice &constitutionalism.We demand the release of all political prisoners. Restraint in the face of such provocation appears finite

The image of our country suffers with each arrest.The so-called ‘Second Republic’ has become a Banana Republic. The ill-treatment of opposition is such a disgrace.The regime likes to blame everyone for our country’s woes but it’s the principal author of our problems. No one can take us seriously with this behaviour.

Excellence, Brilliance, Difference

God bless you!

Advocate Nelson Chamisa

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leader, Tererai Obey Sithole, has described Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF bootlickers as ” unrepentant murderers and looters.”

Sithole condemned the persecution of MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala and journalist Hopewell Chin’ono by Mr Mnangagwa’s administration.

“Tipeiwo Jobho wedu, haasi muranda wenyu.

FreeJobSikala

Mnangagwa and his cabal of unrepentant murderers and looters must learn to prioritize things that matter.

It must sink in their heads that criminalizing the freedom of expression will not in any way alleviate the crisis we are faced with as a country. Fix the economy not the people asking you to fix it.
Free Hopewell Chin’ono now,” wrote Sithole on his official Facebook page.

MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Secretary General, Gift Ostallos Siziba also wrote:

“Harare metropolitan Mayor Jacob Mafume is in prison. We have it on authority that he is not feeling well. The regime won’t allow him his constitutional right to a health. He need urgent medical treatment.
Below is a petition that you can sign to add your voice in the call for Justice. “

In a statement MDC Alliance National Secretary for Welfare, Maureen Kademaunga denounced the harassment of party members and human rights activists.

“The list keeps growing. Fadzai Mahere, our party spokesperson has been taken in. Political repression under the guise of Law & Order is on the rise. No-one is safe anymore.

Mayor Jacob Mafume is a political prisoner who is being persecuted for his allegiance to the MDC Alliance. Bail is his constitutional right. His health is under serious threat as he shares a cell with 40 prisoners. He has severe Covid19 symptoms. #FreeJacobMafume.”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…..

MDC Alliance strongly condemns the continued abuse of national justice institutions through the arrests of Vice Chairman Hon. Job Sikhala, Party Spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, Harare Mayor His Worship Jacob Mafume, investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, student leader Allan Moyo and wrongly convicted prisoners: Last Maingehama and Tungamirirai Madzokere together with other political prisoners who are continuously being persecuted by the State.

The ZanuPf government is abusing state institutions by continuously persecuting opposition leaders and human rights defenders. We reiterate the people’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa’s sentiments that the arrest pertaining to non existing crimes represents dictatorial rule,severe abuse of power and an attack on the rule of law. Persecution through prosecution reflects authoritarian consolidation rather than democratization.

We have also noted with concern the denial of Constitutionally guranteed right to health for His Worship Mayor Mafume who is reportedly ill and is deliberately exposed to environments fertile for contracting the deadly corona virus. Mayor Jacob Mafume deserves both his right to bail and right to access proper medical assistance with immediate effect.

It must be highlighted that this recent spate of arrests targeting Hon. Job Sikhala, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere and Hopewell Chin’ono is illegal as is it premised on charges that were long declared unconstitutional by the highest court in Zimbabwe. It is pure law-fare targeted to terminally bleed the democratic contingent considered to be holding different views from ZANU PF.

Solidarity is a critical pillar of the MDC Alliance as a social democratic party and we shall pursue democratic and constitutional channels to show that people power is stronger than the people in power in demand for freedom for all prisoners of conscience.

ChangeThatDelivers

Clifford Hlatywayo
MDCA Deputy National Secretary for Communications

By A Correspondent- A villager who was suspected to be an illegal miner by a Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) security guard was shot and injured by the guard for trespassing.

22-year-old Oscar Maunze was shot on 2 January on his right cheek by a Mossberg gun, and the incident was confirmed by Zimbabwe Diamond Allied Workers Union (ZIDAWU)’s Cosmas Sunguro who said:

ZCDC should stop brutalising the local people. In fact, they should come up with effective ways of stopping poverty in the area.

We still expect them to offer some of these youths decent employment. As ZIDAWU, we propose that they reserve some of the mining portions not ideal for commercial diamond mining to be released to local youths as part of empowerment.

According to the Center for Research and Development’s James Mupfumi, ZCDC guards are responsible for many human rights abuse cases in the area:

The ZCDC security guards are currently responsible for serious human rights abuses, including killings, shootings, torture, beatings, and harassment deployed to drive out the artisanal miners.

For the greater part, the villagers in the area have complained of arbitrary arrests, beatings, and harassment that have continued unabated.

CSOs in the area have reportedly received reports of abuse by ZCDC guards in the area. ZCDC was not able to comment on the issue.

-ZMDC

By Thabo Makuyana- In another clear sign of Global Warming, Gweru, Zimbabwe’s fourth largest city has been hit by heavy floods that have caused extensive damage to furniture, destroyed homes, made many Zimbabweans homeless and thus far has reportedly claimed 6 lives.  

Zimbabwean Member of Parliament (MP) Brian Dube representative for Gweru Urban Constituency, has advised the above and more in an interview that lasted a little over 5 minutes.

Gweru is Zimbabwe’s most centrally located city and home to Fletcher, Mzingwane, Thornhill and Mkoba high schools.  Thornhill High School is proud to have educated  Mr Takwana Tyaranini, the founder of Senditoo.com, a company that is said to be expanding throughout Africa.  Many other famous people who have served in the Zimbabwean corridors of business, legal and political power have also been educated in Gweru.

The floods are said to have reached 0.5m in hight in places, thus leading to the total writing off through water damage, of whole household furniture in some cases where residents could not evacuate all their belongings on time.  It is reported that on the whole people managed to get out of their houses.

The MP has also reported that there have been 6 people who’s bodies have unfortunately not yet been recovered, when a vehicle that they were in was swept away by waters from Gweru River.  MP Brian Dube said it is suspected that all 6 people have unfortunately lost their lives.  

Police Zimbabwe has been approached for comment, they are yet to respond.  MP Brian Dube reported that the Zimbabwean Airforce attended to help rescue the stranded which included children.  It is likely that the Zimbabwean scuba divers have not been able to attend due to the current ferocity of the river.

MP Brian Dube went on to explain that there is a shortage of desperately needed equipment for the emergency services and pleaded for what he called, “Serious Assistance from the international community, including blankets and food for those who have been seriously affected, as some have lost absolutely everything and that is what is immediate.”  

He then went on to say that long term assistance might include the reconstruction of homes and some of the roads which have been as he said, “Terribly Damaged.”

When asked about help from Government MP Brian Dube said that there is a rapid response team that has been set up with the Mayor of Gweru, but that also needs equipment and resources like vehicles and fuel as at the moment they have just one car and as such will not be able to cover all the areas affected.

He further went on to explain that the current spending for this disaster is off budget for him as the MP and for the council; and they will likely need a lot of help.  The said he was using his own resources to run around helping his constituents and was appealing for help from organisations that are able to help.

By A Correspondent- An 18 year old model was raped by a 33-year-old man in Bulawayo during a private photoshoot last year.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police are investigating the incident.

He said:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating a case of rape in which a complainant (18) was raped during a photoshoot by a suspect (33) in Bulawayo in December 2020. Models are urged not to go for private photo shootings without being accompanied by other women.

In a related incident which occurred in September last year, a 19-year-old Harare model was raped after she was lured to a private location by a man she had befriended on Facebook.

According to police, the young woman who resides in Waterfalls was invited for modelling auditions by the unnamed man.

When the woman went to the rendezvous for the purported auditions, she was raped by her Facebook friend.

The man was however arrested and was expected to appear in court to face rape charges

By A Correspondent- Teachers have been warned against conducting physical extra lesson as this is in violation of COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communications, Taungana Ndoro, said only online lessons are permitted and teachers who violate the coronavirus containment regulations by conducting face to face lessons will be prosecuted.

Ndoro said:

We are clear when it comes to the issue of extra lessons. We have made it clear that only online lessons have been permitted.

Physical lessons, where teachers gather pupils at some location are illegal as there will be no mechanism to monitor adherence to guidelines so that they do not become spreaders of this pandemic.

Therefore, teachers who are conducting these lessons are liable for prosecution for defying COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

Ndoro added that teachers should be responsible and avoid greediness which will only expose their pupils to the deadly coronavirus.

He said:

Our call, therefore, is for the teachers to be responsible and not be pushed by greed to conduct these physical lessons, while at the same time exposing themselves and their pupils to the pandemic.

Some teachers countrywide have resorted to offering extra lesson services to pupils to augment their salaries which are now a fraction of their pre-October 2018 earnings.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Former MDC T bigwig Obert Gutu has praised new MDC President Douglas Mwonzora for calling for a progressive approach to politics is starting his term in office on a very sound office, Daily News reports.

Gutu was speaking to the Daily News when he said:

His call for the adoption of a progressive brand of politics, underpinned by robust but respectful and fruitful engagement with the government of the day, should actually be applauded by all patriotic Zimbabweans.Where has the politics of hostile engagement taken us this far? Absolutely nowhere. Mwonzora should promptly engage the ruling Zanu PF and seek to positively influence and impact on national development.

Mwonzora should not wait to take his seat at Polad (Political Actors Dialogue) … from there, he can then seek to hold the ruling party to account and even put on the table his proposals for a GNU of sorts.

Mwonzora is his own man. Those who accuse him of being a Zanu PF proxy are people who have always played a negative brand of politics.

These are people who believe that insulting … Mnangagwa and calling him a dictator will somehow get them to State House.

A few hours after the chaotic extraordinary congress that ushered Mwonzora into office last year, Gutu scoffed at the elections and said he was happy he was not part of the charade.

By A Correspondent- A man reportedly entered the cash office of a service station in Norton and threatened the employees of the station with the pistol before taking away cash amounting to US$3 050.

This was revealed by ZRP on microblogging site Twitter in a post that reads:

The ZRP is investigating a case of armed robbery which occurred on 09/01/21 in which one suspect entered into a cash office at a service station in Norton, threatened the employees with an unknown pistol, stole about USD3 050 and went away.

ZRP is yet to apprehend the suspect as they appealed to anyone who has information that might lead to the arrest of the suspect to come forward:

Anyone with information to contact the nearest police station. #notorobbery

This came a few days after Zimbabwe recorded its biggest cash heist when a cash in transit crew was last week robbed of $2.5 million along the Harare Chinhoyi highway.

UK in Zimbabwe has said it is concerned by the arrest of prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, MDC Alliance Vice Chairman Job Sikhala, and MDC Alliance Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere over a tweet that was not true according to ZRP.

UK in Zimbabwe also raised concern about Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume’s continued detention since 11 December.

Using microblogging site Twitter UK In Zimbabwe tweeted:

Following the arrests of Fadzayi Mahere & Job Sikhala after Hopewell Chin’ono’s arrest Friday. Concerned too by reports of ill health of Jacob Mafume who’s held in Harare. Important the law is equally applied to all & rights of prisoners upheld incl during C19 #ActiononReform

The embassy which is using the hashtag #ActiononReform tweeted over the weekend when Chin’ono was arrested and said:

Concerned to hear Hopewell Chin’ono will remain in custody for two more nights following his re-arrest on Friday. We continue to follow this case closely #ActiononReform

Meanwhile, law experts have said ZRP is charging Chin’ono, Mahere, Sikhala using a non-existant law that was struck off from the statutes in 2014 by the constitutional court.

Two bodies have been retrieved after an Isuzu twin cab was swept away attempting to cross a flooded Gweru River this Monday.

The vehicle, which is believed to have been carrying six passengers including the driver, was swept away around 5am this Monday.

The local provincial response taskforce had to engage a private player to retrieve the bodies and the vehicle that was swept away during the sad incident.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Midlands provincial spokesperson Inspector Emanuel Mahoko explains the rescue operations that have been carried out so far.

“I can confirm that we received news that a vehicle was swept away yesterday. Rescue operations are currently being carried out and we have so far managed to retrieve two bodies.

“I would like to appeal to the public to exercise extreme caution and not try to attempt to cross flooded rivers as this could result in loss of lives,” he said.

Head of the Midlands Province Civil Protection Department, who is also Gweru District Administrator, Mr Jorum Chimedza, said efforts are now underway to establish the whereabouts of the other four passengers believed to have been in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

“It is a very difficult moment for the Gweru community. We understand that six people were in the vehicle when the incident took place. We are still waiting for the Sub Aqua Unit to come and search for the other people believed to be the vehicle at the time of the incident.

“They have been attending ton similar incidents that happened along Runde River, but we believe today they will show up and offer assistance,” he said.

Heavy rains have been pounding across the country recently resulting in most rivers getting flooded amid calls for motorists to exercise extreme caution when faced with flooded rivers.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Director of Information and Publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi is unfazed by criticism from the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) after he clashed with SABC Foreign Editor Sophie Mokoena on Twitter.

Sanef had demanded that the ZANU PF leadership step in and discipline Mugwadi for what it said was an assault on media freedom and freedom of expression by the latter through his daily posts on social media.

However, Mugwadi said his conscience is clear and he will continue defending Zimbabwe’s leaders against “fake news” peddlers.

He posted on Twitter:

Stand with @Sophie_Mokoena, @SAEditorsForum @SABCNews & fake news peddling on Zim & it’s leadership. That’s is your choice.

My conscience is clear, I stand with Zim, it’s Leadership & it’s people against fake news.

This handle will remain alert to fake news.

#TiredOfFakeNews

Mugwadi has come under fire from ZANU PF senior leadership after he insinuated that an ANC delegation which visited Zimbabwe last year had a sinister agenda.

In a statement on Sunday, the party’s national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo rebuked Mugwadi over his utterances.

Moyo said: The ANC of South Africa and Zanu-PF enjoy excellent and fraternal relations dating back to the days of our liberation struggle and continue blossoming up to this day.

To suggest that the ANC delegation came to Zimbabwe with a hidden agenda is compound mischief, uninformed, unacceptable and unpatriotic.

Moyo’s statement came after South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday dared Mugwadi to come out with his “bombshell” and reveal the real reason behind his party’s visit to Harare in 2020.

Tinashe Sambiri|The selective application of the law by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is calculated to suppress the voice of the opposition, President Nelson Chamisa has said.

President Chamisa also accused the Zanu PF regime of plotting to use the deadly Coronavirus to eliminate political foes.

Read full statement below:

The arbitrary arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Hon Job Sikhala represents dictatorial rule,severe abuse of power and an wanton attack on the rule of law.Persecution thru prosecution reflects the authoritarian tendencies of this dictatorship.

The regime is hell-bent on selective application of the law, with law being weaponised against political opponents and critics.These arrests on spurious charges during a severe pandemic are designed to expose political opponents to hazard.This is sadistic,heartless and abominable.

We know these are acts of provocation by the desperate who are taking citizens for granted.The regime mistakes citizens’ calmness for inability to defend themselves. Patience is not infinite.When you push an animal into a corner,with no respite it will have to come thorough you

We are a peace-loving people who are guided by the principles of peace and non-violent democratic expression.Young people are rightfully restless. It is become increasingly difficult to stand by while the regime picks and victimize citizens one by one like lambs to the slaughter.

We demand a stop to the scourge of arbitrary rule;to political persecution and weaponization of the law all of which are anathema to democratic practice &constitutionalism.We demand the release of all political prisoners. Restraint in the face of such provocation appears finite

The image of our country suffers with each arrest.The so-called ‘Second Republic’ has become a Banana Republic. The ill-treatment of opposition is such a disgrace.The regime likes to blame everyone for our country’s woes but it’s the principal author of our problems. No one can take us seriously with this behaviour.

Excellence, Brilliance, Difference

God bless you!

Advocate Nelson Chamisa

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in an article published by The Herald on September 6 2019, revealed he made some decisions without telling his boss Robert Mugabe.

In the article written by Mr Mnangagwa himself under the title “The Robert Mugabe I know”- the Zanu PF leader confirmed he made some decisions without informing Mugabe.

Analysts argue Mnangagwa plotted the Gukurahundi atrocities in Matabeleland – in which thousands of Ndebele speaking people were killed.

See part of the article below:

“President Mugabe is very tolerant. He takes counsel, but not stupid counsel! If you report to him, he will interrogate you. And don’t go to him with half-baked decisions because he can prick holes into your argument. He enjoys somebody who argues. When he says “yes”, he knows that you also understand what you are talking about.

He will also have understood what you were talking about. But if you go there with a stupid thing, of course, he will say “no”. But he is very tolerant. For instance, this is Mugabe, I mean, this is at his best: Immediately after the 1980 elections; he was still Prime Minister-designate, he says: “Emmerson, I want to see Smith.” I didn’t tell him, but I wondered:

“What has gone wrong with my boss? We were denouncing Smith throughout the revolution. What’s happening?”(Ian Smith opted to come with his deputy, David Smith.) We prepared the house in Mt Pleasant and they came in the evening.

David was driving, with Ian Smith in the passenger seat. But, of course, me being me – the President didn’t know and I don’t think he knows even up to now – I put some (agents) in the hedge, vane maAK (laughs).

The President had not told me why he wanted to meet them, and I don’t think he had told VaMuzenda…

Facebook has shut a slew of accounts belonging to Ugandan government officials accused of seeking to manipulate public debate ahead of elections Thursday, the internet giant told AFP on Monday.

The East African nation is holding presidential and parliamentary elections after a tense and bloody campaign, with President Yoweri Museveni, 76, facing a stiff challenge from the popstar-turned-politician Bobi Wine, 38.

“This month, we removed a network of accounts and pages in Uganda that engaged in CIB (Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour) to target public debate ahead of the election,” Facebook’s head of communication for sub-Saharan Africa, Kezia Anim-Addo, said in an email.

“They used fake and duplicate accounts to manage pages, comment on other people’s content, impersonate users, re-share posts in groups to make them appear more popular that they were.”

Anim-Addo said the network was linked to the ministry of information and communications technology.

“Given the impending election in Uganda, we moved quickly to investigate and take down this network.”

Social media giants have come under increasing scrutiny over the content they allow to spread on their networks.

Twitter, Instagram and Facebook blocked US President Donald Trump over incitement to violence after his supporters stormed the US Capitol last Wednesday, a move his backers see as an assault on free speech.

Museveni’s senior press secretary Don Wanyama, who saw both his Facebook and Instagram account shut down, accused the company of seeking to influence the election.

“Shame on the foreign forces that think they can aid and plant a puppet leadership on Uganda by disabling online accounts of (ruling party) NRM supporters,” he said on Twitter.

“You wont take away President Kaguta Museveni” he added, using the president’s second name.

Museveni’s online account is still active but many government officials and members of the ruling party have seen their pages taken down, including a well known blogger and Museveni supporter, a prominent doctor and a senior official in the information ministry.

The president has long accused foreign organisations and elements of backing Wine in a bid to remove his government.

– Misleading behaviour –

The term Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour was invented by Facebook, which describes it as when “groups of pages or people work together to mislead others about who they are or what they are doing”.

The tech giant explains on its website that this is often linked to deceptive behaviour rather than content.

Anim-Addo said over 100 such networks seeking to manipulate public debate have been removed worldwide since 2017.

In December, networks managed from Russia and France — one linked to the French army — were deleted over accusations of interference operations in Africa.

And in October Facebook shut down the page of a conspiracy-fuelled political party in New Zealand accused of spreading disinformation about the coronavirus ahead of elections there.

In the wake of last week’s protests in Washington, tech giants Amazon, Apple and Google have all cut ties with Parler, a social media platform popular with some conservatives, likely to leave it without a hosting partner.

Uganda’s election has been marred by numerous arrests of opposition candidates and their supporters, as well as violence which saw at least 54 killed in protests in November.

Wine has a strong following among the poor and a young population who have known only the 35-year reign of Museveni, but the powerful incumbent is seen as almost impossible to unseat.

-AFP

Ministry Of Health and Child Care statement on the movement of COVID-19 dead bodies for burial in the country.

PRESS STATEMENT RESTRICTIONS ON THE MOVEMENT OF COVID-19 DEAD BODIES FOR BURIAL IN THE COUNTRY

Harare, 11 January 2021, The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) would like to advise the public that it has now imposed restrictions regarding the movement of COVID-19 dead bodies ahead of burial in the country.

In order to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a body will now be buried in the town or city where the death would have occurred. This decision would ensure that the spread of COVID-19 is contained.

Below are the protocols to be observed during the burial process:

1.The Police will only clear body movements for burial straight from a funeral parlour or hospital mortuary to the burial site.

2. Nobody viewing will be allowed.

3. Bodies will not be taken home.

4. The public is urged to keep a distance of 4 metres as the body is lowered into the grave by either city health of funeral parlour officials.

5. The gravesite will be disinfected before and after the burial.

6. Gatherings at funerals have been reduced to strictly 30 people.

7. For those who want to transport the body for burial outside the city or town of death, they should ensure that the body is hermetically sealed in a triple coffin before collection of body from the funeral parlour or hospital mortuary.

Police Commanders in all provinces have been advised to ensure that the Government’s directive is complied with.

The public is accordingly informed of this important message.

By A Correspondent- Students enrolled at Hwange Teachers’ College (HTC) who are on Teaching Practice (TP) are yet to receive their monthly allowances from September 2020 when they started [TP].

Student teachers on teaching practice currently receive a monthly allowance of ZWL$5 656. It was raised from ZWL$150 a few months ago following sustained pressure from unions representing teachers.

Council Of Student Teachers (COST), spokesperson Bright Gomera has accused both Hwange Teacher’s College and United College of Education, which oversees the former’s affairs, of exploiting the student teachers.

In a statement, Gomera charged that the predicament being faced by HTC student teachers shows a lack of leadership in government offices.

He said:

Hwange Teacher’s College authorities claim that the mishap is not their fault. According to them, they forwarded the relevant information to SSB on time and hence the fault should be with the paying services of the government.

This is not a new game, it has been practised in all government institutions. They try to clear their names and paint others black when they are the real snakes.

HTC is supposed to receive payslips every month-end from the Public Service’s SSB. When they did not see those coming they decided to fold their hands and relax.

Woe to you Hwange Teacher’s College staff, woe to you United College Of Education who are supposed to oversee the newly formed college against proponents of misery.

HTC opened its doors to students in 2019 with the initial enrolment standing at 150 students.

Sixty-five per cent of the students enrolled at the satellite teachers’ college are from Matabeleland North province.

Harare, 11 January 2021, The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) would like to advise the public that it has now imposed restrictions regarding the movement of COVID-19 dead bodies ahead of burial in the country.

In order to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a body will now be buried in the town or city where the death would have occurred. This decision would ensure that the spread of COVID-19 is contained.

Below are the protocols to be observed during the burial process:

1.The Police will only clear body movements for burial straight from a funeral parlour or hospital mortuary to the burial site.

2. No body viewing will be allowed.

3. Bodies will not be taken home.

4. The public is urged to keep a distance of 4 metres as the body is lowered into the grave by either city health of funeral parlour officials.

5. The grave site will be disinfected before and after the burial.

6. Gatherings at funerals have been reduced to strictly 30 people.

7. For those who want to transport the body for burial outside the city or town of death, they should ensure that the body is hermetically sealed in a triple coffin before collection of body from funeral parlour or hospital mortuary.

Police Commandersin all provinces have been advised to ensure that the Government’s directive is complied with. The public is accordingly informed of this important message.

Ministry of Health and Child Care, Public Relations Department,[email protected], mohcczim

By A Correspondent- Award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has issued a statement from prison saying he will not apply for bail but challenge the law under which he is being charged.

Chin’ono is being charged under Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which deals with “publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State.”

Except, legal experts and human rights defenders argue the statute was struck down by the Constitutional Court in 2014 in a matter brought by two Zimbabwe Independent newspaper journalists.

Chin’ono said he would rather stay in prison cells and head to the Constitutional Court to assert his rights and those of ordinary citizens.

He wrote:

I have a choice today to immediately apply for bail and go home, or to fight the constitutionality of the law used to charge me, and as a result, stay in prison for a couple more weeks whilst doing so.

I have chosen to fight the use of this unconstitutional law used against me. If I choose to take bail without exposing the use of unconstitutional laws, the same law will be used against other journalists and ordinary citizens to muzzle them, as has happened to Job Sikhala.

… yesterday it was Mark Chavhunduka and Ray Choto, today it is Hopewell Chin’ono, tomorrow it could be anyone of Zimbabwe’s journalists or citizens.

By A Correspondent- A teenage boy sustained serious injuries in an explosion in Chitungwiza on Friday when he connected a firecracker to a solar panel and used his tongue to test current flow.

The boy’s mother Rudo Munhungaupi and other family members were not sure of what really happened although they suspected a firecracker accident.

Munhungaupi said her son, Godfrey Munhungaupi (13), was rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital where he is currently admitted after sustaining serious injuries on his face.

She said:

There was an explosion that attracted people to where Godfrey was at around 2 pm yesterday afternoon.

His face was seriously deformed. The face, mouth and the jaws were tattered and some teeth fell off at the scene and the tongue was split into two pieces.

The mother who is widowed is now appealing for assistance from the public because her child needs to undergo a surgical operation at the hospital which needs $33 000 (US$289). She said:

I am a widow and l am struggling to make ends meet, l am also unemployed so l am appealing to well-wishers if they can help me to raise the money for the surgical operation that is going to be conducted at the hospital.

Mrs Munhungaupi can be contacted on 0788124461 and those willing to assist can also use the same number.

The boy is in grade 5 at Dungwiza Primary School in Chitungwiza

By Jane Mlambo| South Africa’s Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has become the latest top figure in South Africa to speak on the diplomatic tiff instigated by remarks made by Zanu PF Director of Information Tafadzwa Mugwadi.

Posting on Twitter, Mboweni said he wished if he could be allowed to square off with Mugwadi who has been unrelenting in his attack against SABC Foreign Editor Sophie Mokoena.

“I wish the President could just allow me nyana to tackle that turncoat @Tafadzwa Mugwadi,” said Mboweni.

Mugwadi has come under fire over his remarks in which he threatened to expose the ANC delegation’s hidden agenda when they visited Zimbabwe to meet with Zanu PF.

Zanu PF Spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo has since distanced the party from Mugwadi’s remarks while announcing that the motor mouth young politician will undergo disciplinary action over his reckless remarks.

Hospitalised Harare-based entrepreneur Kuda Musasiwa is now on the mend and had been off a ventilator for 12 hours as of Sunday afternoon.

Musasiwa, who had been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a local hospital for some time after contracting the coronavirus, is now able to speak and to feed by mouth.

This was revealed by his father Reverend Roy Musasiwa in a statement posted on social media on Sunday afternoon on behalf of the Musasiwa family.

The statement read:

Greetings family and friends. This is the most joyful update on Kuda’s health so far. For the past 12 hours, he has been off the ventilator (and on oxygen concentrator) and is still maintaining good saturation of 94+!

Not only that; the hospital put him on video and he was able to speak to his wife Nomaliso – still a bit drowsy of course but fully conscious. He is now feeding by mouth rather than by tube.

He will continue to be monitored in the ICU for 24 hours and if there is no negative development he will be moved to HDU.

On this basis, we can now say that Kuda has graduated from the “critically ill” category and is on a recovery path. We are overjoyed.

This is the Lord’s doing, and the Lord has used his angels (including you) to travel this journey with Kuda and the family.

Meanwhile, Mai Musasiwa and I have just returned from having our covid-19 PCR test done and the results are expected tomorrow morning and so will be part of tomorrow’s update.

To all those who have prayed, given or shared words of encouragement we can’t thank you enough. It has not been in vain.

Stay safe and stay blessed.

By A Correspondent- Six people, including the driver, are feared dead after a Toyota Hilux double cab vehicle was swept off a flooded bridge on Gweru River along the Gweru-Matobo Road yesterday morning.

The authorities have sighted the Toyota Hilux double cab vehicle and the Local Fire Brigade is trying to recover the bodies and the vehicle.

The compressor it was towing was found dumped on the riverbank, a few kilometres downstream.  

“The District Civil Protection Unit and the sub-aqua unit spent the whole day searching for the missing six people believed to be four male and two female adults who were swept away by the flooded Gweru River this morning. The search continued until this evening, but no one has been found yet,” said Insp Mahoko.

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He said according to a witness, the Toyota Hilux was towing a mining compressor when it was swept away.

“Norlan Mupfiga who was driving towards Matobo found the river flooded and parked his vehicle hoping the water levels would subside.. The white Toyota Hilux which was behind him tried to drive past the flooded river bridge and it was swept away. Mr Mupfiga rushed to make a police report at Mtapa Police Station,” said Insp Mahoko.

He said the CPU and police sub-aqua unit went to the bridge and started searching for the vehicle and its occupants.

Insp Mahoko warned motorists and pedestrians against crossing rivers in flood or low-level bridges under water. Government yesterday warned people against crossing rivers in flood following a number of incidents of people being swept away or marooned on islands midstream.

In a statement, Local Government and Public Works Acting Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere implored citizens to be cautions and exercise patience by avoiding crossing rivers in flood.

“This rainy season has been characterised by incessant numerous incidents and activated rescue efforts where citizens tried to cross rivers in flood and were marooned across the country,” said Minister Muswere

BY A Correspondent- Bualwayo is facing an acute shortage of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas resulting in its price shooting up by 80 percent since mid-December.

For the past week Bulawayo residents who use LP gas have said they have been experiencing challenges accessing the product.

Gas usage has been on the increase in the country over the past few years largely due to power outages and the fact some suburbs are yet to be connected to the Zesa grid. Other residents use it as a substitute especially when there are power cuts.

A kilogramme of LP gas was being sold for between US$1,20 and US$1,30 but following the latest shortage it has gone up to around US$2. Residents who spoke to Chronicle yesterday said the shortage has become a serious inconvenience to them as those who have the product have resorted to profiteering.

Mr Nkosana Phiri of Pumula suburb said gas has become a necessity so any shortages create problems.

“For the past week I have been trying to buy LP gas but most of the traders say they do not have it and are waiting for deliveries. Actually, across the festive season we have been experiencing problems accessing LP gas. This requires the intervention from Government just like when there are fuel shortages because some of us who live in houses without electricity heavily depend on it,” said Mr Phiri.

He said at the moment those who have the product have increased the price.

Another resident Ms Sibusiso Moyo from Pelandaba West speculated that the shortage could be countrywide.

“My house is yet to be connected to electricity so we use gas as an energy source. Without it, life is unbearable. I even asked a friend who frequently travels to Plumtree to buy it for me in that town but he also said there are shortages there. So now I don’t know how widespread the problem is. We could be talking about a national problem,” said Ms Moyo.

An LP gas vendor operating from Pumula South attributed shortages to recent congestion at Beitbridge Border Post which has resulted in delays in clearing cargo.

“Our supplies are said to have been stuck at the border. This is what we have been told. So, since we’ve been told that the situation is normalising at Beitbridge Border Post, we hope normal supplies will resume but at the moment I have gone for more than two weeks without getting any supplies. But those who have it are now selling for US$2 or R40,” said the vendor.

Reached for comment, Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda yesterday said he was yet to be briefed about the issue.

Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority communications officer Mr Gladman Njanji requested questions in writing but had not responded by last night.

-statemedia

By Jane Mlambo| Incarcerated journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has stated his reluctance to apply for bail following his arrest on charges of communicating falsehoods, saying he would rather spend more time in prison while challenging the unconstitutional law used to arrest him in the Constitutional Court.

In a statement issued from Chikurubi Maximum prison, Chin’ono said he believes prioritising his immediate liberty at the expense of the media’s right to free speech would be equal to selling out.

“I have a choice today to immediately apply for bail and go home, or to fight the constitutionality of the law used to charge, and as a result, stay in prison for a couple more weeks whilst doing so,” said Chin’ono.

He added that he is ready to fight against the unconstitutional law used to charge him and ensure that other journalists and citizens would not be victims of non-existent laws.

“I have chosen to fight the use of this unconstitutional law used against me. If I chose to take bail without exposing the use of unconstitutional laws, the same law will be used against other journalists and ordinary citizens to muzzle them, as has happened to Job Sikhala,” he said.

The firebrand journalist said he will challenge the unconstitutionality of the law used to arrest him as a way to measure judiciary independence especially of the magistrates court which accepted a charge that was struck down by the High Court.

“It is also important to challenge the use of this unconstitutional law so that the world can see where our judiciary stand in regards to the rule of law, especially the magistrates court,

“This law was struck down by the highest court of Zimbabwe and all the judges on the bench the day it was struck down concurred without dissent,” said Chin’ono.

Meanwhile, Chin’ono has accused prison officers of disregarding court orders made to protect him from health risks while in detention.

According to Chin’ono, prison officers were ordered to provide him with hot or warm water for bathing, clean blankets and running water which have been disregarded.

“On the 9^th of January the court ordered that Prisons provide Hopewell Chin’ono with hot/warm water for bathing purposes, Chikurubi prison refused to follow the order

“The court ordered the prisons to provide Hopewell Chin’ono with clean running water for drinking purposes and flushing the toilet, Chikurubi prison failed to do that

“Prison is supposed to provide clean blankets, Chikurubi prison failed to do that,” said Chin’ono.

By A Correspondent- The Signal and Telegram messaging apps are seeing a sudden increase in demand after larger rival WhatsApp’s updated terms of service raised eyebrows on social media.

WhatsApp, which uses Signal’s encryption technology, laid out fresh terms on Wednesday, asking users to agree to let owner Facebook and its subsidiaries collect user data, including their phone number and location.

Some privacy activists questioned the “accept our data grab or get out” move on Twitter, and suggested users to switch to apps like Signal and Telegram.

Signal’s popularity shot up further on Thursday after it was endorsed by Elon Musk, who has one of the most-followed accounts on Twitter, and by the micro-blogging site’s top boss, Jack Dorsey.

More than 100 000 users installed Signal across the app stores of Apple and Google in the last two days, while Telegram picked up nearly 2.2 million downloads, according to data analytics firm Sensor Tower.

New installs of WhatsApp fell 11% in the first seven days of 2021 compared to the prior week, but that still amounted to an estimated 10.5 million downloads globally, Sensor Tower said.

-reuters

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has distanced itself from a statement issued by its director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi threatening to expose South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC)’s alleged sinister agenda behind its decision to send a delegation to Zimbabwe last year.

The ANC delegation met Zanu-PF in September last year in Harare to discuss matters of mutual interest.

The meeting between the two sister parties was a bilateral engagement of former liberation movements requested by the national executive council (NEC) of the ANC to exchange notes on matters affecting the region including clearing the unfounded assertions of a crisis in Zimbabwe.

Zanu-PF national spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo said Mugwadi’s statement does not in any way reflect the position of the party. He said Zimbabwe and South Africa share a common liberation history, culture and destiny.

Posting on his Twitter account, Mugwadi threatened to expose the ANC’s alleged sinister agenda behind its delegation’s trip to Zimbabwe last year. The threat was an angry reaction to what Mugwadi described as hostile reportage against Zanu-PF by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)’s foreign editor Sophie Mokoena.

“If the ANC and SABC news do not restrain and rein in Sophie Mokoena, whose fake news reporting and tweeting directed only at undermining a neighbouring country and President Mnangagwa for no apparent reason, I will seek permission to leak a bombshell on why the ANC delegation came,” Mugwadi tweeted.

In an interview with the SABC on Saturday, President Cyril Ramaphosa dared Mugwadi to come out with his “bombshell” and reveal the “real reason” which he claimed was behind his party’s visit to Zimbabwe last year. Ambassador Khaya Moyo said Mugwadi issued the statement without authorisation from the party hence it should be dismissed with contempt.

“A statement issued by the Zanu-PF director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi on the visit last year by the ANC delegation to meet with Zanu-PF on matters of mutual interest does not in any way reflect the position of Zanu-PF. It (the statement) was issued without authorisation and must be dismissed with contempt,” said Ambassador Khaya Moyo in a statement yesterday.

“The ANC of South Africa and Zanu-PF enjoy excellent and fraternal relations dating back to the days of our liberation struggle and continue blossoming up to this day. To suggest that the ANC delegation came to Zimbabwe with a hidden agenda is compound mischief, uninformed, unacceptable and unpatriotic.”

Ambassador Khaya Moyo said necessary measures would be taken concerning the issue.

“A communique was issued on the constructive two-day meeting by the two fraternal parties and indeed these meetings will continue in the future. Nothing was amiss and necessary measures will be taken by Zanu-PF concerning those involved to this matter,” he said.

“The President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF ED Mnangagwa, the President of the ANC CM Ramaphosa called each other in high esteem and no one should attempt to soil this fraternal relationship. We are one people sharing a common liberation history, culture and destiny.”

President Ramaphosa told the SABC that the ANC sent its delegation to Zimbabwe to understand the situation in the country with a view to help.

“We sent a delegation as the ANC to Zimbabwe because Zanu-PF is a sister party to us, we have a deep and strong base with Zanu-PF and it was one to express concern and find out what was happening and to see the extent to which we can either be supportive and fully understand precisely what was happening,” he said.

“I don’t know what the representative of Zanu-PF was talking about and I am sure that he will be willing to share all that with the ANC and all of us”.

President Ramaphosa said as far as he was concerned, there was absolutely nothing amiss and nothing to hide.

“At government level, I appointed three envoys who went to Zimbabwe and we continue to interact with Zimbabwe and I am also in contact with President Mnangagwa on an ongoing basis,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Mpilo Central Hospital’s acting clinical director Professor Solwayo Ngwenya says that Zimbabwe does not have much resources at its disposal to mitigate the coronavirus.

He also said that there was an awareness challenge among health workers as it is difficult to educate all health workers at once.

Ngwenya said the key thing was not to put health facilities under strain so there was need to religiously follow lockdown measures.

Health experts have called on Government to tighten the coronavirus lockdown amid growing self-discipline by ordinary people.

Other health experts have warned of a continued surge in Covid-19 cases in the country during the coming weeks and called on government to introduce and equip new decentralised treatment centres around the country.

The country is experiencing a steep rise in daily new infections as well as deaths, with reports that major health institutions are no longer taking new Covid-19 patients due to shortage of bedding facilities.

Several patients have reportedly died at hospitals before being attended.

Cletos Masiya, spokesperson of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association (MDPPZA), said home-based care management was commonly becoming the desperate measure being taken by relatives who could just not let their beloved ones die while they watched.

Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights secretary Norman Matara said there were isolation beds available across the country in some less populated areas, but intensive care unit (ICU) beds were limited and most patients were failing to access them.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association President Enock Dongo said that the government could soon be overwhelmed by the rising coronavirus cases and without adequate resources, there could be an increase in the fatality rate.

Meanwhile, medical doctors have warned of a looming surge in COVID-19-related deaths in the coming days, saying the figures were likely to double this week as positive cases continue to rise against a drop in the recovery rate.

The health professionals told NewsDay that the new variant was more aggressive than the first strain of COVID-19 that hit the country last year and more people were likely to succumb to the disease given the country’s collapsed health care system.

By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo have arrested three men who were caught with machetes, axes, a knife, catapults in a Honda Fit that had no number plates.

Parked in the middle of the road in Cowdray Park, Xolile Moyo of Pumula North (33), Simio Mhlanga (30) and Talent Mhlanga (28) both of Cowdray Park were caught by police who were patrolling on Thursday night.

Four other occupants of the Honda Fit took to their heels upon seeing police approaching and are still at large. According to Bulawayo police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube, police were enforcing the lockdown curfew and the trio was arrested for violating it.

“Police, under Nkulumane district, have an operation code-named, ‘No to Machetes.’ This operation targets Pumula and Cowdray Park because of crimes of murder and assault. At around 6.30PM, after the beginning of the 6PM to 6AM curfew, police officers approached the Hawkflight intersection at Cowdray Park. They observed a Honda Fit with no number plates, parked in the middle of the road.

“The police officers approached the vehicle and a gang of four, disembarked and ran away. They managed to arrest three inside the vehicle. They were being arrested for non-compliance of Covid-19 lockdown regulations during curfew,” said Insp Ncube.

He said police searched the car and found the dangerous weapons they suspect were being used in committing various crimes.

“It was then after the search of the vehicle that police officers recovered two machetes, one knife, one knobkerrie, three claw hammers, two axes, catapults and three sharp pointed iron rods, which could have been used for break ins. So, these persons and the vehicle were taken to Luveve station where they are assisting police with investigations. So, this is a gang that is waylaying people and committing robberies using those axes and machetes they attack and rob them,” said Insp Ncube.

He said this showed that as police they were on top of the situation. Insp Ncube appealed to members of the public to help them with tip-offs.

“We are walking our talk as police. This shows that we are on the ground and those who are found breaking the law will be arrested. We appeal to members of the public to help police with information about criminals so that we arrest them. Like this particular car, we know that people who live in Cowdray Park know who they are. There are some members of the public who are giving police tip-offs,” said Insp Ncube.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance National Spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has been arrested.

In a statement, the MDC Alliance said:

“…..Advocate Mahere has been arrested on flimsy charges of communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the State. We condemn the weaponization of the law against MDC Alliance leadership and all pro-democracy activists.”

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance VP Tendai Biti has revealed that prosecutors and magistrates are in no show at Harare magistrates court where arrested journalist Hopewell Chin’ono is appearing.

Said Biti:

We have been in court since 9 am .No prosecutor nor magistrate can be seen . It appears even the system can’t stomach the extent of abuse and the flimsiness of the charges . There is also a legitimate demand by court officials of PPEs . Workers & victims need protection.

Chin’ono was arrested on Friday last week for the third time in six months, He appeared at court on Saturday but was remanded in custody to Monday.

He is being charged with “peddling falsehoods,” after he posted on his twitter account a comment about a police officer who had beaten a 9 month old baby on its mother’s back along Second street in Harare.

Below is his charge sheet:

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has bene arrested for allegedly violating section 31 of the criminal code.

Police have proceeded to charge Mahere with violating sec 31 of the Criminal Code. She is at Harare Central Police Station, the Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights reported. More details to follow.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent | Drama is expected today as Senator Douglas Mwonzora prepares to square off with the party compatriots he plans to recall from parliament.

The truth is that President Douglas Mwonzora is scheduled to meet all of our leaders in earnest, on or around (today) the 11th of January 2020, when the party officially resumes its activities for the year, his spokesperson, Witness Dube said in a statement.

At the weekend, his information mouthpiece contradicted his own interview in which he said that he is going to recall Thokozani Khupe from her parliament post. Announcing on Saturday morning, his spokesperson described a viral WhatsApp chat record of Mwonzora with his girlfriend of many years, Lwazi Sibanda, as fake news.

In an exclusive interview with ZimEye last weekend, Mwonzora clearly announced that he is going to ignore Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson’s orders to retain Khupe as opposition leader; and use the Speaker of Parliament to sideswipe Mnangagwa, as he executes the recall. This move was further confirmed by the disputed WhatApp chats.

Yesterday, Mwonzora’s girfriend, Lwazi Sibanda confirmed in a discussion with ZimEye that the chats are authentic.

Senator Douglas Mwonzora’s roof is certainly on fire as he accuses his girlfriend of many years of conniving with Thokozani Khupe to get him imprisoned for stealing $6million.

The below WhatsApp chats albeit denied by Senator Douglas Mwonzora on Saturday morning, have been fully confirmed by his girlfriend of many years , Lwazi Sibanda who is at the centre of the conversations, and had personally shared them with MDCT top cadre, Mr Patson Murimoga (full interview streaming on ZimEye.com.)

Lwazi Sibanda speaks to ZimEye in a 20 minute long interview (WATCH AND LISTEN IN FULL in the live video streams ABOVE)

[1/7, 8:26 PM] Douglas Mwonzora: So what happened?
[1/7, 8:42 PM] Lwazi Sibanda: ?? Sorry spent the whole day ku mine just arriving home.Murimoga was very angry he didn’t even want to listen to me .He said col hm
[1/7, 8:42 PM] Lwazi Sibanda: You Kno his number
[1/7, 8:43 PM] Douglas Mwonzora: If this continues I am recalling the people behind him. They have started the fight. I have done nothing wrong. I won fairly but people want to continue fighting.
[1/7, 8:57 PM] Douglas Mwonzora: If this is what they are going to do it’s ok.
[1/7, 8:58 PM] Lwazi Sibanda: Give me tyme and tok to him maybe today he was stressed
[1/7, 9:00 PM] Douglas Mwonzora: As you can see people create thier own devil. I consider myself a good man.
[1/7, 9:01 PM] Lwazi Sibanda: Why don’t you col him n tok
[1/7, 9:03 PM] Douglas Mwonzora: I will never do that. What else do you people want me to do?
[1/7, 9:05 PM] Lwazi Sibanda: Well l thought maybe since he asked me kuti mukoma knows my number why didn’t he col me himself t
[1/7, 9:06 PM] Douglas Mwonzora: We are not the same. He is wrong. He did something very wrong. He is continuing. I never stole anything. But it’s ok. I guess I have to fight back. At least I tried.
[1/7, 9:08 PM] Lwazi Sibanda: Let me tok to him again tomorrow
[1/7, 9:08 PM] Douglas Mwonzora: Well it’s now up to you guys
[1/7, 9:09 PM] Lwazi Sibanda: I am not involved in this Murimoga thing.
[1/7, 9:10 PM] Douglas Mwonzora: Your team is involved Lwazi

But Mwonzora denies this evidence and he has issued the below statement, denying the revelations. FULL TEXT:

The Movement for Democratic Change is seized with a galling dosage of fake news in the social media and their online contemporaries purporting to be a WhatsApp chat meant to be construed as being about our President. This false and malicious piece of fake news must be dismissed with the utmost contempt it deserves.

The truth is that President Douglas Mwonzora is scheduled to meet all of our leaders in earnest, on or around the 11th of January 2020, when the party officially resumes its activities for the year. He has at no point since his election contemplated recalling any of our public representatives.

Our 27th of December 2020 Extra Ordinary Congress produced a legitimate, democratic, free and fair outcome that all our leaders have acknowledged. We therefore urge continued reportage of the status of our party, post this milestone to purvey factual, accurate, and plausibly justified facts backed by official party information channels.
Thank you

Acting Secretary for Information and Publicity